Christmas Day 2009

Greetings Readers

May today be what you wanted. I hope the best for you Readers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

December Update 12/10/09

Greetings Readers

Excuse # 45

While on vacation I left an important bag that contains my camera USB cord, my three SD USB disc holders, 2 Sandisk memory cards, Ipod cable, 2 Flash Drives and bits and pieces of paper that contained this and that at our Ranch.

Needless to say, I am lost without that stuff. For the past two weeks I have been able to buy yet another flash drive 8G, but other than that I can not do what I need to do what I have been doing prior to last month's vacation. I am going to be back most likely at the Ranch this month so there is no reason to ask for the stuff to mailed to me; hence might as well make a back up bag so if something like this happens again then I will not be "shit out of luck."

I have pictures to share and more often than not I have been able to post a picture with each blog post. That being said posting a blog does not seem right without a picture I took.

Excuse # 24

I have been busy - month and year end close right around the corner.

Excuse # 63

I have been cold. C-O-L-D readers. Matter of fact, I have been able to get rides home from work or to the Light Rail Station due to people/friends concerned about me. Let me tell you Readers some people have those heated seats - wow. I was (and am) cold from the single digit weather currently happening the past week in Colorado.

Excuse # 26

I want to write about current topics too, but have been too busy.

Excuse # 4

Get home late, cook dinner late, watch one tv show, try to sleep and the next thing you know it is 4 AM and time for another day.

Anyway, I am going to try buy a camera USB cord and Mike's Camera and go to Park Meadows Mall for the Ipod cable so I can get on track with my blog.

Perhaps make you Readers laugh, but more likely shake your head and think who is this guy?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Back From Thanksgiving Vacation

Greetings Readers

I welcome myself back to Colorado and to my blog, in a manner of speaking. And I have to admit that I did miss some of those blogs I frequent.

I do have a lot to write and catch up about, but then again it may be worthless information

The "Party Crasher", "Tiger Woods" and more importantly are you on "Team Jacob" or "Team Edward" - get the fuck out of here - I definitely could care less for that Burger King commerical

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2009

Greetings Readers

Auto posting - I hope everyone was able to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Winter Hook - Winter Ale

Greetings Readers

Not much to say today, but thought to quickly show another beer by Redhook that this "Redhooktyrant" loves. This is an annual beer that only comes out at winter.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Me an "asshole?"

Greetings Readers

The other day I decided to go for a run during my lunch break.

I was kind of pissed off and pounding some pavement tends to relieve some stuff. Just me and the road (well sidewalk if you want to get technical).

There I was running down the street when I came to my first intersection with a stoplight. The Green light was on in the direction I was running. However, the “red hand” signal for pedestrians was blinking off and on. Where I was going to cross.

Now, idling (but inching) that was going to turn towards me was a red truck. Both windows were open (rolled down), a dog in the back and a young girl looking in the opposite direction to see if a vehicle was coming her direction that she was turning into. Not once did she look in my direction to see if there was anyone coming in the opposite direction.

This scenario has played over in my life and will continue to do so after this day.

Well, by the time the oncoming car had past I was in the crosswalk with the red hand still blinking off and on and I had the green light. By law, I have the right of way. Any vehicle must yield to any vehicle and/or pedestrian that has the right of way in the direction the other vehicle/pedestrian are going in.

I was about three feet into the crosswalk when the red truck took off right into me. Not once did she even glance in my direction to see if anyone was coming in the opposite direction.

I yelled “Heads up” pretty darn loud since I had moments before being hit/run over. Readers, sure I could have stopped since I knew that she was not going to look my direction at all. I am pretty good at guessing at ignorant people who do not look both ways when they have to yield before turning. No point or point – I was not going to me whether I was going to get hit or not.

I heard the brakes lock on the red truck and then I give her “the look.” I said nothing since I did not need to say anything. Just “the look.” Well, “the look” did or did not help depending on your point of view”

I see her mouth form “You fucking asshole!”

Yes Readers, I was wearing my earphones and listening to some Tiesto. So, I could not hear her exactly say “You fucking asshole.”

Since I did not say the first words, because I was content with just “the look” I replied.

“Look both ways you Bitch.” And then I turned my head forward and I was running out of the crosswalk. By then the stoplight did change lights and the people who had the red light now have the green light.

I never looked back since I could care less what just happened.

Perhaps twenty yards later I noticed out of the corner of my right eye there was a vehicle matching my pace. I did not turn my head, but turn my eye as much as I could see (which was not much) and I could see the vehicle’s driver’s window down with a woman yelling/screaming at me.

I do not know why. I kept on running and where I was running. There is a middle concrete island separating traffic so I guess that kept me safe in a manner of speaking. Another twenty yards later that vehicle got into the turn lane to turn into a complex’s parking lot on my side of the road. All this time I pretended not to notice her.

Yet, I foresaw trouble. Since there was no oncoming traffic she had the opportunity to turn and perhaps really get into my face for whatever reason she was yelling about. I quickly slowed my running pace and hoped for on coming traffic coming around the corner. Sure enough the biking gods were watching over me. Three vehicles were coming and were going to block that person from getting to me. As soon I saw the vehicles coming I quickly turned up the pace and soon I was safely past that complex’s parking lot where she could have turned in to confront me.

All the time I never acknowledged her. I kept look straight ahead where I was running and with my Oakley’s on. I am sure that even infuriated her more.

However Readers, why was she pissed off and yelling at me? After thinking about it – probably that was her daughter in the red truck turning without even looking in the opposite direction that could have run me over if I had not yelled “heads up.” Or perhaps “sister” looking after another “sister.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tiesto at Club Beta

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well, I have to admit - I still fucking know how to dance the night away, hook up, and stay awake for 40 hours plus.

Flashback – Over a month ago I found out that one my favorite artist was coming to Denver. At that time I did not have a clue where that artist was going to be performing at until about three ago.

Tiesto was coming to Denver and was on this tour to promote his new release Kaleidoscope that was recently released in the past month. More specifically Club Beta is where Tiesto was going to be performing live in the beginning part of November.

I was ecstatic with this news. Basically, this was a no-brainer that I was not not going to go.

Yet, about a week ago I found out that tickets were limited and that tickets were $ 60.00 dollars. It is a lot of money, but with Tiesto coming to a Club and not to (“The Can,” the Fillmore, Paramount Theatre, or the Denver Coliseum) I knew that tickets could possibly sell out before the day of show.

Thinking that I changed my thinking. I thought about it is $ 60.00 – hard earned money these days. Also, the weather – I was not going to go if there was snow and/or rain that day. I started to think of reasons that I could use as an excuse not to go.

Monday morning – I went to my financial institution and withdrew some cold hard earned cash. I still was undecided at that point, but I wanted to at least have the money available should I change my mind.

Later that day I was talking about the concert and how I was unsure if I wanted to go. First - $ 60.00 and two – the concert is at a club.

Soon, the “Fred Flintstone” whistle went off and I was still at work an hour later than I should be. I was still unsure of whether or not I should go to Club Beta.

I left work, caught Light Rail, then stopped off the local liquor store to get a six pack of beer just in case.

I was committed not going to Tiesto about 80 percent. However, on the third beer I thought what the fuck. I can go downtown and at least try to see if tickets are still available for the show. Worst case scenario I am out Light rail fare both ways – basically under ten dollars. Justifiable cost considering the cost of the ticket itself. Before leaving my humble abode I drank another bottle as fast as I could – cheaper drinking now should I considering drinking at the Club where the price of one beer is going to the price of a six-pack I just bought.

I soon got to Union station and headed to part of downtown that I Googled Club Beta was located at.

I soon saw a lot of people, young people, at this stone building. I soon found out that this was Club Beta. I could hear the thump thump of the club music playing. That sound was pretty incredible to hear and I know that was not Tiesto, but Tiesto’s opening act; which was no concern to me.

I located security person and asked him

“Is this where Tiesto is playing?

“Yes” he replied.

“Sorry, I have not been here before, where do I go to inquire about tickets being still available?”

“Go up there.”

“Thanks” I replied.

Basically, no line at the entrance. Either most of the people were inside, or these people outside Club Beta were waiting for Tiesto to take the stage or worst - the concert was sold out.

I went up to the counter talked loudly to the girl behind the booth and asked are tickets still available. She nodded yes and said $ 70.00.

I did not hesitate on the ten-dollar increase due to day of show. I was there at Club Beta, tickets were available and I was being drawn to the music that was thumping from the entrance of Club Beta.

I got my ticket, got a wristband (over 21 yrs old) and then got stamped twice on the back of my right hand and soon I was walking into Club Beta.

Readers, I have not been to a Club (Night Club) in ages (you’ll sort of know later). The atmosphere, the people, the music and the ambiance all made me coming down to downtown Denver on Monday well worth this day in November.

I immediately looked for the restroom since the beers I drank at home were going through me. Thank goodness I drank before hand – I was intoxicated and also saving money since I did not have to spend much money on alcohol at the club.

After the restroom break I headed back to club level (1st Floor). Readers, there is a balcony (2nd story), but I wanted to be on street level; specifically the dance floor so I can experience Tiesto as close as I could.

Before finding a spot on the floor I headed to the bar. I ordered a Corona – and was immediately $ 5.00 lighter.

I then started to look for an area on the dance floor that I could claim as “mine.”

The opening act was just finishing up and I soon found myself a spot. Not far, but not near, but so acceptable for me to be in.

I would say there was a few minutes after the opening act finished went Tiesto starting playing his music.

Wow. Fucking wow. The music was loud, but when Tiesto started playing the music went even high. The thump thump got deeper. Matter of fact Readers, I could literally feel the sound wave through out my body. I actually wondered about the damage this decimal of sound was doing to my eardrums and to my internal organs.

Yes Readers, when you get my age you wonder about these types of things. Whereas, and I do remember when I was younger, I could care less about the decimals. Matter of fact, I think it was goal to see how deaf you would be the day after a concert. The good old days – not. As I mentioned the music was loud, I mean loud. What made the damaging decimals worst was that there were four huge speakers (that I could see) that were position in a square on each corner of the dance floor in a building that is really not that big; at all. I really started to think how much hearing loss am I going to suffer for the next couple of hours.

Then, I saw the first girl, young woman that caught my eye. Oh so my type – dirty blonde, slender, pink bra showing from her shirt. Jeans. All those thoughts of what I am doing to my hearing were immediately forgotten. She was so oh my type.

I soon began to notice other hot young woman. But then I started to notice the guys and then I started to notice the people on the dance floor. Everyone looked young. I know I can pass for late 20’s even though I am late 30’s so I know I did not look too out of place, but I sure noticed the age difference of me and the rest of the people on the dance floor.

I think it took me about two songs until I started to get into Tiesto’s music and starting dancing. I soon got swept into the music.

After midnight the music was still pumping and I was still dancing away. I was moving and dancing my way closer and closer to the front where Tiesto was. There was the usual bumping of elbows and bodies on the dance floor between me and other people. You tend to ignore since the dance floor is crowded with people and touching between other people is expected.

Well, at one point I felt a left breast against my left side of the back. Yes Readers, I know when a breast is pressed against my body. I thought nothing of it since there were so many people dancing. Then, I felt the right breast being pressed against the right side of my back. Again, nothing was thought of it – basically I thought that she was probably being pushed and accidentally pressed into my back. A third time, I felt the left breast being pressed into my back and then I felt her hips being pressed/grinded into my ass. At that point I knew that this was no accidental touching. Though, at this point I was hoping that it was woman doing the pressing. Readers, you never know these days. So, I turned around and there was a cute young woman smiling, looking and dancing at me. What a turn on.

I was working up a sweat from dancing and the heat as well as body heat.

Soon, 2 A.M. came around and that was the end of Tiesto. Well, I think, that there is a Colorado law that probably states that a club must shut down at 2 A.M. Tiesto did not want to quit, but we did and we dancers did not want him to quit either.

That November Monday night, in my ex-coworkers words, was “just so awesome”. I am glad that I made the decision to go to Tiesto. After all, I would have never thought any more of Tiesto than I do now. Seeing him in such an intimate setting was a treat. There was not the usual concert sound set-up. I think that is what made the difference. And I would not have met Katie… or should I say that Katie would have not met me.

I got to my humble abode around 6 A.M. and as I walked in the door I smelled something different. I did not smell/reek of cigarette smoke? Wow. That is how long that I have not been to a club since smoking was banned here in Colorado in establishments. Now my clothes and I only smelled of sweat and sex in the past six hours, which I soon only had a limited amount of time to get cleaned up and get to work. How in the fuck was I going to work at work being up all night? Back in my youth I know I could this, but now I am so much older and these types of nights are hard now. There was no thought of calling in a PTO day, but just make it through the day and then get home and go directly to bed.

Listening to Tiesto’s music on my Ipod now I have a better understanding of what I am hearing now is nowhere close to hearing Tiesto performing these same songs live.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Marlboro Man?

Greetings Readers

What do you think? Does the cigarette belong or not?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete

Two Weeks? Really?

Greetings Readers

“Two weeks”
Total Recall

Two weeks. I can not believe it, but I can believe that I have been riding the Mountain bike for Two weeks now.

First of all, I can not ride the all round road bike, Tracey, since she still has that fucked up flat tire I got a couple of weeks ago that forced me to ride Lily since then. Secondly, I cannot ride the other bikes since I do not ride those “good” bikes in the snow / rain. Perhaps lastly, I am actually enjoying riding Lily.

