Go To The Dinner Party Cris! She Loves You.

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 10:55 AM, mr. cristopher Lucas wrote:

i rebelled against the "dinner party" and to prove a point that riding time is important to me(and release some angst) I set out from Forker Rd. i rode to the snowmobile parking lot of wicked Mt. Spokane...the road to the top was still snowed over so, i turned around and started my descent....that's when it started to rain....and then little sharp pieces of hail...and then black brake spray and then i wished i was at the "dinner party" or the Mtn Bike Race or my shower.


Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:00:12 -0700

you rode in that storm? Holy shit. I could barely drive in the aftermath. But let it be known, you will ride...rain, snow, sleet, snowmobile parking lot...you will ride. Did you make it home or did someone have to rescue you with a life raft?

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 11:13 AM, mr. cristopher Lucas wrote:

i knew the possibilities of weather and it was perfect all the way up...warm too....just as i saw the snow on the road to the top it started....i had to stop twice and hide under trees and hide in the outhouse by the gate because the hail hurt so bad....in my times hiding i thought of calling someone or stabbing myself in the neck with a tire lever and how cold it would be when i started out again and how i almost wore my water proof booties and my shoes were fish tanks...then i rode as fast as i could see to stay warm through the run off valley and over the hill...almost stopped at the random bar but made it to my car and stripped naked and turned up the heat and drove home shaking, parked my car on my lawn, ran in and took a hot long shower and literally sat on my fire place till i went to sleep....then woke up early this morning and listed all of my bikes, tools, bike clothes and helmet, glasses, cycling magazines, third place ribbons, left over sport beans and tri flow on ebay.


Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:17:12

That sounds like a song. But I have not quite figured out the chorus.

Good think you parked at Inland Power...I thought you rode from home. Yikes.

I have descended that mountain in rain before...cold and wet...and it's miserable. When you stop, it almost makes it worse.

What's your ebay user name...I ma looking for a few things :)

WHY

WHY is it that I ALWAYS have something going on for race day?

WHY is it that I can't find training time?

WHY is it that when I do get on the bike, it is either raining or some other form of natural disaster?

WHY... um... WHY... I mean... why am I complaining about this?

Why don't I just get out and ride my bike? When I can? With my friends?

Why do I care about where I place?

Why do I care about the 60 Minutes interview?

Think I'll just go for a ride.

Anybody?

My Knees

My Knees
Somewhere beneath the incessantly whistling wind
Are These
Connectors of my hips and shins
So please
While rolling through the Palouse
Don't sneeze
Or you might miss them near the top of a hill
My knees

...inspired by the 2nd Annual Ronde Van Palouse
wonderful...i know

Geeks

Wikipedia defines a Geek as: a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to be overly intellectual." I am not a computer expert, nor do I perform in carnivals, and I hope I am not a dislikable person...so I searched further...

• A derogatory reference to a person obsessed with intellectual pursuits for their own sake, who is also deficient in most other human attributes so as to impair the person's smooth operation within society.

• A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest. This definition is very broad but because many of these interests have mainstream endorsement and acceptance, the inclusion of some genres as "geeky" is heavily debated.

I think those pretty much sum it up. Essentially, a person whose passion for something exceeds what would be considered "normal" and who often does not heed social norms when talking about the subject or participating in it.

That said, I think we are all Geeks in some for or another. Some of us have many Geek hats. Now, a Geek is not to be confused with a Nerd, who is defined as intelligent but socially and physically awkward. A Nerd seems to be more of a character. A Geek seems to be more relevant to subject matter. Okay, enough on that.

I have to say that I am a Bike Geek. I have enjoyed seeing the changes that have happened over the last few decades. I love the smell of solvents because it means something is clean. If they made a cologne called "Tri Flow" I would probably wear it.

I love seeing shorts with more than 6 panels.
Just the word Assos gives me a chill.
6 speed brings back memories of the great cyclists of the 80s.
Retrofriction I still hope makes a comeback.
A 42 chainring should ALWAYS be the smallest on a road bike.
A straightblock tells me it's time trial time.
Benotto ribbon wrapped well, was sleek...but Cinelli cork was plush.
A two button Avocet is still all you really need.
Deep drop has nothing to do with women.
A-Head, quill,...they both do the same, yet define an era.
Lugs did once exist on frames.
28 hole wheels were light weight TT wheels.
Bladed spokes meant you had to drill a hub.
Aero rims were 4 cm max.
Hairnets were not what food service women wore.
Leather chamois were commonplace.
Oakley Factory Pilot...all the others can thank them for creating the market.
LOOK was primarily a ski binding company.
You used to actually grease bearings.
25 pounds was pretty light.
Aluminum meant "big tubes."
Frame pumps were not for airing up frames, and there was a difference in the heads.
Clips and straps had nothing to do with bondage.
High flange we will probably never say again away from a track.
36 hole wheels were standard, and 32 meant race ready.
Rim cement was just that...cement. And when applying it, if you did not ruin what you were wearing in the process, you probably did not use enough.
Solar anything on a road bike? Ya right.
If you could still use your waterbottle after 1 month, it meant you rarely used it, or are drinking mold, or you have a mom that bleaches bottles. The tops did not lend themselves to cleaning.
V1 Pro? Nice try at a hairnet Bell...but a big miss.
If the word WINNING means more than 1st place, that meant you ran to the mailbox once a month...and the only running a cyclist would ever do.
Results were found in the paper, or rare weekend CBS Sports coverage, which left a week's worth of hypothesizing who the winners would be and how the races would unfold in Europe.
There is so much more that can be said, but I will end with two last words... Detto Pietro.
**Sad thing, I typed this list in about 5 minutes**

The point here, the machines are magnificent. If you walk into a bike shop and immediately assess the mechanic's aptitude by the crispness of the return of a brake lever...you are probably a Bike Geek. If you can admire a new bike that is $500 for what it is, and the budgeted quality it possesses, you are a Geek. If you walk in a shop and you can immediately locate the most expensive bike there, and not because it's on display, you are a bike Geeks. Bike Geeks like all types of bikes and respect what they represent.

The Happs

It's been a long time since our last post. Thought I would give you an update on some happs.

Training has been coming along quite well for most of us. The weather here in Spokane has been eventful. We started out with snow, snow, and more snow. People must have purchased all the snowblowers in the area, because soon after, the snow stopped and we have not received much more. We have actually been getting quite a bit of rain. Now, it's just cold...cold and clear. I can't complain much because it has lent itself to some riding outdoors...for some people. I have not ridden outside in some time. Maybe as long ago as the first week in November. At bout that time, I blew out my soleus/gastroc running. Ya, I can hear you all now, "Why were you running?" I ask myself that question ever time I put on my running shoes. But somehow, I am still able to get out the door and run. With that injury, I took 3 weeks off of everything. Then, after the 3 week break, I went for a little run and the same thing happened. CRAP! But fortunately I came upon a secret device that solves most of my over use muscle problems. That is the Compex Muscle Stimulator.
I threw that bad boy on for a treatment and I was so much better. I have used it quite a bit since then and truly believe there are some pretty slick devices for recovery. As I am going to be 40 this year, I have to have more than asprin in my back pocket. I am a HUGE recovery freak and this is just another tool in the box. One supplement I think is amazing, while on the topic, is Recover Ease.
It's a pill, hence, simple. I have been using this since 2005 and totally believe in it. No such thing as over training...just under recovering. Recover Ease helps with that.

What else you ask? Well, Contador is a druggie, and we will hopefully find out about Lance here soon to. But since Lance is moving to be a triathlete, it probably will not matter too much. If you have thoughts or opinions on this, make sure to tune into packfiller.com podcast on Thursdays and air your gripes and Pat and Mark will give their views as well.



Ride on,
Roger