the torture device disgused as a sturdo reformer 

pilates perspective

For those of you who don't know what pilates is. Check here for a full history of it. www.pilates.com/history.html Basically it is active stretching, with resistence with a focus on breathing and core engagement. There are many different avenues, from mat classes to work on what is called a reformer, probably for the exact reason that it is designed to reform your body. I have now taken three private classes, and will soon be taking two to three hour classes a week in an attempt to gain flexibilty, which I think is a limiting factor in my cycling performance. I am also going to get a yoga ball and some thera bands? to do some strecthing here at home while I am in my down condition. I plan to continue these things even when I get healthy and am riding agian, variety is the spice of life, they say.
It is a stretch, pun intended, these are not exersises or movements that I am used to, but with the focus on core and whole body interaction I think that more cyclist should do this. I am so tight in my hip flexors and soaz? that it effects other things, maybe even breathing, and it certainly could add to the tension I feel at 3 am already.
I call the reformer a tourture device because that is exactly what it feels like, tourture. So check it out, not exactly what you thought a endurance freak like myself would be doing, but in a weakened and down condition I need to find a low impact way to stay in shape. If you think you have strong core and are in the shape of your life, this is the next step and may humble you a little, you will be ahead of most americans but those who have been doing this for a while even the 45 to 50 year old ladies will put you to shame. It is good, it keeps it all in perspective. So check it out.

Mono.....

being the person that I am, and wanting a definative answer I went to a different doctor, just to get a second opinion. I really am fascinated by doctors ability to be so sure, they dont always seem like they listen but they always give you a definative answer. I have been ill for quite some time now. Currently I am feeling better than I have. Back to doctors.... so he thought that what I was talking about sounded like mono... well I had the mono spot and that was negative... that can happen, i waited a long time to go to the doc in the first place... so he ran some really specific tests... igb and igg levels... confused the techs at the lab.... yesterday it was confirmed... mono it is. WTF.... I guess it pays to second guess some people.... mono is a virus so there is nothing that can be done... at least I have an answer to why...

Freedom from cars

this is a real quick one. Calling all cyclists to sign this petition to end our dependence on cars. Check it out at www.freedomfromcars.blogspot.com . I think that it orginated in the bike crazy town of Portland, where 5 of our cycling partners have lost there lives this summer already. Read it sign it, pass it on, that is how things work. Thanks. I sit here dreaming about riding and feeling 100% again. Passing on things like this eases the pain.

today is my moms birthday. happy birthday to you. I love you. A couple of months ago my mom called me up to discuss what she wanted for her birthday. She told me she wanted a sculpture or statue to commemorate her birthday. After the call I was filled with the WTF idea and unsure of how I was going to pull this off. After searching the internet and hitting a wall, nothing but very expensive stuff, devine intervention struck, dirt rag in the mail and their article on Skunk and his art over at www.80gritart.com. So emailed him and the rest is as they say, history. Thanks skunk 

So this is what Skunk sent me, as soon as I got this picutre the wheels started to turn. I came up with the idea that is very evident in the next picture. She made it clear that this sculpture need not mention that she is turning 60, well I just saw an oppotnity and took it 

Ha ha. Mom I hope your sense of humor is working today. 

I cant think of a good title

So I have been feeling better. Not whole yet, but I have a little more energy. It has been hot here, very hot. In the upper 90's to lower hundreds. Kent is the man. Kent Peterson finished the Great Divide race on a single speed. Need more be said. Can you just imagine. I can not wait to get together with Kent and hear all the tails from the trail. He is probably recovering, getting back to work at the shop and writing his article for Dirt Rag. Kent thanks for the support and inspiration.
Lets send white light to all in London. Unfortuanatly I think we are just going to have to get used to these kind of insidents, acknowledge them, be mournful, but not let it keep us from living out lives and doing what it is we want to do. It is what it is. That is what it is. Some buddist type philosophy. Acceptance is the best policy. Just as i have to accept my situation, we as a nation and a world must accept our position.
I have been working on getting socks made for Vulture, they will be the old school logo wool socks, in the 5 inch cuff range. It looks like they will be avalible just in time for cyclocross section. I am also working on getting some different beanies made, not so gangster as the first run, those as well should be avalible around cross season. thanks to jay at dlx skate supply for the connection.

Anyone out there got a set of new or used s/s cross wheels they are looking to get rid of let me know.

Not much else just trying to make it through another day, I have taken up Pilates, or what i mean is I plan to contiune after my intro class last week. This is supposed to really help with lengthening and strengthening muscles. The trainer said I was badly in need of some flexiblity, my hip flexors are so damn tight. Not much else.

Gonter put out a trailer to a fixed impression video, which I think is excellent and can not wait to see the full length film. Check it out at www.deepseno.blogspot.com Where you can download the neccesary Quicktime 7.0 if you dont already have it. Gonter, it would be great to hook up sometime. I like what you are doing. Vulture Culture is alive and well. I like the reverse circles, I have trackstands down, but not reverse and not the reverse circles yet. Keep the rubber side down.

computers

well I finally figured out how to get my mug up on the profile side of life, and I added a couple of links, for a guy that just over a year ago knew nothing about the internet and especially blogs and such, this whole experience has been much learning, believe you me I have a long way to go before I am considered any kind of wizz kid. Blogger makes it easy, I had to move things around and try and try different stuff, but for the most part they make it easy to do. that said I am still sleeping more than should be humanly possible, although last night I tossed and turned until early morining before I was able to finally find some fitful rest. So I finally crawled out of bed a little before 1:30 pm. I guess all the years of living at full throtle have caught up to me and I am in for a bit of rest. I am coming to terms with this not being a season at all for me and looking forward, to Seattle and bike commuting and new outlet, fixed of course. That and working on the marketing end of Vulture with my friend Amanda. With the goterian handleing the bloging duties. We are becoming a little vulture clut family. Well more later. Thanks to all who keep stopping in to see how I am doing.

decisions

I have made the decision, the final decision, I must choose health and recovery over racing for the duration of this year, unless something miraculous happens. I have pulled the plug on the Trans Rockies, although I will be cheering Pat and Rich on they will be on single speeds, I wish I was part of the duo, but I unfortunately have put my self in a hole that I must slowly climb out of. It bothers me to no end that I have to do this, and I am upset at the way it is, but then again it is what it is, and only that. There are many year ahead to do great things on and off a bike. I will use this time to refuel and rest. That is if I can get enough time away from work to actually relax. Work has been a complete CF lately, so I have not been the happiest camper, but I am working on being positive and using this time to my advantage. It kills me to not be on my bike, active and present, it was more that just riding it was my time to meditate,time to thin, to just be, it was my coping mechinism, tried and true, it held me together at times. That has been taken away so I have to find new outlets and ways to relax. This is the challange I have been presented with, maybe it is a blessing in disguise, it sure doesnt feel like anything but a curse, a self inflicted tourture chamber, there is no escape there is no way to just push through, I must take it day by day, moment by moment and hope for the best. This is such an odd place for me to be, I have never been one to back down to lie down and admit defeat, I have always been able to keep pushing on and it gets better, not this time, the mental angish that I have faced recently will make me stronger, in the long run, it is teaching me to be gentle to listen and to care. I am attempting to be nice to myself, less judgemental, more accepting, however I am very unaccustomed to behaving this way, I have always been full throtle, wild and on the move, now even though I do somethings, I am not as motivated and action packed, I am reading more and more, and sleeping a whole bunch. I guess it is my body telling me that I had a bunch of chances to listen and didnt so it was going to make sure I listened and got it. Well that is happening and I am accepting my situation for what it is, temporary. I am not going to feel bad, I know that I have dissappointed people and sponsors, for that I am sorry, but shit happens, to go people, none of this was done with intention. I will however be more aware and alert in upcoming seasons and in other aspects of life, so that I dont have to go through this kind of anguish and suffering again.

So far the best diagnosis that has been presented is overtraining syndrome, I think I have said this before, but I am going to another doctor just in case to see what he has to say.

a detail of the old school logo. These hats are all 8 inch black beanies, with an embrordered logo on them. quality. represent your vulture pride. I am mainly putting them on here to see what kind of interest is out there. I talking with wade and derrrick about how they would like to proceed. Let me know your thoughts. I will see about selling them depending on the level of interest. 

This is the old school Vulture logo, this one seems to be the most popular, there is one left.  

THis is what I have been working on, they are in very limited # right now, just seeing what kind of demand there is. This is the Vulture down tube logo. 

updates

Well it sure has been a while since I posted. I have not been motivated to do it. I have been in a dark hole struggleing to see the light, I get breif glimpses, but not much. I have also not wanted to bore anyone with the details of my lethargic uneventful existence. The more research I do, the more I read, leads me to believe that it is not just simple overtraining, it has developed in to what is called overtraining syndrome, which is far more complex. It leads to chronic fatigue like symptoms, headaches, muscle soreness, depression, apathy, irratability etc. I think you get the picture. It is usually a season ender, not something to be taken lightly. Something that struck me as ironic is that it is exactly the drive and the ability to suffer that takes you to the top and the same characteristics that lead to your own demise. In a sense you are your own worst enemy. Speak about a twisted situation. I had felt similar feelings in races, on long training rides, and was always able to rise above, to push my way through the blocks. I usually enjoy suffering enjoy the physical pain, it makes me feel alive, I have never felt more relaxed and fulfiled than after a 100mile race, or 24 hr solo effort. I am afraid to lay down to conceed to my situation, either through stupidity or bravdo I am unsure, I feel that my indentity will be compromised because I know nothing other than forging on than pushing than forcing the issue. I am sure it is this attitude as well that is prolonging my situation, I feel fat, lazy and stifiled. I must learn to be gentle, I have so many years to ride ahead of me, this feels like the end, I know it is not and I will get better, but damit I want to get better now, I want relief from this hell hole that I am in.
Speaking of relief I went to the Cream Puff, it was great to see all my friends Pat Doyle was there, he won the SS class, he is a great guy and gave me some encoragement about my situation, Sloane Anderson was there, always great to see him. check out his race report at http://s90235461.onlinehome.us/sloane/blog.html . Roger Lackey my good friend from Auburn who look strong but had a bunch of IT band pain slowig him down. Dave Yackatis, sorry I buchered your last name, who was flying, and within reach of the leaders before he took a wrong turn and lost a lot of time. The Vulture boys, Derrick was racing, I found out his secret how he keeps going, but I wont tell, Derrick your secret is safe with me. Wade, the Vulture himself, with Rio, always a pleasure. In all my free time lately I have been working on getting some product,in the way of hats, and beanies for the Vulture boys, I made them custom Dickies Jackets, which I presented them with while at the Puff. They loved them. So to make a long story short, I woke up in the am and decided that racing was not the option and recover was the order of the day. So I hung out at aid 2 and cheered everyone on. Wish me well and send good thoughts. Thanks