Happy "13th" Mr. Announcer

The Voice of the Dakota Dome and many other sporting events throughout the state (especially track meets), is having is official 13th birthday today! If you've attended any sporting event at the dome in the past 25 plus years or gone to Howard Wood/Dakota Relays or the state track meet, you've undoubtedly had the pleasure of hearing "The Voice".

Not only is he "The Voice" but he adds so much life to the meets. Over the past few years I've been working the Daktronics board at Howard Wood for the bigger meets. I can't tell you how many late nights I've spent with Greg putting together stats of the major runners for announcing. Such fun facts as "Little Sally So-and-Such won the mile run at the Bear Butte Invitational earlier this spring". It's the little things that he's willing to do that add so much to the meets. There have been a few late nights at The Watering Hole on Madison Street too!

Hopefully this puts me "in the black" for the next four years as Greg is often my ride home after track meets in Sioux Falls. I like to ride my bike from Vermillion to Lennox or beyond (sometimes all the way to Howard Wood Field) and have Greg bring me back home.

Without further ado: Mr. Announcer and good friend....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Road Kill Bill Flattened

The "stinky" bill reported earlier this week was officially killed this week. Truly, for those of you not from South Dakota, the amount of stinky, dead roadkill in the summer is already nasty. I can't imagine if this bill would have went through!

From keloland.com

Roadkill Bill Goes Belly Up

The South Dakota Legislature's roadkill bill has been flattened.

After the House and Senate failed to agree on common language for the measure, a negotiating committee recommended the bill be scrapped.

The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to kill the bill. The House was expected to do the same later in the evening.

HB1293 would have required that dead deer be picked up from state highways within 96 hours.

Sen. Jim Lintz of Hermosa said the measure is not needed because state officials realize the Legislature wants dead critters removed from the roadside quickly.

"The dead deer bill is a dead duck," Lintz told the Senate.

Bike Path Committee Meeting

I'm going to remain fairly nondescript in this post just in case there are people out there googling away looking for info. However, I need to vent.

In this sometimes backwards town, I do my part to promote cycling, healthy lifestyles, and alternative transportation. For the past fourteen (14) months I've been on a bike path committee. We have a decent path that we are looking at expanding along the river. Where we are expanding is coming under MUCH scrutiny from a couple of land owners. Understand that this bike path is a CONSIDERABLE distance from their houses. Could the homeowners SEE people on the bike path? Most of them could, although a couple might only see heads.

The good news is that their are only seven land owners to deal with that far back to the river. Five of the seven have signed on to allowing the path to go through. One ALMOST signed but then lost a bid to have his land rezoned to allow a horse on it if he wanted and then he got mad and won't sign. The other person, well, let's just say he's difficult.

The alternative plan would be to NOT go along the river for that stretch and use a city right of way and put an eight foot sidewalk/bike path in front of all these houses. While an option, it's not the option that the committee desires, but if all else fails, it is there. We would lose a scenic view of the river for a not so scenic stretch by the fertilizer plant and grain elevator.

Last night a decision was made to have the architects of the path use their arbitrator for the final two land owners. If that doesn't work, we are looking at condemnation proceedings. That would be when it would get ugly.

I don't want to get into too many details as of yet. I probably have let too much out already just in case there are locals who do read my blog. Not that it's a major secret, but I should let things get rolling before divulging so much. Just in case the Google spiders are in high gear, we are talking about the PORTLAND Bike Trail system. There, that should throw off searches for a bit.

My main reason for the rant is that this "game" has been played out for 14 months. I don't blame anybody on the committee/city of PORTLAND at this point. They/we are just trying to do what's right. What's right for the city is this bike path. This path should already be built or in the process of being built. This is just the next section of a grander plan and it needs to get going NOW.

Once this section is over, we should have much easier sledding as most of the land in the next stretch is owned by the county and they are already on board. More rants to come I'm sure. Hopefully next time it will be good news about the PORTLAND bike trail.

Yet Another Vermillion Cycling Blogger

Here's another one to add to your RSS feed! There is nary a person out there who has been cycling with me longer than Cactus Eyed Joe! He has another blogging site as well located HERE. I'm not sure what he's going to put on the second site, but it could have to do with Yoga and life in general.

He has a different point of view of my MS150 Crash Story of 2004. It is a good read and is located HERE.

