Euros Guide to Ky(a work in progress)

Having just finished watching the World Championships @ the Mtn Bike Depot(thx to aaron and mary for an awesome time), I felt compelled to help out. Hey, Im a resource right?

Doug and I debated if in a few yrs European cross fans would be gathered as we were but eating Fried Chicken and drinking PBR in homage to the americans. Would they struggle to understand the commentator speaking in rapid fire english(and if a certain commentator is used there'll be acertain accent to translate-we love ya Rach) and make guesses as to what the hell was going on?

Well for those that brave the wilds of Louisville for the World Champ's, here's a small guidebook to help you thru. We're glad you've made the trip, and I hope this helps.

The Euros Guide To Ky


If you get directions from a local, make sure that the landmark its based on still exists. If you are told to make a left at either Burger Queen or York Steakhouse, just ask someone else.

We abbreviate everything for no good reason. J-town, E-town, J-ville...etc.

No, we don't really think its an "international" airport either. Hope your drive from Cincy went well.

You're in Louisville, it really isn't accepted as part of Ky by people outside the city(or inside for that matter)

If you are trying to fit in by engaging in the local parlance, please remember
A its pronounced Loo Uh Vull. Disregard the spelling(we let you get away w Sade, give us this one or we'll get into the whole Versailles thing)
B Y'all is never used in the singular
C Fixin to means.....never mind. At that point ask someone else, it'll just get too involved.
D whether its a Pepsi, Coke, Mtn Dew or Sprite its still a coke.

its either Cards or Cats and you just have to pick one so they'll leave you alone.

There's spaghetti in the chilli, deal with it.

Start conversations by announcing that you didn't go to High School here. It will save you a lot of time. Just trust me.


In case of snow, please remember
A. 2" of snow is a natural disaster here
B. everyone will rush out to buy bread and milk even tho those are the first 2 things to go bad.
C. just because you can drive in the snow doesn't mean that we can. Plan accordingly.

Oh, and the best place for some warm up laps? There's a dog park just down the road that would be perfect. Txt me and I'll show you a route.

Thanks for coming to "the ville" (oh google it, I can't do it all for you).

ITS OFFICIAL!!!!!!!

2012 World Cup
2013 World Championships
In LOUISVILLE!!!!!!!!!!
At the Bandman!!!
Details to come, or if you have some post up.
We have some work to do, let's get organized. And show what our cross community can do.

CX Worlds Party(already)

I know, youre confused. Cyclocross Worlds wont be CONTESTED in Louisville quite yet, but join us as we hoist some Belgie Goodness and watch the pros have at it.

Cyclo-cross World Championships to the United States, Sven Nys to participate?

Cyclo-cross World Championships to the United States, Sven Nys to participate?


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Oh.
My.
God.

Sven Nys used the words Louisville, Kentucky in a sentence. In the same sentence as a world championship. I think everyone saw this in the flurry of emails today, but if not, click above and check it out.

Warning: Gravel Ahead (doug)

So I registered for Barry-Roubaix tonight...finally. March 27th, with Brian, 50 mile Jon, and hopefully Fatty (among others...ahem, TSB?). I going to randomly assume that 30 miles over gravel can't be any worse than the equivalent of 60 over pavement, which I am comfortable I'll be able to do by March. Should be legen....wait for it...dary. Yes, that was unnecessary. Can't wait. I think there are beers in That State Up North that I can't get in OH (nope, just couldn't say it).

Gate Fail (doug)

So, let me preface this with the fact that I am also a paying member of the LDRA, and use the park(s) regularly with my wonderful WGS.

That said, Read Below. Do you see the forward thinking we “lost” RRCC to? Nobody thought to ask, “what happens if the sun doesn’t shine as much? You know, like EVERY WINTER?”.

So, as we get more and more “Cyclocross weather” each season, not only are WE not racing at RRCC, but the dang dogs are locked out (or in, maybe) of their new park…

(sigh)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Louisville Dog Run Association
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:33 PM
To: Roemer, Douglas
Subject: Dog Park Gate Email

Hi Everyone,

As you all may or may not know, our gates are powered by a battery that is typically recharged each day via the solar panels that you see set up at each gate. Usually this system works very well and we don't have problems. However, during the winter when days are shorter and we have more overcast days, there can be a problem with the batteries not being able to fully recharge. Unfortunately, we've had a number of days in a row where that great big yellow ball hasn't appeared in the sky, so our batteries are taking a beating. And according to the forecast I saw this afternoon, it could be next Wednesday until we get a truly sunny day. So, please be aware that the gates may not be working correctly for the next little bit and please have some patience.

