I've been obsessively watching the Tour these past few days ... I don't normally follow it more than passing highlights, but this year is different for two reasons:
1) I can't race so I'm living vicariously and
2) I recently got DVR capabilities from Comcast (thats another story).
Anyway, just a couple of quick observations for now - I can't use up all my material or my TGIF post will be pretty boring.
1. Love him or hate him - Lance's participation in the Tour is bringing media coverage and overall interest that professional cycling hasn't seen since ....well, since he raced the Tour.
2. In stage 2 (or was it stage 3?), the leader of Lampre's squad had a mishap right when the peloton was starting to chase the break ... the announcers said the peloton slowed to allow his team to get him back in the group. Is this analogous to honor among thieves? Note that our local racers will hear a wreck and use it to drop contenders that might have been tied up in the incident.
3. SPOILERS - argh !! I've received at least 4 different emails that contained info about that day's outcome. Please don't make me boycott email until I get to see the stage !
4. I hope to heck that none of the big-names get tagged for doping this year. While that doesn't mean they're not doing it (another discussion), it'd be super if we could get through one Tour without further disparaging the sport.
That's all for now - I'm off to Hains Pt to see how much shock value my new green cast has when I'm on the bike. Hey, if I'm stuck with the damn thing for another 6 weeks, I might as well have a little fun with it.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Anyone up for a BBQ ?
So I missed my TGIF posting but in my defense, it was a holiday. A 3-day weekend was much appreciated - I consistently lobby for 3-day weekends to be a rule rather than an anomaly, but alas I'm but one voice amongst the powers-that-be. Sigh.
Friday morning started without an alarm-clock, which is a wonderful way to start any day. I was enjoying my coffee out on my back patio when I decided my mission today was to buy a grill. Much like my quest for a new TV, which has yet to be fulfilled, I've been meaning to get a grill for my back patio for at least a year now. Today was the day.
I'll skip the minor details but suffice it to say that while the idea and intent to buy a grill was all well and good, the execution was not exactly thought out. Remember I lack an opposable thumb and the full use of my right hand/arm.
Arriving home with a huge box in the back of my car, I took out the smaller parts, carrying them through the house and out to the back patio. Then I got to the "body" of the grill. Large, awkward and heavy - no way I was getting that up 4 steps to my door, 4 more steps inside, across the house and down 3 steps to the patio. I slid the box to the ground and proceeded to push, pull, slide, curse and will the box up the stairs, across the house and to the sliding door.
Which is when I discovered the box wouldn't fit through. At this point I was more than frustrated, mostly at my own stupidity for thinking this was a good idea. After a couple of tries, I lifted the piece out of the box and nearly fell backward as I gripped it precariously with my left hand and my right cast. Awesome.
I pictured someone finding me days later, pinned under a half-assembled grill. The local media would interview my neighbors who would confirm that yes, she was a bit ... eccentric. We don't know what she was thinking, they'd say. She wore that neon-colored lycra all the time, even in the dead of winter, and we saw her recently riding her bike with a cast on her arm ! I digress...
I managed to get the grill together by about 930pm. The project started at 4. But dammit, I did it. By 10pm, I had grilled veggies, some chicken strips and an ear of corn.
Score: Wendy = 1, Grill= 0.
Friday morning started without an alarm-clock, which is a wonderful way to start any day. I was enjoying my coffee out on my back patio when I decided my mission today was to buy a grill. Much like my quest for a new TV, which has yet to be fulfilled, I've been meaning to get a grill for my back patio for at least a year now. Today was the day.
I'll skip the minor details but suffice it to say that while the idea and intent to buy a grill was all well and good, the execution was not exactly thought out. Remember I lack an opposable thumb and the full use of my right hand/arm.
Arriving home with a huge box in the back of my car, I took out the smaller parts, carrying them through the house and out to the back patio. Then I got to the "body" of the grill. Large, awkward and heavy - no way I was getting that up 4 steps to my door, 4 more steps inside, across the house and down 3 steps to the patio. I slid the box to the ground and proceeded to push, pull, slide, curse and will the box up the stairs, across the house and to the sliding door.
Which is when I discovered the box wouldn't fit through. At this point I was more than frustrated, mostly at my own stupidity for thinking this was a good idea. After a couple of tries, I lifted the piece out of the box and nearly fell backward as I gripped it precariously with my left hand and my right cast. Awesome.
I pictured someone finding me days later, pinned under a half-assembled grill. The local media would interview my neighbors who would confirm that yes, she was a bit ... eccentric. We don't know what she was thinking, they'd say. She wore that neon-colored lycra all the time, even in the dead of winter, and we saw her recently riding her bike with a cast on her arm ! I digress...
I managed to get the grill together by about 930pm. The project started at 4. But dammit, I did it. By 10pm, I had grilled veggies, some chicken strips and an ear of corn.
Score: Wendy = 1, Grill= 0.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Results Update & Shameless Plug for GamJams
Team CycleLife update:
Chickin won Poolesville 3/4 with some help from Jen Cheng.
Robin took 3rd overall in the Reston 1/2/3 race. Sara took 5th overall
LJ scored a silver medal at Master's Natz in the road race. Sonja followed up with a bronze in her Natz road race. Their TTs are on Weds, crits are on Thursday.
Mitch and PlainJane are still on the IR.
Awesome job, ladies, you make us proud !!
Another item of interest:
Big props to Mike May and GamJams. The man is a media machine, taking a fledgling website about a bunch of self-absorbed cyclists (lets be honest) and making it into THE place for cycling news, updates, product reviews, interviews with locals and pros, charity happenings and pics. As a blogger that has received mucho exposure through GamJams and as a racer on a GamJams supported team, I send out my personal thanks !!
Anyway, even though I'm not at the races right now, I've heard about the newly available line of GJ cycling clothing. If you can, show your support for those who support us - get on over to GamJams and check out the offerings. As always, GamJams is sensitive to those who are sensitive about the environment: socks and t-shirts are eco-friendly and still look "fresh, tight, cool, hip, stylin or (depending on your racing age) groovy".
As an aside - Mike, is this clothing cast-friendly ?
Chickin won Poolesville 3/4 with some help from Jen Cheng.Robin took 3rd overall in the Reston 1/2/3 race. Sara took 5th overall
LJ scored a silver medal at Master's Natz in the road race. Sonja followed up with a bronze in her Natz road race. Their TTs are on Weds, crits are on Thursday.
Mitch and PlainJane are still on the IR.
Awesome job, ladies, you make us proud !!
Another item of interest:
Big props to Mike May and GamJams. The man is a media machine, taking a fledgling website about a bunch of self-absorbed cyclists (lets be honest) and making it into THE place for cycling news, updates, product reviews, interviews with locals and pros, charity happenings and pics. As a blogger that has received mucho exposure through GamJams and as a racer on a GamJams supported team, I send out my personal thanks !!
Anyway, even though I'm not at the races right now, I've heard about the newly available line of GJ cycling clothing. If you can, show your support for those who support us - get on over to GamJams and check out the offerings. As always, GamJams is sensitive to those who are sensitive about the environment: socks and t-shirts are eco-friendly and still look "fresh, tight, cool, hip, stylin or (depending on your racing age) groovy".
As an aside - Mike, is this clothing cast-friendly ?
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