moab

Just got a call from my friend Shawn, and he informed me that he pitted for our good buddy Mark McDaniels at Granny Gears Moab race. Man I wish I could have been there to partake in the desert delinquencey and debotchery. Looks like Sloane had some morning issues, no post on his blog and no word from the man as of yet. McDaniels did it for the experience he is not concerned with the bottom line of speed, just out for a good ride and a good time. His anecdote was: A beer in each hand
smile in between
feral men living a dream
That pretty much explains my man Mark. Heres to you mark, insert PBR's being hoisted high in the air.

So I am feeling better, riding more slowly, but not really forcing the issue right now as it is October after all and I dont need to be flying right now. I have some rides planned to see old friends and and maybe some new as well. I have met another member of the Randoneers Club, Eric, which Kent belongs to as well, who come in to have a beer with me every so often. He lives out on the islands, I hope we get ot ride together some time. Man was that ever a horrible crafted sentence, oh well.

I am thinking, dreaming of riding my bike for long, long distances, I have yet to really understand why, other than it gives me, me time and I can so why not. Plus it gives me lots of stories to tell, if anybody really cares to listen.

So I am a complete dumbass, forgot both my Fathers and my stepmothers birthdays, they are in October, on the 5th and the 12th, but I always think they are in August and it seems like this time of year there is always so much going on in my life that interupts my rythum and I lose track of the days and then one day I wake up and realize I have forgotten these really special people and I have to apologize and then feel like a dumbass, I guess better late than never, but how horrible of me, I even had presents ready for them. Next year I am going to get it. I am going to put up a big sign so that I wont forget. I love you both. thanks for everything.

Time to get taken for my daily walk, the dogs are getting restless.

Gonterians radio tuner

Gonterians radio tuner has been added to the site. I am stoked about this, now his shows can be accessed right from this site. Check it out in the side bar. all kind of great music to listen to. Rock out to Fix Radio. those of you unfimilar with him should turn on the music loud and read over his site, lots of good things. Gonterian you rock. thanks for the walk through, made it simple and easy, now if only I knew how to write my own code. later enjoy

blogger spam

I cant believe it there is really blogger spam out there. I have been getting wierd responses about being able to advertise from my blog. that is not what I want to do I want this to be my brain fart of sorts where I can put it down and get it out. I didnt realize it but I may have to put some blogger spam blockers in place.

The Corporation is a must see. If this movie doesnt wake you up and scare you I dont know what really will. To think what could be own as a commodity in the future and what already is owned, soon nothing will be safe. Corperations are treated as individual people, WTF with no one really being accountable for what the corperation does, or doesnt do. Corporations are, for profit and the bottom line. Nothing else matters. Earth, people, nothing but the almighty dollar. I was only able to soak up half the movie last night, i started to get enraged. I really wonder what the future will be like. will we make it or have we already made too many deals with the devil, so to speak, and now there really is not turning back. Will it be Road Warrior style? will it be fuedilistic, will we all just be owned by a corporation. Is money our god? Is that what matters. Again, the more I pay attention, the more I become aware the more I am enraged and scared at the same time. So many people just dont do what it takes, so many towns, cities just dont put a value on what mattters. I think technology is good in some ways but in other ways it creates larger issues and a real big side effect of that is laziness and the fact that we americans want it fast and now, impulse buys, and to think big business is using psycologists to make it even harder to say no. It takes so much disipline and at the same time so much flexibility to combat all the media messages. No tv is a great start, that really helped me change my view. ha not pun intended. back to technology, computers and email and cell phones serve for the most part good, and I like. But they also create another frontier and another plane for good and evil. They connect us and divide us at the same time. I think inventions should be evaluated on how well they connect people, and provide community. The internet definately connects people through email, while at the same time it allows people to dump on others with no real interation or need to respond. Wow how I got to this I am unsure.
Sorry for all you readers who just wanted bike realted stuff, I got sick and it made me have to think outside the cycling box, and this is what I have been thinking about. We drive hours in our cars poluting the world and call ourselves outdoor enthusiaists? Have you thought about that? Some of us even drive big SUV gas guzzlers, bitching about gas prices and how we deserve this and that, because we are Americans and it is our right. since when. I have to admit I drive to ride epic trails, but that is the only time, and I am in the process of looking for a desiel rig so that we can sell our cars and ride in style on veggie oil. We are thinking about all our steps, remodeling where item originate. At times it is soooo overwhelming and there are just so many things to be invloved with. what about people who eat organic and this and that, but drive suvs and dont think to walk or ride a bike, or carpool. it is a fine line. agian the bottom line for a lot of people seems to me the all mighty dollar. So I ramble on, I am not perfect I am not pure, I make mistakes I dont always do the right thing, I have been guilty of it all and I still do things that arent sustainable, i still consume, I am human after all, I am not some kind of god up here speaking from my high hill.
Gonterians tuner should be up on my blog soon, he rocks. I am listening to the 3030 show right now, man I would love to have a copy of this one, the luck winner must be happy.
So how I got to this all from blogger spam was uncertain, if you made it this far thanks, tell me what you think. Could you ride to the trailhead more often? Everyday make a small commitment to helping our planet be a sustainable better place that will last. one thing will make a difference, get people talking about it.
I am planing on takeing a sewing class, and a film class, I would love to make a single speed film kind of like this. I just got my free copy of Messenger and it rocks. Cant wait to see Off Road to Athens again, this time at home. Speaking of flicks I wonder how Fixed Impressions is coming along, cant wait to see it in full. I would love to get back to vt and do some riding with the Gonterian, listen to him spin and do some editing. Maybe next year. time to get ready to work. Still working on the t shrits they will be revealed soon. again Keep the rubber side down.

diy fenders

Here is Kent puttiing the finishing touches on the fenders. It was great to hang out with the man himself. Kent is one hell of an interesting man. Inspiring. Using what it around to get the job done. Kent starting the project below. We knocked the fenders out, the brake took a little bit more time, but thanks so much kent, I am safer because of you.
Notice the wool. swobo to be exact, when will they return. soon i hope. And yes I know these pictures are in reverse order.
Well kent really made them, but other than a pair of Vulture socks they cost me nothing. Thanks kent. they rock. my behind has never been drier in wetter weather. So here are some pictures. other than that I am wondering what happen to Sloane at Moab. Cant wait to hang out when he gets back. Back to the fenders. they rock. Around Seattle people that know Kent, recognize these fenders, and there is an immediate connection. I like that. thanks again kent. People love them. I wish I had more detailed instrucitons but you can get on kents web page and he has a how to. All it takes is a colorplast sign. kent has tons of parts laying around so we put a front brake on my bike. I am no longer brakeless in Seattle. The rain and the hills won out, it just makes more sense to me. A bit safer. I really dont have a death wish no matter how often it may seem like that. thanks again kent the fenders are priceless.

riding in the rain

so now that I have some diy fenders it is not so bad. that and the fassbinder raingear and I am raging along for hours of fun. just have to find a shoe cover that works. pictures will be here soon. ideas many ideas. I am planning on taking a sewing class here soon so that I can begin to make my own clothing for both on and off the bike. I would really like to make clothing that can do both, and is still stylish and comfortable, that is a ways off though at first I would just like to learn how to sew.
Jason Walker was here we had fun, hope he is enjoying his weekend off.

casual observation, when one works in the service industry where your nights at work are very much like nights out, when you have a night off, you dont really feel like going out. jsut an observation.

Sunday will be spent reading. maybe a small ride, but that is doughtful. Probably tommarrow. keep the rubber side down.

thought on the state of the world

Well as I sit here I fear that we may have done it as a society, we may have really gone to far, with peak oil and our relience on it. What is wrong with us. At what point did we get so off track from what really matters, each other, people is what really matters. It seems to me that we feel more disconnected each day, we drift in and out of each others lives not really caring, not even taking the time to say hello. After all there are just so many people it would take too much energy and time to actually stay in touch. Think satire for the last comment. Is it that we feel so small and our individual efforts dont really matter so why bother? Remember the bumper sticker, "Never forget what a small group of concerned citizens can accomplish" or something along those lines. It may start small, but there are like minded people out there, and with the internet, one of the good inventions that has come from technology, we as a community can be more global and make things happen at an alarming rate. There are so many people out there taking a stand and making a statement doing so. To these people I say thank you for the inspiration. So back to the state of the world, check out this site lots of goodies to look over and what a great title, Oil is for sissies. Read it and think. He has a link to these guys, but they are really putting their words to actions, and the music is inspiring, although not on my typical playlist, I am starting to enjoy bands that have something real to say. They are also the producers of the Xtra cycle, which I would love to get.But truely look at the weather lately bigger storms more varitations in temperatures, more severity. There are earthquakes and floods, New Orleans and TExas, New Hampshire is underwater, 20 inches of snow in the mountains around Denver. WTF Our actions will not go unnoticed by mother nature. We all need to think about our choices, all of our choices have and effect, not thinking is in itself making a choice. For inaction there is action. yin yang all of that. So I challange all of us to make concious choices and think what the implication of each choice is. With increases in oil heating prices increases, food prices increase it is all connected. Most of you reading this site probably understand this, but a lot of people just dont get it. Choices matter, you may not seem a direct link immeditaly but down the road when enough people are on board you will see that it all mattered, and that you did have an effect on the global scheme of things.

I am reading a book called The Philosophy of Sustainable Design by Jason F Mclennan, it deals mostly with architecture but the greater message can be applied to the larger society. I read something that struck a nerve and really made me think what the implications of our situation really could be, and that we need to act now if we want to succeed as a society. Which means we must take in to our evaluation the effect we are having on the earth, on the soil, the air quality, recycling, waste treatment etc. I think you get it, everything is tied together and we need to include in our analysis of sucess or failure the natural resources that are being used and abused.
So here is the comment:
Imagine that we introduce a single bacterium (in a test tube) that will proceed to divide every minute. So at the begining, there's one cell, a minuete later ther is two....at 60 minuetes in this example, the test tube is full of bacteria and the food is gone. When was the test tube half full?.....59 minuetes. So at 58 minuetes, it was 25 percent full, at 57 minuetes, 12.5 percent full. At 55 minuetes the test tube was only 3 percent full.

If at 55 minuetes, some bacterial genius spoke up and said, I think we have a population problem, the less astute majority would probably retort, " what are you talking about? Ninety seven percent of the test tube is empty, and we've been around 55 minutes." At 59 minuetes though most bacteria would probably realize they were in trouble. Suppose they threw money at therir sicentists and begged for a solution. And suppose that in less than a minute those bacterial scientists created three test tube full of food! EVEryone would be saved right? Well no, at 60 minuetes, the first test tube would be full, at 61 minuetes the second would be full, at 63 seconds all four would be full."

So we need to act now, it matters. So I challange each and every one of you to make your next choice green. Take the time to consider the impacts of your choices. Thank you.

check out this bar

Today I was at the Pioneer Organics Food Fair just down the street from my house and ran in to these two guys, and they have one hell of a good product, Paley Bar, and organic energy bar. That doesnt taste like date paste. With the right mixture of ingredients. The guy on the left is Vitaly Paley the creator and the other gentleman is Bob. He does all the packing, shipping, etc. At this point in time they are the only two involved in the whole production and distribution. Currenty the bars are avalible from their website and if you live in the Portland area which is where they are based out of you may have already heard of them. I plan to order a bunch soon. Bob is a cyclist and loves cross racing so we talked bikes among other things. He gave up on the road scene for the mud fests and says he couldnt be more happy. I wore my Car R Coffins sweatshirt, which was a dead giveaway and a good conversation starter. Here are they pioneers in tasty bars and look one of my stickers. Check em out and tell them who sent ya. Tommarrow I ride with kent and most of all I get some serious diy fenders for my steamroller. Over and out.

thoughts on this new life....

Today is one of those days, where I want to get up and be motivated and excited. Instead all I can think about is my new job and how much I just want to be in charge, in control, running the show, not playing second fiddle, not knowing more and being the one teaching the manager how to manage. Last night was slow so I was particularly critical, but the guy just isnt a bartender, he has zero personality, he is not friendly etc, well I digress I wont bore you with the conversation I am having with myself on that front. So I drank a little too much to ease the pain of it all, and am struggling for my motivation, that and I did a 50 mile fixie ride yesterday before work, worked a split shift, you get the point I over did it a bit, but then again moteration never has been my strong point.
So this new life of bike commuting, and being back at my old job, so I am the new old guy, know the regulars, my fitness due to trying to come back is lacking and it is a point of contention for me, like climbing hills knowing that my former self would not be struggling, but that my current self is, whezing and feeling every inch of whatever size hill it may be. I know it is bad to compare, because after all "it is what it is and it isnt what it isnt" so why bother worrying about anything, the plan is set. Wow I really am full of phrases this morning, there is a word for these little phrases but I am unsure what it is, help. So yesterday I did a ride around Lake Washington, chasing the roadies with all their gears and hanging in quiet well I think. I rode with another co worker Chris who is equally fasinated by riding fixed, we ended up getting rained on, not having fenders I truely was soaked. On monday Kent and I will make fenders out of colorplast and I will be prepared. So I commuted to work in Fassbinders gear after returning from my ride, I was overdressed, hit the deck once, nothing bad, and was struck by the fact that Chris rode the whole ride with toe clips and converse all stars, I wonder how his arches felt. That and the fact that he was ripping along and he smokes. I tried to convince him that he would be much better off if he didnt smoke, not only for bike riding but just in general.

So my new life is like a work in progress, I havent settled in enought to get any kind of routine, which I hate, I am a creature of habit, I want some routine, I am stretchin right now, and worried about paying the mortage etc. Wow I am starting to scare myself. So if you are still reading this thanks.

I cant wait for Kents book to come out. Dont forget to pick up a copy of Dirt Rag and read an exerp from it

I should have a link for Gonterian's radio show and he may have a way to download the shows soon. rockin.

Sock orders, please keep them coming. new email is onegearonemind@comcast.net thanks.

I should be making some shirts of my own shortly, if not I may do the cafe press thing.

My legs feel like shit, I have to walk a lot at work, need to use some better shoes or at least get the superfeet back in the shoes.

Danielles sister just gave birth to a baby girl, we were up a bit of the early morning with crazed updates from her mother. It always scares the shit out of me when the phone rings at that time, thank god everything is a ok. they had to race to the hospital, got in a cop car well you get why I didnt sleep so well.

Lastly I hope to get out and do some riding with the .83 clan. Looks like a lot of fun. Fixie rides almost every night. sweet.

connections, thoughts from a new land....

So here I am sitting, talking, emailing and doing all those things that I need to catch up on and wondering about connections and staying in contact with all those people that I have a connection with. Wondering what my old friends and family at the Lone Eagle are doing, yes it was a dysfunctional family, but it was my dysfunctional family. I learned so much from them and they got to watch me grow from a boy in to a man or at least a more mature boy. So Seattle is new and I am forming a new family, as we get older the world seems smaller, we run in to more people that think similarly and they know people that we knew, it just seems like home here in seattle already. I ran in to a guy the other day who prints tee shirts in his garage, asked questions and there you have it we are going to get together to make some shirts and stickers. Check out his art work here. he is not much of a cyclist and more of a skater, snowboarder, well I did both of those for years, he prints a zine etc. Cool guy. Seattle has so much to offer, it has a very small town feel in a big city enviroment, it doesnt really feel like a city. Except it has sooooo much to offer in the way of music, arts, community. Every area has all it needs, i.e. every area is its own self contained community. So far I like it here.

Another topic that has been on my mind as of late is sustainability, it seems to be a catch phrase for all things that emcompass a new way of thinking, about life, about community about the ways we live. About the footprint and the legacy that we as humans leave here on the planet. Recycling is good, but re usealble products are better. Bamboo, hemp and organic products that dont exploit the world. Do we really need all the choices that we have, good in one way bad in another. I hope I am making sense, this is after all a work in progress, this blog, this life. Think about limiting waste, about how much trash we produce and other ways we could handle it. I read an interesting fact the other day, for the first time since the gas crisis of 1973 bike sales outsold new car sales. which rocks, people are starting to see that life can be different. of course I cant find the web site again, but when I do I will site it so yall can see it. Other catch phrases that I have heard are fair trade, which means to me that the laborer and the product are not exploited in other countries, they are paid a fair market value for their goods. along with sustainable is the idea of consumerism or over consuming, do we really need all the shit that we seem to collect, simply put live simple. Easier said than done. but the seed the thought is a good place to start. So there will be more on this as i get more info and such. Think biodiesel, think vegatable oil, we could live differently, cars can run on hemp oil, bamboo, etc. it does exist and things can be different. Clothing, food, everything can be different. Check out this site. Dont think SUV and think SUB.

If you all ever get to Seattle and want to enjoy some great beer check out these places. Big Time Brewery, where I work, Elysian, and Maritime. They all get my seal of approval. Two of the ales at the big time just won awards at the Great American Beer festival. off i go. pedal pedal.

Reestablishing my rythum

Well I feel as though in this transtion from one exitence to another is mind bending, and takes up all of my energy and time, and therefore I havent been emailing, blogging, calling, or in other ways communitcating with the outside world. I am trying to find balance and a schedule and things as simple as where the sugar is kept. Moving is one of those experiences that I am not a fan of, dont get me wrong now that I am here I am loving the change, I feel like I have more of a communtiy already. Again I am a creature of habit and repetition which I think most humans are, we are drawn to the familar, the comfortable, to feeling connected and grounded. Not to say that we dont like difference, but like the saying from the old show Cheers, and I am paraphrasing the intro. "you want to go where everybody knows your name." Aint it the truth. So in this move i missed Interbike, I have been trying to ride my mountain bike, but I have to say I havent ridden that much. Today I was supposed to ride with Sloane, sounded epic, but I started a new, old job and was there until 2:30 in the am. With two hours of driving to the trailhead and I wouldnt have gotten any sleep and I have been on a 9 day work stretch so there you have it. I have done so much and not sat down to take it all in. Like I said I am back at a new old job, 7 years ago I lived in Seattle, worked at a great Brewery called the Big Time Brewery, in the U district, well I am back there. Going back to a place where you used to work is truely like riding a bike, it all comes back quickly. I quit the STeakhouse, too much bullshit, and went to work in a much more laidback social environment, I actually enjoy going to work. So the commute is about the same, and I ride it every shift. A bunch of us that work there ride bikes and there is another fixie rider. Good times. I still have to hook up with the larger fixie population up here. There was a race on Vashon Island yesterday with camping and 15 miles of fixie racing, sorry I missed it. I plan to get out there and ride as soon as I can sure down what my schedule is going to be. Like I said in the begining this up heavel of roots is really drain, but exciting, it is very yin yang as I think life is prone to being, beautiful yet ugly, you get the idea.

Check out a exerp of Kents book in the current issue of Dirt RAG, Kent sorry for dropping out of existence here for awhile, I will get it all together and we will go do some riding. Hope Port Townsend is good today.

Check out Gonterians FIX radio, bunch of new shows to listen to. Gonter is there a way to download your shows yet? Sounds like the hike was great. www.deepseno.blogspot.com. Gonter anyway for me to link your shows to my site. Just a thought I had right now. Did you get the socks? What do ya think? Hinesburg should be great. The housing there is crazy, much like other college towns. Hinesburg means more driving, huh?

Boris, I will call you soon my friend. Lets talk next years E100. www.thee100.com

back to the world, I have been lost in a whirlwind, my own hurricane of sorts, pardon the pun, well I will get back to creating and more of a set schedule where things actually get accomplished. Keep pedaling. What is the report from the meeting of the endurance minds at interbike. what is in store for next year? Jeff let me know, that is if you can, or is it a secret?
Thanks for reading my mind dump. More dumps later. I will try to post every or every other day from here on out. Keep pedaling.

does it get any better?

not to be overly political. ha ha
Official Announcement
The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the government's political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed.It just doesn't get more accurate than that!

social security????????

My friend mark sent this to me. all I have to say is it is worth the quick read. that and it all makes too much sense in an ironic, very satrical way. The old the rich gettin richer and the rest of us pickin up the tab. here it is:
SOCIAL SECURITY:(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society.They felt they should have a special plan for themselves!

So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan. In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.For all practical purposes their plan works like this:When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.

Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments..

For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives.This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries. Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives.Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA....ZILCH....

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them.

You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds;
"OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"!>From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into,-every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer)-
we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement.Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator! Bill Bradley's! benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.That change would be to:

Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us then sit back..... and watch how fast they would fix it.If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve.

Something we should all seriously think about. it just aint right, it just aint right, it just aint right. it just aint right, it just aint right. This crosses political boundaries and should matter to everyone reguardless of who we support the right the left, the good the bad, the rich the poor, all of us who havent been in government, and they should also see the irony in this, of course they want this to stay, just imagine if that money stayed in the system maybe we wouldnt necessarily see Social Securitys demise. that is just obsene in my mind. Keep pedaling as it is the only way to stay sane in this day and age. I think better on the bike, clearer. Time to ride.

finally back on line

Well I finally have an internet connection directly in to the house, before we were pirating others networks that were unsecured. I know not the best way, but hey you never know what signals are flying around in the air. Well its sure is glad to be back.

I am currently in training at a local steakhouse, interesting feel to it not to sure I will be there for long time, i am printing up my resume and inquiring about other avenues of employment. It just doesnt quite feel right, too uptight, no ability to let loose, I have yet to see how the clientel is, I am talking about a couple of the managers. two faced, stoic, I am sure you get the point, and to think I have only been there 3 days. Put it this way I have to memorize every ingredient in every sauce, and get quized on it, before I can get on the floor. That is just one of the 5 packets of information that I must know in the next week. Well enough about that.

Sloane and I went riding the other day. Fun, steep, rocky, twisty stuff. see some pics and read sloane write up here. http://s90235461.onlinehome.us/sloane/blog.html I will figure out how to send a hyperlink soon. I am still computer ilterate. those who want vulture socks let me know. REno clan, talk to amanda mcdaniels, she has quite a few pairs, looks like I sent her some extra ones. Bendors talk to wade, he has a bunch too. that way you can save on shipping. So that is my life.

One more short story about being creative in carrying items to work. I have to have pressed shirts, so I folded some cardboard in half and carefully folded the shirt in side, slid this in to my bag and off I went. I have to ride slower on the way to work, I arrived a sweaty mess. Not the best way to show up.

Made a connection with another fixer in the area, looks like they have a group ride on thursdays. Out of the westlake center. good times, I will have to hook up with them, more when I do.

Did I tell you they have really good beer up here?

Wish I was gonna be at Interbike, to meet up with all the enduro freaks. Check out www.jeffkerkove.blogspot.com to see the email a bunch of us riders recieved from him. over and out, time to go dirnk some black goodness.

What happens when.....

What happens when you take fat, been drinkin too much, used to the desert and the dessert out for a ride in the Washington Wilderness. Well to make a long story short, a sweaty happy man, who you occasionally have to wait for at the top of a climb. Sloane Anderson hatched this plan to go for a ride that he hadn't done in about for years, and he was pretty sure he remembered how to get there and that it was about 2 plus hours away, just over Stevens Pass. Well hearing this I was in. I learned awhile ago not to ever give a definate return time to my girlfriend so with that Sloane and I were off to explore, and explore we did, more in the car than on the bikes, he remembered the trail without fail. After exploring a few roads, laughing about not riding until late in the evening, and deliverence type hillbillys, we happened upon a forest service road that we started down and he knew it was the one. So a 2 hour drive to the trailhead was now at 3 1/2 but we were hot on the trail. With the day starting out as it had we loaded up with lights, we each had only handle bar lights, me only a Vega commuter light, and as much food as we could. Sloane I will never forget the banana placement, that lead to uncontrolable laughter. Just think totally different career choice full of terrible rythmic music.
So the trails were pretty awsome, we started with a fireroad climb, then a singletrack climb that was loose and steep, well lets just say I was forced to do a little hiking. Then rolling, twisting singletrack, then a long singletrack climb which I thought would be a good idea for me to lead so I push and dug deep, only had to walk one 100 foot section. I was sweating like a stuck pig, but I felt holding my own, especially when the terrian went downhill. The trails get a lot of motorcycle traffic so the berms are well established and totall railable? is that a word. So on like this it went, Sloane had remembered it taking about 2 1/2 to three hours, so we had lights like I said and we needed them, we Jedied? again is that a word? the last couple miles of the trail. I had a blast, we saw some other trails in the area that we would have explored, but we did not give ourselves the time to do so. We plan to go back, now that we know the way, camp overnight and do some real exploring and some longer riding. We ended up riding for just under two hours on the trail, with another 15 minuetes on the road to get back to the car. With all the dust on the trail, it was leg drainer, that and I am out of shape like I said before what happens when you take a guy who has spent more time in bed due to mono/overtraining than anywhere else out in to the wilderness for a ride. He has fun, huffs and puffs and sweats like a pig. Nuff said, sloane lets ride soon, I had a great time. thanks

Vulture Socks.....

Help support the small frame builder. thanks to all who have ordered. These babies rock. All cyclists love socks, add these to your collection. questions comments to npellman@hotmail.com thanks again. Today it is beautiful here in Seattle. Sloane and I are going to go rage on some of the trails up near Stevens Pass. More when I return, now I must prepare for my ass to be handed to me, over and over again. Water, and more coffee are in order until he gets here. More later. no time now. Remember support the little guy, in this world of corperations it is really a nice feeling to know and ride with the man building your bikes. Makes it more human, more connected. With Wade you are definatley more than just a customer. the man is passionate and meticulous. Plus if you order a bike, you always have a place to stay in bend and a group of really cool people to hang out with. Thats it for now, coffee, water good.

Garage sale thoughts and.....

I had to sit outside in my drive way today and play nice and attempt to sell all those things that we accumulate that end up just taking up space, trinkets, odds and ends, gifts new and old. I was struck by the fact that most people that come to these events are looking to spend no money and get a great deal, hummm you might say, but they will bicker over a dollar, they will try to talk you down from 15 dollars for a printer to 2 dollars. Some people seem to be casing you for other things, asking questions about my bikes and all the other boxes yet to be gone through. So here I am with 4 hrs of thoughts from watching random people stop by, some to chat others just seem to be passing the time, whatever the reason we ended up giving away more than we sold, but as far as I am concerned I didnt need it anyway and if someone else can use it, at least it is getting used and most of all I no longer have to house it. We are trying to simplfy a bit, I still have trouble getting rid of any cycling stuff, and am a pack rat at heart so every thing seems to have some sentimental value, but slowly but surely I will release my grip on the material and hang on to what really matters. Danielle just chimed in the biggest sale of the day was a old clock that we got at Cost Plus for 10 dollars, and two camp mattresses that we sold for 5 bucks each, well at least we organized the garage, my work area/hang out bike area is shaping up to be a really great place to hang out. We also paid for lunch with all of our sales. yeah for us.
So
s
So in amungst recycling our old in to anothers new I thought about some products that I really like. Below is a picture of the new wallet i bought, in some ways oh so eigthys, can you say velcro wallet, in other ways very modern,it is made out of scrap cordora left over from making messenger bags at ReLoad Bags here in Seattle. Apparently one of the semstress got the idea because she was sick of seeing the scraps go to waste. Now that is thinking. As you can see the one I picked out was camo, i just love all things camo, sticking to my Vermont roots one might be tempted to say, with the of so not Vermont pink bike. This one ran me about 24 bucks not cheap but they are supposed to be indestructable. They are still getting there website going so the best way to pick one up or just to see others is to google randL, or to check here, www.chikabird.com Another company that I really like is Hypnotic Designs www.hypnoticdesigns.com I have been using there knickers for quite some time and really like them, they are cut to just the perfect length, they are a small company out of northern california.
One product that I am dying to try is the xtracycle, www.xtracycle.com out of california as well and turn my bike in to an SUB (sport utility bike)
As always, Steve Fassbinder makes some great rain gear and is an amazing cyclist, his email is sfassbinder@hotmail.com he is fresh off a third place finish at the Global Championships in Denver, congrats to steve. I will try to get some pictures of his wares up on the web soon. Think street wear with bike functionality, and as always a little camo to boot, gotta stick with my roots ehhh!!!!
Support our commuity where you can, we cyclists need to support each other when ever and wherever possible. and now.........

watch out what happens when you play with glass, nine stiches, lots of blood, and how do you hold a handle bar with this. I rode trails two days later with a splint on. yikes. The upside was on my last night at work I got to hold my finger like this to whoever asked about it. Good times.

challenges

I rode around the last couple days on the Steamroller, Ihave her setup with a 49x18 for the road, I have taken some small juants off road, but the rolling terrain here in Seattle it is quite a challange. That is challange #1
Challange #2 is more traffic more obstacles, more stop and go equals more focus.
Challange #3 moved here to Seattle thinking that I had a job lined up thus making, cash flow not an issue, well to say the least they seem to be flaking in a major way, apparently a hand shake to some people is not a commitment or they can easily change their mind with no looking back. Well I hate to say it for them but I plan on getting an answer, and not just walking away by being ignored. Sometime I just need an answer, and think that people need to be more consious of the way they treat others. nuff said.
Challenge #4 Money. need I say more.
Challange #5 too much good beer, again need I say more. There are two things I really love in addition to cycling, coffee and beer. One might say I have found my nirvana? Is that the right use of the word.
Challenge #6 Trail access without driving my car. Might have to get over this one. I can ride to some trails, but the commute to them is quite lenghty. Seattle locals can you help. These are a list of a few of the major challanges that have been brought on by the move.

On a postive note I have been loving riding my bike around the city to check out different areas and to get my bearings. I have found that I get a better feel for a place by riding around. Today I am going to said business to get some answers, always one for some kind of closure/answer. And tommarrow I am going to see one of my favorite bands out of NYC. Madball. www.madballnyhc.com Check it out, be warned though. They have been around for quite sometime, even broke up for awhile. The Vulture, www.vulturecycles.com has a new post, the man is hoping to crack the top ten at the local cross race. From the sounds of it things are looking up business wise for him as well, and Rio his son rocks. Socks orders are rolling. remember questions comments to npellman@hotmail.com the new connection is about a week away. Stay tuned as I have some new ideas on the way. Be sure to check out www.bikeblogs.com lots of good links to all things bike realted.

I have some other things to post but this one is getting lengthy as all my posts lately have and I know attention spans are not always lengthy and if only I could write better. more to come thanks, keep pedaling.

what is it about fixed

What is it about fixed gears that is so intriging. Are they the next thing. I see more and more every where I go, chicks on fixed gears, commuters on fixes, what is it. In this world gone mad with technology and the next invention are more people seeing the benefits to living simple and connected. There is something very organic and simple about fixed. They are low maintence, low tech but at the same time require a high degree of skill and attention of the rider. These are not automatic machines, if you get to comfortable you are liable to get in to bad situation.

I have to thank 4 people who have inspired me in the fixed gear transformation. Gonterain, who lives in my home town of Burlington, VT, www.deepseno.blogspot.com be sure to check out his radio show while you are there. He is making a movie about fixed gear riders, be sure to check out the trailer while on the site as well. Matt Chester www.mattchester.com mandatory fixed gear reading. Wade the Vulture, watching him race the local bend cross race on a fixed gear was enough the conversation that night was icing on the cake. www.vulturecycles.com check it out. While hanging out with him he showed me pictures of the ti road fixie he just made, that was out of the world sexy, with an eccentric bb and all, hand polished, wow, was all I could say. When seeking inspiration this man Kent Peterson, is the man, home from the great divide on a single speed, and I would post a link, but they never seem to work, kent can you help me, he has done fixed gear touring etc, the man is a legend to me, or in the process of becoming one. So to all of you thanks you have been much inspiration.

I cant wait to get my new bike from wade, here shortly, and hit the mucky gooy Pac northwest trails in true style. I have taken the Steamroller off road a couple of times but with no front or rear brakes just my legs doing all the work, it is rather freaky, that and the road tires, slicks dont really grab the trails that well. So to say the least I am looking forward to my first true off road fixed gear ride on my new bike. I have been riding on the roads fixed except for a few digretions to gears, for the last year and a half.

In other news. This is day number 6 with out getting in to a car. yeah for me.

Ghandi once said.....

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."

aint that the truth. It rings true to me, I have consiously been ananlyzing my life and how I live it. Which has been a little disturbing but very healthy. Those faithful readers will know that i have had a lot of time on my hands as of late, not racing, not training, just hanging out.

I have always had a nervous energy, a driving force, and it has been a challange to slow down enough to "smell the roses". Being a fast moving hard headed driven man has had its value, but I have settled in to me more. what I am about to say is not some kind of drop out and dont succeed dont fly high, some kind of loser anthem. Life is a true balancing act between blur and lazy,between doing to much or trying to be too much and not being present and doing too little. To get back to the above comment life doesnt need to be a blur, we need to be aware, and present to be truely alive. If more of us were consious we would certainly be living in a different kind of society. I see the value, and benefits of living simple, leaving a smaller footprint, while at the same time doing those things that really make you shine, that make you heart happy. Oh fuck what kind of hippy I must sound like, it is not so much happy, hippy, peace love and the such it is more realistic, more it just makes sense to shop locally, drink locally, support the craftsman not the huge corportations, be aware of what you are buying and how it is produced. The effect it has on the world, on the community.

So here is what I have found by slowing down and being in the moment more, life actually picks up speed, ironic to say I know. In doing so at the same time it feels slower. ahhh. Is any of this making sense to anyone but me? ahhhhhhhhhh I spend more time thinking about what it all means, it has helped me define, to priortitize. Since I arrived in Seattle I have not driven or ridden in a car. oh how great it feels to not have to get in a car almost every day to go to and from work. Jumping subjects.... GAS is cheaper up here and along the way to here than Reno and california, WTF how can it very so much. I left REno and it was 3.15 I have not seen it above 2.89 here in Seattle. ironic. I talked with my mother and it was 3.30 in vermont. huh?

Ride on, ramble on, blog on.

there in....

