everything I could have hoped for. AKA kind of the opposite of SSCX nats (even though i ended it on my own terms it wasn't really on my own terms).
But I also totally burned the day away w/o finding a moment to sit down and write and only now getting ready for not-smackdown tuesday night right. Brown kids took over the evening with a non-drop ride.
And yes, if it wasn't for Derek Griggs and him finding a big freak size SSCX rig in the proper color and at a price i couldn't pass up i may not have even raced yesterday.
But I did, my kids came up to the race, just like they did last year. Enticed by the promise of going to Bolton Orchards after the race. And in fact once bikes were packed up i was cold enough that we bolted to the orchards.
maybe I can find time to tell the story tonight.
writing, and the rest of the creative outlets have been slipping lately, not sure what they are being replaced by other than work and life... need to write some more...
and i'll start with maybe doing a legit CX race report.
cliff notes? It was muddy and my gearing and tire choice was f'n perfect (for me). I wasn't the fastest but I finished behind people who've i maybe never really beaten before so there's that? And I had fun. And I surprised myself with while feeling pretty terribly and totally spent and gave it my all, it was more than I expected to have in the legs.
Don't worry, not overconfident going into G-ster. Full expecting to not finish where I'm gridded up based on points. Just looking forward to racing.
Nixon kind of said it best the last time I rode out to the Brewery, "You get to a point where you know how good you can get." translation my absolute best probably even making it a full time job won't get me on the podium, it'll never make me fast enough to ride and race with Al and Adam and Mark the Shark and all the rest of the guys at the front of the race. Meaning? Having fun, as long as it is fun I'll keep lining up, try to start on the lead lap even if that's my only goal, that and to race who ever I'm around, maybe handle one section well enough to gain an advantage over someone when it comes to the finish. Anyway.
Now i'm close to being late.
Racing felt good. I'm looking forward to more.
heddwch
G
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Winslow, Arizona
Such a fine sight to see....
riding with dreamy ginger dave, Dani, Syl on his CXy bike, the freshman Tyler, and big Fuller tonight was awesome.
First - the While blue is about 2-4 mph slower by RPE than any other bike I could ride. And that's not good on smackdown. But it is good for GeWilli because I have to work even harder.
Second, we kind of were pokey but going hard, which was fine with me because I was pretty much going as hard as I could given I needed a rest day not a smackdown day.
But hey - this was going to be the last smackdown but Dani lobbied for one more and Dreamy Ginger Dave said he'd do it again. I'll go out and get dropped one more time. Why not!
So, slow bike, tired me, it wasn't record setting but it was fun and I kicked my butt. Rolling down the hill on Jacob/Broad, well Fuller was pedaling and I was coasting fast than he was pedaling and well, fuck it, I boosted that gravity fed kinetic energy and launched it. Like HARD. Little Dreamy Dave was the only one to tuck into my wheel and we were doing what? looks like 41.1 just after I punched it crossing the bridge, decent amount of work, not finishing sprint level but it was an effort, and he tucked into the vacuum that is my draft and once we passed lincoln he took a pull as I started fading and I managed to hold his wheel a bit then I faded and he eased back to keep me in what little draft the tiny leprechaun offered, and we hit Pine with a good gap, I held close to his wheel as we pushed it but waited until the others made contact, and once contact was made Dave attacked. Ouch. Those MoFos dropped me hard. Took me until partway down Homestead to catch. Granted I had visual at the top of pine but Tyler and Syl weren't slowing down to wait they were bridging forward.
I kept my head down and worked extra hard to keep the slow bike going as fast as I could. and then...
WINSLOW ARIZONA... SUCH A FINE SIGHT TO SEE... the five of them chatting taking up the whole road talking and being smart and stuff (so much Ivy, Syl gets bye 'cause he's all collegiately employed and psycologisty and stuff)... and I rolled in and gave the SHHHHH symbol to Tyler so they'd keep talking and rolling slowly towards Rocky Hill.
And well, we turned and I said BRAPP and Dave said: "Well" damnit... so I brapped it and launched them up Rocky Hill. I pushed it until it turned up, and they all rode away from me.
And I rode solo until I got back to pine where I found Dreamy Ginger Dave doing circles waiting for me. And we rolled up the hill and the rest of them were chatting on the side of the road.
Can i just say how awesome it feels to have them wait? And yes, someone with a flat tire that we passed probably wishes we'd have slowed and stopped for him but the flat didn't happen on the ride and two out of 14 knew who that was and that maybe they were riding to smackdown, it kind of sucks.
But it was kind of awesome that at what seemed like the last smackdown they waited for the big old slow guy. BOGS.
It was a great night. and enough light as we all rode back into the city together, well, enough light that, lets do it one more time. Why not. It is a goddamn good workout, and fun. And Watching Dani f'n shred the dudes more than any other woman who's ridden smackdown? Pretty amazing. She's got some massive potential.
So yeah, twice seeing them waiting/riding slowly letting me catch back on? So fucking awesome.
Downside I've had this song in my head since:
but hey, i'll take it... Gonna be taking it easy tomorrow. Mileage wise I *should* hit 5,000 since May mark on the way home (unless I take the long way in). I don't think I can hit 7k by the end of the month for the year or 1k miles for the month of September, but I'll take what I can get. (damnit another earworm). But I should cement my podium for RI as #3 in the National Bike Challenge. I fell off the chart nationally down to 169 or something, but hey, not every month could be May, if it was? Fuuuuck I'd be winning this shit! Well probably not, there are motivated people who don't work who ride this just to be in the lead, I'd probably still be 3rd but I'd have pushed them to ride even more than they did, and well? Is that a bad thing? Nope.
So Take It Easy.
Looks like my first cross race will be in the pits, not on the course. And goddamn I'm super stoked about it. It does create a bit extra family stress as I had said I wasn't racing this weekend and plans were made (I wouldn't have been racing this weekend, well maybe with a comp'd entry fee and some start money and a 45+ category and it being at the old venue - aka not happening) but i'm gonna be there. For the Men's Pro race at least. You hire me to pit? I don't care what else happens, i'm there for you. So at least the ORange jumpsuit will make an appearance finally. When will I race next?
Who the fuck knows.... At this point maybe I'll race G-ster and just ride my bike the rest of the year. CX has changed or i have or i've felt really alienated and ostracized from the group I felt most comfortable in. But like fuckn solobreak's tweet tonight, yeah, i'm sensitive as shit. It sucks. But it is what it is.
Sorry for the long blog silence, hit Instagram for microblogging/photos, strava for the bike riding... i've really tried to stay off twitter because the in-crowd bullies all hang out there and it hasn't been fun for a while, but well addictive and all, i gotta still check in.
Working intensely on the stuff for Nixon and Indy Ferm, even if it doesn't show publicly. Also having serious looks at trying to figure out how to do the book for my dad. I'd ask that photog guy in NH but stuff's still awk probably better to do it on my own anyway. Too early to figure out book anyway, content still not totally ready to go. Working on it though. Overthinking it like only I can,
Going to try and have Haines Park CX on thursday night... help the newbies, the beginners, help them get good enough to kick ass on the world cup some day maybe...
for now... i guess I'm just gonna keep riding my bike.
because, it has always been there for me... riding... but like everything else, if gives back so little compared to how much I put into it... but hey, that's my fate....
fuuuuuuck - Great smackdown, really shitty transition in/via words on the blog.... whatever, tomorrow i'll wake up and it will be a new day and nothing else matters... except i'm not sure really what does matter... def no GeWilli, even myerspaces words he DM'd me way back when (they helped then but) are little comfort now. BUT HEY at least i'm not on FB or twitter being a sad mopey knucklehead.
hey -if you're reading this: be well, do good, have fun
heddwch
G
riding with dreamy ginger dave, Dani, Syl on his CXy bike, the freshman Tyler, and big Fuller tonight was awesome.
