A quiet weekend...kinda...

The MTs were out @ the spa this weekend, so it was relatively quiet and subdued around here. If I could have gotten rid of the H.O., it would have truly wonderous. She's in 'project mode', which is fine and well...if she would stick to a project start to finish. Things get started around here, reach about 75% completion and then another project kicks off.
This weekend's main project was re-finishing the floors. My participation was not required, so I bailed the F out yesterday. Of course, being gone longer than management expects sometimes brings negative consequences, seeing as the H.O. said that I had things to do....
A bunch of us met @ the Fort at 9. Once we got out, Mrs. Kaiser, NGS and I split off to go a bit shorter. We ended with a nice 2:30 on the bike.
Following my little spin, I tackled the boxes of furniture that somehow made their way from India to our house. I just don't know how it happens! Anyway, I retired to the ManHole(tm) and built two of the heaviest mahogany end tables know to man. One would think that these things were made of some exotic material that was somehow differently affected by gravity. The box said the gross weight was 20kg, which is 45 pounds in old money. I think the stated weight was slightly pessimistic! These tables were followed by a couple of bar stools whose materials were obviously culled from the same off-planet mine.
I spent a solid two hours doing hard labor. It should count as cross-training!
The lovely scent of polyurethane is now permeating the house. I was awoken at 0430 with a blistering headache because of it.
It was raining pretty good this morning, but I needed fresh, clean air, so I saddled up and went out on the road. I knew that the off and on rain, the wet road and the winds would knock down the plans to ride @ 2, so I just went solo.
I made the smart play and headed southwest, into the teeth of the wind. I got to Gaston, refilled the bottle and turned for home...in the rain. Fortunately, it was warm and the tailwind was RIPPING! Little effort was required to stay well above 40kmh for the entire trip home. It was glorious! Two more hours on the bike this morning were followed by an hour of cleaning the thing!
I wish I could do the Bond, ML(tha)King, day-off-for-no-good-reason ride tomorrow, but the H.O. works for a subsidiary of Southern Farm Bureau, thus, I'm am working too! Hope you guys have fun rolling around in the 65 degree sunshine...dicks! ;)

2010 TDU starts this weeks. Here's TeamSky and Hendy kicking everyone's ass in the prelude. Watch for Lance in the break...he's wearing WHITE shoes...gonna be a weird year!



Hope everyone had a good weekend...Peace!

Rest week

I've ridden once this week and don't feel at all guilty about it! As I wrote last week, I had a slip-up and fell over last Friday, whacking my knee on the bars. Well, after pushing hard on the turbo over the weekend, my knee and Vastus Medialis were swollen and VERY sore, so I chose to go easy this week. And in this case, easy means only riding once so far...for 90 minutes. I'll ride tomorrow and over the weekend, so I'll still end up with 4 days, but the plan is not to make any sort of efforts. I'm good at sticking to those sort of plans!
I may even dig the Ridley out of the ManHole(tm) tomorrow!

Velosnooze did an article about the Mavic factory in France. They skipped an entire topic in the article...why do Mavic products suck so bad lately? I mean, pretty much everyone in town (or the World!) has broken spokes on their Ksyriums, and Mavic even recalled R-Sys wheels. I really feel bad for Garmin this year, as they switched from Zipp to Mavic. I'm betting Millar didn't negotiate the deal. Anyone remember his rear Mavic disc coming apart? Mavic probably gave Mr. Dandy a case of ascots to seal the deal. If I was DZ or the other team leaders, I'd be stocking up on Lightweights, or just strip the decals off the old Zipps and stock up on Mavic stickers!

Oh, and they didn't even mention the battle that was waged between Velonews and Mavic when a front R-Sys exploded in a race while a VN editor was in the middle of a turn. And the wheel in question was a post-recall wheel. A recall can't overcome a poor design...so Mavic blamed VN!
I guess ad revenue is important @ VN these days (rollseyes).

And a final thought...Pat Robertson is possibly the biggest asswipe on the planet...and that's saying something!

701

That's right, somehow, I've cobbled together 701 posts of this dumb little pill party! I've been accused of running off at the mouth, but in this case, would it be considered running off at the fingers?
Anyway, I'm going to make an effort to be somewhat more entertaining and informative this year. More links, more videos and more pics.
So here we go...

2010 Dutch Cross Championships summary...(subtitle: Don't bitch about the weather here!)



I'm planning a Roubaix-esque ride again for the near future. I realize that people are on training programs, but God forbid that a bike ride should be fun and interesting. I have several loops ranging from 45 miles and 8 sections all the way up to 111 miles and 22 sections. I'll send out an email and post here when the time is nigh.

If anyone knows someone looking for a house, the H.O. and I are about to stick a sign in the yard of ours. It's been totally re-done and will need nothing upon move-in.

I did the HoP last night, just to spin my legs. It was really nice outside. 45 degrees feels balmy after banging around in the low-30s. It's supposed to be 60 tomorrow and Friday...I guess I'll be riding as it's supposed to be shitty again this weekend. It's kind of a rest week anyway...

Tine to go order some Defeet DeCompressor socks...

Enough cold already!

Here's the last 20-ish minutes of the Belgian National Cross championship. Nys came from waaay back to pull the leaders in and then just rode away. Card carrying BadAss!
The weather looked pleasant too...

Speaking of, it's been blue cold here for the past several mornings. Sure, it's not Duluth cold, but I'm not taking my thinned blood out in 25 degrees and breezy. Sorry, there's a fine line between hard and stupid. Plus, I can make it a balmy 50 down in the ManHole(tm) in just 90 short minutes with the heat running at full steam...and there's zero wind!
Saturday, I rode the turbo for the last 70km or so of the 08 Ronde. Nothing special as my knee was STIFF, but I tried to stay @ 80-85%.
This morning, it was 22 outside, so it was into the cave again for another go round with the turbo. The media was the last 50km of the 08 Fleche. I felt a bit better today, so I actually wore the HRM. 60' @ 90-ish% will, in fact, make the room you are in VERY warm. About 20 minutes in, I had a bad patch...weird, but rode through it and felt better after. You know you went hard when the sweat causes the dried mud on the bike to re-liquify and drip off.

Oooh, looky, it's nap time! Peace!

Dr. Fucknut gets 5 years

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/01/news/l-a-road-rage-doctor-gets-five-years_102274

5 years is a gift for what was tantamount to attempted murder. When coupled with the fact that he'd done it before, he should have gotten up and dance a fucking jig for the sentence that he was given.
He'll probably serve 6-9 months, but that's fine because he'll be put in the poor house by the civil suit. If I was admitted to the Bar in Cali, I'd take the case pro-bono...and bury the guy.
Don't drop the soap!

