Life sure does pick up speed....

As a child a week can feel like a year, currently I feel the opposite like a year can feel like a week. Today I woke up and wondered where it had all gone, the days have started to blur together. I try to keep it interesting by riding bikes and challenging myself so that each day does not take on the appearance of the last. Work, ride a bit, drink, sleep, repeat...seems to be the way it goes. I have my little side project, Seattle Beer Week, which is shaping up to be one hell of a week. It is a ten day celebration, but who's counting....someone coined the 10 day week the brewers week, kind of like the bakers dozen... I find myself dreaming of the days in Tahoe and Reno, when I worked a lot less, could ride mountain bikes right out my door, and the weather, lets not talk about the weather. Today felt more like February than April...I did have to check the calender to make sure...the hail and sleet that I rode in today was not what I would have desired. I want sun....glorious sun. Although sun drives the people of Seattle crazy, they flock outside and all drive somewhere to do something in the sun, can I blame them? NO!!! But man they can' even think straight, forget how to drive, due to their sole focus to soak up the rays.

Enough of that rant...I have been riding every Sunday that I can and even some Fridays....we did a few great rides in Bellingham, even had a dry one, and then the death march in the peanut butter mud was great as well, all while Kevin coughed and generally sounded like he should have stayed home, but that man is a fighter, and committed to the ride so that is what he did. We have a new cross series, MFG Cyclocross, here and we have some plans laid for mayhem....it looks to be fun and I am excited...to events right in the city limits...awesome.....so pray for sun for me so that I can be one of the crazies out there fighting for my piece of it. I just saw pics of the desert and dry trail and lets just say i got excited...In june I head back to VT to see family and do some riding....and hopefully soon I will be the proud owner of a new camera so I can start taking those pics I keep wanting to.....over and out keep pedaling....

What a strange day it was....

Last night the plans were laid, and by golly we were going to keep them. The forecast called for a high of 37 degrees and partly cloudy. This morning Brett aka the Beard, man I must get a pic this year, picked me up and we were off to meet up with Brian, I can't find my stuff cause I just moved, for a ride. I expected Anacortes to be cold, brisk and muddy. I did not however expect it to be near white out mountain pass conditions with patches of ice...that was just the drive, the trails were a winter wonderland with 2 to 4 inches and more in places. We were all a little worried on the way up, but none of us wavered in our commitment to the plan. I must say I am glad that we went. We ended up riding about 15 miles in two hours and twenty minutes, which we were happy with. The sun came out, the wind blew snow at us, and by the time we drove home a short two plus hours later, the roads were clear and dry in parts. We commented that it felt like two completely different days based on our travel to and from the ride. I hope to have a few photos Brian's camera worked for a bit, then the batteries died...

Things I learned today:
With each step you take your feet pick up more and more debris, soon you have ice and dirt shoes, ensuring a ride spent with one or the other foot clipped in but rarely both.

If you want bladed spokes simple strap your bike to the back of a car drive in near white out conditions on the highway....Its cheaper than the alternative, and oh so impressive...note about this it is very temporary as when the temperature rises they disappear quickly.

Hidden roots make for tough traction and are really slick.

Lake winter boots rock! Best investment this year, so far.

Partly Sunny in Washington can mean anything, snow, sun, ice, we had it all.....hope the rest of the week isn't more of the same. You can never trust the meteorologists. They after all do have the best jobs, they can be right 30% of the time and they are doing an amazing job, that doesn't cut it at my job...imagine if only 30% of the time you got the right beer...ouch.
Changing your clothes outside while it is snowing is not the best idea.

I will leave you with this parting shot, I don't think I have posted it before but if I have I am sorry....think posture, model posture. At a recent or now not so recent festival at work we wondered if I could balance a beer on my head...well the answer is yes, that and walk the length of the bar twice...my prize I got to drink the beer, imagine that...Here you are...one of my many talents....
Photo credit to Matt who was a regular at the bar and is now traveling the world....
Tomorrow or this evening I get a new bike...I am so happy, not a mountain bike, I get my fixie hipster, work logoed bike...pics soon...

A friends passing....

I received this email today, and I must say that it brought a tear to my eye. I have a fond place in my heart for animals, especially dogs, they are after all man's best friend. They are the most loyal and loving friends that we have.

"I just thought I would let you all know as I’m over here enjoying myself, I am also losing one of my dearest friends I have ever had today. Lewis is being laid to rest tonight for a list of conditions and terms that are too long to list here. Just thought I would let you know."

kevin

Attached was this photo, it was taken at least a few years ago and surely must have been a great day on Galbraith. Lewis you are in our thoughts tonight.... On a side note I took Tanner(one of my dogs) to the woods today and we had a blast in the muck and mud....as I am sure Lewis had done more than once....

I know I keep saying this....

I'm busy...I can't seem to find time to post regularly....or have much to say on the bike front these days...I seem to spend more time at work or in front of this computer trying to keep up with all the projects that I have going...Seattle Beer Week is a job in unto itself...I try to ride and put that as a priority over updating this here blog...

I also keep saying that I need to take more pics...the old digital camera is just bulky and also seems to have been injured one to many time and doesn't seem to be taking the best clear pics....I got a nice new 2009 squishy fork for my bike...it is sitting in the living room leaning against the wall, looks nice there too.

So on the riding front I have been keeping them under the 3 hour mark as of late, the weather has been great if a little cold and today it decided to rain a bit and give us a more Northwest feeling in our bones than the snow, or cold and sunny weather that has been fairly prevalent this winter. I did get in to the whole facebook thing and that certain is a major time waster...fun at times but man does it just eat up time.....

Brouwer's, the bar I work at, will soon have some very nice bike courtesy of one of my favorite people, although he does pick road rides over mountain bike rides and I don't really understand that... I plan on making mine a totally hipped out with white rims and all...it is my tribute to the hipsters here in Seattle cause I am so unhip....

So hopefully sooner than later i will update with pics of the rides and all or at least a few more words on a regular basis, but as the saying goes " a picture is worth a thousand words" so two pics would take care of a few weeks worth or these drawn out words....

I missed the Old Pueblo race...I need to get away to the warm temps....

yes its been awhile...and I have a special talent

That title says all you need to know about the last month or so of my life or maybe it is just an illustration of things that have been going on for much, much longer than that. I received a phone call from my good friend Kevin the other day. He said and I think I quote,"Looking your bike over, it needs a bit of TLC, it seems like the deeper I dive in to this the more I am struck with the idea that you should buy a new bike at the first of the year and at the end of the year throw that bike in the trash and buy an new one....." That is my special talent, it appears that in his brief or not so brief look at my bike he uncovered many, many issues and things that I am not sure many people have seen. We had already taken the bent rigid fork off, he found a cracked king headset, the bottom cup was instead of one piece, two, the Phil Wood Ti square taper bottom bracket was toast, the chain ring was toast, the White Industry cranks had pushed all the way on, so I went back to my old XT's...the list goes on. It appears that I have a special talent for putting parts to the test. Anyone need a tester. On that note I am testing for Boa Technologies ...and I love the lacing system. I really should have photos of all the things I go through, or maybe I could just put up a side bar with all the items used throughout the year. Last winter I must have gone through 4 outboard bearing bottom brackets, and once had a friend that works for an unsaid bearing manufactur say that he had never seen such distruction...he is one of my favorite riding partners and has been along on a lot of said rides, although his ride always seems to be running fine....There that is my special talent, I will find the breaking point of a product or my own body and and mind...which if you have followed this blog you know I have done in the past. What have I learned from all this, not so sure....I have learned that the northwest is not kind to a rider who gets out in it....the grime has a way of getting in to everything, including a chamois but then again that is a whole other story and I will save it for another day....I did get a tax return and plan to buy a camera and take more pics of life in general.....Oh and in all of this, work and play, I decided that I needed and wanted to be part of the founding Members of Seattle Beer Week....mark your calenders cause it is going to be one hell of a week, or should I say 10 days....

hi there...

Life picks up speed and flashes by...it seems like only yesterday I was writing about the upcoming year and here I am again, although this time I may spare you the details about what is coming up or trying to do a year in review cause lets face it racing is taking a back seat right now, or should I say I will race, but I plan to hit a few events and make the most of it and not try to make a career out of racing...as if that was ever going to happen.....I will ride bunches and this year I want to take more pictures and make fun of myself more. I have so many plans for riding and outside the world of riding that are happening this year and I plan to put it all here better...i plan to write more involved posts...see how well I do that...it was a new years resolution to write more, here it is nearly a week later and i am finally writing...alas I digress...more is less and less is more...there you have it.... I have made no sense and yet made a lot of sense that is if you follow my train of thought....well I have fun to have and am at a loss..i have rambled and made no sense, 17 hours of work on 5 hrs of sleep will lead to some interesting words being typed...or not much sense made....as always keep the cranks turning over, and pedal pedal towards a brilliant future, bikes are the best and an answer to many of societies problems nuff said....keep pedaling....

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.