Trail Rant...

Oldie from a Dallas Biker Forum. Freaking funny.


I know this is a rant but whatever, I put it in the rant section also. Every once in a while I take an easy ride on the Minuteman bike path. By the time I am done I swear never again. A month later I want to go to the fells and repeat the same mistake again. I know the bike path is for everyone but HOLY shit there are some really annoying people on it.
1) Two-A-Breasters: There is a reason the bike path has a yellow line. You ass wipes ride (or walk) side by side and hog the whole thing. Get with the program! The only good thing about you are your screams of fright as I blow by you without warning.
2) Queer-Eye-For-The-Biker-Guy: I realize that it is possible to buy an entire suit made from Spandex. It is also possible to beat off with a cheese grater, that doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea. If you were you going fast enough to make wind resistance an issue I might be more understanding but you are usually granny-gearing it as you swerve around trying to adjust your $200 sunglasses. Spend less time buying expensive crap and more time riding.
3) Slow-And-Lowers: Do you know that you can adjust your bike seat so that you don’t look like a bear riding a mini-bike at the circus? Take the 30 goddamn seconds to raise the freakin’ seat. Your back will thank you and you’ll be able to break 12 miles per hour with out blowing out a knee cap.
4) Sky-Bar-Enders: Bar ends ARE NOT for getting your hand six inches above the handle bars. They should not be pointing straight up in the goddamn air! If you don’t know exactly why you would want bar ends then YOU DON’T NEED THEM. They are not a convenient resting place for your chubby hands. They are for getting your weight forward during a STEEP TECHNICAL CLIMB. I hope you impale yourself on them after you hit a tree because you couldn’t reach the brake lever in time.
5) Richie-Dick: Yah you, the guy with the $3000 full suspension big hit bike poking along the bike trail. The biggest hit you have ever taken was when you got butt raped by the guy who sold you that bike. YOU SUCK! You are the same dumbass who buys a Hummer so you can gun it when you roll over some construction on Mass Ave. You buy a sweet bike and then ride it on freakin’ pavement. I know you have never hit the trail cause’ there is NO DIRT on the thing. Not a speck. Plus you look like a *****. Either take it off pavement or give it to someone who will.
6) On-Your-Late: Ok there is absolutely nothing wrong with a well timed “On your left” but here is the thing. The whole point of saying it is to warn the rider in front of you that you will soon pass them. Not that you are already next to them on their left side! If your bike is next to mine, IT’S TOO FREAKIN LATE. If we were going to collide we would have. You screaming “On your left” in my ear at that point will only increase the chances of me making an error and crashing into you. Just pass, you re-tread.
7) The HFS (Huge ****ing Stroller): HOLY shit! Are you running a cloning lab? If your stroller needs a brake it’s too damn big. Take your kids to the playground and play some tag or something. Jesus, there are bikes flying by at 30 miles per hour. If one hits you, your kid will ****ing die. I know you think the world will stop for you and your precious little angels but get a clue. Three words; “Severe Head Trauma”.
8) Woof-Woof-Splat: Keep your dog on a leash, you ass. First of all it’s the ****ING LAW. Second of all your dog is dumb. So dumb in fact, that it will run in front of my bike to eat some piece of shit left by another jackass dog walker. I WILL hit your dog. I will not get killed or hurt somebody else trying to swerve around Fido. I almost died last year trying to avoid an unleashed dog and will not repeat the mistake. I love dogs but I like my unbroken bones better. Take responsibility for your pet.
9) Roller Bladers: You all suck ass, flailing your arms wildly as you coast along on your roller skates. YES, they are roller skates and thus, quite lame. I don’t care if the wheels are “inline”. You jackasses suck so hard I have to break you down into sub-categories of suck.
9.A) Newbi-Tard: You people are ridiculous. You are all decked out in helmets and pads. You mostly look terrified as your usually fat ass careens down the very slight grade of the trail. Here is a hint. If you don’t know how to STOP then it probably isn’t safe for you or anyone else for you to be on the path. I swear one of you is gonna fall in front of me and get an imprint of my front sprocket on your fat thighs.
9.B) Pack Of Newbi-Tards: See above but clustered together, literally hanging onto each other for protection. You are worse than the individuals. You take up the WHOLE TRAIL so nobody can pass. Heed the dirty looks you get and go find a freaking parking lot. I hope to kick one of you as I ride by and watch as you all fall over in a flabby whimpering heap.
9.C) Hot Chicks With Skimpy Outfits: The only reason you suck is because you are fully clothed and make me slow down to check you out. Other than that you rock.
9.D) Super Sweet Doooods: You guys are sooo ****ing gay it’s not even funny. You think you are awesome as you take up the whole trail gliding back and forth in super sweet slow motion. I dream of you flying off the trail and getting wrapped around a tree.
People Of Mention:
Having been on the path more than a few times I have come to recognize a select few people who require special attention.
The kid who shot me with a plastic BB gun: I saw you hiding behind the bush well before you shot me. You were lucky I was going fast when the yellow BB hit my chest and thus had to slow down a little before leaping off my bike and chasing you as far as your back yard. You were scared shitless which is good because you could kill someone doing that shit. If I ever see you again you won’t be so lucky.
The 35 people who rode by me pretending I didn’t exist as I asked for a spare tube or a patch kit after blowing both of my spare tubes: You all suck ass. A very nice lady eventually stopped and gave me a patch. I know I was covered in mud but come on people. I always stop and ask people if they need help, common freaking courtesy.
The Decked Out Intense Midget Woman: OK you are not actually a midget but you do look very small. Or perhaps you look small in comparison to the mounds of crap attached to your mountain bike which is too big for you and I am sure has never left the pavement. Not only do you fall into categories 2, 4, 5 and 6. You were also one of the 35 jerks who didn’t help me. In fact you looked me in the eye and didn’t even slow down. I KNOW you have every sort of tool and tube imaginable packed away in your various slings and packs yet you rode by as if I were invisible. You look like a goddamn scuba diver with your neoprene outfit and mirrors sticking off of every available part of your bike. I see you on Mass Ave. from time to time in the morning on my way to work. You look retarded. And why do you hang a huge plastic bag from your bar ends?!?!?! It looks like your gear makes you waterproof to the depth of at least 15 meters. What are the bags doing? Worst of all YOU ARE SLOW!!!!! God you are slow. Jettison some of your useless shit and maybe I won’t blow by you 4 times in one ride.
Tubby Guy On The Tiny Road Bike: I’ve only seen you a few times. Once I passed you through an intersection not knowing that this would enrage you so much that you would be forced to almost hit me as you sprinted past me sneering. I must say I was impressed, you hauled ass dude. I’m guessing you didn’t keep it up very long tho. If I hadn’t been on the tail end of a five hour ride I would have raced.
Gay Guys On The Tandem Bike: I am assuming that you are gay simply because I don’t know any straight guys who would go in 50/50 on a bright yellow tandem Cannondale and then ride it regularly in spandex. Forgive me if I am wrong. I haven’t seen you guys in a year or so. You were my arch rivals. Holy crap you were fast. One time I kept up with you (on the downhill) for a few minutes and almost died. I swear you would slow down until I got close and then take off again. I salute you, you bright yellow bastards. Oh and good call making the one eyed guy ride in back.
People Who Rock: Yes there are some people who rock! I’m not a total *******.
Hard core road bikers: Holy crap you guys (and gals) are fast as hell, keep it up.
Mountain Unicyclers: I’ve seen you in the fells and there is only one word for you BADASS!!!!!!!!
Messengers/Anyone on a fixed gear with no brakes: You know it but I’ll say it anyway. Elite.
Trials Riders: I wish I had skills like that.
Little Kids with Big Helmets: You rock, two thumbs up!
See you on the Minuteman!!!!

