The weekend and on into Monday
Friday I picked up my PowerTap took it into Willy Bikes and got my cassette, skewer and tire transfered over. Setting up a wireless PowerTap takes only the amount of time it takes to put on the computer bracket (unfortunately I only had one orange zip tie so I could match the zip ties to my bar tape and frame).
Saturday I did the Brazen Dropouts ride with John D, Greg A, David P., Andrew G. and Dave B. Good group to ride with -- good wheels to follow and a nice pace. I was a passenger on their group all the way to Belleville. I peeled off there and headed back home via Fritz and Riverside. It was fascinating looking at the PowerTap computer and seeing how many watts I put out on various climbs. Don't worry though as I won't be one of those people who posts power files or goes on endlessly about my max wattage. That's not my style . . . and I wouldn't be impressing anyone.
My next Saturday undertaking was to finish removing the side hedge that I had started hacking down on Monday. For the last 10 years I've been thinking about removing it and Dave and I finally got it done. It was looking pretty scraggly and the yard looks much bigger without it. Now I just need to work on starting some grass seed where the hedge was that is now just dirt.
On Sunday Dave and I went out for just a couple of hours of riding. Then it was boring stuff like laundry, house cleaning and grocery shopping. This week when we went to the local mexican market to get fresh corn tortillas we also picked up some cactus. I've been thinking about buying some for a few weeks now and I finally did it. You can't go wrong with 2 lbs of fresh off the press tortillas for $1 and $0.60 for some cactus. Unfortunately our vegetable peeler was not the right kind for cleaning cactus so it was a difficult undertaking so before I get anymore I need to get a better peeler. However, I sauteed up the cactus with some various squashes to go with some black beans, salsa, sunflower seeds and queso fresco to go in the fresh tortillas. Tasty. I have some pears to make pear salsa for later this week as 2 lbs of tortillas go a long way.
I started reading the "Omnivore's Dilemma" today which is an interesting look at 4 different meals and the ethical and environmental issues surrounding each. I haven't gotten too far yet but I did enjoy some of the chapters dealing with farmers and some of the changes that took place in the early '70s that made farming more difficult financially. That was around the time that my parents went from a small "hobby" farm to a larger farming operation. It really helped me better understand the challenges they faced . . . which as a grade schooler I didn't know anything about. We'll see if I still like the book after I read the chapters on vegetarianism . . .
Monday was back to work. I had a lot going on today and had a meeting with the DOT Secretary. That's always a big day at the office. Seemed to go well though.
This afternoon it was off to Badger Prairie County Park to meet with the Park Planner. I had the opportunity to explain cyclocross to him and discuss my ideas for building a cyclocross specific course there. He seemed to like the idea and I assured him that local cxers would be willing to help build it and raise any funds that were needed. I should have a better idea of where we stand in a month as right now he is just meeting with user groups to get input.
Riding back home from the park there was a kid selling lemonade along the bike path. I always stop when I see that and he also had frozen juice icicle things. That may have been the best commute home ever as those things are perfect for eating/drinking on a hot day while you ride. The cost was a quarter but I gave the kid a dollar since it was such a delightful treat.
Then it was on to the Mad FORCs "family night" with teammates, their families, some riding and some good food. We went out to Quarry Ridge and I spent most of the time chasing the kids around. Good times!
Tomorrow is the last Practice Crit of the season and my Tuesday night duties will be over for another year (and likely for the last time altogether as I plan to retire as the corner guard coordinator).
Saturday I did the Brazen Dropouts ride with John D, Greg A, David P., Andrew G. and Dave B. Good group to ride with -- good wheels to follow and a nice pace. I was a passenger on their group all the way to Belleville. I peeled off there and headed back home via Fritz and Riverside. It was fascinating looking at the PowerTap computer and seeing how many watts I put out on various climbs. Don't worry though as I won't be one of those people who posts power files or goes on endlessly about my max wattage. That's not my style . . . and I wouldn't be impressing anyone.
My next Saturday undertaking was to finish removing the side hedge that I had started hacking down on Monday. For the last 10 years I've been thinking about removing it and Dave and I finally got it done. It was looking pretty scraggly and the yard looks much bigger without it. Now I just need to work on starting some grass seed where the hedge was that is now just dirt.
On Sunday Dave and I went out for just a couple of hours of riding. Then it was boring stuff like laundry, house cleaning and grocery shopping. This week when we went to the local mexican market to get fresh corn tortillas we also picked up some cactus. I've been thinking about buying some for a few weeks now and I finally did it. You can't go wrong with 2 lbs of fresh off the press tortillas for $1 and $0.60 for some cactus. Unfortunately our vegetable peeler was not the right kind for cleaning cactus so it was a difficult undertaking so before I get anymore I need to get a better peeler. However, I sauteed up the cactus with some various squashes to go with some black beans, salsa, sunflower seeds and queso fresco to go in the fresh tortillas. Tasty. I have some pears to make pear salsa for later this week as 2 lbs of tortillas go a long way.
I started reading the "Omnivore's Dilemma" today which is an interesting look at 4 different meals and the ethical and environmental issues surrounding each. I haven't gotten too far yet but I did enjoy some of the chapters dealing with farmers and some of the changes that took place in the early '70s that made farming more difficult financially. That was around the time that my parents went from a small "hobby" farm to a larger farming operation. It really helped me better understand the challenges they faced . . . which as a grade schooler I didn't know anything about. We'll see if I still like the book after I read the chapters on vegetarianism . . .
Monday was back to work. I had a lot going on today and had a meeting with the DOT Secretary. That's always a big day at the office. Seemed to go well though.
This afternoon it was off to Badger Prairie County Park to meet with the Park Planner. I had the opportunity to explain cyclocross to him and discuss my ideas for building a cyclocross specific course there. He seemed to like the idea and I assured him that local cxers would be willing to help build it and raise any funds that were needed. I should have a better idea of where we stand in a month as right now he is just meeting with user groups to get input.
Riding back home from the park there was a kid selling lemonade along the bike path. I always stop when I see that and he also had frozen juice icicle things. That may have been the best commute home ever as those things are perfect for eating/drinking on a hot day while you ride. The cost was a quarter but I gave the kid a dollar since it was such a delightful treat.
Then it was on to the Mad FORCs "family night" with teammates, their families, some riding and some good food. We went out to Quarry Ridge and I spent most of the time chasing the kids around. Good times!
Tomorrow is the last Practice Crit of the season and my Tuesday night duties will be over for another year (and likely for the last time altogether as I plan to retire as the corner guard coordinator).
posted by MadCross at 10:07 PM
1 Comments:
Try also "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. Same genral topic, different style.
-Karin from MA
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