23 Celebrities Who Ride Their Bicycles

First off, I must say that cycling is a fun and healthy sport. Its green and hip. Its easy to learn. You can take it to as high an intensity as you want. It can be easy, it can be painful but both have their benefits.

Wearing Lycra and tight fitting spandex is one of the precursors to enjoying a serious bike ride, but the very thought of that puts many off (such as G.W Bush).

I have to say that it has its benefits.

For example, did you know that the gorgeous Heidi Klum fell for musician Seal (not the most talented in the good looks category) when she first saw him walk out of a Hotel gym in bicycle shorts?? Ha!!

If you don't believe me, just forward this video to 5:45, where Oprah asks the couple how they first met. Hear what she says.



Wow! :) There you go!! So you men out there! Wear bicycle shorts, because thats what the ladies like!!


Anyway, coming back to the original objective of this post, lets take a thorough look at the some of the famous who's whos, the movers and shakers on T.V and elsewhere who take time off to be with something as mundane as a bicycle, enjoying the simplicity of rhythmic pedaling motion. If you have any more names and pictures to append to this list, do drop in a comment!!

Enjoy!

1. REV. AL SHARPTON [Wikipedia]

Reverend Al Sharpton at a critical mass ride early this year. Nice Fuji. No helmet in NYC?!! I hope he didnt get smashed down by an NYPD cop like in this video.

MORE :

Gothamist : The Reverend Al Sharpton Gets Critical, Rides Bike
Youtube Video : Al at Critical Mass in NYC

2. ANDY DICK [Wikipedia]

Want to dash away from the Paparazzi? Sure, hop on a bike !! While most people would ride flashy expensive cars to a Hollywood club, comedian Dick rode a bike to Parc. Then a bouncer kicked him out and all Andy had was a bike to get away from nosey cameramen.

MORE :

Best Week Ever : Andy Dick Finds A Mode of Transportation More Environmentally Friendly Than a Prius
TMZ : No Dick-ing Around at Parc; Andy Denied

3. THE BEATLES [Wikipedia]

I think the Beatles used to flirt with bicycles in their early years. Does anyone has more info on this?

Update : A reader informed me that this is a publicity still from their movie "Help". You can watch a small clip on it on Youtube here.

4. BORIS JOHNSON [Wikipedia]

The Conservative Mayor of London is well known for his love of cycling. Infact, he bikes to work regularly and has been the victim of several bike thefts. The Mayor has had to get to Parliament at times so quickly that he was recently involved in a controversy where he blasted through six red lights and was hammered by the media and public for his negligence! He also attends cell phone calls while riding! Nice!

MORE :

Dailymail : The Film That Shows Boris Johnson Cycling Through Six Red Lights Boris Johnson for The Guardian : Why We Cyclists Need to Strike a Deal With Pedestrians
Video : Boris Talks About Cycling in the Room 101 Show

5. GEORGE W. BUSH [Wikipedia]

Everyone's (un)favorite president is pretty lighthearted about faking WMD threats and going to war with other countries for fun. But when he's on his mountain bike, bloody hell... he means business! People who have ridden with him have come back and told the rest that the President could easily make a competitive Cat 5 rider. :)



From the comforting Republican surrounding of the White House lawn to the world class trails of communist Beijing, its World domination on a mountain bike!

His equipment? The President bombs down hills on a 4000 dollar TREK. You'll be assured that this is a one of a kind paintjob!



MORE :

People's Daily Online : US President Rides Bicycle In The Western Suburb of Beijing
The Guardian : Eat My Dust
St. Petersburg Times : A Chat From the Bike
Cozy Beehive : The President's First Mechanic

6. CHLOE SEVIGNY [Wikipedia]

Chloe looking good there in a bicycle with a basket. Look at that big chain ring! Sweet! Oh hell, cell phone again?! She must be trying to ignore the papz.

MORE :

TreeHugger : Hollywood Bike Patrol

7. THE CLINTONS [Wikipedia]

"Aai did not have any relations whatsoever with that bicycle."

I doubt it Mr. Clinton! I have visual proof....right here!

MORE :

Streetsblog : Bill Clinton Agrees Cycling Is Good Citizenship

8. DARRYL HANNAH [Wikipedia]

She scared me in Kill Bill as the one eyed assassin. Looks pretty fun loving on a bike. What do you say?

MORE :

Ecorazzi : Darryl Hannah Gets On Her Hybrid Electric Bicycle

9. DAVID BECKHAM [Wikipedia]

Ride it like Beckham. This is probably what he does to stay in shape for soccer season.

Yellow unmarked bike and toe clips

Looking at the shorts, did he get inducted into the Rock Racing monkey group too?

MORE :

Popsugar : David Beckham Rides Bike With Romeo and Brooklyn Beckham Popsugar : Beckhams Celebrate 8 Years of Marriage
Popsugar : Serious Manjoyment; Beckham on a Bike

10. DAVID BYRNE [Wikipedia]

Byrne is an avid bicyclist for the past 30 years and has designed nine bike racks around Brooklyn and New York as a contemporary art work.

MORE :

Wallpaper : Dacid Byrne Bike Racks, NYC Art
Streetfilms : David Byrne Celebrates NYC Bicycling in Style
Green Map NYC : Bike Tips From David Byrne
Youtube Video : David Byrne's Bike Racks

11. ALBERT EINSTEIN [Wikipedia]

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Einstein

Einstein spent so much time writing papers that he rides this bike like he never saw one before, smiling like a baby in the process. If only had he unraveled the more detailed mysteries of the bicycle other than the fact that to keep your balance you'd have to keep 'moving', how many more puzzling books, stupid bike forums and arrogant technical faggets could we have eliminated. Sigh...

