Another Record Month

Sweet. My gradual increase of miles has been working out. For April I logged 429.93 miles, giving me 59th place in my little group (#1 had 1,437, bastard) of 261. This bested my previous best of 305 miles, 75th place. I only got 26 miles today, because of the looming storm on the horizon, but my legs felt great. I could have given it another 26 miles even with the wind gusts, which seemed to only work against me periodically.

More importantly, average speeds for my rides are now in the 16 mph range (I started in the 13/14 mph range), with some sections of 1 to 4 miles sustained in the 20s. Short climbs no longer result in vast drops in velocity as I'm able to average 14 mph up hills now. Hey, I'm no racer, but for a guy who decided last September to ride his bike, and still needs to drop at least 10 pounds, I think I'm doing pretty well.

In that respect, since I started riding (and thanks to a mild winter) I've logged nearly 2,000 miles and 122 hours in the saddle. 1,100 miles and 76 hours of that has been in this year alone and roughly 475 is on the new bike, which just turned a month old. My highest maximum speed, not including one really stupid downhill stunt I pulled, was 30.2 mph.

The good news is that I've finally found a hobby that I not only enjoy, but is in no way self-destructive. It's expensive (clothes, hydration, nutrition, more clothes, that cool jersey you need . . . and then the sudden need for upgrades because, really, doesn't everyone need a second set of wheels for days when you feel zippy and less rugged than your regular wheels, or a new set of cranks?) and addictive, but what're you gonna do? I think I'll stick with it. Riding is more medatative an activity that anything else I've ever engaged in. More importantly, my mood is better, I'm in better shape than I've ever been and I have more energy than I used to. Plus, I'm kind of proud of myself. I don't normally stick with things like this.

There's also a weird dynamic among the other cyclists that I've fallen into. It's a mostly silent dynamic where you hang on each other's wheels to get a little rest, or help each other up the climbs, and the little nuggest of advice. Or, more importantly, when you encounter someone coming back from where you're heading and they say, "The wind really turns against you around the curve. Don't fight it or you'll just waste all your energy.")

Anyway, I promise not to mention cycling for at least a week. I say a week because I plunked down my $20 to watch the daily stream of the Giro d'Italia. I know it won't be nearly as exciting as last year's, but at least this time I'll get to see it. Some of the mountain stages look downright cruel. I can't wait. Looks like I'll be plugging in the laptop so I can have it on full screen while I work. Sweet.

A Month to Go

We're going on vacation in about a month. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the main destination. We have a really cool cabin booked and we're making our plans.

One of my plans is cycling through the park and other small roads. The key word in our destination is "mountains". Now, I'll only be riding in the foot hills, really, but it's going to be a big difference from my beloved flood plains of the Missouri river. So, a training I have to go.

Now, there's some really good hills by my house. The only problem is to get there I have to ride on a well-traveled road that has almost no shoulder and curbs that just suck. There's enough room that cars and I can exist comfortably. Most of that road is also a mile-long hill with an extreme increase in grade at the top. Once you crest that, you turn right and you're into some really interesting hills that, before development, were probably part of the area's river bluffs.

Anyway, I had finished wandering through the hills, so I had decided to run straight up that hill again. Now, I'm not sure I really understand the purpose, but a car full of teenage girls passed by as I was cresting the top (to be read: wishing I had stayed home) and they decided to yell at me. Thankfully, they didn't throw soda bottles at me like others have in the past.

Of course, air flow being what it is, I have no idea what they shouted. I'm betting it wasn't how sexy I looked in my shorts. However, since I don't know what it was, I'll believe that it was something like, "Wow, even though you're just riding your bike, it's obvious you have fantastic taste in music. Can I borrow the new Laura Veirs?"

Success

33.68 miles. It was touchy there at the end. I almost got off and carried the bike. I don't know why it was important to hit the number.

Noticed my bike tan now extends to my hands. Arms? Tan. Hands? Pale. Stupid gloves.

Matilda made it 8 miles, by the way. So, total, I have 41 miles or something today. Fun.

Now for food. Mmm.

Super Shimano Biking Action Monkey

Super Shimano Biking Action Monkey,
originally uploaded by scifitwin.

Today is my birthday and I'm starting a new tradition. Instead of stuffing myself with food that is bad for me and doing nothing exciting for my birthday, I am biking my age. In scant moments I will be leaving to ride 33 miles. Which could be interesting, considering if I'm four miles from home and I hit 33 miles, my plan may be screwed. Perhaps I should have spent more time planning my route.

Then, after lunch, Matilda and I are going for a bike ride (only four miles) to break in her new bike on a ride. For dinner, considering by that point I will have burned 2000 calories or so I'm going out for some yummy barbeque.

More importantly, let me explain my awesome gift. This year I bought a bike, so I put a moratorium on birthday gifts. I figured I spent a lot of money on the bike and I don't need anything else. It's mostly true. Sure, I'm not going to get the super important movie about the professional cycling team CSC that I'm dying to see. However, let's face it; I'm going to buy that anyway.

But Mom and the Girls could not lay idle. No. Last night they ensconced themselves in the Yarn Studio and, well, the above photo set is what resulted.

Verdict: One of my top 2 birthday presents ever. Right up there with the year Matilda handmade me a "Super Giant Widescreen TV With Built In DVD Player and DVD Collection".

Chickamauga to Chattanooga

In honor of today's ITT in the Tour de Georgia, I dedicate the following songs to Floyd Landis and Tom Danielson.

Uncle Tupelo - Chickamauga (Live, 10-15-93)
Johnny Cash - Tennessee Stud (Live)
Melonie Cannon - Tennessee Roads

Monthly Neko Case Post

The fine folks at So Much Silence posted some MP3 rips of Neko Case's appearance on NPR's Concert Series. And, since I adore Ms. Case and all her smoky spite, I felt the need to help spread this throughout the Internet. If you don't visit So Much Silence, do. If you don't listen to Neko Case, do. If you don't smoke, don't because it'll make your testicles ache very badly. I may be confused.

Now, it's no secret that Neko's album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, is my favorite of the year. And I love her other work. But, I have to admit, this concert kicks some serious ass. Personally I think these performances blow away her live disc The Tigers Have Spoken.

Anyway, enjoy the files and visit So Much Silence and give them thanks. I have to go buy flowers for my wife because she's getting suspicious of my Neko Case shrine in the basement.

1. A Widow's Toast (1:52)
2. Favorite (3:36)
3. If You Knew (2:28)
4. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2:47)
5. Set Out Running (2:52)
6. Outro With Bees (1:33)
7. Star Witness (with Martha Wainwright) (5:11)
8. Dirty Knife (4:00)
9. I Wish I Was the Moon (3:28)
10. The Tigers Have Spoken (2:45)
11. Maybe Sparrow (2:42)
12. Margaret vs. Pauline (2:43)
13. Buckets of Rain (3:28)
14. Deep Red Bells (4:44)
15. Hex (5:09)
16. That Teenage Feeling (2:45)
17. Furnace Room Lullaby (2:35)
18. Hold On, Hold On (2:49)
19. Wayfaring Stranger (3:27)
20. Look For Me (I'll Be Around) (3:40)
21. John Saw That Number (3:22)
22. Knock Loud (2:23)

String Theory: Or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Guitar

The guitar. By far the rock's most emblematic trophy. Whether you sling it low, with attitude or sling it high over your head, the guitar is rock's weapon of choice.

But the guitar's cultural impact runs deeper. From Leadbelly to Robert Johnson to Woody Guthrie and the Carter Family the guitar is an instrument with a distinct connection to American history. The stories of our past and our musical legends are picked and grinned on wood and wire. The guitar is a gateway to a better life. You put a guitar in a kid's hands and they will become a rock star, if only in their bedroom.

All of my heroes have always been guitar players. From Eddie Van Halen in 5th grade to John Lee Hooker last week. To me, the guitar is a raunchy, angry and elegant instrument that, depending upon whose hands you place it in can be an instrument of redemption or retribution.

My friends at Act 3 Studios feel the same way about the guitar and music as I do and to celebrate the guitar, they have released String Theory:

. . . a podcast series that celebrates music's most iconic instrument -- the guitar. For this project, an audio documentary series that explores the history, mythology and impact of the guitar, we've been interviewing some great guitar players, including Brian Henneman and John Horton of the Bottle Rockets, Daniel Lanois, Bo Ramsey, Cosy Sheridan, and Keller Williams.

The podcast series will include several different shows, including My First Guitar, with stories about people's first guitars; Alternate Tunings, which explores influences and inspiration; and Keep Your Day Job, which profiles "civilians" who also play guitar.

The podcasts, produced in collaboration with the New York Guitar Festival, are available free from iTunes. (Direct download here.)

We also have a website for the series at http://guitarstories.com/. There, you can listen to additional audio from the interviews, find out more about the featured artists and their music, see images from our photo shoots with the artists, and download some cool wallpaper and other goodies.

The first episode features a local favorite, The Bottle Rockets. Check it out. Act 3 has done a stellar job on these podcasts. Partly because they are kick ass audio producers (think This American Life quality material) but mostly because they too love the music.

Things They Don't Tell You In Bike School

When you hop on a bike, with the intention of doing a little more than just going on leisure rides, no one tells you much. Oh, you can get training plans, advice on clothes, routes, safety, equipment and all that stuff. But the bike evangelists (a group of which I'm a card-carrying member now) don't tell you a few key things.

1. They warn you about your butt hurting. But, they don't warn you that after, say 25 miles in the saddle, your ass will feel as though it has been hit repeatedly with a steel pipe. They do tell you how to rest your butt and stretch your back. Of course, it makes you look like you're humping your handle bars.

2. Cyclist's tan. I had noticed the pros, when they crash and their shirts or shorts tear, that they have a mean tan line. No, strike that. The tan line looks like an albino that's been painted. That's how stark the delineation between covered and uncovered skin is. I always giggled, but never considered it for myself.

I have cyclist's tan. There is a line, one that looks like it was drawn with a ruler, where my jersey sleeves stop and my open air skin begins. It's worse on the legs.

I could handle that, but what they don't tell you is that because of the riding position you have a zone around your knees and upper shin that get lots of sun, but the other parts only get a little sun. So my knees look like they've been to Acapulco but my shins look like they just went to the pool.

And then there's the sock line. But I won't complain about that because cycling socks are more comfortable than any other sock I've ever worn.

Given my closely shorn hair, I can only imagine the patterns on my scalp from the vents in my helmet.

What's my point? I don't have one. It's just been a great week (well, outside of work) and I was looking for something to complain about. Plus, I was working on hills this week. I should be angry and tired. But I'm not. I'm getting better and I'm using my energy in a smarter way. Hell, I passed a guy on a hill today. I felt bad because he looked like me two weeks ago.

I know very few people care about all of this. But, honestly, this bike riding thing has been good for me. I'm happy. I feel good. The sensation of riding makes me happy. I constantly challenge myself to do better, ride faster and further. I achieve goals, I overcome hurdles. I enjoy the changes in my physique and general health, the new muscles. I handle stress better. I sleep better.

And it's infectious. The kids ride more. My wife rides more. We're a cycling family now. I guess I'm just . . . happy. Weird.

Komeda - Happyment

Going Mobile

Gert Ride 1,
originally uploaded by scifitwin.

Gert shed the training wheels yesterday. She had been practicing in the grass the day before and decided to try the pavement. She came bursting into my office screaming with excitment, "Daddy, come see what I did!"

Sadly, these pictures are on her old bike (which is Matilda's old bike) and not her good bike (which is hand me down from someone else). I wonder if I could get her a junior, junior road bike.

Yes, I know she's not supposed to ride on the sidewalk. But you want to have a four-year-old riding in the street? Hell no, buddy. I'm nervous enough as it is.

I Wonder

Am I going through my Tom Waits phase? Kind of like when girls go through their horse or unicorn phase (what's with that anyway)?

What lead to my Tom Waits phase? I've had his albums for years, but lately I listen to Tom Waits nonstop, especially the later stuff that sounds like an alcoholic's nightmares and regrets played out in a nightclub. What's with that? Weird.

Of course, two years ago I spent three weeks listening to Nick Cave's Murder Ballads. Hey, the murder ballad has a long, torrid history in most cultures. Nick Cave just has a talent of giving them a subtle menace. Okay, it's not subtle at all.

Thanks to Mary for fueling my Waitsian nightmare by getting me "Sea of Love". It's everything I wanted it to be.


Tom Waits - Buzz Fledderjon (Mule Variations Bonus Track)

State of the Blog

My thoughts on the current status of blogging.

More later, I suppose. Thinking about doing something else.

Can Anyone Help?

Anyone have Tom Wait's "Sea of Love"? Or know where I can find it on something other than the soundtrack to the movie Sea of Love? I'm all for supporting Tom Waits, but I really don't want that entire CD of over-wrought 80s thriller music. It's not on iTunes.

Can you help a brother out?

Assuming He's Alive

My friend Todd would love this.

Or would have. If he's past tense. He might have been swallowed by a Caldera.

I'd call him. But I lost his phone number. Do you have it?

Didn't think so.

The Low Side of the Road

Last night I walked into Matilda's room to tuck her in. She had her CD player on, as she usually does, but she wasn't listening to her usual CD. In fact, I recognized that low-grumble that was emanating out of the speakers.

"Are you listening to Tom Waits," I asked, a little taken aback.

"Yeah," she said.

"!!!!!!!," I said.

"It's on the Shrek 2 soundtrack. I think it's called 'Little Drop of Poison'."

So we chatted a bit, I kissed her and left to get a drink. As I was walking down the hallway I heard something else coming from her CD player.

"Are you listening to Nick Cave?"

This is all a little to weird. Not that I'm complaining, of course. Though I am worried. I mean, Tom Waits and Nick Cave? She'll be drinking bourbon and quoting Milton by 7th grade.

Pleasing Mix

I created a mix that I really enjoy. I call it the "trucker" mix because it has a long-haul feeling to it. Though, honestly, I have no idea what that means. I blame Sam Beam.

1. Sun Kil Moon - Trucker's Atlas
2. Iron & Wine / Calexico - 16, Maybe Less
3. The High Llamas - HiBall Nova Scotia
4. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Gates to the Garden
5. Clem Snide - Chinese Baby
6. Nick Drake - At The Chime Of A City Clock
7. Tom Waits - The Part You Throw Away
8. The Beach Boys - I Went to Sleep
9. Jon Brion - True To Yourself
10. Fleetwood Mac - Before the Beginning
11. Randy Newman - I Want You to Hurt Like I Do
12. Leonard Cohen - Bird On A Wire
13. The Essex Green - Big Green Tree
14. Buffalo Springfield - Everydays
15. Neil Young - Daddy Went Walkin'
16. Elvis Costello - The Very Thought Of You
17. Isobel Campbell - There Is No Greater Gold
18. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
19. Chocolate Genius - A Cheap Excuse
20. Marbles - Grant Me the Day

That's a Peter Green Fleetwood Mac song. Prior to the days of their suckage (i.e. before anyone in the band was drunk enough to actually sleep with Mick Fleetwood).

I'm Real Gone

Today I am listening to Tom Waits, exclusively. Which is odd, because I bought the new Flaming Lips CD yesterday. But Tom is hitting the spot today.

Tom Waits - Hold On

Hey, he name drops St. Louis.

If you prefer your music not have whiskey and cigarette breath (which is why you listen to Tom, for crying out loud) but want a little jazzy chanteuse, I give you new Jolie Holland.

Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You

And, to bring it full circle (title wise, at least) from the same label:

Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On

All from the same label, too. Groovy.

And if that's not good enough for you, well then you can't be pleased. So stop blaming me for all of the poor choices you made in your life. What am I, your shrink? Now git.

Growin' Up

Guess who got her first adult bike this weekend? The Touring Cyclist had their annual warehouse sale and we were able to get Matilda, who had long-ago outgrown her princess bike, a nice Trek 3700 at a bargain price. It should last her long enough, size-wise, for Gert to mature and need a geared bike (Gert will be taller) or she moves on to something else.

Need I say that she loves it? She hasn't been off it since we bought it. Even yesterday she was trying to convince me that, despite the fact that the tornado sirens were going off and tree limbs were flying through the air that her new bike could handle the conditions.

Again, Mom accused me of molding her in my image. However, she did give me props for explaining how to use gears to a kid who had never shifted before. She's better than I am now.

Too bad I hadn't explained the concept of hand brakes to a kid who only knows coaster brakes before she took her test ride. While it was (mildly) funny to watch her in the parking lot spinning her pedals backward with a look of panic while she hurtled down a hill, in retrospect it was probably poor planning on my part.

Mixin’ It Up

Mom’s out of town for two days so Gert is distraught and emotional. This is the very first time Mommy has ever left. It’s usually daddy who has to go somewhere, so this is a new set of emotions for her. When I dropped her off at school this morning she was twice as forlorn as normal and begged me to stay. “I’m too big to stay,” I told her.

“But I’m too little,” she said sadly. I was eventually able to peel her sadness off of me and I turned and walked out the door, making sure I didn’t look back at those sad, Anime-sized eyes lest I be drawn back to rescue her.

Tonight we’re having a popcorn party AND skipping bath. We’re talking major decadence. I’m going to watch the coverage of yesterday’s Tour of Flanders and, I suspect, around 11 I’ll find Gert in my bed. Matlida is an old pro at 10 going on 40, and is being the rock.

One thing that is keeping her happy is her very first mix CD. Yesterday I was preparing a lullaby CD for my friend’s son when Gert came in and asked me what I was doing. When I explained, she wanted to make her own CD as well. After fifteen minutes of explaining that, while I have a very nice computer, I could not in fact hire a band and record her 72-minute-long original opus to childhood, complete with all living members of the Wrecking Crew and Brian Wilson production, she began selecting her tracks.

Halfway through the process Matilda came down and joined in, contributing her favorite five tracks (two Jack Johnson, The Ditty Bops, Puff the Magic Dragon and one TMBG), explaining that there is no CD on Earth that would be complete without those rocking tracks. She was right; “Sister Kate” brings the disc to its knees.

Gert was more personal about her selections. While they mine her general favorites, she really considered her audience and selected songs that really mean something to her. She opened with Wilco’s “Just a Kid” because of the “na na” section. She worried about including a live track because it might scare the baby. She had me against a wall, explaining angrily that Grampy sings a song about a train that explains that the train is long and tall and, because Grampy sings it, it must be included. It took me a while, but I finally called Grampy who explained the song was “The Wabash Cannonball,” which I had, thank God or I might find a fish on my door.

I was impressed by her selection of Neil Young’s “My Boy.” Impressed yes, because the content is perfect, but more so because she remembered the song. I was surprised. However, most impressive, was her choice of the Flaming Lips’ “Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear” aka “the bad dream song.” That was chosen as the closer because the baby might have a bad dream and that song is about people you love.

Overall, it’s a fantastic mix that the two created. I did the sequencing based on Gert’s choice of the first and final song. You can hear it as a new Radio SFT playlist. Enjoy

Mom accused me of molding the children in my image. However, I must protest. They did this on their own. That they kick ass at it, however, is a point of pride for which I take full credit.