I'm mostly recovered finally, and now looking forward to going to Blanc tonight for my step-mom's birthday. This should be very tasty.
Conversely, I'm not looking forward to looking like a mongoloid on my cyclocross race here in 2 1/2 weeks, so I better get to crackin'. I don't think I've had a free night in what seems like an entire week, so I'll have some catching up to do.
Here's an even better video of what I'm doing. I have to keep watching these to keep the competitive juices flowing.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
It wasn't impossible but still...
So we covered 110 miles in two days. Into a headwind. Through 2.5 thunderstorms. Through the sun and sand and snakes and squirrels and naked women. Let me say naked woman. We'll come back to that in a bit.
We pushed off from Kirkwood around 7:30ish on Saturday morning, and dodged a few thunderstorms between there and Hermann. The trail really was in pretty good shape, and it did have some lovely views. Pretty anti-climatic though (except for the getting chilled to the bone during a particularly bad downpour). While we were getting ready to get back on it after lunch, we ran into this couple that was riding from New York (seriously) to California (not Cali, MO). They weren't exactly in triathlete shape, so that made me feel pretty insignificant and that any aches and pains I had were but a mere itch compared to anything they had gone through. We kept passing each other until we got to Hermann, which is when the naked woman thing came into play. Ryan and I were coming down the trail (I think Jarrett and Stitz rode different directions trying to dodge the rain) when we saw a pasty white arse about a quarter of a mile down the trail. Ryan says "is that chick naked?!?" I can clearly see the ass from this point, and not quite sure if I wanted it to be him or her, kinda like "would you like to get shot in your right knee or your left?" Turns out she thought it would be a good idea to drop her lycra and pee all over the trail (and her shorts, as she told us when we rode by).
Great story, eh? Yea, not really.
So we stayed in Hermann, and that was fine and dandy I guess. The Crown Royal was definitely the highlight of that segment of the trip, and probably didn't help the dehydration I was fighting on Sunday.
Too make a long ride a short story, the sun came out, the wind picked up, and we slogged a hard 40 something miles to end up at Jeff City and one of us fell over a couple times due to exhaustion. I won't say who, but it wasn't me. Or Jarrett. Or Ryan.
That was a hard ride, but the ice pack I'm sitting on now makes it a bit better. I'll be ready for bed pretty early tonight. I could use a good sleep. I also have less than three weeks now until my first cross race. Ug. I don't want to think about that until Wednesday.
We pushed off from Kirkwood around 7:30ish on Saturday morning, and dodged a few thunderstorms between there and Hermann. The trail really was in pretty good shape, and it did have some lovely views. Pretty anti-climatic though (except for the getting chilled to the bone during a particularly bad downpour). While we were getting ready to get back on it after lunch, we ran into this couple that was riding from New York (seriously) to California (not Cali, MO). They weren't exactly in triathlete shape, so that made me feel pretty insignificant and that any aches and pains I had were but a mere itch compared to anything they had gone through. We kept passing each other until we got to Hermann, which is when the naked woman thing came into play. Ryan and I were coming down the trail (I think Jarrett and Stitz rode different directions trying to dodge the rain) when we saw a pasty white arse about a quarter of a mile down the trail. Ryan says "is that chick naked?!?" I can clearly see the ass from this point, and not quite sure if I wanted it to be him or her, kinda like "would you like to get shot in your right knee or your left?" Turns out she thought it would be a good idea to drop her lycra and pee all over the trail (and her shorts, as she told us when we rode by).
Great story, eh? Yea, not really.
So we stayed in Hermann, and that was fine and dandy I guess. The Crown Royal was definitely the highlight of that segment of the trip, and probably didn't help the dehydration I was fighting on Sunday.
Too make a long ride a short story, the sun came out, the wind picked up, and we slogged a hard 40 something miles to end up at Jeff City and one of us fell over a couple times due to exhaustion. I won't say who, but it wasn't me. Or Jarrett. Or Ryan.
That was a hard ride, but the ice pack I'm sitting on now makes it a bit better. I'll be ready for bed pretty early tonight. I could use a good sleep. I also have less than three weeks now until my first cross race. Ug. I don't want to think about that until Wednesday.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Katy Trail
This weekend me and some of my boys are going to go take on the Katy Trail. I'm not sure what to make of the trail itself. It's definitely not technically challenging, but I think the challenge comes into play when you jam your seat between your legs on the 2nd day. That should be good fun. Maybe I'll grab some extra hot dog buns from the Brat fest in Hermann and sit on those.
Plus this'll be my first train ride in probably...errrrr....uh....22 years. Jeesh! Some people aren't even 22 years old!
It'll be tough being away from my boys, but a break is always nice. AB has been awfully emotional for some reason (getting teary-eyed sad because I told him to dress nice today) and K-man is clingy as anything. He'll have a great big cry if you don't hold him. Pretty funny, but I like it better when he has that big gap-toothed grin and wrinkled nose.