12. ELIZA DUSHKU [Wikipedia]

Cyclelicio.us had some commentary about her riding. Check it out.

13. ELLE MACPHERSON [Wikipedia]

This Aussie supermodel probably puts any of Copenhagen's cycling chics to shame. Do it like Elle! Trrrring trrrinnng..

Elle was criticized for riding with her son on her handlebars

MORE :

Healthy Hollywood : Elle MacPherson Rides a Bike
Contact Music : Elle MacPherson Rides Her Bike in Notting Hill, London UK

14. ELVIS PRESLEY [Wikipedia]

Elvis signs autographs for kids on his bicycle.

15. ERIC CLAPTON [Wikipedia]

You'll love this. Eric Clapton, besides being fond of his blues playing guitar, was also an avid cyclist as a youngster. Clapton also supported unique bicycle marathons through charity from concerts.

He probably still rides bikes when we're not bothering him.

MORE :

Pinch Flat News : In Your Ear, Eric Clapton.
Russia IC : Unique Bicycle Marathon Moscow

16. EVEL KNEIVEL [Wikipedia]

World famous daredevil stuntman poses with his bicycle in front of his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I wonder if he was headed for a weekend warrior ride in full costume?! We'll probably never know.

MORE :

Cheese Bikini's Flickr Photostream : At Home With Evil Knievel

17. FRANK ZAPPA [Wikipedia]

Did you know that Zappa, one of the legends of Rock and Jazz actually started out making money playing the bicycle as a musical instrument?? Bizarre as it sounds, Zappa was a thorough entertainer even back in those days.

Check this out...Zappa on the Steve Allen Show :

18. GEORGE CLOONEY [Wikipedia]

George Clooney bought a sweet house at Lake Como, the same place Lance lived around when he was training for the Tour. Carefree, with his baseball cap turned around, George hits the trails with his college friend Tate Donovan. He also gathered publicity at a point with a proposed bike ride with none other than Bono around the Irish countryside.

MORE :

Popsugar : George Clooney Keeps Riding Right Along (Pictures)
Movies.ie : Video Interview George Clooney

19. GISELE BüNDCHEN [Wikipedia]

My favorite supermodel rides her bike!!!! Venga venga, Gisele!!!


From the look of it, she seems like she's in a hurry to get somewhere. She is the highest paid model in the world, so she's probably busting ass just like any of us to get to work! 100 points for that!

Just a suggestion, Gisele. I bet Tom Brady wouldn't be too pleasant seeing the ugly saddle sores so invest some of that 33 million you pocket, in Spandex!!!! You'll even look hotter! 0 points for that.

MORE :

Sports Crunch : Gisele Bündchen Knows How to Ride a Bike

20. GRAEME LE SAUX [Wikipedia]

Former Chelsea footballer loves to ride and race bikes. He started this side passion when he was 8 or 9 years old.

MORE :

The Guardian : A Healthy Ticket To Ride

21. HILLARY DUFF [Wikipedia]

Hillary Duff showing her bike handling skills with a starbucks coffee in one hand and a Marc Jacobs handbag hanging off the right handlebar. Just don't fall with the coffee....!!


Hillary shown above having a blast between shooting sessions with Evan Ross, riding on his handlebars. Ahem....cough cough.

MORE : Popdirt : Hillary Duff And Evan Ross Take A Bike Ride
The Purse Blog : Hillary Duff Debuts In The Wizard of Oz

22. HUGO CHAVEZ [Wikipedia]

Rumor is that Chavez wanted to step up his game on the international nuclear scene so he threw some of his oil money sitting in his vault for a nice Atomic bike.

MORE :

Cyclelicio.us : Hugo Chavez Rides A Bicycle

23. JAKE GYLLENHAAL [Wikipedia]

There are so many pictures of Jake riding his bike that I'm not sure whether his intent is on making Lance's supposed new team for the Tour in '09.



MORE :

Deadline Hollywood : Jake Gyllenhaal Wants To Play Lance In Sony Bio-Pic Socialite Life : Jake Gyllenhaal Finds A New Biking Buddy
Just Jared : Jake Gyllenhaal Riding Bicycle

24. JENNIFER LOPEZ [Wikipedia]

J. Lo completed her first Triathlon in 2 hours and 28 minutes at the Nautica Malibu Traithlon on Sept 14 this year. The secret is out. The gym won't help much. Start riding to lose weight!!

MORE :

Celebrity Gossip : Jennifer Lopez - First Class Triathlete

25. JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT [Wikipedia]

Jennifer makes up the latest string of young actresses who've taken up riding. I wonder if that bicycle named 'Paul Frank' is made in China....

MORE :

Just Jared : Jennifer Love Hewitt Loves Big Bikes
Celebrity Gossip : Jennifer Love Hewitt - Bicycling Bliss

26. JOHN B. HERRINGTON [Wikipedia]

After he retired from flying Space Shuttle missions for NASA, former astronaut John Herrington started riding his bike, and when I say biking, serious biking! He once embarked on a 4000 mile bicycle ride from Cape Flattery on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Cape Canaveral in Florida. For what??

To promote student interest in science, technology, engineering and math!!!

I love it!!

MORE :

John B. Herrington : Rocketrek Bicycle Trip
Universe Today : Former Astronaut to Bike Across US For Education

27. JON CRYER [Wikipedia]

Jon was also spotted at this year's Nautica Malibu Triathlon.

MORE :

California Babble : Best Celebrity Day Ever!! Nautica Malibu Triathlon

28. JON SNOW [Wikipedia]

Channel 4News Presenter and Journalist has seldom hidden his enthusiasm for biking, and claims there's hardly a day when he doesn't ride.

