Ryan Heisler

Application submitted. Side question: Can we choose between M/F kits? These legs look too awesome to keep them contained in standard male kits

As the resident "guy who wore a Coeur kit to race" member of the team...go for it. Although, I will note, don't try to do anything longer than a sprint in those shorts. There might be #NoAngryKitty, but there certainly was a #FuriousCock.

Much like winners of most Challenge USA events in 2015: nothing.

I feel like this is appropriate.

105 is two year old DuraAce. You can spend thousands more and get the equivalent weight savings with two bucks, an extra cup of coffee race morning and a bonus trip to the shitter.

In other words: yeah, this bike is worth it.

For my fellow multiple concussion sufferers:

First, how many of you have dealt with post-concussion syndrome symptoms? I had about three months worth of migraines, light sensitivity, dizziness, etc. following my last crash (3rd or 4th documented concussion, for what it's worth). If you have: anything beyond time/rest that you found useful? I'm still trying to recover some of my short-term memory.

Secondly: I am talking with CPSC regarding MIPS helmets and the like, trying to determine actual reduction in likelihood of concussions. Current helmets are great for preventing skull fractures…concussions, as we know, not so much. Is there interest in this at all? Additionally, what helmets are you wearing now?

Now, if we're going to go into full on injury history:

Got hit by a car when I was ten walking across the street to catch the bus. Somebody was distracted and never hit the brakes until they were five feet in front of me. Hit the car and bounced off it, landed on my right side. Broke the wrist pretty well, including the growth plate. So my right wrist is smaller than my left by a decent amount. (Insert limp-wrist joke here.)

Got clipped by the mirror of a car out riding for my first long ride aboard my new tri bike in 2010, starting a whole long line of me destroying carbon frames. Got lucky in that I managed to keep it upright until being forced off the shoulder of the road. Hit and run. No major injuries.

Broke my foot in a trail run in 2013 just stepping the wrong way. Earlier that summer I'd posted the following photo on the run at a race, proclaiming that I was attempting to rival Jesse Thomas for Hairest Chest in Triathlon:



Since that photo has been published, I broke my foot, won some AG awards, and fractured my spine. So, in other words, my transformation into his doppelgänger really just needs a pair of aviators to be completed.

Alright, time to get up on my soap box for a minute:

If your local running store does nothing but sell gear without much in the way of fit services, customer retention programs, or training groups: fuck 'em. They aren't doing all that much for you that online won't eat their lunch.

If, however, your local run store is looking to build a relationship, versus a transactional model, whereby they offer a variety of training groups for everyone from beginners to BQ marathoners, look to fit you, have a fantastic return policy, and look to educate? Then shop there. THAT's why you pay MSRP.

Don't forget that suppliers will often force brick-and-mortar retailers into MAP guidelines (minimum advertised pricing) that online retailers will often shamelessly flout. (I'm looking into your cold, dead eyes, Amazon.) Brick-and-mortar retailers don't have the capital to take on any sort of legal challenge, nor can they afford to lose out on the pricing that they are often dependent on for margins.

Secrets of the run retail biz, revealed: shoes are no longer at keystone (where cost is half of retail price). It's rare to even get on futures orders (orders placed six to nine months in advanced), with bulk volume pricing, after shipping, to be at 45 points. This is why, when I was running a store, I bought futures orders that I could get the minimum for free shipping, plus a discount for paying within the first 30 days of the order (when I had Net 90 to pay), and putting that payment on an AmEx Plum card for the 3% cashback. That way I could get back close to keystone.

So, out of my $48 of profit off of $100 sale of shoes, about $6 went to staff (avg fit appointment was 30 mins, assumes a $12/hour employee (no commission. I hate commission in this industry. Ruins the incentive to fit you correctly)). Then take a piece for overall operational cost (e.g., utilities, rent). Credit card fees for the right of accepting that Visa card. And so on...

Some stores deserve to wither and die. Others should be shopped at more frequently. MSRP is the price you pay if your local run store is worth it.

So, uh, as a bit of an update:

I think you all doubt the power of cash and the partnership of Cannondale/Sugoi for his new team initiative. I don't think it's just about racing for the Kona win. It's about setting himself up for a good long while.

@TheRunOBX the comment my wife got after the reveal by @_MurMan, @zachboring, @AaronWebstey and @Kpressure was "You going to manage to hang onto this one for longer than 5 months, or are you just going to fucking break it again?"

Bike Crash Free Since August 4th, 2014!

Step 1: buy a TorHans.
Step 2: throw out old shit.
Step 3: install TorHans and race like a champion.

Barring that, you could run that bottle backwards so that you pull it towards you, versus pulling away. Alternatively you may want to look at some of the newer Specialized bottle tops, as I've found they don't leak in that situation.