Talk to you all on Monday, provided I don't get eaten by a mountain lion or a redneck.
Plus this'll be my first train ride in probably...errrrr....uh....22 years. Jeesh! Some people aren't even 22 years old!
It'll be tough being away from my boys, but a break is always nice. AB has been awfully emotional for some reason (getting teary-eyed sad because I told him to dress nice today) and K-man is clingy as anything. He'll have a great big cry if you don't hold him. Pretty funny, but I like it better when he has that big gap-toothed grin and wrinkled nose.
Talk to you all on Monday, provided I don't get eaten by a mountain lion or a redneck.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
running and golf
So maybe I mentioned that I started running a bit. Nothing serious, but thought I'd try something new. I ran 1.75 miles on Tuesday night, and then played in an all-day tourney at the Horse on Wednesday. We had a great time, and shot 15 under. But we still took 2nd place, by 4 shots! But that's ok. I wasn't playing too whippy, and neither were the other two guys, but our anchor played very well.
Needless to say, after all that thrashing, my body is tired and I'm pounding the water today. Kinda like I pounded the open bar yesterday. Ooooowah!
T-minus 29 hours until it's time for our Katy Trail trip. I hope I can recover before then.
Needless to say, after all that thrashing, my body is tired and I'm pounding the water today. Kinda like I pounded the open bar yesterday. Ooooowah!
T-minus 29 hours until it's time for our Katy Trail trip. I hope I can recover before then.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Why not
So I figure with this fancy new bike, I ought to do something with it, eh? Here is what I've decided to do...October 18th, Boulevard Cup, Wyandotte County Park, Kansas City, Kansas. Shelter D. The video below is of the pros, but you get the idea...
US Gran Prix of Cyclocross - Portland, Oregon from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.
Super sweet freshness
Well, I just finished my project of the last six weeks. She still needs a fine tune, but really is in pretty good shape. Now it's time to ride!
Friday, September 18, 2009
egg in the leg
So, here I was about 4:50am sleeping like a fat bear and then my calf decides to contort itself. Some pain is good, this is not. I bolt upright in bed and start massaging the hell out of it, and then throw my leg over the bed and start stomping my toes into the ground. Eventually it goes away and I passed back out for an hour.
Whoever decided that it should be called a "charlie horse" either gave birth to 17 kids while passing a stone or they uttered the final words "charlie horse" right after a bus ran them over because they doubled over in pain in a cross walk. Charlie Horse implies something friendly, like a pony you'd want to have over on your 7th birthday. It doesn't bring visions of someone digging into your calf/thigh/hamstring with a meat hook, twisting it around, and then trying to pull it back through your skin.
Maybe they should be called inter-muscular shrapnel grenades.
Whoever decided that it should be called a "charlie horse" either gave birth to 17 kids while passing a stone or they uttered the final words "charlie horse" right after a bus ran them over because they doubled over in pain in a cross walk. Charlie Horse implies something friendly, like a pony you'd want to have over on your 7th birthday. It doesn't bring visions of someone digging into your calf/thigh/hamstring with a meat hook, twisting it around, and then trying to pull it back through your skin.
Maybe they should be called inter-muscular shrapnel grenades.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pics from the Tour of Missouri
The Fam went downtown on Sunday to catch a little of the Tour of Missouri as it was wrapping up. Me being a bike geek and all, of course I was beside myself and fidgety and had the hair on my arms standing up. Penny and Aiden were a bit more collected. So we get there pretty late since Kieran desperately needed his nap (as did AB) and we could only catch the last lap. That sucks, but it's better than nothing. We went down to the Power and Light (or Power and White, as it's affectionately known around here) to watch Those Whose Thighs Are Greater Than My Waist (and that's no small feat). We lined up about 100' past the Sprint line, and it was a lot of fun. I could tell Penny started getting excited when the lead out motorcycles and race officials were hauling ass past us and she couldn't believe how fast they were going for a BIKE RACE. I'm like, "oh yeah, they are moving this fast and this is going to be awesome" and then I melt into a pile of squealing girlishness.
Several seconds later I regain my composure and you can see a couple lead out guys trying to steal the stage, and about 10 seconds behind them is the peloton, probably 120 dudes tightly packed and trying to reel in the breakaway. This is all coming at us downhill, so a few more motorcycles and patrol cars going hauling past us, and then the breakaway guys ride by us, obviously suffering. Cowbells are everywhere and I'm giddy. I'm shooting my camera as quickly as I can, hoping for one or two great shots. Then the peloton gets to us. More like hits us. The wind from them is UNBELIEVABLE and feels like a semi truck just narrowly missed hitting us at 60 mph. These dudes were moving.
And then all the team cars came by and it was over. Yea, it goes by that fast. Next year, we need to try and get there for at least 4 laps. Speaking of next year, Missouri Governator Jay Nixon wants to pull the state support for the Tour. I think he could certainly make a wiser choice. And not just because I'm a cyclist and because I live here and think that the mundane Midwest needs exotic, international events like this, but because the state puts in about $1.5 million, and in 2008, the event generated $29.8 million in economic impact. How can you turn those numbers down? Anyway, here are the pics. Hopefully some of them came out ok!
