Doping tests

This has been boiling inside my brain since 8am.

I watched some chump cheat on a history exam this morning. The old note card sticking out of the bookbag trick. I bet he felt so clever. I thought he was a douche bag.

Now I realize that the world has it's fair share of liars and cheats but luckily I haven't had the chance to meet many of them in person. I also consider myself to be amoung those who has led a fairly honest life. As far as academic dishonesty, the only time I've gone astray was in 4th grade on a math test where we weren't allowed to use a calculator. I used a calculator. And I still feel bad about it. I just don't care enough about school to take the time to cheat. People who do suck.

Just thinking about somebody being that much of a jerk makes my head hurt. Watching this guy, it was immpossible to to focus on my own work. I was completly blinded by rage. I needed my whole body to just hate this guy. What a douche.

I'm slowly getting over it. The only red I'm seeing now is a box of Capn Crunch.

Fresh Air

It's amazing what opening a window can do. For the first time this year we have fresh, uncirculated air and it feels like, well, a wave of fresh air. It was noticable immediately. And just like that, I was able to string words together and make a posting. Albeit a weak one.

The rodeo came to town this weekend at East Stroudsburg. A legit rodeo. I have never seen as much rain as I did during the rodeo. In all reality, I probably have, but I'm just trying to illustrate the fact that it rained alot.

Take a look at this pretty little thing. No I'm not talking about me... Pictures like this one are hard to come by

After a 4 day rest period, I hoped back on the bike this morning. I met papa bear in Gettysburg for a self guided tour around the battlefields and surrounding areas. I could ride around Gettysburg forever. It gets better every time.

I can feel my eyes burning, which means I'm tired and need sleep. Why are my eyes always red?

You were always on my mind

Grey's Anatomy just doesn't do it for me. But as I sit watching the two hour season premier in a room steaming with estrogen, my mind is drifting elsewhere.

Australia.

This morning, for reasons that I'm not able to pin point, I found myself researching legal migration to the Land Down Under. Cost of living, fuel costs, health care systems, and taxation. I even passed the practice test for citizenship. I've always thought about how cool it would be to get my aussie on.

Who knows why

Ha! It'll never happen. I don't think... But about a month ago I came across some interesting info. 2009 Worlds in Australia, and I want to go. I'm trying to get ahead of the game for this one. Already working on what the selection process is and what races really count. I will have to try my hand at one or two World Cups this year. Holy crap. Thats a tall order but I'm going to make a serious attempt at this. I won't make any guarantees cause I'm not down with empty promises but I'm not taking it lightly.

Saturday I got to spend a day in the life of Matt Miller2.0(07) after cutting two tires during the short track within a 20 minute period. One warming up and the other on the penultimate lap. On the same rock. At least I was able to make up for it in the Super D where I had a smooth run. Crossing the line I felt like I put in a good time but probably not a winning one. Well, I didn't win...but I did take second. By half a second. And Brandon took third by 0.11. I don't know if I could handle DH racing if I had to win or lose by splits like those.

Don't let the black and white fool you, that's some major number plate bling. Try not to be jelous.

Closing time

The number of races is dwindling and so is my interest in it. One more bike scrimage this weekend. Well, two if you count the short track. I love the fall. Not because the leaves change colors or because of the mild weather or the apple cider. I like it because racing goes on the back burner for a while. Dont get me wrong, racing bikes is awesome. But not racing bikes is awesome sometimes too. I like not having to think about it or worrying about getting saddle time in. I ride only when I really feel like it and its fun that way.

Speaking of short track, isn't it really just a short 'cross race. Everyone gets so excited about cross season each and every year. But no one likes short track. Isn't the reason for its popularity because of its sick and twisted kind of pain? It sounds fairly similar. Can somebody shed some light on the disparity of short track and cross love?

The only thing cooler than Mark Taylor is Mark Taylor laying into a corner. On flats.

Who's the man

Spent two nights with the lady this weekend. It was like spending a few days as Jane Goodall studying primates. I had no idea the opposite sex could be like that. It was just like in the movies. During my time there I cooked up one of my favorite meals. It looks a little something like this: Pinneapple Chicken Fa-gee-tas
Also on the food front, I found a local farm market just outside of town and paid a visit. They have lots of season fruits and veggies grown by the very folks selling it. I picked up a bushel of apples, pear and apple butter. To be honest, they are the best apples I have ever eaten. No joke.

Paradise Blend

Fresh posting on cyclingnews.com on their latest Project Bike. The Scott Spark. Sub-20lb double squish. Sick...

Visual Aids- Tour de Duece

Finally was able to swipe some pics from the Tour de Brew a few weekends back. The inaugural edition last summer was unique enough that I made it a definite destination again this year. The promoters one-up'ed the course from last year, which ran through the Allentown Brew Works, by running the event through the adjacent parking garage in addition to raging through the brewery. After pulling off a a pretty poor celebratory wheelie across the line, the PR began. The local news station asked for an interview, pictures were taken, and then I stepped on the podium to receive my gallon container of beer.
I'm not sure how much cooler this race can get next year.

Photo credit goes to Andy B

Photo Hunt

"This is awesome, what a stress-free race"

Indeed, the Seven Springs 24 Hour was very stress-free. It turned out to be a very long, fun ride with Brandon, sweeping the top 2 spots. From the start we held a consistant pace, keeping our lap times well under 1:20 until the sun disappeared. By about 3am we had put third place 2 laps down, and from there til the finish it was more or less just damage control unitl we had the top two spots locked up. We finished the race with 16 laps, 200 miles and approx. 24,000 ft of climbing. We had time to fit in a 17th but we found it to be a bit redundant.

Key points worthy of mention:

- "Getting a gap" in the opening laps of a race this long is not a foremost concern.
- Pizza works wonders on the 2am bonk.

-The greatest people you know are the ones who can stare you in the face and tell you that they don't care how much it hurts to ride your bike at 4 in the morning, and make you get back on.

- Inducing vomiting can make you feel like a million, no- make that two millions, bucks

- There is always one more lap. Always.

-My taint may actually be made of steel.

Recovery is coming along nicely. Sunday was rough. Monday was alot better. Today is mostly normal. Actually went clothes shopping on Monday which is unusual. Now I own some sweet new threads that don't have race logos plastered all over. Who woulda thought. I'll have to get used I guess.