Just a brief update on the ABD/GEARGRINDER squad: these guys were fast this past month!
It started off with Carter taking second at the Winfield Twilight Criterium (technically on May 31st). Then Rob White nabbed the “W” the first day of June at the ABR National Championship.
One week later our man Jeff Schroetlin started to flex his “summer muscles” by driving the 6-man breakaway at the Tour De Winghaven, flatting with 2 miles to go, and bridging back up in time to get 4th place!
The weekend after that Rob White lapped the field with two other riders (including former ABD’er Frankie Dierking) en route to taking the Wisconsin State Crit Title, and his brother Ryan took the field sprint for 4th.
Next up was another big Wisco weekend: the Grafton Twilight Criterium and GEARGRINDER’s own Sheboygan Criterium. Mr. Carter didn’t disappoint the hometown fans, catching the late breakaway from Bissell pro Garret Peltonen in the final straightaway to notch Saturday’s win and outsprinting Jittery Joe’s pro (and another former ABD’er) Chad Hartley on Sunday. (There’s a great video of Saturday’s finish courtesy of Tim Keeley at www.abdcycling.com/public/grafton/Grafton.mov)
To round out the month of June, Schroetlin’s form continued to improve and at the Proctor Criterium he finished as the first Illinois rider across the line to take the IL state title!
And to finish off the pre-Superweek preparation, this past weekend the team did the double 1-2 as Ryan and Rob White executed perfect team tactics to finish first and second, respectively, at the UWW Road Race, and in Sunday’s ABR State Championship Schroetlin agained manhandled the field, lapping them twice and leading out Josh Carter for 2nd place en route to taking 1st himself.
7.08.2008
7.04.2008
Celluloid at the Cemetery
I'm sure that every time you're at the cemetery and see the big white wall of a mausoleum you say to yourself, "wow, what a great place to watch a movie."
Of course, you don't say that because it's absurd, creepy and maybe a little disrespectful...
But then there's Hollywood Forever- a cemetery whose entire back property line borders the Paramount Studios and where many of Hollywood's stars and starlets are buried. And just in case you don't remember some of the names many had their portrait etched into the headstones. It's really the epitome of Los Angeles- a town that is all about being seen. So with that in mind, I don't think the deceased are bothered that 2,000 people gather in an empty corner of the cemetery every summer weekend night to watch classic Hollywood films projected on the side of an enormous mausoleum- especially since the $10 cover charge goes towards preserving the original prints of the old movies as well as beautification of the cemetery grounds.
Rosa, her sister, and I joined our friends Reah and Andrew last weekend for our first Hollywood Forever experience, and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done in this town. There was also a strong sense of community that I haven't experienced often in L.A.
Although the movies don't start until it's dark (around 9:30 pm), the gates open at 7:30 and the party actually begins around 6 pm. That's when everyone begins to arrive to get a good place in line, but in order to do so your entire party needs to be present, so groups spread out their blankets and chairs on the front lawn and start with appetizers and cocktails. Then when the gates open it's a respectful, hushed dash down the lanes and to the back corner, where everyone sets up the blankets and chairs once again, and this time dive in on their main course for the evening. Some groups even bring low tables, candles and we also saw a fondue fountain.
That night's showing feature was Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much", starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Rosa and I actually just saw it for the first time not more than a couple of months ago, so it was a pleasure to be able to pay just as much attention to the crowd as the movie. I'm sure that watching a film with that many people evoked some of the same feel that audiences experienced back in the hey-day of the local moviehouse. The cheering was more boisterous, the tension was thicker, and the laughing louder. We were definitely all in it together.
Of course, you don't say that because it's absurd, creepy and maybe a little disrespectful...
But then there's Hollywood Forever- a cemetery whose entire back property line borders the Paramount Studios and where many of Hollywood's stars and starlets are buried. And just in case you don't remember some of the names many had their portrait etched into the headstones. It's really the epitome of Los Angeles- a town that is all about being seen. So with that in mind, I don't think the deceased are bothered that 2,000 people gather in an empty corner of the cemetery every summer weekend night to watch classic Hollywood films projected on the side of an enormous mausoleum- especially since the $10 cover charge goes towards preserving the original prints of the old movies as well as beautification of the cemetery grounds.
Rosa, her sister, and I joined our friends Reah and Andrew last weekend for our first Hollywood Forever experience, and it was one of the coolest things I've ever done in this town. There was also a strong sense of community that I haven't experienced often in L.A.
Although the movies don't start until it's dark (around 9:30 pm), the gates open at 7:30 and the party actually begins around 6 pm. That's when everyone begins to arrive to get a good place in line, but in order to do so your entire party needs to be present, so groups spread out their blankets and chairs on the front lawn and start with appetizers and cocktails. Then when the gates open it's a respectful, hushed dash down the lanes and to the back corner, where everyone sets up the blankets and chairs once again, and this time dive in on their main course for the evening. Some groups even bring low tables, candles and we also saw a fondue fountain.
