Quick Highlights:

1. We'll have spectacular cycling weather this weekend! Partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday with lows around 60 degrees and the highs in the low to mid 80's -> http://www.wesh.com/weather/index.html

2. Join Consuela Sway (Tri With Sway) and Kimberly Grogan (Gear for Multisport) in the First Annual Race for Kids Fitness - it's this Sunday, April 19, at 7:00 a.m.! Benefiting Fast Lane Swim Club, Break Away Track and Clermont PALS, 100% of the proceeds will go to provide youth scholarships - it's at Lake Louisa State Park near Clermont. A $15.00 donation registers you for the 1- mile or 2-mile event; $25.00 for the 5k and 10k (the 5k and 10k are timed). Consuela and Kimberly want to make clear that this is a no-frills race - there's no t-shirts or goody bags - the money goes to the charities! RSVP at [email protected] or [email protected]! Organizing events like this is very hard work and time-consuming. Let's reward Sway and Kim's efforts and bring your kids!

3. Great Spring Rides update: lots going on this weekend:

a) Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 17 - 19 in Madison, Georgia: BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) Spring Tune-Up Ride - enjoy three (3) days of superbly organized rides of varying distances; go to -> http://www.brag.org/

b) Saturday, April 18, in Amelia Island, Florida: Katie Ride For Life options for 30, 60 and 100 km and 100 miles; starting on Amelia Island, the ride includes four barrier islands. Go to -> http://www.katierideforlife.org/

c) Saturday, April 18, through Thursday, April 23: the Florida Bicycle Safari! Available in the 3-day and 6-day adventure - you'll ride routes out of the Suwanee County Fairgrounds in Live Oak for the first three days; get the full scoop here -> http://www.floridabicyclesafari.com/ The Safari is another exceptionally well-run event by the Florida Freewheelers!

4. Professional Cycling on TV! This Sunday, April 19, at 5:00 p.m., watch both:

Liege-Bastogne-Liege The oldest cycling race still running, it covers the hilliest part of Belgium ending with high gradient climbs that rip your legs off April 26 at 3:00 p.m.

Fleche Wallone The first classic in the Ardennes April 26 at 3:30 p.m.

5. David's World Cycle will have a Ladies Night Out! Says Rustin Robinson at the College Park location, "Join us Tuesday, April 21, from 6:30pm-8:30pm for an informative cycling event geared toward women. While sharing wine and snacks, learn about the latest in Women's cycling from Ross Rushin of the "Trek Fit for Women Tour." Besides door prizes, all clothing and accessories will be on sale, plus there will a drawing for a free Pro Fit [$150 value]." This is women-only and limited to thirty (30). Please RSVP to Rustin at [email protected] or 407.422.2458. Go here -> http://davidsworld.com/page.cfm?PageID=615 for more details. "Fit For Women Demo Day" will be held the following Saturday [April 25th] at the Lake Mary location from 10am to 2pm.

6. Speaking of DW C, the shops will have their 2009 Cycling Guide available soon, probably in the next week. It will have some of this year's new products plus tips on bicycles, riding, clothing, and accessories. This year the Cycling Guide will also be available in a digital format which will be on the DWC website soon. For now, the link is here -> http://catalyst.ipaperus.com/DAWOFL/?Purge=true

7. The Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux Café (affectionately known as the B3 Café) will feature "A Sunday In Hell" on movie night, Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m. Over 90 minutes, the movie is free (and so is the popcorn)!

8. The Cycling Hub in Clermont (1200 Oakley Seaver Drive, Suite 111) is also hosting a MS150 Training Ride on Saturday, April 25. Leaving from the shop at 8:00 a.m., you can choose from routes of 30 and 65 miles. MS Tour participants will also receive special discounts on bikes, accessories and service. The Cycling Hub will also contribute $5.00 for every $50.00 spent on accessories, and $100 from every bike purchase. Arrive early (7:00 a.m. - the shop will open early) and follow the signs to the overflow parking lot behind Home Depot! Contact Bryan Davis at 352 536 2453 or mail@thecyclinghub.

9. After last week's mishap on the Lakemont Sunday ride, the knight in shining armor was Lance Brannigan, the main wrench at Glory Cycles. Lance's paramedic training kicked in immediately as he stabilized the situation before the ambulance arrived. Lance had some pointers for everyone when an accident occurs: ______

a. Insure the scene is safe so that no one will be struck by other traffic; if you have to stop traffic, do so in a safe manner.

b. Call 911 if it has not already been done.

c. Do not move the patient unless you know what you are doing, you may cause further injury, ie; re-adjusting the patients legs when they have a broken hip.

d. Keep the patient calm by talking to them, stay calm yourself or you'll pass your bad vibes on to the patient and stress them out even more so.

e. Make the patient as comfortable as possible and wait for the emergency responders to arrive. ______

10. The City of Casselberry is trying to get a trail system in place - the map of the preferred route is here ->. http://www.casselberry.org/biketraildesign. There's some controversy with residential owners fearful of horrible things that will result from a multi-use trail being behind their home. This is the same reaction from property owners when a trail is planned and the reality is quite the opposite. Real estate values increase, crime actually goes down because of the activity on the trail and the owners enjoy it. There will be a public hearing on Wednesday, April 22, at 6:00 at Casselberry City Hall (200 North Lake Triplet Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707). Show up and tell the city commission why the trail will be a great thing!

11. Ryan Combs is raffling a new 2009 Orbea to support The Leukemia & Lymphomy Society's Team-In-Training. Only 200 tickets are available at $20 apiece for a chance to win your choice of an Orbea Onix, Orbea Ora or Orbea Onix Dama bike. Runner-up winners will receive additional certificates for accessories to be picked up at Advanced Cycles. All contest entrants get a special coupon for use at Advanced Cycles. Get m ore information and a flyer by contacting Chrissy Branch at [email protected] or Ryan at 407 282 4132 or [email protected].

12. An update on the Wednesday night BOBbies (Babes On Bikes) ride: the start times are now 6:00 p.m. from Lakemont and 6:20 from the Buffalo Wild Wings (also Save-a-Lot) located in the Casselberry Square Shopping Center (900 State Road 436, in Casselberry just north of Red Bug Road on 436). This is a 25-mile "no drop" ride that winds through scenic W inter Park and Tuscawilla neighborhoods.

13. Keri Caffrey, writer of the CommuteOrlando blog, says that Michael Woods, Transportation Planner for Lake~Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization, is meeting with the Lake County Sheriff on April 22 to discussion bicycle law enforcement, education and safety concerns. He would like to compile personal stories of abuse cyclists have suffered from motorists (or law enforcement) in Lake County. Keri believes that many parts of Lake County have becomes increasingly hostile over the last 5 years. Says Keri, "I've been hoping to see some dialogue between local advocates, the Florida Bicycle Association and law enforcement out there. This is a step in the right direction."

It's very important for you to share your story: please send a note or call Mr. W oods at:

Michael F. Woods Transportation Planner Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization 1616 South 14th Street (U.S. 27) Leesburg, Florida 34748

[email protected]

In addition to event descriptions, he would like road names and locations so he can map out problem areas.

