These guys put some really cool edits together. This is one of their latest. Makes me wanna move to Vancouver...
Friday, February 3, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Limbo Sickness
With my birthday and the Superbowl coming this weekend, the last thing I want is to be sick. As a matter of fact, the last thing I ever want is to be sick. Sick sucks. Sick means no bike riding, and feeling less than great-both of which I can do without ALWAYS.
Yesterday I started getting a tickle in my throat, then it went to my joints and muscles, and this morning I just feel like poop. Not a ton of poop, but at least that little pile that annoys everyone by the side of a trail. You didn't quite step in it, but you know that if you had you woulda been pissed.
So the question for today that I ask myself as I sip my coffee is whether or not to ride. If I'm going to ride I'll have to head out soon as I've got a full day of work and errands ahead, so if I miss the opportunity and feel fine later I'll be a little bummed.
Just realized how funny this whole argument is in my head... It's just one ride! Why the hell am I so stressed out about it!:)
Yesterday I started getting a tickle in my throat, then it went to my joints and muscles, and this morning I just feel like poop. Not a ton of poop, but at least that little pile that annoys everyone by the side of a trail. You didn't quite step in it, but you know that if you had you woulda been pissed.
So the question for today that I ask myself as I sip my coffee is whether or not to ride. If I'm going to ride I'll have to head out soon as I've got a full day of work and errands ahead, so if I miss the opportunity and feel fine later I'll be a little bummed.
Just realized how funny this whole argument is in my head... It's just one ride! Why the hell am I so stressed out about it!:)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Be Cool
Had a great ride yesterday despite being unreasonably frustrated within the first 5 minutes. I had wanted to do some more filming yesterday, and as I haven't yet received a new GoPro HD 2, I set out with my Epic HD Action Cam. No less than 10 seconds after hitting the button to start recording, "BEEEEEEEEP" right in my ear. Even though I had taken the time to put BRAND NEW batteries in it before heading to the trail, the "dead battery" signal still rung. "Ok," I said to myself, "I'll just throw in three new ones and see what happens." Again, same result. Like any red blooded male would at this moment, I decided to remedy the situation by slowly detaching the camera from its mount, and slamming it into the nearest rock. Problem fixed.
Before you get the idea that I'm just some quick tempered ass, I've got to defend myself by saying that this stupid camera has given me nothing but trouble for the entire year (exactly 1 year on Sunday, February 5th) I've owned it. I've been able to record no more than about 1 hour total of footage, most of which was unusable. The Epic HD has been, by far and away, the worst electronics purchase I've ever made. Every time I think about how I could have spent the same money on a GoPro it makes my blood boil. Live and learn.
Back to the ride: It was a beautiful day to be out on a bike. The weather is ridiculously warm for this time of year, almost to the point that I want to pinch myself because I think I'm dreaming. We've had to deal with some pretty harsh winter by Long Island standards the past four years, so I guess we're due for a mild one. I'm only hoping that the nice weather now doesn't come back to bite us in the butt in March.
Today is going to be a bit of a rest day. Though I'm not training right now, I'm riding hard. Seems that it's a little more fun to ride fast than it is to ride slow-who woulda thought!? So I'll more than likely take it easy to day and hit the weights later this evening. I still have some work to do in my apartment to finish the "overhaul" I began a few weeks back with the floor. A new couch needs to be picked up today, and I've gotta make a trip to the Salvation Army with some clothes. Not enough can be said about what a nice thing it is to have a clean living space. Clears both the mind and the house.
Before you get the idea that I'm just some quick tempered ass, I've got to defend myself by saying that this stupid camera has given me nothing but trouble for the entire year (exactly 1 year on Sunday, February 5th) I've owned it. I've been able to record no more than about 1 hour total of footage, most of which was unusable. The Epic HD has been, by far and away, the worst electronics purchase I've ever made. Every time I think about how I could have spent the same money on a GoPro it makes my blood boil. Live and learn.
