tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30052690993712895822024-03-19T03:58:05.756-07:00Daily Hot Garbagecycling . music . the great outdoors . opinionJasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-73392661994833907862011-03-11T21:08:00.000-08:002011-03-12T05:15:20.926-08:00Post Red40...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3t11W1sMqomAEkOnrzhZ4dAzGkJhm1gd_j4s5e_IDQzPyPxMDO4RWup5Ej8ZOHPQzPZySwcznPSr3sAObUy2tUOPKKrFQcmNoDEuSSRj_y2LyJ2_XqhboKVNthWJ5H3ju0UE9jQTFJY/s1600/red40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3t11W1sMqomAEkOnrzhZ4dAzGkJhm1gd_j4s5e_IDQzPyPxMDO4RWup5Ej8ZOHPQzPZySwcznPSr3sAObUy2tUOPKKrFQcmNoDEuSSRj_y2LyJ2_XqhboKVNthWJ5H3ju0UE9jQTFJY/s1600/red40.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Shuffling through my iTunes collection this evening, I found myself digging deeper into the catalogue of my favorite band of all time. In 1999, myself and a friend of mine ventured into the big city of Chicago from our humble hometown of Plano, IL to go see the North Mississippi Allstars. Printed on our ticket as an opener was the name Lucero. Now, at the time, I didn't know if this was single name solo performer or a band. I was just super pumped to see NMAS and really couldn't give a crap about the opener.<br />
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</div><div> But as it would unfold, we planned WAY too much travel time into Chicago and arrived far ahead of showtime. I'll spare you the hubbub. Long story short; you know the moment as it commonly plays out in movies where the girl of a given character's dreams walks into a room and everything goes slow motion? Let's just say the musical equivalent of that happened that evening at the Vic in Chicago when Lucero took stage. Those guys played their hearts out and connected with every thread of what I stood for in my life up to that moment. I remember leaving the NMAS show early and spotting them in a coffee shop on the corner. I walked in, shook all their hands and asked if they had a website. They were more than happy to rap or a couple minutes. I remember, at that time, I was jocking junior college credits at a school 45 minutes through cornfields from my hometown. I moved into a basement apartment after my mother 'persuaded' me into making her an empty nester by convincing me to graduate high school a half year early. After that show, I ordered their CD through their Madjack Records label website. I was working crazy hours at a railroad-fed lumber warehouse and balancing my studies at the same time. I remember the evening I came home from work to find the CD in the mail. I threw it into my player and took a head-first digger into the couch/bed and had a listen until I drifted off to sleep. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The sounds that came from the speakers mellowed me like nothing else I'd heard before. Punk attitude conveyed by way of melodic twang-filled, heart-felt lyrics. I've been fond of these guy's projectsever since. Anyhow, to make an already long story even shorter, have a listen to these guys. Lead man, Ben Nichols, is in my opinion, one of the most under appreciated American artists out there right now. His band prior to Lucero, Red40 put out one hell of an album as well. Check out some of Ben and the Band's works below...</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9s1zxoEahOE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-6148101709068040822011-03-05T08:17:00.000-08:002011-03-05T12:36:12.014-08:00Daft Training Movie Scores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0KJvQKb6un4tasR9sqXAvyGE0aiiNN9meGFSf2W5mDxsTmUqS9La70HJ51aajPUxd6UojcgUh0tvIBCoU5zOBbHPKR-mKJ1zRAozXaJLgPeVFEioZyDNRgRFkhhnTOSMVxy3kF-54WA/s1600/tron-legacy-daft-punk-art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0KJvQKb6un4tasR9sqXAvyGE0aiiNN9meGFSf2W5mDxsTmUqS9La70HJ51aajPUxd6UojcgUh0tvIBCoU5zOBbHPKR-mKJ1zRAozXaJLgPeVFEioZyDNRgRFkhhnTOSMVxy3kF-54WA/s320/tron-legacy-daft-punk-art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We're in the homestretch here in the Chicagoland area! Just a few more weeks of indoor and outdoor training in inclimate weather before something <u>HAS</u> to break and we'll be able to trot or ride outdoors comfortably. My workout music has been become a bit stale in recent days, so I was looking to refresh it a bit with some new additions <a href="http://dailyhotgarbage.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-ipod-goes-stale-importance-of.html">(similar post of reference)</a>. While thumbing through several blogs I follow, I had an interesting find that would required me to have check my 'cool cat card' (very tiny card) at the door in lieu of same thick framed glasses, a pocket protector...and perhaps a lightsaber. I was surprised to see that the French house-music duo, Daft Punk, had worked with Disney (surprise, surprise) to compose the musical score for last summer's Tron: Legacy motion picture. It was old news. But, it was new to me and I just had to have a listen.<br />
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Now, I had no running knowledge of the original Tron flick, nor any knowledge or interest of it's follow up film. It was my fondness of Daft Punk during the beginning of my 'electronic' music interests with origin that traced way back to my high school days (dating myself, I did back then too) that drew me in for a closer look. After flipping through the tracks, I was impressed by the perfect culmination of traditional instrumentation and electronic grooves that jive together to make for one hell of an epic film score! It has enough pep to keep you going but is never runs over the top to become overbearing during a workout.<br />
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Needless to say, I now have somewhat of an urge to see the movie. I love anything Jeff Bridges takes part in anyway. The album is available on iTunes and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tron%3A+legacy&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tron%3A+legacy+soundtrack&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Atron%3A+legacy+soundtrack">Amazon</a> for $7.99. I'd suggest giving it a whirl. I dig the direction that Daft Punk decided to take in working on a project like this. I think this project will set a precedent for future film collaborations. There's even a <a href="http://www.ology.com/music/daft-punk-release-tron-legacy-remix-album">mix album</a> derived from the Tron: Legacy Soundtrack that's in the works for an early April release. The album will featuring some exhilarating adaptations of the score by well known paralleling genre artists such Moby, The Crystal Method, and Paul Okenfold.<br />
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So, why not spend a few bucks to help get yourself geeked (more ways than one) while waiting for warmer days ramping up to spring. While you're at it, make note of some of the other famous pump up tracks/film scores that have made their way through the box office. I claim no ownership to any of these tracks. Ok, maybe a few: "To each his own"(Cicero):<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO2wA0Te0wM">Lose Yourself</a> – Eminem (8 Mile Soundtrack)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8rZWw9HE7o">Danger Zone</a> – Kenny Loggins (Top Gun Soundtrack)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4">Eye of the Tiger</a> – Survivor (Rocky IV Soundtrack) Equally inspiring vid...MY GOD!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioE_O7Lm0I4">Gonna Fly Now</a> - composed by Bill Conti (Rocky Soundtrack)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wko_IweA6R0">Lust For Life</a> – Iggy Pop (Trainspotting Soundtrack) "What up, Shirt-Off?"<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oomCIXGzsR0">You’re the Best Around</a> – Joe ‘Bean’ Esposito (Karate Kid) <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8g__x6ExM8">Push it to the Limit</a> – Paul Engeman (Scarface)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl5McGN2L-E">Requiem for a Dream</a> – Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBTIoL5vaOM">Crimson Tide Main Theme</a> – Hans Zimmer (Crimson Tide)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB6S3c7f8XA">The Kiss / Promontory</a> – Randy Edelman / Trevor Jones (Last of the Mohicans) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI_mDPIj4IA">Aggressive Expansion</a> – Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Or check out these other epic scores on Amazon:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Epic-Movie-Scores-That-Kick/lm/2GRZMDLMD60N0">Epic Movie Scores That Kick...</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Feel free to leave comments adding other film tracks that are workout worthy...<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Catch you on the flip!</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-27691563779516476432011-03-02T17:42:00.000-08:002011-03-03T07:09:09.898-08:00St. Patricks Day's Baddest: Introducing La Noche Miami Criterium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhNup-_a_XS9BcLdxhF1Mw_ND95fn2B2JWYar_jmYOh8sS6VLC4zHhmO6xglGFkaFH-Dh5OCGyV0VXj6q_9krKabxoInl9V_dFeD8YefnUl9nGtVhKlEX-2aWVnmEOdvj-7_iDIFMp18/s1600/LA+NOCHE+CRIT+FINAL_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhNup-_a_XS9BcLdxhF1Mw_ND95fn2B2JWYar_jmYOh8sS6VLC4zHhmO6xglGFkaFH-Dh5OCGyV0VXj6q_9krKabxoInl9V_dFeD8YefnUl9nGtVhKlEX-2aWVnmEOdvj-7_iDIFMp18/s320/LA+NOCHE+CRIT+FINAL_Web.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />
I was sitting back at the breakfast table this morning with my usual cup of joe. I was thinking back and relishing my days spent in Florida a couple weeks prior. I thought about South Beach and all the fun I had while visiting. I could easily say Miami, in general, wouldn't be the city I'd chose to define who I am as a person. But for some reason, I'm drawn like a magnet to the fine city every time I'm in the area. I think it's the fact that it South Beach goes against everything that typically makes me comfortable that gives me such a thrill while I'm there. The people-watching there is some of the best on earth, for sure! In the city's attempt to define it's style by allowing all that is superficial and pretentious to reign supreme, it kind of funny how actually reduces humanity to it's most primitive form. Life in South Beach boils down to a contest of the fabulous; hunters and the hunted, the survival of the fittest... literally.<br />
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Going back to my coffee table daydream. I started wondering if there were any races through any downtown areas of Miami. I thought the city would make an excellent backdrop for a criterium. I had no clue my Google search would yield such an interesting results. I found a race, billing one of the grittiest races on two wheels I've ever heard publicly pitched.<br />
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However, just a short jaunt from the glitz and glimmer of Ocean Blvd, crossing over the Julia Tuttle Causeway will drop you into the Wynwood Art District of Miami. This is where vanity fades and irony takes over. It seems wherever there's art these days, a fixie loving hipster community won't be too far from it. It was in this neighborhood of the city that I would learn of a <u>different</u> brand of contest.<br />
