Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

The Ted Barbeau Project

My Life. Digitally Prepped, Cooked and Served Exactly as You Ordered.

Filed under: cycling

How Cycling Centers Could Help Smooth Commuter Transitions | Fast Company

Media_httpwwwfastcompanycomfilesimagecachebucketimagefilesft20kjoss2jpg_hfpdazghmcfkibd
via fastcompany.com

I can't wait until cycle-ports, with bike housing and people showers become more mainstream. While difficult in cities like Boston (the long, cold winter months will turn off many non-hardcore cyclists) there are a multitude of places where this could be a no-brainer. Has this type of setup already taken off in a city like Portland, OR yet? I imagine they'll be on the bleeding edge of this type of movement.

Imagine cutting your fuel bills in half, losing 10 pounds and getting your 1st of 2 workouts done before you punch in?

Sounds like a nice alternative to gridlock traffic to me.

Bike Porn of the Day: Porteur Bike from Ateliers d’Embellie

This bike is a beautiful example of the intersection of art and machine.  

From the builder:

"This is a 'Porteur bike', which mix my passions : leather craft, urban style, fashion and luxury...
Entirely handmade with rare, vintage and NOS parts, this bike is unique.
 
In the streets, this bike mixes the agility & the reactivity of the track frame, to the comfort from the big tires or the large front rack.
Powerful as much as elegant with the chrome, the copper touches and the color scheme, which is a classic vintage grey with brown leather hand made detailing."

Please make sure to check out the built-in leather flask under the seat.  Bellissimo.  

(download)

The Bikes of Stages – Trek Madone: Damien Hirst

Media_httpwwwhypebeastcomimage200907damienhirsttrekbikesstages1jpg_jjufcujxgaafhbk
via hypebeast.com

Wow, talk about a crazy bike design. if you're not familiar with Damien Hirst, make sure to check out the link below and see some of his wild artwork. One of his most famous patterns, the repeating butterfly wings, is on full display here.

The Trek Madone is a top flight rig and this type of paint job only makes it more so.

Damien Hirst - Google Images

San Jose 100-Mile Crank-Fest

What a weekend!

The race was so much harder than I had expected - but with hard work comes the satisfaction of knowing that you did something special.  Team Elevate raised about $4,000 for cancer research and had a great time in the process.  100-miles of San Jose definitely gave us a test.  There were moments where I thought my legs were going to give out, but I just kept picturing the finish line and the frosty beer that would be waiting for me when I reached San Jose.  

There were three sections that nearly broke my spirit - 2 wind-whipped flats that made me feel like a salmon swimming upstream and a gnarly, 1.8 mile climb that registers as a Category 1 climb in the world of cycling.  The climb beat me, but I vowed not to take a ride in the support van, so I walked the entire hill in my cycling shoes.  Was it dumb?  Probably (my heart rate was 170+ the entire time).  Did it ruin a pair of $25 cleats?  Yup.  Am I glad I walked it?  You betcha.  If you want to see where this climb is, check out this map:

All-in-all is was an awesome way to ring in my 28th birthday with some great company.  I'm hoping this is a new trend - every birthday I'll take a trip somewhere and do something that test me in some way.  Not sure what 2010 will hold, but it better be something epic.

Although the ride was a success, it left me wanting more: to ride better, faster, longer the next time around. We're already looking at our calendars in 2010 to see what might work for Team Elevate.  

Make sure to check out the pictures - hopefully I'll be posting more as they get passed around. 

(download)

​