[RunningForT3]

As Ben Franklin said:<br>
In wine there is wisdom,<br>
in beer there is freedom,<br>
in water there is bacteria.<br><br>
In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli)... bacteria found in feces.<br>
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.<br><br>
However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, Whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.<br><br>
Remember:<br>
Water = Poop...<br>
Wine = Health<br><br>
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid... than to drink water and be full of shit.<br><br>
There is no need to thank me for this valuable information...<br>
I'm doing it as a public service.

 

[MBannon]

When men drink, then they are rich and successful and win lawsuits and are happy and help their friends.<br>
Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may whet my mind and say something clever.<br><br>
Aristophanes c. 450 - 385 B.C.

 

[Thor]

I bet Red Bicyclette doesn't have any E. Coli. But according to OhBannonMyBannon is tastes like it does.

 

[MBannon]

Thor, when you and I get together I'm going to pour you some REAL wine. It will be under ten bucks, and it will <i>crush</i> that crap you're serving to your IronFiancee.

 

[Thor]

But will it make her all giddy, goofy, and girating for greatness? Red Bicyclette does that to her, you know.

 

[RunningForT3]

So what's the best under 10 bucks wine?

 

[MBannon]

No, <i>you</i> have that affect on her. The Red Bicyclette is just her excuse to let those emotions flow. Any wine will do. Might as well be a good one.<br><br>
We need to meet up so I can prove it to you. Lake Mead in October work for you?

 

[MBannon]

That's like asking what the best running socks are. A thousand different answers, all of them correct.

 

[RunningForT3]

Not an expert in wines, but I usually avoid anything under $12...

 

[MBannon]

At the grocery store, that's often a wise strategy. At the wine shop, it's the biggest mistake you could make.<br><br>
Here's the issue - Large chain stores need to control inventory very tightly. So they tell the wine wholesalers "we'll buy this wine if you can provide at least 1,000 cases of it at $9.00/bottle (or whatever)." Did they taste the wine? Probably not. All they know is, they can probably move it quickly for a decent mark-up.<br><br>
At the local specialty wine shop, the wholesaler comes in and actually pours the wines for the retailer to taste, then the retailer decides which ones will move <i>and</i> uphold their fine reputation. And small quantities are not an issue. So they LOVE finding unknown boutique wines they can sell for $9 a bottle.<br><br>
Find the nearest wine shop, walk in, and say "I want good cheap wine, I like (red, white, sweet, Merlot, Red Bicyclette, etc)." If you get that snobby feeling from them, move on to the next wine shop.

 

[RunningForT3]

Speaking of cheap wines, last year in Italy we were driving around Montepulciano, saw a very nice "Palazzo" (you know, old villa, cypress-tree lines driveway). We stopped there, the old guy got us drunk (wine tasting in Italy means finishing the bottle with the owners, so we drank 4 bottles between the 4 of us). But I didn't have much cash, he said he doesn't take credit cards, I told him I only had 30 euros, and he was very happy, he said with 25 he can give me one of each 4 wines he was making. DW insisted we give him 30, cause they were very nice people and the wine and ambiance was awesome. That comes to 7.5E, about $11/bottle.

 

[em73]

If I do this, I'm probably going to need some serious help with my bike handling skills. Plus my runs may get longer with all the weaving.

 

[teacherjen]

THANK YOU! Now I no longer feel guilty about the Newcastle I ordered with dinner last night. AND I don't feel guilty about drinking the LARGE size one, just because they brought me that instead of the small one I ordered.<br><br>
Woot!<br>
jen

 

[Brew_Dad]

I just kegged 9 gallons of stout this afternoon. We need about 1/2 gallon of fluids a day right? So I should be good for about 2 and a half weeks. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[MBannon]

Not sure I can ever drink a stout again after tasting that Abyss. Anything else is likely to just make me cry. This is why I don't drink Domaine de la Romanee Conti or Chateau Petrus. Nothing to do with the mutli-thousand dollar price tags.

 

[Thor]

Lake Mead? I did a search and came up with, like, twenty different triathlons, and as often as I have heard "Lake Mead" in reference to a quality half Iron that is ultimately popular, I can't find it onlnie.<br><br>
Got a link?<br><br>
October might be tough, as I'm already registered for the Halfmax, where, yes, I will qualify for Team USA, but I'm willing to give it a look.

 

[MBannon]

<a href="http://www.ultramaxtristore.com/RegistrantList/tabid/64/Default.aspx?eventid=13" target="_blank">Here</a> is the one you're doing. Looks like a diverse crowd.

 

[Tithers]

What's the difference. After 2 glasses I stop caring what it tastes like.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

My favorite < $10 wine is Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel.

 

[Thor]

Oh. Okay, I was confused. Lake Mead is the Halfmax National Championship. And yes, I *will* see you there. I am already registered. I signed up so that I had motivation all lined up beyond Lake Placid. So YES, let's plan for several wine tastings. I'll gladly follow your lead.