Steel WÜl Cameo Trivia... Blanco Bandit

Question: What Steel WÜl rider is rocking the silky Lone Ranger kit?

Answer: Dano (who was asked to play Jan Ullrich in the Jan Ullrich story)

It's all about the engine...that's my excuse anyway

When I saw Watson's photo of Joaquim Purito Rodriguez busting out the final move of the world road race, it reminded me of the photo of Boyer at the Coors Classic in San Francisco (almost 3 decades ago). Looking at these photos together, it is a great reminder that Boyer's time trial up Fillmore Street would still be very competitive today even with all the modern "advances".  

It is very easy to get caught up in the trap of , "these are lighter, more aero, more compliant, stiffer, electric, faster, better breaking, ect.." I'm pretty sure that Joaquim would have won that race even if he did not have the latest brakes from Shimano or a triple delux padded chamois. What you don't hear folks chatting about is how limber their hamstrings are or what they put in their system that morning. Hinault could care less about a riders V02 numbers or areo stats, all he cared about was how they held up in the freezing rain, muddy gutter, and scorching heat (sometimes, all in the same race). 

Next time someone coughs up a lame excuse like they were in the wrong gear or needed their other wheels, throw them for a loop and tell them you would have hung in but your IT band was just a little too tight and you're running low on potassium. 

The magic bullet can't be purchased, only chased. Judging by the looks on their faces, Boyer and Joaquim have the bullet in sight regardless as to what machine their engines are pedaling. 

The Gran Torino Boogie...

The only thing that came close to matching the horse power of this Gran Torino was cousin Pete (the Reno Rocket)

Peter DePolo pedals to Bronze at SuperKid 2013

Nephew WÜleur: Peter DePolo

Maybe he will hang his medal next to his black-belt...

looking strong in transition...

In true Steel WÜl fashion Peter won the bike leg, after all he has participated in 6 Cobble Classics!

Finishing strong for a spot on the podium

KOM Porter Wesson: and then there was one...

Enjoy this short  from Black Dog Productions showcasing Porter's beat-down he issued on Fremont Peak. We pulled out all of our 'old guy' tricks on the steep stuff and he would not budge. I started off by asking him if he has ever been up Fremont Peak before (his pace was a little juicy). Once he chipped the group like a cheap piece of china, I had to change my strategy and work my mind control angle and pointed out the fact that we had a nice gap and that this is a good section to "recover" (for me). That didn't seem to work either as he literally pedaled right out of my view.

SW & Giro enjoying New Road

COOLRADBRO an autobiographical odyssey...

Steel WÜl was granted permission from Of the Kind Comics to release the 1986 version of COOLRADBRO. We will feature this timeless and relevant tail over a few weeks with input from the author & illustrator Santa Cruz's own cycling legend - Mt. Larry Hibbard. Enjoy!

Win a Prius, Subaru or $25,000 CASH!

Hello All,

We are very excited to offer you a chance to win a new Toyota Prius hybrid, Subaru Outback or $25,000 cash, while also supporting Olive's public school (Tierra Pacifica). Tierra Pacifica in now in the 8th year of raising money through the "Drive for Schools" campaign sponsored by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Capitola Auto Mall.

All of the proceeds from our ticket sales go to Tierra Pacifica Charter School - 100%!
Tickets are $5 each, or 6 tickets for $25. Winners will be selected at the drawing at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, October 27th, 2013. You do not need to be present to win.

If you want to buy tickets, please email us at jakehess@cruzio.com or jesshess@baymoon.com and please include the following:

• name
• mailing address
• phone number (including area code)
• how many tickets you want

Then mail a check ($5 per ticket or $25 for packet of 6 tickets) made out to "TPCS" and mail to us at: 

3040 Santa Fe Ct Santa Cruz, Ca 95062. We will mail your ticket stubs to you. 

Thank you for supporting public schools!

Jake, Jess & Olive

NOTE: the first 10 people that buy a packet of 6 tickets will receive a handmade Steel WÜl mussete bag!

Here is an example how good you can feel when you buy 4 packets for a hundo!

The next generation is upon us & they're fast...

The legend of Fremont Peak – Cobble Classic 2013

Inbox. Click open. You have been invited to the 2013 Steel Wul Cobble Classic  -if you are wondering where we are headed, look east and south……rumors swirled. Maps came out. Riders frantically searched Strava files for mountains south east of Santa Cruz. Rumors were leaked. Fremont peak. Only a few riders had endured this challenge thus far. What was ahead? What was in store? Even among pastries and verve coffee this am, no one knew what was in store……how do I pace myself? What will the lead out be like? Should I be wearing 2 pairs of shorts like the Giro guys in prototype clothing? Should I throw on a 3^rd chamois to one-up these industry insiders? Who has on more wul than I do?

But no matter – instantly, the future was off. The 2013 kids race was in full effect. Olivia was on her brand new bike, Drake was taking turns so tight he shaved off the top of the cones with his handlebars. Before anyone could guess who won, Groupetto Compacto assembled and rolled out into the morning fog.

