Humility and the Expensive Bike

To say I've been humbled a few times in this life is like saying 'Yeah, Jimi Hendrix could play guitar'. It's often had to strike me hard over the head. It turns out,  most of my life I've either been oblivious, indifferent, or just a block head.

Granted, I look way down my nose at bikes I deem as sub-standard. 

Example: A girl in our office was so proud of the Christmas bike she and her husband had bought their son. 'A really nice Mongoose' she told me. But I'm thinking 'Wait a second, there is no such thing as a really nice Mongoose!' There may very well be such a thing but only if you're a snake and said Mongoose slinks past you offering a pleasant 'How-ja-do'.

See I ride a nice bike. So what if it cost north of 5 grand. So what if it's worth more than my car. I ride it. It's not a trailer queen that I show up on at group rides or metric centuries on only to disappear early in the ride. No sir, I ride it and in the long run, I'll get my monies worth out of.

So you bought him a Mongoose ... OK. It's never going to be a 'really nice Mongoose'. That simply doesn't exist. Buying a kid a Mongoose is a wise investment. He'll ride the wheels off of it and it'll end up in the trash in two years.

So on to the humility portion of today's rant.

A couple weeks ago while attending our local Bike Club's annual maintenance clinic, I was ask to participate in the Tour De Cure by a really cute girl. I though 'Neat, something with 'Tour De' in the name and I can ride in it? ... I'm in'. A moment of weakness for sure.

Then it dawned on me that I would actually have to do something other than just ride. I would have to raise money in order to participate. Oh great!. I'm now one of 'THEM'. You know the ones ... the ones who beg for funding on the various forms on NPR. You know them. With the guilt trip ... yeah .. THEM. Or the fellow office worker who comes around with a sheet 'Will you sponsor me?' To which (more than once ) I've said I'll give you $5 to go jump off the roof''.

So here I am ... I'm the one having to 'Tin Cup' OH GREAT. So I sent out emails and posted on Facebook asking for help. I committed to the ride (the easy part) ... now I have to fund raise. UGH! 

Much to my surprise, a day after I started, I'm half way to my goal. I swear, I'll never run and hide when a co-worker comes near me with the dreaded pledge form ever again. I know what they're going through.

I'll never again judge a friends choice of words when describing a Christmas bike. Hey to that kid It's more than just a Mongoose. It's his rig! He'll get Mom's monies worth out of it. At least he's not glued to a Play Station while eating Ding-Dongs! Best yet, He'll remember that bike the rest of his life as 'The really nice Mongoose.

So there it is. Mother Karma warning me yet again to be kinder and gentler guy. 

Lesson learned Mom!

http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/SoutheasternPennsylvaniaArea?px=6504794&pg=personal&fr_id=7561

Peace out!

el Shiv

P.S. Here is the link to my donation page ... think about it.

The long cold cycling off season

Who was I kidding. There is no cycling in central PA in the heart of Winter. I  had all intentions of trying to ride at least once during the week. Yeah right! The roads have been treated and are covered in a filmy white substance. Every hill and corner has mounds of either ice melt or cinders (or both). So it looks like my Winter cycling is on ice until at least March ... pun intended.

It's a freakin' Winter Wonderland out there. Hey, if that's your thing ... good for you. I've been standing outside wasting aerosol can after aerosol can. 'Come on Global Warming!!'

There are a few bright spots however. One is a friend of mine who is an avid skier and works part time at a local slope insists that this region is in for a major warm up in February. He says that the powers that be at the resort consult the national weather service and this is what they are being told.

The other thing is I just received my tickets to see the Phillies beat the Pirates in Clearwater in March. At least it will be warm in Florida. We are so going to be a Corona commercial on the beach in March!

So as for today ... It is 8 degrees outside as I type! I'm off to work at the second of three Bicycle maintenance clinics offered by our local bike club. My name tag tells the world that I am an 'Instructor'. Opinions vary on that count. I can change a mean tire and keep my rig clean ... 'POOF! You are now an instructor'. Gee thanks Mr. Wizard!

Peace out!

el Shiv

Bicycle Magazine awards. And the winners are:

I'm a magazine guy. Ever since I was young, my world revolved around them. When I was in high school and into college I could think of nothing I wanted to do more than be involved in magazines. My wish came true over the years. I started out in printing, learning everything I could. I served an apprenticeship, actually becoming a journeyman pressman.  I then learned all aspects of pre-press before morphing into what I do today. I shepherd publisher's projects through the print manufacturing phase. It's kind of fun, kind of frustrating and at times kind of boring. But hey .. I said I wanted to be involved .. so here I am.

