there is no "I" in cyclyng

Tokyo’s Hot Spot For High-End Bicycles

Specialized of the U.S. opened a concept store in Aoyama in 2008 – its first direct-run store in Japan.

TOKYO (Nikkei)–The Akihabara district — or Akiba for short — is the place to go for electronics in Tokyo. For high-end bicycles, however, the city’s Aoyama neighborhood is where it’s at. In fact, people are calling this posh area in the center of the capital the „Akiba of bikes,“ as it is home to about 10 shops offering upscale models.

This spring, bicycle shop operator Nalsima Friend closed two smaller stores around Aoyama in order to open a plusher, larger one in the same neighborhood. The new outlet offers an extensive lineup of bikes as well as components ranging from tires to wheels to drivetrain parts.

Most of the staff are cyclists with racing experience. The shop even has a courtyard decked out with tables and chairs where visitors can relax and talk about their two-wheeled steeds.

Nicole EuroCycle Co., a dealer of high-end bicycles, last year opened a shop in Aoyama that focuses mainly on Italian road bikes, offering such brands as De Rosa and Colnago. Models priced at about 200,000 yen sell especially well there.

Before being converted into a bicycle shop, the store was a Nicole Group dealership for luxury import cars. Yoshinori Sato, who heads the shop, says sales have grown 100-200% since opening.

Bridgestone Cycle Co. opened its first-ever showroom in Aoyama last year. At Bike Forum Aoyama, visitors can test ride the company’s latest models.

Specialized Bicycle Components, a California-based manufacturer of high-end bikes, launched a concept store in the area in 2008. The outlet, Specialized’s first directly run shop in Japan, offers a wide range of models for men, women and kids.

So why has Aoyama become such a popular spot for selling high-end bicycles? „The number of people who ride such bicycles is increasing particularly sharply in Aoyama, because of the high concentration of wealthy people and foreigners here,“ said Sato of Nicole EuroCycle.

Another likely reason is that because Aoyama is home to scores of fashion- and design-related businesses, there is a larger number of people there who are attracted to products that are en vogue, including fancy racing bikes.

(Source : The Nikkei July 21 morning edition)

I suffered through the heat this long weekend for 3 short rides, 60, 80 and 95 kilometers, leaving home before 7AM and returning a few hours later, my energy drained completely by 95 degree (35-36 degrees celsius) heat and humidity.  The Sunday and Monday rides each wiped me out, leaving me flat on my back for the afternoon.

My last (pre-accident) ride of any length was 10 weeks ago, and I return to the bike with weakened legs, a few kgs of extra weight (all in my stomach area, to which other fat also seems to have migrated), weakened back muscles (my back ached each day), and a need to avoid putting my full weight on my left arm, which is still healing and still quite weak.  How long is the road back?

Somehow, during the time I was away, Mr. Fuji turned from white to pale gray, barely distinguishable from the summer haze.

As I took this photo from the path and munched down an energy bar, having run out of gas only 16-17 km from home, I saw two riders in Positivo Espresso kit heading down the road below me.  I remounted and headed down the path, maybe 150 meters behind them.  They just made the green light at Sekidobashi, and I needed to go under the bridge, losing them.  I stopped for a real rest at the 7-11 near Y’s, and continued out toward Takao.  When I arrived at Takao, Michael H. and Graham D. were just finishing up their rest.  I followed about 10 minutes behind them up the hill west of Takao, turning around 1/2 way up to head for home.

Who will win the Firenzo Magni prize at this year’s Tour?

Cadel Evans continues to ride with a broken left elbow but he will have a tough time winning the prize, as he exploded on the Madaleine and collapsed in tears into a teammates arms at the finish, losing the yellow jersey and fading almost 8 minutes out of the lead.  If he can finish with a decent place, or achieve a great solo breakaway, like Tyler Hamilton’s 2003 142 km solo breakaway stage victory with a broken collarbone, pass the drug tests (unlike Tyler) and hold back any more tears, then he will deserve it.  An uphill battle, appropriately.

Simon Gerrans crashed 7 km into a 189 km stage 8, made it through the next 182 km riding with a broken left arm, but could not start the next stage with his arm in a massive, full length cast.  Too late now to cut off the cast, replace it with a light splint (or better yet, some tape, like Cadel) and press on.  Sorry Simon.

Frank Schleck never got back on the bike after breaking his collarbone on stage three.  Sure, it was a nasty crash, and I was a bit relieved to see he was conscious, but HTFU, Frank!  If you don’t get back on the bike and ride that pave, you can’t start the next day’s stage.

Lance — it looks ugly, the gashes, the blood and the torn shorts and jersey, but nothing broken.  HTFU Lance.  You could still get the trophy!

Cadel hides the pain:

… a new candidate as Robbie Hunter breaks a bone in his arm (another elbow — looks like the right elbow for a change) near the start of Stage 10, but finishes with the Peleton and declares his intention to keep riding, and his anger at the „tool“ who dumped it in front of him, leaving him nowhere to go.  But sadly, he is not at the start of Stage 11, leaving Garmin Transitions short one sprinter.

Time for me to get back on the bike and HTFU!

Bianchista: Gentlemans Race

Thanks to James M., the NY Times article about Christian Van de Velde’s flatland training in the Chicago area has been found HERE.

Seems like training with a powermeter and using headwinds are the two suggestions for climbers living in Flatlands. 

Powermeter/bursts:

„… set about increasing your average wattage. Mr. Vande Velde does this by punctuating rides with five minute “power bursts,” dropping into a big gear, pushing his pedals as hard as he can, his wheels turning at his top sustainable watts and barely 50 revolutions per minute. In the next five minutes, he’ll click up into an easier gear, pedals whirring at low watts and about 90 r.p.m. (which any recreational rider should be able to maintain). Then he’ll repeat.“
Headwinds:

„… if you live in a flat area, listen to local weather reports and note the direction of the wind. A strong head wind can simulate hill climbing, Mr. Vaughters said. “You need to push hard into the wind,” using “a big gear, for at least six minutes and no longer than 45 minutes” once or twice a week “to get the aerobic benefits of climbing big hills,” he said. (In recompense, you get a tail wind all the way home.)“