MexicanDragon

Finally found a cable for my Garmin. Remember when everything we had used these? Last Saturday's rain ride http://connect.garmin.com/activity/315288734 Monday's Beginner ride http://connect.garmin.com/activity/315288727 Wednesday's mountain top roller ride http://connect.garmin.com/activity/315288715 Saturday's 2013 Tour de Cure - Chattanooga http://connect.garmin.com/activity/315288703 **BRENT**

Heh. No, Wayne, that was kinda joking. They were giving away a titanium Lynskey bike at the VIP dinner on Friday night. The woman who won it (even though I had a little Colin mojo going for me) won their top of the line frame a couple years back, and she also won a 200$ gift card. She finished her 62 mile ride (on the bike she won a while back) a short while after I finished my ride (they left an hour or two earlier). Sorry 'bout the confusion there, but she seems to be a nice lady, and it turns out one of my old family friends was one of her donors. It's really cool of her, though... I think she's actually going to try to raffle off this bike, possibly for next year's fundraising. **BRENT**

Heh. **BRENT**

Oh, yeah, that's not it at all. She was part of the Tour committee, she was a new rider, and was the last of the 25 milers, by FAR. She had one of the motorcycle guys shadowing her for a while, but I thought it'd be nice to have a fellow cyclist with her for the last 9 miles. It wasn't a tough 9 miles, but she was doing 5-6mph. It was tough for me to ride that slowly, and I wound up standing up and coasting a bit (my saddle SUCKS, it was hurting pretty bad after the first 20, even with only about 25% feeling in the bike shorts area). Anyways, she was helping the organizers, and you should've seen the reaction the sag stop people who had seen her just 7 miles earlier. I met her at the VIP dinner last night, and she was trying to help me out with replacing my women's shorts . I actually didn't realize it was her (with her Tifosi shades), but she remembered me. She drove down from Knoxville with the rest of the crew. We had some decent chats, and her enthusiasm was just contagious. I should make a trip to Florida. You guys don't have hills, right? **BRENT**

Heh, they took away my women's shorts (For everyone who wasn't at the VIP dinner last night, where someone STOLE my Lynskey bike , I accidentally got Women's XL shorts instead of Men's. They took 'em away, and was supposed to get mine this morning. Well, after lots of searching, I got an IOU and they're mailing me my some stuffs.) Thanks for the words, guys. Had an AMAZING nap today It really was a good time, and I only fell once. (I ran out of gears... it's time for an 11-28 instead of a 12-25. Hills are not my friends.) I had a great time, and met a lot of really good people. A lot of the good time was due to so many of you guys stepping up big, and seriously, I REALLY appreciate it. **BRENT**

They had bibs in the order of top fundraisers as of a couple days ago. I think I want to get this one framed. **BRENT**

I was tagged in this FB post earlier **BRENT**

Thank you so much, everyone, especially fitz who just made my night last night. The rain held off except for a light drizzle for half a mile, was great to to cooled off. The ride took longer than expected, and I was slower overall, but the last 9 miles I escorted one of the new-to-cycling TdC staff on the last leg of her first 25 mile ride. We met at a SAG stop and she was so enthusiastic, she brightened the entire parking lot up. Was painfully slow (literally), but she was thrilled to have a riding buddy and I was happy to help. I actually met her last night at the VIP dinner, but had forgotten. I almost turned around at the 25 mile turnaround, but I know half assing stuff isn't the Head-Case way. Such a great time. Would recommend it to a friend. Next year, the metric century. **BRENT**

Fun. It was had. **BRENT**

Well look who came up to be my arm candy for the VIP dinner! **BRENT**

Hey V. The back hurts the first couple of miles, and towards the end of climbs, but flat or lightly rolling? Feels great. I need to work on my fit as well. Finally have seat height good, but have a set back seatpost. I kinda want to get a straight post and think I will be good. I could scoot the seat up some, but having the post grab the rear of the rails isn't ideal, IMO. My buddy thinks my top tube/stem is a little short, but admits he isn't an expert on it, and he likes to be really stretched out. As inflexible as I am now, I think it's OK. Time to make friends with the fit guys around town. **BRENT**

The pic with the riders was, well, too truthful. How about just the bikes? **BRENT**

Didn't quite make 17 miles today, did around 14. Lots of fun, rolling hills. We took it a bit easier than I had expected, but had a great hour riding with a buddy, catching up on some stories, and ended the night with some Brats that were ready for us when we rolled in. Oh, also was given a never-worn Pearl Izumi jersey, which was a nice surprise. We've talked, checked the route, and after the ride today, my buddy thinks I'll be able to do the 35 miler at the Tour de Cure. He knows the road and doesn't think it'll pose a problem. **BRENT**

I got in about 16 miles with the "beginner" ride with the local club here yesterday. I don't have the Garmin info pulled yet, but no real beginners showed up. We were cruising along about 16mph for a bit, then bumped up to 20-22 for a while. There was a small group wanting to go do another 4-5 miles, so I went with them, and we talked/guilted a first timer into coming with us. (Been riding a month, but it's training for a triathalon, and her base fitness level is fantastic, so, yeah, she'll be racing by the end of the year.) I have a 17 mile ride with a buddy of mine who used to be a Cat 2 racer. Luckily, he's older and slower, and a nice guy, so I'll only have a really difficult time keeping up instead of impossible I'm looking forward to this ride on Saturday. It's looking like clear skies, 70*, and a gentle breeze... just a perfect day to get out and do the longest ride I've done in a decade! **BRENT**

So my Note II just completely broke down and wouldn't boot in the middle of CanLanta. It made me sad. Scott tried to work on it, but I think it killed his computer, and perhaps his soul as well. T-Mobile had the Note II on backorder, but I FINALLY got it in today (a week later, instead of the usual next day.) I've been using a dual core 4" Android phone. There's a reason my 7 year old has that phone now... it's built for people with 7 year old hands. Glad to be back in the land of almost-current-gen tech. **BRENT**

Yeah, I'd probably go black with the headset/hardware. Or purple/blue to match what's goin' on in the rear of the bike (I'm colorblind, but it LOOK like it' blue or purple in sections on the seat and chain stays.) **BRENT**

Sweet! I just saw that today and was digging it! IIRC, it doesn't come with the CK headset, right? **BRENT**

So I'm wondering... how do you people ride in the rain? I went on a training ride today, and got in way too few miles before it just started POURING down rain. I stopped to help a rider with some mechanical problems (3 hour old bike's chain just got mangled... there was no road-side fixing going to happen today), and the bottom fell out. Luckily, we were pretty close to some tree cover, so we got him and his daughter/grandkids out of the rain for the most part. They had their SAG vehicle (grandma) pick them up in the truck, and they offered me a lift back, but I decided to get a few miles in in the rain. Even wearing glasses, (was sunny when we left), the rain was pelting me in the eye, and the last mile or so I just rode with one eye closed. Seriously, I don't see how you guys do it. It's going to be pretty tough to realistically do the 35 mile TdC ride, for me, and there is always the 25 mile option to fall back on, but I'm hoping I'm going to be up to it. 3 weekends in a row of it just pouring down... it's been a frustrating month, riding wise. **BRENT**

How many times do you say "Dammit, Colin!" on air? Also, how played out is the "1s and 0s" vs "1s and 2s" reference in the digital DJ world? **BRENT**

They were telling me 6, 7, or 8 hours. There is an adapter you can use to go straight to a 3.5mm jack. It wouldn't be much worse than the Stax 002s with the amp/dac combo, but is a little more than some of the other options out there. FWIW, if you were wondering, the 3A DAC doesn't work off an iPad these days. **BRENT**

Google Now is fantastic. I don't use voice commands, buy I use voice dictation a bit. **BRENT**

Vicki, The safety training is just probably to cover their own asses. Will someone need it? Sure, but most won't. The HUGE ride (2000+ people) in Chattanooga last weekend had a fatality. It was actually someone who had made the trip from Tampa. HORRIBLE conditions, but things happen. If it's your friend's first metric, it's probably not going to be as effortless to do 62 for him as it is for you, so it should be a long, leisurely ride for you, and I'm sure your friend will be very grateful that you're riding it with him. If it's too early for you, I'm sure there's a hotel right at the course. Will it be 80-90$? Sure. Will you possibly be happier riding your bike out of the hotel as opposed to packing up and driving 45 minutes? Perhaps. Find out if you HAVE to be there (for real) that early. I know for my ride, I'm going to head out at maybe 9, but registration opens at 6. They may want you there an hour early, but that 5:45 call may be for the century people. I'd pick up the phone and call the race organizer. **BRENT**

I did it! Thanks almost entirely to you guys, I hit my second goal of 1000$ in just a couple of weeks! This means so much to me, and to people I care about. *hugs* **BRENT**

Heh. Long story... more of a tradition, really. I blame Fitz/Colin/Canada for those pix. **BRENT** Also, did anyone get a pic of my "birthday cake", because that was great

Re: last meet, still waiting for the toilet pix. Wonder if Reks will ever feel like associating those with himself... **BRENT**