Sleestacks yo.

Sweet mugs on these guys. It is like they are in some LAND the has been forgotten and LOST. Kinda looks like the pics I would see of the Moore brothers and Fisher at the start of the Expert races (from left to right, Chris, Brendan, and Ben). All decked out the same in Velo gear and "team" helmets. Next year they'll all be on Trek Top Fuels.

Hitting the trainer this morning then it is back to work for more inventory counting. Yeah, inventory!!

Oh, I just got a SWEEEEET new road bike yesterday. I have to build it, waiting for the proper bars and then all the "roadies" will be on notice. No more racing on the cyclocross bike. I'll post a pic when built.

You=get back to work.

Chilling

This would be funny if we were getting snow. It was not a white Christmas, and all I hear about is rain not snow. Hmmmm.

At the shop we are doing inventory. It sucks, but at least this guy's brother is back from college to help. Ben and I talked at length about how his blogging brother is getting worried about next year and how we'll both whup on him. It seems he will be a dad soon and I am sure we'll never see him again. Who will be the faster brother next year? That is on the lips of the public.

Anyone know what a Sleestack is? Try google, or look tommorrow and I'll post a picture.

I am going to lift now. It is a "recovery" week. I am glad to say the 1st block of training is done. Don't think Base 1 or 2. I am following a slightly different way of training.

Go work or ride. Do something at least.

Festivus, for the rest of us!!!

Just to piss off the faster Moore brother I rode twice again yesterday. Actually, I can't today, so it was a preemptive strike.

1 1/2 hours in the morning, and I felt GREAT!

1 1/2 hours in the evening and I felt like POO! I did get some power work in though.

Today is free of physical activity, Sunday is weights and some cardio, then Monday is rest as well. YEAH!

I also want to give a shout out to Matt "back in the day"Leiven the coolest inside rep at Trek/Fisher. Turns out he is 29, same as my.....*uh oh*.......wheels on my mountain bike. Yeah 29'ers!

Now go air your grievances and prepare for the feats of strength!

Long day...

Yesterday I needed to get in a workout and make up a workout that this guy wanted me to do. Yes that is 2 workouts. One in the morn, one in the eve. Well, I documented for you, and if you think it is dumb, then you are dumber for reading it. HA!

The bike with sweat towel.

Nina says, "Dad, let's play frisbee instead."

Action shot done in real time. Note the manly pink ear phones.

Becky says, "Hah, school is cancelled, you sucka."

Action shot of the rear wheel. Exciting eh?

Becky left me. She went to the Club to get in a 16 mile run. She is almost ready to go here.

That concludes ride #1. 2 hours with some power work.

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Nina says, "Daaaad, not again!"

The lame "look at me riding" shot.

Looks a lot different outside now. Hmmmmm.

Nina's point of view (I am scrathing her head, duh).

Nina, in her "I'm bored" pose. Yes, she does sit like that.

After another 1 hour and 45 minutes on the trainer I was ready for some lasagna thanks to my baby's momma.

That's it. By the way, I hit up the gym weights wed night, and I just got off the trainer this morning for another ride. What did you do?

We are headed to the in-laws tonight in WI.

Now get to work... please!

Christmas presents.

Alright. So yesterday my back was bothering me so working out got put on hold. I plan to jump on the trainer now. Care to join me?

I have put a lot of thought into Becky's Christmas (oops, I mean holiday) present. Looks like I found it!! Trust me, this is something that all guys can get for there women! You need audio for this, and thanks to my good friend Justin Timberlake for the idea. CLICK HERE NOW!! Warning, kinda profane, but not BAD.

Hey, I just found out how to link stuff. Pretty soon I'll be tying my own shoes too!

Just a pic of Becky. We had got caught out in a cold rain storm in Crested Butte. Brrrrrrrrr! Rain coats? What are those?

Get to work.

Wasss uuuppppp?!?!?!?!

I haven't updated for a week. Weird eh?

FRIDAY:

Let's see. I lifted Friday morning (you should see my pecks). Worked during the day. Went to Corkette and Husband of Corkette's for dinner with the wife. We talked at length about how Corkette plans on racing in Chequamegon this year.

SATURDAY:

Went out for 3 hours on the cross bike with Mr. Carey. We explored gravel roads and sprinted for every mail box and road sign. Afterwards we stopped in Dunn Brothers for a cup of Joe and a scone. Mark let me pay. Thanks dude! We ran into some fellow cyclists there to recover as well. Let's just say that not all of Mark's coaching clients listen to well, right Allen?

SUNDAY:

CHRISTMAS PARTY!! Hung out with the 2.3 billion people that constitute my mother's side of the family. I feel more and more like a stranger at these events. Sooooo many cousins, uncles, aunts, spouses, girlfriends, babies, and who knows what else. I did hop on the trainer with the intent to ride for 2+ hours, but a something I ate earlier caught up with me and I ended with 1 1/2 hours.

MONDAY:

I am lifting tonight. The baby's momma has conferences all night, so maybe I'll have one of my famous keggers tonight. I'll invite all the local high school cheerleaders over for drinks and studying.

Oh, look at the time! You need to get back to work!

Stop. Trainer Time.

Yeah, this was my view for 2 hours last night. I watched the last episode to "The Biggest Loser" (yeah, yeah, I know the jokes you are thinking of). The winner on that show went from 407 to 193 pounds. Dang!

Oh, and your welcome to think I am a tool for being on the trainer for 2 hours right now, but I got's me some goals to reach for next year (or maybe you think I am a tool either way). One of them is the 24 hour national championship (www.24-9.com).

Seriously, your boss called. He thinks you need to get off this site and get back to work. I don't want you to get in trouble.

Red Winging

It was a nice day out Sunday, and with the wife meeting up with a friend, and my domestic duties done, I headed to Red Wing. I thought I would document it just because I know how much you care about it.

The paragon all loaded and ready to go.

The lame self shot picture, only in the car.


Jamming to Click and Clack on NPR. They are so hardcore!

I little pick-me-up.

Damn, he is one good looking fella.

The gate at the bottom of Memorial Park in Red Wing was closed for the winter, so I had to park at the Marine and ride up.

Up I go.

What do you do if you are a sh*t bag with leaves in your yard? Well, bag them in plastic bags and throw them down a ravine of course!! Seriously, this wins the dumba$$ award for the day.

Camera on timer? Check. Riding up teeter-totter? Check. Picture of my 360 degree, tail whip, superman flip off of the teeter-totter? Guess the camera did not get that

If you go on other blogs you may see the self shot. It is always on the pavement or gravel. This is going up the manhandler. Nasty, rocky and steep. I made it up fine every time.

A view of the town below.

Just a pic of trail. Lots of fun singletrack.

I did some exploring. Turns out there is a back way up to Memorial park through Mississippi National Golf Course. Here is the clubhouse.

Showing manhandler who the boss is...again.

Back at the marine again. These guys in the background spent like 15 minutes trying to dock that boat, and were still trying when I left. That is the famous Barn Bluff in the background.

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I ended the day with about 2 1/2 hours of riding. Only 1 1/2 bottles consumed. Lots of climbing, but all done at a easy pace. I hit up the gym with the wife after that to get in a little more.

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How was your weekend?

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Now get back to work!

SPY VS. SPY

So this week was interesting.

We had a gentleman come in to view our wares. This was not a normal customer. He is a bike rep for a competing brand (think Levi Lephimer's old bike from team Gerolsteiner). I remembered him from previous encounters with him at a race this year, including when he told me I should apply at the Erik's shop in town. Like Napoleon would say, "yeah right". Although today he was under cover at our shop as a "medical sales rep". Hmmmm.

I notified Deb as soon as I realized who he was. Here is a partially factual transcript of their discussion.

Deb (Queen Bee): Hello, what can I help you with?

Spy: Nothing, I am just snooping, ah I mean browsing.

QB: That is cool. What kind of riding do you do?

Spy: Well, mainly road, but some offroad.

QB: Sweet, what kinda bikes do you have?

Spy: I have a S*******ed road bike and mountain bike.

QB: Wow, you must really like that company.

Spy: Ahh, why do you say that? It is not like I am a rep for them....I am just a medical sales rep. I have no affiliation with that oh so wonderful organization. Why all the questions? I have nothing to hide. I am just your regular, average customer. (Imagine nervous gesturing at the same time).

