Here is the link to the slideshow of many of the photos I took in Japan. It is not all of them, but many of them. Bare with me as I take the time to label and sort them as need be.
You can also view the official results for the main race here.
As you can see I am not listed, even in the DNF list as it is hard to DNF (did not finish) if you DNS (did not start). Anyways, water under the bridge at this point. My current concerns when it comes to racing is trying to bring back to life the dying First Friday Alley cat series in town here. Stay tuned with info on that and my reports from the trip to Tokyo.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Gang photos
Just a quick message to let everyone know there is an ever growing stream of photos by people form the Tokyo CMWC being uploaded on Flickr. Here is the direct link to the pools slideshow. Enjoy...and I haven't seen myself in any yet, but there are photos of me coming from a guy from Montreal who I rode around with for a while, can't wait to get them, from what I saw on his camera they looked good.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Return from Tokyo
The trip didn't exactly go as planned but was an excellent thing non-the-less. Unfortunately I was unable to do daily updates while in Japan due to password/technical difficulties while I was there. Through out this week I will upload a series of posts recounting some of the trip. Once again I want to thank everyone for their support in this event, it was an amazing experience. While I had a great time and enjoyed every single minute I was on my bike I am glad and happy to be home.
While I would love to keep everyone in suspense as to how I did at the race I'm going to tell you know; in the qualifying round, were we had 1.5 hours to deliver 10 packages, I delivered all of them on time in 1 hour and 3 minutes. With this time and all completed packages I qualified for the final race the following day. Unfortunately due to some unfortunate time wasting events I arrived at the venue 15 minutes after that start of the race to find out that I had qualified and was unable to compete because it had already started. So while I did well and made it into the finals I was unable to actually show what I would really be capable of up against the best messengers around the world. I won't be able to find out next year too since I do not want to go to Guatemala to compete (which is where the 010 CMWC is being held). While it would be incredibly cool to do so, I don't want to be in Guatemala for 2 weeks and have to adjust to altitude. I might have my chance again next year in the NACCC (North American Cycle Courier Championships), which I have yet to find out it's location...but we shall see. When possible I want to continue competing at the larger events as I have truely come to love racing with the messengers.
While I would love to keep everyone in suspense as to how I did at the race I'm going to tell you know; in the qualifying round, were we had 1.5 hours to deliver 10 packages, I delivered all of them on time in 1 hour and 3 minutes. With this time and all completed packages I qualified for the final race the following day. Unfortunately due to some unfortunate time wasting events I arrived at the venue 15 minutes after that start of the race to find out that I had qualified and was unable to compete because it had already started. So while I did well and made it into the finals I was unable to actually show what I would really be capable of up against the best messengers around the world. I won't be able to find out next year too since I do not want to go to Guatemala to compete (which is where the 010 CMWC is being held). While it would be incredibly cool to do so, I don't want to be in Guatemala for 2 weeks and have to adjust to altitude. I might have my chance again next year in the NACCC (North American Cycle Courier Championships), which I have yet to find out it's location...but we shall see. When possible I want to continue competing at the larger events as I have truely come to love racing with the messengers.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Countdown
With less than a week to go until I arrive in Tokyo I have gotten pretty much everything under control and in order. After the 24 hour scare relating to how i would get the bike there a solution that is reasonable has been found.
Initially the airline told me $390 for one way to bring my bike in the bike travel case. This wasn't going to happen, I didn't have that kind of money to afford that, let alone get it back home for the same amount...almost as much as the plane ticket it's self. In the interim I contacted the guys at Eighthinch.com to see if I could utilize their kick ass shipping rate through whatever company they ship globally with. They said sure and estimated it would be about $200, which is double my original estimation for the surcharge to bring the bike on the plane. So I figured this was the best option, but I didn't stop there. I looked into what it would cost to be SS Couplers installed on the bike. After getting an email back from the president of Waterford Precision Cycles (and Schwinn heir) I was directed to Bilenky Cycle Works, whom was previosuly featured in Cog Magazine's last issue. I checked out the price rate for the retrofit job and found that this would run me over $400. Plus, I really didn't have the time to have this done anyways as his shop is located on the east coast.
So, I stuck with the shipping option as my only solution. As I waited for replies from Eighthinch.com i pondered another idea and began measuring what my luggage would be like if I took the wheels, threw them in my wheel bag and then boxed up the rest of the bike after mostly disassembling it. I knew the box everything else would be in would be bigger than the allowed luggage dimensions, but not by much which might elicit only a smaller surcharge. I was also concerned about the time the bike would be in transit if i shipped it and needed to wait for a response from my friend in Japan about him receiving it. Plus with shipping it, I wasn't sure how I was going to get it home. I had decided i would have to leave it with my friend and work with him after that fact to get it back to me.
