El Pistolero

I gather that the famed finish line gesture should be now attributed to shooting himself in the career; probably fires last shot (at least for 2 years) at tomorrow's mea culpa excuse filled press manipulation.

I already imagine him saying something along the lines of, "Vino said it was melatonin to help me on my rest day" or "Andy sent me a nice steak for dinner."

At same time Andy, sporting a grey outfit & oversized glasses, will announce his main Luxembourg sponsor for his new team - North Korea!

Unity

I threw my proverbial hat into the ring this afternoon to run for a recent vacant position as CAPT Rep. Three of us were nominated. I'm told that in the 1st round of votes we were all pretty even though I was a vote or two short & thus the low man out. Next round was a landslide victory as my supporters consolidated behind the best of the remaining two.

I want to thank those that supported me today - especially those that failed to show, I owe everyone a few beers.

Take this to the bank(s)

A good friend of mine - I'll call him RAAM-boy - recently got a job as a Sales Rep with a bike company down in SoCal selling cruiser bikes with the cushiest territory ever - the coastal communities from Long Beach to San Luis Obispo. This is cruiser bike heaven with miles & miles of beach paths with 100's of thousands of potential wanna-be cruisers. Though perhaps, I thought, maybe too saturated already. With the LA radio stations dedicating helicopters to call out traffic on the beach paths, and light regulated on ramps to meter the flow, even HOV bike paths already too crowded with Beach Cruisers - which is why my friend got the job. He's doomed!

So I thought I make a couple of suggestions to improve his career chances. He's moving from the Monterey Bay area - which is in the vicinity of Soledad Prison - a very rough & tough place, even if you're a rough & tough criminal. My suggestion was to tap into this market by attracting new customers to the Cruising scene.

The Crips (blue) Cruiser & the Bloods (red) Cruiser, along with the Skinhead (black & white) Cruiser, and let's not forget the Latinos with their (plaid) Cruiser. Each could be outfitted according to their individual gangsta style with appropriate graphics & gear. I thought even a Cruiser for the guys wanting to emulate those on death row - choosing between the Gas or Syringe Cruiser for that one last spin. You could even market it by location, certainly those choosing the San Quentin model would want to differentiate from those of the Folsom or Pelican Bay models. They could even offer a retro Alcatraz model - an off-road version called "The Rock."

With the recent tragic death of last year's RAAM winner - there's an opportunity to outfit the next best guy for the 2011 RAAM with an ultrasleek aero Cruiser - and tap that ultracyclist market.

I'm sure this'll be a hit all around CA & beyond - and my buddy will rolling in the megabucks soon & offering me a job flying him around to bike races in a new G650.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz........

OK we've all done it haven't we - set the alarm for an early wake up & then after silencing the bugger at O-2-early, went back to bed (please Mom just 10 more minutes). Which is exactly what happened when the alarm went off at 7:15 this morning. I told myself that if I just lay down for another 10-15 minutes I'd get going - kinda softly waking up is how I refer it.

I was in the Windy City after all - and I was voluntarily getting up early (5:15 body clock time) to get ready for one more treat. One last season ending race (a local Crit) that I found on the web the night before taking place late Saturday morning (11:05 start). Only I needed to get going no later than 8:30 to allow myself to navigate the 30-ish miles to the start, allowing 2 hours to get there, registering, affixing my number, and allowing the competition to get overly confident sizing up me on my clown bike, etc.

So when I finally did get out bed indeed the minutes on the clock said :30 and I went about getting my front derailleur straightened, dressed in my kit, while downing my vitamins & a couple of homemade extra cinnamon bagels (that I bought down from the Silverbow Bakery in Juneau the day prior) lazily checking weather.com to see what indeed I should plan for & a few other sites for good measure as well. I left the room 45 minutes later, in what I assumed was about 8:15-ish, so as not to feel rushed.

I navigated sort of along the route suggested by googlemaps.com (by bike) and was happy about my progress arriving 1:45 later on the top-of-the-hour; presumably 10AM, plenty of time. Legs warmed up & raring to go.

So what are all the 30 or so old guys doing rushing to line up? It still didn't register in my pea brain that this was my group until I waltzed over to the registration table, filled out the USAC release, finagled my license & two $20's out of my jersey pocket and went up the the lady - who upon examining my release & license without missing a beat said - "Did you sleep in or something?"

It still wasn't clear what she was referring to. No, I explained, that I was actually up early to come out and race, something about time zones & body clock and yada yada rambled on when - DOH! - the light bulb came on.