First - the While blue is about 2-4 mph slower by RPE than any other bike I could ride. And that's not good on smackdown. But it is good for GeWilli because I have to work even harder.
Second, we kind of were pokey but going hard, which was fine with me because I was pretty much going as hard as I could given I needed a rest day not a smackdown day.
But hey - this was going to be the last smackdown but Dani lobbied for one more and Dreamy Ginger Dave said he'd do it again. I'll go out and get dropped one more time. Why not!
So, slow bike, tired me, it wasn't record setting but it was fun and I kicked my butt. Rolling down the hill on Jacob/Broad, well Fuller was pedaling and I was coasting fast than he was pedaling and well, fuck it, I boosted that gravity fed kinetic energy and launched it. Like HARD. Little Dreamy Dave was the only one to tuck into my wheel and we were doing what? looks like 41.1 just after I punched it crossing the bridge, decent amount of work, not finishing sprint level but it was an effort, and he tucked into the vacuum that is my draft and once we passed lincoln he took a pull as I started fading and I managed to hold his wheel a bit then I faded and he eased back to keep me in what little draft the tiny leprechaun offered, and we hit Pine with a good gap, I held close to his wheel as we pushed it but waited until the others made contact, and once contact was made Dave attacked. Ouch. Those MoFos dropped me hard. Took me until partway down Homestead to catch. Granted I had visual at the top of pine but Tyler and Syl weren't slowing down to wait they were bridging forward.
I kept my head down and worked extra hard to keep the slow bike going as fast as I could. and then...
WINSLOW ARIZONA... SUCH A FINE SIGHT TO SEE... the five of them chatting taking up the whole road talking and being smart and stuff (so much Ivy, Syl gets bye 'cause he's all collegiately employed and psycologisty and stuff)... and I rolled in and gave the SHHHHH symbol to Tyler so they'd keep talking and rolling slowly towards Rocky Hill.
And well, we turned and I said BRAPP and Dave said: "Well" damnit... so I brapped it and launched them up Rocky Hill. I pushed it until it turned up, and they all rode away from me.
And I rode solo until I got back to pine where I found Dreamy Ginger Dave doing circles waiting for me. And we rolled up the hill and the rest of them were chatting on the side of the road.
Can i just say how awesome it feels to have them wait? And yes, someone with a flat tire that we passed probably wishes we'd have slowed and stopped for him but the flat didn't happen on the ride and two out of 14 knew who that was and that maybe they were riding to smackdown, it kind of sucks.
But it was kind of awesome that at what seemed like the last smackdown they waited for the big old slow guy. BOGS.
It was a great night. and enough light as we all rode back into the city together, well, enough light that, lets do it one more time. Why not. It is a goddamn good workout, and fun. And Watching Dani f'n shred the dudes more than any other woman who's ridden smackdown? Pretty amazing. She's got some massive potential.
So yeah, twice seeing them waiting/riding slowly letting me catch back on? So fucking awesome.
Downside I've had this song in my head since:
but hey, i'll take it... Gonna be taking it easy tomorrow. Mileage wise I *should* hit 5,000 since May mark on the way home (unless I take the long way in). I don't think I can hit 7k by the end of the month for the year or 1k miles for the month of September, but I'll take what I can get. (damnit another earworm). But I should cement my podium for RI as #3 in the National Bike Challenge. I fell off the chart nationally down to 169 or something, but hey, not every month could be May, if it was? Fuuuuck I'd be winning this shit! Well probably not, there are motivated people who don't work who ride this just to be in the lead, I'd probably still be 3rd but I'd have pushed them to ride even more than they did, and well? Is that a bad thing? Nope.
So Take It Easy.
Looks like my first cross race will be in the pits, not on the course. And goddamn I'm super stoked about it. It does create a bit extra family stress as I had said I wasn't racing this weekend and plans were made (I wouldn't have been racing this weekend, well maybe with a comp'd entry fee and some start money and a 45+ category and it being at the old venue - aka not happening) but i'm gonna be there. For the Men's Pro race at least. You hire me to pit? I don't care what else happens, i'm there for you. So at least the ORange jumpsuit will make an appearance finally. When will I race next?
Who the fuck knows.... At this point maybe I'll race G-ster and just ride my bike the rest of the year. CX has changed or i have or i've felt really alienated and ostracized from the group I felt most comfortable in. But like fuckn solobreak's tweet tonight, yeah, i'm sensitive as shit. It sucks. But it is what it is.
Sorry for the long blog silence, hit Instagram for microblogging/photos, strava for the bike riding... i've really tried to stay off twitter because the in-crowd bullies all hang out there and it hasn't been fun for a while, but well addictive and all, i gotta still check in.
Working intensely on the stuff for Nixon and Indy Ferm, even if it doesn't show publicly. Also having serious looks at trying to figure out how to do the book for my dad. I'd ask that photog guy in NH but stuff's still awk probably better to do it on my own anyway. Too early to figure out book anyway, content still not totally ready to go. Working on it though. Overthinking it like only I can,
Going to try and have Haines Park CX on thursday night... help the newbies, the beginners, help them get good enough to kick ass on the world cup some day maybe...
for now... i guess I'm just gonna keep riding my bike.
because, it has always been there for me... riding... but like everything else, if gives back so little compared to how much I put into it... but hey, that's my fate....
fuuuuuuck - Great smackdown, really shitty transition in/via words on the blog.... whatever, tomorrow i'll wake up and it will be a new day and nothing else matters... except i'm not sure really what does matter... def no GeWilli, even myerspaces words he DM'd me way back when (they helped then but) are little comfort now. BUT HEY at least i'm not on FB or twitter being a sad mopey knucklehead.
hey -if you're reading this: be well, do good, have fun
heddwch
G
Thursday, September 15, 2016
a couple mile markers
only one that bears mentioning (the 200+k barrier in google's blogger thing is confusing and i dunno about it since it wasn't there when I started but numbers are always cool)
Oh, right, the one bears mentioning? Hit 6,000 miles for the year today. Probably somewhere around where I was getting dropped by Goldberg and Wetters on a hill or two...
Kept happening until we hit the 30-35 mile mark. Aka the 90-120 min mark. Aka my legs finally feel opened up and warmed up.
And that's very strange. I used to be able to go full gas the moment i got on the bike, now? I get shelled inexplicably until a couple hours go by and then, I feel pretty damn good. Managed to frustrate Brent on the hills. When you can frustrate the hill climber, that's not so bad? right?
Happened a bit in NH. After 2 hrs (and sugar) I started climbing better. Today? Same.
Also - first 60-70 miles there was close to 3500' of climbing. Plenty of elevation and we didn't leave RI or hit the biggest climbs. Granted the last 30 or so we deliberately chose the flattest possible route (BIKE PATH FTW).
