Favorites in the World of Track Cycling

I am adding favorites for each event in track cycling in batches. The list is on the right-hand side of the page. I will also be updating it with results as the Games progress.

Also, there is a new section that is answering blog comments on the right side. Keep checking it for updates.

Enjoy.

Cycling, Cycling and More Cycling

For the last week I have been soaking up as much cycling knowledge as possible. It is my duty during the Olympics to talk to athletes of track cycling, BMX and mountain bike. For now, the task has been grasping the world of track cycling.

There are 10 events in track cycling, seven for men and three for women. The men's events are Individual Sprint, Team Sprint, Individual Pursuit, Team Pursuit, Keirin, Madison and Points Race. The women's events are Individual Sprint, Individual Pursuit and Points Race. Hang in there with me. I promise the more you learn about it, the more fun it will be.

Individual Sprint

In a sprint, the riders race against one another to be the first one to finish three laps.

In sprints, sometimes you'll get to see racers doing track stands, a strategic move where they come to a complete stop, balancing in place in order to force their opponent to take the lead spot. The tactic here is that the second rider then tucks in neatly behind his or her opponent, allowing them to set the pace and do the hard work pedaling in front. Then when it comes to the final, explosive sprint, the second place rider uses fresher legs to power past and take the victory. The team event uses three riders rather than one.

Individual Pursuit

In the individual pursuit, two riders compete head-to-head over a set distance. For men, it's 4,000 meters (2.5 miles), and women race 3000 meters (1.8 miles). The riders start from opposite points of the track, and the winner is the one who either catches his rival or records the best time overall. If one rider catches the other, the race ends at once, though the winner may still need to finish to record his overall time. The team event uses four riders rather than one and the time is taken from when the third rider crosses the finish line.

Keirin

Originating in Japan, Keirin is an eight-lap, 2,000 meter race in which a small motorbike paces the riders around the track for five and a half laps. The riders follow at faster and faster speeds with only inches between them until the final lap when the motorbike peels away and the racers give it all they've got for the last two and a half laps.

Points Race

In this event, endurance and sprinting strength will determine who comes out on to in this 160-lap race. All competitors, one from each country, start at the same time. Riders score points during the event, and the top scorers at the end are the winners. The winner is the rider who primarily gains the most laps on the field and second, scores the most points by placing in one of the 20 sprints held in the course of the race, where the top four placers cash in. In the sprints – which are every eighth lap – the top finisher earns five points, and it goes to three points for second, two points for third and one point for fourth.

Madison

This event offers the combination of teamwork, sprinting and endurance. Run by teams of two, only one rider of the pair is active in the race at any given point. All riders start at the same time, and the winner is the team covering the most laps in the time allotted. As the active rider races, the other rests as he continues to circle at a slower speed. Riders can take over from each other with a handslap or by actually grabbing their partner by the hand or shorts to literally sling the other back into the race. That gives the new rider a burst of speed and motion from the other as he exits the active role.

I will be updating the world of cycling as the Games get closer and results roll in.

I Won the Chinese Lottery

Weeks ago all of the volunteers found out that the opening and closing ceremonies were going to be off limits because of the high-demand for the tickets. So, when I found out that eight of 85 volunteers at the Velodrome had the opportunity to attend a rehearsal for the opening ceremony I got excited but didn't think I had a chance. I never win random drawings – until now. I picked one of the eight "Congratulations" papers out of a box and it landed me a seat at Thursday's rehearsal.

It may not sound like it is that cool but this meant I was going to have access to the Bird's Nest. From a distance, the stadium looks unbelievable so I was trilled to have the opportunity to walk inside it.

I arrived at the Bird's Nest around 6:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. start. Security, as you would imagine, was heavy. My ticket was checked four times before I got to my seat.

The Chinese officials are extremely worried about details of the ceremony leaking to the public so I won't divulge large details but I was amazed by the performance. There had to have been more than 10,000 performers used, including high-flying fairies, thousands of drummers and many aspects of ancient Chinese history. Thankfully, I sat with two local college students, Flower and Twiggy, who helped me understand certain aspects of the performance.

I am certain spending two and a half hours watching the ceremony is worth your time.

