SB Nation User Blog: Jimbo...

Contador rumor mill

Jimbo... — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:44:12 -0000

Contador rumor mill

VeloNews passes along euro-rag rumors that the accountant has his big deal almost finalized with Astana.

"Lance says Team Discovery wants to sign Landis"

Jimbo... — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:29:06 -0000

"Lance says Team Discovery wants to sign Landis"

One of those moments from the past when all things were possible. Oh innocence, why did you go and leave us with nothing but an empty bank account and a weird rash down there?

VDS 2009 Dream Team, Redux

Jimbo... — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:30:48 -0000

So after f'ing this up in the VDS thread (I blame Will because... well... just because) I decided to redo it using Chris' actual final spreadsheet this time, rather than the actual non-official spreadsheet that I pulled out of my ass. So, following the rules as I remember them (~~must~~ you can have one 25 point rider at most, no more than two 20 point riders, 25 riders total with a total cost of no more than 150 points), here is my best effort at the 2009 VDS dream team....

Name (Cost, Points Earned, Value)

Alejandro Valverde (25, 2408, 96.32)
Philippe Gilbert (16, 1990, 124.38)
Thor Hushovd (16, 1560, 97.50)
Denis Menchov (16, 1610, 100.63)
Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (14, 1730, 123.57)
Roman Kreuziger (12, 1090, 90.83)
Matti Breschel (8, 870, 108.75)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (6, 1181, 196.83)
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (6, 688, 114.67)
Tyler Farrar (4, 1090, 272.50)
Tony Martin (4, 910, 227.50)
Stefano Garzelli (4, 900, 225.00)
Alessandro Petacchi (4, 804, 201.00)
Heinrich Haussler (2, 1065, 532.50)
Andre Greipel (2, 1055, 527.50)
Simon Gerrans (2, 900, 450.00)
Johnny Hoogerland (1, 570, 570.00)
Rein Taaramae (1, 540, 540.00)
Jacob Fuglsang (1, 490, 490.00)
Michele Scarponi (1, 456, 456.00)
Frantisek Rabon (1, 370, 370.00)
Kevin Seeldrayers (1, 350, 350.00)
Philipe Deignan (1, 330, 330.00)
Ignas Konovalovas (1, 305, 305.00)
Francesco Gavazzi (1, 290, 290.00)

Total Cost = 150
Total Points = 23,552

The "value" is just the points earned per point of cost. I'm sure one of you smartypants out there can do this the right way, using modern tools such as math, but that is too much work for me. My brain hurts already.

News Flash! - Cav and Emilia Get Hitched! Well, not really, but check out the photo. They look like...

Jimbo... — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:54:54 -0000

News Flash! - Cav and Emilia Get Hitched! Well, not really, but check out the photo. They look like two middle schoolers at a dance. So cute.

Zabriskie Speaks!

Jimbo... — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:22:23 -0000

Attention SF Bay Area PdC patrons! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 11th and come to Marin, the land of milk and money, and listen to the incomparable Dave Zabriskie live and in person at the Lark Theater in Larkspur. Given DZ's reputation for general oddness, his aversion to publicity and public speaking, this event could be either really, really interesting, or it might totally suck ass. Either way, it's for a good cause. I know I'll be there, so if anyone else wants to meet up, let me know. There is a nice smelly bar across the street from the theater where we can meet up if anyone is game. Marketing collateral on the jump...

Dave Z is the recent winner of the Tour of Missouri, he's a five-time US Pro Cycling time trial champion, and he finished second in the 2009 Tour of California. He is also the only American to win stages in all three Grand Tours (France, Italy and Spain). Dave has ridden for three of the most successful teams in cycling...US Postal, Team CSC and now Garmin-Slipstream.

The night is moderated by Bob Cullinan, Journalist and Editor of CycleTo.com and is presented in the historic Lark Theater in downtown Larkspur. Along with discussing Dave's unique cycling perspective, nutrition and training programs, inside-the-bus stories of this year's Tour de France and Giro d' Italia, Dave will also talk about the importance of bike safety, and his newly-formed cycling foundation, yieldtolife.org. Yieldtolife.org is a foundation to promote cycling safety and increase driver's awareness of cyclists on the road.

We are excited to present Dave Z in this historic venue. Tickets are available online for $15 or at the door (if available) for $20. Marin Cyclists members are free with membership code. Proceeds will go directly to yieldtolife.org. Refreshments, beer/wine are available at the Lark or stop by for dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants in downtown Larkspur.

Come join the Nor Cal cycling community for a fun and exciting evening and hear one of the best US pro cyclists talk shop in this historic, intimate venue.

Who: Pro Cyclist Dave Zabriskie
When: Sunday Oct 11th 7:30-9 PM
Where: Lark Theater, Larkspur Ca.
Map & Directions

Click HERE to register!

Caption Contest

Jimbo... — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:20:19 -0000

Proceed.... Oh, and the winning author (as judged by Jens) gets one of these...

