Well it sure feels like winter...

Here is Seattle it is gonna be a white Christmas for a change. We have had snow on the ground for days now, at it sure does paralyze this city...Well from going to work or anything that resembles being responsible, but people will walk miles to get to the bar. The other day I had the pleasure of skate skiing around town...bomb a few hills as well. I have still be riding, got the cross bike just in time to trade it in for something with bigger knobs and wider tires...you guessed it been riding the mountain bike around. Today it started slushing, half rain half snow that will turn everything in to a skating rink once the mercury drops...I have been dreaming about winter boots and the wool sweatshirt/jacket from Chrome....I wish i had a picture, but the camera seems to be showing signs of abuse, er use and isn't focusing so well anymore...I had the pleasure of making a snow man the other day, today he fell over, gues we didn't balance him too well..Ooops. Well I am off to have a beer and tell some tales at the local watering hole...just after a run, er maybe, gotta stay in shape somehow...happy or hoppy holdaze to all, and to all a good night...keep pedaling

It's finally rideable....

A little back story. I first heard about this project in a car ride back from Bellingham about 13 months ago. Those in the car can attest that we were more than ecstatic, and full of ideas. I then received a few more tidbits each time the excitement built. Then one of the people involved left the company the other took over two job duties for awhile, and then there is the overseas travel to make sure they were happening. I first laid eyes on one just before Vegas and I was totally stocked, excited and wanted to race on one that day...too bad it was a bit big, I'm on a 53 and it was a 59, I was a bit stretched out to say the least. Had it been the right size I may have challenged Brian to an Indian Leg Wrestling match for the honors..but alas No racing on it for me, oh that and it belonged to Brian, the chief or whatever else you want to call him, I just call him dead sexy and a great partner in crime, and one of my favorite people. Enough adoration I understand I will get back to the bike. So I could list all the parts and it is not totally complete as I have some gold hubs from Profile being laced to dt swiss rims as we speak, or so enough. TRP mag brakes and without FSA this bike would just not look as sweet. Thanks to all those involved in making this whole thing happen. You make me happy. Everyone that sees this bike imediately wants one, and the fact that there are something like 150 in existence makes it that much better. This will be a collectors item I imagine as I don't think they plan on making more of them. Thank you Raleigh for creating such a buzz....Check out their commute blog here.
You may notice that it is need of pedals which it will get today, also it is almost too sexy to ride....art in motion it will be...I have drooled enough and need to clean up...have a good day. As always keep pedaling...

Here are those pics I promised...

I know it has been awhile, and I could list the reasons that I haven't taken the time to post, but what good would that do anyways. I'll just start with this number above. It does look like a gay sitcom of some sort or even worse, but I won't commit those words to text at this moment. I will tell you that this pic and some that follow were taken at Sears last year, and no the two woman taking the photos could not hold back their laughter. We like to celebrate the mustache and in honor of it we dedicate an entire weekend to it. This year makes last year look tame and I am unsure if I will even post those photos, but enough said we have fun. Moustache weekend is an annual affair and if you come in wearing one you get a shot of Jager or Tequila on the house just for having a great stache.... Enough about that. Word to the wise, check you chimney....
This little beauty is from last year as well, I don't like football nor know much about it but after being told to wear something embarrassing this is what I came up with...enough said.
what can I say I might want to say that I am embarrassed by the gut, but then again there are more things to be embarrassed about, if I was going to be embarrassed about anything in this little gem of a photo above, lets just say orange is not my color. I had so much fun at the SSCXWC, what is next year going to look like....
This here is the crown jewel, the Rapha Roller race, what happens in Portland gets plastered all over the Internet, the chief and I sharing a team bonding moment....wow.....I hope I haven't scared any of you too bad and I hope you are laughing. Part of me wonders why I am posting this,the other part is having too much fun....

My friend Kieth needs your help...

I am just going to cut past and copy his email to me, he will say it better than I can so here you are....
Dear fellow riders,

As some of you may know, I am a PhD candidate at the University of
Washington Business School. Two colleagues and I are conducting a
study examining people’s attitudes and decisions about Business, and
we need your help.

We need as MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE to complete a brief and anonymous
survey. The total time for completion will be 15-20 minutes.

For each person participating, we will donate $2 to either (your
choice) the Africa Bike Project or the International Mountain Bike
Association. To sweeten the deal, I'm also matching donations out of
my own pocket, to bring the amount up to $4 per survey.

To participate, simply follow the link below from a PC running
internet explorer (sorry; no macs or firefox):

https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/heyscott/64679

I greatly appreciate your help, and thanks in advance!

Keith Leavitt

I run with foxfire so I am off to work to use good old internet explorer...

Sometimes I take my pants off

I will keep this short and sweet, I promise...an no that is not what I say on a regular basis when I take my pants off....or at least I don't think that is what I say....Well anyways. Portland always seems to bring out the best in me, or the worst depending on how you look at it. Within the last couple of months I have seemed to be taking my pants off at an alarming rate. First there was that Bromantic experience to Portland for the Rapha Race....

