The Velodrome

Riding indoors is dull. I mean really dull. Some of us, unless you like riding in ice, snow, and sub zero temperatures, have no other option. So, I decided I needed a change of scenery. Last weekend we took a trip to the Forrest City Velodrome in London Ontario, for some more exciting indoor riding.

At 133 meters, the FCV is the worlds smallest indoor velodrome, and one of only three in North America. It was built inside a former ice arena.

Having never ridden on the track before, we took the Level 1 training class. Over 3 hours, they got us on the track, up the 50 degree bank turns, and passing each other in pace lines. Because of their excellent training skills, none of us slid out, or otherwise hurt ourselves.

Going through the corners, you pull Gs, a feeling very similar to riding a roller coaster. The strangest thing was pulling off the front of the pace line and going high, and watching the rest of the riders pass literally underneath you.

At the end, they allowed us to do a flying lap. We started with a 2 lap warm up, and then opened it up for one lap. I was more concerned with not falling than going fast.

The Track one lap record sits at 7 seconds. Mine was 11.9 . Oh well.

Will I go back? Sure. Am I hooked on track racing now? Definitely. I guess I am going to be heading to Bloomer this Summer.

Its Candy Season?

1. She said "Its valentines day, its candy season". There is a season for this?

2. I had a dream like this last night. I was eating a bunch of burritos that someone bought, and there was a dead animal in it! I think it was cow. I was totally grossed out. I could not finish the rest and tried to pass it off to someone else.

I mean really people, you eat chickens, cows and pigs but, a little worm is where you draw the line? Man up and eat your animal protein you pansy carnivore!

3. Hey Ma! I got all of these candy bars for only $.01 a piece. They say they are expired but, they still look good to me.

4. Didn't anybody tell them that candy is bad for you?

A Gentleman's Race

The Rapha Gentleman's Race. I'm doing this if I get the chance.

Hell Yes Sprints.

I had seen YouTube clips off this before, and instantly I wanted to do it. The opportunity came when the Hell Yes Sprints came to the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. Entry was $5, and the Pabst was $1. So why not go?


The Pabst was good. The Racing was better. It was a blast. They ran a qualifying round, an elimination round, Semi Finials, and then Finials.

You get up on stage, the bright lights on you, and get on the bike. They strap in your feet. Spinning to warm up, the ask if all riders are ready. You shout over the noise "YES!" You lean over and grip the bars.


4.....3.....2.....1.....Go!


In two pedal strokes you have got the rear wheel almost to full speed, You legs are going at over 170 RPM. Everybody is screaming. Your legs are going so fast you don't feel the need to breath. You start to think "Are we done yet?" and then "Why aren't we done yet." The thought flashes through your mind "Are my legs slowing down?" "Why are you slowing down?" You plead to them "Go faster, why can't you go faster?" But your legs don't answer. At this point they are detached from your body, acting independent of the mind on memory that is their own.

The guy holding the fork stand down is yelling something. Everyone is screaming in tongues. My eyes flash to the competitor next to me. "Are his legs moving faster?" My legs, acting on their own, attempt to accelerate again, if you can call it that.

Some one is slapping me on the back. The man holding the fork is speaking English again. "Your done" "Your done". Good, I am done. The crowd is going nuts. I turn and look,

I won by .015 Seconds. I unstrap myself, and make my way back to my seat. I take a swig of Pabst, and watch the next elimination heat. It takes about 2 minutes.

And then then call me back up to race....

E&M

To find the inductance per unit length between the two conductors in a coaxial cable, we first use Ampere's law to find B (Magnetic field due to the inner conductor).

We then integrate along the volume of the cable. This gives us LI in which I is the current, and L is the inductance per unit length.

This class bores me....

Only 25 more minutes to go.....

Is it worth it?

460 Calories. That is the energy in a Medium nonfat mocha. Is it worth it? I ordered one today, and then talked myself into not drinking it. It would take me at least 1/2 hour of riding to burn that off. There are so many other foods I could eat that would provide much more nutrition, and not just empty calories.

Did I mention I am trying to lose weight?

Bat to the Face

Wednesday nights our bike shop has a 40+ mile mountain bike group ride. We leave the shop, ride the 12 miles to the trail, ride the trail 2-3 times, then ride back.

On this particular evening, we are on our way back from the trail. Its getting late, and the sun is nearly set. Under the cover of trees, it is getting really dark.

As we ride, I see something flutter off to my left and then WHAM!

Still on the bike moving, it takes me a second too realize what has just happened.

I just had a bat fly into my face.

I turn around to see how the unfortunate animal is doing. It sort of crawled for a second, and then flew away. Apparently neither the bat nor I was harmed.