Good write-up Gianni, And good discussion all. Here are my data points. Two seasons with Fusion 3s on Campa Shamal Ultra 2-Way FiTs. Awesome ride quality and handling with the lower pressures. I never rode tubs, so no comparison there, but far superior to… »

+1 @Frank. Great article and comments. Re: the bop, anyone recall the dude in the Tour around ’03 I think that had such a unique and exaggerated bop that I recall that even the noob OLN playpay-play announcer  commented that he looked like a hammer head s… »

OK, guess this goes here under the Rides. Tonight, over 25 years since I last pinned on a number, I raced my bike. My daughter did too, for the first time. So fun. So stoked. Thanks to the Velominati community for the inspiration. VLVV. »

The ride will start and finish at Corte Madera Park on Pixley Drive in Corte Madera, just of highway 101 in Marin. We have 150 km to cover, and we’ll start promptly at V past 9.

The first few miles will be a neutralized start through back streets of Marin, winding through a couple quaint and ritzy towns.  Before long we’ll head out onto country roads, making a big loop through agricultural and coastal West Marin, where we may encounter such elements as wind, fog, sun, aging hippies and cowshit.  We’ll keep the pace on this portion of the ride Casually Deliberate, stopping to regroup and probably to refuel in Pt. Reyes Station, and otherwise as appropriate, then heading up the coast to climb the Marshall Wall and exploring some isolated roads on the border of Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Once we’ve got 100 kms in the legs, we’ll head back through Fairfax and climb over Mt. Tamalpais (allegedly, the birthplace of mountain biking), via the Bolinas-Fairfax Road and Alpine Lake to Ridgecrest, which is sure to cause some real suffering and the abandonment of any remaining pretense to casualness.  At the top of Bo-Fax you’ll feel you’ve already climbed a mountain, only to have a rendezvous with the Seven Sisters, 7 steep, short climbs overlooking Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean.  You will call them something less courteous by the time they are down with you.  From there we’ll have a magnificent descent into Mill Valley, and one last short climb and descent back to the start.  Following that we will repair to the Marin Brewing Co. for Malted Recovery Beverages and food that will not be English Curry.

We hope you can join us.  VLVV.

The ride will start and finish at Corte Madera Park on Pixley Drive in Corte Madera, just of highway 101 in Marin. We have 150 km to cover, and we’ll start promptly at V past 9.

The first few miles will be a neutralized start through back streets of Marin, winding through a couple quaint and ritzy towns.  Before long we’ll head out onto country roads, making a big loop through agricultural and coastal West Marin, where we may encounter such elements as wind, fog, sun, aging hippies and cowshit.  We’ll keep the pace on this portion of the ride Casually Deliberate, stopping to regroup and probably to refuel in Pt. Reyes Station, and otherwise as appropriate, then heading up the coast to climb the Marshall Wall and exploring some isolated roads on the border of Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Once we’ve got 100 kms in the legs, we’ll head back through Fairfax and climb over Mt. Tamalpais (allegedly, the birthplace of mountain biking), via the Bolinas-Fairfax Road and Alpine Lake to Ridgecrest, which is sure to cause some real suffering and the abandonment of any remaining pretense to casualness.  At the top of Bo-Fax you’ll feel you’ve already climbed a mountain, only to have a rendezvous with the Seven Sisters, 7 steep, short climbs overlooking Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean.  You will call them something less courteous by the time they are down with you.  From there we’ll have a magnificent descent into Mill Valley, and one last short climb and descent back to the start.  Following that we will repair to the Marin Brewing Co. for Malted Recovery Beverages and food that will not be English Curry.

We hope you can join us.  VLVV.

The ride will start and finish at Corte Madera Park on Pixley Drive in Corte Madera, just of highway 101 in Marin. We have 150 km to cover, and we’ll start promptly at V past 9.

The first few miles will be a neutralized start through back streets of Marin, winding through a couple quaint and ritzy towns.  Before long we’ll head out onto country roads, making a big loop through agricultural and coastal West Marin, where we may encounter such elements as wind, fog, sun, aging hippies and cowshit.  We’ll keep the pace on this portion of the ride Casually Deliberate, stopping to regroup and probably to refuel in Pt. Reyes Station, and otherwise as appropriate, then heading up the coast to climb the Marshall Wall and exploring some isolated roads on the border of Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Once we’ve got 100 kms in the legs, we’ll head back through Fairfax and climb over Mt. Tamalpais (allegedly, the birthplace of mountain biking), via the Bolinas-Fairfax Road and Alpine Lake to Ridgecrest, which is sure to cause some real suffering and the abandonment of any remaining pretense to casualness.  At the top of Bo-Fax you’ll feel you’ve already climbed a mountain, only to have a rendezvous with the Seven Sisters, 7 steep, short climbs overlooking Stinson Beach and the Pacific Ocean.  You will call them something less courteous by the time they are down with you.  From there we’ll have a magnificent descent into Mill Valley, and one last short climb and descent back to the start.  Following that we will repair to the Marin Brewing Co. for Malted Recovery Beverages and food that will not be English Curry.

We hope you can join us.  VLVV.

“You’re looking for the answer ‘maybe’.” Pure gold. That uncertainty and, in my humble opinion, adventure in pursuit of The V is so intoxicating and addictive. This article and the commentary might help my alpine climbing friends understand my devotion to… »

VSP PICKS: 1. Chavanal 2. Purito 3. Gilbert 4. Valverde 5. Nibali »

Heart over head on this, but whatever. P-R is awesomeness no matter. I just don’t see how one can not like Chavanel. I like that Pozzato has acknowledged that he needs to stop wasting his talent. Tommeke 2012: end of. A nod to the future is always nice, a… »

@frank FNG here. I normally lurk and don’t post, but this frame and @Cyclop’s generosity are just so cool, I had to join in. As for your build, I’m running the Campa Centuar carbon CX group on my 6 month old cross bike (Steve’s Carbon Team). Went with tha… »

@Anjin-san I’ve just received the LS jersey in Large and it’s too big for me. Gladly sell it to you or swap if you have a Medium. Frank, I’m another long time (now former) lurker and now FNG. Thanks for all you do to make this whole thing happen. Any Zwa… »