Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Microsoft Sucks

That about sums up my day. I work on a pc all day, and those f@ckers released an update today, and it killed my outlook. Granted, I was using the 2007 Beta. However, it stopped displaying the actual messages. I erased the 2007 Beta, redownloaded (took an hour), re-installed. Bad Install, re-installed a few more times, bad-installs. Finally it installed, and well, crashes whenever it opens. Needless to say, it doesnt' work and I have no backup of any of my emails so 10 months of work data has just been erased.

I'm going to swallow 35 painkiller pills at once.

Friday, September 22, 2006

DA Bears

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Showdown at Soldier Field. November 5th. Airline and Hotel tix have been purchased.

Who: Chicago Bears v. Miami Dolphins
Why: Grudge match for all-time bragging rights; My fav team Da Bears taking on my bro's team the Phag boy Phins.

Just the 2 of us are going to tackle the City of Chicago for a few nights and then do some tailgaiting in the lot for this one.

Hopefully, I won't get kicked outta this one ;) Hotel is half a mile away. I'm wearing roller skates so it'll be easier to drag me home after the Victory Celebration!!

Gotta Love the Offseason!!




Listening to ''Likufanele'', by Zero 7
~J
09/22* Autumnal Equinox

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Quick Update/Horrible Hundred

Not much happening since the highlander ride. Looks like I'm cutting my losses now and going to end the season. No more events for me besides the Horrible Hundred.

The Horrible Hundred Off-road ride date is set in stone. October 15th (sunday). Start Time: 5:00am Naples, NY at Bob and Ruths.
50+ miles of singletrack, killer climbs, gnar dirt roads and pain
You will need your lights. Lights will be dropped off and recharged for the evening part of the ride. Route will be 100 miles give or take, expected climbing is around 15,000-18,000ft. Expected finish will be late in the Night 10-11pm. We will be making a few stops and waiting for everyone (unless we decide to split into a/b groups). Bring cash, lights, extra food. sprocketjockey at mac.com for more info

My training for the horrible is like this: Play Xbox 360, ride with the girlfriend, Play xbox 360.
Yah, we'll see if I can even finish it.

As far as xbox 360 I'm about so/so online at NHL 07 (11-6). If you're interested in a game or want to add me as a friend my gamertag is livtoridedirtus. Pretty much all my wins are against my brother (Shut him out in last 4/5 games!!!)



Listening to ''Shoot The Runner'', by Kasabian
~J

Monday, September 18, 2006

Highlander

Highlander Ride Click image for full size pic

Ahh the Highlander. So 100 miles, 11,000 ft of climbing just wasn't enough for us. So we decided to add an extra 60 miles and 5,000ft or so of climbing.

Friday Night was the Alpe D'Gannet TT. It was pure pain. I haven't done any real climbing or race like efforts in a few weeks. But I'll take my 2nd place (age group) and 4th place overall finish. My time was 21:48. For the 3rd year in a row climber Chayne Hoag won again with a time of 19:53 this year. I suffered bad on the climb, put too much effort into the run-in before hand and just had a hard time getting a rythmn after the 18% section. It's tough to tell if its an improvement over last year (1 minute or so) but I also flatted last year and got a wheel change at the top of the climb.

Highlander Ride: Casey, Jeremy, Hanggi, Mark and I rolled out of the Hollow at 6:30 am. I pretty much got no sleep as I was jacked up from the TT the night before and then we were up super early for the ride. Hanggi pulled off in Naples to head to work and we rolled on to catch up with Dave. We headed out tackled the climbs and had some fun. With our late start and screwing around we ended up being the last riders pretty much on the road. About 105-110 miles or so in Casey and I dropped the hammer to get to the next sag station as it was getting ready to close. 10 miles of race effort after 110 miles of riding was a tall order, but we just made it in time to pass the word on that there were a few riders behind. Shortly after that Jeremy, decided to roll in with Dave and Mark, Casey and I had another 40 miles to ride. We missed the post ride feeding frenzy at Bristol, so we decided just to grab some caffeine and food and 'take er easy home'. Something about us implying we are going to relax, gets us all fired up and we ended up pretty much flying at full-tilt up every climb on the way home. After we climbed the Prattsburgh Pass and descended into town it was dark with some miles still to ride. Luckily our escorts (Wendy and Val)arrived and gave us a boost home.

