Bike to Work Day 2008

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well another Bike-to-Work day goes down into the books.

This is another one of those days that I do not wear any earphones. Why? Well, I want to hear all comments made by the other bikers and the volunteers at the various bike stations around the DTC (Denver Tech Center) that are usually directed to yours truly.

Oh yes, the good and the bad comments So be it and I am not one to worry about if the comment is a bad comment. However, if the comment(s) is a great one, such as the one I heard yesterday and that would one of these...

"That is one fucking awesome bike jersey"
"That is a cool jersey"
"Quit your bitchin!"
"Cartman Rocks!"

"Sweet jersey"
"Nice jersey man."
"Love the jersey."
"Where did you get that awesome jersey."

Unfortunately, I can not remember all the good comments I heard nor can I re-collect how many riders laughed behind me when I passed them on Bike to Work Day.

Anyway, I knew that was going to be the case about the Southpark bike jersey and that is why that I took the extra long route into work. Number one was to show off the Southpark bike jersey and number two was to get as much free stuff that I could. You name it and I took all items, food and drink that was possible.

I got bagels. Matter of fact, since I had quite a few bagels I saw another bike to work commuter down in the shower area and we chatted for a bit. He said he started out early in order to get the south side of Denver in plenty of time for work. He left early and some bike stations were not open nor did he know that some places - i.e. Panera Bread - were giving away bagels and drinks. He did not know so I did a good deed and gave him a bagel - and not just a plain bagel, but a sesame bagel. Now, I now that makes up for something bad in my past.

Then, to my friend Bobbie Rae I gave her my Colorado Athletic Club VIP one day pass that I picked up at The Colorado Athletic Club" aka "the CAC". Well, I am a member so I really could not use that VIP membership pass anyway.

There were a lot of biker/cyclist on the road and the sidewalks on Bike to Work Morning. More so than I have seen in years.

People at work throughout the day kept asking me if I had a problem with all the riders out this morning.

I said "no", but I did have to adapt to the one day of the year bike rider that are a plenty going to work. I also had to watch out with the bike riders that could not ride 6 to 8 inches to the curb like myself. If that rider had to ride a foot to two foot from the curb in the street so be it. I just had to make sure that I made my passing move quick and use a bit more safety in passing since technically I was basically riding in the middle of the street. Nope, I have no right to call or even think something bad to that bike rider.

Other bike riders could not keep riding a straight line while riding in the street. Again, it did not matter to me nor did I say a word to those people. Again, I have no right to say to them "Say you might want to ride on the sidewalk as opposed to the street." Again, I approached them carefully and when the moment was right to pass them, I did with even more caution.

Yesterday was just another day for me, minus the T-shirt this year. I was hoping that I would have the rims that I ordered, but I have not gotten them yet. I am hoping this week though.

I would have loved to gone down to Downtown Denver, but with end of month close and deadlines that had to be done I could only stay in the DTC area and still make it to work before my regular starting time.

I guess if there was one thing I do hate about that one day of the year on Bike to Work day is the shower area. We only have one shower and more often than not there is a line to get in the shower. Also, there is little room in the shower area so there are quite of few us waiting outside the shower area that is located in the underground garage area. So, all in all that is the only thing I detest, but again nothing to get worked up about. Yes, I like a nice hot shower on the building's expense - you may know the phrase a free shower is better than shower that you have to pay for.

Oh, oh, oh - there is another item that I hate about bike to work day. The bike rack. I have "my own parking space" at the bike rack. It is sort of an unwritten rule - that is Mr. Charley's parking area on the bike rack. Even if you get in before me you just do not park your Road/Mountain bike in that part of the bike rack. Anyway, on Bike to Work day you get those one day a year bike riders that do not know where I park my bike on the bike rack as in the case of last year. However, this year I was the first in so I did not have the problem of having someone take "my parking space"on the bike rack. Sounds crazy, but I got to have something that I like to believe is my space.

And today's picture is the bike station outside my club, "The CAC" in Inverness.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Old School and Southpark

Greetings Readers

You know that I do not have a clue how fast the "Coors Amphitheatre" sign was changed, but as you can see from the post of today's picture you can see me and my bike in all our glory that was taken yesterday afternoon at Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre. I am pretty sure that the sign was changed on Friday. Perhaps it could have been on Thursday.

I love seeing the original name of the venue on the sign - and of course, me and my bike and what the hell - my thighs in the picture. =)

And as you can tell I wore my Southpark bike jersey and oh yes, I got the

"I love your shirt"

From some lady at the gas station on that morning. I said "Thank you very much" with a big ole smile that said a lot more.

I mean really who does not love this Southpark jersey. And I know I have written at great lengths about this Southpark Bike jersey, but I can still add more. I just love the attention and not to mention that character that is featured pretty prominently says so much about me. On some level me and Cartman are alike, but I do not want to be associated to Cartman at all. Yet, that look he has on my bike jersey is just the sort of look I have and not to mention that is the way I probably present myself most of the time. Unless, you are just downright adorable looking then I have a smile and a "I want to know" attitude.

By the way - I kept my bike riding to a minimum this weekend and I did not run any events either due to me 95 percent well and 5 percent sick. I wish I did, but then again it was windy all weekend.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

I Am Going To Be Stylin' !

Greetings Readers

So guess what readers? Yes, I know you readers have no chance to guess what I am about to say "guess what" about. Back early in the year I had mention that there was something that I was going buy. Well, let me tell you readers that I finally got around to mailing the money and order. And today two thirds of what I wanted arrived.

And last night was the premiere of Season 12 of Southpark. It was funny, but not that funny. But funny on the way that the topic was presented last night. Though at first, the first ten minutes I could not laugh (with heart) since I really felt the subject matter was inappropriate to laugh at. Then, of course, Cartman changed all that when he said the phrase that ended with ".... positive." with such a straight face, yet the undertones Cartman meant he was still able to joke about the serious subject matter at hand.

That's about all I can post about since I do not want to give away the subject since the season premiere was last night.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Another Thanksgiving Arrives

Greetings Readers

Happy Thanksgiving.

Well, since I am going to be alone this Thanksgiving I will be doing the annual tradition that I do for myself when I am alone.

What could that be? Hmmm.

Okay, you twisted my arm. Enough!

When I am in town and unable to get away to go home I do the annual tradition. I go see a movie, then go to the Black Eye Pea and then drink a few when I get home. Then go cry in the closet. Kidding! I do not go cry in the closet. Matter of fact I have no room to go into the closet.

Anyway, this tradition of mine started a long time ago and I do this regularly. Yes readers, I get offers to come over to friend's house to have Thanksgiving with them, but in my view I can not simply go to their home for Thanksgiving. Whether it is friends or friends and family - I do not want to be there and feel uncomfortable thinking about the other people at the table.

I am sure that it is more than okay to go over, but I just will not. Thanksgiving is the time to be around a table with family. Friends... perhaps, but again not in my view. I do not see that as wrong. I just do not think that it is right. My friends have reassured me that I would not be intruding and they would hate to see me being alone on Thanksgiving.

So, I usually go see a movie in the morning, then head over to the Black Eye Pea in the afternoon and then head home. That's that. Nothing wrong with that. There is my TV, video games, computer, and books so I have nothing to complain about nor not to do anything at all.

Do I miss not going over to some one's home for Thanksgiving? No. Not at all. And no - it is not because I do not have to cook.

Today's picture on my blog post for today is me going to work this morning after the snow fell earlier this morning. Even now the snow is fluttering throughout the morning. Anyway, I saw the background and the ambiance of the picture I had in mind and stopped to get this shot on my digital Camera. I loved how the morning sun was being cast in the clouds and how the shot was going to look. I also thought that me against the background would be a good shot. Well, I do have to say that this shot came out better than I thought it would. I am in silhouette so you can not see me except as a dark, unknown rider standing tall before/after the storm.

But wait readers! There is more to this picture. About 20 yards before this picture is where I road off the road since I almost fell down on my bike. I was coming down on my road and this morning was very cold. So all the snow and ice on the road was being "grabbed" by my skinny tires and getting caught in the brakes. Well, I got more speed than I wanted on the downhill and decided to apply some braking. The brakes were frozen and me and the bike were going faster and faster. I freaked a bit since there is bend in road and I will need to turn. But rule number one - DO NOT TURN AND BRAKE. I tried braking with a bit more muscle and then then brakes got UN-frozen and grab some of the rim. All of a sudden the front tire went askew and I felt me and the bike were going to go horizontal. Basically, I was going to become one with Mother Earth. With my experience, Oh yes I am sticking to that story, I was able to counteract the tipping and re-position my tire in a straight line. Yet, in all this time another 10 yards rolled by and I needed to turn right then, otherwise I was going to go off the road and possibly into a small creek.

Oh the horror in what happens in seconds. I was still going straight, well my straight in order not to fall down, and I decided right then since I can not turn I better brake and come to a stop. I once more applied the front brakes and immediately the front tire turn askew once more and I was in the position to meet Mother Earth and I did not want to that - at all! Again, I was able to correct and then I was off the pavement and into the side of the road.

There I was bumping and holding onto my handlebars thinking what the fuck was going to happen to me this wonderful morning. Was I going to go down on the ground where the ground was bumpy and rocks? Was I going to overshoot the ground and simply go into the creek? Or was the moment that I was going to hope for - was I going to be able to upright?

Truth be told I was able to get one foot down and use that to come to a stop with 3 feet to go before I go over the little cliff into the icy creek. I stayed upright, but this was too close of a moment where I was going to quote my little friend "F'd in the A". Oh, I grabbed both brakes handles and squeezed those brakes like I was squeezing juice out of lemon! I heard the brakes trying to grab the rim, but grabbing the ice on the rims since it was a cold morning the friction on the rim was icing up immediately after being melted by my brakes.

I took a deep breath - looked at the Icy creek stream in front of me, looked at the ground below me, then turned and looked at the hill. Boy oh boy. You could see my bike tire trails on the road and I could see the tire turns on the hill where I almost when horizontal twice and then I could see the tires leaving the road. Hah hah. I actually laughed out loud and could see if any other runners or bikers see my bike trail I made they are going to laugh their ass off and see how close I came to crashing and going into the creek. Then, they are going to see my footprints and tires going back onto the road and then me going back onto my journey.

I basically misjudged the hill and that could be since I have not been on the bike for almost 10 days. Could be I forgot how to brake with snow and ice? I just do not know. Yet, I am thankful that I did not go into the creek or crashed.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Father's Day

Greetings Readers

I am not going to say much. I did the Greenwood Goosechase in Greenwood Village, CO on Saturday. Yes - me and Rebecca tore up the course. Well, perhaps not, but it was the first official ride of the year and the first official ride for Rebecca. She performed perfect. I was a bit winded here and there, but not for the reason you probably think. Sorry readers, I will post the after ride journal this week.

Happy Father's day to my Father.

On Friday I was at the Grocery Store, King Soopers, and as I was getting ready to bike home. There was this family with two little daughters. The four, or perhaps three, year old daughter says, yells, to me "I like your shirt!" I said "Thank you very much."

Readers, do you even have to guess which bike jersey I was wearing!? I sure hope not. Or else Cartman will be pissed. Then, at the Greenwood Goosechase, a couple of volunteers also made comments on my jersey. Two years in a row and the jersey still gets the comments. Boo-yah!

Then after going home, I decided to go to the local bike store. I bought some odometers and then I noticed they had another bike like the one that I bought a couple of months ago. Guess who is 107.35 richer?! Me. My bike store has a 90-day guarantee that they will match or refund the difference on the bike if the price changes from 90 days of your purchase. That second piece of the evening even made the evening more sweeter.

Also readers, if any of you missed the first season of Dr Who they have just started running on PBS. For you folks in Denver, Co - it is at 9 or 10 PM on Friday night on Channel 6. That is Christopher Eccleston the 9th Dr Who. I actually did care for him in the first episode. You know trying to compare any other Dr Who to Tom Baker as Dr. Who is unthinkable. Yet, I gave him a chance and sure enough I got to liking him.

Hah hah.

Well, time for me to get going.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

From SouthPark to the Bering Sea

Greetings People

I was doing a bit of internet surfing last night and I happen to find myself thinking about Cartman. I often portray him as the person we all know he is, but occasionally he will do something that makes you go hmm. But wait. Even though we may be stunned, for a moment anyway, we realized that he did it for the benefit for him.

Such as the case with this picture I found last night on the Comedy central website.

Sure perhaps most of you readers know this episode - "Smugness" This is toward the end of the show and Cartman had just rescued the Brofloski's (Kyle, Ike & their parents) from San Francisco with the help of Butters. So, after the Chaos happened and people are wondering, even the Brofloski's are wondering how they got back to SouthPark on a bus. The scene switches to the above picture and I see Cartman putting his finger to his lips indicating that Butters needs to keep quiet. Cartman was non-chalant, no emotion, but being secretive. Cartman wants everyone else think that a Guardian Angel was watching over them. When I first saw the episode I was laughing because this is so unlike Cartman. In a normal world, Cartman would be bragging and trying to get the credit for anything good, or bad in someone Else's view. But he held his tongue and I was shocked. Cartman surprised me. And Butters, so far, has kept his mouth shut. Even thinking about it now somehow Cartman did something could bring a lump to someone's throat thinking about the "deed" he did.

In a strange way, either I would have done something similar or perhaps Cartman was mimicing something I have done and I could relate to Cartman not being "an Ass" for a moment.

But. Oh yes. Cartman did not do the deed out of goodness of his heart. He did it because he missed his friend, Kyle, and knew somehow deep in himself he could not live without Kyle. So, in the last minute or so of the show, after the "ssshhhh" to Butters Kyle says something then Cartman talks back to Kyle and then Kyle gets pissed off and curses at Cartman and then storms off. Cartman is left and say something to the effect "Ah back to normal" or something like that. Cartman knew that he needed Kyle in order to make his life content by making Kyle mad at him. Cartman's deed of saving the Brofloski's was to benefit him and not them.

Anyway, I thought I had to blog on this picture. Yes, it still does have an effect on me and I still think it is funny. Readers, I want to point out that I am not exactly like Cartman, but I often see some of me in him or him in me. I get "bent" about some things that I should not, I am thinking about myself at most times, and so forth. But seeing Cartman for the past three years I have started to relate some thing in my life to what Cartman has done, whether before or after I see him doing something that makes you shake your head in disbelief.

Chick Fil A - On Wednesday evening, I stopped by my local Chick Fil A and decided to get some Sweet Tea. Even though it was a bit busy and my man was working the Drive through window he went out of the way to get my Sweet Tea for me. I did not even notice him getting my Sweet Tea since I knew he was busy with orders at the window. Someone else did help me at the register, but I was more than surprised that he got my gallon of Sweet Tea for me. Once more I had a nice evening after that thinking about how I can go to a place and someone knows what I want without asking for what I want.

I got caught up on the fourth episode of Season Three - The Deadliest Catch from Tuesday. Not much really happened. Some secrets were not kept, retaliation was made. A couple of jokes. But, the previews for next week's episode shows a man going overboard.

Which brings me to this - Last night, flipping through the channels (remember no TV guide for this week), I was watching one of the news shows on Cable and I happened upon Zig and Edgar from the Northwestern Crab Boat being interviewed by someone I did not know. The Northwestern ship is my favorite on the show and I was very happy to see them. They talked about the show and then the man going overboard. The show I watched showed who and what happened so I already know what happened after. Even though the clip was short, I was still in awe of the guy that went overboard and felt emotional for the guy. Then when the Captain, Sorry readers I am not going to give the ship's name, Captain or the overboard guy away, came running to see the man they just rescue from the ocean it was a pretty emotional scene. Hugging, cursing, nervous laughing, everything okay but close to death conversation, I could help thinking about how close this guy was to death and obviously being film right there as opposed to being after it happened. I guess I feel this way, because I have invested my time with the Deadliest Catch and they are just not a name, but a person with me.

Alright readers, sort of a unusual blog to end a week with, but somehow I felt compelled to blog about these items.

Hope you readers have a nice weekend.

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Doesn't this photo say "I'm OG, Brah" ?!?!

Greetings People

I can not believe that I have to re-type this blog entry. What makes this worse for me is that I am sick, literally, and I do not want to type any more.

So, here I go again and this will not be the same word for word, or if I want to sound smart - per verbatim.

Here is a photo from the day of the Boulder Backroads Marathon 2003. I had just gotten home from Boulder and I was sort of in a foul mood and I was literally fucking tired. This is the face of a driven man and the face of a man who has ran two marathons in two weeks. Anyway, I think this photo now says - "I'm OG, Brah!" or may be in my own words "Don't fuck with me honeychilde"

Of course, my co-worker would say "brah" is for Point Break movie watchers. I neglected to say that this was also the word Cartman used as Dawg the Hall Monitor.

So, I have been out of commisson for the past week due to an off and on cold that has been trying to put me down and out. Down for the count is what this cold wants. I almost was out - I have been sleeping and resting around the clock and I hate being like that. Basically useless is how I interpet this situation, if you will. I have not been able to run, bike, go out, be up, or worse yet, play with my new computer that I got just before Thanksgiving.

In closing, I have added some more photos from the Boulder Backroads Marathon 2003 and Courage Classic Tour 2001 so take a look if you want to see some more grand pictures of me.

With that I will let you readers go, more importantly, let me go back to my life of slurping soup and sleeping. Urgh.

Oh, the grand daddy is on this Saturday - IRONMAN HAWAII - from this October. If you want to see what I want and also had a taste of this with the IRONMAN ARIZONA I competed in please watch. And yes, I actually made it this far without finding out who won the women's and men's title. Woo hoo. I have been looking forward to this event ever since October - the replay!

Until the next time

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete

A lost photo roll that was found amid tapes

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well sometimes when you least expect it something puts something back into perspective with life.

I submitted roll of film and little did I know that this roll of film was over a year and a half old. Actually all the pictures were still intact, but some showed a little color failure. Not a problem. I am going to post some pictures in the next few days/weeks - most will show my beautiful SouthPark jersey, which was the jersey for this year - 2006. I wore this baby to all my official events, whether it was running or riding. The season is about over and soon this will be sent to the "other" jersey.

I did find a new jersey two weeks ago - The official T-Mobile bike Jersey for this year - on sale. It is so pink - I love the color and I think I can pull it off, but I do not know. The other part of the roll included some pictures of my Ironman Arizona that I attempted in April 9, 2005. Sure it brought back some memories, but more importantly it reminded me that I still have two more years to re-apply for Ironman Arizona. That week was still the best time I ever had to date and I was able to relish the time that I was able to spend with my parents.

On another note, the Boulder Backroads Marathon happened this past weekend, but the event did sell out before I could sign up on the last day of registration. No big deal since if I made the cut or not - it matter very little to me. Although yearning for another marathon medal on my wall reminds me of another opportunity to grab my fame, and let me admit it, my shallowness. Whatever - Boo-yah

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete