Sick Day

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm can't update the blog right now. I'm afraid that in my weakened condition, I could take a nasty spill down the stairs and subject myself to further work absences. You can reach my parents at their places of business. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your concern for my well-being. Have a nice day!

Department of Weights and Measures

this + this + this <= this

This is Just Bizarre

But satisfying all the same.

Variations on a Theme

The other day, Claire brought up Bullitt as proper training inspiration.

Today, my suggestion is "Le Mans." It is at least worth one good session on the rollers... if you are inclined to ride indoors this weekend while the temps bounce below zero. 100+ minutes of vary little dialogue and plenty of auto racing. Actual auto racing with left turns, hairpins, chicanes, and the like with no stuntmen or CG. One of the best movie lines ever as well:

"When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting."

Jackass of The Day

People of Tosa. Your neighbor who drives a crappy little green Neon-like car with license plate number UVN-595 is a jackass. He can often been seen in the vicinity of North Ave and Mayfair road in said community around 7:15am.

This neighbor saw fit to take time out his hurried morning commute to get my attention, and say that cyclists are "number 1" in his own special way. he next proceeded to swerve accross 2 lanes of traffic to make the on ramp for 45 N

If my horn sounded like a defective party toy, I would think twice about sounding it in public. Let alone in anger.

His water cooler bravado probably went something like this...

JA: I sure showed that whack job on the bike this morning.
Coworker: What did you do?
JA: I honked at him.
Coworker: Then what?
JA: I flipped him the bird.
Coworker: What did the other guy do?
JA: He waved at me.
Coworker: yeah, you definitely showed him

So feel free to laugh and snicker if you are ever on the receiving end of his road rage.

Catch up, or Fresh Tracks at Last.

I truly despise people who put weekly summaries on their blogs... so here is mine.

We hit the swap last weekend and were in good company. I came home with more money cash than I took, and kept the expenditures to a minimum.

It was nice to see that the posenger scene is alive and well in Mad town. You couldn't swing a skinny ass chick in that place without hitting one. Just to test the theory, we brought one with us. And we bought this guy to swing said chick. It was ugly to say the least. Some dude got knocked clean out of his vintage Members Only jacket. Did anyone happen to see how many floor waxers were parked out front?

Also, we took in a show and imposed on the hospitality of others. Madison has pretty cool roller derby league, but it was a bit upscale for my liking. This is more like it.

First tracks came Monday night on the commute home. A little pow, the right tunes, and the familiar rumble of studded Kendas at about 40lbs were my companions. Sometimes winter commuting has it's upside.

A Cyclist Triumphant

It was a brisk ride (see the ice in the gratuitous self portrait.). The first commute is on the books finally.

The dizzy demon still afflicts me, but wild swerves into traffic were kept to about three.

And my new party trick will have to wait... Eating a bowl of cereal while pulling a no handed skid. I pulled it off twice while riding rollers.

Who Are You Calling Cupcake?

From Bikes, Bikes, Bikes...

First Tracks, or The Passenger

As I do time with windshield sector this week, my theme song comes courtesy of Iggy.



Some people have their idea of fresh tracks and I have mine. It is that first 35mm wide slice through that strip of wet snow between the car tracks and the no man's land of the white death.

Back on the bike next week. Vertigo or no.

The view from the corner office.

Be careful what you wish for.

Bike = Love

The view from Il Mito on the last fall weekend the patio tables were out. As I recall there was some Hendricks consumed and some people watching.


And the pleasant dinner company.



*The dreamlike quality of these photos is achieved by keeping my Iphone in my pocket.

Cross Season Wrap Up, Or

Living Life One Barrier at a Time.

Plenty of folks have talked about how good/bad their season went. As for myself, the accomplishments seem small. Things like going through a set of barriers without panicking, proper dismount and remount at speed, and generally holding things together for 30 minutes or so. By the end of the season, there was even some strategy involved for the mad dash to the finish and the occasional step through dismount.

The joys were many. After work practice sessions that kept me out way past the street lights came on, rocking the local trails with reckless abandon on a fine steed, some quality bruises from remount after remount after remount, and the little celebration that came with every successful barrier section.

Somewhere along the way, I read that cross is about second chances. If you botch a section, there is always a chance to get it right on the next lap.

It's a Lot Like Love

Vertigo.













Dizziness, nausea, disorientation, cold sweats, difficulty walking, and none of the good stuff. No biking, no driving, and not much of anything for now. Dunno if it was a fall snowboarding, or just a nasty bug camped out in my noodle and partying down. Either way, lets hope it sorts out soon. It sure looked like a decent day to go break out the commuter.

Since everything else is out, there might as well be some the blogging going on. And catching up on Battlestar Galactica.

by the way, does anyone remember fall?


[insert Creepyfriendly like photo-montage here]



And one for Tim. It was likely the last time this beauty saw the road for the year.