Digady Dirt Baby

Dirt road sightings 2 and 3 were observed yesterday while the Sovas and I were out for our ride today. Check out this sweet dirt climb we stumbled uponNow that is a jem. It was cool and all, except for the warmer weather that caused the frost to melt and give us some traction issues...So needless to say the riding lately has been pretty darn sweet, I got in three solid rides and felt pretty butched so today my training consisted of a 1:30 nap. Awesome. Hopefully we'll have good weather this weekend so I can get in a solid back 9 (pun and literal).

So I haven't talked about coffee in a while, I'm sure you'll are just pissed. So I guess I'll explore what it means to have coffee. Preparation aside, what's all meant in asking someone out for a cup of coffee? Due to some extenuating circumstances I found myself asking out a friend, Christina, for coffee today. Now given that I do try and adhear to a cyclist lifestyle, "a drink" is kind of out of the question till novemeber, so I feel that me asking out someone for coffee is more or less a casual date. My reasoning behind it, is that you are there alone with that person in an intimate setting which facilitates conversation.

"but John same could be said bout my bathroom--intimate setting, often thought provoking leading to conversation?!?"

True true, but being in the bathroom doesn't lead to walks home with a possible goodnight kiss...ever. I'd have to say one of my coolest dates at a coffee shop (I've had a lot of bad ones) actually oddly enough was before Christmas break with Christina where she needed to finish a book so we sat on a couch and read half of Death in Venice out loud to each other, and then talked about it...now that's how it's done. So I'm throwing it out there, bathroom aside, coffee shop...date or not? Debated, though let's be honest it's pretty clear. Peace out

Got Cowbell!?!

So this past weekend the Sova boyz and I went to observe one of the most renowned endurance events of northern Wisconsin--The Birkebeiner. Now I've never cross country skied, though I can sure shred it up on a pair of 175 semi-parabolic's, but this was rediculous. You might ask, "why John would you waste your time watching an event that you don't even know two shakes about?" Well it's the same reason why my tv watching has tripled since the Olympics were on--because it's an awesome spectical of endurance. Chad, Kevin, Chad's Mom and I went to Hayward to watch the finish, but first priority was some major espresso and hot chocolate action. Suburu was handing out free cowbells, so coffee in one hand and cowbell in the other we were decked out as every Birki watcher should be. Eventually the crowd started to get rialed up, cowbells ding donging like mad, and a plane started to circle above (like the helicopters in the tour--a dead giveaway to the wearabouts of the racers). And out of the grocery store parking lot came two Italians hauling some major ass. Now at the time I was like, "damn they're going fast...I think" They crossed the line together, no sprint. Check out the press release on it HERE. I guess the full shock of how fast they were going didn't come till later, when we were leaving the event to get some burger and beer action and we saw some of the middle of the road skiers and they looked like they were dying if not already dead. Crazy. But non-the-less the snotsickles were out in full force--I'm talking 6 inches!

Back in EC by Saturday night. Sunday the Sova's and I went out for a 3 hour ride that turned into a 4 hour ride that included headwinds, gravel/dirt roads, and lots of tempo-threshold climbs. It was almost epic. Damn near as close to epic as you could hope to reach with two water bottles and a Clif Shot. I couldn't believe how good my legs, knees, and mind felt out there, it was like I'd been riding for the past two months, and am finally adapted...wait I have been riding for the past 2 months...hmmm. We were fighting the light by the time we turned back North and so we started to lay it down. I soon began to realize that I've grown used to riding slow as the efforts began to take their toll. We made it in though in fine order. After the ride I began to get really excited about those types of rides happening more and more--ahh I love phase two!!

Sorry I gotta back track a tad, side note, I rode my mountain bike on the snow covered trails of Lowe's Creek on Friday, it pretty much rocked my socks. It was the perfect temperature where the snow wasn't melting and I was warm--awesome.

Well this week, got a test, some research, 16+ hours of riding, study abroad application, and some catch up with the girlfriend to do. Lots of stuff on the plate, but I gotta huge appetite!!

Inspirational notes: Talk is cheap, cause of the high supply. Mind the big picture, but live in the moment. Subduction leads to Orogeny (sorry bad geology joke). Keep the tire side down, but if not make sure you crash big.

Yearning for a Change

So this past weekend, yes I know it's Thursday and I'm just now talking about this weekend--i'm in college though, I attended 3 21st birthday parties, which left me on Monday morning reassuridly happy with my life decisions. Friday-Sara, Saturday-H-Bomb, Sunday-The One the Only Chad. Friday uneventful outside of loosing horribly to Melissa in fooseball (maybe cause I already had 4 drinks versus her 1). Saturday craziness ensued at H-Bombs residence, total Hannah crowd--Politics, eclectics, some bikers (Norah and Jeremy). To the Joynt for some Guinness and Johnny Walker of which did me in for the night. Woke up in a strange room--AH oh it's just Hannah's room (thanks), walk-of-Shame it back to the pad. Sleep till 12:30 try and eat, unsuccessful, sleep till 5 try and eat unsuccessful, chill out, 7 eat good, 9 go to Chad's party start drinking--again. At this point Chad and I have finished off, through out the weekend, a case of New Glarus Spotted Cow, time for the bars...again. Chad gets Chicken McSchwasted--Finally I get a work out in and the event Fireman Carry 3 blocks back to sleeping friends' place--God Damn I love my friends!

So that was the weekend, most ugly details aside. OH MY GOSH I have to give huge props to my Sister. I lost my debit card and I didn't have any coffee. The problem with this scenerio is that I use my Debit card on Alterra and Peace Coffee, so i'm stuck drinking Honest Tea. My debit card is sent to my sister's place, she sends it to me ALONG WITH SOME TRADITIONAL DRY!!! AHHHH!! Can't get enough. Mad props.

Other than that...I'm still living, back riding, and sipping. Advice for the day:

You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape
If it doesn't move and it should use WD-40
If it moves and it shouldn't use Duct Tape

Playlist: Soul Coughing, Deltron 3030, Postal Service

20 degrees, 4 inches of accumulation 20 mph winds--Time to Man Up!!

So Chad and I bumped into eachother on lower campus today, amid the snow and wind. He asked me, "what are you doing for a ride today" I saw it in his eyes he had some craziness ready to unleash.
"I don't know what are you going to do?" Proding.
"I'm going to ride"
"Outside" I already knew the answer.
"Well I sure as shit don't want to ride on the trainer"
"I'm done at 1"
"Good"
"Couple hours?"
"Sounds Good" I knew it.

So as I stumble to class, I pick a seat that faced the window, and started up the deasil-run Modivation-o-Matic, and started to think about where were we going to go. First class, then food quick, something warm, then change tire,bags under the booties for sure. We meet on my floor, bundled to the max--the shit was going to hit the fan. Winds pegged at 20 mph from the north, west we go on the bike trail. After a crazy start with traffic, then some rough snow, we finally hit some moderate accumulation could we glid over. All was great for the first hour, then as our route drifted south I realized that the inevitable was going to happen--headwind from hell. So we weaseled our way back, hands freezing and faces getting sandblasted from ice-snow. Two hours later we roll into EC again. Crazy times, at least I didn't have to resort to a trainer party. That's how we do here in Wisconsin.

Skankin by Numbers!

So I'm soo pissed, I had this kickin post all neatly done up and tried to spell check it and up' there it goes erased into oblivion...last time i use the spell check. So this past weekend I went to Ska Fest at the University, and holy crap memory lane here we come! I remember going to a bunch of shows back in high school with my bro and my neighbor, crazy times. I swear my heart rate was pegged at 160 all night, because we be skankin it up like mad rude boys. The bands playing were Hired Geeks, Catch of the Day, Something to Do, and Umbrella Bed. I've only seen Something to Do before...ahh getting lost in Title-town, free pizza, 2 hours early, Rummy, kickin Mustard Plug show (Something to Do was opening). Infact as I remembered it S2D kind of sucked, but at this show they actually were the most notable, I guess that's what happens when you haven't seen them in 4 years.

I have some advice I'd just like to pass down the pipe. Granted this is old news, but lets face it we often don't heed our own advice. This morsel of knowledge is, "If it's not broke don't fix it." I came face to face with these realities when I decided to move my cleat position, because i thought that I was a little uneven on the spindles. So now i've effectively stripped a bolt because I adjusted and readjusted so much that it just gave way, and at the most inoprotune moment, while it was locked in a not quite right position. What did I learn? Well if your knees and hips don't hurt, don't move your cleats. I was all nice and adjusted to my position, and now i threw it all off, infact I had to put my MTB pedals on my CX bike cause I could ride with my cleats so fucked up. I guess we live and learn huh, hopefully though not at the expense of not having any knees when I'm 50.

So it's happened. I tryed to thwart the evils of the world and stay safe, but it has really happened. Swimming through this hazy of morning fog in my mind, I can't escape the brutle truth of it all...I'm all out of coffee. This coupled with the fact that I lost my debit card and had to cancel it, effectively prohibiting me to purchase more of Peace Coffee, has really put me in a bind. I haven't been overly cranky, but staying awake in class has become a chore. I've been tiding myself over with espresso, which came pre-ground espresso style cannot go in a french press but is good for a swallow of goodness, and tea--Honest Tea. Ah i love the name of it I kind of want to come out with a sister company called Subtle Tea. Geeky I know. So yeah tea and intermittent espresso.

