Things to Read

06.28.2013 | 8:26 am

Friday, traditionally, is the day when I write free verse. Which is to say, I ratchet the pretentiousness of my writing up about 3% (because, hey, I’m already pretty pretentious to begin with) and put line breaks in the middle of my sentences. 

Yeah, I know you know that’s all my free verse is. I just wanted you to know that I know you know. You know?

And I was kinda half-sorta thinking about writing my next installment of my 2013 Rockwell Relay saga as free verse. But then I came to an important realization: I don’t want to. 

So I’ll pick up the story on Monday. And — this time, I triple-swear — I’ll finish the story by the end of next week. 

I know, I made a similar promise that I’d finish it by the end of this week. But here’s what happens. I sit down in the early morning and type a list of standout moments I want to be sure to cover in the post for that day. And then I start writing, deleting items from the list as I mention them, and adding new items to the list that occur to me as I write.

But for this story, when I get to what feels like a good stopping point for the day (about the right length, a good lead-in for the next major development in the race) I find I usually have about half of that list still to write about. 

So let me revise my promise of finishing next week to: I’ll finish the story when it’s over. But I kinda think that next week sounds about right.

Even with a day off for Independence Day.

Rockwell Relay Race Reports, Elsewhere

Meanwhile, it’s not like I’m the only one who’s been writing about The Rockwell Relay. I’m aware of at least three other good race reports. Check them out:

Oh, and just in case you haven’t had enough, the Rockwell Relay guys did a cool video recap of the race; see if you can find Team Fatty in it (hint: we’re in it a lot):

If that’s not enough for you, there’s a much-longer version you can watch, too

A Couple Other Interesting Tidbits

You may have heard that there’s gonna be a new TV show starting tomorrow. If I understand correctly, it’s about a bunch of friends on a cycling tour of France and surrounding countries. It sounds OK, if you’re into that kind of thing. During the commercials, you might want to read these interesting things, neither of which are about me, but both of which I am tangentially connected to:

  • Luke Allingham’s interview with Levi Leipheimer. Luke is a 15-year-old kid who’s making a name for himself interviewing cycling bigshots. My connection with this story is that I introduced Luke and Levi and helped set up some of the logistics of the interview.
  • The Missing Kimmage Defense Fund. Joe Lindsey reports on the intriguing tale of bikes, freedom of press, charity, deceit, naiveté, and fundraising gone horribly wrong. My connection with this story is that I’m mentioned at the bottom of the second page.

Have a good weekend, and feel free to comment in the form of free verse. 

Thank you.

23 Comments

  1. Comment by Clydesteve | 06.28.2013 | 8:38 am

    No Rockwell Team Fatty
    report
    ’till Monday???
    Dastardly –
    I sigh.
    Thankyou

  2. Comment by Clydesteve | 06.28.2013 | 8:40 am

    BTW, Fatty, I loved working in a Star Wars reference in the title of yesterdays installment. Made me snort coffee.

  3. Comment by Jenni | 06.28.2013 | 8:46 am

    The last snippet of the video, Spoiler Alert?

    No, lots of teams got shots like this taken. It was a finishing celebration shot, nothing more. – FC

  4. Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2013 | 9:13 am

    @Clydesteve
    thank you
    for finding the references
    Fatty inserts
    to movies and books

    i’m just pleased
    this relay report
    will go
    to infinity
    and beyond

    the best
    ending
    is to go on
    till it starts
    again

    mobius-band_shutterstock_300.jpg

    thanks you

  5. Comment by Dave04 | 06.28.2013 | 9:27 am

    No Fatty Story
    Will have to wait until Monday
    Will He Complete it?

  6. Comment by Heidi | 06.28.2013 | 9:39 am

    The video
    was
    fantastic.
    (Concise plus
    free form
    make for
    strange
    bedfellows.)

    Thank you.

  7. Comment by SteveB | 06.28.2013 | 9:47 am

    Fingers holding on
    to cliffs of insanity
    can’t wait for Monday

    thank you

  8. Comment by Tom in Albany | 06.28.2013 | 10:05 am

    I knew I was being
    Selfish
    When I
    Whined
    About the length
    Of the race
    Report.
    I’m excited for three
    More.
    Really.
    I want to know
    The Ending.
    But,
    The process of reading
    Fatty’s
    Race Reports Is
    Excellent.

    Thank you.

  9. Comment by Brian in VA | 06.28.2013 | 10:09 am

    Curses, Fatty
    Must it always be
    About you?

    Know you nothing
    About devoted
    Reader expectations????

    Sigh. My throat shall
    Remain parched until
    Fountain decides
    It’s time to fill the glass.

    Thank you

  10. Comment by Wife#1 | 06.28.2013 | 10:14 am

    reading reading
    and more reading
    but tomorrow starts the day
    the big day
    when all else fades into gray except
    the quest for yellow
    who has time to read
    it depends on bob roll’s co-anchor
    i suppose
    if the evening coverage sucks
    then maybe there will be time
    phil and paul always superb
    even at 5am
    if fatty’s reading is not enough
    do not miss mattc’s davis report
    http://inane-asylum2.blogspot.com/2013/06/livestrong-davis-challenge-century-ride.html
    or my own if you are a fan of the porta potty
    http://574days.com/2013/06/27/from-nowhere-to-somewhere-in-100-miles100-pounds100-supporters/
    oh and another 2 pounds lost
    i stand at the edge

    Thank you.

    >>> GO Andy, and as always, cannot wait to see Jensie in action! Shut Up Legs!

  11. Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2013 | 10:59 am

    @SteveB

    ?????

    Thank you

  12. Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 06.28.2013 | 11:00 am

    @Steve B

    Arigato

  13. Comment by barton | 06.28.2013 | 11:57 am

    I love cliffhangers – the anticipation is the best part (but dragging a serialized story out too long also has issues, not that we are there) – so I’m truly anticipating next week’s report(s).

    And as for the light reading for commercials during the new TV series, well…. wow. I had no idea re: Kimmage fund.

  14. Comment by SteveB | 06.28.2013 | 12:12 pm

    @DavidH

    eh? Just a ‘cliff hanger extended’ haiku,
    with a princess bride reference thrown in
    for good measure. Or did you figure that out?
    (but don’t reply, I wouldn’t want you to use
    up your daily allotment)

  15. Comment by roan | 06.28.2013 | 1:22 pm

    Triple swearing…now we know the ’skooling’ source of Heather’s out-burst with the tire explosion.

  16. Comment by MattC | 06.28.2013 | 1:45 pm

    You’re KILLING me Smalls! (in reference to NO new Rockwell-Relay installment)

    Being Free Form Friday, AND taking into account the subliminal Star Wars references Clydesteve has brought to our attention, I hereby bring you Free Yoda Friday.

    Finally HOT, be..it will.
    Hooray! Happy, I am!
    Weekend working, might, or might not.
    Know not, later until.
    Ride hopes I, one day at least. Unknown it is.
    Begins tomorrow, the Tour de France, it does.
    Week first, Carnage much I sense.
    Phil Ligget/Paul Sherwin, announcing stil.
    Unknown it is, Bobke’s partner for sure.
    Great though, July surely is.
    You thank.

  17. Comment by Nancy_in_MN | 06.28.2013 | 1:56 pm

    The comments today kick off the weekend is a perfect way

    Thank you @SteveB for “cliffs of insanity”
    For you are brilliant
    Thank you @MattC for “Free Yoda Friday”
    For you are insane
    Thank you @Davidh for your Toy Story reference
    For you are but a child
    Thank you @Clydesteve for opening my eyes to great subtlety
    For you are the end of this verse

    Thank you

  18. Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 06.28.2013 | 2:07 pm

    Out of town for
    a week starting
    tomorrow.
    Will I have computer
    access?
    Too much
    to read
    today.
    Wife’s iPad
    and wifi?
    Coverage in
    mountains?
    Don’t purge
    your posts!

    Thank You!

  19. Comment by zeeeter | 06.28.2013 | 3:38 pm

    Zeeeter finds himself,
    wondering that is,
    wondering if
    Fatty’s story is like the quantum computer
    whereby a person observing it could
    possibly change the outcome
    or not.

    Too much diet pepsi!

  20. Comment by Shugg | 06.28.2013 | 3:54 pm

    Everyone in the video is cycling
    Really
    Really
    Fast

  21. Comment by EdwinH | 06.28.2013 | 5:20 pm

    just read
    5 episodes
    of Rockwell
    Relay Race
    Report 2013
    in one go.
    Life is good.

  22. Comment by Trevor | 06.29.2013 | 1:53 pm

    Wow! Thanks for the link to my recap, Fatty. Just trying to spread the word about the dangers of mixing ambien and enduracne racing. Not even once.

    Certainly looking forward for the final installments of your Rockwell Relay recap, they’ve truly been a pleasure to read.

  23. Comment by Jeff Bike | 07.1.2013 | 12:50 pm

    OK I have read it all twice!
    “Please sir may I have some more?”
    Or “Thank you sir, may I have another?”

 

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