CYCLING ICON GEORGE HINCAPIE PLANS TO WIN PARIS-ROUBAIX AND RIDE THE REST OF HIS LIFE. FOR MORE, SEE PAGE 46.D I S P L A Y U N T I L 2 / 0 1 / 1 1PUERTO RICO BY BIKETHE ULTIMATE 5-MINUTE WINTER WORKOUTBREAKFAST FOR CYCLISTSOUR FAVORITE ALL-SEASON LAYERBONUS! 12-MONTH TUNE-UP CALENDAR Special Maintenance GuideMotivation Issues?THIS STORY MIGHT SAVE YOU. PAGE 58TRAIN SMARTERFIX ANYTHINGCLIMB STRONGERFIND MORE TIME TO RIDEHAVE WAY MORE FUN& MAYBE EVEN LOOK BETTER NAKED{}The Best New City BikesAll of Them Under $750 Tested[ ]JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011BICYCLING.COMBI01_11COVER3.indd 2 11/9/10 2:13 PMworldmagsAdvertisementRESOLUTION REVOLUTION BE STRONG. BE ULTRA. SWEEPSTAKESRESOLUTION REVOLUTION.TOP 5 LIFESTYLE RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011No Purchase Necessary. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the United States/D.C. (except CA)who are 21 years of age or older. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 AM Central Standard Time (CST) on 1/1/11 and ends at 11:59 PM CST on 1/31/11 and contains three (3) entry periods. See Ofcial Rules at www.facebook.com/michelobultra. Void where prohibited. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS 2010 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Michelob ULTRA Light Beer, St. Louis, MO. 95 calories, 2.6g carbs, 0.6g protein and 0.0g fat, per 12 oz.For more tips on how to stay focused and fulll your goals year-round, visit Facebook.com/MichelobUltra. Plus, enter the Resolution Revolution: Be Strong, Be Ultra Sweepstakes for a chance to win: OAKLEY SUNGLASSES LIVESTRONG TREADMILL LIVESTRONG ELLIPTICAL MACHINE Lets face itmost New Years resolutions never stand a chance. Theyre too big, too vague, or too altogether unattainable. To help you get on track for long-term success, weve put together a list of big-picture goals with measurable results that everyone can achievethink run a 10k race by February instead of run more. Get the picture? Good. This is your Resolution Revolution.Run a race, bike a century, improve your golf game: Set aside 20 minutes each day to train for a goal.Reduce stress: No emails after 10PM and get at least sevenhours of sleep per night.Stick to a budget: Limit unnecessary expenditures. Drop your change in a coin jar each night and treat yourself when it lls up. Change feels good, doesnt it. Get organized: Cross one item off your to-do list daily.Enjoy more quality time with family & friends: Devote one-hour of your time to those that are most important in your life.Michelob_ULTRA_BW_RW_FIN.indd1 11/10/1010:03 AMworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmags1937 TODAYOver 70 years ago, our founder, Vitale Bramani invented the rst rubber sole ever used onmountaineering boots. It was an invention that changed outdoor sports forever. To this day, most of the best footwear brands in the world use Vibram soles.Today, we nd ourselves the leaders of an exciting new movement in running and tness, as our Vibram FiveFingers have become the catalyst of the natural footwear revolution. We dont know what the future will hold, but were pretty condent that whatever its wearing on its feet will have a Vibram logo.Tested where it matters. Vibram.comworldmags worldmagsworldmagsphoto credit01/02.11january/february 2011 Volume lii number 1the great mechanic withinyoull curse, youll sweat, youll defnitely getgreasy. but learn to fx your bike, and youll cherish cycling even more. By eBen weissplus: a years worth of simple tune-up advice and straightforward solutions to the 25 most maddening maintenance issues. the far-off endWhen he starts to have trouble rememberingexactly why its important to keep racing, a cyclist is saved by a race that hell never forget.By mike magnusonmy bike went to puerto ricoWhat happens when a pale, pastynortherner heads south for a monster tour of the island? hot sun, lukewarm coconuts and tears of joyor was that relief? By Bill giffordplus: five more hot cycling destinations.nine questions: george hincapieafter more than two decades of elite racing,americas greatest domestique still loves to ride. We chatted with big George about training solo, start-line jitters and why he never, ever gets tired of talking about paris-roubaix. 485838 46anGelValentinHincapie relaxes in downtown greenville, near the Hincapie sportswear headquarters. BmC alpenchallenge02 bike; outlier Blaze Cotton Pivot sleeve shirt; Hincapie ritmo jeans; Hublot Big Bang Tantalum watch.38on the coverphotoGraphed byPaTriCk Cavan Brownstyled bysHanTel lowegeorge Hincapie shows off his 2011 BmC Teammachine bike at his home in greenville, south Carolina. Hincapie signature jersey and shorts, Pro socks; northwave aerlite s.B.s. shoes.feaTures january/february 2011 3BITOC.indd 3 11/8/10 4:33 PM11082010163401worldmags worldmagsworldmagsphotocredit10 editors letter12 mail15 start19 bike snob64 Gear96 off the backStartshop we Lovefrom fresh espresso to fancy bikes, theresnothing to gripe about at angry catfsh. coachthis two-step workout will build the poweryou need to crush short, steep climbs. hubbubmeet a wrench who will fx your bikefor free, and fnd out how you can race the tour of california. plus: havent you always wished your bike could throw fames? road rightsif you dont need a license toride a bike, do you need to show id when a police offcer asks for it?eat to rideyou need a good breakfastduh. but did youknow that you should choose what to eat based on the ride you have planned? here are four great-tasting and nutritious meals.douGlas benedictwe aLL ridethe owner of dogfsh head brewery explainswhy beer people and bike people are so similar. master itforget that baseball-cards-in-the-spokesthing: bikes should be seen and not heard. here are eight ways to silence noisy parts. Gearcity sLickersexplore your hood on a snazzy town bike fromelectra, felt, Globe, jamis, trek or swobo.editors choicea lightweight vest is the most versatilepiece of cycling gear you can own. here areour favorites for men and women.urbanLegendsWe pick the ultimate city riding wardrobe.vaLue of the monththe terry actif short: at this price, theresno excuse not to treat your rear to a chamois.64deParTmenTs4january/february 2011BITOC.indd 4 11/8/10 4:33 PM11082010163402worldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsLogo shown uses 10 point type at 100% size.Do not use this art smaller than 50%of this size shown.Recommended Color Usage: Spot Color: PANTONE 363 C-M-Y-K color formula: 65-cyan, 0-magenta, 100-yellow, 24-black Solid BlackFor more information.visit www.magazine.org.Peter Flax Editor in ChiefDavid SperanzaDesign Director EDITORIALDavid HowardExecutive Editor William StricklandEditor at Large Lou MazzanteArticles Editor Christine BucherManaging Editor Emily Furia and Jennifer SherrySenior EditorsChristine MattheisAssociate Editor Deb CosgroveEditorial Projects CoordinatorNancy Wallace HumesCopy EditorMary OReillyEditorial InternCyCLINg TEST gROuPMatt PhillipsTest DirectorRon KochTest Editor ARTStacey EmeneckerPhoto Director Erin BennerAssociate Art DirectorAshley FreebyDesignerKaitlin Marron Assistant Photo EditorPrepress by Quad graphics RODALE CyCLINg ONLINEwww.bicycling.comMatthew A. LindeDirector, Production and DevelopmentJeanne EmeryProducerRachel VigilanteOnline InternAndrew MatrangaMap Editor Kim PhillipsAssociate Map Editor Alexandra Simone geller, Rachel KielyMap InternsWRITER AT LARgESteve FriedmanCONTRIBuTORSChris Carmichael, Robin Chotzinoff, Alan Cot, Ian Dille, Bill Donahue, Brian Fiske, Bill gifford, Dan Koeppel, Joe Lindsey,Stephen Madden, Mike Magnuson, Bob Mionske, Alex Stieda, Selene yeagerJames StarttEuropean Correspondent Lynn DonchesLibrarian EDITORIAL OFFICESEast400 South 10th Street, Emmaus, PA 18098bicycling@rodale.com; fax: 610/967-8960West28538 Constellation Road, Valencia, CA 91533 661/294-7770; fax: 661/294-7771RODALE SPORTS AND FITNESS gROuPDavid WilleySVP, Editorial Director Ray JobstVP, Finance, Advertising and Brand Sites Rich AllegerSVP, Single-Copy SalesMaryAnn FosbennerFinancial Director Nick SowardsCommunications ManagerEVENTS gROuP Lawrence StoryDirector of Sports MarketingAlison BrownSenior Program ManagerStephanie KlineAssociate Manager, Event PlanningCuSTOMER SERVICE: For subscription orders, questions and address changes: Visit: www.bicycling.com, e-mail BKEcustserv@rodale.com or write to:Bicycling Magazine Customer Service, P.O. 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Box 5886, Harlan, IA 51593-1386.FOR LICENSINg AND REPRINTS OF BICyCLINg: Contact Nick Iademarco, Wrights Reprints, at 877/652-5295.ATTENTION RETAILERS: Sell Bicycling in your store, risk-free. Call 800/845-8050 for details. (Please, no subscriber calls to this number.)JANuARy/FEBRuARy 2011 VOL. 52 NO. 16 Bicycling january/february 2011printed in the U.S.A.JF masthead.indd 6 11/5/10 1:27 PM11052010132741180-DAY COMFORT GUARANTEE!CALL 903-253-8555WWW.COBB-DRT.COMworldmags worldmagsworldmagsOfcial Media Partnerworldmags worldmagsworldmagsChristopher L. 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RodaleFounder, 19421971President, Integrated Marketingand Sales, Chief Marketing Offcer Chief Operating Offcer Chief Financial Offcer Executive Vice President, General Counseland Chief Administrative OffcerExecutive Vice President, Group Publisher Executive Vice President, GeneralManager and Publisher, Rodale Books Executive Vice President, CommunicationsSenior Vice President, Rodale InternationalSenior Vice President, Human Resources Vice President, Green Culture Services Vice President, Creative Servicesand Digital Product Development We inspire and enable people to improvetheir lives and the world around them.gregg Michaelson Kenneth Citron Thomas A. Pogash Paul Mcginley Mary Murcko Karen Rinaldi Robin Shallow Michelle MeyercordAmy L. PlashaJoseph J. BurkeSteve MaddenRodale Inc. 33 E. Minor St. Emmaus, PA 18098 610/967-5171 rodale.com Molly OKeefeAssociate Publisher, SalesZack griceAssociate Publisher, Marketing Paul CollinsAdvertising Director Eric JohnsonVP, Group Marketing Director Courtney MatthewsSpecial Projects Director8 Bicycling january/february 2011JF masthead.indd 8 11/4/10 1:38 PM11042010133836worldmags worldmagsworldmagsBLUEIS GOOD AS GOLDTHE PERFECT RIDE IS PRICELESS. TRUST ONLY THE BEST TOOLS. 2010 Park Tool Co. The color BLUE is a registered trademark and trade dress of Park Tool Co. www.parktool.comworldmags worldmagsworldmagsGOAL TENDINGThis is The Time of year cyclisTs embark onThaT curious riTualcalled goal setting. They circle a couple big rides on the calendar or vow to pedal 3,000 miles next year or declare to the world that theyll true their own wheels from now on.but some meaningful goals just pop up out of nowhere. you blow past the normal turnaround on your weekend ride and decide to see what 60 feels like. you read a mag-azine story about a fondo and next thing you know youre on orbitz booking a flight. or youre 15 miles into a century and look over to see chris horner telling you to grab his wheel. This is what happened to me at the Patrick Dempsey challenge on a crisp morning this past october. i was outside of lewiston, maine, drifting back from a lead group that seemed erratic (read: too fast for me) when a guy with four snickers bars crammed into a radioshack kit rolled up. i should mention that on roughly every other day, horner is my favorite pro cyclist. (its Jens Voigt on Tuesdays, fridays and hot July days.) chris embodies the cyclist persona i wish i had: strong enough for bold escapes but unselfish enough to bury himself for the team, confident enough to speak his mind. i lack redneck charm and a ProTour engine, but i know a juicy goal when i see one. i vowed to stay on horners wheel until we rolled back into lewiston.i should also mention my history of imploding on centuries.im more of a 90-milespecialist,iguess.ididntmentionthistohorner.Wetalkedaboutkidsand newengland real estate and how Thor hushovd can take care of himself on climbs these days. Though chris was careful to dial back on climbs, we gradually picked up remnants of that front group. a series of punchy climbs about three hours in left me cramping and slimed in cold sweat, but i stayed with the pack. i no longer had horn-ers wheelclearly, he was going to pull the whole wayand i sat at the back, silent.asweswungintoareststopatmile75,threebike-industryguyswithsome ability and attitudethe only riders still ahead of usrode out. one of them told chris hed better take a short break if he hoped to catch them, and i knew theyd pay for this hubris less than i would. someone had taped a course map to a Porta Potty: two stout climbs left, then a flatish run-in to lewiston. Just get over those bumps,itoldmyself.andidid.iwas20milesfromclosingoutacenturywith the guy who had finished 10th in the Tour de france when he decided it was time to start an earnest chase. i was in the big ring, in the drops, in trouble. after 20 minutes, i chanced a look back. The 10 people whod been on my wheel a few minutes earlier were gone.i searched for mental strength. i replayed hundreds ofhoursoftraining.ivisualizedthefacilitiesatthe Dempsey center id toured the day before, especially a room where kids like mine learn to process that mom-my or daddy has cancer, and i recalled that this ride was about greater struggles than those against lame mito-chondria. in crazy desperation, i even dug up the sting of the girlfriend whod left me to be closer to Jesus.my forearms burned. my chest rattled. and horner didnt slow down. finally on a long, slight grade, i sat up. as the little group floated away, i passed a sign thrust into the roadside: Dempsey challenge 10 miles To Go. on the bright side, id be sitting at a picnic table in 45 minutes, cracking open a lobster claw and cracking a joke with a cycling idol when he asked where id gone. in 30 minutes id be descending into lewiston, blowing past friendly people on hybrids finishing up short loops. but right then, as chris horner and seven fast guys on his wheel disappeared? my only goal was to keep pedal-ing. That, in the end, is always more than enough.Peter flaxeditor in chiefjAsON GOuLD; FrANk HAssLEr; cOurTEsy; pATrIck cAvAN brOwNwriting The Far-Off End (p. 58) inspired MikeMagnuson to start racing again. Im getting my butt kicked, he admits. but I couldnt live without cycling. Magnusons bIcycLING story, whatever Happened to Greg LeMond?, was recently selected for The Best American Sports Writing.Hes a swell guy, down to earth, patient, says photographer patrick cavan brown, who shot pro cyclist George Hincapie for the cover and class Act (p. 46). best of all, he let us torture him all day long. browns work has also appeared in Texas Monthly and National Geographic Adventure.It opened my mind to what you can do on a bike, says bill Gifford of his 369-mile ride around the Island of Enchantment (My bike went to puerto rico, p. 38). you can basically ride as long as you can turn the pedals over. Gifford is currently writing a book about ultramarathoner scott jurek.contributorsEditors Letter10january/february 2011BIEDLET.indd 10 11/9/10 11:01 AM11092010110152worldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsPHOTOCREDITWHAT YOURE UP TO12JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011COURTESY; ANGEL VALENTIN; COLBY LYSNE; THOMAS MACDONALDNovember subject who inspired the most letters: Tristan Prettyman (We All Ride),26% >The most cringe-inducing Prettyman fanboy request we wont be able to fulfill: Do you have her photo available as a high-res that I could print out and frame? >Prettyman fanboy who took her metaphorical comment to an unfortunate literal level: Jeff Champion, who posted a photo of himself in bed with his bike on our Facebook page >The bikes maker (seriously): FeltAfter reading aboutan idyllic new cyclingdestination in southwestWisconsin (The PerfectGetaway, Nov.), readerswere eager to share otherMidwestern hotbeds.The Brainerd Lakesregion of Minnesota hasstellar road rides and liesat the beginning of thePaul Bunyan Trail, whichstarts at the MississippiRiver in Brainerd andends 110 miles away inBemidji, writes JoshuaRebennack, of PineRiver, Minnesota. AaronSeeman recommendshis hometown of EauClaire, Wisconsin. Mayas well throw in a trip toLeinenkugels Breweryin Chippewa Falls whileyoure at it, he adds.Meanwhile, Rod Gajeskeposted his vacation planson our Facebook page: Iread this article and havegot a trip planned therealready. Looks perfect!NOT SO LAID-BACKOff the Back (Nov.) shows the interna-tional prohibited sign with a recumbent bicycle as the targeted banned device. This reinforces my suspicion that bicyclingharbors a bias against recumbent bicycles and those who ride them. THOMAS VANDEN EYNDEN,Bowling Green, OHNO HANDS GOOD, NO BRAIN BADI enjoyed Hands Free (Know How, Nov.). However, a word of caution: I was nearly run down on a bike trail a few months ago when I encountered a young bicyclist riding no-hands and texting away on his cell phone. RON MORTENSEN, Omaha, NEHIS PERFECT RIDELike the reader who wanted a flat-bar road bike (What Bike Should I Buy? Nov.), I needed something to take me from smooth gravel to rough stuff. My solution: a cyclocross bike. However, Im not crazy enough to actually do the kind of cross race described in The Crucible (Nov.). TIM ONEILL, Chester Basin, Nova ScotiaDRINKANDDRAGI just read Choose your Weapon (Nov.). Most riders carry two bottles on the frame. But the aero advantages manufacturers promote compare bikes without cages and bottles. Are the advantages significantly diminished once bottles are added? SERGIO SCAGLIONE, Weston, FLAdding bottles to the bike does not negatethe aero advantage, says Gerard Vroomen of Cervlo. A frame that is more aerodynamic without bottles is still more aero with bottles. >The correct spelling of the author ofThe Crucible (Nov.) is Adam Myerson.Talk to us via e-mail (bicycling@rodale.com), snail mail (400 S. Tenth St., Emmaus, PA 18098), Twitter (@bicyclingMag) orFacebook (bicycling magazine).WELL SAID, COMRADEYou mentioned Colorado gubernatorial candidate Dan Maess goofy remark about opponent John Hickenloopers pro-bike policies being socialist in nature (Hubbub, Nov.). Im a lifelong member of the Grand Old Party, but Im happy no one asked me to justify his comments, or even explain them; Icouldnt have done it. GEORGE LEWIS, Colorado Springs, COThats why they call election time the silly season; fortunately, George, its always cycling season, so this Park Tool Home Mechanic Starter Kit should come in handy.LETTER OF THE MONTHTHIS MONTH ONRIDE STRONG AT ANY AGEREAD ABOUT 67-YEAR-OLD JULIELOCKHART ON PAGE 58, THEN GOTO BICYCLING.COM/JULIE FOR TIPS.PLAN YOUR VACATIONAt BICYCLING.com/rides, youll ndroutes from all over the world. Get maps for the 2011 Vuelta Puerto Ricodescribed on page 38at BICYCLING.com/puertorico.WINTER CROSS-TRAININGDont sit around waiting for the snow to melt.Follow our advice for off-season training at BICYCLING.com/9tips, and youll be riding strong come spring. MAILBI_0111_MAIL.indd 12 11/4/10 4:21 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsDazzling Monterey Bay coastline, exquisite Carmel Valley wine country coupled with sweeping Salinas Valley farmlands, andnew for 2011 a mountain bike route through the largest undeveloped public lands on the Monterey Peninsula. www.SeaOtterClassic.com | 800.218.8411Fully Supported Recreational RidesApril 16, 2011Monterey, California USAworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsRoland Freund and Sebastian Moll round out an epic ride on the restored cobbles of Gotthard Pass, in the Swiss Alps. To learn how to power up climbs, turn to p. 20. >01/022011HARRYZERNIKE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 15BI_01_ST_OPENER.indd 15 11/4/10 10:50 AM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsSTART 2011 RIGHTCyclists in Lexington, Ohio, ring in the New Year with an afternoon ride and chili (ynotcycling.com). And in Ypsilanti, Michigan, riders wind up their midnight revelry with the 6-mile First Ride of the Year in the First Hour (bikeypsi.org). For more New Years rides, visit BICYCLING.com/event_finder. IMBIBE WITH THE LEGENDSHelp send kids on potentially life-changing off-road rides by partying with the likes of Ned Overend at a February 13 Brews, Bikes and Bucks benefit (trips forkids.org) in San Rafael, California. Cue Sheet16JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011More on page 96.I want to win a Classic, any Classic. I dont care if it is Italy, Belgium, France, wherever. I just want to win a Classic.Johan Van Summeren (Team Garmin-Cervlo), on his 2011 New Years resolutionRIDE IN THE NEW YEARSTART DROOLING More than 75 boutique builders will show off their lust-worthy creations at the North Ameri-can Handmade Bicycle Show in Austin, Texas, February 25 to 27. Dont forget to bring your own bike: The citys average February daytime high is 65 degrees. handmadebicycleshow.comWEAR TWEED[ IN MODERATION ]A reminder as the temps get colder: Head-to-toe tweed puts you in the same realm as Renais-sance Faire groupies. Tweed accessories, on the other handsuch as the Paris, from British helmet-maker Yakkay($175; thebicyclemuse.com)make for smart winter cycling style. More onpage 48.MoDo the Right Thing Even if youre not putting in a lot of miles this time of year, you should still clean and lube your bikes chain after every wet ride. For a cheap and easy method, consult our maintenance calendar, The (Not Very) Dirty Dozen. Ride for the RabbitRock the Chinese New Year with the 30-mile Firecracker Bike Ride(firecracker10k.org), which leaves from LAs Chinatown during the Nite n Day Arts Festival on February 12. All participants get a high-carb postride meal and a Year of the Rabbit T-shirt. Learn what the stars hold for your riding life by turning to our Cycling Zodiac. PHOTOCREDITCOURTESY (X2); PDELISS/GODONG/CORBIS; THEBICYCLEMUSE.COM; MITCHMANDEL AND THOMAS MACDONALDBI_ST_CUE_SHEET.indd 16 11/8/10 11:09 AM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsFor the rst time, Bicycling magazine assembles its best advice in a must-have book for cyclists of all levels. Youll nd the most useful information on getting started, buying a bike, riding to work, bicycle maintenance, tness and nutrition, understanding the rules of the road, and much more. This instant classic is an invaluable resource for all cyclists, created by those who know the subject best: the experts at Bicycling magazine. ON SALE NOWFor more information, visit RodaleBooks.com.Pedal Like a Pro201603401worldmags worldmagsworldmagsEven on cold days, the Angry Catfsh, owned by Josh Klauck (right), flls with cyclists and coffee lovers.At A pArty A coupleof years ago, a girl told Josh Klauck, you look like a catfish. An angry catfish. Klauck found the name so fitting, he built a bike shop around it. Angry catfish Bicycle and coffee Bar opened last January in the guts of an old hardware store in south Minneapolis. I used to go to the bar next door, says Klauck, and always saw bikes locked to the awning.It was already a gather-ing place. Klauck had been looking for a spot to open a bike store, so after securing an investor he started tear-ing out tool displays, then outfitted the 4,400-square-foot inte-rior with dark wood and stainless steel. Baristas serve espressos at one end of the counter, and wrenches service fancy bikes at the other. Its enough to make even a ticked-off catfish smile. Frank Bures Angry CAtfish BiCyCle AndCoffee BAr4208 28th Ave. SMinneapolis 55406angrycatfish bicycle.comInfoElEvatE your stablE of bikEs or your moodat this minnEapolis cycling hangoutShop We Love18january/february 2011photocreditjonathan chapman (x5)BI_ST_SHOP.indd 18 11/1/10 4:39 PM11012010164014worldmags worldmagsworldmagsthelatestcrazesweepingthenation is Bike Friendliness. itseems that officials in towns all over america are beginning to realize, hey, there are people pedaling in order to get places, and apparently they dont like being run over. so theyre building things like separate traffic signals for bikes, which means that someday our cities will be almost on par with mid-20thcentury amsterdam.thats great! you say. i cant wait until Bike Friendliness comes to my town! Butevenaftersantaarrivesfromportland,oregon,onhiscargobikebrimming with Bike Month cheer, life wont be perfect. here are three things to prepare for.Slow riderSthis may sound crazy, but there are people who dont read this maga-zine and who arent interested in carbon or Five ways to get Fast on the Bike while in a Business Meeting. they just want to pick up some celery without burning gasoline. Much as the mall isnt the place for runners to practice sprinting, the bike lane isnt a good place for your intervals. if you recover from your anaerobic haze and notice that the other riders are carrying baskets of fruit, youre training in the wrong place.FaSt riderSso you now understand the difference between competitive and prac-tical cycling. Unfortunately, this is not true of the rider who just bought her first fixie or the guy on the dual-suspension Magna with a radio on the handlebar. these peo-ple may try to race you. For the sake of both safety and dignity, resist the challenge.Smug riderSsome folks ride for fitness, others for practicality, and still others justfor fun. theyre all wrong. the smug cyclist knows that the only reason to ride is to save the earth. what do you think is cleaning up the spill in the gulf? oil-eating microbes? no way! its the vibes of superiority emanating from naked protest rides.if you encounter one of these naked cyclists, dont call the police. instead, remem-ber: theyre sickening you only so they can save the polar bearsand your soul.itS a JuNgleout tHereAs more cities begin to embrAce urbAncyclists, heres whAt to wAtch out forBike Snob january/feBruary 2011 19tHe Bike SNoBRead more of his cultural criticism at bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com.andyfriedmanandy friedmanBI_ST_SNOB.indd 19 11/1/10 5:00 PM11012010170101HOW DO YOU MEASURE UP?Weight and 8 other body composition measurementsExtra Large Platform - 13.4 Wide Weight Capacity - 440 lbs Blue Backlit LCD Display BC-549 Plus TANITA% Body FatWeight% Body WaterMuscle MassPhysique RatingMetabolic AgeBMR - Basal Metabolic RateBone MassVisceral Fat Enter promo code B1210 at TheCompetitiveEdge.com or call 866-859-3343 for exclusive holiday bundles.Give the gift of health to everyone on your list this season.Simply stand on this bathroom scale and find out!worldmags worldmagsworldmagswill help activate newly recruited muscle fibers whenyoure trying to accelerate on the road. Do the inter-vals outside or indoors on a stationary bike or trainer.Dothefollowingworkouttwiceaweek,withat least one rest day or endurance ride between sessions. Completethestrengthpartfirst.(Formoreexercise options, visit biCyCling.com/gym.) This should take only about five minutes. youre not trying to stress the muscle into adapting; you just want to awaken the ner-vous system controlling the muscles. Then, onthe bike, do short, high-resistance efforts, starting in a big gear at a very low speed. iT sounDs like you have plenTy oF power for riding at a steady effort level, but for accelerations, not so much. unlike long, gradual ascents that let you settleintoarhythm,short,steephills(oftencalled powerclimbs)requireyoutoquicklyrampupyour effortatthebottominordertoavoidlosingmomen-tum and getting dropped. power climbs are essentially accelerations: youre increasing your effort level, even if your speed drops on the way up. a great way to improve your power for acceleration istodostrengthtrainingandhigh-torqueeffortson thebikeinthesamesession(seetheacceleratory power workout, below). Cycling is a repetitive motion, and your body adapts to make this movement as eco-nomical as it can. That means using as little muscle as possible to deliver the power youre demanding. but to gain power for acceleration, you need to teach your body to activate more muscle, which is where strength training comes into play.exercisessuchassquats,lungesandstep-upscanhelpincreasemuscle recruitmentinyourquadriceps,hamstringsandothermusclesthroughoutthe buttocks and hips. The point isnt to see how much weight you can pushyoure not trying to gain huge amounts of muscle. instead, do faster movements with low-to- moderateweight(orwithyourbodyweightofferingtheonlyresistance) thatwilltrainyournervoussystemtoengagemoreofthemuscleyoualready have, especially the fast-twitch fibers that dont get much attention during longer, sub-threshold cycling efforts. next, immediately apply that strength work to on-the-bikeefforts. perform-ing high-torque efforts just after hitting the gym many athletes have the fitness to feel strong early on, but struggle when the intensity increases in the Im used to longclimbs, but I just moved to an area with lotsof short, steep hills. Anytips on acclimatizing?Mark R., Norristown, PAChris CarmiChael, founder and CEO of CarmichaelTraining Systems, has been providing coaching, camps and testingto athletes for more than 10 years. Visit trainright.com for info.step 2: stomps>after a warm-up of at least 10 minutes, shift into a big gear and slow down to 8 to 10 mph. While seated and with your hands on top of the bar, stomp on the pedals and accelerate as aCCeleratory poWer Workoutstep 1: squat Jumps>stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms by your sides. keeping your head and chest aligned (dont hunch your shoulders) and your eyes forward, sit back into a squat. your weight should be evenly distributed along your feet. you can lower your hips anywhere from halfway down to the point where your thighs are parallel to the floor, but dont go any lower. Next, keeping your head and chest aligned, swing your arms over your head and jump as high as you can when your arms reach their highest point. Bend your knees upon landing and return to the starting position. Complete four sets of five jumps, with one minute of recovery between sets.fast as you can over 15 seconds. Focus on the downstroke, but remember to pull back through the bottom and push over the top of the stroke. Complete seven accelerations, with four minutes of easy spinning between each.to conquer steep hills, hit the gymthen get back on your bike.The Coach20january/february 2011photocreditchris millimanBI_ST_COACH.indd 20 11/2/10 4:13 PM11022010161413worldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsMy Favorite ThingsThe TOC Wants YouHAVE YOUR KIT READY WHEN AMERICAS BIGgestprocyclingrace,theeight-dayTourofCalifornia (amgentourofcalifornia.com),startsonMay15.The sixth annual event kicks off at Lake Tahoe, which hosts a stage start for the first time. Another new stop is Mt. Baldy, the mountaintop finish of Stage 7. The Solvang time trial is back, with a twistamateurs can race the course earlier in the day. This years edition is pivotal: Organizers hope to earn ProTour status in 2012.AT FIRST, AS YOURE PEDALING TOWARD IT, THE SIGN LOOKS TOO GOOD TO be true: Free Bike Help, it says. You wonder, Whats this guy selling? If I pull over, will I get my tires topped off in exchange for membership in some cult?Thankfully, the only thing 28-year-old Dan Sloan wants to share with the citizens of Portland, Oregon, is noble idealismalong with his wrenching chops. Six months ago, the self-employed mechanic was malingering about his home shop, feeling a bit isolated. He says he decided, I want to help people. Directly. He threw his work stand into his dingy yellow bike trailer, towed it out to North Williams Avenuewhich sees 3,000 riders dailyand has since attended to the evening rush hour two or three times a week. Theworkisbasic,mostlySloandoesmyriadbrakeandderail-leur adjustments. The real adventure is social. Once, a 40-ish woman begged for a kiss. (Sloan demurred.) Another time a local inebriate on a rattletrap ride declared, I just bought this thing off of some junkie. It was awkward, says Sloan. You never want to assume He fixed it. NumerousclientshavegivenSloangiftscookies,blueberries, bottles of beerand he dreams of spreading the magic and launching a Free Bike Help tour. Im thinking Seattle, he says, maybe San Fran-cisco. For me, this isnt work. This is play.Bill DonahueBUILT LIKEA TANKBRITISHCYCLEINSURERILOVEMYBIKEHASNTSOLVEDall of cyclings challenges, but its had a few good laughs trying.Before buildingitsprototypeB.O.N.D.(BuiltofNotoriousDeterrents)bi-cycle,thecompanyaskedridersto name their least favorite part of cycling. Fifty-two percent cited vehicles passing tooclosesonaturally,theB.O.N.D.includesaflamethrower.Twenty-five percent voted for potholes; thus, a cater-pillar track replaces the rear tire. Theres also a ski at-tachment for snowy rides and an ejector seat to dispose of would-be thieves. The insurer has no plans to sell the contraption, which was on display at the London Cycle Show, but you can see it in action at bondbike.com. WILL WRENCH FOR FREEHot ListSPYNNER CHICKSFor the past nine years, a dozen women from Fredericton, New Brunswick, have trained together for a yearly cycling trip. When theyre not out exploring eastern Canada or Maine, they take Spin classes at the local Yhence the group's name. Jersey of the Month*About 100,000 people biked or walked on car-free streets in LOS ANGELES during its first CicLAvia in October (ciclavia.wordpress.com).*GIRO launches its first road and mountain shoes in January. You may have spotted the Prolight SLX on Levi Leipheimer during the 2010 Tour de France.*The 2010 Hawaii Ironman triathlon champion, CHRIS MCCORMACK, will be the first winner to appear on a Wheaties box.Hestotally legit, we swear.MY LITTLE REDSIMSON SCHWALBESCOOTERI come from East Germany and I am into collecting all things East German, especially old vehicles.MY GRANDMOTHERSPANCAKESThey are incredible anddelicious. MY WIFE, TINA, ANDMY KIDS, Anna andLuna. A lot of things would simply not be possible without them. They keep my back free.Hubbub22JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011ANDRE GREIPEL, OMEGA PHARMA-LOTTOPHOTOCREDITDALE STEPHANOS; JAMIE MCDONALD/GETTY IMAGES; BURAZIN/GETTYIMAGES; LUCY PEMONI/AP PHOTO; BILL DONAHUE; MITCH MANDELBI_ST_HUBBUB.indd 22 11/4/10 1:37 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsHeres a conundrum: If you dont need a lIcense to rIde a bIke,do you need to be able to show Id when a police officer asks for it? In most states, the answer is no. but depending on where you live, you may be required to produce Id if you are stopped for a traffic violation.confused? youre not alone. Heres the reasoning behind this apparent contra-diction: as a user of public roads, you are subject to traffic laws. and if you break a law, you can be ticketed. thats the price of having a right to the road. If an officer stops you, he is permitted by law to ask you to identify yourself if reasonable suspicion exists that you have violated a law, whether he intends to write a ticket or not. often, all you are required to do in these situations is provide your name and address. but in some states, the law allows the officer to require you to provide proof of your identity. In california, if an officer sees a violation (or has a reasonable belief one has occurred) and stops you, he may require you to show proof of your identity. If he does so, you are required to produce a drivers license or its functional equivalenta government-issued Id card such as a mili-tary identification or a passport. this means your student or work Id card, your credit card and your frequent-flier card would not suffice. What if you have only a student Id card? under california law, the officer has the discretion to accept it, but if he or she doesntand you cant produce adequate Idtheofficercanchoosetotakeyouintocustody.thismeansincalifornia, colorado and perhaps a few more states, you could run afoul of the law if you dont ride with a drivers license or another government-issued Id. It sounds silly, but failingtohaveonecouldcausebiggerproblemsthanyouwouldnormallyhave from just, say, running a stop sign. state laws vary, and its a good idea to know the law wherever you are riding. but the bottom line is that it will probably make sense to go beyond what the law requires. this means that you should always ride with some form of identifica-tion. a simple wristband Id, such as the one made by road Id, will helpemergency responders identify you if you are injured and unable to speak. and in many states, this may also serve as proof of Id. Research and drafting provided by Rick Bernardi, JD.IdentIty CrIsIsTheres no such Thing as a cycling licensebuT you should carry id on rides. heres why.BoB MIonske is the author of Bicycling and the Law. For moreinformation, visit bicyclelaw.com or read his blog at bicycling.com/roadrights.Road Rights januaRy/febRuaRy 2011 23photo creditphoto creditjonvalkBI_ST_RIGHTS.indd 23 11/4/10 4:41 PM11042010164220www.markhamjohnson.comwww.tripsforkids.org(415)458-2986national@tripsforkids.org You can changethe lives of children.Start or fund a Trips For Kids program.Many kids never leave their own neighbor hood to enjoy the beauty of nature. Thats why we started Trips for Kids, a national non-profit organization that provides mountain bike rides and environmental education for disadvantaged youth. You can start a Trips for Kids chapter in your area. Well assist you, at no charge, by supplying bikes and helmets, and support based on 22 years of experience.Or make a difference by donating money, bikes or equipment (new or used).All donations are tax-deductible. Also consider volunteering or otherwise supporting a chapter in your area.worldmags worldmagsworldmagsphotocreditsue tallonStart It UpYouve heard a gazillion times that breakfast is the most important meal of the daY,and sports nutritionists agree that whether you want to burn fat, ride fast or both, front-loading your day is essential. but plenty of cyclists disagree on the particulars of a smart morning meal: fat-phobic bonk trainers suggest skipping it until after you ride, long riders fuel up like lumberjacks, and racers search endlessly for the perfect winning fuel. What you eat depends largely upon what kind of ride youre going to be doing. the idea is to keep your muscles energized, your brain focused and the rest of your systems firing on all cylinders no matter what. You first need to look at the duration and intensity of the ride ahead, says florida-based sports nutritionist barbara lewin, rd, who works with cyclists and triathletes at sports-nutritionist.com. then you need to take in foods that give you the fuel to perform your best. heres how.Selene YeagerSpin Stronger by chooSing the beSt breakfaSt for your rideDial in your breakfast for an optimal ride.24january/february 2011eat to rideBI_ST_EAT.indd 24 11/1/10 4:48 PM11012010164900worldmags worldmagsworldmagsWinning isnt everythingItsthewilltowinthatsthething.AndNRCleadingteamsJamis/SutterHomePresentedbyColavitaandColavita/BaciPresented byCookingLightclearlyhavethewill.Itdoesnthurtthattheyalso havethebike.SomeProsaresaddledwithhavetomachines,bikes theyre obligated to ride. Not ours we give them the Xenith SL, a bike everyotherproiseyeingcovetously,andthepointsLuisAmaranand CatherineCheatleyarerackingupthisyearshowwhy.Theadvantage is almost unsportsmanlike. Our Near Net Molding technology squeezes everyperformance-robbinggramoutofframeweightandassures thateverysingleultra-highmodulusberhasbeenfullycompressed, attened and aligned for the stiffest, strongest, fastest possible ride. The asymmetrical chainstays, tri-oval SST top and down tubes, tapered head tube and BB30 shell are additional advantages that yield results we see on podiums and hear in the clink of medals and trophies race after race. Thefactis,ifwinningisnteverything,thenthereshouldntbeanish line. Because once its there, the Xenith SL is going to cross it rst.worldmags worldmagsworldmagsphotocreditsue tallon; john spauldingMeet the chefs 3 tablespoons butter, divided 1shallot, minced 1cup coarsely chopped wild mushrooms (shiitake, morel or hen of the woods) 8large eggs cup whole milk cup heavy cream cup cream cheese1cup grated Gruyre cheese2teaspoons chopped fresh parsley teaspoon saltteaspoon pepperWild Mushroomand Gruyre Frittatacentury Calories 400 to 500Time before two hours Strategy century riders are often tempted by a Dennys All-American slam (at 1,000-plus calories). It's better to have half that amountabout 500 caloriesand eat throughout the day for an even stream of energy. Be-cause you likely won't go full throttle, you can eat a wider variety of foods. Lewin suggests a breakfast rich in mixed carbohydrates, plus a little protein and healthy fat. thiswill give you an energy boost for the start of the ride,but will prevent bonking before the first food station. Meal Plan two pancakes, half a cup of berries, one cup of fat-free yogurt and one slice of canadian bacon or a scrambled egg. If you plan to ride easy, you can replace the egg with a slice of frittata (see recipe at right). time-trial,crit orcyclocross RaceCalories 400Time before About two hoursStrategy Most racers take in too many calories from the wrong places, Lewin says. A little fiber is okay, but too much can slow you down and make you sick. Aim for less than two grams by eating foods like bagels and white bread. Watch for fat, as well, she warns. Many athletes eat peanut butter, thinking theyre getting protein and not realizing that its 70 percent fat. then they feel weighed down and cant race well.Meal Plan two slices of white bread with jam, six ounces of fat-free vanilla yogurt, a small banana and a glass of orange juice. eat an energy gel or block 15 minutes before the start.hard shop RideCalories 600Time before three hoursStrategy A two- to three-hour hammerfest will burn more carbs than a long recreational ride or even a one-hour race. consume about one gram of carbohydrate per pound of body weight. the harder you ride, the more glycogen (carbs) you require. You need plenty of energy, which means more food and calories, so eat early enough that your body has time to fully digest them, says Lewin. top off with a gel or a few bites of a bar right before you start to ride. Research shows that athletes following this eating strategy can push 20 percent harder near the end of rigorous exercise than those who dont eat before, and 10 percent harder than those who have just a snack.Meal Plan A bowl of oatmeal, one slice of toast with a tablespoon of nut butter, a cup of yogurt and glass of orange juice. have a gel, a few bites of bagel or some sports drink 30 minutes before you start.easy spinCalories 200 to 300Time before thirty to 45 minutesStrategy You dont need much for a sub- two-hour ride. But dont skip breakfast. Youllgo into deprivation mode, and risk overeating later, says Lewin. Just 200 to 300 calories will replace the glucose you lost while you slept and let you ride longer. exercisers who eat a small breakfastare able to work out 16 percent longer before tiring, according to one study. Include foods with fiber. "fiber can also increase the amount of fat you burn during exercise," Lewin says. It slows digestion, so your glycogen is harder to access, which forces your body to pull energy from your fat stores. Meal Plan* One cup of oatmeal and half a banana.WhO theY ARe John and Diane MacPherson own the foster harris house Bed and Breakfast, a five-room inn located in Washington, Virginia. WhAt theY seRVe Breakfast is a four-course, sit-down event. One meal includes candied-ginger scones, a red-pepper souffl and a mango topped with custard and granola. WheRe theY RIDe the MacPhersons lead guests on a 25-mile outing called the tour depicure. cyclists pedal through a bucolic landscape, making stops at wineries and food shops. Its the best way to see this part of the country, John says. WheRe tO fInD theM 800/666-0153; fosterharris.com; tourdepicure.comRachel Vigilanteheat two tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add shallot and cook for one minute. Add mushrooms and cook until lightly brown, about eight minutes; transfer to plate and set aside. Wipe pan clean with a paper towel. Whisk eggs, milk and cream in a large bowl until well blended. Add cream cheese to the mixture in dime-sized bits. stir in Gruyre, mushrooms, parsley, salt and pepper. heat the pan over medium heat, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and add egg mixture. cook for three to five minutes until edges start to look firm, then transfer to oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, until center is just set. serves five. Per serving: calories, 342; fat, 28.6 grams; carbs, 2.8g; protein, 18.4g Todays special*Calories are based on a 150-pound rider. Add or subtractportion sizes proportionally based on your body weight.26january/february 2011eat to rideBI_ST_EAT.indd 26 11/4/10 1:37 PM11042010133805worldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsworldmags worldmagsworldmagsYou live in Lewes, Delaware, the first town in thefirst state in the nation.Lewesisthemainferrystopforcyclistsheadedto Cape May, New Jersey, so some mornings our town looks like the starting line for the Tour de France. Brewingisafickle,time-consumingprocess. How often do you get out on the bike? IridethroughHenlopenStateParkeverymorning on a 55-minute loop. Its incredible; I see osprey, dol-phins, plenty of wildlife. I travel every other week for BrewMasters,soIliketospendtheweekendswith thefamily.WeridetheBreakwaterpathfromour home in Lewes to the brew pub in Rehoboth. Tell us about your bikes.IrideaMudhoneycrossbikefromSeven.Iwanteda new bike as a gift to myself for quitting smoking. They printedOff-CenteredTrailsforOff-CenteredPeople [a play on Dogfishs tagline] on it. As a trade we brewed them a beer for their 10-year anniversary. I also have a Salsa Chili Con Crosso and a Specialized Rockhopper.ONE CRAFTY RIDERSam Calagione, the owner of DogfiSh heaD Brewery anD Star of the newDiSCovery Channel Show Brew masters, talkS aBout BlaSting punk muSiC on riDeSanD why getting a tattoo with a Date on it Can Be a BaD, BaD iDeawhen Im on the bIke Im dreamIng up Ideas for beers and thInkIng: dont tell me thIs cant be done...lets do thIs.Do you always barter with beer?That wasnt about money. These guys inspired us to think about a new com-binationofflavors.Everythingwe createatDogfishcomesfromsome externalinspiration,whichmeansI want to be around entrepreneurs and artists like the guys at Seven. Speakingofartists,wehearyou have a tattoo with a story.IhadForSammy:01-01-01inked on my hip to commemorate my sons birth and to signal my motivation for quittingsmoking.Thefirstattempt failed.IdidntgetthebikeuntilI wassmoke-freeforoneyear,sonow it reads 07. Whats your riding style?I do almost everything wrong: I blast punk music like PavementandtheReplacementswhilehammering out of my saddle. Hard-core cyclists yell at me, but I love it. When Im on the bike Im dreaming up ideas for beers and thinking: Dont tell me this cant be done. What the @#$%? Lets do this. Craft brewers seem to connect to cycling; almost every brewery has kits for sale. Why is that?Becausewearentmultinationalcorporationsinter-estedinsellingyoupackaginginsteadofbeer.We are creative and competitive, independent and hard-working. Its just likedie-hard cyclists: They tend to bethesamekindsofthinkersandhands-ontypes. And yes, we sell jerseys.What about your competition?I was on a national morning show talking about craft beers and brought samples, including New Belgiums FatTireAle.Thenextweekthisboxarriveswitha New Belgiumthemed bike. Coors wouldnt do that, butguyswhohavebike-inmoviesandtheTourde Fat? Always. Im not afraid ofcompetition; I embrace it.Craft-beerdrinkersarepromiscuousIdrink plenty of other beers. We just want them to stop by and screw us once in a while.T.R. FoleyWe All Ride jAnuARy/febRuARy 2011 35 Im on a schedule because beer is on a schedule, says Calagione, who rides nearly every day. chriscrismanBI_ST_WE_ALL_RIDE.indd 35 11/1/10 4:58 PM11012010165901worldmags worldmagsworldmagsmiami beachThe phoTographer josh riTchie The spoT The Boardwalk, souTh Beach The daTe ocToBer 16, 2010whaT he saw "iT was a very leisurely pace ouT Therepeople riding really slow, doing a loT of people waTching."Scene36january/february 2011phoTocrediTBI_ST_SCENE.indd 36 11/2/10 4:24 PM11022010162459worldmags worldmagsworldmagsHeadsetTesT To identify con-tinuous clicking, ride with no hands. To check for occasional creaking, stand over your top tube and keep the front wheel planted. Then grab the drops and pull up on one while pushing down on the other.Fix Clean and grease the bearings. if the head-tube surface is uneven, take the bike to your shop. For clicking, grease the cable-housing mount.Bottom bracketTesT Listen for a creak from below while riding. ifchainring bolts aren't tight, they will click.Fix Remove your cranks and feel the bearings. if they turn smoothly, remove the bottom bracket to clean and regrease the threads. if the frames bottom-bracket opening edge is rough, take the bike to your shop.siLenCe a noisy Bikefollow this guide from former garmin-slipstream wrench daimeon shanks,owner of the service course, in Boulder, colorado, to quiet your ride. By matt allyn Wheel skewersTesT open, then retighten both skewers.Fix Lightly grease the frame dropouts and tighten your quick-release. and not just to kill the noise: a wheel could pop out while youre riding.Handlebar and stemTesT Lube all the bolts and contact surfaces.Fix Clean, then grease contact surfaces and the steerer tube (use carbon assembly paste for carbon parts).CLiCk CReak PoPGRinDinGPedal bearing and cleatsTesT Ride with another set of pedals.Fix Grease your cleat. if the noise persists, retighten the pedals. if the sound is more of a pop, try cleaning and replacing worn bearings.HubsTesT Wiggle your wheels to feel for side-to-side play. Hold the hubs and spin the wheels to ensurethe bearings roll smoothly. if you suspect the rear wheel is the cul-prit, also check that the cassetteis tight and the freehub bearingsare in good shape.Fix Most hub bearings arent easily tightened or cleaned. Take the wheel to your shop.spokes andvalve stemTesT Check for loose spokes and valve stems. otherwise, spokes may be rubbing the nipples.Fix True your wheel.(For a video tutorial, goto BiCyCLinG.com/wheeltrue.) Grease the nipples and spots where spokes cross. Matte-black spokes are apt to creak. if the valve stem wiggles, wrap it with electrical tape.seatpost and saddle railsTesT Pedal out of the saddle to see if thenoise stops.Fix Grease your rails and post. Use carbon paste instead of standard grease for carbon-fiber parts.For more detail on these fixesand a maintenance regimen that will prevent such problems from cropping up in the first placeturn to page 48.january/february 2011 37Master Itdavidbrinleydavid brinleyBI_ST_MASTERIT_2.indd 37 11/8/10 2:56 PM11082010145712worldmags worldmagsworldmagsFrom a church in the southern city of Ponce to northern beaches, the Vuelta is Puerto Rico writ large.38JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011BI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 38 11/5/10 4:58 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 39 AND ALL I GOT WAS A BUNCH OF POTHOLES BIG ENOUGH TO SWALLOW A COCONUT, A BULLHORN-HAPPY ROUTE DIRECTOR, A WILLIE NELSON BODY DOUBLEAND ONE OF THE GREATEST HARD RIDES OF MY LIFE >by BILL GIFFORD photographed by ANGEL VALENTINBI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 39 11/5/10 4:58 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmags40january/february 2011Tooearlythenextmorning,IfoundPabloa fit-looking,40-ishguywhorunsalocallanguage instituteand his buddies straddling their bikes on thePaseodelaPrincesa,inthemiddleofOldSan Juan, Puerto Rico. Normally jammed with cruise-ship tourists and souvenir hawkers, the Paseo should have been deserted at this small hour, between the closing of the bars and the waking of the doughnut makers. Instead, it was packed with pickup trucks and police carsandambulances,whistlesandflashinglights, and hundreds of cyclists edgy with anticipation. We were a diverse group there at the starting line of the 369-mile Vuelta Puerto Rico: fit-looking warm-weatherridersfromMiami,tannedlocalsfromSan Juan,abunchoflaughingJamaicans;apairofCat2 racers from Houston draped over their bikes like grey-hounds. There was more than one Ironman tattoo, and few bikes that werent full carbon. I felt like I was about togetdroppedevenbeforewestartedpedaling,and thatIdwindupridingthewholewaywiththethree unfortunate souls who showed up on Bike Fridays. Luckily,wewouldsoonbedividedintothree groupsbasedonspeed:thehammerheadAs;the moremoderateBs;andthenot-quite-leisurely, 15-mph-averagingCs.WerestartinginGroupB, Pablomurmured in the predawn gloom, and ending in Group F. Sounded good to me. It was easy to pick out my fellow Northeasterners. This was early February, and we were so pale we prac-ticallyglowedinthedark.Heavysnowfalloverthe previous couple of months had annihilated our winter training plans; the only consolation was that we were going to miss the blizzard that was projected to slam into the East Coast that very day. Andthatwasthepoint,Ikepttellingmyself.So what if we had to ride nearly a century and a half today, listen to me, said my new friend Pablo, leaning in atme over dinner that first night. Im going to teach you the most important Spanish word for bike riders. I nodded, my mouth full of chicken and rice. The word is hoyo, and it means hole. When you see a pothole, you shout Hoyo! so everyone knows. Hoyo, I repeated.Louder.Hoyo! His two friends nodded, their faces serious. Good, said Pablo. Because youre going to need that word.the very first day of a three-day circuit of the island? Who cared if I still had doubts about this ill-defined, still-formative event that was not quite a race, and pointedly not a leisurely Backroads tourbut rather something all its own, something both dreamy and slightly nightmarish? At least we wouldnt be shoveling snow. Someone blew a whistle, and we all moved forward as a one-footed-pushing herd, then clicked in, wobbling over the cobbles. We stretched out into a stream of blinking red taillights as we threaded the maze of Old San Juan, looping out past the light-house at El Morro, the old Spanish fort, and below that the cinder-block tenements of La Perla, maybe the finest beachfront slum in all the world. Then we headed east, out past the Rat Packera Carib Hilton and the beachfront casino hotels, where all the normal tourists still snoozed in their beds.By the time dawn broke, we were rolling down the coastal road to the airport, a long double line of riders that stretched out of sight ahead of me and just as far be-hind. Almost nobody spoke. There was only the whirring of chains, the soft chunk of shifting gears. The morning air was soft and cool, but that wasnt why we wore arm warmers: Those were to keep the broiling sun from frying our pasty flesh.We turned off the main road and flowed into Loiza, a little coastal town founded by escaped slaves, and the first of the days nine rest stops. There, the tranquility ended.Assoonaswearrivedinthetownsquare,ready to grab bottles and Fig Newtons and keep going, a samba bandstartedplayingnoisily,andanenormouslocal womansashayedintothecrowd.Itwasnteven8a.m., but it was party time. Soon townspeople began dancing with cleat-shod cyclists, and right in the middle of it all, a brassy little firecracker of a woman, a local named Rosie, got off her bike, strode into the middle of the square, and Puerto Ricansenjoy the spectacleon their own terms:one resident of Quebradillas offers a cooling shower on day 3, and a produce salesman looks to turn a proft on calorie- defcient riders. BI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 40 11/5/10 4:58 PM11052010165852worldmags worldmagsworldmagsjanuary/february 2011 41yelled, at the top of her lungs, Puerto Riiiiiico!!!And everyone cheered. La Vuelta had begun.Theideahadseemedsobeautifulacoupleof months earlier. That was back when I was first offered the chance to ride in the Vuelta; all I saw were the words Puerto RicoandFebruary.Iimmediatelysignedon,en-visioningagentletropicalbiketourwithcatered lunches,aslow-movingsagvanandlongsiestason the beach, maybe a surf session or two. Just the thing for the February blues. A few days later, a friend e-mailed urgently: Dude! The first day is 147 miles. With an 800-foot climb at Mile 92! What? A few mouse clicks later, I confirmed that he was correct. It was a tour of sunny Puerto Rico, all right: a complete lap of the island, covering 369 miles in three days. The first day was, indeed, 147 miles. Followed by an easier 92-mileday, with 130 miles looming on the third. Those werent tropical-vacation distances; they were Tour de France stages. The elevation profile looked like an alligators dental X ray, and the event website featured video of defeated souls pushing bikes up a savage incline. If you end up walking the climb, my friend cackled, make sure theres no photographic evidence.Although he clearly hoped there would be. This was in December, and though I used to race and have ridden tens of thou-sands of miles in my life, I was in my off-season prime, my legs pale and my belly soft. I hadnt ridden 369 miles in the previous three months; in fact, Id never once done a full century. In the run-up to my trip, thanks to the winter weather, I managed a grand total of six training rides, the longest topping out at 48 miles. Which meant that on the first day Id basically be on terra incognita for the remaining 99. Why such a tough ride in a place where tourists come to put up their feet? The incongruityreflectstheuniqueandslightlytwistedgeniusofWilliamMedina, creatorofLaVuelta.William,aseveryonecallshim,hadbeendreamingabout riding all the way around Puerto Rico since he was a teenager in San Juan. Once, he and a friend hopped on their Schwinns, intending to circumnavigate theirnative isle in blue jeans. They made it only 50 miles, but as an adult Medina evolvedintoanaccomplishedultra-endurancecyclistwhorodein organized brevets that covered 200 miles or more, with time cutoffs at checkpoints. One of his favorite training routes is a 350-plus-mile lap of the entireisland.Butheknewitmightbemoreappealingtocyclists iftheycould,youknow,sleepatnight.Soin2006,heorganized athree-dayversion,and89riderssignedup,paying$75eachto participateinwhatMedinagrandlylabeledLaVueltadelosNueves Faros de Puerto Rico, the Tour of the Nine Lighthouses of Puerto Rico. They were stoked, he says. He paid most of the expenses himself; he just wanted to see if it could be done. When a dozen riders from Miami showed up unannounced, he was stoked, too. He took time off from work in 2007 to attempt Paris-Brest-Paris, thelegendary750-mileendurancetest.Hepreparedforthecold weatherbyridinginthewalk-infreezerofafriendsconvenience store, but he still was forced to withdraw after 36 hours when doc-tors informed him that he had acute hypothermia. He liked Puerto Ricosclimatebetter.HestagedasecondVueltain2008,and180 people showed up; the next year, 293 came. Soon after that he quit his job as a real-estate examiner to organize the La Vuelta full time. In2010,475riderssignedup,from39statesand13countries, from Chile to Chinabut by far the largest number (210) were locals. Williamhasatalentforlogisticsandaprofoundneedtobein one oF wIllIAms FAVoRIte tRAInIng Routes Is A 350-mIle lAP oF the IslAnd. but he knewIt mIght be moRe APPeAlIng IF RIdeRs could, you know, sleeP At nIght. Ride the VueltaCapped at 600 riders, the 2011 event(vueltapr.com) will take place January 28 to 30. For $499, participants receive a duffe bag, bottle, commemorative medal, eight meals and numerous rest stops plus support vehicles (including mechanics). Medina says participants should be capable of riding 100 miles inseven hours; this yearsridegainsabout13,000feetinelevation.Informationondis-counted lodging is available on the ride website. Other optional excur-sions range from a bike tour of San Juan City to a day trip through the El Yunque Rain Forest (prices range from $50 to $70). Looking for something easier? Puerto Rico is host to a variety of two-wheeledtours,rangingfromathree-hourramblearoundOld SanJuan(bicyclevacationspuertorico.com)toa30-miletourofLa Parguera (bicycletour.com, enter Puerto Rico). Mary OReillyPuerto ricoBI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 41 11/5/10 4:58 PM11052010165853worldmags worldmagsworldmags42january/february 2011charge.Hiscompactframeandbespectacledmienmightfoolastrangerintothinkinghedtakeno for an answer. But his mild appearance camouflages a personality as stubborn as a platoon commanders. Whichwaswhatisneeded,hetoldme,toorganize something like this in the tropics. Hehadtheridechoreographeddowntothelast detail,fromearly-morningdeparturestothemany well-stockedwaterstops,spacedroughlyanhour apart. Hed negotiated with dozens of local police de-partments to close roads and provide escorts. Its all organized according to mathematics, he explained. I will be able to tell you, at any given time, where each of the three groups is on the roadand Ill be accurate to within four minutes. Hopefully it would all add up to something greater than the sum of its parts. La Vuelta is not a race, he emphasized, but neither is it merely a ride. He wanted something more. I want to push the limits of people and make them feel, when they finish it, that theyve really accomplished something, he said. Completing the thing would be a lifetime achieve-ment.Youllseealotofpeoplecryingattheend, becausetheycantbelievetheyvedoneit,hesaid. Wait and see. You ll be crying.That I believed. The pace was slow that first morning. We pedaled along narrow, twisting roads, rolling through a ficus grove that arched over the road, shading us from the sun for 2 surreal miles. We swung onto a main road and saw to our surprise that traffic had been stopped. Lesssurprising,manydriverswerehangingoutof their car windows and leaning on their horns. Therearemanygoodreasonstovisittropicalis-lands in winter, but it turns out that riding a bike hard forhundredsofmilesinthehot,energy-suckingsun to circle the islandin three short winter days, Vuelta cyclists often put in big miles before dawn, and must roll quickly after vari-ous performances, such as this one (right) by a group of young dancers.typically isnt high on the list, for reasons having to do withthe smallness of the islands, their bad roads and their com-pensatory wild traffic. The number of cars in Puerto Rico is legendaryeven by the lofty standards of the rest of the UnitedStatesandtheirdriverstendtoregarddouble-yellowlinesandeventrafficlightsassuggestionsrather than strict rules. Forallthesereasons,theislandseemsuniquely unpromisingforthiskindoftour.Butcopsappearedatallmajorintersections, holdingbacktraffic.Thentheydracepastus,sirenswhooping,tothenextbig crossroads, where more drivers hung out of their windows and rubbed their eyes at the sight of 500 cyclists buzzing past. Meanwhile, the local riders blasted away onwhistlesFweeet!Fweeet!Fweeeeeet!Thisseemedakindofbizarrebreachof cycling etiquette until I learned that they are actually required by Puerto Rican law.Asyetanotherphalanxofcopsroaredpast,one fellow Northerner marveled, DamnWilliam must have some serious pull. But while motorists in, say, New Jersey would have been insane with rage, it turned out that the honking, accompanied by whistles and claps, was like cheering. La Vuelta was big news here, and everyone was happy to come cheer the bravery of the riders crazy enoughto try to circle the island in three days. When we stopped forsnacksinoneseaside village,schoolchildrenap-proached us with posters to autograph. Wed come to see Puerto Rico, but we were the ones being watched. Westraggledupandovertheclimb,whichrose to a cliff overlooking Puerto Ricos east coast. Climbs always seem bigger on an island, yet this one wouldnt have been all that difficult but for the 91 miles that preceded itand the knowledge of the 50-odd miles still to come. And, of course, there were the potholes: Some were CyCle the CaRibbean Five more great riding destinationscosta Rica A seven-hour, 22.5-mile mountain-bike route from Lake Arenal to El Venado offers an abundance of wildlife and natural scenery, including views of volcanoes and Costa Ricas most spectacular lake. $106; anywherecostarica.com st. croix Stamina Sports points roadies toward popular local routes, including the 70-mile leg of the local triathlon and a beloved 35-plus-mile ride that follows the coastline. $30 for the frst days rental and $20 a day from there; stamina-sports.comst. John Mountain-bike trips range from three to six hours, winding past scenic bays, historic ruins and some of the islands most remote areas. Bring a bathing suit for swim breaks. $50 to $90; arawakexp.com st. thomas Most traffc on lightly populated Water Islandthe newest and smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islandsinvolves golf carts, so the riding is a breeze. Wrap the excursion with a swim at Honeymoon Beach. $65; waterislandadventures.com tortola Road rides here range from leisurely loops along the coast to a route with fve steep hillsideal for intervals, if thats how you want to spend your vacation. Last Stop Sports rents bikes for $40 a day and $160 a week; laststopsports.comM.O.!For interactive maps of la Vuelta Puerto Rico, go to bicycling.com/puertorico.BI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 42 11/5/10 4:58 PM11052010165853worldmags worldmagsworldmagsjanuary/february 2011 43just minor divots in the tarmac, but many of them werejagged-edged craters that opened suddenly in front of your wheel. One seconds inattention and your Vuelta would be over. I bunny-hopped an especially deep one that had a whole green coconut lying at the bottom. Ofcourse,everyonecalledoutthehoyos.Allthe time.Wedberidingalong,someonewouldshout Hoyo! and everyone else would shout Hoyo! Hoyo! andpanicandgrabthebrakes,promptinganother round of harried shouting: Adelante! Slowing! Then wed sprint back up to speed.Cyclingcomputerssprangfreeandshattered; bottlespoppedfromcages,causingfurtherhavoc. Thepackswervedarounddeadcatsbutgenerally rode straight over the many flattened iguanas. Dogs chasedus,threateningtodartinfrontofthepack, andmorethanonce,runawaycarthorsescantered alongside.Manyridersflatted.Despitethelarge number of triathletes, I witnessed only two crashes Williamhadbannedaerobars,praisetheLord.On oneoccasion,twoguysgottangledupontheclimb; anothertime,abigJamaicanplowedstraightintoa hoyo and went down with a heavy grunt. Fueledbythechaos,ourstatelypacebuiltintoa furious charge as the day progressed. After lunch, we raced across the hot, dry southern coast. Crosswinds blew down from the mountains and tried to tear the group apart, but the leaders kept pushing it, hard. My speedometer ticked steadily upward, from 19 and 20 upto24,26,28mphinspots.Idneversweatedso much. At one stop, I rubbed my eyes, which promptly filledwithsweatuntilIcouldntsee,andstaggered around spilling Gatorade on my shoes. I didnt care. We were racing against darkness now, tryingtofinishbeforenightfall.Attheback,riders were getting stripped off one by one and in clumps; one person would let a gap go, and then it was good-bye. Notlongbeforedusk,ourgrouppulledintothe town square of Ponce, a sleepy colonial city shaded by enormous trees. We unclipped, leaned our bikes and grabbed a last bottle or two, a little shell-shocked. Thetownmarchingbandwaswaiting,andon cue, the drummers beat a furious rhythm while teen-agegirlsinmascaraandsparklyeyeshadowbegan struttingandtwirlingandtossingtheirbatons.We watched them for a couple of songs before two of the drummerssuddenlystartedthrowingpunchesat each other, shirts off in the middle of the street. (Evi-dently it involved one of the prettier twirlers.) Webolteddownadinnerofchickenandrice, then limped off to our hotel rooms. I flicked on CNN and fell asleep to the sight of a reporter floundering around in 2 feet of cold snow on the U.S. Capitol lawn. All that night I dreamt of hoyos.It had been years since Id ridden in a peloton. So long that Id forgotten how much I missed it. In fact, I didnt realize I had missed it at all until the second morning, when someone yelled Grupo B! and nearly two hundred shoes clicked into two hundred pedals, and I got a little shiver. We rolled slowlyoutofthesquare,throughthedustystreetswiththeirbrightlypainted houses, and out onto the main road, where we settled into our spots in the pack. Thesoundsofpedalsandfreewheelsandchainsmergedintoasteadyhum, and I thought of when I used to race, and how the thing I loved about it was not the winning (which I never did anyway), or even the trying to win, but simply being in the group; the race was beautiful because it brought us together. Then Id crashed hard and injured myself, and that part of my life had ended.But I knew that a savvy rider could tuck into the sweet spot of a big bunch and be swept along by the group. That was my plan for surviving the rest of the Vuelta. Up to that point, it had worked. As we rolled out of town the second morning, in a long procession of twinkling LEDs, we traded horror stories about people whod beendroppedorsufferedmechanicalsontherun-intoPonce.Ridingsolo,they wobbled on the shoulder as traffic whizzed viciously past. Couples had been sepa-rated, leading to ugly recriminations. You definitely dont want to fall behind the police escort, a Vuelta veteran warned me. Because then everything goes to hell. Which was, naturally, exactly what would be in store for me that day. We spent the morning heading out to the stunning Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, set onarockypointontheislandssouthwestcorner.Apparentlywemovedfaster than the lunch trucks, because when we got there we found no food, only buckets ofwarmorangeGatorade.TwohundredmilesintotheVuelta,wedspentmore time on our bikes than in beds, and some riders were becoming unhinged. Theres no lunch! one guy screamed. Theres not even any ice! William looked pained. When lunch arrived, riders jostled to get places in line, where we broiled in the sun for another hour. By the time Id eaten, my Group B buddies were nowhere in sight. Theyre waiting down at the paved road, someone said. I hustled down the rocky dirt track that led to the lighthouse, only to findno one. After the previous day, I desperately needed a grupetto to hide in. My legs were asking to do something else besides ride a bike today. We had more than 30 miles to go, which seemed an awful long way to ride solo. There were a few other stragglers on you dont want to fall behind the police escort, because then everything goes to hell, one rider said. naturally, that was exactly what happened to me.Puerto ricoBI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 43 11/8/10 2:55 PM11082010145556worldmags worldmagsworldmags44january/february 2011 january/february 2011 89the road, tongues flapping in the heat as they turnedthe pedals robotically. Nobody felt very sociable. I rode a while with a kid, maybe 20 years old, but after I pulled him up a long hill, he sprinted around me at the top and was gone. InasmallbeachtownIranintoTeamBigBoss, a crew of Puerto RicanAmericans from Dallas, and rejoicedatfirstbuttheyjustseemedtobemean-dering along, on their own schedule. Eventually they disappeared into a beachside bar. I decided to take my time as well. Fortunately, Id picked a good place to become detached. Riding alone hereontheisland-timebeachroadsinthesouthof PuertoRicowasatotallydifferentexperienceno police escort required. I started to notice things other than other riders rear wheels and the gaping hoyos. Offshore,Iwatchedsurfersslicethehugecomb-ing swells. I saw families on the beach, whiling away the Saturday, heard snatches of conversation drifting up from open-air bars. I passed roadside stalls selling oysters, bacalaitos and beer, and I ached with longing to rent a tiny shack by the beach and go surfing.This was the real Puerto Rico, not the cruise ships andhugehotelsofSanJuanandthenortherncoast. I thought of Hunter S. Thompson, whod also escaped New York and spent a year on the island as a young re-porterinthelate1950s.Iwantedtotakeoffallmy clothes, he wrote, and never wear them again.When I spotted a hand-lettered sign for Cocos frios $1.50, I doubled back. The stand consisted of a small table, an umbrella and an older guy with a machete. HehadacousininNewYork,ofcourse.IhappilyPueRto RiCo continued on p. 89plunkeddowntwogreenbacks,mysystemanticipating a shot of icy electrolytes, as he hacked into a green husk from a cooler. How many kilometros you go? he asked. I showed him my computer: 146.53. He looked at me likeIhadtwoheads.Thenhisbuddycameup,clapped him on the back, and said, in Spanish, You asshole, you finally sold one of your cocos calientes?Unfortunately, the friends description was accurate: The coco was as lukewarm as my hotel shower that morning. I took a few sips, then pedaled off with barely concealed disappointment. Watch out for the cars! yelled Cocos Caliente.Not long afterward, I met Willie Nelson. Or at least, he looked like Willie, with long gray hair and a grizzled beard. Turns out he was actually Woody Graham, who is something of a legend among ultra-endurance cyclists. At 60ish, Woody rode at his own pace, in leather sandals, on a Trek thatpredated Lance. His only concession to modern cycling technology: clipless SPD pedals. His business card identified him as Bicycle Bum Extraordinaire, and though he hailed from South Carolina, he had ridden all over the world: Europe, across America, the Australian outback. One year he completed 57 centuries. Woodyhadalsofinishedthe750-mileParis-Brest-Parisseventimesa remarkablefeat,consideringitrunsonlyeveryfouryears.Thehardestwasthe time hed ridden it as a newlywed. I thought, what am I doing? he said. Ive got a new bride at home, and here I am sleeping on a cardboard box in France. Apparentlyshehadunderstood,becausetheywerestillmarried.ButWoody was very much his own man. He was roaming the roads of Puerto Rico on his own schedule, leaving on his own time and riding at his own pace, occasionally showing up at a water stop, which is where I ran into him, sucking on an orange slice. He seemed unconcerned about the heat, or the traffic, or whether or not hed reach his hotel in time; he knew hed make it, sooner or later. Which is the beauty of the bike: You can always roll another mile. The Ironman types mostly ignored him, yet he was the most famous person on the ride, and easily the most recognizable. Having already ridden the Vuelta twice I dont wAnt eVeRybody comIng uP FRont! wIllIAm cRoAked Into the bullhoRn. thAt edIct lAsted About hAlF A mIle beFoRe the Peloton boIled AheAd.Vaya con dios: Fromstray dogs that run into the peloton to the rider-shredding climbs, the Vuelta is a constant test of bike-handling and pack-management abilities.Puerto ricoBI01_11PUERTO RICO2.indd 44 11/5/10 4:58 PM11052010165854worldmags worldmagsworldmagsGear up for The Ride of a lifetime! Join thousands of Riders of all abilities in The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer - an unforgettable 2-day cycling adventure to end cancer, a disease that affects 2 in 5 Canadians in their lifetime. Choose between four fully-supported rides for your epic journey. ALBERTA[888] 624- BIKE [2453]QUEBEC1 866 996-8356ONTARIO[877] 699-BIKE [2453]B.C.[888] 771-BIKE [2453]EPIC RIDE. EPIC IMPACT.SOLD OUTTORONTO TO NIAGARA FALLS / VANCOUVER TO SEATTLE / ALONG ALBERTAS ROCKIES / MONTREAL TO QUEBECSign up today!Were almost full! CONQUERCANCER.CAworldmags worldmagsworldmagsmakeup and Styling by Shantel lowe46january/february 2011 1Youve lived here inGreenville [South Carolina] for 10 years now. Has the cycling community changed in that time?Definitely. The community is really embracing cycling now. There are bike paths all over the city, including a new trail that runs from downtown to the foothills of the mountains. Sometimes Ill jump on those paths to ride downtown to get a cup of coffee or go to the office [of Hincapie Sportswear]. 2Youve been riding ata high level for more than 20 years, so you must know a thing or two about how to stay fit and motivated. Whats your secret?A big part of it is that I still love what I do. I sometimes cant believe that Ive been able to make a living doing something that I dreamed about as a kid. Still, thats not enough to get through those long, cold and rainy training days. But I know those are the days when lots of people end up missing their training and then pay for it later on. Those are the days that help you reach your goals.3Okay, lets talk aboutgoals. But be honest: Do you ever get tired of people asking you about Paris-Roubaix?No. Id like to win another Tour stage, but my ultimate goal is to win Paris-Roubaix. People know Ive been so close there, and theyre fascinated to know whats missing. Its such a hard raceof course thats why the race appeals to me so much and why I still dream of winning it.4What do you wantpeople to remember you for as a cyclist?I want people to remember that I was one of the hardest-working guys in the sport, someone who could be trusted, someone who always showed up fit.5Is it true that youdo almost all of your training alone?Yeah, its true. Ive got some young, aspiring pros that Ive been training with lately, but most of my time on the bike Im alone. Im lucky I still love riding my bike so muchif Im not training a lot I dont feel normal. Ill keep riding my whole life. My racing career will be over soon, but Ill keep riding.6What do you thinkyour riding life will be like when you retire?Nothing majorjust a couple hours a day.7So youre not going toshow up at random cross races?No wayits not going to be like that. Ill mountain bike with friends. I dont think Ill do any racing.8Youve won lots of fansfor the ways in which youve handled your success and adversity. Is it strange to think about how many people will be pulling for you when Paris-Roubaix rolls around?Its definitely an honor to know that there are people who want me to win that race so badthat they kind of feel the pain that Ive felt throughout that race. People have seen me be successful, theyve seen me on the ground in that race, theyve seen me with broken bones. And they just want it to go perfect for me. That makes me feel good. And if I go into it prepared and have some luck, a win is definitely possible.9So how will you feel atthe races start line in April?Oh, Ill have butterflies for Roubaix. I also get nervous before team time trials. But other than that, for stuff like normal Tour stages, I dont get nervous anymore. Ive been doing this too long for that.photographed bypatrick cavan brownAmericas greatest domestiqueand Classics racer talks about his obsessionwith Paris-Roubaix, the onlytwo races that make him nervous,and riding after retirement9 Q u e s t i o n s G e o r g e Hi n c a p i eI want people to remember I was one of the hardest-working guys in the sport.Class ActBI01_11HINCAPIE.indd 46 11/5/10 4:56 PM11052010165648worldmags worldmagsworldmags january/february 201047makeup and Styling by Shantel lowe9 Q u e s t i o n s G e o r g e Hi n c a p i eWhether hes in kit or jeans, Hincapie puts in the miles around his adopted hometown of Greenville, SC.Class ActBI01_11HINCAPIE.indd 47 11/8/10 3:14 PM11082010151450worldmags worldmagsworldmags48 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011From the exquisite, cherry-handled Shimano chain tool to a cast-off greasy bearing race, the act of working on your bike exposes you to unexpected beauty. T HE GR E AT MECHBI01_11MAINTENANCE.indd 48 11/8/10 2:21 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsCH A NI C WI T HI N JANUARY/FEBRUARY 201149BI01_11MAINTENANCE.indd 49 11/8/10 2:21 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmags50JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011Acertainelementalsatisfactioncomesfromgrowing your own hot peppers or figuring out how to fish a lost toy (or wedding ring) out of a drainpipe, yet few of us choose to lead the daily, tough life of a full-time farmer or plumber. So it is with our bicycles: We gain something important as cyclists by learning just enough to avoid beingstymiedbythatscratchingsoundcomingfrom thebrakes.Eliminateasqueakfromyourseatpost andyouexperienceapleasurethatisadmittedlyout of proportion to your achievement but also undeniably authentic.Heresayearsworthofsimpleyetvital projects that will give you the satisfaction of working on your bike without requiring you to set up an elaborate home shop or adopt the scraped-knuckle existence of a grease monkey.Bill StricklandThe(NotVery)Di rty DozenWE SHOULD LEAVE MANY PROJECTS OUR LIVES REQUIRE TOprofessionals. For example, relatively few people are qualified to cut their own hair or perform their own surgery, and even if youre actually a barber or a surgeon youre probably still going to turn the job over to a colleague for best results (though back in the Middle Ages you would have at least been able to turn both jobs over to a single person).Formostofus,bikemaintenancefallsintothefor-the-proscategory, andunderstandablyso.Amisshapenhaircutisonething;havingyour knuckles stitched back together because you tried to take off your pedals is another. Even so, I am here to implore you to open that tool kit you got for your birthday three years ago and tap into the primordial collective con-sciousness that exists inside of every cyclist: The Great Mechanic Within.The path to summoning this entity is fraught with challenges, but the mereprocessoftryingtodosocanbringricherrewardsthanyouever anticipated. Plus, you might save lots of money someday.I started working on my own bikes as a kidoiling the chain to make it 12 SIMPLE BUT VITAL REPAIRSYOU CAN MASTERTHEGREATMECHANICWI THI NBI01_11MAINTENANCE.indd 50 11/8/10 2:21 PM

worldmags worldmagsworldmags JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 51WINTERBOTTOM BRACKET/CRANKSETWith the chain derailed, spin the crankset slowly with one nger. If the movement feels gritty, audibly grinds or catches at certain spots in the rotation, you need either a bottom bracket overhaul or full replacement. You did the diagnosis, which is plenty. Leave the surgery to a shop.1Grab the crankarms and try to wiggle them toward and away from the frame. If there is play, determine if the whole crankset is moving or if its only one of the crankarms. For the crankarm, try tightening2(with the required 8mm hex, a thin-walled socket or in some cases a proprietary tool) then check again. For the crankset itself, a shop might be able to tighten the BB or else replace it.3Finally, snug all chainring bolts, usually with a 5mm hex or a Torx key. (Some bolts require you to hold the opposite side while you tighten.)CHAINA pro-team mechanic showed us a cheap and easy quick-clean method we love: Soak the center of a sponge with dish soap (or a commercial degreaser or cleanser). With one hand, wrap the sponge around the chain, under the chainstay, then with the other hand backpedal 10 revolutions. Rinse the sponge, squeeze out excess water, reload with cleaner and repeat. Continue until the sponge no longer gets dirty. Dry the chain by letting it sit for 10 minutes or by backpedaling through a clean rag. Apply one drop of lube to each of the chains pins, then backpedal 10 revolutions, allow ve minutes for the lube to penetrate, then wipe the chain with a clean rag by backpedaling. (Any lube removed this way is excess that doesnt help the links move, and attracts grime.)from now on CHECK IT ONCE A MONTHfrom now on CLEAN EVERY TWO WEEKS, 10 HOURS OF RIDING, OR IF WET RIDEREAR DERAILLEURClunky rear shifting is most often caused when the cable stretches or the amount of tension it exerts on the derailleur somehow goes out of whack, which affects the derailleurs alignment with the cogs. Amateur mechanics sometimes try to x this by ddling with the two screws that are prominent on the derailleur body. Those limit screws, however, are intended to be used to set up the initial range of motion (preventing the derailleur from jumping into the spokes on the large-cog side, and centering it precisely at its lowest, least-tensioned starting point on the small-cog side).Fortunately, the simplest way to tune the rear shifting solves somewhere around 90 percent of all problems. Shift to the smallest cog. Turning one pedal by hand, click up one gear. If the derailleur balks, click back and stop the drivetrain. Turn the barrel adjusterlocated where the cable goes into the derailleur; its the only thing down there that looks like a barrelout half a turn (counterclockwise). Try the shift again, continuing to dial out the adjuster as needed until the derailleur snaps crisply onto the cog. Progress up the cogs. When the shifting is perfect that way, repeat the routine coming down the cogset. This time if the derailleur hesitates, dial the barrel adjuster in just one-quarter of a turn at a time. You should be able to work your way up and down the cogset and ne-tune the shifting in less than 10 minutes.from now on TUNE WHENEVER SHIFTING GETS BALKYI no longer dread rainy daystheyre an opportunity to lose myself in maintenance.WIGGLE BACK & FORTHTURN BARREL ADJUSTER COUNTERCLOCKWISELUBE HERENOT HERE3 2 1BI01_11MAINTENANCE.indd 51 11/9/10 11:02 AM

worldmags worldmagsworldmagsThe(NotVer y)Di rt yDozencontinued...run more quietly, taking the chainguard off to makemybikelookmoreliketheonesintheBMXmaga-zines,andintheprocessacquiringmyfirstgreasy chainringtattoos.Iquicklyadvancedtocursingat mybicycleasseeminglymundanerepairsexploded. Steeped in such tradition, it would seem logical that as an adult interested in road bikes I would possess all the confidence and knowledge needed to perform my own service. Yet I quickly realized that my childhood riding friends and I had mostly just been beating on our bikes with pliers and Channellocks like that ape-manwithaboneinthebeginningof2001:ASpace Odyssey. As an adult, I was well ahead of people who areflummoxedbyquick-releaseskewers,butwoe-fullyignorantwhenitcametocomponentssuchas derailleurs.AndasItriedtoadjustthem,theyonly got worse, leaping wildly from cog to cog like a mouse tryingnottofallintoapop-uptoaster.Icouldhave taken my bike to a shop. I should have. But something inmewantedtorecapturethatheadyifignorant and unearnedconfidence of my childhood.And thats when I met my first mechanical mentor, Sheldon Brown. In some primitive, pre-Google search engine I typed rear derailleur panicked mouse help! and found my way as if by providence to the website of a mechanic working in West Newton, Massachusetts, who appeared to be an online oracle. As well, his pic-tureshowedthathehadabeard,whichmadehim seemsimultaneouslyaccessibleanddivine.Inthe samewaythattheolder,moreexperiencedridersI wasmeetingwerepointingmetowardthenotable climbsandencouragingmetosetoutonthosefirst big road rides, Sheldons Internet advice pushed me as a mechanic. Just as I was sure to bonk 60 miles from homeonthosefirsttoo-