Poseur la Centrale

Happy New Year

2012-01-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm still fat.

Fatter, actually.

Playing hockey. Bastard college kids still have fast legs. That's okay I'm older than their freakin dads.

I ran, well jogged, well trudged. Actually I limped 3 miles on New Year's Eve. That was novel. It takes a lot less time to pepare to go out on a really slow run in the cold then it takes to prepare to go out for a really slow ride in the cold.

Running shoes are cheaper than bikes.

Nonetheless, I think I shall ride sometime prior to June 1 this year. Gotta get ready for training camp at Sammy's.

Worst of 2011: That stupid climb up that stupid road on the stupid first day of stupid training camp.

Best of 2011: Flipping the Ag3r calendar to January 2012. Didn't have to look at HD's pony-tail anymore. By the way, if that is a pony tail, what does that make his head?

New Year Resolution: I won't get on Richy's shit as much.

resolutions were meant to be broken

Still no Bimmer. I thinks it's on a cruise around the world.

LaTour Musings

2011-09-08T14:05:00.000-04:00

Hardest Stage: Stage 3, Hardwood Mills RR

Sweetest Stage: Stage 13, Kremis TTT

Most Dangerous Stage (and most fun?): Stage 16, Double-Right TTT, 4th man

Best Improvement from Original: Expanding TTTs, with first few counting all riders. Required teamwork, strategy, and guts.

2nd Best Improvement: September

Most Impressive Effort: Hannah

Got stronger along the way: Retro

Best New Rider: tatuOwen

Gutsiest Rider: xRay

Sleeper overall result-getter: HD

Underestimated the Pain: Kirk

Best New Help: Ryan

Best Old Help: Alison

Master Database Manager: Hick

Yet-to-be-realized LaTour Goal: 3 teams

Is that a long-haired llama???

2011-09-05T11:52:00.000-04:00

Nope, it's a long-haired slacker and a short-haired llama!!!

Pain, fun, beer, and food. In that order, another LaTour de LaTonka is in the books. Hit the "weather hole" between 95 degrees 95% humidity on Saturday and storms and rain Sunday afternoon. Hard rides, great friends, and our first female participant!

Thanks to Hick, Ryan, Al, RJ, Mason, and Brady for outstanding support. When the soreness subsides, planning for version 3 will begin!

LaTour

2011-08-18T09:52:00.000-04:00

September 4. Beer, food, pain. Lots of laughs.

Damn I better start trainin.

Gira de Seis Lagos est September 4!

2011-07-22T10:59:00.000-04:00

HOLD your calendars boys...September 4 it is! Guaranteed to be one of the best days on the bike in 2011...be there!!! Invite your buds. The more the merrier.

Seis Lagos Teaser/Update

2011-07-13T10:55:00.000-04:00

Go here for an idea of all the fun, fun, fun til her daddy takes the t-bird away...

www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4644399

Also, consensus is for a September event. Let me know availability of 9/3,4, or 5 (Labor Day), or the following weekend, 9/10 or 11. The bigger the better...and more competitive.

GSL Clarification

2011-07-09T14:22:00.000-04:00

Oh ye of Brew-related nomenclature: "Century" connotes distance, not format. There will be plenty of opportunity to defend the green weenie, including TWO state-line sprints! It is not a matter of if there will be stages, just how many and of what type. Stay tuned.

Gira de Seis Lagos

2011-07-07T12:26:00.000-04:00

The 2011 version of the LaTour de LaTonka is being planned! Exact format will be forthcoming. I suggest two options for dates - either Labor Day weekend (September 3,4, or 5) to wrap up summer, or mid-October (15th or 16th) when leaves will be at/near peak (a nod to luring Sammy and sister Deidre to PA. Not to mention Jeff and Phantom!). 2-3 months notice should allow for a decision and the hold on the calendar. Comment preference here or by email. The charter LaTour group is invited, plus anybody else who is a good fit for our fun-loving, apres-ride beer-swilling gang.

