To the Trail Head (almost), 7 p.m., psycho eyes

Work has been maddening. It's the three-week stretch wherein I put the finishing touches on the ginormous CP Choice issue, have a week "off" then have to contend with the mega-work-intensive holiday gift guide. today we had the photo shoot for the gift guide, which invovled lots of early-morning running around to pick up straggler merchandise, then spending an entire day manning the editorial end of the photo-taking. by the end of the day, i was shot, my pupils were little spirals as i walked out of the CP offices. this called for a bike ride. headed out at 7 on the trek and rode out toward conshohocken, figuring i'd turn back if i felt like i was too shot to go all the way to Conshy. made it up the big hills past manayunk and was about to shoot down the hill that leads to the conshy trail head and knew that there wasn't much in the tank (as is often the case during weeks with big issues, i hadn't been sleeping much, or well). turned around before i got too far down the hill and rode the rest of the way back in workman-like fashion. as a side note, my headlight batteries kicked and when i got home i discovered that they'd leaked acid all over the inside of the light (this is not the first time this light has done this), thus ruining three of the four rechargeable batteries contained therein. time for a new light, and some new rechageables.

Stats: 21.37 miles, 1:20:24, avg speed 15.94 mph, top speed 32 mph, non-commute miles year-to-date 1,696.53

Song of the day: The Hold Steady, "The Swish"

The Lapse

so i hope you'll forgive the lapse in things.

here's what's happened since separation saturday:

10 more rides
405.4 miles, including the MS 150 (or 157) City-to-Shore jawn
16.43 mph
36 mph top speed
did laps in FDR Park
almost got run over trying to cross kelly drive
hit the velodrome, hung out with some bike geeks, bought some cheap stuff and had a Yocco's dawg on the way home
discovered of the most stunning nighttime vista in the city
zero shoulder separations
much knocking on wood

yeah, people, where'd the last two months go? between the radio show, training for the MS 150 and putting together the CP Choice issue, well, i guess this little exercise in blarghing got a little lost in the shuffle. Since it's bicycle related, i'll elaborate and say that the MS 150 was a smashing success for ye olde Hostile City Rollers. We put in a strong showing and only some technical difficulties kept us from winning the whole thing. (it's not a race, i know.) the ride stirred up much team spirit and spurred spirited discussions on what our team jerseys should look like should we decide to have team jerseys made.

and that's pretty much where it's at now. i stand at 1,675 miles for the season and am gonna push to make it to 2,000 before it gets too cold to ride. not sure if i've got 325 miles in me, but i guess well see. If you've got an opinion on this matter, send it to me here.

and if anyone can offer me pointers on how to post an excel file as a table, i'd much appreciate it.

Song of the Day: Wolf Parade -- Shine a Light