Ride content:
Muddy/Frozen roots are SLICK when it's 30 degrees outside. I slipped a gear on a section that I've cleared, literally, 50 times in the past and whacked the ever-living shit out of my knee. Not so much the knee, as the vastus medialis muscle that lives just above the knee. I sort of just stopped and fell over, a la Arte Johnson on "Laugh-In". Fortunately, my big ass was along for the ride and protected me from any further damage by taking the fall. It's like a big, fleshy Secret Service Agent.
The remaining 60 minutes of the ride sucked. Windy, cold and pain do not exactly drive one on to ride hard after a crash.
It's 24 outside right now...not going out in that crap. TeamSky isn't tracking my progress...
The heat is running down in the ManHole(tm) and it should be a balmy 50 or so by the time I limp down there to ride.

A few things...

Thanks to everyone for the kind words about losing my dog. It isn't something that I really want to go through again anytime soon.

From the World of the pro-dog, Team Sky presented the other day. Pretty first class operation!
The kits are simple and clean...very old school Euro. The bikes, well, they're Pinarello Dogmas, so it's sort of hard to go wrong. And the team cars, Jaguar Estates...cool!
Sure, I'm a Lance homer, but this set-up makes 'The Shack' kits and bikes look like crap. Then again, they are riding Treks, so there you go...only so many ribbons you can put on a pig!

I found this pic of Boonen on Pez...in the Belge champ kit, riding a Merckx! WTF? Could it get any more Belgian? That should be framed, hung over the fireplace and admired while sipping a Chimay!

I'm waiting on the spring campaign like a gay kid waits on the Miss America Pageant!

As far as riding goes, I've been on the trainer twice since Saturday's big fun. Sunday I just spun out some stiffness for an hour.
Last night, I rode @ SST for 60 minutes and it didn't suck...weird! This morning, I did an hour of yoga and then some core work. That was followed up by the HoP+ loop tonight in the dark. It really wasn't all that cold. My little piggies were chilly, but that was it. I gotta figure out some better shoecovers that will fit over MTB shoes. Plus, I'll need to protect my new white Diadoras that are in transit. :)

Not much left in the tank, so I'm out! Peace!

RIP Robin Hood 1992-2010

Robin Hood,

Writing this note pains me beyond measure.

Today was a hard, hard day. Today, you went to a far better place, where all of your aches and pains have ceased. Your sight has been returned to perfect and you can once again hear the food bag open from miles away. You can bark, roll, jump and chase what needs to be chased.

I called the rescue in late 2000, and told them that I wanted an older male Jack Russell as a companion for our female. A week later, we rode up to ‘look’ at you. The first time I saw your big brown face, you greeted me with a smile and wagging tail. I sat on the ground to watch you run and play with Bella. After a short time, you sidled over and plopped down on my lap. That was it for me. You’d come to the rescue from less than favorable circumstances. That day, I promised that you would never have another bad day.

When you came to us, you were already 8…old by some standards, but you were in your prime, full of life, energy and mischief. You and Bella became partners in crime, which was quite amusing to watch at times.

Life changed around here when the boys came along, but you took it all in stride. It seemed that you just knew that these crying little pink things were new members of your pack and it was your job to watch over them. You were patient when they pulled on you and chased you, yet ever vigilant and fierce when it came time to protect them.

You slowed down over the years, but still had the same spirit and smile. When it came time for you to cross into that better place, you looked at me. It was a look that I won’t ever forget. To the end, YOU comforted ME.

You passed at the ripe old age of 17. It is said that a man is lucky if he has one good dog during his lifetime. I was insanely lucky and blessed to be your person.

I buried you in your favorite spot in the flower bed, right against the stone wall. The spot where you slept away lazy afternoons in the sun. That big, warm sun will shine on you forever. You will be in my heart for the rest of my days.

Rest well old man…rest well! I Love You!

2010's first update

January 1- Supposed to meet a couple of folks to ride @ 1pm. For some reason, I simply cannot bring myself to wait around for half the day to go ride, so I chose out @ 0930. It was cloudy, breezy and a bit foggy. I headed out on the cross bike and did my HoP+ loop. I was feeling a bit chipper, so I went out into W.Cola and hit some of the muddy dirt roads.
As it usually happens, I was the absolute furthest point from the house, and the low fog became drizzle, then a steady light to steady rain. Did I mention it was 45 degrees? I got out of the SCE&G owned woods, and rode somewhere between SST and FTP for the 45 minutes it took me to make it home. The pace kept me toasty warm and and the wet roads cleaned the mud off the Salsa, so there was an upside...
I feel confident that no one rode @ 1 either!
January 2- NGS and I headed out to Lex to take part in the Ian Foyster Memorial Day after New Years Day Ride. It was ASS-BITING cold this morning...30F with 20mph winds out of the NW. Unfortunately, the cold and the dirt kept a lot of folks away. Pity for them...
8 intrepid souls rolled out in the brisk morning sun. 10 minutes into the ride, everyone was warm and laughs were becoming de rigeur. We all rode together...no egos...no testosterone...just a bunch of dudes having a good time on their bikes. It was so nice and should be done more...by everyone!
Shortly after halfway, a moment of inattention on a rocky downhill section brought our pal KK to grief. He hit the ground on his left knee/hip and stopped abruptly. The scuff on the front of knee wasn't so bad. The HOLE on the side was HAGGARD! For reference, it's about the size of a large peanut M&M. Nasty. He soldiered on though, adrenaline flowing through his veins. I'm willing to bet that MFer hurts right now though!
3 hours after rolling out, all 8 rolled in together. We chatted, took a couple of group pictures, and then took our cold, hungry and tired asses home. Our average speed wasn't at all high, but our average fun level was through the roof!

Gonna be COLD next week...I hear the quiet whispering of the trainer in the distance...bastard!

Good Riddance 2009

Well, it's almost over, thank whoever!

For 2010, my resolution is to be a better friend to those who truly are friends. The rest will be re-classified as acqauintances and treated accordingly. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and that sleeve is getting rolled up.

As for a laugh to end the year, I give you this...The Ellpitigo !! Feel free to file it under WTF!

We're riding tomorrow (NYD) from the shop @ 1pm and Saturday from Lexington HS @ 10am. Sunday, who knows...it's supposed to be cold, which automatically precludes 90% of folks from showing up for a ride.

Happy New Year folks!

Reminder

The 10th Annual Toby Porter day after New Years Day ride (we gotta shorten that...) is approaching quickly...Saturday actually. Be aware that this is a 'multi-surface' affair, meaning that there will be dirt and gravel involved. This will, of course, necessitate larger tires, or completely different bicycles. It will also be a bit too epic and difficult for some, which is fine. This is a ride that's supposed to be fun. If you plan to complain, or deem it beneath your 'training', keep your kilojoules at home.
It's gonna be cold and breezy as well, so plan accordingly.

Last Sunday, Il Prof and I were the only ones to show for the 'group' ride. No matter, as we rode slowly, two abreast for a bit over 2.5 hours. It was quite a pleasant trip through Lower Richland. Nothing is better than a bike ride on a beautiful day.

