Like a bag of rocks, or how I spent my day yesterday

For my friend Turk. It's all some freaky shit brutha'. Hope the breezes are warm and the cares are few. Peace anyway.
So, in a very unsaleslike day yesterday I had a series of four meetings strung together. All having a distinct impact on my job, future and overall satisfaction. Yes, I stated I was putting my work woes to rest, just a wek ago. Yesterday helped to do that, or at least offer some needed clarification.
First off, remember when I stated there are just some people i do not click with? Well, meeting number one was with one of those people. I am not sure what it is/ You know when there is an immediate attraction with someone, and you realize there is an immediate disconnect. I try, I swear, that I try. I listen to her points and I try to see things from her side. She just Can't Understand Normal Thought. Ultimately I knew this grand experiment in carbon matter unfortunately had the impact of making my "career" a bit sticky. I acquiesed. I backed off what I knew was 100% right and made a bad business comprimise. Pick your battles, I guess. Smart like a bag of rocks. Meeting two was prep for #3. Each went well. Meeting three was quite in depth. I was happy with my colleague's & I off the cuff knowledge and support of our business and the choices that we make. Meeting four was the career biggie. It went pretty much as planned. I now know with no uncertain terms where I stand. Some aspects very positive, others I need to increase my presence on. The wierd part is that the piece where I am most supported, and would have the greatest financial impact would have me staying in sales and maintaining my present "voluminous" territory. More than a few of you know of what I speak to, with that statement. It is hard for me to come to grips with this. I am pretty driven. I like to work, despite what it may appear like presently. My concern is the possible misperception of being lazy. Maybe I need to fill out a time sheet for my MAC hours?
This all boils down to my steadfast refusal to give up my present life and move to Indy. I patently refuse. There are too many things in my life that can not be replicated in Indy. Couple that with the fact that the Colonel is not a big fan of "free thinkers" and I am there proverbial square peg strolling around cubicleville from 7:00-7:00 just to be seen. That just does not seem fun to me? Call me crazy, lazy, pragmatic, enigmatic whatever.
After all that I got to enjoy some time with the certain special somene. If you guys think I am committed and driven to things, you have not seen anything. As it relates to time together, it is just that. I could care less what we do, just doing it together is more than enough.
So I went from dealing with a bag of rocks in make-up in the AM where I have slim to no respect, to an awesome person who I think the world of to end my day. Yeah, that is a small price to pay.

Today is the day

Four meetings today lined up in succession. All four will have a distinct impact on my day to day job satisfaction and my long term work satisfaction. Meetings three and four have the chance to give the framework of the next three plus years of my life. There is an opportunity within the Colonel's Army that interests me. I just need to see; one, if I have support and two, what are the geographical constraints. If the opportunity comes to fruition it would be quite challenging and stimulating, a position that I have always wanted. If this does not come to pass then another door opens that, in the short-term may be even more rewarding and have a more distinct impact on my overall long-term goals. We shall see.
I am actually pretty excited about the whole day.
It is interesting, the impact of timing in life. That was blatantly apparent in some things I read today. Each decision yielding another choice, each choice another outcome. Added in its entirety you hope that everything works out.
Look back at your life. I am sure you can find a defining moment that shaped your life. I know that I can. It was the day I took the challange from Gerald Soltis. Around 50 different bikes later, I owe a large part of my life experience to that man.

In what might have been...

The best winter ride I have ever had yesterday, thanks Adams Family
The best news about work I have had in a long while, thanks Hesh
The best dinner I have ever had, thanks A
What an impact six hours can have on your life. Yesterday and today were two shining examples. I set aside preconceived notions and went with my heart and what I felt was right. In each instance those six hours have given me a greater perspective on the things that are so very important to me right now. What is the sacrifice that I am willing to make to be a better cyclist, a better employee and more importantly a better person? What is the return that I will get from that choice? It has been a long time since I have felt that in tune with myself and that close to my surroundings and those with me. It has been a long time since I have cared that much about someone and/or something. Nothing will be easy, if it was everyone would do it.
Wes, do you need a training partner?

Putting it to rest

After yet another poll removal, I am putting the " sold your soul for rock n roll" pharma rants to rest. Yes, I have sold my soul for the almighty dollar. I admit it. I may not be overly proud or comfortable with the decision, yet it is the brutal truth. My biggest hurdle is knowing there are people who work for harder than myself and do so much more good, yet are not compensated commensurately. I really do have a hard time with that. I am by no means monetarily rich. Yet, sometimes I feel a bit uncomfortable with where I am at. Do I deserve, and have I earned this lot in life?
Well, as I think back, yes I have earned this lot. Every penny of it. Out of college I worked a shit sales job to save up enough money to move to the Republic of Boulder to be a pro Triathlete. Yes, you may giggle. Part of that sacrifice was cash. It was worth it. It formed who I am and what is most important to me. I moved home in debt, yes negative equity kids and tried to get a footing. That lead to the most rewarding job ever, teaching handicapped and MR kids how to swim. If you ever want to know what kind of impact you have on someone, where there is no agenda and holding back, work with MR kids. Since there usually is a pre-frontal cortex deficit; or worse, trauma, you get the honest answer and emotion from them.
Then I was off to the EDS salt mines for three years. I worked long hours and hard at my jobs there to better myself. Three years post college and I finally made $20k/year. Yes, in three years I earned what most of my friends did right out of school.
At that point I just worked smarter and made good relationships that led to a good job. I killed myself for three years at AT&T. I then went to the Colonel's funhouse. I took the job very naively around making a difference through science. After killing myself for three years, I realized there was more to it.
With some good results and good moves I ended up in a dream job with the Colonel. Unfortunately, the job was phased out after just 10 months. So, here I am three years later. Three different managers since then. Eleven managers in eleven years at Lilly. After seeing yet another job I really enjoy get sliced and dices into smaller responsibilities, there are four reps now doing the job I did by myself just one short year ago, I am in the time of my discontent.
Fast forward. After getting a sweet raise for 2008, I fully realize I have morphed into a money-grubbing whore. You know what, I do not care. I did not design the territory. I work it. I still love what I do, when I get a chance to do it. Simple math says that is 25% of the time now.
I will put it to rest. I love the flexibility this position affords me. It may come in very handy some time soon.
That being said I am very much looking forward to my Wednesday meeting with my Area Saled Director. Hopefully I can take on some new responsibility.

Try this again

The first post today was a little too close to home, so I deleted it. It was also quite depressing. Maybe not for you, but for me. I, for some reason, had a lot of thoughts about some people who were close to me in life and have passed on in the past few years.
On a more positive note. Decent ride today. Legs coming around after the week in J-ville. I set up my new home theatre system yesterday. DK came over today and showed me all I needed to know. Very cool to watch young Haley point at the Tour o' C on the Tele and say Da Da. The system is effin' sweet for a HTIB system. Watched Gladiator tonight. I was upstairs and it sounded like the horses were running through my living room underneath me. I can not wait to watch 300. The Ipod attachment rocks very nicely. The upcoming party should be loud.
Friday was a little work, a little snow and a sweet 2 hr singlie blinglie mtb ride at Lady Pinchot. Shoulder hurt from yanking on the bars at 45 rpms. Steevo, my left shoulder has a big divot in the joint and sits at least 1/2" lower than my right. I still loved hitting the MX track with you.
Had a nice talk with Nina about relationships, hers, mine and the stress of dating. Such a good friend and person, she deserves better.
Saturday brought a special breakfast with my great bike shop friends. I got to partake in the annaul pancake breakfast since we missed it last week. Yummy. Fueled for the 3 hour road ride and all was good. I heart fenders. A certain someone did not know I rode with fenders in the winter and misinterpreted a text and thought I may have been hit. Sorry.
Big deathmarch ride tomorrow with Ray & Nanctress. I should be in for 5.5ish when all is said and done. River Rd will be an MF'er at the end of that haul. I may have to eek out a century just for the halibut.
Time to rest. Thanks for reading.
Sitemeter rocks. I always get a little concerned when someone Googles my name. K-Mad's dad asked if a certain someone has Googled my name? Is this dribble really that bad?
For those who missed this mornings post. This song lyric was the gist of it. I was thinking about what a friend had said, I was hoping it was a lie.
In honor to those who have passed. You are missed. We are better people for knowing you.

Observations and musings

May Hey pointed out that there is a preponderance of pharma reps that are pretty hot. He is pretty much correct. I have been at a National Meeting this week and the amount of "pretty people" is friggin' bizarre. The weird thing is that it is almost a fake look, like too hot for their own good.
Other thing, 10% of the sales force was in grade or elementary school when I was in my first professional job. That is scary.
People do not know when to give a standing ovation. They are dispensed like candy at these functions.
Pharma reps are alcoholics. Either that or they are so cheap that they dink their gills blue on the Colonel's tab. Miller Lite & Coors Lite as well. Come the fuck on. Half these kids would not know a good Belgian if the Gnome on the La Chouffe bottle jumped out and punched them in the nose.
Some people are always going to bring a smile to my face. Some people I will never click with. Why is it that you seem to run into the non-clickers so often?
I got more enjoyment from texting during the meeting sessions than the meeting content. Thank you.
Not sure when the last time was that I looked so forward to seeing someone, as I have been the past couple days.
Some old friends are going through divorces right now. Shame.
Killing time in an airport is a drag.
Got to go to work tomorrow. Blah. At least the new love seat is being delivered.
Snow mtb ride for late afternoon and Saturday should be on tap. Sweet.
I wonder if Babik is having his afternoon snack right now?

On principle alone

I am at a Regional sales meeting this week and certain things just get me on principle alone. Enough that I could not hold my tongue. People knew I was pissed and I have pretty much had about as much as I can handle.
People "step down" from jobs to get placed in the highest possible sales position that can be achieved at the Colonel's Playhouse. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!
I know many reps who have busted their ass for years to never get that recognition. Certain people get to keep their present salary and then get all the perks of the highest sales level, because they chose or did not choose to make a change. Put in a better anaology. You are a Pilot and no longer want the stress, or just are not as good a Pilot as your peers, and you decide to step down. You decide you want to be a stewardess. Well you should not be a stewardess and have a Pilot's salary. The stewardess is not flying the plane. I am in an airport so I went with that example. Point being, you chose something different, live with the parameters of that choice.
Yes, I am not happy. Couple that with the confirmation of yet another rep in the mix starting in April and I am at a loss to actually see what the fuck I am doing with my life. Forty years old and getting little to no satisfaction from your job, on a day to day basis, is not a good thing. Realizing that the job affords certain things I can never hope to get elsewhere makes the whole deal even more disconcerting.
At what point is enough, enough?
I know I have made this bed, I just am having a real hard time sleeping in it at present. The Bike Game Season can not come soon enough. I need to get my mind off of this. Parts of my life are working well, and I am happy about. Other parts just drag on me so much that it impacts the overall quality of my life. This meeting can not end soon enough. I really need to figure some shit out.

