Monday, December 31, 2007

New Year's Resolutions

Forget making hard & fast resolutions that you'll never stick with, instead I have 3 recommendations that you can do right now:

1. Release your regrets. These only hold you back, forget about them, nothing good will happen if you continually fret about your past. If it helps write each of them down on a piece of paper then give it a good rip, shred or burn.

2. Lead your dreams. You may not ever realize them if you're continually chasing them - be more proactive and do something about it.

3. Don't forget the sunblock!

Happy New Year everybody!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Long & windy road

That's windy as in - the wind she is a blowing! Santa Ana wind conditions in the LA basin from the north for most of the early part of the day before shifting westerly in the mid-afternoon. Gusts were so strong that I actually observed a small bird (sparrow? finch?) flying backwards before giving up and landing - that's gotta be depressing.

Crisp & blustery day in LA as I went for a long day up the PCH to Pt Magu NAS & back - 100+ in 5:45.

Stupid driver of the day award goes to lady in white SUV who, when all the other drivers where giving way and pulling over to the right side of the road, swerved left and got in the way of an ambulance coming the opposite direction down Hwy 1 (Lincoln Blvd).

Lowest observed gas price goes to Malibu Gas & Market on PCH (next to Duke's) at 3.17/gallon.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Double DC

Tuesday & today I had the pleasure of renewing my familiarity with the DC area. Having been based there in the mid to late 80's flying the Great Silver Fleet I've only been back sporadically, but haven't had a good ride there in over a decade.

First ride on Tuesday was an out & back on the W&OD (a perfectly paved multi use trail with separate adjoining horse trail on an old railroad right-of-way) from the hotel near DCA to mile marker 33 just outside Leesburg - resulting in an approx. 75 mile venture. Close in to the city there are lots of street crossings which slow the pace considerably with all the required starts/stops. But once outside the beltway this lessens and the countryside opens up to nice rolling terrain.

Today I utilized the Key Bridge to cross the Potomac River over to Georgetown (what are Hoyas anyway? yes that's right what!) with plans to proceed up the C&O canal to White's Ferry, MD. The info. I looked up said it was a "natural surface" which led me to believe it wasn't asphalt but still ridable. Turns out I find an asphalt trail - cool. Well this happens to be a parallel path (the Capital Crescent trail) that only went a few miles before turning uphill toward Silver Springs, MD. The C&O path is clay & crushed rock - a surface the horses could use when they pulled their barges up and down the canal back in the day. Initially this was a suitable surface - a tad rough but well maintained and void of any puncture producing objects. Probably better suited for the fat tire folks but the ride is still doable. So off to mile marker 35+/- to White's Ferry. Towpath has some icy spots in the shade and the brisk north wind is biting on my mid-morning start of the ride, but still a good morning to be out. After mile 20 or so the towpath is not so frequently traveled as is was previously - lots of leaves on the trail covering the roots, rocks, and ruts and mud holes. Trail is also wetter up here and much softer slowing the pace considerably while also avoiding fallen branches littering the trail. I'm happy to get to the ferry averaging a little over 15mph though the last hour I only covered 13 miles.

Store at cable ferry ($1) is closed for the season (Doh! I'm outta water) and I cross the Potomac back to the Virginia side of the river and I make my way over to Leesburg again. Refilling water bottles at the senior center of Loudoun County Parks & Rec building I return via the W&OD as I had on Tuesday. Nice to be on solid pavement and heading back to the hotel with a gentle tailwind - about an 85 mile outing.

Sorry Pat & Michael - I couldn't resist the temptation to ride; I'll call & schedule a visit next time I'm out your way.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Fly 'till you die!

Not the nicest thought is it? Reality though is that it's not to far from the truth.

Called the "Fair Treatment of Experienced Pilots Act" (HR 4343) is anything but fair. This bill was fast tracked through Congress (by unanimous consent) and on the Presidents desk to sign last Thursday before you could say pass me the peanuts. This bill effectively (and immediately) allows airline pilots the ability to now fly up until their 65 birthday, superseding the 47 year reign since the FAA's Age 60 rule was imposed.


To be fair, the FAA was studying a change to their rule indicating they were leaning toward something similar to the ICAO standard. But the FAA moves slowly, pondering language, the impact of their rules toward safety and how it'll affect the industry as a whole. In this case, what medical or flight standards might be appropriate for a pilot to fly past age 60? At what cost (or savings) to the airlines? What do the major unions have to say about the matter? The FAA then sends out a draft for all to see and comment on. Probably an environmental impact report is ordered as well. The point is the FAA doesn't rush into something willy-nilly (at which point I must say that this is the first time I've ever used the phase willy-nilly in a sentence). The imposition by Congress and the President throws all that out the door.

Immediately after the Age 60 rule became effective pilots protested. Unions protested. Wives protested (what am I going to do with him sitting around the house all the time now?) Pilots, certain airlines, and unions applied for waivers - both individually and collectively; all were denied - the FAA smartly refused to open up that Pandora's Box.

