The Sandias as seen from the bottom of Elena, near the casino.
My invitation to Le Tour having gone missing in the mail, I’ve been compelled to ride my own damn bikes around and about in the Duke City.
The high side of the circuit, before dropping down to casino country and then climbing back up.
Between outings I’ve checked in with my old Live Update Guy comrade Charles Pelkey, who is sending his daughter Annika off to Iowa today. She’ll be working for Mayor Pete. No word yet on which horse Chazbo is backing.
In other news, my man Casey B. Gibson did a little surprise gallery for that Boulder-based journal of competitive whatever whose name eludes me. Seems they needed pix from road nats in Tennessee, Casey had them, and that, as they say, was that. Money even changed hands, which is always nice when one is on the job.
Another member of the tribe, Andrew Hood, is the only one of us actually on the scene in France. It being a slow day (team time trial) I joggled his elbow for old times’ sake to see what’s what. No reply yet, because The Hoodlum is a total pro — on the clock, doing the beez-a-neez, and probably not even into the rosé yet.
Meanwhile, The Guardian is doing a live update this year, and it’s not half bad. They’re kicking the shit out of Cyclingnews. I may have to pass them a few of the millions I’ve banked from my stints at Live Update Guy.
Tags: Tour de France
Mad Blog Media 
July 7, 2019 at 9:14 am |
I better get motivated and put in a few miles. Supposed to rain buckets later up here.
July 7, 2019 at 9:57 am |
Yeh, it did that here last night. S’posed to do it again today, only with a side of wind. Bah, etc.
July 7, 2019 at 4:34 pm |
Got faked out here by Mr. Rain. Stayed close to home and played up in La Tierra Trails.
July 7, 2019 at 9:55 am |
Taking the whole famn damily out in a couple. Hoping to get in 5 pancake-flat miles, which is what passes for fitness when half the tribe is on 16” wheels and the other half is loaded down with fried chicken, fruit salad, and peanut butter oatmeal cookies. Even got a checkered table cloth for good measure.
July 7, 2019 at 9:59 am |
Good man y’self. A velo-picnic is a fine thing. Herself is at an exercise class, and I just spent a chunk of the morning chatting with a few of the neighbors, solving the world’s problems. You may thank me for my service.
July 7, 2019 at 2:15 pm |
Didn’t score any green jersey or KOM points, but the final commissar ruling was that the fried chicken was a DNF, and both kiddos were awarded Most Aggressively Adorable.
I am still awaiting confirmation from the B sample, but post ride testing showed elevated levels of peanut butter frosting.
July 7, 2019 at 2:47 pm |
It’s a damn shame that the electric teevee machine people keep asking the same doofuses (doofi?) about the world’s problems, instead of the folks on the corner who have the real answers.
July 7, 2019 at 10:31 am |
Wow! Reminds me of Ozzie and Harriet! 🙂 Good on ya’s!
July 7, 2019 at 11:03 am |
Way to go both of yous guys! Patrick, you have neighbors and dogs in your little cul de sac.
Me, I chased my tandem buddies for awhile this morning. They are off tomorrow for a big tour in Montana and Canadia.
July 7, 2019 at 12:33 pm |
NICE neighbors and dogs. duh.
And speaking of tours, don’t forget The Sky Island Tour.
July 7, 2019 at 11:01 am |
Final score, USA 2, Netherlands 0.
July 7, 2019 at 12:23 pm |
That’s only fair, since they’re kicking our ass in the Tour.
July 8, 2019 at 5:10 am |
Sunday was pretty nice – https://cycleitalia.blogspot.com/2019/07/la-langarola-2019.html
Unless you count the bee/wasp sting just below the eye that has me looking like I went a few rounds with Mike Tyson. Took the glasses off since the rain drops made it hard to see and BAM! Couldn’t see well enough to even drive the wife up to the airport this morning, but I can now sort of see the computer screen, so there’s that.
July 8, 2019 at 5:37 am |
Yow. I hope your outlook has improved.
I caught a bee in my jersey once while descending Highway 96 between Bear Basin Ranch and County Road 260. Hit the binders, shot off the pavement onto the shoulder, leaped off the bike and started pulling off kit, hoping to free the wee beastie before I got nailed.
“Look at that weirdo,” I imagined passing motorists saying. “It must be true what they say. They’re all on drugs.”
July 8, 2019 at 5:54 am |
Oh, THAT happened to me a few weeks ago. Unzipped the jersey at lunch and (stupidly) forgot to close it up once we got going again. The little f–ker had stung me twice before I unzipped enough to get it outta there. But nothing compared to this hit below the eye!! If it hadn’t started raining…
Our clients with USA brand helmets (no bug screens on the vents) have issues with bees in the bonnet as well. I think all the Italian brands have the screens.. including our Limar’s.
I can’t count the times bugs have bounced off my helmet or glasses over the years, sometimes it seems someone is shooting them at us!
July 8, 2019 at 8:46 pm |
Oh, sorry Patrick, but I am reminded of the time in Georgia I was pulling a kudzu underground runner out of my yard. I pulled it right through a yellow jacket nest. They decided to fly up my jean legs. I ran though the back door, out the front door, and then gave the neighbors the best dance and strip show they ever saw.
July 9, 2019 at 8:27 am |
Outlook much better this (Tuesday) AM so I went out for a couple hours on the bike. Now I’m hoping the lightning and thunder show this PM will clear out the skies for tomorrow?