6k miles. Pretty sure this is the biggest volume year, esp considering up until May it was on track to being one of the lowest. The time it takes to warm up before i feel strong is a bit unsettling going into CX season, but I'll keep mulling it over and figure out how to make it work. That is if I actually show up and race.
Today's hundo was fun. It was a very good time. Good people, good roads, good weather.
Getting home, making dinner but not eating it, going to open house night, and then finally eating food at 8:45 after finishing the ride at 4:45?
Probably less than ideal. But hey, whatever.it is what it is and it was what it had to be.
I am now not hungry, i am almost ready to fall asleep.
Given I started the day off watching the rest of everyone drive off in the minivan, i took the ritual morning shit, emerged and saw the 'van back in the spot... WTF? and the Volvo gone (it has dead/dying battery) only means something is wrong. Low tire.
I found a screw in the passenger front tire. I then took time out of all day hundo prep to get that plugged. New Silca schrader valve thing doesn't work for shit so i left it under inflated but plugged and not leaking.
This car has collected 4+ screws since we got the new tires. Freddie used one of his plug strips and then I bought a set with three, there are now three screws sitting in that packaging and no strips.
So that's how the day started. ended with no food for a while.
now ending with me writing... getting ready to crash/zzzzzz
lots to say, which is odd, after last post maybe i'd said it all, nah...
for now though - check the 'gram feed and we'll catch y'all later, at least those of you with the graciousness to reach out occasionally. But hey I have to recognize that this growing list of former friends that won't talk to me, well probably says more about me than them. Maybe better just not to have friends.
heddwch
G
Oh, right, the one bears mentioning? Hit 6,000 miles for the year today. Probably somewhere around where I was getting dropped by Goldberg and Wetters on a hill or two...
Kept happening until we hit the 30-35 mile mark. Aka the 90-120 min mark. Aka my legs finally feel opened up and warmed up.
And that's very strange. I used to be able to go full gas the moment i got on the bike, now? I get shelled inexplicably until a couple hours go by and then, I feel pretty damn good. Managed to frustrate Brent on the hills. When you can frustrate the hill climber, that's not so bad? right?
Happened a bit in NH. After 2 hrs (and sugar) I started climbing better. Today? Same.
Also - first 60-70 miles there was close to 3500' of climbing. Plenty of elevation and we didn't leave RI or hit the biggest climbs. Granted the last 30 or so we deliberately chose the flattest possible route (BIKE PATH FTW).
6k miles. Pretty sure this is the biggest volume year, esp considering up until May it was on track to being one of the lowest. The time it takes to warm up before i feel strong is a bit unsettling going into CX season, but I'll keep mulling it over and figure out how to make it work. That is if I actually show up and race.
Today's hundo was fun. It was a very good time. Good people, good roads, good weather.
Getting home, making dinner but not eating it, going to open house night, and then finally eating food at 8:45 after finishing the ride at 4:45?
Probably less than ideal. But hey, whatever.it is what it is and it was what it had to be.
I am now not hungry, i am almost ready to fall asleep.
Given I started the day off watching the rest of everyone drive off in the minivan, i took the ritual morning shit, emerged and saw the 'van back in the spot... WTF? and the Volvo gone (it has dead/dying battery) only means something is wrong. Low tire.
I found a screw in the passenger front tire. I then took time out of all day hundo prep to get that plugged. New Silca schrader valve thing doesn't work for shit so i left it under inflated but plugged and not leaking.
This car has collected 4+ screws since we got the new tires. Freddie used one of his plug strips and then I bought a set with three, there are now three screws sitting in that packaging and no strips.
So that's how the day started. ended with no food for a while.
now ending with me writing... getting ready to crash/zzzzzz
lots to say, which is odd, after last post maybe i'd said it all, nah...
for now though - check the 'gram feed and we'll catch y'all later, at least those of you with the graciousness to reach out occasionally. But hey I have to recognize that this growing list of former friends that won't talk to me, well probably says more about me than them. Maybe better just not to have friends.
heddwch
G
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Smackety Smackety Smack.
Someone sent out the P/1/2 bat signal tonight.
We had a HUGE turnout. Turns out my ride announcement was a bit prophetic. But in the opposite direction. I'd kind of hoped to encourage the old guard to show up. And one of them did. He showed up to celebrate his 25th anniversary of being the President of the Brown Cycling Club. But that left only two of us old guys. I'm not sure where Garber fits into the age thing. He's seemingly as fast as the 20 something kids.
But Tonight? Kipp saw him get worked OVER. And the kids were looking like they were on a recovery ride.
For Jules it probably was a recovery ride.
I got popped BEFORE pine. Sure I did the ride leader thing and set the pace most of the way until we got to the turn on to Woodward, because that's just what has to be done. It was pretty chill heading to prospect, we had to work to get back on headed down Prospect at first but it settled in. 14-15 people showed, I was probably the slowest, Kipp may have been giving me a run for the money but he's still Cat 2 so, he's faster by default and everything else.
Seriously. Jules snagged the KOM on the Lincoln to Pine stretch. That fucker. I was working so goddamn hard that I was gapped by the turn up Pine. and well Fucking lights out. You think I have the W/KG to stay with some dude who raced the Tour of California?
Fuck. No.
From there? well I just killed myself up pine. Kipp steadily dragged himself back up to me at the top and the two of us picked up the new kid and then we gathered Fuller. Who I don't think still quite gets group rides. But that's okay. I set a pretty nose bleeding pace for me and we kept at it, no break, all the way to the top of Rocky Hill. I set early part, Fuller came around, then declined to pull any more and I emptied everything only to have that gangly knucklehead who's losing 30-40 watts with his upright position nab me at the sprint line.
Then we get to the bottom, he's soft pedaling and the four of us are together, the other 10-11 are fucking GONE. Buh Bye. SO FAST. And so i say - dude we're together, lets go. And set pace till the base of Hillside. Fuller attacks, Kipp ain't no where to be seen and Peng has a broken fucking spoke, rendering his $20k wheels useless. Okay maybe they're only 5k. But not rideable, so I chat, offer to go back get car, all that. Nah he'll get a ride.
Fine.
I get to the top of hillside, i'm dead, legs are like dude - this hurts, and get to Pine and Fuller and the new kid are no where to be seen, really? dudes, wait? no that's okay we weren't really riding as four, it was two and two, i only caught up to up to you and pulled you for miles because you were softpedaling waiting. Thanks for waiting at Hillside.
I looped back, Kipp had dropped a bottle and looped back to retrieve it, also talked with Peng. I had crazy idea that we should piggy back him home, Kipp seemed less keen on that idea. So the two of us old fuckers rode home together.
Burke's grumpy now because he got a flat, presumably on his way to the ride, but he never made the start and i have 10-14 20something hot shits on the ride and he's wondering why we didn't stop? He didn't even make the start and we rode by him but he looked in control and well, not really sure if he was wanting to join us and yes Kipp and I lamented his lack of presence because it would have increased the old guy quotient, but he sent me grumpy weird text that sounded odd, maybe he had a few beers after fixing his flat.
