欧州自転車レース追っかけ日記

Sunday, March 31, 2024 De Ronde van Vlaanderen
The Tour of Flanders, baby!

I am leaving Luxembourg early in the morning of Sunday. I will be driving to 2. Kapelleberg or 3. Wolvenberg.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [De Ronde van Vlaanderen 2024]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/30(土) 22:42:00|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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I was disappointed a big time
I left Luxembourg around 05:15 and drove to Knokteberg directly. I arrived there around 09:00 and immediately started to look for a parking place near the top of the hill. Eventually I did.

I was a bit sleepy so I stayed in the car for a while. I finally got up and started painting on the road.

As scheduled, men's peloton passed twice but unexpectedly women's peloton did not pass. Around the time they (women) were supposed to come, some strange words started to go around from those who were watching the streamed broadcast on their smartphones.

There was some kind of accident (or incident) and women's peloton was diverted to skip Knokteberg at all.

I was sad and frustrated when it was confirmed that they were not coming.

Later (after coming home and searched on the Internet) it turned out that men's peloton follower vehicles collided. Sh*t!

De Ronde van Vlaanderen 2024
I am thinking repeating the same not exactly the same but almost same as last year.

This year, I will be driving directly to Wolvenberg and try to get there early in the morning. This year I will try to paint something on the road before people come (to stop me?).

I will see.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [I was disappointed]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/28(木) 13:56:13|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2024
I was wrong. I thought that the staff working inside flandersclassics.be were taking it easy. I was wrong.

The official site (organizer's site) let us download the guidebook and start list. The guidebook has reduced version of the detailed roadmap timetable. The correct timetable should include all the street names and the turning directions.

The one inside the guidebook has only the town/village names and other names (climb names and cobble stone section names). I was disappointed.

Today I found something inside the guidebook (PDF scroll). I found "Download the detailed roadmap here".

When I clicked on the link embedded inside the PDF guidebook, I got what I needed.


In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Detailed roadmap downloaded]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/26(火) 18:28:44|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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SSD upgrade on MacBook Late 2009
I tried to restore the contents of MacBook Late 2009 on 64 GB SSD onto the 128 GB SSD with Apple's own Disk Utility in van. So many times I failed. Finally I used Carbon Copy Cloner to do the job. Now I am writing this on it.

Since the free space on the SSD grew bigger, I could finally install (expand the downloaded map data) the map on Garmin BaseCamp. I am using it to plan the trip to DDV (Dwars Door Vlaanderen) 2024.

My plan, in brief, is to get to one of the climb sections and see if I like it. If it suits me, I will stay there. And if not, I will move.

I am thinking of going to Knokteberg.

The weather looks not so promising at all.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [A bigger SSD and DVV 2024]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/26(火) 16:05:25|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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MacBook Pro Mid 2010 13-inch to resurrect?
My MacBook Pro Mid 2010 13-inch is not working properly. Its first (or main) SATA line is dead. I want to repair it if I can do it in a cheaper way.

The best way to do is to buy its parts (mainboard) or the identical entire MacBook with some issues (like broken LCD, thus sold cheaper) and operate them (an organ transplant).

I will do it if I can do it really really economically. I don't want to spend too much money.


MacBook Pro 13 Mid 2010 vs. MacBook Late 2009
How much memory did I have on my MacBook Pro Mid 2010? 16 GB or 8 GB? I forgot since I have not used it since more than a year ago by now.

My MacBook Late 2009 has only 4 GB of RAM (2 x 2 GB modules). Obviously it is not enough as I see the machine struggle when I am working a lot of things at the same time (like opening a lot of applications).

I swapped memory modules between them and my MacBook Late 2009 made sad chimes and did not boot. I was puzzled.

According to some site's information, the former's max RAM capacity is 16 GB and the latter's is 8 GB.

Did I have 2 modules of 8 GB in the former? If so, I will try only one piece of memory module in the latter and see if it boots.

I will look for some good deals on RAM modules for my MacBook Late 2009 on ebay or somewhere.

An issue with this Late 2009
I put a small SSD inside back in 2012 or so (I don't remember but if I looked it up on my blog, I will find when) since it was supposed to be a sub not a main machine.

Now it is the main machine. 64 GB won't cut. Not big enough at all.

I can not install Garmin MAP data on it for my various Garmin devices or updating the firmware on some
Garmin devices(Camper 660, Edge 800 or other ones).

