They should make this a t-shirt. Until then..you can get the next best thing at http://cutawayclothing.bigcartel.com/product/haymarket-maple-program-hoodie
From Hero to Zero
The upcoming election has YGD inspired. Here's a little something I thought of while bunny hoppin a log last night. Enjoy and feel free to spread around. This has probably been done before...uh..4 years ago so give me some slack, ok?
From Greg Lemond
If you are on the FaceTweet, you probably saw this a couple days ago. I haven't been near the computer lately so I didn't have time to post it. Greg is the man. I'm not down with boycotting racing for a year but almost everything else is pretty doable and legit.
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Can anyone help me out? I know this sounds kind of lame but I am not well versed in social marketing. I would like to send a message to everyone that really loves cycling. I do not use twitter and do not have an organized way of getting some of my own "rage" out. I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign. I have never seen such an abuse of power in cycl
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Can anyone help me out? I know this sounds kind of lame but I am not well versed in social marketing. I would like to send a message to everyone that really loves cycling. I do not use twitter and do not have an organized way of getting some of my own "rage" out. I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign. I have never seen such an abuse of power in cycl
ing's history- resign Pat if you love cycling. Resign even if you hate the sport.
Pat McQuaid, you know dam well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign.
I have a file with what I believe is well documented proof that will exonerate Paul.
Pat in my opinion you and Hein are the corrupt part of the sport. I do not want to include everyone at the UCI because I believe that there are many, maybe most that work at the UCI that are dedicated to cycling, they do it out of the love of the sport, but you and your buddy Hein have destroyed the sport.
Pat, I thought you loved cycling? At one time you did and if you did love cycling please dig deep inside and remember that part of your life- allow cycling to grow and flourish- please! It is time to walk away. Walk away if you love cycling.
As a reminder I just want to point out that you recently you accused me of being the cause of USADA's investigation against Lance Armstrong. Why would you be inclined to go straight to me as the "cause"? Why shoot the messenger every time?
Every time you do this I get more and more entrenched. I was in your country over the last two weeks and I asked someone that knows you if you were someone that could be rehabilitated. His answer was very quick and it was not good for you. No was the answer, no, no , no!
The problem for sport is not drugs but corruption. You are the epitome of the word corruption.
You can read all about Webster's definition of corruption. If you want I can re-post my attorney's response to your letter where you threaten to sue me for calling the UCI corrupt. FYI I want to officially reiterate to you and Hien that in my opinion the two of your represent the essence of corruption.
I would encourage anyone that loves cycling to donate and support Paul in his fight against the Pat and Hein and the UCI. Skip lunch and donate the amount that you would have spent towards that Sunday buffet towards changing the sport of cycling.
I donated money for Paul's defense, and I am willing to donate a lot more, but I would like to use it to lobby for dramatic change in cycling. The sport does not need Pat McQuaid or Hein Verbruggen- if this sport is going to change it is now. Not next year, not down the road, now! Now or never!
People that really care about cycling have the power to change cycling- change it now by voicing your thought and donating money towards Paul Kimmage's defense, ( Paul, I want to encourage you to not spend the money that has been donated to your defense fund on defending yourself in Switzerland. In my case, a USA citizen, I could care less if I lost the UCI's bogus lawsuit. Use the money to lobby for real change).
If people really want to clean the sport of cycling up all you have to do is put your money where your mouth is.
Don't buy a USA Cycling license. Give up racing for a year, just long enough to put the UCI and USA cycling out of business. We can then start from scratch and let the real lovers in cycling direct where and how the sport of cycling will go.
Please make a difference.
Greg
Pat McQuaid, you know dam well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign.
I have a file with what I believe is well documented proof that will exonerate Paul.
Pat in my opinion you and Hein are the corrupt part of the sport. I do not want to include everyone at the UCI because I believe that there are many, maybe most that work at the UCI that are dedicated to cycling, they do it out of the love of the sport, but you and your buddy Hein have destroyed the sport.
Pat, I thought you loved cycling? At one time you did and if you did love cycling please dig deep inside and remember that part of your life- allow cycling to grow and flourish- please! It is time to walk away. Walk away if you love cycling.
As a reminder I just want to point out that you recently you accused me of being the cause of USADA's investigation against Lance Armstrong. Why would you be inclined to go straight to me as the "cause"? Why shoot the messenger every time?
Every time you do this I get more and more entrenched. I was in your country over the last two weeks and I asked someone that knows you if you were someone that could be rehabilitated. His answer was very quick and it was not good for you. No was the answer, no, no , no!
The problem for sport is not drugs but corruption. You are the epitome of the word corruption.
You can read all about Webster's definition of corruption. If you want I can re-post my attorney's response to your letter where you threaten to sue me for calling the UCI corrupt. FYI I want to officially reiterate to you and Hien that in my opinion the two of your represent the essence of corruption.
