RIDING IS BELIEVING...

A few days ago I was looking back through the few entries I've posted here and to my surprise I really haven't done too much in the way cycling. Everyone has one thing (at a minimum) they're obsessed with. For some it's fashion. For some it's golf. For some it's the Twilight book series. For some it's a celebrity. For some it's a song. For some it's a destination. For some it's a food. For me, it's CYCLING. Based strictly on personal experience, it seems a lot of people don't quite understand my obsession. To me it's more than something I learned to do when I was a kid. It's more than something I'll never forget how to do and will always be able to pick back up, God willing. It's more than spending lots of money to look goofy while exercising. I've never been able to articulate cycling in a way that seems fulfilling or complete to me. I stumbled across a website while looking at new bikes a few months ago and it chronicles the first season of the Cervelo Test Team, a Swiss based pro cycling team. This is probably the best representation of what cycling is to me, and if nothing else these videos look at cycling for more of an artistic perspective than anywhere else that I've seen. Great images.Visually stimulating.Emotional. Fun.

If this doesn't help then maybe the best thing would be to go pick up a road bike and see for yourself, because RIDING IS BELIEVING.

Do yourself a favor and take a look.These videos are best viewed in HD so they take a little longer to load.
I apologize. I'll update this post as more videos surface.













more to follow....

Ya Done Best Have Your Witz Aboutcha

An old co-worker and friend of mine, Erica,
sent me a link today...I'm totally diggin' it.

Discovery is the recording project of Rostam
Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) and Wes
Miles (Ra Ra Riot). Guest vocals from Ezra
Koening (Vampire Weekend). Below are a few
songs off their debut album simply named "LP."
The record hits in the US on July 7th.
Check it out!

TDF Drama....as if you cared.

Courtesy of Bicycling.com...

Amid sponsorship turmoil and just days before the Tour de France, Alberto Contador had a deal to leave Astana and race against Lance.

by Joe Lindsey

With the news last week that its Kazakh sponsors had finally made good on their financial obligations after months of non-payment, it seemed like the Astana team could face its biggest goal of the season, the Tour de France, without distraction. But the team that takes the start in Monaco could be a badly fractured squad, riven with trust issues and power struggles that, under the pressure of the Tour, could explode.

Happier days? Lance and Contador at Astana's pre-season camp in Teberife.

A source within the team told Bicycling that when Astana looked like it would default on its obligations, a new structure had been set up to supercede it. Two different sources close to the team confirmed, also anonymously, that the team name was going to be Livestrong-Nike. Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong raced last Sunday’s Nevada City Classic on an all-black Trek Madone wearing Livestrong kit; his teammates, Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, rode in Astana team clothing.

“About three weeks ago, we learned that there could be a new sponsor, and that it was Livestrong-Nike,” said one of the outside sources, while the other said that they first heard the possibility of the new team structure about two days before the team switched to its “faded” Astana logo outfits at the Giro d’Italia.

The source within the team said that 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador assured manager Johan Bruyneel of his desire to stay with Livestrong-Nike, but was at the same time also quietly talking with Garmin-Slipstream about switching teams should Astana default on his contract. Garmin manager Jonathan Vaughters could not immediately be reached for comment. Sources have also confirmed that Contador was in discussions with Caisse d’Epargne.

Significantly, the Astana team source said, Garmin was said to be not only signing Contador, but also his Astana teammates Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, and bringing aboard Contador’s preferred mechanic and soigneur from Astana. Herbalife, which sells weight loss and nutritional supplements via multi-level marketing, was said to be willing to contribute $2 million as a co-sponsor to sign the riders and staff for the remainder of 2009.

That deal was initially set to be announced last Saturday (and, according to the team source, Felt bikes were already on the way to Contador), and the Livestrong-Nike deal, said two of Bicycling’s sources, was also alive until just before the weekend.

But unexpectedly, Astana’s Kazakh sponsors derailed all those plans. In conjunction with the federal government and, according to some reports, an unnamed American corporation with business interests in the region, Astana managed on Thursday to make good on the $6 million bank guarantee that the UCI required.

