Poor neglected PhonoStage

Hmmm ... six months without a post. I really should try harder.

However, I have started posting more regularly on my cycling blog; velostage.blogspot.com

Not much development with the hifi situation either, although I probably have enough stuff collected for a bijou cd/lp/digital playback setup.

Maybe I should start about getting it all together.

velostage

I'm moving my bicycle related stuff to a new blog, velostage.

Previous stuff will stay on phonostage.

Time will tell if I can keep two blogs going.

Giro di Jersey 2008 : stage 1 Ringoes ITT

Yes, the Giro di Jersey, not quite the Tour de France, but very entertaining ... and typical of the world's cycling fraternity ... and sorority for that matter.

The first stage of the GdJ took off today; an Individual Time Trial on the roads around Ringoes, NJ, USA.

The ITT is a very European event, but it was obvious to see that just the same guys turn up as turn up on those cold, windy days on the A38 in the UK ...

And women too for that matter. In fact, quite a few more than you're likely to see on the lay-by out of Almondsbury.

The route was rather good. Out and back over 15km on a very nice sweeping, well-surfaced road, which started out with a forgiving, slightly downhill curving start, but ended up with a short, but vicious hill towards the end, made more miserable by a polite, but persistent headwind.

I passed a pleasant couple of hours watching the riders set off on their pursuit of themselves.

Just a couple of points; I couldn't get a start sheet anywhere, even on-line, and it seems to me the police turn up whenever a gutter needs cleaning here ... well, they could have done with one or two at the start zone and turning point ... let's just say not all car and truck drivers see the benefits of attracting a great sporting occasion to their bit of the backwoods ...

Tomorrow; The Rocky Hill Cycling Classic.

You can see some uncaptioned images here.

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* I've looked everywhere for results. I'll post them if I find any.

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* see my Bike Index here

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Stuff : 18.06.2008

I'm still looking for a job. Anyone out there want a charming Englishman? I'm going to have to consider collecting supermarket trolleys soon ...

Anyway:

• Went on a 25 mile ride yesterday evening. It was called the Griggstown Grinder. It was a grinder alright. Some long, slow hills had my legs complaining. A small, pleasant, eclectic group, including a guy who actually likes British beer, warm and flat ... yummie ... plus tips on finding English tea.
• While getting my bike ready - including new bar-tape - I went to brush some dry, veggie matter from the frame which turned out to be a couple of wasps who promptly stung me. Now that hurt ... my hand is still swollen today. I found a small nest nearby in the hedge and took great pleasure in obliterating it with some deathly spray which is surely banned in Europe. It worked though. Revenge!!!
• Weather is currently rather warm, thundery and the grass is starting to turn brown. I say grass. It's not grass in the finest English lawn sense. That would shrivel to nothing in the extremes of weather around here. Instead it resembles something you might find on a football pitch, rather tough and course, but effective.
• After a bit of work I've managed to get the lawn tractor going. For sure it needs a new battery, but a couple of days ago after several fruitless previous tinkerings, I just took a chance and turned it over and it just decided to fire up ... ah, the capriciousness of machines.

Stuff : 04.06.2008

A week has zoomed by. Unfortunately dogged by illness ... get well soon, Linda. Anyway:

• The Sangean WFR-20 has turned up from Sangean ... about the same time as Amazon said they'd send me another one. Hopefully I won't end up with two. However, so far it seems good, sounds good, although it would be nice to be able to configure favourites through a web interface like the Noxon iRadio. On the other hand 11,500 stations on Reciva should be enough for anyone. I have yet to sort out what to do about podcasts.
• Went to go cycling this evening. The heavens thought differently though. Right on cue the skies opened so given it was quite dark too it was decided to go home and watch Giro d'Italia videos instead.
• Feel free to comment on my articles ... please.

Stuff : 22.05.2008

Off to the UK today. I have a little shopping list and hope to bring back some of my stuff.

Otherwise:

• No word from Sangean :-( I hope no-one is looking to this blog for advice on the Sangean WFR-20. I've had other stuff from Sangean and it has been fine ... but Sangean, please get back to me ... or the puppy gets it ... or at least I'll keep posting bulletins on this blog ...
  
• Not much in the way of jobs this week.
• It's been very rainy the last couple of days.
• No cycling this Wednesday, although I did fancy it. I just didn't want to land on my face the day before we fly off.
• I have a little project, but I need to learn Joombla. Got the book. Now I have something to do on the plane.

See you next week.

Bike 05 : Princeton FreeWheelers - Wednesday Evening Ride

Many years ago I joined the Cyclists' Touring Club. I managed two rides with them.

It must have been like that riding with the Clarion Cycle Club in Victorian times ... military style, discipline, follow-your-leader.

I don't suppose either organisation is like that now. But it was with some trepidation I set out on my first ride with Princeton FreeWheelers. I mean, the logo for a start, bears a startling resemblance to the CTC's ... and the ride gradings and rules???

The club magazine listed a large number of rides for the month of May. While I had some confidence from the NY event, I didn't fancy the prospect of cycling inline with a peloton of shaven-legged Tour de France wanabees, nor go gathering Nuts In May.

And so it was that I turned up in Lambertville's CVS car park at 5.30 for 6.00. Lambertville is a nice old town situated on the banks of the Delaware river opposite New Hope, PA.

Shortly, other riders turned up, mostly by car; Mike, Agnes, Marilyn, Steve ... everyone seemed friendly enough, and no shaved legs ... well, except for the women. This was a combined club ride. There were several riders from the Central Bucks Bicycle Club too.

Michael was leading the ride and made sure we signed our disclaimers. This is America after all ... And after the ride was pronounced as equaling the club record attendance for a Wednesday evening ride - 23 - we set off.

It was a nicely mixed group; maybe a half dozen women, another half dozen around my age. And really it was quite informal. No riding in files. Riders diligently pointed out potholes, glass, car up, car down, etc. Stronger riders encouraged weaker riders up hills and supervised road junctions. People were fascinated by my accent. It was all jolly friendly.

The back lanes around Lambertville are beautiful; secluded valleys with babbling brooks, covered bridges and picturesque farms. The actual lie of the land reminded me very much of my native Devon.

The route was just right, hilly, but not too extreme. I was glad to get to the top of each one of them, but still had enough in reserves to tackle the next. The sky threatened rain, but did not deliver although it was darkening quickly by the time we got back to the cars.

Stats: T: 1:39:00 | D: 38.10km | A: 23.1kmh

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* see my Bike Index here

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Stuff : 07.05.2008

Another day in Paradise:

• Went out this morning for a quick ride; maybe 90 minutes or so. Felt good, but I really need to go out with other riders so I'll check Princeton FreeWheelers' ride list.
• Bought a Sangean WFR-20 Internet Radio.It looked very good but was D.O.A. Oh for the Sale Of Goods Act; Fit For Purpose. Anyway, Sangean USA have taken delivery so I'll keep you informed.
  
• After 5 Boro Bike Ride I have an urge for a fixed wheel bike, or as they say here, a fixed gear bike ... mmmmmm ....
• My turn to wield the magic rope at badminton this Friday ...
• Yes, I'm using Euro date format (dd.mm.yyyy) ...

More Stuff soon.

Bike 02 : 5 Boro Bike Tour : 04.05.2008

I did it.

Of course, so did thousands of others, from kiddies on fairy-cycles to guys on unicycles.

The morning started grey and threatening. I emerged from MiL's brownstone on Upper West Side and wondered if I really had to do it. It was cold, it was mizzling, had I put enough miles in? Was that puncture stuff really any good?

Well, I was committed now, so I pumped up the tyres hard and headed for the 1 & 9 subway station at 86th. New York really is the city that never sleeps - or was that Chicago? Anyway, the trains were packed. No chance of getting a bike on one.

I emerged onto Broadway and spotted a few cyclists in event bibs and started to follow them down towards Battery Park. It was actually very easy that time in the morning. New York's finest waved cyclists through red lights and there was very little traffic so I ended up nice and warm, yet still behind thousands of other cyclists at the start line on Church Street ... or rather about half a mile from the start line ... with thousands more lined up behind me.

The event pushed off at about 8.20, so it meant we had spent at least an hour standing around in the cold and damp. It wasn't even possible to see the top of the taller buildings in the fog, so as I clicked my feet into the pedals my hands and feet were freezing.

It takes a mass of 30,000 cyclists a few false starts to get going, but after a few minutes we were heading up The Avenue of the Americas at walking pace, which meant there were a lot of wobbles and a few crashes, but nothing too serious.

Unfortunately, by the time I was starting to get some warmth back into my feet and hands, we were pulled up just short of Central Park, so that cross-town traffic could pass. It took about forty minutes to go the last two blocks into the park, so once again, cold feet, cold hands ...

Many of the joggers in Central Park were clearly not aware there was a bike event going on. Some seemed intent on jogging against the flow no matter how hazardous ... oh well.

