the league(s)

Are you one of those cycling dorks who doesn't really follow other sports and are secretly jealous of those other dorks who have fantasy football leagues?

Probably not.

However, if you're looking for something fun to do during an ice storm or whenever you're not reading your favorite local bicycling-related blog, maybe enter a "virtual director sportif" pool. They take a little time to set up, but you don't need to tinker with them each week. (Of course, if you pick a dude who breaks his leg or gets busted for doping, you're stuck with him for the season, but sometimes, that's how the world works.)

So, check out one of the big ones at Podium Cafe. Post your team name in our "comments" section and I'll add you to a mini-league.
Or, join our lower-tech Canadian (are those terms redundant?) friends for a spring classics-only competition at Fort Garry.

Act quickly, deadlines are like, now.

new year/new gear

Okay, so the year isn't that new. But nice riding weather is just around the corner and I'm finally going through the process of re-cabling and re-tire-ing (although not retiring) bikesand swapping off old broken things for shing new ones.

Like most of you, the fellows at BCC often covet shiny new things, but enjoy some of the less glamorous but reliable and affordable things. Take for example wheels. Through technological advances in design and manufacturing, they now make wheels that are many thousand dollars. And, through technological advances in marketing, they have also found a way to sell these ridiculous things, despite the fact that they are often more fragile and possibly impossible to repair and may or may not stop under wet or icy conditions.

So I was curious when Dave at Durham Cycles mentioned this wheelset. Seemingly, simple, repariable without any proprietary parts (I'm looking at you, Mavic spokes), and made of metal. I'm also intrigued by the new "fatter" 23mm rim width. I eventually jumped on the bandwagon and got a 29er mountain bike, after people had hyped bigger wheels as the next big thing, and it really is a design development worth embracing. Same goes for tubeless mountain bike tires (although not tubeless cyclocross tires just yet). However, I've been reluctant to make the switch to fatter road rims since you supposedly need to adjust your brakes when you change wheels.

So dear readers, anyone try out these fat rims? Notice smoother ride? Better cornering? Fewer flats? Increased telepathic powers? Holler back and let me know.

returning to form

We're back. We've been training in secrecy at an undisclosed location run by monks. And I've finally figured out how to win a bike race (forward to 1:20 or click here for the secret).


Also, learn how to win a rap-off.

Our science is too tight. More wisdom later.

Internet Famous, No. 2

Internet Famous: The Professor

Boone Riding with the BCC Boys!

Boone Day 1 by cdkorps at Garmin Connect - Details

Geoff and Ben.

 Notice the gigantic air mattress. Hmm, who owns that?

Getting ready for some grinds!

Cedar Bluff Ride by cdkorps at Garmin Connect - Details

Cedar Bluff Ride by cdkorps at Garmin Connect - Details

we still ride bikes

Local weekly rides.

Tuesday nights at 5:30. Fast. About 25 miles at race pace.
Thursday nights 6:00. Mellow. About 30 miles at about 17 mph.

Both rides continue throughout the summer, departing from Durham Cycles on 9th Street.

Nattys

Ever feel dejected after getting crushed by Mustachioed Matt or the other Duke guys on the Tuesday Night Ride?
Don't worry, you're in good company.
Duke's men just won the collegiate national team time trial.
Check it.
Nice work fellas.

One Family

ASHEVILLE

2016!!!

start training.

busy bees

It's taken me a long time to write a short update, but DFL always beats DNF, right?

Item 1: NASCROSS at Orange County Speedway
The second running of the Durham-area cyclocross race was a hit. Great course, great turnout, and even some cyclocross-ish weather. Mad props to the Garneau Custom folks and the Durham Regulators. I think Ryan was the only one of us to race bikes (excluding the excommunicated Linus) and he scored a solid top 10 with bald tires on a wet course. I had to work later in the day so I was only able to jump in the 5-mile cross country run presented by the awesome folks at Bull City Running Company, the fine folks who are behind the Run-DMC inspired RUN-DRM t-shirts. I got smoked by one of the BRCR ringers and had Regulators' Russell nipping at my heels the entire race. In the end I managed to bring back a little of my patented Waluga Junior High School XC kick and beat one of the two high school kids I had been chasing the whole race. Next year, we're pushing for an earlier date and are hoping for even more participants and spectators. Actually, at cyclocross races, spectators ARE participants!

Item 2: Trips For Kids February ride
Ben, JD, and I joined Andrea, Tristan, Chris, and the whole Triangle Trips for Kids crew for some muddy mountain biking at Carolina North (aka the Chapel Hill trails). JD brought his son Luke, an even smaller but equally gnarly version of himself to rip the trails on a bmx bike. And special thanks to Patrick from Duke Cycling for joining us. If you're interested in volunteering, check them out.

Item 3: Word on the street is that the Pirate is getting married. If this makes any sense to you, you're probably stoked.

Item 4: Luna Chix
As a big fan of women's cycling and Luna Bars, I also wanted to plug this local women's team I heard about through my friend and and new recruit who we'll call Al B. Scher.

Item 5: Bike racing comes to 9th Street
Duke Cycling is hosting a collegiate bike