For all intents and purposes, on November 13, 2008, my Wall St. career came to an end. I'll post more later with reflections on my career, but I wanted to mark this moment in time.
I do think I'll continue to actively manage a portion of my own money to take advantage of my unique insights and the skill set I have built over time. However, I don't see myself returning in a professional capacity for three reasons: 1) I believe the Wall St./wealth creation game is dead for many years; 2) I recognize and am no longer willing to make the quality of life sacrifices required to succeed in the business; and 3) I want to put my money where my mouth is and do something more beneficial for society.
Of course you can never say never, but I feel like I am ready for the next phase of my life.
Stay tuned.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Life Imitating Art
If you remember back to my comparison of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Wall St., I noted that Wall St.'s biggest weakness was that it had a bad ending.
http://thebullycockpit.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html
Ironically, the real life Wall St. is going to have a bad ending as well. Here's a quote from my post about the movie:
"Wall St.’s ending is melancholy and anti-climactic. It’s also somewhat symptomatic and unavoidable."
Life imitates art.
http://thebullycockpit.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html
Ironically, the real life Wall St. is going to have a bad ending as well. Here's a quote from my post about the movie:
"Wall St.’s ending is melancholy and anti-climactic. It’s also somewhat symptomatic and unavoidable."
Life imitates art.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Great Trip with Lots of Ups and Downs
The Italy/Switzerland tour of 2008 was a huge success. Logistically it couldn't have gone any smoother. However, with 395 miles and 25,000 feet of climbing over 8 riding days, there were lots of ups and downs both physically and mentally:
UP: Fit(ness)
My bike fit was as good as it's ever been. I tweaked my touring bike fit to mimic my road bike and the results were awesome. Absolutely no arm pain this year (whereas my arms and hands were a huge problem last year). Additionally, while my fitness was put to the test, I was in good enough shape to have a fun trip (and survive physically).
DOWN: Climbing Passes Loaded
Climbing big mountain passes with packs on your touring bike is not easy. Nor is it fun. In fact, we had the hotel in Santa Maria, Switzerland drive our packs up to a hotel at the top of Stelvio where we could retrieve them after the climb (and just in time for my header picture!). While it's a bummer I didn't get to climb Stelvio fully-loaded, it would have been somewhat of a physical impossibility given that we rode 170 miles and climbed 12,500 feet the three days prior.
UP: Climbing Stelvio
Stelvio is a monster. It deserves all the hype it gets. It's the highest mountain pass in Italy and it's the most amount of vertical gain you can do cycling on any road in Italy. The total climb from Prato, Italy is 15 miles and it averages a 7.4% grade. But the first 4.5 miles are only roughly a 5% grade and the final 10.5 miles average 8.3%. There are 48 total switchbacks and each one is numbered. The first 24 are below the tree line. When you reach switchback #24 you get above the tree line and can see the road snaking up to the top in front of you. It's relieving to be halfway done but also intimidating to see the rest of the ride. This is when the altitude begins to impact you as well. The "teens" switchbacks were the worst. They were long and steep and you were in “no man's land” in terms of finishing. Getting to the top felt incredible and I celebrated with a traditional Bratwurst and a beer. The views along the route are stunning, as are the ones from the top. I bought a sticker that I'm going to put on my touring bike as a reminder of the climb. Even the Italians (who think everything is "flat") get impressed when you tell them you climbed Stelvio. "AHHHH, PASSO STELVIO!!!!" they say as they weave their hand into the air to mimic the steep switchbacks.
DOWN: Descending Stelvio
As memorable as the climb was up Stelvio, it was quickly erased by the descent on the other side of the mountain/into Bormio. Ed went ahead because he was cold. I stayed back to take pictures and thus I descended alone. The only way to describe the descent is cold, stark and eerie. I almost got vertigo as I weaved my way through the switchbacks into the misty, cavernous abyss of the Alps. The road was desolate aside from a random car or motorcycle that buzzed up behind me. Sometimes, I heard cars behind me that weren't there. I had to navigate through a half-dozen one-lane pitch black tunnels without any lights. There were sheer drops to my right with no guard rails. Often people would tell you not to look down when you are in the mountains. In this case I felt like I couldn't look anywhere. Everything was scary and intimidating. I had to center myself a few times. It was cold and it was getting dark fast. I couldn't "manage" my way down. I just had to do it. Roughly 13 miles at a 7% average grade of descent. I can't describe the relief I felt when I finally got into the tree line. I never expect the descent of Stelvio to have such an impact on me.
UP: Varese/World Championships
We stumbled on the World Championships of cycling in Varese on our first ride. We had no idea they were scheduled. It was a nice surprise and we even saw some NYCC members there.
DOWN: Maloja Pass/St. Moritz Arrival
Moloja pass is a mother of a pass, particularly when you are carrying your gear. I was dreading this day of riding before it even happened and it didn't disappoint: 80 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing. Maloja is basically two passes in one. It grinds you down for 17 miles at 4% and then the crescendo is two miles of exaggerated switchbacks at a 9% average grade. I felt like I had nothing left as we got to the switchbacks and the cold really starting kicking in. Putting my winter gear on gave me a nice excuse to take a break. About halfway up, Ed and I had a laughing attack from exhaustion as motorcycles and cars whizzed past us without a care. When we arrived at the top, there was a thick heavy mist that bordered on rain and it was starting to get dark. I convinced Ed to grab a celebratory coffee and when we started on our way again it was pitch black and the road was unlit. We had 10 miles left until reaching St. Moritz and it felt like it was 50 miles. I was holding up a flashlight in my left hand as our guide but it wasn’t doing much with the thick fog. There was a lake to our right and the water was lapping up toward the side of the road – I felt like the creature from the Black Lagoon was going to jump out at us. I was scared sh*tless. If Ed wasn’t there I would have curled up into a ball on the side of the road. We finally got to our hotel about 9pm. It was a long day.
UP: Iseo/Day 7 Ride
The ride to the town of Iseo was awesome. It was basically a downhill shot as we retraced the slow grind we did up Maloja Pass earlier in the week (and much further east). We found a bike path that trailed the lake for 5 or so miles and rode with a local group of riders for a bit. The town of Iseo is right on the lake and had a great vibe.
DOWN: Day 8 Ride/rain/flat
Day 8 was brutal. After the ease of our Day 7 ride, I had a feeling we were in for some trouble. The ride was described as “flat” but you quickly learn that “flat” to Italians isn’t the same as the flat we are used to here. It ended up being a 60 mile grind with a decent amount of climbing. We got lost several times and got caught in three huge downpours. I told Ed early on “this is just going to be one of those days”. “It’s fine” he said “as long as we don’t get any flats.” UGGGGGGH – you never mention flats. NEVER. Rookie move I told Ed. An hour later I got my first touring flat from a thorn.
UP: Italian people
The people are what make Italy so great. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there. They are so down to earth and accommodating. They will do anything to help you and they take an interest in what you are doing. They truly live in the moment and live for life’s experiences vs. material things.
DOWN: Swiss people
The Swiss are just plain strange. Maybe it was partly because I was comparing them to Italians but the Swiss are so darn quirky. They’re anal and uptight. Borat needs to work his way through Switzerland with a rubber fist to loosen them up a bit.
UP: Not Burned out
Unlike last year, I’m not burned out on cycling after this trip. I think part of the reason is because I had less anxiety about the trip logistics given the huge buildup of buying equipment and planning I had last year. I feel pretty fresh and am looking forward to getting on the bike again soon.
DOWN: Season winding down
The season is winding down but hopefully I can get in some more solid riding before it gets cold. I’d also love to continue riding through the winter but I don’t want to pressure myself too much at this point.
UP: Fit(ness)
My bike fit was as good as it's ever been. I tweaked my touring bike fit to mimic my road bike and the results were awesome. Absolutely no arm pain this year (whereas my arms and hands were a huge problem last year). Additionally, while my fitness was put to the test, I was in good enough shape to have a fun trip (and survive physically).
DOWN: Climbing Passes Loaded
Climbing big mountain passes with packs on your touring bike is not easy. Nor is it fun. In fact, we had the hotel in Santa Maria, Switzerland drive our packs up to a hotel at the top of Stelvio where we could retrieve them after the climb (and just in time for my header picture!). While it's a bummer I didn't get to climb Stelvio fully-loaded, it would have been somewhat of a physical impossibility given that we rode 170 miles and climbed 12,500 feet the three days prior.