Winter Solstice MOPP

Tuesday December 21st, 6:30pm
Red Rock Lounge
Colorado and 31st - ish

Bring Your Own Bottle. Head lamp, warm clothes.

Actual Solstice time is 11:38pm.

Bonus! Full Moon with a Lunar Eclipse that we should be able to see after midnight, if you can hang.

Notes: No Hash cash, No Circle. We might be out a while.

One down, Nine to go.

Beer #1 down in the OC Winter Tour; Old Chicago's Black Diamond Chocolate Porter. Pretty good brew.

Some tasty ones on this tour, so I'll suck it up and do it. 'Cuz I don't have many t-shirts. Here's the line-up:

Old Chicago Black Diamond Chocolate Porter
Samuel Adams Winter Lager
Chimay Trappist Ale
Stella Artois Belgian Lager
Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale
Boulder Never Summer Ale
New Belgium 2o Below Winter Ale
Odell Isolation Ale
Bristol Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale
Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Rocky Mountain Brewery Chai Porter

Excited to try RMB's Chai Porter. I sure could do without the Stella and the Blue Moon, though.

Kudos...

to Brewers Republic for having 7 different colorado brewery offerings on their 10 taps. For a while I was only seeing Rocky Mountain and Bristol. Both make good brews, but it's sure good to see a wider variety available.

Cheers!

4,125 Hail Marys and 832 Our Fathers

Forgive me, Incline. It's been 4 weeks since my last Ascent. School, a little work here and there, but primarily the accumulating pounds of fat on my ass and sheer laziness have kept me from a weekly visit to your lovely grade for a while.

Beautiful blue skies - you don't see that color in Texas. The temp is hovering around the freezing mark, but so far the sun is helping me out. The sun, and as usual, I am overdressed. Have to lose a shirt and my hat at the No Trespassing sign.

My quads are already griping at me. Geez, I'm really gonna have to hump it to keep katie in sight at New Orleans.

My lungs burn. My gin-drinking mentor would tell me to suck it up and move on, so I do. I crawl slowly toward the false summit, stopping occasionally to marvel at the landscape. I am very, very, fortunate to live here.

Usually when I'm on the Incline, my brain kinda jumps around to all the things bugging me that I'm procrastinating about. Same when I run, which is why I usually run alone. Gives me an opportunity to get some perspective. I do not have that opportunity today. No internal musings or half-formed decisions at my disposal.

False summit, finally. At least I don't have to worry about the beer getting hot today. Yes, I'm carrying PBRs. Shut it - that's how brownie trained me. Feel better now, but not moving any faster.

The top! Quick pic then off down the trail. My hands are freezing, even though I have gloves on. Good jog to the bottom. I take the trail that follows the creek down to Ruxton, my personal preference. The frozen geysers and over spray in the creek make me smile. I step between the gate and post at Ruxton and turn for a last look at the trail and the creek.

I think I heard the evergreens whisper, "See you next week, slacker".

Don't talk with your mouth full...

I love The Smoking Gun... constant offerings of 'tasty' tidbits like this one.

And don't forget to wipe your chin, dearies.

Gobble, gasp, gobble...

Turkey Day Tradition here in the Springs. Hike the Incline, drink your PBR at the top, then motor down the trail for potluck dinner and Plastic Gin at the Royale Tavern.



No worries - our fearless and oft-inebriated leader is right behind us, having run from home.

MountainHigh

Got my biz cards yesterday for MountainHigh Sports Massage.... Wheeeeeeeeeee!

Stop by the Free Demo Day and Expo at CityROCK Climbing Gym on Sat, Nov 20th starting at noon and say hi!

21 North Nevada
Colorado Springs, CO

Summer's Eve, Anyone?

If this doesn't qualify as assinine, I don't know what will. A West Virginia women has been jailed after threatening 2 men (one of which was her ex-husband) for not munching her bearded clam.

Read On...

Ewww.

Laughs from Purple Lloyd #1

When asked about his sex life at 80+, he responded "Well, I'm too old to cut the mustard, but I can still lick the jar."

Winter Slog #2

There's slow, there's tortoise sex slow, and then there's me.

Did PPRR WInter Series #2 this past Saturday. I wish I could say 'ran', but my 1:26 says otherwise. Ugh.

Here I am, climbing into 14th place overall for my age group...



14 outta 15. Mm Hmmm.

Eh Toi!!

FYI Hashtards...

What: Masquerade Birthday Bash
When: Friday, Feb 12th
Where: Somewhere in Manitou - details pending
Why: Why the Hell not??

Meet Purple Lloyd...

Manitou Springs icon Purple Lloyd makes his internet debut. See pic here.

Here is Lloyd showing us on his uber-fancy phone

and our fav Kinfolks bartender, Jessica, with it up on the big screen.

I'm afraid it's the Big House for you, Fruitcake!

Headed to Winter Series run #1 tomorrow in Cheyenne Mountain State Park, then back to Manitou to watch the last half of a Yearly Event there, The Great Fruitcake Toss.

This year's event is being held at the High School track, not Memorial Park. Git yer rules here.

I hear the FSM may make an appearance next year. Believe he was recently spotted in the North Pole, spreading Pastafarian religion to the elves, and just couldn't make it back.

Have YOU been touched by his noodley appendage?

Will someone tell me why in $*^%#!#%^ my phone won't spell 'blog'????

Retarded.

SuperDooperUberFast...

Uh, not.

In what will become a yearly tradition, I got my sorry butt out of bed on New Year's Day to go run the Rescue Run at Palmer Park. I sucked and did the short distance, and was duly chastised by both Yeti and Randi. He did shut up when he got his slice of the coveted Bacon Explosion...

Took me 35:01 and I took another verbal whippin' from jt for taking pics along the route. I was supposed to be 'racing'. ~Sigh~



No camera on the PPRR Winter Series races starting this Saturday. Promise.