Wee Man Spotted
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007I saw Sven getting ready for a run as I was riding on the south side of Lake Calhoun last night.
I said “Hey Sven.”
He said “hey.”
Archive for March 28th, 2007
For future reference
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007Elaine Larabie tells the Ottawa Citizen that for three days she suffered symptoms that included loss of appetite, vomiting, foaming at the mouth and trouble urinating. She went to an emergency room on Tuesday and is now awaiting test results from blood work.
After noticing her dog, Missy, wasn’t eating, Larabie said she took bites of Iams pet food in order to trick the terrier into thinking it was people food.
The ploy worked and the mealtime routine continued for about two weeks until both dog and master became sick on March 17.
It wasn’t until she saw a TV news story about the Menu Foods recall that she connected the dots.
Yea…from my experience, if the dog isn’t eating then something is wrong. If you have to eat dog food for two weeks to trick your dog into eating then something is really wrong.
Actually, any time you have to eat dog food something is really wrong…
Paris-Roubaix
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007Announcing the 1st annual Smithers Paris-Roubaix pool.
April 15th is the race. Entries due April 14th by 9pm Central Time.
Pick your top four finishers. Points are awarded as follows:
1st – 25 points
2nd – 10 points
3rd – 5 points
4th – 1 points
Banjo Brothers saddle bags for the top 4 in the pool. Bragging rights exclusively for the winner.
Send your entires to me by e-mail.
UPDATED 3:43pm - I want you to pick the finishing order for the top four. Don’t just send me a list of four riders.
What would I do? (part 4)
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007Totally embrace nuclear power for the United States.
The resistance to nuclear power from fission is due to the concern over the amount and the toxicity of waste. The fact is that nuclear power plants produce far less overall waste than fossil-fuel based plants. In countries with nuclear power, radioactive waste comprises less than 1% of total industrial toxic waste. Plus, if reprocessing was used in the U.S. as it is used in Europe, 95% of the remaining uranium and plutonium in spent nuclear fuel can be recovered.
Once we have a (relatively) clean source of energy in the form of electricity from nuclear power I would set about using electricity for nearly everything. To name a few:
• A national electric powered high speed rail network for the transport of goods and people. This would reduce the need for for fossil fuel based trucking and airline travel.
• An aggressive phase in of electric powered passenger vehicles and trucks.
• Electric home heating systems for air and water.
Basically, I would look at anything that we are currently powering using a fossil fuel and convert it to electricity if possible.
I would also initiate a fully government funded crash program to develop power from nuclear fusion.
Pro News
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007
Sheesh, no wonder his back hurts. He looks like he’s riding a BMX bike.
In other news…
A collision with a tractor Tuesday evening has put an end to Andreas Klier’s hopes of a successful Spring Classics season. The crash left the T-Mobile rider with a broken right cheekbone and a concussion.
How do you run into a tractor? Those things only go, like, 5 mph?
McCain
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007On the Today show:
I am confident that given the opportunity, we can have success. The consequences of failure are catastrophic because if we come home, bin Laden and Zarqawi, they are going to follow us.
This Zarqawi?
Breaking Point
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007You’ve been there.
At the point of the arrow. A handful of other riders with you. Working, fighting, struggling to stay off.
Everything starts well enough. The break is working, everyone is doing well.
But, at some point, things start to dry up for you.
You change your gears, adjust your cadence, change your hand position on the bars. You try and figure out the magic formula that is going to keep you in the race.
You start paying closer attention to the other riders as they pass you in the rotation. Is that guy soft peddling because he feels good or because he feels bad? Is this guy stomping because he is strong or desperate?
You quickly develop an appreciation for those riders who can take their short pull and move through smoothly. You curse those who accelerate when they hit the front. Their acceleration causes the rider behind them to match the acceleration causing the rider behind to match as well. This is making it harder for you to get back in the rotation after your turn at the front. Do you say anything? Do you show your weakness?
You can get away with missing a pull in the rotation here and there. Take a drink, stretch your back, something, anything just to get a break from the pain. Start missing too many turns at the front and you are going to catch an ear full from your companions.
Each time you pull off the front it gets that much harder to get on the wheel of the final rider in your group. A few inches are no problem, a half a wheel can be shut down pretty quickly, but soon it’s half a bike length. You just gave your effort at the front and now you are having to give another effort in quick succession just to keep from losing contact.
It’s obvious now, the other riders can tell that you are hurting. You assume that they are feeling as bad as you are but, deep down, doubt creeps in. Are these guys stronger than you?
At that moment one of your companions ups the speed just the slightest amount. It’s probably the maximum that he can do since he is hurting too, but this slight increase in speed is like a knife in your back.
You are at 100%, no longer fighting to stay off the front but fighting just to stay with your companions. If you are dropped your race is over. You are at the breaking point. Your legs are screaming for you to stop, sit up, give up. You are debating if this is worth it. These guys are stronger than you, they have better fitness, it’s just not your day.
This can all be over right now. Just stop pedaling. Stop.
Do you? End the pain? Accept defeat?
Do you fight? Are your companions also at the breaking point? A few more moments and it can be one of them instead of you?
Is your brain stronger than your legs?
Is your victory across the finish line or just across the breaking point?
Are you going to find out?
