HPSF Epic

The Ride began shortly after 9 am at the first lot on Harold Parker Road. Nearly all of the trails marked in red were ridden. 4 hours later the ride wasn't even finished. However, I told the others to 'put a fork in 'cause I'm done' . I bailed on the remaining 30 minutes of riding. My legs could no longer be up to the endurance challenge as both were intermittanly attacked by muscle spasms and cramps.
The majority of the ride was consistant of sucking wind as I was either on the tail trying to catch up or 2nd to last being pushed from the last guy. In both situations, the harder I cranked the further away I was from the pack of 6. I had one flat immeditely after an other guy had a flat. I got some nasty lasarations on my legs and arms. Ran into a small tree then into a larger tree that had fallen into the trail with my helmet.
It was one of the most challenging rides I have ever has at Harold Parker State Forest.

Transformers Review

Transformers User Reviews:


"more than meets the eye"
by mumbla


if you ever transformed one of these things back in the 80s then you as a 30 something adult, will not be disappointed. If you have turned into somewhat of a tech or geek junkie this the the movie for you. the cgi is seamless and the action sequences make you want to duck for cover in your seat. Has enough explosions to rival baghdad. can we expect anything less for Michael Bay? Had its moments with humor ala John Truturo, but the major criticism of the movie is the ridiculous much hollywoodized story plot line of boy meets girl. boy saves the world. boy gets girl. that and much of the dialogue between humans are the movie's major setbacks. stupid oneliners. they took a good transformer slogan and had to butcher it into a pick up line. Had Megan Fox been running around in a bikini the whole movie, the script wouldn't have mattered. try to see it on the biggest screen available. the robot aliens are worth the ticket price for the big screen, humans element, not so much."

Branson, Misourah

Needless to say, but I would rather be on the greens swinging a golf club since I am still a couple of weeks away from a mountain bike. Oh well, so it goes...
Here's the low down of our trip out to Branson, Misourah as the natives would pronounce.

We were scheduled to fly out Saturday at 7 a.m. Make a connection at 10:30 in Chicago and arrive in the Springfield-Branson International airport at noon thirty to be picked up by Michelle's parents who are on a permanent vacation, just like the Aerosmith album suggests. I was looking forward to my 2:00 Tee time with the father-in-law. However, United Airlines had other plans for the travelers.

to be continued...continue it is..

With our five hour layover in Chicago before Branson, MO, the wife and I decided to make good use of the time we had in Chicago. We decided to take the train to Chicago from the Airport. A 45 minute train ride was what it took to get into Chicago. We headed straight for lunch at Bin 36.

I had one of the best burgers paired with a wine and Michelle had her favorites: Cheeses!
Chicago is a cool city. One of those cities on the list visit and spend more time in. A future vacation maybe.

Our time in Branson was spent fairly well. I got my golf, including two rounds in the same day, though I was pretty much useless by the 8Th green the second time around. I could not drive to save my life, nor use an iron, chip and putt.

I say fairly because we had a situation in Branson. But other than this particular situation, Branson with Michelle's parents was pretty cool. Straight to it, Michelle lost her rings. Yep. ring(s), both the engagement and wedding ban. It occurred just after a ride we took in an Amusement park at Silver Dollar City.

Fire in the Hole was this poor excuse for a roller coaster where you got wet at the end, hence fire in the hole. After the ride, Michelle reached out her left hand with fingers stretched and said, ' oh my god.' It took a few nano-seconds, but I was trying to piece together in my head what she was referring to.
Then it hit me. No Diamond engagement ring. No half eternity wedding band with 17 diamond. Did the rings fall off on the ride? I turned and searched the ground using the kind of vision an insect may have. Nothing. Went back to the ride with the parental-in-law entourage to see if the rings had fallen in the seats we were in. Searched it all and nothing. Traced our steps through the park like an ant eater's tongue carefully licking the ground as if it were our last meal. Nothing. Went back to the the resort to see if it she had just left it there before we headed out. Treated the rooms as if it were a crime scene. Still nothing. Traced our steps further to the beginning of the day at the outlets. All stores and nothing. Went back to silver dollar city when everyone was leaving. Scoured again and nothing. No rings.

Michelle's mom had this absurd idea that maybe she had put them in pockets back at the resort. Michelle had put lotion on and maybe she took her rings off. Though Michelle wore a skirt throughout the day with no pockets. We got back and Michelle recalled that she had on shorts with pockets earlier that morning and headed straight for them. The first pocket she went for had nothing. She hurried her hands in the other pocket and came out yelling, 'here they are.' Both rings. Big reliefs, all around the room. For four hours Michelle and the rest of us though for sure the rings were lost in Silver Dollar City. In hindsight, I find humor in the story of a woman at Silver Dollar City that her husband had lost his wedding ban on a ride and nine months later they called with news that they found her husband's ring.

