Heroic Doses

After eating not 9 but 10 suicide level chicken wings last night and drinking 6 pints of various beer I figured that today I better try to offset that damage  by having something good for me today.  The wings were as deadly hot as they were artery clogging.  Wild Wing has like 200 flavors of wings,  but only a few really hot ones.  The spicy numbers I inhaled were crazy hot, and I normally like really hot.  I administer healthy doses of Franks Extra Hot to almost everything I eat.  But my favorite hot sauce , by far, is Dave's Insanity Sauce.  Although it can also double as paint stripper, chain degreaser or clogged drain clearer. It's so hot but so tasty.  Pretty hard to find as well.   But something in those Wild Wings last night blew my socks off.  I will assume it's my lack of practice with the deep fried delicious little bastards.

Today's birthday supper was a winning design.  Salmon , with arugula and a boconcinni salad with some red vino.  Perfect blend of protein and good stuff for the growing boy.   

I rode the Mid Week crit course today.  It was nice.  The road was dry and had already met with a sweeper.  Of course I was the only one there.  Once I ran in into Rob D'Amico there in the evening.  Other than that I never see anyone out there and it's great because it's well lit, and there are zero cars.  I wish I could get some guys to come out and do a mock Wednesday or Thursday night race series.   I love racing that loop.

When I got home I struggled to open the door with my bike in hand with my helmet and shoes and a coffee and , sadly, the door slammed shut and put a nice little chip on my drive side chain stay.  Sucked ass.

Perspective

I was standing at work today and a strange rush of dull pressure came over me.  I knew what is was right away. My little boy has been sick all week.  It had to happen.  My joints hurt, my back hurts, my bones all hurt, my knuckles hurt, my hair even hurts.  Less in the spot where it's thinning, but for two reasons I became bummed out.
1) It's my birthday this weekend and I have plans to go to Kitchener, hang out with some pals and teach a lesson  to a few cold Belgians.
2) I am scheduled to race in Florida next week.

I really didn't want to have to use an excuse for doing poorly next week.  If I can't ride this week, or at least can't ride hard, that is just going to compound this light week.  I worked several nights this week and wasn't able to train everyday.  So yeah, I was a little pissed the second  I felt the flu-like symptoms hit me with their triangle choke accuracy.

Then we watched the BBC news on the computer.  We saw all the death, and destruction in Japan.  We all watched the video clips in horror,  equally happy that we're not there as we were sympathetic to the people who are living in that chaos.    We have nothing to complain about here in Canada.  It's rained for the last few days.....who cares?   Beer prices are expected to rise by 33% in the next few months?.....pish posh.  Gas is at an all-time high?  Whoopie-Dee Look at Me!!!!   I am still going to Florida.  Still racing.  May not do as well as I thought I would have 12 hrs ago.  Maybe tomorrow I will wake up and feel much better.  Not sure.  Not that worried either.  My family is warm and safe.  I have 2 jobs that I like.  I have several awesome bikes that are waiting to be hammered on .  When I feel more like my normal lucky self.

Stormy day, won't see me sinking

Rode the other night on Marc's Cervelo with a power meter.  My numbers were less than I had hoped for, but still  decent I guess.  I am hoping they will get better once I get used to using a power meter and pace myself properly.  I will test again after we return from Florida.  Hopefully , I will do ok at those races and that will also be a boost to the motivation.  But regardless............we are going to have  good time racing down there.  A few other dudes from the team are going to Texas, but not racing.    I predict Andy is going to me a machine this year. 

Blender of Champions

Observe!  This is my new blender.  $100.  not bad.  I looked at a couple different blenders that were almost twice the price.  I couldn't see too much difference, the blades were the same thickness.  Maybe the motors in the more expensive ones were better though.  I just can't keep using $30 crap Presidents Choice blenders that claim to be 'professional' grade.  As soon as you throw in some ice, or frozen pineapple you can hear the motor struggling like Tommeke chasing  Spartacus.   This one rips through all frozen water, fruit, tundra....what have you......and doesn't smell like high school small-engines shop.  $100 well spent.


