Southern Cali Riding

Got to ride in Southern California this weekend. Both with the Swami Cycling Club and with John Howard.

Yeah, I got my ass kicked. Hard.

They are good... it really motivates me to get better, and to train a lot harder.

Perhaps it is time for a powertap.. and to start racing again. Need something to motivate me to get even faster. And I think losing some crits/races will do that for me.

Anyways, Yeah.. it was pretty amazing.

-Later

Rain + Ride = Sort of fun.

So I rode this weekend.. 50 miles on saturday, felt good. Nice and strong... beautiful weather. Was a great ride.

Sunday brought rain, cold and a shorter, harder ride. Only 30 miles.. but it hurt me a lot. Not only did I not get a lot of sleep the night before, it was wet and cold. I was soaked in about 5 minutes.. and stayed soaked the whole time.

Funny thing though, if you have aero profile rims... they will fill with water during your ride for added weight and increased rotational mass.

FUN TIMES!

-Later

disappointing rides

I had a very disappointing ride tonight. Went out with a group I'd never been with before, and I from first impressions I figured them for a good strong group of riders. Lots of nice bikes, everyone was in full kits it seemed.. but... they just didn't have that... extra bit that I was looking for. I don't think I was ever out of breath.. or even having to push myself very hard. It was strange.. even when people were "sprinting" I could easily match their accelerations and speed without really pushing myself.

Perhaps I've just gotten faster.. it is hard to say... especially with a group I've never ridden before.

Maybe I need to get into some races and see what happens.

-Later

hmm..

could have sworn I just posted a nice long rant about work being stupid...

where did it go?

-Later

Royksopp

Now, I know I have a tad big of an addictive personality. But, for some reason I can't stop listening to the new Royksopp album, "Junior". It is just so freaking good.

Seriously, go check it out.

-Later

Early Season Riding

It hurts.

And it is still cold.

-Later

My new bike..

This is my new bike. It is very very nice. I enjoy riding it very much.



I realize that many of you won't be jealous... but you should be. It has been awhile since I've felt unworthy to ride a bicycle... but if feels like this bike is sometimes telling me, "Hey.. wouldn't you be happier on a Trek?" And then the laughs at me.

The fork is new.. and I'm pleased with how it looks on the bike.

-Later

Roller Bags

I've traveled a lot. I remember being a young child and having to help carry luggage at the airport or during family vacations. We had suitcases that didn't have wheels. This was the norm.

I continue to travel a lot.. and even own a few bags which have wheels for easier transport. Do I think that all suitcases should be carried? Goodness no. Having a large, checkable suitcase with wheels is the way to go.

What really gets me is the smaller bags with wheels. The ones that people insist on carrying onto a plane despite the fact that planes were made long before these "carry-ons" were created and thus 90% of the people that own one has no freaking idea how to load them into the overhead bins. I believe that if you can't lift your "carry-on" over your head and place it into a bin by yourself.. then you shouldn't be allowed to carry it on.

As much as that pisses me off... in recent years smaller and smaller things have had wheels added to them. I see backpacks with wheels.. laptop bags with wheels... briefcases with wheels... what's next.. purses with wheels?

So I was walking through Chicago this morning on my way to the office. I like to walk fast for a variety of reasons... which i won't get into here... but I got stuck behind a slower gentleman pulling a tiny briefcase on wheels. Normally this isn't an issue and I can easily pass them... but due to the wheeled bag... he was taking up roughly the width of 2.5 people... (insert whatever fat comment you want here.. Sean, I'm looking at you).

I couldn't pass him. The bag trailed a good two feet behind him... so he was a slow moving road block basically. Now, I try not to judge to quickly.. since the briefcase could have been filled with gold, lead or osmium thus preventing him from carrying it normally. But we arrived at a curb and he easily, with one hand mind you, hefted the bag up to waist level and then gently set it back down once he was passed the curb.

It just boggles my mind.

-Later