Belated weekend recipe and out-of-town musings

For those who don't want to hear the musings, skip down to the recipe. It's good - sort of an Asian-BBQ style dish. Hard to describe.

Anyway, long story short, I'll be out of town in Bend, Oregon from the 6th-13th. Sarah and I are quite excited about all the riding and climbing (and breweries).
-If you need a question anwered before I leave, ask me NOW. I will not promise to check email or voicemail while I'm gone. It's a vacation.
-Sarah and I are thinking of entering the Pickett's Charge mountain bike race. I'm excited to race against some of the Bend big guns (Trebon, Decker, others) and some old friends who now live there (Cody, you're going down! Or maybe not...) Couple problems, though:
1. I will be arriving on a plane the day before and will have no chance to do anything but assemble bikes before the race, let alone spin out my stiff legs or warm up, or preride the course. Strike 1.
2. It's 34 miles long. For a nancy-boy like me, that's an eternity. The longest race I've done so far this season was 30 minutes. Not good.
3. I'll be riding my 30+ pound 4" travel full suspension/travel bike, which is equipped with some of the crappiest and heaviest parts known to man. I haven't raced a geared bike in at least 6 years, and I've NEVER raced a full suspension bike. Hoo boy.

So rather than trying to do well in the race, my goal is to go out way too hard and see if I can stay with the fast guys, then probably blow up after the first 17 mile lap and toodle on around again at a cooldown pace. I'm in fantastic shape right now, but I've got a TON of excuses for a poor showing. Perfect!

Anyway, we'll be riding pretty much every day, so if you're a Bend local and want to go for a spin with some Boulder folks, or just have a few beers and boo every time Kobe touches the ball, drop me an email or a ring.

Crazy Asian Coffee-Curry BBQ Seitan (or your choice of helpless animal flesh)

Throw all of the following in a saucepan:
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp diced onions
10 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp thai green curry paste (I like the Mae Ploy brand)
1 cup ketsup (no joke!)
3 tbsp hoisin sauce
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp rice vinegar
4 tbsp soy sauce
1.5 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp instant coffee crystals/grounds
1.5 tbsp packed brown sugar
1/2c water

Cook and mix until it's a nice syrupy mess. Now add:
-1 pound seitan
-3c chopped bok choi

Cook for 10-15 minutes until the sauce is nice and thick and the seitan has absorbed some of it. Serve over rice. Post comments praising recipe. Repeat.