Nothing, iPods?, Marathons & Coke

Some days life gets in the way of all the good mojo bike stuff. Sometimes all you can do is bend over the barrel of life and let yourself get violated to the fullest possible extent by work, fatherhood, business trip taking wives, cold, wet, weather and whatever else might be within a well lubricated arms reach of the barrel. In other words, there was no riding or work out today and I feel like a tubby ball of lump for a variety of reasons.

It's supposed to rain and snow tomorrow and again for some of the weekend as well. Plum Grove Petey F. is coming up to M/Ville this weekend and we're gonna try to hook up for a road ride. The original plan was to ride Boyce, but since it's gonna be shitty, I'm giving Master Tom the Mamasita and Dos Niner to get them into race shape and P.G.P.F. and I are gonna attempt some road miles in this little dark, dank, damp, dirty corner of heatless hell.

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Not sure why (like I have nothing else to do), but I've been following this tid bit on MTBR.com about iPods etc., being banned in many races.

Not that anyone really cares but this is my 2¢.... I agree. As you all know I'm a friggin' music junky and would die without my iPod when I'm on the trainer. But I just don't think they belong on the race course. Your actions effectst the performance and safety of other racers, not just you.

I for one was on the shitty end of the the .mp3 stick at the '07 Wilderness 101. On a long single track climb up from one of the aid stations, a woman in front of me was cruising along singing, listening to her .mp3 player. I was behind and wanted a pass. I asked several times, but she couldn't hear me. I finally tried to get around near the top of the climb, biffed it in some rocks and watch as she bombed down the hill singing away with NO clue that she f*cked me up.

Now believe me, I can finish 50th with or without racers using iPods, but the way I look at it, I have enough shit out there waiting to f*ck me up, I don't need another. I think it's just common courtesy to not wear them. Lets face it, often it's the fast guys wearing them blowing by we shleps. But one day it might be an iPod using shlep that f*cks up Mr. So Pro. Will his ego let him laugh it off? I doubt. I see an "in writing race protest" frenzy at the finish line!

Yeah, I know there are folks who race with one ear bud in, or the volume turned down low and that's cool. But put yourself in the race promoters position. He/she is putting on a race, dealing with land issues, insurance issues, racers bitching about the course, etc., etc. The last thing they need to worry about is checking to see what volume you have you iPod set at or if you're wearing both ear buds!

I too have been out there pretty much alone at 3 a.m. and would have liked some tunes. But I also know by that point in the race it would probably be safer for me and other racers if I was drunk off my ass and waving a loaded gun around shouting German cuss words on top of my lungs (I don't know German or own a gun).

Call me a bike crazy, tree hugging, feel good type racer (I'm all that) but yes, EVEN during a race I dig all the nuances that racing/riding my bike brings! I love the whirl of knobbies on hard pack, leaves blowing, birds chirping, rain drops falling, owls hooting, lungs searing, gasps for air, leg cramp F-bombs, pedals turning, chains slapping, cages rattling, riders going down, shouts of encouragement, requests to pass, or just the soothing sounds of a blowing snot rocket. I want it all.

I've been known to ride the rail trail with iPodious, and God knows I won't go within 10 feet of The Booger (my stationary trainer) without a mix ready to drown out the boredom. But damn it's a bike race. If I get to the point that I'm so damn good that I don't have to worry about people passing me, or thinking about other racers, I should use my spare time to fill out a UCI application and book my airline tickets to Houffalize rather than filling up my iPod!!

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My European, kobbie headed brothers and sisters at MTBS.cz have once again put up some sweet ass pics! This time it's from this past weekend's UCI Marathon World Cu race #1 in Manavagat, Turkey. Check them out!

I love the one above of Corratec's Roland Stauder guzzling one of
my fave late race drinks... Coca-Friggin'-Cola. Really looked like a cool race. All hat sun and cool scenery makes me want to got to Turkey. Or at least drink a Coke and eat a turkey sammich.
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In Marathon/Enduro news close to home and way f*cking cool... The Fat Marc promoted "Escape From Granogue" 4 Hour Enduro is a go for May 24th. So sign up, or Marc will feel bad. Plus if enough folks sign up there might be enough dough for Marc to hire Zep to play at the race and save you folks from having to bring your iPods!

Later.