The Tour 2011

Cipo Visits Tour

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. 

Emails are trickling in about the date for the Tour, always in October and always a STAR or two.  

SuperDave Linked to Ferrari

After much speculation it appears that SuperDave may be linked to notorious cycling coach Michele Ferrari. "Daves been on the gas the past couple seasons so it all makes sense", according to a cyclist who wanted to remain anonymous. This file photo was taken in Bologna which shows SD towering in the entourage.

SuperDave sightings have been few and far between over the past two years.  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.

In The Last Days

http://TheGrandVia.blogspot.com

The Final Days

Its 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).

Kashmir

How about some music to get the blog going as cycling season approaches. This should be labeled "Live from Bennetts 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.

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 February.

Trans World Rowerami

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.

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.

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. 

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.