No salt water this time around. No Cool Guy. No broken feet. (fingers crossed)
Archive for the ‘Other’ Category
Keep em coming
Friday, May 28th, 2010I hate when the Giro is winding down
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Picture from Steephill.tv
Waking up at 6 every morning to watch the live feed of the Giro has been great. Coffee and a bagel and yelling at the tv is a great way to start the day, and I’m bummed it’s going to be over on Sunday.
I really dig the expression on Scarponi’s face. Using Basso to pull him right up to the finish line and then pulling ahead for the stage win was awesome to watch. Perfect execution in my opinion.
If today was awesome, tomorrow will be even better. Unless Evans or Arroyo can get their shit together, Basso is going to take this one home.
Making light of religion and getting through the Vatican
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010I am not religious. I’m not an atheist, but the word agnostic just sounds difficult. Secular Humanist? I’m not sure. What I’m getting at is that I don’t believe in God, so going to churches for three weeks is really getting tiring.
Yesterday we went to the Vatican to check out the museums and the Sistine Chapel. The first couple galleries were what I expected, the Sistine Chapel was impressive, but I was really taken aback by the modern art wing. There was some pretty cool stuff in there honestly. But this post is not about that.
But the first gallery we went to was renaissance/byzantine painting. Misia and I devised a way to get through this particular gallery. Many of these paintings are very serious. Very very serious. So serious are they that they have some really odd and funny imagery. Here’s a good sampling from this gallery.
The look on this baby’s face is a bit disturbing.
Is this guy pointing at the scriptures with a boner?
Are these the three stooges of the angel world? What is it with floating heads. There was also a painting featuring an arch of babies heads that I didn’t get a photo of.
I think this guy lied about his talents.
West-Side!
Nice monkey shoulder-pads.
I don’t have a clue what’s going on here. Really bad gas? Why is Jesus on this dude’s back? What is this?
So there you have it. Once you find the absurd details the rest is a breeze.
Vorrer due birre per favore
Monday, April 5th, 2010We left Portland at 12:30 on Saturday and got into Rome around 1 on Sunday. Smooth flights, bad movies, microwaved food. The usual.
After a long/slow train into the city we caught the subway to Coliseo, which is right at the Coliseum. Duh.
After a 5 minute walk from the Coliseum, we found our apartment. And boy what digs. This place is bigger than our house and there’s marble floors. And marble tiles in the bathroom. And a bidet.
This morning we woke up, had some coffee at our cozy little breakfast table.
Afterwards we headed out for the day.
Seeing these buildings in art history books and in movies doesn’t prepare you for actually standing below them.
The Coliseum is impressive. More impressive were the crowds. We didn’t go inside, but from the outside the people inside were pressed against the sides. Admittedly we are here the during the easter holiday. Today was also a national holiday, so the crowds are out in force.
Finding an open grocery store was a bit of a tall order as well. The three we knew of were not open, so we walked until we found one. Wine is cheap. Really cheap. What would be a $10 bottle in the states goes for about 1,50 euro. And it’s delicious.
I’ve been looking at bikes when I see them, but there’s not much to report on. Mostly dutch style cruiser things, cheap department store bikes, and the weekend warrior choice seems to be mountain bikes.
I did spy one awesome Colnago though…
On the way home from the market we found a small stall in our building that had opened for the afternoon.
It’s nice having a beer store in your building.
Tomorrow we’re headed west to the Vatican and possible Tiber Island. Saturday we leave for Paris to catch a Sunday morning train to Roubaix. It really is a rough life.
On the outskirts of a well known city
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Lies the factory that makes amazing tubes.
It’s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except with steel.
Preparations for the Roubaix
Sunday, March 28th, 2010
We’re two weeks away from the Roubaix and our plans are coming together. Not the solid kind – hotel, transportation. But the actual comprehension that we’re going to be in France, in Roubaix, witnessing our favorite race with our own eyes. We’re saving all of our actual prep for when we arrive in Rome. From there we’ll book our flights to Paris, and then we’ll hop the train to Roubaix from there.
More to come…
Another attempt at the Ronde
Sunday, March 28th, 2010So the last time I attempted the Ronde I missed some of the markings, partially due to fatigue, partially due to them being faded in some areas. I missed Brynwood, and College, which are the gnarliest climbs of the whole route.
This time was different. Stocked with enough water and a better understanding of the route, I set out to complete the whole thing. And boy did I.
I wasn’t able to make it to the mountains to ride dirt, but I found quite enough hills to climb right here in Portland. Thanks Ronde.
The fixed gear has officially jumped the shark – no really
Friday, March 26th, 2010We thought the bars-as-wide-as-grips phenomenon was bad. We thought the Aerospokes we bad. Even the 650c up front seemed like the end.
When Walmart starts selling fixed gears for $150 I think it’s finally over. Even though I no longer ride a fixed gear, it’s impossible to throw a stone in this town and not hit one locked up to a rack. I wonder if my prediction that old steel Italian road frames with period correct Campy will become the next fad. God I hope not.
Italian hospitality
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
from Steephill.tv
Leaving for Rome in 8 days. Thoughts of Italian pastries, coffee, ruins, scooters, and a possible tour of the Cinelli factory are keeping me up at night. It’s not very often I travel across an ocean, let alone for three weeks. This is one of those opportunities that comes along every once in a long while. And I’d be stupid to say no.
Especially when flights from Rome to Paris are cheap. Trains from Paris to Roubaix are also cheap and we’re going to find a nice spot amongst the cobbles in hopes of catching the last couple of kilometers. Somewhere close to the velodrome so we know who won, after which we’ll wander the streets taking in the small town overrun by cycling glory.
We bought a new camera recently and I’m hoping to get some photos of blood, sweat, and tears.
Probably the best movie ever.
Sunday, March 14th, 2010Cheech, I think you may be forgiven for that stint on Nash Bridges now. Seriously, what were you thinking?
Millions of people are doing it. You should too.
Thursday, March 11th, 2010While I’m not always keen on bike advocacy, I do often join in when the cause is on the right track.
Getting more federal money for transportation alternatives sounds like a good idea to me.
So sign up already and be counted.
Also, the site is really well built, and although it’s got a web 2.0 feel, it’s easy to use. And I like it when things are easy.
Italian Spiderman
Friday, March 5th, 2010Exactly one month from now we’ll be in Rome. This has nothing to do with Italian Spiderman, except that I love it.
New Content. New outlook on life.
Thursday, March 4th, 2010It’s time someone stepped forward and said enough is enough. I’m not sure that’s me, but hell, I stare at a computer all day now so I might as well do something productive.
Velograph is back.