Self review of my blog.

I chose to use a right column layout with two columns. One column is twice as wide as the other. I liked that it put the content first as well as making navigation more instantly accessible to readers.

The header is based on a five unit grid, splitting it between a one unit section and a four unit section. The body of the page is on a three column grid in a right column layout.

For contrast I chose to use my favorite complimentary colors of orange and blue. From there I went with colors that would match the orange and blue feature without being difficult to read or too monochromatic. I also chose contrasting colors to make text more visible.

Besides using contrasting colors I also manipulated the size of different types of texts to set them apart. For example, titles of posts are both larger and a different color from the body of the post. Likewise, links will change from a highly visible color to a less visible color after being clicked on.

The amount of "white space" in this layout adds a sense of simplicity and sophistication that I like. It keeps the page from being cluttered and looking like a page full of ads in a phone book.

Because of the template I chose the proximity of different items is strongly delineated by blocks of different colors, but even within those blocks items that are related are grouped in tighter proximity, making the page easy to navigate both visually and electronically.

The repetition of colors, fonts, and shapes helps tie the whole page together so that it flows from top to bottom and side to side. This makes the page pleasant to take in so that the reader doesn't have to struggle to find whatever they are looking for and feel at ease while viewing the page.

One of my Fav's.

Post Secret is one of my favorite websites. I love the simplicity and harsh honesty that the page presents, as well as the raw emotion it delivers, and the beacon of hope that it has become for so many people.

For anyone who doesn't know it, Post Secret is a site dedicated to displaying homemade postcards that divulge a secret of the sender. The secrets range from silly to suicidal and as a result can often have a profound impact on both the sender and the reader. It has spread into an international phenomenon with the original founder having published multiple books and running a Post Secret blog in English, Spanish, French and German.

The site posts a fresh batch of secrets every week, so I usually check it on Mondays before I head to work. If anyone hasn't yet seen this site, please, go check it out. It's amazing.

Welcome to my blog dedicated to my bike racing adventures.

I started this blog last year in hopes that it would help me be consistent about writing race reports, but when my readership sucked, well, I didn't feel like I had anyone holding me accountable for those reports. Anyway, if you haven't guessed, I love bicycle racing. I also love training and coaching and hope to start my own business doing just that. That's sort of why I'm taking this class, in hopes that it will help me to be more independent in setting up a site for my business. So that's a tad about me and why I'm taking this course.

Night two at the track.

Bad.

That's the race report.

Well, to be specific, bad legs, bad riders, bad placings. The good news? I'll be racing two crits this Sunday and track again next Tuesday. Hopefully my legs won't be so tired next Tuesday. I just couldn't get them to go last night. Oh well. That's racing, right? Sometimes you feel good, sometimes not.

Here's a video of a crazy crash up at the Alpenrose Velodrome in Portland, Oregon.

Krackatoa!!!

And a pic of my buddy BB (Ben Barsi-Rhyne) out at the velodrome. Not last night, but a couple years ago. He's a good kid. Photo by Garrett Lau.

Wow, I gotta get on top of this!

Ok, so I've now done three crits, two mtb races, and a night of track racing since my last entry. Results were: 9th, DNF, 2nd, 2nd, and I haven't checked the results for track yet.
More important results? Getting fit and having lots of fun doing it!

Last weekend was a super fun ride up at Nisene Marks with seven of my friends. We had a blast, then I went out a played soccer for the first time in months and my legs were hella sore on Monday. Today, out for a short run, some stretching, now to get ready for another night of track racing. Between school, work, training, racing and working on my own business, I'm quite busy. Nevertheless, I will make it a priority to start posting weekly.

In other news, if anyone hasn't heard, I'm getting all "I can change the world" on you guys. So here are some good links to check out.

http://www.freethechildren.com/

http://www.fouryearsgo.org/

Also, if you haven't heard about the new Nissan Leaf, you should check it out. Note bene: Nissan is working on a full line of completely electric vehicles, now we just need to get switched over to solar power and we'll really be making progress.

More race updates and Save the Earth propaganda coming next week!

Until then, a pic of me and some friends on the lift at North Star last summer. Woot!