tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12305221835405024142024-02-27T02:09:42.781-05:00The Best Bike Blog EverCreated in 2006, a satirical lifestyle cycling blog aimed to promote Ohio Valley Cycling, Trail Advocacy and Junior Development written by Joe Bellante, a racer for BioWheels in Cincinnati and freelance writer who's work has appeared in Velonews, XXC and Cyclocross Magazines. Thanks for reading.Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.comBlogger502125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-36710382499699379392020-03-22T11:47:00.000-04:002020-03-22T12:04:13.841-04:00Safely Finding Corona Therapy In Red River Gorge (Plus 15 Tips)All I saw was icky germs with hiking poles, no way. No way we're hitting this trail. The pit welled in my stomach. We drove over 2 hours. Headed to Double Arch, my spouse and I turned off Mountain Parkway in Red River Gorge, flipped the 4-Runner into 4WD, made the left onto the potholed gravel Tunnel Ridge Road and, 2 miles in, as we passed the satellite lot for Gray's Arch we were stopped cold. Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-77676330214279236732017-10-16T14:52:00.002-04:002017-10-16T15:33:52.005-04:00Don't Call It A Comeback, But I Feel A Stoke
Hungry Masters Squad (photo: Kent Baumgardt)
Dear Team Hungry:
You guys make racing really %$@# fun!
Honestly, after, I don't know, 15 years of this, it's been hard
to keep things interesting. Making the move to Team Hungry was part of that.
Starting up Hot Laps too was sort of a combination of trying to do something new with CX and give back to the sport at the same time. So
Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-2636036656781221662014-01-14T15:49:00.001-05:002014-01-14T15:49:26.219-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal: The Final Push to Pittsburgh
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover 700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by bike. Over the past few years, Marty has become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-14614622470423297762014-01-13T10:20:00.001-05:002014-01-13T10:20:15.138-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal: The Drenching (Part 6 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover 700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by bike. Over the past few years, Marty has become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-10750239434832932062014-01-10T09:56:00.001-05:002014-01-10T10:11:41.510-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal: The Crash (Part 5 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover 700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by bike. Over the past few years, Marty has become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-32842603224070755322014-01-09T11:18:00.000-05:002014-01-09T11:18:53.540-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal (Part 4 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last
year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover
700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by
bike. Over the past few years, Marty has
become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long
time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-55715451354219117012014-01-08T10:01:00.000-05:002014-01-08T10:01:24.990-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal (Part 3 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last
year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover
700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by
bike. Over the past few years, Marty has
become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long
time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-41066532376146001352014-01-07T12:46:00.001-05:002014-01-07T12:46:18.205-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal (Part 2 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last
year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover
700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by
bike. Over the past few years, Marty has
become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long
time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-38458343189098615252014-01-07T09:04:00.000-05:002014-01-07T09:04:05.120-05:00Dirtwire.tv Features Junior Spencer Petrov #cxnatsJoe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-71137823171583989622014-01-06T14:07:00.000-05:002014-01-06T14:58:46.036-05:00Riding the Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal (Part 1 of 7)
If you’ve ever wondered how far that bike path goes, last
year, Cincinnati Cyclists Marty Sanders and Aaron Kent (AK) set out to cover
700 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal by
bike. Over the past few years, Marty has
become a veteran of these rails to trails trips while Aaron, even though a long
time cyclist, was new to the idea of a week-long Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-4354656499726124572013-12-29T22:32:00.002-05:002013-12-29T22:32:59.957-05:00#WWtBD: What Would the Beard Do?
I am convinced there is magic in the beard.
Some of you may have picked up that every year traveling to Cyclocross Nationals gets a little more complex. We keep adding pieces, parts, equipment, and people to the mix. This year, thanks to the generosity of a friend and the cycling community, we are taking it yet another notch higher - a 24 foot RV with a trailer waggling along behind.
While Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-41990096218146575182013-12-24T07:01:00.000-05:002013-12-27T10:15:07.529-05:00Headed West #cxnats2014Great mooglie booglies another year has passed. Sitting at my computer two days before Christmas madly packing an RV and a trailer for CX Nats 2014 in Boulder, CO and wondering how we got to this point. This will be our fifth straight trip to USA Cycling's cyclocross nationals and our fifth straight year providing stories, pics, and other CX goodness from the event for The Best Bike Blog Ever.
Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-92072574902917591672013-11-11T12:19:00.000-05:002013-11-12T09:27:59.976-05:00Stale Fish: The Masters Wreck at Derby City
Artwork Courtesy of James Billiter
I covered my eyes. I’m
certain that’s where the realization set in that my friend and teammate may be
paralyzed. I paced. I rested my head in my arms along the course
fencing of the start/finish straight. Little
clips trickled into my ears. “I’m a
doctor.” “He’s complaining he can’t feel…” I didn’t catch the Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-20451799986075252072013-09-27T12:26:00.001-04:002013-09-27T12:26:45.961-04:00Going to Uranus? Hire a Coach
I'm Drunk and I'm Skinny!
He knows
bourbon. Like the Southern Comfort on a
canoe trip in my youth where I never actually paddled the boat, I will never
drink it again. While Southern Comfort
made me spend a beautiful blue sky Wisconsin summer day lying in a gravel
parking lot along the Crystal River, Bourbon made me shout at Sven Nys, “I’m
drunk and I’m skinny!” Then it madeJoe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-87841770173981318702013-09-23T14:15:00.001-04:002013-09-23T15:29:21.020-04:00Vichyssoise and Types of #Cyclocross Mud
It has been said the Inuit have 400 names for snow. It’s only urban legend of course. The truth is the Inuit, like me, are just a very colorful, overly dramatic and
adjective laden people. Thinking about cyclocross
however, there has to be 400 types of mud.
I’ve personally ridden in Bronchitis snot, Chunky Gazpacho, Stripper
Wrasslin’ Mud, Cincinnati Chili and so on. Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-72252422270762818842013-08-26T16:34:00.000-04:002013-08-26T16:52:11.706-04:00That Happened: A Wknd w/Legend Paul Curley
Tsali, our cat (named after the 2nd best mountain
bike trail in the world) is on my chest.
I’m pinned down like he owns me.
He knows I’m not moving. A human
kitty bed, I drift in and out of sleep. I finally caved after a weekend of
cycling goodness. Periodically I hear
the hostess at Eli’s BBQ a few blocks from our house announce over the PA that
someone’s food is readyJoe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-17689205769238572882013-08-14T07:00:00.000-04:002013-08-14T07:00:06.658-04:00The Most Elusive @Strava Segment Ever
In chest waders with a fly rod, I walked back from the creek
after striking out fishing for Steelhead trout.
I wasn’t much of a bike rider then.
A camouflaged gentlemen rolled up the double track in a blue sun-faded early 80’s Chevy Imapla with black steel wheels sans hubcaps. Using the crank on the inside of the door, adding
to the backwoods drama, he physically rolled downJoe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-4354875921083577462013-08-12T14:44:00.000-04:002013-08-12T15:30:50.981-04:00Reflections of Rimouski #juniors
I wrote it in my head while driving, riding my bike, showering. I think I even tried to write this post in my sleep. This post has been written at least fifty times. When you're behind the wheel of a team car and your kids are racing, you get lost between being a fan and a father. With the race radio crackling in french and the window down, thoughts escape quickly.
Powerful Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-77200799511809680232013-08-09T12:56:00.002-04:002013-08-09T12:56:48.771-04:00#Juniors: Riding Through Butterflies
Four years ago when I nudged my daughter Mackenzie into bike racing we had one consistent concern from week to week - butterflies. Not the kind of butterflies that flutter around your backyard and make little girls run with a net squealing with excitement, but the deep down nervousness that makes the stomach tighten and questions of doubt arise at the dinner table.
My kids were so tight, Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-57294163919044717342013-07-31T13:21:00.001-04:002013-07-31T13:21:21.989-04:00#Junior Stage Race, Dad in The Team Car
Stage racing, or at least the concept of stage racing, isn't new to the juniors, but the fine details are crystallizing as they learn the rules. The Tour de France this year was the first time that Mackenzie had really taken a noted interest in the racing portion of the broadcast, but that isn't enough to understand all the details of true stage racing.
When I say true stage racing, I am in Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-20006851279415058842013-07-27T17:59:00.001-04:002013-07-27T18:53:38.793-04:00#Juniors Go International - All In the SpinHoly schnikes the summer has gone fast. Seems just a few days ago I was talking to several about this new exciting opportunity to bring international experience to a few of our local juniors. Before I knew it we are getting into the car and getting our drive back on.
For those unfamiliar with the story there are two major UCI stage races for juniors in North America, both happen to be in Canada.Gumbo Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02688137899649956823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-24736708453385940872013-07-18T15:20:00.001-04:002013-07-18T15:21:07.812-04:00The Leather Jersey: Who’s Cool Stages 10-15
For the first 9 stages, you were leaning towards Ted King for the overall, after his heroic attempt to make the time cut in the TTT with
three broken testicles and his spleen hanging outside his jersey. In Stages 10 through 15, some new contenders
have emerged, like a one hander wheelie and a changing of the sprint
guard. Each stage of the tour we’ve been
asking, “Who’s the coolest Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-87894234926002646082013-07-09T13:34:00.002-04:002013-07-09T13:56:50.329-04:00The Leather Jersey: Who’s Cool in Le Tour?
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestBikeBlogEVER
Right now, it appears to be a resounding Ted King for the overall. You’ve been answering as each stage of the
tour we’ve been asking, “Who’s the coolest rider?” It could be a guy like Sky’s Pete Kennaugh
who got clipped and sent into the ditch on Stage 9, only to show up at the
front a few minutes later in bandages. “You
okay bud?”Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-5758600033476370152013-06-24T14:01:00.001-04:002013-06-24T15:19:20.319-04:00Tri State 6 Hours Versailles: The Truth Is, It Never Comes
Pre-race Meeting: Courtesy Scott Herrmann
“I don’t get
it Dad,” I remember a young bike racer saying while sitting with legs stretched
on the grass after a criterium. With the clank of the cowbells and whiz and
flash of the next race behind, being fatherly, he said in more or less words, “it’ll
come.” The racer nodded reassured and hopeful. It was a soft way to speak Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230522183540502414.post-46813837903168292612013-06-20T14:44:00.000-04:002013-06-20T14:57:43.311-04:00Handlebar to Handlebar at 30mph“Let me get the door for you Premium Rush,” my witty coworker
greeted me as I wheeled my Niner mountain bike off the elevator and into my
office. I work at a radio station full
of clever creatives. I get it all the
time. I have to say, it made me
chuckle. He was the morning show host of
our sister station. After a day at work
making commercials, in anticipation of a Joe Bikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826837459066443029noreply@blogger.com0