last few days i've managed to work hard to provide lots of entertainment to people by putting my passion on display with all its flaws. opening myself up to critique by people way too superfluous to attempt even to come close to controversy publicly on their own web log space. the critique certainly was valid - my using 3 bottles was pretty excessive but exaggeration is a story telling tool and helps drive home the point even if unrealistic. Bottle water has always been a frustration to me there is little value added to the consumer from buying a case of water instead of carrying around refillable bottles. Fortunately I see a visible change in people's habits. More and more people are carrying refillable water containers with them everywhere. It never fails that when i have a crappy argument that irritates the Cnidaria gallery lets me know. I guess i should be grateful for their diligence in pointing out how screwed up of a person I am. Rarely any positive enforcement, not that i deserve it for my insane ramblings I suppose, but then I do know why i have confidence issues. There is one thing positive i can focus on, but i won't dare say it here because I'm confident some Cnidaria will figure out how to strip that away too. I know i bring it on myself, i understand that. I've been doing that long enough to realize it is my own damn fault. I've also been doing it long enough that i need to get it out of my head to move on. This is just the only way i know how. So now go eff off and read some race reports or something. Because why would anyone want to read the ramblings of a judgmental dickhead
Next post is going to be images. maybe it will help... nope didn't
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Okay bike racers Pop Quiz Time
You're in the middle of a long ride, you are out of water and find a convenience store and stop to get some water to make it home. What do you buy?
A bottle or two of this:
Now there are a wopping 20oz of cold water in there, it would take three of them to top off your 3 large waterbottles you drained on the first part of the ride. So that's three containers of not as frequently recycled plastic, which lets be honest you aren't going to recycle unless there is a bin there at the store to put the empties in. God forbid you just ask if you can use the big gulp machine water button to refill your water bottles (many rural stores don't have the big gulp soda dispensers so that isn't always an option). So generally that's going to set you back a couple bucks, maybe $3.75 or so if they are each $1.25. Should be plenty to get you home and since all you have in there is a $20 then you've got plenty of cash to buy something salty and sweet like a king size Payday bar to get you home without cramping from drinking all that damn unsalted water in the heat of the afternoon.
Or
Do you buy one of these:
Which, yes is way more water than you can fit in your three bottles. But not that much more. Maybe you want to wash some of that salt off your face, dump a bit on your head to cool off? Or share the rest with your riding buddy who went for the Coke instead of the water? So it sets you back somewhere from $0.99 to $2 for the gallon, plenty of cash left over to get a snickers bar and a payday, or if you are feeling like a super hippie or a flahute maybe you go with one of those bananas hanging on that funny rack. You come out with calories and water.
I'm not leaving the options really unbiased I guess.
Not really my style.
What am I drinking today? Water. I filled up my team Waterbottle with some water from the drinking fountain. Tastes like water. Pretty refreshing.
A bottle or two of this:
Now there are a wopping 20oz of cold water in there, it would take three of them to top off your 3 large waterbottles you drained on the first part of the ride. So that's three containers of not as frequently recycled plastic, which lets be honest you aren't going to recycle unless there is a bin there at the store to put the empties in. God forbid you just ask if you can use the big gulp machine water button to refill your water bottles (many rural stores don't have the big gulp soda dispensers so that isn't always an option). So generally that's going to set you back a couple bucks, maybe $3.75 or so if they are each $1.25. Should be plenty to get you home and since all you have in there is a $20 then you've got plenty of cash to buy something salty and sweet like a king size Payday bar to get you home without cramping from drinking all that damn unsalted water in the heat of the afternoon.
Or
Do you buy one of these:
Which, yes is way more water than you can fit in your three bottles. But not that much more. Maybe you want to wash some of that salt off your face, dump a bit on your head to cool off? Or share the rest with your riding buddy who went for the Coke instead of the water? So it sets you back somewhere from $0.99 to $2 for the gallon, plenty of cash left over to get a snickers bar and a payday, or if you are feeling like a super hippie or a flahute maybe you go with one of those bananas hanging on that funny rack. You come out with calories and water.
I'm not leaving the options really unbiased I guess.
Not really my style.
What am I drinking today? Water. I filled up my team Waterbottle with some water from the drinking fountain. Tastes like water. Pretty refreshing.
No wonder I feel best on 28c race tires
Well I've known why. I can run lower pressures, have more contact patch in the corner and the lower pressure means I'm not pinch flatting like i would with a "normal" size tire.
Thanks Zinn for pointing out that PDF. I don't remember seeing it before, but maybe I have, I don't remember everything I've seen on the internet lately. Which is nice. It can be like finding new stuff all over again.
Thanks Zinn for pointing out that PDF. I don't remember seeing it before, but maybe I have, I don't remember everything I've seen on the internet lately. Which is nice. It can be like finding new stuff all over again.
Stop buying bottled water please
Most cyclists are in the habit of using re-usable bottles and that's a good thing. So carry the torch, lead by example and get everyone else to stop buying f'n bottled water! M'Kay? Or if you really can't drink the tap at home at least buy gallon or 3 gallon containers of the stuff.
