November | 2014 | Steve Tilford

I was messing around on the internet last night and saw a couple results that I wasn’t even aware the events occurred.

First, and most impressive, is Bobby Lea’s 3rd place finish in the Omnium at the World Cup in Mexico. I think this is the first time an American man has finished on the podium at a this even in a World Cup. Considering the state of the USAC National Track program, it was pretty much Bobby Lea himself, preparing obviously, really well, for this event. He won the individual pursuit, only a little over a second off Taylor Phinney’s national record. Here is an analysis of Bobby’s ride in Mexico.

2nd, was the Iceman Cometh results. Brian Matter won the race last weekend, over a couple Canadians, very good Canadians. I believe this is the 4th time Brian has won the event, which would be the most by any male rider. (I think I’ve won the race 3 times, but I’m a little foggy on this stat.) Georgia Gould won the women’s race. I think it is $6,000.00 to win nowadays. Iceman, ie Steve Brown, is a very rider friendly guy.

I’m going back next year. I haven’t done the race in many years and it is a blast. It is a bucket list race if you’ve never had the pleasure to do it. Here is a link to Brian’s website on his blow-by-blow.

Anyway, I‘m a long way from racing right now. Luckily, I have a fair amount of time to get back to some type of road form. There is lots to look forward to.

Brian, being the mother bird to 2nd place finisher, Geoff Kabush.

Bobby’s, nearly record pursuit, is early in the video.

It’s funny how Fridays just keep coming and coming. I usually don’t pay much attention to what day of the week it is. (I know that sounds weird, but it’s true.) That only applies when I’m not racing. When I am racing, I’m very cognizant of the day. And it really doesn’t matter that it is Friday again, for me today. I’m not going to be doing anything different tomorrow than I’m doing today.

Today is going to be the 5th day in a row I haven’t ridden my bike. It has been wicked cold, here in Denver, with snow cover on the roads. Vincent suggested that I take his fatbike out this afternoon and ride a little off-road. That sounds like a great plan, but I know how that goes. It goes like, I get caught up in something I’m doing and the afternoon disappears.

This morning there is an inspector coming by to check out the shower pan. It seems weird that there is a shower pan inspection, compared to other aspects of home owner construction that there is no inspection for. All you have to do is show that the shower pan holds 2 inches of water, without leaking and, I guess, drains out through the drain, ie. slant underneath. Mine is fine I think.

A couple days ago I got wrangled into “helping” Vincent install a couple TV’s at a remodel. Vincent did that for a while, install low voltage wiring in new construction. He’s doing this for a friend. Man, was it a job. I had to drill holes through 13 inches of rock and brick, then mount a TV bracket flat on the rock. It was a pretty challenging job. I have no idea if the 1 inch masonry bit was just wasted or the rock that hard, but it took forever.

Today, after the inspection, I’m going to finish the shower pan and then maybe lay radiant heating mat and tile the whole area. We can’t install the drywall until the framing inspector comes by, and that seems to be tougher to schedule that the plumbing.

Jinglecross starts today in Iowa City. I would be going there, just to watch, if I was around Kansas. I love the race and it is a very spectator friendly place to watch cross. It is the 11th year of the race. I’ve done it every year, other than when I was hurt, or once when I was roofing my building during the winter. I’m going to be torn following the race from here.

Random fun fact. Apple stock is really doing some big moves the last week. I read that the value of Apple, the company, is more than the whole Russian stock market. That means, if you sold all the Apple stock, you could buy all the stock of every publicly traded company listed on the Russian stock market. Plus, you’d have enough extra money to buy each person in Russian a new iPhone 6 plus. Man, that is a lot of money.

Okay, I think I need to get going. Vincent is calling.