Donald’s Daily Draft

The weather is great right now for July, I’ve really enjoyed watching the Tour and I was pumped up and ready to go out for a solid ride.  But to make things even better, a package arrived in the mail from a kind friend.  It held a new and very sharp Team Gerolsteiner jersey.   I, of course, had to take it on its inaugural ride.  The jersey must have had me feeling “SOPRO” because even with a 10 mph (16.09 kmh) headwind and some good hills, I had a solid ride of 31.5 miles @ 19.3 mph average (that’s 50.69 kms @ 31.06 kmh). 
Isn’t it wild how much something like a cool new jersey can motivate us?  Just imagine what you would feel like sporting the Maillot Jaune in the Tour.  Right now Cadel understands! 

I’ve ridden in the rain plenty of times.  Sometimes light showers, other times pouring down rain. I’ve even descended in these very mountains on soaked roads when I could barely see.  That’s not saying I enjoy it or that I’m good at it! 

So, here’s Ray’s Weather hourly Blood, Sweat & Gears forecast … a source that’s always right on.  Hopefully, I can avoid any major thunder showers before I cross the finish line. 
If not,  good thing I have the new Lance Armstrong Foundation Edition Oakley sunglasses with the Hydrophobic™ lens coating that repels water.  Thanks to my wife for that nice gift! 

I’ll post details on my experience next Tuesday.  Sorry for the wait… but if I can get back to a computer before then, I’ll post sooner.  Thanks again to everyone for the well wishes and support.  I wish you were all along for the ride.  Hey, maybe next year… who’s in?

A lot… I’m sure that would be the answer for most of us. But of course we all have other expenses that are priorities (food and shelter for family and… GAS). Anyway, I’m talking about this because Sprocketboy left a comment on my post about Fatty’s new jerseys. He was also talking about the decision of which jersey to wear for a particular ride.

It sounds like he’s got some pretty cool ones: “Should I wear the green Tour of China climber’s jersey, or the contrasting Louis Garneau Canadian national jersey, or maybe the yellow Warsteiner.”
So, I thought to myself… I can kind of relate. I have also wondered which jersey to wear on a particular ride.

The difference… I’m choosing from a total of six jerseys. I think this is a lower number compared to most avid cyclists. For me… it’s sufficient but I would love to have more. I think cyclists collect jerseys like some people collect t-shirts. How many jerseys are in your collection and what’s your most unique one?

My thought was… “What the heck, I’ll enter.”  Well, I’m glad I did… because I won.  I’m not sure I’ve ever won anything over the internet or in a  drawing. 

But I will soon be the proud owner of a Muscletrac. 
I entered the drawing on the cycling blog… Ride-Strong. 

I’m hoping I receive it sometime this week because it just so happens my legs have felt pretty tight and a bit sore lately.  I was actually considering a massage but first I’m going to see just how well the Muscletrac works.   I’ll share my experience once I’ve tried it. 

Now… if my great fortune will only continue and I win this Colnago Carbon CLX that will be given away. 

So, I’m thinking about a new saddle.  The one I have is sufficient.  But I’m wondering… “Is there something better out there?”  I think I get a little uncomfortable in the saddle a little too frequently.  Sure, I know it’s recommended to shift around a lot but I’m wondering if there’s something better for me.  Right now I sit on a Terry Fly.  I do like the cutaway and it weighs in at 240g with Titanium rails.  Is it bad that I have to be too shifty?  There are so many seats to choose from… it’s hard to know where to start.  I clicked on a banner for Selle Italia while reading Cycling News and saw this.

It’s the Selle Italia Optima… I’m not interested in this seat.  I just thought it’s on eof the very interesting options out there.  It’s expensive and I wonder how comfy could it be?  I also wonder what Ron at Cozy Beehive would think of the engineering on this particular design.  Yes, that’s an integrated bottle holder on the back of the seat.  Would your bottle stay in on a very bumpy road?  How about when you take off on a hard sprint?  

Anyway, staying on the subject of Selle Italia… a fellow cyclist swears by them and that’s all he’s ever ridden.  I know that it comes down to personal preference and your bum’s particular fit.  But… each brand has several models to choose from. 
 What company and model do you saddle up with and why?