Posing a Question

2011-07-05T11:14:00.000-04:00

September 2011...Labor Day Weekend...in honor of the Vuelta...Gira de Seis Lagos. Another mixed-team, one-day, multi-stage tour, in a geography you never ride. Some cruising, some racing. Much fun. You in?

Headed Home

2011-06-24T12:42:00.000-04:00

What a trip. Ended it with a sunrise solo ride up the canyon before one final Boulder espresso. Spiritual. Thanks to Sammy and his clan (including our new little sister Deidre!) for exceptional hospitality, route guidance, and suffering. A couple hundred miles in 5 days. Not far, except that so much was upwards. Thank God what goes up must come down!

If you don't like this ridin'...do something else.

2011-06-23T19:43:00.001-04:00

Knackered. Sunburned. Happy.

Half Way There

2011-06-22T16:06:00.000-04:00

2 days of serious-ass climbing, everybody is doing well. Today was an easy 2-hour flatland spin. Gonna hit the mountains again tomorrow. Fat, tired, refreshed, and beginning to feel the energy return.

In My Mind I'm Going to Colorado

2011-03-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Now that I have that hockey silliness out of my system, time to be RIDIN' not HIDIN'!!!

Checking In

2010-12-08T14:32:00.000-05:00

It's awfully slow, but I can still turn the pedals...and get MUDDY while doing it!

2 1/2 @ 35-off

2010-08-31T14:40:00.001-04:00

My best ski effort this summer. Not bad for me, as I waterski slightly less than I ride. If you don't know what this means, I'll have to explain it over beers some time.

Life Easing Up?

2010-08-26T11:02:00.000-04:00

Well, the kid's off to college :( , the new hospital is built and open after years of effort, and there is small light beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel. Does this mean a return to the saddle for more than the occasional recreatonal ride? Stay tuned...

Still Alive

2010-06-10T12:57:00.000-04:00

Just checking in. I've ridden a little, including 2 sessions on the "spin bike" at the hotel I was at Monday and Tuesday. Got in an hour each session...which for me is a LOT. I learned that the secret to a spinning is to keep the flywheel, well, spinning. Not going to build power doing this but a great way to accustom the legs to turning over fast and smoothly.

I forgot my ipod and the only tunes they had in the spin studio which I played LOUD through the overhead speakers was an 80s mix...some of it was really good and some of it was so cheesy I was laughing while riding. Reminded me of hittin on babes in college.

The good & the bad

2010-04-19T10:20:00.001-04:00

The good: I've spent the past year planning & building a new house. It has a great area for a bike shop in the basement. Moving commenced 2 days ago.

The bad: No riding because I've spent the past year planning & building a new house.

Here We Go Again

2010-03-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

Multiply this times 6 and that's what I need to drop from my ass to be in race shape. What a drag.

CHAMPS!!!

2010-02-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

Well I did it. 3 days of intense hockey: warm up, stretch, ice time, eat, rest, recover. This was the seemingly unending cycle for 72 hours. It was a blast. Definitely a "checkbox checked" on the list of cool life experiences.

Friday was drills, practice, chalk talk, practice, scrimmage games. Saturday was a round robin tournament to seed teams for Sunday's championship tourney. We finished out 2-0-1 Saturday for No. 1 seed. I (as well as everybody) was cooked both Friday and Saturday night.

To Mellon Arena Sunday. Body says "no!", brain says "go!".We watched 2 v. 3 in the first game. 2 dominates; clearly the team to beat. On they go to the championship game. But first things first - we have our own 1 v. 4 semi-final to get through. We handle this team again fairly easily with a 6-1 win. A memory from this game that I'll never forget (remember this is full-on Mellon Arena hockey - jumbotron, replays, announcers, music, the works): The booming announcement of the game's first goal went like this: "The Chinstrap's goal! scored by the Ol' 2-9er! PHILLLLL BOURRRRRRRRRQE!!! Assisted by number 16, KEN DE-FURYYYYYY-O! Time of the goal 6:19 - DeFurio to Bourque!" Awesome.

Brief recovery while the consolation game is played. Championship game starts at 9:30pm. A battle royale, start to finish. I had the fortune of scoring the first goal of the game on a great pass from the blue line from one of our young defensemen. Another indelible memory - scoring a goal in a championship game on Mellon Arena ice. So we fought hard the rest of the way. So did they. If you've never played hockey it's hard to describe the intensity, speed, and emotion through the game's ebbs and flows. Just surreal. We win 5-4 on a Bourqie game-winning goal with 3:00 minutes to go. Held off our opponent's empty-net assault in the final 2 minutes for the win.

So yes there is a cool cup/trophy on which all the winners' names are engraved. They presented the trophy followed by guys hoisting the cup, team photos, equipment everywhere, guys getting pictures with their wives and kids, etc. The guys were just, well, stoked. But through most of the revelry I quietly skated a few laps around the Igloo, soaking it all in and thinking about the likely hundreds of events I've been to in this soon to be memory of a facility. Learning to skate and to play this game as an adult made it all the more unlikely that I should find myself here. Plus I got to share it all with my hockey buddy Bret who just lit it up the entire weekend.

The folks from work who gave me this gift - and attended the semi-final game as huge fans - have no idea what a gift this was.

The Day of Reckoning is Nigh

2010-02-09T13:14:00.000-05:00

Well, if I'm not ready now, I won't be. Start Friday with 3 days of INTENSE hockey. 4 teams, each captained by a former Pen (my captain is the Ol' 2-9er...cool!!!). Finish up on Sunday on Mellon Arena ice. Hopefully in the championship game.

My team is the Chinstraps. German national team jersey colors (black/red trim). Bust out the ice and ibuprofen...this silliness is gonna hurt.

Update

2010-01-05T11:52:00.000-05:00

Been on the ice 7 times (including 3 games), ran 2x, RODE 2x! (indoors), some light lifting...feeling ok....so far, so good...maybe some XC skiing is in my near future with this sweet snow...

Comeback Begins

2009-12-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

So the people at work get me a spot at the Pittsburgh Penguins "Fantasy Camp" Feb 12-14. Intense three days of hockey with guys who can play. Figures that this is the first time in 20 years I haven't been skating for 3 months by now. With my various injuries, I haven't done shit in 3 months. 49 days to get in shape. I hit the weights and the ice on Christmas Eve, then skated again yesterday. I hurt from head to (still sore) toe. Who knows, maybe I'll build some riding into this workout routine...

Saved the quad...

2009-11-21T19:52:00.000-05:00

...from damage as my chainsaw accident required only 8 stiches to close up and didn't get into muscle. By myself, happened so fast I didn't even realize it. 80 mph to the ER...didn't want to look at it....but it wasn't bleeding too bad so I knew I was lucky. Get to yank the stiches in 10 days. Despite the scare, no worse for the wear. Afib even warned me to be careful.

Man do I suck.

Checkin In

2009-11-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

The boys were out on the MTBs today.I almost went, but instead headed over to the new property and spent another entire day with chainsaw in hand. I thought the whole gang was in the woods, but I almost delivered a log when Richy and Randy startled me as I was cutting wood. They were about 2/3 of the way through the Fear This 14 and stopped to say hi. It was good to see them. Took a short break, Richy shed some clothes in the back of my Suburban, and off they went. It was a gorgeous day and I was jealous.

Bridge Over the River Conno-Q

2009-10-19T14:24:00.000-04:00

Broke the law twice on the 'cross bike w/ HD Saturday morning....first time riding over the (closed) new Wayne St bridge, second time riding back over the (closed) new but muddy Monroe St bridge.

You say 'cross...

2009-10-09T16:11:00.000-04:00

...I say just checkin' in. Haven't ridden much at all since the 9/11 ride...swore this wouldn't happen again this year...

