Single Speed Worlds

Extremely short version...not so Worldly.

I started off well and got myself into the top 20 on the fire road climb and things were looking good on the first lap.

The bike worked fine other than being over geared, which would have
been fine if my shoes would have been functioning a little better when
running up steep rocky climbs. (Cyclocross Season...Bring IT!)

Wish I would have had time to set up the new Specialized shoes I picked up from Zimmer last night.

This is the first MTB race I have DNFed, I think ever.

Very extremely technical course, actually a full suspension course if
there ever was one. My Santa Cruz Chameleon is a wickedly stiff bike
that puts the power to the ground and corners on a dime. Unfortunately
it is extremely unforgiving when bouncing down this stuff http://www.petefagerlin.com/skyline.htm.

(Notice the guy in the photo has full suspension).

This bike...not so much.


Put together the extreme stiffness of the frame, and shoes that are jack hammering your big toes and what do you get?

Black and Blue toes and a loss of mental focus on dangerous terrain.



Now I am all about HFU when the going gets tough, but I am also long
enough in the tooth to know that continuing in a state of distracting
and debilitating pain will only lead to mistakes on terrain that will
end your cycling career.

A combination of skill, fast reflexes (had to put my hand out to push
off of a tree on a particularly gnarly section, instead of running into it), and knowing my limits
kept me from crashing.

I finished up lap 2 and called it quits while the only injuries I had were my mildly bruised toes and ego.

More importantly, I'll be ready to kill it up in Eugene Oregon next weekend at the stage race.

Nome out.

A New Chapter Begins

After a very pleasant 8 weeks of unemployment, some substantial soul searching, and self-exploration new employment has found me.
I landed a position at Kier & Wright Civil Engineers as a draftsman.
K & W were one of my former employer's consistent clients and a couple people there knew my work.

I was not sure if this was the direction I should go in, so I put them through the tests in the meeting (some call it an interview). They accepted my terms and conditions and agreed to put up with my cycling shenanigans. (It's all about the bike!)

My time off aloud me to develop a better perspective, the job thingy is good and I am a Get-R-Done kind of worker, but I am also one that has to keep balance. A job that imposes is a job not needed.

What I like about the new gig is that it will expand my resume without the loss of the traffic design experience I have gained. I foresee in the near future them utilizing and capitalizing on what TJKM took for granted. There is definitely a learning curve while I get to know my way around the civil engineering daftology, but it won't be long. There a couple of really good guys running the department and willing to take the time to bring me up to speed quickly. It's a win/win for them, teach me right and I help them look good. Everyone is happy!

During my time off I finished up the coaching certification and invested in the level 2 clinic. I have a few people that have been asking me for coaching advice for a while, so may as well help them out and build up a little side business and something to fall back on.
H.F.U. Training Systems will be launched soon.

About having 8 weeks off...I got my taste and I like it. It will definitely be brought up when the time is right, no pay is fine, I'll put a bit away to cover. Self financed annual sabbatical...hmmm...has a nice ring to it. Life is just too damn short...savoring is where it's at.

Nome Out

Zucchini Blog Update

It looks like the term "giant zucchini" has been redefined.
While checking on the watermelon plants today I stumbled across this monster hiding in the shade of it's plants leaves. The only thing I could say was "Oh My God!"

Yes, that is a normal size bottle of wine (Entropy Cellars by the way) that T is holding.
18" in length, and roughly 3" in diameter. Who knew that they could get that big?

We even let Ronnie touch it, he thought it was neat.


We knew what was for dinner, but the grilled zucchini thing was getting old. Off to Trader Joes we went looking for ideas. Ah, pizza zucchini! Brilliant!


First mix some salt, Italian seasonings, and garlic powder into some grape seed oil and brush on to all parts...

of the zucchini you sicko.

Then we put sun dried tomatoes, pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni on three slices. The other three we did a pesto sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
Bake on 400 for 18 minutes.

Absolutely fabulous! Extremely filling, and very low carb.