UP: Climbing Stelvio
Stelvio is a monster. It deserves all the hype it gets. It's the highest mountain pass in Italy and it's the most amount of vertical gain you can do cycling on any road in Italy. The total climb from Prato, Italy is 15 miles and it averages a 7.4% grade. But the first 4.5 miles are only roughly a 5% grade and the final 10.5 miles average 8.3%. There are 48 total switchbacks and each one is numbered. The first 24 are below the tree line. When you reach switchback #24 you get above the tree line and can see the road snaking up to the top in front of you. It's relieving to be halfway done but also intimidating to see the rest of the ride. This is when the altitude begins to impact you as well. The "teens" switchbacks were the worst. They were long and steep and you were in “no man's land” in terms of finishing. Getting to the top felt incredible and I celebrated with a traditional Bratwurst and a beer. The views along the route are stunning, as are the ones from the top. I bought a sticker that I'm going to put on my touring bike as a reminder of the climb. Even the Italians (who think everything is "flat") get impressed when you tell them you climbed Stelvio. "AHHHH, PASSO STELVIO!!!!" they say as they weave their hand into the air to mimic the steep switchbacks.
DOWN: Descending Stelvio
As memorable as the climb was up Stelvio, it was quickly erased by the descent on the other side of the mountain/into Bormio. Ed went ahead because he was cold. I stayed back to take pictures and thus I descended alone. The only way to describe the descent is cold, stark and eerie. I almost got vertigo as I weaved my way through the switchbacks into the misty, cavernous abyss of the Alps. The road was desolate aside from a random car or motorcycle that buzzed up behind me. Sometimes, I heard cars behind me that weren't there. I had to navigate through a half-dozen one-lane pitch black tunnels without any lights. There were sheer drops to my right with no guard rails. Often people would tell you not to look down when you are in the mountains. In this case I felt like I couldn't look anywhere. Everything was scary and intimidating. I had to center myself a few times. It was cold and it was getting dark fast. I couldn't "manage" my way down. I just had to do it. Roughly 13 miles at a 7% average grade of descent. I can't describe the relief I felt when I finally got into the tree line. I never expect the descent of Stelvio to have such an impact on me.
UP: Varese/World Championships
We stumbled on the World Championships of cycling in Varese on our first ride. We had no idea they were scheduled. It was a nice surprise and we even saw some NYCC members there.
DOWN: Maloja Pass/St. Moritz Arrival
Moloja pass is a mother of a pass, particularly when you are carrying your gear. I was dreading this day of riding before it even happened and it didn't disappoint: 80 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing. Maloja is basically two passes in one. It grinds you down for 17 miles at 4% and then the crescendo is two miles of exaggerated switchbacks at a 9% average grade. I felt like I had nothing left as we got to the switchbacks and the cold really starting kicking in. Putting my winter gear on gave me a nice excuse to take a break. About halfway up, Ed and I had a laughing attack from exhaustion as motorcycles and cars whizzed past us without a care. When we arrived at the top, there was a thick heavy mist that bordered on rain and it was starting to get dark. I convinced Ed to grab a celebratory coffee and when we started on our way again it was pitch black and the road was unlit. We had 10 miles left until reaching St. Moritz and it felt like it was 50 miles. I was holding up a flashlight in my left hand as our guide but it wasn’t doing much with the thick fog. There was a lake to our right and the water was lapping up toward the side of the road – I felt like the creature from the Black Lagoon was going to jump out at us. I was scared sh*tless. If Ed wasn’t there I would have curled up into a ball on the side of the road. We finally got to our hotel about 9pm. It was a long day.
UP: Iseo/Day 7 Ride
The ride to the town of Iseo was awesome. It was basically a downhill shot as we retraced the slow grind we did up Maloja Pass earlier in the week (and much further east). We found a bike path that trailed the lake for 5 or so miles and rode with a local group of riders for a bit. The town of Iseo is right on the lake and had a great vibe.
DOWN: Day 8 Ride/rain/flat
Day 8 was brutal. After the ease of our Day 7 ride, I had a feeling we were in for some trouble. The ride was described as “flat” but you quickly learn that “flat” to Italians isn’t the same as the flat we are used to here. It ended up being a 60 mile grind with a decent amount of climbing. We got lost several times and got caught in three huge downpours. I told Ed early on “this is just going to be one of those days”. “It’s fine” he said “as long as we don’t get any flats.” UGGGGGGH – you never mention flats. NEVER. Rookie move I told Ed. An hour later I got my first touring flat from a thorn.
