Comments for kerry-litka.com|small things considered

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by zen

zen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:17:52 +0000

I’d think a calmly worded letter of complaint to colorado calling out the ignorant officials by name would be in order, or at least have a chat with diane fortini about it – she seems nice enough.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by Blackbeard

Blackbeard — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:20:54 +0000

Perhaps this could of been smoothed over ahead of time by explaining your sitiuation to the race promoter or race director. Train wrecks are best avoided, but perhaps when you got someone like the race promoter in your corner cause he understands your plight, it can help smooth things over. I know here at least, our race promotor is very hands on to help if something gets dicy. He can’t skirt the rules of course, but he can break the ice!

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by smaryka

smaryka — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:00:30 +0000

Pretty sure my P3 (48cm, 650c wheels) would not officially pass UCI muster either with a regular saddle. I’ve switched to an ISM Adamo (effectively “noseless”) mostly for comfort but also because it conveniently now more or less fits the UCI rule.

But I would have thought for sure you’d get a morphological exception for a tiny bike like that. If not for you (or me, at a short-legged 5′2″) who’s that rule even for?

Fwiw, Emma Pooley, Cervelo team rider and 2010 British road race champ, had an appeal launched against her bike after the championships by a disgruntled competitor. Not for weight but for fit. She passed, no problem, but I can’t see her saddle being 5cm behind the BB on that frame. Sounds like UCI officials in the USA are just a bit too uptight.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by KD

KD — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:49:55 +0000

I raise a glass to your admirable restraint. I watched the trailer for the Flying Scotsman which Steve insists that I watched with him. Ok, I guess I must have but I don’t remember it AT ALL. I must have raised a few glasses that night as well.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by SB

SB — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:03:18 +0000

After reading the first 3 installments of Fitchburg 2010 I’m really looking forward to stage 4. Will it be an even better post than the first 3 and does that mean it will have to be an even worse experience for you? Forget the hacksaw for cutting down the nose of your saddle, nothing screams respect my authority like starting up a large chainsaw in close quarters.

Comment on Putting an end to the 650c Wheelsize Myth once and for all by Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:08:57 +0000

Gear inches = Gear inches? Yes, you would use a bigger ratio to get the same speed but the overall force applied to the road would be the same.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:02:52 +0000

I use a Fizik Ares saddle for a UCI legal position. The Ares was the reason I went with the Antares on my road bike since I knew if the Antares was comfortable then the Ares would also be since it is basically a sawed off Antares. My extensions are still too long however but I should be able to get an M.E. since the arm bend is <120 degrees.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:50:28 +0000

I would have punched “the man” out for you…..
FUMING.

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by kerry

kerry — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:15:01 +0000

No, Kelli was the start ramp official. The people doing bike checks were not the regular New England officials whom I have come to know and love. I did like having Kelli there for the start, it certainly helped me calm down and refocus after having to change my bike minutes before the start. Kelli rules!

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by greg prodanas

greg prodanas — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:04:34 +0000

Kelli didn’t do that to you did she?????

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by Michele

Michele — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:36:36 +0000

WTF??

Maybe look for a saddle with a short nose? I love my Selle San Marco Atola. (The regular, not the gel one. Hard to find, but the nose is quite short compared to most other saddles.)

Comment on Fitchburg 2010: Stage 3 – The Time Trial by Peej

Peej — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:49:15 +0000

I’m saying this as someone who understands the frustrations a small person experiences….I am amazed that you didn’t punch the guy in the head. I would have.

One upside to triathlon = no rules with respect to bike fit.

Comment on Fitchburg Stage Race 2010: Stage 2 – Same Song, Second Verse by Kim Blodgett

Kim Blodgett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:42:54 +0000

I understand irony.
Sometimes irony is sad, not funny.
~Kim

Comment on Fitchburg Stage Race 2010: Stage 2 – Same Song, Second Verse by Kim Blodgett

Kim Blodgett — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 04:24:46 +0000

I don’t care if a female calls herself a lady, a woman, or a girl. Just ride your bike….the rest is all details and most often cultural prejudice, when care is given to one or the other. Preference is just that preference…just pedal. And in my opinion why are such strong opinions given when speaking about athletes of the female gender but not male, seems to speak louder of the opinioner than the other, does it not?

I just don’t get it…..happy to take a lesson if one is to be had.

Sincerely,
Kim Blodgett

Comment on Fitchburg Stage Race 2010: Stage 2 – Same Song, Second Verse by Blackbeard

Blackbeard — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:59:53 +0000

I’ve got to say I have paid very little interest to the Fitchberg classic, and it is an old classic but I have just been consumed with the Giro since it’s really heating up. I do know by looking at the final GC, that Kerry placed in good company of some well known professional NRC class riders, so all things considered, good job!

On the ladies, women, girls, yeah, yeah, there doesn’t seem to be a term that satisfies or doesn’t seem condescending, except sometimes I use words from other languages and that seems to mesh better. True, especially ladies doesn’t cut it since in Australia it’s used in upper class circles and on sites to refer to dogs at dog shows for those upper class people who take their cute little critters to these shows. I know a lot of riders from Australia and the UK hate that term.

I usually try to refer more and more nowadays to them as riders and don’t refer to their sex, although at times, you must or nobody knows the person you are referring to, men’s or women’s racing. Women seem like a term they tolerate probably more then any other. Girls they don’t like cause it makes people think they are amateurs or not seasoned, young.

Feminin works well in Europe and I think American women are tolerant of this term. In Italy they use the term Donne or Femminile. All different countries have their own words, but many words we adopted from French and became part of the English language. We seem to feel comfortable when we use a word from another language, which maybe is the answer, I don’t know. Female is also out, so you have to have words to define the other sex sometimes, and my personal preference is to use some foreign term that is known universally worldwide and is generally accepted. I know someone who ran a site called Ladiescycling and I know a lot of riders didn’t like it just because of that.

Cheers!