I ordered a few bike things from Performance Bike and while what I didn't order is critical to have right now I would really like to have them before too long.  I've been checking the tracking  every couple days and was a little surprised to see the following:

Date	Time	Description	Location
March 11, 2008	6:55 AM	Sortation Center Departure	DALLAS, TX
March 7, 2008	12:54 PM	Sortation Center Arrival	BROOKLYN PARK, MN
March 7, 2008	6:54 AM	Sortation Center Departure	NEW BERLIN, WI
March 6, 2008	6:03 PM	Sortation Center Arrival	NEW BERLIN, WI
March 6, 2008	6:49 AM	Sortation Center Departure	MARTINSBURG, WV
March 5, 2008	3:31 AM	Sortation Center Arrival	MARTINSBURG, WV

My stuff was only a few miles away... and now it's in Dallas.  Hooray efficiency!

Simple pleasure - a good day of teaching in a class that was difficult in the past
Peace

I went to the Twin Cities Bike Swap this morning.  Great event.  Tables with people getting rid of their old bike parts, gear, etc. for fantastic prices.  I picked up a set of aero bars for $30 (regular price ~$90) and a new ergo-saddle (regular price often well over $100).  I made out like a bandit. 

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Sarah and I went swimming tonight.  This was my first swim since I got new goggles and a new swim suit.  The goggles were good, if a little tight around the inside of my eyes.  The swimsuit, I liked a lot.  They are a pair of Speedo Jammers - think bike shorts without the padding.  Wow.  My old swim shorts seemed like I was pulling a parachute through the water compared to this new suit.  Even my easy warm-up portion of the swim was noticeably faster.

My workout consisted of 300 yards easy warm-up, and then six sets of 200 yards fast, a short breather, 100 yards easy, and a short breather.  I was very happy with my time during my 200s.  I was averaging about 2:45 to 2:50 per 200, which is very quick for me.  If I were able to keep up a 1:30 100 for my sprint in May, I would be probably about a minute faster than I did last year and rather towards the front of the pack in the race.  It was a hard workout, but a good workout.

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My grandfather has been battling some health issues that the doctors haven't really gotten their hands on for the past few months.  Lindsey is going to visit our grandparents in a little over a week, so I am considering going around then too.  The time I would be there would only overlap with the time she's there by maybe a day or so, but any time to visit with her is good and I've been thinking about going out to see my grandfather too.

It would be nice to be able to do that, but I'll have to see just if my grandparents have the energy to have so many visitors and to see if plane schedules would work out.  I hope it does.  I need to spend more time with both my sister and my grandparents.

EDIT:  I am leaving next Monday morning and will return on Wednesday evening.  This will be a nice quick trip.

Simple pleasure - cooking chili
Peace

The weakest parts of my race in May were my transitions.  After some watching, talking, and reading, I've changed a few things.  This evening after Sarah got home, we went over to Lake Nokomis.  Spread out a towel and relaxed as I set up my improvised transition area before proceeding out into the lake. 

That water is green, not very clear, and tastes rather more plant-like than I prefer.

After swimming a bit, I ran across the beach towards my bike.  Gone was sitting on the ground, struggling with putting socks on wet feet and taking time with my shoes.  Things went much much faster.  I had my shoes clipped into my pedals already, passed on the socks and gloves.  Though I didn't have a timer going, I'm sure I probably cut about a minute off my transition time.  That felt good.

I biked a mile or two before coming back for T2.  I started practicing pulling my feet out of my shoes while still riding, continue riding the last few hundred meters, and then jumping off and running with the bike.  That certainly helped with my T2 time, but it was a bit slower thanT1 'cause I had to put both socks and shoes on, though that was quite a bit faster than I did in May.  I probably cut off nearly a minute there as well. 

That felt good.

I am not where I really should be fitness-wise for my race on Sunday, but I know my transitions will be faster and while my whole race won't be terribly fast, I do know I'll be able to finish and I know I will feel good about finishing my first olympic length tri.

Simple pleasure - peanut butter and honey toast
Peace

I dropped Sarah off at work and since I got back home, I've been scurrying around the house getting the last of our gear together/packed.  I still need to go to the grocery store, and we will have to re-pack food and clothes tonight.  Tomorrow, we get up early so we can be in Ely by 7 am to pick up our permit and watch the cheesy leave-no-trace video, then it is up the Echo Trail to the Moose River.

Quick trip itinerary:

Saturday
Put in moose river
paddle downstream through Nina Moose, and Agness to Tiger Bay on Lac La Croix.
Hopefully find a campsite on Tiger Bay.

Sunday
Day trip to Rebecca Falls on Iron then to the Pictographs on Lac La Croix with a stop at Warrior Hill
Stay second night in Tiger Bay

Monday
Easy paddle back to Agness to find a camp site near the south end of the lake (or maybe do the second half of the day-trip this day)

Tuesday
Get up before dawn, pack quickly and get on the river by sun-up
Hopefully see moose on the way to Nina Moose
Have breakfast on Nina
Climb Top of the World Rock
Get back to the car

Drive to Ely and get homemade ice cream at Cherry's
Eat a big greasy meal at the Steakhouse
Drive back to Wrenshall to drop off canoe and then maybe home that night.

I am really excited to be taking Sarah up into the B-Waters for more than a day trip.  It's not a long trip, but there are lots of great things to see on this little route.  I just hope it isn't too crazy with the 4th coming up.  I hope Tiger Bay won't be all filled up.  Bleh.

Ok, back to the last of my packing.  Pictures later.

Simple pleasure - rockin' out to The Talking Heads
Peace

At the bike/tri shop I went to last night I saw a $7000 tri bike.

Oh my.  I'm not quite sure what to say.

I got back home after buying my race outfit last night and told Sarah that I didn't want to buy any more gear.  She didn't believe me and called me on it.  Well... maybe a little more, I thought.  But no, I really don't want to buy any more gear.  In the last few months I've spent a pretty good amount of money on a bike, shoes, clothing, repair/mantainence things.  Ugh.  No, no more gear for a while.  I am done.

But that bike.  Damn.  No, I wouldn't want one, but I would love to take one for a ride.

Simple pleasure - joking around with the coffee guy across the street
Peace

I am pretty excited.  I just purchased a road bike for training/races/road riding.  While it's not top of the line (I'll never be able to afford those works of art), it is a higher quality bike than I envisioned having for quite a while.  I got it from a guy on craigslist who I believe just fixes/restores bikes and sells them.  Joe and I went to his place, talked quite a while and test rode three different bikes for about 45 minutes.  He gave lots of good advice and from the way he talked and even how he touched the bikes it was clear that he took a lot of pride in the work he does. 

The bike is either a 2001 or 2002 LeMond Tourmalet that he sold for about half of what it went for when it was new.  It s a beautiful bike that almost looks like it hasn't been ridden much.  I just need to pick up some cycling shoes to go with the clipless pedals.

For your (and my) viewing pleasure:



He's made a few changes to the bike (pedals, stem, bars, seat), but it's pretty much like what you see above.

Ooooh, I can't wait for things to dry up and be cleaned up a little more so I can go out and ride that beauty.

Simple pleasure - a little time to kick back
Peace

I got the biggest dividend I've ever gotten.

$79.43

I won't say just how much I spent at REI last year. I'll just say that when I look at a REI catalog now, I don't see anything I "need." That's not to say there aren't any wants of course.

So I've got $80 to help get Sarah some new hiking boots. She needs a pair more than I want anything else.

Simple pleasure - thinking about what I'll do if/when we get a snow day tomorrow or Friday
Peace