On a day that uncovered more scandal at the Tour de France, my Summer road trip found a different path. If you've ever contemplated giving up your two-wheeled pursuits because of things beyond your control, I hope you have a read.
Cavendish sporting DeFeet ArmSkins from the Custom Shop. Inquire about custom ArmSkins when you place your custom sock orders - your team kits will rock harder at a better value than anything else out there!
Le Grand Boucle is right around the corner. Whatever it represents to you, one thing is certain: stage races change you. This month, I examine what it means to get out there and get in them.
PW: Coop, it's been some time again since we've relaxed and had a tea, together. Take a seat, braihamp. So I was diggin through my t-shirt drawer last night, looking for that Loverboy half-shirt that I like to sleep in so much that you keep trying to steal, and I found the Shane Cooper signature 'Fat4Gas' shirt that we had Squadra make for us. I thought, "Shoot, man. There went that Cooper, ahead of his time by almost a year, again." That's pretty cool that you were out in front of these high fuel prices like that.
SC: After reaching my 2007 goal of 100 days commuting to work...for 2008 I am just riding everyday unless I need a car for something. So far, maybe 5 drive to work days. It's easy once ya get your mind made up.
PW: I'm proud of you for that, Shane. About a year ago we did a Tea Time meeting about it, and here you are, still at it. Since we're on the subject of gas, how is it going in-house?
SC: well if your referring to flatulance...that maybe be an in-house issue...as my food get processed a bit quicker now with all the riding. A few folks are complaining here at the house, butt I have Isabelle the dog to blame. (Shoe and sock combo that Cooper favors for winter commuting - Lake shoe, lined, and DeFeet Ski-D sock. Trusty Co-Motion NorWester', below)
PW: Ok, good then. I was referring to oil at $135 a barrel, rising inflation... and Formula 1, Nascar and Lynrd Skynrd. It all seems to just keep rolling along. DeFeet wasn't around in the 70's. You and I were playing 'kick the can' in the street at night. At least I was. I rode my Makaha skateboard all day every day. Those seemed like great days.. yet the US was struggling with high interest rates and inflation. What's it mean this time? More games like 'kick the can', or will Suburban's continue to truck the kid to the organized sports?
SC: Hey smeer the queer was a great yard game...I bet many NFL players found their jives from pickin that ball up and runnin like hell. Now days we have organized "traveling" team sports that burn kids out and send moms and dads nuts before middle school. I say let kids be kids...let's run wild and play pretend. Save some gas America. And have you seen the "Safe Routes to School" program...that my friend is a great solution to pollution (body and air). We have not raised our prices at DeFeet due to gas prices yet...but with stapple goods up damn near 40%....we might just have to hike it up a bit. Made in America really does mean something...if you weigh it all up....especially with gas being the driving force (no pun intended).
PW: China and India are feeling the romance of the automobile that the US enjoyed in the 50's and 60's. It's hard to blame them. It's addictive. They are moving from foot and bicycle to the automobile, and it's going to send American's (hopefully) from the automobile to foot and bicycle. Have you seen the projections for childhood obesity? Now.. that's some kina crazy chart. 'Safe Routes to School' is a great thing. Families need to pay attention. My family moved farther from my school's when I was growing up. I rode my bike, but I took 'Dangerous Routes to School'.
SC: I know 30% fat kids...yes fat kids...there, I said it, fat kids and smear the queer...member that song about a hot dog and fat kids? Soft Lazy kids with no back bone and now reason...that is what the world thinks about US...we have to change it and get back to the hard-tuffass-USA that built our country strong. We cant blame China...we have to look in the mirror. One of our only leading exports that we still make here...is HOLLYWOOD...kinda crazy...but so true. Ride your bike...car pool...walk...and lets stop being so dependent on oil...or find some right here in our own backyard...sorry Canunuks...solar power man...wind power dude...like i said last year "FAT 4 GAS
PW: Well put. It's happening, too. Here's a recent article on commuting and bike sales. If the proverbial door opens when another is shut, maybe America's health will take turn for the better, this time.
The team in the DeFeet Custom Shop recently brought to our attention that DeFeet custom products have made the last three consecutive Velo News covers. That's significant. That's blog worthy. Hats off to a great team at DeFeet and great teams in Europe.
Whether you are a rider and/or or a coach, you know that the relationship could become a journey. The internet has changed coaching forever, but there are still real coaches out there.
DeFeet gives a callout to the Lees-McRae Bobcat cycling team for winning their first ever Division I Team Championship! Carla Stewart and Andrew Talansky won collegiate National Road Race AND Overall Individual National Overall Championships while leading the Bobcats to victory.
With Lees-McRae situated just up the road from DeFeet, it was natural that we crafted custom socks for them. Congratulation Bobcats!
It's hard to escape the bad news surrounding the economy, these days. In 1990, a recession changed things in bike racing. It will this year, too. How you ride it out is up to you.
Another chapter was added to DeFeet's storied history today. Tom Boonen bagged another Paris-Roubaix win. It was all coming together perfectly for him in the last couple of weeks (not to say "We told you so"), but in Paris-Roubaix you still need lots of luck on your side.
Once again, DeFeet's are the first to cross the line in the Roubaix velodrome.
This is an image of Tom Boonen pounding a section of this Sunday's Paris-Roubaix (in DeFeet Slipstreams). He is a determined man, this week. He's been particularly outspoken lately. He doesn't do that unless he's REALLY ready. Last Sunday in Flanders it looked like he lead up every climb.
Stijn Devolder of Quickstep escaped to win what many call the 'greatest one-day race in cycling', the Tour of Flanders. His DeFeet socks and Slipstreams trampled their way over the famous Koppenberg climb, which was put back in the race this year. This win adds to DeFeet's mosaic of victories in the world's most prestigious races.
The Koppenberg is hard enough to ride when it's dry. It's hard to walk or run up if it's wet.
It had been a long time since I'd described some of my racing in any detail. In "Battling the Wookie™", I revisit a pair of races I did. Coincidence? You be the judge.
No other manufacturer comes close to the success DeFeet has enjoyed competing in and winning the World's toughest races. The reason is simple. The top riders ask for us by name.
Riding behind an echelon like this is NOT fun. Textbook teamwork demonstrated, here. All wearing a mix of DeFeet Levitator Lites, Aireators, Aireator High Tops and Slipstreams.
Fans on a slope and DeFeet clad Tom B. tight to the gutter. Easter is near. So are the biggest one day Classics.
No one has flair like the Italian World Champion. DeFeet Armwarmers and Duragloves complete the look.
Team Quickstep rider Steven De Jongh pedaled his DeFeet socks across the line ahead of everyone else to win last weekend's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. That's a race that always gave me the willys. Even the name sounds nasty. With the timing on the calendar and where it takes place, there's always the chance it can get ugly.
Plus, you have to deal with some really hard-core guys getting steamed up for the Spring classics. All you racers out there, take a good long look at the quote from the race winner. There's a special lesson in it you should get a good grasp on:
"Sometimes you need to be an asshole and sit on the wheel of someone."
- Steven De Jongh explains how team tactics made him sit behind Rabobank's Sebastian Langeveld.
When I submitted this month's Wolf Den Article, the editor said "Um, it's a little wierd. Kind of 'California'. But your last paragraph was wonderful." Hopefully 'California' isn't bad. I wasn't Swami's surf lineup serious about my words. If I actually called anyone some of these names, it would be with a smile on my face.
If they still needed to punch me, so be it. Sometimes cycling is too serious. Like the movie "Point Break". Like at Swami's. Like they made the characters in that cycling movie with Kevin Costner... what was it called?
In a sport where this can happen, you have to have humility:
You don't need to watch this whole segment. Ernest Hemingway talked about how hard it was for him to portray bicycle racing. Hollywood? They never had a prayer.
At 41 (and 3rd place in Stage 2), you have to tip your hat to Mario. He also has the best taste in socks. As for the beautiful maiden cheering him along the route... she has the best taste in gloves. Is it a match made in heaven or what?
It's ON at the Tour of California, and the DeFeet presence is stronger than ever before. Team High Road and Quickstep are premiere professional cycling programs for DeFeet. Riders like Tom Boonen, Paolo Bettini, and George Hincapie are fully outfitted in our products.
The Europeans know that when they come to the States, they might run into Shane Cooper, get in their DeFeet Custom Shop orders, and maybe walk away with some prototype product. Cooper did not dissapoint, this year.
National Geographic 'Adventurer of the Year' and DeFeet ambassador Andrew Skurka is giving five slide shows in February. These will all take place on Colorado's front range. If you're going to be out that way (or live there) - mark your calendars:
All shows will take place at REI stores.
Feb 1st Boulder Feb 5th Lakewood Feb 6th Colorado Springs Feb 7th Englewood Feb 22nd Denver Flagship
Wolf Den Article 14: The Ultimate Cycling Computer
'The Ultimate Cycling Computer' is an article that some of you, I know, will appreciate. It tries to delve into the methodology behind how we communicate with ourselves. It's an unbelievably complex subject. It's also one of the most interesting. Click the link to the right and bear with me as I try to merely scratch the surface.
DeFeet is proud to announce that it will be the official supplier to Team Quickstep for 2008. DeFeet has supplied this powerhouse team for many years and has shared victories in so many World Championships, Tour de France stages, Paris-Roubaix's and others that we can't even keep count anymore. The team puts the full line of DeFeet products to the test every day.
Andrew Skurka, the 'Enlightened Outdoor Adventurer' (and staunch DeFeet wearer) finished his 'Great Western Loop' on November 3rd. We are very proud of Andy here at DeFeet. We can't think of a way to put our products to the test more rigorously than on him. Now that he's done hiking (for the moment) we have worked more closely with him deciding what to do next with DeFeet's outdoor and hiking line.
On the rim of the Grand Canyon - the finish line.
What a place to begin - and end it.
Since completing his hike, the accolades have started to roll in. Andy is National Geographic's 'Adventurer of the Year'. That is a huge award. He is now an honorary member of the National Geographic Society.
Andy is no doubt flattered by paragraphs like this one from a recent magazine article:
"Still, even though he lives the rigorous and finely tuned physical regimen of a pro athlete, Skurka is not one. There is no glory in what he does, no television spots or cash prizes. He does it simply because he can, and the way he describes his most recent journey -- the moments that come to mind, thinking back over this Great Western Loop -- belies a young, ardent heart determined to have an original life. Picture a Gen Y version of Hendry David Thoreau or John Muir, driven largely by a youthful exuberance and energy, and learning things that nobody else knows about the this country's most precious open spaces."
Is he the Thoreau or Muir of this age? We can't answer that. He is definitely the Skurka, and there isn't anyone around, at any age, who's done what he has.
Cyclocross is a sport dear to our hearts at DeFeet. We go together like peanut butter and chocolate. At the end of a proper 'cross race, you should look like got dipped in those ingredients, too. Cyclocross combines several core DeFeet sports: running, cycling, hiking (when you're too tired to run), and sometimes, snow. You don't 'sort of' do a cyclocross race. You're either all-in or you're on the sidelines. Being on the sidelines isn't bad, either. It's way more entertaining than watching football. If it's a decent race they'll have a heated beer tent. Someone might even give you a cowbell to clang.
Jeremy Powers is a young lad who's making his name racing cyclocross and road both here in the US and abroad. We asked him some probing questions over the weekend.
1. Jeremy, welcome to DeFeet's '6 pac of Q's'. Tell us, first off, why bike racing? What was the pull for you. Were you always athletic growing up?
I played a few different sports when I was growing up, mostly baseball. I was passionate about baseball but by the time I reached junior high, all the coaches were only picking their family members and friends for the all star and regional teams so I got discouraged and started racing mountain bikes on the weekends with friends. Thats where it all started, My mom and I hopping in our diesel pick-up truck and heading to races on the weekends. Going to races on the weekends hasn't gotten old yet, I've been doing this since I was 13. My family still comes to all the localraces and screams for me, so that never got old either!
2. Cyclocross seems to be your passion. Who are the 'tough men' in the World, today, and also from the American side?
A lot of the Belgians are pretty hard guys. Wellens + Nys are the most impressive to me, they go all season racing at the top and they show up in all conditions, wet, dry, hot or cold there in the hunt for the W. In the states, the normal guys, Ryan, Jonathan, Timmy, Todd & Barry all have their strengths. Each of those riders can win any race on a given day, Because the racing is so short it makes it really fun to race and even better to watch.
3. The former 'can't-leave-home-without-it' item used to be a bag of cassette tapes and a Sony Walkman. Those were the Dark Ages, when Belgium was Belgium. What tools do you carry to help feel at home?
This year I'm bringing some serious horse power to keep me sane while I'm over there. I recently bought some technic 1200 turntables, some mixers, samplers, etc. I'm pretty into music, so, with the stuff I bought, the skys the limit, maybe I'll come home with a record deal! My dad's coming over this year also to lend a hand as well for the first two wks, so anytime I'm bored we'll be able to jet and have some down time away from the racing!
4. Here's a manly question: Tires. Lots of options today for cross tires. Do you have a strategy for tire selection for cyclocross?
I mostly run Dugast tubulars. At cyclocrossworld.com we can use any tires they sell. My favorite and pretty much standard choice of many cross' racers is Dugast hand made tubulars. They've been described as 'pillows' because they are such an amazing tire to ride. My strategy is always based on the conditions of the race. If its muddy I'm using Dugast specific 'rhyno' mud tire. If its SUPER fast we'll run the file treads and for all around grass courses, we use their traditional typhoon tread.
5. After cycling. Have any plans or things you want to do? Hobbies that you want to do more of?
Phew, I have a whole gang of ideas...I love food, I'd love to open a bakery some day. I'd like to go to mexico and learn how to make real authentic mexican food from the heart.I like music too, I'd love to be work the turntables, travel the world spinnin' clubs. I don't want to ever stop riding and enjoying my cycling, If I didn't ride my bike I'd probably go completely insane, so I don't care what I'm doing, I'll have a bike with me.
6. Lastly, DeFeet products. What do you use and has there been any long-term 'staple' DeFeet products that you've had?
I love the durability and functionality that comes with using DeFeet products. The undershirts, the gloves, socks and shoe covers are probably the products that I use the most. Racing cross' in the winter can get pretty cold and I love DeFeet Woolie Boolie socks and I usually warm up for sandy/muddy races in DeFeet SlipStreams to prevent the shoes from getting all crapped up before the start and peel them off for a nice fresh look on the shoes before the start. DeFeet DuraGloves are thin and functional, they keep my hands warm and they don't feel too bulky, like I can't grab the bars. DeFeet UnD Shurt's speak for themselves. They are the best.
Last August, as we doggedly marched through an afternoon at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, a non-ordinary figure approached our booth. We stood at attention. She had the gait and confidence often exhibited by a World Class mountain athlete. She looked really healthy.
She said "I use your stuff. I like it. You make ski socks, too?". So it was how we met US Ski Team member Caitlin Ciccone. In a tough twist of fate, much of the funding for the women's US Ski Team was cut off this year at the last minute. Caitlin and some of her teammates are holding a silent auction in Aspen, CO, this evening. DeFeet is donating a full order of custom ski socks to help at the auction. That auction winner will have the coolest batch of ski socks ever made.
Keep an eye out for Caitlin at the World Cup races in Aspen, this week. She was kind enough to send us these images that she took while training in Chile, last Summer. Good luck this season, Caitlin!
When Fall gives way to Winter, it's not always graceful. It's not like the way Spring greets Summer and Summer succumbs to Fall. No, these are short, dark days and Mother Nature is most likely spitting all kinds of debris at you. There's not quite enough snow in the mountains yet to do your cross-training, so you're still spending your time on the local trails and roads.
Fortunately, DeFeet makes products that are superb for these conditions. When you're faced with cooler temperatures and shorter days, when you look outside and think "I don't know. Looks pretty bad", you need to have some staple DeFeet items in your drawers to help you commit.
Dress properly from the moment you're standing there with no clothes on. Good workouts start with good base layers.
Begin with the pieces that go against your skin. If you're going for a bike ride, they are:
Mike Janelle, pictured here with his wife Maribel. She is six months pregnant with their first child.
Tonight I raise a glass of vodka above my desk and salute my friend, Mike Janelle.
"Cheers, Janelle, for living a solid, full life, to your last day."
Mike passed away, this morning, of a heart attack at his home in Avon, Colorado. I haven't seen him in a while, but I have lots of memories of Mike. I met him in 1994, in Colorado. I'd see him at least once a week, racing all over the country. I liked racing with him most in Colorado, though.
Mike was a friend of DeFeet's, too, and it was Chris Sheehan from DeFeet who sent me news of Mike's passing. Within minutes, Chris Doyle from Vail called me. Doyle, Sheehan, Janelle and I spent plenty of days gasping for air together in the mountains around Vail. I loved those times, and Janelle was part of it.
When I got out of surgery at the Steadman/Hawkins clinic in Vail, it was Janelle's then girlfriend who was my nurse. Unfortunately, she had to administer my catheter tube. To dull the pain of threading something into that place where thing's should only come out of, we joked about Mike. I could have crushed a bullet between my teeth, but I still managed a chuckle thanks to Janelle.
If you were having a rough day, Mike made great company. One day as we climbed the highest peak in Steamboat Springs, CO, together, I realized that my own career would soon be coming to an end. I told him my fears about having to close it out, and we laughed about that all the way to the summit. I h
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