Pictured: Heidi, Amanda, Erin, Christina, Sonja. Missing from photo: DoronFriday, October 31, 2008
Inaugural Sticky Bun Ride
The Coppis may have their Muffin Ride, but we have the Sticky Bun Ride. First ride took place today, beginning and ending at Sticky Fingers Bakery where we ate all sorts of goodies and drank coffee and hot chocolate after our ride. Warning: Keep your eye on Amanda. She will steal the center of your sticky bun.
Pictured: Heidi, Amanda, Erin, Christina, Sonja. Missing from photo: Doron
Pictured: Heidi, Amanda, Erin, Christina, Sonja. Missing from photo: Doron
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Questions
It was nice running into Sonja down at the Point today. She was doing some sort of killer workout. I was rolling around on the cross bike.
Do my shoe covers make my feet look like little elf feet?
Does these shorts make my butt look big?
Do my shoe covers make my feet look like little elf feet?
Does these shorts make my butt look big?
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Halloween Costume Ideas
Trying to come up with something for this weekend's race at Fairhill. I thought about stealing my sis' costume, but I don't think it's conducive to racing.
Monday, October 27, 2008
DCCX
Sunday I raced the second annual DCCX. How could I not? The venue was the Armed Forces Retirement Home, a mere 5 miles from my house. I decided not to worry with a pit bike or extra wheels and rolled out the door with Sonja (on her road bike) in plenty of time to catch the men’s ¾ race. On the way there I must have picked-up some glass in the rear tubie because after a couple of warm-up laps on the course, I realized my tire was almost flat. Thinking it was a slow leak I pumped it up to 60 psi and hoped for the best.
After the master’s elite race, I again rode a few laps on the course, and again realized my rear tire was low, now at about 20 psi. I rushed over to the Fuji van where Sonja and I had stashed our backpacks (thanks again, Tracy) and found Ronnie. I was just going to pump my tire up but Ronnie, being the superhero that he is, actually took the time to remove the valve core, pour some sealant in the tire, and pump it back up. As Ronnie is doing all this, Sonja rushes by and says they are staging the women and can I hold them until she’s ready. You see, Sonja rode some laps of the course with me ON HER ROAD BIKE and had decided to race. She was actually going to race her road bike, but Auer offered his pit bike so she was looking for his shoes.
Being the last 2 riders to the start put us in the back, but I didn’t mind. I’m a notoriously bad starter, and since these MABRA Elite races are more like training races for me in the since that I struggle to not be last, I don’t want to get in anyone’s way at the start. It was cool to see a couple of new faces on the line… Lorena the Stormin’ Mormon decided to try her hand at cross, and Kristina has stepped-up from the B’s to try her hand in the A’s.
As the gun went off I actually surprised myself by finding my pedal immediately and being able to sprint up the pavement climb. It was one of my best starts, even though I was still towards the back I was not on the back (read LAST PLACE). After a few twists and turns, the pack was starting to string out and I was behind the Stormin’ Mormon when Kristina passed me. As we approached the tree barriers, I made my move and passed Lorena, Kristina, and apparently Sonja, but there was a gap in front of me to the next group of riders, which included Harlow, Terri, Libby, Kristine, and maybe one other (can’t really remember).
As I passed the pit I heard the shouts of the C3 crew to catch that group. I normally don’t race that aggressive in these MABRA races, but something about those guys in the pit made me put my head down and give it my all. I eventually caught the tailend of the group, but right at is was about to shatter. Mel went out with a rolled tubie, Harlow went out with a crash, Terri attacked off the front, Libby, being Libby just rode us off her wheel and I found myself with Kristine. She asked if I wanted to work together, and that sounded good to me. We took turns on the front, basically just having a good time until we realized that we were closing in on 7th place. I looked up and saw Terri and commented to Kristine that “7th is right in front of us. Let’s go get her.” At this point, I’m just thrilled that I’m not in last place so I was willing to take some very hard pulls on the flatter roadie type sections to try and launch Kristine up to Terri. And it almost worked, we just ran out of laps, darn it! Honestly, I don’t know where they got the finish times from because all 3 of us had to be within 10 seconds of each other.
I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve ever had in a race. It was awesome working with Kristine and following her lines and speed in the technical sections. I hope she told her friends that were cheering for her that I was not just sitting on her wheel. Every time we came thru this one section they would shout “Don’t just pull her around all day!” I made her promise to tell them I was pulling on the back side of the course.
As for Sonja, I don't remember passing her the first time, but I distinctly remember the second time. Coming up the short little popper of a hill right before the finish I looked ahead only to see Sonja trackstanding at the top. Apparently she was having some issues with Kris' saddle and spent the entire race standing up. Now, I use some narrow saddles on my bikes... so narrow that Sonja has taken to calling me "Snake Hips" but Auer's... I swear they are smaller than mine and she just couldn't take it anymore, especially after a particularly bad misdirected remount. For the record, I think she would have kicked ass on her road bike.
Now that you've made it thru my lonnnnnggg race report, here are some pictures of hot men.
Russ "The Muscle" Langley scored a 5th. It'd be great to see what he could do if he could manage to stay on his bike!
Wes wins again!
After the master’s elite race, I again rode a few laps on the course, and again realized my rear tire was low, now at about 20 psi. I rushed over to the Fuji van where Sonja and I had stashed our backpacks (thanks again, Tracy) and found Ronnie. I was just going to pump my tire up but Ronnie, being the superhero that he is, actually took the time to remove the valve core, pour some sealant in the tire, and pump it back up. As Ronnie is doing all this, Sonja rushes by and says they are staging the women and can I hold them until she’s ready. You see, Sonja rode some laps of the course with me ON HER ROAD BIKE and had decided to race. She was actually going to race her road bike, but Auer offered his pit bike so she was looking for his shoes.
Being the last 2 riders to the start put us in the back, but I didn’t mind. I’m a notoriously bad starter, and since these MABRA Elite races are more like training races for me in the since that I struggle to not be last, I don’t want to get in anyone’s way at the start. It was cool to see a couple of new faces on the line… Lorena the Stormin’ Mormon decided to try her hand at cross, and Kristina has stepped-up from the B’s to try her hand in the A’s.
As the gun went off I actually surprised myself by finding my pedal immediately and being able to sprint up the pavement climb. It was one of my best starts, even though I was still towards the back I was not on the back (read LAST PLACE). After a few twists and turns, the pack was starting to string out and I was behind the Stormin’ Mormon when Kristina passed me. As we approached the tree barriers, I made my move and passed Lorena, Kristina, and apparently Sonja, but there was a gap in front of me to the next group of riders, which included Harlow, Terri, Libby, Kristine, and maybe one other (can’t really remember).
As I passed the pit I heard the shouts of the C3 crew to catch that group. I normally don’t race that aggressive in these MABRA races, but something about those guys in the pit made me put my head down and give it my all. I eventually caught the tailend of the group, but right at is was about to shatter. Mel went out with a rolled tubie, Harlow went out with a crash, Terri attacked off the front, Libby, being Libby just rode us off her wheel and I found myself with Kristine. She asked if I wanted to work together, and that sounded good to me. We took turns on the front, basically just having a good time until we realized that we were closing in on 7th place. I looked up and saw Terri and commented to Kristine that “7th is right in front of us. Let’s go get her.” At this point, I’m just thrilled that I’m not in last place so I was willing to take some very hard pulls on the flatter roadie type sections to try and launch Kristine up to Terri. And it almost worked, we just ran out of laps, darn it! Honestly, I don’t know where they got the finish times from because all 3 of us had to be within 10 seconds of each other.
I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve ever had in a race. It was awesome working with Kristine and following her lines and speed in the technical sections. I hope she told her friends that were cheering for her that I was not just sitting on her wheel. Every time we came thru this one section they would shout “Don’t just pull her around all day!” I made her promise to tell them I was pulling on the back side of the course.
As for Sonja, I don't remember passing her the first time, but I distinctly remember the second time. Coming up the short little popper of a hill right before the finish I looked ahead only to see Sonja trackstanding at the top. Apparently she was having some issues with Kris' saddle and spent the entire race standing up. Now, I use some narrow saddles on my bikes... so narrow that Sonja has taken to calling me "Snake Hips" but Auer's... I swear they are smaller than mine and she just couldn't take it anymore, especially after a particularly bad misdirected remount. For the record, I think she would have kicked ass on her road bike.
