Sunglasses No-No

To all manufacturers of sunglasses, don't do this:





You see it, right? The etched name, logo, whatever on the lens.

Don't do that!

I see that stupid etching in my peripheral vision and it bugs me. The lens is for me to see through, got it? Put your branding someplace else, the frame is fine.

Perhaps this lame branding can be expected from Pugs, the king of gas station glasses. But Tifosi? Come on. You want respect? To be a quality mid-level product? Well don't do cheesy crap like etch stuff on the lens.

You're welcome.

White Elephant Bullseye

I went like a lamb to the slaughter.

Saturday Mark and Rachel hosted a Christmas party. I thoroughly enjoyed the party, food (Rachel is an accomplished practitioner of the culinary arts - the title of her blog, Kitchen Addiction, makes this perfectly clear), people, conversation and the white elephant gift exchange, even though I suspect it was all a setup to make sure I received this:

(A LoToJa water bottle, hanger [which I made fun of here], and window sticker.)


If you're new to this blog you may be unaware of my lampooning of LoToJa (a 200 mile road race/ride from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming). Here's my LoToJa anthology: No Transfers For You, LoToJa Owns The Road, Transfer Clamp-Down, LoToJa Hangups. Because I dared criticize the hallowed LoToJa, I've been branded the anti-LoToJa-ite (or other such appellations). So there's the history, now back to the party.

Before the gift exchange Mark announced they do it a bit differently - when it's your turn you give a gift, an unopened one or steal an opened one from another guest, to the person of your choosing. Another guest had picked Mark's LoToJa goodie box and given it to Aaron, but when it was Mark's turn he re-gifted it to me.

It was a funny moment since many of the guests know of my thing with LoToJa. And I'm sure when Mark wrapped up those LoToJa items he knew exactly who he wanted to receive them. But how deep does this go? I suspect Mark setup (made up?) the re-gifting rules to enable his intended goal. And did he give himself a high number to assure I got the goods? Was the dinner just a rouse to legitimize the white elephant gifts? Were all the other invitees in on this? I know I was had, but how had was I? What, me paranoid?

Credit must be given and I say to Mark, well played my friend.

I did get a little payback as I targeted Mark with my gift of a 1980s home entertainment package consisting of a VHS player (broken, of course), Jiffy Pop, and an ugly basket loaded with a fine selection of VHS movies (some from our own dwindling collection, others from DI). One locally produced movie, The Buttercream Gang (really, it was at IMDB?), featured a girl Mark dated - how's that for Karma, fate or something?

dug got hit with some collateral damage of the unusual rules.

My wife scored this sweet bike pad. Check out that cavernous "cutout" and the beyond-generous amount of padding. I think we can call this a grandma pad.



Back to the LoToJa goodies - what to do with them? I won't ever be able to put the bottle on my bikes, I'll probably give it to one of the kids. The hanger, uh, I guess I'll use it - stuffed in a closet is fine with me. But the sticker is a puzzler. I certainly will not put it on my car unaltered. I could simply stick it upside-down. Perhaps I could modify it somehow. I'm open to ideas.

LoToJa Hangups

Look what LoToJa finishers got for their $180 and 206 miles this year:


(photo stolen from Zeph.)

I expect to see these hangers displayed in car windows around the valley as they supplant the ubiquitous stickers.

The hanger made of bike parts is unique and well-made, but not much of a keepsake. Do you invite your friends to the closet to view it?

It could be worse. At one of the ICup races (Draper?) instead of a T-shirt or socks they gave out a square of cloth (hanky?) with the ICup logo on it, and back in 2007 at Sherwood Hills they gave out a 2x2 foot square of cloth with the course and sponsor logos printed on it. Left the racers puzzled - what was it and what should I do with it? Most became grease rags.

I was glad to see the LoToJa leg stamp was small and subtle:


(Photo stolen from Rick.)

Evidently guys with flashlights were checking for leg stamps in the dark before the start. Dang, missed my change to be thrown out of LoToJa and get a misdemean.

Plenty of good LoToJa stories from the blogs / forums / etc. It's a worthy race/ride and my hats off to all the participants and volunteers. Just because I'm the LoToJa curmudgeon doesn't mean I don't respect or appreciate the effort it takes to train for and attempt this course. I just like to poke fun at LoToJa. Everyone needs a hobbie, right?

LOTOJA Transfer Clamp-Down

I've expressed my bewilderment at the continued popularity of LoToJa despite its high cost (this year it's $180), no transfer policy, and heavy-handed control and enforcement.

To be fair, the route is scenic and tough, and the organizers and volunteers put on a good event. I must also acknowledge the marketing skill which keeps LoToJa as the most recognized ride/race in the state.

But evidently the LoToJa folks are still unhappy about transfers, despite previous steps to curtail the activity (showing ID at check-in, wrist bands, etc.). This year riders/racers must receive a stamp on their left calf and have it visible at the start and throughout the race. Here it is straight from the event guidlelines under "all cyclists":

20. Cyclists must have a frame number on their bicycle, wear a timing chip on their ankle, and receive an official LOTOJA body stamp on their left calf before they will be allowed to start and participate in LOTOJA. These items must be worn/visible throughout the day until arrival at the finish. Event personnel and course marshals will be located at the start and throughout the course to remove participants without these three items.

