April 2011
3 posts
Nah na na na, hey hey hey, gooooood-bye!
Well, it’s time to say goodbye. Not to the Inane Asylum, but to Tumblr.com, the host site since I ‘took over’ the Inane reigns from Sara Best seemingly ages ago. I have moved the site to a new location that is much more adaptable to my whimsical desires. I think the comment section is easier to use, and the site itself is WAY more flexible in allowing me to personalize it. AND I...
The Hell of the North
Well, today was Paris Roubaix…the Queen of the Classics. And it was one for the books. I woke up at 5:30am and quickly called it up on my computer…used Eurosports this time. The feed was flawless, only when I go full screen (I have a 22” widescreen monitor) the guys get a bit fuzzy…definitely NOT HD! But the price is right…thou I do miss Phil & Paul & Bobke.
I picked up the action...
Tour of Flanders & Montana de Oro State park
WELL! I woke up not quite as early as I hoped today (Sunday) and did a quick google-search for “Tour of Flanders live video”…and came up with this site:
http://www.fromsportcom.com
I was able to pick which language I wanted for the announcers…I missed nearly the ENTIRE race but tuned in for the last 5K (that’s not too bad actually). Fabian, Nuyens and Chavaenel were...
March 2011
4 posts
Bye bye babies
Well…the myrtles are gone. I came home from work on Friday and the very FIRST thing Jeannie said to me is “I found homes for the Myrtles”. Not ‘hello’, or anything like that. She has Friday’s off as she works 4 - 10 hour days…and apparently has been scheming for a while now to find homes for them. (I had NO IDEA she was looking, or that they’d be...
Rain, Rain, go AWAY; come-back again some other...
Well, we are in the middle of a rare late-March storm. It rained all weekend (we got 4.25” at our town over the weekend), and it’s supposed to rain all week with the exception of tomorrow (Tuesday). I’ve almost given up on doing much bike riding….my fitness is as sad and meager as it’s been since I can’t remember HOW long. And then I go to Jill’s...
I'ts a MAD MAD MAD world.
The world is just crazy lately. Countries revolting against their governments, volcano’s, earthquakes, storms, you name it, it’s happening. And right up until last Friday, all we seemed to hear on the news lately was about CHARLIE SHEEN or LINDSAY LOHAN. Gosh…the world is certainly circling the drain if that is the best the media can do. I wish they (the media in it’s...
How quickly things can change
As I type, I’m anxiously awaiting a phone call to let me know if I have a job to report to in the morning. That is the short cliff-notes version. Here is the long version of today’s story:
I belong to a union…yes…collective bargaining. Just like the one that the Governor of Wisconsin is trying so very hard to take away their rights to. I had no choice mind you, other than...
March along now
Well…February has come and gone. And I’m happy about that…it’s been a rather crappy month weather-wise. And I’m not even talking about the REST of the country, getting HAMMERED by winter storm after winter storm. We’ve had our own storms. And it’s been cold. Cold by CA standards I mean. The big storm this last weekend that was possibly going to drop snow...
February 2011
4 posts
Rising from the ashes
Well, unless you’ve been under a rock the last few days, you’ve heard by now that the Spanish Cycling Federation has changed their minds and decided to let Alberto Contador ride again, clearing him of doping charges (meaning he is still the winner of the 2010 TDF…for now anyway). The UCI and WADA have 30 days to file an appeal with the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS),...
January 2011
4 posts
Turn out the lights, the party's over
Well…the Spanish cycling federation has recommended a 1 year ban for Alberto. I’m happy that they didn’t go for a 2 year ban, but I’m also sad because that means that BEST CASE scenario is this years TDF will be with no AC. And that’s if WADA and the UCI go along with that recommendation and don’t appeal to the CAS for the full 2 year ban.
Thinking back to how...
The SKY's the limit!
Well….the first race of the season is in the books, and Team Sky looks to be on track for an awesome debut season. Some nice places for their hard work for sure. And Garmin-Cervelo is also on the map. I was rather sad that Team Shack couldn’t pull off a win…would really have liked for Robbie to notch one for his new team. The saddest part of this whole race is that I didn’t...
