A Ride with George

Ask five American amateur cyclists who their favorite rider is and at least one of them is going to say George Hincapie. This upcoming DVD release looks like it will provide some interesting insight and pay homage to this classy rider.

Constant Power

I read an interesting article today about proper pacing for zone 2 (Endurance) and zone 3 (Tempo) workouts. I specifically appreciated the chart that shows the power intervals and the effects on heart rate. I think this is why you see so many athletes training with power meters vs. heart rate monitors these days.

White Trash Bash

After a long Winter and Spring of training, Scott was ready to return to his roots for some R&R. Hello ARKANSAS! I haven't heard many stories yet about the unofficial team camp out at Devil's Den State Park (this is probably a good thing), but this picture has me believing that a fun time was had by all. Perhaps next year I will go to this event and post updates from the campsite. (Do you think there is wireless connectivity out there?)

2001 Paris Roubaix

Paris Roubaix is by far my favorite race of the season. And of course, every year, I join most American cycling fans in cheering for George Hincapie as he takes on his "white whale". In 2006 George looked like he was in position to win this race when his steerer tube broke. However, I think George was definitely the strongest rider in 2001. I know George doesn't win this race but it doesn't matter. Every time I watch this I find myself urging George on through crashes and punctures and I absolutely feel for him when it is clear that the win will not be his.

Vote for Tom's

It is that time of year again when Urban Tulsa polls its readers for the "Absolute Best of Tulsa". Many categories have already been decided, but some categories were so close that a run-off ballot was necessary. One of the categories that has not been decided...Best Bike Shop. It is between Tom's Bicycles, Lee's Bikes, and Bicycles of Tulsa. I think we all know what bike shop is the best, so let's take a minute out of our lives to vote for Tom's Bicycles. Please forward this on to anyone else who might be willing to vote for Tom's.

2007 Tour de France Retrospective

Tour de France Retrospective: The Good, the Bad and the Outtakes

Ride of Silence

Saturday June 13 is a Ride of Silence honoring Christa Voss and MAtt Edmonds. The ride will depart at 9:30 AM from the Cherry Street Farmer's Market at 15th and Quaker.

The Bicycles of Tulsa Race Team has set up a fund for the Voss and Edmonds families. Donations can be mailed to:

Bank of Oklahoma
Edmonds and Voss Memorial Fund
PO Box 2300
Tulsa, OK 7419

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

Safety First

Before every ride, race, and departure from home, my wife tells me "Be safe." I don't know if she thinks I an an inherently risky individual or that she really loves me and wants me to come home in one piece. (Either that or she knows that I am a royal pain in the butt when sick or injured.) Whatever the reason, I find myself trying to heed her suggestions. But how many times have I left the house on a ride without proper identification? What happens if something bad were to happen and I was laying on the side of the road unconscious? (I know...it is not an image I want in my head either.) Heck...I bet some of my own team would have a hard time trying to contact my wife if they needed to reach her.

Julie has recently sent out some information about a product called Road ID and I think it is worth mentioning in the team blog. If you are not carrying your identification with you on your rides, please consider purchasing a Road ID or similar product to have with you. Of course, I also ask that you follow my wife's advice and "Be safe."

Another Tulsa Tough Video

The production quality of this video is pretty high. I am pretty sure I see some Tom's jerseys in here...but I can't make out the riders. Any help would be appreciated.

The Team

Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work a company work, a society work, a civilization work. --Vince Lombardi

Video from Sunday

Someone put together a nice video of Sunday's criterium. You can see several members of the team throughout the clip and at one point you hear the announcers mention Tom's Bicycles.

Tulsa Tough - Part II

VeloNews.com has published a Race Report on Sunday's Criterium. The article highlights the scene at the top of "Crybaby Hill". This party was something to behold and I pity anyone who did not experience this.

The raucous crowd along the hill included two live bands. The fans sprayed water from garden hoses and squirt guns on the leaders, then offered adult-beverage hand-ups for those falling off the back. They painted their own KOM line across the street and took collections for rogue primes in the hundreds of dollars.

Tulsa Tough

I suspect that this will be the first of many posts about last weekend's Tulsa Tough. In short, it was a fun and productive weekend for Tom's Bicycles. Considering it was our first year to participate in this event as a team, we represented well. We were competitive in the Cat 5, Cat 4, and Women's Cat III/IV races (I think some of our girls surprised themselves). We had several team members participate in the rides. We had a team RV on Saturday (really...the definition of PRO). We had our own soigneur.  We had a darn good time.  And some of us even got paid.  

Here are some links I found about this event:

• VeloNews.com Article
  
• Saturday Tulsa World Article on Friday's races
  
• Sunday Tulsa World article on Saturday's races
  
• Monday Tulsa World article on Sunday's races