It's from an op-ed in the Philadelphia Star, circa 1980. You can read the entire piece here. When I first read it, I thought that it was satire, it was so over the top ridiculous. But after reading more about the author, I realized that he was actually sincere. Conservative nutcase, that one (not to say that all conservatives are nutcases, just this one, and his political affiliation is only relevant because his nuttiness manifests itself politically). Even if the author did not mean it as satire, I find it so hilarious that I can't read it as anything but.

Still icy and cold up here. No class today, but I did head out to the bike shop to pick up a replacement cassette. Thought it might be interesting to post a pic of the final tiny hill on my way home. We call this Bridge Troll's Shortcut, in honor of the crazy, rambling homeless guy who hangs out underneath the pedestrian overpass that this trail is leading up to.



It's about 40ft long and a 25% grade, and that grey stripe down the middle is a trough of polished ice. The only way that I've made it up this thing all week long is in the absolute bottom gear (36x32). And this is why I won't attempt to commute with just one gear. Also, Nokian Extreme 296 tires rock!

I really hate saying this, but get used to it. Oh, and congrats on making it home alive; close calls suck, almost as much as actual collisions.