sorry - but we didn't get an army of snow blowers put together, nor a kick ass bomardier all terrain snow thrower... or even a family of dirt bikes or quads together to create a raceable course through the snow at the MRC/Wrentham course.
Race has been postponed until the 8th.
Race one on the 8th will be a miss and out as a seeder for the noon race. Last 8 in race 1 are the last row in the Noon race. If you don't race the first race then you line up behind those last 8. Next 8 are next row etc. Total Rob Bauer style.
Granted it isn't really a race, just getting together and having fun. Hopefully conditions will improve enough w/o major equipment and attention to let us race next weekend.
I'm about as bummed (probably more) than anyone else who had been hoping to race, so my apologies, and we'll work on better plans for next time. So, next big snow, if you have a quad or a motoX bike and are willing to destroy some snow to lay a CX course and you're near enough to get the engine powered stuff to Wrentham let me know.
Happy New Year everyone. May 2011 be a great year for New England Cyclocross!
g
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Damn Snow
Okay, so despite my enthusiasm and unbridled optimism that it will work w/o modification... we need machine help.
I went to the course today. Snow was drifted pretty high and while it was completely ridable/raceable where it was BB height or less, it was deep enough that my big fat ass couldn't keep traction with the rear tire.
I so wanted this to happen, but I can't afford to rent a skid-steer with a snow blower, much less get it there with the holiday weekend and all that, and have no way to get a snowblower i could find here up there.
Feelers are out but things are sparse. If you know someone with a big snow blower (small ones will get swallowed by the powder) and are in the area - let me know.
Stupid snow.
I went to the course today. Snow was drifted pretty high and while it was completely ridable/raceable where it was BB height or less, it was deep enough that my big fat ass couldn't keep traction with the rear tire.
I so wanted this to happen, but I can't afford to rent a skid-steer with a snow blower, much less get it there with the holiday weekend and all that, and have no way to get a snowblower i could find here up there.
Feelers are out but things are sparse. If you know someone with a big snow blower (small ones will get swallowed by the powder) and are in the area - let me know.
Stupid snow.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Why you want to race at Wrentham even if there is snow
On the ground.
Why?
Well for one there is great course flexibility.
The single track back in the woods is going to be great. No problems there. And there's a fair bit more single track than has typically been used in the Training races. So if we need to add more length, no problem.
Run the course on the woods half only maybe. Lap times might be short but heck who cares, it is Cyclocross, and all indications are that we aren't going to get 300 people to show up on the 1st. If we do? F'n BRILLIANT.
I hope we do. That would be unbelievably awesome. But I'm not dumb enough to think the odds are good. But really, what do I keep saying? What better way to start the New Year?
Really. Come one. You bastards live and die cyclocross and then curl up and ride the f'n trainer. You kidding me?
Get some solid intensity. Have some fun.
Look. At the most you're going to have to ride through the snow from the two track over to the single track where the barriers usually are. How long is the sand at Mol?
Are you wanting something easy and grass crit like to race on?
Come on.
Of course it is going to be hard. But hell it was nearly 40 degrees when I got back to New England tonight. The untrodden snow is flat and wet and wicked nice to ride in. I'm assuming that maybe there's a bit more up there but there's also a couple more days of sun and low humidity and warm temps.
So. Trust me. Get the bikes packed up before you get completely blotto and watch the ball drop naked on your couch at midnight or when ever it is you pass out. Set the alarm for how ever long it takes you to drive to Wrentham Developmental Center: (From I-495, exit 15. Follow Route 1A/South St. (Dedham St.) north through Wrentham Center for 2.5mi. Left on to North St. Continue on North St. for 0.5mi.) and get there ready to go at 11am.
It will be good. No, it isn't going to be a manicured course like G'ster or Canton, but come on, people bitch about those. You will need real power to win on New Year's Day.
Just think. You could be crowned the first Fastest CX Racer of 2011!
Don't you wicked fast guys want to get that coveted title?
Why?
Well for one there is great course flexibility.
The single track back in the woods is going to be great. No problems there. And there's a fair bit more single track than has typically been used in the Training races. So if we need to add more length, no problem.
Run the course on the woods half only maybe. Lap times might be short but heck who cares, it is Cyclocross, and all indications are that we aren't going to get 300 people to show up on the 1st. If we do? F'n BRILLIANT.
I hope we do. That would be unbelievably awesome. But I'm not dumb enough to think the odds are good. But really, what do I keep saying? What better way to start the New Year?
Really. Come one. You bastards live and die cyclocross and then curl up and ride the f'n trainer. You kidding me?
Get some solid intensity. Have some fun.
Look. At the most you're going to have to ride through the snow from the two track over to the single track where the barriers usually are. How long is the sand at Mol?
Are you wanting something easy and grass crit like to race on?
Come on.
Of course it is going to be hard. But hell it was nearly 40 degrees when I got back to New England tonight. The untrodden snow is flat and wet and wicked nice to ride in. I'm assuming that maybe there's a bit more up there but there's also a couple more days of sun and low humidity and warm temps.
So. Trust me. Get the bikes packed up before you get completely blotto and watch the ball drop naked on your couch at midnight or when ever it is you pass out. Set the alarm for how ever long it takes you to drive to Wrentham Developmental Center: (From I-495, exit 15. Follow Route 1A/South St. (Dedham St.) north through Wrentham Center for 2.5mi. Left on to North St. Continue on North St. for 0.5mi.) and get there ready to go at 11am.
It will be good. No, it isn't going to be a manicured course like G'ster or Canton, but come on, people bitch about those. You will need real power to win on New Year's Day.
Just think. You could be crowned the first Fastest CX Racer of 2011!
Don't you wicked fast guys want to get that coveted title?
New Year's Day Cyclocross
Seriously, come kick off the year with a bunch of your friends riding around in a race like situation. Haven't been riding? so what, neither have I, it will just be a measure of how long we can hold off the fast dudes and kids while we work on pedaling till we puke and then rally and go.
Where specifically? basically at the MRC training race course.
Rob has the vision of a month long series. We can move it to sunday maybe but that's going to be feedback based. Show up on the 1st and let me know if you wan to race on the 8th or 9th.
Goal: participation and fun. And really, when it comes down to it, what's more fun than racing your friends/enemies even if a training ride kind of race (it will be race pace intensity).
Don't worry about the snow. We'll make it work. If you'd rather strap your feet to one or two boards, well nothing we can do to get you there unless a heat wave blows in an melts all the snow giving you no choice but to drag your Cyclocross bike out.
Next year Nationals will be on the 3 and 4th and then Masters worlds will follow shortly in January.
And trust me, there will be more snow on the course then than we'll have on Saturday. Might as well get used to it.
Questions?
Commnets?
Suggestions?
(yes, i'm honestly asking - but feedback given on the 1st in person will receive the most consideration)
heddwch
G
Where specifically? basically at the MRC training race course.
Rob has the vision of a month long series. We can move it to sunday maybe but that's going to be feedback based. Show up on the 1st and let me know if you wan to race on the 8th or 9th.
Goal: participation and fun. And really, when it comes down to it, what's more fun than racing your friends/enemies even if a training ride kind of race (it will be race pace intensity).
Don't worry about the snow. We'll make it work. If you'd rather strap your feet to one or two boards, well nothing we can do to get you there unless a heat wave blows in an melts all the snow giving you no choice but to drag your Cyclocross bike out.
Next year Nationals will be on the 3 and 4th and then Masters worlds will follow shortly in January.
And trust me, there will be more snow on the course then than we'll have on Saturday. Might as well get used to it.
Questions?
