tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post5784958337479653250..comments2023-11-02T05:10:10.710-07:00Comments on gone to norcalcyclingnews.com: 14.5 ... + 4 for graphicsnorcalcyclingnews.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663837359225799079noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-5094309941233474472007-08-16T09:29:00.000-07:002007-08-16T09:29:00.000-07:00word.word.norcalcyclingnews.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14663837359225799079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-52707211619428533162007-08-15T16:42:00.000-07:002007-08-15T16:42:00.000-07:00Hey Vanderpoop,I just used The Google and found th...Hey Vanderpoop,<BR/><BR/>I just used The Google and found the following table:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nsga.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=158 <BR/><BR/>I didn't have time to check the legititude of the source, but there's some surprising digits in there. For example: <BR/><BR/>- Bike riding down 21% over 10 years ago.<BR/>- Hoops down. Volleyball way down. <BR/>- American Knucklehead Football way up. (This explains a lot! Big, fat idiots.)<BR/>- Fishing down 6%. <BR/><BR/>I'm really surprised that hoops is down so much. The NBA is a marketing machine, man.<BR/><BR/>Whatever these number say, this much we know: mainstream kids and mainstream parents suck. Their music sucks, their diet sucks, their religious views suck, even their cartoons suck (too much dialog). <BR/><BR/>Give me some reject, Clash / Replacements-descended punk rockers and stick their skinny poopcutters on a bike. I'll bet that after a few months they do the Tam Hill Climb in under 45 mins ... or will blow chunkies all over the road in the attempt.<BR/><BR/>Leave the lazy, fat mainstreamers at home, watching American Idol and buying all the brain-numbing crap that Corporate America sells them.FatCat 4https://www.blogger.com/profile/12921674317584990723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-52424112917302613182007-08-08T13:21:00.000-07:002007-08-08T13:21:00.000-07:00Ive seen TJ at the races, he has a attitude that i...Ive seen TJ at the races, he has a attitude that is very kind to others, but he is still one fast punk kid who gets serious when the gun goes off.<BR/>TJ get to bed early little guy, you need your sleep.<BR/>JKAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-54450028559963339762007-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:002007-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00Whoever wrote this?Anonymous said... BL said,"Ther...Whoever wrote this?<BR/><BR/>Anonymous said... <BR/>BL said,<BR/><BR/>"There is only a very, very, very small percentage of Road Racers who have raced Downhill or competed in BMX, but those who have, seem to have the best bike handling skills and stlye on the bike."<BR/><BR/>They sure didn't have the best skills at Fort Ord last Saturday. <BR/><BR/>8/08/2007 <BR/><BR/>be more specific<BR/>that was a awfully vauge comment and most likely when you point out someone else, you are basically guilty yourself of riding like a squirrel! I am thinking you are refering to the cat 3 race, and the crashes in that one, but you need to be a little more specific mister skilled rider. who is so much better then the others they can make annon posts about annon people who are not as skilled as their annon asses~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-38363334339673025942007-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:002007-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:00Velo Belaare mistaking me for some other TJ?I live...Velo Bela<BR/>are mistaking me for some other TJ?I live in Berkeley and go to school there. Dont know what you were dazing off about when you said I had a family and kids. Are you drunk right now?<BR/>TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-72494469499665307392007-08-08T11:33:00.000-07:002007-08-08T11:33:00.000-07:00Anon, this fun thing is relative. Yeah, there can ...Anon, this fun thing is relative. Yeah, there can be snobs at roadie events, but some of that perception is simply that for many roadies, suffering is fun.<BR/><BR/>And the fact that you're 47 and doing Downieville on an XC bike shows that you care for yourself in ways that many of the kids in the sport don't. Too bad, cuz they can prolong the fun they have zooming down the hills if they could find the thrill, or reward of pedaling their bike up the hill as well. I know plenty of bonsai down hiller lunatics that like to race to the top as well. In fact, I ride once in a while with a bonsai down hilling lunachick, in her forties, that can still drop most motogeared teenagers down hill because she likes to push her body up hill before she goes flying down. <BR/><BR/>I'm no fitness nut. I like biking first, both road and dirt, and fitness is the tasty frosting on the cake. But is a cake that not all people like. Roadies don't need to change the taste of the sport, just need to make it accessible for those who would enjoy it.dr-nitrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17046521540356798995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-41395102152603704772007-08-08T10:35:00.000-07:002007-08-08T10:35:00.000-07:00Dang so late to this post! And a great topic. So ...Dang so late to this post! And a great topic. So a few short randoms since nobody's gonna read 'em anyway:<BR/><BR/>1. narrow flow of media: in the 80s, it was baseball hot dogs apple pie and chevrolet. Those kids in the 80s were exposed to cycling through the 84 olympics. A real viable alternative sport. And then there was Greg. Yeah, the coverage back then was awful, but as a % of all coverage it had more impact. You couldn't find cage fights and bull riding and golf each with their own 24/7 channel back in the day. Now there's all kinds of other crap kids can do.<BR/><BR/>2. correcto re barriers to entry. It's expensive. And let's face it, also very difficult for beginners. Juniors have to race against the regional badasses right out of the gate! Wonder how many do a race or two and never come back.<BR/><BR/>3. cycloscott nailed it with "free play." Kids these days (at least the kids within the demographic to have parents who can buy the expensive bike) lead much more structured lives than we did in the 80s. From about age 10 on, I had free reign over my life between school getting out and dinner time. While I spent most of that time on a skateboard, it just as easily could've been a bike. Not so today -- even if you wanted to let your kid wild like that, there isn't an unsupervised mob to hang with. <BR/><BR/>4. Specificity starts at a very young age. For a kid to get a shot at the high school baseball team, he's probably going to have played winter and spring ball for 6 seasons before he's 12. At that point it picks up with moving to a "travelling" team so you can play regionally. <BR/><BR/>5. Having two young kids (8 and 11) who are very physically active -- don't sell 'em all short. There are a lot of inspiring bad ass kids out there. In my son's martial arts studio, the kids going for their black belts have to meet some pretty tough minimum physical conditioning standards. As part of that, they also see who can do to the most of a given exercise. Can you even conceive of doing 4,000 situps? I can't. But a 5th graded did last week. <BR/><BR/>6. video games don't make kids retarded, and I'd much rather have mine interactively playing a game than mindlessly sitting on the tube. Moderation in all things. <BR/><BR/>WOW way longer than intended! Cheers, and take a kid for a bike ride!shawndoggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289676804569678786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-84775791762746545102007-08-08T10:28:00.000-07:002007-08-08T10:28:00.000-07:00"They'll be nursing their beer gut and wrecked joi..."They'll be nursing their beer gut and wrecked joints later in life."<BR/><BR/>they can roll a joint with the best of them and their skills get better with age, it has to survive the pocket during the ride and all...<BR/><BR/>"What would you say to a kid who showed up to a race with some of his moto gear on?"<BR/><BR/>don't say anything, but make sure to stay out of his way for the hole shot....jAndy donka-donkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09970606604235245745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-52350128920561345242007-08-08T09:57:00.000-07:002007-08-08T09:57:00.000-07:00BL said,"There is only a very, very, very small pe...BL said,<BR/><BR/>"There is only a very, very, very small percentage of Road Racers who have raced Downhill or competed in BMX, but those who have, seem to have the best bike handling skills and stlye on the bike."<BR/><BR/>They sure didn't have the best skills at Fort Ord last Saturday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-51134395470586188002007-08-08T09:36:00.000-07:002007-08-08T09:36:00.000-07:00Safer? I've injured myself far more often and wors...Safer? <BR/><BR/>I've injured myself far more often and worse on the road than ever in the dirt. Even during the times when I spent more time racing dirt than road.<BR/><BR/>I've missed more time at work due to road than dirt. More time spent at my desk in the haze of a concussion.<BR/><BR/>A biff in the dirt, meh. A road crash, that shit stays with my psyche for a very very long time.Velo Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10478413071373565411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-84244577797112709952007-08-08T09:28:00.000-07:002007-08-08T09:28:00.000-07:00It is only natural that people who enjoy something...It is only natural that people who enjoy something would like to share that with other people who might enjoy it too. Goes for cycling, skiing, whatever...<BR/><BR/>MTB is really fun, and good fitness is not a prerequisite. But don't expect to be pushing your limits for year after year, especially when you have a real job you can't just skip for a few weeks while you heal from injuries. <BR/><BR/>You can go to school all busted up, but that won't work at work.<BR/><BR/>When you've figured that out for yourself the safer cycling venues may look more appealing.WarrenGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16524271078611979940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-60803233288268349712007-08-08T09:08:00.000-07:002007-08-08T09:08:00.000-07:00wow TJ is pretty young to have kids and a family i...wow TJ is pretty young to have kids and a family in Marina<BR/><BR/>oh, and there is a dirt jumpin clinic <A HREF="http://velobellabb.com/forum3/960.html" REL="nofollow">here</A> that I bet they would let PAB do if he didn't have a broken wingVelo Bellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10478413071373565411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-29571792155815132072007-08-08T08:22:00.000-07:002007-08-08T08:22:00.000-07:00youth is, most definitely, not wasted on the young...youth is, most definitely, not wasted on the young.<BR/><BR/><BR/>i say go for it. tear that shit up.<BR/><BR/><BR/>just don't get in my way in the corners or dropping down the trails.<BR/><BR/>'cuz i'm faster than you.<BR/><BR/><BR/>bring it, beeyotch!norcalcyclingnews.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14663837359225799079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-69726100271930706252007-08-08T07:29:00.000-07:002007-08-08T07:29:00.000-07:00Who said that I said that down hilling is not fun?...Who said that I said that down hilling is not fun? But that is not quite the point. If you want to look at this discussion as a whining session, singing where have all the kids gone, then it will be a dead end discussion. <BR/><BR/>But is not just about fun, I think that many roadies, XCers and the lot want the physical benefit as well. <BR/><BR/>Argh, I've got to go and get bored on my road bike. But if a kid shows up on the ride, or at a race, with moto gear I'll cop my snobby attitude, and politely point out to him, that if he wants to get more of the thrill of going fast on a road bike, stripping down to spandex is the better route, then say, let's ride. But I'm a snob that way. Time to slip on the spandex.dr-nitrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17046521540356798995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-16414439586313951472007-08-08T07:19:00.000-07:002007-08-08T07:19:00.000-07:00Well more young people need to find cycling, becau...Well more young people need to find cycling, because I know it sure as hell made my life sooooo much better! Now I am obsessed!BELLA BEARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02828922593879748194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-37361255532555716172007-08-08T07:10:00.000-07:002007-08-08T07:10:00.000-07:00Dr. Nitro is full of it. I'm 47, do about 30+ crit...Dr. Nitro is full of it. I'm 47, do about 30+ crits a year, and also placed 18th out of 120 recently at Downieville, and I can tell you, that kid TJ was right on. Even though I was made fun of for wearing a skin suit on the starting line and for running a cross country bike with cut down bars, the whole group, especially the younger ones, were a lot more fun than any group I've ever been in at a crit or road race. Make it fun and don't exclude by attitude or otherwise, and the kids will come. If "roadies" didn't have such an attitude, more kids would probably be on road bikes. What would you say to a kid who showed up to a race with some of his moto gear on?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-5960707472325946062007-08-08T06:39:00.000-07:002007-08-08T06:39:00.000-07:00The huckers are a different breed, and I wonder wh...The huckers are a different breed, and I wonder whether they would have turned to road racing were they born into a period without full suspension. And, I admit, I do feel a little distain toward the group, or at least little connection. When I hit the dirt, it's just as much about the effort to get to the top as it is the thrill of gravity pulling me back down. Shuttling the bikes up to the top of the hill is lazy, and downright wasteful. They won't be the old geezers who can still spank the young'ns. They'll be nursing their beer gut and wrecked joints later in life. That's sad, because if they simply pedaled up, they would get the full experience and benefit. Sure, hit the jumps and rail the berms, but also push yourself to the limit getting up to the top of the hill instead of pushing the gas pedal. Hey, I respect the skills many of them have, but wish they would respect themselves, the trails, and others on the trails a bit more.<BR/><BR/>But, this concern, that is railed on above, shows a passion for the sport, and an understanding that things that you care for require care. When the trails or berms come under attack by developers or insurance concerns, the huckers will start discussing/complaining about how things are not the way they were back in the good old days. Us wimpy, geeky roadies love what we do, regardless of getting picked on my huckers trucking up to the top of the hill or hicks spitting their chaw as they drive by. Most of the posts here, and at other time sucking roadie blogs (although dirt discussions do make it into this one) reflect that passion.dr-nitrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17046521540356798995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-86720368405439783862007-08-08T01:26:00.000-07:002007-08-08T01:26:00.000-07:00I think most roadies are geeks. Track racers have...I think most roadies are geeks. Track racers have skills, x-c racers can throw it down, but most roadies, who do not do track practice or dirt practice are geeks. They seem to be the ones who were picked on far to often when they were growing up. That makes them so afraid when turning thru corners on their road bikes. Just let go of the brakes, and trust your tires, and enjoy the thrill. Its the same scenario as using a condom, just strap it on and enjoy the ride, but ride hard and ride aggresive, and it feels much better. Dont be afraid.<BR/><BR/>Lets face it, cyclists are some of the tuffest humans on the planet, but if your not making love to many different nationalities in your life, and really enjoying the sex, you are waisting the gift of life.<BR/><BR/>So you should do all kinds of cycling. <BR/>and enjoy it.<BR/><BR/>Practice makes perfect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-68460348365229078612007-08-08T01:15:00.000-07:002007-08-08T01:15:00.000-07:00Nice TJ! No doubt roadies are geeks, many are coc...Nice TJ! No doubt roadies are geeks, many are cocky assholes too...but then there are the guys you will be riding the epics w/ year after year well into your 50's...That makes it all worth it. <BR/><BR/>It's much easier for a Jr to fall in love w/ cycling in the dirt...road riding is an acquired taste...like drinking fine wine. Stick to the dirt, dig kickers in your neighbors backyard, take off your brake so you can bust bigger bar spins, force your little brother to hit the gap rather than the table...then go show off your skills to the hot tri chicks.Hooptiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02913256167632056509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-77256767102585084742007-08-07T23:53:00.000-07:002007-08-07T23:53:00.000-07:00Yeah, the kids got some good points.There is only ...Yeah, the kids got some good points.<BR/>There is only a very, very, very small percentage of Road Racers who have raced Downhill or competed in BMX, but those who have, seem to have the best bike handling skills and stlye on the bike. Infact some of the best Roadies in the world started out in the dirt, so there is a advantage to being a well rounded cyclist. Sometimes I am amazed by the amount of braking that goes on when Road Racers take turns. The best riders are the ones who can saddle up on any bike and tear it up. And not work a computer key board better then they can hit a corner in a Crit. <BR/><BR/>B.L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-8024501025802142172007-08-07T23:44:00.000-07:002007-08-07T23:44:00.000-07:00Sabine hits Berms, she does not Jump, but she hits...Sabine hits Berms, she does not Jump, but she hits Berms.<BR/><BR/>ShelleyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-46853271508374838502007-08-07T23:06:00.000-07:002007-08-07T23:06:00.000-07:00ungrateful little punk!who you calling old??we'll ...ungrateful little punk!<BR/><BR/>who you calling old??<BR/><BR/>we'll show you a thing or two about jumps and berms!<BR/><BR/>go get em Sabine...PAB(a.k.a.CID)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17675058827155585125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-30378389286232075262007-08-07T22:37:00.000-07:002007-08-07T22:37:00.000-07:00Funny how you old folks all try and rationalize th...Funny how you old folks all try and rationalize things and figure things out like everything is a problem, and what can we do about this life we live and it is all a problem and wrong. <BR/>Stop being stress heads and lunatic freaks and just have fun on the bike and try and share your fun with others. The norcal high school league is strong, and where was that 20 years ago? My dad told me that when he went to high school there was no cycling programs at all. Who ever thought cycling would be a high school sport 20 years ago? It was not a sport that attracted youth, Now it is, with many good kids learning the racing ropes. But you are all missing the fact that downhill racing is now a major aspect of cycling as is jumping and free-riding. I think that all the people who wrote thoughts on this topic do not go out and hit jumps and work on jumping or do downhill racing or go rail any berms. If they did they would see that the biggest groups are the junior divisions. My 16-18 race group is usually the largest at the downhill races, so kids do race, they just tear it up and shred a little harder then the drafting group you all are. <BR/><BR/>Cycling is expensive, but what isnt expensive now a days. Over on the DH blogs<BR/>they are not stressing out over this and that, like I see so often from this group. They are having fun on their bikes, and the kids are leading the way. Basically you are all geeks, and need to either do some jumping and berm sessions to lighten up and have fun instead of getting grey hair from worrying over where is everyone or why cant we do this or that to make it better. I will race my final high school season next year, and after that I will do some more xc races and more downhill races and hopefully keep my high school club team strong by motivating other young wanna be racers. Just remember everyone who writes in this blog is a geek. Sorry to say but you are all pretty lame, and need to just have some fun and stop complaining.<BR/>TJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-14181860282001909912007-08-07T22:10:00.000-07:002007-08-07T22:10:00.000-07:00great post, great comments.i'd much rather discuss...great post, great comments.<BR/><BR/>i'd much rather discuss and read about this topic than try to figure out how to cure the corruption of pro sports...<BR/><BR/>i really like marco fanelli's assessment of how our society is into immediate gratification, and that bike racing takes too long a commitment to see rewards. We all know how demanding this sport is. <BR/><BR/>and don't even get me started on the subject of traffic and user-fiendly roads. places in the Bay Area that I used to ride 20 years ago without a care, now scare the crap out of me.PAB(a.k.a.CID)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17675058827155585125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881625.post-69712520936339295372007-08-07T21:13:00.000-07:002007-08-07T21:13:00.000-07:00Damn, all of the sudden everyone is blaming video ...Damn, all of the sudden everyone is blaming video games. You all must be old like my dad. Generalizing, isn't the best way to make a point unless you are looking for peer consensusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com