When Phil Liggett moved out of the CTC President's chair, Jon Snow was the next best candidate who could fill in Liggett's craze for cycling. CTC, by the way, is the UK's National Cyclist's Organization.

MORE :

Bike For All : Jon Snow To Succeed Phil Liggett As CTC President
Bike For All : Biking To Work
Pedals : Channel 4 Newsreader Jon Snow Checks Out Nottingham's Big Track

29. KATE HUDSON [Wikipedia]

What do you know?! Lance Armstrong's ex-fling interest also likes to ride apparently.


MORE :

The Skinny In Chile : Kate Hudson Bike Rides
People : Kate And Owen Use Buddy System For Their Bike Ride
The Superficial : Kate Hudson's Belly - So There's This Thing Called A Condom

30. KIEFER SUTHERLAND [Wikipedia]

I'm sure Keifer needs a break after all the riveting action in 24.

MORE :

Jon Cassar : Behind The Scene Photos

31. JOHN KERRY [Wikipedia]

Sen. John Kerry is a true bike warrior, and rides like a pro!







Unlike Bush who's shy to appear in public in Lycra, John doesn't give a damn about it. All he wants to do is get out there and bust his ass to ride strong. He was so involved with biking issues that he even held a press conference once in a bike shop in Worchester, MA.

He's apparently much classier than Bush and most of the rest of us, getting an all-campy $8000 custom Serotta for the fast rides. Check out this NYT article comparing Bush and Kerry's riding styles.

MORE :

Smithers MN : Senator John Kerry, The Cyclist
Washington Post : John Kerry : Restlessly On The Road
NYT : Ideas & Trends; Culture Wars On Two Wheels
Slipstream Sports - Jonathan Vaughters : My Unconventional Ride
The Climb Blog - John Kerry Eyes The Pack With Envy Boston News : Kerry's Pan-Mass Challenge Takes On A Personal Touch

32. KIM RAVER [Wikipedia]

Kim Raver teaches her son biking while she enjoys a ride herself.

MORE :

Celebrity Babies : Kim Raver Helps Son Luke Ride His Bicycle

33. KYLIE MINOGUE [Wikipedia]

Kylie is probably riding into a headwind on a KHS, and her skirt is seemingly going north.

34. LEBRON JAMES [Wikipedia]

You would think this star NBA player with a towering 6 foot 8 inch frame is the least likely candidate to take up cycling. But he's proven everyone wrong. Apparently, Lebron happens to be a multi-sport athlete and spends a lot of time biking in the off-season.

He didn't want to stop there, and so also went ahead and bought a stake in the Cannondale bicycle corporation. What that means is that Lebron is literally an owner of Cannondale!

He also hold a ride for kids called the Kid's Bike-a-Thon every year and the proceeds directly benefit charity.

James' bike is a custom made caffeine colored Cannondale 29'er with Lefty fork and Hollowgram Si Crank

35. LINDSAY LOHAN [Wikipedia]

Don't stare too much at her riding that lowrider. All I can do right now is wag my tail and say 'Bow Bow'! Ok, I won't be doing that.... :)

MORE :

Jaunted : Lohan Lowrider Bikes From Malibu To Venice
Lindsay Lohan News And Gossip : Lindsay Looks Sexy Even When Riding A Bike

36. MADONNA [Wikipedia]

Madonna is probably more into bike riding for the fitness goals than most of her contemporaries.

MORE :

Madonnalicious : Gallery
Fitsugar : Madonna Is One B*tching Biker Babe
Puma Talk : Madonna Rides Puma Bike In London

37. MARK-PAUL GOSSELAAR [Wikipedia]

Mark-Paul is a racer as well! In 2005, he competed in the Far West Championships and won the Cat 4/5 Sprint event at the Encino Velodrome. He races several SoCal crits and track races.

Way to go man!

MORE :

MySpace Forum : Cyclists or Triathletes

38. MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY [Wikipedia]

Is this how Matthew warms up for a Triathlon? :)

Racing at the Malibu Triathlon

39. MILEY CYRUS [Wikipedia]

Teen queen sweet-talking Miley a.k.a Disney's Hannah Montana loves to have fun on her bicycle.

Check out this video of her :




MORE :

The Huffington Post : Miley Cyrus Rides

40. DANIEL MODER [Wikipedia]

Moder might just be out for a ride with his son, but looking at his ripped legs I think he's a cyclist!

MORE :

Just Jared : Danny Moder - Father And Son Cycling

41. NICOLE KIDMAN [Wikipedia]

Kidman was into riding BMX bicycles in her youth. I can't seem to figure out if this is in real or from a movie.

42. BARRACK OBAMA [Wikipedia]

Potential President of the USA to be rides bicycles on weekends. Barrack actually seems to be made like a climber. Running in election to be the most powerful man in the world and being this thin translates into a very high power to weight ratio!!!

Beat that, Mcain!! You make me sick...!




MORE :

Huffington Post : Obama Celebrates Win By Riding Bike

43. OLIVER MARTINEZ [Wikipedia]

Oliver can be seem sometimes riding on the streets of LA on his 10 speed bicycle.


And no helmet either.

MORE :

Echelon Media : Eat Your Heart Out Lance...

44. OWEN WILSON [Wikipedia]

Owen likes to chill out on his bike too and was once spotted on a dating ride with Kate Hudson...who's also been linked to Lance. Wow, do you see the common thread between all these characters??

Its a friggin bike!!

MORE :

Just Jared : Kate & Owen's Bike Ride Date

45. PAMELA ANDERSON [Wikipedia]

Mama mia!!