In a KanyonKris exclusive, I present the LoToJa leg stamp:



You better have your mark of the beast or it's off to the gulag for you. OK, I'm exagertaing for effect, but come on, really, a stamp? If I didn't find this so funny, I'd find it sad and insulting.

Wouldn't it be better if the LoToJa organizers spent their energy handling transfers instead of enforcing a bad policy? Either they are really entrenched in the mindset of no transfers, or they count on racers dropping out.

I don't understand why cyclist keep flocking to LoToJa. Surely these draconian policies are a turn-off. I guess the allure of LoToJa is stronger than the risk of losing $180 that you have to ante up months before the event and hope you don't get injured, have to work or attend a wedding/birth/funeral, etc.

Fellow cyclists, there are other double centuries. Right here in Utah we have the Desperado Duel run by a cycling club, fully supported and it costs less than half of LoToJa. I did STP and enjoyed it - and they handle transfers even with 9000 riders.

I just don't get it.

P.S. I find it amusing that my rants are the top results when you search Google for lotoja sticker and lotoja transfers.

Restroom Scare

Had a little scare at work today. No, not a bomb threat - less alarming but still a concern. If the problem is not immediately evident from the photo, you may be part of the problem.



I want to have faith in humanity, really, I do. But when I walked into this restroom at work I let out a little sigh, my shoulders slumped and I felt our civilization slip a few more millimeters into the abyss. Was the decline of Rome also marked this way?

I guess not everyone is a pay it forward type. Hyperbole above notwithstanding, this is a minor transgression in my book. Leaving The Changing of The Roll for the next guy is a bit selfish or simply not a habit for some (who were raised by wild animals) - forgivable.

What isn't forgivable - and may be noticed by the astute observer - there is no spare roll! Not even one resting on the empty, or hiding behind the toilet. Changing the roll after doing your business is not bad if the spare is within reach. If not, well that's awkward and I'll leave it at that. But today the nearest replacement roll was down the hall and down the stairs to the supply closet. That's not cool.

Yes, I'm aware you need to watch out for yourself, but come on, do the right thing.

Luckily I noticed the empty roll right away. And I was only going in for #1. Calling out for TP is bad enough at home, but at work? I'm pretty sure I'd have to find a new job.

I've cited dug several times and I'd like to thank him for his body of work on this topic.

Beard Style

Since I had over a weeks worth of facial hair growth, I decided to try a few beard styles.

Full beard.


Shaved neck.


Mutton chops with a goatee and mustache.


Goatee and mustache.


Then I, mercifully, pulled the plug on this hideous experiment and shaved it all off.

But out of morbid curiosity, do any of these beard styles work for me? Comment away.

Rant: Daylight Saving Time - I still greatly dislike the out-dated practice of changing clocks for Daylight Saving Time. It may have been a fun experiment for the exuberant social engineers of the 18th century, but it has little usefulness in modern life. It seems that for every study that claims some benefit (energy savings, safety, etc.), another makes a counter-claim that negates or discounts it. Keep the two dates if you wish, but leave the clocks alone and just go to work an hour earlier or later, depending on the season. Businesses, governments, schools, etc. already manage their work hours based on demand and other factors making unified time changes irrelevant. In my opinion, changing clocks is the worst way to handle this problem, if you can even say a problem exists in the first place. And one study noted that auto-pedestrian accidents increase when the time changes occur, so be extra careful out there bike commuters.

Factoid: China has no daylight saving program and only one time zone, Beijing Time (thanks to the communists). Some areas (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) still maintain their own local time zones, but the official time is Beijing.

LOTOJA Owns The Road

LOTOJA is fast approaching and the faithful are preparing for the pilgrimage. The 206 mile route is a worthy trial, and I wish all the riders well, but there's always been something about LOTOJA that bugs me. More like several somethings.

I've already ranted about the high cost of the event, the crappy no refunds or transfers policy, the annoying logistics, the prevalence of the car window stickers. But now I have a new zit to pick - evidently on that day, LOTOJA owns the road. Check out this warning from the Guidelines, All Cyclists (I'd provide a direct link, but it's not possible with their Flash website):

23. All cyclists are required to wear a wristband, timing chip and race number before they will be allowed to start. These items must be worn throughout the day until arrival at the finish. Security personnel and course marshals will be located at the start and throughout the course to remove participants without these three items.

Security personnel? Do they have their own brute squad?

Let me get this straight, if I'm out for a ride on the holy day of LOTOJA and stray onto their blessed route, a "security personnel" or course marshal can remove me from a public roadway?

OK, maybe this is just some saber rattling, a shot across the bow, by the organizers to prevent poaching, but do they need to sound so nazi? Throwing down this gauntlet makes me want to ride the whole course just to see if someone really will attempt to remove me. And if they do try, I'm very curious what their response will be when I challenge them to prove they have the authority to take such action. If I'm not using any of their services (feeds, bathrooms, etc.) I can't see what grounds they'd have.

