John forgot to turn off the Ipod

self fulfilling prophecy

2010-01-03T14:30:00.004-05:00

Most cyclists in the Pittsburgh area know frick park. It is a huge city park with lots of mountain bike trails. It is in the east end (where most of the hip kids live), and is generally pretty rad. It is a standard ride for me to ride there, ride most or all of the trails, then ride home and get about 2 hours in.

That was today's simple plan. That coupled with the the possibility of a Schenley Park bonus loop if my feet were not too cold. As a non engineer, non crafty person, I came up with a pretty simple idea to try and keep my feet a bit warmer. Today was like 7 degrees when I left, with an 18mph wind.
I cut some tarps up, doubled them over and screwed bolts into the holes for the toe spikes. I figured this would seal them up well enough to block some snow and wind. It would also create a non breathable layer to help my feet stay warm.

Photos of my rig job.

So anyway, I get there a bit late and pedal around looking for Mayhew, Rowley and Hoffman. I am on my crossbike and they are on their mountain bikes. I didnt know how long I would even be able to ride with them, and I was running late. I rode up to where they were parked and thought about where they would go after that trail. I ended up on the ridge trail behind the new Environmnetal Charter School.

I was riding along when I came across a typical East End guy. He was wearing North Face gear, had a dog and was exercising. As I approached he verbally tried slowing his running dog down. This is a typical thing dog walkers who are pretending to care about anybody else do. Its like when you know somebody is going to get up and grab something, but you fake starting to get up and are like "oh you got it? cool."

Anyway, his dog blows past him and runs at me. I just keep pedaling and smile at him when I realize his dog has turned around and started chasing me. As weird as this might sound to some, it is totally standard to get chased in Frick by dogs. It is a part of riding there, despite there being signs everywhere threatening fines for doing otherwise.

So I have to admit that I ride with people who bring their dogs along. My brother takes his dog to Frick all the time. The google link above has a video of a friend's now deceased dog, and a link to the DirtRag editor's photo of 2 dogs. None on leashes. I generally dont mind, as I think MOST people are reasonable and they know their dogs well enough to judge their behavior.

On the flip side, when a dog walker gives me attitude for not slowing down at a dog that charges me, or when I get chased and nipped at, I try to convey to the owners that they are breaking the law and should really put the dogs on leashes.

Mayhew and I have gotten into debates over what is cool and what is not regarding dogs. He has 2 big dogs that I have never had a problem with, and I dont think they have ever caused any problems. My points are basically that it is racist to think that white yuppies should be allowed to disobey the law and you should not fear their dogs, however if a bunch of black dudes from Homewood started walking pit bulls around Frick without leashes, I think the law would quickly be enforced. Also my little Somali buddies are forbidden by their religion to be touched by dogs, and I am sure as East End liberal yuppies, most dog walkers would want to be culturally sensitive while walking dog, before driving their Volvos the 3 blocks from Frick to the food coop

I have gotten into a few verbal matches with people that pretty much boil down to me saying "you are breaking the law, if I kill your dog because it runs in front of me while I am bombing down single track... it is going to be a double whammy when I sue you because I mess up my bike or my body while killing your dog."

Sorry, back to the story again... today I am riding along and in a great mood. It is 7 degrees, I am riding, the conditions are great, I am not cold. I look over at this dude's happy dog that is chasing me, and say "my brothers dog is so much faster than you" in the voice that you use talking to an infant or a dog. I look up and keep pedaling until I feel this giant dog bite into my thigh.

He didnt nip at it. He didnt just hit me with his nose. I have had a puncture wound before and I know what it feels like. I stop and turn around, screaming at the owner that his dog just bit me. The owner says "dude" and "sorry" like 500 times. I have about 30 seconds to decide this dog's fate. I tell the guy that I think if I call animal control the dog will be destroyed (I used the F word like 30 times and may have told him that it should have been destroyed)...

I pulled down my pants and realize that I do a pretty poor job shaving my legs in the winter, and that the dog indeed broke my skin and that I was bleeding and already bruised.

I should have taken his information and made him give me like millions of dollars cash while threatening to have his dog killed. Or at least take his fancy 600 dollar snow outfit. Instead, I rode off as he apologized a bunch more.

While riding out I passed a half dozen dog owners letting their dogs run the main trail off-leash. I actually got nervous for a second. When leaving the park, I saw Rowley and Hofman, they said that MAYHEW GOT BIT TOO!!!!!!! Different dog though.

I got home, scrubbed the cut with antibacterial soap for 10 minutes then dumped alcohol and peroxide into it.

Yes this is my thigh.

This is the maddest I have been in awhile.

In search of Burt Hoovis' house.

2009-12-29T10:17:00.001-05:00

Found it. Burt is nothing but class.

Somali xmas rager.

2009-12-24T09:42:00.006-05:00

So Amy's mom convinced her coworkers that instead of buying each other scented candles and lottery tickets, or whatever crap office workers buy one another, they should all sponsor a Somali refugee from the hood (mine and Amy's neighbors.)In years past we had just donated used toys and things, which was awesome, but this year each kid got to open a new gift. All 14 of them. Some people from outside her office gave Amy's mom money, with which she bought a shop n save gift card for the Grandma/Matriarch of Little Somalia.

They were all really stoked and it was a good time. Somehow my favorite dude didnt end up with a gift. I bought him a 7 dollar soccer ball. Best 7 dollars spent in a long time.

Photo Summary:
We had pizza. We opened gifts. We had them write and read thank you cards. Oriel, my brother in law who is black but not Somali, told stories about fishing on his Island to the kids. Santa showed up. We had cake.

Little Ibihim fell asleep so hard in the car on the way home he was snoring like an adult. I carried him to his door. He woke up and said "Where is my train..." That is nice.

Laurel Highlands Trail Fail....

2009-12-20T11:58:00.013-05:00

I generally dont like quitting things. At a certain point being safe trumps being epic. Oh well, another day.

Day 1.
Hiked in to the first shelters. Cooked some food. Some guys from Ohio showed up and invited me to their shelter to help better stay warm. I declined at first, but went over when the sun finally went down. They had a raging fire. 5 of us and a fire kept it super warm. Then at like 9pm a woman hiked in solo in the dark. Dang. 6 people in a shelter + 2 dogs = warm.

Day 2.
Long day. Started with a 3 mile climb. Scenic views. Had people leapfrogging all day. Ohio dudes went home. Checked in with Amy. Rad shelters at night on a cliff. Nice fire. Warm. NewfriendLex and I hung out and ate food.

Day 3.
Another long day. Walked forever. Through 7 springs. Ended with the forest ranger giving me and NewfriendLex a ride around the Turnpike because the bridge over the road was closed that day due to it falling down. Weird.

Day 4. Wake up with snow IN the shelter. 8 - 10 inches of snow on the ground. Camera dead due to cold. REALLY hard day breaking trail through the snow all day. Days 5 and 6 were supposed to be 12 mile days. I bailed on it. The area the trail goes through for those two days has 1 road crossing over 24 miles. The pace I held on day 4 while breaking snow would have left me hiking from 6 am to 6 pm and it was hard enough to find the blazes in the daylight with all the snow. I hiked about 44 miles total in 4 days.Good times.
Another day.

packing my bags.

2009-12-14T12:35:00.004-05:00

So the no bike riding continues this week as I head out to hike the 70 mile Laurel Highlands Trail from Ohiopyle to Johnstownish. Starting Wednesday morning.

Things that might hold me back:
- I developed a head cold in the last 24 hours
- I have never hiked in the snow
- I have never camped in the winter (have camped in 20 degree September at 10,000 feet, but technically not winter)
- I have not done a hike longer than 4 days
- I have to start with 14 lbs of food.
Things I have going for me:
- I would like to make it.

The head cold is the only thing that really concerns me at this point.

I have food packed. Gear packed, and am ready to roll. I have invested 40 dollars in this at this point, so I am going to go for it even if I am sick.

-Bag: North face bag borrowed from my bro
-Snowshoes: Yakima ebay specials for 60 dollars that are 9 years old
-boots: North Face fancy winter boots from REI outlet at 60 bucks.
-Bivy: North face Trek Bivy. Allegedly good down to like 0.
-Bag: Old campmor down bag rated to 20.
-pad: there is only room for my therma rest extra light
-stove: decided to take my MSR pocket rocket ISO stove. Shouldnt be cold enough to freeze the fuel.
-msr miniworks water prufier

It is going to be 25-33 degrees the whole time. I am only afraid of like 34 degree rain. With that fear in mind I packed a heavy parka that is waterproof and breathable, and also some Pearl Izumi Amphib gloves.

I bought an orange hat and have an orange vest to wear so when I get shot it isnt actually my fault.

-Food:
Breakfast - 6 days of oatmeal+raisins+peanutbutter+sugar
Coffee- stoked to have my titanium french press!
Lunch - 6 days of whole wheat tortillas with raisins and peanutbutter
Dinner - 6 days of couscous with prepacked lentil indian meals on top
Snacks - dried mangos, gorp, nuts, chocolate

Weather is as good as it can be.

All the dudes are already doing base and serious bike racer stuff. I am falling behind. Whatever. Adventure is good right? Hopefully I dont get too sick and can finish.

Speaking of bike racing... I really thought Wells would win nationals. Happy to see Johnson there though. He seems like a good guy, however Wells did ride our BMX trails 15 years ago.

I would rather be riding.

2009-12-11T11:26:00.002-05:00

Week off = being productive for once.
Early X-mas gift for the Amy's mom. Installing hardwood floors for a few days left: my ears ringing from the saws, my knees sore from being on them all day, and my hands all blistered and torn up. Did not lose any fingers. I am most proud of the threshold between the rooms. Next up: possible winter hike?

\ racing ...09 recap. If I didnt race bikes I would have lots of free time.

2009-12-09T10:15:00.007-05:00

Done racing bikes for the year. 1900 miles or so raced. + 21 hours of cross. 71 races started. I had a power meter this year, so it is kind of neat to look back on the data (not the power data as much as distance/time)...

High Month: Included riding down to the beach.

month | duration | distance (mi)
Aug-2009 | 91:39:30 | 1339.95

All of the other months until September hovered between 950 - 1100 miles. I stopped keeping data at the start of cross. I am guessing I will end up with somewhere around 11,000 miles for 2009.

I honestly think the highlights of the year were
- Riding in Colorado in the Spring.
- Doing Battenkill as a guest on haymarket
- Bike trip to the beach photos 1 photos 2, and photos 3

I am putting my race bag away for a few months. Trying to plan some winter adventures.

I spent my first day of the off season putting in new wood floors for the kind of in laws. 14 hours straight or something. They look awesome. Will finish tomorrow and maybe post pictures if I dont mess them up too bad. I feel like I got hit by a train from being on my hands and knees so much.

I havent touched a bike since sunday.

---road/mtb-------------
3.28.09 - malabar farms Road Race. 50 miles. 4th place
3.29.09 - Mingo 1 road 50 miles. field
4.5.09 - Philly 2 day. 35 miles. field
4.11.09 - Morgantown RR. 50 miles. 8th place
4.18.09 - Battenkill RR. 80 miles. 17th place
4.19.09 - Battenkill RR. 110 miles. DNF!!!!!!!!!
4.26.09 - Ephrata RR. 70 miles. Field
4.27.09 - Ephrata TTT. 8 miles.
4.27.09 - Ephrata crit. 35 miles. Field
5.2.09 - Turkey hill. 72 miles. 12th place
5.3.09 - Alliquipa series. 35 miles. 11th
5.10.09 - Alliquipa series. 35 miles. 4th
5.17.09 - OMBC The Wilds. 20 miles. 2nd *mountain bike race
5.24.09 - Alliquipa series. 35 miles. field
5.30.09 - Mohican 100k. 62 miles. 1st with my first DQ.*mountain bike race
6.6.09 - Tour of Tucker county. 60 miles. 10th
6.7.09 - Riverview GP. 25 miles . field
6.14.09 - Murad RR. 72 miles. field
6.21.09 - Fort Cherry RR. 56 miles. 12th
6.28.09 - Raccoon Rally NY. 50 miles. 5th
6.29.09 - Raccoon Rally NY. 25 miles. 2nd * Mountain bike race
7.4.09 - Barbour Detour WV. 50 miles. 10th
7.12.09 - Renfrew RAS. 85 miles. 3rd
7.19.09 - Mountain race in WV. Broken bike DNF
8.1.09 - Wilderness 101. 101miles. 16th *Mountain bike race
8.9.09 - Kinzua Classic. 62 miles. 3rd
8.15.09- Tour de millersburg. Stage 1. 35 miles. 24th
8.16.09- Milersburg. Stage 2. 10 miles. 42nd
8.16.09 - millersburg. stage 3. 90 miles. field

-----training races------
4.8.09 oval 17.5 miles 15th
4.15.09 oval 20 miles 14th
4.22.09 oval 20 miles 7th
4.29.09 oval 20 miles field
5.06.09 oval 22.5 miles 6th
5.13.09 oval 22.5 miles 3rd
5.20.09 oval 20 miles 10th
5.27.09 oval 22.5 miles field
6.3.09 oval 22.5 miles 2nd
6.10.09 oval 25 miles field
6.24.09 oval 25 miles field
7.1.09 oval 20 miles field
7.08.09 oval 20 miles field
7.15.09 oval 25 miles 11th
7.22.09 oval 25 miles 1st
7.29.09 oval 22.5 miles 8th
8.05.09 oval 22.5 miles 8th
8.12.09 oval 22.5 miles field
8.26.09 oval 22.5 miles field
9.2.09 oval 20 miles field
9.9.09 oval 20 miles field

---------Cyclocross-------------------

9.13.09 - Wendy Park Cross, OH. 2nd
9.20.09 - Nittany Cross. PA. 12th UCI C1
9.21.09 - Charm City. MD. 12th. UCI C1
9.24.09 - Cross Vegas. NV. 56. UCI C2
10.3.09 - BCA Cross. MD. 5th
10.4.09 - Grove City MOM. PA. 1st!
10.9.09 - Darkhorse Cross. KY. 16th UCI C2
10.10.09- Biowheels. OH 21st UCI C2
10.11.09- Java Johnny Cross.OH 15th UCI C2
10.18.09- CX my Heath. OH 4th
10.24.09- Murrysville Cross. PA. 2nd
10.25.09- Raccoon Cross. PA. 2nd
10.31.09 - Beacon Cross. NJ. 23. UCI C2
11.1.09 - Highland PARK. NJ. 20. UCI C2
11.7.09 - Wayne Scott cx. DE. 7th
11.8.09 - Taccino Cross. MD. 2nd
11.14.09- Kent State Cx. OH. 1st
11.15.09- Cap City CX. OH 2nd
11.21.09-Howard County 1. MD. 7th
11.22.09-Howard County 2. MD. 2nd
11.28.09- Dirty dozen....
12.6.09 - Capital Cross Classic. VA. 8th.

Dirty Dozen... Throwing things out of windows...

2009-12-02T11:12:00.003-05:00

The Dirty Dozen was this weekend. I didnt do the PA state cross champs to instead race up a few hills. If you are not familiar, the DD is a "gentleman's race" up the 13 steepest hills in Pittsburgh. Some of the hills are fairly mind blowing. 181 people registered, and I am sure a few more just went along without signing up (minturn). It was fun riding with people that I rarely see, but I was too blown to make much small talk.
It was created by all around madman Danny Chew and his brother.

I managed to win again this year, in what was one of my hardest fought battles. Babik compared me going into it like the Steelers going into Kansas City. Maybe a little over confident. Young Sam flew home from Boulder and made the race an all day thing, bringing it down to the last hill. Halfway through I almost resigned myself to second place.

In 5 or 6 years, Sam is going to be one of those people that I brag that I once beat. That is...if he doesnt find girls and beer in the next year or two. Seems like he has his head on pretty straight so remember this post when he is the real deal. I am already not looking forward to battling with him next year. dang.

A very old friend was on Canton filming:

Yes, you can go that slow and still win a hill.

If you have to shop...

2009-11-26T13:43:00.003-05:00

So tomorrow is the shoppingest day of the year or whatever. Then there is cyber monday. If I were in charge of the world, then there would be a few rules:

- Dont buy gift cards: Yeah I know you get double the free gas every 100 dollars or whatever. So you save a few cents right?
Think of how many gift cards are lost. Think of the balances that are sitting on gift cards Most states allow a charge for less than 5 dollars on a card. Essentially somebody, you or somebody that you care about is losing money. Oh and you are giving it to some super rich dude or dudes.

- CREAM: Cash rules everything around me. Right? So what if there is a chance that your 16 year old cousin is going to spend the 20 spot you are giving him on beer. Its better than him giving it back to the gap.

- Support small economies: Come down to bohemian Lawrenceville. (My house is across 39th from Roberto Clemente's knee)... Since that Times article, more stuff has opened. Wildcard particularly supports local artists and crafters.

- Buy direct: Have you seen Etsy? Like just about any gift you were going to buy can be found here and shipped to you. It will be handmade and the profits are better held onto by individuals. Like that impulse buy on christmas eve at bath and body works could be better spent here on handmade soap or jewelery or whatever.

- Support people you know: How many artists are around you? I have a few in my life. Maybe its cause I am super bohemian.

Nobody that I know is making a living off of their art. They do it cause they love it. It is their bike racing. Knowing that somebody chose what they do over something from a mall means a lot to an indy person.

Garbella. She holds it down. I genuinely like her stuff and I help out with what I can (cleaning gears and staining). You pay 20 bucks at american apparel for a T shirt. Or you pay like 22 from her with it hand screened, by her, in the basement.

Matt. Matt totally made my house livable. He is a maniac/perfectionist. Everything he does, he does 200%. His photos are rad .. he has a darkroom in his house... good stuff.

Rocco.Rocco and I have been bff's since like 88. When I was 20 or so Rocco saved my life in a parking lot. He got stabbed 6 times in the chest so that I didnt have to. His black and white 35mm galleries are rad. Yeah.

Two Beans.A childhood friend makes stuff from solid rocks (yes I dumbed this down). Imagine how freaking long that takes. The stuff is super reasonable too.

Jeff G. Jeff and I were both on bikesnob within the same week. He makes rad ceramics. Amy gets mad if I drink out of her coffee cup (that jeff made) when she wants it. Freaking Campy Coffee Mug!

Cosy Knits. Her name is actually Cosy and she spins her own yarn and knits stuff. If you are going to buy something, why not have it be handmade?

If you are in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Craft Collective has a lot of independent people making cool stuff.

Finally. While watching a rad skate video at Fat Marc's this song came on. Known for being the creepy Buffalo Bill scene in Silence of the Lambs, but it is a good 80's song for sure. Yes that is a chick singing.
"See my hopes and dreams lying on the ground...."

bulletted weekend recap. SO PITTED

2009-11-24T13:51:00.002-05:00

Saturday:
- am mayhew picks us up
- very tired
- drive to Maryland
- get thrashed in a bike race (8th)
- feel crappy
- drive to delaware
- hang at fat marc's for an hour or two
- shower (but apparently do not remove all sports balm from legs)
- go to hip restaurant
- eat a fancy tofu hoagie (they had another name, but it was a hoagie)
- eat the pie that brett won for 17th place
- watch badass skate video

Saturday or Sunday:
- wake up with burning legs from not washing off all sports balm

Sunday:

- gallon of coffee and more home made bagels (post coming when they are better)
- watch what people not racing bikes do on sundays (read book then go riding)
- drive to maryland again
- watch TWO people crash while trying to ride holding trainers or spare wheels
- warm up on on Riskus' trainer. His friend jokes "last time you used that you killed it"
- "kill it" for second place
- stoked

BOOHYAH!

This is how brett described the sand pit on the first lap after a small pile up.

in case you did not see the movie on face book.

2009-11-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

if you dont read all of it, at least watch the cartoon

2009-11-15T20:51:00.002-05:00

Best cartoon ever. There are a few swear words... cartoons about bike racing are the best... Chodroff found it, not sure who made it.

So if you take a bunch of bike racers to an arcade and play air hockey it gets pretty competitive. 45 minutes of air hockey leaves a pretty fit dude more sore than riding for 8 hours.

I decided to forgo the USGP in New Jersey this year. Last year it was the first race I ever dropped out of because I was sucking so bad. I was kind of ashamed of myself. I had no desire to race 90 dudes and fight to not get lapped. Cycling purgatory: Race one of the biggest races in the country for 50th (based on my scientific "i beat him a few times... this is what he got" or race regionally and try to win.

Pittsburgh has been getting springlike weather for the past week. Friday I headed out to do a quick spin, get my heart rate up, then head home. The cool guys call these "openers"... Well like 3 hours later I was riding my bike still in Riverview Park. It was too nice to pass up. Riverview was perfect, the leaves covered the ground and made the whole park orange. So rad. Days like that are why I convince myself that it is ok not to have a coach. Anyway, halfway through the ride I kind of admitted to myself that the weekend would be a bust since I rode too long and didnt have food or water.

So we headed to some races in Ohio. Lake Effect on Saturday and OVCX on Sunday. Both days had pretty killer fields and both had good, fun, different styles of courses. I managed to win Saturday. I was stoked. Only my second or third or fourth win of the year (do you count the oval? the mohican where I got DQ'ed?...) I held a 10 - 15 second gap on Gerry, shawn and Ernie for like 45 minutes. It was super hard.

Sunday was a wide open fast course. It was so fast that the fastest dudes didnt win. After a few laps of racing, myself and Mitch had a small gap on some of fastest dudes in Ohio. Paul Martin and Matt Weeks, who literally rode away from me a few weeks earlier were giving a huge chase to catch us.

I got out sprinted in the end. I towed the dude around a good bit (I think.. it always seems that you do more work than the other guy)... I attacked him a good bit the last two laps. He couldnt pull through, said his legs were gone. But still had the jump to go with my attacks. I know it is just bike racing, but I tossed and turned a few times in bed last night thinking about how I should have attacked more. I was so afraid of being caught by Paul and Matt that I didnt put it ALL on the line. Nothing risked, nothing gained right?

Funny stories from the weekend:

Ohio is freaking lawless. There was a sign on the LIBRARY door in Kent that said had a gun with a line though it. It said something like "no guns allowed unless you have a permit to carry a gun"... Which in my mind is like a sign saying you cant do illegal things? Or maybe they had a problem with the black panthers rolling into town with guns?

Mayhew and I are standing in the pit after giving Eric a new wheel during his race. I point out a 2000 dollar wheelset with 250 dollars worth of tires glued to it. I was like "oh those are my pit wheels" (fyi both of my cross bikes would maybe cost 2500 new TOTAL) and we both laughed. Then some old dude rides into the pit all frantic.

Me: "dude grab your wheels, we can get your wheel off".

He rolled a tubular rear tire.
I undo his skewer and pull his cassette out of his derailleur. The rolled tire itself is being hooked on the brakes so it is stopping the wheel from falling out.

dude: "SHIFT IT DOWN TO GET THE WHEEL OUT... LET ME DO IT... RAARRRRRRRRR!!!!
mayhew tries to explain the situation to him. He wont listen. We walk away.

Guess who's freaking 2000 dollar wheels they were? Exactly. Brother could have had 3 bikes in the pit, or could have bought me lunch and I would have glued his tires on properly.

I have been listening to a lot of Cock Sparer after traveling with Eric and hearing it for the first time in a decade.

Things wrong with me listening to Cock Sparer:
Im not a Brittish nationalist.
I am not a Nationalist.
I am not working class.
I dont really even work.
I dont drink.
I dont like soccer.

Its catchy though!

Dear Internet Cyclocross Diary....

2009-11-10T09:39:00.003-05:00

2 weeks of racing since my last post.

The Jersey weekend was a total suckfest. I couldnt ride fast on the packed stuff and I couldnt ride slow in the mud. I was just no good. I even had a pit crew to hand up bikes. "Who is the dude in last getting a bike a lap?"...

Then I was riding during the week with my brother and fell over on some wet leaves. I was avoiding a log crossing and took easy path around it and fell over. ugh. I jammed my finger. It hurts still.

This weekend was Delaware MAC and Maryland MABRA races. I had good legs for the first time since September I think. I could jump out of every turn and attack a bit. 7th Sat and 2nd Sun. Sunday was a climbers course and I actually didnt blow up. It may have been the first race this year where I had a better position at the end than lap 1, like I went forward instead of backwards.

Thought process on Sunday:
"seriously guys slow down"
"I hope I flat, this sucks"
"sweet I am in the money"
"dang I am on the podium"
"there is a chance that I can win this"

Anyway, I out sprinted a sprinter for 2nd, which was cool. That was an unexpected result, so I was pretty freaking stoked.

We stayed with a friend who I have known for like a decade. We were both cool kids and now we are both ex cool kid now bike racers. His wife was limping and I asked if she was ok. She told me that she has foot cancer (?!?!). Needless to say that is not good.

So I was like "I can totally relate to your problems, I stoved my finger this week and thought I was going to have to ride my B bike with shimano STI's instead of my A bike with Sram in order to have extra leverage to upshift. I was really stressed about it."

I didnt actually say that, I was just pointing out my problems against hers. What I thought was "dude her problems show how much of a freaking cake walk your life is..."
Take a life lesson there...

Monday I rode Raystown lake with Babik for a long time. Raystown is apparently a newer trail system by Altoona / State College. It lived up to the hype and was some of the best riding I have ever done. Go there before the snow falls. It is rare that you can go 25 mph uphill for like 5 minutes straight.

Oh yeah, if you are still reading this crap you have earned this video of a cyclocross race in Paris in 1945. badass.

These are free.. The book will not be.

2009-10-29T14:01:00.004-04:00

When your can of WD-40 doesnt squirt anymore but you shake it and there is still some left:
Take needle nose pliers and and take that top circle off. Its like 3/4" in diameter and comes off pretty easily. You will be amazed how much more you get, and how much you have probably thrown away over the years.

This is about the same as cutting the head off of your squeeze tube of toothpaste to get a few more days' worth of paste.

Seriously though:
Getting famous in a magazine? Not me. Gerry Kraynick, is apparently in the new Bicycling magazine. I heard that I am in the new velonews, but they are not comparable. I was just having fun, Gerry has put a lifetime into being a really good guy. I have not read the article, but I would venture that it talks about; letting people use tools for free, giving hundreds of bikes away to needy kids, B race cyclocross domination over several years, etc.

Last weekend was local cross racing. Murrysville and Raccoon. Second step both days. Oh well.

2 hours.

2009-10-23T09:45:00.002-04:00

What a difference two hours and an eight mile drive can make.

Amy's work is helping host a man from South Africa over the next few weeks. It was his dream to visit America and a nice man made it possible. We had him over for dinner last night, and we invited a few of the older Somali kids (now adults). It makes sense right? You guys must have something to talk about, you are from the same continent but like 4000 miles away from one another. Right?

They talked about soccer. Well and they talked about oppression, living under Apartheid, living in refugee camps, witnessing extreme racism and poverty. The people in charge seemed to have the same basic idea, turn countrymen on one another based on race or tribe, and divide them... I think the quote of the evening while a young Somali guy was looking at a book about Apartheid, "man Europeans are animals..." This was after they both talked about living under European colonization, one as recent as 16 years ago.

So then Amy and I drove 15 minutes to an area I can only describe as "upper fox chapel" for some sort of art happening in which she was involved. We had the shittiest car in the lot by about $20,000. It was normal art party stuff, wine, beer, people fake laughing while wearing expensive clothes, etc. What really got me though was the ring one woman had on. I am not a jeweler and know very little about diamonds, however I can only guess that it cost as much as a few cars in the lot. I stared at it for a minute thought about the difference between the men from Africa and her. What a crazy world.

Then I drank like 3 or 4 more free waters and hit the road.

Post race text conversations.

2009-10-18T09:02:00.002-04:00

Babik: How did you do?
Me: Paul Martin* won.
Babik: So he is good at all bike racing?
Me: Yeah. And he is like a lawyer too. And I hear that he sometimes cures cancer.

I was talking to Dave before the race and said "I dont care what place I get, if I beat Paul Im putting my arms in the air"... Another time.

*for those who dont know.

On Cyclocross.... public thanks.

2009-10-14T11:13:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I am pretty stoked on racing cross.

Here are a few things that are pretty freaking awesome.

- Having 2 bikes. A brother hooked me up with some nice 10sp shifters last year saying that I needed a pit bike. I was not going to argue, but wasnt super sure of it. This weekend in Cincinnati I took a few bike exchanges the first day in the TOTAL MUD FEST. It made a huge difference having a mud free bike. Thank you Sean.

- Sweet people. John and Dave pitted for me Friday. This basically consists of standing in cold mud and having me throw a dirty bike at them so they can hand a cleaner one back to me. Somehow they were stoked on it. I was all like "let me buy you beers" and then I didnt (due to John going to another race sunday and getting paid that day in checks not cash etc etc). I OWE YOU. Awesome.

- Crowd hecklers / cheerers. It took 5 laps on Sunday until I was offered NON ALCOHOLIC BEER hand ups. That is freaking awesome. Im still not sure who those kids were, but they were obviously down. Each day I also made about 6 dollars in crowd money. This was then used to buy cokes for people I raced against afterward. A coke after a cross races is indescribable. No I wont even try to describe it.

Finally
- SRAM shifters (warning, total bike geek stuff...)... After the mudfest of Friday, I had to play with my bike some. The shifting was not perfect Sunday and I was a bit worried that the shifter might have shifted its last shift. (We are talking 1st generation Rival Aluminum shifters with at least 10,000 miles on them for real). I took it apart today cause it wasnt dropping into the smallest cog in the back very well. I am fairly mechanically inept as far as dudes who have been tinkering with bike stuff for 20 years goes. It was so easy. Remember the 9 speed sti's and how you knew when one was dead and there was like nothing you could do but push up on the shift lever while shifting or stick a rubber band around it to hold it to the brake? ....

- took shifter off.
- took 3 screws out and removed plate.
- cleaned all the dirt and muck out of the wheel that I saw. (you can actually see how the shifter works right here. Unlike the shimano stuff...)...
- cleaned it better
- sprayed it with T9
- put 3 screws back in and put on bike.

It seriously feels really really good. Not new, but really good. So stoked.

On Cyclocross, Pittsburgh Bike History and the Misfits...

2009-10-12T10:33:00.002-04:00

Cyclocross rules. I hate driving more than 2 hours for a 1 hour criterium, but for cross, a 5 hour drive is no sweat. The mid atlantic rules. There were a lot of fast dudes from the Mid Atlantic going head to head with National "pro" cross racers these last few days in Ohio. Bad Andy, Wes, Wittwer etc. Pretty impressive.
Maybe I just like it cause I do ok at it? I think I would still enjoy it if I was worse than I am.

Pittsburgh Bike Racing History:

So I caught a ride down this weekend for the UCI 3 day with Gerry Pflug. Pflug might be the most accomplished bike racer that people dont know is that accomplished. To quote Ryan Leech "Pflug is a legend." I remember the first time that I raced him, I was like "who is this gray haired dude dropping me on the climbs?!!?!"
On top of it, he has a history of all of Pittsburgh racing for the past 25 years or so. Chew has it too, but you have to have the ability to talk to Chew to get it. Who knew Scotty Root won a silver medal at master's worlds? I didnt. So somebody in the know needs to make a website or something with all of the awesomeness of Western PA before it is long forgotten.

And The Misfits:
The Misfits and Cross go hand and hand, being that it is Halloween (video from 82 pre roided out Danzig) time. They were basically a bunch of jocks dressed in costumes singing songs about horror movies, but were branded a punk band. Danzig became Danzig, Robo was in Black Flag, and in true adult American spirit, they grew up and sued each other for lots of money and rights. Awesome.

"Walk Among Us" was the first punk cassette I owned. It was like 1988 or 89. Between my brother and myself, we wore that thing out. In the late 90's sometime, the box set came out with the lyrics and tons of odd recordings. It was awesome. For those of you who like to download music.... Dont feel bad, cause if you have a good enough lawyer you could probably own the rights to the music as Doyle and Jerry Only do now. The 4 disc box set:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1mn4nxmjmnd/Fits D1.rar
http://www.mediafire.com/file/g4mtmtwxkdo/Fits D2.rar
http://www.mediafire.com/file/e3hzrtnyjod/Fits D3.rar
http://www.mediafire.com/file/jm02gztarnh/Fits D4.rar

What do you think we are ...lightweights?

Last of vegas. 2 day bump = Going to Zion.

2009-10-02T11:41:00.010-04:00

Willie (Nicol's cousin from California)... Nicol and I drove up to Zion and hiked the Angels Landing Trail.
We were REALLY close to Colorado City, AZ which is the polygamy capital of the US. It is also has the highest rate of fumarase deficiency in the world, which is caused by having "uncle dads"... yeah make fun of Appalachia and west virginia. Like everybody in the city is a direct descendant of 2 - 3 people. Creepy. Didnt make the side trip though.

Picture dump:

We hiked to the top of this thing

This is the "great arch" of zion. Wind did this. That is pretty great.

Cool trail up.

Then it got kind of scary, like 1800 foot cliffs.

1/2 mile from here to the top along this spine. It took 45 minutes to an hour. Drop offs on both sides.

Kind of gnarly.

View upriver. We did not come from this direction.

View back down the spine.

View downriver the way we came.

California Condor migrated to zion from the grand canyon. Largest north american bird. Pretty sick. If I were a "birder" I have probably seen a lot of birds in my travels, however Matt and I just made fun of birders and the advice to see rare birds when we did the Great Divide MTB route.

The dudes.

Another arch. Crazy.

About as much fun as you can have winging a day trip somewhere that you dont know at all.

what?

More time than money. Vegas Part II

2009-09-29T13:57:00.005-04:00

So this was my first interbike, and my first time in Vegas.

Vegas is like Halloween fused with St Patricks day. Everybody uses it as an excuse to get stupid drunk, and women use it as an excuse to dress in ridiculous outfits showing as much skin as legally possible. Much like the holidays it is entertaining for a minute, then super annoying for the hours after.

Tons of Swag. SURLY METRIC MEASURING TAPE!!!

Will walk 10 miles for 30 gel packs. 3 cheer packs. Some R4 samples.

I got into the cervelo party. This was serious. I drank like 40 dollars in Fiji water.heinrich haussler was there.

MJ seat cover. Anybody from the Burgh remember B rose? He runs the Shockspital.

Free T9 lube. Also Dumontech. Good stuff.

Water bottles...

Shopping bags..

This thing is sweet, it turns old tubes into bungee cords and tie downs. Awesome.

I took 3 bumps for a total of 1050 in southwest credit. More time than money for sure. One of the bumps was 2 days!

Stoked on my new hat as well!

Interbike / Crossvegas part 1.

2009-09-29T10:42:00.002-04:00

The whole week started with a downer as the TSA guy stole my brand new jar of peanut butter that was my breakfast lunch and dinner for the next 36 hours or so. The guy was right I guess. Whatever.

Took my first bump Tuesday morning. 355 in Southwest credit for 3 hours of my life. Done.

Got to Vegas, walked around to stretch my legs and crashed out.

Day 1 of Interbike I was like a kid in a candy store. I must have walked 10 miles. So much cool stuff. So much swag. So many people. Ed said that he saw a woman at a booth who actually worked for a company, she looked down at her cleavage, realizing that it wasnt showing enough and pulled her shirt down a bit more. Interbike. Somebody said "if you like girls and bikes its a good time."

Jet lagged and tired from walking, I headed to the crossvegas venue. Dirt Crit. There was not a single technical section at all. I guess it was to be expected. I was somehow also lined up next to The Rabobank dude, and some other Belgie who talked like ARNOLD.. "you hold my bike yes?" Awesome.

Good start, bad finish. There should seriously be a rule that once you get lapped you have to be neutralized until the finish. Like why did a dude sprint me for 58th place? Whatever. I guess I should just not get lapped rather than wonder what the hell that dude is doing.

More later. (pics of all the swag)

Cyclingnews Picture of me, only included for how ridiculous it is. "Back in the pack" = understatement of the weekend.

Public Apology.

2009-09-14T08:48:00.002-04:00

This is for Peter and Babik cause they dont have facebook. And yes, after 4 years of owning this place I am considering the purchase of a weed wacker.

Last trip pics and summary.

2009-09-09T14:20:00.009-04:00

Sorry I have been slow to upload these. Im sure you have been on the edge of your google reader.

Maryland is freaking beautiful. They gave me a free bike map and a free byways map. The roads have huge shoulders. Cars seriously wait to pass you if there isnt a 3 foot shoulder (which was maybe 10% of the time). The Western panhandle is totally beautiful and mountainous. The people were nice too.

MD = Bike lanes

However I got lost and asked where I was and I was "a few miles from PA" not good.

Prettyboy reservoir north of B mo

At least it was beautiful and scenic while I was lost.

Crossing the Conewingo dam. I had to stay mad far up north to avoid the Chesapeake bay.

And I thought it was going to be mad busy after crossing it. Its like 50 miles from Philly?

Awesome setup: MD bike map. MD byway map. Computer.

Perrypoint, a historic, rundown town.

Wow, it is rush hour and that bridge looks scary.

Rode the sidewalk. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO SCARY.

Not afraid to wear a neckerchief. No trees = sunburned neck.

Eastern MD is super rural.
Another long day. My odometer read 12,800 some miles and the day was 128.22 miles!
Camped on the edge of town.
DAY 4. Last day.

This felt good

Yeah baby.

No offense to anybody from DE, but can I get a "welcome to!"???

Beach = ski ball

And big winnings.

Bike trip day 2 image dump.

2009-09-03T11:58:00.007-04:00

Cumberland Maryland - Uniontown Maryland.

Opened the day with a LONG climb out of Cumberland.
Thought this was the top.

The real top.

Found a big snake .
Maryland is really rural and nice.
This is route 40. The Lincoln Highway. No cars.
Long climb for such a low freaking elevation.
I went over 6 "hills" or mountains or whatever this day.
The view from some lookout. I carried binoculars 460 miles to use one time here.
Western MD rail trail for 15 miles or so.
Back on the road. Crossing the AT. This dude is headed for Michaeux.
Oh yes.

You have to be going REALLY slow to notice things like this.
Ended up in Uniontown MD. Some old civil war town where everything was nice.

Camped behind a super old church. The pastor was nice and didnt seem to mind.
This was the house next to the church. Like normal people just live here.
Dinner.
THE CENTURY!!!!!!!!!
Man figure out that average speed.

bike trip photos Pittsburgh - Cumberland day 1

2009-08-31T14:28:00.007-04:00

Leaving the house EARLY.

Wilmerding is often confused with Hollywood.

Arona road parallels the Turnpike for awhile out of town

Then it becomes the beautiful part of PA.

I have never seen this lake before. The ridge in the background!

Hit the bike route in Connellsville.

Awesome. Art I can appreciate.

Bridge in Ohiopyle.

Welcome to Confluence, where the Yough meets the Casselman.

10 Miles until the summit.

The climb was awesome. I just could not get a good picture of the surroundings.

First time visiting the highest point in PA by bike! Bucketlist and all that.

Meyersdale in the distance. Going down!

Took the long cut to Meyersdale (went over a mountain rather than staying on the flat trail)... Took the trail out.

OH YES!

Here I realized that I should not have a hard time making it to Cumberland! It was awesome, I cant believe trains used to go up this slope.

Big Savage Tunnel 3200 feet long!!!!

Tomorrow's mountains in the distance.

RIDE TIME 10:56 ... OH YES!

138.28 for my highest day of the year I think?

I camped in some park in some town a few miles south of Cumberland.