I'm working on this blog.
It's going to be awhile.
Upon returning from the dream that was my Colorado trip I was bombarded with the reality I was trying to escape.
Too much work, too little time.
See my Sleep Experiment post for the crazy details.
07-09-05 update: When I said 'coming soon' I meant in the Christ sort of time line.
Maarburg the Mad.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Quest for TBP 7713
Friday the thirteenth.
Breakfast of French Toast, an egg, and bacon (and some of Tiff's sausage).
Small chill session back at Zen's place, then back on the bikes.
Same route as yesterday. To be perfectly honest, I was kinda hoping that we'd skip it today.
14.8 miles.
We took 10 minutes of the time and increased the average speed by 2mph.
AND I found a little air. Thank you FSM.
Whereas yesterday's ride was a bit discouraging, today's ride helped to balance that.
I am fairly certain that tomorrow is going to be horrendously painful. It's almost a given. There is nothing I can do about that. Not a damn thing. I realized this earlier in the week and have stopped freaking out that I'm not at the weight or training milestone that I wanted to be. Too late. I can either give up and decide not to do this ride, or utilize every fiber in my body/soul/mind and finish. It's nice to have nice clean black and white choices like that.
After the ride, we hit the store and then headed for the TBP 2007 Bikejoural Picnic.
I was able to meet some BikeJers that I'd talked with for a long time, and a few that I'd not met. Zin, Kin, SombraGato, Zcubed, Deadhead, Pathfinder, Lucine, Popeye, Timmy, Howard, HiGuy, SuperNana, BikePrincess, Bill, BowWow, Rob01, and many more.
Cycling truly brings out the best people. Amazing.
Post picnic, it was time to go home and pack the van. I'd promised Kev that we'd play NetHack, so that was a big priority. Tiff and Zen were such a flurry of activity that I started to get a little nervous. I gathered everything together, quite quickly, actually. Simple minds, I guess. After some issues getting the van packed just right, we were all set.
There's nothing left to do. ('cept sleep)
Tomorrow, I will do something that very few people I know think is even possible for them to accomplish. In fact, it wasn't that long ago that a ride like TBP was just one of those amazing things that nutter cyclists did.
TBP is the anvil upon which I will lay my soul. Each gobble of blessed HammerGel serves to heat my soul, each foot climbed and mile passed is the hammer blow reforging my soul to something stronger and sharper that it was before. Each gulp of water the quenching that fixes my soul in it's new form.
Today is the last day that I will be who I am. By this time tomorrow, I will be remade. Something different, stronger, sharper.
See you on the other side!
Maarburg
Meatspace coordinates:
Latitude: N 39.91
Longitude: W 105.09
Breakfast of French Toast, an egg, and bacon (and some of Tiff's sausage).
Small chill session back at Zen's place, then back on the bikes.
Same route as yesterday. To be perfectly honest, I was kinda hoping that we'd skip it today.
14.8 miles.
We took 10 minutes of the time and increased the average speed by 2mph.
AND I found a little air. Thank you FSM.
Whereas yesterday's ride was a bit discouraging, today's ride helped to balance that.
I am fairly certain that tomorrow is going to be horrendously painful. It's almost a given. There is nothing I can do about that. Not a damn thing. I realized this earlier in the week and have stopped freaking out that I'm not at the weight or training milestone that I wanted to be. Too late. I can either give up and decide not to do this ride, or utilize every fiber in my body/soul/mind and finish. It's nice to have nice clean black and white choices like that.
After the ride, we hit the store and then headed for the TBP 2007 Bikejoural Picnic.
I was able to meet some BikeJers that I'd talked with for a long time, and a few that I'd not met. Zin, Kin, SombraGato, Zcubed, Deadhead, Pathfinder, Lucine, Popeye, Timmy, Howard, HiGuy, SuperNana, BikePrincess, Bill, BowWow, Rob01, and many more.
Cycling truly brings out the best people. Amazing.
Post picnic, it was time to go home and pack the van. I'd promised Kev that we'd play NetHack, so that was a big priority. Tiff and Zen were such a flurry of activity that I started to get a little nervous. I gathered everything together, quite quickly, actually. Simple minds, I guess. After some issues getting the van packed just right, we were all set.