It's fair for the LOTOJA organizers to discourage poaching, but by taking such a hard line they only reinforce the elitist, "we're big shots" image. And what do they have to be all high and mighty about? Oh, it's a "race". Yeah, right. OK, maybe it used to be a race, but it's a group ride now and has been for years. If asked, 80% or more of the LOTOJA-ites would say their goal is to just finish, or finish in some time, not win the race. So let's call it what it is: a big group ride with a race thrown in.

I noticed that LOTOJA doesn't have a slogan, and with my rekindled angst I've come up with several ideas:

LOTOJA - the Primal Wear of cycling events.*

LOTOJA - there is no confusion, we're a race, damn it!

LOTOJA - because your cycling addiction isn't annoying enough to your family and friends.

LOTOJA - registration: $150, lodging: $210, gas: $110, the sticker on your car: priceless.

LOTOJA - the Tour de France of middle-aged, middle / upper class, western states men.

LOTOJA - because your family / friends have nothing better to do than waste a Saturday crewing for you.

LOTOJA - we don't care that Jackson Hole hates us.

LOTOJA - voted most popular cycling sticker 10 years running!

* "If you don’t know what no-man’s land is, it’s kind of like that period after you learned what the cycling-related jokes on the Primal jerseys meant, but before you figured out that it was totally uncool to wear them, so you just rode around alone wearing a Primal jersey and looking ridiculous." - BikeSnobNYC

LOTOJA - No Transfer For You!

On the surface the LOTOJA (LOgan TO JAckson) race / ride looks great. A double century with a scenic and varied route that's difficult enough to test riders, but the average cyclist who trains adequately can finish it. It's also got history and a bit of infamy (thanks to several freak weather incidents). So what's not to like?

My biggest issue with LOTOJA is the no refund, no transfer policy. It's just wrong. Especially when the cost is $150 (not a trivial amount of money to me, or most cyclists, I suspect). I hoped the organizers would at least adopt a transfer policy this year along with the other changes they've made - but no. I can see refunds being difficult since the organizers spend a lot of the registration money in advance to buy stuff for the race. But why not allow transfers?

STP (Seattle To Portland) is a huge double century that going on it's 29th year - they offer to transfer registrations for a $20 fee. This seems reasonable to me and a good-faith effort to help the cyclist who can't make the ride. Instead of a win-lose-lose situation, it's a win-win-win: The organizers get $20 to cover the administrative hassle of the registration change, the seller gets some (all) money back and another person gets to ride in the event. If STP can handle transfers with 9,000 riders, LOTOJA can with 1,000 riders.

It just seems callous to take $150 from someone who looks forward to LOTOJA and spends time training for it but has something come up. Do the LOTOJA organizers seriously think this ride is more important than a wedding, funeral, health issues, job change/loss, or the myriad other intrusions of real life? It comes down to this: Do the LOTOJA organizers care about cyclists, the people who make their event, or not? Is it just too much hassle to help people out of a jam while also allowing a few hopeful riders to make it in? Tell me how I should see this differently.

And I'll put my money where my mouth is: Since transfers seem to be such a burden, I offer to donate my time to process LOTOJA transfers. That's right, I'll work for free, as long as I can work from home (no reason this can't all be done electronically). And you can keep the whole transfer fee. Maybe a few others will also volunteer. STP has a forum for buyers and sellers to hook up - once the deal is made they just need to contact STP to make the transfer (with some identity checks and other precautions). So what's the excuse now?

It's a shame that a prestigious and popular race like LOTOJA doesn't feel the need to be more fair to the people who support it. But maybe that's the problem, demand is high (LOTOJA has sold out for the last several years) so why change the formula? People seem willing to risk ever higher registration fees just for a shot at LOTOJA. Even though demand is high, it still doesn't make it right. Is it fair to take $150 from a cyclist, who later gets injured and can't make the race, without allowing them to give or sell their registration to someone else? And let's be real, the no transfer policy encourages people to find ways to recoup their $150 investment. Then the organizers have to enforce the policy, which surely gets messy and results in some unhappy cyclists. Wouldn't it be easier to allow transfers?

Parting shot: Cyclists, if you're not racing, do the Desperado Dual instead of LOTOJA. It's two 100-mile loops so you have a bail-out and you end up back at your car. I daresay the scenery is better. Plus, it's only $87.50 and fully supported. And it's put on by cyclists (Color Country Cycling Club), not some corporation. Do you want a double or that LOTOJA sticker on your car?

And one nitpick: For the love of the Internet, lose the website intro! People come to websites for info, not slide-shows. And if the site converted over to X/HTML I'd be thrilled, but as Flash sites go the LOTOJA site isn't bad. But please, dump the intro - it's so 1990's, and even then nobody liked them.

