Something stinks at the OP-QS launch...

Everything's good...everyone's happy...then...

Chav breaks wind...

...to which Boonen responds in kind. Well played BoomBoom! Check and Mate...

Brrrr...(whatevs)

I love unused double track through the woods...

I hate this flyover...but it makes for good pictures.

Nothing needs to be said about this pic...

Rolling along in the sunshine...

Big blue sky out there this weekend. If you didn't go out because it was cold, well... (Rule #5) !

The CX bike was called on both days. I knew no one would show up for the morning rides because it was below 40-ish degrees, and riding the road bike solo holds little romance for me these days.
I did different loops both days, but 2.5 hours got knocked down in each instance. Every possible surface and condition was traversed over the course of each day's ride. All sorts of tarmac, gravel, dirt, singletrack, some bricks, treated wood, and some grass so soft that baby lambs would think twice about eating it.
I also had a little run in with a gentleman of Napoleonic stature (short guy in a big truck) on Saturday. Some honking, yelling, swerving on his behalf was met with me catching him in traffic on Gervais, and attempting to drag him out through the window. My hand and wrist are still a bit sore from punching his window as he rolled it up to prevent his own forced egress from the vehicle.

(Rant)

I truly hate these sorts of confrontations, but there comes a point when asshats in their steel cages have to learn that a guy on a bike is not there to harass. Laws are fine and well, but they aren't working. Letters to Government are pissing into the breeze. Letters to the editor are little more than wasted thoughts and keystrokes. Maybe a few summary beatings will get the message out there...
And I flatly refuse to be confined to riding on Ft. Jackson. That's just giving up...

(End rant)

Okay...enough from me. Time to do a little shopping for bike stuff...

Have a good weekend...

Courtesy of Dr. JB. Who knew?

And yes, it's supposed to be colder this weekend. The sky will still be blue, the sun will be out, and the roads will stretch out before you. Go outside and ride!
Use the picture below as inspriation...

When in doubt, RAIL IT!

And a video...

Interesting and absolutely correct

Read THIS....then read it again...

Methinks some people around here would find benefit in the above article.

And it seems Specialized may not have actually ever SEEN a Volagi...

Closing arguments have begun...

Specialized is playing to win...

...but may lose if they do.

Read this article. It seems that Specialized, and their dealers, who seem to have a retail form of Stockholm Syndrome, are the only ones who think that Specialized has any sort of case.

Good, legitimate points are brought up in the Bohemian article.

The cold, hard truth is that Specialized has always "borrowed" ideas and technology. Sinyard ripped off Tom Ritchey with the first Stumpjumper, and it seems to have snowballed from there, bringing us to today. The problem with the snowball effect is that, like in cartoons, the snowball grows so large that it simply runs downs whoever gets in it's way. It's sad, and it's wrong. It runs the gamut from small business, like Mountain Cycle and Volagi, all the way down to dealers and customers.

The majority of the industry is behind Volagi in this instance whether they will admit it or not. Most cycling rags won't so much as write an article concerning this case. If they DO choose to write something, it will be ambiguous, at best. It seems ad revenue rules the day at magazines these days. I can hear the editors now, "Sure, write about the case, but don't piss off Specialized!"
If you doubt this happens, go pick up the latest Road Bike Action, Mountain Bike Action, Bicycling, or Velosnooze. You think all of those pictures and glowing reviews of the Big S are written out of the kindness of their hearts? I'll give Paved and Peloton a pass, as they are a bit more content driven.



So I just knocked down Day 12 of "F*ck You 42". Only 100-ish days to go. I am doing stuff that I normally do, plus adding things I haven't done for a long time on the days I would normally sit on my ass. I'm stiff, sore and tired, but for some reason, I'm starting to feel better already. Sleep comes easy at night...or mid-afternoon...

After Plyos on Monday night (for the first time in about 2 years), I did the CXHoP last night. Nothing like laying down a 1x20, in the dark, on legs that are SORE from hopping up a bunch of damn steps like a crack-addled rabbit. 90 minutes solo on the CX bike will, in fact, clear your mind.

Speaking of easy sleep...

