The Beer Chronicles: Episode One, Or, Ah You Sweet Muse

I mentioned yesterday that I have decided to dabble in beer brewing once again. Who am I kidding, I decided to dabble in beer drinking once again, and the brewing tendencies came back. I started brewing sometime ago with extract. It was good, but it left something to be desired. I transitioned into the world of partials. A combination of extracts, some grains, hops, etc. Now, I've started an all-grain habit with a friend. It's like nothing I can even explain. You just have to do it to understand.

All of that said, I have decide I will share some thought on brewing, beer, and beer reviews along with the updates on cycling, fitness, weight loss (ironic, right?), humor, and the like. With that in mind, any brewers that would like to have their beer reviewed here could feel free to contact me and we can chat about it. As always, I can be contacted in the upper right hand corner of the side bar, right above the LiveStrong thermometer, or you could just click HERE. Just leave your contact info and I'll get in touch with you.

You may remember back a couple of weeks ago I paid a debt of gratitude to Larry Bell, of Bell's Brewery. Bell's has been a favorite of mine for a while, but for some reason I had only had Oberon, which was due to release yesterday through October, but I'm not getting into that right now. Nope, today's homage is to the creme de la creme, Hopslam! Hopslam is a luscious Double Imperial IPA. It's easily one of the most amazing beers I have tried in my life. The complexity of this beer is mind numbing.

The first thing you notice off the bat is the aroma of hops. Hops abound in this 10% ABV beer, but the alcohol is well hidden. Let me say, I wish I had a tulip glass to pour this into, but alas I had to use a pint. There wasn't a whole lot of head to speak of, but the aroma permeated the air upon pouring it. It poured a dark golden honey sort of color, bordering on orange. The pour is ironic to me as the first two notes I got out of it were grapefruit (citrus) and honey. The hops took about three seconds to set in on my tongue, but came on quick. The hops were anything but offensive, they cut just enough of the sweetness to keep the beer from getting too sweet.

This beer was actually a huge shocker to me for a couple of reasons. The first is usually a 10% has a noticeable, and at times almost offensive, alcohol note or heat to it. This has no such taste or feel, at all! Actually, it make the Hopslam a bit dangerous. I could easily start drinking this beer and forget about the alcohol until the third or fourth. You know... When I realize I can't walk any longer. Two, with as much hops, you would think it would just blow our pallet clear out of your mouth. It does no such thing. The honey, which I am guessing is a sweetening agent as I have only read is used in sweetening it, balances it so nicely it drinks incredibly smooth. So smooth I could easily drink it as a session beer if it weren't for the 10% ABV and the price.

As for the price? This comes in at $18.00/ 6 pack, and is worth every penny. Seriously! You'd go to a bar and spend three bucks a bottle for fizzy yellow junk, why not drop three a piece on these, and enjoy them? The catch to this is the release. Hopslam is released once, and only once, per year. They brew it up for a January release, this year January 7, and put in in stores through February. When it's gone, it's gone... You wait till next year. There are a few places around Cleveland that are still sitting on a couple of cases, just need to know where to look, and maybe pull a "who you know" to get some.

I have a couple left in the fridge to drink up now, and have cellared a couple just to compare for future reference. I have a strong feeling I know roughly what will happen. That is, it's likely the hops will tone down, and the sweetness will likely be a little more prevalent. Other than that, only time will tell.

If any of you have tried this, or run out and get some to try, please drop a line in the comments, and let me know what you think. After all, beer also make a great recovery drink! I recommend you try one after a ride!

Beer, The Cause Of, And Solution To, All Of Life's Little Problems

A famous philosopher, Homer, once said: Here's to [beer]. The Cause of - and answer to - all of life's little problems. Never we're truer words spoke. As for the Philosopher... Not that Homer, Homer Simpson.

As for beer? Beer might just be the bane of my existence. I was doing pretty well just quitting it cold turkey. Well for sometime, actually. I used to brew and consume copious amounts of beer. I was fine giving it up. Or so I thought. I used to plow through bottles, cans, pints, all of it. I used to brew cases at a time and plow through those as well. I decided to nix the brew sometime ago now.

This caused my wife to think that I meant I also didn't want to brew. She was sorely mistaken. Well, long story short short, she tossed the home brewing gear. Yeah, I was mad, but got over it. I cut beer out for sometime actually.