Why I Don't Shave My Legs

In a previous post I had some fun probing the various reasons cyclists give for shaving their legs. A few more reasons were given in the comments:

• As a way to "join the club"
• To avoid the pain of pulled hair when pulling on the shorts
• Because shaved legs are just so sexy
• More comfortable post-ride massage

I can see the "joining the club" reason and I think Fatty covered it pretty well in his To impress other cyclists point. Shaved legs then are like a secret handshake that gives you instant credibility with other cyclists. You don't have to give a travelogue of local rides or be able to recite the last 10 winners of the Tour de France or explain the more arcane mechanics of bicycles in order to be accepted. The shaved legs do all the talking in an instant with one glance.

I have a different approach. I like to be the underdog. The Clark Kent. When I ride with new people they don't see anything impressive. My bike is not fancy, new or carbon. My clothing is functional, but not exotic or trendy (like J.C.Penny or maybe Old Navy, but not Nordstroms or Macys). And my legs are not shaved. Most people looking at me would assume I'm just another 40-something out for a joy ride. But once we get rolling, I let my riding do the talking. This is not to say I'm hot stuff - I'm not. But I think I'm an above-average recreational rider. I like to think that most people I ride with are impressed that: I can do a 20+ mph pace, I know what to do (and not to do) in a paceline, I don't just up and die on climbs, I make some technical mountain bike moves, and I really enjoy riding.

In some ways I admire you leg-shavers for being bold enough to announce to the world (through your hairless legs) that you are a serious cyclist. Perhaps it helps you go harder because you feel you have to live up to that statement. A gutsy way to go.

Maybe I'm just being a wimp for going low-key since it's easier to impress people and if I get dropped the humiliation isn't as deep. If so, that's not my conscious decision. For one I'm cheap so I just don't buy a lot of new or fancy gear - just the OK-looking functional stuff. It seems to work about as good as the expensive stuff and I'm happy with it. I bought my road bike used, and it's a bit worn, but it fits me like a glove and it has a good drive-train (Ultegra). My mountain bike is a bit nicer (2005 Cannondale Prophet), but it was also used and has it's share of dings and I'm slowly fixing it up, but I love how it rides. I'm pursuing cycling in my way - that's all.

OK, back to the list. Two reasons for shaving relate to reduced pain or discomfort. Well, if that works for you, but it seems weak to me. I'd rather put up with a little pain than have to shave every week, but maybe that's just me. Todd did note that he frequently receives post-ride massages and the shaved legs make the massage nicer - even I might shave if it meant frequent post-ride massages - hard to argue with that.

Because shaved legs are sexy. I'm not sure what to make of this one. Sexy in a general sense? Or the ladies find shaved legs sexy? Or other guys find guys shaved legs sexy? To not go too far afield, I'll assume sexy in general. Yeah, I can see that, but for this 40-something married guy, that just doesn't mean much to me anymore. Sure, everyone likes to feel attractive, but that's not enough for me to put up with the hassles of shaving more of me than just my face (which I use an electric razor in the car so it's as easy and uses my least valuable time).

So all you leg-shavers can keep your razors, cuts, razor burn, stubble and 15 minutes of life wasted each week. I'll stay au natural, thank you.

No Leg Shaving For Me

Preface

Ever since our road rides last year, Mark has been bugging me to shave my legs. I have refused, even though his zealous nagging is similar to a dealer pushing dope.

Yesterday Fat Cyclist posted some Q&As about cycling, and leg shaving was the first item. After some discussion in the comments, I decided I should post about my anti-leg-shaving position.

Manifesto

I have to take a stand against leg shaving as I feel it's part of a larger issue.

As men we have it pretty good. We (generally) resist prettiness and the associated maintenance that comes with it. We’ve got better things to do like climb mountains, hunt, surf, explore jungles, run rivers, build business empires, and ride our bikes. Our message to the ladies is: “What you see is what you get”. OK, we may occasionally bathe, comb our hair, or wear clean clothes as a token gesture while dating, but we only extend ourselves so far. We like our low maintenance lifestyle. But this position only works if us men are united.

I’m troubled by certain trends that threaten the idyllic manly way of life. Metrosexuals are a dire threat. These pretty-boys are using the arsenal of beautification weapons employed historically by women. Many women like this pretty-boy look. If too many guys go metro, critical mass will be reached and we’ll all have to “pretty up” or never get a date.

Sure, leg-shaving is miles away from full-blown metrosexualism, but it’s a step in that direction. You disagree? OK, would Dirty Harry shave his legs? John Wayne? The Crocodile Hunter (Steve Irwin, RIP)? Need I go on?

So just like every raindrop adds to the flood, each shaved leg erodes manliness and moves us one step closer to the metrosexual apocalypse. You have been warned! Repent all ye shavers of legs!

Why Shave?

Fat Cyclist answered this question well - here's what he said:

OK, So Why Do Cyclists Shave Their Legs, Then?

Well, there are several reasons most cyclists will give you. They will say that it makes them more aerodynamic, which would be a good reason…if it were true.

They will say they do it because it makes it easier to clean road rash out of their legs. To which I answer, if you’re so confident you’re going to be crashing, maybe you need to look into a different sport. Like chess, for example.

