tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79546791028239530952024-02-18T23:41:47.548-08:00Big E's CyclingMy thoughts on all aspects of cycling. International and local racing, commuting, bicycle advocacy, and the occasional (ok, probably a lot of) ranting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-75121147400900237052015-02-13T15:13:00.000-08:002015-02-13T15:13:01.117-08:00Love and a Bicycle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4zGb_aWSva0CBghKGoBsvMMdAHm0_IK4hfBGxCy9kpheReFKRqVAnW-W8y67UiTp_1m40pk1XLvxNZ1XHv_p38e9fmITWWI2NwRjfMIZc-FW7nz8-ofdv877bW4H-bgOJ9jf-rtwFlk8/s1600/heart-lug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4zGb_aWSva0CBghKGoBsvMMdAHm0_IK4hfBGxCy9kpheReFKRqVAnW-W8y67UiTp_1m40pk1XLvxNZ1XHv_p38e9fmITWWI2NwRjfMIZc-FW7nz8-ofdv877bW4H-bgOJ9jf-rtwFlk8/s1600/heart-lug.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You make my heart beat quickly.<br />
You remind me to be humble.<br />
You help me to never give up.<br />
You let me see the land.<br />
You help me feel gravity.<br />
You make me laugh.<br />
You have given me friends.<br />
You have taken some away.<br />
You make me feel.<br />
You make me fly.<br />
You bring me down to earth.<br />
You center me.<br />
You bring me out.<br />
You help me learn.<br />
But most important of all...<br />
<br />
You gave me my wife.<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-89035608820061912402015-02-09T15:25:00.001-08:002015-02-09T15:25:51.365-08:00Flow and Being In The Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DjsrW95xktrSNGtS1Jz8feMhaSA0yg_ePnw_NGVTR8cjuJHWjLjeOO3brMKGw-74QwmlqIQ3GhyUSJUqo9a28xBC0a9gztf0bN9ow16EXBGN219moUSU-qxz773fS-4syjoFCuaOu29w/s1600/Aufderheide+2011+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DjsrW95xktrSNGtS1Jz8feMhaSA0yg_ePnw_NGVTR8cjuJHWjLjeOO3brMKGw-74QwmlqIQ3GhyUSJUqo9a28xBC0a9gztf0bN9ow16EXBGN219moUSU-qxz773fS-4syjoFCuaOu29w/s1600/Aufderheide+2011+024.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
The Buhhdist idea of walking meditation has been around for a long time. It teaches us to be mindful of things around us but also of our own person. What we are doing with our bodies and how it is effecting us. <br />
<br />
This is a concept that I've thought a lot about recently. But inparticular how it translates to the bicycle. <br />
<br />
The terms "flow" and being "in the zone" come to mind specifically. I believe that this is the merging of action and awareness, the loss of self-consciousness, and it creates an altered sense of time (A slowing down.). It's an elusive space to be in. One that isn't sustainable. But is continually sought after by those that have been there. It's the closest to a blissful out of body experience that I can think of without taking mind altering substances.<br />
<br />
I don't want this to sound all new wave hippy (Too late...). But I would argue that a big part of what we as cyclists are after is that state. Sure, we are riding our bike to get exercise. Perhaps being social. Or maybe even a little bit of precious alone time. But mixed in there. Weather it is at the fore front of our minds or perking away on the back burner. Is that feeling of concentration, that singular thought of you, bicycle and the road or trail. <br />
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<br />
<br />
All the stress from the day. All the problems at work or home. All the pressures melt away. And there is just you, your breathing, your legs turning, the wind on your face, the spinning of the tires and the road rolling out in front of you.<br />
<br />
What a truly wonderful place.<br />
<br />
As you become less and less aware of the ambient noise of life. The greater the chances of reaching a state of flow becomes.<br />
<br />
Sometimes you just kiss it. A brief few seconds and it's gone. Other times it can last incredibly long. But never more than a few hours. Once you remove one portion of the equation it crumbles. Like a house of cards and then you get to go hunting for it again.<br />
<br />
But isn't that half the fun?<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-57144816760725219702015-02-05T14:56:00.001-08:002015-02-05T14:56:20.438-08:00Product Review: Thomson Elite Covert Dropper Seatpost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3gx2rA3nZmER26cTUaF-gzjTdYI15rSZ47dUV9RHU13UMR4mlcMZWWpuWo_qMayt0r-U9_Hren2_aV2eCtF4VWziLrN3hXxfMtYHX5Z1cddZeeuo2IoOcusk5osEOfkPmPbPt_-YnH9T/s1600/20150205_134949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3gx2rA3nZmER26cTUaF-gzjTdYI15rSZ47dUV9RHU13UMR4mlcMZWWpuWo_qMayt0r-U9_Hren2_aV2eCtF4VWziLrN3hXxfMtYHX5Z1cddZeeuo2IoOcusk5osEOfkPmPbPt_-YnH9T/s1600/20150205_134949.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />
Dropper seatposts are coming on strong. And there is a reason. They are a complete game changer. I honestly cannot think of one piece of equipment that has added more to my mountain bike riding enjoyment since I purchased my 29er.<br />
<br />
By getting the saddle out of the way I can drop back in steeps, have more room to move in technical gnar, and get lower and more aero going down straight descents. Like I said, a real game changer.<br />
<br />
There is problem however. Not all dropper posts are created equal. I went through two. TWO. Rock Shox Stealth Reverb posts in less that 6 months. Each one developed the same problem of moving up and down approximately 2 cm just riding along. Now I know I'm a fat ass riding a hard tail bike. But come on! Couple that with having to bleed them multiple times and the super stiff control button. I was full up on what Rock Shox had to offer. I'm sure there are other people out there that have owned one that was flawless. But fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice and I'm really stupid.<br />
<br />
So I knew I wanted another dropper and I also knew I didn't want the Reverb.<br />
<br />
Along comes the Thomson. First, I must admit, I am a huge fan of there products. Three, no, four bikes in my stable have Thomson seatposts. And two of my bikes have Thomson stems. Needless to say I like them a lot. To my experience they are bomb proof. So that's what made me lean their direction.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEbxL6BprKEAcL6EhyphenhyphenGX81tXQKhlg5fC4HSMYcAU9_WwFltEcNV2W-5LSY_8uw6cewDNkiXXSsQhQDlk8pxNGE0H3jtbhO6dFWhK2V_5MKxzgf98K59woOhMtJL036w00BQXS9DWji4Hv/s1600/20150205_134957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEbxL6BprKEAcL6EhyphenhyphenGX81tXQKhlg5fC4HSMYcAU9_WwFltEcNV2W-5LSY_8uw6cewDNkiXXSsQhQDlk8pxNGE0H3jtbhO6dFWhK2V_5MKxzgf98K59woOhMtJL036w00BQXS9DWji4Hv/s1600/20150205_134957.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />
Couple that with the ability to route the "covert" cable and housing through the seat tube and I was sold.<br />
<br />
As you can see it has the same saddle clamp as there other seatposts which has worked flawlessly. <br />
<br />
Instead of running a hydraulic line from the seatpost to the button on the handle bars all the fluids are inside the post itself. Which makes installation reasonably simple. Getting the cable tension correct at the lever was a little tricky but nothing like bleeding hydraulic fluid.<br />
<br />
The motion of the seatpost is smooth and solid. Though you cannot adjust the speed like you can with some other dropper posts. But I didn't feel like I was missing anything. It moved plenty fast. But not so fast that it slapped me in the man bag. Good enough.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUeXnGkeu_RD4JMbH21NVUKqJQbagtl8R9n2Wky8h1jccz7jyzOAWrvaTB9TryGX7EeLXE_tLBUp6eCKOwIQ12z6CoMtlMFfTRY1dg45RbLFnct688-zKRhqVDxCDFDUBjIjFIS5MrAbl/s1600/20150205_135004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUeXnGkeu_RD4JMbH21NVUKqJQbagtl8R9n2Wky8h1jccz7jyzOAWrvaTB9TryGX7EeLXE_tLBUp6eCKOwIQ12z6CoMtlMFfTRY1dg45RbLFnct688-zKRhqVDxCDFDUBjIjFIS5MrAbl/s1600/20150205_135004.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the things I love the most about the Thomson post and hate the most (I'm a complicated fella.) is the lever assembly. I love how small the lever is. It's machined, anodized aluminum. Which I love. And it doesn't stick out in a hideous fashion like some other brands. It just blends into the bars with everything else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjUeTtxLSqMP5lguiAvt923tznByxSngqoVds5x1Jre9kfCeDulLAb0SMD4VbM4J4u1K2Be83HTG0BMDl6CayjuUk4Q0kdegZoKi3Ajx7zHM-fvXcGtuqVUXF57XrhfA4rVGx0oYCFDC3/s1600/20150205_135018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjUeTtxLSqMP5lguiAvt923tznByxSngqoVds5x1Jre9kfCeDulLAb0SMD4VbM4J4u1K2Be83HTG0BMDl6CayjuUk4Q0kdegZoKi3Ajx7zHM-fvXcGtuqVUXF57XrhfA4rVGx0oYCFDC3/s1600/20150205_135018.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />
The things I hate about the lever is that the super small allen bolt that holds the cable in tension stripped out the second time I tried to adjust the cable. I think the area that the allen head fits into was just to shallow. So I ended up replacing it with a slightly longer one. The other thing is how the housing juts straight out of the lever. No matter how I tried to mount it the cable still looks dumb. I'm sure they have it set up like that to reduce friction. I just wish it looked nicer. It seems like they should be able to do that. Perhaps that will show up in a later model. Let's hope so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s5wS8KV04GWgO4wHE9dlRPh3dbF5Ja9UrnTchcG286FQ-4oUqg1pKD9YcvYU1cf3iww7hUk4lGLQqhkqgGVwWwdj8K1ElJBzhH1QSkKzhg5op4Aq35tN6uD9I_UomqPUfw-WudKRLh8K/s1600/20150205_135025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7s5wS8KV04GWgO4wHE9dlRPh3dbF5Ja9UrnTchcG286FQ-4oUqg1pKD9YcvYU1cf3iww7hUk4lGLQqhkqgGVwWwdj8K1ElJBzhH1QSkKzhg5op4Aq35tN6uD9I_UomqPUfw-WudKRLh8K/s1600/20150205_135025.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br />
So all in all I give the Thomson Elite covert Dropper Seatpost a thumbs up and a Big E's Pretty Darn Swell Award (Very prestigious.)*. If you have the means I highly recommend picking one up.<br />
<br />
*- I reserve the right to pull this award at any second when said product no longer does what I want. Or isn't in the colors I like...<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-8927475428890522172015-01-23T12:23:00.000-08:002015-01-23T12:23:22.212-08:00A Frame Pump<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMsMPfpQw6Xqin1GAgOSWLI23bgyAiyw8MNLVIH5J_GuGzJxrN1AZDh6RrrpCjv4G-kDar63egLaamM9ef7Ae5d8-srkcUX7FQnQniG81lnny3wKlJAWzQC29rHc2hSFgBduEc77iC7ig/s1600/IMAG2582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMsMPfpQw6Xqin1GAgOSWLI23bgyAiyw8MNLVIH5J_GuGzJxrN1AZDh6RrrpCjv4G-kDar63egLaamM9ef7Ae5d8-srkcUX7FQnQniG81lnny3wKlJAWzQC29rHc2hSFgBduEc77iC7ig/s1600/IMAG2582.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
When I'm on a group ride I don't bother with a frame pump. No time! No time! Use a CO2 and getter' done. You don't know pressure until you have a group over your shoulder heckling you as you're trying to fix a flat tire. <br />
<br />
In the winter time its even worse. They will ridicule your tire brand, model, tread and wear pattern all while your hands are freezing off trying to change the flat as quickly as possible. <br />
<br />
Add the darkness of night and you've got yourself a trifecta of reasons not to use a frame pump.<br />
<br />
But that isn't what this particular blog post is about...<br />
<br />
It's more of a love letter. A love letter to something that reminds me of my beginnings in the sport. Something that really embodies the idea of PRO.<br />
<br />
The handful of professional racers that I've been around all had specific things on their bikes when doing a training ride.<br />
<br />
1. Training wheels. Usually something with a lot of spokes and beefy tires stretched over them.<br />
<br />
2. Two bottle cages with bottles. I've never once seen a pro out on a ride with just one bottle. I assume mostly because they are doing enough mileage that they don't want to have to stop to refill. And as my friend Grahamo always says, "One never knows...". Which is usually followed by a 70 mile grinder over hill and dale.<br />
<br />
3. Saddle bag. Usually small, black and unobtrusive. Just big enough for two tubes, a lever and maybe a multi-tool<br />