Anyway, I will use 128 GB or 256 GB SSD that I already have around.



In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Gent-Wevelgem 2024 Sunday, March 24]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/23(土) 23:42:02|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Here I come! Classic Brugge - De Panne and Classic E3 Saxo

I am writing this on the waken-after-a-couple-of-month’s-sleep MacBook Late 2009 in my chair with my beloved Hannah the cat on my lap in the afternoon of Tuesday, March 19th, 2024. I am leaving for Brugge Belgium Tomorrow morning. I came back from a short shopping drive to get some food for the next couple of days and to have the car filled up.

I am almost ready but I have not done the packing yet.

I am spending much time for the planning of Classic E3 Saxo. Why? Well because Classic Brugge - De Panne has a relatively flat course profile. It does not matter too much where you watch the race as they (the peloton) go by fast unless (they go by) at some tight corners.

On the other hand, E3 Saxo course has a lot of steep climbs where riders often struggle to stay in contact with other faster riders. The below is the list of climbs (and the feed zone and the finish) that are featured in the race. I also added how long the sections are, their average gradient and maximum gradient. I have been to some or many of them. Paterberg seems to be very hard and thus makes itself an exciting spot for most spectators with its impressive numbers (and it is also a cobble stone stretch) but I don’t think I will be there. Too many people and too crowded?

My rough plan is to be at the start area early in the morning to check the area.

This town, Harelbeke, has a nice place for spectators but not much place left for the teams. So the team busses are scattered around the area as far as I could remember. I want to ride around the area on my Brompton to see where the team busses are.

I also want to drive to the feed zone located about 48 km (in driving route not the direct distance as I can’t charter a helicopter as a means of transportation). It maybe the farthest point from the start. I will visit one (or two?) climbs on my way to the finish.

Where to? Boigneberg? Why? Because once the peloton passes the feeding zone, they go far away from there but it comes back to Boigneberg before once again going away.

Let’s see the time frame, shall we?
Feed zone 13:37 (at 44 km/h average speed)
Boigneberg 15:02 (ditto)

1 hour and half apart. Is this too long or just OK?

Boigneberg to E3-Col Karnemelkbeekstraat: The problem is this route certainly crosses the race course. 12. Stationberg (15:14) is one side of my route and 13. Kapelberg (15:29) is on the other side. Inevitably I will be stopped by the Police. I may not be able to reach the desired destination at all.

E3-Col Karmemelkbeekstraat 15:49 (ditto)
Finish 16:35 (ditto)

Only 45 mininutes apart. I don’t think I can make it to the finish before the eventual winner arrives. On the other hand, I am not too much interested in seeing the finish. Maybe I decide to head home after this place. It won’t matter.

How about first going to the feed zone and then drive to Paterberg?

Paterberg 15:35
Finish 16:35

There’s one hour between these but going back to the car might cost me around 30 minutes easily so I won’t make it by the finishing time anyway.


Climbs
km
30.0 1. Kattenberg 750 m ave. 6 % max. 11 %
72.4 - Feed Done N493 - Molenstraat
88.7 2. La Houppe 1880 m ave. 4.8 % max. 10 %
94.9 3. Kanarieberg 1050 m ave. 7.7 % max. 14 %
102.8 4. Oude Kruisberg 800 m ave. 4.8 % max. 9 %
110.6 5. Knokteberg 1260 m ave. 7 % max. 13 %
114.5 6. Hotonberg 1200 m ave. 4 % max. 8 %
121.6 7. Kortebeer 1000 m ave. 6.4 % max. 17 %
126.3 8. Taaienberg 700 m ave. 6.3 % max. 16 %
134.3 9. Berg Ten Stene 1300 m ave. 5.2 % max. 9 %
139.5 10. Boigneberg 1000 m ave. 5.2 % max. 12.3 %
143.9 11. Ellestraat 1400 m ave. 4.4 % max. 10 %
148.7 12. Stationberg 700 m ave. 3.2 % max. 10 %
159.6 13. Kapelberg 750 m ave. 7.1 % max. 14 %
163.7 14. Paterberg 400 m ave. 12.9 % max. 20.3 %
166.5 15. Oude Kwaremont 2200 m ave. 4 % max. 11.6 %
174.3 16. E3 Col - Karnemlkbeekstraat 1350 m ave. 4.9 % max. 18 %
186.3 17. Tiegemberg 750 m ave. 5.6 % max. 9 %

207.6 Finish Harelbeke

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Classic E3 Saxo watch plan]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/19(火) 21:04:14|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Is the Jetboil (Flash-like) original cooking pot a viable solution?

