Almost exactly a year ago, I read an article in the New York Times about internet trolls. For the unaware, trolls are anonymous malcontents that populate internet forums, getting their jollies out of creating havoc.
A reporter tries 'infiltrated' their ranks. Although I generally find these bottom feeders to be sociopaths... the logic that one troll used to justify his own misdeeds particularly enlightening.
The reporter described one conversation:
“You have green hair,” he told me. “Did you know that?”
“No,” I said.
“Why not?”
“I look in the mirror. I see my hair is black.”
“That’s uh, interesting. I guess you understand that you have green hair about as well as you understand that you’re a terrible reporter.”
“What do you mean? What did I do?”
“That’s a very interesting reaction,” Fortuny said. “Why didn’t you get so defensive when I said you had green hair?” If I were certain that I wasn’t a terrible reporter, he explained, I would have laughed the suggestion off just as easily.
Enlightening.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Monterrey, Big Sur, and Naciemiento Fergusson.
Yesterday I went to the state championship road race, in Monterrey.
I've been told that Monterrey, is the only place in the country with a 'Meditteranean' climate... which was explained to me as 70 degrees year round.
Of course, when I was there, it was frigid in the morning, threatening to rain. I mean REALLY cold. My teeth were quite literally clattering. BRRRR. Of course being in shorts and a bike jersey didn't really help matters... so I ended up slathering on some embrocation* and hoping for the best.
*em·bro·ca·tion (em-bro-kay-shun) n.
1. Vaseline mixed with Habanero Peppers, which, when applied to the skin, forces the body to believe it's REALLY HOT out.
2. Ouchie.
Fog Rolling in off of the Pacific - Monterrey in the Cold.
Once on course, I felt pretty good. There were 6 laps, 10 miles each, with a short-ish hill in the middle - maybe a two to three minute climb.
Two to three minute climbs are not my forte. I wasn't going to be champion of those hills.
So my strategy had to be a breakaway from the group - hope to create a separation that the group assumes they can close later... when, hopefully, the group argues amongst itself about who should do the work.
The first lap panned out rather slow - everyone knew that the race wasn't going to be won In any case, with about twenty-five miles to go, a few people went off the front of the pack. I was at the back, minding my own business... but I seized the opportunity. I went to the side of the pack, gripped and ripped, and a few seconds later was off the front. Another racer had the same idea, and followed me.
We quickly got a hundred yard lead, and started taking turns out in front, shielding each other from the wind. After a few turns, the road turned downhill, and we started descending... we had been flying, going close to 30 MPH, and now we were going faster. This went on for a few miles... and as I flew around a corner, I glanced behind me, to see the entire pack chasing us.
Oops.
Well, it's next to impossible to get away from a pack that doesn't want to let you go; the effects of drafting are too great. I resigned myself to getting back in the pack. Oh well, says I... a pack finish is good enough for me... which would've been the case, had the pack not sprinted up the next silly little hill, dropping me in the process.
Bottom line: I attacked at the wrong time, and I'm not good enough at two-minute efforts.
Better to have risked everything and lose, right?
So afterwards, hell, I was in Monterrey, and even though the fog was above, I figured I should go around and about, maybe head to Big Sur, maybe go for a bike ride.
I did.
So here's your reward for going through that drivel: PICTURES. Well, they're supposed to be eye-candy, but sorry, some of them are eye-little-grains-of-sand, what with the weather and all. Some of them are a little spooky, though, I still like them.
Ocean-front Cow Pasture.
Only in California.
Climbing into the Fog.
Spooky bridge.
When I got to Big Sur, it was actually clearing up, and at some point, when you get above 1000' of elevation or so, you get out of the fog, anyway.
Here's the last glimpses of fog.
Looking back at the Pacific Fog.
Another Saturday bites the dust.
I've been told that Monterrey, is the only place in the country with a 'Meditteranean' climate... which was explained to me as 70 degrees year round.
Of course, when I was there, it was frigid in the morning, threatening to rain. I mean REALLY cold. My teeth were quite literally clattering. BRRRR. Of course being in shorts and a bike jersey didn't really help matters... so I ended up slathering on some embrocation* and hoping for the best.