The only thing that really sticks in my craw is the digital e-dition. You know the files you get on your iPads, e-readers and the like. We do those as well but the last thing I want is an electronic edition of my favorite magazine. Give me something tangible ... not a file on my iPad, I tried it, I don't like it. Although a bangin' web site to compliment a good magazine is a plus.

So having said that I feel I have an opinion ... but so does everybody else.

So the awards .. these are magazines I subscribe to. Everyone is a winner .. but for different reasons:

1. The Must Fun Award goes to: Road Bike Action. This magazine has the best all around writing. With tongue firmly implanted in cheek, Road Bike Action continues to be a favorite month in and month out.

2. Must Outside of the Box magazine Award goes to: Peloton. A new publication, Peloton is by far the most rounded, unintellectual publication out there. So far so good!

3. Most Professional Award goes to: Velonews. Head and shoulders the most professional, artistic publication. This magazine is truly a work of art. From the photography to the editorial content, Velonews has this portion of the cycling magazine market covered.

4. Most Politically Correct Award goes to: Bicycling Magazine. Never one to ruffle feathers, Bicycling Magazine continues to be a quality piece month in and month out. The cover every aspect of the cycling culture.

5. Best Web Site Award: This one is almost a toss up. But the web site I keep going back to is Peloton. As good as the publication and better that it's competitors. Lots of content that seems to change daily.

6. Most Likely to get voted off the Island Award. Bicycling Magazine. If  I had to give up one this would be it. I don't plan on it, but if i had to ...

So there you have it. Forget the digital  ... it's a fad. People will want them, but not the masses. Have an engaging web site ... that is a plus. And lastly ... think out side the box.

Peace out!

el Shiv

And my new Cyling Nick Name is! ... Envelope please ....

I was asking around in my cycling circle 'What would be a really cool cycling nick mane for me?" I said "Come on man ... everyone who rides like we do needs a cool nick name" A buddy in my office said "We call you A** Hole behind your back ... why not use that". Well I thought that one seemed a little much. I mean, how would I ever explain that nick name to my mom? "Hey mom, guess what the guys call me when we're out riding our expensive racing bikes? A** Hole! Isn't that neat?" Yeah, I didn't think so either.

So here are some of the names thrown at me by people that don't make a point of goofing on me at every opportunity:
The Dominator
Spree
The Phenom
Chain
Brain Buster

The Hammer

While I liked these .. nothing stuck. So being a fan of the Spanish Language and the TV show 'Locked Up'  I think I came up with the perfect name.

You ready ... here it is. I am now, and will for ever be known, from this day forward, but only on my bike as:

''el Shiv'

So let it be know. So it is written, so it is done.

Here is a test. If you read this, and you know me. Call me this next time you see me. It will validate my blog.

Peace out,

Your pal ...

el Shiv

Of Cow Poop and Milk Shakes

For the third year in a row Linda and I are helping to man the Milk Shake booth at the PA Farm Show. You can't imagine the sights.

Here are my top ten list of crazy things I saw:

10. A young guy dressed to the nines in Dude Ranch Finery. It was so darn nice ... I'm not into that sort of this thing but what a get up!! It was like GQ meets Kenny Chesney meets the Farm show! A couple of ladies kept looking at him saying 'Isn't that ... no it can't be". I had to go home and wash the Gay off me. No ofense ... I'm just sayin'.

9. Justin Bieber look a likes. I most have seen 20 of these little helmet haired wanna-be kids. When I think back, we tried to look the same way. Only it was the Beatles ... not some no talent Disney act.

8. Poop. Poop everywhere. DO NOT wear nice footwear to the Farm Show.

7. Lack of modesty. I don't want to sound like a prude or a perv ... but what ever happened to modesty anyway? Some of these girls! I just wanted to say to them: Aren't you cold? I t was 20 degrees outside and maybe 60 inside. Cover that up. I don't need to be starring.

6.Deep Fried everything. From deep fried cheese to deep fried Oreos. What a way to go! It's no wonder we a re a nation of fat people.

5. No mixed Milk Shakes? What the ...! Sorry kids ... no mixed Milk Shakes this year. Some guy must have thought I was somebody as he proceeded to tear me a new one about this. I looked him in the eye and calmly stated 'No Eng-laish" Don't laugh. It worked!

4. Giant Horses. I'm not a horse guy but I swear I saw a horse that was like 12 feet high and must have weighed 2 tons! I'll bet it could have pooped a Volkswagen.

