Coffee and Bikes

Copper, Copper and more Copper

2007-06-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

The past month has been a blur between the two white lines if you will. Finals went off without a hitch. I guess I kicked some ass on classes so that's always good. A half a week and then off to Montana for Field Camp II, which is a 3 week coarse of mapping near the Tobacco Root Mountains...Back from Montana to Eau Claire, moved my stuff into the new apartment, then to Madison visit Nora, then to Kenosha to see my sis' new house which is freakin' awesome, and then on Friday off to Morenci, AZ for my intership this summer. 1600 miles later and a shit ton of sweat (no A/C in the Sundance) and I'm at my new apartment in a small mining town. I guess I don't know what to think outside of damn this is a big fuckin' mine. The Phelps Dodge property is something like 82 square miles...Yeah that's a pic from space of the mine. I have orientation/safety training all next week so I guess I'll have more about the job at the end of the week. Anywho sorry for the lapse in updating but that's how the road is. Peace ya'll

Finals

2007-05-17T16:20:00.000-05:00

This one's for Chad. This was me like a year a go during finals...I don't think I have all that much energy theses days. A year older and a whole lot dumber.

Popped like a Bride on Her Wedding Night

2007-05-12T21:20:00.000-05:00

Rem-inator excitedly agreed to come for a ride with Chad and I today, and I'm not sure if he'd agree it was a good decision by the end. Knowing Chad and I and our propensity for adventure, we 'accidentally' found ourselves on a dirt road about 1:20 from home. Needless to say Rem felt a bit worked by the end.
It was all good though. Geology banquet tonight, fun times good peps. Now Study Time!!

The Illusive Sovas

2007-05-11T07:24:00.000-05:00

First Time In A Long Time

2007-05-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

This weekend was pretty sweet. Friday off to an International Party, not with international students though, but instead we dressed as a countrymen and woman and brought drink from that country together and had a pimpin' good time...Me as a Scotsman and Nora as an English Librarian. Saturday I was a lazy ass. Made two pots of french press, made some stir fry, and went to see this...In my humble opinion, a lot of the same, a little unwarrented in that the first two summed things up pretty well, sweet (of course) action scenes, a bit much plot for one movie to handle.

Then on Sunday I pinned on a number for the first time in a long time. It's soo funny to see the same old faces on sweet new rides. Racing is hella fun, but at the same time the first race is always good for uncovering the areas where you SUCK. My weakness was in the power dept. even though I did a lot of lifting, I didn't maintain that lifting through April so that was my downfall. I started out sweet. Tool turned actor was off the front Dan and I chased him down, I rallyed off the front, and then was reeled in and spit out the back. I spent the next two laps suffering trying to fight the mental demons as I resorted to chasing, but the damage was done. I did however not get beat by Billy Street (thank god I might've had to quite the sport...jk...but not really)....5th in my age and 14th overall seems like I'm in the same spot as I was last season, but now with an obvious weak point (or maybe it was the breakfast pizza I got from the gas station humm...) I can work on I feel ready to get to it. To all those pinning on the numbers this one's for you...Yeah they come in cans...who knew?!?

Lots of Shit Down the Pipe

2007-04-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the shitty blog updating. What can I say I have a life and it's hard enough to update my parents on what's going on. Update... well riding has been intermittent to say the least which really blows. School is well school, it's hard to pull good grades in a serious science. I just got back from Arkansas for 5 days with the sed strat class I TA for, which was awesome. I got an internship here...The Morenci Mine in Arizona. You can see the mine from space. They produce about 30-40% if America's copper and is about 60,000 acres. I'm pumped they're hookin a brotha up fo sho. So I'll be in AZ for the summer which'll be sweat. Hopefully I'll get some crazy ridin' in after work.

Random, but I've decided that the Triplets of Belleville is one of my top 10 if not top 5 movies of all time. No not because of the biking aspect of it, but just the kick ass concept and well basically because of the grandma...
I need an edgy grandma with a whistle sometimes to get motivated. Well I'll try and keep the updates coming. But it all comes down to actions speak louder that words. Peace.

Welcome Back to Wisconsin

2007-03-26T09:35:00.000-05:00

So my stint in Santa Cruz ended on Saturday morning as I took the red eye out of SFO. It was a 3:30 hour flight coming into MSP at 6:00 b/c of the time change. I woke up to the woman next to me saying that we're landing....sweet...In South Dakota...cool cool...WHAT!?! Too much fog to land in MSP. So we'all sat on the tarmac for 4 hours not able to leave the plane, until the fog cleared. Yeah that was about as much fun as going to the dentist.

Back in EC Nora and I watched this. Ranks up on my top 10 of all time. Fo sho! On Sunday Chase, Nora and I went out to battle the 30 mph gusts. Crazy asshole drives were trying to get self-righteous and while being splended role models for their kids in the back seat. Nora peeled off as Chase and I made out way out to Lowes Creek.

THIS IS WHERE IT GOT FUCK'D UP!! So we were riding down Lowes Creek Rd and about a quater mile up the road coming our way was a Jeep Grand Cherokee...no big deal. But then the Jeep swerves across the center line, tags the dirt shoulder, fish-tails across the road to the other side, tags that ditch (Chase and I are like wtf) and as the Jeep hit that ditch the MOTHERFUCK ROLLS. Tires are skretching, glass is exploding, roofs are crimpling. The Jeep does a complete roll and lands jelly side up. So what would you do if you'd just rolled your car? Well that gut reaction was not this dudes, he put the mother fucka into drive and starts driving away. Bare in mind that he has two flat tires, like 4 broken windows, and a smashed passenger side roof. It gets even better when we slowed down as he's slowly making his way on the road and asked if he's ok and his response was, "No I'm not hurt, I'm good I'm good" and keeps driving. At this point Chase and I bust out laughing at this dumb ass and decided if that's how it is then that's how it is.

So Chase and I went to hit up the trails giggling the whole time about a teenage punk that took out daddy's car for a ride, rolled it, and then "tough guy'd it" by brushing it off like it's the third time this week that he'd rolled his dad's car on a flat straight open road.

In other news the new U23 Team Momentum Kits look good...Even when you're not...Peace.

No One's Raining On My Parade

2007-03-21T10:58:00.002-05:00

I'm not one for looking at the forecast before I ride, so when it said that it'd rain yesterday wasn't about to change my plans of riding at Nisene State park on the trails. I got my bike that just arrived Monday afternoon all tuned up and ready to hit some trails. I got out there and promptly got lost. I was going in circles that happen to have a long steep climb in the middle of it, but I couldn't really argue with the scenery even though it was raining the whole time...But after a while I wanted to get on with heading up to the Outlook which is roughly 1600 ft of climbing. On my way up I swore I saw Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks, and some other Kona rider going the other way. All's I know is that they were three extremely tall dudes all decked in team kits on Kona bikes so who knows...doesn't he live in Oregon? Anyways after the 'pro sighting' I climbed for an hour staight through more red woods....Got to the top and the sun started to come out again...Then I proceeded to fry my brake pads and be on the brink of hypothermia as I motocross'd my way downhill for 35 minutes. All said and done 4:17...
Anywho. I gotta go to the bike shop for some new pads and figure out where I'm going today...oh yeah and play a round of golf with my cousin. Peace.

California Dreamin' on Such a Winters Day

2007-03-20T10:53:00.000-05:00

On Monday Dave and Judy hooked me up with a guide (Peter) to show me some of the trails around Santa Cruz. The trails were pretty much hardpack with long climbs and sweet alternate option descents through the red wood forest around UCSC campus. Dave and Judy warned me that I might get worked over by Peter, but it was a pretty chill ride for 3 hours or so. After I got home though I felt too good so I went out for another 2 hour loop east in the mountains-through more red woods. It was again another perfect day 60s and sunny though Tuesday looks to have some rain in store for the early morning, but still high 50s low 60s. Anywho. Here's some pics from the ride...It gets wierd out in the mountians. Huge houses in the middle of nowhere with 5+ cars parked 2 of which actually work but non-the-less the passes were sweet...

Cali Training Camp

2007-03-18T22:53:00.000-05:00

Well you know it's that time of the year. The time where school is put on hold, bags are packed, legs are shaved, and the grocery bill goes through the roof--Spring Break Time/Training Camp! This year, instead of battling the snow, cold, and those little aligators that make Donkey Kong so hard, I decided to go out to Cali to visit my aunt, uncle, cousin and brother. So I flew out of Msp and spent good St. Patties night in SFO. Today we went for a ride down by the beach, where Dave and Judy (aunt and uncle) showed me the trail head to some sweet single track that I'll hopefully hit up in the coming days. I think I'll be able to really put in some solid hours on the bike here since I'm don't have to worry about cold toes, freezing water bottles, and duldrum roads....
My Aunt and Uncle by the warf....
There's definitely going to be a lot of th
For all you's who are grinding it out...It takes ballz. I however feel mildly like a cheat for having the opprotunity to be here...but then again that might just be all the sun I got today talking.

Just Some Photos

2007-02-20T20:23:00.000-06:00

Coffee at Acoustic of the Stout campus.Sunset coming back from Milwaukee this weekend.
With the weather changing this catapiller is turning into a butterfly...or some shit like that. Peace

Ride 'n Slurry

2007-02-14T09:18:00.000-06:00

This past week I got in some solid hours, some on the trainer at the beginning of the week, but this weekend I got in 5 hours on the mtb in the snow which was awesome, and then a 3 hour ride that turned into a underestimated 4 hour ride on the road. First time south past Hwy 10 this season and the first bonk of the season. Kick ass. 8 parts stupid 2 parts insane.
Outside of the riding extravaganza a bunch of us celebrated a friends b-day by doing crazy shit and watching some hockey. In the parking lot outside of the rink, not staged was this beaut...Word! If your in the EC area check this out. Peace!

As of Late

2007-02-04T21:02:00.000-06:00

Riding some this week a bit of this...

On this...And 6 hours on the trainer this weekend when the wind chill was double digits yeah negative double digits. That's what's been going on as of late.

To New Mexico and Back Again

2007-01-24T10:28:00.000-06:00

You'all are either not checkin my blog anymore or wondering WT to the F is John doin'! Well I'll show you and maybe sometime on the weekend fill you in with words. First over the river...
And through the woods...To Grandma house we go for Christmas. Then to Mad-town to chill with Nora...
Then to Lil' Sis' Place for New Years...Then 26 hours of driving to New Mexico for Field Camp...The Lodge we stayed at...First assignment do a strat section up 1000+ ft Dave and Andy...Me on top of the world...Next assignment map the mountains...
Me all dud'ed up...After 8 hours in the field a beer at the Middle of Nowhere Bar feels real good...Day off and a tour at the Chino Mine--my future employer. Those little specs at the bottom of the pit are trucks the size of a three story building....Second mapping exercise...
Third mapping exercise didn't have that spectacular of view, but was hard. Unexpected visit from my bro and Ethan on their way to California and some unexpected snow...
Busted out of New Mexico a day earlier otherwise we'd still be there. Sunrise over Iowa on our 24 hour drive of which 20 hours I was co-piloting...Starting to get something together for training. Classes in session, TA'ing Sed Strat, applying for internships, thinking about the future.

Finals=More Time to Blog?

2006-12-18T17:47:00.000-06:00

No just a photo from our ride...
Dan might need to show me some of his crazy photoshop skillz so that I could edit out that peskie power line. Frank Sinatra, Vienna Boys Choir, California Rasins, Bing Crosby...must be Christmas time.

Grad and Formal

2006-12-17T18:04:00.000-06:00

This weekend was pretty good...like the calm before the storm...I went to Dan's Graduation which was awesome and I'm so proud of him...After the Graduation, Nora and I went to Hannah's for a little formal party. Our lovely host and her b/f Nick...Us...Now it's just time to take some tests as it is finals week. Hopefully we can land on our feet. Catch ya' all on the road...

My Hero

2006-12-12T23:02:00.000-06:00

This Badass Mother Fucker is going to graduate this weekend and I'm stoaked. This weekend, though a long time coming, is going to be great and I'm crazy happy for him. Way to not let the man get you down. Keep on enforcing the truth with some steel to back you up!!

A Thanksgiving Birthday

2006-11-28T17:54:00.000-06:00

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving as you all know, but what you'all didn't know that it was my b-day. So on Wednesday Nora and I went down to Milwaukee, but first an inconspicous stop at an unmentioned coffee 'house'... That night my bros, Nora and I went to the 'Mino...I discovered this then had some of that...And by the time I left the 'Mino looked like this...Woke up and decided a little turkey trot was in order. My sister put on an awesome dinner, just crazyness. On Friday Nora and I went to Nora's grandparents place, where I was graced with the musical talents of Kristen and Mike... It was funny I felt like I was in A Prarie Home Companion. Ahh good times. Overall the weekend was awesome though. Big thanks to my sister and Joe for putting Nora and I up, feeding us great food and letting us sleep in.

Knight to B5

2006-11-12T12:11:00.000-06:00

Amen!!

