tall tales and a guy with an STI 02.27.04 (5:01 pm) Met jonny really late for our ride, really late like I got a call from him because he thought I forgot or something. I was just getting stuff done you know. So anyway we started our ride in beautiful weather, sunny, 60deg temps, beautiful. We rode out bike paths to flatirons crossing for a cup of joe. Jonny told Belgium stories and tried to crash me, while I tried to scare him by telling him the hills we had to ride over to get to the coffee shop. I'll say it here Cafe' Sole rules, they charge you what they should for a cup of coffee, not like at Vic’s where they build in the "I want to be seen at Vic’s fee", which I might add is more than the coffee costs. A medium americano is $1.35 that's four shots folks; the same coffee at Vic’s is called a large and costs $2.95, crazy huh? Jon and I are sitting there shooting the shit, and all of a sudden it's like he locked on to something in the parking lot, a Subaru STI, granted it's a pretty badass car, but his reaction took me by surprise. We go on talking and Jon says to the guy, how bout a ride? What? At first I thought he new the guy, but he didn't. I can just imagine what this guy thought, two fruity looking guys dressed in bright colored spandex asking for a ride in his car, pure comedy. Anyway we ended up talking cars with the guy for 20 min. The car is crazy, similar performance to a $100,000 Porsche for $35,000. On the way back it was like a totally different day, overcast and 15-20 degrees cooler. All and all another sweet ride, it's too bad you can't be fast by doing single speed, and coffee shop rides all the time. It's starting to look like winter again; hopefully we'll break out the tele boards this weekend. [image]paco_532763459.jpg[/image] Big Red and Big Earl tot ziens, paco 0 Comments   cold and snowy in Belgium 02.27.04 (9:21 am) I was surfing the web this morning and I happened across some interesting weather around where I am heading, SNOW. Apparently it could make for an interesting classics opening at Omloop Het Volk on Saturday and Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne on Sunday. Hopefully it will melt before I get there. I have to say I am pretty glad I don't have to go for another week and a half. Check out the Snowy Pics on Cycling News. http://www.cyclingnews.com/ne... I wonder how JHK and Heather are fairing in Europe, I'm sure you all saw the brief report on velonews. They have two more weekends of racing, and then they get back the day before I leave. I am surprised that Jeremiah is going so good, I guess those West Virginian winters are not at bad as the New England ones I used to endure. So Earl has lived like a king for the past two nights, no crate, the first night was great, and last night was ok, but he was up and ready to go at 6:15 this morning, so to try to curb that early wake up he might be back in tonight. It seems like everyday my sense of time exponentially decreases, only a couple days ago I was not even thinking about leaving, and this morning it seems to bee all I can think about. Weird how that goes. Anyway, I'll try to check in tonight with something more exciting, I think Cath and I are going to do a backcountry ski this weekend so maybe I can get some good pictures up. Dag, Paco 0 Comments   feels like spring 02.26.04 (5:44 pm) So I went for that ride that I alluded to earlier, and it was incredible. Ben and I headed out for Hall, it was a perfect day, sunny and in the 60's. We did the out and back, the loop was still too muddy. I rode the 1x1 a little rough for the technical climb, but once that was out of the way it was awesome. The trail was perfect not at all muddy, or loose, just right. We let it run a little on the descents, and it was great, the top was like a big BMX track and the bottom was pretty gnarly technical rock riding. It was good for me, really refreshing and a welcome change from all of the road miles I have been logging. After the trail we did a quick road spin on one of the fruit loops. I forgot the camera though so you guys don't get any pics, sorry. When we got home Earl was so excited to see Ben, he forgot he had to pee, he was running around outside dribbling trying to show Ben his bone. Pretty funny. I can't believe how close I am getting to my departure, scary it is creeping up fast, I hope I am ready. Thanks for reading. Dag, Paco 0 Comments   new ride 02.26.04 (11:46 am) well both Earl and I have had a better time since yesterday morning. In the afternoon we went to whole pets and bought doggie mace and a variety pack of treats. Earl was the center of attention, we told our story to a captive audience, and all of the people in the store gave earl extra love. The employee's were just taking treats off the shelves and giving them to him, finally I had to ask them to at least make