I would encourage anyone that loves cycling to donate and support Paul in his fight against the Pat and Hein and the UCI. Skip lunch and donate the amount that you would have spent towards that Sunday buffet towards changing the sport of cycling.
I donated money for Paul's defense, and I am willing to donate a lot more, but I would like to use it to lobby for dramatic change in cycling. The sport does not need Pat McQuaid or Hein Verbruggen- if this sport is going to change it is now. Not next year, not down the road, now! Now or never!
People that really care about cycling have the power to change cycling- change it now by voicing your thought and donating money towards Paul Kimmage's defense, ( Paul, I want to encourage you to not spend the money that has been donated to your defense fund on defending yourself in Switzerland. In my case, a USA citizen, I could care less if I lost the UCI's bogus lawsuit. Use the money to lobby for real change).
If people really want to clean the sport of cycling up all you have to do is put your money where your mouth is.
Don't buy a USA Cycling license. Give up racing for a year, just long enough to put the UCI and USA cycling out of business. We can then start from scratch and let the real lovers in cycling direct where and how the sport of cycling will go.
Please make a difference.
Greg
Jared Nieters Tests Positive...
...For his love of maple syrup!
From Jared's Facebook:
"Do you like maple syrup? Do you like the SEAVS/Haymarket cyclocross team? Do you like clothes? If you can answer yes to one of the questions above, buy a t-shirt and help our cyclocross team get to nationals!."
http://cutawayclothing.bigcartel.com/product/haymarket-maple-program
I normally don't pimp out other people's stuff but this shirt is pretty dope AND it helps get the Hayseeders one step closer to nationals. YGD ordered the hoodie. Now..just waiting for Haymarket to sell it's own brand of maple syrup. I'd buy that!
From Jared's Facebook:
"Do you like maple syrup? Do you like the SEAVS/Haymarket cyclocross team? Do you like clothes? If you can answer yes to one of the questions above, buy a t-shirt and help our cyclocross team get to nationals!."
http://cutawayclothing.bigcartel.com/product/haymarket-maple-program
I normally don't pimp out other people's stuff but this shirt is pretty dope AND it helps get the Hayseeders one step closer to nationals. YGD ordered the hoodie. Now..just waiting for Haymarket to sell it's own brand of maple syrup. I'd buy that!
You know you are in 'merica.....
....when you see this at a sporting event!
Seen at DCCX. Hello cycling fans. Cross is officially mainstream. Either that, or this dude is getting ready to fix my sink.
Seen at DCCX. Hello cycling fans. Cross is officially mainstream. Either that, or this dude is getting ready to fix my sink.
DROPPAGE OF EPIC PROPORTION
Stripped of SEVEN Tour Victories and a lifetime ban from the sport.
Think Lance will ever admit he cheated?
"I still want to make out with Lance. This is my weapon of choice"
Sike..this is what Pat McQuad really said:
“Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling,” UCI president Pat McQuaid said. In accepting the USADA's decision to ban Armstrong, the UCI has wiped out nearly over a decade of results and changed cycling history.
"Armstrong deserves to be forgotten in cycling now,” McQuaid said at a press conference in Geneva Monday midday.
Rabobank Droppage - Lance's Fault
Hey Lance! Thanks for all you're doing for CYCLING!
Rabobank stops cycling team sponsorship
19th Oct 2012 | 07:37
2012 will be its last season
This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.
Rabobank has ended its long association with cycling in wake of the USADA case into doping at US Postal. The Dutch bank cited the reason for announcing that it would end professional sponsorship of its professional men's and women's teams at the end of this season. The Dutch bank announced that sponsorship of both pro teams would end on December 31 2012, potentially leaving dozens of riders and staff without a team for next season.
However Cyclingnews understands that the teams will attempt to continue but without Rabobank cooperation, using a similar model used by High Road after T-Mobile pulled out of the sport in 2007. Along with the USADA case that suggested doping within the team, on Thursday the UCI opened a biological passport case against Carlos Barredo.
"The Rabobank cycling team regrets Rabobank’s decision to stop its sponsorship of the men’s professional cycling team. The team was informed about the reasons and understands the decision. We’ve been cycling for 17 years now with the name Rabobank proudly on our shirts and it hurts that going forward we’ll have to do without that name," the team said in a statement.
"The cycling team is very grateful to Rabobank for the 17 years of loyal sponsorship. The sport of cycling should be grateful to Rabobank for all the efforts it has made in the past years to put Dutch cycling on the map successfully. Through Rabobank, many talents have had the chance to reach their potential.
"We are confident that Rabobank will take good care of the cyclists and staff members of Rabobank Wielerploegen BV in the finalisation of this matter."
Rabobank came into the sport in 1996, replacing Word Perfect as Jan Raas title sponsor.