There from Sock Guy, we went with 5 inch cuff wool socks and the old skool logo. We have s/m which will fit up to about a mens size 9 and l/xl for all you big feeted people out there. As you can see they look pretty sharp. They will run you 10 bucks a pair, plus shipping and handling. I will try to get a pay pal thing going, and a link from the Vulture cycles site, to streamline the process. For now just email me at npellman@hotmail.com and we will go through my paypal account for the time being until Wade and I get every thing under control.
Relaxing Vulture Style, you cant see the PBR but its there have no fear. Let me know what you all think. again the email is npellman@hotmail.com Since I just moved and am feeling better and better more blogging should happen. For the time being I am sharing a computer so it may take awhile for me to get back to you all. Have no fear the socks are here and ready for mass consumption. Look for them in a hood near you soon, Hopefully I will be at Interbike helping to spread the word. Rage on, pedal and just dont stop.

updates and random info

Well here I sit in the lovely city of Seattle, looking out my 3rd story window at a grey day, guess I should get ready for more. ha ha. I am excited about the change about doing new and different things and riding new and different trails. I have friends in the area, such as Sloane Anderson, I also have friends of friends that I will shortly be contacting to get shown around, and to get in to the local bike culture. Re Load www.reloadbags.com bags is here, sewing and creating great products, very artsy of all shapes and sizes. I have been enjoying time away from structure and using it to sample the local beer, of which I will never get around to drinking all of. I have a certain place in my heart for IPA's and tend to stay with what I know. The Maritime Brewery is just around the corner, those of you who know the Jolly Roger ale, that is them. Was that even a sentence? Whatever. I never said I was the most articulate. Is that not what this is all about, this meaning the blog, to blowout the random snot that accumulates in the head if we don't clear it. My blog may just become like a snot rocket of the mind, blown out sometimes landing on your shoulder some times by the wayside, take it or leave it that is what it is. getting back to what is going on. I have been feeling better, I acutally rode 60 miles yesterday on the fixed gear. Went out the REDmond to see my good friend Kent, he has gained the weight he lost and is looking as fresh as ever. I am thinking of joining him while he explores a route for the 400 miles of dirt traveling north to south along the cascades, he has used a computer program called Trips and trails I believe that has kind of maped out the route, but much exploration is needed to make sure that it really is doable. Back to the ride, felt pretty good, although today I am definatly feeling yesterdays effort, a litttle more coffee and rest was in order this morning.
The trip up here was a fun one, spent some time in Bend with Wade, who is a dedicated fixed rider at the moment, when I arrived he was racing the local cross race on his fixie and doing quite well. Later on he said he wanted to have a fixed gear bike club and call it "SHOOTING BLANKS BIKE CLUB". get it ha ha. look for it in the future. We ate pizza with his father, grandfather and girlfriend Jessica, and then continued the evening at the DEchutes Brewery, ending my night drinking the nectar of the gods that is called Black Butte Porter, on the cask. Good times. The next day we ate breakfast talked a little more and then I hit the road for SEattle. So you are all probably bored to death right now so I wont ramble on any more right now. Email shoud be sent to npellman@hotmail.com for the time being as the old address is gone and the new one not yet connected.
Although I must chime in one more time about the worlds which seem to be a bit of a joke, no tinker, not chambers, no kerkove,we know what happen there,what happened. Could it be that people really see it for what it is, a marketing ploy. Congrats to all the participated, Dejay was getting after it, and it sounds like it was quite a miserable time. Maybe all this sickness was a blessing in disquise, the weather at a lot of races has been less than stellar.
I must give a shout out to Rich Dillen for being the first single speeder to complete the trans Rockies, and he did it rigid, I wish i could have been there. and congrats to all at the sswc sounds like it was an amazing time, wish I could have been there as well. I still have a long life to live, and being sick has sucked beyond but in the same breath has been a blessing and a learning experience, life has a way of being cruel and kind at the same time. Pedal on my friend, pedal on.

I must chime in

I must chime in on the whole 24 hr worlds/jeff kerkove being banned etc. I had already decided after last years Worlds not to return for the following reasons:
1. the high entry fee
2. the hidden costs, for the gondola, for parking, for the awards ceremony, let me say that again Staurt charged for the awards ceremony. WTF
3. the lack of prizing, I got a participants medal and camel pack for second place in the SS category, again WTF
4. the timing, lack of overall results
5.Stuart and his lack of integrity, the man chose that forum to bash another company, I ask is this in the spirit of Mountain Biking?
6. Its lack of media coverage, in past years there was much more coverage. a sign of the times I think, that he had pissed so many people off that they were unwilling to give him support.
I am sure i forgot others but my point was I was not willing to part with my hard earned cash to support this guy. I think that all should read the post on MTBR's site and make there own opinion from the looks of it though most have and are. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthreadphp?t=121068 I predict the demise of the 24 HOA soon, and I would be willing to say the sport will be better because of it.
If you read the thread you will most certainly see what it is I saw that Jeff really said nothing mean or even in my opinion bad he just asked some questions and made some points, I believe that he could have said much more hurtful things had he wanted to, but he is a man of character and even after being banned did not attack 24 HOA at all, he took the high road, one that I fear stuart doesnt even know exists, he is such a snake and a money hungry dirt bag.

I wanted to wear a shirt that had a dollar sign over the word athletes with a big question mark after it and wear it to the awards last year at the worlds , anyone interested, if so let me know and I will get some printed up. Add to that last year half of the mens podium didnt show at the awards, mainly Tinker and Nat Ross, that to me speaks volumes, that and the fact that Nat is helping to put on the Kona Series, means he is not happy with the current situation.

So to Jeff I say thank you for having your integrity to all other racers I say read and make your decision, let your money do the talking, let promoters know that you support them by going to their races. I say it is about time that we rose up and let it be known how we feel. I admit he marketed the Worlds and it work we believed and showed up to race, however that is what it was a marketing tool for him to make money and then by making you qualify he doubled his money, remember it is really only a world class race if we the racers show up and make it that. So stand up and be heard I say, with the amount of other high quality promoters and races out there why give your money to this man?
take the bull by the horns and stand up for what you believe I say.

what you are about to see

I had two days off and I thought what better way to spend them than by seeing my long time friend Brady. A little history, brady and I were each others first real drinking partners in high school, we reminsed that it is amazing that we didnt get in more trouble, doing those things that teenagers are prone to do. Lots of hormones and no way to cope, mix in pent up agression and that is what we were. So we both survived and have moved slowly in to adulthood, but then again that is another story. He has settled on being a tattoo artist and in the last 4 years he has improved rapidly and is starting to make a name for himself. He currently lives in San Deigo and works at Funhouse Tatttoo. Check out Brady's site at www.inkademic.com
Back to the couple of days off, so I went down to get inked and see an old friend who I hadnt seen in quite some time. I brought a friend from work because he is also in to tattoos and was looking for a reason to get a new one. So we headed down on thursday and hooked up with Brady and company for some Italian food and good company. I will keep it short so as not to bore you. What you see below is work that brady put on my skin, a skull with mandatory flames and a crankarm sticking out of the top, from the angle in the picture it is hard to see the crankarm but it is there. On the pain scale this was not the worst I have endured that title goes to the sacred heart in the center of my chest, but close to the nipple on this one and around the neck it felt oh so great. I just love the way it feels today a couple of days later all scabed up and tight as hell. I am so stoked with this piece and with the quality of artwork that brady is put out and he is only getting better. I am so happy for him. Enjoy, what you see took in the 4 hr range and was almost constant, the man does not mess around. I imagine in the futrue I will be getting some more ink from brady.

me awaiting the pain, I look out of it but I am really just laughing at what is about to happen, as my friend Geoffrey said, before the crying starts. ha ha 

my new tattoo. 

the only tan lines that I have this summer, obviously you can tell I have not been spending to much time on the bike as if I had I would have a more traditional cyclists tan, very reminisent of the farmers tan. cheers to all whove got the tan I wish I had. 

updates

Well I have started to ride about 4 days a week real easy on the road, and with gears for the moment. yuck, but look at the good side at least I am on my bike. Wow and might i say I am out of shape, fat and slow. Good times, fitness will return eventually, I hope. No plans as of yet to race I am tossing around the idea of racing Moab, but am scared to commit to anything in case my body/mind go to shit again and I am forced to ride the couch some more. That said I would love to race moab on a team, just still weighing the options I would hate to dissapoint myself or the team.
Went to Seattle, saw some good music at a little Irish Pub down the street from the house, had a job interview, got a job. I plan to move in about two weeks. MOre to come later when life slows down a bit and I have time to put it all down on paper. I am packing up the house and all my belongings trying to squeze in the rides, and tie up all the loose ends and say my goodbyes, which I have never been good at so I will probably try to throw a littl shindig at the house and then shove off the next mornign. A big change is coming, especially in the weather, but the good part is I will be able to commute on my bike to work, no driving in nasty traffic for this kid, and there is always so much to do, so many things to see that I am really looking forward to the change. so that is all I have time for right now, as I said before more later. out

Moving...

