NHL Winter Classic

I never played hockey, I can't stand up on ice skates. I do enjoy the game though. Now that the Bruins are playing so well, I've even started watching them again. (The last few years were just too frustrating).

At first I thought the annual NHL Winter Classic outdoor was dumb and gimmicky but I have grown fond of the idea. I am really looking forward to tomorrow's game at Wrigley.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/eventhome.htm?location=/winterclassic/2009

Sloth, gluttony and drunkenness

That about sums it up. Since getting an infection this summer I have been virtually completely inactive. I was well on my way to sloth before I got sick but since then I have been inert.

Nega-Coach has coaxed me into doing a very hilly, tough ride in August. He’s even outlined a basic plan for getting ready. I am, for the first time, intimidated by my bike. I have never approached cycling with any sort of plan or goal. I would ride when I wanted to and if I felt good I’d ride a bit more or harder. The problem lately though is I never feel like riding.

I have gotten so heavy that I just feel awful on a bike.

I ordered a new frame Friday and will be selling my Pista and probably my Surly frameset to make room and defray cost. While the bike is not solely for the August endeavour it has been spec’ed with the ride in mind. I hope the outlay of cash as well as having the goal out in the open will prod me into action. I am really afraid of failure.

Wish me luck and go for a ride with me.

Stay (I Missed You)

Evidently Armstrong has knocked up Lisa Loeb.

Sazerac

Really nice whiskey.

http://www.sazerac.com/aWhiskey.aspx

Over thinking the shoe throwing

So a crazy reporter with a weak sense for self-preservation threw his shoes at President Bush. Funny Youtube video, many of us who are none to fond or our POTUS are having a good laugh.

A lot of people only see the humour of an absurd occurrence. I think it is horrifying that the guy could get the second shoe Prezward before the Secret Service muckled him.

What if the hurler had decided to use a pistol or IED rather than a shoe to make his point? Do you think Obama would be able to pull out of Iraq if the sitting POTUS was assassinated there?

The first ever il Bruce race report!

photo pinched from Solobreak

I did not race, nor shall I ever race again, at the Ice Weasel Cometh race Saturday. I was in attendance to support the Nega-Coach MSPCA initiative. It turns out that as Pucci says, bike racers are cheap pricks. There were few takers for the bargain Nega-Coaching offer. Their loss.

I had a great time at the race. There were fewer entitled racer types than I have seen lately. Maybe it was the end of season party nature of the race that kept the mood so enjoyable. It was a party with a bike race rather than a bike race with a party. Make sense?

It turns out that the course was at Doc Raymond’s house. I did not know the good doctor but he tended to my mother in law’s medical care for many years as well as that of my wife. Mom in law, who as you may know, is a cyclist and cyclocross fan, was tickled pink to have a race in her neighborhood. She and number two Dad enjoyed themselves as well.

The course made imaginative use of the limited area. Quite impressive. It took me a few laps of watching before I got a grasp of what was going on. Course designers have a gift I don’t have to see possibilities in terrain. I read a bit of criticism of courses but never any from people who have had to figure out where to put the tape.

I turned out to be a cold but gorgeous winter afternoon. It was warm enough to have a few beers without getting chilled. (A tot or two of Wild Turkey helped).

I have no idea what transpired on the course. I yelled at the few people I knew racing, primarily Solobreak and the wonderful Giulia. The rest of the time was spent visiting with old friends and making a couple new friends. No better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The après cross was fun too. Liz met us over at her parent’s house for dinner and tales from our celebrity guest. It was easily one of the most enjoyable afternoons of the season. Thanks to IBC, the Raymond family, SB and all the bike geeks for a good time.

Dougie Says:

Not all Ice Weasels are weasels.


One of the last cyclocross races of the season, The Ice Weasel Cometh, is this Saturday, December 13th in Wrentham. The race is just past the Wrentham outlets heading toward Wrentham Center right on Rt 1A.
www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=7360

I looks like there will be a pretty good turnout despite many New England riders heading to Kansas City for the National Championships. The highlight of the day is sure to be the NegaCoach fundraiser for the MSPCA Angell animal hospital. Read about it here:
http://solobreak.blogspot.com/

For a $40.00 donation to you get 40 days of tough love (without the love) coaching and assorted goodies from NegaCoach Dave

http://davefoley.com/bikeracing/negacoach/index.html

BBC

So how about it?

Solo wants me to be the Phantom Gourmet of gin mills...