Ahh, Heel Clearance! Thank You Surly.

Mmm. I almost feel guilty grocery shopping with so much luxurious heel clearance. The Nice Rack is truly a nice rack. I keep thinking I'm gonna hit, but it just doesn't happen. I gave my Blackburn EX-1 to Glen. I do believe I heard my handlebars smile.

New Look For The NHL

Looks like part of the marketing of the New NHL is to shove a more streamlined futuristic look to the uniform. Of course we're told it will improve performance. Blah, Blah, Blah...The new authentics are $425.

Q: Is every team getting new sweaters next year no matter what? Are they all going to be new designs, or are they just going to be made of the new material and new fit? What about third jerseys? I know the Stars are now officially done with the old third jersey, so how long do they have to wait until they can make another one?

James

HEIKA: The NHL is currently planning to use a new sweater style for all teams next year. It will be lighter, tighter-fitting and have some sort of elastic in the underarm areas.

Because of the material, horizontal striping is not easy with these new sweaters (it will have to be sewn on, and that will compromise the stretchability of the sweater). However, the Red Wings and other traditional teams can make their sweater all one color, and they will be allowed to adjust the sweaters to make them look as traditional as possible.

Anyway, the Stars' "star logo" sweater will not work under the new format, and they will probably have new sweaters that are close to their practice ones, with white swooshes under the arms. I believe they are taking the majority of the green out and going back to black and white with green as a trim color. They might bring the green back for the "third jersey," but that probably won't be out until 2008-09 or even 2009-10

-The Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika

Not to big of a deal, but I like to bitch about the "improving" of an already perfect sport. I hate the Bullhead 3rd sweater anyway, and I've never been a big fan of the "Star" sweater, although have both the home and away version and wear it proudly.
I always liked the inaugural and North Star sweaters.

Epogen and The Amgen Tour of California

How it works:

EPOGEN® is a recombinant protein that works in a similar way as the body’s natural erythropoietin — a glycoprotein produced by the kidneys that circulates through the bloodstream to bone marrow, where it stimulates red blood cell production. Red blood cells perform the essential function of transporting oxygen throughout the body. When the kidneys fail, production of erythropoietin decreases and the production of red blood cells is hindered, usually resulting in anemia.
EPOGEN® is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Advertising:

Advertising clients are predominantly, but not exclusively, for-profit corporations seeking to increase demand for their products or services.

Safe Bicycle Passing Bill SB248

Summary
Requires a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and requires a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Background
An average of 50 cyclists a year are killed on Texas roads, about 20 of whom are hit from behind by vehicles traveling the same direction./2/

A motorist who hits a cyclist from behind often avoids liabilty by claiming “the bicyclist swerved into me." As cyclists are unlikely to swerve more than three feet, this bill helps establish liability for cyclists hit by drivers from behind./1/

Political Context
Similar language failed the senate by 4 votes in the 2005 legislative session. Sen. Staples headed the opposition./3/ This bill will be heard in Transportation & Homeland Security Wednesday, Feb 14th, 2007.

BRENT LILES R.I.P. (1963-2007)

By Associated Press | January 25, 2007

PLACENTIA, Calif. -- Brent Liles, a former bassist for the 1980s punk rock group Social Distortion, was struck and killed by a truck while riding a bicycle, authorities said yesterday. He was 43.

Mr. Liles was hit on Jan. 18. No immediate charges were brought against the driver.

Mr. Liles, who was from Fullerton, joined Social Distortion in 1981 and played bass on the band's "Mommy's Little Monster" recording two years later.

Fed up with turmoil inside the group, he and drummer Derek O'Brien quit the band during a New Year's Eve performance in 1983.

Mr. Liles went on to play with other punk groups, such as Agent Orange.

Lepper Voyager

Mitch let me have his old Lepper saddle. Word on the internet is that the rails break at the spreader.

The concern- as I have read it- was that the rails did not "flair" out at the back of the saddle, so
the rear stretcher frame extends well beyond the rails, allowing the rider's weight to have quite a
bit of leverage on the welds as it rocks back and forth under pedaling.

Looks cool. I'm gonna see how goes for me.

Turco Pulled Again!

Marty is choking early in the year this time. Hopefully he get's it out of his system before playoffs. Fortunately, Mike Smith has been a strong backup. We're still getting points in the win column in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
Three straight wins against Minnesota, Anaheim, and Colorado.

Nirvana?

When I was driving once I saw this painted on a bridge:
"I don't want the world, I just want your half"
-They Might Be Giants, Ana Ng

New Paul Levers

This will look nice on my Pista. Sold individually! Someone's getting smart.