How many people are going to tell lies tonight. Lies to themselves. Here is a PSA for all of you who are planning to LIE. Don't do it. I know it sounds so simple to just not lie, but it is not... It is a night of lies. For exhibit A: I'm going to _______ next year. That is the biggest lie that will be told tonight, it is usually made under good intentions, but mostly made under social/peer/traditional pressure.
1. be true to yourself and don't say something that you are not
2. shoot low, I know this sounds wrong, but seriously... lower your expectations
3. don't change anything, slightly modify something... stop smoking crack -switch to cigarettes
The worst thing you can do to yourself is to lie... it's ok to lie to your friends and family, but don't lie to yourself. Someone said that "change is the only permanent thing in life" this is truth. You can resist change you can try to change, or do nothing. It will happen no matter what forces you apply. So you might as well pull up a chair pour a nice beverage and sit back and enjoy the show.
I had a weird year last year. Some of it was really good, some not so good, but none of it was a product of me trying to resolve to do something different. I did not change my life on 12/31/11, it changed in the subsequent 365 days, no matter the influences I practiced. So on this eve of the New Year I wonder what the next days have in store for me. I will resolve to not be resolute in this newest of years, 'cause time will continue no matter the piles and piles of lies that are spoken tonight.
One last final suggestion if you decide to not follow my anti-resolution stance. Drink so much that you forget anything and everything that you resolved to do... world peace, stop drinking, stop smoking, getting a real life, stealing cable, pirating movies, stealing lunch money, other bad things.
No really, have fun, be safe, live to fight another day... year or two.
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
What? Me? .....NO!
This has all been said before, so you can stop reading right now. No, really you can stop... because I have said it once, twice, three times a lady. This thing, this tool, this toy that has many names. The bi-wheeled contraption. What ever it is to you, it is a very important part of my life. I rediscovered the bicycle 14 years ago this month. The snow was melting on the Wasatch and I heard of a Texan that was racing bikes in a place called Tour de, or something like that. I swore off spandex and decided that the fat tires were just the thing for me. I loved to snowboard on the mountains, might as well put some rubber down on them.
Fast forward a few years and the bike moved with me to the no-mountains of Oklahoma. I was a big time mountain biker from Utah, what could I possibly learn in OK? Everything. I sacrificed blood and flesh to the "mountain" that we call Turkey. Humble pie is not a tasty thing. I was schooled every time knobby touched rock and root. Don't get me wrong, I am not what I would consider a "good" rider, but I do have fun and I acquired the skills to do what makes me happy. In my book that is all that maters, anything else and you are way to serious. Have fun.
The problem with addiction is that you reach a point and you have to have more, and once you get more, you need more. And the cycle continues. [no pun] [ok, maybe just a little] I was bummed on the days that it was too wet to ride Turkey and I did not want to ride my mtb on the road. So. Naturally I bought a road bike. Still swore off spandex. Then a funny thing happened. Tulsa Tough. I was already a cycling fan, thanks to Lance, but now I had the chance to see it up close. Close enough to feel the wind of the draft blow by like a gust front. The sound of freewheels on a downhill, the shifting of gears transmitting through a carbon wheel, the zip of hundreds of chains being turned in anger...
I was hooked, even more so than before. Addiction turns into obsession turns into a lifestyle. Admittance is the first step? I'm a sick junkie. Get the Thorazine, find a nice "hug yourself jacket", padded cell for one -please. I look at porn on the internet, yes I will admit it. I go to sites like Colnago.com Cicli Pinarello Dedacciai Ridley etc etc etc. What can I say, I have a problem, and I like Italian sexiness and Belgian prowess. It does pain me so that I do not own a Campy groupo. Oh, to have Italian sexiness firmly in my grasp, with a freehub that speaks "bedroom". Someday.
This is only a few steps above shooting heroin or snorting lines. Eat, sleep, dream. Bikes. I don't have room in my life for anyone who does not think the same way. I surround myself with junkies, I try and convert "regular" people into cycling. If you are crazy and you can get more people to think and act the way you do, the less crazy you look. It's a cult, want to join? Would you like some cool-aid?
Fast forward a few years and the bike moved with me to the no-mountains of Oklahoma. I was a big time mountain biker from Utah, what could I possibly learn in OK? Everything. I sacrificed blood and flesh to the "mountain" that we call Turkey. Humble pie is not a tasty thing. I was schooled every time knobby touched rock and root. Don't get me wrong, I am not what I would consider a "good" rider, but I do have fun and I acquired the skills to do what makes me happy. In my book that is all that maters, anything else and you are way to serious. Have fun.
The problem with addiction is that you reach a point and you have to have more, and once you get more, you need more. And the cycle continues. [no pun] [ok, maybe just a little] I was bummed on the days that it was too wet to ride Turkey and I did not want to ride my mtb on the road. So. Naturally I bought a road bike. Still swore off spandex. Then a funny thing happened. Tulsa Tough. I was already a cycling fan, thanks to Lance, but now I had the chance to see it up close. Close enough to feel the wind of the draft blow by like a gust front. The sound of freewheels on a downhill, the shifting of gears transmitting through a carbon wheel, the zip of hundreds of chains being turned in anger...
I was hooked, even more so than before. Addiction turns into obsession turns into a lifestyle. Admittance is the first step? I'm a sick junkie. Get the Thorazine, find a nice "hug yourself jacket", padded cell for one -please. I look at porn on the internet, yes I will admit it. I go to sites like Colnago.com Cicli Pinarello Dedacciai Ridley etc etc etc. What can I say, I have a problem, and I like Italian sexiness and Belgian prowess. It does pain me so that I do not own a Campy groupo. Oh, to have Italian sexiness firmly in my grasp, with a freehub that speaks "bedroom". Someday.
This is only a few steps above shooting heroin or snorting lines. Eat, sleep, dream. Bikes. I don't have room in my life for anyone who does not think the same way. I surround myself with junkies, I try and convert "regular" people into cycling. If you are crazy and you can get more people to think and act the way you do, the less crazy you look. It's a cult, want to join? Would you like some cool-aid?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Water Carrier
I can't tell you how much I hate reading cyclist's blogs about how they did in their last race. I mean seriously post some pictures of yourself and tell all of us how much you love you. I'm tired of just the total self love out there, and really, if you are gonna write about you, you might as well tell the truth. What happens in races and what gets transformed into words seems to take a transformation that just does not seem to equal the sum of the parts. I'm not throwing stones at anyone in particular, I'm just being general. Truth in journalism, I mean blogs.
With that being said... I raced this race the other day, and I was so awesome I was asked on the spot to become PRO and race in Europe. Just like that. True story. Then I woke up realized I had been asleep and decided to make some coffee and breakfast. I did race a race the other day for the first time in, a long time. It was a un-retirement ,it's not that I retired -I just have not had the time or money. Wait for it, it is coming... the point to this. Don't skip ahead and spoil the ending. You silly monkey.
Can't tell you how good it felt to turn blood into acid, lungs into barbed wire, and legs into cement. I love that feeling of turning ones-self inside out, because one can. It is not a self-loathing torment, but rather a rendering of ones soul on a physical level that has the power to heal. The true feeling of goodness is when you do this with people you share a common bond, or a common jersey and bibs. I'm talking about my teammates. Teammates that work and suffer together for a common purpose. Selfless teammates that know, that understand what they need to do to accomplish greatness.
Cycling is not a stick and ball sport. Cycling is about teammates working together so that only one can claim victory. Yes, there is only one First Place, and there can be only one winner. Why would you enter a race and not try and win? Who does this? That is just so stupid not to try and win every time you toe the line. I feel that there is no explanation as to why I would work rather than win, but it is an argument waiting to happen. Eddy Merckx once said that a Belgian child knows more about cycling than the United States does collectively. There is some truth to that. There are Stars and there are Water carriers. The true power lies in knowing which one you are.
I'm gonna flip it on you this time... in life you need to know for what or who you are working. Going for the Win might mean different things to different people. Knowing your station in life and doing that job to the best of your ability is true LIVIN'. You are not what you do...
With that being said... I raced this race the other day, and I was so awesome I was asked on the spot to become PRO and race in Europe. Just like that. True story. Then I woke up realized I had been asleep and decided to make some coffee and breakfast. I did race a race the other day for the first time in, a long time. It was a un-retirement ,it's not that I retired -I just have not had the time or money. Wait for it, it is coming... the point to this. Don't skip ahead and spoil the ending. You silly monkey.
Can't tell you how good it felt to turn blood into acid, lungs into barbed wire, and legs into cement. I love that feeling of turning ones-self inside out, because one can. It is not a self-loathing torment, but rather a rendering of ones soul on a physical level that has the power to heal. The true feeling of goodness is when you do this with people you share a common bond, or a common jersey and bibs. I'm talking about my teammates. Teammates that work and suffer together for a common purpose. Selfless teammates that know, that understand what they need to do to accomplish greatness.
Cycling is not a stick and ball sport. Cycling is about teammates working together so that only one can claim victory. Yes, there is only one First Place, and there can be only one winner. Why would you enter a race and not try and win? Who does this? That is just so stupid not to try and win every time you toe the line. I feel that there is no explanation as to why I would work rather than win, but it is an argument waiting to happen. Eddy Merckx once said that a Belgian child knows more about cycling than the United States does collectively. There is some truth to that. There are Stars and there are Water carriers. The true power lies in knowing which one you are.
I'm gonna flip it on you this time... in life you need to know for what or who you are working. Going for the Win might mean different things to different people. Knowing your station in life and doing that job to the best of your ability is true LIVIN'. You are not what you do...
"you are not the contents of your wallet." -Tyler FC
Monday, May 14, 2012
Devil is in the details
I've looked at "details" and there is no "v" in details so how do you get the devil? Do you trade the "a" and "t" and throw in the "s" for good measure? I think there is something to the saying, but making sure you get the small steps done in a process is the devil. If something is worth doing, do it right. The right way. Enough, about that. I think the Devil is in the Drink. Lately my life has been crazy and turned all kinds of sideways, not upside down like everyone says. But, Sideways. Like any good red-blooded male I like to self-medicate and hyphenate.
Details, details, details. You drink enough and you will find the devil, he might not be in the bottom of the first or last bottle, but he is in there waiting to come out and infest your soul. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to demonize alcohol, it is, on it's own a beautiful thing. It's when one is not a professional in prescribing the right dosage that one will succumb the the wily powers that are inherent to the bowels of Hades. The problem lies in the fact that the proper prescribed amount changes due to the ailment. This becomes a problem when you reach the Over rather than the Under.
So, in my finite wisdom, I being of unsound mind am going to try sobriety. If only for a couple of days, just to see if the world in which I am living in currently looks any different from the outside looking in, rather than from the inside (of a bottle) looking out. What does this have to do with cycling? I'm working on that as I type and hypothesize, and to be honest it's not going well. So I am going to keep this up until something hits me and I can try and tie this all together, or I could just leave it up in the air and just leave you with a hypothetical.
Yeah, I've got nothing. I guess what I should come away with this, is -make the best of the situation that I am in and noteff mess it up by going crazy. Like getting too much rope to play with and accidentally hanging myself. Here you go... It's like a descent that is supper fast and twisty, one that you have never been on, you want to let it out, but you don't know what is around the next curve. Sometimes you have to apply a little brake just before the apex, but not too much or you are on the ground losing flesh at 30+mph, don't slow down and the consequences are worse, once you see the other side you can get back on it an apply some power. My advice to myself it to take it one twisty tight curve at a time and see where this takes me. If you are not careful the Devil could be in that corner waiting like a oil-slick or a patch of gravel. If it wasn't for the twisty downhills the uphills would not be worth climbing.
Details, details, details. You drink enough and you will find the devil, he might not be in the bottom of the first or last bottle, but he is in there waiting to come out and infest your soul. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to demonize alcohol, it is, on it's own a beautiful thing. It's when one is not a professional in prescribing the right dosage that one will succumb the the wily powers that are inherent to the bowels of Hades. The problem lies in the fact that the proper prescribed amount changes due to the ailment. This becomes a problem when you reach the Over rather than the Under.
So, in my finite wisdom, I being of unsound mind am going to try sobriety. If only for a couple of days, just to see if the world in which I am living in currently looks any different from the outside looking in, rather than from the inside (of a bottle) looking out. What does this have to do with cycling? I'm working on that as I type and hypothesize, and to be honest it's not going well. So I am going to keep this up until something hits me and I can try and tie this all together, or I could just leave it up in the air and just leave you with a hypothetical.
Yeah, I've got nothing. I guess what I should come away with this, is -make the best of the situation that I am in and not
Friday, May 11, 2012
National Bike Month
It's National Bike Month.
Wow, we get a month? I had no clue. Next week is bike to work week, or something like that. If it gets someone out there to bike to work and it sticks -great. Since joining the shop, I have been trying to ride my bike as much as possible. I'm not trying to save the world from global warming, I'm not a crusader. Bikes are fun to ride. It might take a few mins more out of your day to get to work, unless you have a huge commute -in that case you should live closer to work. Plus, like I said before bikes are fun. Do something fun first thing in the morning and you are bound to start your day off on the right pedal stroke.
I will say it again, Bikes are toys. Yes, they can be used for transportation, but they are fun. It feels good to ride a bike, and things that feel good put a smile on your face. Driving in a car behind some idiot doing something stupid driving behind another idiot doing something stupider, puts you in a bad mood. This is why your work sucks so much.
Of course you could say, "But Glenn Duh, what if you drove a really cool car?" Yeah, that would make your driving experience so much better, yeah and what if you were the only car on the road, and you could drive as fast as you wanted? And, and, and... get real you don't own an exotic and your commute is not the Twin Ring. BUT if it were, you might have the same experience as riding a bike to work.
Lastly, I know some of you just can't possibly commute because of our wonderful public transportation infrastructure, or the fact that your employer does not facilitate a cycling commute. Alas, it is not a perfect world, if it were it would resemble a Willy Wonka-esk Cycling world. Perfect roads, with the perfect grades for climbs, cambered turns, everything tree covered, domestiques to fetch water, rain that doesn't soak your socks, feed zones for a snack, cafes in all the right places. Wake up, your late for work, and it is not a perfect cycling world.
Get out on a bike and make the best of what you have. Be safe if you are going to tangle with the auto-crazies. Momma always said "it is better to be wrong than to be Dead Right".
Wow, we get a month? I had no clue. Next week is bike to work week, or something like that. If it gets someone out there to bike to work and it sticks -great. Since joining the shop, I have been trying to ride my bike as much as possible. I'm not trying to save the world from global warming, I'm not a crusader. Bikes are fun to ride. It might take a few mins more out of your day to get to work, unless you have a huge commute -in that case you should live closer to work. Plus, like I said before bikes are fun. Do something fun first thing in the morning and you are bound to start your day off on the right pedal stroke.
I will say it again, Bikes are toys. Yes, they can be used for transportation, but they are fun. It feels good to ride a bike, and things that feel good put a smile on your face. Driving in a car behind some idiot doing something stupid driving behind another idiot doing something stupider, puts you in a bad mood. This is why your work sucks so much.
Of course you could say, "But Glenn Duh, what if you drove a really cool car?" Yeah, that would make your driving experience so much better, yeah and what if you were the only car on the road, and you could drive as fast as you wanted? And, and, and... get real you don't own an exotic and your commute is not the Twin Ring. BUT if it were, you might have the same experience as riding a bike to work.
Lastly, I know some of you just can't possibly commute because of our wonderful public transportation infrastructure, or the fact that your employer does not facilitate a cycling commute. Alas, it is not a perfect world, if it were it would resemble a Willy Wonka-esk Cycling world. Perfect roads, with the perfect grades for climbs, cambered turns, everything tree covered, domestiques to fetch water, rain that doesn't soak your socks, feed zones for a snack, cafes in all the right places. Wake up, your late for work, and it is not a perfect cycling world.
Get out on a bike and make the best of what you have. Be safe if you are going to tangle with the auto-crazies. Momma always said "it is better to be wrong than to be Dead Right".
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Cheers Al
Seems like I am always getting on here and apologizing for not writing. I really am sorry that I don't write more, or have something to say. As if I have something to say in the first place. This finds me at a pretty strange place in my life right now, and with everything going on I should have a ton to write about, which scares me a little. Because, I might be internalizing and that would make me a ticking time bomb. Boom! Boom is not good when dealing with a stockpile of emotional dynamite.
Anyway thanks for commenting and goading me into tapping at the keys and making some words, if they work together or not they are here for you to read. Thank you Oprah, Tom Cruise, and the Jewish God for giving me my bikes to ride. If it were not for putting on miles and riding with good people, I would be a wreck. Oh, and an honorable mention goes to Al Cohol, he and I have become good friends -maybe too good? We have always been good friends, but he is around a lot more these days.
I really would like to go on a rant for about 5k worth of words about ambition, money, and relationships, but I just don't have it in me right now. Plus, I have to be at work in 45mins, so you are just going to have to deal with the complaining in short form this morning. Maybe one of these evenings when I get home before the morning I will crank up the netbook and blast out some drunken rants. Yeah, that will be fun and I won't look too much like an arse, right?
Short sweet, and super vague. Stay tuned it might be another week or it could be a few hours that you hear from me.
Anyway thanks for commenting and goading me into tapping at the keys and making some words, if they work together or not they are here for you to read. Thank you Oprah, Tom Cruise, and the Jewish God for giving me my bikes to ride. If it were not for putting on miles and riding with good people, I would be a wreck. Oh, and an honorable mention goes to Al Cohol, he and I have become good friends -maybe too good? We have always been good friends, but he is around a lot more these days.
I really would like to go on a rant for about 5k worth of words about ambition, money, and relationships, but I just don't have it in me right now. Plus, I have to be at work in 45mins, so you are just going to have to deal with the complaining in short form this morning. Maybe one of these evenings when I get home before the morning I will crank up the netbook and blast out some drunken rants. Yeah, that will be fun and I won't look too much like an arse, right?
