November 12, 2007 at 9:30 pm
· Filed under Cycling
A couple of weeks ago I found an older Specialized Rockhopper on Craigslist in Iowa City. According to Quickbike it seems to be from around 1995, with a gray double-butted chro-moly frame and fork, grip shifters (21-speed), cantilever brakes, and Shimano Alivio components. The rear wheel appears to be new, as it has a different tire and rim from the front wheel and a nicer Deore hub. The frame is a little on the small side, but with the seat post at full extension it fits pretty well. I haven’t decided if I will keep the setup more off-road oriented to use on the local trails, or if I will put on some road tires and use it for around-town trips. Over the weekend I started overhauling the front end, part of a plan to completely disassemble and clean the bike for next season. More pictures in the gallery.
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November 5, 2007 at 6:43 pm
· Filed under General
Despite finishing the regular season 10-10-10 to sneak into the playoffs, the Chicago Fire have been on a roll for the last two months, winning or tying their last 10 games. On Thursday they were able to tie D.C. United 2-2 in Washington to win the first round of the playoffs 3-2 on aggregate goals. D.C. finished the season with the best schedule in the league, winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield over Chivas USA, but was hampered by injuries and unable to match the strong defense and opportunistic goal scoring of the Fire. Chicago has been consistently improving over the second half of the season, especially after changing coaches in July and signing Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Blanco’s effect on the Fire’s play has been multifaceted. He’s good on set pieces and able to draw tons of (arguably questionable) fouls, creating scoring opportunities. He can make superb passes when he’s on but can also give the ball up left and right when he’s off. He seems to be a strong motivator for the team, and he is certainly a big fan favorite. As for my personal favorite player, I like Chris Rolfe (above). He’s fast and active all over the field, and is able to put the ball in the net when the opportunity presents itself.
The next game for the Fire will be against Taylor Twellman and the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Finals Thursday night on ESPN2.
Game Recap | First Round Analysis | Playoff Bracket
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