Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 11:25 AM |
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So my favorite time of the year is about to commence and I am psyched to see who rules the roost at the end of the spring Classics run.
Sagan has to be the five star fave in races like San Remo and Flanders and I think as he gets more experience he'll grab a Roubaix win. Running close to Sagan I think will be Van Avermaet, Boonen (do the double Tommeke!!), Degenkolb, and Kristoff.
I'm still not sure about the Ardennes races, but Alhaphillipe looks due for a Fleche or Liege.
What say you all? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/13/2017 11:52 AM |
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Who are you and why are you posting here?  |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 12:03 PM |
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| MWAHAHAHA!!!! I was browsing my cycling bookmarks and found you all again! |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 12:06 PM |
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| Cosmic - how have you been? What are your cycling/tri objectives for the year?
So far I am planning on doing several organized rides and I'll be in the mix for the various group rides in the area. I may do some racing once my form comes around in a bit. I've been spinning and skiing pretty consistently for the past couple of months and cannot wait to get more time outside!! |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/13/2017 01:19 PM |
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Hey, Hab! What's up?
I'll be following the Classics via the internet as we moved to Central Mexico about 8 months ago - but in reality, that is how I have almost always viewed them.
Excited! |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 01:25 PM |
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| Hey Huckleberry!! Did you ever get around to visiting Spain? My significant other and I have a few things to button up stateside and then we are planning to be gone after June 2019 which is when my youngest will graduate high school. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/13/2017 01:35 PM |
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Glad to see you back, Hab.....always good when old friends return.
Not a lot planned re: the bike this year. I qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in September, but I am gonna be focusing most of my training on the swim and run. Gonna let my ability on the bike do its thing and try and strengthen my weaknesses....especially the swim!
A few other half-IM's leading up to Worlds and maybe a trip out to Omaha for Nationals as a final prep race.
How's life treating you? |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 02:10 PM |
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| Things are going great!
Life has finally settled into a nice, enjoyable pace. I've finally recovered my motivation to train hard and consistently which has been great!
I'll be around for good this time - I set Chrome so when I open it, this forum opens!! |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/13/2017 05:04 PM |
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Hab - we had a trip all set to Spain and Portugal last Spring, but were overwhelmed with all we had to do in our lives, so we decided on an easy travel trip and made the mistake of coming down to San Miguel de Allende (hadn't been here in 15 years), loved it and decided to go back to the States and sell the house I just finished building for us in the North Cascades of Washington (sold 1st day - oh, $4it), sold everything and got on a plane with two suitcases and two cats ; )
It's our slow immersion into learning Spanish and living foreign - Spain possibly next. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 02/13/2017 05:10 PM |
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| Say what!?! My sister and brother-in-law moved to Puerto Vallarta about 8 years ago and totally love it but have discovered they love San Miguel even more so they're selling their condo on the coast and headed there.
My wife and I visited a year ago and certainly can see the appeal. Beautiful area. You anywhere near? |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 02/13/2017 05:12 PM |
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| Dang... posted too slow. Seriously Huck, next visit we'll need to catch up. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/13/2017 05:17 PM |
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| Very sweet!! My significant other and I are slowly getting ready to wrap things up and head to Granada and become Granadinos!!! |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/14/2017 08:18 AM |
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Dale - we are in Centro, fairly close to the main jardin in the center of San Miguel.
I have a mountain bike and that's all, as it would be skirting suicide to consider road biking, although I have met a few that do ; )
Miss my road and cross bikes... |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/14/2017 04:46 PM |
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Dang Huck - there goes the opportunity for a forumite trip to Methow Valley. Disappointing.
Will be taking the Spain/Portugal trip for you this summer. It won't involve biking. I know sacrilege.
And to bring this back on topic...no one is really standing out yet. Think it will be pretty wide open. |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/14/2017 05:00 PM |
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OC - we have no idea where we will be in the next year. Who knows, back to the Methow? I do love that place...
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 02/15/2017 12:49 AM |
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To get on topic here - I have no idea who's going to be strong this year but my heart's with Boonen pulling off Roubaix. A very long shot but it wold be a great end to a great career. I have never been a huge Boonen fan; in fact there was usually some other rider I wanted to see beat him, but hie was and is a classy bike racer and guy. Except for his youthful indiscretion with the white powder, he was and is an asset to the sport.
