mbsbike2002

C - No offense taken. At the end of the day, either ride the bike you have or buy the bike you'll ride. J - Cool, thanks. Mmmm... Warm vomit. Well, the fact is it can look like that going down, or it'll look like that on the way back up. Was going to mix some broth in with the brisket tonight to lube it up some... That is a great pic of you & BG. Off to review the beige walls for a while I'll be glad when the sun is out longer... B

Easy on the Lazy - there are times you don't have to work as hard as an upright, and times that you have to work harder. On flat land, I burn about the same number of kcal/min with recumbent as on upright (reduced drag offset by higher micro-adjustments for balance), uphill I burn more (can't put body weight into it by standing up on the pedals), and downhill, who the hell cares, but I do go "Wwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Highest recorded speed on buttercup (my bike) is 42MPH (GPS matched clyclocomputer). If by lazy, you mean technique - well, maybe. There are different techniques depending on style of recumbent. At the end of the day, though, are you riding for technique to race competitively, to ride around the block, to burn many calories, to ride with the local bike club, to ride across the US, or like me, half-way across France & Back. Of this list, the only two that raise issues for recumbent riders are racing (if you want to race in UCI sanctioned races or in triathlons don't even contemplate recumbents - they aren't allowed due to their competitive advantage), and sometimes, riding with local bike clubs - some can be snobby about recumbents. There are, however, racing organizations that allow (embrace) recumbents - most notably the UMCA which sponsors the annual race across america (RAAM). For distance riding, RUSA has no concerns with recumbents. Bingo - the bike that you will ride today is far better than the bike you might ride in a few months... Meeeee tooo! It'll be here before you know it. I think it's common for people to indulge a little before having the surgery. One thing for me was mourning over the "loss" of certain foods, certain restaurants, etc. You'll get there. I know how that goes - I'll lose 10, wobble up & down around 5 pounds, then a month or so later, start losing again. It does feel good to see the scale go down, though! Good night all! B

C - Thanks! I know it's just a phase. I was able to get some finely shredded brisket down tonight, which made me feel a lot better. I have a recumbent bike that I ride on the road (Bacchetta Giro), and an indoor training stand that I put it on in the house. Each (upright & recumbent) have their advantages and disadvantages. My primary goal is not go fast, although I go faster on the recumbent - even up hill, but go far, very far. While a well-adjusted upright should cause minimal discomfort, at the end of the day, you are resting most of your weight on two circles about the size of a pre-SBA silver dollar. On a recumbent, some (and many times a lot) of your weight is on your back. At the end of the day, it's a decision you will need to make based on your riding goals. I don't evangelize about them, but I will evangelize about getting some kind of bike and getting out and riding the damn thing. As for a training stand (and stationary bike), they are boring as can be (I watched 25 miles of beige wall go by the other day - not fun at all), but they do get you turning the pedals when it's too hot, too cold, too wet, too early, too late, whatever, to ride outside. They also allow you to remove some of the variables associated with riding outside to focus on specific training goals - time in the saddle, targeted heart rate, cadence, etc. Do you have a surgery date yet? HP - I notice some ticker movement! Way to go! French Lick, huh? That sounds kind of fun J - Yes, please send any recipes that you have had good luck with. Hope you, BG, and the girls have a good day!

C - I think that it has to do with anatomy and band placement technique. It is a pain, and in fact, the your-milage-may-vary part of lapband life is one of the things that kept me from getting it for a few years. While, statistically speaking, I am more likely to gain weight if I get unfilled, I think that for now, and for me, the risk is worth it. The great thing about the lapband is that you can keep making adjustments until it is "just right". The person who inspired me to go ahead and get the band has lost 140 pounds in the last 2 years. He can eat anything he wants, but not much of it at all. That's where I want to be, even if it means losing at a slower rate. HP - I thought that Indiana was closer to Chicago.. Do you live at the southern end? BG - I'm sure you did great in the interview. Eeeewwwwwwwwww, though, on the pissy bed. B

