Mad Mutant Manatee Mentors 4--CLOSED (Page 59)

Please note my updated race list on my log page...

Great article!  Thanks for sharing.

No! Don't DOOOOO EEEEEEEEEET!

Good girl. Pat pat, have a biscuit.

If both bikes fit me exactly the same and cost the same, I'd lean heavily towards the Focus.  But both are not the same geometry so likely one is more comfortable than the other.

When it comes to Shimano components of the Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra variety, it's not like any of them are bad.  It's more of a good, better, best choice.  There used to be a difference when going from Sora/Tiagra to 105/Ultegra but I'm not sure that is the case any longer.  Basically, the newest stuff comes out as Shimano Dura-Ace.  After a few years, it is "demoted" to Ultegra and the new newest stuff is Dura-Ace so eventually the stuff trickles down.  That being said, I would get the 105 or better if I could afford it.

Regarding the carbon fork on the Focus -- in theory the advantage of a carbon fork (or carbon frame) is that the carbon better absorbs vibrations than aluminum.  If you are doing long rides -- like training for a full IM or you just do a ton of 100ks and 100 milers -- this should theoretically aid in recovery (basically, it will minimize any soreness).  It used to be that aluminum frames weighed a more but I don't think that's necessarily the case these days.

Finally, if I had a friend in the business, I might ask his opinion about the wheelset that comes with each bike.  Does one have better bearings than the other?  When I had my Madone and used the stock wheels, I was get left behind on downhills. When I changed to better wheels, I was passing people.  The wheels made that much of a difference.  (and we are not talking aero wheels, just regular 30mm type rims).

This is a most excellent post.

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this.  Please go and visit him if you can.  When I had someone in the hospital for that, I think that helped him to feel more normal.

{{hugs}}

You're all trained up and that should be enough time for recovery so DOOO EEET!

Ask your friend about the wheels to see what he has to say.  Then ride them both again and go with your gut. 

I recorded it (as long as Dish continued showing Universal into Monday - US was 'on' over the weekend but it's not technically included in my list of available channels) but haven't had the gumption to look at it yet.  I also recorded the post-show, and I think that is what gives me chills every time I see it in my recorded events list.  I recorded it hoping that somehow, somewhere you would show up!  What were you wearing race day?

Sorry I don't have an answer to your question.  Surely it is somewhere on the internet.

Great article.  Made me well up a few times, I'm such a baby sensitive soul.

Bwahahahahaha!!!

DOOOOOO EEEEETTT!!!! 

DOOOOOO EEEEETTT!!!!

Got it!

I'm enjoying all of the bike talk "in case" I end up looking at bikes

I did the Boston Relief run yesterday. Here is a news clip of the event . It was an amazing evening! Seeing the running community come out in such large numbers (over 500) for an impromptu run was awesome. DS1 came with me. His first "organized" run. He got the bug. He wants to do a 5k now! We were cruising at his pace so it was a nice relaxed pace for me but my legs were still screaming, and I felt so... alive! There were several Boston runners there, some that ran this year! An amazing-inspiring-uplifting evening.

BIG SMILES!!!     Thanks to you and your newly-bitten DS1 for getting out there and showing support.

This, too, is an excellent post.

It's common--and in that sense "normal"--for people to go through such things after a major loss, especially in the 6-12mo period after. That's just to say he is not weird, he is not alone, etc.

I went through such a thing--quite publicly on BT, although it was others who asked if it was okay to post about me--I was LOSING IT, as in psychotic depression 3 hospitalizations losing it--and when random strangers sent me cards and gifts and things their kids drew, it helped more than you can possibly imagine and that's how I made a lot of my "friends for life, chosen family" here.

So even if you can't visit / he's far away, sending something heartfelt (especially baked goods! ) or a phone call can make all the difference.

The 'good' part of all that is it happened at night and the kids weren't in the school which was apparently also hit very hard.  My heart goes out to all those who were in the blast area, so terrible. 

And don't forget the ricin-laced letters that were to sent (but intercepted) to Pres. Obama, a Mississippi senator and a Mississippi judge.  Thankfully they caught that nutjob.  Crazy week here in the US, hoping things settle down soon.

The lab is now 5 miles out of town and just the corporate offices are down town now. They still store chemicals near town, and about 3 years ago there was an explosion at the storage facility. Rocked us awake.

Anyway, we as a city try to keep ourselves safe, and the chemist saved lives on the day the lab blew up because when he walked in and saw what the mixture was doing, he ordered all techs out and began evacuation of the building. But none of us want to see one of only two international companies in our town go away. I imagine the West, TX people feel similarly.

We also have only volunteer fire fighters. Paid fighters are 30 minutes away.

Sorry, I am rambling because I am tired. It has been a rough week, no?

Look for the helpers.

Aaaand my totally random thoughts/whines/etc. for the day. The moment (You know it's gonna continue!)

I picked up a Kobo (electronic reader) in NZ and am reading Proof of Heaven. Gorgeous book, I love the geekitude/spiritude all in one and it's really helping with my sense of loss and feeling lost right now. It's about a neurosurgeon who contracted a very rare brain infection--while his brain completely shut down he had a near-death experience. Well, technically, a death experience.

I'm one of those atheists to whom God appeared personally and changed my mind. (HAHAHA just after I shared about psychotic episodes. Excellent.) That doesn't mean I don't struggle with faith. I'm pretty sure if you don't struggle with it, it's not faith; it's blind faith.

A minor-ish thing I'm struggling with right now (although it's like Chinese water torture) is that since before IMNZ ... anyway, Jim came, I caught his flu (10 days off training means it probably wasn't a cold). During the NZ trip (and until very recently), my sister had a terrible cold and chest cough--next to her on airplanes, 4-5 hour drive in a closed car to Taupo, sharing rooms and beds--etc. It just really wore on me having to constantly wash and sanitize my hands, make sure I didn't touch anything she touched, wore face masks so I wouldn't touch my nose/mouth or get spray particles, etc.

Just as she was getting better (couple weeks after my dad's funeral) my mom now has it. And she touches everything, all the time, including food (we are the WORST family for sticking our hands in everything, literally and figuratively). And it's just wearing on me to keep this level of vigilance up.

Can't afford to get sick. Don't want to get sick. Have spent the better part of the last three years now recovering and it sucks. Okay, thanks, I guess I'll stick with the vigilance then.