 Antonio, Austinbikes, Austin Nationals, Wooly Mammoth... VOP is so non-exclusive that you become a member even if you don't want to become a member, and you can never quit," he says. "All you have to do is ride with us once to be a member, and there are never any dues or assessments."
Brad also sponsors eight competitive teams, which currently include Violet Crown (the team for which he races), Austin Flyers, Austin Nationals, Wooly Mammoth, UT Cycling, Team Brain & Spine, Super Squadra, and Snapple-ATC Racing.
Sponsoring local teams wasn't exactly a business decision, Brad says, though some clients might prefer a lawyer who shares their passion for the sport. Competitive cycling is a niche group, and with many of the teams he's sponsored, he's had no direct connection with his law practice, no referrals or related cases.
The first team he sponsored, roughly five or six years ago, was a women's team. "Team Joy Ride" later became the Austin Flyers. "I've got two daughters, my Mom's kind of a women's libber, and my wife came up through Title IX and was a trailblazer in girls' high school sports in the 70s. I felt I needed to support women's sports."
The other sponsorships, naturally, seemed to follow. Team Brain and Spine, Super Squadra, and Snapple-ATC Racing are new additions for 2012. "My kids may not go on vacation this year," Brad says, laughing.
You might wonder if sponsoring so many competitive teams might offend different factions. When it comes to the world of bike racing, is it possible to have your finger in too many pies? Well, when you're the Perry Mason of cycling, perhaps not.
To join Gruppo VOP on a training ride, visit Brad's website for details – contact him by email or ask around for current times, as they change by season. Until daylight savings ends, the weekday rides start at 6:45am, the Saturday ride starts at 7:30am, and the Sunday ride starts at 8am.
For an overview of issues affecting cyclists, check out Brad's 2011 "Laws of the Street" article.
After increasing training volume and quality and improving your position on the bike, an aero helmet is the next best bang for your buck. Their teardrop shapes and reduced vents lessen drag as wind pounds into your head and over your back.  There isn't much of a downside apart from looking a bit strange. Just put one on and save around 30 seconds per 40k. Simple! But which helmet is best? Well that depends, as usual. Austin Tri-Cyclist takes a look at four models we carry and breaks them down for you. Even better – to celebrate the 2011 Longhorn 70.3 race all in-stock aero helmets are on sale 20% off list price for race weekend!
What's in a Helmet?
The most important consideration in choosing an aero helmet is how well it fits your body and position. You want a helmet whose tail fits closely against your back, and one that is no larger than it needs to be. Pick the smallest size that fits you comfortably, and spend a moment to determine how well it fits against your back. Customers are welcome to set their own bikes up in our fitting center and see how different helmets look on video.
Visors can improve aerodynamics, but many riders prefer to use their own sunglasses. All of the helmets in this review allow you to remove the visor if you don't want it. Ventilation can also be a big concern for some in the Texas heat. Vents will reduce the aerodynamic advantage of a helmet, but if you don't want them, you can always put some packing tape over the vents for cooler days or for shorter events. None of these helmets differ in their weight enough to be a performance concern, but less weight could be a comfort advantage for some riders.
The top-of-the-line aero helmet from LG is the most distinctive-looking option. They seem to have thrown every aero geek idea in the book at this helmet: dimples on the front, vortex generators in the middle, and a Trek Speed Concept style truncated airfoil on the rear. LG claims that all of these features reduce drag, and that this has been tested in the wind tunnel, though actual data has not been made public. The truncated shape on the back of the helmet may prove advantageous to riders who do not hold their head very still, or tend to look down much of the time while racing. We found this helmet to be easy to put on and adjust. It was one of the heavier helmets in the comparison, but only by a few grams. A UV protective visor is included in the price but may be removed if preferred.
The word "superleggera" is Italian for "superlight" and this helmet does not disappoint on that front, coming in as the lightest helmet in the comparison. These weight savings are not likely to win you any races, but they may keep your neck more comfortable if you struggle with that issue. Dimples are still featured on the front, as well as a few vents. Otherwise the shape is more conventional. The Superleggera is a solid helmet that is also easy to put on and adjust. A visor is not included but may be purchased separately.
This helmet is the most expensive and seemed to be the most complex, as well. The adjustment mechanisms are extensive but not simple. The helmet covers much more of your face and ears than others, and wraps very tightly against it. The helmet can take a while to put on, and may not be the ideal choice for triathletes looking to get out of T1 as fast as possible. Time trialists should give it a serious look, though, as it probably has the best aerodynamic pedigree of the bunch. Another interesting feature is the bottom of this helmet can snap off and be replaced with a lower profile one, allowing you to customize the fit of the helmet against your back. This helmet is currently the helmet used by pro team Garmin Cervelo, Tour de France TTT champs, who take their time trialing very seriously. A visor is included with this helmet.
This helmet is the simplest and most affordable helmet in our comparison, but is still a wind tunnel tested product that has been worn by TT champs such as Dave Zabriske. This helmet was a breeze to put on and adjust and should work well for triathletes. There is no mechanism for a visor to be installed so sunglasses are not optional. If you prefer wearing your own eyewear anyway, save some money and give this helmet a try.
This past weekend was the final race of the Lifetime Fitness series in Dallas. Race morning was surprisingly cold for a Texas triathlon but warmed up by T1 when the sun came out, and it was perfect weather the rest of the day. The swim was an in-water start. Previous years was a diving start off the boat dock, but low water levels this year discouraged a head-first entry. The course was an out, across, and back counterclockwise wetsuit swim and mostly smooth except for some choppy water between the 1st and 2nd turn. The last 50 meters was knee-deep mud and waist-deep water, making it tough to swim or run through.
The swim-out led athletes around the Hilton on the Harbor and into the parking lot transition. The bike-out was a short but steep hill right out of the gate to get to the street. The bike course was a cut-and-dry lollipop loop with just enough wind to play mind games with you, but had PR potential and ended with a fast downhill mile. Once in and out of T2, the course went out the same T1 hill and leveled out but remained uphill for the first 1.5 miles. The last ~1.5 miles to the turnaround were mostly flat. After the turnaround it was a guaranteed negative split with the long downhill finish.
The finish line chute wrapped around the hotel, promising a tunnel of cheering spectators. Cold water, tables of food, and Andy Potts welcomed finishing athletes.
Another must-do race (driving distance from Austin) in the books, and a comparatively fast course to end the season with satisfaction.
Aero Helmet Reviews LG Vorttice, LG Superleggera...
Toyota U.S. Open Triathlon Race Report October...This intense raspberry sorbet is as pleasing to the taste buds as it is for the eye to behold. Please note &quot;Preparation Time&quot; includes time needed for the simple syrup to chill, time needed for the sorbet to churn in an ice cream maker as well time needed for freezing solid. If you are as eager as my family was to eat this sorbet, you may choose to serve it directly after churning without freezing for 3-5 hours, but please be aware that the sorbet will be softer and melt much faster. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does! Happy eating!
Place sugar and water into a medium saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until sugar is dissolves. Bring mixture to a rolling boil. Continue to boil for 10-15 minutes or until a thin, syrup consistency is reached (syrup should coat the back of a spoon). Set aside to cool. Then pour into a separate container and refrigerate until completely chilled (about 2 hours).
Place raspberries, simple syrup and lime juice in a 5-quart food processor. Using a chopping blade, pure