This weekend is going to be a bad weekend for training.  I am breaking with the program , for 1 night anyways, and drinking a pile of beer.  Hopefully all Duvels.   Oh, and speaking of Duvels.........I have heard from 2 friends this week that all the liquor stores are out of Duvel.  I have witnessed my favorite LCBO location also present to me an empty shelf where Belgiums finest once sat.   If this absence becomes a resident problem I imagine we are going to have to start ordering it by the case.  Or I could do what Dr Booth does and just buy a keg fridge and fill it with Leffe.   You magnificent bastard Booth,  always one step ahead.

Stay golden, Pony Boy.

Finally the bike show is over.  There weren't too many really hot bikes there.  Invita had the Petacchi Cento Uno, La Bici had a hot Dogma with DA 2 and a few nice Milram  Focus's on blowout, and Bianchi had their Oltre Nero with Lightweights on it.  Claiming 13.2lbs.  It was pretty alright.  But mostly I was blown the hell away by Stage Race Distributions little booth.  They had the coolest Euro bikes at the show......or anywhere.  Museeuw, Scapin, Storck, Carrera,and Pantani.  The only brands  they were missing were SPIN and Cipollini.

Yes, although I just got on my new DA Prince with 2011 303's,  I had a total boner for that white Museeuw with Super Record, and Lightweights.  Mike at Stage Race had it going on.

I finally broke my indoor trainer this weekend.  It sounds like a seizing engine.  I am not even sure how old it is, but its a goner now.  My friend Joe let me borrow his wifes new tacx trainer.  

Heading out to see what kind of power I can muster tonight.   Florida in less than 2 weeks.  Attacking off the line.  OFF THE LINE!!!!!!!!!!

Pushing the pace

Today is the first day of the Toronto bike show.  I wasn't able to even get there , and I was supposed to be there working.  I had another big job to do that I guess had to take precedence.  I generally hate trade shows, but I have never worked a bike show before*. I hope the fact that I am surrounded by awesome Colnagos, Pinarellos, Cervelos, and BMCs will help wash down the unpleasant aftertaste of a 9 hour work day.

I am going to Marc's place on Monday night to spend some time in his training room and do some power measuring.  We have a number we are shooting for.  I pray  I don't  disappoint.  Currently I am still training with heart rate and by feel.  I am curious to see what kind of wattage I am putting out.

For dinner tonight I tried to duplicate a favorite salad from Terroni.  It's baby arugula, with pan seared crimini mushrooms, hot Genoa salami , with melted parmesean cheese, and then I drip olive oil and vinegar all over it, with some fresh lemon.  Of course, I have to top it off with a glass of Italian red., and a couple of slices of Ciabatta bread.  You are probably thinking "Congratulations!!!! You've ruined that salad , that jerk forgot tomatoes!!!"  Indeed I did.   It was not as good as theirs,  but still pretty good for a master of  Kraft Dinner and beer.

                                                               Yeah, that just happened!

It's 5:20pm now, but after the boy goes to sleep I am going to fire up the engines and rip some cranks off my Pinarello downstairs.  90 minutes.  Hammer time.




*Not true-in 1999 I worked for Party Marty/Black Flys at the Dealers bike show.  Then we spent the night at System Soundbar.  Man, I would die if I tried that kind of party pace again.  

March of the Crabs

First day of March.  Nice weather too.  I should be doing the Donut Ride on Sunday but I will be working at the bike show.   Goddamn I can't wait for this season to start.  I have so many new friends to ride with, drink beer with, hang out with.  It's cool how easily you can make friends with other racers.   Unlike some of other friends , the ones you share such a common passion with can be your closest pals.  If I can get a little cheesy and put forth a slice of personal philosophy I think that life is about 2 main things.  Relationships and experiences.  Relationships are kind of like the glue that binds all the experiences together.  Without the relationships you can't fully enjoy,  learn from, or in some way benefit from the experiences.  Relationships can be good or bad.  The bad ones make you realize how good the good ones are,  and just  like good experiences you can never have too many good relationships.  Maybe it's the first friend you made in high school, or a teacher that took extra time with you, maybe it's some stranger who commented on your bike and asked you to ride with him,  maybe it's a pet that sometimes went hungry with you, but never held it against you.   One you'll always love and remember.  Good relationships are sometimes hard to build.  But are almost always worth their weight in gold pressed latinum.