<br />
4. Frame pump.<br />
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I once asked a ex-professional racer why this seemed to be a theme amongst pro's and he said because the team mechanics were not willing to give everyone on the team enough CO2 cartridges to last the year.<br />
<br />
I guess that makes sense...<br />
<br />
But regardless, it makes me feel like I'm attached to my roots when I have one on my bike.<br />
<br />
I always preferred the pump under my top tube. Some, like Canada Dave, always had it along his non-drive side seat stay. I've also seen it on the backside of the seat tube. Which ever way I saw it in the wild I would always look at that person like they were in the secret society.<br />
<br />
Now I'm about to get a little elitist here (Shocking I know). Hand pumps that go in the pocket, attach to the bottle cage or under the saddle do not count. Sorry, but these inventions, while serving the same purpose don't have the same heritage as the full sized frame pumps. And often times put said user square in the Fred Zone. I mean the frame pump puts me in the retro-grouch zone but whatevs....<br />
<br />
I know all of you out there that have been around for awhile and are reasonably observant know exactly what I'm talking about. But for those uninitiated. Next time you see one in the wild take note and follow that wheel. Because I bet you're going to get schooled. In one way or another...<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubbers side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-71434409147599828272015-01-21T12:51:00.000-08:002015-01-21T12:51:01.648-08:00Hip To Be Square<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tglIz6dz_ngX4nNISvVd7YykIUMXTpqvedsu6BDOiBG4idpqb_DZoaMbquqH_1Beimf_os2EZ2TZcv0-RjtOTaXPNMRJGoTlo2BIEbg1rx1wVvDM9ZQNDEg9jS7JyjKG7bcaJ99xYjFj/s1600/huey-lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tglIz6dz_ngX4nNISvVd7YykIUMXTpqvedsu6BDOiBG4idpqb_DZoaMbquqH_1Beimf_os2EZ2TZcv0-RjtOTaXPNMRJGoTlo2BIEbg1rx1wVvDM9ZQNDEg9jS7JyjKG7bcaJ99xYjFj/s1600/huey-lewis.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Getting old sucks.<br />
<br />
And I'm not even that old...<br />
<br />
I've been dealing with a nagging hip ailment for almost a year now. The thing is that it only bugs me when I'm going race pace on the bike. If I'm just tootling around I'm totally fine. If I'm walking down the street there's nothing.<br />
<br />
The pain started happening during my first MTB race last year. I don't know if it was an improper bike fit, under trained, the ridiculous cold (17 degrees) or an old bike wreck come back to haunt me (Lord knows I've had plenty of those too.). Frankly it could have been any one of those things or all of them in no particular order. But what I know is that the pain never really goes away whenever I try to turn the pedals in anger.<br />
<br />
Now I'm sure the question in everyone's mind is; What have you done about it? Fair question. <br />
<br />
I've gone to the chiropractor, massage therapist, and pro bike fitter. Next on the agenda is an acupuncturist.<br />
<br />
I'm sure a few of you have noticed a doctor and physical therapist aren't on that list yet. I'm apprehensive to go to the doctor... I have a pretty good idea of what he's going to tell me. I've gone through all this with my shoulder before.<br />
<br />
This is how the scenario runs through my mind:<br />
<br />
Doctor looks at me<br />
Tells me to stay off the bike for 3-4 weeks<br />
Physical therapy<br />
Stretches and strengthening exercises<br />
After that doesn't work. Take the needle (Cortisone shot).<br />
<br />
The thing is that I've tried all that (Minus the needle).<br />
<br />
If the acupuncturists doesn't work I'll go the official route... I don't know. I guess no one has ever accused me of being bright.<br />
<br />
I'd just really like to tear legs off without feeling like I'm doing the same thing to my own.<br />
<br />
So I'll keep you all posted (I'm sure you're riveted).<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-80547453955665120052014-04-08T15:11:00.002-07:002014-04-08T15:11:58.109-07:00Echo Red 2 Red<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead cows tell no tales...</td></tr>
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I can't remember the last time I was this nervous for a race. But I guess that's what happens when you step into the unknown. A grand adventure is never something that you've done before. It's breaking new ground. Following a path you haven't gone down before and I've been aching to do something like that for a while now. <br />
<br />
I was thinking about it on the drive up. It's been over a year since I've done a new race. So it seemed apropos to do one now. Couple that with it being my first mountain bike race ever and it just doubled up. Of course the nervousness double up as well.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX-lNlJypFfAfw5O4IHkzT5PiO1IHAUsJF7orKT44AlOhyphenhypheneFL7ep-XqFt0xaez0QwEOhsi2V6hxqRtsRgX1JFlxsrAmpuN3ouEOWCSrmImWrF-crCKvbt_thCZb-18-3u_IedJX7B6csg/s1600/IMAG1876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX-lNlJypFfAfw5O4IHkzT5PiO1IHAUsJF7orKT44AlOhyphenhypheneFL7ep-XqFt0xaez0QwEOhsi2V6hxqRtsRgX1JFlxsrAmpuN3ouEOWCSrmImWrF-crCKvbt_thCZb-18-3u_IedJX7B6csg/s1600/IMAG1876.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old church in Echo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So here JP and I are. In the tiny eastern Oregon town of Echo the night before the race.The land is beautiful and stark. A real ol' western town. It felt remote, kind and experienced.<br />
<br />
We headed out to the trail head to preview at least some of the course and to break in JP's new mountain bike. Just like I thought. He and his new ride took to the trails like a fish to water. Hopefully we get him good and hooked on the sport.<br />
<br />
But I digress...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemlFCM2MyPM6-mYbst03Ef_byHlKABd1k85juMveZ_XgTHhsbYmnbV-4jd7C1fV6EpSa7FajRKH6r2Cy7e0G7znUUH6ic916siuzskYW4lrfGnRou6hfc6W8TRM6ZIpbzmcW2AG5LXP6e/s1600/NCM_0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjemlFCM2MyPM6-mYbst03Ef_byHlKABd1k85juMveZ_XgTHhsbYmnbV-4jd7C1fV6EpSa7FajRKH6r2Cy7e0G7znUUH6ic916siuzskYW4lrfGnRou6hfc6W8TRM6ZIpbzmcW2AG5LXP6e/s1600/NCM_0170.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It t'were cold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The terrain wasn't like anything I've ever rode. It's almost all open sweeping prairie land. And the trails lay across them like pieces of spaghetti. They were a lot of fun. Fast and flowy (for the most part.) but the part that was odd to me was that you could always see were the trail was going. It's not like around here (the valley) where you could come smokin' around a corner and miss that hairpin because a tree or bush was obstructing your view. There were no such things out there. Just some sage brush and some Cottonwood trees down by the river.<br />
<br />
Once we got our fair share of abuse on the trail we headed into town to the winery where I could sign in and pick up my packet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ODXnQ4FU7Bys16B2bqJgx5TTOoZmYRDCjyAP9WIH9RXFeFYi0FcI4DsPaLCjcwREH1EyjDIfU4aFohMQ2zVVQ6U8XhLS68LWiZiw_EaZ7oafclOtLdcteKpsChV8Ta4ZlMYFC8c7bfL-/s1600/IMAG1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ODXnQ4FU7Bys16B2bqJgx5TTOoZmYRDCjyAP9WIH9RXFeFYi0FcI4DsPaLCjcwREH1EyjDIfU4aFohMQ2zVVQ6U8XhLS68LWiZiw_EaZ7oafclOtLdcteKpsChV8Ta4ZlMYFC8c7bfL-/s1600/IMAG1878.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the floors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
After that we went to Hermiston (About 5 miles away.) and checked into the motel and headed out to get some dinner. We found the only western themed Thai food place in town and ordered a shocking amount of food for just two people. <br />
<br />
The temperature was already starting to drop as we went back to the hotel for a couple of beers and to get ready for the following day. <br />
<br />
It's amazing how much clothing two humans can bring when they have no idea how cold it could get.<br />
<br />
After strategizing about clothes and food for a while we both hit the hay at about 10:30. I know. Real party animals....<br />
<br />
We woke up the next morning around 8am or so. <br />
<br />
Oh, as a side note. Bravo to the MTB races for starting at a reasonable time of day. For cross I'd have to get up at o'dark thirty to get to the venues on time. At mountain bike races the first race didn't go off until 10 and my race didn't head out until 11:30. Perfection!<br />
<br />
Anyway. We woke up and headed down to the breakfast in the hotel. Which for a hotel breakfast was a good spread. Waffle, oatmeal. eggs, fruit, coffee, juice, potatoes, etc. were all available. Once we got our grub on we headed out to Echo and immediately started to feel how truly cold it was. <br />
<br />
Freezing your nut sack to the saddle kind of cold.<br />
<br />
In a feeble attempt to warm up we headed out the road that the race starts on. After about 20 minutes it was getting pretty close to my start time so I turned around as JP continued on to the trails and the racers that were already on course.<br />
<br />
I got back into town with about 10 minutes to spare. As I toodled around the town to keep warm. I tried to soak the vibe in. The nerves, the excitement. Just trying to be with it while it was happening. You know, like a zen master ninja.<br />
<br />
With about five minutes to go I headed to the start area. We were paired with the CAT 2 women. There looked to be about 15 women and 15 men at the start.<br />
<br />
Next thing I knew we were off.<br />
<br />
There was a 2 mile neutral roll out. Then we hung a left turn on to a gravel road and that is where the race began.<br />
<br />
I did my best to stay towards the front and hang with the leaders. Right before the single track started I got passed by three women and three guys. Meh. What do you do? I was already tasting pennies and praying for the sweat release that only death could bring. So I couldn't have pushed any harder without blowing up. I did my level best to stay near them but still keep within myself. But as they were steadily riding away form me I began thinking that perhaps that wasn't really in the cards.<br />
<br />
The first part of the course is the "special" section because it is only open during the weekend of the race. The rest of the time they are private trails, maintained by the vineyard that they belong too. <br />
<br />
These included the cliffs of insanity. A trail about 10 feet from an actual cliff that was a 30+ foot drop. I believe the good people of Echo could hear my sphincter clench as I was riding that section. <br />
<br />
Once you were past that you meandered down towards the Umatilla river. Those trails were a lot of fun. A couple of bridges and lots of flow. Although I did see several people on the side of the trails with flats. So there must have been at least some Goathead thorns like we were warned about. Luckily I didn't have any of those sorts of problems.<br />
<br />
As we turned away from the river and got back on the gravel road my left hip started bothering me. Not "Oh my God I'm going to die." But still a little bothersome. I grabbed a GU and pounded some water in hopes that that would cure the issue.<br />
<br />
Being new to this whole mountain bike racing thing there was something I discovered... I can "climb" pretty well for the fat guy category. It's sort of strange. I would have assumed the flat driving power sections would be where I would have excelled. But I guess all us big guys can do that. Huh, who knew?<br />
<br />
Anyway, after a bit more up and down on the gravel road we turned into the local trail system which was noticeably smoother and had a bunch more flow than the vineyard section. The trails were basically split into three parts all of which were laid out on the rolling grassy hill sides in a small valley. I honestly don't think that the farthest point of the whole trail system was more than 2 miles from the trail head as the crow flies. But the different sections flopped back on themselves a bunch so there was really quite a lot of mileage out there.<br />