I have the original generation Jetboil cooking stove. I believe that it had no name like Flash, Zip or so at that time. Since it was the only product that Jetboil had, the company did not give it a name. Am I wrong? I don't remember what it was called back then.

Anyway, for the last (at least) several years my favorite camping cooking tool has been the Trangia® from Sweden. I have used a Trangia 25 for year. I have used it with the original Alcohol burner for some years until I bought a compatible (a.k.a. not genuine) gas burner.

I like it a lot. I used to carry this original Jetboil (I believe later it was dubbed Flash) and Trangia on my camping trips.

Mazda MX-5 has very limited room for luggage. On a comping trip, this limited room for camping equipment has been the source for my major headache.

The rear boot (or trunk) is small. This space is occupied by a temporary space saving spare tire. I also have a foot operated airpump there. I have a jack, too. None of these are genuine Mazda MX-5 parts. This spare tire is a used one that I purchased from the UK and was a spare tire for Toyota MR2 sold around 2000. Its PCD (pitch circle diameter) and offset value happens to match those of my MX-5.

Why do I carry a real spare tire instead of the recent "repair kit"? Why do I have a foot operated airpump insted of battery operated airpump?

I was traumatized back in 2008 (the year Carlos Sastre won the Tour) when I could not watch him complete the amazing ITT to consolidate the overall win when one of the tire blew up on me on my Mercedez A Class (the car I owned at that time) on the way to the ITT venue on the fatal Friday.

It took me a day to repair the burst tire and by the time I arrived at the finish town of the ITT, the radio announced that Carlos Sastre had won the Tour, in other words, the ITT was over. I was an exclusive supporter of Team CSC (for which Carlos Sastre rode).

(I called the Mercedez Benz helpline and arranged the repair on Saturday. The tire was eventually repaired by a very incompetent pumpous chief mechanic at the local Mercedez dealer very far away but it took too long.

How incompetent and how pumpous? This guy put the tire the wrong side out. The tire had "This side out" letter printed on the side wall but I found the marking on the inside side wall. I pointed it out but he initially refused to recognize his mistake. Only after one or two of his colleages, sales reps, persuaded him to recognize it, he grudingly fixed it. I hate Mercedez Benz.)

It cost me the ITT of his (Carlos Sastre's) life. How sad was that! How traumatic was that for me! Since then I decided that I would never go on a long trip without a real spare tire. I ordered a real spare tire for my Ford Ka (my subsequent car after this A Class) when I bought it. I could not order one for my Mazda MX-5 because Mazda did not have that option on the catalogue.


A tent (for sleeping) and a smaller shelter tent (used as the bathroom) are essential for the longer camping trips. Along with these and the tire and the pump, I don't have much room for anything. I can squeeze small item on the side but not much.

I don't have room for my road bike inside. I tried Saris Solo but the trunk lid (aluminum) and the bumper (very thin and flexible plastic) did not seem to like it so I had the (trailer) hitch ball installed on my MX-5. I bought Saris Axis bike rack.

I travel with my beloved cat Hannah and she needs the toilet in the car all the time.

Anyway, now you know how little room I have left for anything.

I think I will only carry this small Jetboil (Flash equivalent) for this Spring camping trip and see. So I thought... until...

I have always kept my eyes on "Jewtboil" products on ebay. I just got a "Jetboil Sumo". I won it. It is a used (according to the seller) slightly used but the ignitor is hit and not functioning well. It is complete with the burner and the extra coffee press.

I have always wanted to have a working burner as mine does not work really perfectly. This time I got one. I am anxiously waiting for the arrival. It will come just around the time

What is Sumo?
Sumo, I believe was taken from Japanese into English. In Japanese Sumo is the traditional Japanese wrestling. Here it is used to signify the size of the cooking pot as Sumo wrestleres are generally bigger than ordinary people in size.

I liked Sumo cooking pot as it seemed big enough to be useful for cooking some pasta like spaghetti, Fusli or Penne.

I wanted to get a better burner as my old one is not what it once was after many years of usage. That was why I always had eyes on possible good deals on JetBoil products. When I saw this seemingly good deal Sumo, I could not let it slip. On the other hand, I did not pay too much to get it so I did not bid too much I think.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [I am leaving for Belgium Tomorrow.]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/19(火) 12:53:29|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Up and running again!