The next day, full of anxiety and uncertainty, I talked with my friend who needed to find out what his options were for receiving the bike, but he was certain he could get it back home for me for relatively cheap through the military. While I waited for response from him I called Eighthinch.com and talked with them. I had done some transit estimations with both UPS and FedEx and both of them could deliver the bike by the 18th is I mailed it the 14th...cool. But if the bike got mailed the 15th it wouldn't arrive until the 24th...not cool. This had me worried, especially on top of Noah at Eighthinch.com talking about how customs might screw up the delivery date. Also, to guarantee they could get it there in time I would need to drive it to Appleton myself, which meant taking off of work. I decided to call the airline again and see if I could get a better rate.
This time I explained the situation and went over all the details of the case with the rep. This is how it was explained to me; the estimated weight of the case is over the 50lbs luggage limit, but under the 75lbs excess weight limit. To get in that 25lbs bracket there is a $25 upcharge. Then, since the dimensions are larger then the 62" allotted there would be a $130 upcharge for that. So I was actually looking at $180 only to bring the bike with one way. This still left me with how to get it back home, but that portion wasn't as important. I talked to the rep about the price I was quoted the day before and he said the only way he can see how that price would come about would be from previous rep thinking this was an additional piece of luggage beyond the 2 free pieces allotted. I asked him some more questions and was satisfied with his answers and changed my course again. Now the bike was going with me on the plane for $20 cheaper then the estimated shipping cost. While it is still more money than I initially planned on spending for the surcharge, it was still doable.
In other news TKBMA (the group putting together the race) have been busy this week getting everything wrapped up. The posted pictures of the order forms and some info packets...http://cmwctokyo.blogspot.com/
Soon...
Initially the airline told me $390 for one way to bring my bike in the bike travel case. This wasn't going to happen, I didn't have that kind of money to afford that, let alone get it back home for the same amount...almost as much as the plane ticket it's self. In the interim I contacted the guys at Eighthinch.com to see if I could utilize their kick ass shipping rate through whatever company they ship globally with. They said sure and estimated it would be about $200, which is double my original estimation for the surcharge to bring the bike on the plane. So I figured this was the best option, but I didn't stop there. I looked into what it would cost to be SS Couplers installed on the bike. After getting an email back from the president of Waterford Precision Cycles (and Schwinn heir) I was directed to Bilenky Cycle Works, whom was previosuly featured in Cog Magazine's last issue. I checked out the price rate for the retrofit job and found that this would run me over $400. Plus, I really didn't have the time to have this done anyways as his shop is located on the east coast.
So, I stuck with the shipping option as my only solution. As I waited for replies from Eighthinch.com i pondered another idea and began measuring what my luggage would be like if I took the wheels, threw them in my wheel bag and then boxed up the rest of the bike after mostly disassembling it. I knew the box everything else would be in would be bigger than the allowed luggage dimensions, but not by much which might elicit only a smaller surcharge. I was also concerned about the time the bike would be in transit if i shipped it and needed to wait for a response from my friend in Japan about him receiving it. Plus with shipping it, I wasn't sure how I was going to get it home. I had decided i would have to leave it with my friend and work with him after that fact to get it back to me.
The next day, full of anxiety and uncertainty, I talked with my friend who needed to find out what his options were for receiving the bike, but he was certain he could get it back home for me for relatively cheap through the military. While I waited for response from him I called Eighthinch.com and talked with them. I had done some transit estimations with both UPS and FedEx and both of them could deliver the bike by the 18th is I mailed it the 14th...cool. But if the bike got mailed the 15th it wouldn't arrive until the 24th...not cool. This had me worried, especially on top of Noah at Eighthinch.com talking about how customs might screw up the delivery date. Also, to guarantee they could get it there in time I would need to drive it to Appleton myself, which meant taking off of work. I decided to call the airline again and see if I could get a better rate.
This time I explained the situation and went over all the details of the case with the rep. This is how it was explained to me; the estimated weight of the case is over the 50lbs luggage limit, but under the 75lbs excess weight limit. To get in that 25lbs bracket there is a $25 upcharge. Then, since the dimensions are larger then the 62" allotted there would be a $130 upcharge for that. So I was actually looking at $180 only to bring the bike with one way. This still left me with how to get it back home, but that portion wasn't as important. I talked to the rep about the price I was quoted the day before and he said the only way he can see how that price would come about would be from previous rep thinking this was an additional piece of luggage beyond the 2 free pieces allotted. I asked him some more questions and was satisfied with his answers and changed my course again. Now the bike was going with me on the plane for $20 cheaper then the estimated shipping cost. While it is still more money than I initially planned on spending for the surcharge, it was still doable.