Now that you've made it thru my lonnnnnggg race report, here are some pictures of hot men.
Russ "The Muscle" Langley scored a 5th. It'd be great to see what he could do if he could manage to stay on his bike!
Wes wins again! Friday, October 24, 2008
I'm missing having a dog
Sonja and I have had a dog the last couple of weeks, be it the Best Dog Ever (Maya), Tickhead (Rena), or White Dog (Azucar). Currently, we have no dog and I really miss it. Maybe it's time I go to Petfinder and get one?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Granogue/Wiss Weekend
If my race reports are too boring, you can always be entertained by reading these:
C3-Sollaychicks
Beth
Fatmarc
Granogue:
I have a love/hate relationship with this course. I am not a technically gifted rider and the off-cambers frankly kick my butt. I think I am personally responsible for washboarding some of the downhills by being on the brakes so much. Sorry to you guys racing in the later races about that. As for the love, well you are supposed to love Granogue, right? I just haven't found any parts of it that I love, except the scenery and atmosphere when I'm done with my race and cheering for others.
I had a good race. As is the norm for the MAC races, I found myself chasing Kim, who found herself chasing some chick on a mountain bike. Normally I'd say a mountain bike in a cross race is a disadvantage, but not Granogue. She was able to ride the run-up and gapped me and Kim everytime. She seriously was almost at the right turn off the pavement after the run-up by the time Kim and I hit the pavement. Funny thing is that she was sooooo bad on the rest of the course it was almost humorous. Kim and I would catch her, usually right before the run-up, where she'd gap us again. After a few laps of this, the race was over. I was not sure where it even went. I rode a very conservative race, not wanting to make stupid mistakes and rolled in some 5 or 10 seconds behind Kim for 3rd, who by the way, is a rockstar on the downhills. My teammate Bad Kat had a stellar ride for 6th.
Wissichickon:
Now here's a course that I love! No hate whatsoever. It's what I would call a roadies course. It's got a few tricky turns and a sandpit, but both are insignificant as the time gains to be made on the rest of the course completely nullify my bad handling thru the turns. And the sandpit... ahhhh, she's completely ridable. If fact, I used the sandpit as recovery, easily spinning thru it while others that had opted to run were gasping for air.
My poor start (what's new, I am a notoriously bad starter) had me in about 15th position or so when we hit the first turn, which by the way, is exactly the same time we ladies hit the back of the C-men. Some of those fellas were having a really bad day. The downhill/uphill hairpin turn had C-men all over it and I was forced to dismount. In my pre-ride I had determined this turn to be rideable so an unplanned dismount had me suffering from brain freeze and I completely forgot how to get off my bike, finding myself somehow on the right side of the bike. Once thru that mess, and sorry if I pushed some people around (Monkey, Lindsay, any others?), I started to pick off the riders in front of me. Eventually I found myself in third, at least that's what Joe Jefferson was saying.
I love listening to Joe, even while I'm racing. I'm not sure if this is a good thing though, because his quip about the pack being "strung out like Amy Winehouse" had me laughing and misjudging one of those tricky corners. However, he usually knows what's going on and I can count on his commentary to keep me abreast of the race up ahead of me. Now, I could see Lenore in front of me, but according to Joe I was in third place. Who, I was wondering, was leading? Well, Joe got it wrong, and once again had me laughing with his apology to the dude who must have looked like a lady. In the end, I could not close the gap to Lenore. I had told her before the race that this was her course and boy was I right. I came in second and very satisfied with the weekend.
C3-Sollaychicks
Beth
Fatmarc
Granogue:
I have a love/hate relationship with this course. I am not a technically gifted rider and the off-cambers frankly kick my butt. I think I am personally responsible for washboarding some of the downhills by being on the brakes so much. Sorry to you guys racing in the later races about that. As for the love, well you are supposed to love Granogue, right? I just haven't found any parts of it that I love, except the scenery and atmosphere when I'm done with my race and cheering for others.