<br />
The Clydesdale's did two sections while the Elite men and women, plus those crazy single speeders, did all three sections. I got passed by a couple more people during this first part. Not because I bobbled, I was just slower than they were. I was giving what I had and they had more (At least at the time.). <br />
<br />
Towards the end of that section my hip that was "sorta" bothering me before was screaming at me. No amount of adjusting, standing or fidgeting was helping the situation. The pain didn't really feel like a cramp, but more like a shooting pain. But regardless of what it was it wasn't helping me make great bike race. It was just about all I could do to keep going.<br />
<br />
As I was putzing along feeling sorry for myself I was already about half way through the final section of single track. This part was quite a bit more technical. Over larger rock gardens and down gullies seemed to be the order of the day around there. <br />
<br />
I did notice that I seemed to be gaining on people that had been ahead of me for quite a while. I think mostly they were slowing down more than I was speeding up. Regardless the circumstance I was willing to take whatever motivation I could get at that point.<br />
<br />
Once we popped out of the final section of single track we still had the gravel road and highway left. But by this time I could smell the barn. All I wanted to do is have the pain over. I kept my pace up the hills on the gravel road as best I could and I saw my final carrot of the day about 150 yards up the road. I did my best to blow by him with as much power and ease as I could. Which is to say, not much. But luckily he didn't seem to have much fight left in him.<br />
<br />
As I was about to get on the asphalt I rolled up to a girl that started to accelerate when she heard me come up on her. I told her that I was a Clyde and she eased up and bit. I asked her if she wanted a draft since the road back into town was in a straight head wind. She said, "Hell yes!" and with that we were off. I got as low as I could and kept my cadence high just to I could eek out as much speed as I had left. I wanted it to end as soon as humanly possible. Everything hurt. My lungs, legs and brain were done. They wanted off. They wanted beer and to warm up, and with that we made the final turn into the shoot to the finish line.<br />
<br />
I was done, and I wanted to puke.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrRQYu2JMjX_4HyGPePpWt98PZc_htq67gm3z_eQu8ASwbAtSRjxmx9oYu-zP42tVk8AWkALygRH-W2rXOVFKdNLORbiabihQ5CtK5iqVo2-JWMnF1dny0fAHn8SLwmmeREj_KYLEgRQS/s1600/NCM950174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrRQYu2JMjX_4HyGPePpWt98PZc_htq67gm3z_eQu8ASwbAtSRjxmx9oYu-zP42tVk8AWkALygRH-W2rXOVFKdNLORbiabihQ5CtK5iqVo2-JWMnF1dny0fAHn8SLwmmeREj_KYLEgRQS/s1600/NCM950174.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Don't puke, don't puke..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
JP being the nice guy that he is tried to hand me some coffee and in the nicest possible voice I could muster at the time I told him to get that shit out of my face. I just slumped there for a second and tried not to vomit up a lung. After a couple minutes I gratefully took the coffee and headed towards the car so I could get out of the sweaty clothes and into something warmer.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLghlNnI-gUetl9qmIyFUBPqWJ8vWnSufSO0a3FaAf6i9BoMK8LN9LQjVVofyqsbEbguXH5Vm4zXVk5isfeW_yphIC_cuYi4VzIXV0sb4amXQZB5HZvk8A_Fr8S4d-dC1H4Rel5nr8avo/s1600/NCM950175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLghlNnI-gUetl9qmIyFUBPqWJ8vWnSufSO0a3FaAf6i9BoMK8LN9LQjVVofyqsbEbguXH5Vm4zXVk5isfeW_yphIC_cuYi4VzIXV0sb4amXQZB5HZvk8A_Fr8S4d-dC1H4Rel5nr8avo/s1600/NCM950175.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That's when single flakes of snow started to fall out of the sky...<br />
<br />
I got cleaned up and changed and felt infinitely better. We headed to the tasting room for the Echo Winery where the awards and raffle were going to take place. And there, like an oasis in a roasting hot desert (Or freezing cold tundra.), was a Ninkasi beer trailer with taps out the side. Giving away free pints to everyone there! God bless that awesome company. JP and I both had a couple beers and headed inside to see what was what.<br />
<br />
The place was pretty packed. I would say almost shoulder to shoulder. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbnQYrvtZyJu8xG_NPSgnJ7SHzlSFnkxJgRuPE-7dLuo9qakFeKa9FptvN6sTCQpEPzRdlzgqjDED9OlbJuAV_9eEtOUoQzrJkCDhURtrdDZE38wxgNnxOcfuA6mCq1cCVQ6Ps6zZatPs/s1600/IMAG1885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbnQYrvtZyJu8xG_NPSgnJ7SHzlSFnkxJgRuPE-7dLuo9qakFeKa9FptvN6sTCQpEPzRdlzgqjDED9OlbJuAV_9eEtOUoQzrJkCDhURtrdDZE38wxgNnxOcfuA6mCq1cCVQ6Ps6zZatPs/s1600/IMAG1885.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I went over to the table where the results were posted. 8th place. Basically right in the middle. Meh. I'll take it. I think with some realistic improvements I could have moved up two places but there was a major time gap between 6th and 5th. But that's the beauty of racing. There is always room for improvement.<br />
<br />
The awards ceremony started right on time and the raffle was right after. That's something that MTB racing has figured out as well. If you give free stuff away afterward you'd be amazed at how many people will hang around. Beer included.<br />
<br />
Once all the beer was drunk and the swag was had we went back to the hotel to clean up. We ate what was left from our western themed Thai food with our hands since neither one of us had silverware. Whatevs, silverware is highly over rated. Then we went out for dinner. I wanted a steak in the worst kind of way. Ugh, Earl need meat. More beers were consumed and we headed back to the hotel for a soak in the hot tub. The hot water was awesome. The hotel lady telling us the pool was closed was not. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fZ7tW8ouJPrqqpOu7PWj25fe772X-TUoNiPlUyqK447kz3A7PYeewCZc341OV9cC7fKmB33hDi5NIYOXi3zfu9omFVteEfhXg8Oq51eZwJ-fc0OS8fUJFlh1hxw155U6_eyVvl8IXf4E/s1600/IMAG1888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fZ7tW8ouJPrqqpOu7PWj25fe772X-TUoNiPlUyqK447kz3A7PYeewCZc341OV9cC7fKmB33hDi5NIYOXi3zfu9omFVteEfhXg8Oq51eZwJ-fc0OS8fUJFlh1hxw155U6_eyVvl8IXf4E/s1600/IMAG1888.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the swag that was had.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So we went back up to the room half-assedly packed for the drive home in the morning and hit the hay.<br />
<br />
The next morning we went back to the same restaurant we went too the night before. Mostly because we liked it and we saw their breakfast menu, which looked awesome. Breakfast was in fact awesome. After we packed our bellies full we headed back out on the road.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnibkRLmXFBO9i19rNdbeSLjdHdIDk0eNVoChbfm9TnoeWMRB_H0r79faT6iCD5Dg8cHPPo742quGh4ZVP32KJrlRxIxegyXFZc5fkg5LbLuN5JZC9lMQkTsm4ZG1GrYtSo5pxFBiTx27/s1600/IMAG1894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnibkRLmXFBO9i19rNdbeSLjdHdIDk0eNVoChbfm9TnoeWMRB_H0r79faT6iCD5Dg8cHPPo742quGh4ZVP32KJrlRxIxegyXFZc5fkg5LbLuN5JZC9lMQkTsm4ZG1GrYtSo5pxFBiTx27/s1600/IMAG1894.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "art" at the restaurant. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Which had freezing rain. Then as we moved west some snow on the sides of the road. Then snow on the sides and in the fast lane. By the time we were in The Dalles it was really accumulating and once we were on the west side of Hood River it was ridiculous. The Team Van performed like a champ despite my anal puckerage. Once we were in Troutdale the weather was getting back to a more balmy 37 degrees and raining and by the time we got home there wasn't any evidence of the added hour and half it took to get home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a5Vt8v7daAwuL_XPHFZgCY8efD_OUvHzK3qpdLh7O9BhBBHW943VzgCe6jHwXMepTt2UiONAYW0WYwWygHbjkDOy-B7gsWv9zcdwYzaQt3caKfFIiGjdMtU-5NwQ2tPDpjzBGq34x_2C/s1600/IMAG1895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a5Vt8v7daAwuL_XPHFZgCY8efD_OUvHzK3qpdLh7O9BhBBHW943VzgCe6jHwXMepTt2UiONAYW0WYwWygHbjkDOy-B7gsWv9zcdwYzaQt3caKfFIiGjdMtU-5NwQ2tPDpjzBGq34x_2C/s1600/IMAG1895.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ice on the windshield. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gn4lOoz8tsqo492HmE8787lyPXmFrbkfeRXX2waiWPaTHvgj1oVXz_Itk7wB675Sm_JDaBteXjMfHDVVGGereUR1p6OPic2_QAoRrqj3x3Qx_Ex0xQwBrPavd5YYer-cbk4gW8M_nI_Q/s1600/IMAG1896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gn4lOoz8tsqo492HmE8787lyPXmFrbkfeRXX2waiWPaTHvgj1oVXz_Itk7wB675Sm_JDaBteXjMfHDVVGGereUR1p6OPic2_QAoRrqj3x3Qx_Ex0xQwBrPavd5YYer-cbk4gW8M_nI_Q/s1600/IMAG1896.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road just outside of The Dalles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrWNPSNsw0kYyjtJ-JD20ugSUrffsdCOpSDT9fdrUxbdxa7NVvRU43vfTqWoxpW84CyS8kX5MdM9pr7HQKs0J0iJ-E2sCxXYOv81LK7lVdQ_BldOTZgjxKiw2JfeA01Y2wMa8dWFtPuAH/s1600/IMAG1899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrWNPSNsw0kYyjtJ-JD20ugSUrffsdCOpSDT9fdrUxbdxa7NVvRU43vfTqWoxpW84CyS8kX5MdM9pr7HQKs0J0iJ-E2sCxXYOv81LK7lVdQ_BldOTZgjxKiw2JfeA01Y2wMa8dWFtPuAH/s1600/IMAG1899.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What my bike looked like when we stopped for gas in Hood River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So a grand adventure was had. Trails were ridden. Great bike racing was had. Beer was drunk. Good food was chowed. All in all a great experience that I fully plan on doing next year.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-13584011530392032842014-02-27T10:43:00.000-08:002014-02-27T10:43:02.848-08:00Echo Red 2 Red VideoThis is the video that made me want to go race the Red 2 Red. The video quality a little slow and bouncy. But you can definitely get a feel for what the trails are like. They look fast and fun to me. I guess I'll find out soon enough.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/PGbIpQHVb4o" width="560"></iframe>
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<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-860469420717653412014-02-26T15:06:00.002-08:002014-02-26T15:13:27.179-08:00The First Mountian Bike Race<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/evielust/bloggery/cousin_ruby_sue.gif"><img alt="Sorry. Shittin' rocks." src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/evielust/bloggery/cousin_ruby_sue.gif" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm shitting bricks. Sorry, shitting rocks....</div>
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This weekend is my very first mountain bike race. <br />
<br />
Ever.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.echored2red.com/2014_Echo_Red_2_Red_XC_MTB_Race/Home.html">Echo Red 2 Red</a> in the bustling metropolis of Echo, Or. For those of you that don't know where that is don't feel bad. I had to look it up too. It's right next to Hermiston, Or. Which might help if you live in Oregon. But for those of you that don't just Google it. I'm not going to hand everything to you...</div>
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Am I prepared?</div>
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Not really. But I'm usually not so why change now. <br />
<br />
I'm signed up. I've got my bike dialed in. I've got a place to stay. All these things seem like progress.</div>
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I even went to the 4 apple tall Buddha for some sage veteran racer advise.<br />
<br />
I got this...</div>
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="882" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1601317_10152118155603555_1540809529_n.jpg" style="height: 543px; width: 552px;" width="896" /></div>
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"<em>I highly recommend winning."</em></div>
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Great... Thanks for that.</div>
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So I guess I just need to go out and do it.<br />