Make it work.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
STAND UP
while you read this:
standing up instead of sitting down. Or while you read this. Or just all the time. I'd have to stack two desks on top of each other to get a usable height.
Some really good stuff in there. I mean really good. Don't sit for very long. Get up and move frequently.
All that sutff. I don't think standing is the answer to working but maybe it is time i got a big therapy ball to sit on instead of the chair. But then I'm never sitting for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. Always down the hall and back...
Check the Notes section for some great follow up reading
---
Riding in today was actually nice despite the fact that today was first time even with all the rain this season where I've caught a heavy shower from start to finish. Well it seems that way. It was pretty soaked out there. Clothes are drying slowly.
But last night with the break in the rain there was still no one on the path. I had it to myself and I made good time on the way home. Really feeling like i can push it more than normal. I'm creeping close and closer to regularly spinning the 12, and with a tail wind I do. This morning was deserted. Two walkers. One in full rain gear and another with just a jacket. Essentially deserted.
It might have been cold and wet but - i was going so hard I actually don't have a mental memory of the ride after heading up the hill. i'd get like that playing the violin, wondering how the hell did i get 6 pages through an orchestra rehersal and not remember a damn note i played or if i got it right. i'd ask my stand mate and they say yeah you played it perfectly. Nice. Sort of like the ride in this morning. I don't remember riding around the parking lot at the vet, i know i did, i had to. I clicked back in to recording visually at the bottom of the hill there before heading to the bridge. Very strange. Not even sure what I was thinking about if anything. zoned out for a bit. Autopilot.
Barry Estabrook, one of Gourmet's best writers has a great article over at The Atlantic . That town might be a dump an armpit or what not. I've never been there, don't know anything about it, but Barry gives some credit to the potential that hard work and local sourcing can provide.
Hard work though.
How many people are actually willing to do work. To actually WORK?
That's the problem...
oh well
some day enough people will rediscover that, hopefully before it is too late...
heddwch
G
standing up instead of sitting down. Or while you read this. Or just all the time. I'd have to stack two desks on top of each other to get a usable height.
Some really good stuff in there. I mean really good. Don't sit for very long. Get up and move frequently.
All that sutff. I don't think standing is the answer to working but maybe it is time i got a big therapy ball to sit on instead of the chair. But then I'm never sitting for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. Always down the hall and back...
Check the Notes section for some great follow up reading
---
Riding in today was actually nice despite the fact that today was first time even with all the rain this season where I've caught a heavy shower from start to finish. Well it seems that way. It was pretty soaked out there. Clothes are drying slowly.
But last night with the break in the rain there was still no one on the path. I had it to myself and I made good time on the way home. Really feeling like i can push it more than normal. I'm creeping close and closer to regularly spinning the 12, and with a tail wind I do. This morning was deserted. Two walkers. One in full rain gear and another with just a jacket. Essentially deserted.
It might have been cold and wet but - i was going so hard I actually don't have a mental memory of the ride after heading up the hill. i'd get like that playing the violin, wondering how the hell did i get 6 pages through an orchestra rehersal and not remember a damn note i played or if i got it right. i'd ask my stand mate and they say yeah you played it perfectly. Nice. Sort of like the ride in this morning. I don't remember riding around the parking lot at the vet, i know i did, i had to. I clicked back in to recording visually at the bottom of the hill there before heading to the bridge. Very strange. Not even sure what I was thinking about if anything. zoned out for a bit. Autopilot.
Barry Estabrook, one of Gourmet's best writers has a great article over at The Atlantic . That town might be a dump an armpit or what not. I've never been there, don't know anything about it, but Barry gives some credit to the potential that hard work and local sourcing can provide.
Hard work though.
How many people are actually willing to do work. To actually WORK?
That's the problem...
oh well
some day enough people will rediscover that, hopefully before it is too late...
heddwch
G
the tuesday tirade
So, this whole recent seeming increase in close calls, hit and runs locally and nationally both with motorcyclists and bicyclists I broke down and decided that when I'm dictator all electronic aids will have to come out of the cars. No more cars that can drive themselves. No lane straying warnings, no automatic slowing down if you get to close, no cell phones, no traveling wifi hot spots, no DVD players, no game consoles, no interface like your computer to change the HVAC system in the car. KNOBS. F*CKING KNOBS F*CKING WORK. M'kay? Make them mechanical. No multi-touch-function screens for controls. Nav system? Not allowed. People will bitch and whine but wow, I wonder HOW THE F*CK DID YOU GET ANYWHERE 10 YEARS AGO? Seriously? HOW DID YOU DO IT??? And I know putting the * instead of a U doesn't do much. So what.
Anyway. I originally said no radio. But you know? Radio is okay. They can be operated with knobs. And should be. Cell phones should be deactivated at speeds over a walk or something. If you are moving you can't use them.
