Spinning.......

Had a good spin class today. The class was full and Jim is quit the character.

Playing cards..........

So I had a feeling that this was going to happen. That is that if you did not vote for Obama you were a racist and that if you do not agree with his stimulus package then you were definitely a racist. (Maybe he should check this out and change political parties)Have we not moved beyond that by now? (according with this guy we haven't) Have we now lost our rights to disagree with our President now that we have an African American in office? I for one am proud that we have an African American as president. I don't think he is the right person for the job nor did I vote for him...but I do respect the office of the president and those that hold that position weather or not I agree with their political views and opinions or not.

As far as the open dialogue about racism goes, I am all for it. We should be open about it, but what confuses me is why the teaching of such things in some of our school systems has been eliminated or completely deleted form some text books.Is not the best way to improve ourselves as an individual and as a country to study the past and learn form our mistakes? Or should we just over time forget them and at some point in time repeat all of the atrocities that have been committed in the past?

If we are unable to agree to disagree as a free country then we are all in trouble.

Spinning tomorrow.......

Going to spin class tomorrow. Looking forward to a great workout. Jim asked me if I wanted to teach but I think I will hold off o that for a few more weeks, still out of shape , although round is a shape.This is really the only form of training I am getting right now and if I am going to race this year I need to get on the ball. I talked to Brian this evening, he.s been riding in Florida, and he has big plans for me this season, so I guess I have no choice.

Headhunters.........

So I don't know how long its been since you looked for a job but this new way of finding one stinks. It seems that 99% of companies list their openings with Headhunters, IE. placement specialists. I am sure that some of them are good but I talked to one the other day that really did not seem to know what she was doing. I wont go into details but, based on my conversation with her I wouldn't think she would be qualified to answer the phone let alone find somebody a good job.

Speaking of Obama...................

It is amazing to me how this economy situation has taken the focus off of what is going on abroad. Its like he is getting a free ride (SURPRISE) and not having to answer or face the hard questions about allot of important things that could have a major impact on our safety and that of our troops.

1. Shortly after Obama's envoy, Richard Holbrooke, visited Pakistan, that country surrendered to the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The Pakistani government now says the Taliban has the authority to impose sharia law in the northern part of that country.
2. The government of Kyrgyzstan is closing the US base that supplies NATO forces in Afghanistan.
3. A report by the Institute for Science and International Security says that Iran could have weapons-grade nuclear material this year.
4. Kim Jong-Il, the leader of North Korea, celebrated his 67th birthday this week by threatening a nuclear missile test.

Oh well, I guess we all knew that he would get a free ride form the media, since he is their guy. I personally don't want to see him fail. The fallout, I feel, would be too devastating to our country.

Time space continuum.......

So I was blasting Shawn about his abuse of the English language the other day.(I know Shawn you spell it SEAN). Of course he pretended that I hurt his feelings. Oh well, it could be worse, Nicoll could be involved in all of this.

Spinning again.......

Went to spin class last night. It was a pretty good class. Doug was there so we chatted about some of the events he is going to be putting on this season. He is also launching a magazine this season as well as a start up web store so I am interested to see how that all pans out. I will keep you updated as well.

Spin Spin Spin..........

Taught a spin class today and to be perfectly honest it hurt. I changed things up for the class today. Instead of progressions we did regressions, with allot of hard and easy change ups, muscle confusion for the heart. The ride kind of simulated a usual Tuesday night hammer fest with a lot of short efforts, changing resistance every 30 seconds from hard to easy. Everybody seemed to enjoy the class and to my surprise liked the METAL CD I put together.


February....Is old friends month.......

So I have had the great pleasure of coming in contact with Three people that I have not seen in as many as 20 years, Rob, Scott and Benay. Rob is a guy I grew up with. we spent allot of time fishing and being called little shits by his mom, God bless her soul. Scott and I became friends several years ago when the guy up the street would not put the cables he had purchased elsewhere on his bike for him. Scott had lost his left arm in and accident when he was younger but that did not slow him down. Nobody complained while he was along on a ride. He was also a phenomenal mountain biker.Benay is a pretty tremendous athlete herself. She has spent allot of time competing in adventure racing and has done pretty well.