That night's showing feature was Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much", starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day. Rosa and I actually just saw it for the first time not more than a couple of months ago, so it was a pleasure to be able to pay just as much attention to the crowd as the movie. I'm sure that watching a film with that many people evoked some of the same feel that audiences experienced back in the hey-day of the local moviehouse. The cheering was more boisterous, the tension was thicker, and the laughing louder. We were definitely all in it together.
6.26.2008
Called out... ok, I give.
Rick DeMoan called me out that my sorry excuse for a blog had gone from plain old boring to being worthy of an afternoon nap- which is where I rate watching golf (nothing put's my to sleep like watching people walk around a well-groomed lawn). That's ok, Rick, I deserve it (although if you'd called me out in the comments section at least it might have sparked some lively commentary). But I routinely violate the two rules of proper blogging: 1) stay focused and 2) update often, so here's the deal.
Normally I'll write about cycling, but the whole cycling thing ain't working out for me right now. As many of you know, life happens. Last season started out great, then came the hernia. I hobbled through the end of the season, then more important things came up through the Fall and Winter. Then just as I finally started hit my stride last month, the car accident. Whatever I did to my ribs kept me off the bike for about 3 weeks, but I started hiking. Then I decided to jog up and down the mountain on Sunday... and ripped apart my legs to the point I can hardly walk. Why is it that running down a mountain rips apart your legs like that?
So, here's where I'm at. All that time and energy that went into training? I'd like to think it's going into cognition: work, reading, writing- sorry, just not blog writing, and social commentary is definitely outside the scope of this blog (an article in the month's Atlantic, Is Google Making Us Stoopid? , confirmed my need to unplug a little more too). Cameron and I are also working on a few big projects right now, including a couple of books, so that's good.
So, until I start riding regularly again, or I have something entertaining to write, or I hear requests for a 29-year old's rambling about the good, bad and ugly life out here in L.A. ... I got nothing.
Normally I'll write about cycling, but the whole cycling thing ain't working out for me right now. As many of you know, life happens. Last season started out great, then came the hernia. I hobbled through the end of the season, then more important things came up through the Fall and Winter. Then just as I finally started hit my stride last month, the car accident. Whatever I did to my ribs kept me off the bike for about 3 weeks, but I started hiking. Then I decided to jog up and down the mountain on Sunday... and ripped apart my legs to the point I can hardly walk. Why is it that running down a mountain rips apart your legs like that?
So, here's where I'm at. All that time and energy that went into training? I'd like to think it's going into cognition: work, reading, writing- sorry, just not blog writing, and social commentary is definitely outside the scope of this blog (an article in the month's Atlantic, Is Google Making Us Stoopid? , confirmed my need to unplug a little more too). Cameron and I are also working on a few big projects right now, including a couple of books, so that's good.
So, until I start riding regularly again, or I have something entertaining to write, or I hear requests for a 29-year old's rambling about the good, bad and ugly life out here in L.A. ... I got nothing.
6.15.2008
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Quite possibly the best and most important book I've ever heard.
Up until now the top picks were Lolita, Sons and Lovers, To Kill a Mockingbird ... but ... Gabriel Garcia Marquez... wow.
100 Years of Solitude was similar to Sons and Lovers in that it took me a long time to get into it (I must have started it and restarted it four or five times over the past three years), but once I hit page 70 it was this beautiful, tragic story that just kept building momentum, carried along by the weight of Marquez's masterful storytelling. The last 80 pages took me two weeks to finish because the story could only end one way, and I didn't want it to end. And that's exactly how I felt at the end Sons and Lovers- I just didn't want it to end.
A reviewer from the NY Times wrote in his initial review of the book in 1970 that he thought 100 Years of Solitude should be required reading for the entire human race after the Book of Genesis, and I'd agree. Marquez reminds us of the lessons we've learned throughout our lives without being preachy or paternizing, but rather showing them to us through a kalediscope that separates the lessons into an eternity of mezmerizing reflections and refractions of experiences and emotions that every human being has experienced.
Up until now the top picks were Lolita, Sons and Lovers, To Kill a Mockingbird ... but ... Gabriel Garcia Marquez... wow.
100 Years of Solitude was similar to Sons and Lovers in that it took me a long time to get into it (I must have started it and restarted it four or five times over the past three years), but once I hit page 70 it was this beautiful, tragic story that just kept building momentum, carried along by the weight of Marquez's masterful storytelling. The last 80 pages took me two weeks to finish because the story could only end one way, and I didn't want it to end. And that's exactly how I felt at the end Sons and Lovers- I just didn't want it to end.
A reviewer from the NY Times wrote in his initial review of the book in 1970 that he thought 100 Years of Solitude should be required reading for the entire human race after the Book of Genesis, and I'd agree. Marquez reminds us of the lessons we've learned throughout our lives without being preachy or paternizing, but rather showing them to us through a kalediscope that separates the lessons into an eternity of mezmerizing reflections and refractions of experiences and emotions that every human being has experienced.
6.10.2008
Now something good: the ABD and ABD/GEARGRINDER riders
I know some of this is old news, but I still feel all warm and fuzzy inside about it. Head on over to www.ABDcycling.com and check out the results pages, news blog and reports blog for updates from the past few weekends.
First up, major props to the ABD crew that pulled off the Midwest's biggest three-day Masters' series and turned around four days later to put together our biggest and smoothest running Winfield Criterium Weekend ever- over 675 riders in two days! And then to top it off, ABD'ers had some great results in the hometown races with New Kids on the ABD Block Sebastian Grinstein winning the Cat 5 men under 40, Gabe Looker taking the Cat 3's and Rob White scoring the win for the ABD/GEARGRINDER squad in the Cat 1/2 race!
Then this past weekend, in keeping with the "hometown" results theme, the ABD Multisport squad tore it up at the Batavia Triathlon & Duathlon, which is literally out the front door of the Prairie Path Cycles-Batavia store. Props to Kim Malmquist, the first female duathlete across the line, Scott Pahl for taking his age group and Gretchen DeMong for taking the silver in her age group!
And on a final note, although it's an "out of area" event, it's very noteworthy that Gabe Looker and Ron Bridal took 2nd and 3rd at Sunday's brutally hot Tour de Winghaven.
Since I'm to0 far away to do it (back in LA now), I hope all the ABD'ers give each other a well-deserved pat on the back.
5.31.2008
Well, that sucked....
So, I'm back in the Midwest to help with the Winfield Criterium
Weekend. Things are a little crazy running last-minute errands for the
race, when out of nowhere some 16 year old kid overcorrects a mistake
and takes a detour at a 45 degree angle into oncoming traffic... and I
happen to be oncoming traffic, driving back towards the bike shop at
about 45 miles per hour.
Weekend. Things are a little crazy running last-minute errands for the
race, when out of nowhere some 16 year old kid overcorrects a mistake
and takes a detour at a 45 degree angle into oncoming traffic... and I
happen to be oncoming traffic, driving back towards the bike shop at
about 45 miles per hour.
I audibly say "oh sh&%", and it wasn't until later that I realized I
considered three options (bike racers will identify with this post-
crash-recollection of your stream of consciousness), I can:
a) swerve to the right and hit him more head on
b) swerve to the left and hit an SUV in oncoming traffic
c) just stay the course.
I stick with (c) and it's unavoidable, loud, fast, expensive and a
little painful. I get a cut on my wrist and bruised ribs, my
counterpart gets a burn on his face from his airbag. Both cars get
totaled. But most importantly, we both had our seatbelts on, get out
of our cars, and walk away. (Although as you'll see from the pics
below I shudder to think if he'd had a passenger in the car.)
All my siblings happen to be home this weekend too from various
locations around the country, so when I call for someone to pick me
up, everyone comes along.... and Mom figures there couldn't be a
better time to get the Christmas Card photo. Sure, her car's totaled
(sorry Mom), but she's got all her kids home for a weekend and we're
alive and healthy.
5.25.2008
5.14.2008
May 12: A Day in Pictures
May 12th is my birthday. A couple of weeks ago Rosa asked me what I wanted to do for it and I blurted out "Ride my bike to Santa Barbara".
So I did.
View Larger Map
My plan was to park my car at our boss's place in Augora Hills and ride 90 miles inland over the mountains, through Ojai, down to the coast and then up to Santa Barbara.
The ride started out pretty well, overcast and in the high 50's. I had the roads to myself at 10AM on a Monday.
Then I ventured into the canyons northwest of Simi Valley, which are full of massive sand and gravel pits. It's fun descending but a little crazy with all the trucks.
Then came the Heritage Valley: birthplace of many an orange, avocado and strawberry.
...then up and over the climb at Lake Casitas.
And eventually down to the Pacific Ocean.
Where the lovely Rosa Linda met me on the beach for a picnic...
...and I asked her to marry me.
That's right, it's official! Take another gander at her left hand in case you missed it.
And here's just one reason why I love this woman: when we're deciding on a restaurant for dinner that night, she says, "You better not pick some fancy place just because we got engaged. I'm totally down for the Brewhouse". The Brewhouse is a great little brewery & restaurant away from the main, fancy strip-- so to the Brewhouse we went for a delicious dinner and some celebratory beverages.
It was going to be tough to match May 12, 2007, which was spent at my best friend's wedding in Austria, but I think we pulled it off.
So I did.
View Larger Map
My plan was to park my car at our boss's place in Augora Hills and ride 90 miles inland over the mountains, through Ojai, down to the coast and then up to Santa Barbara.
The ride started out pretty well, overcast and in the high 50's. I had the roads to myself at 10AM on a Monday.
Then I ventured into the canyons northwest of Simi Valley, which are full of massive sand and gravel pits. It's fun descending but a little crazy with all the trucks.
Then came the Heritage Valley: birthplace of many an orange, avocado and strawberry.
...then up and over the climb at Lake Casitas.
And eventually down to the Pacific Ocean.
Where the lovely Rosa Linda met me on the beach for a picnic...
...and I asked her to marry me.
That's right, it's official! Take another gander at her left hand in case you missed it.
And here's just one reason why I love this woman: when we're deciding on a restaurant for dinner that night, she says, "You better not pick some fancy place just because we got engaged. I'm totally down for the Brewhouse". The Brewhouse is a great little brewery & restaurant away from the main, fancy strip-- so to the Brewhouse we went for a delicious dinner and some celebratory beverages.
It was going to be tough to match May 12, 2007, which was spent at my best friend's wedding in Austria, but I think we pulled it off.
5.07.2008
Catch Up
Catch Up- what I feel like I might be doing when it comes to racing with my teammates this summer. These boys are fast! Big props to Rob White and his 6th place overall at the recent USA Crits Speed Week. Most guys at that race have been going full tilt for a couple of months, and the ABD/GEARGRINDER squad is just getting their legs under them.
Catch Up- what I'm doing with this blog entry. Man, what have I been doing for two weeks? Oh, that's right, working. The new job with Carter Thor Studios has been going well.. and then when I get home from that gig (or on my lunch breaks) I'm taking care of some ABD communique, which is getting hot and heavy now with the 40k TTT this Saturday and then both the big Memorial Day Weekend Msters Races and the Winfield Criterium Weekend at the end of the month.
Fortunately, I have been able to get four or five days of riding in a week too, but no real long rides yet- mostly 90 minute to 2 hour hard workouts. Lots of threshhold and "on road mountain biking" up in Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills. Riding in the neighborhoods that follow the borders of the park is a blast, the roads are steep, twisty and in horrible shape! The pavement is super cracked and uneven, creating all these mini jumps, berms and obstacles. But all the rich stars and starlets have built their houses so on top of each other that the roads are barely wide enough for one car- much less a road crew! There have been several occasions when I've launched off a lip or over a massive pothole on a descent only to have to grab a handful of brakes to avoid becoming a hood ornament on some Mercedees or Porsche whipping around a hairpin turn.... And yes, I am still talking about riding my road bike. Knock on wood, but my Bontrager x-lites and Serfas tires have neve failed me on that loop.
Oh yeah, it hasn't all been work and riding, I am happy to report that I'm reading a great book right now too: 100 Years of Solitude. I started it three years ago and kept rereading the first 40 pages, but once I pushed through to about page 70 it all became clear and I was hooked. Anyone who's read it or wants to read it and discuss, please shoot me an email. It feels good to get the old English major wheels turning again.
Catch Up- what I'm doing with this blog entry. Man, what have I been doing for two weeks? Oh, that's right, working. The new job with Carter Thor Studios has been going well.. and then when I get home from that gig (or on my lunch breaks) I'm taking care of some ABD communique, which is getting hot and heavy now with the 40k TTT this Saturday and then both the big Memorial Day Weekend Msters Races and the Winfield Criterium Weekend at the end of the month.
Fortunately, I have been able to get four or five days of riding in a week too, but no real long rides yet- mostly 90 minute to 2 hour hard workouts. Lots of threshhold and "on road mountain biking" up in Griffith Park and the Hollywood Hills. Riding in the neighborhoods that follow the borders of the park is a blast, the roads are steep, twisty and in horrible shape! The pavement is super cracked and uneven, creating all these mini jumps, berms and obstacles. But all the rich stars and starlets have built their houses so on top of each other that the roads are barely wide enough for one car- much less a road crew! There have been several occasions when I've launched off a lip or over a massive pothole on a descent only to have to grab a handful of brakes to avoid becoming a hood ornament on some Mercedees or Porsche whipping around a hairpin turn.... And yes, I am still talking about riding my road bike. Knock on wood, but my Bontrager x-lites and Serfas tires have neve failed me on that loop.
Oh yeah, it hasn't all been work and riding, I am happy to report that I'm reading a great book right now too: 100 Years of Solitude. I started it three years ago and kept rereading the first 40 pages, but once I pushed through to about page 70 it all became clear and I was hooked. Anyone who's read it or wants to read it and discuss, please shoot me an email. It feels good to get the old English major wheels turning again.
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