Sarah's Jibba Jabba

Sights and Flavors of Clement Street, Part 1

Clement street offers so many restaurants, markets, Tchotchkes, and a few of my favorite places. You can eat Italian, French, Vietnamese, Thai, American healthy, American diner, Burmese, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Mediterreanean, Hawaiian, DimSum, Mexican, ice cream parlor, SwissGerman Bakery and Peruvian.You can also see bands play, drink PBR and play trivia, find McSweeney's latest issue at Green Apple, get your hipster fill at Park Life, and buy Haig's hummus straight from Haig's Deli (although for some reason it is way more $$ here than at TJ's) Here are some things you may not notice on your first visit:

It sure is taunting to see this sign and really have to go but be on a street with nary a public toilet.

And they really don't want you to do the poo poo on the sidewalk. So we ventured into the big weird supermarket, Wah Meh, and found so many distractions.

I liked this brand for its honesty. Just tell it like it is and don't dress it up as something else.

This is a drink for all the boy band members out there, who go from daybaby to nightieboy.

Tapioca tea bars (bubble tea) have exploded in SF recently. I found a wholesale-type place to buy the tapioca balls in a myriad of colors and flavors. It looks like carp food here.

This drink had active zygotes in it to boost furtility, and fertility.

Oh! I love it when tiny rockers in Motley cover bands act tough, I do , I do!!!!

After coming out of this 7-11, I saw that one member had bought tampons and another bought eyeliner.

More city adventures coming right up. I am also able to visit neighborhoods that you request, if you like.

I dork myself

I am sure I will go to hell for all the times I have jeered at the tourists riding the segways in duckling formation on the way to the GG bridge. They all wear helmets and neon yellow. Like meter maids. Or bike geeks (but at least bike geeks are on bikes! and I am one of those geeks, so it's fine, right?)

Well, T-bone Willis and I set off to the SF International Car Show, not really sure why, but when we saw the Segway booth, we were all over it. I admit it was kinda fun, but at $5K, whatever, I'd rather get fat playing Wii all day. At the end, I got that cool sticker above!

Cool and Dorky:

There is like $10,000 worth of stuff in this picture.

Immaculate detailing.

The Tango was the coolest thing we saw. It goes from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. Handles great as the 2000lbs of battery is on the bottom. 2 inches longer than a small pick up truck is wide. This could be good for motorpacing too. Ooops, did I mention it costs over $100K?

Imagining myself splitting lanes and high-fiving or smacking the mirrors of everyone I pass.

Cheerwine was like "Here's $50K, go find a team car for '08." Terry liked the stand up room in this Sprinter. Prolly the only 'merikan car worth buying.

The Clubman making a comeback. Too bad not in a diesel version. Cool barn doors though.
I totally felt like a car model here.

I like this 1967 Mercedes a lot.

Supreme Lameness at the Car Show:

Gawd, I burst out laughing when I saw this. And I would do it again if I saw it out on the street.

Here's a "Go Green Tip" for Rock Racing: Hybrid Escalade (It sounds like the greenwashing)

It might be better than wiping your butt with your money.

Turkey Day Herky Jerky

Thanksgiving day started off with Normal Pre-Ride Rituals of caffeine, cereal, rat petting and couch lounging.

Then, a dig into the dryer for a clean chammy, matching gloves, mismatching socks, some kind of base layer that may now be gray although once was white, then a jersey or four, depending on weather.

Next, fill up some bottles after spilling drink mix on the counter, shaken and stirred, and then repeatedly try different bottle caps until one fits sufficiently.

This day seemed like any other, until 5 minutes before departure time. I was in the garage, dressed in the usual black/red/silver Cheerwine costume, when in struts Terry, with some super-hyper-freaky mish mosh ensemble that he found in the archives of his closet.

1. Neon yellow Saunier Duval Jersey, signed by Fast Freddie Rodriguez, ala 2003.
2. Marble and purple bib shorts found in a sale bin in Belgium? France? Purchased with DFL racing in mind, I'm sure. They have some Aztec writing on the leg, spelling Best?
3. Green Yellow and blue arm warmers from McGuire/Langdale Pro team days, which say Sports Basement on the side, which is very now.
4. Electric blue leg warmers
5. Red shoe covers
6. Matching neon yellow SD cap.