That was just dumb...

to not look at the weather map before I started riding
to take off my fenders
to wear the new jacket & fall jersey
to ride the bike path instead of through the semi-hood
to start with a tailwind
to not drink more during the ride
I started out getting a little too warm, as the new jacket is damn sweet. Definitely a 30' jacket. Twenty minutes in I am wet from sweat, soaked legs and ass crack from removing the fenders and riding the slush covered bike path. I was generally not feeling the love. Ride out to the newest gambling mecca of Central PA and turn around. No desire to go to further. That may have been the sole good decision on the ride, As soon as I turn the rain starts coming. Now I am already wet, and not so spritely from being sick. It is now 38 and raining for the next 30 minutes. I wanted to be anywhere but on the bike at that point in time. Rain stops and I get back to the Burg for the last 40 minutes of headwind. Screw this, toss out the anchor and enjoy the hood. Remarkably the throat feels good.
Worked at the shop yesterday. Got shafted on the Pancake dinner. No one at the shop had breakfast with visions of cakes and sausages dancing through our heads. Turns out the breakfast is NEXT Sat. Doh! Pretty dead day. General shop hanging and shooting the shit. Saw K-Mad, Eric & Jules for a little, before they visited the great grandparents. Received a very nice surprise in the mail from UT. That was really cool, thoughtful and heartfelt. Definitely made the day.

Ironic is it not and other little tidbits o' life

I got a newsletter from my health plan today, I am deemed at risk for hyperglycemia and diabetes. Not new news, I knew that for the past year or so. The funny part was the Healthplan was sending me a letter to try to coax me into walking 30 minutes a day three times a week. Good luck, I hate walking. They also need me to watch my diet. Well I have given up Ice Cream and Nutella. So now that big brother is making fell swoop judgements based on the fact I can not control my heredity, it will be intersting to see if this affects my premiums if the "numbers" do not improve.
That being said I managed to exceed my healthplan allotment of weekly excercise, today. Felt like blah, still shaking this cold. Can you imagine my weight & sugars if I did not ride?
Seriously humor me. Last year I rode 450 hours. Not all that much by bike geek standards. Yet I had my best year ever, hmm. Sorry, back to the point. Conservatively each hour is 600 calories give or take. That is 270,000 calories. SEVENTY-SEVEN POUNDS OF CALORIC BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mother of Pearl. Yeah I better start walking, Forrest friggin' Gump style.
Think about it another way. As a cyclist you, I, we need to eat roughly the equivalent of SEVENTY-SEVEN ADDITIONAL POUNDS, calorically, just to stay at weight. That is pretty funny. Thanks healthplan, you know best.

Now for tidbits.
1) New pedals. Speedplay Zero, set almost fixed. Nice. No heel roll.
2) 151, my weight post-ride today. Not the Bacardi death rum.
3) Fort Collins Brewery sampler pack. Yum
4) Valentine's day. As good as it can be 2,000 mile apart.
5) New work initiative. Even more free time. How the EFF is that possible?!?!
6) Good chat with an old colleague
7) Team bikes are ordered. Yeah new toys soon.
8) New TT wheels, foreshadowing??
9) Still coughing up little creatures from my chest & head
10) Working at shop tommorow, on pancake breakfast day.
11) For Hoovis. My vacuum friggin' rocks.
12) Mastercard shut down my credit card after buying Black Crowes tix & new album. Profilers!
13) Three fun filled days in climate controlled Jacksonville next week.
14) Was toying with getting a new car. Nah, I will suckle the company Teet for a while longer.
15) Hoovis has pull. Getting a mention there is like Oprah's book club.
16) Flick is absolutely the best storyteller I have ever had the pleasure to read.
17) I counted a 21 race cross schedule, not including Nats & with open dates. Oh yeah. No real travel either. WTF, that is awesome.
18) St. Patty's day fete 3/15, starting at 6:00. If you read this you are invited.
19) Bro is taking K-Mad to see Grammy tomorrow. Deep down I do not want to see her looking like I think she does. Better to remember better times. Others will surely see it differently.
20) Last and most certainly not least. I can not wait to get off that plane next Thursday and speed over to the Warwick.

Sometimes I am amazed

Really after working the Mental Health side of Lilly the past six years I probably should not be fazed by shit. Yet some things keep me in check, and usually it is the staff that pulls the doozies. Like today for instance. The food delivery guy decides to tell a joke about a Potato prostitute to me, while there are staff members behind him. Unreal, punchline: " I da Ho" equally as bad when read as when heard.
Then a staff member starts to recount the tale of when her water broke. Felt like 25 gallons she said. I vividly remember because I was trying to eat a bite of shrimp Lo Mein, bad timing all-around. To make it better, another lady chimes in and asked if the water made her carpets stink. When I thought it was done, yet another lady retorts that the breaking/broken water has a sweet smell to it. At this point I actually said "seriously, you guys, it's lunch." Needless to say I was done.
I then got to watch the weird therapist talk to himself as he scooped out Lo Mein by the bucket full. All the while I am looking up in dismay & disgust while the Psych at the other end of the table just returns the same look and shakes his head. Wow!
I can not sleep and that is all I can come up with. Time for some better living through pharmaceuticals. Speaking of which Clemens testifies at 9:30 tomorrow. Dude, is pulling a Palmeiro and flat out lying to the Grand Jury. He is in so deep it is crazy. His whole legacy depends on lying right to the end.
Where the eff is Johnny Cochrane when you need him.
I wonder if Diggler has joined the Army yet?

Thanks Burt

We will all know for sure if I start calling Wayne up to join him for double half-caf super skinny caramel choco no foam cinnamon sprinkle lattes.
Sitemeter is cool. You can see how often people visit the blog, lord only knows why. Where they are geographically and what page referred them. So, I check this morning and see a great deal of activity on the blog already. I notice they are all coming from the Douchbag cyclist Pittsburgh sports lovin, short-bus helmet wearing blooger Hoovis. Sweet, I can only imagine what he wrote. So I check out my morning read as usual and there it is the hyperlink, "who may be gay". Now knowing the clientele of Doucheblog and this great offering of American Literature, you know damn well people are going to see who is being "outed". I just want to say thanks Burt. As they say there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Now I need to go hop in my Ford F250 so I can go chop some wood and kill a few helpless animals with one of my many high powered rifles. I better make sure my flask is full and I have a full can of Copenhagen for this adventure. See, I'm not gay. Man I can not wait until I can use my wok and vacuum my house with the new Dyson.
Just remember kids. If you read it on the internet. It is true!
Burt Hoovis for write-in Presidential candidate 2008.

Linens N Things

I heart Linens N Things. There I said it. Second fave retail establishment behind Holmes. Generally I despise shopping. I do not enjoy the fake smile, comission driven sales person. Let me alone. I am going to buy some shit, unless you piss me off. If I have a question, I will ask.
So the past three years or so I try to shop online as much as humanly possible. Much more pleasant and efficient. That being said. I love Linens N Things. No problem to drop mad cash and feel good about it. I am on this domestic kick right now. I bought a high zoot air purifier (online)to see if Hobbes if partially to blame for my constantly stuffed head. Sure enough. PureAire, it is awesome. Worth every penny. My head cleared up in 24 hours. So good I am thinking of getting a second one for upstairs.
Back to Linens N Thing. I ordered a Dyson Animal vac yesterday. Might as well get all the Hobbes hair from the carpet. Also got a sweet set of Calphalon cookware. Now there is enough to serve the summer cycling hostel guests. Three different kinds of salt, teapot, and other sundries. Remarkably I stayed away from the point of purchase dark chocolate.
Head is starting to come around. I hope I am a little better tomorrow. Maybe I will go do an easy ride on the hiker trail in the snow tomorrow or Wednesday. Take a pic or two even.

Absolutely zapped

Now the zero energy, tiredness phase must set in. Throat & chest not so bad. So tired I feel like I can barely move. Thank god today is an easy work day. Well, as opposed to the rest of my "difficult" days. I just want to sleep.

The Prom

So last night was the MAC prom and promoters meeting. I was illin' in the AM and it progressively got worse. Meeting went well. Five new events to the schedule. That is good for the sport. Prom festivities went off well, albeit with minimal attendance. It is what it is. I enjoyed seeing everyone that was there. Thanks all for the kind words of support. Had to bug out early and forego dinner. I could barely speak and could not tast anything but Zicam and Ricola anyhow. Met up with some of the shop crew at Brewhouse before going home and had a great time. Poor Benny was getting abused. Never ordered rounds of hot tea and beer before, the tea was needed and the Breckenridge Brewing Vanilla Porter was top notch. I entered the bar with a sultry sore throat Barry White voice and departed with a barely audible high pitch squeak.
Late stop at the grocery store for some tea and finally home a whirlwind twelve hours later. It is amazing how being around good friends can make you forget how shitty you feel.
Yesterday may have topped my new one day texting record. I better call Verizon tomorrow.
I wonder what everyone who missed getting their awards last night was doing instead?