<br />
There are about 350 preregistered racers. I don't have any idea how many there will be in total by the end (They are predidcting between 500-600. But we shall see).</div>
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I've signed up for the Clydesdale category. For all the same reasons as I do it for cyclocross. </div>
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So far there are 16 preregistered Clydes and my guess is the day of registration will be pretty minimal given the forecast...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9hsD8Z8bklMsvXLs9_Z_ihv7JAnac4w6LunwEy0jirL6UGnr_fysPwwwfZReyEWJy0dTrTZUhFhS1NBLn589FlXxqonDidBbuYU6egKXT8BSUO_GJ9Y_t0PxJW1qzeuJRyUzJQLlYIHe/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9hsD8Z8bklMsvXLs9_Z_ihv7JAnac4w6LunwEy0jirL6UGnr_fysPwwwfZReyEWJy0dTrTZUhFhS1NBLn589FlXxqonDidBbuYU6egKXT8BSUO_GJ9Y_t0PxJW1qzeuJRyUzJQLlYIHe/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="202" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I guess on top of the every stitch of team kit I own I'm going to need to remember my rooster cover.</div>
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<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=AP-t75qclt6gUM&tbnid=SE3-ypJxyvrvDM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhintofmitch.com%2Fcategory%2Fscribbles%2F&ei=wXIOU-DNJonhoATurICYCA&psig=AFQjCNFKQeNrKPiH23XP04yjFQHY8qHxuQ&ust=1393542113290464" id="irc_mil" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor;"><img class="irc_mut" src="http://hintofmitch.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/socks.jpg?w=290" height="393" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="276" /></a></div>
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Something like this might have to do.</div>
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Wish me luck! I'll have a race report and some photographs sometime next week. </div>
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Until then...</div>
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Rubber side down,</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Big E</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-71576972687460931372013-12-04T15:17:00.000-08:002013-12-04T15:17:41.495-08:00Brrrr.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTiurLKlgiQFr9PBQ62-TY4t1loqTgn0DBvEt_roNSobFF6axD9wU9Ft6GFjTbMT7mJryENIlXuazFMh-F4LiLP4FbW_fwxpudDPOS2v7L3IomHs-6YO1_tAaBlMZMHx-D7eFzJM9QK0G/s1600/WidmerBrrr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTiurLKlgiQFr9PBQ62-TY4t1loqTgn0DBvEt_roNSobFF6axD9wU9Ft6GFjTbMT7mJryENIlXuazFMh-F4LiLP4FbW_fwxpudDPOS2v7L3IomHs-6YO1_tAaBlMZMHx-D7eFzJM9QK0G/s1600/WidmerBrrr1.jpg" /></a></div>
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No, I'm not talking about the beer (Although it is delicious.). My title is; Brrrr and theirs is; Brrr. <br />
<br />
Totally different.<br />
<br />
No, I'm talking about the cold temperatures that have been sweeping this part of the country and appear to be here for a while. Now I know there are going to be at least a few mid-westerners that are going to chuckle to themselves at our "cute" little cold snap.<br />
<br />
"<em>How precious</em>!" I'm sure they will exclaim.<br />
<br />
Kind of like we do with Californians and their inability to deal with rain.<br />
<br />
But for us Oregonians (Valley dwellers anyway.) this is about as cold as we get.<br />
<br />
So in that vain I'm going to tell you what I wear for a <u>dry</u> sub-freezing ride. If it's icy I just sit on the couch, drink beer and think really hard of ways to avoid the trainer...<br />
<br />
<strong><u>From head to toes</u></strong>:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Helmet.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thermal cap with ear flaps.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Glasses</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Fleece neck gator (Optional: Depending on How Warm You Run.)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Embrocation on all the bits of you that tend to get cold (DHWYR). Minus your eyes, nose or your neither regions. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Long sleeve base layer</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Long sleeve jersey</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Vest (DHWYR).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Wind front thermal jacket.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Heavy weight thermal wind front bib tights (DHWYR. Just kidding. Don't ride naked please...).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Wool cycling socks.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Chemical toe warms (Aka: Toe tampons. DHWYR).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Cycling shoes with the wind vents in the soles taped off (Make sure your cleats are clear to function correctly.) or a fancy set of cold weather cycling shoes.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Defeet Slipstream over socks.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Neoprene or fleece lined booties. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thin liner gloves.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thin wind front gloves (DHWYR).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Lobster mitts. </li>
</ul>
<br />
I have personally taken this set up down to the mid-teens and been just fine.<br />
<br />
There will always be different ways to make riding in the cold temps work for you. The biggest thing I would recommend is making sure your extremities are taken care of (Head, hands and feet.) and if you keep those things warm the rest will generally follow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4US0u578mFxUBHd-Nm4e2-5H42aukMwhfEA6NLW11GV0ojFIub7XfRmD-RgI2bRYpAH6ryxgK06oMIHYk-wMxToMXiIzkJ_qOGAcfC7ETrXu9u-RklFaHlQTqpS2QAU9qSoJ0CQjC48IR/s1600/Randy-Snow-Suit-A-Christmas-Story-2-255x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4US0u578mFxUBHd-Nm4e2-5H42aukMwhfEA6NLW11GV0ojFIub7XfRmD-RgI2bRYpAH6ryxgK06oMIHYk-wMxToMXiIzkJ_qOGAcfC7ETrXu9u-RklFaHlQTqpS2QAU9qSoJ0CQjC48IR/s320/Randy-Snow-Suit-A-Christmas-Story-2-255x400.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
Riding a bike in cold weather is a bit like getting ready for extended deep sea diving but once you are out on the road its all worth it. <br />
<br />
Generally...<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-27379604431473434112013-11-27T14:15:00.000-08:002013-11-27T14:15:21.854-08:00Being Thankful<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQNvtcXPghRrLNFIR0Ef8ZyDZVgppt-DIw7cziRg0ASNjEREIDgXDgo_S_1w6aUn7daCq-C_YXLHHFpHWDLQq9za0Ddnw47ViHuI2dTR2TOMzbFHVOnmBF3_wM-xrEB10zIqjEDXsS9s6/s1600/Aufderheide+Ride+2013+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQNvtcXPghRrLNFIR0Ef8ZyDZVgppt-DIw7cziRg0ASNjEREIDgXDgo_S_1w6aUn7daCq-C_YXLHHFpHWDLQq9za0Ddnw47ViHuI2dTR2TOMzbFHVOnmBF3_wM-xrEB10zIqjEDXsS9s6/s400/Aufderheide+Ride+2013+022.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm thankful for: <br />
<br />
Two legs to pedal with.<br />
<br />
The sound of a group riding down the road.<br />
<br />
The smell of freshly cut hay fields cooling down from a hot summer day.<br />
<br />
An ice cold beer after a long ride.<br />
<br />
That completely empty feeling after a race is finished. Like you have no more to give.<br />
<br />
The whir that deep dish carbon wheels make.<br />
<br />
The sound of my heart in my ears. Telling me that I'm at my threshold.<br />
<br />
Knobby tires in dirt.<br />
<br />
Talking and laughing with my teammates before and after a race.<br />
<br />
Family.<br />
<br />
Discovering a new road to ride on.<br />
<br />
Mastering a skill.<br />
<br />
Riding tandem with my wife.<br />
<br />
Imparting some wisdom to someone new.<br />
<br />
Watching a child get their first bicycle.<br />
<br />
Having philosophical discussions at the bike shop.<br />
<br />
Rolling out in the rain.<br />
<br />
The sound of wind blowing through the pines as I climb.<br />
<br />
An espresso at the turn around of a ride.<br />
<br />
Technology.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://capitolvelo.com/">team.</a><br />
<br />
That the strongest doesn't always win.<br />
<br />
Tactics.<br />
<br />
For wind to make me stronger.<br />
<br />
For climbing to make me slow down.<br />
<br />
For down hills to make me go faster.<br />
<br />
A safe wheel in a sketchy group.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://www.scottscycle.com/">local bike shop.</a><br />
<br />
My friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBls-KQ4J0i4JD3x16n5gsB_PRKchYqrgQqxD0KF5olR-jZzDmxpRcJmhb9UDERBZub1a6oVcGhW6eQb8y7UOqDH37kFi08L-KlKridgjVFAdy2BbEaBanqxV7YyeNM7YCTyqp3LysE6t9/s1600/IMAG0865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBls-KQ4J0i4JD3x16n5gsB_PRKchYqrgQqxD0KF5olR-jZzDmxpRcJmhb9UDERBZub1a6oVcGhW6eQb8y7UOqDH37kFi08L-KlKridgjVFAdy2BbEaBanqxV7YyeNM7YCTyqp3LysE6t9/s400/IMAG0865.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The best group of people anyone could as to ride with.<br />
<br />
That I'm always learning.<br />
<br />
But Most of all. My wife and kids...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhpoozM7K8yQubaV4VwJOq6pB7fQEdjNz-V5v0vCeEddmOUUfhduAs0VjsYYmEXKPHtkFxj7pUTFrmV7C2dKUfgssmhmbpoPT4dtioi-eCS8IuWnyiQhh18qJ__45gcmGaA_hqJUj1mBz/s1600/mustache+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhpoozM7K8yQubaV4VwJOq6pB7fQEdjNz-V5v0vCeEddmOUUfhduAs0VjsYYmEXKPHtkFxj7pUTFrmV7C2dKUfgssmhmbpoPT4dtioi-eCS8IuWnyiQhh18qJ__45gcmGaA_hqJUj1mBz/s400/mustache+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-31845646692305160572013-09-24T15:29:00.002-07:002013-09-24T15:29:58.948-07:00Goals<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kAcGzixybNOLOU-zywez46GXC1O_cJcNowyTH25QosdZ3eHJYRplObB17HM3pX7l7_Rim3SQJ6XSM7Ll4wa0yStstmQFXELWWM25kbYk_WRZJFc9oZzKxIsAItPF5vNl402T4NuCqtPT/s1600/Ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_853372="null" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kAcGzixybNOLOU-zywez46GXC1O_cJcNowyTH25QosdZ3eHJYRplObB17HM3pX7l7_Rim3SQJ6XSM7Ll4wa0yStstmQFXELWWM25kbYk_WRZJFc9oZzKxIsAItPF5vNl402T4NuCqtPT/s320/Ride.jpg" width="226" ysa="true" /></a></div>
<br />
Goals are an interesting thing. In my opinion they are one of the most important things in life to have and yet they aren't necessary. Or at least the necessary that I'm thinking of at the moment. Sure most people have the 'goal' of surviving another day, of putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their head and for some that can be a herculean task. But for people like me that won the lottery of being born in the United States. Being white and male its hard not to feel super spoiled and privileged because, well, I am.<br />
<br />
It's like being spoiled and having a really good idea of how spoiled you are but not letting it stop you from complaining. Or perhaps even trying to discover some greater purpose. And I guess that's where the idea of setting goals, working towards them and attaining them comes into play for me. <br />
<br />
There are large goals that I've had for a long time. Stuff to do with religion, being a good husband, family and friends, work and enjoyment. But there have been other goals that have more to do with the point of this blog. Ones to do with sport. With cycling. When it comes to those goals it's as though they have been scattered to the four winds. Life has overwhelmed me, beat me down and then tossed me out to the curb on my ear over the past 6 months and I've been trying to dust myself off and find my bearings. Which hasn't been very easy for me. I've always thought of myself as tough and resilient. But dealing with things that life hands you is if nothing else an ego check. Back to my original point...<br />
<br />
Goals.<br />
<br />
I want to have the desire to race and race hard again. I want to feel that total exhaustion after a race or a really hard workout that can't be replicated in any other fashion (That I've experienced anyway.) And I want to feel that excitement and that satisfaction of reaching a goal that I have set for myself on the bicycle. Knowing that there wasn't anymore that I could have put out and being totally fine with the outcome. Because I can tell you that those goals. That process is AWESOME. It's part of what keeps me coming back to cycling. Well, that and it's fun.<br />
