tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76230472611170068012024-02-19T07:59:30.294-08:00Cullman CyclingCarsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-57251354793787705012014-08-27T18:57:00.000-07:002014-08-27T19:01:33.464-07:00Strava Link to Tour KOM<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/segments/628379/embed" width="405"></iframe><br />Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-29546564579840290752014-08-24T19:20:00.002-07:002014-08-24T19:20:37.015-07:00Tour de Cullman 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqU8YGq0JtI7VPphGxfRzW3657XBpbqioOR2Kcx1yPaOPY6jmh6-qrUKrZV4jL4NcnKckk4aiBtT4d9ZMbwni0Lf1oSynM-rzBhHg-ERo9ubPk6XcV5FyXMowpIFbzl_r6hlqB0bywhU/s1600/bike+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqU8YGq0JtI7VPphGxfRzW3657XBpbqioOR2Kcx1yPaOPY6jmh6-qrUKrZV4jL4NcnKckk4aiBtT4d9ZMbwni0Lf1oSynM-rzBhHg-ERo9ubPk6XcV5FyXMowpIFbzl_r6hlqB0bywhU/s1600/bike+1.jpg" height="216" width="320" /></a></div>
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A very early Tour with Shane Emplaincourt and Terry Duran battling it out on Skyball. </div>
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The Great Jacques Emplaincourt, the GodFather of cyling in Alabama leading a break...</div>
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Couple of guys from Cali showing how they train...Beezer and the Brown Wonder....</div>
<br />Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-12203859236374406072013-10-01T19:46:00.000-07:002013-10-01T19:46:02.680-07:00Tour de Cullman 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSawGl0efFMtEhuLUevsXbJMNRcxoYv_t3z60kqUfXKHDriFaSHT8KL0HFan7NDH66LrdU163ECO-Ow6bH9kIbTSVCvMLdwMTf3g-LEkDJVxmMF-Ttje8p6YGKckPcG5uLf8PNSUrl6ew/s1600/TdC2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSawGl0efFMtEhuLUevsXbJMNRcxoYv_t3z60kqUfXKHDriFaSHT8KL0HFan7NDH66LrdU163ECO-Ow6bH9kIbTSVCvMLdwMTf3g-LEkDJVxmMF-Ttje8p6YGKckPcG5uLf8PNSUrl6ew/s320/TdC2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Tour de Cullman</span></strong></div>
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October 26th 2013</div>
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Riders off 12:00</div>
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Podium 4:00</div>
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60 miles through Cullman and Blount Counties</div>
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KOM on Skyball Mountain</div>
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<a href="mailto:wcarsonglasscock@gmail.com">wcarsonglasscock@gmail.com</a></div>
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256.962.0511</div>
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Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-13684581051896214942013-01-27T14:32:00.001-08:002013-01-27T14:32:41.327-08:00Scenes from the road.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaC9-OmvqTpWCSbvpjDOZJmzQxskT9Qrjzwuvx7JXHMoFgZhcdcU1carkY4ImpLyUkBqNC7zyXvv_jf4dG4nXcOwBxQDKX4jtcX1HSSTxmQbTTzpjQ4QbZecKa9IoYk2IGVUQArzXLrv0/s1600/Rebekah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaC9-OmvqTpWCSbvpjDOZJmzQxskT9Qrjzwuvx7JXHMoFgZhcdcU1carkY4ImpLyUkBqNC7zyXvv_jf4dG4nXcOwBxQDKX4jtcX1HSSTxmQbTTzpjQ4QbZecKa9IoYk2IGVUQArzXLrv0/s320/Rebekah.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Got this picture of some history. Going to have to do some research.Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-79489545486162729402013-01-06T17:56:00.000-08:002013-01-06T17:56:56.257-08:00Stouts Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0m3ulOMmM59WuPvvkVgLE56gWtRC9mv2FkWFaGnjWeikvcoRCOwa2hn9b2HUeym2K0OJirXMiyWNqKKVE9IYmZXatgF0Z8VSdWByFLHbbVR8aW-KEpoHyd15wVT6y2vXT4PwkugbAF8/s1600/Stouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0m3ulOMmM59WuPvvkVgLE56gWtRC9mv2FkWFaGnjWeikvcoRCOwa2hn9b2HUeym2K0OJirXMiyWNqKKVE9IYmZXatgF0Z8VSdWByFLHbbVR8aW-KEpoHyd15wVT6y2vXT4PwkugbAF8/s320/Stouts.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-35645759491641377952012-10-26T18:57:00.001-07:002012-10-26T19:00:23.650-07:00It will never end....<iframe width="400" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RkrdqJHQHxs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-75033480233677827082012-10-03T21:07:00.004-07:002012-10-03T21:08:49.244-07:00La Roue Libre<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_udFWNqymfY" width="415"></iframe><br />Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-75398353362955862302011-10-22T18:50:00.000-07:002011-10-22T18:50:23.406-07:00The Tour 2011<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QFTekVVsoi4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-59602286125789728762011-07-09T19:23:00.000-07:002011-07-09T19:23:07.685-07:00Cipo Visits Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLl5-sp2ab_aw7NSOFBNvmlvmdXv5Dec1NNL8NUOT0tsZq8O8OqUdWAq9luMrBVTkWe-dxkhnXIrTDkaJY-ltKHuRuSh0aksq8hjan-LLfl5-ywSHevj4NVUXNr33B6GxZbmHWhyhnoQ/s1600/Cipo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLl5-sp2ab_aw7NSOFBNvmlvmdXv5Dec1NNL8NUOT0tsZq8O8OqUdWAq9luMrBVTkWe-dxkhnXIrTDkaJY-ltKHuRuSh0aksq8hjan-LLfl5-ywSHevj4NVUXNr33B6GxZbmHWhyhnoQ/s320/Cipo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Tour is upon us, SuperMario paid a visit to the Tour de France. Its all about the celebration of the race, just for a while we can all forget all the controversies and enjoy the STARS. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Emails are trickling in about the date for the Tour, always in October and always a STAR or two. </div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-25114323001497652562011-04-27T07:05:00.000-07:002011-04-27T12:47:44.945-07:00SuperDave Linked to Ferrari<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnRQXc37EYNAZpn4th_meWCcGRzKMBtOgW2S0-Sd4F3I96OrniaBhx6T-NiI8QS3xqEl4YAxPzvI97iXsDctDuygAh3QsnXt2FIjB8op7qpTBp8zecz8AGwjfZRIP5z7-q7KdVY76rSI/s1600/ferrari.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600261508336468114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTnRQXc37EYNAZpn4th_meWCcGRzKMBtOgW2S0-Sd4F3I96OrniaBhx6T-NiI8QS3xqEl4YAxPzvI97iXsDctDuygAh3QsnXt2FIjB8op7qpTBp8zecz8AGwjfZRIP5z7-q7KdVY76rSI/s320/ferrari.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 233px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div></div><div>After much speculation it appears that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SuperDave</span> may be linked to notorious cycling coach Michele Ferrari. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Daves</span> been on the gas the past couple seasons so it all makes sense", according to a cyclist who wanted to remain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">anonymous</span>. This file photo was taken in Bologna which shows SD towering in the entourage. <br />
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SuperDave sightings have been few and far between over the past two years. <em> </em>The Doctor operates out of Monaco which would explain why no one has seen the rider. When interviewed last year Dave explained that his fitness was the result of hard work and a new natural milk formulation in his recovery drink.</div></div></div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-42604096966831712752010-03-26T20:19:00.001-07:002010-03-26T20:31:32.226-07:00In The Last Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nKxKPevF03ehiYUaXXfle1PECFMGVRvak7fDrAf7mthQADB-Ifsp8GGci5JIJrCW7V2vZWkcqZf2Eth1tTGduex7wovEUB35a4aymz8m9HqpLMYUrzsOHjuAgGX0R-zK-9f_UOwrT78/s1600/DSCN0341.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nKxKPevF03ehiYUaXXfle1PECFMGVRvak7fDrAf7mthQADB-Ifsp8GGci5JIJrCW7V2vZWkcqZf2Eth1tTGduex7wovEUB35a4aymz8m9HqpLMYUrzsOHjuAgGX0R-zK-9f_UOwrT78/s320/DSCN0341.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453148292177884306" /></a><br /><br />http://TheGrandVia.blogspot.comCarsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-45549839110026516972010-03-21T18:09:00.000-07:002010-03-21T18:14:45.970-07:00The Final DaysIts time for an update to the Cullman Cycling Blog, I have consolitated this blog into a new one http://thegrandvia.blogspot.com. No reason to not leave this one here for a while but there will not be an updates (I dont think).Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-57997195764146410562010-01-31T18:27:00.000-08:002010-02-01T18:42:25.609-08:00Kashmir<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0m0xvhzvfaJG19LGNeFDdn-3oM1ZXDbaxmW2nTBBtuBJXHQ4__sfK2ANPcjDM8BLOAoDBYVGQeHsB1UQbxw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">How about some music to get the blog going as cycling season approaches. This should be labeled "Live from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bennetts</span> House" after one of my favorite websites. We have been learning about recording music and how with the right set up there is no need for renting a recording studio. You can get some cool effects in an old house. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">So much time has been traveling around the Southeast to swim meets lately, but well worth it. Those upcoming cycling training races thank goodness conflict with some pretty big swimming events during the month of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">February</span>. </span></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-86438517101118314432010-01-11T21:52:00.000-08:002010-01-11T22:11:37.726-08:00Trans World Rowerami<div>Cullman had some very special guests pass through town. Anna and Christopher Rowerami are cycling around the world and decided to spend the night in Cullman. <br />
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<div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422331239243504642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiNx6ibuKaenCjSnI-QRadjAlgyR-NiLkzylEwZ_NZKOCleUJcO3J3anQX0RIC1guyr52oEutfdivNazGmZr-xrbfVkt_gicQUWh9P4x5jtdiiLEwoGxdUCgRrM-F9z1iqVSUaaYZFBI/s320/Picture+132.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
</div></div>They are originally from Poland but are currently calling London home. Very experienced in bicycle touring this is their first trans world tour, having done many bike tours thru Europe and the UK. They were really decked out in with state of the art bikes and equipment. Laptops, GPS, cell phones and etc. Still roughing it and camping for the most part. Anna and Christopher are members of an organization called "warm showers" which networks travelers around the world to homes where they can stay and of course take warm showers. It was great to meet them and hear some of their story and agenda, I have to admit bike touring to me is something you do slow and relaxed with not much agenda. They were serious and maybe a little over the top for my idea of touring.<br />
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I must be showing some age because I struggle with the use of technology. I love high tech stuff, but its kinda like in the Tour de France and the use of radios. In some ways its great for safety etc., but then you think back to the day when it wasnt available and the racers did just fine. In touring whats wrong with pulling out a Michelin map of France that showed every back road never knowing whether it was paved or really there untill you rode down it. Somehow on a map you always underestimate things. Technology helps us get there quicker and more efficiently but I guess thats not what you always want. <br />
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One of my favorite books is "Miles from Nowhere" a book about a couple who cycles around the world. Back in the day before modern technology they took two years off from life and began an incredible journey. Its a great book and inspired me to do a couple of tours, one across Europe and another in southern France. A bicycle is the best way to travel.Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-68044937207100945372009-11-01T17:38:00.000-08:002009-11-05T05:21:20.154-08:00Toone de Cullman 2009<span style="color:#000000;">. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPoEuOtXJf2yk0xChxoNianpWbRLLCCJ7zhdmnxMK2IUbFovqsVBGnOTd-87bHDOcSbqniBrUQ1H-GipdgwbPHJUVWmfv6G1DHF7t7KQ9mn_luWr24rlAIavCFk62SPsDUMHTuFeIbys/s1600-h/Picture+056.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399317904867973378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPoEuOtXJf2yk0xChxoNianpWbRLLCCJ7zhdmnxMK2IUbFovqsVBGnOTd-87bHDOcSbqniBrUQ1H-GipdgwbPHJUVWmfv6G1DHF7t7KQ9mn_luWr24rlAIavCFk62SPsDUMHTuFeIbys/s320/Picture+056.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">The results are in: </span><ol><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Brian Toone</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Omar Fraser</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Scott Kuppersmith</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Sammy Flores</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Jacob Brewer</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Darryl Seelhorst</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Kevin White</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Greg McCreless</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Wes Douglas</span></li><li><span style="font-family:georgia;">Robert Vachon</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Women:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color:#333333;">...</span>1. Amy Gravlee<br /><span style="color:#333333;">...</span>2. Katherine Herring<br /><span style="color:#333333;">...</span>3. Katie Curtis</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399725944850824050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkMTwOfsCOTwnVvFgg1PoArm663UWBBaimBq6eVMC-uV5OGAb0H1edkgmF80dWZ-byGim3aUOZZBcnkVHehUQg30GB8M4sZJYMnepCGgRue6yV0JYHbS5lHiPkqe81w1DBIla7lkw3-M/s320/Picture+047.jpg" /><br />A beautiful day for a bike ride, the peleton cruising through Cullman County.<br /><br />The 15th Tour de Cullman lived up to all its epic fun. Sixty riders headed out at high noon on Sunday. In a nice envelope Brett and Brady Barker lead the riders on Moto 1 and Moto 2 and bringing up the broom wagon was the Branham MotorSports team van. The pace was monitored for the first 20 miles by the motos until the nature break just before the Chamblees Mill bridge. The riders were lead out and the pace soon picked up with a definite selection being made at the top of the first climb. The above photo shows Toone, Fraser, Kuppersmith, Flores, Brewer, Seelhorst and White cresting the first climb. The hammer went down leaving the peleton shattered all over Skyball Mountain. <p>On the descent off the first climb the riders rode down to Joy road which is known as the "Meat Grinder" for its hand full of short steep climbs. Leading on to the final climb of four miles, Toone, Fraser and Kuppersmith separated themselves and it became evident that this was <em><strong>The Selection. </strong></em><br /><br /></p><p>Brian Toone educated us all on cycling and dropped the very strong riders on the climb up for the KOM. He crossed the summit with Omar Fraser 1:00 back and Kuppersmith at 1:15. The Tria/Donohoo team pulled off the hat trick, they have ridden so strong over the past three years and capped it off with this epic victory.</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399726376555364594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMYkeYMeKtnflMb1RoX4crG-sBm5swabFnUEbblc6yJ-PRsVnXy0Cw-AgRZKmKtu66abeTaAU15xw-jSpu08Mm6yOuMKjv8o9oBpaDs9jGDDJfWE15BYIchrpoMphPlgWzbQbwfj-QIg/s320/Picture+070.jpg" /> <div>Rehashing the race on the top of Skyball Mountain. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399726747561426850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf38MaW7y9CVPMLmM0v231OP0ePo4bbuX2MYMGSsJ1CuwJJyJQTnWLgqoofSrv7FVWtU9b9QusspfDBG2f5tjWeEvMCgQSJzERN0833WBjjT3DC82Wu4fViONcExnRfI-swAtdUMPGD4/s320/Picture+080.jpg" />2009 Tour de Cullman King of the Mountain, Brian Toone.<br /><p>Amy Gravlee dominated the women's division, proving why she is so successful in racing around the Southeast. Amy was in control from the first climb and rode solo up Skyball Mountain to another trophy as the women's KOM. She was followed by two newcomers to the ride Katherine Herring and Katie Curtis.</p><p>The Masters trophy went to Sammy Flores who finished fourth overall in the GC.</p><p>Most Aggressive went to the SmithLock Team who made a valiant effort and put Omar on the Podium. The team is lead by Alabama cycling icon James Hall. </p><p>Bill St. John took the Cullman trophy in a sprint up the final 200 meters of the climb.</p><p>Arthur Patrick won a trophy for being one of the original riders of the Tour de Cullman. Arthur raced around the Southeast and competed in The National Road Race in the 1980's. He also was winner of the Race Across Alabama and had a cult classic race with James Hall.</p><p>The 2009 Tour de Cullman was very successful and was composed of probably the best collection of riders in its history. I say collection and not fastest (it was) because its success is bringing all cyclists together for a day and riding together promoting cycling. The beauty is the diversity of having a very elite racer riding with an 18 year old exchange student from Germany.</p><p></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-12505931639565157982009-10-19T20:18:00.000-07:002009-10-19T22:28:28.488-07:00Secret Training<p></p><p></p><p>My training this past weekend for the 2009 Tour de Cullman consisted of traveling to Nashville to attend the 30th Anniversary Reunion show for The White Animals.</p><p><object width="390" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9nXAogAnwmU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9nXAogAnwmU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="390" height="320"></embed></object></p><p>Anyone who attended a college or university in the South during the 80's remembers the band. To me their music captures the feeling of those old daze. During most of the show I had flashbacks of Lee's Tomb and them playing to a packed house with a line outside waiting two blocks long. </p><p></p><p>I love the Don Henley lyric, something about a "Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac". There was a lot of grey hair in the crowd and nobody pounded those long neck beers quite like they did 20 years ago. The show was a way to go back in time for a night and relive a few thoughts. Several people brought their teenagers, including myself. Pretty cool to share something across a generation.<br /></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-58266689135744845652009-10-11T17:33:00.000-07:002009-10-11T18:32:43.457-07:00Course Primer<p>Most of this video has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">previously</span> released. Added new music and production. If you have done the Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cullman</span> you will recognize most of the footage and if not it will be a introduction to the course.</p><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0i9a76Cx-s6kDSwWroI0S2MWZrEJnQt-VLzNYzMxA4ENTOCDBw6YpsLgaHOrN4a9B-xUGeIKi6ZykQJs3SA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-33406039823838585852009-10-03T17:05:00.000-07:002009-10-04T07:47:56.743-07:00Savouring The Tour: 15 Years of GloryLike any good Italian red, the flavours of The Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cullman</span> linger long after the glass is sipped. It's not just a super day of bike racing, its role as the finale demands a savoured experience. As the sun sets on another season of bike racing...<br /><br />We can reflect with a few photos of the very first Tours, as we head into number <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fifteen</span>. Its always been a clash of the titans for the King of the Mountain, from the very first it was epic.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXOZ8jmQ6MPc5JLZO5d052Ccqx_rmT0nFmCbipNkyE0SHk7tl4c7ISsD7NyaI7JSpNUAKr9UKDmrkqGFZGlYjDLfPhaQojBK-23I-5yFp9H1jTc4lDN0Ds-923y0WChZIYeZ42Of4jwo/s1600-h/EarlyTour1.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388529725548623282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXOZ8jmQ6MPc5JLZO5d052Ccqx_rmT0nFmCbipNkyE0SHk7tl4c7ISsD7NyaI7JSpNUAKr9UKDmrkqGFZGlYjDLfPhaQojBK-23I-5yFp9H1jTc4lDN0Ds-923y0WChZIYeZ42Of4jwo/s320/EarlyTour1.bmp" border="0" /></a>Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Prewitt</span> was the King for the early Tours, his first victory was in '94. He came back and won it again. The above photo shows a battle between former champions of Alabama bicycle racing. Arthur Patrick raced with the best at nationals in the day, shown sprinting up the final 200m of the climb up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Skyball</span>. James Hall can be seen unsuccessfully trying to stay attached to the surge of "Big Daddy Big Gears" and "Smokey the Beast".<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388529947241952802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 184px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmIaB04Q4gM9KAFotEkCpzx21yZ4p3hPzXhJDpM-F8-ub-bTGL5XrLOKmlXWUoKrbs8qf65dnldkhP-_onVu05bsUKWptM3ZmqtFfGlzJymWBMzzXV6gZhLyBhyY9H8SO_PIlSkgl59I/s320/EarlyTour2.bmp" border="0" />After the climb as every year the ride is replayed. Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Prewitt</span> won the tour several years then disappeared.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388530148234418738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsj_3ezfcx8v4QDmjVc5drUzX_k5Y28bj6XnB8yLdI2rDtDFQNZMQTedgYXqoTUEMQjMe9mCNPR4drrXeMQGHvgU0LUyIMinB1DPLXdaTc8uTRHHOeWWKzQMbT8NrzByO57C5afsZe-U/s320/EarlyTour3.bmp" border="0" /> <div>Shane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Emplaincourt</span> drops the hammer! He is shown above in one of the most dramatic Tours, playing the field like a master. Sucked in behind all the egos, he waited until it all fell into place and easily dropped the contenders on the final step of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Skyball</span>. Jacques <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Emplaincourt</span> told me that this was one of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Shane's</span> greatest career victories. Shane went on to win many Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cullmans</span> with his streak only to be broken by none other than "Country Al" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Mittlesdorf</span>.</div></div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-6953328068899612182009-09-27T18:29:00.000-07:002009-09-27T22:28:15.880-07:00SmithLock Confirms for the Tour<span style="color:#333333;">.</span><br />Team <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SmithLock</span> lead by Alabama cycling legend James Hall, has confirmed for the 15<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Cullman</span>, Sunday November 1st 2009. A much anticipated show down between the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">SL</span> team and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tria</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Donohoo</span> team who is attempting a Tour <em>Hat Trick</em>.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386325334456738834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdttGuIrHN140IwrZPb25TigfXjxt_Q9Mrf56qqYSUYRUyP_GZt2oFjS4UT5ZCpBnDoLb_3aRLdAspZXbFwuFIWr2NQrBBPD2s7rNTdpL_Wml14zkbkn2yo8Liys_mxwhl0Hf1xTxj8c/s320/Smith+Lock+back+09.jpg" border="0" /></p><p></p><p>A 60 mile bike course traveling through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cullman</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Blount</span> Counties includes the 4 mile accent of the infamous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Skyball</span> Mountain. The mountain known not only for the Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Cullman's</span> King of the Mountain Trophy but also the folklore of Bigfoot sightings.<br /></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-29454130019019937692009-09-16T21:14:00.000-07:002009-09-20T21:16:30.602-07:00Nizza!<span style="color:#000000;">.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285456726434738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KUM_JjjKd81C3Xy_1zaP-0ZQGQb2WSSgD6AEpD2KeMvHwOPUxGNF3gCwT0M8VfEqiYCIYPVS5aIRR7vbkovz-Hgtw-M1bg_tjI-3hSEOxLtz4bmnL3yypgS_S2E-9-b_E5pTYmikxrg/s320/Negresco.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Nice or Nizza as they say in Italian is the hub of the Riviera. This is the second part of the previous post which is mostly a travel blog. I am a little off base but its hard to get to the preparations part without talking about getting there.<br /></div><div><br /><div>Finally on the plane my chartered flight headed out across the ocean. It was a non-stop from JFK to Charles de Gaulle in Paris. I booked it well in advance and in the day was the cheapest way to fly to Europe. I studied the Let’s Go travel books put out by Harvard Press. The books were designed for the student traveler who had no money. One of their books was how to travel to Europe on 25 dollars a day.<br /><br />I was already a couple of days late on my original itinerary but if it all went well I could still make it to southern France with a day to spare before the race. I can remember people telling me that when traveling to Europe you wanted to depart from the USA so that you arrived abroad in the morning. This was to help with the jet lag and your own internal clock. Of course we didn’t leave like we were suppose to and would be arriving in Paris at midnight.<br /><br />As we approached Paris the captain broadcast to look to our left and we would see the City of Lights then to our right Charles de Gaulle Airport. The next comment was we would not be landing at Charles de Gaulle because they would not let planes land after midnight therefore we would be landing at Orly. I really didn’t know anything about international travel and airports; I just wanted to be on the ground after eight hours. Everyone on the flight seemed a little upset about the news so I asked the guy next to me why the fuss and he said it was because Orly was now mainly a freight airport and at this hour there would be no buses or rail into the city.<br /><br />I would never take a charter again after this experience, the flight was so inexpensive compared to the major airlines but you were really at their mercy with the delays and then not even flying into your destination. I had originally planned to be in Nice by now but instead I wasn’t even on the ground yet.<br /><br />We landed safely and the fun was just beginning. We did the outside deplaning which took me by surprise, and ended up not that bad but the 200 yard walk across the runway to the terminal, that was a little strange. Once inside the airport it was a very cool terminal almost like something out of an old science fiction movie, the terminal was definitely dated. Everything inside was closed so no coffee food or anything. Customs was a breeze. Walking through a deserted ancient airport was my welcome to France and Europe.<br /><br />Just like I had been informed on the plane there no buses and the gate to the city by metro was locked. The only way into the city was by taxi. Someone put a call in and the taxis started trickling in one by one. Most of the passengers from the flight were on a tour and their buses had rerouted and picked them up. The remaining 50 or so of us couldn’t get on those nice big luxurious buses so we just waited our turn to grab a taxi. My next dilemma was that most taxis would take no more luggage than what would fit into their trunks. I of course had my bike packed in a box which no way would fit into a European taxis trunk. Thru my terrible French language skills I negotiated with one for a ride into the city for an extra charge. We strapped the box on the trunk and he charged me for an extra person. What a deal.<br /><br />I never had an attitude toward the French and what was supposed to be their attitude towards Americans. It did seem that all this was way too complicated. I had just landed in Europe and my budget of $25 for the first day was blown in 10mins.<br /><br />The taxi ride into the city was longer than expected I kept wondering if we were taking the long way. I kept asking and the driver acted like he didn’t understand, something about he kept smiling made me nervous. I tried to explain my desire to find an inexpensive hotel, I was really nervous about staying in Paris. Like New York hotels can be very pricey. My original plan was to fly into Paris arriving in the morning and leave the same day by train to the Riviera. Hotel and the word inexpensive do not go together in Paris or New York. All my plans were a thing of the past, my objective was to make it to Southern France for the race.<br /><br />The taxis finally stopped and he helped me unload all my gear which was a backpack and a bicycle packed in a box. I was amazed at how active the streets were around where we were for 200am, the hotel was pretty run down and I had no idea what part of Paris I was in. I went inside and got a room which of course was on the fifth floor and no elevator. There was a fairly attractive woman sitting in the lobby which surprised me at this hour. She spoke to me which I had no idea what she said but I thought was very nice. Later I learned that I was actually in the red light district and the woman was a prostitute that worked for the hotel.<br /><br />I did not sleep well that night I kept thinking about how to get to the train station and making all the connections I needed to. I will never forget early in the morning lying in bed listening to the French garbage men shouting at each other. It all got me at that moment, all the sudden I felt like I was on another planet. I was in a place where people were speaking another language and how was I to communicate. Just one of those feelings where you feel lost and a little scared for a moment.<br /><br />I got up early to get my bearings so I headed down to a café. Somehow the taxi driver did me right I was close to a train station and most importantly the Gare de Lyon. This was where I needed to be to head south to Nice. The train ride to the Riviera was a long one. Thirteen hours so my plan was to book a couchet so I could sleep on the train. The train left at eight pm so I would arrive in Nice around eleven am. The train went thru Lyon hence the name of the station; it made stops in Marseille and Toulouse. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383745023424980754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJvzRdDeIus3BIYaCM6RuztSFvl3iKaqQJD-oTwJaaP1du2_Ot1br5AZDfzQLW_QuQfA4dO1wmglr39L95YhtO_A3LexLBqiE4WCXvgItQ5KkMvmaiwRqjJGheWYcb3SZaTkjMTzPbW0/s320/Atocha.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Having to be out of my room by ten presented a problem. Traveling with a bicycle is hard to describe especially when it’s packed in a box. I couldn’t unpack anything because I was not at my destination and I had gear and equipment strategically placed in the box. It’s very awkward to carry around and taxis don’t want to deal with them. I walked thru busy Paris streets for what seemed like a mile or two with my backpack on carrying the bike box. I spent most of the day in the train station, waiting for my departure time of eight pm. The fantasy all day was just to get on that train to the Riviera, I felt like once on the train I could relax somewhat and hopefully get some sleep. </div><div></div><div></div><div><br />When it became time to depart I learned that I had to check my bike box in the baggage car. I tried to bring it into my cabin but at the point of being thrown off the train, I checked it. One of the warnings that I had read was when traveling in Europe always try to carry everything on with you and do not let them check your baggage. On trains that have many passengers or heavily traveled routes, the baggage is transported on a separate baggage train. Which means your baggage notoriously doesn’t arrive when you do.<br /><br />I made it to my cabin which was shared with a French family. I got the top bunk and got under the blanket and closed the curtains. That was the best night sleep I had in days. When the train stopped in Marseille it woke me up and I looked out the window. It was so beautiful I had never seen anything quite like what I was seeing. The train was perched on a hillside overlooking Mediterranean the blue green waters were incredible. On the other side of the train were the Maritime Alps. The sun was out, now this was more like it. </div><div><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div>I will post more later from travel and racing, below are photos and notes. </div><div><span style="color:#000000;">.</span></div><div></div><div>I always tell people if I had to imagine what Heaven is like it has to be like the French Riviera. Its absolutely breathtaking, something about the mountains, the Bay of Angels, the blue green ever so clear mediterraian, fruit trees, weather,architecture and of course the smell.<br /></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383742126153960594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNAQNczSbqfwIDnlUmOVyamgoQ1JcPGaHL0ub4lsaILLf4u6XiRqtt1PqdbGB1qjGTaLPA8FC3CCZF5poyGLclEQOV7npAVX4L5DoLlf1PH9fJX-Kr-cWiwLl6al04MyFqE73sw-L38k/s320/negresco5.bmp" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Nice is the hub of the Riviera and The Negresco is the center of the whole thing. It is one of the most famous hotels in the world and is know for its pink dome. I took the picture above with my twin reflex. I scanned it from a glossy copy so it has some distortion. The Promenade des Anglais runs in front of the Negresco, you can sit on a bench or in a cafe and watch the people while sipping campari or an espresso with a lemon peel. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382285914069884018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5B1rz1dXQ8S9fokY4q857lJNLYu5lvv2qALNLxVVmWbQbQij2Uad8szswpYu8gv4ps5lPaRo-vq9u71EZAsU5eKSZpS84IyurMw4jiA00IKuBD8rykXVDKP4k_FcWx7m5vM61JQrLnA/s320/Cigales3.jpg" border="0" />I originally stayed at Les Cigales, which is a nice hotel two blocks off from the beach. On the Riviera prices are so steep along the promenade, you go in a few blocks inland and stay for $35 a night. Cigales was one of those and very convient to the race start and le plage.<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383743823145004786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVj221X-YU-ZwJnsrqaTP5MbUZZNNHZgIDVMQg1iB691GVv69NgJbG1Ka2_J9kkn_FKb3eIIuuGuMv0WqklApq-cmfvqOWEueJ8EWRGYn2_uO9hMo1SyAEitBw-faUFToJhkt8o9JcWEM/s320/Bagatelle2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>In my later races I stayed at La Bagatelle, which is on Cap Ferat. It is about 10 miles from central Nice but is just incredible. The hotel is half way between Nice and Monte Carlo and inexpensive. It is owned by a German woman who has some interesting rules. One is a daily manditory cocktail hour for all guests. She likes for all guests to visit and it was fun. You have to attend if you stay at the hotel and she serves her homemade madarin orange wine. It was more like a liquer so it burnson the way down but is so good. The trees that she makes the wine from are on the property. I definitely got softer the last few years I did the race. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382294226356064642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pQVl_XRVZAN3PiV60SYO1gW2ELB5yuSGV81w25EHBz5-eYPkog0TvssLau2zLy1nRoE-HZwQtXsoC2ewHcT9lSYIshEs5hw4m8HERrk5We4CVUUDtbw_a29f9AOHQOoczOOh7DL_KwQ/s320/A+Room+with+a+View.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>The view from my room at Bagatelle. A couple of miles down the road is Eze, the ancient mountain top village where the Paris-Nice time trial finishes. Also the Madone is close where Lance did his preparations every year for the Tour.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382293947344117714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 205px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh9030Z0dqIJB8vFfEQX9GxjcU3ygKTAmu8_5cBPSFbEJiABjqb2kVahLDcTS53pjFF6zpXKxFaFHjh2-ehhoZpanHBNR8pb_EbOTrOgy6C4n5T2XxGKqviYvgfP2HhgjEa4bpBV0J0Q/s320/Run+Nice+86.jpg" border="0" />Who is this guy? I know every crack in the road on the Promenade des Anglais. A 20+ mile run in Heaven! The City shuts down for sporting events, citizens of Nice lined the road for the whole course.<br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382293841064389618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3ykAxRLgLJdY_dQr_KNB0OziiIAY9Dxstasd2aIbXw0oEOmIQfbpG_PaSecPIAdHH5R666FCwr-SgL61rTPe8825YhhwO9GlO4bzqGlYD4r9RuvB3xXgmWw9iEZf7mDGQvHJOhI1ihk/s320/Ride+in+the+Valley.jpg" border="0" /><br />Is that a pink De Rosa? On the descent from Gillette. The bike course has a 10 mile descent back thru a valley into Nice. It was spectacular but painful. </div><div></div><br /><div>This has been some rambling filler for the blog now its time to start focusing on the Tour de Cullman 2009.<br /><div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-86307095108380270002009-08-14T19:45:00.000-07:002009-09-01T20:08:30.816-07:00Tour Preparations<span style="color:#333333;"><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373362192745157890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2jWG4a2Pf34nTSVD-KqAwsf-juP48DDX_H3Du-S0KQAMz0dp8x-Pnit2b-MwNBK3cPynx8OChxnnCOlbIUMAO5-F-p2CSz3D1tnupY-crJsbfxm5hs6qDOUAws3t0Ch4htvn2fc6CWM/s320/Dakota.jpg" border="0" /><br />I love the Dakota Building...its architechture and history. I took this picture early in the morning with a twin reflex.<br /><br />This is not about the Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cullman</span> other than the date will likely be the last weekend in October. I am a true believer in preparations, if you prepare properly you have nothing to complain about race day. Do your homework no matter how you finish you can say you did everything you could to prepare. I love the equation that's involved in any event that brings you success. To me its a combination of psychology and physiology. It’s all about confidence.<br /><br />I was very fortunate a few years ago in my preparations for the World Triathlon Championships to spend significant time before the races in France to train on the actual routes and get acclimated to the climate and time changes. The first year I was not so fortunate. I had been racing successfully as an amateur and thought it was time to test myself internationally. Early in the sport of triathlons Europe began to offer the best races not only for prize money but also prestige. I think with their history of bike racing the sport there brought sponsorship and support that was not in the United States. The first true world championships took place in Nice, France, which quickly became the richest race and the most prestigious.<br /><br />The race took place in early October and I had qualified during the summer. The plan was to travel over to France with a quick stop in New York. Some very creative promoters dreamed up a great race the weekend before in New York City. The swimming from the Statue of Liberty, cycling around Manhattan and running through central park. It was immediately sold to TV and became a big money race for the pros. The race ranks up there on the memories list, a huge race broadcast on NBC billed as The New York City Triathlon. I thought I had made the big time.<br /><br />For the swim start we were ferried out to the Statue of Liberty and the course was to cross the Hudson River to Battery Park. It was two miles into the dark waters to our bikes, only a huge 25' red balloon to guide us to the landing. I will never forget passing through a "soft spot" in the water during the swim. Later a native who told me no one swims in the Hudson river said I really didn't want to know what that was, glad I was in the zone because I hit several spots during the swim. The swim went well and I came out of the water in the lead pack with a great 2 mile time.<br /><br />On the bike we rode down the West Side Highway to the George Washington Bridge and made a loop through Manhattan. It was incredible to ride in the city with the traffic stopped for the race. We biked in to Central park and ran around the park for a 7 mile run. The race ended at Tavern on the Green. There were thousands there at the finish and although I had a total meltdown on the run I finished a respectable time and a place I won’t mention.<br /><br />I was totally baked and beaten. All that was in the back of my mind was my flight to Europe the next day and the race one week away in the Maritime Alps. I hobbled over to the refreshment tent and unfortunately ran into a couple of female pros that I should have been hiding from. You make friends on the race circuit along the way, seeing each other at races and sharing the fun. I forgot I made a promise to these two that I would go out dancing with them after the NYC race.<br /><br />I was known for my sleeping habits before and after races, I caught a lot of grief because I would be the first in bed the night before an event and then after a race I wanted to just go back to the hotel and lay in front of the air conditioner and recline.<br /><br />I won’t name any names but the fun began at the post race party and we all had a great time. After several beers I was informed that I needed to shower because we were heading out on the town. I think my flight to Paris was leaving at 900am the next morning. What was that dance place called? The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Odeon</span>...they had done their research, it was a happening place and it didn't get really going till midnight. I felt like I had knives in my legs. Every time I mentioned that I really needed to turn in because I was leaving early in the morning another drink mysteriously showed up.<br /><br />Somehow that night I made it back to my hotel. Race days were always long days, typically you got up at 400am the race started at 700am you raced all day maybe got a nap in and partied that night, it was a tough weekend. In the back of my mind I kept telling myself I could sleep on the plane that actually being tired would help me sleep for the 8 hour flight. I would like to say I got in bed early but I don't know I think I got 30mins sleep to get up and leave by 600am to make my flight.<br /><br />The real fun began on Sunday when I was supposed to leave via JFK and my flight was delayed. Nothing like the security today but on international flights you had to be early. I was on the plane and after sitting for what seemed all day we were informed that our flight was cancelled because of mechanical issues. The passengers were told that we would be deplaning and taken by bus back into the city and staying at the luxurious George Washington Hotel.<br /><br />I don’t even remember where the hotel is or was but it was interesting to say the least. I was so exhausted and I remember checking in and falling asleep only to be awakened by the fire alarm. Monday morning I was standing on the sidewalk at 3:00 am wondering about my race and if I might actually make it to France.<br /><br />To be continued...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373335124709400882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4WG_tLzLLWU2C3MZvlIjaupzYNZD9VcEJ1vI9WsiwZGlNuLQ8aL0KhRxit_UojZZ3o9ukpAG6hoAlHQyM8bdZB8T62pnhWbR48oJ2_imqw3ipOSL_XRvIsEAv6vDuXeNNm8xKbP3D7s/s320/Nice+Run.jpg" border="0" /><br />I did make it to the race. Some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">illegal</span> pacing going on behind me in Nice, France. This was my first World Championships. I learned so much on how to prepare.Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-21135862684119704222009-07-31T19:39:00.000-07:002009-07-31T19:57:12.694-07:00The Badger and the Cannibal<span style="color:#333333;">.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364820372278467026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffstasgpDHALZGcF1woiO5IPZITqfaIezaZLV9-EBJjWT-qbuizYnmvjwKv_2QagKPPlGBoQVf9QqgCjL67yBo3b_CQ4YqaYAZmtX5m5EGHkKqrcCIdDz3na_Bapx-MVcmYW4iEhvEUE/s320/tomonventoux.jpg" border="0" /><br />What does Eddy Merckx and Tom Oliver have in common? They both climbed Mount <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ventoux</span>...We write so much about Tom's son Austin who just happens to be racing at the Nationals this weekend for Juniors, what about his dad?<br /><br /><div></div><div>Tom wore his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cullman</span> Cycling kit with honor as he crossed the summit of Mount <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ventoux</span>. He was in France part of the Trek Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">de</span> France Experience, from what I understand the riders ride the stages before the actual Tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">de</span> France professional race. What a great concept and I am sure experience. </div><div><span style="color:#333333;">.</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Sometimes we forget about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">who's</span> behind the scenes working hard making things work for someone else (Austin's dad) my hats off to Tom Oliver....Job well done!</div><div></div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-45578292717062427642009-06-28T17:09:00.000-07:002009-06-30T12:17:37.382-07:00De Rosa ProjectA few years ago when I first got into bicycle racing I began searching for the ultimate road racing frame set. My mentor Jacques told me that whenever in Europe I must go see the "House of De Rosa". Ugo De Rosa had hand built bicycles for Eddy Merckx and was considered the master and a true artist of hand built bicycles.<br /><br />I was traveling on a cycling/camping trip in Europe soon after and I ventured to the House of De Rosa in outside Milan, Italy. What was interesting at the time, De Rosa was still working out of their original factory which was located at their farm outside Milan. As usual I was totally lost when I got to Milan and after a day of wrangling with Italian, English and French I found the proper road to their home and shop. The thing I will never forget was wandering through the country side and seeing pink roses beautifully painted on a mail box and post. That's when I knew I had reached my destination. The De Rosa family lived on a small farm north of Milan and their shop was actually in a converted barn behind the main house.<br /><br />On another post I will get deeper in to DeRosa, but I was amazed how easy it was to just walk into their factory and home. Much of what Jacques educated me on started making sense about their passion of building bicycles. The whole family was involved in every aspect of the company. They lived, breathed, ate, drank, building the finest handbuilt bicycles. They were great hosts and welcomed me like I was the most important person to come visit them. Ugo's son Christano spoke good English and explained how they loved seeing cyclists and especially Americans, and rarely did they have visitors which amazed me.<br /><br />Ugo did most of the talking with Christano translating. He educated me on the differences of their frames, never knocking a competitor but just stating why they did certain things. An example was the use of nickel versus brass on brazing. De Rosas are known for their smooth welds and perfect lines. Each bike is inspected by Ugo himself before it leaves the factory.<br /><br />The whole experience was incredible and one of those things in life which cost nothing but you were educated and experienced something that you could not put a price tag on. Of course I left the factory with my wallet a little lighter. I was measured and had a custom De Rosa <em>Professional</em> built. With their building to such perfection they were of course six weeks behind on building frames, so my frame arrived in the USA two months after my visit.<br /><br />Below are some before and after pictures of a De Rosa I am currently restoring. The bike originally was a green and white two tone which was common for the bikes, I decided to paint it Molteni orange like the Merckx frames. I am going to restore it with Campagnolo <em>Super Record</em> which would be the correct vintage for the age of the frame. We are fortunate to have a great painter here in town who did a fantastic job. I bought the decals and he did a great job of clear coating them after painting the frame.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352537427571768962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVel_lNy50SY8x6K4KE5c0y9ncVs9sh4oolc1TMMWIkYkOxKOZx8vmBt04ZaQSOLcE5WOl3Mn4QrUVsGfkyXF5EY8SNdMQORlyvx2JwqofyFGJMrZ29P_jtx3fuyiFshyphenhyphencOPIfSku2vQ/s320/carsonderosa+001.jpg" /><br />The before shot showing the fading green and white, not bad considering the frame is 20 years old. The tubing is Columbus steel, but not SLX. Many of the bikes of that vintage were SL/SP combination which provided superior strength to weight ratio.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352537952462515954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduBQ6DY-2A4uU-IEGxS43PAs1hXR10DoDs0ew7Wrf7FfXrCEroQQRwgtCSFJ2tbMqSdp6cHg19_KrAz9LVK8ReGGuI3OzhSY24S2ohVmiAlTuynkUjk56lh_iSJj31eR026Sr06LqsL8/s320/Picture+272.jpg" />The after shot, sporting Molteni orange and vintage decals. The frame spaced 126mm which identifies the age and the fact it was built for probably 6 speed. Note the "Beefy T" fork a De Rosa design trademark.<br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352535974611279330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3c8SHniHVa2AmTpuRr3B1OnZf43XqMFAfHiglzV1UREdTZS5-nuCYjzd7c8f-Yaq-IRbqIXgcI5hwoKq8N3ZmHwDQmS09TJuZ2oIZKFZVnaousu1T6b_EyKMYwsjEQqRymJJ0BWs_k7A/s320/Picture+271.jpg" /><br />I will try to post some pictures as the bike comes together. I am trying to keep it as vintage correct as possible.<br /><div></div></div>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-7172460598929268762009-05-26T22:13:00.000-07:002009-05-27T21:51:44.210-07:00Skyball (X3)Memorial Day in the blistering humid heat, nine bikers set out for a triple assault on Skyball Mountain. There were several rides done locally but most of the local cycling scene decided to stay away from this ride.<br /><br />The tempo from the go was a little fast thanks to Austin, who's in the middle of training block preparing for a stage race next weekend. James Hall and Chris Rossi fell right in with Austin so for the rest of us it was going to be a long day.<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340368296495064850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXz_ZwYxf-clQf7zPax2xA6kmteNoBifxbe5DVGTCSRYiNOFye1EDE7hu_OJgZOZyb0xQT9g0PyidYMZswjWXvBH2T_wmQJNYQ4G9BMMjYN2Q5Zezuf_ovRisYoAKYJzMYaPninDZmbl4/s320/Picture+258.jpg" /><br />We rode down Highway 31, and turned on "Racehorse Johnson Parkway" one of the most beautiful roads to cycle on in Alabama. RJP heads toward Skyball Mountain and is the road used in the Tour de Cullman. The road unfortunately rolls up.</p><p>We turned off RJP and began the first climb up the mountain. The road just seems to go up into the sky and actually is one of the steeper grades on the mountain. We all survived that pretty well and of course Austin and James disappeared over the horizon. </p><p>Recovering from the first climb, the second part of the ascent which is about a mile straight up takes you over the mountain and down the back side into the town of Nectar. With one climb of Skyball done its time to do the second assault.</p><p>From Nectar we back tracked to Joy road and began the second ascent of Skyball using the now famous climb used in the Tour de Cullman. I think we all felt this climb and had some nice thigh busting action as we ascended over the twisting one lane road that gets harder as you get closer to the top. This version of the climb is the longest which is 4 miles.</p><p>Just when we were all about pop you somehow make it to the top for the completion of the second ascent. We then back tracked and reversed back down the mountain to begin the final climb, number 3. We reversed what we had just done and climbed back up the mountain on the back side.</p><p>This was the roughest part of the whole day and the climb went slowly. I was struggling but moving forward and for some nice motivation, could hear the rumble in the background of some violent weather on the way.We all made it to the top for the third time and regrouped for our ride back to Hanceville. I think for everyone it was a lot of fun but also some really brutal climbing and a great challenge. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340368873518275314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHYzb_XrWpqGW9Q7bcuzNd2yb7gxWeal2lk_Ybv9QtAyWncG80ryY2gQQnegGRh2DsjsU2KRdey7FRu4GT0d3_tbcJm3O65DdElByYVWWs1goNBsXmYHhhT9ui4VwwVnKzrQ0258bQsQ/s320/Picture+268.jpg" /></p><p>The photo above shows Billy Faulk in the CCC kit, he was very generous and not only did the ride but provided support and refreshments on top of Skyball.</p><p>We reversed our ride out and returned on RJP and Highway 31. About the time we hit Garden City it started pouring down rain and lightning. The only thing close to enjoyable was the 40 mph tail wind we had as we hammered up 31. It got a little more fun with the bolts of lightning were hitting all around and you could see about 6 inches in front yourself. </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340369237551457682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWzIBkCt5qigLXz64gPS4SRqwrzCfAvIVzBjPabKkUtwmLbFhqZnBUFmiNphpG6BSUxgTSiRBkvBKCZTF4dyypZnDVfah9e_3Z-pFGKfVwl_fLZAkWzSHF_l5B3B3KIqnpXvUoQxZkEI/s320/Picture+269.jpg" /><br />Mr. Faulk showed his generosity again by providing us with some nice refreshments and a cookout at his house in town.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340369905699281058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sxJRQTQla2_PTLq-Kk2X_6h9RN9MWg61xMg_Ree4Jep6KlzyUfId_Es4GM0wbFEopJc7uvJSq-okMJYlr9_dI2pLPliQlm_UKAXHRrpvAZ9n1gANxmpRnSA01u_b3nudhcXwOoQCcL0/s320/skyball+004.jpg" /><br />Some decals were made for the survivors of the epic ride. There will be a few more that attempt and survive the triple assault so we have a badge waiting for them.</p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623047261117006801.post-13181483200930439822009-05-24T10:46:00.000-07:002009-05-24T11:15:46.899-07:00Skyball Triple Assault: A Mans Ride<span style="color:#333333;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">Eddy wont be with us Monday but it will probably be a similar effort to chasing the King over 80K of mountain passes or bergs <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">laden</span> with pave.<br /></span><br /></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339448634621491042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYKjSzcanOUYNP7l7B_j5CuEYJXj28tAqOrfYEzZCVTx_ySkyEUK5pKEz96LWfX5r9JKzqHL_8AfsUaTa6MtyGjPVo3zd1oYvvKEkXajfbTWz6KZLhji0ZAi-j_HXiZT7oGdeGahcYHk/s320/BadAssMerckx.jpg" /> <p>We are riding from Wallace State (front parking lot) at 2:00. Hopefully we will have a few surprises and some refreshments on top when we finished. Going to be fun!</p><p>Eddy the phantom blogger could be there since no one knows who he is.</p><p></p>Carsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07536076147486882670noreply@blogger.com9