Wilderness Saves

I spent most of my ride time on Saturday somewhat bored and unmotivated. For whatever reason, the juju just wasn't kicking. Sunday started out the same way but the sunny weather and riding Wilderness seemed to put things right. Empty trails, Sun, brisk but tolerable wind. By the end there was a smile on my face.

In other news, Marko and company kicked ass at the Stuporbowl and I ordered nearly all of the remaining parts for the Niner (credit to Dicky for the call.)

Nothing new to report on the Epic. I will probably throw it up on Ride424 this week, but am not going to jump into spreading the word too hard yet. A little simmering should bring out the flavor.

Mr. 24 and G-Ted took a recon trip for TI this weekend. Should be fun to see their reports.

I wonder how Popshuvit liked the new ride?

Special Delivery

MMMMMMMMMM


AHHHHHHHHHHH


OHHHHHHHHHHH


"A certain degree of neurosis is of inestimable value as a drive.... " - Sigmund Freud.

Art for Art's Sake

Remember in school when teachers would say, "Do what you love" as instruction toward higher education and job-fulfillment? Well, I jumped into that thought process with both feet, ended up with a few Liberal Arts degrees, none of which directly apply to my job.

However, I wouldn't change it. It helps me appreciate it when I find my way via the bike related to links like the following:

Visit the IF Grassroots Racing site, then you can end up at Thom Parsons site and some sweet "SwarthyArt."

Steve Smith, aka the mayor of Drunkingham, has a site I visit frequently from CRC.

Rudi has some really nice work, to be seen via Da Swizzle. (And he clearly enjoys a nice long sufferfest.)

Jesse and Marko also have some sweet visuals in effect. For example, I really like the piece on Marko's site where the girl is holding the boy's heart in her hands.

I am sure there is more out there. Let me know if there is good stuff I am missing.

See you tomorrow. "We'll be talking about Freud and why he did enough cocaine to kill a small horse."

Blogging with Bullet Points

Lots of Additives to report.

I visited Sologoat's Blog last night. This pic speaks to me. Espresso, Chops, Cycling, the Triple Crown of EnduroSnobbery. (Having said that, I guess I need to grow the chops back.)

Added a new header and "How?" Expanded to the Epic Blog.

If you didn't notice, Jonathan Page was 10th at Cross Worlds. Wells may be National Champ, but it would be hard to say Page isn't the best American male racing cross today.

This post was brought to you by The Olivia Tremor Control, "Black Foliage: Animated Music Vol. I."

Starting the Day Off Wrong

What's the best way to start your Monday? A trip to the Dentist. I still can't feel the right side of my face.

The TransWales sounds very cool. (The site intro is also pretty nice.) I think a team stage race needs to be in my future.

Does this read like a sign-off to you? I hope not. I enjoy my daily "lament."

Someone has some cool header action going on. Those are skills I do not have.

Pieces Falling into Place

Good ride today. ~45 miles consisting of primarily soggy, but not too wet, gravel with a nice cast of characters. Rolling hills, friendly dog and an empty missle silo. Everything you need. No pics though, I was concerned the camera might get soaked.

Afterward, stopped by Rock D's for some bike frame eye candy then tacked on a few more miles on the way home. Good day, Great Weather. No excuses not to be ready for April.

I owe Sam an apology. He arrived at the casa at 9am and we left at 8am. Moto Mocha's on me next time Sam.

Pics from AZSS06 are now up on the Swizzle Site. (Yes, I do wish I had gone.) Looks like adopted Lincolnite Cameron Chambers was enjoying the fun.

Have Route - Will Suffer

There's a lot on my mind, but this will be short because DAMN is it nice outside.

Rock and I have a route for the EPIC. The more I think about it, the more I love it. In some ways, it may be a nice bridge between something like TI and one of Mike Curiak's races. (I have never done the latter so some of that is based on description only.)

Route Teasers:

The Bad. We will need to start with a long bit of pavement. I wanted to avoid pavement at all costs, but there aren't a lot of options at certain points. One thing the pavement will do is force a few decisions, which I think is excellent.

The Good. The Course will encourage people to keep pushing themselves based on the way it's laid out. My hope is that it will help people dig deeper into what they can really do. This course will let you do that.

The Ugly (But it's Beautiful). There is a long stretch where racers will be truly on their own. No cell coverage. Your cue sheet, the Wilderness and you. Mom's not coming. However, if you have the heart to get through it, we reward you in Spades.

The more I work on this, the more excited I get. I just hope a few people show up.

Your Gonzo Race Director,

The Snob

2006 - The Year No Schedule is Safe

First things first. Happy Birthday Sam!!!

24 Hours of Landahl in KC. Thought about doing a 24? Now there are no excuses.

Unfortunately, it does conflict with One of the Three Marathon races now on the local schedule:

--May 13-- Battle Royale Marathon @ Platte River State Park, South Bend, NE
--June 10—Ponca’s Revenge Marathon @ Ponca State Park, Ponca NE
--September 16 & 17—Rave in the Cave Marathon MTB Weekend @ Indian Cave SP, Shubert, NE

You can see the rest of the Psycowpath Series information on NebraskaCycling.org.

Map work tonight on the Epic.

Note: I have also just added a post regarding the Spirit of the Epic to the race blog. (12:49pm)

"This one goes to 11."

Back in the Saddle

Did a very odd triple session today. Kept everything short due to my recent bout with the flu. Rode to work then tacked some on for an hour. Rode at lunch with Jeff for a second and then rode home via the shop to replace a broken Sidi buckle for a third. (Thanks Matt.)

I was spending some time on Mr. 24's site today and, in looking at his schedule see a certain Branched Oak 12hr race listed. It will be fun watching Big Skinny defend his title and it will be fun have Jeff flying around the course.

Now if we can get him to wear cut-off jeans and no shirt like Cameron did when he won it, we'd really be rocking.

Soft Pedalling

I can't call it a comeback, but I do feel better. As a few people have pointed out, it's like a blog roll call of people who have gotten hit by some sort of illness. There's a joke there somewhere involving a "virus" in cyberspace, but even I am not that lame.

Speaking of blogs, many of us like to shot some photos and then put them up. Here's a bit from McSweeney's which should probably made us think twice.

Getting a bit impatient waiting for the Taxman to return to me what is rightfully mine. A new ride is waiting.

Funny moment from Sunday. Mr. Bike Shop Owner and I are talking about my pending bike purchase when we went through the creek bed on the South end. As I rode up over the other side, I threw the chain on the Fascist Killer. As Jay passed me I could only smile and say, "Not that I need a new bike." Laughter followed.

Rock D and I are getting together Thurday Night to work on the Route of Pain. I love maps.

I wonder how many signups I would lose if I made people actually navigate?

Snob Down

Nothing like a mild case of the flu to force a bit of rest. I did do a bit of work today but it took twice as long as it should have. Tried to work on the Epic a bit, but the concentration just wasn't there.

Caught by a Team Director

Went out for about 3 plus today. Proved pretty boring until near the end when a certain Mr. Bike Shop Owner pulled up on my left. Good conversation, dropped into Wilderness then paused to help knock down a stubborn dead tree that wasn't about give it up for anything. The chainsaw would take its legs out, but it kept grabbing other trees on the way down. Finally, the tree dropped and we were on our way. Photos would have been great, but the camera just remained in my Camelbak. Genius.

Jesse Lalonde also has a nice logo the KC store could use. If they can race Trikes.

Chalk Up Another Saturday

Low is the level of interesting items or overall moto.

Midwest Trek/VW Squad rocking with local flavor. Nice work fellas.

Dates are now set for the EnduroSnob Epic. Thanks to John Jr. for the Cross Dates so that cross and epics can mix.

Ride Alert. 8am. Snob's House. Rock D is also going out around 1:30 if that fits into your Sunday a bit better.

This post is about the Future.

The Cat's Out of the Bag

So I created a blog regarding The EnduroSnob Epic in prepartion, while I mulled over whether or not I wanted to really make it happen. I didn't really consider the fact that said new blog would be under my profile or accessable within a blogger search and now the word is out:

IT'S ON!!

Already, the support is high.

Rock D has already emailed me a few times today telling me about routes he is looking at on his screen.

Creepy Friendly has also agreed to help with art for the flyers. Now if I can just get he and Marko to come race...

Your friend and Gonzo Bike Race Organizer, The EnduroSnob.

This, That and Your Mother

Kidding.

Someone we know and love has a frame lying around. Is it the IF on the right? Maybe. (No, it's not the Snob.)

For the TransIowa signups among us, JB set up a Frappr map to show where participants are from. Lincoln representing? Not really, I think I am the only one to sign-on at this point. I believe we have the most racers from any city so why not be proud? (Thanks to JB for creating it.)

Lots of clandestine work right now.

Wouldn't fall be a great time for a long ride in Northwest Nebraska with a number plate on your bike?

Trying to Keep my Mouth Shut and Head on Straight

Lincoln is going to have The Link. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have some Snob Rules about what makes a real AR. It's not an AR. It does sound like fun.

It also sounds more like the Bike Shop Scavenger Hunt we had talked about doing for Halloween. (which remains a great idea.)

Here's another item that shows my head isn't on straight. I woke up and rode for a couple of hours when it was ~20 degrees. Then, it warms up to 60 degrees and all I do is commute home the eight miles from work.

Talk about poor planning.

Tattoos in Modern Cycling: Part II

Ira Ryan. Some of you have heard me tell bits of his story before, but I think it's cool enough that it's coming at you via the Snob.

The first frame Ira made, he took to TransIowa last year and won on it. He has a sweet tat and a nicely done website as well. Did I mentioned he apprenticed under Sacha White at Vanilla? Plus, he's got midwest roots and first learned to ride in Indiana, which is where I grew up. (Of course, I moved West and then moved back. What's wrong with me?)

The above and more information above can be found on BikePortland. You can also read a funny blurb with some pics on L'Equipe Veloshop. And, thanks to Guitar-Ted for the original heads up.

I've got an email into Ira regarding deposits and turnaround time. I will let you know what's up.

This post has been brought to you by The Minutemen "Double Nickels on the Dime."

"I Have a Dream..."

Word. If you have five, take five and check it out.

On to far less important things...

The commute to work just got lighter. I now have a desktop machine and can leave the laptop at home. This would have made for a nice commute except I was bucking a nice 30mph wind that was flowing down from Canada.

Loading up the new iTunes. So far, it's been pretty mellow: Galaxy 500, Olivia Tremor Control, Heavy Vegetable, The Shins, Rilo Kiley and I just added an audio cd of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

"A job like this needs real equipment and cash on the line."

Punchdrunk Weatherman

Sixty degrees and Sunny in January. I barely know what to say. I feel sorry for Paddy. That man's got heart.

Jeff and Butch discussing hydration after the mass exidous to the ditch.


Dr. Avey in the operating room. Chain Throw to EBB adjustment. STAT.


Jeff gets back on the road and I turn to my bike only to discover a completely flat front. Seems like this gesture is becoming a habit.


Rolling Thunder: KW, Paul C, and Big Skinny.


The Snob Predicts that MW and his really pink bike will finish TI with flying colors.

Cleaning Out the Attic

As I mentioned earlier, I began doing longer rides in the morning before work this week. With these little jaunts being solo efforts, I have found my mind really unwinds after a short while of riding in the quiet.

Here are a few of the things I found under the cobwebs:

I'd really like to put on an "Endurosnob Epic." Would there be a draw? Good question. I think that the act of putting it on would be fun. Tenative thought of starting in Valentine, NE, riding through the Chadron area and back. The jury will continue to dilberate, but I am open to any thoughts folks have.

There seems to be a certain attitude among the people you see out on the paths early in the morning. A bit friendlier. More Core? Perhaps. I've gotten more truly nice hellos in the mornings than at any other time. (Except Bonsall (sp?) who looked at me like I was a serial killer when I waved to him on Wednesday.)

I also started thinking of other races aside from TI. Now the problems is scheduling conflicts.

Cedar Valley is a week before 9 Mile.
Afton looks to be a week before 7 Oaks.
12hrs of Dino appears to be a week before the Soul Ride.

Some of the dates I am using are from 05, but things don't usually seem to change too much so...