The Woulfes

The Crazy Life

2010-02-12T04:59:00.000-08:00

I've been in bed by 8PM every day for the past two weeks. It's not that I'm sleeping that long...it's by being in bed for 10 hrs that i might be able to find four during which to sleep. Between the dog, the cat, and Lil's nocturnal antics, there's not much time to actually close my eyes.

Just a couple more days and the dog and cat will be relegated out of my bedroom and Lily will be re-ferberized and back in her own bed...

In the meantime at least for the next two nights we won't have the dog and the cat. It will just be Lily...so maybe 6 hrs of sleep??

Snow!

2010-02-08T05:13:00.000-08:00

So unlike my compatriots back east who have about 5+ feet of snow on the ground, out here in Denver, I woke up to about 3 inches of the white stuff on Tuesday. Makes for a perfect commute on the cross bike, and makes the dog super excited. Something about snow really makes Sadie happy. And due to the 0% humidity, even though it's below freezing the snow still disappears.

Even with only three inches of snow, the bike paths get plowed...they even knocked some of the ice out of the "ice cave" under the highway. I'd been meaning to get a picture of the 3 foot stalagmites and tites but it's no more...

Two more nights here in this hotel (with two nights in Florida). So 4 days till we're moved into the new place.

Can't wait!

One Week Down

2010-02-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Well we've all successfully survived a week in the hotel room. I've had a great week of rides, and have started using the weightroom again. I see 220 lbs in my future. Between lifting 3-4 times a week and mashing my 48x15 uphill to work, it won't be long before I'm bulking up again.

Right now, it's pretty easy to keep up with my calories. Chocolate Milk when I get home, followed by either eating out or a horrific (but free!!) meal at the Residence Inn. I mean really horrific...some of the lowest quality of food I've eaten in a long time...but it fills me up.

Breakfast is nice too, rotates between biscuits and gravy, and sausage sandwiches, so no problem getting calories. The issue will come in 2 weeks when we're out of the hotel. I highly doubt i will cook the fat laden breakfasts I've been eating here. I guess bacon and a protein shake might have to do...

Changing gears, the weather has been great. Pretty dry, 20s in the morning, mid 30s in the afternoon...no complaints...wonder how life is back East?

Ah the High Life

2010-01-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Living at 6000 feet is taking a while to get used to. I don't notice it much just walking around, riding on the flats or running with the dog, but the elevation profile of my ride to work is a "V." It drops a couple hundred feet in the first 5 miles then regains the lost elevation over the course of the second 5.

It's the slow steady 2-3% climb for 5 miles where my lungs really start to rebel. But, it's only 10 miles so it's really not that bad.

All in all, life out here has been awesome. It's definitely a little cramped in our temporary corporate housing (A Residence Inn) between me, KC, Lily, Sadie, and Jane, but we get free breakfast and dinner, and it will make our two bedroom apartment we're renting while we sell our place in Philly seem gigantic.

Work has a great gym, showers, large coffee pot (instead of those stupid k-cups that only brew one cup at a time) AND because it's bike friendly Colorado, building management doesn't mind if I bring my bike inside and store it in my office as long as it's not muddy. (Which is a big improvement over Valley Forge where I was forced to park the bike outside and walk about half a mile to my office/showers).

Anyway, life is good. To see the latest exploits of Lily, head on over to KCs new blog at: http://woulfelife.blogspot.com/

I'm Out Bitches

2010-01-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

Finally...Getting. The. Fuck. Out. Of. This. City.

No more wage tax.
No more corrupt city government.
No more ridiculous city fees ($50 to "register" our alarm?? WTF??)
No more taking my life in my hands to ride my bike to work.

Ok the last one's not true but at least it won't be the police that I'm worried about hitting me.

Now of course I'll miss the restaurants and about 14 people (in a city of 1.5 million). Sorry guys, but the future is going to rock. AND I promise to rub my new home in you faces by blogging as much as possible AND posting pictures (mostly of Lily I'm sure).

So yeah, I'm uprooting the whole family and moving them to beautiful Jefferson County Colorado, the gateway to the Rocky mountains and one of the most livable places in the United States. In mapping my route to work, I found about 3000 awesome bike rides on mapmyride.com and a great route to work. I am super excited...and I start on Monday.

Crazy.

much requested post...

2009-12-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

I'm downloading a new video and some pics as my mom pointed out that she hasnt had something new to watch...

Since I last posted Lily's new tooth count is up to 6...she has a huge gap in between her front top teeth--which is adorable now but may be costly later:P
she is very into getting into stuff she shouldnt and if she is giggling you have almost a sure bet she has something she thinks she shouldnt have (I thought this didnt happen til the terrible twos...)
that said she gets funnier everyday--she loves it when Aunt Brit sings to her...something about it makes lily belly laugh which is hilarious

my baby girl is also loving eating --she is her father's daughter after all--we have tons of wonderful fresh veggies pureed and frozen for her and she prefers the food that has more texture...so i'm spicing it up by adding her veggies to rice and cut up noodles

anyway--as promised...here is a video I took yesterday

enjoy:)

Whew!

2009-11-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

I'm finally posting after my marathon of writing and studying and submitting a paper...whew is it good to be done!
So life on the other side...let me tell you what...its pretty wonderful!

I promptly got sick after finishing my defense...so that was lousy but all in all, Lily and I spent our time recuperating and relaxing

now she is a working lady--heading into work with me in the mornings and then I leave after her AM nap...it is actually working relatively well--I've got a few finishing touches to add thne the FINAL thesis is ready to be printed and uploaded to the university's site--whahhooooo

Lily is charming as usual though we are battling with those teeth and I think she feels pretty rotten...her newest accomplishment is to "high five" which means she'll raise her hand and put it on yours....Justin had her high fiving her reflection last night...she was loving that

Lily has also gotten so good in her walker (as you can see from prior posts) and her arm span is getting so that she is TROUBLE...ah well it was nice when it lasted--I walked out of the room for a min the other morning and came back to find her with the USB part of the printer cord in her mouth....she LOVES terrorizing the dog and will block off her exit from the living room which is pretty funny...and she drags/carries around my purse when she can grab it
She also will come to you when you call her (as long as nothing more interesting is in the way)

I'll leave you with a bit different video than the last few...she was showing off her arm waving skills:)

Lily Out for a Stroll

2009-10-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

I swear she's trying to say "HI!"

There's A Doctor in the House

2009-10-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

So KC's a doctor! And Lily is still hilarious! Here's her latest exploit in the walker, complete with looking out the window and some serious speed.

Gulp!

2009-09-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

So its been a while since I've written...Like justin said, its hard to trump videos of Lily...and I have to admit there are days when I'm at work that I sit and watch the videos over and over (pretty pathetic but I miss my little girl)--the days when I have the kids are so hilarious, I've never laughed so much as I have in the past 6 months:)

SO my reason for posting tonight as I sip a beer and relax with Lils asleep is that I actually have a defense date...something that seemed amorphous and unattainable has now become real...October 27th...ug so close but so far--part of me is SOOO ready for this and another part is very very scared and thinks I dont know enough. Before then I've got loose ends of my thesis to tie up and lots of formatting work to do...AND we're going on vacation next week (YAY us but bad timing on my part)

Anyway, the real reason to post is to talk about Lily--again as Justin said, there are more fans of Lily reading this than anything else...Lily is sitting up on her own now and is on the brink of crawling...the most exciting for me is that she has started saying "bbb" sounds and will try to imitate "umm" sounds

This morning as I was getting ready for work I was in and out of the bedroom ... when I walked in after my shower she was playing "peek-a-boo" with her blanket over her eyes...the only thing I can think was that she has figured out when she and I play peek-a-boo, I'm there after hiding her eyes...so if she hides her eyes maybe i'll appear...I know I'm a sappy Mom but really, can you get any cuter?!

Lily has been eating solids for about 2 months now...so far she has tried and LOVED zucchini, peas, butternut squash, wax beans, yellow squash and kinda liked spinach and broccoli...she tolerates rice cereal and just tried oatmeal this evening...it is so fun to watch how progression how she handles food--from when we first gave her rice cereal and she rolled that around in her mouth to now when she eats 2 ice-cube sized blocks of veggies and some cereal and loves it:)

Anyway...thesis scheduled (FINALLY) and now to finish this darn PhD!--and VACATION very soon:)

Lily Rocks My Site Stats

2009-09-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

Since Lily's grandparents have had about 3000 hits in the past week and nobody cares that I rode my road bike to work today, I'll add some more fuel to the fire.

Here's a short video of Lily sitting up all by herself. The next one's even better. It show's Lily practicing for her St Patty's birthday bash (where she'll be drinking water out of a giant plastic jug).

Bikes, Lack of Standards, and Power Tools

2009-09-01T04:05:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I decided to finally swap out the out creaky, partially seized bottom bracket and chain (which 12 links had stretched to almost 13 in) on the commuter. Normally this a quick job. Pull the bols, pull the cranks, break the chain, pull the BB, grease everything, install new stuff, wash hands. 25 minutes tops.

Unfortunately my commuter has the stock cranks on it, the truvativ tauro pieces of garbage. No problem getting the drive side off, but i definitly stripped the left crank arm out. Now before you say it wasn't the crappy cranks be aware that I dripped penetrating oil in the arm before pulling it, and the park square taper puller was threaded the whole way in the hole.

Well, damn.

So to Home Depot I went and quickly emerged with a reciprocating saw, with which I proceeded to slice and dice that crank arm right off. It took a long damn time, but it did come off.

Ok, no problem. New bottom bracket installed, and I have two crank arms lying around that will work on the left side. Except wait! That POS Tauro crank is different from every other square taper crank in that the crank arm is perpendicular to a edge instead of a corner.

That means if I were to use either the Sugino left arm or a no name arm off my wife's bike, the drive side would be straight down while the left bent at a 45 degree angle. Additionally, since my commuter is set up for 3/32 I can't use my track crank (all the rings are 1/8th and the smallest ring I have is a 50) and the 48 tooth truvativ rings are 110 BCD instead of full sized.

So to the basement my commuter is relegated until a crank arrives (Wed) and I'll have two glorious days of riding the road bike. Today marked the first time all year I'd ridden it. It feels impossibly light. Almost dnagerously so. I wonder how fast i can get home today...45 minutes?

So to sum it up, cheap Truvativ cranks are just that: Cheap...and also shitty.

Ah the boys from VMI

2009-08-31T05:03:00.000-07:00

Good Parody of a SNL Skit onboard the USS John Paul Jones. Good times

Lily Sure Does Enjoy Her Walker

2009-08-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

She now chases the cat and dog. I think the cat enjoys it and the dog is beginning to get sick of being harassed.

Legs of a champion...

I Am a Nerd

2009-08-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

And so is everyone i know who occasionally reads this. So for your viewing pleasure, a simple explanantion of the 10 dimensions. Get a cup of coffee before you watch or it will really blow your mind too early in the AM.

Logicality

2009-08-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

There's a reason why I voted for Bob Barr...and also why I don't have cable. Why people pay $60+ bucks a month for it baffles my mind.

When opinion replaces TV news
by Bob Barr
as published in The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Monday, August 17, 2009

Were he alive, Abraham Lincoln would not likely be a regular viewer of the major cable news stations. The former president is reported to have remarked that, "it is the man who does not want to express an opinion whose opinion I want." Given that a great many of the programming slots offered up each day by cable news stations are forums for nothing more than the incessant and repetitive offering of opinions, it is unlikely Lincoln would be tuning very much to the opinions so eagerly offered up by those networks.

Students of and experts on journalism and broadcasting certainly will argue over the causes for the explosive growth of opinion programming on cable news stations. Opinion shows, which rely less on in-depth reporting in favor of scanning the day's stories already reported for those most likely to generate "buzz," are - perhaps aside from the salaries of their stars - cheaper to produce than hard-news shows.

Whether financial concerns are the primary cause of this phenomenon, or simply the changing viewing habits of viewers, the bottom line is that so-called 24/7 news increasingly translates into "less news, more opinion."

It is not simply the plethora of opinion programs that is raising concerns, but the style and conduct of those offering their opinions. As noted in a recent article by former CBS evening news anchor, Dan Rather - one of the far-right's favorite punching bags - television news has been reduced largely to "opinion, commentary and marketing masquerading as news." This has, in turn, says Rather, led to "more in-studio shouting matches between partisans, moderated by openly partisan talking heads."

While many Republicans and conservatives will discount these observations by one of television's longest-serving former news anchors, few could legitimately argue that such antics breed understanding. The more likely result is hardening of opinions already settled, while advancing neither understanding nor tolerance. This "ceaseless blowing of hot air," so described in a recent op-ed eulogizing news anchor Walter Cronkite, has created what that writer termed an "infotainment nightmare."

Perhaps nowhere is this phenomenon more apparent than in the programming schedule for CNN's HLN (formerly, "Headline News"). For nearly half of each 24-hour news cycle, HLN bounces between "showbiz" stories, pulp crime reporting by Nancy Grace, and "Issues" with fast-talking newcomer Jane Velez-Mitchell. From 7 p.m. in the evening until 6 a.m. the next morning, HLN viewers have only those three options for their viewing pleasure; a line up interrupted only once, during the 4 to 5 a.m. hour, for "Prime News."