I went out solo on the Salsa last night. It was a lovely night, albeit a bit chilly. In the 90 minutes I was out, the temp dropped 7 degrees.
I did the normal HoP+ loop. Once I dropped down to the river, the temp seemed to drop immediately. I had no plan to ride with anything remotely resembling effort last night, but I was cold, so the hammer went down. According to the HRM, my little 20 minute effort to warm up was @ 95% of MHR. It stung, but kinda of felt good...pushed out some bad stuff and cleared my mind of the stuff I'd been dealing with all day. I was, in fact, toasty when I finished.
I rolled up Gervais, through campus and home. Good ride...

I also saw something sad up on campus. A LOT of forgotten, forlorn bicycles, shunned by their owners. Some where Wal-Mart junk, while a few were nice, including an older steel frame with Ultegra 600 and CXP30 wheels, as well as a few OLD Schwinn Collegiates. There's a place inside me that wants to go up to campus and rescue the old horses. This begs questions? Which karma is worse? Locking a bike to a rack and forgetting about it, or liberating from it's shackles to live again as a loved conveyance?

Another night ride tonight...

Update

A couple of days ago, I ranted about the shop not wanting my money. I shot an email to a friend in England who works for Diadora UK, relaying the story. Since she's my hookup for my stellar Diadora road shoes, I figured she may be able to hook me up with a similar discount on a pair of mountain bike shoes, since they are exceedingly hard to find in the US.
In turn, she emailed my rant to her boss. (didn't really plan on that part...)
This afternoon, I got an email from her that Diadora would be sending me a FREE pair of white, size 46 ProTrail Carbon mountain shoes! Kickass!
My friend, who I now owe a kidney (or at least a wet, sloppy kiss on the mouth) if she needs it, looked in her files and saw that I wore their ProRacer carbon shoes. At this point, the wheels in her beautiful, brilliant Italian/English mind started turning. The ProTrails and the ProRacers are ostensibly the same shoe, built on the same last, with the same fit, so she made the decision to send me PTs. See! That's customer fucking service! From this point forward, I will NEVER wear any cycling shoes that do not say Diadora on them, PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!


I hope the shop doesn't miss my $250...dicks!

Holiday wishes...

I hope everyone had a joyous holiday, regardless of who you pray to when you hit your knees at night.
Santa was very kind to my family, especially the MTs. The living room looked like Toys R Us opened a new facility in my house!
As much as I complain, they are good kids and I love them more than anything on this planet! the H.O., not so much...kidding, of course. I am insanely lucky to have such a beautiful and loving wife, and she doesn't let me forget it!

Now for the riding portion of this post...
I TRIED to get out and meet Bond and JB this morning for a ride in the NE. I left the house in plenty of time to get out there for the 10am roll out. About 1/2 to Bond's house, I felt really good, and was rolling right along at SST when I rolled over a section of steel banding. You know the kind that large, palletized parcels are bound with....
The front tire rolled right over, flipping the banding 90 degrees. The rear tire hit it flush and suffered a fatal laceration. Steel Banding: 1 Conti GP4000s: 0
The tire was cut from bead to bead and rendered useless in .1 seconds.
No booting this one kids!
Of course, I was in a hurry this morning and left my Blackberry on the table, so there was no calling anyone for rescue. I took off my shoes and started to walk home. I probably walked about a mile until a very pleasant old Mexican man stopped and took pity on me. He gave me a ride home, which was completely out of his way. Nicest dude in Columbia right there! I thanked him and gave him the old $20 handshake. Worth every penny!
I feel like riding again, but should probably just stay in the house. It may not be my day!
I'll go out in the morning for a couple of hours!

An open letter to bike shops...

I've been in the bike business. I know how it works. I realize that you cannot stock every bike, part, or accessory to make customers 100% happy. It's just not good business practice. Conversely, if a customer takes the time to come to your shop, don't treat them like they are jerkoffs, especially if they are good customers who spend copious amounts of cash at your store.
If that customer wants you to order an item, and you know they can pay for it, order the fucking thing! So what if it'll cost $12 to ship it! What's better, eating $12, or not getting a $250 sale?
I tried to go buy a $250 pair of mountain bike shoes this morning. I knew exactly what I wanted, the size and the color. Making the sale required nothing more than a phone call to place the order.
Instead, I got a ration of shit from the staff because they 'just did an order' with the company in question and didn't want to do another one, AND they didn't want to place the item into inventory.
Hey dumbasses, you won't have to keep the item in inventory. Once it shows up on the UPS truck, you make a call and inside of 30 minutes, I'll be there to throw $250 at you. Simple, easy, no fuss, no muss...
Now, I'm going to make a couple of phone calls to friends I have in the industry and get the shoes at a very deep discount (if not free!), and the shop will get jack shit!
It amazes me! Sometimes I think the shops just don't want the money customers are willing to give them. I know it's Christmas and the shops are flush with money from selling kid's bikes, but we'll see how business is in 6 weeks, when the doldrums of February have set in. You guys might just NEED my $250 then!
Oh, as an aside, I'm planning on dropping somewhere North of $5k in the spring on a new road bike. Any guesses where I'll be shopping?

Saturday tip...(Sunday update)

Here's a tip I'll pass on to my cycling brethren...
When it's 38 degrees, damp, and the wind is blowing, ride AROUND the big body of standing water!!!
About an hour into my little jaunt into the woods this morning, I came to one of the many firebreaks that intersect the trail. The break had been freshly cut, and whoever was operating the grater cut it a bit too deep right where the trail crosses. There's normally water in this particular spot, so I thought nothing of it. I bombed across the break and was promptly hub/BB deep in very muddy, VERY cold water. No choice...ride through and out the other side. Thankfully, I installed the rear fender this morning, so my hiney stayed clean and dry. My feet? Not so much!
I rode one more section of trail and decided that my feet were important to me, so I turned around (avoiding the waterhole) and rode hard to get home.
The last 30 minutes are on the road, so the wind REALLY started cutting through the wet shoe covers. I got home and promptly stripped off my covers, shoes, and socks, revealing some hot pink toe-cicles. Oh, how they hurt and itched when the warm air hit them!
I still got two hours this morning though...
I may actually pull the Ridley out of the ManHole(tm) tomorrow...first time on it in 3-ish weeks. Big gears and skinny tires will feel weird!

Sunday update-
The road bike felt WEIRD this morning, after pushing the cross bike around for the last 3 weeks. I guess 42 and sunny is too cold for folks, so it was just New Guy Steve and I this morning. We did a convoluted version of the old Tuesday loop in an effort to A)stay in the sun and B) out of the headwind. It worked for the most part. I feel bad for the folks who didn't ride, or waited to ride today. It was really nice this morning and only warmed up 6 degrees all day.
Oh well, their loss...we had a good ride and some good conversation. 2:30 ride time and 70km.

Then, the H.O. and I took the MTs to see Santa. We got their 45 minutes before opening and were 2nd in line. I feel bad for the poor schmoes that were 20+ deep! Nothing wastes a Sunday afternoon more than standing in line to see Santa for 2+ hours!

I have no words...

This is just tragic!

Hump Day!

Okay snapperheads...time to the time to HTFU is coming. The 10th Annual Toby Porter New Year's Day ride is approaching. This one will not be for the timid, or the aerobars. Rumor has it that there will be somewhere between 12-15 'Roubaix' sections. TP says that all bikes are welcome, but fat tires are suggested, so figure out if 28s will fit between the stays and brakes and c'mon out. Me? I'll be riding the Salsa with 700x30 Michelin Jet S tires...maybe even something bigger! This is an all-weather event, so if it's wet, you may get dirty!

I rode yesterday...it was slick and dirty on (and off) the roads. Halfway through my ride, I got a call from the MT's school. #2 evidently had a fever, so I put my head down to get home so I could go get him. An 8-minute turnaround, including shower, and I was on my way to pick up the pitiful little fella. He laid around all afternoon. Not often that the little shark stops swimming, so I knew something was amiss. He was mopey all day, then it was like a switch went off. @ 6 p.m., he perked up and was perfectly normal. This morning, he's perfectly fine...no fever...no nothing! Kids are strange little beasts. Personally, I think his weekend caught up with him! Back to school for the little grommet tomorrow!

Non-cycling...
Who's really shocked that Tiger Woods is a doper? He got on the Barry Bonds program, and started to get big as he got older. Funny how he just got big all of the sudden. Don't tell me you didn't notice! Funny how sharp the double-edged sword can be! Cyclists are impuned daily, and accused of doping, but when Tiger flies a Doctor from Canada to Florida 4x in a year, no one blinks. Did I mention that the Doc just got popped at the border with Canada with HgH and Activegin?
Hey Tiger, you're a scumbag! I mean, you just can't be happy inside. You're a billionaire, the best golfer alive, annd you're married to a supermodel...WTF man? You are the most recognizable athlete on the planet! Did you think that banging every stipper/escort/waitress in Vegas would go unnoticed? Hell, your smoking hot wife has a TWIN sister. A smart man would have worked that angle...if you know what I'm sayin'! Keep that shizz in the family!

Anyway...
It's gonna be cold again this weekend, so the road rides will be non-existent...at least before noon. Since I cannot bring myself to waste the day by waiting that long to ride, I'll probably be getting in the woods on the cross bike. If anyone wants to get in on the fun, let me know.

Breaking News

Glory Cycles is closing their retail location in Orlando!!! Ward Bates is opening a new shop called 'Winter Park Cycles'. The new shop will open it's doors sometime in early January...likely @ the 10th.
It will be a brick and mortar store only...no online sales.

Give the guys down there a shout. They have a pro staff who all know their stuff!

And now...Weekend Update

So I ranted a bit on Thursday...
I think the combo of a caffeine deficiency and hitting the ground for the upteenth time this year got me a bit riled up...I still think the RadioShack kits are bone-ugly though!
Friday morning, I went out in the COLD and rode the cross bike for 90 minutes. It was considerably less slick than the days prior, but the cold and wind more than made up for it. I warmed up, quickly, and proceeded to pound out a little 5x5 session. That was followed by an ugly, ugly climb and @ 15 minutes of SST to get me through the Northside. I came home with frozen toes, but the rest of me was pretty comfy. The right clothes are essential in 35 degrees!
Saturday, I knew no one would show for the group ride, so I kitted up and did another 2 hours on the Salsa. I had no real plan, just to ride with some pace and and spend a solid two hours in the saddle. I did the original HoP backwards, and explored some paved streets and trails that looked like they were laid out for a neighborhood that never came to fruition. Lots of possibilities back there! Then, a quick trip through some parking garages and up through campus. It's funny how the college kids are all about being outside when the sun is high in the sky and the air is warm, but whhen it's 35 degrees and the windy is blowing, USC looks like a ghost town. The rest of my day was spent trying not to blow $2500 on that badass 58" plasma @ BestBuy! Believe me when I tell you that I had real trouble deciding whether to drop 2.5 stacks on the flat-screen, or save the cash for my 40th b-day present!
I pissed my entire Sunday away going to a 'family reunion' with the H.O.
It was more like a family free lunch. The majority showed up 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and bugged out after they'd sucked down multiple plates of the finest, non-nutrative southern cooking around. What a joke! First and last for the the kid...first and last! I did placate the H.O. by eating a little bit, but could feel my chest tightening with every bite. There were three kinds of ham, fried chicken and myriad casseroles. Did I mention the preponderance of biscuits produced with love...and lard?
I came home and immediately consumed a Mix1 Anti-Ox. I'm hoping that the drink, a salad and a large apple will be enough to feep my digestive system from attacking itself!
Going to make an effort to ride at least 5 days next week...Peace!

Thursday news

Wow, the UCI and IOC have confirmed that they both suck...

It seems, in their finite wisdom, that the IOC has taken the recommendation of the UCI and eliminated the pursuit in the Olympics. In an effort to make sure that the playing field is level for both sexes, they killed the 4k pursuit and implemented an 'omnium', basically making track cycling into a decathalon-style competition, on wheels. This was done to increase the number of events for women. I'm all for a level palying field, but what level of competition will there be? Track racing is split up into several disciplines that sometimes just do not overlap. Taylor Phinney is the WC in the pursuit right now, but is he a great 200m sprinter? He's better than you and me, but he's not going to beat Theo Bos or Chris Hoy...just not gonna happen! IMO, it will lead to a watering down of the competition because it will isolate those folks, both male and female, that devote singular focus to their particular discipline.

God forbid that the IOC try to keep some sort of tradition involved in the Olympics. They eliminate sports that have been a part of the games for generations, yet add silly sports. Golf as an Olympic sport...please. Any sport that you can drink while you compete, and have it not affect the flow of the game, nor your ability, is not an Olympic caliber choice! Think they'll have the beer cart girl driving around during the Olympics?

Brad Wiggins is leaving Garmin for Team Sky. Well no shit...! It's been conjecture for months, but anyone who didn't see this one coming needs to adjust the prescription on their rose-colored glasses...(cough...Vaughters...cough...)! He's British, the team is the first British ProTour team...did you think he wasn't going to go? Wake up! Team Sky is owned by Rupert Murdoch. That means deep pockets, so let it go Vaughters! Garmin got paid for Wiggins. It was a trade, just like in other pro sports! JV said that legal action "wouldn't have been good for either side". Really? It wouldn't have been good for you JV. Rupert Murdoch likely pays his barristers a yearly rate that equals Garmin's entire budget.

I showed you the new TeamRadioShack jersey in my last post. Here's the new Madone team bike...

