spasticrobot

Google Maps Pedometer

This is a really nifty app that was built with the Google Maps API. It measures distance for walking, jogging or in my case for cycling. I plotted a few choice routes for myself:

10 Miles
16 Miles
20 Miles
30 Miles

The Inevitable Conclusion

Lance Armstrong has won his seventh consecutive Tour de France. From the beginning it seemed almost like a foregone conclusion that he would. Even in the mountains after his Disco Train had rolled him to the front leaving the pack behind, top contenders like Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich couldn’t get any attacks to stick. Lance Armstrong is one of the strongest and most unrelenting cyclists to ever ride the Tour. His record is a testament to his skill and tenacity. I’m grateful for all he has done to popularize the sport in this country but must admit that I’m happy to see him bowing out now. He’s reached the top of his game and his competitors feel like they can’t even touch him. It’s time, in short, for new blood.

I can’t wait to watch the other contender’s duke it out next year. I’ll be pulling hard for my main man Ivan Basso. He’ll have some tough competition but I think 2006 is his year.

Here’s a brief list of the things that did surprise me at this year’s tour:

David Zabriskie’s record setting time trial, which gave him the yellow jersey, was a surprise to all. Watching him crash in the Team Time Trial and then bow out of the race a few days later was heartbreaking.

Tom Boonen’s back to back stage wins seemed like icing on the cake to an already spectacular season but a few days after a horrible crash Tom had to abandon early. No one expected that to happen. There’s always next year Tom.

David Mengen’s amazing breakaway in his own hometown was great cycling but rain on the streets combined with high speeds lead to one of this year’s worst accidents.

George Hincapie finally got his just desserts. After riding loyally for Armstrong at each of his 7 Tour victories George finally got a stage win! No one deserves it more.

Paolo “Il Falco” Savoldelli flew to victory in a gutsy comeback attack. I thought he was dead on this one but he somehow found his legs 30meters out and powered past his challenger for the stage win.

Attack! Attack! Attack! Holy shit, what more can you say about Alexandre Vinokourov? This guy was the most aggressive attacker at this year’s Tour. His stage win yesterday punctuates an amazing effort by this young rider. He will definitely be on the podium next year.

My first roadie

I ordered a super-sweet Motobecane Le Champion SL today. It will be my first road bike. I can't wait until she arrives! The good Rev. Willcore will be helping me assemble her next weekend. I also ordered a Cateye cyclometer, some Crank Brothers Candy pedals, and some everyday wheels (the ones that come with the bike are ultralight racing wheels which I can't even ride until I lose another 10 lbs.).

The thing I'm most excited about are increased speed and increased distance which I know will come easily with this bike. Check out the full list of bike geek awesomeness after the jump.

Shake Shack has NOLA roots

Here’s a great behind the scenes report on the Shake Shack, the elevated burger joint that’s been making New Yorkers reconsider fast food for the past two summers. There’s also an awesome mention of New Orleans’ own Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, which apparently was the catalyst for the operation’s philosophy.

But it was at a 60-year-old family-run snow cone stand, Hansen’s Sno-Bliz Sweet Shop in New Orleans, where Coraine had his “aha” moment. “Even though it was just a snow cone operation, there was the level of commitment to quality,” he recalls. “They had invented a machine to crush the ice, and they filtered their water, and made all their fruit toppings, infusions, and syrups by hand every day. They had this sign that said THERE ARE NO SHORT CUTS TO QUALITY. That sign now hangs in my office. This is what it’s about—fast food with no short cuts to quality, and everything made to order.”

Lance is set for win #7

After chasing down countless attacks by Basso, Vino, and the Tmob boys Lance Armstrong looks to be the winner of the Tour de France for the 7th time. The race passed over the final major climb in the pyranees today and barring any major mechanical failures, a bad wreck, or an injury Armstrong will be the champion again. He's an amazing rider and has proven his greatness again this year. He hasn't even won a stage yet and still no one could even touch him. Bravo Lance!

Semi-Permanent05

Semi-Permanent05 is happening this year in NYC on September 9th & 10th. Speakers this year include Diller + Scofidio, Charlie White and Skinnycorp. Looks like a great conference.

Tony Bourdain's Wunderjahr

Chef, culinary adventurer and general badass Tony Bourdain has a new show on the Travel Channel called No Reservations. Looks very similar to A Cook's Tour which is fine by me since I loved the show and the book equally. I wonder what kind of trouble he'll be getting into this time.

New Orleans; humid womb, cruel mother

In case anyone had any doubts about whether or not this dirty city is crumbling to early 90's crime levels today's headline should serve as a sober wake-up call; At least 12 shot in weekend of violence. This makes me ill. What's it going to take to get this burg back on the right track?

Armstrong's Hammer

Lance Armstrong laid down his hammer hard today and drove all of his rivals down. The Disco train rolled relentlessly up the Courchevel leaving all of the major contenders behind. I've seen this happen every year since '99 but it never ceases to amaze me. How can he do it everytime? Where does he get his amazing form?

If he continues to ride like this the tour will assuredly be his. But that's the real question, can he continue to outpace all of these other riders, including the young guns like Basso and Valverde? We'll see tomorrow as the riders take on Le Galibier, the sacred monster, the highest peak of this year's race.

Hot List

Tour de France Mountain Stages
Fried Chicken
Tammany Trace
Middlesex
Tropical Disturbances
Oxford American
Southernisms
M.F.K. Fisher
Bianchi Road Bikes
Crank Brothers
Montgomery Family