Catwonsports

SOPA BLACKOUT

2012-01-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

Good primers on

@marscat's life beyond bike racing

2011-11-09T06:13:00.000-08:00

Shelter Dogs by marscat who can be found on twitter when she isn't walking
Blue the pit bull or chihuahuas or taking her own kitties outside...or out riding her bike.

More stories here:

Levon goes video shopping

2011-10-16T12:00:00.001-07:00

Team BiciChat p/b Mobile Meowzer 2008 redux

2011-07-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

Started this session looking for my old Phonak post and went to the wrong year. But, this was a fun one to read again so thought I'd repost with some updated 2011 photos of what could have been.

Chris Horner wasn't able to replicate this Tour of Cali salute in France.

Thor's legs came around in July.

Andy Andy Andy...what could have been...

Rest day 2 wrap-up

Like the other two American teams, Columbia and Garmin-Chipotle p/b H3O, Team BiciChat has secured a major sponsorship for their team. After several years of private funding and out of pocket expense, Co-owner/manager Ms. Catwonsports was very pleased to make the announcement on the 2nd rest day of Le Tour. Co-owner/DS Ms. Marscat was equally happy with the announcement of the much longer than normal 5 year contract. We have been rewarded with our transparent system as well as our open “cat”door viewing of the team’s urine samples that any detractors may wish to analyze. We maintain that Team BiciChat is a clean team. A 5 year contract is unheard of in our sport. A contract of this magnitude allows us take a 3rd tier team to the Pro Tour level. We can recruit and develop athletes at a much younger age and see their development to a successful fruitation. Amazing. This is beyond what we had hoped for when we started looking for a partner.

Talking further about the sponsorship, the co-owners stated numerous times how this was a sponsorship for the ages. This is who and what we are: we are mobile, and we are meowzers browsers. How good can it get? Team BiciChat and Mobile Meowzer are an extraordinary partnership. We can take them to the next level with the added European exposure, and it goes without saying, that they add the financial backing to allow us to compete with the best out there. BiciChat did have other offers such as the rumored BarfoWorld. BiciChat was somewhat offended that BarfoWorld insisted on their patented brand of furball gel so that contract was going no where fast. Another sponsorship is pending for 2009. Lauren offered the tip and if all goes well, there may be a Mobile Meowzer team cam to rival that of the Garmin Chipotle in car cam at next year’s’ tour.

With the added financial backing, Team Mobile Meowzer will be able to purchase more athletes to add depth and address the weakness that this year’s Tour exposed. One new member for next year may be the Tuxedo that Lauren currently manages. The Tuxedo is agile and responds well to added diversity like the new canine addition. Two other felines that are being looked at are the brother sister act from Corralitos. CSC has two brothers, why not add a second brother-sister act to the current line-up. Not quite a Donny & Marie duo, the Corralitos crew could be called a franchise act. If we sign them up now, we are the team that others will fear in 2009. However, the Corralitos crew is so good that they may be beyond our budget. We are going to meet with their agent and discuss the possibility of a partnership. If they are beyond budget, we might take the David Millar/Slipstream approach and offer a co-owner form of contract. Either way, the Corralitos duo are a class act that will light up the 2009 Tour.

Summarizing the Tour up to this point, DS Marscat, no slouch in her day and very experienced in stage racing, maintains the Tour is the most wide open that it has been in years. Marscat said that wearing the KOM dotted jersey and the Meow Jaune were so much more than the team had expected that this Tour is a success regardless of the final third week’s outcome. Of course, we will do out best and that is what is expected in the Tour. We, like all teams, are committed to that end. Daisy came in to the event a little overweight, but so did Jan, and he still reached the podium. We have four legs while others have two, we will maximize that advantage to the fullest. Asked to address the rivals, Co-owner Catwonsports said: please just let us have our day. We know we are an unknown and that others are stronger and have proven they can win. However, we are not discounting the other unnown: CVV. We know Menchov has been a winner twice at a grand tour. We know Evans has been on the podium of Le Tour, but we are confident that what we bring no other team brings: the others have not raced Madera or Kern. We have raced both, and we have won. Yes, let me state that again, we have won Madera, and we have won Kern several times. These two stage races bring us experience and success that will be very important in this last week of Le Tour. Pressed further for clarification, Marscat admitted that the team lacks depth that the third week needs. However, she stated again that we were not a favorite, we did not come to win, and we only found ourselves in this (podium) position. We will do what we can and build on our experience this year. A podium is not out of our paw reach for 2008. And do watch for us in 2009.

2011 TdF reflections

2011-07-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Being introduced to bike racing and watching the Tour since the pre-EPO fueled late 80s, I have seen many exciting editions over the last 25 years. I have a few favorites over the decades. 1995 was the first year that I started racing, and my favorite riders Jalabert, Indurian, the ONCE team, Chris Boardman were prominent in that Tour. 1998 was Pantani the climber vs. Ullrich the time trialer. In that year, the climber prevailed in dramatic fashion on the rain soaked roads toward Les Duex Alpes and gained an incredible 9 minutes on the yellow jersey of Ullrich. In 1999, I fell for the “American’s Comeback” hook, line, and sinker. In 2003, my wife and I went to FrancQhe for a few weeks and saw the Tour in person. I rooted for Jan Ullrich who was making his own comeback after a suspension for “social” rather than “performance enhancing” drugs. In 2005, another trip to Paris was taken, and I heard the famous “Believe in me” speech on the Champs Elysees. In 2006, I blogged about and cheered for Floyd Landis. 2007 found a doped up Chicken getting tossed out and a steak eating Spainard winning. 2008 found a patient team player in Carlos Sastre finally prevailing. 2009 was full of Astana team infighting. The strongest rider won after being attacked not by his rivals but internally by his team. The 2010 edition may well be the most interesting for its importance to the 2011 edition. 2010 was marked by uncharacteristic falls and perhaps the penultimate fall from cycling grace of the seven time Tour winner Armstrong. His final fall may still come but not on the roads of France but in an American courtroom. The 2010 edition may well have paved the way for the cleanest Tour seen in many years.

The 2011 Tour de France was suspenseful, action-packed, and mildly disappointing. Being disappointed by this year’s Tour tells me several things.

I am a hypocrite. I want clean racing, and I want to root for honest riders, but I want action and dramatic racing. My favorite tours were all ones where doping was rampant. What we saw back then was not what we thought we saw. A climber making an attack and riding away from the field like the field was a group of tourists not professional men was not real racing. Pantani in 1998 was pumped up on performance enhancing drugs. His attacks were brought to you by a pharmaceutical company. ONCE was not a clean team. The 1999 comeback was sponsored by EPO. All those favorite races were won by riders who most likely would not pass the 2011 dope tests at this year’s Tour.

