Good day sunshine, indeed! Rider #152 surveys the Depart/Arrivee area of the 2002 Comstock Silver Century from the convenience of her own balcony. Speaking of the Comstock, don't even get me started...arggh!
Better shot of the *staging* area. For some uncited reason--and I didn't bother to ask, so shame on me--the organizers demanded an exorbitant entry fee in 2002, the year of their big return to Organized Cycling Event-dom. I rebelled, and that's all I'll say about that. Oh, one more thing--can this caption go on for much longer? is this an instance of run-on caption? Is anyone else thinking separated at birth: Darlene and Joanne Woodward? See next pic.
Well? For me there's a preternatural resemblance between a just_awakened_at_6:00am_for_a_killer_century Darlene and the (then) aspiring actress, Joanne Woodward.
Some stretch of highway in Nevada. The hostilities begin early today as salvo after salvo is launched by Mr. Mellow himself, Lilje.
I've written this many a time before but, damn, doesn't Jim look good on a bike? Granted, he's not so photogenic (nor as underexposed, ha ha) OFF the bike...
Case in (previous photo) point.
Let's see Graham Watson match this angle! I thought to experiment cuz let's face it my photos were/are becoming decidedly boring. 'Whoopee, yet another underexposed profile of yet another rider on yet another Calaveras ride. Yawn.' Be that as it may, this one turned out rather funny I think. The brake lever looks almost super-imposed onto the photo. Reminds of those old B/W horror films with the giant tarantulas and grasshoppers. Anyways...
'Where would one go boating around here?' An innocent enough question I posed to Jim some time back, oh, somewhere near Lake Tahoe.
Innocuous photo of hills surrounding Lake Tahoe. Ho hum.
The Lilje Man and his trusty Saint Bernard sidekick resting briefly before tackling the rest of Mt. Rose.
Short version: Colnago C40 -- Long Version: 2002 Limited Edition Mapei 'Oscar Freire' World Champion frameset
In case you didn't believe the previous caption...
Continuation on the Squadra Mapei theme: team issue Selle San Marco Era Pro saddle.
The Era Pro sits on Ti rails. Of course.
The top headset spacers look goofy I know, despite their carbon 'cool' factor. All you aesthetes needn't worry; it's just a temporary situation while Ryan finds the right height.
If only it were wireless I miight be tempted to mount one of these ErgoBrain 10 computers on my ride. I mean Shimano's already done it! Anyhoo, Ryan's got a tremendous 8.26 miles logged. Any bets on how long it'll take him to break 100? Think along Pangean lines here.
Rear view of the B-Stay seat stays. Some tech info: 'Each leg of the B-Stay is narrow laterally and deep front-to-back for greater braking stiffness, and the whole structure resembles a tall inverted Y with an cross bridge for the brake, rather than simply mounting the brake at the wishbone crotch as others do.' -- Zinn, Velonews.com. Click on image to read full article.
Side view of B-Stay seat stays. World Champion rainbow colors repeat throughout. And, what about those sweet white tires you ask?
Impossible to keep clean but you will agree they do add not a little to the presentation. In case it's illegible, they're Vittoria Open Corsa CX TT PRBs.
A bit of who freakin' cares: the Neutron wheelset replaced the Nucleon model in the 2002 Campagnolo lineup. Those zany Italians.
Tacx Tao water bottle cages. I like em' and plan on getting some myself. Here's hoping they don't suck like the Elite cages.
Campagnolo 170mm cranks, 53x39 rings. I can hear Big C in my mind: 'Do those cranks come in a men's model?'
Discretion over valor (and it's accompanying knee pain): 13-29 10 speed cassette and the required 'medium' cage rear derailleur. Hilariously, Ryan tells me he 'misses' his 12t. Those of you who've ridden with him can join me in uncontrollable laughter.
Ernesto Colnago = Eyvind Earle? Maybe not but there's no denying the C40 is a work of art in its own way.
The World Champion (bicycle) in action. Do those legs come in Men's sizing?
The World Champion (bicycle) on its first real climb. Man, am I seeing right? Is Sushi-K slimming down?
Must be sucking in his gut. Big time.
Whoa! Extreme close-up! Perhaps I wrote too soon. Remember, horizontal stripes. Bad. Vertical stripes. Good. Remember, tho, we love you just the way you are, kiss XXX kiss. I'm going to be ill.


^ Back Up ^