Potpourri Friday: Updates, Observations, and Candy Corn.

Just like a Halloween candy bowl, this edition of RWTD is wonderful mix of sugar coated goodness. So lets dig in quickly before the neighborhood kids show up and trick or treat all the tasty tidbits away.

Personal Update
Since my back wasn't healing as quickly as it should have been, my physical therapist referred me to a Doctor of Orthopedics for further evaluation. From my perspective I could not have been referred to a better D.O. in Northeast Ohio. Not only was he a former team doctor for the Cleveland Indians, he is also an active cyclist that competes in duathlons and (as a plus) totally understands the discipline of cyclocross. So after being pricked, poked and prodded (lines stolen from UNBEATABLE - A Bold New Musical) the doctor said I either had a herniated disk or sciatic nerve damage. Herniated disks and sciatic nerve damage are very slow to heal so basically there's not much you can do for either situation other than taking a regimen of Prednisone and a wait and see approach. The Prednisone did its job but it came with a host of side affects like:


• Bloating/weight gain – There are times when I look like I'm 2-3 months pregnant. And thanks again Dan for noticing this week that I'm starting to get a double chin. I guess that’s what teammates are for, huh.

• Migraine headaches.

• Lack of focus.

• Nightmares – One nightmare was so overpowering that I almost leapt out of bed to tackled Laurie as she was getting ready for bed. In the nightmare I thought she was a burglar coming to do harm to us. Yeah... I guess subconsciously I'm still dealing with the hotel break in that happened this summer in Phoenix.

• Inability to sleep.

• Uneasiness/anxiety.


• Quick to anger – As an example I'm flipping off 80% more hypermilers than usual on the commute into work.

• And as a whole I just don't feel like my normal self.

Still it’s been worth it all because this Wednesday the doctor says I'm healed enough to get back in saddle. Just riding close to home or on the trainer is what's prescribed, but no racing. And for the record John, he was very clear on the NO racing. If things continue as they should the doctor believes that I'll be able to participate in the last one or two cross races of the season. So much for best-laid plans of a full season of cyclocross racing.


Economic Stimulus
To help kill the psychological pain of missing cyclocross racing, I started down the path of pippin' out the Zanconato. Now in reality the bike didn't need one thing. You'll have to trust me on this since most of you haven't seen the bike. But as built the Zanconato was put together with some of the finest cross-parts on the market. Other than killing psychological pain I also felt it was my patriotic duty to help drive our country out of the economic recession by spending some money. Though this could be viewed as being self-serving. It's true that it’s in my best interest to spend the money that I’ve earned now before socialism (and don't be fooled... Obama and McCain are both socialists) is voted into the White House and the redistribution of wealth is enacted. So with the help of Zank putting me in contact with Molly Cameron I was able to score some sweet, hand-made, French tubular tires.


These FMB Sprints will set the bike up for dry, fast course conditions and the FBM SSC wheel set will be used for muddy, nasty courses. The Sprint wheel set hasn't been built yet but it will be very similar to the SSC's set up. Working with Molly was a pleasure too. He was very helpful and friendly. Plus he included a signed postcard with the tires! That for me was icing on the cake.



Political Observation

Speaking earlier of politics, it seems that every Presidential election there tends to be one candidate that gets vilified as the Anti-Christ. And this time around it appears that it’s Barack Obama's turn to hold the pitchfork. All joking aside I really hope that he is the biblical Anti-Christ that's been described in Revelations. It just means that Christ is all that much closer to coming back to earth and I'm one more step closer to going to heaven with Him in the rapture.




Have a happy and safe Halloween everybody!

Yehuda Moon: Confirmation through humor.

For the longest time I've felt that the worst drivers are those that get behind the wheel of any white cargo van. Whether it was a conscious or artist choice to make the van white, it still feels like validation to what I've been saying for years

Where's Waldo?

And can you find the cyclocross in this photo?

I'm going to show you a picture, and you tell me what that person might say.

Today I came across the above picture while doing research for a potential blog. As it did mine, I hope the photo brightens your day like Ludwig Van Beethoven's dreaded Ninth Symphony.

Forgive me Devil for I have sinned.

It’s been 93 days since my last blog. Life has finally slowed down long enough to brush the cobwebs off this confessional. And that’s no bullsh*t (CLINK, a quarter falls into the Holy swear jar located in a dusty back corner of the confessional near a pile of empty Budweiser bottles). Truly life at times have been more than I’ve cared to handle.

Now I’m not saying that my life sucks because it’s just the opposite. Just so we’re clear, the life of Donny Frey rocks harder than the 1988 Monsters of Rock Tour. It’s just there have been some potholes along the way that went beyond running out of backstage passes for groupies and Jagermeister. Rather than getting into the nitty-gritty details, like snorting ants with Ozzy Osbourne and Tom Boonen, I’ll just cover a few of the highs (pun intended) and lows.



• Some of you are probably wondering, “Don… Are you even riding your bike?” The answer is yes. Basically I wake up at 5:45 AM and ride indoors on the trainer or rollers until 7:00 AM. If I’m lucky I’ll get in another one hour, indoor ride in the evening after Andrew is in bed. In jest I’ve told Laurie that the most expensive stationary bikes in Northeast Ohio are at our house.

• Life without Dylan (Old Smeller) is not as sweet. To this day we still miss him. He wasn’t ever a dog to us but a member of the family. Even that last statement trivializes the relationship we had. In realty words can’t describe what he meant and the loss I still feel. Maybe this short Dylan story can give some insight to the loss. One of his favorite places to hang out was under my legs when my feet were on the coffee table. And though he passed away in January, to this day I’m still catching myself to make sure I don’t step on him when getting of the couch.

• After 39 years of being on this big blue marble called Earth I’d come to the conclusion that there was nothing new to learn from my father. I was wrong.

• Growing a full beard is liberating. Shaving it down into the classic Zorro porn mustache… Zabriskie-rific!



• There’s nothing better than putting 28’s on the Colnago and riding the dirt roads back home in Pennsylvania. Don’t believe me? Then let’s go on a road trip and I’ll show you a good time in PA. Dear God… What I’m I saying? Oh no! The Zorro porn mustache has taken over my brain!!

• Andrew’s observation of The Smiths while on trip to Toy’s ‘R Us: “Dad, the singer sounds like Barney. You know… the guy that’s on The Simpsons.”



• Some of you are probably wondering, “Don… Are you ever going to race this year?” The answer is yes. If (and the key word here is if) everything falls into place I’ll be racing plenty of cyclocross. The goal this year was to do some local time trials events, race the Westlake crits at least once a month, and of course race cross. As stated earlier those goals had to be adjusted around the real world and now I’m just racing against myself on the trainer.

• Being awaken before the pre-dawn trainer ritual by Andrew to the tune of “DAD! WAKE UP!! GRANDMA NEEDS HELP!!!” is not the best way to start off your day. Going upstairs to find a two-pint trail of blood from the guest bedroom to the bathroom definitely is not the best way to start off the day.

• Let’s be honest. Riding and racing are a lot like the lyrics to the song by Judas Priest, Pain and Pleasure… You give me pain, but you bring me pleasure. So when Campagnolo teamed up with Trojan Brand Condoms to redesign the rubber hoods for the 2009 shift levers I got… well, how would you say… a little aroused.



• Start saving your pennies everyone. Laurie’s book, UNBEATABLE - The Whole Story, will be published at the end of the month and will be available through all major bookstores and Amazon. If asked nicely there’s a good chance she’ll be able to arrange a signed copy of the book for you. But only for a price so start saving your pennies. :-) When more details are available I’ll post an update.

• This is classified information for Dave only. If your name isn’t Dave or your initials are not DS then the information below is not for you. I repeat…STOP READING THIS TOP SECRET, CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IF YOUR NAME IS NOT DAVE!

Hey Dave, you can get the (un)official Riding With the Devil t-shirt at velogear.com.

• Some of you are probably wondering, “Don… Is the Zanconato cyclocross bike one sweet pimped out ride?” The answer is… HELL YEAH!!!


Well this is the abridged version of the past 93 days of living the rock star lifestyle with Donny Frey. The audience is calling for the band to get on stage for an encore so I’m going jump back into the limelight. The show must go on.

Stop me if you think that you've heard this one before.

The Smiths are the pioneers of the bike messenger/fixed gear fashion genre. Seriously … the only thing separating this video from todays Portland bike culture is the lack of oversized, $600 messenger bags and custom-made cotton cycling caps.

All my heros are weirdos.

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention.

I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen. Winter storm warning!

With the winter Apocalypse upon us there's no better time to enjoy the high life.

Now that's just super.

These are the three best ads from Super Bowl XLII. How do I know that they're the best? After 19 years in the advertising/design industry I know what makes an ad worth merit... Plus I'm never wrong. Enjoy.

3. Timberlake's performance in this commercial is 'N Sync.

2. A magical blend of beer, basketball, and Will Farrell.


1. Audi makes an offer I couldn't refuse. Plus spending $5.4 million for a 1-minute "borrowed interest" spot has got to get you something.

Hurry kids! Gather around the TV!! It’s time for our favorite show!!!

Nothing warms a house better than Uncle Jesse jamming out some metalcore while teaching the younglings to be little tramps. :-)

John (EPO) Ehrlinger

Cartoon courtesy of In the Bleachers by Steve Moore.

Idgit's for Iowa.

Like sands through the hourglass these are the days of our lives.

It’s good to see that Northeast Ohio isn’t the only area dealing with the dreaded cyclocross sandbagger. On Road Bike Review there’s a clever idea on how a New England cross racer is using eBay (the link to the actual auction) to expose these dregs of the cycling community.

There’s got to be a creative solution for the Cleveland race series but my energies are best spent trying to eliminate the sandbags from around my waistline. Liposuction or gastric bypass surgery are two viable options. Then I could play hours upon hours of Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band during the recovery process. Yet surgical procedures are the ways of the sandbagger. I need to man up, be a true Belgian and get my a$$ *CLINK… A quarter falls into the swear jar* on a saddle.

On a serious note, a cyclocross Medal of Honor is to be awarded to Ray (Death Ray) Huang for laying down his opportunities for glory in the B’s and raced against the hard men of cross. With two races remaining in the “Respect my authori-tie” series Ray has shown in his first year of cross that he has what it takes to tame the feared Hydra of cyclocross.

And huge props to Tony Marut for becoming the Junior Men’s 16-18, 2007 Ohio State Cyclocross Champion!!! Tony is a great, solid kid. It couldn’t have gone better guy.

Lanternes naturelles.

This is the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Thanks for the link Brother EPO.

L I V E W R O N G

The Landis-, Vinokourov-, Moreni-, and Rasmussen-inspired Cheat-To-Win lifestyle bracelet from The Onion sports desk is perfect for your deceitful lifestyle.

Get yours now at the Onion Store.

Busted at the Giro.

A funny story from cyclingnews.com.

Giro TV coverage catches affair in action

According to Reuters, a man visiting the beach with his mistress made a mistake in attracting the attention of a helicopter TV crew covering the Giro d'Italia. Making an unanticipated appearance on national TV, he was inadvertently discovered by his wife.

The man waved at the passing camera crew, which zoomed in. The man's brother-in-law saw the coverage and called his sister, the man's wife, who he thought he saw with the man on the beach. Instead of reaching his sister on the beach, she was home, where her husband, upon returning from his excursion, would have to do some accounting for himself.

It's up to me to keep Belgian dreams alive.

Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."

--Jack Handy

Eddie Van Halen

Where have all the good times gone? My rock and roll gods are crumbling to dust in the wind. For example, at the pace Eddie Van Halen is aging he's going to end up looking like Eddie from Iron Maiden.

It not Euro-trash...

Still I'd follow whoever is wearing it.