May's Summer Ride With Attitude

Thank you for everyone who followed me in May with my Summer Ride with Attitude. The Specialized Secteur Sport from Attitude has been piling up the miles in May.  We had some very close guesses on how many miles I road in May.  One person was 3.8 miles off my total but that wasn't close enough because Cindy Polster was only 1.3 miles off.  She guessed 167.5 miles.  The actual number of miles I road in may was....drum roll please...166.2 miles.  By following my blogs throughout May and guessing the closest Cindy has won a Specialized Computer from Attitude Sports. 

Keep following my ride in June because you could win more prizes from Attitude Sports.  In June they are giving away a bike light set, with head and tail lights valued at $49.99.

It's been a lot of fun biking and I can tell I'm getting better because my distances and speeds have gone up.  I'm excited for Tuesdays as well this summer because Attitude Sports has their open rides.  Meet in their parking lot on the corner of Johnson and Main in Fond du Lac at 6pm and join them.  They'll give helpful hints for any biker and then go for rides and apply what you've learned. 

May's Biking with Attitude

May is over and I've added up the miles I biked this month.  I did get two more rides I haven't mentioned yet.  One was a really rough 21 mile ride to Rosendale and back.  The reason it was tough was because I didn't know my bike had a break lock.  I must have bumped it.  It was a hard workout being that I biked 21 miles with my breaks on.  The guys at Attitude Sports helped me locate the problem and the next ride I had was my fastest yet.  I took the Prairie View Trail again so you can figure about the same as my other rides on that trail as well as the report I get from my Garmin Edge 200.

On this past Tuesday Attitude Sports started their open ride classes.  I was bummed out when I wasn't able to make it because of high school sports.  They have open rides every Tuesday the rest of the summer at 6pm.  They are free; you just have to meet in their parking lot on Johnson and Main in Fond du Lac.  They will take you out for a ride and teach you some of the skills you might need to know on the road like hill riding, changing a flat, and riding in a group. 

Make sure to take a look at my biking blogs this month.  When you've come up with your guess for how many miles I road, head to K107.com and go to the contest page to submit your guess.  You could win a Specialize Computer for you bike that lets you know your speed, miles, and time. We'll be giving the prize away on Tuesday so get in your guess before then.  Also make sure to keep track of my miles in June because Attitude Sports will be giving away another great prize.

It's Not You, It's Me

George Costanza said it best, "It's not you, it's me."  A perfect way to back out of a relationship without hurting someone.  Of course that's not the real reason.  She might have had man hands or maybe he was a close talker.  Seinfeld references aside, breaking up is tough for both the dumper and the dumped. 

The person doing the breaking up doesn't want to come off as a jerk or hurt the person, which can make it hard to be honest.  The person who's dumped may be left with a feeling of what did I do wrong. Here is a list that WotWentWrong.com, a reverse dating site that gives people answers to why they were dumped, came up with.

Some of those reasons worry me.  I'm a very picky eater, I'm on the shorter side, and I don't make all that much money.  I understand some of these answers being very high.  No one wants to be with someone who is always late, has bad hygiene, you fight with, or makes you feel unwanted.  But some answers show that both men and women can be pretty shallow and needy.  Money, height, bad kisser, come on people.      

Maybe if it is too harsh to say the real reasons why you don't want to be, I found someone who makes more money, isn't as hairy, and is taller than you might not be the best way to let someone down.  Maybe we should just stick with "it's not you, it's me."



Words with Feds

By now if you use some sort of social media you should know that what you post is out there for everyone to see.  That includes big brother.  I understand that the Feds need to keep an eye on things to keep us safe from any threats.  However, there are some key words that you use could use in everyday conversation that could raise a red flag and have the Feds looking at you.

Some words are obvious like Al Qaeda, Iraq, nuclear threat, and dirty bomb.  But some words might surprise you.  See if you can pick out the flagged words in these phrases.

I just want some Subway and then crash after all those exercise drills today.
I'm so sick after eating Mexican, I'm just gonna lock down in my house and watch the Brewers and Pirates.  Their relief pitchers are awful

Those two phrases have nine flagged words.  Subway, crash, exercise, sick, Mexican, lock down, relief drills, and Pirates are words that would catch the eye of Feds.  Here's a link to a complete list of the words the Feds look at.

I guess being that I'm using these words on a social media site like my blog I could be looked at as a threat (also a flagged word).  My goal isn't to bog down the the system because like I said, I understand why they are looking at these words.  I hope that they are finding the right people.  I also hope people who use social media are protecting themselves and aware of their posting. 

Happy Memorial Day

This is one of my favorite weekends of the year.  It's  the unofficial start of summer.  Since I was a baby, I've been going up to my grandparents cabin for Memorial Day Weekend.  The last couple of years I haven't been able to go because of the NCAA DIII Baseball Championships but this year I'm very happy I'm heading back "up nort". 

Some people might think no running water, no shower, no cell service, no internet, cabin/tent living is the opposite of fun.  Me, it's one of my favorite places on Earth.  I love ATVing through the mud puddles, floating down the freezing river in tubes, and sitting by the fire with my family. 

I also really enjoy the small town's Memorial Day Parade.  When I was little, it was because of the excessive amount of candy we'd get and the fire trucks.  Now it's to see the men and women who have helped defend this country and watch my grandpa, a WWII Vet, salute them. (and still the fire trucks)

I hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial Day Weekend but let's not forget why we get to celebrate with cookouts and camping with our family.  Thank you to all the service men and women, past and present.

10 Days Left in May to Ride with Attitude

May is quickly coming to a close.  That means two things.  One, summer is almost here.  Two, you can win a Wireless Specialized Computer from Attitude Sports. It tells you your speed, ride time, total distance, trip distance, ave. speed and max. speed, which is a great tool for when you are riding.  You can win the computer by guessing how many miles I've totaled on my Specialized road bike this month.  Just keep following my blog.

Over the weekend I went on a very nice ride to Rosendale.  I normally don't like going there and back on the same trail but the Mascoutin Valley State Trail was very scenic and enjoyable both ways.  It's a very nice dirt/gravel road but even in some of the muddy areas the Specialized Secteur didn't lose speed or control.  I was once again very surprised at how smooth the ride was.  Above is the report from my Garmin Edge 200.  I also road to work today so add another 4.6 miles to the total.

May 16th's Bike Ride With Attitude

On May 16th I had another great ride on the Prairie View Trail.  But before the ride I stopped by the corner of Johnson St. and Main to Attitude Sports.  I needed to buy a pump to make sure my tires were properly inflated.  The guys at Attitude were great helping my find a pump and explaining why a generic pump for footballs and such wouldn't work.  They also asked me how my rides have been going.They told me how to prep for a ride physically, like stretches and foods/drink that I should I do before I ride. 

After I pumped up the tires I road.  I went the opposite way on the Prairie View Trail from work.  I also took the gravel path that starts on Winnebago Dr. and goes to 151 instead of just taking the road.  I was surprised how well the road bike did on the trail.  I was worried it was going to be a bumpy ride and was going to slow me up a lot but the Specialize Secteur was smooth and fast.  I also tried to find  an alternate way back to my apartment but did more zigging and zagging than anything.  However, I did find my way home.  Above is the report from my ride from my Garmin Edge 200.