Newfound uses for Bike Lust and shaved legs

First off, let me apologize for the lack of an update yesterday. I got home late from a ride, it was raining, I still don't have Internet at home, and I couldn't muster the energy to walk (in the rain) to the coffee shop. Sorry.

Don't worry, we're back on track today.

So far this week I've put in 14 hours on the bike. I felt great on Sunday's six hour tour of Saratoga County and points beyond. I felt less great on Monday's windy recovery ride, and I felt downright shitty on the Tuesday night World Championships (though I still managed a second-place finish in the points competition -- Jamie won, and will now have the dubious honor(?) of wearing the glorious leader's jersey next week.)

Today, since I wasn't due at work until late, I went out for my usual mid-week longish ride. It hurt, bad.

I still managed to turn the pedals for three+ hours, cruising around the Battlefields a couple times, and fighting a headwind in Stillwater, but I was pretty well ready to get off my bike when I rolled back into town.

And that was when I discovered yet another reason for why I shave my legs, and an ill-advertised use for Bike Lust.

I was rolling East on Union Avenue, near Empire State College and around the corner from my house, when I heard a squishy popping noise. Something wet landed on my calf, and my rear wheel started making a noise like it was rubbing on the chain stay.

At first I thought I had a flat, but I was still rolling along just fine. I was further confused when I looked down and saw a chunky red goo splattered across my legs, wheel and frame. I stopped to assess. The red goo clung to the rear brake, seat stays and wheel.

My first thought was blood, but it was too think. Then I noticed the chunk of cheese and peperoni stuck to the inside of my chain stay, rubbing on the wheel and accounting for the noise.

Apparently, while riding along in a hunger-induced oblivion, I'd rolled over some pizza that had carelessly been left in the middle of the road. I dislodged the cheese and went home. Upon arriving, I broke out the bike polish and happily discovered that Bike Lust is as tough on food grease as it is on regular bike grease. I think they should include that in their marketing.

I wouldn't say that my bike is now clean, as I did more of a spot cleaning than a thorough polish, but at least it won't have rotting bits of tomato sauce clinging to it tomorrow.

As for my shaved legs, you can now add "allows for easy food removal" to the benefits of shaving, right along with "sexy," "aerodynamic," "easily bandaged," and "irresistible."