sparklestim

[srrpnj]

Hike-A-Thon June 2023

Thanks to Buttzville Brewing in Washington Borough, Warren County, NJ, for supporting the June 2023 Highlands Hike-A-Thon!

How far will you go to protect the places you love?

During the month of June, hikers, bikers and paddlers from across New Jersey - and beyond - are invited to participate in the New Jersey Highlands Coalition's Explore the Highlands Hike-A-Thon. This fun, friendly virtual event allows you to set and exceed personal goals while you get outdoors and help raise funds for the NJHC. We are looking for 100 (or more) outdoor lovers who will hit the trails, backroads, and water to advocate for the beautiful New Jersey Highlands by sharing your adventures and asking your friends to chip in to help protect the places you love, such as Roaring Rock Park.

Join Team SRRP for this event!

We created a Hike a Thon team named 'Support Roaring Rock Park.' We would love to have you be a part of us as we help raise funds to support the NJHC's efforts to protect our vital natural resources in northwestern New Jersey.

Each participant will receive a limited edition 2023 Hike-A-Thon sticker, a one-year membership to the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and suggestions for exploring cool places during the Hike-A-Thon. Participants may register any time through June 30, but we encourage you to sign up with your friends and family before the June 1 start for the best chance to top the mileage leaderboard and enjoy some well-deserved recognition on social media. Incentives and prizes from our event partners will be listed on the registration page as they are confirmed.

Click HERE to join us!

[sprucesports]

MTB Shorts for man & Women's

Our MTB shorts are suitable for mountain biking, cycling, running, traveling, camping, fishing &; other outdoor activities. Check our cycling shorts for men/women.

for contact us visit our website: https://sprucesports.com/

[williambell23]

For your next adventure 🚵 make sure to gear up with an MTB jersey 👕 in your preferred style and colour to elevate both your #performance and aesthetic on the trails.

[jb5d]

06 • 06 • 23

[flobikewear]

Loose Fit Mountain Bike Jerseys: The Perfect Choice for Comfort and Style on the Trail! 

"A loose-fit jersey is like a second skin; it moves with your body and allows ultimate comfort and flexibility on the trail." If you're an avid mountain biker, you know how important it is to have comfortable and stylish cycling apparel. After all, you'll spend hours on the trails and want to look and feel your best while tackling those challenging routes. That's where loose fit mountain bike jerseys come in. 

"Comfort and Style on the Trail" 

These jerseys offer a relaxed, comfortable fit that is perfect for long rides and rough terrain. You'll stay cool and dry with lightweight, breathable materials that wick moisture away from your skin, keeping you cool and dry no matter how hard you work. Plus, they have a casual, laid-back look that's perfect for the mountain biking lifestyle. 

"Loose Fit vs. Traditional Jerseys" 

So, what makes a loose-fit mountain bike jersey different from a traditional cycling jersey? For starters, classic jerseys tend to be form-fitting, with a slim cut that hugs the body. It can be great for aerodynamics but is only sometimes the most comfortable option for long rides or rough trails. On the other hand, loose-fit jerseys offer a more relaxed fit that allows for a full range of motion and plenty of breathing room. They're knit with stretchy, flexible materials that move with you so that you can focus on the ride, not on your clothes. 

"Finding the Perfect Fit" 

When shopping for a loose-fit mountain bike jersey, finding one that fits well and feels comfortable is essential. Look for jerseys made with high-quality materials and feature flatlock seams to minimize chafing. Pay attention to the sizing chart, and ensure you measure yourself accurately to find the right size. It would be best if you also considered the length of the jersey – some look good untucked, while others have a more extended, fitted cut. 

"Make it Your Own with Custom Design." 

One of the great things about loose-fit mountain bike jerseys is that they're often available in custom designs. It allows you to create a one-of-a-kind jersey that reflects your style. You can choose colors, patterns, and graphics and add your name or team logo. 

"FAQs about Loose Fit Jerseys" 

Q: Can loose-fit jerseys be worn on the road and off-road? 

A: You can wear loose-fit jerseys on the road and off-road. While they may not offer the same aerodynamic benefits as a classic, form-fitting jersey, you can still wear them for road cycling if you prefer the relaxed fit and comfort. 

Q: Do loose-fit jerseys have pockets? 

A: Some loose-fit mountain bike jerseys have pockets, usually on the back of the jersey. These can be useful for carrying snacks, tools, and other small items while riding. However, not all loose-fit jerseys have pockets, so check the product description to see if this is a feature you want. 

Q: How do I care for my loose-fit mountain bike jersey? 

A: To care for your loose-fit mountain bike jersey, follow the instructions on the care label. Generally, it's best to wash your jersey in cold water, tumble dry it on low heat, or hang it to dry. Avoid fabric softeners and bleach, as these can damage the material and reduce its performance. 

"Get Your Loose Fit Jersey from Flobikewear" 

When finding the perfect loose-fit mountain bike jersey, look no further than Flobikewear. With a wide selection of high-quality, customizable jerseys, you can find something that fits your style and needs. So why wait? Get your loose-fit mountain bike jersey from Flobikewear today and start riding in comfort and style. 

[sprucesport]

MTB Shorts for Men’s & Women’s

Our MTB shorts are suitable for mountain biking, cycling, running, traveling, camping, fishing & other outdoor activities. Check our cycling shorts for men/women.

MTB Shorts with Padded LinerFeatures: Taslan Fabric ideal for baggy style MTB shorts Stretchy Crotch Area to minimise restriction of movement High quality detachable inner liner shorts with Coolmax anti-bacterial padding(can be worn separately) Partially elasticated waist for a comfortable fit Reflective Logo on Front Button fastening Press stud

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 794: The culmination race

Pag 1

1: “There are people who you don't meet often, but when you do meet them you get along really well���

2: I heard that from a classmate a long time ago

And I thought “there's no way that there are people like that”

4: There's some strange people

5: It's funny, if they asked me now

Pag 2

1: I'd answer “of course there are”!!

Pag 3

1: “One of them lives in Chiba”, I'd say!!

2: One day, that guy was collapsed on Hakone and I helped him

3: Unexpectedly, he also rode a bike

4: We met again at CSP

5: Like me

6: he's a climber

Pag 4

1: We rarely meet

but when we do meet

2: We laugh

Pag 5

1: at the same silly things

2: Sakamichi-kun!! It's you!!

Pag 6

1: They passed the 1km left point!!

Manami and Mountain King!

Just a few minutes until they reach the mountain line!!

Soon!

Goo Hakogaku!!

Take it, Chiba!!

Pag 7

1: They're still neck and neck!!

Amazing, neither of them is yielding!!

It's a race of willpower!!

2: Until the mountain line

3: 800m left!!

4: My hands

5: are becoming numb

6: But I'll keep doing my best!!

Pag 8

2: Wh-wh-what do I do

My heart is pounding in my chest....

3: They're arriving!!

Huh!? They're arriving!? Wait, my heart isn't ready

Not yet

Not yet!? Not yet!!

4: Why am I so nervous....

Even though I'm not the one running

Pag 9

1: Even though the one who's running and having a hard time is Sangaku...

2: I'll drink this lemon tea the old lady at the ryokan gave me, and I'll calm down

3: Ohh, you're going to cheer at the Inter High?

Oh, and you come from Kanagawa!?

Yes, well

That's amazing

4: It's delicious

5: But

6: I'm stuck on one thing

7: Was it really a good thing that I came here to cheer?

Pag 10

1: One month ago

2: Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone Academy

3: Ah

4: Class rep

5: Huh? From above!?

Huh, where is this voice coming from!?

The boys' toilets

Ah!?

Pag 11

1: Wait a moment, there's something I wanna ask you

Toi... ah!?

2: Huh!? Wait!? What!? Directly!?

Use the inside stairs... be caref....

2: Hop

Okay I get it, I get it, I'll come there

4: You know the other day... while I was running... a butterfly was flying,. And then I thought “oh, it's gone?”

And then when I went home and took off my jersey, it came out of it fluttering

What- you just came down the second floor so smoothly and started making conversation!!

Pag 12

1: Am I not amazing like a magician!?

Boys are strong...

Ah, yes yes, that's true

2: Is that all you wanted to tell me? I've been asked to go to the audiovisual room to bring these documents

3: Are you coming to the Inter High?

5: Huh

6: “Something he wanted to ask”

This year

Ah

7: “Inter High”

Pag 13

1: You came to the Inter High every year

I didn't know you liked road racing so much, Class rep

I...

2: I always thought

You even passed me a drink on the mountain last year

I thought

3: After last year's Inter High ended

4: I kept thinking about it even on the train home

5: that it was because I went to see him that Sangaku...

6: lost

Pag 14

1: I know it's unrelated... but, at the same place, screaming the same words

This year it'll be in Kyushu thought, so it's far...

2: It's small, it's a small thing, but if it gets in Sangaku's way

Hakogaku is going by plane, so it's easy

3: If he was even just a little distracted because of me and that made a small difference

(Win, Sangaku!!

Win, Sangaku!!)

4: Then I think it's better if I don't go this year

6: Because I want him to win

Pag 15

1: Ah, as expected Kyushu is too over-budget

That's not... ah... uhm

2: …. yeah, sorry

3: Well, I'll tell you the highlights

There'll be a camera, so you can watch videos

4: Watch it

The first day's mountain

“The first day's... mountain”

5: I think Sakamichi-kun will probably there too

“Sakamichi-kun”... the guy with the round glasses

6: We'll probably fight there

I think

Pag 16

1: It will be the culmination race of these three years

2: “Culmination”!!

3: “Of these three years”...!!

4: Such heavy words... this is Sangaku being serious

Culmination....!?

Pag 17

1: We have to fulfill our promise, so I'm sure Sakamichi-kun will come

2: “Sakamichi-kun”... they must be... close friends....

3: I think it'll probably end up being our best race

4: A... are you close friends!? You.. you and that Sakamichi-kun!?

5: Hahaha

Well, I guess

6: Even though we only contact each other two or three times a year

And that's being close friends!?

7: I lost against him during our first year... Hakogaku ended up losing, so I resented him

But I was blaming the wrong thing, because after all it was because of my lack of ability, wasn't it?

8: Now we often talk after races

Is... that so

9: But why don't you send more texts to each other? Is- is he really a close friend!?

Of course!!

Pag 18

1: After all we both “like hills”

Pag 19

2: Come see me if you can save money

Ye... yeah

3: Sangaku's smiling face that day was incredibly persuasive

I really wanted to see you race

4: So I came

to Kyushu!!

5: But

7: I really don't want to move forward, after all

It's enough if I can just see him a little... from behind here

Pag 20

1: What are you doing

2: Hyaa I'm sorry!!

I'm sorry for not paying attention to who was behind me! I'll just lean down a little!

Why don't you move forward?

3: Huh

4: Isn't he

5: a close friend of yours, and you used to always listen to his nonsense?

To... Toudou-san!!

[leveloneandup]

U.S. Soccer World Champion Tobin Heath on Her Love of Cycling

What happens when a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time FIFA World Cup Champion, and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team member decides to take up cycling? For one thing, the spandex really throw her off at first.

But that didn’t stop Tobin Heath from falling in love with life on two wheels, first at the spin studio rehabbing an injury, then on the roads around Los Angeles, and finally, riding around with the Canyon//SRAM team as they did a reconnaissance ride of stage two of the Tour de France Femmes. She even hosted interviews with pros like Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma with Strava during the Tour.

We wanted to hear how Heath found herself fully committed to the bike life, what she learned from the pros, and how she believes that the more we watch women's bike racing, the better on the bike we can become. Here are her top tips when it comes to getting started with cycling.

Ride With Others

“Until I did the ride with Canyon//SRAM, I had done most of my riding alone,” Heath says. “I realized on that ride that it’s amazing to just feel like part of a team. I play a team sport, obviously, so I’m used to putting on the uniform and getting into that team setting, so even putting on the team kit felt really natural for me. I do think it helps you become a better rider when you can ride with other people—and they don’t have to be pros.”

Try Before You Buy

Buying your first bike can be incredibly intimidating, especially if you’re not sure what kind of riding you really want to do. Road? Gravel? Mountain bike? Basic commuting around town? It may be helpful to borrow a bike from a similar-sized friend, hit up demo days at local bike shops, or even spend the money to rent a couple of different bikes to test out what type of biking feels fun to you.

That’s what Heath did: When she decided to try riding outside, she asked a friend if she could borrow her gravel bike to test out in the mountains around Santa Monica, California.

A few rides later, and she was hooked—but she was happy she tested the bike before committing. “It’s an expensive sport and the gear is really intense when you first get started!” she says. “I was thankful that I was able to test it out before I fully bought in.”

Find Your Local Community

“That’s one of the most special parts about cycling: the community,” Heath says. “It’s such a community-focused sport. In Los Angeles, there are so many clubs and groups and rides that you can jump into and meet new people if you don’t already know other cyclists, and even if you don’t always want to ride with a group, it’s a great way to get started since you can find out about the best spots to ride and ask tons of questions.”

While she’s not sticking to any specific training plan or considering turning pro on the bike anytime soon, Heath now rides a few times a week, mixing indoor and outdoor rides, as well as solo and group rides depending on her hectic travel schedule.

Ride Outside

While Heath started riding indoors as a way to rehab a soccer injury, she fell in love with cycling when she got outside. “Getting outdoors that just was the game changer,” she says. “I remember the first time I came home from a three-hour ride in the mountains, and my partner was just like, ‘I haven’t seen you look that happy in a long time.’ That feeling of freedom was just something that I couldn’t get from riding inside.”

Buy a Chamois

New cyclists may feel a little sheepish donning a full spandex kit, but Heath is here to tell you that it is a game-changer. “It’s so funny, I remember looking at other people wearing cycling kits and thinking it was really silly to wear that if you’re not a pro. I just assumed it wasn’t necessary. And then I got a cycling kit and I understood,” Heath laughs. “Wearing the kit obviously is super functional when you’re riding, so you can put stuff in your jersey pockets and the saddle is much more comfortable with the padded shorts—you wouldn’t survive a long ride without it—but it also changed the way I saw myself as a cyclist. It makes you feel fast.”

Share Your Progress

Your journey matters more than you think. Heath has become a big fan of Strava in recent months—it serves as an online version of a community, allows you to track your own progress on the bike, and lets you see how people similar to you (or the top pros) are training.

“When I started riding, I was so inspired by seeing what other riders were doing,” she says. “I find that if you see it, you want to do it. And I love seeing all different levels of riders sharing what they’re doing, because I think that helps motivate even more people. A lot of people, especially women, will see what the pros are doing and feel like it’s not achievable, because they can’t visualize themselves training like that. But if they can see someone who looks like them posting rides, they see that it’s possible.”

Watch Women’s Cycling to Get Better

While watching a race like the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is simply fun and entertaining, you can also watch it for some valuable tips, says Heath. Look closely at how the riders set themselves up to take a corner smoothly, or how close they’re drafting each other. Check out how they’re positioning their bodies to maximize power output on the climbs.

While you may not be as vast as Vollering or Niewiadoma, you can still learn a lot from them. “Not only is it going to inspire you to go out and ride, you’re going to learn a lot about cycling just by being a fan of the sport,” Heath says.

Seriously, Ride With Friends

“When I first started, the women I knew who rode were serious riders,” says Heath. “They kept inviting me out to ride, and I would say, ‘No, I’m not ready yet.’ But I was ready and they absolutely would have made space for me even if I wasn’t as fast. Cycling is super inclusive if you want to be part of a community. And if the worst case is that you’re left behind on a hill, who cares? Even if you start a ride with friends and split up part way through, it’s much more fun and you really do get better when you have those other women around you.”

[theninth09]

ive been looking at liams room for funsies. as one does, right. anyway im gonna talk about what his room looks like in season 4 first. (please excuse the ugly fucking filter i put over the pics, i wanted to be able to actually see things and teen wolfs lighting is.. like that)

i find it interesting that they put a picture of a woman (im assuming its a woman?) with a surfboard and an actual surfboard in his room. does this imply that liam has an interest in surfing? i mean, he does live in california... i dont know where exactly beacon hills is located as it doesnt actually exist and i know nothing about surf culture, in california or otherwise, in general. i dont think this means liam knows how to surf or anything but i thought it was a fun detail. maybe he just likes the aesthetics. i personally often like to connect him to ocean/beach imagery so this makes me very happy.

another detail is that next to the picture of the woman at the beach is a picture of what im assuming is a model in a "sexy" outfit and pose holding a soccer ball. considering he gets together with hayden, who plays soccer, the next season, this was just kinda funny to me. apparently liam likes girls who play sports. also, on the floor behind mason theres a soccer ball as well. feels really random since liam is only really interested in lacrosse, but i guess he likes sports in general?

theres more posters above his bed:

you can see the one saying "blood brothers" better here. its pretty obviously a lacrosse thing, based on the guys in their jerseys and the sticks they're holding but i couldn't figure out what/who exactly it is. perhaps some players that liam likes/looks up to? no idea if they actually exist or if its just a random picture of lacrosse players.

even further up theres another poster of a woman in a bikini/underwear. lovely that they portray liam as this stereotypical teenage boy with half-naked women on his wall. personally i think its really funny. theres a few other posters but its simply too dark for me to be able to tell what they are. i think the one right above the blood brothers one could be lacrosse related as well? not sure.

other than that, theres not that much interesting to see. his closet is a literal cage which?? sure, why not. apparently he likes to wear caps as he has four of them hanging off of it. his closet actually changes in s6 to a regular dresser which you can very briefly see.

this is in no way serious but my friend cody and i came up with a silly little interpretation for this. his closet in s4 is a cage, but its also see-through. hes in the closet (not out about his bisexuality yet) even though its quite obvious (see-through closet.) pre-s4, brett and the lacrosse team put him in a cage at the zoo and hit him with lacrosse balls = he feels like an animal, a monster, he represses who he truly is. his last name is dunbar, like the bars of a cage; hes caged in by his past and his biological father. and in s6 he has a regular dresser: he manages to break free, he grows closer with theo... he comes out of his cage/the closet. again, we're not actually serious about this. this is just for funsies.

moving on. back to his room in s4. heres shots of his desk:

we could already tell that his pc is on the opposite wall of his bed due to his and masons position when playing video games, but theres definitive proof of that. his pc and printer on his desk and what seems to be a tv? to the right over there. theres a few more posters too, one of what seems to be a.. mountain bike? motor bike? something like that (i guess liam really is a fan of anything sport related.) i cant really figure out what the other posters are of, sorry. although theres a few framed pictures and just pictures attached to the wall as well, which i think are supposed to be of him and friends and/or family. the last interesting thing to me here is that theres at least three trophies on his shelves. lacrosse? or did he play soccer before his step-dad introduced him to lacrosse... i guess we'll never know.

thats it for s4, now lets look at the things that change for s6. his bed and the chair next to it are like the only things that stay the same.

first off, all his posters are gone and replaced instead by two framed pictures (which just look like generic decor to me) but theres also small pictures tucked into the window frame/attached to the wall. cant tell what exactly they are, but to me this seems like pics of him and his friends/family again. hes got a few new lamps, the red table that used to be his nightstand is now just a regular table where he puts stuff (it looks like the same table to me at least.) theres a corkboard on his wall, but we didnt get a good shot of that wall in s4 so maybe thats not new.

boring stuff, lets move on to slightly less boring stuff!

the door behind scott is interesting to me. one, this lets us know that liam has a bathroom adjoining his room (since the scene of mason and liam in s4 starts by the camera "entering" liams room through his door on the exact opposite side of his room.) two, the door changed. if you look back at the s4 pics, theres the door as well but it has glass panels instead of being solid wood like in s6. now, im aware this was just whatever department is responsible for making a set like that forgetting/not caring/etc and thats why the door is different. i dont fault them for that, i dont think anyone else has payed this much attention to it like me.

but! this allows me to speculate about canon reasons for that change. and me personally... i think it would make a lot of sense for liams character if he accidentally destroyed the door during an outburst. punching is one of liams common reactions when he starts struggling with his anger: he punches the wall when he's stuck in the well in s4, in s6ep12 he punches the locker until its dented and hanging off of the hinges after brett provokes him on the field, he punches the wall instead of nolan at the zoo. theres more than enough events between s4 and s6b where he could've destroyed his door, but it also just could've been a regular outburst due to his IED. either way, his door got replaced.

i wonder if liam is familiar with the difference between feeling glass splinters and wood splinters being stuck in his skin. i wonder if theres a constant ache in his knuckles. i wonder if when he calmed down and saw the aftermath, he panicked because his parents didnt know about him being a werewolf and how was he supposed to explain a broken door but no injury on his hands to match? i wonder a lot about liam dunbar. anyway.

lets talk about something lighthearted and fun: video games! i ignored the guitar (that you can see leaning against the wall behind scott) until now, because its not an actual guitar. its a guitar hero controller made to look like a black-white fender stratocaster. meaning, liam just likes to play guitar hero, and doesnt actually play the guitar. im still taking this as a win since i personally headcanon that he has a huge interest in music. (also if you're wondering how i knew that its a controller: my captain's friend is in a band and figured it out in like a minute. he says you can tell because of the black pad in the middle. shout out to him.)

heres another shot from s6, which also shows us that his room is a lot more boring now. why did they take his shelves and only give him those four lousy boxes omg... whatever. take a look:

thats mortal kombat. they're playing mortal kombat!!! im pretty sure its mortal kombat ll but gladly correct me if im wrong. i got extremely excited when i recognized it being MK because i made another post about thiam & video games and, unknowing that he canonically likes MK, claimed that its one of liams favorite games. anyway, we know that liam plays cage because the screen says "cage wins" and in the scene mason and liam talk about liam winning. which makes the way they're sitting really funny. it'd make more sense if liam was on the right, yknow, in front of the character hes playing as. ah well, tv logic. fun stuff.

one last detail and then im done yapping. first pic is from s6, the second one is from s4.

these look like xbox controllers to me. i dont have much more to say about that other than pointing it out. liam prefers xbox over playstation, good to know.

[womensworldtour]

Tour de France Femmes begins Monday!

After the long pause from the 2024 Paris Olympics (which has been pretty great, tbh) we finally begin the Tour de France Femmes on Monday, August 12!

We're looking at eight stages, with the riders rolling out from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where they will spend most of three days on 2.5 stages around Rotterdam. We say 2.5 stages, because Tuesday features two different stages, a short sprint stage and then an evening time trial. We don't know how we feel about these types of stages, but at least it will showcase different riders' talents.

Stage 4 on Wednesday will see the riders cross into Belgium and travel parts of the routes for Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, including the famous hills like the Cauberg and the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons. And then finally, on Thursday, the Tour de France actually reaches France, and we will see increasingly mountainous stages that should determine the general classification, including finales on Le Grand-Bornand and the infamous Alp d'Huez.

As for GC, the odds-on favorite has to be defending TdFF champ Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), who as we have said this year, is the best climber and stage-racer in the world right now. Cycling News has a great run-down for the other challengers, however, which we recommend.

It will be interesting to see how other strong teams like Canyon-SRAM and Lidl-Trek can put SD Worx under pressure. We've seen that in the Tour de Suisse and it can be done, but frankly, Vollering is so dominant right now that she might still win even if she's isolated on half the stages. She is just that good. Keep an eye on riders like Neve Bradbury (Canyon-SRAM) or Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) as possible spoilers, and definitely contenders for the podium.

We honestly don't know how the fight for the points jersey will go, and we're excited to see how that plays out across the stages. Defending green jersey wearer Marianne Vos (Visma Lease-a-Bike) will want to repeat, but she'll have some serious competition from Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), who is still the fastest pure sprinter in the world and has shown she can get over the hills remarkably well. We'd love to see Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) back to winning ways after being off the bike due to injury.

We are less optimistic about the competition for the polka-dot jersey, and think it will likely be swept up by the GC winner. But that isn't always the case, like in the Giro this year, and we'd love to see some breakaway action and a non-GC rider try to hold onto that jersey.

We also expect several teams to hunt stages and keep several of the stages entertaining. EF-Oatly-Cannondale has been on a rampage this year, scooping up stages in the Vuelta Feminina and the Giro d'Italia Women, and they have the firepower to do it again with Alison Jackson, Kim Cadzow, Clara Emond, or Kristen Faulkner. Another team to watch is AG Insurance-Soudal, which has options in Tour Down Under champ Sarah Gigante, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, and Giro mountains classification winner Justine Ghekiere.

And finally, we expect to be surprised! We'd love to see a new talent announce herself on the biggest stage of the season, that's part of what we love about bike racing. This year's course is less likely to be an SD Worx show like last year (5 out of 8 stages), particularly with Lotte Kopecky not on the start list, so we are looking forward to some surprise moves and performances that will keep the racing interesting all the way to the top of Alp d'Huez!

[stargazer-sims]

OC Deep Dive

Since @dandylion240 tagged me twice, I'm going to do this for two characters. Is anyone surprised that it's Victor and Yuri?

Victor Okamoto-Nelson

What uncommon/common fear do they have? He's terrified of thunderstorms, he’s afraid of getting injections and he's afraid of going to the dentist. Victor’s biggest fear is abandonment.

Do they have any pet peeves? One of his pet peeves is when people take his assigned employee parking space at the hospital and he has to park somewhere else. He also gets annoyed when Caroline puts empty milk or juice cartons back in the fridge instead of tossing them in the trash.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom? His snowboard that he had when he won his FIS World Championship gold medal, his monster plushie that he's had since childood, and a little framed picture of himself and Yuri that he keeps on his bedside table.

What do they notice first in a person? Victor tends to notice people's fitness and their general appearance of health (or lack of it)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance? Around a 6. Victor actually doesn't deal with physical pain very well.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure? That really depends on the situation. He would fight if it meant protecting Yuri and Caroline, but he also dislikes confrontation and would much rather flee than fight.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person? Victor comes from a small family. His parents only had him and his younger sister. After the death of his dad and sister in a car-pedestrian accident, it was just him and his mom from the time he was six years old. He is very much a family person, though. His family is extremely important to him and he's very close with his mother and stepfather and most of his aunts, uncles & cousins, and of course he's practically inseperable from Yuri and Caroline.

What animal represents them best? I would say a dog, probably something big, exuberant, funny and athletic, like a boxer. Victor is outgoing, loyal and protective.

What is a smell that they dislike? He doesn't like the scent of baby powder

Have they broken any bones? Yes. He's broken both his forearms and a rib (all at the same time), and his big toe on his right foot on a separate occasion.

How would a stranger likely describe them? Kind, compassionate and slightly too energetic

Are they a night owl or a morning bird? Victor is definitely a morning person. He nearly always wakes up between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., whether he has to or not.

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love? He doesn't like the taste of meal-replacement drinks. There was a point during which Yuri quite literally lived on them, and of course Victor had to taste-test them to satisfy his curiosity. He loves all kinds of foods and it'd be hard to for him to narrow it down, but he'd say his favourite thing to taste is his maternal grandmother's homemade ravioli.

Do they have any hobbies? Is snowboarding a hobby? He likes to read and play video games, and he really enjoys swimming and going mountain biking with his friend Davey.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises? He would absolutely LOVE a surprise birthday party. Someone needs to throw one for him!

Do they like to wear jewelry? He doesn't have much jewelry, and wouldn't say he necessarily likes to wear jewelry, except for his two rings which he never takes off. He also has a tiny "gold medal" necklace that Yuri gave him after his World Championship win, which he'll wear on special occasions.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting? Victor's handwriting is messy, but it's improved over the years since he got his glasses.

What are two emotions they feel the most? happiness and compassion

Do they have a favorite fabric? Cotton and jersey

What kind of accent do they have? His accent is fairly neutral, as a person from Eastern Canada.

__________

Yuri Okamoto-Nelson

What uncommon/common fear do they have? He's afraid of most insects, but most especially spiders, and he's afraid of being restrained. He's slightly claustrophobic as well.

Do they have any pet peeves? One of his pet peeves is when Victor forgets to get out a new toilet roll to use after he uses up the last of the toilet tissue on the old one. He also gets annoyed by people who question whether he's really disabled when they find out he runs his own business and enjoys doing physical exercise.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom? His medications, his jewelry box and a small framed picture of himself and Victor

What do they notice first in a person? Yuri typically notices how people dress and how they present themselves. He also notices people's voices.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how high is their pain tolerance? Yuri's pain threshold is exceptionally high, and he'd put it around a 9 out of 10. He's almost constantly between level 1-2 pain, to the point where it doesn't even interfere that much with his daily life. On days when his pain is worse, he's almost too good at hiding it and just getting on with things. Yuri's pain has to be really bad before he'll even admit to it, and it has to be epic before he'll stop trying to push through it.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure? Surprisingly, Yuri is more likely to fight, although there was a time when he would not have said that about himself at all. He'd prefer to avoid confrontation or a scary or stressful situation, but he's courageous and doesn't typically back down from things once he's set his mind to facing them.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person? Yuri's familiy is average-sized. He's the oldest of three. He would say he's a family person now, but that wasn't always the case. He had a very difficult relationship with his father for a long time and didn't want to be associated with him, but they have since reconciled and are much closer now. Yuri adores his in-laws, Grace and Julian, and thinks of them as his "bonus parents".

What animal represents them best?

The crane. In Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol for hope and peace, among other things. Hope and peace are things Yuri has worked hard to find in his life, and now he's happy and prosperous (two more aspects of crane symbolism)

What is a smell that they dislike? He hates the scent of bacon.

Have they broken any bones? No

How would a stranger likely describe them? Reserved and proper

Are they a night owl or a morning bird? He's really neither of those, but if he had to pick, he'd say night owl.He doesn't do mornings.

What is a flavor they hate and a flavor they love? A flavour he hates is the flavour of broccoli. He absolutely loves the taste of strawberries.

Do they have any hobbies? Yuri plays the violin. He also writes (although now that he's making money off it, is it still a hobby?). He loves to do yoga, go swimming, and do his cardio workouts when he's feeling up to it.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprises?

He would not like a surprise birthday party at all. He likes his birthday and he likes to have a small birthday gathering each year, but he doesn't like unexpected social events.

Do they like to wear jewelry? Yes. Yuri has a lot of jewelry and he likes to wear different pieces all the time. He also has his two rings, which match with Victor's two, that he never takes off. Other than his rings, his most-worn piece of jewelry is his snowflake bracelet that Victor gave him for his 25th birthday.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting? His handwriting is neat and precise.

What are two emotions they feel the most? determination and contentment

Do they have a favorite fabric? He loves soft flannel.

What kind of accent do they have? When Yuri speaks English, he has a British accent. This is because he first started learning English from his father (who learned it in the UK), and then from his live-in tutor Jack, who was from the UK. He doesn't think he has an accent in Japanese, which is his first language.

__________

.... and done! I will tag @rebelangelsims @nakasumi-sims @holocene-sims @storiesbyjes2g @honeyjars-sims @changingplumbob @deardiaryts4 @enniewritesathing

This is totally voluntary! Only do it if you want to =)

[flobikewear]

Bespoke Mountain Bike Jerseys Online

From beginning to end, we have attempted to simplify and streamline the process of obtaining bespoke mountain bike jerseys. When obtaining personalised FLO gear, there are only three simple procedures. These rider-approved jerseys have a stylish bespoke fit and are constructed of a sturdy polyester. The maximum time required for custom jerseys to reach you is 4 weeks.

[wouteke]

oouuoouoohhh for your little ask game could I perchance get Jonas/Wout and "light" ? 😲

THIS GOT OUT OF HAND LOL EXPECT THE REST TO BE SHORTER AND LESS BASED IN REALITY😭 but its based on the jonas jumping into arms picture which has been theorized [ty reddit] to be after ventoux '21 !

Wout’s still buzzing, half from the leftover high of the win, half from the subsequent praise from the team. He knows he’ll be sore later, once he’s had enough time to wind down—but not yet. Ventoux is a dream come true, and it hasn’t sunk in yet. He's not sure it ever fully will.

He’s talking idly with a few of the guys—mainly waiting to find out if he’s good to get out of his kit, finally—when three things happen in quick succession:

Jonas walks through the open door, dressed in his white jersey. He says something into the hall behind him, one last comment to whoever must still be out there, and turns fully into the room.

He looks up, catching sight of Wout. His eyes widen, face cracking into a wide smile nearly instantly. 

He crosses the gap faster that Wout’s ever seen him move off the bike, and then he’s in Wout’s arms, easy as anything.

He’s laughing, clinging to Wout, and it makes Wout laugh, too. He adjusts his hold, hefting Jonas up so they can see each other. Jonas is flushed, although it can’t be from the race anymore, and he’s looking at Wout with such open adoration that Wout feels greedy to even notice it.

“Today was incredible,” Jonas says. “You were incredible.”

“So were you,” Wout says. “We all knew you could crack him.”

Jonas shakes his head. “Today is the first time I really believed it.”

Wout was up the road, focusing on his own win, so he didn’t have a front row seat like usual. He’s sad to have missed it, in a way—although he’s already seen it in the highlights. Jonas pushing ahead up the mountain, Tadej lagging behind. He caught back up to Jonas in the end—and Jumbo is still down five minutes in the classification, of course—but those feel like minor details in the face of what Jonas accomplished today. 

“Keep believing,” Wout says. “What did I tell you, eh?”

Jonas leans forward, pressing against Wout’s chest, head tilted down so his face is right next to Wout’s ear. His fingers dig into Wout's shoulder a little, and Wout hears the way he swallows before he speaks, voice low.

“I think you’ve been right all along,” Jonas says. “I think I can win.”

He’s not just talking about a stage.

“You can,” Wout says, automatically. You will, he doesn’t say, although it feels almost as true. It’s dangerous, to start taking things for granted—but he’s seen this hunger before, this self-belief. The potential for it in Jonas was obvious from the start.

Jonas leans back in Wout’s hold, so they’re looking at each other again—and Wout sees the way Jonas comes back to himself a little, as if he’s just remembered all at once that he's supposed to be shy.

“Sorry,” Jonas says, shifting. He moves like he’s giving Wout the option to set him down, but Wout tightens his hold instead.

“It’s okay,” Wout says. “You’re very light.”

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 783: Advancing ranks

Pag 1

1: “Friends”....

2: “People who trust each other and treat each other as equal”

“People who hang out and chat together”

4: Funatsu-kuun

Huh!? Me... me!? What

You and Kiriya-kun are friends?

5: Ye-yeah, we've been together for three years, so of course

And last year and this year we worked hard together and participated in the Inter High....right?

Yeah

And what about me?

Huh!?

Pag 2

1: What about me?

2: Are we friends!?

3: Uhm, well

4: We also were together for three years with this guy and we practiced and participated in the Inter High together

Uh.... well

What shoud I say? How should I answer this question

But this guy doesn't talk about anything but bikes

5: There they are, Midosuji's “cryptic questions”!!

Thank god this time his target is Funatsu

6: What's the correct answer!!

Ahh, dammit... I'm suddenly shaking

Midosuji!!

7: I'm sorry, Funatsu!! Do your best!! Funatsu!!

Pag 3

1: Of course!!

We've been running together for three years!! You're a great friend!!

How about this!!

3: Fr... iends...

Me and.... you?

6: He's satisfied!? Yes!! It was the correct answer!?

Pag 4

1: What, did you misunderstand?

Me and you are not equal in the slightest!?

Pag 5

1: Our efforts, tenacity, our attitude and readiness, and even our imagination!!

Uwaaahiiii!!

2: Didn't you think about it?

Ah.. was there even a moment when you felt like we were equal!? Surely

Dammit so this is what it was!!

3: You that in your zeal for goodness became nothing?

Puku

4: What's this!? This time

Ahh, dammit, don't spout nonsense!!

This time even my parents came to see me

5: Midosuji-san

More importantly

Pag 6

1: The course is changing

Turning west along the flat seaside road

Pag 7

1: it's entering a hill

4: The Kyoto Pass

It's a hill with a 3.5km climb with an incline of 4%, about 250m above sea level

Pag 8

1: According to my plan....!! Alright....!!

Let's move on....!!

2: Heading for the next phase!!

Yeah!!

Yes!!

Yes!!

4: Kyoto Fushimi are assembling and moving up

5: They didn't move in the first half, Kyofushi is saving their legs

Yet on this short climb they're spontaneously moving up their group's position

Pag 9

1: They're moving up!!

3: Seeing him this up close, this Midosuji really is amazing

His body's thickness is completely different from other people's, and his limbs are so long!!

4: He has such an aura that it makes me feel like there's no way I could win!!

5: I broke out into a cold sweat but at the same time I can't help but laugh a little!!

Pag 10

1: They really are amazing, Onoda, Imaizumi... and Naruko, they fought against him last year and the year before!?

3: Sugimoto-san

Sugimoto-san

4: Ah, sorry, is everything alright?

I was just thinking a little about something, just a little

5: That's right, I'm in the “selected team”!! I need to focus more on bringing these guys together!!

Pag 11

2: Huh

3: The two sprinters who went ahead

4: have turned back!!

We're back... we're back!!

5: Sugimoto-san!!

Yeah!! Kobayashi!! Uchikawa!!

Pag 12

1: We somehow managed to catch up to the lead

Is that so!!

But the remaining 3km... too fast!!

I see!!

2: That guy from Hiroshima let us know a lot of things

I see!!

They're so sweaty and their jerseys are all torn out too

3: They worked hard, I'm glad...!!

4: I couldn't last until the very end, but Kobayashi-san was there too

There were four people in front of me so I pushed as hard as I could in fifth place

5: And I placed ninth

Oh you're in the top ten, amazing, amazing!

Waaa, Sugimoto-san praised me, I'm so happy

Pag 13

1: Hahaha

Ah, that's my line....

I'm feeling so proud, somehow

2: Ninth place is amazing

Well... Ichikawa pulled me

Was the lead amazing?

It was!!

3: I'm aiming for the top ten for the mountain line too!!

Really? Do your best!

5: We're an impromptu team and we still have a long way to go in terms of skill, but with our mutual interest and cheerfulness

Pag 14

1: Maybe we could go far!!

3: It's all thanks to Sugimoto-san

No no, I only asked Doubashi

Doubashi-san also helped us a lot!!

4: That's right, next time we meet him

Pag 15

1: I'll have to thank Doubashi

3: Dammit!!

Sorry, it's my fault!!

4: With opponents like that, if I had gone myself we would have placed even lower

This just shows how hard it is to carry out your words in road racing

Pag 16

1: As I told you, you needed to be careful about that guy

3: The race goes went a low pass and passe through a tunnel

Pag 17

1: They went downhill in a line

2: Waa... this is the place for “three seconds”...!!

Kiji-saan!! Fou!!

3: Looking at the limestone quarry that is the raw material for cement

4: the passed through the coal mining factory that supported the growth of Kitakyushu

Pag 18

1: The ranks went south along the riverside in the inland areas of Kyushu

2: Ah....

Oi, Issa, how long....

3: How long are you gonna feel down!?

Pag 19

1: Naruko-san

2: Stop with the depressing sighs

You'll just have to use your frustration as a springboard to keep moving!!

3: Naruko-san, you don't know what it feels like to lose a sprint!!

5: I've matured, I've matured, I've matured.... or I should have

Naruko chanting magic words to suppress his anger

Two people who feel so sorry for him they have no words

6: What's wrong? You're shivering and peeing your pants?

I wanna kill him...!!

7: Hotshot, gimme permission to kill him!!

I don't have that license

8: Ah!!

I see it!!

Pag 20

1: It's the mountain!!

The first day's..... this Inter High's very first....

2: mountain!!

[rwrbficrecs]

Sport Recs Part 1

Pumped by @myheartalivewrites (Climbing)

Recently moved to London, Alex meets Henry at a climbing wall, where accidental rudeness and misunderstandings keep them apart, until they don’t. 

There's pining, there's climbing, there's stupid boys falling for each other, and smut towards the end.

Faster, Higher, Stronger by @everwitch-magiks (Figure Skating)

When Alex fails to qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics, it’s all too easy to blame Henry Fox, the dual citizen who’d switched from Team GB to Team USA and snagged the last spot for men’s figure skating. After Alex is abruptly thrown back into the games, he forms an unexpectedly deep connection with Henry. But no athlete who aims for the top of the podium can afford any serious distractions. Will Alex be able to keep his flaring emotions in check and take home the Olympic gold medal he’s always aimed for?

Hit (My Love) Out of the Park by bleedingballroomfloor (Baseball)

“It’s just — I’ve had such a hard time feeling like I really belonged. I think that’s what got me in the slump in the first place. But coming back here, seeing all the love I still got even though I’m not on the Rangers anymore… that really helped. And being on the Mets, being in New York — you helped with all of that. More than you’ll ever know.”

Or, Alex and Henry are dumb, horny disasters. With an added bonus of baseball.

the winner takes it all by @stutteringpeach (Cycling)

In theory, this shouldn’t be a thing. Alex has spent his whole life around other cyclists, on the track and the road and off both, and he’s never had this sort of visceral reaction to any of them.

(Well. Kind of. Maybe he let his eyes linger on a teammate once or twice. But like—Alex is an athlete. He appreciates the human form.)

But the way the muscles in Henry Fox’s thighs stretch and ripple as he urges his bike up the mountain—

Yeah.

It’s a lot.

And if Alex weren’t so determined to steal that yellow jersey off his back he’d fall off his bike.

Love-Love by @livinginrhythm (Tennis)

“I hear Alex Claremont-Diaz is available,” she says, and while the idea is terribly appealing, he knows that it is incorrect.

“Alex is an incredible tennis player. If he wanted to pair up, I’d be open to that.”

It is not often Henry’s mouth gets him in trouble. Years of media training and growing up with a celebrity for a dad have left him very practiced in the subtle art of the spin.

Apparently the mere mention of Alex had all that leaving his head entirely.