tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65583681247458923532024-03-12T10:14:20.182-07:00Chris Kostman's Rough Riders Blog: Any Bike, Anywhere / Classic CyclistWelcome to the internet home of the Rough Riders. Our slogan is "Any Bike, Anywhere" and we believe in riding any distance, in any conditions, over any terrain, at any time of day or night. Rough Riding is not defined by the type of bicycle or type of riding surface. Rough Riding is a state of mind, a riding style with limitless freedom and an all-pervasive sense of adventure.Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-61771208997067892032023-10-30T11:03:00.004-07:002023-11-09T09:12:56.731-08:00My 1993 Bridgestone RB-1, a Piece of History, is For Sale<p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of my most prized bicycles is for sale. It's an incredible piece of history and an amazing performer. Includes a Letter of Authenticity from yours truly, too. </span></span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQN7riL5ynaUwBH_DpcxV9tMgx4jUMVX7L_v1pjYGVROJ_JLbSxtIYrNOyPae9hb6Jah5J0UU6y6XeqG2X9P6W4MF1RWDKpLt3tcjVFcHZOhuElJ6Y8NbSHDF3Z60vHYuENt8TfRFR182qfHeYFuJmBY3WMcorkH-W-1edLHi5Wlnzffaq5YpoGX6OOM/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28804__74650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQN7riL5ynaUwBH_DpcxV9tMgx4jUMVX7L_v1pjYGVROJ_JLbSxtIYrNOyPae9hb6Jah5J0UU6y6XeqG2X9P6W4MF1RWDKpLt3tcjVFcHZOhuElJ6Y8NbSHDF3Z60vHYuENt8TfRFR182qfHeYFuJmBY3WMcorkH-W-1edLHi5Wlnzffaq5YpoGX6OOM/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28804__74650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://bikerecyclery.com/1993-bridgestone-rb-1-57-5cm-suntour-superbe-pro-7s-chris-king-hubs-ritchey-biplane-nitto-lugged-bstone-sponsored-racers-bike/" target="_blank">Click here to check it out</a>! </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the description: </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"This <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>is among the finest builds I've seen on an RB-1, and it's owned by then Bridgestone sponsored racer Chris Kostman. Chris's red 93 RB1 he was racing was stolen, and Grant Petersen gave him this one to replace it (full story in letter of authenticity in images). The build starts with a period correct 7 speed last gen Suntour Superbe Pro groupset including the rare hidden spring brakes & Avocet R1 saddle. It gets a little less period correct from there but stays towards classically styled (ish) top level parts. Highlights include Chris King Classic hubs laced to Campagnolo Montreal 76 rims, Nitto Lugged quill & Dream Bars.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The RB road bikes were special beasts for their time. They took styling cues from classic Italian racing bikes and made it more functional and practical. The frame/fork fit up to 32mm tires (perhaps 28mm with fenders), and slack-ish angles for a more comfortable ride, and fender eyelets front and rear. Plus, they feature that gorgeous biplane fork crown!</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-size-adjust: auto; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The frame and components are in lovely condition, and Chris says both have about 1,000 miles total. Always stored indoors and maintained by a pro mechanic. Decals are pristine or very close to it with exception of some wear on the seat stay RB-1 decals. Components are in wonderful mechanical condition, with some light cosmetic wear."</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Visit <a href="http://BikeRecyclery.com">BikeRecyclery.com</a> to check it out - and make it yours!</span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">Below: That's me with my mentor, Race Across America founder John Marino, astride my 1993 RB-1 during the 2008 Solvang Century:</span></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs7ALC0zRTSIHOPWc1hFgFFoJwTHGgPMoRQ220BSb8n4eXmosXCBwtUxzK-T8iRH1ts_aEq1uLQpM5V9YLAH6Y4WxqY-cbXpt8xv4nbOmnqtGI4qO9HyaWDigiyMPaHpLLEcoe4lqhc0Kw6SoPoXsudKAMlT0bJGdcNo3J4BfvaeuV4jvWdm5G5P6pVc/s3264/DSC05806.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs7ALC0zRTSIHOPWc1hFgFFoJwTHGgPMoRQ220BSb8n4eXmosXCBwtUxzK-T8iRH1ts_aEq1uLQpM5V9YLAH6Y4WxqY-cbXpt8xv4nbOmnqtGI4qO9HyaWDigiyMPaHpLLEcoe4lqhc0Kw6SoPoXsudKAMlT0bJGdcNo3J4BfvaeuV4jvWdm5G5P6pVc/w400-h301/DSC05806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUOgBM2XrKG8u8AXfVrOh4sxTvRGOPhyphenhypheneA8pKwBChQjsT19Gt8gFPEDlAKJaPYvIy6vpg1ZsYvuRwA9hmJAuCZEFQ96REVyztvqfT6wUdJ67LM8GPeMHdpHc9DaYwYGT9bc4oAKAXCBjPTH60N15tbmZL2ib6L6Bf1PsXLZjUDaZN7cHaISZCP2vVNN8/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28809__77369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUOgBM2XrKG8u8AXfVrOh4sxTvRGOPhyphenhypheneA8pKwBChQjsT19Gt8gFPEDlAKJaPYvIy6vpg1ZsYvuRwA9hmJAuCZEFQ96REVyztvqfT6wUdJ67LM8GPeMHdpHc9DaYwYGT9bc4oAKAXCBjPTH60N15tbmZL2ib6L6Bf1PsXLZjUDaZN7cHaISZCP2vVNN8/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28809__77369.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iETWHSnGosYCq_1JIxLFSZJQuufoTelrP9dPNfV5p-fw6yQfkSjIv_QUnNwSb7aA3Jd4EChb5uPTlVPrcyHHn1tbq961pluP6oVXYTs8zxtWqxZnqmp8MJjmSQYVvVXry7se2gyifjY2VLmKI2L12sfywbSG1fcINVhqQSkltv64VR8n_SylmBobdzc/s2280/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28788__96538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="2280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iETWHSnGosYCq_1JIxLFSZJQuufoTelrP9dPNfV5p-fw6yQfkSjIv_QUnNwSb7aA3Jd4EChb5uPTlVPrcyHHn1tbq961pluP6oVXYTs8zxtWqxZnqmp8MJjmSQYVvVXry7se2gyifjY2VLmKI2L12sfywbSG1fcINVhqQSkltv64VR8n_SylmBobdzc/w400-h266/vintage_road_bikes_mtb_used_rare_ibis_mojo_de_rosa_special_bridgestone_rb-1_28788__96538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-75248119149065139092014-08-22T09:44:00.001-07:002014-08-22T14:21:29.997-07:00Talking Rough Riding, Rawland, and more on the Vinnie Tortorich Podcast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E9Tg58q04qei_vsdm9fNbi10EyWz42NJ5cdXFdODj-rZorfbwX0ZAQ5kMeUEE_NCIwDKMJ4EQoIe0oWsliLJCrgOzfyT4nOcPsSvHIGpueZ3EOr1QUq6Cu0tvuxTGOfwyfmAHifEZK4/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-08-22+at+9.29.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6E9Tg58q04qei_vsdm9fNbi10EyWz42NJ5cdXFdODj-rZorfbwX0ZAQ5kMeUEE_NCIwDKMJ4EQoIe0oWsliLJCrgOzfyT4nOcPsSvHIGpueZ3EOr1QUq6Cu0tvuxTGOfwyfmAHifEZK4/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-08-22+at+9.29.02+AM.png" height="205" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am honored to be a guest on Vinnie Tortorich's "America's Angriest
Trainer" podcast this week, talking cycling, Silver State 508, Badwater 135, the NSNG lifestyle, Rough Riding and my
beloved Rawland bicycles. <a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/2014/08/angriest-trainer-291-1-1-chris-kostman/" target="_blank">Here is this link to listen</a>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlCsZZf7kJrvATS-_dvmudihyl6AqAgrGA0FtFXT4gqtZ9BPtgP8WhCvbQV42pMqcDDzcL8X8l51uzUZ9wgLMLi_gQZjbW7iurnFiIVgv9k5F5j6f6RfL-Jw30ImEDFzb4xBq6znn8Sw/s1600/_A052577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlCsZZf7kJrvATS-_dvmudihyl6AqAgrGA0FtFXT4gqtZ9BPtgP8WhCvbQV42pMqcDDzcL8X8l51uzUZ9wgLMLi_gQZjbW7iurnFiIVgv9k5F5j6f6RfL-Jw30ImEDFzb4xBq6znn8Sw/s1600/_A052577.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Yours truly with Vinnie at The 508 finish line in 2008</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/" target="_blank">Vinnie</a> is a several-time Furnace Creek 508 veteran, <a href="http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualHistory.php?p=783" target="_blank">as you can see here</a>, and a life-long cyclist. He is the author of "<a href="http://vinnietortorich.com/fitness-confidential/" target="_blank">Fitness Confidential: Adventures in the Weight Loss Game</a>" (a book which heavily features The 508) and one of the smartest, clearest thinking people I know, especially in the world of health and fitness. (If you think you are going to lose weight from working out more, or harder, read his book and learn the error of your ways.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are links to topics discussed in the conversation:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.badwater.com/" target="_blank">Badwater 135</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.the508.com/" target="_blank">Silver State 508</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.yogatuneup.com/" target="_blank">Yoga Tune Up@</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" target="_blank">Rawland Bicycles</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/bo17.htm" target="_blank">Grant Petersen's "Just Ride"</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://ritcheylogic.com/mountain/tires/shield-mountain-tire.html" target="_blank">Ritchey Shield 650B Tyres </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.challengetech.it/products/road/paris-roubaix-016/en" target="_blank">Challenge Paris-Roubaix Tyres</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://bicyclesafe.com/helmets.html" target="_blank">A rational discussion of the reality of bicycle helmet use</a></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-14278327354193490752013-12-24T12:55:00.000-08:002013-12-24T12:57:22.872-08:00New Year's Day Ride: All Are Invited! Santa Monica Mountains: three distance options & start/finish spots<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's kick off the New Year in style, doing what we love! Please join me on a road ride around and over the Santa Monica Mountains on Wednesday, January 1, 2014! There are three possible starting points and times, so your route can be 78 miles, or about 60 miles, or about 45 miles. This is an excellent route with a nice, easy first 1/2 to 2/3 and then a goodly amount of climbing in the final 3rd, up, along, and over the Santa Monica Mountains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Got a steel bike? Ride it! Even better if it's a classic steel bike!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming? Post a comment below, and tell your friends. All are invited! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj6vHkcmHB9Az0VRYvSU17wIQLYyflKr06m7sREZcEJviY1JLXhS19LhyphenhyphenHc78yAI78UL2WDvH0402qrWlN6o2_6khX0cCVIYok76u4oyPbmm5U_AXMicgwpIzs6pbwcsKRw73PAyPWTs/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-24+at+12.29.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaj6vHkcmHB9Az0VRYvSU17wIQLYyflKr06m7sREZcEJviY1JLXhS19LhyphenhyphenHc78yAI78UL2WDvH0402qrWlN6o2_6khX0cCVIYok76u4oyPbmm5U_AXMicgwpIzs6pbwcsKRw73PAyPWTs/s400/Screen+shot+2013-12-24+at+12.29.37+PM.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1Kdjd_9vRdrd_cyLgpm1pXmDCZDGksyVkt68WMgbURLx_0d0ZrE1q46oMl_dJE31TC48pccfCBVDPbt2N18A5qlwzq9DW4XSR1UIxZKteXWKqjYCTUvjvX-mt9HqsnFm3wLZaONqIYg/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-24+at+12.29.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1Kdjd_9vRdrd_cyLgpm1pXmDCZDGksyVkt68WMgbURLx_0d0ZrE1q46oMl_dJE31TC48pccfCBVDPbt2N18A5qlwzq9DW4XSR1UIxZKteXWKqjYCTUvjvX-mt9HqsnFm3wLZaONqIYg/s400/Screen+shot+2013-12-24+at+12.29.53+PM.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>78-Mile Version: Start/Finish in Woodland Hills</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Route is as depicted above and on <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/35235733" target="_blank">my Strava link from New Year's Day 2013</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: 4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/xqMjg" target="_blank">Google Map of the location</a>. Departure: 800am sharp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>60-mile Version: Start /Finish in Calabasas</b><br />Meet-Up: 820am, Starbucks off Las Virgenes at 26521 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302. Departure: App. 840am, or, more specifically, once the main group arrives.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>48-mile Version: Start / Finish in Westlake Village</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 900am, East Coast Bagel at intersection of Agoura Road and Westlake Blvd in Westlake Village. Departure: App: 915am, or, more specifically, once the main group arrives.<br /><br />Rain cancels (at least for me). Please come prepared with a wide variety of clothing, food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, map or GPS, etc. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">NOTE: The ride is unsupported and all are on their own. We take no responsibility for anyone or anything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Further updates will be posted here and to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-37692362681094986142013-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:002013-12-03T19:01:14.166-08:001993 24 Hours of Canaan (Rhymes with Insane)<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1993 24 Hours of Canaan (Rhymes with Insane)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By Chris Kostman</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Originally published in Bicycle Guide in 1993, although they basically ruined it when they edited it. This is what I really wrote.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rClgOUwm8RdLq-Z-ipf_iren0TuY1k0xpy0KqnPDXR599R8Qz-L9MdKydAi_NsfCdYEoYvVqAw2Ks7I8sYKUOW7mqLnOh8wCx3XqQI0AkaJOU2O-VCGXSJLhiVb4CGKrz_OoHoYH1HE/s1600/CKcanaan93_cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rClgOUwm8RdLq-Z-ipf_iren0TuY1k0xpy0KqnPDXR599R8Qz-L9MdKydAi_NsfCdYEoYvVqAw2Ks7I8sYKUOW7mqLnOh8wCx3XqQI0AkaJOU2O-VCGXSJLhiVb4CGKrz_OoHoYH1HE/s400/CKcanaan93_cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Above, L-R: Harry Winand, Gene Oberpriller, John Stamstad, and the author, Chris Kostman at the 24 Hours of Canaan. Photo by Grant Petersen</i></span></span></span>.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was in the shower with one shaved leg. Suddenly my teammate Harry Winand bursts in the door and tells me that I've been bumped up from fourth rider out to third. I've got five minutes until I have to hit the trail. So with one hairy leg and one shaved, I throw on my clothes and head over to the start/finish line. What an auspicious start it would prove to be. Not having had the luxury of pre-riding the course, I had little idea of what to expect. Let's just say that 11.5 miles of mud, swampy bog, puddles, rocks, five crashes, and six river crossings was not what I'd expected.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In common parlance this 24 hour four or five rider relay race held in the Canaan Valley of West Virginia is called the 24 Hours of Canaan, but it's more like the 24 Hours of Insane. Why? Well, there was a LeMans start with the first riders out all lined up across a river from their bikes. At the gunshot, they sprinted across the river, scrambled up the bank to mount their bikes, then turned around and pedaled straight back into the running masses to ford the river yet again. Each lap would start and finish with this river crossing. Got the picture?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 11.5 mile loop was something like The Longest Mile, eleven point five times in a row. There's mile after mile of solid mud fireroad (how could there be a fire with this much water on the ground?) and singletrack that's worn down and rutted out with every passing rider (factor in 98 teams doing from twelve to nineteen loops each). Puddle after puddle of indeterminate depth would force two options: ride high on the edge of the trail and risk having your tyres slide right out and dumping you in the water, or blasting hell be damned through the puddles. Sometimes you'd plow through like Moses in the Red Sea, other times it was an over the bars projection lesson. Oh yeah, some of these "puddles" were 50 yards long and up to three feet deep.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then there were hills so steep that crawling up on all fours would be difficult. With a bike, in the mud, in a race, turned one of the hills into a medieval torture machine. I glued Ritchey Z-Max tyre treads to my Vittoria shoes to try to get more traction. Teammate Gene Oberpriller, who passed up a ride in the CoreStates PRO Championships to join the rest of us from Team Bridgestone in this mayhem, swears that the tree roots were glowing flourescent green when he scrambled up The Hill on his last lap. In daylight, no less... (Of course, he did post the fastest lap average of the event, so maybe he just pushed a little TOO hard...)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then there's Moonrocks. Huge expanses of slab rock on this downhill stretch had water eroded ruts covering it that never headed in the desired direction. It was all but unrideable and I for one didn't even try. I just shouldered my bike and sprinted down, down, down. The 300 yard mud bog prior to Moonrocks sometimes added twenty pounds to my XO-1, making this stretch even more brutal and treacherous</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And the six river crossings? They were actually the highlight of the course, for they cleaned the gobs of mud and blood off of the bike, making it lighter and functional again. It got to the point where we couldn't wait to ford the icy waters, even if we did face plant occasionally. Heck, when else would we get our face clean, anyway?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That brings up the best part of the race, the four hour stints between rides. Some camped out in the mud, cleaning themselves and their bikes in the river. Some of us had the luxury of cruising back to a hotel, showering, putting on clean clothes, eating warm food, having our bikes cleaned, lubed, and tuned by Grant and Ernie from Bridgestone, then napping or watching Beavis and Butthead on MTV. What a life!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I'm just paranoid the whole time I'm out there," said teammate John Stamstad at one point, summing up the common theme of the weekend. There's paranoia about crashing. Paranoia about getting lost. Paranoia about a major mechanical necessitating a long walk out. Paranoia about getting passed. Paranoia about losing the baton that needed to be handed off each lap. (You get to go back out and look for it!) Paranoia about all of the above happening to the teammate that's out riding while you're trying to relax and get ready for another 70 to 90 minute interval session. Paranoia? INSANE!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Oh yeah, about the race... The local heroes, Teams Black and White and Nukey Boys, edged us out for first and second. They're tough riders with the homecourt advantage of knowing the best lines, not to mention the alternate routes to avoid some of the more impassable sections, but they claimed to have won fair and square. (Late in the race, both teams passes us without actually passing us...) Still, we're happy with third, considering that we're composed of a crit racer, a roadie, an ultra marathon weenie, and a triathageek, and that we rode bikes (XO-1's with Moustache bars) that one magazine called "suitable only for riding to and from the trailhead, but not on the trail." To slightly modify Arny Schwarzenegger's famous line: "We'll be back, and so will our 'road bikes.'"</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-82423469945768087502013-12-03T09:20:00.001-08:002013-12-04T11:55:30.998-08:00Fan Mail for "Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?"<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wrote "<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2007/09/mountain-bikes-who-needs-them.html" target="_blank">Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them</a>" over twenty years ago now: it was originally published in the February 1993 issue of Bicycle Guide, then the coolest bike magazine in the USA. That article has been on this blog since it went live in 2007, and still generates comments and emails direct to me. This first email came in today, proving, once again, that the writer didn't really read what I wrote. (Boiled down simply, I wrote: What most people call "mountain biking" doesn't require a mountain bike. Likewise, as our ego-bruised writer states, and as I wrote, real "mountain biking" does generally require a mountain bike.):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>You sir, are the most ignorant ass hat I have encountered on the internet and single-handedly represent everything that makes road cyclists come off as self righteous douchebags. Just because your idea of mountain biking is a chicken shit ride down a sandy road doesn't mean that road bikes are appropriate or even safe to recommend for most mountain bikers. Virtually every mountain bike ride I take involves some sort of terrain or impact that would disintegrate my Foil faster than you can say something stupid. The idea that the 30 foot doubles or jagged rock gardens that can be conquered at speed on my M9 could even be ridden on a fully rigid road bike is nothing more than your lack of perspective at what is being done on mountain bikes, your hubris at your own skills, and the tremendous ignorance and arrogance that would allow you to post this stupidity online for all to see.</i> - <b>TB, 12-3-13</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adding extra irony is that TB's Facebook background photo shows him on a road bike, even though, in his own words, apparently everyone who rides a road bike is a "<i>self righteous douchebag</i>."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK, since I'm writing this post, I'm going to take the time to post the emails I've received over the years about my article, so here you go, in chronological order, completely unedited:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I really hate the way you dis mountain bikes. I dispise road bikes they are very (no extremely) primitive. I ride a full suspension ATB. I wouldnt ride anything else. Do you have a problem with technologie?????</i> - <b>RP, 5-10-98</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />You're funny!<br /><br />Come to Phoenix and ride our rocky, sandy, harsh trails on your road bike so we can laugh at you. You said in your article that you might only need an mtb for something like Slickrock trail. Slickrock trail is a freakin' sidewalk compared to my nearest trail; which I RIDE to on m full suspension GT with 2.35 tires.