I take the Lord's name in vain often, and with great relish.

This past season was a good one for me.  After Marc and I returned from riding in North Carolina I wrote out a list of goals that I would like to achieve in the upcoming race season.  Looking at them now, I surpassed all of them.  One might say that my goals were too easily attained and that's why I did so well.  But I don't think so. I went from not being able to finish a Tuesday night race with the pack to , in 4 weeks, winning that race.  I did well in the Kitchener Classic, and got on the podium at the CNE race.  Even did the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice and got a 3'd place.  

The placings don't mean as much though as the confidence I got by hammering it out for 90minutes, or sometimes way longer.  I used to be scared of crashing again.  No longer.  My luck is too good.  Over the top good luck.  This season  I move up a category, and although the competition is tougher I'm not worried.  I am also not worried because I'm not necessarily   going for wins or podiums.  I am going for fun.  By fun I mean, not being pack filler.  Not being the guy who just sits in and joins the break in the last 3kms.  Not being the guy who only  contests the sprint in the last 500m.  I am going to attack lots, again and again.  I am going to make a difference in every race. Whether I win, lose or  land somewhere in the middle, its not as big a concern as  if I stirred up some shit .  The last race I did in 2010 was a wet rainy one and I had a wicked cold.  I knew I wouldn't have a chance.  So I worked for Marc.  I attacked the field on lap 3  (I think).  I looked back and saw everyone looking up.  Some guys thought I was stupid, some didn't know what I was doing, some thought it was a waste.  I only rode away for maybe 2kms, but it felt great.  Better than finishing 15th would have.  Although the attack didn't work as planned, it caused a large break that got my friend Stan a second placing.  It felt as good as any podium.  And when I perfect my craft this season, I will be a happier man.  They will  all call Doyle The Leprechaun.

Obesity is killing the African/American community...............with laughter!

Holy crap its cold outside.  I didn't even try to ride outside today.  My pal Juan and I rode a few weeks ago and it was -4 degrees and that was a test.  My  points at issue with riding in the cold is that the cold forces you to go faster  to get the heart rate up and get the blood circulating, but the increased wind chill factor seems to nullify the warm fire you're building.  So I guess the trick is just to ride as hard as you can and then get home before your toes turn black and fall off .  -4 seems to be my ceiling for balls out fast riding.  I have ridden in worse conditions where the weather was warmer.  The Chiropractors and I did the Donut ride early December and after about 25kms it started snowing pretty hard and it was turning quickly slush. That was the most pain I have been in while riding.  My legs felt like I had just finished an interrogation in a Viet Cong camp.  I rode tonight for just over an hour.  I tried to simulate my intervals tonight as my heart rate monitor stopped working again.

I can't wait to start hitting the 14 km climbs of South Carolina in March.

Earth is the 3'd best planet in the Universe

I witnessed a dying infant this week.  I saw a mother climb into an ambulance on an impossible mission.  I heard a woman accused of murder tell me how sorry she was.  I hear both the nicest and the angriest things any person can say.  I was also lucky enough to drive home and find my little boy asleep in bed. Safe.

I also found some catharsis in polishing my bikes, and then riding one of them.  I read somewhere that the serious cyclist finds the time spent on a bike vaccination against all the stress of life.  Man, did I need a shot this week.

We had some beers (Leffe Blonde, Orval Trappist) at my friend Marc's house last night.  I always leave that place smarter and more enlightened than when I arrived  even though we ate expensive X-mas cookies, drank beer, and watched Dodgeball.   That movie is always good.  Vince Vaughn is king.

I did a good 1hr spin today after work.  I re clothed that 12' snooker table at the Crooked Cue.  That place has such kick ass food.  All the people there are cool, and they stock Duvel.  Although sadly, not on tap.  I didn't sweat so much today riding and it was hard to keep my heart rate up where I wanted it.   Maybe I have to stop working on Sunday mornings before I ride.

I stuck a thumbtack in my neck.......just so I can feel ...something.......

On this the 5th of January 2011 my day was anything but uneventful. I had to build a pool table for a gentleman who was really difficult.  His poor English was eclipsed only by his unbelievably bad breath.  I had to call him on it, as it was obvious to him he was pushing my away  like an August  wind  blowing over a garbage dump.  He didn't have my money and at the same time wanted me to perform twice the work we had agreed to.  All because he screwed up.  I did, in fact, snap.  Just not his neck.  Then when I went to pick up Maxy, one of the children at the daycare appeared to be dead, or at least comatose.  And no one had the good sense to call 911.  For the love of God!!!!!! What are people doing ?!?!?!?

I did my number 1 training ride tonight.  Its my hard one.  I sweat like a pig , when I normally am not a sweaty guy.  Also watched 2  episodes of 30Rock.  Best show ever.  I try to watch the show and take in every nuance of Alec Baldwin's ever-underrated acting but my focus always switches to racing and picturing the attacks, breakaways, and long pulls .   Man, racing is even more addictive than BJJ.  I can't stop thinking about it.

I am looking forward to racing with the new team this March\April in the States and am hoping to come out like a Greyhound on crack at the Good Friday road race.  Much more on that as it evolves.

I met my birth parents over the holidays, but did you care????

Ok, here I am with my first blog.  I bet it wasn't even 2 years ago I didn't even know what a blog was or did.  Now I know the shit out of what blogs are.  I imagine my writing will get pretty monotonous to most of the people I direct read this, but most shouldn't worry I won't be grilling anyone on whether or not they have been reading.

I woke up today and fed Maximilian and dropped him off at daycare.  He cried for a minute as he normally does.  I am told he stops after 2 minutes.  I got to my first job, which was re-levelling a 12' snooker table at a local pub, the Crooked Cue.  Possibly the coolest pub in Mississauga.  They have awesome food and even more awesome beers  like Leffe Brun, Duvel, Fruli, and such and such.  As it turned out my trip produced little fruit as the cooks who were supposed to let me in at 9:00am never showed up.  So I went home and got on my bike .

 .

I rode for around an hour today with 15 minutes of that being a fast but easy spin.  Then I got to business with the business.  I may occasionally detail some of my training rides. Regardless, today was good.  I was soaked.  I watched 2 full episodes of season 4 30Rock.  Although I don't have the energy to laugh much.