Strongest Man

Another trail work day yesterday. Cool and dreary. Sunshine would have been nice but the rain has made the yard lush and green and will help bring the farmers crops to harvest. We have peppers and plenty of peaches beginning to ripen though the peaches look a bit small this year. The rhubarb is well established and has plenty of room to spread. The tomato, hanging upside down from a bucket, came crashing down earlier this summer and suffered a setback but will still produce. Haven't been able to find that garden fabric in the stores.

So shall I, the great lifter of fallen trees, declare myself strongest man on the trail work crew. I shall. Again someone has to promote me, that kind handsome all around good guy that carries heavy loads (and good looking). The Oak Hill Trails will all be open by the end of the year.

I had some you/tube to post but had problems with Vista and copy clip. A real pick me up unlike those confusing pick me ups found on that other blog. Pick me ups that require interpretation, translation or true stretches of the imagination to understand.

No Ramble today. I didn't ride either though the day was very beautiful. Hopefully will have more work this week and fine weather Tuesday for that 'Wheel and Sprocket' ride at Hoyt Park. I promised my friend overseas a snail mail but still waiting for something to write about. So many ways to share these days.

Devices

I got the all-in-one device working. I wont mention what the problem was. Going through old photos wondering how I could ever have been so thin. It makes me not want to eat.

I found an old photo of TunTun and tried the scanner. He never liked being kept on a chain.

To Race or not To Race?

That is the question. Have been getting some more work and haven't been able to ride much. With my health being off those few weeks earlier I don't feel confident to compete in a 30 mile race, only to be lapped by the elites three times. The prospects for the Reforestation Ramble are slim. Can't really afford the registration or gas either, though we have friends who would put us up Sunday night (we have to work Saturdays).

I doubt I will make the Wednesday night race either. I contemplated going to the velodrome in Kenosha this evening for their final event of the season, but it started raining and Misao had the car. Sorry Master man, but thanks for the blanket invitation anyway. Trail work Saturday, but I'm unclear about that. ... I'm unclear about a lot of things. But certainly setting my sites on Tuesday for the 'Wheel and Sprocket' sponsored Odd Tuesday Ride.

But we do have money to pay Best Buy, the God of consumption, a small tribute even after we finish paying for the TV. They offered 18 months free financing on purchases over $499. Our computer was so old and slow, and there are a lot of things I want to do, that we thought it best to upgrade. We didn't get a camera with that but we did get the latest and greatest in anti-virus stuff. It was taking multiple tries to enter my e-mail and five minutes for the inbox to open. ... ... But then the same thing happened with the new computer,... until I changed the password. ... Whatever that suggests. So when getting back from moving like an inchworm through attics of buildings with low sloped roofs filled with blown in insulation digging for cable etc. etc. etc. I've been changing all my passwords. I didn't know I had so many different sign ins on so many different sites. There may be some I have long forgotten about.

I could scan photos to post now but the all-in-one is having trouble connecting to the computer. Looks like no work tomorrow so I'll have time to get everything running and work on the yard and garden which are coming along nicely. I have some shady areas that need some flowers if anyone has any suggestions. Still possible to race Wednesday night. ... And the elites could only lap me twice at the Reforestation Ramble since they only race 50 miles.

To Race or not To Race?

Eventful

Eventful is one of those sites that send you e-mails about what's going on in your community. You can put in demands for your favorite performers to come to your city. I actually like getting their e-mails. I never knew so much was happening in Milwaukee entertainment wise, though I delete them after a quick look. But nothing eventful is happening for me this weekend as far as I know. I wish there were. I did promise a guy at church a punch in the face (he knows why) but if he keeps his mouth shut, or not, that is unlikely.

I went to the gym today and nothing eventful happened there. I did have a piece of one of my teeth fall off when I was brushing last night. Some might call that eventful. Just more money we don't have as I see it. It had been hurting for at least six months but was hoping to get all Misao's dental work done before I went to the dentist again. I don't consider a visit to the dentist eventful either.

My God! Do I sound like Andy Rooney?

But something eventful is happening with the Odd Tuesday Novice Rides held by Metro Mountain Bikers. Those are Tuesdays of odd sequence from the start of each month, the 1st, 3rd and the occasional 5th, and not Tuesdays falling on odd days of the month.

Yes, September 1st, the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm 'Wheel and Sprocket' is sponsoring the ride and food and beverages will be provided. They will also have some bikes for you all to demo on the Hoyt Trail. Some 29er's and others. They, the Wheel and Sprocket' people, were at the last ride and the last club meeting. Each time I neglected to point out that one of the regular Tuesday riders this summer has had only bad things to say about their repair department. The individual in question didn't say anything himself either, being at the last ride.

My friend is actually a cousin of the guy who runs Wheel and Sprocket. I usually see him at the gym but he wasn't there today, which made it even more uneventful than it usually is.

Here I Am

These last few weeks I've put most of my extra energy into the yard or house and on the computer when the energy wasn't there. Still feeling a bit sick and easily tired. Only a few rides that have left me exhausted and some trips to the gym. Today I took my bike to the gym and benched 255lbs which surprised me, since I haven't focused much on the strength training. Everyone backed out on going to the Fair Saturday so I didn't see Don going for the State record books. Did some trail work that morning on Oak Hill 2. The powers to be seemed happy with the progress made.

I decided to clear as much of the stone out of the garden plot as possible. Sifting all the soil a good eight inches down I ended up with four of these buckets full of stone. A bit of fresh soil and some other good things and I hope we can get a lot of spinach, lettuce and radishes before the growing year ends. Saw a fabric on TV that works like a green house. Will cover the plot, thinking I need a 10'x10' sheet, and see how long I can keep things growing. it will keep the plot warm and the rabbits out.

In our second garage I have piles of things for future use. Everything will find a purpose. Here is the stone I've taken out of the garden over the years. A handful or two each time I futzed in the garden. I should have cleaned all the stone out long ago but the garden was producing plenty. Just these last two years it has been dead.

My friend dropped off a lot of lilies, all different colors, and other flowers for the yard Saturday. Putting a plan together in my head as to where it will all go, along with other promised vegetation. Will do much of the work tomorrow. The yard and garden are developing and looking pretty good. Yes though I have been down and having some physical problems I also found determination and conviction and I need it. This old house is loaded with projects most necessary.

That's what you find in life sometimes. Hope and fear, anticipation and dread, hurt and joy all at the same time. Those are things touching on the very essence of what life is all about and require our attentions. When you work through them only good things can result.

I guarantee it.

I have to start riding everyday for substantial distances from now If I want to make the Reforestation Ramble. It is still a marathon format.

Umbau zum City-Bike

Phillip hat ja schon erwähnt, dass ich mein MTB zum City-Bike umgebaut habe. Da ich meinem bisherigen 28" City-Bike die schlechten Radwege in München nicht mehr zumuten wollte, und ich ein zuverlässiges Rad für die tägliche Fahrt zur Arbeit benötige, habe ich mich dazu entschlossen. Ein MTB ist wesentlich robuster und durch die dickeren Reifen auch komfortabler durch den Strassendschungel zu kriegen.

Für ein vernüftiges City-Bike benötigte ich folgende Komponenten:

Scheinwerfer (Busch+Müller) + Scheinwerferhalter (Riese+Müller):

http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p16635_Lumotec-N2-Plus-Halogenlampe-mit-StVZO-Zulassung.html

http://www.komponentix.de/onlineshop/index.html?d__Scheinwerferhalter_riese_muller734.htm

Der Scheinwerfer von Busch+Müller mit Sensor ist eine tolle Sache. Wenn man am Tag durch eine dunkle Unterführung fahrt, geht plötzlich das Licht an. Sobald man wieder rauskommt, geht das Licht wieder aus!

Rücklicht:

http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p20186_Toplight-Flat-Permanent-Ruecklicht-mit-StvZO-Zulassung.html

Radschutz + Spoiler:

http://www.amazon.de/SKS-Radschutz-Bluemels-schwarz-Schutzblech/dp/B0019HHE1G/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1249671195&sr=1-17

http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p12601_Spoiler.html

Das vordere Schutzblech habe ich mit Kabelbinder an der Federgabel festgemacht. Das geht aber nur bei einer Marzocchi-Federgabel problemlos, da diese den Bogen in Form eines "M" hat, und deshalb das festgezurrte Schutzblech nicht verrutschen kann! Für die untere rechte Befestigung musste ich etwas basteln, da an der rechten Seite nichts zum festmachen vorhanden ist.

Links kann man die Scheibenbremsenaufnahme zur Befestigung des Schutzbleches verwenden.

Den Online-Shop http://www.bike-components.de/ kann ich sehr empfehlen. Er hat oft sehr gute Angebote, und bei vielen Artikeln sind Kundenbewertungen (ähnlich Amazon) zu finden, die einem bei der Kaufentscheidung weiterhelfen können.

A Beautiful Day

Do days get any finer than today? Sun shining amidst puffy white clouds floating on gentle breezes. Hard not to enjoy it. To be uplifted by the beauty of God's creations. So what else to do but take a long ride right in the middle of the day. Even to the point of cutting into my time listening to tolls of conservative wisdom.

So on this day I mounted my bi-wheeled agent of transport and set off. I traveled public thoroughfares and domains to the trails legitimated and manuchanced by clan Metro. Then, besides fluid paths, I journeyed the creastructions of the 'Master.' Doubly peregrinating monstrous limbs of fallen topiary in my quest for the perfect ride. I saw and conquered the buildifacations of the one called 'Bubba' before making haste over smooth path back to my own province of the Village of Piggs.

My first ride since Friday. I went to neither the gym or the Wednesday night race yesterday. I had gone out to do some yard work, as I have been doing near daily, and felt awful. But today was different, though I was too tired after my two hour ride to get to work I had intended on the house. Hopefully I'll be back to full capacity and beyond for the Reforestation Ramble. It would be wonderful if we could afford the time and currency to make the next WORS event; the Trek Border Battle. But not this year.

Being off the bike for a while my knee started bothering me. It gives me slight troubles these last two years. The fact that it bothers me more when I don't ride suggests that I have good form. I haven't done the strength training for my legs that I planner because of the knee. Doing extensions one leg at a time, so that I don't favor one over the other, my left knee just starts shaking though it doesn't really hurt at 90 lbs, my starting weight. I've actually focused on my arms more than I have in the past.

Misao heard the State Fair was only $2 today but I didn't feel like going. The other Don, not the WORS Don or Don Quixote, the one from the gym, will be trying for a State or better record for bench press in his age group. Not sure what his age group is. Something between 60 and 90. It is hard to tell these days. I may get together with some others from the gym to go and cheer him on. That would be this Saturday... or the next if I heard wrong. ... I think they said noon.

We have missed one of our most loved events, The State Fair, for some years now because of our financial circumstance. You may think it cheaper than a WORS event. But when one attends one must buy the roasted corn, the baked potato, the world famous cream puff and now chocolate covered bacon on a stick (I can't stop drooling), along with means of hydration. Then one must find, among the endless aisles of hawkers touting their wares, a $20 new and never before seen product offered at the special today only for your State fair price to purchase. It's all part of the ritual along with looking at all the animals. A very good walk.

Feel free to comment. It will cheer me up.

The Alterra Coffee Bean Classic

Another successful WORS event in Franklin, Wisconsin. I had been feeling like a cold was coming on for the last week. I had several days of renovation work that kept me from the Thursday ride and had missed the Wednesday night race. Saturday night we ended up working later than we have in a long time. We got home late and I had the jitters all night. Felt nauseous in the morning and had the shakes when I ate some breakfast, so I decided not to race. My wife and I did go to watch though.

It was highly spectated. Again, Al was helping along with the 'Beer Man.' We arrived as the citizens were finishing their race. I took some photos with my wife's phone. Nothing good enough for the photo competition but they'll work here. They also announced that race 11 is changing date and venue. Though they still have to post the details on their site.

Could it be Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza? Alas no. It is only 'Wally.' I should have done just as well or better than he if I had raced. I informed him that I always make this climb successfully to which he responded with a successful climb on the next lap. He missed last race with a family emergency and broke his 7 year streak of never missing a race.

Friday was the last time I was able to go out for a ride in a while. Even today I felt too weak and uneasy to go out. Too much work, a heavy heart, stress... who knows. I decided to start drinking non-alcoholic beer in my pursuit if a life of reckless abandon... as soon as I get paid which has been known top take months with that kind of work.