December 31, 2008
Garmin 705 with PowerTap 2.4+ software?
I've upgraded my wheels to some Reynolds MV32C's with the PowerTap 2.4+ hubs. Instead of having both the PowerTap computer and the Garmin 705 (I like the GPS feature...) I just want to use the 705.
However, I've not found software that can do both the power info from the PowerTap hubs *and* the GPS data from the 705. Is anyone else running this sort of setup and has found some 3rd party software that can take advantage of both? Thanks!
Mark
December 17, 2008
Greetings!!!
December 8, 2008
Click In
It's the click that makes me tick, the feeling of doing something all on our own.
I write to all you fellow cyclist and challenge you this in 2009.
Some of you might have heard a saying "pay it forward"?It s that saying to give something to someone that they might not have been able to do for themselves. Lets start our own for Team 53x11 "Peddle it forward", find someone just one person or kid, neighbor, mother, father, or friend,in the new year to help them find a new way of living "cycling".
Bring them for a spin on one of your rides, share with them the fun and enjoyment with all the true benefits we all get from this wonderful sport, get em off the couch or out of the Car, show them how much fun it is to cycle. My brother & Friend once did the same thing for me and from there I have had the fever, I get excited to click in and peddle, I have really started to enjoy all the added benefits from it, those lbs have melted off, my energy is strong, I sleep better and I am more focused all a result of someone saying give it a try you might like it, so I did, I clicked in.
So if you do Peddle it forward and I hope you do, please share this blog with them so that they two can peddle it forward with someone ells, happy holidays and ride safe.
Willride Out
December 2, 2008
Saddle Therapy
God bless the bike and God bless you all,
Ty (aka saddledancer)
November 30, 2008
Lance in the Tour of Flanders?!
So as I relaxed in my wonderfully comfortable wooden dining room chair, I was doing "homework" for another online class I'm taking and yes I was drinking 53 x 11 coffee out of my 53 x 11 coffee mug, I wandered over to cyclingnews and found this Lance Armstrong Wind Tunnel. No, it wasn't the Livestrong skin suit that excited, although it was rather fast looking, I was interested in his post wind tunnel interview. Specifically, I focused on one statement he said…"I'm going to ride the Tour of Flanders", (insert screeching tires sound here.) What did he just say? Are you kidding me? Is he trying to be funny?
Of course I'm no pro, but I've ridden the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Fleche Wallone and the best advice I can give to Lance…stay away, there's a reason you didn't race them before you retired. They're body breaking rides and turn the smartest strongest riders into thumb-sucking momma's boys. I know, I was one of them. Oh, I forgot to mention the freezing rain and 25mph crosswinds. But, I'm not even to my point yet.
I live 30 minutes from the Kappelmuur in Geraardsbergen that is typically 17kms from the finish. I guarantee I'll be on the Kappelmuur the night before, right after I finish the public ride of the Flanders route, for the prime seating opportunities with my rack of Duvel and Leffe and two or three baguettes, a block of Chimay cheese a roll of sweet sausage, and some spray-on EPO repellant.
The Tour of Flanders is unlike any fan friendly classics race in the world. It is a true spectacle that every cycling fan must experience once in their life. I have it marked on my calendar for eternity. It's like a soccer match, car race, beer fest, and bike race all rolled into one. You want to come over, I've got a place for you to stay, and I always have hot 53 x 11 ready.
Onto other headlines, I'm preparing to purchase my first Cross frame later today from the wonderland that is Ebay. I've been energized by going to three local cross races and the beer and food strewn atmosphere. I may even use a 29er frame for cyclocross, unless I get jeered by all the Belgians' wanting to kill me for scarring their sacred sport. I'll stick with the cross bike, obviously you've never seen an angry mob of Jupiler soaked Belgians flailing towards an American who is clearly there to ruin their cycling heritage.
Two friends and I slogged through the mud laden Ardennes forest for an epic adventure through the Houffalize area. We managed to conquer 40+ kms with 30 minute climbs followed by 8 minute descents over and over again. The climbs were ridiculous, if it had not been for the the hours I suffered on the road bike I may not have managed a few of the rutted muddy climbs. It was a great time and surely a ride I'll want to do again as one rocky hiker clogged climb kept me in check and forced me to hike my bike, BOO!!!!!
All is happy and the world is sane except for the Merckx ride I didn't win on eBay.
I did manage to make it to Koksijde to see sage four of the cyclocross worlds. What an event it was, I don't recall who won all I remember is the amount of Belgian beer Idrank and my complete failure to make it to the next days ride. Why can't cyclocross races be more civilized, why isn't there a beer monitor for those of us that can't keep it under control? Why isn't coffee served at CX races? Why can't I win a CX race?
November 25, 2008
Bring It OrcaPhin
Well Tour De Tucson was awesome we had lots of Sported 53x11 Kits flaring our Team Colors and lots of people expressing there love for the coffee, ride was great except for the short bit of cyclo cross river crossing that was more like a dust bowel!! well done event all 67 + miles, cant wait to role on the next one, Evan props to you and all your support prepping for the ride lets get more people encouraged to ride vs Drive when possible.
Willride out
Happy Turkey day
What a weekend in Tucson
I have been ridding for about two years now and just bought my first expensive toy to my wife's dismay but to me total enjoyment, now I am trying to make time everyday to get my fix. if any of you live in O.C. and have a ride or two we can join you on let me know we would live to join you and try to keep up with you all,.
tahtah for now.
Orcaphin
November 19, 2008
October 17, 2008
Belgiumlicious
Not to beat a dead horse, but I too am a new rider to the 53x11 scene and will hopefully contribute a unique perspective to the randomness that is this blog.
Hailing all the way from Los Angeles, California, he's a zero time world champion and winner of exactly no gold medals, he weighs in at a lean mean 90 kilos and a lanky 195.6cms, please welcome the newest European (American) member of 53x11...ME!
Yes, I'm happily blogging from the other side of the planet in what is commonly referred to as Belgium or as cyclists call it...heaven. I'd like to thank Evan and Owen for the badassness that is 53x11 coffee and for openly suggesting that I'm the type of cyclist they're looking for, one that can stay upright on a two-wheeled bike without a motor. Now, I'm a blissfully over-caffeinated crank turning machine that can hammer up cobblestoned climbs in an amount of time that shall not be discussed here.
Clearly I've lost the attention of everyone so I write for the sake of writing. I'm an avid cyclist of 20 years, I'm 35, having cut my racing teeth on a full rigid aqua-green Peugeot mountain bike that I bought at a garage sale from my Dad for $50 (he gave me the family discount). For the most part I've been an MTBer for those years only riding into the road genre over the last three. Fortunately business has brought me across the pond and placed me in Belgium for at least 6 years. I've been priviledged enough to be racing the local road scene for the last two years gaining the Amateur Euro experience to take back to the States to whoop all you old Cat 5 guys. I'm living the dream folks, great cycling, great beer, and more podium girls than that convention I went too...ahhh, but never mind that. I could go on for minutes about the coolness of living in Belgium, but you've all heard it before so I'll just cut right to last weekend's escapades.
Last Saturday a buddy and myself attended one of the bigger season ending Randonnees (Rando or a fully supported club/individual ride that costs about $3 to do) and had a blast doing it. The ride was only 126kms, but was one of the funnest rides I've done since the last rando that started and ended at a brewery. Skipping to the good parts, about 20miles in on relatively flat Belgian roads someone decided it would be funny to throw a 600 foot climb with a max grade of 22% right in my way. At my size most folks mistake me for someone who doesn't give a damn about climbing, but rest assured as Eric and Paul can attest too, I can drop those skinny fellas like a college kid drops a shotgunned beer can while reaching for another.
At the 45 mile marker I had the pleasure off turning 3 laps on the Paris-Roubaix Velodrome in Roubaix. HOLY CRAP, if you've never ridden a velodrome you need to back your butt away from this blog and do it, go ahead, go, now, you won't regret it. If you've ever had the opportunity or the ability to ride sideways on a wall you've ridden a velodrome, just not the one in Roubaix.
Later in the day...I had been skipping from group to group when I finally caught one doing 35-38kmph in a tight little red and white french speaking group (Belgians don't speak Belgian) and was lucky enough to be witness to one club pedaling right through another to get out in front while on a three bike wide canal road. I'd never seen anything like it until I saw some sort of Contador-Armstrong power struggle between riders at the front of the group. So, I did what any smart rider would do I pushed my way to the front, by riding the sidewalk past the cluster of red, white, black, and blue that was the mess of carbon and spokes. Fortunately no one was physically injured, although Egos were clearly damaged, as we all ended up riding to the finish in one small 44kmph (the last three downhill kms) group.
Then we drank beer.
Although your boredom has almost caused you to surf elsewhere, you'll be happy to know that the hysterics that are my measly life will continue to grow in a made for TV movie and you'll be one of the founding members of my fan club. That is, as long as you can prove to me you can pedal a bike uphill at 75 MILES per hour after gulping a piping hot, sans warning label, cup of coffee made from the sweet beans that are the addiction subtly known as 53x11.
My cycling legacy will not carry on forever, sadly. So for my sake and yours drink some 53x11 coffee, it'll make you much much cooler, but not cooler than me (except you Paul).
Check it out Yo, http://www.53x11coffee.com/
Peace and Precisely Ground 53x11 Coffee Grease
(Get it, peace and grease rhyme)
Riding with the bean...
I'm perhaps the newest member of the 53x11 team, just joined a couple of weeks ago. Glad to be aboard, seems like a great group, and I love the coffee! I'm going to have to change my favorite brew to "The Big Breaker", I've really enjoyed a ratio of about 2 parts "Big Ring" blended with 1 part "Chain Breaker" - Just right! I'm in the Chicago area, western 'burb of Naperville to be exact. Hoping for more people to join from here to have some fellow riders at events this year. I'm new to road riding this year, having spent the past few summers casually riding a hybrid. For some reason, at the ripe old age of 43 I caught the riding bug - and am hooked beyond belief. For the past dozen years or so most of my summer has been devoted to golf. Played well in tournaments, won a couple small flighted events, got my handicap down to about 7.6.
Last winter I decided to get a road bike to take the riding up a notch or two. I loved it from the get-go. Golf definitely took a back seat this year to the riding obsession.
I've gone just crazy on buying bikes. I've now got three:
'07 LeMond Zurich - all carbon with Dura-Ace everything, Race X Lite wheels (going carbon tubular...)
'01 LeMond Victoire - All-titanium beauty that rides like a dream, Ultegra SL everything
'08 LeMond Poprad - Cyclocross bike for the prairie paths and rougher riding - and maybe even CX races next season...
Overall this year, I've ridden 3,250 miles, and will ride until there's ice on the roads... Last night I was sportin' the 53x11 jersey and did a fast 40 miler around the area. Beautiful crisp Fall evening in Chicago. I competed in 3 time trials and 1 road race this year. One of the time trials I won my category - the Citizen/Cat 5 group. Small group, but hey, a win's a win - right? I did my first road race at the end of September, placed 20th out of 50 starters. I met Scott Glendenning there, a fellow 53x11 rider. I was fairly happy with my finish, considering I took the first 8-10 miles *very* conservatively since it was my first race and didn't want to cause, or be part of, any wrecks. It was fun learning some strategy along the way, had a blast jumping from one group up to a faster group and then working together with a group of about 6 riders. I felt like they sucked my wheel more than any of the others in the group - but it was a great learning experience. I also did a charity ride this year for the American Cancer Society, raising $800 for the cause.
I look forward to next season, and the winter in Chicago will seem more like 6 years than 6 months until the snow melts and I can get back out there. I plan to do more time trials (getting some deep section carbon tubulars in the offseason to [hopefully] help my times) and road races next year - and will be flying the 53x11 colors!
September 27, 2008
New Beginnings
September 23, 2008
A Season Revisted
My last race was the Mt Baker hillclimb in Glacier, Washington on September 7th. I also raced the Blackberry Crit in Bremerton on August 31. Even though I was pulled 32 minutes into the 40 minute Masters race I was quite happy. I attacked on lap two to try and bridge to a solo break, and was stuck in no man's land for 1.5 laps. I could not bridge, got caught, then dropped, then lapped, then dropped again, then pulled. At least I tried. And the team's name was announced when I attacked. In the end the local cycling animal Kenny Williams went with another rider and almost lapped the field. Impressive! Kenny then went on to race in the 1,2 Pro race and took 6th. I was so honored to have been reeled in by Kenny in the Masters race. That is what is so cool about racing. I can toe the line with amazing riders and share the road, wind, and down and out thrill of it all with them. I did what I could with what I had and that was enough. I was quite happy.
The Mt Baker hillclimb did not go as planned as I was involved in the one and only crash in the 5 years the race has been held. It is a mass start for all races, including the competitive division, which includes pros and non cat racers. I was in about the 3rd group on the road at the 8 mile mark of the 24.5 mile race(about 20 riders) when someone touched wheels ahead of me on a slight uphill, couldn't save it and went down. I thought I got around him safely when I was suddenly taken down from behind. My right shin was gouged as if I landed on a chain ring, and my right foot and ankle were quite swollen and bruised with two puncture marks (which I did not discover til I was done and back at the hotel and changing). The first rider who went down was the worst off, and I stayed with him to make sure he was okay. The rider who hit me from behind was the first of us three up and away. By the time a car came to take the first rider back with sore ribs and I had readjusted my bars, I had lost close to 7 minutes. I took off like a bat out of (you know what), my adrenaline flowing at maximum. I overtook riders the entire way up the mountain, and ended up losing about 3 minutes over 2007 (1:37) by clocking 1:47. I was near the back of the field but my 2007 time would have placed me even higher than that year. I was quite satisfied but I could feel my foot and shin at the top. The 24.5 mile ride down was a challenge when it should have been a blast. I got down looking for sympathy from my girlfriend but was greeted with one very upset and distraught female. Even though I was only about 10 minutes late she had miscalculated the descent time and thought I was over an hour late. Too top it off my newest bike, a beautiful older C40 in naked carbon suffered a broken seat stay in the crash. I am looking into having it repaired. Here's hoping.....
Another positive was that I rode Mount Seymour (12 K) in North Vancouver, BC the day before for fun and was about 3 minutes off my 2006 race time. Not too bad.
All in all 2008 was a very good year. I raced in 12 of the Tuesday night series at Pacific and attacked in every one. I did not compete in the Elkorn Classic due to a training crash, but I did well in the Deschutes Rver Timetrial Festival and the Blackberry Crit, the Crystal Mtn Hillclimb and the Mt Baker climb despite a crash.
I also began commuting to Seattle, about 40 miles roundtrip. I began in May and probably willstop next week. A great way to put in miles.
Why do I ride? I have been riding since my sister bought me a used Nishiki from the lost and found where she worked in 1980 while I was a senior in High School. I could never state all the reasons why I ride as the list grows every time I straddle a saddle. Each time I clip in, turn a crank, shift gears or get out of the saddle is an opportunity for growth and amazement. And this is allaccomplishment on what is basically a toy anyone can ride.
Suffice it so ay that I am 45, and feel like I am a little kid each time I get pedaling. I will never stop and cannot wait for 2009. Or for the next time I get on one of my ever loyal and user friendly steeds.
To everyone who has ever ridden or wants to ride, to all my teammates and to Evan and Owen-
have an incredible rest of 2008, a most amazing 2009 and keep the rubber side down.
T Man out. For now:)
August 29, 2008
Racing in Alaska
Ride Ready.
August 24, 2008
Season Coming to a Close
My season is winding down as I don't ride track, mountain or Cross. I have one more Tuesday night race this week, the Blackberry Crit in Bremerton, WA next Sunday and then the Mt. Baker hillclimb in two weeks. Overall I have been pleased with 2008. I did not do any real road races or the Elkhorn Classic Stage race in June (due to a stupid training accident), but my Tuesday night races have gone very well. I also did a good job in April at the Deschutes River TT festival in Maupin, OR, and was pleased with my effort last week in hot and windy conditions for the Crystal Mtn hillclimb. I think I represented the squad with honor and dignity and always put a positive spin on things. I cannot wait for 2009. I will write more later.
All the best to my teammatres. Keep the rubber side down.
T
July 29, 2008
Summer Update from Rich
Something keeps me from racing each year. After a great spring training last year, pneumonia hit. This year I got in a couple races before ending up with a broken tailbone, caused by the Velo Bella I'm married too but that''s another story. I started riding again, we then we took a direct hit from a tornado the same day RAGBRAI came to town. I've been far too busy to find my bike the last few weeks.
Anyhow, I realized I never posted my last race report:
The Iowa City Road Race was a brutal one. Did I mention it was 45-50 degrees that day with 30mph winds? Our group also had to start 30 minutes late, due to a road closing accident on course. So much for warming up.
The side wind was hard and you hand to hang on between tree breaks. We turned with the wind, and the pack soared down the road at 35mph. Halfway down the stretch, there was the big hill. The pack split with some stronger riders breaking off. I hit the top with another rider as we watched the lead pack break away. He looked at me and said "If we don't catch them, the wind will be hell heading back" So we took off. In 53x11 gearing, we spun out our legs. We had a conversation at 41mph --- Yes, we were able to talk easily --- I jokingly clicked at my shifter and said "I'm out of gears." I also made the prediction of the day, of our return speed. 40 down, 14 back. Sadly, I would be right.
Over the next 3 miles, we got back on the pack before the turn South. Luckily, the course tapered down to a short section here. It was 1/2 mile until it turned West again. No one expected it, and a few people tried to go straight and made a mess. I just found the first wheel I could, hoping for some shelter. I somehow ended up with a rider that had the same power output as me. We ended up taking long pulls, and right when you got tired, the other was there. I turned North for the start of the second lap, and after a few moments, I looked back and my counterpart was gone.
I made a solo attempt with my tailwind, another 7 mile, 40+ mph effort. I hit the headwind again, and had to time-trial it back to the finish line, 7 more miles. I kept searching fore and aft, no one was in sight.
I was never so excited to see the steeple of the Mennonite church we started at. At a mile left, I kicked up the pace to finish strong. Then at 1/2 mile, bikes started creeping around me. I saw a few familiar jerseys and realized the trailing pack caught back up, along with my two missing helpers. I jumped in and was just getting into groove. Then I saw the move.
The move, where one guy had to just get out in front. And then it happened. All 15-20 people went from a 3 rider thick mass to a road filling sprint. You know the final highlights of the Tour, where they show that happening and sprinting to the line? Well, it looks amazing when you see it in reverse.
I hads no sprint left due to my solo effort, but I hung into the back of that pack.
The back of the pack! That's an improvement. I'm usually one of those stragglers just behind the pack!
------
Hopefully, I get enough of my barn out of the neighboring cornfield to get on the bike and make a few final events this year. Maybe I'll get a cyclocross bike built and try another season too. There are a lot of gravel road races around here in the fall.
May 23, 2008
53x11coffee Team rider Wade Patton
May 1, 2008
Sam Schultz Short track win Sea Otter classic
Well it's been almost two weekends since we were at the Sea otter Classic in Monterey CA. It was the first time 53x11 coffee attended and sampled coffee there. Everyone was stoked to see us. We also were able to watch a couple friends of ours do their thing during the mens Pro MTB races. The Schultz brothers ( Sam and Andy) are at the top of their game these days. Having watched these two come up through the ranks over the years has been very exciting.
March 19, 2008
Race season is underway
February 23, 2008
Summer Schedule
It's that time of year. The time has come to plan out our summer event sponsorships. It's not an easy task. Everyone wants to have the 53x11coffee tent set up serving delicious organic coffees to their athletes.
First on the list will be the 2008 Solvang Century in beautiful solvang CA. If you are at the event please stop by and say hello.
2nd- The 2008 Sea otter classic. We'll be serving up coffee and treats from the expo area. Look for the big white tent with our logo.
At all our events this summer, we will be offering all of our cycling gear and coffee equipent. Check back for updates.