Was that my group that just started, I asked meekly; but I already knew before she nodded yes. She asked if I wanted to do the CAT 1/2 race later that afternoon & I disappointingly explained that I barely had time for "that race" (pointing off to the bunched group going by on lap 2) as I've got a 3:30 departure back to the Jet City. She handed me back my license + the two $20's, and I watched for a few laps as a break of 4 went off the front. They were away pulling almost half a lap lead by the time I left 10 minutes later, getting a head start on my 30-ish mile ride back to the Hot L.

So I gather that while I thought I was just laying there with my eyes closed telling myself that I'm going to get up at any minute - that minute was an hour later than I thought it was. I got out of bed when I should've been on my way. I've got to take some advice from - OK I never thought I'd mention this person's name on this blog (or anywhere else for that matter) - Lady Gaga, when she said, "I'll sleep when I'm dead"(why do I even know she said this?); and just get going when the alarm goes off.

I still got in a very nice ride in comfortable weather along a mix of limestone trails & roads - some decent & some not so decent (too many deep cuts & ruts, not enough of a shoulder, with too much traffic).

Not too many days like that left in the year - so get up, get out and enjoy.

Great idea

P or SC, part 2

Well at least we get an apology (after-the-fact mind you) with perhaps promise of further insight (drama?) to come. And I'm not sure whether he is sorry because he got caught or because he was a cheat? "A mind is a terrible thing" (as Eddie Murphy liked to point out on SNL) and some people do certain things because they want to get caught, even if it takes awhile for the proper authorities to catch up with them; others don't give a damn. Who's next?

Message from me
by ddickey » Thu Sep 16, 2010 10:06 am
I'd like to start by saying I'm sorry to everyone who believed in me, supported me, liked me as a person and counted me as a friend. I am terribly sorry for what this does to my mom and sisters. To the people close to me, friends and family, I ask for your forgiveness. To the others, I doubt anything I say will change your mind about what you think of me, but I am offering you my apology anyway.

I want to make it very clear that everything that's happened to me is because of my own actions. I blame no one else or any circumstance, and am offering no excuses for what I have done. I feel sickened by what I've done and what I’ve become. I took my first sip almost ten years ago and never put the bottle down. There will be no more lies and half-truths from me—I'm done with living this life of deception. My parents did not bring me up like this, and I feel embarrassed by my actions.

I'd like to tell my story about how this has happened to a 'good' guy. I will not offer it as an excuse, only as an apology. That will come at a later date, for now I have to get my life back in order. Thanks for listening and for your support.

Sincerely, Dewey

Perseverance or shortcuts

In life we take paths that define the type of person we are. Do you lie on your resume, exaggerate on your education or experience, and otherwise cheat to get ahead even if nobody notices OR do you play fair & accept yourself for who you are and deal with the hand your dealt with?

I did an out-and-back run to the end of a popular trail in Juneau today that was mostly slightly uphill paralleling Gold Creek on the way up with roots, rocks, and steaming berries; challenges all. There was no way to get to the platform at the end of the trail overlooking the waterfall & valley below and the unless you followed that path. There were no shortcuts - 7+ miles round trip. As defined this was a "steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement."

Velonews has a report today on the acceptance of lifetime ban by another top (Master's & CAT 1) 41 year-old cyclist. Stupid!, you'd say, nice catch USADA, a good riddance to a Kenny Williams wanna-be. But further scrutiny might provide an in depth look at this man's situation and provide a better understanding of what's going on, as well as bringing up more questions.

Last May, Chicago Bike Racing reported on his out-of-competition test. A previous detailed article by the Minneapolis/St Paul Magazine is a pretty amazing story of the harsh life he's endured the past few year's.

However the fact that he's accepted a lifetime ban begs to ask the question was this indeed another person taking shortcuts that got caught or is this a case of excessive enforcement? Also what did the TUE's that came after the test allow (certainly not EPO)? And if, in fact, he needed EPO for his medical condition, what is the minimum time that he should've sat out before he could compete again?

Seems like a guy, who a lot of people admire (sounds familiar), whose hand was caught in the steroid cookie jar previously - made another bad mistake taking shortcuts to improve his physical condition to get results. Other mistakes are #1: not taking the out-of-competition test and then appealing the result by showing his medical history & associated after the fact TUE's (though with the associated sneers & jeers from his peers) & #2: taking the most enhancing of the PED's around without explanation.

I also have to wonder why the USADA (and/or USA Cycling) continued to allow him to participate in almost 2 dozen races throughout the Midwest after his May 11th refusal to submit? Does it really take 4 months to get the word out to race promoters? It is also unclear what the reference to April 2007 is all about; and what's been going on for the 3-year period if there's been a previous indiscretion?

I would like to believe that most persevere to make the most of our accomplishments - whether they be in our career, our athletics, or our family. Some however choose to take shortcuts and the easiest way regardless of the moral, ethical or personal consequences. Which do you choose?

Regardless - I think there may be more on this story than what we know now, & there might be a great deal on a load of bikes available from Cokato, Minnesota on EBAY or Craigslist soon.

Ignoramus

I'm not sure why these folks feel compelled to do what they indicate they're going to do on Saturday but I'm more mystified about all the attention they're getting. The General, the Secretary General, the President & a host others all commenting - plus now a visit to the church by the FBI???

I've learned a few simple things when raising kids that these folks maybe have forgotten - you ignore the raucous rants by children who are solely seeking attention.

If I burned the Bible, the Qur'an, the Talmud, the Veda, the Tao-te-ching, the 5 classics attributed to Confucius right now in my backyard - nobody would notice (except maybe my neighbors wondering what that kook was doing during the fire ban). If I announced it to the world - via any/all forms of media - I'd literally have a firestorm on my hands. And to what purpose?

This is where we find ourselves headed for a countdown to Saturday. One group of religious intolerant nuts in Florida who have a religious extreme view as those they're protesting against. In our country it is legal within their right to do this. We have it in our Constitution that protects wingnuts to say & pray as they please - even if the majority disagrees & it is hurtful to others. This is the best & worst of free speech & practice of religion.

We've also learned and taught our children - that sticks & stones phrase; and that one's actions are louder than words. Turn a blind eye and don't pay this guy & his small flock any more attention - ignore the ignoramus.

Now that's easier said than done - as it's not EZ to unscramble the eggs. Perhaps the best that could be done is to organize a large interfaith group to show up at this proceeding on Saturday & have a non-violent sit-in to demonstrate how to properly tolerate non-tolerance (a la the various civil rights groups in the 60's). Course that Florida church group probably wouldn't understand what all the fuss was all about.

End of Season

I actually got in early enough on layover to race Friday afternoon in the short TT - but I thought what's the point. So Saturday at Tour de Austin:

1st race (10AM Masters 40+ 3/4 combined w/50+ 1/2/3/4) placed 12th overall (of 100+ racers) & 3rd in the 50+. Unfortunately cash payout was only 10 deep in combined race; though I'm 3rd in points for the 50+ Omnium which pays out 3 deep - I wouldn't expect that to last since I'm not participating in any more races this weekend.

Stayed for 2nd race (Noon CAT 2/3) & finished dead last in shifty crash prone bunch sprint (75+ racers).

Would've loved to race in the Crits Sunday & Monday but not the case as I wasn't going to be in town. Sorta weird Omnium with no formal road race especially with the number of open roads nearby and the cycling crazy support from the locals (?).

Finally feeling in decent shape for bike racing - now time to hone the overall fitness for next year.

Running on empty

In the Mile High City this afternoon & I intended to get out for a little spin to loosen the legs from a long day. Where I intended to turnaround came so quickly that I decided to make a little loop out of it; around the airport grounds - though as I knew it's a big airport.

The turnoff for the short loop that I had previewed on Goggle maps turned out to be all gravel so I continued eastbound until I could turn south (HWY 79). This resulted in doubling my distance with the bonus (a PruDog fav) of 5-6ish miles of gravel anyway - I wasn't about to go explore another route at that point. Up until the gravel road segment I was averaging slightly over 20 MPH and the dirt portion significantly slowed that. And if you ever need some motivation mumbling the words to the Jackson Brown hit actually helped keep me focused & running down the road (which then had me mumbling Eagles lyrics).

The epic part of this isn't the total time out (3:40) or the distance (70.5) but the fact that I had only 1 large bottle of H2O, 1 CLIF bar, and 1 gel packet. The route was so desolate that, besides some farms, there weren't any stops to rehydrate or refuel until nearing the Hot L; so I had to fend with what I had. I also turned off my little handlebar light most of the way (except when the rare car came screaming by) to enjoy the darkness & solitude miles from nowhere.

I came back on fumes - but what a great ride.

If history is any guide from previous long rides - this'll only improve my chances in AUS on Saturday (though I'll again be struggling to acclimate to the inevitable heat & humidity). If I get through the Old Guy race in the AM in good shape perhaps I'll jump in the CAT 2/3 race at Noon; we'll see.