Frozen Water Bottles

- So you read about me getting dropped on the allegedly easy Saturday ride. (It was only easy for Cat III's). Yeah, that sucked, but I packed it in because I was toast, and damn well didn't feel like trying to sprint to bridge up to catch on to a ride that was going at a pretty tough uphill pace for my fat self. Talking about recent bummers with a local female pro roadie, I mentioned this ride and said "I'm thinking about quitting the team rides for a while, except for where it's just a few guys I can trust to do real LSD. I don't need another hour and fifteen ten beats over threshold, not any time this side of late January anyhow." Her comment in return: "Yeah... sucks when you ride like you know what you are doing." That was the perfect injection of common sense that I needed. Color me slow as mud, at least until February, folks. It's the right way if your goal is anything other than winning the winter training races.

- I have mentioned passing a bunch of complete hotties who jog on the Capital Crescent trail near Bethesda/Chevy Chase most mornings, real early. Weeelll... I was passing by the group this morning and one goes, "Oh, there's that racer." I thought that was pretty cool, notice and be noticed. Not like I'm straying or anything, but a man likes to look. So I was flattered that I made an impression. On the other hand, I was really whizzing along and she may have said "It's that fucking fat racer." So maybe it wasn't such a good thing.

- Think you're a tough guy? Fine. Go here, read about fixed gear 'cross and MTB racing, and then get back to me.

- Time for a shoutout to some great local (D.C. / Mid-Atlantic area) cross-oriented cycling blogs. Chris Nystrom is near the top - strong 'crosser, likes Belgian beer. There's a lot to be said for that. Then there's Gwadzilla. Don't know the guy, wouldn't mind getting bombed and riding fixed gear with him, sounds like my kind of peeple. Howzabout Joe Foley, another strong 'crosser and ramblin' blogger man? Then there's Fat Marc. He ain't fat. What he is, is fast. Someday soon I'll get off my lazy butt and blogroll these guys.

- Also, here's a shoutout for my man, Kevin Dillard. He rides okay, but takes some great photos. He's also the only guy who has captured my "Fat Silverback Gorilla Suffering Like Hell at the Hands of a Vicious Single Speed Cross Bike" face.

Graham Watson captures pro landscapes like nobody else, but Kevin knows how to show amateur suffering at its finest. He's a nice guy too.

- Finally, and maybe most importantly, here's a shoutout for Jonathan Seibold. The lovely Sarah delivered a girl, Willow, last Friday. Feel free to stop by his shop, Family Bikes, and contribute to her college / Colnago fund. I'm sure you'll get lovely prizes in return, like chain lube or a bike or a tire, commensurate with your donation.