Ominous

"The most difficult road bike hill climb in the U.S. and perhaps the world, this road is only open to bikes during the annual hill climb race usually held in August. No concession to gradient was made as it starts out steep and never lets up all the way to the top. Begin at a tollbooth where there is a brief shallow section and then the fun begins. A ramp of 12% grade smacks you in the face to let you know what is in store the rest of the way up the mountain. The grade eases slightly after 0.6 mile but then soon kicks up with rolling ramps of 12-15%. The trees soon begin to thin with some great views although it is difficult to appreciate them as you grind higher.

Approximately 4 miles into the climb you round a bend and for the first time you see what is ahead of you (and it is not a pretty sight): sustained grades of 12-16% along a spectacular ridgeline. After a very steep turn to the left the grade eases as you climb into a tundra. Rolling, slowly increasing grades lead you past the 6,000 ft elevation mark and at mile 7.4 a parking lot appears on the left. Just beyond the lot the steepest part of the climb (22%) greets you, but the end is in sight.

Mt. Washington is about the same length but considerably steeper than the famous Mortirolo in Italy and Angrilu in Spain, generally considered to be the hardest hill climbs used in European cycling tours. Mt. Washington also has generally tougher weather to deal with compared to other top climbs.

If you ever get the chance to ride this hill, congratulate yourself on completing what may be the most difficult road bike climb on Earth."

--John Summerson, The Complete Guide to Climbing

Road Racing vs. Mtn Bike Racing.

This past weekend I did my first Mountain Bike Race.

Mountain Bikers have about eighty million classifications. I ended up 2nd in the Beginner classification, 30-39 years old, out of about 30 people. Of course, that result means nothing.

As a time trial, we started at thirty second intervals. What does mean something, to me at least, is that I passed 27 people on the course. I live for passing people.

I ended up with the 75th best time overall, out of 380. I got a silver large silver-looking medal, with the actual race name on it, presented to me on a podium.

For my state time trial championship I was handed a ziploc bag with a tiny, non-descript trinket inside. Of course, being a road race, I got money, too.

Two philosophies.

Perspective

My doctor said that I'm lucky to be alive and breathing. I told him that my house plants are alive and breathing. I'm only happy when I'm on two wheels and going 60 MPH.

--Dave Cullinan, recovering from open-heart surgery and a heart attack at age 24

Those Crazy Germans.

Suitcase of Sausage.



Crazy Germans.

Am I employed?

I apologize for the confusion of last week - several people thought the layoffs were last Thursday. Many of you called me, wondering if I was one of the 104 (or was that 140?... I'm slightly deaf) people in my building that will be let go.

My explanation was sub-par. It was too quick; it needed to be an in-depth analysis. I need 24/7 coverage of what should be a rather mundane event.

So, in the tradition of overhyped snowstorms, gasoline prices, and general pseudo-news everywhere, I give you:

Employment Watch 2008.

Join me, on Monday July 27th, as I post every... well, so often...

Am I employed?


UPDATE: 8:25 AM. Still Employed.


UPDATE: 9:49 AM. Meeting with the Chief Engineer at 10:00 AM.

UPDATE: 11:06 AM. Shook hands with some people for the last time. They're gone. I'm still here.

Someone knocked on my door...

...and offered to buy my house today.

Meet the Flintstones.

It works on so many levels.

FYI -

FYI -

This is my 101st post.



Also FYI -

The day of reckoning for Ford employees in my building was supposed to be next Thursday, not this Thursday. But that rumor's even out of date, because now it's on Monday.

It's a sad state of affairs, because my biggest objection to the entire process is that it's so disrupting to actually get any work done. I'd rather it just be over with, fired or not. I'm really not worried either way; right now I think I'd prefer to go.

Legions of Minions

Currently I like to describe my followers and supporters as my 'legions of minions'. But I have to confess that, currently, my 'legions of minions' consist entirely of three houseplants; in fact, one of them is mentally deranged and on the verge of herbicide.

So if any of you want to sign up to be a minion, that would be great. Being human - as I assume most of you are - I'm sure you'll quickly rise through the ranks. Eventually you might even have a few aloe plants working for you.

Don't bring a gun

to a lobster knife fight.

Surprise!

Today at work, they're bucking the trend and firing people on a Wednesday. Big-wigs only today; paeons get fired next Thursday. My manager and another close co-worker have already been escorted out.

I'm not worried. Right now a several-month vacation sounds fun.

Ford is now advertising here.

Unfortunately due to the whole Google ads thing, I can't guarantee that the ad is still up there. If it is, you should click it. If it isn't, refresh your browser until it is.

Then click it.

Hydrogen.

From wikipedia, where I do all of my 'original' 'research'.

Hydrogen costs...

Natural Gas at Small Scale
Uses steam reformation. Requires 15.9 million cubic feet (450,000 m³) of gas, which, if produced by small 500 kg/day reformers at the point of dispensing (i.e., the filling station), would equate to 777,000 reformers costing $1 trillion dollars and producing 150 million tons of hydrogen gas annually. Obviates the need for distribution infrastructure dedicated to hydrogen. $3.00 per GGE (Gallons of Gasoline Equivalent)

Nuclear
Provides energy for electrolysis of water. Would require 240,000 tons of unenriched uranium — that's 2,000 600-megawatt power plants, which would cost $840 billion, or about $2.50 per GGE.[25]

Solar
Provides energy for electrolysis of water. Would require 2,500 kWh of sun per square meter, 113 million 40-kilowatt systems, which would cost $22 trillion, or about $9.50 per GGE.

Wind
Provides energy for electrolysis of water. At 7 meters per second average wind speed, it would require 1 million 2-MW wind turbines, which would cost $3 trillion dollars, or about $3.00 per GGE.

Biomass
Gasification plants would produce gas with steam reformation. 1.5 billion tons of dry biomass, 3,300 plants which would require 113.4 million acres (460,000 km²) of farm to produce the biomass. $565 billion dollars in cast, or about $1.90 per GGE

Coal
FutureGen plants use coal gasification then steam reformation. Requires 1 billion tons of coal or about 1,000 275-megawatt plants with a cost of about $500 billion, or about $1 per GGE.

Trash. But it's free!

I rode out to Plymouth-Ann Arbor-Dexter-Plymouth yesterday.

A new, and long, route, so it gave me the opportunity to scan for some roadside treasures.









There was a wretched headwind going out - about 25 or 30 MPH. I could only manage about 13 MPH into it... but headed back, at one point, I was doing 31 MPH without pedaling.

Stung by a bee on a bike ride...

Look at the picture below, and try to guess where.

Television

The best thing you'll see on "Television" this year.

X-ray results

Were negative; no fractures.

A tribute...

...from Veteran Michigan Cyclist Jamie Smith.

The long and winding road....

Look at the picture. Scroll down.




















What, you don't see the 4-inch speedbump?


Neither did I.

Got an X-ray today. They think the meniscus is OK. I've strained my MCL and LCL. My patella is either bruised or fractured. I think it's just bruised.