So, you might have heard me mention my squishy knee issue that i've had for the past six/seven weeks or so. Well, I finally listened to friends, family and complete strangers and bit the bullet and went to go see a Doctor about it. And, just as I figured, I had burst a bursa (say that three times fast) sack in my knee which had caused the area to become inflamed and fill with fluid, henceforth the "squishy". Last Wednesday the doctor drained it and removed about four bloody fluid ounces from my knee, shot it up full of cortisone and sent me on my way. Well, a week plus later, I still don't have the greatest range of motion in the knee... but I've been armed with some exercises (thanks Molly) and many an ice pack after activities to keep the swelling at bay. As well, after doing things like playing soccer, CrossFit workouts, climbing or bike riding... I've been rubbing the area down with some icy hot. I've learned on such occasions that I should wash my hands right afterwards and not go do things like use the restroom. Let me just say, there are some places on the body that don't need to be both icy and hot at the same time.
Speaking of bike riding, this week I was most pleased when I placed third in the Women's Division at PIR this past Monday. I'm not going to really dwell on the fact that was not the PIR World Championships, or that it was just after a huge stage race weekend or the same night as the start of the short track series, I'll give myself credit that there were some good quality racers out there (17 of us, across all categories) and I preformed well and will continue to do so (I hope) regardless of who else shows up. I feel like sometimes there are the other really fun popular races that everyone loves to go to and talks about and those are the ones I hardly ever do. For example, PIR was a pretty hot topic back at the beginning of May when that was the only race series going on (and I didn't do it then due to other obligations), but now there's the Tabor Series, and Short Track and well... PIR goes on all summer. It was so last last month. Oh well, I was never worried about being popular. Also, I'm not a climber nor a mountain biker... so, if it's short flat and fast, that's where you'll find me.
that's me in the light blue helmet and orange jersey
And, since I filled you all in on our awesome new bike kits for Bridgetown Velo, I'll also let you know that this week Caroline, over at Little Package, put the finishing stitches on our new caps and I spent several evenings this week screen printing our BTV logo on the side of them. Screen printing so many things by hand over and over can be a little repetitive, but the hats turned out really nice and I can't wait to see everyone wearing them. Caroline did an amazing job responding to everyone's requests for custom sizing, bill and band choices etc. In fact, she told me upon picking them up, that as far as local biking celebrities go, the hats were well blessed since she was assisted by John Howe Team Beer Spokesmodel in cutting them and Luke Scheybeler, co-founder of Rapha, in pressing and prepping them. So, that's pretty cool... especially the Rapha connection. Luke, who apparently is a friend of Caroline's, is the creative director of Rapha. Rapha is basically like the Tom Ford or Ralph Lauren of cycling fashion. Their touring jerseys and other apparel items are sharp looking and not for the thrifty, take for example their $3,500 custom made three piece cycling suit.
new Bridgetown Velo cycling hats
Speaking of biking as well, this past weekend Portland celebrated their first in a series of three Sunday Parkways events. Sunday Parkways is basically the city shutting down roughly seven miles of city roadway to motorized car usage to make it family friendly for other modes of transportation. Despite rain showers and it being on Father's Day, the event was a success bringing in tons of participants on bikes, roller blades, skateboards and their own two feet in North Portland. I greatly look forward to the next one happening in North East Portland in July.
Sunday Parkway riders enjoying the rose garden
And well, this is turning into one big blog about bikes isn't it?
Coming up next week is the first (in what I hope to be an annual occurrence) called the Portland Tour De Franzia!!! To celebrate the start of the Tour De France I decided to get my friends together for a traveling bike party in which we will dig out our best spandex, dust off our bikes and ride from house to house drinking the lifeblood of France... wine! However, this is a depression folks and half of my friends are unemployed, so instead of a bottle of 1963 bordeaux, we'll be drinking a 2009 Chanti out of our bike bottles. Courtesy of Franzia, the low budget max capacity lifeblood of budget conscious champions everywhere! Seriously, is this a great idea for a party or what? Wine, bikes, and exercise! Wowee! Feel free to have a tour of your own... I mean, the real Tour starts on the 4th of July and goes to the 26th, that's 21 stages of drinking you can do. Don't delay, start training today!
And, while we're at it... can I talk about something that bugs me? Asshole cyclists. Asshole cyclists bug me. As if the roads weren't dangerous enough for us two wheelers as it is... some riders just make it worse. Take for example, the ass hole cyclist who comes up from behind you and doesn't announce it. That's the unwritten rule with commuting, if you're gonna pass someone, do it to the left, and ring a bell or shout out a warning. One morning this week I was on my way to work when some "dude" whips out to the side of me and doesn't/didn't say any thing. Honestly, he scared me a little. I naturally assume that when "dude" rides, his goal is "beating everyone on the road" (which, I'm not going to lie, is my goal too). Sure, you can say that maybe I'm a little bitter that this guy passed me - but when I pass people, I "announce it", I want them to know they're getting passed (but not in an ass hole kinda way, more like a friendly competitive bike commuter way).
So, when this guy passes me, I decide to be a friendly ass hole right back and make him feel not so good about himself and his slyness. As a result, I match his quick pace and stick to his wheel the whole remainder of my ride. It didn't take long for him to notice I was there, he could see my shadow and he glanced back once or twice. Normally when you're "commuter racing" it's a mutual good sportsmanship thing to share some friendly glances, smiles or banter at lights. But no... not this "dude". He was pissed that he passed me and didn't lose me. At the light he didn't even look back. Basically, I tail gated "dude" till I peeled off to make my turn to my office... and when I passed people that he had passed, I shouted out "on your left!" to them. Granted, they'd already been startled by the "dude" enough as it was, but I tried to at least let them know they were getting passed again.
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