When You Get Where You Can't Decide

"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."

(Henry David Thoreau)

Everything You Need To Know



(HERE)

What Does The Future Hold?: Time To Clip In

The 2011 Tour de France is only two days away and Mongo has mixed emotions. Of course, I'm going to watch every second I can on tv, and I'll blog about all of my observations and the results on the road, but I'm very cynical about Contador and the further potential harm to the sport should he (and he should) be found guilty by the CAS and his results are negated for 2011...including a likely podium at the Tour.

Anyway, a whole bunch of guys are going to start the race and somebody is going to win it at the end. So...this is how Mongo sees the top ten on GC shaking out. "Write this down!"

10...Tejay Van Garderen (HTC)
  9...Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Lotto) 
  8...Andreas Kloden (Radioshack)
  7...Sammy Sanchez (Euskatel)
  6...Andy Schleck (Leopard)
  5...Chris Horner (Radioshack)
  4...Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
  3...Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack)
  2...Alberto Contador (Saxo)
  1...Cadel Evans (BMC)

Injury: Adding Insult To Irony

A funny thing happened to Mongo on the way to recovering from my crash...I haven't. My shoulder, which took the brunt of the impact, has continued to cause me a great deal of pain...but only when I have my hands on the handlebars of a bicycle. How's that for sucky?

I guess it makes sense since that was the position I was in when I hit the ground. Anyway, I'm slowly getting better and I stayed off all of my bikes for three days until today, when I did an extremely humid loop on the 23/2300 Hammerfest course, and I didn't cry like a little baby after the ride for the first time since I went down..."So I've got that going for me, which is nice".

Redemption: A Dish Best Served Al Dente

So...Mongo finally has a new computer. I have to admit that it's quite nice to have a modern, fast, machine. The Commodore 64 has served me well over the years, but there seems to be less need these days for my impressive Cobol and Fortran "skillz'.

I thought long and hard about how I would make up for all the lost posts over the past couple of months and the plethora of interesting and witty stories that you, the reader, missed. In the spirit of keeping it fresh, Mongo decided to say "fuck it". My writing on this blog has always been spontaneous, topical, and irreverent...I want to keep it that way.

A quick recap of Mongo's "Cat 5 Domination" training over the last eight weeks...

1...Road Bike: Monday/ Thursday/ Saturday
2...Trainer: Wednesday/ Friday
3... Mt. Bike: Sunday

I've been riding well most of the Spring with improved performances on the 23/2300 Hammerfest and a continued domination of the Cat 6/7 "Enemy Bike Shop" ride...with something like ten straight podiums to my name. And then Mongo crashed last Saturday!

It was a sweet, "big boy" crash that any Pro would have been proud to walk away from. I've had bloodier, and more painful crashes in the past, but this one scared the shit out of me. I hit the ground at 25+ mph, with my shoulder, elbow, and head taking most of the impact. I should have been knocked out and had a broken arm or collar bone. Luckily I am a gorilla of a man with strong shoulders and a hard head. My helmet split down the side, and probably saved my life, and my shoulder is extremely sore, but no bones were broken in the process.

Today, Mongo made a gutsy return to the Cat 2/3/4/5 group ride where the damage occurred merely one week prior. I was joined by "New Bike Every Month" Tom, "Flats R Us" Eddie, and "Piathlete" Jason. I struggled most of the ride because of my shoulder, but it was a source of pride to return to the scene of the crime (the crash was not caused by me) and get some props from the peloton.

Irina Shayk Vs Specialized Venge

Legends: The Real Kind

Chris Miller...(Here)
Lance Mountan...(Here)
Steve Caballero...(Here)
Tony Hawk...(Here)

The Return Of Mongo...Did You Miss Me?

"Don't call it a comeback

I've been here for years

Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear

Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon

Listen to the bass go BOOM

Explosion, overpowerin

Over the competition, I'm towerin

Wreckin shop, when I drop these lyrics that'll make you call the cops

Don't you dare stare, you betta move

Don't ever compare

Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced

Competition's payin the price"

(L.L. Cool J)