Why White?

White looks good for about the first 2 hours of use. After that it is dirty and dull.

Here are some of my observations:

White sock bottoms. Looks good until the first time you walk on them without your bike shoes.

White bike shorts. They get wet or thin and the whole world gets to see your junk and ass crack. Thanks for the visual because you bought white shorts.

White handle bar tape. Looks good until the first time you go for a ride. Then it looks dull and dirty. After a while it is pretty much grey. All that for $20 out of your pocket.

Back to white shorts. Actually light colored shorts. Here are some examples why you stick to black.

Team Junk

George packs left

Stick to black

Only in California

Public Service Announcement

One BIG reason why you should not eat out on a regular basis.

Eat a bowl of soup and die.

THE SALTIEST FOOD IN AMERICA
P.F. Chang’s Hot and Sour Soup Bowl
6,878 mg sodium
Sodium Equivalent: 13 large orders of McDonald’s french fries or 208 saltine crackers

MISHEARD LYRICS

Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter

For years I had absolutely no idea on what Eddie Vedder was singing. Now I know. :)

It's Been a Wild Ride

I will never forget the day. Sunday, February 8, 2009. I went to sleep and I heard an annoying ringing in my ears. Annoying but no big deal so I complained but eventually went so sleep without too much thought of what was about to happen. Anyway, it turned out that the ringing wasn't a temporary thing. At least a couple hour or day temporary. It had Tinnitus and it almost destroyed my life. What's Tinnitus? Well that was my first question. It is basically continuous ringing in the ears, or at least perceived ringing int he ears. I have never heard of this nor that someone can get continuous ringing in the ears. Anyway, I had it and the next two months where the worst two months of my life. Hard, emotional, stressful, agony can only start to describe the ordeal. Panic, anger, scared, frustration can only start to describe the emotional roller coaster. I was going crazy and having thoughts that I couldn't comprehend only a couple days before. It was a continuous, high pitched noise like a dental drill in my head and I couldn't ever get away from it.

I just want to say that I would have never made it without the empathy of friends and family, my two daughters, doctors that were able to provide prescriptions, the employee assistance program and talking to people that have gone through this ordeal. I am not joking when I say I would have not made it. I also understand a lot more about people suffering, but what I learned the most is that you cannot suffer alone. If I didn't seek help I wouldn't be here today.

Enough said. The ringing isn't gone but it is to the point where I only hear it when I go to sleep at night. I'm back on my bike and back to a somewhat normal life.

Why I'm not a sprinter

Watch the right hand side of the screen. Enough said.

Lyrics of the Day

"He who laughts last is just a hand in the bush"

(Ozzy Osborne, "No More Tears")

RIP - My Faithful Cosmos Wheelset

After 7 years and just about every kind of riding situation my Mavic Cosmos wheelset finally died. Actually they are being euthenized because the price to do a full overhaul would probably be the same as purchaing a new wheelset. Thanks for all the memories.

Natalie Merchant

A rare talent

My Season Saved by a Pumpkin Scone

Yesterday it all came to a head while riding home from work.

I was tired of being cold.
I was tired of feeling like crap.
I was tired of dieting and training.
I was tired of power workouts.
I was tired of riding with a backpack.
I was tired of my tired legs.
I was tired of constantly stretching.
I was tired of my routine.
I decided to hang up my bike and dust off my golf clubs.

The only problem was that I had to make it home to start my retirement and this wasn't as easy as you think because I had completely cracked. I was feeling so bad that I found myself riding along San Tomas Expressway at a whopping 13 mph and hurting.

I said to myself, "What in hell am I doing?" Right then I pulled into a Starbucks and decided to get some coffee and food. I was in such a daze that it took me about 10 seconds to notice that the girl behind the counter was talking to me. She gave me a weird look when I snapped out of my daze and replied. It turns out that she is a triathlete and was excited about the biker guy coming into Starbucks. Anyway, I hope she didn't get a bad impression of bike racers.

To get back to my story I relaxed, ate my "pumpkin scone" and drank my "tall drip with room for cream." I mounted my bike and dreaded the remaining ride home. To my amazement everything completely changed in about 5 minutes. I found myself feeling great and riding home at 22 mph with relative ease. Anyway, my retirement lasted about 10 minutes and I never dusted off my golf clubs. Thanks to a pumpkin scone and a cup of coffee.

Skunk!

I was riding down the Tomas Aquino Creek Trail/Saratoga Creek Trail when going under Great America Parkway I come across a skunk moseying along the other way along the wall. I was going at a good pace so if I stopped I would have stopped right next to the skunk. I decided that wasn't a very good idea so I keept rolling and hoped we each pass and go our merry way. Anyway, I guess I scared the hell out of the skunk because he stopped and looked for an excape route. When it was obvious he was screwed he backed up and up comes his tail. I say to myself, "Oh $hit!", and proceed to close my eyes and hold my breath for the possible shower of skunk spray. I rolled passed and was planning to access the damage when I was in the clear. There is always some kind of skunk smell so I wasn't sure if I was a smelly bike rider or not. Before I stopped I was thinking that there was not way I can go to work smelling like a skunk and I would have to really argue justification to taking the day off. I would have gone home and my wife would have kicked me out of the house too. Basically I was screwed. Anyway, to my amazement I was free from any skunk smell.