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On March 17th, in conjunction with the Miami Bike Film Festival, La Noche Miami Criterium will consist of two races, one geared, one fixed (alleycat style) contest on a 4/5 mile four cornered flat and fast road course. As I read on, it only got better. Both of these contests will be held after dark. Needless to say, neither of the races are sanctioned. I so badly want to be there to see this play out in real-time. I hope to hell those putting the race on make sure the course stays well sealed off from outside traffic.<br />
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I know this race is a bit unconventional, but I think this is what I dig about it most. I love the attempt to combine a couple of cycling cliques that typically would not run side-by-side to have a clean and simple good time. Well.., maybe not so much "clean", you couldn't pay me enough to participate in the fixed gear race, OUCH! I've always thought organized amateur road and track cycling could benefit with closer ties to its urban dwelling underground fixed gear cousins. If anything, they could earn a greater appreciation for a vegan diet, PBR, and some badass Indie Rock.<br />
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Coincidentally, the race runs immediately parallel to I-95, t<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/07/1667092/fla-stretch-of-i-95-is-nations.html">he nation's most dangerous stretch of highway</a>! The potential perils of this race could only be rivaled by that of an action movie set. I guess that plays perfectly into it's partnership with the Bike Film Fest. I wouldn't be surprised if this event becomes a documentary in next year's fest. I couldn't think of a better way to spend St. Patrick's Day. It's too bad my time down there is over for the year or I'd be there for sure! You can bet I'll keep my eyes peeled on YouTube on the days following. I'll be hoping to catch a few moments from the contest. Best of luck to the brave souls competing. This one could get interesting!<br />
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<b><u>Articles / Ads Relating:</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/miami">Bicycle Film Fest - Miami</a><br />
<a href="http://miamibikescene.blogspot.com/2011/03/la-noche-miami-criterium.html">The Miami Bike Scene</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12773">Registration</a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-52932099821299330322011-03-01T06:43:00.000-08:002011-03-01T18:16:44.531-08:00Bring On The Des Plaines Velodrome!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMv3O69TNhwfMJPaOEg7U_ZWTu0wF2xmtTyd0ByhhHLAOg3UXZ6VCAXYtbgPBKr31yuXiwrviHA7LmpkfN1_NXiAylKOeSop8-7kyv-QZaIaMV7Ib97freSD58I_QXUmmUEhANBGJr7M/s1600/velo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMv3O69TNhwfMJPaOEg7U_ZWTu0wF2xmtTyd0ByhhHLAOg3UXZ6VCAXYtbgPBKr31yuXiwrviHA7LmpkfN1_NXiAylKOeSop8-7kyv-QZaIaMV7Ib97freSD58I_QXUmmUEhANBGJr7M/s320/velo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div>I've been very pleased to hear chatter in the past few about a Indoor Velodrome possibly being constructed in Des Plaines. Pardon the bias, this just happens to be the city of my current residency (big grin). But seriously, in my year of living here, I've been quite pleased to witness the works of Des Plaines Mayor, Marty Moylan. I'm especially fond of his works of making Des Plaines a bike friendly city.<br />
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</div><div>I had the pleasure to meet Mayor Moylan in person last year at the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove. He was walking the event, taking in ideas on how to make Des Plaines own fledgling event (Tour de Des Plaines) even better for coming years. He took time to speak with several cyclists and really took great interest in what they had to say. It was great to witness this on the back of the many other initiatives I've seen him involved in regarding public safety and accessiblity since moving to Des Plaines. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I was able to thank him personally for an event involving the DP Police Department that occured about a month prior on a training ride not far from my home. Long story short, I had been run off the road by a Fed Ex semi while I rode down Oakton Street. I phoned local authorities and told them I'd like to speak to the driver and ask what was the motivation for his actions was. Des Plaines police flagged down the semi and held him roadside to allow me confront the driver. I wanted to ask him what more I could do than hug a curb, wear a helmet, keep to a reasonable speed, and stay highly visible to avoid being mowed down like a bug. The police officer mediated the convo to make sure it stayed constructive and didn't become a shouting match. It blew me away that the Des Plaines Police Department cared enough to take these actions for a cyclist. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The river walk that has been constructed in Des Plaines is also a great bike friendly renovation that has been completed in recent years. It has played well in to the late summer widening and chip graveling of a large portion of the Des Plaines River bike trail that now offers better access for all those wishing to ride, jog, or go for a casual stroll. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The odds of a world-class velodrome landing in one's city of residency are uncanny. There are only 19 velodromes in the U.S. currently in operation. Many are unaware of what velodrome even is, let alone the abandoned <a href="http://www.northbrookvelodrome.org/information/history/humboldt-park-bicycle-track/">popularity of track racing </a>in the Chicago during the early 1900's. There is also a valiant, and well developed effort put forward to construct a <a href="http://www.chicagovelocampus.com/">Chicago Velo Campus </a>on Chicago's South-side Lakeshore. Hey, an indoor velodrome would be a great addition to the Chicagoland area regardless of where it is constructed. </div><div><br />
</div><div><u>However, I still feel there are strong advantages for one of the three proposed Des Plaines proposed locations:</u></div><div><br />
</div><div>- Not far from O'Hare International airport. This would be conducive for national and international events. The Rosemont area is spilling over with great hotels and restaurants. Des Plaines won't be far behind once it's proposed casino is constucted. </div><div><br />
</div><div>- Easy access from all directions: The proposed locations of the velodrome would be a stone's throw away from both East/West I-90 (In from chicago and the NW Suburbs) and I-294 (down from the North suburbs and up from the West and South Suburbs) Metra runs out from the city in no longer than a 40 minute ride. </div><div><br />
</div><div>- Also Des Plaines is only a 15-20 drive from the existing Ed Rudolph Velodrome. The folks living in the immediate area of this velodrome have helped to keep track racing alive in the Chicagoland area for years. A cross association of any kind between the two velodromes would be beneficial to the track racing community living nearby. </div><div><br />
</div><div>-<b> I LIVE HERE!!! </b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Check out these linked articles for more detail on the plan for the Des Vegas Velodrome...</div><div><br />
</div><div><div><a href="http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_298c8958-24e4-11e0-9b8f-00127992bc8b.html#user-comment-area">Taking Velodrome Idea For A Spin</a></div><div><a href="http://triblocal.com/des-plaines/2011/01/20/velodrome-proposed-in-des-plaines/">Velodrome Proposed in Des Plaines</a></div><div><a href="http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/lexisnexis.aspx?lnarticleid=1344436368&lntopicid=136030023">Chicago Suburb May Build Velodrome</a></div></div><div><br />
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</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-39451614018882264832011-02-27T10:39:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:09:38.921-08:00Mountain Bike Conversion for the Road (on the cheap)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2o6-VxpTybVNWX5MKn71XDFlHzMxLIuEvxDMuqtwTZr5xeiCfMR0mGqtISP_dyT6jJSencIVdMGNKW5H0d8PDiEd6iJ9xUoX7q_M7mv5PlXjtBQRlzx6KhR9Ucigmd9s11XiG3VLY3k/s1600/bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2o6-VxpTybVNWX5MKn71XDFlHzMxLIuEvxDMuqtwTZr5xeiCfMR0mGqtISP_dyT6jJSencIVdMGNKW5H0d8PDiEd6iJ9xUoX7q_M7mv5PlXjtBQRlzx6KhR9Ucigmd9s11XiG3VLY3k/s320/bike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I watch my once Florida-tanned skin fade into a translucent shade of white, I realize that I still have at least a month before I can even think about peeling off any piece of gear during my training rides. These are the days when avid cyclists start braving almost any elements simply for the sake of seeing the ground move below them. This is the period it's easily justifiable to have feelings of anger toward inanimate objects like salt, snow drifts, and climate in general. Rollers and trainers are no longer your winter buddy, but the human equivalent of a hamster wheel. The craziness that is brought on during this period of the year in the Chicagoland area bridges all walks of life. Last week, when we reached temperatures that barely reached over 40 degrees fahrenheit; I witnessed a Ford Mustang toting three passengers with the rag-top down. It's moments like these, when I truly start to grasp natural selection and the west side of the bell curve. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took to the Chicago Lakefront Path last week. The trails were clear, welll salted, and wide open. It was encouraging to see other clubs out on the trails as well. I ran across riders from several other teams. After cleaning, tuning, and lubing up my Velo Vie Vitesse 300 SE (our relationship is on the mend, dig the new bike) road bike in Florida, my desperate yearning to ride led to taking her out on the trail. Desperate times mean desperate measures. Within moments of embarking on my frigid journey, I realized this had been a bad decision....talk about the bell curve! (duh). Needless to say, the ride received an immediate and thorough de-salting bath and re-greasing, and maybe even a few verbally expressed apologies to the bike. It was at this point that I realized what I was dealing with. I wasn't in Florida anymore, Toto. Side Note: I can't believe how badly the winter storms chewed up part of the path and seawalls; especially south of McCormick Place, WOW!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like many right now, times and budgets are tight. I'm for sure 'tightening my belt' as suggested by the Ol' Pres. My goal was to convert one of my lesser ridden bikes into a viable winter ride and do this on the cheap. I decided to take my Trek 3700 mountain bike that was gathering dust in the garage down into my basement workshop and tweak it to make it road efficient. I purchased a set of<a href="http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php"> Panaracer Urban Max</a> 26 x 1.5'' tires and a couple 26 x 1.5-1.75' tubes. They offered a smooth ride, but enough grip for light ice and show. and compatible tubes; A couple cheap bottle cages (steel); a <a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/BrandCategory.aspx?BrandID=38&CategoryID=32&PartnerID=2950&gclid=CMzF47rhqKcCFQjd4AodWlV4Bg">Topeak M2 Defender</a> fender (sturdy) to keep my rear quarters clean, dry and warm; a <a href="http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/254">Cateye Enduro 8 </a>wired computer (cheap and able to take a beating). I was able to make all these changes by staying within a budget hovering around $150.00. I transferred a set of aging Look Keo pedals from my track bike (to be replaced with a newer, sexier set this spring) and threw them on. I inverted the stem to lower the handlebar for a more aggressive riding position and made a couple couple seat adjusts, tune-ups and I was ready to rock! I had a mountain bike that was now road-worthy, able to handle light snowy conditions, and (hopefully) had the potential to offer some speed intervals on open and clear areas of the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took my revived hefty monster out to Busse Woods in Elk Grove for its first trial run. The trails were clear for the most part. About 30% deep wooded portions of the 7.7 mile loop were still coverd by a mix of ice and snow slush a 2-3'' inches thick in parts. I was overly cautious at first, but I quickly became comfortable with the bikes handling and maneuverability over the ice and snow in a lower gear. It actually became a great bike handing exercise, feeling the changing and sliding terrain and responding to it. I would exit the wooded areas into a more clear, dry, and sun exposed portion of the parth and work up to the bike's highest gear. After a good warm-up it was time to see what this thing could do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I never thought I'd see the old tank see a sprint over 30 mph. It took a bit of spinning to try, but I got it on a quarter mile straight-away on the park's back end....barely. I really enjoyed the ride and versatility of bike all brought about by a few simple and affordable alterations. I know, I know, nothing mind blowing to the stud cyclist, but enough to offer a relatively safe and enjoyable ride (when paired with common sense and caution). I'm thinking this will be the bike I'll use as a commuter to and from work during rough weather mornings this coming spring. Further down the road, I'm considering either sawing back the bars a bit to put some some bar ends to narrow my arm width to somewhat emulate my road bike form. I'll either do this, or go completely patchwork and try to fashion a set of bullhorn bars on hoopty-ride. Hell, I was so happy with the ride, I may make this my permanent commuter / city bike for awhile! If anything, I'm clearly heading down the road to ghetto-fabulousness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">R A N D O M T H O U G H TS :</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- R A C I N G: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">FIRED UP! I'm working on a partnership between my cycling squad <a href="http://www.wdtcycling.com/home.html">Team WDT/Allvoi</a> and a notable charitable organization. I hope to be sharing more information about what's in the work in the not too distant future. I'm excited about the opportunity and hope to see it thrive in the upcoming race season. I love competition, but it feels even better when hard work and effort benefits a cause outside of cycling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- M U S I C: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbp34eQ4EJgprOYJEx9rS3_6vArzeSW_nSMg6inKc8Vec6Zsqz122gMw2PDF1ny7CmmGkj8MXJW09U78T-sBEPCxdStnKtH5IDoH3SOzAk7Q2qGAYRTzRcxbxA3dcbc1TbOe4BQBoFk/s1600/300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbp34eQ4EJgprOYJEx9rS3_6vArzeSW_nSMg6inKc8Vec6Zsqz122gMw2PDF1ny7CmmGkj8MXJW09U78T-sBEPCxdStnKtH5IDoH3SOzAk7Q2qGAYRTzRcxbxA3dcbc1TbOe4BQBoFk/s1600/300x300.jpg" /></a>Fan of folky, melodic, chill music with a slight echoing twang? I'm really digging the album <a href="http://www.doloreanmusic.com/store/">'The Unfazed'</a> by Portland's-own, <a href="http://www.doloreanmusic.com/tour/">Dolorean</a>. Not to be mistaken with the borderline chillwave (dare I bring on a hipster debate) sensations, D<u>e</u>lorean. The track 'Thinskinned' is the perfect intro track if you take any interest. The album is available on <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Dolorean-The-Unfazed-MP3-Download/12333052.html">eMusic</a>. Follow the album link to a page where you can secure a free track download of the album title track 'The Unfazed' (Also an excellent tune). Perfect jams for enjoying your choice hot morning beverage and looking out onto the snow covered landscape. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along the same style lines, musically, I've really enjoyed this great adaptation/cover by Sun Kil Moon of Modest Mouse's 'Trucker's Atlas'. Couple great Florida drops, making me think of recent weeks passed. Perfect brain food for those yearning to get out there soon and do some traveling / site-seeing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JVLTyvLvGLM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- O U T D O O R S: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw my first robin for the year on my trek through Busse Woods. At a time where one looks for the slightest signs of spring, I'll take this for what it's worth for mental motivation! Forest preserves are a bit lonely this time of year. But the creeps parked outside of the bathroom facilities for no 'apparent' reason kept me distant company. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- S A V E B I G B I R D ! ! ! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The House of Representatives has voted to axe funding for public television media. This accounts for approximately 14% of their budget and could drastically change the landscape of public media. In all seriousness, please follow this link to see how you can get involved by contacting your state representatives and promoting awareness of the issue to ensure these cuts don't pass through the Senate when voted on March 4th! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://170millionamericans.org/">http://170millionamericans.org/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bring on Spring!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-J.G.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-39363696188712616752011-02-19T09:35:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:06:46.576-08:00Dropped the ball...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_mWhpRF3rrXCfVB6xcww_mPSnFh2Eh9PawsTexHoghUOiOm18cgjIby_8TjnhTF7RRGYQlP1B3zxSmvQKV3uEyDzm3NHMQrBBIgPuldxFdJnAjCva5n_38-y3jUsoPsLHkO_HU7WDj4/s1600/IMG_0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_mWhpRF3rrXCfVB6xcww_mPSnFh2Eh9PawsTexHoghUOiOm18cgjIby_8TjnhTF7RRGYQlP1B3zxSmvQKV3uEyDzm3NHMQrBBIgPuldxFdJnAjCva5n_38-y3jUsoPsLHkO_HU7WDj4/s320/IMG_0647.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Been a while since my last entry. I have to admit, I was rather swept up by the last couple of weeks down in Florida. Since my return the weekend prior to Valentine's Day, I've just been reacclimating myself to remaining portion of the cold Chicagoland winter. It was a hell of a trip. After a week or so of great dock fishing, I circumnavigated the central to southern portion of Florida. I departed Tampa to drop off some friends that came for a brief visit in Orlando. There wasn't much to see there. I drove down to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up another friend that flew in from Chicago. I stayed a night in Ft. Lauderdale, taking in the nightlife in the Las Olas portion of town. From there it was down to Miami Beach for a day to enjoy the beach and the always entertaining Ocean Blvd / South Beach area. We then worked our way down through the keys taking in some of the best weather I've ever experience down there this time of year.<br />
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Camping in Key West was so relaxing. Met some really interesting transplants and natives. They pointed us in the direction of some really great hidden locals bars and restaurants. Didn't have a chance to cover them all, but I'll be sure to hit them next time. After a few days we trucked back North to Miami Beach for one more night. I dropped my buddy off in Ft. Lauderdale, took one more stroll down Ft. Lauderdale Beach and then it was off across Alligator Alley (only spotted one. It was chilly) and back up to Tampa. I packed the remainder of my gear at my sister's house and pointed north to make Nashville the first day. I missed a bad winter storm that hit the southern region the day before. It was smooth sailing back home with great tunes and plenty of sunshine. It's always becomes a drag when I hit southern Indiana. That's when things pretty much start to look like Illinois....BLAH!<br />
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So here I am, once again. I'm riding out the last 5-6 weeks of crap weather in IL (mostly on my trainer). I'm sure anyone who religiously follows my blog have been waiting with bated breath for an entry since my last..... all 3 of you. I missed a lot of big things going on, so here's a poor attempt at catching up....<br />
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<b>Superbowl</b> - I had to leave the Key West bar that I wound up in to watch the game. I've never been so gutted by a game in my entire life. Just didn't feel up to watching the Green 'n' Gold since it had only been two weeks since they sent my beloved Bears packing. Have I matured that much (doubtful) or has the humor in commercials really been reduced to the lowest common denominator within a viewing audience? Kinda sad, but it sure beats the dot com ads of the mid nineties. GOOD GOD, those were boring and most of the companies promoted proved to have the staying power of Justin Bieber.<br />
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<b>Egypt- </b>YEAH, Facebook liberated one of the world's most ancient civilizations! Leave it to Americans to finally abstain (kinda) from involvement in a major world event, but find a way to justify it's success with a product of U.S. origin. Not trying to be ignorant about the significance of social networking/media in situations like this, but I think the key ingredient is America (gov't) finally starting to see the value of keeping their guns at home. If you think about it, this has really made George Bush look like even more of an ass. Passively feeding the fire of a foreign civil uprising with open and distant verbal support; it's a good template for the future. I prefer implosions over explosions. Good to see Obama starting to earn that Nobel Peace Prize.<br />
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<b>Grammy's-</b> Hey, to their credit, they try....kinda. I blame myself for always stumbling upon the event for several hours on end. I always hope that they're going to turn a corner. But always; pop product of the moment, catchy "country" ballad, young pop product of the moment, acknowledgment of those they've snubbed over the years they had their head in their asses and missed a moment, movement, or scene that has in one way or another shaped our nation/world culture. And then there's always the comeback story that everyone seems to always be a sucker for...<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><u><i>Notes from the event:</i></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>- I would love to someday arrive to a Catholic Mass in the same fashion that Lady Gaga did. But I'd pop out of the egg dressed as a Rabbi.</i></div><i>- It was good to see Arcade Fire handed the award for Album of the Year. After the conclusion of the show, it left many around the country asking "Who are these guys and I wonder if they sell their CD in Starbucks?"</i><br />
<i>- Bob Dylan has reinvented himself once again. This time into Tom Waits.</i><br />
<i>- Mick Jager looks like he's still got some good years left in him...even though he followed up the musical deaths of note over the last year. Is that like the Sports Illustrated cover curse?</i><br />
<i>- I had no idea Tim Tebow was the lead-man in Mumford & Sons. </i><br />
<i>- Can someone ask Will Smith to stop reproducing? He's worse than a Georgian toddler beauty pageant mom. Sometimes parents just don't understand. </i><br />
<i>- Lady Antebellums' "Need You Now" should be used on a late night burrito commercial for Taco Bell. Think about it. </i><br />
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<b>Lance Armstrong Retires...again -</b> Austin's pride and joy better watch out. One more retirement and he'll start to be mentioned in the same breathe as Cher and Garth Brooks. Love what he's done for the sport and for the money he's raised for notable causes. But I'm sorry, with all those at the top of the cycling world falling into conviction and/or speculation of doping, I have to admit that his star has dimmed a bit for me.<br />
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<b>IL state Taxes raised by 66%-</b> After being handed some relief from the Federal Government, IL just couldn't wait but a week or two to snatch it all back and stuff it in their kitty. Census number report 200,000 people have left Chicago in the last decade. However, road construction just seems to increase year after year. I like the more pavement per capita approach; better make much of it a bike lane. Bike lanes are green (that's still popular in political agendas, right?) and a bike is all a poverty to middle-class person is going to be able to afford pretty soon. Great time of the year to implement the increase as well. A perfect time for people to look at their lives in the bleak winter months and ask themselves "Why the hell do I live here?!" <i>Note: There are ten states in nation that have NO state income tax. Several of them are warmer!</i><br />
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<b>Rahm 'n' oodles - </b>After Rahm Emanuel's brief period of being removed from the Chicago mayoral ballot, it was great to see his name return after review by the state's Supreme Court. It's not that I'm a huge fan of Rahm, but if a polls are indicating a candidate to have a majority of the vote, I really don't care where they're from. The voice of the people is what is most important. Also, the man left the City of Chicago to serve a temporary and greater purpose for his country. It was shameful to see the insiders of Chicago politics yet again flexing their muscle to try to strong-arm their agenda by way of loophole. I'd like to see politicians try to pull the same on a recent war veteran. It wouldn't happen. But the one thing I'm not fond of regarding Rahm's campaign is the shameless running of commercials with verbal endorsement by Barrack Obama and Bill Clinton. How can any local government candidate compete with that in a predominantly Democratic city? That's just playing dirty pool. Also, kinda funny how William Daley (brother of Richard M. Daley - current mayor of Chicago for all outsiders or Chicagoans sleeping under a rock for the past 22 years) lands Rahm's abandoned post without much scrutiny. Funny how things unravel when two parties are in a situation to scratch one another's backs. I'm sure the final decision for the post came down to resume and track record.<br />
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Sorry to make this entry sound like an Andy Rooney rant, I'll work on the positivity in the following days. I have plenty of good things in the works and look forward everyday to the improvement of the weather. I think I'm going to hit the Lake Front trail to ride some base miles. I'm getting emails about spring training criteriums. This is making me feel warmer already. I've been spending more time on foot, hoofing it on some cross training runs. I've left the running shoes at home for the past couple years. It's going to be nice to crank out some 5-10K's this year. Maybe even a half marathon; I'm sure a suggestion to do a full will come from someone. Hopefully I'll have the strength to resist. My knees hurt just thinking about it!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-18373860496868394322011-01-25T05:47:00.000-08:002011-01-25T08:32:18.060-08:00Infamia: The Cutler Conundrum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBCzRTR3pO1id0okNd9bckr57g6pqlG4h5VDjKkIShZKVgfENY5Pm0u3zf692sd8ujOEEWZEanriyoDqoNa7ebhPP6RyycCzkaUyvA5oUYbBBabhwi0glTRQu-g1V4GKpC3It3h2frKo/s1600/gladiatorjupit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBCzRTR3pO1id0okNd9bckr57g6pqlG4h5VDjKkIShZKVgfENY5Pm0u3zf692sd8ujOEEWZEanriyoDqoNa7ebhPP6RyycCzkaUyvA5oUYbBBabhwi0glTRQu-g1V4GKpC3It3h2frKo/s320/gladiatorjupit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The loss handed down from the Green Bay Packers to the Chicago Bears in yesterday afternoon's NFC Championship game was a hard pill to swallow. But perhaps what made it most bitter was the birth of bubbling accusations directed at Bear's quarterback Jay Cutler. An apparent left knee injury to the 27 year old was incurred in the latter portion of the second quarter of the game. However, it is the validity of the injury that was drawing most scrutiny from masses of fans and analysts alike. <br />
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Within moments of the injury's declaration on the game broadcast, Twitter accusations from NFL players, both past and present were being hoisted into the spotlight. Post game analysts took various shots at the young quarterback with heavily opinionated responses regarding his effort to remain in the game. Newscast displayed fans burning #6 (Cutler's number) jerseys in the parking lot of Soldier Field. The hysteria caused by all involved seemed to paint the picture a dictatorship thwarted by coup de ta rather than the simple conclusion of a football contest. Hell, even I took a misdirected shot via Facebook in my feeble attempt to make sense of the post-game situation with many questions unanswered. A day after and a few beers metabolized later, I retracted (erased) the statement. I felt dirty. I came to the realization that I had taken part of some kind of modern day witch hunt; not my proudest moment.<br />
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It's not so much the nature of the inury that has drawn so much attention; it's rather the manner of it's coming to light and it's handling therefrom. We, as fans, have become so pampered by the recent advancements in a game's broadcast. Sometimes if a controversial play is in need of review, networks now furnish a retired referee to key inform fans into the intricacies of game rule and detail as we wait. As proven by the Twitter attacks on Mr. Cutler by fellow players, new instant social network options are proving to bring a fan closer to the inside "dirt" that fuels team rivalries. Ultimately, as an effort to draw more fans to the game, the league has in effect spoiled it's fans with a barrage of options creating a false reality of being closer to the game. <br />
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Enter the Cutler situation: we're introduced to the second half of the game with the sudden and brief announcement that Jay Cutler is struggling through a knee injury and Todd Collins, the team's back-up, is on the ready to take over. As a fan I had witnessed many injury scenarios before. However, typically there is a side-line reporter to get the 'skinny' on the severity and cause of the injury. Furthermore, a player that is injured so severely to be pulled out of the game usually takes an exit from the playing field or is shown being given frequent attention by it's training staff. The overwhelming frustration felt by fans seemed to be heavily fueled by the lack of communication of injury detail to those watching. Fans at the game were simply left to watch their injured quarterback walking the sidelines with an oversized jacket cloaked over his shoulders. Fans at home are not shown the in-depth, frequent updates about their leading man that they'd grown so accustomed to. The frustration builds and unfounded questions of Cutler's drive to get back on the field starts to grow throughout masses of onlookers..<br />
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But are the network and the those responsible for the team's public relations the ones to blame for the issue? Fans now look at these modern day gladiators as if they possess extra-human qualities. They train with the best equipment, science, and technology. They consume the most cutting edge dietary supplements. Physical feats of speed and strength are pushed further and further every year. Long standing records are being crushed seemingly every season. We've witnessed the likes of Brett Favre and Jerome Bettis playing important games with broken bones while wincing away unbearable pain. Why, even a couple week's prior, I had witnessed the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson leave the playing field barely being able to walk. Minutes later he emerged from the locker room in almost a dead sprint to get back into the game. God only knows what they had to pump into him? All of these assorted showings of "valor" have hoisted men like this into the Hall of Fame and have become the material that has woven the cloth of the NFL for several decades now.<br />
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Players live lavish lives of fame and fortune broadcasted on reality T.V. shows and featured in entertainment tabloids. It seems to me that there has actually become a major separation between player and fan all due to the attempts of the modern technology to bring the fan closer to it. These guys are superhuman, unbreakable, and virtually infallible. On the rare occasion that they do break, we want to see them carted off the field on a gurney giving us the ol' thumbs-up to ensure us that they are down but not gone for good. Nothing short of a player displaying the inability to walk, we've grown to expect a full and prompt return to the field. <br />
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The long term effects of playing this brutal game are starting to rear their ugly head. Players long retired are starting to show the effects of frequent head trauma. There have been symptoms that <a href="http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20100817/concussions-linked-to-condition-similar-to-als">parallel ALS</a> that have been linked to concussion related injury. Much respect to the NFL this season for implementing heavy penalties on tackles that can bring on such trauma. I feel it's important that we check ourselves for a moment to find respect in the sacrifice of these elite few athletes that have worked their way into the premier level of the game we all love. It's very important that we don't linger in a crowd like blood hungry ancient Roman masses watching two groups of warring factions bludgeoning one another to death.<br />
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When it boils down to it, an the NFL game isn't life, it's simply a game. If it means life to anyone, it would be the players. If there's anyone who can paint this picture better to all us fans, it would BE the players. Yes, believe it or not, hours after the "devastating" playoff loss handed down to the Bears by the Packers, Jay Cutler and crew were already settling down at <a href="http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/about-last-night/celeb-sightings/">various steakhouses and restaurants </a>throughout the city. They're not wringing their hands while crying at their lockers. They move on, and so should we. We all enjoy the thrill of living and dying over the duration of a game on the couch, recliner, or stadium seat. But what's most important is we move on at the conclusion of the game. And most importantly, I feel that there is a great need to focus on the return of the pure enjoyment of the contest and not all the unnecessary details between that have made way into our lives as of late.<br />
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Turns out, Jay's injury is bonified and legit, but he'll be back and so will we as fans. And remember: (because I was so quick to forget) sacked 52 times this year, and he almost always got up. And lest we forget the famous body-sacrificing helicopter rushing TD he delivered against the Lions ??? <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/chicago-bears/09000d5d8133a2ee/NFL-Weekly-Countdown-2-Jay-Cutler-s-helicopter-TD">(video)</a> So let this all be a lesson in the importance to all fans, regardless of team, to check ourselves and WAIT for pertinent information before jumping to conclusions. Shame on me for becoming a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale fueled meathead. And shame on the moron that burned a jersey in the parking lot of Soldier Field... Who does that ??? BEARS!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS_1ayiv2qBQ4UN35qJTEqL27Q-EkhRFeFdYIier_I3BkAKa5Vj7LgUhyOxitpOxcpZ9TkRVB5-eEwjXitENTvfAsKF4jwnOQTBzbbfT4Ir_sOHHUfrGi6ehla7WAVSsI3wMmmg8pCUE/s1600/heli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS_1ayiv2qBQ4UN35qJTEqL27Q-EkhRFeFdYIier_I3BkAKa5Vj7LgUhyOxitpOxcpZ9TkRVB5-eEwjXitENTvfAsKF4jwnOQTBzbbfT4Ir_sOHHUfrGi6ehla7WAVSsI3wMmmg8pCUE/s320/heli.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-66070390670274924052011-01-14T08:02:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:07:27.996-08:00Shack Attack!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBiR1SGvbE_HMdisNHe3PvPDmgWlLEMIMaMzXFXIsvWsDyGFaRizWo4vT2wOsj-4vJ5FzweQ2xrRL12z3nIImNsHAUUqeTNSQFUmjsRFek09ouyQxuHhCSQitLr_O0O9db-CdDXl2F78/s1600/RSJersey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBiR1SGvbE_HMdisNHe3PvPDmgWlLEMIMaMzXFXIsvWsDyGFaRizWo4vT2wOsj-4vJ5FzweQ2xrRL12z3nIImNsHAUUqeTNSQFUmjsRFek09ouyQxuHhCSQitLr_O0O9db-CdDXl2F78/s1600/RSJersey.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Prior to next week's Tour Down Under, the Lance Armstrong led Team Radio Shack has released their 2011 kit design. Coinciding with the release, it has been reported by <a href="http://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomerantz/2011/01/13/dont-hire-tiger-woods-or-lance-armstrong-for-your-ad-campaign/?boxes=Homepagechannels">Forbes</a> that Lance made the shortlist of of celebrity endorsements that were least effective over the past year. He was listed amongst the likes of Donald Trump and Tiger Woods. Now that's some strong company!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> In light of such report, it seems Radio Shack has made an apparent attempt to strengthen the visibility of their brand with an "in your face" jersey design. It would be of best suggestions to The Shack's advertising executives considering the possibility that it may not be the SIZE of advertisement, rather the choice of where they're putting it? If pending <a href="http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/floyd-landis-wire-lance-armstrong-doping/">accusations</a> bend in an ominous direction for the 7 time TDF champ this year, maybe a slight font revision of the team kit will be in order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievGk25xtDogYIIlU-bVf0M-gFf_vtQ8yIrns965pN-lc7k4MHy3mbvlY4fNHZ16gl9o7oMsie8_6eKhp59vOZdSgWW6sNrTO7D9BDwVuPq4qM6VYg758GNWA351_21w4n8WM4bTVvfzA/s1600/Scarlet+Letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievGk25xtDogYIIlU-bVf0M-gFf_vtQ8yIrns965pN-lc7k4MHy3mbvlY4fNHZ16gl9o7oMsie8_6eKhp59vOZdSgWW6sNrTO7D9BDwVuPq4qM6VYg758GNWA351_21w4n8WM4bTVvfzA/s1600/Scarlet+Letter.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-30748087726125492412011-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:002011-01-13T05:06:58.798-08:00When the iPod Goes Stale: The Importance of Winter Training Music<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiq5mrlPX8e0KtBaLTBc58hA01fr0Vg262T_h15G0WtRDh03tF1yHxPvEKRq03vwDTJGDc6nlWoayEECq3WVE-RGa0C-P9kqTHTKh2O4OHgbG9inWmb8ylXpGDC_SNmg8nRYIq-753mI/s1600/IndoorCycling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiq5mrlPX8e0KtBaLTBc58hA01fr0Vg262T_h15G0WtRDh03tF1yHxPvEKRq03vwDTJGDc6nlWoayEECq3WVE-RGa0C-P9kqTHTKh2O4OHgbG9inWmb8ylXpGDC_SNmg8nRYIq-753mI/s320/IndoorCycling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So we're all pretty much in the same boat this time of year. There you are. You've willed your seasonally depressed self to the bike in the corner. Once again, you're clipping into your trainer with a fan blowing 72 degree arid wind at your already brutally dry winter face. You're getting ready to punish yourself for X-amount of time. You have workout-X dialed into your computer, brain, or printed on now a tattered sheet of paper. Or maybe you're mixing it up for triathlon season and hitting the elliptical or treadmill......you multi-sport stud!<br />
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It really doesn't matter the choice of machinery or how difficult your base training may or may not be on this day. The hardest thing to deal with will be the net actual distance gain of 0.0 miles or kilometers at the end of your "journey" (They both read out the same at that point, no conversion necessary). Looking outside is punishing. Snow covers just about every square inch of surface outside the window except the areas you've nearly broke your back to shovel clear. This is the time of year your mind starts playing tricks on you. You start considering taking to the streets when weather "breaks" at 34 degrees fahrenheit.<br />
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Always look at the bright side. Now is the the time of the year that you can train with headphones on and not have to worry about vehicular traffic or Chicago lakeshore quad-seat tourist pedaled death buggies. If you're like me, you find the TV, Stereo, or MP3 player to be you're saving grace while throttling yourself toward your pre-spring fitness goals. But even the best training playlists have a tendency to get soggy when frequently perused . This is why we all value keeping our collections crisp. There's nothing like a fresh set of downloads to keep fire us up and keep motivated while working toward our race season fitness.<br />
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Music and sport go hand in hand. Discussions about a new album or a night out at a concert has made for great conversation on long training rides. Shared MP3 player car-stereo time has been become commonplace on long trips to and from rides and races. In the past, I've started training-music related threads via team mailing list. These messages always drew quite a bit of "reply all" attention from team members with exception of the few that were annoyed and expressed their "my inbox is my temple" stance.<br />
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I've always been pleased to discover many fellow endurance athletes are avid music fans. This love of music isn't coincidental. I believe our musical interests are fueled by some of the same things that drive our passion for sport. The connection between the two rests in the similarity of physical gain. Similar to physical exertion, music makes us feel good and invigorates the body by aiding the release of endorphins. ( <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2063616_release-endorphins.html">check this article out</a>.... ) Pay attention to items #1 and 2 on the list. Actually, I think a day bearing all the listed items could quite possibly make for the best ever (except crying). The point I'm trying to make is that, no matter what level, as athletes we are severe endorphin junkies. But as long as the fix comes from healthy and, more importantly, LEGAL means, who cares!<br />
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It's these small physical gains from our workout tune collections that we dearly depend on this time of year. They're used as a substitute for thrill, filling the void of usual highs we gain from rolling hills, wind, and the sun we take in during rideable months of the year. But even a favorite route's dips, climbs, and bends need to be altered due to repetition and/or boredom from familiarity. For similar reasons, our training music must as be updated to keep our fire burning during the winter months. Or maybe you're one of those rare fortunate few that will be able to listen to that classic rock station for the rest of your life. Go on, get your Frampton on! To each, their own I suppose. I can dig it.<br />
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It's also the high BPM tunes that aide greatly with controlling tempo, and interval workouts. A geek's confession: I've made BPM a viewable item in my iTune collection to arrange like tempo tunes within playlists. A very simple, but useful tool this time of year when plotting workouts according to cadence and intensity.<br />
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The greatest thing about a training playlist is that it let's us unleash our inner freak a bit without consequence (commonly and thankfully with the aide of noise canceling headgear). I mean, if I had to blast my training tunes in the car with the windows down during a traffic jam on the Eisenhower, I'd have a hell of a time justifying some of the shit coming from the speakers (or perhaps better illustrated by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1JBrdbsVm0&feature=related">popular example)</a>. But, hell, I've been listening to Wu Tang now for longer that some kids at the track have been born........son? I commonly put my typical musical tastes aside for a good fist pumping (it happens in my head), adrenaline boosting workout tune. I usually favor some good electronic music, hip-hop, or a good indie rock jam.<br />
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So, I've listed some of my favorite workout tunes below. Each song title links where you can have a listen (primarily youtube). If you're playlist has grown a bit tired as of late, I hope you can find a tune or two of your liking to give it a boost. I'd also like to be given some suggestions to expand my own collection and spruce things up a bit. If you feel moved to do so, it would be appreciated. This invite is not limited to cycling folk. I want to hear from any and everyone who love to rock out, even if only from time to time. So here's to working into a successful spring season. Until then, JAM ON WITH YOUR FAN ON!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__dH9og7eb8">Tiesto - Traffic</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BymJq205eeM">Tiesto - A Tear In the Open</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfLufpGvUY">Ellen Allien &amp; Apparat - Turbo Dreams</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQGvLhZKg4Y">Moby - In My Heart</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHhlaspXVgo">Cut Chemist - The Garden</a></div>
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<a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/kid-koala/tracks/excerpt-1-slew-test-2-mosquito-vs-water-buffalo-slew-test-3a--36008391">Kid Koala - Excerp 1: Slew Test 2</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRwULu9ppA">Kid Koala - Skanky Panky</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Romanowski-The-Frisco-Years-94-08-MP3-Download/11475215.html">Romanowski - Pitter Patter</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSljXMBn3_g">Boom Boom Satellites - Kick it Ou</a>t</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU7bFpPJiww">Justice - Stress</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dW2oH6bQfg">Moby - A Shot in the Back of the Head</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fGuj1p9H9c">The Bran Flakes - Stumble out of Bed</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Uqjm5PFis">Kuffdam and Plant: The Ones We Loved </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpzsP86Fvf8">Oh No - Heavy</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GT_ABdbqrg">Four Tet - Plastic People</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SumyG9iEVjQ">Daft Punk - Alive</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UINhE8L1yXg">Pendulum - Fasten Your Seatbelt</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5FyUcUCX2o">Quantic - Time Is The Enemy</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mv2SaxHxI">Dogzilla - Frozen</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edo41i_uDas">The Toxic Avenger - The Fall (Switch Remix)</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApRO_OCrRjo">Ted and Francis - Erlend (Remix)</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPsmPHwp9rE">Silversun Pickups - Growing Old is Getting Old</a></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_CalTEVCOs">Interpol - Lights</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP2ZoWELEVA">Viva Voce - Devotion</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwFPOJGCT0">Phantogram - When I'm Small</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq4tyDRhU_4">Editors - Papillon</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWZxThGh5wQ">HEALTH - Die Slow </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAPmASBrMq4">Heartless Bastards - Early In The Morning</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08fqHr_KGPY">Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk7JHvUM1YI">Pictureplane - Goth Star</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=apartment+story+the+national&aq=0">The National - Apartment Story</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbFWAtFb18k">The National - Squalor Victoria</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuS2VHvXmU">Japanroids - Heart Sweats</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtH9MWGaAKw">Bear In Heaven - You Do You </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mQVljB7JGw">The Gossip - Heavy Cross</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDtTaoUgZJc">Tokyo Police Club - Breakneck Speed</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQUwAewKffM">Sebastien Grainger - American Names</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va6HnXVDExo">The Phenominal Handclap Band - You'll Disappear</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5hpnLIswbQ">Portishead - Chase The Tear</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F2e9fmYL7Y">Tame Impala - Solitude is Bliss</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ilike.com/artist/Lucero/track/The+Weight+of+Guilt">Lucero - The Weight of Guilt</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAWurnyKZUM">The Whitest Boy Alive - Burning</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u></u></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgDXWE77Ihw"><b>Chevelle - Send The Pain Below</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liW-kWFiXtQ">Sick Puppies - You're Going Down</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09LTT0xwdfw">Disturbed - Down With The Sickness</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_mYolM_NY">Street Sweeper Social Club - Ghetto Blaster</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuDP7c3Zd8I">Grinderman - No Pussy Blues</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; font-weight: normal;"><b><u><b><u></u></b></u></b></span><br />
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</span>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-85640723169137538032011-01-12T06:16:00.000-08:002011-01-12T07:35:26.726-08:00Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail: Biketopia?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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After a week of exploration down in the St. Petersburg / Tampa area, I was finally able to get over to check out the Fred E. Marquis Pinellas Trail. I have to say this was one of the best trails I've ever been able to ride while traveling. The planning of the trail was perfectly suited for pedestrians and cyclists alike. The trail kept calling me northward with new and interesting features and beautiful changes in landscape making for an awesome 65 mile round-trip. <br />
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This 34 mile recreational trail runs through several cities starting in downtown St. Petersburg and running north to Tarpon Springs. The trail's creation came from the initiatives of a man that had lost his son to a vehicle vs. bike accident in 1983. His actions brought about the Pinellas County Metropolitan Bicycle Advisory Committee. The trail was constructed through long abandoned stretches of CSX railroad right-of-way.<br />
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A combination of warnings from my sister and research online led me to understand that some of the southernmost stretches of the trail go through some unsavory neighborhoods. With this in mind, I drove north a bit and wound up parking at Sunset Park (easy street parking @ Park Street and Sunset Avenue, St. Petersburg) I would then only have to ride a few blocks east to pick up an overpass of the trail to begin my ride. As I started to roll northbound on the trail, I wasn't quite amazed at the the surrounding. The trail simply looked like a large stretch of alley that ran behind several retail and industrial plazas. The flanking ditch-lines were littered with trash and abandoned shopping carts. I quickly realized that I had dropped onto the trail about 2-3 miles further south than I should have.<br />
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Then things started to open up a bit. As the trail separated from running along Tyrone Blvd, it dropped on to a approximate 1/2 mile causeway that ran over Long Bayou. Their were great views of the mangroves, plenty of bird species, and surrounding waterways. The surrounding neighborhoods and surrounding natural areas started looking better. Surprisingly, for being in Florida, I was surprised at the elevation changes I encountered (in the form of overpasses). All major intersections at the point of the trail leading away from busy St. Petersburg all have high overpasses constructed to avoid interference with vehicular traffic.<br />
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</div>There are plenty of bike shops lining the trail at various points. I stopped at one of them to pick up a few supplies and pick one of the staff members brain about the trail. He joked about the 20 mph speed limit they have on the trail and how they DO at times enforce it. I think more-so by the elderly that prowl the trail. I was later yelled at by a geezer to slow down as I rolled past him from the opposite direction at a mind blowing 25. Oh well, I'm sure that made for some good ranting at his 2:30 dinner. I joke, but the retirement community surrounding the trail really does keep it well preserved and protected.<br />
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I rolled further north through beautiful Clearwater. I was amazed at how they'd reworked the logistics of surrounding traffic to accommodate the trail cutting by the east side of their downtown area. One road had been converted to a one way / one lane vehicular traffic pattern, while the other lane was divided and strictly used for bike and pedestrian traffic. This is all Chicago would have to do on a low traffic East/West road to make things unbelievably more safe for cyclists in the city. Leave it up to Clearwater, Florida to figure it out. This feature of the trail was very well done and appreciated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeBFoTNBBcrg1HttL3Dcot_Zei3Sx18krc7JLTwTliyLAVitq-iBX89uxvqyuWObFF3hVnnipN24Nt4XycNMAocSsjQxNEZQHvhAruMTKqbUgitXTQvptunHy-F_7fp3KSKxruMc_jVY/s1600/Pin5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeBFoTNBBcrg1HttL3Dcot_Zei3Sx18krc7JLTwTliyLAVitq-iBX89uxvqyuWObFF3hVnnipN24Nt4XycNMAocSsjQxNEZQHvhAruMTKqbUgitXTQvptunHy-F_7fp3KSKxruMc_jVY/s320/Pin5.jpg" width="239" /></a>I then continued through Dunedin. This was the town that best took advantage of their closeness in proximity to the trail. Coffee shops, tourist shops, breweries, wineries, and eateries are found on and a matter of blocks from the trail. The only disadvantage of this portion of the trail was the frequency of stop and go as many roadways intersect the path through this area. However, if you've been traveling at a good enough clip, you'll probably be looking for some refreshments and a little break from high pace at this time. Then it was north through the Palm Harbor area (best views of the gulf and surrounding waterways) and then North to Tarpon Springs. Tarpon Springs is an old Greek settlement where culture and tradition are well preserved. The trail straight through the palm tree-lined downtown streets, again surrounded with bordering shops and restaurants. I'm sure there was great food to be found somewhere, but I knew the time was quickly approaching to turn around and I just HAD to get to the northern terminus of the trail.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkSRSNofipeKU_-RCZ20mWV0Xq2P7lpfXQSDg3h3cRrlJYCLcr-Jx7bOM_caC8MOqJahFULoheOViSPcn7m5laaLacih3_cj3QhbWDZ5A6_FF_KlOPO_rjOblH2U9GS-PPc-6qf39Io/s1600/Pin6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUkSRSNofipeKU_-RCZ20mWV0Xq2P7lpfXQSDg3h3cRrlJYCLcr-Jx7bOM_caC8MOqJahFULoheOViSPcn7m5laaLacih3_cj3QhbWDZ5A6_FF_KlOPO_rjOblH2U9GS-PPc-6qf39Io/s320/Pin6.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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When I finally arrived to the northern terminus of the trail. I was a bit disappointed. I wasn't expecting a Wizard of Oz or a pot of gold to signal the end of my journey, but maybe a historic placard or something. I was greeted with a couple bright reflective red diamonds and a "Trail Ends Here" sign. A bit of creativity and thought is definitely in need here. Truthfully, the trail commission plans on adding another twelve mile or so stretch in the years to come. The trail will then connect with other surrounding trials to circumnavigate the county. It is said that this will then be the longest continuous circling trail in the United States. If I gained anything from my experiences, I learned that the trail commission is off to a damn great start. I took advantage of a 15 mph tailwind or so and hustled back down the trail to my vehicle. I rewarded my long journey with a Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout and a delicious salmon and acorn squash dinner as prepared by my sister. A great solo trip and a great experience on what I consider one of the best planned trails I've ever ridden. If you ever have a chance to get down to the St. Petersburg area. I'd heavily suggest traveling the trail and experiencing all it has to offer!<br />
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<b><u>Tips</u></b>:<br />
- The <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl">St. Petersburg KOA</a> campground is located just off the Long Bayou Causeway. It looked like a great place to camp, RV, they even have small cabins to rent. You can be on the trail seconds after leaving the campground.<br />
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- As a "day tripper" I found the best place to drop onto the trail was the Walmart (of all places) 3993 North Tyrone Blvd., North St. Petersburg. The parking lot jumps right onto the trail and avoids all shady areas on the southern portions of the trail.<br />
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- There's an nice park and bathroom facility when you pass through Seminole. Great place to refill water bottles.<br />
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- <a href="http://bicycleoutfitters.net/">Bicycle Outfitters</a> seemed to be one of the best bike shops on the route. Also located in Seminole. They offered everything from energy food and gear to repairs. They also have bikes for rent; cruisers to road bikes.<br />
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- North Dunedin, there's a trailed causeway that takes you out to Honeymoon Island State Recreation area. I didn't get a chance to explore (maybe later this week) But it looked like great views and more trails.<br />
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</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-20363548924033773272011-01-10T07:15:00.000-08:002011-01-17T16:33:37.423-08:00Frankincorn: When Hipsters Run Cycling EventsI did a little research to see what the racing scene was like in the St. Petersburg, Florida area. This is what happens when hipsters and skate kids get full reign on local racing events. A hybrid of criterium, cyclocross, and..... man kissing??? LOVE IT!<br /><br />
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<div><br /></div></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-29432084382076373042011-01-09T07:24:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:02:14.953-08:00The Skipper & Donna the Buffalo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHsXyJ4V29Es6B-JIJRoBK1uXZDZwYtN579ZWvU8JdKVthnXyxdNXhip6zPnVDJ603wgSI-lypT1lmttvo1GFRDXcfUsxmtl50TfKSEJsHdkHIR-RvXAadBDSMA-V-8YckUzsfGv_WZI/s1600/dino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHsXyJ4V29Es6B-JIJRoBK1uXZDZwYtN579ZWvU8JdKVthnXyxdNXhip6zPnVDJ603wgSI-lypT1lmttvo1GFRDXcfUsxmtl50TfKSEJsHdkHIR-RvXAadBDSMA-V-8YckUzsfGv_WZI/s320/dino.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>After a day of reveling in my post-research admiration of kudzu, (see last post) Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa was my chosen destination to take in some live music. The place was a blast! There's something about Florida's live music crowd that is very unique. I can't remember a time where I enjoyed a crowd as collectively as I did at the this show. Be it the natives, the transplants, or the people who simply sacrificed a life elsewhere for climate, they all seem to be able to come together seamlessly for the sake of the music. It didn't take long to establish that this group was my kind of people. Such emphasis was put on the simple task of having a great time.<br />
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</div><div>The food at Skipper's Smokehouse was great. However, the setting of the venue is what won me over. The outdoor dining/seating area is surrounded by a network of weathered decking walkways and wooden covered pavilions. The "Skipper Dome" or primary vantage point for watching the stage consists of a canopy of towering oaks laced with sweeps of spanish moss. Huge stalks of bamboo shoot high into the night sky. The restroom walls had collected witty bits of art and non-offensive quips as pen and markered by the patrons over years past. My sister returned from a trip to the facilities amused after finding the lyrics to the Allman Brothers 'Soul Shine' etched on a wall of the loo. It was an absolutely beautiful setting for an outdoor show. We were welcomed to join a group of some local folks celebrating a birthday at one of the many oversized picnic tables. Once we settled in and the tunes started up, I felt at peace with an ice cold Sierra Nevada in hand. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Donna the Buffalo was the band of choice for the evening. Despite their name, Donna is to Hootie as Buffalo is to Blowfish. The band is lead by the creative songwriter / musician / vocalist duo of Jeb Puryear and Tara Nevins. Since this summer, they've been one of those bands that has grown on me to the point that I feel bad for the years that I hadn't been aware of their work. It was their song 'America' that I had heard on satellite radio months prior that drew me in. I was pleased hear about last night's concert about a week ago when looking up live shows online. I saw they were going to be playing down in Tampa and I quickly talked my sister into grabbing tickets for the show. It was a good thing too, they sold out both nights they were in town.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Their music is a flowing mixture of folk and americana inspired jams. Frequent use of fiddle, washboard, and accordion set the driving tone that has an overall zydeco/cajun feel. This sound is one that my sister and I especially enjoy. Their music is penned with positive messages woven into really cool danceable grooves. It's a unique sound that you can't help moving with. The dance floor was absolutely packed with feet stompers and hippie twirlers. I was pleased to return to a crowd like this. It reminded me of my days working at a jam venue, The Canopy Club, back in my Champaign days of college! Surprisingly, Pennsylvania is Donna the Buffalo's state of origin, but MY GOD did their sound fit the Florida surroundings. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Skipper's Smokehouse, as I've now been told, has been a magnet for quality acts over the years. The list can be found on their website (link below). This is not hard to imagine. I mean, come on, we're talking about Florida; the land that's witnessed the birth of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Allman Brothers........Matchbox 20, Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida (OK, I need to stop!). We'll be catching a J.J. Grey & Mofro show there next weekend. I'm looking forward to the return. If you're ever in the Tampa area and are looking for a great local experience, I'd heavily suggest checking this joint out for a good bite and some great tunes.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com/">Go to Skipper's Website....</a></span><br />
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</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-84156745569293313952011-01-08T06:18:00.000-08:002011-01-08T08:38:48.922-08:00Killa Kudzu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tmitB3-YLY3hb_lAFF-py5z_9zlubYO2NHrmxmeLKoxdvpDhSI_TLPOqraF88ypB8-cOXGahMKgiXJc0ixhSbgOFGmKD-fY-SABCKplhsx5ebreSzKbuOfb7UadX-7YNq3iFwSckTcU/s1600/kudzu_bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tmitB3-YLY3hb_lAFF-py5z_9zlubYO2NHrmxmeLKoxdvpDhSI_TLPOqraF88ypB8-cOXGahMKgiXJc0ixhSbgOFGmKD-fY-SABCKplhsx5ebreSzKbuOfb7UadX-7YNq3iFwSckTcU/s320/kudzu_bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
During my recent drive through the southeast region of the country I had plenty of "windshield time" to observe and think about several things on and off the highway. I've always been amazed at the winter remnant's of the south's kudzu vines vastly covering trees, shrubs, and man-made structures. The appearance of the dormant vine adds a strong and ominous element to rural southern landscapes running from ditch-lines to distant forest edges. Often it can be seen climbing aged and unused agriculture and industrial buildings long rusted by the surrounding elements and years of burning hot summers. I quickly came to the realization that this vine must know exactly what it's doing. With this in mind, I just had to learn more.<br />
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My running knowledge of the foliage wasn't extensive. I knew it was an introduced species. I knew it had since become a nuisance in the south. I recall being told at some point it has been blamed on Jimmy Carter. I always figured the latter was negative political propaganda. Surely, at the launch of my research, I found this to be the exact case.<br />
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It turns out the plant was first introduced at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. It was brought over from it's native terrain of southeast China and southern Japan. It was initially introduced to the agricultural industry as a plant that could offer a surface crop for grazing that would at the same time curb erosion and fixate nitrogen for future crops. In its later history it was propagated and planted throughout the south under an incentive put forward by FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps amidst the Great Depression. The implied intent of kudzu was great, but limited attention to it's invasive vegetative growth later proved to be a great error.<br />
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This is a plant that has impressively evolved over time and is nearly flawless in it's adaptability. It's only weakness, the cold. This is one of the reasons it's growth has been limited to primarily the southeast region. However, it has now been found in 30 counties within Illinois; being reported as far north as Evanston! Surprisingly it's starchy roots can be harvested and processed to make premium cooking starch. The plant itself is rich in protein. I was surprised to find that it actually blooms with a brilliant stalk flower. However, the blooms are usually hidden by the plants large leaves. Anyone who takes even a limited interest in horticulture can't help but step back and marvel at the adaptability of this plant that has rooted itself into southern culture over the past hundred years. This is a plant that can literally, in the proper conditions, grow two feet a day. It has been reported that on a still night in a kudzu overgrown field, you can actually HEAR the plants collectively growing!<br />
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Southerners have taken to thinking of the plant as a hinderance. However, it has intertwined itself into southern lore as sampled in the following poem by James Dickey, properly entitled "Kudzu"....<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Gill Sans MT';"><div style="color: white; font: 16.0px 'Bell MT'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><i></i></div><i><div style="color: white; font: 16.0px 'Bell MT'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>“Japan invades. Far Eastern vines<br />
Run from the clay banks they are</i></span></div><div style="color: white; font: 16.0px 'Bell MT'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>Supposed to keep from eroding.<br />
Up telephone poles,<br />
Which rear, half out of leafage<br />
As though they would shriek,<br />
Like things smothered by their own<br />
Green, mindless, unkillable ghosts.<br />
In Georgia, the legend says<br />
That you must close your windows</i></span></div><div style="color: white; font: 16.0px 'Bell MT'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>At night to keep it out of the house.<br />