Fast forward to the present. I have recently decided to rekindle my love with the frothy, hoppy, goodness that is beer. I started to enjoy, and for that matter brew, beer once again. It was a love affair that I forgot how much I actually missed. You see, there is something excellent about a good beer. I'm not talking the "get work done" kinds. PBR, High Life, etc. I'm talking about the serious, big, expensive, delicious beers. The big IPA's, the beers with "imperial" in the name, the whole ball of wax.

You may see where the problem is already. In case you don't, here we go...
Beer is fattening! Yeah, I know, SHOCKING! Right? Anyway, in trying to do the Lena Look, I'm pretty convinced that beer is not a part of it. The only up side of my life recently is that I've been SO busy that I forgot to weigh myself this week. I'm sure it would NOT be pretty, however, if I had. The bottom line? I need to get my life back in order. I need to start exercising, let alone working out, again. I need to figure out how to fit some fun into priorities before my brain explodes.

Sorry For The Delay In Updates. Oh, BTW, Lance Fell.

So I need to apologize for the delay in posting. Here, on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, virtually every social networking site, sending out emails, and anything else I have failed, miserably, to update. For that I am sorry. I have been working two different jobs, due to the amazing US job market, to pay the bills lately. It's sad really, I haven't had the opportunity to get out on the bike even. Need to put a stop to that! Things have been crazy, and I will start up again tomorrow (or maybe Thursday) with a weekly roundup, and go from there, again.

As far as what has been going on? If you haven't heard (get the internet... or a TV) Lance fell in Spain. It appears that he might not be able to compete in the Tour dee France (Bob Roll joke, not misspell) this year. So many have focused on how awful this is, and that got me to thinking about it. What I kept coming up with was; is this really a bad thing? Seriously. I mean no disrespect whatsoever. I am a Lance fan boy! I get geeked on Lance, that sounded downright bad, but the bottom line... Will Lance be better off in the long run? I mean, he won seven tours, if there is any chance that he won't win eight, do you want to watch that? I think it would be a sad sight, cyclists everywhere watching OLN, er, VS to see Lance come in top five, or something, and not first. I know I'd be, like, "Ughhh, I really wanted to see him win." Now, I'm not saying I'd be any less a fanboy, but I'd be sad.

Furthermore, he's already done a tone of good for cycling. I watched five channels worth of news in the last two days, and each of them had a full dedicated story to Lance's crash. In a couple cases, Mellow Johnny hat and all! He's also been reported all over the radio in Cleveland. He's brought excitement back to cycling. He put it back on the map... Just sucks how it is that he got there.

Here's hoping that you get better soon, Lance!

Mentally And Emotionally Checked Out For The Weekend

Everything is causing me to stress out right now. I'm one of those people who holds it all in my shoulders, neck and back of the head... It's been painful lately. Thank God for my wife's awesome back rubs, and my chiropractor. With that said I am going to take the weekend to check out mentally and emotionally. Mind you, I made this intention clear, and it has been OKed by my family. So with that in mind...

Firday I'll take some time to pound a couple of PBR's and finish the new project.That's right, bathroom remodeling! One down and two to go. I stripped the first one completely stripped out save the shower, toilet, and sink area. All three will lose their lighting, mirrors, wallpaper, hanging cabinets, and (likely) carpet. Who the hell carpets a bathroom anyway?! For the record, yes... Sunday I did polish off a six of PBR while working (see the second picture in that series). You know what? I was down two pounds for the week... Not going to complain.

Saturday is my birthday, I plan to relax a bit, then indulgence and excess. It will be a weekend of great friends, great food, and great beers. Likely consisting of Willoughby Brewing, and Buckeye Brewing among who knows what else. Lean Look could be ugly as sin come Tuesday.

Finally I hope to get a ride in Sunday and continue the remodeling. So, with that, I'm check out for the weekend. Hope you have a good one, and enjoy yourselves. I'll catch up with you again Monday. Enjoy, and I'll have a brew for ya!

LiveSTRONG: Pick A Fight & The Fat Cyclist

I have about seventy things going on right now, so please forgive me if I skip a day here and there like I did yesterday. I noticed a few new comments, and found a couple cool blogs that I want to add to the sidebar, I'll do it soon.

Now I know that I sound like a broken record, but I wanted to once again show love to The Fat Cyclist, and Lance Armstrong Foundation. As been trying to drill into anyones head who will listen, I will be riding in the Philadelphia leg of the LiveStrong Challenge. A bunch of people, some of whom I've never even met!, have already donated to the cause, and my ride. To you, thank you so much for donating to my Livestrong Challenge fundraising efforts! I am, however, still a long way off of my $2500 goal, $2070 off to be exact. If you’re reading this and you able to help by donating to LAF on behalf of my fundraising effort, you can go to my secure LIVESTRONG Challenge Page HERE, and make a secure donation. Anything that you are able or willing to donate will help, go to a great cause, fighting cancer, and be appreciated. I was thinking about things the other day and thought, "Hmmff, I have about 285 friends on facebook. At $5 a piece that's $1425." I'm sure almost all of the people I have as friends would pony up $5. Then I was thinking along similar lines with the blog. If I had only 10 unique viewers a day, and they were willing to donate $5 to my fundraising efforts that's $50 a day. Basically what I am saying is this; If you can spare anything at all, even a few bucks, you can be part of a rock star fundraising effort on behalf of my father, Fatty's wife, and so many more people. You can also track how I am doing, and there is a link to donate on the right hand sidebar of this blog. The next goal I have in mind is to have $1250 (50%) of my $2500 goal in by March 31, 2009. Thanks again in advance, WIN!, and let's fight cancer. Let's kick it's ass!

On that note Fatty's wife is fighting as we speak. She is one of the two people I will be riding for, the other being my father. He was taken sixteen years ago, I promise I will write about him... soon. Serious. The point of todays story is that Lance Armstrong foundation posted a video recently. It was moving, touching, and brought back feelings that I hope my wife, children, friends, acquaintances, people who read this, and everyone never have to feel. The loss of someone to the bastard that is cancer.I watched this and it literally made me tear up. I thought of dad, Susan (Fatty's wife), grandparents, my friends five-year-old daughter, and so many more who have had this invade their bodies and their lives.

Fatty also posted a thought. Fatty posted his thoughts on What [He] Would Say To Cancer. It was, likewise, moving, touching, and brought back feelings I wouldn't wish on anyone. It's worth the read, the video is worth the watch, and the cause is worth your time. Whether you could donate, join Team Fatty, or help Lance Armstrong foundation in anyway. Please consider it, keep Susan and all those with cancer in your prayers, and fight cancer like the beast it is.

Lean Look Numbers, Happy St Patrick's Day!

Congratulations to the siblings Nelson! That's right, Fat Cyclist won it's second Bloggie Award this year, and his sister Jodi's blog, Pistols And Popcorn, won it's first Bloggie. Again, my congratulations go out to the, now monopoly, blogging sibs!

I've got nothing else, so Happy St Patty's Day! Here's my numbers for the week, see you again tomorrow.

Weight: 181.6
Waist: 36.5
Neck: 15.5
Body Fat % Calculation Estimate: 21

I can't figure out how I'm losing weight but not inches, but I'll take it... Two pounds down this week!

Another Crazy Insane Weekend

Wow, where to even start. I guess a decent start would be I was at 180.8 on Saturday morning. Mind you, not my lowest in the last year, but lowest since November. That's a big was due to the rest of the weekend. So Saturday morning I worked out for the first time in a week. Felt like hell too. You see, if you're going to stay in shape it's important to actually try. I have been missing the ball on that one. After the workout the wife and I and the kids went to the dirty bird for our youngest one's birthday lunch. After that I did get a ride in, but it was fun not function. I got out in the park with the eldest, he's finally comfortable with his riding to get away from the confines of the local roads. It was our first time riding together where we were out on something resembling tails, the sap in me wanted to cry and I was pissed... the camera? It's broken. Dammit!

A debt of gratitude to Larry Bell, of Bell's Brewery. THANK YOU! Thank you, more than I can say for Hopslam!It's a luscious Double IPA and one of the most amazing beers I have tried in my life. Right up there with Stone. Both of these companies beers are currently in my cellar, and I am seriously into trying to clone them in the future. *More on that down the road.

