Unexpected DIRT!

(No, I'm not talking about you, Nick..)

So I decided I HAD to get on the bike today. I'm starting to feel fat and lazy, and I don't like it.

I'm done with the lake front trail, so I need a new ride I can do when I can only get an hour or so in. Theres the Forest Preserve path that follows the Chicago River North Branch, but that's a long road ride to get to, and not really a relaxing ride. However, there's "proposed" trail from my neighborhood via path and side streets to get there as well. I didn't know if there was any path in place, but a friend has said she's ridden it on her cross bike, so I figured I'd go exploring.

The first couple miles were short sections of paved park path and some side streets, but then at Gompers park I found a wood chip trail that led down to the river and through a gate and suddenly I was on honest to goodness DIRT! With rocks and roots and everything!

While this was no Potowatami (or Island Lake for that matter) it was the closest I've seen to trail in weeks. And it was a chance for me to carve some turns and sprint the legs without 100 other people around. There was event the modest climb now and again. The trail was broken up by RR tracks every mile or so, but it was fun none-the-less. And I can get there without driving!!

So, I guess I've been good and that was my reward. I guess Santa really is keeping a list!

More Updates

Someone cut together some video taken of my dad's trip. Here it is...

Ride Update

Since I just finally learned how to embed google maps into my blog, I figured I'd post tomorrow's route for my dad and his comrades.


View Larger Map

I was jealous before, but now that the pictures are starting to come in, I'm insanely jealous. I miss my week in Georga!

I did not get to ride dirt again this weekend. I'm not sure what's going to happen this summer, but I'm afraid it isn't going to include much mountain biking. I'm gonna have to change the name of the blog again.. :(

At least I've got other things to keep my occupied. I finally got the new iMac set up and running. Man it's been a learning experience over the last few days, but I'm getting there.

Pre Mac


Post Mac

Good things come to those who wait.. and wait...

After much anticipation and all the "adult" patience I could muster, I finally have taken possession of my new iMac! I had to drive out to the distribution center in Northbrook, but it was worth the drive, and the wait!

I'm going to need a bigger desk now though. Looking at the 24" screen is kind of like sitting in the front row at the movies. I have to look up to see the top and down to see the bottom. It's HUGE!! No more shuffling tool bars and palettes in Photoshop though...

On the same day I got an email from Dell saying that they've credited my account for the monitor fiasco. Thank God. Had they been able to actually deliver the monitor to me in a reasonable amount of time, I'd still be slogging through on the 8 year old dog of a PC.. I may be jinxing myself as the money hasn't hit my account yet, but I've got faith.

Props to Jimmy P., Customer Liaison at Dell. It's sad that I had to complain in public before I could get anyone willing and capable of helping me out, but I'm glad I met Jimmy. Kudos (I know he's reading this.. ;) ) An email will be going to your supervisor as soon as I work out the details and my letter to Mr. Dell.

God Speed

Today I was fortunate enough to be able to see my dad off on his bike trip from San Diego to Shavanna, GA. His flight to CA had a lay-over at Midway aiport in Chicago, so I sat with him for the hour or so between flights.

Good luck to all of the bikers on the inaugural Fuller Center Bike Trip. Have a great time. I'm jealous as hell!

You can follow their adventures here. I'm not sure how often they'll be able to update, but I hope it's often!

An open letter to my friends on the Lake Front Path.

To Mr. No-Hands:

I'm curious. What is it about winds gusting up to 20mph off the lake, 30 people walking and riding within 3 feet of you on a 10ft wide path, and those patches of sand strewn all over the asphalt that just says to you "oh yeah, this is safe!". I would applaud your efforts to clean up the gene pool by your attempt to hasten your departure from this earth, except that I'm sure you'll do great bodily injury to others in the process.

Just as I was wondering (quite literally) if anyone could match your stupidity, along came your sister...

To The Woman Showing Mr. No-Hands That "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better!":

THE FUCKING HELMET GOES ON YOUR HEAD, NOT ON THE HANDLEBARS!!!! I will never understand this mentality. Ok. Don't wear a helmet. As a kid my favorite part of haloween was alwasy gutting the jack-o-lantern cuz it looked like splattered brains to me. Getting to see that any other time of the year is just an extra special treat. But for God's sake, if you're going to shell out your hard earned cash and then you even bother to bring the thing with you on your ride, PUT IT ON YOUR FREAKIN' HEAD. Especially if you're going to ride no-handed in close quarters with a crazy cross wind pushing you around. But never mind that, the pavement doesn't care how it becomes aquianted with your skull. It will kill you just the same. God.. What if these two procrated!!

To The Woman Letting Her Toddler Play In Traffic:

I can't even make light of this one. Not 5 minutes after I encountered the geniuses above I cam upon a woman sitting on a park bench surround by others of varying ages. The youngest (no older than 2, just old enought to walk) , however, was toddling out into the middle of the path. This woman was making no attempt what so ever to retrieve, protect, or otherwise show any sort of parental (or at least adult) responsability for this defenseless child. Fortunately the path was rather clear at this point and I saw her well in advance and was already riding at a slow pace as, contrary to all-too-many cyclists' opinions, the LFP north of the city at 5pm is NOT a good place for getting your 30mph rocks off. As I passed I pointed to the toddler and said "Someone has to look out for her." I can only pray for her.

To The Young Lovers:

Finally, on the south side, away from the idiot throngs I can finally ride just a little more relaxed without the fear of impending doom from the human circus that is the LFP. Then I come upon two pairs of young lovers out for an evening stroll. Walking 4 abreast, hand in hand, playing the Chicago version of Red Rover. They literally had the path covered from edge to edge and wondered back and forth making it impossible to figure out where they were headed. I mean, c'mon.. What am I supposed to do with this? I wasn't sure if I should announce myself on the right or the left, so I yelled "PICK A SIDE!!" At this they managed to part enough for me to split the difference.

I feel like I should make it clear that I headed down to the path to enjoy the weather, my bike, and the scenery. This was not intended to be a workout by most definitions. I always try to ride respectfully, and especially when wearing the team kit I try to represent cyclists in the best, most respectful light I can. I would have had these same views if I was in shorts, sandles, and riding a schwinn cruzer (anyone have one for sale?). The path is just not safe at any speed. I'm afraid it's time to bid it a fond adieu for the summer and find another slice of chicago for my non-training, out-for-a-Sunday-stroll bike rides as well.

No Mas

Well, I've finally given in. I can honestly say that up to this point I've not let the high price of gas dictate my travel plans whether they pertain to racing or just travel in general. But I've just tossed out my completed Ore 2 Shore regsitration having decided that the race just isn't work the $200+ in gas alone it would take to get up there :(

I'll also be sticking to the WORS races that are closer to home, say within 2 hours, and always (hopefully) carpooling.

On the plus side, I'm saving those non gas-buying pennies and should soon have one of these

I'm getting the 24" model.. all the better to email you with!

I was a little concerned about going back to a Mac after all these years since college, but after playing with my friend Tom's, I'm hooked. Then again, I was hesitant to spend $300 on an MP3 player until I touched an iPod.

This is all predicated, of course, on getting my money back from Dell. Jimmy came through with help getting the monitor returned, but I guess it's up to the powers that be to actually refund my money. It's been a week, but I was asked to wait 10-15 business days from when they receive the monitor, so I will. Pray for me.