Weigh in time...

So this holiday season was the usual unkind-to-me holiday.
I can check off 'quit smoking'
I can check off 'sell car, commute by bike'
checked off 'sell off all the stock piled bikes'
checked off 'build one "perfect do-all bike" and be a one bike person'
checked off 'clean out closets of unneeded clothes & such'

The new goal was avoiding the weekly trips to Borders for
random bike magazines.
They were starting to gather in piles that resembled a kid's fort.
So this post holiday break I purged the magazines!
I'll check in on Urban Velo online.
Still not sure about Bicycle Times, think I may keep that one.
And may pickup ROAD after I thumb through it and like the photos,
their online sucks for a lack of their trademark photography work.
Anyways.
As much as I usually ride,
I hit a two week break from the bike.
And with that AND all the treats at work,
well, weight was the BIG gift I got.
I maxed out at 237. THAT SUCKS!


So back on the bike I got.
Funny how your some-what-fitness can shrink in all of two weeks!
And on my first day back I was greeted with a nice warm morning.
Warm is 32 degrees. On the way home, I got below freezing snow-
turning to slushy ice mess. The only thing I didn't pack was-
BOOTIES! Yeah! Wet socks and shoes are FUN!


So I've cut back on the eating.
I got a set of rollers.
Plans to set up the road wheels,
and start turning those cranks indoors.
I'm not the fitness type at ALL.
BUT I'M PUTTING IT OUT THERE (here)
THE GOAL IS 200 BY JUNE.
About five pounds a month.
Already ditched the seven from the holidays,
now I'm back to the usual 229/230.
The past summer was 224/225 with the riding.
So I've committed myself to a better diet,
and calorie counting, since riding is semi controlled.
Add some yoga/pilates ball stuff, cause it's one thing to be big,
but to have the agility of a brick building....
makes you feel even older than you are.



The other goal is to build my photograph knowledge,
and devote more time to getting my work 'out there'.
Flickr and I need to spend more time together.

Happy winter riding!

Vacation @ The Shelter

How I spent one vacation day:
dialing inthe remote flash,
trying the flash gels (finally),
and what is the hardest part for me,
approaching people you want to photograph.

I got the introduction from the local shop guy,
who pointed out a couple people worth shooting.
That deserves a big thanks!
Again, it's not always what you know,
but who you know.

So the following are work in progress.

Shelter pt 2 set 1

Shelter pt 2 set 2

Shelter pt 2 set 3

Shelter pt 2 set 4

F*ck Em

WOW! Sick does not say it. Laid out.
Thought I could get a couple of posts
up. But that was not the case. Now I'm
back, let's get rolling.

Cycling Rights

A while back, Bicycling Magazine ran a great feature called "Broken".
Bob Mionske has a two part in his regular column.
It's a must read.
But it will make you angry,
and then there's nothing you can 'do' about it,
or can you?

For the article go HERE.

more Steevo

I've posted these before
so why not again.

STEEVO interviewed

One of the videos!

Go to CYCLING INQUISITION for the full interview. Well worth the read. White dudes with dreads, wall mounted bar tape dispensers, and Rapha guys and minivans. Great interview!

latest Times Union post

Go HERE.

Good Deeds

by good friends.
Pete's come through a number of times,
and often feels like he's my 'tech support',
but he saved the day,
or at least a roll or two of film I f'd up.
Then took the time (his time) to scan & send to me!
Awesome!

Early morning fog burn off, on the way to work.

1. Leave early, for photo time.
2. Remember camera(s).

The Movement of Cyclocross

at the Bethlehem Cup I brought along a medium format film camera,
wasn't sure what to expect.
I love black and white
but I wish I shot more color film.
As everyone has digital,
maybe it's time for more film....

FIRST CONTEST EVER!

So we kept one,
one of the MANY foster dogs that has passed through our doors.
His name WAS Pokey, from the book.
Now he needs a new name to go in the paperwork.

Find me a winner, I send YOU a PRIZE.
It'll be good, don't worry.
Link this, list it, through this weekend!

SOMEONE knows me!

BEST PRESENT EVER!
I have a ton of semi useless material from the holidays,
but every time I feel like posting,
I'm buried under three blankets freezing my ass off
(the only way I'll lose weight).

But in all the years of 'being the boss',
I've gotten some gift cards (cool),
some sincere thanks (again, cool),
a fruit basket (WTF!),
I'm not fiftyfive, and not saying fiftyfive is when you
give fruitbaskets. I don't think I'ld ever want a fruit basket.
Or fruitcake.

But this gift bag screams 'I know yer fat ass':
And yes, it's all gone, done, finished in the first week.



My bent rim thanks you!

Taunts

Maybe you just see a bike locked up during the winter.
This bike is always at the store around the corner.
The store where I picked up some milk,
and sadly, YES, some ice cream.
I ate some ice cream with the kids,
then they went to bed.
I sat on the couch and ate the rest.
BAD DAD.

But this bike taunts me.
"have you even touched your bike?"
yes, I moved it from one room to the other.

Shelter again

Tomorrow
Another Friday night off (I think)
so another attempt at playing around with indoor lighting.

I figured out my issues with fast focusing
from the last 'cross race.

But I'm having a hard time taking advantage of down time
that this bitter cold provides.
I think I'm like a bear, not just in size,
but that I'ld like to hibernate, and eat to prepare to hibernate.

Must be the kitchen

Fat cat stuck under the cabinets:

Must be in the air

Stuck in a cup:

Did you ride today?

Sadly, "no".
It's been cold, ass cold.
And I'm in a lazy funk.
"Thanks! Claire's bike" for reminding me!

@ Shelter Skatepark

Last night was the first time,
first time shooting at speed
indoors
in low light.

Still figuring out my lighting.
Just picked up an umbrella and remote triggers,
and some flash mounts/adapters.

More work this week,
and have this figured out.