The impact of these constant "opin-news" programs on traditional, non-cable network news has been profound - and negative. Since 1980, the year CNN launched as the country's first all-news, all-the-time station, evening news viewership has fallen by well more than 50 percent and the ratings of the three network channels (ABC, CBS and NBC) have dropped even more precipitously - some 64 percent. Perhaps even more ominous for the networks is the fact that during that same period in which their ratings and viewership have dropped significantly the median age of its viewers has risen, to more than 61 years.

The fast-talking, high-volume pace of cable opinion shows may be having effect beyond the TV screen. Attendees at recent town halls, for example, and at other forums, mimic the sloganeering and rudeness so perfectly honed by cable commentators.

Solutions will be difficult to come by if we as a nation are to reclaim a focus on true news reporting that educates and enlightens; and which CNN promised 29 years ago. While many may not agree with Dan Rather's call for a presidential commission "to assess the state of the news as an institution and an industry," at least he is proposing a process of deliberation rather than entertainment.

OK, Back to Bikes

2009-08-14T10:46:00.001-07:00

Being a Huge Nerd, Bike Dork, and General Do-It-Yourself enthusiast, I really like Travis' Brown's Franken-Mountain-Bike he built up for the Leadville 100.

Got to love the ingenuity and clever use of parts to make it all work. I used to love when bikes like this would come in the shop. The right tool for the job isn't always what's in the latest catalog...check it out at the above link...

I've opened the floodgates...

2009-08-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've stayed pretty quiet on the whole healthcare thing up to know. Trying to understand the different viewpoints, and I think I've got it. Both sides stretch the truth. One side sprinkles fairy dust on the entire non-existent proposal. The other side, sprays shit all over anything they can get their hands on. From both sides there is lots of rhetoric, no details.

However, one branch of government seems to actually function effectively: The CBO (Congressional Budget Office)

In the latest report summeed up at the prvious link they describe why Obama main talking point that preventive gov't healthcare is good and saves money is a fallacy.

Additionally, Obama lacks a clear understanding of the healthcare system in general. He describes a situation where we pour money into primary care for diabetics instead of giving surgeons "$30,000, $40,000, $50,000" for a later amputation "that will save us money."

Yes your bill for an amputation is probably around $30,000 but what Mr. Obama implied was that the surgeon gets this money. They don't, below is the current medicare reimbursment rate for amputations...

Medicare Payment -
28800. Amputation, foot; midtarsal (eg, Chopart type procedure) $493.14
28805. Amputation, foot; transmetatarsal $655.87

This is the professional component (i.e. how much the surgeon makes), a fraction of the total cost. Some of the remaining money will go to the surigcal team (nurses, techs, etc) but the lions share goes to the hospital, not the doctor. Remember, doctors don't run hospitals--administrators (i.e. MBA's and JD's) run them. In fact the term "doctors bill" is a misnomer because if you dig through your bill you'll see it's more accurate to call it a "medical bill" given how small of a pie the doc is getting out of the deal.

Basically, Mr. Obama has shown exactly how little he understands about medical economics and billing issues. The reason our system cost so much is all the thrid party, non-healthcare profession parasites trying to profit off the system (and you haven't heard any plans to cut them off since they are the biggest donors to politcal campaigns). I would imagine that very few in the Obama camp are any better versed in the system either, yet these are the people tasked to fix it....

Worth the 10 Minutes

2009-08-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Want to Understand the Health Care Debate?

Two Qoutes and a Video:

The first, from Obama at a rally in NH describing why Private Insurers shouldn't worry about a National Healthcare Program:

"UPS and Fed Ex are doing just fine it's the Post Office that's always having problems"
And this is an argument for National Healthcare how?

The second, from a brilliant female politician:

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”
—Margaret Thatcher

And finally, a video, that's well worth the 10 minutes:

Great (Flat) Rides

2009-08-06T03:47:00.001-07:00

Well, I've done it! I've figured out a way to get home from work that has a grand total of 100 feet of elevation change over 21 miles. For those who don't ride much, this means it's pancake flat. For reference, I think it's more than 100 feet of elevation change to ride from Center City to the top of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Sure, it might add a mile to my ride, but not only does it allow me to run a bigger gear on the fixie, but also the roads are a bit less congested, due to the fact that in two places the road technically ends (but you can ride on the grass to where it starts again). Map My Ride is a great tool. I would have never figured this out without being able to map a few ways and instantly view the elevation change.

Yes, this offically makes me a fatty. And I'm totally ok with that.

Totally changing gears for a moment: The rain we had in the past week (including some while I was in...wait for it...Hawaii) really caused some havoc in the area. In addition to the mudslide on the Expressway, the bike path was in pretty horrendous condition. By Monday afternoon, Montgomery County had taken care of their part of the trail but Philly in typical fashion had yet to acknowledge the trails existence. (Amazing how in MontCo you pay less taxes and get more services, but I digress...)

I mean it was bad, we're talking 8+ inches of mud paired with giant rock slides where the hil basically gave way on the paved section, and whole sections of the tow path literally just gone into the river. Made the Monday commute really suck.

But, where Philly lacks an ability to do anything except subsidize crackheads and the unemployed with my tax dollars, the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia picks up the slack. Yesterday afternoon, three hard working folks were out there cleaning and repairing the trail. I recognized one gentleman who often sweeps the area right at the trail head where Port Royal very often washes out, but their effort was above and beyond. They probably moved 20,000 lbs of mud and rocks over a 2 mile stretch of trail.

So there you have it. The Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia rocks.

2009-07-30T14:28:00.001-07:00

Work...if you can call it that...has been pretty exciting the past few days. I was sent to possibly the most oppressing place on Earth. Hawaii...

As you can see from the picture, Afghanistan's got nothing on Waikiki. (The picture incidentally is taken from my hotel balcony)

Yes it was a rough assignment: Beaches, Sushi, Weather, and Sun. Next, I'm headed to another hell hole, San Diego.

Seriously though Hawaii is beautiful. I drove around the island yesterday after work in absolute awe. I've jogged to the top of Diamond Point (which I can see from my hotel if I look in other direction) and I love the fact the everywhere you look there are wild Orchids, Hibiscus, Mango Trees and Coconuts. I wish I had some more time to go skin diving, and generally get out on the water. It'd be an expensive family vacation, but well worth it. Hopefully that inheritance from my Nigerian Prince relative I got that email from a while back will come through soon :)

It's hard work, but somebody's got to do it...

Stuck in Philly

2009-07-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

So Lily and I are here in Philly, while Daddy is in Hawaii--Lucky lucky him...we sure wish we could have gone on this adventure

The job-sharing has been going on for almost a month now and we seem to be getting into the swing of things with the lab work and child care--this is so close to ideal and I'm loving every minute of it... I get to keep my finger in the lab work AND see my little love (and play with a very smart little one-year-old) every other day...
The kids are so great together...Lily loves watching Brent and he kisses her and is fascinated by her...it is so cute, he grins whenever he sees her

It is amazing watching both of them interact and watching how they are growing

For my sister...Lily is busy learning to sit up alone...she props herself up with her arms and can sit for about 2 mins before tipping over or forward...AND she is consistently walking forwards in her walker! yay for Lily...she is watching and focusing on everything ...and the goofball loves to look at things upside down

We just started giving Lily solid food (yum rice cereal)...she's not too wild about the rice cereal but shes getting some in her mouth and that is a start...i'm curious to see how she'll react to all the yummy home-made baby food waiting for her...I think we're going to try squash or yellow beans next week

:)

Good Old Fashioned Crafty Riding

2009-07-07T04:11:00.001-07:00

I'm loving yesterday's stage (Satge 3) of the TdF.

Read about it here

Basically it comes down to this: Team Columbia got smart and rode away from the field. The team directors had no idea what was going on, so the other teams didn't chase because they wern't told to over the radio.

It looks like our boy Lance got some inside info from his old buddy Hincapie so he made the break. Looks like the info was also shared with the Yellow Jersey (Cancellara) in order to keep Saxo Bank from chasing. This allowed Lance to move to +40sec, which he could take today in TTT.

I love how he keeps turning the screws to Contador...That whining Spainard just doesn't get it, can't mess with Lance. He's the only top rider in the peleton during those years who hasn't been caught doping. You think he's not crafty?

Burnination

2009-07-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Like I said yesterday, here's that burned out '09 Neon that showed up over the weekend on the west end of the towpath. Very nice...

I love the towpath. It's flat, usually not crowded (at least during the week), dirt and cobblestones to keep it interesting, and really, really fast.

I got a chuckle yesterday riding by the bruned out car. Parked right next to it were two brand new SUVs (not burned). It was like the sight of a burned out shell of a car suprised no one...

Don't You Just Love PA?

2009-07-01T03:58:00.000-07:00

Today in my Velo News RSS Feed there's this little gem:

Dear Explainer,

I just read in the local paper that a county judge hearing a lawsuit against the Tour de 'Toona ruled that a waiver, signed by a woman who was later injured and paralyzed in an accident at that race, will keep her from recovering any kind of damages. It's a sad case and it got me to thinking.

Now, I’ve signed more than my share of those things over the years and I always had a nagging belief that they really weren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. How many of us actually read them? How many of us actually think about them when we sign them? As one of my teammates once said, “Any lawyer worth his salt can beat one of those.”
I have my doubts, though, especially after this case. What are you signing away when you put your signature on the dotted line?

J.D. MacDonald
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Click the link above for the whole response from a very PC staff member over at Velo News. It's actually a pretty good response. To sum it up for those who don't want to read it: "If you don't agree with the waiver, it's probably best to be a spectator."

For those of you not familar with PA, it's one of the most litigous states in the US, and therefore one of the worst states to be a physician or run a business in. Primarily this is due to morons like JD who truly belive that if they get hurt they can always sue someone. There are two problems with this.

1) You signed a waiver. Even if it's poorly written ("I promise not to sue you when I crash my bike because i handle it like a Triathalete, signed JD"), no one made you sign it.

2) Sue the promoter when you wreck? What BS. You had the chance to pre-ride/drive the course. You know where the sketchy parts are. You know most CAT 4 racers suck. You understand that "CYCLING IS AN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS SPORT" and that it hurts when you crash.

Essentially what it boils down to is personal accountability. I know only a few people that have an interal locus of control. (Yeah Labrat you're one...) Get over yourselves, take responsibility for your own actions, and stop trying to turn your idiocy into profit.

It's ridiculous that someone signs a waiver in good faith believing that if they get hurt they can always get around the waiver and sue.

However it's SAD that we even need to sign a waiver...

BTW, if you get out on your bike, there's a burned out newer model Neon at the west end of the towpath. I'll take a phone pic today on the way home. Looks like someone couldn't pay their bills and is looking to collect some insurance money....

So Deceptive

2009-06-24T04:51:00.000-07:00

How can such a cute baby be such a monster? It's very deceptive...

Lily has been getting huge. In this particular picture, I believe the fist in the mouth is baby for "Feed me some freakin steak and potatoes already!"

She's about ready for cereal, and almost bigger than the cat, though the cat is doing her best to keep up.

Speaking of keeping up, now that weather is finally nice (It's almost Juy before the weather gets nice? Where are we Wyoming?) there's the usual slew of idiotic riders out on the path. Between the ones that try to keep up with me and almost take me down because they have their heads down in pain when I brake, and the "I haven't ridden a bike in 4 years and will now do so for the first time on a busy bike path" folks, there's no shortage of idiots out there.

Going back to the first set of people, after braking for a family on the bike path (slowing from 25ish to 18ish) I hear a twang, twang, twang which I realize is the idiot sucking my wheel, failing to brake and smacking his spokes against my wheel nuts. Now if i was thinking I would have pulled into his wheel and put him on the ground as a good life lesson, but i was dumbfounded. After lecturing the idiot about the joys of riding ALONE and reminding him that if he can't keep up on his Cervelo while drafting a 200lb guy on a 26 pound fixie carrying a 30 lb bag, maybe that coaching program at Cadence isn't paying off, I told him the best thing to do would probably be to continue his ride well behind me in at his zone 3 heart rate. I'd hate to throw off his training program by having him working too hard following me :)

HAPPY Birthday Lil!

