The Tour is coming!

the walk of shame

I got a flat tire yesterday! The first road bike flat I've had in years! I was close to home (and at the end of a ride anyway) so I walked home in my tap shoes. About half a mile. That seemed reasonable. Fix the tube in peace at home with a cool drink. But it got me to thinking, what's the longest distance that I would walk instead of fixing the flat on the road? I once fixed a flat a mile from home. If I was in regular shoes I'd probably walk that now. Cycling shoes maybe not. But I guess there are differing factors on different days/rides. Weather. Shoe of the day. Other commitments to attend to. Preparedness - shouldn't we always be prepared? Severity of the flat or if the tire is damaged - this one turned out to be a triple puncture. Hopefully I won't have to consider this again for some time. Which reminds me, I've got to pick up a new tube at the LBS...

currently reading

Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the greatest race ever run.
by Matt Fitzgerald, 2011

Hopefully this is just some sort of '80s (1989) competition fetish and not something that is brewing for my future… 

Hot Saturday Run [message snippet]

Okay, so, […] I just wanted to say Hi to the running gang. I remember that one of you can't make it to the run this weekend. And I know it's going to still be quite hot. Which is why I'm just saying Hi. I don't want to push anyone to overdo it in the heat. However, I'm still hoping to run. The coordination of this run could be close to impossible because I certainly don't want to ask any of you to wake up at 5am so that we can meet in the Arroyo somewhere so that we can get our run in before the heat sets in. But at the same time too perhaps if I'm awake at that hour not that I'm going to set an alarm or anything but I'll be going for it. I'm planning to run the Arroyo and you are all welcome to join me for part or all if you can figure out what time I might be out there running. Just go out there when you wake up really early in the morning because you haven't been able to sleep quite right because of the heat and I'm sure you'll find me. Possible encounter spots include: The Casting Pond (6:35?), The Aquatic Center (6:50?), That NW corner of the Rose Bowl Loop that we've met at before (7:10?). You can try me on my tele […] but unless someone specifically requests that I do, I won't be bringing it with me so call early. Or if you don't feel like running perhaps you could bring us doughnuts! 

Thanks for reading. See you at the pub in the afternoon… 

peace&run… 

half-life of running shoes

The "new" shoes have run halfway to joining the 1000 Mile Club - at which point they will be retired -  because I've got to pick some kind of random number and that seems as good as any. They, the shoes, look and feel in pretty good shape still. There's a small hole in each upper near the little toe contact point. This holes developed probably within the first 100 miles and hasn't changed much since. 

I'm enjoying the shoes - even though they may be a half size too big - I didn't realize they were 2E wide when I first got them - but they're fine - they don't fall off, right…

Oh, for those of you that aren't keeping close track of what I've been running in, they're New Balance 730GB2. They have a 4mm drop from heel to toe - not much drop - so, a low heal and therefore a natural-er footfall. They're fairly close to what one might call a minimalist running shoe but with just enough heal to make downhill running a little nicer and faster. 

Towards the beginning of their running life, right around the time those two holes developed, I wasn't too confident that they'd ever join the 1000 Mile Club. Now I think they've got a good shot - even though, if they do make it, it will likely be just barely - they may disintegrate at quadruple digits. 

Already, they seem to have been swept from the shelves and discontinued. Always a temptation to stock up on a bunch of shoes when you find one you like to avoid this type of situation but I'm sure when the time comes "a [shoe] will rise…" 

another running dream

It used to be when I dreamed about running I'd be running away from something or trying to catch up to something… but now it's a whole new dream world and I love it… I had a dream last night about running - I've actually been having similar dreams for several months now - where I'm, like, out on a run just for the sake of running - run for the run, as I like to tell myself - it's so awesome - I'm so aware of the sensation of the footfall and foot placement and the feeling of running. In last night's dream I was running through a neighborhood to start out and I remember thinking that I could just weave my way through various networks of streets and blocks - then I arrived at track practice! Not just any imaginary dream practice but I was actually running around the track with a whole group of people who I haven't seen in like two decades! And my coach was there, too - Gary… can't remember his last name but he had a great moustache - in life and dream. It was really nice to be back with such a strong running community. I'm working on developing a strong running community again here in real life but these things take time - it will happen. Running, running, running,.. it is a cool pursuit at any age/stage/consciousness in life… peace&run

seen: very yellow bicycle

life's a beach

currently reading

Come and Gone: a true story of blur-collar bike racing in America
by Joe Parkin, 2010

