Crazy weekend of cross

This past weekend was the first collegiate cross event, hosted by UCIrvine and Bike Religion, and District Championships (states for all you pussies out there who live in states where one championship is enough).

The first day I arrived real early to help run registration and setup the BBQ. Everything went relatively smoothly, but I was still running around with start sheets and fixing the course up as the day went along. I was pretty tired by the time I got a few laps of warmup in... but I was familiar with the course and ready to take some points. I did the 3/4 on Saturday, and had a real good start, sitting in 2 or 3 through the first lap. The "Bobby Langin Jr" of this year, Eric Christensen came flying by at some point during the 2nd or 3rd lap, and I didn't have it to tack on, but John VD rode away with him. I battled it out for 3rd with some other guy I don't know, and managed to hold him off in the last corner by opening up the inside line ever so slightly, then firmly closing the door when he tried to squeeze by. You don't sneak by on the inside on the last turn on someone who weighs 170lbs... I just move my fat ass over.

Sunday was a whole different story. I did the Pro123 race, as that was where the cat3 championship would be fought out. I thought maybe I had a slight chance of trying to cling to wheels and give the win a shot at the line until the official asked those who were racing the 3s to raise their hands and a number of the guys who have been racing (and some placing top5) in the Elites all year raised their hands. Oh well.... Didn't end up mattering anyway, as anyone with a bike and a cat3 license passed me by at some point during the race. A few riders had the distinct privilege of passing me twice, which was just fine for me, as that meant one less lap for me! I was NOT ready for 60 minutes of that kind of racing. But at least I know what I need to get my body ready for.

The barriers were right after a 180 right hand turn... so the dismount and run-around was the order of the day.

WCCC Cyclocross race

Next Saturday we'll be having the first WCCC Cyclocross race ever. Come be a part of history.

What I'm really proud of today, however, is that I've finally figured out all the bells and whistles of google maps "create a map" feature. Not that it was hard to figure out, but this thing rocks.

So come on out.... it's going to be schweet.

LA Comeback

No... not Los Angeles, this city does, and forever will, suck.

I've been thinking about Lance Armstrong's comeback. Not because I want to- I've read enough about douchebags leading up the election. But since it's the first story of every cycling website whenever Lance steps into a wind tunnel...it's hard to avoid.

This is quote from cyclingnews from today:

Armstrong is not necessarily looking for the position that will make the bike the fastest. "It has to be a perfect mix between position and power. If I am five percent slower due to the position, but have 25 percent more power, than that will be better."

Cyclingnews needs to do some better editing. "not necessarily looking for the position that will make the bike fastest"? Are you kidding? I think they meant to say not necessarily the most aerodynamic. That's the compromise.... aerodynamics and power. Not speed and power. You should be optimizing speed bar none.

Anyway... what I was really thinking about is my theory on Lance's comeback. I think he's seen a new wave of clean cycling hit the forefront. With teams implementing stronger anti-doping programs (Garmin and Columbia particularly) and tests being coordinated by drug companies (CERA) he wants to come back and prove to himself that he can win clean. I believe that he was on drugs when he won his Tours.... but can you blame just him? If many other people were doing it, it's hard not to, though I still blame him for doing it.... but it's not all on his shoulders. I think he looks at the sport now and thinks, wow even a clean cyclist might be able to win something now, maybe I'll see if I'm actually as good as my world championship ride in the rain had me out to be....but he was probably doping then too.

Historical Income Tax Brackets

Partial History of U.S. Federal Income Tax Rates Since 1913
Applicable Year	Income brackets	First bracket	Top bracket	Source
1913-1915	-	1%	7%	Census
1916	-	2%	15%	Census
1917	-	2%	67%	Census
1918	-	6%	73%	Census
1919-1920	-	4%	73%	Census
1921	-	4%	73%	Census
1922	-	4%	56%	Census
1923	-	3%	56%	Census
1924	-	1.5%	46%	Census
1925-1928	-	1.5%	25%	Census
1929	-	0.375%	24%	Census
1930-1931	-	1.125%	25%	Census
1932-1933	-	4%	63%	Census
1934-1935	-	4%	63%	Census
1936-1939	-	4%	79%	Census
1940	-	4.4%	81.1%	Census
1941	-	10%	81%	Census
1942-1943	-	19%	88%	Census
1944-1945	-	23%	94%	Census
1946-1947	-	19%	86.45%	Census
1948-1949	-	16.6%	82.13%	Census
1950	-	17.4%	84.36%	Census
1951	-	20.4%	91%	Census
1952-1953	-	22.2%	92%	Census
1954-1963	-	20%	91%	Census
1964	-	16%	77%	Census
1965-1967	-	14%	70%	Census
1968	-	14%	75.25%	Census
1969	-	14%	77%	Census
1970	-	14%	71.75%	Census
1971-1981	15 brackets	14%	70%	IRS
1982-1986	12 brackets	12%	50%	IRS
1987	5 brackets	11%	38.5%	IRS
1988-1990	3 brackets	15%	33%	IRS
1991-1992	3 brackets	15%	31%	IRS
1993-2000	5 brackets	15%	39.6%	IRS
2001	5 brackets	15%	39.1%	IRS
2002	6 brackets	10%	38.6%	IRS
2003-2008	6 brackets	10%	35%	IRS

If you are in the top tax bracket, Obama won't raise your taxes, he'll just be undoing the damage done by Reagan.

This BLOWS my mind

I mean... I knew the technology for this existed... but that doesn't diminish how awesome this is. I wish I needed to take the bus, ever.

http://www.shuttle.uci.edu/

Can't wait for every transportation agency to have something like this. Imagine checking where the busses and trains are, so you can choose what to do, or know exactly when you're going to make that train?? Flipping sweet.

Max testing

So I got suckered into doing some testing with the carrot of $150 and a free VO2 Max test later down the road. I did the first portion this morning, where I did a VO2 Max test and a 20km time trial (on a trainer... felt slow as balls!!).

Anyway, the VO2Max test was very weird. I had to do it on a exercise bike because it controls the exact amount of power (by adjusting the gearing- so if you pedal fast it's easy, and if you pedal slow it's hard... sort of weird). But we started at 180W (which is a light spin) and pushed it 20W higher every minute. It was very easy for a while, then of course the effort starts going sky high... and you just keep going until you are ready to pass out. I really think I would have done much better on my bike and with clip pedals. I pegged it at 440W, though they gave my VO2 max wattage as 420W, and my Lactate Threshold wattage at around 320W. That basically means that I can't hold 420W for very long (ie MAYBE up a climb in a race) but I should be able to time trial right at or above 320W (at least for 20-40k type distance theoretically). The magic VO2 Max number was 60. I really had no idea what to expect, and every measuring system will give you different numbers. The real cool thing to see will be what my numbers will look like this summer when I get them tested again- this time for my own purposes. I figure I'll get it tested right when I should be peaking to see how effective my buildup to cat3 dominance was.

The only real number of importance that I gained is knowing that my LT threshold heart rate is 172ish. Something I would have been able to guess pretty accurately, actually. Basically if you start riding up a gradual hill, and you slowly ramp it up, going harder and harder, your LT heartrate is the point where your legs start to bitch back at you. Its at this point where your HR can no longer clear all the junk out of your legs, and the acid levels in your blood start to rise. Time trial type efforts in training should be done riiiight about your LT HR, in order to help pushi it up.

Cross races feature HRs that are only higher than that... which is why cross is just....FUN.

Photo Contest Victory

20081005-IMG_8594, originally uploaded by etzepplin.

I won the 2nd week's photo contest of the SoCal series.... getting myself another pair of Voler leg warmers which I will likely put in a drawer until I move somewhere colder (can't wait). Looking at this photo now, though, I definietly see a few things I should fixed up. Definitely should have cropped a bit of the junk from the right hand side. Also wish I could have gotten a bit more "centered" so everyone was coming right at me... but with only a 300mm lens, I had to stand on the side of the course, so this was as good as I could get.

Still pretty happy, though I've pretty much given up on taking many good pictures and racing in the same day.... and while I'm 24, I'll race.

Job Interview

Had a dream last night that I was in a job interview. The only question I remember being asked was: "How concise are you?" I just said "very."
Ummm real weird.

Probably triggered by the fact that I've started to officially look for some positions, and applied to one at Arup last night. They're a big design/build firm that designed the birds nest and water cube for the Olympics. The link above is to the graduate intro program they have, which looks fan-tas-great. It seems like I'd still be going to school when I start there... but basically school to learn how to work for them- basically the dream job at this point. If you know any other sustainable / green companies having anything to do with the built environment in Seattle, let me know.

Along those lines, anyone know where you can snag good deals (I mean basically steal) AutoCad???

If you think this blog is bad...

try checking this one out:

http://moms4sarahpalin.blogspot.com/

Some of the worst crap I've ever read. I'm not sure if they watch the same debates, or live in the same world. Sarah Palin isn't even qualified to be a governor, let alone a VP. Can't wait until she disappears from the national headline, only to get another 15 minutes of fame when she comes back and does the centerfold for Playboy's MILF edition. Now that is one magazine with her picture in it that I'd buy....

Watching the debate...

Hey John.... stop saying "my friends" every five minutes. I'm not your friend, it's annoying. Instead, if you want to communicate to the same people but want to stop annoying me, you should say "hey old fat white men who are afraid of change". That'll single out the same group.

Say it ain't so....

So today Frank Schleck's was linked to possible doping activities. I've enjoyed watching the Schleck brother's rise to the top of professional cycling- I first learned about Frank when he won Amstel Gold a year or two back, and it seemed that he was a rising star, but not TOO fast.... but maybe that isn't true. Would really suck if this turns out to be valid.... I would have loved to see Frank and Andy tag-team the Tour next year.

But it's ok, Lance is coming back into the sport and will clean it up. I really hope that his massive ego pushes him back to the drugs he used to attain his earlier sucesses and that he gets busted, that'd be the day.

Pretty excited....

....to get one of these guys:I'm sure they'll be a vast improvement to the current Shimano cups I've been using. As smooth as ceramic bearings? Probably not, but they are going to be bulletproof. One claim is a little weird, though:

"Racers take note! With the Chris King bottom bracket and injection tool, you can train day-to-day with a durable high-viscosity grease and race with a light, fast-rolling low-viscosity grease or oil. Imagine your current Friday night leg-shaving ritual finishing with a few minutes in the garage to get your bike as smooth as you are."
www.chrisking.com/bottombracket

So I'm picturing people might train with normal viscosity grease, then swap that out with lower viscosity grease the night before a big race? Race your hand if you've ever had grease on your hands. Do you think if you tried to wash your hands off with lower viscosity grease, it would come off?? I think that when you try to push the light "race grease" into your bottom bracket, its not really going to displace the original grease much. The hand analogy does break down a bit because there is no pressure buildup around your hands... but still. Maybe the bulk will be replaced, but a good amount of the original grease will probably still be coasted on the bearings themselves. I guess if you do it a few times while moving the cranks around it might help dislodge everything.

Certainly isn't worse than just having the same grease in there all the time, but still seems like a stretch to me.

Market it as an amazing feature for service and I'm 110% on my way to buying it. Add in this weird sub-plot about swapping grease- I'm only 100% into it..... so still, buying myself Chris King BB as soon as possible. Good thing is... MSRP is only $129!!!

Hate this...

I thought of something really funny last night. Right before I went to sleep. I was in that half-daze between picturing myself as a cast member of Saved by the Bell and chasing McCloud from that show with immortal dudes with swords. It was really funny, but I have no idea what it was. Nope.... no dice.

The Muckenthaler: Cross Race #1

This weekend was the first race in the SoCal Cross Series,and I was able to start it off the right way by taking out my second cross "V".

I poached out the startline about 15 minutes early, and was rewarded with a front line start of a field of about 30 guys. I got the second spot off the start, but quickly took over the start after the first guy faltered. I traded the lead over the first few laps.... working hard to chase down any little gaps that the leader had, and eventually it was just myself setting pace, and John VD (teammate, though he had a wardrobe malfunction) and Max (Liquid Fitness rider, so quasi teammate). We kept the pace up as high as we could, and managed to make the gap we had decisive. Eventually Max fell off the pace because he was running 60psi and couldn't hold the pace through the corners.

John and I took turns making pace, and on the last lap I was able to get away from John and rolled in a few seconds clear for my first real cross win. Hopefully I'll be donning a yellow jersey for the next race, which happens to be at the same park we ride @ every Wednesday.

Here's a few photos of the pain train

I've nailed the flying remount in practice, but this downhill barrier section was so fast... I couldn't manage it in the race. I'm also faster finding the pedals when I do this little hop-step onto the bike. Hopefully I can get the real form working before the end of the season...

My buddy Ted manned up to do the Elite (123) race, and worked real hard in the beginning to stay in the top 5, and faded towards the end, but managed to stay top 10ish I think. Good first effort!

Glue is in the air

It's that time of year again... my fingers are sticky with Continental glue. Getting ready for another racing season- this time cross, so I'm being extra generous with the glue to hold on those big thick tires with 20psi in them.

I've already done a few cross practices, but I have yet to start running... though I'm not too worried because there isn't much running in these SoCal races. I did spend a solid half hour jumping on and off my bike the other day. Finally got the legit remount back. Better than my remount style last year, but definietly not as smooth as these guys:




First race of the year is the Muckenthaler this Sunday. I plan on racing the 3/4, and hopefully doing well enough to cause some people to be angry that I chose to do that race, and then race the elites the rest of the year. Hopefully I can earn this label, just once.

Photoshop...

I've started to learn using Photoshop, which for the time being will sort of replace all the photographic tools that I don't yet have. I got a book that is way too complex, but I'm looking through it and learning a lot.

Here's a picture taken with Nicole's point and shoot at Yellowstone:


And here is what it looks like after I applied a little photoshop magic that mimics a neutral density filter, which helps the brighter sky from being overexposed in landscape shots.


I also added a "sideways" filter on only the sky to compensate for the fact that the sun was much much brighter on the left than on the right. I wish the meadow had been oriented so that I could shoot this mist while facing West, so all the sky looked like it does on the right hand side.... next time.

Look out, don't piss me off or I'll photoshop you in a picture with a naked Chinese gymnast, who are "16" but are really only 12.

Watching the Olympics....

why do they call the swimming pool "The Cube"? From what I can tell the three main dimensions of the pool are all different. Should be "Rectangular Prism".

Back on Track...

Just realized the last... umm... too many posts dealt with politics in one way or another... enough of that.

Took an amazing trip to Yellowstone a few weeks back. Everyone should visit there once- the geysers and colorful pools are amazing, there's always tons of wildlife, and even at its most crowded, Nicole and I found many places pretty much to ourselves, so it was an awesome trip.

Old Faithful- gotta see it, along with everyone else who rolls out of their cars...

Morning Glory Pool- used to look like the flower. This one was maybe a mile or two walk along a level boardwalk, so most people didn't make it out to see it.

Lonestar (who would DARE give me the raspberry... still waiting for someone who knows what that means). This geyesr was a 2 mile walk in, so there were only a handful of people there to share it with... pretty cool to just come across this in the middle of the woods.

Scenery over Yellowstone Lake at dusk

This bison hung out in the field near our backcountry site all night and was there in the morning fog...grass must taste good

Anyway, after getting back from Wyoming, I've been slowly tacking the miles and intensity on to get prepared for cross. Might even start running and doing stairs soon. I had to do a runup the other day when I took my cross bike out for a cruise, and almost had to sit down and let the world spin around my head for a few minutes. Nothing spikes your heartrate like running uphill with your bike on your shoulder.

Nicole has offically been relocated to SoCal- grabbing a cool apartment in LongBeach, which is only ~27 mile ride from me, and within walking distance to the metro. Also purchased the requisite four wheeled vehicle, and a two wheeler is on the way- made of....CARBON FIBER- bling bling??

Scary.

Obama has been reaching out to religious voters recently- probably seizing on the fact that McCain isn't particularly strong in that area either. His most recent statements seem to indicate that he'll be EXTENDING the faith based programs Bush had. I believe most of these are religious groups that do charitable work towards helping the impoverished. Obama claims that strict controls will be set up so that the programs receiving money will not be able to use it for converting people, or discriminating based on religious beliefs.

That all sounds well and good, but aren't there non-religous groups out there that could do the same work, if they had the same governemtnal support? I realize, however, that because those groups are not connected to a large umbrella organazation that effects how people vote, that they won't get nearly as much money. Maybe we should end voting in this country- might solve alot of problems.

Why expensive energy can be good

High energy prices are often seen as a stimulus for other more environmentally friendly, but more expensive, energy sources. Aside from that, high energy prices also force the entire economy to be much more efficient. This article in the NYT discusses how Walmart / Sams Club is switching to a different type of milk jug that makes shipping and production easier, and translates to significant cost savings, and 60-70% decreased water use at the dairys. Packing more into a truck means less trips, decreased water use is certainly good in times of uncertain supply. All these positve changes just becuase high energy prices were making buisness executives at Walmart (not really a stalwart of environmental progress) look more carefully at their practices.

Bring on $5 a gallon- it might hurt at the pump, but we'll be saving money in other places, and we're getting *closer* to paying the actual cost of the energy we use.