2009-06-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

Lily was 3 months old yesterday--for some reason this seems like a big milestone for me, I guess I kept saying "once she's 3 months" this will happen or that will happen (I'm not real sure what these things were)--this was how i felt at each point in the pregnancy too so maybe its part of having kids and planning milestones:)
in some ways it feels like just yesterday I was feeling her tumble around in my belly and then other ways I feel like i've been her mom forever and i've been planning my days around her (and singing Old MacDonald in public places--this is Lil's FAVORITE)

So Lily and I went into the lab everyday this week--I was training the woman who is sharing the post-doc position with me (we're sharing the postdoc and childcare which is an amazing opportunity to continue to work and leave Lily with someone I trust and being able to play with the babies part of the time) and since I dont have anyone to take care of Lily, she came and spent the days in the lab

she was great! what a trooper!! We actually were in the lab working for over 6 hours today and Lil was her normal happy self, impressing everyone that she didnt cry or fuss at all (that's my girl...she's never happier than when she's center of attention and people are cooing at her)--but let me tell you what...I'm EXHAUSTED!! this working thing is rough and i'm not quite ready to go back (at all!)
One of the more fun things about being back is getting to show lily off to all the people who saw her growing over the past year--the FedEx guy stopped by and we chatted for a while...things like that:)

So Lily keeps growing like a weed, outfits that were HUGE last week, fit perfectly now and she's almost completely outgrown our 3 month outfits! Her teeth are also starting to show and she is drooling and putting EVERYTHING she can in her mouth...fun fun:)

AND finally i feel it is only fair that I admit that I was one of THOSE ladies today since I complained about it in an earlier blog--a saleswoman came into the lab and she was 8 months pregnant-- of course after the lady cooed over lily, I found myself joining in the conversation with Kate and this lady about birth, and sharing experiences--ug I did it, ha ha nothing like a baby to make people share their most intimate moments and tell stories to strangers:) Oh well -- I didnt even realize it until I got home and I am vowing to try to be better about not engaging into conversations with strangers about childbirth (though in my defense, she did egg Kate and I on)

SO it was a good day and after a bath, Lily is fast asleep after working hard--both of us will be very happy when Justin gets home tomorrow!

2 1/2 month old infants and plane rides...

2009-06-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

SO Lily and I flew to Colorado yesterday, all by ourselves! and she was GREAT!!!

One of the women who I work with had told me while I was pregnant that we should travel ALOT when the baby is young because once they are toddlers it is a lot harder, at the time I was kind of skeptical but now I'm a believer, Lily slept almost the whole 4 hour plane ride and was great in the airport while a little girl who must have been between 1 and 2 years old screamed the whole flight...

the biggest difference was all the stuff we carted around...imagine trying to put your shoes back on and gather all your stuff coming out of the x-ray belt at security with an infant squirming in your arms...that was pretty tough--luckily coming home Justin will at least be getting on a flight close to the same time as us so he will be able to help carry everything and get through security

Anyway I just thought I'd share Lil's latest escapades...she is holding her head up much more (she had control before but tended to let it rest on her chest) and I'm happy to report under all her chins, she does have a neck:)...the cutest thing is that she cant smile and hold her head up, so she looks around with big eyes and a very serious face and then when she wants to smile her head drops
the other wonderful occurence in the last 3 days is that she is sleeping 6-7 hours in a row without waking up!! WAHHOOO the first night I didnt get to appreciate it because I woke up after about 5 and spazzed because she wasnt moving around like normal--but the past 2 nights have been lovely!

She seems to be loving CO so far, of course having grandparents paying so much attention to her is her favorite :) The only thing i've noticed with the higher altitude is that she is spending a bit more time sleeping...She's going to be pretty crazy energetic when we get back to sea level

hope everyone has a great day

My Wife Has No Faith...

2009-05-22T05:38:00.000-07:00

You'd think after reading my wife's post yesterday that this stay at home parent thing was going to be tough. It wasn't...now if I could just convince KC to go finish her MD/PhD so she could make more money than me and i could be the stay at home dad...no, it's not likely but i can dream.

There are some lessons to be learned though.

1. My life is very circus-like. Anyone who saw me dragging the dog into the vets office yesterday while trying to control the stroller won't get as good a show at the Ringling Bros. show at the Spectrum right now.

2. Lily doesn't like bottles. period. There's no replacement for the real thing.

3. Our dog is nuts. More of a confirmation than a revelation.

4. El Vez has good food. Someone who regularly reads this blog probably doesn't remember, but we started their post nuptuals party there with several margaritas. The food is as good as the drinks.

5. I hate driving in Philly. Actually i hate driving in general, but it dislike it more when I'm driving in Philly with a screaming baby and a dog trying to leap through the windshield...

Seriously though it was a good time yesterday.

First day away...

2009-05-21T05:43:00.000-07:00

So I am back at the lab doing some work and I left Lily with Justin...not that big of a deal but I havent been away from her for more than a couple hours since she was born--over 9 weeks! and while Justin does very very well with her, they have never had to put up with each other for a whole day alone

now dont get me wrong, i'm sure they will have a blast and wont miss me at all (except for the first bottle of the day) but man oh man is this ripping me apart...I miss my baby!

Yesterday while I was playing with Lily, trying to distract her from her sore leg (vaccinations) I discovered she LOVES it when you dance for her...she just giggled and giggled and kicked her legs in the air...so when I left this AM, Justin was dancing for her and they were both having a grand ole time:)

I'm wishing them well though as they have to make a sojurn to take the dog to the vet to get her vaccinations (not a good week in the Woulfe household --lots of shots) We are going to board Sadie for the first time (gasp) in 2 weeks so Lily and I can travel with Justin out to visit my parents...(well i'm going to visit my parents, justin has to work in CO) so anyway I'm trying really hard not to feel too guilty to be leaving sadie in kennel for a week

so keep your fingers and toes crossed that lily and Justin have a great day and that I dont break down crying here at work:)

have a good day everyone

not so toasty in VA

2009-05-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

So Lily and I spent the week Justin was in NM in VA with the in-laws

it has been a really relaxing week...Lily and I have had our days together... and then when Justin's parents get home Lily gets to play with her grandparents and I get a bit of alone time

Sadie and jane love it here too...Sadie gets to run around without a leash and gets constant attention from the grandparents and jane stalks around the basement and even got to play with a live bird this visit (the bird got into the basement and Jane got to chase it)...

hanging out about an hour from where we went to college makes me miss VA a whole lot and I love watching Lily's fascination with the grass and the birds and all the flowers--its been raining so much since Lily was born that she hasnt spent a lot of time outside and it shows by her distaste for wind but she is getting used to that

This week she seems to have realized that her fingers move independently and together and she has started grabbing things and waving her fingers...she keeps getting stronger and pushes herself up to standing with just someone steadying her--at this point she is a perpetual state of motion, something is ALWAYS moving whether its her arms, fingers, feet or tongue

so while all of us girls missed Justin, we didnt miss Philly--guess its time to find a new home:)

Good Times Outside of Philadelphia

2009-05-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Whenever I travel, I come to the same conclusion: Philly sucks. Period.

Right now I'm in Albuquerque. "Really?" you say. "Albuquerque, better than Philly?" You bet your ass it is. Within a 20 minute drive at rush hour no less, are beautiful mountains. The high in the winter rarely gets below 65, but there's skiing in those same mountains. It's sunny all the time, and humidity is non existent. The cost of living is squat. For what we paid for our condo, we could have bought a 3K sq ft house on a couple acres, again, just minutes from downtown, the mountains, the river, and work. And the city parks run a shooting range...could you imagine the liberal idiocy if Philly tried to run a public range?

Not to mention I've seen more bike commuters in the last week than I have seen in 2 years of living in Philly. Seriously, bikes are everywhere. The roads are all wide and have nice shoulders. And, we're at 6500 feet in the city, with elevations as high at 12000 in the mountains. Great heart and lung building area.

Sure there are downsides...it's hot in the afternoon, so I run in the mornings when it's 60. I don't think my black dog would be wild about it, but i don't mind. It's a long way to other places, hundreds of miles of desert seperate the cities, but i don't think that's a downside for me. And there's only one Level 1 trauma facility in all of NM. Crazy considering there are at least 4 in Philadelphia alone.

I wonder how my wife is enjoying Virginia?

wet walk into the city...

2009-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

nothing like a walk into the city to wear out a mommy and an infant--though Lily is wide awake now and gurgling to her owls (a mobile over her swing)

SO a walk into the city never fails to highlight some of the most frustrating human behavior...before the baby there were plent of idiots that came up on the radar (the group of city street cleaners who walk 4-5 wide across the sidewalk and dont move when you are trying to share that side walk, my personal favorite: the woman who pushed a pregnant lady (me) into the snow bank so she didnt have to walk on the slippery ice etc) but today walking with a stroller demonstrated a whole new version of inconsiderate-ness--people who block the sidewalk ramps!

anyway enough bitching about the city--not a bad walk all in all and the doc appt (for me this time) went well
Lily did great too so that is always a plus
So this last weekend my in-laws (Justin's parents, grandparents and aunt) came to visit...it was a great time and Lily definitely worked hard to ensure good Christmas presents:) She smiled and talked to everyone and had them convinced that she was the most perfect and advanced 5 week old in the world...they wore her out so much that Sat night she actually slept 4 whole hours straight!! it was soooo amazing:)

the newest changes with Lily are that she is gaining weight like crazy (who says breast fed babies cant gain too much weight?!), holding her head and chest up AND trying to stand (yes, she is six weeks old and all she wants to do is be held up on her legs)--the most notable change is that she is much wigglier...so that when I put her in her crib, I never know where I'm going to find her and it takes two hands to hold her when she is wiggling

yesterday was Justin's birthday -- and it passed with very little fanfare ... He and I are going to go out without the baby (for the first time) on Sat evening...i'm a bit nervous about leaving her (not really nervous for her but nervous for my friend who is watching her) but it should be a lot of fun:) I love BYOs in philly

hope everyone has a nice day:)

It's been a long time coming

2009-04-29T03:08:00.000-07:00

Flying through Manayunk, enjoying the weather, when suddenly...that's right...idiot pulls right out in front of me. Lock my legs, squeeze the brakes, but given that I'm 200 lbs and carrying 35, I'm not stopping on a dime. I'm sure it was funny watching me sliding sideways into the back of that van.

I did learn two things however. Minivans are squishy and some clueless drivers aren't asshats. The guy was quite nice, genuinely didn't see me, and gave me free reign over his first aid kit. Not that I need much more than a gauze pad for a slight scrape on the elbow (Minivans are squishy remember!) Of course this doesn't excuse not seeing me. My profile with a full bag is bigger than most motrocycles and my clothing is very bright...

So yeah, given the number of close calls I've had, especially in Manayunk, it was only a matter of time before it would happen and I wouldn't have anywhere to go.' Usually, I'd just hop on the curb on squeeze between the vehicles, but the nice weather meant lots of pedestrians on the sidewalk and a jam packed street, leaving me with no option but a face plant.

Good news is I'm fine...

Warmth...It's finally here!

2009-04-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

And it's fantastic.

In between running around like a crazy man this weekend, I cleaned the last remnants of winter off my bike, shaved the coat off my legs, and enjoyed taking in some rays with the family. Good times. For the next 4 months I'll actually enjoy commuting as opposed to my feelings in the winter: disliking it less than driving or taking the bus.

It's been a long winter.

The best part is being able to take the baby outside without bundling her up. She's whiter than I am, and needs all the sun she can get. Over the weekend, and for the next few days, sun she will get.

Riding, Running and Working

2009-04-23T07:08:00.001-07:00

This is my own version of a triathalon. And it's probably about as much fun...that is not much...

Things are finally starting to settle down in the Woulfe household. Sure, Lily is nuts, but that's to be expected from our Spawn, the dog is still nuerotic, and the cat is hilarious.

But, I'm down to like 8 cups of coffee a day (except on weekends when i drink the whole pot cuz it tastes good-work coffee sucks but it gets the job done), and we've successfully taken the baby on several adventures.

Of course, there's not much time for riding. I've been trying to do the Uno ride, but it just hasn't worked out for various reasons, so I'm pretty much just commuting and usually only one direction at that, due to my need to run, do pushups, pullups, sprints and sit-ups in order to stay in shape for what lies ahead. And, the beauty of only riding one way is that I'm doing it really fast, usually getting the 20 miles done in well under an hour (that 50x15 on the fixie gets it done). There's still the usual gang of morons out on the road, but the weather has been so crappy that it hasn't been bad. Of course that's about to change...probably won't be taking the path much longer.

Good times.

Loving life

2009-04-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Its KC taking advantage of a bit of naptime to update the blog which we have neglected :)

Not really much to write here, just figuring out Lily and how to take care of such a dependent being

anyway, the munchkin is now 5 weeks old and last week she weighed 10 pounds (she was 7lb 12 oz when she was born) so she's gaining weight like a champ--and as for the question if she is sleeping though the night yet, no, she likes to eat too much!--I've never been so sleep deprived in my life--after my first all nighter my freshman-year in college I decided that was NOT how I functioned and have never stayed up all night since

though that's not to say I've stayed up all night with the baby, just lots of catnaps between feeding and diaper changes which my body is finally getting used to and I dont feel like such a zombie during the day

which means that I need to get cracking on writing my dissertation UGGGG

Being a Dad Rocks

2009-03-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

World: Meet Lily. She's awesome. Much cooler than me (looks like she picked up the best parts of my wife).

Not much else to say, but she sure is changing fast. Before I know it, she'll be running around chasing the cat and dog. In the mean time it's:Pee, Poop, Sleep, Eat.

We're having a good ole time though, it's going to be a blast.

Sweet Commutes

2009-02-25T16:03:00.000-08:00

The last few days commutes have been fantastic.