Mtb-ing on Brown again - fun fun

Humble Horse at Tri-way-intersection on Brown

Normally Sunday mornings are especially reserved for the Brunch Ride (road ride). However, last week I got an invitation to ride mountain bikes on Brown from an old HS friend. I hadn't ridden up there for like half a year. And I had to jump at the invitation. Thanks CW! It was great to be up there on a bike again - even though I'd just been at that exact spot in the photo 24 hours before on foot. Coming down was a huge challenge. I don't think I've ridden El Prieto (semi technical single track) since before the fires - circa 2009 - and it's changed a lot - it's more technical - and in those few short years my technical riding skills have gone from low-to-moderate to absolute-zero - serves me right for spending so much time on the dark side - with the roadies! I liked the look of this lay-out of our bikes as we rested at the apex of our ride… something about the early morning sunlight… 

peace on the down-tube

I had a great long ride this past weekend through wine country. It was an organized century sorta thing but the real greatness was just riding all day with some friends and spinning spinning sinning those cranks even over those rough roads - no matter - just ride - just spin. 

I rode "Totally 80's!" which was interesting. Most of the people on this ride were on new-ish carbon fiber dealios. One guy I talked to at a rest stop/aid station commented on how "pretty vintage" my bike was - but not like "Vintage!, that's bitchin'!," but like Vintage, "I poopoo at you." 

But whatever, maybe it was the wrong crowd to impress with an older bike. However, I came across one gentleman late in the ride who was riding a very similar bike - a Centurion, even - a Dave Scott model - and as we passed I called out, "Hey, nice bike," and he glanced over at mine and got it and said, "it's an '85" and I said, "I'm an "88!" 

I'm an '88. I caught on to that a few moments after I said it but realized how accurate the statement was because at that moment T80's and I were not separate entities but one - rolling, performing together.

There were a few other older steeds out there of course. And the first one I came across around a quarter of the way through the ride I realized that we, the older steeded riders, needed a gang sign/hand signal and all of a sudden without forethought I flashed this rider a peace sign - and simultaneously understood what that sign represented - peace, sure, but also a perfect visual of the shifters on the down tube. 

So for the rest of the day I flashed the secret sign to vintage down tube riders and hoped that some of them caught on. 

Down-tube shifters, baby! - what's good enough for Miguel Indurain is good enough for me… 

Packed and ready...
It's all downhill from here...

can't wait to ride, dude

Yesterday I heard myself mumble these words, "I can't wait to ride, Dude." Interestingly enough, I was in the act, so to speak, of riding a bike (Mindful Mule) at the time these words came out from somewhere within. But there are rides and there are rides. And somehow riding The Mule loaded with supplies to Tujunga doesn't have the same feel as, say, riding Purple People Eater, unencumbered, to Tujunga. But I think what I was trying to tell myself was that, even in that moment, it felt great to be riding, and I was ready, peaked, you might say, and just in time for Solvang (that wino ride). I haven't been on a program or schedule or anything - I think you all must know that by now - The Mule does what feels right. But I just feel ready for anything right now - in running, too - but especially cycling - Will Cycle for the Opportunity to Cycle. I saw a gal running on this same ride mentioned above. She was wearing a t-shirt that said: Run2BeGreat - and I loved it - I love that - that's it - that's all I need - running makes you great - riding makes you great… and if there's a bit of the dude in my vernacular then take it for what you will, man. 

afraid of water, steel

Over the last year or so I've become very focused on taking in electrolytes during a run. It's even overflown into my biking. (And my gardening!) Always there must be salts in the water bottle. And it does help. Or, I should say, they do - the salts. I'm just sick of bonking. And there's a lot of activity going on in my life. I just don't have the time anymore for sacrifice zones. So there are always salts.

But what happens when there aren't? When you head out for an unplanned run with no electrolyte mix and, heaven forbid, no snacks! I was lured into a situation like this just a few days ago. It was one of those "3 hour tour" scenarios. "Don't worry, Darling, we'll just go out for a quick jaunt." But, Honey, wouldn't you like me to put some EmergenC in the water?" "Um, no thanks." My heart and stomach and soul drop. But I carry on - convincing myself to believe this story of "we'll be fine." 

And we were. We were fine. We went out for a playful 90 minutes. No big deal. No speed. Even a long break at the playground. Probably a good practice - to break away from our attachments once in a while - but oh, my concern - what do you mean no salts! What, are we supposed to drink just pure water - Neat - like monkeys?!

On are related bit of anxious fixation… I've got that once a year all day group ride through wine country coming up in two weeks and I'm really temped, in fact leaning toward riding Totally 80's - the 1988 Steel Road Bike - Centurion Prestige. She's a real nice bike, and smooth - oooh, so smooth. So why is it that it's such a big deal - that people will comment on the fact that I need to upgrade - that I'm concerned about the possible increase in effort it may take to complete the route - the extra 5% added to my finish time - that I might not be the first one to arrive back at the house/bar… when a) it's not a race; and b) the idea is to have the Opportunity to ride All Day; and c) it's only 161kms…

But one thing is damn sure: I'll be loading up with snacks and salts for the ride… 

Note the "pink water" - Totally 80's

the bicycle shall inherit the roadway...

Ride to the Pacific

Pedal Wrench in My Pocket

Last weekend's ride: It started out cool and crisp. But I wasn't thinking much about the temperature - for once! My mind was focused on the ride, the task. One of the riders I was meeting needed to swap out his pedals before the ride. And I have a pedal wrench! Suddenly I wasn't just riding to another regular Sunday morning Brunch Ride but I had a deeper purpose - I was a team member - a mechanic. I could feel that thin flat wrench in the back third of my jersey pockets as I rode to our meeting point - the pub!, of course. And somehow that knowledge, that sensation set a wonderful, magical chain of events in progress. I couldn't feel no cold. I wasn't thinking about the ride to which I was riding to. I was riding. I was cycling. I was cycling with a pedal wrench in my left rear jersey pocket. And what is more an indicator of arrival? - I can't possibly imagine. To add to all this, I was on the steel road bike, Totally 80's, and for some reason that morning everything was coming together, so to speak, just right. There were no thoughts of comfort or geometry - just ride-pedal-smooth-cruise-glide… These are the moments that we, that I ride for… these are the moments…  

almost went running today

Trail Runner magazine sends out emails with links to their available online articles pretty frequently - seems like a least twice a week. I'm not sure why they send them to me as I haven't subscribed to the magazine for some time now. But I'm not complaining. It's nice to read an article once in a while. Sometimes they can even be inspiring. Like today. I read an article that made me want to go running even though there was some light rain passing through. I got all dressed up in running clothes and was ready to hit the street. But it had started raining just a little heavier now. So I though well I'll just wait it out a bit and maybe it will clear up - I'm just waiting for my set, I thought - any moment now. I left my running clothes on but I got a little side tracked by another task. And it kept raining. My window of available time was closing too. And it was getting dark. And it was raining. I put my house clothes back on. Maybe tomorrow… 

Saddle Up for Winter

I raised the saddle height on The Mule by 5mm the other day. Maybe it doesn't sound like a lot but it is - it's really noticeable. There used to be those stories about Lance Armstrong's mechanics messing around with him by moving one part or another by like a millimeter or two and he, according to the story, was able to tell straight away what was off and or adjusted improperly. And I believe it. If 5mm is huge. Then the "best" cyclist in the world should, at the very least, notice half that (2.5mm) and likely half of that again. (1.25mm). But this isn't about that or him - of course!, this is about The Mule! And me. And I really noticed a 5mm adjustment. But the real point of this post is that I've realized that there needs to be different seat/saddle height settings throughout the year. In the summer I end up riding The Mule in sandals a lot. It's hot out and the cool breeze on my toes feels nice. But my sandals don't have a very think sole. What's the difference in thickness, you ask - oh, about 5mms probably. Aha! So there we have it - in the winter one must raise their saddle height by 5mm to accommodate the thicker soled riding shoes. 

pulling teeth

I've invited several people out tomorrow morning, Saturday at 9:30am, to have their teeth pulled. I've made this same offer to more or less the same group of people over the last year or more. For a while it seemed like there was some interest. Now, for several months, it's just been the one taker - he must have a pain threshold issue. But really, why is it so hard to get your friends from the pub to come out on a Saturday morning to get their teeth pulled? I mean, there's a time to drink and a time not to. Or maybe I'm off. Maybe I just don't get it. It's hard enough to get many of them to even respond to such an invitation. It's as if I'm trying to get them out to do something as terrible as going for a run in the hills!…

3 Mules

I saw 3 Mules walking down the road the other day!