C - Right now, I am very frustrated about not being able to eat any meat. Doesn't matter how fine I grind it, how long I chew it, it won't go down. So, I try to get by on Protein shakes. Sounds good in theory - and I've lost quite a bit of weight. The problem, though, is that it's cold, so I want soups/chili, etc. -- basically stuff that has too many calories (and carbs) for good weight loss. Or, I get tired of the protein shakes, so I look for other tasty things that go down, like peanut butter (100kcal/tbsp), Starbucks - avg of 400kcal for the things I like. Also, there are weird things that I have no problem with - chips (potato and corn), and other strange crap that I shouldn't eat any of anyway. Like I said earlier, I weigh less now than since 1990, so I can't bitch too much. And, it gives me an "excuse" to skip events that, in general, aren't good for me to attend. Right now, my plan is to get an unfill as far as is necessary to get meat down (which hopefully, I can get meat down at fully unfilled). I'll have to be more careful, but in the long run, it would improve my morale and happiness with the band. B

Cool! I haven't been to Chicago in years (and the last half-dozen visits were just connections through O'Hare, which doesn't really sell the city very well). I'm kind of excited about the possibility. I'll probably bach' it until we sell the house - so I've been looking at apartments on the lake online. I could get into that... Don't want to dampen you enthusiasm, but no - not really that easy. It's a tool, just like the bike. I'm not exquisitely happy with mine, but I weigh less than I have since 1990ish, so I can't bitch about it too much. Hi Carol - C? D - glad that you checked in. BG - Hope the job interview went well. BTW - how is Jenn doing with her band? B

Hey Chica! I missed you, too. I checked in once or twice, but didn't have time to really pay attention to what was going on or write back to anyone. This is first time that a lot of folks I met with in LA have seen me in over a year. It was very nice to get some major compliments - including one woman I've known for 12ish years who had to ask someone else who I was - she didn't have any freaking idea at all. There is a possibility that I may be relocating to Chicago within a few months - it's a ways from you & BG, but within a morning or afternoon drive. Will keep ya posted. B

Hey gang, Just go back from Los Angeles - My apologies to anyone who loves LA - but I can't freaking (in deference to J's new endeavor) stand the place - never have been able to - never will. I was very good with the food, but very, very, very, very, very bad with the alcohol... I've never been one to have a hang over no matter how much I drank. I figured this trip would be different, since I couldn't binge eat on protein after a hard night of drinking, but I'm happy to report that I can still drink like a whale and not be hung over - go me!!! BG - Good look on your interview today!! We'll all be pulling for ya! I like the revisions that Alex has made to the site in the last week - looks like a more modern version of the old layout than completely different. Can't believe that we went from bycyling to bicyling... Geez-o-Pete. Speaking of new suits (and congrats BG on the smaller sizes!) I had to buy a new suit before my trip - smallest size that I've worn since 1991. It will be the last suit I can buy at the fat man store (and if I hadn't been pressed for time, I would have gone shopping at normal stores). My boxer will be having knee surgery on Wednesday - she had quit limping after a few weeks of bed rest, but she blew it back out the first time she went to play with her friends. She'll be on three months of bed rest, so no Easter Hill Country ride for me. Not happy, but I got to take care of my puppy. Got my grades for the fall term - A & A-. Not happy with the A-, but whatever. Put me in a much better mood about school, though. Was wishing I was going to take classes this term, but in a few months, I'd be pissy about it too. Also with a recovering dog, I'm sure that I'll end up spending most evenings sitting with her, so the wife can do something besides sit with the dog. ZZ - Sorry I didn't respond earlier - your pics are awesome - you are doing sooo good! T - welcome - like BG said, any friend of J is a friend of mine. HP - Hope that school is going well TX - We still need to get together for a ride, but it might be a few weeks until the dog can start doing something besides bed rest. She's gonna be mighty cranky, and it's not fair to my wife to make her sit home with her all day seven days a week. D - We miss you, and hope that you are doing well! JC - Hope that your recovery is proceeding apace. B