First, on Monday I had 30+ mph tailwinds. I made it home in 40 minutes. Ridiculous. No joke, I was going 35 down the bike path no problem.

Tuesday was a little lighter tail winds home, but still pretty nice. Sunny and calm by the time I hit Philly with almost no wind and the bike path to myself.

Today, temps climbed to mid 40s. Sure, there was like a 3 mph head wind and a lot more people out, but my fingers didn't go numb...nice in my book.

Even better than the wind is the traffic. As a bike commuter I love traffic. It's fun to fly by 100+ cars on Gulph Road and look across the river while I'm on the path and realize I'm going faster than the traffic on the expressway.

What does it boil down to:

Riding your bike is fun.

Read It

2009-02-23T05:08:00.001-08:00

He says it much better than i do.

http://milesfrombabylon.blogspot.com/2009/01/nanotopia.html

Exercising

2009-02-20T10:52:00.001-08:00

So lately I've been cutting my miles down. Way down compared to last year. I'm maybe hitting 125 per week.

I just have different goals for riding now. I can't end up like I did last July, barely able to bench press my own body weight. I was just too skinny. When 32x34 pants are loose, it's time to hit the weights again.

So i ride home form work and get some tempo or speedwork (depending on the day) and do a lot of push ups and situps. And because I have a free gym available through both school and work, I weightlift as well.

And you know, compared to when i was riding 300+ miles a week, I'm a hell of a lot healthier for it. I actually have some energy, don't look like the whitest ethiopian ever, and can move my furniture without help.

I love my bike, but there's more to life then riding your bike for 7 hours. I've never heard a female talk about how great a bod Iban Mayo has. Plus, it's damn cold out and your family misses you. Use the time wisely, lift some weights! Here's my handy guide to winter weight lifting, repeat thrice weekly:

Squats - 5x10
Legg Press - 3x10
Dumbell Rows - 3x10
Shoulder Press - 3x10
Deadlifts - 3x10
Power Cleans - 5x5

If you're not tired, you're not lifting enough weight. Keep track of your progress and start nice and light, slowly working up to where you feel "comfortably challenged."

Self Reliance

2009-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

I think most of my complaints about the economy, government, taxes, etc boils down to one thing:

There's just way too much reliance on the government these days. There's long list:

1. The government has failed us by not regulating Wall St.
Really though, you're the idiot that invested and lost your money. It's not the governments job to manage your finances. I could talk about this one all day. My wife and I predicted the housing and stock market collapse 3 years before it happened and I'm not that smart.

2. The government needs to bail us out.
Really? I'm befuddled at the notion that borrowing money from China (who has none) or printing more money only to piss away on pork projects is going to do. Lose your job and your house? Great. Time to live off the land. Can't? Good riddance, stop breathing my air. I can't wait to see where they decide to brdges next. Maybe to Obamas home state of Hawaii?

3. The government needs to expand Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security/[Insert Welfare Program] I think I've heard of or met 3 people in my entire life who deserved public assistance. Seriously. Get off your lazy ass and take care of yourself and your family. Why should the government spend millions taking care of people who earn hundreds? Seriously care to give me one good reason?

4. The FDA has failed us by allowing Foreign Matter into our food.
Guess what, food is grown outside, in the dirt. The "foreign matter" is natural. But most people wouldn't understand that which brings me to my next point.

5. The absolutely no "Rugged Individualism" in 90% of the US. We just go along in our half baked lives blissfully unaware of what's around us. We have no idea what's in our food, how to grow it, how to survive, or how to take care of ourselves and our families even at a most basic level.

And this is where I tie it into cycling. If everyone thought of life as a bike ride, we'd all be better off. If I go for a bike ride and get a flat, I fix it and keep going. If I break my chain, I'm probably in for a long walk. If i crash, I clean myself up, assess the situation, and keep going. Sure, it sucks when stuff happens, but you MAKE IT WORK. It's no one's responsibility but my own.

The government supplies the infrastructure to make my bike ride possible, but from there it's all up to me.

Just like on a bike ride, the government is responsible for providing the basic infrastructure that makes our lives possible. To me this ends at transit infrastructure (roads and bridges), utility infrastructure, and basic security and national defense (I'm talking crime investigation and border protection under a strict constitutional interpretation).

That's it. Everything else, we should be on our own. Just like when you crash or flat, it sucks, but you learn from it. And we'd all be better off for it.

Back In the Saddle

2009-02-16T04:57:00.000-08:00

So it sure does feel great to be back out on the bike. Is anyone else out there keeping up with the Tour of California? Sure the racing is OK, but there are some funny stories-

"Police in Sacramento are investigating the theft of four Team Astana bikes, including Lance Armstrong's time trial bike, from behind a team hotel overnight.

Sacramento Police Department spokesman Konrad Von Schoech told the Sacramento Bee newspaper the bikes were stolen from an unmarked truck that was parked in an alley behind a hotel overnight."

Now I'm going to pause here for a moment...Who leaves 4 TT bikes including a one of a kind custom job (we're probably looking at $100K total) in a van in an alley? I wouldn't leave my Raleigh Rush Hour in my car...a perfect case of more money then sense. I can't wait to hear the Bike Snob's Take on the ultimate in bike thefts. Bring that shit inside!

And then there's the bitching from Leipheimer about not having race radios becasue of the weather which allowed Rock Racing to win a stage. Are pro riders really just monkeys? Do they really get told exactly what to do and have no thoughts of there own? Man...I guess i was giving them more credit then they deserve...how can you not know how to race without someone screaming in your ear? Is lower brain function a side effect of EPO maybe?

Crazy Week

2009-02-13T07:37:00.001-08:00

For the Defense Enthusiast, it was a pretty wild week.

First, there's this:

"Yikes! A commercial Iridium communications satellite and a "presumably-defunct" Russian Cosmos spacecraft smashed into one another on Tuesday, more than 490 miles above northern Siberia. It's the first ever sat-on-sat collision, SpaceFlightNow.com reports."

Then, a bit of info comes out in my arena, the Gigapixel camera with 15 cm GSD...wow...

And finally, to wrap it all up, Russia's answer to the SI Swimsuit Issue. The yearly 'Miss Atom' contest...could you imagine the backlash in this country if our government sponsored the 'Miss National Labs' pagent?

And I'm finally back to getting on the bike. I've decided that in the future, I'm sucking up the 100 bucks and flying with my bike...

I want a sign...

2009-02-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

that reads " YES, I am indeed pregnant. I am due on March 10th, please dont ask if I'm ready because I dont think there is ever any way to be ready...yes, I know I'm waddling and look very large and uncomfortable, again please dont ask, I dont want to talk about it with you, a complete stranger...yes, I'm okay, this is a common condition and it wont kill me please dont act like I'm sick or contagious"
I feel like my belly is big enough at this point to accommadate said sign

This post is in response to the over-zealous waitress at the restaurant last night (Sabrina's and Spencer's Two--on callowhill...SUPER yummy), the janitor who acts like I'm super fragile and skirts me in the hall, all the chinese ladies in the lab who ask EVERYDAY when I'm due, and really everyone who talks to me at this point if they dont know me very well...

Now, I may be ahem...slightly...larger than I was 8 months ago but I actually feel great (as far as that goes, I dont have alot of the common complaints pregnant women have)...I'm enjoying my baby moving and watching daily as my belly expands...I also LOVE to talk about the baby and how excited we are to hold her and meet her...BUT really?! I dont want to discuss whether I'm ready for labor, my birth plan or deal with your advice/concern etc about how soon March 10th is...yes, believe me, I KNOW it is a mere 4 weeks away

anyway sorry for the bitch-fest...Me, I'm just super happy to have Justin home, and Im looking forward to seeing my family this weekend (even if it is for sad circumstances)

have a great day

NOAA-N Prime Launch

2009-02-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

Here's an awesome video of the launch I went to a few nights ago. It was well worth not getting any sleep for three nights. This launch was a NOAA Weather Sat, on a Delta II rocket. The rocket is the white blur on the left, while the tower holding it in place in on the right. We had a great spot to observe about a half mile from the pad which is as close as you can get.

So I might not be able to ride my bike, but the work I'm doing is great...tough trade off. And yes I am a nerd.

Reality Sucks

2009-02-05T22:09:00.000-08:00

So I’m out here in California. Trying to be everything to everyone. Unfortunately, it’s just not possible. Something has to give. The people I work with are great. Really smart, really motivated, really successful. I’ve been tapped to follow that track.

But I’m not sure I want to. They have all gotten where they have at the expense of the other aspects of their lives. They never (or rarely) see their families. They own houses in several cities. Not because they’re rich, but because they spend equal time on the road in many places. 4 mortgages are cheaper than 360 nights in hotels. They live and breath work. There are no weekend hikes, or bike rides. No fun vacations, no time playing with the kids. Just work.
Well compensated, but for what? No thanks. I’m about to have a daughter. I want to see her grow up, not hear about it from 3K miles away. I want to be more than a paycheck.

It would be great if there were 36 hours in my day. So I could be awake for 24 and be everything to everyone. I could work 12 hour days and ride my bike, and make dinner, and hang out with my wife. But there are only 24…why spend them at work? I am in one of the most beautiful parts of our great nation and I have already worked 60 hours this week and I have another day left to go before working all weekend.

There is a whole world out there that I won’t get to see. At the rate I’m going I will blow right by it on my way to a place I don’t really want to go. And that’s a shame…

Sun Shine...

2009-02-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

Everytime I look at the weather widget for Philadelphia on the right, i can't help but smile.

Temps here in beautiful Santa Maria have been in the 70s. The sun is shining.

Good times. I'd post a picture but I really don't want Labrat stepping out in front of traffic on the Expressway.

Now if I could only figure out how to get out of work and go ride a bike through the wine country...

Just one thing to say

2009-02-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

I think its obvious that ALL political figures should have their financial backgrounds and tax records looked in to....geez talk about responsibility and abuse of power! THIS is ridiculous, what makes these people above the law?!

Another milestone...

2009-02-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Its KC again, killing time while my slides incubate...

This morning I found that my wedding band was finally too tight to wear--so after close to 5 years of wearing a ring on my finger, I am ringless and it feels very weird--I remember how conscious I was of that pretty diamond when I first got it and how long it took for me not to know it was there every second, so will it take me as long to get used to not wearing the ring? But I think I've done pretty well, I'm almost a month away from having this baby and I wore my rings longer than anyone I've talked to...it definitely feels like another milestone in this pregnancy though. As I was thinking about it this morning, I found it pretty amusing about how the littlest things were milestones early on (WOW I have a bit of a belly, WOW I can feel her kick) and now, my body and mind are changing daily and I dont notice it as much.

Another thing I was contemplating on my journey to work was how MUCH my thinking and body have changed over the last 8 months...mostly I was realizing how much more confident I am in this whole process than I was to begin with-- overcoming the innate fear of childbirth has been a really recent change--I find myself more and more impatient to hold this little girl and less on my fear of the pain

I cant wait to watch her interact with Justin, to see the world, to experience everything for the first time

Another thing I've noticed about my thinking is that it seems like my brain is no longer in control--call it baby brain or whatever, it feels like cant complete a train of thought, I find myself wandering around the lab without a clue what I was going to go do
anyway I hear its supposed to get worse--great:)

anyway hope everyone has a good day:)

The Crazies

2009-01-29T05:42:00.000-08:00

So when I travel, I sometimes forget how crazy the girls in my life are. I mean really, really, insane. For example, last night, I find my cat lounging in the cabinet. I know what she was doing, she was hoping that the cabinets all connected and she could get in the one that holds the tuna cans.

Now I'm the first to admit, there realy isn't a template for normal. And, if there was a template, I'm pretty sure I would be no where close to fitting inside of it.

That said, I can't wait for another crazy female in my life. It's going to be a blast and at a minimum provide for some good pictures.

In other news, the weather lately sure has been interesting. Looks like the perfect time for a trip...check it out.

PT...Good for Me?

2009-01-23T04:05:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was one of the hardest exercise days I've had in long time. In addition to the normal bike commute, I also started my PFT (Physical Fitness Test) training. This is important as I am looking to max the PFT if I ever get through the process and end up at NAT.

This particular PFT consists of untimed pushups (do them till you can't anymore), 1 minute situps, 300 M sprint, 1.5 mile run, pullups.

I'm good on the sprint and the 1.5 mile run, maxing these events...however, since all i do is lower body exercises, the pushups and pullups are a bear. There was a time back when I was at VMI that 100 pushups and 20 pullups was no sweat. Now, it's more like struggling for 50 and 10...

I'll get it back pretty in a couple months, but in the meantime, it's going to hurt. 1.5 hours of PT on top of my bike commute is really brutal. Couple that with my ridiculous ego and competitive edge, and it makes the next day hurt. (Why can't I ever be OK with finishing 2nd? It eally would have made getting out of bed a lot easier)

The good thing though is that adding the extra exercising means i can go back to eating ridiculous portions. Brazilian Steakhouse anyone?