My legs hurt. I was so fucking slow but I was able to tap the limit of my legs and lungs. I ain't no cat 1. Never probably ever gonna see Cat 3 on the road. And I haven't raced once this year outside of bandit TTs. And those guys that showed up? Podiums, and shit. Impressive. Also, Dani is poised to make Becca look wikked slow, genetic freak and so young. Not sure about getting her into CX, we'll see, there are some CX focused kids on the team, maybe they'll get her to show up for a race or two. Will she get to the level of hitting the second spot in a C2 of a C1/C2 weekend? Probably not. There's something extra special in that person, super cool to see her success.
But hey. it is late. Recovery means sleep. I was going to have a couple beers but maybe i'll have just one more and catch up on the facebook and THEN go to sleep.
Was good riding hard, even if my hard is slow for some. I ain't ever been blessed with althetic ability. anything i have is hardwork. Nixon said it best, you know pretty much what your ceiling is. You know there's no way to get higher than that (fitness/results wise), and I do, and where is mine? mid-back pack of the Masters. Maybe a powermeter and a coach and a feedback based training program might eek a bit out of me, but you know what?
Fuck it.
I really just like riding my bike.
Bikes are awesome.
heddwch
G
We had a HUGE turnout. Turns out my ride announcement was a bit prophetic. But in the opposite direction. I'd kind of hoped to encourage the old guard to show up. And one of them did. He showed up to celebrate his 25th anniversary of being the President of the Brown Cycling Club. But that left only two of us old guys. I'm not sure where Garber fits into the age thing. He's seemingly as fast as the 20 something kids.
But Tonight? Kipp saw him get worked OVER. And the kids were looking like they were on a recovery ride.
For Jules it probably was a recovery ride.
I got popped BEFORE pine. Sure I did the ride leader thing and set the pace most of the way until we got to the turn on to Woodward, because that's just what has to be done. It was pretty chill heading to prospect, we had to work to get back on headed down Prospect at first but it settled in. 14-15 people showed, I was probably the slowest, Kipp may have been giving me a run for the money but he's still Cat 2 so, he's faster by default and everything else.
Seriously. Jules snagged the KOM on the Lincoln to Pine stretch. That fucker. I was working so goddamn hard that I was gapped by the turn up Pine. and well Fucking lights out. You think I have the W/KG to stay with some dude who raced the Tour of California?
Fuck. No.
From there? well I just killed myself up pine. Kipp steadily dragged himself back up to me at the top and the two of us picked up the new kid and then we gathered Fuller. Who I don't think still quite gets group rides. But that's okay. I set a pretty nose bleeding pace for me and we kept at it, no break, all the way to the top of Rocky Hill. I set early part, Fuller came around, then declined to pull any more and I emptied everything only to have that gangly knucklehead who's losing 30-40 watts with his upright position nab me at the sprint line.
Then we get to the bottom, he's soft pedaling and the four of us are together, the other 10-11 are fucking GONE. Buh Bye. SO FAST. And so i say - dude we're together, lets go. And set pace till the base of Hillside. Fuller attacks, Kipp ain't no where to be seen and Peng has a broken fucking spoke, rendering his $20k wheels useless. Okay maybe they're only 5k. But not rideable, so I chat, offer to go back get car, all that. Nah he'll get a ride.
Fine.
I get to the top of hillside, i'm dead, legs are like dude - this hurts, and get to Pine and Fuller and the new kid are no where to be seen, really? dudes, wait? no that's okay we weren't really riding as four, it was two and two, i only caught up to up to you and pulled you for miles because you were softpedaling waiting. Thanks for waiting at Hillside.
I looped back, Kipp had dropped a bottle and looped back to retrieve it, also talked with Peng. I had crazy idea that we should piggy back him home, Kipp seemed less keen on that idea. So the two of us old fuckers rode home together.
Burke's grumpy now because he got a flat, presumably on his way to the ride, but he never made the start and i have 10-14 20something hot shits on the ride and he's wondering why we didn't stop? He didn't even make the start and we rode by him but he looked in control and well, not really sure if he was wanting to join us and yes Kipp and I lamented his lack of presence because it would have increased the old guy quotient, but he sent me grumpy weird text that sounded odd, maybe he had a few beers after fixing his flat.
My legs hurt. I was so fucking slow but I was able to tap the limit of my legs and lungs. I ain't no cat 1. Never probably ever gonna see Cat 3 on the road. And I haven't raced once this year outside of bandit TTs. And those guys that showed up? Podiums, and shit. Impressive. Also, Dani is poised to make Becca look wikked slow, genetic freak and so young. Not sure about getting her into CX, we'll see, there are some CX focused kids on the team, maybe they'll get her to show up for a race or two. Will she get to the level of hitting the second spot in a C2 of a C1/C2 weekend? Probably not. There's something extra special in that person, super cool to see her success.
But hey. it is late. Recovery means sleep. I was going to have a couple beers but maybe i'll have just one more and catch up on the facebook and THEN go to sleep.
Was good riding hard, even if my hard is slow for some. I ain't ever been blessed with althetic ability. anything i have is hardwork. Nixon said it best, you know pretty much what your ceiling is. You know there's no way to get higher than that (fitness/results wise), and I do, and where is mine? mid-back pack of the Masters. Maybe a powermeter and a coach and a feedback based training program might eek a bit out of me, but you know what?
Fuck it.
I really just like riding my bike.
Bikes are awesome.
heddwch
G
Monday, September 12, 2016
Monday morning hangover
I should have one, got a bit lit at the farm last night. But I don't have one. Which is both weird and awesome at the same time.
Attempt to catch up? Mostly to see if i can distract myself long enough to eat lunch close to lunch time instead of right now.
Birthday week was the first big riding week in a long time. The Hundo to Plymouth to see Nixon and to get more samples for Nanoscape imaging (till i get content up on nanoscape.net go to fb for images),
The hops look awesome fixed properly for the SEM. So used to looking at dried up dead samples, which are still very cool, but it had been a while since the prep for Nanoscape stuff went beyond mounting and coating. There's a handful more samples to image and another series to create. But reaching a completion of that project right now. Another week of found time on the SEM should get me close to finished with that. Then back to revisiting the book project. Gonna have to figure out the publishing thing. Or just go with something like snapfish for this particular project. I dunno. Need to figure out who's publishing books like this and see if they want to make it happen. First have to actually gather and curate and write the content. Lots of work. Kind of overwhelming but I want to get it done.
Attempt to catch up? Mostly to see if i can distract myself long enough to eat lunch close to lunch time instead of right now.
Birthday week was the first big riding week in a long time. The Hundo to Plymouth to see Nixon and to get more samples for Nanoscape imaging (till i get content up on nanoscape.net go to fb for images),
The hops look awesome fixed properly for the SEM. So used to looking at dried up dead samples, which are still very cool, but it had been a while since the prep for Nanoscape stuff went beyond mounting and coating. There's a handful more samples to image and another series to create. But reaching a completion of that project right now. Another week of found time on the SEM should get me close to finished with that. Then back to revisiting the book project. Gonna have to figure out the publishing thing. Or just go with something like snapfish for this particular project. I dunno. Need to figure out who's publishing books like this and see if they want to make it happen. First have to actually gather and curate and write the content. Lots of work. Kind of overwhelming but I want to get it done.
Friday, September 09, 2016
is it a bad sign
when the one thing that actually gets me excited to race is the idea of capturing the particulate on an SEM stub during the race and having a story to tell for each race, and being excited about comparing what is collected on each stub?
my commute produced the dancer...
what would a cross race discover?
Would Gloucester look different than Plymouth? First instinct was to compare G-ster to Night Weasels but I looked, wasn't full, kept thinking, then oops full. Guess I'm not driving up this year.
Plans keep changing, mostly because I've only reg'd for G-ster. Was that a mistake? At this rate it might be my first "official" CX race. Not a bad thing.
A great thing.
but then again everyone else has either already started racing or will start this weekend. Hartford is stacked, Quad is stacked.
I'm working tomorrow and going to my daughter's soccer game and having some family time on Sunday.
I will say i'm enjoying my two year deal on USAC racing license. $75 for two years was a deal.. Esp compared to this year. And man maybe the price hike alone is enough to keep me from racing it this year.
Also struggling with the personal hype machine. I love the fuck out of CX, but right now... kind of tired of being the last stand in the 2nd violins. Yes, i'm here with the best, but i'm in the back. Slowest of the fast guys. Smoothest of the slow? maybe not... Dan Coady won that title when he 'retired'.
Other side? no friends are hyped on it... no one i talk to, directly, really give a shit about CX.
Don't get me wrong it is me and i want nothing else than to reclaim that speed i found in 2013. But this year? ain't fucking gonna happen. Never happen again most likely. Last year took too much out of me maybe.
half of me is saying fuck it - who cares, you suck, you can't even finish on the lead lap at nationals, what the fuck are you doing even thinking you should be racing?
bigger problem is, i can't rationally find arguments against that... maybe i hang it up and just get fat. Fuck it.
but then the art side - the scientific exploration documentation in my way counter balances it...
scales are not steady at the moment...
balance is precipitous.
where do i go from here...
not sure...
keep wanting to take the long way to work, or the long way home but something totally screws with that idea, May was blissful in that regard, September sucks.
life goes on...
i'll keep instagraming it
and strava'n it
and being a mopey sad loser, with punctuated moments...
the contact/social vacuum i'm in kind of does what a vacuum does... sucks everything up... in a bad way... if it sucked it up in a good way i'd probably be super stoked on everything.
you'd think as long as my legs are i'd never even notice the hurdles... 45 years of them? fuck that shit...
but hey - i hear short people have it even worse, except that's what they say, and they've never tried being me so when they say it? just makes it worse because they demonstrably have no clue.
i'll shut up now....
dinner's ready... has been but now that everyone else has theirs i'm gonna serve myself.
heddwch
G
my commute produced the dancer...
what would a cross race discover?
Would Gloucester look different than Plymouth? First instinct was to compare G-ster to Night Weasels but I looked, wasn't full, kept thinking, then oops full. Guess I'm not driving up this year.
Plans keep changing, mostly because I've only reg'd for G-ster. Was that a mistake? At this rate it might be my first "official" CX race. Not a bad thing.
A great thing.
but then again everyone else has either already started racing or will start this weekend. Hartford is stacked, Quad is stacked.
I'm working tomorrow and going to my daughter's soccer game and having some family time on Sunday.
I will say i'm enjoying my two year deal on USAC racing license. $75 for two years was a deal.. Esp compared to this year. And man maybe the price hike alone is enough to keep me from racing it this year.
Also struggling with the personal hype machine. I love the fuck out of CX, but right now... kind of tired of being the last stand in the 2nd violins. Yes, i'm here with the best, but i'm in the back. Slowest of the fast guys. Smoothest of the slow? maybe not... Dan Coady won that title when he 'retired'.
Other side? no friends are hyped on it... no one i talk to, directly, really give a shit about CX.
Don't get me wrong it is me and i want nothing else than to reclaim that speed i found in 2013. But this year? ain't fucking gonna happen. Never happen again most likely. Last year took too much out of me maybe.
half of me is saying fuck it - who cares, you suck, you can't even finish on the lead lap at nationals, what the fuck are you doing even thinking you should be racing?
bigger problem is, i can't rationally find arguments against that... maybe i hang it up and just get fat. Fuck it.
but then the art side - the scientific exploration documentation in my way counter balances it...
scales are not steady at the moment...
balance is precipitous.
where do i go from here...
not sure...
keep wanting to take the long way to work, or the long way home but something totally screws with that idea, May was blissful in that regard, September sucks.
life goes on...
i'll keep instagraming it
and strava'n it
and being a mopey sad loser, with punctuated moments...
the contact/social vacuum i'm in kind of does what a vacuum does... sucks everything up... in a bad way... if it sucked it up in a good way i'd probably be super stoked on everything.
you'd think as long as my legs are i'd never even notice the hurdles... 45 years of them? fuck that shit...
but hey - i hear short people have it even worse, except that's what they say, and they've never tried being me so when they say it? just makes it worse because they demonstrably have no clue.
i'll shut up now....
dinner's ready... has been but now that everyone else has theirs i'm gonna serve myself.
heddwch
G
Thursday, September 08, 2016
#dogsrule
This is for Fox... until I can actually find words to write:
Ace and the Desert Dog from Stefan Hunt on Vimeo.
Friday, September 02, 2016
he was my japanese brother from a different mother
i'm sitting here in self imposed offline status...
which doesn't exist really...
but i'm cuddled up with a dog, my dog who wouldn't let me touch her for 6 months and is now one of my best friends... she's amazing...
probably much like Kentaro's dog, who's still wondering when he will be coming home, and not getting it but probably getting it as much as his wife is grieving.
http://news.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/2016/09/02/kentaro-inoue-killed-in-bicycle-crash/
reading the comments... fuuuuuck maybe his influence was deeper than i thought, or we really were connected.. like brothers...
we hit it off pretty quickly... no question, or maybe there's a question but there's no one to dispute it and i'm pretty sure we did but my memory is failing and who knows, that emotional connection though...
both of our CX bikes on the roof rack of my golf and we're going 90-100mph home and the car doesn't even notice... he was impressed... so was i... turbo diesel FTW... also
he pushed me to keep riding after i took on a 40k mile a year car commute to work. we'd meet at the various MTB locations between Lansing and Mt Pleasant. Alternating chasing each other. There were times when I was faster, and times when he was... meaning we were well matched.
My childhood and schooling in Seattle meant i was much more familiar with the japanese idiosyncrasies than most anyone else who wasn't japanese there in Lansing, but recent epiphanies as to personalities have me postulating that there was always some other common bond, esp after reading everyone else's memories.
That was an era for... i went to bars after work, i shut them down, like now, even then as a damn kid i could drink anyone but my brother's under the table. It was different. Kentaro was this bridge, a bridge between that life and the next one, of a father, of a car commuter... but he kept me grounded until he left to follow his career.
When i got word he became a professor at UC Davis? overjoyed, SO FUCKING COOL... and if you're a plant scientist from the 80s-90s you'll get that.
