I was over at Doug Report and saw an article that Cycling Weekly did about innovation in cycling.  It varied from Campy quick releases to neoprene shoe covers.  One thing listed was aero position by Graeme Obree.

Graeme Obree is an interesting guy.  Not accepted by the elite cycling crowd, he went about his own business and designed, built and rode bicycles that didn’t fit the current standards.  The UCI treated him like shit.  Making arbitrary, truly bullshit rules, to disallow him from kicking ass at the World Championships, after he was already World Champion.

I remember racing in England and watching a documentary showing Obree’s path to the World Championships.   It is a comparison between what Chris Boardman was doing and then that of Graeme Obree.  It couldn’t be any more different.  Obree taking apart a washing machine for bearings and Chris Boardman ordering multiple frames.

Anyway, I found the piece on YouTube.  It is below.  If you have a little extra time sometime, it is interesting.

 

Yesterday was pretty nice.  It was approaching 80 degrees, which is about 20 degrees above the normal high of 58.  Even 58 seems like it is high for February.  I guess that winter is sort of winding down.

Most my gang here in Topeka is sick-ish.  Bill, Catherine, my brother Kris, all feel bad.  Bill has been sick on and off for nearly a month I think.  Catherine just for a day, so maybe it is just the flu and she’ll be feeling better by the weekend.

I’ve been feeling off for a while too.  Kind of the same thing as Bill has.  TIght chest, mucus in my throat, etc.  But not sick enough to skip riding when it is so nice out.

So I got on my bike and rode gravel over to Lawrence.  That is pretty much my favorite ride around Topeka, so I try to do it sort of often.  It was a little windy and I was riding solo,  so a little shelter on gravel is always good.

I stopped for coffee in Lawrence.  The students were sitting outside in shorts.  I liked that.

KU basketball had a milestone yesterday by winning the 13th straight Big 12 title in a row. Pretty incredible streak.  They are ranked 3rd in the country now, but need to improve a tad still if they want to play a bunch of games in March.  They still have nearly a month before the Big Dance, so it should be fine.

Today it is supposed to rain a little this morning, then heat up to the upper 60’s.  Tomorrow it is going to be a high in the 30’s.  Then a couple days of mid 50’s, then the 60’s and 70’s again.  Not bad weather.

Here are some photos from yesterday.