Do they all wear uniforms ?

Who has more freedom , a Married man in America or a Single man in North Korea.

I don't do the Sunday ride that often but I notice the married guys always have to be somewhere. I have a hard time believing that they really have that many kiddy parties to attend.

See, the Single guy In North Korea can leave the house anytime he wants. He just can't leave the country.

The married guy In America can't leave the house, but he can leave the country.

Hmmmm, being single in North Korea is not as bad as they make it look on CNN is it ?

Suck it France !

I don't know about you but in my household not a day goes by that I don't think about how much the french suck. You probably are saying yeah that's true chopper but what about wine?

On May 24, 1976, a wine tasting took place in Paris that changed the world's view of California wines forever. The tasting was the brainchild of Steven Spurrier, an English wine merchant who owned an innovative wine shop and adjacent wine school in the center of Paris. Curious to see how California wines would fare against French wines. he arranged a blind wine tasting in celebration of the American Bicentennial activities in Paris. The French tasters chosen for the event had impeccable professional credentials. The French wines were red Bordeaux and white Burgundies. They were matched against California Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. The tasting was blind, with the identities of the wines concealed and the labels revealed only after the jury of nine tasters had voted its order of preference.

The unthinkable happened. A 1973 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon - thier first vintage produced with grapes from vines a mere three years old - was judged the best. The Cabernet had bested four top-ranked Bordeaux, including first-growths Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Haut-Brion. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from California bested its French counterparts also.

America 1 France 0

Scandals and Animals

New Blog post's have been temporarily suspended as we re-tool . It was clear that a blog devoted only to cycling was going to have it's slow seasons.

Following Saturdays end of the year Ontario crit and the concern about the loss of"ratings". we have decided to change the format to "Scandals and Animals". this change will only be temporary to give the blog more traffic and to widen the reach of our reading audience.

Currently our Blog traffic is behind such gems as http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/ and http://www.albertocontadornotebook.info/ , I warn you the images on these sites are both disturbing and funny.

Hello Junior College

Fair Market value of Bike = $ 9,300



Fair Market of little Timmy's 529 College Fund = $ 1,800



The other night I left open the garage door. Thankfully nothing was missing. What I mean by nothing of course was my collection of bikes , that oddly enough are worth more than my car.

As usual It got me thinking. Why are my bikes worth more than my car. is that right. Probably, seeing how I put more miles on the bike than my car. But here is the real question of the day. Do you have more money tied up in carbon fiber, than Timmy's college fund ?

I'm guessing it's hello Crafton Hills Junior college , I hear they have a really good fire science program. Can you say Chili cooker Timmy. Please for Timmy's sake at least make a matching contribution to his little college fund next time to upgrade your stem.

Local boy does good

Team Redlands gets national exposure. Local Boy Matthew Freeman is shown above tackling the Everest Challenge on the SoCalCycling home page.

He is 32 , a Virgo and enjoys long rides in the Sierra's.

Crit Filler ? , Lets check the Urban Dictionary

The other day I heard someone refer to a group of riders as " Crit Filler " I enjoy a new word. but before I started to use it I headed to my trust worthy Urban Dictionary. I needed to make sure it was not offensive in any way.

Here is what I found:

Filler is:

A member of a social group who has little/no popularity and is merely involved to make numbers, rather than to add to the group. Fillers have no intellectual or comedy value and any attempted input is usually ignored or completely disregarded. A Filler is the sort of person who you wouldn't be seen with dead.

An ex boyfriend/ girlfriend you still associate with that you like to hang out with, go out with between dating other people or when you're bored and no one else will. They're filling the time between that. You know they're never going to be anything serious again.
"I'm bored, might as well call my filler."

A person who strategically situates himself 3/4 of the way back in a group of riders. Fails to ever let wind directly hit the front of his kit and fails to give up one centimeter to the poor bastard who just took a major pull on the front and just wants to catch his breath or a sip of water and is not interested in contesting 34 Th place.

Various fluids used to fill up a crack like, 'I had a crack that needed mending so i called up my husband, using his filler, he mended the crack sooo good'

Pant filler, a child that fills their pants; also used when referring to a bratty child under the age of five. I had to babysit a total filler. It was horrible.

After my research I think I will spend more time on the front I don't want to be Crit Filler and I think It goes without saying Pant filler.

Pool party goes south

Last night I attended a another local cycling related event. What I mean was apparently someone couldn't make it so I was given the call up. Truth be told I pretty much wait all day Saturdays for anyone to invite me to something and I usually end up with a pizza and watch murder she wrote. Angela Lands berry you could do worse.

When you hear the words pool party , you just know it's going to be fun. The mix was cycling , groupies chicks , brisket , ribs and a VIP Jacuzzi.

The pool party came to a sudden end unexpectedly. Not because it was cake time. apparently if you do the Saturday ride and have a too much ribs and glutamine. well it's not pretty and the local state farm guy shut it down.

Luckily for us the VIP Jacuzzi remained sterile and the party went on as planned. Happy birthday to Hoyt and the Ticks for there hospitality.

Hide Your Beagle, Vick's an Eagle!

The recent signing of Michael Vick has caused many dog owners in the Philadelphia area to hide there pets. Here you can see a Philly Beagle owner throwing his beloved pet into the back room just because the door bell rang. It turned out to be a UPS man.

Note: No pets were harmed during this post and all readers are encouraged to make a donation to the Redlands dog park.

" when I'm in the pack I'm always holdin my line "

YouTube - RobinMoore's Channel

Bring back merit badges

It seems that not a week go's bye in the local cycling scene that you don't hear about someone getting scolded for there cycling skills.

You need a licence to drive a car. you need a licence to catch a fish. but last time I checked anybody can buy a bike at cyclery USA and head on down to crit.

Got me thinking about my days in the Boy Scouts. Yep Chopper was a Boy Scout. So I checked the requirement for obtaining a Cycling merit badge. I have listed some of the basic requirements. JT has offered to help out on Sundays and sign off on the necessary skills. Then next time you get yelled at , just point to your badge.

Cycling Merit Badge requirements: are you up to date with your skills ?

Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while cycling, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, insect stings, tick bites, snakebites, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Clean and adjust a bicycle. Prepare it for inspection using a bicycle safety checklist. Be sure the bicycle meets local laws.

Show your bicycle to JT for inspection. Point out the adjustments or repairs you have made. Do the following:
Show all points that need oiling regularly.
Show points that should be checked regularly to make sure the bicycle is safe to ride.
Show how to adjust brakes, seat level and height, and steering tube.
Describe how to brake safely with foot brakes and with hand brakes.
Show how to repair a flat. Use an old bicycle tire.

Take a road test with JT and demonstrate the following:
Properly mount, pedal, and brake including emergency stops.
On an urban street with light traffic, properly execute a left turn from the center of the street; also demonstrate an alternate left turn technique used during periods of heavy traffic.
Properly execute a right turn.
Demonstrate appropriate actions at a right-turn-only lane when you are continuing straight.
Show proper curbside and road-edge riding. Show how to safely ride along a row of parked cars.
Cross railroad tracks properly.

Describe your state’s traffic laws for bicycles. Compare them with motor-vehicle laws. Know the bicycle-safety guidelines.
Avoiding main highways, take two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates, routes traveled, and interesting things seen.
The bicycle must have all required safety features. It must be registered as required by your local traffic laws.

After fulfilling all the requirements , take JT on a 50-mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours and somehow manage to not have him yell at you.

Happy Birthday from Corporate America

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Happy birthday to me , I started my morning at IHOP . This is where an American can still get a free meal on his birthday. Thanks for nothing to Denny's who dropped the free meal around the time they failed to serve federal agents because they didn't look the part ?

Next stop was Taco Bell another establishment that gives you a free combo meal on your birthday. Later today I plan on going to Hooters for a free t-shirt and song. I will try and remember the song they sing. Maybe happy birthday.

As I Googled free crap on your birthday I was really surprised to see all the stuff out in America that is available for free. Free just because on this day in 1962 my parents had a untimely child a good 12 years after my brother and sister were born.

Anyhow thanks Corporate America for the birthday wishes and the free food. Maybe next year I will have a party at my house. That is unless HANGAR 24 starts serving free beer on your birthday.

Who is # 1

The debate has started to heat up again. Who is # 1 , tomorrow all raincross participants are asked to bring a crisp $ 5 . We will put the cash in a helmet and the winner of the Victoria sprint gets to keep the money.

If you do not wish to participate in the race for the cash . you are encouraged to bring a unwrapped gift or can of food.

Who Won ?

Is there a correlation between beer and cycling.

I had a list of things that illustrated the benefits of beer. But I really can't stand blog's that go on about how some new stretch when used while eating the new super food " Quinoa " will aid your body and mind crap. You just have to trust me. There is.

Beer and cycling are harmonious. they just go together. I ride so I can drink more. I drink so I have to ride more. Just today Lance was tweeting about having too many spirits last night. here is a guy who has about 330 days until he goes head to head with Contador. And last night he had too much to drink. Sounds like a role model to me.

We don't ride on tracks

Yes , it is true. I am a retired jungle cruise driver. I was pretty " jacked up on Mountain Dew" back in those days. I skippered the " Leaky Tiki " down the Congo back in the 80's.

Over the weekend me and fellow 40 + Scott , rode to Angeles Oaks. Damn that was nice. you know I really enjoy raincross , but its nice to take the boat off the tracks.

Riding past the quartz rock that a lot of people take for granite. Seeing a Franklin bush. That every year at Christmas they make a wreath of Franklin from . We didn't see the backside of water , so I just stuck my head behind the faucet in my sink when I got home. Hit my head as usual.

We always warned the guests If you get swallowed by a Hippo just run around and around and around till you get pooped out !............are you pooped out ?