They will say they shave their legs because of tradition. This reason actually does have merit, but it’s tantamount to proclaiming that you’re a lemming.

There are two — and only two — real reasons cyclists shave their legs:

• Vanity: You’ve worked hard to get the legs you’ve got. Why hide them under a mat of hair?
• To impress other cyclists: Once you’re on the bike, there’s not much you can do to hide whether you’re the alpha rider or a domestique. But at least while you’re hanging out at the bike shop, shaved legs say, "I’ve joined the club; I’m a serious cyclist. I am so confident of my manliness that I can wear a bright jersey, tight lycra shorts, and have shaved legs without feeling ridiculous in public."

You see, when you shave, the hair that hides your muscle definition is gone, making it easier for you to admire those quads in the mirror, and for other cyclists to admire your calves on the bike. And since you’ve worked so hard to get those muscles, you feel it’s your right to show them off in all their glory.

Some cyclists, when they're finally being honest, say they like how shaved legs feel - especially as they slice through the air while riding. Feeling good is OK, but since male cyclists usually focus on pain and suffering when talking to other male cyclists, I can see why this reason doesn't get mentioned much.

In a similar vein, many leg-shavers say their significant other likes the smooth legs - OK, but it sidesteps the fact that they started shaving their legs for cycling (which brings us back to the question of why) with the appeal to their partner as an unintended side effect (and more along the metrosexual line of thinking).

Akin to the road rash reason is the massage angle: the post-ride massage feels better with hairless legs. Is that really a reason to shave you legs? Seems like baby oil prevents hair pulling during a massage well enough. And, really, how many cyclists are getting post-ride massages?

Conclusion

So let's cut to the chase: Cyclists shave their legs because they like how it looks and/or feels. Is that so hard to admit? For a lot of men it is. They don't want to admit that hairless legs look good - because, that's why women shave their legs. They don't want to admit that shaved legs feel good, because that's not manly.

So will I ever shave my legs? 99.99% no (the .01% is the chance that I stupidly make a bet and lose). I don't want to shave my legs mostly because I'm lazy. I don't want to spend the time shaving - it's a hassle. It's so unnecessary and a waste of time. I've got enough to deal with in my life, why add something I don't have to? And I don't want to deal with nicks, cuts, razors, or stubble. God (or if you prefer, evolution) made me with hairy legs and that's fine with me.

See my follow-up post for more.

Curling Slo-mo

Just chillin' yesterday watching some TV, and came across a Curling match between the US and Swedish teams. A few synapses fired producing these thoughts:

- A rather large expense was incurred to televise the match: at least two cameras and cameramen (one was up high to get the birds-eye view), commentators, a sidelines reporter, score graphics, editing, then send it out (probably via satellite), and broadcast it on a major network to most of the nation. All this effort for ... Curling?

- Curling looks fun to play, but it's not that interesting to watch. It's shuffleboard on ice.

- Can you call it a sport? Curling makes bowling look athletic. I'd call curling a fun activity, but a sport? I don't think so. I could go on a long rant here about many olympic "sports" that don't seem very sporty to me, but I won't.

But what made me laugh out loud was the slow motion replay. Yes, some brainiac decided that the viewers may have missed the subtle nuances of a granite rock sliding along the ice at 5 mph and striking another granite rock producing the expected Newtonian motion that every Earthling has a lifetime of familiarity. This absurdity hit me right in the funny bone. My wife and I chuckled about it for a few minutes and then we kept reviving it throughout the day, to our amusement. And the slo-mo shot wasn't even that interesting. The shot below from the 2006 Olympics was much more involved and thrilling, and they didn't slo-mo it once; real-time speed was perfect for appreciating it.



And since I was on YouTube, I found this Manatoba (that's Canada) TV commercial promoting Curling. I really though this was one of those Saturday Night Live fake commercials, but it's all too real.



Curling even has it's own merchandise, mostly trite and tired:

OK, this one was a little funny, and the next one was amusing because it's obscure:

But I became indignant when I came across this one:

So after man evolved to stand up-right, the next evolutionary step is squatting down to slide a rock along ice? Maybe some of my fellow homosapiens are taking that evolutionary path, but I prefer to take this one:

That's more like it! We use our brains to invent a machine (the bicycle) that amplifies our relatively weak physical strength (compared to other animals) allowing travel at much higher speeds (than running) over longer distances.

Bad Food, Good Food

Todd picked the perfect time to start ranting about unhealthy food - right before Thanksgiving. It won't spoil my Feast of Thanks, but it got me thinking about my diet (what I eat and drink). After reading Todd's first rant I came across a post on BoingBoing about diet and fat which linked to an article, What if it's All Been a Big Fat Lie, that challenges a lot of notions most Americans have about what constitutes a healthy diet, especially the notion that fat is bad for you - definitely worth a read. My wife read the article too and we had a good discussion about it. Here's my favorite quote:

If you work out the numbers, you come to the surreal conclusion that you can eat lard straight from the can and conceivably reduce your risk of heart disease.

So now what?