Back to the ride: It was a beautiful day to be out on a bike. The weather is ridiculously warm for this time of year, almost to the point that I want to pinch myself because I think I'm dreaming. We've had to deal with some pretty harsh winter by Long Island standards the past four years, so I guess we're due for a mild one. I'm only hoping that the nice weather now doesn't come back to bite us in the butt in March.
Today is going to be a bit of a rest day. Though I'm not training right now, I'm riding hard. Seems that it's a little more fun to ride fast than it is to ride slow-who woulda thought!? So I'll more than likely take it easy to day and hit the weights later this evening. I still have some work to do in my apartment to finish the "overhaul" I began a few weeks back with the floor. A new couch needs to be picked up today, and I've gotta make a trip to the Salvation Army with some clothes. Not enough can be said about what a nice thing it is to have a clean living space. Clears both the mind and the house.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Procrastination Nation
Kinda where I'm living right now. I've had some projects at home that have gotten the best of me lately, the biggest of which is a new floor that I put down in my apartment. I took up the nasty, "dog scented" carpet and put down a nice "wood" floor. Ok, done. Well, not so fast. It took me a little longer than I anticipated, and that's had a bit of a residual effect on other things that needed to be done.
My bedroom is a disaster-though it's getting better day by day, and my kitchen/bike workshop is overdue for a cleaning as well. Add to that my bathroom looking exactly like a bachelor's bathroom should, and you have one messy apartment.
I say all the above to illustrate my point for this short post: It's time that shit get's done! So, in an effort to the mature and responsible 31 year old boy that I am, I'm going to forgo a planned mountain bike excursion for today, and finish everything in the apartment that needs finishing. No doubt finishing will take this huge monkey off my back. The whole project would only take a few real hours of work...kinda silly that I haven't done it already.
So here's a video of what I'd rather be doing with my day. Enjoy!
My bedroom is a disaster-though it's getting better day by day, and my kitchen/bike workshop is overdue for a cleaning as well. Add to that my bathroom looking exactly like a bachelor's bathroom should, and you have one messy apartment.
I say all the above to illustrate my point for this short post: It's time that shit get's done! So, in an effort to the mature and responsible 31 year old boy that I am, I'm going to forgo a planned mountain bike excursion for today, and finish everything in the apartment that needs finishing. No doubt finishing will take this huge monkey off my back. The whole project would only take a few real hours of work...kinda silly that I haven't done it already.
So here's a video of what I'd rather be doing with my day. Enjoy!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Migranes Suck
And that's all I really have to say about that.
I've had a migraine going on about 3 days now. The first hours were the worst, actually bad enough to make me sick (see: throw the f*ck up). It's been years since I've had one that bad. Knocked me out of my socks. Totally unexpected. The only explanation I can find is some of the weight lifting I've been doing this week. A lot of power movements involving my traps, neck and shoulders so I think the stress and soreness might have caused tension which resulted in the headache.
I lifted yesterday, but I think I'm gonna try and take things easier for the next couple. Hitting the weight pile hard was probably not a good idea. Maybe some rum could help...
I've had a migraine going on about 3 days now. The first hours were the worst, actually bad enough to make me sick (see: throw the f*ck up). It's been years since I've had one that bad. Knocked me out of my socks. Totally unexpected. The only explanation I can find is some of the weight lifting I've been doing this week. A lot of power movements involving my traps, neck and shoulders so I think the stress and soreness might have caused tension which resulted in the headache.
I lifted yesterday, but I think I'm gonna try and take things easier for the next couple. Hitting the weight pile hard was probably not a good idea. Maybe some rum could help...
Friday, January 27, 2012
Change'll do ya good!
This is the first winter in recent times that I can remember NOT being inundated with training, training, training. Still, for most people I'm "training" a ton, yet for the average, "type-A" endurance athlete, I'm a lazy bum. And I'm ok with that.
