Um… Has anyone seen my pants?

The time of the cowbell has come to an end in Portland. For now. For another 9 months. Whole star systems will be born and die again before the next Alpenrose Cross Clinic starts up. The hangovers from this years Crusade awards party will barely have begun to fade by then, according to several reports I’ve heard. Deny it all you want but the local cowbell season has ended, kiddos.

It concluded with the final two races of the USGP at PIR. And then the Cross Crusade Awards Party. Gentle Lovers organized the party, themed “What do you believe in?” Of course, the word of the theme came a whopping 48 hours before the party, which left, well… ZERO hours to actually costume appropriately. So I decided to skip it. I just wasn’t feeling it. I instead went rock climbing at PRG for a couple hours, had a great session, and on the way home passed the venue. So I thought: One beer.

So there I was… with somewhere to go, but not all dressed up. In fact, I was dressed like a schlubby hippie just come in from the goji berry farm–puffy down coat with fur trim and giant muckluks with furry trim, baggy paiinter’s pants and a tee-shirt. Gründelbrüiser buddy GR hooked me up with a sweet tee-shirt for a friend, but it was GINORMOUS. Someone commented it fit me like a dress, which was true, so I ditched the pants and pranced around in my bare legs and furry mucklucks. I was sober, quite sober. EP was right: even the most ridiculous costume can bring out the devil…

The eyebrows started raising.

“What are you supposed to be?” they inquired.

I replied simply that as a card-carrying (but lapsed) Buddhist I believed in nothing. That pretty much shut it down.

Actually it’s not true. For example, I believe in snow… So, for the first time in many years I get a pass to Meadows and there’s still no snow. The past couple years of XC skiing and snowshoeing left me hungry for more backcountry, so AT gear in hand I wait… and wait… and wait… This weekend it’s expected to dump so maybe I’ll be shralpin’ the gnarly powpow by Saturday (insert smiley face).

If not, well… I guess I get to practice not getting attached to my beliefs.

Again.

To wrap up the party recap, I’ll just add my favorite costume was Brent C’s “heart on my sleeve” costume. There was a trail of tiny red felt hearts with fortunes… I followed the trail to its person, until I got shoved over to the unicorn by Super Relax leader Sholty, whom I proceded to toss around like a sack of all-that-and-a-bag-of-potato-chips.

. . . . .

IN THE MEANTIME, I figured I might as well keep riding. Not really into road riding right now–too hard to climb on the bike still. So I decided to sell the cross bikes and instead go with another 29er… a hardtail that can easily suffice as a cx bike next year, if I race at all. It’s a super sweet bike! Dropouts that can be switched to ride it as either a singlespeed or geared bike. It’s a SS now, I’m starting with a 32/18 but I think I need a little bit easier gear for these hills. It’s all part of the hip rehabilitation plan–singlespeed gives me the blissful opportunity to simply focus on pedal stroke and work on handling skills. I like! Janky Hip likes to stand up more (hip flexors hurt less, then) but it’s harder on the cardiovascular system. Rode for almost 3 hours today and felt the knees a bit more which makes me think maybe throw a 20 on there until I get my SS knees and legs.

. . . . .

Random video warning:

done

And Ladies… Did you know the search for Mr. Right is completely and utterly misdirected. You should be looking for Mr. Pizza! He knows how to please the women, he CARES and he Loves the Women.

(from engrishfunny.com, photocredit: marie senn)

. . . . .

Lastly, I’m still doing my part to encourage women cyclists. Took Laura friend to the USGP race on Sunday to watch the women’s and other morning races. Laura is curious about cycling, and enjoying buzzing around on my old LavaDome. Maybe she’ll race next year after attending a few clinics. I asked her what her favorite parts of the race were, and here’s what she had to say (posted with permission).

Laura’s Bike Race Comments
Bike races were like a great, muddy carnival, but with self powered rides and attended by superheros wearing only their underwear. Or like a superhero gypsy camp on carnival day. I liked many things about it. Here are some of them:

1. There were things cooking in tins over open flames– chocolate things.
2. There were tents with heaters. Cozy!
3. Many people were wearing costumes made out of unitards. Some people had tomatoes on their unitard costumes. Some people’s costumes were pink and said “Gentle Lover”. Very nice!
4. Mud! I like mud. It felt rugged and expansive there because of the mud and the trees and the people going fast. Maybe that’s more than one thing…
5. People trying hard. I like how it feels to be around people who are sincerely trying hard to do something. It rips all the frills away and there’s just them and their little ball of sincere energy. It’s very easy to love a person who is trying hard, I think. Even if you don’t know them.
6. Fear. Some things looked pretty scary, which was enjoyable. I like fear in small sips. Just enough fear to make you glad you’re going to be okay. Maybe it would be too much fear if I was actually on a bike…
7. Fried food!!!!!
8. Cow bells. They are so enthusiastic without being shrill. They feel resonant and empathetic and helpful. It feels like, by ringing them, you might actually be effecting a flood of tiny sonar waves that will surf people along towards their goal. Or something. Maybe just a nice sound…
9. I think I saw someone with Bailey’s
10. The little girl with the glasses and ponytail. Ride little girl! Ride!!!

That about catches us up, I think. Oh, but if you see my pants… Last I remember they were somewhere over by the unicorn.