van Marley

Greetings race fans,
It’s been quit a week, which is good, because I felt a serious lack of scandal in my life what with Ken Lay keeling over and Paris Hilton maintaining a low profile, despite proof that she has never changed her facial expression. Linsdey Lohan DID get publicly chastised for being a drunkard and ruining production of her latest pic this week, but allegedly retorted, “at least I’m 11-teen times more expressive than Paris is.”

In race news, Sergey Lagutin off team Navigators took the oveall victory in Altoona ahead of Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United), and Andre Bajadali who is proving his jump to Jelly Belly was a good one (wasn’t this guy on Vitamin Cottage last year?)

For the Girls, Kristin Armstrong (Lipton) proved too strong and topped the podium with Alex Wrubleski (Can) Team Biovail and Shannon Willock (Can) Webcor-Platinum rounding out the top 3.

Meanwhile, there was this scandal in Europe.

Enough about all that. Let’s talk about some of the gems on the net this week.

Randomness vol 1, episode 4

Randomness 4.1 - Cycling Anime
Category: Bike Stuff

If your anything like me, you’ve griped countless times about the lack of cycling comics available. Well, fret no more. In keeping with this month’s apparent Japanese theme, I stumbled across this great site run by Yoshida Kuniko. Kuniko-san takes the daily/weekly cycling news and turns it into an illustrated comic that is a mix of the real and her own imagination. At least thats how she explained it to me in her email via her husband who speaks pretty damn good English. I dunno, I can’t read any of the site, but I love the idea of it.

More at GamiGame

Randomness 4.2 - Bad Ass Rides For Bad Ass Guys
Category: Bad Ass

Seeing as my racing days are going to be numbered for awhile until I finish school, I’m looking at other aspects of cycling to enjoy. It’s no secret I’m a big fan of the chopper scene.

Someday I too will have the absolute dopest ride around, designed and manufactured by my buddy Brink up in Montana. I seriously encourage you to check out www.pedalhawg.com and order one today and become the coolest kid in your town.

Three Hawgs, Missoula, MT. (Brink not pictured)

Randomness 4.3 - Asphalt Shredder
Category: Bad Ass

More in the category of toys I don’t need but will buy anyway…
I was talking with two friends today about snowboarding and how expensive Mammoth is ($68 a day and a 6 hour drive make it a tough regular activity.) Then I remembered reading drooling over the freeboard and I think I’m going to have to order one after I move to SD.

Visit the company website and watch the video. It’s beyond rad, especially the part where the narrator explains, “and you can be going 50 mph and stop in about 2 seconds,” as the young man narrowly avoids becoming a Freeboard hood ornament on a SUV.

I think you’ll agree that this will become a part of the off season training program for a lot of riders.

Freeboard web site

The intro is a bit slow but it pics up after that.

The first and only DVD I have ever purchased to date was Team America — Willard was right in calling it quite possibly the greatest movie of all time. After talking like Spottswoode for two weeks straight (he was the boss) — I thought I had gotten all that out of my system. Until now…

It seems Z’s audioblog updates are all the rage, and an eager fan emailed me this song they made. I thought it was some funny f#&@ sh!@, and I’m sure you will too.

iTunes Format:
WARNING! This song contains the F-word. If your tender ears can’t handle that, then avoid clicking on this link.

Today I watched quite possibly one of the greatest cycling events of all time. No, it had nothing to do with the Giro, rather, it was deep in the Valley at a great bike little bike shop called Atomic Cycles. Events included the Ben-Hurt Chariot Race, Demolition Derby, and a group ride afterwards, assuming you still were able to pedal. I got it on video so I’ll just let you check that out. Until then, here’s some good pics from the day and a big thanks to Matt for hooking me up with the photos.

A full race report and video will be coming soon. I have finals coming up so it might be a few days.

-jvm

p.s. - Thanks to Norm for the commentary, Surfer Bill, Marla for skipping church, and that other dude who helped make it all happen.

Ben Hurt Chariot Race winner

Demolition Derby

Fighting optional