Here we see Pamela in a pink cruiser somewhere in Malibu. Don't get too close to her, or you'll be getting some hot coffee on your face!

MORE :

Healthy Hollywood : Pam Anderson Riding Her Bike in Malibu

46. PARIS HILTON [Wikipedia]

I sympathize with Paris inspite of her ills, only because she looks so darn innocent with the bike. Hey, atleast she won't get arrested cycling. Ha!

47. PATRICK DEMPSEY [Wikipedia]

The Grey's Anatomy star is also an avid cyclist. He reads Bicycling Magazine, has met Tom Boonen, rides the Charity part of the Amgen Tour of California every year and rides a nice looking Specialized Roubaix to top that all up.

MORE :

Bicycling Mag : A Ride With Patrick Dempsey

48. PETER MULVEY [Wikipedia]

Singer and songwriter Peter Mulvey rides his bike to concerts! He named the ride "Look Ma, No Gasoline" Tour. No really, I'm serious!

MORE :

My FOX Milwaukee : Peter Mulvey's Tour By Bicycle
JS Online : Mulvey Pedals His Music

49. THE PITTS [Wikipedia]

The couple, whom the Guiness Book of World Records recently named the most powerful Hollywood actors, loves to patrol down the streets with their Branjelina kingdom trailing behind them. Brad is often seen hauling his kids on a bicycle, not one but three or four! What a cool Dad, huh?

MORE :

Treehugger : Hollywood Bike Patrol - Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Family Just Jared : Brad Pitt - Bicycle Built for Four
The Other Paper : Brad Pitt Filming in Bastrop?

50. RACHEL MCADAMS [Wikipedia]

Canadian actress loves to live the green life, riding her bike in Toronto. She reportedly said in an interview that she does not own a car and that in Toronto, her only mode of transport is her bike. Way to go Rachel!

MORE :

USA Today Weekend : Interview With Rachel McAdams
Biking Toronto : Rachel McAdams - Another Celebrity Who Loves Biking Toronto

51. ROBIN WILLIAMS [Wikipedia]

It is well known fact by now that this famous comedian loves to bike and is a total bike geek. He's a bike collector and a staunch supporter of Lance and the Livestrong ideals. According to some sources, he has about 50+ bikes in his collection!!! I very much envy him because he's got one of those neat Independant Fabrication Stainless Steel bikes (953 Reynolds').

Said Robin once, "When I'm riding my bicycle I feel like a Buddhist who is happy just to enjoy his mundane existence."

I wonder if all his biking and bike collection landed him his second straight divorce from his partner?!

MORE :

Pez Cycling News : Robin Williams Rides With Pez
AARP Magazine : Tour de Frantic
Marin Independant Journal : Robin Williams Spices Up Tour of California Velonews : Stars Shine at Handmade Bicycle Show
Bikeradar : Wide of Actor and Avid Cyclist Robin Williams Files For Divorce.

52. RUSSELL CROWE [Wikipedia]

Its almost hard to miss a movie featuring Russell. Heck, he's perfect! Being one of my favorite actors, it was surprising to see the Gladiator star abandon motorized means of transport to ride his bike to the supermarket.


Online Videos by Veoh.com

The Papparazzi better watch out because when it comes to anger management, Russell isn't the best at control.

53. SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR [Wikipedia]

Sarah likes to save up money and bike ride instead. Here, she looks pretty chic with the pink urban cruiser but how on earth is she going to ride with those high heels?! You know what, I think this is a photo op. But the girl actually rides!

MORE :

Fitsugar : Sarah MG's Bike
Whedon : Sarah Michelle Gellar's Money Saving Tips

54. SCOUT NIBLET [Wikipedia]

Nice chic! And nice bike! Is that a Schwinn? Can't see. I'm getting old.

MORE :

Treehugger : Hollywood Bike Patrol

55. SHERYL CROW [Wikipedia]

Its strange. Sheryl Crow is a fitness buff, but she happens to be a cancer survivor just like Lance. Whats more, she was Owen Wilson's first love interest until Lance had to come and snatch her. After they divorced, Lance went for Owen's other girl, Kate Hudson!!! What a playerr!!!! Correct me if I'm wrong.

Before all this craziness began, Sheryl was linked with Eric Clapton, who was also into bicycles as we mentioned before. Whats the common thread here?

Btw, I respect the fact that Sheryl rides her bike. She's pretty serious too I think. According to some sources, she attempted to ride up the Alpe D'Huez on her TREK Madone, and accomplished it in a time of 90 minutes. Not bad.

For anyone to go up the Alpe on a bicycle is hardly anywhere close to average recreation.

MORE :

BLOG : Sheryl Crow 90 Minutes Up Alpe D'Huez

56. TOBEY MCGUIRE [Wikipedia]

When not acting, Tobey exchanges his Spidey costume for the nice looking Italian jerseys and riding shorts. Then he hops on his Colnago and off he goes like a rocket.


MORE :

XOnline : Maguire Picking Up Where Jake Left Off?
Fitsugar : Even Spiderman Can Ache From Biking
Celebrity Baby Blog : Tobey Maguire Out With Family In Brentwood,CA
Crazy For Tobey : Biking Pictures

57. THOMAS EDISON [Wikipedia]

I'm not a huge fan of inventor Edison. But here's a video of him fooling around on a fixie!

58. TONY BLAIR [Wikipedia]

Here's a famous picture of ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair cycling through the streets of Amsterdam to an EU Summit. Blair was present at this year's Beijing Olympics to actively support British cyclists.

MORE :

BBC : Tony Blair's Leadership Years In Pictures
CyclingWeekly : Tony Blair Pays Tribute To Britain's Cyclists

59. DAVID DUCHOVNY [Wikipedia]

After all the therapy for sex addiction, ex-X Files lead actor David Duchovny was spotted at the the Nautica Malibu Triathlon along with other celebrities.

