Stuck in Reno

Well I am sitting here in Reno, waiting to catch my flight. My lungs are wondering what the hell happened, I forgot when you cross the Cali border, it means everyone smokes twice as much and with as much authority and a gun toter down around Tex-Mex area. Spent less then 24 hours here didn't get to gamble had one (gasp) Bud Light, which is kind of like drinking wine out of a box. Man, now I am trying to go stand by on the early flight which is now delayed, that means I probably won't be able to get on. Then it is another 3 hour wait. I gotta find a bar and some pure oxygen. Just paid $4 for 2 hours of wifi, not bad. It is funny watching everyone get their last coin dropping one armed bandit fix in at the airport. Kind of like a tax for people who are bad at math. Boredom, destorys the soul.

Funny, I went through the metal detector and for the first time it picked up the titanium in my leg. I started laughing until I almost got the cavity search from Bruno the communard. Don't forget this is Nevada. True stroy, on the back of a car I saw a one of those white ovals you see in Euro that says what country you are from, this one said AK47, nice, welcome to Nevada.

Gotta go cause I gotta coin in my pocket that is burning a hole,

gambling for love
VJ

Toddco

A little flashback photo. My friend Toddco and I back in the good ol' days. Ever since I was about 12 or so, I have wanted to be like my friend Toddco. He was always the funniest guy around, and chicks would dig that. Thus, I wanted to be funny so I could score chicks. I tried hard to be funny, but therein lies the problem. Not that my friend Toddco is just funny, but after almost 3 decades of friendship I realize that I still want to be like my friend Toddco, cause he has this cool vibe and he comfortable in his own skin. He is a solid guy, who is not afriad to take an unpopular stance on an issue. He goes boldly into the unknown. Most of all the guy can drink beer like a mother! I am still tyring to figure out what I bring to the friendship, other than being a beer mooch or a stalker or something. He has an awesome wife and kids, and is dedicated to causes that most of us just talk about being dedicated to. It always seems kinda funny that there is someone out there who knows eveything about you. Yeah, I mean everything. The kind of things only best friends talk about. That my firends is a gift. So to that, I raise a girl to you my friend!

Buffalo soldiers always!

VJ

Just like the Amish

Went for a 4 hours ride that should have been a 3 hour ride. It always seems like the day after I get off of work (48 hours straight) from the fire house, that no matter how much I ride the trainer or rollers, (I have both there) my legs still have that dull cob webby feeling. So I just went with it. It was not raining though so, happy happy joy joy. I have to remember to enjoy the little things. I came across this, seems like EPO for the soul, but it is funny. I guess Dasani should start thinking about it for their new marketing campaign. I may start my own water company and call it "Hose Water" and my slogan could be "just like the old summer days of youth, that refeshing rubbery taste as you lap up another mouthful. Just like mom used to make" Whatever.

I have to bag CCCX #4 and risk losing my coveted 4th place overall to work that day. A 24 hour overtime on sunday is good, easy money.... usually. I gotta pay for the bathroom redo somehow. That means race simulator on the trainer. If anyone has suggestions for making that easy please let me know. At least I can watch OLN at the firehouse on sunday, we don't have cable at my house so cyclysm sunday is a rare treat. No, we are not Amish, but sometimes it seems like it. TV is the opiate of the people or something like that. But, damn I miss Lost and Survivor. With all those blogs I have to read who has time? Wait, I have it. "Blogs, the new opiate of the people!" But it feels so good!!! Anyway. Time to go have deep thoughts with some Fat Tire Ale. Good luck to all racing this weekend. I am dreading my first road race of the season, cause Olaf and the bag boys are in fine form this year, that pain quest may be a few weeks away though.