Suckers

2009-01-20T04:44:00.000-08:00

So I'm listening to a radio station down in DC online. (DC101, my old favorite when i lived down there). Metro is already jammed. Most parking lots anywhere near Metro are full. The streets are clogged, completely. It's a good day to own a bike.

The District is crazy today...

I know it's a pretty historic day, and given that a rooster has more potential then the last president, the next four years should bring about something positive.

My biggest point though is that we should all enjoy today. However, it's ridiculous to think that one man has all the answers. In the end he's still a crafty politician. Just like Bush, he's making appointments based on political motives, not what's best for the country. It's all a sham...Obama's political team has you all fooled. Suckers...

Anyway, we got a good amount of snow yesterday. It's super sweet. I love riding in it. I wish I could have taken a picture, but it got dark really quick yesterday.

What to Expect After the Inauguration

2009-01-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

Sigh...Don't Blame Me, I didn't vote for HIM.

"Politics is never a matter of perfection, but from time to time, politicians make decisions so massively wrong that they stun us. Such is the appointment of Ray LaHood for Transportation Secretary, whose qualifications are minimal and ideas are anachronistic:"

In case you haven't been following the news, LaHood is a conservative Illinois Republican with little transportation expertise and almost no administrative experience, who has earned a LCV lifetime voting score on critical environmental issues of 27 percent, and who maintains deep financial connections to the very industries he's now supposed to regulate. He may be no worse than most of those who've lead the Department of Transportation, but his appointment is a profoundly uninspiring vote for business as usual at a time when we need change, and an strong indication that the administration doesn't get that energy policy, technological innovation, urban planning, environmental sustainability and transportation are all bound up together, and no solution to our problems can be had without tackling them all together.

LaHood's appointment is so disappointing to transportation advocates who've been waiting eight years for change, that they're boiling with indignant disbelief, branding him "an unbelievably disastrous pick," "Status quo we can believe in" and "same.gov" (a dig at the Obama transition site, change.gov). As one insider summed it up: "It's a real read-it-and-weep moment."
LaHood supporters point out that the president-elect promised to appoint Republicans, and LaHood is trusted by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Obama had to throw Republicans a bone somewhere, they argue: why not Transportation?

Because given the crises we face, the U.S. Department of Transportation is not a minor agency. This year it had a $58 billion budget and employed almost 60,000 people. What's more, the Secretary of Transportation will guide the spending of vast amounts of stimulus spending, oversee the auto industry bailout and be responsible for a raft of critical policy decisions that will dictate the shape of our cities and the choices we have for getting around for decades -- and thus indirectly our energy policies as well, since transportation is where much of our energy use goes. In fact, in an era of climate change, energy crisis and economic distress, Transportation may be one of the most important posts in the president's cabinet.

Ray LaHood and Changing our Thinking About Transportation

Justin here...Back on Line

2009-01-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

OK OK...finally getting settled in here and into the swing of things at the new job. It's going to busy year. With work that it is...not to mention school, and having a daughter (that's going to kick Taylor's son's ass).

Still doing the bike commute, but taking the bus to work in morning. There are two main reasons:

1. I'm a wuss. It's freakin cold in the morning.
2. It's faster to take the bus in the morning. I can beat the bus home in the evening, and in the morning, the bus doesn't smell.
3. I like being able to walk on Friday. By only riding 20 miles a day 6 days a week I am still able to function by the end of the week. Since i need to incorporate running, situps and pushups, I couldn't do these if I rode both ways. Sure, I could ride slow(er)...but that's boring and a waste of time. I'm not training for anything, I'm trying to get someplace fast just like every commuter on the roads in a car.
4. I'm a wuss

So yeah, posting will be much more infrequent, but as you can see, posts from my wife are much more interesting. I'll be travelling, and now that i have an electronic leash, maybe I'll post some good pics. It's going to be a fun year.

Self-respect

2009-01-14T06:38:00.001-08:00

Good morning, its KC again (Justin's still slacking)...

So one of my guilty pleasures that I'm vaguely ashamed of is that I watch American Idol--I like watching the good singers while Justin watches for the first few episodes where they show the really bad auditions

Anyway, we were talking last night about how some of the people's friends and family actually let them believe they have a chance--and how skewed some of these people's perception of self has to be for them to think they can sing

Now, I'm not talking about the people that just want to get on TV and will do anything (including making fools of themselves). What baffles me are the people who CANNOT sing and they truly believe they are the next American Idol
isnt it part of being a good parent/friend to keep you from embarrassing yourself? to have an honest discussion about how bad you sound?! Though I love to sing, my family has always encouraged it but never ever did they let me believe I was anything more than mediocore (and that would be a kind way to put it, so for humanity's sake I limit my singing to the shower)--it is as simple as recording that person's voice and playing it back to them

Where are all these people's support systems? their checks on their conceit/self-delusion?

This discussion made me think of how I want to raise my daughter--and how to instill self-respect while not going overboard to conceit--to keep her idea-of-self realistic...maybe some of the problem with telling our kids they are "special" or emphasizing how great they, we are skewing their perception of their talent so it is no longer realistic--I dont know, it seems a fine line because kids need encouragement and support but whose job is it to cut down their egos?

Back to work:(
have a good day

First foray into blogging

2009-01-13T05:51:00.000-08:00

Okay...so since Justin is now super busy with work, I figured I'd try this out--originally he started this site with the idea we would both post but so far we've been listening to his ranting and I havent tried it out

So my question of the day is: what about pregnancy breaks down socially accepted norms?

For example, my boss's secretary (a very nice and helpful lady) just thought it was okay to shout out in the hallway "WOW you are getting so big!" While this may true, it is considered socially unacceptable to point out excessive weight gain in anyone else--and yes, while I am HUGE, I dont necessarily feel great having people point it out to me (even if it is normal) [dont get me wrong, I'm not super weight conscience--comments like that make me think about how differently people treat me now that I am obviously pregnant] Even more telling I think is the fact the Fed-ex delivery guy (another VERY nice person) just admitted he was afraid to say anything for the past few months in case I wasnt pregnant while one of my co-workers from China had no problem asking if I was pregnant in September--its pretty interesting how the different cultures handle pregnancy

Another example that I'm sure most pregnant women have experienced...total strangers and friends alike all seem to want to pet my belly--I am NOT a lucky Buddha belly that will bring you luck if you rub my belly--please keep your hands to yourself! GEEZ

I have also noticed how my belly inspires motherhood war stories--I have learned so much about my co-workers and total strangers who regale me with tales of how great/horrible/etc their pregnancies were (or their wives' pregnancies)--I'm not complaining about this trend, just thinking about how most people dont share such personal stories with someone who they ride the elevator with--I actually love learning more about these people and hearing about their lives. Pregnancy seems to have opened up a whole new world--I've gained admittance into an exclusive club where I would never have learned so much about the people around me

Anyway...just some thoughts while I'm procrastinating doing my data analysis

Have a good day:)

Congrats and Other Stuff

2009-01-05T04:02:00.000-08:00

Well, to start off with, I finished the year with a shade over 10,000 miles. Most of these were commuting miles. This year, I'll be dialing the miles down a bit as I need to work in running and a lot of weightlifting. Not just for track cycling, but future job aspirations require me to be able to do more than pedal fast. (Pushups?!?! I think i forgot what those were!)

Wrapping up the year, due to work travel requirements I probably drove that many miles. How do you drive 10K miles when you don't own a car? Well, at least that's over for a while. It will nice to sleep in my own bed and work some sort of normal hours for at least a little while. The upside is, I now am a member of the highest level of service for both Avis and Marriott. Everything has its perks.

Anyway, most importantly, Labrat is now a proud father. Can't wait to meet the little guy. My wife is due in 3 mos. How crazy is that?

I-80 Carnage

2008-12-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

Drove to CO for Christmas...

The carnage on I-80 was horrific. Ice and snow left the roads a total mess. At least 3 dozen cars in the ditch. A pair of tractor trailers on fire and flipped over. Numerous areas where you could see tracks where people had barreled across the road into the opposite lanes.

it was crazy. But we're here safe.

I wonder if Labrat is a dad yet...

Anyway, Friday was a brutally cold ride home in the 35 degree rain. i had the beginnings of frostbite on my feet...but it was nothing compared to the minus 10 degree weather in DesMoines. Brutal

Food For Thought

2008-12-19T04:40:00.000-08:00

Great Article in Politico about the whole financial mess we're in and the possible effects to our country. Really, the more i find out about this, the more i realize we're fucked.

The Bait Effect Terrorists, and al Qaeda in particular, are fascinated with the idea of destroying the U.S. economy. Rickards worries that the economic meltdown in the United States could serve as bait of sorts for a terrorist attack, as plotters calculate that a strike now could have a “force multiplier” effect because of the already skittish U.S. stock market.

The China Syndrome

The Chinese own more than $500 billion worth of U.S. Treasury bonds, and billons more in the debt of other U.S. entities such as those held by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. And a general sense of mutually assured financial destruction keeps them from wielding that debt like a weapon: if the Chinese dumped U.S. debt on the global market, their own holdings of U.S. debt would decline in value, the U.S. economy would be damaged, ultimately harming the Chinese economy by reducing American ability to buy more Chinese goods.They’d have to be crazy to try it. But Rickards points out that governments don’t always do the rational thing. And in the meantime, their holdings give the Chinese incredible power over American decision making.

The Existential Crash

A pessimist by nature, Rickards believes that many economic forecasters are wrong, and the recession will get far worse than predicted. He sees an epic disaster scenario in which the U.S. gross domestic product declines by a staggering 35 percent over the next six to seven years. Crippling deflation could take hold. Unemployment, he says, could approach 15 percent. That’s a calamitous rate, but it would not be an all-time high: unemployment hit 25 percent during the Great Depression....In this scenario, the possibilities for global unrest increase dramatically as a staggering United States retreats from foreign aid and global diplomacy and the list of dangerous failed states grows sharply. The Alternate-Dollar Nightmare “The Number One vulnerability is the dollar itself,” Rickards concluded. “We’re printing them and shoving them out the door, and the Fed is basically out of bullets. So why hasn’t the dollar collapsed? The short answer is, global investors don’t have any other choice.” That is, there simply aren’t enough Euro- or Yen-backed securities for investors to shift their money out of dollars and into some other currency. But what if some kind of global coalition – say a trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund allied with several countries around the world – banded together to create a gold-backed alternative to the dollar?

The Effect to National Security??

Mr. Rickards explains:

“The national security community needs to be conversant with this,” Rickards said. “In defense, intelligence, and national security, you earn your money by preparing for things that may be remote, but pose an existential threat if they come to pass.”

Oil Production Cuts

2008-12-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

Interesting article today about OPEC's supply cut. 4M fewer barrels of oil per day. Oil prices still don't budge and continue to trade at $43/barrel.

Nice.

The kicker for me was that King Abdullah of that ~~glorious democratic free~~ nation hmmm (why do we send them billions again?) Feels that oil's "FAIR" price is $75/barrel...

Really? Tell me again why I should pay $0.02 for a barrel of oil! What exactly did you do to it to cause it to be worth $75? Did you process it? No. Did you undertake an expensive research and development project to produce it? No. Fair? Really? What a crock of shit.

I think the King needs a little help on this one. "Fair" is what we're willing to pay for it. And hopefully, our President elect will use all the ridiculous spending he's proposing to make sure we develop the technology so that we don't need it at any cost.

20 years from now, those dogs in Middle East will be left with nothing to show for their century of oppressing their people, stifling freedom, encouraging religious fanaticism, and preventing their people from being properly educated all in the name of keeping oil profits for themselves. 20 years from now the oil money will dry up, and our wind turbines, oil sands, coal, nuke plants and solar cells will happily support our great nation.

Until then, I hope oil prices never recover. They don't deserve our money. And until that day, keep in mind where your gas comes from as we can't ride bikes all the time.

2008-12-15T05:13:00.000-08:00

OK, So I've definitely been doing some good reading over the past few weeks. I read "Hot Flat and Crowded" which is Friedman's latest book about the rise of globalism. My overall opinion is "meh." It's pretty straightforward. The world emulates us, and therefore there's a lot more pollution.

My latest read which is shaping up to be much better. "The Age of American Unreason" concerns the steady decline of America. MTV, Constant Entertainment, Instant Gratification, and of course the attitude that being smart isn't cool is all contributing to the steady decline of the American culture. It's a great read.

Anyway, today's NY Times headline really got me hot this morning. Here's the gist:

"ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson will propose a $4 billion package of taxes and fees on a range of items, from sugary soft drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi to luxury items like furs and boats, when he unveils his plan to close a deficit that has ballooned to $15 billion, people with knowledge of the plan said on Sunday.

Higher taxes will also be imposed on health insurers and a sales tax exemption on clothing and footwear under $115 will be eliminated, though the administration will propose a two-week holiday for goods under $500, under the budget the governor will introduce on Tuesday."

Why doesn't anyone think that the best way to balance the budget is to spend less? How much money is the government going to piss away before someone with two cents takes control and starts cutting some of these ridiculous spending programs? Ugghhh...

Anyway...until someone starts giving me a check every month to sit around all day and smoke crack, I'll keep working two jobs and responsibly paying my bills.

