Evel

Whatever it was Evel Knievel is dead. I remember being a kid and watching on the wide world of sports him doing another stupid stunt. A man ahead of his time. White trash was never so entertaining in the 70s before COPS and reality TV..

words

Words.

Aerobics Class

I know a lot of people have probably seen this but I can't imagine the popularity of cross in Belgium and Holland if this what the sport is tied to. Sure, it looks like an aerobics class from 1992 but holy shit is it funny.

Honey

I made the good stuff again today, I am trying to embrace my break, I know I have a few left but the tires are going soft as I type. As I took my first sip today the espresso had an odd smell, honey mustard, hmmmm? Pronounced too, it was there, did the 1/2&1/2 pick up something? The fridge did die the other day, about 36 hours of no working for the damn thing had a lot of our food on the way out. After it was fixed we've eaten a few meals, had enough to get sick but maybe a low-grade food issue doesn't always surface right away. Don't buy GE products, in less than 5 years we have had almost 500$ go into the fridge. Bummer, but is that bad? maybe that explains why Brian hangs out so long. I have to gain at some point, no? Staying where I do without a shift in weight? Granted, I weigh myself about 3 times a year.

Limping

Feast and famine all at once, it changes by the hour. Listening for the next shift, it doesn't always come. Waiting for news of the next beginning, hoping it involves me and a better arrangement of the cards. I can only hope that the work is enough and the keys fit the locks.

Ever

5 is cold. Even rolling the SSCX bike trying to build up some sort of heat was tough. Only one near-miss, some bitch in a bmw didn't think I was far enough to the right of the white line. The road isn't always big enough. Listening to my breathing at the end i finally got over the chill of the first 30 minutes and got to a slightly warmer place. I think the 3 Mothership Wits (may new favorite brew) last night might have put the ghosts to sleep. I have an almost tangible better feeling about life. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is good.

How many more?

The cooking is coming from inside not the stove. I try to listen but I feel deaf. Rolling the icy roads today the cars seemed closer. I feel more distant from the season and growing the wheels for what's left is getting harder. Maybe a real rest is needed, not the sort of push, limp into the off season that usually happens. I fill the void with food, good stuff, no junk, plenty of Illy to get through the morning, always sad after the last sip. If I could have it all day, I probably would. Sushi last night just didn't do the trick. I know the balance is off, not agreeing with the food and the constant fatigue. I eat, feel better for a bit, and it all just makes me sleepy.

Foolish

I got out on Thursday with the only person I could find foolish enough to go. No other takers and if it wasn't for my own insane chemical imbalance, I too would have stayed in, thanks Jeff, for taking a guy for a ride, I'm slow to get photos up these days but at least they're up. 16 as I rolled past a bank on the South side. On a bike 16 is chilly but, skiing it feels fine, similar gear too. Hmmmmm.

Red

I think this is car that almost ran me off the road the other day. I can only hope that they feel as strongly about the Bushies as they do the need to spew this kind of hate. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of anger, I just direct it elsewhere. The more I live the more I get angry that people can be this DUMB. It's fun to wonder how they get to this point. Too much homogeny? Too little exposure to diversity? I live in a pretty white-washed place but I know what other cultures and ethnicities are like, the bank in Aurora a few weeks ago was scary but that's another thing. I don't have hate-fostering stickers perpetuating a homogeneous society. Not that I needed further proof that rednecks suck.

Almost

Tenitis

I have been sore since time spent in the outdoor lab on Sunday, now the only time i feel good is on the bike. Pushing the mtb season into Thanksgiving @ 9000ft is a guilty pleasure. More today, pictures later. Trails that are normally perfect for skiing right now have hero dirt. Pushing through the aches of late season, everything is slowing down. Right pressure to hit the lines, no burps today. The glow is fading, more lights for less day. when it clears I feel complete, ready to sit down for a few days without the stress of the next one. Silent is close, better to be out in it than stuck in. Pushing instead of pull, following and followed a lot of full-cush these days hearing the clack and clatter of fancy elaborate bike art. I am happy to have the Ferrous on my ride/side, maybe go aluminum next year. Variety, of one gear, all I want. Food isn't cutting the fatigue, sleep comes late and too fast over, knots in the stomach, not the way to go into the most important block of cx. Older than last year, nothing feels better than the trails, paved or dirt, just off the road away from drivers. I listen to the system, I have tenitis though.

Gallery

I lack a lot, good riding in November isn't one of them, early winter
opens up the lungs and lets me through the door. I hear the door
slamming shut behind tomorrow, with the fresh wind blowing in, too
close to wait but yes, it's close. Maybe the next time the sun rises
it will bring with it snow. Maybe.

My legs are less sore than my right lat muscle, I think that's what
it's called, running too low a pressure just because, to see if 20
was do able, it is if I laze it, stiffer sidewalls help too. After
that it's too low. Fun to ride with proper suspension, sag? got it if
I lean forward. Pre-load, check. Rebound, yeah, lean back. It's all
about the front end. Pictures haunt the head, pushing through the
dimmer views in favor of opening new windows and closing old doors. I
hope the sky is this color on Thursday.

Youtube

I wish I had skills like this, the best I can do is ride to the top of a hill and not be that tired. Weak. This is talent.

Variable

Getting through the last bits of the season gets harder if the weather isn't happy. Today it wasn't too bad, my avoidance of tomorrow's race isn't really by choice, I'm happy to stay home and ride to avoid the weirdness that is the springs. I hear the end, smell the wax iron, feel the silence coming along. The more I do, the better it all will be. An unplanned late season break from racing. Two weekends off, going into three and the fourth weekend being it, over. I hear it coming. Bundled up too much for today, I got home and wrung out my clothes, showered and I was still sweating, the thermometer read 39℉ (4℃) good clothes go a long way.

BlueLane

I think this has to be the most beautiful urban bike lane I have ever seen. How could a cellphone talking, txting, oblivious or other such shitty driver miss you in this stunning reason to brave the streets.

Spoiled

I can't help my jealousy of the guys racing in Costa Rica right now.
Suffering up endless muddy climbs and having to walk 45% slope
descents. I am in early winter mode trying to keep the furnace on and
spoiling myself on a Friday. Still thinking bikes not skis, that
much. 10 degrees is pretty far from 2 below as long as we are talking
fahrenheit, if we are talking centigrade, I'm well below. More than
2. I have a few left, no count exactly, but it's there. The light at
the end of the tunnel, I will go into the light. Not too far off.

Pears

Not enough fruit to eat and too much shit in the mix. It isn't
evening out the bottom line. I have the pieces in front of me but I
keep using them in the wrong hands; using the left when it's the
right that needs the tune up. After all it's just one fall gone,
better ones will come down again, another one in the tank, almost.
I hear the music in my head and try like hell to fit it in it's spot,
only the spots move, can't go off the old memories, always need to
follow, braille isn't consistent, this thing changes too. Having new
things in the old spots will get you close.

Half a bag

I heard it was 10, yeah, winter is showing with a half bag, no real snow yet, yesterday was just a dusting, half a bag, cold, winter gear for sure, but not much snow. the trails from Monday are probably still ride able. Too cold to think about what I should have done, just trying to get across the tundra. I need to fill in the holes, a few new pieces of gear. I keep wondering how much I need to worry, I get spoiled having the path, last winter was only rough a few times, black ice, no brakes, cars fender-bending as I glide by, when is it my turn, do I only get one?

Here?

Later than usual, picking a route across the freshly fallen goodness. No room right now for downs, only ups as the picture clears and winter arrives. Silently rolling over the covered path, I know what's there, what isn't hiding beneath. Filling the legs to empty the head, pockets are another story. I've had a little help lately, thanks to 1554 and the Mothership sleep comes and then leaves only a bit early, not a lot, maybe the ghosts are going away? Looking for octopus at sunset adds new work to the end of my day, the inky glow is there just not as clear as early. The ghosts and the octopus are working together. Hiding my ink from the morning, moving it to the end of the day.

Grocery

At lunch I went to get a bagel at the grocery store, they were
playing Whitesnake over the PA system, what kind of bullshit is that?
Ruining my shopping experience. I wasn't going to the store to listen
to bad 80s hair-shit rock. At least my lunch ended up being good. The
dark commute is adding another level to the rides, tempo followed by
increased food makes the day's rides that much better. Ducking in and
out of the shadows adds a lot to the day, volume lower on the iPod
and higher on the wheels. Without fail the program gets better when
this happens. Especially this late in the season. States and Nats are
looking better and better. Good blinky lights and better legs carry
me home through the winds. Pushing gears for the first time in 10
days felt weird, like I was cheating, better to know than not. I know
now.