UP: Italian people
The people are what make Italy so great. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there. They are so down to earth and accommodating. They will do anything to help you and they take an interest in what you are doing. They truly live in the moment and live for life’s experiences vs. material things.
DOWN: Swiss people
The Swiss are just plain strange. Maybe it was partly because I was comparing them to Italians but the Swiss are so darn quirky. They’re anal and uptight. Borat needs to work his way through Switzerland with a rubber fist to loosen them up a bit.
UP: Not Burned out
Unlike last year, I’m not burned out on cycling after this trip. I think part of the reason is because I had less anxiety about the trip logistics given the huge buildup of buying equipment and planning I had last year. I feel pretty fresh and am looking forward to getting on the bike again soon.
DOWN: Season winding down
The season is winding down but hopefully I can get in some more solid riding before it gets cold. I’d also love to continue riding through the winter but I don’t want to pressure myself too much at this point.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
One Last Spin...
I did my final ride preparation for the trip tonight -- 8 hill repeats on Harlem Hill. I had a great ride Sunday, which was really my first long distance ride since my meltdown a week and a half ago. Between Sunday and tonight, my confidence is rising and I feel ready for the trip. I could be in better shape, but I'm fairly happy with where I am. The meltdown I had recently was very real...it wasn't made up or imagined. It scared me a lot but I realize we can't be "on" every day in life and beat myself up too much over it (the fact is, there were definitely a few mitigating factors).
As far as the overall training goes, I was able to get in the 15 rides I had hoped; although they varied somewhat from what I outlined originally. I ended up doing 531 miles, which is just shy of the 575 I had planned. I didn't get as many hill repeats in as I was hoping for. But overall, I think I did pretty well considering that it was slightly aggressive and things always come up in "real life" that create conflicts. Here's the final report:
As you can tell, I stopped posting the mountain pass overviews. To be honest, I feel like I was tempting fate a bit too much. These mountain passes are pretty serious stuff. I don't want to diminish the challenge or mock them in any way and piss of the cycling gods. I want to respect the challenge. If I finish the passes, I'll write about them afterward.
I realized today that it's likely to be colder than I was expecting on parts of the trip. I need to be prepared for cold weather riding. Better safe than sorry in this respect. The good news is I don't think it will add much weight to my load.
I was planning on doing some pre-packing tonight but I came up with a better idea that will actually benefit me on the trip. I'm going to wake up at 6am tomorrow morning to start packing. I'll finish tomorrow night, go to bed early and wake up on Thursday at 5am. This will ease me into acclimating to European time and give me a better chance of sleeping on my flight Thursday evening.
I may post one more time before I leave, but more likely not.
Ciao.
As far as the overall training goes, I was able to get in the 15 rides I had hoped; although they varied somewhat from what I outlined originally. I ended up doing 531 miles, which is just shy of the 575 I had planned. I didn't get as many hill repeats in as I was hoping for. But overall, I think I did pretty well considering that it was slightly aggressive and things always come up in "real life" that create conflicts. Here's the final report:
As you can tell, I stopped posting the mountain pass overviews. To be honest, I feel like I was tempting fate a bit too much. These mountain passes are pretty serious stuff. I don't want to diminish the challenge or mock them in any way and piss of the cycling gods. I want to respect the challenge. If I finish the passes, I'll write about them afterward.
I realized today that it's likely to be colder than I was expecting on parts of the trip. I need to be prepared for cold weather riding. Better safe than sorry in this respect. The good news is I don't think it will add much weight to my load.
I was planning on doing some pre-packing tonight but I came up with a better idea that will actually benefit me on the trip. I'm going to wake up at 6am tomorrow morning to start packing. I'll finish tomorrow night, go to bed early and wake up on Thursday at 5am. This will ease me into acclimating to European time and give me a better chance of sleeping on my flight Thursday evening.
I may post one more time before I leave, but more likely not.
Ciao.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tale of the Tape #2: Pass dal Fuorn (Ofen Pass)
Pass #2: Pass del Fuorn (Ofen Pass)
Date: 9/28/08, Day 3
Distance: 21.6km (13.4 miles)
Vertical climb: 676m (2,218 feet)
Average grade: 3.1%
Difficulty rating: 78.75
From Wikipedia:
"Fuorn Pass or Ofen Pass (el. 2149 m.) is a high alpine mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It connects Zernez in the Engadin valley with Val Müstair. It was here that a brown bear was seen and photographed in July 2005 - the first sighting of a wild bear in Switzerland since 1923."
