pretty in pastel

'Cross season is almost here ad some people have gotten their orders in very early. Here are a few frames that will no doubt be seen in the bay area races.

The latest and greatest

Here's a custom Team Carbon with Dura Ace and Ksyrium SL wheels. The special GX-2 frame creates a bike under 17 lbs. that still feels like a bike.

happy birthday, sis.

Yes, I have a sister who lives down in smoggy L.A., our home town. A month or two ago she gave me her old bike to do a tune up on. I did a much more complete tuneup than usual.....I built her a new bike. Some of the parts from the old bike were used but the result was about 4 lbs. less than the old bike and lower gears more suited to the Hollywood Hills near her home. Here are pictures of the first ride up to Mulholland drive, of course.

e-article

Check out plusonelap.com for a short feature on framebuilders of cyclocross frames. This site is a 'cross fanatics must see. There is a framebuilder questioneer that will feature Rock Lobster in one week. Keep an eye out for it.

Dr. Swigg's guide to wine #2

At the risk of cutting my own gullet, here are two gems that are under $ 10. At Shopper's corner there appears to be a good supply of Margaret River "Watershed" Shiraz, 2002 $ 6.99 . This is a great wine from down under with plenty of flavor and body. Whoever is the wine buyer at Shoppers now seems to be keeping an eye out for those great wines in the under $ 10 range- great news for the working class. Next up may be gone but I scored some yesterday at T.J.'s. Ruston " Cuvee Lorraine" 2003 $ 19.99 . This wine is from St. Helena.......yes, that's $ 2,000,000 per acre Napa Valley prime Cabernet land. Does it taste like it? -Definitely...take a swig,close your eyes and you'll think you are drinking a $60 bottle at Gavin Newsome's house.....well, if he's drinking anymore. This one's all about richness and depth...probably a good many months in the barrel. One rarely sees a wine of this quality at this price.

New bikes on the road

Here are two unique bikes. Number one is a 29er single speed drop-bar racer made of scandium. Number two is a travel bike/cross bike with S&S couplers.

107 miles, 8,000 ft. climbing and too much wind

The Mount Hamilton loop was the last big spring ride and the toughest. The route went from San Jose to Livermore via Mt. Hamilton, the only UCI HC climb on the west coast. With it's 22 miles and 4,100 feet of elevation it ain't no walk in the park. After the big climb there are rollers and flat with some horrific gusts of wind seemingly coming from all directions. After a long windy ride to Livermore the route went southwest through Pleasanton and up the Calaveras grade-part of the Tour of Calif. route. Luckily, the last two hours were with the wind at our backs so we all arrived capeable of staying awake for the drive back to Santa Cruz.