Commnets?
Suggestions?
(yes, i'm honestly asking - but feedback given on the 1st in person will receive the most consideration)
heddwch
G
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Come Race Cyclocross
To start the new year!
Liked Ice Weasels last year in the snow?
Want to race in the snow again?
Looking for the best way to start the new year right?
Need a sure fire way to cure a New Year's Eve party hangover?
Want to get ready to go to Europe to kick some ass at CX Masters Worlds?
Saw the Deigem race and want to be a tougher bike racer than Treebooboo?
Done getting fat and slow these last couple weeks and want to kick start your year?
Racing Battenkill and need to start working on intensity?
Okay that last reason is a bit weak sauce, but that said:
Come out and race with us at Wrentham. No it isn't a real race, more a bunch of us getting together with our Cyclocross bikes to get a killer workout in together on a course. Rumor has it there might be a Growler of John Harvard beer for the winner of the noon "race." Just a rumor.
Two races. 11am and then Noon. We're going to play it by ear how the first race goes. Training style? A couple sets of two lap races, miss and out, lemans style, who knows. It'll be puking hard and fun as hell. The Noon race will be full 45min for the serious folks. Call the 11am your warm up. Unless you want to get there earlier and help lay out the course by warming up on it.
I'm excited, can't think of a better way to start the New Year. Is there a better way to start riding again after a couple weeks off than Racing CX?
Heddwch
G
Liked Ice Weasels last year in the snow?
Want to race in the snow again?
Looking for the best way to start the new year right?
Need a sure fire way to cure a New Year's Eve party hangover?
Want to get ready to go to Europe to kick some ass at CX Masters Worlds?
Saw the Deigem race and want to be a tougher bike racer than Treebooboo?
Done getting fat and slow these last couple weeks and want to kick start your year?
Racing Battenkill and need to start working on intensity?
Okay that last reason is a bit weak sauce, but that said:
Come out and race with us at Wrentham. No it isn't a real race, more a bunch of us getting together with our Cyclocross bikes to get a killer workout in together on a course. Rumor has it there might be a Growler of John Harvard beer for the winner of the noon "race." Just a rumor.
Two races. 11am and then Noon. We're going to play it by ear how the first race goes. Training style? A couple sets of two lap races, miss and out, lemans style, who knows. It'll be puking hard and fun as hell. The Noon race will be full 45min for the serious folks. Call the 11am your warm up. Unless you want to get there earlier and help lay out the course by warming up on it.
I'm excited, can't think of a better way to start the New Year. Is there a better way to start riding again after a couple weeks off than Racing CX?
Heddwch
G
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas everyone.
Last minute plans sometimes change things for the better even if you embark on them with some reservations and trepidation.
Aside from not riding this isn't so bad.
And yeah. Back on the coffee wagon. Gonna have to maybe buy myself an aeropress and attempt to stick with one cup in the morning. I was sort of hoping there might be one in a present for me but nope.
One of the better ones has been the Cooking For Geeks book. I've mentioned it here before.
I've basically been reading it since I unwrapped it. Wicked good stuff in there. Some not as interesting but the book on the whole is worth every penny (esp if you get it on sale at Amazon or something).
So Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy the holiday break if you have one. I hope to see a good number of you NECX bitches and old farts on Jan 1st at the Wrentham MRC course.
Last minute plans sometimes change things for the better even if you embark on them with some reservations and trepidation.
Aside from not riding this isn't so bad.
And yeah. Back on the coffee wagon. Gonna have to maybe buy myself an aeropress and attempt to stick with one cup in the morning. I was sort of hoping there might be one in a present for me but nope.
One of the better ones has been the Cooking For Geeks book. I've mentioned it here before.
I've basically been reading it since I unwrapped it. Wicked good stuff in there. Some not as interesting but the book on the whole is worth every penny (esp if you get it on sale at Amazon or something).
So Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy the holiday break if you have one. I hope to see a good number of you NECX bitches and old farts on Jan 1st at the Wrentham MRC course.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
rapha challenge
is not going to happen...
got a ride to/from work on Wed. No riding until at least next Wed, maybe Thurs.
probably not the worst thing in the world....
got a ride to/from work on Wed. No riding until at least next Wed, maybe Thurs.
probably not the worst thing in the world....
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Mexican Scotsman
Jose, get your bagpipes
And head down to the square
Seranade the passers-bye
And you'll make some money there
Jose came to this country
Looking for a chance
To make some decent money
To buy a pair of pants
But we were in recession
And jobs were far and few
So jose took his bagpipes
And did what he had to do
Dressed in his Sombrero and Kilt
With his bagpipes and maracas
Playing away for his supper
Boiled haggis with nachos
One day while he was basking
A pretty young lassie came by
She said "Jose, take s troll with me"
Says Jose, "Si! Si! Och' 'Aye!"
They spent the day together
Then she took him to a dance
Well, Jose moved most gracefully
'Cause he wasn't wearing pants
And he was born in Mexico City
Educated in Scotland
In sandals and bright tartan pancho
Jose's fashion statement was not planned
But when Jose went to the men's room
There was trouble close at hand
Cause in came Bob, the sailor man
The roughest man in the land
Says Bob, "You're lookin' pretty
In your little tartan dress
Now you'd best be off to the ladies room
'fore I pummels you into a mess"
Now you could have heard a pin drop
As Jose tongued around
His scottish-mexican blood began to boil
And it made this kind of sound...
*f'n awesome pipe instrumental*
And when it all was over
Sailor Bob lay on the floor
He looked the saddest sorry wreck
Ever blown a shore
Now, the sailors keep a lookout
Whenever they're on the land
For they knows well that they doesn't mess
With a Scottish Mexican man!
Love this song. Came on the Pandora just a bit ago. Damn awesome pipe solo/melody.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Nice find Zen...
Beers were consumed post concerts, (kind of like a cross race, you do the show so you can have a few afterwards - kind of). Saturday night some High Life was procured, and we had a few. Probably a good beer to drink between 2 and 4am after the really night stuff, kind of like drinking water. Certainly helps to prevent a hangover.
That and the commercial is pretty good.
Oh and Heidi's post is among the best ever. read it.
New England's Methadone clinic starts on January 1st. MRC training grounds. It is official, come race a bit to prolong our season and prepare for next year's transition.
Houston we've landed
We? dunno.
Made it, grabbed a quick coffee with JLS at Boston Common before managing to catch an earlier train to PVD to finish the trip.
Got all the busted stuff taken care of and nearly all of the urgent issues at least addressed if not resolved.
And I'm wiped out.
Red Eye last night and even with the complimentary blindfold/eye-shield and ear plugs i still couldn't get comfortable enough to string more than 30 min or so of sleep together in the plane.
Up for 22 hrs on Thursday, getting 6 hrs that night, then the power going out sending us to bed at 2am on friday night after the tacoma concert getting about 5 hours of sleep, then Saturday's concert and heading to my brother's house for some food and hanging out until 4am only to get up at 8am to get going for the 3pm show on Sunday. Ooh wow was I in rough shape, the lack of sleep was wrecking me more than the beer. just stuck with beer, no Port as in past years or wine or whiskey. Just some really nice beer that can't be purchased around here. Sunday night was short too, my brother's had to leave at 6am to get to the airport, and I didn't quite get the wake up timing right and when I was wide awake at 4:45 wondering if my brother's were supposed to get up at 4:30 or 5:30 i couldn't get back to sleep until after they left. That got me to the point of driving around to the Bellevue show and from there getting to the airport at 10:15 for an 11:30 flight. Made it there no problem but then there was the whole lack of sleep thing.
Describing the feeling is tough. nerves are shot, body is full of hyper energy but the brain and eyes are shutting down. this is actually pretty tough to write. Maybe i am tired.
oof
that and one comment.
Rarely do I fly direct from New England to Seattle.
Can I just say I've never seen a leaner trimmer more normally sized group of people flying than on both of the flights. Seriously. trim and fit people. Usually flying in through the midwest or other locations the population on the plane reflects the national average.
Hell the cities are pretty similar, lots of active people getting around by means other than car, but people are weird out there. Kind of funny.
But that's all okay, I really enjoy being out there and the raining cool weather felt awesome. I love that stuff. And the mountains... it is hard to explain the trees to people who call their hills out here Mtns. When trees get to be hundreds of feet tall, well... that's pretty impressive. I'm always reminded where my passion for Botany came from.
And the music. It was good. Fingers were surprisingly in tune. Granted I only played on maybe a half dozen songs and they are ones that I've been playing forever, still. Can't fake the violin/fiddle too much. esp not with a mic and a critical family listening. It was also a pretty sweet feeling. The shows were all packed and that says a lot with the current market and economy esp when other shows are not selling out. People have made our family tradition of 32 years their family tradition. It is hard to describe what it is like.
Honestly I'm not too tired to miss the bike right now, I really want to get on it tomorrow. Going to have to mount up the studs, probably fire up the Giant as well. Maybe even get the fenders on. We'll see how ambitions I get this afternoon evening tomorrow morning. Yeah Bikes.
Made it, grabbed a quick coffee with JLS at Boston Common before managing to catch an earlier train to PVD to finish the trip.
Got all the busted stuff taken care of and nearly all of the urgent issues at least addressed if not resolved.
And I'm wiped out.
Red Eye last night and even with the complimentary blindfold/eye-shield and ear plugs i still couldn't get comfortable enough to string more than 30 min or so of sleep together in the plane.
Up for 22 hrs on Thursday, getting 6 hrs that night, then the power going out sending us to bed at 2am on friday night after the tacoma concert getting about 5 hours of sleep, then Saturday's concert and heading to my brother's house for some food and hanging out until 4am only to get up at 8am to get going for the 3pm show on Sunday. Ooh wow was I in rough shape, the lack of sleep was wrecking me more than the beer. just stuck with beer, no Port as in past years or wine or whiskey. Just some really nice beer that can't be purchased around here. Sunday night was short too, my brother's had to leave at 6am to get to the airport, and I didn't quite get the wake up timing right and when I was wide awake at 4:45 wondering if my brother's were supposed to get up at 4:30 or 5:30 i couldn't get back to sleep until after they left. That got me to the point of driving around to the Bellevue show and from there getting to the airport at 10:15 for an 11:30 flight. Made it there no problem but then there was the whole lack of sleep thing.
Describing the feeling is tough. nerves are shot, body is full of hyper energy but the brain and eyes are shutting down. this is actually pretty tough to write. Maybe i am tired.
oof
that and one comment.
Rarely do I fly direct from New England to Seattle.
Can I just say I've never seen a leaner trimmer more normally sized group of people flying than on both of the flights. Seriously. trim and fit people. Usually flying in through the midwest or other locations the population on the plane reflects the national average.
Hell the cities are pretty similar, lots of active people getting around by means other than car, but people are weird out there. Kind of funny.
But that's all okay, I really enjoy being out there and the raining cool weather felt awesome. I love that stuff. And the mountains... it is hard to explain the trees to people who call their hills out here Mtns. When trees get to be hundreds of feet tall, well... that's pretty impressive. I'm always reminded where my passion for Botany came from.
And the music. It was good. Fingers were surprisingly in tune. Granted I only played on maybe a half dozen songs and they are ones that I've been playing forever, still. Can't fake the violin/fiddle too much. esp not with a mic and a critical family listening. It was also a pretty sweet feeling. The shows were all packed and that says a lot with the current market and economy esp when other shows are not selling out. People have made our family tradition of 32 years their family tradition. It is hard to describe what it is like.
Honestly I'm not too tired to miss the bike right now, I really want to get on it tomorrow. Going to have to mount up the studs, probably fire up the Giant as well. Maybe even get the fenders on. We'll see how ambitions I get this afternoon evening tomorrow morning. Yeah Bikes.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Time for Sound Chec
At Town hall.
Last night's show went very well.
Followed it up with some killer Wa State Kobe style beef burgers at midnight and a few Inversion IPAs.
Then the massive winds blew out the power at 2am so I we all got to bed early.
Pictures, got some good ones on the Ferry on heading into the city today... still haven't figured how to upload pictures using the Cr-48, maybe i'll figure that out today.
Time to head up and check the mic's and the balance before the show.
heddwch
G
Last night's show went very well.
Followed it up with some killer Wa State Kobe style beef burgers at midnight and a few Inversion IPAs.
Then the massive winds blew out the power at 2am so I we all got to bed early.
Pictures, got some good ones on the Ferry on heading into the city today... still haven't figured how to upload pictures using the Cr-48, maybe i'll figure that out today.
Time to head up and check the mic's and the balance before the show.
heddwch
G
Friday, December 17, 2010
Traveling
Out here in the PacNW for the 32nd Annual Celtic Yuletide Concerts: www.magicalstrings.com
The Jet Blue direct flight from BOS was not so bad. Good bit of turbulence but no inflight wifi despite what I had led myself to believe by looking at their web page. Oh well. Maybe the flight home will have it. Or not. Watching DirectTV was kinda crazy. Realizing that no matter how many channels you have there's still nothing to watch on TV, although it seems that I'd watch more shows than not watch shows on Food Network.
First thing on the way home from the airport was to acquire some Black Butte Porter (and a Pyramid Snow Cap ale). Mmmm good stuff.
I'm in a waiting holding pattern here at FedEx Kinko's taking advantage of the AT&T hotspot.
Read a great point/counterpoint, in a way, in the PCC newsletter about vegetarianism. I'm obviously a bit biased but find the Naturopath's view far stronger and compelling. Sheds new(ish) light on the vegetarian's case, at least a few points. Love the second classification.
Point seems to really come down to the processed foods, and individual biochemical make up. Obviously we are all different. Some people can do better with certain stuff. Just the same as some people are really affected by season depression and others (like me) juts get excited when the weather gets all overcast and dim with no sun.
Although I'm going to have to upload a photo I just took on the way over, and if I hadn't completely unpacked my bag before heading to the concert I'd add the shot of Mt Rainer that I took on 16.
We could see all the mountains today. A special rare treat was seeing a snow covered St Helens.
The mountains are striking and something that I forget how much I miss until I see them again.
It is a crazy place out here. People drive the speed limit and obey and generally know about the laws. Granted the Law Enforcement is pretty hard core. Complaints about money money money and ticketing for the sake of generating revenue and being straight up no room for error (they drive 58 in 60mph zones on I-5 in Seattle).
Beer is cheap out here though. 12 pack of Seirra Nevada was $9, even for the Celebration ale.
And the solid way to get on the time zone? Get up at 5:30am eastern time and then stay awake until midnight Pacific time (3am East coast time). Makes it easy to sleep in until 8:30am. And with tonight and tomorrow night being 7 and 7:30pm shows that go for no less than 3 hours each plus travel and decompression afterwards... like in years past, I really am basically going to be functioning on Honolulu time.
And yeah I'm really writing just to write.