In my late 30s I started getting a little pudgy. Not a big deal to most people, but I have always been thin and blessed with a metabolism that would allow me to eat most anything without gaining weight. But the unmistakable message from my body was: "I've been spoiling you all these years - now you're on your own". As I enter this phase of life the choice is mine to ignore or heed this message.

I've taken a few small steps toward a better diet - I've cut down on soda pop and other sugary drinks, switched mostly from white to whole or multi-grain bread, try to eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water. Good stuff, but I could, should do more - Todd's rants and the other reading I've done have given me some prodding.

From the Big Fat Lie article I'm less concerned about fat and more concerned about carbohydrates - especially highly sweetened and processed foods. My wife and I read up on the Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL)and browsed through a table of common foods and found some surprises. Most people would suspect sugary foods as having a high GI and GL, and this is generally true. But mashed potatoes can be higher - the simple starch elevates your blood sugar level higher and faster than table sugar. In general, raw fruits and vegetables are low but cooking usually increases their GI - explains why mashed potatoes are high, but raw or boiled potatoes are pretty low.

Well, obviously there is a lot to learn about diet, and since the body is so complex, not all of the data agrees. But in general I'm going to work on making small changes to eliminate bad foods and add good foods. For instance, I'm addicted to cold cereal for breakfast. I'll start by replacing the sugary cereal I now eat, with healthier kinds. Maybe some day I can go off cereal altogether and switch to unsweetened yogurt and fruit. But for now, baby steps. This is not the year for Tofurky.

Super Blood

Forget EPO and blood transfusions, enter oxygen therapeutics - substances that can carry 4 times more oxygen than red blood cells. Right now it's in clinical trials to treat stroke and brain injury patients by carrying oxygen past blockages. But it hit me that this stuff would work for cyclists to carry more oxygen to the muscles during a race. It lasts 4 hours or so and eventually works it way out of your body through natural processes. However, it should be easy to detect in blood or urine samples so it's not a stealth performance enhancer, but for cyclists willing to take the risk they might try to use it between doping checks. If a pro cyclist shot up with this stuff I bet it would be like a nitrous boost to a hot rod. Oxygent is one oxygen therapeutic in clinical trials.



I found this while looking around the WIRED Science website after I caught one of their shows on PBS. I've seen 2-3 of these shows now and they're quirky, but cover cool science and technology like a table-top touch-interactive display and how to put up your own satellite (they didn't really do it, but they went through the process). They have most of their program segments online so go check it out, if you're interested.

I also caught the NOVA Science Now show about Epigenetics. I'd never heard of this field, but the basic idea is that there is more diversity in life than can be explained just with the genetic code. One analogy is that the genetic code is like a book and epigenetics determines what parts of the book are read. Epigentics explains the apparent paradox in genetics of an identical twin that develops autism (or cancer or other such health issues), but the other twin does not. Researchers are already experimenting with epigenetic therapies for cancer with some sucess. Fascinating.

The Competition Trap

The 2006 Frozen Hog was my first mountain bike race. 2005 had been a good cycling year for me and thanks to spinning sessions after work during the Winter, I was feeling pretty strong. The Frozen Hog came up in conversation at work and a few of us decided to do it. I didn't really know what to do, I was nervous at the start, then I just pedaled hard until the finish. It was a heady experience and I wanted more.

The next race was Lava Rama (held at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho and part of the Intermountain Cup Race Series [ICup]). It was a tough race, but still thrilling. The competition inspired me to push myself hard and it felt good to probe my limits.

I attended most of the races that year. I was just in the Beginner class, but I placed well in most races and was having fun until the last few races of the season, but I chalked that up to burnout.

The next year I moved up to Sport (I wanted a longer race and felt like I was ready for it) and raced the first ICup race, the Desert Rampage. I liked the longer distance, even though it was more trying. I finished in the bottom half of the pack, but I expected that. It felt good to get out and ride and the race provided a great excuse for a road trip.

The next race, the Cholla Challenge, beat me up pretty good. It was a long course and I fizzled at the end, going slower and slower, but I finished. I think it was this race that I started losing my excitement for racing.

I did the next race, Showdown at Five Mile Pass, and did OK and enjoyed some of it, but my racing fire just wasn't there. I did the Draper race, but the race mojo was fading.

I reflected on why I lost my enthusiasm for racing. The thought that surfaced the most was, I missed trail riding. Racing had taken me away from what I've enjoyed about mountain biking for 15+ years - exploring new trails and revisiting old favorites, grinding up a climb just to see if I can make it, taking on technical challenges, flying along sweet single-track, and bombing downhill. Sure many of these elements are present in racing, but for me, in the rush to go fast they lose their sweetness.

I also couldn't ignore several annoyances that are a part of racing. In general, the best race courses are also the worst and least scenic trails (i.e. Five Mile Pass). And conversely, the races on good single-track aren't good for racing (i.e. hard to pass). The expense was also an issue - for $35 I can buy enough gas to get me to some really good trails where I can spend the whole day riding. (And if my wife and I both race, that's $70!) Time was also a factor - the race would only last 2 hours tops, but with the pre-race prep and the after race awards it seemed to consume most of a Saturday - and Spring/Summer Saturdays are precious! Now had I really been into racing, these issues would not have mattered. But because they annoyed me it was a sign I just wasn't a racer at heart.

