High-Fructose Corn Syrup is Killing You

High-Fructose Corn Syrup is Killing You

I found this on Facebook and found it interesting, so I'm re-posting here with their web site and their twitter account.

What You Need To Know About HFCS

Prior to 1966, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was virtually non-existent in Americans' diets. When it came to sweeteners, the number one version on the market was sucrose, or table sugar. But that all changed after the invention of high-fructose corn syrup.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Today ten of us (teamroll:) rode the Breast Cancer Awareness.  We rode the 50 mile route on an absolutely gorgeous fall day in Central Ohio.  It was a brisk start, but quickly warmed to the mid-70s by 11:30 AM.  The skies were crystal clear all morning, basically not wind at all.  It was a great day to ride.

We picked up some of @TeamSperanza along the road to make our peloton a little larger.  Team Speranza had a very strong showing.  I didn't count all of them, but I would guess it was close to 10-15 people.  They are a club our of the Canal Winchester area that ride a number of charity events including Pelotonia.  We have shared training rides and ride with them on a number of charity events through out the year.  Good group of people, so follow them on twitter: @TeamSperanza.

We only averaged 17.8 mph, but a lot of that had to do with missing a couple of turns and back tracking and then taking the all too familiar "yeah we got lost again" shot.  Not that we could actually get lost in Central Ohio, because we ride this area a lot.  But staying on the predefined course, well that is a whole other story all together.  Some say we are directionally challenged.  I prefer to think of it as we are trailblazers and prefer to choose our own path.  Yeah that's it, we're individualists, yeah that's the ticket.

Did I mention it was just a great sunny day with blue skies and no wind?  Check these pictures out.

Rest Stop in Sunbury

Early sunny morning & time to clear the corn fields

Siobhan drafting

There is a tracker in the hoizon

Clearing the fields on a perfect day

teamroll: prepare for winter

We received our final mock up of our winter weight jackets.  This thing is light weight, reasonably thick for cycling wear and ridiculously warm.

Special thanks to VOmax for rockin' a sweet winter jacket with the warmth of an alpaca headed to the high north land on a cold winter's night.

The text around the inside collar: Kickin' My Butt Today to Kick Yours Tomorrow

This is how we roll:

Well there was a change of design and not really for the better.  The second edition has the right number of dots, and the we rock: we roll: etc: More importantly we get to give props to a couple paying sponsors, which is good.  But moving our web site from the bottom back to the collar basically makes it wasted ink and something that no one will every see, which completely sucks. 

This is what the the text around the collar says since you will not be able to read it on the jacket: 

www.teamrollcolumbus.com

Names on a List

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/09/names-on-list.html

Miracles and Tragedies

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/09/miracles-and-tragedies.html

You Know Him.

That 14 year old next door. Polite, generous, a joy to be around. An avid runner, the star of his junior high team. Always heads over to play with your grandkids. So excited to embark on his high school career, thrilled to be entering the 9th grade. His whole life ahead of him.

And then the phone call. Get to the hospital now. Leukemia. Instead of high school the next three years will be filled with uncertainty, mind numbing fatigue, treatments, and home schooling.

The High School star. A phenomenal pitcher, the star and hero of the HS baseball team. The hopes and dreams of the community. A professional athlete in the making.

Drafted by the pro’s, imagine the celebration! All the hard work, the practices, the training, and the final reward – the chance for a professional career.

And on the same day getting the diagnosis . . . cancer. Hopes and dreams replaced by uncertainty, treatments, fears. A life changed, in an instant.

Your cousin, a two time cancer survivor. Strong, inspirational, full of life. Loves the outdoors, friends, family. But the third time was too much, too hard. The will was there, the body had to succumb. From survivor to victim. Three times was just too much even for her.

You Know Them. They are your loved one, your friend, your neighbor, your relative.

I won’t give up. We can’t give up. Last year “Team Chorman’s Floor Covering” raised $6,500 in the never-ending fight against cancer. I can promise I’ll ride to Athens and back. I can’t promise I’ll ride with Lance Armstrong again, and get to show him all of the names on my jersey. I can promise I will continue to do all I can, and that I will ride hard to honor all of your loved ones, relatives, friends and neighbors – for the fight they are in, for the fight they lost. For every name on my jersey, for every name not yet on the jersey. So that we will, some day, not need to add any more names.