2011

 Experiences. You need to experience things in countless ways.  Experience the thrill of dog sledding, or the pain of a massive injury.  The betrayal by loved one,  or simply putting yourself in another persons shoes.  Experience failure, or success.  Love or hate. Highs and lows.  These are all things that, when added up will be the pages of your life's photo album.   I recommend experiencing a cold tulip glass  of Duvel as often as possible.

 Currently, on the month of my 40th birthday I am still amassing both great experiences and even better relationships.  I am pretty confidant that the next 40 will be even more noteworthy.  (end of cheese)

 Tonight, I threw my training book aside (Aside you stupid book! I cried!) and just rode hard.  Not longer than an hour but probably still at around 165 bpm for most of the duration.   I am still loving my training bike, the chamois cream I use, I also am getting hooked on this FRS Healthy Energy juice.

                                                                               1996

O'Doyle rules

State Violence, State Control

It's almost goddamn March,  when will this winter turn and walk away? Yeah you better run you stupid season!!!!!!!  Winters seem to be getting shorter and more mild.  For years, ever since I started yearning to ride year round I have monitored (or attempted to) the winters length and severity.  Maybe they are just the same.....I don't know........Gov.  Jesse Ventura tells me that Global Warming is a hoax, and that  the somewhat  odd weather patterns are part of Earths natural cycle.  I was really hoping to ride outside this weekend, but CP24 staff weather specialist Nalini Sharma said that Sunday will be wet and sloppy.  Can't take a new bike out in that.

We added some new intervals to my nightly rides today.  I blasted some 80's punk/metal and mostly watched American History X.  I was feeling really strong tonight.  I didn't bail on any of the ride.  Sweat a lot too.  I usually don't perspire that much.  If I can get a power meter this spring, I may be detailing much different workouts.  But it is pretty trying getting through that last 15 minute hard effort.

Tonights ride:

15 minute warm up

3x15 minute intervals at 5% below threshold heart rate with 5 minute rest between

10 minute quick spinning at 60-65% ( a little faster than a cool down spin)

4x30 second sprints , with 30 second recovery between

10 minute cool down 

1 Duvel for a job well done, and if its slow tomorrow at the store we will watch the Spring classics begin.

I have my money on Phil Gilbert.  Dr Booth???

King for a day

Most of the time I ride at night.  Usually 9:30-11:00ish. If I am not doing a Spinervals or Carmichael DVD I do one of  my interval rides and I watch CP24.  It's good because it has a big clock that shows minutes and seconds so I can easily tell how long to do each set.  I also get to read the news.  Although, I am almost always listening to some sort of intense CD (see February's blog titles) and  I watch whichever news anchor is on.  Occasionally it's Gurdeep Ahluwalia, but most of the time, and if I am lucky its Farrah Nasser.  She loves her job.  She tells the news with a zeal and passion that few other anchorpersons have.  But  mostly she is just smokin' hot.  She is easily the best looking woman on CTV/CP24 but probably Canadian news in general.  I don't even need to hear her tell me what's up.  I can just tell if it's good news or bad.  But mostly, again, she is just really hot and I don't care what she is saying.  I wish she would come and cover one of our races.  I would make sure I somehow won/or crashed in that race  just so I could speak with her.   Afterall, I blew my chance with Dina a couple of years ago when I was at Breakfast Television.  Damnit.

                                      You're a dirty slut and I'm going to punch you in the ovaries.......

Tonight I am taking a night off.  For Christ's sake this blog is called Strong Beer, Strong Legs I can't just quit drinking just like that. I already eat way less food.  Dropped white bread and rice.  Eat almost no processed foods.   Tons less meat.  It makes me realize how shitty I was eating, even though it wasn't that bad.......I do start everyday with about 7 servings of fruit.  Tonight, however, I am having about 3 servings of beer.  Keller.  Not bad.  No Devil of a beer, but not bad.

Today Rob D'Amico came in to the store.  He tells me that Z-Team and Wheels of Bloor have merged.   I don't know whether to be upset and disheartened or just stay the course and hope that they incur some infighting and blow a team gasket.  Who the hell will be their team leader?!?!?!  Rob is probably the best (read: smartest) racer but Ian  and/or Bruce are strong as hell, and that's just the tip of the Iceberg.  They have Radek, Mike Peshco, Vic Pwu...........Christ they don't have any weak riders.  All these fucking guys just came back from Cuba and were flying down there.  Hell, Vic is going to Tenerife soon.

At least Marc and I are racing in Florida next month.  Oh, and Marco got hurt last night.  So he may be out for the season.  Crap.

I won't sleep well tonight.  Especially if I think about Farrah.

Darkness Descends

Occasionally you have to revert  to your roots.  Screen legend Tom Cruise once said 'sometimes you just gotta say what the fuck'.  So in complete juxtaposition to my training and eating plan I inhaled a plate of chicken wings and gave 3 drafts beers a good home.  It felt good.  Goddamnit , it felt great!!!  It wasn't even great beer.  Far from the Belgian strong beer to which I have become accustomed but our mere fancy free attitude made me really appreciate the warming glow that only nature's perfect beverage can provide.  Although I am not by any stretch deviating from my training plan , I can't wait for my next night out with several glasses of Flanders sunshine.

Maybe if I were to apply the same logic to riding I could see improvements in my strength and/or skill.  Maybe a week off the bike would give me a much needed mental or physical jump start when I get back on.

If not, I will have to settle for a couple of bottles of Chimay  to remind  me to appreciate life, both on and off the bike.

Apocalypse Inside

Here are the first pics of my new racing machine.  The Fulcrum wheels that you see are just on there until my Zipps arrive.  Hopefully next week.  As it stands it is 17lbs.  But those wheels are about 4 lbs and the Zipps are around 2.25lbs, and I will put on my titanium Speedplay pedals so that should bring it to just below 15lbs.
This Prince is 1cm shorter than my last Prince , but I always felt that bike was a bit long.  So I hope this one shreds.

I think I am expected to report my opinion on this bike for the new Invita Sport Blog.  That blog will be about the store, our brands, and fun stuff that happens there.  I'll also give my opinions on bikes, parts, on-bike clothes and supplements.

                                                               Dethroned Emperor

Leprechaun out.

As it was, as it soon shall be

I picked out my new bike today. Pinarello Prince.  It should be ready on Friday.  All except for the wheels.  I already have a smokin' fast Crit bike so I am going to sort of make this be more of a climbing road race bike.  Good for the Qualifiers as well as the hilly Nationals.

I have already have owned a few Pinarello's.  A steel Montello and a couple of Aluminum/Carbon ones.  Fantastic handling.  Matt DeCanios favorite bike. Juan Antonio got a Roubaix  podium spot on a Prince in 2005 I think.  I also think Ulrich won the 97 Tour on one.  Also Eric Zabel has a pile of notable wins aboard a Pinarello Prince.  I wish I had some good pics of my Orange Prince.  Full Record, with Cinelli Ram bars.  Those same bars are going on this Prince.  Although I am using Dura Ace 7900 on this build.  Oh well, I hope it impresses.   But I imagine this build will be just under 15lbs.

First Strike, Still Deadly

Sunday night Marco called me.  Wants to go riding.  It was above the freezing mark so I agreed.  We rode mountain bikes around our usual road riding loop and then hit the crit course and then a few hills up Eglinton .  Not a great hill, but in a big gear and on knobby tires I guess its ok.  I wish I would have worn shoes covers or thicker socks.  My toes were feeling pain that I haven't known before.

I guess the qualifying race for the World Masters Championships is in less than 3 months.  Somewhere in New York.  I have to do some more research on that, and by 'some research' I mean 'research'.  As I have really done shit sandwich.  But apparently its a 100 mile Grand Fondo , but they are only timing you on the climbs.  So it seems like we can take it easy throughout the race and then just torch the climbs.  Seems like a stupid way to gauge how fast someone is overall.

I am ordering a new pair of 2011 Zipp 202's this week.  Their service will be invaluable at that race.   I wonder where the whole team will stay down there.   I hope sub 15lb bikes are ok at this race.   Mine will be pushing  14lbs.

The other night with Marco I tried a new energy and vitamin chewable.  I am not sure exactly if it worked  or not, but last night  I had one of the best training rides downstairs that I have ever had.  Luckily my Guerciotti is stiff as hell or I may have snapped something off of  it.   I can only assume that the accompanying Energy drink was the cause.  It looks and tastes more like frozen concentrated orange juice, and is nothing like a Red Bull or Monster.  The 4 ingredients listed after water are basically all sugar or some variation of sugar.  So that would explain the burst of energy I felt.  The label states it is a 'Healthy Energy' dietary supplement, also a power antioxidant.  So I can only assume they have researched this and determined it to be true.

My honest take on this tasty beverage is as follows.  Yes, you will most likely experience a period of increased energy.  I imagine it would be on par with a can of Red Bull, a Hammer Gel,  or a donut and a Coke.  You may even get a small shot of vitamins.   I don't fully  see the benefit to taking an energy shot before a ride as the crash may come sooner rather than later.  I like to think you can complete a ride based on the nutrition already stored in your body, and the food and water you eat while you're riding, if you eat right.  Not a huge fan of the sugar blast.  But it will work for some quite nicely.  Eat 2 bananas before your ride and save some money, but I will repeat this stuff tastes pretty good.

I have to go drop $150+ on a new blender today.  All the frozen pineapple I throw in my current blender has ruined it.  I need to somehow hook up a blender up to my bike .

Word.

If you don't stand up, you don't stand a chance.

Today I got into Invita and was hoping for a rush of customers.  Nope.  Its still to early for our crowd to get in and start buying up all the new goodies.   I guess its just the racers who are out right now, both shopping and riding.  I counted and put away a crap load of cool merchandise.  The boxes of Sram Red and Campy Super Record were particularly drool worthy.  I didn't mind all the Colnago frame sets either.  Anyways I am continuing to meet new customers as well as existing ones.  A lot of nice bikes come through that door for Juan to fix.  That dude is one sick mechanic.  He takes  his shit to a whole 'nother level. 

                                                               Phil, Krys, and Juan.

Yesterday I banged off the hardest of my  rides for this week.  The second 20 minute effort was tough, but more tough just to sit through and complete than it was physically hard.  The sprinting at the end was like running for my life from a parliament of pissed off owls, a streak of Tigers, or even a crash of Rhinoceroses. Yeah, you heard me punchy.

Krys and Phil dropped by today.  Those handsome bastards were out running around in the snow attempting to get into race shape.  No running for me.  Indoor intervals and donut rides.

Oh yeah, if you are ever thinking about buying new shoes these DMT's are average, at best.   My Sidi Ergos are 10x better.   Even my old DMT Ultimax are better.  Just not as white.

T-Balls out.

Back in NYC

This month I am going to title all my posts with the names of intense songs or albums that I cranked and found helpful in putting the power to the wheels. Old Genesis is actually pretty hard.

I am following my program to the letter and the legs don't even look like mine anymore.  I am told next weeks program is adding a lot more power work.  The Barodeur is coming to town this spring.

After some long deliberation I have decided to try altering my diet a bit, starting now.  First thing is cutting out white bread.  I probably eat too much of that as it is.  Even if it is in the form of a soft fresh, delicious pita shell.  No more white rice.  More raw veggies.  Even less dairy.  Currently I don't consume much dairy, with the exception of choco milk.  But I can find an alternative.  I almost never eat read meat save maybe a monthly burger or steak burrito.  I have nearly dropped beer from my diet entirely. That is the hard one.  And although its an integral part of this diet I have to have some sort of crutch.  I never get drunk anymore, but I sure do love me some Duvel after a hard ride or while scanning my Internet machine.

Starting this year all the training is for the National Championships and the world Championships in Belgium.  We are not as concerned with the local  or provincial races.  I would love to do well in every race, but the Ardennes are the goal atop all other goals.    This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.   Racing in Belgium before I get too old, or too broke.  I am hoping for 2 weeks there.  Trip of a lifetime.

Gotta go sell some bikes today.

And then there were three.......

Today is a sad day for me.  I have them sometimes.  I had one about 5 years ago.  I felt I had to sell my Lemond Zurich, with full Dura-Ace for much less than it was worth.  All to ensure that the stupid mortage money was in the bank.  Lousy stupid needing a roof over your shoulders.  Then a few years later I sold my rarely-seen-in -North America Orange Pinarello Prince , also with full Dura Ace.  That time though, it was because I had purchased the bike you see below.  And it totally shredded that beautiful Pinarello to pieces.  Still, I should never have gotten ride of it.   I have a small photo album I keep beside my bed.  In contains pictures of my dogs (RIP boys) , and pictures of all the bikes I have owned.  CRAP!!!!!! I forgot about my steel EDDY MERCKX I gave to Paul Dean at Cycles London.  At least he would give it a good home, unlike that asshead who ruined the Pinarello.   

Why is it that parting with racing bikes is such a difficult endeavor?  I have had girlfriends I would, and have let go much easier than one of my bikes.  Shit, maybe even more so than a set of tires...........but back to my rant.  I have woken up sick thinking about 1 or more of my past bikes and where they might be.  Like a child who has stayed out past curfew, or runs away or something dumb like that.  You think "why did I let it go ???? For the love of god WHY???????"

Anyways, today is another day that I should have thought long and hard about.  As I sold my BMC Team Machine (see above pic again).  Definitely the best bike (or favorite child) I have ever had.  I know its going to a good home and will bring that skinny bastard a lot of fun.  Wait till he descends on that rocket.

All I have left now are the BMC Streetfire, Guerciotti Khaybar HT, and my mountain bike.

Sort of hoping my new bike will look kinda like this.

I can talk to animals. Well not talk to 'em. I can take commands from them.

1. I had to work today.  I was in a customers house working on their pool table .  The guy smoked non stop while I was there.  He asked me if I smoked, possibly to gauge whether or not I would like one. As it turned out he cared not for me and continued to light 'em up.  Then his smokey buddy came over and joined him.  I think I have cancer.  Or something.

B) Went to my good friend David Atkinson's (The David Atkinson) today as well.  David rides a souped up Team Machine and has a Look KX Light.  He also paints really cool  things.  He is one of my coolest friends.  Who is also a little odd, maybe a bit crazy, but always in a pretty reasonable , easy to understand and agree with sort of way.    I hope he gets his website up soon displaying all the wicked paintings he makes of all things PRO cycling.   I also eat some weird food when I am there.  Sometimes delicious, always healthful.  Today was no different.  Some sort of seaweed wrap containing shredded carrot, shredded beet, and sliced peppers .  All to be dipped liberally in an expensive organic soy sauce.  As C. Montgomery Burns once said- "I know what I hate, and I don't hate this."  But I wouldn't go as far as to make it myself.  Some variation with less beet, more rice, and a sliver of Habanero instead of regular pepper would set my soul nicely ablaze.

I got my training schedule for the next week from my coaching department today.  Holy shit, what am training for the Giro?  Oh yeah, Provincials, Nationals, Worlds.  And then Crank the Shield.  Boom!  she says.

