ROAD Magazine at Bicycling Magazine Part 2

The Southern California fires

A photo taken from the roof of the Oakley building in Irvine.

I appreciate the people that have emailed me concerning the fires that are raging through Southern California. Where I live until very recently the sky has been grey with ash, coating everything. I just got off the phone with a firefighter friend of mine and he said that people haven’t even seen the worse because tv crews can’t reach the areas burning. ROAD’s office is located in Santa Clarita, only miles from the Magic Mountain fire as well as the Castaic fire. I didn’t drive up to the office earlier this week because of the blaze. I talked to one of the decline Magazine guys and he said Monday it looked like the apocalypse had come. As I sit at my desk in Long Beach, the temperature has dropped and I think the air quality has improved somewhat, tempting me to at least go for a short run. My thoughts go out to those who have been displaced and lost their homes.

ROAD Magazine’s official statement on Kid Rock’s arrest

As emails pour into the ROAD Magazine website, as well as the Neil@ROAD blog, we at ROAD are forced to comment on the unfortunate arrest of Kid Rock at an Atlanta Waffle House.

ROAD Magazine has always considered a Waffle House as a sanctuary for peace and good times. Nothing brings locals as well as professional cycling teams together than a hearty plate of grits. So we were saddened to hear of the recent physical altercation at this breakfast bastion. Nothing ruins a nice 4:00 AM Waffle House breakfast than two guys tussling in the parking lot. ROAD Magazine has been in touch with both Kid Rock’s spokesperson and, due to his relationship with Floyd Landis, Mr. Landis as well. Floyd wants to put to rest the rumors that the Floyd Fairness Fund will be used to defend Mr. Rock.

This statement was received directly from the FFF. “Contrary to rumors being circulated, the Floyd Fairness Fund will not be used to defend Mr. Rock in his arrest at the Atlanta Waffle House. He was married to Pamela Anderson, so it is apparent that he has the monetary means to properly defend himself in a court of law. That said, Dr. Baker is prepared to analyze any and all drug or alcohol related testing that might have been performed on Mr. Rock.”

Hopefully soon, I will be flying out to Atlanta and visiting the Waffle House in question.

Way to kill my buzz Dad!

I’m driving up the 5 freeway on my way to the Hansen Dam cyclocross race. It’s the only ‘cross race in California that has UCI points on the line, so I figure I can race the Masters category and expense everything by claiming that I had to be up there to take photos and interviews. So I’m getting into my race frame of mind. I got the Scion factory stereo pumping with The Crystal Method and looking to tear legs off when my cell comes to life. The caller ID is a recognizable European number. It was my parents. They live in England and had been in Greece for three weeks on holiday, so I haven’t spoken to them for awhile. I tap my headset, “Hey Dad.”

“I just got the new issue of ROAD. Did you gain weight? You look fat!”

Quick background on my Dad; he’s an Irish ex-low level pro cyclist. When I was growing up he would give me crap about my weight if he thought I was gaining too much. I never did, it’s just not in the Browne gene pool. We’re like greyhounds: skinny, high-strung and like to nap frequently. However in classic Irish manner, he likes to bust balls given the opportunity.

“No Dad!” But now I’m thinking to myself, “Have I gained weight?”

“Well, how much do you weigh now?”

“I’m 176 pounds, about 80 kilo.” I sometimes have to break it down to him in metrics.

Then he tells me, “And your 6’2.”

“Yes Dad!” Now this is irritating because I’ve been 6’2” for over 20 years. At this moment I know he is busting balls.

A pause, then, “Hmmm….Okay.”

The photo he is referring to is the Standpoint photo that was taken in Greenville the day before the US Pro race. I was heavier by about five pounds, but I swear, that photo makes me look a lot heavier. So as I am driving to the race, my mind is now obsessing on the fact people will see that photo of me and think I am heavy! So just to clear the air; I’m at 176 and dropping. I’m running four days a week, doing Pilates five days a week and riding at least four times a week. Oh, and I’m also a neurotic mess! So Noel, if you are reading this, I need about an hour of psychological therapy. Get my number from Slover...

My 'cross to bear

Yes I am really wearing my Team Waffle House hat everywhere I go. That's the owner of Banning's bikes, Banning Fiber-Ostrow. How cool is that name!

In an effort to decompress from my traveling and to get back into a better frame of mind I have thrown myself into cross training. And much like Silas who flailed himself to find some sort of inner peace, I am flogging myself, but with exercise. While I have been taking Pilates for a couple of years with a trainer, I have now started doing additional Pilates routines in my living room. Also I have laced up my running shoes and am clomping around my neighborhood in what might be generously called running. The motivation behind the compulsion? An effort to have a decent ‘cross season before I have to travel again.

A descent trail to train and test a ‘cross bike is the Fullerton Loop in Orange County. The Loop winds throughout Fullerton and is not particularly technical or rough enough to warrant suspension. But it is hard enough to get the endorphins pumping. And in the middle of the week it's not too populated with locals walking, so I can hit the gas and rip through turns and power over the short inclines that the Loop has to offer. But before hitting the Loop I wanted to stop by a new-ish shop off Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton, Banning’s Bikes. The buzz about the shop had crossed the Orange Curtain and reached me deep in L.A. county, so I thought I should check it out. Definitely a high-end shop. Felt, Colnago and Pinarello bikes take up the floor space, as do the required accoutrements that make up our sport. But the cherry on top is the espresso machine and the black sofa facing a wall mounted tv which was playing race videos. So if you are in the Fullerton area stop by and enjoy an espresso, relax on the sofa and watch a video. I did.

So after a successful ‘cross session on the Fullerton Loop, followed by a run, I’m home, sore from the waist down and wondering if my self flagellation will help clear my mind and keep those endorphines pumping.

Ducati carbon fiber bikes for those who want to match their motorcycle

It's easy to kick back and forget about training on this sofa

The best $28 I ever spent

Usually I forget to go to the mailbox and get my mail. However that all changed after I ordered my safety orange Team Waffle House cap. Breathlessly every day I listened for the postman's footsteps, hoping that my cap would arrive. But alas, no cap. As I arrived home from my ride today I saw perched on my mailbox a small parcel! It could only be only be one thing, my Waffle House cap! I tore the box open and I was bathed in the cap's illuminious orangeness. It is that orange! I think I must be the only person in Southern California that has a orange Team Waffle House cap. So look for me proudly sporting my cap wherever I go. My mood is definitely on an up swing now...

I'm not an armadillo*

My meter has been on the low side recently

I had been a little down in the dumps since returning from Interbike. I think it’s a combination of all the travel and general malaise that comes with the end of the racing season. But the coupe de grâce was Interbike. That place just crushed me on so many levels, professionally as well as personally. Being on the road for so long I missed the people in my life. You are surrounded by so many people on these trips, yet you often feel alone and tired, which is not a good combination. Not to help, but I was also listening to a lot of Placebo, which isn’t always the most cheerful music. Thank God that these trips are over for the time being.

My life both professionally and personally revolves around the racing season, so I think as the season winds down, my body does as well. I’ve had little energy and haven’t written anything meaningful since Interbike, not that I write a lot of meaningful stuff anyways. I was loading my bike to my roof rack yesterday when Tony sees me and asks where I’m going. I tell him that I’m going to train in the local hills, but I am really lacking motivation to train, but I need to. Not to say I haven’t been training at all. In my classic Type A, obsessive compulsive personality that is so attractive, I have thrown myself into Pilates. But I still need cycling conditioning as well because I kind of committed to doing a road race in Death Valley at the end of the month and ‘cross season has started, so I need to be in shape for that beat down of biblical proportions.

“Yeah me too. I’ll start riding again when I feel motivated.” Tony says. However, Tony has enough residual fitness that he doesn’t need to train to be competitive for the local ‘cross races. That is not the case with me. So I’m training yesterday for really the first time in about a month and starting to feel better physically and mentally. Even today as I write this I continue to feel better and will ride up Old Road in Santa Clarita. Hell, I think that maybe I’ll even write something for the magazine today as well!




Cruz not too concerned with training right now





* an inside joke about how I have characteristics of the armadillo

Brad Huff's crash at Tour of Missouri

So I'm surfing through YouTube killing time and searching for motivation to write when I came across this video of Brad Huff crashing at the Tour of Missouri. I remember the guy who shot it came by the press area to see if anyone wanted to use it. I tried to download it, but it was on some funky Sony flash-drive so I had no luck. I told the guy to post it on YouTube. Apparently he did.


My photo of Huff hitting the barrier. As you know he walked away with just scrapes. What a champ!

Quinn - 1st after being oh so close so many times

Becky Quinn - one of the US's preeminent sprinters - took the Gold in the women's points race at this year's Elite nationals. Becky has been on the podium every year since 2000 - but it was this year that she stepped on to the top step.

Becky had a strong South Bay Wheelman team to help her in her quest for the elusive National title. However, the race wasn't decided until the final sprint.

In the 100 lap, 25 k race, riders can score points every 10th lap - sprinting for 5 points for 1st - or by lapping the field for 20 points.

Becky - aided by her South Bay Wheelman teammates - was able to score in practically each of the sprints. However, Heather Albert and Katharine Lundby lapped the field mid way through the race - which put both of them ahead of Quinn.

Comming into the final sprint Quinn was 4 points down on Albert - thus she needed the final sprint to have a chance of taking the elusive gold.

It was hers...

A night at the Track

Two awesome performances by two people new the Track - but neither new to cycling. Seventeen year old Taylor Phinney won the men's pursuit and Dotsie Bausch won the women's pursuit.

Can you spell DNA - and think Olympics??? With Connie Carpenter-Phinney for a mom, who went to the olympics at age 14 in speed skating - then won gold in cycling....and Davis Phinney for a dad, who also has a Olympic medal and was the first US cyclist riding for a US team to win a stage of the Tour De France, it's natural to think that someone like Taylor (or Mini Phinney as he is known) would have been on the bike and racing from age 3 - well maybe racing trikes. But that's not the case - Taylor started racing in the past two years and in that time has won the world junior TT championships and now has become the US Elite Pursuit Champion. And with the Olympics less than 12 months away it's not surprising that they are on this kid's mind.

Dotsie - who's a well known racer on the road - decided to compete on the track for the first time - found a coach by the name a Sarah Hammer - and walked away with the Gold. Dotsie attributed much of her success to Sarah's coaching and the fact that Sarah elected not to compete in the pursuit - waiting instead for World's and the upcoming Olympics.

Several other notables could be found at the track including Slipstream's Brad Huff - who took second to Phinney.

Priority Health's Ben Jacque-Mayne, several members of the Rock Racing Crew,

Colby Pierce and Slipstream's Michael Creed

Jenny Reed - who won the women's kerin as two riders crashed in her wake and Becky Quinn, who took second in the women's scratch race.

Las Vegas CX hijinks...

More award winning videos are posted at roadmagazine.net.