Thursday, September 3, 2009

Why the puck do I race?

Racing costs money...and I dont have any.

So why do I race?

Because its the most fun I have ever had.

I enjoy competition.

I like the atmosphere. (most of the time)

I am a masochist.

I just like to...Why else would I?

You can win money....thats the main reason.

But really, I just enjoy racing my bike.



I really hate it when drama comes into play.

Were racing bikes, why do we have to hate one another?

Is life really that crappy?

If it is why are you racing?

If it causes that much poo in your life...why would you continue to do it?

Why ruin it for everyone?




Just try and have fun...and if you cant, well then find another thing to do so you can better enjoy life.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Bums, Hobos, Transients, Vagrants and other Homeless folk.

Sometimes, when I'm riding through the southern part of downtown Oklahoma City, mainly the cross-street of Reno and Classen, I notice a multitude of homeless folk just wandering about. My first reaction to these people is "holy crap I'm glad I'm not in their shoes." But most of the time, I think about this for a good chunk of the day and upon further review, I think "wow, it would almost be cool to be homeless.

What?! Did I seriously just think that? Why did I think that? Who thinks stupid stuff like this?

The fact of the matter is I think this stupid crap.

I wonder, who loves that guy....or this lady who's crossing the street....or those kids....I get really upset sometimes. I mean who honestly cares about those people? There at least has to be one person who cares about them. Nobody goes un-loved throughout life. At this point ask yourself, who cares about me? I guarantee theres one person, living that cares about you. Even the homeless have people who love them.

I also ponder, why are they homeless? What happened along the way? Are they crazy? Are they veterans? Who screwed them over?

Why is anyone homeless?

There are too many answers to this question. Many, if not most homeless in Oklahoma City are truly koo-koo.

Here's an experiment to prove this fact:

If you have the cojones go up to any vagrant pushing a cart, riding a bike or just meandering about and ask them to, if they are wearing a hat, please remove their hat.....You might need to coax them with money or food.....but chances are, the hat is lined with aluminum foil. Why? Who cares....they're crazy. Mostly, the common answer is its to block radio waves. Who knows...

Another common vagrant is the war veteran. They are just plain nuts....Drug addicts and what not....steer clear of these guys....While they are nice most of the time, they can turn very quickly.


Probably another very common hobo is the drug addict. The thrill of pushing that needle into the vein, taking pills, smokin herb and chronic has got these fun folk operating on white dog poo. They literally only think to the next acid trip. Constantly looking for that next fix.


How fun and exciting would it be to live like this? Chances are not very fun. I do however think it would most definitely be an event. One that would stick with a person forever.

But how would it be, to live....just looking for that next meal. Not even from paycheck to paycheck....meal to meal. Can you imagine? How terrible. It's really primitive and primordial to think about these people's thought process....Doing anything for food or shelter. wow...



A lot of times I like to make up stories for these guys.

For instance, theres a number of vagrants under the I-40 bridge at all times. A majority are just meandering around like zombies....and I like to pretend they are. So I will ride through there SO fast, not looking to the left or the right....just keeping my eyes straight ahead. Granted, the distance you are in hoboville to the time you are back in Oklahoma City is only a few seconds...its still fun.

Other times I like to give them names...like Jedidiah, Jose, Rosie, Bob, Susan, Princess, Mobutu and Khan.

Mostly I just wonder what it would be like to be homeless. How simple, or how complex life would become. Things would be drastically different.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Comparing two crazy sports.

Oh wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXo_e9buLww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUgENaPPPBg

and a couple cyclocross videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkOhzvv-4vA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWGnM_1ViZA

That was my first reaction to the clips you might have just watched...if you didnt watch them do so now, they will smoke your brain. So, your first question you might have is "what the heck is this stupid sport?"

Well, its one of many events that RedBull sponsors and organizes called the RedBull Romaniacs. They are races, much like cyclocross, that tests more or less the racers body mind and spirit. The events go through the Romanian (hence the term 'Romaniacs') countryside, up mountains, down treacherous decents, and event features a prologue as the first event.

The prologue, looks, sounds and feels just like a cyclocross race. With stupid manmade barriers for the riders to 'try' and clear, large crowds, beer, European women, beer and loud audiences....You would think upon arrival..."hey this is just like Hoogerheide, only no."

