DREAMING OR WISHFUL THINKING

Have you ever watched those videos of New york City bicycle messengers? I dont mean the hipster kids that ride fixed gear bikes with skin tight jeans and "messenger" bags around town, I'm talking about the real 365 days a year nor rain nor sleet nor snow dodging traffic, pedestrians, and potholes so their customers can get packages in record time. All to earn 20K year if their lucky. These guy's/gal's are the true lovers of the bicycle. I have to admit I'm a bit envious of the freedom they have, the excitement of the ride, the bike handling skills. The dedication to the bike that messengers have is a pure and beautiful thing. Every bicycle needs someone who loves them like this. Yes I believe that bicycles have feelings, dont believe me? ignore your bike for a few months then jump on and try to ride 20+ miles....your bike will punish you. Let the routine maintenance go to the back burner......your bike will throw a cable in protest when your 10 miles from civilization. A bike demands attention like a corporate trophy wife, and a bike can be just a sexy. Dont believe me look at the seductive lines on a Pinnarello Prince with a full Campagnolo Record gruppo. So I may not have a job that pays me to ride a bike all day, instead I have a job that allows me to ride a bike on my off time with co workers that are cyclists, and since it's not a job I will hopefully never fall out of love with the bicycle.

Christmas?

Well here we are a few days from Christmas. A holiday that celebrates the most important event for all human kind....... even the unkind. We ( people ) used to have to "jump through hoops" and follow lists of laws to become right with God. We people are so stubborn and selfish this was an ongoing cycle and thousands of blood sacrifices were made to make up for our sinful nature. This was going nowhere and to show his true unconditional love God became man as Jesus of Nazareth. Yes the awesome all loving powerful God that created our galaxy and beyond knew that we could not do it by ourselves. So Jesus became the final blood sacrifice, the perfect lamb. Except this time it was for EVERYONE! Not just those who were present. This unfathomable love that will guarantee all who accept him a spot in Heaven is what Christmas is about. So have fun doing your shopping, rushing, and partying. When you feel stressed out this "holowday" season and find yourselves arguing over parking spots and maxing  out credit cards take a step back and remember we are celebrating our savior.

New Bicycle

Ok just so you know I have a real actual addiction to bicycling. Over the last 6 years I have owned 9 bicycles and no I do not still own them all. It's pretty stupid from a financial point because I'll buy a bike ( I'm not talking about a $100 - $200 department store bike ) ride it for awhile - sometimes as little as a couple of months - then sell it just to buy a new one. I have a real problem with this. Well I'm done with this vicious cycle and am finally able to be happy with what I have. About 4 years ago I was totally into bicycle racing and wanted nothing more than just ride FAST every waking moment. Then I personally  saw just how corrupt this sport is, even at my low entry CAT 5 level. I was so fed up that I totally withdrew from the sport completely forgetting just how much I love to simply ride. I sold my $2500 race bike and seriously downgraded to try and get as far away as i could from the whole scene. I spent the next few years going through numerous bikes still not finding that love of cycling that I once had. ( but during this time I did have one awesome bike.. Specialized Tricross ) Just recently I've met some people who still ride for the pure pleasure of it,  Not to punish those riding with them or to put on a euro fashion show. Somehow I found it again, that love, the feeling of riding the most eco friendly mechanically efficiant machine ever created by man- the bicycle. About this same time my old neighborhood bike store announced it is moving to my new city of residence. ( in my mind this is happening just for me ) So I have decided to jump back into the sport of cycling- NOT racing - just the pure beautiful sport of cycling. I have bought a bike that I'm sure will be around with me for awhile. Specialized Allez , this is an awesome lightweight road bike, flat black, fast, agile, sexy.... yes a bike can be sexy. I plan on spending a lot of time in the saddle this coming year. but for now I'll settle for the indoor trainer.

NOT FAT ENOUGH?

So every year my company does a weight loss challenge. You get into teams of 4 to 8 people and the the team who losses the most ( percentage ) wins, bragging rights, gift cards, sexiness, etc. well although I'm not obese I'm not anywhere near as healthy as I was . When I started with my company 3 years ago I weighed 130lbs, 8% body fat and had a 30" waist. NOW I'm at 157lbs, 18% body fat and a 33" waist. Amazing what can happen if you stop exercising and eat more than you have before:) Well I'm saying ENOUGH! It's time to get back on the bike ( brand new bike more detail in later blog entry ) and eat "sensibly".  I signed up for my departments team and was ridiculed  for not being fat enough.. really come on, I may not be a candidate for  gastric bypass but I can stand to loose 15lbs or so. I know that it's possible, I was 170lbs before I started cycling. I know 170lbs may not sound like much for an American male but on my frame it was pretty flabby -my dad is 55 years old and weighs 140lbs-. So with or without my teams acceptance I'm loosing a minumum of 15lbs after the new year. This is not a "new years resolution" this is a fact, promise, necessity.

stay tuned

BS Session

welcome to my blog *poketaffi*, what is poketaffi well sit back, relax, and clear your mind. If you are pregnant, obese, have a heart condition, or think lowrider mini trucks are still cool please leave now.

Poketaffi was my code name when I was a spy for the CIA........ no wait, When I earned a living racing bicycles in Europe I was on a team from Kazakhstan. No one else on the team spoke English including the director. The only word I learned was poketaffi a Russian term for butt sweat....... or maybe it was a term for the way sunshine flows through tree tops on an Autumn day, either way it was the only "Kazak" word I picked up. During my 3 years of elite level world champion cycling I learned a lot about life, myself, and how lucky Americans are to have anywhere from 1 to 5 Walmarts in every city - seriously anytime night or day anything you need from firearms to fertilizer. One thing I found out is we are always changing, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I myself went from an agnostic overweight smoker to a world class athlete praising GOD overnight. How did this happen? Well it took 4 years for this overnight transition to occur.