Needless to say I was pretty drained afterwards. I suppose if I woulda got pulled over on the way home I probably woulda failed a DWI test.
~J

There are photos of the Highlander Here

I've also added a Photo Gallery Page; Enjoy!

Friday, September 15, 2006

Tragedy

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Dechau Family. Wednesday evening Jon Dechau was tragically killed while out on a training ride. (More info available here) I personally knew Jon, if only from cycling and I am saddened by the loss of a great cyclist.

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Monday, September 11, 2006

Bucky Phillips escape to Pennsyltuckey ride

Had a killer ride from the Hollow yesterday. Dave, Jeremy, Casey and I hit the road to PA in search of the nations top fugitive; "Bucky Phillips".
115 miles or so later we found out that the Super Troopers already caught em'. It wasn't in vain though as we got to see some great scenery, back-country inbreeding, and whole loads of other crazy mis-adventures.

So here are the pics from the ride!


Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Midnight Hollow

Still groggy from last nights late night dirt road epic. 5 of us (Mark, Suzanne, Hanggi, Casey and I) pulled out from the hollow at 11pm. Cruised around the country side for a while. Hitting a few of the dirt roads that will be a part of the Horrible Hundred coming up next month. It was a perfect night, cool and moonlit for the most part. It was a bit foggy in the valleys, but cresting the hilltops, killing the lights we all enjoyed a midsummer nights view. Valleys were settled in Fog, patchwork clouds racing across the moon, quite enjoyable. We did manage to lose Casey and Hanggi for a bit, the only 2 who had any idea of where they were. We descended down into a valley only, to find they weren't there. subsequently climbed the massive hill back out to find them looking for us, only to re-descend the same hill over again. Ah well, it was just as much fun the 2nd time as it was the first. At one point just prior to getting separated, we were cruising along a back road, headlights off, surrounded by fog and the your view was only 20 yards ahead. It made it look as if you were approaching the end of the world.

I ended up getting home at 4 am. Needless to say, I'm tired. Have a huge pot of coffee running thru the veins to keep the eyes open. Looks like the rain might hold off. If it does, gonna take lizzy up to dryer rd. She will love that.....

~J

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Labor Day Weekend

I'm away for the weekend down on Keuka Lake at Erin's parents Cottage. So this update might be a little delayed till I hit net access

Weather right now is pretty crappy, but we are hoping that it will clear up after today and we can get a decent ride in around the bluff and area. Plans are just to relax, unwind and chill for the weekend. Maybe some wine tasting, some good home made healthy food. Play with lizzy girl and what not.

Had a good, but little muddy time this past wednesday down in Naples. Mark, Suzanne, Matt and I put in a solid 50 off-road in the hills. It's getting pretty crazy anymore when we decide on a ride, nothing really is ever under 35 miles. Who'd have thought that when we talk about doing the mountaineer, which is 35 miles and 7,000ft of climbing we consider it a pretty 'easy' ride. Considering that it had rained here quite a bit, the trails were in moderately good shape. Roots and rocks were slick as hell, and Stid Vicious kicked mine and Matt's asses.

Gonna spend this next 2 weeks hammering in the hills, getting ready for the Highlander TT.

Also took a nice easy spin this past tuesday on the road bike. I've removed my power-tap for the rest of the season and just riding by feel. It's nice to not be concerned about 'the numbers' and just enjoy the scenery and relax.

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Monday's Road Ride



Here are some quick pics from Hot August Nights

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Note how crazy dry the course was and how covered in dust my arms and legs are!





Listening to ''Destiny'', by Zero 7
~J