Ian Ayers, Tyler Hamilton, Ned Overend.

After this pose, Tyler actually reached over and gave me a purple-nurple, but Ned reached back and gave Tyler a huge wedgie. (true story) Cool guys, but weird.

H.R...

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A year ago, I had an idea... an ear-wind-turbulence protector shield thing that would reduce that irritating wind noise when you're riding. Could I buy one? If they don't make 'em, could I produce them and sell millions?

How great would it be? Riding with a headwind and not missing a single element of the polyphony from your iPod, and not hearing that constant ssshhh, ccchhht noise. Recall a ride when you had a strong tailwind and you got into that ludicrous-speed mode... you can hear everything- your chain snapping into the 11, your tires gripping the pavement... you're hyper-aware. I'm not alone here: riding is much more enjoyable without wind noise.

Slipstreamz beat me to the market. This product really exists. They're very well-engineered... they work. They easily snap to your helmet straps (some helmet strap adjustment is probably necessary):


If you have half a brain, you will be able to tweak Slipstreamz up for optimal performance in less than 15 minutes. It only took me 6 minutes and 8 seconds to achieve op-perf.


They're comfortable against your ear. I sleep with them on.


They're low-profile... you'll forget you have them on after a few minutes.

Also, it's not mentioned on the package, but Slipstreamz might help your long-term hearing. Who knows how much wind-noise affects hearing over many years? I'd be surprised if a valid study has ever been done on it.

Purchase Slipstreams- they're awesome. Seriously. It's about time.

Buy at: www.macfriends.com

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The comments of the last blog were amazing. Very entertaining, and very awesome. We have learned a lot about our readership, well... and we're happy to have so many bitingly sarcastic, confused, and aggressive friends.

Now for a new one.

Using logic, and clever but tasteful references to our past blogs, deduce which one of us is sick.

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I got jumped by a wolf spider last night.

I was walking home after a fun evening on the town, and he jumped out from behind the corner of my front steps.

Scene of the crime:


Spidey bit my foot and tried to steal my wallet before I smashed him with my flip-flop.

Now my foot is all wiggety-whack.


I can't wait for my X-treme Maximum Agilitiy to kick in!

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All joking not aside, what would you like to see more of at 2skinnypros.com?

And if you're going to be a smartass, at least try to be clever. You get no points for blunt & dumb... though, admittedly, it has been entertaining in the past.

You don't need to register a user to post a comment anymore... anonymous is enabled. If you're gonna go anon, at least check the "other" button and write a clever name, sorta like "Chaz the Anonymous One." That's cooler. (sorta.. well not really)

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I, seriously, made the best batch of chocolate chip cookies in the world tonight. They are so good that I have already eaten myself sick. No one is around to share these scrumptious cookies with at midnight on a Tuesday, and that makes me a bit sad. But, eating another cookie immediately makes me glad.

Here's a photo from the start line of the USPRO road race taken by Charles Herskowitz. (http://SnortingBullPhoto.com) Click on the photo and track the path of Christoph's eyes to the left.



We were placing bets on who would get dropped first.

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When Sheff needs to wake up for a bike ride after a long nite of drinking, it takes 4 ingredients: beer, mountain dew, oatmeal, & cyclingnews.com



How to recover from a hangover.

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We'd like to give our nod of respect our local tuffer n' nails friends that raced the Shenandoah 100 ultra distance mountain bike race. It was good to see that local boy Jeremiah Bishop won - he's having a solid year on the trails. Other local slammers include Peter Hufnagel (Huffy), Paul Berry (the Bizza), Eric Anderson (e money), Jay Dicharry, Paul Buschi, Paul Deeble, Andy Kinley, Blake Walker, & Matt Day. (sorry if we forgot anyone)


This is Peter Hufnagel.


Also, it is rumored that Andrea Dvorak will be racing pro on the road next year. Andrea has been beating the pros for years, but has decided that a cycling job is way better than practicing the law for a year. Good choice.

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For the first time this year, I am ill... fever and clogged up sinuses. While I would have liked to race Univest today, this bod is pretty much done for the season. I always know I'm getting sick when I can feel my pulse under my front teeth bridge. Something to do with oral flora and infection.

It's time for 14 large cups of Tetley British Blend tea! (thanks Beverly!)



Good night, and good luck.

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I spent last week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my babe and her family. It was a major learning experience for me. Growing up in the mountains, I can't really say that saltwater runs in my blood, but at least now there's plenty of it slushing in my lungs. The highlight of the week came in a big cardboard box:


After an anticlimactic first-lap implosion at the USPRO championships in Greenville, I headed north to catch a plane for Bermuda on the always-glamorous USA 3000 airlines. Notice the sharpy-applied label over the retired US Airways logo:


Now I've arrived in Bermuda, and the good times are rollin'. I met up with my college bud Jon Herring and he's taken me out for some good times on the family boat. We cruised around the island, jumped off some cliffs, snorkelled on the reef, and saw some really big fish hiding in a shipwreck. We tried to catch the fish with a hand-line baited with a piece of NutriGrain bar, but then some dudes from Dophin Quest came and dumped a bunch of dead rotten fish in the water, and the snappers lost interest in our deliciously healthy fruit bars.



The race starts tonight with a downtown dockside criterium, and I'm just lookin' to have a some fun. There are some big ballers here from the US and Europe. I have no delusions of grandeur. I'm just enjoying the travel and the cool people. This race is a blast because the competition is hard and fast, but everyone exchanges their egos for pint glasses once the sun sets. It's the perfect setting to blow off steam after a long season. Cheers!

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USPRO was cool. I hardly finished 2 laps, but had a great time getting dropped on the climb. It was actually really pleasing to see many of the big guns completely devastated by the pace. Christoph was early to get dropped, and was halfway back to Charlottesville before the race was half over. He was a bit fed up with the situation, and is now happily on his way to Bermuda.

I am off to work at the Blue Wheel bike shop- to slave away with hours with a crazy man named Scott Paisley. (nickname: Spaisley) Scott & I have two things in common: our love/hate relationship with bikes, and our love for the great prog rock of the 70's.

Do you see the look in his eyes? He's wacko.

Scott Paisley, everyone. My boss.

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