Champion of the World

I am not that. I am not Belgian. I am not a Pro Tour Rider. Heck I
don't eve race locally. However, for $30 bucks I could not pass this
jersey up.

Match Freak

Sure they match my bike, just like my new shoes, bit I swear they were
on sale.

Unimpressed

Thanks to a promotion at work I am now a two smartphone kinda guy.
This is my first Blackberry experience. After 3 months with my iPhone
all I can say is meh. Maybe the Bold or Storm are better, but the 8830
does nothing for me.

2009 prep

Finally I have my white cycling shoes. My American feet couldn't find
their Sidi fit, but these will do.

last four....

purchases from iTunes:

• the frey - you found me
• britney spears - circus
• GNR - sweet child of mine
• buckcherry - too drunk

what is wrong with me ?????

Indoor Training

One pin away from perfection. Next up is mastering the Wii while on
the trainer.

Training Train

Jump on while you can.

2008, the numbers....

you know aham23 loves his numbers. :)

2008 was my 3rd year of roadie adventures. i continue to enjoy cycling immensely. i pushed myself on the bike more then any other year. running was pretty much non existent, but that was ok.

these were some of my key events of 2008:

11.8.08 - Gobbler Hobbler 10k - 48:50
11.2.08 - Canal Connection 10k - 50:19
9.28.08 - Harvest 5k - 23:27
9.20.08 - Psimet Invitational - 67.2 miles / 3:07 rt
8.16.08 - Dairyland Dare - 131 miles/8:23 rt - 9:23 total
8.10.08 ABR Time Trial (2man with Psi) - 50K / 1:24 = complete sufferfest & 100% FUN.
7.12.08 - RAIN - 160 miles/7:56 rt - 9:03 total
7.4.08 - JBC 4th Metric - 62 miles/3:16 rt
6.1.08 - Udder Century - 100 miles/5:06 rt
5.31.08 - BFNIC Double or Nothing - 64 miles/4:09 rt
5.24.08 - Soldier Field 10 - 1:29
4.27.08 - BFNIC Spring Classic - 60 miles/3:60 rt
4.26.08 - birth of the Double or Nothing - 24 miles / 2200 feet climbing / 25 mph winds = EPIC

Total Cycling Miles = 3182
-my personal best by 600 miles. included topping 700 miles in August.
-logged outside rides in 9 of the 12 months.

Total Running Miles = 235 miles

Total Trainer Hours = 50

i really had some nice cycling moments this past year. i started participating in a local bike shop's Saturday group ride. they call it a "B" group ride, but several of these efforts yielded 19 mph plus averages for the 40 miles. i found myself being one of the stronger riders and that was a nice feeling. Psimet and i tried out the Spin Doctors (club know for their "hardcoreness") and i was pleasantly surprised at how strong both of us rode.

the BFNIC Double or Nothing weekend was likely my favorite of the year. 62 miles with 6200 feet of climbing on Saturday followed up on Sunday with 100 miles in 5 hours. it was early in the season, back to back hard efforts, with a great bunch of riders. man, that was too fun.

i think the moment that defines my 2008 season took place at the Dairyland Dare. a lovely 200k ride with 12,000 feet of climbing. the mileage was around a 100 and the road was Shop Hill. i wanted to stop, heck i wanted to quit.

"just keep spinning, just keep spinning...."

what a tough SOB of a ride that was. good times indeed.

i wanted 2008 to be my year of cycling and i think the goal was achieved. i maxed out my time over the summer to get those miles. i started the year off with a nasty IT Band issue, but after that i avoided injury. i took time off when i felt the burnout rolling in (September). i will get more mileage in 2009, but that will require more cold weather riding.

despite a higher mileage goal for 09 it will not be "the year of cycling, part two." no, there are big fish to fry or should i say big mountains to climb for 2009........

doing it right?

i love this show. i was bummed that its final season was cut short, done wrong, completely ignored and totally ruined by a writers strike and NBC big wigs. well, the gang is back on ABC to give its fans a proper send off and i am looking forward to it.

remember, no matter what troubles you, everything comes down to poo.

later.

Merry Christmas

and Happy New Year!

i have been enjoying some time off work, the net, and things.

i have been enjoying relatives stopping by for a stay, a trip downtown to State Street in zero degree weather, lots-o-beers, Chicago Pizza eat-a-thon and Rock Band'ing it until 2am.

best holiday wishes to everyone!!

later.

how old am i ?

who knew the home dreadmill could double as a stage? rock band on dudes. later.

Mixed Message

i forget, which one should i take before my 5 miler?

O

i am not sure where this deep hate comes from, but it is real. i can't stand Oprah Winfrey.

hey Oprah, you aint like everyone else and you are fat because you have no self control. you can keep your medical excuses and fancy diets and shove them up that 200 pound arse of yours.

why is this news? why am i wasting my time on it? why do i dislike her so? why? why? why?

TGIF.

Happy Festivus.

Later.

on your mark, get set........EAT

done with last week and on to this week. the next two weeks will be holiday binging at its finest, and/or lowest (?). in my line of work, people take me out and send things to our office. some good. some really good. some bad. some really bad. yet, we partake in them all.

today it was the Office Christmas lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy. this place is not my favorite, but that didn't stop me from stuffing my face. the tripple chocolate cake was delicious. no cocktails at this lunch though as the company frowns on it. stupid upper management.

Thursday it is lunch at The Capital Grill. this will be one of those all day steak and wine lunches. a week later i will be downtown Chicago at Smith & Wollensky for another all day'er. in between these two we will have stuff catered in and/or sent to us for munchies. the secretary staff normally whips up some (uh a lot) treats to bring in. it is just a holiday binge extravaganza.

oh heck, i almost forgot we have the Family Festivus this weekend. i am sure the red and green jello shots will be a plenty.

burping up Baked Ziti & Sausage while running on the home dreadmill was interesting tonight.

ok, Happy Holiday Binging to all and everyone!! later.

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks Week

anyone play high school foozeball? you recall hell week? well it was, maybe even still is, two-a-days in 100 degree heat with no water and kids puking in their helmets. all for the glory of high school football.

anyway, the first week of December is like that at my work place. yes, i mean like HELL. without boring you let me just say it is the nature of the beast.

good thing is my iPhone is telling me today is Friday. lunch time on Friday to be exact. praise be all that is Friday.

not much else going on. it is really cold and there is snow on the ground. i already hate my treadmill and the bike trainer. i see a Tripple Grande Non Fat Pepperment Mocha Twist in my immediate future. i will probably drink too much red wine tonight and post something stupid over at BikeForums.net and/or Facebook.

TGIF and later.

eat, drink, and be turkey...

turkey for you. turkey for me. i would eat turkey out of big brown shoe.

just don't eat too much. i mean, unless you know the person who owns the shoe.

i got clearance from the tower to bring cycling paraphernalia to the In-Laws since projected temps down there are nearing 50 for our stay.

i have no cycling fitness, but will surely ride myself into the ground. good times.

i only had to be told once.

later.

Weekend Prep

Coffee....Check

Holiday Creamer....Check

Wine In A Box....................Check.

Later.

sent from my iPhone.

ready set go

Can you say 2009 RTR?

back to back to back....?

nope. no 10k this weekend. i did run today and i learned a valuable lesson;

cold + wind + hangover = horrible effort.

at least i know now.

ate a huge lunch at the Cheesecake Factory today. it was yummy.

if you want to be fooled into thinking the state of the economy is good head over to your local Apple store.

TGIS.

later.

TGIF

that is all.

later.