Photo for the Day - The Paterberg

The last climb of the 2014 Tour of Flanders

A day on the Paterberg - where the color of the cobbles match the sky.
Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

The newly redesigned route of the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen (April 6, 2014) - with 17 cobbled sections. The secteur pavé of Oude-Kwaremont and Paterberg will be ridden twice in 2014. click any map to enlarge

If this route map looks confusing, it's because it is!

Location of Kwaremont and Paterberg pave sections, near Kerkhove, Belgium.

The location of most of the primary bergs in the Tour of Flanders lie within this circle in Belgium

The Paterberg is a 0.38 km (avg grade 13.7%, max 20%) cobbled climb in the Flemish Ardennes of Belgium. But the cobbles on this section are more than the distance covered, these cobbles will likely announce the champion of this year's Tour of Flanders (Tour des Flandres, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Flanders Finest) as it is the final climb of 2014.

The route (or track as they call it) of the 2014 Tour of Flanders, 259km (161 miles), has been redesigned this year and will include the Paterberg twice. The first time the riders will see the Paterberg ahead will be at kilometer 208, the second and final time will be at kilometer 246, making this climb the final push before the finish into the city of Oudenaarde.

For an American, the cobbled climbs of the Spring Classics can be hard to understand or appreciate, I certainly didn't understand them until I went and saw them for myself. They aren't that long and don't appear that steep on TV, but trying to get and maintain momentum up these climbs is super hard. The cobbles are big, the ruts wide, the camber uneven, the pace unnervingly slow, the conditions often slick and the outcome somewhat unknown.

The approach onto these short cobbled sections often transition around a corner from pavement onto the harsh cobbles. The passage is narrow and you never know if there will be a crash or pile up ahead, being at the front is crucial. For the thousands of amateurs who will take on the route of the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen on their own during the citizen ride April 5, 2014 (Ronde Vlaanderen Cyclo http://www.sport.be/classicchallenge/1314/), they truly do not know what lies ahead, all they know is the challenge of these cobbled sections are real. It is the same for the pros where the bigger stronger men traditionally fare better.

Holly at The Chain Stay, cycling guest house in Belgium, has written a more detailed review of the Paterberg climb: Monumental Bergs: The Paterberg 

Photos of the Paterberg climb the day before the Cyclo event and two days before the real race in 2012: All Photos by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Here we go up the climb!

We are here to climb the Paterberg

This is going to hurt, then it will be over

Which gear?

The bottom looks pleasant enough, but wait

Now it gets steep in a hurry

Almost to the top

The top looking down. The start pf the climb begins down the hill, short but sweet .

I like this photo because there seems to be a tradition of stopping at the top and talking about the climb and feeling the accomplishment. This was the day before the citizen ride in 2012.

So happy to have been there.

These fans were already in place two days before the Tour of Flanders race!

Further proof that driving in Belgium is absolutely crazy, as in you will likely get lost 5 times a day:

2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen turn by turn road map: rvv2014-elite-men-roadmap.pdf
2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen timetable:  rvv2014-elite-men-timetable.pdf
2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen profile map: rvv2014-elite-men-map-profile.pdf

profile map of Tour of Flanders 2014 - reason to be in good condition

For years I had watched coverage of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and wanted to be one of those hardy fans huddled along the barriers. In 2012 I was thrilled to be in Belgium at the races, it was more than I had hoped for.

A day on the Kwaremont
Stories from Belgium
Best Sportives and Gran Fondos

The race dates of the 2014 Spring Classics can be found on this Pedal Dancer Guide Page: SPRING CLASSICS

Photo for the Day - George

George Hincapie is writing a book

I'll just remember George this way

I want to know the first thought that came into your head when your first read that sentence. Mine was, uuuhh well that won't be too interesting. Then I thought, well as long as George's doesn't read the audio version, a few copies might sell. George Hincapie is not exactly a colorful personality, he was a hard working cyclist who did his job for years.