In other news TKBMA (the group putting together the race) have been busy this week getting everything wrapped up. The posted pictures of the order forms and some info packets...http://cmwctokyo.blogspot.com/
Soon...
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wrench in the Plans
After doing the responsible thing and trying to make sure everything was set I called Japan Airlines to double check on the extra charge i will face for the bike case. Based upon the information on their website i was under the impression that it would be an additional $50.00 charge to bring the bike in it's travel case with. After working through the dimension and estimated weight with the rep for the airlines she came back and gave me a total of $390.00 each way. This is putting a large snag in the plans as I don't exactly have this kind of cash to put towards getting it there, let alone bringing it back.
So, with a week to go, I am stuck with this problem, but have already been sending out SOS signals to try and alleviate this situation. At the writing of this post answers are still pending, but I have even gone so far as to shoot Waterford Cycles an email querying how much and how fast they could fit the frame with S&S couplers which would allow me to fold the bike up and put in a standard suitcase.
At the moment I am faced with two options; somehow get the bike there cheaper or cancel the trip.
If I cancel the trip I would have to find out from JAL if I can even get a partial reimbursement on the cost of the ticket. The hostel is easy, I would just be out the small percentage I already paid to reserve my bed and they have open cancellation up to 24 before check in. I would disassemble the bike and send it back to the guys at Eighth Inch.com, as I wouldn't be able to promote the brand in Tokyo if I wasn't even going. If I can't get the bike there it is pointless of me to go and not race.
So I am at a crossroads at a late point in the game. If anyone has any ideas let me know, I'm open to pretty much anything at this point.
So, with a week to go, I am stuck with this problem, but have already been sending out SOS signals to try and alleviate this situation. At the writing of this post answers are still pending, but I have even gone so far as to shoot Waterford Cycles an email querying how much and how fast they could fit the frame with S&S couplers which would allow me to fold the bike up and put in a standard suitcase.
At the moment I am faced with two options; somehow get the bike there cheaper or cancel the trip.
If I cancel the trip I would have to find out from JAL if I can even get a partial reimbursement on the cost of the ticket. The hostel is easy, I would just be out the small percentage I already paid to reserve my bed and they have open cancellation up to 24 before check in. I would disassemble the bike and send it back to the guys at Eighth Inch.com, as I wouldn't be able to promote the brand in Tokyo if I wasn't even going. If I can't get the bike there it is pointless of me to go and not race.
So I am at a crossroads at a late point in the game. If anyone has any ideas let me know, I'm open to pretty much anything at this point.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Two Week Deadline
With the 2009 CMWC's fast approaching TKBMA, the Tokyo Bike Messenger Association put together an informative video...fun to watch especially for the detailed instructions in how to properly use a traditional Japanese floor toilet.
CMWC TOKYO 2009 PROMO II: TKBMA Gives Some Advice from Eli Tokyo Jitensha-Jin on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Buy my bike!!!
Ok, well not really. But Eighthinch.com now has available through their online store complete scrambler builds. You can almost buy build my bike, with the exception of the white saddle and the red chainring, which is a Sugino Messenger ring, thanks a lot guys for that one!! You can check out the page here.
Also, I posted the bike on Velospace as well and got a few hits already on it, which is pretty cool. The first post on it though questioned why I went with the heavier 42mm deep dish rims when I won't really get any aero advantage until I hit 25mph, which is very true. I went with them for a few reasons; they are nice wheels, they look sharp and will definitly get attention. I'm not concerned with my aero abilities and I have been finding once I get up to speed its incredibly easy to maintain that speed. So from now until I leave the biggest thing i will be training on aside from my endurance is my standing starts. I need to kick this bike into gear on the drop of a hat and that is where the weight, especially with the wheels are playing a role. It's all about building up more leg strength. I'm not worried about it either since I have plenty of time. 8-)
If you want to check out the listing on Velospace click here. You can also link to my other bikes I have listed as well.
Also, I posted the bike on Velospace as well and got a few hits already on it, which is pretty cool. The first post on it though questioned why I went with the heavier 42mm deep dish rims when I won't really get any aero advantage until I hit 25mph, which is very true. I went with them for a few reasons; they are nice wheels, they look sharp and will definitly get attention. I'm not concerned with my aero abilities and I have been finding once I get up to speed its incredibly easy to maintain that speed. So from now until I leave the biggest thing i will be training on aside from my endurance is my standing starts. I need to kick this bike into gear on the drop of a hat and that is where the weight, especially with the wheels are playing a role. It's all about building up more leg strength. I'm not worried about it either since I have plenty of time. 8-)
If you want to check out the listing on Velospace click here. You can also link to my other bikes I have listed as well.
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