Quote Of The Day

I found a great quote in February's Wired magazine by Taryn Simon.  I wonder if Taryn has lived in Utah, because her quote sure hits home.

Attachment to the unknown is at the foundation of religious pursuits and even promoted by institutions, states, and governments.  Through the promotion of the unknown and the illusion of an answer beyond one's reach, it's easier to create a belief in institutional authority, security, or dependability.

Movie Of The Day

Wednesday Ride

A Rambling Post

I got this picture today from Bug Lab Greg, although he's really not Bug Lab Greg anymore, just Greg, taken at the Cat 5 bike race last week.  This is me at my best, because right after this I was reeled back in, like the small fish I am.

On another subject, ID to AZ, I got an email from my cyclocross racing friend Tim S.  He understands exactly why I have to do this big adventure. Yes, Tim, we are indeed brothers.  Tim writes:

"We do these things to push ourselves, to strip off the shit that accumulates from life; this makes us more true to ourselves and in turn to those in our lives. By finding our core, by whatever means, we can more freely give ourselves to others especially those we love. To me this is the opposite of selfish. I have a deep need to fight against something. If I don't push my self on the bike and fight against the pain and suffering that always seems to come, then I end up finding less positive things to fight against, often it's the people I am closest to at home and work. So needless to say taking the time for difficult physical adventures allows me the sanity to give myself selflessly to those around me. I only tell you this because I get the sense we are brothers in this area."

Thank you, Tim, for the words of understanding and insight.

Today's Slog

Nearly four hours
Cove, Franklin, Cornish, and home
Mostly at tempo

The Latest In Barefoot Technology

The barefoot technology crase is out of control.  Billions of dollars are being spent on these "shoes."

These are only $125.

These are nice, only $110.

Or, if you only have $99.99, you can buy these.  Hey, they are less than a hundred dollars.

Well, I have a better solution that will save you money.  I have discovered the very latest secret in barefoot technology, and I will share it with you.  Just send me $0.99.  Buy now.  I will email you the secret.

GW's Bike

0800

It was 30 degrees at 0800 when I went to ride this morning on the fixed gear cyclocross bike.  The River Trail is dry all the way to Spring Hollow, even the high trail (Bridger Overlook).  Spring Hollow proper still has snow and frozen mud.

Sitting at the computer reading Velo News makes me a cycling fan.  Turning off the computer and getting on the bike makes me something different.  I do not lack the motivation to be a good cyclist, rather, I lack time commitment.

Speaking of time, which seems to be of the essence, I think I will be on a geared mountain bike for ID to AZ.  Yeah.  I know.  Blasphemy.  ID to AZ has to be about three things:  Light, fast, and fast.  I'm now predicting 7 days for the whole journey.

Racer Boy Race Report

Yes, I jumped into the Category 5 race today, 16 young folks and me.  No, I did not get spit out the back.  No I did not ride off the front.  With five short laps to go I took off.  There was one guy up the road about 15 seconds.  Half a lap later I caught him and a group of 6 or 7 lapped riders, and the 6 or 7 guys behind us all came back together.  The last four laps were fast.  With one to go the strongest guy in the race (not me) made a strong move on the outside and I jumped on his wheel.  Into the turn we went.  I was just past his rear wheel on the outside as he drifted next to the cones.  I braked hard, went outside of the cones, and then zigzagged back onto the course, a bike length or two behind three guys.  There I stayed.  I could have got third, but what was the point?  I had nothing anyway.  All I had for breakfast was a pork chop, and all I had for lunch was salmon and green salad.  There you go, Dr. Catfish.  You may get smarter on a high protein-low carbohydrate diet, but you wont be a fast bicycle racer.

Racer Boy?

I'm thinking about doing this tomorrow afternoon, just for fun.  I don't have a road license.  That means they will make me do the category 5 race.  What would be worse, me riding off the front of a collegiate cat. 5 race, or me getting dropped in a collegiate cat. 5 race?  We may find out.  I would like to think I could just ride off the front.  Here is another idea.  I wear the Team Florida colors and tell them I'm a collegiate racer.  "Damned if I know why I look 50, I'm really only 23, and I think I lost my license."

Sore Legs

I went for a spin with Patty yesterday up the River Trail to Third Damn.  It was fun and I took some video.  The trail is snow free on the low side all the way up.  I almost got shot by a gun nut when I told him that target shooting on an official trail and in a campground is not too smart.

Then, I went on the Hyde Park ride.  There was no time to shoot video on that ride.  I pushed really hard going up to Newton and on the way back after the ride split up.  The legs are dead and sore this morning so I must have done some work.  During the ride I talked to John H. about the Tusher Crusher race in Beaver, UT.  I would love to do it.  The down side is the $135 entry fee and the four hour drive to get there and the four hour drive to get back home.  I could do a lot of riding from my door for that amount of money and time.  Also, I may be driving back from Florida that weekend.  We will see.

Next

Here's another video.  I think this one is quite artistic.  Today is a big day.  Clean the house, go for a bicycle ride in the mud, then go pick up my sister Vickie at the Salt Lake airport.

Wildlife Crossing Structures

I have made a few videos of Patty's work.  Here is one for now, more later.

TdG X

I missed something special yesterday.  Like all the Florida Gators say, "Just wait 'till next year."  Or, until June 21.

Roubaix

I truly love to ride a bicycle.  And, I really like to race now and then.  Racing, and even watching racing, sends an unexplainable electrical signal through my body.  But this, this is different.  Paris-Roubaix is my favorite and always will be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QSpuhIQg1A&feature=player_embedded

Today's Ride

The sky was bright blue
After last night's Spring snow storm
Today's ride, clear, cold

I went with Tim S.
New Blacksmith TT record
Category 5

I Give Up!

Yesterday's Ride

Little Pyrenees
Head winds in all directions
As the storms blew in

And Now, The Deer Fence Haiku, Again

Humans on my right
I roll behind the Deer Fence
Mountains on my left

Black Elk spoke about
Hang-Around-The-Fort-People
Waiting for hand outs

A hundred wild elk
Eating hay behind the fence
Brings tears to my face

Why the tall Deer Fence?
With countless bones at its base
To save apples, shrubs?

Take the Deer Fence down
Let mountains and humans blend
Leave only a trail

Today's Ride, Last Year's Results

I figured out a way to put an easy gear on the fixed gear cross bike, 44x22.  All I had to do was file just a little more.  When I file all the way through the back of the dropout, I will have gone too far.

So, I needed a test for the new gear.  It snowed about 6 inches this past weekend up on the Deer Fence.  I knew it would be wet.  What the hell?  I put on my neoprene socks and started climbing.  It was hard and wet but I had a great ride.  There were over 100 elk below the fence above River Heights; someone had left a gate open and a big hole in the fence.  That's a good thing.  It's too late for some.  There were six mule deer carcasses, mostly fawns, between Logan Dry Canyon and Providence Canyon, right along the fence, starved to death.  The deer fence is a failed experiment.  Sportsmen and biologists thirty years ago thought it would mean more deer if they could keep them from causing problems in the valley during the winter.  No.  We can reject that hypothesis.

The Deer Fence was snwmd
That word has one syllable
And fouls bicycles

It does not matter
Herriman mud covers mine
I'm gonna leave it

Like your first real kiss
That you will not wash away
Results look too good

Yeah, I know.  If what you did last year still looks good this year, you have not done much this year.  No, I have not.  But, I have plans.

Next post:  more blasts from the past:  The Deer Fence haiku and the Easter Sunday haiku.  Yes, the seagulls are back.

Northbound

I'm back on the road
Have to get out of Logan
The snow continues

Me, Lupine, Doc, dog
No one wants to ride in snow
So we will go soak

Going to Lava
For the hot healing waters
My bike's staying home

Home

Yes, I'm back sleeping in my own bed.  It smells like me rather than a stranger.  The drive home was fantastic.  I drove through Challis along the Salmon River instead of the Lemhi-Mud Lake route.  The views were fantastic.  The Lemhi and Lost River Ranges were covered in snow while the valley showed signs of Spring.  There were quite a few elk on the hillsides between North Fork and Salmon.  I saw them on both legs of the trip.  I'm thinking of buying a ranch on Fourth of July Creek, just as soon as I save an extra $227,800.  While I save, here is a poem:

Saw the elk again
Wintering on the Salmon
Fourth of July Creek

I got back on the bicycle yesterday and did a small group ride from Joyride Bikes with Kory, Dave E., Brian H., Larry, and others.  Joyride Bikes was my sponsor for last year's cross season (yeah, I'm trying to renegotiate my contract for this Fall, we're talkin' serious business).  I actually felt a little fast.  My threshold is still low, so it's back to running the stairs and more interval work if I want better aerobics.

Hotel Blues

There's nothing worse than living in a hotel.  The good news is I should be back in my own bed in a little more than 24 hours.  If, it all goes right.  I have 12 more cameras to check.  Patty says my loyal dog Senna misses me.  He has been waiting by the window, looking for me to come home all day.  It's dark now, and Patty says he is still there at the window.  The cat, on the other hand, could care less about anything, as long as there is food in his bowl and he has a comfortable place to sleep, like Senna's bed.

Bitterroot Again

It's April, time to go to Montana again.  It's Spring, the temperatures should be warm and the roads clear.  I love to drive over Lost Trail Pass.  It turns out you can go any speed you want because all the speed limit signs are covered in snow.  See?

Humbled

I got a nice serving of pie this evening.  It gave me heartburn.  I went with Tim S. and the Hyde Park folks on a group ride to Clarkston.  It was not super fast, but I got spit out the back several times.  Nice people waited for me and pulled me back to the group.  I just could not turn the pedals, that was for sure.  Now I'm an insomniac with reflux esophagitis.