It's a Small World After All

See my training music really is the bomb, but I just didn’t think I should share my secrets with the peloton at the time…

Seriously it really is a small world; like when I flew through London Heathrow airport in high school with my family and saw a classmate and coworker from a job as a short order cook at a restaurant. Anna Kelso of DCMtb grew up something like 20 miles from my childhood home in good old Cobb County Georgia. Would have gone to rival high schools type thing if my family hadn’t moved up this way. I always get a kick out of these kinds of things.

Shit, now that song will be stuck in my head at least through the lunchtime ride. Maybe I can use to it distract the others around me before they drop my sorry ass.

Called out by Le Unholy Rouleur last night; rightfully so too, though mine should have been a bit harsher. I haven’t commuted by bicycle in months. Ouch, I know. Now I do like to blame this on the new puppy, which is partially true, though partially I’m just a big pansy. In that end the hope is tomorrow to commute, though due to the pup I’ll need to leave work a little early to be sure I can get to our training class that night with her a bit worn out to boot. This morning I made a last second decision to drive to Hains Point and ride over from there. Unfortunately 295 sucked this am and managed about a 15 mph average speed from Greenbelt to Pennsylvania Ave. Ouch, cycling in would have been faster.

Getting out for an early and longerish ride at hains today for lunch though so that should make up for things. First race of the season coming up in two and a half weeks in Pittsburgh. The race is only 35 minutes long and is really just a nice excuse to get up to Pittsburgh for a visit with a ride thrown in for fun. So far there are only 6 of us; 50/50 odds at a podium? I like it. Wanna join? Sign up and come on up and spread some Mabra love.

Tired paws

This weather has been great this weekend; I know Cassie is enjoying it. We went for a hike yesterday and today to enjoy it (and wear her out a bit). Right now she is passed out on her bed downstairs.





While we were walking back home along Research Rd between Ridge and Beaver Dam which is closed to traffic on the weekends a car cam e flying down the hill from the direction of Ridge. On side of the road has been open lately on weekends for guys working at the Ag Center facility and so occasionally there will be traffic along the road. I grabbed the pup and threw a hand up at the guy. So he slows down and then comes to a stop rolling down his window to talk. He started telling me how it's a good idea to keep my dog on a leash (she stays off leash when we're hiking). I let into him about the fact that the road is closed to vehicles on the weekends and that he was traveling 50 + miles an hour down a 25 mile an hour road. He then went on to repeat that it's a good idea to keep my dog on a leash so I said thanks and walked away. For whatever reason this just pissed me off.



Not sure if it was because the ass-hat was trying to tell me how to handle my dog or what, though I always get a bit fired up when people are speeding like that on back roads and the residential streets around my place. But anyway, I just had to share that story.



Yesterday after Cass and I went hiking I get out for about a 20 mile ride out Beaver Dam out around to 197 and back in on Powder Mill, looping down into the Wildlife Preserve for a couple of additional miles as well. The ride was great and the weather was decent except for the wind gusts of up to 42 mph according to the news. I could feel it as I headed into at least 30 + mph winds, going downhill from 28 mph down to 13 in a matter of seconds from the wind. Luckily today's ride with Brian (bro-in-law) won't be like that. I believe it's almost short sleeve weather today...

World's Scariest Bicycle Race

Imagine racing the tour de local with all the regular characters. There's a break up the road gunning for the win and you're chasing hard to catch them before the finish. Suddenly the pace car leads you right, up a ramp and now there are cars speeding by you as you ride along the damn freeway. Meanwhile, the break group crosses the line and you're left with your thumb (and possibly a car) up your butt.

Ok, so they didn't win the race, just took the stage and leaders jersey... But still, in a pro peloton, how f'd up is this?

REI Junkie

I LOVE being an REI member. I just got my dividend the other day (actually have not even received the paper statement) and cashed in on my spending habits. Last year was a relatively light year for my REI spending, though I still got a nice $50 dividend. In return I just bought a pair of Merrel Water Shoes (black) on Clearance and the GSI Soloist Cook System for a grand total of $26.74.

This is gonna be a fun year!

The battle continues

Wow! How cool is that? GW Bush decided to drop by the old FPB to see what’s up here at the Department of Labor. I was sitting in my cube working away for my man when suddenly the old guy walks right in says hello we had a little chat about my work! I offered him one of my Girl Scout cookies and he only made 1 secret servicemen try it to make sure it was safe! Wow what a swell guy he is.

Actually the truth of the matter the soon to be not-so-dearly departed Prez did stop by the building today. We were not invited; we were not officially told. We were harshly greeted and spoken to if we happened on any ground within 100 feet of anything within sight of him actually. The reason for this surprise visit? You guessed it; another attack by the four wheeled hegemony on those of us that toil on two wheels.

Bush along with his three hundred and seventy six vehicle escort service ascended on the garages of the FPB like a horde of gnats in the swamps of Louisiana. All traffic was shut in or out; no bicycle rescue was allowed. Noon ride plans were thwarted, once again by the man.

You may have won the battle; but you’ll never win the war!

Gonna Be War

You've probably all seen the sensation.

This may be even better... It's like hope, but different.

And, believe me. No, you can't; you little jerk.

Terry made a terribly good point following a terribly jerktastic post the other day following a Tradezone race. (Sorry that sentence WAS too much, but I did it anyway). How to be a good bike blogger. Unfortunately it also points out my failures as a blogger (and maybe as a biker) as well.

As my cycling has dwindled in time lately my posting has as well; and the postings that I do provide simply state my day to day activities in a dull, monochromatic drone of words on screen. Sadly I even realize it as I am doing it though I've just simply got nothing. The blog has been cycling centric and my life lately has been anything but.

So, here is my test of this tried and true 4 step program to blogger fame. Terry I'm counting on your wisdom here!

Any readers out there who still feel some strange pull to drop by and see what's happening should be overjoyed (this means no one) that spring is around the corner and activities in all facets of my life are about to pick up. I've even signed up for my first road race for the season! I excpect this news alone to bring hundreds to my site meter just over the first couple of hours after this is posted. I know my return to cycling has been long awaited by many (myself and maybe a teammate or two just so they can hand out some good old fashioned ass-whoopin's on a kid nearly half their age) and this news will cause dancing in the streets and guns to be fired throughout the DC Metro area. I gracefully request however that you all practice self-restraint during your week long celebrations.

Kyle: you can plan to feel a stiff headwind blowing by beginning in the mornings as you commute out to Beltsville as I begin riding into work again, though don't expect to see me as I'll be simply moving too fast. I know you've been working hard for a while but I have every intention of shattering the commuters record between Greenbelt and DC. You will stand no chance.

Commrades: I hope you are all looking eagerly forward to our training camp. Bring a couple of pairs of extra legs, just in case I mistakenly break your normal ones. (I will be in the kiddie class training rides; we've something like the A ride, the B ride and the C ride... I, like I said will be in the k ride). Terry, this means you.



Greenbelt: I will rule Greenbelt this season. I mean think about it, home field advantage and everything. Plus all I have to do to win it every week is get out there on Tuesday, put in my laps and finish before everyone else (the next evening). Greenbelt will be my bread and butter this season so watch out! They may even have to start offering prizes for anyone who just might beat me out there since it will so incredibly rare. I might even break out the downtube shifters to make things even more fun.



Oh yeah... bike porn... This is straight up hot and sexy stuff right here. You will not want to miss it. I on the other hand will certainly be regretting it for the second time. I haven't shared this on my own blog but I figure it's about time. If you read Freewheel's entertaining blog then you may have seen a couple of these. I obviously took a very different interpretation of the contest.



So since my site meter doesn't work I'll just assume that the fame of this blog in it's peak combined with the growing online regional presence of cyclists will net me at least thousands of hits over the next couple of days. I look forward to the fan mail and hate mail; all of which may be sent directly to kmaxtrax@gmail.com

Should a target be placed on my bike after this, please, just remember that I look like this:

Some day I hope my blog can gain me enough fame and fortune for this type of life... Before I even turn it pro none-less.

"Over the weekend, McFadden said that he has two children on the way, one in July and another in August. None of those issues are overwhelming and McFadden already has a lawyer to handle the paternity matters."

Amazing... Simply amazing.

A new addition

The blog is an interesting thing for me… I always want to post and start to think about what I’m going to write, but then I decide I’d rather be out there doing what I want to write about as opposed to well, sitting there writing about it. Not saying I’ve been out riding or running or training a bunch, but I’ve been keeping busy for the most part.

Most recently I got a puppy; not what I’d been planning since the last thing I was thinking in this venue was a 6 year old lab rescue but this came up and I couldn’t pass it by. So, I’ve got a tiny 11 week old baby girl (lab/hound mix). The runt of her litter had to be tube fed before she would start eating at 3 lbs 4 ounces 4 or 5 weeks ago and now she’s moving up on 12 + lbs. Crazy watching her grow. So naturally most of my time is being taken up by that right now.

She’s a good little hiker and follows right on my heels through the trails across the street from my house, climbing over downed trees twice her size. Can’t wait till she’s bigger and we can head out on longer backpacking trips and start running.

Monday with the day off and the unexpected beautiful weather my brother in law and I headed out on a little bike and run combo. We did about 10 miles on the bike and only about a 2 mile run but we’ll be ramping it up a bit more this weekend. I rode the fixed gear, wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey… God I love this weather. Monday night I refused to let go and wore my flip flops despite having to also wear my perma-loft jacket to stay warm in rapidly dropping temperatures.

Anyway, that’s what’s new with me here. Hopefully as the pup gets settled in I’ll start getting out on the bike more often and as the weather starts to agree with me more I’ll start commuting via bike again as well. We’ll see. I’ve gotten myself into a slightly comfortable rut of driving to fort totten and taking the metro from there. What can you do?