Just another day at the office

So to speak.
Go see Dr Nayyar to drop some stuff off. One of the very appreciative docs around. I have no issue going out of my way for her. Back home since I was feelin' like poo in a handbag. A few emails to the MASS list prolly made me public enemy #1. I just wanted a simple answer.
Lunch at York clinic where the lunch is a necessary evil. I would love to find the first drug rep who took lunch into an office, and beat the everlovin' bejeezus out of him/her. First I make and return some few phone calls from colleagues, which put me in an absolutely pissy mood. Someone in Indy has their head so far up their ass that they can see daylight. More reps are coming. Just when I had to deal with the BS of overlaps being where they should not be. Three people doing the job that I did just one year ago. Now another comes into the mix. AAAARRRGGGHHHH!
There are days where I am truly embarassed, such as yesterday listening to someone's day and how hard it was. All the while knowing I did 1% of the good this person did. I can hardly deal with this shit anymore. I have forgotten more info about mental health disorders than I probably presently know.
I did the lunch, spartan attendance puts me in yet a fowler mood. One decent discussion, then I end up leaving early after one doc said he will be back to see me in 30 minutes or so.
Get to the car and drive home. At least a welcome text shines a little light. Get home and pack up to try an easy ride, since I am a bit sick. Next thing I know I am having some sort of cathartic experience it seems, underdressed, sick and feeling great. Legs are just tickin'. A little presure on the pedals, no problem. Big pressure on the pedals, no problem. The shit is easy today. On top of the gears, all is well. I feel the phone buzz in my jersey. Ahhh, ride and text time. Nice little conversation. Legs are now feeling great. Freaky shit brutha.
Whip up a nice dinner, text some more, some bad news about Grammy, a good chat with Ferg and some Tequila and hot tub to relax. Another one in the books.
I hope what few MABSers that will be in attendance at the MACQuet can put me in a good mood tomorrow.
Everytime I here some band's song on a TV commercial I wonder when it was they actually sold their soul for the almighty dollar. Then I look back at my work day and try to figure out when it was that I sold my soul for the almighty dollar.
I get more mental stimulation emailing philosphical healthcare positions with Spanky & May Hay, then with my work.
I wonder if people realize how much I actually care?
I know the good Colonel is clueless.

Aaaacccckkk

My head and boo boo belly are having a race to see which one will explode first. Tummy is winning at the present time.

Healthcare

Thanks to May Hey for this quote. "You will never realize how expensive healthcare is, until it is free." I read a high level view of Obama's & Clinton's thoughts on healthcare today. Their whole general concept is largely rooted in rhetoric. "Preventive medicine through education, diet, exercise blah, blah blah. Listen peeps. You live in the land of the fat and lazy. There is no such thing as preemptive education. At least not any that will last. Their plans are largely akin to a New Year's Eve Resolution.
Seriously, get friggin' real.
Medicare & Medicaid is the living example of the Pareto principle. 20% of a group are responsible for 80% of the, in this case, cost. By going to a Universal system you can creep drastically closer to a Medicare model. It is blood from a stone. Providers must see all comers and get reimbursed on a fee for service basis. The issue is the Government will set that fee for service. Basically treat 'em and take what we give you and like it.
A better model would be something like a no premium Healthcare spending account. Meaning you, as an uninsured consumer have a pot of cash at the beginning of the year. You may use that cash for medical services. Once you have exhausted your kitty, then you are 100% out of pocket. This is similar to retiree health care. Whatever is not used can be refunded as a % of unused bonus, the rest goes back to the national kitty. All uninsured will fall under the Medicare Part D Rx benefit. Where there is a nominal co-pay for meds up to a certain dollar amount, then a chunk (this would be lowered or sliding scale in my model) where the payee is 100% accountable, then catastrophic coverage where all meds are covered. In my plan insured consumers in this program are not eligible to receive branded drugs. Sorry. You want the real stuff, pay for it. Oh yeah, for a knowledge base. A generic med only needs to be within a 20% pharmacologic buffer above or below the therapeutic dose. So one script your 20mg Prozac may be 24 mg, the next it may be 17mg. Gives you confidence does it not? Sorry we are cutting costs here at Hebe Universal Healthcare.
Tort reform. No healthcare reform will be worth a lick without tort reform as it relates to frivolous malpractice suits.
Read up kids. Know what is rhetoric, what can actually be accomplished, and what is truly of importance.

Because I can

Yes, three posts in a day.
Good massage in the morning. Body Logic does a knotted back right.
Pretty easy work day, and actually some good conversations that let me know that I still know my stuff. Always rewarding to have a Psych ask for your opinion and knowledge.
Medicaid/Medicare payer studying and test. Two hours of reading then the 40 question test. Good info that I needed a refresher on. Only missed one, huh, not bad.
OK boys and girls, make sure that you are well versed in your candidates health care stand for the election. This topic alone could have the biggest long-term impact on your life. Know the issues and what the downside of your candidates "universal" program is.
Light lunch, operation skeletor phase 1 remember. Chicken salad for dinner, yum.
Three hours on the bike. NAKED LEGS BABY!!!! That was sweet, until the driving rain came at 2:15. Only lasted 5-10 minutes and sun then came out. Sweet. Rain was almost cathartic with the bare legs.
Damn near got hit again today. I guess people are not used to cyclists on the road yet. Three times in the last four rides. Guy blew right in front of me and I was grabbin' brake to avoid the T-bone. Note to all. Bonty cork pads and aluminum rims need a little more time in a rain storm.
I think I am taking tomorrow off to go for a long ride and just chill.
I just found out that changing my political party affiliation to Independent now precludes me from voting in the PA primary. Even if I were still Republican I do not think I could vote for McCain, middle of the road or not.
I guess it is soon time for me to inform myself about the main candidate issues.

Word of the day

Since yesterday was Super Tuesday I will offer up a delayed bonus post in honor.
MEGALOMANIA- That is the word of the day. I see no other reason to spend the time, money and effort to try to become the President of the USA. Seriously, what must drive someone to know that their every move, word and action of their past, present and future life will be scrutinized like a crooked picture at an OCD convention.
Obama spent 11 million for ads targeted at Tuesday's primaries while Clinton spent 9 million. That is friggin' crazy.
All of that to be the "Leader of the Free World"
Megalomania.

Fenderriffic

All the cool kids have 'em.
http://www.rei.com/product/697808?cm_sp=prod*desc_rel_item*element
I made the conversion to fender geekdom last year, and oh was it pleasent. No more soaked legs. No more soaked ass. No more of the road grime stain that looks like you shite yourself. Fenders are cool.
I wonder if Sez is cool enough to rock fenders?

You just have to ask yourself kid...

... is the juice worth the squeeze?
I love the flick, "The Girl Next Door". The general premise is that in your life you will make some very big, impactful decisions. When you are ready to make those decisions you need to think long and hard is this decision one that is really worth making, can you handle the outcome?
I have had two interesting conversations in the past twenty-four hours that bring this concept to light. One was with someone that I am really enjoying spending time with, the other was with someone from my past who really needed to just talk. The premise is still the same. The first conversation led to a question that, when I look back at it now, was hopefully a test of the waters to see if the juice is worth the squeeze. I hope you feel that it is. I do.
The second conversation was with someone who just needed to vent. They are feeling some misplaced repercussions from friends. I offered about as much help as I can offer at the present time.
The thing is, ultimately you really can boil everything down to this.
Is the juice worth the squeeze? Are all the good things that can possibly happen from a decision, enough to outweigh the bad?
That being said, in the couple things that mean the most to me now, the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.

That dude is a friggin' retard!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure that is what must be running through the minds of the general populace as I ride by on a 38 degree day singing. I train with an Ipod, since almost all of my training is by myself. It is essential on longer days. There is only so much to entertain me during a ride. So if a good tune comes on, I have no issues singing along.
Picture this. Off in the distance you hear a nasally warbling that is getting louder as it approaches. Holy Christ what is it & why are the shrieking " I'm seeing things for the first time." They must think it is some weird incarnation of the young pedal bike soul savers coming in for a surprise attack. But wait, he is not wearing a suit, but some garish blue & orange diamond design jacket and he is pedaling along in what looks like Gene Simmons stage shoes from the Destroyer tour. As quick as the surprise came, there it went. Another satisfied local.
So boysies and girlies, the next time you are training alone, take your Ipod. When a good song hits, start singing along. Pay no mind to where you are or what people may think, sing, just belt it out. " You won't find me on my knees, no you won't, no you won't, oh no you won't, cause I'm seeing things for the first time, I'm seeing things for the first, seeing things for the first time, in my life, oh in my life, ooohhhh yeeaahh.
Makes you smile just thinking about it.
Ride hard and sing loud.
I wonder if Flick won any cool cross-sport paylays last night or if he lost Hot Gril's college fund on the National Anthem over-under. BTW I won the Anthem prop bet.

How would you like your froglegs sir?

Extra crispy, thank you. Another long ride, for me at least, today with 4.5 hours. The little leggies were toasty crisp at the end. Ice skater dad was gettin' zippy on the rises & I was barely holding on.
After tomorrow I will be at 1,500 miles through seven weeks. Not really big miles by SoPro status, but almost 40% more than last year for base. Hopefully they will pay off for three weeks in May.
La Chouffe, I bought a case this past week. Oh my. Good stuff. Add that to being tired & dehydrated and I may make through the whole 750 ml, then again I may not.
I have discovered that I really enjoy texting. Or, at least, I really enjoy texting with a certain someone. I enjoy the initial time together even more.
Lots o' good stuff going on. I can hardly believe some much is actually rollin' decent right now.
Latest IPod gems.
Hope is all I need, Last Train, Bulletproof. Stiff Little Fingers
Intro, Amazing Grace, Boys on the Docks. Dropkick Murphys live from Boston '02
Torn & Frayed. Black Crowes, Stones cover. From VH 1 Storytellers
Sally Maclenane. The Pogues
1,2,3,4. Feist
New Soul. Yael Naim
Good to be me, at least right now.
I wonder who Steevo has in his cab right now? Good egg, that Steevo character.

It is amazing...

How quickly the weight drops when the chips and ice cream are not in the house for a couple of weeks. I am at Operation Skeletor, April, weight already. After a little HOT yoga tonight, I will either be dead or even more skeletal.

Like an Old Grandad enema

That is how much I am looking forward to riding in this shite today. At least the return trip will be rock star quick.

I heart AllTunes.com

They have taken over for my Rooskie friends. This site is the Ollies of downloads. Good stuff, cheap. 150 downloads for basically $.16-.$.20/song. Dropkick Murphys live offering, 22 songs for $3.38, nice.
I have been downloading music tonight for a St Patty's day fete. Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues and The Chieftans are on the playlist so far. There it is, it is official. I am having another party. Irish music and Irish libations only. Green dress is required in some way, shape or form. Seve, the Scots are the kilt wearers, although I think WWSD may blur the geographic lines on this one.
I need help on what is a good Irish themed movie that I can show on the Benyou drive-in. Remember, no nudity, since this is shown on the side of either mine or my neighbor's house.

Big Day at the Ebay office

Six auctions ending. Cash for more toys. I have had this weird policy for the last fifteen years about bike stuff. Only buy something if you sell something bike related to cover it. Now the past ten years have been very efficient. I have had a "bike account" to know what my toy spending allotment would be. The past two years have gone to another level of anal retentiveness. Three accounts, road, mtb & cross.
We all have our hang-ups, but this is a good one. It all started in my deluded haze trying to be a Pro triathlete in the late Eighties, early Nineties. Yes, quite deluded. After ten months in Boulder and missing Hawaii by one spot I found myself in San Antonio, crushed, broke and a few grand in debt and trading labor for a place to sleep. That pretty much ended the romance of the Pro triathlete. Funny thing is I am much faster now than I was then. I can easily afford my toys, but that experience will always keep me in check. Ever since my return to Pennsyltuckey I have steadfastly adhered to one financial principal. If you can not afford to buy it in cash, then do not.
I wonder how Ron & Rod, from 4711 Qualla Dr are doing right now?

And that is why Vegas is still in action

Too many people bet with their hearts, Like myself in the previous post. If you follow CX you knew Boom was the favorite for the win. I just happen to like Nys better. Good on Vervecken. He has been getting shat on all season by the cyclo press. Note three of the top five are 23 years old. Note to Page. I like your style man, you are hard core. I just hope you like Peanut Butter & Honey sandwiches out of the back of your hatchback. Come back to the States ride for the man that started you out, the benevolent & awesome Richard Sachs, and win everything under the sun.

Feeling crispy

Yes I am. Add to that me eating shit on an easy log Friday, and banging my hip, and I am somewhat blah about a ride today. Hopefully once in the woods all will be well.
Bummer for KFC. She could have ripped that course a new one.
Elite Men World's prediction
1) Nys
2) Boom
3) Wellens
4) JP
5) Gadret

I give JP 4th on the Mark Light principle. Big talent and he knows his next meal depends on today's race. At least he will not have to ride back home to Belgium afterwards.

Off to see the Crowes

Warpaint music in 38 days. I have my tix for Starland on 3/2. I was encouraged to go on my High Voltage tattoo, Crowes in Hollywood bender over the 3/19 date. It would be a great way to keep rollin' forward.
Maybe I should email some designs this morning?

If I could pick a set list for that show, let us see.

List by the High Fidelity principle.

Sometimes Salvation
Remedy
Thorn in my pride
Wiser Time
Seeing Things
Sting Me
Soul Signing
My Morning song
Could I've been so blind
Space Captain
Sunday Night Buttermilk Waltz , Richie solo
Words you throw away
Sister Luck
Cursed Diamond
The she said my name
Daufgters of the Revolution. New song.

Yeah, I would fly to Hollywood for that one.

In song

What I am listening to:
Sticky Little Fingers, And best of All. Thanks to High Fidelity, good shite, circa '99.
Fiest, 1,2,3,4. I can not get this little number out of my head.
Social D, Far Behind. "You shake my hand while you're pissin' on my leg."
My Nieces, Medley to the Jammer. What cuties. Jammer was a Central PA institution.
Black Crowes, Words you throw away. "I am trying to make point, I just do not know what it is."
Black Crowes, Wiser Time, Cursed Diamond, Non Fiction. Never gets old.
Led Zepplin, Good times, Bad Times. Snow, friends, singletrack. All good times.
The Clash, Police & Thieves. Good shit.
Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the U.K. Amazing how mellow that actually is.
Soul Asylum, Somebody to Shove. Birner nailed that album, and Wynona!
The Waterboy's. Fisherman's Blues. Soulfull.
The Old 97's, Timebomb. Just fun.
CCR, Long as I can see the light. Bluesy Fogarty. Nice.
Bowie, Diamond Dogs.
Modest Mouse, Missed the boat. The wordplay in this song is second to none. I am cetainly uncertain of that!
New Order, Age of consent. Catchy fluff. Like most 80's Brit pop.
Elvis, A little less conversation. Close your mouth and open up your heart.
REM, Seven Chinese Brothers.
Replacements, Color me impressed & Within your reach. Before Grohl, Westerberg saved Rock and Roll, or so they say.

So that is what has been in the Ipod more often than not, of late.

I housed a Neato Burrito in record speed tonight. Niiice.

So this is what crack is like?

F'ing YouTube has me in a stranglehold. Just when I get done with an hour of Black Crowes concert footage, "I don't know man? You say Hippies, I say tomatoes." Tix for Starland are now $84 thanks to my laziness. Capitalist pig broker/scalpers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYpRcsprtho
Then I google the Hyundai TV commercial I saw tonight. Tight. Happy viewing.
http://www.splendad.com/ads/show/1602-Hyundai-Commitment
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UH7VsywKvw&feature=related
Crazy Frenchies!
Fuck, where did I put my spoon and lighter? Damn, I need me some mo fix.

In the days of my youth...

I was taught what it means to be a man. Now I've reached that age, I try to do all those things the best I can.
As I was rippin through some snow singletrack Thursday with Central PA MTB royalty http://midnightpeddler.blogspot.com/ & http://kuhndogrides.blogspot.com/ that line was stuck in my head for like an hour. As a kid I constantly played outside, mostly alone. Baseball, football, basketball, riding a bike, whatever. On Thursday, in the moment of snow coming down riding my singlespeed, I was that little boy again. Out in the woods rippin' around with friends. Not a care in the world, just riding bikes. There are times that I truly feel sorry for my cycling friends who ride on the road exclusively. They never know the sheer pleasure of railing turns in the woods, jumping logs, twisting and turning through trees, roots & rocks.
Conscious choice man. They can have their road scene Gas -n- Sip.
So today was another royalty ride. Yo ho ho and a bottle of Rumsas, The Nanctress, Flyin' & I set sail for Swatara State Park. Yes, kids the wind speed, 25mph, was higher than the temp 19, when we started. That is why MTB is sweet. We rocked the super fast trails for two hours and had a great time. I guarantee some tools rode to the Derby, did the Derby, then rode home. So Euro man, so Euro, so hard, whatever, F that!
You win the pissing contest and I win the better ride and more fun contest.
Wiser Time kids, Wiser Time. Another song, another mile.

I succembed

I have broken down to the video age.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cGGDiB89MA&eurl=http://bubsers.typepad.com/epistemic/2008/01/laughburn.html?cid=97576454#comment-97576454

Wonder no longer...

http://www.blacklane.blogspot.com/

I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

I'm big in Ontario

Sure, I would love to drive to Ontario to say hello. A few flys in that ointment.
1) Ummm, Canada
2) Passport. Remember I do not travel
3) There is not a bike race I can tie it to
4) French Canadian. Oui Oui madamoiselle
5) Hard to expense Company car gas in another country
6) I do not typically cross the Susquehanna, let alone the Niagra.
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

No, I am not jealous

While at an office of child psychs today, I also saw a kid who seriously is destined to be abused all his formative years. He came in with mom and dad. Mom looks a little spacey and dad is this big dude who does not speak. Both are well dressed and groomed and the kid obviously went to a private school (uniform). Why is he destined fo this abuse? Here is why. The kid is maybe 10. He has a long "rat tail" haircut. That shit was bad in 1990. What made this bizarre was the placement of the tail. It was NOT in the center. The tail protruded probably 12" from the right side of the back of his head. The kid is friggin 10 years old. Do you think that he actually wanted this f'ing abortion growing all off-kilter? NO! This must be mom and dad's doing. WTF!?!?! Let us get a little ananlytical here. Empirical for McHammAsswrecker. Hair basically grows at 1/2" per month. Conservatively this kid has been growing this sprout for at least 2 years. What responsible parent would let their child look like this? Poor kid is doomed.
I wonder if Sez will let his kid grow a rattail?

Welcome to the skin show

Naked arms and naked legs today. Even had the summer shoes on. Hoo Ha!
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

I hope he is not having spaghetti tonight

As I was driving on 83 today I saw something that made me scratch my head. What was it you ask? Well, it was a guy scratching his head. That rub, or the scratch if you will, is that he was not using his hand. He was using a pasta straining spoon. Yes, you read correctly. He was using a pasta straining spoon. The little finger like things were scratching his bald noggin. I am thinking that maybe the stainer opening in the middle of the spoon was to allow for some cooiling effect as he scratched away. Who knows.
My greatest befudllement was what is this guy doing with a pasta spoon in his passenger seat anyhow? Seriously, why? Was the true intent actually to be a portable headscratcher.
Anywho.
I hope the guy is not making pasta tonight.
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

Somewhat against my better judgement

Here goes. Each year I set some goals on work, personal and cycling. The work goals are set and have been communicated. Since my work is generally uninspiring I will spare all five of you the details.
Personal, is well, personal. Suffice it to say that no cross racing supermodels fell out of the sky in November or December.
On to cycling. After being around so many successful people who are goal oriented you learn that you can accomplish things you actually set as stretch goals. For instance, with cross my goal was to race in the front group at every MAC race this year. I did that. I realized that I can make a race at that level, not just hope for top ten. That being said, my time around Ry, Wes and Yozell has inspired me greatly. This year the goal is a MTB National Championship jersey. XC, 24 hour, STXC, whatever. Yes, there I said it. I want that jersey. I will put in the work for that jersey. I am not burdened by any of the stresses that I had last year. Even if I fail at this goal I am going to know that I put it out there. There is no hiding behind lesser objectives this year.
There, I said it.
2008 MTB goal is: National Champion
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

Have wheels will travel

Nice 4 hr plus ride on Saturday after meeting up with the Faulkner Honda Racing guys. Good guys, good ride. Came home in time to devour food, make some brown sugar suasage bacon wraps, take an hour nap clean, and pack for Saturday evening festivities and Sunday ride at Not Fat Marc's house.
Great time, gracious hosts and guests, and a sweet 2ish hour mtb group ride today. There must have been 15 of us on the ride. Fun trails lead to good times.
Looks like next Saturday may be off to Avalon, MD area for some riding. I have the bike, and the time, so we shall see.
Since my 10 year old Grip shift is crappy these days, I may just go to a singlie-blinglie for the next month or two. Should be fun.
I got the wheels. If you got the trails or road, let me know.
I wonder what Sez is doing right now.