Namaste

CX Nats

I suddenly feel like eating a burrito, and going to ride the CX bike...

Weekend Update

Sat : 80km
Sun : 100km
Both days were warm and sunny. Good rides...
A little bird told me that 75 folks showed up for the WBL ride in Charlotte! 75!!! I'm loading up and going up there for a WBL ride very soon. Or to Charleston for their WBL...

It's a shame that the "community" in Columbia can't set aside all of their "training plans" and bullshit for 3 or 4 hours once in a while to have a ride that's 50+ people. Not EVERY ride must adhere to what your "coach" has on the plan for you, nor must a swordfight ensue. Your powermeter shouldn't dictate every ride you do. Remember what BSNYC said, ...if you aren't a pro, or have plans to be one, owning a powermeter is like hiring an accountant to tell you how poor you are..."
A 100km ride with 40-50 people would be sublime, and as much as people poo-poo stuff like this, everyone always enjoys themselves. Remember the Toby Porter NYD Lake loops? Yeah? 50+ people, riding together, and having a fun. I think that's why we all starting riding bike, isn't it?
We have better terrain, and roads, than Charlotte or Charleston...



Congrats to Jeremy Powers for winning the US CX Nats today. It was a 5 man battle for 1/2 the race until J-Pow turned on the style. And mad props to Zach McDonald. Wins the U23 race by 2:20, then finishes 4th in the Elites. Good show Zach!
Congrats to Katie F'n Compton for the W in the womens race too! She's a badass, no two ways about it!

Cool...and not so much...

Cipo? Yes...cool. Doesn't matter what he's doing...


Quick-Step Omega Pharma p/b The Human Centipede? I always knew the angry bald midget was a pillow biter. This wasn't a good idea a couple of years ago, and it's still not...



I've been doing a lot of core work. I have NO idea how this girl got in the foreground of my picture!!

Good two hours on the CX bike last night. The H.O. got home late, so I had to haul two kinds of ass to make the parking lot on time. I left Service Course @ 1816, and got to the parking lot at exactly 1830. 14 minutes from door to door, including lights and traffic. That pretty much burned any matches I may, or may not, have had before the ride even began. Ergo, I just sort of spun around for two hours.
I also found out that the Jericho is in dire need of some new brake pads. There was much howling coming from the area of the cantis, but not a whole lot of stopping power. I think I heard geese following me at one point. Kool Stops were ordered about 7 minutes after I hit the door.

The SpecialEd v. Volagi saga continues...
The gag order was lifted yesterday, and the guys at Volagi put some interesting info out there.

More info from Volagi's site...

The common, and agreed upon, opinion is that SpecialEd is little more than butt-hurt over this entire thing, and simply trying to run Volagi out of business, much like they tried to do with Mountain Cycle.
Refresher? Mountain cycle had a badass CX bike called the Stumptown. SpecialEd sued them over the word "Stump"!!
They've also sued myriad people, even a shop owner, for use of the word "Epic".

Boycott Specialized...

Legspeed...he has it!

Another reason I won't buy a Specialized...ever!

Backstory: Two guys who worked for Specialized left the Big S. They liked a certain type of riding, and thus, a certain type of bike. They came up with a pretty nice design, and started Volagi.
They only sell this ONE bike.

Evidently, the Big S doesn't like the fact that these guys came up with a solid idea, and seem to be having a bit of success. So what does Sinyard do? He fucking SUES them.
Sure, I can see that the bike looks a bit like the Roubaix or Tarmac, but let's be honest...what company doesn't make a bike that has an archer's bow toptube/seatstay set-up?

Is Specialized gonna sue Wilier too? Maybe, as the new Zero7 looks a LOT like a Tarmac!

If I was Rick Vosper at Airborne, I'd be watching the driveway for a non-descript beige car, as that's what process servers usually drive.

I sincerely hope that the guys at Volagi fight the fight. One of two things is gonna happen...
1) Sinyard and his goons will run Volagi out of business, and then 'procure' the design.
OR
2) Volagi's sales will go thru the roof because of the backlash against Specialized.

I'm rooting for #2...