To end our trip out there, United Airlines delayed our flight out of Springfield due to bad weather out in Denver where our plane was coming from. This meant that we would miss our connecting flight in O'Hare to Logan. well, we'd have about 8 minutes to make it to our connecting flight. Our representative was nice enough to give us a back up plan. She booked us on another airline, American, leaving 25 minutes later. We were free to try to make our first flight.

We landed in Terminal 2 and had to get to terminal 3 in seven minutes. We sprinted and got to our gate. The plane was still there but our gate was closed with no one there. Okay. What now. Back up plan, quick lets get to American. Terminal 1. The distance between terminal 3 and 1 was the equivalent of 3 football fields. It was a mad dash. Michelle had to take some stops to breathe, but I kept pushing her on saying, 'we are not spending the night in O'Hare International.' We got to our new gate and they had not begun boarding.
Hallelujah.

back on the saddle

This morning was the first day back on the fuji since the crash.
I flipped the hub from freewheel to fixie, thinking that if I had some trouble using the brake lever, I could use my legs to slow down. Well, in principle it seemed like a good idea. I just have to get used to it. The brakes are still there as back up.

Though, I am thinking of removing the rear brakes and just keeping the front, but I've already endoed on the pavement trying to avoid a spaced out pedestrian in the winter.
My finger wasn't quite ready for the commute. The vibrations took a toll on the broken finger and I ended up riding half the ride into work with on my left hand on the bars and my right held close and upright to my chest.

When I got to work it was a few ibuprofens to try to numb the finger and wishing I had some vihcs.
The process gets repeated again, though there will be some better pain killers on hand.

Fracture

The early evening started out pretty good. Made my way along the river on the fuji and even stopped at the outdoor gym area to get a quick workout. Arrived at home and got a call from Joe. 'Dude, want to go to a Red Sox game.' Free tix and and beverages. I was easily persuaded and hopped back on the fuji and got to the fenway area in no time. The game was good though better had we won against Toronto. The company was cool, as it was Joe and nearly all of his ex-coworkers from Wyeth. The beverages kept coming like an endless fountain.
After the game we headed for Audubon Circle for more. I head off at about 11:30 or so.

About halfway home, I was taking a turn and maybe my balance was off as I was leaning too much into it as I was flying into the right hand turn or maybe there was shmutz or sand or something and my front wheel slipped and collapsed from under me.

Lights flew off, shorts were shredded, some skin from my elbows and knees were left at the scene. Didn't really think too much of the right hand, just felt a little sore as it took the brunt of the fall. Got back on the saddle and continued on my way.

got home and cleaned and bandaged the wounds and went to bed.
Woke up with a little soreness all over, but there was an excessive amount of pain, stiffness and swelling on my right index finger. It nearly doubled the size of my thumb.

Called the Doctor when I got into work and went in for x-rays. Four hours later, left Beth Isreal with a Splint.




Yep, fractured. the tip bone of the right index finger. The xrays showed a break in the shape of a mercedes symbol without the circle.

Now I've done it. No commuting and no MTB for at least 10 days. 15 to be sure. But I'll be back on the saddle in 9 days to commute to work.

Marathon Day and a SS prophet-jerry rig style

With drivetrain issues, I decided to make the Prophet a Single Speed, jerry rig style. My chain is worn out, my cables are stretched and the derailluer needs to be dialed in. Instead of performing a drivetrain overhaul and the repeated chain slip where my knees paying the price, the chain was shortened, derailleur, cable and housings were removed.

Over all, the conversion worked pretty good. Instead of my knees bashing into my headset, now my quads are stiff and sore. It was more fun when I was less worried about chain slip. I was able to do bigger drops off concrete ledge walls.

I was able to make my way to the finish line of the 111th Boston Marathon. I arrived just in time, as the Marathon was officially over and only the last of the runners were crossing the line. The clean up crew had already begun their work and I was able to bike my way through Boylston Street.









Google Map of where these shots were taken
click here

commuting 101

here are a couple of tips I got from the commute by bike blog.
Good advice and will keep the commuter among the living.

don't ride in the door zone
I've had a few close calls with doors opening. One thing that made me boil was when then Lt. Governor Kerry Healy vetoed a bill that would make it a law for cars to look before opening their car doors. It was one of the last things she did before she her term in office ran out. The bill will, again, eventually go before our current Governor Deval Patrick. I hope he does the right thing.

Sun Glare in April and September
This glare is the same glare that drivers see like a flash of white light on their windshield, temporarily blinding them.
Click on the link and go to the press release.
Or click here to go directly there.

with the delay of opening day at the Fells

and the rain held off for a day, it was a chance for another urban ride through the streets of Boston town with the prophet. I jumped on this chance because the weather is supposed to be junk for the next week or so. It was the nicest day so far. Temps were in the lower 40s all week. So high 40s was very much welcomed. What ever happened to the days of April where temps were near 80 a couple years ago.

The marathon runners this year are in a world of hurt for sure with a forecast of temps in the 30s and rain, lots of rain. They will need a canoe to make to Boylston Street. 26.2 miles wasn't enough this year. mother nature throws a late spring Nor'easter at them too.

I'll be drinking and watching the Red Sox, if the game isn't cancelled and occasionally switching to channels to marathon coverage.

The fells and most areas around Boston are closed until April 28Th. originally the fells was supposed to be open by this weekend, but the weather had other plans. Oh well. maybe this delay will extend the riding season. wishful thinking. but is it really that far fetched? I could see 70 in November. We got near that in January this year.

As I made my way into Boston, I made my usual stop to play around in the Nashua Street Park. (google maps just gets cooler and cooler. not only this but traffic) I found some skaters and it brought me back 15 years. there was probably 15 of them. sounds right as when i was 15 years younger, we use to travel in packs too. it was a bit nostalgic and at times, wished for a board myself. Though there is one in my basement, but my bones break much easier now. I have retired the skateboard and taken up mt biking instead. not that by biking, my bones break any less.

I did stop and take some pics of the only person on a bike playing around on this urban playground. i took my turn but no where near to the extent of what he was doing. It was a cool sight.

click here for animation

I made my way past Spalding rehab center and outside the TD Bank Norh Center when I came across this:


I thought it was interesting, though I was a bit perplexed by what neighborhood they were referring to. What ever happened to the separation of church and state? Wait. I live among pilgrims.

Keggs and eggs

Michelle's annual Kegs and Eggs decorating gathering went well combined with plenty of amenities, ie alcoholic beverages and jello shots.
We had a just the right amount of peeps show up and all gathered around the kitchen table stocked with all the decorating tools an egg decorator could dream of. Dyes, paints, tattoo eggs, stampin egg, markers, wax, glitter, gems, and silk tie eggs.

it was good clean fun. until the egg wars began. we had some casualites as some eggs were not fully cooked and one not even cooked, thank you ron.

Keggs and Eggs party

April Fools came late this year

The morning ride in to work yesterday seemed fine. The roads were a little wet from rain showers that occured overnight and had tapered of for my daily commute. A quick check on weather.com hourly report said that it would likely rain a bit on the ride home. No big deal, so it was decided that the Fuji would be my war horse for the day.

Around 3pm as I made my way through Museum galleries and passed some windows for a glimpse of the outside world, I noticed that weather.com would be correct in its prediction as it was lightly raining. However, as I stared out longer I noticed white stuff intermitantly mixed with the rain. Thats okay I thought.

At 4, I headed out the door to make my way from the Museum to the Parking garage where my steel horse was locked. The short walk was treacherous and I reached for my hood. There was only white stuff the size of quarters falling from the sky. Falling quickly as it was heavy and wet, but barely sticking to the ground.



My evening commute was bombarded by this white stuff I came to terms with was actually snow/sleet. As I rode, felt as if nickels and dimes were being thrown at my face which was the only skin surface exposed. Ouch ouch.

I was able to quickly make my way on the Esplanade and was approaching the State Police station on McGrath and Storrow. Thats when I heard the sound of my rear rim slosh in a puddle then a heavy clunk. A sound I am all too familar with as I knew what would quickly come next, pssss.. Another flat tire. Nearly at the exact same spot where I had two flat tires a week ago.

Mother natured played a cruel trick on me and postponed April 1st commonly known as April Fools. Only April fools came three days late. I was forced to beat feet home from there and abandon the idea of changing a flat in this...snow/ice mix.

the Obligation

On March 9th, the wife and I traveled 8 hours to her hometown of Hanover PA for her sister's wedding. On March 6th, I was asked by her sister to take 'a few' pictures.
With 120 shots taken, later to be edited to 60 shots, gives new meaning to the term 'family obligation.'
The job itself was quick and dirty: on camera flash straight on to the subjects with my reliable manuel settings, 400 iso. 1/60 sec at f8+/- half a stop and TTL flash sync. Ceilings were 20 ft high, much too high for bounce flash, so almost every shot was direct flash, producing hot hightlights(noticeable on glasses) and hard shadows. No post production work in photoshop, just converting from raw files to tifs and jpgs for a site a later built for them.
I did try to experiment a little. The shot of Michelle's dad in the church was achieved by bouncing a Metz off the side wall of the church and use of a slave to fire the SB-800 flash to provide fill (barely noticeable as it was stopped down about 2 stops) and a little shutter drag to allow for ambient light to expose the background. The shutter was set at 1/20 sec.
I liked the overall feel of the image but knew this could not be repeated on the spot as the bride and father would be walking down the isle thus changing the distance of the bounced light off the church walls already strained and maxed out. So I went back to basics just to get the shot because I knew no one would be upset over the outcome of the shots.