Well I've been informed that I should study some mineral fomulas for my Min Pet II class, cause a quiz might be in the mix. Na0-1 Ca2 (Fe, Mg, Al, Mn..)5[(Al, Si)8 O22](OH)2 and (Na, K)[AlSiO5] are some goodies. I will give mad props to anyone who can Id these beotches. The gauntlet has been thrown down. WHAT'S UP NOW!!

Another One Bites the Dust

Well as you'all may be reading the great Heras got bitch slapped by the UCI for doping--2 year suspension, fired from Liberty, stripped of Vuelta title--Thank you very much. It seems like every month or so some huge name in Euro cycling is being investigated or fired--tough shit guys that's what happens when you go to the dark side. But just like Luke Skywalker there is a last hope out there for the rest of us mear mortals--Dopers Suck. Quick geeky side note i think Luke eventually goes to the dark side and Leia is the actual last hope in the books...who knows didn't read em.

Other notable cycling news that I read was that Lance and Sheryl broke up...oh darn...eh I guess the title is applicable here too huh! Well what can you say...

So this past weekend we had a super bowl party rootbeer keg and brats included. It was pretty awesome to see how many people showed up--not bad if I do say so myself. It was pretty cool though. Other than that life seems to have the throttle wide open on a rhythem section. I'm in this downward spiral of class, ride, homework, work crap, meetings, sleep too little. It's pretty f-in tough, but that's life. Family, friends, riding, politics, religion, school, work, pizza, scotch all great things, but you need to keep everything in prospective--proportion.

Enough about life, maybe I should go out and pound some nails!?! Peace Out A town.

Music for this morning: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones album Question the Answers. A true anthem of high school. Key song Toxic Toast fuckin rocks!

Mind The Stepchels!

Alright I've determined that trying to ride 3 hours in 20 degree weather with wind chill of 0 isn't what I call smart. Yesterday we tried to make it 3 hours but got skunked out for only 2, due to frozen limbs and snow and ice covered downhills. Hey I didn't go down that was truly amazing all things considered. So today, though I'm procrastinating now, I have a bit too much stuff going on to ride. Maybe I might sneak in a hour trainer ride for posterity, but lets be honest I'd agree with Nick Martin that we all only have a set amount of trainer time allotted for our life, and even though I've only been on the trainer twice for a total of 3 hours I don't think it'll help much, and besides I'm due for a rest week pretty dang soon, riding like I've been doing gradually wearing myself down until the point were I go out and I feel flat is my tell for needed rest.

So last night some peps and I had dinner at Timmy L's place, which was awesome, which was followed by an amazing comeback by the opposition in Cranium. After the bitter defeat some redemption was needed, so furniture was moved, jewelry removed, and wrestling insued. I definitely got my weight training in as I got my butt waxed by Chad (lanky bastard), but then beat up on some women who thought they'd stand a chance, I give them props though for putting up a fight. Today though I woke up with some crazy rug burn on my feet and back and had a sore neck, chest, abs, and back. Chad looks like he got in a fight with a rug and lost, but that's part of the game I guess. Most notable though was the atomic grundy I saw. Honesty I could not stop laughing for 10 minutes straight. Imagine the classic cartoon grundy, where the victim gets their underwear pulled over their head--this was not that far off. Underwear was pulled up to the bra line (yes it was a girl)!! I never imagined in my wildest dreams that underwear could be stretched that far!! It was crazy.

Well I guess I should do something, before the Super Bowl Rootbeer kegger insues. Hope the commercials are better than previous years. Adios

Beware of Flying Burritos!

So I'm sure you heard about the burrito incident that the Sova's and I participated in. Long and short a 7 layer from TB came on a ride with us and ended up on the back of USPS truck, damn that was funny! Other than that I'm feeling good riding, still a little squirmy on the decents, but the only way you get good is by doing. "Why do we fall...to learn how to get up" Ah now that was one satisfying movie (Batman Begins).

Outside of the burrito incident, school sometimes feels like pulling teeth. Not overly hard, in fact we're still in the honeymoon period, so I'll just have to be patient. It's said last semester I was flying by the seat of my pants in Min Pet I and now in Min Pet II, I'm sitting in class if he would start actually moving the class forward. Anyways, I should really treasure these days, because I've heard that at the end of the semester is when the shit hits the fan.

Coffee thought: Fair trade. If you care at all about what you're drinking it is a moral imperative that you support the people that make that awesome cup of coffee possible. If you don't know Fair trade coffee companies pay the farmers 1.75 per pound of beans versus less than a dollar (20-30 cents during the mid to late 90s), this allows the farmers to...well actually live. Often times farmers, if the coffee prices are super low can't get out of the business and are essentially at the mercy of the buyers, and the world market. Buying fair trade assures the farmers that they can eat.

Alright peps keep the rubber side down, rock the sock booties, bask in the sun, enjoy life. Adios