Cycling Update

Last weekend my Beautiful Wife and I had a wonderful time doing the bike ride at Texas Motor Speedway. When we arrived we drove through the south tunnel to the garage area where check in was set up. The shirts were the nicest looking of any I've ever received at one of these events. The weather was cool and damp with light showers...perfect for cycling.

We started on pit road and made a lap around the track. I was AMAZED how high the banking was! It's steeper than the roof on my house. After the lap we went out the north tunnel and made 1.5 laps around the speedway perimeter then back in the south tunnel. This was just over 10 miles (the parking lot at this place is unbelievably huge).

They were also doing a 30, 50, and 100 mile ride. Just after we started my Beautiful Wife asked if I wanted to try the 30 miler. I told her to wait until we hit 10 and see how her pressure sensitive areas responded. When we rounded the last corner she decided that 10 was good for the day!

I've done 75 miles in a day before, and then it took another day before I could feel anything 'down there'...a very disconcerting feeling for a guy! As time has gone by I've gotten used to it. I also learned more about seat adjustment up/down/forward/back. One surprising thing is how much handle bar height and tilt affect your seat comfort. I don't get numb anymore. My limitation these days is how much (or little) life my legs have in them.

This was the first ride my wife has ever done with me...I hope it's not the last! Here are a few pics:

Looking at the start/finish line from just inside turn 4


Turn 4 in the background (My Beautiful Wife in the fashionable headwear of the day...boy, am I gonna pay for posting this one...)


Some VERY expensive condos.

Friday Funny

From my brother-in-law Skip:

The newly remodeled supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to keep produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and catch the scent of fresh hay.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The veggie department features the sound of a gentle breeze and the smell of fresh buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more...

Bunch of Cycling This Week

• The Tour of Italy started Saturday. While not quite as well know as the Tour de France this is still one of the 3 biggest cycling races in the world (the third being the Tour of Spain in October). Three weeks and well over 1000 miles of cycling is impressive. These guys get my respect...I'm blowing after 10 miles or so.
  
  

• ...this week is Bike-to-Work-Week and Friday is Bike-to-Work-Day. I'll be pedaling to work on Friday and my Beautiful Wife and I will be doing a fun ride on Saturday.
  
  
• Floyd Landis' doping hearing began yesterday. I haven't talked about this any but here goes: I think he got screwed. It does not make sense that he would take testosterone on one day, knowing it wouldn't help, knowing he would be tested and knowing what was at stake and how closely he would be watched. It DOES make sense that the French would be pissed off about another American winning, would botch/rig the test, would falsify the results of the re-tests and try to cover their butts. The lab doing the testing has already demonstrated they can't be trusted by leaking information to the press and not allowing Floyd's representative to observe the re-testing procedure. I know people who follow this are divided but I just have this feeling he's being railroaded and maybe taking a little heat for Lance Armstrong's success.




• Wednesday is the annual Ride of Silence again to honor those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roads. No one that I know falls into this category but I have had some close calls. The Dallas area is NOT bike friendly. There are no designated bike routes making it necessary to ride the main roads and mix it up with the automobiles. What few bike paths exist are for recreation and aren't useful for commuting or long distance travel. My experiences cycling have made me much more aware and attentive when I get in the car.

So, ride 'em if you've got 'em. Seriously, if you haven't tried cycling ever or since childhood give it a whirl. There's nothing like it! I've even got a cycle for Allison!

I want this job...

I can lay around and look cute. Taz Man and Wild Man not exactly living up to their names.

Two Less Lonely People In The World

I received wonderful news in my tiny blog-world yesterday:

Allison is engaged to be married! My Beautiful Wife and I are absolutely thrilled for her and her future husband. I'm sure he knows how lucky he is to find someone as wonderful as Allison. I wish for them a long life together with much joy. Both of you will be in our prayers!

BTW: That sound you hear in the background is the wailing and crying from all the guys with broken hearts who were left behind...