As I've said before many times on this blog, I'm taking a break from nearly all things competitive. I haven't, since the time I was 5 years old, not been involved with some form of competitive sport. I never took a season off, and I never, mentally, relaxed. A lot of my childhood was taken up with trips to games, tournaments, and the like. Hockey, baseball, and lacrosse really ruled my sporting world. I never thought, or even cared, to give myself some time to be interested in anything else.
Fast forward, and I'm now on the doorstep of 31 years old (9 days away!!!), and I'm a little burned out. I've done everything from Badminton to MMA fighting, from triathlon to bodybuilding. I feel like that Sinatra Song: //I've been up and down and over and out// ...you get the gist. My body is still in some of the best shape I've ever been, though my mind is about as ready to compete as a soggy paper towel.
I've been in a good place with my riding these past months and I think it's the direction I'm looking to go in the future. Recently, there's been a lot being made of the "new" form of Enduro Mountain Bike racing popular in Europe. (see www.nsmb.com for explanations in their "Enduro Week") This type of racing is right where I need to be. Fun, mixed with social interaction, and more fun. Most parts of the "race" (see "ride") can take as long as you want them to, and when it's your time to bomb downhill and actually "race", it's short and concise, so as to get back to the palling around and heckling with friends. To me it's the reason, be it subconsciously, that mountain biking attracted me. There's more to riding a bike than lycra, power meters, aerodynamics, etc., etc., etc.... Enduro is what we do with buddies on any given weekend. It's what mountain biking is about at its core.
So as I look out on the raindrops falling outside, and the chilly temps, I'm content to forgo riding the bike for today and instead take care of house chores and other "real life" things that I most likely would have neglected if I were still in my "type-A" endurance athlete mode. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, I'm only saying that for me, it has been enough to take a step back and evaluate what I really want and expect from riding my bike. Be yourself, to yourself, and forget about what you should be doing. Do it because it speaks to you. Do it because it makes you happy. And most importantly do it because it makes you smile. Just don't forget that while you're doing it, there ARE other things going on in the world.
As I've said before many times on this blog, I'm taking a break from nearly all things competitive. I haven't, since the time I was 5 years old, not been involved with some form of competitive sport. I never took a season off, and I never, mentally, relaxed. A lot of my childhood was taken up with trips to games, tournaments, and the like. Hockey, baseball, and lacrosse really ruled my sporting world. I never thought, or even cared, to give myself some time to be interested in anything else.
Fast forward, and I'm now on the doorstep of 31 years old (9 days away!!!), and I'm a little burned out. I've done everything from Badminton to MMA fighting, from triathlon to bodybuilding. I feel like that Sinatra Song: //I've been up and down and over and out// ...you get the gist. My body is still in some of the best shape I've ever been, though my mind is about as ready to compete as a soggy paper towel.
I've been in a good place with my riding these past months and I think it's the direction I'm looking to go in the future. Recently, there's been a lot being made of the "new" form of Enduro Mountain Bike racing popular in Europe. (see www.nsmb.com for explanations in their "Enduro Week") This type of racing is right where I need to be. Fun, mixed with social interaction, and more fun. Most parts of the "race" (see "ride") can take as long as you want them to, and when it's your time to bomb downhill and actually "race", it's short and concise, so as to get back to the palling around and heckling with friends. To me it's the reason, be it subconsciously, that mountain biking attracted me. There's more to riding a bike than lycra, power meters, aerodynamics, etc., etc., etc.... Enduro is what we do with buddies on any given weekend. It's what mountain biking is about at its core.
So as I look out on the raindrops falling outside, and the chilly temps, I'm content to forgo riding the bike for today and instead take care of house chores and other "real life" things that I most likely would have neglected if I were still in my "type-A" endurance athlete mode. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, I'm only saying that for me, it has been enough to take a step back and evaluate what I really want and expect from riding my bike. Be yourself, to yourself, and forget about what you should be doing. Do it because it speaks to you. Do it because it makes you happy. And most importantly do it because it makes you smile. Just don't forget that while you're doing it, there ARE other things going on in the world.
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