My favorite line that pretty much sums up how freakin retarded people are came last night on, I believe, "60 Minutes." The host asked a Nurse in FL who purchased 6 homes as an investment and now can't pay the mortages why she shouldn't be held responsible and should be relieved of her debt...get this...replied that investing wasn't her full time job so she can't be held responsible...

Hmmm...seems that if I'm not good at something I don't take big risks in it...

What a freakin great time I have the pleasure of living during.

You Must Listen

2008-12-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

To This American Life. Which fully explains the credit crisis and the whole Credit Default Swap.

Quick Overview: If I barrow from you and you barrow from me and we both make 20 million dollars, where does the 40 million dollars come from? Good question, enter financial crisis...

Seriously though, it's a great listen and highly informative!

Ok, back to work, still on travel...

Too Busy

2008-12-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

I have been way to busy to post anything. That coupled with the fact that there is so much BS going on right now in the world to cover in a short post. I would need to do this full time...which I have neither the desire nor time to do. Instead, I leave you with this. A wonderful blogger who does set the record straight for a living.

Happy reading.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Daily Miles: 80
November Total: 102
2008 Total: 9211.08

So those 80 miles came from a couple trips to the shop since I last updated my miles. Working too much...

Anyway, I've pretty much been in the Washington Metro Area at least 3 days a week. In some respects, it's nice to be back home. In other respects, it's wild to see the differences. It's not really home any more. The amount of growth is ridiculous. What was cornfields and barns 20 years ago is now subdivisions and high rises. People in Philly bitch about traffic, but they have no idea. WMA is literally a parking lot from 6AM to 11 and 2PM to 8. The economy is ridiculously robust and damn near recession proof. There's such a diverse economy compared to Philly, a totally different work ethic (which isn't necessarily better), and the infrastructure to support it. Those two lane country roads that I grew up driving tractors on have actually been improved. Local government encourages business to come in, unlike Philly which for whatever reason pushes them away. The differences are unbelievable.

Anyway, my parents have long since moved further and further west. But the growth has continued. Where they live now in the Shenandoah Valley is now more built up then where I grew up in Middleburg. Nevertheless, built up as it may be, it's a hell of a lot better then Philly. And, I'll be enjoying it for a few days.

Maybe I can catch up to James Carville who lives down the road from my folks during a morning...yes that crazy Democrat James Carville...

What's the Solution

2008-11-14T05:38:00.000-08:00

Watching me walk on Fridays must be funny...5 days of heavy lifting leaves me pretty wrecked. But, as I've talked about before, my legs are sore, but I feel good, not run down and exhausted like I do after 300 miles on the bike. I'm definitely no endurance guy.

Anyway, been yelling at the TV more and here's what I've come up with. With regards to the economy, we're far past the point of no return. Meaning that in order to change the way we do business, it's going to have to hurt a lot.

For example: When England introduced the National Health System, it was after WW2 when eveything was in disarray there was nothing to change, they started from scratch. It would be impossible to introduce now in the US becasue the current system is so entrenched. Hundreds of thousands would be affected negatively during the transition.

It's the same way with our economic system. While the best solution would be Eleutheros' system, to get there would be impossible without essentially starting over. The government is scared to let that happen. 50% unemployment means they don't get reelected. So they're doing everything they can to string us along and protect the status quo. Unfortunately, they might just be able to do it.

Here's the ideal plan for them, they'd prop up GM for a while until they can get spending approved (say to increase the national debt to 15 to 20% of GDP [we're at 5% now]). This would create a lot of jobs in other sectors which would employ those displaced auto workers. GM can now fail (maybe we lose the few billion we loaned them but do avoid social unrest the pols continue to be reelected) and in its place comes a new industry (maybe Green) or better auto maker. Who employs those folks once the national spending dries up.

Seamless transition...except for the half a trillion dollars of our money we lose during that process. And in the end, nothing changes...at least not substantiallyThe CATO insitute (yay Libertarians!) has some more good info on this.

Anyway, I have some anonymous d-bag stalker (it's easy to act hard from behind your computer screen) who alhough he doesn't like what I write, keeps coming back (go figure)...so comments will need to be approved now. Sorry...

Socialism and Bailouts

2008-11-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm on travel again...so no biking, but i do have cable which means I get to spend a lot of time yelling at the TV.

Bailouts...first AIG, then the rest of the failed banks, now the US Auto Industry. When the hell did it become the US Gov'ts job to bail out failed business? Isn't this how the Soviet Union failed? They threw tons of money at slovenly, inefficient industries who gladly took the money and pissed it away as quickly as possible. Do we think that giving GM a penny is going to magically change their decade of decline? The fact is, these companies have produced inferior products, failed to properly analyze customer needs, failed to follow market trends, and in general demonstrate horrible leadership skills.

Look, I'm all for government spending to protect jobs. But instead of spending 25 billion (proposed Auto Industry loan amount) to help approximately 1 million workers, why doesn't the government do two things:

1. Use a few million to steal exectives away from Honda and Toyota. Fire GM's executives and replace with these competent folks.
2. Use the rest of the money to re-train workers to assemble wind power turbines, ships, brides, etc, and re-tool defunct truck factories to produce these things. There are billions to be made in a Green Industry. All the industry needs is a little push to get going. Additionally, there are trillions in basic infrastructure improvements that need to be made. Recently laid off technically skilled blue collar folks are a perfect fit for both industries.

Finally, I've heard talk of Obama possibly appointing Ed Rendell as Transportation Secretary. While it would be great to get rid of this corrupt a-hole, promoting people out of their job is generally a bad idea; great as a short term solution but will always bite you in the ass later. Could you imagine Rendell privatizing EVERY US Interstate, selling our roads to some foreign firm for a quick buck now only to...well, get bitten in the ass later??!?! Fun times. Hope Obama sees past the party corruption and avoids patronage appointments like Rendell would surely be.

Whew...lots going on...and I'm only scratching the surface...I need to get back on the bike.

Wow

2008-11-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

Daily Miles: 22
Avg. Speed: Fast
November Total: 22
2008 Total: 9131.08

So having traveled all week, yesterday was the first time I have worked at the shop or ridden my bike this week. At least I was able to work out all week.

It was nice being able to ride yesterday. I thoroughly enjoy riding and fixing old crappy bikes. Unfortunately, I'll be traveling a lot for the rest of the year. Oh well...

In other news, Obama has me quite intrigued. Anything is better then nothing and he definitely is taking initiative. I'm still holding out hope that a Democrat can actually do something right. It's quite the mixed up world when a Democrat encourages reining in the ridiculous actions of a Republican...but then again I'm not sure you can really call the Bushies Republicans...

Beep Tests and Elections

2008-11-05T04:37:00.000-08:00

Doing beep tests and lifting this week since I'm on travel and traveling with the bike just isn't worth it.

So far, I've managed to make it all the way to Level 20. If there's anyone out there who can get farther then that, I congratulate you. What's your secret?

So apparently there was an election yesterday. I voted absentee last week, and apparently (shocker!) my candidate did not win. No, not McCain (I mean if you really thought that I would let Palin anywhere near the White House you don't know me that well). No No, I voted for Bob Barr...Hey, I look on the bright side. With 4 yrs of a democrat controlled government, Obama really is on the hook here. He has zero excuses to not implement everything he's promised. Maybe when he fails and everyone realizes that Democrats and Republicans really aren't that different, they'll look to 3rd party candidates (and give them the chance to prove they're no different either)

Anyway, it was a historic election. Pretty amazing to be able to see it first hand.

And seriously, if you can beat Level 20 Shuttle 1 on the Beep Test, let me know

What will Cable TV Do?

2008-11-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

versiSo tomorrow, there will be about 1000 cable TV pundits laid off. I can't wait. Whatever will all the channels talk about next?

Go vote

World Fuckin Champions

2008-11-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

I love Chase Utley.

That is all.

Off to Fair Hill for a great race.Wish me luck

Mmmm Steak

2008-10-31T05:16:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 15
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 535
2008 Total: 9091.08

Last night, I ate a Sullivan's Steakhouse. 8 of us ran up a $1000 bill. Wow, glad I wasn't paying.

Actually, it was pretty good...no Ruth's Chris, but still pretty good, and a really swanky place.

Anyway, I'm pretty fat and happy today, none of usual piss and vinegar after a meal like that. Wait till after the city fills up with a million morons...then we'll see...

Phuck Phillies Phans

2008-10-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 25
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 520
2008 Total: 9076.08

You all suck. I mean really? It's pretty sad that you morons define your existence by your overpaid sports teams. Then, after they win, you decide it would fun to trash the city that your beloved sports team represent. Great idea! I ave another one for you, next tie, please take your party to I-95 and play in traffic.

So the scene this morning was disgusting. Glass everywhere, trees uprooted, newspaper boxes thrown in the street and lit on fire.

Way to go Philly, you really suck...but should I have ever really expected anything more?

Political Post of the Week

2008-10-29T04:01:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 10
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 495
2008 Total: 9051.08

If you've watched TV in the past few weeks, you've been inundated with ads from both campaigns. My personal "favorite" is McSame's add discussing Obama's plan to "Spread the Wealth Around." Not only is the commercial bordering on untruthful, and downright silly given that the people in the add would probably do better under Obama then McCain, the notion that taxing those who have more at a higher rate to "Spread the wealth Around" is socialist is actually pretty funny given the following interview of none other then the most retarded woman in the world:

"The state that she governs has no income or sales tax. Instead, it imposes huge levies on the oil companies that lease its oil fields. The proceeds finance the government’s activities and enable it to issue a four-figure annual check to every man, woman, and child in the state. One of the reasons Palin has been a popular governor is that she added an extra twelve hundred dollars to this year’s check, bringing the per-person total to $3,269. A few weeks before she was nominated for Vice-President, she told a visiting journalist—Philip Gourevitch, of this magazine—that “we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.” Perhaps there is some meaningful distinction between spreading the wealth and sharing it (“collectively,” no less), but finding it would require the analytic skills of Karl the Marxist."

Ugghhhh..why do Democrats suck so much? This interview should have been played after every McCain attack add...

Word

2008-10-28T05:26:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 30
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 485
2008 Total: 9041.08

The word is "Winter"

Pretty wild weather today. Snow in the Poconos. Cold rain in Philly. I love it. Can't wait to move out CO where i will get to enjoy this sort of weather much more often.

I was reading through the Mountain Gear catalog where I couldn't help but think how I would love to live in place where i could actually use all the stuff in catalog. Stuff like 800-fill down parkas, fat tele-skiis, ice climbing gear, etc.

I love winter.

Eagles and the Phillies Win?

2008-10-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 30
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 455
2008 Total: 9011.08

Wow!

That's pretty much all I can say after going down to the Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field. KC and I get off the subway to be greeted by thousands of tailgaters. Every parking space in the hundreds of acres of parking lots was full. It was absolutely crazy.

The tickets were in a great location as well. The Red Zone Suites are in a great place and we had a perfect view of the field and of course, the 60,000+ rabid fans. We both had a really good time.

Then, this morning I find out that the Phillies won as well!

With all this good stuff going on around the city, it begs a question of my inner sociologist: I wonder how many murders there were in the city this weekend? My bet, not many. Every one seems way to happy. So even you don't care about baseball or football, there's certainly a silver lining.

More Riding

2008-10-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 25
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 425
2008 Total: 8981.08

Good rides yesterday despite the broken spokes. Hauled a bunch of heavy stuff around and at one time I had 80 lbs in my messenger bag. Not a fun haul.

Anyway, I've never seen a hub as smooth or as strong as the Profile hubs. Looking forward to fully testing how well it holds up, but it did pretty well under a 300 lb load yesterday, so initial impressions are pretty positive.

I just can't get over how great the weather has been lately. In fact, for the most part everything's been going great. Business has stayed pretty steady at the shop, I've been able to ride a lot, and my wife will be having a girl. Life is good.

And, this weekend should be great, a little work on Saturday, followed by Seats to the Eagles game in the Red Zone Suites...awesome.

Living the High life

2008-10-23T07:17:00.000-07:00

So i couldn't decide which quote to pull out of this one, so check it out for yourself. Take it away Wendell:

More Weightlifting

2008-10-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 15
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 400
2008 Total: 8956.08

Good times at the Gym. Here's what I did:

5x5 Cleans (Proper Cleans, with a full squat)
3x5 Hang Cleans w/ Split Jerk
3x5 Front Squat
4x5 Back Squat
3x5 Dumbell Lunge
3x5 Power Steps

Whew...Kieren Racing here I come.

Then this morning, while doing standing starts, I blew some spokes out, AGAIN. Am I that strong or are my wheels that shitty and brittle? I'm leaning towards option 2, but it would be nice if I was that strong.

Weightlifting sure is fun.

UPDATE: Oh, and by the way, those busted spokes weren't on the new wheel, it was the old wheel, which makes my imminent replacement that much more important.

Whew

2008-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 385
2008 Total: 8941.08

Pretty blustery in Philadelphia the last two days and i couldn't be happier. Sure, Headwinds suck, but the cool seasonal temperatures more then make up for it. It's been in the upper 30s in the AM and upper 50s in the PM which is just about perfect.

