Where's Fast Albert?

Be the first to correctly locate YBR's hunkiest 'cross star in this photo from 2005 'cross natioanls and win a valuable prize from the YBR prize stash (which is, in realty, a bag a left over crap from Iron Cross)!

Send those answers to woodcrest21@gmail.com!

M.

Cadence TV

From Mike Kuhn:

"Happy Holidays YBRers!

Since Brett asked about indoor training videos I thought I'd mention this little ditty we're getting ready to launch -- CadenceTV.

CadenceTV is a monthly subscription based web broadcast of our indoor training sessions. Through CadenceTV you will have the opportunity and ability to "tune-in" to our live classes throughout the week or choose an on-demand workout from our ever growing library of training sessions to do at any time. There is no software to download, you just log in and take class by means of your internet browser. Every class is led by one of the Cadence coaches and each week's class changes focus slightly as we progress through the year.

I got the chance to take a class on CadenceTV from home a week or so ago. I certainly appreciate and espouse the virtues of the classes we offer here at Cadence - they are a fantastic one hour focused workout (in the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a little biased since I'm write most of our classes), but part of what has made them a great training enhancement is that you're here in the training center with a coach. I was a bit apprehensive about exactly how our indoor class would translate across the internet and into athletes' homes, but was very pleased with the results when I tuned in and had a very similar experience to the classes I've taken in-house (great info, the hour passes quickly, its a dang good workout, etc). In fact, not having to drive in to the office made the CadenceTV class experience even better than a training center class for me!

The interface shows the class throughout and displays count down timers for each interval and portion of the session. You'll hear the coach offer advice on technique and training tips and are alerted to the upcoming interval by way the screen. You also have the ability to customize the screen based on your lactate threshold power and heart rate numbers. You input these numbers into your athlete profile and then your training zone for each and every interval is displayed on your screen keeping you in the right place at the right time. Now, you do not have to input this data to use CadenceTV (the coaches will direct to you the proper level of effort in other ways) but we highly encourage you to do so as it's use offers you a very high level precision and individualization in your training. If you do not know your lactate threshold numbers we can help you determine them through a lab or field test ----- or give Josh a call and book some testing time on his CompuTrainer!

We're looking at a full scale launch in the first month or so of 2008 and are finishing up beta testing; I'll send more information your way as we get closer. We'll also update the website (www.cadencecycling.com) with info as the launch date approaches.

Hope you all had a great holiday and best wishes for a wonderful New Year and check out CadenceTV!

Cheers!
Mike

Mike Kuhn
Director of Coaching Programs
Cadence Cycling and Multisport Centers, LLC
Philadelphia/New York
mkuhn@cadencecycling.com
www.cadencecycling.com
"

Disc fixy cogs by Tom Miller

From Tom Miller:

"Hey All,

the website:

http://tomicog.blogspot.com/

the purpose:
To supply disc fixy cogs to a small niche market
in order to support my racing endeavors.

Need to add the purchase option/shopping cart dilly
to the website, then it'll be good to go. Target is to
take orders and begin shipping the first production run
first week of January. Final price is gonna be maybe $25,
maybe $30 ea, 4.95 to ship up to four.

Will spam again when it's all official.

peace,
Tomi"

This Fire

This fire was well earned. I was all prepared to have a great set-up for those brave souls who ventured out for the event.

1. Tent- check
2. Firewood- check
3. axe- check
4. matches- ummmmm......say what?

I fully realized the pains of my disassociation. No Matches! Well I couldn't NOT have a fire when everyone showed up. I started scrounging around the car for anything I could find to fuel this inferno. I searched in vain for a lighter that I was certain I had. I found a shotgun shell. I proceeded to disassemble the projectile into its seperate entities. Hull, shot, wad, loose powder, little cardboard disc, and ignition powder. I piled the powder into a meticulously formed mound of instant ignition. I positioned the cut-off hull over the mound and proceeded to emit a desperetly needed spark from the primer with a screwdriver and hammer. No such luck. Despite my hard work and many attempts, I failed at producing that necessary spark.

Back to the drawing board....... Jumper cables, yes of course! I have a spare battery in my trunk to feed my stereo system. At that point it was only a matter of trying. The jumpercables and battery alleviated me of my grief and need of fire.

Behold my miraculous mass of flaming stuff!

Uncle Don's Unnationals Report

Five showed, four rode, one got temporarily lost when downed trees detoured him to Possum Lake (which was gorgeous in its ice-covered splendor). The weather was chilly, but the riding was fantastic and the scenery downright awsome. Ice encased every tree branch, leaf, and blade of grass, and transformed the woods into a shimmering, glistening wonderland.

I got sidetracked on the way when a crew detoured motorists toward Possum Lake due to a downed tree that blocked McClure's Gap road. I drove right past Mr. Laser who was traveling incognito in Mrs. Laser's Taurus. Trees were bent over at crazy angles from the weight of the ice, and I had to swerve all over the road to avoid smacking into them. When I realized I was at Possum Lake, I pulled over and snapped a few pics. While I was engrossed in the sights, I heard loud cracks all around me. Ice was causing trees and branches all around to snap like toothpicks, but the sound was deafening. Pretty cool, but scary at the same time. I got going right away, but had a tough time finding McClure's Gap Road again, and by the time I arived at NF Gary Kelley was on his way out. He'd scouted the area, but decided he didn't want to be bouncing his noggin' off the ice covered trails. Wise choice G-Dawg, but good to see ya out.

Mark, Zach, and Josh were already tooling around on their bikes when I got there. I quickly dressed and we rode for well over an hour, exploring every trail we could, and some we probably shouldn't have. As the ice began to melt a bit, we got completely soaked as we were constantly smacking into the foliage that was bent over and into our path from the weight of the now melting ice. We still had a blast, and I can't wait to get out there again. Zach lead a great ride/race, Mark delivered humor and entertainment the entire time, and Josh had to be peeled from the icey underpinnings when he flipped backwards after an errent attempt at a wheelie. Mr. Laser awed us with his skill as he shredded the super slick trails on his cross bike!

Thanks to Zach for coming out and putting it all together. Hope to see more fish out there next time. I snapped some pics of the scenery - no action though, sorry! They can be found here: http://singlespeeder.smugmug.com/gallery/4033201#234778919

Uncle Don