Bummer.....

The time has come for all good things to come to an end.... With rain approaching the south land, it's time to take that one hole in the sky an head for home.... so with 11 days of structured riding and 24hrs on the bike, I bid the 70 degree weather farewell -

NOAA WEATHER

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...MAKING TRAVEL NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE ACROSS SIERRA PASSES. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER TO SHOWERS ON SATURDAY BEFORE ANOTHER POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT STORM MOVES INTO THE AREA SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. FOUR DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 5TO 8 FEET ARE STILL POSSIBLE THROUGH SUNDAY IN THE SIERRA. PERSONS PLANNING TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA FOR THIS PERIOD SHOULD CLOSELY MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO. WELCOME HOME - IF YOU MAKE IT...

WKO & Power...

Have I mentioned how much I suck?

I've got a $3500 SRM, Cycling Peaks software, fancy PJ's to ride in, a good line of shit, and in till today I thought I had it licked.... Not so. I've had a problem w/ my Cycling Peaks WKO software for a little bit now, and to be fair nothing was wrong, just some settings needed to be fixed. Who fixed it you ask? Well the man himself - Hunter Allen (pretty much the guy who started this whole thing). A very clever experience. If you haven't used www.gotomeeting.com you should check it out. Hunter was able to take over my computer and not only fix the problem, but bust me on not knowing enough to power a 100w light bulb - well maybe not that bad, but I did find out how much I suck.

If you want to learn more about your WKO workings, check out the help videos here: http://youtube.com/profile?user=spintexfitness

SC Best Of - People Review posted in Dec 2007

Riding down here is very inspiring - I've met a group calling themselves "Try Athletes" and I guess that's what we're all chasing - trying to be athletes - but these guys got it dicked! As none of them seem to be athletes, they seem to be really try-ing hard - and good for them! They are snappy dressers and none of them seem to have an ounce of self confidence.

As time has past, they have developed a plethora of items to assist this.

Product tests for this entry surround how they choose to cut thru the thick ocean air - cleverly - I might add.

First off - the bars - who know where they get these things? But man are they trick! As you'll see, these guys have all kinds of tricks.

As a road rider, I take my lead from the likes of the Pro field. I thought these guys were the best in the world with the best and fastest gear- I am wrong! However, the bars these Try folks use confuse me... Why don't the pro guys add the garbage shoot to their bars? For years watching the pro peloton throw all that trash on the side of the road has really bugged me - the Try folks have solved that problem - 2 points for their concern for the environment! I like how they throw caution to the "literal" wind!

Next is the clever way to ID one's self - With a Try-Sharpie (available thu Trysports.com $39.95) you simply write your number right on your arm - and then you can remain identifiable for days after the event!! Super Clever!

Next up is how they have a special place for their stuff - no, not like the first picture here - but things like their keys, their gu's and their charm bracelets - clever again - once I rode up beside a girl who had what they call a "Bento Box" and said "Hey, whats in your box?" which was met with a bit of a harsh look? I know I was on a road bike.....

I don't know what the fuck this is? Looks like it would burn....

(click to enlarge)

Marketing is a big thing with them - and from what I can see it works! That's a frickin hot that baby Elephant!!!

But in the end their bikes are so light they can carry them home.

Learning lots - wish you were here!

Soon to come, butt watter and little wheels-

Many the odd Elf....

Hottalk throws down some Xmas moves.....
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1635126459

Southern product reviews....

So I'm now in So Cal (bro) training and Xmas-ing...
While I'm here I'll try to bring you some of the sights n sounds of the "Socal Vibe" in hopes of my efforts building a stronger cool for all of you on n off the bike!
Word! - I just picked that up..... cool.

Spectacular cycling crash in Melbourne race...

From Fat Tony-

There was a spectacular crash at a cycling race in Melbourne last night.
Most of the pack in the under-18's 2,000 metre dash crashed, when one rider fell, wiping out the rest.
Just 150 metres from the finish line, 17 year old Jamie Crass cart-wheeled out of control across the fence lining the track.
He flew nearly ten metres, causing a domino effect in which 13 other riders fell.
The remaining four cyclists sailed on through to the finish. Miraculously, Crass escaped serious injury.
Twelve of the other riders suffered cuts and bruises, but all of them managed to walk away from the crash.
The accident happened in front of a capacity crowd of 5,000 at Melbourne's Vodaphone Arena during the Melbourne Cup on Wheels event.

