Critical Mass 1885

courtesy of www.marriedtothesea.com

(No, I did not make up the title. It is by the author of the comic. I am not nearly that funny.)

Choices

I could drive to Cincinnati and Columbus this weekend and race around in circles with a bunch of guys on Saturday and Sunday.

Or I could drive under three hours to do a 2 lap, 50 mile hilly road race Saturday and a hilly, 30 mile mountain bike race on Sunday.

That's not even really a decision. Raccoon Rally, here we come.

Because it makes total sense for a nearly 200 pound person to want to do a hilly road race instead of a flat crit.

(note that the elevation chart for each lap is in meters, not feet)

Dirty Three

The coolest guys in the room. Always.

Sheep

Katie likes to remind me how one difference between her hobbies and my main hobby is that her hobbies generally do not include an element of danger along the lines of falling off your bike at high speeds in a tight pack of riders.

Point taken:

State Road Race Mishap from ohio cycling on Vimeo.

It is with great excitement, however, that I can now say that she is becoming involved in a hobby with at least some element of danger: sheep herding.

We recently decided that we don't participate in enough fringe sports, so sheep herding became the obvious choice. And because we figured Spencer would really like it.



We tried it today with him, and he had a blast (we think). Katie just needs to watch out for fast moving sheep while walking in the middle of the herd and directing the dog. I hear you can get pretty messed up in a sheep collision accident while participating in this sport. Who knew?

States

Sunday was the state road race. Here are some stats from it:

1: suicidal cop who decided it would be a good idea to stand on the yellow line on the road onto which we turned while yelling at us (a field of 80 starters) to stay in the right lane on turn one.

2: number of times I was quite sure I was in the winning break. I wasn't.

6: number of times up that godforsaken hill, one of which was with my teammate making everyone's lives quite miserable.

3: number of times we went up the hill before I realized how sucky the last three times were going to be.

4: number of times I was at or very near the front on the sketchy descent. Did I mention that a guy yardsaled over the cable "guardrail" there on lap 1? Ouch.

9: number of seconds I had to soft pedal on the hill on lap six to allow the uncontrolled seizures in my right leg to stop.

13.5: number of hours I was gone from home to go race bikes clear on the other end of the state.

Bike racing is fun. Right?

If only I had more time to ride, I'd probably go do something else

I often hear bike racers talk about how they wish they had more time to train. Count me as someone who does not share this feeling.

I'm pretty lucky with a flexible schedule and ample (in my opinion) time to ride. I probably average 10-14 hours a week on the bike during the spring and summer months, and that includes lots of road races. That usually amounts to 200 miles a week, give or take. I love riding, but honestly have no desire to do it any more than I already do.

Maybe it's because I have a number of other silly hobbies (can anyone say dog agility...playing in a trashy sounding band...reading way too many esoteric articles on politics and current events). Or maybe it's because I realize that I have drawn an average card in the gene pool and won't be dominating the local racing scene anytime soon, regardless of how much time I spend on my bike.

I have to admit, I'm pretty obsessed with riding, and the thought of decreasing my saddle time scares me. But so does the thought of increasing it.

Get Phit

Some people are abuzz about the recently introduced Public Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act of 2009 (HR 2105), which proposes a tax credit of up to $1,000 per year for some people's “qualified sports and fitness expenses.”

The bill seems like a well-intentioned step in the right direction. It also looks like it needs some tweaking.

I read it to allow the entire $1,000 deduction for a single membership to a "fitness facility," but it only allows for a $250 deduction for the purchase of "any item of sports equipment (other than exercise equipment)..."

So where does a bike stand under this law? (Or a kayak, or cross country skis, or climbing equipment, or anything else appealing to someone who finds gyms and fitness centers rather unappealing?) Well, according to the press secretary of the Congressperson who sponsored the bill, up to $250 of the purchase of a new bicycle would qualify for the deduction.

Apparently that means that a bike is an item of "sports equipment," but not "exercise equipment" under the law, therefore limiting the credit for that purchase to $250. Lame.

