November 11,2010
This has been a rough year for me. It is with a very heavy heart to be announcing the passing of my Brother Andy. Andy passed away yesterday at home at the age of 37. Andy was a great man. Scholar, Musician, Son, Brother, Husband and Father. If you could take a moment and say a short prayer for my Sister in Law, Neice and Nephew. Andy was many things to many people. He touched more lives than anyone will every be able to comprehend. I miss my brother. I love my brother. Rest in Peace Andy.
September 26, 2010
Hey kids, hope everyone is having a great end of the season, or beginning of the season depending upon your discipline. Road and Mountain are wrapping up, Cyclocross is wramping up and all the downhillers have started their base training. Its been a little crazy around here, I met this remarkable lady who has motivated me to continue pushing myself, which is today's lesson class. We all have little obstacles that will come up and at times seem to dominate things in our lives. Deadlines to meet, patients that need tending to, and of course can't forget about our kids, but inspiration is all around us, and believe it or not mine came at the most unusual place at an unusual time, but the fact that I have been inspired, by looking at one woman and thats all it took, I have become inspired or re-inspired to give all of myself almost to the point of reckless abandoment, it can be difficult at times, but no matter what it is that you get you going or used to get you going, rediscovering it is not only good for yourself, but also for those that share you lives with you. I know this post was a little deeper than normal and make no mistake, I will go back to being my goofy self in the next post, which I am seriously hoping will not take me almost three weeks to do. Reminder to self, take 10 minutes to update this thing. Again I hope that everything is going well with you and as always any questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop me a line at any of the three normal avenues. Have a great week.
September 6, 2010
Happy Labor Day, so why am I so happy. Well this is the first time since I have gotten out of the Army I have the day off. Awesome. Will be doing some dry runs over the course of the next few weeks to make sure everything is good to go as it pertains to the cyclocross season. With the drastic weather change my back has been tightening up, hence the reason for the dry runs to make sure that it will hold up. Actually getting proud of some of my run times of late. Did a little modificatoins to the diet. Not that I have changed anything that I eat. Just what time I eat them. Could never give up the Rasberry Filled Powder Covered Doughnuts or the Chili Cheese Dogs. Today is laundry day, need to get my cycling stuff cleaned up. Downside to the whole apartment thing is the fact that we don't have a in apartment Washer and Dryer and man does this stuff get expensive. Especially at 2.25 a load. Well I guess thats all for now, so As always any questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop me a line.
August 29,2010
So its Sunday evening and really not much going on at the moment, so I thought I would jump in and do a post. Its been a decent weekend all things considered. Really didn't get much riding in. Funny thing happens about a month before a racing season begins. At some point you look around and realize that you need to do some serious upgrading or repairing of your machines. So I spent quite a bit of time window shopping. Actually surprised myself to find out that for most part. I am ready to go. So CYCLOCROSS BABY!!!!! Yeah I'm getting excited. Although I do need to get some new running shoes, mine have definately seen their better days. So after Wed. The lunch time runs will return. Nice part about having an hour for lunch. So this is what the bulk of the training regime. Run one day, Ride the next. The runs aren't that long. The thing with Cyclocross is you need to make sure that you can go for 30 to an hour without stopping. The thing about cyclocross isn't so much about the winning as much as the completing. Just like Duathlons and Triathlons. If you complete it. Its a win. Short, sweet and to the point. So for those that are reading this and wondering. You wont know until you try. Hell if you look at it. Just showing up is a victory. You will be doing a sport that not many people in the world, let alone your own city will do. Makes you an elitest if you look at it that way. Again and as always. Any questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop me a line either on the Contact Us tab on the left or at cblackman@mezagog.com
August 27, 2010 (Part II)
So I thought I would let you guys know that I have updated the photos tabs with a few new photos, yes there will be more posted later, also put some captions on the ones that were there before kind of explaining them better and filled in some of the blanks on the My Story tab. Still some blanks that need to be filled in, but I am making progress. Should be posting more within the next few days.
