V10... try harder

there is no skidding in cyclocross......

2009-11-16T18:37:00.000-06:00

not going to save this lame blog, but....

2009-08-14T18:33:00.001-05:00

absurd

2009-07-03T18:04:00.002-05:00

Sarah Palin has just announced her resignation as governor of Alaska.

Political stunt? Maybe.

Maneuvering for a 2012 presidential run? Possibly.

Completely absurd? Absolutely.

Palin called a last minute press conference at her home that was apparently so rushed, a number of reporters and media folk were unable to make it in time to witness the spectacle first hand. Given that her Lt. Gov was informed of this decision on Wednesday, a reasonable person might conclude that something a bit better-planned would have been appropriate (cause, you know, she's only the state's governor and all). Still, I can't say I'm surprised. What, of her public presence during the 2008 campaign, ought to intimate otherwise? I can't think of a single example.

Better still, the ridiculousness of Palin's frenetic and abrupt press conference is outdone only by her child-like reasoning for leaving office ahead of schedule:

"Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose."

Let's make sure we're all on the same page here: Palin is shirking her duties as governor (an office for which SHE ran and for which SHE was elected) because she doesn't feel like embracing "politics as usual"? What in the world does fulfilling one's public obligation to the people whom one serves have to do with "politics as usual"? Oh, you don't like "the climate" so, "meh.... whatever..."?

Let's not forget this is the woman many republicans support(ed?) with unbridled zeal. Almost unbelievable. Almost. It is at least embarrassing -- if not infuriating -- to live in a country with so many self-satisfied dullards and simpletons. It's one thing to know one's limits (mentally, physically, what have you) yet test them regularly in an effort to improve oneself and one's surroundings. It's another to be ignorant of these limits and to traipse through such an existence in willfully negligence. It's a third altogether to glorify one's own ignorance as some sort of heightened state of consciousness (as if) to which others should aspire.

We are all dumber for having heard you and your supporters speak, Mrs. Palin. I truly hope you (pl.) spare us the encore.

thought(s) of the day

2009-06-22T18:36:00.002-05:00

forwarded to me earlier this afternoon:

"Good novels are lies that reveal the truth."

"Practical intelligence is knowing what to say to whom and when."

junk mails

2009-05-15T12:32:00.002-05:00

shareholdery3@wheelsofgeorgia.com writes:

"No more fats on your belly - try it today!"

Where do I signs up?

try harder, train

2009-05-07T12:07:00.002-05:00

courtesy of superpoop.com

a sampling...

2009-05-02T11:03:00.005-05:00

...of a website you may or may not know about.

(512): Don't come here someone got drunk and rolled the keg to buger king. no more beeer

I got wind of it from Ped.

(404): Dude, at my wedding all the groomsmen are gonna wear swords.

It's called textsfromlastnight.com

(717): Hey, It's Lauren. i wanted to talk to you tonight. I like you, as you know because kyle told you. I was wondering if you liked me too?
(206): Are you in the third fucking grade? Check yes or no.

You need to check it out.

early season commuting in Minnesota

2009-04-29T17:39:00.001-05:00

Here in the Midwest, riding in the Spring-time can often mean completely different wardrobes at different times of the day. This not only means one must own a broad assortment of riding clothes but it has the potential to make dressing and packing for a single weekday's commute notably challenging. Morning temps can start at 3o-odd degrees while an afternoon can top out in the 60's or even 70's.

I find a light packable wind vest, arm and leg/knee warmers as well as toe covers to be indispensable accessories this time of year. Full-finger gloves and some sort of a hat, too, of course.

Nevertheless, some people manage to pull off Spring-time riding in Minnesota with a single get-up for the entire day. These folks seem to err on the light side, putting up with morning chills in order to avoid over heating in the afternoon. I am not one of these people but I'm certainly not about to tell him or her how to dress.

Others, take it in an entirely contrary direction.

Though this photo may not do him justice, the guy up ahead on the receiving end of the "thumbs up" chose to don a full-body, safety-orange skin-suit. What makes this scene all the more precious for me is knowledge that none other than famed Italian bicycle component manufacturer, Campagnolo, at some point in time, produced this gem.

Priceless.

tuffride!

2009-04-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

Tuffride was super awesome today. I got the crap kicked out of me. I am going to sleep like a bag of rocks tonight.

I forgot the HR strap at home this morning so no clue what what happening on that front but it was probably pegged most of the time so, OK, big deal that I forgot it. I was annoyed by the new Garmin after realizing it decided to stop recording the ride about 7.5 miles into the affair. I hadn't noticed cause I was only occasionally glancing at the screen to see what the current speed was. I am also realizing that five data fields per screen (there are two among which to toggle) is probably TMI. I'm going to cut it down to three or four at least on the first screen shot.

We were flying today, at least for the part of the ride that I was able to hang with -- more or less the first half. The group broke into two smaller ones toward the end of CR 24 on the run into Lake Independence. Since I was mostly (OK, totally) riding wheels while we were on 24, I got caught in the 2nd group. Luckily, so had Ped and Smithers who tried against the rest of our best efforts to organize a rotation and chase down the group that'd escaped. Unfortunately, the amateurs prevailed but the yelling and hollering from Ped was both highly instructive as well as entertaining. Same SPBRC dude who fumbled in the pace line two weeks ago was causing trouble yet again. Bummer for him but also for the rest of the group. At one point, Ped yelled, "c'mon! we're not a bunch of Cat 4's!" and that made me chuckle (cause, really, I am Cat 4 pack-fill) but that was only in my head because I was turning myself inside out to do my part (which, of course, I did in a mediocre capacity).

I was dropped from this 2nd group but because the ride slows some to re-group once at Lake Independence I was able to TT my way to the back of the pack where Ped and Smithers kindly helped me recover a bit on their wheels and offered good advice. I was pretty much toast at that point, but I managed to barely hold on to the group for maybe another mile, if that, before getting shelled for good. I felt like I was going to blow chunks so I decided to ease off the throttle and let the group slip away. Smithers gave me a couple of pushes before I blew, which was impressive for him (he pushed remarkably hard taking into account that this is in the middle of tuffride) and embarrassing for me. But again, I was about to up-chuck so keeping the GU and nuun down was what I was most concerned with.

The remainder of the ride, though completed in mono, was not too bad. I had another GU in the pocket for a bit of fuel while riding into the wind and it wasn't too cold. I had time to focus on my spin and work to keep my cadence up. The whole thing is totally worth the effort. If you ever have an opportunity to do this ride, you should not hesitate. Just be prepared to get worked six times over.

"It occurs in Earth"

2009-04-27T18:37:00.003-05:00

What does it say about otherwise competent and lucid Minnesotans that a person such as Michelle Bachmann can be elected not once but twice to serve in the US House as a representative of our state?

What does it say about the individuals in our 6th District who voted her into office either of these two times (but especially the second)?

What does it say about those who helped Bachmann achieve re-election this past November? (you idiots know who you are)

This is nothing short of a travesty.

for zach (frank)

2009-04-13T22:05:00.005-05:00

Today my keyboard broke at work.
I've had this keyboard for many years -- almost as long as I've worked at this place.
I received a temporary replacement keyboard that is not like the keyboard I had and was told a replacement would be ordered.

The problem is that my old keyboard was one of those goofy anatomically correct (ergo?) keyboards.
The kind with the giant cleft straight up its mid section.
The new keyboard is a standard "workman's" keyboard.
It is rectangular and awkward, to say the least.
Some of the keys I frequently use are in different places, making me slower and less efficient at otherwise menial tasks.
This pains me in more ways than one.

So, here's to living the life of a tyrannosaurus rex for the next week or two.
I truly do not know how the rest of you do it...

fuck you, wallstreet

2009-03-16T14:57:00.003-05:00

Especially you, AIG.

According to the Journal's MarketWatch site, despite 62 billion in losses in the 4th quarter of 2008, AIG is preparing to pay out about 165 million in bonuses to its executives.

President Obama renounced the endeavor stating, "This is a corporation that finds itself in financial distress due to recklessness and greed. How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?" By afloat, he means that taxpayers now own about 80% of the company after the latest rounds of bailouts. Obama continued, "This isn't just a matter of dollars and cents. It's about our fundamental values."

Despite this, there's apparently a fair amount of skepticism as to whether these bonuses can actually be stopped due to the existence of binding contracts that were consummated prior to the collapse of our financial system and all the resulting bailouts. The argument goes, it'd most likely be illegal to break the contracts that these various execs have with AIG and not pay out the bonuses.

In response I'd like to say: hey assholes -- why don't you show some initiative and forgo the bonuses your contracts promise you and show a little situational awareness.

What makes these contracts so sacred? I mean, union contracts get amended all the time. Not to say that union pay is always appropriate or that unions are somehow special but seriously -- what makes these exec's so special that their contracts are immune to changes?

totally awesome.

2009-02-12T23:08:00.000-06:00

watch this.
no, seriously.
watch this.

Belgium dominates

2009-02-01T10:06:00.002-06:00

Bravo to Niels Albert!
Nice try, Stybar.
For a second I thought it might be Bart.
But that was only for a second.
Boom had a tough day.
Sven scored a predictable podium finish.

The Cyclocross World Championship is the most exciting sporting event of the new year. There's some sort of big bowl on teevee tonight. I hope the score lots of home runs in the third period and make an exciting sports-watching day for the rest America too.

health assessment

2009-01-28T11:37:00.002-06:00

My place of employment asks that its employees participate in an annual health assessments outside our doctors' offices; these are optional (I did not participate last year) but in 2009 the penalty for non-participation is in excess of $70 per paycheck as opposed to $20 in 2008. Our employer, who is also our insurer, gets aggregate data from these assessments and we each get... well... information and data that we'd otherwise get in the privacy of an annual doctor's visit. But that's neither here nor there.