I could expand but I have been sworn to secrecy, that's just how it goes. Now a back story on the next time I took my pants off. The whole thing was hatched last year before I worked at my current job...They celebrated Moustaches, the men all grew facial hair, I happened to sneak in to the shoot which took place at Sears, and Christmas cards were sent out. This year blows the top off of last year, think a calender, underwear and moustaches....I have yet to see the pics, but these calenders are going to be something to behold, or just hold and treasure. So shortly after the Rapha Bromantic weekend getaway I had the Bromantic evening with my co workers and let me just say I saw more of them than I ever thought I would....I could post some pics, but I don't have any of the gritty evidence in my hands. I do however have a few choice tidbits from last years exploits to Sears... these will be added shortly for now you will just have to use your imagination....
Lastly on my last exploit to Portland, the one I am still recovering from, maybe it had something to do with taking my clothing off and being covered in mud and beer, but that's just the details right? I have seen a few choice shots but the ones taken by PDX cross rate at the top for me. You'll have to follow the slideshow and see for yourself, think moustache and tattoos keep a look out for me. Do the numbers 12 and 22 help?.....here is a little help....this is how it all began on that fateful Sunday in November......think loud booming voice... I have some emails out there to use some other photos lets hope they get back to me sooner than later...i do believe that Sue Butler is scared for life as she had the honor of seeing my backside all the way to the finish line and made a comment to the likes of "oh god I didn't need to see that......" thanks to my friend Brujo for the use of these photos....

It is all still a blur...part one

Hot Cross Buns!!!!

It is Wednesday and I am just now able to wrap my mind around what happened this weekend. Portland sure does know how to throw a party. My good friends Dani Dance and Matthew Slaven along with the Single Speed Collective were the masterminds behind this one. It is one of my favorite events and it is only in its second year. I strongly urge all you Midwest and East Coast singlespeeders to put this on your calender, you don't know what you are missing. So many people travel to the SSWC I urge those same people to make the trip to this event. It has been in Portland the last two years and will most likely be there again next year, after all Portland is Bike City USA....and for good reason. A normal Cross Crusade draws 120 single speeders, and over a thousand cross racers.
Saturday we were greated with a downpour, we rode to Chris King to register and await the announcement of where the time trial would be heald. Most people waited paitently others sipped adult beverages to pass the time. Soon we found out the event would be in the foothills a short 30 min ride away...more rain...more standing and finally it was time to race. What better way to seat a bunch of cross racers than essentially a short mountain bike loop. Our friend Brant handed out tequilla to the lucky at the top, I stole Slaven's, thats what he gets for catching me at the wrong time. The leaf infested single track descent was hair raising to say the least, especially on a fixed gear. That done we chated and then to get out of the rain we headed back to town, for lunch and some beers. It was great asking everyone how it went because no one knew there time, so it went great for everyone right... that is all I got for now, tommarrow or a bit later I will post more about the actual day of but the highlights were:
a bubble machine, a windmill, mud, short shorts, handups, general chaos.
our friend dave took a few photos...
cx magazine you have to scroll down
pdx cross..
my friend and inspiration over at Raleigh Commutes.....
ill have more next time and more to report about said happenings the next day...I am still trying to process it all. thanks and as always keep pedaling...

Where did those two weeks go.....

I can't believe it two weeks since I posted...The days really do go by fast, well with work, biking, and all the beer events that take up time it shouldn't come as any real surprise. We are in the process of planing for our next weekend excursion to Portland, we almost went with the same costumes, but the Chief had a great idea that should make us stand out. Enough about what is coming up here is what went down...We have recieved much attention after out little excapade to Portland. Check out the Rapha video here. We made it here to, and a new link off their site is pretty awsome as well. If you haven't read the Chief's report on our trip you should, Check it out, you may have to scroll down, he likes to write almost as much as he likes to talk....

I decided not to race cross, because that is to be saved for nasty weather, and with the temps in the upper 50's and the sun shining it only seemed fit to go and enjoy some mtbing in the great weather. Here in the Northwest rain is always just around the corner and great weather needs to be taken advantage of. I rode the Suntop trial, and have to say if you make the bonus climb to the lookout you will be rewarded with one if not the best views of Mt Rainer that I have ever seen. It was way better than riding in circles for under an hour, to climb for about and hour and then climb a bit more before one hell of a fast, amazing decent and to finish on Skookum Flats trail. I couldn't ask for more out of a Sunday. Then it was back in to the weekly grind, then a bit of a head cold, flu to finish out last week. This past Sunday brought on more than a few decisions. Ride the mtb, race cross, or go out and support my friend who was hosting an Alleycat Time Trial right here in the city. Two of the options involved driving, I wasn't feeling that great and I really wanted to support my friend, so I opted for the $5 dollar time trial. In a break from the norm I decided I would race with,.....gasp gears...My get around town fixie is in need of some help and not the best race machine out there, and I wanted to ride gears I am unsure why, but I was feeling like something different. It paid off, I was the 12th rider to leave and the first to break the old course record, with a time of 42 mins and 16 secondsthe headwind was amazing on the last leg of the race. It took me a 1/2 min or so to find one of the stops that was right where i thought it was supposed to be. I finished and that is when this guy started, so I drained a few Rainer's and waited for him to finish. I watched him come across the line and the time was commputed, he finished in 42 mins and 12 seconds, 4 fucking seconds..damn. Bridesmaid again. I went home cooked dinner and then headed to the after party. Jaime was a gracious winner, taking just a sticker, which left the wheelset to me....a fixed, fixed wheelset from Traitor, felt a bit odd winning a fixed wheelset of my geared bike, say what you will...it was a wheelset that I can use on an upcoming bike project so I took em....Now if I can just kick this damn head cold, lung butter congestion thing and get back to feeling good it will be great.

