A cyclist was hit in LA and the cops are apparently not too interested in getting things rolling. Read up on this developing story.
Oklahoma has finally legalized tattooing. The first legal day to lay ink is this Wednesday. You would think that this being 2006 that a person could choose where and when and by whom to get some body art. This is not been the case in OK for a long, long time. I remember reading about outlaw tattooists in OK that were working out of homes and back door shops. While not the way I would want to get a tattoo I am sure many, many people paid the price and got the deal they wanted. Now that the gov’t has gotten involved and allowed it to happen legally the risk of spreading infections and disease will drop tremendously. Why? It takes the rookie scratchers that don’t care out of the equation. Properly apprenticed professionals can open doors and put down quality work with safety and concern for the art bearers wellbeing coming first. Perhaps someone that is looking for an artist will go to a licensed shop and get good work rather than going to an underground joint and getting into a risky situation. Sometimes the best intentions can cause grief. Thanks OK for waking up to the 21st century.
I finished 10th out of 17 (erroneously reported 16 on Sat.) on Saturday at Veterans Park in Sylmar, CA. in the Men’s 4 race. The course was sweet! Nice and wide with short, hallelujah, climbs and some sick off-camber turns that made you stay very alert. I battled with a few people and had a great time. I hammered as hard as possible at the start and managed to get into 3rd place going into the first turn. I had to sprint past the entire front row of starters to get to 3rd but I didn’t mind. Immediately after the first turn was a short climb that probably stretched out the field. I couldn’t look back since I was concentrating on staying ahead of the faster guys. Going towards the first barriers I was surprised to still be right there as a near leader! Then the usual deal went down and I got passed by a few speedies. My usual strategy is to go to the front, well as near to the front as I can, and let the rabbits chase me down. One part of the course let me do my thing which is put my head down and pound the big meat. Sounds wrong huh? Then towards the end I catch a few tired dogs and gain a place or two. Finishing 10th is fine. I am still gaining fitness and by next year I should be able to bring the pain on a few more people. Right, just joking!
Rush Windbag has opened his big mouth again and generated a small useless buzz about Michael J. Fox and his Parkinson’s disease battle. You can really get a sense that Rush Windbag doesn’t get it. Partisan politics are always going to be dragged out and played hard. Seeing him on the news brought me to this site that contains some really nice quotes from Mr. Windbag. The page is over 3 y.o. but it still has startling relevance to his brand of hypocrisy.
I survived the Fall Century. The ride started in Lancaster, CA and went up to Tehachapi, CA. The total climbing was 5,000 ft. The first 30 miles were great, I maintained a good pace and felt ok. At mile 30.1 I got a flat. My rear tire was cut enough to let the tube poke out a bit and go flat. I fixed the hole and booted the slice and continued to a rest stop at mile 33. Then it got worse. The rest stop guy tried putting air in my tire and it wouldn’t inflate. The problem was the stem was partially ripped out of the tube. The rest stop guy Jeff kindly gave me a fresh tube and a nice folding tire. I was then back on the road. Miles 33 to 54 were hard. A steady climb with a few steep spots. I started getting some cramps in my legs. This was troubling since I had been hydrating well yesterday and during the ride. I managed to stave off full on cramps with some electrolyte pills and plenty of sports drink magic powder that was available, aka Gatorade. The headwinds from mile 54 to 57 were 100% evil. I could barely manage 10 mph. Once I got past this there was the climb of the day. It was about 4 miles of pure brutality with no flat areas, plus it got worse at the top. I was cussin mad at this point just trying to keep the thing moving. Over the top was pure downhill paradise. At least 30 minutes of 27 to 30 mph. It was sweet. From mile 72 to 90 were in either a nasty crosswind or headwind. I was roasted by the time I got to the last rest stop. From there it was 13 miles back to Gil’s Bikes in Lancaster for food and a beer. The headwind was not too bad, I could go a whopping 12 mph at this point. Any faster and the twinges of Mr. Cramp started to come on. The last 2 miles were nice and flat and easy, well, relatively easy compared to the hell wind earlier.
Stats: 5,000 ft of climbing, 103.47 miles, 7 hours 13 minutes 32 seconds of riding time, average speed 14.3 mph, max downhill speed 45 mph.
The verdict is in on the elderly driver that killed 10 people in Santa Monica at the Farmer’s Market.
I raced in the Urban Cyclocross Series race #2 yesterday. The race action was fun. I went to the front at the start and tried to hang with the top 5 for as long as possible. I managed to keep the leaders in sight for about the first 2 laps. Then I started to fade a bit. I got passed by a few people on the 2nd and 3rd laps. With 1 to go I caught and passed 3 racers and ended up 15th out of 27. This was by far my best performance in a race since 1999. I felt pretty good and I can feel the potential of even more speed as long as I maintain fitness through the winter. Next year I think I will be able to run in the top 10. Pics are here, and here. Click around Flickr to find others.
I just got word of American Blackout from GNN.tv. I urge you all to check it out. More of the Bush administration ruining the United States. Click here to watch the trailer.
Haaa, haaaaaaaaaa, I can’t stop laughing about this one. They blew it!