2006-11-06T17:38:00.000-06:00

Check out the new group Chase and I formed...CPA (Cynical People Anonymous)!!!

Prissy Pants Lance

2006-11-06T15:42:00.000-06:00

Well all the predictions, hype and betting abruptly ended this weekend as Lance hobbled in around the 800s in New York and all I can say is, "Is that all you got?!?"
The best part about the whole thing is that everyone has numbers like 12923 or something crazy and Fancy Pants Lance has "Lance" on his. Specificity means you suck in eveything else. Funny shiz. Anywho. O is for Over-your-head.

What's Up Doc Can We Rock

2006-11-04T12:49:00.000-06:00

The Party...
The Exercise...
The Only Chamios Time Was For Trick-or-Treaters...

2006-10-27T17:40:00.000-05:00

Who's Excited for this one

It's all I got

2006-10-24T20:59:00.000-05:00

Not much that is. She-vegas was shitty (flat). South Dakota was great. Gettin' my shit rocked in my classes. Running now for cross training. Out to the bars. Finding my way through the foggy path of my future-something to the tone of: grad school, mineral exporation, retirement at 40.

Inspiration: Chianti, Minnesota State Cross Champs, superplume theory, Neutral Milk Hotel, "winners never quit, quitters never win, those who never win and never quit are idiots."

This One's For Sarah

2006-10-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

Talk to the Hand

2006-09-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

My hand's ready to hit some single track!Hey Hey The Gangs All Here!!

College what can you say! Rode some singletrack sweetness on this b-e-a-utiful 65 degree fall day-yellow and orange leaves paved the way to sweat corners and unexpected trees. Going out to dinner tonight with Nora's Rents who are up this weekend--time to turn the charm on! Anywho...I should probibly do something. Keep the rubber rollin!

WORS 11

2006-09-26T11:21:00.000-05:00

I had great intentions as Chad, Nora and I made our way to Wis Rapids for WORS #11, but I got a little antzy in the beginning and went down within the first 5 min or so which cocked my h-bars. So for the rest of the race I was riding perpetually steering left. I was reduced to chasing and passing people like crazy. I totally forgot how essential clean and aggressive passing is, but it came back fast. The course was fun with all the singletrack, though the short pounding hills eventually took their toll on my legs as they stvearted to cramp at the end of the 2nd lap. Third lap was survival mode as I follow some dude the whole way. I almost felt bad that I wasn't going to help him at all, but I was on the brink of total melt down in the legs depo. I finished off 3rd in the age and like 15th overall-not my best, but it was ok.

Basically now it's rest and get school in order till She-vagas Showdown!

Tis' Late in the Season

2006-09-20T21:19:00.000-05:00

Legs still are sore, homework a-plenty. All work and no play makes John a dull boy!

Lockdown

2006-09-18T10:08:00.000-05:00

Well my first Chequamegon experience has me hunrgy as a fat kid before lunch for a HUGE training load this spring double peak 07 season gunning for a finale in September. I think that once I figure somethings out I could really thrive on a course like the Birki trail. My race started with one goal in mind--pass 600 people cause they were all in my way.

Let me explain...no there is too much...let me sum up: 200 people back after Rosies. Felt great hammer, bridge, hammer, hammer, settle in a group, attack them before OO trying to bridge to the next 40 people, no go, sit up, reintegrate, foreboding leg twinge, drop group with 3 people, trade pulls, rallying, leg twinge, see sign "Seeley Fire Tower" literally say out loud, "Fuck me!" pitches up, total lockdown, off the bike, can't stand, sit down, wait till i can bend legs w/o seizing, see Ron Kay go by, "fuck no I can't let him beat me" start walking, on bike catch up to Ron, cramp, sorry Ron, walk, ride last incline, coast, pedal, cramps in quads, then hamstrings, then groin, then hip flexors, then calves, suffer last 10 miles, ended up 153....nuts.

I don't think that I've ever had that bad of cramps. I think a couple tears might've been squirt. There's something for sure to say about proper hydration/salt consumption. The race though was amazing. One of the best parts is the post race buzz--what happened, how did it go down, who did what, who had it, who didn't, a stick?!? The post race culture is soo funny...I wonder if 20 years down the line when we all are 'washed-up' if we'll reminise like Uncle Rico, "if coach would've put me in in the 4th quarter we would've went to state!" Ya never know.

Alot about Nothing

2006-09-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

As of late, classes are underway; looks like I'll be busy this semester. Hanging out with Nora a lot , which has been going freakin awesome!! Ordered my favorite brew-Alterra Brazil Traditional Dry yum. Poison Ivy that I got while playing capture the flag is going away...blah blah blah. The other night Chad, Nora and I went to Shae's to check out her new pad. Really words can't describe how cool it is so here's two pics...Yeah that's a full size trampoline--in the living room....Oh and a hammock that seats two next to it!

This weekend the Sovas and I did some riding, opting out on the WORS race, to get ready for the last races of the season-the pros were out today....Knee warmers around the ankle for on the fly temp control! But when taking a closer look--pro...maybe not yet...That's what's been going on. Plan and simple-nothing. See you all at Cheq!

Randomness That is School

2006-09-04T01:07:00.000-05:00

This is how 'pros' get stoaked for a ride...Snorting Powerade powder through a dollar bill baby! Last night some peps and I went to a dragshow that was interesting to say the least...Things got a little out of hand...I kind of got carried away...Everyone was obviously super pumped about the show...The look on Melissa's face is priceless...ah akwardness! In other news I've been finally getting in some decent riding with some great company-finally...
Things are pretty sweet-though crazy around these parts. Classes start on Tuesday which is exciting in itself. I hope things end up ok this semester I think I'm ready to give er hell. Peace to all.

Rockin the 26inch

2006-08-30T23:36:00.000-05:00

Still riding the mtb on the road...it happens. 2 hours 161 ave hr. Saw some funky clouds. What do you see...Besides falcial looking clouds, bought a tv today. I made it all the way till senior year of college w/o buying a tv which I see as an accomplishment. Best Buy is definitly dangerous. Freshmen move in tommorow....shit's'gonna hit the fan fo-so. Gotsta get going still sick must get sleep.

Ups, Downs and Everywhere in Between

2006-08-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

Chad and I went for a ride today on the road which started/ended abruptly with this...
Which led to a ride like this...

The mtb bars clanging next to the road bars is always fun. Chad was throwing on his 'pro' face today with his new shades....Afterwards we had some jowling matches at the cafe and some crazy ping pong....

Weekend with the Sibs

2006-08-21T17:40:00.000-05:00

This weekend (because of the delay in the ETDRR) I went to hang out with the sibs. Lots of this happening...Coffee with Nora and Dan seperately...twice each...and even a quick cup with Joe before he went to work...I even got out for a ride in Oshkosh. I can't even make this shit up...Supposedly we have some RA 'training' or something this week...maybe I'll show up huh. I think it might be time for some 'Super Secret Cheq. Training Regime' Well for all those rockin' the two wheel pain train I salute you!

2006-08-17T14:11:00.000-05:00

Strongbad does vocal techno

In high school we used to recreate the techno in the lunch room...yeah we were geeks.

2006-08-17T14:10:00.000-05:00

The Debate

This is hilarious...but is it better than the tried and true Homestar Runner Techno...

Damn Fine Day

2006-08-17T13:34:00.000-05:00

So I actually had to wake up at a decent hour today to meet my philosophy prof for a ride. It started off raining today during the ride which I wasn't all that thrilled about cause it was actually cold for once! Great ride, good conversation and of course the obligatory Big Labowski quoting. Great day for a pic...
The Mac-daddy-alicious agreed to be our new fauculty advisor for the cycling club that's up and coming so that's pretty awesome. In other news the site designing has been going slow, but progressing hopefully it'll be up in like fall of 08. Training has been good, I've been doing threshold crap, but actually starting to feel fast.

You know what I'm going to briefly rant cause I feel the need to talk about coffee. Ok so I'm an avid Alterra Coffee lover, I order off their website and have it shipped to me and it is some of the best coffee that I've ever had-hands down. But in lue of shortening budgets I decided to buy coffee from the Just Local Foods co-op here in EC cause then I don't have to pay for shipping and yet it's still Fair Trade. They actually carry the Just Coffee brand out of Mad-town and seems like they would know thier shit, but I actually haven't as of yet had a pound/roast that I liked. I thought that it just might be that I didn't like the roast that I was trying, but I think the problem is that it is Just Not Good Coffee. I don't blame the roasters my blame goes out to two problems I see: 1) the coffee comes in a brown paper bag essentially that has a plastic-ie lining and a fold down top and 2) Poor turn around time. Now brown baggin' is good for grade school lunches but not for oily coffee and a fold down top is just inviting the coffee to get stale. Which brings me to my next trouble making point and that is the poor turn around time. Coffee goes stale in roughly 2 weeks and I'm not sure, but I don't think the co-op is getting shipments in every week and throwing out the old stuff-maybe they are if which then I apologize and will hold fast then to my previous arguement. Ya know, if I got the beans direct and not a brown one then it may be better, but as the circumstances are that stuff isn't good and bad coffee is Just Bad Coffee.

Ok enough rant here's some entertainment...

Just One of Those Days.

2006-08-14T00:47:00.000-05:00

Started off early, french toast and 2 cups of coffee later and the motivation is in effect to this end...Motivation has been in short supply lately, but the obscene amounts of free time has been able to counter well. After it down poured--flash flood style on our way back the day seemed to throw it into neutral...Yeah it was one of those days...Too much time at Racy's, but good catch up time with a friend that just got back from Thailand...
Sorry for the photo dump, but my that's all I really have to show for myself as of late. In the mix though is a new website design...if creativity and motivation strike me anytime soon. Peace.

Tails of a Rookie

2006-08-07T11:10:00.000-05:00

This weekend was pretty much a shmorgazbord of entertaining events (some racing some belonging to the 'other' category). Down in Shevegas Chad, Chase and I crashed at Rob's new pad (thanks a bunch Rob) Friday night before the PCW crit. After our duties of course marshaling were fufilled we threw on the kits and rollled around the course before our 4/5 race. The crit was pretty fun. I went off the front for about 10 laps trying to let the other PCW guys get a free ride in the pack. I really wanted a prime for my efforts but of course they wouldn't call one while I was out there. PCW guys did a great job always having a guy up the road for the rest of the peps to chase down. But it all ended pretty rookie I must say. I really didn't hear any of the primes being callled out or that there was 2 laps to go...I don't know, something about not having a microphone to call that stuff out might been at the root of the problem. So Chase and I finished just off the group and Chad was at the ass end of it. Nagod's though pulled out a 2nd and Street got 7th. I forgot the guy who won, but he was PCW too. Such is road racing.

So after all the dust from the WTFs setteled, Street, Nagod, Sovas and I went downtown Shevegas to Brat Days, where we heard that there was some shit going down. We got there and low and behold the International Federation of Competitive Eating's Top Eaters were being introduced WWF style with Metallica intro music and everything. ESPN was there with boom cameras and everthing televising. GMR put the event together including the huge semi sized grill. The past World Record was 35 brats held by Sonya, but with the buzz in the air you know that would be up for grabs today. Within the first 5 minutes of eating Takeru Kobayashi become the new world record holder. After 10 minutes of cramming Takeru had down-are you ready for this--58 brats!!! Yeah he's that short guy next to the dude with the hawk!
After witnessing greatness, we went back to the crit to do some more course marshaling. Fast forward to that night, the crew went to Brat Days again to watch the Violent Fems...
They were pretty interesting to watch. The best though was the bass player who was sick with the phatty chords and was wearing a kilt. So after the concert and laughing ourselves to death from watching drunk people walk through a pile of puke in there barefeet, the Sovas and I crashed at Streets place (thanks a bunch).

Calumet we go with my chamios drying outside the car...
With a short warm up (too short) we started the old call up. To my surprise the roll out was freakin easy, nobody wanted to pull and I sure as shit wasn't going to, being nicely tucked away sittin' 4th wheel. Leading into the ski hill Mitch tried to make an attack, but went more sideways than forward in the gravel. Chase, Peter, Dan and I followed Mitch into the switchback climb. My chainring seemingly undiagnosably messed up drops my chain, looks like I'm climbing in the granny today. Near the crest Chase drops us, me first then Pet and Mitch. Gaps grew and were never shut down. Road with Dan most of the race till I nailed a climb at the end of the 3 lap got the gap, made it stick, but then as a rookie beotch I am missed the finish shoot, taking the lap cut-off. I get back to the finish shoot only to see Dan rollin through in my 3rd place. Well live and learn, I was pissed though. Chase pulled out a huge W for the overall, Chad had a rerun of... well the whole summer-caught just off the back of the lead group finishing 7th.

Gas round trip $35 Food $25 Entry Fees $60 The look on Chad's Face while dicing up the rocks...priceless...