It is certainly true that setting the mandatory retirement age at 60 was completely arbitrary. Life expectancy then wasn't what it is today, it seemed like a good guess and it's worked all these years just fine. Healthy living habits were a bottle of scotch and a pack of cancer sticks while eating your liver & onions smothered in some fatty sauce. Pilots then may have had a legitimate beef (or liver) in their complaint regarding career expectations. But the rule filtered in over the decades and everybody flying today knew the day they started their career what the rule was.

Then came 9/11 and the aftereffects of poorly managed airlines where USAir, United, Delta and Northwest all tweaked the bankruptcy process to abrogate their pilot contracts and abscond or freeze their pilots pension plans. Many pilots were also furloughed, or reduced in position from Captain to First Officer. Pay was slashed as well, further deepening the financial hurt. Pilots were scrambling - among other things to work longer to make up for the shortfall. Big mortgages, too many ex-wives owed too much alimony, kids college costs, etc. - the age 60 fight was renewed.

Age 65 is another completely arbitrary age. Pilots in 5 years who're forced to retire will again bitch and moan about the unfairness of it all. Truth is most of these guys (and gals) are at the top of their seniority, flying the best schedules (least number of days to the best layovers), have the longest vacation periods, and also utilize the most sick leave.

With these guys choosing to stick around it'll mean lousier monthly schedules, worse vacation periods, and delayed career progressions (FO's looking to upgrade to Captain) - which all translates into less $$ for the rest of us. It'll also deter the new hire process, which means that not only are new guys not getting hired but pilots at the bottom of the seniority list stay there longer.

The new law requires that special emphasis in training "to ensure continued acceptable levels of pilot skill and judgement" as well as performance evaluations every 6 months. Also a GAO report is due within 2 years on the effect on safety (if any) with this modification to age standards.

I shout BS! Remove any and all artificial age barriers altogether and insert more stringent medical requirements and training checks at more frequent intervals for everybody. Wouldn't the passengers just love seeing the pilot being driven through the terminal to the gate on one of the electric carts, and hobble onboard - a lot of confidence there!

We have a lot of pilots (a lot of pilots!) who now who must medically retire prior to age 60, let alone age 65. Though if we started weeding them out sooner, the economic detriment to the airlines would be astronomical. There's a shortage of qualified pilots now available in the pipeline - if the retirements are delayed then maybe the reservoir will start to replenish. Ah I'm starting to see reasoning behind all this madness.

Most pilots look forward to leaving at age 60 and not working a day more. But the few who have cried about being kicked out too early seemed to have won the war; though those whiners already retired can be rehired but not at their original seniority - they start on the bottom, let's see how many want to come back with that stipulation?

I work to live, not the other way around. But now that it's the law I'll have to live with it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. If I could afford it I'd retire tomorrow, unfortunately it'll be a few more years, but I'd definitely like to go before 60 if I can.

I wonder though - the FAA requires that all ATC Controllers retire at age 56. I understand that they have a stressful job - but not any more so than mine. When the s__t hits the fan they're sitting in a nice air conditioned room in a comfortable chair sipping their favorite drink; quite different than my working conditions. They're also compensated accordingly with government health care & benefits with a guaranteed pension to boot. I doubt there's any movement to increase their retirement age, I wonder why?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

SFO tour

Silky smooth, wonderful shoulders, curvy in all the right spots - OK well I'm not just describing my wife, though that's a good start - but also the the ride in the SFO area yesterday, which I uploaded in the Ride Link off to the right side of the main blog page.

New feature (courtesy of mapmyride.com) will have links to routes I ride in the different cities I stay on trips - so you can follow along at home - or enjoy if/when you're out on business and/or pleasure in same city. Routes will be added & updated as time allows.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Check your Six!

Most of us who ride regularly deal with the hassle of the road without undue concern. Dealing with other vehicles who are bigger/heavier/faster carries a certain uncontained risk; but a risk I believe worth taking. Verses just sitting on the couch watch Fathead.com commercials. I think each of us probably have personally had an encounter or know of someone who has had contact with a vehicle with serious injury. I T-boned a station wagon in an act of extreme stupidity as a teenager and if I'd been a second or two earlier I wouldn't be writing this right now.

So I post this in response to inquires regarding the apparent unsafe conditions in which we frequently ride; generated at recent holiday parties asked by those (mostly inebriated) who're probably guilty of creating some of these apparent unsafe conditions.

I personally do not like to ride on bike paths per se, though I agree that they serve a purpose & use them on occasion - but I find they're usually too congested with other users which impede my progress. I would rather ride on a wide shoulder or bike lane with traffic, because they usually are better served in getting me where I'd rather go. Most cities I travel to are certainly getting better in catering to cyclists, but most also have a long way to go to get it right & also educating their drivers.

When I leave the house/hotel I do not dwell on the possibility that some car/truck/tractor trailer has my number on their hood - but I do practice caution & vigilance and are continually aware of my surroundings. Despite this I would say on average I have at least 1 encounter per ride that has potentially serious consequences that requires some evasive action on my part.