However, rolling out of town, it appear the leaders made an early tactical error, and mis-marked a lone rider – he sprinted off up Cul de Man Resa completely un-opposed. The riders would soon be shamed finding out that this racer only has one intact femur. Todd - Long live spirit!

After climbing up 1 of 317 small “bumps” on the course, riders were shocked to find Fausto Coppi sipping wine and reading the morning paper. Some riders mistaken it for a rest stop, but it was not, Fausto was unimpressed with the ambiguity of the peloton and as the sign says “only spoke campagnolo” 

First rest stop: 2 words –nutella sandwiches. Nuff said.

Through the valley floor, conversations spun of mundane life off the bike, family vacations, and how many extra grams John Caletti was carrying in his disc rotors.  Conversation with friends, heckling, and the open road. That’s why we are all here.Well, most of us anyway. Oddly, on a long stretch of road, several riders pulled off and stepped directly onto their leer jet for a straight flight to interbike. Is this true commitment of the riding lifestyle? Or one heck of a way to make an exit?

Groupetto compacto continued to pace down the “Flat road.” Soon the spirit of Eduardo Escalante filed the group spirit. The pace bumped up one small notch. And there they were. The flags. Not the prayer flags of Nepal, but the ceremonial onset to the slaughtering of fellow wuleurs. Conversation stopped. Pupils dilated. And former racing legs that lie dormant were ignited in a fury.  

Half way up the summit, the peloton grew restless as they watched the young gun pull away. Il director sportif Jake Hess grew enraged – and screamed out, “dude  - I have underwear older than this kid”. To which point, Porter turned around and said, “well evidently Mr Hess, your underwear must have holes in it – just like your training” For me, I was limping up the summit so badly that a dragonfly laid rest on my femur, laid eggs, and hatched a family of 12 before I reached tree line. And when we broke from the tree cover and the mountain came into view, I was touched by the fake rider silhouettes that jake had staged about a mile in front of me up upon the ridge. After a few seconds of hypoglycemic stupor, I realized that those were not silhouettes, but a 16 year old kid followed by stronger wullers. Ouch.

In the end, the quest for the KOM Cobbles were decisive. Porter took home the shellacked rock from Salmon Lake, with Jake in 2nd, and Tyson in 3^rd. However this year’s QOM was on as well. 1^st Melanie, then Jen, then Cory……and then many many other men in their wake. This year, we are also featuring a new award: the NCOM (not chicked on the mountain) – Male Wuller brethren, if you beat the women in the field, please feel free to take a rock out of Jake’s back yard as a memento of today’s struggle. And men, if you got chicked, well,  - hey  - you struggled…….

Looking at the top 3 men and women atop the mountain, No one was happier with the results than Peter Fitzpatrick. You see this year, that Peter was commissioned to build the official Steel Wul Podium.  You see Peter used plans he found in an archive from the 1923 Paris Roubaix. Unknowing to Peter at the time, the weight capacity of this plan set would only hold 3 riders at or under 137 pounds. Luckily, these cobble earning athletes could all stand to eat an extra taco tonight, and aren't in danger of falling through this beautiful work of art.

Our catered Lunch feast in typical Steel Wul fashion – thank you in particular to the beautiful maidens Asha and Gina for service with a smile. But most importantly, I mean come on……a mister at the summit? The bar has been raised. Uncle Timmy, we salute you. A life altering experience. And the hand spun organic towels in steel wul blue were a nice touch as well.

And then there was the way back….. Although Jake described this year’s cobble classic as a series of small nothings, punctuated by a fantastic climb, it appears a seismic shift occurred following our summit, a the Category 1 climbs Cul de Man Resa, Cull de Strawberry hill, Cull de Park Avenue, cull de 30th taxed our legs and our spirits.

And then: sprint. The line was drawn. The rules were set. Sprint opens live at 1 mi to go. However, Dave Reid, who spent the majority of the day maxing out his friends and family plan minutes on his phone at the back of the pack decided to go at 2 miles out. “Should we cover?!?!?” arose from the peloton? No challenge shall go unanswered – the sprint Is LIVE – into the headwind – through the chicane – there was a fog of fertilizer, a tractor, a truck……and a sprint line. And at that line, Dan-O came across in completely dominating fashion.

But rolling back onto Santa Fe Ct, I had a taco, a beer, and a cookie in my hand within 2 min. And overheard in the peloton today “you know I don’t think there is a better place to road bike anywhere in the country,” and that my fellow wullers, is why we ride together. Thank your volunteers, than you fellow riders, and thank you mother earth for the roads we call home.

words by Jay Dichary

summer of 13 by the numbers...

not enough of this

too much of this

only 3 of these

50 of these

72 of these

Steel WÜl Trivia -Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn...

Question: What did Bernard Hinault ask a local hotel owner to do the morning before the 1980 World Road Race Championships?

