Has the End of this Blog arrived?

Greetings Readers

I am not sure if I read the news on this blog site (blogger.com), but from the way that I have interpreted the news was that I will now have to buy a domain (since I have no domain - .com) in order to continue to blogging on blogger due to changes being made.

I am kinda of sad to hear this since I use the relatively easy publishing process. Sure, I had a website 8 years ago and thought that was the bomb. Since I discontinued my Internet service a long time ago I now have to pay for everything that usually comes with packages when you have Internet service.

I have Internet at work as well as the library and over at my friend's humbles abodes.

Why pay when I really do not need service? I made that decision a long time ago and I have to admit that after terminating service I was "lost" and kind of like "Oh my gosh how in the world am I going to live my life without the Internet?", but then I learned to live without. The expense I was giving up (back in the day I was paying either $ 20.00 or 24.99 a month) became my money again. Matter of fact, if I was to base my savings on $ 20.00 - times that by 12 and it comes to $ 240.00 a year. Taking in inflation, broadband (back in the day I was on dial-up) now the thing and much more expensive than dial up I think, Internet over a certain amount bytes which they may either had more money or cut you off I think an average cost these days would probably be $ 500.00, I think?

Sorry Readers, I got off track of the real topic.

This blog site. Again from what I just found out I think that in March my blogging days will be over. Unless I get a domain. I did check a few other blog services and I do see one possibility.

Then, I thought, my blogging for the past year has gone down. I have reasons, but do I really need to give you one? or ten? No. You Readers probably could care less. I know if the roles were reversed I would care less. Kind of like my ignorant bikers I follow... followed. Their blogging I think is over, but that does not stop me from stopping in from time to time to see if there is a new post. Ignorant was used and I did use as a label, but they did learn from their blogging when they did blog. Whether on there own or perhaps by my blogging and/or comments. I do not think of them as Ignorant anymore - they learn a lot as well blogged about biking. More so than myself about biking and I consider myself a hard-core biker.

I have a lot of unposted blog posts, but either they are no good to post, not finished, or I just have not gotten to post. I started blogging and blogged rarely in the beginning. Then, soon I blogged like a mad man thinking that I had to blog to get my blog post numbers high. Now, I am blogging rarely once more.

Is the circle complete? For me? I have not run out of blog topics. I have stuff on sport events. a topic about "Mr. Bent". Serena Williams threatening harm of a line judge at the US Open in New York. My views on Tiger Woods. A graffiti artist gets electrocuted while tagging a Transformer station in New Mexico and how this was sad and you need to feel sad for the guy (but he was tagging therefore it was illegal! A fucking tagging a transformer station - a dumb fuck). The White House Party Crashers. On on a former radio DJ that was on Alice - Jamie White. A "Mr. Dick". a few don't fucking bother me at a bus stop stories (my favorite topic to share with you Readers) and so goes the stories I have yet to share.

I have things to say - often blunt, sometimes rude, yet there are the nice, the generous and the few I got thrown under a bus (metaphorically speaking) stories.

I am in the dark and let me see if I can step up my blogging for this month and entertain you Readers for what could be my final days on blogger.com.

P.S. The picture is of the DTC area this morning looking Northeast from the Greenwood Village Movie Theatre. I am currently riding Tracey since Lily had something go wrong with her about two weeks ago. A nice morning ride to the Light Rail Station. Sorry the picture is not clear - I took of the flash and I can see that I was not holding the camera steady.

"The Beginnig of the End"

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A bike "Stolen"

Greetings Readers

I left four comments in the past couple of days on four different blogs and they all had a common theme.

“If you disagree with my blog you don’t have to read”

Yes, I agree with that, but don’t be a fucking hypocrite.

After all in all four of these blogs they are open to all Readers – meaning that the blog is not marked for “private.”

All four blogs are open for commenting. And open on the Internet for anyone to read.

On the first blog anyone – meaning anyone – can leave a comment without having a screen name. The second blog you can leave a comment, but only if you have a screen name. The third blog you may leave a comment, but it has to be approved by the blog’s owner. And the last blog has been changing back and forth on what type of blog comments can be left.

Us Readers of blogs know that there are people who comment to agree with the bloggers or give praise or salutations. Yet, there are other bloggers who leave negative comments. And then there are other bloggers who leave links on other blogger’s blogs comments. There are other bloggers who merely comment for the sakes of commenting. And with myself I often leave comments to make the blog’s owner aware more often than not that I do not side with the blogger’s post for that day – not meaning I disagree, but have a different point of view.

With that being said I know that I do not have to read your blog, but I read it because I may find you amusing. I may find you so one sided. I may find you entertaining. I also may find you attractive. I may find you live in a country I want to read more about from your blog. I may find that we share a common interest. I may find that you are in the same city as myself. I may find you so innocent to your stupidity it is a pleasure to find out what fucked up thing(s) you are going to do next. I may see you proclaim yourself to “God” in your blog, then yet in your blog you have broken half of the sins you are not suppose to. You curse, drink, smoke, have sex while not married and to top that off you often use every thing in life as an excuse for “God” testing you in your life. Yet, you do not have the fucking audacity to take any responsibility for your actions or your non-actions in life.

My faith in religion has no bearing to this subject. Nor does your faith in religion have a point to this subject at hand. I bring this up because two of these bloggers believe in God and religion. Both bloggers proclaim their following in religion and to God. And I could care less about their faith since what I think does not matter nor have any bearing in their life. Yet, I have been reading their blogs for the past year and they are so contradictory to what they proclaim and what they write about.

So, when I comment and the blogger has to approve my comment(s) before being posted to their blog – more often than not – my comment does not get posted. I do not use curse words, unless they cursed in that particular blog post, but then again I do not curse since I would not want any cursing posted on my blog.

Hah hah. Sorry Readers – I could not type that without laughing and smiling! You Readers are entitled to your opinion (and cuss words) and ever since this blog of mine has started I have not deleted a bad comment (or a curse word). The only comments I have deleted is the comments that are left that say “click here to get your timeshare for less than you think” which is not a comment, but a statement that has no bearing on my blog post of that day.

Me? Yes, I have limited my comments to bloggers with screen names, since I was getting bloggers who were leaving comments “click here for incredible time share offer in Mexico.” Otherwise, any blogger with a screen name who has left a comment – good or bad – has been left posted on my blog by me. No Deletion.

Getting back to the “if you don’t like - don’t read.”

That is so true – If I am not interested in the blog, I WILL not read. Period. However, it is interesting because it is interesting to me what you are blogging about. It is not about not liking. Those are totally two different things. Not liking and interesting. Hmmmm.

So, when I comment about what you have posted there is a reason I did so. Mostly, not to agree with what you may have done. Not necessarily negative, but perhaps not what you want to see (read) from a blogger like me (or anyone who does not agree with your way.)

For example: Last year a certain ignorant cyclist blogged about how his bike helmet was taken right outside their front door, in so many words (but the word “Stolen” was never used). This person said they were “not mad,” but we Readers know they were. Hell, I would be as well as 99 percent of the population be pissed off that someone took our bike helmet. Wait, Readers – he took responsibility that the helmet was left out for about ½ the day (and near central Denver.) where anyone could have seen (and take) the bike helmet sitting out in the open.

That was the story relayed to us Readers last year from this certain blogger. Three days later the ignorant cyclist reported his landlord returned his helmet to him. The ignorant cyclist gave no apology by making the assumption his helmet was stolen nor was it posted by the ignorant cyclist that he even said “Thank you” to the property manager. Did I care? Nope. And from this particular person I would not have even thought that was even in his personality to say Thanks. And this is only an assumption of me by going off all his blog posts he has made.

With that past history being re-visited there is another blogger out there who recently had something “stolen” – their Road Bike.

