Prologue - February 14: Sacramento (ITT), 3.9 km/2.4 mi

A who's who of sprint time trialists. With all the fuss over the Team Columbia's TT rides - they appeared to have done quite well.

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank                4.32.9 (50.294 km/h)
2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana                          0.01.2
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream             0.02.7
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad         0.02.8
5 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervélo TestTeam                   0.03.1
6 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad        0.03.4
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step                                                     
8 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - Highroad           0.04.1
9 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Slipstream                  0.04.2
10 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana                         0.04.3
11 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - Highroad        0.04.9

" . . . For the second year-in-a-row Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) has come to the Tour of California and opened up with a prologue win, covering the short but technical (that means it had 4 corners) 3.9 km course around California's capital at just over 51.62 kph (32.1 mph) (cyclingnews.com).

“It was like being in the Tour de France out there on the course today,” said Cancellara. “The last time I raced in front of so many people was in London last year."

All well known names we could have guessed at; I hear Svein Tuft is a character, like the kid from "Into The Wild" - someone to watch.

The Kid can Ride a Bike

just as Len Pettyjohn reported yesterday . . . the news is out - Phinney does it again.

Phinney breaks US kilometer time trial record

Phinney follows pursuit record with record kilo time

16 hours ago

PARIS (AFP) — Teenaged track cycling tyro Taylor Phinney added lustre to his new American record in the individual pursuit by winning the four-lap kilometre event at the World Cup event in Copenhagen Saturday.

Phinney, the son of former road professional Davis Phinney and former women's world pursuit champion Connie Carpenter, is going from strength to strength one month ahead of the world championships in Poland.

On Friday, Phinney set a new national record of 4min 15.223sec in qualifying for the 4km pursuit.

A day later the 18-year-old set another national record by winning the kilometre ahead of respected Frenchman Michael d'Almeida in a time of 1:01.641.

Phinney clocked a winning time of 1:01.641 to win the gold medal and eclipse the old US national record of 1:01.825 set by Erin Hartwell in Colorado Springs in 1995.

D'Almeida, a silver medal winner in the non-Olympic event at last year's world championships in Manchester, finished second in 1:02.071.

Hopefully Neal Henderson can give us a more detailed report of Taylor's success when all the numbers are in - now there is a watts graph we'd all like to see.
.

Local Boy Does Good

For anyone interested in some great local news . . .

Phinney shatters US pursuit record (scroll down)

. . . US National Team member Taylor Phinney shattered the American national record in the men's 4,000m individual pursuit on Friday at the UCI Track World Cup in Denmark. Phinney, clocked a time of 4:15.223 in the qualifying round, surpassing the previous mark of 4:19.800 set by Mariano Friedick in 1996. (from cyclingnews.com 02/14/09)

The Blue Team?

In honor of our 24 degree cold weather day, Valentine's Day, and the Big Race happening today in California - I give you The Blue Team . . . in pink?

In the days of the "Vet"


Back when Masters were called Vets (Veterans) [those are not the Dolomites - those are the Flatirons]

The year was 1984, when the current Boulder Masters Cycling Team first evolved from its origins as part of the "Ride em Cowboys" racing team (there has to be a good story there.) to REC's 1/2 team and their new sponsor Univega and Pedal Pushers Cyclery. The team went on to change jersey color that year to White (good decision). How they started wearing our true blue color and gained other sponsorship will be another story, someday.

In the photo are 3 of the 4 original team members of what is now BMCT. Can anyone name the original 3? Those 3 men still ride with the Blue Team today. Recognize anyone else? (click on the image for a larger view).

Thank you Brad Wallace for a peek back in time (oops, did I just give away 1 of the 3?!) and Thank you to whomever decided to change the team color to Blue.

Photos from the Track

This is what it is like to stand by and watch a BMCT rider ride the track. Fast.


This it what it must feel like to ride the track.


Although they appear to be standing still and not moving very fast.

(Click on the image for a larger view) See more pictures of BMCT on the Velodrome on 02/05/09 at this link David Russel Phtography Check back in coming weeks he will be adding many more images.

The Andy is with the Other Andy

And both send a greeting of Hi to BMCT from Sacramento, California where they are currently in preparation for the Tour of California which begins tomorrow February 14.

And by The Andy - I mean our Andy - Andy Pruitt. We miss him and wish him well.

And good luck to the other Andy too.

(The photo of The Andy, Andy Schleck, and Bjarne Riis is from cyclingnews.com and was taken by Shane Stokes)

Anyone Going to the Tour of California 2009?

Amgen Tour of California: Feb 14-22, 2009
9-days, 750-mile course from Sacramento to Escondido
Tour of California Website

WHERE will they be racing in 2009
Sat 02.14.09 Prologue: Sacramento
Sun 02.15.09 Davis to Santa Rosa
Mon 02.16.09 Sausalito to Santa Cruz
Tues 02.17.09 San José to Modesto
Wed 02.18.09 Merced to Clovis
Thr 02.19.09 Visalia to Paso Robles
Fri 02.20.09 Solvang (ITT)
Sat 02.21.09 Santa Clarita to Pasadena
Sun 02.22.09 Rancho Bernardo to Escondido

WHO will be Racing in 2009
17 teams represent the strongest field that they have had at the Amgen Tour of California.
2009 Amgen Tour of California roster
Among the 17 Teams will be:
- 2 TDF Champions
- 11 World Champions
- 17 TDF Stage Winners
- 7 Olympic Medalists
- 26 Olympians
- 25 National Champions
- 7 Current National Champions
- 8 Major American Race Champions

Just because I like naming names . . . Armstrong, Leipheimer, Horner, Popovych, Sastre, Hushovd, Rollin, Jacque-Maynes, Hincapie, Cavendish, Barry, Rogers, Zajicek, Vande Velde, Danielson, Haedo, Lowe, Farrar, Landis, Pena, Hamilton, McCartney, Zabriskie, and my personal favorites - Boonen!, Andy Schleck!, Frank Schleck, Cancellara!, O'Grady, Basso, and Jens Voigt! (No Contador on the Astana roster, and no David Millar with Slipstream)

View a good stage cheat sheet here
See who is riding on each team here

You can see them all race against each other here in the United States! Is anyone else going? I will be there for 3 stages; at the Finish in Paso Robles, hanging around for the day in Solvang at the ITT, and either on the climb at Angeles Crest Hwy for the Stage from Santa Clarita-Pasadena, or in Escondido depending on the weather. I will send reports or a summary of the fun. If anyone will be there - let me know.

If you can’t make it out to California you can watch it live online or on TV, don't miss it!

WATCH IT Live online!
Tour Tracker
Undoubtedly the most fun you can have online ~ last year it allowed you to pick your riders and track them along the course. Ignore the obnoxious chat room and everything else is great.

Or on the good 'ol Tele
Versus - TV Coverage and Recaps
Interested in watching the Versus TV coverage – view the TV Schedule for ToC

Anyone want to make any predictions on who will win? (add a comment)

Going Round and Round

Velodrome racing started in the 1800’s. Madison Square Garden was actually originally built as a track racing venue. Track racing has varied in popularity over the years but is here to stay in Boulder, CO.

Paul Mack submitted this photo from 1901-02 (he didn't take it).


If you build it they will come (video)




And they do come: every Thursday from 5:00-6:00pm the BMCT practices as a team on the Velodrome at Boulder Indoor Cycling.

Quick Facts:

• Construction: Wood
• Overall Length: 142 meters
• Maximum Banking (corners): 45 degrees
• Minimum Banking (straights): 16 degrees
• Current Lap Record: 8.001 seconds (Colby Pierce)

Wikipedia offers this technical explanation of riding a Velodrome:

• Banking in the turns, called superelevation, allows riders to keep their bikes relatively perpendicular to the surface while riding at speed. When traveling through the turns at racing speed, which may exceed 60 kmh (about 37 mph), the banking attempts to match the natural lean of a bicycle moving through that curve. Therefore, the centripetal acceleration of the combined inertia of bicycle and rider moving in the curved path balances the tangential acceleration pulling them outwards. There is no centrifugal force 'trying' to tilt the bicycle outward, a net normal force acting on the tires through the riding surface.

Or you could just explain it as FUN.

Recent news of Lance Armstrong possibly considering an attempt at breaking the hour record Hour record? Armstrong tests bikes at LA's ADT velodrome

Pacelines – an education

(for the Women on the Team)
In lieu of our delayed Spring Training Camp

A collection of videos and articles on riding a Team Time Trial:

Paceline Perfection of the Tour of California 2006
Watch the UTube Video (watch it several times there is a lot going on)
Toyota United is featured!



2008 Tour de Georgia Team Time Trial Astana
Watch the UTube Video - a little downhill a little uphill

Article in VeloNews.com, By Michael Barry
Michael Barry's Diary: A team effort - from the Vuelta 2006

Article in VeloNews.com, By Ben Delaney
David Millar Talks TTT - practice makes perfect for TTT

Boulder Masters Cycling Team's – Rabbit Mountain Time Trial website
Check out the course map, also click on "see course" for a video of the course

A TTT Video for the Guys on the Team – OH the memories!
Watch the entire UTube video to see some familiar faces
1987 TDF Team Time Trial
(styling - pre aero bars)

And then after you learn it all - watch this video and get psyched!
TdF Team Time Trial Part Deux
(things have changed since 1987, but the effort hasn't)

Long Steady OD/EN Rides

Its February and the weather in Boulder is Great!

Has everyone discovered these websites? There are online mapping tools which can be helpful in mapping out those steady winter/spring bike rides:

Map My Ride and VeloRoutes.org

You may search for an existing route or create a new route. VeloRoutes.org will even track altitude and estimate time by avg mph. These can be helpful tools pre-ride or in mapping a new ride. Once you've ridden it you'll have all the data you need.

Some other mapping sites to map out your new bike route:

Bike Maps:
Memory-map.com
ClimbByBike.com
Bikely.com
EveryTrail.com
General Maps:
ViaMichelin.com
Local Grades:
UCAR- Steepest grades near Boulder

more on Andy Pruitt

Fit specialist Andy Pruitt recently featured on CyclingNews.com

The right fit: Shaping Saxo Bank

excerpts from CyclingNews.com article: Tech feature, February 3, 2009

". . . Comfort, efficiency and performance all matter when it comes to joining rider to bike. The Specialized BG FIT system is being used by the entire Saxo Bank team this season, and represents a significant undertaking by the ProTour squad. Cyclingnews' Shane Stokes watched several key riders undergo the sessions at the team training camp in Portugal.

" . . . The Specialized BG FIT (Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology) process is part of what its exponents would say is a more holistic approach. Led by Dr Andy Pruitt of the Boulder Centre for Sports Medicine, the methods comprise a biomechanical assessment, on-bike analysis and modification of equipment and position to arrive at what they feel is the best possible balance. It utilises video cameras, computer software, limb-mounted sensors plus the expertise of people like Pruitt, a sports physician for 35 years

read the full article here cyclingnews.com - really interesting

To arrange a bike fit from the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine in Boulder, Colorado - call and speak with Avery Marzulla to arrange a fit from Andy Pruitt or Sean Madsen.

Andy Pruitt and Specialized

Anyone Recognize BMCT's Andy Pruitt?



Andy Pruitt is also the author of: Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists

Winning on a Specialized

Specialized is a sponsor of the Boulder Master's Cycling Team

Specialized bikes were ridden by the first and second place winners at the Tour Down Under 2009 in Australia this past month.

• First Place: Quick Step's Allan Davis (Aus) rides a Specialized bike and finished with a time of 19:26:59.
• Second Place: Saxo Bank's Stuart O'Grady(Aus) rides a Specialized bike and finished in 19:27:24.

Davis also won stage 2, 4 and 5 of the TdU.

Both Team Quick Step and Team Saxo Bank will be racing the Specialized Tarmac and Roubaix this year, and Davis had chosen to ride exclusively Specialized gear from head to toe, including power-boosting Body Geometry (BG) S-Works road shoes and the blood-flow enhancing BG Toupé saddle. Davis also relies on the S-Works helmet–the lightest helmet to meet stringent CPSC standards–and light-sensing Miura optics with Adaptalite technology.

The same bikes and cycling equipment are used by the BMCT. Thank you Specialized.

Crank Arm Length

165.0cm or 170.0cm

Sizes 49cm, 52cm, 54cm = 165.0cm
Sizes 56cm, 58cm, 61cm = 170.0cm

Check out the full geometry of the Fuji Track Comp Bike. This is the model of track bikes available for use at the new Velodrome in Boulder, Colorado. With the bike frame sizes listed above. As we all know - traditional road bikes are not permitted on the Boulder Indoor Cycling (BIC) Velodrome in Boulder.
Why:

• Crank Arm Length (may be too long)
  
• Brakes (not needed or allowed)
  

BIC has an entire fleet of track bicycles provided by Fuji available for use. Those that own their own track bikes will be permitted to use them once approved by BIC's staff.

Features of a track bike include:

1. higher bottom bracket
2. possibly shorter crank arms
3. fixed gear
4. no brakes

For some reason there are only 22 velodromes in the entire U.S.A. Compare that to the 28 velodromes in Spain, 52 in Japan, 31 in Italy, 37 in Germany and 43 in France.

Read more about Certification, Rules, and Track Schedule here: Boulder Indoor Cycling
3550 Frontier Avenue, Suite A, Boulder, CO 80301, 303-CYCLING (303.292.5464).

An added comment from Scott Rost:

• one critical spec for the track bike is to have a bottom bracket height of at least 28.5 cm (measured from the ground to the center of the BB) while using 172.5 cranks.