MORE :

Daily Celeb : 19th Annual Nautica Malibu Triathlon

OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO RIDE

Jean Christophe Novelli - World Famous French Chef, also a cyclist and triathlete [Look here]

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, rides a bike in his vacations! [Look here]

Geri Halliwell - Fitness obsessed Spice Girl riding her bike [Look Here]

Jeff Banks - World Famous Welsh fashion designer also an avid cyclist [Look Here]

Sophie Monk - Bikini Clad and riding her bike in Hollywood [Look Here]

Estella Warren - Another hot celebrity Triathlete [Look Here]

Diane Kuger - Chic bicycling babe through Manhattan [Look Here]

More Pictures Of Stars On Bikes From USMagazine.Com

29 Alberto Contador On The Angliru : Climbing Speed & Power to Weight Ratio

One can only sit back in astonishment and marvel at the speeds at which the breakaway flew up Angliru. Once again, Contador teaches his rivals how to tame mountains.









Anyone want to take a guess at his VAM for this climb? I'm pretty curious...

Okay, lets see if I can do it.

The EUROSPORT recording above kicks off right from the 4K to go banner. Assuming it is live like it says and there wasn't any cut and paste job by the uploader, Contador took about 15.5 minutes to get to the top at 1600m (5250 feet), as he crosses the banner there and proceeds towards the downhill. Referring to slope information for the mountain, the altitude difference between 4k to go and the top is roughly 500m. 15.5 minutes to climb 2 miles? Think about how steep that road was. VAM will be proportional to steepness. In this case, you can pretty much guess that it'll be in the high range.

So for the given altitude change (not for the whole climb) and from around the point he accelerated from Valverde and Rodriguez :



Ofcourse, there'll be an error percentage + or - something, but c'mon, it can't be huge. Nevertheless, a VAM of anything close to this number is bloody frickin remarkable!!!! Anyone disagree?

For a perspective, just remember - when Marco Pantani climbed the Alpe d'Heuz at record speed in 37 minutes & 35 seconds back in 1997 , he produced a VAM of around 1791!! And the climb was only at 7.9% average as opposed to Angliru's 10.13%, but oh well....he must have taken the pill too.

Finally, according to the evil Dr. Ferrari's method (and I have no idea where he digs this from), one can get an estimate of Contador's power to weight ratio (PWR) by dividing his VAM by 300. For the sake of calculation, lets take 1930 as his VAM.

That'll be just sufficient to be one the top climbers in history, eh?

Multiply that with his recorded racing weight of 62 kg, and you can see that he roughly produced around 400 Watts or close to it during those 15 minutes.

Don't grill me because of accuracy issues. I'm just giving you the numbers for the idea.

* * *

1 Pedro's Thoughts

"There have been moments on the climb when I've felt as if time has stopped. You're pedaling like mad but every time you look up you don't seem to have advanced much at all. It's like one of those dreams where you're running but not getting anywhere... When you reach the false flat [after 6km], there are words painted on the road warning of what is to come. 'Hell starts here,' they say."

- Pedro Delgado on the Alto de L'Angliru, a monstrous climb featured in tomorrow's stage of the Vuelta

6 Memorial Beam Message

Today was the 7th anniversary of September 11.

I joined hundreds of New Yorkers to sign one of two 37 foot steel beams from the collapsed WTC towers. This week, the beams will be finally put in place at Ground Zero as part of the new Freedom Tower Memorial in Lower Manhattan.



I saw many hundreds of heart warming messages and it was difficult to even find a spot to write on.

But I'll tell you this... there's just one bike on the beam.


I'll Remember You When I Ride - Ron

16 Ax-Lightness Daedalus Seatpost Failure

Forget testicular cancer!

Imagine your bum just rose in standing to pedal up to the top of that hill. You sit back down and discover that the saddle is missing!!! Except its too late, the post may already be in your intestines.

A carbon seat post failing and opening up something of that possibility constitutes a conspicuous disregard for engineering ethics and safety, especially if the load didn't even exceeded the max spec. That should never happen!!

Weightweenies member Roberto Bicicletas says : So, about two hours ago, in the middle of a cross race in Herne Hill (London UK), I found out I had nowhere to sit on my bike anymore . Didn't get hurt, but my heart feels broken - I am a 72kg cat4 club rider, way below the weight limit of the seatpost (85kg), and the seatpost/bike never been involved in a crash.

What you're looking at is possibly the lightest setback seatpost on the market. Notice the failure just where the post curves out, at the point where the AX logo was dented in. Possibly a delamination. There is little room for flex. Often on bending, fibers fail at low strain values.

The retail for this flimsy product stands at more than 500 dollars. Thats not the kind of price for an injured bum, and a broken heart.





More pictures on Weight Weenies.

25 The Lance Comeback : Let Lance Ride.Com & New Wristbands!

Hi. I'm Lance Pharmstrong..


According to my calculations, I've discovered that I need to win just one more Tour de Farce to respectfully get critics to replace the "Pharm" in my last name to "Arm".

Due to brain lag associated with being a champion at the highest levels, I didn't come up with this bright idea three years ago prior to retirement.

Fans, I've made up my mind. I'm going from toning to Pro Pele-toning.

Yep, you heard right.

No more brazen, barren-chested midday tonings with unreliable stoners.




No more babysitting the anorexic Olsens. And no more sitting in my office with nothing to do but write boring speeches for people I dont plan on spending more than a minute with.

My quest to bring some degree of excitement into my life is as human as any of your daily needs are, such as trying to be me on a weekend-warrior basis. (Who're you kidding, pal? I rescued my balls AND won the Tour seven times, what did you do??)

After a conference room discussion with lengthy exchanges of words asking for permission with my umpteen ex-wives, and after getting the Catholic blessings of my favorite ex-wife (I can never miss that!), I have got the official green light to kickstart another "program" in order to get in shape.

As an added bonus, my favorite person - G.W over at Washington - has advised me over the phone to do whatever the hell I've got to do to finish unfinished business. He remarked that just in case the French get overly combative, he'll be the one this time giving "The Look" as he fakes another WMD possibility through one of his podcasts and orders the invasion of France.

Now you already know that I love to win everything I get my hands on. Even if its the pillowfights I have religiously every morning with my kids, failure is NOT an option.

So I told my management team - "Make me number 1 in everything on the calender - from the tingly Boston and NYC Marathons, and the recovery Leadville 100....to the super easy Transhimalayan-IndoChinese-Tibeto-Taliban-Border 1000-Mile-Speed-Walking-Challenge-In Under-24-Hours...yes, do it.."

Apparently, a crucial miscalculation on their part also put me on the number 1 spot for city water consumption.

Idiots!

I almost had a heart attack seeing the utility bill.

Check out my bill

I love water. No, no...now don't get me wrong. I abbbsolutely fricckin love water..!

But my relentless aqua binge drinking, long showers after heavy intense exercise, watering acres and acres of nothing but grass at the ranch, vaccuming tons of dirt out of the local creek as per city demands, and other stupid idiosyncrasies of mine underwater have finally taken their toll.



Bicycling magazines no longer want me with the fervor they all had 3 years ago. Divorce settlements and other dowry payments are in peak form. Jet fuel prices are soaring. And teams of people and lawyers are suing me perennially. The A-holes are everywhere - left, right and center!

Sigh. I'll say it like a man.

I've got bills to pay.

Hence, my strategic move to Aspen, CO where my team has discovered that water is cheaper.

In addition, it is also needless in me mentioning to you that I'm growing increasingly tired of spending my time picking petals, trying to make up my mind in what to break a belief defying record in next - will it be running, or speed skating.... speed skating or ice hockey...?

Keeping in mind that Johann is ever so lusting after me for another shot at yellow, and the fact that I've obtained enough training riding away fast from four life threatening blondes (who were a colossal waste of time....Jesus!)...., I hereby to you declare that I'm physically and mentally capable of handling the stresses of another 21 stages of the Tour.





I can do this.

'Coz I'm Lance.

Some of the top guys in the peleton right now are shining too much and I feel Contador has had his share of the glory. It is in the best interests of America that I go there pretty soon and whoop some ass without abandon.

And boy, will that be a clean sweep!

While I won't necessarily be successful in trying to handle the French raping my attempts to ride again, my management team is putting together a website, called let me ride.com.

All you have to do is waste your precious time, substitute "let me" with Lance, type it in, give it a click, and you're good to go register your vote.

In conjunction with my comeback, my LiveWrong Foundation will be releasing new urine colored Limited Edition wrist bands custom made to accomodate all the wrist fractures you have sustained from falling off your bikes.

See for yourself :


Some attractive features are that it is made in China using the latest in labor cost saving technology and in order to save weight, its synthetic rubber edges have been specially CNC machined for that glossy finish typical of my bands.

'Rong, I'm Back!' serves two purposes - not only for me as a rider coming back to Pro-peletoning, but also for you cancer survivors, who can raise a finger proudly to those devils who said you would have no chance and that you'd be dead by now.

And Limited Edition? Just incase this whole scheme doesn't pull through and I can't race, I won't be disgraced...

So friends, hurry while stocks last and go upgrade your wrists with a new found excitement!

Every dollar earned from proceedings will go towards not only helping me recover from the boredom of not winning anything since this morning's pillowfight with the kids just a few minutes ago, but also towards writing two more books about my return to pro-peletoning, two hundred new episodes with Discovery Channel postulating the science behind out-of-retirement athletics and five hundred new posters of me standing with Johann Bruno-eel....doing nothing in particular.

So once again fans, please support me in my bid to ride in another Tour de Farce... Its the only 100% real, pure, fine, filtered and unadulterated cycling race you should be watching on OLN (Only Lance Network). And to all you motorists out there in Aspen, the Rockies and Solvang....please don't run me over and impale me as I train meticulously on the curvy sections.

See you at the races!

12 The Evil Training Partner's Phrasebook

THE EVIL TRAINING PARTNER'S PHRASEBOOK

How to Translate Cycling's Confusing Language


By: Scott Martin (RoadBikeRider.Com) & Me

Cyclists are the biggest sandbags and secret evil trainers around - They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this trashtalking get to you.

Study this handy rider's phrasebook to find out what they really mean when they say it.


"I'm out of shape."
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford Administration. I replace my 11 tooth cog more often that you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.


"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape."
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the line sprint if I have to force you into on-coming traffic. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post and spray energy drink into your eyes.


"I'm on my beater bike."
Translation: I had this baby custom made in Tuscany using Titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a breath and cost more than a divorce.


"It's not that hilly."
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over - backward. You have 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.


"I rode yesterday, but it was just a charity ride."
Translation: I broke away exactly at the start point, did a 100K time trial like a mad dog, shattered all previous personal bests in the history of the event, then scrambled to the finish alone and went home..."


"You're doing great."
Translation: You, lardo, I'd like to get home before midnight. This is what you get for spending the winter watching TV and eating chocolate.


"This is a no-drop ride."
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search and rescue dogs.


"It's not that far."
Translation: Just bring your passport along.