Full statement from Rabobank
Rabobank will end its sponsorship of both the men's and the women's professional cycling teams per 31 December 2012. Rabobank will continue its ties with amateur cycling as a sponsor, including the youth training and the cyclocross team.
Rabobank has come to this decision following publication of the report from the American doping authority USADA last week. This report speaks volumes. Bert Bruggink, member of the Managing Board: "It is with pain in our heart, but for the bank this is an inevitable decision. We are no longer convinced that the international professional world of cycling can make this a clean and fair sport. We are not confident that this will change for the better in the foreseeable future."
Rabobank started its involvement in cycling 17 years ago. Full of conviction and with a clear mission. Because cycling fits with Rabobank, with its clients and employees. Rabobank has expanded the cycling sponsorship during the course of the years to a complete package, from the men's and women's professional teams to the youth team and the cyclo cross.
Bert Bruggink: "Cycling is a beautiful sport, which millions of Dutch people enjoy and a large number of those Dutch people are clients of Rabobank. But our decision stands: we are pulling out of professional cycling. It is painful. Not just for Rabobank, but especially for the enthusiasts and the cyclists who are not to blame in this."
Lance Armstrong's ID
Now that the blueprint for cheating and doping is out there, I am begging all competitive cyclists to not use the methods described in Tyler Hamilton's book, the USADA transcripts, or any of the various media outlets you have read; certainly not the latest issue of Cracked.
I'm not joking. There will be more local drug usage this year in USA Cycling than ever before if testing on the local level isn't implemented.
I once gave Floyd Landis the distinction of Douchebag of the Week. While setting up the Floyd Fairness Fund was pretty douchey, I do have to give the guy credit for being one crazy motherfucker with Twitter and the general media. Lance Camp's mishandling of Floyd was the start of public accusations from
People have been asking me to do a post on the Lance Armstrong/USADA thing for a long time. I've been reluctant because I (even me) doesn't see the humor in the effect this has had on the sport I love. Besides, making fun of this situation is too easy and I want to be done with it all. Let's move on and let this whole saga continue to write itself. Lance Armstrong is having everything he
Now..the biggest name in our cycling generation is getting dropped. Not by others on the road but by those that have supported him over the years. His former teammates and competitors have spoken out against him. Now, his sponsors are dropping left and right and estimates are saying that he will loose up to $30 million. That also kind of works for me.
He has stepped down as chair of his Livestrong organization. This leads me to question WHY his sponsors are sticking with Livestrong? I believe that some additional details will surface that will show that Armstrong was using Livestrong to not only cover up his guilty conscious and have the foundation serve as a mechanism to point to every single time he got accused (how many times have we heard "I'm not going to abandon the millions of cancer survivors...."), but we have to question if Livestrong may have served as a financial distributor to doping legal costs or even doping itself. Just sayin'.
There are other great cancer organizations to donate to. I urge those companies to donate to those organizations rather than Livestrong. I know I will until I hear Lance say this:
Another One Bites the Dust
Cross is here. For some, just a fun way to stay in shape over the fall and winter. For others, it's cut throat racing with hours of saddle time, strict dieting and countless hours of gluing tubular tires on the line. When things go pear-shaped for some riders and when other riders behind them have video cameras mounted to their whips and then post on YouTube and Facebook, ol' YGD gets a hold of it and the old blog comes out of it's annual fall hibernation. Enjoy!
Wait for it....
Also, have I mentioned that I have a huge inventory of socks and they are perfect for cross? I didn't? Well, I do and they are for sale now. Click the store button in the upper right corner of this page and get your high cuff sock fix today. Word.
Wait for it....
Also, have I mentioned that I have a huge inventory of socks and they are perfect for cross? I didn't? Well, I do and they are for sale now. Click the store button in the upper right corner of this page and get your high cuff sock fix today. Word.
Be Like Bickling*
You Got Dropped high cuff socks by SockGuy are now available at the YGD Store. These are also known as 'eff you' socks by some. So tall. So Hot. Get some.
*Our supermodel isn't paid nor does he endorse the products of YGD. He is simply a road racer/cyclocross racer/mountain bike racer/dentist/camelback-wearer/cheese eater who bought some and was fortunate enough for us to capture in action.
YGD #tannage #doping #donate
Yikes! It's been a couple weeks since an update. A lot happening. Dudes are getting busted at Gran Fondos, Dudes are dropping like flies at Giro and Lost River. Dudes are more burned out from racing than Shaggy is after an all night mystery caper.
Wanted to drop a line and award the Hains Point Thigh High the coveted YGD Pint Glass for his dominant display of tannage. I know who you are...but don't have your address. Send it over to me and I'll get this out ASAP.
I don't want to beat a dead horse about David Anthony, the guy that got busted with EPO in his veins at Grand Fondo NYC, but I think this is his Facebook page. Make sure you stop by there and give him some words of 'support.'