What this makes clear is that the team’s uncertain sponsorship was not its biggest potential problem. Astana is far from a cohesive unit. Although the strongest team in the race on paper, with Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden all confirmed to start, their internal divisions could fracture the team and cost them the Tour de France.

Paulinho and Noval are among seven riders who are competing for three remaining spots on the team’s Tour squad. If Paulinho and Noval make the Tour roster, it could mean that the team could develop an even sharper split in allegiances, with riders such as Leipheimer and Chris Horner backing Armstrong, and others backing Contador. If Bruyneel leaves Paulinho and Noval off the Tour team (for that reason or others), then it could mean Contador would be isolated, vying for a second Tour win against his own team.

There has also been discussion of Contador forming alternate alliances, with Caisse d’Epargne leader Alejandro Valverde saying he would help Contador where possible – provided Valverde, who is banned from racing in Italy, even starts. The race’s 16th stage crosses briefly into Italy.

It also seems clear that Contador will switch teams when his contract is up after 2009. And Astana’s problems are far from past as well. The UCI announced in a brief statement today that its License Commission was provisionally suspending its procedure to withdraw Astana’s ProTour license. But the UCI said that the suspension was for an “unspecified length of time” and could be reactivated if necessary. In May, Armstrong mentioned he wanted to launch his own team in 2010.

With just 12 days to go before the start in Monaco, the only thing that seems clear at this point is that, for all its strength, Astana’s biggest opponent at the Tour may be Astana. Whether Armstrong, Contador or some other challenger will emerge victorious, only the race will tell.

And then....

My "work spouse" sent me this....

al;asdkuhgvpaosd

It's not worth the long story. Just watch this all the way through....then image your boss was the person to send this to you. What does that mean?

Courtesy of Brandon

Worth a chuckle....and if you can't laugh at this, GO AWAY!

Bicyclist Harassment Ordinance Passed

Don't mess with Texas, or in this case Missouri.
More states should follow suit.
Bicyclist Harassment Ordinance Passed

Let me know what you think

So I've been thinking about starting a "Song of the Day" for my blog. I seem to struggle for content sometimes, but I can't imagine I'll ever draw a blank when it comes to music . I can't guarantee I will post one everyday, but I'll do my best.

Everyone knows the first video played on MTV was "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles. Don't worry, I wouldn't intentionally subject anyone to that song. The first song that I remember seeing/hearing on MTV (besides "Zombie" by The Cranberries) was when I was 13. I think at that point my parents were still against me watching MTV due to our good friends "Bevis and Butthead", but I was a real rebel and watched anyway.

Here it is. Maybe it will bring back good memories for you, as it does for me.



let me know what you think of the song.......

Google Wave: The future of internet communication?

I hope so.

This is a little long, but it's worth skimming through if you don't have the time.

Mrunal's first ride.....

Yesterday some of my buddies and I went out for what was Mrunal's first ride on what was once my first road bike. Below is the conversation I had with Clint on Gchat this morning about his eventful night....Proof that Mrunal always ruins things.

Clint: you there?

me: ya man, u?

Clint: yup,operating under the radar

A- did you bring your running stuff?

me: i did not

i was running late today..and will have to stay to make that time up probably

i will the next time for sho

whats the next question?

Clint: just a story

hold on one second

me: k

Clint: so, last night at 1:30, mrunal wakes me up because someone had broken into my car trying to steal our bikes

they had gotten mrunal's out and were struggling with mine, when the cops showed up

they took off running and didn't actually steal anything

me: are you serious dude?

that is crazy

did u guys call the cops?

or how did that all go down?

were the guys caught?

Clint: mrunal woke up to my car alarm going off...and the idiots had gotten his bike out, but were struggling with my bike (size) because they were, for some reason, trying to pull it out the backseat passenger door, and never raised the back hatch, so mru called the cops, and they showed up and they guys took off----they left behind some of their stuff....so once the officers learn the value of the bikes, they upgraded the possible charge to attempted grand larceny, and called in a dog team and a helo to search for these guys...and found one hiding behind a house in our neighborhood, and as of 4AM hadn't found the other one

totally insane
me: see this is what happens when mrunal gets involved

Arlington: The Rap

WHAT!

Happy Birthday/Hump Day...

To my good friend, DI. He's older than dirt today. Happy birthday man!

In other news, Storm knocks over tree at White House. If you really need to read the article feel free to click the link, but the title says exactly the same thing in less words. Thanks breitbart.com for absolutely nothing (pathetic). Instead, save yourself from the Wednesday-brain-drain and use the energy to drink a 23oz (that's fluid ounces) domestic draft at Don Pablo's for $3 with friends. You're probably thinking "that is a great deal for bad beer". Yes, yes it is. What's even better is - - that's the all-day-every-day price.

This Bud's for EU, Danny. I dare you to drink $15 worth of Don Pablo's finest on you birthday (taxes not included).

Please drink responsibly - and avoid the North Lawn of the White House in t-storms.

Cheers.

What would the world be like without the internet?

First things first....click the song below and let it play while reading this. The guitar intro is pretty long...but bear with me. I'll talk about the song as I go and you'll probably be done reading before the first lyric.



I'm still on this huge Jeff Buckley trip. After my post about finding my way back to JB, where I posted the two videos, I went digging through my "Jeff Buckley Discography" folder on my desktop. I think it takes up something like 2 gigs of space. I heard this song "strange fruit" from the Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk). It immediately caught my ear. I started working some of my voodoo computer magic (via Wikipedia) where I learned this song was JB's version of a poem written by Abel Meeropol and later performed as a song most famously by Billie Holiday.

Meeropol wrote "Strange Fruit" to express his horror at lynchings after seeing Lawrence Beitler's photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in Marion, Indian. He published the poem in 1936 in The New York Teacher, a union magazine.

Here are the lyrics:

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Sure, it's depressing, but this poem/song will hold its place in time. I love learning that a song I like has serious substance and isn't just created to make a quick buck (thank you, Soulja Boy).

Big Tree Fall Hard

So I got in 65 miles of riding yesterday. Unfortunately the sun hadn't dried up all the rain, leading to slick wooden bridges, which lead to my 6'10", 300 pound riding buddy hitting the deck. He came in a turn on one of boardwalks and bam. All I can say is I've never seen anything quite like it. Thankfully he's OK.

We got back and inhaled $5 Foot longs from Subway (eat fresh). Clint left to study for the LSAT and I headed back out for round two.

I'm about to finish up my bowl of cheerios and suit up for my first "group ride" headed up by Spokes, Etc, which in my opinion is one of the better bike shops in the DC area. Should be interesting. I'm counting on this going well because the rest of my day is going to involve serious apartment cleaning. :|

Saturday Sun

The rain has passed and I'm heading out this morning with Clint for an attempt at a long haul in the saddle. DI is jealous - I know. Buy a bike already dude!

I'll let you know how it goes.

I've had this song in my head for weeks. There's something simple about it...and I like the guitar parts.



Gotta go get ready.

Perspective: A double dose of DOUBLE YOU TEE EFF

Today was at best "meh". Let's just say the day's highlight was coming outside COB to a beating sun. It was such a bad day that the 80% humidity didn't even phase me. I immediately popped in my ear buds and headed hastily toward the metro, striding to the tempo of Jeff Buckley/Gary Lucas's Cruel - cloaked in an exaggerated scowl.

(insert metro rail ride across the Potomac in a train with a broken air conditioner)

I ran up the Pentagon's metro escalator and sprinted to catch the 16D bus. As I'm sprinting to catch this bus I only continue to sweat and I'm cursing the fact that I'll have a long hike to my place....16D drops me off blocks from my apartment.

I was convinced it couldn't get anything worse.

I sat down in the elevated section at the back of the bus to catch my breath. As always, I recognized half of the people (even the laughing cowboy that Erin gets so weirded out by....and in her defense, this guy is really weird) on the bus. Not that I keep a mental playlist of my commutes, but the song that came on turned out to be strangely appropriate for the way the remainder of my ride panned out. Melody Gardot's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow came on just as the guy sitting next me (who was a real bench hog) got a phone call. Clearly he, like so many other bus-riding multitaskers, spoke at a volume where the guy in the car next to us could hear the conversation. Over the music I could make out that he was speaking to his significant other. It was as this point that the guy sitting to my left got a phone call. He had to yell louder than the bench hog to even hear himself think. I heard something about "Nah man,my cousin is in jail". I thought this was too good, so I paused my music but kept my ear buds in.

These are the two abridged versions of their conversations that lasted longer than my ride home:

Bench Hog: This guy was discussing with his significant other about job opportunities. He looked like a tired guy in his mid to late 40's and seemed/gave of the vibe of a well educated man. For whatever reason (ha) this guy had been jobless for quite some time he was discussing
how great it was to get a call back from a potential employer, close to where they live that paid $10/hour. My first thought was I really feel bad for this guy. You could hear in this guys voice that it was painfully demoralizing to even entertain a job like that at his current place in life, yet he had what seemed to be the right frame of mind and a good attitude about the whole situation.

Guy with incarcerated cousin: His conversation was much more perforated so it was harder to assemble the linear progression of these brow-raising comments and exclamations. I heard the following in broken English: Nah, man my first cousin....ya, it's killing my mother...my cousin's roommate ate some of his food from the fridge an my cuz caught him in the act...there were gunshots and stab wounds...the only reason we even know was because his roommate called 911 before he died.

Skeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrapdsokfjasdkfjadpsfkja. WHAT?

It was really hard to process both of these conversations at the same time. By the time I got home I felt a little more adjusted, but awful for both of those guys on the bus and even more awful for being such a pansy to let such trivial things effect me so much. I'm still trying to process my thoughts and feelings about the entire event.

My daily directive of Dr. Phil(esque) digestible drip (alliteration: who said English wasn't fun in HS?) is when you're having a bad day/feeling down/ in a bad mood, pick a complete stranger on the street and try to imagine what is going on in that person's life. Most people (reference above) have something equally awful, annoying and unfortunate going on in their lives too. Try to keep your head up. It's too easy to dwell on the negative, rather then revel in the sweet. Don't forget to acknowledge the sweet.

Maybe I'm the only one who loses perspective, but my guess is most of us do. The good news though is that somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue.

Here's to a wonderful Thursday.

Chicken & Chi Chi's

You've probably already seen this commercial...If you haven't, watch it about 5 times and I guarantee you'll catch yourself saying "I want Chicken & Chi Chis".



Who's hungry?

Aging Fascination; Borderline Obsession

Many know of him, and too many still don't. Brad Pitt (I think it's weird he's in the film) actually says something very similar to that in the first video posted below, and I agree with him when he said that there is something still really cool about that.

Seven years ago I was introduced to Jeff Buckley, and six days from now will mark the twelfth anniversary of his death. He's one of those singer-songwriters that didn't do much for me initially. Thankfully time goes on and tastes change - - now I would list him as one of my all-time favorite artists. I think it's safe to say that my music tastes and horizons have greatly expanded, and looking back it doesn't make sense to me how I could have brushed him off as "boring" or "uninteresting".

I randomly seem to wander back through his discography and completely fall back in love with his work.

I recommend watching both of these videos. It's definitely worth the time investment.

I have what doctors call a little bit of a weight problem....

I think I'm going to need to pedal faster so this stops happening.

Update: April in Rewind

In April I:
- Did not make it out to the Cherry Blossom Festival
- Went to New York
- Went to Roanoke for Alumni Weekend
- Celebrated the long awaited warmth by riding my bike
- Crashed a sweet dinner party in Stafford
- Crashed my bike in Erin's parking lot
- Got laughed at by the guys who watched me crash
- Yelled awful, dirty, fowl curses at my bike shoes
- Bonked
- Played a round of golf
- Bought Melody Gardot's new album (tre bien)
- Went shopping for summer clothes
In the coming weeks I am:
- Going to Winchester for Apple Blossom
- Traveling to FL for Erika's college graduation
- Going to a wedding
- hoping I get a weekend off
Now I am:
- Going to bed

Look Mah, no brakes

So much to report and yet all I want to do is watch bike videos. I'll get to it eventually....I promise.

Lobster Legs

Alright, so I lied. We have plenty of sun tan lotion, however, after 25 years of being the closest thing to an albino, I've yet to learn how to apply lotion to my legs. In this case the nickname I acquired in college, Red Bacon, definitely applies. The picture below is only here because my mom thinks it's a good one (go figure). Keep your comments to yourself!

FLying home.

In thirty minutes I'm making my way out to Dulles and I'm heading back to Florida to spend the weekend with my mom in Naples. It's been almost a year since we've seen each other (hard to believe).

Yes, don't worry, I have enough sun tan lotion.

SPANDEX IS DANGEROUS

I think I'm going to buy one of these. Often I only have 3 inches of room on the roads shared with the "iron horse", let alone 3 feet. Here's a tip for you next driving experience: Don't Kill Bike Riders.

http://www.3feetplease.com/

Music is the Junk, kid!

This random girl came up to me at the bar tonight. We talked for a little bit, and my safe haven for an uncomfortable conversation with someone I don't know and would rather not be talking to is music. That's where I'm most comfortable. For the sake of this conversation, we shall refer to this female as "girl". For any of the few who read this, if anyone actually does, I apologize if this sounds bad.

GIRL: "Kyle, who is your favorite band?"
KYLE: "Well, girl I'm not intrigued by, my favorite band is Junkie Rush."
GIRL: "Who is Junkie Rush?"
KYLE: "The best band in the world"
GIRL: "No really, who are they?"
KYLE: "They're a local Orlando band with a very eclectic range of influences that I associate some of my best memories of FL with. (Ending sentences with prepositions is the new hotness, despite what some might think)

Blah, blah, blah. JR is coming out with their first album of new tracks since my sophomore year in college. I've heard several of the songs at the lives shows that I have been attending (when I can) for years. Needless to say, this is some of the best news I've heard in a long time. I also don't want to neglect their most recent LIVE album which deserves equal acclaim to JR and JRII.

I encourage everyone interested in worthwhile music to check them out at www.junkierush.com / www myspace.com/junkierush

FUN FACT: I've yet to introduce JR to someone who did not end up loving their work.

So, if you're From The Dirt, Sitting On A Wave, or have a Cross On Your Back, then enjoy what they've prepared FYE = FOR YOUR EYES!

Junkie Rush New Album Promo

Keep up the great work fellas.

K

Friday's Fun Fact

I worked as a barista for about a year in college at a coffee establishment other than Starbucks. You would never see Starbucks in my cup (probably cause I never had to pay for drinks where I worked). Now, the only place to get a cup of coffee that doesn't taste like dirty dishwater is Starbucks. This little fun fact was on my second cup of coffee yesterday. Interesting to think about...The Way I See It #51 Americans spend an average of 29 hours a week watching television - which means in a typical life span we devote 13 uninterrupted years to our TV set! The biggest problem with mass media isn't low quality - it's high quantity. Cutting down just an hour a day would provide extra years of life - for music and family, exercise and reading, conversation and coffee. --Michael Medved Author of Right Turns and radio talk show host.

"I'm strangely attracted to the female bartender"

On the prowl for diverse musical acts (as always), I found myself back at Jammin Java. Either their do a great job booking acts or I just feel the need to drive 25 minutes once a week for a cup of jo. I suppose there's an argument for both . Rob, Nicole, Erin and I went to see Andy McKee . Not your mainstream show by any means. Either you love him, or you fall asleep waiting for the vocals to kick in. I took some videos and planned on posting them but I came across a YouTube user who sat much closer with better video quality so I decided to take that route. Here ... also, please note his version of the Tears For Fears song, "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".

Welcome to my blog, mae I get you something to drink?!

Blogging = pulling teeth.
Hope the Novocaine kicks in and this gets easier as we go.
I saw Mae tonight.
I've been a fan since my sophomore year at Roanoke College.
Their live shows have yet to disappoint.
They played at Jammin Java.
That's in Vienna, VA.
Jeniec drank coffee (lame).
Rob and I enjoyed Irish Car Bombs.

Rob also tried to negotiate a deal with the "merch girl".

Rob's proposal:

• 1 CD
• 1 peck
• $8

Rob got:

• 2 CD's
• $7
  
• 0 pecks
• Yelled at by Jeniec