Monthly Archive for July, 2007

Dope

Published on July 27, 2007 in Biking and Thoughts. 0 Comments

Here are some of my thoughts on doping.  Especially around the latest developments.

The tour has been through lots before. It and cycling as a whole does need to be beaten down before it can rebuild properly. But there will always be people looking for an unfair advantage. There just needs to be enough people who don’t want those people around…

And it kind of sucks what the North American media is doing though. It’s killing the sport before the people that don’t know about it get to see its beauty.

Dang!

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Google store

Published on July 19, 2007 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

While slightly ridiculous, I love spending money, so I almost tempted to buy stuff…

http://www.googlestore.com/home.asp

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A first

Published on July 19, 2007 in Biking. 0 Comments

I think I can safely say that I am much more eager to report after a race that I consider much more successful than not.  So I guess you can figure out that my first Giro di Burnaby went pretty well…

I somehow scammed a front row start, which was definitely nice.  Although I moved back a bit within the first couple laps.  I was feeling reasonably comfortable.  Moving around a bit in the peloton, but my mom said I was in the half or third for the majority of the race.  Woohoo!

The first quarter of the race went by fast, the second slow, the third fast, and the last slow.  It was weird.  But a 10 man break with all the teams went away early and basically kept increasing its gap.  So it wasn’t until the near the end that things started to happen in my group.  I knew if I was in good position for a prime I would go for it, but I never was.  And then I was trying to get myself in good position for the last couple laps.  With one and a half to go, I jumped on Dave Vukets’ wheel as he jumped, hoping to work and get a gap.  But we didn’t get enough and they were all on our wheels.  After an effort like that, I was right to the back.  I recovered reasonably quickly and maybe could have pulled off a decent finish against a much shallower field, but with many strong guys left, I was at the back. 

But as far as I can tell, that is that first pro crit that I have finished!  That’s pretty cool.  My first goal of my season’s peak reached!  Woohoo!  It only took 7 races.  3 more to go.  Let’s do it again, and again, and again.

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The week of super

Published on July 19, 2007 in Biking. 0 Comments

The White Rock crit still wasn’t the best race I’ve ever done, but it was huge improvement from last year!  I almost got myself in position for an early prime and I was having fun and felt pretty good. Just before halfway I was moving backward pretty fast and almost got dropped.  But the field slowed up and I got back in.  Then it was just after halfway through the race when I realized I had forgotten to take my gel at the start and found myself off the back and unable to close the gap this time.  Still much better than the 10 minutes I lasted last year.

I seemed to recover reasonably well for the road race the next morning.  It was early, but I felt pretty good to go.  Oops.  The first climb came and I was hurting.  It seemed longer than I remember.  Then another climb, another climb, another climb…. another climb.  And I was off the back.  I chased for a lap, but in case they eased up, but I pulled out after 4 laps.  Somehow, again, I still improved on last year.  This time I had even done the crit already. 

Ok, time for rest in Nanaimo and then Gastown…

Gastown was pretty decent last night.  It was raining, but I wasn’t too worried for some reason.  I got a pretty decent start position, probably middle of the pack.  But we stood there forever because nobody wanted to lose their spot.  So after 15 minutes of standing around we started.  I felt way better already, but the corners were definitely sketch because of the rain.  We rode them slower and I felt pretty good on the straights.  After a couple laps I had found a comfortable place and could take the corners well.  I was too far back though and there were gaps opening everywhere.  I seemed to be catching lots of people though.  I was riding with Phil and Jamie and some other strong guys, but after 12 laps or so the group I was with all got pulled.  Next time I could count the field was under 30 riders which was still before the halfway point of the race.  Crazy. 

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Discernment

Published on July 14, 2007 in Thoughts. 0 Comments

…Just a few points from an article I read recently…

Is your imitation of the Father obvious? Is it obvious in small decisions, in big decisions, in preferences, in your speech, in your humor, in your thoughts, in your entertainment choices, in your free time, in your goals, in your dress? Whom do you resemble? Whom do you imitate?

  • You focus on issues instead of motives. You say, “There’s nothing wrong with _____ (a concert, drink, movie),” instead of, “What is my motive in doing this?”
  • You justify yourself because of good intentions or perceived maturity. You think, “I’m mature enough. I can handle it. It doesn’t affect me. I just need to relate to these people.”
  • You question God’s standard. You think, “God will just forgive me.” “Did God really mean that?” “The Lord won’t mind.”
  • You’re more comfortable with confusion than clarity. You think, “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing even if I’m not sure it’s right — it’s easier than stopping to think about it.”

Deciding to worship God in every area changes our response in … every area. Here are just a few.

  • Media: Your first question shouldn’t be “Is this appropriate?” but “Who owns my eyes? Whom do they belong to? Who owns my ears?”
  • Clothing: Really, immodesty is saying “You know what Lord, I own my own body and I will do with it what I want and wear what I want.” But modesty says “I know that physical attractiveness is given to me for you glory God and for my spouse.”
  • Money: Our checkbook reveals what we worship, doesn’t it? Who owns your checkbook? Tithing and otherwise spending with God’s glory in view says, “My money is not my own.”
  • Career: Are you desperate to live the American Dream with two cars in the garage and a white picket fence? Ask yourself, “Who owns my career?”

Decide to worship by giving yourself as a living sacrifice to God, holy and pleasing. Decide to worship God in every gray matter you encounter.

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Improving…

Published on July 13, 2007 in Biking and Life. 1 Comment

So I didn’t have any internet at nationals, so I didn’t get to post.  And I always hate posting when I feel like I have lots to say.  So here’s the quick and dirty:

Trip out was uneventful, but long.  Weather was off and on the whole time.  TT course looked cool, and hard.  I didn’t have a good ride.  I felt like crap to the top of the climb, then decent from there on out.  It was just raining on us and at one point I told myself I was having too much fun and had to push harder.  I was 32nd.  Not the result I wanted.

The road race was going to be ridiculously tough.  It was hot and sunny.  I felt pretty good for the first little while.  Got dropped and chased back on a couple times.  But after a climb about 60km in it was a false flat crosswind and the chase was on and I just couldn’t hold a wheel to save my life.  I rode in to the edge of town for a nice ride.  Again, not at all the ride I wanted.

I can make all the excuses I want… my bootie came undone, travel, bad prep, too heavy, but the truth is, I didn’t have it when it counted.  Period.  Move on.  Andy said, “little improvements, bit by bit.”

Flight home was tight, they held the second leg for us.  Got my luggage, washed clothes, slept a couple hours and started driving.  Got to Van today, no problems.  White Rock hill climb was tough, no other way to say it, tough.  We’ll see how the rest goes…

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What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Published on July 3, 2007 in Thoughts. 0 Comments

Hmmm… but this is what Steve London had to say on the subject:

It means to:
Love others sincerely
Hate evil
Cling to what is good
Be devoted to one another
Honour one another
Serve the Lord with zeal
Be joyful in hope
Be patient in affliction
Be faithful in prayer
Share with God’s people in need
Practice hospitiality
Bless those who persecute you
Rejoice with those who rejoice
Mourn with those who mourn
Live in harmony with one another
Don’t be proud or conceited
Associate with people of low position
Don’t repay evil for evil
Do what is right
Don’t take revenge
Overcome evil with good

(paraphrase of Rom 12:9-21)

Which provoked some interesting thoughts in me.  I’ve always said the super basic root of being a Christian is believing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; that Jesus is God’s son sent to earth and died on the cross for our sins, so that we don’t have to.  And, yup, I still believe that.  But being a Christian is more than believing those simple statements…

I’m reminded of a recent bible study where we said that you could follow the 10 commandments (which, by the way, I don’t think (m)any humans are capable of) and still not be as “good” as you can be.   So when Jesus came, he gave us two commands:

  • to love the LORD your god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and
  • to love your neighbour as yourself.
    • one of my thoughts on this statement is not to take it as many parents teach… “don’t do unto others things you wouldn’t want them to do unto you.”  So if you don’t want Jimmy to punch you, then don’t punch him.  But take it the other way and if you want Jimmy to love you and give you a hug, then you have to first love him and give him a hug.  Wow!  Everything is so intertwined… that just hit home a point from Mark’s sermon I recently heard at Brittani’s church, but this post would get mighty long, so I’m stopping this point… now.

I think if you fully and truly follow these two commands (which, again, I don’t think is within human capacity) you will automatically follow the 10 commandments.  And will be a “good” person.  Hmm…

What does it mean to follow Jesus/be a Christian?

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