PUT YER FOOT DOWN

That is what I heard over top of Springsteen's Johnny 99 on the Ipod tonight, as I am track standing at a red light. I turn left and notice the old guy sitting on the front porch of his trailer, yes I wrote "front porch of his trailer", he waves his hand and goes again. "Put it down." I reply, "nah that is cheating." He shouts back, " that's right, it is cheatin'." The light turns, I wave and pedal off, he smiles and waves back. Lately I have been having these type of interactions with peopl while riding that restore my faith in mankind. Little kids smiling from cars, drivers talking to you at stoplights, people nodding in approval as they pass. There seems to be some kind of good karma in the air of late. I am not sure what it is, I just hope it continues.
Todays spin gave me good time to get lost in the Ipod, singing along as I ride and just enjoying. I hooked up w/ Josh Beck for a few minutes. I have so much respect for that guy. Webster's dictionary should have a picture of him next to the word class. He was asking which bike I preferred on fire roads, 29er w/ road wheels or cross bike. I was stumped I could not answer. I did not want to slight one or the other. It was like asking which child a parent prefers. I like all eight of my "kids". Some are different thatn others, but I love them all the same. I think they dig me also. Oooops, yep that may have been a bit weird. So while riding and speaking with Josh I decided to off road it a bit through some loose gravel. Totally fun, and good practice to feel the rear wheel squirm. Unfortunately I pulled a "Lamont you big dummy" when I hopped back on the road and pinched the rear tire. psssst, flat. I was laughing, as I thought it was funny. I am sure some of the group riders did not understand my childlike joy and riding through the stones. A flat was the small price to pay for a moment of pure joy. Twain once wrote, "there is nothing so pure as a boy and his bicycle." In that moment that was me. Flat tire, who cares, I was having fun.
So riding has been super fun lately, and I am looking forward to tomorrow's ride already.
On a different note, I finished "The Road" today. Four sitting and the book is done. It is super depressing, yet somewhat uplifting in a "courage of the human spirit" kind of way. It may have been a Pulitzer Prize winner, but The Original Legend Bookclub gives a two opposable thumbs down. The content and context far outweighs the amazing detail.
Oh yeah, this guy seems to be trying to channel this guy. Freaky in a Post Office, have you seen this guy, wall calendar type of way.

And now for something completely different

I opened up a book and started to read it last night. After a conversation last evening where I stated I just do not have the patience/attention span to read a novel, I figured I owed it to myself to try. A quick fifty pages before bed last night and another one hundred and forty tonight. I think I will finish Cormac McCarthy's, The Road tomorrow. Maybe I can do this.
Some close friends were making fun of me for my need for instant gratification at the shop tonight. I started to think about it a little. I really enjoy seeing a personal accomplishment, or experiencing personal reward in a timely manner. I also can enjoy things that are by no means instantaneously rewarding, probably just not as much.
So I think I am at a point where I can get involved in a book and actually enjoy just reading. Huh, whooda thunk it?
That being said if anyone has any ideas for books that I should read, please let me know. I like mystery. I like non-fiction storeis. If you have read a good book lately let me know. I am turning over a new page.

Because I know you are just dying to find out

The non-race weekend is officially over, well until next weekend when I may do it all again. Blasphemy, I know. Being that I am not so good at sitting still I needed to find something to do. I decided to take up smoking and see if I could get through a full carton in one weekend. Nah, that will have to wait for another off-week.
Friday: vacation day. Went for an awesome ride friday. Four hours of beautiful sun and good times. Just layed in the grass at Fort Hunter and stretched afterwards. It was great. I definitely need to do that again. I did a quick clean-up and zipped to the shop to help out for a few hours. By 8:00 I was cooked.
Saturday: Worked at the shop from 10:00-5:00. Super busy, some people are just put on this earth to be the proverbial fly in the ointment. Some people can really make your day. Thankfully there were more day-makers, than breakers. Got out for a little TT bike recovery ride afterwards to spin the legs out. Very nice. A quick stop at the distributor on a Saturday night made me feel pretty normal. A few of Chico CA's finest Pale Ale's put me in the total chill mode to watch the Tour TT. Talk about boring. Even for a bike techie geek that put me to sleep.
Sunday: Copious amounts of coffee and weed pulling started the day. Followed up by mowing the lawn. A quick shower and off for a cook in at my Mom's, thanks to the weather. Yumdillyicious. A quick virus scan to save her computer from spyware and I was out. I called Seve to see if Seve was home. He was. Another one of Chico CA's finest pale ale's was consumed and I left with a set of wheels and two sets of skewers from Sevelay industries. back to Benyou to clean the garage and bike room. Organized all of my tires and removed some tubies to get ready for some cross season carbon goodness. 34 files baby, hoo ha. A little breather to return some texts and calls from the day and then off for some Brewster's ice cream. Nice. Best ice cream session I have enjoyed in a long time. End the day off with a little blogging and there you have it.
How friggin' boring was that? I almost feel I should apologize if you made it all the wat through.
You know what, you should wish to be so lucky to enjoy the time and company I had this weekend.
I missed racing, however I really enjoyed the weekend.
Have a good week kids.

What on earth am I to do

I am not racing this weekend and now have to fill my time. What will it be like to be "normal"? Maybe I will bust out the Benyou drive-in tonight or tomorrow night. Watch Jaws or Caddyshack outside by the fire? The Luv Gods are playing at Ceolta's Saturday night, maybe that is an option? Big Lebowski evening may materialize? I need to mow the grass. No, I am not soft like some guys.
Start the weekend out with another vacation day for a nice 5 hr tour of Dauphin county then work at the shop. A night chillaxin' with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a large man-eating shark may be a real good thing.

Here is the start to my Super D. yes, this eventually was a downhill race. I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud92Fuv-Bm4

Enjoy the weekend homies.

Is that Mastercard on the phone?

Super D entry fee $45, WTF
Kenda Nevegal 2.35 front tire $30
Kenda Karma 2.2 rear tire (which rubbed the stays the whole time) $30
Heavy duty tube $4
Putting on the Starts & Stripes jersey. PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!


As much as I downplayed it afterwards, I was really excited. I have this uncanny talent for downplaying any accomplishment.
I could do a super long post about the whole course and how it went, but that is a bit self-serving. It was super fun, and to hear my friends and teammates cheering as I turned to the finish was awesome.

He's baaaack

Just got back from Mt Snow w/ Tunny and I am whupped.
Suffice it to say the atmosphere at the VisitPA.com camp was high all weekend and my great teammates and friends kicked ass. FOUR Natty Champs jerseys & SEVEN podiums.
More to come later.

Torn & Frayed

Old school Stones tune, cool cover by the Crowes.
That is how I am feeling these days.
Knee aches bad from crash at Stage race and is very sore to the touch.
Bruised quads, hip and shoulder, yay.
Left elbow is sooooo sore to the touch I get a nauseuos sensation when it is bumped.
Pressure on left palm leads to weird "sleepy" sensation passing down to pinky & ring finger.
Neuropathy is back in right fingers. Pinky is always "cold", bad blood flow, not good.
At this point I just want to get to Mt Snow relatively healthy.
Oh those barrooms and smelly bordellos.

A heartfelt thanks

To, in no particular order.
The Oesterlings
The Kuhns
Mike Kuhn
My teammates
MASS friends
All those who came out to spend their holiday at the stage race
Anyone who gave words of encouragement throughout the weekend

It is weekends like this past one that bring a smile to my face. I hope that all who were at the event enjoyed it as much as I did.

You just need to find someone...

... that no matter what, will always think that the sun shines out of your ass.
Funny line from the movie Juno. I just got done watching this little flick, it was like the tale of two stories. The first part was really funny and witty with great one-liners from Juno. Awesome sarcasm, right up my alley. The second part was an assessment of relationships. All in all, not a bad flick. Cool quirky music as well.
That title line, and the timing of me hearing it, is somewhat ironic to this weekend. This weekend marks one year of my divorce being final. Some lines in the movie made me think of some things. It was definitely the writer's commentary on relationship's and their dynamics of success and failure. This wrapped around the premise that things are not picture perfect, yet they work out.
There just came a point in time where the sun just stopped shining out of my ass. You know what, one year later, we are probably both better people.
This weekend I will be doing what I love with some of the people I consider my closest friends, in an atmosphere that has become like a rebirth for me. The other irony is that Amy will be two miles away Saturday with some of the people that she holds closest to her, in what is probably a rebirth for her.
So, I hope that those people will think the sun always shines out of her ass.
For me, maybe that someone will eventually come. Until then, I think the sun shines out of the MASS/MAC ass, and that is more than good enough for me.
Enjoy your holiday everyone. Be safe and have fun.

Soul Singing

Fifty minutes. That is all it took. Soul singing most definitely. Had the great pleasure of riding the VisitPA.com Stage race Night TT tonight, with lights. Oh my, what fun. At one point through the Tunnel of Love I mentioned to the Head Dog that I never need to race another road race. The fun, the feeling, the oneness with the bike and the trail, wow that was fun. Feed me milk and honey, lay me down.
So run your little fingies to BikeReg and sign up pronto. I guarantee that your soul will be signing by 10:00pm friday night.
Plus you get to see the tannest man on earth.
One of the last MASS races for Euro Style before he gets all Southern Hospitality on us.
If you are lucky maybe you will even get your vanity fix.
Even super fastie is gracing us this weekend.
A myriad of reasons to pedal your lovely and enjoy a good time with friends.
Hurry, scoot along, go register so Kuhn can sleep easier.