pics

It's a post-race tradition amongst cyclists to scour the pipes in the days following the races and find pictures of their studly selves. What can I say, I'm a traditionalist.

(I'm also WAY too serious looking in these. You see other people smiling or making faces for the camera. Me? It's as if the whole world depends on the important work I'm doing here.)



This shot in particular really gets to me. You'd think I was staring down Satan himself...or that death lies at the bottom of whatever I'm dropping into.

Whoa.

I mean, looking at that picture, right now, I'm a little scared of that dude. Somebody needs to lighten up and enjoy the ride. Either that or flash my murderous stare at the other riders to yield some sort of advantage...

not a whirlybird cross race report - update

I finished 9th.

Apparently an error in the original results posting. Probably some lapped riders got caught in there somewhere.

I like single-digit finishes WAY better than not.

not a whirlybird cross race report

Well, not really a race report. I lost. Eleventh of I think 68 (senior B). I expected a top 10. Hoped for better. So, a bit disappointing. That's the extent of my report.

Oh, one more thing. It was my first event with my new single-ring crank setup. Though I think it will be most advantageous in muddy conditions, after one (really dry) race I'm already digging it. Also digging the Dura-Ace crank (previously running the FSA SLK that came stock). Who knows if these things are psychological or whatever, but I swear that crank is faster. On my first ride with the setup last week it felt SO much better than the SLK. Really.

Sean Davies came to play for the weekend. He took this picture.

I'm not usually a fan of the barrier-running shots, but I like this one. Also a nice shot of the crank. Thanks, Sean.

"Enjoy!"

From the back of my Patak's Original microwave lunch package:


MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS
(1) Puncture plastic film in several spots on top of the bowl.
(2) Place bowl in microwave. Heat on HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes.
(3) Let stand for 1 minute.
(4) Carefully remove film by pealing it back around bowl. Stir, serve and enjoy!


Or else? What if I don't enjoy? Am I then guilty of not following the directions? And if I don't follow the preperation directions, have I then forfeited my right to be dissatisfied with the product? I mean, I can't really complain about a product's performance if I don't use it properly, right?

I ask this because, even though I haven't even peeled the cardboard packaging off yet, I think I can safely say that I won't "enjoy" it that much. I may get full, but enjoy? That's a tough bill to fill for a tv dinner style lunch. So it's likely that I won't be able to complete the instructions. And I hate forfeiting rights.

The problem is making my head spin.

The solution? Well, the only safe solution in this case would seem to be avoidance. No more Patak's Original for me.

And the worst of that is that I haven't even tasted the stuff yet so I don't know whether to be sad about the prospect of never getting intimate with Patak again.

Crazy. Completely crazy...

we're #37

(Another video...so, Facebook users, click "view original post.")

oh this is too much

But I can't help but wish it would happen to me. Just lovely.

(Facebook users, click on "see original post," or whatever it says, to see the video.

crappy decisions

So the bearings in my powertap hub are shot. Finally time to send it back to Saris for a rebuild. Now, the dilemma.

Option #1. $300. Saris rebuilds the current hub, sends it back to me, but I live without heart rate. My heart rate strap stopped working two years ago and Saris no longer makes a model compatible with my older powertap SL. So, this option essentially gets me back to where I was before, with all moving parts and seals replaced. Still wired.

Option #2. $460. Same deal with the wheel, but Saris also sells me a new CPU (2.4 version) and a compatible heart rate moniter. I'd like a heart rate monitor again. Still wired.

Option #3. $1000. Saris guts my hub body and besides bearings and seals, replaces the old 12mm axle with a supposedly much stiffer 15mm axel. Also updates the innerards to the new SL+ wireless version. New CPU. New heart rate monitor. New everything. Except the hub body.

I can't hardly believe how stinking expensive this power crap is. Nuts. The worst of it is (probably) that you spend all this money and then you don't really have anything new to look at. The bike still looks the same (except without that unsightly wire).

I'm half tempted to go the $1000 option and then just turn around and sell the wheelset (Bontrager Race X Lite Aero), but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to give up on power. I'm also not sure that I could sell the wheelset, even with the upgrades, for much more than $1000. If I was really lucky I might be able to get $1500. But then what?

What a pain...

explaining cyclocross

When I have to explain cyclocross, which includes fall semester classes (how will I report the results of major races if the students don't know what cx is?), I usually use this great video.



However, today I found this one, which I also love.



All my years in cycling and I still really had no idea what to expect until I showed up to my first race. And I only lost that race by two places. (I've since learned to lose them by many more.) But cross really is that great. At least for this shaggy dirtbagging goat.

Getting excited...

falling

Knee and arm warmers on my 7:00 am ride today. It's much warmer now, but the times...they are a-changin'.