popular? I'll say

Google alert pulled up 34 (i think - rough count) news and blog hits for cyclocross today/last night. That is a record i think.

Good sign? I think so.

Got a good run in last night. But man i tell ya, dog owners are pains in the ass. All out there wearing black walking a black dog, no lights no leash... okay - some had a leash. Maybe it is because i ride home on the path at night with lights and like to know what the hell is up the road. I had a nice red LED light belt on and Lucy had a blinky triangle thing clipped to her harness. hard not to see us. Got a good 3 miles i think in - maybe 4. Felt wicked easy. Pace wasn't blistering but we were moving pretty good. Most annoying was someone walking two dogs (on leashes at least) wearing a headlamp. Kept looking right at me. And well headlamp + eyes adjusted for darkness = painful. Needless to say until Lucy got agitated i didn't realize that she had two dogs!

I'm ready to figure out how to run with the damn monster battery pack and my 15W spot Niterider. Sumbitch isn't as bright as some fancy new LED or HID lamps but. It is still eye searing bright. At least I'll get as much warning as Lucy's nose if people have dogs and stuff.

That said - it was awesome running there in the dark. Just enough light from the sky to provide some contrast on the path we were running. It was cool. And Lucy was running well, no pulling on the leash keeping a good pace just in front of me.

This morning riding in i could feel a twinge of soreness lingering in my hamstrings. Not a bad soreness, just noticable. Kinda nice. Even with the heavy stick session (heavy for me means 5-10 minutes a couple times that night). Not much more time than that to self apply between everything else.

Okay so i broke down and read the new DIRT RAG issue that came in the mail yesterday. Issue #132. Damn fine stuff. Just when i thought all i would need is a new cross bike... i am reminded. I need a 29er. Big freak like me needs a 29er. Okay, not need, i've had plenty of fun and still love my current MTBs to death. But. It just seems natural for someone my size to be on a bike that doesn't look like a geared BMX when i'm riding it.

Traffic this morning was intense. Picked the right day (yesterday) to drive in. Wow. Backed up EVERYWHERE. Every road getting into the City/towards the city from the east was packed with cars and drivers looking bewildered. Days like that it takes LONGER to drive in than to ride in.

Someone was looking for tunes... and so i checked my D-Z, and David Gray was what i hit first. So, i've got some DG blasting in the dungeon here. Might be sunny outside but i wouldn't know it. David Gray kicks ass.

Music kicks ass. But don't ever ever ever ever ever go riding around on public roads with your damn fahkin iPod shoved in your ears. Don't Do it. M'Kay? And if you decide to go running on a bike path with an iPod? Turn the fahking thing down so when i shout at the top of my lungs "On your left, WIDE LOAD" you actually hear me. Cause if you don't move you're gonna get wapped by a flag on the trailer for your stupidity. Be conscious of your surroundings. If you want to check out into la la land, do it on a trainer or a treadmill, some where that your self centered music focused training won't impact adversely the lives of others. "but i can ride harder and longer listening to music"... I'll counter with: You aren't allowed to race with music. Get over that crutch. Find some mental toughness that you can lean on. Music is definitely good stuff for motivating and all that. But... when it comes to racing... an internal motivation will be the more effective one... yes you can internalize the music... do it on a trainer when you can close your eyes and pretend you are in the TdF or racing at Koppenburg...

sigh...

Kinda of an issue. That and the other problem i got are all these damn novice fixie riders blowing stop signs at full tilt. Sure, fine, cars don't obey the speed limit. But, that's not as visible as some punk ass super tight jeans wearing kid blowing stop signs, making other bike traffic and cars yeild to their stupidity and selfishness.

Yes. Being a complete selfish dick makes it hard for those who at least pause at stop signs to make sure you aren't pissing anyone off or cutting someone off. Having a bit of respect for everyone out there. Esp of the cyclists. Ya know? Screw the cars and their mean spirited ways. But don't fahking blow a stop sign and nearly t-bone some old fart dragging a trailer because you are a punk ass dickweed on some trendy fixie... Fixed gear bikes have a place...

Positive fixed gear rider - my team mate. He's a messenger in the city here. I've watched him cruise through. Sure he's not always waiting for the green light but he's going smoothly, respectfully, and artfully through the traffic. He's riding with Zen. Not riding with a big one finger salute to the rest of the world.

Show some respect to those around you. Even if you feel that they haven't "EARNED IT" (don't get me started - "earning respect is right up there with the 'i'm entitled to _____ assbags'). Be the one to start the circle of respect. Don't wait for someone else.

believe it or not, it is noticeable, and it does make a difference...

okay - damn it - how did i wind up on this damn soap box?

be good, show some random respect... peace,
G