The glass is tinged with green, even so, ...”</i></span></div></i> <div style="color: white; font: 16.0px 'Bell MT'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 16.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.breakoutofthebox.com/kudzu.htm">Read</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuwf4_a9xLk">listen</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"> to the remainder of the poem. </span></div></span>So there you have it. From interstate observation to in depth look. Turns out kudzu is a pretty interesting adaptable monster. But if you know anything about my deep fear of snakes (especially of the poisonous kind), I won't be walking through a mass of it anytime soon.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-13659062194287926832011-01-07T08:37:00.000-08:002011-01-08T00:01:40.329-08:00What the Schleck ?<div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Just when I thought I was out.....they pull me back in."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdjkkdBkTYUl6KG2k8uw07gOdv-0KIdMRRRQHGuRHxtTIocWwLSHxw-t2ABd2he7SxNsr3GpZ3QskPjGRgIlnCmhnO8lrnSqHWgGufANo5ZZqfdVAt2Y5VyR8nlHu4OT4EVxOrkwh7Cw/s1600/Madone+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdjkkdBkTYUl6KG2k8uw07gOdv-0KIdMRRRQHGuRHxtTIocWwLSHxw-t2ABd2he7SxNsr3GpZ3QskPjGRgIlnCmhnO8lrnSqHWgGufANo5ZZqfdVAt2Y5VyR8nlHu4OT4EVxOrkwh7Cw/s1600/Madone+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I was surprised yesterday to read about the formation of a new cycling powerhouse backed by Trek. The team has been created after extensive planning and negotiation with riders such as the Schleck Brothers (Andy and Frank) who will be dropping their Specialized ties and migrate from Team Saxo Bank. Fabian "Motor Man" Cancellara will also join the crew in what is sure to shake things up on the pro circuit next year. Team Leopard-Trek has also rolled out a new line of Trek products that are sure to turn heads. The new Trek Madone and Trek Speed concept are some slick looking machines. <br />
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Now here's where the inquiries will start. The songbird of Trek a year ago was the launch of Lance Armstrong's Team Radio Shack. It seems like there has been a valiant attempt to shift attention away from Team Radio Shack's thunder of a year ago. One would have to wonder if this would have anything to due with the ongoing and bubbling accusations of doping with regard to several riders on the pro circuit? Or would this simply be a business minded decision along with Trek's attempt to stay fresh with a new group of GC contenders? One thing is for sure. If Alberto Contador is convicted of illegal substance use during last year's Tour De France, Trek may have brought aboard another reigning Tour Champion in Andy Schleck. <br />
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I'm not quite sure why Trek was so intent on keeping the almost exact color scheme of their then sponsored Team Astana of a couple years ago. If anything amidst the ongoing Armstrong controversy, it would seem these colors have the potential of permanently staining Trek's image. Nine of the last twelve tour winners have been on a Trek product. However, depending how things pan out with allegations, this may be a stat that is referenced with an asterisk (was it the crap or custom carbon) for years to come. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Now for the Good Part: (Eh,um....A.K.A. - How This Effects Me):</u></b></div><b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5bikErVQ7JwTvFwfV8byJIz-NPKvwTeBrJ2uHZZ38JsLMsfHHVzBL3pOPccU-F5tOaiQcgXJWEQDiMG_233coQSN6qybyMW4rLXQffIBh3C0rrYQnLmRRxC2PiJrogGmsCd05SjmzDk/s1600/Old+Trek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5bikErVQ7JwTvFwfV8byJIz-NPKvwTeBrJ2uHZZ38JsLMsfHHVzBL3pOPccU-F5tOaiQcgXJWEQDiMG_233coQSN6qybyMW4rLXQffIBh3C0rrYQnLmRRxC2PiJrogGmsCd05SjmzDk/s1600/Old+Trek.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This is where I've become a bit perplexed. Trek is once again tugging at my heartstrings. The new Madone looks so very much like my Trek 2.1 that I sold last spring. The Madone was up in my top three options last year prior to my commitment and later pre-Super Week debacle in dealings with the inferior "Milk was a bad choice" Velo Vie. If you haven't seen these bikes yet. I'd heavily suggest taking a peak at Trek's website (link below). If you're lucky to test ride one of these fellas, make sure you leave your checkbook and wallet at home. So now a Trek bicycle will be once again running through my dreams through the spring season. It's a good thing bank account statements and my team leader will be around to keep talking me off the ledge. <br />
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If anything, I'm looking forward to watching Team Leopard-Trek this year. Long gone is Trek's jocking of Kazakhstan's Team Astana. Now enter the Schleck Boys from Luxembourg; coincidentally the country of the Galles family name's origin.<br />
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TANGENT ALERT: Ever wonder why Galles sounds French? Look into the recent two hundred year history of Luxembourg....duh! This also explains my fondness of baguette and Freedom fries. <br />
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The Schleck brothers bring a little punk to cycling. These guys are definitely fun to watch and are in the prime of their careers. They tie into the statistical defying athletic family anomalies with the likes of Thomas and Julius Jones, Peyton and Eli Manning,....and (OK, now I'm pushing it) Carson and Jordan Palmer . This is so rockstar; Last year Andy was removed from the Vuelta a Espana after violating team conduct standards with Stuart O'Grady. As a Get Out of Jail Free option, I would have suggested Andy pose the question to the team hierarchy addressing how difficult it is leaving a bar with an Irishman without imbibing a tasty beverage? But hey, we can't all be geniuses. At least they weren't invited to a steak dinner with Alberto Contador.<br />
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<a href="http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/">Enough rambling....Check 'em out for yourself</a> !!!<a href="http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/"></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">PH8KDEC426TZ</span>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-66913393450089688552010-12-31T15:06:00.000-08:002011-01-01T10:43:42.416-08:00Favorite Downloaded Tunes of 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuHJ-qlUxuqxcRT2ix_bqG_sHSt3Lw4zUYTmhbXlod-zJzv1tEIGiJ6BgrZe3vl_5zSz_-D2uhUmKTJ7ovUt6PPOrluTwNYgqk3nzloBbG5XKGXdck3J3aKp3GzGHwQztEPaDMS8iUJM/s1600/Quantic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuHJ-qlUxuqxcRT2ix_bqG_sHSt3Lw4zUYTmhbXlod-zJzv1tEIGiJ6BgrZe3vl_5zSz_-D2uhUmKTJ7ovUt6PPOrluTwNYgqk3nzloBbG5XKGXdck3J3aKp3GzGHwQztEPaDMS8iUJM/s200/Quantic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> My favorite album of the year was Quantic's Flowering Inferno: "Dog With A Rope". Love this guy and every genre of music he's ever touched. In this case, just about every form of South American and Caribbean music out there. He has a way of modernizing classic forms, but never compromises them to do so. Have listen if you get a chance and dig "world music" (Hate this term).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Also as the celebration of the New Year draws near, I just wanted to share a list of great music that I considered some of my <a href="http://www.last.fm/user/JDG321/library/playlists/4ty6v_best_of_2010%253A_that_made_it_into_my_library">Top Downloaded Songs of 2010</a> . All songs were released this year and proved to be worthy jams for years to come. Have a listen if curiosity grabs you and have a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!</div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-22292783345966861212010-12-31T09:21:00.000-08:002011-01-08T08:37:36.559-08:002010 Year End Vimeo!<div>Just in time for the year to turn over, I've completed my year end synopsis of 2010. I've already fielded some comments from people who haven't been included, or included with limited exposure. My advice for those seeking exposure on next year's video.....WORK HARDER!!! Those bored with the in-between, forward to the last minute and a half. I'm getting good feedback for the year-end dance portion. </div><div><br />
</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="224" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18220082?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398"></iframe>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3005269099371289582.post-25673635836735262172010-12-31T07:30:00.000-08:002011-01-07T13:33:05.016-08:00To Whom This Won't Concern...Over the duration of the past few months, I've had my attention drawn toward all that is the modern day blog. I've experienced friends creatively posting life experiences and interests. I've stumbled upon random blogs while searching for a specific item or subject. These sites have many times become very useful. Each respective blog always seems to hold at least one thing I can draw something from and/or learn something new. So, I figured it was about time to jump on board and end this form of useful and informative expression. A forum where I can spout my thoughts and interests. I'll be sharing, but also sparing the beloved folks I hold near and dear that usually get forcefully shelled by my interests on other forums such as Facebook. This blog will create a medium of voluntary punishment by all that brave exposure to my interests and opinions. Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you the love-child of my current time surplus; my new monster, Daily Hot Garbage.<br />
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Things to expect? Primarily items of personal interest I'll try to push onto the internets as a poor attempt at self glorification. Things I'll dream will be hoisted to a broad audience, but in reality fall onto the eyes of a few mercy glimpses; typically fueled by boredom. Am I getting this blog thing right yet? Good, now to move forward...<br />
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Seriously, I dig my life and those around me. I'm fortunate to be surrounded by a good core group of people. At times I have different views on things and always welcome feedback, information, and suggestions. I'd like to make this blog a representation of the things that fill and surround my life. I believe one's life is about continued development and evolution. I also think the good things a person discovers over life's journey should be shared constructively with aim to enrich others.<br />
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Now, staring down the barrel of the New Year, I thought what better time to explore this useful form of modern expression. I just hope a thing or two I express or introduce may land upon a few folks who may have a curiosity to see the underbelly of my world and what makes it tick. Maybe I'll even have someone learn something as well (poor soul)? But overall, look forward to this site being geared primarily toward music, cycling, the great outdoors, traveling, and ample stream of random rants and tangents. So....sit back relax and watch it all burn. ;)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">PH8KDEC426TZ</span></div>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14086287925852466980noreply@blogger.com0