Yay! Minneapolis

I will be at or near Minneapolis by this time next week!!!  I am that excited.  I rocked my I (heart) MPLS t-shirt well before the ranking.  But I love that ranking.  Fuck yeah.  Bringin it to Chicago.  Couldn't make me happier.

Nice Mpls talk with two new bike peeps last night.  Why are we so cool?  And you know I ain't usually cocky.  It's all y'alls.  I ()ust feel so at home.  And that's the idea.  For Thunder Bikes.

But back to Minneapolis.  Streaming The Current.  The TB mix is chock full of songs heard on 89.3.  What kicked this blog into gear was The Rural Alberta Advantage.  Great name and vibe, I decided I must post, wherein the inevitable review of other recent posts take place, and I see this pic for the 2nd time today.

Ya know, do I even know how to link in this thing?  Damn.  Check out QBP's page on Facebook.  Basically it's a snow & more so ice enclosed bike the likes of which. . .

Another funny observance did happen today--Chicago meterologists forcast snow like they do rain.  I could have totally ridden today, and I'm fairly positive my downtrodden attitude would have risen notches higher, especially on the way home.  But I don't hate CTA.

I actually think my fav part of the day was when the Santori valet asked me "No bike today?"  There's a couple valet guys at Greek Islands that like my bikes, but I hadn't ever talked to short Santori Guy, much less realized he noticed me or my bikes.  And right as the truth about snow scares was becoming clear!    I SO wanted to hop on my bike outside the door today.  What?  Twenty something?  So damn mild.  I mean, Mpls picture?? (not pictured above)  Chicago is great because its ()ust that much milder.  I do need a legit pair of gloves though.  Knit gloves and those mini-stretch gloves will not hold at a night time 20. In the sunlight, they didn't seem as bad, same temp. . . needless to say, must find.  And fenders for The Continental.  I don't ever want to be afraid of a 1 inch "forecast".

Looking forward.

Determination

From the 'cross field to my business plan to the blog, determination has been on my mind this week.  Determination to make it up to Montrose Harbor by 7:25 a.m. --on a Sunday morning, after the first snow fall.  Still, I knew it was going to be the fastest way.  The iMac read 22 degrees.  It was sunny, the roads seemed clear and mostly dry, so I hauled up Green Lantern and set on my way.  Of course, I forgot a few things and had to go back in.  Onto Damen about 6:55 had me pushing that tank all the way.  Was definitely awake and warmed up by the time I got there.  Rolled up to the registration tent at 7:22!  Saweet.

The scene heading east on Montrose into the park area was every bit as pristine and cyclocross-morning as I expected.  A single racer in his vehicle passed me with a smile--at what I was riding more so than my presence I'm sure, but it was the whole scene.  A hello to a cyclist heading the opposite way.  It was the bright beautiful snow, the blue sky with low thin clouds and the warm glowing sun.  Stunning, and probably a good thing my camera batteries were dead because I needed all the time we had for registration tent set up and training.

The 40+ Masters were up first.  Gotta say my favs were the 40+'s registering in the 30+ category.  And the 60 year old man.  Didn't get to talk to many of them as I'd hoped.  It was in and out, but that's ok.  I got to meet Chris Mailing, who started Turin Bicycle seven years ago after a career in the finance industry.  He rode in the 50+.  It all was very well run and executed.  Professional.  I am honored to have been a part of it.  I didn't stay until the end, and would have liked to have watched more of the races, but I got a great feel, and look forward to continuing to be a part of the cyclocross world.  Who knows, I've never really had a competitive streak, and man would it take dedication, but shit, why not?  There were just as many 40+ women registering as otherwise. . . and the youngest was 9!!  Loved her.  Chatted a bit with her out in the field later that day.  It was not her first ride.  Watch that little one!  Be darned if I remember her name though.  All in all, it was a fantastic experience.  I met George Vargas too, who coordinated all the volunteers, but I don't know his connection beyond that.  


Determination, people.  It's not a quality, although I suppose it could be, but I think of it more as an action.  Which means it is a choice.  I think I am fairly determined, but it can't stay in your mind, you have to act on that determination.  It ain't determination unless you're gettin it done! (Right Bino? Congrats again!!)  And so I have it cut out for me, that's for sure, but hanging around people that can ride for 45 minutes through snow and sand and switchback turns in the cold December weather sure does provide more than a tiny bit of inspiration.


Kudos riders.

The Start of a New Decade - Harder and Faster

A six day weekend will no doubt garner mulitple highlights, especially when one of those days is your 40th birthday (which happens to be today, day five) but the highlight came on what could have been a regular old two day weekend.  Saturday night.  Lincoln Hall.  ()oe, who's always good for a new music connection, invited me out to see Twin Shadow.  A quick preview on the night-of linked me to the other opener, Yawn.  I'm not a rock writer so I'll be simple and say that they both had an 80's influence, but done in a new and fresh way.  The crowd was a bit older, even though the bands were young!  The drummer, well, one of the drummers, from Yawn could have been 16!  He could have been 22 too, who knows, but you get the idea.  The crowd was great because everyone there seemed to be e()oying themselves and experiencing why I think Lincoln Hall has become the unanimously praised venue that it has. . . when you're there, you can't help but think how cool you are to be checking out this band, hanging out with all these other cool people.

Which is not unlike cycling. So when I watched as several 40's age cyclists rolled up to the venue I couldn't help being a little giddy and voyeuristic.  Mr. LeTour swung in by himself.  Parked his bike right in front of the venue as ()oe and I stood outside for a quick smoke.  Inside, he situated himself right up next to the stage, but off to the left.  A fan in much anticipation of this show, it was apparent, though he didn't want his possible obsession to come out too strongly.  Photos were taken with his point and shoot indiscreetly.  Next was Ms. Masi and Mr. Felt.  They rolled their bikes on by shortly after Mr. LeTour walked inside.  Respectful, walking their bikes on the sidewalk.  Good cyclists are good people.  Inside, they had my vote for coolest couple in Chicago.  Relaxed and into the music.  Cycling keeps couples together??  A stretch, but dang cute they were.  Also in their 40's.

It was a poignant night in the middle of my staycation that had me feeling cool to be at Lincoln Hall, cool to be turning 40, and most of all cool to be a cyclist.  And, as the woman in the crowd yelled, "Harder and Faster"!

Lets go Thunder Bikes.