Can't get enough

I don't think it would be possible to get too much of this stuff:

FAA Shutdown

From the New York Times:

The partial F.A.A. shutdown, which began July 23 and is likely to continue at least through Labor Day, has also idled tens of thousands of construction workers on airport projects around the country. Dozens of airport inspectors have been asked by the F.A.A. to work without pay and to charge their government travel expenses to their personal credit cards to keep airports operating safely.

Air traffic controllers, who are paid with separate funds, will continue to work. Ray LaHood, the transportation secretary, said he firmly believed that passenger safety was not at risk. “No safety issues will be compromised,” he told reporters on a conference call. “Flying is safe. Air traffic controllers are guiding airplanes. Safety inspectors are on duty and are doing their job. No one needs to worry about safety.”

So as long as the airport safety inspectors are willing to work for free and pay their own expenses, our airports remain safe. The TSA security will still be on duty checking grandma's diapers though so I guess we have nothing to worry about.

What in the hell is going on that we are running our country like this?

Can't tell...

...if there's a sign here or not:

Screaming Fast Fatback Ride!

I picked up a Garmin unit to track my rides. I've had several bike computers but they all give spurious results and messed up my totals. Not a big deal as I don't really keep that close track on things anyway but figured that the Garmin would nail things down without any room for errors.

So when TOB and I did a little neighborhood spin tonight, I was a little surprised at the miles we had racked up but it did explain why she was so hungry and I was so tired.

Next time we ride to the Bay of Bengal, I'd like to take it a little slower because, to be honest, I don't remember a single thing about the trip.

Maybe...

I should pick up one of these while I'm waiting to get fat:

Pivot MACH 429

Local Bike Shop Needs Help

Tonka Cycle & Ski in Minnetonka MN has just lost their lease with very short notice. They had just received their full winter inventory and agreed to take their spring bike inventory early when they got the news that their lease won't be renewed.

It's a great shop (it's where we bought our tandem) and they are looking for a new location but with only a couple months to get out of their current location, inventory reduction is their primary motivation. This means there are deals to be had for us which also help them.

Hopefully they will be back in business soon but in the mean time, stop on by for some great christmas shopping if you are in the Twin Cities.

New Glasses!

As I age my eyes are changing and I have been outfitting myself with an increasingly large collection of glasses. I think these new ones just might be my favorites so far...

Graphic Pictorial Bicycle Sex

Was it good for you?

Thinking...

Life is full of surprises,

I always try to smile

Through the fireworks

I know it can be done

Hi

I can't even believe how short these long days have become. I'll be right back after life station identification.

Miles, Schmiles and a Question

I stopped keeping track of my miles a while ago. When I was just riding one bike, the computer knew the whole story but then I was introduced to mountain biking and never put a computer on that bike. Of course in the winter you need a beater and for a while I dutifully transfered the computer back and forth between the road bike and the commuter. Then I seemed to lose interest in keeping on top of it.

I asked myself why I cared about the miles and didn't really have an answer. I'm a data geek by trade and know there's no point collecting data you don't intend to use.

Short term mileage tracking makes sense to understand how my training is progressing and when I need a recovery day or to make sure I am getting enough protein and liquids for the effort I am putting out. I occasionally wear the heart monitor, partly because I am still trying to figure out what my max is. I've seen a 184 multiple times but haven't been able to check it when I really feel like I am really pushing the limit. I have noticed that my heart rate when keeping pace is dropping down into the low 140's when it used to be in the mid to upper 150's.

So what's the point? I seem to be having many weeks in a row where I ride more than 200 miles and it's got me a bit curious as to where my odometer is/would be if I were actually keeping track. I've got a new gig and the commute will put me around 170 miles a week without any social rides.

And there will be social rides...

Back in the early 70's there were some years that I figured I put in somewhere around ten thousand miles. Back then computers barely fit in a semi truck(!) so the mileage was a guesstimate but 10K seems like some sort of milestone I should be aware of if I am approaching it. If a cyclist pedals ten thousand miles (through the forest) does anybody care?

I know some folks publish their mileage on their blogs and I'm curious what the motivation is to keep track of the mileage in the first place whether you publish the numbers or not. Perhaps I'm just lazy but it seems like a lot of work but since lots of folks do it, there must be a reward to them.

So here's the question:

What motivates you to track your mileage?

or

What prevents you from tracking your mileage?

For me it seems that by the time I finish the 'recovery' beer, it's just not important enough to manage the record keeping but perhaps I'm missing something...

Easy is hard, hard is easy

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Gievn taht comumnitacion is posbisle eevn wehn tihgns are tihs srceewd up, why is it taht so mcuh micsomumniactoin ocurcs eevn wehn the megsagse is snet in psirtnie oderr? If you firuge it out, gvie me a sohut but in the maen tmie I'll be out riindg...

Energy Management

Acquire

Conserve

Monitor

Yeah, that's it; I'm not lazy, I'm just an effective energy manager...

Too Much Time On His Hands

How else could this be possible?