New Toys and Clones

2006-08-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

So I just got my new toy in the mail from Dell-yahoo for student discounts! I have to say it's a lot nicer than any computer I've had so far, but then again I build my first computer that had pieces fastened down with twistie ties and had a 6 year old hand-me-down laptop that never worked in the first place. Albeit awesome, I totally agree with the new Mac commercials where the two dudes are like...well watch it for yourself. I spent the first hour or so just deleting crap from my hard drive and then the next 6 hours working on ripping all my cds. Granted I wasn't working on it straight, but I have about 3 gigs and I'm not even close to being done.

So in between ripping music and transfering pictures I've been checking out the updates from this past weekends 24/9 National Event. Mad crazy props go out to Wisco's own Darkness, CreepyFriendly, Aj and B. Matter for throwing down huge to win the 24 team event! Also congrats to the Polish man for a good sport 24 team finish! So I was flipping though pictures from various sites and I came across this one, and I was taken aback. I wasn't at 24/9 hanging out inin the Subaru G/F tent...was I?!?
You be the judge...
Maybe! So this weekend Chad Chase and i have a double header with a PCW sponsored crit down in She-boy-gen on Saturday and the umteenth installment of WORS. I better have my seatbelt on for that shiz. Well I should probibly stop wasting time, cause this post actually took way too long to put together. Good luck to all those ridin', race, and livin' this weekend...and if your not-piss off

Say it ain't So?!?

2006-07-27T15:03:00.000-05:00

Another One Bites The Dust huh! WT to the motha F!! I mean come on...

2006-07-23T22:10:00.000-05:00

I might as well post about crappy races as well as the ones in which I excell in, so as to front an image of being human. This weekend up to Spooner to chill wit the SovaBros. Put on a new chainring (which later would be my undoing) and went out for a chilax sight seeing ride around Spooner... After we had some killa 'za and watched Fun with Dick and Jane (good flick). In the morning drove crazy fast to Phillips, arriving there early enough to watch the Sport start...crazy.

My race went down like this, went to the front on the road leadout. Hit the first gravel climb, slammed it in reverse (basically) as I fell off the back. Lungs seering, legs not firing, and brain out for lunch. Phillips is a series of short steep ma-f'in climbs and with my new middle chain ring on I thought I'd be good. First steep climb my chain violently jumps ship and drops, and would continue to do so the rest of my race. New chain, ok cassette, new chainring-wt to the f. Anyways so I was eating dust like 20th and some guy from the wave behind me caught me, and so when I saw Chase on the side of the trail with a flat saying that it happened while he was attacking Mitch, I lent him my wheel for a totally Euro flat fix. DNFing feels like shit I have to say, and almost worst DNFing by choice is pretty damn fuckin weak. Maybe I should start training during the weeks as opposed to my usual sit around and wait till I feel like riding.

Anyways enough sulking. Throwing some photos out there cause I have nothing better to do...
Pee break, back country style.
Chad wondering if he can still race into the Third Trimester?!?
A random fav of me and my bro chillin' at his old place.

Hmmm....back to school sale?

Peanut Butter and Honey hmm hmm!

2006-07-20T22:19:00.000-05:00

This mid-week post is brought to you by the p.b.h. sandwich, "who knew life could taste so sweet!?!"

Just making a quickie before the weekend mayham starts. Basically the story I'm going to tell is for all friends of the two-wheeled pain machine.

I was riding the other day with Craig and we were doing some intervals and during one rest period he told me he felt like shit to which I retorted, rather bluntly, that it was all in his head. At that moment I decided to get a little inspirational as a story I remembered from a late 90s movie Gataca popped into my head.

Background of the movie is that it takes place in the future at the point where scientists have unlocked the genome and can basically 'manufacture' a baby for the parents. The parents can choose whether they want a kid that's athletic or smart or musical or all of the above.

Now the main character was concieved naturally and wasn't given much chance, by the scientists estimates, to live past his mid 30s. The parents where kind of bummed so they had another kid 'manufactured' to be an All-American type. The two kids obviously competed against each other as brothers do. How they would compete is by swimming out into the ocean side by side and whoever turned around first would obviously loose. One day when they were 30-ish they got together and felt inspired to give it a go, and the natural kid was so driven that he started to swim away from his 'msrp' bro. The MSRP dude could think of going any farther, but the Nat dude kept going. The MSRP dude, while half drowning half treading water asks the Nat brother, "how are you doing this? I don't understand" which the Nat bro responds, "I never save anything for the way back," and swims to his bro's rescue.

Just throwing some inspiration for you'all out there who are racing or otherwise. At some point the numbers, the science, the bike, the plan-don't mean shit. It's all about your mental state. Keep'er Real!

photo : AFP in VeloNews

Doin' A Little Crotch-Pot Cookin'

2006-07-18T11:43:00.000-05:00

As all of you who even glanced at a US weather map this past weekend knew that it was hot-as-ballz with the moisture to compliment. I decided to bum-out of work on Friday and chill out at my sisters and bro-in-law's place for an extended weekend. After a brief stop in Mad-town to shoot the shit with Hannah, Em, and fam (who were simply awesome) I continued to the home of Miller. Joe and I went out for some steak, then out to the Powerplant and the Mino for some PBR with Al. Saturday Joe and I went to Bestile Days downtown had some Gator-on-a-Stick and watched the air show. 3 preride with Chad, Matt, Jez, Aj--hot, slightly muddy. Had the boyz over for dinner, which was pretty crazy. Joe, Al, and I went shopping at Groppi's and Joe kept on asking about portion sizes, something to the degree of, "are you sure we need 4 pounds of pasta and two whole chickens?" "Of course!!" We started cooking up a storm--class 5 hurricane... There were doubts, but 5 hungry cyclists came through in fine style, decimating the lot of it and having a lot of laughs while we were at it.

Race Day, well my stomach had been feeling uneasy since the rare steak on Friday, and while warming up it wasn't changing too much, but once Don yelled goooooooooo all that trepidation went out the window as we sprinted up the hill. On the one hand I can say that I had a good race citing accomplishments as getting 1st in my age and 11th overall, and feeling pretty well within my limits, but there's always the pessimistic other hand that looks at my inability to stay with Mitch's tenacious and aggressive passing that lead to me loosing him. In the end it didn't really feel like I was racing cause the singletrack really didn't lend well to passing so I was chillin' most of the time in the singletrack behind old guys. That didn't stop me from rallying the hills though...Or being owned by the heat...All in all a good weekend. Now, as always on Monday/Tuesday, it's time to pick up the pieces and go back to work. Adios!

The Euro-Trash Dirt Road Ride

2006-07-09T22:05:00.000-05:00

Craig and I had this brain fart one day while riding and it smelled something like this-put a ride together based on a route that linked up all of the dirt roads that we know off, make sure it's long and ride like we were in a crazy mountain stage in the Giro. So Craig worked out the details of the route and because we weren't going to Mankato to race this weekend today was the inaugural day of the Euro-Trash Dirt Road Ride (ETDRR for the initiated). The one not so euro part of the ordeal was that yes sadly enough we had to drive about 25 miles south of town to get to the start. We got rolling about 11 and almost immediately we start climbing paved hills, but really the one 3 minute paved climb was going to be only one of 4 of the whole day filled with climbing. I thought about giving you'all a play-by-play but honestly there were just too many sick gravel climbs and honestly I can't remember them all so I'll hit you up with the highlights.

-Almost died going down the first gravel hill we climbed, nothing like two wheel drifting at 25+ mph

-Craig's cross bike hadn't been riding since...well cross season and the front derailleur's limit was all messed up and we didn't have any tools--the fix: used a pop tab from a Milwaukee's Best Light can on the side of the road to screw out the lower limit screw

-Did crazy 7 minute sick steep gravel climb that took us to Montana Ridge Rd, only to shoot of on a gravel equivalent that was about as narrow as a car and had corn growing right up to the road

-We were cruizing along on top of the ridge and there began to have grass in the middle of the road and soon opened up to a great view and started going down. I said to Craig, "Great view sketchy descent huh" of which he didn't heed at first until bad went to worse. You know when cars break on gravel the road develops these washboard humps in them (for all ya Wisconsinites with gravel/dirt driveways you know what I"m talking about) well as we were descending down this steep twisting loose gravel road, the road started to have the worst case of these 'washboard' bumps in it. And rightly so, because this was a STEEP DECENT one which, if paved, I would probably be riding the brakes cause of the twists and turns. So I start hittin' the brakes and hanging on for dear life. The last hundred meters of the descent was washed out and I could barely see this as I was barreling towards the end, and honestly I thought then and there I was going down. By all rights and means I probably should've. Long and short that was the sketchiest descent that I've ever done on a cross bike, and I was thanking Craig for the suggestion of doing this ride with cross tires, cause that decent would not have been possible if i was sporting the 23s.

-More gravel climbs, paved descents (thank God), finally three hours in we find ourselves in a valley trying to get to Waummandie cause we're out of water and food. Tough head wind.

-We cruize into Waummandie and find the only store in the 50 person hamlet is closed, but there is a soda machine, so Craig and I sat around slamming a 20 oz Pepsi.

-Decided to go to the local bar (the only other commercial establishment in 20 miles) for water. Sit at the bar while bikers (the motor kind) stare us down and laugh. Got the barkeep to hook us up with ice water and I order a Red Bull and Snickers and Craig had another Pepsi.

-Saw a naked man in a barn as we were cruizing along Montana Ridge Rd....totally random, both Craig and I were like, was that...did you just see...no that...yep that was... ... ... laugh

-Finished out in fine form 5 hours after our departure, 154 average heart rate, about 8 or so climbs over 5 minutes at 180+ bpm. Outside of my legs cramping, being dehydrated, having a sore ass, hungry, and sunburned sitting in the car I couldn't'of thought of a better way to spend my day.

Photo time.

Craig up the first climb of the day, derailleur limit screwed up and everything. Corn growing right up until the road starts...I think next time we do this ride we should start taking actual farmers access road double tracks over the passes-yes! Craig going up a crazy 8 minute climb that we did previously on road bikes last epic ride. After getting to the top we were both like, "how the F(*I#k did we get up that without nobs?!?"I figured if we're going to try and be euro might as well take the helmet off while climbing another 7 minute gravel climb...and being that it was 34 degrees celsius I found out it was a great way to keep the bird's nest cool!

Craig and I chillin' outside of the General Store in Waummandie sippin on some Pepsi. Craig said that the look on my face was that of a child who's puppy just got killed when we found out they weren't open. Yes notice that Craig's feet don't touch the ground.

Well that's it for now...recovery is the name of the game I guess. If anyone's interested, or man/woman enough to come on the ETDRR drop me a line...I'm thinking in the fall. Peace!

Mid-week Weekend Update!

2006-07-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

So this weekend was the 5th race of the WORS mtb series hosted here at EC, and I was going to be sure as shit no one came into my house and beat me. Saturday I road the course, welcomed Chad, Chase, TJ, Matt, and Mark into Murray for the night, ate out at Cancun (awesome Don Burrito), and watched a crappy 'scary' movie.

Sunday woke up made a shit ton of pancakes and eggs for the crew, b.s'ed, and watched the Tour de France coverage. Got to the race course and it was hot as balls, not a cloud in the sky, but luckily a little breeze. I got my call up, and lined up next to Mitch (who I respect, because he's wicked fast and like 17). We got under way and I just stuck to Mitch's wheel like it was my lifeline. After hammering out a lap we start the second lap and while rallying some singletrack, Mitch ahead of me, Mitch I'm guessing didn't see, or judged a corner too close, and wound up plowing into a tree. He went down for the count and I kept riding (such is racing). The rest of the race I was on my own in the lead, numero uno, and catching elite riders that were let out minutes before our wave. On the final lap after putting in hard efforts the whole race, the heat, the pace, the physical demands of the course started to take it's toll. Everytime that I'd get out of the saddle my quads would cramp up, and to make matters worse I caught a glimpse of a dude from my comp-wave catching up. I tried to fend him off till the singletrack (where I could easily compete, if not loose him) but to no avail. He caught me said some encouraging words informing me that we weren't in the same age group and dropped me; I was in no condition to respond. I managed to hang on with what I had left and finished 1st in my age group and 4th overall--easily my best finish ever!

After the race I wanted to die, my body was completely done and for the rest of the night I was still feeling spent. Even in my condition, I did end up grilling out at Owen Park with Hannah, her roommate, and friends. After dinner we cruized down the river on some tubes (first time doing that) which was a great relaxing way to end the day--floating lackadaisically down the Chip in the waning hours of day drinking a Leinie's Sunset Wheat--fuckin' A!

Monty's Account of the HHH

2006-06-28T11:23:00.000-05:00

Monty, as a guest poster, writes about his crazy experience with the Horribly Hill Hundred:

HHH:
Man, what a ride. The 124 miles took me 8 3/4 hours. I consider that a good time. It was the lowest time of any of the Oshkosh people. It was very hot, in the upper 80s and windy. 20 mph with gusts to 31mph. And yes, it was HILLY. As a matter of fact it was all hills. Go up, go down up, down, up, down... I got a great night's sleep and I stated out very strong. The hills were melting away and I could climb them all w/o too much effort. I really didn't feel any fatigue or pain until around mile 75. Some of the hills were unbelievable. Very steep. 1st gear hoping I can keep the petals turning. And I could. But a problem was brewing, I was becoming dehydrated. I thought I was drinking enough, but as I found out I was not. It was hot, so I was sweating a lot, it was also windy so a lot of sweat was evaporating and I didn't realize it. The salt rings on my shorts and jersey should have tipped me off, but when I noticed it, it was already too late.

Before I continue, a little about the course. The first big climb is just over 3 miles. We repeat these 3 miles at the very end of the ride. But instead of turning downhill to continue the ride, at the end of the ride we turn uphill and climb just under an additional mile. In the morning we parked our cars at the top of the final climb, so I knew what was coming.

Okay, back to the ride and I'm dehydrated. My blood is thick and is no longer efficient delivering oxygen to my legs and brain. I started having trouble around mile 110. Really suffering. Hoping the only remaining climb would be the final 4-mile climb. Not so, I had another HARD climb to do, then a long downhill to the last four miles (all uphill) I started the climb doing 4-5 mph. Remember I rode this at mile 8 also and really flew up it. Not so this time. After a mile or so a guy slowly passed me, I hooked on his wheel and let him pace me. Not much of a draft at 6 mph, but it was good to follow someone. After another mile he was holding me back, so I passed him at 6-7 mph. On the previous 10-15 miles my right leg would cramp, a symptom of dehydration. Very painful and all it wanted to do was straighten out. When I came to the point where we turn right to go up the final mile I could not continue. I decided to get off the bike and walk the rest of the way. Total humiliation, walking up a hill. But my legs would have no part of it. Both legs cramped and I could not walk. I stood there leaning over my bike while others slowly climbed the hill. I didn't care. After a minute or two I was able to walk across the street and sit in the shade with my back to the road. I sat there holding my head waiting for the sag wagon for a ride up the hill. I could not continue. My heart rate was low, but I could not catch my breath. Weird. Is that another thing caused by dehydration? After 5 minutes a sag wagon appeared. "Are you okay?" I couldn't talk, I couldn't think, I couldn't be driven the last mile in a sag wagon! "Are you okay?" they repeated. I don't remember what I said. Something like I just gotta sit here a while, check back. I was still a little winded. I slowly stood up and tried to get started. I couldn't get in my clips. It took three revs to get into the toe clips. I was starting out in a steep climb. oh god.... I weaved back and forth on the street to cut the slope down a little. I slowly recovered and could maintain 4mph. I hit a short flat and then up the LAST part of the climb. It was awful. I could hardly turn the pedals over. People were lined at the edge of the road to encourage us. They were clapping, shouting encouragement saying "You’re doing good, just a little way to go!”. All I could do is shake my head as if to say "NO, I FELL LIKE SHIT, I’M DYING HERE” A kid hollered "only 50 yards to go" He might was well have said a mile to go, I could not figure out how far that was. I still could not see the finish line. I muttered "How far?" to another person. "Just around the corner" It was close. I could not look at any of the people on the side of the road, all I could do is look at the road in front of my bike. I didn't want anyone to recognize me feeling so badly. I got around the corner and there it was, the finish line!!!! I glanced at the ride time, and rode to the 1st open piece of grass and fell on my side and laid there! I slowly recovered and started eating and drinking... Proof of dehydration:The last four days I have weighed 170# in the morning. I weighed myself when I got home and I weighed 165# Now that is not bad until you hear what I ate b/4 I weighed myself.

At the end of the ride I ate and drank
3 ice cream cones
3 servings of some good veggie stuff
at least 3 quart sized water bottles of water
3 small orange juices
In the car on the way home I ate and drank
1 1/2 water bottles
a bunch of nuts and Kashi shredded wheat
At home I drank more water, then walked upstairs and weighed myself, 165#I would not be surprised if I weighed mid to lower 150s when I crossed the finish line.All in all the ride was... fun I guess. But, I will have to think hard b//4 deciding to ride it again :)

It is now a week after the ride and I am already looking forward to riding the HHH next year!

It's Wedding Season!!

2006-06-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

So the past 96 hours have been pretty crazy to say the least. On Thursday my bro and I went down to Kenosha to get ready for my sisters wedding. We did the rehearsal thing, very informal dinner following. Woke up day of wedding and went on a pre-wedding run with Tasso, Greg, and my brother-in-law-to-be Joe. Although it was only 25 minutes my quads felt shocked...damn I'm weak when it comes to anything but circles. Afterwards the running crew plus other members of the male wedding contingent went out to Franks Diner. Franks is small, cramped, has awfully slow service, and is one of the best diners I've been to in my life. They have what is known as the Garbage Plate. The Garbage plate (ordered as half or whole...guess which one I got-think lots of food) has hash browns, ham, green peppers, and hot peppers, scrambled in 5 eggs and served with homemade toast. Joe aptly described this plate as, "an orgasm of the senses!" After the garbage experience, chill out with family, DQ, then wedding time. The service was short but elegant. The reception was really cool; there were a lot of hip non-traditional things going on. No dinner more of a schmogazport of food as buffet. No cake, but a chocolate fountain which you would dip fruit into. No obligatory cheezy DJ, but instead a live jazz band. It was the perfect wedding! I'm soo happy for my sister and Joe. I love them both soo much.

So after the nights escapades, tons of good byes at a post-game coffee get together. After Joe and I went to his uncle's house to pick up my 'new' car that has been in storage over the winter. Off to Spooner hopefully. Got on the other side of Milwaukee and stopped for Subway. Came out of gas station/subway and radiator fluid all over the parking lot from my car-shit ballz I'm thinking. I start the car up, engine hot, radiator leaking, turn off. At this point a series of bad circumstance came together to create one of the worse possible situations imaginable. I had left my cell phone in someones car and Dan left so early that morning that I didn't think to grab my wallet out of his camera bag, so basically I was screwed. I asked the dude behind the counter at the gas station if I could use his phone. Called Joe (the only number I had) and he said he'd be there in a jiffy. He arrived looked at the car, asked the guy behind the counter if he knew of a mechanic that would be open. He made a call and minutes later a dude (Adam) in a Jeep came rolling in. Looked at, new radiator for sure. Made a call, found one. Joe and I were off to pick it up. Came back Adam brought his tools and started to tear the old one out in the parking lot. Threw the new one in--bam! Adam, the coolest dude I know! On the road 3 hours later.

I only made it to EC Saturday night, but in the morning I flew up to Spooner for the 12 hours at the Park. In my hurry to get up there I had for gotten my shoes-fuck. Borrowed some from Matt, thanks a ton, that were a size too small so I didn't wear socks. Race started Lemonds style. Lap times were sub 30 mins so they were hot! The first two laps were really me trying to find my lugs, cause I hadn't done anything basically the whole week before. Eventually I got used to the pain as I found out the main difficulty of endurance races-eating. Eating between the first laps was really hard, but as the race went on my body's needs took over as I started eating doughnuts and fruit. To make things more competitive the three teams that were doing the race evened up. Chase, Grant, Derrilick and I made up team foreskin which ended up 3rd out of 3 and way back. Chad's team took second in a heated battle that was decided the final laps. Jez and Josh's team brought home the W with hard efforts being put forth. The course was perfect, the planning right on, the venue great, the schwag bountiful. Mad props go out to Chad, Chase, and all who were involved in throwing that together.

The Aussie... Chase really had to lower the lizard level....

Chad after 12 hours of riding...

My feet after 12 hours of riding without socks in shoes that are one size too small...

The teams, now that's comaraderie...

So back in EC today, letting the dust settle. Basically I need some RnR. Sorry for the length lots happening. Peace.

Fun on Two Wheels

2006-06-19T23:01:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was a blast I have to say, but it wasn't always that way. I left EC Saturday with the Bros as well as Matt and Jez and stayed in a crapped hotel room in Green Bay 0nly to wake up Sunday morning with rain. Reluctantly we all loaded the Blazier up and headed over to the adjacent Denny's for some b-fast. Crazy busy there, ended up in smoking section (good one liner: having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a pool), moved to a fridged non-smoking section, tons of food, and we're off. We arrive at the venue, which they made a mockery of but did eliminate the road race aspect of the previous staging area, to find that the rain that was previously soaking us from our car to restaurant walk now was down graded to a mist. We rolled over to registration. As I was sitting there signing here dating there, I looked up from the park bench where I was seated only to see mud-clad racers running/riding/cursing their bikes as they made their way across the road section. I looked back down at the half-written out check, then back up at the struggling sport racers...a decision had to be made. To race or not to race--that's not really a question. I didn't freeze my ass of all winter, give up drinking and ice cream, or drive 5 hours just to be a spectator. Sign name grab some extra Clif Shots.

Knowing what I know of meteorological trends I called that it was going to get really tacky out there and was going out on a limb to say that it was going to be good while warming up. Partly b/c it had altogether stopped raining and it was hot, but mostly cause i needed some motivation.

The race started out slammin' into some crazy burmed atv trail and I was sittin' pretty third wheel. I was really kind of amazed at how I felt right from the start and I tried to assure myself that I would blow it. I didn't blow it, surprisingly, but I did make a couple mistakes that will forever be engrained in my mind as mistakes to learn from. Through out the race I seemed to be on my own for a lot of it, but at one point I did pass Phil, a guy I was gunning for. He hopped on and we exchanged pleasantries while making our way through a grassy section and down an off camber section. We started climbing the rocky hill and I saw that there were three elite women on the climb. I knew that after the climb was a single track section at the bottom of the following hill, so passing might be a good idea (I say now). Phil's behind me pulls past and says "lets get past them," and lays it down trying to close the gap. I lagged on the response thinking it wouldn't happen, or it won't make a difference, or maybe just owwie, but whatever caused me to hesitate was my undoing. Phil, never to be seen again, passed all three of them and I only picked off one and got bottlenecked behind as we entered the single track. Hindsight being 20/20 I totally didn't understand how dire of a situation that one move was and that it meant the difference in maybe a couple more spots. Outside of the subsequent power outage during the chase to Phil I finished out with a satisfying 3rd in my age and 8th overall. A good race overall, the course-perfect like I expected, the competition-mostly there, and the moments-priceless. I even managed a smile during the race, which normally doesn't happen often...

This being an afterthought as I look at my pics, Jez really was enamored with the showing of BFTs--Got Parking Stall?...

The clouds this weekend were pretty picturesque...

Do I smell a changing of the guards on the horizon...
Enough with the pics. Thanks a ton to Chad and Ron K. for driving. We'll see ya'll at 12 hours at the Park baby!!

Everybody's Workin' For The Weekend

2006-06-16T23:08:00.000-05:00

Another week down in the books doin' the CA thing here in EC and I'm lovin' it- working, training, sleeping, reading, suit buying, bike building!

Working: Well basically I've been going around to all the rooms throughout the hall and write up work orders for everything...again. Needless to say it seems tedious and arbitrary since all the work orders should've already been done, but it a "double check" thing.

Training: Crazy-Craig and I went up to Chippewa Falls to pound some nails at the Spring Street road ride. I remember the last time (and only time) I did this ride...it was about two years ago, when I just had started to actually ride voraciously, and I got dropped like I was hot and eventually got lost and had to ask for directions. This time I was determined for that not to happen. Prefacing the outcome, I have been training a butt-ton more since then and I knew I wasn't going to get dropped, but I was more worried that I wasn't going to win any of the sprints. I didn't get dropped and actually contested for 3 of the sprints who's where-abouts I didn't know so I just kind of guessed. I felt awesome though, I'd be doing threshold and above efforts and not even feel a thing except the need to push harder. So needless to say I think I'll be ready for this weekend at WORS 4.

Sleeping: Well I basically keep my own hours so it's 10 hours every night!! Some funky dreams though...foreboding...

Reading: I've been reading this book called The Map That Changed The World and it pretty damn interesting. It's a historical recount of William Smith (nice name....haha) and how, where, when, and why he drew the first geological map that included stratigraphy. Obviously this book is for a curious and scientific minded fellow, but it was a New York Time bestseller. I'm about 1/3 of the way through, and so far proves pretty good.

Suit Buying: Well I bought a suit yesterday, after about 3 shopping escapades, and it just happened to be the second suit I tried on. Pretty much it rocks and I look "balla' " as Chad would say. Next week is my Sister's wedding, which pretty much rocks my socks!! I can't wait to see all my relatives and finally see those two love birds tie it up (no Joe that isn't a Cubs reference)

Bike Building: So I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of my family (name not yet know).... She's a double lugged Cro-mo Bianchi Brava with Surly flip/flop on Open Sport rear and Surly track on O.S. in the front. Sugino crank with a 48x19 fixed ratio. Since this is my first fixed gear bike I figured I should probably roll both front and rear brakes, especially cause in EC we have a big fuckin' hill.

I have big plans for her and I!! Possibly riding to Stout and back...maybe the Euro-Trash Road Ride....hmmm that might be dangerous, but curiously arousing!?! I'm just super stoked to have a townie bike for grocery runs and pub crawls!!

Well I think I should start on my 10 hour journey through my unconsciousness. Dreams are like a box of chocolates-ya' never know what'cha gonna get! I just made that up...anywho. See ya'll at Kewaunee!

This One Had It All

2006-06-11T20:23:00.000-05:00

The Craig-man and I rolled out today for a little taste of epic. To acheive this feat we decided to drive out of town about 20 miles in hopes that we could hit some crazy climbing south-east of 121. Ladened with drinks and powerbars to boot, we cruized through the town of Eleva to start our ride. Almost instantly I regretted the decision of leaving the arm warmers behind--it had to've been high 50s-low 60s. Starting so far south of town it was kind of wierd climbing the hills I'd would normally be climbing after an hour or riding, but that was the point. The overcast skies, occasional rain, and the cooler temperatures reminded me of a bike tour I did in Scotland when I was a junior in high school. Funny story about that, the first day had to've been like 70-80 miles and it rained, was sunny, rained, overcast, windy, crazy, and I was on my old Klein mtb suffering like a dog. By the end (raining) I was bonked out of my mind, but I did make it to the hostle alive. I went into my room, took off my soaked crap, got into some warm clothes and underneath my sleeping bag, opened up a box of granola layed it by my face and proceeded to eat-but fell asleep possibly mid-chew.

Anyways, so today was awesome I tell ya. We spent most our ride climbing up Montana Ridge, skirting along the top, or slammin' some crazy switchback decents from it. The views were simply spectacular. (this is where I'd put a picture, if I'd not forgotten the camera, of a really sweet relief photo) Up the climbs Craig and I twisted the screws trying to see when the other would crack, but we pretty much matched it up today. We stopped about an hour from the car at a general store, that was crazy back country; some old guy was makin' sandwiches and wrapping them in butchers paper for the only other people in the place. I grabbed a coke and a fig newton for the ride home. In the end we rolled into Eleva at 4 hours 70-something miles and with some blue skies--a perfect end.

Other than riding a lot, I've been occupying myself with trying to buy a suit for my sister's wedding. I think I found one that I really like, but it's pin-stripped, which is a problem since I'm in the wedding and I kind of need a black suit. We'll see what shakes out of that ordeal. Besides formal wear, I've been chillin' with H-bomb a lot catching up, b.s'in and the like...pretty boring.

Just throwing this out there, a great quote from The Usual Suspects, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." Peace.

Yes I'm All Lit Up Again

2006-06-05T16:03:00.000-05:00

Ok so around hmmm the end of Alpine Valley I decided that I needed to work on my core so I can actually finish out a race without my back and upper body feeling like i was just in the gym...or jail house shower. Thinking I'd be alright for this week Ok so around hmmm the end of Alpine Valley I decided that I needed to work on my core so I can actually finish out a race without my back and upper body feeling like i was just in the gym...or jail house shower. Thinking I'd be alright for this weekend with some auxiliary exercises I headed this past weekend to the Big Ring Classic--Holy shit was i wrong. The race started out perfect I'm not going to lie. I knew that I needed to stay behind a couple people on the lead out b/c it's like a road race at that point. Chillin' out sitting 3rd wheel I was feeling great. I knew though that the single track entrance would just be a cluster-fuck so 600 m. out I nailed it past the leaders and slammed into the single track first. At this point I was in the thick of it feeling the whole comp. field breathing down my neck and trying to asses whether I feel good or not. About halfway through the first or second section of single track we started to catch up with the elite woman--no prob just pass aggressively...at least that's what I thought. I was beginning to pass a lady on her left when a dude behind me yells up to her to let us through. So what does she do...move over to the left effectively lapping my front wheel and sending me down. I got up fast and did a running leap onto the bike-chain dropped, tried to spin it on-nil', hop off to find my chain jammed between my crank arm and rings, shit-ton of dudes rally past my as i'm two-handedly jerking my chain out, hop on, hang on.

From there it was a demoralizing mental battle and survival of the fittest and smartest. The single track was crazy rocky, but the ski trails were a road race. I know that a lot of people got flats, but by the end I was almost squinting/no looking where I was going, cause I really didn't care cause I hurt so bad. I was miracle that I didn't flat or outright die out there. I road with Matt from Spooner and a dude, that I'm sorry I don't remember your name, who kept calling me Wolverine. In the end I was 5th in the age group, 24th overall and in desperate need of a massage and some more core work.

After the race Ann (my bros GF) drove me back to EC where I was greeted by a war zone of a room, and not too much food. On the up side though, Christina called last night and we're hanging out today...maybe I can get some massage action from her...we'll see. Peace out.

Take the Night Train with an Extra Pair of Jeans

2006-06-02T11:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I did my normal bum-round at the OC b.s'in' and the like. While I was there Brad and Ben convinced me to roll the night ride last. I started thinking about it, but couldn't compute a night group ride to a good workout, so the only way I concluded to amend this is to ride for 2 hours before hand doing 40 mins of LT crossovers. I went out north of town hammered that out and rolled in the parking lot on 9th at 8 o clock only to find Brad. Peps started rolling in an we were off no later than 8:10. These Thursday night group rides are pretty sweet. Running 7 strong we glided along chatting. I met up with Monty talked about what we've been doing and how much we've been riding. He has something like 4500 miles on now...crazy for being 53 not 60? like I previously sermised. We hammered a little but all in all it was a fun time. I'm disappointed that I didn't do a lot more of those rides last summer. In all honesty these rides are where it's at...I came back and pounded a two fried egg sandwich with two extra pieces toast, a piece of pizza and breadstick left over from my bro--a wierd combo I know, but that's what happens when you don't have a lot to eat around the joynt. Operation recovery is in effect. See ya'll SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!

House of Brew part I

2006-06-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

Given that this blog is called "Coffee and Bikes" I feel that I've really been letting down the coffee chugging crowd (though bikers are of this disposition) with the lack in coffee talk. So to amend this absence in content, I've decided to start what will be an ongoing series of entries reporting on the various coffee houses that I visit. I will preface this series though in that I truely feel that the only way to get a truly 'perfect' cup of coffee is to brew it yourself, but we all know that it's hard to carry a grinder, thermometer, french press, kettle, and fresh beans on every trip you take. Also, the coffee house, appearing in England in the late 1600s and 1700s, was not just a place to drink coffee, but more of a place where ideas and concepts were born and controversy were discussed-a living public forum if you will. The same holds true today. Not only do I find myself subsidizing my standard coffee in take with coffee house brew, I often frequent coffee houses to chill with friends, study, study break, meet up with long lost's, and watch live music and poetry venues. Since I frequent a lot of shops, and have a lot of time on my hands at the present, I might as well guide the Midwest traveler to the best spots for brew in the series known as Houses of Brew. So without further...banter here's entry number 1 in the Houses of Brew...

Nestled on the corner of Main St. and Algoma in downtown Oshkosh lies a diamond in the rough- The New Moon Cafe. This cafe has been the epicenter of downtown Oshkosh since as long as I can remember. Back in the day I remember cruzing to Oshkosh to have a cup of joe there and go to the adjacent Exclusive Company to check out the new ska albums being released. Since my adolescence the New Moon hasn't changed much besides the various politically-charged art hanging from its walls. Last weekend my bro and I went to chill out and read while drinking our respective beverages (tea and coffee) on the plush semi-old couches (made chic' cause of the 'distressed' movement of furniture). We hunkered down reading, discussing, and people watching. Being at 8 pm there was a distinctly youthful crowd hanging out around the tables dimly lit by the high ceilling lights. Large windows on the west and south side converging at the apex of the street corner, are partially blocked by various potted plants and tables set up on the empty stage. While reading Into the Wild, Rilo Kiley mildly plays in the background topping of the urban/hip/art/homie feng shui resonating around the New Moon.

Today I went in to ask the owner (name not being disclosed) about the place, even though I had my own understanding of the Moon. For briefness I'll make a list of the questions and answers to make life a little easier...

Most Popular Summer Drink:
Gritty or Espresso shakes. The gritty shake is made by mixing espresso grounds in the shake where an espresso shake is obviously made with espresso.

Most Popular Winter Drink:
White Hazelnut Mochas.

Musical Acts Being Brought In:
The musical acts are widely ranged from folk, blues, to punk. Most of the bands playing are local, though he said they do have some traveling acts come in. I went to a punk cover show that played last summer and I found the intimate venue not lending well the anarchist energy of the band. Music though was real loud and the covers where of the NOFX and Dropkick variety.

The General Audience Frequenting:
The owner said that he sees anyone from kids pierced to hell to lawyers coming in for their coffee fix. From my observations I see a lot more business people early in the morning tappering off to college-aged chillers and older friends having lunch and after schools out the teenage rush holding down the night shift.

The Craziest Thing Ever Happen:
The owner was woken up at 4 in the morning by a call from the cops informing him that someone had broken into the Moon and broke the atm to get money.

My overall rating of the New Moon is a 8.5 out of 10. Its strong points are the supple couches, friendly faces, and awesome view. I'm a bit neutral on the coffee; they serve Victor Allen's lineup, which is a bit more acidic than my tastes, though I do applaud them for adding Fair Trade to their daily brew lineup. More indicative, though, of a good cafe is their espresso, which I have to say is mighty good--nice head, not too long, and little amounts of grit on the bottom. The worst part about the cafe is their "no bikes in the store" policy. I realize that they've probibily have had to deal with punk kids thrashing on their bmx bikes around the store, but what if a dude forgets his lock? Obviously that is a minor complaint and is pretty much the same where ever you go, so remember your lock. Overall though I'd have to say if you're ever in the Osh-vegas area I'd point you to The New Moon Cafe--the best in town.

Are you playin' the fooseball behind my back!!

2006-05-29T21:10:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day weekend what can you say... a lot of tourists around these parts. The main task for the weekend was some good riding friday and saturday, intervals n' the like, and then help D move into his new place. Let me tell ya i feel like i'm on spring break in his new place...Unfortunately the pool and hot tub are being worked on, but he you can't argue I guess. All I need now is a drink with a little straw umbrella in it and I'd be set. Besides the view the apartment is pretty sweet especially with a bit of the fooseball...
The skinny dude is my bro and the overly huge dude is his roomate Pete. Let me tell you beside being like 260 pounds, Pete knows 4 types of martial arts w/ and w/o weapons and seems very scary, but he's pretty cool when it comes down to it.

I thought yesterday that we pretty much picked the worst day to move in, because it felt like we were being broiled alive with boxes in our hands, but today was pretty much hell as well...I still don't know if I'm a little mentally unstable or if i just have a pain fetish (unhealthy doses of both being prerequisites of bikers), but I decided that it would be a good day for a nice ride...maybe some intervals...By the end my blood was prety much sludge and I was jonesin' for a couple cold tuna sandwiches. I'm not sure if i actually accomplished much out there except improving my summer tan though...On other fronts I'm beginning to formulate a blog series that hopefully will get kicked off this week...stay tuned-your civilized life depends on it!!
Other cool shit, I'm beginning to really like the band Iron and Wine...it's pretty much sad bastard music, but you know it something new and cool. Well I think I'm going to get my ass handed to me in some foose-peace out.

R and R

2006-05-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

These past couple of days have really gone by. As of late I've been entertaining myself by 'training,' hanging out at the bike shop (I can't believe I'm that guy), and pretty much chillin'. I find it funny, my bro always feels that he's being a bad host cause he has to work and then after we don't really do much besides hang out and watch movies, but honestly after last semester I could use the rest- thanks bro for letting me be a bum at your place.

I got my grades in and I guess I wasn't skirting the 2.5 that I was freaking out about a month ago. I ended up with a 3.39-so that's pretty huge especially cause I got a A in Min Pet II and a B+ in Sed Strat. Really when it comes down to it at this point in my college career I don't care too much about grades in classes outside of my major.

Switching gears, riding around the greater Oshkosh area I'm not going to lie pretty much sucks. I was here all last summer and I could bearly find anything that would qualify as a hill. In EC we know how to roll the 5 min climbs at least, here your lucky to get out of the big ring. Though I do have to say, in Osh-vegas' defense, you do learn pretty quick how not to be affected by headwinds. I swear I was riding into 15 mph winds for an hour. Whining aside there are a couple jems out here...
Hopefully I'm able to get some good workouts in this weekend since both MNSCS and WORS decided to have all their races on the same weekends!! Whatever, maybe I'll get a hold of Monty the old(60?) One Man Wreckin' Crew!! I shit you not that man can throw down on any ride over 75 miles.
Funny story, last summer for S and G's I called him up for a ride around the lake (100mi) and of course he was up for it. We leave early and fast. I was cruzin' at 165 bpm within the first 10 miles and I knew this was going to be a bitch by the end. Because I talked a lot of trash around the shop, I knew that I wasn't going to be the first one asking to slow down. So Monty, myself, and my pride rolled on at 20-25 mph. Around 70 miles we had a massive headwind coming around the short end of the lake, and Monty goes to the front and pins me at 180 bpm for about 10 minutes. I pull around, thinking I could help out and give him a break, and he pulls right back around me saying, "I don't care if you draft, but I don't like to." At this point I couldn't help myself and decided it would be best for the both of us, in the end, if I hide. We made it into O-town at 5 hours-see you tommorow, good riddens. The next day at the shop, he comes in and asks me how I feel, I say pretty trashed, he agreed. He asked if I had planned on going that fast, I said "shit-no!" "well then why didn't you say anything, I definitely wasn't expecting on going that fast" "I wasn't going to be the one to tell you to slow down I thought you wanted to go that fast" "So we spent 100 miles wondering whether the other person wants to ride as fast as we were going?" "I gues so..." We both laughed. Monty the one guy that deserves the bike he rides.

Sorry about the long-windedness, but hey it's better than every post being a photo blog. Well I think I might make myself some tuna. Peace.

Weekend Recap

2006-05-22T16:05:00.000-05:00

Finals are finally over, thank god!! So this semester that seemed to go by so damn fast ended with some fireworks. Thursday night my dearest friends Melissa and Melisa both turned the big 21 and had a slamming party at their place--Jimmy Buffet/Caribean themed!! So I found it only fitting, since I'm not one to draw in the lines, to go a little above the expectation of dressing up...The one the only King Triton! At the party the beer and margaritas were flowing like water so I thought it might be best to pace myself with a pitcher instead of a cup...
One of the Birthday Girls is on bottom and Sara in the middle no pun intended. The night was fun filled with dancing...
Ah...whatever happens in Shenan's stays in Shenan's!! Friday came too early and I had to check out a butt-ton of residents, which was a pain cause I still had to finish writing a paper too. I managered to get it done and under my prof's door just in time for round two at the bars. No pics sorry but it was more a post-finals semester have fun.

Saturday I checked out my last residents and myself and made the long drive to Osh-vegas where I'll be staying with my bro for a week or so. When we got to his place I decided around 8:30 that, "you know what I think I might do the Alpine Valley race...shit it only happens once a year and I think I'm up for some pain." Off to the races we go I guess.

I warmed up with TJ who I haven't seen since....December? Crazy that man is putting in a lot of miles on and off the bike!! I'm not going to lie about how awesome I felt and how I had an ok start, but then really turned on the afterburners in the latter half of the race to come into 2nd in my age and 7th overall--cause I didn't do any of that except the last bit about placing. Shooting ya'll straight I felt like shit warming up, felt like shit at the start, up the hill and for the first half of the race. My legs weren't going to do the max efforts, for some odd reason maybe all the bumpin and grindin' (hey my core workout for the week)!! I was, however, able to easly get focused on the climbs kick it down...
I ended up catching up the "The Beast" and road with him for the last lap which was prety sweat to have someone with me in my quest for pain!! One of the cool things that I was witness to out there was when Doug lapped me. Though the comp guys were let out pretty late, you could tell he was on fire! Honesty it was pretty sweet to see him out there rippin it--makes me realize how much more I have to do to even come close! Weekend Warriors Need Not Apply!

So now it's Monday and all I want to do is sit around and really do nothing for the first time in a month. I might think about riding sometime mid-week, but other than that I think i'm rockin' the professional bum lifestyle. Peace out!!

Night Train Baby

2006-05-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

I have honestly never worked this hard for grades in my life. I oddly found a sense of pride as I handed in my 16 page Sed. Strat paper, rock exam, and strat. section at 5 am this morning. The crazy thing is that I hadn't gone to sleep yet. People talk about it, but to truely pull an all nighter is something to be cherished...

It was pretty crazy working on my paper up until 3 hours before it's due at 8 am. Funny thing though is that I'm not all that tired, but I think that's because I don't really have an accurate frame of reference since the past 3 weeks I've had 4-6 hours of sleep most nights.

Yesterday though as a staff we went out to Famous Daves to have an end of the semester thing. Oh god do I love F.Ds-favorite restaurant hands down!! I'm sure everyone else got the picture that I love BBQ...

I am the Walrus?!? Anyways so now it's time to do some MTBing, chilaxin, and studying. Peace out A town.

Total Annihilation!

2006-05-08T23:37:00.000-05:00

Sunday Sunday Sunday!!! Watch as the Midwest's best battle it out for the podium around Iola Bump and Jump Speedway!! Watch as they go gangbustas' up steep overgeared climbs, twisted singletrack, and death-defying decents that would chill their mother's blood!! 30 buck's buys you a whole seat but you'll only need THE EDGE OF IT!!!

The Bump and Jump-tough power driven race. Last year I had a shitty time with a flat tire so I wanted to bitch-slap some demons this year. To get myself in the mood I did some visualizations of the start... With my head in it we went to the races. Pit shot of the Sova's restless and in effect...With a nice warm-up in, Bill (the Beast) Street and I lined up for the start. I find it so interesting how familiar the whole starting line feeling is even though I haven't been at one since September, but it all came back. Quick prayer-something about not dying, and the Beast and I were off like banshees up the left side...The pace was do-able, but the dust was crazy sittin' 15ish after the climb. Lost the Beast when my skewer came un-done up a climb. Tightened up I was on my own. Pedal, pedal, pant, grin-and-bear, flex, and squeeze. On lap 3 I was pretty worked...my back had about enough of this power-climb shizz so I was in the saddle for the rest of the race. I periodically saw Chase who was baggin' the race, cause of no front brake, who would follow me and called me names and made fun of the size of my genitalia. Thanks. Finished out the race annihilated and in 20th (correction) -not bad considering the circumstances. I got a lot to improve upon, though I have to say, outside of the bonked singletrack pinballin' I was cuttin' up the singletrack pretty alright the first half of the race.

Now it's time to hit the lab as hard as we hit the first climb. It's funny cause I have a seemingly insurmountable amount of shit to get done in the next two weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to make it to Cable this weekend...but first Calc-Alkaline magmatic differentiation, deep-sea sedimentation, cross section, strat-section, term paper 1, term paper 2, take home test, rock exam.... But first to conquer--My Room!!

Peace! BTW GO KABUSH!!!

Radio Down

2006-05-03T18:49:00.000-05:00

I apologize for the media black out. Excuss is geology. Last week/weekend I went to Arkansas on a field trip looking at oceanic facies down there. It was pretty cool. Lessons learned 1. Don't be model driven 2. 6.5 brats+buns+salad+beans+bottle of wine=gut rot like a maw and some respect. These next weeks though I can't promise much in the ways of coverage except for the WORS opener recap cause the final sprint of school is on and someone decided to lead this one out early. I honestly have about 10 projects that need to be finished in the next 2 1/5 weeks. Scary!! Well I'm going to rely on some photos to talk for me since I need to get going on a presentation for tommorow.

This is me pre MTB season-half Shriek half Wolverine...This is me now ready for some pain...Almost as standard as license plates, rifle and lasso are a must when cruzin' to the local Walmart...

The calm before the storm at our campsite...I realized while sitting in the back of a stuffed 15 passenger van cruzin' through some small town in Arkansas that I really get to see a lot of 'America' while studying geology...maybe I can translate that to seeing a lot of the World. Well like Chad always says, "the world is your playground!" Well I think i just fell of the monkeybars and hit my head-fuck! Peace.

This Is How We Do

2006-04-22T21:26:00.000-05:00

Last night the Sova's and I went to the V-Ball on campus. For all those not in-the-know this is a semi-swanky formal dance on campus featuring crazy good musical groups. So the Bros and I got all duded up in our monkey suits and took out Mamma Sova and two of her friends to the dance. After some drinks and some cheese we went out to do some swing dancing. I was told I had natural style (that's how we do)! Talk about three badasses cleaning up!! After dancing we watched a couple of acapella groups, which were awesome and had some "breakfast" calling it a night at 2 am--pretty normal night for rockstars.

Waking up at 8:30 we all gathered for some breakfast and coffee. Lil' Sova was still feeling last night...

Chad was calm cool and collected--Zoolander style...
And I was feel kind of chipper...

Off to the races we went. It's been such a long time since I've done an actual warm up and felt the energy and antisipation of a race. So as we were gearing up and I caught on film Chase's secret ingredient...his special sauce that gives him that kick...

I think I gotta start adding some of the "Juice" to up my game. The 3/4 race stuck together pretty good, not too much crazy shit. A guy from GP went off the front like the second lap and just kind of hung out there, but everyone was just sitting around. I felt good and in fact I was getting kind of bored and antzy so halfway through the 3rd lap I attacted. A GP guy went with me. I drilled it like the maw-fuck that I am and tried to bridge up. Honestly I wasn't sure if I'd last the final lap, but just kept it pinned. I convinced the GP guy to help me a couple of times on the down hills since I was on my cross bike (sorry I don't know his name but huge thanks for the little minute breaks). We got on the final stretch with the two huge climbs and I dropped the GP guy, who I think had drivetrain problems. I kept at it trying to ignore the made cramping going on. I wasn't able to bridge up to the lead guy but came in a respectable 2nd place. Not bad for the first race. To date that was my best road result. Previously I'd always been the guy trying to drop everyone in the first 5 miles by hammering at the front and getting dropped soon after. This time it was more of a casual "you know what I'm just going to sit in and see what happens" tactic. I really feel that all the 40-60 min threshold workouts that have been kicking my ass lately really helped out there. I think I did a good job with 'racing your strength' because I knew that since I hadn't done any VO2 max stuff that I might not make it in a sprint, but I knew I could grind it out for an hour or so.

So now instead of going to bed super early like I want to I have to be on duty till 2 am...again. Ahh what would I do if I wasn't 21 and in college. Well gotsta go. Be sure to check in with the Sova's for there report and Tj for his stage racing escapades-good luck. Peace out peeps.

Durand

2006-04-19T21:32:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry for the inconsistancy of my updates the Umpalumpa Union is on strike. This past weekend did some MT Biking, cooked dinner for Christina, relaxed. Today I rode the Durand Road course with some threshold work at the end 3 hours all said and done. You know your near the Durand course when you have to pass horse and buggies...
The course is as usual--hilly and windy. I think the RR on Saturday will be a good time as it always is--early breaks, bridging, uphill sprint finishes ya gotta love it. But today with the sun breaking out after the storm it's a pretty sweet area...

My riding though as a whole has been going pretty damn good all-in-all, but I definity think that this year is going to be pretty good for racing once school stress is cut out. Mad props for TJ for getting the road racing thing down...sort of, but really way to kick it. Anyways I probibly should do something school related. Peace out peps.

Difference Between Shoot Stars and Satilites

2006-04-15T23:02:00.000-05:00

So the Amstel Gold is tommorw...I'm throwing it down right now a solo victory by Mike Boogard. Blam what's up now huh!! Hopefully it'll be a good race.

So today I road the MTB again, except this time I wasn't feeling it all that much. It wasn't my legs or my lungs it was my head. I had this sad ass song stuck in my head and I was pretty tired. I tell ya mental and emotional stress can really play games with you out there. As of late I've just had so much shit going on in school and my unceasing lack of knowledge about what's going on with Christina makes my head spin somedays. I will be overjoyed when this semester's over. Anyways I think I should start sucking it up and keep on keepin' on. Here's a pick of an espresso I had at Racy's it was magnificent. Peace out.

Track Time

2006-04-14T20:41:00.000-05:00

Today woke up early grabbed some breakfast went riding. Two hours later and two 7-layers later I was at the Blugold Invitational track meet to cheer on some friends (including Christina). I'm sorry but she amazes me to no end at how good she is at the distance. Here's her in the 800 which she didn't to so well in, but she made it up in the 1500 by bringing home the W.

She on the inside in the blue. Damn sexy beast!! Tommorow it's on the MTB for some fun. Well peace out.

A long time in coming

2006-04-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

Holy shit I haven't updated in a while....well this isn't going to be a triumphat return-I only have a little time. Woke up late today cause class was cancelled. Breakfast. Coffee. I just ordered some Oriflama-no not the Maxxis tires Sager was raving about around this time last year that sound like sidding on a cheap carpet. I ordered some Guatemala Oriflama...light roasts-I guess I need to know WHY I love dark roasts. I think it has more caffiene than dark roast...if i had the time I'd probibly look that up and seem all cool knowing the caffiene content of coffee but hey this is college.
Term paper's almost done. Closing in on some other stuff. 89 on a Min Pet II test (should've got an A but what can you say there was alot of junk on that test). MTBing it up when I don't have the time to pound down the 4+threshold rides with Chad. Chase man I think is getting wicked fast check out the pic of his chain line. Listening to a lot of Postal Service, Mike Doughty, Soul Coughing, Death Cab...blah blah blah.
I think I should do my taxes...someday. Hopefully I can weather this storm and come out on the other side with some form. Watched the Hell of the North last weekend and determined that I probibly, though i wish i could, never race that race as a pro. 161 miles 26 mph...fuck! Anyways I gotta enjoy my hour away from homework shit and just drink some coffee and enjoy the morning. Can I get a hell yeah for 'early' mornings with coffee and little to do at the present!! Props to Tristen, Martin, Sager, Tj, Sammy, and (to my hesitation and wonder) Kelly!! Peace

The Weekend

2006-04-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you'all hate this but the only way to correctly document the weekend is visually...
Starting off the weekend right was a nice little 4 hours of nail pounding action with Chad and Craig. Craig was throwing down so huge that in a mad downhill rally session he even burnt through his tire trying to get that little bit more speed...

Afterwards Chad and I went to the Plaza for a Shea's b-day party that was being thrown by her parents. Great times, great for recovery. Chad big pimpin' it by the hot tub with Sara and Melissa (Tim by his crotch'l region)...

I was worried that I didn't have enough vitamin C so I made sure to pound down the veggies at dinner...

And finally it was time for some 'real' fesitivites. Tippy Cup...
and beer pong sans pants...

Sunday rolled around with some rain and a stack of homework pilling up. Did an hour or so of threshold work on the trainer (that's right I'm sick like that) and then spent about 6 hours in the geology lab looking at stuff like this...

and this...

Something cool in the mail to whoever can name some of these bad boys! BTW this is what rocks look like when you cut them to be 30 microns thick and filter them with crossed polarizers...exciting times! Well I'm sure this blog has gotten crazy long so I think I'm going to go and spin out the legs on the MTB--urban assult style! Peace!

Keepin It Real

2006-03-31T15:38:00.000-06:00

So last night Christina wanted to watch I (heart) Huckabees so I went asking around for the movie from the guys on the floor and low and behold someone had it. I only tell this story because these guys know how to keep it real...
Yes that's right a Playboy sitting right on top of the Classic Nintendo and if you look hard enough...the oringinal Mario Bros and Duck Hunt!!! That pretty much made my night...oh yeah outside of Christina chillin with me which was killa'!! Anyways I've been enjoying the rest week I'd say, but I think I'll be ready and rearing to go with some workouts this weekend, but right now I gotta go to a forum speaker on marine carbonate reef systems!! Peace.

Wastin' Time

2006-03-28T11:00:00.000-06:00

So instead of reading about carbonates and the controls governing their formation I decided that my time was better spent pursuing more left brain oriented. Two hours later I emerge with a picture-a symbol for all those letting it hang out.
In the end it really doesn't look all that impressive, but it took a bit of work being my first photoshop creation. Well since it's 50+ degrees and sunny I think a couple hours will be in order. Peace!!

Finito

2006-03-26T19:16:00.000-06:00

Well that's is she wrote for our Spring Break Escapade. We finished er out with a nice and easy 64 mile cruise through some hills south of town. As the sun set as we made our way back to Murray this years chapter of base came to a close. Now it's time to crank up the intensity to prepare for some racing. Even though I'm not sure if they read this, to the residents of 137 thanks a big one for lettting us stay and crash at your place--much love. Now i guess it's time to start up with the homework and the recovery that I've been putting off. Peace out for now.

Band Camp 'the ocho'

2006-03-25T23:01:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke up feeling like a million bucks after yesterdays rest day. We had our usual stack o' cakes and eggs, which we all marveled at that we haven't as of yet got sick of pancakes and eggs, and had some coffee...

We were waiting around for Craig to come by at 1 for the ride and Chase (I have a metabolism of two pregnate women) Sova got hungry which could only be satiated by a big ass plate of the good stuff...

Keep in mind that was after our first breakfast. Anyways so we all rolled out four strong, south of town in the hills, felt great, while doing the Euro tuck down a crazy decent my reserve Powerade hit the deck and broke...basically making the last hour of riding pretty shitty. Here's the crazy horsepower at the front...

It's funny Craig (middle) being like 5'5" next to Chad (right) measuring in at 6'3" and seeing them next to each other was just crazy.

Anyways, so I was pretty cooked after the ride I even got a flat like a half a mile out of town, which just really made me feel great about the ride. This evening we've been eating, chillin, and actually hung out with Christina who's back in town. Ah great times. Well one more ride and Band Camp is done for so I guess we'll have to make it worth it, which starts with a good night of sleep. Too late for a quote peace out.

P.S. Congrats Nick on you Podi'

B.C. 7

2006-03-24T20:57:00.000-06:00

Active recovery ride, dos horas, nice spin not bad you know...the usu' as I say. Most notable on the ride is a visit to the zoo...

Also Chad couldn't believe that I went back for a piece of a Nature Valley Banana Nut granola bar that I dropped on the pave--I mean honesty it's a Nature Valley Banana Nut GRANOLA BAR!!! Only the greatest granola bar ever made--a little dirt never hurt anyone and you can't let that shit go to waste.

Well anyways I think I'm out, hope you feel inspired by the Quote of the Day, "By mid-March you should be living in the big chainring" -John Cobb

Sixth Edition of Band Camp

2006-03-23T21:27:00.000-06:00

Well sorry that I'm but it's photo blog action cause lots of stuff happened today, or at least a lot of photo taking happened...

So we started off today right with about 4 cups of liquid motivation to get the gears turning.

Here's a pretty sweet ass part of EC that really most people don't really know about. This is the backside of some factory that I don't even know what they make there, but it's a cool factory building nontheless.

About 35 minutes East of EC Chase got a flat....fixing it took a while so we needed some entertainment...

Hopefully my Mom doesn't see this pic with the car in the background in all.

A broken valve stem later and we have another flat fix, which ended up having Chase turning around for a bigger pump. Chad and I got underway on a route East of town and were seemingly pounding nails, but I think it was just a slight tailwind.

This is a shout out to Nick Martin. We're out in the middle of nowhere and we ran into this road and I needed to take a pic of it.

The ride as a whole was pretty sweet until the last 30 minutes, when the sweet tailwind turned into a sapping headwind and put me in the hurt locker. So 4 offical days down and 16 hours done and we had to go the grocery store for the third time this week racking up bills like this...

Quote Corner->
"Bike riding as little as three miles a day will improve your sex life!" - Dr. Franco Antonini

Bandito Campino Cinco

2006-03-22T18:18:00.000-06:00

Today's route really wasn't really worth writing about so I'll just give you'all the highlights. We had pretty much a constant crosswind as we made our way north to Bloomer. Not too exciting of a town so we bounced quick. Bitch of a head wind for a couple miles, soon turning into a cross wind. Back in to EC. 4 hours again and felt amazing. One of the coolest part of the ride was a bit of the cross action we got in:

And there was this sweet ass corn silo that I had to stop and get a pic of...

And after the ride Chad felt the need to replenish the stores-->

Coffee Corner Time-> So I was doing a bit of the slurping action of the Ethiopia Harar Horse and honestly I think I'm starting to like it. I'll put it out how Chase said it, "spicey," I think since he's a bit inexperienced he was refering to the mild but present acidity. Adding on top of that description is distinct floral tones. Basically what that means is that it kind of tastes like how a flower or greenhouse smells. I think when it comes down to it, it's all a matter of personal preference, but this is a light alternative to the more heavy roasts.

Quote of the day:
"More than any other emotion, melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." -James E. Starrs

Ba Ca Pa Fo

2006-03-21T21:31:00.000-06:00

Well if you peps want to know about how the ride went check out the kickin' post the Sova's put out at SovaBros. Long and short of it we went to Stout (if you want to know how to get there check out our Route) had some coffee and a scone, headed back with some crazy cross/tailwind. My legs felt awesome today, compaired to yesterday so we'll see if we can hit up another 4 hours tommorow.

It was pretty funny though sitting at Acoustic Cafe of Stout because reading about all the 'pro' bikers riding 2-3 hours, stopping at a the local coffee house to sip on some brew and eat a muffin, and then finish out the rest of the ride...and you know what, I found it mildly appealling. I love coffee, riding, and taking pics doesn't that compute to throwing caution to the wind, throwing away the three quaters completed geology degree, and financial stability to pursue the sport? Unless I start kickin' some major ass and/or progress at an insane rate, I'll hold off on the leaps of faith. Ah fuck all that reflection shit. Here's a little coffee sippin' action:

I like my coffee like I like my women: Hot, Strong and Black. Ahh funny story about that saying. I heard it in early high school at a Boy Scout fundraiser where we were giving out free coffee and this old man came up to me and my friend, took some coffee, and laid that jem on us--I've carried it ever since.

This picture is of my brother at the Acoustic Cafe of EC when he visited last weekend.

A cappu' from Racys with some Photoshop mods.

Quote of the Day:
"A mountain bike is like your buddy. A road bike is your lover." -Sean Coffey

P.S. Sorry this update sucks some major wheel. Hopefully I'll be creative tommorow.

Band Camp Part III

2006-03-20T22:30:00.000-06:00

So today went through a couple of stages starting here...

A monstorous stack of pancakes and eggs to start the day off right. Stage two to the bike shop for a hub tightening and water bottle:

Stage three. Time to ride beotch:

After about 2 hours of riding and 2 more hours in the hurt locker stage four ensued:

Really that's a day in the life of 3 aspiring bikers in the midwest who dare to dream of podiums, nationals, Olympics...

Quote of the Day
"There are three ways to pedal a bike. With the legs, with the lungs, or with the heart."
-Mandible Jones

Side note: Thank God for the UPS man he brought me some Ethiopia Harar Horse today!! Taste update tommorow.

B.C. Dos

2006-03-19T19:38:00.000-06:00

As you'all've read Chase and I went on a couple hour ride today to blow out the pipes and test the legs before some crazyness ensues the next week. We explored a little more North of town up in the farm region of Elk Mound. Chase got too close to a hay bailer and this happened...
Yeah it was kind of tragic, I had to pull him out by the boots. Fortunately his bike survived, cause his pride didn't!!

So I've came to a realization today while making pancakes for Chase and I that it takes a lot of food to feed bikers. Of course I knew this, but I've never had to make food for anyone but myself over the years at college, if at all. A little insight, I live in the dorms if you haven't already realized with a kick ass 14 meal plan so basically I get full on lunch and dinner all you can eat meals all week and most of the time pay 1.75 for breakfast too. Over summer I made my own food (which made me appriciate my meal plan greatly), but now that I have to make food for Chase and, soon Chad, I've come to realize that we're going to need a 5 pound bag of pancake mix, 20+ pounds of pasta, 5 gallons of sauce, 5 gallons of milk, 20 tortillas, 14 cans of beans, 3 pounds of cheese, 48 eggs.... and all those numbers are subject to double.

Playlist today: Pearl Jam, Oasis, OAR, some chic-acoustic-alt/rock stuff being played here at Racys

Inspirational Quote: "Sometimes in cycling it's not the strongest man who wins" -Pozzato (Underdog Milan-San Remo winner)

Coming soon--> Coffee time photo gallery compiled over Band Camp

Band Camp

2006-03-18T18:09:00.000-06:00

It is offically spring break and the Sova's and I went far...from the dorms to 137 Niagara St. Big Sova went up north to visit Kevin, so last night Mini Sova, my bro, and I were left to our own devices. Since I was St. Pat's day we decided that a bit of the Black stuff would be in order. My bro, geology major Andy, and I went out for some drinks...yada yada yada...this happened.

So I'm not sure if this is the best way to start out "trainning camp" but what the hell it's nights like these and days after like today that make me get antsy to ride like a maw-fucka.

Also today I half impulse bought half consciously expectedly bought a camera. I've been debating this for the past couple of weeks, so when Chase, my bro and I went to B. Buy to look for an adapter for Chase's powertap, my bro and I went to the cameras to just "check them out." My brother being in the profession of shooting people (with cameras) guided me the megapixel this and CCD DIGIC II that and we picked out the Cannon SD 600. I almost feel bad about spending that kind of money on a camera...so as soon as I got home I had to look at my W2s to assure myself that I just didn't just finance something that I don't even have the money for. Thank god for taxes huh!! So needless to say the site will be having more kick ass pics on it.

Well that's all for today. Be sure to stop in daily after dinner cause I'll be giving everyone the play-by-play of band camp here in EC.

Goals of Band Camp:

1. Ride 20-25
2. Write 2 Essays one on carbonates one application essay for study abroad
3. Sleep 10 hours a night
4. Drink a lot of Ethiopia Harar Horse coffee from Alterra
5. Chill out

Quote of the Day:

I am the reference point, if they beat me they win
-Indurain

Expect the Unexpected

2006-03-14T08:16:00.000-06:00

So this week I thought that I wasn't going to be able to ride at all--homework in all. I had just a bitch-ton of work to do for school and it was pretty wiped out from last week, but I started out small and built it up at the end finishing out with just over 17 hours. Not bad really considering it is my largest week to date, and good timing too. Sunday night-Monday morning it decided to rain/sleet/snow/shit about 6 inches of the white stuff. Looks like this week, though expectedly, is a recovery week.

You know I have to say though this past weekend was pretty awesome. For one Saturdays ride was bordering epic- a lot of new roads, huge climbs, racing the sun back home. I had just an awesome time as the Sova's and I pushed each other's buttons up the climbs, Chad almost had an accident involving straightening his handlebars, and some townline, stop ahead, and bike sign sprints by the end. I think the quote of the day though was of Chase singing to himself something like along the lines of, "I've been in the bonk for an hour and all I want is a shower"...sounds like a country song!! After Saturday, Sunday's ride was quite slow and trying, but we made it in good order.

On the coffee front I'm out (weep)! On the brighter side my best bud Hannah is putting together an order from Peace Coffee so we can share shipping. AHh I love her!! Anyways. Sorry for the gap between post between school, cycling, and rock and roll I'm not brimming with spare time.

Speaking of R'n'R Playlist: Social D, Modest Mouse, Less Than Jake, Dark Soldier

You don't even wanna know

2006-03-06T09:43:00.000-06:00

So i've decided that maybe being a professional biker might be the way to go. For those of you that know me you know this is just lip service, but honestly the shit you have to go through to get a f*&a^in degree sometimes busts my shit up. I tell ya tests, research, papers all of that, I tell ya somedays worrying about where I'm going to ride for spring traning and how I'm going to not stay unbored seems like a viable alternative.

Needless to say i have a lot of shit going on on the school front and also my social life hasn't lent itself relief. All's I gotta say is that girls tend to suck...REAL BAD!! But what can you do, you gotta play the game I guess.

Playlist: Dispatch "Gut the Van" (live), Beck "Guero", The Decemberists, Ben Harper song: Walk away, Elliot 'Motha fuckin' Smith

Digady Dirt Baby

2006-02-28T23:02:00.000-06:00

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!?!

2006-02-27T08:58:00.000-06:00

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

2006-02-23T19:54:00.000-06:00

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!!

2006-02-16T18:12:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-02-15T09:06:00.000-06:00

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

2006-02-09T09:43:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-02-05T13:09:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-02-02T16:25:00.000-06:00

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

Busy Work+Crapy Computer=Little Sleep

2006-01-31T09:24:00.000-06:00

So I was up a little late last night doing some crappy ass assignment for my pro and tech writing class and my browser tweeked and lost my doc, so I had to redo it. That coupled with 8 oclock class doesn't make a happy J. Anyways, I'm done with class now and I'm going to have some coffee and chill. Well I don't have much to say about things except a kickin tech review I read about SRM's new integrated cranks. SRM for those not in the know is a crank that reads your power output and costs about as much as a used car or a new D/A bike. The issue that's been holding up the pros from using them is issues with sponsers and weight, so they came out this year with a D/A integrated crank which satisfied the wigs, but the weight issue was still unresolved. So SRM just came out with a FSA crank that weighs 880 grams, which compaired to the traditional D/A crank at 740 grams is was not that bad, and quite frankly looks cool too. But that's not the end all be all for those who are of the weight-wennie disposition. SRM just came out with a Sibex-integrated power meter that has the claimed weight of 810 grams! Holy crap that's all i gotta say. I mean really only adding on 70 grams for that sort of information and lets be honest i lost more that that on my last trip to the bathroom. The only downfall of the new "Shit that will kill them" (as lance says) is the fact that it looks butt-ass ugly!! I mean seriously, I'm all about form following function but this thing is rediculous!! The Long and short of it is that the next time you see that guy rocking this 3400 dollar crank weighing less than that cheese burger you just ate, make sure you show him or her what it means to pedal a bike and drop thier ass. Be warned that it might be harder than you might think, usually those people are pretty damn serious, unless they arrived in a 55 Chevy, and then you can just remind them that you're lighter because of the serious duce you just took. No se olvide de las piernas.

Bags under Booties

2006-01-30T09:11:00.000-06:00

To all my many fans I appologize on the tardiness with which this updates comes to you. I know you have been strung out and going through Coffee and Bikes withdrawl, but alas here we are and here do we have much to talk about. What can I say I've been a little busy these past days. I was on duty Thursday and Friday, which amounted to sitting around and wondering if I'm going to have to lay some serious smack down, but ultimately got the big let down. On Friday I watched the greatest show of all time BSG (for all you not in the know...you're going to have to stay in the dark on this one) it was a good one, more sitcomy but you know not every show can leave you hanging by the edge of you seat.

I guess since this is a coffee and bikes blog I should tell you have how much I've been riding, and how hard core we've (Sova's and I) are riding in the sleety rain for back to back 2:30 hours Sat. and Sun, but you know what too often updates like that just seem like they stating the obvious--yes we road this weekend, yes it was cold, yes you probibly sat on the couch wondering when the weather man will allow you to ride, yes that is your down under's going numb from riding on the trainer, yes I cleaned my bike of in the shower and rinsed off my bike clothes at the same time, no falling on ice does not feel well, yes my legs are beinging to come around, no I don't feel like i'm on a trail to mid-season destruction with 13 hours this week, yes I think that riding at this point is for mental toughness above all. So I won't give you the play by play but that's a small taste of what how riding has been going. Now it's Mondat now, I turned in a Sed Strat lab write up, sippin' some brew and quite frankly content with taking the day off to do some much needed, and in my opinion, well deserved napping.

Basically when it comes down to it riding, though I do endulge myself in delusions of grandure, will not be a profession; I will probibly not ride for CSC or Phonak or Subaru Gary Fisher or whoever, but my decision to ride reflects a lifestyle choice. I think that my time is better spent sitting on my nether regions feeling the flexing of my legs, the expansion of my lungs, the beating of my heart, the calm of mind rather than doing couch intervals watching Laguna Beach. Well enough philosophising, riding is riding--fuck the man, ride a bike.

Coffee Tip for the Day--Proportions and Temp. Brewing coffee is a science, or at least since I'm a scientist in the making i look at it as such. I will admit that I myself down sit around with a little scale like a drug dealer (or Lance Armstrong--open for interpretations) and a thermometer, but I do consistantly measure and heat water. I say heat water because water used for brewing coffee should not be boiled but raised to the temp of 195 F, boiling occuring at 212 F, to brew brew at lower temp causes the beans to under infuse and have a thin body and to brew brew higher temps burns the beans and creates a more acidic taste. Proportions are just as important, if not more, with french press brewing in that you should have 7.25 grams per 4-5 oz of water, or in "real persons" terms 2 tablespoons per 8 oz of water. Obviously this is a little more object in that taste is primarily a determinate for optimal bean-water proportions, but that's a good place to start.

Other than that all I gotta say is keep the rubber side down. No se olvide de las piernas.

Take a Minute to Un-Fuck Yourself

2006-01-25T09:44:00.000-06:00

Though I did hit the deck, by the way Chad the F'in Wankers comment didn't mean that I went down because of you guys, I spent Monday chillin icin and sulking, but yesterday I moved my seat back a couple mm's and what do you my position felt 75 percent better. This is not to say that my knee didn't hurt at all. The brusing around the side of my knee still ached, but I felt a lot more comfortable while riding. We, the Sova's and I, did a couple of hours in some crazy cross wind, but we managed to keep the rubber side down and have a laugh or two, the title being one source of giggles.

So after the first day of classes I've decided that there are many different approaches to teaching and making first impressions. They tend to follow certain patterns:

1. Intimidation, my loathing favorite. "I get paid well by the University and I don't have to make anyone happy except myself....you are all stupid" -Dick

2. Down to Earth. "You don't have to show up, because it's your money and quite frankly I don't care...don't come to me, though, the day before shit's due and ask for help..."

3. Lame ass Jokes and bad sarcasm "...and when you hand in your essays I'll first count every word to make sure there's the proper amount..."

Among others these were some of the most common. So what can you say it's college.

It's a bit early to make a full judgement on the Brazil Natural Dry that I got from Alterra, but I will say the Brazil Traditional Dry is a bit more pungent and in your face. Preliminarily I will say that the Natural Dry is gently strong with kind of a open body a nice balanced finish....but this coming from the guy who described a wine as tasting like how Foot Locker smells, I have weird associations. I'll have to 'observe' some more testing...hehehe. No se olvide de las piernas. Adios.

Kissin the Deck, Checking Messages and Sippin the Brew

2006-01-23T21:29:00.000-06:00

So yesterday I was out riding with Chad and Chase for a couple hours, not too cold only low 30s for 2 hours and Chad just can't seem to hide from all the phone calls.

Being the stud that he is rollin Hollywood style he decided not to keep ladies waiting. Ah what can you say he's the man.

Other notables is well I decided to monkey around to break the grind and started to pass on the new gravel side of the road. As I quickly found out the gravel was pretty fresh and my front wheel dug in and I kissed the deck. FUCKIN WANKERS! I was pissed. Honestly I'm not an overly goofy guy, pretty straight shooter but in my moment of sillyness I go down. Now i'm icing a knee and taking today off. So much for getting the ball rollin.

On the up side my I got my shipment of coffee from Alterra.

So now I'm prepared for some 8 oclock Sedimentology and Stratigraphy class. Oddly enough the peps in that class are the same people in my Minerology and Petrology class last semester, and I see all of them in my Min. Pet II class at 10-1. What can I say it's going to be a hard semester. Well time to change the ol' laundry. Stay alive and keep the rubber side down (unlike me).

Mad Props

2006-01-21T20:39:00.000-06:00

I have to give out some mad props to Dave who got me some beans from Brazil while he was there for a choir tour, which is cool. He's a pretty rad dude, got his head on straight you might say, especially if he thinks about his bud while traveling to such a great country for coffee.

So today I kept the ball rolling with another 2.5 hour ride. Chad was at the front poundin nails, but what can you say, he's a rock star. My knee has been hurting since I got on the bike this spring and I'm half compelled to just suck it up and ride through it, but a far off 50 year old sometimes wispers in my ear. I'm not exactly what the old fogie is saying but it has to do with being able to walk when I get my mid-lifer. Well for today I pushed through and made it in fine order. I think though I'm going to have to change my cleat a tad forward on my right, but honestly in the business of cleat position it's kind of arbitrary it's more or a "grind it till you find it" science.

Well that bout wraps er up. I didn't like seeing Dony go, but then again I happen to know a little Lebowski's on the way. Yeah...

Two in the Bank!

2006-01-20T22:01:00.000-06:00

Well i decided to get the ol training ball rollin with my enogoral first ride in EC, a good two hours later and I feel pretty good. I always go into shock when I stay and ride in Oshkosh which is as flat as can be, and then come back to the hilly countryside of EC. Basically the hills force me to do low cadence tempo, which after a couple hours tends to suck some major butt. It doesn't help that I'm still running cyclocross tires that haven't been pumped up in a bit, due to me just being lazy. Hey I look at it as a plus, cause when I start rockin the 23s it'll get wicked fast.

Job training though has kind of taken my soul. I'm about at info overload!! I just want to sit back read, bike, and chill for the weekend, cause it has been getting rediculous, but I guess it's important to know what's going on.

So I think I ate some funky Chinese tonight. The General Tzo's has been kickin my stomach a little, maybe I should've tried to take down a whole box of rice along with the box of Tzo's. I was screaming my head off for a former someone and was like whoa that's China town knockin. Anyways live and learn. Some Alterra Natural Dry on the way though I'm looking forward to have some conversation facilitator action. I find if funny though bitchin about 4 dollar toothbrushes, but then not batting an eye about dropping 20 dollars, shipping's a killa, for coffee. Ahhh I can almost smell the goodness. Anyways peace out.

Inspiration in Pixels

2006-01-19T18:57:00.000-06:00

Black and White....hmmm Classic!

The Hurricane is Beautiful

2006-01-19T12:24:00.000-06:00

So last night I watched the movie The Hurricane and well outside of being a bit drawn out I enjoyed the story. I was almost compelled to look on the Ol' Amazon for the book Laz (?) was reading that inspired him...almost. I kind of have a bit more on my plate like job training, training, staying sane, finishing L.A's War, which by the way gives an interesting insight to the real world of Lance, some of the real grit of it all. I guess it's the longest running poker face in the world and I bet Lance prides himself on the facade he's able to put up to the press, fans and the world, but when you get down and dirty with it he just want's to kick everyones ass.

Trainning, well its been halted pretty much due to job training, which kind of sucks because during break I was getting into a nice rythem of riding. Riding has a lot to due with momentum I think. Outside of the obvious physics of it all, I battle to get on the bike come the first of the year, like overcoming static friction, then try to tie days together to keep the ball rolling, and then weeks, and finally months to form a coherent string of what's known as training. By the time I get to stringing months together it pretty much takes an army to slow down the locomotive of fitness. Hopefully this little break is just a just to get some more fuel for the long trip.

Coffee Watch: Well I'm out a the moment, yesterday was the last of the Sulawesi from Alterra, sad I know. I guess it's time to order some Brazilian Traditional Dry from Alterra. If a bold punch in the mouth of flavor is what you crave in the morning this pound's for you. Be warned that once you throw some of these grits in the ol press, it's hard going back to lighter roasts.

Failure to Comply

2006-01-17T18:11:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the begining of what is going to be an expiriment of a blog following my travels through everday life drinking coffee and riding bikes. I hope you enjoy. Keep the rubber side down.