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The week has been pretty craptacular so far. In the words of Bart Simpson, "I didn't think it was possible, but this both sucks and blows!". )" alt=")" class="middle" width="15" height="15" /> Poor BestMate is getting hammered with ERP server support issues, and I, in true best mate style, have been trying to keep a low profile so that it doesn't find its way into my lap. I am grateful that for once, I'm not the poor bastard lumped with that sort of thing. BestMate, if you're reading this.. I'm sorry, I really am. But right now, I'm glad it's you and not me.

My hip has been feeling better overall, although the last day or two it's felt a little tight. I went for a ride yesterday morning (or was it the morning before? I can't remember) and it was just marvellous. For some reason, I found myself awake at 0400, snoozed a bit, then got out of bed at 0430. Even without looking out the window, I knew it'd be a great morning for a ride. So I threw my bike gear on, threw lights onto the bike, and off I went. It was magic. But today I'm feeling a little worse for wear. I'm trying to keep mobile so I don't lose form (more form than I've already lost from being off the bike altogether, that is). The MS ride is next weekend, and CQ is not far away at all. I need to get some long rides in, especially as it draws closer to the CQ ride.

Speaking of CQ, I went to Anaconda on the weekend and bought a few bits and pieces. Specifically, I got myself a sleeping bag (rated to -10!), a travel pillow, and a Camelbak backpack. Much as I love my new bike, it has one flaw, which is that I cannot carry all the stuff I used to carry in my panniers. So the Camelbak is a compromise. I don't plan to carry much, but at least I'll be able to carry it without worrying about how I'm going to cram it into a saddle bag or into my pockets. I plan to take the Camelbak out for a test run on the weekend, when I do the Samford/Dayboro round trip with BestMate. Speaking of test runs, I tried the sleeping bag out the night before last. It was really good! I was a bit worried that the polyester fill wouldn't be as capable as (much more expensive) down, but it was just fine. I even had to take my socks off and unzip the bag as I was getting a little too toasty. There's one problem with sleeping bags, though, which is that it's awfully tough to get them back into their carry bags. One requires the strength of Hercules, the patience of Mother Teresa and an understanding of physics surpassed only by Archimedes himself. If you do not possess these characteristics, then you will have to do what I did: resort to cursing, screaming, punching the sleeping bag, kicking its carry bag, yelling at the dog for sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, sitting on the bag in the hopes of compressing it, then finally giving up any hope of returning it to its factory state. Then, just jam the crap out of it until it's finally back in its carry bag.

I took The Beast back to the shop today for its first service. Not only did they do the service, they also gave it a clean and it looks like a million bucks now! I also raised with them the discrepancy between what they quoted me and what they actually charged me for the bike. The guy said he'd have a talk to the sales guy and would let me know what happened there. Cynically, I can almost predict that they will give me some story about how that was the price for the floor model, or maybe last year's model, or maybe they had to charge me extra freight or somesuch. I hope that they don't do that, but if they do.. so be it. Serves me right for not noticing it sooner. In any case, I'm not going to get it distract me from how much I like my bike!

The guy suggested I watch the TdF. I told him I was a little reluctant after having watched the Olympics road races last year. Truth be told, I found it boring as hell, and much as I'm ashamed to admit this, I actually enjoyed watching it when the women had a big crash halfway through. There's hours of my life I won't get back. But.. cut a long story short, he reckoned it's worlds apart and I should watch it blah blah.. so I've set it up to record. At least if it's boring I can fast forward it, or maybe even invent my own dialogue, or both. Fast forward with improv dialogue == cheap laughs. I can already predict MaxBabe's eye-rolls will be epic, EPIC I TELL YOU!!!!