Edit: After talking to some industry friends, including one who used to work at Specialized, the specific complaint against Volagi hasn't even been mentioned by Specialized. In other words, the Big S is suing the little guy, and has yet to figure out a legitimate reason as to why.
The initial injunction against Volagi was throw out of court, yet Specialized is continuing with the suit.
"Yeah, we're suing you, but our attorneys are still trying to figure out grounds."

Oh, and here's the Volagi patent...

NYD 111k

So the NYD 111k rolled out the way we'd planned, then Dean had a plan to modify the loop. Once to Swansea, we turned and headed to Pelion. I can say with zero embellishment, I've rarely ridden roads THAT good, and been passed by THAT few vehicles on a ride that long.
About 5km from Pelion, the skies darkened, and a few drops of rain began to fall. Seeing as I was riding with 3 card holding AARP members, the grumbling was considerable.
Fortunately, the rain, and the grumbling, lasted all of 2 minutes.
Store stop....
Back on the bikes and a turn onto Fish Hatchery gave us our New Years Day gift...a solid 10-15mph tailwind...for the entire trip back to Service Course. We rolled down FH at 40-50kmh without a whole lot of effort. Pretty damn brilliant.
It was a good loop, with good people, on a beautiful day. You missed it...


Here's TVH, resplendent in his new Giordana gear. Looks SoPro...


This morning, on dead, hollow meat stick legs, I rolled out on the CX bike for a little exploratin'.
No plan other than to fool around, do a little urban searching, and enjoy to sunshine. I stuck to plan...
The return trip from the North Side (throw up your gang signs now, stack them if you wish) down the Canal. It was terrible to come home this way, what with the sun and a tailwind...

Don't know who this 'Klever' dude is, but he's more than deserving of an actual space to create his art, rather than under a train trestle!

If Phil and Paul can't figure out the new SaxoBank kit from above, they need to retire...

And Phil...really man? Please just talk to Big George and Have Hincapie make you some black shorts. The red ones make you look like you're wearing BMC Superhero pajamas. Does the kit have little feet too? Or a trap door?

Oh, I nearly forgot the Dumbass of 2011 Award. The award winner snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the very end of 2011, and it only took one act.
The LBS sold a McLaren Venge, which by itself is an act of Pimpin' at the highest level. The McVenge comes stock with 303FC tubulars, and Dura-Ace Di2. Here comes the dumbass-ness...

The Di2 was removed...and replaced the SRAM Red. No, I did not have a stroke and float a massive typo right there...

Congrats to whomever purchased this bike for simultaneously getting a badass rig, and ruining it in one fell swoop!

Anyway...Happy New Year everyone!

Later 2011...

2011 was a bit up and down around here.
A pretty serious set of surgeries for me. Another bambino. A good trip to Philly. Some quality rides, and some rides that aren't worth even talking about.

I thought I'd end the year on a high note...on here at least.

Best race commentary of the year? It ain't Phil and Paul...



Now for a few pictures I like...

If you use the term 'back in the day', yet do not know who this guy is without a caption, STOP FUCKING SAYING BACK IN THE DAY!!!


If there was any more awesome in this photo, the Earth would spin off it's axis! See also : the caption for picture #1...


Yeah...not much needs to be said here, eh? Well, other than 'Douchebag'...


If you've ever wondered how they paint the roads at the Grand Tours, here is the proper technique!


She is a pro mountain biker. Her name is not important at this time.


The World according to cycling fans.


Possibly the finest piece of correspondence left at a house by a cyclist. I think I will do this the next time I get right-hooked in the neighborhood!


And finally, my resolution for 2012!

Peace and love folks! Thanks for stopping by my little pill party. See y'all next year!

M

Cool, or sacrilege?

The Mavic shoes went to Canada yesterday. What a colossal pain the ass to send something to a location that's closer than most of the continental US of A. No more shipping to Canada. Shipping is a PITA. Canadian buyers are a PITA. Don't get me wrong, I have a few friends from Canuckistan who are simply wonderful folks.
Canadian Ebay buyers want the World, but only want to pay for a bag of dirt...

