The (Continuing) Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg: JIM THORPE

And now it's time for another installment from your favorite duo, Chris Hong and Krogg.

The Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

Episode IV: Jim Thorpe

Krogg and Hong spend time in Jim Thorpe in between races. This place good for bikes. Not only is there awesome panny farthing, but there good good bike path. Bike path called Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail. This trail total paradise for hybrid bike -- over 20 miles of smooth flat gravel road with few bumps. For uninformed caveman, hybrid bike have reputation as extremely silly machine -- not capable mountain bike (bad suspension, upright position, 700c wheels), but not capable road bike either (fat tires, flat handlebars, ~95 lbs.). For years, Krogg look down upon hybrid bike like Krogg look down at duckbill platypus.(JUST PICK ONE WILL YOU PLATYPUS? YOU DUCK? OR BEAVER?) 

Then finally, Krogg understand: hybrid bike PERFECT for Lehigh Gorge bike path! LOOK: 

Actual photo from Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail

See? Everybody ride hybrid. Everybody happy. Well Krogg and Hong no have hybrid, but we try luck anyway. Krogg and Hong ride bikes down trail, and pass many cyclist, all on hybrid bike. Krogg begin to doubt earlier assumption that it not about bike; maybe those people right....maybe hybrid bike IS better! HOLY SNARLING SABERTOOTH -- KROGG WANT HYBRID BIKE! Krogg and Hong ANGRY!!!

Then stop for snack and suddenly, Krogg get idea: hybrid bike fit poorly, handle poorly, and make no sense -- if KROGG RIDE HONG BIKE, IT ALSO FIT POORLY, HANDLE POORLY, AND MAKE NO SENSE!!! 

Before long, Krogg and Hong breeze down trail on wrong bike, happy as clam, waving hi to all the other caveman on hybrid bike. 

Krogg even try sprint on Hong bike -- maybe go faster? 

Turns out, no, Krogg no go faster on Hong bike, but Krogg pretty sure Hong save ride data on SRM power meter. Krogg hope Hong coach like giant caveman watts! Then Hong sprint on Krogg bike: 

Hong not exactly about to tear bottom-bracket out of frame there, but Krogg impressed nonetheless; pedals FAR for Hong. 

Anyway, Krogg and Hong ride remainder of Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail on wrong bike, happy as clam. Then get back to paved roads and snap out of crazy hybrid obsession. Krogg and Hong trade back bike, and never speak of hybrid bike again! Thank goodness for paved road, and road bike. 

The (Continuing) Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

Yep, that's right -- it's time for another installment of your favorite dynamic duo -- Chris Hong and Krogg:

The Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

Episode III: PARTY TIME!

Yowzers! Krogg still reeling from party time! Holy MASTADON – Team Exergy know how to throw a good party! All day long Team Exergy work work work to prepare. Here Carlos washing van:

Krogg and Hong get dressed-up to the nines. We good looking cavemans! Team Exergy provide matching outfits. Trust Krogg: Team Exergy difficult group of guys to dress (at least so guys don't look like slovenly Australopithecus hahaha!). Exergy get pants that fit Hong, and pants that fit Krogg – WOW! Krogg pants require twice as much fabric as Hong pants – but when worn by appropriately sized caveman, both look good! 

Chris Hong and Krogg with caveman Drew purposefully ruining picture. 

Party have several purpose. Purpose one: thank local Boise community for support. Purpose two: present team. Purpose three: HAVE KILLER PARTY. Krogg happy to announce that all three purpose we accomplish! Exergy Development Group throw out red carpet and pull out all stops -- even parking giant beautiful windmill semi-trailer in front. Even though it rain a lot a lot on Monday night, hundreds of people come to classy old Linen Building to see fancy Team Exergy bikes, schmooze with Team Exergy riders, listen to some real country music by Boise's favorite band Poke, and last but not least – see presentation.

Krogg good friend Todd Gogulski there to emcee. Todd former mighty cyclist, and current mighty television commentator, so it special honor to have him there. Everybody have good time – especially Krogg and Hong! Here Krogg, Hong, Josh the Williams Wrench, and Todd Gogulski share photo opportunity:

Krogg and Hong have wonderful time at party: we drink caveman drink, and dance caveman dance, and talk caveman talk until the wee hours (roughly eleven o’clock – which is practically four in the morning by cyclist standards). Krogg like to give big thanks to Boise cycling community. Trust Krogg – all of Team Exergy extremely excited to rep-ro-sent Boise at upcoming races. KOWABUNGA!  

One more group shot...

The (Continuing) Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

Alright everybody, it's time for the latest installment of our multi-part series about everybody's favorite caveman duo: Chris Hong and Krogg.

The (Continuing) Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg. 