I am angry
though I cannot scream
the youthful angst I feel
now just a dream

My therapist says
be in that moment, be still
I close my eyes
and promise myself I will

Stay like pizza,
easy and cheesy,

XOXO
VJ

Better donut than do not

My nose hairs are still burning from last night. Man, that was a tough one. We had an old timer who has a history of drinkning gallons of vodka a day for the last 20 or so years. Anyway, he was on the floor and had been there for two days. The heater in his house must have been at 85 degrees. Oh yeah, he was not able to get to the bathroom for two days either. That of course didn't stop him from taking mulitple nature breaks. Long story short, it smelled like being inside a bottle of poo filled ammonia (sorry for being a little graphic) and trying to move him and not get any on us was problematic to say the least. He had ammonia burns all over his body and covered in, well ....you know what. With the high gag factor and trying to avoid stepping in land mines we had a tough time. He seemed to be in good spirits though and was actually very chatty. I felt bad for him, and the glimpse of what the aging process has in store for us is always a very awakening moment. The five rememberances always come to mind , it helps from having an level 5 anxiety attack. I also think of my pal "the butcher", he is 70 years old, rides 15,000+ miles a year, rain or shine. Oh yeah, home boy is not slow. I'll put him up against 90% of the riders out there, even ones 50 YEARS YOUNGER! You better bring your A game, cause he can bust out 20 minutes up Old's. No bad, eh? I think of all that and suddenly it is ok to get old again, or should I say born anew.

So, after the call I had a cleansing moment and a very rare midnight donut run.

the yeast also rises,
VJ

panty hose

Well, if you look close I am white wearing panty hose, us athletes call them compression socks. White leg warmers with blue knee warmers, a bold statement if I may say. I left the garter belt at home though. I refuse to get poison oak again, last race I had it all over my legs and I looked like a leper. No offense to upstanding lepers. It is just that the old lady won't let me sleep in the same bed, can't say I blame her.
But velojuice don't like sleeping alone, I am up scratching all night. So last race I did what I had to, when the going gets tough, the tough wear panty hose. Besides, it made me feel downright giggly.......just kidding.

VJ

To sleep, perchance to dream

So this is being consumned right now in tribute to my epic last lap collapse today. Alas not all is bad though. I made it to the front group of three for the first two laps. Felt okay till the third time up the climb, then I had to cut it back and try to chase back on. Try, being the operative word. No chance. Time for damage control, try to hold onto third. Wrong again. My 15+ hour training week was finally catching up with me. Half a lap to go, another guy catches me, I follow, "okay, just stay with him" sounds good, right? Well, at this point I am seeing Elvis and am all over the road. I hit some sand at a tight turn and go down. Just as well, saves me the humiliation of getting my ass kicked at the line. Anyway, finish up fourth not bad, I guess. I was hoping for a little better, but I went straight to the Wrong Way tent for some free beer to drown the misery. Thanks Bros! Also mad props to the guy that won. He crashed hard on a semi-pavement section. I thought he was done, but he came back a half a lap later and, ended up winning the race. Beers to you buddy! The weather was great though, so you can't bitch about much when you can race, hit some beer and hang out with the biker boys and girls on a bright sunny Cali day.

I can't let this day go by without saying WTF? Three years, and we have nothig to show for the lives of thousands of soldiers, women, children, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and so on. Why did we go there? Remind me again, cause I don't recall. Don't get me wrong, I am not a liberal, I am not a con, I am nothing. Except, angry that we have an administration that is all about themselves and hiding behind a cloak of young men and women in combat gear, giving their lives for zero. When they should be enjoying their youth, brinking beer, making out in the back of cars, studying for finals. Having fun. Thank you to them, FUW. I don't want to go too deep down the rabbit hole, so. Oh yeah, my amazing daughter got straight A's on her repot card, with 5 A+'s. Damn, that rocks! She is awesome. Well, don't let the poison oak bite.


Beer for all,
VJ out

Happy Face

moments of weakness that we all have
play like a drive-in movie
we can all see it
but in the confines of the steamed up windows
we are all alone,
as the images play again and again

the lone speaker crackles with mono sound
drawing happy faces and backwards letters
in the steam, peering out of the glass
for signs of life,
for the little curly haired boy,
for the fleeting sense of wonder,
for the stolen innocence

hold your love ones, and even the not so loved ones

VJ

Hell week

My week of pain has come to an end. Did 4 more hours with "the champ" Kramer and my legs feel like that picture over there, but in a good kind of way. At least I can have guilt free nauchos and beer and chocolate and bagels.... well I did burn 3000 calories on the ride so I am only trying to put some back. The new machine was unbelievable, rode like a dream. Nothing like going from steel to a light weight rocket, of course it rained but I didn't care, let it rain, let it rain!!!!

Hung out with my girl today, she is awesome. Yesterday she came home and said she had her mile run test and that she ran 6:58. Oh yeah she is in 6th grade. I asked her if she was the first girl, she said she was the first finisher! Yeah, Girl power! I was stoked, not only that but she gets straight A's. I don't know how that all happened but I don't think it came from my gene cess pool. But I was a proud papa. So we celebrated with some See's candy. I only ate some cause I had too though. Well I am feeling lucky today. Who know's what tomorrow will bring. Props, to all my peeps out there in bike land, go hard take chances!! Fat Tire Ale here I come.

Sleeping children
make me cry
while I sing the lullaby

Quiet dreams
of what's to pass
into fragile youth that cannot last


coasting for awhile,

VJ

Big Pimpin'

The new crotch rocket is here. I can't wait to blast this baby tomorrow. By far the lightest bike have ever owned. I am stoked! The green weenie goes into rain bike status for now. Went to the nooner today, cruzing along, till I thought I was gonna be he man and bridge up to Kevin Klien and Ted Huang. I managed to make it into no man's land, then went backwards real fast on the hill. Oh well, no sense being a cheese ball and sitting in the pack just coasting. You got to take chances!

Went for a MTB ride with little man, in the rain. We had a blast, that was after I had to realize that getting a workout was secondary to fun. I looked back and saw him chewing sour grass, with a ear to ear smile and realized that he was alot better at having fun than I was. Go figure.




Wind in our hair
blowing present to past
the gift of insight
the moment that's gone

You teach me so much
about myself
sometimes I am that stranger
with nothing to give you

sweet dreams my friends,

VJ

Cool!

I think I found the coolest thing ever

VJ

Hail=indoor riding

I hope I don't offend any of my right wing christian friends, if I had any. But the pic is about if Fox news were around back then. Toddco's dad would love this, the fox news rip I mean. Speaking of my tartar homeboy, sorry to hear about the hard times right now. I am thinking about you my brother.

Okay, this one is too hard to believe unless you read it, of course it had to be some yahoo bringing down the brotherhood. Old school fool.

Check out this link about the perils of porn, speaking of old school. And don't worry there is no nudity so you can check it out at work.
Checked out Shannon Skerrit's blog pretty cool. Vanilla bikes are sweet, no way I could ride that bike in the dirt. That thing is a mueseum piece. Check out the work.

God I miss cross already.

I went to little man's class today to check out his story he has been writing for the last two months. Of course it was about bikes, he drew his BMX bike flames and all, he was pretty stoked, he also mentioned in his story about dad going head on with the Harley last year. I guess it left an impression on him. Broken bones do that to kids. My two munchkins are awesome, ahhhhhhh.... I know, I know. Anyway, at the ol' firehouse for the next two days. That only means one things rollers baby!

ローラーの赤ん坊!

VJ

Pass the dutchy

Like I said american heart, good thing we were learning about saving lives cause a few of those folks may need it after this trans fatty fest. Here was my date. She doesn't look like much but she don't complain either.
During class I was thinking about the 3 month old I watch die one year ago, not that my own personal life has been a stroll down the champs d', but man heavy stuff. The world has no rhyme or reason some days, I just do my best not to screw it up too much and make it a tad better, but somedays it's all uphill. "If you can't be with the one you love honey, love the one you're with. do do do do......"

cold winter,
peace and fleece

over and out
VJ

His name is Duvel

The new shipment arrived, there is a god.....and his name is Duvel

Nighty,
VJ

El poqueno diablo

Did 4.5 today, legs felt good, hit the coast up tunitas. Legs are coming on strong. I think. Nothing like riding the coast on a weekday, no cars except for the occasional coastal redneck buzzing 2 inches from your handle bars. The coast necks are a funny breed man. They are this mutated liberal neocon, pickup truck with gun rack tree hugger, NIMBY. Oh yeah they start drinking at 9am to. That's cool. I love going into San Gregorio store with the barflys already drinking in the am. Jump in the ol' pick em up, buzz those freaking cyclist. Peace and love baby, that is me.

I have to say this, my example of the rider who has it all together is my man Hernando. Dude is stud straight up. I am not just saying that so he won't rip my legs off, its just that, he is always having fun, always has a smile on his face, no matter how hard he is working. Plus he does cross, and kicks ass! I guess when you win like he does you have alot to smile about, but even pack fill like myself have a hard time doing anything other than breathing and sucking the wheel in front of us. Anyway, props dogg! My brother in ale.

Little man wants a MTB. I gotta get that figured out little el diablo likes the concept of racing but has a hard time with the pain factor, though he is 9. I told him Kramer's first law, "Bike racing is hard, it's suppose to be." He doesn't get that one just yet. Taking tomorrow off the bike to spend 10 hours at a American Heart conference. Yeah, you would think this would be a healthy place, but I am sure this will resemble a weight watchers summit meeting more than a AHA conference.

Well now that Greg Anderson is out of work, maybe he can hook me up. That's the only way I am going to keep up with the likes of Olaf, and "the champ" Nah, just kinding I don't condone that......yet. Dopers suck. Beer of the Blog - Duvel. Hard core Belgian kick ass ale, made by some dudes at a monestary. That rocks.

The top of the hill is nearing
the pain I am no longer fearing
one more effort I try to coax
round and round go the spokes

at the mountain top I pause
alone searching for the cause
what victory do I gain?
racing my ghosts in the rain

mulletatious,

VJ

VO 2 da max

Well here I am getting worked over at the VO2 max test. She said it would last 15 min, I lasted 33 min. That's how I roll, all night baby. Anyway my legs are in the Bahamas right now.

The old lady brought in some Cap'n Crunch berries. Crack pure and simple. I crave very few things (food anyway) but when that stuff is around, kind of like a white house intern, I can't stop myself. Anyway. Livin la vida loca. I swear if someone calls me and asks me to do more free work I am going to freak. I am so done working for free.

The light that shines
leads you away
to the promise of more more more

I have little to offer
but I ask you to stay
look at me, turn turn turn


Yeah still mushy, I 'll get over it soon.
THIS JUST IN.......I HAVE ONLY 1 BEER LEFT IN THE FRIDGE!!! LET'S GO TO TERROR LEVEL RED!!!!!

See you in the beer aisle.

VJ

Bean Ball

Rode 5 hours on wednesday, promtly got sick on thursday, great. The legs are coming. Though reading all the stories about the crashes at McLane and Merced make me happy I am not hitting the road yet. Let everyone get their Jones out now. Damn. That is why I love CX, crashie no hurtie. Though, if I do crash I would rather crash on the green weenie than the new rig that's coming. Tried to ride yesterday, got a face full a hail and green snot. I know the legs are coming though. Doing a gratis VO2 max test on monday. Should be fun. Whatever VO2 max means. I think it is just going to scientifically prove that I am slow and old. Thank god the test is free.

Little man was sleep walking again last night, the old lady just started yelling at him and in the process woke everyone up. Oh well, get up, put him back to bed. I was up till 11pm putting the motion sensor lights up last night, so now I can tell if someone is breaking in. I only got shocked twice, not bad.

I love how W can roll up on Pakistan and the whole country is on lock down. Home boy gets beaned played cricket. That is funny, you know the guy throwing that one is in the pub right now laughing his ass off retelling that story, whith his boys buying his beers. Must be nice for W to know that he can't go anywhere in the world, and not be hated. Except for the ranch maybe.

My legs still look like lepers legs, the poison oak is killing me from last CCCX. I am wondering if my new rigs will be here soon. Oh well, back on the the big red one today, all the kiddies love the firemen, the mommies do too. Tough work being an action hero. Real tragedy in euro check this out.
I had to hold my beer tight and take a moment of silence. Beer of the Blog - Stockhouse so-so.


I watch you dream
As time slips my hands
I can hold you
But can make no plans

The faster I run
The further you get
I should let you go
But can't yet

Ciao,
VJ