Ben |
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 02/15/2017 01:00 AM |
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To get on topic here - I have no idea who's going to be strong this year but my heart's with Boonen pulling off Roubaix. A very long shot but it wold be a great end to a great career. I have never been a huge Boonen fan; in fact there was usually some other rider I wanted to see beat him, but hie was and is a classy bike racer and guy. Except for his youthful indiscretion with the white powder, he was and is an asset to the sport.
Ben |
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huckleberry
Posts:824
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| 02/15/2017 08:09 AM |
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You got us back on topic - twice, Ben.
Are you wrangling us? ; ) |
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Nick A
Posts:625
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| 02/15/2017 09:17 AM |
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Hab,
Glad you're re-motivated. I've been lazy since last fall. Trying to at least walk and ride my grocery bike. Have had some sort of depression my whole life. I'm not a big gadget guy, but ever since I got my HRM a bunch of years ago, I do like having some sort of feedback. I keep toying with the idea of a power meter. I see now, there's an "affordable" left arm only option. But still, by the time I get the arm the proper crankset and BB to match, the main computer...we're talking over a grand. Some stuff is funny like that. I taught myself bass last year, the amp cost three times as much as the bass! I began playing cello years ago. The damn case costs several hundred dollars!
Nick |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/15/2017 09:25 AM |
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| Nick - you aren't alone in the fight against depression. It can be wicked tough and sometimes just getting out of bed is a victory. Family, friends and being active have done wonders for me. Took me a while to get back to living and having joy after my divorce which I didn't think was taking much toll on me at the time, but in retrospect did.
As for devices, I too am amazed at the expense of the new stuff, but I'm still eyeing a Wahoo Elemnt which seems to do just what I need. |
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Red Tornado
Posts:159
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| 02/15/2017 02:53 PM |
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I'm looking for Sagan in Flanders again plus maybe a win in Dwars or one of the "other" cobbled races. He might do well in P-R, but there I'm looking for Stannard, Terpstra, Degenkolb, Van Avermaet, Sep, Stybar and maybe Boonen.
For the Ardennes I'm thinking maybe Sagan again, Matthews, Valverde. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 02/23/2017 12:08 PM |
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good to see you Hab, glad to hear things are well for you!!
Funny got friends in Casa's Grandes Mexico, and they have a place in Guatamala, I can work from anywhere, so it's awfully tempting to split, for at least 4 years! lol
back to the classics, Sagan of course, but, I'm liking Van Avermat, Degenkolb, Kristoff, and would love to see Boonen go out on a high note, I think it's gonna be fun, with new teams for some riders, etc..... |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/24/2017 07:29 AM |
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| Gonzo!! How goes it? What do you do to enable you to work from anywhere? I do data analysis which can be done anywhere which is perfect as I look to work from Spain.
Sagan is the beast for anything he chooses, with the possible exception of the Ardennes. That said Kristoff is due after being off last year. His wins in 2015 were impressive and it would be great to see his star rise again. |
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Habanero
Posts:257
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| 02/24/2017 07:33 AM |
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| You think Sagan can hang on for the climbing in the Ardennes? |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 02/24/2017 09:11 AM |
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Posted By Hot Habanero on 02/24/2017 07:33 AM
You think Sagan can hang on for the climbing in the Ardennes?
No way. Maybe Amstel Gold....maybe. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 02/24/2017 10:45 AM |
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If the racing is passive/defensive in Ardennes Sagan could factor. But typically no way.
New Amstel finish should suit him better...it will be a downhill/flat finish like they used to have in days of Armstrong/Erik Dekker battle. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 02/27/2017 11:33 AM |
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Hab, life is good, thanks for asking!! Rding a ton, more MTB's and cross bikes than anything these days.
I'm back in the solar industry after a 3 year hiatus working in a bike shop, I design solar water pumping systems, so I can work from home, or anywhere I can get a link. I have it pretty good actually, I can break away during the day for a good ride, etc......It's still work though!!
Good couple of races this past weekend, Sagan is going to be scary dangerous, Van Avermaet looked pretty strong also |
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