Yet I would rate the typical motorist is doing his/her fair share in practicing good driving etiquette. It is the minority of drivers that are a continual hazard to us - usually distracted (yelling at the kids, yakking on the cell, spilling their 4-bucks or fat fries, punching the GPS, putting on makeup, lighting up a cancer stick, falling asleep, etc.) or are otherwise oblivious or clueless. Some seem to be looking right at us, but don't see what they're not expecting - and give us a left or right hook; and some are just damn mean (didn't learn what the word "share" as in "share the road" means), inexperienced or too damn old.

I usually tell folks who ask about being intimidated on their bikes by other traffic a story about a guy named Jim on my 2000 year-long bike trip. In late July or early August we were in Sweden traveling to some small town (ya sure you betcha). Jim decided to get to the end of the day campground on the wide shoulder of the main highway rather than the circuitous side roads the route guide for the day called for (his prerogative). To cut to the chase Jim became entangled with the rear axle of a trailer which turned in front of him. The truck driver called their emergency response and Jim was airlifted to the nearest Hospital within 30 minutes - where they amputated one of his legs just below the knee that afternoon. One of our fellow riders who rode with a prosthetic carbon-fiber leg stayed behind until Jim's family could come out from the States & also to console/counsel him with some guidance as to how life will be as an amputee. Jim confided that 2 weeks earlier he had a premonition that he was going to get killed sometime on the trip and if all the worse that was going to happen was an amputated leg, he was OK with that.

Now I'll agree that that's some good rational for a terrible accident on Jim's part - but can you imagine getting up every morning for 2 weeks thinking that this day may be your last? I can't!

And so we do the best with what we've got - donning on our brightly colored kit & 9-ounce styrofoam helmet, maybe a flashing light or 2. If some idiot has my number out there today (well I survived today) or tomorrow (well I'm not actually riding tomorrow 'cause I'm flying all day - but the proverbial and perpetual tomorrow) I don't want to know it and more importantly I don't want to be intimidated by it - but I'll do my best to keep an eye & ear out for them.

Ride safely & smartly (offensively if you must) - even when others don't!

Only 14 more shopping days until Christmas.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Three of the five grins




2-kid pic is of Little Missy Moo & her brother Buster who'll both be 7 months old this Friday - and 3-kid pic adds 25-month-old eldest daughter Bug cheesing it up. This is a rare opportunity of them lounging (probably photo shopped) where none of the three is creating a fuss, mess, or otherwise causing havoc. Ahhhhh serenity now!

21 shopping days until Christmas!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

This, that & the other


Not too be confused as part of the "axis of evil", Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel, Jr. passed away the other day. Long after the world has forgotten the leaders of Iran, Iraq and North Korea, Evel will be remembered as a true world-wide inspiration.
Though not an athlete in the true sense of the word - he broke more bones in his body over his lifetime than all of the NBA, NHL and NFL combined. A consummate showman and self-promoter; he virtually invented the "sport" of motorcycle daredevil (which according to Lance Murdock of the Simpson's "the United States has the best doctor to daredevil ratio in the world."), to which he spawned an industry of imitators (including son Robbie). He took to his grave whether or not he intentionally deployed the parachute soon after takeoff of his purportedly underpowered rocket cycle in his Labor Day attempt to jump the Snake River in 1974. Though his last jump was more than 26 years ago (1981) he still made news whenever or wherever he appeared. And while his tough living caught up with him in his later years (bankruptcy, divorce, legal woes, family estrangement, and medical problems) he is an icon that will live on forever.

While on the team ride today in Miami north on the A1A to my eventual turn around just north of Boca Raton a Hollywood, FL cop converged on me as he was merging onto my roadway from an intercoastal bridge overpass - he ultimately slowed as we were side-by-side and let me proceed (though I had my doubts), and then caught up to me at the next intersection where the light was red. In his brief conversation through the passenger (partner?) window he apologized for closing on me so rapidly so as to cause me alarm and wanted to know that even as a police officer they make the occasional mistake. I thanked him for his forthrightness and was so caught off guard that I just shrugged the awe-sucks look at him and we went on our way when the light turned. A feel good moment - good on him for reassuring me in this manner; he probably learned something in the bike/car confrontation & conflict arena that may help later in his career (something Velonews reported on recently).

The Idiot Passenger of the Day award goes to the guy in the boarding jetway who turned to me and asked the "How many drinks have you had tonight?" question. A less tolerant Captain might have reacted differently, but I just said to the guy - "You really don't want to ask that question? If you're joking I'll just let it go - this time. If you're serious, then that's a whole different matter." Well he backed off and said he was just kidding around, and tried to laugh it off with his buddies (who didn't seem amused by his behavior). Folks - while there have been certain high-profile circumstances where pilots have attempted to fly after having consumed an alcoholic beverage too close to flight time (there are both FAA and Company limitations on this issue) - this question is akin to shouting fire in a crowded theater or talking about bombs or guns when passing through airport security; it has serious ramifications. Please engage brain before moving mouth.

The lowest observed gas price was in North Fort Lauderdale beach area at the Hess station on A1A - $3.11/gallon.