Later

It's getting late, two days in a row on dirt in November at home, I
can't believe what luck to get my treats so late in the year. Late
night in the dark across the frozen mud, today a bit drier, with
daylight. You can't buy this fun. You could try, People have, but I
prefer my own treat. I stopped for a snack mid way through the ride,
sort of jerky like. Solo has been plan, this winter it will be more
of the same if the Epic is on the plate for July, how else can the
base be built for 5 consecutive 100k+ days on dirt? Singletrack in
November, listening to the coyotes, hiding out in the woods, perfect!

Crucial

Singletrack in the early part of the day to keep the cold out of the
legs, longer later in the day on the paved paths. More changes to
come, mix it up and get the new set up ready. Looking for order in
the singular chaos. The numbers are all in place. Putting away days
like today is the best part of the whole equation, no steady
institutional agenda, loose program to enjoy what's left.

Blur

It fades in the blink of an eye, the sun going down and the darkness
creeps in, lights enough to get home if they are paying attention,
just a minute, just a second if they are not. So far so good day 5 of
the new layout, the one not-stupid thing GWB has done. More daylight
to get me home. It really is all about me. Thanks for that moment.
Just a second of the day on trails that should be closed by now, this
global warming thing isn't so bad at 9000 ft. I got to ride stuff
that should be in transition to nordic season, real nordic, you know,
skiing. Not this.

Clear

I feel clear(er) than I have in weeks, the wins aren't coming the way I like in cross, it's better this way, earn the finishes that are under appreciated. I am enjoying the process more and more maybe I am more of a mtb racer than a cross racer this season, waiting on '08 to come to right. Soon, I hope. Putting it together to make it clear, see what is on the calendar, Epic? Right out the front door. I'm in.

Wed AM CX

Rocco has the most Rockin' Mullet in Colorado, I haven't been out of the state in a few months so I don't know of the mullet factor in other places, but he has the best one going for sure around these parts. He went to bike practice today, I played hooky, from all of it, work and well, work too.

Rolling

Settling into a rhythm as the roads freeze and the trails are closed, poaching the last few rides up the canyon, rolling better and better as cross season wears on. New light in my old head.

2/5

Getting into the ground is getting pretty hard this time of year, it is frozen and unforgiving. The more I try, I come up empty. I know where the better shovels are, the smarter entrance but I can't get there. Waking up too early because of the time change and the aching in the legs isn't helping me get into the ground. Hiding out in plain site. Fractions were never my strong suit, I got them but mastery was another story, 2/5, that's what I got out of the weekend, over it now but the bummed legs and bruised knee isn't changing anything. This weekend may begin the shift, get ready for the end, the pictures are all there, the project evolving. Not sure; carbon or regular chain drive but it's time. Ready? Clearing out the head with 1554 or Stella does the trick and adds a nice fog too. Rolling across the slowly freezing tundra as though I'm headed out into the moors brings a smile. Except the fog is inside not outside. Tonight maybe a switch back to the Mothership. MMMMMmmmmmm good.

Redlined

I'm wondering if I left my form somewhere in the middle of mountain
bike season. Not sure where it went but I keep looking. Suffering
like a pig alone in the wind didn't get me a better finish than 5th
today. I earned what I got, no gifts, I wasn't faster and got
screwed , I wasn't fast. Great racing anyway, following some of the
best guys around and getting to see what other styles are like on a
courses we have done a million times. Guys riding sand I would
normally run, not remembering to close doors I left open. Mistakes
that added up but not enough to clear the ledger and move up 5 spots.
Tomorrow will be better, it always is!

I hear the race these days, not the music, still looking for the
middle, and the top step. Not mid-pack, mid top 10, get the music
going and get it through the end of the race, push on my terms, get
there when it counts not too early, maybe too late is early.

Xenophobe?

You can't fix crazy. A day in the city, seeing a lot of the things city-folk see everyday and deal with is not something we are accustomed to. Living in our unintentionally homogeneous world seeing the crazies and would-be drug dealers throws us for a loop. Stacks of cash in a bank on East Colfax changing hands makes me uncomfortable. The guy yelling at the Latina cashier who couldn't sell him a burrito because it wasn't yet scanned into the POS system was a bit frightening, I was wondering if he would shoot me first or the girl. I hoped she would get the first shot because I let him in line in front of me in one of those awkward 'you go first' moments so I can watch you instead of the you (crazy guy) behind me in line pondering where in the neck you are going to stab me. I know I over reacting, it doesn't mean the city is for everyone, I like living out of the way, in my own little bubble, I'd rather worry about bears and mtn lions than crackheads and crazies.