Ramblin Rants

The following is several days’ worth of rambling rants.


Saturday I did what may be the slowest 6 mile trail run ever; it took 1:15 to run six miles. Granted there was plenty of snow on the ground, in various states from untouched to very trampled and uneven. I measured 14” of snow in BVH and am sure there was a similar amount on the Buckeye trail. My previous slowest 10K run was 50 minutes. It was the 1985 Bank One run in Ashland, OH. I went through 5 miles in under 35 minutes then just cramped up and finished off the race with a blazin 15 minute mile.

Sunday went to the new car show and looked at several cars/ trucks I will never be able to afford. When you work for the man you should be lucky if you can afford to drive an 85’ Yugo.

Monday did 35 minutes on the trainer. I just did not have much interest in riding longer than that. I wonder how I was able to do the 24 hours of going nowhere, when now 30 minutes on the trainer is a long time.


"People don't understand how riding for 24 hours straight can be a rush, but it is."

John Stamstad

Trainer Ride

Short on time today rode on the trainer for 45 minutes.

More snow on the way over the weekend, I may try to get a ride in on Sunday. Most likely it will be on the trainer.


Only a fool would try to deprive working men and working women of their right to join the union of their choice. Dwight D. Eisenhower:

Cross Training

I have added some cross training to my irregular training schedule. I figured that shoveling a foot of snow makes for a good cardiovascular and upper body workout.

I will attempt to ride for an hour on the trainer on Friday. Planning on doing a trail run on Saturday morning.

For those who did not catch this piece of news Bob Taft was rated as the worst Governor in the Country. Read the story http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/ispol/1109766705276920.xml?ispol I can’t do much worse than that.

Cheers!

MORE GEARS AND BEERS!

I am officially announcing my candidacy for Governor for the State of Ohio in 2006. My campaign slogan will be “MORE GEARS AND BEERS FOR ALL”

Concerning my platform I can give you the usual politician line of crap: Health care for everyone, better funding for our schools, lower taxes, and affordable drugs for seniors. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. While all that is important and I will address my plans later, I will outline the major points of my campaign.

1) Speed Limit: Who is not in a hurry? When elected Governor I will raise the speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike to 75 MPH, and 70 MPH on all other interstate highways.
2) Casino Gambling: I will make bringing the Casino’s to Ohio a top priority. The State of Ohio can gain plenty of tax money and lower unemployment with Casino Gambling.
3) Environment & Urban Sprawl: Very simple if you live more than 25 miles from your main place of employment you will be taxed ten cents per mile for each work day. For example if you live 30 miles for work you will be taxed for the five additional miles over the 25 mile limit .10X 10 miles (5 miles each way) X 5 days or $5.00 per week. Multiply that times 52 weeks and you pay $260. All the taxes raised on this program will go into fixing roads and bridges in the state.
4) More Gears: I plan to open all state park & hunting lands to mountain biking.
5) More Beers: All micro-breweries located in the state of Ohio will receive a tax break. For saving everyone from mass-produced swill.
6) Health Care: How about getting a job that offers health care?
7) Funding for Schools: Scholl districts will receive back what they pay taxes. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District receives about 35% of taxes paid (real estate & income) back from the state; East Cleveland receives back 300%. When the City of Cleveland offers a 10 year tax abetment to move into the city, meanwhile it demands the long time residents pay more for the schools.
8) Lower Taxes: I will be honest upfront I will not lower taxes.
9) Affordable Drugs for Seniors: Don’t get sick and you will not need drugs.


I will be providing more information on my campaign in the near future. For additional information email me Chris@mrbigring.com

Sunday Ride

Rode the trainer this afternoon for an hour. Watched the NASCAR race while I rode.

Paris, France 

Paris, Kentucky 

Moving Sucks

I spent the day on Saturday helping the out-laws move into their new digs. Selling the Amrap homestead after 40 years.


A run may be in order for this evening, not sure if I want to waste an hour on the trainer. I figure I can run 4 miles in 30 minutes, better use of my time than on the trainer.

Not when the interview with the Rogue Mechanic will be finished. I still have a few things for him to clarify.

Busted!

I was trying to be sneaky and get a trainer ride in when I received a phone call from Coach. I figured the only way I can keep up with the King of the Sandbaggers (you know who you are) is to sneak a ride in. Dances with Dirt www.trailmarathon.com is less than 2 months away, I need to do something to finish the race.

"I am not afraid to bust out the walk!" - Mr. Big Ring

Tuesday ride

Going outside to ride today. Out of the interest of time I will only do the 10 mile loop.


"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride". ~John F. Kennedy

Sunday

Watched the Daytona 500, and rode the trainer for an hour in the evening.

Saturday Ride

The roads were dry enough to get outside to ride this on Saturday. I went for a ride on my mountain bike for 15 miles. I must give some props to my new winter gloves. Potenza Inferno winter gloves, while not being Dante’s vision of the Inferno, they were rather warm. The temperature was 25 degrees with a 10 mph wind. Not the coldest riding conditions, but still a good test for winter gloves. After riding for a little over an hour my hands stayed toasty warm. The gloves a not big and bulky like most winter gloves. The outside is a fabric similar to Pearl Izumi AmFib. The only complaint I have would be the cuff since it is not real tight and some cold air can get in. I guess the Italians can make a decent cycling glove after all.

I am going to ride the trainer this evening since I do not have time to ride before it gets dark. The Daytona 500 is on now so I will post more comments later.

Why did I take up racing? I was too lazy to work and too chicken to steal--Kyle Petty

This weekend

The website for Trailhead 4X4 & offroad www.trailhead4x4.com is up and running. There is not much content on the site just yet. I plan on doing some work over the weekend.

I have not yet begun to work on the interview with the Rogue Mechanic yet. That also must fit into the schedule for the weekend.

Other weekend plans include a ride on Saturday. Hopefully the weather will clear up and I can get a ride done outside. I really do not want to ride the trainer. If I am forced to ride the trainer I guess that 1 hour will be the ride time. Watching The Daytona 500 is high on my list of priorities for Sunday. Lets see what the #24 Dupont Chevrolet can do this year.


If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
Donald H. Rumsfeld, US Secretary of DefenseUS Secretary of Defense (1932 - )

Thursday

Did the interview with the Rogue Mechanic this morning, called him onthe phone as he was driving to Atlanta. I will try to get the interview compilled and posted by Saturday.

I think I am going to begin a new money making venture. I am going to sell used packing peanuts on ebay. I came accross the idea after throwing out two garbage cans of the stuff at work last week. I figured why throw this stuff out when people are willing to pay for it on ebay. I have begun to save old peanuts at work, I'll see how well this goes.

Chris

Big Interview

I am scheduled to interview the Rogue Mechanic on Thursday for the Bolg. This should be very interesting.

I rode 10 miles on Tuesday.

Sunday Run

Ran 4 miles on Sunday evening.

Having a cigar 

Saturday Ramblin' Rants

Somewhat of a busy day today. Woke up at 6am to go running at 7, did a trail run for an hour. After the run stopped at Starbucks for a Venti of House. Did some stuff with the boyz in the afternoon. Had a fire in the backyard while I stacked some of the wood pile. Watched the Bud shoot-out this evening, looking forward to the start of the NASCAR season next week. Not sure what to think of the new pit hats for the #24 Dupont Chevrolet, rather ugly. Still deciding of ugly cool or just ugly. What started to help Eric from Trail Head 4X4 & Offroad on his website. Had a Victory Brewing Old horizontal in the process. Ran out of time for the website. www.trailhead4x4.com will work on it on Sunday.

Chris

FUCK THE MAN!

Working for the man sucks! The only way to get anywhere is not to work for the man. He will only find a new way to screw you over each week.

First Ride

First I need to send out props to the Rogue Mechanic www.roguemechanic.com for his superior mechanical skills. Without his high level of skill and professionalism, I never would have got my bike built up and ready to ride.

I was with out a bike for 4 months after I cracked my frame (yes I was just riding along). The incompetent fools at Eddy’s took from the middle of September to the beginning of January to warranty my frame. After the lengthy delays in getting my frame one call the Rogue Mechanic was all it took to get my frame built. Before I had three beers (Great Lakes Elliot Ness http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/DiningPub/OnTap.cfm) he was done.

There finally was some decent weather, and I had a little time today. I went out for 10 fairly flat miles at a leisurely pace. Not that I would have been able to hammer after four months off. I did run three time in that time period. I think now I will begin to train with some real effort. I may even go as far as getting on the trainer. After that tough ride I will enjoy my Arrogant Bastard Ale tonight. http://www.arrogantbastard.com/

Presently my goal for this year is to race the Wild 100 in WV http://www.ertc.com/wild100.cfm . Follow Mr. Big Ring in his training adventures.

Cheers!
Mr. Big Ring