3. A sea of humanity ... all waiting to pay $4.00 for a Milk Shake in a place that kind of smells some where between deep fried something, Hay, and poop.

2. Honey Ice Cream. CRAZY GOOD ... Enough said.

1. I <3 (Heart) Intercourse hat. Some old timer walks up to the booth straight off the farm wearing this hat. We all looked at each other and laughed. Either he was actually from Intercourse PA or he was an extreme pervert. Either way, in my opinion, no one should ever wear a heat that clearly states that they are from a place with a name like Intercourse or that this may be a favorite activity. If you have to advertise either fact ... you need to see a doctor about that.

Let me tell you about Texas Radio and the Big Bonk

Bonk: (Gleaned from Wikipedia)

The term "bonk" for cycling fatigue is presumably derived from the original meaning "to hit", and dates back at least half a century. A recent DVD issued by the British Transport Films Collection contains several old films, one of which entitled "Cyclists Special", a colour film produced in 1955, tells the story of a party of cyclists touring the English countryside. At one point they stop for refreshments and the film's commentator states that if they didn't rest and eat they would get "the bonk".^[1]

The term is used colloquially both as a noun ("hitting the bonk") and a verb ("to bonk halfway through the race"). The condition is also known to long-distance (marathon) runners, who usually refer to it as "hitting the wall".

The Big Bonk:

I've 'Bonked Huge' twice  in my life. The first time was the whole Trauma Unit/Helicopter ride episode that I mentioned previously. But let me share last seasons Bonk Huge:

Late season, maybe like Early October. It was still warm in central PA. The Harrisburg Bike Club has these rides advertised as ''Fall Tour Warm Ups'. What they are is weekly rides of increasing lengths to prepare HBC members who are participating in 'The Fall Tour'. That, folks, is when the die hards ride from Harrisburg PA to Cape May NJ. I would rather get sprayed in the face by a skunk than do that .. but hey more power to them I say.

So this particular ride went from Hershey PA to Lititz PA and back, totaling 62 miles. 62 miles! Heck I ican do that in my sleep by this point in the season! So off we go. The ride out wasn't that bad. It was a nice cool day, no breeze, easy pace. A little to easy for me ... so I thought. We arrive in Lititz... easy ride! I feel like the king of the world! We have lunch at Subway (foot long Tuna) in Lititz, my first mistake. The second was I didn't find a venue for Gatorade. I very nice guy at the local chamber of commerce was nice enough to let me fill my water bottle at his spring water cooler.(BTW, he is now on my Christmas card list).

After lunch we lit off back to Hershey. By this time it was 80 degrees and best yet, the route back was nothing but a hill with no shade! Our 'leader' decided that he needed to get back home ... so what this means is no breaks kids.

Anyway, about a mile out of town we come up on some rail road tracks. I'm boxed in. The BBW is in front of me decides to slow to a crawl. No place to go I have to slow as well. I yelled 'GO-GO-GO' she didn't and down I go. Nothing major but I was clipped in, laying across a set of rail road tracks with a Big rig baring down on me. I scrambled up, got back on my bike, and lit off for the pack that left me for dead.

I flipped out on the pour lady! It was pretty bad .. even for me. It was at that point she (obviously knowing the roads) disappeared. WHATEVER!!

Shortly there after, no shade, climbing, climbing, climbing, out of water, it hit me. I could no longer hold my head up. I was getting chills, I was burning up ... and I had the nastiest hill In Lancaster County yet to climb.

That was it! I was barley able to get off my rig. I used it like an old man uses a walker. I walked the hill. 'I NEVER WALK HILLS' I proclaimed proudly (all be it weakly). I was out of my head. Dazed, weak .. 10 miles to go.

I finished walking the hill, dripped back to the parking lot. Crawled in a super market, bought 2 Gatorade and sat in the stores Cafe for about an hour. A few folks on the ride knew I was in serious trouble. One of them stayed with me until I regained my composure. He's on my Christmas card list as well.

So the moral of the story is; 'Some days your the Bull, some days you get the horn'. In cycling you just never know. Like I stated earlier, this only happened to me twice. The first time was what I call my 'Sual on the road to Damascus' episode. I was even uglier. Ugly oft times equals life changer ... it was.

Stay hydrated my friends ... stay hydrated.

Texas Radio:

Listening to 'Buddy Holly's Greatest Hits'

'Keeping positive' or 'I need a cycling nick-name'

I don't want this to be a space to rant. I don't want to give that impression. By and large I am a  positive, calm, up-beat sort of guy. 

So having said that I was thinking 'All serious cyclist have a nick name' ... it's true. So I'm a serious cyclist (at least in my little world).

So here it goes ... a list of cool cyclist nick-names:

Fausto Coppi – Il Campionissimo (The Champion of Champions)

Eddy Merckx – The Cannibal

Fabian Cancellara- Spartacus

Miguel Indurain – Miguelón (Big Mig)

Thor Hushovd – The God of Thunder

Marco Pantani - Il Piratá

Danilo DiLuca – The Killer

Jan Ullrich – Der Kaiser

Tom Boonen – Tommeke

Mark Cavendish – Manx Missile

Lance Armstrong – The Boss

Alberto Contador - El Pistolero

Dennis Menchov – Denny

Ivan Basso – Ivan the Terrible (not to be confused with “Birrilo”)

Cadel Evans – Cuddles

Of course I still struggle with what I would like to be called as a cyclist. I've referred to myself as 'The Boat Anchor' and 'Wheel Sucker'. I really like 'Spartacus' but I'm not a fierce warrior and/or leader. I'm more like Spartacus' red headed second cousin 'Tommy-Bob Spartacus'.

So I  translated a few of my self imposed nick names. All of them came out too long to remember. My favorite is this; 'pollone della rotella' ... 'Wheel Sucker' in Italian. The word 'Pallone' means sucker ... nah that's no good. I'll have to keep on working on this obviously.

Music": No music this AM. All is quiet in the house of pollone della rotella. 

Why I don't like Carbon Fiber bikes

I started riding road bike about 8 years ago on a steel Nishiki cast off with down tube shifters and DUI brakes ... you know those funky duel lever brakes. Anyway I rode it for a couple months before making the jump to a steel frame Bianchi Brava with a Shimano Sora drive train. I rode it for about a year and a half. It was at this point I started lusting after Titanium Litespeeds. I made the jump shortly after. Then about 5 months into that ride I had a horrendous crash that very nearly killed me. Helicopter ride, Trauma Unit stay .. the whole nine yards. Broken bones, head trauma ... you name it. All I can say is I'm glad I'm not in some assisted living unit drooling into a cup.

In haist, I sold my beloved Litespeed convinced that I would never ride again.

During my very slow recovery as I started riding again I dawned on me that I should have never sold my Litespeed. I was resigned to the fact that I left the perfect one go but that I would get by on a lesser bike no problem. 

Well long story short, I bounced around from one bike to another never finding that feel I had on a Ti bike. I finally settled on a Specialized Roubaix .. you guessed it .. Carbon Fiber. It fit me really well and felt better that the Felt Aluminum bike I just dumped. I rode it for a year thinking it was OK .. just OK.

In the meantime, one of the guys I know that is a big carbon guy shows up with a crack running the length of his down tube! The story goes, this bike pretty much crumbled after hitting a pot hole! Crumbled! WTF!

About this time as I rode down Trindle road I came up on some gritty crap on the berm of the road. That's when I realized the true nature of of the material came to rear it's cheesy head. My CF bike felt like a spring! Screw this I said and sold it on Craigslist for what I paid for it.

In the meantime I found the identical Litespeed I had on eBay. The price was right as well. So I made the jump back. It took me awhile to tweak the fit and get a decent drive train under it (Campagnolo Record 10 speed).

After seeing what happens to CF under stress, hearing numerous stories, and reading other blogs. I'm convinced that CF bikes are just another in a long line of cycling fads.

Am I concerned that I will receive heat for my opinion? Heck no! I have one follower and I pretty sure they don't read what I write anyway.

So there. Screw your Carbon Fiber crap bike. It'll be in the landfill eons before my Ti bike.

MUSIC!

The Heavy 'How ya like me now?' Kind of fitting eh?

Gerry Rafferty 'City to City'

Gerry Rafferty's 'City to City'. Maybe one of the better albums to come out of the seventies plays in the background as I write this. So many memories .... so many. It's a sad day. But at least we still have this magnificent album. It takes me back .... man, I can smell the ink in Lititz. I miss all of you folks, this music only makes me miss you all the more.

One of the beautiful things about the Internet is Facebook. This very funky medium has brought me back together with one very special person from those days. You know who you are. I'm glad you and I can look back on those times together. And one thing stands true. You and I, after all the crap and all the years are friends.

Even though you where whacked out on 'The Wall' and anything 'Ozzy', I know you dug this album the most.

Oh yeah ...You know who you are.

Anyway, focus boy ... focus! Today I ran like a man possessed. Strung together 2 10 minute miles at the Hamster Wheel. Then 15 very hard core on the spin bike. Wrapped up the festivities with legs. So needless to say I was starving all day. Moderate meals .. kitchen closed at 5:00.

One thing I did notice is the scale actually is starting to head in the correct direction. I've resigned myself to only get on that thing once a week.

Tomorrow I rest and I tell you why I think Carbon Fiber bikes suck.

Oh yeah ... RIP Mr. Rafferty.

Monday Monday can't stand that day

So the formula goes like this: Ratchet up my physical activity while ratcheting down my food intake. This morning I lit out of the house at 5:30 headed to the gym. I had a nice 2 mile run on the indoor track.at a ten minute per mile pace. That's about all I can handle indoors. I truly feel like a hamster in a wheel. When it warms up I'll be outside for sure.

The lifted weights for about 20 minutes (high reps, low weight) followed by 15 minutes hard core on a spin bike.

When I got to the office this morning one of my fellow Lebanon natives alerted me to the presence of a box of Opera Fudge. My mouth watered but I decided against it.

When I got home we had a nice salad and the kitchen was closed by 5:30.

All I can say is 'This better work' or it's back to the Hagen Daas Diet for me!

MUSIC: 

I found the mother load of Beatles boot-legs online. Right now I'm listening to 'Acoustic Submarine'. A collection of studio out-takes. I Love the Beatles!

P.S. Tomorrow is a rest day. But be that as it may, I've sworn off the elevator at work ... nothin' but stairs!!

Rest Day!

It's been crazy since Friday. Today I rest. We're attending the last holiday get together of this season.

I also need to formulate a plan to lean up. But at my age I can do everything but stop eating and will never loose an once. 

Anyway ... the sabbath. 

I hope all of you feel the way I do about God. And that none of you came to that realization the hard way like I did. Everybody comes to Him in one form or another. I'm just saying if you aren't a believer, open yourself up ... give Him a chance. If He wants your attention and you're ignoring His call ... you'll find out. I did. It wasn't fun but it was a very powerful experience.

So today, chill, take a few minutes and open yourself up to some prayer time.

It's real ... don't fool yourself.

True that!

Peace.

P.S. No music this AM. But last evening I did listen to Pink Floyd 'Pulse'.

Oh yeah ... it was chilly!

It was 34 degrees when I headed out and 41 when I wrapped it up. Cold, breezy and overcast. I only had 22.5 miles in my legs.

A couple of observations: 'Stupid things happen to stupid people' or " Thank goodness I'm still invisible'.

I had some young girl pull directly out in front of me on the way out. She looked right in my eyes as she  pulled out in front of me. Amazingly she didn't act like it was a big deal that I was 3 foot from her door moving at 20 MPH screaming 'HEY!!'. 

Then some motorcycle trash straifed me as he revved his Harley in passing. Cool buddy, real cool. I'm pretty impressed.

So either I've really got it coming to me or these folks, sooner or later, are going to get it back. I just stay cool and enjoy the day smiling as I go. So having said that, if it is me .. I'm oblivious. But that's nothing new as it turns out.

So music, lets talk music ... I listened to America (first album) while I was kitting up and Kraftwerk 'Autobahn' while I'm writing this.
Now we eat!! Man I love cycling!

New Years day early

Oh man .. it's 30 degrees out! I told myself I was going to ride today and darn it I will. Gear is out, bike is ready to roll so give it a couple of hours to at least get to 40 and I'm out.

Let me explain my goals this year: I want at least 1500 miles (I have a life and don't live on my bike so this is a bit lofty). I want to weigh 175 pounds. I weight 190 now (I like food and I like beer ... again lofty). I want to evangelize in yet anther way (this blog ... check that one off).

Let me tell you why I consider myself a Bike Snob: I don't like Carbon Fiber bikes, I hate anything with the name Shimano on it. I don't like cheap crap bikes made in China. I'd rather have something made of metal with Campanolo or at the very least Sram Red. 

So having said that I ride a 2005 Litespeed Seinna Titanium framed road bike. It has Campagnolo Record 10 speed drive train. Mavic Kysrium SSC wheels. Back when it was new it was about a $5,000.00 rig. I don't care that she is 6 years old. Find me a new Ti bike spec'd out like this that I can get for under 5 grand and we will talk.

So yeah, I do look down my nose at your crap Trek Madone or your crap Simano whatever. 'Shimano has electronic shifters!' and 'I say what are you to stupid to shift on your own? Maybe Shimano should find a client base that is a little less retarded'
Your bike will be in a land fill long before mine.

Anyway .... stay tuned today, I'll let you know how it went.

Peace out yo! Happy new year. 2010 set the bar pretty low for 2011.