As the smoke settles......

me with my shirt tye and underwear, rallying the troops, now if thats not some motivation.....
The past weekend was one for the record books.....We, Seattle Sabotage, headed south to Portland for what was to be a clobbering of those folks in the city that holds the title as a bike utopia....we showed them of 16 teams we were the only ones from Seattle, and Craig "Nightstick" Etheridge killed it with a smile and all the integrity that he has....he is a true champion and a gentleman to boot. No one would guess that all 135 lbs of him was sprawled out on the lawn of our friend Carey and Myles house the previous evening after consuming many cans of Rainer. All I have to say is he was the most deserving one and I am so stoked that he was able to pull it together and ride to victory. Me, out in the first round, shoe lace wrapped around the pedal and I ground to a halt...

We partyed in to the evening and raced cross the next day....Portlands cross scene is crazy, 127 riders in the ss class alone...I started in the back and contrary to how I thought I was going to feel felt alright, I managed to weave my way to 13th by the end of the race, not bad for a guy on a fixed gear who was out a little past his bed time the night before....

There are pics here, here and here....I poached a few for your viewing pleasure. See what the chief has to say about it here.
pic tthanks to bike portland
these ladies were a bit hairy, but went on to win...
john from Team Beer
the chief sets the record straight

we bust on the scene
all not noted photos thanks to Jose...

There are so many stories to share that I can't think which ones to start with and where to end....We certainly left a mark done there...I hope to see more pics for better stories real soon...I took my pants off to reveal jockey underwear, ran around the course with a beer, brian while winning his first heat got a hand up a 24 oz High Life and proceeded to ring the bell with it, talk about winning with style....I will talk about this weekend for a long time to come that is until maybe our next voyage south for single speed cross worlds in a month or so and then there is the GP, ooh my we having some planning to do.....

Just a suggestion....

this landed in my inbox the other day...given the current circumstances and job security for me I thought I would twist your rubber arms with this little tidbit....

If you had purchased $1,000 of Delta Air Lines stock one year ago, you would have $49 left. With Fannie Mae, you would have $2.50 left of the original $1,000. With AIG, you would have less than $15 left. But, if you had purchased $1,000 worth of beer one year ago, drunk all of the beer, then turned in the cans for the aluminum recycling REFUND, you would have $214 cash. Based on the above, the best current investment advice is to drink heavily and recycle.

drink and be merry, or drink to forget, or drink out of aluminum and make an investment...as always keep pedaling...

the hamster wheel...

Do you ever wonder where weeks and days go....it feels like you wake up and you are doing so much, but not really getting anything done or going anywhere. Lately that is how I have felt....i wake up my days are full, but not much of any note get accomplished...I am working hard, in the last two weeks I have had one day off and worked almost a 120 hrs behind a bar sling suds for the hard working folk of seattle. Oktoberfest then Hopfest...I much prefer the beer geeks of hopfest, where we replace all of our taps with IPA's, the northwest drink of choice, to the frat party that is Oktoberfest...that said on Sunday my day off I went and raced cross, the legs were just not ready for the effort, how could they be...I had fun, drank a beer mid race and finished 8th out of 30 or so, 4 of us finished within 20 seconds of one another. Craig, the energizer bunny, Ethridge put us all to shame winning easily, by over a minuete. I am signed up for Single Speed Cross Worlds in Portland again, this was one of the best times I had on a bike last year, if you can be there you should....it will not dissappoint. I should have a new sweet bike real soon...that is if everything works out and they make it to our shores sooner than later....click here for an idea. You will have to scroll down to see the goods...it looks to be one amazing cross season, we have so much planned, now we need everything to fall in to place. I hope to be headed to this or this or both in the upcoming weeks, although it will probably be one or the other, that is a lot of traveling to Oregon to ride my bike, travel to ride, burn petro to ride always seems a bit odd, but necessary... Maybe I could take the train to one....but fitting everything in with the new job and all the other commitments I have isn't going to be easy....one is better than none....I must go run errands and then head to work...as always keep pedaling.....

life can seem like a treadmill....

Do you ever get that feeling that each day is like being on a treadmill, lots of work, and not a lot of going anywhere? Here is the thing....I need, crave, excitement, movement, the general day to day of life has always been something for me to push through, kind of like that treadmill. For those of you that work in the service industry the analogy to being busy, things fall in to place, I thrive, when it is slow my brain doesn't work as well and I forget more things. You might think that is not the case, but with more things to pay attention to less things are forgotten, make sense? Probably not...I don't really know what I am trying to say or the real point I am trying to convey, but I found the need to write, to attempt to express how my brain works, inviting you along on my journey.....
I have been trying to move in to my new apt, and it is such a pain to look at all the stuff you have, do I really need all this stuff? How much of it do I really need, or am I going to use? I just carry it from place to place, I try to keep thinning it down, pairing it down to the bare essentials, thinking, all glassy eyed if I could use only what I could carry with me that life would be better, simplify they say, have any of you really tired....how much of your stuff do you really need in your day to day life, how much of your clothing do you really wear? how may coat hangers does one couple need...space...how many pint glasses? growlers? books? I forget what all of this has to do with a treadmill....but somewhere in all this if you look closely you might find it and when you do, let me know.....I had a great "other things/lessons learned in my 5 day sswc vacation, but that will have to wait.....
All in all I wake up unpack, go to work, get slammed, have a few beers to unwind, sleep, get up eat, go to work, come home, have a few beers, unpack.....my bad habit of taking on too much and then wondering why I feel overwhelmed but at the same time, not being able to say no, to not take that new job, not stay out late, not move....it will all make sense later on when I can gleam what life is trying to teach me...maybe if I learn to slow down enough I will be able to gleam those little lessons, simplify, less is more, and all those enlightened things we say to make it all make sense....well thanks for reading my rant, my very disorganized rant about who really knows what, a brain dump so to speak...as always keep pedaling...