Nav Systems? Get them out. Throw em away. Some people make the argument (il bruce) that his sales force couldn't survive without them. Well how the hell did they survive before, and to that whit, if they are sales people shouldn't they fucking know their own territory? As in be able to get from one call to the next without a fucking GPS voice telling you where to go? Yes I've got friends how have to go to meetings here or there and use them all the time, I have to hear about it. What I have observed but not really told them, is that before they had their killer phone with navigation or gps in the car, they paid more fucking attention to the road and road signs and all that stuff, they didn't find themselves in positions and places where the GPS needed to rescue them. not to mention all the stories of people's GPS taking them a LONG way around and people being completely oblivious as to the fact that there is a faster way to get there.
Back to the radio. I would have gone insane with that commute in michigan. But as it was the distance was so far and along a particular stretch where I jumped from one station to another and it kind of sucked. Sat radio would have been nice. But here's the thing. In the car there should be only ONE souce, not one for every passenger. Don't like the driver's music? Well learn to deal with it, or reach a compromise.
Maybe this is where the lack of peaceful conflict resolution starts. Take that text message beating the other day for example. Parents resolve conflict with gadgets and isolation. Here, you don't like listening to that? Have an iPod and listen to your own stuff. Don't like sharing the computer or phone? Have your own. Solving problems by tossing money and gadgets at them. Bored in the car? Here's a DVD system to keep you occupied.
Sorry.
getting worked up and tangentialized. Not everyone is going to agree with me even to the smallest level.
One thing is wrong though people are getting cars with less and less training than in the past. I had to take a freaking long ass in depth driver's training course. It wasn't easy and I learned a ton. Heck there's more retraining and testing for dealing with haz waste here than there is driving. People can't as easily kill people with a mis-labeled container as they can with a car and distracted driving.
The final driving decree in my dictatorship will be mandatory retesting of all drivers ever two years, both a written and simulator test. Requirement to get your license is a score of 90% or higher on each test. If you can't? Then get ON THE BUS and let a professional drive you (and yeah if you are getting paid to drive you'd better not be on the phuc'n phone - talk on your own damn time - when you aren't responsible for all those lives behind you and around you). So yeah. Maybe more people would have to take public transport or *gasp* ride a bike. Oh the HORROR.
I had a bunch of other stuff in an outline but it will have to wait...
Drive like you actually care about the people around you and in the car. I know it is hard. Some people can do it better than others and it is a hard distinction to make. And maybe freeways are okay places to use phones and drive. Limited access, no pedestrians or store fronts or cyclists to run over while you are talking on the phone. Just other drivers in armored vehicles. Maybe that is a compromise.
It should be getting safer out there, but it isn't. occupants are being protected better but there is no regard to the safety of the people outside that fucking steel cage.
heddwch
G
Anyway. I originally said no radio. But you know? Radio is okay. They can be operated with knobs. And should be. Cell phones should be deactivated at speeds over a walk or something. If you are moving you can't use them.
Nav Systems? Get them out. Throw em away. Some people make the argument (il bruce) that his sales force couldn't survive without them. Well how the hell did they survive before, and to that whit, if they are sales people shouldn't they fucking know their own territory? As in be able to get from one call to the next without a fucking GPS voice telling you where to go? Yes I've got friends how have to go to meetings here or there and use them all the time, I have to hear about it. What I have observed but not really told them, is that before they had their killer phone with navigation or gps in the car, they paid more fucking attention to the road and road signs and all that stuff, they didn't find themselves in positions and places where the GPS needed to rescue them. not to mention all the stories of people's GPS taking them a LONG way around and people being completely oblivious as to the fact that there is a faster way to get there.
Back to the radio. I would have gone insane with that commute in michigan. But as it was the distance was so far and along a particular stretch where I jumped from one station to another and it kind of sucked. Sat radio would have been nice. But here's the thing. In the car there should be only ONE souce, not one for every passenger. Don't like the driver's music? Well learn to deal with it, or reach a compromise.
Maybe this is where the lack of peaceful conflict resolution starts. Take that text message beating the other day for example. Parents resolve conflict with gadgets and isolation. Here, you don't like listening to that? Have an iPod and listen to your own stuff. Don't like sharing the computer or phone? Have your own. Solving problems by tossing money and gadgets at them. Bored in the car? Here's a DVD system to keep you occupied.
Sorry.
getting worked up and tangentialized. Not everyone is going to agree with me even to the smallest level.
One thing is wrong though people are getting cars with less and less training than in the past. I had to take a freaking long ass in depth driver's training course. It wasn't easy and I learned a ton. Heck there's more retraining and testing for dealing with haz waste here than there is driving. People can't as easily kill people with a mis-labeled container as they can with a car and distracted driving.
The final driving decree in my dictatorship will be mandatory retesting of all drivers ever two years, both a written and simulator test. Requirement to get your license is a score of 90% or higher on each test. If you can't? Then get ON THE BUS and let a professional drive you (and yeah if you are getting paid to drive you'd better not be on the phuc'n phone - talk on your own damn time - when you aren't responsible for all those lives behind you and around you). So yeah. Maybe more people would have to take public transport or *gasp* ride a bike. Oh the HORROR.
I had a bunch of other stuff in an outline but it will have to wait...
