Open call

This upcoming season will be my second season as a recreational cyclist in the Portland area. It could be a great year for learning but only yet suffice to say it, and I usually don't, I need your help.

The only question is how...

Introspective Seasonal Post

Since moving to Portland I've always found my visits in Seattle/Shoreline to be somewhat awkward and short lived, which leads me to my next point. I think this is the first since I moved to Portland that I've felt "at home" in some form or another, and I suppose I can thank the snow. For those not keeping up with the NW weather forecasts, Portland and Seattle have added to the "the weather is going to shit" theory by snowing for nearly three days. Anybody who has lived in either place can attest that if each area has gotten even as little as an hour of good snow, it has been a good year, but 2008 definitely outdid itself by truly leaving both cities, each with both of there singular snowplows, completely incapacitated; and in this case its a good thing.

I came up to Seattle this year with some plans in mind, train a little, try to hang out with friends, this and that but I've finally come to the conclusion that Shoreline is different for me. Its always been a weird little suburb so I might as well go along with it, if only for a little bit and just relax.

In other words, I've been snowed in for roughly four days, been outside twice, and thats just fine.

Cheers world

Winter-hella-tastic

Right now I'm listening to my dad watch the nutcracker, while it continues to snow, after doing very little today.

Yule tide joy if I've ever seen it.

Seattle Break

Seattle has been good thus far although it decided to dump snow like crazy. I've only gone outside once to day and that was to take this picture from my front porch... While I am tempted to take the bike out for a spin I feel as though I may freeze my fingers over again. I still can't feel six of them, thanks to the Portland snow.




This is what I've been doing the past day and a half. Taping, painting, drying, then painting again, and now marveling at my work. Well, mostly marveling there are a few mishaps here and there.




I don't know if it was a need to finish one of the many projects my mother starts and never finishes or the need to paint, yet whatever the reason our hallway is now the color of peanut butter. I'll update on the riding situation later as that should have its own dedicated post.





















A nice accent to an otherwise tapeless existence.

This year in racing

Christmas is fast approaching and now with the Portland Cyclocross season truly at an end I thought it might be a good idea to recap on my accomplishments, where I could improve; one of those compliment sandwiches that I've heard so much about.

Overall racing was good and considering this was my first year I think I did an alright job.

Track:

Starting out on the track is a nice way to get into biking. Theoretically track racing is probably the last type of bicycle racing one would try, after stints with road and maybe cross, but it is Portland and with all the fixed gears everywhere already, one can't help but think what they are actually designed for. I got 3rd as a cat 5 over all in the track bar, so I can't complain too much. Goals for next year: less emphasis on the track with better quality than quantity. I tired myself out so bad over the summer doing races every week, I need to eat alot more next time and make sure I don't destroy myself. Goal: try to be a cat 4

Road/Criterium:

Didn't really get to do any road, but raced a couple of the popular crit races. Crits are mostly fun with a fair amount of pain. I only hope I can maybe me a cat 4 so my field can be bigger. We'll just have to wait and see.

Cross:

I really enjoyed cyclocross. The cross crusade was a great compilation of races and I can see why its so popular in Oregon, not to mention it just hurt less to race it. Great way to stay fit in the winter, and if I had an emphasis this would be it.

I guess thats it?

yes

Today's the last day of the fall term. I still have finals but that shouldn't be too difficult, and I should be in the saddle more.