Stage 1 - USA Pro-Cycling Challenge (Aspen/Snowmass)

I was a bit shocked to find out that from my hotel to the start/finish line was going to be over 2 hours. Enjoyed a beautiful drive as directed by the GPS until I got to what I believe is "Independence Pass" (which the riders would do on Stage 2). I was having crazy vertigo and trying to not have a panic attack. No wonder it was going to take so long going that route. Anyhoo, as I got into Aspen, the GPS was continuing with commands, but I could see the roadblocks ahead so (on the good side) I knew I was in the right place (on the not-so-good side) but how to park etc. Just like that, I see a parking garage and Tour signs indicating media etc to park there. Perfect! (I'd gone early so there was still room).

I then walked around and took in the first experience of the atmosphere around a pro-Tour. Things were still being set up and I couldn't believe that I could go anywhere and had my pick of places to set up. I went and got some food/drinks to prepare (in case I didn't get to move around later) and went back to the car to get a collapsible chair. I set up and things got more exciting as the start got closer. Oh, and a very nice younger woman (older girl? youth?) gave me a cowbell (Strava sponsor) out of the blue, which was very nice. Next thing I know, I'm looking at a Cannondale rider literally like, a foot, from me (over the barricade) thinking 'that looks like Peter Sagan' and then realizing, holy crap, it is! Me - me - *I'm* standing beside Peter freakin' Sagan! Then I see, Chris Froome is close too. THE WINNER OF THIS YEARS TOUR DE FRANCE IS THAT CLOSE, WTF?!!!!! So I end up standing pretty much at the start line and the peloton does 2 (or was it 3?) neutral laps so I get to see them not at full speed.

Then the "real" laps start, I go down to about 300m to go (near a corner cause, you know, could be action) and watch 2 laps there.  The "free swag people" (yes, that's an official term, ha) gave me some bam-bams and a sheet with all the racers and their numbers and such. I then moved to about 50m to go and set up for the third and final lap. Wow, how cool.

AND THEN... some of the riders looped back after the finish - and could it be, yes, it was, Jens Voigt (beloved by all, myself included) and he was giving side high fives to a section along the barriers - just as he got to me one of the hydration people got in the way a bit, so I got a partial - but my fingers touched Jens Voigt's fingers. I couldn't believe it. I mean honestly, if I went to a Bronco's game, would I ever get close to Peyton Manning?? Touch his hand?? I don't think so. What other sporting event could the average fan be THAT CLOSE to the action and FOR FREE. Pro-cycling is AWESOME.

Anyway, I recognized a couple of other riders and just gawked, basically. I mean what am I going to do, yell, Andy, Andy Schleck!? Or "oh my goodness, Richie Porte!" (They know who they are, they don't need me to tell them). I went over to the stage after for the presentations but I decided to leave - I was so excited I wondered if someone in my state should be driving ;) I decided there was no way I was doing Independence Pass again so I took a longer route which also meant getting stuck in traffic because a lot of roads were still closed. I got ridiculously stoked at one point though, as I was in between the Jamis-Hagens Berman team car and the Novo Nordisk team car so I felt like I was part of the race convoy :)

I may have forgotten some parts, everything's blurring together. Which stage? What day was that? But WOW, what an intro to being LIVE at a pro-cycling event. And how cool that it was a circuit. O-V-E-R-T-H-E-M-O-O-N

Long Time T.V. Viewer, First Time Live Viewer

So after a few times of planning to go in person to watch a procycling stage race and cancelling or not going, I finally did it. I went to Colorado to attend the 2013 USA Pro-Cycling Challenge. I was a bit uneasy, having only watched on t.v. and not knowing Colorado and having to deal with road closures and parking yada yada yada. But after my first taste I was more than sold, so glad I did it. It's been a few days now and I figured maybe I should blog about it so I have a record somewhere.

My Favourite Nickname

Best nickname to date: "Lawfirm" for Benjarvus Green Ellis (I'm sure there is at least one hyphen in there but as I've already misspelled a Super Bowl winning QB's name on this blog I might as well continue the trend).

Bucket List cont'd

13) If I were really rich, I'd love to own a racehorse. Doesn't have to be a Derby winner, but decent at least. Lotta heart. So imagine my joy when I came across a "Racehorse Name Generator" at http://generatorland.com/glgenerator.aspx?id=87 How about Flummoxed Dusty Rabscallion...how cool is that!!! I'm a little worried they didn't do their homework though, I thought there was a limit to the length of registered thoroughbred names...maybe 17 characters or something? I just looked it up at the Jockey Club, 18 max. Darn you Generator Land, my dreams are foiled!


14) Have I talked (blogged) about this before?? I feel like I have. But I can't seem to find a record of it. Anyhow, I would like to do a TV show where I interview "regular" (non-celeb) people. It may sound boring, but I think it could be really interesting. I might have to find a really good host or co-host or something though. Someone in addition to me who could ask or come up with scintillating questions. George Strombolopolous (sorry if I spelled that wrong) comes to mind. Oh, I looked that up too. It is wrong... Stroumboulopoulos according to twitter.

Congrats to NFL Champions Green Bay Packers!

Aaron Rogers & Aaron Rodgers, this one is for you.
I recalled I said I would be more timely in congratulating AR if Green Bay won the Superbowl - and look, it happened - I'll have to be careful what I put out to the universe.

Bucket List

Thought I'd just start writing down things I'd love to do ("someday") in no particular order.

1) Go to a hockey game at the home rink of every NHL team.
2) I've never been to an NFL game, but on TV the Patriots' stadium looks cool, like to go there. And I guess I should add Dallas's, seeing as it's so new and big. And historic Lambeau Field.
3) Hang out with Ron MacLean. (Why are these all about sports?? I have no idea)
4) If we're talking pretty out there, having a miniature horse that hung out in the house (it would be house trained etc). Maybe we'd watch TV together.
5) When I was younger I really wanted to work in a florist shop. I think I still wouldn't mind trying that for a bit.
6) I'd love to have a big room in my house that was filled with books and had comfy chairs/lounges to sit in - maybe with a coffee/tea station in it with a huge selection of beverages.
7) Attend the Kentucky Derby.
8) Wear a cool/funky/ridiculous hat to the Kentucky Derby.
9) Drink a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby.
10) I've always had this weird (?) hankering to hang out with Jimmy Buffet.
11) Cute orange bunnies. Lots of them. Hopping around.
12) See the Tour de France live (in person).

To be continued...

Not Hating the Officiating

I was amused during the Dallas Cowboys game today when the official had to stop part way into the penalty call because it was so complicated but at least he was having a little fun with it. Good for you buddy, keep it light. I'm not sure what the rules are for the officiating team, but I would have loved it if he turned on his mic for take 2 and said, "ok, let's try this again...". To push it even more, I'm sure they'll joke about, "ok, let's just say some guy on the offense got a holding call, some guy on the defense got unneccessary roughness, those offset, there was some other call, suffice it to say the ball will be on the X yard line, 1st down Dallas."

Oh, and boy do I love it when the offense gets into rhythm with the skip button on my pvr. Makes it seem like they're moving up the field SO efficiently! Of course sometimes QB's like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are just too quick for me to use the skip, that's cool too.

On a related note, holy *&^#, it's been nearly A YEAR since I posted?! And the last post was about football too. Huh.

P.S. Speaking of sports, a VERY late congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup.

Football Forwarding Finesse

So I'm no football expert but I get the basics. On a Sunday I often put the games on to record and that way I can skip through commercials. If there are a lot of games on t.v. that I'm interested in, or if I'm just short on time or interest, I'll often watch the plays of the game without much of the commentary and so forth. The skip button on the dvr does about 30 seconds and if I can get into a good rhythm (me and the quarterback, you know how it is) I can get the timing going so well that I literally see everyone set up on the line of scrimmage, watch the play, hit skip, and see the next set up on the line of scrimmage. That's when my equivalent of the passer rating goes way up and I get a real feeling of satisfaction. When I lose the rhythm or something throws it off, I sometimes see a guy running into the end zone and have to use the back button to see the beginning of the play and as I know what happens, it kind of ruins it. It's kind of like getting sacked.

Tour de France - Prologue

If you have been reading this blog for awhile, you may recall an earlier series of posts around Le Tour. Last year I didn't watch, and this year I had planned to, then heard about Lance Armstrong returning, then got really busy and promptly practically forgot most of that until right as the Tour was starting. So I turn on my DVR today to watch the broadcast of the start of the race. Don't mock me (or go ahead, I don't care anymore) but even watching the beginning of the broadcast with the voice over laying out the scene got me super pumped. And finding out that Lance Armstrong is back again after a huge layoff (by finding out I mean seeing him actually there, ready to start, as just because he announced he would however many months ago wouldn't mean he would, any number of injuries or whatever could've changed that) adds some more intrigue. It was cool to also see a lot of familiar names (I only cycling event I watch is Le Tour and even then it's a recent thing although I did watch DVD's of many of the late 90's/earlier 2000's races). I didn't mean to watch the whole stage in one sitting, but I did, although I managed not to watch the next broadcast right afterwards. P.S. DVR's rock!

Superbowl XLIII

So I'm watching the Super Bowl and they show a shot of the people involved with the team up above the field (owners and such). The commentator says what I hear as "he's just standing there, jacking off". This of course causes me to do a double take and to wonder what on earth is going on. Then everyone else figures out why I have such a strange look on my face while I, concurrently, realize what I actually heard ("...jacket off"). We all chortled.

You know, this was funnier in person. Really, I swear.

Female Football Fantasy

Titillating title, n'est pas?

Last night I had a dream. NO, it wasn't about little black boys and girls. Let's be clear, it wasn't about little kids of any colour or creed. However, it was about football. And a team that won the Superbowl. And then the QB was taking off xe's equipment and I suddenly realized that the QB was a woman. I know this because I can clearly remember seeing her bra from behind as she discreetly removed some of her equipment. And don't get any ideas, it wasn't a Manssiere or a Bro (TM Seinfeld), it was a woman and a woman's bra.
What does this mean? Why am I dreaming this? (For some of you, you know who you are... I think I should add, "don't answer that" - I've read your dream interpretations before, freak.)

Avalanche vs. Canucks 11/9/07

Okay, so it's no IPB calibre game diary...more like a highlight version...and not even a good highlight version like NHL On The Fly...but here goes...

I've sat down with my Dad to watch this game. He likes to watch with no sound on. He's waiting for the day when you can pick which sounds you get with a game. Which, as an aside, would be way cool. "I'd like all the on ice noise and the crowd, oh, good play by play guy tonight - I'll keep him then - oh (said with disdain) *he's* doing colour...mute FORSURE!" (But I digress).

Canucks have the puck behind their own net. They're taking their sweet time setting up the play. I snidely remark that if they just stand there a little longer, they're sure to run out the clock (I think there was about 2 minutes left).

Canucks do a break-out, it looks good at first and then falls flat. I remark, "guess he's not a Weaver of magic". My Dad didn't get it at first, til he realized the Canucks D Weaver had started the play. I felt pretty proud. I was practically Ron MacLean right there.

The Canucks have the puck for a long time in the offensive zone but no real chances. I think to myself that the Canucks are like my spin class this morning: lots of cycling, but you never go anywhere.

Avalanche are called on a penalty. Their coach is shown doing the usual freak out (recall, no sound). My Dad says, "he seems like a sweet guy" (in a very sort of sincere sounding voice, hard to explain, but it was somehow funny). Then they do the penalty box shot with the graphic, and it's Kurt Sauer in the box. For a minute I thought my Dad somehow had known that and wasn't referring to the coach at all with his, "sweet" comment but making a joke re: "sour" (that's the antithesis of sweet for anyone who didn't get that ;) Of course he was talking about the coach. But it was still well-timed comedy, dammit.

Canucks again, what looks to be some pretty passing - I think "tic...tac!....noooo". On the replay, it appears that the "pretty passing" I originally saw was actually more like a series of lucky blunders. Kind of made it cool, actually.

I note the "Viagra" ads on the boards. A reminder to "get it up" I think. Unless the opposing goalie is weak 5 hole or on wraparounds, in which case...

Game Day Diary

6:20 a.m. - The alarm beeps and I shut it off. I'm surprised I slept pretty well despite some interruptions and don't feel like killing anyone just to be able to get a few more minutes sleep.
(Usually I'm a bit paranoid that the alarm won't go off and so I wake up a lot, sitting up in panic to check the time).

I get up and get ready. I'm useless at eating right when I get up so I grab some Powerade (the green one, pineapple melon flavour) and a dried fruit thin.

7:00 a.m. - I drive off to where the run I'm doing will be held. I'm unsure about parking.

I'm nearing the start/finish area of the race but I keep going and end up finding a parking spot really close. I'm shocked, and very pleased.

This race is a corporate challenge event. There are various distances, I'm signed up on a team that's to do the 10k. The team itself seems to me very poorly organized (it's not my company). The team leader was kind of waffling over whether or not we'd get enough people and that was excuse enough to me to not train for the event. I emailed when the event was closer and the waffling was still there. Then about 2 days beforehand, I get a call from the team captain saying it's a go.

I'm now in the parking garage about to go off to find this woman who I barely know. I get to the congested race start area and go inside the hotel where we're supposed to meet. Not there. I check the bag check area, not there. And so on. I'm getting a little panicked because the team captain picks up the race packages. This means I have no number etc. and I'll be mighty pissed if I got up early and this doesn't come together. Finally I see the woman outside.

The event itself I discover is very well organized. I'm pleased. I've done races before where they run out of fluids at the fluid stations and that is not cool. The start/finish line has official clocks, there's music blasting, and the usual atmosphere. If you're not familiar, it's a kind of 'runners camraderie' thing going on. A lot of stretching, jogging, pinning bib numbers on and that kind of thing. And line ups for the porta potties of course. I enjoy the atmosphere, solo as my team seems to be snobby. (One woman on the team gushes about how she's really slow and she'll be last and she won't stop fretting. I'm trying to be reassuring etc. She ends up coming in 2nd in her age category. I'm sorry, but bite me you stupid be-yotch. Honestly, that's just insulting. No one who actually is slow etc. comes in 2nd in their age group at a race like this.)

The announcer comes on and starts to rev us up for the start. It's ironic, because I'm a slow runner, but I'm mentally telling myself to start slow - it's a well known fact that going out too fast early is a killer. And at big events like this one it's easy to get pumped up and not realize your pace is way fast.

As we get closer (the official clock is counting down), they put on Thunderstruck by AC/DC. Good choice. I've always found that intro to be very inspiring. So I really tell myself to watch my pace. BANG! Just as the song kicks in (nicely timed!) the starting gun goes off and we begin. In case you're not familiar with these events, the starts are packed so it takes a bit to cross the line.

I check my watch at the 1k mark. Shit! Way slow! Like over a minute past what it should be. Apparently I was so worried about being too fast I've created the opposite problem. But I don't learn from this, I still think I'd better be careful not to increase my pace too much. When I check my watch again, still way slow. Yet my pace doesn't feel slow. This is why you can't go with how it feels.

5k mark - I can't remember exactly, but I think I was at 36 or 37 minutes some odd seconds. Not good. WAAAAAY too slow. So I power it on. As I approach the 6k mark a cover band is playing a Tragically Hip song. I'm inspired. I'm a fair distance away when they start into the next song, but I can tell it's one by 54-40, cool.

As you run along on these things, people actually cheer for you. When I was somewhere around km 3 or 4, the lead male runner was passing me in the opposite direction. Damn these top people are fast. He even gets bicycle escorts. Way cool. They have signs on the bikes to tell you it's the lead guy. A ways after him come more men, singly and in packs. I'm keeping my eye out but it's a good while til the top female passes. After her comes a guy, he's yelling encouragement at me. I'm too tired to yell encouragement at other people when I'm running, sheesh.

I like the design of this course. It's not 100% out and back, but mostly, and the 1st half has a lot more uphill - the 2nd have much more downhill, awesome! The fluid stations are well run. Everything is great. Except my fuck up with my timing, but whatever. It's a beautiful day.

Can't remember exactly where, but at one fluid station they were having a little battle, the water server was trying to get me to take water, the gatordade server his wares (the gatorade silly, sheesh). The lucky winner was stoked I picked his beverage, while the water server made a last ditch effort, asking something like, 'and some water too??' I managed a grin (hell of an effort, this running shit is draining y'know).... to be continued....

One Ring, One Cup (One Bourbon, One Scotch & One Beer)

I'm listening to sports radio today and I hear this rather interesting story about a Stanley Cup ring found in the waters of Mexico.
Here's a link to a print version of the story... http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2F20070823%2FStanley_Cup_Ring_070823

So they find a ring from the last time the Leafs won a Cup (1967). This reminds me of "Fifty Mission Cap" by The Tragically Hip (hockey & The Hip, does it get anymore Canadian than that...) which describes the story of Bill Barilko. (Basically, he scored an OT goal that won the Leafs the Cup - then he died - his body was recovered 11 years later which was the next time the Leafs won a Cup.)

Now, like a lot of hockey fans, I enjoy a good ribbing of the Leafs. And if you'd asked me earlier today whether they'd win a Cup anytime soon I would have laughed (no offense). But now...spooky...finding that ring is a sign! This is the year!

DVD Delight

You would never know it from this blog, but I'm a hockey fan. Today I found myself pommerdoodling (see http://interchangeableparts.wordpress.com/ for a definition of this word - or just go there because IPB fucking rocks) over an interview with Trevor Linden. A little background...I once really dug Trevor Linden. Not that I really stopped, but you know how these things go. But this interview was so awesome. First of all, he's very well-spoken. Second of all, he made jokes about Le Tour, doping, cycling, and spandex (apparently Trevor rode in the Alps and did some mountain bike race in Europe in the off-season). Awesome. I think I was going to list some more reasons, but whatever.

Moving away from hockey...and back to Tour related business....today when I got to work I found that the two DVD sets (1999 and 2000 Tours) that I'd ordered had arrived. I've only just started disc 1 of the first set, but felt compelled to write about the little I've seen so far. It begins with that dude (what is his name, that commentator - ah! Phil Liggett - no idea on the spelling, sorry dude - I think Paul Sherwen - same caveat - is also featured) talking about Lance Armstrong (spelled that right, woohoo!) being on top of the world and then it crumbling as he finds out he has cancer in an advanced stage, tumours as big as golf balls in his lungs, and is told by his docs that he has a 20-50% chance to live. Phil goes on to say that actually his doctors didn't think he would live. Then there's a short interview with Lance and then the intro to the prologue starts. It shows some scenery, crowds, etc. and the credits are coming up over top. What made me chortle is that they show a little girl in a stroller in this intro, and she is totally picking her nose. It could be that it's late, I'm tired, I haven't eaten enough...but that just cracked me up. Hello???? Editors???? Proof 'watchers'???

P.S. For those of you who saw the title and thought something along the lines of, "sweet! finally the porn stuff is starting" - ha ha, fooled you again, suckers! (Just kidding...you know...)

Vive Le Tour! Part 2

5. Robbie McEwen's finish line victory move. They had a little segment on where he got the idea from but at any rate, I was somewhat amused. He does these arm motions like he's running really fast.

6. The involvement of the spectators. They get in the way sometimes which I find funny - can you imagine a pitcher trying to throw a ball around a spectator? A hockey player getting his stick ripped from his hands by a spectator? And for a sport in which the athletes speed by you in moments, it's pretty cool that fans line the roads like that.

7. The toughness. This is a biggie. Nothing against soccer, but when you watch the best in the world writhing around on the field and then getting up as though nothing has happened...
The Tour is like hockey - these guys have these crazy crashes and get all beat up and still continue on unless they are absolutely unable to. Not to mention just the normal pain of riding that far for that long, day after day. Impressive.

8. As one of the commentators puts it (Phil Leggett??) 'we don't want to see crashes but they sure make for good t.v.'. Sure, I don't wish these guys to have terrible crashes and have to withdraw or get seriously injured, but WOW, those crashes are something else. Refer back to point # 7 - these guys are TOUGH.

There is so much more to come...we haven't even gotten into the mountains yet (more dumb TdF "humour").

Vive Le Tour! Part 1

So I read some of Lance Armstrong's books and he made the Tour de France sound pretty exciting (even though his books don't even focus much on that). So last year (?) (& 2 years ago?) I watched some and was a bit disappointed that it didn't come across quite the same as Lance's descriptions. But there was something there that seemed to have potential so I had thought I'd have to tune in the next year and *really* follow it. So when I saw the ad for the upcoming Tour, I made a note and have been PVRing the broadcasts. There are moments I find rather dull, but I've also kind of fallen for it. Here's a few reasons why...


1. The beauty of the peloton. Especially the aerial shots. Rainbow of colours.


2. How difficult a sporting event it is. I think this year it's about 2,200 miles, including riding over MOUNTAINS.


3. The multinational aspects. For example, teams consists of riders from various countries rather than other sports where particular countries compete against one another. Today I learned that the prizes are in euros (due to the European Union) but the fines are in Swiss Francs (because the governing body is in Switzerland which apparently uses it's own currency still). I just find that funny/cool/interesting. (You know, this post was a lot funnier/cooler/more interesting in my head).


4. The speed involved. On bikes going 40+k/25+mph. Wow. It makes me think of when you watch world class marthoners. They are holding a pace that is the equivalent to my sprint pace, but over 26.2 miles! WTF!?! That's messed up.


Well that's the prologue complete. Look for more stages to follow... (that's some TdF humour)