Viewer Suggestions for Universal Sports

Jimbo... — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:52:40 -0000

IMHO, Universal Sports has done an outstanding job thus far with their Giro coverage. The free streaming coverage seems pretty bulletproof (who would have imagined such things were possible?), the broadcast coverage is excellent for those of us lucky enough to get broadcast coverage (better than Versus since they leave out all the rider profile crap and show the racing), and the commentary is, well, acceptable? Worth the money I paid for it? I have seen comments scattered about on such issues as Flash video, etc., but I thought it might be neighborly, given our long history here at the Cafe of helping out our cycling broadcaster friends with our collective feeback, to consolidate comments in one spot. We are givers here. We give...

My only gripe thus far is that their web interface makes it pretty challenging to get to the as-live video without running across a big, flashing spoiler. ZoeRochelle posted a direct link to the cycling schedule, which helps, but I wish I had seen that yesterday when I went to the site looking for video of the Milan parade (my Tivo cut off the broadcast some time before the "racing" started so I had no idea what transpired) only to see "Cav wins it!", or something like that. That is annoying... so unless you have that link saved, there is no way to get to a video without knowing how the stage ended. Personally, I would like to see that changed. Go ahead and put up some flashy pictures from the day, just don't make them of the stage winner standing on the podium, or announce the results in 25 point type on top. Nobody will buy the cow if the milk is free, people. Keep us guessing.

Enough out of me... feel free to chime in below with your suggestions, comments, praise, bile as you see fit.

Palomar, shalomar

Jimbo... — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:35:52 -0000

That is Palomar? You call that a mountain? ha. meh. piece of cake...

Park, suit up, check tires, put warm clothes, food, and Asian midget into my backpack (just kidding, she was actually native American), hop on bike and pedal.... steep road... ouch.... pedal, pedal, pant, pant, pant... sweat, sweat, drink, eat, drink, eat... what? I'm only half way? seriously?... ok, time to concentrate... pedal, pedal, pedal... elevation 3000 feet sign! victory is mine!... wait, I thought this mountain was only 3000 feet tall? It's 5000 feet tall? oh... crap... pedal, pedal, drink, wave at the fans, try to catch football thrown by drunken tifosi while pedaling uphill riding with no hands on a 7% grade... SUCCESS!... now try to throw football back to drunken tifosi... uh, not much of a ball sports guy really... ahem... pedal, pedal... take some pictures... smile at the fans... is that snow? why yes, that is snow... ride over some yellow Lance chalk... more Lance chalk... and still more Lance chalk... finally, a Jens! sign and a Flanders flag... turn a corner, look up the mountain and see many switchback still ahead... grit teeth, dig deep, attack!... not really... pedal, pedal, drink, eat, pedal, wave, sweat... elevation 4000 feet sign... guy wearing huge afro wig... cars parked everywhere... crowd getting thicker... weaving in and out of spectators... is that guy wearing green sequined hot pants? Why yes he is (is that Sui? Nope. Sui's hair was longer)... see antler guy, giant elf, a mexican wrestler, a viking, the pope?... pedal... reach KOM... pedal a little more to the true summit.... stop... deep breath... tweet my acomplishment (5329 ft. 11.4 miles. Avg speed 7.1 mph. 1:35 total ride time from base).. feel generally studly until someone tells me that they pros will do it in 45 minutes easy.... grab a $2 coffee, then a $3 beer, put on warm clothing and pick a spot to await the madness...

Thanks to Nikki, I had an idea that there was a break off the front with Jens! attacking from the peloton, but not much more. We could see the riders a mile and a few hundred feet in elevation below, and they were up to us in no time. Jens! was in front with his Jens!-will-hurt-you face on, with Levi close behind. The enormous crowd was going absolutely batshit nuts, screaming, hollering... The crazy fans running by, motos, team cars, cowbells, and pandemonium. It was totally fucking awesome. Some of the riders had pain faces like I have never seen. True suffering. Very impressive stuff. It was all a blur as to who and when, but I did notice that Fast Freddie was Last Freddie that day. But he was doing it. Chapeau... Once the broom wagon passed, I hoped on my bike and joined a few hundred other people for the descent. That was sweet. In no time I was back down at the intersection of highway 76 and East Grade Road waiting for the race. 10 minutes or so later, they came flying by with someone from Rock Racing off the front. But no Freddie. I still haven't watched the race, so I have no idea what happened really, except for who won, but it was still fun, fun, fun to see in person.

After attending multiple finishes of the ToC over the past few years, seeing numerous starts, one TT, three prologues, the inside of several VIP tents, the phtog scrum, and a whole lot more, standing on that mountain top, 50 meters from the KOM, after having rode up there using my own two legs? Now that was hands down the best of all... by a freaking mile. Jimbo's advice is that if you ever get the chance to watch a big climb, go for it. Do not hesitate.I can only imagine what Alpe d'Huez is like. Wow...

Here are some photos and one short video...

Sausalito Swallows

Jimbo... — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:45:33 -0000

Rain.... cold... grumble... frown... harumph... that pretty much sums up the start today in Sausalito. 44 degrees and raining. 8:30 AM. Yep. Ass conditions...

But, I did get to see a few riders as they rolled out to the start and managed to grab a few photos and one video of the start. None of the riders looked happy in the slightest. They cancelled the normal parade laps around Sausalito and just got to it...

