Running the Tick Gauntlet

Took off for a bit of a pedal pusher after 10am today. Wilderness to gravel grind to Wilderness and home. Tried to keep a nice tempo going but held back a bit in Wilderness to keep it safe. Some sections are grow out enough that visibility can be sketchy. Not to mention that you are running a tick gauntlet. It's not a matter of if you will have some friends with you when you finish but how many (I found three.) Saw MG and Emily out as well. Somehow I missed the little rainshower that dropped. Hope they did too.

Riding the same time again tomorrow. Most likely the same type of route too, whether depending.

Happy Fourth.

Wilderness 102...

As in degrees.

Spent about three hours on the Fascist Killer today, most of it in Wilderness. Empty. Dry. Therapy.

Opened up the legs a bit and, as the Euros like to say, felt good sensations. I like the heat.

Found a green dildo as I rolled through the South parking lot. Free is good, but not in this case.

Pic's of Matt P at the 12hr.

I Smell Tour

Aside from the spring classics, The Tour is when I really dial into road racing. I have a few things I do like clockwork as the Tour approaches.

A. Order Cable. I am too cheap to have digital cable all year. I tried it once by letting a "Tour Subscription" run long, but the value isn't there. I probably watched at total of ten channels and most of them for an hour or less a week. In fact, if I could simply get the Daily Show and the Tour as some sort of bizarre custom package, I would probably be happy. So, cable for 30 days max and done.

B. Talk about setting up and office Tour pool and then not doing it. I don't know what my problem is here. This will seem like a good idea for about ten minutes and then I drop it.

C. Start imitating Phil and Paul during the day. Never fails. Random quotes in a pathetic British accent such as, "This man is on the rivot" and "resplendant in yellow" start jumping out of my yap.

D. Crack on Jan Ulrich. For obvious reasons, though he's my pick this year.

E. Feel for Jan Ulrich. I too am a porker who can't quite get in shape.

F. Eat Brie and Apples. Pathetic but tasty. Usually done on a weekend morning during a key stage. "The Look" occurred with an apple slice sticking out of my mouth.

G. Get bummed on Doping. Wears you down. Bums you out. Pisses you off. And on and on. 22 of 58 potentially? "It's nothing to be proud of Rusty."

Would someone please rock a Dopers Suck jersey on a rest day? Rest days are boring.

I would pay for a full year of cable just to see that.

Thinking 9 Mile

I took a visit to The Scene today and see that Butch, CVO and Corey have decided not to saddle up in Wisconsin and instead rock the 162 the weekend prior. Can't blame them a bit. I plan to join them for the first 40, then turn around and ride back to Lincoln. 80 seems right the weekend before going 24.S.SS.

Corey alluded to coming with to Support. Thanks Dawg. (Next time, you've got to own the Woody Allen.)

I'll be making one change to the Niner before hand. Switchblade.

If anyone has an overview of the course, I would love to hear about it via email (or post if you get your blog on.) I plan on getting there with enough time to preride, but a good description never hurts. I know Mr. 24 has described it as fast, painfully so.

Still a little paranoid about the fitness side of life. I can't quite settle into the hurt, like you can when your feeling nicely fit. It's coming back though.

Operation Ivy is playing a little too loud for my Mother-In-Law right now. (Yes, that is a shit eating grin on my face.)

Wookin' Pah Nub

Lots of Brothers in the Cycling World are looking for an assist for one reason or another. Consider this an EnduroSnob Public Service Announcement.

Dave Nice. Some of you may remember Dave from TransIowa. He was riding the Great Divide Race, stopped at the side of the road for a sleep and someone five fingers his bike and gear. Scott Taylor from Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop is trying to gather some funds so he can continue. I believe they are setting up a PayPal account or you can email me if you want Scott's phone. I am going to be sending Dave his Epic registration bike. He's in for free.

Harlan Price. Leading the National Ultra-Endurance MTB Series can tap a person's mind, body, soul and wallet. He's sitting solid with IF in his corner, but winning ain't easy. You gotta go West at least once in that series. Harlan's got contact and PayPal info on his blog.

Speaking of the IF Team, Buck is trying to get to Stockholm to defend his XC/Go-Cart ominium victory at last year's SS Worlds. I thought I had read somewhere that Elk was putting on a bake sale to help, which I love. Attendence may be tough but you can always email Buck and Elk has more info posted on his blog (Scroll Down).

