News from Doctor ‘Cross!

Sugarhouse Cyclocross Clinic

No Onsite Registration - 50 Riders Total

Location: NW Corner of Sugarhouse Park, Salt Lake City. 1400 East 2100 South. See map.

Schedule: Thursdays, beginning Sept 18, 5:30-7:30 pm, until Nov. 20 (10 weeks total). November clinics start at 4:00 pm

All-inclusive Fees for the entire 10 weeks:

• USA Cycling License Holders: $5
• Non-licensed Riders: $25

Registration online at Sportsbaseonline.com ONLY. You must register!

Goals: Learn something about cyclocross techniques; how to go over barriers, run up hills, and ride a skinny-tired bike off the pavement. Self-professed expert ‘crossers will conduct the clinics and distribute nuggets of wisdom. Cyclocross and/or Mountain Bikes are welcome.

Be cool, sell your capri pants and your fixed-gear, and go buy a ‘cross bike.

Rules: Bikes are absolutely prohibited off-pavement anytime except during the clinic! Violation will result in us losing use of the Park. This is a promise. Do not ride on the grass except for Thursdays, during the clinic.

Clinic participants are expected to police themselves and their colleagues.

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I don’t know if it’s the heat or my (lack of) fitness level, but after only 20 fairly flat miles today, I am completely shattered. At this point, I’m even too tired to get up and walk into the kitchen to try to find something to eat.

Obligatory Gardie Jackson model shot. Click the pic for larger sizes.

Why is it that the clearest shots of bike races seem to be the ass shots AFTER the riders have passed you by?

I’ve got about 300 shots to go through, but pulled a few of what I felt were the obvious best to post here. Others will hit Flickr as I sort.

T.Burke Swindlehurst (obligatory at-speed blurry photo)

T.Burke Swindlehurst (obligatory post-win snot-wipe).

Ali “is there anyone behind me?” Goulet, off the front in the 3’s. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to hold it for the last few laps.

Matt Ohran … in a road race? Masters 35+.

Or does it really seem like Wild Oats has really gone downhill since Whole Foods took over?

A lot of items I considered to be staples aren’t really being carried anymore; and the quality of much of the rest seems to have declined.

When I lived in San Francisco, going to the Whole Foods on California Street was a treat; I could spend hours in the store wandering around, smelling the cheeses, trying various samples, and with the knowledge that anything I’d buy would be top-quality … hence the reason why many of us called it “Whole Paycheck”.

When I first moved to Salt Lake City, going to Wild Oats was a similar treat … perhaps not on the same scale, but it was nice knowing that I could still get really good quality organic or all-natural food.

But over the past 6 months or so, since the sale to Whole Foods closed, and as the changeover has been ongoing, there has been a decided downturn, especially at the store in Sugarhouse.

For example … based on Fastgrrrl’s recommendation, I thought I’d give ProBars a try. The Cran-Lemon Twister and Whole Berry Blast flavors seemed like they’d be absolutely delicious, so I grabbed a couple of each the other day along with my dinner after my crazy-doctor appointment.

I guess I’m going to have to start inspecting my purchases closer before I pay for them … because in the case of both flavors, the bars’ sell-by/best-by dates were 2-2008 … yep … more than 2-months expired.

And as screwed up as my digestive tract is, I don’t take any chances with expired food, packaged or otherwise; and since I’m not the best about keeping my receipts, into the trash they go. $12.00 straight into the garbage.

This is the sort of thing I’d expect from the corner markets in San Francisco (which are really liquor stores with a few grocery items), not from a natural or gourmet foods store Wild Oats or Whole Foods.

The Wild Oats in Fort Union is in better shape, but still not what it was … it’s been awhile since I’ve gone to the downtown store, so I can’t comment on that one.

And since Trader Joe’s won’t open a store in Utah unless/until the Utah legislature changes the liquor laws to allow them to sell real beer and wine, we’re rather stuck with our limited options.

Here’s hoping that things return to normal soon, and that once the big new Whole Foods is built near Trolley Square that steps are made towards what I remember from San Francisco.

I am so flippin’ uninspired right now it’s unbelievable. I know some really incredible people (both old friends, and what I hope turns out to be new ones as well), and yet I find myself falling into old patterns, old habits, old modes of thinking.

Sitting on the couch (hmm … maybe I should have left it with Kim), watching TV, drinking soda (I’m trying to decide if I should be drinking alcohol instead).

Feh.

Cyclocross clinic tomorrow evening at Sugarhouse Park … I’ve gathered all my gear together; now let’s see if it even makes it into the Trooper tomorrow … much less being pulled back out and used.

I’m certainly not even remotely living up to the “flahute” designation …

And I won’t even go into the worst part, since I’m not really sure how to articulate that right now.