Petition for permanent cyclo-cross course in Boulder

This past Monday, Taylor and I went to a City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Board meeting, at which they were reviewing and approving their new Master Plan.

Thanks to the recent success (in terms of community support, number of racers, and event sustainability) of the USGP race at a City of Boulder park facility, and also due to the growing numbers of 'crossers heading out on the weekly training ride, the City was receptive to the proposed creation of a dedicated cyclo-cross course on City park property.

To sign the petition requesting action on this issue, click the linked title of this entry.

Besides Taylor and I, many key figures in the Boulder cycling community made appearances to speak to the Board and voice their support for not only a cyclo-cross course, but also for the inclusion of cycling programs and facilities in the Parks and Rec Master Plan.

For a famous cycling mecca like Boulder, it is a true shame that we do not yet have any dedicated cycling facilities in our city, and don't have any programs for kids or adults included in the menu of offerings through the Parks and Rec dept.

Following the lead that the City of Boulder has taken on so many other environmental and social issues, it would be cool to see us become known nationally for our support and development of cycling as a means for health and recreation and racing. Programs through the Parks and Rec department for kids and adults to learn about all aspects of cycling, and a dedicated park facility including a BMX course, short track MTB course, cyclo-cross course, and closed criterium circuit, would truly put Boulder on the map as a forward-thinking, cycling-friendly city.

-Ben

Why Roots Matter More

Good article by Kim Severson in yesterday's NY Times, focusing on the important role of small businesses oriented around the increasing demand for local, organic, and sustainable food sources.

Click the blog title for link to the article.

Ben

Epiphany

I hate my major.

When all this growing up stuff is, said and done, and I am to beat up and broken to race my bike, I want to grow organic kiwi.

Growing kiwi is the life for me.

At least it would be warm. Unlike this Colorado winter riding.

stetty's stance

A'ight. It's been a while. but now I got a few moments to imprint my thoughts on a page for the world to hear. Hope it sounds ok...
I've been busy with school and bikin' and life in general.
School is almost out for the fall break and I will have no time to rest. I fly friday night out to portland for the USGP's, then straight up to Beaver Creek for 3 days with the family and then I'll fly out to Boston Thanksgiving morning to see some friends who moved away. I worked the system real good and got a free flight for 1st class that costs the same miles as if I were in economy, so I'll travel in style! These are all good things to be busy with though, so I'm not complaining.
I've started training again and I'm not digging the cold. I was sick all through the Boulder races and miserable but now I'm done choking on my bodily fluids and can ride. I'm pulling two-a-days with a major weightlifting program this winter(all legs though). Cyclists typically walk around with their arms in a sling during the winter to take advantage of glorious atrophy, and go up hills faster, but I'm even doing an arm exercise or two(all the juiced up bodybuilders at school laugh because I can barely hold a bike high enough to put it on the car-let alone lift weights).
For my projects with the team I am going to do a middle school visit with Tejay about cycling as an alternate mode of transportation, I am also working with RamWheels here ate CSU. RamWheels is basically a rent-a-bike for free program where students can check out a bike for a few days to get to class if they don't have their own. We currently own 12 Bright yellow cruisers and all need maintenance.
So that's what sup in my life. Over an out.

More Bear

This just in from Durango: now I don't have to wonder what Mapel is doing right now. He was just taking photos at the USCF Durango Cross Championships - thanks Frank!, he sent me over a whole Zip folder of the Bear's suffer face.

The Bear was going for it!

Beanpole and The Bear

Now that it has snowed again in CO, let's remember those warm 'cross days...here's some Beth Seliga specials (3CatsPhoto) from the Xilinx Cup last weekend.

Here we've got Brady "Beanpole" Kappius cresting a bridge, and Troy "Bear" Wells giving us his classic suffer-face.

What are you - "38 pounds of oil, 7 pounds of gas, and 7 pounds of minerals, as well as 123 pounds of sterilized water"

Confirming the fact that I am a true geek, I have found a new, very interesting chemical process. Thermal Depolymerization Process. TDP for short. What does it do? First gather as much carbon based waste as you can find (almost everything is carbon based, but you couldn't put nuclear waste in there for example). Put it into the TDP machine. Heat the waste up super hot and compress the heck out of it. Out comes water, oil, gas and carbon solids. If you were to put a 175 lb human in it, out would come 38 pounds of oil, 7 pounds of gas, and 7 pounds of minerals, as well as 123 pounds of sterilized water. As you can imagine, this has some very interesting prospects in the renewable energy department. Almost everything you throw in the trash undergo the process. The technology is still working out the kinks, but it is still very cool to think about.

Here are some Discover.com articles regarding it.

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Brady