*em·bro·ca·tion (em-bro-kay-shun) n.
1. Vaseline mixed with Habanero Peppers, which, when applied to the skin, forces the body to believe it's REALLY HOT out.
2. Ouchie.
Fog Rolling in off of the Pacific - Monterrey in the Cold.Once on course, I felt pretty good. There were 6 laps, 10 miles each, with a short-ish hill in the middle - maybe a two to three minute climb.
Two to three minute climbs are not my forte. I wasn't going to be champion of those hills.
So my strategy had to be a breakaway from the group - hope to create a separation that the group assumes they can close later... when, hopefully, the group argues amongst itself about who should do the work.
The first lap panned out rather slow - everyone knew that the race wasn't going to be won In any case, with about twenty-five miles to go, a few people went off the front of the pack. I was at the back, minding my own business... but I seized the opportunity. I went to the side of the pack, gripped and ripped, and a few seconds later was off the front. Another racer had the same idea, and followed me.
We quickly got a hundred yard lead, and started taking turns out in front, shielding each other from the wind. After a few turns, the road turned downhill, and we started descending... we had been flying, going close to 30 MPH, and now we were going faster. This went on for a few miles... and as I flew around a corner, I glanced behind me, to see the entire pack chasing us.
Oops.
Well, it's next to impossible to get away from a pack that doesn't want to let you go; the effects of drafting are too great. I resigned myself to getting back in the pack. Oh well, says I... a pack finish is good enough for me... which would've been the case, had the pack not sprinted up the next silly little hill, dropping me in the process.
Bottom line: I attacked at the wrong time, and I'm not good enough at two-minute efforts.
Better to have risked everything and lose, right?
So afterwards, hell, I was in Monterrey, and even though the fog was above, I figured I should go around and about, maybe head to Big Sur, maybe go for a bike ride.
I did.
So here's your reward for going through that drivel: PICTURES. Well, they're supposed to be eye-candy, but sorry, some of them are eye-little-grains-of-sand, what with the weather and all. Some of them are a little spooky, though, I still like them.
Ocean-front Cow Pasture.Only in California.
Climbing into the Fog.
Spooky bridge.When I got to Big Sur, it was actually clearing up, and at some point, when you get above 1000' of elevation or so, you get out of the fog, anyway.
Here's the last glimpses of fog. 
Looking back at the Pacific Fog.Another Saturday bites the dust.
Diamond Valley, Rock Creek Road, Sonora Pass
Warning: heavy cycling content ahead...
Well, I raced in the Desert.
My race started at ~11:00 in the morning. It was HOT. HOT. HOT. And it was at altitude. Hydration was going to be a big key, so I kept downing water. LOTS of water.
Feel free to skip the rest of this text and go straight to the pictures. I WILL NEVER KNOW. (Read that as a warning: boring cycling story ahead).
It can be surprising, but racing is very much a team sport; results generally indicate the strength of the entire team. Your teammates might ride in front of you, shielding you from the wind, so that, at some point, you can try to break clear of the pack. When you're off the front, trying to get away, the pack will use it's superior aerodynamics to try to chase you down - and, hopefully, your teammates will attempt to subvert those aerodynamics for you.
One of the many jobs of teammates, both in the race and on the sidelines, is to keep the strongest person hydrated and fed. In my sub-peon-amateur category, this basically means that someone who isn't racing stands on the side of the road and hands up water bottles.
I didn't have a team there, but, luckily, the race *did* have neutral support - which means some volunteer will attempt to hand you a water bottle. Without this neutral support - the water - it wouldn't have been worth starting.
I rolled up to the line - this was going to be a four lap race, 11 miles per lap. We roll out, I stay near the front... Like pretty much everyone, I like to be either at the front (say, in third-tenth place) or at the very back. These locations are calm, relatively energy-efficient places to be.
We went around for a lap, and I was feeling pretty decent. As long as I stay hydrated, I generally do well in the heat; when other people are dying, I can ride away.
But not today.
At the end of the first lap, I had already exhausted one of my water bottles. I grabbed a water bottle from Neutral support to replace it. And I drank.
Blech. Warm Water. In the heat. Suddenly I'm not feeling too well, but I keep within the pack... the pace starts to pick up, and we begin to drop some of the field as we ride over a few rollers.