The one thing you all need to do for me is to ask him about his name. Although he readily accepts his nickname, it's a subject of much pain in his life. Let's just say a mental picture of Cactus-Eyed Joe equals a pretty accurate description.

Backroad Cycling WILL Stink This Summer in SD

Dreaming of a wonderful, quiet ride in the country this summer? Very few cars to deal with, beautiful skies......and the stench of dead animals....bring it on.

From Keloland.com

Negotiators Change Roadkill Bill

It appears that the financially pinched state highway fund in South Dakota has avoided another million-dollar-plus hit.

Legislative negotiators have stripped a provision from a bill that would have required the state to pay for the removal of dead deer from county roadsides.

HB1293 instead will require dead deer pickup within 96 hours from only state highways.

State Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist says it costs about $380,000 a year to do that now, but it would cost up to $1.5 million more to also pay contractors to retrieve dead deer from county highways.

Craptastic Weather

Sunday - 45-48 degrees. Road bike ride. Beautiful day. February paradise in South Dakota.

Monday - Rain - freezing rain - strong north wind. On the way to the dome to teach cycling class I thought I was being shot at with a pellet rifle. It was still warm enough to be "ridable" outside.

Tuesday morning - NOT warm enough (18 degrees). Schools starting late. Roads are a SHEET of ice. One of my slowest commutes EVAH as I didn't want to "pull a kErnEl". That poor dude has had a long road to recovery from his broken wrist.

This craptastic weather needs to end soon. Even Mr. Bite is getting crabby about the weather towards the end of a recent post.

Here is hoping that this weekend's South Dakota Bicycle Summit will cheer us all up, get us excited about cycling, and also begin the warming of the weather.

Disinfecting Matt

As soon as I find this "Matt" guy, consider him disinfected.



This sign is in the recreation room at the dome where I teach cycling. There are other classes (Yoga, Pilates, etc) taking place at other times in the room. I've had a chuckle out of it ever since it was put up, but finally remembered to take a photo of it.

USD Men's Basketball to Play Outdoors

Author's Note: The picture within this post comes from the "Next Week @ the U." email sent to everybody at the University. The rest is...well...you make the call.

AP - Vermillion, SD

In a stunning move to show his disappointment with recent road losses with the USD Men's Basketball team, Coach Dave Boots followed through with his threat to "teach the team a lesson" by making them play outside instead of the warm, friendly confines of the Dakota Dome.

The Coyotes, sure that coach would not follow through on his threat as long as they played better, beat North Dakota at home and then Minnesota Duluth on the road. It wasn't enough as the players found out via the "Next Week @ the U." email that they are to be relegated to the parking lot of the Dakota Dome for next Saturday's game with St. Cloud.



Even the oldest of fans can not remember the Coyotes playing outdoors, but they are excited about the plan. Immediately following the Women's game, fans are invited to fill the parking lot for the Men's game. Tip off will take place thirty minutes after the Women's game. Please come and cheer on your University of South Dakota Coyotes.

Wile E. Coyote
Coyote News
for the AP

For those who think I'm kidding, click HERE.

Frank - The Rookie Chili Judge

Friday Humor for the masses:

Frank: "Recently I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Coors Light beer truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted."

Here are the scorecards from the event: Frank is Judge #3.

Chili # 1 - Eddie's Maniac Monster Chili...

Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 -- (Frank) Holy sh*t! What the hell is this stuff?! You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put out the flames. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.

Chili # 2 - Austin's Afterburner Chili...

Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor; needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.


Chili # 3 - Ronny's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili...

Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans.
Judge # 2 -- A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill... My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t- faced from all of the beer...

Chili # 4 - Dave's Black Magic..

Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish, or other mild foods; not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb. woman is starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

Chili # 5 - Lisa's Legal Lip Remover...

Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers! Makes a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead, and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticked me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.

Chili # 6 - Pam's Very Vegetarian Variety...

Judge # 1 -- Thin, yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulphuric flames. I sh*t on myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

Chili # 7 - Carla's Screaming Sensation Chili...

Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho-hum; tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. *I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress, as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing; it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

Chili! # 8 - Karen's Toenail Curling Chili...

Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold, but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild, nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge # 3 farted, passed out, fell over, and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to the really hot chili?

Watching the Eclipse with the Fam

We all got in the van and ventured a couple miles out of town to watch the moon eclipse for a little over an hour. It really is an amazing thing to watch. The natives (the kids) were getting restless and we boogied back home to get them into bed. Which turned out to be a good thing as I'm still sitting in front of our living room window (at 9:55pm) on the floor patiently awaiting the uncovering, which is slowly starting to happen.

The uncovering of the moon is cool so far, but it was more fun watching it cover with the amazement of the kids. Most "amazing" things are more fun with kids as they are so dramatic about things. "COOL!..AWESOME! THAT'S NEAT!" Even our 11 year old said that he was glad we went out to watch it. Getting a compliment like that from him is slightly amazing, so it must be pretty awesome.

I'm going to hang out with Mrs. Brady in front of the window, drinking a Blue Moon, and enjoying a little more of the show for a bit. Peace.

After Effect of the Fall?

I left for work this morning, got all of 1/2 a block from home when I noticed that it seemed the seat was pointed UP a bit. I had never adjusted the down-sloping seat since I bought the bike from Snakebite so that was peculiar.

What happened next could have been a perfect Wile E. Coyote moment. I looked down at my seat and at that very moment the seat simply fell apart and off the bike. The only saving grace is that I have a storage wedge that attaches via velco to the seat and seat post. It's the only thing that kept if from splatting all over the place. I nearly had a heart attack as I almost landed on my back tire. I amazingly pulled myself up by tugging on the handle bars all without wiping out.

I grabbed all loose parts and stood up for the short ride back to the house. A brief look showed that the bolt simply broke off and it must have finally unthreaded itself to the point that it fell apart. Any fat ass jokes made at this point will be funny, but unnecessary: I know I have a fat ass. I put Ol Yeller back into service for the day as I had to get to work and didn't have time or the right bolt to get it fixed correctly.

I'm not sure if this all started with the fall Saturday night or not, but it's my best guess. You all can stop laughing now. More moments of cycling excitement for me.

Testing the Knee

The trip I made a trip to the coffee shop for a meeting about the MS Bike Ride and to suck up a little java before spin class proved that my knee didn't feel too bad. A decent push during spin class also showed no major ill effects of the knee. The only thing that seems to bother it is anything besides walking. I tried to jog towards the locker room and YOWZA...not so good. Back to walking and all was fine. Stairs are a little painful, but at least I can go up them like a normal person now and not like a 90 year old.

My "medical" opinion is that I bruised it pretty deep and it will just take a little while to heal. I did learn while lifting light that my elbow on that (left) side is also a little tender, but I think it too will be fine.

Seriously though, thanks for all your well wishes. Falling always sucks, and fellow cyclists know this. Once we get the kErnEl completely healed, may we all be done crashing for awhile!

Saturday Fun at the Track Meet and Another Accident

Yesterday was a indoor track meet at the Dome. It seemed like everybody who normally works the track meets was gone for this one. Our announcer and our back up announcer was gone, along with many of the workers. I credit the three day weekend for so many people being gone.

Our production crew was pretty much intact, but Coach Gottsleben said that he had nobody to announce. Casually I said that it's too bad that nobody knew how to do my job. Well, we found that person. One of the workers daughters who is all of 15 years old (I think). Now EVERYBODY will know how easy my job is. I showed her how to do everything and had the ability to help her out as I announced and didn't have her do certain aspects of my job to keep it easy for her. She did a good job and I survived a full day of announcing. I don't think our main announcer, the world famous Greg Merrigan, has anything to worry about however.

They originally planned for about 600 entrants for the meet when they did the schedule and we ended up having over 900. You can imagine what that did to the time schedule. Instead of ending around 4:30, we miraculously still managed to end around 5:45 or so.

After that we went over to Pro's to eat and have a few beers. After we had three pitchers of Boulevard Wheat, I noticed that they had IT....BLUE MOON on tap! The drinking was ON then. I left Pro's at 10:00...oops. I had slowed my drinking way down about 9:00 so my trip home would be "safe".

It had been nearly 40 degrees all day which caused a great deal of melting. By 10:00pm it had refrozen. I got on the bike, dropped off the sidewalk and the bike was GONE. Black ice was the remedy of my demise. It didn't seem bad, but when I got up, the side of my knee was KILLING me. I got back on the bike and hammered it on the way home and the knee seemed 'decent'. When I tried to step up on the two steps to get into my house I thought I was going to die.

Today, not so good either. I'm not sure if I have a deep bruise or what, but I am not getting on the bike today. I need to teach cycling (spin) class tomorrow and that will be my first real test of my knee. I am a little nervous about my knee as it is really tender. I'm sure it will heal fine, but right now it is very sore.

