Five dayz out from an exercise in "clarity through suffering."

Regarding these silly endurance bicycle races, from my experience, itz the onset of darkness that separates the pretenders from the contenders... I am well into the pre-race hydration process with a concerted focus on ingesting massive amounts of an ancient man-solution involving a mysterious mixture of fermented grains and various hops. I find that this elixir assists with bolstering both my courage and testosterone levels...Apparently, the Spartans of antiquity never, ever went into battle without drinking copious amounts of this particular beverage. For example, Spartacus, the famous gladiator, never went into "the ring" without drinking at least a gallon of the stuff!!!! So it goes........

Three great MUST-READ biographies by Walter Issacson

Initially, I read the one on Einstein and was both fascinated and awestruck. Next, I read the one on Franklin and was patriotically inspired to the importance of community and civil service. I just finished the one on Kissinger and I am now seriously thinking about moving to Canada :)....So it goes...Are we really progressing as a people/society/nation????

Every civilization that has ever existed has ultimately collapsed.
H. Kissinger

Exactly seven dayz and two hours from now I will be three minutes into it...

“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.”
Sidney Harris

Good luck to all the guyz and galz down in Seeley...I wish I was there with 'em...The Seeley Pre-Fat is a great venue.

Get your paperwork into Jeremy Kershaw ASAP for entry into the Heck of the North (September 26 here in Duluth)

9 Dayz and counting...

In racing a 24 hour event, it is the advent of darkness that can drive a solid man to grieve at the gut-level. With dusk, glory and good cheer give way to grim Gregorian chants and glimpses of Gorgon's ghastly goblins...

This just off the AP Newswire...Caution: What you are about to read is heavily biased and subjective.

Mallory Offers a Rare Pardon to DBD Rider

In a rare twist of events Sir George Mallory offers an unprecedented pardon to DBD favorite Eki. The only gesture made by the intrepid climber (and DBD founding-father) that even comes close to this is his past reversals on the expulsion of the always controversial and at times fringe member, Farrow. It seems an emergency meeting was held among the DBD'ers over the ill fated Blue Mounds 12 hour race attempted by Eki - the only DBD rider to ever accept the challenge. Discussions stirred over the rider's decision to pull the plug after his steed was severely wounded and knocked out of commission for the day. He (Eki) reports that he deliberated at length over attempting the daunting course on a loaner bike, but surmised that it was neither mentally or physically feasible to dismount the Corvette he normally races in order to jump on the back of a Nova. It was after this decision that he resigned to dismantling the maimed Gary Fisher and soak up some free suds provided by the directors. "I knew it's what Mallory would've wanted and what he would have done," surmised Eki in a post race interview

Reports have circulated that Farrow fought hard at the meeting to have Eki removed from the short list of DBD'ers and even, quite shockingly, confronted Mallory directly. This move by Farrow has once again placed him on the endangered species list among club members.

When Mallory slammed the gavel down it was decided. Not only would Eki remain in and among the DBD'ers, but he would be elevated to an honorary Knight status and shall be referred to as Sir Eki for one calendar year from Blue Mounds race date forward.

"What he did out there should be a lesson to you all. His perseverance and drive is the stuff dreams are made of...All hail Sir Eki". -Sir George Mallory in an extremely rare interview via telegraph

Farrow clearly in a state of dissolution by this turn of events had this to say, "I sense some real favoritism here. I mean I guess what he did was o.k., if you're into that kind of thing. Mallory has always leaned toward Eki, but that's o.k., it's what drives me on. In regard to my tenuous status, I've been here before, it's nothing I can't handle. I'll just keep proving myself on my 'road' rides and show my competitors where I stand. Hey, you just wait until I switch back to gears."

[Source: A.P. Newswire Report]

10 dayz and counting down...

Expletive deletives echoed everywhere as enduro-existentialists expired enroute to the inexact end-point...

11 Dayz...

Regarding a 24 hour mtb race:

Devolution develops in degrees...but usually the degeneration is decidedly complete with the descent into darkness. Darkness denotes desperation as delirious demons dance; destined to destroy ones determination. Devils delight in despicable display as desire gives way to defeat! Dire detriment and disaster awaits the two-wheeled damned. Disclaimer: Do not dare to disturb the demons after dark!