My Ivy League advice (and remember, we recently determined that an Ivy League education isn't worth shit these days), is to go in under the assumption that they have already decided to hire you, and you're there to decide whether you want to work with them. Those tend to make the most interesting interviews, and in today's job market where there are plenty of qualified candidates, the most interesting one will be most likely to get the job. In general, though, J's got it covered - everybody read from the same "20 questions to ask during a behavioral interview" book from the mid-80s. When they ask you about where you see yourself in 5 years, answer them, but then turn the question around - "While we're talking about our long range plans, where do you see the teen program going over the next 5 years? How do these plans tie into the organizations overall strategic plans?" When they give you a chance to ask questions, use a structured interviewing technique to get more information that will be useful for you - "When you think about the ideal candidate for this director position, what are the qualities that come foremost in your mind?" Pick some of these qualities that are dearest to you, and ask probative questions - "When you say 'innovative', what are some of the areas that need the most innovation?" - in general, make the people who are interviewing you feel that their needs are important - as if you are already the director, and you are trying to get their feedback/buy-in. At the end of the interview, you should have enough information to determine if your really want the job, or if it is a huge-ass headache in the making, and they will have a feeling that you are engaged and invested in the success of the program, and the organization as a whole. My other advice, which has worked well for me and a few others I know, but can backfire if you aren't completely convinced and convincing is to take the approach of "this is me, take it or leave it, on balance, I don't really care which one you chose". Congratulations on getting an interview! Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes! B

I've been to the mother fuckin' mountain top.... B

Now appearing in concert - Babygirl's left butt cheek, with a surprise guest appearance by righty.... :biggrin: B

Not worth spending much time or energy on it... Glad to hear you had a great time in Vegas, J. I had a very decadent weekend. Spent most of it sleeping curled up with the doggy. There's something so sleep inducing about a sleeping dog. Didn't make it outside to ride - too damn cold (all of mid-30s...) I did ride for 25.01 miles on the training stand. That sucked. Will be more encouragement to get out and ride the ride, even if it is a little cold. Okay, so am I a complete loser if I think that "See you again" by Miley Cyrus is one of the best workout songs ever? I've been ragging on the wife for listening to it, but I needed a lot of music for my long trainer ride. It has a very good cadence ~100bpm, and a nice strong beat. While riding to it, I hit about 18-19mph ~100rpm in 3rd to smallest rear cog & about 95% HrMax. Anyway, I feel somewhat like a tool for being nearly 40, no kids, but having that on the iPod... J - you are awesome for running 3 miles in 40 minutes, and for any number of other reasons... BuffetPhan - Sweet bike. HP - How's school going? JC - Hope you're healing well - don't push it too quick. BG - So jealous on the beer. I'm going out of town next week for business, and we're all a bunch of drunks. No beer for me - guess I'll have to stick to the hard liquor... D - Miss ya. Check in when you get a chance. W - Still owe you a package. Will try to get it in the mail tomorrow. ZZ - What they said, you can run - just get good shoes. TX - Hope your Internet situation improves. Maybe we can ride when I get back in town. Any more thoughts on the Easter Hill Country ride? Hope everybody is having a great evening! B

JC - Sorry to hear about your slip, man - that bites. I'm glad that they were able to reposition and resuture it. Hope you get some rest & get out of the hospital in the morning. Best wishes for a speedy recovery... B

HP - Click on the second "Mt. Borah" in my post above - the one next to the parentheses. B

Update - well, he graded the paper as if it had been received on time, and gave me an "A-". But he put in this dig "was this written for this class?" If you're gonna give me an A-, don't be a dick. If you're gonna be a dick, then give me an "F", and I'll show you every time the paper was saved in interim while I was writing it (about 20 time & date stamped saves). Asshole. Good enough for an A in the class, though... For those of us who heart biking, I present the Mt. Borah jersey of the month Mt. Borah (It's pink for the ladies)... B

Yeah, she does... She looks a little "Eve"-ish - "Here, take this apple, and I'll let you have a little feel, too..." B

Ya know, based on all the changes that I've made in my life in the past year, I'd be okay with change, but I liked my comfortable old LBT just fine. Took me a while to even figure out that I was in the right place... Got my final turned in yesterday (i think). Got an e-mail from the prof that he never got my term paper, which was e-mailed on time on 3 Jan. I sent my final (and term paper, again) from two separate e-mail addresses last night asking for confirmation that the prof received it. So far, no response. I'll wait to see what grade I get (had a 99.5 going into term paper & final). If it's not acceptable, me, the prof, and the dean will go round and round. Fortunately, there's a nice 2' x 3' picture of me and the dean hanging in the registrar's office... JC - sorry to hear about the emergency repair - fill us in on the details soon. Mmmm - Little debbies - I couldn't go for the snack cakes, but they have these chocolate-covered peanut butter bar things that I used to be able to eat by the box (no wonder I weighed nearly 340 fucking pounds). Mmmm - Lube. Fun times for all. J - might want to check at the Sam's/Costco HP - Good luck on the school thing - there will be ups and downs, but in the end, it'll be worth it. B

That would make me a saaaad panda... B

Yep - was getting concerned....

ZZ - Welcome to twoterville, chica! Congratulations! BG - Congratulations on being within 40 pounds of goal! That's amazing!!! GDMF Dallas Cowboys. Not that I'm effing bitter about it. D - Sorry to hear about the band issues. Hopefully a slight unfill will fix it right up. I've got quite the sinus infection thing going - sucks mightily. Treating it very vigorously, so hopefully, it will clear up quickly. B

Thank ya ma'am. It was a pretty good ride. Chip & Seal continues to suck, and I am going to have to rethink my strategy of zooming around the back roads around here. Was almost wiped out by a guy in a Mustang taking the inside lane in a turn. I think he was more scared than me. Enjoy your day off, J. Mine doesn't come until Tuesday. Tomorrow is a 15ish mile ride (basically last week's route), then Monday is a nice ~60% HRMax ride on the trainer. B

TX - I registered for the ride last night. We're planning to drive down Thursday afternoon, do one of the shortish rides on Friday, the metric century on Saturday, do the Saturday dinner & concert, and head home Sunday (no ride). I think we're going to stay at the La Quinta in Kerrville. It's new & pet friendly (although none too fancy). I have a 20-mile ride planned for this afternoon - hopefully, gravity will be kind to me... B

Warm up - choice of - Playing to Win - Little River Band Move Along - All American Rejects Invincible - Pat Benatar Woke Up This Morning - Alabama 3 Naughty Naughty - John Parr Work out - American Soviet - CCCP Bouncing off the Ceiling - A*Teens Build Me Up Buttercup Cruel Summer - Bananarama Dance Floor Anthem - Good Charlotte Do You Love Me - Bat Mastersons Doctorin' the Tardis - Timelords Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne Headhunter (V2.0) - Front 242 I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club Iko Iko - The Belle Stars Into the Ocean - Blue October It Takes Two - Rob Bass & DJ E-Z Rock Justified and Ancient - The KLF (Featuring Tammy Wynette) Kiss Me - Stephen Tin Tin Duffy Laid - Better than Ezra Last Train to Trancentral - The KLF Lay All Your Love on Me - Erasure LDN - Lily Allen New York New York - The Microchip League One Vision - Queen Paralyzer - Finger Eleven Peanut Butter Jelly Time - Chip-Man & The Buckwheat Boyz Piece of Me - Brittney Spears Rehab - Amy Winehouse shake That - Eminem Smack That - Akon featuring Eminem Sorry, Blame it on Me - Akon Stronger - Kanye West Tarzan Boy - Baltimora The Real Slim Shady - Eminem The Way I Live - Baby Boy Da Prince Tour de France - Kraftwerk White Lines - Duran Duran White Lines - Grandmaster Flash Who Let the Dogs Out - Baha Men Without Me - Eminem World Destruction - Afrika Bambaataa You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive Unbelievable - EMF Cool Down - choice of - Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's Naughty Naughty - John Parr Texas in My Rearview Mirror - Mac Davis B

We call it "Tour de Front Room" - the trainer stand... B

Off to ride the bike for the first time this week. I'm exhausted and don't wanna, but if I don't, this weekend's rides are gonna suck... B