Not for those under 18............

What the heck is going on at IUP. There have been two different events this past week that I found to be off the charts as far as quote "educational of societal value" goes. The first was brought to my attention by Mokeyboy. He saw this flyer posted somewhere on campus for some sort of discussion on Hooking up and learning what it means to be sexually responsible. No can you imagine what kind of people showed up for this one. And can you imagine the discussion...."So every time I get a few drinks in me I get this uncontrollable urge to spread my legs, and fall on my back, but I am on the pill. That's being responsible right?" And can you imagine all the perves hanging around outside waiting to strike up conversation with those exiting the meeting.

The other was this little gem called The Vagina Monologues, which is a play they were putting on to raise funds for the Alice Paul House which is a great cause, but, is using this particular vunue along with selling Chocolate Vagina's to raise money for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in good taste? or am I just out of touch?

It's a love hate thing......

Did a loop on the fixie this afternoon...around 20 mi. Now in my opinion riding a fixie is one of the best and fastest ways to get into shape....this is the love part......
to read more and see what i found today click here

It's a love hate thing......

Did a loop on the fixie this afternoon...around 20 mi. Now in my opinion riding a fixie is one of the best and fastest ways to get into shape....this is the love part:

1. It improves your spin
2. It's good for your knees
3. It improves your endurance
4. It improves your ability maintain a constant effort
5. It improves leg strength
6. It's stylish

But it isn't all good...

1. No gears
2. Climbing can be a pain especially here in PA
   
3. Not enough people ride more than 5 miles on one
4. If your not a a buck twenty five it aint easy
5. 165 mm cranks (no leverage)
   

Although it's got to be better than Fixed Gear Mountain Biking.....not single speed FIXED GEAR....that's just plain ?????


First find of the year........

Found this perfectly good snow scraper with a brush this afternoon on the way back home......that's one for me Beachcomber :>)

What a slacker......

That's right folks....I have really been slaking this year, but decided today to put an end to it and commuted to work today. Now it is not for lack of wanting to everyday, it is just that my second job is on the way home from my first, so I would have to actually drive home and get my bike just to return from where I have just came. Fridays though I don't work the first job so I can now commute. I really enjoyed it too, except fort the cold fingertips but that's OK, my own fault for locking myself out this morning. At least I had everything else I needed. Actually I think that I will come home at least one other day and commute back just because I do miss it.

Monkeyboy on the loose...................

So I heard from Monkeyboy today, and he has started his own blog now. I say it's about time, although his claim is that he will out blog and out ride me this year. I guess he is trying to call me out or something, good luck with all that buddy.Hope he rights about his recent bike shop experience.


Jamming................

My son started guitar lessons today and I must say i have not seen so much enthusiasm since the other nights bicycle outing. I hope his enthusiasm ensues because it has made me want to take up the guitar again, for like the hundredth time. I started when I was around 9 and wish now I had never quit, but what kid want to spend his time learning songs like camp town races.I would have rather been playing tings like this...

Not that I was a Pink Floyd fan at teh age of 9 but I think you get the picture.

Whats your problem???????

I swear....if I hear another person with a good job, family and good health whine about life I may just punch them in the mouth. Seriously folks.......Well that's enough of that

One of my sons favorite Summertime sports.......

So I was headed out to clear the snow and my son asked if he could come out as well. He is not put off by adverse weather and makes the best of what is thrown at him,which I think is awesome. So out the door and straight to the swing.I think he would do this forever if you would let him, although he still refuses to make himself go so that means allot of pushing for me and his mom. Oh well, that's OK he wont be this little forever.



Doesn't that just warm your cycling heart?

So as I said I was clearing snow and my son finally pryed himself away from his swing and comes up and asks for his bike helmet. With now cohersion from me he is asking to ride his bike in 20 deg. weather with 5 inches of the white stuff on the ground......AWESOME :>)

BTW, Its official........My son now has more miles on his bike that I do this year. Oh well I will surely catch up and pass him...I hope to anyway.

Power in a Cup

While training is best measured this time of year by "time on the bike" and not by "miles", one thing remains constant...the sweet taste of espresso afterwards!

Power in a Cup

While training is best measured this time of year by "time on the bike" and not by "miles", one thing remains constant...the sweet taste of espresso afterwards!

Power in a Cup

While training is best measured this time of year by "time on the bike" and not by "miles", one thing remains constant...the sweet taste of espresso afterwards!

Hello old friend.....You werent missed you know

So I took another spin class last evening, which was my first experience with affib for the year. I should have expected it though having just eaten shortly before and with no warm up time having shown up just in time to start. Oh well, live and learn, it was a good class however and I hope to start teaching again in a few weeks.

Who cares what you people think..........

Came across this on another blog.......Do these people really believe that anybody really cares what they think or have to say. I would rather they all give up their citizenship and move to some foreign land...preferably one that we are currently bombing, a nice bungalow at ground zero would do nicely.

This is downright scary....although I am pretty sure that their golden child is not as liberal as they might believe which in the end is kind of ironic.


Speaking of friends.........

Ran into Doug at spin class last night as well. Doug is probably one of the most positive and motivating people you will ever meet in your lifetime. Some people don't know quite how to take him sometimes but that's mostly because of his incessant intensity.

Anyway he was telling me that his son and Toby shipped out a few weeks ago and are currently in Kuwait waiting for deployment to I think Afghanistan....... God luck, good hunting and gods speed boys, you will be in our prayers.

owwwwwwwww@!!@!!!

So I started back to spinning class today after too many months off of the bike and way too many hours worked....

The class was full, which was good to see but I was in no way ready to spend over an hour standing and spinning...but I did. It is actually the same spin routine I taught in several of my classes last year, except I don't remember it hurting so badly....... Jim says everybody hates it and loves it at the same time. I actually plan to start teaching some again in a few weeks once I get some of my legs back, until then I will just suffer. I wont be able to make it to many of the weekday classes but I have my own spin bike here so I will use that. I actually look forward to tomorrows recover spin. Probably about a half hour or so.


I hate house work....

So since Gail and I have both been so busy..me with work and her with school, the house has suffered some so today was clean up day, or at least the start of what will probably be a 3 weekend project. Its not really dirty it is just disorganized and I cant stand that. I am going to take a brake though. Brownie is coming over this evening and I am going to finish up his time trial bike.

Alternative Training

Some people find many different ways to train in the off season....Here is one of my all time favorites

Not very physical but allot of fun.



Still haven't seen Monkeyboy.....

I know that he is back but I have only spoken to him briefly. He said he has allot of stories from his Florida trip but I have to ride with him to get the skinney on it all. He did however say he is selling his bike so if you know anybody intersted that is built like a monkey it is a pretty good deal.


How'd they pull this off???????

So one of my racing friends (far right podium) sent me this photo the other day.

What I want to know is....... How did they get these women to pose with cowbells hanging from their necks..but upon closer inspection it became clear to me that they primed them beforehand.

Alternative Training

While some of us prefer riding outdoors... and others of us prefer riding indoors... they are both still (just) riding. Meanwhile, Shredder, marching to the beat of a different drummer, considers cross country skiing to be a viable way to bring his fitness on-line this time of year!

Alternative Training

While some of us prefer riding outdoors... and others of us prefer riding indoors... they are both still (just) riding. Meanwhile, Shredder, marching to the beat of a different drummer, considers cross country skiing to be a viable way to bring his fitness on-line this time of year!

Alternative Training

While some of us prefer riding outdoors... and others of us prefer riding indoors... they are both still (just) riding. Meanwhile, Shredder, marching to the beat of a different drummer, considers cross country skiing to be a viable way to bring his fitness on-line this time of year!

4 hour trainer ride!

It's over and what an experience. Not necessarily a good one but it was an experience for sure. Read about it here.

4 hour trainer ride!

It's over and what an experience. Not necessarily a good one but it was an experience for sure. Read about it here.

4 hour trainer ride!

It's over and what an experience. Not necessarily a good one but it was an experience for sure. Read about it here.