Short sweet, and super vague. Stay tuned it might be another week or it could be a few hours that you hear from me.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
U So Crazy!
People who just don't know are always saying how dangerous it is to ride bikes. Listen here grandma bluehair, bikes are not dangerous, that gas exploding engine driven deathmachine you call a car is dangerous. I will admit that riding a bike can be dangerous, dangerous in the fact that it can be habit forming and possibly addictive by nature. Really? Is it such a bad thing? I ride bikes because the alternative would be self-destructive and illegal. Drugs. Yes I will admit that I have formed a habit that is borderline addictive, screw-it I am addicted up to the eyeballs. My track-marks are road rash scars, shaved legs and awesome tan-lines.
It's a healthy addiction, right? Eat-sleep-dream-ride bikes. Healthy? No, I'm sick and I have a fever, a fever and the only cure is more...bike. You know who you are, and if you are shaking your head yes you have it to. Thinking about the WNR makes your pulse race, looking at Italian bikes on the internet is almost lewd behavior. You are shaking your head, is that a yes sir or a yeah sure?
I don't care what it is, but there is always that guy or guys that take it too far. The ones that have to drink too much, have to jump off the third story balcony into the kiddy pool, and pour gasoline on the campfire. Boom!!! Hitting a little too close to home? We in society have a word for you..CRAZY. Crazy can be used as a noun, verb and those other things adv, adj something or others. The way we use crazy is usually a term of endearment or respect. You did what? That's crazy! We don't think you lost your mind, at least not all of it, but we say it because we would have to be crazy to do what you accomplished. Yes, you can probably smell the jealousy coming off the comment.
I have the opportunity to ride my bike with all kinds of people, all of them are crazy. There are a few standout certifiable, should be institutionalized, padded cell, hug yourself jacket people in this group. You know who you are. You are crazy and I have much love and respect for you. Keep doing what you are doing and enjoy it to its fullest. Remember the crazies are the ones who run the asylum.
The next time someone calls you crazy, consider the source and context. They might just be paying you a huge compliment. Next time your coworker says you are crazy for riding your bike, what they are really saying is "dang, I wish I could do that".
It's a healthy addiction, right? Eat-sleep-dream-ride bikes. Healthy? No, I'm sick and I have a fever, a fever and the only cure is more...bike. You know who you are, and if you are shaking your head yes you have it to. Thinking about the WNR makes your pulse race, looking at Italian bikes on the internet is almost lewd behavior. You are shaking your head, is that a yes sir or a yeah sure?
I don't care what it is, but there is always that guy or guys that take it too far. The ones that have to drink too much, have to jump off the third story balcony into the kiddy pool, and pour gasoline on the campfire. Boom!!! Hitting a little too close to home? We in society have a word for you..CRAZY. Crazy can be used as a noun, verb and those other things adv, adj something or others. The way we use crazy is usually a term of endearment or respect. You did what? That's crazy! We don't think you lost your mind, at least not all of it, but we say it because we would have to be crazy to do what you accomplished. Yes, you can probably smell the jealousy coming off the comment.
I have the opportunity to ride my bike with all kinds of people, all of them are crazy. There are a few standout certifiable, should be institutionalized, padded cell, hug yourself jacket people in this group. You know who you are. You are crazy and I have much love and respect for you. Keep doing what you are doing and enjoy it to its fullest. Remember the crazies are the ones who run the asylum.
The next time someone calls you crazy, consider the source and context. They might just be paying you a huge compliment. Next time your coworker says you are crazy for riding your bike, what they are really saying is "dang, I wish I could do that".
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Midnight oil
This will be an interesting read.
I'm up late, the kind of late where you get out of bed because your body doesn't want to be in any position you put it in, out of bed. I don't know what my deal is. So with my mind racing, dreaming -no sleeping dreaming, I got up to exorcise the sleep depriving demons. How does this work? I'm tired, but physically I cannot get comfortable enough to sleep and then the brain powers up and starts going all ape poo. Should I go all crazy and start writing just whatever is in my head? Should I go cathartic and work the inner peace table talks with my soul? If I were really good I could do both and we would all have a Merry Christmas. Whatever.
Lets try this... The other day someone close to me dropped a bomb on me, no, no one came out of the closet. Someone that I value their opinion straight up told me that they were embarrassed of me. I was a little taken a back, or should we say, dumbfounded? Anyway, that's not the big thing, the big thing is, is that it got me to thinking. (insert thinking joke here) Nice one. Yes, Mike I do think. I really started to think about my life and how I got to this point. Most of you know that I recently started work at a bike shop, to be a bike mechanic and to sell bikes. This has been a, let's say dream since I started riding bikes. I can honestly say I am livin' it. The dream that is.
What I really started thinking about was how I feel, and I have come to the conclusion that, I am me. At this point in time I truly feel that I am as real as I can get. This is who I am, this is what I am. I am happy, and I am really enjoying life. I have always believed that you are not what you do, your job does not define who you are. Here is the problem with that logic, what if you love what you do? What if what you do helps define who you are? I'm talking about it being a real piece to the puzzle that makes you who you are, not a means to an end.
I have a close friend that worries that he does not make a difference in people's lives. He does, he is a life changer, he just can't see the forest because of all the dang trees in his way. He helps people on a daily basis, yet feels that he is not doing enough. Why? Because he really cares about what he does, but what he does, does not define who he is. His caring nature is his definition, this is the person who he really is. I know this because I don't see him on a professional level, I see him as the caring husband, father, and friend.
I will never have the impact on people's lives as say a religious leader, a doctor, or a teacher, but I do feel that where I am right now in life is where I am supposed to be. If I can sell a bike to someone or inspire someone to ride a bike to gain fitness -that is my impact. I want people to know the pure joy and freedom that a bike can bring. You know, the kind you had when you were a kid. The feeling of flying.
I'm up late, the kind of late where you get out of bed because your body doesn't want to be in any position you put it in, out of bed. I don't know what my deal is. So with my mind racing, dreaming -no sleeping dreaming, I got up to exorcise the sleep depriving demons. How does this work? I'm tired, but physically I cannot get comfortable enough to sleep and then the brain powers up and starts going all ape poo. Should I go all crazy and start writing just whatever is in my head? Should I go cathartic and work the inner peace table talks with my soul? If I were really good I could do both and we would all have a Merry Christmas. Whatever.
Lets try this... The other day someone close to me dropped a bomb on me, no, no one came out of the closet. Someone that I value their opinion straight up told me that they were embarrassed of me. I was a little taken a back, or should we say, dumbfounded? Anyway, that's not the big thing, the big thing is, is that it got me to thinking. (insert thinking joke here) Nice one. Yes, Mike I do think. I really started to think about my life and how I got to this point. Most of you know that I recently started work at a bike shop, to be a bike mechanic and to sell bikes. This has been a, let's say dream since I started riding bikes. I can honestly say I am livin' it. The dream that is.
What I really started thinking about was how I feel, and I have come to the conclusion that, I am me. At this point in time I truly feel that I am as real as I can get. This is who I am, this is what I am. I am happy, and I am really enjoying life. I have always believed that you are not what you do, your job does not define who you are. Here is the problem with that logic, what if you love what you do? What if what you do helps define who you are? I'm talking about it being a real piece to the puzzle that makes you who you are, not a means to an end.
I have a close friend that worries that he does not make a difference in people's lives. He does, he is a life changer, he just can't see the forest because of all the dang trees in his way. He helps people on a daily basis, yet feels that he is not doing enough. Why? Because he really cares about what he does, but what he does, does not define who he is. His caring nature is his definition, this is the person who he really is. I know this because I don't see him on a professional level, I see him as the caring husband, father, and friend.
I will never have the impact on people's lives as say a religious leader, a doctor, or a teacher, but I do feel that where I am right now in life is where I am supposed to be. If I can sell a bike to someone or inspire someone to ride a bike to gain fitness -that is my impact. I want people to know the pure joy and freedom that a bike can bring. You know, the kind you had when you were a kid. The feeling of flying.
It's just like riding a bike. No. The only thing that is just like riding a bike...is riding a bike.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Chalk it up
I went back in time last night. For real, time travel is possible. I went to the Jane's Addiction show at the Joint. I have been a huge fan of Jane's since I first heard of them way back in the late 80's. We are talking well over 20+ years. Back when Tipper and Barbra were waging war on the free speech of artists, and plastering warning labels on everything and forcing young kids like myself to resort to breaking the law. No I'm not talking about stealing, although it was a thought, I am talking about having to have someone "of age" buy cassette tapes for me. "Hey man are you 18? Will you buy this for me?" How Rock 'n Roll is that?
Without a Parental Warning label on an album was like a glaring sign that the music was not good enough to spend hard earned allowance. The blue hairs in Washington with their idea to clean up the industry had the opposite affect. Now we had the government's approval, by placing a warning label on an album meant it was quality. There was "adult" content on this cassette, or even better the F-word. Tipper and Barb made it easy to spot quality, they put their seal of diss-approval, which was our quality control at work. Now the industry had a standard to live up to...put the F-word in a song, sing about sex, drugs, and alcohol. It was a formula to sell. Thanks for making it so easy, thanks for the free publicity.