Clean racing will not look like not doped racing. It will look different. This year’s race showed riders racing like mortals not cycling gods. They attacked, they fatigued, and they were not slaying their rivals effortlessly. (An exception may be The God of Thunder +2.) The racing may not have been as aggressive as years prior, but it still had its drama. Gerard Vroomen the founder of Cervelo said this about Cadel, “he may not have been the attacker, but he was active”. That’s an accurate description of this year’s winner. When Cadel needed aggression, he found it. On several occasions, he had only himself to rely on, and he tirelessly worked alone to save his chances for a Tour win. He pulled back minutes from Andy Schleck on the Galibier. On the road to Alpe d’Huez and after a mechanical dropped him from the lead group, he dragged himself back up to the leaders at the bottom of the final climb. In this Tour, Cadel did not make a mistake and avoided crashes which had plagued him in other Tours. And finally, to win the yellow jersey, he rode the perfect time trial. As Edward Pickering of Cycle Sport wrote: “First the peloton needed to learn to race clean. Once it did, it needed to learn to race.” Whether this was as a clean a Tour as it seemed based on mountain climb times and fewer superhuman efforts, only time and the results of the drug tests will tell.

Finally, I learned what I already knew about my love of sport. It is an extension of myself. My disappointment was a result of identification. Sometimes, we identify with people who are not like us and who have traits that we admire but do not quite possess. Other times, we identify with people who have traits that we have or feel like we have. These may not be traits that we are proud of, but we know we have them. When we identify with the latter, there is passion for the outcome. We might feel really happy or extremely sad depending on the outcome.

For me the 2011 Tour rewarded passionate patience and almost a status quo attitude toward winning. I don’t believe that I really possess either of these traits. What I value is spontaneity and journeying into unknown. These were not the victor of this year’s race. Cadel said a few times how he had a plan, stuck to the plan, and didn’t deviate much from the plan. For most of his race as observed by his reactions to the events, Cadel calculated the risk and the outcome. His was a race of reaction rather than active action. Andy Schleck who lost the yellow jersey was the antithesis to Cadel. I’d like to think Andy Schleck is a clean rider. For many years, Andy and Frank both worked for Bjarne Riis, Mr. 60%. Frank Schleck wired money to the noted doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes of Operacion Puerto fame for a “training program” and to think that Andy did not know about this would be a bit naïve. If Andy was racing clean which I will presume, he raced with traits that I admire: youthful passion and spontaneity. He did not overly sit in and follow wheels. He was not afraid to lose by making an uncalculated move. He was not a bean counter. I’m sure he had a plan, and he pretty much stuck to it, but he also tried and risked losing to win. The risk and willingness to try something were not rewarded with a win in this Tour. Maybe in a previous year, Andy’s efforts would have had a different outcome based on circumstances unknown to people outside his inner circle. Because Andy made huge efforts and perhaps mis-calculated his energy levels due to clean racing, the risks did not pay off. Andy did not lose without trying to win, and he was not afraid to risk winning.

An extrapolation of what Pickering said, now that the riders are clean, perhaps they just need to learn to win clean. I believe Cadel has been clean and won clean. Perhaps, the 2011 Tour was a clean one for Andy and the others. If this is the case for Andy, then next year I hope he will still have his passion to attack and his willingness to try to win with a little bit of risk.

I'm Ordained and ready for Aug 17, 2010!

2010-08-12T13:38:00.001-07:00

variousity

2009-06-04T14:16:00.001-07:00

A tiny view of the Kremlin in 15th century Novgorod.

Intent was to see more of Novgorod, but due to its construction we didn't see much. One consession was a drive to another site. This was a monastery that was under less construction.

An old wooden church in an open museum of many wooden structures.

St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square.

Peteroff's Palace.

Ah...vodka.

The midnight train from Moscow back to St.Petersburg.

Levon

2009-05-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

lots of stuff in my head

2009-04-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

and still needing to sort it all out. Until I have, here is our friend Joe asking a question during Larry's sold out Points Race clinic. Joe, we hope you make a full recovery.

Maflaira

2009-03-16T18:15:00.001-07:00

Maflaira
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Daisy completed a 6 day stage race.
On Tuesday, Daisy went to San Ramon for three days and learned all about Safety and Compliance and Utility blah blah. Friday was a transfer/rest day, and the beginning of the Central Valley portion of the race. Friday's prep didn't go well so she just sat in the shitter for a bunch of hours. Saturday was a double day and started with a light prologue around 5am with a morning feeding. The second half of the day was looking up, and she started feeling her way around the room. By Saturday night, she was a real trooper and even felt brave enough for some entertaining. Daisy watched the Bellas eat a little chocolate and drink a little port. Her favorite part of the evening stage was talking race tactics and watching Paris-Nice. She thought that Bertie boy showed a human side and kind of liked him a little. Sunday was a long day, and she was treated to many Daisy pettings. By the end of the stage, she was pooped and ready to head back up north to the land of liberals and commie loving homos. Daisy got a little recovery nap in on the way home and perked up around the time she hit Berkeley. Sunday night she was famished and was treated to eating all that she wanted. Daisy fell off the calorie wagon. Monday, she woke up stronger than ever and her housemates found her on the kitchen table scrounging around for snacks. Overall, a successful weekend for team Daisy with her form coming along nicely as evidenced by the sight of a few ribs and definition in the hind end. At her present rate of progression, Daisy should be on track for a new kitty come Kern time.

Go Daisy!

Daisy stage 2

2009-03-16T18:12:00.001-07:00

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

doppleganger daisy

2009-02-26T17:34:00.001-08:00

doppleganger daisy
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Snowy Ride in the East Bay

2009-02-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

Leftovers from Sunday night still here on Tuesday. Had my left over Sunday workout which got pushed away for some Cherry Pie spectating.

I have a cruel coach who gives one nicknames to take away from
the self important seriousity of cycling. He also likes to give hard workouts to take away from the silliness of the nicknames.

I dread hills and Sunday was a multiple time up the mountain. Easily substituted by spectating. However, I pay this coach so I feel bad about wasting money, and I fear being unfit for Kern. I swapped my Wednesday vacation day for Tuesday and went to MtD today.

Climbing 6000' is fun for some but not for me. But, I managed to get up for the challenge. I listened to my 80s REM during the first 99 min climb. Didn't want to climb the 19% 1/4 mile to the top and actually wondered if the sign at the bottom indicating the top was closed was true. I snuck around the closed road gate and kept looking for ice. About 5 min before the steep part at around 3600', I saw the snow. Yes, I turned around. 3500' down 2500' left. The 30 min downhill was very very cold. I thought how cool it would be to have someone waiting at the top to drive you down and all you have to do is climb up.

Erika says when she is on her TT bikes she thinks of herself as long and lanky. Kind of funny. But when I climb on my own, I pretend that I am one of those drug induced
climbing fools from the pro ranks of the 90s. Pantani attacking in the drops, Chechcu pulling through the Alps, Escartin crabbing his way up a Col, that's me. And like Lance having a car following him in the bad weather, I imagined a nice warm vehicle saving me from hypothermia.

2nd time up, I switched decades and listened to Elton John. I did some intervals and reached my 170s and 180s and sang along to Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting and Philadelphia Freedom. I rested to Daniel and Amoreena. I came up with the name for the next kitty: Levon, even if it's a girl.

Completly distracted and at 6300', I called it a day and headed back for the cold ride down. At the road closure, someone called out to me. It was VB teammie Andi, and she was bummed that she could not get to the top with her visiting sister from Minnesota. They were in car and imagine my surprise when she offered me a ride down... all the way down. How cool was that? So since my wishes 2 out of 2 have come true, I have a third one. Now, I think that I need to win an obscene amount of money so that I can stay home and keep Daisy company.

not exactly what I had in mind

2009-01-30T12:12:00.001-08:00

not exactly what I had in mind
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Erika thought when we were asked about Minnie's paw that it would be a chopped off body part. Like a rabbit's foot, I guess.

I loved seeing his paw prints all over everything. I once got not so secretly upset with a friend for washing my truck windows and cleaning off all his smudges.

So when the doctor asked if we were interested in a paw print, it was a no brainer. Absolutely, yes, I'd like a paw print and his ashes. I had wrestled with the latter for a long time and concluded that burying Minnie wouldn't work since we might have to move someday. I thought of burying him in places we go to often, but Fonda's was out and Tunnel Road was too far away from me for him to be.

Erika picked up Minnie yesterday. His
ashes were in a box with a small
lock on it. The keys were hooked to the lock. I peeked in, and it was ashes in a little baggie. And the paw print, well, it didn't really look like Minnie's. It looks like a dog paw. There was also an embossed fancy rememberance card addressed to Landa Locke.

Who knows, I might be glad that I have these things later on, but right now,
they are all a bit weird.

Everybody is doing it

2009-01-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

So, I will join them and post some blood tests too. However, I have 11 years worth.

All blood tests are natural with no altitude training or altitude tents. The only added helpers are vitamin C (4000mg/day) and a really expensive multi-vitamin. Just some notes, my best racing years were 1999-2003. My best ever year was 2000 and at one point in that year my hematocrit reached 41. If you look at the charts, the blood values are higher in the good racing years than in the more recent years.

Also, a few major drops. One drop was after Nationals in July 2002. Something about racing in 100 degree weather is not good. Creatinine level after that race was 1.3 and clearly evident of muscle breakdown. Another drop was in February 2004.

What I have noticed from following the blood tests over the years is that a lot of training causes a drop. And, when I go on vacations that do not involve bike riding, the values go back up.

Perfect Minnie

2009-01-08T18:38:00.001-08:00

Perfect Minnie
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Sitting in the sun. You can't enhance heaven and if you try, you only f"*k it up.

cuteness

2008-12-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

Last night, Erika spent the night with the new baby. I don't think it was quite like this but still cute enough.

holiday season in spain

2008-12-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

Here's the deal on the claus logs, but i still haven't googled it to figure out what it really is with the decorated logs.

These things look like jolly sea monkey's and the reason I don't eat shrimp.

These were the cutest little kids. They must have been on a field trip. I didn't feel bad taking their photo because everyone was taking pictures.

Resolutions start early

2008-12-12T09:12:00.001-08:00

Resolutions start early
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

We're back from a lovely vacation.

No one can say that we did not do our very best soaking in the local ways. I found it interesting how meals were often served with bottles of wine rather than glasses of wine. Time to rein in the eating and drinking and get back on the bike again. Better to start buckling down now or else the new kit might be hard to fit into.

some vids

2008-12-03T10:07:00.000-08:00

reminds me of the rocky horror lips

Dali´s jewlery of the beating heart with moving gems.

No post would be complete without a kitty and here is one that prances when pet.

off we go

2008-11-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

and we're very excited. Except, we're going to miss these two. We have a whole team assembled to take care of them. But, Minnie has been starting to do very weird things. Lately, he has taken to using "puppy pads" in his liter box. No litter just little blue puppy pee pads. It's pretty labor intensive taking care of his needs and hopefully, he won't make too much of a mess.

My weird leg thing is almost cleared up and the little achy tooth is better too. Not sure why all these stress things started so close to the trip, but hopefully I won't be too much of a mess either.

Donna Woods

2008-11-08T17:56:00.001-08:00

Donna Woods
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Great racer and Artist.

Name the locals.

Yay!

2008-11-04T22:16:00.001-08:00

Yay!
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

See ya

2008-11-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

It's been fun, but I sure hope it's time to say goodbye to this Tina Fey character.

Happy Hallominnie

2008-10-31T15:06:00.001-07:00

Happy Hallominnie
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

bi-racial bi-cultural

2008-10-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

kitty costume cross

2008-10-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

they have their outfits...queen and king kitties

there is food 24 x 7

2008-10-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

But Minnie likes the wet stuff and hasn't been eating the dry food a lot. This weekend is gonna make for some hungry kitties. They're going get fed early in the morning Saturday and then late the next day. Gotta feel for them since they are used to eating multiple times a day. From these pictures, you'd think we starve the poor things. Not true.

from Daisy, Enid, & Minnie

2008-10-23T20:31:00.001-07:00

from Daisy, Enid, & Minnie
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

can't get any better than this.

just filler

2008-10-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

because there's nothing new except that I am back at work now. Gone are the hours of staring at facebook and bloggies all day, looking at pics of other people's vacations to Idaho and Egypt and Thailand, and watching the kitties sleep. sigh...

lazy days

2008-10-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

lazy days
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Monday, I ridded myself of the crutches. Today, they are taking my rental bed away. I'm going to miss my bed. I think Minnie's going to miss it too. I guess Daisy is just going to have scoot her Daisy Hut over and give me some room on the couch.

why I like the traveling pantsuits

2008-10-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

no way, no how, no McCain

time to make up

2008-09-29T14:50:00.001-07:00

time to make up
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

since this creature spit on Marscat. And, we're not sure which
stomach the spit came from. Llamas will spit when they are upset, and
they will "choose" where to spit from. If they are really upset, they
will spit from deep within their tummy.

pelvis or ?

2008-09-23T10:22:00.001-07:00

cat beating up the printer. I picked the cat.

Just got the x-rays and cat scans on a DVD. Sort of interesting. I'll put up the collar bone. It's a small fracture on the upper right side.