Drive like you actually care about the people around you and in the car. I know it is hard. Some people can do it better than others and it is a hard distinction to make. And maybe freeways are okay places to use phones and drive. Limited access, no pedestrians or store fronts or cyclists to run over while you are talking on the phone. Just other drivers in armored vehicles. Maybe that is a compromise.
It should be getting safer out there, but it isn't. occupants are being protected better but there is no regard to the safety of the people outside that fucking steel cage.
heddwch
G
Friday, March 19, 2010
We lose another Icon
Who in their right mind hasn't lusted after some Phil Wood goodness? They may not have ever been the lightest, but god damn they were strong, lasted forever and worked flawlessly. Who hasn't enjoyed the smell of the green Phil Wood grease, or the killer Tenacious Oil? That was THE stuff when it came time to rebuild your freewheel bodies, yes, I rebuilt mine a handful of times.
The man who started it all, Phil Wood, has passed away.
Time for a convening of the Cycling Canonization Council to convene.
Saint Sheldon needs to be joined by Saint Phil...
Thanks for making that first set of hubs Phil and showing everyone what is possible.
May your hubs forever shine with showroom luster!
The man who started it all, Phil Wood, has passed away.
Time for a convening of the Cycling Canonization Council to convene.
Saint Sheldon needs to be joined by Saint Phil...
Thanks for making that first set of hubs Phil and showing everyone what is possible.
May your hubs forever shine with showroom luster!
The whole Kornholio thing
So yeah. I haven't mentioned it much, not a direct and separate entry.
The whole cycling community knows all about this episode. And if they don't they don't have friends who are connected online.
I got thinking. This whole "tap them" thing...
It is in a way trying to be vigilante law enforcers no? Run a stop sign and I'm going to Tap you with my car to teach you a lesson.
Yeah. Okay. Sure. That always works well. Use your damn phone if you feel that strongly about someone breaking traffic laws. Just don't be shocked if someone calls you on your illegal driving habits.
Drivers are idiots. They don't care if they are speeding or rolling through stop signs or turning right when they aren't supposed to. Speeding is illegal, just as is rolling through a stop sign.
If a driver doesn't follow ALL of the rules how can they decide which rules bicycles should follow? And how can they enforce it?
What if Semi-truck drivers suddenly decided to become highway vigilantes? Just tapping cars that were going too fast. Just a tap. After all they are in vehicles that weight a couple hundred times more than the cars, what is a little tap going to do their truck?
Sort of like when Tony Kornholer suggests using his big powerful car to 'tap' those shiny pants wearing cyclists?
We all know that level of animosity is out there. Richard wrote a nice bit about it a while back.
But the violence that Tony is suggesting is too much. He gets suspended for talking about someone's mini-skirt but this gets what? An interview with Lance and bigger ratings?
Pretty sad. Hell he might get a bonus over the whole thing too. Violence is not the answer.
heddwch
G
The whole cycling community knows all about this episode. And if they don't they don't have friends who are connected online.
I got thinking. This whole "tap them" thing...
It is in a way trying to be vigilante law enforcers no? Run a stop sign and I'm going to Tap you with my car to teach you a lesson.
Yeah. Okay. Sure. That always works well. Use your damn phone if you feel that strongly about someone breaking traffic laws. Just don't be shocked if someone calls you on your illegal driving habits.
Drivers are idiots. They don't care if they are speeding or rolling through stop signs or turning right when they aren't supposed to. Speeding is illegal, just as is rolling through a stop sign.
If a driver doesn't follow ALL of the rules how can they decide which rules bicycles should follow? And how can they enforce it?
What if Semi-truck drivers suddenly decided to become highway vigilantes? Just tapping cars that were going too fast. Just a tap. After all they are in vehicles that weight a couple hundred times more than the cars, what is a little tap going to do their truck?
Sort of like when Tony Kornholer suggests using his big powerful car to 'tap' those shiny pants wearing cyclists?
We all know that level of animosity is out there. Richard wrote a nice bit about it a while back.
But the violence that Tony is suggesting is too much. He gets suspended for talking about someone's mini-skirt but this gets what? An interview with Lance and bigger ratings?
Pretty sad. Hell he might get a bonus over the whole thing too. Violence is not the answer.
heddwch
G
They're Back, sadly
The hoards on the bike path. Taking over what has been a nice almost personal highway to and from work. Certainly I'm not alone, good number of people use it to commute and walk and run on all year in most all weather.
But.
Well they are all back. Taking over. It gets worse and worse and worse. People walking blindly with bike traffic (back to on coming riders). Heck would you walk in the middle of the road with traffic and not pay attention? Seems that is how they act around here.
Some people are good and aware. Some people follow the markings and walk on the proper side of the path. Others, hell it is like two people can't walk and talk together without spreading across the whole road and are so oblivious and random that you can't ride in the middle and it takes a lot of noise and "excuse me"s to get them to realize someone exists besides them in their own bubble.
The mornings are still pretty much okay. But it is getting crowded again. Way more than the regulars.
The surprising thing is that with the extra people and bike traffic and walkers and all that, there is a patch of broken window glass on the path along the parkway that has been there for a week now. I suppose one of these days i'm going to need to strap a short broom on the bike at all times and actually clean that kind of shit up because no one else is doing it. More of a curiosity to see how long it will be there. Lots of broken car parts and what not along the grass too. The DEM crews have been working on the path, blowers and trash pick up and general clean up but they either drive right over it of don't have a broom in one of their trucks. My Marathon Plus tires might be heavy but that glass hasn't slowed us down yet.
I've been taking small 4-5mm shell daggers out of the tires lately. I keep thinking that i should start collecting the stuff that the tires pick up, the sharp pieces of glass, the shells, all that stuff.
it will be a challenge to get out on the bike this weekend. Weather should be fantastic but well, i'm well on my way to one big ride a month on the weekend. Got one in January, one in Feburary, and march? Yup got my one in already. Maybe March I'll get two in. This weekend might be all on the trainer. I just can't motivate myself to get out and go up and down the bike path for an hour or two, and then if i take the path somewhere I'm 30 minutes into a ride and then have to ride another 15-20 to get out into nice riding roads. I shouldn't complain, once on those roads the riding is amazing. Really. It is. I can go west and find nothing really flat, I can go east and find nothing really all that hilly and all pretty rural and pleasant. I can go North but that's only pleasant on week day mornings when the commuter traffic has cleared out a bit. I missed riding up to Tower Hill and that group of roads. Haven't been up there in a long time. Maybe i can get there soon. And no, i don't really mind riding the trainer. Crank some tunes, grab a magazine, just sit and think, it is nice. No cars, sand, pot holes, glass to worry about. No headwind, no hills, just variable resistance. And since I'm not bleeding through my eyes most of the time on there lately even a hard sustained threshold interval or two doesn't feel bad compared to the full anerobic stuff I was doing in the second half of cross season. I'm liking how I feel with this riding every day. Now if I can just measure it out enough so I don't get an overuse injury or something.
And not to stretch one post out too long but I do dissagree with Tilford about the Officials not caring. They do care, and yeah most of them could stand to tweak the caloric intake/output balance, but I really appreciate the ones we have around here, esp in Cross season. The job that Diane and Kristin and Bill and the rest do is wonderful. It has gotten pretty laid back when Diane gives the instructions pre-race, she knows we've all heard the spiel a million times before, she knows we aren't really listening but she also knows she has a job do to. For a second or two I thought hey, maybe I should sign up to wear one of those blue shirts and make an extra couple dollars on the weekend. But then, well. I have so few weekends free and really no way to get to where the races are unless I rode the bike there. In other words with only those few variables it went from idea to circular file pretty quickly.
Now despite all the people out there, and their inattentiveness, the ride home in short sleeves and shorts was wonderful. Really nice. So nice I wanted to get out for a longer ride. But I just turned and headed home.
Only to be greeted by "Daddy can we go for a bike ride?"
How can I say no to that?
So we went out and pedaled around for 30-40 minutes or so dodging dogs cyclists, roller bladers walkers and joggers, other kids on bikes and commuters too. Not so bad, we had a good time. But the bugs were out my glasses quickly went to cover her eyes. At one point before getting home and getting back out i felt like someone had tossed a handful of sand at me. Hitting my face and my arms. Except there wasn't anyone around (well that had a handful of sand in throwing distance at least). I looked down and my right arm was nearly black. Full of small flies. At least my mouth was closed when they hit. Yuck. I was still brushing them out of my hairs a couple miles later.
I guess that's why i never really mind riding in the rain or the cold. No bugs or other traffic to deal with.
Well we came back in and the little one wanted to go out on her "pink" bike. A bit small and the training wheels were off. So well. we did. She lasted maybe 10 minutes before she had had enough of me holding her up while she was pedaling. They aren't naturals on the bike, but that's fine with me. They are pretty special anyway. Heck even Lucy got out for a run on the bike path with my wife after the kids were done riding around.
The stupid rain last week killed the most perfect sunset time of the year on the commute. I was hoping to get a current sunset panorama for the header image but, well, it was raining or I was off schedule.
Oh well.
At least I can put the lights away.
Heddwch
G
But.
Well they are all back. Taking over. It gets worse and worse and worse. People walking blindly with bike traffic (back to on coming riders). Heck would you walk in the middle of the road with traffic and not pay attention? Seems that is how they act around here.
Some people are good and aware. Some people follow the markings and walk on the proper side of the path. Others, hell it is like two people can't walk and talk together without spreading across the whole road and are so oblivious and random that you can't ride in the middle and it takes a lot of noise and "excuse me"s to get them to realize someone exists besides them in their own bubble.
The mornings are still pretty much okay. But it is getting crowded again. Way more than the regulars.
