TMI, PDQ

So something wierd I've started to encounter on online dating sites -- almost immediate requests for my full length photo. As this is something that I never encountered in Seattle, I can't quite tell if this is a Southern California phenomenon, or something due to the change in dating age range.

What is also interesting is that these guys (both so far) is that they have both been guys that have explicitly included the curvy-few extra pounds types in their "seeking" profiles, so it would seem to me that they would be a little more laid back when it comes to body shape expectation than the guys that are like "slender-athletic builds only".

Regardless, it's still kind of creepy. It's like, I know I have a big italian butt, but I'm not in plus-sizes and nothing folds over and touches anything else. Not that it would be bad if it did. And I'm definately not gaunt, but you could tell that from my pictures. And regardless, are you not going to speak to me because of the size of my ass? Please.
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My immediate response is to ask for a statement as to their sperm motility and a bank balance, just to be equally as offensive and stereotypical.

53.2 miles ....

Just got back from the Rosarito-Ensenada 50 mile fun ride. I did finish, I managed not to seriously injure myself (except for my pride on two clipped-in tip overs), and I am immensely glad I strapped my Teva's on my bike rack for walking up the big #$%^ing hills. Actually, I was pretty pleased with myself, as I managed to clip along at a nice 22mph on the way into the finish line -- which is both fast for me, and courtesy of a nice tailwind. The other fun statistic is that I hit 40mph going down the hill just prior to the humongoid hill. The descent down that hill I took a bit more cautiously, since there were a lot of turns and people riding erratically.

Specifics -- the guy with the cigar, cerveza and boombox blasting 70's funk yelling "get on your bikes and RIDE" to the walkers coming up the 2 mile-long climb, people in costumes - a small group of afro-wigged riders, a group of witches (with appropriate green hairdos), the occasional lucha libre masked wrestler, little kids yelling "CANDY! MONEY!" -- on the coast it was cute, inland it became a little menacing, drinking upwards of 100g of water without having to pee, the wimps who hired taxis to haul them and their bikes up the series of hills and drop them off at the descent, ululating at the spectators who were cheering us on.

All in all, it was a good time. And apart from my traps and neck (and nether bits), I'm actually not too sore. I think the walk breaks did me some good, and I made a point of doing a regular "eating" (gu) and drinking (combo water and emergen-c) schedule, although towards the end I was definately craving something a bit more solid like a banana or hard boiled egg.

Not entirely sure I'll do it again (the yahoo factor is a little high given the terrain), but I'm glad I did it. It definately puts my weekend rides into perspective, and makes them seem a little less daunting (30 miles, no problem!! Torrey Pines hill? Bite me!!) On a side note, this bodes somewhat well for doing a half-ironman, as it involves a 56 mile bike ride and a half marathon. Maybe next year.

Pictures should be up in a couple of days -- I'll link to them as soon as they're available.