Voyager

Crisp morning ride today, frost on the roads, but no ice I could see so the Red Trek was called up from the office, tire pressure checked and ZOOM! I hadn't ridden her in over a week and it was just silly fun leaning into corners and getting into the drops for the descents. Denunzio's right, a Surly Crosscheck would probably suit me well, but so would a Soma Rush or a Bianchi Pista. Big Mike (i just made that nickname up) tells me the '06 Pista will come with a front brake, which may make it difficult to resist next time I stop by Big Shark for some tubes. Listening to Daft Punk's Discovery today... for some reason the track "Voyager" sent me off on a nostalgia kick for the 80's. Probably the synthesizers. I miss my youth, the days when I was certain of many things, and everything was interesting. But I don't miss it so much that I want to see a movie version of Miami Vice with Colin Farrell. Colin Farrell? Couldn't they have found an American for the role of Sonny? Miami Vice was the 80's incarnate, self-righteous, self-absorbed, impossibly vain, with neon and bad/big hair. In what other decade would it be plausible that a cop would drive a Ferrari? Or wear loafers with no socks? Every episode was pretty people fucking up other pretty people with Edward James Olmos looking constipated and a kick-ass soundtrack. Hollywood has sucked the life out of so much of what passes as
American culture that it shouldn't suprise me that they would start preying on the 80's TV. I was just hoping that after all the movies recently made from TV flopped (SWAT or I Dream of Genie anyone?) that they would leave well enough alone. I guess I was asking too much of the people who green-lighted Crossroads.

Snow Is Cool

The weather gods have finally compensated us for all the miserable cold weather by blanketing our fair municipality with a few inches of snow. It greatly improves the appearance of the place and gave me an excuse to ride the Easton again. The snow was supposed to start early this morning but didn't kick in until about 8, so I didn't have as much fun on my way in as I could have. Stupid low pressure system. At least I can enjoy some snow riding in the park tonight on my training ride, which is always an adventure on the Easton, as I take the same route that I take on the Red Trek. I had thought I might sell the Easton and put the proceeds towards a fixie... but it is nice to have a mountain bike available. There are some great trails out here, or so I'm told, but they are all a ways out of town and really have to be driven to. Besides I know that if I sold the Easton, the next day I would meet some cute woman with an interest in showing me her favorite trails...

Please send any spare 53 or 54 cm road frames (horizontal drop-outs please) to me.

Conflict Sucks

Its snowing again. Looks like we'll get a good couple of inches this time, and its sticking. Rode the Easton again in all its tricked out glory. Only headache is that my headlamp mount won't tighten down enough to keep the lamp in position. Stupid carbon fiber bars. That small issue not withstanding, the Easton is a pretty sweet ride, especially in the snow and on the trail. Which is the problem. I had thought to sell it in order to finance either a crossbike or a purpose built fixie from Bianchi, IRO or NYCbikes. Now I am not so sure I want to part with it and all its uselessness most of the year. Good mountain biking exists in the Midwest, but has to be driven to from my domicile. I know that the day after I sell it I will meet some nice woman who knows of some sweet single track and wants to go on a ride. So now I am conflicted. The Easton rocks, but sits idle most of the year, taunting me with memories of Galbraith, while I continue to ride the Red Trek, with its creaking bottom bracket, battered front wheel and shredded paint. Insert expletive of choice here.

please mail any surplus 53 or 54 cm cross frames you may have to me.

My New Bag Can Beat Up Your Bag

20 degrees, inch of snow, North wind at 10 mph... time to get out the mountain bike. Had to pump up the tyres, and probably should have oiled the chain, but it was cold and I was in dire need of a cup of coffee. I believe that if you are going to ride you have to ride when its nasty, poorly lubed chain or not. Of course I don't expect anyone to ride when its nasty without the proper attire, that would be silly. I got my new R.E.Load bag in the mail on Friday, and have been using it ever since. I ordered the Courier, in Kelly Green, and have to admit it might be a bit on the largish side. Of course when I go to the grocery store and actually have room for everything in my bag, it seems just right. I highly recommend ReLoad (www.reloadbags.com) to everyone, They make each bag custom, and there are lots of cool options. The bag is well made and very comfy, and they have an office in Seattle. How can you say no. Go and buy something now, like a good american.