Wikipedia

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How can you not love Wikipedia? It seems that no matter what I'm Googling, there's always a Wikipedia result on the first page of results. That in itself means the information is accurate. Right?

I don't know, it's just funny to me that I will actually scroll halfway down the Google results and choose Wikipedia over the other, probably more valid sources. I'm hooked, which means you should never rely on what I say.

It's Thursday...

and we're only one episode from being caught up on The Office. I think it's impossible to watch this show and then not be compelled to quote random lines from it all day long. Just ask my co-workers.

more quotes from the office

Fixed Gear Goodness and Base Building...

I'm finally getting comfortable riding fixed gear. George made some adjustments on his Pinarello Pista and I've been riding her lately. The plan is to train on her most of the winter, breaking out the multispeed bike only for climbing rides.



Speaking of fall/winter, George also suggested that I start base building. What does that mean? Well, today it meant that I had to divert my normal route on Pacific Coast Highway inland to resist the temptation to chase the rabbits, err...I mean, other cyclists, out there. This is going to be really, really difficult for me but it's a chance to prove my dedication to improving, or at least that's the line that George fed me this morning when I called mid-ride to confirm I was following his plan correctly...minus one minor and totally illegal u-turn on PCH to chase a group down and couple of repeats up a hill to see how the gearing on the fixie felt. Oops.

I shouldn't complain, it really wasn't that bad. It might help if I just visualize the fat melting off of my thighs from all of the long, steady, low intensity effort. Yeah, that's it.

...and six months later

okay...technically, it's a day shy of six months later, but who's really counting? A quick catch up:

~I finished the Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Series and was happy with my results...4th place for women under 50. After this series I definitely felt that if I put more training in next year that I could cut my time somewhat. I really needed more hill training!

~I finished my third double century, Eastern Sierra on June 2nd. It was tough because George crashed 70 miles into and my head wasn't really into it for the rest of the ride. Well that and the last 30 miles of headwinds were a bitch, but I'll stop complaining about something that happened four months ago. This completed my California Triple Crown and I am currently awaiting my snazzy finishers jersey.

~Crewed RAAM, it was long, hard and rewarding all wrapped into one.

~Got a job...had some fun, decided I wasn't happy there.

~Slacked off on training for most of the summer. I suck.

~Totally bonked on GMR one Sunday and went through two bottles and still overheated 2.5 miles from the top. Please see the above comment about sucking. ;) Thankfully George came down after summitting and gave me one of his bottles.

~Redeemed myself with a personal best time up GMR (sub-1hr) a couple of weeks later. YAY me. Now I need a new goal for that road. Note...riding with a PowerTap helps, but only if you're looking at it and pacing yourself accordingly. :)

~Got a new job, much better. Fit into my schedule perfectly...W/Th/F...the days that the kids are with their dad.

~Have been sick for about a bajillion weeks. Okay, maybe not a bajillion, but at least six. The snot has floweth long enough and needs to stop. Pronto.

~Crewed Furnace Creek 508 for George. WOW. Fixed gear, he's a total nut. It was painful to watch at times, particularly on the major climbs, but he's an animal and he made it. I'm so proud of him. See his blog here... www.epictrain.blogspot.com and check out all of the pictures. Particularly the ones where I turn the handoffs into diva-esque posing activities. ;) I'm working on a report on my experience, hopefully to be posted soon.

~I've made out my event schedule for next year and now it's time to start training again. I'm finally starting to feel a little better, so I made it out on the fixed gear today. Someone thinks I should be training on this bike for the winter (unless I'm climbing) and who am I to argue? It was fun. I'm still a little nervous about getting going again after stopping, but I did about 16 miles this morning and I survived. I only forgot that I was riding fixed once, for a nano-second when I thought I might coast. OOPS. It sure tells you otherwise, and quickly!

~We got a tandem...finally! We've been waiting for this thing for what seems like forever. I freaked out a little bit the first time we went out and I'll admit that it feels strange to not have control back there in the stoker position. I've taken to closing my eyes when he's turning, it stops me from trying to steer the bike. We're hoping to do a couple of the early season double centuries on it and I decided that I have the goal of doing a sub-5 hour century on the tandem...even if we only do it in 4:59. ;)

Okay...off to Target for the little guy to spend his birthday money. More later!