<br /><br />I started riding on an unsuspended Cannondale in 1986. Trails that were impossible for me then are cake now. Believe me I'm thinking for myself. No marketing hype is going to snatch $2000 from my pocket for a new bike. I checked them out, rode it and decided the comfort and control advantages of suspension were worth the investment. I wouldn't go back to riding a hardtail let alone take a road bike on the trail.<br /><br />Have fun riding cuz after all that is what it is about.</i> - <b>MC, 12-9-98</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Are you the same Chris Kostman that wrote "Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them?" back in 1993? That great article had a dramatic effect on my cycling, and all I can say is "thanks you!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>At the time that article came out I was starting to ride off road with an old road bike and loving it. When I read your piece, I couldn't believe any mainstream mag would print it, and the tips really helped. because of that piece I really went all out, and eventually god rid of my mtb's all together (I won't be riding the Iditabike any time soon). Now I just own one road/bike for everything - and my bike handling skills and the types of terrain I can cover on it have grown exponentially. Your piece really snapped me out of the money-draining, must-have-the-latest-hi-tech-gizmo thing. As I recall there were some pretty amusing letters that followed that piece - along with that great follow up article you wrote (in the BOB mag?).</i> - <b>GK, 5-13-99</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Dear Mr. Kostman,<br /><br />I chanced across your self-defense rebuttal about mountain bikes. I'm not a biker myself, but I want to pat you on the back for standing up for yourself. It is truly sad when ignorant people beat up on another person's ideas which they do not understand.<br /><br />When you speak from experience and others complain by theory, I'll believe the guy with experience every time. Like you said, if you're biking on a road, then use a road bike. If a person is biking across broken rocks and fallen trees, THEN get a (highly mortgaged) mountain bike. <br /><br />I'm too old to bike now. I did grow up in the country and rode a "road" bike to school from grades four through eight. Did own a baby "hog" (Harley) for a short time.<br /><br />Mr. Kostman, you seem to be doing all the right things. Head forward. Don't spend too much time "throwing rocks" at the complaining dummies. Maybe, issue some open challenges, some "put up or shut up" dares: my bike and my skills against whatever you think you've got. Get witnesses, too.</i><br /><br /><i>To a winner from <b>CM</b></i><b>, 9-14-00</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I couldn't agree more, when I was a kid we built trail bikes from 19'" frames and had no gears, one speed, one brake, street tires, and modified short stick handle bars, and I'll bet those bike would smoke any mountain bike on the market today, even without alloys, they weighted nothing, we could pull almost any incline, and fly down any hills at crazy speeds without worry of blowing shocks,,, shocks....? I like to feel the ground. Love the article, bet it pissed off everybody...... lol </i><b>EK, 5-10-01</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Great article about "Mountain Bikes- Who needs them?," though I just came across it in August 2001. Have you written any updates? <br /><br />I'm sure that all of your views have stayed fairly firm, though I'd wonder if you, like me, have embraced more suspension as you get any older? Granted I don't have the skills to set records on 24 hours/ distance races, but for the intermediate/advanced rider who has hit 30 years old and would like to take the shock out of drops, washboards, roots, etc. have you looked to more comfort as you have gotten older?<br /><br />I don't intend this to be a topic for another article, but I'd like to see your views on the advances in technology/weight loss for some of these 21lb. full suspension bikes and if anything has changed with age. Thanks, </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">EV, 8-21-01</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I have been relieved of my job at the local bike shop for 'being too roadie.' I am living in a fairly pavementless area on the northern shore of lake superior, where I ride forest roads and trails on my rb-1 or my steel bianchi cyclocross bike. When I feel like pavement riding I usually grab my old Bianchi Pista.</i> - <b>CJ, 5-22-02</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I think you have a serious attitude problem and feel sad that you have so much anger towards a truly wonderful pursuit. Perhaps a bit of therapy or a change in ethnicity might make you a happier and less critical soul. Have a nice day.</i> - <b>Y, 7-30-02</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Chris Kostman invented under-biking, first in Bicycle Guide on an RB-1 and, later, in the '94 Bstone catalog. I singletrack my Romulus because Chris told me it was possible.</i> - <b>JB, 4-21-04</b><br /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>It occurs to me I need to thank you for writing all those years ago about riding road bikes on unpaved surfaces. Inspired by your writings, I've developed a love of dirt and gravel road travel on my Mercian fixed-gear.</i> - <b>RF, 5-3-04</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That link was a jumping off point for a bunch of weekend reading in the <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/way/" target="_blank">Way</a> subdirectory of your web space. Much great stuff, thank you.<br /><br />One Nit: You say "trust me when I say I'm just an Average Joe, not a Superman."<br /><br />Ahem. someone who will go out for 125 rides with two bottles of water and a energy bar?<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Someone who will do the triple iron-man thing in France? Someone who races RAAM as a 20 year old?<br /><br />Helllooooo!! Reality knocking! "Average" is not an accurate adjective.<br /><br />Now, if I complete the Cascade 1200 this June - less than two years after my first century ride, less than three years after ending 20 years of sedentary living with becoming a bike commuter - I'll stand up as your "Average Joe". Until then you need to find another "average" stand in.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Done with the nit.<br /><br />Thanks for the training advice on the site. I'm applying it.</i> - <b>MR, 2-29-05</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hey Chris... Its nice to hear from the author himself. What I meant by flushing it out more, is that you tell us to develop skills so good that technology becomes meaningless. You don't dig further and tell us how to maneuver a skinny tire through 2" of sand. You take the approach of "Go for it!". Which is great, but takes a giant leap of faith for someone who isn't accustomed to the idea.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />I'm willing to take my 23mm up and down a nearby fireroad, but I also have trails near me which require creek crossing (will hitting an unseen rock produce a pinch flat faster than a knobbie), or sand patches, or wide singletrack with deep ruts from the knobbies before us.<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It seems you gave birth to the idea of US cyclocross, early! Last month, I was planning on quelching my bike desire by building up a go-fast, a tourer, a singlespeed/fixte, a grocery getter, a you name it. Then, I realized, I could do all of this with a change of wheels. Specialized bikes are for specialized people. If all I did was tour, I think I'd want to get a tall touring frame for myself (I'm 6'6"). But, if all I did was MTB, I don't think a tall tourer would work for the agility needed of some trails. Perhaps I'm mistaken, I'm still new. :)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br />Anyway, I've got my eyes on the surly cross-check and acquiring a couple set of wheels. I look forward to experimenting with different options. Thanks for writing your article!</i> - <b>DB, 2-28-05</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to you also for your efforts over the last 15+ years. I was really psyched on you and the B-stone boys <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/when/1993canaan.html" target="_blank">rallying XOs in the dirt</a> when I was in college and on your lightning rod "road-bikes-on-the-dirt" article. There was a whole crew of us at that time in North Georgia riding beat old 700c roadies on these great epic dirt loops, some of us on tubs. Anyway, it was a big influence on me. After a short trip into MTB style equipment in the late 90's (still rigid onespeeding with cantis), I ride nothing but skinnies in the dirt (35s). Later on pal,</i> <b>MC, 3-9-05</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Well, if the photos on your site are an indication of the kind of "trails" you ride, then no, you don't need a mountain bike. Come on out to the Rockies and see how long your wheels last.<br /><br />Beautiful rides, by the way. They remind me of my commute. I'd take my Atlantis on them.</i> - <b>HCH, 9-5-05</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyone who is seriously into mountain biking, knows that training on a road bike in addition to trail riding, is the key to mountain biking success. In other words, to be good on a mountain bike, especially where endurance events are concerned, spending more time on the road bike than the mountain bike is often necessary.<br /> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would not, however, designate one as "better than" the other, they are just "different". Which many people will not hear in their rush to "defend" since becoming defensive is a normal reaction in human nature, when people perceive that their beliefs are being questioned or attacked. There is a definite place in any cyclists arsenal for a mountain bike. I sure wouldn't take my carbon Cinelli with flyweight carbon fork up any mountain bike trail, and the mountain bike allows us to ride where the road bike doesn't, but for pure conditioning, the road bike is essential as AN ADDITION, not as a replacement.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Here is an interesting fact I discovered quite by accident. When riding El Moro a few times I used to see people hiking with poles, and asked them what they were training for. They replied "Whitney". OK, well I'd planned to do the Whitney hike before meeting those people, went forward after my encounters with the pole hikers, and did the hike solo, without any sort of "hiking training" whatsoever. I pretty much aced it up and back in less than 13 hours, since it is not really hiking, but more like stair climbing, two steps at a time. Much like the leg movements we make when cycling, and using the same muscles. I never once trained by hiking, and I am quite sure, as I passed all those people with hiking poles on the trail, that all of my road and mountain biking prior to doing the Whitney hike, was the key to my success.<br /> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Why polarize people with the idea that "my ride is better than your ride"? Each bike has its own function, the applications are simply different, not better or worse. </i>- <b>BM, 3-30-10</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was amused in Chris's article re "mountain bikes." During the early '60's I was known, to the Oakland East Bay Regional Park Service, as that crazy "Mountain-man": IF I couldn't ride it (over the terrain) I carried it. Me and my trusty English-made traditional 10 speed!! There wasn't a fire road or mountain trail that ever slowed me down. If it was there ... I traversed it. On another note, six years ago, I encountered an hysterical mountain-biker: he was riding DOWN a trail that only a mountain goat would ever attempt ....... of course ........ I was going UP:) It seems that he felt that his $7,000 mountain bike (I bought my first house for less than that) would take him, safely, anywhere. Wrong! But for this old guy (me), he and his $7,000 "magic carpet" would have ended at the bottom of a jagged rock filled ravine. I saved him and his trusty steed from total carnage. I did everything to put him back together except wash his "dirty laundry":)) I remember this well because I still have two torn rotators that, periodically refreshes my gallantry:) Ah, yes: $7,000 for a luxury ride to near total destruction. I may not be able to enjoy the trails any longer but at least I don't have to worry about saving some nut ass pedaling a $7,000 hype. My old ten speed had Dunlop Road Speed radial tires with heavy-duty inner tube. I rode this bike thousands of miles ...... NEVER had a flat!!!<br /> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>So, my enfashionados/demons: reread Chris's old article re: '<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/03/any-bike-anywhere-rough-riders-way-of.html" target="_blank">Any bike Anywhere</a>' .... get real and save yourself some $$. By the way ..... I ride, daily, 30 miles of 'Alpine Pass' mode, on my $3000 Star Trac recumbent stationary bike:)) But, if any of you, out there, with an old "clunker" AND a healthy pair of gams ....... I'll gladly trade you ....... just kidding. I wouldn't ask that of anyone. In the meantime ..... I'll just peddle my ancient hulk to no-where. And .... I'll be happy in knowing that I'm still able to grunt, huff, pant .... AND complain:)) The signature of a true jock.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>The worst incident with my old 10 speed was when I was tooling down College Ave. in Berkeley, California ..... some IDIOT opened his, parked, car door in front of me. I had no choice but to grab the door frame. My bike ended in some shrubs. I got a big grass stain on my posterior. The car?: popped windshield, broken door hinge, and a smashed hood where this 250 pound muscled cyclist bounced from the hood onto a lush green lawn. The driver?: wet pants .... as I read him the riot act!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys have been there so you know how good it is to ride the trails and away from two tons of steel with a loose nut behind the wheel!!!<br /><br />Yours in the sport of friendly humor along with just plain common sense.</i> - <b>AA, 3-3--10</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over this winter I think I will finally scan and post all the letters to the editor which were sent to Bicycle Guide back in 1993, many of which were very supportive from those who "got" what I was saying, while others were just hilarious. That 1993 article is truly the gift that keeps on giving, when I consider how it still evokes knee-jerk responses from people whose identity is tied up in the width of their bike's tyres, along with positive, friendly emails from those who got my point and appreciate the adventurous way of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meanwhile, enjoy the ride, everyone. Life is short!</span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-32909674712063457342013-12-02T08:17:00.000-08:002013-12-02T08:17:06.411-08:00First Time for Everything: Tyres Grow Tumors<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I was just riding along recently, descending Stunt Road in the Santa Monica Mountains, when I started to detect a slight hopping in my rear wheel. As I was on a fast descent with curves, I didn't want to risk my rear wheel sliding out, so I stopped to check it out. Imagine my shock when I saw bubbles between my tyre tread and the tyre casing, something I have never seen in my 31-year cycling career! I could tell there was nothing I could do about it, so I kept on descending, albeit more slowly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The hopping soon became almost unrideable, so I stopped again after a quarter-mile. At this point, the "tumors" were really large, as you can see in the photos below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I always carry a spare tyre when I ride an event, but not when just out riding in my home turf, so swapping out the tyre wasn't an option. I always carry several Park Tool tyre boots, but those weren't going to help, so I decided to just coast along and get closer to home before the inevitable happened and I had to call for a ride or hitch-hike.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But then, not only did my tyre not blow up, but all the tumors miraculously disappeared! Yep, just riding along, the ride became smooth. At the next stop sign, at the intersection of Stunt Road and Mulholland, I looked at my back tyre and there was no sign whatsoever that this crazy circumstance had unfolded. If I hadn't photographed my tyre, I would have almost thought I had been hallucinating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I finished my ride without incident, but then the next day my back tyre was half-flat, suffering from a slow leak. Coincidence, or related? I will never know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The tyres in question are my all-time favorite, best riding, best performing: Challenge Paris-Roubaix, 27mm wide. I love these tyres and will definitely continue to ride them (new ones). In this particular case, perhaps an issue was the age of the tyres. They were originally installed by Velo Cult on <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/search/label/Raleigh" target="_blank">my Raleigh</a> in January of 2011, but after a few rides I parked that bike for a few years. Recently I reconfigured the Raleigh and put the tyres on my Rivendell Roadeo instead. Therefore, though the tread was essentially new, the tyres themselves are at least three years old. Perhaps that's a factor?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6q27dNyUFNmlPRFHcb99QmnZqTa3A157asgoT6MQ2zYGjH26_NFrcdS6DYxtk59eYIVg_J7F5WcdCvd_DyhaJ0A_fee2Z6jIEmfLv5Dywtfu7oP7o6PeO_bvBzsj72J95GhfZuwIPCg/s1600/IMG_5357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6q27dNyUFNmlPRFHcb99QmnZqTa3A157asgoT6MQ2zYGjH26_NFrcdS6DYxtk59eYIVg_J7F5WcdCvd_DyhaJ0A_fee2Z6jIEmfLv5Dywtfu7oP7o6PeO_bvBzsj72J95GhfZuwIPCg/s400/IMG_5357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/woodland-hills-mulholland-stunt-road-summit-and-back-96683061" target="_blank">See the route on Strava</a>.</span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-63080804764539097762013-11-21T12:56:00.003-08:002013-11-21T12:56:56.704-08:00"What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIGkV5UIEixaKXY60Qv7eJISeRzhNAsCZAeK4o3bgEdD-Pmqg5GVaGNrg8TbcuIge_pnNRzpNT7bnIYZyQNHmEzDRnZwehQynpW8xutFu0ecLNd0X2MWPYg3tfX9ytDr8PfKj6QxSpaw/s1600/IMG_4636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIGkV5UIEixaKXY60Qv7eJISeRzhNAsCZAeK4o3bgEdD-Pmqg5GVaGNrg8TbcuIge_pnNRzpNT7bnIYZyQNHmEzDRnZwehQynpW8xutFu0ecLNd0X2MWPYg3tfX9ytDr8PfKj6QxSpaw/s400/IMG_4636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2d371c; font-size: x-small;">Above: The host of this blog on the right, Chris Kostman, with 1986 RAAM champion Elaine Mariolle at Tilden Park in the Berkeley hills in 1991.</span></span></i></div>
<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><b>A special guest post today by one of America's most beloved radio commentators, Paul Harvey (1918-2009)</b>:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #2d371c; font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved. <br /><br />
There's not a problem in America today - crime, drugs, education,
divorce, delinquency - that wouldn't be remedied if we just had more
Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. <br /><br />
People that live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. <br /><br />
That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth
it, if at the end is home...a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog. <br /><br />
We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our
kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom
they learn how to get along. <br /><br />
There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. <br /><br />
Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew
they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. <br /><br />
And there were no drive by shootings. <br /><br />
Our values were better when our roads were worse! <br /><br />
People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists
were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper...or the
guy in front would choke you with dust and bust your windshield with
rocks. <br /><br />
Dirt Roads taught patience. <br /><br />
Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly, you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk you walked to the barn for your milk. <br /><br />
For your mail, you walked to the mail box. <br /><br />
What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best
part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted
marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony rode on Daddy's shoulders and
learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. <br /><br />
At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. <br /><br />
Most paved roads lead to trouble. Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. <br /><br />
At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we even locked our car was in
August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much
zucchini. <br /><br />
At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income,
from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and
pull them out. <br /><br />
Usually you got a dollar...always you got a new friend...at the end of a Dirt Road! </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Harvey" target="_blank">By Paul Harvey</a></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-48829438573273182462013-03-21T15:12:00.001-07:002013-03-21T17:00:14.611-07:00Ridge Route Ride on Saturday: YOU Are Invited!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please
join me this Saturday for a 6<span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span>-mile road ride in the mount<span style="font-size: x-small;">ains </span>north of Los Angeles
which features the Ridge Rouge, 3 Points Road, and Lake Hughes Road.
It's a clock-wise loop which will start and finish in Castaic. There's a
lot of climbing, especially in the first third, <span style="font-size: x-small;">with</span> about <span style="font-size: x-small;">8</span>000 feet of
total elevation gain. The Ridge Route has been closed to cars for quite
some time, but, to the best of my knowledge, it is totally passable.
(But if you read this blog, and/or know me, you know that I like a bit
of rough stuff on my road bike.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDtG7hcWeDhRGdXWIxJh3duyxVwnUiF94KDKvjMBDmwhlEdb-HJlpPTkeLKC9KOYayqYXm4H_NDf7GNuR22Z8z1y_0WK0Ie3mmgZR826Hj6B_mBIfsP7WjqdnG_TIfYdU7AWWdrBm78I/s400/2001400km.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pictured, L-R: Paul Sparrow Hawk Byron, Chris Kostman (me), Mike Miller, and Peter Penguin Pop on the Ridge Route in 2001 during a 400km Brevet which I hosted.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2257171" target="_blank">Here's the RidewithGPS Page <span style="font-size: x-small;">for the Intended Route</span></a>. | <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">Here's the</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank"> </a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">route on Google M</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://goo.gl/maps/5dfbX" target="_blank">aps</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's s<span style="font-size: x-small;">napshot <span style="font-size: x-small;">of the<span style="font-size: x-small;"> map <span style="font-size: x-small;">an<span style="font-size: x-small;">d elevati<span style="font-size: x-small;">on profile</span></span></span>:</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7WqahHOKx3VWzZqAo-pNT0M42whAkt-DPumxxuA5UrES7zDRX-FLRrEUrk1L9FUoG0VwchJfoCCquH6vtEz1h3Xp0UnKEXYRcygpRZakAY8ZdRFDfW52ZSpdoTFSlJS9DHu_YIuVl7A/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-03-21+at+3.09.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7WqahHOKx3VWzZqAo-pNT0M42whAkt-DPumxxuA5UrES7zDRX-FLRrEUrk1L9FUoG0VwchJfoCCquH6vtEz1h3Xp0UnKEXYRcygpRZakAY8ZdRFDfW52ZSpdoTFSlJS9DHu_YIuVl7A/s400/Screen+shot+2013-03-21+at+3.09.29+PM.png" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note that RidewithGPS is known to heavily overstate elevation gain!) </span></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Route Description:</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The route heads north along I-5 (not literally), and the climbing begins immediately. We'll head northbound on the appropriately
named Ridge Route, climbing higher and higher into ever more beautiful
and remote territory up above I-5. After crossing Templin Highway at
elev 2960, we'll have an 18 mile "epic adventure" as the Ridge Route
becomes an "unmaintained road." Don't freak out, though: based on my experience in 2001, 2002, and 2003, it's easily
doable on a standard road bike. (And it's as true here as everywhere
else that 19mm tyres are a bad idea.) We'll climb about 500', then roll
along through an incredible set of rolling hills that vary between 3400'
and 4000'. A few patches are very ripped up, some are gravelly, a few
are hard-packed dirt, but 95% of this stretch is perfectly fine. The
other 5% is never scary or dangerous. When scouting the route originally back in 2001, I
drove this at full speed in my low-to-the-ground Saturn SL2, then rode
it on my Kestrel with 28 hole wheels and 23mm tyres. I had no problems,
just lots of fun! At the top is the checkpoint and incredible views of California
Poppies in the surrounding gone-back-in-time valleys. At this point
you'll have done about 4000' of cumulative elevation gain. From here we head
east on Pine Canyon Rd and Three Points Rd, then south on Lake Hughes
Road back to the start/finish.</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rout<span style="font-size: x-small;">e <span style="font-size: x-small;">Directions (approximate):</span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">0.0 H<span style="font-size: x-small;">ead east <span style="font-size: x-small;">on Lake Hughes Road</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">0.3 Go left / north on Ridge Route<span style="font-size: x-small;">, continue </span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6.9 Cross Templin Hwy</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8.6 <span style="font-size: x-small;">"End County Maintain<span style="font-size: x-small;">ed Road<span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span>.0</span> Maintain road r<span style="font-size: x-small;">esumes</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2<span style="font-size: x-small;">6.5</span> Right / east Pine Canyon Road/N2</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3<span style="font-size: x-small;">4.5</span> R Three Points Rd. (SS, T-Int) - There at least used to be a bathroom on right around back</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4<span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span>.0 R Lake Hughes Road - There at lease used to be a market on right after turn</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">67.0 <span style="font-size: x-small;">Finish at McDonald's at L<span style="font-size: x-small;">ake Huges<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Road and Castaic Road.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Schedule: </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meet at 730am at the McDonald's at <span class="pp-place-title">27701 Lake Hughes Rd</span>, Castaic, CA 91384</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Depart at 800am sharp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Return time? That's up to you. I am planing about a 4 to 5 hour pace wit<span style="font-size: x-small;">h a few stops for photos and to e<span style="font-size: x-small;">njoy the view. There are almost NO services along this route, so com<span style="font-size: x-small;">e prepared!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please come prepared with food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, route sheet, map and/or GPS, etc. NOTE: The
ride is unsupported and all are on their own. Further updates will
be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj78V6qzHNd-MNMmA1y6DOVx3UI7uJwO0owMDqxI67QFpOB3-I-YvPgPtWPCFGsSEBgbfpWMCeo5BkOf9cywH4HHkZHlOib5zkFCN9Rk-jwQZMmGR6u-qq0jzWUIxdxPPdKHHt6ms5Xo/s1600/ridgeroute.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj78V6qzHNd-MNMmA1y6DOVx3UI7uJwO0owMDqxI67QFpOB3-I-YvPgPtWPCFGsSEBgbfpWMCeo5BkOf9cywH4HHkZHlOib5zkFCN9Rk-jwQZMmGR6u-qq0jzWUIxdxPPdKHHt6ms5Xo/s400/ridgeroute.jpg" width="265" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ridgeroute.com/" target="_blank">Read more about the Ridge Route</a> / <a href="http://www.scvresources.com/highways/ridge_route/" target="_blank">Take a Virtual Tour of the Ridge Route</a> </span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More Phot<span style="font-size: x-small;">os of the Ridge Rou<span style="font-size: x-small;">te, from the 2002 400km Breve<span style="font-size: x-small;">t I <span style="font-size: x-small;">hosted there<span style="font-size: x-small;">:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </i></b></div>
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</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured above: </span>Ann Crossland, Kerin Huber, Big Ring Dave, and yours truly in '<span style="font-size: x-small;">02</span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">See you "out there"! </span></span></i></b> </i></span></span></span></div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-37545510285237803902012-12-28T20:54:00.000-08:002012-12-28T21:11:28.289-08:00New Year's Day Ride: All Are Invited! (80, 66, or 48 mile options)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">L<span style="font-size: small;">et's kick off the New Year in s<span style="font-size: small;">tyle, doing what we love! </span></span>Please join me on
a road ride around and over the Santa Monica Mountains this Tuesday, January 1, 2013! There are three possible starting points and times, so your route can be 80 miles, or about 62 miles, or about <span style="font-size: small;">48</span> miles. This is an excellent route with a nice, easy first 1/2 to 2/3 and then a goodly amount of climbing in the final 3rd, up, along, and over the Santa Monica M<span style="font-size: small;">ountain</span>s. <span style="font-size: small;"><i>(</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Got<span style="font-size: small;"> a <span style="font-size: small;">steel bike<span style="font-size: small;">? <span style="font-size: small;">Ride it! Even better if it's a classic steel bike!)</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the schedule and route options:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5CnZlBqouXqSYa5529_ld3wqzoUyfjq4wCGX39_VmNeYCDmCPyrKkd4AQxIaW3Qb6e65i0ucaEGp3gpCLYrCeMvYbi0o9DazZazzoYT3FAXH3RX9bvokXijXQU5qLFIjO2EPzbJbxRc/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+7.26.37+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5CnZlBqouXqSYa5529_ld3wqzoUyfjq4wCGX39_VmNeYCDmCPyrKkd4AQxIaW3Qb6e65i0ucaEGp3gpCLYrCeMvYbi0o9DazZazzoYT3FAXH3RX9bvokXijXQU5qLFIjO2EPzbJbxRc/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+7.26.37+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">80-mile route<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> Start / Finish in Woodland Hills (<a href="http://tinyurl.com/1113ride" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet-Up: 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: <span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr">4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://g.co/maps/s93mc" target="_blank">Google Map</a> of the location.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Departure: 800am <u>sharp</u>.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu4C8SN4luQBszaeajOPwEk9nd_Cha8xPZU-2Fp6mGFD9745obqVhSDoXVGkeEduJvh1LDQYspxCod47eBlYDelEGNdkerlR1AlMr53VtLeT5YeNnZgXz8eMezOQW5Tis_OZbe-nXApk/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.47.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu4C8SN4luQBszaeajOPwEk9nd_Cha8xPZU-2Fp6mGFD9745obqVhSDoXVGkeEduJvh1LDQYspxCod47eBlYDelEGNdkerlR1AlMr53VtLeT5YeNnZgXz8eMezOQW5Tis_OZbe-nXApk/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.47.48+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6<span style="font-size: small;">6</span>-mile route<span style="font-size: small;">:</span> Start /Finish in Calabasas (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/tILJv" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Meet<span style="font-size: small;">-Up</span></span>: 820am, Starbucks off Las Virgenes at 26521 Agoura Rd, Calabasas, CA 91302. Departure: App. 840am, <u>once the main group arrives</u>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdPmOULAlEW6jECjQCIYm506C9gpZoO8JPBefPi7gqX0J7ho8Mwk6AmNFVNE6Ge8Zh1Qn2edMuXG4dJhmLCSzgE24zk1N_-KCC3oHZkCpzgZzR1GMCRw8nI3dAenkCrmm1OftT5gDWNw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.45.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdPmOULAlEW6jECjQCIYm506C9gpZoO8JPBefPi7gqX0J7ho8Mwk6AmNFVNE6Ge8Zh1Qn2edMuXG4dJhmLCSzgE24zk1N_-KCC3oHZkCpzgZzR1GMCRw8nI3dAenkCrmm1OftT5gDWNw/s400/Screen+shot+2012-12-28+at+8.45.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><u><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">48-mile route: Start / Finish in Westlake Village (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/jExfP" target="_blank">Map of Route, as above</a>)</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Meet-Up: 900am, East Coast Bagel at intersection of Agoura Road and Westlake Blvd in Westlake Village. Departure: App: 915am, <u>once the main group arrives</u>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rain<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>cancels <span style="font-size: small;">(at least for me)</span>. <span style="font-size: small;">Please c</span>ome prepared with food, drink, bike repair needs, money, ID, <span style="font-size: small;">map or GPS,<span style="font-size: small;"> etc. <span style="font-size: small;">NOTE:</span></span></span> The
ride is unsupported and all are on their own.<span style="font-size: small;"> F</span>urther updates will
be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See you "out there"! </span></span></div>
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Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-73620942001856568252012-12-06T20:06:00.002-08:002012-12-06T20:08:19.065-08:00Mount Baldy ride this Sunday: All Are Invited!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3O04L2u0qQ4yPMWz9NFixGsSX2Z_Tb5ET-eRRnM7bwgGZgDSMcT703Fs4CrAL3WKTt9tGX5n0NM0XuY3SeQQpiOw56claYhvd5T_XpZc1TdXIUIVvBdM6rv-LMSlINTDDsIi0l9NKhI/s1600/RIMG0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3O04L2u0qQ4yPMWz9NFixGsSX2Z_Tb5ET-eRRnM7bwgGZgDSMcT703Fs4CrAL3WKTt9tGX5n0NM0XuY3SeQQpiOw56claYhvd5T_XpZc1TdXIUIVvBdM6rv-LMSlINTDDsIi0l9NKhI/s320/RIMG0009.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Above: That's me on GMR in 2001. The road was snowed over that year, so a few of us just pushed our bikes and kept on going, and had a fantastic adventure! But this Sunday I am hoping and planning to ride the whole way! I was riding my 1994 Bridgestone RB-1 that day<span style="font-size: xx-small;">; this weekend I will ride my Rivendell Roadeo.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please join me on a road ride to Mt. Baldy this Sunday, December 9! This is one of Southern California's absolutely best rides, and was also the first real ride I ever did, when I got my first road bike at age 14 in 1982! We will depart at 845am from Classic Coffee at 148 N. Glendora Ave. Glendora, CA 91741. (Or meet us en route, at the top of Glendora Avenue, at the intersection with Sierra Madre, at 900am.)<br /><br />It's a 40 mile ride with lots of climbing in the first half: figure 3.5 hours total. The route will be: up Glendora Mountain Road (GMR), continue across Glendora Ridge Route to Baldy Village, then down the front of the mountain and bike across to Glendora via San Dimas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pre- and post-ride refreshments at the above-mentioned Classic Coffee in the Glendora Village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rain / snow cancels. Bring warm clothes, food, drink, and bike repair needs. The ride is unsupported and all are on their own. Any further updates will be posted to my Twitter feed: <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman">http://twitter.com/ChrisKostman</a><br /><br />Map of route (<a href="http://goo.gl/maps/Gr8tq" target="_blank">or here</a>):</span><br />
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<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&daddr=34.2094283,-117.7761245+to:Mount+Baldy,+CA+to:34.1229602,-117.7071777+to:34.1323443,-117.8204695+to:34.1361087,-117.8328027+to:148+N+Glendora+Ave,+Glendora,+CA+91741&hl=en&geocode=FXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw%3BFZT-CQIdBOH6-CnZeBQSZCTDgDH3-kXSw3Da-A%3BFd1nCgIdoar8-CmZZfDX6DvDgDF79VSvSEhAOQ%3BFdCsCAIdV-77-CmZ3JSnTjDDgDFRO1l0WUCemg%3BFXjRCAIdyzP6-CnJsv4N-CXDgDFNzQ98DGZn_g%3BFSzgCAIdngP6-Clx1i16BybDgDErhZPR1SNVrw%3BFXblCAIdpoX5-CmFDATBOSbDgDGAX5pa3jiBDw&aq=0&oq=148+N.+Glendora+Ave.+Glendora,+CA+91741&sll=34.123352,-117.715416&sspn=0.017373,0.042014&dirflg=w&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=1,3,4,5&ie=UTF8&ll=34.123352,-117.715416&spn=0.017373,0.042014&t=m" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-3948894577788941082012-05-25T18:25:00.001-07:002012-05-25T18:32:55.372-07:00Rough Riding Mt. Diablo with Sean Virnig of Rawland Cycles<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 0pt; text-align: justify; width: 450px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673984/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1966"><img alt="IMGP1966" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7270673984_9aa6fd2c16_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673888/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1967"><img alt="IMGP1967" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7270673888_e5703287d8_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673654/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1968"><img alt="IMGP1968" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7228/7270673654_4f638858d6_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674086/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1969"><img alt="IMGP1969" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7270674086_340148ecb1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674156/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1970"><img alt="IMGP1970" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7270674156_f97861f33e_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674278/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1972"><img alt="IMGP1972" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7270674278_43468b8d61_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674404/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1974"><img alt="IMGP1974" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7270674404_b3e1eb026f_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674478/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1976"><img alt="IMGP1976" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7270674478_0540c15af9_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674590/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1977"><img alt="IMGP1977" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7270674590_93589c47a1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674750/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1978"><img alt="IMGP1978" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/7270674750_138bc10540_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270674898/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1979"><img alt="IMGP1979" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7219/7270674898_35fef965f6_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675058/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1980"><img alt="IMGP1980" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7270675058_e59e2fd1c6_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675182/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1981"><img alt="IMGP1981" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7270675182_321e90e5b8_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675332/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1984"><img alt="IMGP1984" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7270675332_1dbd40d47a_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675396/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1989"><img alt="IMGP1989" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7270675396_f281ec80b4_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675432/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1990"><img alt="IMGP1990" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7270675432_3441abfcd1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675652/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1991"><img alt="IMGP1991" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7270675652_447fc27e19_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675556/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1992"><img alt="IMGP1992" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7270675556_1631abe0cb_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675758/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1993"><img alt="IMGP1993" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/7270675758_07d5d008fb_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270675872/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP1999"><img alt="IMGP1999" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7270675872_12feca1892_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270673598/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2000"><img alt="IMGP2000" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7270673598_daaa644033_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676030/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2001"><img alt="IMGP2001" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7270676030_96e9ed4875_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676148/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2002"><img alt="IMGP2002" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7270676148_d6af63de60_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7270676066/in/set-72157629897892694/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0pt 0pt 10px; width: 75px;" title="IMGP2003"><img alt="IMGP2003" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7270676066_a8469319b1_s.jpg" style="border: medium none; height: 75px; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 75px;" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/sets/72157629897892694/">Rough Riding Mt. Diablo with Sean Virnig of Rawland Cycles</a>, a set on Flickr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was multi-surface cycling at it best, in the backyard playground of two of cycling most's innovative and exciting bicycle brands: Rivendell Bicycles of Walnut Creek, CA and Rawland Cycles of Danville, CA. <br /><br />I rode with Sean Virnig, founder and designer of Rawland Cycles and we both rode the Rawland rSogn model. Both bikes have 650B wheels: Sean had Pacenti Quasi-Moto 2.0" (with small knobbies), while I rode smooth-treaded Grand Bois Hetre tyres, 42mm wide. <br /><br />This was a fantastic mix of paved road, single track, and fire road: Rough Rider Paradise! Nearly ever rider we encountered off-road commented favorably or asked questions about our bikes. The folks at Rawland, and at Rivendell, are really lucky to have this outdoor multi-surface paradise right in their backyards. What a great region for fun and adventure, as well as testing new designs and equipment!<br /><br />It was a pleasure to ride with Sean, who, along with his family, is now a California resident. I had ridden many times on Mt. Diablo with Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycles in nearby Walnut Creek, but this was my first time to ascend the mountain from the south side, which is where Danville is located. <br /><br />Sean honored me by wearing his Rough Riders jersey, which was really neat! Sean and I last rode together during the Rough Riders Rally in Marin County in July, 2010, at which event his Drakkar model won "Best Of Show" at the Rough Riders Shindig. Now hopefully we'll be able to ride together more often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/9097661" target="_blank">See the Strava page for this ride</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/180943207" target="_blank">See the Garmin page for this ride</a>. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/sets/72157629897892694/" target="_blank">See all my photos</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2012/03/my-rawland-rsogn-one-bike-to-rule-them.html" target="_blank">My review of the Rawland rSogn</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" target="_blank">The Rawland Cycles Website</a>.</span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-60311736368362747792012-05-15T10:22:00.000-07:002012-05-23T17:46:09.604-07:00Rough Riding the Santa Monica Mountains: Ride Planned for May 27<h2 style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>You're Invited: Multi-Surface Semi-Epic Ride in the Santa Monica Mountains on Sunday, May 27</b></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH30iB4Mhg6sAAuOQs6am-t7cCMSRb6AG0Fk7du_DCLBXX1g6ec_q5FBHtbNXBpxdbasUx1fetaBLsCQGN80hkfw1DrOqfkkxfHG59ntzr2rHHHHPpopvikWEqtdwLqLofoihoqYyJSZ4/s1600/DSC02875.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH30iB4Mhg6sAAuOQs6am-t7cCMSRb6AG0Fk7du_DCLBXX1g6ec_q5FBHtbNXBpxdbasUx1fetaBLsCQGN80hkfw1DrOqfkkxfHG59ntzr2rHHHHPpopvikWEqtdwLqLofoihoqYyJSZ4/s400/DSC02875.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">I'm planning to string together a bunch of trails, fire roads, and paved roads in the Santa Monica Mountains for a nice adventure ride on the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. You are welcome to join in the fun, so please help spread the word. The emphasis will be on quieter, more remote trails and as few paved roads as possible, to avoid holiday weekend traffic. Stay tuned to this webpage for further details.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Route:</b> It's about 50 miles with about 7500 feet of elevation gain, so figure 5-6 hours. There will be some bail-out options for those who want to do less. We'll start on the edge of The Valley and head up high from there, enjoying views such as those featured on this <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2009/11/rough-rider-semi-epic-in-santa-monica.html" target="_blank">previous semi-epic ride preview</a> and <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2009/12/rough-riding-santa-monica-mountains.html" target="_blank">post-ride report</a> from the same region.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here is the intended Route:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">South (uphill) on Topanga to "Top of Topanga".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Right on Summit to Summit Motorway, taking it across the summit of Old Topanga Canyon Road, then straight onto Calabasas Peak Motorway.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This drops down to Stunt Road, then ascend Stunt Road to Schueren. (<b>Bail Out Option 1</b>: turn right on Stunt instead and then right on Mulholland, back to the start) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Take Schueren to Piuma, and descend Piuma.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn right, briefly, on Malibu Canyon / Las Virgenes. (<b>Bail Out Option 2</b>: continue on Las Virgenes to a right on Mulholland and back to the start.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn left, UPHILL at Tapia, straight up Mesa Peak Mtwy to the Backbone Trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Go west across the ridge on Backbone Trail, crossing the top of Corral Canyon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Continue west on Backbone Trail, then descend Bulldog Trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">At the bottom of Bulldog Trail, turn right and traverse east through Malibu Creek State Park. (If this seems too full of hikers, we'll instead go left and exit the Park via Malibou Lake and then Mulholland.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">At Las Virgenes, go right towards the coast to Piuma. (<b>Bail Out Option 3</b>: go left on Las Virgenes and right on Mulholland, back to the start.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Turn left on Piuma, then left on Cold Canyon Road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Continue on Cold Canyon / Dry Canyon as much as possible, otherwise Mulholland, back to Topanga Canyon and our start/finish at the Dumetz Starbucks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Here is a RideWithGPS preview of the route (Thanks to AllRoy71!): <a href="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1187100" target="_blank">Click</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Note: </b>On May 17 I rode a loop that featured the first ten and the final eight miles of this route with 2500 feet of elevation gain. <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/8736215" target="_blank">Here is the Strava page</a>. Based on that brief recon, I am going to raise my guesstimated elevation gain to 7,000-8,000 for the day and six hours total time. My low gear was 34x30 and I could just barely hold traction (while necessarily seated) with 650B Grand Bois Hetre tyres on the super steep uphills at 60 psi. I am probably going to run 50 psi on the 27th, at least for the dirt stretches. Here is a shot of Stunt Road in the distance and the downhill part of Calabasas Peak Motorway (fire road) which leads down to Stunt:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriskostman/7216578242/" title="Down down down then up up up by Chris Kostman / AdventureCORPS, on Flickr"><img alt="Down down down then up up up" height="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/7216578242_4e0c979166.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Meet-Up (start/finish):</b> 730am, Starbucks on Topanga Canyon at Dumetz: <span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr">4900 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364: <a href="http://g.co/maps/s93mc" target="_blank">Google Map</a> of the location.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Departure:</b> 800am sharp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Bring:</b> Three water bottles and/or hydration pack, plus food, two tubes, patch kit, tools, and more. It will probably be hot out there and water only occasionally available along the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>:
This ride is unhosted, unsupported, and everyone who shows up is on
their own. Neither we, nor anybody else, is responsible for anyone who
rides. If you ride, YOU are responsible for YOU and YOUR bike. This is
not an "event" - it is just a ride on dirt and paved roads for
like-minded people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Remember:</b> We Rough Riders enjoy getting "out there" by riding roads, dirt roads,
trails, and paths on whatever bike we happen to be on or have handy.
Sometimes the pavement's long gone and we're still on our "road bikes"
or some bike that would be commonly considered inadequate for the job -
and that's just fine by us! Rough Riding is not defined by the type of
bicycle or type of riding surface. Rough Riding is a state of mind, a
riding style with limitless freedom and an all-pervasive sense of
adventure. <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2012/03/my-rawland-rsogn-one-bike-to-rule-them.html" target="_blank">I will be riding my Rawland rSogn</a>, probably with knobby tyres or possibly with treadless 42mm Grand Bois Hetres.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyxoRnW6iNeNBwWw2j1HXnWOEgrwAtOyvP_suN3WBDNFqMZvjwaFH3O1HI902Tqy5x8gIUKNNhGOsZbhQq46MFmQFyBJcUsLzK3wxi0FbS-kpdFcm_pGd5IZG4FyiHUmtFZJKEyidpSI/s1600/DSC02864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyxoRnW6iNeNBwWw2j1HXnWOEgrwAtOyvP_suN3WBDNFqMZvjwaFH3O1HI902Tqy5x8gIUKNNhGOsZbhQq46MFmQFyBJcUsLzK3wxi0FbS-kpdFcm_pGd5IZG4FyiHUmtFZJKEyidpSI/s400/DSC02864.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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</div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-38691577522653354142012-04-11T17:56:00.008-07:002012-04-14T13:11:29.096-07:00Keeping It Light<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6CvfXebmmDLUmqm6be9mudVunI6ALeYlyJ3ubEkU-Iktt3T4CVBORBFKpAydRpFOcNfwNPQAMDrMaqmGPTuyMtfetR0N80lo4mJHjpkO9cpFO0rM7Z97JEZnaXSJM0VGtkKZI4CXlJk/s1600/GUMBY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6CvfXebmmDLUmqm6be9mudVunI6ALeYlyJ3ubEkU-Iktt3T4CVBORBFKpAydRpFOcNfwNPQAMDrMaqmGPTuyMtfetR0N80lo4mJHjpkO9cpFO0rM7Z97JEZnaXSJM0VGtkKZI4CXlJk/s400/GUMBY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322193226307826" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;">The author with his mascot, Gumby, during the 1987 Race Across America. What could be more fun than having my sister-in-law crawl inside my inflatable 6" tall Gumby to surprise me?</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">It astounds me how overly seriously so many people take their cycling and endurance sports. It's like they just literally want to suck the life and the fun out of the whole experience.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Not me!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">I honestly believe I enjoy cycling, and getting "out there" under human power, more intensely, and more intently, than just about anybody. I do this largely by "keeping it light." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">When I'm out on my bike, when I'm "out there," I make a point of taking everything in, all the time. Some people stare continuously at the white line, or the butt of the rider in front of them, all the time. I don't get that. I prefer constantly using my peripheral vision to soak in as much enjoyment, information, inspiration, and light as possible. Not ony is this fun and smile-inducing, but it helps me to notice little roads or trails off to the side of the road, or way off in the distance on some hillside, giving me inspiration for more places to explore. I'm also more likely to notice weather changes in the offing, or aggressive drivers, or historic markers, or viewpoints to check out. If I don't pay attention, I'm liable to miss that glimpse of wildlife along the way, or a waterfall, or a dolphin in the ocean, or a classic car in somebody's yard or driveway, or a funnily decorated mailbox, or a funny sign, or a funky café or mini-mart. I've got to take it all in!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIWumJRqc-7Kutr-8AZNxQUcHAyamUqKiGtiJiYX6RxCgyOyhcvquvkfrJeU4-0jYbbqGwTDeszeN3awBva_J6_ZzKoaY4c3cCzQAxFXxvTFfxDMVxQn_WokX-YaSS283p3OHM73AVwM/s1600/DSC01182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIWumJRqc-7Kutr-8AZNxQUcHAyamUqKiGtiJiYX6RxCgyOyhcvquvkfrJeU4-0jYbbqGwTDeszeN3awBva_J6_ZzKoaY4c3cCzQAxFXxvTFfxDMVxQn_WokX-YaSS283p3OHM73AVwM/s400/DSC01182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322198837029250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">You noticed those wild turkeys over there to the right, on the way to Lake Cuyamaca, right?</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Yes, I really do stop during my rides. It amazes me how many people just blast right over the summit of a big climb, without even stopping to enjoy the view or take photo at the summit. Seriously? Likewise for those who have ridden past some historic marker placed by the county, some historical group, or the Clampers a million times, but have never stopped to read it. I pretty much always stop for those signs. In fact, I want to find an area in California that is thickly covered in historic markers and viewpoints and then create a cycling event that specifically involves stopping at all of them! (Any suggestions?)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s1600/DSC01247.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s400/DSC01247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322201826208562" border="0" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >California Registered Historical Landmark No. 858, along Sunrise Highway on Mount Laguna.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91runSBq39T0xGE7giClusVhxacF4zRAH9KYSQjc3y35xatgY1UMt2wjVYDHCj2wNyP3OQFDonbAxp-BAqISJF5PgLNw7w1chR9IJmFyjwetnEMoCMK8GmJPrZchU1RdBOOgf3iks5Y/s1600/DSC01247.jpg"></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">If cycling isn't about embracing the world around us and getting to know it, why not just ride indoors on a trainer? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Naturally, I at least nod at all the other cyclists I see, and sometimes I wave at them. Amazingly, I even verbally greet those riders that I catch along the way! (I know, I know, that's so uncommon anymore. Sad.) Of course, I don't discriminate based upon their type of bike, clothes, or anything else. Anybody on two human-powered wheels is fine by me, and automatically "on my team." (I make a point of chatting it up with motorcyclists, too, treating them as fellow two-wheeled lovers of the world. Being a human is the best way to be respected by another human, I believe. However, if one slides off the pavement because they are driving their motorbike like an idiot, I will ride on by.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">When I meet somebody to go for a ride, I am actually there <em>to ride with them</em>. I know, call me crazy, but it's not my idea of fun to "half-wheel" a friend. The friendship, conversation, and mutual enjoyment are paramount when I ride with somebody. I also keep it light by talking a lot - generally about <u>non</u>-cycling stuff - with my friends when I'm riding. All that sullen silence so common in group rides is not for me. (Quite boorish, that is.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Of course, I enjoy a silent jam with friends sometimes, too: Let our pedals do the talking! But when I really want to "train," which isn't often, I join a racing type club ride, enter a race or timed event, or I just go ride on my own and use my heartrate monitor and personal records on various stretches of road to push myself. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">My late friend and mentor, <a href="http://www.boostdam.net/1963TOUR/bascom_bio.htm" target="_blank">Willard Bascom</a>, said "The whole point of life is to enjoy it." By keeping it light, I do that as much and as often as possible.</span><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmtrL91ug0lwTfmM0G7IogDhTbLWDUzIZV5NkFNaQVP09slZrD4PvISB81t8NCtAeP-cdeUs-LHlnTZcnHUE7AR4rd_RblhbdOR8xBTgv2mDb10C35hhQYz5FOGFdRug7ZBHRKhNnSp0/s1600/DSC01288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmtrL91ug0lwTfmM0G7IogDhTbLWDUzIZV5NkFNaQVP09slZrD4PvISB81t8NCtAeP-cdeUs-LHlnTZcnHUE7AR4rd_RblhbdOR8xBTgv2mDb10C35hhQYz5FOGFdRug7ZBHRKhNnSp0/s400/DSC01288.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322208734821442" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Yeah, I stop to check out these kinds of signs, too. That's my Ritchey Break-Away. In this case, they explained the devastating, but natural, fire which had swept through this area of Mount Laguna.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br style="font-family: courier new;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfp_hMbUJjGeHuUJPook7ObvMXdpG5moNoEN-D88U5ymuqW_N46EnX5izyrWYmjmtA9tjbxDwVnH7WlmjxMQUmvrAmT6k8LZ8mcFVNjVST9oCUlY9iGcWSc3TJbXoxhZcsOGa4vrk6iw/s1600/DSC01433.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfp_hMbUJjGeHuUJPook7ObvMXdpG5moNoEN-D88U5ymuqW_N46EnX5izyrWYmjmtA9tjbxDwVnH7WlmjxMQUmvrAmT6k8LZ8mcFVNjVST9oCUlY9iGcWSc3TJbXoxhZcsOGa4vrk6iw/s400/DSC01433.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322206294120482" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:courier new;" >OK, we all stop to get water at National Forest Visitors' Centers, but how about going inside? They often have neat pins, postcards, books, and maps which I'll buy during a ride. Nice volunteers, too!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXcwH1i49t9ek8H3HvOxDqgwqHmrmfmz-BS7WrH1hCbslPXLIkW-id2jMp2mveZJsoouewS0GGNTlXAmt44wVB8UVqVBLV4UZA6Iux8ASTqAqR4CE1zslqzrIIbXyRK4Mf1HK4ENtbVk/s1600/DSC01437.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXcwH1i49t9ek8H3HvOxDqgwqHmrmfmz-BS7WrH1hCbslPXLIkW-id2jMp2mveZJsoouewS0GGNTlXAmt44wVB8UVqVBLV4UZA6Iux8ASTqAqR4CE1zslqzrIIbXyRK4Mf1HK4ENtbVk/s400/DSC01437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730322316193096306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:courier new;">Just one of many displays inside the Visitor's Center shown above, atop Mount Laguna. Want to visit this amazing Mount Laguna? Come ride our Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic in April! <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/mlbc/index.html">Info</a>.</span><br style="font-family: courier new;"></span></div></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-16713146511580262672012-04-10T09:07:00.011-07:002012-04-10T19:55:13.648-07:00Racing to the Light<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf7bLz_eZ4K9liRpfCKMS3Ai-B5lyRwoQaXmJNHWe9m_KHAdb99diDSc5N1KjP9CE9YqatiZeGDvozQOamqgyPOokbztrBeJGEMf2ZF5hlOdXDi7mOjaS8iPkHa4FE46WWKLo9Y-vloA/s1600/0403122142.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf7bLz_eZ4K9liRpfCKMS3Ai-B5lyRwoQaXmJNHWe9m_KHAdb99diDSc5N1KjP9CE9YqatiZeGDvozQOamqgyPOokbztrBeJGEMf2ZF5hlOdXDi7mOjaS8iPkHa4FE46WWKLo9Y-vloA/s400/0403122142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729805499251314306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >Above: A giant painting called "Picture Without Words" by <a href="http://www.getty.edu/news/press/exhibit/ruscha.html" target="_blank">Edward Ruscha</a>, as currently on display at the Getty Center, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >the inspiration for this post</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >. This photo of the painting is by the author.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">I've been thinking about "light" a lot lately, on a multitude of levels. For example, we ultra athletes are all "racing to the light" in many ways: During our ultra challenges, we're moving forward relentlessly, through the night, towards the sunrise, the first break of dawn. Each new day brings forth new opportunities, new energy, and perhaps the day in which we'll cross our finish line.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;"><br /><br />Likewise, when we're racing eastward, as I was for nearly eleven days during the 1987 Race Across America, we're racing right into the morning sun every day. When I did that race, I'd sleep three hours a night, from about 3 or 4am to 6 or 7am*. I always went to sleep when it was still dark out, and then got up after the sunrise, to pretend, in a way, that I had slept through the whole night. After I got up, I'd get back on my bike, and start rolling eastward, usually with some oatmeal to eat while pedaling. Not worrying about my speed just yet, I'd be squinting into the new day's sun. The memory of that daily ritual is one of the strongest of the entire experience. </span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">As I'd roll towards the light, I'd set my goals for the day: which state lines I'd cross that day, which other racers I'd pass, where I'd want to arrive by nightfall, and how many miles I wanted to ride before I finally took my three hour sleep break. That morning process of setting goals would repeat until the finish line. <em>"The fulness of life lies in dreaming, and manifesting, the impossible dreams,"</em> wrote Sri Chinmoy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUlkSOgvimq_ReOTypzI3pJIafs3iXEdYtV-YJFK3CSooZG524hu4Vq6Pn5f4E6TqHAfYxNEZbjBUe7O5edgK7iohPwZY8A-30DOiZ3keStfkQ3MJEGhqCnTNk4h-hYSde_y2jIOvsE0/s1600/1987RAAM06WebRes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUlkSOgvimq_ReOTypzI3pJIafs3iXEdYtV-YJFK3CSooZG524hu4Vq6Pn5f4E6TqHAfYxNEZbjBUe7O5edgK7iohPwZY8A-30DOiZ3keStfkQ3MJEGhqCnTNk4h-hYSde_y2jIOvsE0/s400/1987RAAM06WebRes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729805527622744466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;" >Go east, young man: The author during the 1987 Race Across America.</span><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">Crossing the finish line of an epic race in the darkness feels more like denouement than climax to me, so f</span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">inishing in the daylight is always a goal of mine, whenever possible. When I arrived at the Washington Monument after pedaling 3,127 miles in ten days, 23 hours, and 58 minutes, it was just shy of 2pm on a weekday. The whole city was abustle, I felt part of the energy, and the light was streaming down on me. I was alive, and all was well:<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8391fizgMhoroRQQvbvX3PwFNte2FAgsKQTG6CmYcGkGMR_NRRlsPg2T2JG3CRZ_ir93Iaonhc0luVm0wCkoqF0qCDoODQ1xvsFl95nBgv_1yF6Y95kSTTM6QsfGhL2K6s_gx461auM/s1600/1987RAAM09webres.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8391fizgMhoroRQQvbvX3PwFNte2FAgsKQTG6CmYcGkGMR_NRRlsPg2T2JG3CRZ_ir93Iaonhc0luVm0wCkoqF0qCDoODQ1xvsFl95nBgv_1yF6Y95kSTTM6QsfGhL2K6s_gx461auM/s400/1987RAAM09webres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729810124506913154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:78%;">"Light" has many other meanings and connotations, as well, and I will explore them more in future posts and articles.<br /><br />* During RAAM, I did not sleep the first or last nights of the race, so I slept a total of 24 hours during eleven days. Amazingly enough, that's considered a lot by RAAM standards. Many competitors get by on half that amount. I consider that stupid, self-defeating, not athletic, and, for lack of a better word, not very graceful. I definitely rode faster than I otherwise would have as a result of sleeping "so much" during my RAAM. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-45030415854078110112012-03-24T10:49:00.012-07:002012-03-25T18:23:47.909-07:00The Calm in the Eye of the Storm<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLnA_2QImad6IFwkXPQztdAt_XeFP6Dd4kE_f8tBTJHEW0onZoWLC9sewVmmafJTN5Tfuetdx307L-fLMK5yCk_wsPfC8e0I6msKOES3ejQXN3NcYAWOtwNVuccc3q8cp9kRLnF6_V9o/s1600/0322120947.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLnA_2QImad6IFwkXPQztdAt_XeFP6Dd4kE_f8tBTJHEW0onZoWLC9sewVmmafJTN5Tfuetdx307L-fLMK5yCk_wsPfC8e0I6msKOES3ejQXN3NcYAWOtwNVuccc3q8cp9kRLnF6_V9o/s400/0322120947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723647720473647426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">This is a crazy, hectic time lately with so much going on, not the least of which is that we we leave shortly to host <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/corpscamp/dv.html">CORPScamp Death Valley</a> and <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/hgh/">Hell's Gate Hundred</a>. Fortunately we actually get to ride during the camp (and practice yoga every day, and hike, and socialize), unlike all the other events we host, where we only work, work, work.</span><br style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;">So, with two hours to spare and both of us free on Thursday morning, it was a wonderful respite to head on out for a local ride. And for a quick local ride, this one is a doozy! In just two hours we ascend 3100 feet over 22 miles round-trip. The route is from "The Valley" to an epic view of the Pacific Ocean above Malibu and also back across the Valley. We're so lucky to have these Santa Monica Mountains - much of them protected by the National Park Service - right out our door!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcXU5vf82Mqj2jQUlO7sd-27WJeWEQv-2GQUYgSrnBYdCOoSRetK4NjRtQrnAws8BSVCjIH3meY83FlN2ilmYOa1e9QqvBwyIDwyHPS4n_nXNe84pdMoG63Y8ApYpT9sFH-_PeWdtEN4/s1600/0322120949a_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcXU5vf82Mqj2jQUlO7sd-27WJeWEQv-2GQUYgSrnBYdCOoSRetK4NjRtQrnAws8BSVCjIH3meY83FlN2ilmYOa1e9QqvBwyIDwyHPS4n_nXNe84pdMoG63Y8ApYpT9sFH-_PeWdtEN4/s400/0322120949a_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723647314903562882" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYzD39lQsrfCwwgCdvpoYvmidPabXcWYUybyeb7WkWYFcp2naF8TgwYO_sVZragzulJZKNPhp9zGC0kZQmowPzkRlcZtyRBgX3HhmVaUCa5KiNSTZIIp1jX34NfAwE5DpdnVDc6XAWbk/s1600/0322120950_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYzD39lQsrfCwwgCdvpoYvmidPabXcWYUybyeb7WkWYFcp2naF8TgwYO_sVZragzulJZKNPhp9zGC0kZQmowPzkRlcZtyRBgX3HhmVaUCa5KiNSTZIIp1jX34NfAwE5DpdnVDc6XAWbk/s400/0322120950_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723647320859979970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Above: Yours truly and my Rawland rSogn, from the viewpoint at the top of Stunt Road where it intersects Schueren Road. I'm facing the Pacific, with the Valley behind me.. <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2012/03/my-rawland-rsogn-one-bike-to-rule-them.html">More about that bike</a>.</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo9OHZBcZ0KhZpykMJu1fyPeMCxvk2UpqHQU_CZ9VyhVBeUXxW_BGbb8mTfkXKjABr6wwAfmCajj7JUwwUgXpb666nFzDg-LAsYAgHAZaTyaTXhGHO3uLyTSpksjGMH6zb57xKTyGmXE/s1600/0322120951b_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo9OHZBcZ0KhZpykMJu1fyPeMCxvk2UpqHQU_CZ9VyhVBeUXxW_BGbb8mTfkXKjABr6wwAfmCajj7JUwwUgXpb666nFzDg-LAsYAgHAZaTyaTXhGHO3uLyTSpksjGMH6zb57xKTyGmXE/s400/0322120951b_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723647323528712930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Above: Laurie has ridden the same US-made Serotta Fierté for just shy of a decade! With TA cranks and Shimano Dura Ace 10-speed bar-ends providing gearing of 34/50 by 11-28. Tyres are Challenge Paris-Roubaix 700c by 29mm, which just squeeze inside that racy frame and fork.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"> Like my bikes, she rides a Berthoud saddle, Ritchey Classic Silver bars and stem, and Ritchey's Look Delta clone pedals.</span></span><br face="arial"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmniiGa3CgEfwMteZ-MJo-HT09yHDJGDaEzGyviKV0mASY6axcjxd_o721UL5ECZRi35cqF09krfkpkz9fKwjHCV3GqRCb7rjWDK_hslM3IkeWXXBZq1Pzud8l1thdslcFV0EOaNANaTY/s1600/0322120921.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmniiGa3CgEfwMteZ-MJo-HT09yHDJGDaEzGyviKV0mASY6axcjxd_o721UL5ECZRi35cqF09krfkpkz9fKwjHCV3GqRCb7rjWDK_hslM3IkeWXXBZq1Pzud8l1thdslcFV0EOaNANaTY/s400/0322120921.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723647313229321250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">What's wrong with this picture? Look by the curb in the middle: some moron cyclist left a flatted inner tube on the side of Stunt Road!!!</span> He, or she, is lucky I wasn't there when that crime was perpetrated. Bogus!</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br face="arial"></span> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally, here are a few shots from my <a href="http://app.strava.com/rides/5652755">Strava Page</a> about the ride:</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8B1QQYjpu4-mWf_SM-qeHSEbeNZ-BcpnNxlYVabB0xJSDs9cwh35oWKfRtfsFizRVQA6MdtEnE_GkFVdav1O28iNBSeoEcgkpWUSFrc1HkwVkWJ5SlQNB7W4u7ruFqhWRVjqKBrsg3A/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+7.39.46+PM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8B1QQYjpu4-mWf_SM-qeHSEbeNZ-BcpnNxlYVabB0xJSDs9cwh35oWKfRtfsFizRVQA6MdtEnE_GkFVdav1O28iNBSeoEcgkpWUSFrc1HkwVkWJ5SlQNB7W4u7ruFqhWRVjqKBrsg3A/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+7.39.46+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723658526177468466" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8deMR09-FlxdyO9UYLmJTjyU_LDjykofK71kaf8m8I4Xy79gBogPZUFvRPE_pnT3jXG3cm9PhnYXb4oWgfFKGCTVGhyphenhyphenTqHpYbpHeoaupWl1Ojb2FHYkXv5ENL_kzjQu1bnuiLYMnWyA/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+11.11.11+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8deMR09-FlxdyO9UYLmJTjyU_LDjykofK71kaf8m8I4Xy79gBogPZUFvRPE_pnT3jXG3cm9PhnYXb4oWgfFKGCTVGhyphenhyphenTqHpYbpHeoaupWl1Ojb2FHYkXv5ENL_kzjQu1bnuiLYMnWyA/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+11.11.11+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723646727710421314" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sZtBMthCDO6gLr_xAqTQdL5L4E2Pag4f7pK2AMrLXAIGoQcmnYcfn7gKHKwjNlnLtKQ793OuXAddhx7NDIEISRhGTqowtIS5kp2zHL2Do1t6QKcbudNnwaxBogsSn7CrVFS9OYDtcv4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+11.12.16+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 305px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sZtBMthCDO6gLr_xAqTQdL5L4E2Pag4f7pK2AMrLXAIGoQcmnYcfn7gKHKwjNlnLtKQ793OuXAddhx7NDIEISRhGTqowtIS5kp2zHL2Do1t6QKcbudNnwaxBogsSn7CrVFS9OYDtcv4/s400/Screen+shot+2012-03-24+at+11.12.16+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723646726318046802" border="0" /></a><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Click on over to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >my </span><a style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://app.strava.com/rides/5652755">Strava Page</a><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > to see the map, more data, & GPS info.</span><br /></span></span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-53828198262621319452012-03-18T17:00:00.011-07:002013-08-23T17:12:30.506-07:00My Rawland rSogn, The One Bike To Rule Them All<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW7vDgiw89vaseRsqNfb04THe4th5V8WhvyBgDomyjOI27kL4-8SVOU7nKL-mrT9kR17y7dCsnncrVgXKNdIjzfy9zt6Uete9P0yzFN2fqauXYfCmKN6Pnc19yZvO1OQ9T3UJG0OUJac/s1600/IMGP1189.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401502810159490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzW7vDgiw89vaseRsqNfb04THe4th5V8WhvyBgDomyjOI27kL4-8SVOU7nKL-mrT9kR17y7dCsnncrVgXKNdIjzfy9zt6Uete9P0yzFN2fqauXYfCmKN6Pnc19yZvO1OQ9T3UJG0OUJac/s400/IMGP1189.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 238px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ivIUUf7mvkrUPofU00d0Dbl31m2DqeIhIrrYFX54GGDXIG3x3RRaL5IEJetvKsD5IVfAYcGairPC2mrbahUawilotV8ouji9IbCpOIfjM7hH_2eAXTUkrVQqIY1FturCe3kVW35hdbc/s1600/IMGP1221.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721424917410366978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ivIUUf7mvkrUPofU00d0Dbl31m2DqeIhIrrYFX54GGDXIG3x3RRaL5IEJetvKsD5IVfAYcGairPC2mrbahUawilotV8ouji9IbCpOIfjM7hH_2eAXTUkrVQqIY1FturCe3kVW35hdbc/s400/IMGP1221.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 244px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For the majority of my cycling career, I have longed for just one bike that would do anything and work in nearly any circumstance or setting. My slogan is "any bike, anywhere," and I live by that credo, having first brought this philosophy to the cycling world with my seminal "<a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/way/whoneedsatb.html">Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them</a>?" article in the the February 1993 issue of Bicycle Guide. (That article inspired a teenager named Sean Virnig to start riding his Bridgestone RB-1 in the woods near his Minnesoata home, laying the foundation for a bike company he'd later start called Rawland.