<br />
Now the big trick it to figure out how to get it. I have the sneaking suspicion that it will involve mud, knobby tires, team tents, beer, and good friends.<br />
<br />
Here is to having goals everybody.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Big E</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-48397241101081160812013-06-19T10:27:00.001-07:002013-06-19T10:27:14.261-07:00Danny MacAskill's New VideoI know it's been forever since I posted here and I know that sharing a video is kinda "cheating". But I don't care. It's an amazing peice of bicycle handling, skill and most important, imagination. Hope you enjoy it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="display: none;">
</div>
<script language="JavaScript" src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://admin.brightcove.com/js/APIModules_all.js" type="text/javascript"></script><object class="BrightcoveExperience" id="myExperience2031045724001"><param name="autoStart" value="true" /><param name="isUI" value="1" /><param name="isVid" value="1" /><param name="socialHover" value="Share or embed" /><param name="logoHover" value="Watch on redbull.com" /><param name="width" value="398" /><param name="secureConnections" value="true" /><param name="height" value="224" /><param name="videoId" value="2483243312001" /><param name="link" value="http://www.redbull.com" /><param name="qualityHover" value="Change quality" /><param name="jumpHover" value="Jump backwards" /><param name="playerID" value="2031045724001" /><param name="isRTL" value="false" /><param name="onsiteSettings" value="false,false,false,true" /></object><br />
<br />
Thanks for hanging in there kids.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<script type="text/javascript">brightcove.createExperiences();</script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-36759383045813105102013-05-03T18:32:00.000-07:002013-05-03T18:32:09.068-07:00Somethings Change, Some Don't
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="960" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/563973_10151404687783915_499639861_n.jpg" style="height: 541px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 406px;" width="720" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my Mom, my sister (Yellow cap) and Tootsie the wonder dog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My Mom died one month ago today...<br />
<br />
It still hurts to type that.<br />
<br />
She had battled cancer for almost three years. When they diagnosed her they figured she had 3-9 months. I guess that just goes to show what a tough old broad she was.<br />
<br />
It's been hard.<br />
<br />
And it's been easy.<br />
<br />
Sometimes its easy to get lulled into the day to day and forget for awhile. Then something will remind me or a memory will fly into my brain and my heart gets squeezed again. Even if it's just for a moment.<br />
<br />
Your probably wondering what this has to do with cycling and that's a fair point.<br />
<br />
That has to do with what hasn't changed.<br />
<br />
The bicycle.<br />
<br />
It's my anchor in a sea of happiness, anger, frustration, sadness and joy.<br />
<br />
I did my level best to ride as much as I could without shirking any of my responsibilities.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I'd go out thinking that I'd rip peoples legs off only and to go to the front and take one strong pull. Then drift through the group and get spit out the back to ride alone.<br />
<br />
Other times it was nice to ride with some people that had no idea what was going on. Talk to people about normal things. Day to day things. Things that were such a welcome distraction at that moment that I wanted to say so...<br />
<br />
Things are slowly getting easier.<br />
<br />
Then they aren't.<br />
<br />
I guess that's just the way it is sometimes...<br />
<br />
But I thank God for my wife.<br />
<br />
I thank God for my family.<br />
<br />
I thank God for my wonderful friends.<br />
<br />
And I absolutely thank God for the Bike....<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
PS~ I can't promise that I'll write here real often in the near future. Even though there have been and are a lot of things in the cycling world to talk about. What I can say is that I haven't given up on the blog. I just needed/need a break. Hope you all can get that. Thanks, you guys are swell....<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-37096676351745859272013-03-22T15:23:00.002-07:002013-03-22T15:23:30.869-07:00Spring Hath Sprung <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="308" id="il_fi" src="http://www.kiss925.com/files/brick.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love lamp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weather forecast and cycling go hand in hand. I can't think of the last time I did not look at the weather report before a ride. Maybe its not as big a deal where in an area where you are assured good weather all the time. But in a place like the Pacific Northwest if you don't it can make for an awesomely crappy ride.<br />
<br />
Now that I've been Captain Obvious speaking in generalities I wanted to talk about something specific. Precipitation percentages and what they mean to a cyclist....<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="257" id="il_fi" src="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/files/2012/07/July15weather-300x193.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is obviously not from around here. Whens the last time we had an 82 degree day with rain?! I think it was last... never.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Precipitation percentages can confuse people except for when it says 0% or 100% but even that changes when you are looking at an hourly forecast app and things are constantly in flux. <br />
<br />
Here is a basic run down.<br />
<br />
<strong>10% chance or rain</strong>- This means that there is no way on God's green earth that it's going to rain. But what it does mean is that there are going to be a few big puffy clouds out there. And if you happen to be on the very tippy top of a mountain or a high mountain pass that one of those puffy clouds floats into. You might feel some moisture on your face and the meteorologist doesn't want you to call them a liar.<br />
<br />
<strong>20% chance of rain</strong>- This means it could rain. But highly unlikely.<br />
<br />
As a cyclist you may get a little wet if you happen to ride into one of these passing clouds. But it's not really even worth putting a rain cape on. Because you're going to have to take it off in less than 5 minutes anyway.<br />
<br />
<strong>30% chance of rain</strong>- This is were things start to get a little more interesting. This means that you are more than likely going to get wet. But it will only be for brief period of time. This is where the weather man likes to start using the term "showers". <br />
<br />
Bring a rain jacket and a hat if you're paranoid.<br />
<br />
<strong>40% chance of rain</strong>- We are now fully into the "showers" mode. Really the only difference between 30% and 40% is that the duration of the rain... err, um shower patches will be longer. <br />
<br />
This is where I probably would add gloves and booties to the clothing line up depending on the temperature.<br />
<br />
<strong>50% chance of rain</strong>- This is when things go from being described as "showers" to being described as "rain". More than likely it will be raining a greater percentage than it is dry. Think like an hour or two of rain followed by a brief dry period between fronts moving in. <br />
<br />
This is were the winter bike with full fenders, a buddy flap, tough wheels and tires comes into play.<br />
<br />
<strong>60% chance of rain</strong>- You are now in the full Pacific Northwest winter wheel house (Say that three times fast...). This is where the term "drizzle" comes around. Usually drizzle is a light rain that comes down consistently for a long period of time. Any true Oregonian spends from the end of October through the end of June (July 5th is when the unofficial summer of Oregon begins.)in this stuff. Usually the only difference in the time of year is in the air temperature. <br />
<br />
By this point you are pretty much decked out in as much clothing and equipment as you are going to be in. From here on out it's really just a matter of the insulation factor more than anything.<br />
<br />
<strong>70% chance of rain</strong>- This is a heavy drizzle or a good consistent rain. There might be a tiny little pause in there somewhere, but not much. <br />
<br />
Basically you are going to get wet. And it's just a matter of staying warm on the bike. I've not owned or tested an article of clothing yet that didn't either wet through eventually or create it's own micro climate (Some sort of tropical humid jungle comes to mind.) underneath that gets you just as wet. So it's more important to keep warm without over heating than it is to stay dry.<br />
<br />
<strong>80% chance of rain</strong>- This is full blown rain. Drizzle is no longer mentioned. Rain makes drizzle its bitch. And really the only thing that changes from here on out is the volume of rain that is coming down from the sky at any given moment. <br />
<br />
<strong>90% chance of rain</strong>- I really think they just have this one so people will feel a little better that it doesn't say 100%. It's exactly the same. <br />
<br />
I think the idea is much like the extended forecast. Just look at the ten day forecast some time. They always put a "partly sunny" or "sunny" day out there around day 9 or 10 even if the rest of the days are rainy and glum. I think it's like the proverbial carrot dangled in front of our noses. Just so we continue to have a little hope.<br />
<br />
So there is my weather cycling theory. Promise to use it for good and not evil.<br />
<br />
Until next time...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="249" id="il_fi" src="http://www.jamesdean.ws/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/anchorman_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's two tickets to the gun show.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-80202650497267640782013-03-08T11:55:00.003-08:002013-03-08T11:55:43.275-08:00Running Sucks... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="330" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbeSijFF9UHQ3k1yaEDz5MXlZKRheGovmCzsFlzp1sL1t8upkz5bD4mZxXkW1ZH0fhkIfcS0OH5VOEyLtKkKteYFSHZDZTxrnk05wKtsTxjj1OcpEFpkpz51Ldbrvo7ZqcdsUAFe3Vr49/s1600/homer_running.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="450" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No offense if you enjoy running.<br />
<br />
I know there are some people out there that are totally into sadomasochism too but that doesn't mean I'm going to sign up.<br />
<br />
My SSHW and I decided to go on a run.<br />
<br />
I could feel my flubber jiggling as I shuffle, shuffle, fwap, fwapped my way down the road.<br />
<br />
It's an odd feeling to not be taxed by my heart or breathing but to have placed in my legs hurt that haven't hurt in a long time.<br />
<br />
Why did I agree to this again!?<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, I wanted too...<br />
<br />
I'm pretty sure SSHW is getting tired listening to me wine. <br />
<br />
I want to do this. <br />
<br />
But I'm going to need to walk just for a bit...<br />
<br />
That's always nice.<br />
<br />
Getting lapped by a little kid on a bike. <br />
<br />
What is he about 2? <br />
<br />
His little legs spinning a cadence that track racers would be proud of. <br />
<br />
Constantly reminding me how much I'd rather be on a bike.<br />
<br />
The day is sunny at least.<br />
<br />
And SSHW looks really nice in running pants. <br />
<br />
That's a plus...<br />
<br />
I don't know. <br />
<br />
Maybe I could keep going.<br />
<br />
One more hill.<br />
<br />
Sweet baby Jesus!<br />
<br />
Thank God we are done.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-20439212007051668852013-03-06T15:16:00.001-08:002013-03-06T15:16:54.943-08:00Riding Side By Side<img height="383" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/34875_1527201906740_162073_n.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<br />
<br />
On a beautiful sunny day I had the luck to go out on a ride with JP. <br />
<br />
There were no routes that had to be adhered too. There were no intervals that needed to be done. Only some open road, some nice conversation and a pretty day.<br />
<br />
While we were riding we cycled side by side (Unless cars were coming of course.). Bar to bar. As we rolled along the open country roads to the south of my home it got me thinking. To be able to ride like that can really show the Quality of a person.<br />
There are so many type A personalities constantly pushing the pace. Half wheeling (This happens when a person is always a half a wheel length in front of you. And if you try to pull up even with them. They speed up to keep ahead. And so on and so on, until you both are ramping up speed. Sucking the fun square out of what you were trying to do in the first place. Can you tell I'm a little sensitive about it? Yeah, me either.) you to prove a point or measure dicks or whatever the hell it is when people think its a competition.<br />
<br />
No. This wasn't one of those times. <br />
<br />
We just rode our bicycles.<br />
<br />
We conversed about all manner of things. The last club ride. New cars. The best beer. Equipment. Whatever... <br />
<br />
I think cycling side by side is a lost art form. People forget its significance. The art of conversation (Especially since cyclists tend to be anti-social.). I met my SSHW that way and she has been the greatest thing in my life. To be able to share an experience while doing something that you both love doing makes it all the more rich. It's hard to put your finger on it. Or put into words. But it's there and you both know it.<br />
<br />
Its just awesome.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reminding me JP.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-76912973315429115262013-03-01T14:45:00.000-08:002013-03-01T14:45:02.604-08:00Stereotypes <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3372/3448097838_184fa31b3b_z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="535" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Cherriot Bus in Salem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As a cyclist, I ride in traffic every time I throw a leg over my bicycle. As a human I also notice patterns in behavior. <br />
<br />
Stereotypes. <br />
<br />
I know people say stereotypes or profiling is bad. And in some ways I agree. But in a lot of ways I think it's part of our inherent makeup as humans. We are trained to notice patterns as a means of survival. If something tries to kill you once. An alligator, a tiger, an SUV, whatever. You'll be on the look out for something like that again. Noticing those things keep you safe. <br />
<br />
But I also want to be clear that these patterns aren't a perfect science. I'm not saying every single one of these observations are true. They just feel true... Got it? Good. Lets move on.<br />
<br />
It's hard not to notice how certain drivers and their vehicles seem to fit patterns.<br />
For instance, why are Cherriot bus drivers consistently some of the most aggressive drivers in town, yet school bus drivers are some of the nicest? Is it because one is harped on about safety and the other is told to keep on a schedule (It's rhetorical. But I suspect that's the case.)?<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://blogs.momaha.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/08/school-bus-safety.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I honestly don't get it. <br />
<br />
In over ten years of riding a bicycles in urban and rural environments I can only think of one incident where I felt in danger while riding my bike because of a school bus. <br />
Where if I think of Cherriot's, I couldn't count all the dangerous maneuvers and near misses on all my fingers and toes. It's ridiculous.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="235" src="http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/chevrolet/1998-chevy-truck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How high is your truck and how good can it mud!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are lots of other vehicles that I look out for too. <br />
<br />
The jacked up 4x4 pickup truck comes to mind. The pucker factor is always high if you hear the whirring of some Super Swampers coming up behind you on a country road. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://fartcanalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Truck-Trailers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="476" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Semi trucks are a mixed bag. Some are great. Always giving you extra room when able and passing a reasonable speeds. Other's fly by with about two feet to spare.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://www.djchriscruz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/md_lamborghini-gallardo-bike-rack.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't mind this set up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Any car with a bike rack is usually going to give you a wide birth. Part of the same tribe and all.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://rvmotorhome.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/updated-1531.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="537" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Watch out for crazy old people with RV's and no commercial driving experience. Sketchy...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://ngetrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2010-Toyota-Prius.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="536" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
People who drive hybrids really think of themselves as "earth friendly". So when they see you on the road they feel a kinship with you. However beware! They are the leading cause of "smug" in the major metropolitan areas. Just saying...<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://wallpaper-3d-hd.ru/img/1280x960/2/2/1/2210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="476" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tuner cars will generally fly by you while you're riding and yell something out the window. Its usually hard to tell if its obscenities or encouragement. Or at the very least they stomp on the throttle so their fart pipe blares as they go by. But just like cars with bike racks, they seem to give you a wide birth. My guess is they don't want to dent or scratch their ride if they happen to hit you. Those ground effects don't just pay for themselves you know.<br />
<br />
I'm know there are a lot more. But that's fine for now.<br />
<br />
I hope you all have a good weekend. Until next time, thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-70692277865993357682013-02-26T14:45:00.000-08:002013-02-26T14:45:01.461-08:00You Never Know What You're Gonna Get
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="228" src="http://www.entrepreneur.com/dbimages/slideshow/forrest-gump.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That statement is as true for Forrest and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. as it is for weather and bicycle riding.<br />
<br />
The weather was surprisingly nice for our monthly team ride. Sure it was a little windy. Sure it spit on us a little. But all said and told it was a pretty good day to be out on two wheels.<br />
<br />
We were scheduled to meet down at the <a href="http://www.bikepeddler.com/blog/">Bike Peddler</a> (One of our sponsor LBS) at 9:30 Saturday morning. I was late... Mostly because I headed out the door later then I had intended. But also because I got a flat about half way there (Doh!). <br />
<br />
So as I was speeding down to the shop after I had fixed the flat I was already constructing the apology letter in my brain. Fully expecting to round the corner and find them all gone. I was happily surprised to see everyone still milling around.<br />
<br />
There weren't too many people there. But considering the miserable weather the day before I wasn't surprised. It was essentially the Cap Velo board plus two others. Which turned out to be just fine.<br />
<br />
So after some grovelling, begging for forgiveness and a new spare tube purchased we discussed the route plan. Which of course was changed (I'm beginning to note a pattern.). Instead of heading out into the flat lands between us and Silverton we opted for a more northerly, then westerly route. Mostly to go spy on the road race that was being held out at Heiser Farms. Which is exactly what we did. <br />
<br />
We watched the racers go by once and looked to each other on what to do next. So we headed over to the foothills and vineyards just west of the race. <br />
<br />
It's amazing how well nice scenery can distract you from the pain you inflict upon yourself sometimes. And this was one of those sometimes...<br />
<br />
We steadily rode over the rolling hills taking in the views and the conversation with equal enjoyment.<br />
<br />
Sure we went up Brush College Rd. (A hill that strikes fear into fatties such as myself.). But the guys were nice enough to wait for me at the top. And sure they asked if I wanted to go up Gibson Rd. (Probably the only other road in near vicinity that strikes just as much fear into said fatty.) too. Which I promptly responded with a one finger salute. But it was still a lovely time. And really, how could you enjoy those wonderful downhills without suffering up the climbs!? That's just crazy talk...<br />
<br />
So all things said and told. It was a surprisingly nice day with an equally lovely bike ride to match.<br />
<br />
All good (Now if we could just get more members to show up regardless of weather...).<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-10838954335379835352013-02-15T15:09:00.001-08:002013-02-15T15:09:55.956-08:00The Game Of Telephone
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://letcteachers.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/red-phone1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="534" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When we were kids in school we use to play this game called "Telephone". The basic premise is that the teacher would whisper a sentence or two into the first kids ear. Then that kid would whisper it to the next child and so forth and so on until it reaches the final kid in the class. Where upon that kid would have to speak out to the class what sentence they were told. And most of the time it would be a weird mangled mess that didn't even remotely resemble what the teacher whispered to the first child. <br />
<br />
It was mostly a lesson in communication. To convey information accurately. To show how important speaking clearly and knowing what you were told before saying it to someone else. And also how quickly gossip can no longer resemble the truth. <br />
<br />
It's a good lesson.<br />
<br />
I was thinking about all this during our local group ride last night. Communication, both verbal and non-verbal, are extremely important. When a communication break down happens, at best someone is going to get their chamois in a bunch. Worst case scenario someone dies...<br />
<br />
That's no bueno.<br />
<br />
We've had several of these break downs happen lately. Most of them involved someone getting left behind. Which in the grand scheme of things isn't good. But it's not a travesty either. That doesn't mean it should happen. It's just another glitch in the game of telephone that we play during a ride.<br />
<br />
Most of the time when someone yells something out everyone starts looking around to the nearest person to tell them what was said. Sometimes that person knows. Other times that person just shrugs their shoulders and then continue looking around before a reason for the yelling is found.<br />