What insight or interest could come from such a book? No way can it be fully honest. No way will it shed significant light on how, who, or why.  I suppose the book might have an ounce of succees if it can convey a voice behind the stoic persona, the man who covered up so much for so many years. I enjoy reading prose by Mark Cavendish because he is as personally charged an individual as his sprints for the line. But big George Hincapie sort of lumbered along silently all those years.

To me George Hincapie symbolized the rise and fall (and dead in the water) of professional cycling. After being inspired by George to take up road cycling myself in 2001, I don't believe the damage to the sport of cycling by cheating is behind us, nor am I over being miffed. Rather than dragging this all up once again, let us focus our disgust on Lance Armstrong.

I think George should put his effort into his gran fondo and continental and junior cycling where he can do some good. What good will come from a continuing battle with Betsy Andreau? No man can take on Betsy!

The "George is writing a book" announcement from Laura Weislo of Cycling News yesterday was however entertaining, I enjoyed the tweets by NYVelocity

@Laura_Weislo Pop up or coloring?
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) February 2, 2014

@Laura_Weislo How is he going to translate that dynamic tone of his to the written word?
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) February 2, 2014

Or the remark from a friend of mine (Mon Ami):

If he is actually writing the book it will have a lot of pictures and be 5 pages long
"I ride bikes"
"I am skinny"
"I am skinny because I ride bikes"
"I took drugs when I rode bikes"
The End...

The Book

The Loyal Lieutenant by George Hincapie and Craig Hummer. (Jun 24, 2014). The book is not out yet, but I already dislike the cover. Amazon claims the book is "stunningly candid."



I have so many photographs of George Hincapie over the years. He certainly has been a part of cycling history, and that makes me somewhat sad, especially since he still willingly ties himself to Lance Armstrong. Loyalty is one thing, a fresh start would be a better thing.

Photos of George


The first one

The close-up

The family one

George's last Tour de France in 2012

The race one

The he never won on the cobbles one (at Paris Roubaix 2012)

The fan one

The silly smile one

The looking cool one

The retirement one

The I think he should have just kept modeling one ...

(I didn't take this picture) I took all the ones above.

I won't be reading the book (unless George himself reads it out loud during nap time).

Photo for the Day - Winter

Winter is still here

The sun shone through yesterday morning in a welcoming sign to the start of a promising day in Denver, Colorado. Well that was until the Denver Broncos covered the city in darkness after their oh so horrible performance at the Super Bowl. Downton Abbey only moderately made up for the 4-hours spent watching what not to do in a football game. 20 times Peyton Manning looked super duper sad during the Super Bowl.

Blue sky returned after days of light snow, more snow coming this week.

Meanwhile Punxsutawney Phil, that bad news bearing groundhog emerged, saw his shadow and disappointingly determined we will have six more weeks of winter (Phil has an 82% accuracy rate). http://www.groundhog.org/. Fine. I will take the long winter cold over destructive flooding; let's hope this Spring is kinder than last.

Thanks Phil!

More winter means back to the spinners, spin-classes and compu-trainers. Or maybe just stay on the skis or snowshoes. For me it means a chance of getting in some sort of shape before being forced back into lycra in public.

Lucky cyclists in Denver have the wonderful option of visiting the Inspired Training Center of Denver (www.inspiredtrainingcenter.com), a brand new Compu-trainer studio and training center conveniently located near downtown Denver on Bannock Street. Four coaches cover classes every day at various times: visit their website for winter training in Denver, or see more on their Facebook page. You'll definitely need to reserve a spot, business is booming at the new center. Lots of local bike shops and gyms offer spin classes as well. Or there is always Sufferfest (cue music).

Photo for the Day - Go Broncos!

THE Super Bowl is tomorrow

There is no point in trying to steady an iphone camera when the entire stands are shaking below your feet. Being at a Broncos game is thrilling. I hope all the fans braving the cold freezing weather of tomorrow's Super Bowl game in New Jersey root for the right team, the best team, the BRONCOS!

Game starts at 6:30pm ET (4:30MST)

Go Broncos!  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® at Mile-High Stadium in Denver

Well that was super painful to watch. Yikes what a horrible football game to witness. Some humor from the day: 20 times Peyton Manning looked super duper sad during the Super Bowl

Photo for the Day - Computers

When tracking every pedal stroke is a passion

Chris Froome and Richie Porte with their power meters on a training ride in Snowmass, Colorado in 2013.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Seeing these two riders out for a training ride in Colorado in 2013 was such a thrill. Hi Chris, Hi Richie, was about all I could say.

And I tried hard not to run them over.

Wow, is that who I think it is! Yes it is!  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®  click images to enlarge

Did you know that Team Sky switched from using SRM power meters to Stages Cycling power meters for 2014. Yes, Chris Froome, well-known to be quite attached to his SRM will have to trade allegiance because his team signed a new contract in 2014 with Stages Cycling.

Stages Cycling is a Boulder, Colorado, based company. They manufacture a light-weight affordable ($699-899) power meter located in the crank arm of the bike. I find it interesting that team SKY also uses the services of Training Peaks, another Colorado based company. SRM is a German company. Read more: Team Sky switch to Stages Cycling power meters for 2014, By Road.cc

For a team known for exacting details and optimizing every performance enhancement possible through technology and training, people will pay attention to the equipment used by this team. It can translate to big sales to amateurs who want to ride like the pros. Although I'd still like to know why Team Sky's water bottles are green - proof that not everything should be copied.

Securing a sponsorship contract for monitoring the power of arguably the most powerful professional team in cycling must have been a tremendous celebration at the home offices of Stages Cycling. It is also a tremendous responsible for the young company. Road.cc did a complete review of the Stages Cycling power meter, read it here: Stages Power meter. Here is Team Sky's announcement of sponsorship: Stages Cycling join team for 2014

Stages Cycling manufactures only the alloy left crank arm, you'll still need a bike computer and software for reading power output. Compatible with Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra, SRAM, BB30, FSA, read more about Stages Cycling technology here: accelerometer based cadence measurement

Stage Cycling power meter is that small adding only 20g to the base crank arm weight.
Photo from Stages Cycling website.

Cycling software

I came across this lengthy list of computer software recently shared by RoadBikeRider in their newsletter, the list was compiled by Canadian cyclist Darren Cope and groups many of the miscellaneous software applications or apps for cycling. The number is far more than I ever expected. Thankfully the writer gives us his review and opinions.

Check out the list of cycling computer software and apps here: darrencope.com/cycling-software

Photo for the Day - Teams

When you know a bike race is in town

A bike race is definitely in town when these team cars and buses roll in.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® click to enlarge

The 22 teams of the 2014 Tour de France were announced this week. Being selected for the Tour de France is big. Not only does the Grand Tour bring the best chance of highest income for the year, inclusion in the race is a symbol of being the best of the best (unless you are a French Pro Continental team then you just get to go).

Each of the 22 teams will have 9 riders, adding up to the traditional super big peloton of 198 riders and making getting a hotel room anywhere near a stage start nearly impossible. Below I have linked up each team's name with the corresponding ProCycling Stats page (great site!), the source for more information, team jerseys, riders, analysis and statistics.

WorldTour teams for the 2014 TDF
AG2R LA MONDIALE (Fra)
ASTANA PRO TEAM (Kaz)
BELKIN-PRO CYCLING TEAM (Ned)
BMC RACING TEAM (USA)
CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING (Ita)
EQUIPE CYCLISTE FDJ.FR (Fra)
GARMIN - SHARP (USA)
TEAM KATUSHA TEAM (Rus)
LAMPRE - MERIDA (Ita)
LOTTO BELISOL TEAM (Bel)
MOVISTAR TEAM (Spa)
OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP (Bel)
ORICA GREENEDGE (Aus)
TEAM EUROPCAR (Fra)
TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO (Ned)
TEAM SKY (GBr)
TINKOFF-SAXO (Den)
TREK FACTORY RACING  (USA)

Wildcard teams for the 2014 TDF
BRETAGNE- SéCHé ENVIRONNEMENT (Fra)
COFIDIS SOLUTIONS CRéDITS (Fra)
IAM CYCLING (Sui) Sylvain Chavannel!
Team Netapp - Endura (Ger)

My review of the route and climbs of the 2014 Tour de France, here: Route of the 2014 Tour de France.  If the riders cover 3,656 kilometres in 23 days, think how far these team buses and team cars drive to get to the start and stop villages, to hotels, to feed stations, and pick up supplies. The teams cover big total mileage every year.

22 teams, 198 riders have to ride 21 stages and 3,656 kilometres in 2014

I always get excited driving down the road with the team buses heading in the same direction to the next start village. To me it has become a wonderful symbol of chasing a tour.

Well if you have to get stuck in traffic on the autoroute transferring between stages, you might as well be entertained in the midst of the team buses. At the Tour de France, Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Follow that van and it will lead you to riders training up on the cobbles. The atmosphere approaching any race day is so fun. The day before Ronde van Vlaanderen, Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®

Update: Chris Horner was confirmed as signing to Lampre-Merida. Photo for the Day - Chris Horner.  Read the news from today: Lampre confirms signing of Chris Horner for 2014 season. 

How much will Horner make at Lampre-Merida? Well that remains to be seen because he and his non-official spokesman Baden Cooke designed a contract heavy with bonuses. Which means the better the 42-year old races, the more money he will make. Awesome idea I told my brother in our morning conversation today, "Probably something they should require of more riders, like Andy Schleck for starters." Sorry Andy, but performance based models make sense in a world of get your World Champion victory or Grand Tour podium and rush to sign a four-year contract, then answer one hundred thousand interview questions about the big come-back so your salary makes sense. Chris Horner has motivation.

Sports Psychology Webinar

Sign up if interested

Thursday, 30 January 2014: British Cycling teams up with TrainingPeaks for Sports Psychology webinar tomorrow (+ video), more info. You'll need to sign up for this free webinar ahead of time at follow this link and will be sent an email on how to tune-in.

Webinar: Thursday, January 30, 2014 1pm to 2pm MST / 8pm to 9pm GMT.

Training Peaks is a Colorado based company which has gone global and now assists amateur and elite athletes around the world.

Dirk Friel of Training Peaks and their hands-on monitoring of power and training for the pros.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®

Photo for the Day - Signatures

I wonder why I collect signatures

Now that is a bunch of signatures

I seldom ask for signatures from professional bike riders, but in 2012 I did. I took a Colorado cycling jersey with me to the inaugural USA Pro Challenge in Colorado and gathered signatures (when I was not being Media, of course). What resulted was the jersey above.

Who signed the jersey? I can hardly remember now. I think that is Andy Schleck's signature to the far right, Jeremy Powers signed the right sleeve, Oscar Seville drew a little bicycle for me (center-right), I think that is Taylor Phinney in the center, George Hincapie is on here somewhere, so is Laurens tem Dan and Jens Voigt.

The most clear signature is on the back of the jersey (below) and is that of Cadel Evans. Also I recognize Tyler Farrar's signature above Cadel's because he has the strong T. Other than that I would have to research signatures and race rosters to know who is who on my prized possession.

I can only make out Cadel Evans' signature on the back of the jersey.

There was a time when riders would work to perfect their signatures, in fact extra points or cash prizes were awarded for penmanship. The tradition of a well-crafted signature held for some time.  In 2012 I also took a small Colorado state flag with me to Interbike in Las Vegas to collect signatures. I had heard Mario Cipollini and Miguel Indurain would be attending the bike show.

Take a look at these signatures from two legends of cycling:

This is Mario Cipollini's signature. I liked that he signed in the middle of the yellow sun.

This is Miguel Indurain's signature. I think this is so cool!

A little history about rider signatures:

The sign-in sheet is a tradition in the sport of cycling. Often used to insure that riders did not skip over the route by taking shortcuts, riders were required to sign-in at various points along the stage. Today they of course only sign-in at the start, but I come up blank when I try to think of any other sport which has this same tradition.

In the historical book of the Tour de France titled The Tour de France, author Christopher S. Thompson writes, "The newspaper L'Auto had an obsession with assessing the beauty and elegance reflected in the racer's handwriting at the check-point sign-in sheets. A regular feature in L'Auto from the very first tour, Racers' signatures often received prominent coverage. Racers photographs were often accompanied by their autographs, suggesting that a racer's signature was as representative of him as his face."