I'm beat and my saddle is sore. Snob out.

Committed

I officially entered 9 Mile this weekend. SS and Solo. We will see how it goes. I know when I pit I will potentially see Sam, Butch, Corey, CVO and possibly Cameron depending on timing. I imagine he'll be in and out while I am drinking that beer CVO is going to hand me. "Thank you, Sir. May I have another?"

A few Randoms:

SingleSpeeders, Joe needs our help.

Mr. 24 has been Mr. 12.

DNB - Does Not Blog.

Maybe too heavily referenced but just fucking inspirational.

"When life hands you a lemon say, 'I like lemons, what else have you got?'" - Henry Rollins

You Wasted Life...

Why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?

Had to miss what was dubbed as the fixie ride this morning, but I'll be out later today and am really looking forward to it. Wilderness around 2:30 is lock, stock and two smoking barrels.

IF can't pull off the paint job I want so I was in a creative redirect last night. ('Can't' isn't fair. Apparently what I wanted would stand a better than good chance of peeling off.) The new scheme is sweet and disappointment has turned to excitement once again.

Here's a question: What is the perfect place to start a ride? I am envisioning a combination of a coffee house and bike shop, but am wondering what other people would have in a "perfect scenario."

mmmmm espresso.

Street Walk

Twice a day I pass a place called Community Alternatives. I have never researched its purpose but it seems to be a halfway house of sorts. I am not sure.

Occassionally, I will see someone, who looks like an addict in recovery crossing the street from Community Alternatives to the Casey's gas station or vice versa, but only notice because they tend to cross in the middle of the street as opposed to the cross walk and it's not a point in the road where jaywalking makes a great deal of sense.

As I passed this morning, there were several people in a circle being lead in some stretching by a guy in a shirt which read "parole officer." Most of the people weren't really stretching and even the circle seemed half-hearted at best.

When I went home, there was a different scene. An older lady was shuffling back and forth in the middle of the street with cars backing up all around her. In the direction I was heading a queue of five cars had formed as people apparently sat deciding what to do. As I slid by on the right, a few people started honking at this woman then some guy shouted out of his window for her to "move it." When I got up close to her I put my bike in the grass and jogged out help her. I quietly said, "let's get you out of the road" and lead her across to Community Alternatives parking lot. When we reached the lot, there were at least seven or eight people just sitting outside who had been watching this woman stuggle.

I started back toward my bike and could feel myself getting more and more angry as I went. Some guy in a four door looked at me and said, "What was going on there?"

"You were sitting on your ass while some old woman was waiting to get hit in the middle of the street. That's what was going on."

Maybe I'm the ass, but I really don't understand people sometimes.

------

Okay, I just looked it up. Community Alternatives helps people with Developmental Disabilities.

Inches, Not Gear Inches

And on the Seventh Day...



The Genitorturer Devices.



Checking the Niner setup to provide a comparison. "Yes, it is confirmed. You will be slow either way, Mr. Cronin."



The Interview: "Son, exactly where were you on the night of the 5th?"



What's it gonna be?

Peacock Groove

Johnny emailed me recently and mention a builder he works with at Quality, Erik Noren. Erik is the Fabricator for Peacock Groove. To be fair, I only know what Johnny has told me, but anyone who follow this blog knows I value his opinion much higher than most. Plus, Johnny could always turn into Vinnie the Henchman if needed. Check out the slideshow for some interesting work. I tried to get a picture of his clever use of skulls but his site wouldn't let me.

Snob out.

Tough to Focus

and therefore tough to blog.

I have roughly two pounds of paperwork to fill out tonight and none of it is a fit sheet for a custom frame. The new employer has piled it on. Maybe I should slip a 9 Mile registration in just for a fun break in the pain. If I can get through this stack, 24 hours on a single speed should be cake.

I did find my way to the Black Sheep Cycles site today. The geek in me really likes the way the site was put together. Bravo.

The legs must be coming back at least a little. 34x17 is a complete spinout the whole way to work. I probably should have switched things up last week.

The BareKnuckle Brigade has the best kit I have ever seen.

Straight Up Punk as Fuck.

Happy Father's Day

To all the cats balancing family and the bike, Happy Father's Day. (with a general "What up?" to everyone else.)