Since my "figures" will kind-of no longer be private, I thought I'd just go ahead and make them all the way not private. Save the blood work (which takes some time, duh) here are my vitals:

** "Measurements taken without shoes, bulky clothing and empty pockets"
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 182lb
Waist: 34"
Hips: 39"
Body Fat: 19%
Pregnant: No, N/A
BMI: 25.4 (classification: overweight)
Blood Pressure: 122/78
Pulse: 68

My secret's out; now everyone will know they can kick my ass on the bike this year. Awesome.

let's go doods!

2009-01-20T09:41:00.002-06:00

x100

2009-01-02T17:33:00.002-06:00

As of this afternoon, an estimated 400 Palestinians are dead as a result of Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
The air strikes are said to be in response to 4 recent Israeli deaths due to Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.

Apparently 1 Israeli is equal to or greater than 100 Palestinians.

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-12-26T10:21:00.001-06:00

Go see it.

Happy Festivus

2008-12-23T08:18:00.001-06:00

hooray!! winter solstice has passed!

2008-12-22T18:38:00.002-06:00

and we can only go up from here.

time to go pack for detroit city!

When you forget why you ride your bike

2008-12-15T19:49:00.002-06:00

Read this post.
I hope it makes you smile as it did me.

zero dollar - that is how many I have

2008-12-15T18:45:00.003-06:00

I have absolutely NO motivation to ride the trainer right now.
Every day seems unrealistically filled with tasks to accomplish.
The nights come fast, the daylight slipping through my fingers while I sit bound in my office roundicle as if it were a cell.
Work only lets up long enough to make sure I've not lost consciousness before reapplying the pillow to my face.

The bicycle that I have strapped into the trainer is a "B" frame (if I dare ascribe to it such a lofty title). I cannot seem to get it properly adjusted in order for it to feel "right." The "A" frame was sold off because it has always been too small. The only redeeming quality of this new set-up is that the rear shifting is flawless. Astoundingly so, in fact. The chain hunks into gear at the slightest tease of my shift lever regardless of its trajectory up or down the cassette. But let us not get ahead of ourselves -- there is only so much joy (and very much irony) that can be found in perfect shifting on a trainer-bound bicycle in one's living room.

I eat far too many cookies.
One might deem this to be enough motivation TO ride the trainer but I assure you that in my world delicious cookies only serve to motivate me into eating more delicious cookies.
I can literally hear myself getting fatter.
When I bend forward, where there once was one small roll of belly fat now reside two.

I haven't done any serious exercise since the state cross champs.
This weekend will mark 4 full weeks.

I can't stand the idea of getting onto the trainer right now.
I can't stand the fact that I haven't yet.

Posted without comment

2008-12-13T12:25:00.003-06:00

there vs. their

2008-11-25T22:44:00.003-06:00

Maybe you should take the quiz.

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to hit up the difference between who's and whose either.

I'm not saying... I'm just saying.

random

2008-11-24T20:46:00.006-06:00

After dinner A said that if I didn't put up a new post, people would stop reading my blog. What I want to know is who's reading this lame-o blog?? So, without further ado, here are a few images I dug out of iPhoto (which sucks, btw) to... well... keep whoever you are from never reading my blog again. Enjoy-

Brothers don't shake hands! Brothers gotta hug!!

Safety first -- I wonder if it's reflective for the night crowd, too...

Despite being taken on a shitty camera whilst driving, this is one of my all-time favorite photographs.

Give a girl a bicycle and you will be dumped. Newton's little publicized 4th law of gravity. The more effort you put into the bike, the swifter the verdict.

How can you know this was not taken in Nebraska? Hints: this is the dash of a 26' Penske truck; no, the instrument cluster is not frozen.

My favorite spot in the twin cities.

OH NO!!!!

#s

2008-11-19T10:05:00.001-06:00

It's been more than six years since I last dreamed in numbers.

In 2002, during my last semester at Madison, I was a student in Professor Byrd's Logic course. I found a great deal of satisfaction in the proofs we worked week in, week out. I think -- nay, I know -- these exercises appealed to the same part of me that insisted socks be put on juuuuust right as a child, that meticulously applies handlebar tape at precise and even widths to my bicycles, and that relishes freshly "made" bed linens before turning in each night.

In the final weeks of his course, Prof Byrd assigned each of us a super-proof of sorts with which to grapple as part of our final exam. Of course, I immersed myself in this proof, sorting out sections and bits while riding to work at the shop or sitting at Einstein's on State Street chewing bagels. And then came the night before the proof was due; our group met that evening mulling over our efforts line by line but no one -- including me -- had achieved resolution.

Late that night I rode home, tired and stuck on this seemingly irreconcilable proof. I went to bed and slept poorly. I dreamed in numbers and figures and lines of proofs. I awoke early -- something like 4am, well before the sun -- and lay on my back staring at the ceiling and working through our proof. All of a sudden whatever I had dreamed, whatever my mind had worked out in my sleep came together in a solution to the elusive proof! Eureka! I fumbled for a pen and a notebook and started scribbling furiously in the dark. I was elated. I had sorted out the answer.

I passed on the shower, dressing quickly to allow for maximum transit time before the exam began at 8am. It must not yet have been 6am but I wanted to make damn sure that nothing was going to stop me from delivering my proof in time to get credit for it. I grabbed the bike and rode into campus aiming straight for the Helen C. White Library above which was perched the philosophy department.

I knew that Professor Byrd was often in his office early mornings and I held my fingers crossed riding up the elevator that that day was no exception. Success! He was indeed present. I handed him my proof, tired and a bit delusional from all the proof-crunching. He quietly looked it over, page by page, for what seemed an eternity. Eventually he looked up, grinned and before he even spoke I felt everything in the world was right.

I truly miss that class, Professor Byrd and most of all the proofs. It was something at which I excelled in spades and I loved that about Logic. It made sense to me -- it fit with the way I think about the world. It was neat and appropriate and everything had it's place, you just had to figure out where it all went.

Maybe some day I'll get to return to logic. Perhaps I'll become a Logician. I don't really know what Logicians do or even whether this is even a viable profession -- I mean, I can't imagine a great need for Logicians in the world but who knows. Perhaps there's something else. For now, I'll stick with bicycles and get my kicks from elaborate spreadsheets.

ouch cont'd

2008-11-16T13:56:00.003-06:00

(photo's by skinny ski)

ouch

2008-11-15T22:09:00.004-06:00

Went down pretty hard in the first 200 yards of the state cross race today. Got a great position on the starting line, had a solid start and was top ten (out of 101) through the first bend, then experienced a bit of bad racing luck.

Longer story short, ate shit, jacked up my right shoulder and hip, and bruised my forehead, elbow and knee a wee bit. The Empella suffered some wounds of its own: rear tubular wheel is all wobbles now and the top tube has a nice golf-ball-sized dent in it right where the handlebar must have tooled it in the crash.

On the bright side, at least this might be the last race of the season for me and the Empella. Plus, now I have a better reason for getting myself a replacement "A" bike for next year.

On the not so bright side, the shoulder has started to hurt again and the red mark where it hurts look to be some sort of contusions rather than spots from the heat-packs I had on the area after the race. This is not awesome.

As for the race, besides getting about a three minute delay courtesy of the crash and subsequent confusion, requisite wheel change, etc. things went OK. I wonder if this is because I pretty much had to start from the back of the field and work my way up and it didn't really matter what happened since I wasn't going to win anyway, much less make the top 10 or even 20. I just went as hard as I could go. It was great getting encouragement from friends and co-workers, especially from Ped who was yelling at me that I was gaining on Dick Tanner. Looking at the final standings and considering the time I was making up each lap, had there been one more lap in the end I'd have caught not only Tanner but Apples as well.

But it wasn't in the cards, I guess. And c'est la vie. I am not glad that I crashed but I feel like it helped me to relax a bit about the future racing seasons. Sometimes you feel good and sometimes you don't; sometimes things go well and other times the odds seem stacked against you even before you hit the end of the first lap. I am glad to gain this perspective as I'm sure it'll help me race better, smarter, and ultimately faster next time. And there's always a next time.

See you bitches next season in the B's!

Cyclocross State Championship

2008-11-14T09:19:00.004-06:00

This Saturday (11/15) at Basset Creek Park in beautiful Crystal you can see the Minnesota State Cross Championships. I will be racing. A lot of other folks will be racing. It's going to be chilly and crappy -- proper cyclocross weather.

Come out and spectate -- it'll be a lot of fun. I'll bring some beer for you in case standing and cheering in the cold doesn't do it for you on its own. Three letters that are sure to set your chops-a-droolin': P-B-R. That's right. Only the most premium bubbly beverage for my friends and supporters.

I will be racing at 11am sharp. It will be a half-hour jaunt through sand, mud, up stairs and over barriers. Wear your long johns and dig out that parka -- both are highly recommended for such an experience.

In the mean-time check out some of the sweet European cross action on the World Cup circuit...

the best

2008-11-12T16:22:00.003-06:00

words used to describe our global financial crisis were uttered by one of my Asian vendors:

"All that is solid might be melt into air all of sudden."

in appripriate

2008-11-12T15:32:00.003-06:00

This is precisely the word (words?) used in an apology email by a coworker yesterday to describe a previous email he sent "to all" which clearly was not intended for said audience. Amazing, I know.

And then today, albeit using proper grammar/spelling/what-have-you, a vendor contact of the opposite sex called me a bitch. Yes, a bitch.

To this I say, "Madam, that is in appripriate."

on record

2008-11-11T18:21:00.003-06:00

Today marks the first time I ride indoors this winter. This is not to say I have begun my winter training regimen; I simply wish to keep the legs moving in preparation for what could be the last race of the season.

On the bike training will commence in earnest some time in December. I am looking forward to a better yield (as a cash-cropper might say) this year. I will have had the past year's experience from which to gleam some degree of wisdom. I know where I fell short, what I will need to do more of, and when I can expect the motivation to wane.

A lot of exciting things will transpire in the following six months; a fruitful winter's training will be the icing on the cake come Spring.

man....

