NBX

And So It Begins

2009-04-11T17:02:00.003-04:00

And so it begins once again. New year and new hopes and aspirations. Once again the kick-off this year was the King of Burlingame. Congratulations to Bo Fuller for his
7th place finish in the expert category. Certainly a strong showing of riders this year and Bo's result confirms his early fitness and his category rank. No longer will he be allowed to sand bag with the new category system set up this year! Matt B. also threw down--but a little too hard as he flatted but still managed to finish. Congratulations to all who participated. The event gets better each year and continues to draw some great competition while still being an excellent time.

Upcoming events:

Wednesday nights at Ninigrit are planned to start up again beginning April 22.
B race will start at 6 and A at 6:30. More details will follow soon on the shop website or just call Matt at the shop.
Speaking of the shop, we will be beginning the Thursday night rides this week. Rides will start at the store at 6pm. Again, more info will be available from Matt.

Congratulations and best wishes to Mike Harney and his wife on their new baby girl, Lillian. Hopefully Mike will not be too sleep deprived to participate in some races this summer.

Have a great season everyone. Be safe and ride well.

2009-01-06T20:08:00.001-05:00

Cross and Rules

2008-12-29T16:05:00.004-05:00

So much information to update since over a month ago so it may be several posts to try and provide something meaningful to the many readers. But for the short term, here is a brief update:

The two days of ‘cross at Goddard earlier in the month amounted to another memorable weekend in New England. Although there may not have been as many of the big names of previous years, large fields and the NE regulars provided spectators with some great racing. Both days were a blast and once again the weather was a factor in at least one of the days. It was fun to listen to everyone’s reports and comments on how well they did or the troubles that they were dealt. I certainly was envious of everyone on Saturday but not Sunday! Looking forward to being healthy next year to represent for the team as so many of my mates did this year. Congrats to them and to all for their efforts and results. Many pats on the back should be handed out to Matt for the great work that he does in organizing the race weekend. The next time you see him, please give him some love for a job well done. Better yet, drop by and see him at the shop.

This season's Wednesday nights under the lights was another success. Some great fun was had by all while enjoying some competitive yet friendly racing. The hi-lite of each evening I think was the raffle that took place in the parking lot. Some heavy duty bargaining, swapping and bartering between the winners of allotted prizes was something to behold.
The D-train did not seem to set up so well this year though. I think it was missing its "conductor" and could not handle the concept of going slow. The need to go slow does not compliment the competitive spirit that gets the better of us. Again, thanks to all for coming out and making it a great event here in South County.

And finally, Velonews has nothing on us...

If you have read your recent Velonews edition you can find the article of "Don't be this Guy" a good laugh and yet quite appropriate. Sorry to spoil their thunder but we here at NBX developed our own set of winder riding rules a year ahead of the Velonews folks. Sparked by the pro mindset of Adam S. and modeled from the riding antics of Chris "Double Nickle" D., we adamantly enforce these "friendly" reminders as we traverse the winter roads. Here are a couple. Feel free to recommend some suggestions of your own, just keep it friendly and clean.
And I agree with RI Hans in his latest response...be safe, stay healthy, and have a great New Year.

Some of the "winter rules"

All rides start from a previously agreed upon, central, non-biased location to insure promptness of starting.
All participants must engage in consuming a proper substantial pre-ride meal. Failure to do so does not prevent such rider from being dropped from said ride.
All participants must have evidence or proof that they have enough ride snacks not only for themselves but to share with other members. Bonus points may be awarded to riders with the tastiest snacks or goodies.
The use of an 11 tooth cog is prohibited on any ride as is the use of the outer-most front chain ring until a mutually agreed upon time in the early season schedule.
To ensure camaraderie and intellectual discourse, the use of entertainment devices such as I-pods will be restricted while riding with other members. Use during solo travel to and from ride start is permitted. Cell phone use is permissible for safety, family, or business concerns.
All participants must ensure that they have monetary compensation for items that may need to be purchased not only for themselves but for other ride members as well.
Early dismissal from ride due to prior commitments does not warrant other ride participants altering an agreed upon, pre-determined route to allow for said quitter to return to home.