Well I have not posted in awhile, I have been packing up my house, getting it ready to rent out, and moving my stuff to my house in Seattle. On thursday I am going up there for a couple of days to look in to jobs and the such.
Moving and packing is always so draining and tiring, I have to go through all my stuff, it is amazing to think that just a short 8 years ago, i was able to fit everything I own in to a 4 door Honda Civic, with room to spare. The amount of stuff that we as humans accumulate is just amazing. I gave away bags of old clothing, and other things that I did not even know I still owned. I am some what of a pack rat, so I still just could not part with somethings and items that are just too near and dear to me. So my girlfriend was here and we were a two man woman cleaning crew, she more than I as I still had to go in and make the money in the afternoon at the restaurant. Hence the long lag time in posts as I have been under the gun so to speak, and still needing my rest. I am getting better, but am still a long way from 100% this has been the longest time for me. I think that I over did it really badly, I was trying to race full time work 6 nights a week so that I could race and pay off a large sum of accumulated debt, which I promised myself I would do before I moved. I am a mere 3,000 dollars from the end of a very long dark tunnel of debt. In the last 16 months I have bought a computer, gotten new eyes(lasik), raced, traveled and are you ready for this, paid off 18,000 dollars worth of debt. I will be estatic when I am truly debt free. happy, happy, happy, me.
That said back to the moving and this idea that I have been pursuing, sustainablity, in my practices, it is not the easiest thing to do, fair trade, local, green as in good for the environment, I have been trying to purchase only hand crafted or fair trade crafted clothing, and eat organic and the such. I have been trying to find ways to leave a light foot print, more riding less driving etc. but as you can see it gets overwhelming and takes a lot of energy, but if I want the world to be different I must lead by example, and hope others take note as to what is going down and open up peoples minds to what is possible. If we racers rode our bikes more for utiltarian purposes there would be less cars on the road. think about it. If we support companies that make sense and are world friendly more options will be avalible. ie dont suppport business men that act like Stuart of Adrenalin, support those like the promoters of the 24 hrs of old pueblo. etc. I could go on, and I will in a later post, but right now I must get a quick power nap after Pilates and head on up to work. In Seattle I plan to only ride my bike and am looking in to getting one of these www.xtracycle.com . Cycling has changed my path in life and has shown me what determination and perseverence can bring in to ones life and the doors that it opens. Think positive, and be awake.

what to say....

I wish that I were at the Trans rockies right now, well there is always next year. I have been trying to ride, but whenever I go for a Mountain bike ride I end up maxed out, feeling under powered and then very tired the next day, so I will not ride dirt when I have to go to work. It is too much. I have been planning on moving to the Pacific Northwest soon and I am going up for a job interview next friday, I hope to get the job. It is waiting tables, but living there I will be able to commute to work on bike. I already have the rain gear courteusy of Dr Doom. So I will be a rain riding fool. I am ready for a change, that and living with my girlfriend again, it sure has been a while. So I am on the mend mentally and physically but I am so not willing to push it, I am going to take it slow to see what happens.
Kent Peterson is researching a route that runs north to south in Washington in hopes of racing it Divide style next summer. I cant wait to get the recon reports as to what it will entail. Right now I know that it will be in the four hundred mile range with a bit of climbing he thinks that the winner will do it in about 48 hrs or so. He is doing a four day recon ride exploration in a couple of weeks, when I know more I will pass it along. I am thinking of next season already and hoping that I am ready to attack it, I plan on racing about 4 to 6 or 7 events maybe more maybe less it all depends on where life takes me, and what Seattle entails. Fixed gear fun i am sure. Does anyone know where to get sugino rings smaller than 45 I am looking for a 42, is there such a thing? I dont know but the 49x18 gear I am running right now might hurt a bit if I have to climb a lot, great on the flats, but steep hills and the such I would like a little easier gear.
Vulture socks will be in in a couple of weeks, stay in touch as they will be bad, sockguy is really doing it up. Well that is what I have, I am trying to stay sane while I pack and deal with work, I am holding out well and getting stronger each day.
I emailed Heather Mosley, www.hmosley.blogspot.com she is and endurance nut who had a great season going until the dreaded mysterious mono hit and put her down for the count, she seems to be doing the same thing as I using the time to reevaluate diet and other things, she reminded me how much I hate stuart at the 24 hrs of Adrenalin, no one should do their events they wont refund or even credit her entry fee, plain fuck up. He is a money gready bastard who is only on the look out for himself and not the betterment of the sport, fuck the worlds we should all go global, www.sleeplessinthesaddleusa.com There is too much to say about the way he runs his business and what kind of snake he is. He is ruthless and things that we have to bend to him because he has the worlds, fuck that if enough people dont show it is not what it is advertising it is, so I ask of you dont go next year make plans to support the sport not the slime that he is. Run him in to the ground. Pay for the awards banquet what is that, his prizing just sucks. I could go on Please I beg of you let your sponsors know that you dont want him to succed and that you want to support those who support mountain bike and love the sport, not the money, there are enough events out there that his dont need to be attended. More later I have to walkd the dog and get to bed, I have a busy day ahead and then my girlfriend arrives so I need to take care of business, and be rested and ready to pack and get things squared away so that when the time comes i can move on up.

Restaurant blues

I havent really felt like posting much as of late. I should be resting and getting ready for the Trans Rockies with my friend Rich, awaiting the time of our lives. Instead I am here sleeping lots and dealing with rich or the pysudo rich or just those who are willing to put it all on credit cards at work. I work in Incline Village, NV or should I say income village, and most of the people I encounter on a nightly basis think that they are entitled to treat me like an animal, a slave, that they have one up on me, for that matter on the world. They order martinis with specific instructions as to how long it should be shaken, but not to much. Whatever the hot new gin, vodka what have you and why dont you have it. Then there are those that just dont care or know and they order Beefeater gin, I think there is a joke in there somewhere, rot gut, lighter fluid straight up and not chilled, good for the liver. My favorite, or should I say with a sarcastic laugh, our favorite customers are those from the Middle East, they come in and make there own menu, order platers of red onions, lettuce and tomatos with buckets of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and cheese on the side, don't forget the 10 odd whole lemons that they choke down with this and the large bowl of mushrooms. Then when they get the bill they wonder why it costs 50 dollars for said platter. The best thing I saw the other night was a said man with his buckle undone at the table because he had been stuffing so much food in that he had literally expanded. Thanks for the 10% dick.
When it is not the rich it is the less fortunate, those who have to be money consious and still want a view for them it is soup and salad and not to fast because we are here to celebrate a birthday. or one of my favortie Sunday night where the strange and stranger crawl out of the woodwork and land their spaceships in the parking lot, yes in fact you can valet it sir, i have driven quite a few today. Anyways sundays we should just sell Prime Rib and Chicken two of the less expensive entrees becasue that is what most of them want. "How is the Prime rib? "I oftern get asked to which I respond "it is Prime rib."
"well is it good"
" there are much better opitons, the prime rib is large, how hungry are you?"
I would never order Prime Rib while out at a nice restaurant, why because it is filled with fat and is not a high qualtiy meat. Anyways so there it is my life at work in a nut shell, I havent really even cracked the surface, but that is a mere snapshot of what I deal with. You can take the person out the trailer park, but not the trailer park out the person.

the torture device disgused as a sturdo reformer 

pilates perspective

For those of you who don't know what pilates is. Check here for a full history of it. www.pilates.com/history.html Basically it is active stretching, with resistence with a focus on breathing and core engagement. There are many different avenues, from mat classes to work on what is called a reformer, probably for the exact reason that it is designed to reform your body. I have now taken three private classes, and will soon be taking two to three hour classes a week in an attempt to gain flexibilty, which I think is a limiting factor in my cycling performance. I am also going to get a yoga ball and some thera bands? to do some strecthing here at home while I am in my down condition. I plan to continue these things even when I get healthy and am riding agian, variety is the spice of life, they say.
It is a stretch, pun intended, these are not exersises or movements that I am used to, but with the focus on core and whole body interaction I think that more cyclist should do this. I am so tight in my hip flexors and soaz? that it effects other things, maybe even breathing, and it certainly could add to the tension I feel at 3 am already.
I call the reformer a tourture device because that is exactly what it feels like, tourture. So check it out, not exactly what you thought a endurance freak like myself would be doing, but in a weakened and down condition I need to find a low impact way to stay in shape. If you think you have strong core and are in the shape of your life, this is the next step and may humble you a little, you will be ahead of most americans but those who have been doing this for a while even the 45 to 50 year old ladies will put you to shame. It is good, it keeps it all in perspective. So check it out.

