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Always Cut Away From Yourself
Posted On Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 By David Veatch
I know this. I’ve known this for decades. Now my finger knows it too. Graphic pictures after the cut…
New Year… New Focus
Posted On Monday, January 5th, 2009 By David Veatch
Last year, my focus was on getting as many miles in as I could. I had twin goals of increased fitness and minimizing the use of my car, at least insofar as getting to and from work. This year, I’m simplifying a bit. Both life at work and life at home have changed, and I’m in a position where I have need of my car during the day while at work, and during the evenings while at home. That makes it difficult some days to ride in. I’m the first to admit that the frigid temperatures have something to do with it. As I said, I just don’t care for riding in the cold. Moreover, I’m still fighting a very persistent and frustrating low grade sinus infection, which I don’t want to exacerbate through exposure. However, I’m going to maintain my goal of increased fitness. That has always been my primary goal, and was why I started commuting by bike to begin with. So.. this morning was the beginning of something a little different. Since I won’t be/can’t be riding my bike to work every day, on those days I don’t ride on the streets, I’ll roll. You may recall more »
Unassisted Mounting
Posted On Monday, December 22nd, 2008 By David Veatch
After having seen the video today of duder mounting and dismounting the E-Motion Rollers, I decided that I was tired of having to rely on walls to balance myself when I, myself, mounted the rollers. I decided I was tired of having to use a crutch to get started on my indoor workouts. I decided that I was tired of requiring assistance in order to get the aluminum drums rolling and my wheels flying on them. I decided that I was going to learn how to ride them alone. Without aid. Without hesitation And without fear. And on my own. Imagining myself mounting the rollers as effortlessly and naturally as the honorable man in the video, I set about slowly and patiently. I took heed to his example and first mastered the initial spin. I spun the wheels and balanced the bike until the rollers stopped and the bike threatened to fall. I did this until I could perform the maneuver as easily as switching from G to C in the first position. Then, just as slowly, and just as patiently, I began to move my left foot to the pedal. Not to clip in, no, but only to increase more »
Indoor Riding
Posted On Monday, December 22nd, 2008 By David Veatch
So, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s pretty cold. It’s been in the single digits for a while now, and in case I haven’t mentioned it, I’m not a fan of riding in the cold. My excuse the last week or so has been b/c I’ve been sick with a minor upper respiratory tract infection. My excuse this week is that it’s Christmas week, and as such, is pretty hectic. My excuse next week will be b/c it’s New Years, and I’ll be very tired because of it. I know, those are excuses, not reasons. After all is said and done, the truth is if I wanted to, I’d find a way. But unlike others, I’ve had to face the cold (ha!) harsh reality that riding in the sub-zero cold is too harsh for me. I won’t whine about why it’s too harsh for me, suffice to say that for daily outings, it just is. Riding should be fun. Riding in tear-freezing temperatures, at least for me, isn’t. That’s my burden to bear, and I bear it without shame. But that leaves me with a problem. I do love to ride, and I love the benefits of riding. I’m healthier more »
I Have a 6 Constitution
Posted On Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 By David Veatch
I’m home again today on account of throat crud. About halfway through my ride home yesterday, I felt a familiar soreness when I swallowed. I rejected it it out of hand. Nope. Not going to happen again, not so soon. I can’t remember the last time I was sick, but I don’t think it was that long ago. Blah. Doesn’t matter. I’m home now, and it’s snowing out. Today would have been a fantastic day to ride! But the way it’s snowing, I’m sure I’ll have tomorrow as well. BTW, the answer to yesterday’s question is Steven Brust. I *love* the communication style between his characters.
Side Effects of Cycling to Work
Posted On Thursday, November 20th, 2008 By David Veatch
Though I be in Texas, far away from home and the bike that awaits me, new and unridden, with virgin saddle, as it were, my thoughts stray now and again, all the same, to the subject of cycling. I think on how nice it will be to once again sit astride the saddle, my arms outstretched holding brake levers and handlebars. I think on how nice it will be to see my waistline diminish once again, rather than continue it’s current trend of slow expansion. I think on how nice it will be to once again stride out the front doors with pride, knowing that I will be making it home on my own power, while at the same time clowning around like a fool for the cadre of lustful (though unfortunately married) women who have come to be a sort of 4:30pm Fan Club for yours truly (I take the ego boosts where I can get them). But lately, one thought presses forward as I spend minute after empty minute in the cabin of an automobile instead of the saddle of a bicycle… that thought is what I will share with you now. And here it is, then. That more »
Nice Little Ride and Persistent Flats
Posted On Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 By David Veatch
So, by way of clearing my head and getting some miles, I took off last night on a quickie 33 miler over some of the best hills that Johnson County has to offer. At least, insofar as I know. If you know of others that aren’t on this route, please… do let me know. Due to some aforementioned chaos, I wanted to get out and clear my head some. Unfortunately, before I could clear my head, I first had to fix (yet another damn) flat. They’ve been plaguing me lately. It seems every time I want to get out and ride these days, it’s either one tire or another, on one bike or another. It’s tiresome. Last night, it was last-straw sort of frustrating. I found the hole, didn’t find anything in the tire, replaced the tube and admittedly amidst a small amount of cursing, finally got out the door. It didn’t take long for my mind to turn away from flats to the issues at hand, and turn it did. Over the course of the 33 miles, I did exactly what I set out to do… 1) Get miles in. Not many, but every little bit counts. 2) Confront more »
Tankful of Staples
Posted On Thursday, September 25th, 2008 By David Veatch
What would possess a dog, an otherwise seemingly intelligent quick learning dog, to eat a box of staples? An entire box of staples? Then, having eaten said box of staples, what would possess same dog to puke them up on not one, but two carpets, as well as the hallway where everyone walks? Then, having puked in the three aforementioned locations, what would possess this dog to puke in his own bed? The GF has him at the vet right now looking into surgery options. The X-Ray showed two huge clumps of staples bound up in his stomach. They won’t easily or safely pass given that they’re clumped up like that, so surgery is a necessity. It won’t be cheap. It’s been a great morning. Update: Surgery is going to be a lot cheaper than we thought, and within reason. He has a fist sized chunk of tangled staples in his gut right now that won’t pass, so it’s either surgery or sleepy time. The GF is opting for surgery.
… All the Damn Vampires.
Posted On Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 By David Veatch
I gave blood today. It was my first time. I know… I’m a bad person. I should regularly give blood. For someone with a BSW, you’d think I’d be more charitable, wouldn’t you? Well.. I gave today. So hush. The actual experience was pretty tame. I filled out a questionnaire, and then they took my temperature and blood pressure, and checked my heart rate and hemoglobin. Everything was within the necessary limits, so they made me drink a bottle of water and eat a donut before they’d stick me. Having done their bidding, I laid down on the gurney and they stuck me with a needle. Not just any needle, mind you, but a huge needle with a cavernous gaping maw in the business end that spoke to me from the depths of Hades, demanding, what else but, a blood sacrifice. The nurse, oblivious to the dialog between the needle and I, simply asked me to squeeze a little stress ball for 5 seconds on and off. While I was squeezing, I had to wonder about the implements they were using. Some of them looked like legitimate torture devices. There were these pliers on the instrument stand next to the more »
Knowing Your Body
Posted On Friday, August 22nd, 2008 By David Veatch
Allow me to call your attention to a post by a friend of mine… Most specifically, I’m impressed and inspired by this: I’ve been told by some that I have near-inhuman willpower. I don’t know about that. I might have a lot of willpower, but I think mostly it’s just that I know (I don’t “believe”–I know) that I am in control of my body. My body’s laziness, cravings, and other unhealthful desires don’t control me. I might cave in to them sometimes. Life’s too short to be strict all the time. But usually I treat my body, not as a temple, but as a machine that carries my brain around and does for me what I want it to do. … and this: Make a commitment to yourself to be fully aware of your body and in control of your body for twenty minutes a day. During those twenty minutes, make your body work for you. Make it work hard! And when the twenty minutes are up, don’t reward it with unhealthy food. In fact, don’t reward it at all. After all, it was only doing was it was designed to do in the first place. You’re just reminding more »