Reviews

Your Blog Won’t Make A Year

Published on September 30, 2010 in 5 rules, Created, Observations, Reviews, Stories and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Get excited! Powerogre.com is now a year old, a year wiser, and statistically past the blog failure zone (most blogs die after 6 months, I have no source, go Google it). There have been some ups and some downs (literally, powerogre.com was 404 over a week in September 2010). Through it all, the article’s kept coming and so did the readers (all 15 of you).

It’s really not easy to blog consistently. To write even a short article usually takes an hour, and a longer article takes…longer. Writing is important to me however, if it weren’t, I wouldn’t spend my precious time doing it. The best way for me to understand/comprehend something is to write it in my own words. This is not to say that when I write about something here on Powerogre.com, I don’t understand it until I write it (If this were the case, it would be a particularly embarrassing revelation considering some of the stuff I have written about in the past), rather I mean that writing is a way for me to organize my thoughts, to see things in a different light, to express what is difficult to express except through written words.

So what does the future of Powerogre.com hold? It will make me rich beyond my wildest dreams (or poorer), it will solve the global climate change conundrum (or contribute to it), it might make you smarter (but certainly not stupider), and it will entertain you at the most opportune moments (or at least provide you with toilet paper if you are so inclined to print it out for bathroom reading material).

Thanks for reading,

Josh

Soaring Eagle – A Little Mud, Lots Of Speed

Published on March 22, 2010 in Reviews. 8 Comments

Sunday found me once again racing the Singletrack Cycles West Side Mountain Bike series presented by BUDU racing. This time, the race took place at Soaring Eagle Park in Lake Sammamish, Washington. Driving to the race, I could see dark clouds hanging in the sky and traces of rain began falling on my windshield. I mentally began to prepare for a mud bath. Arriving early, I parked on a residential street with scores of other racers and waited for noon, the designated start time. There seemed to be a few more people in attendance than at the last two events. As the race director attempted to go over pre-race instructions, the crowd at the starting area drowned out his words. Even though he was using a megaphone, it seemed people started talking louder to be heard, meaning the rest of us heard nothing. Needless to say, it was impossible to understand his instructions. The first group prepared to start, and I waited my turn. After the 30 – 39 age group and the Singlespeed group had started, it was my groups turn (20-29). I had barely moved into starting position when the race director shouted “go”, and immediately I was 5 back of the lead going up a very muddy gravel road.

After the 150 yard sprint up the mud slip and slide, the race dived into twisting single track and I found myself tailgating other riders and jockeying for position. Very quickly we caught the stragglers of the other groups, and a log jam developed. Unlike previous races, everyone seemed a little more irritable and impatient. Those of us trying to go fast were being hampered by those wanting to go slow. I jumped out of the saddle and used my favorite maneuver of passing the group on foot. Better to run past the slow riders than wait for my turn to pass them. Time is precious in a race. I quickly moved into 2nd place, and could see the first place rider about 10 yards ahead. As I rolled over a massive root, my wheel dropped into an unseen divot and I found myself flat on my face with my bike on top of me. Quickly jumping to my feet, I attempted to get back on my bike, only to realize that my handlebars were twisted around, and my chain had fallen off. As I fixed these problems, a long string of racers filed past, each one of them becoming an obstacle I would have to pass in order to get back to my former position. Rolling once again, I picked off riders every couple minutes, waiting for a corner or wide section to pass. I witnessed several racers elbowing each other, and fighting for position. Eventually in a botched passing attempt, one of the riders crashed into the dirt, shouting at the other racer as he did so. I moved through this unpleasant group, and by the end of the first lap I regained some ground. I lost my water bottle on the second lap, but after a few minutes I was able to get a new one from my wife who was waiting at trail side (Thanks Ellen).

Lap after lap, I kept the peddles spinning, uphill and down. The course was well made, smooth and fairly root and rock free. Surprisingly, even with the foreboding clouds, the rain did not fall, and the mud was actually only a problem on the long straightaway at the starting area. Coming around on my third lap, I crashed in exactly the same spot as the first lap. This time there was no one around, and I quickly recovered and was back on my way. I passed the leader, and found myself in first place with one lap to go. Keeping my intensity and concentration up through the last lap, I managed to avoid crashing a third time. I sprinted up the long muddy straightaway and crossed the finish line, race number 3 in the books. My brother grabbed third place, and we headed straight to Krispy Kreme and got some donuts. Nothing like high fructose corn syrup and starch to top off a day of mud and sweat. Thanks to the race organizers and my fellow racers for another great day.

Black Diamond Boulder Field

Published on March 8, 2010 in Reviews. 7 Comments

It was about time, time for another mountain bike race, time for some more mud, and time for Gatorade and Gu. This week’s episode took place in Black Diamond, Washington, a town I had never heard of, even after living in the Pacific Northwest for 26 years. It was the second race of Singletrack Cycles West Side Mountain Bike series presented by BUDU racing and once again the weather had mercy and gave us a mixture of sunshine and high overcast.

All the usual suspects were in attendance, clad in a myriad of brightly colored, flesh clinging, racing attire. The smell of rotting synthetic fabrics hung thick in the air. The starting line was located down a long straightaway of moss covered asphalt, a perfect recipe for slipping and sliding. The start was split into age categories, 40+, 30-39, 19-29, U-18, and Singlespeed. My brother and I were so fortunate as to compete in the 19-29 group.