Adam M's rec for a place to grab a beer around South Station was great. Got off the Amtrak and walked over to the South street Diner. A REAL diner, not some diner facade, or a diner with the kitchen in back on an addition, nope, a real god damn diner that had Harpoon on tap. A Couple IPAs and 3/4 of a plate of fries (not sure why i went with the fries but hell, eating on this trip is not athlete friendly so what the hell - they were hot, greasy, crunchy and good) and I was headed over to the SL1.
And I was really looking forward to the whole enhanced security. But... saddly... it was pretty normal. Take shoes off belt, jacket, fleece... and walk through and that was it. No Ryan Kelly style groping, no checking out of my anatomy in a scanner. Nope. 60 seconds maybe, it took. Mostly just putting all my shit in the plastic scanner tubs and taking it back out.
Planned on having a few more beers in the bars but they were packed. I'd have had to get friendly with people to get close the the bar and i'm not my brother, he knew where everyone sitting at the bar in Chicago were flying off too before he finished his second beer. I thought maybe it would clear out but it got busier and busier.
Probably for the better, managed to not blow up my ears or sinuses with the pressure. Maybe it was the non-stop flight, up and down once is easier than twice.
Yeah I'm just writing to write but it feels good.
Thanks for the Email Soups, meaning to write back but haven't gotten around to it among other things.
Checked in with the work email account this afternoon and shit has exploded. Things run super smooth while i'm there and then what happens? Two scopes are down now, and a whole massive amount of other things. Could be normal and that when I'm there these things show up one at a time and are easy to manage but well, not being there they build up.
Oh I tagged this with food because of the vegetarian thing.
The Jet Blue direct flight from BOS was not so bad. Good bit of turbulence but no inflight wifi despite what I had led myself to believe by looking at their web page. Oh well. Maybe the flight home will have it. Or not. Watching DirectTV was kinda crazy. Realizing that no matter how many channels you have there's still nothing to watch on TV, although it seems that I'd watch more shows than not watch shows on Food Network.
First thing on the way home from the airport was to acquire some Black Butte Porter (and a Pyramid Snow Cap ale). Mmmm good stuff.
I'm in a waiting holding pattern here at FedEx Kinko's taking advantage of the AT&T hotspot.
Read a great point/counterpoint, in a way, in the PCC newsletter about vegetarianism. I'm obviously a bit biased but find the Naturopath's view far stronger and compelling. Sheds new(ish) light on the vegetarian's case, at least a few points. Love the second classification.
Point seems to really come down to the processed foods, and individual biochemical make up. Obviously we are all different. Some people can do better with certain stuff. Just the same as some people are really affected by season depression and others (like me) juts get excited when the weather gets all overcast and dim with no sun.
Although I'm going to have to upload a photo I just took on the way over, and if I hadn't completely unpacked my bag before heading to the concert I'd add the shot of Mt Rainer that I took on 16.
We could see all the mountains today. A special rare treat was seeing a snow covered St Helens.
The mountains are striking and something that I forget how much I miss until I see them again.
It is a crazy place out here. People drive the speed limit and obey and generally know about the laws. Granted the Law Enforcement is pretty hard core. Complaints about money money money and ticketing for the sake of generating revenue and being straight up no room for error (they drive 58 in 60mph zones on I-5 in Seattle).
Beer is cheap out here though. 12 pack of Seirra Nevada was $9, even for the Celebration ale.
And the solid way to get on the time zone? Get up at 5:30am eastern time and then stay awake until midnight Pacific time (3am East coast time). Makes it easy to sleep in until 8:30am. And with tonight and tomorrow night being 7 and 7:30pm shows that go for no less than 3 hours each plus travel and decompression afterwards... like in years past, I really am basically going to be functioning on Honolulu time.
And yeah I'm really writing just to write.
Adam M's rec for a place to grab a beer around South Station was great. Got off the Amtrak and walked over to the South street Diner. A REAL diner, not some diner facade, or a diner with the kitchen in back on an addition, nope, a real god damn diner that had Harpoon on tap. A Couple IPAs and 3/4 of a plate of fries (not sure why i went with the fries but hell, eating on this trip is not athlete friendly so what the hell - they were hot, greasy, crunchy and good) and I was headed over to the SL1.
And I was really looking forward to the whole enhanced security. But... saddly... it was pretty normal. Take shoes off belt, jacket, fleece... and walk through and that was it. No Ryan Kelly style groping, no checking out of my anatomy in a scanner. Nope. 60 seconds maybe, it took. Mostly just putting all my shit in the plastic scanner tubs and taking it back out.
Planned on having a few more beers in the bars but they were packed. I'd have had to get friendly with people to get close the the bar and i'm not my brother, he knew where everyone sitting at the bar in Chicago were flying off too before he finished his second beer. I thought maybe it would clear out but it got busier and busier.
Probably for the better, managed to not blow up my ears or sinuses with the pressure. Maybe it was the non-stop flight, up and down once is easier than twice.
Yeah I'm just writing to write but it feels good.
Thanks for the Email Soups, meaning to write back but haven't gotten around to it among other things.
Checked in with the work email account this afternoon and shit has exploded. Things run super smooth while i'm there and then what happens? Two scopes are down now, and a whole massive amount of other things. Could be normal and that when I'm there these things show up one at a time and are easy to manage but well, not being there they build up.
Oh I tagged this with food because of the vegetarian thing.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tonkin
That is one dude with serious skill. He's just a natural fucking cyclo-cross racer. Dude's flat out amazing. Seriously, starting way back and then finishing 16th? Myerson starts on the front row and finish barely in front of Tillford.
bike break
time for a brief departure from the vehicle of choice... time to hop on a train, then a plane...
unless i find a bike to ride out there (doubtful there will be time enough to ride much less think or stop moving) this will be the first time off the bike for this long maybe in 6 months. Right around July 4th I'm thinking there was maybe 3 days off the bike. I might have had a 3 day spell some other time but I can't remember it, maybe the lead in to vacation but that was just two and two days off doesn't count as a break, that's a normal rest period.
Heck I think it could have been around Christmas break last year when I had more than 3 days off in a row.
Crazy. That I am.
Gonna give the Cr-48 a test run on the air leg of the trip. Battery life seems to be pretty decent, we'll see if it can make the flight from BOS to SEA on one charge.
unless i find a bike to ride out there (doubtful there will be time enough to ride much less think or stop moving) this will be the first time off the bike for this long maybe in 6 months. Right around July 4th I'm thinking there was maybe 3 days off the bike. I might have had a 3 day spell some other time but I can't remember it, maybe the lead in to vacation but that was just two and two days off doesn't count as a break, that's a normal rest period.
Heck I think it could have been around Christmas break last year when I had more than 3 days off in a row.
Crazy. That I am.
Gonna give the Cr-48 a test run on the air leg of the trip. Battery life seems to be pretty decent, we'll see if it can make the flight from BOS to SEA on one charge.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Oh hey... what's this thing
Yeah. So i'm a bit late with everything lately. Busy and unmotivated. And while I know all I have to do is start typing something random to start the fingers dancing and the words flowing and generate a 10,000 word post here on the old web log, well I didn't think it was worth pushing it. That and I am eating too much to type.
Well that's what it feels like. FOOD. I've been excessively hungry lately. Could be the commuting with the weather we have now.
Monday it was wet and warm. 48°F when I left the house, nice tail wind to boot.
Tuesday it was a f'n cold 24°F with a slight cross wind blowing in my ear.
Today, Wednesday, was just brutal:
16°F the wind was pretty close to a dead on headwind blowing between 13 and 25 mph with an average sustained around 18mph.
Combine that headwind with my speed, even if i was only going 10mph, (I was closer to 15-18 guessing by gearing and duration of trip) that's an apparent wind speed of over 20mph without any question.