<br />
Non-verbal signals are much the same. The person at the front of the group may point out a pot hole or a bunch of glass. But that doesn't mean the person three of four rows back is going too.<br />
<br />
It's all in how effectively that message is conveyed to the rest of the people. And unfortunately the message chain only works if everyone plays.<br />
<br />
So the next time you're on a group ride try to convey the messages being sent back and forth for the rest of the people. And don't just let it go to voice mail. Practice the game of telephone. Hopefully the message will come across loud and clear.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-18338057669328182062013-02-11T14:58:00.001-08:002013-02-11T14:58:55.818-08:00A Man And His CaveOver the past several weeks a transformation has taken place. Not from early man to me (That change really hasn't occurred yet.). No, it's from a once gigantic pile of crap in my garage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwyLNHhypeznuOE7Y1Lua5vMaQDEFvT9QstS2lTbBp-ktcD3KfDks9qte8wfykieNicnDbHJz_UlnVjWTF3P7whw7R7hwOXE1uqapSf1cRDXNFvGzKn8x0D_x1cFjW6h5wMSEq7rbQBBq/s1600/IMAG0567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwyLNHhypeznuOE7Y1Lua5vMaQDEFvT9QstS2lTbBp-ktcD3KfDks9qte8wfykieNicnDbHJz_UlnVjWTF3P7whw7R7hwOXE1uqapSf1cRDXNFvGzKn8x0D_x1cFjW6h5wMSEq7rbQBBq/s400/IMAG0567.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Said gigantic pile of crap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To a much more reasonable pile of crap. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTDbHVE8ivBWtqNRRXhmVL5x2z7xmPPMWOXyHwPsh6W26lAa4AEUVT6We7Sa_0ckEp7sxNR9Trr5rLYtSBEZCBOandtivp1t5GaqtebnQ8SLzGrRGdrKBITZaeurx-WC-ciyqBuclTgLh/s1600/IMAG0613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTDbHVE8ivBWtqNRRXhmVL5x2z7xmPPMWOXyHwPsh6W26lAa4AEUVT6We7Sa_0ckEp7sxNR9Trr5rLYtSBEZCBOandtivp1t5GaqtebnQ8SLzGrRGdrKBITZaeurx-WC-ciyqBuclTgLh/s400/IMAG0613.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Said smaller pile...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In fact. It's even smaller than this now. But I still have a little bit of a ways to go to call it complete.<br />
<br />
A while back I had talked about my big unrealistic Christmas presents that I had been dreaming about. One of those dreams was a <a href="http://bigescycling.blogspot.com/2012/12/cycling-gift-ideas-for-christmas_11.html">kick ass garage</a>. Well my SSHW heard my cry, and after some number crunching and sexual favors she agreed to finance my dream. Yeah for me!!!<br />
<br />
So I got started by tearing everything off the free standing miscellaneous shelves in the garage into a giant pile (Please note first picture.).<br />
<br />
Then I called my Pop and we came up with a materials and cut list.<br />
<br />
Then I waited for the first of the month (That's what happens when you have fiscal responsibility. Stupid, stupid responsibility.).<br />
<br />
After that we got to work...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pop posing with the partially erected (Huh, I said erect..) shelves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDSiX7PbxpnUgZNP3jM0pVrgTt1i-hD76VvTM6znEMifyaZS6eaCHT143gm68GdNAVsBS4v_qFUajU0PX_NjAsJUItn8_aHiGCnV8zunuN9-1-Oky2BhU_WKmgh_1G8PrcXqAsuHZQKQX/s1600/IMAG0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDSiX7PbxpnUgZNP3jM0pVrgTt1i-hD76VvTM6znEMifyaZS6eaCHT143gm68GdNAVsBS4v_qFUajU0PX_NjAsJUItn8_aHiGCnV8zunuN9-1-Oky2BhU_WKmgh_1G8PrcXqAsuHZQKQX/s400/IMAG0594.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part 1: The great wall of shelves completed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKfD7OgR-IdNtRMBSw4-Kf24bsCKySaKlCyeAl6gpPhgHtAEV67l-fCDv8axfYt_4K8O_i6c9lu3YEeDMk_N367mKDrxp_L4dRFAnvv-voJfsB1I37SW4OBnLCGxs478BgHbHlHltd6xq/s1600/IMAG0573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKfD7OgR-IdNtRMBSw4-Kf24bsCKySaKlCyeAl6gpPhgHtAEV67l-fCDv8axfYt_4K8O_i6c9lu3YEeDMk_N367mKDrxp_L4dRFAnvv-voJfsB1I37SW4OBnLCGxs478BgHbHlHltd6xq/s400/IMAG0573.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part 2: The bench. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hey! Don't make fun of another man's vise. It's what I had. Jerk...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opposite wall of the garage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I didn't show any before pictures of this side. Except if you look behind the gigantic pile of crap in the back ground you can kinda see what it looked like.<br />
<br />
Basically I took two of the large nice shelves from the other side and used them here for all the pantry, sleeping bag, dog food and booze storage. Then shrunk up where I hung the bikes. There are still just as many hooks. But I put them closer together and alternated the direction of the handle bars to get them to fit. It seams to be working nicely. Although I haven't tried to take the bikes on and off a bunch yet. So I may change my tune.<br />
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<br />
What comes after a bench is built? Why a peg board of course! I think going shopping for this, along with all the little peg board attachments has been the happiest I've ever been shopping for home improvement stuff. It was AWESOME!!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHUwiarbWVvKhwOX6scEDf0vSsqJulbBpmCNj0EzX0W4YCigUWGvOsZrhBTXRAch74h1m83s3NccvJmMn6EOMVj3xRFjtugK38nmL3dVMGLza_oUDmr97E7jpL5S_jMavR1C8OJ-8VK6v/s1600/IMAG0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHUwiarbWVvKhwOX6scEDf0vSsqJulbBpmCNj0EzX0W4YCigUWGvOsZrhBTXRAch74h1m83s3NccvJmMn6EOMVj3xRFjtugK38nmL3dVMGLza_oUDmr97E7jpL5S_jMavR1C8OJ-8VK6v/s400/IMAG0630.jpg" uea="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is the start. I've gone a little farther than this now. But at least I have all the "vitals" up there for use during the interim.<br />
<br />
My Pop also bought me a nice American made (Very important. As the China made ones suck.) Wilton vise. I didn't show any pictures of it mounted yet because I 'm waiting until after the metal top is installed to mount it.<br />
<br />
I can't tell you all how super pumped I am to have a somewhat organized and usable man cave. It's enough to almost make this cave man cry (Ugh. No look at Big E when he get emotional...)<br />
<br />
I'll have a few more gratuitous pics up in the near future of the completed project.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
<br />
PS~ I wanted to give a big thank you to my SSHW for giving me "permission" (Inside joke.) and for my Pop for helping me so much with this. I couldn't have done it without either one of you. I love you both tons and tons.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-66735337525715706852013-02-06T15:24:00.001-08:002013-02-06T15:24:58.745-08:00Bonk Is A Four Letter Word<u>Bonk is a four letter word</u>~<br />
<br />
<em>It is really cold and wet out here.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Why do my legs feel so heavy?</em><br />
<br />
<em>My winter bike is so much harder to ride.</em><br />
<br />
<em>I sure wish I put those chemical warmers in my booties before we left.</em><br />
<br />
Just keep turning the pedals<em>...</em><br />
<br />
<em>What is that feeling in the back of my stomach? Hollow. Cavernous.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Seriously!? Where is the buddy flap on that bike?</em><br />
<br />
<em>Nothing like a three and half hour cold shower. With some Belgium toothpaste to keep my breath minty fresh.</em><br />
<br />
<em>What the fuck am I doing here?</em><br />
<br />
Just keep turning the pedals<em>...</em><br />
<br />
<em>Hail!? <strong>HAIL</strong>!? Now I wish I had my glasses back on.</em><br />
<br />
<em>I'm dying...</em><br />
<br />
<em>That ditch looks as good a place as any to curl up in...</em><br />
<br />
<em>Why are all these people still talking to me!? Smiling even... Can't they tell I'm in the seventh ring of hell!? Leave me alone! I want to die in piece....</em><br />
<br />
<em>Please don't leave me!</em><br />
<br />
<em>Where am I? I haven't recognised the last three turns.</em><br />
<br />
Just keep turning the pedals<em>...</em><br />
<br />
<em>You'll eventually get there.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Work hands, work! </em><br />
<br />
<em>Am I dreaming? This must be a dream...</em><br />
<br />
<em>Just open the Ziploc bag. There is food in there. Tear it with your teeth if you have to. Just get to that sustenance.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Do I know anyone that can pick my up? SSHW? No. The boys? No. You're almost home.</em><br />
<br />
<em>You know the way home. Even at 10 miles an hour its less than an hour.</em><br />
<br />
Just keep turning the pedals<em>...</em><br />
<br />
<em>Has my brain ever been this hazy before?</em><br />
<br />
<em>I have to 'paper boy' up a hill I've gone 17 mph up before. Really? </em><br />
<br />
<em>Thank you God, for these little down hill sections.</em><br />
<br />
<em>Almost home, almost home.</em><br />
<br />
Just keep turning the pedals<em>...</em><br />
<br />
<em>I made it.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-89359122667093433062013-01-25T15:39:00.000-08:002013-01-31T15:18:52.007-08:00Lance Armstrong Thoughts<br />
<img height="357" src="http://diepresse.com/images/uploads/f/7/5/1302389/lance_armstrong_armstrong20121017154541.jpg" width="595" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>So with such a shit storm of allegations, hear say, and "reliable sources" floating about the interwebs I want to put some thoughts down before the Big O interview tonight and tomorrow. I honestly don't know if I'm going to watch the interview. Unless there is some huge revelation that hasn't already been said, I think I'll probably save those 3 hours of my life and do something productive with them. Like dig a drainage ditch, feed the hogs, or watch re-runs of Family Guy and drink beer...</em><br />
<br />
<br />
This what I started to write before the two part interview that took place with Oprah last week. After that paragraph I went into a bunch of different thoughts on what I thought he would say versus what I hoped he would say. None of that really matters now. He did it and these are my thoughts about it.<br />
<br />
~Oprah did a fair job on the interview. <br />
<br />
She obviously did her homework, and she asked most of the questions that people in the know would have asked. I also liked her narrative through out the interview to help explain to the laymen what different things meant and who people were. I thought that was a nice touch. It was classic Oprah when she pressed hard on questions that she felt might evoke an emotional response. Particularly when it pertained to his children. I also got the distinct feeling (SSHW was the first to point it out to me...) that Oprah doesn't like Lance very much. But then again. Anyone but a select few, would probably not have a hard time understanding why. The interview started out very strong. Things got moving quickly with the rapid fire yes or no questions. I liked that. It made me feel like we were really going to get to the meat of the story. <br />
<br />
Then it just laid there like a limp dead fish.<br />
<br />
And I get the feeling that that is half the reason Lance chose Oprah to tell this story too. She doesn't have the depth of knowledge on the subject matter to come back with probing follow up questions that could really put him in a bind.<br />
<br />
~Lance is calculated incarnate. <br />
<br />
He doesn't take a dump without a plan. And I'm sure he ran every scenario through his head before the interview. Trying to do what he wanted to do and still control the outcome. But ultimately that <em>was </em>and <em>is</em> his undoing.<br />
<br />
~He was filled with nothing but half-truths. <br />
<br />