About this time I read an article in Cycling Utah that spoke to me. The cyclist recounted his experience of loving to do long climbs on his road bike. He got pretty good at it and decided to see how he stacked up against other climbers so he started racing. At first it was fun, but then as he focused on racing, he found his love of riding soured. He realized he needed to make a change so he stopped racing and came back to climbing solo and found his love of cycling returned.

My experience was similar. I found that when I put the brakes on racing and went back to trail riding (and other forms of recreational cycling), my enjoyment of cycling was there. I still plan to race a few times each year, as I do enjoy some of the aspects of racing. Like most things, it's all about finding the blend and balance that works for you.

Here is a brief list of things I enjoy about recreational riding:

For the mountain bike it's cruising sweet single-track, tackling some technical terrain, hitting my stride on a long climb, being out in nature (even if it's just the foothills), Moab, etc.

For the road bike it's finding my pace on a long country road, climbing the canyons, tucking a fast descent, motoring along at 25+ mph in a clockwork paceline, socializing on a century ride, etc.

Many would say that the pinnacle of cycling is racing, but I disagree. Sure competition has many positives aspects, but it has negatives too. Many racers enjoy the challenge of competition and pushing ever harder. But racing can also spawn an obsession with wining. Just today I read about an incident of poor sportsmanship at a cyclocross race, resulting in this rude gesture from one teammate to another. Nice.

No absolutes here, just find what works for you and don't be afraid to dump what doesn't work.

The Anti-Doping Circus

I'm dumbfounded by the news I read over on UTRider's blog: Ivan Mayo tested positive for EPO during the Tour de France, but subsequent testing of his B sample by two other labs came back negative so he will be allowed to race. Interesting, but nothing special until you compare Mayo's case with that of Floyd Landis. Both rider's tests were performed at the same French lab, but while Mayo's B sample was tested at two other labs (Belgium and Australia), Landis' B sample was tested at the same French lab. How does this make any sense? Especially since, from the beginning, Landis has charged the French lab of sloppy work that resulted in errors in his tests. Logically you'd think WADA would have Landis' B sample tested at other labs to make their case stronger. So why didn't they? An obvious mis-step like this invites speculation and distrust. And with Mayo's B sample tested at other labs, I'm sure we'll see a reaction from Landis and the cycling community. Get ready for the circus.

When the anti-doping agencies either don't have clear rules, or don't follow them uniformly, they look like witch-hunters. They must have explicit, defensible rules, and always follow them exactly, and always treat every accused rider the same - otherwise they loose credibility and they are viewed as just another squabbling player in the pro cycling soap opera.

Every screw-up by an anti-doping agency makes me care less about pro cycling. I can't say it's better to be ignorant of doping, but when the fight against doping is done wrong it makes the situation worse. They loose credibility with each case they bungle until, like the boy who cried wolf, no one believes them anymore. And the damage they do to the sport is far worse than any other scandal I can think of. So when the anti-doping agencies make accusations but don't have their act together, they're making a bad situation worse. Some say the fallout from this current "purging" phase is the price to be paid to have the sport clean in the future. But if the therapy cripples or kills the patient, more has been lost than gained and the course of action was wrong. "I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone." - The Hippocratic Oath

Dick Pound is the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). I feel his out-spoken (to put it mildly) crusading against doping is hurting his cause more than helping. He should shut-up and let the lab results do the talking. Read more: The Righteous Fury of Dick Pound (WIRED)

Ever wonder how much difference doping makes? A strong amateur rider tried some of the more common drugs and reports the results in Drug Test, an article that appeared in Outside magazine. If it made that much difference to an amateur, think how tempting it must be for pros who are always looking for ways to improve their performance.

Classing Up ICup

Sly's snafu with categories at the 24 Hours of Moab race got me thinking about the Intermountain Cup Race Series (ICup). Ed has designed a good race series and runs them very well. Racers are group by category (Beginner, Sport, Expert and Pro), gender and age group (i.e. Mens 30-34). There's a little prize money for the Pros, but for everyone else it's just for fun. And most racers do have fun. But there is some sandbagging and other mild irritants.

The thought came to me that perhaps the ICup is trying to be both fun and serious and this attempt to "have your cake and eat it to" is the source of some of the annoyances. Thinking further I wondered if ICup would benefit from allowing racers to choose one of two classes: Competitive and Recreational.

The Competitive class would be for racers serious about racing - perhaps with ambitions of racing Pro (National or World) some day. There would be more strict rules, like forcing riders up to the next category if their race record shows they are at the top of their current category. Dropping down a category would be allowed under petition if the racers (poor) race record proved the point. Only Competitive class racers are eligible to win awards (i.e. ribbons) and earn team and individual points. The Competitive class would not have a Beginner category (Sport would be the lowest category in the Competitive class).

