The long way home

Older picture of the Serotta Hors Categorie at the Stones River Battlefield

Maybe I should have just parked the bike today. When I first stuck my head out the door it was raining lightly, so I decided not to bike. Instead, I found my frame pump and put it on the bike. It hasn't ever been mounted on the Hors Cat. Haven't even put the saddle bag on it either. The old saddle bag mounting strap was dry rotted and broke as soon as I tried to mount it. Put on a bigger one that came with one of the bike's I'd flipped last year. Now I'm ready for any kind of mechanical issue on the bike. Though after gettig home, I should consider myself lucky that I didn't get cursed with a flat. It's been well over a year since I've flatted.

Looked back outside and the roads were dry. Must have been a very brief shower. Decided to go ahead and ride my usual ride to the Stones River Greenway and multiple loops of the Stones River Battlefield. Only problem with starting later and a Saturday, everybody and their dog is out.

I've ranted before about how I hate the MUP's, (Multi Use Parkways). Let me count the ways. I failed to take into account how greasy they are after any rain, especially the bridges. Lots of water, puddles, mud and people to dodge. Some big team gathering money was out walking in mass and clogged up the entire pathway. Someone really needs to let them know they have to share with everyone else. When someone says "on your left", that means maintain your line, I'm coming by you on the left. Don't move to the left. And for gosh sakes, get the hell out of the way. Don't maintain your chorus line across the path. I know its going to hurt me more than it does them if they suddenly make a move into my path and I can't avoid hitting them.

So, after almost going down twice. Once, on the bridge, my front almost slide out from under me. Think black ice, except this is greenish brown slime? The second time, some women was kicking something out of the path and I couldn't figure out which way she was trying to go. I announced myself on her left, but I still almost came to a complete stop when she wouldn't commit to one spot in the path. She did thank me for announcing and said she wished everyone would do the same. I'm with her on that. I like to know when I running that a biker is passing, 'cause sometimes it scares the bejebbers out of me.

I rode home through town, only after being forced out on the road because the train parks on the track, blocking the greenway and the roadway. The trip home was uneventful. Almost safer on the roadway than on the greenway. The greenway is great for everyone except someone on a road bike wanting to go faster than 14 mph. Sure wish I'd get the bunny hop thing down. One of the bridges has almost a 2 inch curb that I seem to hit dead on with my front wheel every other time I ride over it. I'm afraid it's going to bend the wheel.

No #8, no podium

Bike picture would be better, but really wanted to show the torture device for us PF sufferers, but hey if it works. What the hey?!

The Tour de France is over for Lance. Really did think he had enough to make a go of it one more time, but fate kicked his ass in today's stage. "The tour is finished for me." He finished down almost 10 minutes to all of the big general classification contenders. Seems like everyone has crashed in this years tour. But, Lance has hit the deck twice already. Once on stage 3 and again on todays stage. (Velonews said 3 times today?) Today's fall cost him lots of energy to catch back to the peloton. The second wreck today he just shook his head in disbelief. Sure hope Levi can make it to the podium or maybe even Lance could get a stage win. That would be sweet.

It was good to see that Alberto Contador didn't have enough to reel back Andy Schleck. Great stage win for him. Should make for some more great racing in the mountains between those guys and all the guys they dropped on todays stage. Wonder if they would let Lance get away in a breakaway? That would make for an exciting stage. Lot's more racing. I'm a Lance fan, but won't stop watching.


Like to see this young man in yellow for the tour and the podium in Paris.

" Good morning! 7am surprise anti-doping blood control. about 21 hours ago via UberTwitter " from Lance's twitter this morning. Wonder if the French will start to harass someone else, now that Lance is out of contention? At least the Lance haters can finally give it a rest, Maybe?

Rode my bike today for the first time in a week. Real easy tour of the little hills around Lascassas. My plantar faciitis is rearing its ugly head again. So, I haven't run in a couple of days. The bike didn't really aggravate it any, only made its presence known when I got out of the saddle. (Not much of an issue, I just stayed in the saddle and spun the biggest cog on the back going up the little hills) Did manage to get going 42 mph down one of the hills. That's always fun. Still don't think BQ1 has been swayed on his opinion of the bike. He's ready to run again. I'd rather run, but enjoy the bike.

I've been wearing the Strassburg sock the last couple of nights. It made a tremendous difference after the first night. This time I kept it on all night. I think in the past I've tried to make it to tight. All it really needs to do is keep the toes from pointing down and almost flat footed. No soreness the next morning, but it did become sore as the day wore on. Day two, the soreness wasn't as intense and actually allowed me to get on the bike today. Plan to wear it a couple more days and not run for at least 3-4 days. Think I'll get on the bike again tomorrow morning, granted I can get up early enough to get a ride in before work.