Next lap, neutral bottle was decidedly HOT. This isn't going well. I drink as much as I can...
A few minutes later my body decides to reject this hot water.
Let me tell you, Gatorade* tastes better on the way down. By now the pace was pretty furious, and, in the field, there were a few big splits. I was in about the third group at that point, just trying to hang on. It's tough after you've just tossed your cookies. But still... going around, up the smallish-hills... all of the sudden I'm in front. I look behind me, and I'm dropping everyone. Without trying, and without wanting to - if I lose them, I lose my aerodynamic advantage. So I slow down.
So do they.
Screw this, I'm going. And I go around, in the desert, by myself, chasing the group ahead of me.
For a ten mile lap.
I fail.
The same group catches me, at the bottom of the same hill.
I drop the wheelsuckers again.
This time I stay away. I catch a few stragglers, but end up placing about 30th out of about 60. Considering the circumstances, I consider it my best result of the year.
So after such a wretched race, what do I do?
Why, go ride the highest mountain road in the state of California, of course! Rock Creek Road, just south of Sonora pass.
I didn't do so well. I'm not sure why, but my lack-of-decision-making always surprises me.
But at least it was pretty.
With all the heat, still snow on the tops...
Looking over Mono Lake at the Sierra Nevada
I'm a sucker for sunsets.
The Moon also rises.
The moon may rise, but the sun is setting on my time in California.
Well, I raced in the Desert.
My race started at ~11:00 in the morning. It was HOT. HOT. HOT. And it was at altitude. Hydration was going to be a big key, so I kept downing water. LOTS of water.
Feel free to skip the rest of this text and go straight to the pictures. I WILL NEVER KNOW. (Read that as a warning: boring cycling story ahead).
It can be surprising, but racing is very much a team sport; results generally indicate the strength of the entire team. Your teammates might ride in front of you, shielding you from the wind, so that, at some point, you can try to break clear of the pack. When you're off the front, trying to get away, the pack will use it's superior aerodynamics to try to chase you down - and, hopefully, your teammates will attempt to subvert those aerodynamics for you.
One of the many jobs of teammates, both in the race and on the sidelines, is to keep the strongest person hydrated and fed. In my sub-peon-amateur category, this basically means that someone who isn't racing stands on the side of the road and hands up water bottles.
I didn't have a team there, but, luckily, the race *did* have neutral support - which means some volunteer will attempt to hand you a water bottle. Without this neutral support - the water - it wouldn't have been worth starting.
I rolled up to the line - this was going to be a four lap race, 11 miles per lap. We roll out, I stay near the front... Like pretty much everyone, I like to be either at the front (say, in third-tenth place) or at the very back. These locations are calm, relatively energy-efficient places to be.
We went around for a lap, and I was feeling pretty decent. As long as I stay hydrated, I generally do well in the heat; when other people are dying, I can ride away.
But not today.
At the end of the first lap, I had already exhausted one of my water bottles. I grabbed a water bottle from Neutral support to replace it. And I drank.
Blech. Warm Water. In the heat. Suddenly I'm not feeling too well, but I keep within the pack... the pace starts to pick up, and we begin to drop some of the field as we ride over a few rollers.
Next lap, neutral bottle was decidedly HOT. This isn't going well. I drink as much as I can...
A few minutes later my body decides to reject this hot water.
Let me tell you, Gatorade* tastes better on the way down. By now the pace was pretty furious, and, in the field, there were a few big splits. I was in about the third group at that point, just trying to hang on. It's tough after you've just tossed your cookies. But still... going around, up the smallish-hills... all of the sudden I'm in front. I look behind me, and I'm dropping everyone. Without trying, and without wanting to - if I lose them, I lose my aerodynamic advantage. So I slow down.
So do they.
Screw this, I'm going. And I go around, in the desert, by myself, chasing the group ahead of me.
For a ten mile lap.
I fail.
The same group catches me, at the bottom of the same hill.
I drop the wheelsuckers again.
This time I stay away. I catch a few stragglers, but end up placing about 30th out of about 60. Considering the circumstances, I consider it my best result of the year.
