Alas, Spring.
Contrary to the common notion that spring is the beginning of new life, happy with birds chirping and gay with bees doing their thing and thought of positively by Thoreau, to me they are dark days, a teasing season to be endured and held off like Odysseus's' sirens, for all that is green may as well be Kryptonite for to me it is only allergy season and it cannot end too soon.
Sure there are some drugs out there that can mask symptoms or overcompensate and leave one dry as a scone often while bringing early onset senility or an inebriation that won't wear off. I won't take them (I also won't take some other drugs which may be why I only have a few top 10 finishes to my name, but I digress). Normally the most effective elixir is the adrenaline pumped during and long after a hard ride. My sinus' get blown out and the natural endorphins keep me cleaned out and so there, I beat back the spring dragon and ride triumphantly into the sunset/garage.
'08 has dealt me a cruel hand, however, as previously posted I have wrecked havoc to my anterior tibialis and as a result have not been able to partake in the activity which is the basis for this blog (As "The Dude" would say: "That's a bummer, Man" and he'd be correct). Oils, creams, massages have so far only inflamed, and a regimen of ultrasound and Yogi stretching are in the next round.
People who know Frogman will say he's not a complainer*, so I can only hope for the promise of Physical Therapy's healing benefits of and the rain which washes the air of the ill humors to pull me out of this equinoctial abyss, for now I am unable to do it on my own. Without becomming maudlin, this is one of those times to reflect and count your blessings and think about those who have been more seriously afflicted and have come back or, more inspiring, carried on in the face of far darker prospects.
As Ah-nold would say, I'll be baaack!"
*Except about muscle tears, lacerations, road rash, burns, burrs, blood, boils, bunched chamois, locusts; ice, sleet, hail, rain, darkness, drought, murrain, flies, frogs (!); pot holes, groomed asphalt, soft shoulders, Jersey Walls, Jersey Girls, Girls Gone Wild, punctures; Trade Zone, testosterone, iphone, phone home, homophobe, EPO, ELO, ELP, XTC (for never touring!), THC, HC, ANSI; W, WWM?, Double Whammies.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Are Bicycles better than Women?
This little tidbit of levity came by way of a non-cycling and younger work colleague, and while these opinions expressed are not necessarily my own, it's good to know that other people out there in cyberspace are talking about bicycles. Or is it women?
1. You can ride your bicycle any time of the month.
2. Bicycles don't whine unless something is really wrong.
3. You can share your bicycles with your friends.
4. Bicycles don't care how many other bicycles you've ridden.
5. When riding, you and your bicycle can arrive at the same time.
6. Bicycles don't care how many other bicycles you have now.
7. Bicycles don't care if you look at other bicycles.
8. Bicycles don't care if you buy bicycle magazines.
9. You'll never hear, "Suprise, you're goning to own a new bicycle" unless you go out and buy one yourself.
10. If your bicycle goes flat, you can fix it.
11. If your bicycle is too loose, you can tighten it.
12. If your bicycle gets misaligned, you don't have to discuss politics with it.
13. You don't have to be jealous of the guy who works on your bicycle.
14. If you say bad things to your bicycle, you don't have to apologize before you ride it again.
15. You can ride your bicycle as long as you want and it wont get sore.
16. You can stop riding your bicycle as soon as you want and it wont get frustrated.
17. Your parents wont remain in touch with your old bicycle after you dump it.
18. Bicycles don't insult you if you're a bad rider.
19. Your bicyle never wants a night out with other bicycles.
20. Bicycles don't care if you're late.
21. You don't have to take a shower before you ride your bicycle.
22. If your bicycle doesn't look good, you can paint it or get better parts.
23. You can ride your bicycle the first time you meet it without having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.
24. The only protection you need to wear when riding your bicycle is a decent helment.
25. When in mixed company, you can talk about what a great ride you had the last time you were on your bicycle.
However, you can't ride your bicycle with a bum shin!
1. You can ride your bicycle any time of the month.
2. Bicycles don't whine unless something is really wrong.
3. You can share your bicycles with your friends.
4. Bicycles don't care how many other bicycles you've ridden.
5. When riding, you and your bicycle can arrive at the same time.
6. Bicycles don't care how many other bicycles you have now.
7. Bicycles don't care if you look at other bicycles.
8. Bicycles don't care if you buy bicycle magazines.
9. You'll never hear, "Suprise, you're goning to own a new bicycle" unless you go out and buy one yourself.
10. If your bicycle goes flat, you can fix it.
11. If your bicycle is too loose, you can tighten it.
12. If your bicycle gets misaligned, you don't have to discuss politics with it.
13. You don't have to be jealous of the guy who works on your bicycle.
14. If you say bad things to your bicycle, you don't have to apologize before you ride it again.
15. You can ride your bicycle as long as you want and it wont get sore.
16. You can stop riding your bicycle as soon as you want and it wont get frustrated.
17. Your parents wont remain in touch with your old bicycle after you dump it.
18. Bicycles don't insult you if you're a bad rider.
19. Your bicyle never wants a night out with other bicycles.
20. Bicycles don't care if you're late.
21. You don't have to take a shower before you ride your bicycle.
22. If your bicycle doesn't look good, you can paint it or get better parts.
23. You can ride your bicycle the first time you meet it without having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.