I believe he was honest in a lot of what he said. But I also believe he was dishonest in the things that could potentially hurt him or what's left of his supporters (Former sponsors, confidants or business partners.) from the fleet of lawyers that a massing on his shores. He certainly can't stop all of them. But he his probably trying to limit his loses a bit by keeping quiet or continuing the lying about certain stories. Things like the hospital room with the Andreau's, the 2001 Tour de Suisse alleged positive test cover up or the doping allegations from Comeback 2.0. All those stories have multiple people backing them up. And in some cases physical proof that is just to obvious to ignore.<br />
<br />
Sociopath (A person whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.) is a word that is being used quiet a bit to describe Lance. I must admit that it appears to be a pretty apt description of him. At least in some ways... I don't think he antisocial at all. If anything I think he feels like he needs the lime-light to help make himself feel special. In fact, I would say his need for unconditional acceptance and a total and complete fear of weakness are what got him into this mess in the first place. The, "W<em>in at all costs</em>" attitude that he talked so much about in the interview. Which leads me to my next epiphany.<br />
<br />
~I don't think Lance loves cycling. I think he loved what it got him.<br />
<br />
I think <em>that</em> thought, more than anything made me feel sad during the set of interviews. Well, that and his total lack of conscience. But that attribute has been known for a long time to anyone who viewed his words and actions in cycling.<br />
<br />
~Lance's narcissism is gigantic.<br />
<br />
He showed what seemed like genuine remorse. But only in the way it affected him. He had/has no empathy for anyone else. He can logically see and understand how his actions have effected other people. But it seemed like he could make himself feel bad about it. I think that was probably the biggest surprise to me. With the exception of his own children, he couldn't seem feel how his actions deeply effected other people. <br />
<br />
And that is what back fired on him.<br />
<br />
~He had such an opportunity to pick this whole thing up and deal with it like a man.<br />
<br />
Not partial responsibility. Not half truths. Not half a man. The whole damn thing. <br />
<br />
He could have bared all. Shown all the players. All the nastiness. And sure it would have been ugly. Sure it would have gotten worse before it got better. <br />
<br />
But to me that's what we need. We need to burn this thing to the ground and see what rises from the ashes. The sport is too dirty. Too corrupt. And Lance might have been a strong enough character in all this to get it done. Had he done that. Had he shown the whole truth. Warts and all. I'd be willing to bet the nation, and probably a good portion of the world would have taken what he said as truth, forgiven him and quite possibly gotten behind him again. To be honest, I might have as well. Even though I am cynical and bitter.<br />
<br />
But he didn't.<br />
<br />
And that's what was wrong with the interview...<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading.<br />
<br />
Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-2332785197853472822013-01-09T15:16:00.000-08:002013-01-09T15:16:15.027-08:00It's A Brand New Year <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="357" src="http://www.xenafan.com/movies/bod/images/dad07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="486" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that we've all put our aardvark coats away for the holiday season and drank what was left of that killer eggnog your brother makes with lighter fluid. It's time to focus on this year now. The now, that's now and not worry about when the then will be now. You know? Good.<br />
<br />
So there are a few of goals for this coming year that have been rattling around in my brain. Some very modest. Others a little more ambitious. But all definitely attainable. They kind of are all over the place (Which is pretty normal for me.) so bare with me. Some may appear to not have a whole lot to do with cycling. But they do have a lot to do with my life. Which in turn, effects my cycling.<br />
<br />
So it all counts.<br />
<br />
1. Learn to be able to take off and on a vest, jacket and arm warmers while riding no handed.<br />
<br />
Riding no handed has never been something I'm super comfortable with. When I was a teen I did a serious face plant while riding my bike no handed. So I guess maybe it's in my kitchen a little. But I shall prevail!!!<br />
<br />
2. To be able to take a whiz while still riding.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="223" src="http://cdn.madamenoire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wiz_the_1978_685x385.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not TheWiz, just a whiz...</td></tr>
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I'm sure I'm getting a big, <em>eww</em> from the cheap seats (Hey! Quiet down back there.) but it's something I watched being done (From the cheap seats.) several times during races. And it looks AWESOME! To be able to just glide to the back of the group whole hog over or under your bibs and let it fly is and ultimate bad ass move and no one will convince me otherwise.
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3.To always put my wife, children and family first. <br />
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Perspective on life is important. And while I do truly love to ride and race my bicycle. It's not how I make my living (I know that's shocking. Should I have had you sit down first? Sorry. There you go... Is that better?). Its just how I do my recreating. Which in my life is 4th or 5th on the list. Still important to me. But certainly not number 1.<br />
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4. Loose some weight. Specifically 10-15 lbs. <br />
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It's such a cliche thing to put on one of these lists that I almost hate to do it. But its reality. So there you go... Hills would feel a lot better and I might have a chance to hang on to the peloton if I had the weight of a bicycle relieved from my body. I have managed not to gain the prerequisite 7 lbs. over the holidays. So I feel like I'm already ahead of schedule a little bit.<br />
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5.To help continue to improve my racing club, <a href="http://capitolvelo.com/">Capitol Velo</a> through the next year.<br />
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I haven't mentioned it on here yet. But I'm the new president of my local racing club (My plan is working perfectly! First Cap Velo. Next, the WORLD!!!! Muhahaha!). My goals are modest in nature. But I hope that they will help cement the camaraderie of the club and educate our members on all forms of racing (More on all that in the future.).<br />
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6. Participate in my first cross country mountain bike race. I've done some mountain bike short track races (Although technically on a cross bike.) in the past and really enjoyed them. So I figure I need to expand my horizons a bit. I've been told they have fat guy categories (clydesdales) so I'll either start there or beginners. It should be a fun time.<br />
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So that's it! Not a giant list. But one that has goals that will stretch me out but are certainly attainable.<br />
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So here's to a new year. Lets go kick it's ass!<br />
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Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-15089841105108807302012-12-24T11:22:00.001-08:002012-12-24T11:22:21.663-08:00Merry ChristmasMay you all have some wonderful time spent with family and friends. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.<br />
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Stockings up and rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big EUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7954679102823953095.post-64383031661263511022012-12-21T14:59:00.002-08:002012-12-21T14:59:55.972-08:00Star Light, Light BrightWell, today is the shortest day of the year (Happy Winter Solstice by the way.). A lot of people might be pretty depressed about that. I myself seem to suffer from a touch of SAD this time of year. I've said it many times... I can take the cold. I can take the rain. I can take the wind. Just give me some sunlight! I don't think I would do very well in Alaska. At least this time of year. <br />
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Anyway, a lot of people feel down about the shortest day of the year. But not me.<br />
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We finally made the half way point! That means from now on (At least until June.) there will be a little bit more day light each day. Wahoo!!!</div>
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A fair question would be: <em>What does this have to do with cycling?</em> Excellent question. <em>Thank you.</em><br />
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In a word. Lights.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The good ol' 600.</td></tr>
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If you choose to ride your bicycle from anywhere between 3:30 in the afternoon to about 8 o'clock in the morning you pretty much need a light. A "be seen" light at the minimum and a "seeing" light if you go beyond the street lights where the wild things are.</div>
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Well I'm one of the later. So I have to have a good light. The <a href="http://www.dinottelighting.com/">Dinotte</a> light system that I have is very well built light.</div>
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Except I think mine is dying. </div>
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This would be its... <em>1,2,3</em>,4th year with pretty heavy use. And I bought it used. So I guess I can't complain very much.</div>
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I had noticed for the past month or so that the light would flicker and then go back to steady beam. This use to just be a warning that you've hit the half way point on a battery charge. But last night the light started doing it anytime I hit a bump. Then about two thirds of the way through the ride it blinked out completely. Shit. Nothing quite like blindly dodging the debris and nasty bits on the road... <br />
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I stopped and wiggled the wires and unplugged it and generally poked at it for a bit and managed to get it to come back on. But lord only knows how long that will last.<br />
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So I guess I have three options. <br />
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1. Just get a new light system. <br />
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This appeals to the capitalist in me. I do love shiny pretty things (Just ask my wife.).<br />
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2. Send the light back to Dinotte. <br />
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They have excellent customer service and I'm sure they could fix it. But what I'm not sure of is how much life my battery packs have left in them. So I don't know if it would it be worth the time and expense in the long run.<br />
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3. Open it up and see what I can do.<br />
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I'm pretty handy. I have tools and beer. And I'm willing to bet it's just some sort of loose connection somewhere.<br />
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As of this moment I'm feeling a two stage effort of option 3 and seeing if its fixable. And if it's not go with option 1. *sigh*<br />
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I'll keep you posted (I'm sure you all will remain riveted to your computer screens to find out.).<br />
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Thanks for reading.<br />
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Rubber side down,<br />
<br />
Big E<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1