Oh, and it's gonna be around 50 at the start of the NYD 100(ish)K ride. Temps will ride to the low 60s, and the winds will be out of the SSW, which means a tailwind home. Ergo, you have no excuse(s) NOT to come out and ride!

New Years Day 100(ish)K

When: New Years Day...duh! Sunday, January 1st @ 0900

Where: Colonial Center in Columbia

Who: Whoever. Everyone is welcome. Average speed will be 30-33kmh. That's 18-20mph for our Metric Challenged friends. :)

Why: Uh, because? Start your year off with some good miles, in the sunshine. Be careful though...you may have fun!

How: Road bikes, or CX bikes with skinnies.

Here's the loop.

Good roads/terrain, low traffic, smooth pavement...what's not to like?

Remember the old Toby Porter Lake Loop? Yeah? Let's get another ride like that going!!!

Breaking News

TotalCyclist Spring Divacamp dates have been announced...

When: April 4-9, 2012
Where: Beaufort, SC
Who: Women only...sorry guys!
Why: Because it will help women become better riders.

Spread the word to ladies you know who ride. There will be a small racing component to this Spring camp as well.
It's giant fun for campers, and staff alike!!

Ho, Ho, Hoe?

Looks like Mrs. Claus has been watching what she eats, and/or hitting the gym! Of course, Santa IS a rich, old dude...

I ain't saying...

I actually got some stuff that I needed/wanted this Christmas. I know it's not about what you get, but every so often it's nice to open a present and not get a fucking flannel shirt.
Junior Management was treated well by Nigel (our resident 'Elf of the Shelf") and Santa. It must be said though, that Nigel is obviously a Democrat, because his idea of good behavior is a bit more liberal than my own! :) Kidding! I have pretty good kids, and they deserved it!

We've completely three of the four stops on the Christmas Tour 2011. Last one is tomorrow, then I'm DONE! Back on the bike Tuesday...and it's supposed to rain! I guess I'll be getting wet and dirty!

Rode solo yesterday for a couple of hours. Nice little spin with a couple of efforts for fun. 65km was plenty!
We're also batting around the idea of doing a "New Years Day 100k" ride. If anyone is interested, let me know. I'll post more info in the next day or so, once we figure out specifics.

And on a serious note, please keep Justin Bristol in your thoughts. He woke up this morning, Christmas Day, to his house burning around him. Positive tip : he, his family, and pets all got out alive. Negative tip : EVERYTHING else is gone!
JB is a broke-ass college kid, a hard worker, a good rider, and a damn nice guy.
As you hit your knees tonight, say a word to whoever you choose, for Justin and his family.

Namaste...

Oh, how I love Brown Santa...

Diadora ProRacer 3 kicks to replace the old Diadora ProRacers. Fit like GD slippers...
Special thanks to RealCyclist.com for the bro-deal. I don't know why I stray from brands that work for me. I've wandered from the path of Diadora a few times in the past 15 years, but always get the ship pointed in the correct direction so that I arrive back in Italy.
The PR3s did win two Grand Tours last year under Cuddles Evans and JJ Cobo, so I know it's not the shoes holding me back.
They also match the Ridley perfectly...which is always a plus...


Same thing with the MadAlchemy embro. My little brown jar was running dangerously low, so I veered off the path, attracted by the marketing dazzle of DZNuts InHeat embro. Upon using the InHeat, and coming home with cold legs more than once, I took that hard turn, and got back on the correct path. Thankfully, I found out how average the InHeat was BEFORE the aforementioned little brown jar ran completely dry.
I'll probably continue to use the InHeat, but only one warm-ish, and/or wet days, as a layer of protection. Now granted, I have only used the "medium"...maybe the "hot" is the way to go, but I'm not dropping more cash on stuff that might work.
I know the MadAlchemy WORKS, period. No need to go further...

What is beauty?

THIS is beauty...

4ème Manche de CDM cyclo-cross from Petitesreines on Vimeo.

Good ride last Tuesday night. Turnout was a bit thin, but the threat of rain sometimes keep folks in the house. The fact that Christmas is looming in the distance, like an approaching train, could have had something to do with it as well.
Either way, it was big fun. I got a solid 2:15 on the bike, had a couple of little efforts, and a bunch of smiles. You know, how riding should be...