Several seconds later I regain my composure and you can see a couple lead out guys trying to steal the stage, and about 10 seconds behind them is the peloton, probably 120 dudes tightly packed and trying to reel in the breakaway. This is all coming at us downhill, so a few more motorcycles and patrol cars going hauling past us, and then the breakaway guys ride by us, obviously suffering. Cowbells are everywhere and I'm giddy. I'm shooting my camera as quickly as I can, hoping for one or two great shots. Then the peloton gets to us. More like hits us. The wind from them is UNBELIEVABLE and feels like a semi truck just narrowly missed hitting us at 60 mph. These dudes were moving.
And then all the team cars came by and it was over. Yea, it goes by that fast. Next year, we need to try and get there for at least 4 laps. Speaking of next year, Missouri Governator Jay Nixon wants to pull the state support for the Tour. I think he could certainly make a wiser choice. And not just because I'm a cyclist and because I live here and think that the mundane Midwest needs exotic, international events like this, but because the state puts in about $1.5 million, and in 2008, the event generated $29.8 million in economic impact. How can you turn those numbers down? Anyway, here are the pics. Hopefully some of them came out ok!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Here's one of the videos of Kieran walking. He gets a little excited, and in the end, AB dumps K because K drools all over AB's eyes.
 |
| From Kieran walking |
Two weeks!
So yeah, it's been two whole weeks since we posted an update. I say "we", because I don't want to fully shoulder the blame.
The good news is that we have lots of pics/galleries to post, and even some videos. I'll have to figure out how to post videos, but it seems pretty easy here.
There is no bad news, so there's an upside, even if it is only Tuesday.
Kieran had a great party over the weekend and we were thrilled to have so many friends and family come share the special day with us. I say "we", and I mean Aiden, Penny, and I. K-man has been having a pretty rough time transitioning to the 1-year old room, plus he got a bunch of vaccinations (MMR/Flu/Pox) yesterday, he's fighting a cold, and maybe starting to get another ear infection. I think the reason kids get so sick in day care is that the drool all over the place with their teething and there's no feasible way that the day care people can wash their hands that much while juggling 4-6 toddlers. This is life I suppose.
I've often caught myself wondering about existentialism, specifically how much longer humans are going to be around this rock. I think that overpopulation (ergo, the Duggars) are causing us to a) tap out resources, b) exponentially increase the transmission of viruses, c) cause said viruses/bacteria to mutate more frequently and with more lethality. It has been estimated that the world's population will hit 9 Billion by 2040. For reference, when I was born, the population was only 4.241 Billion. That's almost 5 billion extra super-petri dishes walking around. I also think that as globalization is becoming more defacto, with frequent air travel and increasing importation/exportation, that this will only exacerbate any situation involving communicable diseases. Experts say we have a 50/50 shot between some sort of evolved, utopian society and extermination. I'd say it's more like 20/80, but I'm a pessimist. Ok, so this got way off topic, but it's been on my mind.
So, I'll try and get all the pics/videos posted before we die of swine flu (which is probably highly overrated). Talk to you all soon.
C
The good news is that we have lots of pics/galleries to post, and even some videos. I'll have to figure out how to post videos, but it seems pretty easy here.
There is no bad news, so there's an upside, even if it is only Tuesday.
Kieran had a great party over the weekend and we were thrilled to have so many friends and family come share the special day with us. I say "we", and I mean Aiden, Penny, and I. K-man has been having a pretty rough time transitioning to the 1-year old room, plus he got a bunch of vaccinations (MMR/Flu/Pox) yesterday, he's fighting a cold, and maybe starting to get another ear infection. I think the reason kids get so sick in day care is that the drool all over the place with their teething and there's no feasible way that the day care people can wash their hands that much while juggling 4-6 toddlers. This is life I suppose.
I've often caught myself wondering about existentialism, specifically how much longer humans are going to be around this rock. I think that overpopulation (ergo, the Duggars) are causing us to a) tap out resources, b) exponentially increase the transmission of viruses, c) cause said viruses/bacteria to mutate more frequently and with more lethality. It has been estimated that the world's population will hit 9 Billion by 2040. For reference, when I was born, the population was only 4.241 Billion. That's almost 5 billion extra super-petri dishes walking around. I also think that as globalization is becoming more defacto, with frequent air travel and increasing importation/exportation, that this will only exacerbate any situation involving communicable diseases. Experts say we have a 50/50 shot between some sort of evolved, utopian society and extermination. I'd say it's more like 20/80, but I'm a pessimist. Ok, so this got way off topic, but it's been on my mind.
So, I'll try and get all the pics/videos posted before we die of swine flu (which is probably highly overrated). Talk to you all soon.
C
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