I won’t give up. Will You Join Me?

Help me fight cancer -- please consider a contribution to Pelotonia
http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/riders_profile.jsp?MemberID=4240&SearchStart=100&PAGING

Dreams of an Olympian

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/08/dreams-of-olympian.html

Matt Briggs nips Mike Perakis at the line in the Citizen's Fat Tire Race.

RAIN 2010

Well after 3 years of saying no to RAIN. (Ride Across Indiana) I finally gave into peer pressure. This is something I really didn't want to do. After all, who enjoys sitting on a bike for a 160 miles in the hot July sun with humidity hovering around 90 percent. The good news for me is that we had 11 other Roll:ers who committed to do the ride. Our fellow team member and my good friend Mike Perakis agreed to be our SAG.

In years past, I have suffered from leg cramps. They normally come out and bite me in the ass around 60-70 miles. Made no difference if we were going 15 mph or 25 mph, on flat terrain or major hill climbs. I hydrated, carbo loaded, took enduralites, sport legs and nothing seemed to work. So far this year, I have been able to beat the cramp issues, but its always lingering in the back part of my mind. I hate to disrupt a ride with my team when it happens.

This winter I trained hard in the gym and on the bike. I'm riding 200-300 miles a week and still training at Lemonade Fitness 2 days a week. I train on a Velotron and Sci-Fit bike under the supervision of Don Moxley one our team sponsors. I calculated that I had ridden over 5000 miles so far for this year. If there was a time to do this ride. This is the year to do RAIN. No question about it, I should be in shape.

I'm up at 4AM ready to roll on about 3 hours sleep. As we roll out of Terre Haute before the sun rises, I begin to wonder why in the hell am I doing this? I'm always up for riding 75-80 miles. On rode trips riding a 100 miles is always expected. To me doing a century for the additional 25 miles is like getting extra credit at school. Its nice, but you don't need it to pass. As usual at this event like most events. Our team kits are like magnets for wheel suckers. As we roll out from the start, we had 30-40 people already for a free ride to Richmond. Normally we'll drop most them after a few miles as we pick up the pace. Were not racers but we do ride strong as a team.

In the end. I had fun with my friends, created more memories. I was able to ride 160 miles and finish with no aches and pains and most importantly no leg cramps. We did the ride in under 8 hours and averaged almost 20 mph.

Can't wait unil next year.

Check out our pictures on the Teamroll website

C'est Fini

RainSTORM -- the end of the ride

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/07/cest-fini-for-now.html

Teamroll: rocks!!

Ultra

Day Five -- almost there

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/07/ultra.html

Sahara Desert

Day Four and we're all alive.

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/07/sahara-desert.html

Suffering

Notes from Day Three. Three down, three to go.

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/07/suffering.html

This is it

Follow Jim Burkhart, Heidi Marshal and Vicki Chorman as they embark on an insane trip through Southern Indiana and back again.

http://relaxitsjustme.blogspot.com/2010/07/this-is-it.html

How do you spell casual / recovery ride?

if you ride for roll: you spell it nineteen mph for forty-one miles. 

teamroll: Thursday Night Ride by fdaugherty at Garmin Connect - Details

 So I show up for the Thursday night ride with roll:  There were only six of us and as I was looking around I noticed that I was clearly the slowest.  This is never good, it was even more so today because Wednesday was pretty hard on me with a 38 mile day at 19 mph, 10 mph winds and 23 of those miles were on my own because I got dropped.  Why did I get dropped?  Easy I got 5 hours sleep, riding with fast people and I spent too much time on the front given the circumstances. 

New Rule: when riding with stronger people let them take long pulls, tuck in and try and stay on.


The Thursday night rides are the casual, no-one-gets-dropped ride.  These are the rides I like, because we do have a couple sprints to stretch the legs and get the HR up.  But at the end of the day the group stays together.  There were only six of us, Heidi had a problem with her rear tire, so we rode over to Jim's house to swap out the rear tire.  Then we were off on the ride heading up and through Galena at around 23-26 mph.

We rode over to Red Bank to climb the hill on Red Bank road.  I believe it is about 4.7% average grade, but only about 0.42 miles long.  I was up front on the decline heading on the base we hit base of the hill at 29 mph.  Its simple physics, the big guy goes down hill fast.  I was traveling at almost 30 mph and within 0.42 miles and about 2 minutes I was down to 10 mph with a HR at 171.  It is always amazing to me at how fast one's HR can peak.


We regrouped at the top, because I was the last one up.  The good news is my pull was over soon.  We continued to keep a brisk pace west hovering right around 20 mph only slowing for intersections. At one point, I was beginning to think that I needed a little breather to grab some water - then I heard the bark that sounded like it came from Cujo. I looked over and saw a Rottweiler coming out to greet us.  All of the sudden I had legs again. If only for a few moments to clear Cujo's property line.


Hartford Road heading west is probably one of the greatest road in Central Ohio.  It is a gradual down hill run when heading west.  Tonight there was no wind, we had Mike up front with a good strong cadence and we maintained a 24-25 mph pace.  It was at this point, were I had to laugh.  I was forth person back, tucked away nicely with a cadence round 100 with 33 miles behind me.  My thighs were starting to burn, breath was a little labored, and I think I heard my calves say,  "yeah have your fun now, but we're waking you ass up around 3:30 this morning and don't you dare say a word when we do."  Then I look up and see Heidi pull out her phone to read a text message.  I am hanging on, barely, and feeling good about it between gasps and she is planning a picnic via text.


Lessons learned: 
1) Fast riders make you faster. 
2) Strong riders make you stronger. 
3) Good teammates will smack you around a little if you are wussing out, but always have your back if you get in a spot of bother.
4) Strong riders who are humble and encouraging to others is rare, and we have a lot of them.

5) I am one lucky dude to know good people to ride with and this team even makes the pain fun.

teamroll:'s Frey Daddy featured in the Pelotonia Blog

The Return of Frey Daddy

June 15, 2010
Filed under: Rider Profiles — The Rider @ 6:01 AM

Jim Frey took a little vacation from cycling … 10 years!

“It’s great to be riding again,” he said of his return, which included the inaugural Pelotonia along with several of his new bike buddies on Teamroll:, who affectionately call him Frey Daddy. “I’m so glad I started up again and I’m sorry I was out of it for so long.”

Read the whole entry here:  http://www.pelotonia.org/ride/blog.jsp

The Great Canadian Cyclists Exam

I dont know if I should laugh or be offended.

We realize car drivers and cyclists don’t always get along, but that doesn’t mean they can’t share a laugh. Would you pass our tongue-in-cheek exam?

As everyone who suffered through one knows, motorists are required to pass a driver’s exam. They must demonstrate a minimum competence and show they can safely navigate our country’s streets and highways.

Cyclists need no licence. You hop on your bike and off you go.

It’s strange because a bicycle is a vehicle in the same way that a bow and arrow is a weapon. A gun, like an automobile, is the more dangerous of the two but the fact that a bow and arrow is powered by a person doesn’t mean it’s completely harmless. Irresponsible or incompetent handling can render it deadly. So why not test cyclists? At least make them answer a few questions to show they know the difference between a green and yellow light?

So, in the interests of public safety, Road Sage presents the first Great Canadian Cyclists Exam.

Circle the correct answer.

1. You encounter the following sign. You …

a) Report it to police. I don’t care what the fancy pants art critics say, graffiti is a crime.
b) What? I can’t hear you. I’ve got my iPod on.
c) If by “stop” you mean “keeping going” then yes, I “stop.”

2. What lane of the roadway should you ride in before making a left turn?

a) The far left lane in my direction unless signs or pavement markings inform me otherwise.
b) The lane I’m in. Unless I’m changing lanes and then the lane I’m going into.
c) Whatever’s free, you know, I’m not bound by corporate constraints.
d) I can do it from any lane. Wanna see?

3. A car is 50 yards in front of you signalling that it is about to make a right turn. What should you do?

a) Bust ass pedalling as fast as I can and then blow by the right side of the car screaming “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING A**HOLE!”
b) All of the above.

4. When approaching a motorist in your lane the safest action to take is ...

a) Drive onto the sidewalk and swerve through some people and then pop this awesome jump back onto the road.
b) Try to squeeze by. Put your foot on the car if it’s stopped. Push off and try to get out in front.
c) What the f**k is that car doing on the road?
d) Spit.

5. You encounter the following sign. It indicates…

a) Silhouette crossing.
b) Caution: Reductivist artists at work.
c) Pedestrian are permitted.
d) Pedestrian are permitted – to kiss my bicycle-sculpted ass!

6. Never attempt to make a lane change in traffic until you are sure that you have …

a) Failed to do a shoulder check.
b) Made a swirly gesture with one of your arms.
c) Made sure you are not wearing a helmet.
d) Begun making it already.

7. You are wearing gorgeous racing gear. You look HOT. You …

a) Speed though the streets of Saskatoon and then through the Cranberry Flats pretending to be racing the Tour de France then head back to your place to watch the Nurse Jackie episode you PVR-ed, eat a ripe mango and then pleasure yourself.
b) Speed through the streets of Vancouver pretending to race the Tour de France then ride to Kitsilano and have vegetarian food at The Naam. Get home, watch the UFC

c) Speed through the streets of Toronto pretending to be racing the Tour de France then stop by Cherry Beach and pleasure yourself. Head home and watch The Sopranos on HD DVD. Think: Tony Soprano takes antidepressants. Why shouldn’t I?

8. You’re bicycling up hill, your four-year-old son in a bike carriage rigged behind your vintage bike. You’re talking on your cellphone, you’re wearing flip-flops and you’re not wearing a helmet. This is okay because …

a) Though I despise motorists, I trust them and their skills enough to weave in and out of traffic taxiing my child around in a carriage that sits on two small bike wheels and is constructed from netting and wire.
b) Look at me! Look at me!
c) The time my child spends staring at my ass while I bicycle is quality time.

9. It is January and a storm warning is in effect. Conditions are treacherous. Snow piling up. The roads are slick. You …

a) Throw on your Mountain Equipment Co-op Gear and get on the road. You have a life to endanger!
b) Time make winter your b*tch. Down a Red Bull, slap on a tuque and start biking. This will look so good on YouTube.
c) This is the 12th step. Facing fear. Climb onto your rusty steed and with great trepidation roll down the frozen labyrinth but first apologize to everyone you’ve ever wronged.

10. You see a sign that reads “Collector moving very well. Express moving well.” It indicates …

a) You are hallucinating.

What’s your score?
Answers: If you answered B you are correct. B is always correct because B is for bicycle and bicyclists are always right. That’s the first rule of cycling.

So this is how it is done.

I think that I have finally found out how Heidi et al are so strong on their bikes, how they can so easily ride away from me, power up hills, and etc. Surely this is the reason, yes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nd13ARuvVE&feature=player_embedded

Certainly it is the motor -- surely it can't be training, diet, hard work or the fact that they are just plain ole heads and tails better than me -- can it be?

Dumbest Product of the Month: THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED BICYCLE

It’s time to throw away all your old bicycles because I now present to you THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED BICYCLE. Found at Inhabitat, this bike was designed by F1 race car tech company BERU and it shows.

Are you ready for this?

It’s inspired in part by car racing tech, and from the description it sounds like I’d probably need my own team of mechanics to ride it. The cost is a bit out there, too, at around $35,000.

This bike has features like a GPS system, heart rate monitor built in, ceramic brakes, a hydraulic braking system, full carbon frame (naturally!), and weighs in at about 15 pounds - bummer on that last part, but it is full of enough high-tech gear to make any geek happy, bike or otherwise.

The best thing is the price. It’s only 20,000 British Pounds, which, hey, because of the economy, is all the way back down to around $27,000. Better start saving.

TRANSLATION OF A CYCLIST ONLINE DATING PROFILE

"I am an outdoors type of person."
Really means: I train in any type of weather. If its raining, snowing, 90 degrees w/100% humidity, or winds gusting at 30 mph. I don't want to hear any complaints because I will still train in it and you're just a big wuss for complaining about it.

"I enjoy riding my bike."
Really means: alone or in a peleton, I don't care. If you can't do a spur of the moment 50 miler then you're not my type. I will let you draft, but if you can't hang and I drop you - I will see you later.

"I enjoy dining out."
Really means: I enjoy eating out, in or anywhere else I can find food. Don't be shy because with the amount of food I eat, you can have that main entree instead of a salad and you will still look as though you eat like a rabbit in comparison. Don't get your limbs too close though as I may take a bite out of you. Most importantly don't expect any taste off my plate unless you can bring something to the party like more food. Oh, and don't ask me any questions during breakfast, Mid Morning Lunch, Lunch, Afternoon lunch, Dinner or Recovery Dinner as it does not lend to efficient food intake.

"I find fulfillment in charitable work."
Really means: If I am not racing, I am volunteering and I expect you to be there along side me as I stand out in 90 degree weather for 8 hours handing out sports drink to cyclists going 20 mph. Just stick the ol' arm out there and hope it doesn't get taken off.

"I enjoy sharing quiet moments together."
Really means: It's taper time. Just back off because I am strategizing and in a pissy mood because I am worried about my "A" race and can't workout.

"I enjoy site seeing."
Really means: Lets grab a bike and get our HR's up to 90%. There's plenty of time to look around on the descent as trees and bushes whiz by you at 40 mph.

"I like stimulating conversation. "
Really means: while we are riding, we can talk about food. Then we can talk about how we decided what to wear on this ride based on the temperature at start time versus the temperature at the time we expect to finish, how horribly out of shape we are, how many miles we did last week, and how many we will do this week and next week. Then we can talk about food.

"I am an active person."
Really means: Aside from my 40 hour job, and the 8 mandatory hours of sleep a night. 10 hours a week are devoted to me during the off-season and 20 during race season leaving us 4 hours. 2 of which are spent inhaling food and you not talking to me, so lets make the best of the 2 hours we will spend together on average each day. If you are a licensed massage therapist or doctor this would make the most optimal use of our time together. Nutritionist is also acceptable, but I probably already know just as much as you.

The Ride of Silence

Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight's ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride

- Mike Murgas

Ride for World Health (R4WH)

Ride for World Health by fdaugherty at Garmin Connect - Details

The organized team photo, yeah that's my sweet BMC in the middle

 For the third year in a row, teamroll: rode in the Ride for World Health event.  This is an event sponsored by our primary sponsor roll: bike shop in Central Ohio.  The route takes us from the roll: store at Easton Town Center.  Up Sunbury Road and out into the country, loops around the north east side of Columbus and then takes the bike path back from Westerville to Easton.  There was a ton of food when we got back and ice coffee from Starbucks.  There is nothing like ice coffee after a bike ride.

teamroll: gathers before the ride

We had good weather for the ride, it was overcast with 30% chance of rain and temperatures were in the 60s.  A lot of the conversation was around "let's make sure we do not get lost this year."  We didn't necessarily didn't get lost as much as we just took a different route.  Let's face it we live and drive/ride this area all the time, so its hard to get lost.  Off the route?  Yeah that happens daily, but we still know 'where' we are most of the time.

Mike is starting to review the route

A big thanks to Panera, Chipotle, Starbucks, and P.F. Chang's for their donations.  Breakfast and lunch was great and we received coupons to P.F. Chang's for a free lunch or something. 

Ya think they're looking for the big red X that marks the treasure?

The route was all familiar roads, but it is interesting just how much five bridge closings in something like a 20 mile radius can change traffic patterns.  In the state's superior wisdom, they decided to repair or replace about five bridges at the same time.  This construction will continue throughout this summer.  So this cycling season will present some more fun.

Vicki is ready to ride and as usual smiling

  As a group we are finding our way riding together.  We have riders are various fitness and skill levels, which can cause the group to break up and have to regroup.  We are getting better at the group dynamic, but we have room for improvement.  Typically, the thin fast guys get up front and start to run.  This causes the group to stretch out and we lose the benefit of drafting.  Working in a peloton the goal is to conserve energy and work more efficiently.   Riding in a peloton there is a delayed reaction when the pace picks up, much like a rubber band.  It stretches out and then contracts, allowing the group to ride in a tighter pack.  The problem is when the group starts to expand and contract.  The motion tends to cause stress for the riders in the back, because there is typically a delayed reaction to increase in tempo.  This increase in temp always leads to tapping the breaks only moments later. So you are constantly accelerating and decelerating, which is wasting energy.

Ever notice how Julie always knows where the camera is?  :o)

We are talking more and more about the need to slow these events down, because they are not races.  I have noticed an improvement over the past couple of years.  We have declared Tuesday nights as Hammer Time.  Thursday, charity, and other rides are for social / recreational riding.  We are starting to ride by this credo, but there is always room for improvement.  Typically, things get better with good dialogue and we are having better dialogue.  We really do have a great group of people and we generally support each others efforts.  Oh they will bust your chops, but it is in a big brother way - where I can say it, because I'm wearing the dots, but you cannot.

Kevin is ready to go and looking fast

The weather in Ohio this spring has been a little rough as far as the wind goes.  However, this weekend - both Saturday and Sunday have been fantastic.  Little to no wind with lots of sunshine has finally made us feel like spring is here.  Less wind has made the riding this weekend much more enjoyable. 

Amy and Amanda

Here are a couple shoots from the road.  Even with a little overcast it was a great day, because we were riding with our team in little wind at a comfortable pace and for a good cause.  What more could you really ever want?

Lots of dots

Moving up Sunbury Road in a long thin line

I've noticed that everyone is always smiling behind me.  Why?

 Here are a couple shots of the college kids riding across America for R4WH.  Unfortunately, I didn't see them gathering for the shoot until almost too late.  These guys/gals are riding 3300 miles across the country.

Here is the t-shirt from the event.  The orange is not the best color for the Irish, but hey what are you going to do.  :o)

Front

Back

Couldnt Say It Any Better Myself

A Frame of Mind

http://www.nowness.com/day/2010/5/5/601/frame-of-mind

Things Cyclist Say That You Should Be Wary Of.....

Some cyclists say things that you should always be wary of. They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this happen to you. Study this handy list of rider's phrases to find out what they really mean when they say:

"I'm out of shape"

Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.

"I'm not into competition, I'm just riding to stay in shape"

Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the line sprint if I have to force you into oncoming traffic. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.

“I'm on my beater bike"

Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using Carbon Fiber blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.

"It's not that hilly"

Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over........backward. You only have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.

"This is a no-drop ride"

Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.

"It's not that far"

Translation: Bring your passport.

AND THE EVER POPULAR CLASSIC… "It’s about a three-hour tour."

Translation: Think Gilligan’s Island and check on your life insurance policy, being sure to leave a parting note to your loved ones.

Bike Lane Slalom course, or WATCH THAT POLE

Thursday Night Ride or Dude, Where's My Bridge!

teamroll: Thursday Night Ride by fdaugherty at Garmin Connect - Details

OK it is a well known fact the that our team is a little directionally challenged at times.  Last year as a group we logged over 25,000 miles, not all of those miles were planned.  We have faced adversity through wind, rain, hills, 6 and 12 hour challenges, getting lost, rough roads.  But today was a little different, someone moved the bridge.

Road closed?  HA!

The state has decided to repair or replace basically every bridge between Westerville and Johnstown area.  Basically, every where we ride.  This creates two problems (1) we have to alter routes, which can place us squarely into our biggest weakness (directionally challenged) and (2) traffic patterns change as people look for different ways home.  This increases anxiety in drivers because some of them are directionally challenged as well.  Luckily, we haven't seen too many of them yet.

Still not convinced that the road is actually closed

 Ya see, the thing about teamroll: is you can give us obstacles, provide adversity, even take the bridge away.  It will not stop us.  We find away around it, through it, over or under it, because that's how we roll:

Bridge?  We don't need no sticking bridges.

There is a beam to the lower right hand side - approximately 12 inches wide.  So we walked across a steel beam about 3 feet off the water in cleats, carrying the bikes.  Is this considered cross training?

Safely on the other side the ride continues

Getting Ready For TOSRV

Its Thursday and as I plan for the weekends trek down to Portsmouth for the 5th time. I ask my self why? Our new team kits won't be here until next week. So there is disappointment before the ride starts.

The weather is always questionable. This weekend is no different. High in the low 60's and lows in the 30's. Gusting winds on both days and never at your back and throw in a chance of rain. So the big question is how to dress and what to carry on the bike? Knowing this, I ask myself again why do this ride.

Teamroll is a team I help start 3 years ago. We are a team of 30 riders men and women. I have been fortunate to surround myself with strong cyclist that enjoy these type of rides. Yeah, we all bitch at the conditions, but take the challenge head on. In the end. We have another story to tell and share with each other about the experience. These our my friends and enjoy riding with them and wouldn't have it any other way.

See you on the road.

Don't try this at home

From Joao Correia of Cervelo Test Team: Here is how you peed in a bike race. Left to Right (Joao Correia, Ignatas Konovolovas, Ted King and Theo Bos)

Watch Your Line

Hope you have good balance and bike handling skills, or you can swim!

Lexus show off high-tech concept bike, but it's still a Lexus...

In recent months we've seen a stunning looking concept bike from Peugeot and a production mountain bike from BMW. The latest car manufacturers to jump on the cycling bandwagon are Lexus, with their new Hybrid Bicycle Concept electric bike.


As you'd expect from Toyota's luxury vehicle division, it's a striking machine with some high-tech touches, including all-wheel drive courtesy of a 240W electric motor at the front and a belt drive supplying pedal power to the back wheel.

Read more on BikeRadar.com!

Happy Earth Day

In Celebration of Earth Day 2010 I submit an image from the future, the hope of what cycling will be like in 2011.

COP - SPOT

New posting:  http://fdaugherty.blogspot.com/2010/04/cop-spotat-garmin-connect-details.html

Pulling in the Wind

A great shot of the Princess (AKA @lechatestnoir) pulling Team roll: into the wind this weekend. Yes, Yes I know -- I'm as big as a bus. Well at least I was pulling yes!?

COP - Woodstock - 60 miles of Delaware County

COP - Woodstock 60 mile by fdaugherty at Garmin Connect - Details

Today was the fist official ride in Central Ohio.  Columbus Outdoor Pursuits (COP) has a series rides throughout the season.  The early season these rides are prep for TOSRV.  A lot of people turned out.  The weather was great, sunny cool in the morning around 38 or so at the start and 60ish at the end.  The key was no wind in the morning, which was a great thing, especially after last weekend's 45 mph winds.

There were two bad things about the ride: 1) the route basically zig zagged around a small area of Delaware county, 2) one of the most annoying things was taking a road that was closed because of a triathlon or other race.  What really made this annoying was the road only added miles and never actually leaving a 5 mile radius on Africa Road.  If you are trying to host a ride why not ride out into the country.  Make a big loop instead of saw tooth along the edge of every town in a 10 mile circle.

Long shadows over my shoulder early in the morning.  Clearly, it is early in the season because that is not an acceptable pace line.

The over the head shot catches @lechatestnoir completely focused, with the game face on.  And Fry-Daddy appears to be in mid-season form, even though this is one of his first rides this season, thanks to shoulder injury sustained late last year.

The funny thing about this shoot is @sblake0626 just asked "where are we?"  So Julie made me take the picture.  It goes back to the running joke that @teamroll is directionally challenged.  Some of us use Garmin (clearly, see the link above).  And yet we get lost, even under a street sign on the corner.

Once we got back to Westerville Central HS I did a little recon work for the Tour de Cure (TdC) Family Fun Ride.  We like to keep the kids safe by keeping them on the, very well kept, bike paths of Westerville.  I rode a new section, for me, of trails in Westerville between Sunbury Rd. and Hempstead Rd.and then follows Hempstead up to the bike path, just south of County Line Rd.  I'm not sure it is the best route for the kids, because there is a fairly long stretch on Hempstead north of Walnut, which is fairly well traveled for a neighborhood road.

Next Up: SPOT  Hope to see you there.

PS - (ok some pun intended)  @teamroll does not condone outdoor urination, especially when it is in the busy parking lot of a store with a bathroom.  No one on the team knew him.  Perhaps some customers purchasing kits are taking the piss out of the brand.  Ok, I could resist that one either.