Rain is threatening again tonight, but I don't care. It's gonna be 70+ degrees today...on December 22nd. I think I can deal with being damp...

3 sleeps until Santa...

How do they ride with balls that big?

I guess that's why they wear baggy shorts!
Watch the video, be impressed, share with friends....

FOR SALE:



Size 11.5 (46 Euro) Mavic Zxelliums
Can't get my cleat position set up correctly, so they gotta go. Worn ONCE on the trainer.
Ebay

Fun, part deux?

Excuse me, Mr. Nys? You seem to have something stuck in your teeth! What a crazy race yesterday...
Here's the last lap...sorry, as usual, can't embed from Sporza. Wankers...

Namen Last Lap

Anybody have a wet-nap...or a Karcher?


I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you simply CANNOT trust cats! First it was sucking the breath out of newborns, now this?

No attempt at humor here. Just a completely BADASS old picture of the Stelvio. Unreal!

Now onto the show...

Good rides this weekend. Big fun, and some actual work. Shocking, I know...

Saturday met us with warm temps, and there were no "invitation only" rides, so we actually had a group. The Saturday ride is a 'paceline' affair, so it was nice to have more than four people in the rotation. It's amazing just how quickly a group working together can cover distance if no one surges, or 'attacks'. Hopefully attendance will continue to be high, as I think everyone got a little bit of work in during the course of the ride. The meat of the ride averaged right at 35kmh for the better part of 90 minutes, which ain't bad for December!
80km...

Sunday, the normal bunch rolled out into LexCal. It was 10+ degrees colder, and the effects of Saturday were likely present in some legs. I know the folks in attendance on Sunday felt it. No matter, as it was a HUGE blue sky, light wind, and warm sun. 45 degrees, schmorety-five degrees.
We mixed it up by doing what has become to 'go-to' ride backwards. Normally, we end with Fish Hatchery, as it's a nice 40kmh+ run back towards Columbia. Upon rolling out the opposite way, the realization came, pretty quickly, as to just WHY we always haul ass coming back. FH is a long, 2% false-flat drag all the way out. Not a leg breaker, per se, but a leg softener for sure.
That being said, the run from Gaston to Old Pine Plain is WAAAAY easier in the opposite.
That enthusiasm was then tempered by the climb out on Pine Plain.
The loop is definitely harder counter-clockwise.
Another 90km in the books...

Once home, and sufficiently beaten down, The H.O. made me go shopping. It must have been the haze of riding, or the lack of calories, but I somehow found myself at the mall in Irmo...a week before Christmas. I think there may have been a promise of nudity involved, but I can't be sure. I was swimmy headed. Proof of this swimmy-headed-ness? I tried to go to Starbucks...in the mall...right next to where Santa was set-up. Go ahead, laugh and call me a dumbass...I'll wait...

Upon the fruition of that beating, we headed to Lexington for Round Two.
Four generations of The Corporation loaded into "The Notorious GMC", and rolled to Saluda Shoals for the Christmas lights. If you have kids, or old folks, it's well worth the $10.
PRO-TIP: It opens @ 6. Get there and lined up by 5:45 at the latest. We left the Park @ 6:45 or so, and the line to get in was easily a mile, or more, long...in EACH direction!!

Today is the first day of Christmas break for Junior Management, so you know where I'll be...

6 days until Santa hits the door...

Peace!

Fun?

Rolled out with the WeCola night ride last night, including a special appearance by the local branch of the CycleSmart GR CX team, namely the two J's. J1 was worried that the ride would develop into a swordfight, but I assured him that the opportunity to simply rise above would be available. I also reinforced the ideal that those who deem it necessary to constantly whip out their swords usually carry little more than butter knives.
Anyway, we had big fun rolling around last night for a couple of hours. Plans are being made to night ride the Palmetto Trail on The Fort in the coming weeks, so if you're so inclined, please feel free to join us. CX or mountain bikes, makes little difference to me. Just be ready to enjoy yourself...

