boomana

Yeah. That doesn't sound good at all, though my fav drink at the local Planet Juice is a Red Rocket, which is very spicy: wheat grass, beets, ginger, tabasco and probably something else I don't remember. Now I want to make kale chips, but have only a wee bit of kale left.

I just made cauliflower soup with my Vitamix. Half a head of cauliflower nuked for three minutes in the microwave (1/4 cup water), dropped into the vitamix with some minced garlic and about one tbs of butter. Salt and pepper. Yum. Have added bacon in the past, but forgot.

^ Nice.

That's a good guess.

Love my Vitamix. For the past few weeks, I've been making a smoothie every morning and/or after a workout, mostly because I'm too lazy to make breakfast anymore. I love green drinks , and my standard morning one is two or three giant handfuls of kale with either strawberries, grapes or a half an apple. I toss in a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Delicious. I bought a juicing book a few weeks ago, but haven't bothered to look at it yet. I really like beet drinks, so maybe I'll see if I can find a couple tasty drinks with that. I actually like the more milkshakish smoothies, but all have too many calories for what my body can apparently handle. Most I can do is add a half a banana to some.

Rickie Lee Jones?

The Aliante could be a winner. It's almost identical to the Vitesse, but the rear seems ever so slightly flatter (could be my imagination), allowing me to sit back on it and have the right parts hit the pocket. With the Vitesse, something, however minor, with the rear angle made me slide forward and my pelvis tip forward just a tad, and although I knew that's what was going on, no seat tweaks made it different. I only got in 42 miles this morning, cause I got out late and have an eye doc appt. to pick up my glasses in a few minutes. I'd like to get in 60 tomorrow as that should be a reliable test of difference. The Vitesse would start bugging me somewhere between 40-50 miles. On a side note, I was wearing a full Tune Cycles kit. I should wear it more often. It's a man magnet. I have never been waved or hollered at so much, had guys ride up to talk to me, including turning around to do so, ever. I met some nice guys who just wanted to ride with me because of it. Mike, wanna meet at Palmetto at 7AM tomorrow? If I ride down to meet you, and we ride up to Lake Ave., you can get in 36-40 miles, and I can get in the 60 or more I want for the true saddle test.

Right. I just tried the Vesta, which is the channel version if the Vitesse. I hated it.

Mike, the weather, courtesy of Chantal, should be uber shitty Friday and Saturday with Sunday "improving," or so the tv tells me. I've got a back up plan of a 6AM two-hour computrainer ride on Saturday, which I'm hoping to not do, but I want to get some miles in, especially since I'm on borrowed saddles that need to be returned. If Sunday's nice(ish), do you want to join up? John? Raffy, I pick up the Aliante tomorrow. I was talking to Vince (LBS guy) about getting a custom color Aiiante, if it works for me, and he told me not to order it online, as I was going to, as he can get it cheaper for me. I don't know about any custom program dealers have or not. You're the first one who's mentioned it. I rode the Specialized some more this evening, and if I could combine the rear of the Vitesse with the center section of the Specialized, I'd have the saddle I want. I think this one is a no-go. Marshall, I do think the bee sting wipes out any negative karma points for wiping out the squirrel. Wishing you safer riding.

Well, I liked the Specialized, a Phenom, which, according to the Specialized site is actually a mountain bike saddle. I don't know how it's going to be on longer rides, but it confirmed that I like seats with minimal padding. The Vesta and Butterfly's padding were...er...compressing the bits. I only got in 10 miles tonight. As I was reaching for my water bottle around mile five, I realized that I'd forgotten it, so I headed back home, so I'd like to try it out again this weekend. I also confirmed that I love these little evening rides. It was so pleasant out. My legs were toasty and tight from a leg workout yesterday and intervals this morning, so I just kept it in a low gear and had a wonderful ride, minus being thirsty, and my legs were much happier after. Parris, I have a B17 on my Gunnar. It's the best saddle I've found; it doesn't even exist once I'm on it, and I can ride for 85 miles (most I've ever done in one stretch) and ride again the next day with no soreness. I keep getting the damn thing wet in surprise showers and just being in a constant state of soaking Florida sweat, which isn't good, and I don't want to deal with that on the Kirk, plus I'd like a different look if I can find a saddle that works for me. I have a Fizik Vitesse on the Calfee, which came with the bike, and was instantly comfy, but not so much after 50 miles on the girly bits. Raffy, I'm hoping I like the Aliante. I actually like the Vitesse a lot, so hoping the Aliante's pocket, as you called it, will be exactly what I need. My LBS guy is lending me his, as he thinks it's probably what I'm looking for, for the same reason, and he's been right with everything he's recommended so far, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Fikiz lets you customize your color, and I'd love to have a blue one to go with my new bike (it's going to be pearl white with cobalt blue panels). If I could do that, I'd probably go with a silver seat post, stem, etc., which would look really sharp. Oh....and these new SIDIs are seriously white. It's kinda scary looking down at my feet. They glow back up at me.

Damb, Aerius.

^ Nice, Nate. I did intervals this morning on the Computrainer. I pooped out 45 minutes in, and my face was beet red for two hours at work. Not an attractive look. Oddly, I really liked it (the workout, not the face). Reminded me of how good I felt at the end of a hard CrossFit workout. I'd had an FPT test a couple weeks ago and it went from 160 to 180, which I think is too high for me, especially at 6AM. AFter a 5-min warmup, it was bascially 3 min at 95%, 1 at 105%, 3 at 95%, 1 at 45% and repeat. After the fifth set, I couldn't get my heart rate under 165 during the one-minute rest, and that's my toast zone. I probably could have pushed through the last two, but I'm a quitter Testing another saddle tonight, a Specialized something. Tomorrow, I'm going to try out the Aliante.

It's been so long since I've ridden in the evening, I forgot how nice it could be. I didn't even mind the wind with no sun beating down on me. Tried out two saddles: Terry Butterfly and Fizik Vesta. Both close but no go. The Butterfly was too padded for my liking, and same with the Vesta. I like the Vitesse, but really wanted a little soft tissue relief on longer rides, and was looking to try a cutout or channel. I was hoping the Vesta would be it as it's supposedly a Vitesse with the channel. The sides of the channel starting pinching in very wrong places after 20 miles, so no go for that. I'm looking for a hard, flatish saddle with maybe a bit of a convex dip where it counts. My LBS will lend me an Aliante. Any other ideas? On the good news front, I tried out the new SIDIs that arrived today. I bought them a half size smaller than my previous pair, and they're perfect.

When we were in Sebring last year, a squirrel suicided into John's wheel. It was horrid. I can still remember the sound. I'm headed out on my bike right now. It's fairly cool and not too windy. I'm trying out a new saddle on the Calfee to see if it might work on my Kirk......if I ever get it.

Waiting on Joe Bell. I'm thinking it should be any day now. I first spoke to him May 30, and then again about a month ago. He said he was going try to have it ready before the last week of June, but if not, he had his annual camping trip planned then. I'm assuming it's either done now or about to be. If I haven't heard from him or Dave by the end of the week, I'll make a call. I'm used to waiting for things, but I'm getting antsy about now.

December dates: http://www.highlandspedalers.com/hbf.php

I think we should do Sebring during their first weekend in December event. It's already laid out and supported, and we can just hang out and have fun. Plus, the crappy hotel is cheap, and there are nicer ones around as well. There has to be some sort of mountain bike trails around there, I'd imagine, for those who like that sort of thing.

There are still two weeks left. Maybe Sky will win again, but it's fun watching it all unfold, and seeing individual performances. I don't care who wins, which makes it more entertaining.

Loved this one. Looking forward to tomorrow.

You look supremely happy, cj, mouse ears and all!

I have my alarm set for 5AM, so will be out before 6AM. It was in the low 90s today, rainy and steamy humid. Should be okay in the early morning tomorrow, but I want to get in 40-50 and be home by 9:00.

Will remember!

Weather has been horrid the past two days. I got in three miles before being dumped on yesterday, and didn't get out today. Stinky humid and hot. Still planning on getting out this weekend, but planning on real early.

Today's stage was fun. Props to Cannondale and Sagan also. I enjoy watching the climbers more than the sprinters, not that I can do either, but I'm in awe of the mountain climbers. Next couple days should be really interesting.