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtIZRUCY7sOl7DBlkgBaMmVEDc12a565nPc6ktNVtNv6KHiXgchi-LBx8u_Y52qPXne93j-uRcDAdyRUHt_aZKBeFricn9ghtIxfmjBBtIg4S8hZldpOc0OjgbSzWIb2pNxEDSn9qFGo/s1600/_7249712.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401499309089362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtIZRUCY7sOl7DBlkgBaMmVEDc12a565nPc6ktNVtNv6KHiXgchi-LBx8u_Y52qPXne93j-uRcDAdyRUHt_aZKBeFricn9ghtIxfmjBBtIg4S8hZldpOc0OjgbSzWIb2pNxEDSn9qFGo/s400/_7249712.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 270px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I got to know Sean in the summer of 2010 when he and his wife Anna attended our <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/rrr/index.html">Rough Riders Rally</a> in Marin. Besides being the most interesting people to attend, they also won Best in Show for Sean's Rawland Drakkar bike, shown above.</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Despite enjoying taking nearly any road bike down nearly any road or trail, I'd always believed that one optimal bike could really be "the one bike to rule them all." And so it is, after a 22 year quest, that I am pleased to own and ride such a mythic bicycle, the Rawland rSogn. This bike will go anywhere and do it with style and aplomb. It also has two sets of wheels for presto-chango self-reinvention.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOrJDRWIk8KBDoA3JJVTNY0JfDfI8qo8RcNxrjaTqY79gJW5yqwensQogKkZSjkjOJuN316xq-cQmoUNlKGjsObpbHdm1zXjoA73VjRBEXAy86BuH572Xlk4Z3DgWpxhti0NyFJNGxp0/s1600/IMGP1216.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416736945215218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOrJDRWIk8KBDoA3JJVTNY0JfDfI8qo8RcNxrjaTqY79gJW5yqwensQogKkZSjkjOJuN316xq-cQmoUNlKGjsObpbHdm1zXjoA73VjRBEXAy86BuH572Xlk4Z3DgWpxhti0NyFJNGxp0/s400/IMGP1216.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Above: I prefer down-tube shifters in most circumstances. These are 8-speed era Dura Ace shifters which Sean had in his stash and kindly donated to me. Because these don't normally mate with modern Shimano derailleurs, the cable is attached at the rear with the Sheldon Brown routing.</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4U9ZqLpPtuEWNeJV2Rb0vRyHDJcRuvjFTa5AR3VCQCI0O1jYrZXgFR1mz4o5Jro8_BL8jmiHAG5lS-PsNrYcsE3kz-M_Mqa-sTtlLXVJGx87nUUlP-HXXHm6kGNnBJ5rzu9uDIiJehM/s1600/IMGP1194.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401507821527538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4U9ZqLpPtuEWNeJV2Rb0vRyHDJcRuvjFTa5AR3VCQCI0O1jYrZXgFR1mz4o5Jro8_BL8jmiHAG5lS-PsNrYcsE3kz-M_Mqa-sTtlLXVJGx87nUUlP-HXXHm6kGNnBJ5rzu9uDIiJehM/s400/IMGP1194.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG_b9uYGmxJpuw8qvAb1Z0n3SYRQbTWcVhBCeI9UhV2W1nL54zzCt34Kjw_BDSVkQQYNv7XKcvsDCyUBKVoodKMq80mwenSJZQrsVHLtO-CSmCcMcFYEO4qCAOny1cKbPLGL98XJxREw/s1600/IMGP1218.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416740309265234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG_b9uYGmxJpuw8qvAb1Z0n3SYRQbTWcVhBCeI9UhV2W1nL54zzCt34Kjw_BDSVkQQYNv7XKcvsDCyUBKVoodKMq80mwenSJZQrsVHLtO-CSmCcMcFYEO4qCAOny1cKbPLGL98XJxREw/s400/IMGP1218.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15_RaJ60avJIwRgF5tO4hvOb_kTGW4UhCQGQhOxi8MBPB1X1zZGCxxiTZ34MHCZfcueru_RYwvWAGX4jNZj3pxUW_ir8ElAoGdmUUHonDR75RtZ4Dmg2VnHbllDNqLyyR8A_kFXaYO4c/s1600/IMGP1196.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721401512762932098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15_RaJ60avJIwRgF5tO4hvOb_kTGW4UhCQGQhOxi8MBPB1X1zZGCxxiTZ34MHCZfcueru_RYwvWAGX4jNZj3pxUW_ir8ElAoGdmUUHonDR75RtZ4Dmg2VnHbllDNqLyyR8A_kFXaYO4c/s400/IMGP1196.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 390px;" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Massive tyre clearance, front and rear: Above you can see the Rawland set up with 38mm wide Pacenti Pari-Moto road tyres, and below you can see it with the 2.1"/51mm wide Pacenti Quasi-Moto knobbies.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBYQVagpkvXC1smynQVbjZ3pjzN2QVO1WXvdycVGumBDX-6olkx4d8W3Z23W0DC9LftmO4URqTQHxwBuIMQuM1vt_3Y8ahBau5cp8FFRgJi6oJopoVwmWvkxZkXFjtwovGR0TdiluPK0/s1600/IMGP1226.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416750615338370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBYQVagpkvXC1smynQVbjZ3pjzN2QVO1WXvdycVGumBDX-6olkx4d8W3Z23W0DC9LftmO4URqTQHxwBuIMQuM1vt_3Y8ahBau5cp8FFRgJi6oJopoVwmWvkxZkXFjtwovGR0TdiluPK0/s400/IMGP1226.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRPSKrYROH1jNz1HpTvC2rODwbaXJNu6PCRVLCmcTPvOR2Hlg4xgBn7-R49UyVNDoRve_O74JJlLHHsnz7Pa9Y9a9ICbCo-CTHtpO_13BvT_BpY2rHW0ZXer2ZqCZE3DNmoq0Hhzd_F0/s1600/IMGP1225.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416746018950530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRPSKrYROH1jNz1HpTvC2rODwbaXJNu6PCRVLCmcTPvOR2Hlg4xgBn7-R49UyVNDoRve_O74JJlLHHsnz7Pa9Y9a9ICbCo-CTHtpO_13BvT_BpY2rHW0ZXer2ZqCZE3DNmoq0Hhzd_F0/s400/IMGP1225.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8NKXaN_TgiypZZoyzTUOn3LCP4Bv-Y3eehokzzrAOlMer-hjx1TH842r5FL3u4IqSHfFSTW1NWltbsnrQMogn9BPw42YQd_V9cV-iFis5Wkj5nkv7zSmWPClAZIZA7uC-Hx9ru1wnQ0/s1600/IMGP1224.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721416744610641266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8NKXaN_TgiypZZoyzTUOn3LCP4Bv-Y3eehokzzrAOlMer-hjx1TH842r5FL3u4IqSHfFSTW1NWltbsnrQMogn9BPw42YQd_V9cV-iFis5Wkj5nkv7zSmWPClAZIZA7uC-Hx9ru1wnQ0/s400/IMGP1224.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the </span><a href="http://www.rawlandcycles.com/" style="font-family: arial;">Rawland Bicycles website</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, the rSogn is a contemporary lightweight steel all-arounder. Carrying on the success of the cantilever Sogn (cSogn), the rSogn is a reissue of this versatile all-arounder, hence the moniker. The rSogn was conceptualized and then specified through a month-long, open-forum process. Optimized for 650b wheel size without toe overlap in any tire size, the rSogn features the following elegant features many have come to appreciate, in no particular order:</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 8/5/8 standard-diameter tubing: MD and ML</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 9/6/9 standard-diameter tubing: LG and XL</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Non-heat treated tubing</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Pacenti biplane MTB crown</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Fits 58mm tires (e.g., Pacenti Neo Moto 2.3)</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 63mm rake for low trail; ideal for top-load</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Low, graceful fork bend</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Takes double-ring, spindle type cranks</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 68mm bottom bracket shell width</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 1-1/8” threadless steerer</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Stainless steel cast dropouts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Head tube reinforcing rings</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Metal head tube badge</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Rear and front rack mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Equidistance fender mounts facing the wheels</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Lowrider mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Seat stay frame pump peg</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Triple water bottle mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Star water bottle braze-on reinforcements</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Seatstay rack mounts</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Split brake cable stops at 10 o’clock</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Stainless steel chain hanger</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• Down tube shifter mounts</span><br face="arial" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 132.5mm rear spacing for use with either 130mm or 135mm hub</span><br face="arial" /><span style="font-family: arial;">• 27.2mm seat post diameter</span><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Regarding the wheels:</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The stock wheels on my rSogn are 32 hole, front and back, built by Mark at Rivendell. They have Shimano 105 hubs laced with straight gauge DT spokes to Velocity Synergy 650B rims. The tyres are 650B Pacento Quasi-Moto 2.1 (51mm) knobbies. Cassette is Shimnano HG40 8-speed 12-30. I have used these wheels with various tyres for quite a few years on various bikes and 650B conversions.</span><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The alternative set of wheels were custom built for me by Dave Prion (below), the general manager of <a href="http://bicycleoutfitter.com/">The Bicycle Outfitter </a>in Los Altos, CA and my friend and wheel builder since the mid-80s. These are custom "event" or road wheels. The rear features a 24 hole Chris King R45 cassette hub laced with 24 butted Wheelsmith spokes to a 36 hole Velocity Synergy rim. 12 spoke holes in the rear rim are not used. The front features 18 butted Wheelsmith spokes laced between a 36 hole HB011 6-volt 3-watt dynohub and a 36 hole Velocity Synergy rim. 18 spoke holes in the front rim are not used. The tyres are Pacenti Pari-Moto 650B 38mm. Cassette is Shimano HG40 8-speed 12-28.</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVexVLkjNXvaoD3GbK1OGl_oaPmINln2P3_ov34OlU-RkiZW1lDUDAN60S677F72J9p7acEGr3XvhoStwn80nTW5HYnuRgRw9mB5UGU1KhuouP9zUSTBf3FcvMpXnNKgxwRpF0Apq2Q/s1600/0730112233a_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721445714617436050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprVexVLkjNXvaoD3GbK1OGl_oaPmINln2P3_ov34OlU-RkiZW1lDUDAN60S677F72J9p7acEGr3XvhoStwn80nTW5HYnuRgRw9mB5UGU1KhuouP9zUSTBf3FcvMpXnNKgxwRpF0Apq2Q/s400/0730112233a_01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's the full build-up of the bike:</span></span><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 101%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Brand</b></span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;"><b>Rawland rSogn 2011 (Size ML; see size chart below) Saddle height: 77cm; Reach: 80cm</b></span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Serial #</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">M11051227</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Headset</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Chris King</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Bars</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver: 44cm width, 31.8mm O/S center section, 128mm Drop, 73mm Reach</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Stem</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver, 9cm</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Brk Levers</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Sram S500 road brake levers</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Brakes</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Paul's Neo-Retro cantilivers with Paul's Moon Unit cable hangers, Paul's Rack Adapter bolts, and Paul's Funky Monkey front cable guide (and Nitto rear cable guide)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Saddle</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Berthoud Aravis, titanium rails</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Post</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Classic Silver, 27.2, 350mm length, 25mm Offset, 43x38mm cradle</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shifters</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Dura Ace 7402 8-speed down-tube</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Front Der.</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Dura Ace 7700 (9-speed era)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Rear Der.</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano XTR M971 (Recent 9-speed era) with JagWire inline cable adjuster</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Bottom Bracket</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Shimano Isis</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Crankarms</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey 175 with 34/50 rings; Arms custom polished and laser-etched by Tom at <a href="http://www.perfectperforations.com/" target="_blank">Perfect Perforations</a>.</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Pedals</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey Peloton (Look Delta style)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Chain</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Sram 8-speed</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Cages</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Nitto R (3)</span></td> </tr>
<tr> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top" width="90"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Tape</span></td> <td align="left" style="font-family: arial; font-family: arial;" valign="top"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Ritchey "cork"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm45uqy6Wtxwpmk1ei_LEs4gTUY68S72ui5KX79BIZ5M_hh-RpG8tcAsZ0nspk8PFZOXqDzqsJ2OVn9IGd8Jgg4PJPVNp3xQFVGqS_gtOQUMl8MXUWyq7JYJyf8GZ1isYXIIFywdvSoM/s1600/rSognGeometry_resized.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721423579988635090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm45uqy6Wtxwpmk1ei_LEs4gTUY68S72ui5KX79BIZ5M_hh-RpG8tcAsZ0nspk8PFZOXqDzqsJ2OVn9IGd8Jgg4PJPVNp3xQFVGqS_gtOQUMl8MXUWyq7JYJyf8GZ1isYXIIFywdvSoM/s400/rSognGeometry_resized.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/chronicles/bikes/rawland/index.htm"><span style="font-family: arial;">Click here for a full slideshow of the bike with nearly 50 images.</span></a><br face="arial" /></span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thanks for the amazing bike, Sean and Anna!</span></span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br style="font-family: arial;" /></span></div>
</div>
Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-82839953366924220452012-03-17T12:05:00.007-07:002012-03-17T12:26:46.217-07:00Pay Attention (Trust Your Gut, not always your GPS)<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST-OG7t5wEWxZ_EXsYADI8rLmrGc0pqueK95H8wjkRDCmbXzVGQFyoS3kz3oH61EEegzsjBTFiYYuN7xKq8-FJVu6y5ANxYpzMiUuSTLCznzS8O3X1bi376VbNcvYpNObytxLCo8gKyI/s1600/0316121811.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhST-OG7t5wEWxZ_EXsYADI8rLmrGc0pqueK95H8wjkRDCmbXzVGQFyoS3kz3oH61EEegzsjBTFiYYuN7xKq8-FJVu6y5ANxYpzMiUuSTLCznzS8O3X1bi376VbNcvYpNObytxLCo8gKyI/s400/0316121811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720946244198817442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Out exploring yesterday, we came up on this sign. Of course, this was after coming back down the private road behind the sign that we'd accessed via a long, uphill, and unmarked trail. When we hit that road at the top of the trail, my sense of direction told me we needed to head back down and, lo and behold, we'd been on private property ever since topping out on that that road, I mean driveway. Seeing this sign, and it's admonition to not always believe one's GPS while navigating, reminded me of how we repeatedly tell people who are traveling to Death Valley for an AdventureCORPS event to NEVER follow a GPS there. We state that emphatically because people have literally died while attempting to reach Death Valley on a dirt road route, courtesy of their GPS, despite the fact that there are four excellent paved roads which lead into Death Valley. (Thankfully, none of these people were en route to joining us.)</span></span><br style="font-family: arial;"></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />After yesterday's excursion, there was <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gps-tracking-disaster-japanese-tourists-drive-straight-pacific-172043575--abc-news.html">this gem of a story</a> on the ABC News about some Japanese tourists who literally drove into the ocean in Australia because their GPS told them to do so. Here's a photo:<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuv0N7OYHFlc6U3h-19XHP24aJQo9cydrW1gQN4a3gFg8lcLFi5MZV_buBBkgHMVTtg8Dawvx-m6Yig7oE9z3QXFSpWOxjyuk52Y4nxfy3tZI3afEm7MeOx3xuhAT38FfXjWIKy4ccyI/s1600/gty_tourists_stuck_gps_2_nt_120316_wmain.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuv0N7OYHFlc6U3h-19XHP24aJQo9cydrW1gQN4a3gFg8lcLFi5MZV_buBBkgHMVTtg8Dawvx-m6Yig7oE9z3QXFSpWOxjyuk52Y4nxfy3tZI3afEm7MeOx3xuhAT38FfXjWIKy4ccyI/s400/gty_tourists_stuck_gps_2_nt_120316_wmain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720946240760804050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Seriously?<br /><br />Is all this dependence on technology making people just plan stupid, making them lose their sense of direction, their awareness of what just seems and feels right?<br /><br />This morning's yoga class was an obvious opportunity to work on "awareness" and I really got a lot out of Garth's class, but I find it helpful - and more logical - to just be aware all the time. This is especially critical while out exploring and <span style="font-weight: bold;">always</span> while moving quickly over varying terrain, whether by foot, bicycle, or motor vehicle.<br /><br />As the saying goes, </span><span style="font-size:85%;">"Pay Attention!"</span></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-24471838684878577542012-03-16T10:45:00.006-07:002012-03-16T12:22:26.870-07:00Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive Update<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiwUiYUjoo8W00LTJnu6gva4vqmODDnEOHEG8hwK4_aEBkYVEptS-O3WKC4Ut0TVHTCEtYt9bwOGnzCuqziX92mZdEp6qHIYNOGDv6Q7g6y2rcAmRrFt39UlnXmnwAT_qNk5aino10Mk/s1600/2010finish4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiwUiYUjoo8W00LTJnu6gva4vqmODDnEOHEG8hwK4_aEBkYVEptS-O3WKC4Ut0TVHTCEtYt9bwOGnzCuqziX92mZdEp6qHIYNOGDv6Q7g6y2rcAmRrFt39UlnXmnwAT_qNk5aino10Mk/s400/2010finish4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720553613481896034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">"10,000 Thanks to AdventureCORPS for Sponsoring the Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive." (</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.la-bike.org/news/thanks-adventurecorps-sponsoring-jim-swarzman-memorial-membership-drive">Re-post from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition Blog</a>)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Last summer and fall, our friend Chris Kostman and <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/">AdventureCORPS, Inc</a>. sponsored a matching <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/09/jim-swarzman-memorial-membership-drive.html">membership drive</a> in honor of fallen rider Jim Swarzman. Jim, a great friend of <a href="http://la-bike.org/">LACBC</a>, was killed last Spring while riding his bike in San Diego County with his fiancee and a friend.</span></span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">For every contribution to made to </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://la-bike.org/">LACBC</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> during the Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive, whether through membership or donation, AdventureCORPS, a promoter of endurance cycling and running events including the world-famous <a href="http://www.the508.com/">Furnace Creek 508</a> and the <a href="http://www.badwater.com/">Badwater Ultramarathon</a> through Death Valley, promised to match those contributions up to $10,000. Chris spread the word to the athletes who ride in all AdventureCORPS events, including the Death Valley Century and Double Century, the Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic held near San Diego, and Hell's Gate Hundred. Jim was a several-time veteran of AdventureCORPS events and well-known and liked in the ultracycling scene, so his untimely and senseless death really hit home for his fellow endurance riders. Their desire to help keep these types of unnecessary tragedies from happening again, with AdventureCORPS' backing and support, led to the most successful membership drive in </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://la-bike.org/">LACBC</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> history.</span></span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">With your help, we were able to raise over $23,000 during the Jim Swarzman Memorial Drive on memberships and donations alone! As promised, Chris Kostman recently presented a check of $10,000 to our Executive Director Jennifer Klausner on top of the $23,000 raised (see below)!</span></span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Thank you to Chris and AdventureCORPS for their generosity and support! Thank you to the many of Jim's friends, family, and fellow endurance riders who have contributed! Thank you to all who donated and/or became members during the drive! And thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about making LA County a better, more bike-able place!</span></span><br face="arial"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia52ihJ5tu0ULtWMkbhyphenhyphen6kRnU3dtLg26aGKqhYKqQXCU9pc_zLe2hhD5s7CvjYomNRsH2KJ7fEifj-dBIeCc5oyXCNc29NYVWM7Q5g96j_ix_ohPn_0ml69VVf0XcU9NicUqewoFrvfCI/s1600/P2016686.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 366px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia52ihJ5tu0ULtWMkbhyphenhyphen6kRnU3dtLg26aGKqhYKqQXCU9pc_zLe2hhD5s7CvjYomNRsH2KJ7fEifj-dBIeCc5oyXCNc29NYVWM7Q5g96j_ix_ohPn_0ml69VVf0XcU9NicUqewoFrvfCI/s400/P2016686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720553607551715346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A short reply from Chris / XO-1.org</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">, pictured above with Jen Klausner of the LACBC</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span>It is an honor to support </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://la-bike.org/">LACBC</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">'s bicycle advocacy efforts in memory of our friend and Furnace Creek 508 veteran Jim Swarzman. Let's never forget Jim, nor stop fighting for safe streets for ALL road users! </span></span><br /><br style="font-family: arial;"></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-92069134177515786982012-02-13T10:49:00.000-08:002012-02-13T15:41:30.781-08:00Riding with Strava<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">I signed up an account with Strava.com so that I can log my rides, at least some of them, online and share the results with others, and even compare my times. It seems pretty neat and I have some cool ideas in the works that will use this site. It's also a great way to share specific routes, especially the middle of nowhere, and off-the-beaten-track kind of stuff that I like to do.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Here is info about the ride I did yesterday from Santa Monica up PCH to Corral Canyon and back, plus a link to all the rides that I uploaded to Strava. (That, in itself, was kind of freaky, because it was my understanding that all my GPS history was deleted from my GPS each time I uploaded its info to my Garmin Connect site. However, the Strava site just automatically grabbed all the GPS history it could from my Garmin 310 xt, then asked me which of the various files, going back to 2010 when I got the GPS, I'd like to include on Strava.)</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><br />Anyway, if you're a Strava user, please "<a href="http://app.strava.com/athletes/267451">follow me</a>" and we can compare notes and ride together virtually, if not even in reality at some point!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> (Scroll down for the official invite to join Strava. I get a few months free use if you mention me when you join. But that's not a big motivator for me; their full service is only $59 a year, anyway. I just think this is a neat way to connect with other riders, and runners, in the places that I explore.)