"Its all downhill now!"
Translation: 4000 feet of climbing later...


"I have a granny gear for the climbs today."
Translation: But I have honed my cadence to exactly 200 RPM so yes, I will be dropping you.


"All I know is to ride hard, I really don't care about weight."
Translation: The bike I'm on is currently 0.2 pounds heavier than the current lightest bike listed on the revered International Lightbikes listings. I have three other custom made all-Boron bikes stashed away in fireproof cabinets in the basement, and all their respective magnesium wheels, front and rear, are so lightweight, they have to be restrained from flying off with weights against the wall.


"I didn't do many races this season."
Translation: Instead, I did 3 double centuries all on aerobars, rode up an down Mt. Washington 4 times a week for 5 months straight, practiced time trialling till I had blood in my eyes, and frequently added a few hundred intervals on weekends as recovery rides.


"We just had a new baby, so I have lots of responsibilities getting in the way of cycling."
Translation: I ride to work and back every day, 50 miles each way so thats 100 miles per day. At night, I put the baby to sleep, help my wife go to sleep beside the baby, then take the bike out to ride all night till the morning. Next month, I plan to start my new book "Confessions of an all night rider." Oops, I'm sorry, did I just slip past your mileage goals for the month in one night?


"Its a great route, the roads are gorgeous and scenic."
Translation: 75% dirt roads with stones as big as your head, creepy houses on both your sides with ugly black barking dogs constantly on watch, two notches through the mountains that are hotspots for landslides any moment, Oh, and you can stop to rest anytime,anywhere but sorry, I'll be riding away since I can't put my training goals on hold for you for 2.5 minutes.


"C'mon , lets do an easy 1 hour spin on the bike path."
Translation: Break the speed limit, forget about brakes and scare the living shit out of poor walkers, runners and skaters on the bike path by whizzing past them at 40+ mph till your legs are numb with pain, you're foaming at the mouth like a snakebite victim, your breathing is worse than an asthmatic episode and there's a fine layer of nasal mucus all over your face.


"I'm not feeling strong today."
Translation: My cruising power output on any ride is way past what you put at red zone anaerobic threshold in your peak form, but I can hold 500 watts only for 40 minutes today as opposed to the usual 41, which could possibly make you cramp and bonk and puke before we even cross the half way point on today's ride.


"I have to take the missus out tonight and I'm not allowed to get too tired, plus I'm allowed only one hour to ride."
Translation: Quick, what the hell are you waiting for??! Sacrifice yourself and be my lead out train for the entire ride thank you very much.


"Train hard, win easy."
Translation: You train hard, and I win easy.

14 Return of The Alto de L'Angliru

Stage 13 is perhaps the most crucial point of this year's Vuelta a Espana. There's a surprise towards the end.

People either hate her, or fear her. I haven't heard of any tender feelings.

You may call her La Gamonal, Alto de L'Angliru, Cima del Angliru, The Angliru or just.. sweetly, the bitch.

For the first time since the 2002 Vuelta, after lying dormant somewhere in Northern Spain, her strangely steep existence will awake to the the feel of more than a 100 angry bicycle wheels scraping past her back.

And then you'll hear the crack of her whip. Expect hell.

Profile of the complete climb

Be at your own health risk with 39-25T gearing

You can get a feel for it by checking out the declivity.

When Spanish race officials first decided to try the climb out in 1999, local favorite known for his showman explosive attacking style , "el Chaba" José Maria Jiménez - got the edge and won the epic stage.

Apparently that day, he was too drained to even raise an arm in victory under the pouring rain. Just how he won is popularized, depending on what you read or whom you talk to, so its legend. The man isn't even alive today to talk about it. A heart attack took his life at a young age of 32. [Read letters to Cycling News following his demise ]





El Chaba winning the stage :






That day in 1999, German Jan Ullrich was content enough to limit his losses and not get killed on the climb. Language warning for the music in the background.

1 Zipp, HED Wheels Fabrication & Zipp Factory Tour

I have to thank Bikehugger for taking time off to visit HED Cycling's HQ in Shoreview, MN this week. He has brought back pictures and commentary. Click here to see his HED Flickr slideshow.

At the other end, thanks also to Manantan of Pez Cycling who, in his usual lust for ornamental bike parts and mega resolution picture taking, promptly visited ZIPP's Production and R&D facility in Speedway, Indiana. Click here to read that article detailing his tour.

Just from reading the commentary by both authors and seeing pictures, I noticed an interesting aspect of the rim-shell bonding process.

HED glues the carbon shells that are made in Iowa to the rim at their HQ in a special setup. It doesn't seem to be anything more.

HED Gluing Process (Courtesy BikeHugger)

ZIPP actually co-molds the rim and shell together in their proprietary process that yields a structurally stronger bond at the interface. This is partly where your dollars go.

ZIPP (courtesy Charles Manantan)

I'm not in a position to give you a textbook account of the co-molding process because that is not my background, but readers will be aware that this is used not only in wheels but in Bell Helmets (see my past post on How Helmets Are Made), and high end bicycles such as the Gary Fisher HiFi Pro Carbon MTB (see link) and the Cannondale Six 13 (see Six 13 co-molding with Al lugs and carbon tubes).

If any of you are experts in composites and would like to describe the co-molding stage in fabrication for all of us, please feel free to drop comments. As far as I believe, it is a simultaneous molding process where both parent parts are placed in the mold and heat treated, thus expanding and forming the carbon fiber within the second material.

Finally, take a visit to the ZIPP production facility in Speedway. I have no doubt it is one of the fancier carbon composite fabrication spots in US, where bicycles, military and race car tech intermix. VIDEO COURTESY to DVXBRIAN.