Sunday was a unbearable, I woke up feeling like crap. Migraine like you wouldn't believe, pissed at the world. Had a "bug up my ass", as my dad would've said, and decided I was going to start tearing up bathrooms. This is cool, fun, and a great idea. The unfortunate side of this is I also killed a six pack of PBR while doing the work. Mind you, it was over eight hours, but I'm sure the numbers come Tuesday will suck because of it.

Likewise, this week is going to be a tough one. Saturday is my birthday, and there are already plans for indulgence and excess. It will be a weekend of great friends, great food, and great beers. Likely consisting of Willoughby Brewing, and Buckeye Brewing among Lord only knows what else. This could be a record "suck" week for the Lean Look.

Finally, a lousy way to end a weekend. I was at Bluenoser's site Sunday night and found out that he is, apparently, done with the blog. I hope that's not the case, but regardless wish all the best to Thom no matter what! Happy riding bro, if the blog goes away, it will be missed.

The Easiest To Lose iPod Ever!

I am a total geek for technology! Further I am a raging geek for Apple technology. I have been an official Apple Geek for what seems like my entire life now. Truth of the matter, it has probably only been, like, ten or twelve years. I mean, we didn't even have computers in the classrooms at school until sixth grade. As a matter of fact, thisfrom The Old Computer was considered tiny at one time.

With time came smaller computers, ones that could fit in your home home. As time passed the computers got smaller and smaller. Enter iPhone. Who ever would've thought you could have a phone AND computer in your pocket! Seriously it's insane! Through all of this Apple was the king of "make it faster and smaller". Laptops; lighter, smaller, faster. Handhelds; Newton was the way to go! Newton was thee first handheld personal computer, long before Palm was a glimmer in anyones eye. I still have my sweet Apple Newton M100.Ahhhh, the joys of technology.

Apple didn't only have the first in computers though, not by a long shot. They also had the first viable major breakthrough in music. You know where I'm going, the iPod! Never has anything blown up the way the iPod has. Even if the MP3 player you own ins't an iPod, odds are most people are calling it iPod. It's iconic, it's simple, it's a must have, and now it's über tiny!

That's right, enter the new and improved iPod Shuffle,Courtesy Of Apple Inc now 98.36% easier to lose! OK, seriously though. I was a huge fan of my second gen Shuffle when it came out. I loved it being so small, clipping on to your belt, shirt, hat, small Koala, pocket... What, you don't have a small Koala? Don't know what you're missing. Back to the point, now, this thing is so small you could stash it anywhere. A cool thing about the new Shuffle is that they put the buttons on the earphone cord. This would make it way cool if you're using it on the trails and such (not that I would ever recommend that). Another cool thing? OK, it will speak the artist and song to you while it plays. I know, it's a bit cheesy, but it's cool. Oh, and they are now 4Gb! That's right, 1Gb and 2Gb be damned, you're officially on notice! Pick one up now for $79.

Ahhhh, the joys of technology. Now I just need to wait for the iPhone to be usable on Verizon and I'll be golden! Happy Friday the thirteenth! Catch you next week.

Weekly Roundup March 11, 2009

I’m going to warn you that this is going to be both random and delicious. Delicious? Yes, just keep reading and you’ll figure it out. I’m going to introduce a blog to the Weekly Roundup family for the first time, and I’ll give you something to chew on, pun intended, toward the end. So, enjoy and be envious, and I will give you the Weekly Roundup.

Harp Rider: For Harp, whether Just Shorts, or the Knee Warmers Are Back Harp is getting out on the bike. Sounds like he’s facing the same issues I am up in Cleveland. The temps are up & down, up & down… It pretty lousy. He’s also facing the Lean Look issues I am, up & down, up & down…
As far as the Lean Look for Harp, Harp is coming in at:
Weight: 163 lbs
Neck: 15.5 ”
Abdomen: 33.5 ”
Body Fat %: 15%

50K Loop NS: Bluenoser has had a case of Busy Days. Yup, we’re all in the midst of chaos right now. I know I feel like I have my, er, genitals in a vice. How busy is he? You’ll have to read this one for yourself to find out. How’s he doing at the Lean Look?
His measurements are currently at:
Weight: 196.6 lbs.
Neck measurement: 15.5 "
Waist measurement: 38.0 "
body fat %: 22%

Waltworks Bicycles: Ahhh, nothing like a new blog to get in the way of working! In this case, I just started catching up with some past posts from Walt over at Waltworks. Waltworks Bicycles is a one man shop in Boulder, CO that makes handmade road, mountain, cross, single speed, touring, and 29ers. I’ve decided that I’m not getting a 29er until I can afford a Waltworks. http://waltworks.com/dev/index.php

Fat Cyclist: I “think” I mentioned yesterday that Twin Six has been helping Fatty, Susan, Team Fatty, LAF raise money to fight cancer. No surprise they're at it again. You can now get your official Team Fatty kits, and gear! So whether you're riding a leg of the LiveStrong Challenge, or just want to help a good cause get to their Team Fatty page and order some FC gear for your rides this summer.

Buckeye Beer Engine: Finally, I have a feeling that this blog is going to start to incorporate beer soon, so I might as well start now. Buckeye Beer Engine prides itself on being “Brewery, Booze, Burgers – Open every day of the year.” Ugh, this could get ugly for the Lean Look. Birthday is coming up soon, going to Buckeye with the wife, a friend, and his wife soon. Please feel free to look at their CRAZY long (and yummy) beer list (it changes often) and recommend anything that I “need to try” in the comments.

Well, that’s all I got’s for this week. As usual, I’m the Phun Cyclist, you stay classy Cleveland.

Team Fatty Update, Lean Look Challenge, And Some Cool T6 Stuff.

I feel as though I sound like a broken record, but I wanted to take a minute to throw some love to The Fat Cyclist, and Lance Armstrong Foundation. As You've no doubt read in the past, I will be riding in the Philadelphia leg of the LiveStrong Challenge. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to my Livestrong Challenge fundraising efforts! I am still a long way off of my $2500 goal, $2070 off to be exact. If you’re reading this and you able to help by donating to LAF on behalf of my fundraising effort, you can go to my secure LIVESTRONG Challenge Page HERE, and make a secure donation. Anything that you are able or willing to donate will help, go to a great cause, fighting cancer, and be appreciated. I was thinking about things the other day and thought, "Hmmff, I have about 285 friends on facebook. At $5 a piece that's $1425." I'm sure almost all of the people I have as friends would pony up $5. Then I was thinking along similar lines with the blog. If I had only 10 unique viewers a day, and they were willing to donate $5 to my fundraising efforts that's $50 a day. Basically what I am saying is this; If you can spare anything at all, even a few bucks, you can be part of a rock star fundraising effort on behalf of my father, Fatty's wife, and so many more people. You can also track how I am doing, and there is a link to donate on the right hand sidebar of this blog. The next goal I have in mind is to have $1250 (50%) of my $2500 goal in by March 31, 2009. Thanks again in advance, WIN!, and let's fight cancer.

OK, the reason I am posting this for nine on Tuesday, and not midnight like usual is I am hoping I don't scoop Fatty. Today is an awesome day! Some time ago now, back in November, Fat Cyclist decided to start Team Fatty: Fighting For Susan. Now there are 368 people, and counting... daily that are joining in the fight. To the tune of nearly $130,000. There's still more than three months till the Seattle event, four until San Jose, five and change until Philly, and well over seven until Austin! Can you imagine the money that we can still raise!

Back to the point, Twin Six is an amazing cycling apparel and accessory company. They have been helping Fatty, Susan, Team Fatty, LAF and have been doing so much good for a couple of years now. Well, they're at it again. Now, starting today, you can get your official Team Fatty kits, and gear! So whether you're riding a leg of the LiveStrong Challenge, or just want to help a good cause get to their Fat Cyclist or Team Fatty pages and order some FC gear for your rides.

OK, now my numbers for the Lean Look! See, I didn't forget, I'm just doing Tuesday now... Remember?

Weight: 183.6
Waist: 36.5
Neck: 15.5
Body Fat % Calculation Estimate: 21

So long story short, I'm up three tenths of a pound for the week. I need to focus on doing intervals and core workouts again... I can't say the last time I did either. OK, it was Saturday, but I feel as though it's been forever. I can't wait till the weather breaks and I could get back out on the bike... OUT on the bike.

What Might Turn Out To Be A Weekend Of Regret

If you've been reading along, you know that Bluenoser, Harp and I are reading and following a book called The Lean Look. Yeah... It's been going "OK". I had a slight fall off last weekend when I had to deal with a death in the family. This week there was a three parties and some brewing activities, all of which lead to problems in diet.

I am in total agreement with Fatty totally and completely with his take on Why [He] Is Fat, or why I am for that matter. I have the grazing instinct that Fatty speaks of. One of my favorite party related foods it to take a bowl of ice cream, slam a piece of cake into it, mash it all into a paste, and eat it like a thick milkshake. By the way, butter cream is the ONLY real frosting. This whipped, satin, whipped cream, etc crap? I don't buy it! It's not real frosting.

With the parties came copious amounts of alcohol. A lot of beer, my favorite, and some spirits. When "the guys get together" we tend to partake in beer. Usually, between my friends and I this means good beer. Not the Mich Ultra, or even "insert any name here" light, but grain, and hops, and water, and empty calories galore. But they are divine calories, that I think God himself would approve of.

This weekend was made all the more difficult on account I got to reinvent an old past time with a friend. We got together and made some beer. It's been a few years since I've touched anything related to brewing, but it was awesome to get back to it. I was used to brewing from extract, but my buddy and I made this from scratch. We took it from grain to beer, and now the ferment process starts. Six long weeks in the dark while the yeast does it's magic. Brewing of course poses an interesting problem. You brew, you have to drink. Ahh, sweet delicious empty calories!

What does all of this mean? Pray for me. Pray that I don't become a lard ass again. That I... Sorry, seriously... It means that it's going to be an interesting journey. Combining a few things.

More serious about my diet, read as: what I am eating.
More serious about getting out on the bike, read as: make time whenever I can, even if it means at ungodly hours.
More serious about my time spent on the bike, read as: as the band I got from Wah says, HTFU!

We'll see what the scale has to say some Tuesday. Will this turn out to be a weekend of regret?

Wow, Just Wow

We, OK I, at the Cycling Phun batcave are, OK am, speechless! It seems that GT Bicycles has a crazy new promotion for the 2009 race season. They will be giving the winner of their Golden Race Series' a special edition gold GT Bike.http://http://www.gtisgolden.com
Ah, and there it is, in all of its golden polished glory.

It is fully loaded with the newest, lightest, and goldest parts and accessories.

There are a few catches to this bike. When you win one of the seven races you win the bike. You also get a gold GT Jersey, a $250 gift certificate, a group of hot women (called the Gold Diggers) to cheer you on, and your expenses paid into the next race. The catch to that? You have to race the next race... and win! You lose the race, you lose the bike and all that comes with it (save the $250 gift cert).

This may just be one of the coolest ideas I've heard in a while! Kudos to GT for pulling out most, if not all, of the stops.

Weekly Roundup March 04, 2009

Where to start? Hmmmm, how about; Welcome to Cleveland! The weather sucks! Seriously, it’s been bitter cold and windy. Snowing and raining, and just plain INSANE! I’ve had zero free time, been working two jobs and family stuff. It’s just been a rough couple of weeks. Wanna know what’s funny? I feel the best I’ve felt in about fifteen years! Fer serious an’ stuff! I think, hope, and feel that this stands a good chance of being the best summer of my life. It’s with that stunningly great outlook that I give you the Weekly Roundup.

Harp Rider: Harp was Finally Out Again. I have to say I feel the “not being on the bike” pains… and have had a hard time finding ways to fit in interval training. Like Harp I have been doing well with the core training, so that’s cool! My thoughts and prayers go out to Harp on the tightness that is hitting home. It’s rough tight now, brother, but we’ll pull through! Kepp the chin up, fight the good fight and be there for your wife during her surgery! Again, thinking bout you guys and praying for ya!
As far as the Lean Look for Harp, Harp is coming in at:
Weight: 161 lbs
Neck: 15.5 ”
Abdomen: 33 ”
Body Fat %: 14%

50K Loop NS: Bluenoser points out that today, er yesterday, is √ Day. That’s right! √9 or three cubed, square root day! He also points out the importance of plumbers and, more important, the importance of the plumbers mentality to keep themselves safe. You’ll have to read it yourself!
His measurements are currently at:
Weight: 196.6 lbs.
Neck measurement: 16 "
Waist measurement: 37.5 "
body fat %: 22%

Cozy Beehive: My boy Ron “the engineer” over at the Cozy Beehive gave us another installment of Saturday Stupidity. This was perfect with all going on in my life this weekend. It had me rolling on the floor! Keep up the good work Ron!

Highwaymunky: Munky also had some fun with the very serious idea of Getting Bums On Saddles: A Political Plan. The question is what can we do to get people to ride? Munky has the answers… And apparently he (thinks he) is running for something?! I’d vote for him! I know this is a bit tongue in cheek, but there are some really good points to be had.

Travels With A Tin Donkey: Finally, not to be outdone, Sprocketboy is also dropping a few pounds pre race season. A post, Lance Armstrong = Jan Ullrich? points out his weight loss dilemma, and it’s a good one! I’ll stick to your Muesli for now, Sprocketboy. Best wishes on your race! (smile)

Well, that’s all I got’s for this week. As usual, I’m the Phun Cyclist, you stay classy Cleveland.

Cleveland Area Rides UNITE! & Lean Look Numbers

Well "that time" is just around the corner. What, you are asking yourself, is "that time"? "That time" (this is annoying now) is pothole season in Cleveland! Why am I excited about that? I'll tell you...

You see, if you live in Cleveland you know that certain things happen during pothole season. The most important of things is that the weather starts to break. That is, it gets warm! With the warm weather the air becomes less cold & painful, the rains come to wash away the six inch base of powdered rock salt, and it becomes prime time to get back on the bike... OUTSIDE! Ahhhh, it has been too long since I've been on the road bike and for a proper ride, no less.

What I'd love to do this year is something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. I would like to get some rides together. This is where you come in. I want to set up rides, initially, in the Cleveland area. By Cleveland I am talking about a huge distance. Like West Side Cleveland, Cleveland proper, and East Side. An Example can be Lakewood rides, Mentor rides and Tow Path Rides. Another example can be Berea, Willoughby, Euclid. These are just ideas, but the point is I'm interested in a few places around Greater Cleveland.

Once I get this going, I'd love to help people publicize their rides cross country, you know... Like a ride clearing house of sorts. A resource to find a ride in your city, or in a city you're visiting but would like to get in on a ride while you are there. How cool would that be? You could find another readers local ride, and meet up while you are in their neighborhood.

Of course, I would have to insist that anyone who used this would have to understand that they are using it at their own risk, and that the blog, it's owners, it's owners families & friends, anyone who may post on the blog, etc. assume no responsibility and do not imply or express any sort of warranty, yada yada yada. If you think you might be interest, please contact me HERE and we can start to make something happen.

Also, my numbers for the Lean Look! See, I didn't forget...

Weight: 183.3
Waist: 16.5
Neck: 15.5
Body Fat % Calculation Estimate: 21

Missing The Bike

I just want to say a quick thank you for the kind thoughts and words emailed or facebooked to me regarding the passing of my grandmother. Thank you so much! The funeral was very nice, and relatively happy. All things considered, of course.

Today, I am going to warn you early, is going to be a bit lame. It was a rough weekend. Got NOTHING done, and have no motivation to post. I do have something quick to say, then I'll wrap it up until tomorrow.

In the cold tundra that is the Great Lakes region of the US the winters just suck! Today there was a high of, like, twenty and crazy wind gusts. What this means is that I, not being as terribly hardcore as some, was off the bike today. I was, however, out and about in the weather. Did I mention it sucks? I am at the point of winter that almost every Clevelander gets to. You see, everyone eventually decides that they have had it with winter.

Cleveland has had a particularly long, cold, and snowy winter. We are now at an unusual point. We are at the point where most people are starting to contemplate moving south. A perfect example of this? I had the opportunity to move to AZ some years ago and did not. What the hell was I thinking?!

Here's the bottom line; I need to get in gear. I need to

1) Learn the damn rollers
2) Find the time to learn the damn rollers
3) Make enough money to allow for better training
4) Make enough money to afford better (read: professional) training
5) Get the freaking weights I've needed to get for about six months

Ugh... That's about all I have for now. Tomorrow we'll start anew... Hopefully things will start to turn around real soon.