24. The only protection you need to wear when riding your bicycle is a decent helment.
25. When in mixed company, you can talk about what a great ride you had the last time you were on your bicycle.
However, you can't ride your bicycle with a bum shin!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Canal Commute
A day off the bike gives me time to reflect on the richness of the lives of Cyclists. Right after our early ascent to Daylight Savings Time I took the ol' Steel Wheeler onto the CCT for my regular commute home, but with extra time and daylight I extended my trek down to the C&O Canal. While I knew 99.9% of the commuters where in their steel coffins or Metro sardines, I was free to choose my course and it took me along the swollen shores of the Potomac where canada geese honked to their flock ("Nice pull...on your left") and mallard ducks by the score peacefully foraged the muck of the canal bottom for a tasty treat of what must be like duck gu.
Plying the path past the locks and abandoned keeper's houses removes ones mind from our harried modern lives, allowing us to cash in on a mid-week respite replete with raptors and heron confident atop their aviary fraternities, painted against a sunset canvas amidst the aural backwash of the churning river.
Next commute I want to catch the Goon Ride and rip some legs off.
Plying the path past the locks and abandoned keeper's houses removes ones mind from our harried modern lives, allowing us to cash in on a mid-week respite replete with raptors and heron confident atop their aviary fraternities, painted against a sunset canvas amidst the aural backwash of the churning river.
Next commute I want to catch the Goon Ride and rip some legs off.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Splintered!
Just as the trifecta of cardio fitness, muscle strength and confidence were coming together after a series of challenging rides, I fear that the ol' frogster has succumbed to the crouching tiger (or is it hidden dragon?) of fitness: Injury.
Gamefully chasing my N2 Comrades after just missing the catch at 7-Locks/Tilden, my legs were becoming increasingly heavy like a wet Sunday paper. By time we regrouped and made our way out to Poolesville, the pain became acute as my right shin tightened up like a mooring knot. Now I've got it up and on ice like an old frog ready to croak. I use "like" more than a gum-smackin' teenager.
Shin splint was my first diagnosis. "Don't runners get that?" you may ask. Well yeah, but it can also come from repetitive and intense exertion (check). "The Frogman is flat-footed. Could that contribute?" Good question, because it can. Trouble is that FF puts more stress on the inside of the tibia, whereas my pain is just outside the shinbone. "Sounds like it could be tendinitis. Ever think of that, huh?" Hmmm, I've had that before after digging fence posts in the dry mid-summer clay of my old side yard. That Sucked! It was weeks of pain, stretching while trying to take it easy. It was hard. "Is this that?" I'm an architect, not a sport medicine guy. Tendinits in that region is typically between the kneecap and shin (patellar tendinitis), however, so maybe not. Either way, it is a tear and/or inflamation and must heal fast as I'm expected to represent BPVC at Walkersville and Tysons next weekend. "Will it heal in time for you to be rady?". Well, we just don't know now, do we...
Gamefully chasing my N2 Comrades after just missing the catch at 7-Locks/Tilden, my legs were becoming increasingly heavy like a wet Sunday paper. By time we regrouped and made our way out to Poolesville, the pain became acute as my right shin tightened up like a mooring knot. Now I've got it up and on ice like an old frog ready to croak. I use "like" more than a gum-smackin' teenager.
Shin splint was my first diagnosis. "Don't runners get that?" you may ask. Well yeah, but it can also come from repetitive and intense exertion (check). "The Frogman is flat-footed. Could that contribute?" Good question, because it can. Trouble is that FF puts more stress on the inside of the tibia, whereas my pain is just outside the shinbone. "Sounds like it could be tendinitis. Ever think of that, huh?" Hmmm, I've had that before after digging fence posts in the dry mid-summer clay of my old side yard. That Sucked! It was weeks of pain, stretching while trying to take it easy. It was hard. "Is this that?" I'm an architect, not a sport medicine guy. Tendinits in that region is typically between the kneecap and shin (patellar tendinitis), however, so maybe not. Either way, it is a tear and/or inflamation and must heal fast as I'm expected to represent BPVC at Walkersville and Tysons next weekend. "Will it heal in time for you to be rady?". Well, we just don't know now, do we...
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Thrashed!
A big weekend for the ol' Frogster, starting with my first foray with the already legendary R. Thrasher Ride, the 12:30 PM affair that leads afar into Potomac unless it doesn't. Figuring that
I'd get my feet wet on the advertised "Easy" Friday ride, plus not being currently swamped at my Bethesda job, and some sunshine, was all I needed to get changed in the car and meet up for some leg stretching.
I caught the group of about a dozen past the start (they leave on time) and we took Bradley out to Kentsdale and made a left at the end towards River. Feeling acclimated I took a pull on the rollers, but the pace, which had me a bit winded, took it up another notch and instead of sitting in I was fighting to hold a wheel. By time we hit Persimmon Tree I was watching them pull away as I tried to cheat the March winds and finished my outing with a long but satisfying TT.
Quickly changing and returning to my desk, I didn't bother with a shower let alone a helmet hair check (just got them sheared!). A colleague kindly pointed to my check which was caked in snot. Er, thanks, I guess I will wash up...
Putting the ignominy of Friday behind for the N2, I rode with The Most Friendly Group Ride Ever on the typical route, but somehow found new confidence even after being b*tched by the Big Boys by staying at the front and surviving on hills where in February I had just blown up. Matching pulls with James P, the John M's and the KMasterK on the return gave me confidence that BPVC will be doing some real race representin' this season (Ray Man already has, though will likely not be long for the 4's). We fed off each other and it was a tasty treat.
SO around come Sunday's 8:30 Ride and my legs felt like taught rubber bands. I resolved to go hard again but not long, aiming to train for the upcoming Walkersville/Tysons racing weekend. I took my share of hefty pulls and sparred with James and oscotto at the front. On Oaklyn, feeling strong and leading our group on a blast down the road, I thought a car was overtaking me only yo see it was Nick B. who had long ago dropped the "A" group. Perspective.
FWIW, Brian B of My Building pulled up to ask me how I liked the Thrashing, but added that they decided it had not been an "easy" day after all. Indeed...
I'd get my feet wet on the advertised "Easy" Friday ride, plus not being currently swamped at my Bethesda job, and some sunshine, was all I needed to get changed in the car and meet up for some leg stretching.
I caught the group of about a dozen past the start (they leave on time) and we took Bradley out to Kentsdale and made a left at the end towards River. Feeling acclimated I took a pull on the rollers, but the pace, which had me a bit winded, took it up another notch and instead of sitting in I was fighting to hold a wheel. By time we hit Persimmon Tree I was watching them pull away as I tried to cheat the March winds and finished my outing with a long but satisfying TT.
Quickly changing and returning to my desk, I didn't bother with a shower let alone a helmet hair check (just got them sheared!). A colleague kindly pointed to my check which was caked in snot. Er, thanks, I guess I will wash up...
Putting the ignominy of Friday behind for the N2, I rode with The Most Friendly Group Ride Ever on the typical route, but somehow found new confidence even after being b*tched by the Big Boys by staying at the front and surviving on hills where in February I had just blown up. Matching pulls with James P, the John M's and the KMasterK on the return gave me confidence that BPVC will be doing some real race representin' this season (Ray Man already has, though will likely not be long for the 4's). We fed off each other and it was a tasty treat.
SO around come Sunday's 8:30 Ride and my legs felt like taught rubber bands. I resolved to go hard again but not long, aiming to train for the upcoming Walkersville/Tysons racing weekend. I took my share of hefty pulls and sparred with James and oscotto at the front. On Oaklyn, feeling strong and leading our group on a blast down the road, I thought a car was overtaking me only yo see it was Nick B. who had long ago dropped the "A" group. Perspective.
FWIW, Brian B of My Building pulled up to ask me how I liked the Thrashing, but added that they decided it had not been an "easy" day after all. Indeed...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
PC stands for Piece of C***
I'm sure you, My Public, have been wondering if Frogman had hopped away from his blog responsibilities. Well Yes, but only because my twice-rebuilt, recently updated, AVG protected "Personal Computer" had a motherboard crash that sent the hard drive into a non-responsive safe mode akin to a high-tech spy satellite (recently shot out of the sky). It can only be rescued in autopsy, cannibalized for it's precious drafting files of our house and the germ of it's addition.
To err is human, alas it takes a computer to F' Up Big Time.
So I've been otherwise occupied, but found that the latest Leopard operating system on Mac's allow you to partition the hard drive through Boot Camp and load Windows on any Intel Apple. Best of both worlds! I went for this approach since we don't need Windows and OSX to talk to each other and I was wary of Parallels slowing down my drafting program. This way they both operate in their native environment and I can forget building up another Piece of Crap.
Anyone need a monitor the size of a couch?
There's still work to be done as I've got two weeks of constipated Power Tap files to dump and will have to re-protect the Windows side of the Mac. I am happy to get Windows running, but feel blasphemous, tarnishing the pristine beauty and elegance of an Apple with the clumsy and sickly Microsoft alien. Once under control I can focus on more important things like the house design and Trade Zone.