I also want to make sure my readers are aware of a local campaign to raise funds for local drug controls at Mid-Atlantic Racing. Please make sure you stop by and check out what John is doing. Basically, he is trying to raise funds to have a local anti-doping control at at least one local race in 2013 and will soon be in the fundraising mode.You are lucky that an individual has taken this upon himself (because nobody else has).
We don't make a ton of money here selling socks and shirts and whatnot but we would like to start donating at least $1 for every unit sold starting immediately. So..now you can buy from YGD and be snarky and smug at the same time without having to buy a hybrid vehicle. It's not gonna be a lot, but it gonna be something.
Wanted to drop a line and award the Hains Point Thigh High the coveted YGD Pint Glass for his dominant display of tannage. I know who you are...but don't have your address. Send it over to me and I'll get this out ASAP.
I don't want to beat a dead horse about David Anthony, the guy that got busted with EPO in his veins at Grand Fondo NYC, but I think this is his Facebook page. Make sure you stop by there and give him some words of 'support.'
I also want to make sure my readers are aware of a local campaign to raise funds for local drug controls at Mid-Atlantic Racing. Please make sure you stop by and check out what John is doing. Basically, he is trying to raise funds to have a local anti-doping control at at least one local race in 2013 and will soon be in the fundraising mode.You are lucky that an individual has taken this upon himself (because nobody else has).
We don't make a ton of money here selling socks and shirts and whatnot but we would like to start donating at least $1 for every unit sold starting immediately. So..now you can buy from YGD and be snarky and smug at the same time without having to buy a hybrid vehicle. It's not gonna be a lot, but it gonna be something.
Tanline Contest Open
Hains Point Thigh High
Virginia Ginger
Emergency Room Tan
Altitude Tannage
Watch Tan
Mod Tan
Andrew Steele
We'll keep the poll up for a week and announce the winner shortly after. Remember a YGD Pint Glass in on the line. BIG MONEY!! In the meantime, work on your calf tanlines with the brand new You Got Dropped 5 inch cuffed crew sock which just dropped in our store (upper right hand of this page) now. They look like dis:
Douchebag of the Week
It's been a long time since we had a 'douchebag of the week.' We'll probably have more as the Tour de France unfolds and new doping allegations come forth. Don't even get us started on Ricco right now. Another level.
The MABRA list had a golden nugget of douchebaggery. Dan posts:
The MABRA list had a golden nugget of douchebaggery. Dan posts:
Are there any steps that can be taken when a race-promoter does not provide the results to USA cycling and does not respond to emails asking why not?
It sucks to pay money for race registration, finish well and not have the results acknowledged on USA cycling.
Anyone have any luck contacting USA cycling in these situations?
The race in question was the Bryan Park Circuit Race on Saturday June 16th.
Thanks,
Dan
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Rather than complaining about your results you should be kissing the feet of the promoter, the usacycling officials and me for making local cycling awesome. The promoter is probably busy with his day-job, maybe his family, and other things that aren't related to cycling. YGD agrees that it is awesome to have results posted on USA Cycling the evening or day after the race but it shouldn't be expected. Have you ever tried to submit a spreadsheet to USA Cycling after a race. It's rocket surgery. Most promoters aren't doing this full-time and it's basically a volunteer gig that MIGHT put some funds in their team's coffers. Get over it and buy a t shirt from us...we have them in pink now. Also, triple spaced on your rebuttal. Well done.
Reality Check of the Day - You Aren't As Bad Ass as This Guy
See this guy?
In my opinion, he's a card-carrying member bad-ass. I don't know if he's dropped those guys behind him or what...but he's certainly riding over some terrain and they are pushing their bike up. If anybody has an ID on the race and, most importantly, this big fella's name, it would be appreciated.
Also, I'm never going to complain about one-legged iso driills ever again. BAD ASS I SAID!!
ORRRR..photoshopped?
U23 USA Crit Championship - The worst kind of drop
This is just hard to look at. To quote the Cuban Missle Ivan Dominguez's facebook post on the subject "Under 23 Criterium National, this is what happen when you put your hands up way to early, brother at this level of racing you only do that after the finish, I'm sure some people where in pain just by looking at this."
SHOW ME YOUR TANLINES!!!
Ok party people..It's June 21st. The summer soltice. THE longest day of the year. By now, even the gingerist of cyclists have had the opportunity to get their cycling tan on. WE want to see your cycling tan. Free pint glass goes out to the winner. Here the rules:
- You send me your pics to yougotdropped@gmail.com
- I'm gonna post up all the pictures you send
- You gotta identify yourself. (don't be shy)
- I'll set up a good ol' fashioned YGD poll on who has the best darn tanlines in MABRA and let the people vote.
- I'll announce the deadline once I get a sense of entries and my motivation to continue.
- I'll then announce the winner and send them a pint glass via USPS.
- Extra points for watch and glove tanlines.
- If you are freckly or have red hair AND have awesome tanlines, you might have this locked up.
Motivational Photo of the Day
Leonardtown Crit. . These are the things that should motivate us.
Sure, it's awesome to stare at victory salutes from pros in Europe for inspiration. However, you must take that first step.
Over the winter, next time you all want to skip the 4 hour training ride when it's cold and raining, remember the 2 hour drive to Leonardtown for 20 minutes of racing.
Sure, it's awesome to stare at victory salutes from pros in Europe for inspiration. However, you must take that first step.
Over the winter, next time you all want to skip the 4 hour training ride when it's cold and raining, remember the 2 hour drive to Leonardtown for 20 minutes of racing.
BikeJam: Three Step Program for a Safer Race
What's up people? Did you have a good weekend? Did you get all racey at Wilmington and BikeJam? Are your insides still inside and your outsides still outside? Maybe..Maybe not.
It seems like every year BikeJam comes and goes and every year people bail entirely on the race because of the past history of the race. I mean, this race has a reputation. Of course, many people shun the risk of road rash and post up anyway.
Don't get me wrong. BikeJam is a GREAT event in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Heck, this year even seemed pivotal with the crowd attending. Town alcoholics wondering the field breaking bottles near the course were replaced by young urban twenty somethings playing organized ultimate frisbee. Yippeeee!!!
With that all being said, let's dissect why BikeJam has more than its fair share of casualties. Maybe the officials and promoters could take note.
1. Barriers. Lots and lots of barriers. YGD understands the need to keep people off the course. However, these steel barriers also keep riders inside the course when something 'bad' happens. As far as the eye can see there are barriers. Now..YGD is an environmentally type of guy but this might be one opportunity to use an insane amount of yellow tape and traffic cones..or maybe a human chain of friends holding hands! How many times have you heard "I got bumped into a barrier and then..."
2. Wheel-pit placement. Old YGD was in said BikeJam race and coming along the hill when, all the sudden, he looks up and sees a USA Cycling official entering in a crashed out rider for his free lap. Now, this SEEMS fine but you have to remember the line of sight for the rider coming into the hill is about two or three rear ends. If it wasn't for my catlike reflexes, the world would have ended. I would propose to put the wheel-pit AFTER the start/finish line in the giant empty space to the left before the chicane. Not sure if any crashes happened at that spot, but let's consider this a preventative measure for 2013.
3. Road surface. I know I know..we are LUCKY to have races at all no matter how many potholes and crevices and sand in chicanes there are. This really doesn't bother me too much. I mean, hell, people last week was the Poolesville Road Race with 1.5 miles of gravel each lap. However, considering people's ability to handle their bikes, I must voice concern.
It seems like every year BikeJam comes and goes and every year people bail entirely on the race because of the past history of the race. I mean, this race has a reputation. Of course, many people shun the risk of road rash and post up anyway.
Don't get me wrong. BikeJam is a GREAT event in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Heck, this year even seemed pivotal with the crowd attending. Town alcoholics wondering the field breaking bottles near the course were replaced by young urban twenty somethings playing organized ultimate frisbee. Yippeeee!!!
With that all being said, let's dissect why BikeJam has more than its fair share of casualties. Maybe the officials and promoters could take note.
 |
| totally stolen from Cadence and Cogs blog. Let's take down the barriers!! |
 |
| Even Gingers weren't safe on Sunday. |
 |
| This looks painful. Heal up, Eli. Photo from Evelyn Egizi. Evelyn, stop taking photos of broken people. |
The bumps and cracks I can take. However, I could visually see road sand/dirt in that corner. MAYBE consider putting a guy there with a broom so there aren't so many wash outs?
My last thought of the day is sketchy riders. I'll leave this one out of my official list because it's something that no promoter or official can really control. Ultimately, the safety of the race is up to the racers. Here are a few things that you can do to be considered a sketchy rider by your fellow riders.
- Trying to pinch in to get through a spot that is not there. This is even more annoying when it's during a non-decisive time during the race. Making a move up between a rider and a barrier only separated by 8 inches is stupid.
- Dive-Bombing corners. I could write a whole thesis on this. The first good reason to NOT dive bomb a corner is that you are being a dick. The second reason is that you are actually loosing speed and will have to do more work long term to hold that spot. Stop it. Just keep your place and make your 'move' with your legs, not your idiot brain.
- Moving erratically with your bike. I don't know what this is and why people do it. An example of this is when somebody gets out of the saddle and moves their bike two or three positions to the right or left. Not needed. Another example is when a rider is 'going hard' and his bike wobbles right and left. Is he putting out SO much power that his bike can't handle it. Stop that shit. It's stupid and you look retarded.
That's it for now. My next project will be specifically for our officials and their desire to maintain center-line enforcement no matter how sketchy and risky driving a moto on the opposite side of the road is.
Anatomy of a Crash - NCVC/Cat 4/CX Style!!
What's upppp party people? It's flipping hump day already and ol' YGD is still shaking off the dust from Poolesville Road Race this past weekend. Luckily, all my fillings remained in tact and my bones are inside skin. Sorry!
Mr. Guzeit from NCVC was out with a super telephoto lens taking some pictures of the pain. Dudes were breaking off the front, taking lefts when they should have been taking rights, and...crashing into grass..the BEST kind of crash.
Ahhh..yes. Luckily, Guzeit held his finger down on the trigger and captured a whole scene of NCVC Cat 4 riders overcooking a corner and working on their CX skills. Bravo to everybody involved in this. Looks like everybody is ok so here we go.
Mr. Guzeit from NCVC was out with a super telephoto lens taking some pictures of the pain. Dudes were breaking off the front, taking lefts when they should have been taking rights, and...crashing into grass..the BEST kind of crash.
Ahhh..yes. Luckily, Guzeit held his finger down on the trigger and captured a whole scene of NCVC Cat 4 riders overcooking a corner and working on their CX skills. Bravo to everybody involved in this. Looks like everybody is ok so here we go.
This is the best one of the bunch. The potential for a mass pile up here is huge. The NCVC rider on the bike narrowly misses the downed bike. The body position of the rider off the bike is right out of Black Swan. Since I can read minds, I know that the spectator/photographer located in this photo is thinking. 'WTF?!!'
Guzeit is now holding down his shutter button. Dreams are coming true for me. Many people's eyes would be drawn to the riders. However, my trained YGD eyes are focused to look elsewhere. Check out photog/spectator #2 to the right. She's thinking "should i go right? should i got left? should i breakdance?" Whatever she's thinking, it's probably awesome.
Photog #1 is now at ease of the situation and goes to help. This could have been a big mistake. Meanwhile, spectator #2 decides to bail to her right with what appears to be the dance move The Smurf. ILL!
GW rider sees this as the perfect place to attack out of the corner for Poolesville crowd glory. I'm also tuned in to the guy in the back right corner HOLDING a camera and NOT taking photos. Come on people!! Why else bring a camera to a race other than to capture winning, droppage, or crashes?
Bike is still on the ground. Rider #2 is somewhere in the grass. Now we see a rider next to a phone poll soaking all of this in. I'm a bit jealous.
The county should really come cut this grass.
What is it with Cat 4s sprinting when there is a crash? GW dude is still using throwing down the watts. The reappearance of grassy NCVC rider #2. Crashed NCVC rider decides to casually pick his bike up in the road with one hand. No big deal, bro.
ACTION SHOT!!! Now the NCVC rider #1 has properly picked up his bike..It's time to run on the road and get a sweet remount. NCVC rider #2 (grassy mcgrasserton) is still sprinting in the grass looking to reemerge. GW rider is still out of his saddle. New riders emerge in this photo oblivious to this awesome crash.
Poolesville Tire Choices
Jared Nieters was busy all week thinking about tires and wheels for Poolesville.
Congrats to MABRA nice guy Jose Escobar for his big W at Poolesville RR. J
ared, on the other hand..we congratulate you for orange socks, red shoes, and your green whip.
MABRA.org - a user experience
(the following is a conversation YGD had in his head while surfing the ol' internet recently)
Wow..Can't believe it's May already. There's been something like 10 races in MABRAland already. Let's check and see those results and see how everybody is doing. Ok..it's Mabra.org i think? Here we goooo...
Mabra.org worked but it looks like the url is http://www.mabra.org/index.php. Whatever...that looks pro as hell..looks like i'm on the homepage..maybe? is this the homepage?
Ok....Ummmm...looks like results are listed......nowhere? WTF? Ok..wait...maybe under BAR standings? WTF is BAR? I'll click on it anyway. Recent results..here we go. Ah..Poolesville, great! 'view results'. Why is this screen blank?
Ok..they just must not have updated yet. I'm cool with that. I mean..these people volunteer, right? right? I'll go back to the home page by clicking the MABRA logo. WTF? I'm back on the BAR page which list the upcoming events but not the BAR standings. Ahhh..MABRA Home..here we go.
Oh sweet, look at the picture of John Whittington from NCVC and Ian Birlem riding for Kelley? Hold on..that was like 2003? Brian Butts has that Embastita Jersey! SICK! Wait..YGD getting sidetracked. I wonder if there are any other photos from some of those amazing photographers that litter the listserve and gamjams every Monday morning? hmmmmmmm. Nothing.
Ok...well surely there is a list of who recently got upgraded. Let's celebrate their success! 2011 Annual Meeeting...nope. 2010 Annual Meeting..no. Those links wouldn't have that info but i sure am glad that the meeting notes are at the top of the page so I can easily access that. Man..even in my own head I'm a sarcastic asshole. Where was I?
Ah..MABRA BAR Standings. I kind of care about this. Click. I wonder what races have the most points for BAR? I'll click....Rules? Ok..i'm here. I see 2012 MABRA BAR Rules here. Fuck..it's a pdf. Sigh. Ok..i'll click it. I said..click it!! WHAT THE FRACK!! Nothing works on the god damn website. Maybe they'll have similar rules listed in the 2010 BAR Rules in pdf. Click. WTF..it's a Word document? Opened. HOLY SHIT!! This has more track changes than I am comfortable with even at work. I'm out.
Back on the MABRA homepage. Look, Ramon in Artemis colors at Capital Classic Crit in..2001. Takes me back. Let me click refresh..here we go. Ah Shane Groth at Poolesville in 1998. SWEET!
What if I'm a promoter? Maybe this website is built for promoters to get resources so it makes it easy for them to promote an event. I'll just click 'Promoters.' Here we goooo.. Ah..the Change in Riders Age Demographics from 1989-2004. JUST the document I'd be looking for. Maybe they have...like a manual for first time promoters..or a guide? Here is a sampling of the current PDFs I can download (only 1/3 of them)
2008 Year End Race Analysis (download pdf)
2008 Champions for 2009 Reduced Entries (download pdf)
2007 Champions for 2008 Entries (download pdf)
2006 Champions for 2007 Entries (download pdf)
Women's Series Guidlines - 2007 (download pdf)
2006 Year End Event Analysis (download pdf)
So..the most recent PDF is from 2009 regarding reduced entry? Not helping me here. Why did I come here in the first place? I can't remember. I'm heading over to pronhub now.
YGD Prognosticates - Poolesville Road Race
If Jefferson Cup is MABRA's first Spring Classic, Poolesville Road Race, with its 1.5 mile flat dirt section and punchy rollers is MABRA's Queen of the Local Classics (trademarked, YGD).
Many racers don't regard this race 'hard' but with an attrition rate of often 50%, something must be said for the difficulty. Regardless if it's getting a rear flat, getting caught behind somebody with a flat, or getting a front flat, it's a tough race that can take out the strongest of riders (with flats). All week long, you hear guys on group rides and on the ol' facebook talk about their 'setup.'
Old YGD was taking a look at the 1/2/3 start list and said to him (or her?)self, "this looks like a pretty gosh darn good race." Let the prognostication begin!!!
ABRT
Remember when ABRT was Snow Valley? Snow who you say? Well..if you don't know, you should check out the MABRA history records on their awesome website. Nevermind, that doesn't exist.
Remember when ABRT was Snow Valley? Snow who you say? Well..if you don't know, you should check out the MABRA history records on their awesome website. Nevermind, that doesn't exist.
Battley Harley Davidson/Sonoma Masters Racing Team
Don't confuse these guys with the XO Communications Team. They are not one in the same. They don't all get together and talk pre race and post race strategy before and after races. Really, they don't. Two TOTALLY different teams.
Bike Doctor pb DigiSource
Where did these guys come from? They are beginning to be more annoying than Harley/XO pb Cisco developed by Sonoma/Mendocino. Look out for Pete Squared here. Custer wins the AA Road Races up the street and Warner stomps on Morgantown? How do I know? They only blog about themselves like every day.
Celerity Cycling pb Brooks Systems
Guys, this isn't a time trial. The three amigos if you will. Three strong riders from what I like to call 'almost Virginia Beach', Va. Watch for one of these guys to straggle on to the winning break. Maybe.
Clean Currents pb Beyer Kia aka DC VELO
Frick and company was in full force delivering DJ Brew to the line at the Bunny Slop last week..except NIMA had other plans. What can you do? Perhaps the best tactical team in MABRA (I said it) with a FLYING Ryan McKinney. If they aren't in the move of the day, free t shirts for your mom.
NCVC
These guys just need a break. They've got the tools and have been knocking on the door all season long for that elite victory. VERY close last week at the hop. Honestly, I'm talking out my ass...i don't know all their results...but damn..this is their home race and they are all riding well. Dark horse fellas.
XO Communications p/b CISCO
Only 9 riders??? Don't expect these guys to telework or provide a webinar on Saturday. They are bringing their hit squad. If Nieters doesn't go in the first break of the day, the world is flat...and he's looking to win. Expect him to claim victory for the state of Vermont. He's the only rider in the peloton who puts maple syrup on his Clif Bars. Of course you have the rest of the team to contend with including an on form Russell The Muscle Langley..which is always scary. The saving grace for the rest of the field is that Adam Squared is staying home.