Prop 8 is Hate - Vote "No"

2008-09-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

There is no other way around it. It's hateful and it's another inconsistent message brought to us by intolerant people.

For so many years, the Christian right has tried to tell us that homosexuality was a sin. They say their reason is that it says so in the bible. The book they reference is Leviticus. If you go to Leviticus in the Old Testament, it actually has a lot of rules not just against men lying with men, but no adultery, no lying with a woman menstruating, references against interracial marriage, do not kill, etc... So why do people feel they have the right to pick and choose what is right and what isn't?

How can someone against abortion but be for the dealth penalty?

Why do they say Sarah Palin's family is "off limits" in this election, but my family and many other families are up for popular vote?

I think it comes down to culture. How did the Culture of the far right get so mean?

A friend of mine, Maria Nieto, wrote this great article concerning Prop 8. It's called "Marriage and Biology". Please check it out.

And finally, another meaningful reference that seems to have been forgotten lately by the "Christians" who have poured so much money into hateful prop 8: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"—Matthew 19:19.

The Lost Hut and equal photo time

2008-09-17T07:55:00.001-07:00

The Lost Hut and equal photo time
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Yesterday, I saw Daisy sitting outside of her hut and thought it was a bit out of character. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that Minnie was sleeping inside.

This morning, I heard a bunch of fussing and saw Minnie go in the hut and chase poor little Daisy out. It was sad. However, I am the fortunate one in this situation. Kicked out of her hut, Daisy is now sitting on the bed with me.

Shower time

2008-09-16T16:21:00.001-07:00

Shower time
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Looks like my hair needs to be washed again. The shower/bath thing is one of the harder things to do at the moment. I'm not as freaked about the infrequent shower time as I would have imagined.

Minnie is less hygenic than he was before I got hurt or so it seems. He even has little dreadie things on his back hindquarter area. They say that happens when the cats get older. So, we cut his little dreads off because he's not fond of the combing.

But, it's time because I'm not going to end up like Minnie so off to the shower.

much more than this

2008-09-09T18:11:00.001-07:00

much more than this
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

but who is counting? Plus, there are some steps that I didn't get credit for because the battery was dying. This ped thing seems dumb, but I think it will help motivate me not to nap.

This accident was a big bummer, but it has made me realize how much I have to be thankful for. I'm lucky that the injuries will heal in time. My cracked helmet was new and strong and prevented a head injury. My mobility is progressing each day.

But most of all, so many people have come to help out Nurse Enid and me and many have offered their help. This has been very appreciated by us. I am not one to really ask for help or reach out when it's needed just because I am self conscious about it. But we haven't had to ask, the offers are just there, and we have needed it.

Sabine and Donna made me feel less scared as I was lying on the track for those long minutes. Pete came and fed the cat braving Minnie's messes.

All the cool friends who offered well wishes and who offered to drop by if we needed stuff. Sabine, Donna, and Harvey dropped by and kept us company. The super great Bella Beams from the Velo Bella team. Michael and his very touching post. Beth for the super cool photo that will remind me of the good parts of this racing season. Maria, Cindy, and Renee who brought us food. The thoughtful emails from some of the riders in our race. And, Ali for trying to get me addicted to the Ici ice cream again.

And of course my lovely wife life partner Nurse Enid. I love you and all that you do for me. I cannot imagine how this event would have been without you by my side. Yes, bed pan and all.

Thank you all so much for everything.

Motivation

2008-09-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

What does it say about us that we are motivated by food and specifically by bar-b-que in Morgan Hill? Does it mean that we really are influenced by our cats?

After we finish our lovely pursuit tomorrow, we will finally get our bar-b-que dinner that we didn't have after last Sunday's workout. I wonder if it is a bad thing to go back and have more bar-b-que after our final race this next Sunday?

Daisy is not aero

2008-08-12T21:59:00.001-07:00

Daisy is not aero
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

so she doesn't like TTs. But former March P.o.t.W., Kristin
Armstrong does.

Daisy loves

2008-08-10T20:46:00.001-07:00

Daisy loves
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

gymnastics. She likes the floor routines the best because she feels sad when people fall off stuff during their routines.

Boycott the road races?

2008-08-08T20:27:00.001-07:00

Boycott?
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

I am not, and I am such a sport's nerd.

NBC online has cool live coverage now.

And in a day or so, Go Christine!

Points race,

2008-08-03T14:07:00.001-07:00

Points race,
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

45-49. Thanks Harvey & Larry.

One of those daze

2008-08-02T15:32:00.001-07:00

One of those daze
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

You'd rather forget. Got to the track and discovered the aero bars were the wrong size. Fooled around with them for 1.5 hours. Frack. Left the track without even racing. At this point, I could less about nationals. At least the beer stayed cold.

Bigger than Daisy

2008-07-31T08:26:00.001-07:00

I wish Daisy could read because this story would make her feel svelte.

All finished

2008-07-27T07:14:00.001-07:00

All finished
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Along with the other two new American teams, Team Bicichat p/b Mobile Meowzer completed their 1st Grand Tour. Yay!

LG

2008-07-26T08:36:00.001-07:00

What a ride...now let's pass all the doping tests.

The Tour is like Christmas

2008-07-26T06:24:00.001-07:00

The Tour is like Christmas
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Every morning, we wake up with anticipation wondering who is going to win and what is going to happen.

We hope Carlos gets a cool surprise and stays in yellow.

Praying

2008-07-25T14:50:00.001-07:00

Praying
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

for a good time trial so she can keep her jersey tomorrow. Or maybe, another version of downward kitty.

rest up for Saturday

2008-07-25T08:37:00.001-07:00

rest up for Saturday
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

So, no wind issues today. Looks like it will be all out tomorrow. Just thinking that all the favs have worn yellow except Menchov. He's a bit far back, but he still is one of my podium picks for Paris. Here is the other picks in order:
Evans
Sastre
Menchov
Kohl
FrankS
CVV

headwind today?

2008-07-25T05:59:00.001-07:00

headwind today?
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

They say there might be a headwind on today's stage. A headwind could offer an opportunity for CSC to try and make the pace really hard. A few years ago in La Vuelta time trialists Aitor the Traitor and his teammate Frigo were caught out in the windy plains of Spain the day before the itt. Needless to say, the next day their times were slow, and they lost any chance of winning the race. So, I wonder if CSC is going to try and make up some more time today? They surely need it.

call me naive

2008-07-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

but this is just weird. I guess they have to do the routine search.
from velonews

Will the yellow jersey

2008-07-23T05:08:00.001-07:00

Will the yellow jersey
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

change teams today?