While the prologue is more spectator friendly, the rest of the races over the four day event are more like gnarly mountain bike races. As said before, they feature grueling obstacles....such as mountains that the racers must traverse up and navigate down. While speed is the name of the game in any race....duh, finesse is also key. One simply can't gun it and run it through a rock garden that looks ridiculously gnarcore...Well, you could but would you? I think uhh, no. Would you gun it over a set of barriers in a cross race? Of course. Maybe. No?

Another thing I thought to myself is how...by Zeus's beard, did these crazy Euros' come up with this? I think they planned it to be as silly, stupid, gnarly, stellar, super-duper, thrilling, hard and crazy as possible. What other sport set out to do that a long time ago? hmm....it starts with a C and ends with -YCLOCROSS.

I see cyclocross culture spilling over into other sport venues and it's awesome. I feel this is just another inadvertant way for the sport to grow and gain popularity.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

My First Article

Heres a link:
http://cxmagazine.com/equal-pay-in-cyclocross-one-young-mans-opinion#more-4152

Heres the article:
Equal payout for men and women cyclocross racers (and any racer in any discipline for that matter) is quite a big deal. It has been one of the hot topics not only in cycling, but many other sports around the globe for a couple years now. The Swatch TTR FIVE STAR Nissan X-Trail Nippon Open Snowboarding Competition in Japan, The Wimbledon Tennis Tournament and now the Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival are just a few examples of major sporting events in which both top men and women achieve the same outcome as far as a financial reward.


Why shouldn’t men and women get paid equal amounts? As far as we all know it costs the same amount to get to the events, equipment costs the same, and entry fees are the same amount. The prestige, in most minds, is the same. So why aren’t all sporting events in which men and women compete in separate gender categories the same? The answer to this is progression. The activity of sport started thousands of years ago, in which men and only men competed. It was not only frowned upon for women to compete, it was unheard of. Death was often the punishment for women who disguised themselves as men to compete.


The world saw women compete in the Olympics as early as 1900, however, in very few events and in very few numbers. Professional women’s leagues did sprout up throughout the 20th century only to fizzle out within a few years. While men’s sports continued to dominate and flourish, women still sought after equality in society let alone in sports.


Men’s sports have had not only time on their side, but also society. Time to progress and society to urge them on. Only in recent years (1990’s-now) have women seen success in professional sports. With only 20 years of professionalism behind women, it’s awe inspiring to look at our women who compete now and to look at where they all came from.


It’s honestly a great sight to see women achieve equal pay in racing. Not only is this good for the progression of women’s rights, but it’s good for the general progression of the sport. Equal pay means greater opportunities for more sponsors, more money and more participants. Granted, in a down economy, this can be a challenge, but all of these things generate interest which in turn generates prestige, which in turn generates progression. With the sport progressing, people may notice and want to start to race. Isn’t this the goal? And with more entrants creating revenue for the promoters and sponsors, this could mean sponsors might want to return the following years to help out. That’s exactly what this sport needs in times like these. It’s a cycle. Are you dizzy yet?


The opposing argument is that women’s racing doesn’t attract the same spectator draw and isn’t as deep. The smaller fields can warrant a few number of prizes, as the Ohio weekend has done. But while the spectator draw for women at some events may be lower, it’s a viscous cycle as well. In the states, where ticket sales or TV rights aren’t the backbone of a race promoter’s financial model, how much does this argument hold water? I’d be willing to bet you’d still see the same amount of race coverage on Cyclocross Magazine, giving sponsors as much value. And it’s clear that if you have a good calendar date and offer higher prize money, the top talent will come out. It’s no coincidence that Katie Compton is making the trip to Ohio for a rare domestic racing appearance. And although Compton often dominates her races, one only needs to notice the continuing buzz ten years later over Daniele Pontoni’s dominant debut on U.S. soil to realize that domination by a champion can be riveting for spectators as well.


Progression is what it’s all about. Without progression, sports die. We must strive to be progressive. Equal pay for men and women is only one factor in this very long and complicated equation. We are just beginning to see the wheels turn.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Nerf-Herders

Man, there are a lot of weird band names out there.

For instance:

Natalie Portmans Shaved Head


Thats by far the goofiest name for a band that I have found.




I need a job in which I make money.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Sunny disposition

Pretty happy I have been, sort of.

I've been mostly...cloudy.

Being bored for a week can do this to a dude. I haven't been to work once this week, besides Tuesday. I haven't been fired, no, I have been put 'on call' whatever that means....I'm a doctor now. A love doctor, that is. I suppose Terry down at the good ol' Bicycle Alley hired a few too many employees....I see a reoccuring theme in Oklahoma City bike shops....hmmm.