I had a good race. As is the norm for the MAC races, I found myself chasing Kim, who found herself chasing some chick on a mountain bike. Normally I'd say a mountain bike in a cross race is a disadvantage, but not Granogue. She was able to ride the run-up and gapped me and Kim everytime. She seriously was almost at the right turn off the pavement after the run-up by the time Kim and I hit the pavement. Funny thing is that she was sooooo bad on the rest of the course it was almost humorous. Kim and I would catch her, usually right before the run-up, where she'd gap us again. After a few laps of this, the race was over. I was not sure where it even went. I rode a very conservative race, not wanting to make stupid mistakes and rolled in some 5 or 10 seconds behind Kim for 3rd, who by the way, is a rockstar on the downhills. My teammate Bad Kat had a stellar ride for 6th.
Wissichickon:
Now here's a course that I love! No hate whatsoever. It's what I would call a roadies course. It's got a few tricky turns and a sandpit, but both are insignificant as the time gains to be made on the rest of the course completely nullify my bad handling thru the turns. And the sandpit... ahhhh, she's completely ridable. If fact, I used the sandpit as recovery, easily spinning thru it while others that had opted to run were gasping for air.
My poor start (what's new, I am a notoriously bad starter) had me in about 15th position or so when we hit the first turn, which by the way, is exactly the same time we ladies hit the back of the C-men. Some of those fellas were having a really bad day. The downhill/uphill hairpin turn had C-men all over it and I was forced to dismount. In my pre-ride I had determined this turn to be rideable so an unplanned dismount had me suffering from brain freeze and I completely forgot how to get off my bike, finding myself somehow on the right side of the bike. Once thru that mess, and sorry if I pushed some people around (Monkey, Lindsay, any others?), I started to pick off the riders in front of me. Eventually I found myself in third, at least that's what Joe Jefferson was saying.
I love listening to Joe, even while I'm racing. I'm not sure if this is a good thing though, because his quip about the pack being "strung out like Amy Winehouse" had me laughing and misjudging one of those tricky corners. However, he usually knows what's going on and I can count on his commentary to keep me abreast of the race up ahead of me. Now, I could see Lenore in front of me, but according to Joe I was in third place. Who, I was wondering, was leading? Well, Joe got it wrong, and once again had me laughing with his apology to the dude who must have looked like a lady. In the end, I could not close the gap to Lenore. I had told her before the race that this was her course and boy was I right. I came in second and very satisfied with the weekend.
Cursed?
I have this one jersey. I love it. It's long-sleeved, fleecy on the inside and just perfect for days like today. I distinctly remember the last time I wore it. Today was not much different.
After commuting 3.99999 of my 4 miles into work this morning and already escaping the obligatory close call with a car executing a U-turn directly in front of me (there's at least one every day), I was in the alley behind my office building. This is always a game of Frogger with all the delivery trucks, trash trucks and such, but today it was "The Perfect Storm." A near perfect convergence of every imaginable obstacle. There was the Staples truck to my right backing up to my building, the fish delivery truck to my left, the delivery guys all standing around, glass, oil, trash everywhere. The only thing missing was the homeless dude that hangs out smoking crack on his mattress... he's only there after dark. And then enter the most dangerous of them all: the morning car commuter that thinks it's faster to take the shortcut thru the alley rather than stay on L St. These guys go fast, zipping thru the alley at speeds more reasonable for the Beltway.
Here's how the the scenario unfolded. As car commuter was headed directly towards me, I realized I had no escape. Swerve right and find myself on the business end of a Staples delivery truck. Swerve left and wind up in some fish. (Maybe that wound not have been so bad after all. It may have been a soft landing.) Keep going straight and end up on the hood of a white BMW. What did I choose? I don't exactly remember because the next thing I knew I was on the ground. According to witnesses I must have hit the brakes and had my front wheel get stuck in some of the cobbles because I went flying up in the air and came down on my right side. Tuck and roll I guess. Thankfully car commuter slammed on the brakes and narrowly avoided running over my sorry self laying there on the ground. Staples guy got out of his truck and came running over and tried to get my bike off of me. Poor guy didn't realize I was still clipped-in to both pedals and just kept yanking at the bike, twisting my ankles in the process. The fish dudes were laughing too hard to be of any assistance. Car commuter, well he sped along on his merry way. I guess he was late for work. (But seriously, thanks for slowing down and not running me over.)
