147: Morning Mud.

I like to start you out with a little video now and again even if it is not all that interesting. Few things to note with this one. One, it might be the last ride with this camera it got so covered in mud. Two, my Cateye light is futuristic and amazing, and rechargeable, and amazing. Thanks Ellen. And three, does Forest Part look like that scene in Return of the Jedi to anyone else? I love it for that and every time I head in there it makes me smile. This was in fact the route that made me want to move to Portland. Confirm.

I think that my Superb sticker looks pretty hot on the ol Igleheart. Check out there most recent blog post to see the little collaboration that these two have put together. Looking forward to checking it out in person sometime soon. Whats that? You miss me Boston? I figured.


I forgot about these photos from last Friday's ride. It was a good one, nice and muddy. I apologize that they are a little out of focus, I think that happened because the whole camera was covered in mud before I actually knew what happened. Apparently it is tough to focus a camera that is covered in mud.

So, this is what Joe looked like when we crested Germantown Road and were about to head off into the woods via Lief Erickson trail. Calm, collected and most importantly, clean. Very "fetching" as they say in head to toe Embrocation Cycling Journal garb.

BEFORE

Then, about twenty minutes later he turned into this. Now, I know initially when you look at this photo you think, well, that man does not look very happy. Could not be further from the truth. This man is in fact quite happy when he gets muddy. He is quite happy being muddy. It makes him feel like he is doing something bad (I just made that part up.) Only thing is I wonder what he does when he gets to work at least with all those muddy clothes? Maybe they make them into Nike Cycling spots. Or maybe not.

AFTER

This here is Kyle. He is making some sort of an Urban hand gesture that I do not recognize. It looks something similar to the traditional "peace" sign but flipped upside down and placed remarkably close to his groin area. My guess is that it means something like "These two legs here are about to do some bike riding." Again, I could always be wrong. I will do some research and see what I come up with. Also note that Kyle is riding a Flatbar Single Speed bicycle. We will come back to that.

BEFORE

DURING

I don't know how he avoided it, but he did not get that muddy. Joe speculated that it had something to do with the fact that he was out front the whole time and therefor did not experience the backlash that was our tires. I think it had something to do with the sweatshirt that he was rocking. Somehow his lack of cycling gear and choice of bicycle allowed him to magically avoid all the mud. Will look to try that out this week.

Seriously. How the hell did Kyle remain that clean? Look at him back there laughing it up. Maybe the hand gesture was some sort of a signal to the gods? Something that said "hey gods, protect me from the forces that be." Possibly?

120: What's New(s).

BQ's write up on the Competitive Cyclist Blog was the best thing that I read today. What's New is one of these things that I follow on my "Google Reader." Although it isn't one of these write ups that lets you read everything through the reader, it makes you click out to get the whole story. Genius. I mean, that's the only way to get people to your website right? Let them see that there is something new lingering out there, hang it like a carrot, and then make them work for it.

Well, I work for it. It is one of the writings each week that I, in fact, savor reading. I open it up in my browser and then let it hang out and marinate there for the rest of the day. Maybe I'll dip in at lunch time, click through a few links and see what musings permeate through the day.


Today was exceptional. It starts off with an amazing quote from Jeremy Powers (who is now slated to make a guest appearance at a certain party next week) on how to pick up women in Belgium. I'm paraphrasing but he states that a Quickstep rider told him he has his soigneur place a photo of himself with his number on the back in his mussette and then throws it out to a pretty girl in the crowd. Amazing.

I'm just imagining one of these burly, smoking Belgian mafiosos getting ahold of that card and then having a perma-boner for Pozzato for the rest of his life. Afraid, yet excited at the same time that he has the man's number. Never using it. But smiling every time he watches Pippo come in second at Roubaix (which he will again next year) because he knows Pippo is doing it just for him. Maybe I should finally throw out that card of Johan Vansummerin that I wrestled out of his girlfriends angry hands?


RGR (Rapha Gentleman's Race)
Gentleman's race was awesome. Can we do this every weekend? Actually we can't, because my legs would quite literally fall off of my body. This is the best time of riding that I've had in a long time. I think that Slate Olson has got it right when he comes up with the right mixture of distance, terrain and commeraderie. It just makes everyone happy. (Plus, I got him on camera saying that he just puts them on so that he doesn't have to actually race them.)

Sheild your eyes when you look at this link. They're bright and white. But the full results of the race are somewhere in there too. The gloves are awesome by the way.

Why don't we have a Cyclocross version of this? I know that in the U.K. they have the Three Peaks Race. Why do we not have one here in Portland?


My team? Also amazing. But more on that later. Dave Roth, the man behind the curtain for H.U.P. United was kind enough to let me utilize his GoPro cameras. So, that is exactly what I did. Went Pro. All one hundred and thirty eight miles of the race. Save it though, build it up because it will be good. Promise. Here is a little taste though.



Don't worry, you do not have to look at me for too long. The only thing that I couldn't figure out was which clamp I needed to tighten to get the camera to stop slipping. It wasn't good. I would be riding along, trying not to die and realize that the camera was pointing down. Some good (foot)age came from it though. (How boring would I be if I didn't crack myself up.)

Pretty sure that this guy got some good footage too. If you are new to this Blog (do new people find it?) he has been the driving force behind some great video stuff. Some of his new videos just went up on the Rapha Continental site last week actually. Check out the Wednesday Matinee. There is something like six new videos up there. All of them great. Rumor has it that he is going to be in the area for a little while. Should be good fun.


Also, one last note for the night. Whomever it was that commented last week on my overuse of the " ' " apostrophe. Thanks for that. I really do overuse it. However, one little comment like that and now I am (I'm) rechecking everything that I type to a point of obsession. Thank you I think it is a good thing.

Up next. Best fashion blog around (or only one I've looked at) from a 13 year old girl. No Joke.