But that Saturn jersey... his photo wearing it has popped up a good number of times...
for reason...
and one of them is cripplingly emotional...
we all wear the jerseys with the most significance most frequently...
there's a pile of petty bullshit going on... some may resolve, some may not... some literally have my imagination transforming me into the hulk picking people up and throwing them into cars or bushes or bodies of water.... some of the other stuff? all on me and yeah then what... i suppose i can toss myself... but that's kind of more akin to stepping off the bridge... or walking out into the sea... neither of which i'm inclined to do.
and then i read a few more of the comments people wrote... and tear up again... as they either stirr memories or evoke a longing to have some how if possible had more contact as we seem to be cut from the same cloth...
his of much finer thread though, i'm too coarse, too big, too scary, too tall, too terrifying... jokes get taken wrong, truths taken as mean, trying to be funny as terrifying...
but we're all gonna die...
at least he died on the bike i suppose, but is that worse? esp since so often it happens out of your control?
i may get over it... but given how people talk about me? i may not...
maybe now i should just say fuck it and test Mike F's quote in Pure Sweet Hell... "can i not?"
almost thinking maybe i can walk away, racing CX feels intrinsically absolutely right, but so much pain ...
pain is just something some of us have to suffer through
overly empathetic types seem to suffer the most...
would be cool to have enough of an ego to just say fuck all yall a-holes... but i can only say that in theoretical as if it was possible to...
So much for being offline... but if you're just writing and posting, is it really being online if you aren't seeing anything else anyone is writing (or most likely not writing)?
create not consume
heddwch
G
which doesn't exist really...
but i'm cuddled up with a dog, my dog who wouldn't let me touch her for 6 months and is now one of my best friends... she's amazing...
probably much like Kentaro's dog, who's still wondering when he will be coming home, and not getting it but probably getting it as much as his wife is grieving.
http://news.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/2016/09/02/kentaro-inoue-killed-in-bicycle-crash/
reading the comments... fuuuuuck maybe his influence was deeper than i thought, or we really were connected.. like brothers...
we hit it off pretty quickly... no question, or maybe there's a question but there's no one to dispute it and i'm pretty sure we did but my memory is failing and who knows, that emotional connection though...
both of our CX bikes on the roof rack of my golf and we're going 90-100mph home and the car doesn't even notice... he was impressed... so was i... turbo diesel FTW... also
he pushed me to keep riding after i took on a 40k mile a year car commute to work. we'd meet at the various MTB locations between Lansing and Mt Pleasant. Alternating chasing each other. There were times when I was faster, and times when he was... meaning we were well matched.
My childhood and schooling in Seattle meant i was much more familiar with the japanese idiosyncrasies than most anyone else who wasn't japanese there in Lansing, but recent epiphanies as to personalities have me postulating that there was always some other common bond, esp after reading everyone else's memories.
That was an era for... i went to bars after work, i shut them down, like now, even then as a damn kid i could drink anyone but my brother's under the table. It was different. Kentaro was this bridge, a bridge between that life and the next one, of a father, of a car commuter... but he kept me grounded until he left to follow his career.
When i got word he became a professor at UC Davis? overjoyed, SO FUCKING COOL... and if you're a plant scientist from the 80s-90s you'll get that.
But that Saturn jersey... his photo wearing it has popped up a good number of times...
for reason...
and one of them is cripplingly emotional...
we all wear the jerseys with the most significance most frequently...
there's a pile of petty bullshit going on... some may resolve, some may not... some literally have my imagination transforming me into the hulk picking people up and throwing them into cars or bushes or bodies of water.... some of the other stuff? all on me and yeah then what... i suppose i can toss myself... but that's kind of more akin to stepping off the bridge... or walking out into the sea... neither of which i'm inclined to do.
and then i read a few more of the comments people wrote... and tear up again... as they either stirr memories or evoke a longing to have some how if possible had more contact as we seem to be cut from the same cloth...
his of much finer thread though, i'm too coarse, too big, too scary, too tall, too terrifying... jokes get taken wrong, truths taken as mean, trying to be funny as terrifying...
but we're all gonna die...
at least he died on the bike i suppose, but is that worse? esp since so often it happens out of your control?
i may get over it... but given how people talk about me? i may not...
maybe now i should just say fuck it and test Mike F's quote in Pure Sweet Hell... "can i not?"
almost thinking maybe i can walk away, racing CX feels intrinsically absolutely right, but so much pain ...
pain is just something some of us have to suffer through
overly empathetic types seem to suffer the most...
would be cool to have enough of an ego to just say fuck all yall a-holes... but i can only say that in theoretical as if it was possible to...
So much for being offline... but if you're just writing and posting, is it really being online if you aren't seeing anything else anyone is writing (or most likely not writing)?
create not consume
heddwch
G
art feeds the soul
 |
| Queen Anne's Lace seed pod |
I wrote the below over on facebook... figured I should at least put it here as well...
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
HBD to me
again...
also - the comment from months ago "if you want a party plan it yourself"
so i did what i always do - ride my bike. but damn it is hard to find anyone who wants to ride bikes all day on a tuesday at the end of August...
so i rode alone. got totally lost, stumbled on roads I'd ridden before, found my way back to where I should have been with sheer luck.
probably should have just turned on my phone's data and looked at a map but that would have killed the battery and i just barely made it home as it was.
but i made it to the destination and home.
all day riding on my birthday. alone. avoiding people like a boss (phone on airplane mode YEAH) the three people that called me knew i'd probably do that and they waited... and still called me.
i still hate today...
the beginning of the ride was pretty fucking bitter, lonely, but hey a handshake with Paul, a sip of his magic brew and everything was rosey. until i tried to make it home on one 3 egg omelet and a pint of beer. never cracked but man i got slow. Guess i should go back to normal fueling for September hundo.
radio silence i suppose of late... sorry... busy and nothing positive to say, not that this is positive... just hitting the zero fucks point.
time to sleep... 4am was a long time ago... yes alarm went off at 5, but a very vivid dream woke me up at 4 and I lay there thinking "just relax fall asleep, a little more sleep before the alarm" and then before i slept the alarm went off...
oops...
maybe i'll write about the ride tomorrow (no wifi) and post later... we'll see how that works...
thanks for reading
heddwch
G
also - the comment from months ago "if you want a party plan it yourself"
so i did what i always do - ride my bike. but damn it is hard to find anyone who wants to ride bikes all day on a tuesday at the end of August...
so i rode alone. got totally lost, stumbled on roads I'd ridden before, found my way back to where I should have been with sheer luck.
probably should have just turned on my phone's data and looked at a map but that would have killed the battery and i just barely made it home as it was.
but i made it to the destination and home.
all day riding on my birthday. alone. avoiding people like a boss (phone on airplane mode YEAH) the three people that called me knew i'd probably do that and they waited... and still called me.
i still hate today...
the beginning of the ride was pretty fucking bitter, lonely, but hey a handshake with Paul, a sip of his magic brew and everything was rosey. until i tried to make it home on one 3 egg omelet and a pint of beer. never cracked but man i got slow. Guess i should go back to normal fueling for September hundo.
radio silence i suppose of late... sorry... busy and nothing positive to say, not that this is positive... just hitting the zero fucks point.
time to sleep... 4am was a long time ago... yes alarm went off at 5, but a very vivid dream woke me up at 4 and I lay there thinking "just relax fall asleep, a little more sleep before the alarm" and then before i slept the alarm went off...
oops...
maybe i'll write about the ride tomorrow (no wifi) and post later... we'll see how that works...
thanks for reading
heddwch
G
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
idea... i don't have many but this is one
Yes - #CXISCOMING
fuck it - can't stall the inevitable even if i'm absolutely in a riding/fitness slump. I'd rather be fitting in time for a six pack than doing 20/20s, which is kind of more or less what I've been doing. (the six pack not the intervals).