Mom, Dad, Donna, since you are going to ask... I'm ok. Just a scraped knee and a bit of a bruised ego. And that favorite jersey of mine... I think it's going back in the closet for now. 2 rides, 2 crashes. I don't like the odds.
After commuting 3.99999 of my 4 miles into work this morning and already escaping the obligatory close call with a car executing a U-turn directly in front of me (there's at least one every day), I was in the alley behind my office building. This is always a game of Frogger with all the delivery trucks, trash trucks and such, but today it was "The Perfect Storm." A near perfect convergence of every imaginable obstacle. There was the Staples truck to my right backing up to my building, the fish delivery truck to my left, the delivery guys all standing around, glass, oil, trash everywhere. The only thing missing was the homeless dude that hangs out smoking crack on his mattress... he's only there after dark. And then enter the most dangerous of them all: the morning car commuter that thinks it's faster to take the shortcut thru the alley rather than stay on L St. These guys go fast, zipping thru the alley at speeds more reasonable for the Beltway.
Here's how the the scenario unfolded. As car commuter was headed directly towards me, I realized I had no escape. Swerve right and find myself on the business end of a Staples delivery truck. Swerve left and wind up in some fish. (Maybe that wound not have been so bad after all. It may have been a soft landing.) Keep going straight and end up on the hood of a white BMW. What did I choose? I don't exactly remember because the next thing I knew I was on the ground. According to witnesses I must have hit the brakes and had my front wheel get stuck in some of the cobbles because I went flying up in the air and came down on my right side. Tuck and roll I guess. Thankfully car commuter slammed on the brakes and narrowly avoided running over my sorry self laying there on the ground. Staples guy got out of his truck and came running over and tried to get my bike off of me. Poor guy didn't realize I was still clipped-in to both pedals and just kept yanking at the bike, twisting my ankles in the process. The fish dudes were laughing too hard to be of any assistance. Car commuter, well he sped along on his merry way. I guess he was late for work. (But seriously, thanks for slowing down and not running me over.)
Mom, Dad, Donna, since you are going to ask... I'm ok. Just a scraped knee and a bit of a bruised ego. And that favorite jersey of mine... I think it's going back in the closet for now. 2 rides, 2 crashes. I don't like the odds.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Still no internet
I am still w/o the internet at home. I've had it with Verizon DSL, but can't get FiOs in my area. Broadband is an option but an expensive one. Comcast (my no. 1 choice right now) has to lay cable (hee, hee, I just said lay cable) before I can go that direction. I might as well go the Comcast route. When the TV signal switches over to digital and my rabbit ears become extinct I'll need cable anyway. For now, I'm poaching the neighbor's wireless. It works if I sit by the window and hold the laptop over my head when I want to load a new page or send an email. Lovely!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Welcome, Sis
My sister has joined the blogosphere. I can't wait to read about all of her adventures. I hope to get my internet working at home soon so I can update more. For now my readers (all 5 of them) have to settle for radio silence as I don't want to blog from work. Hey, it's your tax money, don't you want me working on those economic indicators instead of surfing the net? For now I hope my sister can keep everyone entertained.
I do hope to have race reports from Granogue/Wissihickon soon.
I do hope to have race reports from Granogue/Wissihickon soon.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I try to keep politics and such stuff off my blog, especially because some of my views might surprise most of my friends but this absolutely enrages me.
My favorite part:
"But Eric Dinallo, superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department, said he could see the value of such a retreat under the circumstances.
'Having been at large global companies and knowing what condition AIG was in ... the absolute worst thing that could have happened' would have been for employees and underwriters in its life insurance subsidiary to flee the company."
So Mr. Dinallo, are you saying that if I have a bad day at work the government should give me a spa day? Piss Off!
My favorite part:
"But Eric Dinallo, superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department, said he could see the value of such a retreat under the circumstances.
'Having been at large global companies and knowing what condition AIG was in ... the absolute worst thing that could have happened' would have been for employees and underwriters in its life insurance subsidiary to flee the company."
So Mr. Dinallo, are you saying that if I have a bad day at work the government should give me a spa day? Piss Off!
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