Droppage Time

After a couple months spent for essentially off the bike, this week marked getting back into the swing and back in shape with an eye toward building up for next year.

A D Street ride was the order of the morning as I haven't really seen a lot of my friends in that same amount of time. With a 9am start, the ride seemed a perfect way to get going again. It was also an eye-opener as I found I'd lost a bit more fitness than I had hoped.

Syd and Corey leading through the park

In many ways, it was a typical gravel jaunt, but the fall weather was perfect so I didn't mind slowly falling off the pace then, at almost the appropriate time due to my failing fitness, turning and heading for home solo. Hopefully, next Saturday I'll be a bit better and actually hold a conversation and a wheel.

Uh, Corey, that's not a smile...

Assorted Snobbery: Who Are 'The Better Beatles?'

While we were in Chicago, my buddy Mike had this little gem.

Like An Well-Drawn Espresso to Start Your Day

Bad puns aside, this blog's clearly not immune to the cycles of life and this time of year, I always seem to only pay enough attention to keep the thing on life support. Yet, as thoughts of next year's race schedule and ramping up the fitness again start of rise up in my mind, so does maintaining this little section of the web.

In the midst of fall break, the crew and I went down to KC with little agenda and after a short time I find myself in front of LatteLand. With scads of places to get coffee, this particular LatteLand was on the only one with bikes parked out front. With the bikes all of the fixed variety, one was offensive in its construction which included an obscene negative rise (term?) stem leading risers bars mounted to, I assume, slightly mimic bullhorns... but not really. I stood above the bike trying to figure out how I would ride it, but was stumped, so I strolled inside.

The bike above, I have to assume, was owned by the guy who took my order. His Kansas t-shirt a perfect match for the Jayhawk on this top tube pad. Mustache, smiles, pleasantries and quality espresso lead to a pleasant 20 minutes of decompression, followed quickly by a desire to grab a napkin and jot down a cycling related things to do.

With no pen, I left the list mental and will start today. Sam wants roller laughter and I might as well deliver.

Flat Tire Ration Card

If anyone can guess where I saw this, I will be stunned.

Strange Light

There are several reasons to think very little of the photo below. Obviously, it's blurry, off-center and the subject matter is questionable at best.

There are a couple of reasons to think highly of it too. You'll notice, simply, that it's a cyclist who has ridden to work. I imagine one who hasn't ridden consistently for quite some time. Despite looking a bit to serious in the moment, I suspect there's a bit of quiet satisfaction hidden there as well.

Of course, he could also be an ass who would refer to himself in the 3rd person, reading an email which has him annoyed before he even sits down at his desk. It's hard to know.

Assorted Snobbery: Chorus for a Friday

Quiet Satisfaction

I started rolling home from the office a bit after 5:30 last night. With darkness easing in and a light, cold rain coming down, I was enjoying a lot of the tiny details that sometimes you're ready to see and other time you aren't; deer on the trail, rain drops in a puddle, a bike path to myself.

When you wait through an extra turn of lights at the cross walk, either the therapy session is working or you need another hour out. Sometimes, maybe it's both.

Channeling Steven Wright

You know that feeling you get when tires slip, your bike starts to go out from under you and you think you're bound for the ground...

I've been feeling that way all day.

Have You Noticed the Lull?

I'm not sure how casually Mod meant to toss the idea out, but then there it was and all that was left was to scoop it up and make it my own.

"It" is the Vapor Trail 125. I toyed with the idea a couple of years ago and, with a new other NE rock stars excited at the notion, it seems like a road trip is inevitable and in-order.

Speaking of order, it's time to get some back. The treadmill is cleaned off, the softgoods are organized, the post-it notes are ready to count some calories and I am more than ready to get back to business.

Assorted Snobbery: Player Songs

Way, way back in the day, I was lucky enough to play well in front of some pretty big crowds but I can't even imagine how players can keep their head on straight when people belt out something like this once you score a goal. I do, however, completely understand how professional footballers end up with WAGS. That's not safe for the office, btw. (More links like that and I will need to start posting on Showen's blog.)