It was a couple of months ago that I put it in my backpack and I was on my way to work one morning that I wanted to take something out of the backpack when the backpack fell on the ground softly. I did not care much as the backpack was made of thick padded cloth and it barely made sound as it fell on the ground like just 60 centimeters (two feet) high.

Later I opened up my MacBook at work in my free time and realized that it did not start up. Instead, it made a warning chime!

Oooooops! My bad! Have I broke my MacBook?

I should have opened the back panel and seen what had been going on inside but I was lazy and put it away.

Today Tuesday, March 19th after a couple of months of sloth, I opened up the back panel and immediately found that the memory module was loose from the socket. I put it back and look and behold it is up and running again!

I need this MacBook to maintain my Suunto Spartan, Garmin devices or (now neglected but should be born again) iPod Classic.

Now it is back and I am going to transfer some data from my Linux Lubuntu HP Compaq CQ56 to this for the journey starting the next day.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [My MacBook Late 2009 is back again!]の続きを読む

テーマ:Mac - ジャンル:コンピュータ

1. 2024/03/19(火) 10:31:12|
2. MacBooks and Macs
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Dear Diary Wednesday, March 13 2024
Now I am writing this sitting on the bed of the room that I booked through Airbnb. I am in Dunkerque, France. I left for Düsseldorf, Germany on March 11th and stayed in Leverkusen that night at a place I booked also through Aribnb. The next day I stayed in a small village near Antwerp, Belgium ditto.

I drove to Nokere, Belgium to watch the race (Danilith Nokere Koerse). I enjoyed the race. This time I tried the pet wicker basket on the Brompton. It is a wicker basket with a cover made of wire. It has ample space for Hannah. I think it worked very well. I am going to work on the fixing method but in all it works very good.

It was a cloudy day. It was not too cold and at least did not rain. Not windy so I did not feel cold.

It was a great day for mid-March. It was a bliss that it did not rain.

I don't know why but the history repeated itself Today. Lotte Kopecky and Tim Merlier won just as they did last year.

Nokere is a small village. I saw two or three restaurants / bars but I did not see any supermarkets.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Danilith Nokere Koerse 2024 and Airbnb lodging]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/13(水) 23:52:57|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Do not accept any dubious offer!
I don't go into the details now as it is late at night (Sunday, March 10) and I have to wake up early in the morning to pack and leave for Düsseldorf, Germany. I have not packed yet as I have decided to go on a car trip just hours ago.

I use Aribnb to look for reasonably priced accommodation on my trips. I hurriedly looked for one in Düsseldorf area but avoiding Düsseldorf as this city (Düsseldorf) is a so-called Green Zone cities where you (or anyone driving cars) have to pay a certain fee if you drive into the designated area.

I found a reasonable (read cheap) place to stay (Monday, March 11) in Leverkusen area. Leverkusen, on the other hand, is not a Green Zone city. I requested my accommodation but the host has not yet approved. I don't know if I get accepted. If not, I have to find another somehow.

I realized that my already planned trip to Belgium from 13th to 15th of March is just around the corner. It would be a bit waste of time and energy to come back home and then leave for Belgium. So now I have to find another lodging somewhere in Belgium for the night of March 12th.

I did and also sent a request through Airbnb system.

While I was searching for the accommodation in Belgium (for March 12th), my phone rang. A guy speaking French told me that he asked for cancellation of my Airbnb reservation for March 20th through 22nd. He also sent me message that if I pay in cash on site, I can still stay as planned.

It seemed that he was asking for money out of Airbnb system so that he can somehow profit from this dirty deal.

I asked him to cancel the reservation in the first place in any case as I don't any refund if I want it canclled. He did. As soon as this strange host (or depuity host) cancelled the reservation, Airbnb sent me a message that it was very unfortunate that the host had to cancel the reservation so Airbnb would give me a credit that I could use for my future reservation.

I found a place to stay for the same period of time in the same area which would cost me more than 30 Euros but this credit was applied to this. In the end I paid less than 10 Euros to secure the new reservation.

Anyway, this host is dirty. One should never accept this kind of offer if one wants to stay out of trouble.

He gets more money but I get nothing if I paid the same amount of money in cash out of Airbnb's system. What a fool this guy is!