7. Stylin’ 7-eleven issue Eddie Merckx

This outfit represents no less than 4 teams from local, renegade team to Pro tour team. Brilliant.

As we set out with innocuously dressed Nick and routinely dressed Sarah, Terry was starting to embody a kind of alternative Macy's Day Parade in his showy display. We were the spectators and he was the parade. There were many other cyclists out, and some looked at him and chuckled, some did a double or triple-take, but some didn't even notice! The latter were the ones that worried me.

As the ride continued across the Golden Gate Bridge in the beautiful and crisp morning, the more I felt like I was the dork here. If I had known before I left the house and went into the garage all fully chammied that there was going to be a Dress! Crazy! Day! on the bike, I would have been happy to shed all pretense and find my Carrera/bigmat/Fast Freddie/Retro80's Campy/Argyle clothes and join in the self deprecating yet hip irony of the moment. Now I just looked like someone who maybe was too self-conscious to do it too. But I sensed this was Terry’s moment, and I was more than happy to have him be the center of attention.

Usually, whenever purple comes into play, there is something ugly happening.

Terry's Team Car coming up with some bidons.

Not all the scenery was so gaudy-here we are looking south to Pacifica.

Clear enough to see the Farallons, bottom left corner. (behind the oil slick)

Looking north at Stinson Beach and Bolinas.

Making Freddie proud on the GG Allen Bridge. (nice man-toe)

It couldn't have gotten any better for us, and we didn't plan this. Have you ever seen this on the road in between Stinson and Pan Toll? It really is there. I think this outfit screams louder than the message.

What happens in Vegas should be publicized

A favorite moment (click to enlarge): Cipo getting denied cuz he didn't have proper ID. (Entrance is to the left)You'd think R&R guy would be of some use since it was their party...

He's in!!!! and on the dance floor!!! But, Powers had to lead WChamp Cipo. I guess all those years of being led out means he still doesn't take control. Or does this say more about Catharine?

Brooke Miller getting on KB's wheel.

Oh yeah and we came to race the Parking Lot World Championships where we won and had Podium "Professionals". Laura VG won, Rochelle G 2nd(off finding clothes to wear), Shontelle 3rd. watch it on wcsn.com

Till next September....

Interbike Journalism

I heard this was only for show, which would be a shame.

Usually these colors look hideous, but in this case, Italian styling saves them.

I love Orbea and I love black and red together. So this is really dreamy.

Moos-mobile looks intimidating.

Think about how fast your butt would look if you had this...

Back to reality.

Here I didn't know what I was looking at, but it was eye candy from...Arizona?

Carrera was all penetrating with their tubing, so embarassing!

Topeak always has some uber-engineered products, like this inflatable saddle.

Cheerwine Sweeps Elk Grove Podium

The Alexian Brothers International Cycling Classic Tour of Elk Grove sponsored the Womens Pro 1,2 race in Elk Grove, Illinois.

In a rare occcurence on the NRC circuit, the Cheerwine womens team swept the podium against some of the best sprinters in the country. A pared down but hearty field of women took to the line to complete a 60k event in which multiple $500 primes and one $1000 prime invigorated the race. Additionally, the overall was worth $15,000.

The race’s initial attack, by Kenda Tire’s Kristin Wentworth, went uncontested, and she was rewarded with a $500 prime for her effort. Once the field arrived at her heals, new attacks began. None of the right combinations of riders got together and so the field approached the second $500 prime intact. Multiple teams, including Expresscopy.com and Aaron’s Corporate Furnishings, set up their sprinters for the prize. ValueAct’s Martina Patella beat Katharine Carrol of Aarons at the line.

Next up was Cheerwine’s Sarah “Bam” Bamberger, who took a flyer. She was joined a lap later by Priority Health’s strong woman, Mackenzie Woodring, who was motivated to make a go of the attack to last until the next $500 prime. With those two away, Cheerwine was able to take a breather. Bamberger was able to come around Woodring for the next $500 prime.

Only 2 laps later the bell rang for the $1000 midrace prime. This created a strong surge that ultimately brought back the duo. Tibco’s Brooke Miller and Expresscopy.com’s Gina Grain went up against Laura “Gunshow” Van Gilder of Cheerwine, and lost big. Van Gilder timed her sprint to take the cool grand with 11 laps to go.

