Popping Champagne

Things I learned about popping champagne. Just in case you are ever in that situation.  I have never actually popped a bottle of champagne on a podium until last weekend.  Sure they give you beer, jerseys, flowers, kisses, and antlers…but not always champagne.  It turns out “sprinters” have that opportunity much more than other types of riders.  Crits are known for champagne.  Time trials?  Let’s be honest…I am stoked for $20 and a T-shirt. I sabered the top off a champagne bottle once.  That is an excellent party trick.  Yet,...

Source: http://alisonstarnes.com/popping-champagne/

2011 tour de france

Beppu National Japanese Road Champion

Team Radioshack‘s Japanese rider Fumiyuki Beppu has just won the Japanese Pro Road Championships in Hachimantai, Japan, just two weeks after winning the Japanese Time Trial Championships This is the second time that Beppu wins this title. First time was in 2006 where he also won the Time Trial Championships. This year Beppu participated in [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/beppu-national-japanese-road-champion/

cycling clothing

Obsessive Compulsive Cycling Disorder (review)

No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money (Samuel Johnson) 'Obsessive Compulsive Cycling Disorder' is the self-published anthology of 30 articles written by blogger Dave Barter. It covers a ten year period and a range of cycling activities during that time. I hope Barter can make some money out of this amusing and [...]

Source: http://cycleseven.org/obsessive-compulsive-cycling-disorder

cycling machine

TdF Halfway Point ? Havoc, Mayhem, Carnage

When it?s over, it will be very hard for anyone to discuss this 98th edition of the Tour de France, without mentioning the numerous, high profile, and wild crashes that have marred the first half of this year?s contest. Not only has there been an extremely high number of riders hitting the deck, but there [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tdf-halfway-point-havoc-mayhem-carnage/

cheap cycling gear

Store chain recalls 68,000 bikes sold in Upper Midwest; 3 other recalls

It’s a little bit like Dave Stoller’s “Breaking Away” dad waking up from a nightmare screaming “Refund!? Refund!?” except in this case it’s “Recall!? Recall!?”

Seven bicycle brands — representing 68,000 children’s and adult bicycles — were recalled on Thursday by Meijer Stores located in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Other recalls include PRO …

Continue reading »

Source: http://www.bikingbis.com/2012/08/30/68000-bikes-sold-in-upper-midwest-recalled-3-other-recalls/

cycling gear

Researching Western Bicycle Route 66

I recently had the job of researching the western "half" of Adventure Cycling's new Bicycle Route 66 route (New Mexico, Arizona, and California) with Tammy Schurr, one of Adventure Cycling's long time tour leaders.

As a newbie to the Routes & Mapping department I felt very fortunate to have this opportunity -- the open road would be my office for a couple of weeks. I would get to revisit some places I had biked through on my cross-country ride three years ago, I would get to see some fun new places, and I would learn firsthand about how Adventure Cycling creates a new route. 

So what do we do when we research a new route? First of all, after we have a general idea of a new route, e.g. Historic Route 66, we gather information from local cyclists and clubs in each area to get suggestions on specific roads to use. Then we take these suggestions, along with a handful of bike maps and other detailed maps, and hit the road.

Although we squeezed in a couple spins of the pedals checking out bike paths near Historic Route 66, we usually drive the route(s) instead of biking them because of time constraints. However, I decided driving might be a good idea anyway when going through the southwest desert in July. 


We checked out the suggested routes, considering things such as: road surface and shoulder conditions; signage at turns; traffic; drivers' line of sight; historical/cultural/scenic points of interest nearby; if there are bike trails, do they cross many roads and are they signed well; services (types, how far apart they are); and hill length and grades. All of these things play into our final decision on a route, though often some of these items have to be sacrificed in favor of others.

If we have concerns about the suggested route, we consult local bike maps and other detailed maps to look up alternate routes. 


In addition to examining general suitability, we also gather information on services that are found along and near the preferred route(s), including bike shops, campgrounds, hotels, hostels, grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, libraries, and post offices. 

Previously we collected all of this information via a paper-based system. Now, as part of our efforts to convert map data to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we also collect digital route and point location data using a GPS (Global Positioning System). We are also trying out a new software program to directly gather data digitally so that it can be easily used both in GIS and database systems -- and reduce the paper notes we later have to type up. Right now we're in the learning curve for this new system, but down the road it should save us considerable time.


While I really enjoyed researching the next Adventure Cycling bicyle route, the 12-16 hour work days and the southwest heat intermixed with fierce flooding and thunderstorms make me glad to be back home.


Now we're back from the open road working on processing the mounds of data we collected to create the best possible version of Bicycle Route 66 for you.


Photos 1, 2, and 5 by Melissa Thompson.  Photos 3, 4, and 6 by Tammy Schurr.

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This week's GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Melissa Thompson, an Adventure Cycling cartographer and GIS specialist.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/08/researching-western-bicycle-route-66.html

winter cycling jacket

Klöden Takes Stage & Overall Lead in Paris-Nice

Taking advantage of a perfect lead out by Janez Brajkovic, Team RadioShack?s Andreas Klöden out sprinted Euskaltel?s Olympic Road Champion Samuel Sanchez at the line to take Stage 5 at the mid-point of the 8-day/stage ?Race-to-the-Sun.? The day?s win put Andreas in the leader?s yellow jersey, and in excellent position to be on the podium [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/kloden-takes-stage-overall-lead-in-paris-nice/

cycling plus

Tribute to Wouter Weylandt (#108), 1984-2011

I’m sure many of you have heard the news regarding the tragic death of Wouter Weylandt of Leopard-Trek last week during the third stage of the Giro d?Italia, after he crashed during a mountain descent. The funeral was this week. This horribly sad event has really given me pause, but also a deeper understanding and [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/tribute-to-wouter-weylandt-108-1984-2011/

craft cycling

Bike Science Boardman Elite :: National Triathlon Relay Champions!

Team Bike Science – Boardman Elite hit the UK’s most iconic race – The National Triathlon Relay champs at Holme Pierrepont yesterday and claimed our first ever national title. The team of David Bishop, Tom Bishop, Mark White and Ed Charlton-Weedy put in stellar performances throughout the day in the 500m swim, 15km bike and [...]

Source: http://blog.bike-science.com/2012/08/27/bike-science-boardman-elite-national-triathlon-relay-champions

cycling events 2010

How Do You Use Our GPS Waypoints?

When Adventure Cycling released the first GPS waypoint files in early 2003, we had no idea what the future might hold for technology in mapping and navigation. We certainly couldn't have predicted the rise of the smartphone as a location finding tool or the downward trend in GPS-receiver unit sales.

As we make our wish list today for the development of a robust database to serve our departmental needs in regards to map creation, data collection, and a mobile mapping future, we have to keep an eye on these trends and how they relate to bicycle travel. We know the answer to a mobile mapping solution is not if, but when.

We want to design our database in such a manner that the GPS waypoints can be kept up to date easily and in an unobtrusive way to our users. In order to plan for this, we'd like to find out more about how you are currently using them.

This is a slightly different question than the one I asked back in October 2010 about Mobile Maps in Our Future. Right now we are looking at the very base level of data as well as the potential whole package we might be able to offer down the road.

A few things we're thinking about the waypoints specifically include:

  • What would make them easier to use?
  • What about the waypoint names? Do you rename them? What if we rename them over time?
  • Do you like/use the sample routes provided?
  • Anything else we should know?
Please share with us the good, the bad, and then ugly of how you're using the waypoints. In addition to leaving your comments here, you may also wish to participate on our Forums in the GPS Discussion thread, How do you use the Adventure Cycling GPS waypoints? (You will need to have an account on the Forums to join in that conversation. It's easy and all you need is an email address.)

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GEOPOINTS BULLETIN is written by Jennifer 'Jenn' Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer, and appears weekly, highlighting curious facts, figures, and persons from Adventure Cycling's Route Network with tips and hints for personal route creation thrown in for good measure. She also wants to remind you that map corrections and comments are always welcome via the online Map Correction Form.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2012/08/how-do-you-use-our-gps-waypoints.html

tour de france route