Keefer Madness

Sex and the Olympic City

// August 22nd, 2008 // No Comments » // General Posts, Sports Stuff

You’ve seen your share of every form of media about the Olympics, but here’s an article that you probably haven’t seen, nor even thought about. I know I hadn’t. But when you do think about it, it does make a whole lot of sense. A ton of young, fit people all together in a party-like environment (to an extent). I would assume when the training and competing comes to the end, there’s all kinds of celebration in the Olympic village and why wouldn’t that include sex? Interesting read.

Sex and the Olympic City

1304 Bikes – Refurbing and Refreshing Bikes in Raleigh, North Carolina

// August 22nd, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Cycling, Local (Raleigh Durham)

Just saw this on one of the many bike email lists I’m on. They’ve got a neat program setup. You get involved in the process of repairing and refurbishing bicycles and earn credit toward picking out one to work on for yourself. While I don’t need a bike, I’ve got to look into volunteering with them on occasion.

It seems like it’d be a good meshing – learning more of the mechanics of the two-wheeled machines I spent so much time with while helping bring life back to old beater bikes, while giving more clean mobile transportation to the people.

Maybe I can get Amanda to volunteer with me one Sunday afternoon, help out the Raleigh-area community and learn more about bikes.

1304 Bikes

I Donated Whole Blood Today – How About You?

// August 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // Health & Fitness

I’ve donated whole blood many a times since high school and in college I even did the plasma thing for some extra cash. Recently, I hadn’t really donated. I’d gotten out of the habit as life got busy and in the way. But now I’m trying to get back into the swing of the things. A couple months back, I donated at a local downtown Raleigh and then went in today and did it again today and it’s a good feeling.

Basically every two months, it’s safe to donate whole blood. Granted, everyone can’t do it. But those that can, should. Did you know that a single blood donation can save three lives? The more I thought about that, the more I realized how important it is.

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Hydration – A Delicate Balance

// August 20th, 2008 // No Comments » // Health & Fitness, Personal Crap

I drink a ton of water. I have for awhile. But now with me deep into the road cycling scene, it’s become even more important. It’s amazing how much you sweat in the saddle – no matter the temperature.

But as I found out yesterday after my crit, sometimes too much water can be a detriment. My fainting spell wasn’t from dehydration, as I was still sweating. While it could have been from lack of calories, we suspect too much water yesterday flushed essential salts from my body.

Fast forward to today – bike commuted to and from work and then mowed the lawn and some miscellaneous yard work. So another sweaty day. Well here it is 11:15pm and I’m still not fully hydrated.

It’s tough to keep the right balance. In terms of cycling, I’m still going to err on the side of too much water, but make sure I’m mixing in extra calories and some other liquids on race and hardcore training days.

My Fourth Ace Speed Way 'C' Race

// August 19th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cycling, Personal Crap

So the field got larger for the second Ace Speed Away criterium race in so many weeks. The average speed was up from 21.7 miles per hour two weeks ago to 23.6 this week. I definitely felt it, though part of it was from being out in the wind more often.

Like any race, it’s its own beast. Even though the course is the same, some of the riders were different, and there were more, the wind was blowing differently (crosswind at the beginning), and the temperature was slightly warmer.

Like two weeks ago, again the 30 minutes flew by, but I definitely had to work more. Part of it was not having a teammate in there to help get you into the paceline. I had a real difficult time getting an inside line throughout the 30 minutes, leaving me often working harder and not conserving as much.

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Bikes on Our Byways

// August 18th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cycling, Local (Raleigh Durham)

Here are a couple of well thought out responses to a recent News & Observer article about alternate commuting, etc. I wish more motorists would read and know the passage the first letter quoted:

“Bicyclists usually ride on the right side of the lane, but are entitled to the use of a full lane. A bicyclist staying to the right in their lane is accommodating the following drivers by making it easier to see when it is safe to pass, and easier to execute the pass. Drivers wishing to pass a bicyclist may do so only when there is abundant clearance and no oncoming traffic is in the opposing lane. When passing a bicyclist, always remember the bicyclist is entitled to the use of the full lane.”

The second letter talks about riders two and three across. The argument here is that a compressed group of say twenty riders in two rows (2×10) is easier and safer to pass than these 20 strung out single file. The groups I ride in, we try to tuck in as close as possible to each other when drivers are passing, etc.

This back and forth between cyclists and motorists is never going to end. There are broad generalizations on both sides (hell, see my first paragraph), but a little courtesy and patience from both groups that are on the same roads would go a long way.

Bikes on Our Byways

USA's Flanagan Wins Bronze in 10,000 Meters

// August 17th, 2008 // No Comments » // Local (Raleigh Durham), Sports Stuff

Here’s a local angle to the Olympics – Shalane Flanagan does a lot of her training on Durham’s stretch of the American Tobacco Trail. The ATT is where I first started my love of cycling on my old Mongoose full suspension mountain bike.

Anyway, congrats to Flanagan for getting the bronze in the 10,000 meters!

USA’s Flanagan Wins Bronze in 10,000 Meters

Personal Olympic Record

// August 16th, 2008 // No Comments » // Sports Stuff

I don’t know what it is about the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but we’ve watched so much more of it than pretty much any game in the past – watching it all in high definition has been part of it for sure, but we have been totally glued to all the events shown during primetime – cycling, swimming, diving, track and field, beach volleyball and a few others.

My only complaint on the coverage is a bias and want for more cycling. It doesn’t look like we’ll get to see the track cycling events whatsoever, and earlier in the week, the individual time trial was severely limited. I understand the interest will never be on par with gymnastics, track and field, etc., but how about more than a glimpse of some of these other events.

Toyota-United Releases Riders

// August 15th, 2008 // No Comments » // Cycling

This is a shame. The pro peloton development team, Toyota-United is going the way of other American cycling squads like Discovery and 7-Eleven before them. With no lead sponsor, their continuation into next season is highly unlikely. Toyota-United’s current team members are free to seek contracts from other teams.

Pro cycling in the United States seems to be struggling as much as pro soccer here in the U.S.

Toyota-United Releases Riders

Lenny Kravitz Leading Velvet Revolver?

// August 14th, 2008 // No Comments » // Music

Solo artist Lenny Kravitz, best known for tracks like “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” “Always On The Run” and his cover of “American Woman” is rumored to be in the studio with the remaining members of Velvet Revolver. Former Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland left the band back in April and is currently touring with his former band, Stone Temple Pilots.

I honestly have never heard a Velvet Revolver track. I liked Guns N Roses and love Stone Temple Pilots, but never got motivated to check out Velvet Revolver. I may end up checking out some tracks on iTunes now out of curiosity, but I wouldn’t think Kravitz would be a good fit to lead VR, seeing as Kravitz would be unlikely to sing and play guitar as the band already has Slash and another guy on the six string. The other replacements the article throws around aren’t any better suggestions either, but Kravitz would seem to be the least compatible fit.