And there are others, but that's enough for now.
Thanks for reading.
Jim P.

Friend or Foe?

2008-11-20T16:37:00.003-05:00

Pretty cool website...Use this link to see how our teammates excelled over the season. Then check out your potential next season rivals. May give you some more motivation as the indoor training sessions get dull.
http://www.knowyourrival.com/search/teams.aspx

Thanks to cycling friend or new rival Murat who came upon the site on his blog found here: http://bisikletcimurat.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you all at Goddard on the first weekend of December for two great days of cross.
Jim P

Season Change

2008-10-24T18:11:00.003-04:00

So after the flurry of the response train ended on the last post it was clear that it was time for new material. As the end of the season ground to a halt, another one started with a bang. The cross fix is on for the cool/cold weather, barricade jumping, grass-sand-dirt-mud-snow-ice fanatics. The Wednesday night under the lights report indicates that competition is fierce but friendly with local hot shot Adam S. dishing out some respect with several others hot on his heals. As his results on the weekends prove, he is advancing quickly in the elite ranks. Certainly is exciting to see. As the blogging world seems to indicate, the cross numbers look to be up this year which certainly seems to be a boost to the local racing scene. The appreciation of individual accomplishment and improvement without the fear of letting anyone down certainly is a refreshing selling point for participation. The fun factor does not hurt as well. If you are looking to give it a try come on down on Wednesday and check it out. No pressures, lots of fun, and lots of folks who want to share the experience with you.
Congratulations to all for their success and accomplishments during the road season. Good luck and good wishes for a safe and fulfilling cross season to those crossers hitting it each weekend this fall/winter.
Jim

Hot or Cold?

2008-09-06T10:14:00.005-04:00

So another month has past and another attempt at posting some stuff. Seems like the three people who read the blog checked in with their comments. So much for creating some conversation. Double nickel gets the award for longest response though. He seems distressed. Could be from a lack of racing or some sub-par results. I bet he wishes he was around for the Fall River sweat-box race. Seems like so long ago that race was run, but yet I can still feel the rivers of sweat pouring off me while going up the hill like it was yesterday. Yes it was hot. Nice to see Billy Y. get another win, this time being victorious in a three teammates against one tag- team match in a break. That man has some crazy form. Wonder what they were talking about while trying to figure out how to prevent him from taking the win.
Anyway, next up will be the Beal race. With the stormy weather for this weekend Topsfield seems to be a wash. (The downhill in that race would be fun in the rain eh?) Our forces will gather next weekend then and hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. Always seems to be plagued with at least one rainy day with tropical downpours. No hill this year but if you ride around the course you can see that they completed paving that hill. Would have been a sick speed fest down the other side with no bumps like last year. Maybe next year.
Good luck to all in these final weeks of the road season and don't worry you crossers, the temps will cool and soon the air will be filled with the aroma of Greyhound juice. And then we can complain about how dam cold it is at the start line.

Summer Slumps

2008-08-06T12:35:00.003-04:00

So it seems that the summer has seen various degrees of blogger activity. Some folks are diligent about posting day in and day out. Others, well they get around to it when they can and hope that interest has not disappeared. Take a trip around the ol' blogging world and see who has some time on their hands and who has hit their season slump. It mimics the road racing season perfectly. This one might fit in the "other" category. Still trying to get some fancy pictures and images to include with these posts but they too are slow in progress.
To update what has happened in the last month:

Bill Yabroudy continues to dominate in the crit scene. A nice win in the masters race at Concord this past weekend has added to his tally of victories this season. Its all part of an evil plan by Chris D. to transform Bill into being only a crit rider so Chris does not have to race any road races. Seems to be working.
On the Mt. bike circuit, Bo Fuller has secured another victory in the single speed category of the Route 66 series. Rumor has it that he is leading his category in the overall. We know the Bo is just coming out of his skin waiting for cross season to start.
On the triathlon scene-NBX's John Gadrow posted an extremely impressive finish at the Amica 70.2 in Providence. For his his age category he finished second for all RI participants and seventh overall among all RI participants. Two of those finishers ahead of him were pro-sponsored athletes as well. Reports reveal that John did the bike leg of the race on a standard road bike setup without any aero gear making his finish time of 4:50:56 more impressive.
The Wednesday night training series should be getting back on track after various circuses, festivals, and carny shows have past their way through Ninigrit. The racing has been pretty competitive and can provide that extra motivation to carry out the fitness (you slumpers) for the end of the season. Come on out.
There is more but I can't recall right now. Perhaps someone may want to add info that they are aware of? (part of my plan to get responses)

Finally, to stir up some response to this blog I'll throw this question out for any readers to mull around on. What are your thoughts on the Bob Beal race having one day licences and cat 5 included in all the masters fields? Remember we can agree to disagree so lets keep the discussion civil please. Discuss among yourselves.

Mid-Season Report

2008-07-01T20:59:00.003-04:00

So we are about at the halfway point of the road racing season and it is time to take some stock. Some solid results have been posted all along the season by a variety of NBX team members. As expected, Bill Yabroudy has been putting in some fine results with his most recent being back-to-back wins in the 40+ and 30 + races at the Keith Berger crits in Conn. More impressive was his solo breakaway in the Cox Charities race the day before. Had it not been for the heroic efforts of local legend Frank M. we might have seen one of Billy's best wins. Even so, he still had a fantastic result in a very difficult race.
The turn to summer has also seen the emergence of Mike Harney and James Hoard breaking the top ten results in the cat 4 and masters races. Both team members have consistently been putting forth hard work in the Wednesday night Ninigrit training races and their efforts have finally paid off for both.
The "sprinters" of the team, Chris Dale and Bill Mark have certainly earned their stripes so far as they have both racked up multiple top ten finishes in the masters ranks as well as P-123 races. In the P-123 races, John Lowenstein has been flying the NBX colors weekly and continues to garner consistent placings with elite fields.
Speaking of the Wednesday night racing at Ninigrit, the racing has been fast and furious the past few weeks. At times, more difficult than the weekend racing. It is here that members like John Gadrow and Bo Fuller put their individual successes to the side on behalf of the rest. It is not often that you do not see both of these riders pouring their last efforts out on to the road at the front to help move other riders into position for a prime or final sprint. It certainly does not go unnoticed.
So what will the second half-season bring? If the previous team high-lites are any indication, then results are sure to come. Make it a point to come on out and support these fantastic riders. Not only are they good at racing their bikes but they are good people and enjoy what they do... Isn't that what it is all about?

Hey this is an addition to the original post but I wanted it included- Our one and only junior Mathew Gilbert has been one of our most consistent top ten finishers all year long. This young man is a treat to watch race. Younger then most of the other participants in his races, he still holds his ground and packs a wicked sprint. Right now he is racing in Fitchburg and is still in the GC results after a difficult day in the road race. He just never gives up. Now that's really what it is all about.

"Hey, Lets Be Safe Out There"

2008-06-05T19:58:00.003-04:00

Readers that are old enough will remember these words from "Hill Street Blues." It was a TV police show in which each episode would begin with a station briefing by the Sargent. Just before they would all leave the station he would remind them of this thought. Recently, I could not help but think of this advice as I read about a car crashing headlong into a bike race in Mexico. Amazingly someone was present to capture a picture of the ensuing carnage. Unfortunately a cyclist lost his life as a result and several others were critically injured. Sadly incidents like this have been reported with greater frequency this past year with accidents in Australia, Germany, and the United States. Casual riders, Olympic hopefuls, and aspiring pros have been seriously injured or lost their lives. One such victim had recently won the race of his dreams the day before the accident. My team mates and I have even been witness to cars pulling out into an entire peloton of racers while we were being escorted by a police vehicle. Needless to say we raised our glasses with shaky nerves as we toasted to our guardian angels in a pub after that abruptly shortened race. We also had some major moments of inner reflections as we wished for the speedy recovery of those that were hurt.
Why all the negative vibe you ask? Well, sometimes you have to be reminded that we are not invincible. Despite the many safety precautions that may be set in place when we ride, I think the one thing we sometimes forget is how easily it could go wrong. I like my cycling friends. I want them and myself to be around for a long time doing the things we like best - racing bikes, riding around, and enjoying our friendship together. Riding as safely as we can can only help in that cause. We can't control the bad drivers making bad mistakes but we can be aware that they exist. The better our decisions that we make while we ride, hopefully the less the risk they create. Keep your head up, be seen, listen, be careful along that white line. Ride safe, pay attention, make good decisions. An appreciative wave and word of thanks to the courteous drivers takes the same amount of time and energy as the clenched fist and swear. It can only pay off further down the road and perhaps help that driver make some good decisions the next time they encounter another cyclist.
Thanks for your time.
Jim

We've Never "Felt" Better

2008-05-22T21:07:00.004-04:00

With the NBX team members aboard Felt bicycles this year it seemed appropriate to provide some product review. Three models are being ridden by the team, the F-1, F-C, and the Sprint. Various color schemes and finishes have caught the eyes of all with each bike providing an aesthetically pleasing and professional look. White on black with a flat finish has got my vote right now. After giving the bike the look-over next on the surprise list is the weight. Large or small frame sizes, it does not matter, these models certainly satisfy the weight conscious rider. Even when fitted with training gear, the bikes are remarkably light. How do they ride? They're quick, responsive, and comfortable. Our resident fast-men have all confirmed the excellent power transfer at top end sprinting and hard climbing. Cornering is precise, smooth, and confident---as the model name suggests, like an F-1. What does it all add up to? Well, team members are having excellent results on the bikes this season already and positive feedback continues. Feel free to ask any NBX team member about theirs. Whether it be with training goals or racing success, it is agreed that we have never "Felt" better on any other bike.

Jim P.

Wednesday Night Racing is Back!

2008-05-01T12:11:00.002-04:00

Last night was the first wednesday night criterium of the year, and even with the high winds and cool temperatures, we had a great turnout. Come on down next week, and every week thereafter and get in on some great racing action for only $8. It's the best deal in town. The B Race is at 6pm, the A at 6:30 or so.

King of Burlingame

2008-04-10T11:03:00.002-04:00

This past weekend marked the start of the mountain bike racing season for the NBX/Narragansett Beer Cycling Team. The King of Burlingame MTB Time trial was held in Charlestown, RI, and the team was out in full force. Everyone rode well, and a good time was had by all. The team was even able to bring a crown home as Jim Peters took the win in the Beginner mens field for his age group. Way to go Jim.
Look for a full race report to follow.

The Need for Speed...

2008-04-01T15:24:00.003-04:00

You know you want some of that. Today at NBX we recieved a brand spankin' new set of zipp 404 clinchers. As you can see here they have yellow decals rather than the typical white zipp stickers. Why is this important? If you're wondering, here's why. Yellow decals means demo wheels. Demo wheels means that you...yes you, can come on in and try them out.

Give us a call here at the shop 401-782-4444 to set something up. They have a shimano/sram compatible freehub and they're clinchers so there's no need to deal with glue or expensive flats. Now is the time of year to do it. I'm sure you're thinking about race wheels. Well if you've thought about zipp, or even if you havn't, give them a try. Who knows, you might like them. If you do, we stock a wide range of wheels from zipp, and can get anything that we don't stock. Check out their full line here.

Something to do on May 21st...

