tuffness....

I just started reading the book pictured at the left. Quite a tale, light read, and inspiring, Mike is tuff, just like the others mentioned below. From a 255lbs man to 170lbs racer, in two years, gave up smoking and drinking too. Committed to the end result of being faster on a bike. It is a good read. In fact quick as well as I picked it up yesterday before work and am on page 100 already. I suggest it to all you cyclists out there in cycle land. Nothing like having a goal to keep you focused and on track, oh I forgot to mention he also quit eating, all except for 3 shakes a day to lose weight and lost it at a rate of 5 lbs a week. Hats off to Mike and his tuffness.

I thought I was a bit tough this weekend by riding my fixie out to Port Townsend for the day, then I checked on my friend mark Mcdaniel's out of Reno, the land of no snow at this time, who rode his fixie up and down and up and down, without brakes. Geiger Grade on a fixie, Congrats mark. I bet your legs they were a hurtin for a few days. Geiger ain't no joke, and Gold Hill on the other side is 15 or 18 percent. Mark you just plain rock. I will put this one in writing, not as a definite, bu none the less in writing, makes me want to rock a large mountain bike 100 miler on my off road fixie, not sure which one, but I am thinking about it, lots of ups and downs. I am scared to say the least. Rich, any advice???? Mark is tuff, he and rich for that matter are inspiration for the title.
So I rode to Port Townsend this weekend, first time I did it, sure is fun. I will have to get over to the peninsula for some more rides.
I am trying to put together a race schedule that maxes the fun factor, is cost acceptable and I can get work off for. No easy task, also looking to keep it in the managable body wise as I don't wish to get sick again in the form that I was kind of way. Wow that was a run on sentence. Not willing to put anything down on the blog yet as it is all up in the air. I will probably try to fine tune some of my fitness by racing shorter local races, I want to get a 100 or two in, I have family back east. I am juggling right now.

a diesel engine

This is a picture of my friend Eric. He is a diesel engine, not the fastest guy out there, but he keeps going and going and going. He is focused and determined to reach his goals. Now a little back story if I may. I met Eric through my job at The Big Time Brewery, he would come in dressed in his cycling clothing, I saw a brother in arms so to speak, and the rest is what we call history. He is part of the Seattle Randonneur's, in fact I believe that he is a the head of membership, although I could be wrong. As I took out my camera to take a picture of him he got a worried look, as I think you can tell by the picture he said something to the effect of "what do you want with a picture of me?" The answer is simple to the left is a picture of the current record holder for most Randonneur miles in a year, it amounts to 7,500 miles or 12,000km if I remember correctly. I am sure most people that read this are familiar with Randonneuring so I will skip all the details, but basically it is long distance, open course, timed, light cycling touring ranging from 100km to 1200km. Each event counts only once, and he also holds down a full time job at the University of Washington, one can imagine he spends a lot of his free time in the saddle. This year he has set the lofty goal of 10,000 "event" miles, I have faith that he will accomplish his goal. Eric thanks for the inspiration and support. The title of this post refers to Eric a diesel engine and a great guy. Congrats and best wishes in the upcoming year.

down in This here picture is of one dirty Vulture after the ride down in Eugene. The camera didn't like all the sunlight and I was not in the mood to take more pics, but this turned out more artsy than I thought. I kind of like it. The weekend of February 17th is shaping up to be a good time. It is the weekend of the Harmonic ConvergenSS Longview, Washington. I plan on being there. Mark your calenders.

This weekends mayhem

This past weekend was a much needed brake from Seattle. I heard about the Disciples of Dirt's All Comers Meat in Eugene, OR, talked some of favorite riders in to rolling down there for a get away. It all came together and we were off on Friday morning, with the plan of stopping at a few breweries on the way down and making our way to Eugene early enough to enjoy some fun, and still get some rest for the next days debauchery. To say we had a great time is an understatement. While it had rained in the days leading up to the event, the day itself was perfect, sun, I hadn't seen that in a while. Since it was mostly a single speed ride, I thought why not ride the fixie, see how it rolls out on a longish ride. Lets just say I had lots and lots of fun, ran a 36x17 on 700 cc wheels and it was great. It took some getting used to and my back hurt alot the next day, but that could have been a result of the wrestling match that Keith and I got in to in the parking lot later, way later in the evening. Back to the event, which was a well executed event, for just a ride. 88 people showed up for the event, we traveled the longest distance, and it was worth it. The keg was tapped prior to the beginning of the ride and the beer was flowing all day, if you cared to partake. We all decided to jump in with the fast group, and it was the way to go. I was hoping that Wade, of Vulture fame, would be there, but he was not. Instead I met up with Eugene, who I have met before, and a few other folks, we ended up splitting off from the larger group and being shown the trails by Tom, it rocked. I had a great time, I will ride fixed off road again. The story could go on and on, but I wont bore you with the details, but it will be an annual event for the 3 of us. Below is short clip of me skidding my fixie off road while drinking a beer. Sure this could have been shot from a better angle and I could have done it faster, mind you I had a thin plastic cup in my hand and it was the first attempt at such a maneuver, it was shot with a point and shoot digital camera, so I know it is more to give an idea of all the fun we were having. This was mid ride, yes they brought the keg around to different spots and we rode to it. Without further adu:


So I hope you enjoyed it. Here is a link to mtbr and the photos from the event.
Now it is back to the daily grind for a bit and then this weekend I am riding out to Port Townsend, about 50 miles, for Strange Brew, Water Street Brewing's big party.
Looks to be big fun. Well it is sunny here again at least today, so I better get out and enjoy it all. As always keep pedaling.

snow and ice

Seattle has snow on the ground, not the status quo here. Let me tell you I am glad to be riding a bike in this stuff, to think about driving around in a tin can makes me sick. Well in fact I am sick right now so I spent the day downloading music from Emusic, if you don't know about them you should check them out, all kinds of music for your ears. I have been a member for over a year now and am never at a loss for new and old songs to download. And if you end up becoming a member tell em who sent ya. Please. Enough about that snow, when compacted on a cold street becomes ice, bet ya didn't know that, so I have been ripping around dodging the ice and looking for bare pavement, this can make hills somewhat interesting. On my commute home last night I had to walk a hill as I spun out and almost took a spill. The skill as with most things in life is not to overreact, go with the flow. Being sick reminds me of the last two years and I get frustrated and think that I might be headed back there, or not getting better. This truely has been a monumental challenge to keep in perspective, and like riding on ice not overreact and go with the flow. Rest can be good. I am hoping to get next friday off so that I can go to this. I wanted to go last year, but never made it happen. Also, I have signed up for this, I have heard that Dejay puts on one hell of a good time, and I would like to ride with Rudi, get some tips from the master about schorching. But thats enough, I will be sure to bring a camera on either of these excursions ifin and when they happen.
In other areas, I found this site today and liked it,the people at Bicycle Fixation have the right idea. Check it. I spent a bit of time browsing there.
As always keep pedaling. I am going to keep watching the snow come down and rest so that when the weather is better I will be ready to charge it, not that it is not fun out there right now, but the batteries need a little charging and what better excuse. as always keep pedaling.

you'll laugh I hope...

at least at one of these videos. Gonterian is a great guy. I have yet to meet him in person, but when I do I hope to do some scorching with him, of course that is if I am worthy. I have been practicing my fixed gear skills, and hope to get a bunch more off road fixing in real soon. Here is a video he made, I like it. Here it is.

And now that you have watched that, it is time to laugh, this is a test...... I think most will find this funny especially those of us who grew up in the 80's a time that was full of cheese so to speak. So here it is Justin Timberlake hits the mark here. Thats saying something cause for the most part I don't have positve things to say about him. ha ha Like I said this will make you laugh, you may have seen it and I may be beating a dead horse at this point in time, its catchy watch out.

I should have brought a camera....

to document how muddy I got yesterday. I should probably start with a little bit of a back story. Originally Keith and I had planned to go skate skiing/ him wanting to try his new toy out a rather large kite that he hopes will pull him around the mountains. Keith and his new toys, kites, I just don't get it, but then again I don't have to, it would have been hilarious to watch him put skis on hook up, with a harness, to a 7 meter kite and fly it for the first time in 30 mile an hour winds. Needless to say I would have had 911 plugged in to my cellphone and my finger on the dial button at the ready. So that was the plan, as you can tell it is not what happened yesterday. We left town, got on the interstate heading to the mountains and then while in the foothills saw signs that read "power outage at the summit" no problem, then this one was the final straw, "4 mile traffic jam at the summit", that did it we turned around and headed back in to the city. We both wanted to do something active, as it was a sunny, read not raining and too ugly, in Seattle, obviously in the mountains it was a different story, so we decided on a ride at St Edwards just north of Seattle. This is no epic ride, but enough to get an hour or two of riding in, two if you do the loops twice. We had a great time after we got rolling. It was a wake of vulture's if two can be considered a group, we both were riding Wade's master pieces on dirt, well mainly mud. We had a great time. Gonterian was right, fixed+dirt=fun. On a side note I rode in the Swobo shorts, they rocked. It was the first time I have worn baggies in a while and I can say that I enjoyed them. Speaking of having fun, Cubed Meat, down in Oregon is on the 20th, if I can talk a few or even one person from up here to go we will, looks like fun.
Looking ahead to this years racing I am still trying to figure it all out. More to come on me racing. I want to race some of the local Indie series races, some endurance races, the cascade cream puff, maybe 24hrs in the sage, Moab? , I have been tempted by the Ultra Series, and Boris' endurance week looks to be amazing as well. It really comes down to how I am feeling, if I keep feeling better and better, and I can get the money thing in order, I will travel and race more , if not it will be more local. As always keep pedaling.