Mono.....

being the person that I am, and wanting a definative answer I went to a different doctor, just to get a second opinion. I really am fascinated by doctors ability to be so sure, they dont always seem like they listen but they always give you a definative answer. I have been ill for quite some time now. Currently I am feeling better than I have. Back to doctors.... so he thought that what I was talking about sounded like mono... well I had the mono spot and that was negative... that can happen, i waited a long time to go to the doc in the first place... so he ran some really specific tests... igb and igg levels... confused the techs at the lab.... yesterday it was confirmed... mono it is. WTF.... I guess it pays to second guess some people.... mono is a virus so there is nothing that can be done... at least I have an answer to why...

Freedom from cars

this is a real quick one. Calling all cyclists to sign this petition to end our dependence on cars. Check it out at www.freedomfromcars.blogspot.com . I think that it orginated in the bike crazy town of Portland, where 5 of our cycling partners have lost there lives this summer already. Read it sign it, pass it on, that is how things work. Thanks. I sit here dreaming about riding and feeling 100% again. Passing on things like this eases the pain.

today is my moms birthday. happy birthday to you. I love you. A couple of months ago my mom called me up to discuss what she wanted for her birthday. She told me she wanted a sculpture or statue to commemorate her birthday. After the call I was filled with the WTF idea and unsure of how I was going to pull this off. After searching the internet and hitting a wall, nothing but very expensive stuff, devine intervention struck, dirt rag in the mail and their article on Skunk and his art over at www.80gritart.com. So emailed him and the rest is as they say, history. Thanks skunk 

So this is what Skunk sent me, as soon as I got this picutre the wheels started to turn. I came up with the idea that is very evident in the next picture. She made it clear that this sculpture need not mention that she is turning 60, well I just saw an oppotnity and took it 

Ha ha. Mom I hope your sense of humor is working today. 

I cant think of a good title

So I have been feeling better. Not whole yet, but I have a little more energy. It has been hot here, very hot. In the upper 90's to lower hundreds. Kent is the man. Kent Peterson finished the Great Divide race on a single speed. Need more be said. Can you just imagine. I can not wait to get together with Kent and hear all the tails from the trail. He is probably recovering, getting back to work at the shop and writing his article for Dirt Rag. Kent thanks for the support and inspiration.
Lets send white light to all in London. Unfortuanatly I think we are just going to have to get used to these kind of insidents, acknowledge them, be mournful, but not let it keep us from living out lives and doing what it is we want to do. It is what it is. That is what it is. Some buddist type philosophy. Acceptance is the best policy. Just as i have to accept my situation, we as a nation and a world must accept our position.
I have been working on getting socks made for Vulture, they will be the old school logo wool socks, in the 5 inch cuff range. It looks like they will be avalible just in time for cyclocross section. I am also working on getting some different beanies made, not so gangster as the first run, those as well should be avalible around cross season. thanks to jay at dlx skate supply for the connection.

Anyone out there got a set of new or used s/s cross wheels they are looking to get rid of let me know.

Not much else just trying to make it through another day, I have taken up Pilates, or what i mean is I plan to contiune after my intro class last week. This is supposed to really help with lengthening and strengthening muscles. The trainer said I was badly in need of some flexiblity, my hip flexors are so damn tight. Not much else.

Gonter put out a trailer to a fixed impression video, which I think is excellent and can not wait to see the full length film. Check it out at www.deepseno.blogspot.com Where you can download the neccesary Quicktime 7.0 if you dont already have it. Gonter, it would be great to hook up sometime. I like what you are doing. Vulture Culture is alive and well. I like the reverse circles, I have trackstands down, but not reverse and not the reverse circles yet. Keep the rubber side down.

computers

well I finally figured out how to get my mug up on the profile side of life, and I added a couple of links, for a guy that just over a year ago knew nothing about the internet and especially blogs and such, this whole experience has been much learning, believe you me I have a long way to go before I am considered any kind of wizz kid. Blogger makes it easy, I had to move things around and try and try different stuff, but for the most part they make it easy to do. that said I am still sleeping more than should be humanly possible, although last night I tossed and turned until early morining before I was able to finally find some fitful rest. So I finally crawled out of bed a little before 1:30 pm. I guess all the years of living at full throtle have caught up to me and I am in for a bit of rest. I am coming to terms with this not being a season at all for me and looking forward, to Seattle and bike commuting and new outlet, fixed of course. That and working on the marketing end of Vulture with my friend Amanda. With the goterian handleing the bloging duties. We are becoming a little vulture clut family. Well more later. Thanks to all who keep stopping in to see how I am doing.

decisions

I have made the decision, the final decision, I must choose health and recovery over racing for the duration of this year, unless something miraculous happens. I have pulled the plug on the Trans Rockies, although I will be cheering Pat and Rich on they will be on single speeds, I wish I was part of the duo, but I unfortunately have put my self in a hole that I must slowly climb out of. It bothers me to no end that I have to do this, and I am upset at the way it is, but then again it is what it is, and only that. There are many year ahead to do great things on and off a bike. I will use this time to refuel and rest. That is if I can get enough time away from work to actually relax. Work has been a complete CF lately, so I have not been the happiest camper, but I am working on being positive and using this time to my advantage. It kills me to not be on my bike, active and present, it was more that just riding it was my time to meditate,time to thin, to just be, it was my coping mechinism, tried and true, it held me together at times. That has been taken away so I have to find new outlets and ways to relax. This is the challange I have been presented with, maybe it is a blessing in disguise, it sure doesnt feel like anything but a curse, a self inflicted tourture chamber, there is no escape there is no way to just push through, I must take it day by day, moment by moment and hope for the best. This is such an odd place for me to be, I have never been one to back down to lie down and admit defeat, I have always been able to keep pushing on and it gets better, not this time, the mental angish that I have faced recently will make me stronger, in the long run, it is teaching me to be gentle to listen and to care. I am attempting to be nice to myself, less judgemental, more accepting, however I am very unaccustomed to behaving this way, I have always been full throtle, wild and on the move, now even though I do somethings, I am not as motivated and action packed, I am reading more and more, and sleeping a whole bunch. I guess it is my body telling me that I had a bunch of chances to listen and didnt so it was going to make sure I listened and got it. Well that is happening and I am accepting my situation for what it is, temporary. I am not going to feel bad, I know that I have dissappointed people and sponsors, for that I am sorry, but shit happens, to go people, none of this was done with intention. I will however be more aware and alert in upcoming seasons and in other aspects of life, so that I dont have to go through this kind of anguish and suffering again.

So far the best diagnosis that has been presented is overtraining syndrome, I think I have said this before, but I am going to another doctor just in case to see what he has to say.

a detail of the old school logo. These hats are all 8 inch black beanies, with an embrordered logo on them. quality. represent your vulture pride. I am mainly putting them on here to see what kind of interest is out there. I talking with wade and derrrick about how they would like to proceed. Let me know your thoughts. I will see about selling them depending on the level of interest. 

This is the old school Vulture logo, this one seems to be the most popular, there is one left.  

THis is what I have been working on, they are in very limited # right now, just seeing what kind of demand there is. This is the Vulture down tube logo. 

updates

Well it sure has been a while since I posted. I have not been motivated to do it. I have been in a dark hole struggleing to see the light, I get breif glimpses, but not much. I have also not wanted to bore anyone with the details of my lethargic uneventful existence. The more research I do, the more I read, leads me to believe that it is not just simple overtraining, it has developed in to what is called overtraining syndrome, which is far more complex. It leads to chronic fatigue like symptoms, headaches, muscle soreness, depression, apathy, irratability etc. I think you get the picture. It is usually a season ender, not something to be taken lightly. Something that struck me as ironic is that it is exactly the drive and the ability to suffer that takes you to the top and the same characteristics that lead to your own demise. In a sense you are your own worst enemy. Speak about a twisted situation. I had felt similar feelings in races, on long training rides, and was always able to rise above, to push my way through the blocks. I usually enjoy suffering enjoy the physical pain, it makes me feel alive, I have never felt more relaxed and fulfiled than after a 100mile race, or 24 hr solo effort. I am afraid to lay down to conceed to my situation, either through stupidity or bravdo I am unsure, I feel that my indentity will be compromised because I know nothing other than forging on than pushing than forcing the issue. I am sure it is this attitude as well that is prolonging my situation, I feel fat, lazy and stifiled. I must learn to be gentle, I have so many years to ride ahead of me, this feels like the end, I know it is not and I will get better, but damit I want to get better now, I want relief from this hell hole that I am in.
Speaking of relief I went to the Cream Puff, it was great to see all my friends Pat Doyle was there, he won the SS class, he is a great guy and gave me some encoragement about my situation, Sloane Anderson was there, always great to see him. check out his race report at http://s90235461.onlinehome.us/sloane/blog.html . Roger Lackey my good friend from Auburn who look strong but had a bunch of IT band pain slowig him down. Dave Yackatis, sorry I buchered your last name, who was flying, and within reach of the leaders before he took a wrong turn and lost a lot of time. The Vulture boys, Derrick was racing, I found out his secret how he keeps going, but I wont tell, Derrick your secret is safe with me. Wade, the Vulture himself, with Rio, always a pleasure. In all my free time lately I have been working on getting some product,in the way of hats, and beanies for the Vulture boys, I made them custom Dickies Jackets, which I presented them with while at the Puff. They loved them. So to make a long story short, I woke up in the am and decided that racing was not the option and recover was the order of the day. So I hung out at aid 2 and cheered everyone on. Wish me well and send good thoughts. Thanks

