Got about an hour to kill before heading into the office. Pouring down a totally decent pot of Trader Joe's blend coffee right now. Think I'll take the Gewilli shoot-from-the-hip approach to blog entries today and spray a few topics across the board.
I blew out of the office early yesterday to see "No Country For Old Men." I was one of those alone, creepy, big-coat-wearing guys in the theater everyone pretends to ignore. On a Monday afternoon the theater was packed with seniors and lots of other creepy solo men. Anyway, to the movie. I'm a HUGE fan of Cormac McCarthy--probably my favorite author. When it comes down to it he simply kicks ass with the setting/imagery in his books and absolutely has a pulse on the underlying violence and despair in this country, especially along those border regions of the Southwest. Tasty stuff.
This movie was excellent, blew my mind at times. It's true to the book, mostly following it scene by scene, and the tone and imagery is staggering. Definitely one to see on the big screen. The performances by the three mains were spot on, the disturbing guy was very disturbing, and props to the Coen bros for having the balls to end the movie the way the book ends.
Dopey people will not like the movie. They won't get it. I'm not dopey. There, I said it.
I think my limited cross competitions have ended for the season. Maybe, just maybe, I can sneak into New Jersey for one more race in a couple of weeks, but with some family members coming in and the holiday catastrophe in full swing it's not likely. That's cool with me. It was a fun season. Got to meet and get to know many rad individuals. I was mildly happy with how I pieced together some prep for cross. Already thinking about next year.
Good luck to all at the last couple of races and at Nats in KC. Wish I could go to that. Maybe next year in KC again, iirc. I would assume that after KC the Nationals move back to the west coast? Have plans been made that far ahead? Anyone know? Anyone read this stupid blog?
Think I'll ride my bike into work, although this is one of those days (like most for me) when I haven't thought that far ahead yet (which is, like, 15 minutes from now). The yard is absolutely covered in leaves that I should pick up, but it's really windy today so I'm hoping they just all blow into the neighbors' yards.
CX magazine: Hmmmmmmmmm. They got the right idea, I think. I like the cover. I'm confused by the layout, but there is some good content. I'm sure that those involved are still cutting their teeth on the project, and much respect to the effort they're putting into the mag. I hope that there develops a serious focus on writing in terms of depth and length and complexity. Some offerings each edition that a reader can settle in with. What strikes me as interesting about cross races is ALL the stories that exist at the venues outside the typical race reports and pics of off-camber riders. I'm looking forward to seeing the magazine grow.
Time to pack a lunch and go. Damn, this is short compared to the yarns G spins.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
USGP Jersey Pics
No racing for me. Had a great weekend hanging out with my daughter at the venue and around the Princeton area (for her, besides cross, the hits of the weekend included an indoor pool at the hotel and a late dinner out at the Macaroni Grill). Excellent course at the Mercer County Park, awesome sand pit, questionable fly over (why include these contraptions other than for the novelty/circus element?), and even good food and hot bevies at the porta coach.
Scenic venue
Despite a dropped chain, Sachs scored podium finishes both days.
Dive down the fly over. I saw two masters racers eat it bad at the bottom of this thing on Day 1. I just avoided hiking out there from that point on (it was quite a distance out from the "main action"). So I wonder, why have these things? Do they serve as an obstacle to break up the field? I didn't get that impression--everyone went over about the same speed, which was gingerly. Sure, people can get hurt anywhere, but why add something to the natural features that can hurt and maime? Sure, some might say to those who couldn't do it or wouldn't do it (I saw one rider leave the course during warmup at that spot because it seemed he couldn't bring himself to dive down the hill) harden up and work on your skills. Maybe so, but still I wonder.
Amy Wallace entering the pit. Wallace was the only female rider I saw on Day 1 to ride the entire length of the pit. Very nice!
Serious display of talent and power from Georgia Gould winning both days. Here she is on Day 2 riding a tough, muddy off-camber section.
Wendy Simms was in the front groups both days.
Second for Bessette both days. Looked like she might have the legs and lungs Day 2, but Gould outpowered her in the second half of the race.
My daughter got to hang out with Gould while she warmed down after her win on Day 2. Those two had lots to talk about. Thanks go out to Georgia for making a little girl's day. Very classy thing to do.
Horner was clearly out to have fun and not get hurt. He was taking some heckling from the crowd, especialy on Day 2 when he was quite a ways off the back in the muddy conditions.
Most of the men's elite field ran this section, including winner Trebon. Clearly this was a nightmare in the mud.
Scenic venue
Despite a dropped chain, Sachs scored podium finishes both days. 
Dive down the fly over. I saw two masters racers eat it bad at the bottom of this thing on Day 1. I just avoided hiking out there from that point on (it was quite a distance out from the "main action"). So I wonder, why have these things? Do they serve as an obstacle to break up the field? I didn't get that impression--everyone went over about the same speed, which was gingerly. Sure, people can get hurt anywhere, but why add something to the natural features that can hurt and maime? Sure, some might say to those who couldn't do it or wouldn't do it (I saw one rider leave the course during warmup at that spot because it seemed he couldn't bring himself to dive down the hill) harden up and work on your skills. Maybe so, but still I wonder. 
Amy Wallace entering the pit. Wallace was the only female rider I saw on Day 1 to ride the entire length of the pit. Very nice!
Serious display of talent and power from Georgia Gould winning both days. Here she is on Day 2 riding a tough, muddy off-camber section. 
Wendy Simms was in the front groups both days.
Second for Bessette both days. Looked like she might have the legs and lungs Day 2, but Gould outpowered her in the second half of the race. 
My daughter got to hang out with Gould while she warmed down after her win on Day 2. Those two had lots to talk about. Thanks go out to Georgia for making a little girl's day. Very classy thing to do. 
Horner was clearly out to have fun and not get hurt. He was taking some heckling from the crowd, especialy on Day 2 when he was quite a ways off the back in the muddy conditions. 
Most of the men's elite field ran this section, including winner Trebon. Clearly this was a nightmare in the mud.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Fall and Windy
Just right for a cross bike.
Looking across the harbor toward home.
Above and below: at the boat yard down the street.
The road up the hill and back home.
My daughter and I are going to the USGP first thing in the morning. I'm jazzed about spending the weekend with her. She's jazzed that our hotel has an indoor pool.
Looking across the harbor toward home. 
Above and below: at the boat yard down the street.
The road up the hill and back home.My daughter and I are going to the USGP first thing in the morning. I'm jazzed about spending the weekend with her. She's jazzed that our hotel has an indoor pool.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
The Bicyclist
Since CTodd seems to have left the building, those of you needing an original vid content fix and not just recycled bullshit from YouTube can head over here and get caught up with the riveting soap that is:
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Sunday With Son
Suited up and ready to ride. 
Mildly lost, so time for a snack to recalibrate bearings.
Several choices here. We decided on the tight singletrack rather than the wider road.
There's no denying it: a pile of old garbage is very cool.Saturday, November 3, 2007
Damn
Not Your Typical Commute Home
Reading accounts like this really pisses me off. And the Bellevue police say this kind of fun is becoming "more common?" What the hell?
Reading accounts like this really pisses me off. And the Bellevue police say this kind of fun is becoming "more common?" What the hell?
Friday, November 2, 2007
Hometown Woods
Went over into the woods across town today with the cross bike after talking to a neighbor down the street who spends lots of time in there. He's the serious mt biker, and this "unofficial" trail is considered by many in the serious set to be the toughest trail in these parts. All context though people, we're talking Long Island now. But the trail is tough.
I've never spent much time in there even though I can get to the trailhead in 15 minutes from my front door. Guess one of the main reasons I haven't been in there much is I don't have the patience to figure the place out. The trail is barely cut into the landscape and there are a lot of "wonder which way to go now" moments all over the woods. As is usually the case with me and family and responsibilities, when I get a free hour or two I don't want to spend it taking wrong turns and getting lost.
But my neighbor got me juiced about going back in there. He swears that, once you figger it out, there are 18+ miles of uninterrupted singletrack. And I don't doubt it. There's lots of real estate in there and lots of back and forth trails. There's also lots of crap--rusted out cars and refrigerators, evidence of several squatters camps, plenty of broken glass thrown in for decoration. But there is also some riding that is pretty hard.
Needless to say I was in WAY over my head in some sections, and it wasn't just because I was aboard the cross bike. Several places the trail drops down fast in a tight singletrack corridor of veggie with turns and very curious lines hidden at the bottom. Tough stuff. But I did manage to find some more cross-friendly trail and several miles of fireroads with deep, deep sand. With not too much thought there can be some killer cx training in there. This'll be my project for the off-season.
A few shots of the milder sections (with, of course, power lines to frame the scenes--can't have the great outdoors on LI w/o power lines):
In other cycling-related business, heard from VeloNews today and they're going to run a little something, something I wrote. Those of you brazen enough to do cx LI might feel the pain in VN21.
I've never spent much time in there even though I can get to the trailhead in 15 minutes from my front door. Guess one of the main reasons I haven't been in there much is I don't have the patience to figure the place out. The trail is barely cut into the landscape and there are a lot of "wonder which way to go now" moments all over the woods. As is usually the case with me and family and responsibilities, when I get a free hour or two I don't want to spend it taking wrong turns and getting lost.
But my neighbor got me juiced about going back in there. He swears that, once you figger it out, there are 18+ miles of uninterrupted singletrack. And I don't doubt it. There's lots of real estate in there and lots of back and forth trails. There's also lots of crap--rusted out cars and refrigerators, evidence of several squatters camps, plenty of broken glass thrown in for decoration. But there is also some riding that is pretty hard.
Needless to say I was in WAY over my head in some sections, and it wasn't just because I was aboard the cross bike. Several places the trail drops down fast in a tight singletrack corridor of veggie with turns and very curious lines hidden at the bottom. Tough stuff. But I did manage to find some more cross-friendly trail and several miles of fireroads with deep, deep sand. With not too much thought there can be some killer cx training in there. This'll be my project for the off-season.
A few shots of the milder sections (with, of course, power lines to frame the scenes--can't have the great outdoors on LI w/o power lines):
In other cycling-related business, heard from VeloNews today and they're going to run a little something, something I wrote. Those of you brazen enough to do cx LI might feel the pain in VN21.
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