acid banana

This morning Jackers threw up banana all over Pink's bare chest. It was awesome.

stupid wallpaper

Not quite as easy as we envisioned.  I was kind of hoping we wouldn't even need the steamer like when we did the foyer and living room.  But alas, a second layer of wallpaper makes it thoroughly impossible to remove the first one easily.  

Pink spent the better part of the day steaming off the wallpaper but it just wouldn't be satisfied until it took half the drywall with it.

But before starting this morning Pink got a baby gate to keep the Jackers out of the kitchen during the process.  As you can see, he was not happy about the new barricade.

Poor Jackers.

the return II

So, it's been a while.  So long that we've had a Jack in the meantime.

But Team Chianti is back with a mission.  While we struggle to find time for the bikes, we've decided to bring part of the kitchen into this decade (the cabinets, range, and countertops will have to hang back a while still).  4 1/2 years after the initial painting crusade we are finally ready to immerse ourselves back into it, but just barely.

Feast your eyes on the amazingly retro wallpaper we uncovered hiding beneath the pink and blue flowers.  It's kind of hard to see, I know, but that's because the previous owners primed over it so it has this lovely whitewash effect (ok, Pink wins, it's glue, not paint like I thought).

Pink is planning on removing the homage to Italian-chianti-basket wine and avocados tomorrow.  It reminds me of the wallpaper in my grandmother's kitchen at 10 Meadowbrook Road but Marsha says it's not the same.

I'll be sure to post pictures of our progress toward our asparagus-colored walls (oh, yeah!) and two-toned windows.  Sounds like a hot mess doesn't it?

the return

Team Chianti has returned. And let me tell you how much we miss the cool weather, smooth pavement, and near-trafficless roads of Southwest Harbor, Maine. It was also clearly evident the difference in air quality upon our return to Atlanta.

Yesterday we rode together in the sweltering heat, approaching Pisa status. I can now hazard a pretty good guess as to what it feels like to start suffocating. I felt like half the oxygen I was breathing was being out-competed by the sheer space of heat. And so, things are back to normal riding in Hotlanta.

Beyond that, it is complete torture to return to work.

The week of riding in Maine was the most I've ridden in a week, about 98 miles in 4 days. It was fantastic. I picked up some brilliant tips from Papa and the crew and also made some observations myself.

Beak, Bill needs to be forced into retirement - or you at least need a new rear derailleur.

Baguer, as Papa has always said, you have everything you need to be a serious threat. It could be scary next year if you actually ride more than once a week.

Papa, I'm afraid we're going to have to start calling you Skeletor. Put some weight on those bones.

As for the Pink and myself, there is lots of work to be done. By next year, though, I think the Pink might shake-up the overall classification. I'm sure I'll still be trailing, just barely hanging on to the peleton, if at all, but at least I'll pass the Beak on the descents.

deuce, advantage cake

19 days later...

After New Orleans my riding took a catastrophic turn. My first ride was miserable, with a miserable average and a miserable asthma attack. Pink had to domestique my a** home. It was the worst asthma attack I've ever had. Good thing Atlanta's air quality is so high...

I thought I was done for, thought I had pissed away all my hard work from the previous months and particularly from my break-through training ride with Pink on the Silver Comet. But I was wrong. I rode this past Sunday, something short to observe any ill effects from the lingering asthma. I was okay. Not great, but okay.

Monday I rode again and felt tons better. In fact, since Sunday my average has been steadily increasing and I'm almost back to where I was before New Orleans. We've got a ride planned tomorrow out to Stone Mountain with one of the guys I work with but Pink has run into a little bit of a snafu.

On his ride this morning he had yet another spoke break. I think this makes about 5. So he took Huggy Bear into the shop and Mike said that bad things have been happening with the Felts. Lots of other people have had problems with their bottom brackets. Pink had also been having trouble with this (you'll have to ask him for the details). So it seems like Huggy Bear may have been a lemon. Chances are they are going to send the whole bike back to Felt and he'll get a spanking new ride. Huggy Bear II? Who knows for sure, still waiting to hear back from Mike - he could be off the road for some time.

Here's my opportunity to push past Pink...

strange things are afoot...

Wow, it's hard to believe I didn't post anything for the entire month of May. There was certainly plenty of riding happening.

The most recent ride was Sunday, a week ago. Pink and I headed out to the Silver Comet Trail and did my longest ride to date, 40 miles. It was fantastic. The best part for me was that I was faster than Pink. Strange things could be afoot at the Circle K (or Casa L).

Last week I left for New Orleans for a strenuous 3-day volleyball tournament. Congrats to my team, Cheers!, for placing 5 the in the Nation for Women's BB. Since we finished 2nd last year this was a bit of a disappointment, capped off with the dissolution of our team immediately following the tournament. But, what can you do? Me, ride.

Pink was in the homeland over the weekend and took Huggy Bear on some old familiar terrain he used to ride in high school. I'll have to get the report when I eventually see him. Helix and I should get out Wednesday, after my legs have fully recovered.

48 days and counting.

rendezvous, oh la la

Pink and I rode separately yesterday, he in the morning and myself in the afternoon. It was just perfect weather at 6 pm last night when I headed out.

Pink did a short but strenuous ride while I opted for a distance ride (21.29 miles) since it is probably going to be my only time on the road this week. It's supposed to rain today and I'm leaving for MN tomorrow. Helix won't see pavement again until next Monday at the earliest.

The good news is that my average is up a little. The bad news for me is that Pink's is up more.

Only 90-something days of training left until the rendezvous. Time to kick it into high gear.

no match

Yesterday was the first day Pink and I have ridden together in over a week. Even though I have been working hard on my riding and have even dropped a few pounds, I am no match for the massive leg strength of Pinky. My climbing is a little better than his but I don't think that will hold up for much longer, especially given my limited availability to ride for the next two weeks.

We did a short loop on the access roads. On the way down the access Pink was ahead of me by a fair amount. A rider came up behind me, chatted a sec, and then dropped me faster than H&M dropped Kate Moss after the cocaine scandal.

As he approached Pink I could see my man pick up his pace to hang with this guy a little longer and then Pink let him go as he waited for me to catch back up.

As we made the turn to take the access back (completely uphill) our climbing skills, albeit in their infancy, helped us close the gap. Eventually, Pink made his move and reeled him in. I believe this was the conversation that ensued.

Pink: Hey there, Basso.
Rider: I thought I dropped you.
Pink: I have my tactics.

At that point we split off to go home, Pink satisified that some of his forgotten cycling prowess is starting to return.