August 27, 2010
Happy Friday. So lets see. Oh lets dump some personal stuff out. So whatever for reason I went to Classmates and Reunion.com websites and started looking around. Downside to it is the fact that I actually haven't paid for these services so I have a ton of messages and profile searches that I can't see. Makes no sense. I know why don't I just go thru and either pay for them or look the same people on Facebook. Well heres the thing. I am back in Bremerton from Fresno, so at some point I should run into some of these folks. Also remember, I was a super duper GEEK in High School. I think the only thing people would possibly remember about me in High School other than the fact of my geekiness would be who I was dating the last part of my Senior Year, because there is no way I should have been dating her, let alone get engage to her at one point. The other thing is why do I need Facebook. I have this. Lets see me and my road bike are making tremendous progress on the hills of Kitsap County. So I may not be doing the whole gearing modifications to make the hills easier, because with all of my huffing and puffing climbing these hills in gears that I should not be climbing with, two things are been happening. Mr. Six Pack is starting to make a re-appearance at times. I know big deal so you are getting your six pack back. Here's the thing. I'M 40!!!!! The other thing is on the few flats we have here I am just smoking em. Speaking of smoking I have had a couple emails on how the whole not smoking thing is going. Well It's a process. That and there are a few things complicating it. So I guess thats it for now. With the way things have been of late, there is a really good chance that I will be posting more this weekend, so I will close. As always any questions, comments and or concerns feel free to contact me. As some of you know nothing is off limits.
August 20, 2010
So I had planned on doing a post this past weekend. Funny thing happened on my way to the computer, Ramon from Fresno showed up. So I get to see my friend. We didn't do any riding, well because lets be honest. The terrain of the Pacific Northwest is so much different than that of the Central Valley of California it just would have been ugly. So lets see what else happened... Oh yeah I turned 40. So now I am a 40 year old man riding around the city like a kid. God I love being me. Getting ready for the Cyclocross season next month. YEAH MUD. So the basic theme of emails this week involved my birthday wishes so on that note I will be departing. Will be getting my training schedule up sometime over the weekend. Ya'll be good. As always any questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop me a line.
August 13, 2010
So three days until my 40th Birthday. Work has been good, then again Working Monday thru Friday 8 to 5 is the bomb. So to squeeze in everything that needs to happen I have actually started riding at about 0500 in the morning. Which is a sharp contrast to where I was at. Due to the fact that when I was in California I would go for a bike ride then go to bed. Now I am having to tell the ol' body that the day is just beginning. The upside is that I feel so rejuvinated afterwards. I am hoping to have my PNW (Pacific Northwest) routes up soon. Talk about some serious elevation gains. So what else is going on. Oh the Seattle Cyclocross Season is kicking off next month. Definately stoked about that. First race is the 26th of September so getting all of that set up and good to go which will be another thing that I am going to start posting about as well. My training regiment and you will see how well it works out. Well I guess thats all for now. As always any questions, comments or concerns feel free to drop me a line.
August 9, 2010
Where is Mezagog, seems to be a common theme lately. So its been awhile. Ok a long long long while. So first things first. I am no longer is California, after the passing of my Mom we relocated so that I could be closer to my dad, so we are back in the Pacific Northwest, Washington State to be more exact. So that is part of the reason for my absence, the other reason, well lets be honest after spending the past three years in a pancake flat are, well it takes a getting a little used to, because I am back in the land of the only flats is from up hill to down hill and visa versa. So after spending some time on the hill and mountains of the Pacific Northwest I thought it was time that I re-emerged. So I am back babbling about that sport that we love oh so much. So the Tour De France is over still have a little time before the Veulta starts and I have been a riding fool. So other than where is Mezagog the next common email was about lighting. So here is my basic thinking on lighting. On rechargeables get the brightest light that you can afford, now before you go and run out to purchase your light, there is a second part. Make sure that its run time is double that of your standard commute. So you may be able to afford that 100,000 candle power light, but it will not do you any good if the run time is not long enough to do your commute and possible side trips. Now the reason why I say double is just in case for that one day that you are not able to re charge it before the second part of your commute. So if your commute is 45 minutes then your run time needs to be at least 1 hour and a half. Now on that note then your go for your brightest light. Lighting can be a trickey little subject. Other factors to consider is what is the road surface like? Is is baby smooth? Is it gravel? Is it Pothole ridden? On top of that what are your recharging options? Lights can be the saviour or the devil . So shop wisely and do your research. More during the weekend. I promise. As always any questions, comments or concerns email me.
April 18, 2010
So been riding with several different groups over the course of the past few weeks. This morning my boys decided to join me for a bike ride and it was fun. It is very satisfying for me to watch my boys grow from little bmx'ers to full blown cyclist. It was a blast just riding with them. We just went on a little 10 mile bike ride, but their skills especially on the road have grown by leaps and bounds, which just goes to show, Yes your kids will listen to you. It was again awesome. So the Nishiki is working great. Took it on its first real road ride yesterday and it performed flawlessly, so the Nishiki is going to be the dedicated Mountain/Road bike. Which is the greatest thing about a steel frame bike is the fact that the fatigue life is so long that it is concievable that I may have this bike for as long as I live. Well I guess that's it for now. Have a great week and will talk to you guys real soon. As always any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact me.
March 27, 2010
Still riding the bike to work, working out really really well. I am finding that as my co-workers are seeing my bike more often the more that we are talking about the different bike set ups and the whole safety and security of commuting on bike. Getting ready and excited about tomorrows mountain bike ride. We are still practicing and covering some of the basic skills that all Mountain Bikers need. It has been extrememly exciting and rewarding watching some of the riders grow more and more cofident with some of the skills that are needed for Mountain Biking. Sorry for the short post this week but time is a precious commodity that is currently aluding me. Have a great week and as always any questions comments or concerns please feel free to contact me.
March 21, 2010
So let me start off with an apology for not being around the past two weeks, I have been doing some major mileage on the Gary Fisher. So I am also biking to work again, no my schedule didn't change it is just the fact that with the time change the sun is staying up a little longer everyday so it is the safest time of the year to ride to work, so I have been taking full advantage of it. So I can't remember if I had already meantioned this or not so if not here we go. I am in posession of the Mako again. My eldest is done riding bike so I took it back over. Which is fine. Just because I am a cyclist does not mean that my kids have to be. I am a big one on individualism, be who you are and enjoy who you are. Got alot of stuff going on. We have already starting working on the bike to work week planning as well putting classes together and then somewhere in the mix is the mountain bike training group, which they are making great progress, as well as the Lab Week planning. To say that I have alot on my plate would be an understatement. The lab week planning actually isn't for my lab, I am helping a friend of mine with her planning. I think m lab has already got all of there stuff in place. I could be wrong about that, but I think those committee are done. Well need to get going for now, as always any questions comments or concerns please feel free to email. Later
Mar 7, 2010
So it is 0530 in the morning and I am awake. Actually I woke up at 0230 and then just laid there until 0430. Now with most people that work night shift weird sleep patterns come with the territory, but this is a little different. I was awoken after a dream that I had about my Mom. If you are just reading this blog for the first time and haven't made down the page yet then I will let you know later down on the page is a message that my Mom had passed. She looked good and we talked and kind of caught up, it was weird. Now here is the funny part, part of the dream I was driving her around doing some of the running around that she had to do. In my dream she was living in a really nice four bedroom house, she had acerage and a couple of horses. I am amazed at how good she looked, no pain, we laughed alot and then the last part of the dream I just started crying and she asked me what was wrong and I told her that I missed and she had told me that she missed me too, although this post is helping a little I am starting to get teary eyed again, I need to shift gears. So hopefully this week I will be posting the stats on the last major ride that I did a couple of weeks ago that totalled almost 75 miles, which I am thinking it is about time for another major ride. Hoping to make it into a complete 100+ mile ride. Work is going good, although it is real close to great. Looks like the original schedule that I was put on when I first went to nights at this hospital will be coming back, Sunday thru Thursday. Can I get a hell yeah. All in all things are going really good, although I do have a needy cat climbing on me so I guess this is where I will end this post. I hope all are having a great year so far. Remember to keep those emails coming and I will be talking to you real soon. Later.
Feb 21, 2010
So today is my recovery day. Yesterday I decided to go on 73 mile bike ride from Fresno to a city called Reedley. Got to be honest at the end of the first half of the ride I thought I was moving at a pretty good clip, which I was. It wasn't until I started heading back that I realized the reason why I was making better time than I had initially thought was I had a tail wind all the way to Reedley. Which translated into a head wind all the way back. I hate head winds. Loved the ride though. There is a little rush that you get when you have completed a ride of distance, actually to be honest I get a rush everytime I complete ride and it doesn't matter how long I was out. So with that being said I have recieved several emails about different recovery drinks and rituals. Well as I have stated before my recovery drink of choice is a big (and I do mean HUGE) glass of Chocolate Milk. Been using it for years and other than when I have seriously over did it I have not once had muscle cramps or aches for that fact the next day. Now the one thing that could be the greatest recovering thing you can do is the recovery ride. Recovery ride is just that. I ride the day after that you go on, its not to long, and when I go I never go to the big chain ring or the smallest cog on the cassette. I just cruz, you remember cruzing don't you, that is what a recovery ride is. Light, short and fun. Well that does it for now, keep the e-mails coming and I will talk to you kids real soon.