2008-03-27T17:02:00.001-04:00

CHAMPIONS TO DEDICATE MAJOR TAYLOR MONUMENT Three-time Tour de France winner GREG LeMOND and three-time Olympic medalist EDWIN MOSES will be featured speakers at the public unveiling of the Major Taylor memorial from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at the Worcester Public Library.
For details visit
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events/2008may21.shtml
or follow links from the Events page at www.majortaylorassociation.org LeMond, who won a world championship in cycling 90 years after Major Taylor did, and Moses, who dominated the 400-meter hurdles in track and field for a decade, were each named "Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year" at the height of their athletic careers in the 1980s.The statue of the "Worcester Whirlwind" created by sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez is Worcester's first monument to an African-American. The dedication ceremony will be followed by a reception with refreshments in the library's Banx Room. Preceding the noontime ceremony, the Seven Hills Wheelmen and the Charles River Wheelmen's Wednesday Wheelers will lead a 30-mile bicycle ride starting and ending at the library. At 7 p.m. May 21 at the library, the Clark University History Department and Higgins School of Humanities will present a panel discussion on "Race, Sports, and Major Taylor's Legacy." Boston Globe columnist Derrick Z. Jackson will be moderator for these scholars, historians and authors exploring diversity in sports and society, then and now:
Andrew Ritchie, author of the biography "Major Taylor: The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicycle Racer" (1988)
Janette T. Greenwood, associate professor of history at Clark University, author of a case study of Worcester County's black community in the late 1800s and of "Bittersweet Legacy," on the emergence and interaction of the black and white middle class
David V. Herlihy, author of "Bicycle: The History" (2004), with research on Major Taylor's popularity abroad
C. Keith Harrison, associate professor of sports business management at the University of Central Florida, and associate director of the Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sport For Major Taylor books, posters and jerseys, go to www.majortaylorassociation.org/donations.shtmlP.S. to out-of-towners:The Hilton Garden Inn (www.worcester.stayhgi.com) on Major Taylor Boulevard is offering a special discount for guests attending the Major Taylor dedication May 21. To get the special rate, call the Worcester hotel directly at 508-753-5700, not the chain's toll-free reservations number, and say you're coming for the Major Taylor statue dedication. A block of rooms will be held until April 21. For airport shuttle we recommend Knight's, www.knightslimo.com -- tell them you were referred by the Major Taylor Association.Again, the link for details is:http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events/2008may21.shtmlor just start from the Events page at www.majortaylorassociation.org

Shop Rides

2008-03-27T16:55:00.002-04:00

So spring is here, or so it seems. The days are longer, it's slightly warmer, and you're ready to ride. Well the NBX thursday night shop ride is back. It starts a week from tonight. 5:30pm from the shop. We hope to see you all there.

Have a bike? Get it tuned up for the season.

2008-03-14T14:41:00.004-04:00

So now is the time to dust off the trusty steed and bring it on down to NBX for a tune up. Your bike will thank you for it, and it will certainly make your early season miles that much more enjoyable. Because hey, if it's going to be cold, you may as well have a bike that works.
We're able to provide you with full tune ups and a short turn around.

Here are some other things to think about when you're getting your bike ready for spring:

You may want to replace your tires. All those winter miles have probably done a number on your tires, especially if they were the same ones that you used all season last year. New tires means better cornering, a more supple ride, and LESS FLATS. We have a great selection of tires from continental, michelin and vittoria.

A new chain and casette. It's a good idea to replace your chain at least once a year. If it's been longer than that since you replaced it, you may want to replace your gear cluster as well, as they wear together.

Look at your cables and housing. Installing new cables and housing is the easiest and least expensive way to improve your bikes' shifting and braking performance.

Gross, dirty bar tape. Looking good makes you faster. White tape is the fastest.

Howdy

2008-03-13T11:32:00.005-04:00

Well this being our first post, let me start things off by saying hello, and thanking all of you for the incredible level of support you have all shown over our first year. It has been great so far, and we are looking forward to the upcoming season. The NBX blog is here to keep you all up to speed with the happenings around the shop, the schedule of events, and other various ramblings about bicycles, bicycle riding, bicycle racing, and the bicycle industry. Hopefully you'll find this both entertaining and useful, and will check in often. Well that's it for now. Have a great Day.