The Lumberjack sounds like it hurt some people. Check the Think Tank for stories.

Still not tons of riding happening. Riding to work sums most of it up. Sneaking in some runs at lunch to try to make the most of the time I have.

Bah-land Blogging.

Thinking of heading to the XC race this coming weekend for a pain and a less than solid mid-pack to off the back finish.

Custom Cross Bike - "With the Way You Ride..."

From a needs standpoint for me, I think in many ways this becomes a pretty simple process. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong.

A. Frame Material.

Some of you may remember a previous post regarding Leadville last year where I described how Johnny, Jeff and I were having the proverbial, 'what bike would you build if' conversation when Johnny said, "Well, with the way you ride..." and then went on to, in essence, describe how I beat the shit out of bikes like there is no tomorrow and ride with the grace of a pitbull.

Since then, "with the way you ride" has stuck to me like glue and the description is still just as appropriate. Titanium gets the vote here. In fact, it's durablity has occassionaly been called a drawback of several of my friends. The idea being that you now have a Lifer. No need to buy another bike when you have it. My simple response to that? I can always find a reason to get another bike.

B. Hurry up and Wait Time.

Currently, I have no Cross Bike. I could pony up for something like a Redline to get me through, but that seems a bit unneeded if not pointless. For example, I emailed Sacha from a cafe in Leadville right before the race last year and his wait time was well over a year. His frames are well worth it, but time is important to me so a Vanilla will need to wait.

C. Passion.

If I don't dig it going in, there's no point in going there. In other words, I am leaving a little space in my heart on this choice and not just relying on an abacus and checklist to equate my way to a bike selection. I realize not everyone does things this way.

Here's a weird example. I was having a conversation with a friend at work last week about Grammar. He was talking through the classic confusion of whether to use 'I or me' and discussing the need to get it right. I had heard similar conversations numerous times at Purdue and shared this line I often use with my collegue. "In the end, I don't care, because at the end of the day, I would rather speak like a poet. To me, language is art and not an equation."

I feel the same way about bikes. I know there are many good builders out there. I think the ones I mentioned, as well as those G-ted and MW added all fit that bill. I could Team Over-Analysis the whole situation, but I think I lose something if I do. There are builders out there I just dig and I know I will lean toward them.

Really narrows the field, eh?

This post was brought to you by pure silence.

Update: I dropped the fucking ball and forgot to mention THIS.

FUGAZI is Dead

Technically, the blade dropped at Midnight plus one minute.

Fugazi is Dead.

Corporate Music lives.

No Press Release. No deal points released. We've become them have become us.

What does it mean to the Snob and his workaday cohorts? Good question.

I have added the following phrases to my quiver:

"That is unknown at this time."
"To be determined."
"Good question."
"Let me get back to you on that."
"Can I have an extra shot in that? I'm gonna need it."

I do dig the flyer though.

Custom Cross Bike - The Mini-Series

I've alluded to this several times already, but the Network has now approved it for its own spot here on the blog. Shouldn't the Discovery Channel be doing something like this? The Great Biker Buildoff for the machines WE love? I think they're missing it, but I digress.

Everytime going Custom has come up for me, the conversation always dances back and forth between my needs and preferred builders, but let's start with the builders.

Here are the folks that go through my head:

Vanilla Bicycles. Damn Sexy Bicycles.

Matt Chester. Custom. Titanium. Single Gear.

Indy Fab. A fave at the shop.

Ira Ryan. Learned under Sacha. TransIowa V1 Champ.

Badger Cycles. Enduro Freak and Bike Builder.

Who pops into your mind?

This just in...

Slaven was robbed in "The Great Calf Off" on Shannon Skerritt's site. I also noticed Shannon correctly predicted Sir Wilhelm's result at Cross Nats. SS and Fixed Represent!!

Lastly, I have been "attacked" by a Two Wheeled Weapon.

Name That Playlist

Another post to file under "assorted snobbery."

The Snob story that goes along with this band is a classic, if only in my own mind. I got a call to see if I would watch over my cousin and a group of his friends at the Warped Tour. "Absolutely." I remember thinking "what a score," then as we were waiting in line to get in, it hit me. I had somehow evolved into the chaparon. The "Cool Uncle." Holy Shit. When did that happen?

Really, I thought. Who cares? I am here for free. The music is good to great. I'm sailing.

Then, the band with the playlist on the right took the stage. It was early in the day, just after Noon. 95 degrees with heat reflecting off the pavement taking it who knows where. The kids want to go see someone else on another stage. "Nope. We stay here guys." Aww. Come on... "Listen, I will bend with you guys all day, but we see this band."

They kids relent and we stay. Three songs in and thier converted. Loving every minute of it. Happy we stayed. Unfortunately, then it got the best of them. They wanted to get into the pit. "I don't know how smart that is guys." Jeez, I realize I really am the chaparon. Not go into the pit? What am I saying? But before I could end the battle with the Angel and Devil on my shoulders though, they were in. Sneaky little three foot tall cake-sniffers slipped away as I looked up to the stage.

All that runs through my mind is explaining how I let a 13 year old take a jack boot to the head and end up in the hospital. Before I can get into the midst of scrum however, the situation polices itself and the kids get spit out the back, smiling but a little freaked out.

Years later I now know that this would be their favorite part of the show, though had you asked them at the time, they would have said Good Charolette.

How do I tie this to bikes? Aside from the BMX show and the guys from Rancid riding around on Freestyle bikes, I can't. But that's okay. What brought all of this up? This band (you can cheat and click the pic.) is how I spent most of my Sunday.

Quick Release(s)

Yes, that's a painful pun. Everything happened in short bursts today.

PC happened by as I was waiting for the air conditioner repair man to show up. He rocked out four hours today. Out to Branched Oak, a few laps and back. Four hours in the saddle. Pleasantly beat. Good work, PC.

I jumped out on the Niner after the AC man left for a couple of hours. Since it was nearing the end of my first week back in the saddle, I kept the gear safe at 34x17. Rode to the shop where I said hello to the crew. I caught TT and Jerod in a lull, but RockD was selling bikes on the floor. Always good to see.

Hit Wilderness after that. I was suprised to see MG leading a crew through going the other way. I already had him mentally pegged for the podium at Poncha, so that sorta threw me. Speaking of Poncha, our Man on the Scene got some visuals.

Sameron is sitting in Fourth right now at Big Bear. The Sologoat sits in Second. Elk's SS and Seventh. Rock Stars.

Blogging Splendor

There are many nice posts online right now.

Elk on proper beer selection for a 24hr. (And actually has three great reads in a row.)

Not so FatMarc's report titled "twelve o' munchy - 12hrs at Deer Park is laced with soul.

G-Ted makes me smile. (And I believe MW too.)

Harlan Price of the IF crew touches on someone of local (kind of) interest in his update of the Mohican 100. Apparently Sir Wilhelm's Cross nemisis Brad Cole hung tough for second place.

As for me, I'm happy to be getting miles in again. Now if I can make the Monkey Wrench ride next week, things will really be kicking.

Slow and Low

that is the tempo.

Day Two of commuting to work again was a bit of an eye-openner. I wasn't fortunate enough to see Butch like I did yesterday, but it just felt good to be cruising in via the Niner today. There was even a section of the bike path closed off which forced people to drop the curb into the street at one point. Commuters may not have the greatest handling skills, but at least they are riding. Some poor guy curbed his rear wheel for a nice pinch flat so I stopped to help him change it. He was panicked he would be late for work, so I pulled an Avey and just dove in and did it so he could be on his way.

Mulling over two distinctly different items:

*Building a mini-pipe for the RadMan in the backyard. (He loved 'Freedom of Space', btw)
*Blogging the process of ordering a Custom Frame.

Got this in an Anonymous email this morning. "You should ride for the IF Grassroots squad. You're attitude sucks just about the right amount for it." Do what to who? Ummm Yeah.

"I'm so happy, 'cause today I found my friends. They're in my head."

Taking A Mulligan

My unofficial "redo" for the season starts up tomorrow. I am going to try to ride base mile style for the next two weeks with an eye toward Swanson on June 24th.

I am going to start up the morning rides again and log a couple of hours before work everyday, then ride at lunch, then ride home. Luckily, now it won't be 20 degrees in the mornings now as compared to the last time I did this.

Looks like I will be in be in Denver in the middle of July as well. Last year, I got stuck watching drag racing as mandated by our CEO. This year, I hope to take the bike. Trail recommendations are welcome.

This post was brought to you as Modest Mouse filled my living room. The picture was brought to you by Magnet Magazine.