I did my Ladyfriend again today

90 minutes of Missionary it was sweet. I really wanted to get in a full two hours, but I was shut down. More on that later. Today was sweet, at first she was a little icy, but eventually everything evened out & she even was a little moist at times. Surprising as cold as it has been. I Thought my lady friend would have been pretty dry. I guess she was happy to see me. After about twenty-five minutes of steady riding, I decided that I would and venture into her forbidden area. Just as I was about to cross the bridge to the forbidden area, my Lady's guardian stopped me. You can not go in there. I acted though I did not hear him. See, my ladyfriend allows me to wear my Ipod when I ride her. She is nice that way. Again the guardian states. "You can not go in there." No bicyclists are allowed in there." Then some guy who was ready to enter the forbidden area, without mechanical assistance, speaks up. "It is not a big deal, there is no one else in there." "He is not (wearing) brown or anything, no one will shoot him if he goes there." "Even if he sees a guys with a gun while he is riding, he can just stop." Good logic I thought. This dude wants me in the forbidden area. The Guardian shuts it down.
Off I go back to finish the rest of the missionary style.
The riding was sweet. Sometimes really fast, sometimes slow, at times at little rough even. It did not phase me at all. I handled everything Lady Pinchot could bring today. I even explored in some areas where I have not been in quite sometime. It was good to go missionary today, since the last two times have been doggy.
One thing that I noticed that made the past few rides different than when I was with Lady Pinchot over the summer is that I have reverted back to using small rubbers. Last year I used big rubbers for the first time. I really like them and they seem to fit me well. When my ladyfriend gets a little rough the big rubbers take the edge off. I do not feel as much, but it is smoother. Now that I am back with the small rubbers I notice that when me Lady gets rough, I feel it. I have to work harder to get through her bumps. There is definitely more grinding. Sometimes the smaller rubbers do get stuck when it is really rough. That's alright, it will make me a better rider. I will have to learn some more finesse when Lady Pinchot gets rough and tough.
The other thing I noticed today is that your ride is a function of your rubber. Today I was knobby, for her pleasure. Mine as well, come to think of it. I have ridden my Lady with slick rubber and it can get a bit sketchy. You get going to fast and whoops you can slide right out. Granted you just get up and stick the rubber to the road, so to speak and keep going, but the slide-out is an issue. Back to todays rubbers. These are my favorite rubbers. You treat your rubber right and it will treat you right. These rubbers always get washed down after a ride. No matter how wet or dry my Lady Pinchot is, I wash my rubbers religiously. In fact sometimes I even hang my rubbers to dry fully. In fact these rubbers are ten years old and I have never even punctured them! Take that Trojan! I may even use these with Stan's spermicidal No Tubes sealant this year. That way if I would puncture a rubber will ridingLady Pinchot, at least it would seal and there would not be any accidents.
It was a damn fine ride today. Sure I wanted two hours, but 90 minutes with a grin on my face and Lady Pinchot underneath me was pretty damn hot.
I can not wait to get some FairHill strange on Sunday. It sounds like there may be enough people for an orgy.
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

Blue, you're my boy!

One of the better "Old School" lines, so simple yet so poignant.
I just got back from the Vet. Hobbes, is not only VERY lean, he also is a BLUE show cat. You heard it hear first. The vet tech informs me that there are no such creatures as Grey cats in the show world, they are Blue. Hobbes, I mean BLUE, you're my boy. Yes, I will take a sabbatical and go buy the converted Van/camper at Lake Meade and tour the cat show world with Blue.
Best in Show will have nothing on our escapades taking the cat show world by storm.
In other Hobbes news, he is drastically trying to become the Nicole Ritchie of the 17 year old ,ale cat world. He tipped the scales at a waif-like 11.5 lbs today. Down, 3/10 more in the last week. The last time I had him at the vet he was 17.5 lbs. Maybe there is a biggest loser for cats?
This leads me to Hobbes' official show name. Hobbes Blue Nicole Ritchie Hebe.
In other vet news I damn near pissed myself while the vet tech was talking to Hobbes. Yes, she was talking to Hobbes. She was a good tech, but here is where the exchange went awry for me. She starts to tell Hobbes that she needs to take his temperature. "OK Hobbes, I need to stick something where it should not go." I think my eyes started to widen at this point. "I know, I know, someone should never stick something up there, especially when they are first meeting them. " Holy, mother of f'ing pearl. Now my eyes are bugging, I am almost giggling and I am trying hard to not piss myself and spurt out; "That was shocking!". The tech proceeds to remove the shockmometer and tell Hobbes everything will be alright and that no on really enjoys that type of treatment. Wow. After all of that I almost felt like I got my $268 worth of personal entertainment.
Needless to say Hobbes Blue Nicole Ritchie Hebe is nowhere to be found at the present time.
I wonder what Sez is doing right now?

47 more minutes

And this mutha effer called ott Seven is over. Actually as shitty as it may have been, it was a pretty decent year. Great friends, great rides, new experiences, new house. No need to belabor any points, 2007 is over. Yee hah. Time to focus on feeling good again. What is the saying, "living well is the best revenge"? Not that revenge is the proper word, but I will live well. React as you wish.
Full weekend right off the bat w/ a surprise 30th for my work Homey, G. Then off to mingle with the best bunch of pedalers known to man, the DCCo'D. Then some sweet new MTB trails.
It is all about me. Some may say, "so what is new" some may say "it is about time". I say hopefully the blog entries will be a little more fun to read.

The incredible lightness of being...or

Letting go, to get a grip. With a ton, the past 2 1/2 weeks, of time off from work you really get to thinking. I finally came to peace with something I have essentially being denying for years. I called the person this affected most and let them know. It was a hard call. Immediately after the call I ventured out on the bike, incredibly ironic for those who may of what I speak, for what was to be an easy 90 minutes. I immediately noticed that I was singing to my Ipod. I was going relatively easy, but I felt like everything was light & easy. I was taking in my surroundings and had a weird sense of calm. Next thing I know, I am an hour in and still going west. All I really wanted to do was keep on riding and enjoy the peace and sun. Hell, even a 15-20 mph headwind was not bugging me. I had not felt this a peace with myself in a long time.
So today I checked that last piece of baggage. I offered a heartfelt mea culpa. I let go of that last bit of guilt, and got a good solid grip on where I am at.
A lot has been written about not being able to commit yourself to a future, if you will not let go of your past. Today, I am committing to my future. More on that to come.
Happy Holidays to all.

I did not even miss it

So whilst the rest of the cross troupe was narrowly avoiding hypothermia I decided to play a different type of bike game this weekend. It was BIKE POLO time. Yes kiddies, bike polo. Cases of beer, dozens of sausages and hot dogs, bikes, mallets, grown men who should know better, full contact, open fires, jager shots, yeah it was a damn fine time. Huge thanks go to Matt & Cat to put up with all of this lunacy on their property.
It was great to catch up with some guys I have not seen in far too long. It was like an Aquafina reunion. Bill, Ron, Matt, Kev, Slick, Trdina, Myself. Who knows how long that team could have gone had Trdina not figured out that EASY rhymes with Ngezyi.
Being that I have very little to add to what has already been posted, check these sites for some pics and video.
http://kevososlow.blogspot.com/
http://doucheblogcycling.blogspot.com/
http://theshadowshop.blogspot.com/

I do not care what the final score may have been of the last death match, we still had the team. We lost our emotional spark late in the game. It seems that not only was he wearing women's sunglasses, he was also wearing women's panties. As evidenced by him cowering about and fretting he would be late to a gathering. As soon as little Rocky Blier and his short bus helmet departed we had lost our emotional spark.
That was a damn fine time. Highly recomendo for all.

Vacation Day 2

I am off work until Jan 2nd. I am trying to occupy my time with stuff to do.
Yesterday. Slept in until 10:00 I vacuumed and cleaned the upstairs then went to the shop to mount a tire and pick up my new winter mtb shoes and a cross wheel that i forgot the other day.
Happy hour with work peeps then home. I fell asleep on the couch at 9:30.
Today I finally awoke at 9:30. A rockin' 12 full hours of sleep. Awesome! I proceeded to rewrite/edit the MAC cross rules for the PA series. The PA series needs a little guidance for next year, and I want to make it better. Hopefully the changes will work. It also gives me a little leverage in making sure races are run up to a certain standard. I have spent the last three hours on a project I have been threatening to do for some time. I rewrote/plagarized Hans Christian Andersen's classic book. The emperor's new clothes. I tried to follow the story line by line and apply it to industry. Little did I know my great concept has already been published in such a format. It was fun and it killed some time during a freezing rain, shite day. I may "publish" my little ditty somewhere. I am not too sure. I am certain that some people would find it highly entertaining while others would be less thrilled. I am not so sure Big Colonel enjoys freedom of speech when it is critical.
What to do know. I think I will check my ass for bed and chair sores since I have barely stood erect since 4:00pm yesterday.
KC seems epic. I can not wait to see the pics. I am glad I am missing it though. One harrowing hypothermic cross experience was enough for me.

Life imitating art

So, I went to an awesome holiday party last night. The hosts were superb, the spread was incredible and their home was absolutely stunning. One of the most beautiful I have ever set foot inside. For those who really know me, you know that I love looking at homes. The architecture, the art, the interior colors, just the way everything comes together. This home was incredible.
Sorry, I digress. Back to the title. Since I know very few people at this function, I stay close to my work colleagues. I do not mingle well. I will hold a conversation with anyone, and be very fluent at their level. However, I will not initiate the conversation. So late in the evening one of the guests is introduced to me and we start talking. She asks if I am single. Yes, I am single I reply. Here we go kids, the next question is awesome. Keep in mind I just met this leopard skin outfit lady. Are you gay? No, I am definitely not gay. "Well you never know", was her retort. This is life start imitating Match.com. She askes if I am looking to meet anyone. My reply is somewhat evasive, "I will never say no". Here goes this ladies dialogue "Well I have a friend who I should introduce you to, she is forty-six. How old are you, let me guess. You are, um let me see, I am not so good at this, you are FORTY-EIGHT. How old I reply. "FORTY-EIGHT". Thanks, I think, I am forty. I like to think I am a pretty young forty. "Oh, well, my friend is definitely older than you". That might not be bad though, she says. The next two daggers come quickly. " She has two teenage kids, they are pretty needy". "Are you very spiritual, she is." Um, no, I am agnostic. I do not go to church. I like to think that living by the golden rule is good enough.
Wow, finally it came to an end. Needless to say I will not be going out with a forty-six year old lady, with two needy teens, that goes to church, and I forgot, likes to travel. Yes. This single life is fun.

The last bike game of ott seven

Yesterday was PA State CX champs. I was feeling good and ready to go. The course was fun, and extremely slippy, sloppy and muddy. "true cross" as some say. Bah humbug. True cross is when you get your cross bike, nothing more, nothing less. I do pretty well in slippery mud so I was psyched Challenge tires dialed at 25 psi and time to go. We start off w/ a smallish field and I get the hole shot and go to the front. Then someone comes riding into my rear wheel. Cross newbies do not understand the race is not won in the first thirty seconds. They also do not understand that you can not expect to go really fast and try to make a ninety right in slippery icy conditions. This leads to the neckcracker running into my rear wheel. He just keeps rubbing it and then pushes me left. All the rubbing and the push left skip my rear wheel. Guess what rolled tubie!!!!!! I must partly take the blame because it was taped and not glued. However my other taped tubies stayed together yesterday just fine without neckcrackers running into me.
I stop and start to run to get out of the way. A few people ride into me. Keep your heads up kids. I try to remount the tire for about twenty seconds. It is half off, no dice. I look up and I can no longer see the leaders. Thankfully it is wicked muddy. I rip the tire completely off and start rim riding. I make it a decent distance then have to run about 200-300 meters of mud that others rode, because the rim just cuts straight through the muck. Finally I get to the pit. The announce is saying that I have a very long day ahead of me now. Yes, I do. I am about 2ish minutes back due to this little blunder.
In days of yore I would have let out a monstrous scream of obsceneties. This time, there were none. It was weird. I was actually calm. I knew I could not win the States Gold. I knew that I would need a pretty super ride to salvage my PA State series overall as well. Off I went. I went like absolute hell for the next two laps and reeled in everyone but the top two guys. I had reduced the 2ish minute gap to 45 seconds with two to go. The officials were encouraging me, the announcer was encouraging me, people around the course, my fellow racers. They knew I was going for it. Penultimate lap, I lose 15 seconds to the leader and do not gain on second. Bell lap time to go. Standing whenever possible, running the mud pretty darn fast. Ripping the corners. Then I see Kirk & realize, I can not catch him in the last half lap. I still keep going hoping for some mechanical karma, but no dice. I come across third. Totally gassed. Basically fall down to my knees, in the snow. Through my haze the announcer said I had the ride of the day, maybe the best ride he has seen all year. Who knows. I know I tried my damndest. I hope the show was worth the money.
I appreciate everyone who has given words of encouragement this year. As I said before I hear when you cheer. It is awesome. I heard yesterday when someone yelled at me on my last time up the run-up; "Hebe, stop walking. You do not want me to take a picture of you while you are walking." I started running again, thank you.
Even when the bike game does not turn out the way you would like it to, it is still fun. This year I lost, yes lost THREE races due to mechanicals. It made me a better person. A stronger person. A calmer person. I think I have finally made some sort of peace with myself in the bike game.
So the tally for the cross bike game was as follows.
Fifteen races.
Two wins
Three seconds
One third
Two fourths
All finishes in the top ten
PA series overall win 35+
MAC series overall third 35+
Not too bad.
I heart the cross bike game.
Thanks again to all my friends, acquaintences, sponsors and fellow gamers for meeking ott seven a great year for me.

Sloppy seconds

Went back for some more again today. She was not as pure today. I could see where I rode her pretty hard yesterday. It was still damn nice. Slippin' and slidin' with a good flow & rhythm that can only be achieved by having done it before. It was so nice and pleasant today I even took off my outer layer of protection.
Started the same way as yesterday, backwards. That initial effort is a bit hard, then it all starts to flow nice, quick and steady. Today I decided to ride a little longer. I turned around and came on home from there.
Since this is ripe with double entendre, the clockwise loop of Pinchot will from here on out be referred to as riding Lady Pinchot Doggie Style. The counter clockwise loop will be riding her Missionary. It will be nice when the gents in camo & blaze orange stop trying to invade my ladyfriend.

Nooner with a Virgin

Yeah, yeah don't you wish! Different nooner, different virgin.
Got done early and skidaddled over to Pinchot to poach some fresh snow trails. It was awesome. The perfect way to kill some time before work committments tonight. To spin around with 1-2" of fresh snow was sublime. No tracks but me. The park was mine. Falling snow, fresh trails, no worries, no cares. You can not get lost, just look for your trails. I think tomorrow I will do the same thing, just a little longer.
Today reminded me just how much fun riding a bike can be. No bike game cares, no training parameters. Just me, the bike, the snow, the trails.
Since I am skipping Cross Nats, the next couple weeks will be chock full of anti-gaming fun. Fixie rides, snow MTB, maybe even some bike polo next weekend. While the roadies are gearing up, I am going to enjoy some time on the land of misfit bikes. My 12ish year old SMOR 853 and my CAAD 8 fixie. These buggers sit patiently awaiting their turn. They know how much I love them. They know they bring peaceful happiness and not gaming stress and pleasure.
So my weekly recomendo is to get out and have a nooner. Either kind will do.

Mix tape

So in homage to one of my fave bands, The Black Crowes. Here is my Tall mix tape for a cross race. Keep in mind the sage advice of John Cusack from High Fidelity, paraphrased. Start out strong but a little slow. Let them wanting. The take it up a notch, then more again. Then you need to cool it down a little.
Kind of like a cross race. So here goes.
Thorn in my Pride for the warm-up. Chill, smooth, flowing.
Seeing things. Freak and Roll, Live from the Fillmore. On the line, then the crescendo hits.
Kickin' my heart around. By your side. Full gas.
Go Faster. By your side. Doesn't the title say it all?
Sometimes Salvation. Black Crowes Live. Big guitar riffs and pauses like coming out of a corner and the smack is down.
The race is half done. Time to go steady, hard. Like sitting on Blair's wheel.
Let me share the ride. Freak and roll, Live from the Fillmore
Remedy. The Southern Companion... Thirty five minutes in, yeah I need a remedy for what is ailing me.
Then she said my name. By your side. Yes, friends, we hear when you yell our names. It is awesome. When a pretty girl screams your name, woowee. I never thought a love could be like this. Keep yelling.
Less than a lap to go. What Tall tune will I chose? It needs to be rippin', yet calm.
My morning song. Freak & roll, Live from the Fillmore. Strong fast instrumental jam. Passion and powerful lyrics. Background crescendo escalates, like the tension in the last half lap. It keeps going, building, building, higher, higher, stronger, faster. It's a thrill a minute plane ride. It's overtime at ring side, no lie.
See you Saturday.

Don't ask, don't tell or...

putting the "fun" in dysfunctional.
Thanksgiving has come and gone. At least this year was more enjoyable than the great '06 debacle. I was able to see family and friends, eat well, drink a few, hear some tales and generally have a pretty good time. A few interesting observations and recaps in chronological order. Sweet single speed road ride for 2.5 hours. It really is amazing how fun just riding can be.
Wednesday eve the shop crew headed out for some food and drink. Very fun. Great reminiscing was to be had. Very nice to see everyone out having a good ole time. Thursday brought more singlie road action on some roads I have not been on in a great while. Another 2.5 hours in just shorts and a ss jersey. Perfect ride to empty the tank for a Turkey day gorging.
This led to what may have been the Star Chamber of Stubbornness dinner. My grandfather, the king. My Mom, the rightful heir. Myself, the apprentice who may have taken all the wisdom and passive aggressively surpassed the prior generations in "prove me wrongness". Dinner was great, absolutely delectable. The king commenting on too much food. The heir retorting, not to worry there are leftovers. The worthy apprentice smiling inside knowing that I have indeed inherited the kingdom of skills.
Friday brought the whirlwind trip to the bucolic land of dysfunction. A visit with my 95 year old Grammy who is still pretty damn sharp. A dinner with my dad and a Scotch laden visit with my uncles. The fact that my dad does not really speak with his brothers makes this a unsettling visit. My uncles are extremely funny and great people to be around, at least for Eric & I. For my dad, another story. Don't ask, don't tell. As long as every one's head is in the sand, it is all good right? Listening to my Uncle's speak of their exploits was damn funny. Experiencing this while my dad is three miles away refusing to partake is damn uncomfortable. Who knows.
Less than twenty-four hours after the grand depart to Bucolia, we start back. Sometimes I wonder, at what point does this all become yet another bridge I burn and walk away from?
Saturday brought cross race work, bike repairs for sale items and college football. Today brings more cross race work, some riding and finally some much needed computer upgrades. Then two generally unproductive days of work until 100% cross race focus.
I have really hit an ambivalence wall. I am tired. It has been a long and stressful year. I do not feel like going to Nats. I really have not given my race all the attention it needs. Work is unstimulating. Personal life and the hope/chance of meeting anyone is on indefinite hold. Maybe some hot model/cyclist will fall from the sky in the upcoming future. I really need to make some concrete decisions pretty soon.
Off to the course.

Under the cover of daylight 11/20

I made it. There were days where I did not think that I would.
Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of when I backed up the moving truck w/ Gus and moved out of my own house. In the middle of the day, when most everyone is at work, I loaded up the truck. I snuck out of my home, my old neighborhood, and a part of myself.
This is not a post to lay blame, ask forgiveness, say what if, etc... This is a post to say, "I made it." Here I am. I am very different. I am exactly the same. So when I wake up tomorrow I will be thankful what what I experienced. I will be even more thankful for the experiences that are yet to come.

Guest writer

Seeking guest writer for a post or three. Topic can be anything. Your life, my life, their lives whatever. Send an email and I will post, unedited. roadracer35@comcast.net

Big bike game this weekend

Nats comes early in the form of the USGP. I counted thirty guys with top 10 Nats finishes, in the past three years, in my event. There were another ten with race wins besides that. Sweet.
Line up, ride hard, no excuses. We shall see.
Milestone day next week. Alice's restaurant next week. Turkey day with, filling, mashed tates and gravy, mmmm gravy next week. Fun night out next week. Damn, I got some shit rollin'.
Possibility of wearing just one kit to play ALL the bike games in next year. That would be cool. Almost as cool as the team. Who knows maybe I will even, dare I say it, find even more dirt under the rubber?
Business review with my manager tomorrow. Should be easy.