QB: Ohhhhhkay. Anywho, anything catch your eye?

Spy: Can you give me a break down of your sales numbers for the last several years?

QB: Ahhh, no.

Spy: Anyways, did I tell you how great my road bike is?

QB: Didn't Charly race against you in a crit this year? How did you end up doing in that? Did you beat Charly?

Spy: Ahhhh...

QB: Oh wait, Charly won that race, so you couldn't have beat him. Man, your bike must not be so great if Charly can beat you in a crit using a cyclocross bike.

Spy: Look at the time, I gotta go!

QB: Okay, Merry Christmas. (Grinning)

Spy: Sure, Sure. Bye. (quickly leaving)

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BUSTED!!

Us: 1 Them: 0

-----------------------------------------

By the way, had he been upfront about who he was, it would have been fine, but the deceit ain't too cool.

Now go do something more productive!

Taking aim on next year.

Time to go lift at the "club". A slimmer faster Charly is hoping to great everyone next year.

Not like 2 years ago.Daaaang! You could use the stomach as one of those exercise balls!

Oh shoot, look at the time! You have to get back to work!

Gooooood morning Rochester!!

No time, gotta get to work.

Just a view from my "ride" this morning. Just under 2 hours. F.Y.I. it is my backyard.

Now you and I have to get to work!!

I got the trainer station all set up. My dad lent me a old TV, DVD player, cable box, and several converators. The cable box could only handle regular cables, the DVD player would only handle the 3 cable set up, and the TV was so old it didn't have either. I had the whole system jerry rigged. Needless to say it did not work.

Yesterday I went out and got a new TV, so I am rocking and rolling. I watched much of the 2nd have of Lance's tour win last night. Man, that was a fun race to watch.

Damn it, the pics will not load. This is annoying.

Now get to work!

Tests suck.

Did the threshold testing yesterday.

It hurt.

Yes Richard, I did vomit a little. Good thing was that I had already drank the water out of one bottle. It made it so I didn't even have to get off of the bike.

Two 8 minute intervals at full bore. My heart rate threshold is higher than I thought it would be, but it still freaking hurt.

Today, rode for almost 2 hours. No puking this time.

Something is up with the blog. It wouldn't let me post using "wysiwyg". That means I do not have the ability to show pictures right now. That is too bad for you, cause I got some sweet ones.

Watched the Carey's (yes the ones we feed) dogs this weekend. You ever seen a Labradoodle before?

I need to figure out this whole picture thing cause it ain't cool.

Sugar Daddy hasn't updated his blog in over a month.

Christmas stuff is going on. My baby's momma has got the Christmas cds going. Yey.

I am setting up a "trainer station" soon. Hopefully pics will follow.

Don't you have some work to do?
-----------------------------EDIT----------------------------------------------------------

Hey, I got the picture thing working!! It seems that the camera is now acting up. Guess the batteries are dead, and I am waiting for them to charge.

This kid has the right idea.

Here is a qoute form my way news (article was linked from drudgereport.com).

{Clinton, who easily won re-election to a second term on Nov. 7, "is reaching out to her colleagues in the New York delegation and asking for their advice and counsel and their support if she decides to make a run," a top adviser, Howard Wolfson, told The Associated Press.}

Who does she think she is kidding? Of course she is gonna run. God help us all.

So last year at this time the shorts were tight and loose. Tighter around the waist and looser around the thighs. Now this year there are tight and loose, only tighter around the thighs and looser around the waist.

That's cool.

Tommorrow, I get to do my heartrate threshold test. I don't have an official power meter to do that type of training (unless someone wants to give me a wad of cash to buy one), but the Kurt trainers have one that is inexpensive and only works with their trainers. I have had the meter for a year, but never attached it. I guess I get to see my power output tommorrow as well. I don't know my power output, except it will be at least 10 more watts of what ever you can put out. I gotta think confidently you know.The Devil Dog is all set to watch me suffer tommorrow.

Hey, don't you have some work to do?

Hopping on the trainer.

Last night marked day 2 of trainer riding. It is sooo sweet. I get to ride as long as I want and don't have to worry about changing views, outside stimulation, or just plain enjoyment. The way I survive is to jam to the mp3 player. Actually, it is a wma player. How much of a loser am I? Wait, don't answer that.

One of the songs I downloaded by Nelly reminded me of this pic.Dude, check out that guy's grill!

Stay tuned for live action shots from the trainer!!

Now get back to work!

Is Lance making a comeback?

Can you figure out who this good looking local rider is? Nice shirt dude, and the glasses are pretty rock'n too!

Riding the new ride.

So, Turkey Day came and went. Went out to Eastwood with Becky and met with Ben "El Fuerte", and Queen Bee. While cruising the park we ran in to Mr. Corky (as predicted) with Al. Turns out Corky was out in S.D. with his first wife. Also, ran into Richard "Mechanical" Bennet, and Chuck Sorenson. Ask Chuck about his son-in-law sometime. Plenty of food was consumed at the folks later that day.

Today started out with the ladies of the house leaving to go for a "short" 10.5 mile run. I left to go run the new bike through it's paces on the twisty stuff in Eastwood.




The women of my life leaving to meet up with a group run.










New road construction has split Eastwood. The trees on the right are "old" Eastwood. The trees on the left now hold the secret trails of Eastwood.









My bike getting ready to ride Twister, one of the secret trails. I am really digging this bike, I'll tell you what.










Eastwood has a problem with people coming out there to "hook up" with strangers. I called the boys down at the station and they came out to break up this party for me. Stuff was going on that should not have, I'll leave it at that.




Now, don't you have something better to do then play around on the internet?

Daydreaming.

Just a pic of our trip to Crested Butte this year.

We are overlooking Mt. Crested Butte from the Deer Creek Trail. Tons of climbing done that day. Good times, good times.


We went there right after my 24 hour victory. I had broken my geared frame. So, at the time I should have been doing some big time recovering, I was climbing thousands of feet at a time ON A DAMN SINGLE SPEED! I was getting beat down that week.


Now get back to work!

Big pimping, spending G's

I'll be going on a ride tonight to try out the sweet Fisher. I am hooking up with a friend of mine who recently had his bike "pimped". Today marks the start of the on the bike training. I hope my "friend" doesn't bring the boom box. He is not so great one handed.

Are you getting ready for next year yet? Dude, hop on your bike!!

Now get back to work!

1 done 1 to go.

Hit up the in-laws this weekend for Thanksgiving. Here is a pick from the festivities. I am short one with no shirt, Becky is to my right (wearing a blonde wig), and my brother in law is in the background checking for skidmarks.

Thursday morning, the wife and I plan to hit up Eastwood and get our bike on. Gotta get hungry for the feast at my folks. Maybe we'll see Corky and Mr. Corky out there?

I did get a nice workout in at the YMCA there, so weight gain over the weekend was minimized.

Now get back to work!

It has been a slow process, but I am getting my bike fitted with its new bits. It is looking dead sexy, imho.

In the mean time I have been showering at the gym and not shaving in the process. I am telling people about the "beard" I am growing, but in all reality I can grow a goatee at best. There isn't exactly a whole lot of hair growing on the cheeks. There was a kid in my 8th grade class that had a better beard then I could ever grow.

The "beard" is driving the wife nuts!! My next plan is to shave and leave a moustache. Why, cause it would drive Becky bonkers. Yeah, we all have our little ways of entertaining each other.

Now get back to work. While there, you can dream about getting yourself one of these. I should get mine in Jan/Feb timeframe.

I loof forward to doing it all night and all day on this bad boy.

Soooo, I got part 1 of the COOOOL stuff I was waiting for (pictures soon), now it looks as though I may have another reason to watch for deliverys to the shop. I'll wait to see if it happens, but I am amped.!

In the mean time I am selling my frames for last year.

Find more info at http://www.my-stuff-for-sale.blogspot.com/.

Mean while I still have been in the "prep" phase in training for next year. I'll be getting down to business next week. Hitting the gym reminds me of when I started last year. I was 15 pds heavier than I am now and not as strong. Hopefully, this winter will do to me what last winter did.

That's all for now. Now get back to work!