this is a must listen...

he only forgot to get quicksilver into the song.


could have been a bit longer though. It is raining, and windy. I have to work this evening, sure wish I didn't cause then I would be at Fast Fridays. But then again it is cold, windy and rainy, so it might be nice to be inside pouring beer for the masses. Who am I fooling I would much rather be out breathing. I am off for a run and then to get some beer to the event. I am not the best runner but have been doing it as cross training for the moment, it is an easy way to get a fast aerobic workout in. Tomorrow I hope to get some skiing in, it will be good to get out of the city for a bit.

why is it that.....

I bet you were thinking that I was going to start with a list about why is it that....
I seem to be in my pj's in the early afternoon or
why is it that I wake up with coffee and go to sleep with beer or
why ride one gear when there are other options
or why would I bore you with a list of things that I do, so I won't what I really wanted to say was why is it that those closest to us get forgotten. I thanked everyone except those that live under the same roof with me, and share the same bed. The one person that needs the most thanking and honor for what she does 365 days a year. I neglected to thank the lovely lady in my life for all the support throughout the years. So here is it is thanks so much for all that you do for me Danielle, it it appreciated and sorry for leaving it out of any post for quite some time. I also need to thank my two dogs who teach me new things all the time about love, commitment, and life in general all the time. Moezlee the great who has had hip displasia since birth was given a short life sentence of two years and is in to his 9th, talk about pushing through the pain. Tanner the blissful who is all dog, but happy all the time, he is in bliss, however much I used to think that it was bad in the beginning.
So with that I will go back to the why is it that we seem to take advantage or take for granted those closest to us. They get to see us at our worst, best and in between, and why is it that they get treated worst sometimes. We yell at our loved ones, but not our friends, why.? We forget to thank those same loved ones, but thank strangers for the smallest things. why? So this year I am going to make a effort to thank those around me that are closest to me, hell I will thank those that inspire me, those that I haven't thanked in a while. So thank you Danielle, mom, dad, Manon, Stefan, Genevieve, tanner and Moezlee, grandpa and grandma Pellman, grandpa deal, Carol, Robert, Katie and Annie. I think I will start with the family and move out as it goes. Thank you all so much for taking this journey in life with me, what a twisted, rocky, fun road it has been. I love and appreciate you all. There I have done it, a totally sappy post and think it is only the 4th day of the year. more to come.
On the riding front I have been feeling a bit more invigorated, got 3 1/2 hours in yesterday on the fixie, with a bit of climbing, then off to work i went to stand and talk and pour beer for the masses. Oh in other news I am drying out for the month of January just to see how it feels, should make for an interesting time as well. I also would like to post a bit more this year. Well it is nice again here today or at least for the moment so I am going to sit in the window and enjoy some vitamin d while reading a book and resting the legs. as always keep pedaling.

2007....

Some thoughts on the new year. I am tempted to put up a list, but I don't really do the whole new years resolution list. I set some goals and revisit them throughout the year to check in on my progress. At times I slip and fall of the path, usually to later only get back on. I am a perfectionist by nature, and tend to over analyze the nature of things, of peoples motivations and attitudes, so a list of resolutions seems a bit silly. I like goals not resolutions, the word goal has a lot more positive ring to it. However in the new year i plan to post more regularly and I plan to ride and race my bike a bit more regularly. Seattle rang in the new year with a return to rain on the first day of 2007, nothing out of the ordinary for olde mother nature in the new year here.
I had my brother in town over the holidays and it was fun. He is 11 years younger than me and I realized how much I like being an older brother, we had a lot of fun. He is going to school to become a chef, so we ate well while he was here. Its funny we grew up on the east coast and here we are in seattle ringing in the new year. I was not around for much of his youth, he did have a couple great trips to Tahoe while we were living there, he let me know how much he apprecitated that.
So in the new year the goal is to get out of debt. there it is. There are a few smaller goals, but they all go along with the greater goal, simplify. I have been burning all my cds on to my computer, and will be unloading those as soon as I get a back up hard drive. Less stuff, less headaches, less to cart around. Simplify. That is all there is to it. So here is to wishing you all the best in the new year. I will again thank everyone at a later date, just because, why wait to tell those around you how you feel once a year under all this stress of the holidays. I am also working on a birthday challenge for this may. keep you all posted. as always keep pedaling.