I liked this title so much I stole it directly from cyclingnews ...
Yesterday was my most disappointing day of watching the Tour ever ... seeing Landis blow just six miles from the stage finish and losing the yellow jersey by eight minutes made me want to scream! It was just painful to watch the recap on OLN.
... and then there was today - I read the live coverage step by step completely amazed at Landis's ride. How could he do that? Ride such a mountain stage with such ferocity? I was glued to the computer screen all morning, chatting the whole time with Matt as we cheered him on ...
My man Landis ROCKS!
The story is here.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
News of the Week
Vacation: Matt and I booked a vacation to CA! we're flying into San Francisco over Thanksgiving weekend and will be visiting Yosemite National Park and wine country. I can't wait! We've been talking about it for a month or so but plane tickets were so expensive - $450 - and then this week I found tickets for $313. It's funny - in college, just a few years ago, I flew several times to visit friends and my plane tickets were usually around $150 - $175. And now I think $313 is a steal!
President?: My cycling team, Velo Bella, just put into place a new Board (of Directors). Teammate Sarah Stratton had been doing too much of the work on her own, so we wanted to put into place some formal leadership that would spread the duties. After encouragement by a few teammates, I agreed to be President. Seems so crazy to end up in a leadership role! (especially when I'm not on my bike a fraction of what most of my teammates are!). But, those who are on their bikes are better off in positions like working on rider development, coordinating racers, working with the national team, etc. I'm very committed to this team and am looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for us.
Trip to the zoo: Matt and I went to the zoo today! Of course we have some great pictures.
President?: My cycling team, Velo Bella, just put into place a new Board (of Directors). Teammate Sarah Stratton had been doing too much of the work on her own, so we wanted to put into place some formal leadership that would spread the duties. After encouragement by a few teammates, I agreed to be President. Seems so crazy to end up in a leadership role! (especially when I'm not on my bike a fraction of what most of my teammates are!). But, those who are on their bikes are better off in positions like working on rider development, coordinating racers, working with the national team, etc. I'm very committed to this team and am looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for us.
Trip to the zoo: Matt and I went to the zoo today! Of course we have some great pictures.
St Louis Park starts a wave: more cars, less bikes
I think all of us would agree that there are many cyclists who stupidly do not obey traffic rules and create a bad name for all of us ... while I don't condone that, I think it's VERY troublesome (from a cyclist's perspective AND a planning perspective) to watch this issue snowball into creating some very negative policies. Read below the two posts to my cycling team's message board and I think it'll explain everything ...
-----------------------------------------
"Greenway crossings in SLP
Just for clarification, motorists are not "required" to stop for ANY
bike trail crossings in SLP. This has not changed, but the city of
SLP is trying to get the word out after that cyclist was killed. The
night that happened, I was coming home at rush hour around 5 pm (in my
car) and I came across this accident. Just watching all of the
emergency vehicles arriving freaked me out. I was actually on my way
home to meet Angie for a ride. We went out for a ride, and as we came
back we crossed the road where that cyclist was hit. The "crime
scene" had spray-painted areas, and the stains on the road were very
disturbing. As it turned out, it was actually the cyclist who hit the
side of a car. Here's the story:
http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2006/04/27/news/sl27bicycle.txt
The cyclist later died. That particular road crossing (Beltline Blvd)
is a bad one, and from a driver's standpoint, it's often difficult to
see cyclists just because the intersection is so busy--four lanes of
traffic, some cars stopping-some not stopping, bumpy railroad tracks,
cyclists, roller-bladers, etc. I've had a few close calls myself
(behind the wheel and on my bike). Just a few weekends ago we were
driving down that road early in the morning on a Saturday and a
cyclist came flying through the intersection (someone in the car
recognized him as a local racer)...he clearly saw us, but made
absolutely no attempt to even slow down to see if we were going to
stop. It's hard to see cyclists coming from the direction of Uptown
because there are a lot of trees there, so he's just lucky we had time
to stop.
Some of you might know Mike Eberlein...he used to race a lot around
here, and now he's an SLP cop...check out his post on the MCF board:
http://mcf.net/tempforum/viewtopic.php?t=98
Bottom line...wear your helmet and assume the cars are NOT going to
stop at these crossings."
---------------------------------------------------------------
"So I guess you could say Chuck got tired of me talking about the
trail crossing issue in SLP and decided to do what he could to get me
to quiet down. He went to the bicycle advocate/attorney that works
at QBP and let him know about the situation. Apparently he hadn't
heard of the problem and was more than interested to get to the
bottom of everything. Apparently there is a state law that says
that cars are required to stop for trail users on mixed use trails in
MN. I don't know the exact wording, I do know that what SLP has done
goes against that law and greatly concerned the bike advocate guy
because of the precedent being set.
Long story short this has rippled into other communities. And not in
a positive way. Motorists who heard that SLP had removed the
requirement for them to stop for cyclists have been trying to get
their cities to adopt similar changes.
I work in Excelsior. A small little town that could be compared to
"Mayberry". In the past week they have blackened out all the white
paint that signified trail crossings and removed all the pedestrian
crossings and road markings (except at stop signs). I used to walk
up to the Post Office once a day and relied on one of these crossings
to safely get across the street. It is now gone and I assume the
city would rather I drive the block and a half rather than walk.
There is no longer a safe place for me to cross between my work and
the Post Office. But back to my original point.....
Apparently the Bike Advocate guy had a meeting yesterday with all the
top officials in the state and some of the SLP council members to try
to come up with some positive bike friendly solutions. From what
Chuck said all the important people from the state regarding mixed
use trails were in this meeting. People who really care about making
the world better for people on bikes and safer for everyone."
-----------------------------------------
"Greenway crossings in SLP
Just for clarification, motorists are not "required" to stop for ANY
bike trail crossings in SLP. This has not changed, but the city of
SLP is trying to get the word out after that cyclist was killed. The
night that happened, I was coming home at rush hour around 5 pm (in my
car) and I came across this accident. Just watching all of the
emergency vehicles arriving freaked me out. I was actually on my way
home to meet Angie for a ride. We went out for a ride, and as we came
back we crossed the road where that cyclist was hit. The "crime
scene" had spray-painted areas, and the stains on the road were very
disturbing. As it turned out, it was actually the cyclist who hit the
side of a car. Here's the story:
http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2006/04/27/news/sl27bicycle.txt
The cyclist later died. That particular road crossing (Beltline Blvd)
is a bad one, and from a driver's standpoint, it's often difficult to
see cyclists just because the intersection is so busy--four lanes of
traffic, some cars stopping-some not stopping, bumpy railroad tracks,
cyclists, roller-bladers, etc. I've had a few close calls myself
(behind the wheel and on my bike). Just a few weekends ago we were
driving down that road early in the morning on a Saturday and a
cyclist came flying through the intersection (someone in the car
recognized him as a local racer)...he clearly saw us, but made
absolutely no attempt to even slow down to see if we were going to
stop. It's hard to see cyclists coming from the direction of Uptown
because there are a lot of trees there, so he's just lucky we had time
to stop.
Some of you might know Mike Eberlein...he used to race a lot around
here, and now he's an SLP cop...check out his post on the MCF board:
http://mcf.net/tempforum/viewtopic.php?t=98
Bottom line...wear your helmet and assume the cars are NOT going to
stop at these crossings."
---------------------------------------------------------------
"So I guess you could say Chuck got tired of me talking about the
trail crossing issue in SLP and decided to do what he could to get me
to quiet down. He went to the bicycle advocate/attorney that works
at QBP and let him know about the situation. Apparently he hadn't
heard of the problem and was more than interested to get to the
bottom of everything. Apparently there is a state law that says
that cars are required to stop for trail users on mixed use trails in
MN. I don't know the exact wording, I do know that what SLP has done
goes against that law and greatly concerned the bike advocate guy
because of the precedent being set.
Long story short this has rippled into other communities. And not in
a positive way. Motorists who heard that SLP had removed the
requirement for them to stop for cyclists have been trying to get
their cities to adopt similar changes.
I work in Excelsior. A small little town that could be compared to
"Mayberry". In the past week they have blackened out all the white
paint that signified trail crossings and removed all the pedestrian
crossings and road markings (except at stop signs). I used to walk
up to the Post Office once a day and relied on one of these crossings
to safely get across the street. It is now gone and I assume the
city would rather I drive the block and a half rather than walk.
There is no longer a safe place for me to cross between my work and
the Post Office. But back to my original point.....
Apparently the Bike Advocate guy had a meeting yesterday with all the
top officials in the state and some of the SLP council members to try
to come up with some positive bike friendly solutions. From what
Chuck said all the important people from the state regarding mixed
use trails were in this meeting. People who really care about making
the world better for people on bikes and safer for everyone."
Monday, July 10, 2006
More thoughts on patriotism
On July 4th I was seated on a hilltop in Chaska watching the fireworks. They were fabulous - a bright half an hour display over Lake Jonathan. The neatest part though was that on top of this hill you could see other fireworks displays going off for miles around ... Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Shakopee, Excelsior, and many others. On top of this hill, surrounded by our community, I felt a kinship with all the other communities, and felt like we were all networked, all gathered celebrating the night. It felt pretty amazing. (Why can't we all gather on the summer solstice though? That would feel more meaningful to me!).
Last weekend Matt and I attended the air show in Duluth. It was SO cool. Listening to an F16 takeoff just yards in front of you is just amazing - and watching planes fly with such precision (whether a WWII plan, aerobatic plane, or modern jet) is a testament to human ability. And my brother dad and Roger came too! I was thrilled to share this with them too - especially after growing up with a brother who ran outside every time he heard a plane overhead to see what kind it was!
On the way in we passed all the protestors. Signs about planes being weapons, not entertainment ... the amount of fuel being used for the day's display ... deaths in Iraq.
I agree with them. It's good for us to realize the amount of pollution caused by buying our day's ticket. I still hate the Iraq war (the one I too protested). I know the Iraq war has nothing to do with the "war on terrorism" as some of the day's rhetoric pronounced.
On the other hand, I think that in these types of demonstrations the public gets to see what the government's armed forces are like. What if we were never allowed access to these? I like the transparency (or at least what transparency we can get).
And I also know that Iraq is the fault of politicians not the military. How many other decisions that make me feel absolutely anti-patriotic are also that way?
There was an element to the day that made me feel emotional and grateful for soldiers of the past: The legacy flight ...
Two planes, one old, one new. Honoring the fighting of the past that led us to where we are today. The wisdom of the old passing on. Comaraderie. Brotherhood. As they flew by us my dad said, "I know what that old Corsair is saying to that fighter - 'Sonny, I'LL show you how to FIGHT.'" I cried.
I guess the truth of it is that patriotism, history, politics, war, national identity, are just too complex.
But hey - to a lighter subject, Matt's pictures are very cool!
Monday, July 03, 2006
The 4th of July and Patriotism
Happy 4th!
I have so many happy 4th of July memories. As a kid, picnics and days by the pool. Carnivals, mini doughnuts, weekends in a hammock by a lake. What's not to love about a day in the middle of a beautiful Minnesota summer?
My favorite thing about the 4th is the fireworks. I love crowds gathering to watch them - it's a real community affair and brings together old, young, people from different backgrounds. And then the fireworks themselves - it's wondrous to watch the designs of lights dance in the air and to hear them crackle. I ooooh and aahhh like a kid! I'm a purist too. I don't want anything synthesized to music or choreographed or overly done! I've watched fireworks in Cloquet, Duluth, Minneapolis, Longville, Excelsior, Chanhassen, even San Francisco.
It's a tradition I love on a very "patriotic" holiday. But it also strikes me how similar fireworks are to the "patriotism" I hate, the patriotism that sings of the "rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" of our national anthem.
I try to explain - to myself and to other people - why I roll my eyes at flag waving and detest yellow ribbons on cars. There are numerous reasons. Yellow ribbon stickers in particular are a form of badge-wearing, a way for folks to pat themselves on the back for paying a $1 ... and in many cases they don't even know where the money goes. Supporting soldier's families? I have a friend who runs the Family Readiness Group of her husband's unit, and I'd rather send her money to go directly to families she knows - and not need to have a sticker to advertise it. Patriotism is THE thing to do, a sworn allegiance usually unaccompanied by the civics, citizenship, and deep questioning and thinking that I associate with a democracy.
As to our anthem - why must it herald battles? And why is it so easy to not think of the horrors of a battlefield but instead to imagine it as being similar to the "red glare" of a celebration's fireworks?
People wear patriotism when it's convenient and easy, when all it takes is a flag or a yellow ribbon sticker. Instead, I wish everyone could define for themselves what they love about a country and what makes them feel patriotic. I know many people could but don't.
What do I love about my country? What is it that makes me deeply patriotic?
While many would argue that we're not really "free," the fact that we're able to choose from so many different paths, choose where we want to live and with who and work towards success, is indeed deeply American. My patriotism here leads me to recognize this and value this, and in turn to try to inspire people to make choices that they really care about and lead the lives they really want to live.
Nearly everyone knows how much I love our earth, and in America we have scenery and wildness almost unparalleled. Every time I stand someplace amazing, under Delicate Arch in Utah or at the Grand Canyon or overlooking Lake Superior, I thank God for creating the place and all the people, past and present, who worked to protect these awe-inspiring places.
My anthem of choice would be America the Beautiful. That's one I could sing with gusto every time I heard it.
And in place of the yellow ribbon sticker? I have a nongame wildlife license plate, carefully thought out, and make a donation every year to the fund.
There are many more examples of what makes me patriotic and of the "patriotic" things I see that drive me crazy. But rather than write a novel, I'd instead like to hear from my friends and family - what makes you feel patriotic? Any other thoughts? Read any articles or anything else about patriotism that I can digest and ponder?
I have so many happy 4th of July memories. As a kid, picnics and days by the pool. Carnivals, mini doughnuts, weekends in a hammock by a lake. What's not to love about a day in the middle of a beautiful Minnesota summer?
My favorite thing about the 4th is the fireworks. I love crowds gathering to watch them - it's a real community affair and brings together old, young, people from different backgrounds. And then the fireworks themselves - it's wondrous to watch the designs of lights dance in the air and to hear them crackle. I ooooh and aahhh like a kid! I'm a purist too. I don't want anything synthesized to music or choreographed or overly done! I've watched fireworks in Cloquet, Duluth, Minneapolis, Longville, Excelsior, Chanhassen, even San Francisco.
It's a tradition I love on a very "patriotic" holiday. But it also strikes me how similar fireworks are to the "patriotism" I hate, the patriotism that sings of the "rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" of our national anthem.
I try to explain - to myself and to other people - why I roll my eyes at flag waving and detest yellow ribbons on cars. There are numerous reasons. Yellow ribbon stickers in particular are a form of badge-wearing, a way for folks to pat themselves on the back for paying a $1 ... and in many cases they don't even know where the money goes. Supporting soldier's families? I have a friend who runs the Family Readiness Group of her husband's unit, and I'd rather send her money to go directly to families she knows - and not need to have a sticker to advertise it. Patriotism is THE thing to do, a sworn allegiance usually unaccompanied by the civics, citizenship, and deep questioning and thinking that I associate with a democracy.
As to our anthem - why must it herald battles? And why is it so easy to not think of the horrors of a battlefield but instead to imagine it as being similar to the "red glare" of a celebration's fireworks?
People wear patriotism when it's convenient and easy, when all it takes is a flag or a yellow ribbon sticker. Instead, I wish everyone could define for themselves what they love about a country and what makes them feel patriotic. I know many people could but don't.
What do I love about my country? What is it that makes me deeply patriotic?
While many would argue that we're not really "free," the fact that we're able to choose from so many different paths, choose where we want to live and with who and work towards success, is indeed deeply American. My patriotism here leads me to recognize this and value this, and in turn to try to inspire people to make choices that they really care about and lead the lives they really want to live.
Nearly everyone knows how much I love our earth, and in America we have scenery and wildness almost unparalleled. Every time I stand someplace amazing, under Delicate Arch in Utah or at the Grand Canyon or overlooking Lake Superior, I thank God for creating the place and all the people, past and present, who worked to protect these awe-inspiring places.
My anthem of choice would be America the Beautiful. That's one I could sing with gusto every time I heard it.
And in place of the yellow ribbon sticker? I have a nongame wildlife license plate, carefully thought out, and make a donation every year to the fund.
There are many more examples of what makes me patriotic and of the "patriotic" things I see that drive me crazy. But rather than write a novel, I'd instead like to hear from my friends and family - what makes you feel patriotic? Any other thoughts? Read any articles or anything else about patriotism that I can digest and ponder?
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