Out-ranted

Saw this via craigslist, that's some darn fine ranting. I hope I see "TYSONS1" on the road sometime soon.

almost smushed yesterday

Chap in a Chevy Blazer with a smashed mirror u-turned right in the middle of 18th St., and very nearly sent me flying the friendly skies. There's a nascent movement (web placeholder here) to tag all such offenders with minimum 10 yrs in the casa de cornhole and $7500. Count me in favour.

Marathon!

Snagged myself an entry to the Marine Corps Marathon. And having not jogged/run in several weeks, my first few 'training' miles left my hips and butt feeling (groan) semper fried.

I'm probably going against any sort of rational marathon training plan, but I haven't done any running races in years, won't stop bike commuting, and really don't plan to run any more than 3 times a week.

Visit to Moots

Sorry for the lack of posting, it's been a bit chaotic of late. Anyway, ran away to Colorado for a while, and imposed on the kind folks at Moots Cycles for a bit. Bike dorky pictures to be found here [fixed link, hopefully].

All I Want for Christmas

A flask with Sheldon Brown's face etched on it.

Biking is for losers, go to DeVry instead.

The online education folks at DeVry University ("Virtually A University") have a new TV spot running during Spike TV's nightly 1AM rerun of "The Shawshank Redemption." Our protagonist, Joe Pitstain, is pedalling his bike through traffic, as textual taunts of his friends' glamourous careers go whizzing by ("Julie -- accountant"). My fingers are already poised over the telephone in a quivering, number-poking state of readiness.

Joe, now acutely self-conscious of the stench of failure produced by bicycle commuting, enrolls at DeVry, and acquires himself a new "Sports Sedan." Way to go, Joe. Enroll in our grad school, and you'll get that Hummer! I'm already shopping for some new stretchy-waist Sansabelt slacks.

Perhaps I should retreat a little bit, as I actually think technical schools in general, and online technical training in particular, are among the most undeservedly disrespected education channels out there. But too many of us bless off on the notion that success is best measured in 0-60mph times. Does it seem right that an institution that appeals to folks investing in themselves, trying to hop up a class in our very divided society, courts their scarce dollars with a promise of success centered around ditching your bike for a "Sports Sedan"?

Newest Olympic sport...

... Bicycle traffic jousting. Though I don't see any cheesy berets or doping scandals in my future, as I would never ever ever (hi mom!) ride like these future Olympians.

Seriously though, how about cyclocross as a new Winter Games sport? The IOC hierarchy is apparently Eurocentricizing, and cyclocross would reverse the recent trend of adding Yankee Doodle Friendly events like the countless snowboard contests littering the NBC's terriblo Torino coverage. In the tradition of biathlon (cross country skiing and target shooting), nordic combined (XC skiing and ski jumping), and doubles luge (that's where in the world Matt Lauer is!), cyclo-x is the perfect Olympic sport for the new Euro regime. Road bikes with knobby tires, snow, sand pits, cow bells, drunk Belgians -- it pulls off that same double of making absolutely no logical sense, yet holding a quirky appeal because of its provincial roots (not many other sports prominently feature beer gardens).

Vancouver 2010, i'd sure love to turn on the 'Today Show,' and see Al Roker attempting a running remount after shouldering a Ridley or Merckx up a steep muddy slope.