Man, can you get a full day in when the day starts before 4 am. I really enjoyed watching the Cyclo-X Worlds Live though. The feed on the men’s race was frustrating for a little while, but it was only down for a few minutes total here.

After the race, I was going out to get some coffee and drove by the Blood Donation Center and stopped. I really stopped just to ask them what my blood type was. We were having a discussion over dinner a while back and I said I had no idea. Everyone thought that was stupid. I figure it is valueless knowing because in this day and age, they will always type you before they give you any blood. But, I was curious. It turned out to be AB+, which means I can accept blood from nearly anyone. I guess that is a good thing to know.

Anyway, they talked me into donating once I was there. They really didn’t have to talk me into it. I’ve read a little on the subject and it is actually good for you to donate blood, at least annually. There are lots of benefits. One study says it reduces the chances of heart attacks in men up to 50%. Athletically, it stimulates your body into producing new red cells, which we can all use of course. And also, Andreas Knickman is having a blood drive in LA on Feb. 3rd. I’m not going to be out there for that, so I thought I do it here in his name. It is so easy and takes no time at all.

I’ve donated blood 3 times in the last couple years and have felt great riding every time afterward the following weeks. You’d think it would be opposite. Less red cells, less ability to carry oxygen, ride slower. But, that hasn’t been my experience.

I got an early season blood test done a couple days ago too. So, to be totally transparent, here they are. If you want to get one of your own, it is super cheap, just ordering them off the internet, at EconoLabs. $19 for a CBC. They use LabCorp, which are located all over the country. I’m not sure why I keep getting these. It’s not like I have anyway to change it. I am nearly over the 50% hematocritthreshold. That is pretty high considering I haven’t been to altitude for a month. My hematocrit has always been pretty high, but this is on the high side for me. I’m not sure what that is all about, but I can’t complain.

Click twice on it to enlarge.

Good cause if you are in the area.

Blood going out again. I wonder how much better I'd ride if it was going in? I'll never know.

It seems that I’ve been proving Murphy’s Law right for the last couple weeks. For most of the trip to Belgium and now back in Kansas. Yesterday I woke at, my now normal 5 am, only to find it 50 something degrees in the house. The furnace wasn’t working. So, I spent the better part of the afternoon trouble shooting the flashing codes and messing with it. Finally after a few hours, I found that the collection sump for the condensation was clogged and it was shutting off the gas. So, I felt pretty smart and lucky. I figure that would have cost at least $300, probably more, and the guy probably wouldn’t have found the problem any faster than me.

Then, the weather changed dramatically here in Kansas. I was going to go for a ride before this blizzard hits, but the roads were black ice. I went to the store to get some stuff and it was out of control. You could hardly walk up any isle. It was like the day before Thanksgiving. The gas station in front of the parking lot had lines of cars waiting to fill up. It was supposed to dump up to a foot of snow today, but it seemed like people were being a little extreme in this day and age.

So, now Murphy’s Law. The brakes went out on my AWD van last night. Completely out. I nursed it back to my driveway, put on my overalls and got a flashlight. The brake line to the rear wheels is broken above the gas tank. Something completely inaccessible to get to. I called a Chrysler dealer in California, since they were still open, and the guy in the parts department told me they don’t sell the lines anymore. So I have to remove the two brake lines to the back and either fabricate them myself or take them somewhere and have them made. All this with the high temperatures today supposed to be in the upper teen’s. Plus, don’t forget, up to a foot of snow. There is no reason that this broke on the coldest and nastiest day of the winter. It could have very easily broke on a nice sunny, summer day. It is just Murphy’s Law in full force.

This might put a damper on going x-country skiing for a few days any time soon. It’s right about now I wish that my garage wasn’t completely full of bikes and wheels.

Not close to enough room for a car. But, there will be soon, I hope.

I was just trying to get some fruits and vegetables.