With temps in the 90’s, and two hairpin turns, the field was starting to feel the effects of the race. Once again, the bell rang to announce another fat prime. To add to Cheerwine team’s earning’s, Kelly Benjamin nipped Canada’s National Road Champion, Gina Grain, at the line for another $500 prime. After the prime surge, there was a short lull on the backside of the course. At this point, Bamberger decided to have a go again, which eventually turned in to a 3 person break. Once Dale Tye of Hub Racing and Hannah Banks of ValueAct connected with Bamberger, the three gained up to 20 sec on the group. With Sarah’s team back in the field, she was able to sit on the break and come around Tye and Banks for her 2^nd $500 prime of the day. Sensing the danger in the trio, Anne Samplonius jumped out from the group to represent Expresscopy.com and hopefully stay away for the finale. The break lasted another 3 laps and approached the final $500 prime, where a late jump by Anne almost rewarded her with the prize, but it was Cheerwine’s Bamberger who again banked the $500 prime for her team.

With 4 laps to go, Megan Elliot, unattached, took a flyer to put the field on edge. Her efforts to stay away lasted until Expresscopy.com and Cheerwine brought the break down to within safe distance as the race approached the final 2 laps. With Elliot coming back, Dale Tye repeated her attempt to distance herself by jumping with about a lap and half to go. Cheerwine’s Cath Cheatley, their Kiwi rider, covered the move and the two lasted until the 700 meter point. Cath attacked her breakaway companion to take a solo win. Dale was swallowed up in the closing meters leaving 2^nd place up for grabs. Chrissy Ruiter led out her Cheerwine teammates Benjamin and Van Gilder, who took 2^nd and 3^rd ahead of Gina Grain and Brooke Miller. Hub Racing’s Dale Tye, another New Zealander, held on to 8^th place as a reward for her aggressive efforts throughout the race. Notably, 16 yr-old Sam Schneider of Mesa Cycles finished ahead of many seasoned pros with a 6^th place in the 2^nd running of this NRC event.

Terry ends his dry spell

Tour of Kansas City, Cliff Drive Classic. Temperature was 100 degrees. 7 laps of the Cliff Drive Classic widdled the Masters field of 45 down to the select few and Terry Curley came out the winner.

As a virtual unknown, Terry surfed the front of the field anonymously and waited until the right moment to make his move. A break of two had gotten away with each riders' teams strategically blocking. As the laps counted down and the break tired, the field came up the hill the last time about 10 seconds off the break. Terry jumped at the top of the climb to try to secure 3rd place with another 750 meters to go. But as he rounded the final bend, he found himself coming up on the breakaway with only 1oo meters left. With the finish line in sight but legs quickly fading, Terry had to dig deep to come around and past the two. Unable to get out of the saddle, he sprinted to his first win in over 8 years while seated.

An over excited spouse was seen flailing about and screaming "Terry!!! Goooo Terry!" on the finish line as he crossed the line.

No more poppy seed muffins

From "Mythbusters" on Discovery Channel: Opiate drugs, such as heroin, morphine and codeine, are made from the seeds of opium poppies. The poppy seeds used in baked goods often come from the same or a similar type of poppy. While the amount you'd typically consume would be too small for you to feel the effects, it can produce a positive result in a urine drug test. Several people have lost their jobs solely because they ate a poppy-seed muffin or bagel for breakfast before taking a drug test. As a result, the test is being revised to account for this eventuality.

Taking charge in the Capitol.

1st, 3rd and 4th at CSC Invitational. Not a bad day for us.

Here is LVG buying movie popcorn, even though we are not actually going to see a movie. This might be the secret to her success. (I snuck up on her to capture this moment)

MOm, this is for you. I will share my poem about this rv later since it is not for public consumption.

Philadelphia - the people that make it Philly

Day 1-Kelly Drive bike path.
There is so much going on here that makes me love this guy.
1.Prepared for a drought, yet not for a head-on collision.
2.Keeping the knees warm but the lats cool.
3. Knowing that forearms could get tired so having support for them. Also, heartrate monitoring means not getting carried away.
I need another moment to appreciate this and then I'll be back.

Baltimore Bike Jam

LVG takes the close win at Bike jam and gets this solid gold cup. Fashion critique-there is such thing as too much pink on a podium.

With all the excitement, we almost missed this superfan getting escorted off by the Baltimore PD. The long haired guy in red was trying to pose as a Colavita mechanic and was trying to "test ride" one of their bikes-so I heard.