14. Your help is needed as a volunteer for the third annual Parramore Kidz Zone & CityTeenz Pedal 4 Pride bicycle ride on Saturday, May 4. Please come out and help the Parramore Kidz celebrate cycling! Mighk Wilson at MetroPlan Orlando is coordinating: What?: Parramore Kidz Zone Pedal 4 Pride Bicycle Ride

When?: Saturday, May 4. The ride starts at 9:00 a.m. and will continue until we’ve tired out the most energetic kids; volunteer bike repair begins at 8:00 a.m. Where?: The ride starts at Jackson Community Center at the corner of W estmoreland Ave. and Carter St., and will pick up more kids at four more spots along the way. Here’s why we need you:

Ride Mentors: the more the merrier. W e need plenty of experienced adult cyclists to mix with the kids, demonstrate good cycling behavior, share their years of cycling wisdom, and just encourage the kids and have a good time. Route Markers: We need two teams of two to mark the routes the day before and make sure all’s in place the morning of. There will be three routes: the shorter 4-mile little kids route, a longer 7-mile big kids route, and longer 15- to 20-mile route for the more athletic kids. Wrenches: Experienced mechanics are needed to ensure the kids (and parents!) bikes are safe and ready to ride. We are also trying to give away to the kids some old bikes confiscated by Orlando Police and Lynx; those bikes will need some work ahead of time so they can be ready the day-of. Helmet Fitters: Those with experience on fitting helmets are needed to ensure the kids have them on correctly. To see photos of prior year’s event, go here: http://picasaweb.google.com/getactiveorlando/PKZPedaling4PrideBikeRide To volunteer, please contact Mighk W ilson at [email protected] or 407-481- 5672 ext 318 (please note: some e-mail accounts like Yahoo may not get through our spam filter; if you do not get a confirmation from me within a day or two, please call). Let me know if you have a preference for the type of “job” you’d like.

15. Today's Quote: If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything. -- Bill Lyon. Let's ride! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Two (2) rides depart from Lakemont Elementary School (901 North Lakemont Avenue in Winter Park) this Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 7:30 a.m: (1) the 41-mile Oviedo Loop - three (3) groups: the first (25+ mph) goes straight through; the second (23+ mph) goes straight through; and the third (20+ mph) stops at the 7-11 halfway to tell jokes;

(2) the Fort Christmas Jaunt - (65 miles) going off the back of the third group of Oviedo Loop riders, turn right at the fire station east of UCF and assemble.

For Sunday, April 19, 2009, show up at Lakemont Elementary at 7:30 a.m. - the group decides the route!

Remember, there's no dues and no insurance - you show up, you ride at your own risk.

Keri Caffrey has put together maps of the Oviedo Loop, the Tuskawilla Run, the Fort Christmas Jaunt and the Panera Bread Frolic! They're on the BOBbies' website at www.luvbobbies.com! Just click on "Maps." o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Don't forget to check out the Florida Freewheelers rides every weekend - you can visit their website at http://www.floridafreewheelers.com/ and see their schedule anytime (it's also got directions and phone numbers for the ride leaders). The club will have a limited schedule of rides in our area as they host the Florida Bicycle Safari this weekend in Live Oak. On Saturday, April 18, Ruby Gaidry will lead a 20- mile social ride from the Cross Seminole Trailhead; on Sunday, April 19, Sharon Wolfson will lead the 42-mile Eastside Expedition at a C pace from Lake Mills Park near Chuluota and Jack Elliot will lead a 30-mile Touring ride from the Clermont Trailhead.

All Freewheeler rides start at 8:00 a.m. (unless noted differently) - the Freewheelers have a deserved reputation for being prompt: 8:00 a.m. means 8:00 a.m.! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Ben Anderson's Saturday Rides (first and third Saturdays every month)! Says Ben:

The ride distance is changed to 48 miles. Basically the sam e route up to Mascotte but then back home via Villa City Rd and Cherry Lake Rd. The ride pace is between 18 - 25 mph depending on wind etc. Several steep hills may slow us to as low as 10 mph. At the end of the ride we will have averaged a 17 - 20 mph. This is a B+ to A level ride depending on the group that shows up. We begin riding at 7:30 AM from Killarney Station of the W Orange Trailhead.

Remember, no one gets dropped to ride alone.

This is the link to the map for the ride: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkVal ues=2774825

Clean your chains and come ride with us!! Contact Ben at [email protected] or call him as 321 945 7090. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Ah, the "infamous" Windermere Roadies' rides: Check out the Roadies' website at http://www.windermereroadies.com/. Manny Otero devotes tremendous time and talent to keeping things fresh! (the descriptions below are verbatim from the Roadies' website):

Sunday Ride: Start time: 8:10am Location: Windermere Elementary Description: The Infamous Sunday Ride leaves from Windermere Elementary at 8:10am. Why 8:10am? I have no idea. It's just the way it is.

The first 6 miles of the ride are usually very nice and social but, at the turn at Marsh Rd, the racers open the hammer. Marsh Rd is always very fast and it's usually where the group will break up into several packs of different skilled riders.

About 1 mile before US27, the racers will turn right at Hancock Rd en route to their brutal hill workout. Most of the rest of the groups will continue on to US27 and on to do their own rides. Please be careful near Hancock as some riders will be turning and others will not.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced racer, the Sunday ride has something for you.

Saturday Ride: Start time: 8:00am Location: Windermere Elementary Description: The Saturday Ride leaves from Windermere Elementary at 8:00am.

This ride used to be a nice social ride, but it has morphed into a pretty fast, and sometimes painful ride. The route and distances vary depending on the group that shows up, but don't be surprised if you find yourself hammering through Groveland at speeds of 25mph+.

The route is usually shorter than the Sunday ride, but it can be just as painful.

Wednesday Night Ride: Start Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Windermere Elementary It's hard, it's fast and there are no apologies. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Lake Buena Vista Cycling Club: No word this week. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

St. Johns Cycles Ride (Sanford): Fast guy Josh Servi and the rest of the crew at St. John's Cycles invite anyone willing to join them Tuesday nights to push the limits. The ride starts at the shop at 116 South Palmetto Avenue in Sanford at 6:00 p.m. and will follow the old Lake Mary Cycles loop with some modification. The route can be found here -> http://tinyurl.com/d3hkqz Josh warns: this is an A+ ride (essentially, they eat their dead). Call Josh at 321 299 2616 or the shop at 321 363 4928! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The BOBbies (Babes On Bikes - www.luvbobbies.com) have started their Wednesday night ride: it's a 25-mile "no drop" ride that winds through scenic W inter Park and Tuscawilla neighborhoods. There are 2 options for the ride start: either start at 6:00 p.m. from Lakemont Elementary School (901 N Lakemont Avenue in Winter Park), or at 6:20 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Buffalo Wild Wings (also Save-a-Lot) located in the Casselberry Square Shopping Center (900 State Road 436, in Casselberry just north of Red Bug Road on 436). o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The UCF Ride - Wednesday Nights:

With the change in time, the UCF ride has started again on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m.! Contact Dan Linnehan ([email protected]) for more information or go to http://mister-frank.home.att.net/ucfride.htm! Dan wants everyone to know that, while the ride can get very fast, everyone is welcome - you hang on as long as you can. It's a sincere invitation - start from the Biomolecular Research Annex at the intersection of Discovery Drive and Research Parkway approximately one mile south of the UCF campus police station. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The Airport Rides:

These completely unofficial rides have become very popular if you don't mind making the jaunt to the Orlando International Airport area. Starting as early as 4:30 p.m. and going until after 9:00 p.m., riders (organized and unorganized) show up to ride the 9.5 mile "out-and-back" course along Heintzelman Boulevard. You can throw in the hill over the Beachine Expressway for a little extra fun. There is a bike lane and very little traffic. Expect to see everyone sooner or later (there's a great map on the Windermere Roadies' website -> http://www.windermereroadies.com/images/maps/airport_map.gif). IMPORTANT NOTE: Park on north Hangar Road in the cul-de-sac - don't park in the rental car agency's parking lot. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Seminole Cyclists!

