A Dollar Bill And A Coat That Won't Shed

"I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit. When the mathematician would solve a difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all encumbrances, and reduces it to its simplest terms. So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run. "

(Henry David Thoreau)

Songs That Are Calling You: Haiku

You opened my heart

Uncovering emotions

That I thought were gone

U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

(Photo:Cyclingnews)

Mongo has come to the conclusion that I enjoy watching televised Pro Cycling events in Europe rather than on my own home soil.

Though I am an ardent supporter of American cycling and cyclists, the charm of small roads, historic landmarks, and snooty traditionalism, translates better on the small screen than super-highways, glass buildings, and helicopter shots from too far away.

That being said...It was good to see an all American podium at the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge.

Kate Upton Vs Scott Addict CX RC 460

AK47 Update: "Nevermind!"

A Spork In The Road




 














Mongo is probably riding the best, right now, that I ever have in my life. My weight is down, my training and fitness are up, and my results in the "Wildcat" suburban group riding scene have been nothing less than spectacular. I have even been showing some mid-pack respectability on the last few 23/2300 Hammerfests...which considering the amount of dopers and Cat 3 sandbaggers present in the peloton, is actually quite impressive.

AK47 Update: "Zee Vuelta Eez Mein!!!"

(Photo:Cyclingnews)

Mongo predicts a "One for the ages" victory for my boy, the "Teflon Don" of doping scandals, Andreas Kloden.

What Will $990.00 Get You On Ebay?

"OG" 1980's, Sims, Kevin Staab,"Mini" deck.

What's The Etiquette On This?

Today Mongo learned a few things...

1: My "Cat 5 Domination" training using my new weight vest is paying off.

2: If it wasn't for the fact that I ride with very fast guys, I would be that very fast guy.

3: I seem to have little guilt about out-sprinting a chick for victory.

4: The Internet needs to be shut down immediately.

While many of my fellow Smyrna Bicycles brethren were doing the hard and fast, Cat 1/2/3/4 "Enemy Bike Shop" ride early this morning, Mongo opted out. First of all, I did it last week. Secondly, it killed me and ruined the rest of my Saturday. Thirdly of all, I needed to get back to my Cat 6/7 "Enemy Bike Shop" ride stomping grounds and remind everyone there what's up! (...and yes, I know, "thirdly of all" isn't proper English.)

Though I wasn't expecting any teammates to join me, Mongo was pleasantly surprised when "Kaiser" Martin showed up. He explained that he and the wife had just come back from holiday in Europe and he hadn't been on a bike in weeks. Needless to say, after the slow rollout, I didn't see him the rest of the day.

One of the things I enjoy about this ride is the fact that there are always women on it...and most of them are pretty fast. Today was no exception. In fact, Mongo's main rival until the very end was a very pretty, and fast, team kitted up, Look 695 riding, girl!

In the final few kilometres (European for miles), the peloton shrunk to five...including Mongo and this girl. We all battled back and forth on the last climbs, but on the final sprint Mongo had to come around her for the win. It was a lot of fun.

After the ride Mongo was so impressed with the efforts of this young lady and the fact that she was wearing a team kit with lots of sponsors and riding a Look...that I Googled the name on her kit. Based on this, I was able to find out who she was, where she worked, and lots of other personal information that I have carefully stashed away on an external hard drive.

It turns out SHE'S A PRO!...Cat 2 baby!...And Mongo took her down to Chinatown. Awww, Yeeah!!!

Drawn Beyond The Lines Of Reason

"There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he has tried."

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Dude...Let Someone Else Win Occasionally

(Photo:Cyclingnews)

Mongo really, really, really, hopes that Phillipe Gilbert's magical season is not going to come crumbling down around him sometime in the future...And we all know why that would be. He is the most exciting and talented single day racer that the Pro Tour has seen in many years. If Mongo could model his game after anyone, it would be Gilbert. I like his style.

Eneco Tour: A Hooker's Eye View

(Photo:Cyclingnews)

These Vagabond Shoes

In seas that rescue what loses belief

In lights that reflect what can never be broken

In dreams that reveal what lies beneath

In thoughts that restrain what is never spoken

Actually...It's About Time

(Photo:Cyclingnews)

Anointed phenom, Taylor "Mini" Phinney, wins the Prologue at the Eneco Tour against an "ok" field... including Mongo's boy, EBH, who came in second, and secures his first win as a professional. After admitting to partying and spending a lot of his Pro money once he got "paid", as well as not training like he should have, Phinney has re-focused this Summer and... so far so good. American cycling needs Phinney and Van Garderen to step their games up against the equally young, and more accomplished, European counterparts.

Is She Pregnant?: Poland Defeats Denmark

Tour Of Poland...

Tour Of Denmark...



(Photos:Cyclingnews)

Soapbox House Of Cards And Glass

"To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence."

( Friedrich Nietzsche)

They Shoot Skodas, Don't They?: R.I.P.

Kate Upton Vs BF1 Systems Factor 001