Bicycling in Beijing

Beijing is known as the "Bicycle Kingdom." After three weeks here, I understand why.

Thousands, perhaps millions, of bikes roam the streets of Beijing daily and make traveling interesting. Every taxi ride features dozens of honks, which is more of a warning and less of a threat here in China. Every time you cross the street you have to beware because a red light means the cars stop but bikes can keep on going at their own risk. And just about every subway station has a slew of them organized in a way I cannot determine.

With the bikes present in everyday life, I thought about taking to the streets with some of my fellow students for a life lesson in bike riding. Think about riding a bike in Chicago and then add thousands of more bikes and more traffic. Thankfully, there are bike lanes on most streets in Beijing but that doesn't mean it's just that easy. The bike lanes are also where busses drop off and pick up passengers. So, instead of cruising in the bike lane you must enter the street and weave your way through taxis while constantly looking over your shoulder for cars creeping up on you. It was a blast. I haven't been sky diving or bungee jumping but I think this may rank up there with adrenaline rushes because there is no safety net. It's you, the bike and the city of 17 million people.

The image above was taken by me while riding near the Forbidden City.

Olympic tickets? What was I thinking???

When I heard there was a final round of Olympic tickets going on sale Friday, I was stoked to have the opportunity to see competitions in the famed Bird's Nest and Water Cube. Wow, I was being a naive American.

I decided that getting in line for tickets at 7:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. selling time would be plenty of time. There were 250,000 tickets going on sale after all. And surely many of the Beijingers already purchased their tickets. Again, wow, I was being a naive American.

I am not sure why the above sounded logical because I spent more than 12 hours in the freezing cold to get a quality spot for College Gameday during my freshman year at Purdue. So, in a city of 17 million people for China's biggest event in the country's history, I was going to be able to buy tickets. Not only the two allowed for a first purchase but I talked about getting back in line afterward.

When Andrea, Megan and I arrived at the site, it was chaos and the tickets were an hour away from being on sale. I saw people in line but couldn't figure out how to get where they were. In my way were dozens of police officers. Andrea found an English-speaking local and soon found out that more than 300,000 people were already in line and the masses of people had stretched to more than three blocks away. Wow, I was being a naive American.

Several news stories I have found didn't note that many people but once the tickets went on sale people ran over others in search for the shortest line. Some people were injured and others who waited in line for more than a day for basketball tickets had to settle for synchronized swimming.

I think I forgot I was in a city and country as grand as Beijing and China when preparing for purchasing tickets.

Beijing Nightlife

One of the first questions I am being asked from many of my peers is "How is the Chinese beer?" And much to their surprise, my answer is "Quite good."

Fortunately, we arrived in Beijing with plenty of time to explore Beijing and experience its nightlife.

There is no drinking age in China and, from what I can tell, there is no alcohol commission either. Anyone can buy a Tsingtao (a brand of beer pronounced "Chingdow") from just about anywhere. I have yet to see a child drinking a beer but it is possible, I guess. Chinese people often drink beer or spirits with meals so many of the college students fit right in with their frequent beer and dinner routine.

As with many large cities in the States, Beijing offers loads of entertainment for those interested in spending a late night out socializing. We have already experienced the common Chinese activity of KTV, or kareokee. Imagine 15 of us in one room with two microphones, a TV scrolling lyrics and dozens of US$1.50 beers on the table. It was a night that will never be forgotten.

Beijing also has a famous bar district, Sunlitun, that offers a staggering amount of places to go. One of the places we found featured sand-covered floors and a rooftop covered in couches.

While the Chinese are not known for their drinking traditions, it is evident that many of them know how to relax and enjoy their free time.

Olympic Fever Heating Up In Beijing

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing don't start until 8 p.m. Aug. 8 but it doesn't look or feel that way.

I noted the traffic ordinance before but those not traveling in vehicles are experiencing changes too. Olympic volunteers, most of which are Beijing natives, are manning the subways and streets with local knowledge and maps. Even traffic wardens have appeared at crosswalks to manage the busy streets.

At venues, volunteers and security personnel have been added. During my first trip to the Laoshan Bicycle Complex, where most of the cycling events takes place, I was greeted by more than a dozen eager volunteers amped for the Games to begin.

Later that night, a conversation with a local yielded information about another ordinance Chinese officials have recently put in place. He said restaurants and bars weren't as full in the late evenings because of the ordinance. The language barrier prevented the communication of additional information but the results were evident. He was the only non-Westerner present.

All of this comes after seven years of preparation for what many are calling China's chance to shine. The anticipation to do so is clear by the extensive effort already showing up in Beijing with 15 days before China gets its chance to impress the world.

Cutting Down Traffic, Noise and Pollution for the Games

Sunday, July 20, was a big day for Beijingers who own a car. It was the first day driving restrictions went into place to reduce traffic for the Olympic Games.

The Beijing traffic has been tolerable at most times but during others it is unbearable. To cut the headaches, the Chinese government has mandated that cars registered in Beijing with license plates ending in an odd number can only drive on odd number days, for instance July 21. On that day, even numbered plates are prohibited. Most public vehicles – taxis, busses, ambulances – are exempt.

This restriction will last until September 20. Government officials have estimated that it will reduce traffic in Beijing by 70 percent. Auto owners affected by the mandate will be exempt from three months of auto tax, which will cost the government an estimated RMB$1.3 billion. That is equivalent to about US$9.1 billion.

Also, an Olympic traffic lane, which is marked with the Olympic rings about every half mile, went into effect on the 20th. This lane will be saving all of us who are volunteering tons of time commuting back-and-forth to our venue, which is about 90 minutes away.

The traffic was significantly better on the 20th and I saw only one vehicle that had an odd plate number. Think about this taking place in the States. Are you kidding me? I have not been able to find any information about the fines but Americans would kick and scream about how their rights are being limited. And based on my interaction with the Chinese in the last two weeks, they would do anything, including riding the bus or subway, if there was a positive outcome related to the Olympics. A HUGE difference between cultures.

First Battle with an Illness

Before coming to Beijing I was warned of a lot of things and most of them related to sickness and disease.

Here's a sampling.

"You should get this shot and that shot. Don't drink the water. Don't eat fresh vegetables. Don't eat random things from vendors."

Whether it was intelligent or not, I didn't get any shots. I use the water to brush my teeth, which is something not many people are doing. I have eaten lettuce more than five times and the popsicle I bought from a vendor was tasty. I was rolling along with no sickness or anything.

That is until today. I have had salmonella poisoning twice before and this seems to be much more mild than that but stomach discomfort and tiredness isn't any fun. But don't worry, I have beaten it. Leroy is back. And for the record, Bobby and Johanna, it took two WEEKS before I got ill. ;)

Amazing Beijing Architecture

Before arriving in Beijing I heard a lot about Beijing being old school and that Shanghai was more like a bustling, state-of-the-art city. While Shanghai and Beijing are different, Beijing boasts some amazing architecture that can't be found in the States.

Sure, the city just added the Water Cube (the swimming facility) and Bird's Nest (the arena for track) for the Olympics but there are plenty of other skyscrapers and designs that stand out.

China Central Television is completing its new facility that 

defies gravity. 

The building reminds many people of a pair of pants that is distorted. There are two "legs" and the middle section of the building has nothing beneath it. Then there is the building the Chinese built that resembles the Olympic torch. The upper half waves back-and-forth as if it were a flame. On top of that the building has an enormous flat-screen television built into the side.

Even with the normal-shaped skyscrapers, the Chinese have used massive amounts of colors and designs on the facades that you never see in America.

The Great Wall

Climbing The Great Wall was my No. 1 priority on the tourist side of things when I came to China. Now, it's complete.

The Wall was everything I imagined it would be. It is nestled in the mountains of China and every way you look when you are at the Wall is amazing. Fortunately, the day we went was the first day there was a blue sky and it gave us a great backdrop for photos.

Everyone knows about the Wall but to see how massive it is and the slopes that it is built on is extraordinary. Think about walking up Chauncey Hill at Purdue. Multiply that by 10 and try building an enormous wall on it, THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO! It is absurd to think about what it took to build the Wall. No machines, no modern tools, none of those things. Man-power was the only tool the Chinese had.

A great aspect of the Wall is that it is original. This isn't some manufactured tourist attraction made by someone. It is authentic. It is the most impressive man-made object in the world.