Ladies and Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!
And so, cycling seas has FINALLY BEGUN! HOORAY!! I won’t get to see a lick of the TDU though…which will really put a damper on my enthusiasm I’m afraid. And I don’t even have the TOC to be excited for in February…that was always a high point of our winter months. Having it in May up against the Giro still bothers me…we OWNED Feb! Oh well..spilt milk…no...
2010: the year in numbers
Well, I tallied up the damages for 2010 the other day. And I can’t complain as to my riding numbers…they are up from last year. Here are my last 3 years by the numbers:
2008 Road: 3040 miles, Mtb: 339 miles, total: 3379 miles, 169,225’ climbing, 101 rides
2009 Road: 3718 miles, Mtb: 141 miles, total: 3718 miles, 249,647’ climbing, 98 rides
2010 Road: 3555 miles, Mtb: 423...
Goodbye 2010, WELCOME 2011!
Well, can you believe it? It’s a brand-new year, and a brand-new decade! It’s that crazy time of the year when everybody starts making New Years resolutions. Me, I don’t much go for that type of stuff. I’m typically a pretty happy guy. Not a lot of changes that I would make. Off the top of my head, can’t really think of any. Well, maybe hitting the lotto…but...
December 2010
6 posts
Bowl me over!
Most of you won’t care much for today’s topic…however it MUST be addressed. Yes….it’s College Football BOWL season! They start on Saturday and just continue on until the National Championship on Jan 10th. I won’t watch that many, but it is always a sad time for me as it’s pretty much the end of football season (the pro’s end not long after). There...
Chilly Billy
We rode last night (Tues) after work as usual. It was chilly, but not unacceptably so. Temps were in the 50’s…it started out at 58 and was down to 53 when we finished after an easy hour and a half ride (the sun was still up, but just barely). Once the sun sets it drops into the 40’s quite quickly we’ve found on previous evening winter rides. And so, with the stage...
Tis the season...
Well…no doubt it’s the Holiday season. Saturday I put up our Christmas lights. Took me SIX hours! (we have a lot of lights). I think it looks great…no frills though…I outlined the entire house, windows, pillars…and then did the entire roof outline…all in clear (white) bulbs….and then the sides of the house I used the colored strands for the fence and...
Only 24 more shopping days until Christmas!
Gosh, how time flies! November is in the history books, and December is upon us.
First in tonight’s agenda is the news release from Team Schleck (or as I like to call them: “the team formerly known as Saxo Bank”, which will heretoforward be known only by this symbol: ~)(~
Anyway…back to the news release…we FINALLY have official word that Fabulous Fabian is indeed a...
November 2010
5 posts
Happy Thanksgiving!
Once again Thanksgiving is upon us. As always, I like to reflect upon just how blessed I truly am. It’s mind boggling actually. My lovely wife, our loving children (the babies), my awesome family and in-laws, our good jobs, our HEALTH, and the fact that that we have a nice home in an amazing country….I’ve probably got more to be thankful for than most of the people on the the...
Virginia
Hello from Virginia! We are over here once again for Thanksgiving at my brother-in-law’s place. We flew out on Saturday morning, and flying the friendly skies is just as much fun as ever I can tell you.
We went out on different airlines as we both had free tickets. Jeannie got hers with a voucher she got from a bump sometime in the last year. The one good thing about those vouchers is they...
Trickery
Veterans day was yesterday…and our yearly ritual is that I (the Vet) get up and go to work, while Jeanie (the NON Vet but a gov employee) gets to sleep in with the day off. This year I hinted that maybe she could get up and make me a nice breakfast before I go (I typically eat cold cereal and a grapefruit). She thought that might be ok, and asked what time it would have to be ready. I told...
Welcome to the dark side
Well…the dreaded time change has once again thrown us under the cover of darkness all too early in the evening. I must admit that it is a double-edged sword though. You see, I am NOT a morning person. All week long I get up around 4:20am so I can get to work early (so I can put out my muffins and bagels for my LIVESTRONG fundraising) and still be at work by start time, which is 6:30am. On...
Happy Halloween and Election day!
Well…Halloween is now in the history books for 2010. We had a great trick-or-treat session at the house…137 kids this year…a new record! (and yes, I keep track every year…the clock starts with the first kid, then I keep count in 15 minute intervals until we either run out of candy or just give up and turn the lights off when the numbers taper down to near zero). We have...
October 2010
5 posts
LIVESTRONG Austin
Well…this weekend was the Grand-finale to the years LIVESTRONG activities. Last year I flew out with my brother Greg. And Angie (aka RocketGirl) DROVE out, bringing our bikes with her so we didn’t have to ship them. I recall it was a really awesome weekend…Austin is really a bike friendly city. We had such a great time, and I’m pretty sad that I’m not there this year....
Home sweet HOME! (and a scary moment on tonights...
Ahhhh, it’s great to be home again! Funny how this trip of only 2 weeks felt like so much more. Maybe it was because Jeannie has been gone so much this year already…she has been on two 5-week instructor duty stints, and then she went to Tampa FL for a week long girls trip, and got back just in time for me to leave on my trip.
Anyway…it was a good trip overall, I got lots of work...
Pikes Peak
Made it thru another long hard week…worked 10 hour days Mon thru Thursday…so tonight I FINALLY got the Mt bike out for a spin. I am mostly finished with the job here…Monday will be cleanup and pack-out all the equipment…then I fly HOME on Tues…woo-HOO! So…I have one more weekend to ride here. I have picked a doosey of a trail for tomorrow…the Barr Trail....
Colorado Springs
Life is good here in the Springs. Work has been rather busy, but I guess that’s what I’m here for. But I have managed to sneak in 2 evening Mt bike rides in the city park. Last night I had an OTB experience (Over The Bars)…haven’t done that in years! And like the last time, it was a stupid mistake that caused it. Didn’t get hurt thankfully…depending on where you...
Spring into fall!
Well rats. I gather that I DIDN’T win the awesome Orbea Orca with Dura Ace II (Electronic Shifting) that Fatty was giving away…I did anxiously check my email both days this weekend just in case….figure I had a lot of virtual raffle entries in this drawing….and in the big scheme of things being given away, I had pretty good odds. Darn it. I never win ANYTHING. Such is life....
September 2010
5 posts
It's HOT!
Very strange weather. The entire last week we have had WIND, just like in the spring (well, maybe not quite as bad as spring…but surely more than we should have this time of year). And then starting yesterday (Friday) it got nice. REAL nice. I planned on doing a near century today (Saturday)…the basic plan was to get up early (like 6am, which is QUITE early for a Saturday)…and be...
Fall
Well…a lot is going on. The Vuelta is winding down…thankfully those of us who are viewingly challenged have Susie’s condensed reports…keep them coming please!!
Doping…wow. It seems things are just warming up…sounds like the US Domestic scene will get the first kick-in-the-head thanks to Joe Papp…I have to admit that I just HATE HATE HATE it when a BAD...
I'm Baaacccckkkkkk
Glad to see that there was some chatting going on while I was away….I see there is something about a bike race?? Now??? Gosh…nothing on my DVR…if VS doesn’t show it, then how important could it be after all?? I sure wish I had Universal to watch it….but I don’t.
Anyway…about the trip. On Monday morning (Labor day) I drove 3 hours to Mojave where I meet...
Backpacking in the Sierras
Hi gang! My brother Greg and I are going backpacking this week…we’ll be driving up into the Sierra’s on Monday (Labor Day) and plan to do a car-camp Monday night near our ‘hike-in’ point….then hike into the North Fork of Bishop creek on Tuesday morning. The plan isn’t set in concrete and we could end up changing where we are going during the...
August 2010
7 posts
Let the Vuelta begin!
Well..the last Grand Tour starts on Saturday. And like the Giro, the only updates I’ll be getting is when I READ about it on Velo News. The day after. Or the next. That STINKS!
And who does everybody like to win this? I know Menchov is looking like one of the front runners…what about Andy? I was surprised that he and Frank will be riding it. Will Andy ride for Frank? I would think...
Summer in the Central Coast
Well..I am quite disappointed. I had worked on a new post for the last half hour or more, and was at the VERY BOTTOM ready to post it… hit enter, and BAM it was gone. Never to return. And I am mentally whipped so not going to try to repeat it. Rats. Stupid Tumblr. That’s not the first time it’s happened, but it is the first time in quite a while.
Anyway, it’s FINALLY...
Lance, Levi, Leadville and Le Tour Day-Vandenberg
So Levi won Leadville on Saturday, and setting a new record time in doing so! I honestly didn’t know he was planning on riding until Fatty made his hilarious post last week…and since reading it I was thinking “hey…Levi could seriously win this thing…I mean, coming right off the TDF, he’s healthy…and in fantastic shape…who is going to beat...
Sierra Madre Ridge road mountain bike ride
On Saturday I finally took my Mt bike on a ride I’ve been wanting to do for some time now. The Sierra Madre Ridge. I ONLY went in 20 miles, which was a few short of my goal…it was warmer than forecast (the weather people said a high of around 82, but it was around 10 degrees warmer most of the ride, and my water supply went accordingly).
I have 2 links to try…one is the track...
Now What?
Nothing really special to talk about today…we need a new playground something fierce! Thanks for all the links everybody…some really great (and not so great) news items happening lately…and I’m WAY to busy to be searching for it.
Items of interest: all the team moves…the Schlecks and Alberto Contador are the top news. And just what Saxo will be like…will Fabian...
I've been SPoT-ted!
Jeannie gave me my birthday present a tiny bit early this year (being as she is away in Ohio thru the end of August, and I begged). She got me the SPoT unit…it’s a little GPS tracker that I’ve talked about here before. SPoT stands for Satellite POsition Tracker. What it does is locks onto the GPS satellites so that it knows it’s (my) actual position on the planet. And it...
July 2010
10 posts
We'll keep the lights on!
Now that Le Tour is over, I’m afraid our daily banter will slip away to a mere trickle…but that’s ok, cuz even if I’m the only one reading it (which I’m afraid is often the case), I’ll do my best to keep it fresh…this way I can come into work, and after peeking in at Fatty’s I can slip over here into the asylum and read the amazingly insightful and witty IA post. I then (however briefly)...
It ain't over till the fat lady sings!
Well…only TWO MORE STAGES and this one is in the history books. Cathy had some very good advice in her last comment (on the last post)…just sit back, relax and enjoy the Tour for what it is (quite simply the most AMAZING sporting event in the world!) It’s easy to get all caught up in things….and sure, it’s great to have your fav’s…I was REALLY rooting for...
In a perfect world.....
I had a daydream today while working…ever have one of those? I’m not usually very good at multitasking, so this was pretty unusual. It was one of those daydreams that when it’s over you feel like it really happened. I could be so lucky. Here’s the gist, and I will hope beyond hope that it could STILL happen (yeah, right…you will laugh when you are done reading).
...
Andy, kick Pistol PUNK's ASS!
I feel ill…actually sick to my stomach. Sure, everybody has a say on whether AC should have attacked or not. Here’s my take (for what it’s worth, which is exactly what you are paying for it: ZERO!). I THOUGHT that amongst the competition of the bike race it was still a gentleman’s sport. I THOUGHT there was an unwritten rule not to take advantage of the yellow for a...
My glass is half full!
Well…today was stage 10. We are HALF WAY thru the TDF. Just think back over the last 11 days of all the drama, excitement and CARNAGE! Gosh it’s hard to fathom. 10 days ago I was SURE Lance would be right in the mix with Andy and Alberto, just like he was at the end of last years tour. I still believe he could have, except that Lady luck has been beating the crap out of him with her...
Howdy from LIVESTRONG San Jose!
It’s 5:40am as I type, sitting here in my hotel eating my pre-ride meal (3 packs of instant oatmeal hosed with maple syrup..mmmmmm!) And coffee of course. I’ll be out the door in about a half hour headed for downtown San Jose (about 10 minutes from here…I’m at my ‘usual’ Sunnyvale hotel).
Yesterday I spent the day at the LIVESTRONG venue….we had a Team...