him do something to get them. I think it rounded out his day pretty well. This morning we opted to forgo a hike, instead we went to the park and worked on our signal training, played a little fetch with the ball, and then went for a coffee at vic's. Earl made some new friends including this polish guy who worked at one of the restaurants; the guy gave him some left over sausages. Let me tell you; earl was in heaven. All in all a much better morning. Two great things on equipment, the guys over at Deuter Packs, a former sponsor replaced one of my worn out packs for free. It was really above an beyond for them because the pack was clearly worn out, and not defective, so if you are looking for any type of technical pack, from hydration packs to baby carriers be sure to give Deuter http://www.deuterusa.com a good look, chances are they have what you want at a price that can't be beat. I recently got a new road bike for my trip, it is a saturn reissued titanium lemond, I have been riding it for a couple weeks now and it is great, I could easily recommend this bike to anyone looking to upgrade to a titanium ride. Hopefully, I can achieve results comparable to the previous owner on it. I have to send out a special thanks to Dean and Tom, for bending over backwards to accommodate my requests, Thanks Guys. [image]paco_539321750.jpg[/image] I'm looking to head out on a mountain bike ride with Ben this afternoon, we are planning on hall ranch in Lyons, and hopefully we will have better luck than we did this weekend. Hopefully I can stick some pics from the ride up on the site tonight. Dag, Paco 0 Comments   some people are stupid 02.25.04 (10:59 am) This is the first tirade, probably not the last but it sure takes a lot to get me worked up like this. I want to start off with the concept of accountability, does the jackass who is pissed off that you made his car ride take one second longer and decides to buzz you realize the implications of what happens when a 2ton truck hits a 150 lb cyclist on a 20 lb bike, I honestly don't think so because would people still do it if the actually thought they would kill you one would like to think not. Honestly this example is the same in my mind as someone pointing a loaded gun at you. What's the point - people are f@#%ing stupid. I wonder what those people thought who owned that pack of pit bulls that killed a women and almost killed a father and son in denver last month, "Oh my dogs wouldn't do that, they are friendly, and so sweet to me." Yeh, well you're an idiot. So what brings this on, an encounter I had this morning while hiking with Earl. We were heading up the ridge in synidas this morning when we run into this woman, well actually her dog ran into us first, this is our second run in, and the dog is vicious. The first time he attacked earl, I yelled at the dog the woman and finally we got them apart, and the woman is telling me to chill out and that's how they learn, well horse shit, earl goes to school, he plays rough with other dogs, and he never freaks out like he did that day. I threatened calling animal control, but I never did I figured the next time the woman might think a little, and bring a leash. So this morning this dog, mind you it is a pit-bull mix with one eye, starts for us a good 50 yards in front of it's owner and I start yelling to ask if this thing is friendly, and at the last second I recognize it, and it goes on the attack. It attacked earl, not like a dominance thing like this lady thinks, like a full on attack with earl pinned and screaming, all tangled up in his leash. So I start yelling for this owner to get over and get this thing off earl then he starts screaming even louder. And I go in to try to separate them, the dog goes for me, but misses by which time the owner is there distracts the dog and throws a treat or something down the trail to get him away, great- she is rewarding him for the attack! So I get into words with this lady, "what's your name", "Kat", " uh, great Kat what?", "Harling", "where do you live?" "why", "So I can report your dog to animal control". this goes on and she won't tell me, she says she will leave her address at the trailhead, the dog comes back towards us and I ask her to get it, no, she says. What? Are you f@#king kidding? And I will say this is the first time I have actually stupid to the level of yelling obscenities at another human being, this lady was the smartest looking dumb person I have ever met. So earl and I hightail it out of there, and finish out hike, the real bummer was that for the whole rest of the hike happy-go-lucky earl was afraid of other dogs. So we get to the trail head an there is this piece of paper that says, " I changed my mind, Let your dog be free, Kat" Who does this woman think she is, she obviously has no concept of how dangerous dogs are let alone ones like pit bulls that are bread to kill. Where is her accountability, she obviously has none, Earl left the encounter pretty much unhurt, but what about his psyche, will he be scared of other dogs now probably not, but what if? What if the dog had broken the skin or worse bitten me, like it tried to when I was trying to help earl. What about me, I want to start carrying pepper spray just in case we run into this dog again. And in my opinion there are much better things to worry about than protecting myself and earl on hikes, why should I have to be the one that suffers because this woman is an idiot. Well, got that one off my chest, now I can speak more rationally to the animal control people, I have been waiting until they open so I could call them this morning. And remember to watch out for a Kat Harlan or Harling, and her brown pit-bull mix that is missing his left eye. Dag, Paco [image]paco_1260217981.jpg[/image] I just want to be loved......... 1 Comments   Restday, Restweek 02.23.04 (3:56 pm) Got stuff done today, but never enough, as it always seems to go. Did some html editing this morning and got my custom banner up, pretty remedial but definitely challenging for me. Earl was a trooper and just hung out, took a nap and let me get it done. After we went for a walk to the park threw the ball, and did some training. Earl is getting good at the hand signals we learned this weekend. This morning we were working on sit and down from 30ft apart and he was getting it, the little guy is so smart. We walked all the way home from the park without the use of the gentle leader that was really exciting for me. Busted out the Zuma after the walk to get to the dentist. The old chompers are in good shape but the trip left the wallet a little lighter, 85 bucks to be exact. I guess my teeth are worth it. So get this; my dentist is going to New Zealand to race an Ironman Triathlon, dude is hardcore, and the best dentist I have ever had. Well connected in the cycling world too, he has one of Andy Hamsted's Giro bikes, pretty cool. This afternoon I have been starting to pull things together for this trip. I shelled out for my international license and worked on getting bank stuff on line. I left the taxes to hang over my head for another day though. Earl's working on his rest as well, below is a pic after he clocked in this morning. Tot Ziens, Paco [image]paco_1147314699.jpg[/image] 0 Comments   Grand Plans & Reality 02.22.04 (4:08 pm) Out again at nine this morning, had to get down to golden by 11am to meet Cath, Ben and Amber for a mountain bike ride at Green Mtn. Rode pretty good tempo from the edge of town all the way down to golden, then the fun started. I have ridden down to golden countless times and have yet to find a good way thru. It was 10:33, thought I was good when I took a wrong turn that dead ended to highway, so I had to back track for like 15min and finally I got to where I wanted to be, almost there I got passed by this guy wearing uggs, goggles and a crazy coat, on a scooter going maybe 5 mph faster than I was. I put my head down and tried to get on, but no chance, I definitely am ready for my last rest week before I leave for Europe. Met everyone in the Green Mtn parking lot right at 11, I was happy to find out they had just arrived. Cath already had the 1x1 out for me so I dumped the i-pod, changed my shoes and was ready to ride. So mtn biking in colorado when it is wet is a crapshoot there are some places that you just can't ride. The dirt has too much clay in it and it packs into your bike until it stops your wheels, completely unridable, the research park, Chapman hill & the telegraph trails in durango, and apparently Green mtn, just stay away they have all killed components. Our fearless leader had made plans with that fact in mind but it ended up to be too wet, seriously like 50ft down the trail everyone's wheels stopped turning, we all turned around walked to the pavement, and proceeded to give ben shit. Then poked, pulled and pushed as much mud as we could off and out of our bikes. New Plan, Coffee. Once the wheels were able to turn we headed out on the road for Red Rocks Cyclery, a sponsor of mine, and a dam good coffee/bike shop. We were able to get a 1/4-mile of trail in on the way there; the dirt is different on the other side of the road. Main street morrison, what closed, are you kidding, dam, another plan foiled. Oh well, we at least got to use the hose to get some mud off before it permanently became part of our bikes. Rolled back to the cars, we were out for another hour and a half, I don't know how much of it we rode for but I'm counting it all. So I was planning to ride home, yeah right, I am ready to start that rest week. Back to Cath's Mom's to get Earl, he had a play date with Hogan. After a grand greeting by Earl, Hogan, and their neighbors Belle, we get the report, apparently earl got to watch TV on the couch with charlie, and then hung out in a wicker chair out back alternating between, napping in it and chewing on it. Back home, earl hang out in the back yard by yourself so I can get some stuff done- yeah right. The plan- have earl nap in his new house in the back, while I washed bikes out front. I put the door hanger out, so earl would know that no matter how long or loud he asked he wasn't going to get let in. It went well for 20 min or so then he started yelling I finished up, with him yelling the whole time, and went out to check on what the racket was. Well he had eaten the door hanger, presumably before he started barking his head off, but is he really that smart?? Oh well another plan-gone aria. Hopefully I can get to the plans this week, a little R&R, and some preparation for the trip, we are in the final countdown. Until next time Tot ziens, Paco 0 Comments   cold roads & puppy stuff 02.21.04 (6:17 pm) got out early this morning wanting to do a pretty specific ride. I only had 4 hours to get it in so I tried my best to get out as close to nine as possible. some how every morning I have plenty of time, then all of a sudden I am late and I am rushing again to make it. Once I got out it took a while to get going, 15min from the house I realized that I had left without any food, doh. Going up lefthand canyon, the snow that I had expected to be melted was still there, great. I pushed on snowpack on the northern exposures, dry pavement in the southern. it was pretty much like this the whole way to Ward. I wanted to stop in the meth capital of colorado for a snack but I neglected to bring any money with me, typical. Put my head down and busted out peak to peak, a brief snow squal slowed me a little, made ned in ok time, definitly tired. Last part of the ride, shooting the gauntlet down boulder canyon, angry drivers, wet and sandy roads made the trip especially exciting. hit the bike path at 3:45 ride time, so rolled out the creek path to get to the planned 4. back home for a quick shower and slice of chocolate cake then whisked off by cath and earl to school. Earl kicked ass and took names today, he actually inquired himself about agility training. Couldn't get him in the door fast enough, he is so eager to learn! At one point Gigi took him for a demonstration, she was trying to get him to pull so she could correct him, but earl was intent on doing exactly the opposite and being as good as he possibly could. It was a big day for earl, after school, we went to the GRAND OPENING OF PETCO (earl said it was required that I put that in caps) it was a zoo, absoultly crazy, they were trying to give dogs away, no really they had dogs there from the humane society or something. Earl made out like a bandit, 84 pounds of food, 2 tennis balls, some chew sticks, and a DOG HOUSE. Yep earl has new shelter for his backyard stays. I don't think he really likes it yet. I hung out in it with him for a while, but he got bored with it and wanted to chew on sticks, or the broom or somthing. Pretty full day, we are all wiped, and no one wants the task of deciding what to eat. except earl, but he doesn't really want to share. until next time. Tot ziens, paco 0 Comments   under way 02.20.04 (3:07 pm) so here it is, I'm bloggin. I was hoping to work a column out on velo, but nothing has happened yet. So here is my blog, it's backup so that I have a document of this trip that's comming up. a wise man once said "there is somthing inherently noble about putting words to paper, even if it is crap." or somthing to that effect. So the point of this page is going to be to keep all of you that are close to me informed, historically I haven't been good about calling or writing to everyone individually, so here is an attempt and I want you all to call me on it if I don't keep up. What can you expect to see here? -the trials and tribulations of my traning, racing, life oh yeh good stuff too. Also some good images, thanks to the new digi cam, my love gave me. Oh ya for the next couple weeks I will include my interperetation of earl's thoughts- he's bored right now, somthing about the internet, I don't think he get's it. We came close to summiting mount sinetas this morning, but earl's judgement was clouded by the excitement, hot sun, and altitude, I had to step in and turn the expedition around before someone got hurt. Earl triped a couple times, and I crashed after the turnaround. Coaching, what do you think? I think it could work, yeh it may, anyway I think it will be my next hobby that I hope to make money off of. I talked with the head coach for MBF today for an hour and we seem to be on the same page, these past 11 years may turn out to be good for somthing, at least I could give somthing back.. Tot ziens, paco 0 Comments