Having walked a section of the course prior to the race, I knew that there would be limited opportunities for passing and prepared myself for trying to be as close to the front of the pack as possible off the start. On “Go” I sprinted down the straightaway, around a sharp corner, and onto the course for a total of 4 laps on a 2.5 mile course. Immediately I was in the thick of a rocky, twisting trail. I quickly overtook stragglers from the earlier starting groups and patiently waited for the perfect time to pass. It quickly came on a short but steep uphill. Rather than wait my turn to attempt the hill, I jumped off my bike and charged up the hill around the racers struggling with the muddy rocks. I repeated this technique several times in the first few minutes of the race, passing as many people as I could while everyone was still bunched up from the start. Nearing the half way point of the lap, the trail became nothing but a boulder field. Rocks everywhere. As I jarringly bounced over the rocks, I tried to keep up as quick a pace as possible, I knew it would be slow going for most people in this section, and it was a perfect place to make up ground.

The trail wound around, and eventually came to another short and steep uphill through rocks, mud, and roots. Once again a cluster of riders stacked up on this stretch, and we all ended up off our bikes and scrambling to the top. I tried to run around some riders at this point, but there just wasn’t enough room to get by, and I ended up jumping back on the saddle.  Towards the end of the first lap were several staightaways which I made use of by cranking away in the big chain ring. The course wound past a small pondish/lake body of water and I imagined taking a corner with too much speed and pitching into the water. As luck would have it, this never happened. Before I knew it, I was into my second lap, and sucking down a meal of Gatorade and Gu. The field had spread out by this point and I was able to keep up a decent pace. I settled into a rhythm and rattled over rocks and around turns. On every lap, the steep hill in the back section of the course gave me fits. There seemed to be a cluster of people continually trying to scale its lofty peak, and I had to get off my bike and hike it every single time.

Miraculously I had no mechanical issues or flat tires during the race. On several occasions I thought for sure I had bent a rim, punctured a tire, or ruptured my spleen, but I managed to escape Black Diamond with no damage to my bike, and only a large bruise on my shoulder when I ran into a tree. I crossed the finish line to scattered applause; I was glad the race was over; the last thing I wanted was another lap through the rock field. My brother also finished his first race of the 2010 season, and managed to avoid a record breaking 3rd DNF in less than a year. Good job Ben.

3 Reasons You Need A Gravatar

Published on March 2, 2010 in Observations and Reviews. 2 Comments

First things first, what the heck is a Gravatar? According to the Gravatar website, a Gravatar is: “A Globally Recognized Avatar“. Once you register credentials with Gravatar, a picture which you select will be displayed adjacent to anything you post on the web if that particular site runs the Gravatar code. The number of sites which do so is large and growing. So why sign up for a Gravatar?

Reason #1: Signing up for a Gravatar means that the image you upload will follow you anywhere you post on the web. It adds instant visual recognition to your posts, and eliminates the possibility of people posting with your name in an attempt to discredit you. This lends consistency and credibility to your name and everything you say on the web.

My Gravatar in action

Reason #2: A Gravatar image can be anything you want. I recommend a picture of your face, but many people choose other types of images. Having a visual to go along with a name adds character and personality to your posts. People identify with a picture more than words on a screen. Look at the comments on a typical blog. Your eye is drawn to those posts with an attached image. A Gravatar brings you to life.

Some other dudes Gravatar

Reason #3: A Gravatar removes some of the veils of anonymity from the Internet. While I believe in personal privacy and everything that goes along with it, I don’t believe having a picture next to an opinion or thought you posted on the web is a large invasion of privacy. It adds a bit of humanity to the Internet which sometimes seems all but devoid of such. Think of it this way; you would not go into a public area and enter into a discussion with people while wearing a mask, why should the Internet be any different. The tendency of some people to be rude and without human decency when hiding behind the cowardly veil of internet anonymity is well documented. Show your face and stand behind what you have to say.

It’s really quite simple to register for a Gravatar. Go to the website here, and click on “sign up” at the top. Be sure to have a picture ready for uploading. For anyone who frequently comments on blogs, a Gravatar is a necessity.

Get Yourself A Road ID

Published on February 26, 2010 in Reviews. 7 Comments

I recently made the brilliant decision to purchase one of the most valuable, and least expensive items I own; a Road ID. My love of exercise leads me into many situations where carrying ID is a necessity. What kind of situations are these you might ask? Each time I step out my door to go for a run or a bike ride, I am putting myself onto the streets, and at the mercy of drivers around me. If you think I am exaggerating, think again. Never ever trust that the driver of a car sees you running or riding, in fact, assume that they don’t. More times than I can count, motorists have pulled out in front of me, almost veered into me, or been completely unaware of my close proximity, and only due to my vigilance was I able to avoid becoming severely maimed.

I crudely photoshopped my name on this photo. My real Road ID looks better and has more info.

Now that I have explained why being out and about is dangerous, the need to carry a form of ID while exercising is apparent. If I am hit by a car, I want people to know who I am. I refuse to be known as John Doe if lying unconscious in the hospital. However, carrying ID on your person while exercising is not that easy. I used to run with my driver’s license in a pouch around my neck, and then later, around my waist. Neither system worked well. Also, a driver’s license leaves something to be desired as a form of ID in that it does not contain emergency contact information. This is where Road ID comes in. Road ID is a metal plate with all the pertinent ID and emergency contact information inscribed upon it, and worn around the wrist. It is easy to take on and off, and can be washed in between drenchings of sweat. For all you runners, walkers, riders, hikers, skiers, boarders, and other such folk; get a Road ID.

I was not paid for this endorsement, it comes from the heart.