Feb 14, 2010
Happy Valentines Day. So I know I usually switch colors between days, but I figured with as lean as yesterday was I would go ahead and keep the same color. So I got back on today, which was a good thing. I have to be honest I will real apprehensive about it today but after being on the bike for a couple of minutes things just started falling off my shoulders, it was a nice reminder of why I ride my bike. See when your on bike it is just you. Even when you go out with a group ultimately it is just you. Your the one making movement happen. Heart rate started rising and I could feel all of the stress and strain just go away. I didn't go out for a long ride as a matter of fact according to Sporty Pal I don't even think I did 10 miles today. Just stayed around the town, actually I just stayed around Woodward Park. Road the Single track area. Didn't make it over to the Jump Park or the Pump Track. I will hit that tomorrow, yep I said it I am going back out tomorrow, Sounds stupid but with everything that has happened over the course of the past 90 days, well I need it. I will be posting some email's and answers later on next week, probably on Friday, so look out for that I hope that everyone has and had a great weekend and I will see you guys and gals real soon.
Feb 13, 2010
Well it has almost been a month since Mom has passed away. It has been very difficult, thank you to all who sent words of encouragement and condolences. Over the past week I have been thinking it is time to get back on the bike, which is the plan for tomorrow. Before I started this website my mom would sit and listen with enthausism to all of my cycling stories, which I have always thought was really cool. So tomorrow I will be riding, still haven't decided where I am going or how long that I will be out, but I know that it is time that I get back out there and do what I love and what my Mom used to listen to me babble about for hours and hours, which I know that she enjoyed as well. Well I guess that is all for now, I will post tomorrows actvities tomorrow, oh, and call you Mom and Dad if there are still with you. Later.
Jan 19, 2010
It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the passing of my mother. Reita. Mom was born July 12, 1948 and loved life, her husband and of course her boys and their wifes. I am grieving that she is gone, and that is all, I know that sounds or looks wierd but we had said everything there was to say. I can honestly say there isn't anything that I wish I had or hadn't said. Mom made the best Chocolate No Bake Cookies. Mom was extremely intelligent, kind, compassionate, which is where I get alot of my attributes from her. Most of my complexities I get from my Dad, the warm fuzzy, fluffy, pilburry doughboy stuff I get from her. She lived a full life, where as she did pass away at the age of 61, she did alot of things in those short 62 years. Schooling, Musical Instruments, Marriage, Raising babies, Mom was a dog breeder for a while, as well as hamsters, bunnies and so much more. She was never afraid to try anything and everything. That doesn't mean that she stuck with everything, but she did try an awful lot. I love my mom and she will be missed. I am hoping to have a photo of my mom up on the site sometime this weekend. My parents are kind of old school and they actually don't have a digital anything. Please keep my dad in your prayers as my Mom was a daily part of his 63 years and counting of life for 52 years and married 42 of those.
Jan 10, 2010
So went for a ride this morning. If you have ever seen any of the Mountain Bike videos from Ireland and the UK that is how it was this morning. In case you have not just head over to www.mtbcut.tv and they have a ton as well as several Mountain Bike television shows. It is awesome. Ok back to the ride. So it was foggy and misty and I loved every second of it. Although the jump track was a little busier than I was expecting but still got in some quality air time on the jumps, then headed on down to the singletrack area. Decided to push it a little to check the stability of the tires that I am currently running and was pleasantly surprised by the way they handled to terrain. With the misting action of the past couple of days the berms were completely awesome. Completely solid, I would have to say they felt more solid than they have the entire time I have been riding them. Although I have as of yet at the time of this writing cleaned the bike off. Although rest assured before I go to work tonight I will clean the bike. Which is the tip of the post. Clean your bike. Even if it has been sitting in the garage, grap a rag and wipe it off. That is the single greatest thing you can do for your bike. Now just as a heads up on the work out pages. The map will show it just takes a minute or two before it will load on the page with all of the stats. As always any questions comments or concerns feel free to let me know. Later
Jan 9, 2010
Greetings from a very foggy Fresno. Had to take the past couple days off due to me over doing it earlier in the week. The legs are starting to feel better and aren't reminding me on a hourly basis that I am turning 40 this year, so that is a good thing. We are still preparing for a major change come the summer. Some has emailed me asking what and why the change, so here is the short of it. My mom has an unknown and undiagnosed medical problem that has landed her in the hospital for the past few weeks. My wife and I were talking and based on everything that is going on here in the California and my moms medical problems, it would probably be best if we headed back up north. There has been a general consenus that we are desparetly needed up there and it has been no secrete that the only reason why I am currently in Fresno is because of my wifes overwhelming desire to be a little closer to her family here in California. Where as my wife does wish to remain physically close to her family here as she puts it. Your Mom needs us more up there than my family needs me down here. Now before you start rolling your eyes, yes I am usually on here about every six months stating that we are moving to one part of the country or the other, the big diference this time is the fact that I want to do this one. Yes California has been good to me, I pulled off nothing short of a miracle. I arrived in Fresno with nothing more that a bag clothes, 15 dollars and a quarter tank of gas. Within the span of 45 days, and with the help of few key people. I found a job, found a great house in a great neighborhood and had my family together as one. Not bad in todays world. Ultimately though I am needed more in the Seattle area and looking to move back in the June time frame. Unless of course I hit the lottery then in which case, we be on the road again. Going to give the legs one more day of rest and then will be back on the bike tomorrow, although I am going to be incorporating more hills, because well they have hills in the Seattle area, where as I could ride 5000 miles here in the Valley and never have to climb one hill. Well I guess this is long enough. As always, any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to let me know, via cblackman@mezagog.com or the contact us tab. Later
Jan 5, 2010
So I have gotten several email's with questions on how to build a successful New Years Resolution involving bicycles, this is easy. Just have fun. Seriously. If you treat any New Years Resolution as it is a job or work, it will not work. Case in point. This is the first year in about oh 10 that I did not say that I was going to quit smoking as a New Years Resolution. Now here is the funny part. in the last Five days I have cut way way way down on the smoking, why because I wasn't thinking about it. It is just naturally happening. That is how you need to approach these things. Weight Loss is a big one. So what happens. Your want to loose weight for the new year, so you run or ride a bike to the point to where you can't breath and your legs and lungs are on fire, and then cut your food comsumption in half all in the name of loosing weight, and you bail on the idea one to two weeks in. Yes I went from 225lbs. to 163lbs. the last time I jumped on the scale. What did I do different. I got on a bicycle and will run/walk two to three times a week. That is it. Now did I start off at 150-200 miles a week. No, my first week of bike riding I did 10 miles split up over 5 days, I naturally built up from there. I eat what I want. Some days yes I will want a salad. Other days I am having Chili Cheese Dogs with Coleslaw on top and drink the better part of two 2 liters of Dr. Pepper. The point I am trying to make here is have fun with whatever the resolution is. Make a resolution to do something that you have always wanted to do or face something that scares you. I have been very fortunate to do more in my 39 years of life than most people do in a lifetime. I have been all over the world, yes it was at the Army's request, but I still did it and some of it was actually really really good stuff. I have Skydived, Rapelled, Air Surfed, Climbed Mt. Rainer, Hood and Baker in the Pacific Northwest and climed the tallest peak in Korea. I have seen Five different continents, drank a beer and slept with different women on all five of them. Now this is not my "Man Whore" Resume, these are just some of the things that I have done personally. So the point that I am trying to make is pick something and go do it. Have I gone into debt to do some of these things? Oh hell yes. Took a 3,000 dollar loan out for the climb up Hood, Two things that have always stuck with me from my Dad. One Bills are always going to be there. and I will leave you with the second. The only thing stopping you.................. Is You.
Jan 4, 2010
So its not the afternoon, well it is just not on the day that I had planned. So lets see whats been going on. I mean other than the over abundance of food that was consumed over the course of the past month. Well actually just school, graduating, scheduling the National Registry test and of course work. So there will be some major changes coming this year, but more on that as the time gets closer. I am in the process of building my Mountain bike up to an All-Mountain set-up. That process is being delay as everyone knows I also run a little mom and pop bicycle repair shop out of my garage, well during the holiday season some one had broken into my garage and stolen several clients bikes, so I am needing to replace the bikes that were stolen before I can upgrade mine. Yeah really pissed me off. Will be starting to put back on the miles soon, like tommorrow morning after work. Well thats all I got for now. As always any questions, comments or concerns feel free send me an email. Later.
Jan 3, 2010
Happy New Year, as you can see I have made my usual first of the year modifications to the site. Did some rearranging and so on. There will be more later on today but I did want to make these changes quickly so I will write more this afternoon.