So after such a wretched race, what do I do?
Why, go ride the highest mountain road in the state of California, of course! Rock Creek Road, just south of Sonora pass.
I didn't do so well. I'm not sure why, but my lack-of-decision-making always surprises me.
But at least it was pretty.
With all the heat, still snow on the tops...
Looking over Mono Lake at the Sierra Nevada
I'm a sucker for sunsets.
The Moon also rises.The moon may rise, but the sun is setting on my time in California.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
June 13th: Pescadero Road Race
Didn't do too hot. Got boxed in at the start of the final hill, and wasn't able to go full-bore until halfway up. Tenth overall out of ~75.
June 6th: Ross's Epic Hillclimb.
Ack. So it's been a while since I was racing, a while since I've been racing in California.
Last weekend, on Saturday, I did a hillclimb in California - the Ross's Epic Hillclimb. There was about 3200 feet of climbing in about 7 miles or so; including about a half-mile of 20% grade at the very top. It was rough, really steep stuff.
So, how much were the payouts?
NOTHING? What is this, some kind of charity? Wait, it IS a charity? Oops.
Oh well, no money for ElJamoquio. But I did get a nice race on a beautiful day in wine country out in California. So when I dropped a chain at the beginning of the climb, and eventually came in second, I wasn't incredibly disappointed.
Spent the rest of the day pedalin' about wine country with Katherine.
Last weekend, on Saturday, I did a hillclimb in California - the Ross's Epic Hillclimb. There was about 3200 feet of climbing in about 7 miles or so; including about a half-mile of 20% grade at the very top. It was rough, really steep stuff.
So, how much were the payouts?
NOTHING? What is this, some kind of charity? Wait, it IS a charity? Oops.
Oh well, no money for ElJamoquio. But I did get a nice race on a beautiful day in wine country out in California. So when I dropped a chain at the beginning of the climb, and eventually came in second, I wasn't incredibly disappointed.
Spent the rest of the day pedalin' about wine country with Katherine.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunshine
I can never seem to find this link when I'm looking for it, so I'm putting it on my blog.
Sunshine, by city, per day.
San Jose has 160 Sunny Days per year, give or take. That's more than San Diego. Summers peak out at about 84 on average - but still have cool 60 degree nights - and winters generally have high temps of high 50's or low 60's.
City Sunny Days per Year
YUMA,AZ 242
PHOENIX,AZ 211
LAS VEGAS,NV 210
BISHOP,CA 201 (EDIT: This is where I climb mountains in California)
FRESNO,CA 194
EL PASO,TX 193
TUCSON,AZ 193
BAKERSFIELD,CA 191
SACRAMENTO,CA 188
LOS ANGELES,CA 186
STOCKTON,CA 184
WINSLOW,AZ 177
SANTA MARIA,CA 176
BLUE CANYON,CA 174
REDDING,CA 172
ROSWELL,NM 168
ALBUQUERQUE,NM 167
CLAYTON,NM 162
FLAGSTAFF,AZ 162
LUBBOCK,TX 160
SAN FRAN,CA 160
LONG BEACH,CA 159
RENO,NV 158
AMARILLO,TX 157
SAN ANGELO,TX 154
MILFORD,UT 151
WICHITA,TX 151
ABILENE,TX 149
ALAMOSA,CO 148
SAN DIEGO,CA 146
GOODLAND,KS 143
OK CITY,OK 139
PUEBLO,CO 139
WINNEMUCCA,NV 138
DODGE CITY,KS 137
GRAND JUNCT,CO 136
DALLAS,TX 135
CONCORDIA,KS 131
ELY,NV 131
KAHULUI,HI 131
ELKO,NV 130
WACO,TX 130
WICHITA,KS 128
CO SPRINGS,CO 127
TULSA,OK 127
SEXTON,OR 126
SLC,UT 125
FORT SMITH,AR 123
VALENTINE,NE 123
DEL RIO,TX 121
GREENVILLE,SC 121
WAKE ISLAND,PC 121
BOISE,ID 120
BURNS,OR 120
KANSAS CITY,MO 120
LITTLE ROCK,AR 119
TUPELO,MS 119
MEMPHIS,TN 118
LINCOLN,NE 117
MEDFORD,OR 117
NORFOLK,NE 117
AUSTIN,TX 115
COLUMBIA,SC 115
DENVER,CO 115
SCOTTSBLUFF,NE 115
SPRINGFIELD,MO 115
LANDER,WY 114
SHREVEPORT,LA 114
TOPEKA,KS 114
ATHENS,GA 113
CAIRO,IL 113
AUGUSTA,GA 112
LYNCHBURG,VA 112
MACON,GA 112
JACKSON,MS 111
OMAHA,NE 111
RALEIGH,NC 111
RAPID CITY,SD 111
WILMINGTON,NC 111
ATLANTA,GA 110
COLUMBUS,GA 110
HATTERAS,NC 109
CHARLOTTE,NC 109
GREENSBORO,NC 109
OAK RIDGE,TN 109
YAKIMA,WA 109
MERIDIAN,MS 108
CASPER,WY 107
MONTGOMERY,AL 107
CHEYENNE,WY 106
NORFOLK,VA 106
POCATELLO,ID 106
BALTIMORE,MD 105
DES MOINES,IA 105
PENSACOLA,FL 105
SAN ANTONIO,TX 105
SIOUX FALLS,SD 105
CHATTANOOGA,TN 104
COLUMBIA,MO 104
HURON,SD 104
KEY WEST,FL 104
SAVANNAH,GA 104
SIOUX CITY,IA 104
SPRINGFIELD,IL 104
CHARLESTON,SC 102
CORPUS CHRISTI 102
EVANSVILLE,IN 102
MOBILE,AL 102
NASHVILLE,TN 102
ROANOKE,VA 102
TALLAHASSEE,FL 102
ABERDEEN,SD 101
MOLINE,IL 101
NEW ORLEANS,LA 101
PADUCAH,KY 101
PENDLETON,OR 101
PORTLAND,ME 101
ST.LOUIS,MO 101
TAMPA,FL 101
HUNTSVILLE,AL 100
KOTZEBUE,AK 100
RICHMOND,VA 100
ASHEVILLE,NC 99
BATON ROUGE,LA 99
BIRMINGHAM,AL 99
BRIDGEPORT,CT 99
BLOCK IS.,RI 98
BOSTON,MA 98
FORT MYERS,FL 98
PROVIDENCE,RI 98
DAYTONA,FL 97
KNOXVILLE,TN 97
SAINT CLOUD,MN 97
WILMINGTON,DE 97
BROWNSVILLE,TX 96
NYC (LGA),NY 96
WASHINGTON 96
LA CROSSE,WI 95
MINNEAPOLIS,MN 95
PEORIA,IL 95
PORT ARTHUR,TX 95
SHERIDAN,WY 95
ALLENTOWN,PA 94
ATLANTIC CITY 94
JACKSONVILLE 94
BISMARCK,ND 93
LOUISVILLE,KY 93
NEWARK,NJ 93
PHILADELPHIA 93
ROCKFORD,IL 93
WILLISTON,ND 93
DUBUQUE,IA 92
Dulles,D.C. 92
LEWISTON,ID 91
NOME,AK 91
WATERLOO,IA 91
CONCORD,NH 90
HONOLULU,HI 90
HOUSTON,TX 90
MILWAUKEE,WI 90
WORCESTER,MA 90
BILLINGS,MT 89
LEXINGTON,KY 89
MADISON,WI 89
ORLANDO,FL 89
FARGO,ND 88
INDIANAPOLIS 88
HARRISBURG,PA 87
BETTLES,AK 86
GLASGOW,MT 86
ROCHESTER,MN 86
SPOKANE,WA 86
VICTORIA,TX 86
GREEN BAY,WI 85
HARRISBURG 85
CHICAGO,IL 84
UNALAKLEET,AK 83
HARTFORD,CT 82
HELENA,MT 82
CINCINNATI 81
GREAT FALLS,MT 79
FORT WAYNE,IN 78
DAYTON,OH 77
DULUTH,MN 77
EUREKA,CA. 77
SALEM,OR 77
DETROIT,MI 75EUGENE,OR 75
MISSOULA,MT 75
MUSKEGON,MI 75
PALM BEACH,FL 75
MIAMI,FL 74
JACKSON,KY 73
MANSFIELD,OH 73
SAN JUAN,PR 73
SOUTH BEND,IN 73
TOLEDO,OH 73
COLUMBUS,OH 72
LANSING,MI 71
SEATTLE,WA 71
AVOCA,PA 70
FAIRBANKS,AK 70
KALISPELL,MT 70
ALBANY,NY 69
AKRON,OH 68
PORTLAND,OR 68
ALPENA,MI 67
GULKANA,AK 67
MCGRATH,AK 67
TALKEETNA,AK 67
WILLIAMSPORT,PA 67
BARROW,AK 66
CLEVELAND,OH 66
FLINT,MI 66
CHARLESTON,WV 65
HOMER,AK 65
HOUGHTON,MI 65
GRAND RAPIDS 64
ERIE,PA 63
HUNTINGTON,WV 63
SYRACUSE,NY 63
YOUNGSTOWN,OH 63
BETHEL,AK 62
ANCHORAGE,AK 61
ROCHESTER,NY 61
BECKLEY,WV 60
BIG DELTA,AK 60
CARIBOU,ME 59
KODIAK,AK 59
PITTSBURGH,PA 59
BURLINGTON,VT 58
SEATTLE,WA 58
VALDEZ,AK 58
LIHUE,HI 56
BUFFALO,NY 54
BARTERIS.,AK 53
BINGHAMTON,NY 52
OLYMPIA,WA 52
KING SALMON,AK 51
QUILLAYUTE,WA 51
ASTORIA,OR 50
ELKINS,WV 48
MT.WASHINGTON 45
JUNEAU,AK 44
YAKUTAT,AK 41
ANNETTE,AK 40
HILO,HI 36
Sunshine, by city, per day.
San Jose has 160 Sunny Days per year, give or take. That's more than San Diego. Summers peak out at about 84 on average - but still have cool 60 degree nights - and winters generally have high temps of high 50's or low 60's.
City Sunny Days per Year
YUMA,AZ 242
PHOENIX,AZ 211
LAS VEGAS,NV 210
BISHOP,CA 201 (EDIT: This is where I climb mountains in California)
FRESNO,CA 194
EL PASO,TX 193
TUCSON,AZ 193
BAKERSFIELD,CA 191
SACRAMENTO,CA 188
LOS ANGELES,CA 186
STOCKTON,CA 184
WINSLOW,AZ 177
SANTA MARIA,CA 176
BLUE CANYON,CA 174
REDDING,CA 172
ROSWELL,NM 168
ALBUQUERQUE,NM 167
CLAYTON,NM 162
FLAGSTAFF,AZ 162
LUBBOCK,TX 160
SAN FRAN,CA 160
LONG BEACH,CA 159
RENO,NV 158
AMARILLO,TX 157
SAN ANGELO,TX 154
MILFORD,UT 151
WICHITA,TX 151
ABILENE,TX 149
ALAMOSA,CO 148
SAN DIEGO,CA 146
GOODLAND,KS 143
OK CITY,OK 139
PUEBLO,CO 139
WINNEMUCCA,NV 138
DODGE CITY,KS 137
GRAND JUNCT,CO 136
DALLAS,TX 135
CONCORDIA,KS 131
ELY,NV 131
KAHULUI,HI 131
ELKO,NV 130
WACO,TX 130
WICHITA,KS 128
CO SPRINGS,CO 127
TULSA,OK 127
SEXTON,OR 126
SLC,UT 125
FORT SMITH,AR 123
VALENTINE,NE 123
DEL RIO,TX 121
GREENVILLE,SC 121
WAKE ISLAND,PC 121
BOISE,ID 120
BURNS,OR 120
KANSAS CITY,MO 120
LITTLE ROCK,AR 119
TUPELO,MS 119
MEMPHIS,TN 118
LINCOLN,NE 117
MEDFORD,OR 117
NORFOLK,NE 117
AUSTIN,TX 115
COLUMBIA,SC 115
DENVER,CO 115
SCOTTSBLUFF,NE 115
SPRINGFIELD,MO 115
LANDER,WY 114
SHREVEPORT,LA 114
TOPEKA,KS 114
ATHENS,GA 113
CAIRO,IL 113
AUGUSTA,GA 112
LYNCHBURG,VA 112
MACON,GA 112
JACKSON,MS 111
OMAHA,NE 111
RALEIGH,NC 111
RAPID CITY,SD 111
WILMINGTON,NC 111
ATLANTA,GA 110
COLUMBUS,GA 110
HATTERAS,NC 109
CHARLOTTE,NC 109
GREENSBORO,NC 109
OAK RIDGE,TN 109
YAKIMA,WA 109
MERIDIAN,MS 108
CASPER,WY 107
MONTGOMERY,AL 107
CHEYENNE,WY 106
NORFOLK,VA 106
POCATELLO,ID 106
BALTIMORE,MD 105
DES MOINES,IA 105
PENSACOLA,FL 105
SAN ANTONIO,TX 105
SIOUX FALLS,SD 105
CHATTANOOGA,TN 104
COLUMBIA,MO 104
HURON,SD 104
KEY WEST,FL 104
SAVANNAH,GA 104
SIOUX CITY,IA 104
SPRINGFIELD,IL 104
CHARLESTON,SC 102
CORPUS CHRISTI 102
EVANSVILLE,IN 102
MOBILE,AL 102
NASHVILLE,TN 102
ROANOKE,VA 102
TALLAHASSEE,FL 102
ABERDEEN,SD 101
MOLINE,IL 101
NEW ORLEANS,LA 101
PADUCAH,KY 101
PENDLETON,OR 101
PORTLAND,ME 101
ST.LOUIS,MO 101
TAMPA,FL 101
HUNTSVILLE,AL 100
KOTZEBUE,AK 100
RICHMOND,VA 100
ASHEVILLE,NC 99
BATON ROUGE,LA 99
BIRMINGHAM,AL 99
BRIDGEPORT,CT 99
BLOCK IS.,RI 98
BOSTON,MA 98
FORT MYERS,FL 98
PROVIDENCE,RI 98
DAYTONA,FL 97
KNOXVILLE,TN 97
SAINT CLOUD,MN 97
WILMINGTON,DE 97
BROWNSVILLE,TX 96
NYC (LGA),NY 96
WASHINGTON 96
LA CROSSE,WI 95
MINNEAPOLIS,MN 95
PEORIA,IL 95
PORT ARTHUR,TX 95
SHERIDAN,WY 95
ALLENTOWN,PA 94
ATLANTIC CITY 94
JACKSONVILLE 94
BISMARCK,ND 93
LOUISVILLE,KY 93
NEWARK,NJ 93
PHILADELPHIA 93
ROCKFORD,IL 93
WILLISTON,ND 93
DUBUQUE,IA 92
Dulles,D.C. 92
LEWISTON,ID 91
NOME,AK 91
WATERLOO,IA 91
CONCORD,NH 90
HONOLULU,HI 90
HOUSTON,TX 90
MILWAUKEE,WI 90
WORCESTER,MA 90
BILLINGS,MT 89
LEXINGTON,KY 89
MADISON,WI 89
ORLANDO,FL 89
FARGO,ND 88
INDIANAPOLIS 88
HARRISBURG,PA 87
BETTLES,AK 86
GLASGOW,MT 86
ROCHESTER,MN 86
SPOKANE,WA 86
VICTORIA,TX 86
GREEN BAY,WI 85
HARRISBURG 85
CHICAGO,IL 84
UNALAKLEET,AK 83
HARTFORD,CT 82
HELENA,MT 82
CINCINNATI 81
GREAT FALLS,MT 79
FORT WAYNE,IN 78
DAYTON,OH 77
DULUTH,MN 77
EUREKA,CA. 77
SALEM,OR 77
DETROIT,MI 75EUGENE,OR 75
MISSOULA,MT 75
MUSKEGON,MI 75
PALM BEACH,FL 75
MIAMI,FL 74
JACKSON,KY 73
MANSFIELD,OH 73
SAN JUAN,PR 73
SOUTH BEND,IN 73
TOLEDO,OH 73
COLUMBUS,OH 72
LANSING,MI 71
SEATTLE,WA 71
AVOCA,PA 70
FAIRBANKS,AK 70
KALISPELL,MT 70
ALBANY,NY 69
AKRON,OH 68
PORTLAND,OR 68
ALPENA,MI 67
GULKANA,AK 67
MCGRATH,AK 67
TALKEETNA,AK 67
WILLIAMSPORT,PA 67
BARROW,AK 66
CLEVELAND,OH 66
FLINT,MI 66
CHARLESTON,WV 65
HOMER,AK 65
HOUGHTON,MI 65
GRAND RAPIDS 64
ERIE,PA 63
HUNTINGTON,WV 63
SYRACUSE,NY 63
YOUNGSTOWN,OH 63
BETHEL,AK 62
ANCHORAGE,AK 61
ROCHESTER,NY 61
BECKLEY,WV 60
BIG DELTA,AK 60
CARIBOU,ME 59
KODIAK,AK 59
PITTSBURGH,PA 59
BURLINGTON,VT 58
SEATTLE,WA 58
VALDEZ,AK 58
LIHUE,HI 56
BUFFALO,NY 54
BARTERIS.,AK 53
BINGHAMTON,NY 52
OLYMPIA,WA 52
KING SALMON,AK 51
QUILLAYUTE,WA 51
ASTORIA,OR 50
ELKINS,WV 48
MT.WASHINGTON 45
JUNEAU,AK 44
YAKUTAT,AK 41
ANNETTE,AK 40
HILO,HI 36
Monday, September 08, 2008
Another Status.
USA Cycling has updated the ultra-sub-peon amateur-level rankings for time trials. My last result, 3rd at the Green Mountain Stage Race Prologue, pushed me up quite a bit. I was running around about 90th out of 1550 or so, now I'm at 14th.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Status
States I've done.Light green: There is no road access to the top of the highest mountain. Although technically there's no road access to the top of Maryland's highest peak; I just went off-roading. I may have poor-decision-making-ability, but I'm not going to do that up Mt. McKinley.
So, in Virginia, I went until the road ended up Mt. Rogers. I may try again, going off-roading, if I go back. In California, I went to the top of the road up Mt. Whitney. In Vermont, I actually obeyed the sign saying no bicycles allowed (which I realize is shocking, but then again, there was an official-looking-person manning the toll-booth). I'll go back to Vermont one day after the toll-booth is closed.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Massachusetts
Kingsley Hill Road; the steepest half-mile of road in America.
I just like this picture. I don't know why.
I then went over to ride Mt. Greylock; only about ten miles away - it's the highest point in the state of Massachusetts.
I think we all see where this is heading.
I just like this picture. I don't know why.I then went over to ride Mt. Greylock; only about ten miles away - it's the highest point in the state of Massachusetts.
I think we all see where this is heading.
Mt. Whiteface
The highest road in New York State. There's actually a mountain fifty miles from the nearest road that's like 23 feet higher or something like that.
You know what I have to say to that: let's bulldoze that higher mountain. If you can't meet the standard, lower it.
Anyway, on to the pictures (which is why you read this blog, I know). I had just left Vermont, after racing, and then doing Mt. Mansfield. I decided to do Mt. Whiteface - only after 5:00 PM - because the guidebook says that bicycles are permitted after that time.
They even have a picture of the sign - saying no bicycles are permitted during operating hours.
They changed the sign.
But, without anyone to stop me...
The mountain itself goes from somewhere around 800 feet at the very bottom, where I started, to 4600 feet at the top. So although it doesn't have a huge elevation, the elevation change is still pretty good.
You know what I have to say to that: let's bulldoze that higher mountain. If you can't meet the standard, lower it.
Anyway, on to the pictures (which is why you read this blog, I know). I had just left Vermont, after racing, and then doing Mt. Mansfield. I decided to do Mt. Whiteface - only after 5:00 PM - because the guidebook says that bicycles are permitted after that time.
They even have a picture of the sign - saying no bicycles are permitted during operating hours.
They changed the sign.But, without anyone to stop me...
The mountain itself goes from somewhere around 800 feet at the very bottom, where I started, to 4600 feet at the top. So although it doesn't have a huge elevation, the elevation change is still pretty good.
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