Perhaps it's because my hamstring's not quite healed to the point of being able to put in long hours or because the temp finally got above 23 yesterday, but off-season lethergy turned into energy for me last night.
Over the past few weeks I have lamented the piss-poor content of this blog and the piss-poor fitness I seemed to be stuck at. Now if the hammy will continue to cooperate, I'll just forget about last week as the lost week of riding and let things get back to normal.
Inspiration is where you find it:
Elk.
Dave Simmons.
The Kittens.
CVO and his cure for the common fever.
Nick Martin.
Indy Fab (and my short femur.)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Moons Over My Hammy
What happens when you make cracks about the YMCA? You tweak your hamstring on your next visit.
Warmed up for 15 minutes, got called off the treadmill to fill in for a game who needed a 10th guy, loose ball and POP.
It's really not to bad though. I played out the game and one more then sat out. It was pretty sore last night but is coming around today.
ICE. BITCH. REPEAT.
Warmed up for 15 minutes, got called off the treadmill to fill in for a game who needed a 10th guy, loose ball and POP.
It's really not to bad though. I played out the game and one more then sat out. It was pretty sore last night but is coming around today.
ICE. BITCH. REPEAT.
Friday, February 02, 2007
iHipster
I had to laugh at myself yesterday. I had an off-site meeting for work and as I got ready I began to count the hipster cliche oozing through the situation. It really hit me when I decided to wear jeans over my pearl tights so I wouldn't have to change when I arrived.
Nothing like working for a technology company, having meetings at coffee shop and arriving via the IF dressed like a wanna be bike messenger. Oh, and the bike is pink. How droll.
At least I got a couple of hours in before the meeting. No packages were delivered however.
Technology hipster Mike Burda becoming "blog-famous."
Nothing like working for a technology company, having meetings at coffee shop and arriving via the IF dressed like a wanna be bike messenger. Oh, and the bike is pink. How droll.
Mirror mirror on the wall...
At least I got a couple of hours in before the meeting. No packages were delivered however.
Technology hipster Mike Burda becoming "blog-famous."
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
How to be Hated at the YMCA
Granted, most people work to fit into life, but if you are in the mood to embrace your outcast self. Give some of these simple steps a try.
Step One. Visit the newest YMCA in your community. A spartan Y won't cut it. An older Y makes you just another freak in a freak kingdom. To truly bring the disdain of others to the fore, you want to visit an overly clean, upscale, yuppie Y. If the Y has a climbing wall, things are looking up. If you can climb the walls because of cracks in the brick and mortar, continue your search.
Step Two. Dress the Part. Pink Cars-R-Coffins t-shirts, brown Surly socks and black Vans do wonders for your YMCA "curb appeal." If you can stroll through the workout area like you're on the catwalk, you'll really make it count. Own it baby.
Step Three. Out Muscle the Muscle-Heads. This is a personal Snob favorite. After gathering several steroid induced rage-like glares, wait patiently in line for the leg press, squat machine or other like machine. Nothing bubbles the hate to the surface like getting outlifted by "the faggot in the pink shirt."
Step Four. Assist the Lovely Lady. Treadmills can be hard to understand. So can beautiful ladies. Combine the two past-times by aiding that make-up clad Miss in getting that machine up to speed. Be careful though. Remember, she really just wants to "tone."
Note: A smooth carry-out of step four in front of the gentleman in step three will really multiple your points. I like to call this the "daily double of roid rage."
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Cold War Kids
Notice the Smiles at -3 degrees.
The road may appear to "T" but we thought the two white ribbons continuing straight were there to remind us of TI.
"Would you give your Mother a foot massage?"
Jonathan Page Second at Worlds!!!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Scrooge on Wheels
Did some intervals today. Nothing crazy, just a little pace to remember you're alive. Cold, boring day. I have a watch strapped to my handlebars and I am sure I saw time start going backwards on me. This martini tastes good and he has a few friends. Cheers.
"Dad, that's gross."
The "There isn't anything worth shooting" shot.
Okay, I'll give 07 a chance.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Biscuits for Smut
As some of you know, yesterday morning I somehow decided to take a fall and lead with my left temple. It took most of the day for the pain to subside and half of the day to return to normal. Hell yeah!! I think it was that bastard Colonel Mustard with a pipe wrench. Now I need a new helmet.
