One Fat Man

I’d love to see a cross over show …

posterous — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:18:31 +0000

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Fixing Velonews for the Tour

posterous — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:41:59 +0000

It is Tour time and I have to get my bike fix all over the internet. Which means I have to go to Velonews on and off. VeloNews used to be my favourite bike site, but they've gone through two redesigns since their acquisition by Competitor. Each one I've felt degraded the site… visually, technically and most importantly from an editorial viewpoint. I've found this all really sad– end sidetrack.

One thing they've done with their site that I've found both innovative and incredibly distracting and annoying (at the same time) is put up large format background images ads. (see the picts). But these ads are too big. They push the page dimensions out too wide for a reasonable display width (1600px) and end up making the site look broken. In an effort to fit it in, they've also made it too close to the margins of the main body content – making it hard to read the site.

I was finding it so difficult to look at the site and read it that I had to do something. I don't know how to 'hack' their webserver, so I had to do something a bit more personal. Enter Greasemonkey and Stylish. I fired up my Firefox browser and clicked on the 'Add ons' area, ' Go get more Ad ons' and did a search for 'stylish'. Stylish is a plugin or add-on for Firefox that lets you write your own custom styles for websites. Normally I just use it to make Government of Canada websites more bearable to look at when I'm working on a project there. This is the first time I've had to use it on a commercial site. But it made all the difference. I just added a simple custom style sheet for Velonews:

@namespace url(http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml);

@-moz-document domain("velonews.competitor.com") {

body {background: url(xxx.gif) no-repeat #fff !important;

}}

And voila – no more annoying distracting background ad.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Random noise from 2010-07-09

fatman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Exciting sprint shows tactical versatility? http://post.ly/mNrn #

Exciting sprint shows tactical versatility?

posterous — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:15:41 +0000

Wow, today's Tour de France sprint finish in Montargis was exciting. What a sprint. What made it most interesting to me was watching how the teams played the finish and then wondering … after the outcome, if Columbia-HTC rode the way they did intentionally? Big bike teams these days have become known for developing 'systems' and then following their formula over and over. If it works, why change it?

Columbia-HTC has one of the best finishing 'systems'. They control the front with perfection and deliver their finisher to the line. Mostly we think of that being Cavendish – like today. But it could be Greipel or in the past Ciolek, Henderson and maybe in the near future Howard. They've hardly shown a chink or deviation in this system over the last few years. They are the winningest pro bike team by a big margin over this time.

But today was totally different. It looked like it was all going to plan. Perfect Columbia riding. Then with 2km to go Renshaw and Cav dropped back and Eisel was isolated on the front. Eisel looked confused a bit, but quickly put his head back down and drilled it. Cav actually looked a bit in trouble, he was back in the shit fight and was getting bounced around quite a bit. Then Garmin went over Bernie and looked to be in perfect position, and they were actually – 4 guys, unbroken in firm control with 1km to go. They had it in control until the sprint opened up with about 300m to go. Then out of no where Cav shoots out from 8-10 places back and won the race.

At first look you'd think Cav won by skill and a bit of luck. After all his finishing system looked broke. But on second thought, you might think that Columbia has controlled 2 sprints this tour perfectly and Petachi has taken advantage of their system to win. Maybe they switched up on purpose? If so it would be brilliant, but risky.

I've always thought the best strategies in biking are based on versatility. You need to be able to win with different players in different ways… that way you can keep your opponents off guard. A little bit of confusion can be a powerful thing in biking, and versatility gives you that. By contrast the way Columbia usually rides gives them another key advantage – intimidation. When you can have unbroken control of the front it can be very very intimidating. Sometimes in biking we call 'intimidation' the extra team mate.

But imagine, if Columbia chose to ride the way they did today. Their choice would have been balancing the risks of trading off 'intimidation' versus 'confusion'. They've also seen in this Tour that Petachi is really strong, and can maybe hold his speed a bit more than Cav. If they realized this and intentionally chose to opt for 'confusion' in their finishing system it would be brilliant! If you look more closely at the finish I'd maybe think that might be exactly what they did.

