the manly art of leg shaving

Zip, zip, OUCH! Zip, zip, OUCH! That's what it used to sound like when I shaved my legs. I ride enough that it's a must but the only example of leg shaving is 'the wife' and some movies that pushed the limits of virtue when I was young, it's just not manly that way. Then I saw the movie"Overcoming" and witnessed the smooth finesse of a pro cyclist and the flawless zip-zip and done...very manly indeed. As for me I overcame the the bloody pant leg on several occasions before the realization that it's finesse and not brut strength that gets it done with out the need for toilet paper bandages..

Just how did this leg shaving become a necessity? I have no idea who or when some cyclist started shaving his legs thinking it was a health aid or was it just Paris in the 20's and 30's? I remember when pro-swimmers started to shave and yes shave time off their laps. What a weird thought for a nubile teen to hear these manly swimmers were shaving ALL their bodies just to increase lap speed. Then when those same swimmers started wearing panty hose for resistance during swim practice i steered away form the pool. Lucky for us those french cyclist didn't think of that or it would be part of our sport too.
But shaving ones legs is a wonder-kin for those who don't want to suffer ingrown and infected legs after a good road rash session. Not that I can't imagine that because I had a heck of a asphalt burn about 20 something years ago and I DON"T wont to see that day again! But yes, I did shave then and yes thanks to this small but useful hint of precautionary measure I didn't agonize over any ingrown hair but the gravel was painful to dig out.
So what else is manly about our chosen sport? That really tight Lycra we wear is very manly indeed. Even now as I walk into a store or pump gas and everyone stares I think to myself, "that's right losers, you too could be wearing this stuff and be a sexy beast like me". Notice I don't say it out loud, that would be stupid amongst the uninitiated and in some of the 'country' areas I ride it would be cause for me to be Alligator food in the squeal of a pig.

Not only do we wear lycra but it is very, how shall I say this...colorful and most of us wear a kit that is of our favorite riders. Not that every sport in the world has fans and the uniform is sold to these fans but ours are these skin tight very-colorful some times even garish types. It's very manly to wear one in public especially if you are on a solo flight far from home. Thanks Berto, for the thumbs up seal of approval.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peests, because you are buying.

T'was the night before...

So I was sitting in the IMAX theater last Wednesday, watching Avatar for the second time, when I started thinking how can I carve out one last ride this week before the family festivities take over. In between scenes of trans-migrational soul sharing between human and Avatar and some fairly good kick a_ _  warrior stuff on screen  I mentally looked at the schedule for the next four days.
Tomorrow, Thursday, if I pick up this family member earlier in the morning to get some last minute shopping done and then drop them off at their hotel I could squeeze in a 2 hour interval/ joy ride before picking my charges for the family Christmas eve nosh. That aught to work for them and give me a chance to lose some pent up energy so I'm not a physco when the family wants to spread some cheer. And after all I want to be a good host/family member so slicing two hours out of four days should be ok, right? At least that's what I'm was telling myself that night it would all wash the next day.
Tomorrow, I thought, will get off to a good start and I'll do some good stuff on the bike and get the furnace going then watch what I my diet with out eating like a model and I won't gain much weight and therefore won;t beat myself to much. My goal in to stay within a 2-3pound gain at most with out my daily routine for 4 days.
So the upside as you know is that we get to hang with family and tell stories on each other in front of the kids who are by now all at least 20 years old. Then when that has lost it's luster we will eat and drink and be satisfied until we are fat, dumb and happy.
Looking back on the Holiday, along with familial bonds and the eating of great food I actually got in an extra ride and didn't disturb the harmony and peace of anyone and I managed some peace of my own. Hope all had a great and Joyous Holiday!
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Seeing Avatar and the impending hoiday gathering

Avatar IMAX 3D is and always will be the only and I repeat only way to see Avatar. This is the only way to see  this incredible movie. Yes it seems, to some, to be a child's movie or at best some Sci-fi only to be seen by the Star wars or Star Trek set. Oh contraire! Along with the flawless cgi is a heart and soul of, well, heart and soul found in all who are even a little awake. The story line is fresh and well thought out. the technical aspect of the  three four opposing views of the main characters, equipment used by each of the four and the bottom line internal struggle exposes our own flaws spiritual, mental and emotionally.  Nuf said, enjoy!
Speaking of the holi-daze, so here we are all trying to be true to our sport and every one and his mother in law is coming to our house for the big dinner. You know what that means don't you? I'll have some more spinach artichoke dip please. Yep, my more or less disciplined gym/cycling/diet is going to be seriously rearranged if not totally obliterated by this once a year gathering of in-laws, outlaws and the rest. In reference to Britney Murphy I'll be a guy interrupted, bad taste? Wait till you try the spinach artichoke dip!
Most of the guys and gals I have ridding with are a heck of a lot more disciplined then I am when it comes to holiday gorging, I don't know maybe it's the family gathered about the hearth; maybe it's the comfort of smelling the roast, the mashed potatoes and the pumpkin pies or may it's the 5 beers I'll swizzle before and after the dinner/game that make it easy to fall into the traditional stupor, I don't know. I for one want to welcome all the family to the house for the festivities but not gain 10 pounds or miss my beloved sport in the doing so.
Thinking of this in my noodle I at once remember that the latest issue of Bicycling mag is rife with articles on how to stay fit for spring cycling. Then I remember when I was a kid and all the coaches then use to promote time off from training so the body could rest and mend and not get warn out in a few seasons of sports. I also remember fat guys in spring training who, by mid season, were sleek powerful and lasted into the post season. I also remember stories of Bernard Hinault who didn't even start to train until the season started. The story was such that he would have his last smoke of the season on the starting of his first race and by the TDF he was in prime shape. Now I don't know if that's a true story but it makes for a good legend.
All I'm saying is take it easy on yourself and enjoy those silky smooth mashed potatoes, you know the kind you don't find in that hungry man, and thank your lucky stars that you have a good dinner to eat. Relax and enjoy that quirky family of yours, who don't have a clue why you are a cyclist but always compliment you on staying so fit. There will be plenty of time to beat yourself into submission getting ready to win the first race of the season...fatty.
If I pass you on the roas stop at Peets, because your buying.

Week 14 wrap up and other things

Last night I did the usual Thursday eve velo-club ride...alone. Strange to say that when the weather is a little dicier than normal people in Naples stay  home. So what was a little dicier? Well some rain, some chilly wind off the gulf waters and it was below 75 degrees. Burr, gives me the shivers just thinking about it (insert tongue in cheek here). Like I always say," you can't chose the weather you can only chose the ride". So I went on my scheduled ride and did well considering the blustery conditions and only added 15 minutes to the time that it takes for  group ride. This is no major feet for seasoned riders but me at for week 14 I am very happy with my progress. I am right on track with what I had projected as a build up to the ride in California.
Being of sum what sound mind there are a few things in the news that are uncompromisable to me so bear with me. I learned this week that Time magazine has made Ben Bernanke it's man of the year. You know I thought he did a great job of bilking the citizens out of billions and giving it to his bank buddies, but not man of the year! Come on, Nancy Polosi has done a great job with the trillion dollar legislation scam called universal health care and the threat to trow any American into jail who doesn't sign-up, that's really creative. Or how about Mr. Oboma accepting a Nobel PEACE prize for not doing anything accept flying around and telling everyone he want peace and we are bad Americans...that is really whack if you don't think he deserves man of the year. But the best, the ultimate person of the year move was yesterday when Hilly, that's spelled Hillary Rodham-Clinton ( I have to quote this it's to good), "COPENHAGEN -- The United States is prepared to join other rich countries in raising $100 billion in yearly climate financing for poor countries by 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Thursday at the Copenhagen talks". By Jan M. Olsen and John Heilprin ASSOCIATED PRESS. (Emphasis on words are mine).
WOW, we are going to join other RICH countries like who? Who hasn't been effected by this ression/depression? WE, the US, are  having the largest single depression since the Great Depression yet we have enough to space a few billion? Not that I even believe that we little ants on Mother Earth could do damage to the climate change, or is it global warming or is it global cooling or what is it this week? Now this is the biggist scam yet and Hilly should be man of the year for her efforts!Then there is the profit for the new 'green religion' ,Al Gore, who seems to be making billions off of this scam himself.
If I thought for one moment that this earth wasn't big enough and powerful enough and wasn't programed to defend itself I would be on the front lines of this climate thing. Think about it the earth will change poles when it want to; the earth will be hot or cold when it wants to; the earth will spew out it's dredge from the deep when it wants to and the earth will go through yet another ice age or heat spell if it wants to. The earth will also kill of the creatures living on the surface if it wants to, just ask the dinosaurs ( see ice age the movie if you don't get it). And there is not a thing you can do about it!
If you read yesterdays blog then you will know I'm serious about the world that my children, grandchildren, friends and families children and grandchildren will inherent. But that doesn't mean I am a 'green religion' zealot. I am a reasoning man that has seen, read and heard all the Eco stuff for 50years and see how I can effect what little I can effect for the positive. On the other hand I still wonder when we have had the technology for 50 years to have 125 mp gallon cars what stopped the manufacture? When we have had the hydrogen technology for cars what stopped it? How about the nuclear technology for creating electricity? What about the hundreds if not thousands of inventions for clean fuel? Who's planet is it anyway?
Bottom line is if it's my planet, or should I say ours, then whats stopping us from using this technology? The afore mentioned people who have a plan are and it's not a plan for your benefit that's who. Money can't buy a better world. Only people, everyone, can make it a better world and it has to start in your own home first. IF not there then where and if not now then when?
If I see you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Going Green

How many of us want to live a simpler life? How many of us know that we can do our part and not sacrifice our ability to to take a long journey in the family car and not have a gas bill that negates our happy time away. How many of us don't believe that going green is a new or revolutionary idea, but we are on board because we have always been on board. Am I right?
So what is going green for the average guy? It sure the heck isn't turning over our minds to some group-think-faith in how we can save mother earth by just following some guys getting rich and flying private jets telling others to live simply. It's not logical that we have an effect on the living organism called mother earth any more than we can stop the sun from shinning or change the shape of the universe. That would be truly egotistical.
So what does going green mean to most people I talk too, and they are an average group of people from the poorest in monetary terms to the high income but regular folk non the less. It means being responsible with recycling for one. That doesn't mean that buying only recycled goods is better, not at all. Many recyclables take 40% more energy to remake into useful items and that's not being responsible is it. But recycling is the way to keep the crap out of the land fill and that's a good thing.
Does being responsible mean giving up an internal combustion car? If your car is paid for that's a good thing too. We should not be expected to buy something new if the old one is still useful, economically it's senseless and it puts an even bigger strain on how to recycle millions of cars, good cars, into the system...that's stupid. A phase out would be the way to go but then where do we get the supply of juice for all the new electrical cars? Why not hydrogen, two years ago when gas prices were around $5 per gallon there were three different guys in Florida alone who had invented a means to convert your car to hydrogen. What happened to them? Not government sanctioned?  This is from a local Fox News a couple of years ago:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlHCOm4tLDU
Sweden's government  teamed up with Volvo and had come up with a way to make liquid methanol on a mass scale about 5-6 years ago. It was from the garbage that was dumped by her citizens and it was cheaper than gas at that time when gas was a mere$ 2.10 a gallon.  I know we are the largest garbage producing nation on earth per capita ( Latin for Per Head), why not have regional refineries right at a central dumps then transportation of the fuel isn't an issue because the gas stations are only a few miles away. I know  this  is all to easy and I'm sure the ideas running through your heads could help cut down on the garbage in our air, land and water as well as keep every on from going nuts about this subject!

But being a cyclist let me start with what I can do immediately...ride my bike to and from work a couple days a week. How about ride my bike to the store? Better yet, how many guys ride in the velo club? Make an effort to get to the city council or county board meeting and push for more bike lanes. That way more people, including kids, can ride bikes to the park or the store or whatever. If my kids wanted to go to the park now one of us would have to drive them because it's not safe on a bike...yet. What are some of your ideas on this subject?
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

The whir

Once again I rode with the velo-club last night and as we rode over those first few miles my day and all that went with it just disappeared. I found myself listening to the whir of the drive train multiplied by 25.  The soft sound of tires on the black asphalt, the coasting cassettes and even strokes of the pedals released the deepest, almost hidden hint of today's non-sence at work. It mesmerized me and then the reality of why I am soulishly  attached to cycling.
My first cycling race I attended was as an observer. All kinds of guys and every category was to be raced that day. I placed my self at the starting line which I found out was like waiting a week to eat a good meal only to gobble it down in one bite. The flag was dropped and they were gone. So repositioning  myself to the flat just before the huge incline was a good way to see the riders as they blasted out of the right hand corner into a little strait and up this huge hill with a righty at the top. Even after a huge pile up in the cat 4 race, the last of the day, I was HOOKED.
Road racing on a small closed circuit is cool but it's not like a point to point race by any stretch of the imagination. If your a spectator at a point to point race it just goes by you in a flash,  but if your a rider it's a continual mental, physical and psychological check with yourself and other riders. However there are those times when you daze out for just a few moments here and there. That's when I first started to hear the whir.  Everyone in the saddle at that instant is in an apex of time/space with everyone else and the raw power of the moment is overwhelming. But it  is also a power that feds you and you share with everyone in this dance that intermingles both men and machine.
This is what I hear when I watch the tours, the movies and the 'this is your life' stuff on video. Not how this or that was done but the real nature of cycling, the soul exposed for all to hear if they are listening.
So last night I was again reminded of my true nature, our power when we work together and the peace it brings to us when we are chatting it up as we put kit away for another day.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Track stand

 With all the holiday activity we somtimes forget that the rare instance we get to reflect should take it. We should take it with friends, lovers and family...not necessarily in that order. I happened upon this vidio in a UK cycling mag and it just reminded me of all the talented people who go unnoticed so I wanted to shre it with you:. If you want to find it on youtube the address is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSj7VL24GV4
I also have some good music for those of you who need a laugh and be Marry or Elvis or...

 Lastly for today I want to wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah and party on like Wayne and Garth or Cid and Nancey or The Grateful Dead or whom ever. Maybe like yourselves.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying,