You know what that means. Series dates are getting posted left and right, and NYCROSS is no exception.
*September 10:* NYCROSS.com Beginner’s Clinic, Troy New York
Registration http://www.
*September 11: *Kirkland Cyclocross, Kirkland, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 2: *CX at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 15 & 16: *Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 23: *Saratoga Spa Cyclocross, Saratoga, NY
info http://nycross.com/
*October 30: *Wicked Creepy, Bennington, VT
info http://nycross.com/
*November 13: *Bethlehem Cup, Bethlehem, NY
info http://nycross.com/
Be sure to view all the New York State races in one handy PDF.
As you may have seen in the other post, the Chrome Sherman is something totally new. I was super intrigued to get my hands on one for the upcoming Cross Season (never not thinking about cross!). It seemed perfect for me since I never drive to races and always have no system to packing my gear and spare wheels up into my other bag. No wonder I was so interested!
The back is pretty much what one would expect from any Chrome bag. Good padding to keep your back from getting super sweaty when riding to the race. The shoulder straps are really comfortable too.
So, as you can see, this is no “normal” bag. It’s for race day, and has a ton of nice features that you wouldn’t expect. Such as when you’re at the race, being able to hang it from your stand, and have access to everything in the bag. How sweet is that! No more digging for ages to find your multi-tool.
Here it is all packed up. After setting it all up and thinking “I’m probably doing this wrong, I was. It looks a little weird in my photo, because I had the bottom flap on the outside instead of where it goes, on the inside. Regardless, if you’re one to freestyle things like I am, be assured that it was as secure as can be, regardless of my freeform style.
And one detail I love, shown below, is the captive strap-dangler-thingys. I’ve owned a ton of bags, and this is the first one to take into account those god forsaken dangling flaps that make you seem like a villain in a cartoon as they flap in the wind while you’re riding. Good job Chrome.
All packed up and on my back, it felt like any normal bag. It was actually much lighter than I had anticipated and even more comfortable that I would have imagined. Riding with it was not an issue in the slightest. What a stellar job they did with this.
If you’re intrigued, head over to the Chrome Bags store and read some more about it and see some shots of how you’re supposed to pack it up. I’ll report back after my experiences with the first road/cross race! I think this bag is a great solution to a problem many people face and I’m excited to put it to good use. Thanks a lot Chrome!
Leave any questions or comments for me below and I’ll be sure to answer.
A bit short notice, but whatever. Better late than never. There’s a criterium race in downtown Troy this weekend! Check the details and bikereg link on the event’s facebook page!
From the facebook event page:
Calling All Cyclists! Bike To China is happy to announce the Spring Dash Albany Alley Cat event. The event will take place on Saturday, April 9th at the Albany Corning Preserve’s Amphitheater. Registration will begin at 9am and the event will kick off at 10am sharp. $5 entry fee. Don’t be late! All proceeds will go to charity. There will be good incentives for larger donations that are listed below and tax deductable. Helmets will be required and funny costumes permitted. Also, to steer away from competition there will be one awesome DFL prize.
$5 Donation
ENTRY + SPOKE CARD$10 Donation
ENTRY + SPOKE CARD + BIKE SHWAG$20+ Donation
ENTRY + SPOKE CARD + BIKE SHWAG + 1/2 OFF FULL SERVICE @BROADWAY BICYCLE Co.
Although I have to express my absolute disdain for “required donations”, it’s for a good cause, and I’m pumped to get out on the bike. It does support a good cause and you get to see who’s been riding the most this winter!
So when I saw this at first, I didn’t get it, and then upon seeing all the images, I instantly knew I needed it. It’s a bag for going to and from races. My Freight Baggage backpack can fit everything and definitely works, but this thing is designed for it and I think it will work MUCH better. Just take a look below!
NYcross.com Series promoters are proud to announce the 2011 NYcross.com Cyclocross Race Series schedule for 2011-2012 season:
- Sunday, 9/11, Kirkland Cyclocross, Kirkland, NY
- Sunday, 10/2, CX at Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
- Saturday, 10/15, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/16, Uncle Sam GP of Cyclocross, Troy, NY
- Sunday, 10/23, Spa City CX, Saratoga, NY
- Sunday, 10/30, Wicked Creepy, Bennington, VT
- Sunday, 11/13, Bethlehem Cup, Bethlehem, NY
An early season Cyclocross clinic is also being planned and more details will follow.
I couldn’t be more excited for cross to start back up!
Image via BikePortland.org Flickr.
26-year-old Angela Burke was hit by a drunk driver on her way home on Wednesday night in Portland, Oregon. Angela was an Albany native that had just moved to the cycling mecca of Portland after graduating from SUNY Albany with a degree in psychology.
There is really nothing else I can say to accurately express my deepest condolences to all of her friends and family. It’s a real shame that I was never able to meet her.
There will be a candlelight vigil held tonight, Wednesday, December 22nd outside of Bombers on Lark Street at 9pm.
To read more, read the article on BikePortland.org.
This Sunday in Burlington, Vermont is the 3rd annual Great Turkey Chase. It’s a Food Drive / Alley Cat open to all bikes, with prizes for different categories and the ever popular turkey bonus prize. For more info, check out the event page on fbook.
The good folks over at Rapha have developed an iPhone app which takes the legwork out of meeting buddies for a good ride. The description from Rapha:
We all know the problem. Organising a ride with friends. Or maybe not friends, more likely adversarial training partners, or perhaps someone you have never ridden with before. Arranging meeting for a ride can be a thankless task spread over a multitude of devices and communication methods.
And then, further to this complication of arrangement is the uncertainty involved in the act of meeting. An unforeseen puncture, a headwind from hell, getting lost, another unforeseen puncture (after two they become foreseen) – the epic could begin before the planned epic (or perhaps just a light training spin) has even begun. “Where the hell is Fausto?”
No more.
Rapha Rendezvous for iPhone is coming soon.
Hopefully they will release an Android version sooner rather than later!
Read more at Rapha’s Rendezvous Page.
I got these wheels yesterday after a week of compulsively checking the front door to see if they were delivered, as well as checking the tracking every hour or so. They’re my first set of tubulars ever which is scary as well as exiting. I’m going to use these as my race wheels for cross. I’ve already glued up two 32mm Challenge Fangos to them. That aside, I’m impressed with how incredibly strong the contact cement is holding the tires onto the bike. Just a push on the sidewall, and you really can feel how strong that glue is.
The wheels are laced 24 spokes in the rear, two cross, and 20 in the front, radially. They also came with 4 carbon rim brake pads which is a plus. All for $375 is really an incredible value, even before you see how much they weigh:
I’ve only ridden them for 10 seconds since I just got a new crank onto my bike after breaking it off at the race on Sunday. So far, there’s nothing that was wrong. They came perfectly true, all spoke tension was similar, wheels spin forever, etc. I’m excited to see how they hold up being 1230 or so grams, and being raced for cross.
I’ll report back as soon as I get a real cross ride on them, which will likely be tomorrow.
