Three stooges

"Twas a good day for riding today. According to the N2 regulars, Kay and Jeff showed up on the tandem and gave the group a pacing that is not the usual fare. I'm sorry I missed it, as I've been feeling like a tandem motorpace would be an excellent addition to the training repetoire.

As for me, I've been putting myself through some training paces in a structured manner that I have never done before. Short of actually having a coach, I'm following a plan that I've created from the umpteen plans that one sees in the various mags and rags. This is the third week in my cycle, next week, blessed relief. Ergo I did not meet my N2 mates this morning as my late workout last night tuckered me out to the point that I was getting out of bed at about the time that the group was rolling past the Travilah store.

A parenthetical comment, if you will, about the indoor training methodology: While Instant Netflix is a Good Thing, trying to do miccroburst intervals while watching Dave Chapelle live in San Fran is, while entertaining, not so good for training. Macrobursts of laughter, while always welcome, are not quite timed well enough to syncopate with regular huffing and puffing.

So instead I rode with my friends Kemal and Scott, the former of whom is my cyclocross partner in crime and has not ridden for approximately 407 years, thereby rendering him a shadow of his former self. It is not often that he sees me up the road; it is mostly the other way around. The latter fellow is my colleague at work, quite strong, and the Big(gest) Lebowski fan I know.

Our ride went thusly, from a posting today on the Bicycle Place listserve, as scribed by Kemal:

Johan "Beer Me, but make it Belgian" Maisto
Scott "WWM" Wilets
Kemal "I Hate the Cold" Tuncer

All three attended; all three were late. Zone 1 ride, massive amounts
of espresso, red lined only at the end when we saw time (as defined by
the Mrs.) running out.

Johan sported the retro wool. Scooter sported the retro slicker and
movie lines. K3 sported the retro bike. Yup, about that exciting.

I only add that Scott and I redlined it up Ross Road hill, along the ridge, and to the Nature Center turn as well, and there were a few other moments of manhood measurement, but not the usual plethora that defines most of the group rides in our area. What was most striking was just how blue the sky was in the early afternoon as we can feel that spring will soon awake from deep slumber.

Got home and helped my son apply the decals to the P-40B Flying Tiger that he assembled and painted himself. After the first 12 pointed star on one wing, he knew the drill cold and only needed help with the gaping maw of the tiger teeth, as this decal was a slick, slippery, wrinkly, tricky one that needed to be applied just so, as it is the piece de resistance. For his first model, I am proud. Other evidence that spring is around the corner: we spent a good half hour throwing 4 seam fastballs and digging a few out of the dirt. "Play ball!" is right around the corner.

As has been the case lately, my daughter and her friends have been flitting from house to house, so I don't see them much as I am a foreigner in their world of Webkinz and American Girl dolls...suffice it to say she is happy. As was my wife, who had finished a day-long first aid course that she's required to take for Girl Scouts...

Once again, a great day.