Something is happening...

Inspiring!

Where o' Where has our Vanderblog gone...

(another trip in the wayback machine...gotta get this out of my head before I forget)

Where o' Where has our Vanderblog gone...
Where o' Where can it be?

There's no need to fear! Vanderblog is here!

When cyclists from both far and near
search for prose true and sincere
their browsers to one place do steer
and at the words they cheer or jeer
it's Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog!

Always posting, make's me wonder
what kind of contract is he under?
Vanderblog. Vanderblog!

when in this world the headlines read
of those who break the sportsmen's creed
and dope or cheat to gain some speed
he'll call them out with blinding speed
it's Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog!

Always posting, make's me wonder
what kind of contract is he under?
Vanderblog. Vanderblog!

So if while racing you happen to hear
a heckle or cheer that's fueled by beer
be careful not to frown or sneer
cuz on that blog it will appear
it's Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog! Vanderblog!

Always posting, make's me wonder
what kind of contract is he under?
Vaderblog. Vanderblog!

Ok, he's not a Superhero but he's been known to dress like one!

(Now it's your turn...add another verse! Accoustically challenged...grab a bowl of Cheerios and listen to the original here! )

The Sky line is Falling!!!

Yesterday I did one of my standard rides that circumnavigates Redwood Park in the East Bay Hills. I couldn't help noticing all the enormous blue tarps covering the hills. It looked a bit like a Christo project gone horribly wrong (one might argue if any go right...but that's a subject for another post). While climbing Skyline Blvd. I passed a minimum of 5 slides in various states of repair. The most recent started this weekend and gets press because it is threatening the homes below and the new home of Attorney General Moonbeam. However, the largest slide has been sitting idle for several months and it's hard for me to imagine a reasonable method of repair.

This summer a massive section of hill slid, undercutting the road, pulling down the guard rail, fire hydrants and a large light pole. Many of these items still dangle over the new canyon floor. As the slide has reduced the road to one lane one can assume it must be fixed at some point it clearly isn't happening soon. Filling this slide would be a Herculean task. Cutting further into the hill might compromise the stability of the hill and homes above. Stuck between two equally distasteful options, the one lane road sits there, idle.

Other slides along Skyline get more attention due to their threat to homes and roads below but everywhere there are cracks hinting at Skylines inevitable movement 'down canyon'.

After turning off Skyline, I descended Pinehurst, passing several other slides that sit ignored. This particular section of road sits on the county line, the proverbial 'ugly step child' of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Several sections are reduced to one lane. Permanently installed stop signs indicate bureaucrats surrender to the forces of entropy.

While the road conditions along the ridge deteriorate, making me long for the smooth pavement of the Veneto in Italy, this is still a classic East Bay ride that I love. Once off the ridge the route takes you through the town of Canyon which consists of a Post Office and two room school house. As the name implies, you ride along the base of a redwood, fern and moss filled canyon that feels like a trip through Middle Earth. Canyon is always a few degrees cooler than the ridge. In the summer this can be a welcome relief from the heat. While dodging clouds of ladybugs, riders enjoy the shade of the giant redwoods. In the winter the ride is more like spelunking. At this time of year the sunlight doesn't quite reach the valley floor, everything remains damp, the green moss seems to glow and lichens extend their reach on the oak bark. And while you may occasionally see a Yellow Bug you will most surely see some yellow slugs. Looking up, you can see the sunlight grazing the tops of the trees and you long if it to reach down and warm your bones.

Soon enough you climb out of the canyon again, back to the buzz of 'civilization' and the constant struggle to keep Skyline Blvd. at the top of the hill.

Blogstipation...

a condition of the blog in which the subject matter is dry and terse and entries are difficult and infrequent.

Blogstipation can be caused by:

1. A chronic lack of creativity.
2. A lack of thought provoking substance in your intellectual diet.
3. An irregular or imbalanced schedule of life activities.

While some sites periodically suffer temporary blogstipation as a result of a temporary constriction of free time they can usually be remedied by a return to a healthy, normal lifestyle. Other sites seem to suffer from chronic blogstipation. While in some cases, chronic blogstipation is benign this condition can be an indication of a more serious problem known as 'blogger burnout'. While blogger burnout is rare, as we've seen recently, it can happen to even the most prolific of bloggers. So if you find posting increasingly difficult, seek immediate exptert advice.

Seasonal blogstipation is quite common. Many blogs suffer a temporary slowdown during the holiday season due the a change in diet. Cycling blogs in particular seem to suffer acute cases of blogstipation in the off season.

Around here we've found that Holidays, increased saddle time and event planning have led to some serious blogstipation. The Holidays are over and some of the other contributing factors should soon be alleviated, relieving this uncomfortable condition.

What are your remedies for blogstipation?

Leaf Peeping...

Sometimes...when the conditions are just right...we get some fall color here in Berkeley.

Jackass Justice

First, on an unrelated topic, I apologize for my lack of blogyness over the last...well since school started back before Labor Day weekend. I have been sucked into teacher-world and haven't posted on our blog or commented on your blogs since. But I'm back!

This afternoon, while riding San Pablo 'Dammit there's a lot of crazy traffic' Road, I almost had an encounter with one of those jackass drivers. This road has plenty of them as the map to your right is entitled, "I-80 alternative route" and displays my biking road in bright yellow.

I was making a U turn to begin an interval and as I turned, the car coming towards me revved it's engine and came flying by...basically being a total prick.

Moments later, a cop flew past me and pulled him over for speeding. I waved as I rode by.

I can ride for miles and miles...

and the last one on a Clif Bar wrapper.

While the Teach was rubbin elbows with other passionate mathies I got out for a long ride on Saturday. Started off through the rarefied neighborhoods of 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach and Carmel. I've flogged a few golf balls in my day and while I can think of a better way to spend five hours, riding between a hand manicured fairway and the crashing surf has to be pretty close to the perfect ride. After that little slice of paradise I turned inland and rode a few clicks into the Carmel Valley. When the shoulder started to shrink and the traffic began to surge I turned up and hopped over to the Salinas Valley. An hour or so through the lettuce fields and back along the beach path and I'd put in a sweet 70.

Sunday we met with two other bike bloggers and did a 55 mile spin around Gilroy. Despite some threatening weather and a couple of crazy drivers we had a wonderful ride.

After 125 miles I was dreaming of chips and beer. While we made our plan to head to some 'Fresh Mex' I managed to find a gargantuan piece of glass that sliced my rear tired to the bone (no easy feat considering I was riding tough winter tires). We managed to reinforce the tire with my empty Clif Bar wrapper and make it back for some much needed Suds and Salsa.