Gotta make sure I get some new race videos for the week. I've never seen 2010 Ghent-Wevelgem.

I need some more pineapple.

I have told you never to call me after 11:00................or before.

Today seemed like a normal enough day.  Talked with MB in the am.  Had Breakfast with Maximillian, then cleaned up all that he didn't eat.  Took him to day care.  I was later told about how the sport of curling can actually be dangerous.  Who would have thought?  It seems so slow paced.  But I guess when you have on shoes and are sliding around on ice you can wipe out and split your skull open. The stench of burning death is everywhere.  While surfing last night I came across the details of a mass serial killing in the Ukraine a few years a go whereby the killers video taped all the killings and leaked some of them to the net.  They used hammers, screwdrivers , steel pipes, and various tools and knives.  They marvel at their work and then wash the selves off and get back to life.  How screwy is that?  I guess if you want to see these absolutely insane , cruel killings you can search 3  Men 1 Hammer.  Apparently a play on the 2 girls 1 cup Internet sensation.  I have seen the latter, I don't recommend it but I would never watch the former.  Murder just doesn't have the appeal it had when I was 16.  Not that eating poop does it for me either.....I think I watched it out of equal parts mental retardation and bizarre curiosity.  ,

I did all my intervals downstairs today, by lunch as well. Hated it.  I think if you find a time of day to work out that you like.  Stick with it.  Found it really hard to finish my second hard effort.  But the 3:00 nap time was a piece of cake.

Rode the Mid Week crit course as well tonight for 75 minutes.  I rode at a fast pace the whole time.  Evenings really are my preferred time of day.  Met up later with the rest of the team (except Marc and Demetre) for tea/Hot Choc and laughs.  We are going to have smoking teams in both Master 1 and 2.  

Marc and I are racing in Florida in March.  Hoping to lay down the (Canadian) law with our well rested legs, as well as our utmost appreciation for the warm climate,  dwindling American Charter of Rights, and basically their Governmental corruption  as a whole.   Isn't Florida the state that sold George .W his second term? 

Not a lot of salt and crap today to clean up,

and yeah, that's a Merckx print.

I'm sorry I'm four hours late but my alarm clock didn't go off because it died in a cock fight last night.

the summit of MT Washington , NH

MT Battie, ME.  Overlooking Penobscot Bay

                                                           Some cool  hill in Camden Maine

                                                          The view from our room in Camden

Not even sure where this is or who took it

Mt. Battie

Marc atop MT Brushie, NC

Mike, Ronnie, Juan, me at the 24hrs, Albion Hills, Bolton

If I were a real werewolf I'd wear baggy clothes so my nice clothes wouldn't get all torn up.

Oh man , I went to the U of T yesterday with MB, it was a good workout. Normally I don't enjoy squats but I guess when your chiropractor is spotting you, you are as safe as possible.  We also ran a bit and did circuits. I ran. Oh I ran . The only way I knew how- by placing one leg in front of another in rapid succession. Then today I had to relocate a 12' snooker table.  They weigh around 3200lbs.  That was an even tougher workout.  It destroys your whole body not just your quads.  And there are way fewer really hot 20 yr old girls around .

 This week I have been riding like a crazy maniac.  Last week I was more of a sane maniac.  I think my teammates Marco, Stan and Krys are mental patients for riding and motor pacing on Thursday in the snow when it was around -6 degrees.  Not me.  I get a better workout when I sweat my nuts off rather than when I freeze my wiener off.

Tonight I am putting the monkey-boy to bed early and then I don't have to start riding at 9:00.  I am thinking 1hr in the small ring as my legs feel like I was just kickboxing with Mirko.  So that means ignore the heart rate tonight as well.

I have a new 'ride hard' motivational song I like.  I put it on repeat and pretend I am in a video and my awesome Hardman power is being broadcast to the world alongside a totally heavy tune.

Rock it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdviI2Ic6PM