The book originated in print [i plan on ordering it] and now it’s jacked out for the iPad [i downloaded it last night].  Heuristic Media’s Cyclepedia App takes their print volume and goes digital in a super touch presentation.  [iTunes: $9.99 / Print: $23 ]

126 bikes from one man’s collection, started in 2003: pan, zoom and rotate 360º;  review origin, specs and details.  This is an app that exemplifies the revolution of digital presentation.  It also features films, original advertising, links, engineering drawings, still photos, history, jerseys and a cool interactive glossary.  You’ll find folding bikes featured with swipable animations, and many include original owners manuals and more.

Muy Mas Digitaux AnimAuX!

Tour de France starts tomorrow.  Solidarity Time: Ride Everyday of the Tour; Feel the Suffer.

Click here to see 25 photos from Time magazine’s archives of the 1953 TDF.

Solidarity Animaux!

The official London 2012 Olympic Games Team GB kit, designed by Stella McCartney and mfg’d by Adidas.  Above: Chris Hoy.

Tabula Rasa: Getting rid of excessive jack’anxieted, overdone, overwrought, overzealous, overtly self-aware, obnoxious sponsor graphics, each element competing to suck-ravage your attention in its attempt to create product consumptuousness in your brain, brings a serene elegance and classic styling to a kit.  Classic.  That’s what everyone misses and that’s why the LaHabra Black Jersey and its complementary White Jersey have such strong appeal. It’s the simplicity stupid; dUH.

The modern kit has lost its way in the corporate product image package hysteria.  It’s time to get back to basics.  Leave the sponsor-hyped kit to the professionals whose existence its selfish charity enables.  Without it, where rise our heroes?

Muy Todo AnimaUx.

Cyclists spend a lot of time in the sun and we’re gonna look like latter day Bridget Bardots if we don’t block out some of those solar rays.

You don’t want the peloton wondering: “What’s all that pasty white shit all over your face?”  “Ohhhhh!  Sunscreen.  You look like a dork.”

Found some SPF 50 by Kiehls that’s more like a balm than a lotion.  Rubs on clear, feels clean.

Wuht-it-iz:  unscented wax-based sunblock; water, sweat, and wind resistant (it won’t drip into your eyes);  SPF 50 + squalane oil, derived from olives (yumm!).   The texture is waxy and thick like petroleum jelly.  A little goes a long way.  Nordstrom.

Also, the Facial Fuel is a refreshing moisturizer for that dried out jerky you call a face.  Gives a little tingly sensation.

Muy AnimauX!

Yesterday: BTBR (Bob the Bike Rider) destroyed his vintage Medici in a jack’d-out instant of forgetfulness.  His steel pony was tethered to the roof rack and he drove dick into the garage.

Que LastiMa TonTo AniMauX!

The  Chicken-Man-Boy is a mere 24 years and trains to race.  He comes out and rides with the Viejo-Pack occasionally and, time to time, shows up for Thursday morning speed workouts at El Dorado Park (every Thursday 6:15am northern section of the park).  He’s yet to finish the workout ahead of the “old” men jack- jerking the paceline.  When I saw him at the shop Friday afternoon I asked why he didn’t show up for the Friday workout? “I was too tired after Thursday. I needed to rest. You old men are killing me.”  Apparently he hasn’t embraced  Rule-V. Visit the shop (Long Beach Cyclery) and give him shit.

The Ritte Boys are jacking the ad blasts: [more at Ritte ...]  Looks like Mr. Bubbles riding the Rex.

Mr. BTBR was in town today.  In the 80s, Bob the Bike Rider was a fixture in the So. Cal cycling scene; well connected in the greater community of Freddies; sidekick to Mr. Bede Edwards, the man given credit for getting the UberFred into cycling.  Mr. Bede Edwards and others in his circle of cohorts are the old-school personalities whose legends precede themselves.

It’s only apropo that Bob show up riding his vintage Medici.  Gian Simonetti, the Medici frame building legend, can be found at Tortuga’s Shop [Long Beach Cyclery] on Wednesdays, wrenching bikes.

As you can see in the picture below, even a legend such as BTBR, allows himself to deviate from perfect form with a sloping seat and stem angled to the sky.

Muy MediCi AniMaUx!

For Sale:
Specialized SL3 56cm Road bike (racing Red)

Carbon frame, never crashed, ridden easy on the weekend to the Bahia YC Bar

$350.00 obo (MSRP $5500)

Contact Scott @ (714) 448-1851

In the Peloton the Freddies come and go
Talking of Molteni’s Angelo.
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in preparation for a field of artichokes
And sawdust dreams of one’s preference for the new love of the Bahia retreat:
The burden of the paceline follows like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question….
Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”
Let us go and make our visit at the front …

Some like to talk the love but they just ain’t got no ride left in them.

Au’Revoir AnimaUx!

Lub’n it Up puts a smooth glide in the Joint.

11 years, 75+thousand miles has worn out the perfection of engineered tolerances and has  jacked a rattle into the jimmy.  All the pivot points in my Campy Record Ergo levers have gotten sloppy in their old age and vibrate like hell with an annoying rattle.  For a while now I’ve had to finger the mechanisms [levers] to keep the vibration noise to a minimum.

When the shifting got a little sticky I sprayed it with WD40.  To my amazement the lever rattle has diminished about 90%.

Amazing what a little lubrication gets you.

Te qUiero Animaux!