There was a brief excursion into The Bronx via Harlem, then a twenty minute wait to get on the Queensborough Bridge into Queens because of riders having to push up the ramp onto the bridge. Naturally pushers spread themselves all over the road, so everyone had to get off and join in.

We then did a circuit up to the first rest station at Astoria Park, just under half way around the course. I had possibly the finest bananas in the world in that park, possibly because they were the best bananas in the world, or maybe 20 miles of bike riding had sharpened my appetite for bananas. However, they were really good.

Then it was south, back down through Queens and into Brooklyn, often through areas which were charming, although terribly run down, but full of potential if people used their imaginations.

From Brooklyn we went up the ramp onto the Brooklyn Expressway, a motorway type road which was closed for the day, for the leg down to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. There were a couple of bad tumbles here, probably because riders were getting tired. This caused a wait of about 20 minutes before we could get going again.

Everybody has probably driven or ridden in a car over a big bridge and not realised that from a bicycle point of view it's like a climb over an Alpine col. And the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is a BIG bridge; the biggest in the world at the time it was built. So it was a 228ft climb from sea level to the centre of the span. Once again there was a lot of pushing, but I managed to thread my way through and then enjoy the drop into Wadsworth Fort National Park for the Expo and a well-deserved drink and a sandwich.

While I was waiting for Linda to pick me up, I pedaled down to the Staten Island Ferry. I had considered going across just to truly close the loop, but there was a 40 minute wait at that point so I rode back up to Fort Wadsworth and waited for my lift home.

All in all it was a great day, a real chance to enjoy New York and some of its not so well known corners on motor traffic free streets.

How some of the riders got around on their big old wrecks of clunkers I'll never know. And the number of children who managed on their toy bikes was amazing. There were a few sights; a really small guy with the most perfect, serious, miniature Italian racing bike I've ever seen; a family on a 2.5 triplet towing a kiddy half-bike, towing an infant's trailer; guys on big-wheel unicycles.

A great day - I really enjoyed it.

My number : 38495
Read the tour guide here.
5 Boro Bike Tour.

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* see my Bike Index here

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5 Boro Bike Tour, 2008

Hmmmm ... received my rider number and bib today.

I really need to get back on my bike!!!

Anyway, if you happen to be there look out for rider 38495. That will be me then.

Gulp ...

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* See how I got on here.

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* see my Bike Index here

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Spring iz sprung; the grass iz riz ...

... I wonder where the cyclists iz?

I've gone and done it now ... 42 miles around New York's Five Boroughs; Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

The Five Boro Bike Tour is the USA's largest bike event. 30,000 riders converge on NYC for the chance to ride on closed roads and visit each of the boroughs which constitute the city.

The die is cast. I've paid my entry fee so I'm committed. I'd better start riding soon.

I've got a practice run to aim for; The 2008 Tour de Franklin. Hopefully I'll make it ... I'd better get a move on ...

Tour de Franklin : Sunday, April 27, 2008
Five Boro Bike Tour : Sunday, May 4, 2008

On 'Yer Bike!!!

It's that time of year again when thoughts turn to getting back on my bike. Okay, so it's really been a while since I've been a regular rider. I did a couple of reasonable rides last year, but I'm feeling that I want to get back into the swing of things. In fact, I am thinking that I might even have a go at an Audax Century.

I have a couple of bikes, both Treks. Treks seem to suit me, but I'm not an adherent. I'd look at other manufacturers. In reality who knows who makes what where anyway?

My road bike is a Trek 1200. A pretty good, basic model. The components could be better, but they're certainly functional. I ride a smaller frame than most bike shops would recommend for my height - 1.90m - but I prefer this. It does mean I need a nice long seat-pin. The one that came with the bike suffices, but a longer one might give me a little more adjustment in the future.

I'm currently in the process of preparing the bike for the spring. I had to do something about the tyres since punctures are a real problem here - roads don't get swept and there are lots of sharp debris by the side of the road.

I got some new Continentals from ProBikeKit back in England. Half the price of good tyres here and they arrived in three days. I will be using PBK again ...

I also have a Trek6000 mountain bike. More about that another day, but I think my riding will be very conservative. It hurts more and more when you fall off as you get older!

Apart from getting myself and my bike ready I have joined Princeton FreeWheelers. I shall swan into their AGM in March and then try and resist going on 100 mile rides ... They seem a bit like the Cyclists' Touring Club - the badge says it all - when it comes to organised rides and in the past I didn't get on with the style, but I'll give it a go.

There are also a number of resources for planning rides around here:

• MapMyRide
• New Jersey BikeMaps
• RouteSlip

I'll let you know how it all goes ...

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* see my Bike Index here

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