</span></span><br /></div><br /><iframe allowtransparency="true" src="http://app.strava.com/runs/4133119/embed/84ed93b1b2850087017be5e25e6097919efac4f9" frameborder="0" height="335" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I use Strava to track my fitness, analyze my performance and participate in challenges. I think you should join so we can compare our runs and rides. Check one of them out: <a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/4133119">Santa Monica to Corral Canyon and Back</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Get started:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> 1) Grab a GPS device (iPhone, Android or Garmin).</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> 2) Go for a run or a ride and tear it up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> 3) Sync your activity at Strava.com and make history.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Game on,</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Chris</span><br /><br /><a href="http://app.strava.com/athletes/267451"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://app.strava.com/athletes/267451</span></a></span><br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-50396476046916052322011-11-17T18:45:00.001-08:002012-04-09T09:57:55.753-07:00The First Ever Rivendell All-Rounder 1995<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI76UIYnSNxAtNTKo5p_WwanL-hynlgsKYAHzeCmdLpJ9oJ6dVixoqWRngX8hXShM-K8-P6TAsIcAR5yzU1pNAOYTridMbonBi_U6vJmYSR_Ad-Ar2lm7PFm9nPLogfmkZnovPS1f2RqM/s1600/rivendell_product_blueblack01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI76UIYnSNxAtNTKo5p_WwanL-hynlgsKYAHzeCmdLpJ9oJ6dVixoqWRngX8hXShM-K8-P6TAsIcAR5yzU1pNAOYTridMbonBi_U6vJmYSR_Ad-Ar2lm7PFm9nPLogfmkZnovPS1f2RqM/s400/rivendell_product_blueblack01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676884367441591570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWZkIkzW-n_qUqwMpB6zNRFY-TLLg-Ueymb7PG9j-0Ygtp02WvW4Nd-R2UAWsi-crmIU1DINKA4-vv3fnPzNpVKkuMZsmPc4zsDzerQSr_axjWsbzATHJOzRF6_ZLHuu1-oydTPgcoe8/s1600/rivendell_product_blueblack04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWZkIkzW-n_qUqwMpB6zNRFY-TLLg-Ueymb7PG9j-0Ygtp02WvW4Nd-R2UAWsi-crmIU1DINKA4-vv3fnPzNpVKkuMZsmPc4zsDzerQSr_axjWsbzATHJOzRF6_ZLHuu1-oydTPgcoe8/s400/rivendell_product_blueblack04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676884370863676018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://velocult.com/bikes/rivendell-frame-black/" target="_blank"><img src="http://velocult.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rivendell_product_blueblack10.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://velocult.com/bikes/rivendell-frame-black/" target="_blank"><img src="http://velocult.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rivendell_product_blueblack11.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><div face="arial" style="text-align: justify; "><center face="arial"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;">I bought this in 1995 because I had been sponsored by the Rivendell founder, Grant Petersen, when he ran Bridgestone Cycles USA and I wanted to show my support for his new enterprise, Rivendell Bicycle Works. This was the first bike I'd bought in thirteen years as I'd been sponsored by one company or another between 1984 and 1994. I paid the deposit in February of 1995 and took delivery in December of that same year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">As a historical note, this is the first All-Rounder sold to anyone after Rivendell was founded in 1994. As a surprise, Grant had an "extra" serial number added to the bottom bracket shell that include my initials, "AR" for All-Rounder, and "#1" because it was the first sold. The frame and fork were hand crafted by the artisans at Waterford Precision Cycles in Waterford, Wisconsin.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">I didn't build this bike up, or ride it, until the fall of 1998 as it took some time to find all the parts I wanted to run on it. As soon as I assembled it, I flew to Seattle and rode from there to Mill Valley, CA in Marin County in a week. Although I primarily planned to use it off-road or for combined trail/road rides, its initial configuration was very roadie: the components you see here, but with Scott Drop-In handlebars, the 8-spd shifters mounted on the down tube, Spinergy Rev-X wheels, and V-brakes. I found those wheels flexed too much, I didn't much like the drop bars off-road, the V-brakes worked terribly and had to be run VERY close to the rims, and it was darn near impossible to reach the down-tube shifters while riding off-road. As a result, I reconfigured the bike as you see it the main slideshow below, pretty much identical to its predecessor in my stable, a 1993 Bridgestone XO-1. The "in action" shots below are from a week-long trip to Moab and The Maze in Canyonlands National Park in Utah in May 2003. I stopped riding it in about 2005, so, although it's 16 years old, it's only seen a few years of actual riding. The rest of the time, it's been indoors. Of course, I've treated the interior of the frame several times over the years with Weigle FrameSaver to protect against corrision.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">In about 2008, I had it repainted in an absolutely beautiful glossy black and blue color combo by legendary bicycle painter Joe Bell. I also had a third set of water bottle braze-ons added to the underside of the down tube. (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">S</span><a href="http://velocult.com/bikes/rivendell-frame-black/" target="_blank">ee a full set of images from that new incarnation here in the Velo Cult online museum</a>.) </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Now, three years later, I still have not built it back up after that repaint. I love this bike, it's an amazing ride, its rich in Rivendell history, and I have a deep attachment to it, but I just don't have a need for it in my stable anymore. Therefore, I passed it along to a new owner in April of 2012.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">In brief, the sizing is: 54.5cm seat tube with 72.5 degree seat angle and 57.5cm top tube. The All-Rounder was designed to fit a bit smaller than the same rider's appropriate road bike size (most of my road bikes have 57cm seat tubes, for example, but the same 57.5cm top tubes.) </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/chronicles/bikes/rivendell/index.html">Full geometry and spec's, dozens of photos, and lots more information, are available here</a>.</strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Along with the frame and fork, I sent along the following to its new caretaker:<br /></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><span style="color:black;">• 25 pages of original sales documentation, brochures, and correspondence with Rivendell about the original design and purchase of this All-Rounder<br /> • Photocopies of Issue 0 and Issue 1 of the Rivendell Reader<br /> • New, unused, silver color Chris King headset with Ritchey front brake cable hanger, installed<br /> • Shimano adjustable cable guides mounted to the down-tube shifter stops<br /> • Seat post binder bolt<br /> • One set of used but very good Nitto Moustache handlebars<br /></span></strong></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><hr style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; height: 1px; font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/chronicles/bikes/rivendell/index.html">Dozens more photos, full geometry and spec's, and lots more information, are available here</a>.</strong></span></p><p face="arial" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9PLyB7JB9RAD9kmp5GZn3rOSCC8geFDdLfxYg1QtbgQK6Bg992PABAwcNsT7NVU2Ajw9ageDUhZqzRrfpF0RRwwCbx9EQaBMgs7cB_Vn1ppRxhKgK1cuF2AUA2MgfNvUa6nQRWbErxE/s1600/rivendell_product_blueblack02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9PLyB7JB9RAD9kmp5GZn3rOSCC8geFDdLfxYg1QtbgQK6Bg992PABAwcNsT7NVU2Ajw9ageDUhZqzRrfpF0RRwwCbx9EQaBMgs7cB_Vn1ppRxhKgK1cuF2AUA2MgfNvUa6nQRWbErxE/s400/rivendell_product_blueblack02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676884916683562962" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirM_a-6qqDtoEWhLcfuyH8avVifMydvX0wChibt3JicXUKfQJL6YyB6Utn6vJMjw10IztxG8cPtveeEgU2Z1uWm_fHW28KH-KxunQfe6cjhBBtFP_8UphbairfJKqzONYY3hnNaqQdAEg/s1600/rivendell_product_blueblack07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirM_a-6qqDtoEWhLcfuyH8avVifMydvX0wChibt3JicXUKfQJL6YyB6Utn6vJMjw10IztxG8cPtveeEgU2Z1uWm_fHW28KH-KxunQfe6cjhBBtFP_8UphbairfJKqzONYY3hnNaqQdAEg/s400/rivendell_product_blueblack07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676884921004286514" border="0" /></a></p></center></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-87655861052070375682011-10-04T16:01:00.000-07:002011-10-07T00:10:56.491-07:00Back to the Future: Founding Fathers of Ultra Cycling Tackle Furnace Creek 508<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi005qUJZL-Pii24v1QqpUG7IL6v-B2eJKOOu-RIdiiuup_fLaDepbHME6O36VsQoZKmYR8PigzEooeP0ILZtK9SY_PlZpKQxsKwNhSb0haqfluZ1k8oMDzd92XMNz37B8JeGX_EUP0ZTg/s1600/GABR_Names.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 361px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi005qUJZL-Pii24v1QqpUG7IL6v-B2eJKOOu-RIdiiuup_fLaDepbHME6O36VsQoZKmYR8PigzEooeP0ILZtK9SY_PlZpKQxsKwNhSb0haqfluZ1k8oMDzd92XMNz37B8JeGX_EUP0ZTg/s400/GABR_Names.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660644228980209794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr19oT2BkCGdFOCpV0WMbVJq2cNqqqcOgdra-Y0LTmWmkt0yS8VICPXG1tB2eTG9neS2Ie0lGX0vZAkQycZrqm8Lvel18Tm5erLgLg_ab-xFXnubZT5HI-MmMHYnwtN5kOjlquHeRXzE/s1600/1982GABR.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr19oT2BkCGdFOCpV0WMbVJq2cNqqqcOgdra-Y0LTmWmkt0yS8VICPXG1tB2eTG9neS2Ie0lGX0vZAkQycZrqm8Lvel18Tm5erLgLg_ab-xFXnubZT5HI-MmMHYnwtN5kOjlquHeRXzE/s400/1982GABR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659777098494663698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Minutes before the start, the four racers in the 1982 Great American Bike Race eagerly awaited the biggest challenge of their lives (photo above). They didn't know what to expect. No one did. This was the first non-stop bicycle race across the United States and the four men would race 2,876 miles from the Santa Monica Pier to the Empire State Building in New York City. All four competitors would finish. ABC Wide World of Sports would tell this story to millions of viewers. "Ultra cycling" became a new sport and the world as we know it was officially underway. Within a year, legions of cyclists were inspired to become "ultra cyclists" and new races were created to develop the sport, including the John Marino Open, the predecessor to Furnace Creek 508.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I began cycling in February of 1982, inspired by Sheldon Jackson, a schoolteacher colleague of my parents who had bicycle toured across America the previous summer. He had regaled us with his cycling stories shortly after my parents, brother, and I had returned from a one-year sabbatical involving 25,000 miles of road tripping through 20-some countries in Europe and Egypt. Having skipped the eighth grade to learn about the world up close and personal, I dreamed of seeing more of the world under my own power. Only 14 and therefore without a driver's license, my bicycle gave me the freedom to roam, and to head for any horizon which intrigued me. My first ride, the day after I bought my dream bike (a copy of Sheldon's), was 50 miles to Mt. Baldy and back from my hometown of Glendora, CA.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />I also subscribed to Bicycling Magazine and began reading about these four god-men who would be bicycle racing across America that summer. One day the phone rang and another of my parents’ colleagues, Wayne Hysen, wanted to know if I "had ever heard of Lon Haldeman." I had just read all about him and the other Great American Bike Race competitors - John Howard, Michael Shermer, and John Marino - so I answered in the affirmative. Wayne said, "Well, I'm from Illinois, so when I heard about Lon attempting this race across America, I invited him and his support team to base out of our house before the race in June. Do you want to meet him?" I sure did!</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Standing in the foyer of the Hysens' home that August, I looked up at this towering giant of a man with dark brown tree trunk legs, asked him for his autograph, and told him I was going to do that bicycle race across America some day, "maybe when I'm 25!" That seemed so far away, such an "old age." I was only 15, and Lon, though he seemed like such a grown man to me, was just 23.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Lon would win the race that summer and I was absolutely mesmerized by the TV coverage of the race. Lon would also win again, with the race rechristened "Race Across America," in 1983. I had been there at the starting line that year, and had followed along - by car - for the first hundred miles or so. I knew I would do that race some day; there was no doubt.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Cycling events were few and far between back then and most of us enthusiasts entered any cycling event we could find, whether a criterium, a century, a road race, a bicycle rally, a time trial, or one of those rare and illusive events which so few had ridden, a "double century." I'd ridden my first double at age 16 that year, still riding in racquetball shoes as I had not yet painted my parents' house to pay for my first pair of Sidi bike shoes. Now, somehow, I had come up with the idea of riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles, non-stop, against the clock, to set a record, and, more importantly, to become - like my idols - an ultra cyclist.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Columbus Day, 1983 I was in Santa Barbara to compete in a criterium. I saw John Marino across a parking lot, running a Race Across America booth at the event's bike expo. I literally sprinted across the lot to meet this living legend. He had come in fourth out of four in the inaugural race, but nobody had suffered more. And what's more, it was his vision which had created the race in the first place, the natural progression for a man who had thrice ridden against the clock - but against no other competitors - to challenge the Guinness World Record for trans-America riding. Twice he had been successful. With those efforts under his belt, he had created a race to provide others with the same opportunity to do what I much later came to describe as "exploring the inner and outer universes." </span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98nOwaVWuwEkeAMsDU88BoA8Z8MUQgy9oAdCqrdWnIGNLTLtPproyT7sRbo1G7a1p0PQC4UaDmUVzjTBDSf4t6-tkHSvvlRbrUXiiGxgrOqSDL7fSeHw0spnbVTQboq8kI_Ew5MavY1c/s1600/1984SFLAfinish.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98nOwaVWuwEkeAMsDU88BoA8Z8MUQgy9oAdCqrdWnIGNLTLtPproyT7sRbo1G7a1p0PQC4UaDmUVzjTBDSf4t6-tkHSvvlRbrUXiiGxgrOqSDL7fSeHw0spnbVTQboq8kI_Ew5MavY1c/s320/1984SFLAfinish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659778705091489746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I told John that I wanted to become an ultra cyclist and to ride from SF to LA against the clock, setting a record. He seemed curious and wrote his home phone number on the back of his Race Across America business card, offering to advise me. Not an hour later, I met Michael Shermer, who was there to compete, and he said he'd help me, too. Now I had a mission: to drum up sponsors, solicit media coverage, organize my crew, and train like a real cyclist. John helped me prepare a press release and got me into the industry-only bike show to solicit support. Shermer introduced me to potential sponsors and put the good word in for me. Lon kept letting me hang out with his support team each summer before the race and even let me lead him on training rides in the Glendora area. (When my friends saw me out on the road with him, I became a superhero in their eyes!)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo of the skinny guy: </span>That's me at LA City Hall, after riding there against the clock from SF in 1984.</span><br /><br />By early 1984, at age 16 and 17, I was lining up to race alongside Marino, Shermer, John Howard and others in 200km, 300km, and 400km "RAAM Building Races" known as brevets. Then that April 17-18, I rode the 472 miles from SF to LA in 31 hours, 13 minutes, setting the first ever record in the process. It was broken a week later, turning the fire inside me into a bonfire. A month later, Marino asked me to work on his race staff at the John Marino Open. I had a blast doing that, wanting to impress my mentors and idols, while watching a new crop of racers tackle the 715-mile race. Many of them, aware of my recent SF-LA record, asked me why I wasn't racing with them. I was astounded; I didn't think I was in their league. (And I surely never would have guessed that I would take over the leadership of the race just six years later.)</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyFo5XIVdMysKJQi9PTWXnZ2MzPCLTPFwYpto8U0idoIWkWGgsKDp8UouKFY8DBgeCOE4aJbeuUJBHLFoQXvIOJqbX8RmTtVXce-fxWYaxwmf1g1wvetQ-jeJDd_1BBpGHpdDrRSQCSA/s1600/1984JMO.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyFo5XIVdMysKJQi9PTWXnZ2MzPCLTPFwYpto8U0idoIWkWGgsKDp8UouKFY8DBgeCOE4aJbeuUJBHLFoQXvIOJqbX8RmTtVXce-fxWYaxwmf1g1wvetQ-jeJDd_1BBpGHpdDrRSQCSA/s400/1984JMO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659777098604140626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><strong style="font-family: arial;">Above, Left to Right:</strong><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><em style="font-family: arial;">Me (age 17), RAAM director Bob Hustwit, race official Mark Straley, and John Marino working at the 1984 John Marino Open, the predecessor to Furnace Creek 508. (It was a cold night in Anza, CA; we were huddled around a log fire in that trash can.)<br /><br /></em></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">A year later, there I was, lining up at the start of the 1985 John Marino Open, just a few weeks before graduating from high school, and fresh off getting "my" SF-LA record back, with a time of 22 hours, 38 minutes over the 429-mile route. The top twelve at this "JMO" would qualify for the 1985 Race Across America. I managed to tie for 12th, moving from behind to ahead of much of the field by simply never giving up, something I had learned from watching the four founding fathers do so on television just three summers prior.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was getting ready to go off to college at U.C. Berkeley, so racing across America was the furthest thing from my mind, but Marino invited me to join his Race Across America race staff. It would be my first road trip without my parents. I was just 18 and would have a front row seat to the dramatic, dark duel between Michael Secrest, the first new ultra superstar to challenge the founding four, and Jonathan Boyer, the first American to race in the Tour de France, a true pro cyclist trying his hand at this new type of bicycle racing.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXkTyWkwdVeswiOxbN35H1fdqmgmSYYbYIk7vda3C6jGLvXTw-U8hNLRVR_vbxxENtfhBIQE5CEcyR8xe5I62h-pwLuV0qk0V2eD4dezdqvu38gZvnJqPXnEE6cwtSWXKtUXYZZVkWb8/s1600/1987RAAMfinish.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXkTyWkwdVeswiOxbN35H1fdqmgmSYYbYIk7vda3C6jGLvXTw-U8hNLRVR_vbxxENtfhBIQE5CEcyR8xe5I62h-pwLuV0qk0V2eD4dezdqvu38gZvnJqPXnEE6cwtSWXKtUXYZZVkWb8/s320/1987RAAMfinish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659778707842326274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It was an absolutely pivotal nine days on the road and laid the final bricks in the foundation upon which my life, purpose, and career would be based. Within two years I would also be a finisher of the Race Across America, the youngest so far at age 20. My college studies in archaeology would continue, but there was no doubt I would be an entrepreneur with a focus on human potential and that I would continue to compete as an ultra athlete for a lifetime.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photo:</span> That's me with my amazing support crew at the finish of the 1987 Race Across America. I was 20 years old and on top of the world.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This spring, 29 years after that original Great American Bike Race, I pitched Marino on the idea of the four founding fathers competing together as a four-man team in Furnace Creek 508, a race I have organized since he turned it over to me 21 years ago. Marino loved the idea and pitched it to Shermer. He figured he could just squeeze it into his schedule as the head of the Skeptics Society. Amazingly, Haldeman and Howard also both agreed. Lon would fly in for the race just hours after finishing leading one of his transcontinental PAC Tour events. Howard would make it happen between coaching engagements and setting more national or world records in one form of competitive cycling or another. They've all been training like crazy and making plans via email and cell phone.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It will be an absolute honor to share the roads with all 223 competitors in this year's race, along with all the support crews, and the absolutely amazing race staff. None of us would be here if it weren't for the vision, and pure sense of adventure, that Lon Haldeman, John Howard, Michael Shermer, and John Marino all displayed during the summer of 1982. After inspiring me on my own ultra path - as a competitor, as an event promoter, and as a human being - I am absolutely ecstatic to have them compete in this year's 508. I am equally humbled, for I can think of no greater tip of the hat for my idols to offer than to enter this race which I love so much and which they begat. And for everyone in the race this year, I offer the solemn observation that you never know who YOU are going to inspire with your own efforts "out there" on the fabled Furnace Creek 508 race course. May we all roll so well and for so long as the founding four have done, and do.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Life has come full circle.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">- Chris Kostman, Oak Park, CA</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />READ THIS ESSAY ON THE FURNACE CREEK 508 WEBSITE:</span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> <a href="http://www.the508.com/2011web/fullcircle.html">Click</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://www.the508.com/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8t1Bm1IHaDChVF4g6i6xkMeNiL77WEBlQX3zaYGfcT9_h_BZ2cG2IZry5JD5WHqazUZMBLTAFmGF2zniWGD1aSqO0t0ZsWX7FeoJbx5N0J9teYla-XKa9zt63Y8Uya1CLi0YwQtutJg/s400/508v1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659779631209484338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">2011 RACE MAGAZINE, INCLUDING 35 PAGES OF HISTORIC ARTICLES</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The 2011 Furnace Creek 508 Race Magazine includes over 35 pages of historic articles about the founding fathers and the original races from 1980, 1982, and 1983. It's a 13.7MB file, so it's very large and may take a few minutes to download. (508 entrants and staff will receive a printed copy of the entire 84-page, full-color magazine at Racer Check-In on Friday, October 7!) <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/downloads/508/2011racemag.pdf">Download it here</a>.</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Special thanks to Patsy Inouye, a fellow cyclist who is a librarian, for finding and sending me scans of many of the historic articles reprinted in the 2011 race magazine, as well as to two-time 508 finisher Bob Corman of Infinity Press for printing this special edition of the race magazine, and to Marcus Edvalson for creating the whole new suite of Furnace Creek 508 logos featured on and in this magazine, on the race website, and on the 2011 race gear and clothing. Special thanks also to Kevin Fung for his tremendous efforts in designing the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 Race Magazine. This was Kevin's biggest job yet for us and he pulled it off with aplomb!