Hey, Lance, get the guy who designed this paint scheme to hack something together for a team strip. I don't like a Trek, but that paint scheme is damn hot and very imaginative. It just doesn't fit with the uber-plain kit...sorry, but that's the hard truth. Mimic the bike design with the same colors and graphics. Do some gray ghost logos on black. Accent with red and white. Hell, I have the picture in my empty head right now! I have the artisitc ability of a capuchin monkey and could knock out a better design.

As for me, I rode in the wind and wet yesterday. I slid out on a wet, leaf covered downhill left, and promptly hit the ground. Fortunately, my big ass took the impact. I got up, brushed off the accumulated gunk, and continued on my happy way. No harm, no foul!

/rant

Quick hit...

Okay, so images of an 'early' version of TeamRadioShack's jersey have been released. For all of the money that Lance and the new team have, you would think that they'd hire a graphic artist to do a proper design.I mean, it's okay, but not a lot of imagination went into the design. Be bold...do something different and edgy. For all of the shit that people give Rock Racing, they have cool kits. Hell, I did our kits last year and they were cooler than Radio Shack's new strip!

And I got a special package from my boys at Mix1 yesterday. A jersey (bibs are on the way), a tshirt, decals and a smattering of flavors. All of the flavors are great. They actually taste like the flavors indicated on the bottle. Shocking, I know...! As opposed to other 'recovery' drinks that taste like wallpaper paste, or the can in which they are contained (cough...Slim-Fast...cough)!

I know that some of you drink Slim-Fast for recovery, but it's been recalled because, well, it can KILL you. Go buy a 4-pack of Mix1 and try it! Surf around on their site...watch the videos...read the info provided...! It's all-natural, tastes really good and you're helping some dudes get a company off the ground! They support cycling, as well as just about every other outdoor activity, so why not support them?

You do what you can

So Saturday was supposed to be a loss. The shit-for-brains weather guys in this town don't know their collective ass from a hole in the ground. After years in Columbia, you'd think some of them would figure out that Columbia sits in a hole and the weather is affected by it. Rarely does weather from Texas, or the Gulf, make here without changing dramatically. Usually, the whatever-is-coming-this-way weakens, or dissipates completely once it hits Aiken.
What was supposed to be a 45 degree, rainy, shithouse of a day, turned 55 and sunny by 11 a.m.
Instead of riding outside, I chose continue a cycle that's repeating itself much too often these days. I went to the ManHole and rode the trainer. As you all know, I hate that little bastard, but I figured, as long as I was riding it, I should make it count.
A 10 minute warm-up was followed by 1x20 @ 90%...five minutes off. 1x15 @ 92-93%...five minutes off. I should have quit there, but felt good, so the 3rd effort was 1X8 @ 98%...ten minute spin down. For those following along @ home, the 98% number resides somewhere between 180 and 185bpm. And yes, I felt a little pukey for a short while after!
I then decorated the house, set-up the tree, cleaned and tuned the Ridley, and helped the H.O. put the lights on the tree.
The day ended with the GT/Clemson game, which was quite good, although, if Clemson didn't have CJ Spiller, they'd be far less of a team. He carried them on his back last night, turf toe and all.

This morning, I had every intention of going up to the Il Prof ride, but seeing the 35 degree temps, I knew in my heart that no one would show up. Instead, I bundled up and headed out on the cross bike for a two hour thrash. I didn't try to kill it the entire time, but I rode hard enough to have the 'cold-air cough' for the rest of the day. I also found an alternate route that I can add to the original HoP loop. It doesn't add much time or mileage, but throws in a climb that forced me to stand and mash the 38/27 to get up it! I also found some oddball greenspace that may need to be explored one day.

The plan is to finish Christmas shopping tomorrow morning...or I may blow it off and ride!

I like it when you call me Big Poppa!

Evidently, there's a charity cross race coming up soon in Belge.

Boonen lends even more credence to the fact that he's a fucking BALLER! The S-Works cross bike is no big deal, but rocking a set of Lightweights, is, in fact, bringing it STRONG!

Speaking of bringing it strong, check out TCOTBR's own Ali Goulet on Velonews.

Hump Day

It's only Wednesday? Jesus, this week has been long already! I have a ripper of a head cold too! I'm not sure exactly HOW I was infected with this virulent strain of crud, but I'll hazard a guess and say that one of the MTs brought it into our home. Have either of them been under the weather? NOPE! The H.O.? NOPE! Meanwhile, I'm coughing up shit that looks like banana pudding. To add insult to injury, it's raining and 48 degrees outside. The MTs may get a dose of the 'sleepy juice' this afternoon! (Kidding! Just in case anyone from DSS is reading this...)

Last night, the H.O. and I went to a double secret holiday party. Can't tell you the who, where, how, but I can tell you that it was fun and we were very appreciative for having been invited. It was nice to put on big boy clothes and have the opportunity to have actual adult conversations that didn't include references to all things toddler related!

I didn't get to ride last night, but made up for it this morning by riding the infernal machine down in The ManHole(tm) for 70 minutes. Sure, it doesn't sound like a long time, but after a 5 minute spin-up, I sat my HR @ 90% and left it there for 60 minutes. It sucked, but my legs actually felt okay. The lungs, well, they protested for the first 15 minutes or so. It felt like I was breathing through a snorkel! I think it was good for me to sweat and cough though. I feel better for the effort.

And the window at Cycle Center has been painted for Christmas again...more proof of my theory that the line between artistic and autistic is, indeed, very fine!

BIG HIT!!!

Carolina should start scouting this kid NOW!



Pursuit AND a huge hit!

Nice winter pace ride

It was a perfect day outside, especially when you take into consideration that it's November 29th!! 45 degrees when we left and 60+ when we rolled in 3-1/2 hours later. I still cannot understand how people don't ride on days like today...we only had 5 this morning.

We meandered out through LR, into the Swamp and back in on Airbase. A nice, easy 100km at 30kmh.

It was good to ride with DL this morning too. I may roll out to Dutch Fork and ride with those guys in the near future. A change of scenery is always a good thing. We came up with a novel idea...

I know everyone is stuck in their own staid little routines, but there needs to be a ride in Columbia that folks from every corner of town show up for, especially in winter. I'm not saying that it has to be a weekly traveling circus, but a big ride once in a while would be fun (remember that?) and would foster a little more of a 'community' in Columbia.

Last week, a liittle bird broke some news about the Toby J. Porter Annual New Years' Ride. It seems that this year's edition may be a 'multi-surface' affair. Not quite sure exactly what that means, but I'm betting tires wider than 23c will be advantageous! There are a plethora of dirt roads out around the lake! Don't be scared buttercups, a little dirt and rough stuff is good for you. Big gears and a high-ish pace will get you to the other end w/o drama!

Gobble, gobble

Even though the weather was, well, gray, 7 intrepid souls rolled out @ 7:30 Thanksgiving morning. Back in the day, we used to have a huge T-day ride, but children and family responsibilities put the kibosh on it years ago. For the last four or five years, I've just gone out on the cross bike and either done a BIG urban assault loop, or banged around in the woods. It was nice to ride with people in the middle of the week!

