An End and A Beginning: The CLR Effect...

It is time for a change everyone. You may know that I have considered a name change for quite some time now. If you have been a regular reader here, or just an occasional one; if you have been what Google would call followers, or what I called members, I hope you have done so because there was something that struck a chord, perhaps something you found interesting, informative, maybe vaguely entertaining. I thank you for stopping by. I have met many people who have been familiar with the Claremont Cyclist, and even some who were able to pick me out of the moving mass of a peloton, because of this blog.


Whether you are one of the older members, or someone new, I hope you will think it worthwhile to become a member of my new blog - the CLR Effect. I have always been envious of blogs with interesting, creative names like Red Kite Prayer, Twisted Spokes, Cycling Inquisition, Ride the Black Line, to name but four. The CLR Effect is my attempt at a more creative, yet recognizable name. The subject matter will not change; if I wrote about it on the Claremont Cyclist, I will write about it on the CLR Effect. That being the case, you may wonder why change at all; I guess what it comes down to is that I simply wanted a more inclusive name, one that was unbound, one that was reflective of the broad range of my cycling interests. Besides what if I were to move (not that there is any move planned) - there are only a certain number of places in the world where the title Claremont Cyclist would work.


Truth be known, I kept going back and forth on this for some time. It had become quite ridiculous, and in the end it became a matter of just getting it over with. Though all the old posts will remain accessible here (and I will still reply to comments), from this point on consider the Claremont Cyclist closed, and the CLR Effect launched. 


If you want to know what the title CLR Effect is all about, you'll have to click here, the first post will explain it all. While you are there sign on as a member, it is free of charge, and I won't pester you for anything other than an occasional post comment.

Two Turns Short of a Full Ride...

A little business to tend to in the afternoon yesterday, but first there was

a ride up CA 39 in the morning. Sun was shining bright, but I could have done without the wind. That's alright though, when the road is this sweet I'll tolerate a little inconvenience. Literally two turns short of the Crystal Lake turnoff I turned around. Is that anti-climactic or what? There is a clue contained in the third photo below, related to a little change to the blog, which will be announced tomorrow.

New Man in Yellow...

So Andy Schleck was officially presented with the Yellow Jersey for his 2010 Tour de France victory. I have mixed opinions about it, and no matter how hard I try, I can't shake the hollowness of it all. And I don't think I am alone in thinking this.

You may recall that Alberto Contador's victory that year was overturned due to the detection of clenbuterol in his urine sample and Andy Schleck, who finished second, was declared the winner. Obviously, if your victor is determined to have won by illegal performance enhancing means, the overall victory should then fall to the next best placed racer. With two additional 2nd on g.c. finishes at the Tour, and one g.c. 2nd at the Giro, Andy has proven that he is a capable rider. So why can't I come to terms with this victory? I think ultimately it is because you never know how things would have progressed - you can not just erase the top placed racer and expect that the progress of a three week Tour would have played out the same way otherwise. Too many variables would have been altered over the course of the race, and the final outcome would not have been a given.


I hope Andy can win this year, maybe the next; it would go a long way toward justifying the 2010 decision. The court of public opinion can sometimes be harsh and unfair, but until he gets that win 2010, like 2006, is going to be another question mark in my books.

Memorial Day Weekend Laziness...

I wish I could say I did a lot of riding this Memorial Day weekend. There were two local races to choose from - the Barry Wolfe Grand Prix on Sunday; normally wouldn't miss it, but they moved it further out of the way this year, so, uh, no. Another crit today at Dominguez Hills, and a bunch of local group rides with the Psycho-lists. Truth is though, I was extremely lazy, and did almost none - just a little in-town riding. Here is some of what I saw:

Pearsons Hall @ the Claremont Colleges

Memorial Park was surprisingly quite on this Memorial Day

Memorial Day topiary

plenty of people chose to get around by bike

on the extra day off

riders in the Village, and passing through

annual Memorial Day BBQ at Wolfe's Market

stacks of bikes

Woody and Jessie

Leia

It's A Final: Ryder Wins 2012 Giro d'Italia...

for full photo (and more) - click

Ryder Hesjedal, the first Canadian champion of the Giro d'Italia, and only the second time in Giro history that the overall title has been determined on the final day (in 1984 Francesco Moser overtook Laurent Fignon on the final stage to don the Maglia Rosa). In the past, Ryder has shown that he possesses the ability to be considered an overall contender in a major Tour. Over the last three weeks he has shown the physical ability over a range of terrain, and the tactical knowledge required, to turn possibility into reality. Congratulations are in order.

We may still be a month away, but all eyes now turn to France, and
what is shaping into quite a show.

Early Weekend C & V: 1970s Trek...

The story goes that this basic black Trek was used by its previous owner as a touring steed. Excepting a few standouts, it is pretty nondescript, with a kind of mish-mash of components including, Campagnolo headset, Suntour shifting, Mafac brakes. All that speaks of an owners preference over a period of years. What makes it stand out, I think, are the wheels, built with 70's Phil Wood hubs and boxy Wolber rims, the head badge, which has started to take on a nice patina, and an Avocet seat post with the Avocet logo (my photo of it did not come out, but I did find an advertisement over at Classic Rendezvous). Not sure of the exact date, though I have seen the same frame noted as a 1979 model 730 / 736. There you have it, and it's for sale at the Velo, World's Smallest Bike Shop.

Oh, Canada, Oh No, Kristin...

Terrific start for the Canadian women in the 2012 Exergy Tour prologue - Whitten, Carleton, Hughes in the top three spots. But man, I could feel the shock of hitting the pavement when Kristin Armstrong went down, and she went down suddenly and hard. Armstrong was really flying around the short course and I have to think would have dislodged all three of the top racers if she had not gone down. She still managed to finish only 8 seconds back. Worst of all, the way she was holding her shoulder at the end was not reassuring. Damn. Confirmed - Armstrong has been knocked out of the race with a broken collarbone. You know she was pumped to be racing before the hometown crowd. That has to double the pain. Damn.

authors photo of Kristin Armstrong from the 2012 San Dimas Stage Race

Finally, the Buds Ride...

Wait, didn't I use that heading last year? I can't believe we are now almost two months into the Bud's season, and I have only now made it out to the Wednesday ride. On a positive note, it was good to see that no one has slacked off in my absence. On the negative side, there was a bad solo rider crash at the bottom of the hill in Bonelli. A gal, who had to have been about mid-field, though maybe on the right side of the bunch went down, probably after hitting one of the pot holes at that intersection. The rider was sitting at the side of the road, and no one had stopped, nor appeared to be stopping. When I realized what had happened I swung around, and a little further ahead another rider did the same. A third rider coming downhill stopped to see if she could help as well. 


In true dedicated roadie fashion, the crashed rider was more concerned about her bike than anything else (I believe she said it was a week old). A driver also stopped with some bottled water and paper towels. A lot of road rash - both legs, both arms, face, rear - is going to make for an uncomfortable, sore few days, but all that appeared to be the worst of it (the bike seemed fine). A Sheriff's deputy came by and he got the lifeguard with first aid stuff. Leisel came along, then quickly left to get her car in order to give the crashed rider a lift. 


I can't say I did much more than stand around and look concerned, and pick up some of the debris - water bottle, sunglass pieces - but I certainly was not going to leave her alone at that point. You know I switched teams this year, to SC  Velo, and looking around at all the riders who eventually stopped to help or see if they could do anything, and notice how many were wearing SC Velo or Incycle kit, was actually pretty heartening.


So I finally made it out to Bud's this year, which turned out to be short and, unfortunately, not sweet. Thankfully, for everyone, there is always next week. Hope the crashed rider makes a speedy recovery and can rejoin us soon.