Under the Weather

I have been feeling under the weather. Have a bit of a cold. Not riding as seriously after deciding not to compete, but only to take pictures, at the WORS Wigwam MTB Challenge; the final event of the season. The money saved will provide a bit of a chunk of the funds I need to get a trainer this Winter. The weather is already chilly.

This Saturday will be the Metro Mountain Biker’s social ride. I do not attend such events as drinking alcohol is too much of a feature. But it is known to be great fun and I haven’t heard of any problems on the roads on such events. The trails are a different matter.

One of the things which has kept me busy and worn me down was a wedding this last Saturday. They had a photo booth for all the guests. Not sure if they got the idea from Jay Leno. Two copies, one for the guests and one for the wedding album. Very nice idea. Here is one of the shots of us.

You may have noticed my wife’s highly fashionable eyewear. Those are actually my new glasses. I have been met by people I know, when they see me in my new spectacles, with laughter or remarks such as; “You look like a completely different person.” The progressive lenses take a bit of getting used to but are great for desk work. No problem with driving but I wouldn’t want to ride mountain bike trails with them. I have single vision sunglasses for riding (and driving) when I don’t wear my contacts. People say I look like Yakusa with them on. I just can’t wear contacts continuously.

My cousin also wrote a book and is working on another. He has done much research on the plane crash he wrote about (as a work of fiction) and the book is gripping for the unquestioned expertise it conveys as he is a pilot himself. That with a good story easy to understand makes it a great read. I am sure his writing will grow in complexity as he writes more. He’s an interesting character.

It was ‘World No Car Day’ last week and in celebration I spent nearly twelve hours behind the wheel of our car working. Another reason I got worn out. I need to make sure I am taking in liquids and food during my long delivery route so I don’t suffer later or lose focus while I am working. First time out I got lost twice. Some have asked me if I have claimed disability as my health conditions seem to leave me easily tired at times. No. I would never outside of losing some significant physical or mental capacity. I believe if I can drop some significant weight and watch what I put into my body I am just as durable as any other. I was surprised how well I road mountain bike this year considering my weight and the amount of time I trained. I was riding fifteen pounds heavier than last year yet I felt improvement in my climbing strength.

Still determined to get in a lot of riding this year. When I ordered my copy of “Ride the Divide” I also got a smart wool beanie that will serve me well into the Winter season, keeping my noggin toasty warm.

Some hideous creature knocked our peaches off the tree at night and ate them.

FOOTBALL!

What other title will due in such a fantastic season of the year. The cool weather does not dissuade me from riding, I just haven’t had time and this week has a lot going on. But Misao called and encouraged me to get out and exercise so I took a good walk. A have a weekly job of driving all day long to make deliveries. Because I am using our own car we will have to see how much we actually can clear and if I will keep the job long term. Sitting all day is the worst job for me health wise so I need to be more attentive of getting more exercise and losing weight. I am already spending two nights a week driving.

Life is wondrous. This tree is growing out of a dead stump out of a rotting bit of bark. My new eyeglasses are ready. The progressive lenses are not good for riding. The peripheral is a bit blurry and the lower vision is distorted, but they will be great for working on my books. A whole new style and look with a whole new fortune to go with it. The contacts are for riding only though I did get some single vision sunglasses that I hope will work great with riding and poker. Many riders believe Lasik surgery was the best decision they ever made. If the progressives don’t work out for general use I may get another of the same design in a single vision lens.

They say football is too violent with many old former players now suffering serious brain injuries. They say the hits are too hard. some claim it was not like that when they only had leather helmets. Some say getting rid of helmets would solve the problem. My solution is similar. First of all I believe the three point stance will be illegal in the future as most people do. But rather than getting rid of helmets so players will not hit so hard I say get rid of shoulder pads.

This weekend is a family event; a wedding. Last wedding everyone said they were not going until three days before when they said they were. Since I had made other plans and had no idea who the people getting married were and no one could tell me how they were related to the family I didn’t go. But me and my cousin were buddies as kids and his is tying the knot. This legal and health matters keep me off the bike, as well as needed house repairs that I can now do as we are getting some money put aside.

Maybe a trainer would be useful even now as the nights are getting longer and evenings are easier for getting in a ride. It was nice to get out for a walk. I used to take lots of walks before our dogs died. Not sure if we will ever get another dog.

Rays MTB Milwaukee is opening October 1st with a season grand opening event on the 15th. I hear they are looking for a new location as mothers don’t want to take their BMX youth to the northwest side location. It is considered a very tough neighborhood though I heard of no problems and they have a security guard outside the entrance with a clear view of all the vehicles. I think it is just a far drive for most enthusiasts and gas prices are high.

FOOTBALL!

Yes, football is back. What we all live for. And the Packers are off to a great start. What a game! I think they just faced their greatest competition this year. Too bad coach McCarthy still does not know how to coach the closing minutes of a game. Same as last year, game after game, along with special team flubs. We could have a relaxing roll away season burying all foes before us, but no we must risk cardiac arrest every game as he invites the opposition to run roughshod over us in the last four minutes of every game. Still I am predicting a 12-4 winning season for the Packers. There is talk they will play in London next year.

I had to open the season in style. I ran out and bought some coconut oil for my popcorn popping. Coconut oil has been vilified in the various forms of media man subjects himself to these days but I have found it is extremely healthy. Not sure why the movie theaters dropped it. Sounds like product sabotage to me. And if you don’t like to put butter on your popcorn you have to be using coconut oil. It just tastes great, it’s good for your heart and you can use it on your skin and in your hair… the coconut oil that is. One of the best purchases I ever made. Medium high heat causes the popcorn to take longer to pop but it is well worth the extra time.

Misao has been more focused on serving sizes as the years pass, concerned over my weight. We also try to set a general menu. The Sunday menu will be popcorn and other various football appropriate snacks for the first two games, topped off with a salad for the Sunday Night Game. Church followed by ten plus straight hours of football, can it get any better? Only if we had cable or satellite TV.

We stopped by Teavana the other day in Mayfair Mall. The young gentleman there was enthusiastic and committed to the world of tea. he told us about everything that was good for appetite suppression, raising metabolism, helping digestion, etc.. etc. He’s made an impression on our neighbor also. He spoke a bit fast and exalted the ‘real’ teas, poo poo-ing the rooibos teas as ‘some bush’ though I hear the rooibos is very good for you. Not that I am calling him a tea Nazi, he might take offense at that.

We ended up buying a bit of Oolong tea. I am thinking of using an appetite suppression tea. Work hard on the trainer this Winter, take in planned nutrition to fit the workout and then drink plenty of tea to keep me from over eating, as I get extremely hungry when I workout a lot. It is actually cheaper to buy at the Teavana store as there is a 12% sales tax on items purchased from their main facility in Atlanta. The tea Nazi can set you up with anything you need.

There was a long dry spell for this blog and I have lost a bit of s following. I have to be more vigilant in sharing my wit, common sense and helpful hints for near all one’s daily concerns. All part of my plan to RULE THE WORLD!

Grilling

Sorry Californians, no pictures. I forgot my camera when partaking of the endless generosity of the Wheel and Sprocket crowd that hosted what may be the final Odd Tuesday Ride. No pictures of the grilled meats or the three fantastic bikes they had for people to demo either, though by the time we got back from the ride it was already dark.

We ended up there at one point, as the fencing around the flood control work is down. It was again a joy to be out in the forest with my bike and the company was good. They say riding by yourself is more enjoyable as one is not pushed beyond what they see as comfortable limits, condition or ability wise. But these Odd Tuesday Rides are always no drop rides so anyone who rides their bike at least once a week should be able to enjoy them. A brisk pace but not too fast, stopping at regular intervals to check everyone is still there and to explain the trail system in the area.

And it is nice to ride in a group. Keeping a tight formation, at least to start, keeping one on their toes, accelerating and break in quick response to the one you are behind to keep right on their back tire.

Riding to the event made it well over a fifteen mile ride for me. Wasn’t expecting it to be so dark when we got back from the ride and I had to get a brat and a burger afterwards. So the ride home was very dark and my bike was fit for racing meaning… I should have brought my lights.

Here are the Morning Glories that cover our fence. It takes most of the Summer for them to fill out and bloom. Dreamed of that land of the morning calm last night and most all my friends there. (That would be Korea) We have a second batch of baby rabbits invading our back yard this year. They hardly pay us any notice even though we are into the R months. You know you shouldn’t eat rabbit in months that don’t have an R in them. They can carry a fever in the Summer. Maybe I’ll get up hunting in the North Woods this year, at least small game. Today will be yard work.

The WORS 2012 season schedule is out. I am planning to be in fantastic shape next year. Getting back into the spirit though my former adversaries seem absent from the races this year. Have to take on a whole new crowd next year. Have to get a trainer before the New Year. Emery’s has some trainers and other fitness equipment. A full service bicycle place with a side of home fitness and a slice of triathlon gear for desert. They always have a high end computerized trainer available to demo. I never tested the equipment as I never had the money to buy one yet.

Very few peaches this year. Alois has been taking advantage of the fine weather Europe has been experiencing recently and doing lots of riding. Looking forward to his next post. Renewing his glider certification is more complicated than he thought.

My mother is making the doctors look good as her surgery went well. Her healing is a bit slower than desired so she is still in the hospital after her heart surgery. Thanks to all concerned.

8 Mile

Mile per hour that is. Yes, I went to the final Wednesday Night time trial of the season put on by Metro Mountain Bikers, and busted the 8mph mark. One climb was eliminated but that was followed by a very fast fairly level mile plus section, also eliminated. I felt strong and fast over most of the trail. Just ecstatic over riding the green forest trails, hitting the obstacles hard.

They had a grill and drinks for a final party but I only stayed long enough to get my lap time. It was bring your own meat. I looked for a donation can they had last time in the past hoping to get a soda and support the cause but didn’t see one. I had brought my camera to get some pictures of the grilled meats but left before they started that heavenly culinary exercise in goodness and all things manly. And I know why California is the second largest state on my visitors record, being vastly surpassed by Wisconsin only after I began posting about Ray’s Milwaukee opening October 1st. All those vegans and vegetarians come to view my collection of grilled meat photos. They think no one knows what they’re up to.

Those Californians are almost as hideous as that conspiracy at the BBC. All their broadcasters pronounce ever letter of each word in their news reports. Listen and you’ll hear every consonant in words such as Wednesday, all in some perverse effort to give British students an unfair advantage in International Spelling Bees.

Yes, after riding mostly on the road this past month it was a real rush hitting the trails. I could feel accomplished as my long rides have paid off. Getting in better shape and losing some weight. Craters of the moon has been a difficult feature for me, but I not only felt good in the climb was going faster than I have ever. Just came inches short of making that final steep bump at the top.

Yet I am questioning whether I can make any more races. The cost is still prohibitive as we have to invest much into our home before Winter, I would like to be riding at something closer to 10mph for ‘sport’ class, my weight is higher than I would like or have expected, and working weekends I arrive tired with little time to warm up for a race, even finding it hard to get a good breakfast. Certainly I will make Sheboygan, if only to take pictures. I am at 267lbs and if I get significantly under 260lbs before Sheboygan I really should race. Was near 280 over the Winter.

Sheboygab 2010

We couldn’t make it to the State Fair either this year. Here is a video from last year’s Wig Wam Ultimax in Sheboygan.

I will have to count this last event as one of the three races I wanted to make this year though I only did one lap. The other could be the next Odd Tuesday Ride this September 6th. Wheel and Sprocket will be providing food and have bikes to demo. Be there at the Hoyt Park swimming pool! A one hour ride followed by food, what else could be finer as the days grow shorter, a night ride later for those with lights.

Copper Harbor is becoming a mountain bike destination. It was mentioned at the last Metro Mountain Bikers meeting and I heard it again highly spoken of Wednesday night. Some really enjoy the ‘Ore to Shore’ race (already past) giving the upper peninsular a growing reputation for mountain biking. Also heard Wednesday that the cult favorite, The Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival has been sold. Some wonder how that will effect the unprecedented attendance the event has been known for.

My wife will be back soon and we will be going to the hospital. My mother is having open heart surgery already an hour in now. We hope to be there when she wakes up if the surgery goes well and doesn’t take too long. Your hopes and prayers are welcome along with ours.

Ok you meatless Californians, I pulled out an old photo. Enjoy! I think that’s real meat, but with bicyclists you can never tell.