5 Pitting Sport Against Sport : Reasonable?

ESPN Sport Rankings (Click to Zoom)

Frequently, sporting fans and organizers love to sit down and compare sport to sport, asking "which is the hardest". In this fruitless exercise, some enjoy seeing their own sport up there in the top 10, while others are not happy because of various reasons. My question is : What good is this doing? Is this really promoting people to take up sports, or intimidating the reader?

I really no point I see in doing it. You see, its not a science. You simply cannot assign meaningless numbers to pain, emotion, personal challenges, years of practice needed and innate talent levels that make one person suited more for one sport than the other.

The above picture of sport rankings was tabulated by "experts" at ESPN (they probably never even tried any of the sports in the list). I obtained it from here. It may seem reasonable to some, yet there are a number of things that were not taken into account. Neither can, like I said, numbers be put to it.

Its all subjective. I could think marathon running was more difficult than riding 100 miles on my bike, while another person will obviously differ with me. Some might consider chess a sport while another may think that's nonsense. I could think tennis is as hard overall as badminton but I don't see the latter up there in the ESPN rankings.

And are those eating competitions a sport? Sure, its physically straining on your gastrointestinal system and you're competing with someone else! Wait, did you say no?

Dear fans, especially you rabid cycling commentators : Yes, cycling is tough and requires a lot of mental toughness and physical strength. Yes you can break all your collarbones and smash your hip on that Alpine crash.

But cycling is not 'THE Toughest Sport'.

Thats just someone's opinion.

There's more point in appreciating athleticism for what it is, advocating to try a different sport and to take up a healthy lifestyle and most of all, enjoying what one is doing.

8 Ted Ciamillo Is The Subhuman

I knew engineer Ted Ciamillo was a smart guy.

Not only because he has a big cypress-framed machine shop with so many cool toys in it somewhere in Georgia [See Map] and that he chose to build and name his design Zero Gravity, planting a perception of it in the market that this Titanium CNC'd gizmo is supposed to make you fly weightless in air when its actual function is to bring a bicycle to a grinding STOP!





Excellent.

In comes the fortune, the fame and the lusting customers.

Thats not so much what I'm interested in. You see, when Ted is not designing brakes, he works on another one of his inventions, only that this is way cooler than the brakes.

Ted Ciamillo has a vision, and much of it is somehow connected with deep, I mean deep, water.

He wants to be a Luno Sapien, a self propelled deep water creature!

Naming this side obsession The Subhuman Project, he has designed and built a 15-foot, 2 ton human powered submarine that he will pilot himself in November 2009, all alone and 6 feet below the surface for 3000 miles from Florida to the African coast.

Is is said that this endeavor, if successful, will break some 15 world records. It is also promising to yield tons of data to researchers about unheard of alien creatures deep in the Atlantic Ocean.

That is striking. I truly dont understand why everyone wants to go into outerspace, and spend billions of dollars looking for so called Alien lifeforms when there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of them, right there beneath our feet. They are colorful, weird in shape, don't live off sunlight and don't look like anything we can imagine.

The key component of this submarine happens to be a fiberglass monofin called Lunocet, the biomimetics inspired technology that mimics a dolphin's tail ditto. He employed the help of Dr. Frank Fish (what an appropriate name!), a professor of biology at Westchester Univeristy, PA in order to get the CAT scan data of actual geometries from real fishes, which he then translated to a CAD system which gave him his surfaces and all the manufacturing tool paths.

What finally came out was a system of carbon fiber hydrofoils pivoting about an aluminum and titanium baseplate. The Lunocet...tada!




For you engineers and those interested who want to go more in-depth on that phase of the design, click here.

Ted's entire Subhuman Project has its own website, on which you can read and watch some really cool videos of Ted at the shop. Click here.

And finally, Lunocet, Ted's monofin, also has its own website so you can navigate there if you'd like and read more about what it is and how it works.

It must also be reminded that Ted appeared in an interview in this month's National Geographic Adventure magazine. I have scanned the pages below so you can click on it and zoom in and read. Or you can go read the HTML version of the interview on NATGEO's webpage.

I have a set of Zero Gravitys on my bike [sheepish smile]. Now I truly feel complete, like being part of a bigger vision, even though the brakes are probably as good as any thing else out there in the market.

Page 1 (Click to Zoom)

Pages 2 and 3 (Click to Zoom)

5 Hotspot Method For Bicycle Fatigue Life

Some of the most critical areas of any metal alloy bicycle are its joints, where tubing is welded using standard industry procedures. Everyone talks highly of new and improved materials used in building a bike, but if the joints are weak, sorry, you've got a poor bicycle!

So then the interesting question is, how do you define the fatigue life of a welded joint? Modern FEM analysis techniques are used for this purpose but adequate modeling of the welded joint has not yet been mastered.

One of the approaches to determining such stresses is on the basis of strictly local stresses determined in the potential point of crack initiation. This is called Hotspot stress method, and was first introduced for the fatigue analysis of steel offshore structures. It is recommended for situations where strains can be measured using instrumentation or estimated using FEM techniques near the welded joint.

You can delve into some basic reading on the Hot Spot Finite Element Analysis here [Fatigue Design of Aluminum Components And Structures]

Make sure you also check out the VelUS research team's work in this area. They are a group of Canadian/French researchers aiming to study and adapt Hotspot methods to bicycles to get better estimates of fatigue life in frames and components. In doing this, they have also partnered with industry names in bicycles such as the Canadian Cycles Devinci.

Stain gauges used to measure HotSpot strain measurement. These tubes have been tested and cracks can be noticed near the root of the weld [Source]

Chain of Strain Gauges to measure strain gradient near the root of a weld [Source]