Though, there are plenty of drawbacks. The handlebars. The handlebars are wide and I have to be careful of turning corners and areas where there may be a tight turn. Most of time, I know what I can and cannot ride on my road bikes, without the fear of my handlebars hitting the corner of whatever I am turning into.

The gripping of the handlebars. I am used to gripping the handlebars in the traditional 0 to 180 degree direction. With the Mountain bike grips I am continuously gripping in a 270 to 90 degree directions (basically perpendicular to my body.) I find myself trying to grip as I ride a road bike, but quickly know that I cannot.

The weight of the Mountain Bike, excuse me, Lily. She is heavy. Matter of fact, I think that the tires combined weigh about the weight of any of my road bikes. She is a bitch to carry up and down stairs. She is a bitch getting off and on the Light Rail Train.

The crank Lily. The Crank has less “teeth” than a road bike crank, which means I have to pedal much, much more, than I do on a road bike. It sucks. What usually takes me no sweat and no gasping for breath on a road bike now makes me work up a sweat and breathing heavy in the same distance on Lily.

The Height of Lily. She is much taller than my road bikes, but I feel even taller since the pedals are attached to a smaller crank, therefore giving me more height on Lily. Not a problem usually, but when I sit up from the seat on Lily I am usually standing up straight on Lily. Whereas, if I am out of the seat on any of my road bikes I am out of he seat, but hunched over and forward and not much taller than just sitting on any of my road bikes. So, I sometimes find myself hitting the branches of trees that I would not worry about while on any of my road bikes.

The Appearance of Lily. The M.S.R.P was about $ 800.00 dollars, but I got her at a discount since the store was clearing inventory. I am sure Lily looks great, but to me she sort of looks plain in a manner of speaking. Not a bad thing, but some of my faithful Readers out there know that I like to look more than just “plain.” Yet, as Lily is based upon the real Lily – she may look plain, but to me she is a goddess.

On the opposite side of the spectrum – I love the disc brakes. I love the shocks; I love the feeling that I can now jump off and onto sidewalks from the street without worrying about bending/cracking a rim. I can go up and down grass/dirt hills. I can ride in the winter feeling much more safer than being on a road bike in winter. I can carry a shit load of items without worrying about the weight limit on my carbon road bike rims that is specified. And most of all – I love getting dirty. More to the fucking point I desire to get myself muddy to show everyone/no one that I am one bad ass hardcore mountain biker. As oppose to being just a badass hard-core road bike rider.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

"Force Flex"

Greetings Readers

Consumers – are we that gullible?

Last month I had commented on the “Cold Mountains” activator.

This month – “Force Flex Trash Bags”

I remember the commercial with a piano being pulled up to an apartment many stories high by two piano movers. All of a sudden the piano gets dropped and falls to the ground and eventually breaks into many pieces. The movers then pick up the pieces of the piano and stuff the broken pieces into the force flex trash bag. Where we consumers view the piano’s jagged pieces stretch the force flex bag, but never rips through the bag.

Now, there is a new commercial for the “force flex trash bags”

The lady in the commercial is throwing away food into the trash can (with the ordinary trash white bag.)

There is the first thing that is wrong – no woman that I know throws food away into the trashcan. All the women that I know use the garbage disposable. Period. There is also every three months “Oh, I got call my plumber.”

“Why?” I ask.

“The Garbage disposable is not working.”

“How did that happen?” I reply.

“Disposing of food – what else.” And I get the “why do you think” look.

Readers, I am sure that at least most of you will agree with that women will use the garbage disposal for grinding up food as opposed to throwing it away. However a man will throw away food into the trashcan without a second thought (unless we have a dog). And then we hear-

“You know you could have fed a whole village in Africa”

I digress.

As I stated the woman in the commercial throws away food in the garbage can and sure enough she throws the plate of food away with one hand about 5 inches in the air from the trashcan and into what can be assumed is a brand new trash bag. The other hand is nowhere to be seen.

Any consumer, and human consumer, knows to hold onto the trash bag with one hand while throwing away food with the other hand when throwing away anything into a brand new trash bag. Otherwise, if you do not then sure as shit the trash bag will collapse on itself and the bag will not be around the rim of the trashcan, but in a heap at the bottom of the trash can. Common knowledge to anyone throwing away food or anything else for that matter.

That is why we consumers just deal with it when the trash bag is new, or why we tie a knot on the excess trash bag so the bag will not slide into the trash can when throwing away trash.

However, we consumers are being lead to believe that “Force flex trash bags” are here to fix that problem of the trash bag not staying up on the trash can rim without holding onto the trashcan.

Note: some consumers have the trash cans with that plastic lid on top which actually secures the trash bag from falling into the trash can so the “force flex trash bag” is irrelevant to the bag collapsing at the bottom of the trashcan Readers.

Readers – don’t be suckers, your ordinary trash bag will be okay. As long as you use common sense that ordinary trash bag is just as good as the “force flex trash bag.” Hold onto the trash bag when first dumping trash into a new trash bag and two you are never going to put a broken piano into a trash bag.

I do not know how much more the “Force Flex Trash Bags” cost, but the next time I go to the store and remember I will get the price and compare that to the price of my ordinary trash bags. Oh by the way, I just went to the website and it appears that you can download a coupon for a dollar off so that is telling me that Force Flex Trash Bags must be expensive.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Finally the Bandanna Again

Greetings Readers

Finally Readers, I am finally able to wear a bandanna on top of my head.

As opposed to my Natalie Merchant Stocking Cap due to the cold weather this Autumn. The weather warmed up enough for me not to worry about losing about 80 percent of my boy heat through the top of my head.

Occasionally, I am smarter than the average bike rider.

Do not get me wrong. I love and do wear my Natalie Merchant stocking, but I also like not wearing a stocking cap. I want the bandanna on my head since that is the way people know me on the streets in my “hood.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Hoptober

Greetings Readers

Since becoming a Fat Tire drinker last year I see that there was a new brand type for me to try this year under Fat Tire.

Just as you can see the word – “Hop” in Hoptober I was actually excited to try this selection of beer from Fat Tire. I love the smell of hops, as well as the taste of hops.

Basically, in one word I thoroughly found the beer “delectable.”

“Delectable” – I do not think that I have ever shared this word with you Readers. The people that know me in person know that I am picky. Real picky.

If I think some food does not look good; 99.5 percent of the time I am not going to try that food. That’s stupid. That’s dumb. What a jackass. And so on. I have heard them all, but I am and will continue to stick to what I believe in.

Let me put this in another way. If I try something for the first time and I do not like the taste, the texture or even the smell I will spit that piece of food I ate right out. I have no reason to pretend to like that piece of food nor am I going to subject myself to misery trying to eat that bite I took.