Once again – a different, and as before a younger cyclist than me, who has stated all over their blog their following in God, their path to God and faith in God has blogged about their bike being stolen the past week and he (mind you this blogger said he – not she) whoever stole their bike is an “asshole.” Furthermore, if this blogger ever sees this person on their stolen bike they will tackle him. Side note Readers – I too would try and take my “stolen” bike back if I saw someone on a bike that I know is mine.

Wow. Is this person really following God’s morals? I remember – “thou shall not kill.” I am pretty sure that also implies that thou shall not hurt; take revenge on another human being. Right?

There is some history before the blogger called the thief an “asshole” – apparently the blogger left their bike locked up in front of a building on a college campus in Colorado for over 13 days. I do not know anymore than that. Meaning – I do not know how far was this building from the blogger’s home. I do not know why they left their bike locked up for over 13 days at that building. I do not know why they did not take their bike back to his/her home. All I know is that the blogger left their bike locked up for over 13 days, now the bike is gone and that a human being is evil for taking their bike, which they admit it was partially their fault for leaving locked up for over 13 days at a bike rack.

Going to back to the story from last year about the stolen helmet – the blogger neglected to think about other possibilities about what might have happened to the road bike. I left a comment on their blog – perhaps a park maintenance person took the bike – perhaps security (campus), or even the police took the bike into their possession. After all, a college campus has to remain clean and pretty. Seeing a bike chained up for over 13 days and not being moved would appear abandoned to me. I would, if I am allowed to under college rules, to cut any locked bike that appears abandoned for an extended amount of time. No, I would not keep the bike for myself. I would put the bike in storage area or give to the police for holding / investigation.

In this day and age of terrorism a terrorist(s) could technically pack plastic explosive into a bike frame. Hence, that is why at the DNC (Democratic National Convention) last year NO bikes (Road, Fixed, Cruiser and Mountain bikes) were let near Invesco Field at Mile High for that reason alone.

With that being said seeing a locked up road bike not being moved on a college campus would be very, very suspicious and I would wonder myself since a college campus would be a place a terrorist would strike since there are a lot of people, young people, that could be targets for any terrorist(s).

In closing, I hope my comment does not get deleted, but if it does so be it. I do know that the blogger will most likely come to my blog and will read what I just told you Readers. Jumping the gun and assuming the worst is shallow one-sided thinking.

P.S. – I do hope that the bike was not stolen, but if the bike was taken I do hope it is recovered. After all, if my bike went missing I would hope for recovery. Then again, I would not have left any of my road bikes locked up at a bike rack for over 13 days. We Readers know that there are thieves out their in the world and seeing something as easy as a road bike left unattended as long as 13 days is basically an invitation to the thieves out in that world of ours to steal something sitting unclaimed for that amount of time.

Instead of calling someone an “asshole” perhaps you should call yourself an “asshole” for leaving your road bike locked up at that bike rack for that amount of time.

Note: Personally, I am not calling (labeling) anyone an “asshole” – not the thief or the bike owner on this particular subject at hand.

It sounds like “the pot calling the kettle black.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A New Bike for my Brother

Greetings Readers

Well, I have gone and done it. I bought the same exact model and type of Mountain Bike for my brother this weekend.

I also bought the second new Mountain bike from the same store manager I bought the first one from. Of course, there was the usual "Hey didn't you buy this bike a couple of weeks ago?" from other employees (not the store manager though)

"Yes, I did. So what. I can not buy another bike?"

And that was that. I did ride the new Mountain bike home making sure that I did not get the bike too dirty. After all I want the Mountain bike to be as clean as possible.

What?

No, I am not going to give the first bike to my Brother. Yes, logically I have a choice, but in reality I bought the first Mountain bike for myself. And I have named that bike Lily. For me to give away Lily and re-name the second bike Lily is just wrong.

Yet Readers, a certain ignorant cyclist who says I am the rudest person he has ever known would keep the newest bike for him/herself and give the older bike (about 3 weeks old) to his/her brother/sister if the roles were reversed. That young inexperienced attitude and thinks he/she is all that and a bag of Chips.

Granted, I think and know I am all that and a bag of Potato Chips, on some subjects. And of course I am not too arrogant enough to admit that fact to you Readers. Unlike my junior ignorant cyclist.

In closing, the temptation to just ride that new second bike is soo tempting. But alas, I do have Lily and she is more than enough for me to keep myself content with her. Hah hah.

I am pretty proud of myself for buying the bike for my brother though. As I wrote in the past I do buy things for my brother from time to time and costs vary from a few dollars up to about 50.00 dollars or so. Yet, I think I have exceeded my spending purchase this time around.

My brother does have a GT Mountain Bike - early year 2,000 I-drive model before the reversed I-drive was introduced. Color Red and pretty darn nice. However, the bike is getting old and is slowly falling apart piece by piece. I did get the I-drive model, but at least I got him another GT model. That is better than nothing right.

Unfortunately, he is the type of person that would not buy a new bike for the sakes of buying a bike - LIKE MYSELF - (11 bikes). Could be due to money on why not buying a new bike. Could be due to why should he buy a new bike when the old one works. Could be many reasons.

I did talk to my parents and told them to be aware just in case that my Brother does start talking about a new bike to discourage his purchase until I get him his new bike I bought for him. I am not sure when I will be able to get his new bike to him, but I estimate in about 2 to 4 weeks when I think I will be able to get to Albuquerque and deliver his new bike.

What? Am I expecting something in return. No, but I would not mind it. Although he did buy me the DVD The Dark Knight for Christmas since I did not have the DVD, but only Blueray The Dark Knight version. And no I would not take any cash from him.

There you have it Readers. And one would have to ask themselves would the rudest person you have ever known done that for a sibling? Or even expect that from a sibling?

P.S. - If you can not tell from the picture - My brother's bike is on the left (with no dried mud on the tires) and Lily is on the right (Dried mud on the tires and broken reflector). And I put both bikes in the picture so no one would think that I am taking two pictures of the same bike individually. I do not want you Readers to think that I am lying. After all - my shit does not smell better than your shit.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

"State Law"

Greetings Readers

There is a place in the universe that I bike by every now and then.

As you can see there is a pedestrian sign with the words “state law” that any vehicle must yield to a person in the crosswalk. Now, these places are common in the southern part of Denver. I know not if they are common in the Denver or North, West and East of Denver. I do not know. However, that is something I could care less. Most of time I interept that every vehicle that comes across this particular sign they must yield to anyone in the crosswalk.

Now Readers, if I was a certain ignorant bicyclist I would be saying and quoting “I have the right.” Or “I have the right, dammit!” Hey Readers I do not disagree, but there is something such as living to see the next day or ending up on the front end of a vehicle’s grill or being a grease spot on the road of life.

But if I were to step into his shoes…. Oh, I have the right – the sign says so. Every vehicle must yield to whoever is in the crosswalk. Oh, if I do get hit I will sue his/her ass off. I will press charges. Dammit – I have a bike helmet and that is going to protect me from anyone who does not yield to me in the crosswalk.

I hope that certain ignorant bike rider learns that not always having the right is right. I do not disagree, but damn you have to be fucking ignorant to think that you are invincible against a three thousand plus pound vehicle. And wearing a helmet is not going to save your ass. Or your chest when a vehicle’s tire(s) run over your chest cavity. How about your legs? – No fucking bike helmet is going to save your legs when they might get run over by the front and back tires of the vehicle in question.

Well Readers – I decided to play the role of a certain ignorant bicyclist that goes by “he has the right.” This particular morning. I decided to ride as if I fucking owned the crosswalk since the sign indicates that any vehicle must yield to anyone in the crosswalk.

And this was the perfect opportunity. There were about 6 vehicles on route to the crosswalk I was able to get to. Two cars got across the crosswalk and then I was into the crosswalk and I was not going to stop – such, as my ignorant bicyclist would not do. Oh yes Readers – I know for a fucking fact that he would not stop, since in his closed world he has the right, by God.

Well, Let me tell you Readers I was prepared. I was on my “beater bike” so in case a vehicle does hit me I would not be endangering one of my good bikes. Two, I did prepare for a hit and believe me Readers I was ready for any impact.

Needless to say, both lanes had a vehicle and both were next to each other. Both were also going the posted speed limit. And here is me pedaling along the bike path and according to the sign I have the Colorado law on my side.

Yet.

I was not expecting to get through the crosswalk without incident. Those two vehicles did not slow down. Hell, if I were them I would not slow down either. I continued thru the crosswalk and did not tap the brakes or stop pedaling. Until I was right in the way of said vehicles. I was going to make sure they yielded since I had the right of way. When I was in their way I did tap both of my brakes and waited for vehicle’s horns or screeching tires. None of that came – except the muffled yelling from one of the vehicles.

Sure as shit – I pissed off one of the two drivers. This was unexpected since I knew that something was coming.

Was I scared? No. I was confident and expected either to get hit or to make it though the crosswalk with incident.

And that was that. I hated doing what the ignorant bicyclist would do, but I needed to place myself in his shoes to see how I might feel different with the mentality of always being right. Let me tell you Readers, I hope he learns soon that not always being right is right. I hope he learns that not always having the right is right, before he finds himself being run over and injured. Or worse yet - dead.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Bike Rider Breaks a Bone

Greetings Readers

I am all for condolences. I am for - that’s too bad. I am all for - hope you get better.

But, I need to know what happened. Such as in the case of a bike rider that fell off his / her bike and broke (fractured) a bone while riding the Cherry Creek Bike path.

The story is short and to the point – perhaps to get the most sympathy, but I have a feeling there is whole lot of the story that is missing from what actually happened. By the way readers, the story was not told by him/herself, but by his/her girl/boyfriend.

As, I have told you readers, we got a lot of rain in the past week and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday there was constant steady heavy rain falling. As I hope most of you readers know there is only a certain amount of rain that the ground can absorb. After awhile the ground becomes saturated with water and then the ground can not absorb/hold any more rain.

With that said there is nowhere for the rainwater to go except into the drains. Some of those drains empty into various creeks. For example, Cherry Creek. Any seasoned bike rider who has ridden on Cherry Creek bike path has seen the signs posted along the Cherry Creek Bike path indicating that the area is prone to flooding during rainfall or something to those words. Sorry readers, I ride the Cherry Creek bike path every now and then and do not know the signs by verbatim, but I have read those signs a few times and ignore them since I know what they are posted for.

I have ridden the Cherry Creek bike a few times right after some rainstorms. I have seen debris on the bike path washed up from the Creek. I have seen sand and dirt washed up on the bike path. I have seen weeds and foliage washed up on the bike path and wrapped around the signs posted along the bike path.

The story I heard / read that this bike rider road into some sand and then fell onto some large rocks that line Cherry Creek.

That just sounds fishy. There are no blind corners along the Cherry Creek where the creek and the bike path are almost next to each other and where the creek does overflow onto the bike path when there is heavy rainfall. Also, I think the posted speed limit of the Cherry Creek bike path is 15 mph. If there is not a posted speed limit then the speed is 15 mph on any bike path in the Denver Metro Area unless a different speed is posted.

Now, this bike rider rode into some sand and fell over onto the rocks that line the creek. Well, how can that happen? The area that I am assuming that this rider fell in has a good line of sight to see what is ahead of the rider. So, if the rider saw the sand then the rider should have slowed down or even stopped and carried/walked his bike over the sand on the bike path. Right? If the area was in an area where the bike path was obscured by trees and blind corners then the rider should have slowed down since everyone who was in Denver this past weekend knew we got our fair share of rain and the water was flowing everywhere.

I-25 got flooded with rainwater and many streets got flooded and yes all the creeks were overflowing with rainwater. Matter of fact, on TV and in the newspapers there was mention of flooding.

Even riding at the posted limit on the Cherry Creek bike path after three days of major rain falling is sort of asking for trouble. Especially so if you are arrogant to think that the bike path gets cleared right after the rain stops falling.

I also have to mention that the Cherry Creek bike path has areas where the bike path is covered in shadows, whether by the angle of the sun, riding under a bridge or under some trees. Any seasoned rider knows that riding into a bike path covered in shadow(s)s can be dangerous. If you are not wearing sunglasses and going from bright light to dark shadow your pupils need time to dilate.

There are also a couple of areas along Cherry Creek that has rocks lining the bike path and the creek and are under a bridge. So if this accident happened under the bridge did the rider even slow down while going under the bridge. Did the rider have sunglasses on? Worse yet was the rider not even looking at where he/she was riding?

There was no mention of what type of bike was involved in the accident. Was it a Mountain bike? Or was it a Road bike?

If a Road bike was used then it was purely the rider’s fault. Any Road biker knows and should be cautious about riding in any possibility of sand at all. Sand would be the ultimate enemy of a road biker. Skinny tires and sand do not mix at all – sort of like Oil and water. The skinny tires immediately sink into the sand if riding straight into sand. Or should the rider be making a turn and encounters sand in the turn the rider and bike are going to have an accident. Yes readers, the sand is that much of a danger to us road bikers.

Now, if a Mountain bike was involved I would think that there should not of been an accident since the Mountain bike tire has fat tires. Also, going through sand should not be a problem, if the bike rider was not going fast. The he/she were going through the sand not too fast then the bike rider should have felt the sand grab the bike and immediately slowed the bike rider down. This is speculation on my part since I really know nothing about Mountain bikes except for the short time I had my 25.00 dollar garage sale Mountain Bike.

I hope to hear / read what happened readers. I do not see how it can not be the rider’s fault for breaking his/her bone. In addition, there is no mention of another rider causing the accident.

P.S. The bike rider who had an accident is not one of the ignorant bikers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Indoor Volleyball at the Olympics

Greetings Readers

When I got home last night, I was better, but still exhausted. Since I threw away all my food that I prepared in the past few days I know I needed to wash every dish and sanitize the entire kitchen. Why? Better safe than sorry. Meaning, I would hate for what happened, happen again. Shame on me once, but twice. I sprayed and wipe down everything in the kitchen with a multi-purpose spray. Meanwhile, I had the dishwasher going. When I finished the wiping down I let the surfaces dry. 15 minutes later I got the Pine-Sol and made the kitchen smell clean. Not to mention I disinfected the entire kitchen, including the kitchen floor.

I woke up to indoor volleyball – Cuba vs. China. Wow. Considering that Cuba demolished the United States the previous day or two ago I was stunned that China was demolishing Cuba. 25-18 and then 25-14. China was two sets up and the time was about 7:30 AM MST and I had to leave for work.

I kept hearing and seeing Wang YiMei. This particular Chinese player was playing the left side of the court and is a 6’3” foot player with a spectacular “kill” hit into the opponent’s court. I knew nothing of China’s volleyball team before what I started watch, but after 5 minutes or so I knew the team. There is the number one server in the world, according to the announcer – and she was fucking phenomenal on her serving. Ace after ace.

Flashback – I saw bits and pieces of the Cuba vs. United States match and witnessed the discrimination Cuba handed the United States Volleyball team. Not to mention when I got to work I heard that our United States Indoor Volleyball team got beat – and an ugly kind of beating.

Back to current – I was not rooting for China to beat Cuba for Cuba beating the United States the previous day, but I was cheering and yelling for China to beat Cuba since I saw that China had opened a can of Whoop-Ass on Cuba.

As I mentioned I was watching this match closely, but was running out of time before I was expected to be at work. I left when China was leading and about to close out the third set. Believe me readers I did not want to leave, but I had to.

I told my friends what I watched this morning.

Noon arrived and that was when I checked on the results.

Cuba won. I could not believe what I saw. China had the match in hand.

Was it my fault for leaving for work before the third set was finished? Was it my fault for not supporting the China Volleyball team 100 percent? With me leaving for work was it my fault for China not winning the match up?

I am not for China to win, but I was for China at the time since China was the team that was playing like the number one team in the world against Cuba. Cuba was losing, but I was not rooting for China for Cuba beating up on United States. I cheer for the player/team that is showing me what they brought, which is hopefully their “A” game.

I was stunned that China lost. Oh well, if Cuba was ranked higher then it was Cuba that deserved to win the match-up,

Changing subjects

Hooligan. By Webster’s definition – A Ruffian or hoodlum. Or should you look under Hoodlum – a thug or a rowdy, destructive child or adolescent. Or if you look under Ruffian – a tough lawless person; a brutal bully.

I was basically categorized a “Hooligan.” Meaning, I am a one of many cyclists that wears Lycra/Spandex and basically passes every bike rider on any bike path in the Denver Metro Area – because I can.

Should I be labelled a Hooligan for just sporting Lycra? Should my Hooligan status be further supported because my bike(s) has carbon fiber? Apparently, by those two points I am a Hooligan.

I wear Lycra because I can afford and wear Lycra. I do not wear Lycra for the sakes of wearing Lycra (well I do tend to think I look good in Lycra). I do not wear Lycra, because of that person with the initials L.A. No fucking way.

I have Carbon Fiber because I can afford Carbon Fiber. Not to mention it is desired among us serious cyclists.

Sure, I look down on other riders that do not have carbon fiber in their bike. I look down on riders that do not appear to be wearing expensive bike clothing. And I have posted many times the way I feel about those subject, especially clothing. Yet, by no means do I label or categorize any bike rider who does not have Carbon fiber or Lycra.

Applying a label is basically profiling. Matter of fact - is it discrimination. Which made me think - this person labeled a certain look of a rider a Hooligan for wearing Lycra and having Carbon Fiber. It leads me to think perhaps that there are deeper issues that we readers are not aware of. Perhaps racial discrimination? I do not know.

It is sad for any person to assume that every bike rider he/she encounters should be labeled a Hooligan for just sporting Lycra and having Carbon Fiber in his/her bike.

I have been called a mother fucker, fucker, asshole, son of a bitch, dipshit, shithead, dick, dickhead and so forth. There have been too many names for me to care that much.

Those bad words are just names. I am perfectly okay with name calling since that is what it is – just bad words being said. I am no saint myself – I have said those same words at one point before.

Yet, indirectly I was labeled a Hooligan. I was not offended at the time I read that, but later I became somewhat bothered by being categorized. I was a Hooligan by that person’s definition.

As of today I am not sure if Hooligan fits me though, by that person’s definition. By Webster’s definition I know that I am not a child (though act like one from time to time), or an adolescent. I am not a bully, and I am not a tough lawless person (though I act like a tough son of a bitch from time to time).

In closing, I may be labeled a Hooligan, but I now know the true definition of the word and know that technically this word could not be applied to me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete,

Tour de France 2008 - Day 12

Greetings Readers

Early this morning, I saw that another rider was identified by his drug test as having EPO in his sample.

Today is the last day of the Pyrenees - one Cat 1 climb and then "gravy." Meaning, the riders are out of the Mountains and onto the Flats. Though, looming in the distance is the Alps. I will give an update later when I watch my tape tonight.

In the mean time let me continue the topic from the past recent posts...

I can not seem to let this particular issue go. This topic got intriguing when I initially brought this up to one of my friend-o’s. After reveling to my friend-o of the issue at hand and what was being done. I asked him how he/she would have reacted if he/she had the sticker applied to his/her vehicle.

“I would be mad.” My friend replied (exact words).

From there I started asking questions and my friend also asked me questions about said scenario.

Then, I recollected some of the biker / cyclist / commuter’s words – and this is not a direct quote. “I should turn these pictures into the Denver Police Department” Hmmm. Should he/she turn in those photos of people’s cars that were caught on film (their camera) parking in a biking lane? If he/she does submit the pictures then would said person also turn himself/herself in for tampering with a motor vehicle? I do not know.

But from previous comments – I can already hear (read) the biker’s / cyclist’s / commuter’s reason/excuse. Oh yes! He/She always has some excuse as if it was not his/her fault in the first place. My rights… I’m entitled… Blah, blah, blah. And the excuse I can imagine being given is that “Oh, the parking vehicle offender is more serious than my slapping a sticker to the vehicle.” Or I can even hear this excuse “Oh, the vehicle’s owner committed a crime first by parking in the bike lane, therefore that is the crime and my slapping a sticker on the parked vehicle is not a crime since the vehicle’s owner committed the crime first - ahead of me.” Believe me Readers; I know I can hear some excuse as if the whole slapping the sticker on a vehicle is not a crime.

After my initial “what would you think” to my friend-o I decided to ask more people. People that I know and people that I do not know. I asked everyone, I think – young, old, white; black, man, woman, child, teenager, people with bikes and people without bikes, business people, an everyday looking person (to me). No, I did not write down their answers, but I did remember what they responded with when I asked is it okay for a person who rides a bike, like me, to slap a sticker on a vehicle parked/waiting in a bike lane?

No. Fuck no. Are you serious? What? No way. Is this a joke? Uh-uh. No fucking way. I would beat the shit of out him if they slapped a sticker to my car. (Note: the response to my question this guy I poll-ed said “him” when I gave no reference to the gender of the person slapping the sticker to vehicles in the Denver area.), You don’t do this - do you?

Those are just a few of the responses I got when I started asking people about this particular scenario. Not one-person said / agreed it was OK to slap a sticker to anyone’s vehicle.

Some people asked what kind of sticker. Meaning - is there a sticky adhesive where you might try peeling off the sticker and it leaves the backing on the surface and all you peeled off was the top layer of the sticker. Some also asked where was the sticker placed on the vehicle.

I did not know the answers to those questions. However, if it was a sticky adhesive and left some/or all of the sticker on the car would the vehicle’s owner have to use a razor blade or some solvent to remove any remaining adhesive from the sticker that was remove from their vehicle? Again, I do not know. However, thinking to myself first you slapped a sticker a sticker to my vehicle and I now have a ruin windshield and/or paint job because of you slapping a sticker to my vehicle, you are a “mother fucker.”

Just because the vehicle’s owner parked/idle in a bike lane does that give you/a biker the right to deface a vehicle? These next sentences are only some of the statements that were voiced to me – What if this was the first time that the vehicle’s owner parked in a bike lane? Is that first offense of getting a sticker slapped to his/her vehicle okay? What if this person was on a deadline and the only way to get to his/her next destination in time was to park their car in a bike lane for a minute (up to three minutes) did that earn the vehicle’s owner to get a sticker slapped to their vehicle? What if the vehicle’s owner has been doing this forever and ever and no one has ever said/done anything to him parking in the bike lane – does this warrant a slapping of a sticker to their vehicle?

A few people did give examples of what the biker / cyclist / commuter could have done instead of slapping a sticker to their car. The person could have slipped a “handbill”, “flyer”, or whatever you want to label it – even a piece of paper under the windshield wiper instead of slapping a sticker to their vehicle. Even use a Post-It note as opposed to a sticker saying that they should not of parked in a bike lane.

Yet, that was not the end of the questions that a few had for me. How do we know that the vehicle’s owner would assume that a biker / cyclist / commuter did the slapping of the sticker to said vehicle. Could the person who slapped a vehicle with a sticker was not even on a bike? I do not know. Also, I do not know what exactly is printed on the sticker. Did the person who slapped the sticker print/sign their name? Use a nickname? I do not know. I did get it “if he did not leave a name or anything identified him on who slapped the sticker then that is one fucking chicken shit person not to own up to his actions. Again readers, I can not voice an opinion since I am already bias against the slapping a sticker on the biker / cyclist / commuter. Also, the response was “he” and never “she” when I left the person genderless.

Most of the people I asked for their opinion were really interested on what I asked them. They started asking some questions of their own, which most of the time I did not know the answer to. But on other questions I did. Such as… How long has this person been slapping stickers to people’s vehicles parked in a bike lane? I responded from what I read on their post from last year I could only estimate that this has been going on for over a year. “Really?” they responded.

Oh yes, they even wrote about the vehicles they encountered. And in some cases they took pictures of the vehicle(s), including a picture of the license plate and the driver (if possible). Which brings me back to my previous post you have got to have serious issues about investing the time to take pictures of vehicles parked in a parking lane. You have the “balls” to take all the pictures you want of the crime and tell the Internet world, but you do not have the conjones to back up what you complained / reported to your blog readers? Wow.

You want sympathy for pointing out the parking in a bike lane, but you do not have the “balls” to file a police report?! Though, I will give credit for the biker / cyclist / commuter on actually calling the Denver Police department for having proof, via digital picture(s), of parking in a bike lane and asking what to do. I can not call this person an idiot, but any person can go to the local police department and fill out a police report. It’s free! Granted, I have no clue what priority this offense would warrant, but at least a police report was filed along with picture(s) {evidence). Yes pictures – since the person slapping the sticker can afford to make, buy and slap a sticker I do not see any reason why not the person can not go to a local Wal-mart or store that will print out a hard copy of your digital picture. I think the last time I did this the print cost me about .10 cents and about 2 minutes of my time.

One interviewee asked me that I should be Mr. “McGruff” and report the crime (You know Readers - “take a bite out of crime”) since I have proof of a crime that took place. He/she asked me if I had proof and I said yes, because said person posted and provided picture(s) of the vehicle(s) he/she slapped a sticker on. And if any of you readers remember those commercials from a year ago – if you buy drugs from a dealer you are helping the terrorists. How do we know that any of us readers are not helping America from this person’s actions by not reporting him/her, which may be helping the Terrorist overseas? It is far fetched, but how do we not know?

Wait! I have no reason to report to the police of said crime since I am not personally involved by it or nor I had someone ever slap a sticker to my vehicle. Though it may be premature since any retributions on me could be forthcoming on said crime performed by said biker / cyclist / commuter. I do know the name of the person (and there could be more) committing the crime, but I have no reason and could care less to report this disgraceful crime. He/She has done nothing to me, so far, but given reasons for his / her actions from their point of view.

Though, I will keep looking over my shoulder every now and then and if I should hear a “different” car sound (like the sound of a vehicle gunning towards me) then I am all ears. I do not want to be a victim of someone else’s crime.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 11

Greetings Readers

Rest Day! Woo hoo! I can finally have a break from watching TV for the past 10 days. Not to mention getting my life back since I have been plastered to the television set.

And now onto my big news....

Finally. Finally. My world is complete. For now at least.

As of 2:57 PM Friday, July 11, 2008 I received my Jet C2 90 Rims from HED. cycling. I am not going to say that the past week was long, but when my friend told me that I should check on my rims I did just that. When I did that, I felt the need to track the shipping and when my rims were arriving at certain Fed Ex location points.

Oh yes, they were scheduled for Friday delivery, but I was not sure when they would arrive. And if they did arrive, would I be gone already (from work that is.) I checked the tracking website every hour, probably twice each hour.

As the day got late I was losing hope that I would get the rims I ordered. And then just as the clock struck 3:00 PM there was my friend from the mail room with a certain large cardboard box dropped off by Fed Ex.

I was shaking. I was exciting, but nervous. Yes, these were my rims, my expensive rims, but I also I was nervous on actually seeing the rims.

The box was pretty big. I grabbed some scissors and opened the box. The first thing I saw was the skewers. With the HED logo on the handle and head of the skewer. Pretty damn cool. I actually thought I would have to buy skewers since there was no mention that the skewers would be included. The only reason why I thought this was that another website you had to buy the skewer from them or buy it yourself. Granted, the price is small, but when I have already dished out 40 bones for logos and 800 bones for each rim I just did not want to pay more bones. I was already invested for 1665.00 bones and that was hard enough to justify buying these rims.

Fast Forward – Friday night I replaced the front wheel on Andrea. The back wheel I did not feel comfortable taking off the cassette so I decided to wait until Saturday morning to have the local bike shop do the pulling of the cassette.

And when it was all said and over I got home and got to working installing the back wheel.

I had some trouble with filling the tires with my hand pump. With the valve extenders the presta valve was only staying open until I stopped pumping and then would automatically shut tight and I could not pump hard/fast enough to get any more air in the tire.

Man, for the past 12 years I have never, ever owned a full size bike pump. I have gone through 3 hand pumps and then those get me to the gas station for some free air. Anyway, with the valve extenders I could not use the valve presta converter I have installed on my tube. And the gas stations is only able to fit a schrader (however you spell it) valve opening. With that knowledge I had to buy a bike pump with a presta valve opening. Isn't she pretty? At least the bike pump was on sale or else I would have had paid 49.99 for this type of bike pump.

I got the new rims on and filled with air and took Andrea for her maiden voyage on the new set of rims... (to be continued)

Ah readers - I was talking about my blog post about that biker / cyclist / commuter slapping a sticker on vehicles in Denver and perhaps the surrounding suburbs of Denver when my friend opened my eyes to a couple of things.

My friend knows that I certain issues (as most of us do), but for some person to go out of the way and make, buy and carry around stickers to slap onto vehicles has some pretty messed up issues. For someone to do that has taken some serious time and thought on what he/she is doing Perhaps causing them self grief of such a small "speed bump" in life since all this person has to do is ride by and forget about. Worry about something more important - like rent, your significant other, your life.

How come I never thought of that? I know I mentioned that it is disgrace to slap a sticker to any vehicles, but I never thought of how much effort and thought it took this person to do this. Amazing when I actually started to think about it from my friend's point of view.

My friend also brought up the point that if you see the vehicle parked/idling you are going to be at the vehicle for a second and then you are past it. So, in reality the vehicle is in your route of travel for a while, but then you are going to ride by the vehicle and that will probably take a second or two and then it is behind you. Then, my friend adds, this person actually lets this parked vehicle bother him/her so much that he/she has to actually stop, pull out peel off the adhesive (hopefully not litter the backing) and slap a sticker on the offending vehicle and then ride off. Does this person realize how much time he actually spent doing what he did on the offending vehicle? I could not answer that question. If he/she is trying to make a point then it is a small point.

As you can see I was not thinking from that point of view. So, my friend hinted that I was not that fucked up compared to what I told him/her about this certain biker / cyclist / commuter. I am not agreeing or disagreeing, but telling you my readers that there was another view I did not see,

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tour de France 2008 - Day 6

Greetings Readers

Super-Besse - It has been 12 years since the last time there was a stage race finish was here. This year marks this the first mountain stage finish on this year's Tour de France. And what a start to the first mountain stage. We get to see two Category 4 mountain climbs and then we get a taste of our first two Category 2 mountain climbs, which on the last ends on a finish up to the summit, well almost summit of Super-Besse.

Yet, when I saw that Super-Besse, I want to say "Super-Beast". It seems more intimidating then Super-Besse.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened on this stage, but the ending was just what I always want to see. I want to see the climb to a finish line. A climb that makes or breaks riders who have ridden almost the entire course of probably 100 miles and have the last few miles going up a mountain. Any reserves or any thoughts of just taking it easy is not going to cut it. Every rider wants glory and GC riders will mostly have to ride defensively, but not offensively. Why? Well, this the first real mountain stage and most of the GC (General Classification) riders will want to see and probably stay together.

Whereas the rider who wants the King of the Mountain jersey will have to ride like fucking mad man. This is what they train for and this is the only real, for real, time that any rider who can beat the other riders on a mountains will most likely go down in history as the rider who beat everyone that one day in July in the year of 2008. Pictured is the winner of the stage.

Now, I am not saying the yellow jersey is not important in any mountain stage, but the yellow jersey rider will only have to work about the rider(s) who are the closest to him in time and whether or not those rider(s) mount an attack on a mountain climb. If that should happen then the yellow jersey becomes just as important as the King of The Mountain jersey

At that point to me I could care less who should wear the jersey, but the rider who does put up a fight for or keeping the yellow jersey then earns my respect. Not that it matters at all, but to me only that is alot of respect in my book. As I pointed out the Yellow jersey rider only has to work to keep wearing the jersey by beating the second overall leader in the Tour de France. The are a couple of exceptions to where the yellow jersey rider would have to work more than he has to - such as perhaps seeing the second place rider get dropped from the peloton and then it would beneficial to put some time and distance between him and the second place rider.

Now... onto a topic that I want to briefly post about.

There are quite a few bikers / cyclist / commuters who “believe” in the bike lane. When I use the word “believe” they believe that they own that piece of road. Meaning, no joggers, no baby strollers, no walkers, no dog walkers and definitely no vehicles can park in the bike lane should those particular riders come upon such an obstacle on their biking journey in the bike lanes on our blue planet.

Don’t get me wrong readers, I too have issues regarding the bike lane use - just as those few bikers / cyclist / commuters who “believe” in the bike lane, but I am not going to delve into that subject on this post. Perhaps in the future I will broach my personal issues regarding bike lane use. And is it not that I have not expressed my views already.

What I am going touch upon though is what I do or say. Most of the time I am silent, but every so often I mouth off. Cussing does not work – after all it is just words being yelled most of the time at each other. I usually saying something “smart”, sarcastic, rude or tell it like I see it. Every now and then I will raise the infamous one finger salute, but again that is just the middle finger being raise which when you really analyze the infamous one finger salute. After all it is just the middle finger being raised. A strong gesture when we are young, but if you are just as old as I am then the gesture is just a gesture no more than that. But as I stated I do raise that middle finger, with a smile, just to get a small internal victory or a quick silent “fuck you” very much.

Yet, other times I will stop in the bike lane and let the offender adjust his/her route of travel to me being in the bike lane.

The bottom line - my crime, at times, is foul / offensive language use and verbal assault, if that is a crime. I really do not know, but that I am sure that is a crime.

Now, with all that said I have been reading on a certain blog that I keep tabs on is that a certain ignorant bicyclist “believes” they have the right to bike lane. Though, that is not the specific issue for this particular post.

What I want to share with you readers is that this particular ignorant bicyclist believes it is okay to apply a sticker to parked vehicles in any biking lane in Denver and perhaps surrounding vehicles suburbs of Denver.

Does that sound “cute” to you readers? Do you think that is great idea? Are you saying “way to go” for him/her? Do you feel the urge to copy what he/she is doing?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then you are supporting a criminal. Yes - a criminal. What this ignorant bicyclist is doing is breaking the law by committing the crime of vandalism. When this person slaps a sticker to a vehicle that is vandalism. Period. Or the crime that is being committed – Tampering with a motor vehicle (C.R.S. 42-5-103.) Again, I want to reiterate I am committing a crime too, but I do not deface any vehicle because he/she parked in a bike lane.

I find what this bicyclist has been doing ever since he/she has been slapping stickers on vehicles parked in a bike lane in Denver and perhaps surrounding vehicles in the suburbs of Denver a disgrace to us other bikers / cyclist / commuters. I am probably being classed as a “mother fucker” cyclist by the actions of this one person in Denver by that particular vehicle’s owner. Though, I will admit I am a “motherfucker” on some issues, but I do not want to be classified as a “motherfucker” by the actions of this person.

Granted, I could care less about whether or not I am call a “bad word,” but what if this action triggers a certain button on this vehicle’s owner who was slapped with a sticker on their vehicle. Perhaps in this crime that was committed, the owner may take out his/her actions (example: a vehicle or physical assault) on the next biker / cyclist / commuter he/she sees in the future and that next person could be me..

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete.

May Day - Popeye's Day

Greetings Readers

I am going to designate today as Popeye's Day since I did wear the new bike jersey today. Also, I just wanted to show off to you readers one of my new bike jerseys. As you can see the bike jersey does look beautiful on me and fits pretty well. Not much else I can say on this topic.

Alright - Guess what!? No really! Guess what?! The Ignorant Senior(ita) has gone public. He/she is back to non-private. Nope readers, I did not get to read what has been posted in the last two or three months since he/she went private. Though, I did look at the number of post and those were few and far in between. Anyway, I am going to try and catch up what was written and see what fucked up views he/she has of his/her 24/25 years on Earth.

The Ignorant biker - Hmmm. Nothing going on there. I am thinking after 8 months (I am unsure readers of how long they have been biking) that perhaps they are now becoming seasoned riders (minus one since he/she decided not to ride to work since it was just at the beginning of the double digits walking distance to work.

Me? I do not have an issue. He/she can do whatever he/she wants. No need to explain/tell me what he/she is going to walk to work as opposed to biking. Anyway, you readers probably know my response - Like I fucking care. I have no rings around my fingers so I am responsible for myself.

Let me see, the other bikers have been doing well - a lot less complaining, but a lot of... a lot of... how could I say this... a lot of... never mind. Let me say this way - I am lot less on the opposite side of disagreeing or shake my head in amazement/wonder/stupidity/sadness

Me? - Sure as shit - I am still complaining about this and that. Looking at the women I see that catch my eye. Shaking my head in wonder on some of the things I see in the world. And continuing by hopefully making my blogging interesting to you readers - especially this year.

And in general - thank you for reading/dropping by.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Caught Without My Pants

Greetings Readers

Yep, I have no excuse(s) (as with the Ignorant Biker - he/she would have any excuse ready for you) nor will I blame anyone for being caught out in the snow this evening in this particular state of dress.

I knew the news weather "Fore"-cast that was going to be for today. Rain/Snow was expected to be for today, but I was under the impression that the rain/snow was not going to be until after 6 or until later this evening. I was not expecting the snow to start at 3:00 PM where I work. Sure enough that was the case. I even listen to the news this morning and that Crystal on FOX news said snow would be falling later this evening. Yeah, I know, I know - I should have packed my long bike pants and wore a jacket to be safe, but I just did not want to. Period.

I was fucked.. er past tense - I am fucked. I gambled, which meant that I am stuck without a jacket and long bike pants. I did take a picture to capture how I got caught in the snow storm that started this afternoon.

I went to the "Sunday Ritual" picture taking place to take a picture since I have had not taken a "Ritual Sunday" picture for about a month now.

Actually, the weather was not too bad and the evening was actually warmer than it was this morning. Oh yes readers, I was pretty cold this morning while going to work this morning. Yet, this evening I was okay. There was a slight "bite of cold" in the gusty wind blowing, but very very doable. The snow flakes kept hitting my eyeballs which was a bit annoying so I had to ride with one hand up blocking the snow from hitting my eyeballs. No big deal - I will adapt and not make a whole post to feel sorry about me.

Not this guy. Hah Hah - okay, every now and then I will write to feel I need sympathy, but by no means am I looking for sympathy. Like is not fair and not everything is handed to everyone on a silver platter. Nor do I need your sympathy in general. =) Unless you are a cute Blonde with eyes to turn on any guy, such as myself.

I did get quite a few looks and comments and even one vehicle (pictured in the back of this picture) turn around and ask if I was OK. Yeah right, perhaps she saw my "tight well muscled developed thighs" and this was an excuse to ask me anything to me. Or of me. [Well, the picture did not capture the thighs nicely - the thighs actually look bland =( perhaps it was the cold, me not showing off the thighs and I do not even remember if I was flexing for the picture.]

Oh yes readers, I am laughing as much as you are. Nope. I am sure that it was not my "tight well developed thighs", but I will be Damn if that the passenger was fucking oh so Cute. She is right up Mr. Charley's alley on what he likes. Nope, I did nothing, except to respond "No, I am OK" and smiled. I then ran to my bike to get the picture you see on today's post before the timer expired. Oh yes, she was real cute. Even more so when I smiled back. Damn - I was thinking about the picture shot and did not even think about making small talk to her. Shaking my head in disbelief. I could have had a date with this unknown woman. Who knows.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Is that that Sunlight I see

Greetings Readers

I can now see the light (from getting out of the woods). Just the runny nose/sniffling with lots of phlegm. I know - whatever.

I had some whole chicken last night - pretty basic though - some seasoning and then I just threw the chicken thighs into the oven. The important thing is that I am eating a meal as oppose to eating really nothing. Though, I have lost 3 pounds since Monday.

Today, I was able to get back onto the bike after I rode last on Monday. I am still physically wiped. I had some difficulty riding up the hills, small inclines, but otherwise I think I am back onto the road of recovery. I am going to have to make this weekend a rest weekend. I need to get healthy as soon as possible.

Today's picture post is Tracy which was taken earlier this week on Monday, before the snow, while I was waiting for the RTD, since I was literally worn out from start of being sick. Anyway, is she not beautiful. Tracey has been my new winter bike for the past two years. She has seen the icy cold winter of Colorado for two years straight. She has gone through a second set of rims and those are the current ones I have on her. Her gear train, teeth, hub, crank are getting worn out pretty quickly, since I feel her skipping gears more and more.

It is suppose to be in the 70's next week and I want to take Andrea out for her first ride of the year - as long as it is sunny.

I have not been keeping up with some of the blogs I frequent and well I do have another topic to talk about. And yes - this will be courtesy of the Ignorant Biker once more. The Ignorant Biker that has the holier than I better than everyone else attitude since I am "entitled" to the streets of Denver. I shall discuss that topic tomorrow. I have refrained from adding my two cents worth since other people have made a comment on what I would have said. No point to reiterate what was said and not to add another notch on their post about that blogger "Redhooktyrant"

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Earphones & Stop Signs

Greetings Readers

As you can see from the picture, I had to purchase another pair of earphones. The prior pair that I was using... well only the right side works now. The left side, I think, has a loose connection and now the connection is loose, which drives me crazy. Music, no music, music, no music, etc. The pair of earphones on the left are the ones that do not work anymore, but somehow I can not make myself throw them away.

So, I caved and bought another pair, same exact model. And of course a SONY. Perhaps not caved, since I had no choice to purchase a new pair. Either I get or I don't, which in turn means that I can not listen to music while biking. Though, that is not true either. I have a pair of earphones at work. I have two pairs at home. I just need to have a specific pair and that is the reason why that I have to buy another pair of earphones at Target.

Well, this is the third pair of these specific pair of earphones that I have bought, so far. Before this exact type of model and brand, I bought the blue pair of SONY earphones. Which is the pair that I have currently at my work computer.

And before the clip around your ear earphones I was into the ear buds. Which I currently hate. Somehow those ear buds get dislodged from my ear while biking. Eventually one of those ear buds drops into my front wheel and there goes the whole ear bud. Ripped from the end of the wire. Along with the 10 bucks I spent. That pisses me off also. So, with the invention of clip around your ears earphones I have loved this type of device. Granted, my Oakleys sometimes prevent the earphones going in all the way into the ear. No biggie though.

Yet, there was a time that I was wearing headphones (the skinny type) upside down from my ears. Yep sort of like a stethoscope. The reason was the headphones could not be worn while I was wearing a bike helmet. Stop! That is not the reason why that I do not wear a bike helmet so do not even go there, my friend. =)

Anyway, I love this particular type of earphones and I do recommend them. Granted, I have some friends that would not use this type. Not a problem. To each his/her own. You are "entitled" to do that.

Speaking of "entitled" - the ignorant biker, has posted that on one particular day he/she decided to stop at all the stop signs. Shit - does this ignorant biker want his/her cake too?! He/she wants entitlement to the streets of Denver, but wants to stop at stop signs only when he/she decides that is the day he/she obeys the law. To me this ignorant biker is a h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e in the making. Or perhaps this is being introduced to the ignorant biker while biking now. Who knows. Who cares.

I just wanted to point that out he/she posted "Today I decided to stop at all stop signs" and this is the same ignorant biker that is "entitled" to the streets of Denver.

Me? Of course I stop at all stop signs. There are no ifs, ands or buts. Other bikers and yes there are a lot of them "run" the stop sign. So be it. I know where I stand and I am only worried about myself. Yes, those other bikers make me or other bikers who do not run stop signs look bad.

I have many, many stories that I could post for you readers, but I guess they are all about the same. Impatient vehicles, where to ride when coming to stop sign. Who goes first? Next? Where to look? More important - signal with the proper hand signals bikers. And so on...

There is sometimes confusion at the stop sign intersection, but me being me I do well. I have a routine and 99 percent of the time my routine works.

In fairness, I know where most of the stop signs are and with that knowledge I avoid that area to bike. There are not many stop signs where I reside (Centennial) in the suburbs of Denver, but I still will stop. This goes with me wearing earphones I need to stop and look just in case of that one vehicle driver that decides to not follow the general routine of a stop sign stop.

Also, near Central Denver/Denver, there are a lot of Stop signs intersections, but that should not matter. Learn, obey, adapt, and get over it. Life is not fair and never, ever handed to you on a plate.

As my old boss would say "Sucks to be you" and laugh. Hah hah.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

I'm not Anonymous

Greetings Readers

Attention Sil vous plais! The Ignorant Senor(ita) blogger is going private. You should read the reason, excuse me, the reasons why. I will try and list a brief re-cap if I can.

However - I am not anonymous. I have no reason to be. I like signing my name after each post. I now like showing you readers pictures of me (me - pictured on today's post) . I'm in the search engines, I am known. Period. I tell it like I see it. Or the way you should see it.

I give anonymity when talking about anything related to work, but that is very, very rare. Even on the rare occasion it is about a co-worker and I have label that character "Lamont" and even told my co-worker his code name and also their is a "Bobbie Rae." I do not talk about as co-workers, but as pawns in my adventures with them.

Beyond that I have been honest about me. I have kept my actual location (street address) and parent's place (no address) out of my blog. No need for any of you bloggers to find me out of anger or repercussions.

I do talk about this and that. All that I think have I have mentioned so far have been opinions, personal views, and by definition. I have never quoted "the law" or anything remotely close to statutes.

I rarely mention my friends, but mostly focus on the complete stranger that I see or meet upon the road of life. You have read, probably read, the encounters and interactions that were between me and those strangers. I make no excuses and/or apologies..

I am not worried about what I say nor am I worried about what I talk about, in a manner of speaking. Since I do not talk (gossip) about my friends/coworkers - I have no worries about a friend/co-worker finding my blog out on the Internet. This is a public blog, which by choice readers (us blog authors have that authority to blogs Public or Private) and I have no reason(s) to make private. Most times when I should mention someone I know - it is vague to where that a particular reader(s) may identify him/herself in my blog.

Again - I am not talking about my everyday interactions with such and such person. I have more to talk about than people I know. I talk about my biking, running, events beyond the workplace and home. I am free to touch upon any subject that I would consider open and not be related to the people I know.

So, getting to the blogger I labeled the Ignorant Senor(ita). It was decided by the blogger this past week to make his/her blog private, because she/he has "reserve the right"to do this. So what. Is this Ignorant Senor(ita) thinking were are not as smart as her/him? Or we can not figure this out by deductive reasoning?

She/He writes about her/his past life, er love life, and let me tell you she/he can talk about the past. She/He says that they personally are over that love, but in reality she/he is not. She/he has kept all letters, IM's, pictures, etc. and writes about this and that and why and why not and then has the audacity to say she/he is over him/her. Clearly not. To be over someone you need to get rid some of that relationship stuff. I was actually waiting for her/him to say that they have a locket of that person's hair for remembrance.

The Ignorant Senor(ita) talks about other issues which I have commented on my blog and I have labeled Ignorant Senor(ita) as a label keyword search. Some of the things she/he says are pretty fucked up. Though you have to give her/him credit for being so young and hopefully naive - she/he is in twenties and has not experienced the world beyond the area she/he resides though that is an assumption from what I have read so far on the Ignorant Senor(ita)'s blog.

Now, getting to the last post she/he will make - the Ignorant Senor(ita) is giving us readers an ultimatum to either follow her/him or not. She/he has told us the reasons why and this will break a friendship if she/he does not make the blog private. Well, in my opinion, the Ignorant Senor(ita) needs to come off that throne and back down to the earth.

I am a bit sad since I will be unable to read her/his next fucked up view of the world and how it is not her/his fault. Or she/he will have " past love - part 50" and again that is pretty fucked up to talk about that a subject that long. Oh yes readers, the Ignorant Senor(ita) is well into part X and above. And the posts are getting longer and longer, and makes me wonder how much info did she/he keep about past loves (there is a lot of detail).

The Ignorant Senor(ita) was an inspiration to me on how fucked up being in your twenties is. Believe me I know myself since I was once in my twenties. I am not in a position nor would even consider telling what may be right and/or wrong. I just tell my view and opinion of what she/he did on the actions she/he did on my post.

Note: - Ignorant Senor(ita) - My readers will miss you and my analytical breakdown of your adventures you post

Additional Note: I already have a replacement in mind - His/her label is the Ignorant Biker.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

"Entitlement" - continued

Greetings Readers

I guess I am not done with my post from yesterday. I forgot to comment on another issue that was pointed out by the blogger

So this bloggers says he/she was almost hit by this vehicle. This vehicle was described in full detail not to mention the route of travel from one side of the street to the other side of the street in Downtown Denver.

If I remember correctly the "truck" went across four lanes of street and nearly sideswiped the blogger.

Come on. He/she saw all this and still almost got hit? Get the fuck out of here! That is one serious fucked up commuter. He/she saw all this and could not avoid almost getting hit?! I would have slowed down or seen this coming, which according to the blogger he/she saw this truck coming from one side of the street to the other. I would have moved onto the sidewalk, closer to the curb, backed up or hell anything else beside using my "entitlement" to the road.

Then, the blogger has the nerve to say he/she could understand if it was a mail delivery truck (UPS, FedEX, DHL, etc) he/she would have forgiven the truck driver for almost hitting him/her by crossing four lanes of street and in a rush. As opposed to a truck that has advertising on it. What the fuck does it matter? A truck is a truck - when he/she eventually gets sideswiped by a Floral truck I am pretty sure that he/she will not give a fuck what type of truck it is. No way.

At the end of his/her post he/she then writes that well at least when the tv news people come the truck with advertising will get free promotion/advertising. Well, the blogger should wake up since I hardly think that he/she would make the news about being hit by a truck. Unless there was a news truck in the same location, perhaps he/she gets killed, or no news to report.

Another story that was "milked" by that blogger for an event to be blogged about.

Clearly the blogger states he/she saw the truck go from one side of the street to the other where he/she was. Get the fuck out of here!

Readers, I can see the image clearly. He/she is watching this truck from the far right lane and watching the truck coming across four lanes straight at him/her. The blogger's knows he/she has the legal right to be on the road, but he/she is not moving! He/she is acting like Rosa Parks - I'm not moving.

Shaking my head in bewilderment of that blogger

Today's picture - well that is me from the neck down. I wanted to look at myself and see how my looks. Yes, I am still thin, but I still love my thighs though. By the way, don't you just love my Texas bike jersey?! I love the back even more.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

"Entitlement"

Greetings Readers

Okay - time for me to write/comment about a blogger's right to the road on a post he/she made within the last week or two.

I am not saying he/she is wrong, but every cyclist/biker must adhere to what the consequences of one way thinking or more to the point "I'm right and your wrong" attitude. I too, have every right to be biking on the streets of Denver and the roads of Colorado, but I must also adhere to who will "lose" the battle between vehicle and bike.

With that - I now present my post:

Entitlement – to give (a person or a thing) a title, a right, or a claim to something; furnish with grounds for laying claim. [Webster’s Definition]

Interesting definition, I think. I was reading a blogger’s post about his/her “entitlement” to the streets of Denver. Well, let me tell you readers – no one gave this fucking blogger “entitlement” to the streets of Denver – specifically Downtown Denver. He/She took this “entitlement” upon themselves to be on the streets (of Denver, Colorado).

Pretty arrogant of that blogger if you ask me even more so since I never, ever proclaimed “entitlement” for myself – anytime on this blue planet. And believe me I am arrogant enough that should I believe in that I would proclaim that from the tallest building in Denver that I am “Entitled” to the streets of Denver. Alas, never going to happen though.

No one in my book is “entitled” to the streets of Denver. Every cyclist is granted a right to ride upon legal route(s) to bike. Otherwise, no one has the authority to give anyone the “entitlement” to roads of Denver. (well perhaps the Mayor - who knows.)

If that is the case, per the blogger who made this comment then I have the “entitlement” to post-it note a message on his/her tombstone “his/her entitlement causes his/her death.” I also have the “entitlement” to “dance” upon his/her grave and also to say, “He/she was a fuck up for believing in the word “entitlement.”

Anyone with some intelligence knows that a cyclist (for example - who weights about 150 pounds) with a bike that may or not may include carbon will lose the “battle” with a 5000-pound vehicle.

“Entitlement” in that blogger’s words will earn him/her a straight shot to an early grave in the cemetery.

I, of course, will be the first one there to say, “I told you so.” Not to mention telling the whole world about “another cyclist passes away” post and the real reason why. No remorse from this guy, not a tear would be shed and/or no "woe-is him/her story" that him/her life was extinguished before he/she got to live a full life.

To dance upon this blogger’s grave would be very inconsiderate - rude, but I would since in this blogger’s words I too can invoke the word - “entitlement” to public areas.

I take no satisfaction in this particular situation, but by all means I will make an example of a cyclist that thinks he/she has a right to ride in the streets.

I have mentioned this before and I will mention this once again. I had a co-worker who thought that she had the “right” to ride in the lane that she was in. Well readers, let me tell you she got herself fucked up. I am not saying that she is wrong, but readers you need to understand that if you have the right to the road, you must adhere to a vehicle that could possibility kill you. She did everything right, by the book, but not “bending” to the vehicle’s right of passage the outcome was ugly, to say the least.

Legal battle in general, from what I heard, could take years to resolve. Meanwhile, you could be sideline, permanently injured or physiologically scarred. Not to mention that perhaps your bike could be FU-BAR!

So readers – “entitlement”, per the blogger’s own words will earn him/her a one-way ticket to an early grave and perhaps I will be there in the future to bow my head in respect, but also say “His/Her entitlement to the road got him/her entitlement to 6 feet under the earth.”

Until the next time.

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete