Back online - sort of

After some issues I've got my blog back online. A lot's happened over the past month or two, but I'll get caught up a little at a time. I'm a little under the weather the past couple of days and have been consistent with my training prior to then which consisted of *not* riding...

Hoping to feel better soon and not have to go to the doctor!

Bicycle Air Power

Came across this brief article on Wired.com this morning:

WIRED MAGAZINE: 16.09
Science : Discoveries
Blimpin' Ain't Easy: Crossing the English Channel in a Pedal-Powered Airship*
By James Lee 08.18.08

Photo: Julien Giraroot/DPPI/Icon SMI

The article can be found: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/16-09/st_obsessed

Happy Earth Day!

A quick read:

http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Action-to-Reduce-Global-Warming

Be sure to see #17.

For more quick info about Earth Day see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day


.

GIGO

Wired Magazine: issue 16.04

Garbage In, Garden Out: Inside the High Tech Trash Disassembly Line
By Sonia Zjawinski 3.24.08 | 6:00 PM

Of course we know that enlightened readers such as yourself separate your paper, plastic, and glass. But someone out there sure doesn't — more than 63 million tons of US recyclables end up in landfills every year. Global Renewables might be able to shrink that number. The Australia-based company built a facility in Sydney that combines every trash-sorting technology imaginable — wind sifters, optical scanners, magnets, electrical currents. It diverts 75 percent of the city's waste stream to recycling, conserving landfill space and cutting down on greenhouse gases.

read more at:

http://www.wired.com/special_multimedia/2008/st_wastestream

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I smell a rat...

Some of you might remember this post:

http://cyclonecross.blogspot.com/2008/01/hey-thelma-nice-rack.html


No, I am not selling my rack and this is not my auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200214504629#ebayphotohosting


Support your local bike shop, and do not buy from this guy. I've contacted the seller and eBay to have the issue addressed. I'm interested in hearing from some the creative minds of my regulars as to what you would do?

Updated 9/6/08: It's been more than 90 days since the original auction was posted, but the seller is still using my photo for his auctions:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=200207396741
Even after I advised him or her that I had not given my permission for this use.

Check it out:

If you haven't been out to maps.google.com lately, check it out and click on the Street View button.

This video pretty much sums it up, although the sound effects and narrator are a little disturbing...



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Street_View

Whew...

It's good to know with posts like this one and with posts talking about cyclists being hit by cars and such that my blog still is suitable for general audiences:

It looks like I haven't been doing my share of contributing to the swear jar. Don't worry the proceeds go to a VERY worthy cause!

Decisions, decisions...

So which one should I choose???

New kid on the block

So after numerous suggestions, a good friend and SBR teammate of mine Jim has finally hit the blogging scene.

Be sure to check out

http://stiffcrankbrassnipples.blogspot.com/

And yes, Jim, I want a back link... ;^)

Now that's the Christmas Spirit!

Saw this over at the Avoid da Bummer Life Blog...






I know they have "Christmas down in Africa" and all, but I think Twisted Sister can bring light to the season in a way that Toto just can't ;)

TAG - Consider yourself warned!

I got tagged by Tri Eric the other day. This requires me to post 5 random things about myself and to tag 5 other people. After a long while of meaningful reflection (and procrastination), I've come up with the following:

1. I'm really a country boy at heart: grew up working on my uncles' dairy farm; took four years of Vo-Ag in high school; was an active 4-H & FFA member (and president).


2. I've always been competitive after I began running track and cross country in junior high.


3. I would consider myself a jack of all trades and understand that I'm really master of none (which is ok).


4. I like a variety of music, but I'm a closet '80s fan and my favorite band is Def Leppard.


5. I consider my Grandpa as the biggest influence in my life; he's given my family and me so much over the years that I can never thank him enough.

The 5 lucky tagees are:

1. Brett


2. Brooke


3. Donny


4. John


5. Shawn

Finally! A way to get my upgrade

I shouldn't be advertising this and just keep it a secret for myself, but I've finally found a way to dramatically increase my CX standings:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330193492270

I've got to hurry though, the auction ends Dec-04-07 11:47:29 PST. It looks like a sure thing too, as the seller does a good job of responding to any questions!


UPDATE:

It looks like I'm not the first one to the party after all. But if I can get my hands on these points, I might be inclined to share them with others in need, or to resell them to the highest bidder!

New and Improved BIKEAUTHORITY.COM

Be sure to browse over to the new Bike Authority website at http://www.bikeauthority.com The graphics and layout are great and much better than other sites that I've seen. There are also some awesome deals on '07 bikes from C'dale and Cervelo HERE



Also, this is the LAST DAY that you can vote for Bike Authority on Cleveland's Best Businesses Fox 8 Hot List:

http://myfoxcleveland.cityvoter.com/details.aspx?business=24464

You can view all the rave reviews here

UPDATE: The Current Standings are now secret for the final days of voting.

Will Supermice mean Supermen?

Check out this article on some of the latest resarch from Case Western Reserve University:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=220&objectid=10473819&ref=rss

Excerpts from the article where CWRU professor of biochemistry, Richard Hanson, describes the "supermouse":

"They are metabolically similar to Lance Armstrong biking up the Pyrenees. They utilise mainly fatty acids for energy and produce very little lactic acid. They are not eating or drinking and yet they can run for four or five hours. They are 10 times more active than ordinary mice in their home cage. They also live longer - up to three years - and are reproductively active for almost three years. In short, they are remarkable animals.

"On the downside, they eat twice as much as control mice, but they are half the weight, and are very aggressive. Why this is the case, we are not really sure."

"We humans have exactly the same gene. But this is not something that you'd do to a human. It's completely wrong. We do not think that this mouse model is an appropriate model for human gene therapy. It is not possible to introduce genes into the skeletal muscles of humans and it would not be ethical to even try."

Hanson acknowledged it would be possible that athletes could abuse any future drug developed using these findings.

Looks like Dr. EPO has some professional competition.

;)

Wish me luck...

Tracking Number: 109xxx
Request Date: 11-07-07
Status: Open and Pending Approval
Member: Gary B.
Request Type: Cat Chg-
Assigned To: Jeff Aufdencamp
Description: xxxxxx - 2007-11-07 19:11
Member: Gary B.
License: Road Racer
Request to change category from Cat 4 to Cat 3

Member Explanation/Resume:
Date - Event - Location - Type - Category - Results - Field - size - Permit#

9/25/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 30
9/18/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 30
9/11/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 30
9/9/2007 Freewheeler Fall Challenge Peninsula, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 11th place approx 20 2007-1823
8/28/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 40
8/21/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 40
8/14/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 40
7/21/2007 Troy Classic on the Square Troy, OH USCF Crit Cat 4 DNF approx 35 2007-1692
7/7/2007 Ohio State RR Championships Danville, OH USCF RR Cat 4 4th place field 26 2007-283
7/3/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race 4th place approx 20
7/4/2007 Twin Sizzler Medina, OH RR Elite 34 under field approx 45
6/26/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race DNF approx 40
6/12/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "A" Race field approx 30
5/29/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "B" Race 4th place approx 25
5/20/2007 Chippewa Creek RR Brecksville, OH ABR RR Cat 4 13th place field 29
5/12/2007 RATL Series #4 Munroe Falls, OH USCF Crit Cat 4 1st place approx 30 2007-440
5/8/2007 2007 Westlake Race Series Westlake, OH Training Crit "B" Race 5th place approx 25
5/5/2007 RATL Series #3 Munroe Falls, OH USCF Crit Cat 4 field approx 30 2007-440
4/29/2007 Team Akron Spring Race Series Akron, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 3rd place approx 30 2007-885
4/22/2007 Team Akron Spring Race Series Akron, OH USCF RR Cat 4/5 field approx 30 2007-885
4/21/2007 RATL Series #1 Munroe Falls, OH USCF Crit Cat 4 field approx 30 2007-440

Final hours of the Fox 8 Hot list

Time is running out to vote for Bike Authority on Cleveland's Best Businesses Fox 8 Hot List:

http://myfoxcleveland.cityvoter.com/details.aspx?business=24464

You can view all the rave reviews here

UPDATE: The Current Standings are now secret for the final days of voting. Ahhh the SUSPENSE...



On a different note, I'm almost fully recovered from Liz's hardcore Spin class at the Omni in Middleburg Hts. I did several of her classes last winter along with ones taught by Tom Keller at Progressive Ins. Lets just say that I will need to take 2 x 28oz water bottles to her class, since I sweated what felt like at least 3lbs when picking up my wet clothes. Classes are Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30pm. SPD cleats will work on many of the bikes. And remember 'more turn' = 'more burn'.

Halloween Costumes for Cyclists

Michelle one of SBR's multi-sport powerhouses passed on the following email to me today. I know Donny will get a kick out of the Doping Cyclist costume.

It's pretty sad if this is indeed the case, but I think that a filter on the Yahoo newsgroup or a different email system replaced word 'cocked' below with '****ed'.

"Wear a bike helmet backwards and ****ed
to one side."



-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Holloway dickholloway (at) gmail.com
To: TeamUSA@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:54 pm
Subject: [TeamUSA] Late, but still funny.

Halloween Costumes for Cyclists Not sure what to wear for Halloween?
This article, passed along by a good roadie friend, will solve your dilemma.
There's even a helpful tip specifically for triathletes.

8 Halloween costumes for cyclists

As a cyclist, you are much, much better equipped for Halloween than the
average person. Why? Because you already wear outrageous costumes on a
daily basis.

Think about it. Even though you are a (presumably) sane adult, you wear
a shirt that would look much more at home on a superhero. You wear
shorts that are much, much too tight, as if you were on your way to lead
a jazzercize class. You wear a hat that belongs on an alien.
And, to top the whole look off, you wear what sound and look like
tap-dancing shoes.

It's no wonder, then, that cyclists tend to be pretty lazy about
dressing up for Halloween parties. Instead of putting time and money
into it, you just show up in the outfit you rode to the party in. Hey,
why not? A little sweat completes the effect, right?

What you don't realize, though, is that all your friends, family and
co-workers are rolling their eyes at your lack of imagination. "There
goes Tim," they say, "pretending again that his cycling outfit is a
Halloween costume."

It doesn't have to be that way, my friend.
By spending just a few extra minutes, you can alter your cycling outfit
for the evening, making it so you're not just "a cyclist" at the party,
but a very particular sort of cyclist. Simply follow these easy
instructions.

Doping Cyclist Dress up in full pro kit. Use a marker to draw needle
tracks up and down one arm. Tie a length of surgical tubing above one
elbow and leave a syringe sticking out of your vein. Wheel around an IV
tower for the duration of the party. Stuff your jersey pockets with
bottles of drugs. When anyone asks what / who you are, respond that you
are a professional cyclist. When they ask what all the needles and drugs
are for, say you have no idea what they're talking about. No matter
what, do not admit you have any drug-related items on hand.

Mountain Biker (If You're normally a Roadie): Prepare for the party by
gaining 10Kg and getting 20-30 tattoos. Wear baggy pants -- baggy enough
that they keep falling down. Arrive drunk at the party and continue to
drink once you get there. Insist you have mad skillz.

Roadie (If You're normally a Mountain Biker): Prepare for the party by
putting a stick in your butt. Wear uncomfortably tight cycling clothes
for the party, drink nothing put thrice-filtered water and tell everyone
exactly how many calories and fat everything they're eating contains.

Triathlete: Don't come to the party, because you've only done four
workouts today and still need to get in one more and you don't want to
break training, no matter what.

Recumbent Rider: Tape your glasses together, somehow manage to affix a
pocket protector to your jersey, and loudly and insistently explain to
all and sundry that recumbents are really much more comfortable and
practical than "wedge" bikes. Talk a lot about prostates.

Recreational Cyclist: Wear street clothes with your right pant leg cuff
completely greasy and shredded. Wear a bike helmet backwards and ****ed
to one side. Tell people that you're starting to bike again to get back
in shape.

Commuter: Wear street clothes, but carry a backpack or messenger bag
full of what are clearly stinky bike clothes the entire evening. Make
your helmet hair extremely obvious. Keep looking for opportunities to
casually introduce the fact that you are a bike commuter into every
single conversation in which you participate.

Fixie / Track Cyclist: Dress the same as a road cyclist, but you must
always either keep walking or -- if you must stay in one place -- you
must trackstand by moving a couple inches forward, then back, then
forward and back again.

Dick Holloway




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