Remembering 9-11

2009-09-12T09:14:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all (except one) who participated in escorting the American Flag from Butler to Cranberry yesterday. We did change time by altering the time space continuum as the clock turned backwards with our pace, but a very nice event overall. Many honks of support from motorists and even salutes from veterans along the way. Support was provided along the way at stops at NexTier Bank, BASF, and Mars National Bank.

Props to the United Way, Butler Radio, and the PA State Police. Thanks to HD for outstanding assistance/organization, as always.

The Kranicks boys turned up the heat on the ride home, making for a great workout on a 50+ mile day. I certainly was knackered when I got home.

Most importantly, we provided visibility in remembrance to the victims and families of the 9-11 attack on America. At the end of the day everybody had the chance to reflect and make sure that we "never forget".

A Dirty Joke...

2009-08-30T18:11:00.000-04:00

...is me on the MTB.

(image removed)

The opposite of posing is living in Boulder...AND having an altitude tent IN YOUR DORM ROOM!

When I was in college...early 80s...we trained with a rebreathing system. I think it was called "VO2 Max", but I'm not sure. You wore a mask connected to 2 tanks on your back with CO2 scrub crystals in a cannister, then went running/riding while rebreathing your expired O2, which is about 16%, compared to normal air which is 21%. It was PAINFUL, hot, and really uncomfortable. Gee why didn't it last? That system is so archaic now that I couldn't find a hint of it on a google search. I'm frickin' old.

PS Stay tuned for an easy group ride mid-October following the same course as LaTour.

(Initial) Top Ten LaTour De LaTonka Memories

2009-08-17T08:52:00.000-04:00

10. Richie flying on Stage 20; Richie flatting on Stage 21.
9. The somewhat regular warning shout of "horseshit!" to the peloton.
8. Bleary eyes upon arrival in the morning.
7. Frosty having a Heiny Light waiting before I was off the bike!
6. Johnny Mac taking the first K.O.M.; Johnny Mac plotting his s**t strategy for the last 16 stages.
5. The great attitude of everyone while we BAKED...even with a 2-hour time overrun.
4. Holding Turner's wheel...sometimes.
3. Henry's outstanding scoring and support assistance.
2. The volunteers...Ali, Ali, Hunter, Tic, Afib Rider, and Tracey.

...and the no.1 Latour de LaTonka memory is...

1. THE PAIN!

Euro Trash Talkin'

2009-08-13T15:56:00.000-04:00

I hope you Ag3r wussies are ready to GO DOWN!!! The LaTour de LaTonka is about to commence and The World is going to kick your sorry ass! Get ready to eat leDust!!!

Posing Is...

2009-08-04T14:50:00.000-04:00

...taking Skip up on a throw-down challenge, all while talking trash, deferring redemption until next year, and committing teammates without their knowledge to said challenge.

All I need is 12 months, 5000 miles, and minus 30 lbs...

...that, boys, is how one poses.

Check Your email Boys!

2009-07-31T13:41:00.000-04:00

The Official LaTour-day-LaTonka Race Program has been delivered!

laTour Update

2009-07-29T11:08:00.000-04:00

It's coming together...stages are set (unless I need a last-minute re-route of a stage or 2 to get around fresh TAR & CHIP crap...are you as tired of those "ROAD TO BE OILED NEXT WEEK" signs as I am? Our tax dollars at work...sheesh).

We may have up to 20 riders...that's 10/team for those who struggle with math. Race program almost complete - look for it in your email soon. I may be biased, but I think this is going to be a pretty cool event. If nothing else, it's unlike any ride you've done before. Stay tuned for team match-ups too...possibly the most unique blend of riders I could have hoped to assemble...

fna

2009-07-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

37 years old, 4 years off, return to a podium finish at the Tour...new team next year, coming back as team leader...wahoo...

LaTour de LaTonka & the Tour

2009-07-23T11:36:00.000-04:00

la-T-da: We're up to 18 confirmed riders, and 3 confirmed support guys (out of commission and/or retired from racing). This is going to be an interesting combo of riders...all kinds of strengths and experiences. And these stages aren't long, but there are 21 of them condensed into a 60 mile ride. My hope is that the most effective team tactics determine the outcome, and given the mix of ability and the course I think this will be the case...

The Real Tour: Okay, Contador was there first, so I guess he should be the guy, and he is undeniably strong...but attacking a 4-man breakaway when 2 of the guys are YOUR TEAM and the other 2 are your chief rivals, on the same team, who have everything to gain and nothing to lose? (and gain they did) Stupid, selfish, or both. He deserves for Lance to come back as a competitor and spank him in '10.

Plus, I hate anyone under 150 lbs. Except Sammy.

See? Told Ya So....

2009-07-16T11:13:00.000-04:00

Contributed by the Bike Snob, by way of HD, aka Sonic:

Ride, Don't Train And thank your lucky chamois that you're not paid to pedal. As the season gets into full swing, you may find yourself working to achieve this year's cycling goals. This is a tremendous mistake.

Just as rules are made to be broken, beer is meant to be drunk and tubulars are meant to be punctured on the very first ride, so are goals made to be missed. The world is a beautiful place, full of endless possibilities. Every glorious day is an experience yet to be had, a sensation yet to be felt, a cheese yet to be tasted. Why then rule out all of these possibilities by focusing your entire existence on getting a top-10 finish in the Cat 4 field of the Blue Ridge Properties Kingsport Criterium in Kingsport, Tennessee, on July 12th?

Obviously some people need goals. These people are called "professional cyclists," and they exist to entertain us. We thrill to their victories, and we laugh uproariously at their defeats. However, while we should enjoy the exploits of professional cyclists, we should not seek to emulate them. Does Alberto Contador spend his leisure time cleaning people's teeth or folding clothes at Banana Republic? No, he does not. We do these things because we're paid to do them. Why should we want to do his job for free?

Even worse, some cyclists actually pay other people to help them experience the needless stress of being a professional. These people are called "coaches," and they set goals for you that are even more masochistic than the ones you might have set for yourself. This is like Alberto Contador paying your manager at Banana Republic to berate him for his poor folding technique.

Cycling is fun. Whether you prefer to race, or tour, or just get on your bike and wander, it's all volunteer work, and the only way you can really lose is to hurt yourself. Setting goals serves only to reduce the limitless vista that is cycling enjoyment to a tiny sliver of possibility in which you have maybe a fifty-fifty chance of succeeding. And I don't like those odds.

The Bike Snob

LaTour de LaTonka Is On!!!

2009-07-13T14:17:00.000-04:00

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!

The first ever le Tour de Latonka will be held Sunday, August 16, 7:00a.m.

RENFREW RAS MUSINGS:

Special props to Ed Johnson and Henry Dimmick for the Renfrew Ras Road Race yesterday. HD did it again, a great race for the participants and a super first time event.

Couldn't - wouldn't - have been the caliber that it was without the Ag3r gang - not sure I've ever seen that level of volunteerism from one team at one event. Bike races are so much better when they are run, organized, and staffed by bike racers. Good job guys.

I missed a key element of posing in front of my fellow racers - legs weren't shaved. Won't make that mistake again.

Game On!!!

2009-07-04T09:45:00.000-04:00

Let's go Lance!!!

State TT Championships...

2009-07-01T12:54:00.000-04:00

...great showing boys...makes me wanna train... (chin scratch)....hmmmmmm....

Mark Your Calendars!!! Inaugural "LaTour de LaTonka"

2009-06-22T14:05:00.000-04:00

Get ready boys!!! The first-ever intra-squad competitive race is coming your way!

WHERE: Start/Finish Lake Latonka, Mercer County (my place).

WHAT: A handi-capped, intra-squad 2-team battle of current and former Ag3r/Fox Mellow/Velo riders and invited guests of the Ag3r/Butler Health System Cycling Team. This will be a competition. Imagine a 21-stage race packed into one day! There will be sprint stages, climbing stages, rest stages, and of course, ITTs and TTTs. While there will be individual placings/awards, the emphasis will be on team vs. team competition. Tactics will matter! A full race program will be forthcoming so that all participants can study each stage and prepare accordingly.

WHEN: Sunday, August 16, 7:00 a.m. If all goes well I anticipate that we'll be back by noon.

WHO: You you freakin' slacker!!!

WHY: Been a while since we all got together. Actually, with this crew, I don't think we've ever all been together. Plus it makes me feel like I'm still involved in cycling.

OTHER: For this day and this day only, I will be functioning as Directeur Sportif. I hold sole discretion of team placement & match-ups (which will be announced just prior to the event), stage routes, and any rules I make up along the way. If I am at all fit by then, I will participate as a rider as well. If this happens, I hope to draw Tic out to be the Race Director/Support Vehicle Driver/Keeper of Stats/Radio Man/Phil Ligget/Paul Sherwin/(and most importantly) Bobke all rolled into one (no wait - I get to be Bobke!).

MORE: We will end the race with lots of beverages and food, and of course an awards ceremony. Please plan on being there!!!

Smilin' Like a Butcher's Dog

2009-06-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

The long grind is over...in one of the best comebacks ever seen in professional sports, the Pens went from being out of the playoffs in 10th place in mid-February, to hoisting the Cup after 4 grueling rounds of playoffs. To me the most impressive aspect of the whole deal was how each and every member of that team contributed. The marquis players lived up to their reps and anchored this thing, but the "role" players clinched it. Even if you're a fair weather hockey fan, I hoped you jumped on the bandwagon, because we witnessed what in my mind is one of the most historic chapters and moments in Pittsburgh sports history.

You can have your Steelers - I'll take the Pens.

The Opposite of Poser

2009-06-08T09:03:00.000-04:00

A big shout out to Abbey Rogers...graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and gymnast extraordinaire.

She comes from good stock.

I know not of which you speak...

2009-06-04T10:09:00.000-04:00

"Some of the people from Indiana know of a rider who's sweat can eat through steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber over a winter's training sessions."

???

Posing Fundamentals

2009-05-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

One must display visible symbols that give the distinct impression that he is an active participant in the sport in which he supposedly participates. For example, these can be found on my rear window:

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=bacab68173&view=att&th=1218cf3fc3859495&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=bacab68173&view=att&th=1218cf35c6d373fc&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

Training & The Boss

2009-05-20T09:48:00.000-04:00

So I got a 20 mile ride in before I went to the Springsteen show. It worked out really well, because as it turns out, they serve recovery beverages there! And apparently they're made from all natural ingredients! But one of my recovery drinks must been contaminated...I don't feel so swell this morning. Hmm.

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T11:30:00.000-04:00

I thought it was pretty funny when Barack Obama said that Timothy Geitner had a problem with Mother's Day because he had never used the word "day" after "mother".

You know you're a poser when you actually stop to unload a bike for a ride, then bag it because it's too cold and too windy. It was 58F.

I is a puss.

Poser musings

2009-05-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

You may think that the poser life is a simple one. But I am here to tell you that it is indeed quite complex. While the burdern of training and racing is lifted, it takes serious effort to maintain the ability to talk smack, haul unused bicycles around, follow the pro peloton (okay this one is easy as couch time is actually enhanced), and otherwise be able to jump into any cycling-related discussion as if you are a worthy, active participant. The hardest part is, of course, occasionally stuffing yourself into a team kit that fit beautifully a few short years ago. I am a sausage.

Test Ride

2009-04-29T13:57:00.001-04:00

I don't know about this blogging/hang my ass out to the world/"hey look at me"/everyone needs to know what I did/am doing/will do cyber stuff. I think I may be more retro than Retro. Maybe I'll be back some day.