There's nothing left to do. ('cept sleep)
Tomorrow, I will do something that very few people I know think is even possible for them to accomplish. In fact, it wasn't that long ago that a ride like TBP was just one of those amazing things that nutter cyclists did.
TBP is the anvil upon which I will lay my soul. Each gobble of blessed HammerGel serves to heat my soul, each foot climbed and mile passed is the hammer blow reforging my soul to something stronger and sharper that it was before. Each gulp of water the quenching that fixes my soul in it's new form.
Today is the last day that I will be who I am. By this time tomorrow, I will be remade. Something different, stronger, sharper.
See you on the other side!
Maarburg
Meatspace coordinates:
Latitude: N 39.91
Longitude: W 105.09
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Quest for TBP 7712
Today's ride was a real eye opener.
There is no fsking air in Colorado. I'm not sure where it went, or when it was taking, but it's gone.
I could not believe how quickly I was in oxygen debt. Sucking air like a fish out of water. We (Zen, Tiff, and I) rode the 14+ miles in about an hour.. and my lungs were burning for 55 of them.
Not encouraging.
TBP ain't about the climbs or the distance anymore. It's about the fsking air.
Or lack there of.
FSM help me.
Maarburg
Meatspace coordinates:
Latitude: N 39.91
Longitude: W 105.09
There is no fsking air in Colorado. I'm not sure where it went, or when it was taking, but it's gone.
I could not believe how quickly I was in oxygen debt. Sucking air like a fish out of water. We (Zen, Tiff, and I) rode the 14+ miles in about an hour.. and my lungs were burning for 55 of them.
Not encouraging.
TBP ain't about the climbs or the distance anymore. It's about the fsking air.
Or lack there of.
FSM help me.
Maarburg
Meatspace coordinates:
Latitude: N 39.91
Longitude: W 105.09
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Quest for TBP 7711
The most dangerous people in the state....
Sorry Tiff's head got cut off.. Damn squirrels, just can't take photos..
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Quest for TBP 7710
Kathleen and I are now safe in the land of Hypoxia.
Zen took me up the the "foothills" to get a little perspective for what I'll be in for in four days. This picture is from the top of the 'Flagstaff Climb'. That nice flat basin in the hazy distance.. . that's where we were a mere four miles previous.
Ouch.
I'm in for a boatload of a pain and suffering on the 14th.
Can't wait.
A nice little thunderstorm has set in. Zen seems so nonchalant, it's almost funny.
CO is interesting, like being on another planet.
Maarburg
Meatspace coordinates:
Latitude: N 39.91
Longitude: W 105.09
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Quest for TBP 7707
Saturday:
Ankle Tendon seems to be doing much better after, yet, another night of RICE, and some serious babying. So much favoritism that my right calf is complaining a bit.
Lower GI issues are still present and I really have no clue what to try next.
Gorging/Fasting/Softner/Fiber/ungodly ammounts of fluids have all yeilded limited results.
Hmm.. 1/2 of SF Chocolate might due the trick... can I afford to be bed ridden?
Frustrated yet determined,
-Maarburg
Ankle Tendon seems to be doing much better after, yet, another night of RICE, and some serious babying. So much favoritism that my right calf is complaining a bit.
Lower GI issues are still present and I really have no clue what to try next.
Gorging/Fasting/Softner/Fiber/ungodly ammounts of fluids have all yeilded limited results.
Hmm.. 1/2 of SF Chocolate might due the trick... can I afford to be bed ridden?
Frustrated yet determined,
-Maarburg
Friday, July 06, 2007
Tour de France 2007 Picks
Andreas Kloeden
Alexandre Vinokourov
Alejandro Valverde
Carlos Sastre
Cadel Evans
Levi Leipheimer
Denis Menchov
Schleck
Contador
Christophe Moreau
-Maarburg
Alexandre Vinokourov
Alejandro Valverde
Carlos Sastre
Cadel Evans
Levi Leipheimer
Denis Menchov
Schleck
Contador
Christophe Moreau
-Maarburg
Quest for TBP 2007 (7706)
Friday:
Pain is slightly subsided. Of course, I'm terrified of making it worse and totally babying the ankle.
Contrary to my desire, but inline with logic, I went to the Doc.
Doc looked real worried. Didn't like that I had no 'trauma' to cause this. As the pain was very centralized and not at the location of most angle tendon damage (ATFL), her thoughts turned to worst case scenarios. BTW, her brother lives in CO and has done TPB.
A trip to Radiology negates all worst case scenarious. Most notably Novicular fracture or spur.
Diagnosis: Damaged/inflamed ligament.
Remedy: R.I.C.E. and this cool anti-inflametory/pain killer, No weight on the foot or ankle for 5 days and then only very light. Advised not to do TBP, but then she looked at me, shook her head and said... get lots of rest before hand.
She wrote me a double prescription for the cool meds.
Just goes to show you.. most people, when the look into the eye of Crazy, the know it.
-Maarburg
Pain is slightly subsided. Of course, I'm terrified of making it worse and totally babying the ankle.
Contrary to my desire, but inline with logic, I went to the Doc.
Doc looked real worried. Didn't like that I had no 'trauma' to cause this. As the pain was very centralized and not at the location of most angle tendon damage (ATFL), her thoughts turned to worst case scenarios. BTW, her brother lives in CO and has done TPB.
A trip to Radiology negates all worst case scenarious. Most notably Novicular fracture or spur.
Diagnosis: Damaged/inflamed ligament.
Remedy: R.I.C.E. and this cool anti-inflametory/pain killer, No weight on the foot or ankle for 5 days and then only very light. Advised not to do TBP, but then she looked at me, shook her head and said... get lots of rest before hand.
She wrote me a double prescription for the cool meds.
Just goes to show you.. most people, when the look into the eye of Crazy, the know it.
-Maarburg
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Quest for TBP 2007 (7705)
Thursday:
The pain grew, sharper and more expanded. Not Good.
Tried not to make a big deal about it. The negative ramifications of this being serious are too much to deal with.
By evening, I was unable to find a position in which the ankle didn't yell.
Large ammounts of Vitamin I and an ice pack under an ACE bandage while whatching whatever the hell is on TV at 3am seemed to do the trick. Fell asleep at 4:30a
-Maarburg
The pain grew, sharper and more expanded. Not Good.
Tried not to make a big deal about it. The negative ramifications of this being serious are too much to deal with.
By evening, I was unable to find a position in which the ankle didn't yell.
Large ammounts of Vitamin I and an ice pack under an ACE bandage while whatching whatever the hell is on TV at 3am seemed to do the trick. Fell asleep at 4:30a
-Maarburg
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Quest for TBP 2007 (7704)
7704:
While relaxing and trying to recover from a mysterious stomach ailment....
I noticed a tightness in my left ankle.
As the day wore on, the tightness turned into one of those mystery pains. Those pains that apear from nowhere and disapear by morning.
This one didn't. Any lifting of the toes, droping of the toes or rolling of the ankle inward caused sharp pain.
-Maarburg
While relaxing and trying to recover from a mysterious stomach ailment....
I noticed a tightness in my left ankle.
As the day wore on, the tightness turned into one of those mystery pains. Those pains that apear from nowhere and disapear by morning.
This one didn't. Any lifting of the toes, droping of the toes or rolling of the ankle inward caused sharp pain.
-Maarburg
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
New Jersey
Wow.. I got my TBP2007 Jersey last week (or was it the week before?), and my Club Hypoxia Jersey today.
Dang.. I'm like a cycling junkie now.
To be honest.. TBP2007 is daunting right now. I have not trained to the level I had wanted. I'll pay dearly for that, in 17 days.
Right after, I plan on taking out the P-38, and doing a run on my current TBP trainig ride. Just to see the time split.
Maarburg the Mad
Dang.. I'm like a cycling junkie now.
To be honest.. TBP2007 is daunting right now. I have not trained to the level I had wanted. I'll pay dearly for that, in 17 days.
Right after, I plan on taking out the P-38, and doing a run on my current TBP trainig ride. Just to see the time split.
Maarburg the Mad
Friday, February 16, 2007
Hello, my name is Maarburg...
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CYCLISM?
Here is a self-test to help you review the role riding plays in your life. These questions incorporate many
common symptoms of cyclism . This test is intended to help you determine if you or someone you know needs to find out more about cyclism; It is not intended to be used to establish the diagnosis of cyclism.
Do you ever ride heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?
Can you handle more riding now than when you first started to ride?
Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though your friends said that you did not pass out?
When cycling with other people, do you try to have a few extra miles when others won't know about?
Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if riding is not available?
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your cycling?
Are you in more of a hurry to get your first ride of the day than you used to be?
Has a family member or close friend ever expressed concern or complained about your cycling?
Have you been having more memory 'blackouts' recently?
Do you often want to continue cycling after your friends say they've had enough?
Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you ride heavily?
When you're sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while cycling?
Have you tried switching brands or bikes, or following different plans to control your cycling?
Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your cycling?
Have you ever had a DWI (driving while intoxicated (from a ride)) or DUI (driving under the influence of riding) violation, or any other legal problem related to your cycling?
Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are cycling?
Are you having more financial, work, school and/or family problems as a result of your cycling?
Has your physician ever advised you to cut down on your cycling?
Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are cycling?
Do you sometimes have the "shakes" in the morning and find that it helps to have a "little" ride, tranquilizer medication of some kind?
Have you recently noticed that you can't ride as much as you used to?
Do you sometimes stay on the bike for several days at a time?
After periods of cycling do you sometimes see or hear things that aren't there?
Have you ever gone to anyone for, help about your cycling?
Do you ever feel depressed or anxious before, during or after of heavy cycling?
Any "yes" answer indicates that you may be a greater risk for cyclism. More than one "yes" answer may indicate the presence of an riding-related problem or cyclism, and the need for consultation with a cyclism professional.
WHAT IS CYCLISM?
Cyclism is a disease which there is impaired control over cycling, preoccupation with riding, continued use of the bike in the face of adverse consequences and distorted thinking. Generally speaking, cyclism is repeated cycling that causes trouble in the rider's personal, professional, family or school life. When cyclists ride, they can't always predict when they'll stop, how much they'll ride or what the consequences of their cycling will be. Denial of the negative effects of riding in their lives is common among cyclists and those close to them. There is no known cure for cyclism. The disease can be arrested through complete abstinence from riding and other addictive activities. Once abstinent, most cyclists recover from the damage caused by their cycling. More than 1.5 million Americans are currently in recovery from their own cyclism.
Here is a self-test to help you review the role riding plays in your life. These questions incorporate many
common symptoms of cyclism . This test is intended to help you determine if you or someone you know needs to find out more about cyclism; It is not intended to be used to establish the diagnosis of cyclism.
Do you ever ride heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone?
Can you handle more riding now than when you first started to ride?
Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though your friends said that you did not pass out?
When cycling with other people, do you try to have a few extra miles when others won't know about?
Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if riding is not available?
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your cycling?
Are you in more of a hurry to get your first ride of the day than you used to be?
Has a family member or close friend ever expressed concern or complained about your cycling?
Have you been having more memory 'blackouts' recently?
Do you often want to continue cycling after your friends say they've had enough?
Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you ride heavily?
When you're sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while cycling?
Have you tried switching brands or bikes, or following different plans to control your cycling?
Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your cycling?
Have you ever had a DWI (driving while intoxicated (from a ride)) or DUI (driving under the influence of riding) violation, or any other legal problem related to your cycling?
Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are cycling?
Are you having more financial, work, school and/or family problems as a result of your cycling?
Has your physician ever advised you to cut down on your cycling?
Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are cycling?
Do you sometimes have the "shakes" in the morning and find that it helps to have a "little" ride, tranquilizer medication of some kind?
Have you recently noticed that you can't ride as much as you used to?
Do you sometimes stay on the bike for several days at a time?
After periods of cycling do you sometimes see or hear things that aren't there?
Have you ever gone to anyone for, help about your cycling?
Do you ever feel depressed or anxious before, during or after of heavy cycling?
Any "yes" answer indicates that you may be a greater risk for cyclism. More than one "yes" answer may indicate the presence of an riding-related problem or cyclism, and the need for consultation with a cyclism professional.
WHAT IS CYCLISM?
Cyclism is a disease which there is impaired control over cycling, preoccupation with riding, continued use of the bike in the face of adverse consequences and distorted thinking. Generally speaking, cyclism is repeated cycling that causes trouble in the rider's personal, professional, family or school life. When cyclists ride, they can't always predict when they'll stop, how much they'll ride or what the consequences of their cycling will be. Denial of the negative effects of riding in their lives is common among cyclists and those close to them. There is no known cure for cyclism. The disease can be arrested through complete abstinence from riding and other addictive activities. Once abstinent, most cyclists recover from the damage caused by their cycling. More than 1.5 million Americans are currently in recovery from their own cyclism.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Out of Rehab
I'm officially out of rehab.
2006 is over. Kathleen, aka NeWT, is calling me. The Marlin is in the mag trainer.
ZenLC, a person of ill repute and attempted murderer, has pushed me off the wagon.
Ok, so I was leaning and off balance... and I probably would have fallen on my own accord. I'm still blaming ZenLC. He's is up to his old tricks too. I've spoken with others (Tiff) who have been hoodwinked into a crazy, fear invoking, what-the-hell-were-you-thinking bike rides. I've come up with the unified theory of One Degree of Seperation to try to comes to grips with the similarity of those sucked into his web of pain and hypoxia. More on the Unified Theory of One Degree later.
Triple Bypass 2007 is July 14th.
This is the "So Far" I spoke of at the end of my Waimea Canyon Ride report.
One-Hundred and twenty miles with over ten thousand three hundred feet of climbing.
The lowest altitude of the ride looks to be ~7,400 ft.
I live at ~70ft. The summit of the two most reasonable training rides are 1,000 ft and 1,625 ft.
This is not good.
I have the 'vomitron'. I have weekends.
This is gonna hurt.
On the upside.. I'm on schedule for training.
Maarburg
Current meatspace coordinance:
21 18'41.01N 157 51'31.42W elevation 70ft
2006 is over. Kathleen, aka NeWT, is calling me. The Marlin is in the mag trainer.
ZenLC, a person of ill repute and attempted murderer, has pushed me off the wagon.
Ok, so I was leaning and off balance... and I probably would have fallen on my own accord. I'm still blaming ZenLC. He's is up to his old tricks too. I've spoken with others (Tiff) who have been hoodwinked into a crazy, fear invoking, what-the-hell-were-you-thinking bike rides. I've come up with the unified theory of One Degree of Seperation to try to comes to grips with the similarity of those sucked into his web of pain and hypoxia. More on the Unified Theory of One Degree later.
Triple Bypass 2007 is July 14th.
This is the "So Far" I spoke of at the end of my Waimea Canyon Ride report.
One-Hundred and twenty miles with over ten thousand three hundred feet of climbing.
The lowest altitude of the ride looks to be ~7,400 ft.
I live at ~70ft. The summit of the two most reasonable training rides are 1,000 ft and 1,625 ft.
This is not good.
I have the 'vomitron'. I have weekends.
This is gonna hurt.
On the upside.. I'm on schedule for training.
Maarburg
Current meatspace coordinance:
21 18'41.01N 157 51'31.42W elevation 70ft
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Jan Ulrich to win the 2006 Tour de France?
With my boy Landis up against the ropes trying to teach second year chemistry and biology to the French, Oscar Pereiro turns out to have tested positive on two occasions during the 2006 Tour for Salbutamol.
The Second Place finisher of one of the most esteemed bike races in the world has asthma?!? Asthma? Are you shitting me?
So Lanids will get bumped on bizarre-not-that-testosterone-can-help charges. Oscar didn't fill in the box on the Tour d'Application that said 'Asthmatic'. Who's next? What did Kloden do, take Viagra?
My European Contact repeatedly claims that they are all doping. I've been defending Landis, based purely on my faith in him. Which is quite silly taking into account my views on the word 'faith' in general. I'm beginning to think that they are all doping.
How far down does the rabbit hole go?
Maarburg
The Second Place finisher of one of the most esteemed bike races in the world has asthma?!? Asthma? Are you shitting me?
So Lanids will get bumped on bizarre-not-that-testosterone-can-help charges. Oscar didn't fill in the box on the Tour d'Application that said 'Asthmatic'. Who's next? What did Kloden do, take Viagra?
My European Contact repeatedly claims that they are all doping. I've been defending Landis, based purely on my faith in him. Which is quite silly taking into account my views on the word 'faith' in general. I'm beginning to think that they are all doping.
How far down does the rabbit hole go?
Maarburg
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