Readers, I know there are a lot of delicious foods out there awaiting for me to taste, but I am okay without ever, I mean EVER, knowing what that taste may be. I have not lost sleep over a piece of food I have not wanted to try. I have not screamed myself awake from a terrible nightmare of what that food may taste like. I still sleep like a baby when I do not taste something I have never tasted before.

Getting back to the word “Delectable.” Should I ever try something for the first time out of curiosity; and not because of pressure and come to find out that I love that food – that gets the “delectable” label and soon word gets around like that old TV commercial for Life cereal “He likes it. Mikey likes it.”

Now, that is sort of an on going joke and whether or not I find something “delectable” to eat.

That food may be homemade, that food may be store bought, that food may be unique, and that food may be your best recipe, but if I do not like the way that food smells and/or looks I am not going to try. I am okay with that. That food could be free, but I still would not have a bite even if it were free to everyone.

Also, I eat and cook what I want to eat. I have basically not settled for something that I did not want to eat. That is not counting for when I was saving to buy those carbon road wheels the past two years. I still ate Uncle Ben’s white rice for 30 days as opposed to buying a cheap brand of rice and not being happy about the other brand of rice. Also, I think I have mentioned in the past I have not bought a cheaper brand of beer in the past year during this 21st century recession. I would and will continue to buy what I like and will not settle for something cheaper.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Things I Carry - Part 54

Greetings Readers

Let me see…

1 pair of Jeans (Levi’s zipper)
1 dress shirt (Van Huesen)
1 brief (underware exchange)
1 Running Shorts (Reebok)
1 Tie (Oakbrook)
1 Bandanna (Jack Daniel’s)
1 large bottle of Powerade (Mountain Blast - ?? oz.)
1 can of Green Beans (Del Monte - 14 ½ oz.)
1 regular can of Cream of Mushrooms (Campbell’s - ?? oz.)
1 Bottle of A-1 (Cracked Peppercorn - 10 oz.)
1 bottle of Sweet and Sour Mix (Mr. & Mrs. T’s - 33.8 oz.)
1 pork roast
1 crown of Broccoli (fresh)
3 Jalapenos (fresh)
3 lemons (small and fresh)

And

Then, in one hand (right)

1 – 2.5 Gallon of Water (Deep Rock)

Nope, I do not have a fucking clue how much the entire grocery store load weighed in at. Nor do I care. And I do not have a clue why I took inventory of this particular shopping excursion. And the distance was at about 1 mile - half down hill and the other half uphill was the total distance of carrying this load home

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Things I Carry - Part 53

Greetings Readers

1 pair of Jeans (Levi’s zipper)
1 white dress shirt (Van Heusen)
1 pair of dress socks (Geoffrey Beane)
1 red string bikini (Life)
1 brown belt (Eagle’s Nest)
1 bath mat
1 full size bath towel (JC Penney’s)
1 T-shirt (for running at lunch - Ride the Rockies T-shirt)
1 Bandanna (Jack Daniel’s)
1 tie (Oaktree)
1 Hairspray (Paul Mitchell – 16.9 oz)
1 six pack of beer (Deschutes – Black Butte Porter)

I had to take the bath mat and bath towel home to get them washed since those are the two I use at work. I change my towels every week to two weeks. I also had to take the hair spray since I used my last bottle of hairspray at work.

Readers, when I first started “a year of bike commuting” I was once green behind the ears. I carried a gallon zip lock bag to and from work that held all my bath supplies (Shampoo, soap, hair gel, hair spray, hair brush, toothpaste and toothbrush.) I have to admit Readers; I did this for a long time. Then it occurred to me, why don’t I just have two sets – one at work and then one at home. That way it frees up space in my bag. Sure it costs money to do that, but once you start having two sets then it becomes routine and you do not think about the two sets.

Yet, such as now, when I run out of hairspray and have not made the time to buy a new bottle of hairspray I have to transport my hairspray back and forth to and from work.

I remember back in the day when I happened to forget my bathroom shower supplies bag and my hair would be something else without gel and hairspray. The shampooing without a day was all right and for soap I used the liquid soap at work.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Halloween 2009

Greetings Readers

Once again we Readers are at that time of the year that is looked forward to by so many children. I know that we all have sometime in our past. And perhaps some of us are now taking children out on this Halloween for the first time

Halloween

This is another time to stick up for the “little people.”

Literally.

What I mean is that I usually buy the full size candy and give them out to the trick of treaters in my part of the neighborhood. I do not know how I got into this ritual, but somehow I did and never have strayed from this Halloween tradition.

As traditions go – the other tradition is watch Halloween 3: Season of the Witches. Again, this is something that I do every year. This year will be no different.

For this year, I decided to get King Size Reese Peanut Butter Cup Candy. The price was 10 for 10.00, which was a perfect price for me to spend. To me a dollar a candy bar was worth my money. Not only am I saving money, making up for my sins; I will be making some very happy little children later this evening...

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Busted on the LIght Rail Train

Greetings Readers

The Sun has made an appearance in all her glory - finally. Anyway, let me tell you Readers about this incident in my past....

Some of you faithful Readers know I have my moods. Most times it does not take much to piss me off. Yes, I admit and confess to that; after all I would be liar to say that I did not.

This incident happened the day I was leaving for our Ranch in New Mexico. I did all the work at work that I needed to do before leaving for my short vacation. I went home and got my bags then left for the bus station that is located downtown.

I went to the bus stop that is located near me since I would need to take the bus to the Arapahoe Light Rail Station.

Eventually, I got to the Light Rail Station, but I missed the Light Rail Train going North since the ticket machine was fucking with my money. I hate these fucking machines – you cannot plug the money right after another. You have to actually let the coin go in and wait about 2 seconds before depositing the next coin. Otherwise, if the coin follows the first coin to closely the second coin will be returned to you. Your fucked when the Light Rail Train is there and you have coins galore to feed into the machine. Needless to say I was fucked.

Bye bye Light Trail Train.

Damn.

So, I got my upgrade ticket and had to wait for the next Light Rail Train going to 18th and California. I was the only one waiting there since I just missed the Light Rail Train. As I waited a Light Rail Train going South arrived. Soon all the Light Rail Train Riders that needed to get off got off. All, but one with a child headed to wherever they were going.

I waiting at one of the entrances I normally board at. While I noticed the person with the child in tow was standing near me about three feet. I did not acknowledge this person, because I could care less. Although, I did wonder why this person was not going wherever they needed to go. Nor did this person go to the ticket machine located at the other side of the Light Rail Station.

About 10 minutes later the Train that I needed to get on was coming into the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. Since I was there first I was first in line to board. Yet, this person walked without so much a look at me to indicate that she was going to cut in front of me with their child. Readers, I have no problem with letting a person get ahead with me with a child in tow, but not to so much even acknowledge me as “please may I cut in” look or something to that effect.

