R O T H A R . C O M

Well I missed the best potential day of riding of the year yesterday. Stuck indoors on call (have to respond within 3 minutes) so potential for riding is zero. At least there’s this weekend in Glentress to look forward to.

So whilst not a great option, I spent a bit of time yesterday updating the Singletrack Archive with the latest issue and mused over getting a new Singlespeed. I fancy a Kona Unit, but they’ve sold out of my size for the year. Maybe I should just get some 63mm travel forks for the Saracen? Anyway I have other things to worry about first, like the final payment on a new frame and having to pay for a replacement software key that’s gone awol.

I’ve also rejigged the bikes page. I decided that it was all a bit sad having individual specs for each bike. If it isn’t obvious from the pictures what’s on each bike people will have to ask. It also means that I know longer have to worry about keeping the specs up to date when ever I change a part. Not that I was ever overly bothered about either doing that or keeping up to the minute photos. I think the sexpest has the right idea:

Sexmidget Industries has no product to flog. Sorry about that, have to get your midgets elsewhere. It’s a website that people only read when they’re really fucking bored and waiting for something good to happen. Well; this site is totally devoid of anything entertaining apart from some stuff about riding bikes…

15/04/04 :: Been riding my bike I have. OF course, that’s not what this site is about, so here’s my new magic gallery. It’s got comments and all sorts of magic shit so you can say “oi, you sad cunt, why don’t you stop taking pictures of bikes and go knob some skanky bitches”. Which would be fair really.

Chilly has sent in this link to a site I’d never heard of before: Keen as chips. I don’t know what happened to keen as mustard, maybe chips is the new mustard. Anyway take a look at it. The Rainbow episode has gone down quite well with those that have seen it. Oh and the site doesn’t seem to work with Mozilla based browsers either. Well at least not mine anyway 😦

There’s been some fairly interesting news in the cycling world recently including word that Frigo is out of the Giro with a virus, Comunidad Valenciana-Kelme have been threatened with suspension, Simoni is back on track, a Motorist is on trial for the Otxoa accident, that the initial stage of the UK helmet bill has failed, Bruyneel is looking towards life after USPS, the Driver who hit Craig Lewis ignored officials and that Lampre have confirmed signing World Champ Astarloa . See Cyclingnews for more.

Finally – Chris are you back from the US and have you build up the Yeti yet?

Mountain Mayhem. Two months and counting. Is the team ready? Well Conrad is back from France today. There was a broken back drama, but it wasn’t him. Lets hope a certain person makes a full recovery.

And where’s my new bike? Not here yet that’s for sure. Although some absolutely top draw bling arrived from these good people yesterday. I want to be building it up now and getting out there and riding it in this fine weather. Thursday nights ride in Calderdale was to the setting of a beautiful evening. Cheers to Tim K for organising another fine session and to everyone else for providing beer, scotch and tequila and good company.

Whilst fixed offroad is clearly wrong (I once said that about Singlespeeding, so I wonder how long until I try it?), the website of the damned is rather good. Take a look at 63xc.com.

After massive publicity and internal pressure within the USA, it’s the end of an era for one of the greatest teams of the 1990s. Here’s the full report from Cyclingnews.com:

From: Cyclingnews
Subject: US Postal Service will end sponsorship

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not renew its sponsorship of the Division I professional team headed by five-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The postal service’s contract expires at the end of 2004, but USPS spokesman Gerry McKiernan said in an AP report that the agency has decided to go “in another direction”, possibly with another sports venture.

“Now, it is an interesting time to stop,” Armstrong commented. “I think the team is better than ever. I think that we continue to compete at a top level and win tours and win big races.”

Bill Stapleton, Armstrong’s manager and chief executive of the Tailwind Sports, which owns and manages the USPS cycling team, said the team is “committed to keeping our riders and staff in place for years to come and furthering our goals of winning important events like the Tour de France.”

Presenting sponsor Berry Floor has indicated an interest in assuming a title sponsorship role, however the team’s future may depend largely on whether or not Armstrong decides to continue racing beyond this season. At the same time, Armstrong has said himself that he will not ride for any team other than the current USPS structure, making the arrival of a new sponsor to take over current operations critical.

“I think there’ll be two different prices for the team,” Armstrong told Bonnie DeSimone of the Chicago Tribune , referring to the prospects of a transfer to a new sponsor. “Obviously, if the team is still winning the Tour, or if I continue, it’ll be one level, and when I retire, I suspect it’ll drop off to another level.”

The US Postal Service, which has sponsored the team since 1996, has faced increased criticism over the value of the cycling team, estimated to cost the government agency $8 million per year. An internal March 2003 audit by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) cited an inability to verify revenues attributed the sports sponsorships, while public watchdog groups have repeatedly criticised the expensive contract in light of rising mailing costs and budget shortfalls for the agency.

“The Postal Service needs to consider sponsorships in light of its monopoly status, financial condition, investment returns and core mission,” the internal auditors wrote.

In the wake of the recent Kelme debacle, Manzano has just given his first interview outside of the Spanish media with Cyclingnews.com. Meanwhile while Cofidis sit out their own drugs accusations, their two top riders are increasingly linked with moves to other teams. Millar is now rumoured to be favoured by Saeco and world champion Igor Astarloa is alleged to be in discussions about a move to the Lampre team.

I’ve found a few more mountain biking websites recently so here they are. First up is Hcor.net, a freeride downhill based site a bit like NSMB, which currently has some photos from what was on show at the Sea Otter Classic. Then there is ridemonkey.com which seems to be a massive collection of discussion forums for the North American continent, one of which (the lounge) has the subtitle “working hard to get kicked out of corporate intranets.”

The London Bicycle Messenger Association is pretty self explanatory. Take a look at their website.

Finally trail access issues seem to be becoming increasingly more important to a lot of riders here in the UK. Unfortunately riders in the USA, have an even worse scenario to face. Tim Blumenthal of IMBA is profiled in this article written for the on-line version of the Outside magazine. It’s long, but in my opinion, well worth the read.

Now I like taking photos whilst I’m out riding, but I only have a fairly basic digital camera, because I know the potential for stacking and wrecking something better is very real. Most digital cameras have a resolution of something in the region of 1-6 mega pixels, so seeing someone that has created a 1 giga pixel image is pretty impressive. Take a look here.

At somepoint yesterday I managed to trigger the sciatica in my lower back and today I have been hobbling around like an invalid and maxed up to the eyeballs on pain killers. Tomorrow my physio will hopefully put me back together.

If I’m fixed I will be riding Calderdale this Thursday. Good times.

Of course it could be worse. I could have fractured my pelvis. Get well soon the Droid.

The guys from Brooklyn Machine Works were in Manchester today after a weekend at the Bike Show in Birmingham. They were on some ridiculous 24″ full suspension singlespeed things and proceeded to session Manchester. As a result of their visit we now have some of their Engliskniks in stock. I guess in comparison to NYC, Manchester must seem a bit small.

Finally I get a lot of crap in my mailbox these days but I think it highly unlikely that anyone is going to buy anti-spam software from someone who tries to sell their product by spam advertising. Cretins.

Traditionally an early show opportunity for new kit Sea Otter is in full swing over in the States. There is coverage from Cyclingnews and over at Mountain Bike Action. MBA also has coverage, like Singletrackworld, of the new developments to expect next year from kit manufacturers like Shimano, Fox and others.

Whilst I’m interested in bikes I believe you have to draw the line somewhere. I think I now know where this line is. For that reason whilst I am going to now link frameforum.net, I refuse to spend any more time on there. I just don’t think it’s healthy.

They might be a division III team, but Californian based Sierra Nevada have some seriously nice looked bikes, made by none other than the legendary Serotta. I think there is some thing about the look of this bike that just makes it look fast standing still. Now I thought they did mountain bikes too? Couldn’t see any on their site at the moment.

Now I missed reporting the fact that just prior to the track Worl Cup event here in Manchester, in the light of doping accusatiosn Cofidis pulled it’s whole team from International competition. Here’s the latest:

From: Cyclingnews
Subject: The Cofidis Situation

Voluntarily removing itself from the peloton on the eve of Paris-Roubaix to regroup after the widening revelations and allegations of doping within the team, Cofidis has yet to offer a clear indication of its intentions for the coming weeks or even months.

“The decision has allowed everyone to realise now just how serious the situation is,” Bondue explained. “The team’s existence is what’s at stake. Everyone needs to reflect. Right now we’re not going to stop. But, if the measures I propose to Cofidis aren’t convincing, the team will stop.”

The team’s three track riders, Arnaud Tournant, Mickaël Bourgain, and Laurent Gané, are in fact clear to race in competition in the colours of the French national team. The entire road squad remains in a waiting game pending developments within the team direction.

“I know that a rumour has hinted at the Four Days of Dunkerque in May, but that would be an ideal scenario,” Bondue said of a possible re-entry. “I would rather be pragmatic. We shouldn’t rush just because of the time passing, rather we should do things right. I have to propose to Cofidis measures that guarantee an ethical program following the values of the company.”

Now reports are that certain members of the team are getting restless wit the fact that the team is dormant at the one of the busiest times of the years with many riders not happy to be missing the Spring classics. With riders World class athletes like David Millar and Igor Astarloa on board it’s going to be interesting to see how long Cofidis sit it out.

Finally there are a few nice singlespeed hubs on show over at the dutch singlespeed site.

Many good intentions since Thursday but little chance to realise them. I am sorting out some of the stuff in the flat though. Harry Hall road frame number one is now ready for ebay and when it’s gone frame two will be off to Dave Yates for a respray. Then it’ll be sitting somewhere until I either decide to build it up or sell it. I guess I’ll have to see how it turns out first.

I’ve just been looking at the Mt Nittany Wheelworks website I have the feeling that the staff there are really passionate about their riding and cycling in general. I think having people like Eric Roman on the staff makes stuff like that just happen. Check them out.

Rode Thetford for the first time this year this weekend. It was excellent, but yet more trees have been felled. The Forest Enterprise lot don’t seem to be replanting much at the moment so there’s a fair few desolate spaces around and about. That and the motocross racing had left some fairly significant changes since my last trip.

Jed kindly led the way and guided through the usual excellent sections on both sides of the road. Including both the old and the new rollercoaster. I’m of much the same opinion as several others – it isn’t worthy of the name ‘the beast’ but it is definitely a rollercoaster ride, just keep off the brakes and trust your tyres. There was also some mini-shore dotted around which was interesting and certainly seemed to compliment the existing trails.

Well a bit of riding a bit of working out in the country air and that was Easter in Norfolk and now it’s back to the City life. I’ve been back about 24 hours now and I’ve just about caught up from a week off, e-mails, phone calls, jobs and a bit of work.

I knew I was back in Manchester within minutes when some kids decided they’d try some moving target practice on my car as I drove back into the City last night. Quite what it was (half brick, beer bottle, etc) that bounced off the car I’m not sure but I’m amazed there was no damage given the hefty thump.

All sorts has been happening in the last week and there’s some good stuff for updates over the next few days, but this made me smile. Scam you say? And what is a costumer query? Does this look like a cyber-haberdashery?

From: Barongan
Subject: Costumer Query

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Willy, I interest to make order from your store, I’m not sure
if you have the products which I wish, but I really hope you can help me.
Below the detail producst which I wish to buy from you:
# Rockshox SID World Cup
# Shimano XTR Groupset(Kits) + Shimano XTR Wheelsets
# Compagnolo Record Groupset(Kits) + Mavic Ksyrium SSC SL
Do you have in your stock?
if you don’t have this in your stock, what you suggest for me?
for the payment method I will use credit card, Do you accept payment with
this method?
also do you can ship your products world wide (Indonesia)?
I look forward to hear your answer soon.
Thank you very much.

I’ve rejigged the menus on the left because I now want to link to some more web forums across Europe. There are forums in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland linked now. Maybe there’ll be some more. Some interesting stuff, but most of it in a language you don’t really understand unless you’re fluent in it.

Having just received my Christmas present four months late (thanks Zyro, you’re good aren’t you?) I was interested to see this blaggers guide to a do-it-yourself workstand. Seems feasible.

After yesterdays post I wrote this last night. I’m pro-helmet. I wear mine when I go out riding. I don’t wear it when I sprint the 5 minutes to work from my flat. The odds are that I am probably as likely to have a serious accident in five minutes hammering it to the shop as I am in five minutes hammering around the Coed-y-Brenin. The thing is I have a choice over whether I wear it or not. There is a concern about the proposals that this is the thin edge of the wedge and that soon I may not have a choice, especially if the BHIT get their way.

I also know having been in more bike vs car RTAs than I am comfortable with that a helmet does not provide the wearer with a power of invincibility. In fact I don’t know if a piece of polystyrene foam is going to make much difference if an Arctic takes me out. I doubt it. I do know that it probably saved me a worse headache last time I went through a car windscreen. I tell you what would save more lives than cyclists wearing helmets – if all cars on the roads were road safe with valid MOTs and driven by people with driving licences and insurance. Hell if the government really wanted to save lives they could ban cars from city centres altogether.

So whilst I am pro-helmet, I’m also anti compulsion. In fact the whole issue has actually made me write to my MP for only the second time ever (the first being prior to the start of the last Gulf War). This Bill has not be well written nor will it address a simple fact – British roads are not a safe or welcoming environment for cyclists. Body armour will not help nor should it be necessary.

There’s a further discussion going on here. Mark Alker’s comments I though have been very good.

If you have interests in the future direction in which cycling is going in the country, you may want to take action over this proposal.

From: Bikebiz
Title: April 23rd – Could this be a black day for cycling?

Perhaps. That’s when Eric Martlew’s private member’s bill, ‘protective headgear for young cyclists’, gets its second reading. Many MPs support Martlew’s bill. Any measure that says it aims to save children’s lives is a vote winner. But will a kid lid law, in fact, lead children to ditch their bikes, leading to the unintended consequence of more deaths via obesity-related illnesses? MPs need to be better informed. To date, they seem to have absorbed only BHIT’s argument. Time to write to your MP…

Well I’ve written to Tony Lloyd my MP about this, whilst I’m pro-helmet I’m not pro-compulsion. I think it’s the thin end of the wedge and as Carlton Reid’s article says “many helmet campaigners seem to think helmets will be a panacea for all cycle-related head trauma. Unfortunately, motorists think so too and speed up to pass helmet-clad cyclists because they are seen to be ‘protected’ and ‘serious cyclists’. (Source: TRL 549, Drivers’ perceptions of cyclists). Motorists pass such ‘serious’ cyclists much closer than they would have done otherwise” and in the Netherlands where helmet wearing is almost unknown, yet there is no epidemic of cycle-related head injuries.

I’ve had a link to the bike brothers site sitting in my mailbox for sometime. I just couldn’t remember why. Last night I remembered. It’s because within the pages of the site their is a tribute to the late Bruce Bursford.

Canadian manufacturers seem to be getting everywhere at the moment, but some like Cove are better known than others. Most however are brought into the UK and if you haven’t looked at them before you might be quite interested in Balfa.

Whats been happening in the wonderful world of bikes then? Well specialized have been continuing their quest to be the bike company to be associated with. Not only has their new carbon frameset now got a win under its belt, they’ve also licenced their Zertz vibration damping technology to Italian tubeset manufacturers Dedacciai. Then the big S also has the World XC Mountain Bike Champion riding for them too.

Filip Meirhaeghe is aiming for some new golden jewelry to sling around his neck come August. The 33-year-old Belgian is putting everything into winning the mountain bike gold medal at the Summer Olympic Games. Meirhaeghe is leaving nothing to chance, he’s already checked out the course in Athens, he’s training hard, and earlier this year he won the season opener in Cyprus wearing the world champion’s rainbow jersey. There’s an interview with him here.

Square bike wheels. It’s going to be the next big thing.