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April 30, 2005

New look

Another change in physical appearance. (I waited until I was sure I was going keep it before posting this. )


Posted by Geoff at 8:32 AM | Comments (2)

April 28, 2005

Whew! It's been a busy week

Time flies when you're having fun: bike riding, Red Sox game, wine tasting, Ani DiFranco concert. Yesterday was a painful Sox loss (Baltimore Orioles 11-8).

Tonight was the wine tasting and I discovered Argentinian wines for the first time. Melbec is wonderful. I got to try a personal stash of the pourer's (sshhh, I'm not telling ) -- wonderful, WONDERFUL! I also tried some Portuguese wines, and found a nice Tinto (2000 Cado). Very cool. I also met some cool people, too. Special thanks to Jay Essegian, co-founder of Boston Uncorked. I had a great time.

Friday is the Ani DiFranco concert. Still can't find anyone to go with me, though. I'm going by myself if I have to. I'll let you know how it is.

Posted by Geoff at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2005

PMC Update: $1200 raised -- nearly halfway to my goal

Thanks to everyone who has given so generously to cancer research by sponsoring my ride in the PMC. I'm more than halfway to the fundraising minimum of $2200 and nearly halfway to my goal of $2500.

An update on my training: The weather's gotten really nice lately, and it feels great to ride in shorts again. I'm gradually increasing my mileage each week. Last week I was up to 105 miles. I hope to beat that this week (if the weather cooperates this weekend). I rode my longest ride last Sunday -- 56 miles -- and I felt pretty good afterward. I think I need practice riding with other people and some hill work, but other than that I think I'm well on my way.

Posted by Geoff at 6:46 PM | Comments (0)

April 17, 2005

56-mile ride -- and what a day for it!

It was such a beautiful day today -- it got close to 70F and sunny all day. I hadn't intended to ride so long, but I felt good so I just kept going and going (yes, like the bunny ). Before I knew it, I had hit 40 miles and was still 16 miles from home! 56 miles is my longest ride to date.

What a ride, though. I stopped to rest a few times, and ate my lunch in the sun. I'm tired and a little sore, but I don't think I over-did it too much, although I fell and skinned my left knee. AGAIN. I was getting close to home. I think I was just getting too tired to think, and the motion to get unclipped isn't quite second nature yet.

Oh, well. I never get very hurt when I fall, because it's always when I've come to a complete stop. But it's annoying and embarrassing. I'll learn. Eventually.

Posted by Geoff at 6:34 PM | Comments (1)

April 15, 2005

In good shape for the PMC -- 521 miles in 2005

With all the good weather the last month, I've gotten in a lot of riding. Last week, Mon-Sun, was my best week, with 87 miles, plus an hour of spinning. In the four weeks from March 20 through today, I've ridden 284 miles, and 521 miles since I started keeping track in January 2005!

I'm feeling very healthy and have even lost a little weight. (Last weekend I had to buy some new jeans because mine were too big!) My longest ride was 42 miles last Sunday. I plan to ride even longer this weekend. It's forcast to be 72 on Sunday. Yay! I'm feeling very comfortable with my ability to ride the 151 miles on PMC weekend.

Posted by Geoff at 5:17 PM | Comments (1)

NY Yankee, Alex Rodriguez, wins back some respect from a Boston fan

For so many Boston Red Sox fans, the rivalry with the Yankees has stirred up a lot of emotions. Few Yankees players have been in the middle of it more often than Alex Rodriguez. From his snub of the Red Sox during trade talks that promised to put him in a Sox uniform, that ended with him in a Yankee uniform, to his childish slapping interference during the American League Championship Series, A-Rod has angered and disgusted many Red Sox fans.

But this week, during the Yankees visit to Boston for their second series with the Sox, Alex Rodriguez won back some respect at least in my eyes. Tuesday afternoon, while waiting in a crosswalk, he saved an 8-year-old boy from being run over by a truck:

from the Tallahasee Democrat [Jim Baumbach/NEWSDAY]:

Rodriguez said he was about to enter a car when he noticed a truck heading in his direction and quickly decided to step back to protect himself. But when he turned around, he saw young Patrick running into the street and directly toward the utility truck. A-Rod said he acted instinctively, immediately grabbing the boy and pulling him back with him.

Posted by Geoff at 2:31 PM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2005

Haircut

For those who know me this should be self-explanatory. I had this done Sunday. (Click the image to see it larger.)

Posted by Geoff at 7:30 AM | Comments (4)

April 10, 2005

Went to an Irish pub, met a French cancer researcher

Tonight was interesting. I headed out aiming for dinner and maybe a beer or two. Boston Beer Works, across from Fenway Park, was packed, perhaps more than usual because of home opener on Monday.

So, I ended up at O'Leary's Pub on Beacon Street. I sat between a couple of regulars and it felt a little like an episode of Cheers for a while. They were, of course, had had much more to drink than I had, having been there most of the day. We had strange conversations: from health insurance for musicians to Cat Steven's conversion to Islam and hapless return to the U.S., to one's entry in the contest to win an Irish pub in Ireland (he wasn't Irish, so they didn't let him win, or so he claims). One of them eventually left and made an evening of talking to a woman he had just met that night.

The other remained and continued to comment on everything from the girls sitting next to us to the guy playing acoustic versions of Beatles, Bob Seger, Roy Orbison, and Van Morrison (mostly complaints). He eventually removed and ate the watercress garness from my plate (which weirded me out a bit). He insisted we wasn't gay, which made me wonder why he was insisting, since I hadn't even thought it much less made any insinuations...

Later, someone else sat next to me. He was a much better conversationalist (not being completely drunk), and we chatted for quite some time. His name is Xavier, and it turns out he's from the North of France, but here doing research for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. (Which happens to be the beneficiary of the Pan-Mass. Challenge, the fundraising bike ride I'm doing this summer.) We talked about beer (he's from one of the big beer-producing areas of France), the Red Sox (he knew very little about baseball, but seemed rather interested), differences in vacation and unemployment benefits between Europe and the U.S., and a host of other topics.

I left around 11:30 having enjoyed the company, and went home to watch an X-File episode while eating some ice cream. Hope you all are having an enjoyable weekend as well.

Posted by Geoff at 1:20 AM | Comments (2)

April 8, 2005

Spinning is fun, but very different from bicycling

I tried spinning for the first time this morning (at 6am!). For those who don't know what spinning is -- it's a workout involving stationary cycles, an instructor, and often accompanied by music. I tried Spynergy in Wellesley, MA, on a recommendation of someone at my Pilates class.

I discovered how different is from cycling. Most obviously, you don't move anywhere. And, man, did I sweat a lot more than I do when I'm riding my bike (granted, it's still cool outside, but perhaps I need to find some more difficult rides ). The instructor is constantly having you adjust hand and seat position and resistance to change the pace of the workout -- slow down, speed-up, stand up, sit down -- simulating everything from coasting to hill-climbing. Because you have control of the resistance, you can tailor your workout to your current ability.

The music was fun, and it seems pretty important to have the right kind of rhythm for the particular speed and resistance. This particular instructor seemed to love the Grateful Dead, but mixed it up with a variety: Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Van Morrison, and even Blue Man Group. It's not music I often listen to, but I enjoyed it.

I'll definitely do it again, but probably less in the summer while the weather's good for riding outside. (Sorry Spynergy.)

Posted by Geoff at 9:47 PM | Comments (0)

April 6, 2005

First spills on my bike -- clipless pedals can be tricky

I got my bike back from the shop yesterday -- YIPPEE!. I got in a great ride last night before dark.

I also was excited to install a new bike component: clipless pedals, which allow you to secure your shoes to the pedals for improved pedaling efficiency and less slipping off the pedals. I tried to install them last night so I could use them today, but due to a tight right pedal bolt and my cough*crap*cough wrench which bent on me, I had to wait until today.

I rode my bike 15 miles to work this morning. Then my co-worker, Alex, and I took a lunchtime trip to Ace Hardware and Sears, where I bought Liquid Wrench and a new 15mm wrench (actually a whole set of Craftsman wrenches -- I couldn't resist the price on the 12-piece set and the lifetime warranty). I installed the pedals without incident this time, and when it was time to ride home, I practiced disengaging the pedals for a few minutes, and thought I was ready to ride for real. At the first intersection I had to stop, I failed to disengage and took my first spill on a bike in probably at least 15 years - ugh.

Then about 5 miles from home, at another intersection, I disengaged my left pedal successfully and stopped, but then proceeded to lean too far to the right to press the walk signal button with my right foot was still secured -- oops! -- and took my second fall of the day.

Oh, well. I'll get the hang of this eventually. I've learned two important "don'ts" today. And I only suffered minor scratches on my legs and minor bruises of my ego. (And got 32 miles of riding in today.)

Posted by Geoff at 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

April 2, 2005

Spring tune-up -- I'll be without my bike for three days

I've been riding quite a lot and have noticed that the drive train is running noisier than it used. After last weekend's fiasco with the derailleur, I figured it was time for a tune-up.

So, I took it to the local bike shop, Back Bay Bicycles, thinking it would be a quick cleaning and adjustments, but alas I was mistaken. Apparently, the reason for the drive train noise was that the chain had stretched and needed replacement. I've heard of it, but didn't think it would be so soon. He showed me his measuring device and sure enough the links were too long. I also needed new rear brake pads (which I knew already).

So he filled out the work order and asked if Tuesday was okay. Fine, I said. I needed to get it done, but I was disappointed to be without my bike for three days. Oh, well. The weather's not so great until Tuesday anyway. In the mean time, I'm trying to get into a spinning class, but no luck so far...

Posted by Geoff at 7:50 PM | Comments (0)

PMC Update: $850 raised so far! Thanks!

Thanks to all who have contributed to my PMC ride so far. At $850, I'm well on my way to my goal of $2500. If you haven't contributed please visit my profile page on PMC's web site. You can pledge online or by mail. All donations are tax-deductible.

Thanks in advance!

Posted by Geoff at 7:09 PM | Comments (0)