Go Clipless

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen in the raw

Whoa! Here's everyone's favorite commentators up close and personal. Enjoy!

"Stolen" from the photo album of Jessi Pacetti, Masiguy's Tour de France "cub reporter," Bob Roll's partner, and self-proclaimed Bitch Kittie! Yeah.

Where do the beautiful people go to renew their licenses?

Finally back from the never ending business trip.

Since I have been without a car commuting by bike and finding other means of transportation, I inadvertantly allowed my drivers license to expire. So I'm sitting here in the DMV bored as hell, looking for some eye candy. Nothing but the great unwashed. Horribly judgmental, I know. Is there a special DMV for beautiful people for which I am not qualified?

I'm just saying.

Digg Sports vs. Crankk

So I'm sitting in my Denver hotel room - two Fat Tire's down - writing my third post of the day...can you say bored on a business trip on a Saturday night?

A couple of weeks ago, Digg, the social news aggregation site, expanded beyond it's core technology focus to include additional categories. Most recently a sports category was added. In reviewing the subcategories, I found that most of the major American sports are covered, but there's no cycling subcategory. Nope...it appears that this most excellent sport/activity will be relegated to second tier status in the "Other Sports" subcategory. Unless of course, the story is about freeriding or downhilling, then perhaps one could argue for the "Extreme" subcategory. Let's just declare right here that even if the story is "extreme," if it's about cycling that it goes in "Other Sports." Ok? Otherwise, the stories will be splintered across the site and it will be difficult for Digg to evaluate the need for a subcategory for cycling. And guess what sport the first story in the "Other Sports" subcategory was about. Yup. Cycling! It was Bobby Julich's write up on Floyd Landis' amazing comeback in Stage 17.

See Digg...the Sport's section is barely a few days old and there is already evidence that cycling needs it's own subcategory.

So where does this leave Crankk, the upstart Digg clone that's focused on cycling? With categories like "MTB," "Fixed Gear," and "Training," clearly bicycle blogosphere stories fit nicely on Crankk. Do the benefits of being a focused niche player outweigh the potential audience size of Digg? One things for sure, Crankk will need to grow its audience quickly if it is to flourish. To grow it will need to provide some widgets for bloggers to integrate Crankk's "Crankk It" buttons and links into their platforms.

There are benefits to the more generic aggregation of Digg, however. For example, the possibility exists that more people will become interested in cycling as stories rise to the top of the "Sports" category or even to the "Top Stories" section.

So what do you think? Can Crankk grow fast enough? Will cycling stories make it to Digg? I'd be interested in the views of bloggers and how they may or may not differ from those that do not maintain a blog. 

The best way to clean your bike helmet

Take it with you into the shower of course! Learn step by step from guru-grrl how you too can avoid the "smelly helmet syndrome."

Crooked Cog Podcast

In my real job I do a lot of evangelizing about blogging and its benefits as a tool for marketers. I have not been as bullish about podcasting, however. The audio files take too long to download, are tedious to listen to, and usually just plain suck. Lately, I find myself changing my tune a bit when it comes to podcasting. Some new audio enclosure technologies have made it much easier to stream podcasts from a blog or RSS feed, removing my download complaint. In addition, people have started to realize that a podcast is not a substitute for the written word, but another avenue that should be used when listening will enhance one's understanding of the topic. Thus, the content is getting better.

So I find myself listening to more podcasts these days. The other day I listened to the inaugural Crooked Cog Podcast produced by Tim Grahl. For those that don't know, Tim Grahl is the purveyor of the Crooked Cog network of blogs which includes the notable Blue Collar Mountain Biking and TwentyNineInches, among others. I met Tim at last year's Interbike and read his blogs regularly, so I was most interested in this new addition to the growing network.

In this first podcast, Grahl interviewed Tim Jackson, Brand Manager of Masi Bicycles. Talk about a "worst to first" story. Jackson is almost singlehandedly responsible for resurrecting this dead bicycle brand and growing it into a well respected specialty road bike company. And, he did it all by blogging. Even if you are familiar with the story of this brand manager with a small budget and a blog, you should listen to this podcast. Grahl does a nice job with this interview leading Jackson to tell the history of Masi Bicycles and how it came to be a part of the Haro Bicycle Company today.

As you listen you won't be able to help but hear the enthusiasm for cycling and blogging by Jackson. The two Tims are incredibly comfortable in this interview which sounds more like a conversation - there's hardly an "um" or "ah" between them. The production quality is very high with little or no noticeable feedback or hissing noises, despite this being a phone interview (or at least I think it was).

All in all, a great first podcast from Crooked Cog. Grahl has made some excellent contacts in the cycling industry so I'm sure we'll be treated to some more cool interviews in the weeks to come.

Denver business trip

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'm on a business trip in Denver, land of draught Fat Tire Amber Ale...mmmmmm. Anyway, I'll be quieter than usual as I am quite busy. I have two back to back events in Denver so I am staying through the weekend.