Every Jane's album I purchased, legally or otherwise, had this seal of approval. Their album Ritual de lo Habitual actually had an album cover that was changed because of the artworks offensive nature. Super tame by today's standards (or lack thereof) but none the less it had to be changed to be sold. I was unlucky and did not get the first run album cover, I instead had to settle of the secondary run of the sanitized version. After touring with this album Perry broke up Jane's for fear that they were going to become too mainstream and wanted to "keep it real".
Dave Navarro did time with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and also tried his hand at a solo career. Perry and Stephen formed the band Porno for Pyros, which became top 40 with the song "Pets". I ate all of this up, I was so starved for anything Jane's. Perry created Lollapalooza. So if you say or read anything with the suffix -apalooza, or -looza you can thank him. Lollapalooza was and still is a music festival without equal, at least it was in the early days. My sister went to the first five or so, I got to go with her to the 3rd annual one in St. Louis in '93. This is an experience I will never forget. Thank you Cess, and Perry for making it happen.
We come full circle to the email that I get that said Jane's Addiction is going on tour with their newest album, and they are doing a presale on tickets. Reading down the list for a city near me...Catoosa, OK? This was truly a what the... moment. Catoosa? No way, wait. Hard Rock is in Catoosa... Way. Long story short, I find myself last night in the audience watching childhood, adolescent, adult musical heroes that I have wanted to see for 20+ years. Dream come true. They did not disappoint. I walked out of the concert thinking...no way they could have done a better job. I left with the feeling that I saw what I had always wanted to see, and I would pay to see them again.
I crossed the big white whale off my list last night, now there are only two or three left, but none as big.
Without a Parental Warning label on an album was like a glaring sign that the music was not good enough to spend hard earned allowance. The blue hairs in Washington with their idea to clean up the industry had the opposite affect. Now we had the government's approval, by placing a warning label on an album meant it was quality. There was "adult" content on this cassette, or even better the F-word. Tipper and Barb made it easy to spot quality, they put their seal of diss-approval, which was our quality control at work. Now the industry had a standard to live up to...put the F-word in a song, sing about sex, drugs, and alcohol. It was a formula to sell. Thanks for making it so easy, thanks for the free publicity.
Every Jane's album I purchased, legally or otherwise, had this seal of approval. Their album Ritual de lo Habitual actually had an album cover that was changed because of the artworks offensive nature. Super tame by today's standards (or lack thereof) but none the less it had to be changed to be sold. I was unlucky and did not get the first run album cover, I instead had to settle of the secondary run of the sanitized version. After touring with this album Perry broke up Jane's for fear that they were going to become too mainstream and wanted to "keep it real".
Dave Navarro did time with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and also tried his hand at a solo career. Perry and Stephen formed the band Porno for Pyros, which became top 40 with the song "Pets". I ate all of this up, I was so starved for anything Jane's. Perry created Lollapalooza. So if you say or read anything with the suffix -apalooza, or -looza you can thank him. Lollapalooza was and still is a music festival without equal, at least it was in the early days. My sister went to the first five or so, I got to go with her to the 3rd annual one in St. Louis in '93. This is an experience I will never forget. Thank you Cess, and Perry for making it happen.
We come full circle to the email that I get that said Jane's Addiction is going on tour with their newest album, and they are doing a presale on tickets. Reading down the list for a city near me...Catoosa, OK? This was truly a what the... moment. Catoosa? No way, wait. Hard Rock is in Catoosa... Way. Long story short, I find myself last night in the audience watching childhood, adolescent, adult musical heroes that I have wanted to see for 20+ years. Dream come true. They did not disappoint. I walked out of the concert thinking...no way they could have done a better job. I left with the feeling that I saw what I had always wanted to see, and I would pay to see them again.
I crossed the big white whale off my list last night, now there are only two or three left, but none as big.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
I know you
Last night was the first Wednesday Night Ride of the year 2012. This is a big deal, it is a rite of Spring, an annual marking of the cycling season. That's right, right here in Tulsa. A mecca of cycling. It is a gathering of who's who in the Tulsa cycling world. The touring riders all the way to Cat I racer types meet up to do what we all dream about when we are not doing what we are dreaming about.
The meeting point at the first of the ride is swimming in the excitement of the ride to come. It is the "business up front" time. People are airing up tires, checking brake rub, changing out of work clothes, getting prepared for The Ride. We all gather here from our different lives, jobs, families, but once we throw a leg over the toptube we are all transformed into the same living breathing human-machine. Here is a Star Trek quote for you... "resistance is futile". Once you start riding bikes you enter this community, a community that is bigger than the sum of its parts. It's like Fight Club, but you can talk about WNR and you are encouraged to do so.
Riding a bike strips everyone down to their most simple form. You are no longer a business owner, a surgeon, a trash collector, a high school student. You are a cyclist riding a social vehicle that knows no boundaries. The bike brings us together and erases the worldly class structure. Now you are judged on style, speed, and etiquette.
At the end of the WNR, the "party in the back" time flows with adult brewed beverages shared between warriors that just battled each other on the tarmac. Fierce competitors on the road now sharing stories and friendship. Boundaries are all washed away with a few sips of beer. I'm beating a dead horse here, but it's easy to go back to the well when it is this deep. I know that if it were not for the bike that I would never have the chance to meet or know the people that I call friends. Oh, the places that a bike will take you. This simple piece of machinery is so many things, and I am grateful that it has given me the freedom to live.
The meeting point at the first of the ride is swimming in the excitement of the ride to come. It is the "business up front" time. People are airing up tires, checking brake rub, changing out of work clothes, getting prepared for The Ride. We all gather here from our different lives, jobs, families, but once we throw a leg over the toptube we are all transformed into the same living breathing human-machine. Here is a Star Trek quote for you... "resistance is futile". Once you start riding bikes you enter this community, a community that is bigger than the sum of its parts. It's like Fight Club, but you can talk about WNR and you are encouraged to do so.
Riding a bike strips everyone down to their most simple form. You are no longer a business owner, a surgeon, a trash collector, a high school student. You are a cyclist riding a social vehicle that knows no boundaries. The bike brings us together and erases the worldly class structure. Now you are judged on style, speed, and etiquette.
At the end of the WNR, the "party in the back" time flows with adult brewed beverages shared between warriors that just battled each other on the tarmac. Fierce competitors on the road now sharing stories and friendship. Boundaries are all washed away with a few sips of beer. I'm beating a dead horse here, but it's easy to go back to the well when it is this deep. I know that if it were not for the bike that I would never have the chance to meet or know the people that I call friends. Oh, the places that a bike will take you. This simple piece of machinery is so many things, and I am grateful that it has given me the freedom to live.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
He shoots, he...
Holy Crap I have a blog? Looking at the past few days one would think that this was a dead link. Now, as for last week I was praying for a swift death. I had become very used to my toilet, and not in a good way. Stomach bug on a supernatural scale. Whatever got a hold of me took me for a ride, one that I am still recovering from. That's the kind of party that I would prefer not to be invited to, you can keep it. It got to the point that I could no longer trust normal body functions. I lost a lot of weight, for a person my size, you know this fine-tuned-machine that I am. I feel so weak, and I am worried to get back on the bike, because right up to the point that my insides tried to evacuate my body I was on a 20+ day streak of riding that saw me reach 33,000' of climbing in the month of Feb.
So this brings me to the second reason that the blog as been a ghost town with tumbleweeds blowing around. I was riding bikes all the time, to work, for fun, to run errands, for just to ride. About a week into Feb I decided that it would be really cool to climb the equivalent feet of Mount Everest. Feb had the extra 29th day and Everest sits at 29,029' so it just seemed like the thing to do. Not too lofty a goal, and all I had to do was climb roughly 1500' a day (I got a late start). I reached my goal well before the 29th. I know, I will try not to break my arm patting myself on the back.
Everyone talks about goals, about doing this, doing that. I've never been a real go-getter in the goal department, I just kinda do what I want and let the chips fall where they may. Even after making and reaching my goal I don't get some crazy sense of worth, in fact my celebration was no more spectacular than a normal ride finish. Beer, food, shower, and then if needed more beer. What I am left with is this crazy feeling that I need to do something else. Is this the OCD goal maker coming to the surface? Oh, I hope not. It was cool to attain my "Everest", but now I don't like this feeling that I need to do something more. I have to one-up myself, this ain't no competition! I don't want to be "that guy" that is kicking his own arse over numbers on a screen. I don't want to define myself by my accomplishments, well unless I do something so kick@ss that everyone should know whether they need to or not.
I really spent over an hour looking up distances and trivia to base my new goal. This is not right. This is sick (sick bad not good). I've opened a door in my soul that should have remained closed. How do I shut this off, yet still remain positive about doing things? Even now, writing this I'm thinking about riding my bike -to Texas, to the Moon. Turn this off. I'm gonna call a Priest to exorcize my ambition. I liked me better when I didn't care, when goals were things scored in hockey.
Ride your bike already!
So this brings me to the second reason that the blog as been a ghost town with tumbleweeds blowing around. I was riding bikes all the time, to work, for fun, to run errands, for just to ride. About a week into Feb I decided that it would be really cool to climb the equivalent feet of Mount Everest. Feb had the extra 29th day and Everest sits at 29,029' so it just seemed like the thing to do. Not too lofty a goal, and all I had to do was climb roughly 1500' a day (I got a late start). I reached my goal well before the 29th. I know, I will try not to break my arm patting myself on the back.
Everyone talks about goals, about doing this, doing that. I've never been a real go-getter in the goal department, I just kinda do what I want and let the chips fall where they may. Even after making and reaching my goal I don't get some crazy sense of worth, in fact my celebration was no more spectacular than a normal ride finish. Beer, food, shower, and then if needed more beer. What I am left with is this crazy feeling that I need to do something else. Is this the OCD goal maker coming to the surface? Oh, I hope not. It was cool to attain my "Everest", but now I don't like this feeling that I need to do something more. I have to one-up myself, this ain't no competition! I don't want to be "that guy" that is kicking his own arse over numbers on a screen. I don't want to define myself by my accomplishments, well unless I do something so kick@ss that everyone should know whether they need to or not.
I really spent over an hour looking up distances and trivia to base my new goal. This is not right. This is sick (sick bad not good). I've opened a door in my soul that should have remained closed. How do I shut this off, yet still remain positive about doing things? Even now, writing this I'm thinking about riding my bike -to Texas, to the Moon. Turn this off. I'm gonna call a Priest to exorcize my ambition. I liked me better when I didn't care, when goals were things scored in hockey.
Ride your bike already!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Puttin' the legs up
All I want to do is lay down and close my eyes for a little. I'm so tired and sleepy, I might just fall asleep right here on the bike, maybe then the pain would just drift away with my sleep. I can't focus on anything except sleepy tiredness and 4723. 4723 4723 4723 4723 4723 4723 4723. Now it says 4732 4732 4732 4732, now it is 4745 4745 4745. My brain is chanting these numbers like a beat in a club. I'm numb all over, except for when the road points up I feel my muscles in my legs tearing, burning, breaking through my skin, through my knickers exposed to the air. 4788 4788 4788 4788. How are my legs still moving, I'm pretty sure I told them to stop miles ago?
How did I get to this point, laying on the bathroom floor in the fetal position praying for a swift and clean death? Did I not eat enough? Drink enough? Kill me now. I am weak. My body thinks I am weak and it is shutting down and closing up shop. Maybe if I just empty the contents of my stomach I can start over? How pathetic is this? I should know better? Why is it every time I am hugging the toilet it is self induced? At least my brain is not pounding against my skull trying to free itself from a chemical induced death. So I've got that going for me. This Pepsi is coming up, maybe not. A little sip of recovery drink, a little more Pepsi, some more recovery drink. This cold tile feels good, or does it? All I can feel is the sickness in my stomach taking over my body, organ by organ like a game of Risk.
I can feel my legs, they have a few miles in them and a few thousand feet of climbing. Are the miles and feet of climbing in your legs or do they come out like a deposit at a bank? You start your day with X miles and Y feet, and you just keep making withdraws until you are in the red, Overdrawn? I don't know? I started my day with zero, zero. I already had a metric century and 3k' worth of climbing in or out when we met up with Marty to do another lap. I should know better, but there is something about feeling good at the "in the moment" that reduces brain function to "sure let's go again".
Mile 79.8 I stopped. Not cracked, blown up, shelled. Stopped. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have called it a day well before that point, but now we are 13mi from town, and 18mi from the comfort of my bathroom floor. Matt and Marty pushed and nursed me back to the Pedestrian Bridge where we said good bye to Marty and Matt paced me back to my turn-off. Thanks Matt -sorry about getting caught in the rain.
Between the point of failure to the point of being home is a blur of sensory overload. 13mph feels like 70mph out of control on ice skidding to your death. Pedal strokes are involuntary one second and the next are so labored I can't tell if my crank arms are frozen or broken off? Am I peddling backwards? Are those my feet attached to my legs, I can see feet but they don't feel like mine. I know these legs are not mine because there is a compatibility issue with the interface. They are not doing what I want them to do, and they are telling me what I don't want to hear. These are not my legs.
Long before all this happened yesterday, Matt and I were having a conversation about hurting and pain, and trying to explain how it feels to someone who has never experienced suffering. How does one put into words the feeling one goes through emotionally and physically when you put the body into a situation such as this? After the morbid pain and misery subsided, I was left with the hallow feeling one gets from stressing the body, and it feels....good. Not a good like ice cream and cake good, but like I just survived good. I like to call it the "putting the legs up". If you have been there you know what I am talking about. Putting the legs up on the couch or the ottoman with the satisfaction that you have inner accomplishment of physical and emotional greatness. You just made yourself better.
We talk of having a bad day on the bike, but is there really such a thing? I could easily say that yesterday was a horrible experience, or I could say that it was anything that I want it to be. My attitude towards what happened forms the person that I am, that I will be. Can you take a negative in your life and make it a positive? My Mom always said "your worst day of skiing is better than your best day at work". What I take away from yesterday is, one) a good story to tell, b) strength, secondly) I know the people that I have surrounded myself with -are incredible people. Yesterday is history, and it is now just part of my foundation of who I am and what I am.
How did I get to this point, laying on the bathroom floor in the fetal position praying for a swift and clean death? Did I not eat enough? Drink enough? Kill me now. I am weak. My body thinks I am weak and it is shutting down and closing up shop. Maybe if I just empty the contents of my stomach I can start over? How pathetic is this? I should know better? Why is it every time I am hugging the toilet it is self induced? At least my brain is not pounding against my skull trying to free itself from a chemical induced death. So I've got that going for me. This Pepsi is coming up, maybe not. A little sip of recovery drink, a little more Pepsi, some more recovery drink. This cold tile feels good, or does it? All I can feel is the sickness in my stomach taking over my body, organ by organ like a game of Risk.
I can feel my legs, they have a few miles in them and a few thousand feet of climbing. Are the miles and feet of climbing in your legs or do they come out like a deposit at a bank? You start your day with X miles and Y feet, and you just keep making withdraws until you are in the red, Overdrawn? I don't know? I started my day with zero, zero. I already had a metric century and 3k' worth of climbing in or out when we met up with Marty to do another lap. I should know better, but there is something about feeling good at the "in the moment" that reduces brain function to "sure let's go again".
Mile 79.8 I stopped. Not cracked, blown up, shelled. Stopped. Hindsight is 20/20 and I should have called it a day well before that point, but now we are 13mi from town, and 18mi from the comfort of my bathroom floor. Matt and Marty pushed and nursed me back to the Pedestrian Bridge where we said good bye to Marty and Matt paced me back to my turn-off. Thanks Matt -sorry about getting caught in the rain.
Between the point of failure to the point of being home is a blur of sensory overload. 13mph feels like 70mph out of control on ice skidding to your death. Pedal strokes are involuntary one second and the next are so labored I can't tell if my crank arms are frozen or broken off? Am I peddling backwards? Are those my feet attached to my legs, I can see feet but they don't feel like mine. I know these legs are not mine because there is a compatibility issue with the interface. They are not doing what I want them to do, and they are telling me what I don't want to hear. These are not my legs.
Long before all this happened yesterday, Matt and I were having a conversation about hurting and pain, and trying to explain how it feels to someone who has never experienced suffering. How does one put into words the feeling one goes through emotionally and physically when you put the body into a situation such as this? After the morbid pain and misery subsided, I was left with the hallow feeling one gets from stressing the body, and it feels....good. Not a good like ice cream and cake good, but like I just survived good. I like to call it the "putting the legs up". If you have been there you know what I am talking about. Putting the legs up on the couch or the ottoman with the satisfaction that you have inner accomplishment of physical and emotional greatness. You just made yourself better.
We talk of having a bad day on the bike, but is there really such a thing? I could easily say that yesterday was a horrible experience, or I could say that it was anything that I want it to be. My attitude towards what happened forms the person that I am, that I will be. Can you take a negative in your life and make it a positive? My Mom always said "your worst day of skiing is better than your best day at work". What I take away from yesterday is, one) a good story to tell, b) strength, secondly) I know the people that I have surrounded myself with -are incredible people. Yesterday is history, and it is now just part of my foundation of who I am and what I am.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Have you met Matt?
I am always skeptical when people say "he's the nicest guy" "they are great", you know all that nice crap. Anytime I hear the name Matt Carnal it is always followed by something flowery and sweet, like he is every one's best friend. I have always been 6 degrees away from Matt, so I don't know that much about him. I do know the dark side of Matt, the underlying layer of the onion. That's right the part that will make you cry, not out of sadness. Out of Pain.
This is an unofficial view of the person we call Coach, Matt, King of Strava, and other things behind his back -because you would never say it to his face for fear he will rip your legs off and beat you with them. Actually people that call Matt "Coach" allow him to rip their legs off... willingly. I know how crazy is that? I have only had a peripheral friendship with Matt and for what I knew of him he is a stand-up guy. Never have I heard anyone talk about Matt in any other light.
Most recently I started following Matt on Strava.com and he was involved in the Base Mile Blast. This was a challenge to see how many miles one could accumulate in a set time (Jan6-31). Matt put in 3,347mi and his last ride was cancelled due to mechanical issues. He was only planning on riding the great state of Oklahoma from South to North. No big deal, Right? Even without putting in miles that he wanted on the last day, Matt had a lead of 981mi. Not bad. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention that Matt is gearing up/training for RAAM. Now we can officially add "Crazy" to the things we call Matt.
Matt's dark side, let's get to the juicy tabloid stuff... Matt has been coming by the shop and getting some work done on bikes and what not. He has invited me to ride, so I decided to meet up with him yesterday for a little ride, I would turn around and he would continue. I rode to the meeting point and Chad showed up to ride with us. Chad and I chatted and then Matt showed. We headed out in the light rain/heavy mist on the trail and then made a slight detour to head West. In conversation something was mentioned about my wanting to climb 29,000' in a month. Matt said he would like to do that in a weekend, and he could, and probably will.
The lights started to go dim around mile 62, I'm pretty sure Matt was just getting warmed up. He rode 100+ the day before, I commuted 10mi. I did my best "keep calm...", and then I was shelled, literally and figuratively. Matt and Chad slowed to allow me to catch, and I told them to leave me, "I'm a big boy, I know my way home, don't want to slow you down." Matt would have nothing of it. Here is the guy that has been ripping my legs off and turning me inside out for the last 2-3hrs and now he is playing the nice guy routine. This is the genuine Matt. This is what makes him such a great coach, he knows how to motivate you all bad guy style and then when you need it most he can be there for you. Not a crutch, but a gentle push.
Riding bikes has allowed me to meet all kinds, types of people. The bike is the vehicle that brings people together. If you have not met Matt, you should. He is as exactly as billed. Don't be fooled by the names people call him. Beast, Machine, Evil, Crazy, these are how he rides the bike -not who he is.
Follow Matt on Strava.com
Follow Matt on Twitter
I hope to do a follow up actual interview, a first for sprintingthebelllap
This is an unofficial view of the person we call Coach, Matt, King of Strava, and other things behind his back -because you would never say it to his face for fear he will rip your legs off and beat you with them. Actually people that call Matt "Coach" allow him to rip their legs off... willingly. I know how crazy is that? I have only had a peripheral friendship with Matt and for what I knew of him he is a stand-up guy. Never have I heard anyone talk about Matt in any other light.
Most recently I started following Matt on Strava.com and he was involved in the Base Mile Blast. This was a challenge to see how many miles one could accumulate in a set time (Jan6-31). Matt put in 3,347mi and his last ride was cancelled due to mechanical issues. He was only planning on riding the great state of Oklahoma from South to North. No big deal, Right? Even without putting in miles that he wanted on the last day, Matt had a lead of 981mi. Not bad. Oh, yeah I forgot to mention that Matt is gearing up/training for RAAM. Now we can officially add "Crazy" to the things we call Matt.
Matt's dark side, let's get to the juicy tabloid stuff... Matt has been coming by the shop and getting some work done on bikes and what not. He has invited me to ride, so I decided to meet up with him yesterday for a little ride, I would turn around and he would continue. I rode to the meeting point and Chad showed up to ride with us. Chad and I chatted and then Matt showed. We headed out in the light rain/heavy mist on the trail and then made a slight detour to head West. In conversation something was mentioned about my wanting to climb 29,000' in a month. Matt said he would like to do that in a weekend, and he could, and probably will.
The lights started to go dim around mile 62, I'm pretty sure Matt was just getting warmed up. He rode 100+ the day before, I commuted 10mi. I did my best "keep calm...", and then I was shelled, literally and figuratively. Matt and Chad slowed to allow me to catch, and I told them to leave me, "I'm a big boy, I know my way home, don't want to slow you down." Matt would have nothing of it. Here is the guy that has been ripping my legs off and turning me inside out for the last 2-3hrs and now he is playing the nice guy routine. This is the genuine Matt. This is what makes him such a great coach, he knows how to motivate you all bad guy style and then when you need it most he can be there for you. Not a crutch, but a gentle push.
Riding bikes has allowed me to meet all kinds, types of people. The bike is the vehicle that brings people together. If you have not met Matt, you should. He is as exactly as billed. Don't be fooled by the names people call him. Beast, Machine, Evil, Crazy, these are how he rides the bike -not who he is.
Follow Matt on Strava.com
Follow Matt on Twitter
I hope to do a follow up actual interview, a first for sprintingthebelllap
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Goalllllllllllllll!
I'm not exactly sure what I am going to do with myself, I know there is a few of you out there that would love to comment on that. Feel free, there is a tab for that at the end of this post. Any who, working at the shop is going to take a chunk out of my racing, I knew this going in. Keep reading, I'm not whining. Promise. I'm in a state of cycling limbo, I want to be out racing with my team, but I wont be, so... do I need to train? I am not currently training, I am just riding. I feel great, and I am having a blast riding my bikes. Isn't that what it is all about?
I guess my problem is that my mates are out there training and racing and they are gonna ride circles around me. I mean I have a rep to maintain. Pride, what a double edged sword. It's hard to wrap my head around. This is one of those times when you have to "check yourself". What am I doing this to gain, why do I do this, what am I trying to prove? The soul searching questions like, which came first the chicken or the egg? For me all the answers are on the bike, or found while on the bike.
Goals. Two years ago I did what "they" tell you to do and I wrote my goals down. I didn't meet one of them. Last year, I had no goals other than race a lot, and help my teammates in races. Check and check. This year is a mixed bag. If I were forced at gunpoint to write something down it would look like this...
Accepting ideas and sponsorships
I guess my problem is that my mates are out there training and racing and they are gonna ride circles around me. I mean I have a rep to maintain. Pride, what a double edged sword. It's hard to wrap my head around. This is one of those times when you have to "check yourself". What am I doing this to gain, why do I do this, what am I trying to prove? The soul searching questions like, which came first the chicken or the egg? For me all the answers are on the bike, or found while on the bike.
Goals. Two years ago I did what "they" tell you to do and I wrote my goals down. I didn't meet one of them. Last year, I had no goals other than race a lot, and help my teammates in races. Check and check. This year is a mixed bag. If I were forced at gunpoint to write something down it would look like this...
- Ride my bikes
- Use the bike for commuting as much as possible (3mi rule)
- Be a bike advocate
- Ride with anyone regardless their ability
- Have fun
Accepting ideas and sponsorships
Friday, February 10, 2012
Smackdown
My wife and I got my Dad tickets to go see WWE Smackdown for his birthday/Christmas. I would also go with him, you know for company. He can't go by himself. Dad is a huge fan of the 'rastling. Watches it religiously. Since before Hulk, Andre, and the WWF Dad would watch. With the advent of the VCR he could "tape it" and watch it later, and now with the DVR and Dish network he is set up.
Yes, we used to bug him with the "is it Real" questions, and how stupid the conversations were. Over the years I have made peace with the authenticity, and have embraced the entertainment value. Whatever that value may be, my Dad is entertained by it, and that is all that matters. Right? I think it is great that he has something that is his joy. The last several trips to Texas that I have made have involved several hours of watching 'rastling with my Dad. Like anything on TV if I watch it long enough I get into it, or just get used to it.
I went into this WWE "project" as something for my Dad, and I wanted to go into it with a good attitude. I love my Dad and want to support him, the way he has supported me all my life. I was going to enjoy going to the 'rastling matches, if it killed my sensibilities. At first I was going to make a joke of the whole thing, but then I realized that, this is something that my Dad is into. So, I can't make a joke of something that is part of my Dad, no matter what I think about it.
After going to see the WWE, I have made some changes to my thinking. A) The people that go to watch are just as diverse as any sporting event involving a winner and a loser. I saw everything there. All walks of life, and yes I wanted to document it all on film, but that would make me and A-hole. One can throw classifications around all day, just be careful that you don't get hit by them yourself. "People who live in glass houses -shouldn't throw rocks" The average 'rastling fan is there to be entertained. And you know what? It is entertaining. The fans love it and the WWE spoon-feeds them what they want. It is like the most base common denominator entertainment, but it works, and works well. Is it simple, yes -but it works. I cannot hate on these people because of my system of entertainment. They love what they love, and it is to be entertained. Plain and simple. Don't judge.
2) I was entertained. I had a great time. Do you know how cathartic it is to Boo the villain? Cheer the hero? I found out that clapping or chanting someones name they gain strength and can whoop anyone. It is amazing, I think the next time someone needs CPR, I'm just going to clap and chant their name. This multi-million $ enterprise sells a great product, and they do it a lot. They are playing a show almost every-other night. I am impressed with this business. Not a fan, but I was entertained. I would go back. It is base, simple, and no matter the authenticity it is pure. Pure entertainment.
Yes, we used to bug him with the "is it Real" questions, and how stupid the conversations were. Over the years I have made peace with the authenticity, and have embraced the entertainment value. Whatever that value may be, my Dad is entertained by it, and that is all that matters. Right? I think it is great that he has something that is his joy. The last several trips to Texas that I have made have involved several hours of watching 'rastling with my Dad. Like anything on TV if I watch it long enough I get into it, or just get used to it.
I went into this WWE "project" as something for my Dad, and I wanted to go into it with a good attitude. I love my Dad and want to support him, the way he has supported me all my life. I was going to enjoy going to the 'rastling matches, if it killed my sensibilities. At first I was going to make a joke of the whole thing, but then I realized that, this is something that my Dad is into. So, I can't make a joke of something that is part of my Dad, no matter what I think about it.
After going to see the WWE, I have made some changes to my thinking. A) The people that go to watch are just as diverse as any sporting event involving a winner and a loser. I saw everything there. All walks of life, and yes I wanted to document it all on film, but that would make me and A-hole. One can throw classifications around all day, just be careful that you don't get hit by them yourself. "People who live in glass houses -shouldn't throw rocks" The average 'rastling fan is there to be entertained. And you know what? It is entertaining. The fans love it and the WWE spoon-feeds them what they want. It is like the most base common denominator entertainment, but it works, and works well. Is it simple, yes -but it works. I cannot hate on these people because of my system of entertainment. They love what they love, and it is to be entertained. Plain and simple. Don't judge.
2) I was entertained. I had a great time. Do you know how cathartic it is to Boo the villain? Cheer the hero? I found out that clapping or chanting someones name they gain strength and can whoop anyone. It is amazing, I think the next time someone needs CPR, I'm just going to clap and chant their name. This multi-million $ enterprise sells a great product, and they do it a lot. They are playing a show almost every-other night. I am impressed with this business. Not a fan, but I was entertained. I would go back. It is base, simple, and no matter the authenticity it is pure. Pure entertainment.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
I want to...
I've been to the well, and the well has gone dry.
Sometimes I just don't have anything to say, or feel like what I do have is not worth the effort. With that being said, I am putting the caffeine levels at max, chaining myself to the chair and putting letters on a glowing screen in no particular order. If they happen to form words and sentences and a paragraph or two then I will have a small success. Like clearing the first level of Mario Bros. Yeah, kinda like that.
It's not that I don't have the time. Between loads of laundry, vacuuming, dishes, cooking, brewing, riding bikes, and working at the shop, I really do have time. I do. I don't know what has been my problem? Desire? ADHD? Not drinking enough? Maybe I have too much to write about and it had clogged the well and nothing is going to come out? Is that even possible? With all the bike riding I have been doing, I have written hundreds of things in my head, if I could only get it in a readable format for you. My reader. All three of you, and Mike.
With my new phase of life working at the shop it has put a question mark on my super fabulous career as a Cat IV bike racer. I am OK with this. I want to race bikes, but I don't need to race bikes. Going into this race season I have put all training on hold, an indefinite hold because I don't know when, where, or how I will be racing. I have done zero intervals, I have looked at my HR but only out of curiosity, and watts are just numbers on a screen. I have 0 trainer miles. My fitness is a giant ?.
I am riding bikes to ride bikes. I, for the past several years have tried to have some sort of "training" program that I follow or don't follow. This has gotten me some fitness and has kept me entertained looking at power files, charts, graphs, zodiac signs, and fortune cookies. All of this has gotten me to the same place every time. This realization is............ I love to ride my bike. I love to ride whether it involves power/HR constraints or if it is just to run an errand. It is a bike. Bikes are cool. They are hella fun to ride.
Don't get me wrong, I still ride strapped up to my HR and the PT wheel is on the road bike. On the MTB I only look at distance, elevation, and time. For some strange reason I do wear my HR on the Cross bike. It's not that I don't like numbers, I do. I like to look at accumulated time, distance, and my favorite is elevation. I like to get high. I don't necessarily like to climb, but I like what climbing does for me. You got to get up to get down. This is so true on the MTB...earn your turns. On the road I love a good climb if it is rewarded with a screaming down hill and an ear to ear grin.
Riding a bike for the sake of just riding a bike has given me a new love for the bike. I don't "have" to ride my bike, I now want to ride my bike. My goals are no longer convoluted, my goal is simple.
Ride
Sometimes I just don't have anything to say, or feel like what I do have is not worth the effort. With that being said, I am putting the caffeine levels at max, chaining myself to the chair and putting letters on a glowing screen in no particular order. If they happen to form words and sentences and a paragraph or two then I will have a small success. Like clearing the first level of Mario Bros. Yeah, kinda like that.
It's not that I don't have the time. Between loads of laundry, vacuuming, dishes, cooking, brewing, riding bikes, and working at the shop, I really do have time. I do. I don't know what has been my problem? Desire? ADHD? Not drinking enough? Maybe I have too much to write about and it had clogged the well and nothing is going to come out? Is that even possible? With all the bike riding I have been doing, I have written hundreds of things in my head, if I could only get it in a readable format for you. My reader. All three of you, and Mike.
With my new phase of life working at the shop it has put a question mark on my super fabulous career as a Cat IV bike racer. I am OK with this. I want to race bikes, but I don't need to race bikes. Going into this race season I have put all training on hold, an indefinite hold because I don't know when, where, or how I will be racing. I have done zero intervals, I have looked at my HR but only out of curiosity, and watts are just numbers on a screen. I have 0 trainer miles. My fitness is a giant ?.
I am riding bikes to ride bikes. I, for the past several years have tried to have some sort of "training" program that I follow or don't follow. This has gotten me some fitness and has kept me entertained looking at power files, charts, graphs, zodiac signs, and fortune cookies. All of this has gotten me to the same place every time. This realization is............ I love to ride my bike. I love to ride whether it involves power/HR constraints or if it is just to run an errand. It is a bike. Bikes are cool. They are hella fun to ride.
Don't get me wrong, I still ride strapped up to my HR and the PT wheel is on the road bike. On the MTB I only look at distance, elevation, and time. For some strange reason I do wear my HR on the Cross bike. It's not that I don't like numbers, I do. I like to look at accumulated time, distance, and my favorite is elevation. I like to get high. I don't necessarily like to climb, but I like what climbing does for me. You got to get up to get down. This is so true on the MTB...earn your turns. On the road I love a good climb if it is rewarded with a screaming down hill and an ear to ear grin.
Riding a bike for the sake of just riding a bike has given me a new love for the bike. I don't "have" to ride my bike, I now want to ride my bike. My goals are no longer convoluted, my goal is simple.
Ride
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
M to the OAB
This is like when you get all into a series on TV and they get to the end of the season, you have to wait until it comes back on and they have new shows. Yeah, kinda like that, except not as entertaining. I really think the two or three of you that actually read this are just waiting for a break down or for me to go verbally insane and just write horrible things about people you know. I'm not to that point....Yet. But if it got more people to read......
So when we left our wayward travelers they were about to embark on a single track daytime assault mission at Dead Horse Point, UT. It was cold, the air was crisp with the morning sun warming the red rocks. The view, spectacular. The man and his wife donned the frocks of mountain biking. Words were spoken, helmets fastened, chains were aligned into the proper gear ratio. A small wheelie of joy was held for the slightest of time dropping from pavement to high desert dirt.
Time to rail some sick turns.
DHP is a trail system with two conjoined loops with an inner short/easy loop and a longer/easy loop. Distance worked out to be a mile or so less than what was posted. It was a very well thought out trail, and it did have a few intermediate sections, but all in all it was super fun. All single track with flowing turns a few ups and down, but no climbs. Fast, fast, and more fast. There was quite a bit of snow on the trail in the shaded zones, but no mud to speak of. The snow on the tires mixed with the powdery clay dirt an made some crazy sugar cookie tires that shed like fragmentation grenades. This was a little annoying at times and fun at other times. Perspective. Remember this is the first time I had been on a bike in a few hundred hours, so I had it pinned. The wife was not too amused with my childlike enthusiasm for speed, to her credit she was riding a broken bike. Front fork seized, and rear brake was spongy as Mr. Squarepants. She soldiered on like a trooper not wanting to rent a $45 bike.
At the end I was ready for another lap, but there was a pint and a burger waiting at Moab Brewery. My wife asked for a sample of their Stout, and the waiter with limited English comprehension skills brought a pint. She did not like this one. I had an IPA, was elbow deep into my burger and then tried to finish off her Stout. Yes, and we were still going to go to Slick Rock to check out the world famous trail. I am ashamed to report that I could not finish the job and left beer on the table. It was a sad sad day, I felt shame walking out with a half empty beer on the table. -Optimist.
Hold on folks this is the part of the show they call the cliff-hanger. They build up the action right at the 0:55:00 mark and then put up the to be continued... We headed from Moab Brewery to Slick Rock and geared up for some more MTB action. The parking lot was full of intimidation, it was the view, the feel, everything about rolling out of the lot onto the trail felt ominous. We headed to the Practice Loop, and the first up section was a gear grinding 4mph short climb right into a roll-over screaming downhill turn into some snow and ice. It gets better???
So when we left our wayward travelers they were about to embark on a single track daytime assault mission at Dead Horse Point, UT. It was cold, the air was crisp with the morning sun warming the red rocks. The view, spectacular. The man and his wife donned the frocks of mountain biking. Words were spoken, helmets fastened, chains were aligned into the proper gear ratio. A small wheelie of joy was held for the slightest of time dropping from pavement to high desert dirt.
Time to rail some sick turns.
DHP is a trail system with two conjoined loops with an inner short/easy loop and a longer/easy loop. Distance worked out to be a mile or so less than what was posted. It was a very well thought out trail, and it did have a few intermediate sections, but all in all it was super fun. All single track with flowing turns a few ups and down, but no climbs. Fast, fast, and more fast. There was quite a bit of snow on the trail in the shaded zones, but no mud to speak of. The snow on the tires mixed with the powdery clay dirt an made some crazy sugar cookie tires that shed like fragmentation grenades. This was a little annoying at times and fun at other times. Perspective. Remember this is the first time I had been on a bike in a few hundred hours, so I had it pinned. The wife was not too amused with my childlike enthusiasm for speed, to her credit she was riding a broken bike. Front fork seized, and rear brake was spongy as Mr. Squarepants. She soldiered on like a trooper not wanting to rent a $45 bike.
At the end I was ready for another lap, but there was a pint and a burger waiting at Moab Brewery. My wife asked for a sample of their Stout, and the waiter with limited English comprehension skills brought a pint. She did not like this one. I had an IPA, was elbow deep into my burger and then tried to finish off her Stout. Yes, and we were still going to go to Slick Rock to check out the world famous trail. I am ashamed to report that I could not finish the job and left beer on the table. It was a sad sad day, I felt shame walking out with a half empty beer on the table. -Optimist.
Hold on folks this is the part of the show they call the cliff-hanger. They build up the action right at the 0:55:00 mark and then put up the to be continued... We headed from Moab Brewery to Slick Rock and geared up for some more MTB action. The parking lot was full of intimidation, it was the view, the feel, everything about rolling out of the lot onto the trail felt ominous. We headed to the Practice Loop, and the first up section was a gear grinding 4mph short climb right into a roll-over screaming downhill turn into some snow and ice. It gets better???
Saturday, January 14, 2012
bloggages
I have to admit, that this was not completely and totally my idea. That being said, I don't have to take complete and total responsibility if this does not work out as planned. You know who you are, thank you for the inspiration to write more. Right now it seems like a great idea, I might curse you later. Follow me on the Twitter already! That's right, you know who you are.
Anyway, I am going to try and blog about my new life as a bike shop employee. This is a dream job for me. Don't question it, I have always wanted to be in an outdoor sports "shop". When I was younger I skied, so I wanted to work in a ski shop. When I started skateboarding I wanted to work in a skate shop. Snowboard -board shop. Now that I've been riding bikes my sights have been set on working in a bike shop. There you have it in 200 words or less.
If you are the slight bit curious, great. You probably would not be reading this if you were not just a little curious. Who am I kidding there is like, what is it now three of you who read this. Really this is not Fight Club, you can talk about my blog, and now blogs. That's right people plural. Blogs.
wrench-ed is the title of my new blog. More to come on the title, the meaning, and where I came up with the idea behind the title. For now you can find it in the My Blog List on the right of this page. ----->
Or, if you have to have the tech-no-whiz-bang: wrench-ed.blogspot.com
Anyway, I am going to try and blog about my new life as a bike shop employee. This is a dream job for me. Don't question it, I have always wanted to be in an outdoor sports "shop". When I was younger I skied, so I wanted to work in a ski shop. When I started skateboarding I wanted to work in a skate shop. Snowboard -board shop. Now that I've been riding bikes my sights have been set on working in a bike shop. There you have it in 200 words or less.
If you are the slight bit curious, great. You probably would not be reading this if you were not just a little curious. Who am I kidding there is like, what is it now three of you who read this. Really this is not Fight Club, you can talk about my blog, and now blogs. That's right people plural. Blogs.
wrench-ed is the title of my new blog. More to come on the title, the meaning, and where I came up with the idea behind the title. For now you can find it in the My Blog List on the right of this page. ----->
Or, if you have to have the tech-no-whiz-bang: wrench-ed.blogspot.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Falling or Failing
Dear Adoring Fan, and Mike,
Sorry I have not updated the blog with more of the Trip out West saga. More to come on that. Seriously, it's coming. Just bare with me and stay tuned. I've been sick, traveled to Texas to celebrate my Dad's 70th Birthday. Now I'm back in town trying to get into the routine, which it to not have a routine. Anyway I know this all sounds like excuses, well good because that is exactly what it is. Excuses. No, really it should sound more like and apology for my extreme amount of lameness. I will try and crank out some more of thelies story to entertain you for the two and a half mins of your day.
I did have a good time at the folks house. Got to see some cousins and family that I have not seen in ages. There were a few missing, and that is just a part of this life thing. People getting older, and at this late in the game it is either birthdays or funerals. I hope to see more birthdays than the latter. My parents look good and are doing good. So good to spend time with them. Don't want to forget my sister. She came over from the Land of Enchantment and we had a good time drinking my homebrew. My sister is the coolest, was when we were growing up and still is to this day. Too bad we didn't have the Def Leopard lps so we could rock out to some Pyromania. Just like old times.
Oh memory lane, the road that would be fun to travel, but only in our minds. You can go home, just not to the past. Time such a funny concept, or is it a funny construct. Sorry I'm not supposed to swim out of the shallow end, these floaties aren't rated for my weight. As those crazy kids say "Good Times". Well, you and Mike, I've got to get some things done around the house and run some errands for the boss so that I can continue to live my fabulous lifestyle.
See you in the funny pages.
Glenn Duh!
Sorry I have not updated the blog with more of the Trip out West saga. More to come on that. Seriously, it's coming. Just bare with me and stay tuned. I've been sick, traveled to Texas to celebrate my Dad's 70th Birthday. Now I'm back in town trying to get into the routine, which it to not have a routine. Anyway I know this all sounds like excuses, well good because that is exactly what it is. Excuses. No, really it should sound more like and apology for my extreme amount of lameness. I will try and crank out some more of the
I did have a good time at the folks house. Got to see some cousins and family that I have not seen in ages. There were a few missing, and that is just a part of this life thing. People getting older, and at this late in the game it is either birthdays or funerals. I hope to see more birthdays than the latter. My parents look good and are doing good. So good to spend time with them. Don't want to forget my sister. She came over from the Land of Enchantment and we had a good time drinking my homebrew. My sister is the coolest, was when we were growing up and still is to this day. Too bad we didn't have the Def Leopard lps so we could rock out to some Pyromania. Just like old times.
Oh memory lane, the road that would be fun to travel, but only in our minds. You can go home, just not to the past. Time such a funny concept, or is it a funny construct. Sorry I'm not supposed to swim out of the shallow end, these floaties aren't rated for my weight. As those crazy kids say "Good Times". Well, you and Mike, I've got to get some things done around the house and run some errands for the boss so that I can continue to live my fabulous lifestyle.
See you in the funny pages.
Glenn Duh!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Hang Over...Hung Over?
It's January 1st and I have a massive hang over. No, you silly little monkey, I did not drink too much last night. I'm hung over from my wonderful trip out West. It's a mixed bag. I'm happy to be home, but I also feel that part of me belongs on the high desert dusty single-track, or up in the thin air of the snow covered mountains. That part is sad to have left. There is a little part of me that is happy to be back. Today affirms that it is good to come home. I did miss my friends and family -family that is not related to me. The family that puts up with me because I put up with them.
I have so much to share, but not a lot of time to write right now, but bare with me and I will crank out some good lies, stories and a few jokes along the way. Just a little teaser right now and more to follow. Sorry it has been so long since I put something down.
Julie got sick the day we were supposed to leave. White Christmas miracle in Amarillo. Winter driving 101. Snowshoeing in Albuquerque. Country singer showdown in Durango. Nordic skiing is not as easy as it looks. Snowshoeing with the in-law in Durango. Arches National Park. Grand Canyon like views -super afraid of heights. Super awesome mtb, and not so super mtb in Moab. Long drives with a lot to see, and not a lot to see. Dirty towns and scary drivers.
There you have it. I hope I did not give too much away. Oh, yeah...I forgot to mention my favorite part...Breweries!!!!! I love a good beer. Stay tuned and look for new posts. They will be a coming.
I have so much to share, but not a lot of time to write right now, but bare with me and I will crank out some good lies, stories and a few jokes along the way. Just a little teaser right now and more to follow. Sorry it has been so long since I put something down.
Julie got sick the day we were supposed to leave. White Christmas miracle in Amarillo. Winter driving 101. Snowshoeing in Albuquerque. Country singer showdown in Durango. Nordic skiing is not as easy as it looks. Snowshoeing with the in-law in Durango. Arches National Park. Grand Canyon like views -super afraid of heights. Super awesome mtb, and not so super mtb in Moab. Long drives with a lot to see, and not a lot to see. Dirty towns and scary drivers.
There you have it. I hope I did not give too much away. Oh, yeah...I forgot to mention my favorite part...Breweries!!!!! I love a good beer. Stay tuned and look for new posts. They will be a coming.
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