The Eli Lilly big brother health care blues

OK, I realize I have health insurance. I also realize it is pretty good. My gripe is with the process and billing and payment. I just got the bill for my ER visit from the great BMX incident. It was for $341 dollars. Hmmm. My health plan is to pay 100% of all non-admission ER visits. I was not admitted. Therefore buck up, Anthem. I read the bill and see my health plan refuses to pay due to incorrect coding. WTF! It said X-ray & ER visit right on the statement. What irks me is that I now need to file additional paperwork with my insurance. All the while the bill will remain unpaid and if it malingers too long ends up at a collection agency. Guess who gets the nastygram? Me!
To top that I go to re-enroll in my health plan for '08 and i notice small print from "the Colonel". If you fail to enroll benefits will not roll over. You will be reassigned to an HSA account. Whoaaaa Nelly. Since when can someone be reassignd without consent? Is lack of response consent? If someone approaches me and says "I am going to beat the living shit out of you", and I fail to respond in a timely manner am I giving consent to be pummeled? Out of curiousity I decide to compare my present plan and the HSA plan. My deductibel is $200 in and $200 out of network. That is a scam in and of itself. However, the HSA has a $2,000 deductible! No that was not a typo of one too many zero's. It is a full boat $2k deductible. Seems like a bargain huh? Read on. Every single line item for reimbursement was 10%-20% less with this new plan that people must avoid being reassigned to.
This is such an underhanded way to reduce health care expenditure for Lilly. Really the company should be paying people lioke me for being so healthy 99% of the time.
Damn, that got me in a lather today.
Don't let the bastards get you down!

Huffin' like a junkie

The past two days have been big glue fests for my tubular cross tire woes. It all stems back to some bad karma Leech is sending my way. I was all over him for rolling tubies last year. Well I rolled two this year and Hamdiggler rolled my spare front. In my defense my rolls were while using Tufo tape. I am heretofore rescinding my proclamations of love for gluing tape. Do not be lazy. Take the two or three days and enjoy the glue smell. Three coats rim, two coats tire and I am set. Your tires will stay put and your confidence will as well. Now all is well is cross wheel land. The file treads are ready to rock for Beacon. I am debating gluing a second set of carbon wheels for cross. Yes, that may mean an official "give a damn" departure from road race wheels. Nothing says Richard Feldman like two pair of carbon cross wheels. Throw in matching Colnago C-50's and he may as well be in Belgium.

40, thinning gray hair, skinny, never home on weekends: seeks supermodel cyclist

I think that is what my new Match.com "tag line" will be. Since my ex informed me today that my profile is a topic of conversation at her monthly Bunko gathering, I think I am going to go all out and see who I can attract. I will try it out on my loyal readers.
Me: 40, but act like I am MUCH younger. Maybe too young. Hates to travel, unless it is for a bikegame race. Religion is not important, unless I am puking my guts out at Ray & Nancy's wedding & I am praying to God to make it stop. Well read, Velo News, Cycle Sport and the innernet thing. I have never broken a mirror by staring into it. My body is slowly breaking down. Tattooed, probably will get more. Beer is good. Food is good.
Seeking: Really freakin' hot girl. You should probably race bikes, it is basically my life. Let's make it yours as well. Must despise travel also. Your idea of a long trip is three hors by car. Probably should not like the beach either. I get bored and antsy easily. No need to be religious. You may however scream "oh my god, you are great" while in the throws of passion. Be smart, just not smarter than me.

So there it is. My new profile. Seriously, where does one find a good match these days? At what point do I realize, that I am not a model and a girlfriend need not be one either? The bikegame thing is probably a requirement that will stick. Lesson learned. Plus now that I can look at female bikegamers, I realize how hot they are.
Since being thrust into the world of online "dating" I have realized a few things.
1) All the really hot girls are taken
2) Being a cyclist means DIDDLY-POO outside of our naive little cocoon
3) Online dating is predominantly made up of women who are larger than me
4) I have NO idea how to approach women, even online
5) I enjoy my free time
6) The ones who are hot, have two kids
7) Finding an athletic, slender, good looking, single, no kids girl in Central PA is the proverbial needle in a haystack
So to my faithful readers, hook a brutha up. You know a single bikegamer chick, tell her I am available and not an axe murderer.
Don't let the bastards get you down.

"You look happy"

I have actually heard that a few times lately. Well, thanks for noticing, I feel happy as well. Enough that I submitted my app to be considered for LA Ink. We shall see how it goes.

Scott Molina once told me...

...when this all ceases to be fun, that is the day I will walk away.

Frankly, I was shocked!

Wow! Saturday was shocking in so many ways. I will try to remember as much as possible.
I was shocked how much it rained early Saturday.
I was shocked that I did not flip out when the Blazer died. Yes the Blazer died.
I was shocked that I was psyched to race in the rain.
I was shocked that I went wire to wire.
I was shocked the margin was almost 1:30.
I was shocked that the party prep was quick and painless.
I was shocked that I actually did something social.
I was shocked that I actually threw the party.
I was shocked that 27 people attended.
I was shocked that everyone respected the "cotumes required" rule
I was shocked at some of the costumes. Josh in particular.
I was shocked that Josh brought an effin' Rubic's cube to the party.
I was shocked to hear he solved it three seperate times.
I was shocked that Joe Dirtwrecker put his head in an ice water container for only $1.
I was shocked at the amount of alcohol consumed. 1/4 barrel, three cases, 1.5 bottles of rum.
I was shocked at the fun of the great Marshmallow battle.
I was shocked that the hot tub was 105. That was hot.
I was shocked at the whole party.
All in all it was a pretty awesome 24 hours.

Just in time for Halloween

I have been informed by my family doc that I should seek out a diabetic counselor, so that I can make nutrition changes to control my sugars. WTF! Does she not know it is candy season? How can you tell a sweet tooth junkie to stop the sugar intake around Halloween? The glucose & HbA1c are borderline, 126 & 6.2, for the last year. Nothing to worry about now. You just do not want them to increase. Being the good patient that I am. I will consider modulating my sugar intake. The diabetes education seminar is flat out. Spend two hours to hear, eat less sugars, watch your carbs & exercise. Sweet. No pun intended.
On another stellar health note my shoulder seems to be progressively worsening. It is now making popping sounds. I also have the pleasure of shooting pains when making certain arm movements. If I ever get the rest of my body to feel like my legs do right now, watch out.

Happy places & friendly faces

The first weekend of the MAC. So many good friends and acquaintances, there is hardly time to say hello to everyone. Two awesome events by two top notch promoters. Instead of naming names of everyone I was so happy to see and speak with, I will just say there were so many. I do not want to forget or slight anyone.
About a year ago this weekend is when I essentially stopped spending any free time at my own home, before I moved out for good. I left every Friday and came home Sunday night. No heartfelt goodbyes, no meaningful hellos. What a difference a year makes. I have come to grips with where I am at. It was not in my original plans, however I am pretty happy right now. This weekend further cemented that. I love the scene of the MAC, it makes me happy. The people make me happy. Racing my bike makes me happy. Doing well makes me happy. Hell, even rolling a tubie in warm-up did not really faze me. Yes, the MAC is my happy place. A true labor of love. An athletic community like no other. Everyone should be proud of what we have all fostered.
To everyone I spoke with this weekend, thanks for the kind words. Thanks for taking some of your valuable time to share, even if only a minute of it, with me. This weekend truly was my pleasure. To those I missed, I am sorry. I will catch up soon.
Hell, even the strong possibility of a shit day at work tomorrow can not dampen my spirits.
Don't let the bastards get you down.

Words to live by

A good friend sent me a check for stuff I purchased for the MAC. The MAC truly is a bittersweet passion for me. I love the people, the races, racing, the whole vibe. Note I did not say I love promoting. There is so much work and stress, the toll it takes on you is hard to describe unless you are the person who is in charge. Not to digress, that is another post for another day.

Here is a pic of the piece of paper he wrapped the check in. It is now prominently taped above my office desk. Thanks friend. I hope that I am treating your baby well.

Genius, effin' genius

I do not pronounce to be a Thom Torke and/or Radiohead fan. However, today, I converted. In fact I may even "buy" their new release, "In Rainbows". What makes Radiohead a genius band you ask? Today Radiohead officially changed the game of commerce. I do not mean downloading songs. I do not mean the record industry. Radiohead changed commerce as it is known. This example will be written in Economic textbooks in the future. Are you on the edge of your seat yet? Here goes. Radiohead ended their EMI committment in 2005. They are a world famous band without a label. So what do they do? They release their new release over their website. La dee friggin' da you say. What makes this incredible from an economic supply and demand standpoint is this. You, me, them everyone, we name the price that we want to pay for the release. That is correct. Pay what you like. Take it for free, it is yours. Pay the iTunes equivalent of $.99/song for ten songs and it is yours for $9.99. Take a stand and say the man will not bring the artist down and pay $100.
That is what is genius. A loyal fan base will never screw their idol. People will pay for it. Some will pay more than it is worth, like a public radio pledge drive. Some people are cheap and will take it for free. Radiohead says, that is fine.
Think of what Radiohead has done. They have avoided, packaging, shipping, distirbution, lawyers, contracts, artists, stores, labels, EVERY middleman has been removed. The actual record industry has been removed. From a retail support standpoint this is a scary concept.
What truly blows me away is the pricing. We name it! Hell I may even buy the release because I am so impreesed that Radiohead has balls the size of boulders to do this.
Certain actions change history. Without being over the top, I do feel this will change the face of commerce. Not globally, not product or service wide. However in niche market industries, where loyalty and passion play large parts in buying decisions, this concept is great.
Yorke is so out of the box on this that people will not get it. They will say he is a fool, and he may be. I think the fool will be the band who keeps up with the status quo.
There it is my pick for entrepreneur of the year, Radiohead.

It's just lunch

However it was the best one I had in a while. Food, conversation, company, you name it. Very nice. Cafe Fresco is high on the recomendo list. I am looking forward to the the Pan-Asian joint that is going in across the street soon.
Big weekend race-wise for me this weekend. IC Lite & the real deal IC V. I rarely say I am gunning for the win in a race, however this is one where I am gunning for it. IC V has a 40+ category this year & I plan on going head to head w/ Applegate. He is a prior National Champ and prior IC winner outright. My plan is to be on him like white on rice. I am busting out the go big or go home tire selection for Sunday. Vittoria file treads. Yessireebob. I am rocking the files for a road advantage.
Food for thought from the original roughrider, Teddy Roosevelt.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered with failure, than to take rankwith those spirits that neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
An awesome quote, and an equally awesome run-on sentence.
I will dare.

Ohhhhh ffffffffudge

Except he did not say fudge. He said it, the Queen Mother of all swear words. Well actually I am he, and I did not even say it. As Steevo & I were warming up for the Hagerstown cross race yesterday, we happened upon a full-on BMX race track. Being the little kid that I am I could not resist. After a roll through I proceeded to the gates and did a lap. Well, almost a lap. I carried a bit too much speed into what I thought was a large tabletop double. Turns out it was a triple with the unknown bump right in the middle. Strategically placed to catch my front wheel as I aired over the front lip. Keeping in mind we are on cross bikes on a BMX track. Yep, I stacked it hard. I slammed into the third lip with my left shoulder and immediately thought broken collarbone, season is over. Well it is not broken based on my scientific touch test, however the pain is pretty freakin' bad.
Nonetheless let's race our bikes. Race starts a group of nine of us seperate quick. Then down to seven after each FORT guy has mechanicals. Together few some laps and I am thinking man, I can ride the front here. I hold back and keep a rhythm. US Army Gallegher attacks and dangles. Steevo goes after him a few laps later. As he guys I hit the front for a little over a lap to slow down our group of five. Steevo bridges. Long story short, Steevo is a stud and ends up second after some young kid bridges, sits on and then sprints. I feel the pain every time I get out of the saddle. This sucks on the 10 times up a short 42-27 pitch. Eventually NRC road stud Fader drills our group. I rool in 7th. My legs were good, but could not stand. I really feel the shoulder.
Fast forward to now. I did not really sleep because the pain went from dull to excruciating. Add to the fact that I roll around a great deal when I sleep, it was not good. I gave up the battle at 4:45. Yes, I will try to race today. The legs feel great. If the course allows me to stay seated, I will be good. If it has a lot of stnding to accelerate. I am in trouble. As much as my tailbone hurt last week. This is soooo much worse. As a point of reference. It hurts and is a strain to lift a coffee cup, what maybe two pounds.
This one will require a hospital visit later today or tommorow.

Cycling is easy...

...walking is friggin' hard. My hip and calf muscles are blown from walking at Interbike. Lower back is killing as well. Yes, I bet the tourists faired better than I, pain-wise. Lest it be known that Kessel & I walked approximately 10-12 miles on Tuesday, 15ish miles on Wednesday, and another 8-10 on Thursday. Colin what is the TSS score I need to enter for all that shit?
The end result was tiredeness, but not enough to get any real shut-eye on the Thursday red-eye. Got home Friday morning to 2-3 hours sleep & a ton a unpacking and bike work to get some cross bikes rideable.
I finally fell asleep at 11:00 Friday. Two, three hours of sleep in thirty-six. This is where a certain person would be impressed, I slept THIRTEEN straight hours, and woke today at noon. SWEET! Now it is time to go out and see if my 'cross season will happen, or to what extent it will happen.
Coolest thing at Interbike. The homeless guy at the Palazzo. His sign read, "Ninja's killed my father, need money for karate lessons."

At the movies

More on that later.
I had some people over Saturday to christen the new patio, fire pit, and generally have a good ole time. There is something about grilling in 90 degree heat that makes it lose its fun. So as the sun finally set along with Michigan & Notre Dame's seasons, the patio became a very pleasant place to hang.
Quick background, when I purchased my house in May, the owner had already excavated the area to put in a patio. He was transferred before he could finish it. Being that I am the type that knows damn well when I am in over my head, I hired someone to install the paver patio, walkway, firepit & landscaping. It was complete with a week to spare. Saturday was the first time to enjoy it. Enjoy it we did, grilled meats, good beers, nice fire and the coup de gras.
Dogdeball, the movie, was shown at the Hebe drive-in. I was mentioning to my friend's that I have an LCD projector from work that we use for presentations. I can run my laptop through the projector and shine the movie onto a space on my house about 15'x30'. Viola, instant big-screen/theatre size film. Another friend replies, "why don't you just use your neighbors house. There are no windows and you have the whole side of a two-story house. Then & there the Hebe drive-in was born. I set it up and after a brief 2002 Tour of Flanders interlude, we kicked back and watched Dodgeball on my neighbors house. It was awesome. Great friends, and family, food, beer, a little fire going for ambiance.
So they next projects are the infamous Wizard of Oz/Dark side of the moon pairing and maybe the 24 hr Chris Eatough documentary.
Sweet.

Lots of stuff

Hmmm. Lots of stuff since the last post.
I have seem to have found my road legs.
I am excited for cross.
My patio is finished, and it is awesome. Feel free to visit.
The divorce is finally final. Now it is time to take a good long honest look at who and where I am.
I turned 40 today. Happy birthday to me. That means my cross age is 47.
I am having a "Yes I am 40, thank you for being good friends" party Saturday. I can not wait.
My overall health is better. Hopefully the 9/7 appt. confirms that.
I overimbibed at Ray & Nancy's wedding and paid dearly for it.
I had a nice discussion with someone from my past, albeit brief and somewhat sad.
I have said too much at times.
I have bitten my tongue when I should have spoke.
I saw "the girls" last week. They are awesome.
I played with my best little friend, Gabby Miller, yesterday. She is great. I wish I had one just like her.
Vegas is coming up. I am psyched for Interbike.
It is time to Tatt up. Everything is final.
Hobbes is still fat, happy and lazy.
Bruster's is pretty damn good.
I am somewhat excited and ready to meet new people.
I am very scared and somewhat frightened by the same prospect.
I have not had the Blaze for two weeks. I miss her.
I have not had the Impala since Friday, good riddance.
Kia Rondo. Rock band, porn star or rental car? You decide.
Some people close to me have disappointed me with their actions. Not you, Ames.
Some people close to me have surprised me at how much they keep giving and giving.

CAR BACK!!!

After much driving around running bike errands yesterday I tried in vain to make a group ride in Mechanicsburg. I missed by 5 minutes. I took off guessing where they may be going, but to no avail. It was good anywho. JRA. Go hard when I felt like it, easy when I felt like it. Very nice, I like.
As I am in the middle of a hard effort, I approach the bottom of a rise. I see three riders in front of me near the top. Hmmm, yeah I will catch them on the downhill sweeper. I contact the engine room and the furnace responds. I am flying and the downhill is a sweeper left, then over some RR tracks. All of this at about 40ish. As I get closer to the riders I realize this may not be so smooth. Not being sexist here, there are some facts that are inevitable. Women do not decsend as well as men. Especially local training ride women. Now put the aformentioned ladies on TT BIKES and mission control we have a problem. Couple that with the fact that I can decend and corner with the best P 1,2 riders around. I come screaming to the left and the first lady starts to move left then shouts out to alert her two riding partners ahead of her. CAR BACK! Yes, she shouts up car back. In that moment the shit of Christiana faded away. Unfortunately the two ladies in front now decide to take the whole lane and grab handfuls of brake at the RR track. I swing left and double hop the the two sets of tracks and see a car approaching at me. Still enough time to move right and drill the little rise and finish off my hard effort.
I have been called a lot of things, some good and some bad, in my life. Until yesterday I was never called a car. I liked it.
Car back, and proceeding full speed ahead.

Personal best on the suckmeter

Yep, I did it today. A new PB on the suckmeter. Christiana RR. I could not finish off the climb to save my life. Am I tired, from Tuesday still? Am I tired from the two prior weeks of antibiotics? Was the fact that my chain would not stay put when I was out of the saddle in my mind? Probably yes to all three. However in this day and age of zero, zip, zilch, it could not have been my responsibility, lack of accountability. I will say that none of the aforementioned issues were the issue. I just plain sucked and gave up. Yep there it is. I feel like shit because I let myself down and I let my teammates down. There were at least fifteen to twenty guys behind me when I pulled the plug with 24 miles to go. I could have easily kept riding to live on to suck again tomorrow. However I could do it no longer. The suckmeter was pegged and the give-a-fuck guage was on "E".
So there you have it. As I said to my buddy Kyle, "it is amazing how a shitty day can really wreak havoc on a fragile mind and make you not want to race."

What does it take

What does it take to be a leadout rider? I have always related to guys like Lombardi, Sacchi, Steegmans, the Cipo train, the pre-Milram Pettachi train. It is impressive on a couple of fronts. What does it take to know you are so strong that no one can come around you, yet you will finish your race 600 meters from the finish? What about being a world class sprinter and your race ending 100 meters from the finish? What kind of discipline does it take to absolutely place 100% of your aspirations/talent aside for your sprinter? Secondly it is mutha f'in hard to do what those freaks do. Brett Lancaster railing for 1k at 33-35 mph. Then someone like Steegmans takes over from there and crushes the penultimate acceleration for 400 meters at probably 38-40 mph down to 150-200 to go. Then the Boonen, McEwen, Bennati, Pettachi's take over.
So that brings me to this. In the last five years I can count on both hands, maybe even one, where I have seen this happen in an amateur race. Why? Are we not willing to lay it down for a teammate? Do we not practice the drill together? Hard to say. Do you know how hard it is to explain to a non-cyclist that you pulled off at 200 meters to go, while leading, to let your teamate win? People do not get it. Whatever the reason, a lead-out is the ultimate example of teamwork, self-sacrifice, and pure joy when it all goes right.
So since I am back racing some road crits I have been working on leadouts a little bit. I have the physical end down. I think last week at Grandview I got the mental end down to. I knew where I had to get to and I did it. I put my aspirations aside because I knew my teammate is a better sprinter. I trust him and know he appreciates the effort. My race ended 300 meters from the finish and my teammate won the field sprint. Hopefully now I can repeat it, but a little faster.
What does a decent regional 1,2 leadout require? Based on some repeated training data, 500 meters at 35 mph. Those are the numbers. You can/do not look at a PowerTap while doing the effort. You just go as hard as you can then study the data later. The distance seems long enough to start a long way away and the speed is high enough that no one will want to waste energy in the wind. I will let you know how it goes when it matters.

Original work

Blah if you ask me, but I am too lazy to update presently.

Oh I want to believe
There is more to this me
Then it hits me that maybe there isn’t
All the things that I try
As a means to get by
Then it hits me that maybe its futile
Up and down round and round
Covering all new ground
Then it hits me that I’m not a martyr
Where to go, what to do
No more tea set for two
Then it hits me I’m starting all over
Oh to dare mighty things
Take a new set of wings
Then it hits me, a chance of a lifetime
Did I fail, did I learn
A new start for to yearn
Then it hits me the road is wide open
Chance to choose not to lose
Risk the win, payoff huge
Then it hits me, a change to my thinking
Break it down most anyway
Take a chance make it pay
Then it hits me, life is not complacent
Dollar earned penny saved
Live your life now be brave
Then it hits me, its time to get moving
All for me all for you
All for us what to do
Then it hits me, no one is all alone
Looking back if you will
Tough to take bitter pill
Now it hits me