In closing, I give you this:
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Post To End All Posts
This post has spent a lot of time being concocted in my head. How do you say goodbye to the world? Originally, my goal was to make fun of Mark and Don. Somewhere along the way, I got lost. Fortunately, Will gave me a compass. I've decided that this blog has run its course and found itself in a cul-de-sac on the wrong end of a one-way street. There are many other people that are more witty than I, more emo than I and some even that are both. So I leave you in good hands. Plus, I don't have time to stay on top enough to update. Also, I'm bored.
In closing, I give you this:
In closing, I give you this:
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Recipe
I really like NinjaDon's recipe and I decided to post one of my own recipes:
Victory Cake (Serves 1):
1 c. tranquillo
1 tbp. gusto
2 bunches of courage
1 well-seasoned teammate
Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl or (Cat3) Cup (race). Beat (everyone else) into a smooth, pasty batter. Pour (some sugar on me) into a 40cm X 4m glass baking dish and and bake at 0°C.
--
I raced twice yesterday. Maybe once-and-a-half is more accurate. I am dumbfounded at the result I got at Medford. Without solid form (I think) and not having been on the road bike in a week, I have no idea how that happened. All I can do is look at Todd and assume he did an absolutely incredible job of discouraging chases and covering moves. Not to mention him putting me into position with one to go. So, in all honesty, this is really Todd's result.
Victory Cake (Serves 1):
1 c. tranquillo
1 tbp. gusto
2 bunches of courage
1 well-seasoned teammate
Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl or (Cat3) Cup (race). Beat (everyone else) into a smooth, pasty batter. Pour (some sugar on me) into a 40cm X 4m glass baking dish and and bake at 0°C.
--
I raced twice yesterday. Maybe once-and-a-half is more accurate. I am dumbfounded at the result I got at Medford. Without solid form (I think) and not having been on the road bike in a week, I have no idea how that happened. All I can do is look at Todd and assume he did an absolutely incredible job of discouraging chases and covering moves. Not to mention him putting me into position with one to go. So, in all honesty, this is really Todd's result.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Caffeine + HFCS = teh Sux0rs
note: I had not yet had a chance to read wcuk before posting this . . . what appropriate timing.
The latter half of Monday was one of the most unbearable stretches of work I've yet experienced. It was only partially due to what was going on at work.
As soon as I got home, I put a potato in the oven and went to sleep. I woke up about thirty seconds before the timer went off. I ate, then went back to sleep. Around 8:30pm, I got in bed . . . it was still a bit light out. It's now 3:50am and I've been folding clothes, watching BloombergTV and reading for the past hour or so.
Why? Because caffeine + high-fructose corn syrup = grumpus-wumpus. The effects of Caffeine and other methylated xanthines are[1] well-documented[2]. The jury is still[3] out[4] on the full effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup. You can pick and choose your studies all you want -- I know how the one-two combo of caffeine and HFCS makes me feel at the end of the day.
One little note: whenever a discussion of HFCS comes up, there is always someone saying that HFCS is just 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose . . . nearly identical to the 50/50 split that composes table sugar. This is not entirely true. Table sugar is actually sucrose, which is an entity completely separate from its constituent parts, fructose and glucose, due to dehydration synthesis/glycosidic linkage. Thus, sucrose requires hydrolysis in the body to become 50:50 fructose:glucose (I believe amylase catalyzes the reaction). Chemistry lesson over.
The latter half of Monday was one of the most unbearable stretches of work I've yet experienced. It was only partially due to what was going on at work.
As soon as I got home, I put a potato in the oven and went to sleep. I woke up about thirty seconds before the timer went off. I ate, then went back to sleep. Around 8:30pm, I got in bed . . . it was still a bit light out. It's now 3:50am and I've been folding clothes, watching BloombergTV and reading for the past hour or so.
Why? Because caffeine + high-fructose corn syrup = grumpus-wumpus. The effects of Caffeine and other methylated xanthines are[1] well-documented[2]. The jury is still[3] out[4] on the full effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup. You can pick and choose your studies all you want -- I know how the one-two combo of caffeine and HFCS makes me feel at the end of the day.
One little note: whenever a discussion of HFCS comes up, there is always someone saying that HFCS is just 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose . . . nearly identical to the 50/50 split that composes table sugar. This is not entirely true. Table sugar is actually sucrose, which is an entity completely separate from its constituent parts, fructose and glucose, due to dehydration synthesis/glycosidic linkage. Thus, sucrose requires hydrolysis in the body to become 50:50 fructose:glucose (I believe amylase catalyzes the reaction). Chemistry lesson over.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Starting Now, I'm Starting Over
Tick-tock, you're not a clock,
You're a time bomb
You're a time bomb
Altoona is over. Out of nowhere, I was able to go uphill fast. Also out of nowhere, I've got motivation for the rest of the season. Cyclocross is coming soon, but before it starts, I'm going to bag at least one more win. I'm looking specifically at the NJ State Criterium Championships. Yeah, I'm looking at you. Bring the bomb squad because I'm gonna blow it to pieces.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Stage 20 Pick
Well I'm going to get this one in on time. Turns out Levi was a good pick. That should move me up in the standings. It is going to come down to the final picks for Sunday.
Who: Thor Hushovd
Why: He's been quiet, too quiet, since his win way back in Stage 3 or 4 or whenever it was he won. He won on the Champs-Élysées last year and I'm hoping he'll have finally recovered from all the mountain (dumb) stages to bag one for me on the final day. I'm a bit worried that a "spectacular protest" may throw a wrench into things. That would be pretty sweet, though.
Who: Thor Hushovd
Why: He's been quiet, too quiet, since his win way back in Stage 3 or 4 or whenever it was he won. He won on the Champs-Élysées last year and I'm hoping he'll have finally recovered from all the mountain (dumb) stages to bag one for me on the final day. I'm a bit worried that a "spectacular protest" may throw a wrench into things. That would be pretty sweet, though.
Stage 19 Pick
Once again, I'm late in posting this. For Stages 18, 19, and 20, all my picks were made Thursday afternoon. Plus, I haven't read the results of the TT yet.
Who: Levi Leipheimer
Why: As demonstrated in the ToC, he can time-trial fairly well. He's in a good position for the overall so will be quite motivated.
Who: Levi Leipheimer
Why: As demonstrated in the ToC, he can time-trial fairly well. He's in a good position for the overall so will be quite motivated.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Altoona - Pre-Race
Despite heavy traffic leaving NJ and a huge delay once on I-80, I was able to make it to my hotel, the EconoLodge, in Altoona by 10:30PM. I forget where we stayed last year but it was far, far worse than the EconoLodge, and probably more expensive.
I settled in and started to relax a bit. My race wasn't until 11:35AM on Friday so I didn't have to worry about getting to bed early. So I flipped on the telly and found that Taxicab Confessions was playing on HBO. That was incredibly entertaining. Due to the PG-13 rating of this blog, I can't summarize any of the show for you.
Got to bed around midnight and woke up at 8:15AM. Quick shower, checkout, some breakfast at DD (not DnD . . . which is Dungeons and Dragons . . . Dunkin' Donuts is DD) and I was off to Martinsburg for a 38 mile circuit race.
One of the more exciting things about Altoona is that all the amateurs use all the same parking lots, facilities, etc. as the pros do. I saw Mandy Lozano and she cut me down for not having upgraded to Cat2 yet. Walked out of the bathroom (real ones, not Port-a-Potties) and bumped into Scott Moninger. the most successful active racer in North America. He is about 43 years old, has about 2% body fat and his legs are jacked. He's got longevity, for sure, but I'll leave its legitimacy for you to decide.
I haven't been this nervous pre-race in a long, long time. I think I put a bit too much emphasis on this weekend and thus a bit too much pressure on myself. But once we got rolling, it was fine. Race report to follow (maybe).
I settled in and started to relax a bit. My race wasn't until 11:35AM on Friday so I didn't have to worry about getting to bed early. So I flipped on the telly and found that Taxicab Confessions was playing on HBO. That was incredibly entertaining. Due to the PG-13 rating of this blog, I can't summarize any of the show for you.
Got to bed around midnight and woke up at 8:15AM. Quick shower, checkout, some breakfast at DD (not DnD . . . which is Dungeons and Dragons . . . Dunkin' Donuts is DD) and I was off to Martinsburg for a 38 mile circuit race.
One of the more exciting things about Altoona is that all the amateurs use all the same parking lots, facilities, etc. as the pros do. I saw Mandy Lozano and she cut me down for not having upgraded to Cat2 yet. Walked out of the bathroom (real ones, not Port-a-Potties) and bumped into Scott Moninger. the most successful active racer in North America. He is about 43 years old, has about 2% body fat and his legs are jacked. He's got longevity, for sure, but I'll leave its legitimacy for you to decide.
I haven't been this nervous pre-race in a long, long time. I think I put a bit too much emphasis on this weekend and thus a bit too much pressure on myself. But once we got rolling, it was fine. Race report to follow (maybe).
Stage 18 Pick
Please excuse my tardiness in posting this. Working out the logistics of Altoona has forced me to take some time away from the blogosphere temporarily (more on Altoona later). Did you miss me? DIdn't think so.
Who: Tom Boonen
Why: Well he's the strongest guy left. That's all there is to it. However, given that I'm posting this after knowing already the results of the stage, I have to say it should have been quite obvious given yesterday's stage that a break would stay away. Oh well.
Who: Tom Boonen
Why: Well he's the strongest guy left. That's all there is to it. However, given that I'm posting this after knowing already the results of the stage, I have to say it should have been quite obvious given yesterday's stage that a break would stay away. Oh well.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Stage 17 Pick
Wow! The Tour has more drama than The OC, drunk sorority girls and a TNT primetime lineup combined! Stage 17 is a sprinter's stage . . . I really don't think a break will last especially with all but one of the categorized climbs over by the first third of the stage.
Who: Erik Zabel
Why: He's been there and thereabouts for almost every sprint stage. I think he will have gotten through the mountains with less effort than Boonen and the other Big Guns. Finally, back to the exciting stages!
Who: Erik Zabel
Why: He's been there and thereabouts for almost every sprint stage. I think he will have gotten through the mountains with less effort than Boonen and the other Big Guns. Finally, back to the exciting stages!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Weird Dream
Last night I had a dream that I was at Altoona already. It must have been Sunday . . . I was wearing some type of leader's jersey but I don't think it was for the overall. George Hincapie high-fived me. He must have crashed out of the Tour and taken a direct flight back over to the US just to watch me race. I talked to Adam Myerson (who, incidentally, is the lanterne rouge after Stage 1, the TTT) and he seemed to need to borrow one of my wheels. Then he asked me if I had a coach and, when I responded in the negative, he said, "We should talk about that." For some reason I thought I was supposed to be racing in the P/1/2 race . . . maybe because upgrading to Cat2 has been on my mind lately . . . but in the preparations, I missed 1) making any Cytomax for the race and 2) the start of the Cat3 race. I was reduced to tears, as I recall.
Dreams are weird, man.
Dreams are weird, man.
Stage 16 Pick
Vino. Hah. Vino. (and by Vino, of course, I mean wine).
Who: Iban Mayo
Why: He's a Spaniard and they're going through Spain today. The Col d'Aubisque is somewhat near the Spanish border and is also a pretty long and steady climb, favoring old man strength versus the short and steep climbs that require youthful explosiveness. The only thing that concerns me is that, in light of the Vino news (again, wine, of course), there could be a big protest. However, given the tight race between Contador (definitely a doper) and Rasmussen (double-definitely a doper), a protest-neutralized stage is unlikely.
Who: Iban Mayo
Why: He's a Spaniard and they're going through Spain today. The Col d'Aubisque is somewhat near the Spanish border and is also a pretty long and steady climb, favoring old man strength versus the short and steep climbs that require youthful explosiveness. The only thing that concerns me is that, in light of the Vino news (again, wine, of course), there could be a big protest. However, given the tight race between Contador (definitely a doper) and Rasmussen (double-definitely a doper), a protest-neutralized stage is unlikely.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Stage 15 Pick
Well, I think this is kind of a crapshoot. The GC contenders should be exhausted an beat from Stage 14 (but with the drugs these days, you can be superman two days in a row), so I'm thinking an early break should be given a massive advantage. Thus, it favors a decent climber that is way down on GC.
Who: Manuel "Tricky" Beltran
Why: He can go uphill pretty fast as he demonstrated many times in the service of LA. Riding for Liquigas, they won't have much more to hope for other than another stage win or two. Tomorrow will be intereseting.
Who: Manuel "Tricky" Beltran
Why: He can go uphill pretty fast as he demonstrated many times in the service of LA. Riding for Liquigas, they won't have much more to hope for other than another stage win or two. Tomorrow will be intereseting.
Stage 14 Pick
Hmmm, if Klödi hadn't fallen, maybe he could've even gotten 2nd. I guess Vino is back, too.
Who: Michael Rasmussen
Why: Duh
Who: Michael Rasmussen
Why: Duh
Friday, July 20, 2007
Stage 13 Pick
Well that Cat2 climb didn't sort out the sprinters like I expected. Dang. I need points tomorrow since they're catching up on me.
Who: Andreas Klöden
Why: Look at his performance in the prologue. I can't pick Cancellara or Millar (they're taken). My only concern is that Vino will ask him to save something for the following two stages.
Who: Andreas Klöden
Why: Look at his performance in the prologue. I can't pick Cancellara or Millar (they're taken). My only concern is that Vino will ask him to save something for the following two stages.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
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