Monday, March 31, 2008

Run Russell Run


It's been a long, lazy winter. And now the folks at work have signed us up to do the Big Sur Marathon as a relay. Gotta represent...


Then a week later, I get invited to rejoin last year's Wildflower triathlon relay team as the runner. OK, we won last year, but that was mostly due to the monster swimmer and ringer cyclist; I hung on enough to not lose the lead.


I've tried Tilden and Redwood parks in the East Bay hills for runs so far, and Redwood so far is hands down the winner--the Stream Trail is the closest thing to Huddart Park (a little slice of heaven in Woodside) I've been through in a long time. Tilden is a bit strange: it's back-to-nature vibe is definitely spoiled by the view of people's houses on the ridgelines, which gave me the feeling that I was running through their backyard.

Still, that's two runs in the past week, and I felt the first one in my legs for the following four days. Bike commuting will help to flush out a little lactate, but I've gotta be doing those little bread-'n'-butter runs during the week as well. Lift those heels!

Monday, March 24, 2008

High praise for my hack photo

Hi Russ,

I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo
has been selected for inclusion in the newly released
second edition of our Schmap Canada Guide:...

Well, that was a fluke occurence. They had actually written a few weeks ago to ask for "permission". Do these people ask for everyone's photos? Or maybe they just have room to include a bazillion thumbnails for any given landmark.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

If Cyclingnews.com took a look at my commuter bike

That is, if they could ever stop laughing:


Full specification

Frame: 1998 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, "Nitanium" steel alloy*
Rear shock: uh, no
Fork: Rock Shox Jett T2, never serviced, 2 inches travel if I hit a real big hole*

Critical measurements
Rider's height: 1.9m (6'3"); Weight: 84kg (185lb)
Seat tube length, c-c: 495mm
Seat tube length, c-t: 508mm
Top tube length: 597mm (horizontal)

Bottom bracket: Unknown*
Cranks:
Specialized, 180 mm, 22-32-44*
Chain: SRAM PC-951 (new!)
Front derailleur: Shimano STX RC*
Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore LX*
Shift levers: Shimano Deore
Front brake: Dia-Compe VC733*
Rear brake: Dia-Compe VC733*
Brake levers: Dia-Compe DP7 *
Rear sprockets: Shimano HG70, 11-32T

Wheelset: No logo
Tyres: Specialized Nimbus EX 26x1.50

Bars: Specialized aluminum*
Stem: Specialized aluminum*
Headset: Aheadset*
Tape/grip: Fox rubber

Pedals: Performance Bike Campus pedals
Seat post: aluminum*
Saddle: WTB Rocket V
Computer: yeah, right

Rack: Mountain Equipment Co-op

Total bike weight: 32 lb with pump, saddlebag and lights; 40 lb with typically loaded panniers

*original componentry

I believe they call it "training effect". A few weeks/months of riding this thing to work again and my legs are going to be like cannons.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

78.75" x 31.5" x 3.825" x 80#


...or 200cm x 80cm x 10cm x 36.5kg, for those of you who may be more metrically inclined.

Anyone reading this who owns a pickup is laughing at me, I know, but I love it when the little car overperforms. And now I'll have a couch.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Loft life


New job, new apartment. Isn't it trendy? Really, it was the first place I saw that I thought I could actually live in. Most places I saw in my price range were, uh, small and old ("cozy with character").


The concrete playground of the downstairs was big enough for riding a bike in circles--until I filled it with my boxes and boxes of crap.


Bedroom space upstairs, and the windows now have curtains so I can sleep.


Look way, way up and there's a third floor, though I don't yet have a way of getting up there to see how many dust bunnies have collected or put stuff away.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008