Oh well, nobody has the need for shop experience anymore. It's fine with me, this stuff happens. I really see no reason getting upset or glum about it all. What good will that achieve..? Nope, I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing.

School is starting in a couple of weeks anyway and I'll be somewhat busy with that. Cyclocross is coming up, so I won't need to be putting in the long miles. Oh, an internship as well. So needless to say I'm gonna be a wee bit busy til Deciembre. Well you could say I'm going to be workin my brain out a bit more than usual the next couple of years. Which is a very good thing.

I'm looking forward to trying this whole 'school' thing for awhile. I'm also looking forward to it being over and what comes after that...MYEAH BOY.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

I can look into your eyes and see poop.

My car, a 1999 Ford Escort SE station wagon, was recently wrecked.....and now it's BACK TO LIFE! Albeit it's not the same....It now sports 3 new body panels. A white right front panel, a red hood and a red front bumper. Also, a No Puffin sticker on the back...SHWEET. Yes, I love this car. It's true. It is a perfect "race gettin' to macheen". With a 3 bike roof rack on top, and loads of space on the inside, I can carry all yo race shtuff, or whatever you need. And I will, if you ask properly or if you don't smell or look too bad.

party party in my tummy.

SO, I am enrolled in three classes for the Fall Semester at OCCC. This is about two classes short of what I waaant to do but hey, I am at least enrolled. The classes I chose to take this semester are as fellows: Intermidiate Algebra, News Writing and Intro to Sociology. I might go back up to the school before school actually starts and see if there's any other classes I can still enroll in. I really really want to get school done and out of the way as soon as possible. Oncw I get my associates, I plan on at least moving out, finding a job and making a decent amount of money. Then once I get into the groove of things, go back to school and earn my bachelors on my own time. I feel this is a good plan. I feel it in my loins. My tenderloins. My pork tenderloins.



peas and carrots in my tummy.

CYCLOFRIGGENCROSS

I did a time trial lastnight on my road bike. I think I finished 5th on the day. I didn't go out with the expectation of winning. No I went out to see what sorta WHATS I could push. I averaged about 300 WHATS for about 30 minutes, minus about 4 minutes. On Monday I averaged 320 WHATS for 30 minutes. I felt this was good and I might be able to better that in the upcoming weeks before Hotter dan Hellito and GateWay Cup of Coffee. SO I WILL BE FLYING LIKE A PILOT IN THE LUFTWAFFE. Crash and burn. Thats me.


Red Baron
Pepperoni
Pizza

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Okaylahoma

Ok...I said some stuff a couple of days ago on this here blog, that I might of said without thinking through. I don't hate Oklahoma...I in fact like where Oklahoma City is heading. The city has a lot of great plans for bettering the community, both aesthetically and economically. With I-40 in the process of being re-located, I feel there is a huge oppurtunity for small businesses and the parks and recreations deptartment, with a proposed boulevard with a park streching down the middle and small shops lining the street. How cool is that...? With I-40 moving and the terrible stretch of highway that stands in it place leaving, there should be a lot of land development streching from about Reno Ave. to the Oklahoma River all the way to Agnew and Villa. Uhh, who else thinks this is stinkin cool? Sure..........Oklahoma City is REAALLY stretched out. I mean it is like, the 3rd largest city in the country (square feet)...or something like that. True, you can get nowhere on foot...and if you ride your bike anywhere, good luck not getting hit. For being a friendly city people who live here are terribly impatient and close minded. If you want to kill someone on your way to work, or to the gas station, or to soccer practice, or to church....be my guest. Just ask yourself if its worth hitting a person. I've had friends killed, and hit....just out riding...how cool huh? Yeah no. It's not cool, its terrible. Why risk it all to save....maybe a few seconds?

Anyway, I think Oklahoma City is headed in the right direction. I just nead a change of pace and scenery. I feel like once I get my degree, I will have exhausted all that this city has to offer me....for now. I'm just not very happy here, and I want to take a chance on bettering myself elsewhere. Take a chance on happiness. I like to take chances. They make life so exciting.


RESPONSIBILITY

I can handle it. Sometimes I like to, I just don't like being out of my element. But who does? Uncomfortablilty sometime is the best thing in the world for a person. I recently found this out....aaaand, its really changed my life for the definite good. But sometimes well, most of the time...we hate being uncomfortable because you are of course uncomfortable. Comfort is what any logical person seeks comfort, it just makes sense. Maybe it's because I've never been presented with a lot of responsibility....I don't know what it is and I dont feel figuring out why won't solve anything. I deal with it, day to day. Slowly but surely and better late than never, I am being more and more responsible. I find myself doing it. Maybe I'm growing up...? who knows..........who cares. So, I hope I clarified some stuff.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Fluid Recovery Drink


I've used many...many different recovery drinks over the years. Ultragen, Endurox, EAS, Recoverite, Chocolate Milk, etc...None taste nearly as good as Fluid. That, would have to be this recovery drinks strongest point...It tastes flippin good.
Thats not to say it doesnt do its job, or that its a one trick pony....No, the founders of this drink mix did their homework.

Nutrition Facts:
Serving Size: 2 scoops (67g) Servings about 16
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 128
Calories from Fat 0
Grams/% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g/0%
Saturated Fat 0g/0%
Trans Fat 0g/0%
Cholesterol 0g/0%
Sodium 250mg/10%
Total Carbohydrate 25g/8%
Dietary Fiber 0g/0%
Sugars 8g
Protein 7g/14%
Vitamin C 166%
Calcium 4%
Potassium 1%
L-Glutamine 2500mg
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Ingredients: Maltodextrin, crystaline fruit sugar, whey protein isolate, L-glutamine, natural tropical fruit flavor, citric acid, sodium citrate, soy lecithin, ascorbic acid, potassium chloride.
As you can see the list of ingredients is very small in comparision to other drink mixes. Theres not a lot of suger nor is there any corn syrup, which can cause your insulin to spike resulting in weight gain. So thats good, it wont make you fat, and its simple which translates into rapid absorbtion into the body (remember: 30 minute glycogen window), and it won't make your stomache upset. Also the simplicity of Fluid also means it IS gluten FREE. However it does have whey protein in it, so Vegans beware. Fluid's website also explains that all of the ingridients are supposed to work in 'synergy' to help you recover not only faster but also boosts your immune system, reduces headaches after workout and replenishes vital electrolytes lost in workout.
My experience:
I love Fluid, and I'm not just saying that. Fluid recommends 2 scoops for every 8-12 ounces of water. I use a 24 ounce bottle at home for my recovery drink so I doubled that. The drink does clump up if you mix it with cold water and shake it up and it does foam A LOT. I filled a quarter of the bottle with the four scoops in, and it foamed to the lid of the bottle. I found if you first add the mix, fill half the bottle up, and stir it doesnt foam and it will not clump. Once the mix is dissolved add ice and cold water and enjoy.
I also believe Fluid lives up to the testimonials and information on the website. It doesnt upset my somache, it is rapidly absorbed, and its cheap! At $29.99. A recovery drink, is a recovery drink. Most of them do their job with relative ease. The science behind them is not very complicated...We know what ingriedients work best to aid in muscle recovery and growth and we know what is lost during a workout. I think, that when a recovery drink tries to limit its side effects, and improve on taste and absorbtion into the body, that it becomes a 'better than the rest' mix. Fluid has definitly achieved that. www.livefluid.com

Monday, August 3, 2009

David and Goliath

I found this picture whilst searchin duh web.


Its from the Rad Racing GP last year.

Tim Johnson and Ryan Trebon

Internships



Well, I figured with me going back to school seeking a Journalism degree and racin bicycles....and internship could be pretty cool. So thats what I'm doing today. I'm emailing several magazines about a possible internship. So fingers crossed.






CYCLOFRIGGENCROSS






Oklahoma Cyclocross Series Schedule:






Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #1 - 10/12/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #2 - 10/19/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #3 - 10/26/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #4 - 11/09/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #5 - 11/15/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #6 - 11/16/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #7 - 11/23/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #8 - 12/07/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #9 - 12/14/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #10 - 12/21/2009



Oklahoma Cyclocross Series #11 - 01/11/2009









I plan on attending most of these races, as well as a few in Arkansas such as the Arkansas State Championships in Fayetteville, and possibly a couple UCI events like Jingle Cross up in Iowa, and maybe even the Mercer cup in New Jersey. The plan is to be a Cat 1 by the time these events roll around, so I can make a proper bid for the U23 national team either this year or the next. I would really like to check out the racing scene in Arkansas, seeing as that might be a place where I would like to move after college. I know Oklahoma City isnt doing it for me anymore......anyway. All the locations for the Oklahoma Cyclocross Series are tentative.






Base.

My new Cyclocross bike. (sort of)

My old Cyclocross bike.













Sunday, August 2, 2009

Life that can be.



Well, I'm going to college now, at least thats the plan. I plan on enrolling tomorrow at the local community college, Oklahoma City Community College http://www.occc.edu/. I really would like to get my Associates in Journalism as soon as possible. I only need 60 accredited hours, and I think if I work hard I can do it in a year and a half, at least thats the plan.






As soon as I graduate, I need to move. I'm just not diggin this vibe OKC is puttin out. I would like to start an internship somewhere before I graduate, to get out there and to see how the rest of the world opperates. I've pretty much only ever worked in bike shops...which don't get me wrong, it's great work but I think it might be time for me to grow up; just a wittle bit not TOO much. I like the idea of maybe working for a magazine or a newspaper. I don't want an upper management position, or anything that requires too much responsibility. Is this lazy? I don't think so. I can't handle a lot of responsibility....soo, why whould I seek a job in which theres a lot of it? That just don't make no sense, as my dad would say. No, I think a job that I can make just enough money to live comfortably sounds ridiculously awesome. I really don't want to make a TON of money....I actually have a hard time with money.






Money....ohhh money. It truly makes the world go round. I hate that saying, because its true. It really bothers me that soo much is done to make loads of money. People will do anything to get a quick buck. Or millions...or billions. What, would I do with all that money...? I have no clue. I dont like the thought of having a million doll hairs. Maybe its because my parents have done a lot for me, or maybe its because I've never had a lot of money but I'm fine with not having a lot of cash. I like simplicity. I hate stress, complications, arguements, etc. I dont have dreams of a lot of mullah....I cherish the simple things in life, it sounds incredibly corny but its true. Like I said before, maybe its because a lot has been given to me, maybe its because I'm immature, maybe its because I'm right. Who knows, we're about to find out.






CYCLOFRIGGENCROSS






Geezumz, I cant believe its almost here the season is finally about to start. I love the competition. I like being competitive. I HATE when people take it too far. I don't like it when people get incredibly upset over losing. Don't get me wrong, I like to win just as much as the next person, but I'm also okay with second....or even last. I truly love racing. I have too much fun doing it and its in my nature to try and win. I also like to watch and see how a race unfolds, the mind game, the tactical prowess it takes to win....and sometimes even lose. I have fun racing, and even more fun winning. I'm not going to go to a race, lose, and be crappy about it. I just got to race my bike! Isn't that why...I went to the RACE..? People become too enamored with winning its ridiculous. Sore losers, fights, crying, anger, depression...True passion is needed to make cycling, or any sport, fun to watch. And spectators are half of the sport. It's when the passion is misguided, or directed towards someone else other than the goal of winning, that it becomes immature and foolish. Like I said before....we are all there doing what we love. Why ruin that for yourself and others? Losing is apart of winning.
So uhh yeah. I plan on writing a lot more in the future.
I eat lots of food.

















Thursday, April 9, 2009

such and such.

Day to day life...hmm, it has become terribly boring for me in 2009.

I dont know what it is, I have just found myself in this crappy routine that leaves me bored and lethargic all dang day. I pretty much do 3 things everyday, thats work, ride my bike and eat. Thats it. BORING.

I have Attention Deficit Disorder and that might contribute to the boredom I encounter in repetition. Other than being distracted 90% of the time, I've been let down a lot recently. I used to have a hard time with getting my hopes up. If someone said they would do this...or do that, I would get excited and expect whatever to happen. When it didn't happen I would get pissed or sad. Now, its just oh well. I'm used to let downs now.

It's strange though, cycling...kinda my passion, has been going pretty garsh dang good these past months...I've not finished outside the top 10 in my last 4 or 5 races. So thats good...I'm really happy with that apect of my life right now...Its the other crap thats gettin me down.

Friday, April 3, 2009

HOT DIGGITY DOG

My first new, blog. HOOORAY. I am overjoyed, there are tears streaming down my face......

Anyway, a little about myself....I am a person, from a place, and I do that thing....you know...with the people and they do that thing that makes the other thing go to that place with the other people? Yep, thats me....

Soo, what is this blog about? Nothing pretty much. I'll just write on here about either, how I'm feeling, or whatever I want to...Because this is my blog.



But for my first, well second post....I want a suggestion. I'll give you 30 days to give me one. If by that time I do not recieve a suggestion, I will just start writing. Non-stop. Just random crap. On and on and on and on.

So, what should I write about?