IGVENTURE
- Thread starter pooriggy
- Start date
This is a post I've been meaning to write for awhile. Like a school assignment I have been putting it off, I'm good at procrastination.
Over the last several months I've had some really good rides with friends, bought a new road bike which is incredible, and have been enjoying time off from work. Before I can talk about cycling stuff I have to talk about whats gone on outside the world of cycling. I'm not sure of the purpose of this post other then to reveal something honest to you.
Most who have kept up with my blog know that my dad had been sick for awhile. He died on October 31. This post is not about morning my dads death, I don't have that woe is me feeling. Given how sick my dad was over the last two years I can't say that I miss him since he died. My dad was always an active man, it was tough for me to watch him struggle to live. His death was more a relief to me because his quality of life was eroding daily. Don't get me wrong, I remember going to bed early that night 5 yrs ago when I found out he had cancer. I cried into my pillow like a child. Once you realize you're parents don't live forever you move on and try to give back the love they gave you.
I am grateful for being able to take time off from work over the last two years to help my mom take him to doctors and be there for him. My dad and I didn't have these great heart to heart conversations but we were comfortable with each other and could be together for hours without saying much. Over the past year I drove my dad into NYC many times to see a doctor, I now treasure those moments.
You can learn about someone if you know where they came from, how they were raised. This picture reveals a lot about who I am. In this photo I am a 11 years old, thats my twin brother Mark with glasses and my mom and dad. This pic really defined our family. My mom was the center of it, I call her fussypants, she is so much like Felix Unger...kids just google the Odd Couple. My dad kept it all together, he was a kind gentle loving man. Me and Mark were the bookends. We tried so hard to be bad asses as we got older. Once we grew up we became more comfortable with being ourselves. That doesn't mean we still don't do stupid shit, we just try not to be mean spirited.
Circa 1977
Over the last several months I've had some really good rides with friends, bought a new road bike which is incredible, and have been enjoying time off from work. Before I can talk about cycling stuff I have to talk about whats gone on outside the world of cycling. I'm not sure of the purpose of this post other then to reveal something honest to you.
Most who have kept up with my blog know that my dad had been sick for awhile. He died on October 31. This post is not about morning my dads death, I don't have that woe is me feeling. Given how sick my dad was over the last two years I can't say that I miss him since he died. My dad was always an active man, it was tough for me to watch him struggle to live. His death was more a relief to me because his quality of life was eroding daily. Don't get me wrong, I remember going to bed early that night 5 yrs ago when I found out he had cancer. I cried into my pillow like a child. Once you realize you're parents don't live forever you move on and try to give back the love they gave you.
I am grateful for being able to take time off from work over the last two years to help my mom take him to doctors and be there for him. My dad and I didn't have these great heart to heart conversations but we were comfortable with each other and could be together for hours without saying much. Over the past year I drove my dad into NYC many times to see a doctor, I now treasure those moments.
You can learn about someone if you know where they came from, how they were raised. This picture reveals a lot about who I am. In this photo I am a 11 years old, thats my twin brother Mark with glasses and my mom and dad. This pic really defined our family. My mom was the center of it, I call her fussypants, she is so much like Felix Unger...kids just google the Odd Couple. My dad kept it all together, he was a kind gentle loving man. Me and Mark were the bookends. We tried so hard to be bad asses as we got older. Once we grew up we became more comfortable with being ourselves. That doesn't mean we still don't do stupid shit, we just try not to be mean spirited.
Circa 1977
So Sorry
Chris so sorry to hear about your dad, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Makes me even more thankful for seeing some of the video posted up this past year...that will be a great memento for your family to have.
Brian
Chris so sorry to hear about your dad, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Makes me even more thankful for seeing some of the video posted up this past year...that will be a great memento for your family to have.
Brian
Thanks Brian. I am glad my son Evan made that video. It was for a school project but it is nice to have now that my dad is gone. I haven't gone back and watched it yet, I'm gonna save it for a rainy day.
Well life goes on. I have been really enjoying this time of year, I have a lot of vacation days to burn so I've been working less and riding more. The last few week's I've been heading up North to Rob's house in Bergen County to ride road or mtb trails. His buddy Juan puts together some great road loops, I'm talking 77 mile, 4hr. plus deals. Here is what we did today.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/253004988
This ride is out to the top of skyline and then toward Greenwood lake. As I was climbing TOS I remember mtbing at the trail head at the top of the road a few weeks ago. Pearl wanted to sell his bike after mtbing those trails, climbing Skyline on a road bike can have the same effect. That was the highest I've seen my HR get in awhile. This is the type of climb you need to do with other people, if I were solo I'd avoid that bitch. Juan's buddy Marco's passed me towards the top, when someone does this thats when I find the motivation to push harder...and thats the joy of group riding.
I still have to show you my new bike, its really BOSS. I don't want to just take some crappy pics, I'm thinking I may have Annie Leibovitz do a photo spread. I think she's Jewish so she may have some free time between now and Christmas to shoot my bike.
Since I didn't take any pics during today's ride I'll post a pic of last weeks ride up to Perkins from Rob's house.
Juan, Falco, Rob, Marcos, Me
Well life goes on. I have been really enjoying this time of year, I have a lot of vacation days to burn so I've been working less and riding more. The last few week's I've been heading up North to Rob's house in Bergen County to ride road or mtb trails. His buddy Juan puts together some great road loops, I'm talking 77 mile, 4hr. plus deals. Here is what we did today.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/253004988
This ride is out to the top of skyline and then toward Greenwood lake. As I was climbing TOS I remember mtbing at the trail head at the top of the road a few weeks ago. Pearl wanted to sell his bike after mtbing those trails, climbing Skyline on a road bike can have the same effect. That was the highest I've seen my HR get in awhile. This is the type of climb you need to do with other people, if I were solo I'd avoid that bitch. Juan's buddy Marco's passed me towards the top, when someone does this thats when I find the motivation to push harder...and thats the joy of group riding.
I still have to show you my new bike, its really BOSS. I don't want to just take some crappy pics, I'm thinking I may have Annie Leibovitz do a photo spread. I think she's Jewish so she may have some free time between now and Christmas to shoot my bike.
Since I didn't take any pics during today's ride I'll post a pic of last weeks ride up to Perkins from Rob's house.
Juan, Falco, Rob, Marcos, Me
You're a cop Carson so if anyone can read eyes it would be you. But I detect sarcasm, I think I have kind eyes...but I am still a wise ass, no doubt.
Yesterday I spent the morning on the trails up by Rob's house. We did a nice 2+hrs, it always feels good to get back into the woods. The majority of my rides are road, just cause its more convenient. When I do get onto the trails its always enjoyable. It never feels like training, just having fun.
I hope everyone is relaxed at this point and waiting for Christmas. Hanukkah has passed so Rob was pretty relaxed yesterday. He was working on projects around his house. Rob is a good thinker and designer, he is also a good talker. With all the time off I've had its been nice to be able to spend time with Rob riding bikes.
As my kids get older its gotten harder to get them together at the same time, like to take a Christmas picture. When they were younger I always knew where they were and could scoop them up and plop them where ever I needed to. I guess that was work too but now its a different kinda work. I sent out a text before my ride in the morning to my wife and kids...Picture at 3 today, no excuses. That seemed to work.
Yesterday I spent the morning on the trails up by Rob's house. We did a nice 2+hrs, it always feels good to get back into the woods. The majority of my rides are road, just cause its more convenient. When I do get onto the trails its always enjoyable. It never feels like training, just having fun.
I hope everyone is relaxed at this point and waiting for Christmas. Hanukkah has passed so Rob was pretty relaxed yesterday. He was working on projects around his house. Rob is a good thinker and designer, he is also a good talker. With all the time off I've had its been nice to be able to spend time with Rob riding bikes.
As my kids get older its gotten harder to get them together at the same time, like to take a Christmas picture. When they were younger I always knew where they were and could scoop them up and plop them where ever I needed to. I guess that was work too but now its a different kinda work. I sent out a text before my ride in the morning to my wife and kids...Picture at 3 today, no excuses. That seemed to work.
Well its 8:30 pm and no one mentioned the fact that its free pancake day today at IHOP. This just goes to show that we are slipping into the winter doldrums. Ok doldrums is one of those words my mom used a lot when I was growing up, now I find myself repeating it. Funny how that works.
From Wiki; The doldrums is a colloquial expression derived from historical maritime usage for those parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a low-pressure area around the equator where the prevailing winds are calm.
Kirt, Woody, Ig, Utah
I enjoy the winter because I don't have to work wknds. on the golf course. Well I have to work this weekend but this will be only my 2nd wknd I've worked this year. The other wknds have been spent cycling, mtbing mostly. Its been to cold for road rides plus I really enjoy time on a mountain bike. I've been putting time in on the rocks of Ringwood, Jungle and Mooch, I love these trails. I want to get up to Way Way, I haven't been there in awhile.
Hey did I tell you I bought a powertap on Friday. I will now be training with power. But honestly who gives a shit. Numbers are necessary but they bore the hell out of me. Do you really want to hear about the results of my FTP test...well if you do you'd have to wait on that, I didn't do it yet.
Ok so I admit I am not so cerebral, I'm more visceral. Visceral is not one of those words you use everyday. I leaned that word over 20yrs ago while watching a Woody Allen movie...which kinda proves my viscerality.
From my picking days. Red Brownie camera...have u ever seen one of those?
Two shows that I can't get enough of these days are Pawn Stars and Pickers. Even my younger son Jamie is hooked on these shows. I got J all pumped up for garage sale season. I told him to ride around on his bike to find some good stuff come the spring. Once he finds a pick I'll come in like Rick and low ball there ass.
When it comes to music these days I seem to be drawn to female vocalists...and I don't know why. Maybe someone can google an answer for me. Bands like Chromatics, Cat Power and this chick from Sleigh Bells... I really dig this version. Rill Rill
Keep on truckin bitch.
From Wiki; The doldrums is a colloquial expression derived from historical maritime usage for those parts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean affected by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a low-pressure area around the equator where the prevailing winds are calm.
Kirt, Woody, Ig, Utah
I enjoy the winter because I don't have to work wknds. on the golf course. Well I have to work this weekend but this will be only my 2nd wknd I've worked this year. The other wknds have been spent cycling, mtbing mostly. Its been to cold for road rides plus I really enjoy time on a mountain bike. I've been putting time in on the rocks of Ringwood, Jungle and Mooch, I love these trails. I want to get up to Way Way, I haven't been there in awhile.
Hey did I tell you I bought a powertap on Friday. I will now be training with power. But honestly who gives a shit. Numbers are necessary but they bore the hell out of me. Do you really want to hear about the results of my FTP test...well if you do you'd have to wait on that, I didn't do it yet.
Ok so I admit I am not so cerebral, I'm more visceral. Visceral is not one of those words you use everyday. I leaned that word over 20yrs ago while watching a Woody Allen movie...which kinda proves my viscerality.
From my picking days. Red Brownie camera...have u ever seen one of those?
Two shows that I can't get enough of these days are Pawn Stars and Pickers. Even my younger son Jamie is hooked on these shows. I got J all pumped up for garage sale season. I told him to ride around on his bike to find some good stuff come the spring. Once he finds a pick I'll come in like Rick and low ball there ass.
When it comes to music these days I seem to be drawn to female vocalists...and I don't know why. Maybe someone can google an answer for me. Bands like Chromatics, Cat Power and this chick from Sleigh Bells... I really dig this version. Rill Rill
Keep on truckin bitch.
I still cant believe how good you've gotten in the tech stuff. You amazed me Sunday floating over and up those climbs. With your fitness and tech prowess there will be a plethora of podiums this year. Should be fun trying to hold onto your wheel at the Kill and Scat
HeavyMetaLance
Well-Known Member
Try watching Tosh.0
SpartaBard
Well-Known Member
The horse latitudes are worse...
