Uniquely unUnique

I got into big trouble for that cheatneutral site, because it had the word cheat in it.  So Lets go with this version instead. stolen from the onion

I just spent a bunch of time in pittsburgh.  Its the town of my lineage.  I'm starting to really like it there.  Deep down, i'm just another yinzer.

The enviro issue

Ever since I learned about purchasing carbon offset credits (Team ClifBar & their biodiesel bus), I didn't understand the point.  Throwing money to some kid helps offset my drive (plus a sticker!)?  The movement never stuck with me as something I could participate in and believe I was actually doing good.  Today I found CheatNeutral, which makes a beautiful mockery of carbon neutral.  By offsetting your infidelity, you can come clean, just like we do with carbon. or something.

Now that I'm at home, I wonder around in awe of how my parents live (and that i actually came from them).  Most of that awe is questioning motives, you know since I'm into design and all, I want to understand how and why they've designed their lifestyle as it is.

For example, in the bathroom is where the household cleaning supplies stay.  I'm not sure if this was a good or bad idea, but I got them all out, arranged, inventoried and photographed what I found.

 

In total, 65 containers of various cleaners, ranging from ammonia to shoe polish.
Here's a sample of the inventory.

4    windex spray
4    Fantastik antibacterial spray
4    White Vinegar
3    Guardsman Furniture Polish (wood scent)
2    32 oz baking soda
2    Comet cleanser powder
2    Comet 'soft cleanser' w/bleach
2    Soft Scrub w/ Bleach
2    Glazed Tile & Grout cleaner
2    Ammonia
1    windex institutional size
1    Formula 409 wipes
1    Simple Green Spray
1    Spic & Span 'everyday'

...
Another bathroom had around 20 more containers of products.
In the next issue, I'll get to the bottom of this chemical nightmare.

pa.

Back in my homeland.
Celebrated my arrival here and another missed 'cross nationals with some amazing singletrack at Weiser State forest (rattling creek) with team visitPA.com's executive board and the matt miller experience.  My first mtb ride in 4 months and 5 days.  My soul was almost lost...

Congrats to all my friends whom made a killing at nationals, especially Challah, who pulled together a late-season surge and I believe his best nats finish yet.

Now I'm hoping I can survive 2 weeks with my parents!

LODA

Law of diminishing amazement. referring to the increase of fancy tech features, piled into some gadget to the extent that it renders that gadget unamazing.

Seems that a few faithful readers aren't too happy that I wrote 'easy UCI points' a few posts back.  Believe it or not, every year it gets easier to get UCI points.  Maybe you follow that fella who writes on cxmag trying to get just one point and you feel his pain.  But the fact of the matter is, nearly every weekend in the US, you can choose 5-6 different UCI races.  It wasn't all that long ago that the US had less than 5 UCI races total, MonkeyHill (Delaware) being one.  If you weren't a road pro or a mtb pro, there was a fat chance you'd even get top 15 in one of those.  Hell, I had one of my best days ever, fighting for 10th with Frank Mapel in 2001. He crushed me.

You may find it extraordinarily difficult to get points, and I commend anyone who does have points. If you think its hard to get points, try racing a C2 in Belgium.  UCI events are practically a dime-a-dozen these days here.  The competition (depth of field) has certainly increased since the Monkeyhill days, but luckily for the regional racer like myself the shear number of events has watered down the competition as much as its improved it.  Here are the number of UCI point earners are as follows (compiled 12.9.08)
USA: 71
Belgium: 40
france: 34
Canada: 28

Last time I checked, being Belgain was akin to being a 'cross god. But it would seem that being a US 'crosser is god-like. 
Stop your whining.

happy December

Today I spent the morning hammering and twisting apart my helium rear wheel in order to swap out old bearings. Turns out i broke some shit and still don't have the correct bearing size.  I suppose I ought let go of these wheels.  Seems like part of my character to only buy 3 generations-old wheels for 'cross-i have a self imposed $300 max for wheelsets, considering the ridiculous prices of wheels that doesn't get me much or get me wheels less than 5 years old.  I have a surplus of 6903 bearings now (like 16) in case YOU happen to need any. 
btw-these are the same kinda wheels TJ won CX nationals on the first time.

I got the weirdest holiday e-card today. smoking crack.
New Guns N Roses...haven't heard the whole thing, but curious. Got a review of it? 

One last 'cross race this sunday. Hopefully i'll have a working wheelset. Milla has her first ever 5k on saturday and unfortunately the Zentai suits didn't come in time. 

Georgia Legal

Monday afternoon cross ride.  Through town, down louisville, over to Tripplet park to cruise singletrack.  It was an interesting ride.  Here is a list of things I saw, in order of appearance:
1 pack of stray dogs (7-10) crossing the road. whoa.
2 guys, pants down, pounding.
2 armadillos
3 whitetail deer.

I was frightened by the pack of dogs and the armadillos.  I haven't seen people doing it since I was 14 (shingletown gap), and that's always a surprise.