Reading Mayhew's article over on CX Mag (not that i'm gonna learn how to warm up better, just always reading collecting data- refining how i describe stuff - words and shit yo)...
this line struck me
and thought - holy shit - big races should hired/get a volunteer who is a known quantity to be respectful and mindful of the lantern Rouge on the course. Leaving enough distance because that's their job, and keeping all the jacked and juiced agro Masters and Cat 3s off the backs of the last rider, and anyone seen passing said sweep/buffer rider gets either relegated at the start (last row) or DQ'd.
Not needed in many races but some of the bigger ones it would be both a selling feature and something comforting for those who are last. You're not gonna have a gaggle of joking uber fit wanna be pros mocking you and breathing down your neck complaining. You'll get your race.
It would have to be someone who can't be intimidated by anyone but who respects everyone who's racing no matter how fast. And someone who's easily visible. Could help officials easily spot last rider, this broom wagon of sorts would be placed on the course by the officials, in an official capacity perhaps. Maybe even better if said person was an actual official (or at least a radio to communicate those who violate after a verbal warning of course).
just an idea - too many words to toss out places...
and yes #cxiscoming and i'm not ready
heddwch
G
fuck it - can't stall the inevitable even if i'm absolutely in a riding/fitness slump. I'd rather be fitting in time for a six pack than doing 20/20s, which is kind of more or less what I've been doing. (the six pack not the intervals).
Reading Mayhew's article over on CX Mag (not that i'm gonna learn how to warm up better, just always reading collecting data- refining how i describe stuff - words and shit yo)...
this line struck me
get out on the course (as I’ve said before, only do so without tailgating people racing or impacting a current race)
and thought - holy shit - big races should hired/get a volunteer who is a known quantity to be respectful and mindful of the lantern Rouge on the course. Leaving enough distance because that's their job, and keeping all the jacked and juiced agro Masters and Cat 3s off the backs of the last rider, and anyone seen passing said sweep/buffer rider gets either relegated at the start (last row) or DQ'd.
Not needed in many races but some of the bigger ones it would be both a selling feature and something comforting for those who are last. You're not gonna have a gaggle of joking uber fit wanna be pros mocking you and breathing down your neck complaining. You'll get your race.
It would have to be someone who can't be intimidated by anyone but who respects everyone who's racing no matter how fast. And someone who's easily visible. Could help officials easily spot last rider, this broom wagon of sorts would be placed on the course by the officials, in an official capacity perhaps. Maybe even better if said person was an actual official (or at least a radio to communicate those who violate after a verbal warning of course).
just an idea - too many words to toss out places...
and yes #cxiscoming and i'm not ready
heddwch
G
Monday, August 22, 2016
somethings get me more than others
my oldest wanted to watch a movie, PRIDE... i didn't know anything about it going into it other than based on the title it was likely something to do with LGBT...
yeah, the whole Welsh thing got to me, the whole re-awakening as to what it was like growing up in the 80s, growing up straight but with so many gay friends who were awakening to what life could be like.
So... it was one goddamn good movie. And that's not just the welshman in me saying that.
I'd tweet about it but yeah no.. facebook? forget it.. can't really 'gram a movie... so i come here to talk to myself, and process it.
i mean what's to process? it is a fucking brilliant movie.
and since it turned into dinner and a movie... i'm left with cleaning up after dinner... as everyone has gone off to get ready to bed.
of course Billy Bragg's song is now echoing in my head...
back to the kitchen with me... yes i know it is almost 11pm... stupid movies... i'll be untired someday (not likely)
heddwch
g
yeah, the whole Welsh thing got to me, the whole re-awakening as to what it was like growing up in the 80s, growing up straight but with so many gay friends who were awakening to what life could be like.
So... it was one goddamn good movie. And that's not just the welshman in me saying that.
I'd tweet about it but yeah no.. facebook? forget it.. can't really 'gram a movie... so i come here to talk to myself, and process it.
i mean what's to process? it is a fucking brilliant movie.
and since it turned into dinner and a movie... i'm left with cleaning up after dinner... as everyone has gone off to get ready to bed.
of course Billy Bragg's song is now echoing in my head...
back to the kitchen with me... yes i know it is almost 11pm... stupid movies... i'll be untired someday (not likely)
heddwch
g
alternative idea
The time in Maine was good, didn't fix much in me, it was sort of a restart when what was really needed was full a power down. It will buy ya some more time but it doesn't really clear all the random shit causing issues. But it really did feel like I was gone for a week even though it was two nights. And that's one of the best signs.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Talk about a Taper
So yeah... that's some taper eh? And by most people's accounts who are smart and fast cyclists and coaches and stuff may actually suggest that this is not such a bad thing.
Lowest weekly mileage total since April 11-17. Tuesday this week was the first time since April 29th that I didn't ride a bike... I didn't ride on Wednesday either, but i did go hiking and threw in some running on the way up.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
The streak is broken
Long live the streak!
Yesterday was the first day since April I have not been on the bike.
Trying to get to 6,000 miles by the end of the month was a bit excessive... but I still have goes and plans to make September a copy of May.
Very long day yesterday but a great one.
Going to have to find some more coffee though.
Or try and take a nap.
I have the bike here but now that I'm not compelled to ride to keep the streak, and since I'm on vacation, maybe I'll just leave it in the car again.
Coffee, need, coffee.
G
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
Race for the registration ... again
Craft upped the G-ster reg game this year.
Got this playing right now...
i'm out of practice with the reg thing, but hey, how much can Colin and Company have messed with the UI since last year?
The Race to Register
In order to perform at your highest ability no matter the weather you need to be able to manage your body temperature. That is why for the Craft Gran Prix of Gloucester, Craft Sportswear is giving away their world renowned Cool Mesh Superlight Sleeveless Baselayer. Its ability to efficiently pull moisture away from your skin results in keeping you cool and dry. The Cool Mesh Superlight Sleeveless Baselayer performs at the highest level so you can enjoy the hard work.
Winners Include:
First Person to Register for Craft Gran Prix of Gloucester
First Person to Register per non-UCI Category
18th Person overall to Register (18th Year GP Gloucester Anniversary)
Got this playing right now...
i'm out of practice with the reg thing, but hey, how much can Colin and Company have messed with the UI since last year?
Thursday, August 04, 2016
sometimes ya just gotta take a walk
and not strava it...
just go for a stroll...
and only take one photo...
Clearing the head i suppose...
just go for a stroll...
and only take one photo...
Clearing the head i suppose...
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Figured wait till noon
to get started doing the brakes.... on the minivan. Because that's when the sun will be the highest and stuff... also I'm a cup or two behind in the coffee and am tired as hell.
Sleep last night a little I did. but the ride back to get the backpack and pick up the brake cleaner and oil (oil change time too) tired me out.
Maybe should eat something as well as make more coffee.
Sleep last night a little I did. but the ride back to get the backpack and pick up the brake cleaner and oil (oil change time too) tired me out.
Maybe should eat something as well as make more coffee.
