A busy week.

Well. It turns out that on Thursday, I didn't really have anything scheduled. I went into the doctor, they told me some things and checked me out. Told me I'd have to come back for more tests. I told them I didn't want fancy (expensive) tests, so he told me that I'd need a chest x-ray and a blood test. Got those done that night, Going in for legitimate surgery on the 8th. Getting about a 1" x 4" chunk of my shoulder removed down the layer before the muscle. That won't be fun. Then, they're going to biopsy some lymph nodes. More fun.

Friday night went and talked shit on the "too cool for school" fixie kids. I can very easily see why I left/never really got into that scene. Beer is not cool. Neither are tricks. Neither is taking up all 3 lanes of Washington and running every light when the cops are following. Stayed til Match Sprints (on my road bike) got a bye through the first round, and got slaughtered in the second because clipping in is hard sometimes.

Did the All-City yesterday. Got 4th. Definitely feel like I could have won it. IF I knew where the Bedlam was exactly. That sucked. 2.5 minutes off the winner. I rode real slow down Franklin, trying to keep Landin in play. It was fun, we rode well. He just didn't have the legs. But, we had to have finished one and two in the disabled/near terminal disease class.

Todays Crit didn't help the situation. Felt shitty during warm up. Snapped out of it during race, as usual. Felt really great, kept everyone in check, took a few pulls to check everyone else out. Felt like I was cornering pretty well, and was able to match any surges. Took some of the 180's super hot. 2 laps to go Adam is on the front (and I knew he was going to be strong.) I take third wheel and come around them into the 180. I take it SUPER hot trying to get a gap with him, because if we get a gap with one and a half to go, we're not coming back. I knew Mario was around, too. I got a good line and leaned my bike as far as I could. That part worked. I just started pedaling about a foot too early. Caught a pedal HARD. Sent me RIGHT to the ground. Adam ended up on the curb. No one hit me, and no one else hit the ground, but it sucked, and now I'm sore.

Glad Adam went on to win. That almost makes it worth it. I wish I could have ended my season on a better note. Oh well. Racing is the third most dramatic thing in my life right now, and they all suck.

MAN, this year HAS NOT gone my way at all. I'm ready to give up. Is it 2009 yet?

Today is the day. We'll see how it goes.

So. This afternoon is a pretty big deal to me. I go in to get biopsied. Not sure how much, but I hear that isn't so much fun. Kevin (owner) told me that I'm not working on friday. That'll be a game day decision. If I can, I will. Same with Sunday. If I'm capable, I'll race. We'll see. (that's pretty much my motto, "we'll see". That's ok. It used to be "shit happens". I like this one better.)

Last night Margaret and I went canoeing. We rented them and pedaled around one of the lakes. Calhoun? Not sure. It was fun. I only feared for my life a couple times. I didn't die. That's a good sign. Man, I'm terrified of water. I'll do it again, though.

Who wants to go see Tropic Thunder with me? I don't think I'm going to be able to convince Margaret to go.

Come on, Tom Cruise in a hairy fat suit, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey JR playing a man playing a black man. This has success written all over it!

This Weapon of Purity

Has apparently gone dull. That sucks. I think about where I was about 2 years ago, and I'm almost proud of myself. I don't know what happened. I used to be so sincere and caring. What happened? I used to be driven. I used to stand for something. Now, I am very idle and unmotivated. I am weaker and less passionate. All of my Vegan friends from the past wouldn't even know who I am now. I'm note even sure if I know who I am now.

What's changed? I've settled. I have a wife who I adore. Does that really explain it? No. I'm still the same person. She feels the same way I do more often than not, perhaps just maybe not to the same extent.

Why is the ONE thing that I stood for (Ok, one of TWO things) so easy to forget about? I wrote this some time ago (Feb 6th 2006) while I was messengering in Philly.



Darwinism is cool, kids.

man, i hate people. well, people that are pro animal testing. really get's my goat. "would you rather we test on humans?" "honestly, yes." "are you going to volunteer?" FUCK NO. we shouldn't have drugs and hard medicines. fucking a! people get sick. they either get better or they die! it's the way of the world, how things SHOULD be, if you will. maybe i'm a heartless bastard. but i'm fed up with people that should be dead but are holding on through some "modern miracles of science" fuck that shit. damn you people! if you can't live unnasissted, DON'T LIVE!.

peace.

-jason


How come the position I'm in now makes it ok for me to do EXACTLY what I was telling people NOT to do then? Why is it that now that my appendix damn near blew up, and that I have some skin cancer (that MAY kill me, though probably not very quickly) that it's ok for me to accept these drugs to deal with life? I think it's messed up and I don't like it. But, what do I do? I can't just not deal with this and let it possibly kill me.

What has changed for me between 2006 and 2008. I might know. I think it has a lot to do with me not living only for me anymore. I have a family. I have a very awesome wife. I really love my life now. (for the most part). I have WAY more responsibility than I ever did before. More responsibility for me, my actions, my wife. Everything. If I neglect me, if affects more than just me.

I guess I'm ok with that. It sucks that this world is the way it is. People need to step up on a much more global scale. I will let the doctors know to give me as little shit as possible. Is that enough? I will have to be. I can't do anything more.

I feel kind of like the crazy anti-abortion protester that accidentally gets knocked up and can't deal, and has an abortion. (I don't know anyone like that, but I'm SURE it's happened).

I'll continue to live and learn. Probably won't be any less outspoken, either.

Hot Legs.

Far from it, actually. Save for just wanting to make a Rod Stewart reference, there's nothing appropriate about the name of this post.

Dead Legs, on the other hand, would be better. They're feeling slow and heavy.

Went and did a few hill repeats last night by myself after riding co-workers home. Today Sam and I rode out to meet Jake in St Paul for more hills. We did about 7 or 8 repeats at the 3 hill intersection (Summit and Irvine, Grand, and Ramsey). Then we went out to Ohio St. Then we both felt bad and rode out through Mendota Heights and back to work. It was fun. I needed it. I don't think that I needed it this close to Tuesdays (very important) crit. Crap. Hope I can recover in time. I'm thinking yes. We'll see.

I hope the Capitol Crit is longer than it has been in years past. A longer course anyhow. Maybe not duration.

Oh well. I got a heart rate monitor. I didn't blow up. I feel like so far I'd put my lactic threshold at around 153. I've only gotten it up to 182 or so, as far as I know, but it's fun to look at. Will actually have to do the 30 TT to get more accurate results. The above # is strictly by feel. I could be WAY off.

Crunch Time.

So, we did some math, and I need 5 more points to upgrade to Cat 3 before the season is over. There are two Dakota Techs left that I guess I'm going to participate in, and one State Championship Crit. I'll be at a wedding for the State RR.

So, That really makes it sound tough for me. You know whats worse? Knowing that I go in for "surgery" (quotations to imply that I have NO idea how intense it will be) the Thursday before the State Crit. Which is to say that two out of the 3 races left on my calendar are within a week of my hospital visit.

That might make things tricky. I'll still try. I'll always try.

dog watching.

Who wants to watch some fairly well behaved dogs for a weekend while Margaret and I work support on an aids (or something like that) ride on Sept 6/7th? It'd be fun. I promise.

They're cute. On is a bit annoying with the Bark Bark. It works out.

Any takers?

I mean, come on!


and

Hopkins Crit.

I did two races yesterday. I didn't finish well in either of them. 20th in the 4/5 race with not much to report, and 2nd to last in the 3/4 race. The second was MUCH more interesting.

TWO High Five Bicycles in the race. Byrnesie and I both debuted new bikes. We both had Hollywood mentioning them when we were on/off the front. And that we were.

Cleary got a bit of a gap about 2 or 3 laps in. I tried to shut him down. Somehow we both ended up with a bit of a gap. Then I tried to get him to ride harder. He tried for a second and then reintegrated. I kept on. Then Ben Scherer (Brones) bridged up to me and kept me out of the headwind for a lap or two. That was VERY appreciated. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I wanted to keep moving, so I kind of untintentionally rode him off of my wheel. Few more laps alone and I see a Birchwood rider in the behind me. I didn't know who it was. I kept it up. He got closer, so I slowed a bit. Around turn 2 I saw him around the corner a ways back. I sat up and yelled at him to get on. He did. It was Nate! That was awesome! We rode off for another I have no idea how many laps. 5? 6? I have no memory of individual laps. We worked to together for few laps. Then Sam (Synergy) bridged up, or brought the field together. I couldn't tell. We re-integrated. I got back to about 5th wheel, and then decided that the pack wasn't the place for me. I didn't even think I'd finish this race, let alone do anything important. I gassed it again just before the finish line and went off alone for another 4 to 6 laps. Apparently the group was surprised by that. I think it was the coolest thing that I've ever done on a bike.

I got two primes in that sequence. I also allowed for the team (LG, Dis, and Byrnesie) to do very little work in the group. I got caught again with 6 to go. Right when Dis decided that that was the time we should be accelerating for the finish. Mark took the front and spit me out the back in about a half a lap. He's a monster. I just wanted to finish at this point. I rode alone by myself (yelling at one of the other Birchwood riders in the race to ride faster. I know he's strong. I've seen it. Don't know his name, though. The one that wears white shorts!)

I was very frightened of getting lapped in the last three laps. I was dragging. I desperately wanted to finish. I did. I gave the last little straight all I had left in the tank. Probably looked really silly sprinting with absolutely NO chance of getting any more spots, but I don't care. I have a thing about finishing strong. I don't care if you're dead last or first. Coasting across the line is disrespectful of the race. If you're coasting at the end, you're not racing. I come to race. Always.

Yeah. I spent a long time away. Hollywood mentioned High Five Bicycles a bunch. And I can't thank him enough for it. I had an amazing time on the bike, and I want to do it again. I know that I am bad at moving through the field when the pace is high. I need to stay out of it, I guess. I am kicking myself for not gunning it when I had a little gap off the front with 3 to go in the 4/5 race. I let confidence beat me when I didn't recognize anyone, and therefore didn't know who was strong. I'll be honest, I actually thought I was one of the stronger riders in the field. I thought a top 10 was a given. I was WAY wrong. That won't happen again.



Joyous post race. Not so much during. Me and LG. Could have gone better. Couldn't have been more fun.

Logo Needed.

High Five Bicycles is in need of a logo. I am NOT the artisty type. Never have been. I have no idea how to design a logo. Do you? If so, try it! Seriously. People, I need the help. Design a suitable logo, and I'm using it. Putting it on a site and on bikes. Wouldn't you like to see that?

Brand Identity. I don't have one. The goal is affordable racing frames. Not everyone WANTS to race $4,000 bikes in crits. Hell, I don't know that I'd ever race on a bike I spent that much on. I'd rather race something reliable, good looking, with racin' geometry (long and low) and stiff as hell. I know that not everyone wants a frame like that. The people that don't aren't the people that I'm trying to impress.

I need a logo that says "hurt me". Something with a bit of class, but more power. Isaac 's are classy as hell. Don't really inspire me to try to hurt them. I don't know. If I did, I wouldn't need your help. But I do. So give it a shot. It can't hurt.

I'm a fan of the lower case cursive on the down and seat tubes, but play with that as you must. Do what you gotta do.

I'd appreciate it. Maybe there'll be a damn good deal on a frameset for you.

Thanks!

Community Service Announcement.

Hello. I have an idea. It's a very easy one.

We all play in the sun a lot. Training, racing, picnics, water slides. Whatever your activities include, chances are they include the sun. The sun is our enemy. Sure, it makes our environment hospitable, and allows the plants that feed us oxygen to grow, and do all sorts of other wonderful things as well. But, the fact of the matter is this: The sun is trying to ruin our lives.

It hides far away when we need it the most during the winter, making us seek shelter indoors and occupy ourselves with lame board games and puzzles. It gets too close during the summer when we want to be outside and enjoying the beautiful days and makes us uncomfortably warm and sweaty, requiring us to destroy our planet by taking multiple showers a day, on occasion. It hides behind clouds when it's raining and won't come out to warm us. Sometimes, when it's very warm, it will let it's friend "Wind" come out and play, and that feels great, until we try to ride our bikes, and then it reveals its turncoat nature and tries to put our legs through the wringer. Even when everything goes our way, and it's not too hot or too cold to be outside, it tries to kill us with its UV rays. These are the most dangerous of Sun.'s superpowers. We think it's nice out, but little do we know that the sun is killing us from the inside out when we least expect it.

Try to stay out of the sun. Or, when you are forced to be outside battling the Sun's oppressive nature, bring your weapons. Bring clothing. Bring umbrellas. Bring the most powerful of the Suns enemies, Sunscreen. This one comes in all sorts of varieties. Choose wisely. Your future and the success of your mission count on it. My pasty white-ginger-ness require me to wield the mightiest of the anti-sun shields. The SPF 45. Sun hates this. All of it's efforts to destroy are thwarted with the minute effort of taking some time to apply this shield to areas that Sun could contact. SPF 45 renders all of Suns attacks useless (but only for an undetermined period of time. Be wise. Apply often.)

That got out of hand. Be wise. Apply sunscreen. Don't be stupid. Don't let the Sun kill you. It's easy. If you're suseptible to the sun's attacks, stay out of it, or render it safe(r) with sunscreen. Don't get cancer. It probably sucks.

We're all in the sun a lot. Don't let it kill you.

High Five Bicycles.

Well. Margaret won the race on her bike. We knew that, already. Mark Byrnes rode his wheels at the Northfield Criterium, and I have a feeling he'll be on his High Five bike this weekend. Look for it at Hopkins. Look for mine, too. I'll be there in two fields.

It looks like this.

Photo Credit to TC Worley and Studio Blue.
It's a lot lighter than my Salsa. At least a pound or two. Fancy wheel will shave off another 3/4. Someday. No time soon.

Marks looks the same, Same group, fancier wheels, and some ritchey cockpit-bits. Just a bit smaller.

Margarets looks like this, if you haven't seen it.


well. I can't find a good picture of Margarets. Someday. If you care to see what I was able to do with my Taiwan contacts, feel free to track me down in between my races and try it out. I encourage it.

Bested.

The track last night was great. A lot of fun action! Had a friend that I know from work come out to watch, and hung out with some of the Grumpys family. He had such a great time watching, that he's planning on taking the class in August! That is amazing! T.C and Monty both had a great night up there. I couldn't be much more proud of them. Way to go guys!

But, I was beaten at my game. My wife is just better looking than I am. I can't help it. It stands to reason that as soon as she shows up, she steals my goal of being the best dressed up at the track. Kinda sucks, but, If I'm going to get beaten, at least I know my competition. I had better sunglasses, though. Hell, Bruce gives me enough competition. I don't need Margaret coming in and beating me. Manzilla's hat is pretty great, too.

A lot of flat tires at work today. I was kind of surprised about it. It went well. Caitlin came to say hi. That's enough for me. If you haven't been into the bike center yet, you should come check it out. It's pretty cool.

Oh, and I guess Kevin tried/did sign me up for insurance starting July 1st. Maybe I will have insurance. That'll be amazing and put me at more ease.

Updates over.

Except I'm look at Lokvist to surprise Ricco a bit later. And a lot of other people will be surprised, too.

Update.

I realize that I didn't give all that much information in the first "I've got cancer" post.

Here's what I know. I got a mole removed a few weeks ago that everyone I asked about said it looked like nothing, including the doctors. I got a call yesterday afternoon saying that that mole we thought was nothing was actually something. They said that it looked deep, and that they made me an appointment to get more of my arm biopsied along with a few of my lymph nodes. That happens on the 24th. I figure if it was super bad I'd be going in sooner than that. I'm not super worried, I'm just waiting it out and we'll see what the damage is. I'm not dying, and I don't have aids, so I'm not stressing it too much.

It's the lack of insurance that I'm bummed about. I've talked to some people, and I think I know where to start, but that shit is scary as hell. I'm already about $14,000 in the whole from the last bullshit I got dealt back in April. (or was it March?) Either way. It sucks. My life has kinda sucked, and has been very great at some other times.

I really think that I have my bike team, my amazing wife, and everyone with kind words to thank. This is really silly and pretty hard. I'm just trying to maintain and not freak out. I got that out of the way early. I'll tell ya, that is a tough phone call to take.

I'll keep everyone updated, and I REALLY appreciate all of the kind words. If I don't already know you personally, I'd like to. This anonymous internet thing isn't all that much fun.

Thanks everyone.I'll see you at the track, and then again at Hopkins Crit. Come say hi.

Curse of the Salsa, Pt II

So, in light of current events, I'm starting to think that my Salsa is fine, and that maybe it's just me that is cursed.

Be afraid, and keep your distance.

(I'm not contagious, save for my infectious happy persona.)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

This year has been amazing! Bike Team, summer in a new city, new job, just a lot of good stuff.

BUT, it's also been shitty. I got my appendix removed earlier this year, out of the blue, and now I just got diagnosed with cancer.

It isn't that bad, just "deep" malignant melanoma, and I hear that's treatable. I'll live. Just have to go back to the doctor to get more chunks removed from me. Some nodes, too.

Man. I have cancer. That's crazy. All this time I've spent not doing drugs or eating dead things in an effort to improve my quality of life didn't/isn't doing me very well.

Oh well. Keep at it and keep the head up.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Crowd Favorite.

It's official. I'm official.

I was voted (unofficially) the coolest looking official at the track. This does not come as any surprise, as I give it my best everytime I go up there, but it's nice to hear.

And in my defense, Charlie (Anderson), I was not wearing the same shirt when I was doing bottle hand ups at Square Lake. That was was white with some blue, where last nights shirt was all blue. Thanks for thinking about me, though.

I MAY be officiating today down in Northfield, if my ride calls me. Otherwise I'm a bit stuck in Minneapolis. We'll see.

Back to the track. Skibby might be the worst motorpacer ever at the track. Maybe if he had is powertap on motorbike, he could have kept it at the required speed. Thanks for helping out, Skibby. We appreciate you.

Oh, and racers, try to make sure you've got bar ends in your bars. It's easy. They're needed. We don't want any chunks of people missing.

Curse of the Salsa.

So, I have decided that my Salsa is cursed. Too many problems since I've gotten it. Or maybe it just seems like a lot.

Since August '07 (including a winter where it didn't get ridden much) I have:

Flatted at Ken Woods.

Pinch flatted (almost. finished race w/ enough psi to not walk) at Square Lake

Temporarily broke my derailleur before Richmond Roller

Got the stand that was holding my bike blown over by the wind the day before the Horribly Hilly Hundred, mangling my derailleur hanger with no replacement for about 300 miles.

Broke my chain last tuesday on a ride with Mario. Thanks to Andrew (Cat 6) for carrying a chain tool and saving my ass.


I don't know. I'm probably forgetting stuff, but that's all I got right now. Oh yeah, the big one.

Getting a bunch of my spokes broken when some dude put his pedal into my wheel..That was the other one.

But it's ok. High Five Bicycles is saving the day with good ju-ju's. I got the rest of my first shipment yesterday, and that means a new frameset for me! good news. You'll see it soon.