Here are the Weavers

click on the image to visit their site.

goose in a crosswalk voicemail

this audio clip is from a voicemail Michelle left me just after she dropped me off at work yesterday afternoon.

Head feels like its been run over by a bus

I can't really remember when I was this sick. This only confirms that I do not get sick all that often especially when I can't remember the last time it happened.
The last time I was debilitated for a week was back in 'o4 (I think). It was flu like symptoms and it knocked me out for about 2 weeks. Just months prior I remember getting a flu shot offered by work. That was a mistake and I vow never to get another flu shot.

Now I have some major sinus and head cold. So it hurts to think. Not that many gears turn in this head of mine. I've been on a steady diet of green tea and pomegranate juice, some airborne tablets, multi-vitamins, vitamin C, and enough naproxen and other misc pain killers to tranquilize a horse.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

The ushering in of the Chinese new year was celebrated at a 'pig' party thrown at Campbell Park in Somerville. Mass consumption of beverages, assortments of intoxicating jello(red, blue, yellow, pink, white), provided by Michelle, and the inhalations of bacon wrapped everything and pork and cabbage filled spring rolls were the common rituals of the evening.
Legend has it that before Buddha left earth, he asked all the animals come and bid him farewell. Only twelve came and so he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. Being born under a particular animal year has a profound influence on personality and it's said that this animal hides in one's heart.
Characteristics of the Pig include good mannerism, ability to make and keep friendships and appreciative of luxuries.
This year's Chinese new year animal is the pig which is the last of the twelve animals that make up the Chinese new year cycle. There are also five elements that cycle through the twelve years making the Chinese calendar a 60 year cycle. This year we have the fire pig.



Article
by

Raymond Lo

veloroutes

Found this cool site that uses google maps to map your rides. I've listed it as one of my bike resources on the left side bar. I've mapped my commutes.

Home to Work


Work to Home

Another bite of the Artic Blast

Yep. It is frick-n-cold. Overall, in my rides both to and from work, I've been pretty warm. The key is leave no trace of bare skin to the wind beating you down like a -10ºF or less steel baseball bat. Wear just enough layers to stay warm while simultaneously not so much to induce overheating. Nothing wakes me up more than the cold Arctic air which is as irritating an alarm clock with the snooze button broken. To take my mind off the cold, I've been fooling myself to have some fun along the river on my way home with the cx tires on the frozen singletrack intermittently laced with patches of ice here and there. I just wish I had better lights. If i concentrate on straight lines on the ice, I'm good and the rolling sound over the ice is almost therapeutic, but the minute my weight shifts or I turn abruptly, I feel that it may be all over and Mr face is about to meet Mr frozen ground. Though I haven't taken a spill yet...I think I just jinxed myself.

I do have the option to drive into work, but with the combination of the car I could take to work requires shocks and brakes and convincing myself that maybe Al Gore is right with his 'An Inconvenient Truth' movie that we are causing global warming. I even have switched a few light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. By biking to work 14 miles a day 52 weeks a year, I'll save over 200 gallons a year. Which rolls over economically to about $600 a year that I don't have to spend on gas. So I pay for these cold days. However, I won't ride when it is pouring rain or sleet or heavy snow.

Superbowl XLI Ads

To see all ads, click on image

An Aqua Teen ad campaign...

Something I read on WIL WHEATON dot NET: In Exile on Aqua Teen Hunger Force

He says it all. This ad campaign was up for two weeks in some places before the city and media react. Went up in 9 other cities without problems so why only in Boston?

warning: contains language that may not be suitable for some adults

CX tires on the fuji SS=1mm clearance

The Cyclocross tires are affixed. However some problems were encountered. Since 30c is the absolute max I can put on my frame(technically not designed for it) I did have some clearance issues. The new tires had to be perfectly true to produce miminal rub. I am left with only 1mm to spare on all sides between the tires and the frame, this is even when I added about 1.5-2mm of spacing by taking a wide enough metal tube and banging it into my rear triangle and front fork. The rear brake had to be removed as the brake housing was rubbing into the tire. So now I have a fuji track bike with only front brakes and now CX tires.















I do like the tires as the ride is a little more comfortable on rougher terrain and eats pots holes in the road a little smoother, but there is the occasional tire rub when the rim is stressed when cornering.
I do have the feeling of impending doom on a daily basis because i will only have front brakes and I will also have to keep my rims perfectly true at all times.
It will be interesting when snow and mub is caked on the tires. The Bianchi Roger can't come soon enough.

Transformers

the soundstage and others pics
trailer
hidden video in the teaser trailer
cgi optimus transforms
cartoon episodes and the original movie
transformers set sells for $2,214.89