Boone-Roubaix registration opened today, for the low-low price of $25!! Yes, I said TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!! I had my finger on the trigger, and made the mistake of calling the H.O. for the go ahead, as one with three children is sometimes wont to do. Unfortunately, the best laid plans of this man were thwarted almost immediately as I was reminded that #2 son's 5th birthday is that day. I tried to sell the trip to Boone to watch daddy race his bicycle would be a great present. As usual, she wasn't buying...dammit!!


The World according to Bikeys...


I suddenly have the need to go buy a Jamis TT bike. Don't know why....weird...

Don't forget...

Saturday 0900 @ Brennan for 45 miles, including some paceline work.
Sunday 0900 @ Laurens and Greene for a jaunt into Calhoun County.
Everyone is welcome...

Namaste...

1167

Sorry...completely not cycling related, but made me laugh really hard!

Gavia? Alpe d'Huez? Yeah, you wish! That shit is SICK!

All aboard the Pain Train. Mr. Merckx will be your Conductor, while Mr. de Vlaeminck will be the Engineer. Also, check the equipment! These guys were fucking hammers, and didn't need 11 speeds, electronic shifting, or Zipps!


Screw a Garmin! I'm just gonna follow whatever vein on Hoogerland's leg that'll get me home. Let's just call it HPS...the Hoogerland Positioning System!

Good 2 hours in the dark tonight. Nothing quite like riding around, in the dark, in 55 degrees...two weeks before Christmas! It was also nice to see tonight. Funny how new contacts will do that for you. I truly need to get some clear Oakleys though, as the Tifosi glasses have the optical quality of drugstore reading glasses smeared with vaseline.

Oh, as an aside, if you felt an earthquake-like shudder today, just before lunch, it was merely my credit rating falling to Earth after Christmas shopping for the children. Two things in my life suck money out of my pocket these days...bike stuff, and my three progeny...not necessarily in that order.
Now I just need to shop for the H.O. I'm sure that'll be inexpensive...

Ride and Smile!

High speed...high drag...

If idle hands are the Devil's Workshop, then I'll be sitting on a puffy cloud, maybe not IN the "Upper Room", but somewhere close.
Between riding, parenting, decorating the house, go to Lowes because the 50' strand of LED lights was 18" too short, and dealing with the acquisition of a new family hauler, I really haven't had a chance to take a breath.
First the riding...
Saturday : Nearly 3 hours with IP, TVH, and Dr. LP
Sunday: 2 hours solo, though I did leave with the group. The aforementioned decorating, Lowes trip, and family hauler precluded my doing the planned 4 to 5 hour loop. It's okay, as the 2 solo hours in the wind was just about all I wanted to deal with today anyway.

Upon my return to Service Course, I hung all the lights with care, even those I had to go buy in the middle of the job. Wouldn't be a project w/o a trip to Lowes.

I then spent a small, albeit important (to no one but me), amount of time cleaning the new family hauler. Sure, the $7/hr making dude at the stealership washed it, but it wasn't up to my spec, so my OCD took over and cleaned it properly.

And now, The Beast...


Does this angle make my butt look big?

Yeah, it's a full-size, extended wheelbase SUV. I just cannot bring myself to drive a minivan. Well, that's not true. I'll DRIVE one, but if I'm buying a vehicle, a minivan it will not be...
We've had three minivans, but they were all company cars, meaning they were FREE.

Yeah, the mileage won't be great, but then again, I have a wife, three kids under 7, a dog, a bunch of bikes, and other crap that needs to accompany us on trips, so the BIG SUV fit the bill. Can't do all of that shit in a Prius. Well, you probably could, but it would take more than one.

Gotta figure out a name for it now...

Randoms

You want one...don't lie...


Great pic of shapely female triathletes...too bad they all probably crashed into a pile in the first corner.


Found this old pic of Cipo. No words...just NONE!