Fuorn pass is the easiest of the mountain passes we'll be doing as it ranks 4th in terms of difficulty. But it's also harder than it appears on the surface. While it's only a 3.1% average grade, that statistic is skewed by a long steady downhill dip in the middle of the pass. Essentially, this pass is two relatively steep climbs interupted by a downhill. The first climb is 4 miles at a 6.3% average grade; the downhill is 3.5 miles with a 3.3% grade; and the final ascent is six miles at a 4.7% average grade. The good news is it's all downhill from the pass to our desination of Santa Maria. The bad news is this pass is a lot more difficult than I was expecting before I did this analysis. The trip is going to be brutal.
Date: 9/28/08, Day 3
Distance: 21.6km (13.4 miles)
Vertical climb: 676m (2,218 feet)
Average grade: 3.1%
Difficulty rating: 78.75
From Wikipedia:
"Fuorn Pass or Ofen Pass (el. 2149 m.) is a high alpine mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It connects Zernez in the Engadin valley with Val Müstair. It was here that a brown bear was seen and photographed in July 2005 - the first sighting of a wild bear in Switzerland since 1923."
Fuorn pass is the easiest of the mountain passes we'll be doing as it ranks 4th in terms of difficulty. But it's also harder than it appears on the surface. While it's only a 3.1% average grade, that statistic is skewed by a long steady downhill dip in the middle of the pass. Essentially, this pass is two relatively steep climbs interupted by a downhill. The first climb is 4 miles at a 6.3% average grade; the downhill is 3.5 miles with a 3.3% grade; and the final ascent is six miles at a 4.7% average grade. The good news is it's all downhill from the pass to our desination of Santa Maria. The bad news is this pass is a lot more difficult than I was expecting before I did this analysis. The trip is going to be brutal.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Trouble Brewing
I could be in trouble for my upcoming trip. I've been keeping to my training program for the most part. Yet, my fitness and stamina are horrible. Yesterday, I did a 55 mile ride and bonked halfway through. It was one of the first legitimate times in my life I didn't want to be on a bicycle. I made it home fine but the psychological impact is lingering. I felt like it was my first ride of the season and I'm concerned right now. There are a few potential reasons why I had a rough day but regardless, I need to build my confidence back. Dr. Ed was with me on the ride -- I wonder how much he's concerned about me being ready for the trip? I know I am.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Tale of the Tape: Passo del Maloja
I'm going to periodically profile each of the big mountain passes we will be climbing on my upcoming Italy trip. There are four in total and I'll tackle each one in chronological order.
Pass #1: Passo del Maloja
Date: 9/27/08, Day 2
Distance: 32.0km (19.9 miles)
Vertical climb: 1490m (4,888 feet)
Average grade: 4.7%
Difficulty rating: 113.47
Maloja pass is in the Swiss Alps near the Italy/Switzerland border. Of the four mountain passes we'll be doing, it ranks 3rd in terms of difficulty but we will be climbing the pass on our longest riding day (80 miles) so it may end up being our most difficult ride. Maloja is really two separate climbs. Starting in Chiavenna, Italy (alt. 325m), we'll slowly ascend 29km (18 miles) to just past Lobbia, Switzerland (1,436m) at an average 4.3% grade. Then, the final 1.9 miles are at an average 9% grade til we reach the pass at 1,815m (x feet). This will be brutal but the views should be worth the work. Then it's a nice easy cruise to the ritzy mountain town of St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Pass #1: Passo del Maloja
Date: 9/27/08, Day 2
Distance: 32.0km (19.9 miles)
Vertical climb: 1490m (4,888 feet)
Average grade: 4.7%
Difficulty rating: 113.47
Maloja pass is in the Swiss Alps near the Italy/Switzerland border. Of the four mountain passes we'll be doing, it ranks 3rd in terms of difficulty but we will be climbing the pass on our longest riding day (80 miles) so it may end up being our most difficult ride. Maloja is really two separate climbs. Starting in Chiavenna, Italy (alt. 325m), we'll slowly ascend 29km (18 miles) to just past Lobbia, Switzerland (1,436m) at an average 4.3% grade. Then, the final 1.9 miles are at an average 9% grade til we reach the pass at 1,815m (x feet). This will be brutal but the views should be worth the work. Then it's a nice easy cruise to the ritzy mountain town of St. Moritz, Switzerland.
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