After all, they made sure to keep Renshaw with Cav when they let themselves get broken apart… having Bernie continue to drill it on the front kept Cav and Renshaw reasonably safe 8-10 places back – albeit they were definitely in a shit fight back there. Columbia looking a bit broken would have definitely confused the other teams, but in the split second decision making of a sprint finish there is only one choice to make – "we must move forward and control now" – and that is exactly what Garmin did, and they did it perfectly. What this allowed Cav to do was be in better position to mark Petachi. Petachi is a deisel sprinter and Cav is more punchy – his sprint is faster but a bit shorter (maybe). Renshaw did a great job moving Cav through the shit fight and Cav was able to hit out from the wheels a bit closer to the line – where he knew he was able to go faster than anyone else.

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Random noise from 2010-07-07

fatman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:19:00 +0000

@kadisco yes, might end up as a smart move. If contador flatted he should get same time as that grp – if inside 3k to go. We'll see. in reply to kadisco #

Random noise from 2010-06-28

fatman — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Tubing on the river in Bend @treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/29554701 #
Really really happy for Will and Svein for their wins this weekend in edmonton! http://myloc.me/8vRaH #

Random noise from 2010-06-27

fatman — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Waiting for thje podium presentation http://tweetphoto.com/29183429 #
Ben solo w 1.50 gap w 20km to go. Looks really good. @treku23 http://myloc.me/8srcR #
Ben is still solo 2.15 gap 12km to go. This looks very very good. @treku23 http://myloc.me/8srOV #
@meking your son is about to win the national championships rr. @treku23 http://myloc.me/8srX7 #
Ben King enroute to a big big win @treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/29345431 #
Congratulations to ben king. Nice solo win in Bend today at u23 US Nationals. @treku23 http://myloc.me/8ssE5 #
Gavin Mannion relaxes after the race http://tweetphoto.com/29349063 #
@podiuminsight thanks. The guys are pretty excited. http://myloc.me/8suKI in reply to podiuminsight #
Getting the jersey ready for the podium. @treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/29375293 #
Yes for sure. #

Random noise from 2010-06-26

fatman — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

@treku23 ben king wins crit. Justin 3rd and gavin was 5th. Great day. #usnationals http://myloc.me/8pLTx #
My notes from US National championship crit in Bend Oregon http://post.ly/kn2p #

My notes from US National championship crit in Bend Oregon

posterous — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:24:20 +0000

46 laps total Lap/lap to go

1/45 grm solo
2/44 compacto
3/43 3 away grm 5s our guys on frnt 4/42 1 away grm 5/41 compacto 1:42 lap times 6/40 compacto
7 3 away grm ben surging to control tempo

8/38 compacto
9/37 compacto 10/36 compacto
11/35 missed it
12/34 bissell solo 5s (cody)
13/33 bissel 3 guys bunch ben controling
14/32 bissel gavin chasing
15/31 3 away gav in it 5s 16/30 3 in brk bunch splinters 17/29 compacto 18/28 1 away bhatti
19/27 1 bhatti 1 giant bunch 10s
20/26 1 bhatti giant fades 21/25 1 bhatti 20s on bunch 3 chasing 22/24 1 bhati 10s ben controlling
23/23 missed it / halfway in 24/22 bhati solo 5s
25/21 bhati solo 5s
To go 20 3 away ben joins bhati 19 compacto 18 sm brk of 3 we have 1 (charlie) 17 6 away charlie in it
16. Brk ending, perfect-boys setting up counter
15 compacto 14 ben + bissell attacking
13 ben + bissell sm gap
12 coming back together
11 compacto
10 iggy away grm guy 3 total justin countering 9. We’re a bit f*ked 6 and no one
8 we have 2 in 8 justin + iggy
7 bhati solo
6 nate covering move bhati solo 3s front disorganized
5 2 in 8 nate and charlie 5s
4 coming back togethr. crash (poor bhati guy who was super strong)
3 ben + 1 guy 5s. Iggy a bit too back. Justin perfect 2 ben + 1 10s 1 ben + 1 10s. Bike reg chasing. Guys need to control corners Finish: ben gets the win. Looks like justin won bunch. Notes