The surprising thing is that with the extra people and bike traffic and walkers and all that, there is a patch of broken window glass on the path along the parkway that has been there for a week now. I suppose one of these days i'm going to need to strap a short broom on the bike at all times and actually clean that kind of shit up because no one else is doing it. More of a curiosity to see how long it will be there. Lots of broken car parts and what not along the grass too. The DEM crews have been working on the path, blowers and trash pick up and general clean up but they either drive right over it of don't have a broom in one of their trucks. My Marathon Plus tires might be heavy but that glass hasn't slowed us down yet.
I've been taking small 4-5mm shell daggers out of the tires lately. I keep thinking that i should start collecting the stuff that the tires pick up, the sharp pieces of glass, the shells, all that stuff.
it will be a challenge to get out on the bike this weekend. Weather should be fantastic but well, i'm well on my way to one big ride a month on the weekend. Got one in January, one in Feburary, and march? Yup got my one in already. Maybe March I'll get two in. This weekend might be all on the trainer. I just can't motivate myself to get out and go up and down the bike path for an hour or two, and then if i take the path somewhere I'm 30 minutes into a ride and then have to ride another 15-20 to get out into nice riding roads. I shouldn't complain, once on those roads the riding is amazing. Really. It is. I can go west and find nothing really flat, I can go east and find nothing really all that hilly and all pretty rural and pleasant. I can go North but that's only pleasant on week day mornings when the commuter traffic has cleared out a bit. I missed riding up to Tower Hill and that group of roads. Haven't been up there in a long time. Maybe i can get there soon. And no, i don't really mind riding the trainer. Crank some tunes, grab a magazine, just sit and think, it is nice. No cars, sand, pot holes, glass to worry about. No headwind, no hills, just variable resistance. And since I'm not bleeding through my eyes most of the time on there lately even a hard sustained threshold interval or two doesn't feel bad compared to the full anerobic stuff I was doing in the second half of cross season. I'm liking how I feel with this riding every day. Now if I can just measure it out enough so I don't get an overuse injury or something.
And not to stretch one post out too long but I do dissagree with Tilford about the Officials not caring. They do care, and yeah most of them could stand to tweak the caloric intake/output balance, but I really appreciate the ones we have around here, esp in Cross season. The job that Diane and Kristin and Bill and the rest do is wonderful. It has gotten pretty laid back when Diane gives the instructions pre-race, she knows we've all heard the spiel a million times before, she knows we aren't really listening but she also knows she has a job do to. For a second or two I thought hey, maybe I should sign up to wear one of those blue shirts and make an extra couple dollars on the weekend. But then, well. I have so few weekends free and really no way to get to where the races are unless I rode the bike there. In other words with only those few variables it went from idea to circular file pretty quickly.
Now despite all the people out there, and their inattentiveness, the ride home in short sleeves and shorts was wonderful. Really nice. So nice I wanted to get out for a longer ride. But I just turned and headed home.
Only to be greeted by "Daddy can we go for a bike ride?"
How can I say no to that?
So we went out and pedaled around for 30-40 minutes or so dodging dogs cyclists, roller bladers walkers and joggers, other kids on bikes and commuters too. Not so bad, we had a good time. But the bugs were out my glasses quickly went to cover her eyes. At one point before getting home and getting back out i felt like someone had tossed a handful of sand at me. Hitting my face and my arms. Except there wasn't anyone around (well that had a handful of sand in throwing distance at least). I looked down and my right arm was nearly black. Full of small flies. At least my mouth was closed when they hit. Yuck. I was still brushing them out of my hairs a couple miles later.
I guess that's why i never really mind riding in the rain or the cold. No bugs or other traffic to deal with.
Well we came back in and the little one wanted to go out on her "pink" bike. A bit small and the training wheels were off. So well. we did. She lasted maybe 10 minutes before she had had enough of me holding her up while she was pedaling. They aren't naturals on the bike, but that's fine with me. They are pretty special anyway. Heck even Lucy got out for a run on the bike path with my wife after the kids were done riding around.
The stupid rain last week killed the most perfect sunset time of the year on the commute. I was hoping to get a current sunset panorama for the header image but, well, it was raining or I was off schedule.
Oh well.
At least I can put the lights away.
Heddwch
G
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tilford on officiating
Good stuff. Honestly we were crinkling numbers when I raced collegiate back in the early 90s. now you can't. Maybe next time i see JD i'll see if we can get the truth. Or maybe even convince him to generate a few examples from finish line shots showing why it is bad. Or why it is a bad rule.
I like crinkled numbers honestly. But i've gotten used to pinning them w/o crinkling/crumpling them.
I like crinkled numbers honestly. But i've gotten used to pinning them w/o crinkling/crumpling them.
1 year old Happy Meal
Yikes.
Check out the Happy Meal Blog
And the one year later write up.
Bottom line, it still looks more or less the same.
Check out the Happy Meal Blog
And the one year later write up.
Bottom line, it still looks more or less the same.
No Worries
NOPE, no worries at all. My Happy Meal is one year old today and it looks pretty good. It NEVER smelled bad. The food did NOT decompose. It did NOT get moldy, at all.
This morning, I took it off my shelf to take a birthday photo. The first year is always a milestone. I gave it one of my world famous nonna hugs as we’ve been office mates for a year now! (Okay, maybe my sanity is in question.)
What’s WRONG with this picture?
The photo above on the left is the one I took today. Because Colorado has an arid climate, over the year the moisture has been slowly pulled from the Happy Meal. The bread is crusty and if you look closely, you will see a crack across the top. The hamburger has shrunk a bit and still resembles a hockey puck. Yet, the French fries look yummy enough to eat. I never had an odor problem, after a couple of weeks, I couldn’t even smell the fries.
Now look at the photo on the right, I took it a year ago. Not much difference. The bread is plumper and the fries a tad bit perkier.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
it is weird
Lately my core and specifically the lower half feels stronger and more neurologically responsive than ever. Control, balance and all that. The only think I can attribute it to is the long unbroken streak of riding the bike w/o a day off. That or after 5 years i'm sort of finally hitting something close to figuring out the pedaling stuff.
(there were 5 fast food ads on the radio just now, seriously? 5 in a row WTF - sad, very sad)
That and man, the Rhonde De Rosey sounds fooking INCREDIBLE. The close we get and the more i hear about it (twitter mostly) the more I wish I had figured out a team and signed up. Not that i have that day free, maybe there's day care at the start/stop point? No i'm not going to make it but it sounds pretty damn cool. Hopefully someone will ride it and write about it so I can live vicariously through those who do.
Battenkill. There better be at least one decent write up about it, although having ridden it so many times I'm not sure how interested in reading about it I am anymore, sort of a been there done that and don't have the t-shirt.
King of Burlingame. Same thing. The pre-ride totally killed the event for me. When you only ride the crazy stuff on race day you have no choice but to go hard and push it. When you ride around and find it totally not fun, well. Hey not going to do it. I will check the results and see how everyone does.
I hear that NBX just couldn't swing the permitting and other red tape stuff for the NBX march sundays. A few teams I hear are showing up there at 10am on sundays despite that for a few interval workouts though. Just a rumor that probably everyone else knows already.
That and I did something crazy. I rode home in 52 degree weather with full on leg warmers, arm warmers and sleeveless baselayer. Crazy. GeWilli was dressed the same for 42 as 52. What the hell. It was warm but not too bad. Summer's coming. No point in developing the cold tolerance anymore. Gotta get used to being too hot. Might as well start now by over-dressing.
Two days off between Feb 1st and March 16th really isn't too bad. A major handful of those days are doubles anyway. March only has three days w/o a double. But hey it is only mid-way through the month and I'm wondering:
"Did I win"
thanks for the link Geo
heddwch
G
(there were 5 fast food ads on the radio just now, seriously? 5 in a row WTF - sad, very sad)
That and man, the Rhonde De Rosey sounds fooking INCREDIBLE. The close we get and the more i hear about it (twitter mostly) the more I wish I had figured out a team and signed up. Not that i have that day free, maybe there's day care at the start/stop point? No i'm not going to make it but it sounds pretty damn cool. Hopefully someone will ride it and write about it so I can live vicariously through those who do.
Battenkill. There better be at least one decent write up about it, although having ridden it so many times I'm not sure how interested in reading about it I am anymore, sort of a been there done that and don't have the t-shirt.
King of Burlingame. Same thing. The pre-ride totally killed the event for me. When you only ride the crazy stuff on race day you have no choice but to go hard and push it. When you ride around and find it totally not fun, well. Hey not going to do it. I will check the results and see how everyone does.
I hear that NBX just couldn't swing the permitting and other red tape stuff for the NBX march sundays. A few teams I hear are showing up there at 10am on sundays despite that for a few interval workouts though. Just a rumor that probably everyone else knows already.
That and I did something crazy. I rode home in 52 degree weather with full on leg warmers, arm warmers and sleeveless baselayer. Crazy. GeWilli was dressed the same for 42 as 52. What the hell. It was warm but not too bad. Summer's coming. No point in developing the cold tolerance anymore. Gotta get used to being too hot. Might as well start now by over-dressing.
Two days off between Feb 1st and March 16th really isn't too bad. A major handful of those days are doubles anyway. March only has three days w/o a double. But hey it is only mid-way through the month and I'm wondering:
"Did I win"
thanks for the link Geo
heddwch
G
Monday, March 15, 2010
insanity
there - a unique title for a change.
I started to belabor the whole saga of trying to get our car back but I got to the point after a long paragraph of rambling and realize BFD. We have our car back. It has only been 3 weeks. Three weeks to change a driver's side window and the metal trim sill that they used on this model. Seriously. Three weeks.
Never heading to that Body shop again. Nope. Not going to happen.
We are lucky that insurance covered it, and we can't complain. I do feel steamed that some jackass would cause over a thousand dollars of damage to an old rusty wagon to get at the purse, but then I look at how much we've handed over to the insurance company and realize that if we had been self insuring this whole time we'd have been well ahead of the game so i feel less bad for them but still. That's a needless waste of resources. I hope they body shop cleaned up the car at least, it needed a wash and vacuum.
Well I've gotta be thankful, happy, it could always have been worse. Too much car drama.
now to head home - should have left an hour ago when I had the chance, before 4 sets of URGENT i need help issues. Oh well, at least they are all left nicely resolved.
heddwch
G
I started to belabor the whole saga of trying to get our car back but I got to the point after a long paragraph of rambling and realize BFD. We have our car back. It has only been 3 weeks. Three weeks to change a driver's side window and the metal trim sill that they used on this model. Seriously. Three weeks.
Never heading to that Body shop again. Nope. Not going to happen.
We are lucky that insurance covered it, and we can't complain. I do feel steamed that some jackass would cause over a thousand dollars of damage to an old rusty wagon to get at the purse, but then I look at how much we've handed over to the insurance company and realize that if we had been self insuring this whole time we'd have been well ahead of the game so i feel less bad for them but still. That's a needless waste of resources. I hope they body shop cleaned up the car at least, it needed a wash and vacuum.
Well I've gotta be thankful, happy, it could always have been worse. Too much car drama.
now to head home - should have left an hour ago when I had the chance, before 4 sets of URGENT i need help issues. Oh well, at least they are all left nicely resolved.
heddwch
G
The Mexican Scotsman
Most funny song. Pandora thanks. Damn fine mix of shit up there today.
This one is even funnier:
Fahhhhk in hell. Bloody fucking awesome, follow that bit up with some GOD DAMN FUCKING POUGES - yeah Fuck yeah - THOUSANDS ARE SAILING
don't need to write those fooking lyrics down.
i should probably cut back on the use of the f word... nah... okay maybe a little... someday...
Draws Tickets in a Lottery!
This one is even funnier:
Dear Sir, I write this note to you to tell you of me plightSo why do I think of JONNY BOLD just now? Hmmm...
and at the time of writing, I am not a pretty sight;
me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray
and I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.
While working on the fourteenth floor some bricks I had to clear;
now, to throw them down from such a height was not a good idea.
the foreman wasn't very pleased, he beeing an awkward sod
he said I'd have to cart them down the ladders in me hod.
Now, clearing all these bricks by hand it was so very slow,
so I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below.
But in me haste to do the job I was to blind to see
that a barrelful of building bricks was heavier than me.
So when I untied the rope the barrel fell like lead
and clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead.
Well, I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found
that halfway up I met the bloody barrel comming down.
Well, the barrel broke me shoulder as to the ground it sped,
and when I reached the top I banged the pully with my head.
Well, I clung on tight through numbed shock from this almighty blow
and the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below.
Now, when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor
I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more;
still clinging tightly to the rope, I sped towards the ground,
and I landed on the brocken bricks that were all scattered round.
Well, I lay there groaning on the ground, I thougth I'd passed the worst,
when the barrel hit the pully-wheel and then the bottom burst.
Well, a shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope
as I lay there moaning on the ground, I let go of the bloody rope.
The barrel than being heavier, it started down once more,
and landed right across me, as I lay upon the floor.
Well, it broke three ribs and my left arm and I can only say
that I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not a work today.
Fahhhhk in hell. Bloody fucking awesome, follow that bit up with some GOD DAMN FUCKING POUGES - yeah Fuck yeah - THOUSANDS ARE SAILING
don't need to write those fooking lyrics down.
i should probably cut back on the use of the f word... nah... okay maybe a little... someday...
Draws Tickets in a Lottery!
how to drive
a prius... 2010 specifically.
pretty f*cking funny (over 40 F-bombs a mile - yes language warning)
And that dude with the 90mph prius? totally busted. Just goes to show, eveyrone in California is an actor, some are better than others, and the best ones may not have ever been picked up for a movie (old white hair dude with the prius that he couldn't stop).
About cars, it sounds like our passat might be fixed and we can return the car that destroys my knee when driving. Although I have to admit, the knee is getting used to it now. I just have a dull ache from driving it instead of a crippling sharp pain. It still will be nice to get back to a car i fit into.
pretty f*cking funny (over 40 F-bombs a mile - yes language warning)
And that dude with the 90mph prius? totally busted. Just goes to show, eveyrone in California is an actor, some are better than others, and the best ones may not have ever been picked up for a movie (old white hair dude with the prius that he couldn't stop).
About cars, it sounds like our passat might be fixed and we can return the car that destroys my knee when driving. Although I have to admit, the knee is getting used to it now. I just have a dull ache from driving it instead of a crippling sharp pain. It still will be nice to get back to a car i fit into.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
i blew it
didn't even make it on the trainer yesterday. got up early and did the morning dance class run, headed to whole paycheck and purchased the damn finest cornbeef and some other goodies for the party last night. A small party for the girls, a st paddys day event. Corned Beef cabbage and carrots, thrice baked potatoes, nestle toll house cookies for ice cream sandwiches, had to make the ice cream too. I was freaking cooking from the time basically I got home until it was served. And when everyone left we collapsed on the couch and watched an episode of season six Project Runway. And headed to bed. Pooped. And I broke the streak started way back on Feb 1st. Didn't even get a double. March's challenge is hosed with three days w/o a double.
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