So today was the first day of the year that qualified as a JF!HC.
BOOM.
And I was good. Toes were cool when I got in but not uncomfortable. Exposed skin on my face was cold for a mile or two until I broke a light sweat under all the layers in the core - very light sweat not dangerous, wicking base-layer did the job.
I have been putting some of the no heat just plain oil on the face when it is below 20°F out there. A mix of olive, sunflower and avocado (yeah all organic and cold pressed and stuff). I got thinking, when I can it is probably best to put stuff on your skin that you would eat. If you don't want to eat it or shouldn't eat it then maybe you shouldn't let it soak into your skin. Blue Lizard sunscreen excepted (cause that shit just works better than anything else and I'm afraid of skin cancer).
Oh and using the food grade stuff is WAY cheaper than buying special stuff... (cheap bastard wins again).
So yeah. It was f'n cold this morning.
But speaking of riding in the cold. A fellow gigantic 35+ master freak threw down the gauntlet this morning on Twitter:
Yesterday I was just thinking about the idiotic challenge from Solobreak last year and how I wasn't going to get sucked into something like that. But then now there's this and I'm thinking it sounds like a good one. Even though I have no way to record the route, maybe I have to stick a bike computer on for that time frame and see if I can't hit that 500k.
Just for the hell of it. You know? Why not.
When it comes down to it, riding bikes is fun. I'm not a pro-level athlete, or even a top level elite amateur. Not even close. What I am is one of the slowest of the fast 35+ group racing cyclocross and just passably fast enough to entertain the thought of racing an occasional road race/crit.
Speaking of solobreak, he wanted me to talk more about being over-trained in September and October. Driving home from Ice Weasels I was cogitating on it and over-trained really was the wrong way to put it. Not overtrained but training stupid in a way that sabotaged any potential progress I might have been able to make.
I was too cagey about my training this fall, ie I didn't really document it here very much. Maybe I should have and someone would have chewed my ass out then and I wouldn't have waited till I had dug the hole so deep that by PVD i could barely see any light. I was hitting it hard on Tuesday, Wed AND thursday pretty much every week in September and then instead of taking a rest week before G-ster I pushed it back one week. probably in honestly two weeks too late. I needed it earlier looking back.
I was ignoring my body. I was waking up at 5:15 or 5:30 to get it done, and I was way too tired. Hell i was outside in the fucking dark on the trainer in the backyard watching the sun come up doing intervals and shit, or running. I was not waiting till I had recovered from the weekend of racing. And I wasn't recovering well after doing the work and then commuting.
All that might have put in place a good base, but, and again F'n Foley probably will be blowing coffee through his nose laughing, but I think it was a contributing factor to me sucking more than normal at the beginning of the year.
yes maybe I had unrealistic expectations to start the season with.
but paired with the unrealistic expectations I was also pushing too hard.
Word on the street is the author of the book I was pulling the training plan out of is the one who decided to play hardball with the USA UCI series that were in violation, no warning just flat out pulling the plug. So, despite TimmieJ being on the cover in his 8ball kit I think it is time to move on and do what I know I should do. Or really I should rephrase that to say: try to apply what I've learned over the years of mistakes. By the time I hit the four fives i should have screwed up enough to maybe do it right.
Introspective? Fuck yeah.
That's me bitches. Over-thinking everything. But, when i started going well, NBX day one, brain turned off and I just fucking raced.
Ice weasels was fun. I played it serious. Contemplated a beer or two pre-race but Ryan Kelly said "no way dude, take it serious" and i did.
Had a great f'n start. Lined up behind Marro and when John blew the whistle the red seas parted and we moved on up while guys on either side went backwards. It was pretty f'n cool.
Held that position for a while but probably a bit too much into the red and I faded a bit, got passed by the Wilichoski, Sweeney, Perham, Wells and Mosher. But that was it. Granted that fucking Kid Hoppykindergartener was just ahead of me and he was stopping to take beer feeds most each lap, but hey, I'm 17 years older than he is and damn I hope he's faster than me.
THE Kyle Fucking Smith was right behind me, threatened to catch me and sprint aroudn me as we hit the frozen run up but all the beers he was drinking caused him to bobble and I latched onto the Mosher and unloaded my own sprint (closed the gap to Mosher and held it). During the race the drunk motor mouth RyanTK was talking about Kyle's domination of the Wompatuck sprint. To make it funnier Kyle decided (must have been the beer talking) to go on about his 1500 watt sprint and how I wouldn't have stood a chance if he was on my wheel or something. I'm not finishing with the wicked fast guys and my power to weight sucks but my power numbers really aren't that shabby and I figured out how to sprint, so yeah, maybe one day I'll get to wompy and we can line up and see what happens. Or maybe hit the track for true wattage throw down. Will I get my ass kicked? probably. who'm'I kidding. I'm Ge Fucking Willi. I don't live like an athlete, I've got shit to do, people to take care of, meals to make, lunches to pack, dishes to wash, a day job... But god damn it, I have fun attempting to hang with the fast old dudes.
So.
Who's up for the Rapha challenge?
Of course that will lead in nicely to the January Cyclo-cross series. MRC training course in Wrentham. Yall know where it is. 11am B race (no prizes) 12am A race (prizes - that's rob's side of things for the moment). 45 min for the B race 60 min for the A race. Bring your legs. Probably just stick with the log as the only dismount and avoid dealing with the barriers. Bring a bike. It will be awesome. And good prep if you are headed to the race in PA on the 15th of Jan. Unless of course you have a weak chassis and a tiny little form factor. Then I guess you just wear insulated carhart coveralls and plow using a skidsteer instead of riding a bike.
Oh and Crossresults points have been re-tabulated. I finally got back under the 400 point ceiling for the 10 race average. The last 6 races I've really felt like I was racing. And points aren't lying.
Lets see if I can start and carry that point placing next year instead of dropping way down... that's the goal at least.
i'm not even going to try and proof this horrific mess of a post.
heddwch
G
Well that's what it feels like. FOOD. I've been excessively hungry lately. Could be the commuting with the weather we have now.
Monday it was wet and warm. 48°F when I left the house, nice tail wind to boot.
Tuesday it was a f'n cold 24°F with a slight cross wind blowing in my ear.
Today, Wednesday, was just brutal:
16°F the wind was pretty close to a dead on headwind blowing between 13 and 25 mph with an average sustained around 18mph.
Combine that headwind with my speed, even if i was only going 10mph, (I was closer to 15-18 guessing by gearing and duration of trip) that's an apparent wind speed of over 20mph without any question.
So today was the first day of the year that qualified as a JF!HC.
BOOM.
And I was good. Toes were cool when I got in but not uncomfortable. Exposed skin on my face was cold for a mile or two until I broke a light sweat under all the layers in the core - very light sweat not dangerous, wicking base-layer did the job.
I have been putting some of the no heat just plain oil on the face when it is below 20°F out there. A mix of olive, sunflower and avocado (yeah all organic and cold pressed and stuff). I got thinking, when I can it is probably best to put stuff on your skin that you would eat. If you don't want to eat it or shouldn't eat it then maybe you shouldn't let it soak into your skin. Blue Lizard sunscreen excepted (cause that shit just works better than anything else and I'm afraid of skin cancer).
Oh and using the food grade stuff is WAY cheaper than buying special stuff... (cheap bastard wins again).
So yeah. It was f'n cold this morning.
But speaking of riding in the cold. A fellow gigantic 35+ master freak threw down the gauntlet this morning on Twitter:
Yesterday I was just thinking about the idiotic challenge from Solobreak last year and how I wasn't going to get sucked into something like that. But then now there's this and I'm thinking it sounds like a good one. Even though I have no way to record the route, maybe I have to stick a bike computer on for that time frame and see if I can't hit that 500k.
Just for the hell of it. You know? Why not.
When it comes down to it, riding bikes is fun. I'm not a pro-level athlete, or even a top level elite amateur. Not even close. What I am is one of the slowest of the fast 35+ group racing cyclocross and just passably fast enough to entertain the thought of racing an occasional road race/crit.
Speaking of solobreak, he wanted me to talk more about being over-trained in September and October. Driving home from Ice Weasels I was cogitating on it and over-trained really was the wrong way to put it. Not overtrained but training stupid in a way that sabotaged any potential progress I might have been able to make.
I was too cagey about my training this fall, ie I didn't really document it here very much. Maybe I should have and someone would have chewed my ass out then and I wouldn't have waited till I had dug the hole so deep that by PVD i could barely see any light. I was hitting it hard on Tuesday, Wed AND thursday pretty much every week in September and then instead of taking a rest week before G-ster I pushed it back one week. probably in honestly two weeks too late. I needed it earlier looking back.
I was ignoring my body. I was waking up at 5:15 or 5:30 to get it done, and I was way too tired. Hell i was outside in the fucking dark on the trainer in the backyard watching the sun come up doing intervals and shit, or running. I was not waiting till I had recovered from the weekend of racing. And I wasn't recovering well after doing the work and then commuting.
All that might have put in place a good base, but, and again F'n Foley probably will be blowing coffee through his nose laughing, but I think it was a contributing factor to me sucking more than normal at the beginning of the year.
yes maybe I had unrealistic expectations to start the season with.
but paired with the unrealistic expectations I was also pushing too hard.
Word on the street is the author of the book I was pulling the training plan out of is the one who decided to play hardball with the USA UCI series that were in violation, no warning just flat out pulling the plug. So, despite TimmieJ being on the cover in his 8ball kit I think it is time to move on and do what I know I should do. Or really I should rephrase that to say: try to apply what I've learned over the years of mistakes. By the time I hit the four fives i should have screwed up enough to maybe do it right.
Introspective? Fuck yeah.
That's me bitches. Over-thinking everything. But, when i started going well, NBX day one, brain turned off and I just fucking raced.
Ice weasels was fun. I played it serious. Contemplated a beer or two pre-race but Ryan Kelly said "no way dude, take it serious" and i did.
Had a great f'n start. Lined up behind Marro and when John blew the whistle the red seas parted and we moved on up while guys on either side went backwards. It was pretty f'n cool.
Held that position for a while but probably a bit too much into the red and I faded a bit, got passed by the Wilichoski, Sweeney, Perham, Wells and Mosher. But that was it. Granted that fucking Kid Hoppykindergartener was just ahead of me and he was stopping to take beer feeds most each lap, but hey, I'm 17 years older than he is and damn I hope he's faster than me.
THE Kyle Fucking Smith was right behind me, threatened to catch me and sprint aroudn me as we hit the frozen run up but all the beers he was drinking caused him to bobble and I latched onto the Mosher and unloaded my own sprint (closed the gap to Mosher and held it). During the race the drunk motor mouth RyanTK was talking about Kyle's domination of the Wompatuck sprint. To make it funnier Kyle decided (must have been the beer talking) to go on about his 1500 watt sprint and how I wouldn't have stood a chance if he was on my wheel or something. I'm not finishing with the wicked fast guys and my power to weight sucks but my power numbers really aren't that shabby and I figured out how to sprint, so yeah, maybe one day I'll get to wompy and we can line up and see what happens. Or maybe hit the track for true wattage throw down. Will I get my ass kicked? probably. who'm'I kidding. I'm Ge Fucking Willi. I don't live like an athlete, I've got shit to do, people to take care of, meals to make, lunches to pack, dishes to wash, a day job... But god damn it, I have fun attempting to hang with the fast old dudes.
So.
Who's up for the Rapha challenge?
Of course that will lead in nicely to the January Cyclo-cross series. MRC training course in Wrentham. Yall know where it is. 11am B race (no prizes) 12am A race (prizes - that's rob's side of things for the moment). 45 min for the B race 60 min for the A race. Bring your legs. Probably just stick with the log as the only dismount and avoid dealing with the barriers. Bring a bike. It will be awesome. And good prep if you are headed to the race in PA on the 15th of Jan. Unless of course you have a weak chassis and a tiny little form factor. Then I guess you just wear insulated carhart coveralls and plow using a skidsteer instead of riding a bike.
Oh and Crossresults points have been re-tabulated. I finally got back under the 400 point ceiling for the 10 race average. The last 6 races I've really felt like I was racing. And points aren't lying.
Lets see if I can start and carry that point placing next year instead of dropping way down... that's the goal at least.
i'm not even going to try and proof this horrific mess of a post.
heddwch
G
Friday, December 10, 2010
Cr-48
So, who here hasn't heard of the Cr-48 yet? Anyone?
Well to be honest I hadn't heard about it until last night when a box was delievered from someone i didn't know. Yeah - good thing it wasn't a bomb. That would have sucked. It wasn't but what was inside the box IS DA BOMB!
Seriously this thing so far is pretty f'n cool. Took a bit to get hooked up to the wireless here at the factory but I got in and am basking in the smell of fresh computer aroma (ie outgassing of toxic volatiles from the plastics).
The screen is pretty crisp, nice and bright. Built in web cam that I haven't had a chance to use yet - not sure how well the microphone works either, but the sound isn't so bad and pandora is coming in pretty well.
Kind of (I'm guessing) iPad like with a keyboard.
When I did get logged in, well what do you know it sync'd right up with my google acount, all my bookmarks are there, chromed bird self installed and boom. I'm online and ready to go.
I will admit to not knowing about the ctrl + click to open a link in a new tab, I'm just used to either right clicking or middle clicking to do that.
The touch pad is big enough that my fat hands are occasionally sending the cursor somewhere else, and it is a clickable pad.
Lots of trial and testing to come up on it, but hey - this is pretty cool. Esp considering I just did a Facebook survey about online-ness with the promise of getting a Chrome sticker... well... they sent me a sticker alright. But in that box was black ninja notebook.
A true netbook.
I still have to decide if I'm going to activate the Verizon 3G card or just use it on wifi...
Good stuff though.
More on it later.
heddwch
G
Well to be honest I hadn't heard about it until last night when a box was delievered from someone i didn't know. Yeah - good thing it wasn't a bomb. That would have sucked. It wasn't but what was inside the box IS DA BOMB!
Seriously this thing so far is pretty f'n cool. Took a bit to get hooked up to the wireless here at the factory but I got in and am basking in the smell of fresh computer aroma (ie outgassing of toxic volatiles from the plastics).
The screen is pretty crisp, nice and bright. Built in web cam that I haven't had a chance to use yet - not sure how well the microphone works either, but the sound isn't so bad and pandora is coming in pretty well.
Kind of (I'm guessing) iPad like with a keyboard.
When I did get logged in, well what do you know it sync'd right up with my google acount, all my bookmarks are there, chromed bird self installed and boom. I'm online and ready to go.
I will admit to not knowing about the ctrl + click to open a link in a new tab, I'm just used to either right clicking or middle clicking to do that.
The touch pad is big enough that my fat hands are occasionally sending the cursor somewhere else, and it is a clickable pad.
Lots of trial and testing to come up on it, but hey - this is pretty cool. Esp considering I just did a Facebook survey about online-ness with the promise of getting a Chrome sticker... well... they sent me a sticker alright. But in that box was black ninja notebook.
A true netbook.
I still have to decide if I'm going to activate the Verizon 3G card or just use it on wifi...
Good stuff though.
More on it later.
heddwch
G
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Cold couple of commutes
The bike is liberating. But riding in this weather is a bit more like wearing a lycra straight jacket. The layers build up and movement always has an equal reaction. The compression wants to keep the legs straight, there's no free movement, each bend of a joint comes at a price.
That price is worth the warmth.
The layers:
1993 ish era PI thermafleece padded bib tights (pretty thin in the knees honestly)
1996 ish era PI thermafleece tights (these are still pretty thick from not being used as much as the first item).
2010 bib shorts
Tall smartwool hiking boot socks
Sugoi booties (ready to explode from being stretched over my 47s for a season + a little.
Long sleeve REI baselayer on top
2010 team LS jersey
2006 CX Nats winter jacket
Adidas Balaclava
Oakley M frame Glasses clear lense
Late 70s/early 80s Helly Hansen oversize poly fleece lined mittens
That worked to keep me warm yesterday at 20°F into a 10-20mph headwind and today at roughly the same temp but a side cross wind.
it was cold.
but not so bad.
until i got here this morning and REALLY had to empty my bladder, I haven't taken that many layers off that quickly in a while. Probably since i got here and needed to do the same thing last year.
Ice Weasels is coming up. I'm looking forward to it. I keep deliberating about the SS race, do it or not do it. Back and forth. Maybe I'll get there in time to make the choice at the venue.
Lungs are feeling pretty good. Legs are to be determined but they feel pretty lean and solid, and maybe they will be Saturday last fast this week.
I'm actually surprised that I'm feeling jealous/sadness/emptiness about not being in Bend right now, or on the way there. The weather is better this year, the conditions are more aweful and awesome at the same time. I TT better than average and heck sort of like they custom did the weekend for me, unless they don't have a clydesdale event again but how can they not after last year? Unless the clydesdales made too much of a scene before and after the race... oops.
Twas fun. I'd been focusing on the hassle of getting there, and the not fun parts of the trip. The babysitting a wicked wasted group of bike racers on Sunday night, the 24+ hour stretch of being awake after my first flight was canceled and that stretch was after only 4 hours of sleep the night before. The nasty ice and poor gear selection for the SS race. The absolute abject bitter cold that was out there. The driving, lots of driving, the money, lots of money...
I ignored the actual age group race. The cluserfuck at the first 180. STANDING there for seconds not moving the field was packed so tight onto itself. Then I managed to move up, slowly but I was moving forward. Then the yardsale crash because the guy in front of me ate shit by putting his brakes on going down that hill post run up. By the time I got up, straightened the bars, bashed the shift lever back to a usable angle i was absolutely DEAD LAST. Going on to pass 45 people while the leaders were racing on an unobstructed super highway mostly frozen and fast track before I got passed and lapped was actually pretty rewarding and fun. Left a lot of what ifs and all that. What if i wasn't 3rd row from last at the start?
But then balance it out with everything that i was going to miss and the fact that I started the day off sick and would been trying to travel in those conditions, oof, not good.
As much as I miss being out there I'm still more glad that I'm not. Hell Jonny F'n Sundt isn't out there, so that's a big reason to stay home. Although watching Bold and Hines and Myerson racing would have been amazing to be on site for.
Madison. I might even have some killer ace in my sleeve wheels to borrow, and the cold... hell after nationals last year how much colder could it be (don't tell me, I know, boy do i know).
I've really been bad about getting race reports up. I will try and get the NBX weekend written up. Not for anyone other than me. Because it was an amazing race, well day one was. Day two wasn't as awesome for me. But Day one? wow that was kick ass.
I'm also a ticks hair away from making a pot of coffee using the ancient old coffee still here (circa 1998) gotta taste kinda yucky in this drip maker but it would be warm and vaguely coffee-esque. Sounds almost yummy. Although i may just stick with a cup of tea. (booooooring)
Hey at least it isn't snowing down here. The commute could be longer harder and worse than it was today.
heddwch
G
That price is worth the warmth.
The layers:
1993 ish era PI thermafleece padded bib tights (pretty thin in the knees honestly)
1996 ish era PI thermafleece tights (these are still pretty thick from not being used as much as the first item).
2010 bib shorts
Tall smartwool hiking boot socks
Sugoi booties (ready to explode from being stretched over my 47s for a season + a little.
Long sleeve REI baselayer on top
2010 team LS jersey
2006 CX Nats winter jacket
Adidas Balaclava
Oakley M frame Glasses clear lense
Late 70s/early 80s Helly Hansen oversize poly fleece lined mittens
That worked to keep me warm yesterday at 20°F into a 10-20mph headwind and today at roughly the same temp but a side cross wind.
it was cold.
but not so bad.
until i got here this morning and REALLY had to empty my bladder, I haven't taken that many layers off that quickly in a while. Probably since i got here and needed to do the same thing last year.
Ice Weasels is coming up. I'm looking forward to it. I keep deliberating about the SS race, do it or not do it. Back and forth. Maybe I'll get there in time to make the choice at the venue.
Lungs are feeling pretty good. Legs are to be determined but they feel pretty lean and solid, and maybe they will be Saturday last fast this week.
I'm actually surprised that I'm feeling jealous/sadness/emptiness about not being in Bend right now, or on the way there. The weather is better this year, the conditions are more aweful and awesome at the same time. I TT better than average and heck sort of like they custom did the weekend for me, unless they don't have a clydesdale event again but how can they not after last year? Unless the clydesdales made too much of a scene before and after the race... oops.
Twas fun. I'd been focusing on the hassle of getting there, and the not fun parts of the trip. The babysitting a wicked wasted group of bike racers on Sunday night, the 24+ hour stretch of being awake after my first flight was canceled and that stretch was after only 4 hours of sleep the night before. The nasty ice and poor gear selection for the SS race. The absolute abject bitter cold that was out there. The driving, lots of driving, the money, lots of money...
I ignored the actual age group race. The cluserfuck at the first 180. STANDING there for seconds not moving the field was packed so tight onto itself. Then I managed to move up, slowly but I was moving forward. Then the yardsale crash because the guy in front of me ate shit by putting his brakes on going down that hill post run up. By the time I got up, straightened the bars, bashed the shift lever back to a usable angle i was absolutely DEAD LAST. Going on to pass 45 people while the leaders were racing on an unobstructed super highway mostly frozen and fast track before I got passed and lapped was actually pretty rewarding and fun. Left a lot of what ifs and all that. What if i wasn't 3rd row from last at the start?
But then balance it out with everything that i was going to miss and the fact that I started the day off sick and would been trying to travel in those conditions, oof, not good.
As much as I miss being out there I'm still more glad that I'm not. Hell Jonny F'n Sundt isn't out there, so that's a big reason to stay home. Although watching Bold and Hines and Myerson racing would have been amazing to be on site for.
Madison. I might even have some killer ace in my sleeve wheels to borrow, and the cold... hell after nationals last year how much colder could it be (don't tell me, I know, boy do i know).
I've really been bad about getting race reports up. I will try and get the NBX weekend written up. Not for anyone other than me. Because it was an amazing race, well day one was. Day two wasn't as awesome for me. But Day one? wow that was kick ass.
I'm also a ticks hair away from making a pot of coffee using the ancient old coffee still here (circa 1998) gotta taste kinda yucky in this drip maker but it would be warm and vaguely coffee-esque. Sounds almost yummy. Although i may just stick with a cup of tea. (booooooring)
Hey at least it isn't snowing down here. The commute could be longer harder and worse than it was today.
heddwch
G
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
NBX 1 &2 Verge Finale weekend...