Episode 2: The Bike Change

Krogg like to indulge in daydream. Please, indulge with Krogg: One day, Chris Hong and Krogg start important stage race. Stage one Hong and Krogg work together all day. Whenever crosswind start to blow, Krogg say "get on my wheel Hong!" and Hong survive crosswind. Whenever road go over steep hill, Hong say "hold on tight Krogg!" and Krogg survive hill. Stage finish atop mighty mighty mountain top, and Krogg think Hong able to win stage. "No more wind for you Hong -- Krogg pull you all the way until bottom of mountain, then HONG WIN!" So Krogg pull all the way to bottom of mountain, and Hong stay out of wind real good. Then bad luck happen! Sobbing salamanders, Hong break bicycle! OH NO! If Hong have no bicycle, how Hong win race? Good thing all riders on Team Exergy ride same pedals! Only one thing to do: caveman bike change. "Here Hong, take my bike," Krogg say, and away Hong go! 

 GO HONG, CLIMB LIKE WIND!!!!

Then, next day, stage finish in long crosswind section. Everything going to plan, until -- terrible tousling tundra tiger -- KROGG BREAK BIKE!!!! This of course leave only one option: caveman bike change! "Here Krogg, take my bike!" Hong say, and Krogg hop on Hong's bike and ride away: 

 KROGG RIDE LIKE WIND!!!

Not matter what happen, NOTHING STOP Chris Hong and Krogg.

The Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

The time has come.

You all remember Chris Hong. He's one of the most recognizable riders in the north american peloton. I first mentioned Chris in my Top Five Mutant Bodies of the Tour of the Glia, where he took the title of "most minuet male." He then reappeared last year during the Elkhorn Classic, where he climbed up that final climb with the wings of an angel (leapfrogging from 16th to 1st in the GC). Well now we're teammates, and oh how I'm excited for the year ahead. I'm going to start what I hope to be a multi-part series entitled The Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg.

Naturally, I'll let Krogg do the honors. Take it away Krogg:

The Adventures of Chris Hong and Krogg

Episode 1: Sponsor Camp

Story begin when Krogg and Hong go to Sponsor Camp. This kind of like summer camp, mixed with job training, mixed with Christmas. Krogg and Hong do many fun things at sponsor camp: race go-karts (which neither of us do particularly well), play lots of foosball (which neither of us do particularly well), eat yummy food (which we both do exceedingly well), and whole team go out on town (which Krogg do much better than Hong, but in terms of beers per pound, Hong have slight advantage). Krogg and Hong also do lots to prepare for season: meetings with staff, photo-shoots, and many many sponsor presentations to learn about cool new sponsors. During sponsor presentations, Krogg and Hong take notes about different sponsors. Hong just graduate from Harvard University. Hong study pre-med. Hong accepted to medical school. Here Hong's notes: 

Pretty good notes. 
On other side of spectrum, Krogg graduate from Whitman. Krogg study art. Here Krogg's notes:

Also pretty good notes. 
Despite differences in style, Krogg and Hong now very well prepared to represent sponsors throughout season. Ask Krogg question about PowerCordz for instance -- Krogg know answer! 
Krogg and Hong also receive all kinds of new gear, including new clothing. Mighty mastodons -- new kits look amazing!! Here Krogg and Hong pose with new kits: 

Krogg and Hong have many daydreams about upcoming season. So much support, so much racing, such high hopes and expectations. Krogg have much much more exciting news to share, but Sponsor Camp still going full swing, so stories must wait. Tonight: big party at the Exergy corporate headquarters. Krogg and Hong plan on getting dressed up like fancy cavemen -- long pants, button down shirts, shoes -- the works! This pretty rare occurrence for Krogg and Hong, so wish us luck. 

I Gotta Clear Something Up!

So do you all remember Chris Hong? Last year he made my list of Top Five Mutant Bodies of the Tour of the Gila. Well right now, my hat is off to Chris, and his Exergy teammates, because the guy just won the Elkhorn Classic. He did so by spending 100 miles off the front of the race in a breakaway, and still having the suds to maintain (or even build) his lead over the field up the final eight-mile climb, overcoming a 1:45 deficit and vaulting from 16th overall to first. Chris Hong climbs up hills like a mountain goat riding an elevator in the Burj Dubai. So this leads me to the question: exactly how much does Chris Hong weight? When I first asked Chris' teammate this question last year, I heard an even 100 lbs. If this were true, it would mean that when I go uphill I am carrying the equivalent of an entire extra adult male rottweiler. This is the best case scenario. So:

 + 

=

However, if you head over to Oregon Cycling Action, and read their coverage of stage one, you'll see that Hong now weighs only 90 lbs:

 "Chris Hong, Exergy’s 90-pound climber who had been drafting in the wings all day, took over and set a blistering pace that caused a split in the main field."

Now we're getting into strange territory. If this is true, it means I weigh *ahem* more than twice as much as him. Think about that.
 +  

=

So is Chris losing weight? He seems faster than ever, so it's not out of the question. Could he eventually crack the 80 lb. barrier?  How fast would he go if we got him down to 60 lbs? I can see the headlines now: "Chris Hong, 50 lb Wonder, Averages 37 mph up Mt. Ventoux." Anyway, I started the day in second place by a mere five seconds. Thanks to my teammate in the breakaway, I got a free-ride most of the day, and got to really unload on the final climb. I was able to crack the race leader and leapfrog him, but my efforts were too little, too late; Hong had already flown the coop. However, considering how well Exergy rode, I'm pretty happy with second in the GC. Nice work Chris; see you next week.