What about new wheels? Or handlebars? Or a saddle? Is that deductible "sports equipment" under the law also?

So then what constitutes "exercise equipment?" BowFlex? NordicCross? A set of weights?

It also looks like runners get hosed in this deal, as it excludes "apparel or footwear." What else do runners buy, anyway?

In all fairness, though, I can understand the apparel and footwear exclusion because it prevents people from going to the local mall and getting tax credits for the purchase of a bunch of trendy exercise outfits and shoes to wear while shopping or going to Applebee's.

We'll see where this law goes, and what the final version will look like. And we can take take bets on whether Rep. Boehner will publicly mock it.

A word of thanks to our sponsors

There is a special place in the afterlife reserved for the kind folks who run businesses that support or sponsor local amateur bike race teams. Without these businesses, self important bike racers everywhere would be unable to feel entitled to things like free or heavily discounted bikes, parts, and/or clothing.

If you are on a bike race team, make sure you thank your sponsors next time you see them. Remind them that their sponsorship is greatly appreciated. And remind them that it could be worse....they could be sponsoring a kickball team.

Representing

There were at least 13 of us from Northeast Ohio who made the 4+ hour trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan to do the Tour de Frankenmuth on Saturday. It was flat, windy (even though there seemed to be no wind at the start/finish), well attended, and well run. The Cleveland crew took 2nd and 8th in the Pro/1/2 race, 1st in the women's 1/2/3 race, and had 3 out of 8 money spots in the Cat 3 race, including 2nd place.

Oh yea, and staying at a hotel literally 100 meters from the start/finish is the way to go, especially when it is 48 degrees and raining 20 minutes before the start of the race. And when you can take a post race shower within minutes of crossing the line. So pro.

Show

Last week, Katie and I met some friends at the Beachland Ballroom to see Bonnie Prince Billy. Here's a few videos from the show, courtesy of some nice person who looks to have recorded and posted almost every song from the set. I do love those two part harmonies.

The first song of the set, which was a cover. After messing around with their instruments for a while, they just started playing:



Another great duet:

MSP MTB

I am rarely ambitious enough to drive over an hour to go mountain biking. Which means that I rarely go mountain biking. That may now change, however, now that I have experienced the 25 mile loop at Mohican State Park.

I am no mountain bike guru, and I'm actually really mediocre at it. I've probably ridden mountain bikes in five or so states, and I have never ridden a trail with such a good mix of flow, mildly technical sections, and climbing. Lots of climbing.

Now I am almost tempted to do something irrational. Like this.

What the cool kids did this past Friday night

Dog agility, of course.



Reuben and I had 2 of 3 qualifying runs and earned another title. Sylvia and Katie went 3 for 3, and some of the generous 4-H teens who volunteered to set jump bars had a pretty productive makeout session behind the building, in plain view of the parking lot, in between rounds of competition.

Overall, a success on many fronts.

Never say never

When I was a young kid, I vacationed with my parents in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I vividly remember the faux-Bavarian buildings, the tourist traps, the world's largest Christmas store at which we shopped, and the sports cards store where I bought a good condition Donruss Kirby Puckett rookie card for $11. I also remember telling my dad that the baseball card purchase was a really good investment.

As I grew older, I figured that I would never have any reason to re-visit this town. That is, until I was convinced to race there next week.

So now I will return, about 20 years older, wiser, and the proud owner of a Kirby Puckett rookie card that is currently selling for $1.29 on e-bay.

At least this time I won't have to go to that stupid Christmas store.

Thao

Last night, Katie and I saw Thao Nguyen at the Beachland Tavern with her backing band, the Get Down Stay Down. Having forgotten the real camera, we still managed to get a few ok shots with Katie's phone.


Here's a video for one of her songs. Nice bikes.

Race at the Lake #4

I prepared a race report for the team website, so I figured I'd post it here also.

On Saturday, May 9th, 40+ riders lined up for the final Cat 1-2-3 Race at the Lake this year. Thanks again to Summit Freewheelers for organizing this well run event. Tom K. and I represented Team Spin.