See what we get for trying to be green?

Thanks,
[Name removed to protect the poor guy who donates a $#!#load of his time to do the dogpark thing and who actually does a great job of running the organization]
LDRA

the cruellest cut of all

Its not just been snowy and cold, its been foggy and rainy and ridiculous. The only way to ride in the actual outdoors has been the furly.

For anyone who hasn't participated, imagine a ride that starts @ 430 AM regardless of temp but not of tempo.

We start at RRP hq(chez seiler) and pick up riders along the route. Although its usually only a hardcore few, the rewards are great.
Bragging rights are obvious. Conversations always veer towards the "oh, you're hoping to do that tonight?" Type thing. I love knocking out the ride before breakfast.

Lately they've been a little more "spirited" to quote the prez, than usual. Hill attacks, mockery after and a fast ride thru the fog have all been a part.

Yes, I'm getting up at stupid:o'clock, but with the beginning of the year work-stress, and the need to somehow maintain some of the fitness from cross season mandating ridiculous maneuvers.....well, there you go.

Headlights, blinkies and all the warm shit you've got.

God I'm ready for spring.
Hopefully I'll remember what to do during a daytime ride.
The darkness is slimming tho. I look practically lithe in total darkness. When I was dating(2000 yrs ago) it was my best look.

sex panther

Take 1 portion Lamb Vindaloo, mix w 1 copy CTS mountain bike intervals blended in a small room.
That's not so fresh.

ridus interruptus

Last night, one of my least favorite cycling related things happened(other than crashing). The infamous Ridus Interruptus. This time it was due to compatability issues btw the Garmin and the Pwrtap. By the time I got it sorted, priorities shifted to child 1.0 and his homework.

Why am I always so grumpy when the ride doesn't happen or gets cut short? Is it because I'm mentally in "attack mode" ready to push thru the pain, only to be dropped back into normal interpersonal realtionships?

Is it testosterone related?

All I know is that I turn into a testy bitch, that even I don't like.

Lucky for me, I only had to wait a few hours for the furly run to get all that angst out. 6 miles or so @ 5 am seems to leave me drained and ready to deal with people. The post run coffee and pancakes(thx Z) didn't hurt either.
Now I just have to stay awake thru work....always a challenge.

here comes the sun

I never thought I'd be this jacked up to see 40 degrees, but seeing that today will be our first day of the year over freezing.....color me excited. I know there's still ice on the road so it'll probably mean time on the cross bike. Twist.my.arm!
I just need to ride and have the scenery move. The trainer is just killing me.
Now if I can find a way to "ghost" out of work before sunset.......maybe.

Belgian Nationals

Sven Nys takes the Belgain National Title this morning(for us). Zack turned me on to this site, where you can watch live. nice stuff.
cycling Fan

The great thing about this snowy twisty course is that it looks like something we could recreate at EB. hmmmmm, possibilities are getting interesting.

Good to be back (doug)

So, I had to go back 16 Brian posts and 30 days to find my last post. Yikes. After my BRONZE MEDAL in the KY STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, I deserved a hiatus (after all, I'd only just taken the prior 3 weeks off). Well, that and it was [almost] the holiday season at that point. We went to Dayton to celebrate xmas with my family over one weekend, then headed to FL to celebrate a belated Hanukkah and New Years with Al's folks for a while, so I've been busy being lazy. I think I was laughing at myself for being 11 lbs. heavier 30 days ago. Well, if that was funny, then I was HILARIOUS coming back from FL last week. I think I gained another 6-8 lbs. over the xmas/new year trip to Florida. Shocking, too, considering I worked out almost every day down there (3 6.5 mile runs, two boot camp classes, two spinning classes, golf, and numerous tennis matches). Clearly, all that exercise was not enough to offset the eating and drinking that went on over the same period. Anyway, I weighed in (just for reference) upon returning to the 'Ville, at a cool 183. That's a full 20+lbs over my "marathon" weight of April 2009. Now, as my buddy Jon (50MileJon) noted, that's not necessarily an ideal weight either, but it's a reference point, nonetheless. All that said, the vacation was excellent and worth every pound.

