Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Oh, Come On...

I hope this trophy doesn't have clenbuterol in it...
Really?

Is anyone even that surprised anymore?

In a *not-shocking-in-the-least* breaking news front today, 2010 Tour de France Champ (I mean CHUMP) Alberto Contador has supposedly tested positive for clenbuterol, a bronchodilator drug given to asthma patients to open their airways.  The alleged positive test came from mandatory drug testing from the second race day of this year's Tour.

Clenbuterol is a completely legal medication; however, it is on the UCI's list of banned substances.  But, for the laymen and those not familiar with the rules of cycling and anti-doping measures, so are many of the medical products you and I use every day.

Allergy medicine?  Yup - you're getting a two-year ban if you get caught with that in your blood stream.  Asthma inhalers?  That's what Contador just got busted for.  Hell, even the newly-formed high school mountain bike league here in Colorado has banned caffeine the day of a race.

High schoolers, no caffeine?  Good luck trying to enforce that. 

Of course, in a *not-shocking-in-the-least* move by Contador, he has a team of "experts" ready to testify that it was food contamination, and is proclaiming his innocence.

Wha-wha-what?!?

So let me get this straight...someone put asthma medication in your spaghetti?  You, my man, are an idiot.

If there's ONE THING that can be learned from the Floyd Landis 'scandal', is that, for God sakes, you can't lie about it...you're just making it harder on yourself.

Back to the "surprise" of the issue.  No one should be surprised.  No one should be shocked.  Fact is that you can't honestly trust that anyone is clean in professional cycling.  Yes, teams such as Garmin-Transitions are doing everything they can to prove they are, but unfortunately, the linens have been dirty so long in this sport that a lack of positive tests likely means they're getting around the anti-doping measures, not complying with them.

The difference between this and cycling?  Body weight.
But that doesn't mean I'm not going to watch and keep up to date on pro cycling.  To a certain extent, it's kind of like pro wrestling.  When I was in high school and college, I watched WCW Wrestling religiously.  I even splurged to go to a couple of events when they came nearby.  Loved it.  The Big Show, Goldberg, Sting, the nWo...man, that stuff was fun.  Were those guys athletic?  Absolutely.  Were they clean?  Absolutely not.  'Roided up beyond all belief.  (Man, Goldberg was awesome...)

But I knew that.  So I just sat back, and enjoyed the show.

Just like the Tour de France.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Spiritual Retreats


So, if you don't know by now, one of the best times of the year around these parts be fall.  Consider yourself "in the know".

The Intense likes these days.  Resting on Wolverton Spring.
"Fall" officially starts the third week or so of September, but around here it really starts when the overnight low temps start dipping into the 30s.  Could be as early as September 1, but typically lasts into the first week of October, at which time the aspens have mostly lost their leaves, and we're left with the dull gray of leafless trees, combined with the darkening forest green of the pines.

But during this "fall" period, it's absolutely heavenly.  Golden grasses, full yellow-to-red spectrum of the scrub brush, and hi-liter yellow aspens.  One of my favorite mountain bike experiences is to head out on the Pipeline/Wolverton Spring loop - about 24 miles of singletrack and two hours at an easy pace - during fall and enjoy the colors.  Especially during the back half of the fall period, when there are plenty of leaves still on the trees, but there's also a thick layer of fallen leaves covering the trail.

Crisp, cool air in the late afternoon (especially when the sun ducks behind Hardscrabble Mountain...bring a jacket), runnin' full-squish on the rear of the Intense Spider 29.  Maybe even have a little dampness hiding out under the leaves, creating a tacky trail...

Surreal.  Nay, Spiritual.

These rides invoke an inner feeling, an juxtaposed emotion.  A simultaneous state of bliss and awe.  A feeling of utter happiness overtaking the looming sadness of another season gone by...winter soon.

They're perfect.

Words can't describe, pictures can't show.
You have to be there.
You have to experience for yourself.
By yourself.

Everyone has their own reaction, their own spiritual moment...and the only way you can truly understand what it means to you is to immerse yourself in it.  These rides, these moments, are meant for you, and you alone.

I urge you to travel this path alone; I plead with you to disallow interjections.  Pick your riding companions carefully during this time of year; ensure they are of the same mind, and are also searching for this sanctuary, lest they destroy your moment, never to be found again this particular time.

Where I'm going...
...and where I've been.  Near the top of Wolverton Spring climb.

