Doldrums

This time of year is usually a little depressing for me, with the exception of Superbowl Sunday. Unlike Jeffro, I'm done skinny skiing for the year, and there's been just enough thaw to lure me out on the winter bike, but the temps are too cold for really inspired riding.

Unless you're with Big Bell, when every ride is an epic ride. Last Saturday, after way too many hours on the spin bike staring at the TV, Bell and I did the Tour de Stearns County, or as I call it, Big Jim's Climbfest: 4 hours at 20 degrees, with periodic warm-ups to climb the 4 hills worthy of the name in an otherwise flat county. We went up the Alp from the east (opposite direction from the Gluek RR course) as fast as I've ever done it, and it was all I could do to stay on Big Jim's wheel. Later that day Big Jim's text message said: "Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww." That's not exactly how I felt, which was more like: "Bleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." Like the Family Guy when he feeds everyone Syrup of Ipecac.

Superbowl Sunday (after church and before the kickoff), Big Jim and I were joined by Matt and Lanny who had the cockamamie idea that it would be fun to ride our MTBs on snowmobile trails for 4 hours. Funny thing is, it WAS fun. A lot of fun. I broke in my Giant Anthem Advanced by crashing hard on an icy downhill and then sliding out when Big Jim went down in front of me on an off-camber right turn. The Anthem has nary a scratch, but I can't say the same for the rider (although they're just flesh wounds). My bike handling skills just went up a notch. By Chequamegon, I'll either have awsome talents or multiple fractures. Right now, it's a toss-up. Let's see now, when did I have fun?

From now on, I've decided to skip the Vikings and watch the Giants. Especially when they play the Patriots. Both games (week 17, won by New England, and Superbowl 42, won by Strahan, Tuck, and Umenyiora) were the best games I watched all year, and maybe in the last 5 years. If the Vikings front office had any chutzpah at all, they would fire Childress and his whole staff, and hire either Tom Coghlin or Bill Belichick. Both of these coaches would find the gold in the Vikings' dross. Anyway, I'm still feeling the love.

BTW, I was the 1972 Miami Dolphins' biggest fan at age 11. There's never been a team like that one, and the 2007 New England Posers proved it. The Giants found the chink during the week 17 game (which NY won except for a really bad call in the final 5 minutes), and they stuck the sword in it last Sunday. I've always been a Manning fan (even old Archie, the NFL's top sacking dummy for years in the 70s), and with little brother Eli coming of age in the last 2 minutes of this Superbowl, the die is cast: Eli and Peyton are going to have to meet in a future Superbowl.

This one was the triumph of Goofy over Prince Charming, and you couldn't find a more deserving or grateful guy than Eli ("Boo him") Manning. He wasn't really the MVP (the pass rushers were), but nobody will forget his Houdini completion to David ("Who?") Tyree, who looked like he was trying to attach the ball to his helmet. The NYG fans may have to find another poor sucker to take out their New Yorker frustrations on now. Probably Lawrence Tynes the rookie kicker who boffed a couple in the near disaster at Lambeau.

OK, football is officially over (the Pro Bowl ranks lower than the Blue-Grey Bowl in my list of TV shows never to watch). That's why I'm in the doldrums right now. It's supposed to snow on and off all week. Can't wait to take my MTB back on the snowmobile trails this weekend.

Guess I'm not the only one who's a little bored: Chia Chi hasn't updated in 2 months, despite living in China; Doug-o is either sitting around in chairs or working on them; Ian is posting about the Vuelta (September is a long way off, dude); Jeffro is groovin' on all his power numbers; Kyia is just plain sick (not a value judgment, girl, just the facts); Mean Dawg is dreaming of summer glory and a certain brunette; Linda and Daniel--well, OK, they're in NYC to run up the Empire State Building stairs for fun, but at least they claim they're not bored (good job getting 16th and 9th!); and Dan-o is obsessing about a Blue House.

DOC'S ADVICE: the cure for seasonal affective disorder is 2 wheelin' it on SMB trails or Min. Maintenance Roads. Watch that black ice, it's waiting to crack your clavicle!