Actually, I was nearly at work, hit some black ice and found myself lying in the middle of the road before I knew what was happening. Snob over ice.
"How many fingers? One. Now put your damn hand down."
Actually, I was nearly at work, hit some black ice and found myself lying in the middle of the road before I knew what was happening. Snob over ice.
"How many fingers? One.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Fixed Gear Project - 1, Snob - 0
I am unofficially the worst mechanic ever, and that's only because I've never been certified.
Several months ago I had planned a day to convert last year's race machine to a fixie. Life intervened and the project sat, until last night. Optimism ruled the afternoon and I set up in the new downstairs to take a crack at the conversion.
An hour and a half later, I could still not get the powerlink to release off of my chain. How a person can be embarrassed while alone in a basement may be a mystery to some, but there I was, red-faced and pissed.
Jeff stopped by and had it off in 5 seconds.
I then triple checked my needed chain length, only to make it one link too short and that was it. Hands were thrown up. F-Bombs were dropped and I marched back up the stairs. Nothing has been touched since then.
When I was young, I nearly drowned while taking swim lessons at the Y. Apparently, I had snuck behind the instructor and was mocking and miming her. When she jumped in the pool, so did I and I sat on the bottom for a long time before someone noticed and pulled me up. Swimming was for the birds after that.
Post college, I decided I needed to move somewhere to learn to surf and therefore needed to learn to swim. I paid for a Y membership and went to the open swim everyday for weeks. I would grab a lane against the wall, rudely sometimes and paddle like some drunken carnie in a dunk tank until I would panic and grab the wall, then compose myself and go again. This debacle went on until I learned to swim.
I am sure this project will be the same way. The only difference so far is that I actually asked for help. I am sure there are people at the Lafayette YMCA still pissed off at the lane hog who can't swim.
Several months ago I had planned a day to convert last year's race machine to a fixie. Life intervened and the project sat, until last night. Optimism ruled the afternoon and I set up in the new downstairs to take a crack at the conversion.
An hour and a half later, I could still not get the powerlink to release off of my chain. How a person can be embarrassed while alone in a basement may be a mystery to some, but there I was, red-faced and pissed.
Jeff stopped by and had it off in 5 seconds.
I then triple checked my needed chain length, only to make it one link too short and that was it. Hands were thrown up. F-Bombs were dropped and I marched back up the stairs. Nothing has been touched since then.
When I was young, I nearly drowned while taking swim lessons at the Y. Apparently, I had snuck behind the instructor and was mocking and miming her. When she jumped in the pool, so did I and I sat on the bottom for a long time before someone noticed and pulled me up. Swimming was for the birds after that.
Post college, I decided I needed to move somewhere to learn to surf and therefore needed to learn to swim. I paid for a Y membership and went to the open swim everyday for weeks. I would grab a lane against the wall, rudely sometimes and paddle like some drunken carnie in a dunk tank until I would panic and grab the wall, then compose myself and go again. This debacle went on until I learned to swim.
I am sure this project will be the same way. The only difference so far is that I actually asked for help. I am sure there are people at the Lafayette YMCA still pissed off at the lane hog who can't swim.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Spin
Recently, Jeff, Corey, Butch and I were sitting at Yia Yia's and talking about Chris Eatough, Craig Gordon and last year's 24hr "Worlds." (In fact, Butch even blogged about it.)
At one point, we started talking about the film "24 Solo" and how it would portray the Gordon's victory. The skeptics (Jeff and I) commented that we felt the spin would be "this is what it takes to beat Eatough." It's a truth that can be embellished to make second place almost look more noble and Gordon a bit more insane. A snippet from the updated trailer is Gordon in the hospital commenting about how he couldn't pull away from Chris.
That's not to take anything away from either guy. It's more of a comment on what happens when you stand behind the view finder and the perspective you take with you when you get there. (including the knowledge of who is paying for the film.)
I am really looking forward to the film. It would be interesting to take someone who doesn't race endurance races or someone who doesn't competitively cycle. After all, I was called (as I am sure many of you were) a lunatic for riding to work in negative temps this week. What would a "non-racer" think of Gordan's win and how will the presentation affect their conclusions regarding 24hr racing, not to mention Eatough and Gordon?
How's that for thinking too much?
Team Over-Analysis signing off.
At one point, we started talking about the film "24 Solo" and how it would portray the Gordon's victory. The skeptics (Jeff and I) commented that we felt the spin would be "this is what it takes to beat Eatough." It's a truth that can be embellished to make second place almost look more noble and Gordon a bit more insane. A snippet from the updated trailer is Gordon in the hospital commenting about how he couldn't pull away from Chris.
That's not to take anything away from either guy. It's more of a comment on what happens when you stand behind the view finder and the perspective you take with you when you get there. (including the knowledge of who is paying for the film.)
I am really looking forward to the film. It would be interesting to take someone who doesn't race endurance races or someone who doesn't competitively cycle. After all, I was called (as I am sure many of you were) a lunatic for riding to work in negative temps this week. What would a "non-racer" think of Gordan's win and how will the presentation affect their conclusions regarding 24hr racing, not to mention Eatough and Gordon?
How's that for thinking too much?
Team Over-Analysis signing off.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Simple is Never Simple Enough
Simplify. We spent the weekend finalizing the move to the new Casa de Cronin over the weekend. I thought we kept things fairly minimal but clearly we do not. After three trips to the city mission for donations and a call to the trash man regarding our endless bags of crap, I felt ridiculous. It was good to purge, but still an example of how many "things" you can accumulate for no reason.
I also missed three days of riding, which just fades my mood even further. Back tomorrow with a vengence. I have a flying Canadian on my tail.
"i want to be stereotyped
i want to be classified
i want to be a clone
i want a suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
i want to be a statistic
i want to be masochistic
i want to be a clone
i want a suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
i don't want no dead beat pad
i want a house just like mom and dad"
I also missed three days of riding, which just fades my mood even further. Back tomorrow with a vengence. I have a flying Canadian on my tail.
"i want to be stereotyped
i want to be classified
i want to be a clone
i want a suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
i want to be a statistic
i want to be masochistic
i want to be a clone
i want a suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
suburban home
i don't want no dead beat pad
i want a house just like mom and dad"
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Slow and Low...
... that is the tempo.
Perhaps it's due to starting out my day by riding to the shop and taking the long route with the wind chill at -7 or perhaps it's because it's Friday or better still, maybe it's just me, but I have been a half step behind all day.
Case in point. I see on the TransIowa page that Jesse is listed in the Open class. So, as I am emailing with him about the new BKB kits, I ask why he's running gears and it takes a bit of back and forth for me to catch on that he's still rolling one gear. He simply signed on for open. "Why segregate?" Why indeed.
----
Donations are something I take pretty seriously, though I try to keep it somewhat personal or community oriented when possible. Something stuck me today. A comparison. For me, it's a polar opposite, but I know you could argue differently.
One man failed a drug test, has a large contract but would like assistance. It's impossible to know the truth. I won't pretend to or hazard a guess. But, I will not donate. Floyd.
The other qualifies for CX Worlds. Is likely racing on a small contract and a love of the sport. His governing body isn't footing the bill to get him there so he'd like a little help. To me, this is meaningful. I'm in. Tristan.
That probably should have been two posts. See? Slow.
Perhaps it's due to starting out my day by riding to the shop and taking the long route with the wind chill at -7 or perhaps it's because it's Friday or better still, maybe it's just me, but I have been a half step behind all day.
Case in point. I see on the TransIowa page that Jesse is listed in the Open class. So, as I am emailing with him about the new BKB kits, I ask why he's running gears and it takes a bit of back and forth for me to catch on that he's still rolling one gear. He simply signed on for open. "Why segregate?" Why indeed.
----
Donations are something I take pretty seriously, though I try to keep it somewhat personal or community oriented when possible. Something stuck me today. A comparison. For me, it's a polar opposite, but I know you could argue differently.
One man failed a drug test, has a large contract but would like assistance. It's impossible to know the truth. I won't pretend to or hazard a guess. But, I will not donate. Floyd.
The other qualifies for CX Worlds. Is likely racing on a small contract and a love of the sport. His governing body isn't footing the bill to get him there so he'd like a little help. To me, this is meaningful. I'm in. Tristan.
That probably should have been two posts. See? Slow.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
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