To say that it was foggy would be the understatement of the month. Visibility was about 100m and the moisture was just settling on arm and kneewarmers.

As it normally happens, the fog and low clouds stayed with us for our entire 3:15 on the bike. Only when I rolled my big ass into the yard did I see blue sky. By the time I'd showered and gotten dressed, it was beautiful outside...

The entire corporation, all four of us, rolled out to the hell hole that is Lexington for a pleasant Thanksgiving lunch at my mom's house. A wonderful smoked turkey, all the fixins and pumpkin pie followed. Sleep came easy shortly thereafter...

Friday, I did a 90 miute spin on the cross bike and came home to an empty house. The H.O. and MTs headed to Chesterfield for a couple of days...sweeeet!

This morning, I chose to sleep in since I knew no one would bother to show up for the group ride. It's been anorexic lately anyway, and the 38 degree temps wouldn't exactly help that situation. The plan was to ride the cross bike again, but I bailed. Instead, I raked, blew, mowed and cursed at the leaves for an hour and a half. Cross training!

On the bike again tomorrow...9:00 at Outspokin'. 60 miles...winter pace...be there...!

Oh, and I have seen the future...his name is Thibaut Nys and he's 6! That's right, Sven Nys' son!

When did we move to Portland?

I'm not one to complain about the weather, especially since we live in SC, where it never really gets too cold...or too anything, for that matter. I am getting a bit weary of the days like we've had since Sunday. 50 degrees and dreary is fine to ride in, but just sucks the life clean out of a brother. I need some sunshine on my face!

I went out last night and rode the cross bike for 2 hours. Dry when I left...light drizzle started 15 minutes in...real drizzle for the next hour...and light rain to finish off the evening. Wonder why my throat hurts this morning? It beat the hell out of riding the trainer though!

I was perusing Ebay last, looking for nothing in particular, and found a guy selling stuff who understands marketing. Eyes on the product baby...make it sell!

Somebody needs to put this guy in their marketing department, 'cuz he's a bright one!

Ride in the morning @ 730 from Outspokin'...be there!

I guess I needed rest...

I rode a whopping three times last week. After a great Tuesday ride, I went downhill in a hurry. The rest of the week, I felt like hammered shit, so I just stayed off the bike until Friday.
Even when I did get back on the bike, I felt bad. I rode the cross bike for 90 minutes Friday morning, doing nothing more than farting around downtown. No efforts, no nothing...just spinning my legs around.
Bond invited me to a double secret Saturday morning ride, so I went, still feeling pretty flat and empty. Gary Smith, of Fox News fame, Bond, NCA (National Champion Aaron) and I went out for a couple of hours. Did I mention we left at 7:30? I'm wired differently than some. I like to ride early, but 7:30 is EARLY! Gary had to do a couple of 30 minute efforts, so we just sat in while he turned himself inside out.
In the middle of his second effort, my urge to stop for a break naturel far outweighed pretty much anything ellse on the planet, so I stopped and watered the flora. I didn't want to disrupt Gary, ot the other guys, so I didn't even bother to yell. I knew they'd sit up after his effort...
I chased, was picked up by Bond and we rode back to NCA and Gary.
It was a good ride, and it was nice to be home by 10am, but I just felt bad when I got home. It didn't get better as the day progressed.
I awoke Sunday and decided that the bike would stay in The ManHole(tm) for the day.
The H.O. and I loaded up the MTs and headed to Ikea in Charlotte instead. Huge place, a lot of cool stuff and quite a good in-house cafe. Felt lucky that we got out only dropping a Franklin!

I'm feeling better today and plan on doing the Tri-City ride again tomorrow night...maybe even do a double tomorrow.
Turkey Day ride @ 7:30 on Thursday. Meet @ Outspokin'. I don't know the route, as it isn't my ride. C'mon out, do 3 hours early and feel no guilt later when you're throwing that 2nd, or 5th, slice of pie down your neck!
Friday ride too, if anyone wants to go out. Probably @ 9 or so...3 hours...no real plan...I'll send an email as well...

Peace...Hope everyone has a good Monday!

Fun, fun, fun

So I did another really fun ride last night.

Tri-City Schwinn is long gone, but the night ride remains. 30+ folks met behind the strip center on 12th Street in Cayce last night @ 6:30. That's right, I said 30+! No racers, no egos, no pretense, no testosterone driven ass-sniffing, just a bunch of folks who like to ride. It about the purity of the ride. Other than being safe, nothing was really taken all that seriously, kinda the way riding should be...

We rode through the Avenues, down to the river trail. The trail wasn't open, per se, but we still, somehow, made it to the end of trail. I won't say that we snuck around a couple of gates, but certain things may, or may not, have occured that allowed us access to parts of the trail...just sayin'! We traversed all of the river trail, went up into Governer's Hill, through downtown, the State House and campus. At this point, I peeled off and headed home. I ended up with 2.5 hours on the bike. Not many miles, but a lot of smiles! Wow, that last statement was borderline...

I did get a good effort last night though. I didn't want to be late, as I was instructed the ride left AT 6:30. I blew out of the house @ 6:02 and made it to the meeting spot @ 6:18. 16 minutes from Rosewood to Cayce/West Cola on 38c tires is no mean feat. If I recall correctly, the dots were blue.

The H.O. is out of town, so I'm forced to ride in the morning. Oh, how I HATE riding in the sunshine...(can you feel the cynicism?)

The weather outside is supposed to be iffy this weekend, but I'll be out anyway. Are you listening Wiseman?



Oh, and if you think your bike is light, it isn't...

11.7 pounds complete...

Yes please....

New body Camaro turned into the iconic Trans-Am...screaming chicken and all! I'll take it!

Ah...that's the weather we've missed!

What a glorious weekend!! As our favorite over-educated hillibilly would say, "It's beautiful!"
Yesterday, we rolled out into LR in 60 degrees and sun. Not much exciting happened on the ride. We rolled around into Eastover and back the normal way. I felt like crap for pretty much the entire ride. The feelings just weren't there after being off the bike for a week, and off the ROAD bike for almost two weeks. No issues with pace or pulling through, just issues with comfort on the bike after a little layoff. The day more than made up for it! 3 hours and 90km in the bright, warm sun was NICE!
The H.O. and I spent the afternoon looking for houses in Blythewood, which led to the revelation that we're probably going to move out there when the time comes. More house for the $, good schools and it's not Lexington! I'd rather take several dozen shots to the nuts than live in that festering shithole.
A nice dinner @ Carabba's and some shopping made sleep come early and easy.
This morning, it was even nicer! Warmer and almost zero wind. The irony? No one bothered to show up for the standing 'Il Prof' ride...other than Il Prof and yours truly. No worries though! We rolled out Bluff, meandered around the long way through the Swamp and back in. Another 3 hours and 90km in 65 degrees and sun. We rode two up for the entire ride and conversations ranged from HDTV to the tenement in Beijing that his son calls home to why people ride their bikes.
I felt much better sitting on the bike today though. It wasn't a totally foreign feeling like Saturday. Back to back long rides on the weekend are goooood, plus...
I REALLY like having fresh tanlines from weekend rides, especially in November!

Off the bike tomorrow, but my cross-training will consist of raking leaves for most of the morning!

The tide is high

I rode outside today! The bad wing got taped up, boxer style, and I got on the cross bike for a tour of downtown and the over-flowing river. No plan today, other than getting some fresh air, trying out the injured wrist and checking out the flooding. And flooding there be...

The dam out at the end of the the canal had just a little bit of overflow! The walkway shown is the end of the fish run. No fishies getting upstream today!

This is part of the trail that goes under the River Drive bridge. I ran into a guy from the USGS down there who was taking flow measurements. In the middle of the river, under the bridge, the flow was 36,000 cu. ft per SECOND!!! You can see the top of a guide sign in the picture. It's @ 4 feet tall and normally about 4-6 above the level of the river, on the side of the trail.

This in on the Cayce side. Believe it or not, this is a high spot on the river trail! The water was right at 3 feet deep on the walkway pictured. By the looks of the water line on the trail where I was standing, the water level had dropped about a foot or so.

This walkway goes over one of the truly low/swampy spots of the trail. I've ridden this part dozens of times and NEVER seen more than a foot of water here. This portion is elevated and approximately 8-10 feet of the dry ground in the spot shown in the picture!

I made an effort to wind around to the far side of the trail to grab some shots of the old locks and the other portion of elevated trail, but the gate was closed and locked. Climbing an 8 foot fence in cycling clothes, while shouldering a cyclocross bike, next to a roaring river didn't seem like a horribly intelligent thing to do, so I headed home. I got a nice 90 minute spin and saw the river higher than I'd seen it in my 20 years in Columbia. I'd be interested in seeing the Swamp, but seeing as I have an aversion to large snakes and alligators, I'll just assume the water is high!

I think I see blue sky and sunshine...weird!

Have I mentioned...

...that I hate the trainer?
The weather wasn't as biblical as the worthless 'meteorologists' in town predicted, but I wasn't about to go outside in the wet and risk sliding out and crashing on an already bunged up wing, so I swallowed my hatred for riding indoors and hit the ManHole(tm) for an hour on the turbo this morning.
The trainer has it's place, but I just can't fathom how in the hell folks ride it for more than 90 minutes or so. That's my absolute limit!
I popped in the 2004 Tour and set my HR @ 170...60 minutes later, I was soaked...the bike was soaked...the floor was soaked, and my spirit was somehow diminished. Riding the trainer is a double-edged sword. Even though I hold it in such low esteem, I know that it's an effective way to get a fast, focused workout. I know for a fact that I wouldn't have ridden that hard outside, in the wet, this morning.
The positive from the ride? Watching the 2004 Tour. I'm a Lance homer. Sure, I know a lot of folks bash him and call him a doper, but haters are as haters do. The one thing that you can't discount is the fact that Ekimov and Hincapie flat fucking KILLED the other teams in Stage 3 of the 2004 Tour, when they got to the cobbled sections. If you don't like that, then you just don't like anything!

Peace...gotta go to Target with the fam!

I.R.

Well, I get a few days of forced rest.
I schlepped up to Charlotte yesterday to do the 35+/45+ masters cyclocross race @ Veterans Park. Great course, well laid out and pretty fun.
We had a huge field...about 35 in 35+ and probably more in 45+.
I got a BAD start, but had 45 minutes to move up, or so I thought. About 20 minutes in, I had gained about a dozen spots and was sitting somewhere around 12th, about 30 seconds off the lead bunch of 6.
Entering the tougher part of the course, I tried to move around a couple of guys to have a clear shot at the downhill, but chose a really bad line. Now for some math...
Wet grass + off camber + downhill + too much speed + a bad line = M2 in a wrist immobilizer for 7-10 days!
Yep, the front wheel just went away and I went down. It wasn't hard crash, but my left arm somehow got pinned under my chest and bent my wrist in, towards my forearm. I knew it was jacked, but jumped up and continued on. After another 1/2 lap, the pain was too much to bear. I couldn't hold, or pull, on the bars and every bump shot a lightning bolt of pain through my body.
Done and done!
I packed up and headed home, injured and dejected. I called my personal Doc and told him I was inbound. After a wrist/hand X-Ray, and a lot of poking and squeezing, I was told that nothing was broken. Pretty much all of the ligaments in my left wrist are strained though, which makes it about as useful as actually being broken.
I guess I'll be off the bike for a few days. Of course, it's 60 degrees and sunny, with zero wind today...F&%#$R!
To add insult to injury, the buckle broke off my shoe in the crash...super!
I think it's time for some new MTB shoes anyway. My M221s are 4 years old and smell like a stray dog that's been living inside of the turkey vulture's carcass...

No riding until Thursday, so I'll do a couple of reviews early in the week. DZ-Nuts chamois creme and the MagicShine 900 light...stay tuned! Maybe I'll try to run...

Friday commentary

I think all that frequent this place realize that I'm not a big fan of ball and stick sports. Out of all sports that involve throwing or catching, I dislike baseball the least. Sure, I still think that the vast majority of MLB players are di-anabol eating wankers, but every so often, I'll watch a baseball game. It's OK on TV, but actually quite fun to go to the park, especially a minor league park.

Anyway, Philadelphia just lost* the World Series to the Jankees. Let it be known from here to eternity...I HATE THE JANKEES! They are anti-thesis to what the game of baseball should be. Sure, maybe I'm a bit of a luddite. I quite enjoy watching the old documentaries about baseball with video sourced from decades gone by. A team was a team. The guys lived in the neighborhood. They didn't jet in for game day, and then catch another jet after the game to go home to their $7 million dollar, 12, 000 square foot, homage to too much money and bad taste.

I spent many formative years in the Philly 'burbs, and went to more baseball, football, basketball and hockey games than I care to remember, so I have a bit of nostalgia and love for those teams.

I watched the WS with rapt attention and was highly bummed when the Jankees took the series 4-2. The Phillies look, and play, like a TEAM. The Jankees look, and play, like a collection a high priced mercenaries, which is what they are...did I mention the Jankees payroll is $200 million!!!! That's $200,000,000! Eight fucking zeros people...

Again, Philadelphia sports teams have fans that don't exactly fit any mold, and can be huge douchebags, but they're homers. They aren't bandwagon jumpers or fair-weather fans. They come out in all sorts of horrendous climatic events and are there for the team, be it the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, or Flyers. If the team sucks, they boo, jeer, and are generally nasty. If the team is good, they cheer with reckless abandon, but they are always there! Asses in the seats, beer in hand! It's endearing in a sick and twisted sort of way.

Yankees fans, well....they're New Jorkers...need I say more?