In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Staying out of troubles by making a good decision]の続きを読む

1. 2024/03/10(日) 22:15:34|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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Booking places to stay
I visited my new (but actually old) workplace to talk. I talked to my colleague and showed my bike race watch plan. I wanted to have extra days off in April so that I can visit my favorite races.

I got the answer and my wish was granted. I am happy.

Now I have to book a lot of rooms to stay. Using Aribnb and booking.com, I could book all the rooms that I needed.

I reserved four periods of dates. For 1. "Danilith Nokere Koerse to Bredene - Koksijde Classic" trip, 2. "Classic Brugge - De Panne to E3 Saxo Classic" trip, 3. "Paris-Roubaix (women and men editions)" trip and 4. "so-called Ardenne Classic week" trip, I needed places to stay warm at night not to mention to stay with my beloved Hannah (my cat).

I have not (and will not) reserve the planned camping site for post-La Fleche Wallone and pre-Liège-Bastogn-Liège. I think I don't have to make reservation for this camping site as it was not crowded as far as I saw.

This is one of the reasons that I prefer this camping site. Not too many people and a lot of room for my Hannah to play around.

I did not spend too much money for these accommodation instances. Airbnb and booking.com helped me find great deals.

Finding Airbob hosts who allow pets is not to difficult in many cases. It is true that I have a lot wider choices to choose from if I looked for hosts who don't allow pets.

I am ready to go. Almost. I have to check the goods to keep Hannah safe and happy. I have accumulated stuff to keep Hannah safe and at the same time mobile. This year or season, I added the Brompton (a folding bike) to this. I have to fix a basket with a safety wire cage (that I bought) on my Brompton. It is halfway done. This will keep Hannah safe on the bike and keep me mobile.


In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Here I come! Spring road bike races!]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/08(金) 15:38:26|
2. Bike Races
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4. | コメント：0

Two road races to watch in mid-March
There are two road bike races that I intend (want) to go to, namely "Danilith Nokere Koerse" and "Bredene - Koksijde Classic". They are held on Wednesday, March 13th and Friday, March 15th respectively.

A road bike race held on Friday is not so common if not rare.

They are held in Western part of Flanders area. They are not far apart geographically and chronologically. So I intend to find a place to stay for two nights to enjoy these events. I know the area. It is hard to not know the area if you are a cycling sport fan, right?

Airbnb showed me that a moderately priced room near Dunkirk. I am not sure if the host would accept me if I apply but this host welcomes pets. I don't have much choice if I bring my beloved Hannah (the cat) with me. So I just cross my fingers when I apply for it.

Danilith Nokere Koerse (https://www.nokerekoerse.be/)
I am guessing that "Koerse" means Corsa in Italian and race as in road race in English.

It starts in Deinze and finishes in Nokere. There are two events women's edition and men's edition. On the schedule, the women's race starts earlier and by the time the women's peloton finishes the race, men's peloton enters the circuit course. By the time men's race kicks off, the women's peloton enters the circuit course.

So how I get the most out of these racing events?

First of all, there have been no startlists revealed yet. I don't know who will be there to race. I want to see my favorite riders and other people but not the race in general.

If I stay at Deinze to see men's start, I will miss most of the women's actions. I am not sure if I should go to Deinze.

Maybe I will directly go to sections of interest like climbs or cobble stone sections. I don't know the climb section called "Hellestraat". It is a lukewarm climb that spans over 1,500 meters with the average gradient of 3.8 gaining 70 meters in altitude.

There's also a climb section named "Petegemberg" which spans 500 meters but boasts 7.6 % of average gradient with a steepest point of 11 %. I wonder...

I wonder if the organizer tries to avoid using the more well-known climbs and cobble stone paths used in other classic races.

I am thinking of bringing my Brompton on this trip. I know I have to park my car (Mazda MX-5 ND) somewhere near the finish area. I want to stay mobile so that I can be at the Feed Zone and then later at the finish.

A foldable bike like my Brompton is almost perfect choice. I can carry it folded in the crowd and ride it around where I can.

I have never fit my Brompton in my tiny car but I am hoping it fits inside.


Notes: 1. Danilith, the title sponsor of the race seems to be a construction company in the area.

2. Provisonal startlists are already available on this site (as of March 4th) (https://www.procyclingstats.com/)

Bredene - Koksijde Classic (https://brenekoksijdeclassic.be/)
This site is not ready yet. There's not much to download.

It is a race similar to "Classic Brugge - De Panne" since the finish area is almost same. I have visited this area for road bike races several times.

The last time I was there for (probably) this race in 2023 (or was it 2022?), all the Team Buses were parked in the contained area (tall barriers surrounded the designated parking area). Why do they do this?

The parcours (race course) features a final circuit course of 4 rounds but also has a two short circuit in the middle around that famous Baneberg area. I know this place (Baneberg) since I have been to this place many times (probably ten time or so). It is a bit too far from the finish area. It is not too far away but if I drive there, my race watch plan will be too busy.

The participating team list got my attention. Euskaltel-Euskadi (https://www.fundacioneuskadi.eus/) is there. I don't recognize any of the male riders but I do recognize one of the staff, Mr. Iñaki Isasi.

I also found that a Japanese female rider was on the roaster of female division (Laboral Kutxa - Fundación Euskadi), Ms. Emi Yonamine.

I will keep my eyes on these team. I want to find out if my dear Mr. Iñaki Isasi.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Mid-March road bike race events to enjoy]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車ロードレース - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/05(火) 19:41:44|
2. Bike Races in Belgium
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4. | コメント：0

Schwalbe Kojak tires 16-inch
I bought these tires (two of them) from Bike24.com of Germany. Why Kojak?

Well, there are at least two answers.

One: why is it dubbed as Kojak?

Kojak is a so-called slick tires without any visible tread patterns on the surface. In other words, it is bald. You see by now? Yes, the name comes from a TV drama character Kojak (Lieutenant, after evidently promoted to Inspector Theo Kojak) played by Telly Savalas.

Two: why did I buy these Kojak tires?

Because they were inexpensive on Bike24 at a significantly discounted price. My Brompton came with factory-installed Schwalbe Marathon tires and they are still good after 8 years (shipped 2015). I have ridden over icy roads and they were good.

I just felt that I needed spare tires just in case so I wanted to buy something inexpensive. They cost me around (or less than) 30 Euros together.

Currently they are on the new wheelset that I bought for 7-speed conversion and the rear wheel is waiting for the 7-speed cassette from China. So I have not ridden those tires yet. I have nothing to talk about the tires other than they look cool.

I am not sure if the Kojak tires have less rolling resistence than Schwalbe Marathon (Marathon Racer?) tires. They should be with that bald tread pattern. With these on I would not fancy riding on the icy road in Winter. So these are "Spring to Autumn" equipment on my Brompton.


Amazon shopping and shipping / delivery options
There are locations where you can use as a 24-hour deposit / pick-up location provided by the Post (Post offce of Luxembourg). Recently I used it and found it neat.

I did not take any pictures but the next time I will and provide some lights on those locations and the service they provice.

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [Amazon shopping spree?]の続きを読む

テーマ:日記 - ジャンル:日記

1. 2024/03/01(金) 15:06:22|
2. Info Luxembourg
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Do you remember the one and only James Dean?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."

James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955)


I do. Actually, he had passed away before I was born. So what I know of him, I got from his moives, media descriptions of him and some documentary footage.

I love his movies, "Rebel without cause" and "East of Eden". Anyway, he is (or was?) an icon of Hollywood actors. He died in a automobile accident. He and his mechanic (I thought) were on their way to a race track in Northern California in his brand new Porsche Spyder 550 said to have a serial number "550-055". A palindromic number!

My dream cars are Porsche Syper 550 and a few others. I know that the original Porsche 550s are so rare that they cost fortune and kept in museums or some rich people's garages.

It is possible to get replicas. I wish I could get one..

I am writing this because it hit upon me that I should get one of those James Dean items sold on AliExpress like some T-shirts with his image on them. I liked the ones with his image and the fatal Spyder's image together.

Once I saw a mini TV series (I remember) of "East of Eden" featuring Jane Seymore. I just Googled it and found out that I was right. It was a 1981 TV mini series.

I liked this because it showed longer period of the story. I realized then (I don't remember when I watched it but) that the movie story was only a part of the whole story (from the novel).

I wish I could watch this TV mini series again. Or should I read the novel?

Anyway, this longer version of "East of Eden" showed or at least suggested that Adam's sons were of his brother (Charles). In the movie version, I never guessed it.

John Steinbeck "East of Eden" (1952)

In Japanese: 続きをどうぞ [James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) ]の続きを読む

テーマ:自転車（スポーツ用） - ジャンル:スポーツ

1. 2024/03/01(金) 15:04:27|
2. Bikes and related things
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