tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116554912024-02-21T05:28:29.044-08:00Hollywood on BicycleReporting in from Tinseltown as seen on 2 wheels.HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-32400326719137044392010-04-20T00:23:00.000-07:002010-04-20T00:23:09.904-07:00Sea Otter Classic 2010I hadn't planned on attending Sea Otter this year, just like I hadn't planned on attending Coachella due to the $300+ single-day tickets on Craigslist. Although the (2) VIP tickets for $1000 were tempting (kidding). Besides, Al and I weren't racing the <a href="http://hollywoodonbike.blogspot.com/2007/04/team-mandem-vs-sea-otter.html">Mandem</a> this year, so what's the point?<br />
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My weekly SmarterTravel email subscription then alerted me to a $95 round-trip special from L.A. to Monterey. How could I pass that up? Bought the ticket, booked a taxi and packed a knapsack. <br />
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The rigid singlespeed equivalent of air travel. You feel every bump, get tossed around and are pretty stoked you made it when its over.<br />
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Travel Tip #8: A name tag on your clothing that doesn't match your ID will result in "interest" from the TSA folks. Twice.<br />
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I arrived in Monterey without a lift to the venue, so I asked the only guy I saw carrying a bike helmet if he wanted to share a cab to Sea Otter. He replied that he already had a ride lined up, but I was welcome to join. Nice! We waited outside for a minute until a Team GT dually pulled up. Turns out he rides for GT. Turns out Pro Downhill. Turns out my ride is with Eric Carter.<br />
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<center>Taxi!</center><br />
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We pulled right in to the GT booth in the pits and I wished him luck and hit the venue. The weather was amazing this year; warm temps, no wind, no flash floods.<br />
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Then I spread out a map of the venue, got my camera gear in order, prioritized my list of vendors to see and got down to business. First stop, <a href="http://www.bikemag.com/">Bike Mag</a>.<br />
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<center>Next stop: <a href="http://seaotter.mtbr.com/">MTBR.com</a></center><br />
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<center>Ran into my friend <a href="http://www.thinkcooper.com/">Cooper</a> aka "flask-hog". </center><br />
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<center>Porta-Potty Still Life</center><br />
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<center>Oh right - the bike stuff. File these two under "Things I Can't Do":</center><br />
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<center>File these under Neat Bike Stuff:</center><br />
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<center>Titanium Salsa La Cruz CX in the pipeline</center><br />
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<center>Serotta partnering with Catlike helmets to bring them to US by summer. </center><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Custom molded road shoes by <a href="http://www.riivo.com/">Riivo</a></div><br />
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<center>Crank Bros "Candy" pedal cages go alloy. Hot.</center><br />
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<center>More hot from Crank Bros with their solid, clampless stems.</center><br />
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<center>Custom fab'd Di2 shifter on a sub-16 pound Cannondale MTB.</center><br />
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<center>This can't be good.</center><br />
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<center>Sexy Niner carbon singlespeed.</center><br />
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<center>Continental 2.4" Trail King, coming soon in 29er. Beefy.</center><br />
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<center>Amazing leather shoes from <a href="http://www.dromarti.com/">Dromarti</a>. The "Sportivo" model is SPD compatible!</center><br />
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<center>Martin of Dromarti models the new black "Race" model. Look compatible and badass.</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONZ5cN5SzzuB1h8DjKy5BK-oGMTa4uty6CxXf-K-FohewxcYxwatg7oOz05uWJlJNGdXL73spEBgjzy99afC3qekx51QwYL-gYui0vyCJEGb_nztJ_4f75t5X4E6VRINr_0Av/s1600/IMG_3454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONZ5cN5SzzuB1h8DjKy5BK-oGMTa4uty6CxXf-K-FohewxcYxwatg7oOz05uWJlJNGdXL73spEBgjzy99afC3qekx51QwYL-gYui0vyCJEGb_nztJ_4f75t5X4E6VRINr_0Av/s320/IMG_3454.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<center>Can't have nice shoes without nice socks. </center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0MUjkas0Ktxd3L_V-50qEpbm75sl4SBWRjxgai3nMJ8o_bqrPsqY2gjO9sa07buk8m-FPlP3Y0zIcBnia2wAKfZZJm5X4Rpt-6cCRhWxvWpNbjpg4qlmqKduVPZ5HmFlnYJi/s1600/IMG_3349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0MUjkas0Ktxd3L_V-50qEpbm75sl4SBWRjxgai3nMJ8o_bqrPsqY2gjO9sa07buk8m-FPlP3Y0zIcBnia2wAKfZZJm5X4Rpt-6cCRhWxvWpNbjpg4qlmqKduVPZ5HmFlnYJi/s320/IMG_3349.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
<center>In closing -</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCuggYVXguUfQ01GpDMDWJWgrKuSrMCxCEcFE5TBZSj6vIjmfCy8Dk2XBKtCamjf8R9C_KB6VO8LL-6TyHHVWG77pQeHbQGel7N1U5d906xSvbXetFq0_PonRURuAT8ayGaby/s1600/IMG_3457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCuggYVXguUfQ01GpDMDWJWgrKuSrMCxCEcFE5TBZSj6vIjmfCy8Dk2XBKtCamjf8R9C_KB6VO8LL-6TyHHVWG77pQeHbQGel7N1U5d906xSvbXetFq0_PonRURuAT8ayGaby/s400/IMG_3457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-50204649815954015082010-04-11T23:25:00.000-07:002010-04-13T21:48:51.532-07:002010 San Diego Custom Bicycle ShowBrought to you by framebuilders <a href="http://www.ybarrola.com/Gallery.htm">Dave Ybarrola</a>, <a href="http://www.sadilah.com/">Chuck Schlesinger</a> and <a href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Baylis_main.htm">Brian Baylis</a>, the 2nd annual San Diego Custom Bicycle Show took place this weekend. Approximately 60 vendors set up their creations for the public to stroke, photograph, scrutinize and fingernail-tap.<br />
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Five of us piled into the wagon and carpooled south from Los Angeles, saving the planet in the process.<br />
<br />
Having attended the now 5 year old <a href="http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/">NAHBS</a>, the San Diego show is obviously much smaller, but was actually originally only supposed to be the 5 or 6 local San Diego builders taking over an art gallery type of space for a weekend. The show has become much more than that since the original concept, now with builders such as Stephen <a href="http://www.bilenky.com/Photo_Gallery.html">Bilenky</a> flying out from Philadelphia, PA to exhibit. The amount of talent in one room was a sight to behold.<br />
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With tons of show coverage available online from the pros at sites like <a href="http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/blog/category/feature-articles/">Roadbikereview.com</a>, I decided to take a different angle of show coverage. Below are some pics from Sunday. Click links to see more on the builders.<br />
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<center>Stephen Bilenky</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP5G8n60_WngxN9VeynYth3MaHo4hmhDhSGFTWz9Dwj1N0u8T4A-TE6L6zmQvNWmqMgmXkcYCc3rEBzsjivgSU40pJU9ZglCqF9aDnikFSbDvknZ_xD2YyoT5n51d4hNMBci3/s1600/IMG_3308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNP5G8n60_WngxN9VeynYth3MaHo4hmhDhSGFTWz9Dwj1N0u8T4A-TE6L6zmQvNWmqMgmXkcYCc3rEBzsjivgSU40pJU9ZglCqF9aDnikFSbDvknZ_xD2YyoT5n51d4hNMBci3/s320/IMG_3308.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
<center>Paul Sadoff of <a href="http://www.rocklobstercycles.com/">Rock Lobster</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCRntbWbFlM1rXYl02g0zCIMkNLjEXJav4HEgqrb0bsf8aIsRro6u7cjElSNXx1mhStKBE591iL_EZKNWEz0UClFNpkME3w_RFOsHpJADaNDDiQjfLXh0p15FOyjGndymm3LR/s1600/IMG_3311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCRntbWbFlM1rXYl02g0zCIMkNLjEXJav4HEgqrb0bsf8aIsRro6u7cjElSNXx1mhStKBE591iL_EZKNWEz0UClFNpkME3w_RFOsHpJADaNDDiQjfLXh0p15FOyjGndymm3LR/s400/IMG_3311.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<center>Custom rear dropout with opener from Santa Cruz's <a href="http://www.caletticycles.com/">Caletti Cycles</a></center><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.brucegordoncycles.blogspot.com/">Bruce Gordon</a> and his handmade ti lugs</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1umb-GUZyd4b10rEDG3oYhtgjQKBzzdbryMzrCqF-OjcCIxdNU_4h_ROMVoLwaMWaXIVRg8uHXa3iegJgICoAaapGYZTWxHgwJg3hunT6KpErAv41dA4RbODqRa90nA6WiN0P/s1600/IMG_3312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1umb-GUZyd4b10rEDG3oYhtgjQKBzzdbryMzrCqF-OjcCIxdNU_4h_ROMVoLwaMWaXIVRg8uHXa3iegJgICoAaapGYZTWxHgwJg3hunT6KpErAv41dA4RbODqRa90nA6WiN0P/s400/IMG_3312.