Before the race I asked Jens! if he was going to attack today. "Today is a Jens! day!", yelled I. But sadly, Jens just grumbled something gutteral and angry sounding. So I backed away... Then I asked Big Schleck to smile for his fans, but Frank said "not much to smile about today, grumble, grumble, I want to cry..." Kirk O'Bee was cool to me "good luck Kirk" says I... Kirk says "thanks man!"... and Pieter Weening signed autographs in the rain. Classy.... Then I retired to my waterproof and sound proof suite above the posh Poggio Trattoria to drink wine, eat bacon, and talk cycling with my cycling club buddies. Good times... And it turns out one of them had a VIP pass, which he gave to me. Now I have a VIP pass. Working photog one day, bacon eating VIP the next... imagine what could happen tomorrow?

Santa Rosa Sucks...

Jimbo... — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:56:48 -0000

if you are a pro bike racer, or someone from out-of-state mistakenly thinking you are attending a bike race in that "California" place you see on your teevee in shows such as Bay Watch, or maybe if you are a homeless person... But if you came prepared, Santa Rosa was a wonderful place to spend the afternoon.

It may come as a surprise to anyone who watched the race, but it rained today! It rained a lot. Biblical amounts of rain. I was expecting frogs to start falling from the sky any minute, but alas, no frogs...

After a wet drive north, I arrived a bit too late for the Ladie's race (that Emilia is cute as a button. Wow. Jens, do they all look like her there? Cause that might explain why some of you stay there in the winter...). But, I did see the Men come through. They were... well... they were wet. Very, very wet. Wet like an Irish well-digger's ass... or is that "cold" like an Irish well-digger's ass? It probably doesn't matter because either way it's totally accurate.

Me? I was neither wet, nor cold, because I came prepared, remember! Here is my ToC 2009 in-person race attendance checklist...

Waterproof boots? Check!
Waterproof pants? Check!
Waterproof jacket? Check?
Waterproof gloves? F*ck, forgot those...
Twitter-enabled Crackberry? Damn right!

So to cut to the chase, or the lack of a chase as it turned out... Mancebo managed to win after an epic, but nearly spoiled, solo and soggy breakaway. The surprisingly large, but unsurprisingly cold and wet crowd, went f*cking wild when the man finished, his wet arms raised high, with a huge, huge wet grin on his wet face. You could tell that nobody, except Nibali and the Belgian kid, were even chasing, so the racing was pretty limited. But the break away survived. Don't see that every day...

Well, thought I, the race is over now. It's pouring rain. It's getting dark. My hands are cold. What to do? Maybe I should go back to that Russian bar that crashdan mentioned in his "places to meet up" thread? But on the other hand, why don't I just walk through that open gate right over there leading onto the course right in front of the podium stage? The gate through which all the photographers are going, you ask? Why yes, that gate...

Next thing you know, I'm standing front and center in the photog scrum, three feet from the stage, right behind the VS cameraman, and here come Mancebo to get his yellow jersey. It's me, the guy from Getty images, the CNN dude, VS camera guy, probably someone from Gazetta della Sporto, and two dozen soggy others all equipped with multiple cameras with these massive lenses, blah, blah, blah. Me? I have...

Crackberry (with built in flash thank you very much)
My trusty Sony Cybershot DSC-T5 (which does video!)

I was a new-media field reporting dynamo, baby! Tweet, tweet, tweet!. That's what I'm talking about my tweeches!

Now all these pro photogs have on these official bibs that say "Official ToC Pro Photo Person", or something like that. Meh. Not me. No bib necessary. Just a blue North Face jacket, yellow PVC rain pants ($14.95), and a take-no-prisoner look on my face. In truth, I'm standing there figuring one of the pro guys is going to rat me out any second and some race official is going to grab me by my soggy backpack and kick my ass out, but then I notice the 4 ft 6 in Laotian grandmother in the purple and tan plaid jacket standing to my left... and I knew I was safe. So I relax, take some shots and a little video while they give out all the jerseys, and settle in to my new-found profession... International cycling new-media twitterati field guy! Who needs press credentials when you have dumb luck? Not me, that's who, or "that's not who"... or whichever is better (Gav, edit please?)...

So here is my official report... It rained a lot. Mancebo got all the jerseys except the "Best Young Rider" (Gesink) and the women's race winner jersey (Emilia, blink, blink, sigh, blink). And then Basso got one for something... "Cutest Smile"... "Best Kisser"... "Best Reformed-Ex-Admitted-Almost-But-Not-Really-An-Actual-Doper on Liguigas"blah, blah....

My work day finished, I went back to the Russian River Brewing Company to see if I could find crashdan (look for a maniacal youngish Colonel Sanders looking guy with glasses and a brown leather hat I'm thinking) but all I managed to find was another excellent Leffe-like Belgian style blond ale, which, in a selfless jesture of solidarity, I dedicated to the fine people of Australia who got jacked up recently.... moment of silence... Then I drove home, stopping at In-N-Out on the way, (just like Horner apparently did), and put on my Snuggie. Oh, Snuggie, why do I love you so?

Night all...

P.S., I don't really have a Snuggie.