Hopefully this fall weather will stick around for a while before we sink into the wet cold winters that pretty much define this area.

Anyway, finished lacing up a pair of nice wheels at the shop yesterday. Profile hubs, Open Pro rims, and DT spokes, pretty much gaurantees a bombproof buttery smooth ride both on the cummuter and for training up on the track. Looking forward to getting out on these and abusing them. The best part is that when I break them, I can't blame the craftsman. There's nothing better hen building your own stuff.

Now, if i could only find a good sewing machine so i could make my own Messenger bags I'd be all set. I have great ideas that combines a bit of everything I like about Chrome and ReLoad bags. Each has their strong points, each their weaknesses. And given the abuse I put my bag through, I think I could create a pretty sweet product. Sure I could custom order it from ReLoad for about 2 weeks pay, but I could probably make it for 50 bucks, and have something better...now if i only had an industrial sewing machine

Not Much New

2008-10-21T04:59:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 25
Avg. Speed: Fast
October Total: 340
2008 Total: 8896.08

Yesterday was a fun day at the shop. Rebuilt some Campy Record Shifters, a SRAM Force Shifter (pain in the ass!) and glued a bunch of tubulars.

I've never ridden on either type, but Challenger Griffos suck. They are a pain in the ass to glue, feel like shit, and whoever "handbuilds" them are on crack. The treads are crooked, and uneven...

Much better are the TUFO LPS tires. Easy to glue. Dead straight tread pattern...very nice...

Anyway, fun times and interesting work...

Granogue and Wissahickon Cross Action

2008-10-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 50
Avg. Speed: Fast, but it didn't feel like it
October Total: 315
2008 Total: 8871.08

This past weekend was race 3 and 4 of the MAC Cyclocross Series. Saturday, I went down to Granogue for the first race which was held on the DuPont estate. Needless to say, they have a pretty sweet setup. Somebody figured out they could make a shitload of money by charging for parking. I'm not complaining...I hate cars...I think it was friggin brilliant.

Anyway, the course was really nice and really fast. The severe lack of rain around the Delaware Valley has made for wicked fast cross races. The course was also pretty technical, and since I am one of the worst bike handlers ever, I knew I had my work cut out for me and had no choice but to attack as hard as i could on the paved sections while everyone else was getting a breather.

So, for the MAC series, I'm racing "B's" mostly because I don't fell like redlining for an hour. All my track specific training has not prepared me well for cross, so B's it is. As a result, I should be doing pretty well. I was ranked 11th going into the weekend.

Granogue treated me pretty rough though. I had a great start, and eventually moved up to around 7th or 8th with three laps to go. Then i started to get tired and careless. Combining my lack of handling skills with head down riding is a bad idea and i paid for it. The first time i bit it, it hurt pretty bad, but I was generally ok, and more importantly so was the bike. The second time i bit it (not my fault totally, I got my wheel swept) it was game over. Hit my head pretty hard and cracked my knee on some large hard object. Bent the bars and shifters around and knocked the rear wheel pretty wel out of alignment. By the time i jogged to the pits, I'd dropped 15 places. No point in racing for 30th, so it was all spectator for me at that point.

Wissahickon's result was much better, but the journey was miserable. I felt like complete asshole, and I'm pretty sure I raced like it to. I was in no mood to play games with the 150 lb weinies out there on the course, so instead of letting the idiots get away with their usual shit in corners knowing i'd blow by them the next straight away, i threw elbows and chopped riders like the 200 lb person i am should. It felt like 45 minutes turned into 400. But eventually I finished, top 20 (not sure exactly where in the top 20, but...) and grabbed a delicious post race Victory beer. (Props to the team sponsor)

That 15 year old kid might be fast and kick my ass every race, but i can drink beer legally...bitch. Seriously, that kid is ridiculous. As long as he doesn't discover girls and gasoline in the next couple years, he's got a career in Europe waiting for him.

Soo...

2008-10-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

"It" is no longer referred to as such. As of this morning, "It" will now be referred to as "Her." Yes, my house will in fact be entirely women...ugghhh...

But seriously, I'm pretty excited to have a daughter...that will kick Taylor's son's ass!

Word...I wonder how old she has to be before I take her out on the bike?

Travel...

2008-10-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: Sluggish
October Total: 265
2008 Total: 8821.08

Well boys and girls...today I am in beautiful Rockville MD...well maybe it's not that beautiful...

Anyway, better then having to go to Arlington or the Pentagon. So no ride today, only a morning Beep Test to revive the system after a night in the usual way to soft hotel bed with a way to fluffy pillow. There were like 6 pillows on the bed, you'd think one of them could be firm. I can't bitch too much though. Overall, Marriott is a pretty good place to stay and it's like a block from my destination.

Last night, my wife and I blew my per-diem and went out to eat at Sabrinas II (before I left the city) and the food was, as always, amazing. The menu seems to have expanded a bit as well and everyhting looked great. It was hard to decide, but i eventualy picked the stuffed pork chop which was cooked just right and served with excellent, still crispy, green beans and deliciously garlicky mashed potatoes.

My wife got the stuffed chala french toast which was ridiculously good (and ridiculously large). I ate half of it, and was stuffed...

Positively Beautiful

2008-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 30
Avg. Speed: Like Greased Lightning
October Total: 220
2008 Total: 8776.08

For some reason I felt like crap yesterday. Today not so much. I had one of the best AM rides that I have had in a long time. The smell of the fall leaves crunching under my tires. The cool air. And so much wildlife. Seriously though, I saw more Rabitts, Deer and (GASP!) a Skunk this morning then i have seen in a long while.

As I pedaled through Norristown, into the area of the path bordered by Valley Forge park, the moon was sitting on the western horizon, looking large and orange through the haze like a very dim sunset. It was nice.

Here's a quick quiz:

Wearing Headphones and Listening to Music in Traffic:
a) is a bad idea
b) shouldn't be done
c) (In the words of Mike Tyson) "Keeps Me From Killing Ya'll"

If you answered "c" you are correct. Riding in traffic, I really couldn't care less about what's behind me. Yet, most days, it's what's behind me that pisses me off the most. More accurately, the idiots who honk at you thinking that it's going to accomplish something. I'm not going to move...or pedal any faster...just give you a few choice words and tell you to get your ass back over the river to NJ. With headphones in, I don't care...I just keep blissfully pedaling down the middle of the road. What?

Take Sunday for example. Driver w/ NJ plates on Lancaster Ave. (A 4 lane road mind you). Laying on the horn behind me. Why didn't he just pass me in the other lane? Because I was going as fast as the car in the left lane. (30 in a 25 BTW) Why such a douchebag? Cuz he's from NJ. You know what I heard while he was honking? A faint noise mostly obscured by the new Metallica Album.

Not much going on

2008-10-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 35 and 25 Sunday
Avg. Speed: hard
October Total: 220
2008 Total: 8776.08

Worked at the shop yesterday fixing everyone's crappy bikes. Then fixed my own. I keep blowing out spokes ever since put a 90 inch gear on the fixie. I think it's too much force on the cheap wheel. I suppose i should probably build some new wheels that can actually be abused a bit.

This time of year appears to be to be the "Mill Every Road that Justin Rides His Bike On" time of the year. I swear, every road I ride on is in some state of being milled. It will be really nice once it's repaved and super smooth but until then...

Ok lots to do...off to it...

Mmmmm Chicken Wings

2008-10-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: hard
October Total: 160
2008 Total: 8716.08

Last night, after what seemed like a very long day, I finally had the chance to relax. Met my wife at her work and went over to Moriarty's for some wings. Moriarty's has the best wings in the city. Instead of giving you 10 wings that are really 5 wings split into two pieces, Moriarty's gives you 10 whole chicken wings in a deliciously spicy sauce. Pair those with two bowls of their Irish Potato soup and you have a great dinner for two for under 20 bucks.

So like I said, best wings in the city...at least I think so...what do you think?

Big Brother

2008-10-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 30
Avg. Speed: hard
October Total: 115
2008 Total: 8671.08

If you read this blog on a somewhat regular basis, you know that I am a big fan of Libertarian Bob Barr, and the principals behind the libertarian party. Basically, "Big Government=Bad." Don't close your browser yet, I'm going somewhere cycling related with this.

However, there are certain situations where I support a larger scope of government. Basically, I view government as the world's largest investor. They should invest in things that can provide a positive return (whether monetary or humanitary) and then protect those investments. For example, building roads costs a lot of money but also provides a significant return on investment though increased tax revenue, tolls (yes, if you use the road, you should pay for it!) etc. Anyway, I feel that government has a responsibility to protect this investments. Case in point: How many people drive the speed limit on highways in the Deleware Valley? Answer: none, unless you count sitting in bumper to bumper traffic as following the speed limit. Speeding, costs us all a lot of money; increased accident rates (which the state pays for the unisured's medical care), higher road surface wear, etc. Yet police seem to do very little about it. There are millions of dollars left sitting on the table from ticket revenues dealing with moving violations that could be used to lower our taxes if only the existing laws were enforced.

Ok, so here's where I tie it all back to cycling. On my daily 40 miles bike rides, especially in the morning, I see hundreds of speeders, and many red light runners. Each day I put my life in the hands of fellow Philadelphians who couldn't care less about anything becasue there are no consequences for their reckless behavior. I would imagine that a complex system of red light and speeding cameras would work wonders the second that $300 tickets started getting mailed out. The systems would pay for themselves instantly.

I reccomend a program much like this one in the UK. Where:

"Clusters of speed cameras that will monitor drivers’ average speed on all routes across a wide area are to be deployed on hundreds of roads next year. It will be impossible to evade detection because the digital cameras will cover every entry and exit point and, unlike the earlier speed cameras, will never run out of film. "

Imagine a Philadelphia where you don't have to worry about getting run over by red light runners and speeders. I know my wife who walks 3 miles to work every day would be a fan. And just maybe, the city would make enough money to finally enact some wage tax cuts.

The number one reason I hear for more people in the area not biking to work is that the roads aren't safe. This may be a stretch, but what if a side affect of actually enforcing the law is that we could get more cars off the road, easing congestion and improving air quality?

Would it suck to have to go the speed limit? Sure would...but I think it's a worthwhile sacrifice.

Sore and Cold

2008-10-08T03:37:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: hard
October Total: 85
2008 Total: 8641.08

Yesterday was the epitomy of muscle overuse days. I had a nice hard ride into work which started the day off right.

However, I recently started trying to get some of my coworkers to workout on a regular basis. It has finally started to work. So yesterday when a big group of people wanted to do a beep test (ok, it's real name is Multi Function Fitness Test) I couldn't say no. Yeah I'm tired, but I'm pretty excited about seeing people who haven't exercised in a decade be excited about working out.

That's kind of the neat thing about the test; it's not like cycling where if one person is fast and the other slow, someone suffers, or weightlifting where it's a pain in the ass to constantly be changing weights for varying abilities. In a beep test, everyone participates and everyone suffers. Weaker people drop out faster, but since the whole test is only 21 minutes and almost anyone can do at least 5 and I don't know anyone who can go the full 21, there isn't a big time gap between the weakest and the strongest participant. Not to mention the fact that usually after a break, people will hop back in for a few more shuttles after they fail intially.

Anyway, after doing a beep test, I had to ride home. So yeah, I'm tired. So tired in fact that I took the bus halfway to work this morning. And as you know if you live in Philly, SEPTA sucks. But it sure beat riding the hills which quite honestly I would have ended up walking. Moving on...

Alas, it's finally chilly outside. Move over uncontrolable persperation. Make way for wildly fluctuating temperatures that make picking clothing a crapshoot. I left my house this morning with temps around 52. Out in the suburbs it was 39. There were pockets along the river (before i hopped on a bus) where the temps would shift dramatically 15 degrees or so. I'd feel almost hot for one second, then fridgid the next. It was too hot for a jacket, then unbearable without one. I guess that's one of the problems with riding at 5 AM. Should be nice this afternoon though...

Speed Work in October?

2008-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 40
Avg. Speed: hard
October Total: 40
2008 Total: 8596.08

Yeah, whatever...like i said in an email to labrat earlier:

I don't buy into the whole mantra of "go slow during the winter" Do whatever you enjoy doing. If you're going to race crits for the most part next year, long slow days and climbing won't do shit for you.

I personally will be doing nothing but sprint workouts and weightlifting (but that's because I probably will do 2 non-track races next year) with a little 'cross thrown in because it's fun.

Here's the question I ask: Is it a workout? Or is it fun? I do what I do because while it is technically a workout, it's really fun...And allows me to eat and drink what I want :)

This is what I try to explain to people at the shop who consider themselves to be racers: I, along with 99% of the racing community, don't race enough during the "season" to justify taking 2 months off. I'm on the high side of amateur cycling miles and I'm still 3K short of what would considered pro miles. Additionally, I ride my bike because it's fun, not a job. If I'm tired, I don't ride. If I feel good, I go hammer. To me paying $750 bucks a month to have a coach tell me to ride slow and build my base all winter so I can finsh (insert mediocre result in mediocre race here) is ridiculous. Just ride you friggin bike as much as you can as hard as you can and the results will follow. We (being amateurs) don't ride enough to benefit from the sort of tapering that pros do. Most of us aren't anywhere close to our peak fitness plateaus. Get there first then maybe it's time for the expensive coaching.