Gavin got 5th (we think). Justin 3rd. Guys executed well, but race was very hard to control. 1st, 3rd and 5th is a very good day.
Sent from my BlueBerry

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Random noise from 2010-06-25

fatman — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

@neilroad do you have any times for the u23 men? http://myloc.me/8mIEP in reply to neilroad #
@podiuminsight 1-4th: talansky, carter jones, dave williams, nate brown in u23. http://myloc.me/8mJzp in reply to podiuminsight #
Nate brown was 4th at US Nationals in the u23 men's TT. @treku23 http://myloc.me/8mKiP #

Random noise from 2010-06-24

fatman — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Just washed the bugs off the trailer. 34hr drive to bend @treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/28718021 #

Random noise from 2010-06-22

fatman — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

RT @sitepointdotcom: Wordpress 3.0 Ups The Game http://bit.ly/ameweo #
Wooly mamoth tusk display at seattle airport? http://tweetphoto.com/28398281 #
@DogWalkingDiary I was only there for 45minutes in reply to DogWalkingDiary #

Random noise from 2010-06-21

fatman — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Lap 2 early break #nvgp @treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/28252463 #
RT @jessesergent: Done and dusted last stage today was fast, Tim finishes 2nd. Happy for him he deserves it! #
Ben leads over the hill with 14 laps to go #nvgp @treku23 #
Ben king keeps u23 jersey at #nvgp @treku23 #
Ben on the podium for the u23 overall #nvgp @treku23 #
The fianal jerseys on the podium #nvgp @treku23 #

Random noise from 2010-06-19

fatman — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

RT @christianmeier: RT @JourneyHomeBC: Saxo Bank jersey signed by entire 2009 TdF team auction ends in one day, (cont) http://tl.gd/1vgcof #
This is what its all about – the kids race #nvgp #treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/27908835 #
This kid is good RT @podium_live: Bush gets most aggressive #nvgp #

Random noise from 2010-06-18

fatman — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

#nvgp race shortened due to severe weather warning. 30mi and then finishing circuits. http://myloc.me/8l3cv #
#treku23 out at dinner after stage 3 #nvgp cancelled due to hurricane warnings. Safe call by organizer. http://myloc.me/8lb4D #

Random noise from 2010-06-17

fatman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Nate gets ready to start #nvgp #treku23 http://tweetphoto.com/27508237 #
Ben king stages in his young rider leader's jersey http://tweetphoto.com/27573712 #
Looks like ben kept the young rider jersey http://myloc.me/8iPpt #

Random noise from 2010-06-12

fatman — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Just landed in madison – favourite little city in the usa. http://myloc.me/85pRZ #

Random noise from 2010-06-09

fatman — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

@mtnmamma_web like it. But I leave again in 2 dats for wisconsin and then oregon! http://myloc.me/7YjnW in reply to mtnmamma_web #

Random noise from 2010-06-07

fatman — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Wow, Will's having a ripper in Philly! Great to see http://bit.ly/7XGKU #procycling #philly #
I hope Will nabs the KOM prize today. Looks like Ryan is off the front at #philly now for @teamspidertech. Awesome. #procycling #
@dccycling I think @7thgroove doesn't like to advertise the fact they support a women's team :) you know philanthropy and all that. in reply to dccycling #

Random noise from 2010-06-06

fatman — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:19:00 +0000

@johnswah aren't we supposed to clear it everytime we use our dryers? in reply to johnswah #