2008-11-10T14:42:00.002-06:00

How am I supposed to loose weight when I'm hungry all the time?

Last weekend A said I could probably get by on Punch Pizza and Potbelly's alone (not counting breakfast). I would agree. They are both delicious; I want to eat their yummy foods every time I think about either. Man....

And then there are the pastries. I looooove me some pastries. I especially heart Lucia's pain au chocolate as well as their crepes, the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies at the bakery across the street from my house and the blueberry and raspberry bran muffins at Gigi's. If you haven't tried but one of these delectable foods, you haven't lived your life to the fullest.

Did I mention I'm hungry all the time? I was hungry 26 minutes ago and bought a small bag of Cheez-its out of the vending machine at work. I'll probably be hungry again before I leave for the day. This is not good. What to do... what to do?

Velo Cyclocross Wrap Up

2008-11-08T18:25:00.002-06:00

Cyclocross racing in good cyclocross weather again this weekend.

When I saw Smithers out there after the C race was done, I asked if he was racing. Then I felt dumb.

My race went ok -- maybe a 7 out of 10. I missed the hole-shot at the start, setting me at about mid-pack despite lining up at the front. I missed clipping in and it cost me my good placement. The rest of my race was all about making up places. This was easy at the start as everyone was fairly bunched up but grew harder as the race went on. This was the only good part of the race -- namely, that I enough energy and strength to keep making up spots as the race went on. This bodes well for starting to ride the B's in a longer race format. I would start now, but there is only a single race left (state champs next week) so it'll have to wait til next season.

The worst part of the race was taking a spill on the wet plywood ramp leading into the velodrome infield. My bike slipped out and I went down pretty hard on the wooden track. My hip is pretty sore but I should be ok save for nice tennis-ball sized bruise. It was toward the end of the race and resulted in loosing the only 2 positions of my race.

I ended with a 14th place finish, a good bit behind Apples who held down a 6th place finish. Second week in a row for Apples -- good work Apples. I am excited for next week and a little sad for cyclocross season to be over. Strangely, I am looking forward beginning a training regimen for next year.

Apples and I stayed after our race to watch the B's and A's. In between, we went for pizza. Yum. The B race was good and I yelled at DC and T3 to go faster. T3 wins the price for most thorough observance of said hollering.

The A race was fast. Right away Doug Swanson and Adam Bergman took off. They would not be caught again. In the first lap, Ped suffered no less than three issues -- total bummer. First, the tubee's he borrowed from me got a slow leak on the rear requiring a wheel change. Then, his bike slid out on a hairpin taking him down. Then, his chain dropped on a short hill requiring off-the-bike attention. Again, total bummer. Hopefully next week he will have better luck.

Grant Park - Chicago, IL

2008-11-04T22:28:00.003-06:00

Wish I was there.

Thank god this man has become the 44th president of this country. I didn't want to have to look into property up in Canada.

A side note: some in the repub party are shameless idiots; this was evident at McCain's concession speech where the crowd booed mention of Obama/Biden and even took to chanting "Sarah" while their candidate was mid-sentence.
Unbelievable.
One might say pathetic.

So OK, eat your hearts out, douche-bags.

Obama is the president whether you like it or not.
It's now the dawn of MY America -- OUR America.
If you want to be part of it, great, if not, go suck on a lemon.

proud to be from Jersey!

2008-11-04T19:33:00.002-06:00

Way to make it happen for Obama, home state...

you fucking pieces of shit

2008-11-04T18:55:00.002-06:00

This is unbelievable.

In other news, MPR reported this evening that text messages are being sent to Minneapolis cell phones stating Obama voters will be allowed to vote as late as Thursday. This too is unbelievable; in fact, it's illegal in Minnesota as well as under federal law.

People who do this ought to get shat on -- literally.

fire it up!

2008-11-04T13:45:00.001-06:00

voting is totally awesome!!

2008-11-04T09:56:00.003-06:00

I got to the polling place at 10 after 6am, and there were 7 people already lined up ahead of me.

Once the polls opened, I took my time ensuring that each oval was perfectly filled in so as not to cause any potential for mis-reading (or mis-scanning??) by the machine. I thought there was going to be an initiative on the ballot about unionized labor but no such item was on my ballot. Oh well. I voted for the environmental funding and for the chitlins' edumacation funding increases. The back of the ballot had something like 30+ judges to vote for, most of whom were running unopposed. Admittedly, I left many of these blank but managed to fill in a handful of ovals on that side in races about which I was at least nominally aware.

Other than that it was shout-outs for Obama, that dude Keith and big Al cause it'd be sweet to see a democratically held, filibuster-proof congress. I listened to a right-wing commentator being interviewed on NPR last night; she shared her concern that such a circumstance in concert with an Obama presidency would move the US away from what she called a center-right United States over the last 20/30 years and toward a European style Social Democracy. So OK -- I will vote to make this happen crusty old lady. Thanks!

Go vote.

2008-11-03T09:47:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow is November 4th -- Election Day in the US.

If you do not vote I will probably think you are a complete tool with exception for those who, by some freak chain of events, are physically unable to do so.

High-five for everybody who votes (low-five for those voting for McCain).

Suc-cesssss!! (a la Borat)

2008-11-03T09:46:00.000-06:00

Another weekend come and gone. Another weekend of cross racing come and (unfortunately) gone. The weather was unbelievable. Racing went off without any major hitches.

Apples and I drove out to Taylors Falls on Saturday to participate in the Red Barn Cross race. Unlike last weekend, the course featured almost entirely flat terrain -- there was only a solitary 25ft hill that was so steep it required one to dismount and run in order to overcome it (this is called a run-up). The course wound its way through a local tree farm off hwy 8 and featured plenty of fast corners meaning that handling skills would come in extra handy as would the ability to accelerate out of each turn. Finally, besides the run-up there was a triple barrier and a lonely single barrier toward the front end of the course that necessitated dis- and re-mounting.

All in all the race went very well -- I managed a 7th overall spot and 5th in my category. I made the hole-shot in the top 10 at the start of the race, and this placed me very well to have a solid race. I don't believe I gave up position to anyone except for Apples, who caught me half-way through the race. This was a bummer to be sure but he is still stronger than me so it was not a huge surprise. I rode his wheel for most of the final 3 laps until he got a flat in the last half of the final lap. I believe he still pulled off a top 25 finish, which deserves some modicum of kudos. So, OK -- good hustle, Apples.

Two more weeks left before the season is over and the time will come to start thinking about training for '09. Good times, as always.

Illin' Update

2008-10-30T09:57:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a bad day as far as my sickness goes; I stayed home from work yesterday morning and came in late for a half day. I felt like crap yesterday morning so it felt appropriate. I awoke this morning feeling better than yesterday, so I decided to try my hand at a little physical exertion and rode in to work. I had initially figured I'd take it slow and just get the legs moving, but I felt good enough to go a little harder than just spinning so I changed the plan to doing a little work-out on the way in. Apples says we hammered on our commute, so OK. Sometimes it helps me to sweat illness out of my system.

An hour later and I'm feeling alright. Still sick, to be sure, but not any worse really than I felt before getting on the bike. We'll see how the ride home goes, but things are looking good for racing this weekend at Red Barn.

oh no

2008-10-28T08:01:00.002-05:00

I came home last night with a stoofy nose and heavy head. Woke up this morning with a runny nose, bit of a sore throat and stoofy head.

Is this just reaction to the flu shot from last week? Is it from racing this Sunday in freezing temps wearing not much more than a cycling kit with arm and knee warmers?

I feel my odds are better if it's the former, and I'm quietly hoping that's all this is...

green acres cyclocross

2008-10-26T19:12:00.003-05:00

holy shet we had some crappy weather today; perfect weather, though, for cyclocross! I believe we were at about 35F at the time of our race, and had snow/drizzle coming down on us to varying degrees throughout the 30 minutes. Miserable. Awesome.

I invited the popsicle kisses crowd to come out and see what all the fuss was about -- I understand thems got real cold and wet like, but I thoroughly appreciated their presence. I could hear them cheering for me on each lap; thanks guys!

Let's see if I can recap appropriately...

Race is to start at 11am. I wanted to get there on-time/early this weekend (as opposed to my other races this fall which have all felt rushed) so I plotted an ETA of no later than 9:30am. Apples (formerly Weezy), A and I had a nice sit-down breakfast at Zumbro and arrived out in Lake Elmo right on time. I planned to ride the trainer outside of the car, but I was way to cold; Apples and I decided to take to the local roads and get our "warm-up" in there. I worked out fine, and we lined up with about 50+ other folks for the C race.

The course was in part (or completely?) designed by Ped; he puts together good courses from experience so I was eager to give it a go. There was a giant hill at the outset of the course that would be integrated into the mid-point of the course in subsequent laps. After that we rode up and around a large field, which allowed time to recover from the climb. The climb was brutal. By the second lap, almost everyone around me was riding real slow like upon cresting that hill. Would have been a great time to make a move, but I was equally blown. I checked the heart rate after the hill on the first two laps and registered in the high 180's each time. Close to dizzy-time, so I stopped checking on the rest of the laps -- there was no point and I was just going to waste more energy.

After the loop around the field came the descending. I really like descending; mostly because I'm not shitty at it. And a lot of other road racers are kind of pusses when it comes to riding fast down hill. I thank my silly dh/freeride days for this. I stayed up on the off-camber switchbacks for all but my last lap; I stacked it good on the final turn in my final lap after having made up ground on 4 or 5 dudes with some hard work on the field just before. When I got up, my handlebars were super tweeked to the side and I tried to straighten my front end in vein as the same 4 or 5 dudes went back past me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to the course...

After crossing the start/finish line (this is a circuit course, btw, sort of like a lot of auto racing you see on teevee) we hung a left and rolled around the farm land a bit, through a hairpin turn and into a fast sand section. It was only about 20ft long so it was totally ridable. You just had to not stop. Some folks did. These folks fell. After the sand, there was one more obstacle before hitting the massive hill; an off camber run-in to a barrier and a left turn into a steep little run up. It was tough because the barrier was perpendicular to the course before the run up so you had to jump the barrier, and then immediately start running up hill 90 degrees to your left. This sucked a lot of the energy out of my legs just in time for hitting the hill.

All in all things went well. I stacked it only once and it was at the end. I learned I'd have been better served by a smaller gear (running a 42 x 12-25) because of the hill. I was able to ride the hill out all but once when I had to dismount in the last 30ft after my rear wheel slid out. Still, I was totally wrecked after that hill and this left precious little energy for chasing.

Apples managed a top 10 result coming in 9th. Bravo, Apples. Big shouts out to Ped for the course and yelling at me to get in a bigger gear at a critical time, to DC and Scherer for running alongside me on the hill and helling at me to keep going, to A, of course, and again to the popsicle crowd for awesome support and coming out in the crap weather.

Take care of that noggin, Smithers, you gonna need it next weekend at Taylors Falls.

the pot and the kettle

2008-10-24T13:20:00.002-05:00

The right wing harps on Hollywood for being unqualified liberal gas-bags: what do actors know about politics, anyway? These types should keep their elitist out-of-touch opinions to themselves and focus on acting. Period.

What does it say that one of the current Repub darlings, Mr. Aahnold of Caleeforneea, has been the subject of speculation for future presidential candidacy? What of the fact that the Rebubs' poster boy, the hallow Mr. Regan, was himself, too, just another actor from Hollywood?

Smacks of hypocrisy to me. You?

odd

2008-10-23T13:55:00.003-05:00

I was scheduled for my flu shot today. When I sat down next to the administrator of my shot, she asked if I wanted a flu shot or a flu spray. Intrigued, I inquired after the latter. Unbeknown to me, there's a nasal spray option for the flu vaccine. No needle, no stabee.

So, OK. I chose the nasal spray option.

Nothing much to report 10 minutes later other than a slightly runny nose, and even that is getting better with every passing minute. If this works out fine, I am totally done with flu shots herein. Sweet!

hi-larious

2008-10-23T10:50:00.003-05:00

T3 is a funny guy. He is also the proprietor of yeast waffles, which I hope to enjoy some weekend in the near future. I came across use of the phrase "crabby pants" on his blog this morning and laughed out loud.

I don't know if it's that funny a phrase in real life -- maybe I just needed to laugh, who knows -- but I thought it was great and I have decided to incorporate this phrase into my vernacular. I will try it out on A in the mornings when she is just waking up and still half-asleep to scold her, "take off them crabby pants!!"

She'll totally think it's funny, realize the error of her ways and not hate me in the slightest bit!

put a muzzle on 'er

2008-10-22T11:10:00.003-05:00

Michele Bachmann is out of line. Well, ok, she's always been out of line; but right now people seem to have taken notice to her unbridled crazy.

If you haven't already seen clips, Bachmann went on teevee this weekend to voice concern over Barack Obama's (as well as pretty much any Democratic member of Congress') "anti-American" views.

Since it is no longer acceptable in polite society to burn witches at the stake, please take a moment or two to fill out this on-line petition asking Congress to censure Michele Bachmann. Since she is incapable of keeping her mouth closed and the stoopid inside of her own head it is appropriate that she be told to shut up and sit down.

Civilization itself thanks you for your time.

scientific experiment

2008-10-20T21:55:00.004-05:00

Water.
During cross racing, some believe it to be unnecessary, others believe otherwise.
Last weekend out at Ham Lake I could have probably done without. At Wirth, I went without but wished desperately that I'd had it available.

There's also A's perspective; I've asked her to do water hand-ups for me at the races I've done this year. But she enjoys watching the race and wants the freedom to walk around and see the different parts of the course: barriers, potential mud, obstacles, etc. Having to hang out at the water pit pretty much means she has to work during my race instead of enjoying herself checking things out.

What to do?

I'll tell you what to do. Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to try out during an experiment. There is such a thing called a fuelbelt (click on the link... I know; holy christ, right?). Tri-dorks wear these things when they're running. It's basically a gimmicky-type product that gives you access to a collection of small (8oz) water bottles that you can wear in a belt like grenades rather than having to carry by hand a regular water bottle. I've tried one of these things running, but the tension of the belt around my belly just makes me need to go poop mid-run -- not exactly convenient.

BUT, having one of these bottles with me during a cross race might not be such a bad idea. Instead of donning the stupid belt, I'd simply slide one of these bottles into my left jersey pocket. The bottles flattened dimensions and small size should give me enough water with which to have a quick drink at those two or three junctures during the race when I'm dying for it, without too much of a weight penalty AND without sacrificing A's freedom of movement at the race.

I'm excited to try it out as I think it's going to turn out to be an awesome idea. We'll see how it goes at Lake Elmo.

Btw, you should come out and see some racing.
It's totally awesome.

Seriously.
I'll send you directions.

cross race #3

2008-10-18T16:34:00.005-05:00

Last weekend's race at Theo Wirth sucked so much ass that it did not warrant an entry. sorry. just wasn't going to happen.

Back to today...

Ham Lake. It's just north of Blaine, just south of Manitoba. I'd heard good things about this course and was eager to redeem myself (if only to myself) after last weekend's performance (or total lack thereof). Things went pretty well. The course was really really flat, and had a long-ish paved section. There was one triplet barrier section and one mud pit that looked way more threatening than it actually was. Otherwise the course was almost entirely contained within the bounds of a pine forest with a few deciduous trees mixed for good measure.

The C race was first, so the ground was pretty soft and the dirt was loose. I understand that pine tree leavenings leach a fair amount of acid into the ground and this makes the soil rather sandy. This made for a lot of really fun floating in corners and also claimed a few riders' positions during the race. One such rider, playing the role of total amateur, decided he was going to remove his full finger gloves at speed and mid course in the middle of a terribly bumpy single-track section. I suspected this would end poorly and numb-nuts did not disappoint. I had backed off a bit from riding his wheel and sure enough a rut or root or something turned his bars sideways and the dude was down. I considered riding him over for a moment but instead worked to get around his flailing form without loosing too much momentum.

After the race I saw the guy and suggested it hadn't been the smartest thing to do and next time keep the gloves on or not put 'em on in the first place. This is a 30 minute race. It is not the grand tour. There is no need to add or to remove layers of any sort. Dude just replied insipidly, "yea, sorry about that." Don't be sorry dude! Just don't be an idiot. Next time I will run over his chest or something.

Anyway, back to the racing. Lap 1 was ok. It is always a mad scramble/dash/sprint -- whatever you want to call it. I tried my best to keep myself in the top third of the pack without going hog-wild and over-exerting myself. Going by a friend 3/4 of the way up the course, I held 16th position. It turned out pretty well as on the second lap I made up four or five spots and was leading a small chase group going into the barriers at the end of the circuit. Lap 3 went less well and I gave up a couple spots from my effort in the previous go-around. Lap 4 featured the kid eating dirt, and from there on in, I think we maybe rode six or seven laps total in the allotted time.

I found that I felt good recovering on the long-ish paved section, though I was surprised that even at recovery speed, I was still generally overcoming at least 2 or 3 dudes on that stretch. My goal there was to bring my HR down 5-10 bpm's before reentering the forest. Generally, my aim was to go as hard as possible without blowing up. I was only close to feeling wrecked once about 22 minutes in, but at that point I realized there was only going to be a lap and a half left and it was no time to slow down. I am glad to report that I managed to keep it at the same intensity and finish reasonably strong.

In the end, I finished 14th overall -- probably in the top 25%. I felt pretty good about this race, especially as compared to last weekend's debacle at Wirth. I again have hopes and maybe a wee bit of expectation that I can break top 10 consistently before the season's over and perhaps even score myself a top 5 finish before the end of state's in mid-November. I've got four more weekends to make it happen.

Good times.

did you see that?

2008-10-15T21:33:00.003-05:00

McCain just finished digging his political grave -- 19 days ahead of schedule!
If you missed it, I'm sure it'll be on youtube later this week.

A few quick observations:

- Big shout out to Joe the plumber, I guess.

- What is it with equating pro-choice to "pro-abortion?"

- McCain got agitated a lot; Obama kept his cool the whole time. I wonder which is more likely to appeal to centrist/independent voters?

- Mit Romney is still a dick.

- Good thing McCain chided Obama for his eloquence... cause, like, I totally wouldn't want an intelligent individual with an actual understanding of the issues to be president of the United States.

halloween

2008-10-14T11:32:00.004-05:00

Halloween is coming; are you prepared?

I'm scrambling to get my proverbial excrement together for this year's costume. I don't know if I'll be able to top the crab from a couple years back but I'm certainly going to do my best.

Yes, those are giant working foam pincers. I also added a french-style giant mustache to cap it all off. Totally would've won costume of the year.

comparrison

2008-10-14T06:45:00.003-05:00

While Barack Obama unveiled a revised economic plan last night in light of our financial crisis, McCain's campaign flounders.

Hey, no problem! You take as long as you need, John. We'll just hold tight.

Leadership we can count on.

Yup.

ummmm....

2008-10-13T17:49:00.004-05:00

So, when the right vilifies European economic attitudes as stifling, backward and even (god forbid) Socialist, what does it say about the US when, by all intelligent and informed accounts, Europe -- especially the UK -- appear to be getting it right not only in terms of efficacy but also in quickness when addressing our global financial crisis?

Europe has rendered a plan and embarked upon its implementation in the same amount of time it's taken our treasury to say, "here's what we're plannin' ta do..."

Sort of makes us look like jokers rather than world leaders.

And speaking of leadership, where the f$#k is Bush on all this? Bueller? Bueller...?

question for today

2008-10-08T18:24:00.002-05:00

what is up with people using catch phrases lately?
Palin with "Maverick(s)" in reference to herself and McNutters.
One of my vendors with "Until it's in my hands, it's vapor-ware" in reference to their new products.

Enough already.

question for today

2008-10-06T18:42:00.005-05:00

Is it worthwhile to subscribe to the Economist for one year at about $100 total cost? I've had a subscription to this publication before and I'm generally able to read most of what I want every other week (it is a weekly subscription). I currently receive no other print media having relied solely on NPR and the internets for the past year+.

For purposes of full disclosure, I will note that I am leaning in one direction but wanted to "put it out there" to see what folk(s) thought. This is where you, my solitary reader, would comment...

thought for today

2008-10-06T18:33:00.002-05:00

Politics are stoopid, pointless and usually offend at least one person no matter what.

Sometimes I don't know why I even bother. Still, I press on...

Cross racing 2008: #1

2008-10-04T23:50:00.002-05:00

Race number one of 2008.
Mediocre finish: 17th.
Beat Weezy at least.

I'm definitely going to stick with the C category til either win or place in top 5 a couple times. This one was way harder/faster than the Powderhorn race I did 3 years back; don't know if it has something to do with the re-shuffling of cross categories. Though, perhaps I should focus on top 10 first...

The Grifo XS tubulars were phenomenal, btw. The course (Corcoran) was very dry and a mix of mostly grass and loose dirt/gravel. I ran about 40psi and probably could've gone lower but I don't know that it would have made much difference. I look forward to playing with different tire pressures in the coming weeks. Also with my yet-unused Fango tubulars!

More tomorrow.
Time for bed now.
I'm shweepy.

comedy

2008-10-03T21:39:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of George Saunders and the New Yorker:

Explaining how she felt when John McCain offered her the Vice-Presidential spot, my Vice-Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin, said something very profound: “I answered him ‘Yes’ because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink. So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.”
Isn’t that so true? I know that many times, in my life, while living it, someone would come up and, because of I had good readiness, in terms of how I was wired, when they asked that—whatever they asked—I would just not blink, because, knowing that, if I did blink, or even wink, that is weakness, therefore you can’t, you just don’t. You could, but no—you aren’t.
That is just how I am.
Do you know the difference between me and a Hockey Mom who has forgot her lipstick?
A dog collar.
Do you know the difference between me and a dog collar smeared with lipstick?
Not a damn thing.
We are essentially wired identical.
So, when Barack Obama says he will put some lipstick on my pig, I am, like, Are you calling me a pig? If so, thanks! Pigs are the most non-Élite of all barnyard animals. And also, if you put lipstick on my pig, do you know what the difference will be between that pig and a pit bull? I’ll tell you: a pit bull can easily kill a pig. And, as the pig dies, guess what the Hockey Mom is doing? Going to her car, putting on more lipstick, so that, upon returning, finding that pig dead, she once again looks identical to that pit bull, which, staying on mission, the two of them step over the dead pig, looking exactly like twins, except the pit bull is scratching his lower ass with one frantic leg, whereas the Hockey Mom is carrying an extra hockey stick in case Todd breaks his again. But both are going, like, Ha ha, where’s that dumb pig now? Dead, that’s who, and also: not a smidge of lipstick.
A lose-lose for the pig.
There’s a lesson in that, I think.
Who does that pig represent, and that collar, and that Hockey Mom, and that pit bull?
You figure it out. Then give me a call.
Seriously, give me a call.
Now, let us discuss the Élites. There are two kinds of folks: Élites and Regulars. Why people love Sarah Palin is, she is a Regular. That is also why they love me. She did not go to some Élite Ivy League college, which I also did not. Her and me, actually, did not go to the very same Ivy League school. Although she is younger than me, so therefore she didn’t go there slightly earlier than I didn’t go there. But, had I been younger, we possibly could have not graduated in the exact same class. That would have been fun. Sarah Palin is hot. Hot for a politician. Or someone you just see in a store. But, happily, I did not go to college at all, having not finished high school, due to I killed a man. But had I gone to college, trust me, it would not have been some Ivy League Élite-breeding factory but, rather, a community college in danger of losing its accreditation, built right on a fault zone, riddled with asbestos, and also, the crack-addicted professors are all dyslexic.
Sarah Palin was also the mayor of a very small town. To tell the truth, this is where my qualifications begin to outstrip even hers. I have never been the mayor of anything. I can’t even spell right. I had help with the above, but now— Murray, note to Murray: do not correct what follows. Lets shoe the people how I rilly spel Mooray and punshuate so thay can c how reglar I am, and ther 4 fit to leed the nashun, do to: not sum mistir fansy pans.
OK Mooray. Get corecting agin!
Thanks, Murray, you’re fabulous. Very good at what you do. Actually, Murray, come to think of it, you are so good, I suspect you are some kind of Élite. You are fired, Murray, as soon as this article is done. I’m going to hire someone Regular, who is not so excellent, and lives off the salt of the land and the fat of his brow and the sweat of his earth. Although I hope he’s not a screw-up.
I’m finding it hard to concentrate, as my eyes are killing me, due to I have not blinked since I started writing this. And, me being Regular, it takes a long time for me to write something this long.
Where was I? Ah, yes: I hate Élites. Which is why, whenever I am having brain surgery, or eye surgery, which is sometimes necessary due to all my non-blinking, I always hire some random Regular guy, with shaking hands if possible, who is also a drunk, scared of the sight of blood, and harbors a secret dislike for me.
Now, let’s talk about slogans. Ours is: Country First. Think about it. When you think of what should come first, what does? Us ourselves? No. That would be selfish. Our personal families? Selfish. God? God is good, I love Him, but, as our slogan suggests, no, sorry, God, You are not First. No, you don’t, Lord! How about: the common good of all mankind! Is that First? Don’t make me laugh with your weak blinking! No! Mercy is not First and wisdom is not First and love is super but way near the back, and ditto with patience and discernment and compassion and all that happy crap, they are all back behind Country, in the back of my S.U.V., which— Here is an example! Say I am about to run over a nun or orphan, or an orphan who grew up to become a nun—which I admire that, that is cool, good bootstrapping there, Sister—but then God or whomever goes, “It is My will that you hit that orphaned nun, do not ask Me why, don’t you dare, and I say unto thee, if you do not hit that nun, via a skillful swerve, your Country is going to suffer, and don’t ask Me how, specifically, as I have not decided that yet!” Well, I am going to do my best to get that nun in one felt swope, because, at the Convention, at which my Vice-Presidential candidate kicked mucho butt, what did the signs there say? Did they say “Orphaned Nuns First” and then there is a picture of a sad little nun with a hobo pack?
Not in my purview.
Sarah Palin knows a little something about God’s will, knowing God quite well, from their work together on that natural-gas pipeline, and what God wills is: Country First. And not just any country! There was a slight error on our signage. Other countries, such as that one they have in France, reading our slogan, if they can even read real words, might be all, like, “Hey, bonjour, they are saying we can put our country, France, first!” Non, non, non, France! What we are saying is, you’d better put our country first, you merde-heads, or soon there will be so much lipstick on your pit bulls it will make your berets spin!
In summary: Because my candidate, unlike your winking/blinking Vice-Presidential candidate, who, though, yes, he did run as the running mate when the one asking him to run did ask him to run, which that I admire, one thing he did not do, with his bare hands or otherwise, is, did he ever kill a moose? No, but ours did. And I would. Please bring a moose to me, over by me, and down that moose will go, and, if I had a kid, I would take a picture of me showing my kid that dead moose, going, like, Uh, sweetie, no, he is not resting, he is dead, due to I shot him, and now I am going to eat him, and so are you, oh yes you are, which is responsible, as God put this moose here for us to shoot and eat and take a photo of, although I did not, at that time, know why God did, but in years to come, God’s will was revealed, which is: Hey, that is a cool photo for hunters about to vote to see, plus what an honor for that moose, to be on the Internet.
How does the moose feel about it? Who knows? Probably not great. But do you know what the difference is between a dead moose with lipstick on and a dead moose without lipstick?
Lipstick.
Think about it.
Moose are, truth be told, Élites. They are big and fast and sort of rule the forest. Sarah took that one down a notch. Who’s Élite now, Bullwinkle?
Not Sarah.
She’s just Regular as heck.

birthday!!

2008-10-02T19:59:00.002-05:00

Woohoo, I got a new iPod!!

Home at last!

2008-10-02T11:45:00.002-05:00

I don't think I've ever been so excited to be back in Minnesota.
Not that I didn't enjoy my trip but damn, it's good to be home.

Vacation Tuesday pictorial

2008-09-30T19:55:00.002-05:00

Primetime and I go climbing.

I am weak so I roll on top-rope all day.

After a lot of trouble I make it to the top.

Success affords me this view.

Then Primetime cleans the route in sneakers.

Embarrassing.

How little things change...

2008-09-30T17:37:00.003-05:00

From a recent LA Times article on rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia in Crimea:

In a scene that seemed cut from tsarist times, Russian navy officials
and Orthodox priests sat at a long table, knocking back shots of vodka
and proclaiming emotional toasts.

"The West shuddered 150 years ago when Russia showed its sword, and
the Black Sea turned red with blood," said Igor Bebin, a pink-robed
priest who rose to his feet, vodka glass held high.

"That was the supreme truth. And the truth is that now, for the first
time, the sword of Russia is shining again. Be afraid of the sword."

The Russians cheered, and took a deep drink.

So when you try to tell me aggression isn't endogenous to Russian mentality and culture, you can save your breath.

not your typical Monday

2008-09-29T22:48:00.004-05:00

Primetime and I went for a quick bike ride up Big Cottonwood Canyon today. 1600ft of elevation gain in a bit over 5 miles. Then back down to the truck.

We then drove over to Little Cottonwood Canyon where we saw this sweet ride.

There were some fantastic yellows up there,

as well as reds at the top.

encore!