I have a teammate

2008-07-22T04:02:00.001-07:00

I have a teammate
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

who has an expression so appropriate to today's stage. The question of the day: I wonder who will get their "ass handed to them" on the HC climbs? Marscat hopes it is not Cadel, and I hope not either. I'd like to see him kiss that lion a few more times.

Also, is WF having tendonitis problems? If so, the next few stages are going to be extra rough.

Team BiciChat p/b Mobile Meowzer

2008-07-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Rest day 2 wrap-up

Like the other two American teams, Columbia and Garmin-Chipotle p/b H3O, Team BiciChat has secured a major sponsorship for their team. After several years of private funding and out of pocket expense, Co-owner/manager Ms. Catwonsports was very pleased to make the announcement on the 2nd rest day of Le Tour. Co-owner/DS Ms. Marscat was equally happy with the announcement of the much longer than normal 5 year contract. We have been rewarded with our transparent system as well as our open “cat”door viewing of the team’s urine samples that any detractors may wish to analyze. We maintain that Team BiciChat is a clean team. A 5 year contract is unheard of in our sport. A contract of this magnitude allows us take a 3rd tier team to the Pro Tour level. We can recruit and develop athletes at a much younger age and see their development to a successful fruitation. Amazing. This is beyond what we had hoped for when we started looking for a partner.

Talking further about the sponsorship, the co-owners stated numerous times how this was a sponsorship for the ages. This is who and what we are: we are mobile, and we are meowzers browsers. How good can it get? Team BiciChat and Mobile Meowzer are an extraordinary partnership. We can take them to the next level with the added European exposure, and it goes without saying, that they add the financial backing to allow us to compete with the best out there. BiciChat did have other offers such as the rumored BarfoWorld. BiciChat was somewhat offended that BarfoWorld insisted on their patented brand of furball gel so that contract was going no where fast. Another sponsorship is pending for 2009. Lauren offered the tip and if all goes well, there may be a Mobile Meowzer team cam to rival that of the Garmin Chipotle in car cam at next year’s’ tour.

With the added financial backing, Team Mobile Meowzer will be able to purchase more athletes to add depth and address the weakness that this year’s Tour exposed. One new member for next year may be the Tuxedo that Lauren currently manages. The Tuxedo is agile and responds well to added diversity like the new canine addition. Two other felines that are being looked at are the brother sister act from Corralitos. CSC has two brothers, why not add a second brother-sister act to the current line-up. Not quite a Donny & Marie duo, the Corralitos crew could be called a franchise act. If we sign them up now, we are the team that others will fear in 2009. However, the Corralitos crew is so good that they may be beyond our budget. We are going to meet with their agent and discuss the possibility of a partnership. If they are beyond budget, we might take the David Millar/Slipstream approach and offer a co-owner form of contract. Either way, the Corralitos duo are a class act that will light up the 2009 Tour.

Summarizing the Tour up to this point, DS Marscat, no slouch in her day and very experienced in stage racing, maintains the Tour is the most wide open that it has been in years. Marscat said that wearing the KOM dotted jersey and the Meow Jaune were so much more than the team had expected that this Tour is a success regardless of the final third week’s outcome. Of course, we will do out best and that is what is expected in the Tour. We, like all teams, are committed to that end. Daisy came in to the event a little overweight, but so did Jan, and he still reached the podium. We have four legs while others have two, we will maximize that advantage to the fullest. Asked to address the rivals, Co-owner Catwonsports said: please just let us have our day. We know we are an unknown and that others are stronger and have proven they can win. However, we are not discounting the other unnown: CVV. We know Menchov has been a winner twice at a grand tour. We know Evans has been on the podium of Le Tour, but we are confident that what we bring no other team brings: the others have not raced Madera or Kern. We have raced both, and we have won. Yes, let me state that again, we have won Madera, and we have won Kern several times. These two stage races bring us experience and success that will be very important in this last week of Le Tour. Pressed further for clarification, Marscat admitted that the team lacks depth that the third week needs. However, she stated again that we were not a favorite, we did not come to win, and we only found ourselves in this (podium) position. We will do what we can and build on our experience this year. A podium is not out of our paw reach for 2008. And do watch for us in 2009.

No rest day for Marscat

2008-07-21T07:10:00.001-07:00

No rest day for Marscat
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

She has a blue day.

rest day

2008-07-21T07:09:00.001-07:00

rest day
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

yay!

name that team

2008-07-20T06:38:00.001-07:00

name that team
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Wild Dingo says our crew needs a name. Any suggestions for the 4 of us?

I am so happy that America's Best Inn has the Tour showing and so is
Minnie.

2 questions of the day: will CVV hang on and keep 3 position? Will
CSC-Sexy Bank utilize their super team to the max and steal yellow
from Evans?

Downward Daisy

2008-07-19T17:06:00.001-07:00

Downward Daisy
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Some yoga for relaxation on the short transfer day.

We have a transfer

2008-07-19T06:20:00.001-07:00

We have a transfer
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

stage, and the crew knows it.

Will it be win #5? I think CSC needs to do something aggressive, but
if they get the yellow, tomorrow is a hard day on top of having to
control the race.

I'm thinking today's winner might be an opportunist, and I still want
to see Zabel get a "W".

getting ready for a transition

2008-07-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Lots of deals made in the village of Le Tour. German Nat'l Champ at 19 and U23 world champ riding as a leadout. Having a Petacchi and a Cipo on the same team is overkill. I wonder if Ciolek is looking around? I would. Too bad he's not Russian or Tinkoff would have picked him up in a second.

Does EPO cause memory loss?

2008-07-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

I think it might or it causes selective memory retention. I'm no expert. However, I was going back through my memory bank and came to the conclusion that Mauro Gianetti might not be as misled as Mr. Millar believes. A few articles blasting from the past.

Most recently. David Millar: Cyclingnews 17 Jul 2008
However, Millar believes that Mauro Gianetti, Saunier Duval's team manager, has good intentions and Riccò was more likely misled by others.

I think that Mauro Gianetti has been taken advantage of and he is someone I have a lot of respect for," said Millar. "He does not deserve this and he has a good heart. He has perhaps put a lot of trust in people that he shouldn't have and he will learn from this.

I guarantee - you watch Mauro - he will have an independent anti-doping programme within the team by the end of the year. He was close to doing it last year, and now he is going to have to extend his budget and get that programme in place. It is by doing that the sport will change.

Not as innocent as it seemed back in May 11, 1996, cyclingnews.com
Team Polti Offers Itself As EPO-Test Guinea Pig

With biochemists working with the UCI unable so far to isolate EPO from urine samples, a new approach is being pursued which would involve blood samples being compared with urine samples. Until now all the teams that UCI president Hein Verbruggen has approached have refused to cooperate with experiments to try out this analysis technique. However Team Polti has come forward and agreed that blood samples can be taken from its riders, starting in the Tour de Romandie currently being run.

This is said to have been as a result of a personal demand from Polti rider Mauro Gianetti. Team trainer Giosue Zenoni says: "We're absolutely certain they won't find anything amiss in our team, but if by collaborating we can contribute to exposing cheating, I'm all for it."

A Canadian drugs-detection specialist has arrived in Ferrara to work with Prof Francesco Conconi on the comparative method which it may be possible to institute in time for the Tour de France.

Interesting historical note a fews year later in 1998

The first artificial oxygen carriers belonged to a class of synthetic perflourocarbon-based emulsions. PFCs, which are quite similar to Teflon, are insoluble in water but can absorb huge quantities of gases--some products can dissolve more than 100 times more oxygen per volume than blood plasma) and are yet biologically inert. In 1966, the capability of PFCs as an oxygen transport medium were spectacularly displayed when a study in Science showed that a rat immersed in the solution could survive for hours--it literally breathed liquid.

A PFC, which is taken in an injected emulsion, stays in the bloodstream for only a few hours before dissolving out and expiring, chemically unaltered, through the lungs. This raises the somewhat comic and, at the same time, disturbing image of anti-doping officials combing finish lines with breathalyzer kits.The first suspected use of a PFC in cycling was at the 1998 Tour de Romandie, when Mauro Gianetti collapsed mid-race and was rushed to the University hospital in Lausanne, where Gianetti spent two weeks, some of it in intensive care where his body battled against anaphylactic shock and near-total organ failure. Gianetti "almost died," said hospital physician Gerald Gremion in news reports, "probably following an injection of PFC." Gianetti denied he had taken the drug.

What cyclists who took PFCs either did not know or care about was that not one of the various types of PFC had ever been approved for human use by the medical governing body of any nation. The drug was strictly reserved for clinical trials and known adverse effects included everything from mild flu-like symptoms to the kind of near-complete organ failure that Gianetti suffered.

And then they tout his return, 1998

VALKENBURG, Netherlands (Reuters) -- Five months ago Mauro Gianetti was fighting for his life in a Lausanne hospital for the second time in three years. On Sunday he captains Switzerland in the elite world road race championship over 258 kilometers. Last May Gianetti collapsed during the Tour of Romandy. His kidneys failed and for three days doctors feared that he might die. But once again, the Swiss rider has surprised everyone with his power of recovery.

However Sunday's race, the blue riband of the world road championships, has been hard hit by the absence of several leading riders. Among them are the Swiss trio of Alex Zuelle, Laurent Dufaux and Armin Meier who were suspended following the Tour de France when they confessed to using the performance-enhancing drug EPO (erythropoietin).

And technically, it's really the start of stage 13 in France.

Another one bites the dust

2008-07-17T07:12:00.001-07:00

Another one bites the dust
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Bye bye Ricco. There was a reason why he was so unliked. Are unbelievable rides suspect? I guess there is no Santa Claus and sorry no Easter Bunny either.

I may not make it

2008-07-16T17:53:00.001-07:00

I may not make it
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

to Paris with my daily posts. A 3 week Grand Tour may be more than I can handle. Perhaps, I should have started out with medium size 10 day Tour instead. We'll see since I resorted to recycling today. In all fairness though, I am out of town. And, I did make a post on a rest day.

23 year anniversary

2008-07-15T18:58:00.001-07:00

23 year anniversary
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

today at the same job...frack!

rest day...

2008-07-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

sort of.

Did a little motor pacing in an attempt to gain some top end. Maxed out at 36 mph, but others are at 38+, so I need plenty more. Over the years, I reached the conclusion that I needed aerobic more than power. So what's a gal to do. Kern or top end. The dilemma of all my years and every year since I started racing has been hilly vs. flat events. I have my Kern taper and I love Kern, but it's like a party that I should not be going to or a discipline that I don't really need to get all excited about. I can't climb, never have, never will. However, the Kern taper and its training regime makes the difficulty and suffering less than if I didn't make any effort. I used to have much more power than I have now. I was still lacking on the top end that a bigger rider would have, but I could hold my own and was not too far off from getting one of those free jerseys they hand out at nationals. The following year I stopped going to the gym in the winter and increased my base miles. Why after getting so close did I change directions and work on the aerobic vs. the power?

Being a road racer was and is way more fun than track racing and crits. Minimal success in crits and the short time trial events on the track came easier than all the years working on road races. It was like I felt that if it was so easy, it wasn't as valuable to me, and I decided to concentrate on something that I really sucked at: hills, and managed to put a lot of time and effort into road racing. And, I still suck. I have way more fun and way less success.

For the last few months, I have been putting much more effort into the track and less into the road racing. It's major work, and it's a bit daunting to see how much power I need and how much I've lost. I guess that I shouldn't have taken it for granted back then. At least, I am having a bit more fun at the track than I used to have.

Enough about me…

I absolutely loved seeing Cadel kiss the lion on each lion cheek.

I liked seeing the emotion that all the years of working for something meant to him. That was cool. I think that those favorites who won in April are really showing the strain of a three month peak, and I am not surprised. It is hard to peak once and then peak again in such a short time. Another favorite, but one who took the quiet build up to the TdF like Cadel did, is Menchov. Unfortunately, Menchov seems even more dull than Cadel so I hope he doesn't get yellow. I couldn't even follow the Vuelta last year knowing how flat line it was with Menchov in the Golden jersey. The most that I have enjoyed watching Menchov was in last year's TdF when he was working for MR. His open mouth grimace is one for the ages. This isn't last year but it looks just like it.

And last but not least, I have to admit something. If CVV wasn't on Garmin, I would think he was a cheater. If he was on CSC or even Columbia, I might still have doubts. So what's up with that? Do I really believe JV and company? I guess I must. In all fairness though, CVV has shown that he can climb.
He helped Roberto in the Vuelta and did some good climbing then. However, Liberty became the next Astana, and everyone knows what happened with that. So there we go, another minor dilemma going on in my mind.

Getting closer

2008-07-14T05:34:00.001-07:00

Getting closer
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Will Evans be recuperated enough from yesterday's crash to take yellow today? I hope that knee is ok.

I have a feeling someone could get their 3rd stage win or will he make good on his promise to help his teammate win today?.

Trade pink for yellow?

2008-07-13T08:14:00.001-07:00

Trade pink for yellow?
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Is it possible that CVV might get a chance to wear yellow for a day?

It's 1 o'clock

2008-07-12T13:08:00.001-07:00

It's 1 o'clock
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

do you know where your keys are? Alternate title: Just another day of scattering crumbs.

Last night during the rush to the hospital, both sets of our keys were safely locked up in the truck.

Today, I am feeling lazy and unmotivated to ride so I am chalking up my 3 hours on this little iPhone keyboard.

Marscat did go out on her bikie. We have been checking in throughout the morning now early afternoon.

On our latest check in, she realizes there are no keys in her pocket. She is pretty sure where they are though: some place on Ignacio Valley. Ok, I hope she is right.

Who will win wet

2008-07-12T07:56:00.001-07:00

Who will win wet
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

chilly stage today? I think a mass sprint in the rain has "Robbie" all over it. Or a smaller bunch sprint? I'm rooting for the old guy Zabel.

Sending Bella beams out to Sabine, Donna, Dorit, and BJM.

So I decided

2008-07-11T14:40:00.001-07:00

So I decided
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

That with the marriage and everything we ought to have a joint account. Even though my spouse is known to misplace items like ATM cards, wallets, keys, shoes, etc... I gave into better judgment, and together, we applied for a credit card.

The first week of having the card, marscat proudly shows me the card and boasts "I still have it".

The next few weeks there are opportunities for her to use it, but she opts not to. Finally and after just 3 weeks of joint card ownership, I jokingly say "you lost it, huh?"
Of course not, it's just in a different wallet. I want to believe this vs. the thought that it might be lost. I even tell our joint friend Eike this story with the footnote that I believe Erika, and the card is some place in the house.

Today, I'm at the store buying beer, cat food, and other things. They go to ring me up, and the fricking card is declined. I get home, call the bank, and they tell me "Erika's card was found on the streets of San Franciso".

Well, at least, it's not lost anymore. And lucky for us, it wasn't used. Yes, she'll get another joint card.

what a dog

2008-07-11T11:53:00.001-07:00

what a dog
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Yet another ex-teammate of he who must not be named has been busted...Triki positive for EPO.

Too cute

2008-07-11T06:19:00.001-07:00

Too cute
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

First saw these little creatures in Australia and have liked the meercats since then.

Question of the day? Can an Aussie get lucky today?

a good day at the office

2008-07-10T15:00:00.001-07:00

a good day at the office
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

We had some visitors, and they brought presents. But, prudence says I should sample the Virgin Island drink moderately the night before the Bella Biergarten festivities. Or else, my vision may be truly blurry tomorrow evening.

Question for day 6

2008-07-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

Will there be a return to Millar time? Will the Slippies slay the Super-Besse?

a reluctant winner

2008-07-09T06:32:00.001-07:00

a reluctant winner
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

but very deserving. After months of watching her diet by having Minnie gobble her food, Daisy reached her ideal racing weight. Her training included many sprint intervals running up and down the hall to fine tune her glycotic oxidative system. To top off her muscle glycogen, she ate every greenie in the house. And finally, her climbing was improved by wall repeats: jumping up the wall to touch imaginary spots made more
imaginary when Marscat painted the wall. Overall, Daisy's day in yellow was achieved by gastronomic sacrifice, a challenging training regime, attention to detail, and last but not least, the unconditional support of her loving family.

No mountains

2008-07-08T11:48:00.001-07:00

No mountains
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

until Thursday, so he'll keep his polka dots for a few more days.

Question for tomorrow a day early: how many French racers or French teams will be in the long break away tomorrow? I am thinking a break because it is the longest stage with the first real climbing starting the next day.

cyclingfans.com

2008-07-08T06:11:00.001-07:00

cyclingfans.com
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Best streaming video. Thanks to
JenSB for the links. This morning Vs has lots of commercials.

Question of the day: how come the Garmin TT looks so much better than the road kit? The top and bottom actually match.

no one guessed

2008-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

that the answer to yesterday's question was Stuey O'Grady. Stuart and Mark(with different partners though) were madison champs: olys and worlds.

So the new question of the day: why isn't Robbie winning? The team's resources are being saved for the for GC guy and no one helping out the sprinter? Caught up in too many crashes? hmmm????

won't win today

2008-07-06T07:34:00.001-07:00

won't win today
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

but I think he will get a stage in France to go with his Italian 2.

Day 2 question: what rider in this year's Tour has something in
common with the rider below.

Take back

2008-07-05T07:54:00.001-07:00

Take back
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Le Tour...interesting and clever. Did anyone else notice the Vs.
commercial edit? They replaced Millar with Vino. I thought it wasn't
so cool having Millar in the commercial because 1) he served his ban,
2) he is an anti-doping poster boy, and 3) he is a current rider.

Marscat disagreed and thought it was even more of a "new day"
message. Perhaps...but they changed the ad, and I'd like to know
their rationale.

who's going to win

2008-07-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

this year?

we know levi won't...

if Evans wins will he get one of these with yellow ribbons?

which arm will have the little smiley doping free tatoo?

he's bored and she's not

2008-06-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

but here I am trying to upload the video and of course it's taking some time...so who is very very interested in what's going on and walking on the keyboard and knocking things over...yes, my little pest is very interested now.

iPhone footie

2008-06-24T08:56:00.001-07:00

iPhone footie
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

thought it was interesting...

2008-06-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

from buzz up on yahoo (by the way, i love mine, but i have little fingernails and toe nails...yes, i can use my iPhone with my toes...)

Most people either love or hate the iPhone's touch screen, and based on a report on the LA Times, women with long fingernails are among the haters. Why? Well, since the iPhone's touchscreen only responds to electrical charges emitted by your bare fingertips, women with long nails are left out in the cold. A woman interviewed for the article went so far as to suggest Apple was being misogynistic because it did not include a stylus for women and didn't consider womens' fingers and nails when designing the phone.

Honestly, though, this same argument has come up against keyboards, touch screen monitors, and anything else that involves the use of your fingers, so should every gadget maker change the design of its products to accommodate users with long nails, or should people with long nails learn to work around this problem like they have in the past? I'd love to hear what Apple has to say about all this, but I doubt they'll ever address this particular design flaw.

Personally, I'd rather have them focus on the real issues of the iPhone, like the lack of a video camera, extra storage, and better camera, but that's just me. Besides, there are styli out there that work with the iPhone just fine and are pretty affordable.

This all reminded me of an iPhone reviewer who had a hard time using the iPhone due to her long nails, and in her frustration she said, "I guess people who use Apple products are too cool for fingernails." But are we? What do you think?

Enid & I

2008-06-17T11:14:00.001-07:00

Enid & I
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

are getting a 2nd one of these today at 4:30pm.

Told Faye I was getting married a few minutes ago. She said, after a long pause, "you and Enid". "Erika", close enough. First time I really flat out told Faye about our relationship since my dad had never let her know. But, I asked if she was surprised, and she just said she had wondered before. I hope the news wasn't too exciting for her 97 year old heart. She asked if I thought I'd be happy ,and I said yes, I know I will. She said "yes, I think you will be too". Aw, love is in the air.

TheUnion.com/photos

2008-06-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

TheUnion.com/photos
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Sarahs at the front @ Nevada City

Hazy fire sunset

2008-06-14T00:20:00.001-07:00

Hazy fire sunset
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

made for an erie sky on Friday 13th track night. Camphone doesn't capture the spectacular vision of the red sun or moon too well.

6/17/2008

2008-06-13T12:54:00.001-07:00

6/17/2008
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

Another anni day to remember and a good excuse to miss Tuesday track. We'll start off with seeing Frida @ the SMOMA.

casual encounters

2008-06-13T08:07:00.001-07:00

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

on Friday 13th, we aren't dressing up as Minnie, but we may take his ears and cute tail.

Just got a call on my work phone. Yes, on the work phone, actually a lot of calls from males responding to my post. Gee, did I leave my number on this spot? I don't think so. Yikes. Calls came in from Larry in Foster City, Carl who happened to be in the area, Charles, my friend charles, no that's not his area code? And finally Jay. I really liked Jay. Jay was the cool one. Jay didn't leave his number, but he did leave a detailed message. He told me there was probably a mistake and usually people don't leave their WORK phone number on craiglists for personal ads requesting casual encounters. Plural, encounterS, not just one but mulitple. Wow...what a hottie. I wonder if I would have gotten as many calls if this picture was posted along side the message. Ok, that's not me, but it looks like me just shorter and a different color hat.

Friday 13th @ Hellyer

2008-06-12T14:31:00.001-07:00

Friday 13th @ Hellyer
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

we are supposed to dress up...can we wear costumes during our races? marscat & I discussed this last night. she didn't think so, but we did it for surf city. She said it's different. why? cus' there are no brakes on the bike. i think she is a scaredy cat.

push it down

2008-06-10T14:01:00.001-07:00

push it down
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

with Paulie...the Dahlstrand & Roushdie kitty. I wonder if he would eat a mole?

Calling all wild life biologists

2008-06-09T11:07:00.001-07:00

Calling all wild life biologists
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

...what is this? Just saw this
on one of my field visits. A baby opossum?

A Bella sandwich

2008-06-08T16:38:00.001-07:00

A Bella sandwich
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

hold the linda :-(

yay,

2008-06-08T14:11:00.001-07:00

yay,
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

the Sidis are reunited..see marscat in a day or so for the gory details. Short story is LilyBella and the missing Kern Sidis have been topped.

no track night means

2008-06-04T15:07:00.001-07:00

no track night means
Originally uploaded by Ippoc Amic

nap time...Minnie is back in his normal spot...and so am I.

somebody had a birthday...yesterday,

2008-05-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

and her name rhymes with colnago..

happy happy birthday...and, I am still older than you!

halftime

2008-05-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Arguably, this was the best part of the Mt. Hamilton race this last weekend. We spotted these porta potties and decided we would hit them and beat the rush at reg. Reg didn't have porta potties, they had full on bathrooms.

I was still squeezing out the last little drops of the Bella high from Kern and thought maybe I ought to try another hilly road race. The Bella high coupled with taking a complete rest day after Friday night track made for a guilty but energetic feeling. The rest day consisted of watching the giro, consuming lots of food, and taking many naps. At 9pm Saturday night, we felt unusually peppy so we traded our nighties for regular clothes. We got in the trucks and headed to Livermore to tackle the first part of Mt. Hamilton's point to point logistical nightmare.

Cutting to the race day chase, someone from another team was told by their coach to make the race a time trial effort. No reason why anyone would pay to do a time trial effort in a hilly 63 mile race from the very start? But, they did. The race started from the gun, and I was dropped before the right turn to road 130. A full on eight measley fricking minutes. I checked the heart rate monitor, and it was falling to 194. Ok, so that really was a fast start, and I wasn't just lame and wimpy. Later on, I had lovely company as Marscat and Marian decided to turn back and find me. We all rode the rest of the way together.

We had a follow vehicle that we kept trying to get rid of, but he told us that he could not go around "because this is sort of my job". He finally stopped at the top of the Lick Observaory. Whew...I felt bad for him. Burning all that $4+/gallon gas.

In the valley around mile 43, we caught a woman from our group and thought she might want to ride to the finish with us. For some reason, she wanted no part of our little group and scurried on ahead. Oh well...her loss. At mile 62, we saw the unfriendly again. Marscat said "lets pip her". We tried, rather Marian and Marscat tried, but I was out of gas and just exhausted. Anyway, this was one race that I had never attempted from the San Jose side, and I will never ever do again.

But the good thing is now I feel like imposing a mini halftme rest period on my racing season before the big gear up for nats. So for now, just a few Fridays and Tuesdays and maybe a crit now and then, but no more hilly road races. And, some card games and some camping thrown in for good luck. Yay!

man, am I in touble for this

2008-05-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

bogarted from marscat...and, I know that sneezing feeling, but not so fond of the laughing(turn volume way down)...all the laughing seems mean

Catwonsports

SOPA BLACKOUT

@marscat's life beyond bike racing

Levon goes video shopping

Team BiciChat p/b Mobile Meowzer 2008 redux

2011 TdF reflections

I'm Ordained and ready for Aug 17, 2010!

variousity

Levon

lots of stuff in my head

Maflaira

Daisy stage 2

doppleganger daisy

Snowy Ride in the East Bay

not exactly what I had in mind

Everybody is doing it

Perfect Minnie

cuteness

holiday season in spain

Resolutions start early

some vids

off we go

Donna Woods

Yay!

See ya

Happy Hallominnie

bi-racial bi-cultural

kitty costume cross

there is food 24 x 7

from Daisy, Enid, & Minnie

just filler

lazy days

why I like the traveling pantsuits

time to make up

pelvis or ?

Prop 8 is Hate - Vote "No"

The Lost Hut and equal photo time

Shower time

much more than this

Motivation

Daisy is not aero

Daisy loves

Boycott the road races?

Points race,

One of those daze

Bigger than Daisy

All finished

LG

The Tour is like Christmas

Praying

rest up for Saturday

headwind today?

call me naive

Will the yellow jersey

I have a teammate

Team BiciChat p/b Mobile Meowzer

No rest day for Marscat

rest day

name that team

Downward Daisy

We have a transfer

getting ready for a transition

Sponsors

Does EPO cause memory loss?

Another one bites the dust

I may not make it

23 year anniversary

rest day...

Getting closer

Trade pink for yellow?

It's 1 o'clock

Who will win wet

So I decided

what a dog

Too cute

a good day at the office

Question for day 6

a reluctant winner

No mountains

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