Authors
Kim is a an accountant (soon to be CPA), and triathlete, currently training for Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Steve is a software engineer, photographer, and cyclist on the Platinum Performance Cycling Team. We live in paradise a.k.a. Santa Barbara. Read More
Categories
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Blogosphere
Marco off the Mark. A guy who likes to hang out with family and friends, pedal his bike, dig in the dirt, and live life healthily and happily.
The Young and Restless. 22 year old kid who loves to ride his bike.
Happenings in SoCal. Ass-kicker extraordinaire...
Through Z's Eyes. Bikes, rants, ideas, and more!!
Of Dogs and Bike Racing. Aka. Dr. Kim. Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Santa Barbara.
On The B Team. The Chicken Ranch aka B Team's site for local cycling information and trash talk.
Lint Trap. Nothing to see here, move along now.
A New Hope. Sean
Pedal More. Overweight Underpowered Nor-Cal Pack Fodder.
George's Epic Adventures. Ultra Cyclist and father who recently completed 2- Person Race Across America (RAAM) and Furnace Creek 508 Fixed Gear.
Suffer-O-Rama. Eric’s blog about cycling and bike racing
Riders Ready. Jamie Smith's blog devoted to roadies, road cycling, and his book, Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer. Go buy it NOW at VeloPress.com!
Think Fast. Quarq
Old Guy Racer. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll write bad cheques.
Wheels Rolling. Brandy
Sprinter della Casa. Carpe Diem Racing
Ryanf. It comes down to doing the above, or being a chump. your choice
Cat3 Phenom. "I'm kinda a big deal"
My Shaved Legs. The fine art of failure. Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.
To Be Honest With You. Thirty something and searching for my next obsession.
The Brenda Report. The journeys and thoughts of an adventurous woman
The Tour de Chris. This blog is all about Chris. Fueled by espresso and metal.
The Incidental Cyclist. Cycling in and around Union County, NC
Everest Challenge x2. My wife and I have committed to enter the [Everest Challenge] Tandem division this year. This blog will chronicle our preperation, and ultimately our race experience.
Cycling in Seattle. The ride is the destination
As the Crank Turns. I attmept to ride bicycles...often
Cycling
Platinum. The Platinum Performance Cycling Team is a Santa Barbara based team with a diverse group of talented riders. The teams main focus is acquiring cross country results and new for 2008 is the addition of a road race team.
Echelon. Echelon Santa Barbara is a road bicycling club based in Santa Barbara, California. Echelon welcomes dedicated new riders and experienced racers, men and women, old or young, and all those who want to expand their cycling horizons. With a history our History in Santa Barbara bike racing since 1984, we are a USCF registered club.
Bikeforums Road Cycling. Road cycling internet message board. Discuss equipment, rides, races, and all cycling-related discussions.
SCNCA. Southern California Nevada Cycling Association
NCNCA. Northern California Nevada Cycling Association
BiciCORSA. An online group for cyclists of all levels--from recreational riders to weekend warriors to aspiring and professional racers.
Yehuda Moon. Yehuda Moon works at the Kickstand Cyclery, lives on his bicycle, and dreams of a day when everyone does likewise.
Everest Challenge. The hardest two-day USCF race. With the spirit of the "Death Rides" and the dramatic scenery of the Eastern Sierra, this bicycle race and ride will test your perseverance going uphill. We have three climbs each day with gains of 2,600 feet to 6,200 feet.
Local
The Restaurant Guy. John Dickson's Food News
Santa Barbara Independent. Delivers fresh news, arts, and entertainment news and information online all day, every day. The weekly newspaper is published every Thursday morning, with Santa Barbara county's largest circulation of 40,000.
Edhat. One subscriber suggested that the name came from "Every Day Happenings Around Town".
Vita Bella Photography. Local journalistic-style wedding photography
Miscellanea
Adam Szary. Freelance illustrator who is strongly interested in fantasy and comic art.
Virtual Dub. Proof that Avery had too much free time in college...
Liō. Daily comic strip created by Mark Tatulli that focuses on the adventures of a strange little boy named Liō. Most of the story is told visually, with little or no dialogue.
whilshire|one. this site covers topics including web standards-based development, web application development, Textpattern and other miscellany
Recent Comments
Mike (Everest Challenge Day 2 Pictures)
Hi, Are you set up to sell photos yet? Thanks, Mike Watson
Kim (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Marc, nowhere did I say that liberals are the only people that insult others. But it is true that as SB is a ‘liberal community’ …
Steve (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Fair enough but I’m still not sure how you found a way to be insulted in what she wrote. Also, if you will notice the …
It’s certainly very convenient to be able to take the test picemeal, and during the week, not to spoil weekend plans. I don’t think the …
Marc (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
You could have mentioned what happened without discussing specific political parties that were slammed. Bit I apologize for my intemperate remarks – maybe I’m just …
Steve (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Marc, We were at a dinner theater, and the people we were with said (to each other) “Can you believe that most of these people …
Kim (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Marc, you miss the point. If you spout out your position on anything, you need to be prepared to accept the consequences of saying it …
Marc (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People)
Kim – I sympathize with you. However, I think it’s mildly insulting to mention that people you have met insult Republicans. I would have given …
Andy Anderson (Everest Challenge Day 2 Pictures)
Hey guys! Hope all is well. Can you please hook up pictures 42, 76, 53, 91, and 99? I would like to …
CPA Roadie (Four Down ? to go...)
Good luck on the tests results Kim! Sleeping during business law class? lol. The tax section is easier with practical experience, but tough unless …
Nov 26, 07:28 PM by Steve | Try Cross
Posted in Cycling & Gear
It’s 19lbs dripping wet. I finally got it built, just in time to ride in the rain for a SST workout today. I was amazed that I was getting similar speeds for a given power despite a) the tires, b) the extra weight, and c) the wet conditions. The bike felt very nice but I’ve never ridden a bike with such different geometry before and the stability was really strange. It resited turning into corners; I had to really fight it at times.
I’ll see how my collarbone is doing at a checkup on Monday, and if its looking good I may try a cross race this season after all.
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Feb 8, 10:13 PM by Steve | 14lbs, 1oz
Posted in Cycling & Gear
I stopped at FasTrack after work today to get a new stem, and while I was there, we weighed the bike. As pictured yesterday, it came in at 14 pounds, 1 oz. Dave said it was the lightest bike he’s weighed this week, edging out Blingerman’s by over half a pound, and his own new Madone by nearly a pound.
We swapped out the ugly aluminium S-Works stem for a beautiful Ritchey WCS Carbon 4AXIS, saving about 30 grams. Also cut the steerer down some more, and dropped off a spacer. In a few minutes, I’m putting the swapping the Ti Speedplays from the TCR, easily bringing the whole thing under 14 in race trim.
I did cheat maybe a little… I removed the Garmin, but the mount was still there…
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Feb 7, 10:18 PM by Steve | Tarmac SL "Bike Porn"
Posted in Cycling & Gear
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Feb 4, 11:26 AM by Steve | Maiden Voyage
Posted in Cycling & Gear
I finally got the new Tarmac SL build up last week, tightened everything down over the weekend and taped the bars this morning. Today I took it for its first real ride and I have to say, its very nice. The cliche review phrase “laterally stiff and vertically compliant” came to mind, as well as “soaks up road vibration”. It was a very comfortable ride but still very aggressive on fast corners, and the weight (or lack thereof) was noticable when rocking the bike in out of-the-saddle efforts. Below is the bike at Mothballs (I didn’t race it but brought it along to play with), before wrapping the bars and with my heavier Ksyrium ES wheels & SS skewers. As pictured, we weighed it (on the scale TnA conveniently had in his truck) at 14lbs, 15oz, but the I weighed the R-SYS wheelset out at about half a pound lighter (using Ti skewers).
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Jan 31, 11:07 PM by Steve | Go Faster
Posted in Cycling & Gear
I got the DV46 set delivered yesterday and rode them this morning. I took minutes off my PR for the 22 mile, 1400ft ride. Total time was 1:09 vs. 1:12 previously. It is pretty much split in two distinct sections, first a hilly/rolling back section, a fast longish descent, then mostly flat city roads. I was pretty much on par for time on the first part, as the wheels are comprable to my R-SYS in weight and stiffness. Once I hit the descent and flats, I was able to easily hold speeds several mph faster than usual. They were much quicker to accelerate from a stop and much easier to keep the speed up. And all this was all with a lower average/max hr (155/180 vs. 159/182).
At lunch I rode the Mothballs course and pulled out a few 26mph laps, and even many of the “easy” laps were over 20mph. I can’t wait to use them at the race on Saturday. The ride out to the course, a whole bunch of laps, and then cruising back to the office was at an average of 20mph.
Of course they look cool too, and they make that whooshing noise when I start to go faster…
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Jan 28, 04:53 PM by Steve | Go Deep
Posted in Cycling & Gear | Comments [1]
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Jan 23, 11:44 AM by Steve | Some Gravity
Posted in Cycling & Gear
I picked up a new set of Zero Gravity brakes the other night; now I have everything except a front derailer (which is on the way) to build up my new Tarmac. The whole thing will be about 14.5lbs and with race tubulars it should be under 14.
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Jan 18, 10:23 PM by Steve | See Red
Posted in Cycling & Gear | Comments [1]
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Jan 16, 08:32 PM by Steve | It's Like Christmas
Posted in Cycling & Gear | Comments [2]
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Nov 14, 03:01 PM by Steve | Product Testing
Posted in Cycling & Gear
I’ve ridden over 17,000 miles this year, gone through 3 sets of “bulletproof” wheelsets (ok, maybe not carproof), and have replaced nearly every component of my bike—some several times. Somebody mentioned the other day I should be testing products for bike companies. I think that’s a great idea, who can hook me up?
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