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Clearly, the spirit of the Great American Bike race lives on in this great American bike race!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">--------------------------------------------------</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />2011 FURNACE CREEK 508 RACE WEBCAST</span></span> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Follow all 223 competitors, including the Four Founding Fathers (AKA "Team Great American Toad"), as they participate in the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 via the live webcast on October 7-10, 2011 <a href="http://www.the508.com/2011web/">at this link</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span></span> </div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-57938068982787277582011-09-07T07:43:00.000-07:002011-09-07T13:39:57.891-07:00Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive: Join, renew, or donate and LA County Bicycle Coalition will receive twice the amount you give!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFQ1jbDBaxnUtviNhRiYzyveGKtzkKzwZquUKJwH4yyhQGBUdIbbIvZbbPSqPhHsiJXgzZ52Uk0oP7GvMQSJA5ToF8hDsa6yZ9k_V3rQfQ3eW_S8HlrLbqsNthbRW0KKoQ79HMG8tvfY/s1600/Jim_LACBC_Logo_Final.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFQ1jbDBaxnUtviNhRiYzyveGKtzkKzwZquUKJwH4yyhQGBUdIbbIvZbbPSqPhHsiJXgzZ52Uk0oP7GvMQSJA5ToF8hDsa6yZ9k_V3rQfQ3eW_S8HlrLbqsNthbRW0KKoQ79HMG8tvfY/s400/Jim_LACBC_Logo_Final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649634955226711554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and AdventureCORPS Announce the Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Join, renew, or donate and LACBC (<a href="http://la-bike.org/membership">click!</a>) will receive twice the amount you give via AdventureCORPS' $10,000 pledge!</span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />From Chris Kostman, Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director, AdventureCORPS, Inc.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Fellow cyclist Jim Swarzman, age 47, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in a large pick-up truck, possibly intentionally, while cycling in an unsupported 600km long-distance cycling event called a "brevet" early on April 10, 2011 in Leucadia (part of Encinitas, in San Diego County). The driver later turned himself in, plead not guilty, but was found guilty and is awaiting sentencing. The maximum sentence is four years for the crime for which he was charged. Meanwhile, Jim is gone and the lives of his fiancé, friends, and family have been shattered.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(NOTE this email just received: </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The sentencing for Jim's killer is scheduled for next Monday, 12 September at 1300 (that's 1:00 P.M.) at the Vista Courthouse in north San Diego County. Wouldn't it be awesome if the courtroom was packed with supporters for Jim's family? Hope to see many of you there. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Bret Gross, San Clemente, CA)</span><br /><br />I believe it is crucial that we do something to honor Jim's life and legacy, and to help insure that this kind of senseless, unnecessary tragedy never happens again. Please <a href="http://la-bike.org/membership">join in that effort</a>, and read on.<br /><br />Jim Swarzman was a really great guy, and had recently become engaged to another long distance cycling enthusiast, Nicole Honda. They had been planning to move into their new home together the weekend after Jim was killed, and they also had planned to ride Paris-Brest-Paris this summer on their honeymoon.<br /><br />They have both raced <a href="http://www.the508.com/">Furnace Creek 508</a>, a 508-mile bicycle race which we organize through Death Valley and the Mojave Desert, on a two person team, and solo, including in the "classic bike" division with an "old school" set-up.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Personally, I really, really liked Jim and we connected on many levels. We talked about all kinds of things while cycling, but never about work. I don't even know what his career was; we were friends beyond those mundane things. I thought it was very cool that he had been president of a Porsche Car Club for many years. I believe he told me that he had owned as many as six Porsches at one time. But in recent years he had become a much bigger fan of collecting, and riding, bikes. More importantly, he was collecting happy memories with his lovely fiancé, in cycling and in life.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Jim had been a bike racer back in the 80s, had got away from cycling for about twenty years, then recently rediscovered it with a passion, meeting Nicole in the process. When I first rode with him, I could tell that he had old school, classic style, because of his position on the bike and smooth pedaling form. I loved watching him ride and had the pleasure of riding the San Diego 200km brevet with him earlier this year, plus a few hours of the LA 300km brevet a few weeks later. Even after 20 years away from the sport, he truly rode like a pro, gracefully, strongly, with a relaxed, but precise style and posture. He had really gotten into cycling with a vengeance at this point in his life, riding brevets, double centuries, Furnace Creek 508, plus creating epic rides to go do with friends. He was 100% my kind of guy, on and off the bike.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Jim was living life to the fullest, was very fit, good looking, and in Nicole Honda had found an amazing cyclist, and lovely, bubbly, outgoing, and extremely positive life partner. They were a match made in heaven, truly.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Jim was riding with Nicole, along with fellow distance cyclist Chris Hanson, when he was struck by the hit-and-run driver on April 20, 2011. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but passed away a few hours later.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">There was a huge turn-out at the tribute to Jim and his life at Mount Sinai Memorial Park on April 14. Many fellow cyclists rode there, quite a few in cycling jerseys, to pay tribute to Jim and to show their solidarity as fellow cyclists. After Jim's father, sister, and best friend spoke, Nicole spoke last. It was heart-wrenching, but yet empowering and motivating to hear everyone speak of Jim's tireless energy, zest for life, and unquenchable thirst for adventure, and for sharing it with other people.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Nicole wrapped up her words about Jim by saying "Many of you have asked what you can do to show your respect for Jim and support of me. I have two things which I'd ask: One, pay attention while driving. Don't text, don't fish behind the seat for your purse, don't put on make-up while driving. Pay attention; your life or somebody else's may depend on it. And two, <a href="http://la-bike.org/membership">please join the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition</a>. Jim was an LACBC supporter and this organization needs more members and more support, because they are our voice, fighting to make streets safer and laws more just for cyclists."<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">By chance, I was sitting behind Jennifer Klausner, the executive director of the LA County Bicycle Coalition, during the memorial and I saw her jaw literally drop as she heard Nicole's plea to support LACBC as a tribute to Jim and his life. It was in that moment that I knew I would do something to amplify that special request from Nicole.</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Although I have been a member of LACBC for several years, and have ridden in their signature event, The LA River Ride, I didn't really know that much about LACBC, what they do, and how important they are. Here they are in a nutshell, from their website, <a href="http://www.la-bike.org/">la-bike.org</a>:</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit organization with over 1,000 members that engages cyclists through advocacy, education and outreach across the county. Founded in 1998 by bicycle advocates Joe Linton and Ron Milam, LACBC brings together the diverse bicycling community in a united mission to improve the bicycling environment and quality of life for the entire region. Despite Los Angeles’ reputation as a car-centric region, LACBC has emerged as one of the most innovative and wide-reaching bicycle advocacy non-profits in the country. They have played a major role in the growing cycling movement here in LA. Their vision is to improve the built environment in Los Angeles, so that all cyclists--low-income, commuter, recreational, families, and women--can safely navigate LA County streets. Through the help of a strong volunteer network, LACBC accomplishes this vision in their campaigns to increase bicycle infrastructure throughout the 88 cities in the County.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In meeting with Jen Klausner, I was stunned to learn that the sole organization in this giant county of ten million people which represents and furthers cyclists' rights and needs has barely over a thousand members! Eleven hundred members, out of ALL those LA area cyclists??? I was stunned, and appalled. Knowing how critical a collective voice is to gaining, and then keeping, our rights to safely ride on the roads of Los Angeles County is, I believe that everyone who rides a bike in LA County should be a member of the LACBC! (Even those living outside LA County should consider supporting LACBC, because they have become a role model organization for promoting cycling in large metropolitan areas.)</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />To that end, through AdventureCORPS, we are sponsoring the Jim Swarzman Memorial Membership Drive. As such, AdventureCORPS will match all memberships and contributions to LACBC in Jim’s honor, up to $10,000. So when you <a href="http://la-bike.org/membership">join, renew, or donate</a>, LACBC will receive twice the amount you give. We ask that you please encourage your friends to become members now - whether they are new or long-time cyclists, whether you knew Jim personally or have been touched by hearing about his story. </span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />This Membership Drive has been going for about a month now, and will come to a close soon. Please join, renew, or donate today! Your contribution will have TWICE the impact in helping us create safer streets for all cyclists!</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yours in sport,</span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Chris Kostman,</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Chief Adventure Officer and Race Director</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">AdventureCORPS, Inc.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Special thanks is extended to fellow cyclist Marcus Edvalson for creating the logo for this effort. More info: <a href="http://www.getgoodnatured.com/">http://www.getgoodnatured.com/</a><br /><br />AdventureCORPS, Inc. is an athlete-run firm producing and promoting ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, lifestyle, and media. Adventure is our way of life. AdventureCORPS' world-class events for athlete-adventurers include epic races such as the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508, plus CORPSCamp Death Valley, Hell's Gate Hundred, Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic, Death Valley Century, Ultra Century, & Double Century (Spring and Fall editions), and Rough Riders Rally. We also host and develop our adventure-related websites and provide a variety of adventure-related services. Founded in 1984 by Chris Kostman, this group effort is dedicated to exploring the inner and outer universes, seeking adventure, energy, and insight both in daily life and "out there." Please join us! More info at <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/">www.adventurecorps.com</a>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Contact:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">634 S. Spring Street, Suite 821</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Los Angeles, CA 90014</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">213-629-2142</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.la-bike.org/</span></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />AdventureCORPS, Inc.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">638 Lindero Canyon Rd #311</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Oak Park, CA 91377</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">888-917-1117</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.adventurecorps.com/</span></span></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Blog: <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/">http://www.XO-1.org</a> (<a href="http://www.xo-1.org/search/label/Jim%20Swarzman">includes extensive Jim Swarzman coverage</a>)</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZHHsAeIBt8rjkooYi9Gr9fo8AWZcpdRGHqOVPx0jMQZRZaPKto1MpfRIkvf5Vg7eXkrMow7dAP9bcyJ7KAOXLRROEG-7R75KBUPo5lCe4AH8oogTPC8oQluQBL7KJnpAmMiUIMjw_s/s1600/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZHHsAeIBt8rjkooYi9Gr9fo8AWZcpdRGHqOVPx0jMQZRZaPKto1MpfRIkvf5Vg7eXkrMow7dAP9bcyJ7KAOXLRROEG-7R75KBUPo5lCe4AH8oogTPC8oQluQBL7KJnpAmMiUIMjw_s/s400/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649629738587271282" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-27046291411066765542011-07-07T12:16:00.000-07:002011-07-07T12:32:47.853-07:00JIM SWARZMAN TRIAL STARTS JULY 12<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi8gPHfreCAh3fHd8ClNhyphenhyphenQFjJJ_ft1zGuT5NDoY2wZw6SDc1hcUSv4Hs1Q94GZ-o0Bht4ppw3a0WHDaYKmHxS27qNc416f4xWrF0a9xvUrEmN23l5CbP51NtcR9Ao3UIzSCAJNgRc_k/s1600/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi8gPHfreCAh3fHd8ClNhyphenhyphenQFjJJ_ft1zGuT5NDoY2wZw6SDc1hcUSv4Hs1Q94GZ-o0Bht4ppw3a0WHDaYKmHxS27qNc416f4xWrF0a9xvUrEmN23l5CbP51NtcR9Ao3UIzSCAJNgRc_k/s400/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626692224749679074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong> </strong></span></div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">The trial for the hit-and-run driver who killed Furnace Creek 508 veteran and close friend Jim Swarzman starts Tuesday, July 12 in Vista, CA and should last until the end of that week. It is really important to have a very strong cyclist presence to send a message to the judge and jury this type of killing cannot be tolerated any longer.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">If you live anywhere in Southern California, please consider attending even one day of the trial. Be sure to wear a Furnace Creek 508 or other cycling jersey, vest, or jacket, so that your identity as a supporter of cyclists' rights is visible. Location:</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">North County Courthouse: 325 S Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92801</span></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">It is the 5 story building and you will need to check for the actual courtroom upon arrival. Officially it starts at 8:45AM, but they tend to start late.</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> Jim's fiancé, Nicole Honda, says "Even if people can only come for a few hours, it would be appreciated." Please support Nicole, Jim's memory, and our right to ride safely on our roads.<br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/04/jim-swarzman-my-kind-of-guy-and-cyclist.html">Click here for our main post about Jim's tragic death, and his amazing life.</a></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ7R5mSrkVKy3PYs5pzfkQ7VGWmKgaNAVDSgPjlwhcHPbSbYljO_Za7gwi2B4lGLne6uAbyXNilGJgAF1IwfxKdpd77YHcYiqG_NZmFNTHdXib0If1tttGatoT5yD6fM1xjekxRpMJPU/s1600/2009finish3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ7R5mSrkVKy3PYs5pzfkQ7VGWmKgaNAVDSgPjlwhcHPbSbYljO_Za7gwi2B4lGLne6uAbyXNilGJgAF1IwfxKdpd77YHcYiqG_NZmFNTHdXib0If1tttGatoT5yD6fM1xjekxRpMJPU/s400/2009finish3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626692218312534306" border="0" /></a>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-30646520658964518372011-06-30T16:40:00.000-07:002011-07-01T10:43:32.012-07:00The Classic Cyclist, Part Four<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV-JmHsUCROHf25Z01HAXZMSLsf_Ynkz_hTB0mk5vniSr1DGDuIhpPrGKuDM8qVbw3S5e7KhWdEVMq7a-7R4OKedO3ZAh4m6NEA_Twh2wsGpn1K4KW5psn0EYj4UguPmdmLDoJIwDB6c/s1600/CKclassiccyclist4a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV-JmHsUCROHf25Z01HAXZMSLsf_Ynkz_hTB0mk5vniSr1DGDuIhpPrGKuDM8qVbw3S5e7KhWdEVMq7a-7R4OKedO3ZAh4m6NEA_Twh2wsGpn1K4KW5psn0EYj4UguPmdmLDoJIwDB6c/s400/CKclassiccyclist4a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624178833078508338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Above: Self-portrait of the author with Jim Swarzman during the San Diego 200km Brevet, January, 2011</span></span><br /></div><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />The Classic Cyclist, Part Four</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"> By Chris Kostman</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/07/classic-cyclist-part-one.html" target="_blank">Click here for Part One</a>, <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2010/09/classic-cyclist-part-two.html" target="_blank">click here for Part Two</a>, and <a href="http://www.xo-1.org/2011/02/above-author-on-17-mile-drive-in-carmel.html" target="_blank">click here for Part Three</a> of this series.</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">As I explained in the first three parts of this article, cyclists entering the sport of road cycling over the past fifteen or so years have tended to come in by way of mountain biking, triathlon, or fitness, rather than pure road cycling. As a result, most of these “cyclists” lack the knowledge which makes up the foundation of the classic cyclists’ repertoire and which respects the backbone of the sport. The point of this series of articles it to bring these uninitiated cyclists “up to speed.” Continuing with the theme begun in the first three parts of this article, here are some more things the classic cyclist knows and does:</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; "></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">CLASSIC STYLE</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The classic cyclist “looks just right” on his bike. The clean and minimalist bike set-up and the spotless, humming drivetrain are mirrored in two additional manners by the cyclist astride the wheel: Attire is neither garish nor loud, nicely fitting (neither “parachuting” nor the dreaded “sausage effect”), and tasteful. Most importantly, the classic cyclist’s posture and demeanour on the bicycle are confident, relaxed, and powerful with a tendency to ride “back on the saddle” with hands either on the bar tops while in traffic or enjoying conversation with another rider, or deep in the drops while pushing the pace. Pedaling style is the very definition of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">souplesse</i>. As such, the classic cyclist is recognizable by these trademark characteristics even while running errands in street clothes on a 50-year-old three-speed.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">FLOW</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The classic cyclist flows seamlessly with other cyclists and road users, while smoothly tackling all that the road and trail surfaces dish out. By staying in the moment, relaxed, aware, and paying attention with full peripheral vision and attentive hearing, “obstacles,” hazards, pedestrians, cyclists, and other forms of traffic are taken into account as forward momentum is maintained. She rides smoothly and calmly, whether riding solo, sitting in a group, or leading a paceline. When others are following, road hazards are quietly pointed out with small, but specific, hand signals and gestures (verbal warnings are rarely used). By riding predictably and elegantly, the classic cyclist saves energy, minimizes risk, and flows proactively through the world.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">NUMBERS ADD UP TO NOTHING</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The classic cyclist does not fixate on mileage on elapsed time, nor elevation gain. In the grand scheme of things, a 100-mile ride is no better nor more worthy than an 87-mile ride. Miles are ridden for the sake of the experience, not to fill a spreadsheet. (In fact, many classic cyclists eschew bicycle computers and training logs.) Likewise, he will stop to enjoy a view, to read a historic marker, to help another cyclist (or motorist), to take a photograph, or to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea at a new, or favorite, café. All such moments are part of “the ride” and are to be savored as much as the hard push up a mountain pass while “putting the hurt” on friends and clubmates.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">FINESSE AND BALANCE</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Riding no-hands for miles on end, removing or installing booties and leg warmers, and putting on a jacket while pedaling are all commonplace and natural acts for the classic cyclist. Indeed, he can change all pieces of clothing, except for shorts, while pedaling. Stopping for a café or scenic view is one thing, but stopping for actions better done while rolling smoothly onwards is quite another. The skills, balance, and awareness necessary for these classic talents make cycling safer, more graceful, and more rewarding.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">THE WHOLISTIC CYCLIST</span></span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The classic cyclist is an outdoor athlete who puts a premium on personal health, always takes a broad and selfless point of view, and pursues a soft life’s walk on the planet. Stopping to pick up some trash - especially any items clearly dropped by another cyclist - is a natural, every-ride experience. Running errands by bike, such as stops at the post office and bank at the start or finish of a ride, or actually bike commuting regularly, minimizes her footprint and provides more opportunities to “enjoy the ride.” An attitude of “you only live once” permeates her sense of adventure, her sense of purpose, and her appreciation for all that cycling brings to her life. The classic cyclist lives by the mantra, “if you’re going to do something, do it well.”</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">##</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:13pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size:78%;"><i style=""><span style="font-size:13pt;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chris Kostman has been a classic cyclist since 1982. Besides competing in races as diverse as the Race Across America, the Iditabike Mountain Bike Race, the Triple Ironman, and the 24 Hours of Canaan, he also organizes the Badwater Ultramarathon and Furnace Creek 508 races, as well as the Rough Riders Rally, CORPScamp Death Valley, and a series of four century, ultra century, and double century rides in California. Kostman is regularly seen on the roads and trails of California and beyond, riding brevets, centuries, bike tours, and other events and adventures. Learn more at <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/who/ckprop.html">www.adventurecorps.com</a>.