Easton Dream Bike Charity Raffle

If you haven't learned about this already, check it out. Easton is getting grassroots by launching this campaign with our five, esteemed, yet uniquely original custom frame builders.

I was stoked when new(ish) Wüleur, Dain Zaffke of Easton Bell Sports approached me to assist with graphic materials to promote this truly unique project which is a win, win for everyone. Steers attention to the Easton brand, highlights and promotes the frame builders and benefits five separate charities of each builders choice. Pretty awesome!

And 5 lucky people will win a Custom Dream Bike outfitted with Easton EC90 components and Shimano Dura Ace Di2 gruppo!

Find out more here :

https://www.facebook.com/eastoncycling

- Apple

A Kiwi and a Swiss walk into a restaurant...

Occasionally something positive can happen when you get dropped in a bicycle race as a matter of fact, sometimes a good old whooping can be down right comforting and pack a healthy reality check especially if you end up eating dinner with a couple of your "hero's" who lapped you not once but twice at the Tour of Nevada City Cycling Classic.

The promoter of the Nevada City Classic traditionally allows the top 3 junior racers to take on the pros the following day on fathers-day weekend. With 20 years of hindsight, I can now appreciate why he offers up this humble pie opportunity to teenage racers. You would think my reality check would have settled in when Wayne Morgan and Alexi Grewal lapped me for the first time. I couldn't care less because my dad was sitting on the sidelines with my silver medal safely tucked away in his pocket and I knew my weekend was untouchable. 

It wasn't until we had dinner that evening with Jim Gentes, Rob Parsons, Herbert Niederberger and Nathan Dahlberg when my subconscious career change set roots. Whats the saying- the devil is in the details? Lets just say that I'm convinced that the littlest and inconsequential details we remember make the most impact in our long term. To this day, I still reflect on the fact that both Herbet Niederberger and Nathan Dahlberg (both TdF finishers) barely ate anything on their plates that evening after putting in a couple of huge efforts at Nevada City that day (I'm pretty sure they were both in the top 5). It wasn't the speed of the race or the high stakes descending that got me thinking about a career change, it was the simple fact that you have to basically starve yourself to maintain the slightest possibility of landing another year with a pro cycling contract. Seeing these guys in street clothes was also an eye opener as they looked so thin and frail they were obviously straddling the fine line between healthy and sickly.

You remember things for a reason and I am convinced that dinner was meant to be. It was almost like they were doing me a favor with their demonstration of one simple sacrifice they endure daily. I have all the respect in the world for these guys knowing, well... imagining, what it might take to pedal in their shoes. 

For the record:

Dahlberg found out that he was going to race the Tour de France with team 7-Eleven the night before it started...

The hand bar bone is connected to the frame bone...

artwork by Olivia Hess 2009

Today's plan is to push my pedals which will power my wheels while sitting on my seat and holding my hand bar. After I do that, my to-do list will be complete.

Blessings to My Wüleur Brethren

For those of you who don't know, I had a pretty real and traumatic skirt of major injury or dare I say, death on Monday. I had a collision with a car turning onto Smith Grade off of Empire at speed. Amazingly I came away with minor injuries. This is one of those a half second difference could have delivered a very different outcome. I am very lucky.

So, once I gather myself, who do I call amidst fire engine, paramedics and CHP, of course, Jake. He's there ASAP and steers the ship, get's me home, gets me some food and injury care shit - basically is the saint he is. Thank you so much my friend!

Then there's the issue of insurance questions and such. Who do I call for guidance, duh, Tyson Wiles. Thank you so much for your coaching and being available for whatever needs I may have.

From incident, my wrist was in question, so who steps up here? None other than The Gren, who comes and visits me in full scrubs in between procedures. Really? He insisted I get X-Rays, and sure enough, hairline fracture - could have overlooked.

The point here is, upon this super spooky and scary incident, I had very good and special friends (wüleurs) to call upon for assistance. This is a fine example of the extension of this family in a real life scenario.

I can't thank you all enough.

- Apple

chasing cobbles...week 1

My Movie from Jake Hess on Vimeo.

Nephew WÜleur: Luke Grenier firing the cannon

Luke and his teammates on their way to 2nd place in the state 

What does this have to do with cycling you ask? Well, there is some serious cross over, just ask our own bad-ass Steel WÜleur and NCAA H20 Polo guru Chris Appleton. If you ever find yourself in a pool with a water polo player, keep your head on a swivel because they will take it right off with one flick of the ball or kick-board in Lukes case...Congrats to Luke and his team!

Recon Boogie: a little here, a little there, & up up up

Bryce Boosting Big on a Boogie in Bend

Steel WÜleur Bryce Hart making it look easy while on vacation in Bend. I believe he is in the elite club of pedal pushers who can lay it down on an 8 hour road ride in the mountains with the best of them and then air it out with the all the youngsters. It's good to have wizards in the Peloton because they can work their bike magic behind the scene and keep everyone upright by absorbing our subtle mistakes.