The Recreational class would be for those who just want to race for fun. They would be free to choose any category they wish (as long as it is compatible with their gender and age). They would not be forced to move up or down in category. They would not be eligible to win awards or points. Perhaps Recreational class would cost less. And you could go home right after you finish since you don't have to wait around for the awards.

The Competitive and Recreational racers would race at the same time (i.e. the Completive and Recreational Sport Men 30-34 would start together).

Yes, this would add more complexity, but it would provide two distinct paths for racers and reduce (eliminate?) sandbagging in the Competitive class. Once a racer achieved a certain level (based on points total or so many podium finishes) s/he would move up to the next higher Competitive category or move over to Recreational class. So racers still have choices, but sandbagging the Competitive class isn't one of them.

Abuses of the ICup series (like sandbagging) aren't rampant, thanks to conscientious racers who "do the right thing" and move up when it's time. But the ICup is growing and my guess is the abuses will grow. Moving from Beginner to Sport is a little daunting, but not bad. But moving from Sport to Expert seems like a bigger jump and some racers don't do it even though they should. The Competitive and Recreational classes give racers more options and provide a more "level playing field" for Competitive racers. Is it worth the extra structure? I think it is, but I'd like your comments.

Race Categories are Meaningless

Sly got kicked out of 24 Hours of Moab because some wanker(s) complained that he is a Pro (actually he topped out at Semi-Pro but that means Pro to the organizers). All he wanted to do was have fun cranking the night shift, hang out with his team and other riders, and enjoy the event. Fox admits he's not in Semi-Pro form, and while he's still a strong rider, his recent race results (or lack thereof) back up his claim. So it boggles my mind why anyone would care if he rides. Will Fox be an asset to his team? Sure. Will he be the ringer that puts them on the podium? Probably not. So why not let him ride?

Fox pointed out that the categories in MTB racing cause a lot of problems (like his), and I agree. I hadn't thought much about the categories before, but when you really think about it, they're arbitrary, ripe for abuse, and well, silly. Silly because racers pick their category and there are no uniform rules that force racers to move up (based on race results or some other objective criteria). Nor are there allowances for racers to move down if their performance drops. There is at least some logic behind age grouping since in general it's harder to reach a level of performance as a person gets older. And while you could describe a Beginner, just exactly what is a Sport or an Expert? Pretty nebulous.

It goes against what we're used to, but why not dump the categories? I know one reason why - awards and points. It's fun to get a ribbon and score some points. Without categories there'd be a lot fewer winners. But what does it really mean to be the winner of the Sport category? I'll admit that it is fun to get ribbons and rack up points. But if it doesn't mean that much, are we just feeding ourselves ego junk food? Can't we be happy with ourself if we simply rode a good race, even if we finished 18th out of 25 racers in the 30-34 group?

Amidst the artificiality of organized competitive events (the categories, awards, points, etc.), there is purity to be found in racing, but it's usually at an individual level - being in the zone, putting together a top performance, beating you best time, etc. Friendly rivalry can also be rewarding as you see "who's got it today". But for me, I find more purity in just riding - cranking some sweet mountain single-track, or cruising the desert trails, or flying downhill carving turns, or finessing a technical challenge.

No matter how you get your kicks, "riding" is the soul of cycling. And this snafu over categorization with Fox sucked some of that soul away. Is it worth it?

I Am Not a Doper!

About a month ago Mark had a Vuelta de Espana contest. I follow pro cycling a little, but I'm clueless compared to Mark and other true fans. But, I thought, it doesn't hurt to enter. So did a little web searching, read a few pre-race articles and picked some names I liked. Checking his blog yesterday I was shocked to learn I had won! I selected some Izze beverages and thought that would be the end of it. But then Forrest had to throw down this little gauntlet in the comments:

I claim foul, Kris is doped.

Of course I had to answer this accusation! And this is my official statement:

With regard to the recent doping accusations, I attest that I operated within the parameters of the contest and have not been proven guilty. No one has shown that my winning wasn't simply a rare stroke of good luck, even though it falls outside my historically low WLR (Win-to-Loose Ratio). And I deny the allegations that I used a luck enhancing substance. The French newspaper report that I ordered HLA (Hyper Luck Amplifier) from an internet store is false and I am considering suing them for libel. Thank you, that is all.

In other news, I've been sick since the Try-athlon. Nasty crud. My wife caught it last week and is still weak and coughing. I took Monday off work and was in bed all day. Every day this week I go home and collapse into bed. Every day gets a little better, but this is one stubborn bug. I miss riding my bikes.

Lastly, I got an e-mail from the Kokopelli Triathlon organizers. They expressed regret at having to cancel the event and cited safety as the main reason. They offered $75 off the Pumpkinman Triathlon in Las Vegas October 14. I was interested, even though it's a longer drive, but my two neighbors can't go so that's that. They also offered $30 off the 2008 Kokopelli Triathlon - I'll have to see if I'm interested when it gets closer. For now my plan is to make the Salem Triathlon my first - it's only a few miles away and it's cheaper.