I am very fond of the tradition of signing autographs. Here Johan Vansummeren and Andy Schleck offer their signature to fans in California at the Amgen Tour of California in 2013.

Johan Vansummeren and Andy Schleck offer autographs under the palm trees of southern California.

All photos in this post by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® .

Photo for the Day - Passes & Badges

Some really great memories hang there

I have a bike room. A room like many of us probably have, in a section of the garage or a space in the basement. For many of us, our dream would be an entire room filled with bikes and equipment and good stuff.  My little space, which reflects my hobby, is tucked away in the basement and is actually a workbench with a collection of parts, tools, and lots and lots of memorabilia.

Today I noticed my collection of passes and badges hanging on the wall. Seeing them hanging there, reminded me instantly of my wide variety of experiences at past bike races. Wow, how they have collected over the years.

My favorite pass is this one - my VIP pass to the Tour of Flanders in Belgium (left in the photo below). That was an awesome experience! Apparently I Genodigde Brugge, although I haven't a clue what that means.

Now those were some fun times!

The pass hanging to right of the Ronde van Vlaanderen VIP pass above was my first VIP pass in the Unites States, a Rabobank VIP pass to the final stage of the Tour of California. I attended that stage with my nephew Kenny, I remember we were both so excited.

My first ever VIP experience happened to be the same day I first attended the Tour de France. The year was 2001. My sister-in-law Suz and I were standing in the street in Pau before the stage start when a nice gentleman came up to us and offered 2 passes for FREE. It took us a long time to accept they really were free. As in free is fun. "We actually need four please," we daringly replied, so four we got, two more for my brother and his good friend Stevo. The access with that pass was fabulous. And so started my absolutely spoiled access to bike races.

2001 - our first VIP passes to the Tour de France. I think we wore them well.

Perhaps my favorite VIP experience was in 2012, the time I got to hang out with my brothers, their wives and good friends at (once again) the Rabobank VIP tent in Los Angeles on the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California. After the race, the entire (now extinct) Rabobank team came over to hang out with us. It was the final year for the team, and it was a blast.

Relaxed fun with family and friends in the best ever Rabobank VIP tent

Another of my other favorite memories of being in a VIP tent lasted all of 5 minutes, just last year. After being out on the road in the pouring rain photographing the USA Pro Challenge race in Beaver Creek, I finally received a text from my friend Scott who said, "come join us in the VIP tent for a drink, we have a pass for you." I arrived dripping wet, only to be met at the entrance to the VIP tent by the largest scariest security guy ever who had clearly practiced his intimidation skills on fans for hours and would not let me enter. Fine.

Looking like a drowned rat, I hollered across the tent to Scott to come rescue me. Scott approached, and as if awarding me with a medal of honor, he draped the VIP pass around my neck. I turned to the security guy and smiled, smugly entering the restricted zone. I no sooner got to the table of friends when Scott informed me that they were going to dinner, "come join us." As we exited the tent, right in front of the scary security guard, Scott said, "Now can I have my VIP pass back." We all laughed, obviously that pass does not hang on my bike room wall.

Even the straps of other passes bring back memories.

Festina & US Postal?! are you kidding me, shameful, but they too tell a story.

I have accumulated lots of media, photo and press badges as well - those passes bring back memories of hard work but exciting access. They do not elicit the same fun memories that the VIP passes or bike show passes bring. Strange.

My bike room holds far more than passes. The space and workbench is filled with autographed jerseys on hangers, tires, old photos, parts I really should sell-off, inner tubes waiting to be used, and a nice box I finally bought to store my collection of race and team hats. But the fondest memories come from the trinkets, souvenirs or pins gathered over the years. so numerous, those probably will inspire future photos for the day .....

This was the sheet displaying all the types of badges allowed inside the team area at the Tour of Flanders in 2012.  It was thrilling to be there, read more stories from Belgium if interested: A day on the Kwaremont and Stories from Belgium.