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
smackdown tonight, the welcome back Leland edition
Welcome back to that crazy guy. He brought his legs and his wife, Oregon Dave showed up with #DreamyDave, Fuller finally got his Tarmac back (no more CX bike) Davies showed up, Bailey put a new fancy carbon fiber stem on and brought his A game, Old man JPalm was there in new kit and Goldberg make an appearance. We picked up big Eian on Massasoit.
Eleven.
Massive horsepower.
It was a watt fest worthy of welcoming Leland back. And I brought a cross bike with a 44t ring and 46c-c bars and my old legs. Womp womp.
Eleven.
Massive horsepower.
It was a watt fest worthy of welcoming Leland back. And I brought a cross bike with a 44t ring and 46c-c bars and my old legs. Womp womp.
unrelatable
"Dude there's no way it could be that bad for you, you're so tall! It sucked being short!"
yeah here's the thing. If you weren't there, telling me it couldn't have been that bad makes it worse. It increases the frustration and triggers all the pain because while it may not have been worse, it likely was just as bad and having it completely dismissed, discounted and being told it couldn't have been bad for you is pretty cruel.
instead of saying have you been stuffed in a trash can/locker/hung on coat rack? Maybe "hey it wasn't easy for any of us, and leave it at that." Cocksizing about being bullied is/feels like bullying. There are lots of ways to de-escalate but it takes practice and some people just can't do it. I get that. Some people don't want to. Most people just don't care. I probably am just as guilty as everyone else but recognizing how it makes me feel and hopefully being able to catch myself most of the time is all I can hope for. I know in face to face interactions I've gotten much better about it. Internet maybe just is still too rooted in the past. And bikes that fit? Few and very far between. Say lets talk about road bikes specifically from the Trek brand... how many do they have that would fit and not leave me feeling like I'm riding a chopper? Meaning how many H1 fit bikes are there in my size? Well, there's the Emonda SLR and the Madone RSL. Or project 1 which winds up just being a more customizable but barely less expensive option than an RSL. Makes a Firefly look affordable. Not that any of it matters but it was one element of push back that I got "there are plenty of off the shelf bikes for you" yeah not really. But it is too complicated to explain i suppose.
"Why can't you just live totally in the present?"
Because part of who I am is anchored like a tree through my roots. My weakness and my strength.
Starting the evening having an in depth discussion with one of our users about life and direction and choices and stuff probably set the frame work for extra heavy introspection and all that. At least I only had a couple beers, you know smackdown today, can't get all my pre-smack calories from beer the night before.
I'm going to get so f'n wet on the ride in today. Ugh. So tempting to drive honestly. But that's not what GeWilli would do. No. He'd ride no matter what.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU RODE [your bike] IN THIS WEATHER"
Absolutely pouring right now. And I haven't left yet. Catching up on emails, eating breakfast, E & K are on late schedule it seems, and i've been tired lately. More rested today even after a moderately interrupted sleep but it wasn't terrible. Feel better than usual. Which I'm sure will translate into shit legs tonight as is often the case.
Gonna go with the new 28s though, not the heavy almost continuously blue striped pluses. Gotta switch those wheels over before I leave. But first food. Maybe I can drag my feet enough to miss most of the rain.
NVM, just checked radar... gonna be wet no matter what.
resigned ... and grumpy ... resolved to keep going, one foot in front of the other, do my best at interacting in person... help people as much as I can, as I can, do what I can w/in my means.
And I need to ride more. July kind of sucked again. 833 total miles!?!?!? WTF That's it? August... maybe we'll make it different. Starting next week. Got a car to fix tomorrow, maybe I'll go for a quick single track spin in the morning, maybe even throw knobs on the garbage truck. At least I haven't missed a day on the bike since April. So that's a solid streak. And today if Smackdown rolls out as planned I'll crack the 5,000 mile mark for total mileage in 2016. Maybe I can hit 6k by September. Seems like a reasonable goal to me.
Still unsure about the CX race calendar. haven't even sat down to look at it yet.
And yes, totally procrastinating. First session for me at work isn't until 11am, and yeah... totally not keen on heading out in the downpour at the moment. Oh well. It is what it is.
Moving forward, one foot in front of the other.
heddwch
G
yeah here's the thing. If you weren't there, telling me it couldn't have been that bad makes it worse. It increases the frustration and triggers all the pain because while it may not have been worse, it likely was just as bad and having it completely dismissed, discounted and being told it couldn't have been bad for you is pretty cruel.
instead of saying have you been stuffed in a trash can/locker/hung on coat rack? Maybe "hey it wasn't easy for any of us, and leave it at that." Cocksizing about being bullied is/feels like bullying. There are lots of ways to de-escalate but it takes practice and some people just can't do it. I get that. Some people don't want to. Most people just don't care. I probably am just as guilty as everyone else but recognizing how it makes me feel and hopefully being able to catch myself most of the time is all I can hope for. I know in face to face interactions I've gotten much better about it. Internet maybe just is still too rooted in the past. And bikes that fit? Few and very far between. Say lets talk about road bikes specifically from the Trek brand... how many do they have that would fit and not leave me feeling like I'm riding a chopper? Meaning how many H1 fit bikes are there in my size? Well, there's the Emonda SLR and the Madone RSL. Or project 1 which winds up just being a more customizable but barely less expensive option than an RSL. Makes a Firefly look affordable. Not that any of it matters but it was one element of push back that I got "there are plenty of off the shelf bikes for you" yeah not really. But it is too complicated to explain i suppose.
"Why can't you just live totally in the present?"
Because part of who I am is anchored like a tree through my roots. My weakness and my strength.
Starting the evening having an in depth discussion with one of our users about life and direction and choices and stuff probably set the frame work for extra heavy introspection and all that. At least I only had a couple beers, you know smackdown today, can't get all my pre-smack calories from beer the night before.
I'm going to get so f'n wet on the ride in today. Ugh. So tempting to drive honestly. But that's not what GeWilli would do. No. He'd ride no matter what.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU RODE [your bike] IN THIS WEATHER"
Absolutely pouring right now. And I haven't left yet. Catching up on emails, eating breakfast, E & K are on late schedule it seems, and i've been tired lately. More rested today even after a moderately interrupted sleep but it wasn't terrible. Feel better than usual. Which I'm sure will translate into shit legs tonight as is often the case.
Gonna go with the new 28s though, not the heavy almost continuously blue striped pluses. Gotta switch those wheels over before I leave. But first food. Maybe I can drag my feet enough to miss most of the rain.
NVM, just checked radar... gonna be wet no matter what.
resigned ... and grumpy ... resolved to keep going, one foot in front of the other, do my best at interacting in person... help people as much as I can, as I can, do what I can w/in my means.
And I need to ride more. July kind of sucked again. 833 total miles!?!?!? WTF That's it? August... maybe we'll make it different. Starting next week. Got a car to fix tomorrow, maybe I'll go for a quick single track spin in the morning, maybe even throw knobs on the garbage truck. At least I haven't missed a day on the bike since April. So that's a solid streak. And today if Smackdown rolls out as planned I'll crack the 5,000 mile mark for total mileage in 2016. Maybe I can hit 6k by September. Seems like a reasonable goal to me.
Still unsure about the CX race calendar. haven't even sat down to look at it yet.
And yes, totally procrastinating. First session for me at work isn't until 11am, and yeah... totally not keen on heading out in the downpour at the moment. Oh well. It is what it is.
Moving forward, one foot in front of the other.
heddwch
G
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