Welcome to the Thu, 04/16/2009 edition of Off Topic! You are looking at the next step in the evolution of VCN, the Off-Topic page. Have you ever been frustrated because you had a burning desire to call someone a sandbagger and could only hope to be timely by posting your comment to a photo gallery page or on a page describing a charity ride?
Well, your prayers have been answered! You can post your comment from the home page and it magically comes to rest here with the other orphans from the land of Misfit Comments. The page gets refreshed every day, but not to worry! Each day’s page will be archived and treasured, so you can look back on past pages with pride, shame or disgust-depending on how the day’s conversation went. So post away! We’ve got an internet to fill up.
run forrest, run!
Comment of the day, April 15, 2009:
So I’m finally getting
By: Wheelsucker
Wed, 04/15/2009 – 19:49
caught up on Paris-Roubaix.
The highlight of the race for me was with 16K to go and while chasing Boonen and at full gas, Pozzato is able to lift his finger and give the bird to the rowdy Flanderians who were booing the ever-loving shit out him.
I love this sport.
What is up with a number of races eliminating fields or a race which would include Cat 1 or 2s? Not to mention their masters races start at 40+ instead of 35+. I don’t get this logic. If you’re going to hold a race why with plenty of categories, why not open it to the whole cycling community? I bring this up because I was looking for a race on May 3rd and don’t want to drive for hours. The NY Criterium and Tour of Colts Neck are both that day and have no fields for cat 1 or 2. I realize opening it up wouldn’t bring in droves of riders but if there’s room for 2 womens and 2 junior fields why not something for Cat 1 or 2 (or even 35+)? I upgraded to Cat 2 so I could occassinoaly challenge myself in some of the bigger criteriums. I didn’t clean up as a Cat 3 but had more than enough points to upgrade, so I did. It didn’t seem like it would change most of the races I was doing already which if they weren’t 1/2/3 had a 1/2 or master field I could race. Now I’m shut out of some fun smaller races. Thank you promoters for all the work you do in putting on these races, I just don’t like the trend of shutting out those riders who have put the most time into the sport.
Do your homework. Colts Neck hasn’t offered a 1/2/3 field for a while, possibly forever. Probably because it costs a lot to hold a P/1/2 race and the largest field is always the 3/4.
If you don’t like it, hold your own races.
NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN)—Cadence Cycling & Multisport Centers co-founder and president Matt Heitmann will be stepping down in order to pursue a new position heading up an effort to build a world-class, 250-meter indoor velodrome and community events center in Manhattan.
wow
I guess selling bikes to rich guys got old … good luck, this sounds like an awesome project, and one that can be inclusive to people of all walks. good move.
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/2597.html
04/15/2009 5:00 PM MST
Cadence Cycling President Stepping Down
NEW YORK, NY (BRAIN)—Cadence Cycling & Multisport Centers co-founder and president Matt Heitmann will be stepping down in order to pursue a new position heading up an effort to build a world-class, 250-meter indoor velodrome and community events center in Manhattan.
Heitmann, along with partner and co-founder Jay Snider, began plans for Cadence Cycling & Multisport Centers in 2003. Construction on the first Cadence began in October, 2003, and the first location opened to much acclaim in Philadelphia in April, 2004.
Since that time Cadence has built a potent brand and is a recognized industry leader for retail sales and coaching programs. Cadence was the first world-class facility of its kind offering a combination of high-quality product in conjunction with indoor training facilities, cutting-edge physiological testing, and the nation’s leading coaches.
Cadence opened its second center in Manhattan (TriBeCa) in July, 2007. In 2008, the Manhattan location was selected by the International Interior Design Association’s Lester Dundes’ Award for retail interior design in New York City.
From its inception, Heitmann oversaw all operations for Cadence and was instrumental in building the Cadence brand and culture. In 2003, Heitmann approached Brian Walton, an Olympic silver medalist and 2003 USA Cycling Developmental Coach of the Year, to gauge his interest in heading up Cadence’s coaching, testing and performance services. Walton joined Cadence as a partner in late 2003.
Replacing Heitmann as president is Snider. He was the president of the Philadelphia Flyers from 1983 to 1994, and from 1987 to 1994, Snider also oversaw the management of the Philadelphia-based sports, entertainment, retail and communications conglomerate now known as Comcast-Spectacor.
“This was a very difficult decision to make,” Heitmann said. “I’m extremely proud of Cadence and what Cadence has accomplished in such a short while.
“The new velodrome will be a fully green, 100 percent sustainable site. It will also serve as a community center to promote healthy lifestyles, leadership values, and positive life skills for youth through the sport of cycling. Being situated in Manhattan, it will provide a world-class venue to showcase the sport of competitive cycling—future Olympians and civic leaders will be developed through its programs.”
Heitmann said that the project is not-for-profit and is financed by a New York-based philanthropic fund.
God, so using rich guys to build track = good, selling rich guys bikes = bad
you guys are idots
Live your own lives
Not saying that … just saying that having to sell bikes to rich guys day in / day out might get old from a personal standpoint. Using rich people’s money to start a non-profit track sounds FUN … perhaps more fulfilling.
… a fully green, 100 percent sustainable site. It will also serve as a community center to promote healthy lifestyles, leadership values, and positive life skills for youth through the sport of cycling …
sounds like something you might to tell your grandkids about, no?
“Matt Heitmann will be stepping down in order to pursue a new position heading up an effort to build a world-class, 250-meter indoor velodrome and community events center in Manhattan.”
Guess that’s just an editing mistake.
NYC has a rich history of velodrome/track racing.
To the idot critics, learn your history and what it means to have a velodrome back in the city! Who cares how or why or who gets it done. If it gets done, it will be tremendous.
Here’s a great primer:
http://myinwood.net/new-york-velodrome/
http://www.google.com/archivesearch?q=new+york+velodrome&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&scoring=t&ei=a6HnSbaJEYyONdOXycwF&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&resnum=11&ct=title
Non-profit track
so. fucking. awesome.
figure if they can open laser tag in NYC they can open a track? How many piers are sitting around unused?
What would this do for the T-town biz though? Can the region support two tracks within x miles of each other?
have 6:00 AM races like CRCA. I will smite thee with the power of my legs….
gambling, food, entertainment–damn right it’d be a great venue.
evening races…six days…bring it on!
bettin’ on the riders, just like horses. bring on the ‘roids!
Damn. You need a crap load of room
http://www.nadovich.com/chris/track/qatar-small.jpg
based on that site, the outer dimensions of a track are 68,000 sq/ft. At $20 per sq/ft a year, that would bring rent alone to $113k a month.
maybe they’ll buy a site now that the economy has tanked
$113k a month = only 6 or 7 bikes for neurosurgeons each month. But is there enough brain surgery around here to support that?
i’m telling you, legalized gambling revenue will make it happen.
wasn’t velodrome racing once the biggest sport in this country? some guy named, oh, major taylor used to race at the in MADISON SQUARE GARDEN velodrome in the late 1800’s, earning 6 fgures (six figures at that time, can you imagine?!?!)!!!!!
go get ’em!
They might need to change their mission statement:
It will also serve as a community center to promote healthy lifestyles, leadership values, and positive life skills for youth through the sport of cycling. Being situated in Manhattan, it will provide a world-class venue to showcase the sport of competitive cycling—future Olympians and civic leaders will be developed through its programs.
Great way to promote good values … have kids bet on like horses.
no need to change it. combine the good intentions with commercial aspect, like keirin.