Dear spring, hurry up already!

It's Me, Causing Trouble Again

This will fall into another Pet Peeve category, but I'm now officially trying to stir the pot a little at work. It's been wearing on me for awhile, but I finally got up the cajones to call somebody about it. Well, I left a message on their audix and I'm patiently waiting a reply.

This issue? Well, like a few hearty souls here at work, I bike to work regardless of the weather. That includes snow, something we have had a decent amount of as of late. This issue has been worse in the past, but it was JUST bad enough today that I decided to tactfully bring it to somebody's attention.

I still digress. The issue: Snow, Bike Racks, and the supreme ability to plow snow up to them but not clean them out. You know, sort of like when you shovel out the driveway and that damn snowplow comes by and puts that hard stuff right where you just shoveled? Well, maybe that's worse. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures I took today. One at the dome and one outside my office building.

The Dakota Dome bike rack:	Outside My Office

My dream (Oh yes, I have a dream baby!): To have at least a couple stalls (if not the whole bike rack) shoveled out. It's MY parking spot. Would car drivers bitch if their parking spot had six inches of snow and they had to step in it? Darn straight they would. Then why should I have to step in it to park my bike? So help me God, if one of you "cagers" (that's a vehicle driver for those uninformed with cyclist lingo) tell me that I should be driving because of the conditions, I shall be most inclined to go postal upside your head.

I shall be updating you on this issue as I foresee a battle about to commence. Now that the ball is rolling, I don't intend to let it rest. Snow removal or bust!

Bunyan's to Bob's - Just Livin' the Dream!

For a few years, since we discovered the national treasure that is Bob's Bar in Martinsburg, NE, we have discussed having a semi- organized ride to Bob's starting at Vermillion's own treasure, Bunyan’s. Well folks, talk is over. Reality takes its place.

Plans are underway and a date has been set. May 17th is the official date of the 1st Annual Bunyan’s to Bob’s - Burgers, Bikes, and Brews Extravaganza. There are still some details to be ironed out about this ride, but the plan at this point it to meet at Bunyan’s in Vermillion at about 8:30 in the morning, enjoy a beer or two and maybe a light breakfast of some sort, and head out to Martinsburg about 9:30.

While this is only a trip of 25 or so miles(one way), it’s not an easy 25 miles as there are some good climbs on the gravel roads. The plan is to eat at Bob’s Bar and then return home. For those of you who have eaten there before, this will be no easy task. Bob’s has portions more suitable for a 350lb NFL lineman than for cyclists, but that’s part of the beauty. At this point there is NO PLAN for a SAG back to Vermillion. Should you plan on only going one way, make sure that you make your own arrangements to get back to Vermillion. In a major pinch, Laura and the trusty Ford Deathstar can probably be thrust into taxi service for a small fee.

For those of you who missed the first post with the route, it’s HERE. I did a little calling to both bars, and both are VERY excited to have us which is an awesome start. I will call back to each with more information on number of riders as the ride draws nearer so I need to know those who are planning on attending. Make your interest known now so I can get an early estimate.

In other news, what else would you like to see with this ride?
SAG support – probably not happening – Newcastle is 15 miles into the ride. Plan on enough to make it that far and refuel.
T-Shirts – a good possibility-such an epic ride probably deserves a t-shirt. Let me know if you want one and we will get a cost for the shirts (this – and your food/drinks, will be your only cost).
Anything else?

LATE EDIT:There WILL be an option to stay on the paved road and go to Ponca and then south to Martinsburg. This makes it about 33 (I'm guessing here) miles, but all would be on the road. The gravel roads in Nebraska can be loose in spots, slick/semi-slicks are probably not the best option to travel on the gravel.

Cycling "Spin" Class - To Kill or not to Kill

I do not teach my cycling class like an aerobics instructor. I teach it like a cyclist. One that is going to have a killer 40 minute workout usually. This is a noon hour class that consists mainly of the over-40-but-in-good-shape crowd. Here is the setup of my class today. It may have been a bit harsher than usual (but not much) which ponders my question to those who take cycling classes: Is this class too harsh? Do I deserve the name Killer Kevin (not that I take any offense at the name)?

5 min warmup - :05

Muddy it up! *tension to the point where your cadence is a hill cadence 60-80 rpm
30 second seated push followed by :15 seated sprint
30 second seated push followed by :15 out of saddle sprint
2 sets - 3 min total - :08

1:30 easy - tension back to start - 9:30

1 big turn up
:30 hard cadence - :30 standing flat
5 sets - 5:00 total - 14:30

Muddy it up!
:30 second seated push - :30 second standing jog - :15 standing sprint - :30 standing jog
2 sets - 3:30 total - 18:00

2:00 easy tension back to start - 20:00

2 big turns up
:30 85% effort sprints :30 recover
5 sets - 5:00 25:00

1:00 easy tension back to start - 26:00

Muddy it up! - Option to go tougher to the rider
:30 seated push - :30 stand easy - :30 standing jog
6 sets - 9:00 total - 35:00

5 min cool down/stretch - 40:00 - End Class

ANOTHER New Blogger - Cycling Cathy

One of the hardest working ladies in cycling has jumped into the blogging ranks. She liked the workout tracking of the sweat365 blog so she has set up a blog over there.

You've seen her on club rides...You've seen her on Tour de Kota....You've seen her on the MS150....Now see her WILD AND UNCENSORED at http://cyclingcathy77.sweat365.com/

**for those of you who don't know Cathy, "uncensored" might be an occasional "darn it". Voted Nicest Person You Will Ever Meet by the Lanehogs official secret ballot.

Hopefully there will be more locals to follow into the blogoshpere.

BikingBrady vs. Tractor (MS 150 Flashback-2004)

I passed along an email last week of some pretty gory bike accidents, bull horn gores, and motorcycle accidents. The one below reminded me of an incident moment of stupidity on the MS 150 back in August of 2004.



We were on our way from Sioux Falls to Vermillion and were going into a decent headwind, but in a nice size paceline. We were south of Lennox on Hwy 17 and I was at the front of a side-by-side paceline with Travis K. when it happened. A tractor pulled out a little bit up the road. I looked at Travis and said, "Let's catch the tractor for a windbreak". I sprinted up an tucked in behind the tractor. The tractor had hay forks sticking out the back of it. Innocent enough and still able to catch a good draft.

For visual aid purposes think of these, but a bit higher going down the highway.


Then Travis pulled up beside me. He was on the outside of the left fork and reached with his right hand, grabbed the fork and said, "Hey look!". Then it happened, my moment of stupidity. Without even thinking I too reached out and grabbed the other fork. Problem is, I was on the inside of the right fork and I reached ACROSS my body with my left hand. I no more grabbed it and my wheel wobbled and the rest is a blur of looking at the ground, sky, ground, sky, etc. AMAZINGLY, being in the front of one paceline, I didn't take ANYBODY out. Well, almost nobody. I hit the ditch FINALLY thinking that I was in the clear.

I looked up into the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO, IT'S SUUUUUUUPER JOE! I swear that Joe had his arms extended flying over the top of me. It was all surreal and kind of neat until *THWAP*, Joe kneed me in the head. Hard. Hurt worse than the accident itself (at that moment anyway).

By the time that Joe and I got up and rolled out of the ditch and gathered up our bikes, our loving friends in the paceline were half mile away and distancing themselves by the second. Later we found out that once we stood up that they said, "They'll be alright". Nice friends we have. We both got on our bikes and started to head out. Then I noticed that to make my bike go straight south that my handlebars had to be positioned distinctly southeast. I stopped and adjusted as good as I could and we continued on.

When we hit the rest stop at Centerville, somebody snapped the following picture and I thought I got off fairly easy all things said.

The problem was, this wasn't the worst of my injuries. I was bruised bad. I managed to make it back to Sioux Falls the next day, but I was pretty stiff for a few days after. The following two pictures are angles of the bruising that happens when you play with tractors.

It's still an ongoing joke for those involved to yell when they see a tractor during a ride. It wasn't my most shining moment. It was much closer to a "Darwin Award" than a shining moment.

Fun With Blondes

Giving a non-fellow-IT person from work your work IM is sometimes not a good idea. Although sometimes it CAN be humorous.

I need to set this up by saying that I'm NOT on the Server team and most of my support comes on the Desktop side. The less I know about "The Server", as so many call it, the more I can play stoopid.

Without further ado, the actual chat:

Blond: seriously what the heck is up with the server today
bikingbrady: a transfomer in the counter-conductivity rigging is causing an overload in the transverse electrode switching capacitor.
Blond: in English please
bikingbrady: The doohickey has zapped the thing-a-ma-bob causing it to cause a fluctuation in the power
Blond: whatever
bikingbrady: you asked
Blond: i know i did

Incoherent ramblings that make no sense are the best defense against said blond. Man I hope she doesn't read my blog.

DISCLAIMER: Names, other than my own, have been erased to protect said blond. Any resemblance to a blond you may know is purely coincidental.

Bunyan's to Bob's

Ever since we found a little greasy nugget called Bob's Bar in Martinsburg, NE, we have discussed a Mountain Bike ride to Bob's starting at a bar on the edge of Vermillion called Bunyan's.

Now that I have a few followers on this blog, it's time to post this and plan! How many would be interested in such a ride? From Vermillion to across the Missouri River would be on pavement, then we would be on gravel until Newcastle. About 2 more miles of pavement and then all gravel to Bob's. Some say it would be impossible to eat at Bob's and make the return trip home (this place has GI-NORMOUS portions of food). I say phooey...we can do it! The rolls and the scenery on the Nebraska side are pretty awesome. There are some killer hills on those gravel roads.

At this point, this would be a NON CLUB SANCTIONED RIDE, but for the fun and the brotherhood of it all. Post a reply if you would be into such a ride sometime in the early spring.

Saddling Up With The Mrs.

Laura wanted to start her training last night so I set up the trainer with her hybrid and I set the rollers up next to her. I nearly killed myself on the rollers a couple times so I disposed of the rollers and set up the other trainer and rode a half hour with her.

I don't know about you other married-types, but I love the fact that my wife wants to ride more with me this summer and really give it a good effort to get in shape for the riding season. The tandem purchase last summer was painful ($$$) but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat to be able to ride more with her and the kids from time to time.

Her big goal for the summer is to ride the MS Bike Tour (Go Team Road Kill!). For most of us, that seems minor, but Laura's long ride so far is a little over 30 so it's a pretty major goal for her and I'm proud of her for committing.

For those of you in the area, watch out for the big blue tandem express this summer. Not only will it get considerable mileage training with Laura and the family, you might see a certain CDV on it as well as we are in serious discussions about doing the Gut Check on tandem.

Spending Too Much Time With Snakebite

This proves it, I need a break from Snakebite. Snakebite, I think it's time we see other people.

Which Character on The Simpsons Are You?

Created by BuddyTV

On the whole "Lost" thing...I don't know anything about it, so I passed on that quiz.

Late Edit: If you are judged by the company you keep, I'm screwed. The kErnEl and CDV also are Barney Gumble. Hooterville Mayor admitted to being Barney Gumble on Cycle SD's blog, although Cycle SD himself turned out to be Professor Frink. Always has to be one geek in the crowd. I kid, I keeeeeeed.

Tour de Kota towns beware. A bunch of Barney's are headed your way in June (along with Professor Frink).

Wasted Weekend

I had a horrible headache on and off all weekend. I went to band practice at church Saturday morning and by the time I got home, I knew that the planned afternoon ride with CDV was definitely off.

I had slept in until 9 in the morning (thank you dearest wife for diverting children for me), band practice 10-12, ate lunch, went back to bed until nearly 4:00. Went to the USD Basketball Doubleheader versus Minnesota State Mankato. Side note: congrats to the 4th ranked Men and Women for moving their respective records to 19-1. Got home, headache was back so the muscle relaxer was in order.

A decent night sleep and I woke up feeling great...until Church was over. I wanted to get a ride in to make up for Saturday. Not happening once again. Laura gave me a massage (it was FAB-U-LOUS) and I was perking up again. We went to a senior vocal recital at the University and then to the store. Shortly thereafter, I was struggling again. Luckily nothing was expected of me today, because a bump on a log was about all I was good for.

I have swallowed a small drugstore this weekend. This headache issue needs to disappear soon. Serious training needs to start NOW. I'll gladly give my headache to the first person who wants it.

Fun With Google: Chuck Norris

I must be coming out of my winter funk a little as I'm posting many things I find humorous as of late.

I love it when people use Google against itself for fun gain. This bit of fun uses Chuck Norris. The more hits it takes, the longer it stays number one on the list.

1. Go to Google.com
2. Type in: find chuck norris
3. Click "I feel lucky"
4. Enjoy

Must Find Some VB!

Never had a VB Beer before, nor do I recall even seeing it, but there is something about a beer symphony that is effective advertising in my book!