Merry Xmas to all of you!

Remember those dayz before YOU found the bike......

Santa gets a little.........

Just in from Fat Tony's new wife:

Santa Claus says that a woman who sat on his lap was naughty, not nice. A Santa at the Danbury Fair mall said the woman groped him. "The security officer at the mall said Santa Claus has been sexuallyassaulted," police Detective Lt. Thomas Michael said of the weekendcomplaint. Sandrama Lamy, 33, of Danbury, was charged with sexual assault and breachof peace. She was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 3. Police quickly found and identified Lamy because the woman was describedas being on crutches, said Capt. Bob Myles. A call seeking comment from Lamy was answered by a recording Tuesdaymorning. A woman later called back and said: "It's a false report and Idon't have any idea." Police did not give the name of the disconcerted Santa, but they said heis 65 and felt badly because children were waiting to see him. "He wasapparently shocked and embarrassed by the whole incident," Myles said. A man who teaches hundreds of prospective Santas a year — "SantaTim" Connaghan, president of RealSantas.com — said he's never heardof a similar incident, though it's not unusual for adults to want to posewith Santa. "I've had some very nice ladies sit on my lap," said Connaghan, who didnot train the Danbury Fair Santa. "Once in a while they'll say 'I hopeMrs. Claus isn't going to be upset.' You have to be discreet and kind andsay 'Oh no, she'll be OK. You can sit here, but only for one photo.'" A spokeswoman for Cherry Hill Photo, the company that coordinates Santasfor Danbury Fair, declined to comment Tuesday

Time to loose weight....

So here's some food for thought. What really
does it take to keep you going and are you eating yourself to American Death? So sip that $4.00 Latte and take a look at how "good?" you have it-

The people in these pictures are standing amongst the food they eat in one weeks time.

Germany: The Melander family of BargteheideFood expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina (Sure hope most Americanfamilies eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less junk food than this family.)Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27 - the blond is kinda hot

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Ecuador: The Ayme family of TingoFood expenditure for one week: $31.55

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA

Francs or $1.23

Cal Trans is on our side......

This sent in from KT-

Good to know your tax dollars are hard at work!!! or, um, hardly working?

The real problem is those damn cyclists...

"Everyone involved in baseball shares responsibility," Mitchell said during a news conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. "Commissioners, club officials, the Players Association and players. I can't be any clearer than that."
In all, 89 players were named in the report, including free agent Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees, Miguel Tejada of the Houston Astros, Eric Gagne of the Milwaukee Brewers and Paul Lo Duca of the Washington Nationals, as well as a list of players like Barry Bonds who have already been publicly associated with steroid use.

Oh no - not the apple pie?

89 new racers added to the Pro peloton - a source close to ServiceCourse states "They will fit right in - they are professional athletes that can hold 600 watts for 40 yards at a time! while chewing tobacco"

Ba Humbug, or Star Trek Madone...

Tuesday 11th December 2007 -
Submitted by: Hottalk - hold on, don't let that keep ya from reading...

It was only a matter of time before Trek was announced as Astana's bicycle suppliers for the 2008 season. Johan Bruyneel has made the trouble-strewn Kazakh-backed squad into a clone of the now defunct Discovery Channel team – and now they're riding the same bikes too. The Belgian directeur sportif, who masterminded Lance Armstrong's seven Tour de France titles and gratefully accepted the opportunity presented to Alberto Contador when Michael Rasmussen was sent home from this year's race, initially retired from cycling after Tailwind Sports failed to find a replacement for Discovery Channel. But when Astana came calling, Bruyneel answered. And he wasted no time in taking Contador and Levi Leipheimer with him – to replace Alexandre Vinokourov and Andrey Kashechkin, who were sacked after failing dope tests. The team will ride the 2008 Madone and the new Equinox TTX time trial bikes equipped with Bontrager components. The first chance to ride the bikes will be at the training camp in Valencia later this week. All riders will receive their new bikes in time for the training camp in New Mexico after Christmas. Rumour has it the team's new colours will not be pale blue, in a bid to distance itself from last year's scandals. The first race in the new Astana jersey will be the Tour Down Under, starting on January 22.

Johan Bruyneel. If it looks like Discovery Channel, it must be Astana.

ARE YOU DISCO IN DISGUISE?
Moving from an American-sponsored team to a Kazakh one. Did the stars of the movie American Flyers, race in vain?
Johan Bruyneel Alberto Contador Levi Leipheimer Janez Brajkovic Tomas Vaitkus Sergio Paulinho Benjamin Noval Sean Yates Trek

WHAT THEY SAID
Trek president John Burke: “What counts here is having the best riders on the best bikes. We have faith in Johan and we're fired up about working with riders like Levi and Alberto.” Trek's road bike brand manager, Scott Daubert: “When we learned that the Disco team was dissolving after the 2007 season, we knew that we wanted to stay in the pro peloton. “But we didn't want to jump into just any team. We wanted to make sure any future sponsorships would be the right move for Trek, even if that meant sitting out the 2008 season. “When Johan approached us about a possible move to Astana, we realized that the opportunity to continue working with him was too good to pass up. “It's no secret we've enjoyed tremendous success with Johan over the past decade and he's demonstrated time and again he's one of the savviest tacticians in professional cycling.” Johan Bruyneel, Astana general manager: “It was not an easy decision to return to cycling after my recent announcement in August [that he was retiring]. However, in my new role with Astana I have found new challenges and I am excited to help the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation grow the sport in the country. “Under my guidance the team will strictly abide by the UCI pro team code of ethics as well as any anti-doping measures agreed to by the UCI or the teams' union. And we will be subscribing to the anti-doping programme developed by Dr Rasmus Damsgaard, as used by Team CSC in 2007. The Damsgaard anti-doping system is currently the most effective and comprehensive programme available. “I didn't go to anyone else for bikes in 2008. Trek is the only company that can support our programme. I know this from the success we have had together.” Tour de France champion Alberto Contador: “Obviously Trek knows what it is doing. Look at the races they have won. I'm happy to be on a good bike.” Levi Leipheimer: “I'm very happy to have Trek as the sponsor. Trek was an integral part of my success in 2007. The new Madone has all the elements I look for in a high-performance bike. It's light, stiff and looks awesome. Most importantly, I know I can trust its reliability.”

I hope Slpistream kicks their ass!

SIDI Toasters cont....

I thought this comment was clever enough for all to see;
shawndoggy said...
wow, $300 will buy you 600 pairs of chemical warmers at costco, so at only 600 charge cycles, that's a breakeven on them gizmos. I've got the northwave winter shoes which have a zip-up gauntlet over the laces. By themselves I too found them too cold, so I ran booties over them. WHich did keep my feet warm but kinda defeated the purpose of the fresh winter shoes. Last season I got the revalation to just stuff a chem warmer down between the laces and the lace cover and zip that mf'er up. worked like a champ and I never ever get cold feet in them now. At 40 pair for $20 for the chem warmers at costco, that's a whole winter's supply for this weekend warrior.

SIDI Toasters review - Part #2

Well, I got my SIDI Toasters back, and although Hottalk (see inset) threw his flies in the ointment, it all worked out -

Yesterday I spent 6hrs in them with a temp starting at 37 and ending up a balmy 50 degrees-

I have Shimano road shoes and Pearl booties over them. The shoes were warm to start.

The new Toasters were charged and operated perfectly. The ride was cold but not brutal and I'm...... OK with them. Yep, just OK - they did work, but at hr 4 my right foot got numb from the "ball" forward. It was about 45 at that point. Now, before I get spammed from all my relatives in Italy saying its the shoes, keep in mind these are the same shoes, bike, seat etc... I rode all thru the summer and into the winter. So I don't know what else to report - Veltec was great about swapping them out, and I REALLY wish I could report something more positive. Maybe I have colder feet than the next guy, but isn't that really who these things are marketed to?

For me, I just wish they would turn up the heat or better yet, just make them user regulated?

5 being best - ServiceCourse 2.5

The Broke Back Idiot APPEARS !

Jerry Lawson of St. Petersburg, Florida found the image of BBI on a Lay's sour cream and onion potato chip. "I was down there by myself" in the TV room, she said. "I said, "Jerry, you've got to see this potato chip.'"He said, "Yeah.' You know how guys are," she said.Then, Rosalie Lawson said, her husband suggested, "Well, we can't eat that."She has shown photos of the chip to fellow churchgoers and to family members, all of whom have been amazed at the resemblance.Of course, who knows what BBI looks like?"You only know what you think he looks like from pictures," said Rosalie Lawson, 55.

Broke Back moves in mysterious ways....