I'm back now, already back on a solid workout schedule again, and have started using "The Daily Plate" again (I credit much of my initial 60 lb weight loss to TDP, and some of my 20 lb "relapse" to the fact that I stopped using it about 3 months ago). TDP is a calorie in/out tracker that was recently purchased by LIVESTRONG dot com (don't hang up yet, Lance haters). This ought to be a post of it's own, but I don't want you to have to wait another 30 days, so let me just say as quickly as I can that it is a HUGE help to me when I'm trying to get my eating/exercise plan back on track. Sometimes you just don't realize how much your putting in your body, and (even without being anal or exact about it), TDP at least makes you aware of how you are doing approximately. Some days your way over your recommended calorie intake, somedays you're way under (days with long rides/runs, etc.). Regardless, it helps you realize how to plan your eating and exercise, and just makes you aware of what you're doing. Half the battle, if not more. I enter every little pretzel snack (110 calories for 17 pretzels) and bottle of beer (200 calories for a Fat Tire 2 Below), and every bit of exercise (approx 550-600 calories burned in a 50 min. spin class). I know it's not exact, but I have it set up to my weight and goal to "maintain", and I know I want to be somewhere around 2100 calories each day. It worked wonders for 2.5 years, and I literally gained 20 lbs over a few months after ditching it (I switched from a blackberry to a Droid phone that didn't have the TDP app). Knowledge is power. I'm back to the bberry and back on TDP. I'm also training for a late January sprint triathlon (reverse order), the Triple crown of running here in Louisville, and the Nashville Half Marathon, which I'll be running with Alison and my best friend Tony (who lives in Nashville and who is on his own quest to lose about 40-50 lbs.). I'll keep you posted, or get him to post if possible (fat chance, no offense, T). As B mentioned, I'm also planning on riding the Barry-Robaix race in Michigan in March (I need to register asap), and then I have plans to do a couple Olympic distance Tri's this summer in addition to at least one half ironman (Steelhead, maybe). So that's it. Glad to be back. I'll keep you posted if anything interesting happens, otherwise look for a B-R race report in March from a 170 lb. blogger.

Winter Sucks So Im Dreaming About Spring

Snow is on the radar, Im on the trainier and life is a little grim. Im watching these Spinervals people and wondering if they're faster than the folks on the CTS dvd. Im daydreaming about cool stuff like this.....



And waiting for the spring classics


While wishing the weather was at least condusive to riding the mountain bike.

I've been working on the schedule for this year and since road racing really isnt in the negotiated settlement with the domestic goddess/race tolerator I have a few other things up my sleeve. Hey, it was this or sit on the couch getting fat until cross season(have you tried oreo cakesters? my kids turned me on to these. go for the peanut butter filled. lethal!!!)



First up is the Barry-Roubaix race up in Michigan in March. Michigan and March are not really things that always work together so it could be a might bit chilly. This is an off-road type race I'll be doing on the cross bike as a road trip(assuming Dug gets the hallpass) meeting up with 50mileJon for gravel and good times. I like a road trip.


Looks like good times, no?



Next is the Land btw the Lakes Mountain Bike race, should be fun. I was supposed to do this last year and couldn't, so this time Im back for the whole deal. I'll keep you posted, at least its an excuse to go mtn biking a little more often.

At the end of April is the Derby Festival Mini Marathon(possibly with cyclist hating Ari). New course and a monster field this year.

The Ky Brevet series has some 120k and up races that Im hoping to doo in preparation for the Rapha Gentlemen's Race(all riders have sponsorship squared away...this year)

The Short Track Mountain Bike Series is in June (and a blast) and then its a break before cross training. Not a bad year, and you know there'll be more. So for now, while I while away my time on the triangular torture device I'll keep dreaming of cool stuff and rides without coats...and overshoes...and baselayers......god I hate winter

otter creek update

Sorry for getting a little provincial here, but I heard an interview with Jason Cissel from Metro Parks on NPR this morning. In an "I know that guy" moment, I dropped him a line to see what the status of reopening the park was and what info he could share. Some of you already know this, so skip to the end.

"we’re working to find a way to reopen this park for public recreation at no cost to Louisville’s taxpayers. We’ve received five proposals that we’re reviewing – all five contain some intriguing elements, and all five leave us with some questions that we’re exploring further. We’re also coordinating our efforts with the U.S. Department of the Interior, which must review any proposed lease of this former federal land to an outside operator.



It’s been a complicated and time-consuming process – one that we’re eager to put behind us! That said, we’re committed to getting this right, which means that a decision may not come as quickly as we’d all hope. Our main interest is guaranteeing the long-term viability of the park, and doing it in a way that will meet any requirements set by the feds. Meanwhile, we’ve committed to keeping one employee out there to keep facilities from deteriorating.



We do expect any outcome to maintain access to the park’s trails by hikers, mountain bikers and those horseback riding poop machines. It’s likely that volunteerism will play a key role in keeping the trails in good shape, similar to the support we received from trail users when we operated the park.



I wish I could offer a firm timeline, but this is a process we’ve never found ourselves in before, and one that the feds are also having to feel their way through. As someone who misses hiking the trails at Otter Creek, I’m looking forward to a positive outcome on this one."

Thatnks for the update Jason. Hopefully this will get resolved sooner than later.

underwired

What looks more gay than a man flipping thru a copy of Underwired Magazine while waiting for another man to show up for lunch? How about if he's flipping back and forth as tho something's missing.

Finally, you can read Underwired with confidence and not a care in the world. You see, Tallgirl is profiled in the current issue, and you are only looking for one of your friends in media other than "Cops" for a change.

Go pick it up, and get her to autograph it. I think she's carrying sharpies now.

Great pic and story, go get you one.

2KX

which may be the dumbest attempt to abbreviate a year that has ever been uttered. The last 2 days have been a good return to form and I (for once) feel like Im starting off the new year with some form, and not staring at need ing to lose 20lbs and learn to ride a bike. What to do with said form? Although not sealed in stone, Im looking at some of the Brevet series, The Mini Marathon(for the sheer fun of running it) and maybe stinking up the joint at some mountain bike races. More to come, Im sure you're waiting with baited breath.

Yesterday I got out on the cross bike with Seiler and the Pontiff. we rode some of the Beargrass Greenbelt, which looks like an amazing place to dump a body or ride your bike(i love options), we rode from the park, thru the crack den of the greenbelt down directly into Eva Bandman Park our new cross home. Thats a pretty cool trick and it allows you to dodge the major roads almost completely. We slogged thru the mud and checked out the premises. It has definite promise and with Simon Burney and Bruce Fina designing....I figure they'll do it right. We then rode to the RRCC DogPark. Funny thing is, we could've ridden 80% of our old course. Add in some of the features used in the Short Track MTB series and there's a lot to work with.

Today, I rung in the new year with an abject display of stupidity and the power of the male ego(I'm just under 6', but I duck when I come thru the door). I met Seiler, Zack, Tallgirl, Kelley,Marcus, GenJoe, Casey and Elizabeth(and her dog both of whom are faster than me), at the park for a run. The plan was that there would be a 6 mile loop and a 10 mile loop(and I've run 2 times in the last long time). After the 6 mile loop, only Marcus dropped off so I decided to hang in. It was conversational pace but god the last mile or so hurt. 11 miles later, I limped home to a therapeutic dose of Advil and a hot shower. I guess I earned a few beers during football. If I stay awake.

Im not one for "best of" or "top ten" lists(except when Rachel says dirty things without realizing). What did strike me last night was how much this cycling community can be. Does it count as a drunk text if Im the recipient and Im the one whos drunk? no matter. Last night, during the hoopla, I got a new years greeting from Mr Myerson. I find him culpable for a lot of what we subject you people to. Meeting Adam was truly a catalyst for the direction that my cycliing life has gone. Its put me in situation where I've met some amazing people, and developed friendships that have meant a lot to me. Its funny how chance meetings have impact like that.

I really havent developed my plan for 2010, but be warned it should be stoopid.