Domestic duties call

So the H.O. is in NYC for a 'conference'. I'm talking to her on the phone as I write this and she's done nothing remotely resembling work, but she's walked the length of W. 34St. in Chelsea, hitting all of the stores. I have a sneaking suspicion that this 'all-day conference' with last until shortly after lunch, then our credit rating will take a small hit! I, of course, will receive no spoils from this 'trip'.
I'm single-parenting the boys, which is really nothing new. I would have enjoyed the trip to NYC, but my mother has to work for a living and it seems that my in-laws were 'too busy' to watch their grand-children. Did I mention the fact that they're both retired? Used pudding cups are more useful...

Anywho, I took Monday off the bike, went out last night in the dark and then spun my legs around early this morning.
Last night was a full moon, but it's still DAMN dark out in the middle of Ft. Jackson. I'd planned on just sort of riding, but felt remarkably good, so I pushed a little bit. I ended up doing a convoluted tour of the base that lasted nearly two hours. I was HORRIBLY over-dressed for a hard-ish ride in 60 degree temps and just couldn't figure out what to un-zip, remove, leave on, etc., so I just accepted that I would sweat like a mule for a while. The MagicShine 900 light was superb! I've used it enough now to have formulated an opinion, so I'll be doing a review in the next week or so.
This morning, I went out to the HoP2 loop and tried to make myself vomit. (10) 30/30s will, in fact, help remind one of the Kashi GoLean Crunch one had for breakfast. It wasn't a full body heave, but just enough to discern exactly which 7 grains they use to achieve the cereal's taste and texture. An hour on the bike and I was home. I returned the Salsa to it's cross/race form, went to the shop to hang out for a while and then started my dealings with the MTs.
Fortunately, I have good children who actually listen, so it's not all bad!
The H.O. is to return tomorrow night, LATE, so riding tomorrow is out of the question, unless I leave the boys here alone. Somehow, I think DSS would take issue with this, so a rest day it is.
I'll spin around Friday morning and try to loosen things up for Saturday. Drogalis (nickname pending) and I are leaving EARLY to go up and get our cross on...we'll see how that goes...

Colini out...(figure out that reference!)

Monday review

Well, it's that time of year...time has changed and the temps are dropping. What do you do when/if you don't feel like pulling on knee warmers, or the temps will go up during the course of your ride? Slap on some embrocation, that's what you do!

I've tried a few different formulas over the years, some worked better than others, but hadn't found anything worth recommending to others...until now.

I tripped over Mad Alchemy after reading a review on the old BKW website. After reading all of Padraig's reviews, I went to Mad Alchemy's site and read of their propaganda. Let's just say that it's not a product that's made by some faceless, greedy, soul-less corporation. It's made by ONE guy...in his house! All of MA's products are 100% natural, meaning there's no bad stuff or preservatives to harm your skin, or the environment.

After brushing up on all of the different styles of embro they offer, I decided to pull down on the Cold Weather Warming in Medium Heat. MA makes three different levels of heat in this particular style, so I figured the medium would be the best choice for all-around use in SC, where a 50 degree day can either feel really warm and nice, or ass-biting cold. I made my order on a Monday night and had my little package of warmth delivered, from Massachusetts, on Thursday. In keeping with the theme, it came in a little, brown, hand-addressed box. Inside that box was a brown, recycleable plastic jar. No frills, no extraneous packaging...nice!

Now that I've ridden it several times, in widely varying conditions and temperatures, I can honestly say that it's GOOD stuff! It smells almost edible, and seeing that it's all-natural, it very well may be. The beauty of it is the consistency. It's not watery, nor is it peanut butter thick. Because of this 'just right' smoothness, it isn't messy, goes on easily, and gives good coverage. All you need to cover your knee, and the connective tissue around your knee, is a little blob, about the size of a pistachio (in shell). Slap it on and massage it in well. The warmth will start shortly thereafter. And it looks PRO on your legs. A slight tint and sheen are evident when rocking it.

I've ridden with it on my legs about 6 times at this point and could FEEL the difference, especially last Sunday in the 55 degree rain. It seems to excel in the wet. It actually felt warmer once I was soaked...maybe that's the idea! Once home and in the shower, it washes off easily with soap and water. There's no greasy feeling or residue. The warm feeling remains for a little while though, which isn't always a bad thing after a cold ride!

It can also be used on other parts of the body...it works WELL on stiff backs! And yes, I speak from experience on this one!

There's a time and place for kneewarmers, but if it's between 50-60 degrees, the embro is the way to go.

It ain't cheap($22 shipped for 4 ounces), but as with all things cycling, the cost is relative. If you ride a top-shelf road/tri/cross/mountain bike, $22 bucks on something that works, and increases comfort levels, shouldn't really be a concern!

Buy some, save the planet, be more comfortable on the bike and support the little guy!

Post #666 (run away...run away...)

Well, if you missed Bond's Halloweener ride, you missed a good 110km loop through the country, North of Blythewood. The weather was borderline for the rollout, but got better as the ride progressed. A low, hanging fog followed us for the first hour or so, but cleared off. It never rained and the winds were light, but the humidity kept the roads nice and wet. This fact, coupled with the rural nature of the ride, made for a messy bike and kit. On the upside, the new Tide Stain Booster bombs work really well on cycling clothes! It was a really fun ride with a good group a guys. I really need to go out there to ride more often, for several reasons, with the biggest being that it will make me stronger on the bike.
We never really went all that hard, yet still averaged 33.5kmh for the 110km. It was just steady, for 3:15.
I got home, hit the mix1 (which if you don't know about, you should!) and spent a solid hour wiping road schmaltz and red clay mud off the bike. I also had to give the Ridley a fresh dose of handlebar tape, as the old tape was sullied by a rather large bird with an affinity for some sort of black berries, while attached to the roof rack on the ride home.
This morning, it was the same sort of day, with the added bonus of a light to moderate drizzle. I flatly refused to pull the Ridley out of the Manhole(tm), as it was fresh and clean, so I swapped road pedals and skinnies onto the Salsa, kitted up in my new TBR stuff, slapped on the
Mad Alchemy and headed out.
To say the ride was thin this morning would be generous...it was Kate Moss! Mrs. FK turned around before even making it to the meeting spot, so four of us rolled. That 4 became 3 about 2km later when TVH turned and headed home. FK and I turned off about an hour later and headed home, while Il Prof decided to stay out in the soup. More power to him!
I wasn't miserable or cold, just not quite in the mindset to wallow around in 55 degrees and drizzle for three hours. I ended up with 2 hours, just shy of 60km, and a realization. I really like riding the cross bike on the road during the winter. It fits just like the Ridley, yet isn't as twitchy, isn't as harsh and I don't mind getting it filthy. Everyone should have a cross bike...it's like a Swiss Army knife with wheels!

I have a couple of reviews to post up next week...DZNuts, Mad Alchemy, MagicShine light...stay tuned!