</span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOsvUy_qTO1E3QaoCKWW3MfhqPpj9o4QjwUn9H8Qt9AwEEwUe222jbckFrYQpnX3xwXr4rYHehHUt7FCqXeK3F_MNzwAOeR9xyno_SyovBuTNQUQn_a97gqc71vfoxpZLj2PfN5bKa0w/s1600/CKclassiccyclist4d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOsvUy_qTO1E3QaoCKWW3MfhqPpj9o4QjwUn9H8Qt9AwEEwUe222jbckFrYQpnX3xwXr4rYHehHUt7FCqXeK3F_MNzwAOeR9xyno_SyovBuTNQUQn_a97gqc71vfoxpZLj2PfN5bKa0w/s400/CKclassiccyclist4d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624178842668037298" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVEYQlb53ytb0YuK7j4Jm31qQnZvxema78O4AWTlhJ709zEFDVCvWvk60GmoW9-yESOGkTPU9WBNIqnmHHPP3T44153va0itTGwbcND9ThDBqB5WDofPpyMFVvXRHL5e9gF7hBWQiAdM/s1600/IMGP0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVEYQlb53ytb0YuK7j4Jm31qQnZvxema78O4AWTlhJ709zEFDVCvWvk60GmoW9-yESOGkTPU9WBNIqnmHHPP3T44153va0itTGwbcND9ThDBqB5WDofPpyMFVvXRHL5e9gF7hBWQiAdM/s400/IMGP0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624166419687238786" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8lf8OqdEphguT5BUDk5d7RWYbarFJG5MNEXvwnnxFIxqjBkVqXh4jKhtx6TW6cBwE5_HWKI_UbPv71-jcX017alW65zSu_P68CPdU6L4tD-7zZqICUimif_iokwApq1e52uuwP9BEDo/s1600/CKclassiccyclist4b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8lf8OqdEphguT5BUDk5d7RWYbarFJG5MNEXvwnnxFIxqjBkVqXh4jKhtx6TW6cBwE5_HWKI_UbPv71-jcX017alW65zSu_P68CPdU6L4tD-7zZqICUimif_iokwApq1e52uuwP9BEDo/s400/CKclassiccyclist4b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624178831178795842" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Above three images: The author and his Rivendell Roadeo prior to</em> <em>the 2011 San Diego 200km Brevet.</em></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVEYQlb53ytb0YuK7j4Jm31qQnZvxema78O4AWTlhJ709zEFDVCvWvk60GmoW9-yESOGkTPU9WBNIqnmHHPP3T44153va0itTGwbcND9ThDBqB5WDofPpyMFVvXRHL5e9gF7hBWQiAdM/s1600/IMGP0006.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></a></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" > </span>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6558368124745892353.post-84118117090397580972011-04-11T10:24:00.001-07:002011-07-07T12:22:08.603-07:00Jim Swarzman, RIP: My Kind of Guy, and Cyclist<span style="font-size:78%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx48H15vdi_4kaym_ZD4IDNIlIFG3i9l2lZfk_qku2YdG62eFlQdgLBACTA162zCqGeHcwhtVztqjYqjm62gccPHP69yoS6M7fa8hgrzDRBTmgbGF6agFCWf3ff5kahw9rBLKNjoIqzaU/s1600/2009finish3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx48H15vdi_4kaym_ZD4IDNIlIFG3i9l2lZfk_qku2YdG62eFlQdgLBACTA162zCqGeHcwhtVztqjYqjm62gccPHP69yoS6M7fa8hgrzDRBTmgbGF6agFCWf3ff5kahw9rBLKNjoIqzaU/s400/2009finish3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594378984295268930" border="0" /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA88xDG-_dXj6pWSod6alfnVT-tpoDWgK78yDXQNv9uApbU_xRsJVt3KTgO0rCmBCraszgakduJyy19ZZ902Gk-PMm_QIj5SEoTi9igexKqe0iOlrJ_2LzBAb36yjcpz2tOJQNFBhPXA8/s1600/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA88xDG-_dXj6pWSod6alfnVT-tpoDWgK78yDXQNv9uApbU_xRsJVt3KTgO0rCmBCraszgakduJyy19ZZ902Gk-PMm_QIj5SEoTi9igexKqe0iOlrJ_2LzBAb36yjcpz2tOJQNFBhPXA8/s400/Swarzman_508_ad_CMYK_1500wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599355742117260674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_48iMvStn-5bmYw5iXcd-G6SxwOxTTsK13fx4KF6qEUThJnsqSg0R0A5WhRGosNFn4FyNSzjkdwyXd_kEcd66qWEtc7ErWD7h7kdYW8fLX4PgpLDFjbonk5HJenhcTix2SYWiDBGCL8/s1600/2010finish4.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Above: </span>Jim Swarzman and Nicole Honda at the 2009 Furnace Creek 508 finish line, and then Jim a year later in 2010 with his "classic bike" of choice (</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >which will appear as a full-page in the next issue of American Randonneur and in Bicycle Quarterly.</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >) Look at how happy, fit, and fresh he looked after those grueling races! That's testimony to Jim living life to the fullest, embracing all it has to offer, training seriously, seeking out adventure and fun, AND enjoying the ride with his great friend and love of his life.</span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Fellow cyclist Jim Swarzman, age 47, was killed by a hit-and-run driver in blue or dark color pick-up truck*, possibly intentionally, while cycling in an unsupported 600km long-distance cycling event called a "brevet" early yesterday morning (April 10, 2011) in Leucadia (part of Encinitas, in San Diego County). Here are three media reports about this tragic incident which was no "accident":<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Bicyclist-Killed-in-Leucadia-Hit-and-Run-119566974.html">NBC San Diego</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.10news.com/news/27498033/detail.html">10 News San Diego </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-suspect-search-narrows-in-fatal-hit-and-run-20110411,0,5715371.story">Fox 5 San Diego</a><br /><br /><a href="http://bikinginla.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/breaking-news-%E2%80%94-carlsbad-man-arrested-in-the-hit-and-run-death-of-encino-cyclist-jim-swarzman/">Biking in LA Blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/encinitas/article_52c35d8c-2732-50e0-8ca6-e965abfa164d.html"><br />North County Times: Nicole's Words</a><br /><br /><a href="http://sfvbc.org/jim_swarzman.php">Memories of Jim, posted by the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club</a><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Jim Swarzman was a really great guy, and recently engaged to another brevet rider / Furnace Creek 508 racer, Nicole Honda. They were to be moving into their new home together next weekend and were going to ride Paris-Brest-Paris this summer on their honeymoon. They have both raced The 508 on a two person team, and solo, including in the classic bike divisions. I really, really like Jim and we connected on many levels. We talked about all kinds of things while cycling, but never about work. I don't even know what his career was; we were friends beyond those mundane things. (I did think it was very cool that he had been president of a Porsche Car Club for many years. I believe he told me that he had owned as many as six Porsches at one time. But nowadays he had become a much bigger fan of collecting, and riding, bikes.)<br /><br />Jim had been a bike racer back in the 80s, had got away from cycling for about twenty years, then recently rediscovered it with a passion, meeting Nicole in the process. When I first rode with him, I could tell that he had old school, classic style, because of his position on the bike and form. I loved watching him ride and had the pleasure of riding the San Diego 200km brevet with him earlier this year, plus a few hours of the LA 300km brevet a few weeks later. Even after 20 years away from the sport, he truly rode like a pro, gracefully, strongly, with a relaxed, but precise style and posture. He had really gotten into cycling with a vengeance at this point in his life, riding brevets, double centuries, Furnace Creek 508, plus creating epic rides to go do with friends. He was 100% my kind of guy, on and off the bike.<br /><br />Jim was living life to the fullest, was very fit, good looking, and in Nicole Honda had found an amazing cyclist, and lovely, bubbly, outgoing, and extremely positive life partner. They were a match made in heaven, truly.<br /></span><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Jim was riding with Nicole, along with fellow distance cyclist Chris Hanson, when he was struck by the hit-and-run driver. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, but passed away a few hours later.</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Thursday, April 14th 2011 at 12 Noon, there was a memorial for Jim at Mount Sinai memorial Park. I was there, along with a great crowd of family, friends, and fellow cyclists. An image from the occasion:</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHq5T-4BEVa9mQDiMk_l78LF1sWyAU4b0TejmLdI4YStek1G5K5_cMnR7MT69oPpAOsXutuD9i-t5rxy2N0unC8qmg9KNaaI9Ju0WjSMhKMww3sOQzzDOsUlbc3_atG2L5Gpbv4TvHlg/s1600/IMGP0187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHq5T-4BEVa9mQDiMk_l78LF1sWyAU4b0TejmLdI4YStek1G5K5_cMnR7MT69oPpAOsXutuD9i-t5rxy2N0unC8qmg9KNaaI9Ju0WjSMhKMww3sOQzzDOsUlbc3_atG2L5Gpbv4TvHlg/s400/IMGP0187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624167562261781794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE, April 12, 2011</span>: Jim's killer has turned himself in. <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/12/carlsbad-man-arrested-in-bicyclist-hit-and-run/">Story here</a>. We will need to follow this closely and see what kind of "justice" is served. For any court event that is public, I hope there is a large contingent of cyclists, and friends and family of Jim's, in attendance.</span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">*"Investigators originally described the pickup as a blue, late model Ford F150. Monday afternoon, after further investigation, they said that the vehicle that hit Swarzman was a 2007-8 Dodge Ram 1500 or a 2007-9 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500."</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> PLEASE call the Sheriff at 760-966-3500 if you saw anything or have any information.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span></div><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000089300382">Here is Jim's Facebook page</a>.</span></p><p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Jim's athletic resumé, as submitted with his Furnace Creek 508 applications:</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">2009 FC508: 2x Mixed Classic Bike, Team Golden Gyrfalcon, 1st place in division<br />2010 FC508: Solo Classic Bike, Gyrfalcon, 2nd in division to overall winner, 17th overall</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">- 5x Super Randonneur since 2009<br />- First to finish at PCH Randos' 200K & 300K in 2010 and 2011<br />- 2009 Gold Rush 1200K finisher<br />- 2010 Central Coast 1000K finisher<br />- 12 double centuries in 2009 and 2010 incl. Devil Mtn and Alta Alpina 8-Pass<br />- Top ten at Central Coast DC and Heartbreak DC in 2010<br />- Cat 3 racer for Velo Club La Grange in mid-late '80's. Finisher at Death Valley - Mt. Whitney Road Race, Whiskey Creek Stage Race, and Tour of the Gila.<br />- UCLA Cycling "A" Team member in college. Golden Hammer winner (UCLA Cycling TT champion)<br />- 4x finisher L.A. Triathlon and a number of other Olympic and sprint distance triathlons<br />- 800 meter runner as junior. Junior Olympic champion and #1 ranking nationally in age group.</span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">- Realize that none of this is particularly impressive other than finishing the 11/09 Rough Rider ride!!!!!<br /></span></p><p face="arial"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">- I am determined, always prepared, and am very fortunate to never have any "show-stopper" problems. Oh, and I am unfazed by extreme heat or cold, and maintain complete mental clarity when sleep deprived! I HAVE NEVER "DNF'd" ANYTHING!!!</span><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >Here are Jim and Nicole from the 2009 Furnace Creek 508, which they raced in the two-person classic bike division (</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualTd.php?e=3107">Their 2009 Time Splits</a>):<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEALNgLDQf1IreukqbQ7UiZLg0lJQewzQ8qCbNxpms3an3AD3Xw3RXhsMHZmFQIsPgJD2_JxPZkKkyHphFNT0fWu5gHsG1o6lIrLE0UAOgpsfElw-DEDP8n9ibtKj4sTpgEGb-xoVpGM/s1600/2009mug.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEALNgLDQf1IreukqbQ7UiZLg0lJQewzQ8qCbNxpms3an3AD3Xw3RXhsMHZmFQIsPgJD2_JxPZkKkyHphFNT0fWu5gHsG1o6lIrLE0UAOgpsfElw-DEDP8n9ibtKj4sTpgEGb-xoVpGM/s400/2009mug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594383208103737010" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObRSWvWLAmBIZAiqviicB0Wi6yQE7bQ-8DcH_Hl-ynR3nFoj-QhTKUGTDd-7RZa35El7vEOoy8vUN6FiuDDHBSjIiqIBQrXuP3QwKqveuC1W-mg5OV6wfqUdnsCeg0Egw7lzVJuMWBMU/s1600/2009finish.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObRSWvWLAmBIZAiqviicB0Wi6yQE7bQ-8DcH_Hl-ynR3nFoj-QhTKUGTDd-7RZa35El7vEOoy8vUN6FiuDDHBSjIiqIBQrXuP3QwKqveuC1W-mg5OV6wfqUdnsCeg0Egw7lzVJuMWBMU/s400/2009finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594382591619158034" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqsgax-Y5RGqgyysbPC0HqsjmtAnLaFV502UjU1TDO0ngdGuIOlwfSXf54feSh6v6zE41_QD12ZuO4ydc3ZuEXivIJ8Z28kGNXYrQsmsA9QpVamHkCOyH_FLxYl6TxUmlyRxcM2PMMBY/s1600/2009finish2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqsgax-Y5RGqgyysbPC0HqsjmtAnLaFV502UjU1TDO0ngdGuIOlwfSXf54feSh6v6zE41_QD12ZuO4ydc3ZuEXivIJ8Z28kGNXYrQsmsA9QpVamHkCOyH_FLxYl6TxUmlyRxcM2PMMBY/s400/2009finish2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594382593963739394" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGX7TCx0oE0Qt-Pag4rO2ASIJWBKRYbT_y5Tuci8DzXXMKW3Iarc42Tl-UJw9lcNIGtBjoqOSP7WNZEWYLosapvE-HilywQsAMTRH1wMSiiREcvYlN5L6qbJ6ioaRzIwtWT-SKAyIZMk/s1600/2009finish5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGX7TCx0oE0Qt-Pag4rO2ASIJWBKRYbT_y5Tuci8DzXXMKW3Iarc42Tl-UJw9lcNIGtBjoqOSP7WNZEWYLosapvE-HilywQsAMTRH1wMSiiREcvYlN5L6qbJ6ioaRzIwtWT-SKAyIZMk/s400/2009finish5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594382622911393522" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2oqwAuDfA-NHx0CDPhs_qRd8WlO3uJQH0ZvzhVYBPNy7OPHvTC6u7hZbKLefn8-QYUTxQBfcwMMEZlBBWS531RpVCQjA20T2dkfc64OUMw5dyvqzWuYJ9RAaxbkchNBlthMaPXPNnNE/s1600/2009finish4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2oqwAuDfA-NHx0CDPhs_qRd8WlO3uJQH0ZvzhVYBPNy7OPHvTC6u7hZbKLefn8-QYUTxQBfcwMMEZlBBWS531RpVCQjA20T2dkfc64OUMw5dyvqzWuYJ9RAaxbkchNBlthMaPXPNnNE/s400/2009finish4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594382611784447250" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here is Jim from the 2010 Furnace Creek 508, which he raced in the solo classic bike division (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/individualTd.php?e=3444">Here as his 2010 Time Splits</a><span style="font-family:arial;">):</span><br /></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span> </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3H4xDyfIMkdUz19eZcEzVM-LUyZe8otxW2JQF7mn4P80ogna-BC4FFHED_zxbgNcjArDSJF68Pq5wzVfS3m0Iwmku_cSNgnxEZKYhmad4kcHggmNCgeEA807fC50EE_Qjx7PDPi4UC8/s1600/2010mug.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3H4xDyfIMkdUz19eZcEzVM-LUyZe8otxW2JQF7mn4P80ogna-BC4FFHED_zxbgNcjArDSJF68Pq5wzVfS3m0Iwmku_cSNgnxEZKYhmad4kcHggmNCgeEA807fC50EE_Qjx7PDPi4UC8/s400/2010mug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594383216388075954" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCJmUAzjc371TxXJtfCg4rMX8Q7qEB8z4_kMtrPzG7QTH2aBWrGVNMoXxjO9toQr_IKAsI9zP8FYMphWeSezE23BwxlF3mLPoz6DTcKTYBAuLAalQ0fs63t632xHzdnkRRsD_K8pxhJg/s1600/2010finish.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCJmUAzjc371TxXJtfCg4rMX8Q7qEB8z4_kMtrPzG7QTH2aBWrGVNMoXxjO9toQr_IKAsI9zP8FYMphWeSezE23BwxlF3mLPoz6DTcKTYBAuLAalQ0fs63t632xHzdnkRRsD_K8pxhJg/s400/2010finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594383224751240418" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyJ6dwGHjgMZdHg8KBzPWHL5w7WH9gnJ1MRHwQvVmPHwVuRsppXzjdQ6sCW_qeL8HEDCqCHPkyroXxdY53rDpOm1de0n7ezgCNzivKHVgAPfDV8uCvRMVCWr6n5sg1VRQieYa91R_GUQ/s1600/2010finish2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyJ6dwGHjgMZdHg8KBzPWHL5w7WH9gnJ1MRHwQvVmPHwVuRsppXzjdQ6sCW_qeL8HEDCqCHPkyroXxdY53rDpOm1de0n7ezgCNzivKHVgAPfDV8uCvRMVCWr6n5sg1VRQieYa91R_GUQ/s400/2010finish2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594383237268470242" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg850trmzImfwwevlGwA5UZDUSKZc7Zbxd09iTrMepzNabQpv0FjzCip8DZShJQeHK0v1vLQZZ2QlBDJyUPE_K-MaVgz5uKJSK4E2O4fth147Rn0FMwTN1WAcIuBtgzV0glyzIQGXvo0Vg/s1600/2010finish3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg850trmzImfwwevlGwA5UZDUSKZc7Zbxd09iTrMepzNabQpv0FjzCip8DZShJQeHK0v1vLQZZ2QlBDJyUPE_K-MaVgz5uKJSK4E2O4fth147Rn0FMwTN1WAcIuBtgzV0glyzIQGXvo0Vg/s400/2010finish3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594383240851823826" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-k6AxIPeldzrzvgExGf0OfItPSnpH29ECUZfza7ycLhjA1yjtg2BltN6ZaTmKWzWbvLyd8TfLKaMNDqPQ3c8ChicOyRPCxcKLpyfGG61IQkTs1KCVnv0JICV8xscr4tebQ8ghX5681Y/s1600/2010finish5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-k6AxIPeldzrzvgExGf0OfItPSnpH29ECUZfza7ycLhjA1yjtg2BltN6ZaTmKWzWbvLyd8TfLKaMNDqPQ3c8ChicOyRPCxcKLpyfGG61IQkTs1KCVnv0JICV8xscr4tebQ8ghX5681Y/s400/2010finish5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594384070198358370" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eGPk19T5CfMu7owSOKODQ1lybM0_13D4j5j1MXISlNYsYSNDFx9hiBKXXz7SNC7E-RbMSjvTIXaoQm2XtF1hSkYKwJuW7lVjVcz15k-NFc03myYxRuWvbQQVfdClLgOXPT-z_Fq0Yrg/s1600/2010finish4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eGPk19T5CfMu7owSOKODQ1lybM0_13D4j5j1MXISlNYsYSNDFx9hiBKXXz7SNC7E-RbMSjvTIXaoQm2XtF1hSkYKwJuW7lVjVcz15k-NFc03myYxRuWvbQQVfdClLgOXPT-z_Fq0Yrg/s400/2010finish4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594384059527557218" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Jim also joined some of our Rough Rider adventures in the Santa Monica mountains. He's in the Rough Riders jersey below and in </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.xo-1.org/2009/12/rough-riding-santa-monica-mountains.html">this report</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lzSEd11YeWJAQI154bQyj7l61JQHB3w4ASU4C74T9QjE6P267mACDmGBqx802hoD1OYrk5Kfayfn1cn3HqmMgeDPtDBbpxuFW4brFlcgvJkzgtarHhW8IdAeamHKb8_XPl6RS_uBhbQ/s1600/DSC02828.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lzSEd11YeWJAQI154bQyj7l61JQHB3w4ASU4C74T9QjE6P267mACDmGBqx802hoD1OYrk5Kfayfn1cn3HqmMgeDPtDBbpxuFW4brFlcgvJkzgtarHhW8IdAeamHKb8_XPl6RS_uBhbQ/s400/DSC02828.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594546295571152594" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLZTBvyAAVhxNyFyY8pWKlDMygJnNAy8eCKIZrTEI_h3Pgt62rIQKL87Qdwx3hQ6WzLtJxjfjyR5dWTv9Gb9KOvqJmt28r8s3iZmqqOJnujc8gI_EbXkLIV9DRpZNMWeZsuvJlpkMf-Y/s1600/DSC02859.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLZTBvyAAVhxNyFyY8pWKlDMygJnNAy8eCKIZrTEI_h3Pgt62rIQKL87Qdwx3hQ6WzLtJxjfjyR5dWTv9Gb9KOvqJmt28r8s3iZmqqOJnujc8gI_EbXkLIV9DRpZNMWeZsuvJlpkMf-Y/s400/DSC02859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594546301714382018" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8L2eiXpTIt9ykDnlpqPp6yiSzMfCfqpMvpOQ0MeMYOgbXv-H-XodcPWNZh_-OFXVHranS1bGV0l6MYaFBlO2EdScLqTNxNaj35TxM5UgFK9XylHfQTLs4EGPSyMB-vkGwp2FX29ukSg/s1600/DSC02893.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8L2eiXpTIt9ykDnlpqPp6yiSzMfCfqpMvpOQ0MeMYOgbXv-H-XodcPWNZh_-OFXVHranS1bGV0l6MYaFBlO2EdScLqTNxNaj35TxM5UgFK9XylHfQTLs4EGPSyMB-vkGwp2FX29ukSg/s400/DSC02893.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594546312214493314" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-4cQhQMF2uy4eGPkZaaUO85oVrIzqEBiwh5XyP9Hesy8k6Zt3QuCpEHSiPpce8u3qGxn2b2SkMYewMMPq4tXwas1a-KN44mbGwDE6Qf9WM1LkBza8Ipda4MtsA57gQbfb62TSG4LjU/s1600/2009roughriding.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWe-4cQhQMF2uy4eGPkZaaUO85oVrIzqEBiwh5XyP9Hesy8k6Zt3QuCpEHSiPpce8u3qGxn2b2SkMYewMMPq4tXwas1a-KN44mbGwDE6Qf9WM1LkBza8Ipda4MtsA57gQbfb62TSG4LjU/s400/2009roughriding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594378985563731074" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE FUTURE OF RANDONNEUR CYCLING</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >I've been saying for years now that these Los Angeles / Orange County / San Diego brevets, especially the longer ones, are just too dangerous, with too much traffic, little or no shoulders. and routes which pass too many Indian casinos, bars, and such. There literally are not enough "good miles" in this part of the state for rides this long. Add in relentless "development," increasing numbers of cars on often dilapidated roads, and seemingly more and and more impatient, self-important drivers in over-size, overly powerful vehicles and you end up with an extremely dangerous mix in which a death like Jim's was sadly inevitable.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm going to Montana for my 400km brevet and mostly like to Seattle for my 600km. if I even do those rides. I also intend to start lobbying RUSA (Randonneurs USA, the governing body of this type of long-distance, unsupported cycling) to much more carefully scrutinize the routes for the various events around the country, especially those in and near metropolitan areas.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Jim's is not the first death during the brevet; tracking of accidents and deaths needs to be done to learn what truly makes a route "safe," or dangerous, and guidelines need to be created to require brevet organizers to createdroutes which are as safe as possible. Several brevet organizers have literally told me that they only organize brevets because they don't want to travel somewhere else to ride them, and that they just route them from, or from near, their own home, because that is most convenient. The recent brevets which toured all over Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and/or San Diego counties are perfect examples of the types of routes which should never have been created.</span></span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eMtPZfubTokkOh2WiQ2jltd0PRFReyf01q6o94XhgHixSYyurS6R3OTC2LyKy0AAA-UNvSDls-M0rMwb3UvWaf66s19Mkk7APMl0IiXK0hJeOp6MXsd2oRA-bJpSdqn1j_03GYOJ9D0/s1600/IMGP0022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_eMtPZfubTokkOh2WiQ2jltd0PRFReyf01q6o94XhgHixSYyurS6R3OTC2LyKy0AAA-UNvSDls-M0rMwb3UvWaf66s19Mkk7APMl0IiXK0hJeOp6MXsd2oRA-bJpSdqn1j_03GYOJ9D0/s400/IMGP0022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594384084715428850" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0bwqEJx5LKmX9S23F64UhBgtrfDtMfmjEKyEIHazZbiQa9QM2kxvgehUsMbW3tmC19-UbQWNAfUlMfFf3L8EQkWF5HhWEjphRTnMt5ifQPOuigLCT_U5o0TGP6i7hkiVolyVsBro5qY/s1600/IMGP0031.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0bwqEJx5LKmX9S23F64UhBgtrfDtMfmjEKyEIHazZbiQa9QM2kxvgehUsMbW3tmC19-UbQWNAfUlMfFf3L8EQkWF5HhWEjphRTnMt5ifQPOuigLCT_U5o0TGP6i7hkiVolyVsBro5qY/s400/IMGP0031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594378996073926850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Jim Swarzman with Chris Kostman during the 2011 200km San Diego Brevet.</span></span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP6AhccedwFU_DHp7BrRUIwWzJmioXiveEFOr_r_rn8MVbAwf2boDgrwTQBkx_cT6r8dYvM7KT4eLAhEx9uSnC93fn_YqjvAAlorQxYLZvLs0kHUidEFOqVDq6jyJs101tv01xC-o1pw/s1600/IMGP0041.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcP6AhccedwFU_DHp7BrRUIwWzJmioXiveEFOr_r_rn8MVbAwf2boDgrwTQBkx_cT6r8dYvM7KT4eLAhEx9uSnC93fn_YqjvAAlorQxYLZvLs0kHUidEFOqVDq6jyJs101tv01xC-o1pw/s400/IMGP0041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594378998791237250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">L-R, four Furnace Creek 508 veterans: Jim Gyrfalcon Swarzman, Andi Butterfly Ramer, George Red-Eyed Vireo Vargas, and Adam Rock Rabbit Bickett at the conclusion of the 2011 200km Brevet in San Diego.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:78%;" ><strong>ADDED JULY 7, 2011: JIM SWARZMAN TRIAL UPDATE </strong></span><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">The trial for the hit-and-run driver who killed Furnace Creek 508 veteran and close friend Jim Swarzman starts Tuesday, July 12 in Vista, CA and should last until the end of that week. It is really important to have a very strong cyclist presence to send a message to the judge and jury this type of killing cannot be tolerated any longer.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">If you live anywhere in Southern California, please consider attending even one day of the trial. Be sure to wear a Furnace Creek 508 or other cycling jersey, vest, or jacket, so that your identity as a supporter of cyclists' rights is visible. Location:</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">North County Courthouse</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">325 S Melrose Dr</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Vista, CA 92801</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">It is the 5 story building and you will need to check for the actual courtroom upon arrival.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Officially it starts at 8:45AM, but they tend to start late.</span></p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Jim's fiancé, Nicole Honda, says "Even if people can only come for a few hours, it would be appreciated." Please support Nicole, Jim's memory, and our right to ride safely on our roads.</span></span></div></div></div>Chris Kostmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05056622357667732064noreply@blogger.com12