Good 2 hour ride Tuesday night. No great impetus, just rolled around. I did cut through The Country Club, aka The Strom. As the USC chil'rens are studying hard for exams, the fields were dark, and 'closed'...whatever...
A little CX practice was in order...not that I'm racing anytime soon. It's just nice to fart around once in a while. The problem? USC evidently put down a metric ass-ton (slightly less than the English standard) of sand to help the bermuda grass grow a bit. It was also evident that the sprinklers had been on for the better part of the day. Some of the field was blistering fast. Parts were full Euro CX sand pit, and in the dark, at speed, the sand came upon me quickly.
Turning on wet sand is no problem, if you have the proper rubber. Clement LAS file treads ain't it...

Rides-
Saturday 0900 from Brennen
Sunday 0900 from 5 Points

Come on out, you may enjoy it...

Global warming

I guess the warm weather has led race organizers in California to get creative with their CX course design...

Gives a new definition for the term 'barrier'!


Yeah, dollar bill handups are good...

Quiet Monday

Yeah right...
Actually, around these parts, Monday IS an enjoyable respite from the lunacy. It's only the little man and myself and these quiets mornings...

Hot links:

WTF? Kits Folks who are putting a team together should peruse this site, for no other reason than see what happens when Adobe Illustrator (or in some cases, MS Paint) goes bad. If it's a good idea in your head, sometimes, it ain't...

I like Parlees, and a really dislike Prius(es), or Prii, or whatever you call multiples of the not-so-Earth friendly car, so this video leaves me conflicted.



The video also raises questions...

If it reads your thoughts, do you ALWAYS have to be thinking about riding? Will you ride off the road if you have brain fade? Will the bike take you to the local nudie bar if you think about boobs? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Vaughters was on @tourchats will Neil and Dan last night. He took everyone on a tour of his house. What I did NOT see was the steamer trunk where he keeps The Gimp.

Okay enough...

Saturday was a good ride, albeit a bit chilly fresh. We rolled around LR for a while, and then spun back into the Fort. Il Prof and I peeled off, while Coco stayed out for another hour. And that's why he's a CAT1, racing for TeamGlobalBike. Normally, I'd stay out for the extra hour in the sunshine, but I knew what hell awaited me upon my return to Service Course. Christmas tree shopping...and I'll leave it at that...


Later in the evening, my plan was to change out the chain on the Ridley, seeing as it had been on the bike since I built it in April. This led to the discovery that my 39 chainring was shot, so it got changed as well. Since I was swapping out half of the drivetrain, everything got cleaned as well. It's amazing how smooth a bike shifts with new, clean bits.

Sunday, our little band of merry men rolled off into Lex/Cal for a 3+ hour jaunt. I actually made the effort to stay on the front with the aforementioned CAT1 for the majority of the ride. Again, it was another beautiful day in South Cack-a-lacky. Big sun, light wind and good ride partners...

Blah, blah, blah...get on with your Monday! :)

Helloooooooo.....

You know, I give Mark Cavendish a lot of stick, both here, and on the Twitters, for no other reason than he's of diminutive stature. I don't know the guy, but think that I would like him as a person. He seems pretty real and down to Earth, and is likely a good guy.


Yeah, getting the MBE is a pretty big deal....

No more night group rides for me. It seems that when the temps go down, so does the attendance. The ride was thin tonight...like runway model, can't eat more than a watercress salad and a Tic-Tac thin. Those who chose the brave the numbing 47 degree temps, stood around and yapped about the route, the length of the ride, and whatever else came up to delay throwing a leg over the top tube.
I took all I could, then rolled out solo.
I had no plans to ride remotely hard until I got to the tennis center of 12th. St. I rode around the K-Rail, and into the darkness. Note to self...DON'T EVER GO THAT WAY AGAIN!!!!

Why you ask?
A) It's very dark.
B) It's full of noises that completely mess with the inner eight year old.
C) The road is supposedly haunted. (see "B")
D) is for DEER.
E) Did I mention the haunted thing?

I was PINNED at somewhere North of 95% for the better part of ten minutes. It really stung, and I don't mean in a good way. My brain, as small and addled as it is, was in full overload. The combination of the pain, fear, and imagination gone wild was nearly more than I could handle. I didn't like it...
I'm coming down from it now, and really struggling to get my thoughts together and keep my eyes open.

Anyway, from now on, my Tuesday and Thursday rides will be solo affairs, or done with select company.

Namaste...(see below)