Nope. Nada. Nothing.

Not that you have to guess; I got a bit pissed off. Then to top this off when the Light Rail Train was about to stop there was two bike riders; a man and a woman (probably in their early 20’s) who were getting ready to get off with their bikes.

The person who cut in front of me without so much as glance at me started to go into the Light Rail Train without letting the bike riders get out first. The guy immediately made this person trying to board the Train stop them in their track and made no effort to move. That person with child in tow immediately moved out of the way just enough to let him out with his bike.

Now, here is the fucked up thing. Readers, while the wait was about 10 minutes not many riders showed up, which meant that there was about 5 other entrances to the three other Light Rail Trains that were connected together going to 18th and California. Of all places to board this person chose the entrance I was waiting at and to cut in front of me. That is messed up Readers.

As soon as the guy was off the Train that person with child in tow immediately boarded the train. The look on the woman biker’s face was the pure “What the fuck” look. I could not believe what I just witnessed either. As soon as the person with child in tow was clear the woman with her bike was able to disembark. Yes, I waited until the woman and her bike was off the Train before I got on.

That person with the child in tow took the middle seats between the doors of the Light Rail Train meanwhile I took one of the small seats near the end of the Light Rail Train cars.

Soon the Light Rail Train was off and running. A thought occurred to me this person did not buy a ticket while I was listening to my Ipod.

Then, it was not even 15 seconds later that person with the child in tow pulls out a cell phone and then starts speaking in a language I did not know. This person was not talking normally, but at a loud enough volume to bother me and one more rider on the Light Rail Train.

I was already pissed at this person for cutting in front of me and now to be talking too loudly I was getting more pissed off. To get me going I started talking out loud about how I could not hear my music for someone talking too loudly on a cell phone.

That person with child in tow and cell phone firmly against their ear ignored me or did not even know that I was talking out loud about them. I probably looked ridiculous myself. Oakley’s on when there was no sunlight, my earphones in and me just looking like “do not even think about fucking with me” look on my face.

Two Light Rail stops later “the man” boarded. I was getting more pissed off as the seconds rolled by and I still could hear that person talking loudly on the cell phone in a language I could not identify. “The man” then asks me for my fare. I pulled out my ticket upgrade and my bus transfer and held it out in my palm to “the man”. I did not look at “the man”, but just continued to look at the person with the child in tow with the cell phone firmly placed against their ear.

Out of the corner of my eye I could actually see “the man” really checking out my tickets. I could care less at the moment, but would have if I were not focused on the person with the child in tow. I would say about 20 seconds later I hear “thank you” from “the man” and at that moment I looked at “the man” and pointed at that person with the child in tow “they do not have a ticket.”

“The man” nods his head at me and then walks to the person with child in tow.

“Ticket please” I hear the “the man” say to the person with the child in tow.

At this point I push stop on my ipod, because I wanted to see what was going to happen.

“Excuse me, ticket please,” I hear “the man” repeat himself.

The person with child in tow did not even look at “the man.” The person with child in tow just kept talking loudly in whatever language they were talking in to the person on the other end of the cell phone call.

“Ma’am.”

She looks at with him while talking on the cell phone.

“I need to see your ticket.”

“Ma’am. Your ticket please.”

Eventually, she hangs up the cell phone and then starts to look in her purse. Two stops later, she pulls out a bus transfer ticket.

“Ma’am this is from this morning. I need to see a current ticket please.”

“Do you understand me? What is your name?”

She looks at “the man” without saying a word.”

“Your name please”

Readers I am going to sum up the next part. “The man” asked her for her Date of birth. Where is she going. To no avail. Soon, “the man” got her to call whoever she was talking to get some answers. “The Man” was not going to walk away and give up.

“The man” has a conversation with the other person on the other end of the call and soon it was worked out that she was getting off at Broadway – he also got her name.

When the Light Rail Train eventually arrived at the Broadway Station I saw “the man” get off and then the woman with child in tow got up to get off also. As the woman got up she looked directly at me – “the death to you” look and it was at that moment I smiled my pearly whites directly at her. She eventually turned away, but when she got off the train she stared me down from the Broadway platform. She knew she was in trouble with “the man.”

This was due justice in the world – the ying and the yang.

For her incredible behavior for cutting in front of me, for not letting one of the bike riders to disembark from the Light Rail train first and for talking so loudly on the Light Rail Train and being rude to other passengers this was her punishment for being insolent to others on that faithful evening.

Now, you Readers may think this was my fault, but it was not. If I had not said anything to “the man” he would have asked for her ticket anyway. The woman with child in tow may have been doing this type of thing for a while. Perhaps the woman with child in tow may have been getting warnings up to this point. Perhaps. You can not claim I did not know you had to buy a ticket when there are usually more than two ticket machines located at most of the Light Rail Stations.

Yes, I got a certain satisfaction when “the man” walked her away from the Light Rail Train at the Broadway Station. Call it fate. Call it what comes around goes around. Call it karma. Call it you just “f’d in the A.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

I'm Bad Ass, Nationwide Readers!

Greetings Readers

Yours truly made the bike ride home on Lily without incident... well I did get splashed with slush from head to toe. And you know what Readers, I really laughed at myself when I got doused in slush. Nornally, this sort of thing would not be fucking funny to me. However, for the past 24 hours I have been happy as a clam on the Mountain Bike. I have been riding with a smile. Even more I have been talking to people who are on foot that smile and laugh at me; as well as approach me for conversastion. Even when I got home I had to laugh at myself on how soaking wet I got from that one vehicle that splashed slush 6 feet high and I bet about 10 feet wide. The driver was probably laughing at me also for what he/she did, but I did not mind.

You faithful Readers know I dislike this type of interaction most of the time, but I am having a grand ole time on Lily and going the distance as being that hard-core biker I am in the past 24 hours. Matter of fact Readers, my nipples are hard up (and not because of the cold =).)

I got home yesterday afternoon since the office closed down early. I had the rest of my pizza I ordered the other day and then soon fell asleep. I work up in time for Nip / Tuck and then sort of slept off and on until 6 AM this morning. The office was on a delay scheduled so that meant I could leave for work about 9 AM. I think everyone else took the day off or the office was closed.

I bundled up, got ready for the snow;not the cold since that was the least of my worries.

I headed out with Lily and soon I found out how difficult that morning bike ride was going to be. side streets were not plowed and basically had little traffic so I was weaving in one set vehicle tracks trying to stay vertical. I wish I could have biked near the gutter, but the snow was too deep and the sidewalks were not even an option.

The only option to take Arapahoe Road to the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. No through the urban subarbs. As when there is this much snow and type of condition there is the only thing I can do - I ride into the oncoming traffic that way I can see what is coming to me and more important not be run over by a vehicle from behind. Tedious venture, but I biked as fast as I could with the low volume traffic and then pull over to the side of the road and waited until all traffic pass by. As soon as that is done I ride like a madman once more.

Unfortunately, I did go horizontal. At least I went "fwoomp" into the snow (more than a foot deep)and did not actually kiss Mother Earth. I got up laughed at myself and decided to take a picture of where I fell over sideways on Arapahoe Road (which is pictured).

Eventually, I made it to the Light Rail Station and decided to take another Bad-Ass picture of myself at the water fountain near the Arapahoe Light Rail Station.

And that is pretty much my bike adventure riding this morning in Englewood, Colorado in the midst of the first heavy snow storm of Fall 2009.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Coming of the Storm

Greetings Readers

Bad Ass

Or so I do from time to time think of myself upon Mother Earth.

Yet, I know from a different point of view I was stupid. Your view depending on how you see the world from your eyes, as well as read.

As living as a true American I have that freedom to view myself how I want to others as well as have a voice (an opinion).

Yet, let me be truthful to myself I seriously fucked myself on my ride home.

I did not leave to go home until about 8:15 last night. As I waited for the parking garage door to open fully I saw the gleaming wet pavement from the sodium arc streetlights and knew that either rain or snow awaited me.

Neither really. It was that pellet like sized hail that was falling in the late evening night. I soon quickly found out that the wind was blowing from the West and North and steadily.

When I did turn to bike North I immediately felt the pellet like snow hit my face and it hurt. Also, on my exposed legs I felt the stinging of the pellet like snow hit my thighs. It did not hurt, but I would soon feel the pain of the pellet like snow hitting my thighs.

I rode about 100 yards when the intensity of the falling snow picked up dramatically. I knew at that moment I had to alter my course and head for the Light Rail Station.

From earlier this morning when listening to Fox News 31 I heard that the storm that was forecasted to come to Denver was going to start in the evening. No, definite time was given, but I thought that that storm would be well after 8 PM. Alas, I was wrong.

I made it to the Light Rail Station and waited in areas that were dry (in a manner of speaking) from the current snow falling. I was not cold, but I could feel the cold. Meaning, I was not miserable – yet.

Matter of fact, I was in good spirits. I was taking Light Rail and I was relatively dry, for the moment. I was so feeling the moment I decided to take a picture at the Light Rail Station and was hoping to use the light sources at the Light Rail station to show how heavy the pellet like snow was falling. I think I was able to capture that moment.

Soon, the Light Rail Train came and I boarded and warmed up a bit. Again, I was not cold, but knew that I needed to get warmed up from being outside for about 15 minutes.

While sitting I decided that I needed another picture of me out in this weather. Although where was I going to take that picture at. Then, it occurred to me – that new water Fountain that is located right off the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. I knew that the fountain would be on as well as the lights that are located in the fountain.

I reached the fountain around 8:30, I estimate, and the place was empty. Good. I tried to find a nice picture-taking place and soon located a spot where I could place the camera on auto timer and then pose.

I took several pictures; most without the flash since I knew from previous experiences that the flash at the distance I was going to pose at was not going to help. I was worried about blur, which I did have on more than half of the pictures I took, but I was able to actually get a few pictures I liked. They probably could have been better, but I am more than okay with the results I got. All in all, at least all the pictures did not come out blurry.

I really liked when I was able to get the orange and red lights captured in the picture. The purple, green and blue did not have the “effect” that caught my eye. By the way Readers, the falling pellet like snow was falling harder, but also changing over to snowflakes, which meant that the air was getting colder. Good, but not good.

So, I spent several minutes at the fountain taking timer pictures and soon the time came to ride home. There was no thought of heading to the nearest enclosed RTD bus stop. Actually, I was not sure that the bus on that route was even running anymore. So, instead of taking the chance with the thumb up my ass I knew I had to suck it up and ride home (all downhill.) Well, the snow and pellet like snow was falling in a mix. I was wet from all the picture posing and my exposed legs were wet and cold.

So, me riding west into the night was tough. I had to hold up my right had to block the snow from hitting my eyeballs. I had my Red Iridium lens on my Oakley’s, which meant I could not wear them at night since that lens blocks out light. I had not gone about 50 yards when I felt each of those pellet like snow hit every part of my expose thigh. It really hurt, but I think that was to the cold actually making my expose part of the thigh cold. Reflecting on the moment, I think my thighs were actually tingling from being so cold.

Here is where I had a choice. Ride fast and feel the stinging of the pellet like snow hit my thighs. As well as feel the wind cooling my body down. What did (or did not) help was that my ride was basically all downhill. I could get home without really pedaling, but that is not what I wanted. As long as I felt that I was moving my legs I felt I was able to keep a bit warmer longer while pedaling.

The other choice was to ride slowly. The softer the pellet like snow would hit my exposed thighs and the less I would feel the cold air when riding. The negative part about this choice is that I would be longer out in the night as well getting colder and wetter.

What did not help Readers – as I was riding through Greenwood Village I stuck to the streets, as opposed to the sidewalk. Hardly any traffic and I did not know the lay of the sidewalks in the dark. I would rather ride in the streets and street gutters where I know the terrain as opposed to the sidewalk since I hardly ever ride on sidewalks.

Well, Readers that was a mistake. Big fucking mistake. Apparently, it was a bit warmer in the DTC area, which meant that there was snowflakes, pellet like snow and rain falling all at the same time. Needless to say when I rode into the street gutter I rode into a gutter full of water – cold water. That cold water soaked my shoes instantly as well as get splashed on my legs and the back of my back from the rear tire. Not to mention the front tire that splashed up water into my face and chest. In a manner of feet I was soaking wet. Fuck me. I knew better, but I just did not think of expecting that until it was too late.

The last mile was tough Readers. The closer you know that you are home the further it seems away when you are miserable or in my case, cold, soaking wet, thighs tingling and wondering if I am going to damage some skin from the cold weather and cold elements.

And that Readers, was my ride home from a picture perfect Dawn morning. I have also included a few pictures from this morning, which I took the time to snap a few shots of me in all my glory.

On a serious note, I have decided to take off my Pink Bracelet (supporting the Komen Foundation.) Wearing that Pink Rubber bracelet was to support the Komen foundation, but more importantly to show the world the few women in my life who were diagnosed with breast cancer and survived affected me indirectly. As well as the ones that did not and for that reason also is why I especially wore that pink rubber bracelet.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Lily and Daryl at Dawn

Greetings Readers

Just another picture of me and Lily at the point of sunrise; almost. I thought what a beautiful sunrise this morning and the angle of the picture does not capture the colors as well as the clouds showing the colors of the coming sun.

Anyway, the morning was great, well more than great - no wind, in the 40's and the coming of the Dawn was so tranquil.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

An October Monday with Lily

Greetings Readers

I had to leave the humble abode early this morning due to end of month "stuff."

According to the news weatherperson, not meteorologist, Crystal Eggers (Fox news channel 31-Denver), she had said the is coldest morning by far yet this fall. I do not know, but that did not keep me from only wearing biking shorts.

Today, I wanted to wear biking shorts;no long biking pants.

I woke up early and onery today and was going to show it - whether it be biking or at work today.

Since I was leaving for work pretty early I decided to catch Light Rail so I could get to work early and get the "party started." Oh, and it really was not that cold. Cold, but not cold cold as Crystal predicted. Perhaps she was hungover and her veins were still constricted from the night before - hah hah - I do not know, but I am just saying that it was not that cold.

I had to take Lily this morning due to what happened to Andrea yesterday - that was fucked up and I have yet to post the post, but will do so tomorrow; if not too busy.

Lily was ready and I was ready.

And that my faithful Readers was the ride this morning. I decided to get some pictures of myself in the early morning on the last Monday in October 2009.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Fatal Fall Blow Out

Greetings Readers

You know I should be pissed. Well, maybe not just pissed, but fucking pissed off. Yet, I am not.

Every year, we come to the year that I despise. Well, perhaps despise is too strong of a word to use. I just dislike this part of the year. Why?

Those beautiful autumn leaves that were once hanging oh so beautifully in whatever tree(s) they bloomed from early this year are now a sight I hate to see. Those Gold, yellow, red and eventual brown and gray color that were hanging on the branches are now on Mother Earth. The wind, the rain and the snow dislodge them from the branches and they have fallen to the ground for their final resting place on Mother Earth.

It is at that moment that I hate those autumn leaves. Those leaves pile up in the street gutters as well as the sidewalks that do not have a private residence to rake up those leaves on the ground.

When there is a layer of leaves on the sidewalk or gutter I do not have a clue what those leaves may be hiding. I may ride that particular route every other day, but I still be careful of how fast I am riding through those leaves. How do I not know that county maintenance may have started work that day and dug up half the sidewalk or took out a portion of gutter to re-set concrete / asphalt so that portion of the gutter is brand new.

When the sun goes down I even become more careful since I do not want to ride through a dark part of the sidewalk that is littered in leaves since I imagine there will be a hole and I can actually see myself hitting that hole and going over the handlebars to kiss Mother Earth.

In addition to that hazard there are some leaves when they dry up they turned brown, dark gray and a dull orange. Not a problem, except when those leaves fall in area that was landscaped with rocks of those exact same colors. Riding at a regular speed through that area becomes somewhat of an adventure since I am trying to avoid riding over any rock; even though it may be a leaf that I have just avoided. What is the sad part is that I probably avoid every leaf and then Murphy’s Law happens; I actually ride over a rock. Fuck me.

That’s not it Readers, in some areas I ride I know there is debris – whether it be a smash can, a plastic bottle, wood, a partially destroyed hub cap, wire, or even a storm grate. I know where these items are so I know where to ride. Which means, I know there is something under the leaves in that particular area.

However, the other day I gambled in this particular area I ride in regularly. I saw the pile of leaves in an area that I knew that area was “clean” from anything the last time I rode my bike through. I slowed down a bit and that’s just a reflexive response I do when riding through leaves.

I had my Ipod and music blasting but I faintly heard something metallic hit my rim and felt the tire instantly go flat.

In a split second I knew the biking gods have extolled some vengeance for something I have done in the past year. There was no need to get mad, but I knew it was probably a long time coming that I had some sort of blow out like this. Now, if you Readers, faithful Readers, have read recently you will know that I had did something to my back bike brakes.

I was unable to come to a stop in time, but by the time I did the bike tube got dislodged from the inside of the bike tire. The bike tire partially came off also.

Fuck me. I was almost home to my humble abode. Far, but not far. With what I saw (and what you see in the picture) there was some serious repairs that needed to be done before I could start riding Tracey again. My thinking at that moment was to basically forego fixing the tire and just carry Tracey home. Why not. After all, if I can do the 24 hours of Boulder last year for a total of 50 miles in 24 hours I can walk a bike home in a mile.

The situation was not funny at the time, but thinking about it now it is sort of funny. I knew my “rules” I laid down and for me not following them this was the price for not following them.

Anyway Readers and fellow bike rider(s) in Denver, Colorado area - the leaves are now everywhere and hazards exist underneath them leaves.

In closing Readers, the leaves may hide something underneath them, but also be very, very careful when taking a corner on a bike. Those leaves are just as slippery and soon you could find yourself going horizontal and embracing Mother Earth. Again, I know from experience and I am passing along these “pearls of wisdom.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Blue Mountains

Greetings Readers

The Cold indicator

When you actually think about this it is such a worthless “extra” on a fucking cheap ass beer. Well, perhaps not to this beer drinker.

Really, why is there a cold indicator on a beer bottle to tell you if you beer is cold enough to drink?

I personally know that a beer is still good to drink cold when just bought from a liquor store and brought home. Once I get home to my humble abode and very little time has elapse I am not not going to drink a bottle of beer. After all, is it not common to pop open a cold one to celebrate the end of another workday? I have personally partake in this ritual more than once in my life.

Yet, every now and then I see that commercial with cold filter beer with the so-called promise that the “Blue Mountains” will appear when the beer is at optimum drinking temperature.

The Blue Mountains will appear when the beer is ready to drink at the temperature it should be at.

That is fucked up if any consumer believes that. We human are stupid, well some of us are, and for us to be told how to drink our beer is fucked up.

What I thought about was one of the reasons for the “Blue Mountains” indicator is – it is for an alcoholic. Though for this reason you have to assume that the alcoholic only drinks alcohol at a cold temperature. So, this alcoholic perhaps buy his/her 6-pack at lunch or after work and stores their purchase in the truck of their vehicle.

As you know Readers the trunk is a good place since there is no sunlight actually penetrating the trunk. Whereas if you left the 6 pack on the front seat (or back seat) the sun’s ray will shine upon the 6-pack to warm up the beer. Also, the vehicle becomes a temporary greenhouse with all the glass and will eventually warm that 6-pack of beer.

Let us pretend that alcoholic will not drink a warm beer. Fine. The Alcoholic puts the beer in the fridge to get the beer cold. Now, there is a waiting game - perhaps the alcoholic begins checking the 6-pack every 15 minutes. No visible cold mountains yet.

And you know why? Well, according to the “Blue Mountains” in the refrigerator getting cold the beer inside the bottle has to get cold for the beer bottle label to get cold. The cold, I think, from the refrigerator is not enough to activate the “Blue Mountains” on the label since the beer is most likely still warm to counteract the cold on the outside of the label.

That being said – here is the flaw. More often I put some bottles of beer in the fridge to get my beer cold, cold for my preference.

I decided to take a 7-11 slurpee cup I bought years ago that works on the same principle. When the cup gets cold the cup “changes” and shows that the cup is cold for optimum slurpee experience.

12 minutes later the cup was showing the “optimum” drinking temperature, yet the water in the cup was not “optimum” drinking temperature. The freezer did its job, which is to freeze. However, the freezer does what it knows – it freezes from the outside to the core – in that order.

So, the “optimum”-drinking drinking indicator was activated correctly, but too early for “optimum” drinking temperature.

With that being said, should any beer drinker put these bottles in the freezer or a container full of ice the “Blue Mountains” indicator will be prematurely activated to the icy cold temperatures of the freezer or to the ice cube bath container. And should any John Doe / Jane Doe actually believe in the “Blue Mountains” indicator they are in for a surprise when they open that bottle of beer an expecting a cold bottle of piss. Oops, Sorry Readers – I often think of that beer with the “Blue Mountain” indicator as piss beer. The beer will be cold, but not “optimum” drinking temperature.

In closing, do not be tempted to buy that “Cold Mountain” activated label beer for that reason of being reliant on the “Could Mountain” label indicator to indicate to you, perhaps falsely to indicate to you, when to drink their beer.

You Readers have enough common sense to make a cold beer enough for you to drink or know how long to refrigerator or freeze a beer to the temperature you want to indulge your beer at.

Readers – after thinking and writing about this I think I am going to have to perform a test of that “Blue Mountain” indicator beer. I just cannot believe that I am going to have to buy that “Blue Mountain” activated label beer. That is fucked up just thinking about me buying that beer. And what is worst that after the test I perform I am going to have to drink that beer – After all I do not think I am going to be able to resist not drinking that cheap ass beer since I did buy it.

By the way Readers - The first picture of my 7-11 cup you can see Bruce Banner without the "cold" being applied to the cup and then when the cold indicator "kicks in" Bruce Banner disappears and then all you see is the face of the hulk - in white (on his chest).

Fucked up.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

First Mountain Bike Ride of Fall 2009

Greetings Readers

Yours truly knew that the snow was coming, but what I did not know was how cold the evening was going to be. If the temperatures were going to drop below freezing then I seriously did not want to ride any road bike. I was in no fucking mood to go horizontal and embrace Mother Earth. Most of the time I have no problem riding my road bikes in snow - after all I thrive and boast and get a certain "smugness" when I am that hard core / Crazy bike rider going down the road on a sheet of ice or 12 inches of snow with my biking shorts (as opposed to my long bike pants.)

I was not cranky, I just did not want to slide on ice and go down. Readers, I am not saying that I would not go down on Mountain bike. All I am hinting to is that my road bike tires are about 1 inch wide. (I think, if not less - I really do not know off the top of my head. Even though I should know) Anyway, I do refer to them as my skinny road bike tires. This skinny road tires have less surface area and less contact than a mountain bike tire to the road. I think my Mountain bike tire has to be at 3 inches (or more) wide.

Ever since getting that Mountain Bike... I know Readers her name is Lily, but for the new Readers in between last winter and this fall I better refer to the Mountain bike as a Mountain bike as opposed to Lily on this post only. Otherwise, I might confuse the new Readers I may have picked up since the beginning of the year.

The tires held up pretty good since winter / Spring, but the tires had basically about 20 psi after the long storage (no riding Lily)

Boy, I was out of breath pumping both tires up to about 65 psi, according to the writing on the side of the mountain bike tire.

The morning before heading out to work - it was snowing and the wind was slightly blowing, and I decided to catch the RTD bus stop near my humble abode to get to the Light Rail station.

I forgot Readers how much of a bitch it is to put in and take out a Mountain bike tire on the RTD bus bike rack. The Mountain bike tires, well mine, had to be actually forced into the rack and with some extra muscle pulled out from the rack when you are taking your bike off the RTD bus bike rack. I also forgot how heavy a Mountain bike is to all my road bikes. Urgh! Thank goodness for Jenny, now not my so new neighbor, otherwise I would not have been working out since June of this year. Oh, that is another story for another time Readers. I may have written about Jenny, but I can not remember how many posts I have posted about her. And no Sam - there is no stalking (or any derivative of) going on by me.

Let me get back to blog post at hand...

I was actually cold yesterday. And fucking wet when I got to work. Soaking wet to the thong I was wearing. Kidding Readers no thong, but I was soaked down to the underwear. My long biking pants, my thick white tube socks, my bike shorts I also had on, my gloves, and my three bandannas I had on were just wet. The Natalie Merchant stocking cap was alright. The Oakleys were okay, but were sort of useless since the water beading and running on the lens was making my vision not so clear. Yet Readers, as much as I wanted not to wear the Oakleys on my face I kept them right there. Why? Well, I paid xxxx amount of dollars and by gosh I am going to get my money's work when I can. Oh, I was wearing the clear orange lens since it was dark when I left the house and knew the day was going to be overcast so I changed out the lens that morning. I know stubborn, but I want to sort of keep that image of "yeah I am all that and a bag of chips," hah hah.

Fast forward.

Time to go home and the only two things I had dry were my white tube socks and my long biking pants. Everything else was damp. Damn. With a struggle I put on my Nautica long sleeve running jersey and then over that I put on my biking jersey. I lost my breath when that dampness touched my skin - but only for a few minutes.

Soon, I was dressed to the 7's and was leaving the parking garage. I immediately felt energized. I decided to take the scenic way home (via bike trail) as opposed to riding streets and sidewalks, or the Light Rail.

It was almost dark, but there I was still wearing those Oakleys for the sakes of wearing them. However, it was snowing a bit more than a bit and the wind was blowing from the North. Which in effect, blew the falling snow into my eyes when I tried not wearing the Oakleys for a bit. This time I really had to wear the Oakley lens and of course they helped more than expected.

By the time I got to my humble abode I was more wet from the snow, water puddles throughout the landscape and side streets. Yet, I was smiling and really did not care since I was just happy to be riding (and perhaps saving $ 2.00 for RTD bus fare.)

I stripped down to my birthday suit and had everything hanging from where I could to dry out my attire and backpack I was wearing that evening. Of course, I have some beach towels I specifically bought for this scenario years ago and laid the beach towels down near the front entrance of my humble abode to protect my tiles entrance from water dripping, mud, snow or autumn leaves; as well as the carpet near the entrance of my humble abode.

I thought about a hot shower, but instead I turned on the TV, grabbed my comforter and wrapped myself up and sat down on the couch. Just sitting there wrapped in my comforter was a very nice feeling. I could literally feel how cold my skin was when I moved positions and felt the outside of my thigh against the other leg - I was cold.

And that Readers was the account of the first true snow fall (for me) this Fall. I was out of town, vacation, during the first snowfall this Fall. We have had some light, light snow fall a couple of days this fall, but nothing I would not call that "first snow" of Fall for me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete