tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89584659475080533912011-10-06T11:59:14.732-05:00Stuff that's on my mind. Well, some of it.Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.comBlogger3611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-68706932791904302812011-10-06T11:59:00.000-05:002011-10-06T11:59:14.968-05:00

I just started watching Mad Men on DVD. I really like this program. It has great stories, complex characters and a great look. The opening credits are simple, stylish and hint at something dark or self-destructive to come. And, they've spawned a couple of great parodies. There's The Simpsons (only one I could embed shows it right next to the original): And The Muppets (only the first 15

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-48513117057338222062011-08-25T10:28:00.001-05:002011-08-25T10:28:13.791-05:00

I just downloaded Dragon Dictation for iPhone. This blog has some great notes on commands and tips how to get the most from this app.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-69717499618704690482011-08-19T17:33:00.000-05:002011-08-19T17:33:07.334-05:00

This video is amazing. Danny Macaskill has amazing technical skills to be able to pull off all these moves. I love the poetry of the video, how it flows. Also, the photography is outstanding and I really like the music. Enjoy.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-19397121667515455462010-01-31T08:45:00.003-06:002010-01-31T08:50:16.803-06:00

Lifted from Frazz

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-67990826851421080712009-12-29T20:44:00.002-06:002009-12-29T20:44:52.553-06:00

Apparently, the guys on the scooter had just snatched a purse.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-6575262530613131832009-12-16T13:56:00.001-06:002009-12-16T13:56:30.237-06:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-90745583640211451882009-10-22T12:13:00.000-05:002009-10-22T12:13:21.119-05:00

According to this article in the New York Times, cooling down after exercise serves no useful purpose. The idea of the cool-down seems to have originated with a popular theory — now known to be wrong — that muscles become sore after exercise because they accumulate lactic acid. In fact, lactic acid is a fuel. It’s good to generate lactic acid, it’s a normal part of exercise, and it has nothing

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-82310757591449447402009-10-22T10:43:00.000-05:002009-10-22T10:43:00.580-05:00

The Onion is reporting that Sports Drinks Face Competition From New Sitting-On-Couch-Watching-TV Drinks. You have been warned.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-80269784886409743652009-10-20T20:42:00.001-05:002009-10-21T08:59:28.080-05:00

After having to miss the third race of the season (which I heard was another rousing success) I was ready to race Carpentersville. This will be the first time I will have raced in the same race three years in a row and I was hoping the experience would help. I also remembered that Carpentersville was one of my favorite races of the Chicago Cross Cup. Great venue, technical course layout and a

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-33419391183894967262009-10-19T10:50:00.000-05:002009-10-19T10:50:49.290-05:00

This month's Scientific American has an article with the above title. I quoted David Byrne several months ago about getting more people to ride and now this article continues the thought. In the U.S., men’s cycling trips surpass women’s by at least 2:1. This ratio stands in marked contrast to cycling in European countries, where urban biking is a way of life and draws about as many women as

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-63520524947378409192009-10-13T16:40:00.000-05:002009-10-13T16:40:23.719-05:00

Wait until the end of the race: Bike Finish Line - watch more funny videos

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-15465436030494224132009-10-07T13:59:00.001-05:002009-10-07T14:01:15.307-05:00

The results from Jackson Park and DeKalb (Hopkins Cross) are now available on USA Cycling. I came in 49th out of 56 at Jackson and 39th out of 49 in DeKalb. No points, but not last either. So I got that going for me...which is nice.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-87267833907461339292009-10-05T10:33:00.002-05:002009-10-05T10:37:54.629-05:00

I played with LEGO a lot when I was a kid. One thing I didn't know was that LEGOman can do a track stand. Caution. This video contains LEGO-on-LEGO violence. Did you notice the look on his face right before the car hit? I'm not sure if that was fear or FU and if was he one-finger-saluting right before impact.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-50175697125481513622009-09-29T08:22:00.000-05:002009-09-29T08:22:14.163-05:00

New York City built a protected bike lane to solve the problem of how to make biking along the approach to the Manhattan Bridge safer for bicycles. After completion, bike traffic more than triples.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-19684912533939194692009-09-24T09:27:00.001-05:002009-09-24T09:28:14.673-05:00

Although I still don't know exactly where I finished Sunday, there is a terrific article in today's Chicago Tribune about cyclocross racing that grabbed my interest. My favorite quote (from a related article, How cyclocross races work) describes exactly how I feel during the early part of each race: "I've never started a 'cross race and not felt like I was over my head within the first two

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-88622792238246608182009-09-21T11:51:00.000-05:002009-09-21T11:51:02.743-05:00

From Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health E-Zine: Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), taken before or after exercise, interfere with the benefits of training for fitness and athletic competition because they delay healing of damaged muscles (British Journal of Sports Medicine, August 2009). Deal with it.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-86069826035839724022009-09-20T17:23:00.003-05:002009-09-20T17:32:01.555-05:00

It was a great day for a race. Mild temperatures and little to no wind was going to make finding excuses difficult. Paul and I arrived at the park just around 8:00, about two hours before our race (40+ Masters). We got the bikes off the car, put the wheels on the bikes, suited and helmeted up and took a few easy laps before registering. Easy, right? This was going to be a beast of a course (

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-28298387933884740732009-09-16T16:57:00.002-05:002009-09-16T16:57:57.599-05:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-7604380445666748402009-09-15T12:49:00.001-05:002009-09-15T12:51:13.905-05:00

Thanks to the Fredcast on Twitter, I see that James Martin has attempted an apology. I am cut and pasting it here in its entirety just in case he changes his mind and takes it down: Regarding the The Tesla Roadster Article...May I take this opportunity to apologize for any offence I have caused through the article in last weekend’s Mail on Sunday. It was never my intention to offend the many

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-58584118014443649852009-09-15T10:32:00.001-05:002009-09-15T10:32:52.676-05:00

Oh. I see. It was just a joke: When the Guardian contacted Martin yesterday, he declined to comment, but a source close to him said he was only joking.Cuz, you know, it's funny when a motorist runs a cyclist off the road and then writes about it giving him pleasure. And now it seems that the Daily Mail has cut out the last few paragraphs of the article which 1) detail Martin's offensive and

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-7973413212422154482009-09-14T22:27:00.000-05:002009-09-14T22:27:56.216-05:00

James Martin.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-75911902429318596442009-09-08T12:42:00.005-05:002009-09-08T12:53:14.095-05:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-36812692914893194652009-09-07T13:40:00.002-05:002009-09-07T13:43:28.646-05:00

I've never seen "What Not to Wear" but I think I can deduce what the show is about from the title and the fact that it airs on TLC. Today, I was thinking about "How Not to Ride" as a possible blog post and then perhaps as the sole subject of a blog. Think about it. An entire blog dedicated to learning from and being entertained by the mistakes others make on a bike. I'm not talking fashion

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-42747275549101189552009-09-01T15:44:00.000-05:002009-09-01T15:44:11.459-05:00

Hey. I've got me a new short URL via my friend at Cyclelicio.us. It looks like this: http://cycl.me/ILF

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-45481151822945664142009-08-25T15:21:00.002-05:002009-08-25T15:25:38.164-05:00

Felt Bicycles Recalls Cyclocross Bicycles Due to Fall HazardAnd I thought that fall hazards are what cyclocross is all about.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-76942094139791330262009-08-24T16:51:00.004-05:002009-08-24T16:54:17.241-05:00

How's this for a cycling tattoo? It's the the power equation which describes the power needed to propel a bike against everyday forces: gravity, weight, friction and wind resistance (link).

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-54785874106434474392009-08-18T16:32:00.002-05:002009-08-18T17:05:29.212-05:00

With apologies to The Car Whisperer who typically hates on Thursdays:People who leave dog poop neatly tied up in plastic bags on the trail. This morning, I went for a run on the Green Bay Trail. As I entered I noticed a pile of about 10 tied up bags of what was probably dog poop. I have seen this before on the trail and occasionally at parks. Why do people do this? They'll scoop up the poop, tie

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-76863394350462384972009-08-17T13:35:00.001-05:002009-08-17T13:38:43.251-05:00

From The Science of Happiness (didn't know there was such a thing, did you?)

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-9539169094359602582009-08-15T13:23:00.002-05:002009-08-15T13:33:35.912-05:00

I love this chart! Click on it to be taken to a larger image (opens new window).

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-85828547215988455592009-08-10T23:58:00.002-05:002009-08-12T10:03:28.684-05:00

Yesterday, I finally went and did it. I raced my first crit. Two years ago, I course marshalled the inaugural Glencoe Grand Prix. At the time, my impression of a criterium was a race where crashes were common and painful. It's one of the reasons I started to race cyclocross figuring that a) I wanted to race a bike b) cross was slower and c) if you fell, it was on grass, dirt, mud or sand. Crits

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-56898392892165431292009-08-03T11:33:00.001-05:002009-08-03T11:33:48.868-05:00

The 2009 Chicago Cyclocross Cup schedule is posted at the newly redesigned ChiCrossCup web site First race is Jackson Park on September 20. See you there.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-24357432302638074222009-07-24T10:29:00.000-05:002009-07-24T10:29:59.048-05:00

This article brings an entirely new meaning to Phil Liggett's expression: "the Hard Men of the Tour".

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-35421747809011778432009-07-22T13:54:00.002-05:002009-07-22T14:02:43.409-05:00

The next time you are riding and see someone in an SUV (or car, but around here, it's mostly SUVs) on their phone, watch out. Just because they are looking in your direction does not mean that they see you. In a summary of research on cell phone use while driving by the National Safety Council, these two particular points stuck out and brought home just how risky talking on a cell phone (hands

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-66714371500857419582009-07-14T22:02:00.001-05:002009-07-14T22:06:37.682-05:00

A great use for old tires and tubes.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-19993399434158218062009-07-13T13:51:00.002-05:002009-07-13T14:04:16.269-05:00

For best results, don't visualize yourself winning, imagine yourself training. The Secret fails!Caffeine consumption may help prevent Altzheimer's. But don't overdo it, there's a possible link between significant caffeine consumption and hallucinations. So, that's why I thought I remembered where I put my car keys. Curse while sprinting or climbing to deaden pain. That would have made the HHH

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-63205422483224072282009-07-13T13:01:00.003-05:002009-07-13T13:10:53.766-05:00

Love this tongue-in-cheek description of the various species of cyclists one might encounter on the roads and trails. I found the exact same article here. No credit to the original writer of this "guide".

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-55394937161656005182009-07-09T11:44:00.002-05:002009-07-09T11:51:43.107-05:00

From Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health E-Zine (July 12, 2009):Two studies in the July 2009 issue of Journal of Alzheimer's Disease show that [the human equivalent of] five cups of coffee a day reverse memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease. The coffee also reduced blood and brain levels of beta-amyloid,the abnormal protein that may cause Alzheimer's disease in mice and people. Other

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-35251046320692538752009-06-23T10:36:00.003-05:002009-06-23T10:58:24.257-05:00

Sorry if it seems like I'm beating up on Bicycling Magazine too much, but this type of stuff drives me nuts.Headline: "Fignon Wonders if Drug Use Caused Cancer"Halfway through the article Fignon says: "I'm not going to say no that it didn't play a role, [b]ut I didn't hold back any details of my drug use with my doctors and they said, 'It can't be that. That would be too simple.'" A little later

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-47528875603389948632009-06-23T09:09:00.004-05:002009-06-23T10:30:12.776-05:00

Bicycling Magazine has a feature on their web site called "Brews and Bikes: The best bike-related summer beers." Being two of my favorite topics, I took a look.First, let me say that I'm not a fan of the format they chose for this feature. You see one slide at a time and when you click for the next, the entire page reloads. They also have a popup window ("We are conducting a research survey on

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-58031862900761464212009-06-22T13:21:00.002-05:002009-06-22T13:24:20.693-05:00

Headline: "Muggers Caught When Their Crime Was Captured by Google Street View"(h/t Fritz via Twitter)

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-23714252482940718902009-06-18T10:40:00.004-05:002009-06-18T14:13:05.961-05:00

Via Levi Leipheimer's twitter feed and Bike Monkey, We learn of an ordinance passed by Columbia, Missouri that "makes harassment of bicyclists — including throwing objects, verbal assault and other offenses — a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine or one year of jail time"Following the lead of South Carolina and Colorado, the ordinance "makes it a misdemeanor to do the following: throw

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-16114070637659299122009-06-16T12:34:00.002-05:002009-06-16T12:58:06.967-05:00

The Bicycle Film Festival will be in Chicago August 12 - 15 this year.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-19496574823011133492009-06-10T16:45:00.000-05:002009-06-10T16:45:52.370-05:00

Fox journalist attacks cyclist in Central Park with his SUV: Brian Dooda, a Brooklyn film archivist, was riding his bike on East Dr. in Central Park at about 5 p.m. on Thursday when he says a grey SUV cut him off, nearly swiping his front tire.This escalated when Dooda caught up to the vehicle at a red light, pulled in front of it, and, in his own words (see NY Cycle Club thread), "facing the

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-8469961526380503722009-06-09T09:12:00.003-05:002009-06-09T09:22:36.726-05:00

Make no small plans...Four of Chicago's 30 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline are not available to the public, contrary to the plan Daniel Burnham published 100 years ago. The advocacy group Friends of the Parks will be unveiling a plan (as yet unfunded) to change that."Called “The Last Four Miles,” the plan proposes to plug these holes with 2 miles of new parkland on both the north and south

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-61173693732517498162009-06-04T09:10:00.003-05:002009-06-04T09:15:54.456-05:00

So far the cold weather has kept them away, but they're coming...

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-56903505857656197852009-06-01T07:34:00.002-05:002009-06-01T08:53:21.240-05:00

In yesterday's NY Times Sunday Book Review, David Byrne reviews "Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities", by Jeff Mapes.It's always fun to read about David Bryne using his bicycle as his primary transportation around New York. He quotes Mapes pointing out that "when more women begin riding, that will signal a big change in attitude, which will prompt further changes in the

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-52974502756547154772009-05-26T20:08:00.003-05:002009-05-26T20:43:16.451-05:00

The Lunocet Fin is something you will just have to see to believe (h/t to the print version of Outside Magazine).

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-10920174291258866082009-05-26T14:12:00.000-05:002009-05-26T14:51:11.356-05:00

Seen in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-11172331615434207332009-05-20T11:45:00.002-05:002009-05-20T11:50:27.121-05:00

This is worth reposting from Ride-Strong.Colleen Whealdon-Haught is a cyclist fighting metastatic breast cancer. Read her story and help her out if you can.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-34985852684751690842009-05-15T11:40:00.002-05:002009-05-15T11:42:07.685-05:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-16997045812830556992009-05-14T13:19:00.000-05:002009-05-14T13:19:19.294-05:00

Twitter updates from Lance and Levi. 70+ MPH descents today at the Giro. YIKES!

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-2640211816791297752009-05-07T09:34:00.003-05:002009-05-07T10:23:45.012-05:00

Early yesterday morning I was riding with a group of about 15 cyclists on our usual route through the north shore suburbs on Sheridan Road. We were under control and riding two abreast when we were pulled over by a Kenilworth police officer. He instructed us to ride single file, that there had been complaints on the road and that this was for our safety as well. We asked if riding single file

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-4940609777001355022009-05-04T00:15:00.000-05:002009-05-04T00:15:09.713-05:00

So, Tyler Hamilton announced his retirement from cycling after testing positive for a banned substance. "He had tested positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) a multi-functional steroid he said was in an herbal remedy he took after he had stopped using prescription anti-depressants." Self-medicating for depression is stupid. Self-medicating if you are a pro athlete subject to random drug

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-26221468172057666972009-05-01T17:51:00.004-05:002009-05-01T18:30:05.697-05:00

A long time ago I discovered the Large Fella on a Bike blog. What caught my attention was the story of a guy who weighed 501 pounds and was told by his doctor that he'd be dead withing six months if he didn't undergo stomach-reduction surgery and take heavy medication to lose weight. Oh yeah, the doc also said he only had a 50/50 shot at surviving the operation. Neither choice appealed to him, so

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-8960357995225276802009-05-01T11:26:00.002-05:002009-05-01T12:12:59.401-05:00

Bicycle Dreams (note: music autoplays on the site) is a documentary of the 2005 Race Across America. During this race, Bob Breedlove was killed by an oncoming vehicle which just adds to the drama and poignancy of the event and movie. From what little I could read about it, I'm interested enough to want to see the movie. Unfortunately for me it is currently only scheduled to play at film festivals

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-26842863884151746632009-04-30T17:24:00.001-05:002009-04-30T17:25:26.401-05:00

It's the kingpin himself!

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-43269239460445401622009-04-28T07:53:00.005-05:002009-04-28T08:06:39.214-05:00

Scott Myers, Copy Editor at The State News, wrote a near-brilliant and humorous response to Clueless Zach Colman. The fun begins with:White 2009 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno.That’s the bike I ride — and if you’re a motorist on the road and plan on running me over, I hope you have a good lawyer, because I might sue you.Intentionally.Because you see, with all these dangerously inattentive motorists

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-13227032936522799122009-04-13T08:57:00.005-05:002009-04-13T09:38:24.632-05:00

Via TCW, I read this from Zach Colman who writes for the Michigan State University student run newspaper, Statenews.com. I don't know how many comments this idiot usually gets, but this column got A LOT. A few favorites:Zach wrote: "I cannot drive my car on the sidewalk, so why must you ride your bicycle where I drive?""Dumb as D. Bobby" pointed out (complete with link) that the MSU biking

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-67206512663305057772009-04-04T16:00:00.002-05:002009-04-04T16:05:59.822-05:00

With the warmer weather, it's getting easier to take photos during the morning ride. There was no way I was going to take off my lobster mitts and expose my bare hands to 20 degrees and 17 MPH self-generated winds just to take a picture of a rider I probably won't recognize due to the amount of layers they're wearing. Anyway, today I took some photos early in the ride and what follows is the best

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-82183470646596939302009-04-01T13:20:00.003-05:002009-04-01T13:29:03.204-05:00

Internet Rule Number 1. Never trust anything you read on the internet on April 1. Three random examples:A UCI committee has voted to ban all non-prescription glasses from its races.BlackBerry Storm Discontinued.The Guardian announces that it will become the first newspaper in the world to be published exclusively via Twitter.I'm sure there are others...

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-71173020909201659562009-03-23T09:51:00.003-05:002009-03-23T10:42:11.241-05:00

Via my friends at Working Bikes comes this video of how bicycles are used as essential tools throughout the world. The car rack on a bike (yes I have that in the right order) seen at 2:51 is incredible. The video was put together by Bicycles for Humanity.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-72274946930588680252009-03-18T08:35:00.003-05:002009-03-23T10:42:46.228-05:00

First, for your entertainment, Ricky Jay performs an amazing card trick:Now, watch this trick and see if you can guess how it's done:Just how good were your powers of observation? Let me know in the comments.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-41754574225754944532009-03-12T18:18:00.004-05:002009-03-23T10:43:23.657-05:00

According to my just-delivered copy of the Pioneer Press, the following stretches of crappy roads are due for resurfacing:Green Bay Road from Lake-Cook to Edgewood.St. Johns from Lambert Tree to Roger Williams.Work is scheduled to start in May and be completed by the end of July.Thank you, Highland Park City Council and us taxpayers.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-73460989074617605122009-03-12T17:57:00.002-05:002009-03-23T10:43:47.547-05:00

Sears Tower To Be Renamed Willis Tower.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-78383114314485248642009-03-02T15:15:00.003-06:002009-03-02T15:24:24.893-06:00

Bike rack, seen on Michigan Avenue.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-80155594007032769362009-02-27T16:32:00.002-06:002009-02-27T17:03:34.797-06:00

We've all heard that cyclists are prone to osteoporosis and that cycling weakens bones. Well, to borrow a quote: "I think you’ll find it’s a bit more complicated than that." First, although a study in 2000 from the American College of Sports Medicine did find that bicycle riders have bones that are less dense than people who don't exercise at all, bone density tests do not necessarily measure

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-35310429778410130712009-02-27T12:09:00.002-06:002009-02-27T12:17:01.012-06:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-90626822265304431792009-02-23T13:45:00.001-06:002009-02-23T13:47:10.543-06:00

One of the coolest places to see the Tour of California was at Dave Biber's Valley Center farm.He had a great setup for fans to see both live action on the last major climb of the race and live television coverage on a huge TV. Biber says he spent weeks clearing trees and preparing his land for fans. He provided parking, tents, trash, portable toilets and a truck-sized TV.Biber didn't charge a

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-37646711642429669042009-02-22T22:47:00.002-06:002009-02-22T22:57:50.741-06:00

This is how you dress when it's really cold out.I remember one winter when I rode my $275.00 Gary Fisher Gitchee Gumee with a set of $400.00 Mavic wheels, slick tires, full fenders and ClimbMitts. This allowed me to keep warm and dry and nearly keep up with my usual road bike group who all rode on skinny tires and bikes that were at least 10 pounds lighter than mine. I'm not sure how I kept up. I

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-73029563487795569262009-02-20T10:04:00.001-06:002009-02-20T10:10:41.198-06:00

Remember this?The NYPD says that he has been fired.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-45084517854327693882009-02-19T14:41:00.002-06:002009-02-19T14:44:46.377-06:00

Original here.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-754886116009543402009-02-09T17:20:00.002-06:002009-02-09T17:55:51.045-06:00

I have an iPass transponder. It's the newer kind, the one that does not indicate if the toll was collected successfully. Today, I got a "Notice of Violation" that I owe $83.40, which, I assume, is both the missed toll amount and penalties. I naively believe that I can fix this with a call to their toll free number which is on the letter .So I call.And get disconnected.17 times.I go to their web

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-62564805951092169012009-02-03T11:58:00.001-06:002009-02-03T12:01:36.816-06:00

Cool. A wiki for cycling.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-76587214983143553692009-02-02T13:12:00.003-06:002009-02-02T13:14:36.990-06:00

From Best of Craigslist:

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-23202714438332009392009-01-20T14:42:00.004-06:002009-01-20T14:45:20.657-06:00

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-62402930059511414432009-01-20T11:26:00.002-06:002009-01-20T11:28:14.401-06:00

I'm using an article in The Bloggers Guide to try to widen my blog a bit. I'll get it right soon.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-61665326677652534882009-01-19T19:02:00.003-06:002009-01-19T19:21:56.905-06:00

First, there's this:Then, the burger of the month:And this:

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-50615203555665558622009-01-15T12:05:00.002-06:002009-01-15T12:07:43.801-06:00

A short primer on economics. Worth the few minutes it will take you to read it.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-41802033304025707842009-01-05T18:17:00.004-06:002009-01-05T18:42:18.349-06:00

Funny how one thing leads to another. I was listening to the podcast of All Songs Considered on NPR. It was their episode on listener picks for the best songs of 2008. Number 25 was Strange Overtones from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today by David Byrne and Brian Eno. I never know what will hook me when I listen to something new. Sometimes it's the lyrics, but it's usually something

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-61332598985170816352008-12-31T18:55:00.001-06:002008-12-31T18:56:54.232-06:00

Have a Merry Blogmas, a Happy Blognukka and a very healthy Blog Year.(Cross posted from the other blog I seem to inhabit.)

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-35110360035239107252008-12-30T12:31:00.002-06:002008-12-30T12:46:00.189-06:00

I did not lose any money with Bernard Madoff. This is not some sort of boast, and has nothing to do with my superior investing savvy. It has everything to do with my not having enough money for him to bother with me and the fact that I had never heard of him before two weeks ago seems also relevant. That said, this article provides a nice lesson in doing due diligence with regards to investing.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-24817188085454281442008-12-14T22:34:00.002-06:002008-12-14T22:38:44.860-06:00

Tim Jackson has a knack for finding some very funny stuff.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-90681033543037159302008-12-14T21:16:00.004-06:002008-12-14T22:25:12.202-06:00

I saw the first trailer for the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. My first impression was of another stupidly produced remake trading on the fame and good will of a science fiction classic. I am usually not interested in a remake that merely adds modern special effects, usually at the expense of a decently updated script. But, then I heard a Scientific American podcast of an interview with

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-14493189237859831902008-12-09T19:52:00.003-06:002008-12-09T20:01:15.293-06:00

I got in about six and a half hours of cross country skiing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was in Saugatuck and from Thursday night until Sunday it just about never stopped snowing. We hit the dunes and the Allegan Game Area and conditions couldn't be any better. On Friday afternoon, the Game Area had a foot to a foot and a half of soft powder which made for a great workout in a beautiful forest.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-68354918623738820062008-11-12T19:25:00.004-06:002008-11-12T20:04:57.843-06:00

photo taken by LukeI got a late start to the "Save Ferris" cx race in Northbrook. That figures. Since it is the closest race to my house and I took for granted that I could sleep in a bit and not pack the night before. Big mistake. I wanted to arrive with at least an hour to register, attach my number, warm up and pre-ride what was rumored to be a challenging course (it was). Instead, I got there

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-28812915877277873112008-11-07T14:12:00.003-06:002008-11-07T14:17:06.509-06:00

Riding Cross tomorrow morning at Daniel Wright Woods. Racing 40+ and 4a Sunday in Northbrook.In case you want to participate in some races after Montrose, there are these races in Michigan.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-53663995286768098312008-11-02T22:04:00.003-06:002008-11-02T22:06:51.594-06:00

I had no legs today and decided not to bother going to St. Charles to race. I'm going to save myself for Northbrook Sunday. Did an easy spin this morning and nearly got dropped so I guess I made the right choice. I think I need a couple days off. But I don't wanna take a couple days off with this nice weather.Oh well...

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-47006907205486628242008-11-01T12:24:00.001-05:002008-11-01T12:25:57.225-05:00

We did about 45 miles on the DPR this morning. This was my favorite picture.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-64687711105342556102008-10-20T21:37:00.005-05:002008-10-20T22:14:40.005-05:00

I really enjoyed the cyclocross race in Carpentersville this year. The changes to the course made it more challenging and more fun. More fun, of course, in retrospect. During the race all I could think about was why the heck was I doing this to myself? Looking back, I handled the barriers well and have a photo to prove it:This year, the race layout gave more room to attempt to ride through the

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-54401818329846615092008-10-17T17:04:00.003-05:002008-10-17T17:09:06.664-05:00

This quote came up in conversation recently:"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."Douglas Adams, from his book (written with Mark Carwardine): Last Chance to See.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-33076155371804234512008-10-15T13:31:00.003-05:002008-10-15T13:32:39.381-05:00

Well, not really, but this was fun to find. A photo of mine was used in a blog posting. As my son would say: "How random is that?"

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-43778454655648620772008-10-13T21:47:00.002-05:002008-10-13T21:50:07.595-05:00

I raced both the Masters race at 10:00 and the 4a at 2:15. This was taken after the 4a race. That about sums it up.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-10049303120036471262008-10-13T14:15:00.002-05:002008-10-13T14:17:55.940-05:00

Bottom line: Stretching is good for you, but don't stretch before exercising and it won't reduce muscle soreness.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-6319145839471034012008-10-10T12:59:00.001-05:002008-10-10T13:01:14.054-05:00

Rode the trail at the end of the day Wednesday. This is what greeted me when I arrived back at the parking lot:

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-86752885124730930722008-10-05T16:24:00.003-05:002008-10-05T16:30:27.399-05:00

No, I didn't race in DeKalb this morning. I didn't want to drive an hour and a half to race in the rain with possible thunderstorms. I didn't relish the idea of riding in a park on a metal bike with the threat of lightning. And no, wet rubber tires don't provide any protection against lightning.So instead, I did the 8:00 Des Plaines River Trail ride. As you can see, it was a beautiful morning

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-77440124974820242962008-09-25T14:28:00.002-05:002008-09-25T15:11:37.279-05:00

Nope. Read the title again and note the pronoun.Stumped?Answer here.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-37691192523620379302008-09-24T12:42:00.002-05:002008-09-24T12:45:29.372-05:00

Which country drinks the most beer on a per capita basis? The top 20 are here in an annoying slideshow format. The US is number 13. Not that it's a competition or anything.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-49759839955014234612008-09-23T16:51:00.002-05:002008-09-23T17:04:22.312-05:00

Another harbinger of 5 AM cross riding in the woods. Oct 7. GTE ride. Just two more weeks.Can't wait.

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-85274624922876447532008-09-18T12:03:00.002-05:002008-09-18T12:06:53.063-05:00

Yet another reason why you should always wear a helmet when you ride.Because you never know...

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958465947508053391.post-40466014683294719822008-09-10T19:47:00.000-05:002008-09-10T19:48:55.432-05:00

"One hundred thirty dollars and supervision."One for the good guys...

Illinoisfrankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14742057211924834264noreply@blogger.com3