Help save NPR and PBS

This was just sent to me in an email. I think that these are very important so cut, paste and put in an email to all that you know. It is most definatley worth it. Thanks. nat



On NPR's Morning Edition, Nina Tottenberg announced that if the SupremeCourt supports Congress, it will, in effect, be the end of the NationalPublic Radio (NPR), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the PublicBroadcasting System (PBS). PBS, NPR and the arts are facing major cutbacksin funding. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce spending costsand streamline their services, some government officials believe that thefunding currently going to these programs is too large a portion of fundingfor something which is seen as not worthwhile.This is for anyone who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of$1.12/year of their taxes.The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of supportfor PBS and funding for these types of programs is by making our voicesheard.Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends who believe inwhat this stands for. This list will be forwarded to the President and theVice President of the United States. This petition is being passed aroundthe Internet. Please add your name to it so that funding can be maintainedfor NPR, PBS, and the NEA.HOW TO SIGN:IT'S EASY: First SELECT all of the text in this message, then COPY and PASTEit into a new email (DO NOT FORWARD). ADD your name to the bottom of thelist and SEND it to everyone in your list.DON'T WORRY ABOUT DUPLICATES. This is being sent to several people at onceto add their names to the petition. It won't matter if many people receivethe same list as THE NAMES ARE BEING MANAGED.If you decide not to sign, please don't kill it. Send it to the emailaddress listed here:wein2688@blue.univnorthco.eduIf you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th, etc., signer of this petition,please forward a copy to the above address.This way we cankeep track of the lists and organize them. Send this to everyone you know,and help us to keep these programs alive. Thank you!Judith RudermanVice Provost for Academic and Administrative Services 220 Allen, Box 90005,Duke University(919) 684-3296 (phone) (919) 684-4421 (fax)

Great divide has begun...

Looks like Mat Lee wants to make it a little longer in the upcoming years. He started in Banff a couple of days prior. Looks like there will be a blog about the race this year. Keep yourself informed at www.greatdividerace.blogspot.com . Me well I did not ride today, but I did get in almost an hour yesterday in the pounding, howling screeching wind. I am feeling marginally better, just trying to keep it fun.
Here in Reno the Deux is putting on a road stage race in conjunciton with the Tour de Nez, the annually circut race, damn I cant spell. they have an alleycat messenger race tonight, too bad I am chained to the restaurant. www.tourdenez.com
I am still considering the Puff but am rather intimidated as my body and mind are at odds with one another. I may just go and hang out then spend some quality time with the girlfriend. I hope that I am still ready for the Trans Rockies. I want to do that race more than anything, I just have to be in the right place. I have faith that I will come around and get to have the once in a lifetime experience of riding that race. Not much else to say right now. I must shower and be off to work. alas, good times.

We should all get ivloved....

I knew that I would get to this eventually we should all be as invloved and informed as possible. Check these sites out:
www.democracyforamerica.com Dean's site. I lived in Vermont and he did alot of great things, he is liberal where it counts and conservative with money. He got everyone health care in VT. He may not be as polished as some want but look what we have in there now, is that what you want. Kerry was a little better but still to connected and in debted to lobbyists.
www.moveon.org more democracy in action.
www.undoit.org help stop global warming.
www.imba.com duh.
There are tons more but those are on the top of my list at the moment.
I just checked the Puff site looks like it could be brutal, that is if I start it. I am feeling a little better each day, but not my normal self at all yet. Still lots of sleeping and working and not much else. Back to the Puff it looks like it will be wet, and down right cold for summer. I appears that it has been raining cats and dogs up there this summer, if you can call our current weather summer, more like spring still, or fall, wtf. Anyways I will go and hang out no matter what, it will be good for me to get away from it all for a few days and hang out with friends. out

Kent just sent me this....

Hi iBOBs,
I'll be heading out to breakfast w Matt Chester ina few minutes and then heading east and northinto Montana. The race starts on Friday, I shouldbe in the area of the start with at least aday to spare. I've had a great trip so far, withgood riding and getting to meet various reallynice folks along the way.
Day one was from Issaquah to old Blewett Passwith a chunk on the John Wayne Trail fromHyak to south Cle Elum. I took it prettyeasy and camped just past the ridge ofthe pass at about 4000 feet. 110 miles.
Day 2 was a long one, I was on the roadfrom 5:45 AM until 12:15 AM. But it wasall road miles and I covered 203 miles. JohnSpeare was a terrific host and had agreat plate of food laid out for me anda comfy bed to sleep in. And the next morninghe made breakfast. Big thanks to John, his wifeand daughter.
Yesterday I rode from Spokane to Sandpoint.It rained much of the day but it was niceriding. I rode the Centenial Trail fromSpokane to Coeur D'Alene and then northon 95 up to Sandpoint. Matt lives in hisshop and I got to meet various of hisfriends. This was a short riding day,I left Spokane at 8:43 AM and wasin Sanpoint at5:40 PM with 87 miles onthe bike. I had a nice Thai dinner withMatt and his pal Dave Parkins fromAlpine Designs.Anyhow, that's it for now. Big detailedwriteups will follow sometime when allthis is done but I wanted to give youa quick update.
Thanks again everybody for everything,
Kent Petersonon the road to the Great Divide
To see some pics of his ride so far check this out. I hope this link works.
http://home.comcast.net/~johnspeare/KP.html

Me I have been down for the count. Sleep, work, sleep, work, repeat. I hate it. I feel dead, useless. That is all for now. I am getting some inspiration from Kent though. He rocks. We should all keep our computers tuned to the race at www.greatdividerace.com . More later. Out

Not much to say

I have been working on a couple of off the bike things, more on those later as nothing can be revieled at this time. It will be good and I will let you know with pictures when I can. Other than that for the last days it has been sleep and work. Its kind of scaring me but I am holding out hope, I also have been trying to keep the negativity and monontony of my blabbing about being ill to a minimum as I dont want to talk about it too much. That is all for now. I can not wait to be healthy again, I will be more careful and this has been a learning experience.

I like this picture 

The long hard road......

Seems that I have become infected with the cold that wont quit. It feels like someone has taken a bat and proceeded to beat me with it. You know the feeling in your ears when on an airplane, where sounds are muffeled and they are painfullly cloged, thats me for the last two days. I have been sick so long now that I have been reduced to trying anything. If someone suggests putting a damp cloth over my head and inhaling the steam from boiling garlic water I will do it. When someone suggests a hot shower 3 times a day I will try it. If someone said that I must get out a weji board and ask it questions, off to the store I go. Drink Miso soup, lemon water, tea of varying concoctions, I am on it. In addition I have been trying to sleep, which is hard to do when you are coughing up dime size balls of phlem, and your nose is about as open as a painted shut window. I have been playing the occasional video game. I ordered a bunch of DVDs from amazon, must haves. Breaking Away, American Flyers and Quicksilver.
I am still heading to the Puff, in hopes that I will be able to ride, but we certainly will see. I already have the time off from work and I would like to see some friends as well, even if the race is not as productive as I would like. Who knows I may not even start. This is the cold hard reality of what I am up against right now. I can not get back in the saddle until my body says it is ok.
I have also been reading one of my favorite authors Chuck Palahniuk. Author of Fight Club, the most recent book I have read is Stranger Than Fiction. I wish I could write even half as well, he is so amazing. Check out his website at www.chuckpalhniuk.com . Thats all for now. I so wish that I were out riding and enjoying the weather that we are having, finally. However today it is raining and the other night on the way home over Mt Rose we had to drive in a snow storm, so winter just wont take its ugly claws out of us. Hopefully soon I will rise from this horrible condition to be whole yet again, until then I will be reading, sleeping and working.