2008-09-29T11:43:00.003-05:00

watch this.
(courtesy of TPM via Smithers)

phew, life slowly regains normalcy

2008-09-29T10:28:00.005-05:00

Sitting in Primetime's living room, I finally have a chance to get some emailing, blogging and interwebbing done. What a week. Interbike is a experience to be sure.

I'm glad it's over for me for at least another year and I'm doing my best to relax a bit before heading home where a heaping load of work awaits my return to the office. My cross season will also start next weekend when I am back in the Twin Cities -- I am very excited.

I had dinner with Primtime, his wifey, and another couple they know once he and I returned from Vegas on Saturday evening. We had home-grilled steak strips with mushrooms and caramelized onions, baked sweet potato chips and an extraordinarily delicious peach/raspberry cobbler courtesy of Mrs. Primetime. I had two servings with ice cream. Yum!

Yesterday was all about a little rest and recuperation as well as some climbing in American Fork Canyon. The Primetime family and I enjoyed a tasty breakfast at a local spot (I ate French toast, scrambled eggs and bacon) and lazed at their domicile watching baseball. Then came the climbing excursion. We headed for the limestone crags American Fork for some cranking and, in my case, flailing. I haven't been tied into a rope for one year; the last time was with Primetime as well only we spent a few days on multi-pitch routes in Red Rocks, Nevada (just outside Vegas).

Needless to say, I was apprehensive about how I'd perform. It didn't take long to realize that virtually all of my climbing fitness is gone. To add insult to injury, my form seems to have also flown out the window. Embarrassing to say the least. I felt soft, slow, fat and weak. I couldn't top-rope the 5.10's we set up at the Escape Buttress. I felt like a tyrannosaurus rex; strong legs, useless arms. The silver lining was to be found in the comic relief provided by my flailing -- we all got a good laugh.

On the way back we stopped at the Hard Rock Wall where Primetime worked a 5.12b roof line. He has been getting strong the past couple of years making my lack of strength all the more glaring. Here he is cranking out the final moves of the route

"Sadly," there are no photos of me to share but if you can imagine a fatty with skinny arms sitting on a rope, you'll get the picture. C'est la vie. Time to go back to the gym!

busy week in Vegas...

2008-09-26T17:26:00.002-05:00

so no time to blog.
sorry.

exciting news: Google makes a phone that will probably be cool and actually utilize my network (T-Mobile)!!

political news: Palin is still unqualified.

personal news: I've been getting really good sleep on the bed in my hotel room. It has a comforter pillow-top thing under the fitted sheet. I'm totally going to get one for the bed at home.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-19T14:28:00.001-05:00

dood! I loathe interbike.
shit sucks.

on the bright side, I have sorted out a route and destination schedule for the trip out. more on that when I'm home and have "free" time.

is it dumb?

2008-09-18T13:35:00.003-05:00

to go camping solo in the Colorado wilderness (within the bounds of a campground) when the ranger you spoke to on the phone suggested that you make sure to be aware of the wildlife this time of year (including moose, prong-horns, elk and BEARS).

I'm thinking it'd be ok...

people care what I think!!!

2008-09-17T09:37:00.003-05:00

You know how every here and there you hear about polls that say 32% of Minnesotans feel X is a bad idea or whatnot? Well, the other day I received a phone call from a curious number (000-000-0000... seriously, that's what popped up on the cell phone) and ignored it. When the number called again later that day, I picked it up ready to unleash the fury upon a telemarketer. Instead, I got some girl asking me whether she could ask me a few questions for a poll of potential Minnesota voters.

After some skeptical questioning of my own directed at her, I agreed and was asked about Obama/McCain, Franken/Coleman, what issues are important to me this election cycle, etc. It was kind of neat. I've often wondered where they find the people who comprise these polled masses. I am now one of these people.

Now... respect my authoritah!!

suggestions??

2008-09-15T09:48:00.003-05:00

I am driving out to Vegas and back for Interbike this Fall and plan to document my journey on this here venue as best I can. I've driven this route a handful of times before but I've never really had time to explore any of the fantastic locales along the way. This is a sad fact and I intend to do something about it this time around.

This trip was originally designed to afford me time to mountainbike in Fruita/Moab with a good friend who currently resides in TN. Unfortunately, he was called away on business this coming weekend (when we would have been riding together) so this part of the journey is off the menu. On the return trip, I had made plans to visit with Primetime in SLC for climbing and a bit of hooliganism and this portion of the trip remains unscathed.

My query is this: where should I stop along the way? What places do I need to see? This is my route, more or less.

View Larger Map

Should I see Arches National Park? Should I explore Zion? Something else entirely? I'll have almost a whole extra day on the way out for some serious sight-seeing.

And how about the way back... I'm thinking of checking out more of Eastern Wyoming and breaking off of I-80 toward Casper, WY, and I-90 which would take me close enough to Mt. Rushmore for a visit. Is this the way to go?

btw

2008-09-14T13:43:00.002-05:00

For those of you who don't know what cyclocross is, here's a sample. Sorry about the music...

cyclocross practice wrap-up

2008-09-14T13:16:00.002-05:00

A few notes and observations...

1) I NEED to start wearing a heart rate monitor during these practices and keep myself in check; I went a bit too hard at first and had to let up quite a bit to catch my breath and recover. I've been thinking about the subject of how hard at what times during a race one ought to be riding and I have come to somewhat of a conclusion. We'll see if it pans out in the first few races of the season.

2) Everybody else is fast. This makes me feel slow out on the course.

3) Smithers is a machine when it comes to getting in a full workout. Maybe it has something to do with being a parent... Either way, when he sets off to get 45min into his legs, he gets the full 45. He does not let himself take it easy or sit up or quit early; at least this is the way it looks from an outside perspective.

4) The success I achieved learning to remounts sans a stutter-step last week paid dividends this weekend if only in helping me feel less the amateur among fellow racers. I get a bit sloppy once tired, but this didn't seem to affect my momentum too badly -- after all, at that point I was barely moving forward anyway!

5) The practice didn't go particularly well -- I was still toward the back of the pack for much of the practice race. However, it didn't go as badly as I had expected either. It helps to remind myself that some (or all) of these guys are faster than me and that at least some of them race in a category higher than mine. As for category, I'm still undecided whether I ought to race the 4/5 (what used to be C's) or race the 3 (what used to be B's, sort of). The latter race is a 45min format vs. 30min. To be clear, I wouldn't expect to race particularly competitively in the 3's, but at least it wouldn't hurt the ego quite as much to suck if in the higher category. Kidding aside, I'd rather spend $25 on a race that lasted a bit longer but I believe upgrading to a 3 in cross will mean that I'd have to race in 3's races on the road come Spring according to these new formats. I'm pretty sure I'm not fast enough or fit enough to race with the 3's on the road. Who knows... maybe this winter's training will be super awesome and I'll pwn everyone next year. But then again, maybe not.

6) I still excel at the sketchy faster sections. I feel this will work to my advantage to make up where I lack in fitness. This morning's course featured a sharp 180 turn immediately after a long fast downhill. I was riding very well through there as well as on some bumpier sections at the back of the course. Let's keep our fingers crossed that there are still some wusses out there who get sketched out by going fast in loose terrain or when the tires start to slide.

7) I just realized that I'm at point seven and I don't think I have anything left to say. Riding with a pack in a quasi-race format was helpful and will doubtlessly assist me in easing into actual racing. I'll have to figure out how I'm going to maintain some nominal level of fitness while on the road for two weeks at the end of the month; Ped suggested bringing a bike and trainer to ride outside the car in the mornings or mid-drive to shake the legs out a bit. I am thinking this is a good idea but haven't made a decision yet. My first race of the cross season will be on October 4th (my birthday - hooray!); my moms will be in town visiting so we'll teach her to do water bottle hand-ups. Hopefully I don't suck it up!

2004

2008-09-13T11:14:00.002-05:00

In the Fall of this year I was settling into the single life having recently split with my girlfriend of two and a half years. I hadn't been in the game for as many years and mine was totally off; I went on a handful of disastrously awkward dates with a Caribou Coffee barista before realizing I wasn't yet over the ex-girlfriend. I was also participating in my first political campaign during those Autumnal months with intent to do my part in dethroning king Bush. Unfortunately, these efforts met about as much success as did my dating exploits.

I had been living in the Twin Cities for a year plus and working at my current job for eight or nine months when my brother came to visit. I took him to breakfast at Al's in Dinkytown on the UofM campus where I first heard this record: Lucero's That Much Further West.

Even now, four years later, this record ushers memories of changing leaves, hot chocolate and cool crisp air into my conscious. This is one of maybe two dozen records to which I've never grown tired of listening. Lucero has put out a number of fantastic albums but this one is my favorite.

inexplicably unqualified

2008-09-12T22:47:00.004-05:00

For those of you who didn't catch Palin's interview over the past couple of nights, I suggest you see for yourself by searching Palin Interview on youtube.

She evaded every important question and I wish Gibson had gone after her evasion a bit more intently. I suppose there's a finite number of times you can beat a dead horse, though, before you eventually realize it has perished.

the life of a simpleton

2008-09-11T11:46:00.002-05:00

Inquiring with an apple-savvy friend, I ask about the newest releases & updates to the apple iPod line:

I went to the site last night and they have new iPods. But it looks like the offering has gotten narrower (which is not a bad thing) but there are no more short little squat Nano's. They are tall and skinny now. I think I prefer the short squarish squat ones. Should I not?? As for the iPod touch correct me if I am wrong on this chronology: they make the iPhone, then the iTouch (which is the phone without the phone), and now the iPod Touch, which is just an iPod with a giant "touch" screen. Is that right?

I have to say, I'm not all that pumped about the updates. Am I just not seeing the cool parts?

Savvy friend replies:

The iTouch you refer to has always been known as the iPod Touch. It was, and still is, an iPhone without the phone. The previous version and current version of the iPod Touch can run all of the applications, have built-in WiFi, etc.... The new version is cheaper ($229 vs. $299 for 8 GB, $299 vs $399 for 16 GB and $399 vs $499 for 32 GB) and has a slightly different design (with dedicated volume buttons), but that's about it. Well, it does have the Nike+ receiver built into it now, but I don't know how much you care about that.

The Nanos... you are getting double the storage for the same money. You also get nifty new headphones and an accelerometer (shake it to shuffle your music, rotates the display when you rotate the iPod). I personally much prefer the tall/skinny design because it is easier to hold and actually use.

Apple added the "genius" feature to iTunes as well as the new iPods (recommends similar songs to the one(s) you have selected, can create playlists for you around that song), but I don't know how useful that truly is. iTunes 8 has some other new features, but I just haven't had time to play with it, so I can't really comment on them.

Apple also updated the iPod Classic to just one model with 120 GB hard drive. My guess is that this is the last version of the iPod Classic Apple will produce. Next year at this time, it will be completely discontinued.

I was actually quite pleased with the iPod updates and I really like the Nanos. If nothing else, the update was primarily a price drop and those are never bad.

Moral of the story?
It isn't very couth to say "I think I prefer the short squarish squat ones."

poached...

2008-09-09T23:10:00.001-05:00

...from CX Steven; feelin' the need to spread the wealth.

tim "the tool man" taylor

2008-09-09T21:32:00.002-05:00

was an idiot.

Yet, I invoke his name to hark the awesomeness that transpired in my kitchen this evening. After conscripting a drain-cleaning snake from the hardware store down the way, I pulled off the drain cover and opened the first line of assault against the clogged drain flanking the kitchen sink.

The past few days have been marred by slow but tense battle between the sink and my will to wash my dishes. In answer to each of my advances the sink held fast its position and showed no signs of weakening. I was reminded of stories from high school that recounted battles fought in the Great War -- entire armies fought over swaths of battlefield that could be measured in inches or feet.

Today, however, the sink's clogged drain met it's demise. Using my newly acquired super weapon I successfully broke loose the obstruction and the sink fell, its previously impenetrable force rendered broken and dismantled at the tip of my coiled spear.

Victory -- oh, it is sweet.

solo cross practice today

2008-09-07T17:37:00.004-05:00

I warmed up riding over to A's house to say hello and see what the vegetable and bean stew smelled like brewing in the crock-pot (it smelled great). This was going to be a short ride with more than less intensity and as much off-road time as possible in the neighborhood. So I headed out to Lyndale which is currently a hard-pack dirt road from 38th to 50th. There are a few spots where I was able to simulate sandy sections, but for the most part it was quite tame.

My goal was to ride this "under construction" segment of Lyndale and then head south via Penn to 54th, which is in a similar state of dis-repair between the former avenue and Upton, before returning to the park next door for as many impromptu laps as my lungs could handle. Instead, I took a detour to an open park along 50th to practice dismounts and remounts on flat, grassy ground.

Our previous attempts at a flying remount ended with my left foot pressed awkwardly into my rear wheel and the destruction of two broadly bladed aluminum spokes. This time around I started with what I knew completing a dozen stunted laps of riding 30ft, dismounting, running 15ft and then hopping back on avec the notorious stutter-step. Step one was intended to get myself into the rhythm of things. Now it was time for step two.

Soon enough and without my intent the moment of zen hit me square in the crotch... But in the good way! "Hooray!" my mind squealed. I had landed in just the right spot to avoid anatomic catastrophe while sustaining forward momentum. I was delighted. The next lap went equally well, as did the third and fourth. By the tenth, I was ecstatic.

Out of breath and tired of riding in 50ft circles, I pulled off toward Harriet. Arriving at the park near my domicile, I churned out a few hard laps including two short and steep ascents, two fast downhill stretches and an equal number of paved portions. I also threw in a brief stair section to give myself an opportunity to embed the remounting lesson further into my subconscious.

All in all, the workout was a success. I arrived at my front door tired, a little sore and filled with a sense of accomplishment. A small one, to be sure, but an accomplishment nonetheless. Good bye stutter-step! Hello .00004 seconds of additional speed through a smoother transition!

The Empella is done(ish)!

2008-09-07T11:48:00.009-05:00

(ish) because let's face it, a bike is rarely "done." There's always something extra to add, or some little bit to swap out. Just this weekend I traded out a QR rear wheel on my Salsa Casserole in favor of a bolt-on wheel. With stainless steel horizontal dropouts, the Casserole is not ideally equipped with gears, a derailleur and a regular quick-release rear wheel. In fact, the folks at Salsa recommend that one use a "old-style" steel QR lever so as to provide a more secure wheel attachment. Having blown apart a BOB quick-release employed in just such a act, I decided enough was enough and tore apart a Tiagra 9-spd hub replacing the axle with a solid one. Now, bolted down, let's see that rear wheel try and slip under pedal load.

Now, after sufficiently distracting myself with that tangent, I present to you a few photos of the completed(ish) Empella -- ready for racing!

the state fair: a pictorial remembrance

2008-09-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

I love the fair because I love the food.
If you think about it, it's gross... yet, so tasty.

So bad for me.
But, did I mention tasty?

The people watching is OK; folks have said the fair is great for this sort of thing. I say it ain't any different than anywhere else in the Midwest except for the fact that it's all in one place. So I guess it's OK for people watching.

In any case, let us dally no longer and embark upon this journey of remembrance...

Beer at the fair: how could you not? It isn't good. Mine was flat; the bartender handed it to me mumbling something about a "keg change," and "sorry..." I did my part and drank the flat beer. Thirst quenching!

I ate fries. Twice. This was the better of the two stands.

I also ate corn twice. The corn is terribly delicious. Grilled right there at the fair and then dipped in a vat of melted butter (seriously, I think they use an old oil drum). The ear of corn is handed to you, at times still quite hot, dripping with buttery goodness. Make sure you remember the toothpick, though! It sucks walking around the rest of the day trying to pick stubborn bits of corn from your teeth with only your tongue and oral suction. It can be as frustrating as trying to pick up a fork with your elbow. Just the one. Perhaps the best part of the corn is that they provide massive compost bins just beyond the corn stand. From the earth we come and to the earth we return...

What would a trip to the fair be without adventure? Part of the culinary adventure is trying "new" foods that are introduced each year. This year brought about a score of previously unknown food combinations. Among them were deep-fried smores

and a 1/3lb of bacon on a stick which I passed up for the chocolate dipped bacon

Notice Maj in the background, horrified at the sight. In all fairness, she is 87% vegetarian and not what you'd call a fan of red meats. To be fair to the bacon, however, I must say that it was delicious. Chocolate dipped and topped off with a light sprinkling of sea salt. Pretty much identical to chocolate-covered pretzels, but guaranteed to give you a heart attack by the age of 32.

Unfortunately not caught on film were my enjoyment of Hawaiian shaved ice, the corn, the warm, gooey cookies, the pizza, the cotton candy and a wee sample of turkey sandwich. I spent $60 in one afternoon in St. Paul and most every one is free of regret.

fuck 'im

2008-09-04T23:00:00.002-05:00

Jack Abramoff was apparently "tearful" upon receiving a sentence of four years for his involvement in a government corruption scandal. Max could have been up to 121 months; both defense and prosecution asked the judge to be lenient. Abramoff got 48 months and both sides were surprised at the severity of the sentence. Seriously? That is less than half the maximum potential -- sounds pretty lenient to me. Suck it up, Abramoff.

three years ago this month

2008-09-03T22:13:00.004-05:00

I was the Penske master.
26ft of cargo space.
The biggest rig you can drive without a special license.
I drove this truck out and back for Interbike.
Now we send three of these out and back for the show.

Nuts.

excitement abounds!

2008-09-03T10:33:00.003-05:00

After a four year hiatus, my moms is coming out to the Twin Cities for a visit. This is very exciting for me as I'm eager to show her more of the metropolis I call home. I've got some ideas of what to do and where to take her, but I'm also open to suggestions. I'll have three nights and three days to give her the tour...

Got any ideas?

what it means to hemorrhage irony

2008-09-01T21:07:00.003-05:00

It doesn't get any better than this.

Sarah Palin's 17 year-old daughter, Bristol, is five months prego. No, seriously; I'm not making this up. See for yourself.

The expecting mother and proud pappy are going to get hitched and raise the kid, according to the Palin family's press release. This is fine and dandy and I truly hope everything turns out OK and that the kids -- including that little bundle of joy in the oven -- don't grow up to become unstable adults.

I do believe one would have to be a fool, though, to think the girl had much choice in the matter. After all, it's a well known fact that conservatives are anywhere from 50 to about 2500 years (give or take) behind the times. I suppose if my grandpa knocked up my grandma out of wedlock they'd have been ushered down the isle in much the same way. But this isn't the point of my post.

The point, gentle reader, is the following:

When she ran for governor of Alaska in 2006, Sarah Palin was asked if she would support abstinence-before-marriage programs over sex education, school clinics and contraceptive distribution. She was firm in her answer: "Explicit sex ed programs will not find my support."

If there ever comes a time when you wonder, "gosh, what does foot taste like?" I think you'd do well to strap that blue-tooth onto your dome and give good ol' Sarah Palin a call. I'm sure she'll be able to set your right straight. And I do mean straight, kids. Because gays are the devil.

weezy rides with Cancellara

2008-08-31T16:25:00.004-05:00

read about it here.

about as awesome as it gets.

FU, Home Depot

2008-08-31T11:58:00.001-05:00

After a mediocre breakfast at French Meadow (don't bother getting the vegan corn pancakes) I decided to take a detour to Home Depot in SLP on my home. I've had plans to purchase PVC tubing for cross barriers and since I was already in the car I figured I'd add this errand to the outing.

After figuring out how many 10ft tubes and connection joints I'd need, I wheeled myself through self-checkout and made my way out to the car. It didn't take long for me to realize that the Golf does not possess the requisite 10ft of interior space at any angle. I left the connectors in the trunk and carried the eight 10ft tubes back inside to cut.

Though I did not see any PVC tube cutting tools in the plumbing section earlier, I thought to myself, surely, given my circumstance, an employee at Home Depot would be able and willing to suss out an appropriate solution. But as we all learned in grade school: assuming only makes an ASS out of U and ME. The same employee who no more than twenty minutes prior had asked if there was anything he could help me find in aisle 11 now told me that there was nothing he could do. I explained that I only wanted to get these tubes to fit into my car so that I could take my purchase home; I was not asking him to cut the tubes into various length pieces that I would ultimately need to construct my barriers. The employee replied, "yea, sorry. If it was just one tube or something... and you needed it cut in half or something... but we can't really do that." He then offered this appeasement, "I can sell you a saw and you can cut them yourself if you want."

Was this dolt serious? Clearly, he must be joking. But his face did not contort into a smile or even so much as a grin. Instead, I looked into limpid pools of bong water that had welled up in his ocular sockets. Miffed, I told him I did not need a second hack-saw (the one I already have at home works fine) and kindly thanked him for his time. I retrieved the bag filled with connectors and walked them along with my eight 10ft tubes over to the returns counter and plopped everything down for a full refund.

If Home Depot, a giant warehouse brimming with tools, supplies, lumber, kitchen flooring, windows, doors, gardening crap and myriad do-it-yourself widgets, could not, nay, would not assist me in my simple request, I'll be damned if I'm going to give them my business. I harbor no illusions that Home Depot gives two shits whether I spend $29.34 there or not. But for what it's worth, they have lost a customer.

I'm going for a run.

well said

2008-08-30T12:58:00.003-05:00

From the International Herald Tribune (August 27th, 2008)

Resurgent Russia

Russia's blitzkrieg against Georgia has taken place 70 years after the
infamous Munich Agreement of September 29, 1938, when France, Britain and
Italy agreed to cede Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland to Nazi Germany in the
hope of establishing "peace in our time."

Like Hitler's Germany, Vladimir Putin's Russia is a post-imperial
authoritarian state that must expand. The Soviet empire's collapse in 1991
left the Russian population feeling humiliated; economic collapse in the
early 1990s only compounded their demoralization. As in Germany, Russians
blamed democracy for their collapse and humiliation. And, as in Germany, a
strongman promising greatness and glory seized power, dismantled
democracy, and created an authoritarian, hyper-nationalist regime with a
personality cult based on promises to re-establish imperial greatness.

The war against Geor gia is not the first instance of Russia's
aggressiveness vis-à-vis its former colonies. Estonia was the target of a
cyberwar; Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and the Czech Republic have
been subjected to energy cut-offs; Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have been
punished by trade sanctions.

These states, like all of Russia's non-Russian neighbors, know that the
war in Georgia is really about them.

The Munich Agreement is considered a classic example of the perils of
appeasement. Had the democracies said no then, it's possible that World
War II could have been averted. At some point - and that point surely
arrived with Russia's invasion of Georgia - the West must learn to say no
to Russia. Expelling Russia from the G-8 would be symbolically nice, but
Putin would respond with a laugh. Only an "anti-Munich" would say no in a
meaningful fashion: Admit Ukraine and Georgia into NATO's Membership
Action Plan - immediately. P utin will glare in response; he will threaten
retaliation - and then, like all loud-mouthed dictators, he will
acquiesce.

Alexander J. Motyl Newark, New Jersey Professor of political science,
Rutgers University

weezy's great bicycling adventure

2008-08-30T10:35:00.003-05:00

Read all about it here.

This weekend marks the start of Weezy's 4-day bicycle trip across Switzerland ahead of Eurobike. Sunday he will participate in an organized tour out of Gruyeres that will cover some 125km of serious Alpage. On Monday he embarks on a solo, point-to-point from Gruyeres to Friedrichshafen, GR, with stops in an undisclosed town the first night and Zurich the second before arriving at the final destination on the third.

This will surely be an incredible adventure -- bonne chance, Weezy!!

11am Central (Noon Eastern)

2008-08-29T09:24:00.002-05:00

McCain will announce his VP pick.

*yawn*

hmmm...

2008-08-28T16:08:00.003-05:00

A coworker brings up a good question:

Will poaching Minneapolis Park and Rec land for practice cross courses hurt the efforts of those trying to get cross racing back in Minneapolis public parks?

Admittedly, it hadn't occurred to me but now I'm apprehensive about putting up a practice course of my own within Minneapolis city limits. I don't want to jeopardize any diplomatic efforts...

it ain't that complicated

2008-08-28T15:59:00.000-05:00

If you supported Hillary earlier this year and since her defeat have been unable to decide whether to support Obama or McCain, you are an idiot.
This is the equivalent of walking into a store for a healthy snack, say, an apple, only to find out that all they have in stock are pears and Snickers bars and then being unable to decide which to get.
So go ahead, get that Snickers bar you idiot.
And when you ask me if I think you look fat don’t expect me to say “no.”

new cross venue?

2008-08-25T12:10:00.002-05:00

I explored the hill-side park near my house after the practice race this weekend and it looks quite promising. I'd never been totally inside the park before and I was amazed at how much space and stuff there was inside. I've ridden sleds on the far side's hill and bikes on pretty much every street that boarders the park, but this was my first excursion into the depths. I was amazed at the park's size and amenities -- there's a bathroom hut, a pavilion and a playground in addition to some serious acreage.

This is a great discovery as I should be able to squeeze out a good course in and around the park. Existing features include a short stair section, a running sand section, plenty of off-camber lines and lots of climbing. Now all I've got to do is invest in some portable barriers and this will be a third practice course for the cities!

vandalized!

2008-08-25T10:15:00.002-05:00

Obama's St. Paul offices were valdalized over the weekend just days ahead of the Republican National convention. Bricks were thrown through a couple plate glass windows and door and paint was splattered on the outside of the building.

There are no suspects yet but I am compelled to wonder whether this was the act of a McCain supporter -- a person for whom, we are all proded to believe, integrity is supposedly a critical issue. I could be wrong; this could be some stupid kids acting out. Who knows. Still, I wonder...

state fair

2008-08-24T22:23:00.003-05:00

There were a good number of people with "Norm" and "McCain" buttons at the fair. I felt bad about not having an "Obama" or "Franken" button until I remembered I was wearing my ITMFA t-shirt. Sweet.

cross practice #2

2008-08-23T18:22:00.003-05:00

With the first practice race of the season a few days behind me, I got to ride a different course closer to home this time that was designed by Smithers. This well put-together course featured a pair of double barrier sections (one of which preceded a steep run-up), two street sections, a good amount of loose-dirt singletrack and a tight 180* speed-scrubbing corner. Every other pass up the steep hill alternated between riding it and running up avec barriers. Either way it was painful because immediately after the big hill I had only 15ft of flat ground before the course turned upward twice more; this presented virtually no opportunity for recovery. All in all quite tough.

Fitness wise, I didn't feel much better than I did a few days ago; I was able to ride a good four full laps before the engine room started experiencing some trouble. During the ride home, I pondered whether it'd be prudent to hold back some in the first fifteen minutes of a race and then open it up hoping that I'd have enough energy to last til the end with the throttle wide open. We shall see. I've got a good month yet before the racing starts in earnest; I'll use the time til then to try a few different methods and see what works best.

As for the bike, I think I've FINALLY got it dialed in. Outside of maybe swapping out the saddle or adjusting the brakes a bit the Empella is finished. I had to replace a couple of spokes this morning in the rear wheel after stuffing my left foot into it at the last practice race so I took the opportunity to swap out the bars and seatpost as well since the tools were out. The first post was a carbon Oval Concept post that wouldn't stay at the set height -- it kept sliding down. I replaced it with simple Ritchey Pro aluminum post and this is working much better. I had been running a Deda Newton shallow round bar but the ergonomics just weren't working out. I replaced this with a deeper drop round Ritchey WCS bar which also gives me a wider top section -- this was noticeably more stable than the Deda bar going into the barriers.

I'm not too disappointed with my experience at either cross practice. Though I was getting tired rather quickly it's still early in the season. There are things I need to work on in the coming weeks -- namely, committing to a re-mount sans stutter-step and getting acclimated to the new bike -- and the cross practices are going to be a great venue. I've got plans to put my own course together right outside my front door (more on that later). The potential for multiple practice courses in and around the cities is very exciting.

product endorsement

2008-08-22T12:24:00.002-05:00

In case you are in the market for a new pair of headphones I would like to recommend you look into the V-Moda Bass-Freq. They are a bit partial to the low-end frequencies but they deliver a nice, full sound. Price is super reasonable, too; I think I paid $30 or $35 for my pair. Now you know.

definitely not weak

2008-08-21T11:27:00.002-05:00

first real cross ride

2008-08-20T22:51:00.002-05:00

Cyclocross ride # 1 and I wreck my rear Eurus wheel. Well, not totally wrecked, but managed to wreck at least one non-drive spoke and knock the wheel out of true by a good inch plus.

This all happened on the Friend of a Friend's Cross Practice out at Bryant Park in Bloomington. Good course design be Ped. Love the off camber sections. If you haven't been to one of these yet (there've been two) then you need to get your act together and show up next time.

About 20 minutes in I was totally worked. Ped and DC still had juice in them but lucky for me there was a cop just hanging around the park so we decided to keep a low profile for the remainder of practice and work on the double barriers at the far end of the course. I think we later realized that we weren't actually getting stalked by the Bloomington PD, but that the cop was most likely just keeping an eye out for marijuana cigarette use.

Anyway, it was while practicing re-mounts that I managed to chunk the rear wheel. I was trying hard to commit the running jump up onto the saddle only the one time I got high enough and sans stutter step I over-committed and floated beyond the sweet spot just over the saddle and shoved my left foot into the rear wheel. How? I have no idea. I think I just wasn't minding the feet. Lesson learned. And hey, at least I didn't land on my nuts.

dumb

2008-08-20T16:47:00.003-05:00

*courtesy of PrimeTime