I have surfaced....

I am still trying to put the last few weeks of my life in to order, first there was a job change, a house sale, a race to find a house in which to live in, a move, working new hours and the list goes on. We found a house in the nick of time, moved in a hurry, packed our bags and went separate directions for a few days of R and R. Keep in mind that I am calling my rest and relaxation a drive from Seattle to Napa to race the SSWC and then drive home....at least it was time away from the day to day ordinary rat race type shit that has seemed to pervade my life all too much lately. It sure is amazing how quickly it can all just take over, you miss a wedding of a good friend, and your girlfriends family reunion, I had already committed to the SSWC and come hell or high water I was going to go, Sorry folks I have been wanting to attend for more than a couple of years and been to broke, busy or full of excuses to make it, I got the golden ticket and was going no matter what. Sorry for the rant, getting off track a bit there.......

Leaving in a haze on Thursday I was unsure of exactly where I would be that evening, I planned to head out of town, stop in Portland to visit some friends and then head on down the 5 until Ashland area....Well I ended up heading towards Waldo Lake with said friends for Portland, it seemed like a good idea. We had a great evening a bit of Tequila was drank a small night ride and then I was off to bed, in the back of my car. Early to bed or not so early, but we sure where up early, coffee, bacon, and cereal. Quickly in to the chamois and off for a quick lap around the lake. If you ever get a chance to ride the Waldo Lake area, do it, it is amazing. The lake is crystal clear, its at elevation and the riding is out of this world, and endless I am told.

Back from my ride I refueled jumped in the car and down the road I went....close to 500 miles later I arrived in the Napa area, took a detour towards a couple of breweries that I have been wanting to check out, then navigating my way towards Skyline Park......somewhere off Imola road in Napa. A few wrong turns and a bit of driving later I arrived...my friends from the Bacon Strip where supposed to be up, but they had turned off their phones, and the gate was not open....I quickly hopped it cruised around the area and found some people nice enough to share the code and I was in...and to sleep again in the back of the car. I awoke the next morning and took inventory of who was around.....and started making new friends....My friend Greg Stone was there and I tagged on to his preride of the course with some of the talented riders at the race...Yuri, who knew the course took us out for the short and the long loops, it was hot....for a boy from the north, the sun was strong, bright and at times it felt like a blast furnace, luckily at night it cooled off. Then some hanging out, then it was off to the bowling alley for the decider as to who gets to host the race next year...lets just say the Durango crew, including the one and only Dr Doom put there stamp on that competition, out bowling and Mrs Pacmaning all comers. Then we ended at a brewery where we as a group took over, the bike pile was made and we snuck away before the night got too blurry.....Andy drop me a line......

Race Day arrived....I woke up a bit tired and suited up to have fun...we raced, drank and survived, I got chicked twice, but who is counting anyways....I suffered got a slow leak and lost some places, but had a great time...the course was steep dusty and had some really nice technical sections to it.....I rode most of the race with the second place woman Anica from New Zealand and Greg Martin from Idaho...we had a great time....

The plan was to hang out for a bit and then start the long trek home...well that didn't happen I decided to hang with the Sun Valley boys, drink some whiskey, some scotch and a bunch of beer instead...we sure did have fun. Shot the bb gun until we were told not to, and then went to the dance party at the tree house, it was a bit of a blur, but all in all I had an experience that will live on in my mind for many, many years...Here are some of the pictures I managed to take...






They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't confuse it, I'll leave it at that.....use your imagination, I really didn't take too many pics, however I did realize that a new camera one with less lag time from the time you push the take a picture button and when it actually takes a picture would be very nice, i have a bunch of opps I just missed the moment pics...

Sometimes it is time for a .....

Change of perception, a break from it all. In biking news.....

I didn't ride the bc bike race...it was supposed to be in order and a go, but it wasn't...a disappointment, yes, but life it too short to let it get to me. So I raced the Cream Puff...

I DNF'd only my second in my race career, disappointing yes, but a moment of growth, could I have finished yes, but I might not have wanted to ride much for the summer. My mom called it learning that there is a dimmer switch....growth....hard to see it that way. I will be taking a break from racing for a bit...I am still going to the ss worlds in Napa, with no intention of racing, might even rock the fixie for fun....

Growth....oh what fun....time to reflect and get it straight in the head...it has been a long 3 years since the sickness....which is still effecting me, life sure is a trip.....thats it for now, work is calling and needs to be attended to.....as always keep pedaling....

I passed the test....

Test of Metal that is. I even bought the glass proclaiming so before the race, and joked that if I DNF'd I'd have to smash the glass on the ground. There you have it, the long and the short of it, now the details will be quick as I am a busy man and can't be chained to this monitor and keyboard any longer than necessary.
We rolled out mid afternoon on Friday, I unexpectadly a bit hungover. I was worried that the legs as they have not been the most cooperative would revolt when put to the test... We got through the border easily, then sat in traffic all the way to Squamish. Arrived checked in to the hotel and headed off to registration. Spun in to a brutal head wind, wondering if I had the right gear on my bike. Then Brett and I began to preride the course, with no helmets or cycling gear on. The first bit it a very flat road spin out. I had visions of being off the back sooner than later the next day as my 34x22 gearing had me bouncing up and down in my saddle. Dinner, a couple of beers and then off to sleep it was, or at least that was the plan. The drunks in the bar next to the hotel had a different plan and we were treated to yelling and stupid parking lot antics until the early morning hours.

Saturday, the race....
We wake up, after 4 or 5 hours of sleep not wanting to move. Go to breakfast were there are 50 cyclists and one waitress, eat some ok food and head down to the race venue. Get there and wait and wait. load our bikes into the shoot and wait. Finally we are underway. I am spinning my little, or not so little, ass off down the road in a huge pack of cyclists. Finally we hit a bit of climbing and I can gain some ground. More spinning, followed by more ground be gained. A pack of us single geared folks settled in to a group of five or so alternating as we made or way up and out the first loop of the course. Some really fun single track, lots of cheering, the whole town comes out for this one. On to the big climb of the day we are still together, then one gets away, then another, then two start to walk. I am in no mans land suffering up this climb. I get passed by the geared folks and finally reach the top of the climb having gained some ground. Then the Powerline Plunge, some technical riding at its finest, bridges, rocks, roots you get the picture. Then out and more climbing. I am feeling good wondering how I am doing.....keep pedaling and finally cross the finish line after a whole lot more spinning. 3:17:02 reads on the clock. Not bad I think. Turns out I was the 2nd unofficial sser, 7th in my expert 30 to 34 age group. My legs didn't fail me. More about the weekend in a bit....life is happening......keep pedaling.

excited and a bit nervous....

Well the big news is I will finally be taking more than a couple of days off work to do the BC bike race. Months back while chatting with my friend Brian, well actually while trying to talk both he and Carey in to racing the Cascade Creampuff, he mentioned that he couldn't because he would be riding the BC bike race. I quickly asked if he had a partner, the response was a resounding yes. I mentioned to keep me in mind if anything changed. A few Fridays ago he called and mentioned that his partner may be dropping out, and "was I still interested?" Was I? Hell yeah. What about the Creampuff entry. Well when you compare the entry fees there really isn't any comparing. Will I give up a 250 dollar entry for a 2,000 dollar already paid, don't have to spend any money entry? Who wouldn't. It has been a dream of mine to do one of these stage races, ever since I had to drop out on doing one a few years back due to health issues. I am both excited and a bit daunted by the whole thing. Will my legs be up to pedaling for 7 days straight, what about my mind? I am sure I will be fine, but still I am a bit intimidated by the whole thing. I think this will be one of the hardest things I have ever done. Brian and his former partner were going to ride geared full suspension rigs, now he and I will be piloting front suspended single speeds. With the way the weather has been lately, read rain, and more rain, where is summer anyways? I can only imagine that we will be slopping it up all the way to Whistler, unless of course summer hits and the rains stop. I can only hope that is what happens. Wish us luck, the plan is to have as much fun as possible along the way. Wish us luck........more thoughts to come.

Part Duex ......

Sunday morning we woke up to what all of us had feared that pitter patter of rain on the outside of the tent. Camp master Steve came to collect his money,early, probably so he could run in to town for some more of his favorite elixir. We ate a bit, discussed the days plans which were to go and get lost in the Syncline area on the Washington side of the Gorge. We had a hand drawn map, and a bunch of people to ask in the parking lot. It all started with a 2,000 foot climb with a mix of pavement and dirt. The legs were feeling ok, nothing stellar as we ground our way to the top. Having taken advice from a guy in the parking lot we tried a bit of a different ride than I had planned based on the map and ended up taking a wrong turn somewhere that lead to a super loose rocky descent, causing Myles to flat twice and us to ride a bunch of pavement back to the car. Oh that and we went through the biggest poison oak field every. Lucky for us we had technu to apply as soon as we got back to the car. All is all I would like to come back to this area with a guide because I bet it has so much to offer.

After that it was off to another brewery, Walkingman in Stevenson. We arrived a bit before they opened, Brett had to get a coffee. I swear he has an espresso radar. No beer for him, just lots of caffeine. My friend Jacob is the head brewer so he and his wife joined us for a bit. We had a great time. "Stevenson a quaint drinking town, with a windsurfing problem." After that we decided to check out the Carson mineral springs for a soak in a tub and a wrap in a hot blanket. It had a bit of an institutional feel to it. "put your clothes in the basket, this is your tub." All from a guy named sonny, who in his late 50's, just happened to have a forearm tattoo and look like a guy not to be messed with. Talk about sweating, and heart palpitations, I thought I might pass out and die. After that we headed on in to the city.

Monday, we were all a bit tired so we went out to breakfast, and then some beers. Then it was on towards home we went. I'll leave you with a few parting shots of Portland, because we all know a picture is worth a thousand words.....

A Gorge, friends, bikes and beers....part 1

This past Memorial Day weekend I just had to get out of the routine that comes from living in a city. 5 days of work followed by one of recovery and then hopefully some bike riding. We planned to meet up with Carey and Myles, who recently left Seattle for Portland, and Brett, one of my favorite riding partners here in the Northwest and check out Hood River, OR. Usually we head to Bend, OR, but the logistics just didn't work out this year, plus with gas at $4.05 a gallon less distance is more for sure.

Hood River did not disappoint. In a nut shell we had a blast. We left Seattle as early as I could, arriving home when the clock says 3:34 doesn't lead to jumping out of bed the next morning. Lets just say we were off like a herd of turtles around 10. The sun was shining, we had heard that it was supposed to rain in Hood River, so we joked about calling everyone and saying we were staying home. We got somewhat worried as we drove down and the sun was swallowed up by grey skies a few mile north of Portland. We were not disappointed though as it came back as we drove up the River Gorge on 84.

The plan was to check out Post Canyon, everyone had told me it was mostly a freeride area, but the guy at the bike shop said there was plenty of xc stuff up there to. I purchased a map and we were off. I felt a bit like the informal leader, on the trail I kept checking the map and getting us lost, just like any good leader does I didn't let it slow me down and many times proclaimed with as much force as I could my refusal to be wrong. We got trail advice from helpful souls along the way, rode some super fun technical stunts and had an all around great time. After the ride it was straight to the Brewery, Double Mountain, and then off to the campsite. Where the real adventure began. It was off the beaten path, we were close to being out of gas, and when we arrived the "camp master" Steve was fairly intoxicated and comical. Looked as though he had been hanging out in his truck drinking with his old lady, how romantic. We paid the one time fee of 20 dollars and went to set up our tents. We arrived to a light show, and that was shortly followed by a dog fight, not our thankfully, a crying baby and a kiwi birthday party all rolled in to one.
near the camp masters house?
great navigation on my part
there's that map again.
getting my freeride on, I am soooo good can't you tell.

Myles applies the "if you ain't crashing, you ain't trying hard enough philosophy. Guess we know where he stands.

I took most if not all of these photos from Carey's blog, she has so many more, you should check em out.

Wouldn't it be great.....

I got a laugh out of this and thought I would pass it along.

"My Next Life" by Woody Allen

In my next life I want to live my life backwards. You start out dead and get
that out of the way. Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better
every day. You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your
pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on
your first day. You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy
your retirement. You party, drink alcohol, and
are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school. You then go
to primary school, you become a kid, you play. You have no responsibilities,
you become a baby until you are born. And then you spend your last 9 months
floating in luxurious spa-like conditions with central heating and room
service on tap, larger quarters every day and then voila! You finish off as
an orgasm!

I must admit...

I haven't been blogging or riding as much as I would like. I have been bogged down here in the city, working. I still try to get a ride in each weekend, lately it has been about 2 or 3 hours. I fear that I won't be racing The Test of Metal, it is a co workers 30th birthday, and the other day bartender just gave her notice, means I have to do a bunch more work than I would like. I still hope that I can get one of the newbies up to speed so that I can make it to this race, after all I did somehow manage to get accepted in to it. The Creampuff, I just hope it doesn't hurt me too bad...my fitness is not were I would like it to be. I will soldier on and hope all goes well, that is if the snow melts there. Last I heard Aid 2 was under 8 ft of snow. Well I have a 3 day weekend coming up, gonna get out of town, do some camping, and hopefully a bunch of riding.

It seems to me that city life is not necessarily for me, not enough open space. I grew up in the sticks of Vermont and used to think that the city was where it was at, not that I want to live as far out as my father, but I would like to return to a place the size of Burlington, VT or a bit smaller. I feel as though I am always on top of other people and cities seem to bring out the worst in people. All the stop and go and congestion. One of my co workers just quit to move to NYC, I can't even imagine what that is going to feel like. Seattle to NYC talk about stimulus overload. I wish him all the luck in the world. Lately I have just been feeling like I need to get out, to leave the routine, the familiar behind for the road. I would like to take some time to tour on my bike, with no real schedule, no time line, deadline or have to do's, I have always been so focused on the goal, on being faster, getting through school, I would like to cruise for a bit, to see things from a different perspective. I have always had so many bills and have to's, I feel like I would like to take the time to go on a journey a quest so to speak....ah this all sounds a bit far fetched and overly simple...or what's the word i am looking for? I believe that we are all on our own journey's and that if we pay attention life will send us messages and direct us to what it is we are here to do....for some it comes easy, for some the static of life derails them and gets them off track, and they don't even try to find there way back and for others it is more of a struggle. I am reading a book right now, I only read it in small amounts to take it in and think about what it is I am reading, called Hardcore Zen Punk Rock, monster movies and the TRUTH about reality by Brad Warner. It is about Buddhism, which I will not try to summarize here and now, because I do not pretend to have a grasp on it all. A lot of what he says makes sense and resonates within me. It seems to boil down to questioning and the fact that there is no silver bullet, no single way or answer, there is what works for you. Taken from the back cover: "Question your conclusions, your judgments, your answers. Question this. If you question everything thoroughly enough, the truth will eventually git you upside the head and you will know. But here's the warning: It won't be what you imagined. It won't even be close." There you have it. I will probably have to read this book a few times to take it all in. Questions are they way to self discovery......through some of my own questioning I have begun down a path that I hope leads me where I am supposed to be...but then again wherever you are there you are. I have now rambled on and on about who knows what and hopefully made some sense. thanks to all who stuck with it this far and as always keep pedaling.

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!!!!

The group loads up under I5 here in Seattle, stories are swapped about the previous nights shenanigans.



I turned 34 yesterday. I can't really even believe that I am 34, not that I feel old, and I know it is just a number, but 34 damn, funny thing is I still feel like I am much younger. 34 going on 14, or something like that. Maybe that is just a male thing, "I don't wanna grow up!!!" well I don't have to. Life takes over and speeds up, I can't imagine how fast it seems like it is going by in another 10 or 15 years. Perspective, it is all about perspective.......................

I took friday off so that I could enjoy sour beer at a local watering hole.....it is exactly what it sounds like beer that tastes sour.....

Saturday the little lady and I went for a ride in the woods with the dogs, then I went to a bbq.

Sunday we had a birthday ride, 3 of us shared birthdays in 4 days. I was the oldest of the bunch. Happy Birthday to Keith and Ben as well, and my friend Ian's is on Friday. A whole bunch of Bull, or is it a whole bunch of bullshit....

Here are some pics from the ride, we went to Anacortes and rode some great trails......
Suck that gut in, vanity wins, I always look bloated and fat in all the other pics.

Ben shakes it out. The rainy drive turned out to be a sunny day, the trails were in perfect shape.

Beard Guy shaved a little part of his beard, he should be in a Civil war movie with that facial hair.

The mandatory group shot. Dog and all. Tanner is wondering what all the fuss is about and if he could just get what Craig is holding on to. What a motley crew. Another highlight of the day was when, as we got ready to ride Craig was blasting Salt and Pepa's Push It. I'll leave you with this.

now imagine 8 of us in an lake parking lot in northern washington dancing around singing, while others fished or got ready to ride their horse's. Thank you Craig, that my friend is humor.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

I could go on and on about all the little lessons and knowledge that mom's bring to us,but this church sign pretty much says it all. Thanks so much mom, I love you. Everybody should take the time today to let there mom know that they are very special people, cause without them we wouldn't be where we are today. Again moms are rad let em know, and as always keep pedaling.
Have a great day mom, wish I were there to share it with you.

South Lookout Mountain....

The crew at the top.


Kevin talked about this climb a lot last year, he mentioned that it was the one that helped so much in all the stars aligning for his Creampuff win. South Lookout Mountain, is a beast, while not as steep as some of the other climbs in the area, it definitely has it steep points, and it goes and goes with only a few breaks in the action so to speak. We had a rather large group that took awhile to organize, we started up Galbraith and then dropped of the backside. We even passed and old hippy commune. The group joked about all things inappropriate, Wolf Creek was mentioned, and a few other horrorish movies. Then the climb started, it lulls you in easy at first and then bites and doesn't let go. Dale and I joked about turning around due to snow and saying we couldn't go any further, little did we know that we would be hiking through snow, just not turning around. It has been the winter that won't end her in the Northwest. Last year at this time we were riding dry trails and the temps were at least close to 70, not barley making it to 60. I can count the sunny days on my hand, to think i don't even need to take a shoe of yet. That's just how many sunny, truly sunny days we have had.
We finally arrive at the top, what a great view we got. Then we took a really primitive single track trail off the top, which was more hiking than riding downhill.
We made our way back to Galbraith and the Whoopsy Woodle, back across the bottom and finished the ride.

As we hiked, or tried to ride, landing us on our faces more than once, through the snow we laughed and wondered what would be around each corner. We arrived at the top, only to see that we had missed the
"where's my sherp?"

Old man Plant? why is he always out front?

The beard makes the hike. thanks for taking the pics kevin.

Another Sunday in Hell....

While some were watching the week later airing of the Paris Roubaix, the original Hell of the North, we were out on a journey in the woods. What is with the week later airing of one of the best cycling events. Ever since that guy from Texas left the cycling coverage here in the states sure has gone down hill. Well enough about that. We had another great Sunday in Bellingham. The group was a bit larger the pace was still quite fast and the weather cooperated. We started off and ended on a trail called hush hush. My understanding is that this little technical number was illegally built, used to have a large log over the exit, and was scheduled for demolition. However instead it was adopted in. Now there is a big since at the exit stating that it is in fact "hush, Hush." We had it all on this ride a bit of climbing 4500 in the total 30 miles although that is a bit misleading as 400 of it was in the 12 miles of rail to trail to and from the actual ride. We encountered some snow, at the top of one of my favorite descents, black diamond, a flat or two, and some sunbreaks. All in all it was a good day on the bike. I wish I could say I have pictures, but alas the camera was left at home again. As always we finished the ride off at Boundary Bay with a few pints. The legs felt ok, just not to powerful, but all in all I had a great time. As always keep pedaling.

life takes over...

A wise man once said..."life is what happens in between plans." Ain't that the truth. The plans are still there it just seems that I have been spending more and more time occupied by work, sleep and not much else.

Legs are still feeling mushy.

Mind is a bit like pudding right now, oh and it just started to snow...couldn't think of anything better......

The plan is to take it day by day and hope for some more sun breaks, which will hopefully brighten and lift my spirits.

So life is certainly happening. I hope to get out this weekend for a ride or two, but the weather looks to be quite horrendous, with snow, wind and rain in the forecast. Maybe I'll just stay in and watch the Roubaix.

Spring is where, oh it was Saturday, I'm hoping for a week of summer sometime in the future.

Maybe it is all a plan to make me tuffer...like that spelling there.

trying to be wise.....

Here I am trying to learn from past mistakes, I am spinning, no longer on the fixie ever day, but on gears to work, lightening the load and trying as hard as I can to recover. Recover has always been just keep doing what I was doing, with maybe a few days of lite riding in between. Looks like that will have to change here for a bit. I have backed it off. Even catching up on some reading. I look at all the reasons that I could be feeling a bit worked over and they all make sense, just thought I was above it all, that somehow I was special. The plan is more of the same, rest, sleep and ride when it feels right. It won't be easy as I just want to be on the bike seeing new horizons, and riding the edge of it all.

This thing called wisdom sure feels like work sometimes. Balance, moderation but only in moderation......blah blah blah.....I just want to be out there riding, so sunday I am going to go out and see how the legs feel, if they don't I will have to cut the ride short for me in the interest of keeping my legs, body and mind healthy......ouch. I always feel like this will in someway be scene as weakness on my part, that I will be one of those full of excuses, but the body doesn't lie and the mind can only override it for so long before the body takes it revenge......lets talk about some lowpoints if we must......I have been there and never wish to return to that place again....it was a cold dark cave so to speak......so I am rolling with the punches and trying not to freak too much...i am prone to highs and lows and have been known to overreact to things....the challenge is to stay true to me and what it is I want and need......so I will keep fighting the good fight and pedaling as much as I can. Thanks for enduring the mental slobber for sure there will be more....as always keep those pedals turning, be it circles or squares.....

so I dropped off the face.....

I have been known from time to time to take a long time between updates. The list of reasons can be long sometimes so I won't bore you with the details. However I have been dealing with some personal issues that have interfered with my updates. From time to time I deal with loads of self doubt and depression this has been one of those times, add to that the feeling of lead in my legs and you have a perfect storm for me not to post, not to see the value in connecting to the outside world. I sit locked in my own head, battling the demons so to speak, and cycling is my drug. When even it doesn't feel right I get very scared. I am currently hoping that I did not push too hard too early in the season and wreck my sometimes fragile mental state. Since I over did it a few years back I have tread lightly, and my fitness has showed that. I fear I may have a smaller dose of that right now. My legs just ache a bit. I do have to stand at work etc. I don't think that it is as bad as it once was, I hope. So I will be spinning my legs to and from work for the next little bit in hopes that I turn the corner and my fitness can get back on track. I have trouble with limits and boundaries sometimes and tend to dive in to what ever it is head first, I just hope that I have not done it again so to speak. I am trying to learn from the past and have a depth and understanding, but it is not easy for me to slow down, when right now that is what I should do. I will probably go riding this weekend again the weather is just too nice to say no to. My timing is impeccable just as the sun comes out I have to take a rest. I ask is there any justice in this, and what is the lesson I am to learn. So I have been reading and resting and trying to smell the flowers. Heres to a good ride on Sunday, that refuels the spirit.

oh what a feeling....

Nearing the top of Blanchard,
still some snow to contend with.
Had a couple of those this past weekend. Again the pilgrimage to Bellingham for the Sunday excursion. Brett and I left early, Craig could not make it. The group would be small again. Small groups tend to cover more ground with less stops. The route started with a trip across town and towards the top of Galbraith, on down the backside we went. Soon we had a bit of road to contend with, but not before rolling by some young hucksters who had this to say to Brett in unison as if they had planned it "sweet Beard dude" in that drawn out I just smoked a bowl drawl. I was immediately reminded of The Big Lebowski, and "the dude" except for the rest of the ride we referred to Brett as " the beard". The beard abides. I guess you had to be there. The plan included heading out to Blanchard and one of the greatest descents around. This would include a few hike a bikes and a little snow. Lets just say it was a very slick day. Around the front of Blanchard and back out to our nemesis, we revisited the " sick joke" climb from last week. I must say that my legs were feeling a bit more there, this week than last. At the danger of waxing and waining poetically, Some days you fight the bike and don't really feel connected and other days it is just you are one with the bike. This was more one of the days where I was connected with my bike. We waited at the top for a bit to catch our breath and then headed out the same as last week. This is where I get that feeling, all day I had been complaining about and wondering if something of the bike was cracked, it just felt not as stiff as usual. Well to make a long story short we are at the bottom of a double track descent through the trees when Kevin looks at my fork and claims the ride to be over due to a large crack in the crown of my Pace fork. We slowly take the fire road to the bottom and pedal our way across town. Turns out I was a few centimeters away from a face plant. thanks Kevin, the hush hush trail might have put the finishing touches on the fork and added a bit of a hospital bill to my day. Instead we had a 40 mile ride with just a touch over 6 grand in climbing. It was a good day. We are set to step it up again this week. We are starting to show signs of fitness.
" the beard" abides

a bit of blow down of the way up

Bad picture of a bad crack, everything has a life span.
just glad we found it before it was too late
back to the steel matching fork for now

pictures from last weekends ride

look at the view. what a day for early march


Kevin contemplates throwing his bike. This is half way up the "burnout" climb. the second of 3 bypass'

the three of us. small groups travel fast. although we saw very little of craig all day, no matter how many times we tried to leave him with the camera to catch up. which he did and then he would shortly disappear up ahead of us.

Kevin showing Craig how many fingers he wants to shove down his throat, at the top of the thrid by pass, "sick joke".