A smooth leaf-bedded singletrack:  Wolverton Spring.
Into the yellow and white: near the bottom of Wolverton Spring.

The pipe:  Pipeline singletrack.
More pipe, this time heading up:  Pipeline singletrack.
Others may ride the trail, enjoy the surroundings, even find their zen or nirvana or utopia or whatever.  But at the end of the day, you are the steward of your own spiritual moments.  These places are meant for you, under your own lock-and-key, for you to access when the time is right.

KEEP THE GATE CLOSED.


Gotta Love Kansas Weather

The cause of the 'lightning delay' at the KSU v. UCF football game Saturday:

View from the press box.
People taking pictures from the upper deck.  Scary.
Looks like a scene from the movie Independence Day

And with a WAY TOO exciting finish, the Fightin' Willies prevailed 17-13.
Carson Coffman (right) came up with a HUGE rushing TD at the end of the game.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

College Football Saturday - w00t!

K-State v. U of Central Florida game is delayed in Manhattan right now (lightning...nasty looking storm just to the north of the Bill).

But HEY!  It's not too late to get your rivalry gear on today - plenty of games to go!  But if you're going to get so wound up that you punch someone, make sure they have a padded face...
POW...right in the kisser.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Ha!

Came across some funny (and nerdy) things on the interwebs...wanted to share with you.  Enjoy!
 

Saturday, September 18, 2010

2011 Yummyness

Interbike is this week, in Las Vegas - the bicycle industry tradeshow where most manufacturers go showcase their new 2011 product - from bikes to tires, hydration packs to clothing.  My boys from Deathrow Velo will be attending (Booth #6018), so if you're heading there, swing by and check them out.  Say hi to John Landino for me.

The point - 2011 bike lines are coming out.  Here's some of the big-wheeled goodness to expect next year:

Kona Hei Hei 2-9 (Easton Scandium, 100mm F/R)
Specialized S-Works Epic 29er (Monocoque Carbon, 100mm F/R)
Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 29er (Monocoque Carbon frameset, 100mm F)
Marin Team CXR 29er (Monocoque Carbon, 100mm F)
Trek *ahem, Gary Fisher* Sawyer (Chromoly Steel, fully rigid)

Trek *ahem, Gary Fisher* Superfly 100 (Co-molded Carbon, 100mm F/R)  

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Huh. I still have a Blog?

Craziness.  That's about all I can call it at this point.

Not sure why it's taken me three weeks to update the blog.  Lazy at home after work?  Yup.  Busy on weekends?  Yup.

Pretty sweet photo from Full Tilt in Telluride XC race.
So, I'm finally done with the race season.  Three weeks ago was MSC #7 - Full Tilt in Telluride.  Met up with some of Erin's friends from high school that live in Telluride now, and had a brutally steep XC race on Saturday and an equally brutally steep hill climb on Sunday.  The XC race was two laps of 12.5 miles each, and the lap started at 9700ft and topped out at well over 11000ft.  Each lap had over 1700ft of climbing.  Suffered through a wickedly gnarly muddy section twice (the second time sapped most of my energy) as well as a flat on the second lap in the XC race.  But the course was about 90% singletrack, and to be honest, would be great for a fun ride.  Racing on it was pretty damn hard, though.

Just plain suffered in the hill climb...1500 feet vert in 5 miles is going up in a hurry.  But Tee-Ride is a pretty sweet place.  Views of the mountains all around are fantastic, and the town has a lot of character.  And talk about secluded - one of the very few spots that my iPhone gets no data service.  At all.  Erin, Riley and I had a great time on our first trip to Telluride; wouldn't mind going back, either.

Rippin' the singletrack descent.  [Courtesy VastAction.com]

Getting lost in the trees at Winter Park.
Two weeks later (or a week and a half ago, depending on your point of view), MSC #8 - Winter Park Pursuit.  I took about a week and a half off the bike due to overall fatigue, and it seemed to pay off.  That, and the WP course set up very nicely for me, with a 14 mile first lap followed by a 12 mile second lap, both with about 1500ft of climbing each.  So lots of nice long flat or slight incline stretches that I could get a big gear rolling, and not very many sustained climbs.  Good for a guy of my size.  Ended up finishing 9th in XC on Saturday, and 6th in STXC on Sunday.  Followed the XC race up with a win by my beloved K-State Wildcats over UCLA in the opening weekend for college football, so all in all, it shaped up to be one of the better recent weekends.