Saturday is a free day so I'll probably catch up on some blogging then. Don't think I'll get out for a mtb ride like I hoped (no bike and no car to get out of Denver) but maybe I'll spend the day test riding some bikes. Can anyone tell me where the best LBSs are?

2007 Cannondale preview

Looks like City Bikes Mike has got the inside line on some new stuff from Cannondale in '07 straight from Cannondale's mountain bike product manager.

Cdale is bringing carbon fiber to the mountain bike line with an all carbon Rush and has plans for a carbon cross-country hardtail.

Oh, and it looks like we'll be seeing a geared 29er with a lefty in 2007 as well.

Looks like City Bikes Mike has got the inside line on some new stuff from Cannondale in '07 straight from Cannondale's mountain bike product manager.

Cdale is bringing carbon fiber to the mountain bike line with an all carbon Rush and has plans for a carbon cross-country hardtail.

Oh, and it looks like we'll be seeing a geared 29er with a lefty in 2007 as well.

2007 Specialized preview

Well it's that time of year again. The major manufacturers are beginning to release news of their 2007 lineups. Specialized held a press event at its headquarters and invited the mainstream media (what? no bloggers?).

More carbon fiber is the rule of the day. First there was the Epic, then the Stumpjumper FSR, now the Enduro gets the S-Works carbon treatment. The light freeride bike has been redesigned and gives off a rather Santa Cruz Nomad style.

The big news from Specialized, however, is that it is getting into the suspension game. Following the lead of Cannondale, now Specialized will be producing its own front and rear suspension. Taking the complete bike as one system approach. This should bring increased margins for Specialized as they will no longer need to buy from other companies; let's hope this leads to lower prices for the customer.

For more detail and technical descriptions check out the overviews on Bike Magic and Singletrack.

Well it's that time of year again. The major manufacturers are beginning to release news of their 2007 lineups. Specialized held a press event at its headquarters and invited the mainstream media (what? no bloggers?).

More carbon fiber is the rule of the day. First there was the Epic, then the Stumpjumper FSR, now the Enduro gets the S-Works carbon treatment. The light freeride bike has been redesigned and gives off a rather Santa Cruz Nomad style.

The big news from Specialized, however, is that it is getting into the suspension game. Following the lead of Cannondale, now Specialized will be producing its own front and rear suspension. Taking the complete bike as one system approach. This should bring increased margins for Specialized as they will no longer need to buy from other companies; let's hope this leads to lower prices for the customer.

For more detail and technical descriptions check out the overviews on Bike Magic and Singletrack.

Talking iPods for cycling

In it's quest to keep it's lead in the digital music space, Apple is teaching the iPod to talk. Yes, Apple has filed for a patent to bring speech to the iPod which will be able to announce the songs over the earphones. This should minimize the need to look at the device and will make the device safer and easier to use while driving, cycling, or in badly-lit locations, according to this article in the Scotsman.

This will be a nice development particularly from a usability perspective. I'm not so sure about the safety issue. Sure it will be safer from the perspective that you will not need to take your eyes off the road/trail as frequently to look at the device, however, you will remain disengaged from your surroundings.

I have an iPod. I do not use it when I ride. Safety is part of it, but really it's because I want to be aware of my surroundings. I don't much care if cyclists want to listen to an iPod while riding as long as you don't get in my way. Runners too. It's not so much a problem on the trail as it is on the bike path. I can't stand when I'm trying to overtake a runner or slower cyclist on the path and they are wearing iPods. They always jump wildly when you pass them even though you shouted a warning and rang your bell three times.

Don't make your problem, my problem...I always say.

Check out the iPedal design on items from CafePress. I have nothing to do with this design just found it while doing a search on the web.

Lily Allen and the Cocteau Twins

No they're not appearing together. Just noticed that there has been quite a run on Lily Allen images judging from a recent spike of visitors to this blog. At first I was thinking how cool it was that so many more people were finding their way here. But noooooo....they just want to catch a glimpse of the cockney punk princess...you're sick sick sick...the lot of you!

Actually, it turns out that her debut album is finally going to hit the streets in another week or so. I threw up a link over on the 'reviews in 10 words or less' sidebar, but it's still the import version. I'll update the link when it's released in the U.S. She's finally got a website too...no more of that shitty-ass-crash-my-firefox-neon-blinding MySpace page. And for those of you that are saying "hey, what does this have to do with bikes?" check out the album cover...and the video.

Meanwhile, I was checking out some of my other favorite music blogs and got onto a Cocteau Twins kick. Nothing new from them...just an electro mix version of one of their songs from The Smash Mix. Just in case I went to their official website to find out the latest. Nothing new really. But I was remembering back when I saw them at The Ritz (which, by the way was one of the best music venues ever and now there is virtually no record of it to be found on the 'net) in NYC circa 1990. Their lyrics are almost unintelligible on some songs/albums and the rumor back then was that they were sung in a combination of English, Gaelic, and backwards French. Well, not quite, but this page explains the confusion...or does it? Anyway, if you want to get started on the Cocteau Twins you should check out the album Treasure. Kgirl and my wedding song is the last one on that album titled "Donimo."

Awwwww....ain't that cute.