Well, the weekend is over, although I seem to have required two days (hopefully that is all) to work through what I started last week.
Managed to come down with a bit of a cold on Thursday, snotting like crazy Thurs and Friday, but Saturday rolled around and I actually felt pretty decent, I dare say 100%. But I think my reserves were way down. What made the difference staying home sick on Friday morning, I slept and drank a ton of tea, made some miso soup and piled as many anti-viral herbs as I could get my hands on into my system. Boom. All set for the afternoon and Saturday.
Then everyone piled over Saturday night, worked up some somewhat southern concoction, it wasn't mind blowing good but it wasn't terrible and it fed everyone. Although I expect if i had made 3x as many collard greens there still wouldn't have been any left over. I even managed to say under 1 beer/50 pounds for the whole day.
But despite those measures and adding a bit of what I could of Friday's dosing I was coughing pretty good on Sunday morning. And it was colder. Legs felt pretty okay, sore, the right medial quad was kind of pissed at me for some reason during pre-ride. But things were good. Just was wicked colder and I was feeling the cold more than I normally do.
Energy levels were not totally charged up for the start of the race on Sunday. And by Sunday night - wammo, I was cooked. The cough settled into a nice productive regular irritating pain in the ass through the night and yesterday morning. And I pulled the plug on the day and used one of my thousand accumulated sick days. Today too. Yeah used a second one in a row. At least it isn't a Flu. That is nice. No aches and pains other than what you might experience being 39.5 and racing at the limit for 2 days in a row in the cold on the best courses. Okay Day 1 I liked much better than day 2 (results show it).
Pulled the plug today and was given the best gift of all, being able to stay in bed and sleep, and sleep I did. Lucy came up to try and get me out of bed a couple times finally succeeding at 10:30 by body slamming the bed and alternatively beating the door and the bed with her tail. I guess she wanted some company. Of course now she's sitting on the couch next to me on her blanket soaking up the awesome rays of the sun, and sleeping. Big old lazy dog. Big sweetie, nice to have time to spend with her.
Last night hit the shopping and the cold air really wrecked havoc with my throat. But after a couple cups of tea and a giant pot of Miso soup I can exhale hard w/o a coughing fit. But this last stretch has been tough. No down time. Work hasn't been slow, and I almost feel recharged now. I feel actually mentally in as good of a place as I've been in ages. Really actually looking forward to Ice Weasels and the January cyclocross series. Which if you haven't heard yet, Saturdays old MRC/Wrentham course. 11 am race and a Noon race, A and B. Plan is to have prizes for the A race. Call it a training series, a bandit cross series. Rob and I will have official details soon. And yes
yes. come race cross on the first day of the year. seriously. It will be f'n awesome.
I suppose I should talk about the races, esp since I used that title. But maybe I'll ramble about other stuff for a few minutes.
The miso soup today was almost more of a vegetable broth soup, but w/o a doubt a basic miso start. Water, some carrots, scallions, mushrooms, wakame, ginger, garlic, zucchini, tofu, shoyu, shirachi, sesame oil, and last not least some brown rice miso.
Was just right. Hit the spot today. Yesterday too (minus tofu, zucchini and scallions for that batch and only about 1/2 the volume).
So the races... lets put them separately. Changed the title. Write them up. Yesterday I had no motivation to get them written, to do any writing. I was tired in the complete and total sense.
Feeling better today. Well enough to start a batch of pizza dough I think. Not a lot of physical work to make, get it started and make something I haven't in many months. Once that is started I'll get to writing about the races. And get to the point where I actually took home some hardware, me? Hardware? amazing but true.
heddwch
G
Managed to come down with a bit of a cold on Thursday, snotting like crazy Thurs and Friday, but Saturday rolled around and I actually felt pretty decent, I dare say 100%. But I think my reserves were way down. What made the difference staying home sick on Friday morning, I slept and drank a ton of tea, made some miso soup and piled as many anti-viral herbs as I could get my hands on into my system. Boom. All set for the afternoon and Saturday.
Then everyone piled over Saturday night, worked up some somewhat southern concoction, it wasn't mind blowing good but it wasn't terrible and it fed everyone. Although I expect if i had made 3x as many collard greens there still wouldn't have been any left over. I even managed to say under 1 beer/50 pounds for the whole day.
But despite those measures and adding a bit of what I could of Friday's dosing I was coughing pretty good on Sunday morning. And it was colder. Legs felt pretty okay, sore, the right medial quad was kind of pissed at me for some reason during pre-ride. But things were good. Just was wicked colder and I was feeling the cold more than I normally do.
Energy levels were not totally charged up for the start of the race on Sunday. And by Sunday night - wammo, I was cooked. The cough settled into a nice productive regular irritating pain in the ass through the night and yesterday morning. And I pulled the plug on the day and used one of my thousand accumulated sick days. Today too. Yeah used a second one in a row. At least it isn't a Flu. That is nice. No aches and pains other than what you might experience being 39.5 and racing at the limit for 2 days in a row in the cold on the best courses. Okay Day 1 I liked much better than day 2 (results show it).
Pulled the plug today and was given the best gift of all, being able to stay in bed and sleep, and sleep I did. Lucy came up to try and get me out of bed a couple times finally succeeding at 10:30 by body slamming the bed and alternatively beating the door and the bed with her tail. I guess she wanted some company. Of course now she's sitting on the couch next to me on her blanket soaking up the awesome rays of the sun, and sleeping. Big old lazy dog. Big sweetie, nice to have time to spend with her.
Last night hit the shopping and the cold air really wrecked havoc with my throat. But after a couple cups of tea and a giant pot of Miso soup I can exhale hard w/o a coughing fit. But this last stretch has been tough. No down time. Work hasn't been slow, and I almost feel recharged now. I feel actually mentally in as good of a place as I've been in ages. Really actually looking forward to Ice Weasels and the January cyclocross series. Which if you haven't heard yet, Saturdays old MRC/Wrentham course. 11 am race and a Noon race, A and B. Plan is to have prizes for the A race. Call it a training series, a bandit cross series. Rob and I will have official details soon. And yes
yes. come race cross on the first day of the year. seriously. It will be f'n awesome.
I suppose I should talk about the races, esp since I used that title. But maybe I'll ramble about other stuff for a few minutes.
The miso soup today was almost more of a vegetable broth soup, but w/o a doubt a basic miso start. Water, some carrots, scallions, mushrooms, wakame, ginger, garlic, zucchini, tofu, shoyu, shirachi, sesame oil, and last not least some brown rice miso.
Was just right. Hit the spot today. Yesterday too (minus tofu, zucchini and scallions for that batch and only about 1/2 the volume).
So the races... lets put them separately. Changed the title. Write them up. Yesterday I had no motivation to get them written, to do any writing. I was tired in the complete and total sense.
Feeling better today. Well enough to start a batch of pizza dough I think. Not a lot of physical work to make, get it started and make something I haven't in many months. Once that is started I'll get to writing about the races. And get to the point where I actually took home some hardware, me? Hardware? amazing but true.
heddwch
G
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Verge problems
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Lots of twitter chatter last night. So far it has avoided the NECX list but there is some solidly fired up people on hold waiting for the word.
Hopefully it will be resolved, but losing the UCI aspect of the Verge series would deal a huge blow to New England's ability to develop and let local talent shine at the National and International level.
I've stopped writing my William Wallace speech for the moment...
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