Vote!!!

It's been weeks since I put up the poll on Lyle's hair, and according to the number of votes so far, I have reason to believe that no more than 2 people read my blog. For all I know, it's one person who voted twice. So, if you do read my blog, would you mind taking half a second to vote for me? Then I will know that I am not just writing to myself. :) ------>

Why do I look so retarded on a bike?

What's wrong with my posture or position or whatever????
RETARDED:

BAD ASS:


Hey Davis, any ideas?

Not DFL!

In fact, even better--I got 4th out of 6 today! I have to say thanks, Chepe, for your coaching! It's working... I was only 1 minute out of standing on the box.

Sounds like Nationals were fun

Sorry I missed it. Check out Joy's post: http://joyonbike.blogspot.com/2008/07/dude-is-that-magura.html

My Husband Has Become Unrecognizable (or ReRecognizable)

Yes, it's true. The mullet and 'stash are gone. Unfortunately, we discovered that that's where manliness lies: in the hair. So, he'll be working on regaining his chuck-noresque strength on a strict regimen of deep conditioning the hair follicles to re-grow at warp speed. Wait, did I just say that?!?

I guess my sense of style has been completely brainwashed by Lyle and his cronies. Witness: here I am, posting this picture of Lyle with extreme PRIDE at his choice of sun glasses.

Lesson Learned

I learned it is a bad idea to go to altitude, even just 10,600 when you're sick. It just makes you a LOT sicker. But our brief backpacking trip to Mono Pass in Yosemite was pretty despite me not being so:



Me before we got to the top:

Gardening

Thanks to my mom inspiring me, Lyle and I are now eating lots of home grown organic produce from right out our back door. I recommend gardening to everyone. It's so satisfying and extra delicious. Check out the progression:
dirt
mud
little
bigger
even bigger
harvest!

By the way, this post very much relates to cycling. You should eat healthy if you want to get faster and it's hard to eat healthy considering what is generally sold in most stores. So, grow your own, you can't go wrong! (produce, I mean).

Sexy Smooth

I can't resist saying more about my new "machine". It's so buttery, I just can't get enough of it! I'd recommend a 29er to anyone. Even short people-I'm only 5'1 and a half (very important, emphasizing that half inch, when you're short as me). It floats over anything rough and you can't even tell it's a hard tail unless you are actually sitting heavily on the saddle. It's actually smoother than my full-suspension Santa Cruz (and a 1.4 lbs lighter). I can't wait to race it. That'll be Rim Nordic on the 27th, and then Naked Crow Mtn Bike Challenge on Aug 3rd. See ya all there! (and then you can ogle over my bike to humor me).

Here's a cute non-sequitur picture to add interest, since this blog doesn't seem to be extremely interesting (but I better not hear anyone agreeing with that statement!) I snapped this picture near the Los Olivos race earlier this year.

My New Beauty

Check 'er out!
And guess who the mechanic was that built her up...ME! Like Chepe said to Lyle after I told him I built it up myself "...uh...you better check that out cabron...maybe she go riding and 'kapow!'(with lots of arm gestures)..." Well, I'm happy to announce there was only one slight handle bar twistage on my maiden voyage. All the other bolts held quite nicely!

I'm lovin' the 29er so far. The main thing I noticed is that everything seems to roll under it really smoothly. I heard that tight switchbacks would be more difficult on a 29er because of the wider wheelbase, which I did notice would be true IF you suck at switchbacks. Basically I learned it's not the bike, it's the rider. And I am quite happy with the rider in this particular instance!

I can't wait to spend more time on this baby!

Birthday Bash

We went tubing on the Kern for my 27th! It was pretty awesome:


This section of the river tried to eat us up but luckily a few of us made it out alive.

Unfortunately, there were some who were not so lucky:

Here are the survivors gazing over their conquered territory:

I asked the guys to strike the manliest pose they could. I think Lyle takes first place with the expression on his face. (He is quite competitive.)

We went white water rafting too, but a camera didn't make it onto the boat for your viewing pleasure.

Today (a week later), we attempted to go scuba diving. I got part way out from the beach when a particularly vicious wave with the mistaken identity of a washing machine scooped me up and battered me around as if it were trying to take out a particularly nasty stain. All it succeeded in taking out was my mask and snorkel, abruptly ending my dive right then. With that size wave, there was no chance of seeing the mask again. So, until next time. And now you are updated on the most recent this's and that's and whatchamahooza's of my life.

Lyle's Hair

I think it's about time that I officially comment on Lyle's hair. I get numerous questions about how I feel about his current style as his wife and if I can't wait until he cuts it. (Like that even matters.)

Admittedly, the first time he ever grew the horseshoe mustache several years ago, I was embarrassed. But with the mullet and mustache, I've had a complete change of heart. Just think about it this way: chances are, you have a clean-cut, average hairstyle, or know of plenty of people who do. Now, how often do you get stopped in the street by a stranger who just HAS to tell you "I like your style, man"; or how often do you get invited for free margaritas and beers by a stranger (probably because having someone so cool looking at a party would up the status of it); and how often do you find out that two models were arguing about how hot your hair was after you left. I'm pretty sure probably none of that has happened to you. Don't you think that makes life a little more fun and a little more interesting?

Lately, with the summer heat moving in Lyle has been considering doing a "Pedro" move and giving it the chop. But, considering the above reasons, instead of looking forward to the day when I will have a normal looking, hansom husband again, I tell him not to do it. I'd rather have a awesomely radical looking husband with redneck hair who is liable at any moment to go blow something up just for the fun of it, or possibly go pick a fight with Chuck Norris just to show him who's boss. Wouldn't you?

So, his boldness on style piqued my curiousity and I decided to try it out with this hat (not like it comes close to the amazingness of his style).And guess what--it paid off! Just after this picture was taken, we were walking to our car in Old Town (Pasadena) when a valet parking attendant asked me where I was from. So, I was obviously standing out from the crowd or he wouldn't have even noticed. I told him I was from LA and he said he thought we must be tourists and that the hat was a dead give-away. Great Success! Maybe I should hire Lyle as my fashion adviser.

By the way, props to Team Bearclaw for knowing the definition of STYLE.

If any of this is of interest to you, vote in the poll to the right side of the page.

Race Update

Well, guess what...I didn't take last place at Sea Otter! In fact, I beat not one, but 2, count 'em, two girls. That's all I was hoping for at Sea Otter, so I'm happy! Next time maybe I'll beat three...

In other news, I just did my first road race this weekend (Devil's Punchbowl). I found out that I am NOT a road racer. I'll stick to mountain bikes, thank you very much. Unlike mtb racing where you just ride as fast as you can for the length of the race, in road racing you actually have to THINK and plan and other stuff like that, like when to go hard, not getting dropped, and numerous other things I'm not even aware of.

By the way, if anyone can recommend a cheap coach or training plan out there, let me know. My budget is only about $50/mo so I'm not sure what I'll be able to find. But it's about time I had some advice on how to train!

Christmas in April???

Lyle's super excited-guess why! This is appropriate behavior for Christmas, but somehow he's always a Scrooge at Christmas. Maybe he's saving it all for this day. Check his next post.

My Debut Into the Expert Field

Well, I knew I wasn't ready to upgrade, but didn't quite realize how unready I was.

Cal State #1 Bonelli Park:

Keysville Classic, Kernville:

NMBS #1 Fontana:Oh, well, I'm just stoked to be racing. It certainly ain't gettin me down to not be podiuming. I now have something to grow into. By the end of the season I should be beating one or two experts and I'll be happy. With results like these, the only place I can go is up!
I'm starting to realize I need to actually TRAIN (like with an actual plan and some structure to my riding instead of just riding whenever) (oh, and having a coach probably wouldn't hurt!-seems like most all the experts do.)

In other news, this boy got a chance to stretch his legs out on some snow-less ground. Must be a relief to see actual dirt and flowers and temperatures above 50 or whatever you're getting!

The Subie Fisher semi-pro's looked pretty slick in arguably the best kit out there!

And to top it off, Matt sure showed those California pretty boys how it's done in Texas when he laid the smack down in Short Track today and took the bronze. It's a toss up what's better: his third place finish or some snazzy kits. I don't know, you decide.

Balla' Chicks

I just have to mention when I rode last Saturday on our local trail (El Prieto) I think 100% of the girls on the trail that day were on single speeds. Me, Tanya, and Sarah. I didn't even see any guys on a single that day. Sa-weet!

Keysville Classic

Holy crap that was tough! I raced up near Lake Isabella this weekend. My second expert race. Once again, last place (5th out of 5) but once again I'm fine with that and really proud of my effort. I finished only 40 seconds from 4th place. Even though I could see her ahead of me in the distance for almost the whole race, I just had nothing extra in my legs to put out to catch her. The experts are so fast and the race distances are so much more than I'm used to. My time today was 3:01. That's a long time to be racing for!!! But somehow all that suffering just makes me so happy after it's done. Yay, racing is so fun. Not to mention, the scenery around the Kern River is beautiful!

Racing at Last!

I am so excited the mtn bike race season has officially begun for me! I kicked off the season with the first Cal State Series race at Bonelli Park. And it was my first expert race ever. I got 4th out of 4 but I'm still proud of my effort. I assumed I would get totally creamed racing with the experts but was only 3 min back of third place. So, not bad! Thanks, Dave for urging me to move up from the sport category. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have done it.

:) (That's me smiling for the love of the sport!)

P.S. Thanks, Banner for being the photographer! Much appreciated.

Short Story by Travis Warner

One Night In L.A.

They spoke in foreign tongue as we drove into the night. I was tied
up like the others of my kind in the back of a grey-white van. One
grim-faced and tired looking man sat watch with us. I didn’t know
where I was going and I wasn’t quite sure from where I’d come but I

knew they didn’t want me dead. My best guess was they were only
trying to cover up the trail.

Of a sudden the doors jerked open and I was thrown recklessly from
the vehicle into the early morning. The impact tore at my fibers
leaving me damaged and motionless. It was something I hadn’t
experienced before. I had only heard the stories which seemed to
lilt through the corridors like folklore passed down through
generations. I lay there motionless.

The sky grew light as I lay.

Some hours passed--how many I didn’t know. Slowly the birds began
to chirp, lending hope to my apathy. I was drifting in and out, in
and out, and then, finally, out.



He was staring blankly down at me. No words left his lips. There
was only the soft beating of the lawn sprinklers as they passed back
and forth across his pajamas. By now his coffee was cold but he
didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t seem to notice. All he could do
was
stare.

He seemed unmoved by the story told on my disheveled face. The
blankness consumed him and then me. He seemed to stare back without
sympathy. A hint of boredom and disinterest seemed to flicker across
his face a moment but that was it. Emotionless.

I began to question the humanity of Man. How uncaring and unmoved
he was in the face of tragedy. How unsympathetic he was to the
horrors before him. Murder. Rape. Chaos. Death. These were the
things of which man was made. Not kindness or brotherhood. The
society had been stripped of him. The world had become a
conglomerate of “I”s. There was no unity, no shoulder to shoulder

effort to keep a man sane. No effort to better himself or others.

Here I was the face of tragedy and need lying at the feet of a man
with the power to listen. And yet I seemed to stare back with more
wonder than he. His face changed from boredom to annoyance at the
sight of me. I was but a routine problem in his busy life. He had
better things to do than listen to my story. I didn’t dare break my

stare. My only hope was to penetrate into the depths of this mans
heart and perhaps evoke some semblance of philanthropy.

It seemed a lifetime of silence before the man finally bent down and
grasped me in his hands. He turned and carried me out of the
blinding sun and into the warmth of his home.

“Deloris! Didn’t I tell you to cancel our fucking subscription to

the L.A. Times?! You know I hate the crap they print! Nothing but
bad news and more bad news!”

I was thrown recklessly into the eternal silence of a nearby
wastebasket never to be heard from again.

Stupid Rain!

Just when I finally get into gear and start actually riding my bike, I get foiled by the rain. How am I ever going to get fast enough to race as an expert this season if I've wasted away half of the winter training season slacking off, and now when I get serious about it, the weather has other plans for me? Damn, Davis, how do you DO it?!?!?!