If you haven't figured out yet that two of my passions are cycling and music, then you're a little slow.  This weekend was one of those times where I got to do both - but I was on the other side.  I didn't get to belt out a tune nor did I ride.  I watched.  Both of those things. 

I've been part of a committee of 6 who have been meeting since March to plan a conference that took place this past Friday and Sat.  My main pre-conference job was to find the band for both days - right up my alley.  We eventually settled on a group from Indy and after this weekend, we're buds.  Marc, Lorin, Cory and Bryan - you guys totally rock and I so enjoyed being your roadie/gopher.  The best part was that I was one of the cool people who carried a special radio except it would have been better  if I had one of those teeny microphones attached to my sleeve like the secret service.  So I got to hang with them, talk music lingo, fetch beverages, scooby snacks, and I even had to go on a search of the dark scary corners of the...

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Hi there USGP riders, fans and  cx supporters.  This is the first of many posts here I hope.  And I hope you like it.  We will try to bring you info from the inside out.  Some entertaining and I hope some useful. News from the road.   I recently attended the Roc d Azur in France, an annual cycling gathering for about 30,000 Euro folk.  Mostly crepe eaters.  There is a very prestigious Mountain Bike marathon going on there with many of the biggest names and I sat down for dinner with Christoph Sauser, the current World Champion who is just back from Interbike. We talked a bit about his Vegas cross experience.  It was his first ever cross race!  And he was in the front group until the final lap.  I had to break the news to him that not every race is like a crit - throw in some mud and technical elements and it's a real game changer!  It was interesting to see that he was wearing some goofy looking open toe compression stockings at dinner and putting his feet up at every chance.  What it means to be World Champ. ...

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Bike maintenance.  I suck at it.  I'd pretty much rather play leapfrog with a unicorn.  But when I rode last week EVERYONE heard the horrible clicking noise coming from my bike and we were all annoyed.  I needed new cleats so I thought I'd start there. I changed my cleats and hopped on my bike yesterday.  Lo and behold.  No noise.  Whew.  I'm so glad it was that easy. But not so fast.  About 25 miles in my ride yesterday it started again.  WTF? I started out riding with a group but eventually everyone wanted to get away from me.  I know I didn't stink.  I brushed my teeth.  I didn't launch a snot rocket on anybody.  But the bike noise was loud.  And if I could get away from myself I would have.  It was driving us crazy.  But before the others rode off to be with quieter people, they all weighed in as to what they thought the problem was.  Bottom bracket.  Pedals.  Those were the top two choices. They also told me how I needed to dismantle, clean, repack, etc.  HUH?  Let me break this down for you. I can change...

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