Chinese Cuisine

One of the biggest changes I anticipated when traveling to China was the food that I would be consuming. I was right, especially when it comes to eating with chopsticks and not a fork.

The quality, variety and enjoyment of the food 

varies from meal to meal. 

Most of the dishes are stir-fry-types that have a vegetable and meat tossed with a sauce. The type of vegetable is usually recognizable but the meat is more of a guessing game. All meals are served with

 white rice, as well. The authentic Chinese food in Beijing doesn't feature many American favorites such as egg rolls, crab rangoon, General Tso's chicken.

Also, many American favorites aren't present at many meals. No cheese, milk, large pieces of meat while breads, noodles and potatoes are some times present.

The change has been drastic but I have been doing well. I have indulged in some Western food (Pizza Hut, McDonalds) but every day I enjoy some type of Chinese cuisine. I have found my favorite dish to be beef and onions. It's a simple combination that is packed with flavor.

Another interesting difference in culture I noticed when I ate at McDonalds was the locals don't touch their sandwiches. Instead of unwrapping the item and diving in, they use the wrapper to eat it. I know some people do this in the States but 90 percent of the people in the restaurant were doing it.

Peking Duck

One of the famous traditions in Beijing is eating Peking Duck. Every book and Web site I read demanded that one should indulge in Peking Duck while in Beijing.

Fortunately, we were taken to a Peking Duck dinner on the first night of our 

3-day tour in Beijing. For many Americans eating duck isn't an everyday thing. You can't find duck on most menus in restaurants and in 22 years in America I had never eaten duck. Everyone in the group was pretty excited until our tour guide, Henry, gave us some background on the duck. We all knew it was a younger duck but some of the details were unknown. He informed us that the duck is fed constantly for 60 days and then killed. Yes, constantly. That means when it doesn't want to eat, it is force fed. Of course, these details turned many of us off at the time but we had some time to clear our mind before diving into the bird. And even with those unnecessary details I was looking forward to it because of all the hype it was getting. Even many of the former vegetarians on the trip were going to try out the famed dish.

It turned out that the duck was amazing and the Beijing tradition was well-worth it. What I found interesting about the whole experience was the ease at which Henry told us all of the details about the duck. I think it shows a big culture gap between America and China. Americans would rather ignore how the food gets to the plate whereas Henry was trying to educate us in the process.

An Interesting Start to a 3-day Tour

Since arriving in China, the Beijing Organizing Committee has done numerous things to show its appreciation for the international volunteers. Last weekend, we were fortunate to take a three-day tour of Beijing. The first two stops on the tour were much different than I ever expected.

As many people know, the quality of water in China is a topic of many discussions, positively and negatively. So, we were taken to a sewage treatment plant for a tour of how they clean the waste into the water that is being supplied to the Olympic Village area. I will have to say it was the nicest sewage treatment plant I have been too. The workers at the plant showed an excitement for tourists that you don't see in America. I don't think many workers in the States would LOVE to have foreigners walk around their business but these people seemed to enjoy every bit of it.

After leaving the plant and eating lunch (sounds interesting, huh?) we travelled to a "rural village." To get to the village, we got a police escort through Beijing's traffic. Can you imagine this happening in the States? Because I can't. The level of importance for this eve

nt was made very clear by the Chinese.

I am not sure if the expectations of our group was off but the village wasn't too rural. It was definitely an interesting experience because the village was nestled in the mountains in China.

The photos of these two places tell great stories even if the two destinations were a little different.

Forbidden City

I made my first trek to the center of Beijing and it lived up to the hype. Beijing is a massive city that is built around the Forbidden City, which is a landscape of royalty. The area nearby the Forbidden City is called Tian'anmen Sqaure and is a hub for Chinese history. With all of the museums and landmarks in this location it reminded me a lot of the Washington Mall in D.C. But instead of celebrating 200-plus years of history, this area is celebrating more than 2,000 years of existence.

I got my first glimpse of the Square and Forbidden City as I came out of the subway tunnel and it was unfathomable. I am finding out quickly that similarly to Texas, everything is bigger in China. To my right was a gigantic red hall with intriquite detail and amazing presence. Hanging on the entry gate to the City was emperor Mao, who was an influential Chinese leader years ago. The City featured several other halls and breathtaking buildings that were built 600 years ago.

Despite the mamouth buildings and notable history of the City, the group I was with also became noteworthy sights too. While touring, many Asian tourists requested to take pictures with the group of Westerners. It was the first time I experienced this and it was fun. I got a great sense of enjoyment from many of the people, which may surprise some people. I wasn't sure how we would be welcomed but it has been a great experience thus far.

Massage City

Yes, I have been in Beijing for only four days now and I have had a 30-minute foot massage and a 50-minute full-body massage. I know what you're thinking. "Are you kidding me? People act like studying abroad is rough. He's got it easy." Well, that's kind of true.

I stumbled upon my foot massage during my first adventure into what is known as the "Silk Market." No lies, this place is crazy. Think about this - six floors packed with hundreds of booths featuring thousands of fake Nikes, Coach purses and Rolexes with little Asian women yelling "Handsome man, I've got your size." while latching onto your arm and pulling you into a booth. It's shopping at Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette on crack, no joke. The foot massage came in after Chad, Chris, Patrick and I fought through all six floors and found this tiny gem featuring massages. There is no doubt in my mind us four made the best purchases of the day at the market - a foot massage for US$10 and a Tsingtao (beer) that we drank during the massage for US$2.

The full-body massage was a purchase that we (eight people) sought out after three long days in a foreign country. We taxied out to a massage parlor featuring blind masseurs. The place had one room for four people so the women took that one. Then there was two rooms for three people. What happened next was unfortunate. We played a quality round of ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS that put myself on the losing end. That meant I was in my own room with a blind masseur who essentially beat me up.

All-in-all both were interesting experiences. They were experiences that I haven't had in the United States and don't have the opportunity to have. The reason for that is the cost of services in Beijing. Labor is extremely cheap in this city and drastically affects the culture and way of life for everyone. There are 16 million people in Beijing and many of them will drive a taxi, sell products or clean rooms for US$40 a month. And the benefits of having that abundance of cheap labor is benefitted by many.

Getting to Know the Locals

I am staying at the Communication University of China, which is a gated-campus. Within the grounds are small stores, cafeterias and a recreational complex.

I arrived on campus around 2:30 p.m. and within five hours, I was playing basketball with the locals. Chad, Chris, Patrick and I all decided to head to the courts and see what competition was around. At this point in the day, the recreational complex was packed with people with jogging, playing soccer and playing basketball.

As soon as we entered the complex we started turning heads. Chad, Chris and I are not small guys and, of course, white. But we still felt welcome so we continued on to the courts. We spotted a group of guys playing 4-on-4 and with Patrick's Mandarin expertise we got in line for the next game. The game was a little different than were familiar with. It was first to five points and there was no checking the ball with the other team before putting it in-play. It meant for some small adjustments by us but our product was just as good. We finished the evening 6-1 and at one point caused a group of locals to gather around and watch us compete against their best players.

Despite not having rested since arriving in Beijing and being a foreigner, our decision to go play basketball was a great one. It presented us with a common ground for the locals and helped us integrate into the community.

Finally, in Beijing

I was closing in on Irkutsk at some 34,000 feet and 5,603 miles from Newark, New Jersey, with three hours left before arriving in Beijing when I realized flying first-class would have been a great investment. I guess an excessively-reclined-woman in front of me, my 40-year-old knees and a little girl's vomit would spark such a thought. But I was closing in on Beijing after two-days of travel.

During the flight, there was something I had never experienced before – a personal on-demand entertainment console. With the television lodged in the headrest in front of me and a remote control/video game controller I could ward off many of the trip's negative aspects. It gave me the chance to take some advice from a good friend Drew and watch "Stand By Me" for the first time. It was boss. I also threw in some "Toy Story", "Scrubs" and "Enemy of the State."

All-in-all, the flights weren't horrendous but they pushed my limits of personal space.

BY THE NUMBERS

7,000 – Miles flown from Newark, New Jersey, to Beijing, China

-50 – Degrees of the temperature outside of the aircraft for the majority of the flight

12 – Hours in time difference from Eastern Standard Time

1 – Person puked on the flight