The Seminole Cyclists (http://www.seminolecyclist.org/index.htm) have great turnouts with a full menu of rides. Matt Cannavino is President of the club.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.: 20 miles of high-tempo riding - starting from Coffee Café in Colonial Town Center A & B+ Group, this ride tours the West Sanford and Heathrow country roads at +20mph average pace. Hang on.

Friday at 7:30 a.m.: 34 miles - it's fast! Join the group at Einstein Bagels in the Lake Mary Albertsons Shopping Center. (Formally the Fast Friday Lake Mary Cycle Ride)

Saturday at 7:30 a.m.: 34 miles: We ride from the Einstein Bagels in the Lake Mary Albertsons Shopping Center. Now with Three separate groups: "A" group speeds from 21+ sprints up to 30 MPH, "B" Group Casual Ride 17-20 MPH, and C,D Ride 12-15 mph with ride leader. This is a great starter ride. "No one gets left behind."

Sunday at 7:30 a.m.: We leave from the Coffee Café in the Colonial Town Center A & B Groups use same route, 42 miles: the "A" group pace is 21+ mph; the "B" group follows at about 18 - 20 mph and picks up "A" group stragglers.

Sunday at 8:00 a.m.: 20 miles ‘Relaxed Ride’ From Coffee Café in Colonial Town Center B Group tours the West Sanford and Heathrow country roads at an 18-20mph pace and "No one gets left behind."

Hang out at the café after the ride to socialize – the Coffee Café offers a 10% discount and always has pitchers of water on each table. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Osceola Velo Club (http://www.osceolaveloclub.com/index.html) has training rides on Saturday and Sunday mornings (when there aren't races). The locations are not available - for more information, contact Pat Schlager at [email protected] o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Space Coast Velo Sport (http://spacecoastvelosport.com/) has the following standing rides: on Saturdays, do the 39-mile Bagel Shop Ride leaving at 7:00 a.m. from the northwest corner of Wickham Road and Lake Washington (behind the Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts); the pace is advertised at 18 - 25 mph; get more details by calling Herb Jordan at 321 961 8863; the Genesis Ride (advertised pace 18 - 24) leaves the Pinch-A-Penny (the website does not designate where the Pinch-A-Penny is) at 7:30 a.m.; the 50-mile Palm Bay Ride (advertised as a "race simulation") leaving at 8:00 a.m . from (and symbolically returning to) the Palm Bay Hospital at 1425 Malabar Road NE in Palm Bay; the Starbucks Ride (billed as a winter training ride) leaving at 9:00 a.m. across from some "mall" somewhere (presumably near Melbourne). On Sundays, the Sonic Ride (34 miles) leaving from the Sonic parking lot on Wickham Road in north Melbourne. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The Space Coast Freewheelers (http://www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com/) have a standing Wednesday night River Road Ride of 28 miles leaving Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa, at 6:00 p.m. and a standing "C"-rated Saturday ride leaving from Lee Wenner Park in Cocoa at the intersection of Riveredge Blvd. and Harrison Street at 9:00 a.m. with options of 14 and 28 miles; on Sunday, April 19, the club will do its Fellsmere Ride leaving from the Front Street Park at the intersection of Front Street and Melbourne Avenue in Melbourne. For more information, call Paul at 321 960 6536. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The Daytona Beach Bicycle Club (http://www.daytonabikeclub.org) departs every Wednesday and Friday morning at 7:30 at the corner of Granada and Beach Street (Ormond Beach) and joins up with riders from Palm Coast and Flagler Beach at 8:15 at the entrance to Halifax Plantation. There's usually a fast group and a moderate pace group and there's a stop for coffee in Flagler Beach - distance varies from 30 to 40 miles. On Sundays, m eet at Smith Landing at Highbridge Park at 8:15 a.m. and ride to Palm Coast for coffee. It's a 30-mile ride with fast and moderate paced groups! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

New Smyrna Beach Ride! Every Sunday, a group starts at the corner of Live Oak and Canal Streets (on the mainland downtown) at 8:00 a.m. The ride is 46 miles at a 19 to 23 mph pace. Parking is available in the adjacent lot for the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission. There's a stop at a convenience store about 20 miles into the ride - a second stop if anyone needs it at about the 30-mile mark. The route can be found here -> http://tinyurl.com/cnrenj A 30-mile version is held Wednesday and Friday mornings, also at 8:00 a.m. starting from the same place. Interested? Contact Harris Samuels at 386 314 8275 or [email protected]! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

SPECIAL WEEKDAY RIDE NOTES:

Want a good ride on weekday mornings? A group assembles at the Winter Park YMCA at 7:00 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, W ednesdays and Thursdays and at 6:30 a.m . on Fridays. Tuesday is "Sm all Chain Ring Day" The Wednesday ride splits with options for 29 and 48 miles. The shorter route is saved at www.mapmyrun.com with the following URL: http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/fl/winter- park/780429750 . The longer route is also saved at www.mapmyrun.com with the following URL: http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/united-states/fl/winter-park/222386111 Contact Cori at [email protected] or just show up!

Mountain bikers have great weeknight rides organized by John Moorhouse: Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. starting downtown Orlando on Church St. between Orange Ave & I-4; and Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. starting at Loco Motion in Winter Park. Both rides are an easy to moderate pace (14 - 16mph avg.), and average about 20 miles in length. The rides are a well-balanced mix of urban technical terrain (curb crossings, some stairs, etc.) and road riding. A mountain bike is a must for these rides. It's dark when these rides occur - Florida state law requires that you have lights, front and back. John has some spares. There's a calendar and forum set up here -> All are invited to join!! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

BEST AREA CYCLING BLOGS!

I'm always looking for more information about cycling so that I can point you to it. My four (4) favorite (because the writing and content are so good) are (in no particular order):

a. the Orlando Sentinel's Chain Gang Blog at http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_thechaingang/

b. Team Armada's blog at http://team-armada.blogspot.com/

c. Florida Bicycle Association's blog (Mighk Wilson) at http://flabicycle.blogspot.com/ and

d. Commute Orlando's blog at http://www.commuteorlando.com/

e. 407 Fixed Gear's blog at http://407fixedgear.com/ o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

BEST OUT-OF-AREA CYCLING BLOG -> http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/ o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

ADAPTIVE CYCLING CENTER Dennis Sutherlin and Rich Benton have opened the Family Cycling Center at the Winter Garden Station on the West Orange Trail. Named "Adaptive Cycling," the center provides rentals and sales of bicycles that allow family members with disabilities to ride. The shop has tandems, recumbents and recumbent trikes. Their focus is on "special needs" children who would otherwise never have the opportunity to ride a bike and will enable them to ride with their parents for recreation and therapy. The shop also features high-quality Co-Motion and Trek bikes and can accommodate children as young as 3 years old. Says Dennis:

We are just getting started as a weekend business to hopefully introduce cycling to many families who thought it was never an option for them. Because of the expense of the equipment, we only have limited quantities to start and ask anyone planning to come out to call us ahead of time. We are hoping that everyone's love for the sport will encourage everyone to spread the word about what we are doing to anyone we might be able to assist. We will be working with all special needs organizations from Cerebral palsy, autism, spinal bifida, visually impaired, brain injury, Rett’s, and Down syndrome to name a few. W e are not out to com pete against all the great bike shops in town or to provide typical single bike rentals. Even though we will have the capacity to modify and repair most bicycles, we ask that you please use your local bike shop for parts and service on you regular bikes. We will have emergency supplies like tubes or CO2 if you need it on the weekend.

Contact Dennis or Rich at 407 877 8030 and check out their website at -> www.adaptivecycling.net! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Chrissy Branch is organizing Central Florida's Team-in-Training program for the Leukemia & Lymphona Society; here's Chrissy's message:

Heroes Wanted!

Interested in finding out how you can run, walk, cycle, or complete a triathlon while helping to FUNdraise for blood cancer research and awareness? The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program is searching for new volunteers who are interested in completing the Nike Women's Marathon and Half Marathon in San Francisco, CA., Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, D.C., Intracoastal Waterway Century Ride in Cocoa Beach, FL. and The Nation's Triathlon in Washington, D.C. Beginners are welcome! To find out more information, call 407-898-0733 or go to Team In Training. Join the TEAM today! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

TRAINING:

Coaches Sean Hendryx and Bill Wenner of Team Hendryx Athlete Training and Development (www.teamhendryx.com) will be holding special training groups for the Boston Marathon 09 and Ironman Florida or Great Floridian 09. Team Hendryx coaches include Boston qualifiers, sub 3 marathoners, multi time Ironman finishers, and a multi time Ironman Hawaii finisher. All coaches are USAT certified, the staff includes certified athletic trainers, and personal trainers that will prepare athletes of all abilities to conquer races of any distance. In addition to Boston and IM training, Team Hendryx offers training for all ability levels and all distances in running and triathlon. Contact Bill at 407 256 5434 or [email protected] or visit us at www.teamhendryx.com.

Consuela Lively is an USAT-certified Triathlon Coach and USATF Track & Field Coach. Get more information by contacting Consuela at 407 718 9707 or [email protected]! See her website at http://www.triwithsway.com. Consuela will host Ironman legend Dave Scott for a three-day session in March! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Got Bike Stuff To Sell? Let John Moorhouse put it on eBay for you! John will come to you, photograph your stuff, write the description, ship the items after the sale and pay all of the eBay fees. Typically, John's fee is 16% of the sales price - you get a net check and it's done! The only requirem ent is that the item is worth more than $100.00. If you're interested, contact John at 407 521 7923 or at [email protected]. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

Hate Cleaning Your Bike? John "Cap" Capobianco will do it for you (for a price)! Cap writes: "For those of you who despise a dirty bike and the task that goes with it, I have an option for you. I specialize in cleaning and degreasing the entire bike, front and rear derailleur, cassettes, cranks, wheels, hubs, and of course that nasty chain. Service includes waxing the frame and fork and re-lubing the chain and appropriate components for only $45. If interested call 407-889-2870 or email me @ [email protected]"

This is when Cap's not teaching Science at Edgewater High School! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

The "B3 Café" (Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux) is Orlando's only cycling-themed café; the brainchild of local cyclists Darrell and Jennifer Cunningham, "B3" serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at 3022 Corrine Drive in Orlando, near Baldwin Park, everyday except Monday! Get the Bettini Panini, the Lance'wich, the Gr'Egg LeMond, the Cippolini Caesar, the list goes on! Go to -> http://www.bikesbeansandbordeaux.com/) or (http://www.b3cafe.com) and sign up for the newsletter and coupons! o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

CYCLING ON TV! Here's a schedule of the remaining television coverage for the season on the Versus television network:

Liege-Bastogne-Liege The oldest cycling race still running, it covers the hilliest part of Belgium ending with high gradient climbs that rip your legs off April 26 at 3:00 p.m.

Fleche Wallone The first classic in the Ardennes April 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Tour de Romandie Six-days leading up to the Giro d'Italia - the first real indicator of who'll be ready for the Tour de France May 3 at 4:00 p.m.

Dauphine Libere Week-long tune-up for the Tour de France June 7, 9, 14 and 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Tour de Suisse Nine-day stage race leading up to the Tour June 14 and 15 at 6:00 p.m.; June 21 at 5:00 p.m.

Tour de France Prepare to put your life on hold - 21 stages, 3,500 km July 4 through 28

Vuelta a Espana Spain's Grand Tour - unfortunately, three weeks of racing get boiled down to one hour; at least there's that; Versus has no coverage of the Giro d'Italia October 11 at 5:00 p.m.

Paris Tours The last prestigious European race of the season October 11 at 6:00 p.m.

Tour de Faso The greatest professional race in Africa: eleven stages, 1305 km and only six riders per team November 8 at 6:00 p.m. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

SPRING GREAT RIDES (remaining):

1) Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 17 - 19 in Madison, Georgia: BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia) Spring Tune-Up Ride - enjoy three (3) days of superbly organized rides of varying distances; go to -> http://www.brag.org/

2) Saturday, April 18, in Amelia Island, Florida: Katie Ride For Life options for 30, 60 and 100 km and 100 miles; starting on Amelia Island, the ride includes four barrier islands. Go to -> http://www.katierideforlife.org/

3) Saturday, April 18, through Thursday, April 23: the Florida Bicycle Safari! Available in the 3- day and 6-day adventure - you'll ride routes out of the Suwanee County Fairgrounds in Live Oak for the first three days; get the full scoop here -> http://www.floridabicyclesafari.com/

4) Sunday, April 19, in Palmetto, Florida: St. Petersburg Bicycle Club's Spring Classic: options for 25, 35 and 60 miles; go to -> http://www.stpetecycling.com/

5) Sunday, April 26, in Jacksonville, Florida: the Tour de Forts sponsored by the North Florida Bicycle Club with options for 18, 30, 62, 75 and 100 miles; go to -> http://nfbc.us/

6) Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, in Flagler Beach, Florida: Rotary Scenic Highway Tour with options for 24, 40, 62 and 100 miles on Sunday, May 3; go to -> http://www.flaglerbeachrotary.org/

7) Saturday, May 2, in Chattanooga, Tennessee: 3-State, 3-Mountain Challenge organized by the Chattanooga Bicycle Club: options for 25, 62, and 100 miles; go to -> http://www.chattbike.com/

8) Sunday, May 3, in Cocoa Beach, Florida: Spacecoast Freewheelers 28th Cross-Florida Bicycle Ride; organized by the club who originally conceived and executed the real thing, they're baaaack! After a hiatus during which a private promoter tried (and some think, failed), the classic 170- miler will go from Cocoa Beach to Pine Island, Florida, check out the website which cautions, "please be prepared." -> http://www.spacecoastfreewheelers.com/events.htm

9) Sunday, May 3, in Piedmont, Alabama: Cheaha Challenge Century (7,400 feet of climbing) organized by the Northeast Alabama Cycling Club; go to -> http://www.neabc.org/cheaha/

10) Saturday, May 16, in Gainesville, Florida: Ride to Remember 3 with options for 50, 75 and 100 miles; organized by the people who give you the Gainesville Cycling W eekend in the Fall - the Gainesville Cycling Club; -> http://gccfla.org/rtr/

11) Saturday, May 16, in Helen, Georgia: the Brasstown Bald Buster Century; finishes with the stretch that had the pro's in the Tour de Georgia standing on their pedals to do 6 mph; can you do it? Go to -> http://www.brasstownbaldbustercentury.com/

12) Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17: the MS Bike Tour starts from Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales and goes to the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando and back! Go to -> http://tinyurl.com/dnkagk

13) Monday, May 18, in Spartanburg, South Carolina: the 34th Assault on Mount Mitchell; grown men are seen crying on the side of the road during the last 23-mile ascent; go to -> http://www.freewheelers.info/aomm/

14) Saturday, May 30, in Ocala, Florida: 2nd Annual Frank Polack Memorial Ride to Benefit Hospice Presented by Ocala Eye; fully-sagged metric century (62 miles); go to -> http://www.hospiceofmarion.com/news.html o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

FOR SALE: 1) Brenton Swartz is selling his 2006 57cm Bianchi Eros (wihtout pedals). It has a mix of Campagnolo components: a Mirage triple crankset, Veloce 9-speed cassette, Mirage derailleurs front and rear (long reach), Campagnolo 9 speed ergo shifters, Vuelta XRP Pro wheelset (without tires), FSA Wing Pro Compact Alloy Handlebar, brand new Deda Elementi bar tape, Bianchi componenti seatpost, Specialized Avatar saddle with gel inserts (130), Easton EA70 stem (100mm), Cateye Astrale 8 wired computer (speed and cadence), new Campagnolo cables, and new Campagnolo Record chain. It has about 3,000 miles on it. Brenton wants $700.00 - contact him at [email protected] or 570 490 1881.

2) Steve Zimmerman is selling his 2008 Trek Madone SL 5.2. It has a 54 cm carbon frame and fork, Discovery Team replica blue paint, DuraAce/Ultegra mix, Bontrager RaceLite wheelset, brand new DuraAce bottom bracket and new chain on it, and carbon bottle cages. Steve says it's "Immaculate, not one scratch," and wants $2,000 (firm). If you're interested, e-mail Steve at [email protected]

3) For the really deep pockets, Dave Vogel is selling his almost-completely-new 2009 Orbea Ordu - it's a 54cm frame, SRAM Red, only ridden twice with less than 50 miles on it. It's got Zipp Sub 9 Disc rear wheel and an 808 in the front, FSA carbon Vision base and time trial bars with a Fizik Tri 2 Carbon saddle. Dave wants $7,800 - contact him at 407 590 6870 or [email protected]. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

And now, some tidbits from Ed Pavelka and Fred Matheny at www.roadbikerider.com (where you can sign up to receive a free, weekly e-newsletter that's a lot better than mine):

ED'S NOTE: Back in the 1980s when some forms of doping were merely unethical rather than illegal, a few U.S. national team cyclists were wired on caffeine.

Doses were so massive that the only way their systems could handle them was through caffeine suppositories. These cyclists were riding on the equivalent of 20 cups of coffee. No way could a stomach (or bladder) cope with that.

Nowadays, if you want a reasonable jolt of caffeine you have many choices, including Jolt. When Scott Martin complained in last week's Spin about the unpleasant (to him) flavor of coffee thwarting his ability to get caffeine's benefits, RBR readers were quick to offer alternatives.

Recom mendations included flavored cappuccino, tea, Mountain Dew, Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, caffeinated energy gel, No-Doz and, of course, Red Bull. No one suggested caffeine suppositories, and Scott appreciates that.

Right on cue, Dr. Gabe Mirkin's weekly e-Zine arrived with a lead story about caffeine's benefits for athletes.

Wrote Dr. Mirkin, a cycling enthusiast, "Researchers at the University of Illinois report that 300 mg of caffeine (the amount in 4 cups of coffee) reduces muscle burning during intense exercise in both regular coffee drinkers and in those who do not drink coffee at all." Source: International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, April 2009.

"One of the researchers," the doctor continued, "says that caffeine blocks spinal nerves that transmit pain messages to the brain. This means that people can exercise longer because they feel less pain."

Whatever. It works for me. Unlike Scott, I enjoy coffee and have 2-3 cups first thing every morning. But I don't drink it at any other time. If I want a boost for an afternoon ride, I go for a small Red Bull ("Baby Bull"). I've tried other energy drinks but haven't found one that works quite as well. It doesn't exactly give me "wings," just better legs.

Speaking of coffee, I've found a good one that supports not just my morning habit but a worthy cycling cause. It's the Magnus Maximus Viking Blend offered by semi-retired pro Magnus Backstedt.

Maggy, as he's known, is a strapping Swede -- a lean 6-foot-4 (1.93 m) who nonetheless weighs a bit over 200 pounds (91 kg). There's rarely been an elite pro as big, and this man was elite, confirming it by winning Paris-Roubaix in 2004.

Until a few weeks ago, Backstedt was riding for U.S.-based Garmin-Slipstream. But after a series of tough injuries be decided to retire from ProTour racing and become a coach/rider for the Cyclesport.se continental professional team. Using proceeds from coffee sales, Maggy's team helps riders from Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S. turn pro and grow.

"Coffee is a passion of mine as it is of all pro bike riders," explains this gentle giant. "Magnus Maximus is the result of many hours of research drinking coffee and eating cakes (not too many and only in the off season). All of the proceeds from this coffee go towards helping young riders."

Magnus Maximus is 100% Arabica coffee, rich and velvety. I like it better than everything I've tried from Starbucks (most varieties) and better than the Eight o'Clock Colombian blend that was recently rated No. 1 by Consumer Reports.

If you love coffee, Maggy's brew is definitely worth a try. At about $20 a pound when shipping is included (my order took 23 days to arrive) you may not want to go on the weekly or monthly subscription plan, but one bag won't break you. It's for a good guy and his good cause. Details are at http://www.magnusbackstedt.com

Ed Pavelka Editor, Publisher, Caffeinated Backstedt Backer

______

Showergate Update

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme says he expects to see Lance Armstrong competing for an 8th victory in July. The rider isn't so sure, pessimistically predicting that "there is a very high likelihood they will prohibit me from riding."

"They" being the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD). In a video statement at http://www.livestrong.com, Armstrong sounds resigned to being banned when AFLD officials meet next month to consider whether he should be punished -- for taking a shower.

Lance did it on March 17 in southern France while an AFLD tester waited to collect blood, urine and hair samples. Armstrong says the tester granted permission to go rinse off. Now he's in really hot water. The AFLD claims Lance's 20-minute disappearance was a violation of doping regulations.

In a statement issued by the AFLD, Armstrong is accused of disobeying Article 5.4.1of the World Anti-doping Agency's International Standard of Testing. It states that the subject of an anti-doping control must remain within sight of the official from the time of notification until the sample is collected.

Armstrong was finishing a training ride when met outside his house by the tester. Unsure about the man's credentials, Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel began making phone calls to verify his identity. Meanwhile, Armstrong says, he asked for and received permission to take a shower.

Then, after Bruyneel had been assured that the tester was legit, Armstrong gave all the samples requested. Lance says the man checked "no" on the form where it was asked if anything improper had occurred during their meeting.

Armstrong has long had a difficult relationship with the AFLD and, more recently, the Tour's owner, Amaury Sport Organization. ASO used the term "embarrassing" to describe his potential return to the race.

AFLD president Pierre Bordry says sanctions, if any, will be announced next month after a committee considers the tester's report.

Meanwhile, despite Prudhomme's comment to cyclingnews.com last Saturday -- "I imagine he will be at the Tour de France" -- Armstrong sounds resigned to being barred from racing in France and specifically in the Tour. And surprisingly he seems to be going down without a fight.

"The Tour is something I love dearly, something I wanted to ride, to race in, to be competitive in," he says. "I have a passion for the global fight against cancer [and] I wanted to tell that story in France, but if we can't do that we can't do that. It's their call, it's their country, their event, their rules so we have to play by those.

"I suspect this will escalate, and we'll see even more antics out of the AFLD in the near future. And there's a very high likelihood that they'd prohibit me from riding in the Tour."

The March 17 samples, by the way, were negative for illegal substances.

______

Overheard • "Lance has passed 24 anti-doping controls in half the world since he announced he would come back to race. Twenty-three have been carried without any problem, but the last one, the only one he's done in France, is already making life complicated for us." -- Johan Bruyneel, Team Astana manager

• "Those who buy his act and think Lance is being victimized by foreigners who can't stomach an Am erican's superiority, will no doubt see his exclusion from this year's Tour de France as patently unfair. Others will surely see karma at work and feel that his banishment has been a long time coming. Either way, it seems that Lance Armstrong may have finally given French officials good reason to tell him not just au revoir, but also bon debarras. That's French for good riddance." -- Bryant Gumbel, sports commentator on HBO ______

Collarbone update: In Armstrong's video he says "everything seems to be good" in his recovery from the fractured clavicle suffered last month in Spain's Vuelta a Castilla y Leon:

"Stitches are gone and the scar has healed nicely. The actual collarbone and plate feel solid. I go out on the bike and ride, just like I did before. I don't want to fall on it again right now, but I think it's pretty solid, and I think it's going to be fine for the Tour of Italy."

The Giro runs May 9-31. Lance has been training, sometimes twice a day, at altitude amid spring snowfalls in Aspen, Colorado. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

CYCLING SHORTS

• Quick Tip: Be a Cat on Climbs. Think "smooth and fluid" as you go from sitting to standing and vice-versa. By not lunging forward or sitting heavily you'll save energy and preserve momentum. Just before standing, shift to the next 1 or 2 smaller cogs so you won't lose speed as your cadence naturally decreases. Then as soon as you sit again, click back to a lower gear to regain a quick spin of about 80 rpm. Remember to extend your arms to push the bike forward as you go from standing to sitting. This will gain a few centimeters and put your butt toward the rear of the saddle where most riders have more pedaling power.

• Bicycle riding in the U.S. increased to 44.7 million participants in 2008 after hovering at the 40-million mark for several years. The improvement is attributed mainly to youngsters in the 7-11 and 12-17 age groups. An official of the survey-taking National Sporting Goods Association says more teenagers may be getting on bikes because of higher gas prices or parents who can no longer afford to buy cars for them. Overall, bicycling finished in sixth place behind (1) exercise walking with 96.6 million participants; (2) swimming; (3) exercising with equipment; (4) bowling; (5) camping.

• The U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame is moving to Davis, California, from Som erville, New Jersey. The Northern California city emerged from a field of 11 contenders, winning a final vote over Greensboro, North Carolina, by the Hall of Fame's board of directors. The Hall will be integrated with the California Bicycle Museum in a location to be announced.

• Women's Cycling, a magazine covering women's racing, charity rides, commuting and cycling lifestyle themes, will debut on June 22. Three $5 issues are planned for this year, 8 for 2010 and eventually the magazine may be published monthly. Says editorial director Marian Hunting, "When is the last time you heard the tactics of a women's race spelled out in a mainline bicycle magazine? Usually it's either the results list or a sentence or two about who won at the end of the story. This is not enough coverage for me." Hunting says the magazine also intends to develop a calendar of wom en's events. For subscription info, click http://www.womenscyclingmag.com

• Hincapie Sportswear is now more than bike clothing. Not to be outdone by fashion designer Rock and Republic (sponsor of Team Rock Racing), George's South Carolina clothing company has launched the Hincapie Premium Denim Collection. What this means is jeans with fancy stitching on the back pockets -- and a fancy price tag to match. Five styles are made for men and 5 for women, each costing $145. "The new denim line definitely enhances the high fashion and distinctive style that is exemplified by our Hincapie cycling apparel line," states company president Rich Hincapie. See these decorative dungarees at http://www.hincapiedenim.com

• Now hear this: A motorist bit off part of a cyclist's ear in New Castle, Indiana, according to an online newspaper report. The 31-year-old rider told police he shouted at an SUV driver that was speeding on a residential street. The driver pulled over, got out, knocked the rider down and began gnawing his ear, spitting out the pieces. The police chief says "a good chunk" of the rider's left ear is missing. The driver was jailed.

• Component-maker SRAM has made Outside magazine's second annual "Best Places to Work" list. (That might not include the Chain Dept.; see item in Road Racing Roundup.) SRAM, based in Chicago, is one of 30 companies to share the recognition, which goes to companies that best enable employees to "balance productivity with an active, eco-conscious lifestyle." The full list and article appear in Outside's May issue.

• May is National Bike Month in the U.S., promoted by the League of American Bicyclists. Check the LAB website for information, ideas and help with organizing Bike to Work Week on May 11-15 and Bike-to-Work Day on May 15 in your locale.

• Now in RBR Product Tests: Assos says its $165 FI Mille cycling shorts are made with only 4 panels so there are fewer seams, and that means all-day riding comfort. Click here to read our on-bike review and rating. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

SCOTT'S SPIN

Fan Guide

While at my hometown's annual criterium last weekend, I realized that bike racing is not only confusing to do, it's also confusing for most people to watch. So here are some pointers the next time you're at the races:

Helpful things to shout:

• "Your teammate is bridging up to you."

• "Four riders have a 15-second lead, but two of them aren't pulling."

• "Take turn 1 wide. I sprinkled carpet tacks on the inside." (Best said sotto voce.)

Unhelpful things to shout:

• "Go faster!"

• "You're getting dropped."

• "Boy, do you stink."

How to answer when bystanders ask why you're not racing:

• "I put the 'cry' in criterium."

• "I get dizzy riding around in circles."

• "I prefer it when my skin is attached to my body."

What to yell at French riders: • "Allez, allez!"

What to yell at Italian riders:

• "Forza, forza!"

What to yell at Spanish riders:

• "Venga, venga!"

What to yell at American riders:

• "Get outta the f *****g road, you spandex weirdoes. I'm late for work."

Know your victory salutes:

• Two arms upraised: Classic, says it all.

• One arm upraised: See above, only too tired to raise other arm.

• Rocking imaginary baby: I dedicate this win to my newborn daughter/son. • Pointing index finger skyward: I dedicate this win to my deceased teammate/coach/bike washer. • Pumping a clenched fist: Take that, you disbelieving team manager/cycling journalist/boy- or girlfriend who dumped me.

• Firing invisible pistol: I'm the baddest hombre in town.

• Shooting invisible bow and arrow: I'm the baddest indigenous person on the prairie.

• No salute: I hope there isn't any drug testing. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

COACH FRED

Will I Benefit from Riding a Heavier Bike?

Q: Would adding weight to my bike for training help my average speed and power? I'm thinking about buying cheap, heavy wheels and tires and loading a rack trunk with weights. -- Tim T.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Adding weight for training purposes has been tried a number of times over the years.

I recall when the U.S. Road Team used lead-filled water bottles for hill workouts. A company once marketed a heavy product designed to attach under a bike's bottom bracket.

However, there's no good reason to artificially add weight to your bike. Here's why:

Improvement comes from training at your optimum intensity, not from riding a heavier bike. You need to generate a certain number of watts to get up a hill with a steady effort no matter what the bike weighs.

Take some weight off the bike, though, and you will go a bit faster -- if you produce the same number of watts.

Of course, there's no need to always ride a light bike when a heavier one would be better for the conditions. Ed and I both ride heavy bikes in winter. They have steel frames, fenders, racks and large bags for toting tools, extra tubes, rainwear and warm clothes. Add a couple of full bottles and Ed's bike, for example, weighs 34 pounds (15.5 kg). He just rode this ol' beater a couple of thousand hilly miles (3,200 km) through the off-season.

Does switching to light bikes in the spring make us feel faster? You bet. And we'll actually be faster because, for a given amount of power, we can ride uphill and accelerate better when we're not pushing as much weight.

The bottom line for training purposes, though, is that we're still riding at the same intensity when we go hard, regardless of the bike we're on. ______

Make the Most of Training Time

RBR's 2 newest training eBooks are from David Ertl, a USA Cycling Level 1 coach who specializes in helping riders gain the most from every ride they take. Hundreds of RBR roadies are already benefiting.

In Training for Busy Cyclists, Coach Ertl shares his proven methods for becoming a stronger, faster cyclist in just 3-5 hours of training per week. And because he knows that almost no one can ride as much as they'd like, he shows how to find more time for cycling in a busy life.

In 101 Cycling Workouts, Coach Ertl guarantees that you'll never again feel stuck in a rut or become bored with training. This eBook provides an almost endless variety of ways to stay motivated and keep improving -- on the bike and when crosstraining or weight training.

"The important thing to remember," Coach Ertl contends, "is to continue to stress your body in new and different ways. That's how you will improve -- by continually changing your routine and throwing different workouts at your body."

Both eBooks help you make it happen. To read excerpts and see the tables of content, visit the RBR eBookstore. Order today and download instantly from your RBR account. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

ROAD RACING ROUNDUP

Gleaned from news sources worldwide. Credited where exclusive.

• The checks are in the mail for Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer and their Astana teammates. The riders haven't been paid in about a month, but Kazakhstan's cycling federation said today it will resume paying salaries now that it has received money owed by sponsors. As explained in an Associated Press report, Team Astana (named after Kazakhstan's capital city) receives most of its financial support from Kazakh state holding com pany Sam ruk-Kazyna, which has been slammed in the global financial crisis. When Air Astana dropped sponsorship, it was rumored that the team might be disbanded. The salary situation does not affect Lance Armstrong, who is riding without pay during his comeback year.

• Lance Armstrong twittered that he found the Masters golf tournament more exciting than the 107th Paris-Roubaix. Jeez, maybe he does need another dope test. Tom Boonen was a monster on the cobblestones, attacking at several key moments and then soloing for the final 15 km (9.3 miles) to win his third Hell of the North in epic fashion. In doing so Boonen (Quick Step) defeated his spring nemesis, Katusha's Filippo Pozzato, who was within 10 seconds of the flying Belgian but couldn't bridge and wound up 47 seconds behind after the 259 km (160 miles).

"The Belgian fans were not very polite out there," rem arked the Italian. "I got spat on by som eone. You have to consider all those police and photographer motorbikes protecting Boonen. He might have had a little bit of slipstream, but I only had one bike on my side." W e're not buying that and Tornado Tom isn't either, terming this Paris-Roubaix victory the "most beautiful" of his 3. ______

Overheard: "I don't want to go out like that. I thought about it at the end of the race with 20 kilometers to go, and I still feel good and I know that I can go with the best in this race." -- George Hincapie, 44th and unsatisfied after a ruinous rear-wheel flat, indicating that at age 36 he may be back for another race to Roubaix. ______

• Paris-Roubaix is notoriously brutal on equipment, so it's always interesting to see the modifications pro mechanics make to team bikes. James Huang of cyclingnews.com has written a detailed report with dozens of revealing photos at http://tinyurl.com/d4r5yj

• Alessandro Petacchi (LPR) won the Scheldeprijs semi-classic in Belgium yesterday but grabbing headlines were crash injuries suffered by Robbie McEwen and Tom Boonen. McEwen (Katusha) was reported the worst hurt, complaining of "pain everywhere" -- head, neck and chest. Boonen, fresh off his Paris-Roubaix victory and headed for vacation after this race, was bleeding from legs and arms but worried most about his right foot. "I can't put any weight on it," said the Quick Step captain. "It might be broken or it could be that I've hurt the tendons." Both stars went down among a dozen riders in the race-ending sprint. Notable in third place was Canada's Dominque Rollin (Cervelo), earning his first podium spot in European racing.

• Alejandro Valverde won the Klasika Primavera for the third tim e, defeating Spanish rival Egoi Martinez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in a small-group sprint. "I am happy that I go on winning races in spite of all that happens around me," said the Caisse d'Epargne captain, referring to the recent calls for his suspension for suspected involvement in blood doping.

• Alberto Contador turned a slim lead into a solid victory in the Tour of Basque Country (Vuelta al Pais Vasco) as he won the final-stage time trial. The Team Astana captain covered the 24-km (14.9-mile) course in 31:59. Only Antonio Colom (Katusha) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) were within a minute of Contador in the TT and they filled the other podium places. "It's incredible how I continue to progress in my time trial work," said Contador. "I am a typical climber. In theory we are not so strong in the time trial. This gives me confidence for the next goal, the Tour de France." Among Tour rivals beaten soundly in the TT by the young Spaniard were Michael Rogers (Columbia) at 1:09, Christian Vande Velde (Garmin) at 1:22, Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) at 1:25 and Carlos Sastre (Cervelo) at 2:11.

• Chris Horner is back in the States after a frightening crash in the Tour of Basque Country. In the 4th of the 6 stages, the Team Astana super domestique was descending behind teammate Daniel Navarro when Novarro's chain broke, instantly causing him to lose speed. Horner rode into his rear wheel and both spun down, Chris sliding under a metal guardrail. Miraculously, he wasn't seriously hurt but shoulder damage meant his race was done (Novarro was able to continue). Horner, 37, hopes to mend in time to start the Giro d'Italia on May 9.

• Speaking of the Giro, organizers have changed stage 10 so it will take place entirely in Italy rather than dipping into France. Reasons include closed mountain roads due to avalanche threats but the move also eliminates the risk of French authorities banning Lance Armstrong from racing in the country and, thus, forcing him out of the Giro. Stage 10 (May 19) is one of the Giro's longest at 260 km (161 miles). It will now bypass the Col d'Izoard and have 3 classified climbs instead of 5.

• Daniel Navarro's broken chain was the second reported in a week, and it appears both were 10-speed models from SRAM. Navarro's Astana team uses SRAM components, as does Saxo Bank, which saw Fabian Cancellara break his chain on one of the Tour of Flanders' short, steep hills. According to cyclingnews.com, the day after Cancellara's mishap Saxo Bank mechanics were seen installing Dura-Ace chains on all the bikes.

• Quick Step, currently the world's top-ranked team, will compete in the Sept. 7-13 Tour of Missouri. The Belgian squad of Tom Boonen joins ProTour teams Garmin, Columbia, Astana, Cervelo and Liquigas in the third edition of the stage race, which this year travels east from St. Louis to Kansas City. Fifteen teams (7 still to be named) will compete in 4 point-to-point races, 2 circuit races and an individual time trial. o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o o^o

JIM'S TECH TALK

Tubeless Road Update, Pt. 2

I rode on road tubeless -- Shimano 7801-SL wheels shod with Hutchinson Fusion 2 tires -- for many months without using sealant. (See last week's Tech Talk.) But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of having an automatic flat-repair mechanism.

So I added about a tablespoon per tire of the secret sauce known as Stan's Tire and Rim Sealant from NoTubes.com (about $14 per pint or 0.47 liter).

As the name indicates, there is a second benefit: Stan's seals tires more com pletely on the rim so air pressure doesn't need to be topped off before every ride, as I had to do pre-sealant.

Stan's sealant is easy to install but it does mean you need to deal with milky liquid when putting in an emergency tube, should you manage to gash a tire so badly that the stuff can't work. Of course, for most punctures it will work, so the potential mess isn't a big issue.

Note: To physically patch a hole in a Fusion 2 tubeless tire you need to use Hutchinson's special patch kit. A regular tube patch kit will not work.

It's important to use a "safe" sealant. Some contain corrosive chemicals that can damage aluminum rims or certain alloys like the Scandium that Shimano uses for its tubeless wheels. Shimano warned me about this, and recently VeloNews tech guru Lennard Zinn has been reporting on the issue here. Stan's sealant is safe.

Shimano's newest tubeless wheelset, 7850-SL, is com patible with 9- and 10-speed cassettes and will accept Ultegra. The wheels I own, 7801-SL, accept only a Dura-Ace 10-speed cassette, an expensive requirement.

Two other 7850-SL improvements include a titanium cassette body and tangentially laced spokes left and right, compared to the older 7801-SL's alloy body and radial right-side spoking. Actually, the 7801-SL wheels have been bombproof for me, so the spoke pattern hasn't been an issue. Shimano says it was changed to improve efficiency.

Unfortunately, we're still locked into a single tire model until those rumored to be in the works start becoming available. Hutchinson's Atom is promising because it's supposedly 65 grams lighter than the Fusion 2 that we tubeless fans are forced to ride. Although the Fusion 2 bites hard and has a wonderfully compliant ride, it squares off somewhat quickly for a $65 tire, and at 330 grams it weighs a bit much for race rubber.

Here's the question I'm asked most about road tubeless: Is it possible to convert standard clincher wheels to the system?

The answer is yes, provided you stick with a true tubeless tire (i.e., the Fusion 2). You need the special locking beads to keep it safely on the rim. You will need to seal the internal spoke holes with Stan's rim strips, use a dedicated valve and add a dose of sealant to help seat and seal the tire. (All this is available at http://www.notubes.com.)

I haven't tried using standard clincher rim s but I'm told the setup works fine. I wonder, though, if you'd have the same positive experience riding on a flat. Tubeless rims have the advantage of a bead lock that grips the special tubeless tire beads to keep flat tires in place and ridable.

A standard rim with a tubeless tire containing slippery sealant seems like a roll-off waiting to happen. But I would expect ride quality to be nearly the same as on a tubeless rim, assuming you're converting quality lightweight wheels.

Two years ago I finished my review of road tubeless by calling it a nearly perfect new system that will make any bicycle, even the trickest dream machine, ride significantly better.

I still feel that if you're not on tubeless you're missing out on the best road ride going. If you have a friend who has the wheels and would let you borrow them, or if you can arrange a test ride at your local shop, I think you'll be as impressed as I am. I'll soon be upgrading my other main road ride, a Litespeed Vortex, to tubeless.

(Ed. notes: The Dura-Ace 7801-SL and 7850-SL wheelsets have an MSRP of $1,100. Also, see the comments at the end of last week's newsletter for useful feedback on Pt. 1 of Jim 's Tech Talk on road tubeless.)

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TRY THIS ON YOUR NEXT RIDE

Organize the Group

Lots of springtime group rides are going off in North America. Finally! These rides are where we meet friends, do some miles and test our sprint for road signs. They're the basis of cycling culture.

There's one catch: To enjoy a group ride, you have to stay with the group.

It's no fun to hang on for 30 minutes only to get shelled on the first hill and spend the rest of the miles alone. But if you're a stronger rider, it's tedious to pedal slowly just to keep everyone together.

Here are 5 pointers for group rides, the goals being (a) no one gets dropped, and (b) everyone has fun.

• Find the right group. Ideally, it won't be more than 15% too fast or too slow for your present fitness. A big group may need to be split into 2 or 3 smaller ones to accommodate everyone. Pro teams routinely do this in early-season training. The faster group contains riders peaking for the spring classics; the slower one is looking at races later in the season.

• Follow the leader. Every group needs a rider who sets the rules and politely sees that they're followed. Here's a key one: "No one will be dropped except on hills, and then we'll ride easy till everyone is back on."

• Designate the tow trucks. The strongest riders should pull the group together if it splits. For example, the group hits a headwind and 3 riders are dangling at 50 meters. The group slows and 2 strong guys drop back to tow the dropped riders into contact.

• Do more work. If you're a relatively strong rider, get a good workout by spending more time at the front, which gives others a helpful draft. Or, ride to the side of the group in the wind instead of drafting. Help weaker riders up a tough hill with a hand on the small of their back. (Ask first if it's okay.)

• Do less work. If you're concerned about the ride's speed or distance, don't pull at the front. If you do, take very short turns. Get maximum draft. Climb at your own pace on hills. You don't have to go anaerobic trying to stay in contact when you know the group will slow or provide a tow.

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Ok, enough for now - let's ride! Remember, be careful - we really do have to look out for each other!

Hal

Harold L. Downing ______

Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A. 329 Park Avenue North Second Floor Winter Park, Florida 32789 407 423 4246 phone 407 645 3728 fax