Only 9 riders??? Don't expect these guys to telework or provide a webinar on Saturday. They are bringing their hit squad. If Nieters doesn't go in the first break of the day, the world is flat...and he's looking to win. Expect him to claim victory for the state of Vermont. He's the only rider in the peloton who puts maple syrup on his Clif Bars. Of course you have the rest of the team to contend with including an on form Russell The Muscle Langley..which is always scary. The saving grace for the rest of the field is that Adam Squared is staying home.
YGD Prognostication: It's anybody's race. There will be a nice, solid break with representation from XO, Harley Masters, Bike Doctor, and DC Velo. Every team tent will be saying this of course..If you are on a small team and looking for the win, tag along and sprint yourself to a gravel trophy. If you are NCVC, don't get left out and sent chasing. If you are in any of the other races that day, enjoy yourself and have fun. If you get dropped, check out this site early next week for your photo.
Public Service Announcement - Hold on to Your Bottles
Every race season, countless crashes are caused by bouncing bidons.
ONLY YOU
CAN PREVENT STRAY BOTTLES
With the Poolesville Road race this weekend, it's time to take off those fancy carbon cages, and install some cheap aluminum ones. Bend em a bit to make 'em extra snug.
Dropped bottles are bad enough, but somehow the idea of tossing your bottle at the end of the race persists as an acceptable practice in some minds. IT IS NOT. You'd have to be as skinny as "the next great American Climber" for 2oz. of plastic to hold you back.
Don't believe that it's dangerous? Check it:
Together, we can make a difference.
Monkey Face of the Day
Not getting dropped but want to be on our glorious website? Make a monkey face!! This guy gets it.
We'll be looking out for monkey faces all season long. If you find one, send them our way. Link is over there to the right. Thanks and thanks to Julie Elliot for the photo.
We'll be looking out for monkey faces all season long. If you find one, send them our way. Link is over there to the right. Thanks and thanks to Julie Elliot for the photo.
PSA - Lititz Cat 3 and Cat 4 Crashes - Don't Overcook Corners
First off..hope everybody involved in this crash is ok. From our sources, we heard the initial crashee got taken away to the hospital but can walk and function. We hope this is the case.
Secondly, HOLY CRAP! This is even making the rounds on non-cycling related websites by NBA features writers. Oh, do non-cyclists love to see us smash ourselves up good.
Thirdly, don't overcook corners. It's bad for your health.
Fourthly, the guy screaming to 'go go go go!' after the crash...What up with that? Discuss.
*Update...The above is the Cat 4 crash. Below is the Cat 3 crash. Damn! You were gonna win bro!
Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012 – How The Race Was Won
Didn't have time to watch Liege-Bastongne-Liege this past weekend? With your schedule of bike races, work, home improvement, lazer hair removal surgery, guitar hero, leg lotion application (you know who you are), and watching the kids, life can get kind of crazy. That is, of course you are one of those annoying HTC kids who all they do is ride all day and play xbox at night.
I sat down yesterday and tried to watch Liege-Bastonge-Liege in its entirety after missing out this weekend. DVR 87% full!! I have some work to do here! Within minutes, I'm off the couch with a neighbor at the door asking for a ladder. That moment created a butterfly effect of epic proportions snowballing my evening in front of the tube. I wasn't even able to watch RGIII get drafted in real time. Is this America anymore??
Anyway, knowing I might never watch the Liege race in its entirety, I remembered seeing these 'How the Race Was Won' vids on Cyclocosm and tuned in. Bam...5 minutes later..I feel up to date on how it played out, got some snarky comments that I think my readers would enjoy, and saved myself about 3 hours. Hommes does this almost every week. Check it out.
Not getting paid or promoted by Cyclocosm..just a time saver tip I thought I'd pass on so you can concentrate on training and recovery instead of wasting all your time watching pro bike races all the time.
Next up..infographics. If you do anything remotely related to education, media affairs, or cow farming, you probably have come across an infographic or two. Graphic design and media relations companies are now developing infographics for clients to quickly show why X in important, cool, or whatever. There have been a few targeted for the potential cyclist. This one grabbed my attention.
Lastly...if you could only have one... Cervelo or the chick?
Due to high demand, new socks will be ready in June/July. See? I do more than just make fun of you!
Next up..infographics. If you do anything remotely related to education, media affairs, or cow farming, you probably have come across an infographic or two. Graphic design and media relations companies are now developing infographics for clients to quickly show why X in important, cool, or whatever. There have been a few targeted for the potential cyclist. This one grabbed my attention.
Lastly...if you could only have one... Cervelo or the chick?
Due to high demand, new socks will be ready in June/July. See? I do more than just make fun of you!
We're Huge in Japan..
The gospel is spreading worldwide. Thanks to these fellows in New Zealand for supporting You Got Dropped. Big shout out to Velo Espresso and all the kiwis working hard to avoid droppage in Hamilton, New Z.
And yes...we've sent t's to Japan too!
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