Style, Panache, and 2009 Lycra Couture

The reality is, I have easily twice as much value in cycling apparel than I do in everyday functional clothes (i.e. work clothes, bar threads, etc.).

The other reality is, that outside of the cycling community, the consensus on the street is that lycra is an all-around bad look for anyone.

However, I think between next years Wolverine Elite Racing kit and the Gary Fisher 29er Crew kit, I am going to look just about as bad ass as anyone could possibly look in full lycra, which may not be saying much but…

Please note this is not the final WSC design


Nonetheless, I think we’ve got two great designs.

We’re all in the business of turning the pedals, aren’t we?

“…There were just bikes, and you either rode one or you did not. I tended to gravitate to those who did. I still do.”
-Gary Fisher

Mid-winter break, I turned down a trip to Alabama, I turned down a trip to Florida, and for what reason? I had made the decision that amidst my hectic schedule of working and trying to train like a full-time racer, which inherently translates to shelved responsibilities, that the most valuable training I could do would be spent at home. I needed to get some things in order, bike building, bike selling, organizing some 2009 season fund-raising ideas, etc.

As I glanced out the window yesterday only to be shocked by the healthy dumping from the bowels of Mother Nature covering my training landscape, I was quite discouraged. The cold I can tolerate, but this abundance of slippery white stuff is starting to get to me.

Nonetheless, I weather proofed myself, grabbed my winter beater and rolled out the door for yet another day of negotiating snow and ice and trying to keep the rubber side down, all the while maintaining a mentally tormenting average speed of 15mph, spinning 90rpms on my 58inch gear single speed.

Prior to starting the WRCS group ride, I rolled around for about 2 hours on my own, lost in my thoughts, and deeply engaged in soul-searching. Usually, when this occurs, without choice I give uncontrollable birth to a blog idea. This day was no exception.

I couldn’t help but fixate on the phenomenal performance of Taylor Phinney over the past two days. In case you are unaware: 2 days, 2 World Titles, 18 years old.

The amazing thing is, his achievements were all accomplished in a total of 5 minutes and 16 seconds (1:01 in the kilo, 4:15 in the 4k). The thought of his craft/discipline seemed to be worlds away from mine. Here I am turning the cranks at modest speeds for hours on end, while Taylor is gauging every millisecond, slight bit of air resistance, and traveling at speeds that 50 years ago, only a combustion engine could achieve. Likewise, I found myself glued to the Tour of California Prologue thinking the same thoughts.


For years, I’ve heard grumblings amongst the culture of, “F-ing Roadie” or “That guy only rides the track” or “He’s a mountain biker” or “All he cares about is mileage” and the worst, “24 hour racing is pointless, it’s not even racing, just suffering”. The point is, we tend to pigeon hole ourselves into one discipline. In many ways, this is just fine. However, I have observed when this mentality can negatively translate to bias, and that’s no good.

Whether it is a 1:01 blazing ride on the track, 24 hours in the saddle, or a 15-day tour. If it gets you out there, gives you reason, purpose, passion, and definition than it is all good, all positive, and all beautiful.

We are all one in the same. I have yet to meet a cyclist who does not start every ride/race with a single first pedal stroke. It’s the initial pedal stroke that launches every rider onto the path of achievement and focus. We’re all in the business of turning the pedals.

“So do me a favor. Find your bike, whatever kind of bike it is. And ride it. Ride it to the store, ride it to the beach, ride it to your buddies place and when you leave there you’ll ride it to the wilderness and then once you hit the wilderness you’ll just keep pedaling until so many things seem so far behind.

I’m not kidding about this stuff.

You can go far on a bike.”

-Gary Fisher