To err is human, alas it takes a computer to F' Up Big Time.
So I've been otherwise occupied, but found that the latest Leopard operating system on Mac's allow you to partition the hard drive through Boot Camp and load Windows on any Intel Apple. Best of both worlds! I went for this approach since we don't need Windows and OSX to talk to each other and I was wary of Parallels slowing down my drafting program. This way they both operate in their native environment and I can forget building up another Piece of Crap.
Anyone need a monitor the size of a couch?
There's still work to be done as I've got two weeks of constipated Power Tap files to dump and will have to re-protect the Windows side of the Mac. I am happy to get Windows running, but feel blasphemous, tarnishing the pristine beauty and elegance of an Apple with the clumsy and sickly Microsoft alien. Once under control I can focus on more important things like the house design and Trade Zone.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Finally a weekend where I got two rides in! Saturday was brutal as the cobwebs and moist chill left the ol' FM feeling creaky (in lieu of croaky). A late start meant the N2 should have passed my rendezvous at 7Locks & Tuckerman, but miraculously (for me) they were passing through only about a minute ahead, but the "miracle" was thanks to three riders going down in the early morning black ice of RCP. All staunchly stuck it out to do abbreviated rides.
Energized by the catch, I did my typical attack down Glen to get the blood flowing, but the long rollers and a feeling that something was fishy in last nights sushi compelled me to abandon the ride to Poolesville and convalesce home on the regular River Road Route with Phil P and Greg C who was the Fire to the Poolesville Pan. No matter, a crappy day on the bike beats a good day doing most anything else.
Sunday Bicycle Place Ride - my first in like two months! Another late start as I barely caught the back end of the ride as it turned up Massachusetts, worked my way up but we were gapped by the A's. I was looking to do the A- (the old shop course with Whoever would be With Me) but was resigned to lead the B's (not that there's anything wrong with that), taking strong pulls in the slow (but steady!) Clara Barton paceline and then only getting passed by those skinny climbers up Mt. Gate (Note to Self: Work Your Fat @ss).
Brickyard was a clinic of Anger Management. Where was Anglers? How about Great Falls?
I cranked it up and dared others to work, pulling the entire group with only a short breather before cracking the whip down Falls and overtaking a chatting Adam F & Ray Man who quickly joined the fray. Tempo was now up, Game On! It may be February but that's a fine time to do some quad ripping, heart pounding (Power Tap registered null), barn storming, nostril blaring, snot seething, uh, rides.
I rested on Bradley but then had a heckuva lot of traffic to navigate to get into position for Democracy. I did, getting on the wheel of two big guns who led out and left me space for the final attack, but out of nowhere Miguel (Little Mig) comes around and pounced, taking the field sprint ahead of me and Kevin's Dad.
By time we got into the Park, where a rather large contingency took on the Extra Ten, I was fighting some mighty quad cramps (see above), unable to finish strong up the last of the days' hills. 12 more miles to home and I almost collapsed by Chevy Chase Elem., completely bonked.
(Insert Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle Again" here).
Energized by the catch, I did my typical attack down Glen to get the blood flowing, but the long rollers and a feeling that something was fishy in last nights sushi compelled me to abandon the ride to Poolesville and convalesce home on the regular River Road Route with Phil P and Greg C who was the Fire to the Poolesville Pan. No matter, a crappy day on the bike beats a good day doing most anything else.
Sunday Bicycle Place Ride - my first in like two months! Another late start as I barely caught the back end of the ride as it turned up Massachusetts, worked my way up but we were gapped by the A's. I was looking to do the A- (the old shop course with Whoever would be With Me) but was resigned to lead the B's (not that there's anything wrong with that), taking strong pulls in the slow (but steady!) Clara Barton paceline and then only getting passed by those skinny climbers up Mt. Gate (Note to Self: Work Your Fat @ss).
Brickyard was a clinic of Anger Management. Where was Anglers? How about Great Falls?
I cranked it up and dared others to work, pulling the entire group with only a short breather before cracking the whip down Falls and overtaking a chatting Adam F & Ray Man who quickly joined the fray. Tempo was now up, Game On! It may be February but that's a fine time to do some quad ripping, heart pounding (Power Tap registered null), barn storming, nostril blaring, snot seething, uh, rides.
I rested on Bradley but then had a heckuva lot of traffic to navigate to get into position for Democracy. I did, getting on the wheel of two big guns who led out and left me space for the final attack, but out of nowhere Miguel (Little Mig) comes around and pounced, taking the field sprint ahead of me and Kevin's Dad.
By time we got into the Park, where a rather large contingency took on the Extra Ten, I was fighting some mighty quad cramps (see above), unable to finish strong up the last of the days' hills. 12 more miles to home and I almost collapsed by Chevy Chase Elem., completely bonked.
(Insert Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle Again" here).
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