The first few laps were fast and full of action. I managed to go with several break attempts, but nothing stuck. After I blew up and had to settle back in the group, a move got away. A bit later, another move got away. Unfortunately, neither break included a Spin rider.

About halfway through the race, I looked around and realized that the main field was rather small, and that there were about 11 riders up the road . The high speeds and strong winds (that got stronger as the race progressed) must have taken their toll on many riders in the field.

With a bit over 3 laps remaining, Tom K. took a nice hard pull at the front. I grabbed his wheel for a bit, then attacked the field. I managed to stay away until the line and take 12th place in front of a charging field. Those 3 laps seemed like an eternity due to an error on the lap card which made me think I had 2 to go when, in fact, I had 3 laps left. They also seemed like eternity because the wind was absurd. Going through the start line/parking lot section each time, I felt as if my elderly mother with two knee replacements could run that section faster than I was riding it.

Tom K. finished strong in the field sprint and took 15th overall.

Not a bad day, but next time we need to make the break.

Yes, that's right.

My cat's photograph made it on "The Secret Life of Animals" television show on the New England Cable Network ("NECN"). Katie happens to know the animal trainer who appeared on this segment.

Benjamin is doing the "sunnyside up" pose, as it is called, which happens at the 1:40 mark. Katie says he looks like a loaf of bread with legs sticking out of it.

Katie's cat Patterson also appears at 1:05, doing the "princess and the pea" pose.

Yep folks, now we have really made it. It's all down hill from here.

I've got your premium right here

I'm pretty sure that many of us are pre-programmed to make irrational decisions regarding health insurance. Specifically, healthy people tend to shy away from insurance plans with high deductibles and instead opt for higher monthly premiums. People often view this approach as "cautious." I view it as throwing money away.

For example, last week I received a love letter from my health insurance carrier informing me that my premium is rising by over 20% this year, despite the fact that I never even used my insurance last year. At all. (I guess all of that Ohio medical malpractice tort reform from a few years ago didn't really work in keeping our rates down. What a shock.)

In my particular case, the question comes down to whether I am willing to risk paying an extra $1500 if I get hurt in order to save about $750 in yearly premiums. Stated otherwise, am I willing to bet $750 that I won't need any major medical treatment this year. The answer: yes. I figure that I spend an obnoxious amount of time every year riding my bike and doing things that keep me healthy. I might as well enjoy a return on that investment.

Photos and Videos from Race at the Lake #2, 4-25-09

Early in the race:



The early break:

The winning break:

Racing for scraps:

Bell lap for field:

Field sprint:

Five Dollar Milkshake

I remember with clarity watching the "five dollar milkshake" scene from Pulp Fiction at the Parma (Ohio) cheapo movie theater while in high school back in the mid-90's.



(note how this clip appears to have been taped with a camcorder by someone watching the movie on a television screen...nice!)

Back then, the thought of a $5 milkshake seemed unfathomable.

However, while driving home from New York this weekend, Jason ordered a milkshake from the Edy's store at a New York rest stop and did in fact pay $5 for said milkshake.

Now I feel old...like a grandpa who recalls the days when one could buy milk and a loaf of bread from the corner store for like fifteen cents.

Battenkill: race!

As expected, the race got super hard exactly where I thought it would get super hard. I didn't make the lead group over the first big steep gravel climb, and spent the next 30 miles burying myself to catch the next group up the road, which I did, then managed to promptly get dropped by the guys I just dragged around for 30 miles. That's ok though...once I'm fighting for scraps, final placement matters much less than riding hard and racing my bike. Mission accomplished.

And yes, that hill at mile 55 hurts. A lot.

Teammates Jason and Derek had great races in their fields (17th and 21st, respectively), and Zak finished in the field of his race.

The hills, dirt roads, and rain (for the last 15 or so miles) made this race quite an adventure.

Here's Derek at the start of the men's 50+ plus race:


And the women's Pro/1/2/3 race: