Mike Friedman, Laoshan Velodrome, Beijing Olympics As you can tell, I have been experimenting with various riding machines. I own two vintage Mustangs - a ‘66 and ‘68 - and figured I ought to keep the ball rolling on the track. What I have chosen here is a 1950 Chinese Flying Pigeon.

Please notice all its performance features. The basket in front is specifically designed for aerodynamic efficiency. It pushes the wind around my body before my body enters the pocket of wind. Next you will notice the brakes that I use in a stop-go pattern that catches my opponents off guard. Plus they are really great for brake checking in emergencies. Last is the weight. At 37 pounds, it’s really easy to accelerate up to speed. And during exchanges, it’s a real whistle!

So far the Olympic Games have been fantastic! The Chinese have really out done themselves in all areas. The velodrome here is the best I have been on, and not just the track, but the entire facility. When you watch the riders in training, you don’t hear a thing except the beautiful sound of the drive trains. Plus the eagerness and willingness of the volunteers to help in any situation is impressive. They are so friendly and come by the 3’s and 4’s if you ever need anything.

The village has been pretty fun just in terms of people\athlete watching, and the cafe is surreal. It seats 5,000 people and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But the best thing about it is probably the McCafe with all the free coffee beverages any caffeine junky can handle. Plus they aren’t too bad.

But don’t worry JV! I’m starving myself ;)!

The opening ceremonies were out of this world. It was another page turned in my life. There have been a lot of those this year and I think I’d like to start writing a book. Thanks for reading!