kellewatts.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

I'm not sure what it says about my brevet schedule that switching to running (even marathons) sounds like like an easy retirement from #randonneuring and something J and I can grow old doing. Today I'm popping painkillers and using the massage gun not from riding but from strength training. 1/2

submitted 14 hours ago • 1 comment

I finished it! 300k, my computer (which for reasons unknown always underreports elevation, sometimes comically so), even shows it at 9,757 ft of climb. 14:43 total time, not a record, but amazing, considering it's more climbing than I've ever done. I'm clean, and now about to eat microwave food.

submitted 3 days ago • 2 comments

Drinking cold brew coffee in bed. I suspect that I should get up and start slathering sunscreen and brushing my teeth. Go time in 52 minutes: 300k brevet with 8,030 ft of climbing, which is less than #LEL2025 but is at least getting there.

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

Welp, forecast for the 300k tomorrow is 48-61°F, 25% chance of rain, & 18mph wind. I keep trying to come up with excuses to not go (allergies, tummyache) but a little birdie's chirping: #LEL2025 could be like this. Guess I'm going to learn which wet clothes are warm and if my jacket is waterproof.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Things I should probably do: (1) Think about laundry. (2) Make a packing list for the very hilly (and hopefully not drizzly) 300k brevet I leave for tomorrow. (3) Pack for said brevet. (4) Water the plants. (5) Think about the tornado watch. Things I am doing: Drinking beer on the deck.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Earlier today, I was leaked a copy of the Executive Secretariat Style Guide for the US State Department. The new guide included a new section requiring that all trans State employees must be misgendered in all official communications. www.patreon.com/posts/new-st...

submitted 7 days ago • 89 comments

Overall, I think training for #LEL2025 is going well: Apr 12 200k 3,171 ft climb, 8:45 Apr 25 300k, 4,443 ft, 13:05 May 3 300k, 5,312 ft, 12:30 Up this Sat: 300k, 8030 ft This week's goals: Manage stops & finish by dark. Sunset is 8:22, so definitely want in by 9pm for total time <14 hours. 1/2

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

This was a rest week, with a goal of only 150 miles and as much sleep as possible. Unfortunately, I slept poorly a few times, and then things got busy. I only just hopped on #Zwift to get the last 26 in, and it's late, and I haven't eaten yet, so probably more poor sleep. But, I got it done.

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

Goodbye French Fry, the name we delightfully discovered had been given to this, our 3rd loaner truck in nearly three years from #Rivian. Our Green Man, Someshtra, has been repaired and will hopefully be home soon. She has definitely been my favorite loaner and I am sad to see her go. She's adorable.

submitted 13 days ago • 1 comment

It does not escape my notice today that in one important way, the Catholic Church is more progressive than the USA: Cardinals must offer their resignation at age 75 and even if they're retained, at age 80 they can no longer vote. Here, old men seem to control everything til they drop.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday I set a PR for a 300k ACP Brevet: 12:33. I rode over half solo. The fast guys beat me to controls but I was more efficient and sometimes held their wheels when they passed. Today I'm resting and sadly missed the Anglican/Star Wars fandom opportunity: May the fourth be with you! #LEL2025

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

There are a lot of signs J loves me, but right now the one I'm focusing on is that he feeds me. This is Serbian food he brought me from Chicago - flat bread called lepinja, a lamb meat patty called pljeskavica, clotted cream stuff called kajmak. Rich and spiced, complemented by onions - delicious!

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

What a surprise, who could possibly have expected this to happen, absolutely no one except every single economist who has ever lived in the history of the world wapo.st/4jAkdJq

submitted 20 days ago • 23 comments

🎉 Yesterday's annual mammogram was the 1st ever not to require follow-up imaging. All 6 before that required at least a 2nd appointment for an ultrasound, and last year a 3rd for a biopsy. In celebration I donated enough to Illinois Public Media to get a free coffee tumbler. Thanks be to God. 🙌

submitted 20 days ago • 1 comment

Here's hoping that the most annoying stuff about my mammogram is not being able to wear deodorant (and thus being unable to ride a bike here) and having to deal with insurance and treatment consents instead of national healthcare. I know other folks have it worse but I do hate all of this so much.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

After screwing with my spreadsheet and trying to make it make sense to go 231 miles to Malton for my first night of #LEL2025, moving everything else doesn't work out. Bag drop choice deadline is Wednesday and I'm back to Hessle and a hard day 2. My 8:30 am start 3 hours after sunrise kinda ruins it.

submitted 22 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday's 300k brevet proved that I am doing a great job on my legs and lungs but my upper body needs work. Amazingly, we finished while it was still light out (13:04) despite having to make a stop in a random park so I could lay down waiting for meds to kick on. Only 97 days left until #LEL2025.

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

I don't have an #Audax Club but this was me on a 200km ACP Brevet hosted by Quad Cities Randonneurs two weeks ago. Their RBA Randy Anderson took the picture. Their newest SR Series out of Peoria, IL is close enough (90 min drive each way) I can make some of it. 300km tomorrow. #LEL2025

submitted 25 days ago • 1 comment

I'm listening to Kacey Musgraves new album "Sounds from the Heart of the Woods," and it's a pleasant soundtrack on a rainy morning, but with Paks snoring away next to me I can't help but think this is the soundtrack for a Dog TV YouTube channel. Here's a shot of her awake and adorable yesterday.

submitted 25 days ago • 0 comments

Anyone else super worried about creating a national database of autistic people (I'm sorry but I have no idea what the right words are but they're not the point), purportedly to try to find the cause? We're so far into fascism at this point I can't help but hear alarm bells about extermination.

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

Tonight, with only 4 racers available for #Zwift Racing League Finals, and mathematically unable to win, ATP Hive had to make the hard choice to send one racer who was eligible to race for a team that could win to go race for them. Those of us free knew we would be last and smashed it anyway. 🥇&🥈!

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

“Apple donated $1M. Trump exempted most of Apple’s imports from tariffs, Coinbase donated $1M. Trump’s SEC dropped a major lawsuit against them. See how this works?”

submitted 28 days ago • 9 comments

Today J ran his first 5k. I also ran it, and surprised myself in that the pace I kept was basically the same as I used to run half marathons at, with a heart rate that was soaring the whole time. I'm apparently a lot fitter than I was a decade ago, for today was zone 2, and I don't run now, at all.

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

I no longer have access to the right medium for communicating any of this (remember when blogs were a thing?) so instead, a thread. It's Good Friday, and the forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms all day, so of course it's sunny and so perfect I can't stop sitting outside and singing. 1/

submitted 32 days ago • 1 comment

Last night ATP Hive got 2nd in the #Zwift Racing League TTT by only 0.391s. Gremlins and illness took us meant we only had the minimum 4 racers and though we really brought it, we were too spent for a sprint at the end. I felt terrible the whole time, clearly because I was really pushing. 1/2

submitted 34 days ago • 1 comment