Now if you need motivation to get off your ass, i can provide that for much less :)

Long's Peak

2008-10-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Got some things done early before i had to come back to Philly and managed to get out on the trail around noon. Since most of the group on I’m travel with are (or aspire to be) outdoors people, I figured a hike on the Long’s Peak Trail would be a lot of fun. The day did not disappoint. I knew full damn well we wouldn’t summit. Long’s is snow covered right now, but it was possible to reach the Keyhole without significant technical challenges.

We departed around 2pm which gave us 2.5 hours of uphill hiking before we needed to turn around. Colorado autumn did not disappoint. We started with temps in the high 50s and as we climbed, the temps dropped. By the time we turned around, we had temps in the high 30s and driving snow. The views were amazing. The weather was as good as it could be, the company quite enjoyable.

As we looked down upon the plains to the east and Rocky Mountain National park that surrounded us, the four of us decided that is was not going to be much fun returning to Filthadelphia. The only real question is how long would it be before I relocate to CO. I’m thinking next week. In actuality, it will probably be next May. Either way, trips like these make you realize how much Philly, PA, and ultimately the East Coast as a whole suck…hard…
Not to be negative though, I had a great week out here. Got to love the fresh clean air

September Catch Up

2008-10-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 35
Avg. Speed: hard
September Total: 800
2008 Total: 8556.08

I am really beginning to see some solid positive gains from my lifting program. I was a little afraid that after years of military endurance training and more recently cycling that basically starved my body, I would never get that fast twitch muscle back. I’m no expert, but I think my worries were for nothing. Despite all my efforts towards becoming an endurance athlete, my body is naturally explosive. It’s why even when I did not sprint training I could win field sprints and do pretty well at the track, and why after 15,000 training miles in ’07, I would be smoked by the groups on hard endurance rides.

Anyway, glad I finally embraced the fact that the longest race I should ever do is a criterium, and those should be handpicked to ensure elevation changes are nominal.

Anyway, I’m at the point in the gym where I’ve basically made back 80% of the gains I had before my futile attempts at endurance sports. Not only that, but despite being much stronger I haven’t gained any weight. I’m still a svelte 190 lbs. That said, after my hard leg days I still have a trouble walking the next day…seriously…I’m sure it’s funny to watch, but it hurts like a bitch. There’s a reason I stopped Olympic Lifting.

Anyway, my mileage total for September is pretty much wrapped up. I’m in Deer Creek, CO all week and despite (again) being in the cycling mecca, I’ll be Sans Bike since it wouldn’t fit in the shared rental car…(friggin “UmptyBillion Dollar Revenue Company” can’t spring for a rental….grrrr)

Anyway, I've been doing Beep Tests all week. (which are quite literally the hardest running workouts you can do) Google it…seriously…brutal…

I Am That Guy

2008-09-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: hard
September Total: 765
2008 Total: 8521.08

Leter on, i will continue my post about weightlifting to include my thoughts on nutrition...

In the meantime, let it be known that I am that guy...with an iPod. I finally broke down and bought a shuffle. The rides at 5AM are just too damn boring and my motivation has been waning considerably.

Insert iPod and I'm back to hammering out my miles faster then ever. Nothing like a little Speed Metal to motivate.

Anyway, it's not that bad i suppose. Earbud in one ear only...

Later...

Weightlifting for Cycling

2008-09-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: hard
September Total: 720
2008 Total: 8476.08

Andrew asked yesterday what good weightlifting exercises for cyclists would be to maximize power but not get too big that going up hills would suck. There's two points here. First, avoid weightlifters at the gym like the plague. They are trying to get huge, not strong. There's a big difference. Take a look at the 150lb Olympic weightlifters. Sure, they're definitely pretty ripped (but that's mostly from cutting weight). Just by looking at them though you wouldn't think they could lift 3x their body weight. Transition to professional bodybuilders. Looking at these guys, you'd think they were some of the strongest men in the world. This is often not true at all. On a per pound basis, they're actually pretty weak. And that's what we're after as cyclist, Watts per kg not just Watts.

Second, there's more to going up hills then just weight. In addition to weightlifting for your legs, you need to strengthen your lungs (well actually your diaphram). There are several breathing apparatus on the market that do this, such as the power lung.

Ok, so back to weightlifting. For a road cyclist that will be racing distances of over 40K, the key is developing sustained power. This means 3 sets of 12-15 reps. Find a weight that makes the 12th rep hard and the 15th rep all you have left in the tank. Lift twice a week at first, and throw a third day in during Jan and Feb. For road cyclists, the best exercises are squats and leg presses. I love cleans, but it will add upper body mass. Make sure you don't cheat, and do the squats correctly, bringing your thigh parrallel with the floor. Consult with the trainer to make sure you're doing it right as not doing so will do more harm then good.

Lastly, when you lift, you need to throw long rides in on weekends. Here in Philly we have the Pretzel Ride, a 5+ hour endurance ride that keeps your conditioning for long distances while you build power in the gym.

Again, this is advice for roadies. MTB'ers will need more upper body work. Trackies (like what I'm trying to become) need to avoid long rides and try to get a strong as possible with more sets and less reps. Hope this helps...maybe SansAuto could offer his thoughts as well...he is getting the PhD after all.

More Intervals and Motorpacing

2008-09-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: hard
September Total: 675
2008 Total: 8431.08

Damn hard set of rides yesterday. Decided to do some motorpacing on the way home from the shop so i had some fun drafting cars at 30+ and spinning my ass off on the fixie. Very solid workout.

The good news is that the gym is finally open so I can get back to weightlifting finally...

Had a couple of funny repairs in the shop yesterday. It bugs the shit out me when people bring in a bunch of garbage components courtesy of Nashbar and have us put them on the bike. Usually the tolerances on these parts are really horrible. Case in point: Guy with a fixie conversion. Old crappy steel bike with a bent to shit 1 inch threaded fork. Has his own "new" one inch fork that he wants us to cut, thread, and install. No problem right? Wrong...

The fork was actually about .98 inches so the races weren't tight and about a full 1/16 inch too thick so it wouldn't accept the stem. Awesome.

The next winner was a Performance (or Ebay) special, a Motobecane "Immortal Spirit" otherwise known as "The same generic carbon frame that is produced for a dozen labels." Wow, seems like a great deal right? Affordable full carbon frame and fork (including a carbon steerer)!

Negative. That fork isn't round, it's oval shaped so the headset feels like shit. The frame (and the carbon bars for that matter) are one good pothole away from becoming a giant pile of splintered carbon fibers. I mean there is a reason that a Cannondale Six13 (Lifetime Warranty!!) costs two grand. Anyway, you couldn't pay me to ride this bike. That frame can barely support itself without flexing, never mind me. I think the Chinese manufacturer was confused and made the bike both vertically and laterally compliant. Seriously, it felt like riding an innertube.

Anyway, still debating cross practice tonight...i could use a day off the bike so we'll see

Cyclocross Fun

2008-09-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 40 this weekend, 45 yesterday
Avg. Speed: Redlined...ughhhh
September Total: 630
2008 Total: 8386.08

Cross…Redlining for 45 minutes hurts like no other. With about 15 minutes to go, I fight the urge to hurl all over my handlebars. It’s ok though because everyone is hurting. Maybe I CAN manage to catch the guy in front of me…

So this past weekend was the Nittany Lion Cross Race and Charm City Cross, the first and second MAC races of the year. The courses were friggin amazing and well suited to my strengths (actually I only have one: mashing the pedals).

Saturday was a little twisty and using my intrepid (ha!) bike handling skills, only managed to crash once. Finished 17th…not bad.

Sunday was even better. The course was super fast and I was able to keep it in the big ring most of the time. Unfortunately, I had a horrible starting position that required me to pass 50 people on my way to finishing 14th. Had I started where I belonged I think I could have cracked top 10 as this course really couldn’t have been better suited to my strengths.

After both races, I was totally cooked. Less so after Charm City though as I have developed a new strategy: pocketing a water bottle. Since I probably have at least 30 lbs on my next lightest competitor, and probably sweat twice as much I need something, and a bottle of CarboRocket (seriously, this stuff works) really hit the spot at the half way point.

Anyway, next race isn’t until Mid October, so lots of time to train, hit the Plateau for practice, and (unfortunately) work…

Sweetness

2008-09-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 25
Avg. Speed: Hard intervals
September Total: 545
2008 Total: 8301.08

Yesterday on the way home, I got really lucky. I was about a mile from the shop when "Pop" I broke a spoke. No biggie, just opened the brakes, rode nice and slow to the Zoom, cut a new one, screwed it in, and got on my way. In and out in 5 minutes. Probably the easiest spoke change I've ever done.

Should be a fun weekend. Parents are coming up to the PA race (which the course for is supposedly ridiculous) and Charm City Cross should be awesome. I've heard good things about the Baltimore course and am really looking forward to it. Supposedly it suits my 200 lb frame quite well. I'll reserve judgment for the PSU course, but if it's as advertised, it could be a long day.

I have my two cross bikes all set up and ready to go. It will be nice having a spare bike. I can't stop starring at the Cannondale. Beautiful rig and fast as hell too.

Not much else is going on. Work is finally starting to settle down which is refreshing. Anyway, that's all for now. Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

Cross Practice

2008-09-18T03:32:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 35
Avg. Speed: Hard intervals
September Total: 520
2008 Total: 8276.08

I finally made it out to cyclocross practice on the Belmont Plateau. Joe and the rest of the Wissahickon guys really do a great job with this. They set up a course that is pretty similar to the Charm City course and we hammered out some hot laps. It was a great chance to work on my cornering skills and test out the new Cannondale.

What's that you say? New Cannondale? Yes...and it's awesome. I got a old team frame from the shop, built it up last night with a buunch of second hand parts, and it's probably better then anything you could buy new. Awesome...

Anyway, really looking forward to the MAC series races this weekend. Should be a fun time.

The Idignity of Commuting by Bicycle

2008-09-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 45
Avg. Speed: Nice and Easy
September Total: 485
2008 Total: 8241.08

One of the stranger side effects of my working at night lately is that my return trip home, leaving Vallley Forge around 730 AM, makes my ride back into the city a very normal bike commute. In fact, I have been amazed by how many bike commuters there are out in the mornings. I'm really not used to this since I normally leave my house by 515 and ride out of the city. There aren't many people that do this so i am used to riding alone.

However, quite to my enjoyment, there are a lot of commuters that come into the city around 8 AM. That said, I can see why. Usually, when I make the turn off of Main Street (or Ridge Ave ave?) onto Kelly drive, it's usually a suicide run for a mile until the Falls Bridge stop light. People routinely travel 60 mph on this short, narrow stretch of road. In the mornins during rush hour however, it slows to a crawl. I flew past probably 100 cars, and by the time I got further down Kelly to Boathouse row, probably less then a quarter had caught back up with me. Rush hour getting into the city sure is slow going.

So I guess it makes sense to commute into the city by bike. It taes less time, there's no parking fees, etc, etc. But, it still suprises me to see so many people doing it. Anyway, it's a refreshing sight. Good for business too. It's mid September and we're still as busy now at Human Zoom as we were in June.

Speaking of the Zoom, my arms are smoked. Soon, with as many tubulars as I have glued lately, I'm going to end up with Popeye arms. Also, the tire of choice this year seems to to be Challengers. They might be nice tires, but they suck to glue. The tread isn't centered over the base tape so when you mount the tire you con't just make sure the tape is aligned, because then the knobbies end up offset making your cornering abilitly very Nascar-esque (good in one direction). Instead, to get the tread straight, the tire looks like it's mounted poorly with a ton of basetape sticking out one side and almost none on the other. Not really a big deal, but when you drop $100 on a tire, you kind of expect it to be built properly...

2008-09-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

Daily Miles: 25
Avg. Speed: hard
September Total: 440
2008 Total: 8196.08

Well I finally got some sleep this morning and am feeling pretty much normal. Still tired, but not hallucinating, so I'll call that normal.

I'm kind of working the reverse work schedule now. I work in the shop in the afternoon, then go to my other job, then go to sleep in the morning.

Today at the shop was pretty interesting. I stretched and glued many (6 I think) cyclocross tubulars and then serviced a pair of repair bikes that were true monsters. These bikes were absolute disasters, and I'm really not sure how they were ridden as long as they were. Nevertheless, they now run nice and smooth. Sure, they're still K-Mart bikes, but they're the best damn K-mart bikes you'll ever ride. I worked a bunch of other bikes too, but fixing Cannondales is never the epic adventure that repairing Murrays and Huffys is.

Tomorrow looks like more of the same, then it should be back to normal Wed except I have the day off from the shop so i can finally make cross practice at the Plateau.

Anyway, the load is picking up here, so It's back to the grindstone...