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<center>Mauricio <a href="http://www.rebolledocycles.com/index.php">Rebolledo</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeMgNXUHhw9M0lOgn8xTcIq99aPLjjZ4xbD7iczw9fU9KsjSQ2b5So6jy2SzqvZ9Pa2UIVzDZHwzgvzIKG0rXszv1IomDgm1LnX9zoazdkQ28FH-KQPzg138XJ9TmvDdZ7zz9/s1600/IMG_3325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeMgNXUHhw9M0lOgn8xTcIq99aPLjjZ4xbD7iczw9fU9KsjSQ2b5So6jy2SzqvZ9Pa2UIVzDZHwzgvzIKG0rXszv1IomDgm1LnX9zoazdkQ28FH-KQPzg138XJ9TmvDdZ7zz9/s320/IMG_3325.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<center>Megan Dean of L.A.'s <a href="http://mothattack.com/">Moth Attack</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIV1Nc67ZA-6ZZ0-Z4eEuOk7N31I3aXKXyC9ynQLXPGDji2mFni-JT_2S1suvX6YJUg7O8lQalJRlIYhJowCM_MiqFr8He6QHjvcPnadg1QmHAroC_TjjQD7j729-s-5TPSqt2/s1600/IMG_3318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIV1Nc67ZA-6ZZ0-Z4eEuOk7N31I3aXKXyC9ynQLXPGDji2mFni-JT_2S1suvX6YJUg7O8lQalJRlIYhJowCM_MiqFr8He6QHjvcPnadg1QmHAroC_TjjQD7j729-s-5TPSqt2/s400/IMG_3318.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
<center>Fred Cuthbert of <a href="http://www.wolfhoundcycles.com/frames.html">Wolfhound</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcTgNsaDI78zqq63NXOe9VmFGo6nDRioK9Z4JxVh6QhQgsJe2BBXu4OTgpdm5NrtN8WjMBuzu9Ym2Jn9QR_ROqOAtdypEQ0PFaL49HoYGXyV0gstUxMdoTVzu2q-anSaau1tI/s1600/IMG_3319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcTgNsaDI78zqq63NXOe9VmFGo6nDRioK9Z4JxVh6QhQgsJe2BBXu4OTgpdm5NrtN8WjMBuzu9Ym2Jn9QR_ROqOAtdypEQ0PFaL49HoYGXyV0gstUxMdoTVzu2q-anSaau1tI/s400/IMG_3319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center>Mike <a href="http://www.desalvocycles.com/">DeSalvo</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPKOdvMUbRayv8cv74zZG08wIACI70sOUxKW3aPkdoLOOJgwXtTm2dKof2CfildpxLbuPZsvKkhXtSuiwKYG0ITh52POxbkAyzLHO_8ePd3-GUSpuBrjhFmEFOfoqnunsoscR/s1600/IMG_3322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPKOdvMUbRayv8cv74zZG08wIACI70sOUxKW3aPkdoLOOJgwXtTm2dKof2CfildpxLbuPZsvKkhXtSuiwKYG0ITh52POxbkAyzLHO_8ePd3-GUSpuBrjhFmEFOfoqnunsoscR/s400/IMG_3322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Baylis_main.htm">Baylis</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX01x8zWjlK-r4dLJnyYQ5X1J71lMZH2I7OKCBOhyRGF1Ki16sTFzZ1e8pMwq1IyOFLw4RdLRkynzZP-A5-xJ2Jvx8AmjH-WL_TsjYmO2qqCcL4rV1K1Q1I1h7HX4fpUPzKH3-/s1600/IMG_3324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX01x8zWjlK-r4dLJnyYQ5X1J71lMZH2I7OKCBOhyRGF1Ki16sTFzZ1e8pMwq1IyOFLw4RdLRkynzZP-A5-xJ2Jvx8AmjH-WL_TsjYmO2qqCcL4rV1K1Q1I1h7HX4fpUPzKH3-/s400/IMG_3324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<center>Sean Walling of <a href="http://www.soulcraftbikes.com/">Soulcraft</a></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeny9M8swtva_H2Lra6dQcaOr2KOMQOz3PlJGGlxq_fR7H9upr_WMyZCHXvIFMAVfZPOmt300rrmsVhVMgbZRTss8tjRb7EsqhOkIXn-mNRRrX-wiqy9tVz_bjrRfWjYAYKTL/s1600/IMG_3332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeny9M8swtva_H2Lra6dQcaOr2KOMQOz3PlJGGlxq_fR7H9upr_WMyZCHXvIFMAVfZPOmt300rrmsVhVMgbZRTss8tjRb7EsqhOkIXn-mNRRrX-wiqy9tVz_bjrRfWjYAYKTL/s400/IMG_3332.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.sandiegocustombicycleshow.com/">San Diego show</a> will be back in 2011 and NAHBS will be in Austin, TX. Support your local framebuilder!HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-40867268811808335452010-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:002010-01-21T19:28:22.479-08:00Strange Days Have Found UsCool things at work coming from the Mad Scientist mind of metal-master Jeff Tiedeken @ downtown L.A.<br />
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<a href="http://monkeylikeshiny.blogspot.com/2010/01/spinning-some-parts.html">http://monkeylikeshiny.blogspot.com/2010/01/spinning-some-parts.html</a><br />
<br />
Its gonna be a fun one to follow. Not like anything I've seen, he's seen, you've seen before.<br />
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1/21/10 Update:<br />
<a href="http://monkeylikeshiny.blogspot.com/2010/01/she-is-half-done-jeff.html">http://monkeylikeshiny.blogspot.com/2010/01/she-is-half-done-jeff.html</a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-25868386456685177022009-10-01T19:23:00.000-07:002010-04-15T21:35:15.581-07:00Bon Iver at the Hollywood Forever CemeteryWhen I saw the concert info hit the newswire, I couldn't fumble my credit card out of my wallet fast enough. <i>Bon Iver</i> playing a 6am sunrise show on Sunday, with doors opening the night before at midnight. In a cemetery.<br />
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Concert-goers were welcome to come and camp on the cemetery lawn (<i>not</i> on grave sites) with food & drink and stay up with the various media provided; Planet Earth video loops, background DJ music and a screening of the film Bottle Rocket at 2am. All for $25.<br />
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I packed the Xtracycle full of pillows, blankets, fleece, a thermos full of hot coffee and a bottle of Kahlua. We claimed our spot in front of the sound techs for a dead-center view and unpacked our take-out dinner at 1:00am.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Planet Earth </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3969772706_cc00460e55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3969772706_cc00460e55.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
The coffee helped as the fog settled in and dew began to coat everything with moisture. About halfway through the film, somewhere around 3am I passed out, surrounded by strangers.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">mid-night coffee stand</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/3969773000_aa034b0b22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2606/3969773000_aa034b0b22.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bedtime views</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3969000091_d3c1bd9c45_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3969000091_d3c1bd9c45_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/3972759949_fea423616c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/3972759949_fea423616c_o.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><br />
</center><center>At around 5:30am I woke up to an unfamiliar sound. They had brought in a group of Buddhist monks to chant a prayer for the living (us) and for the non (everyone else). What a bizarre, fantastic way to enter the day.</center></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jIv96DfNWa8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jIv96DfNWa8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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<br />
Justin aka Bon Iver took the stage at 6 as billed. Still dark out. He eased into his set with a mellow tune or two but the mellowness didn't last long. He then tore into the rest of his set list at full-amp with his 3 bandmates. Electric guitars ripping, drums pounded. Wake up neighbors! Awesome. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Kicking things off</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3969000451_85f2e29e2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3514/3969000451_85f2e29e2a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Later, Justin on keys </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/3969773270_4e3a6fd64f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2626/3969773270_4e3a6fd64f.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Touring mates <a href="http://www.myspace.com/megafaun">Megafaun</a> came and sat in on a little bluegrass number called "Ease your worried mind"<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Standing O</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3969773400_272ee7fe26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3969773400_272ee7fe26.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Haulin' bodies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3973526560_d098887410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/3973526560_d098887410.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll end with footage of the band doing the first song at dark-thirty - "Flume" (dig the fog!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gLvpk0OeFvA&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gLvpk0OeFvA&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-20224801559413768742009-04-29T20:50:00.001-07:002009-09-01T23:38:33.015-07:00ThinkCooper Gathering '09 - Santa Cruz, CAI survived my 2nd annual visit to the ThinkCooper/<a href="http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=57">Lounge</a> Gathering and Pyro Ride in Santa Cruz, a scant 5.5 hr. journey north of L.A. and worth every morsel of roadside salty snack food and taurine-boosted energy drink the 4 of us can find along the way.<br /><br />I have reserved Space #3a on the Cooper living room floor for sleeping purposes. I have my road bike, fireproof topical gel, beer from Belgium, and requisite duffel bag full of my signature attire. Weekend is go!<br /><br />Out for a little coastal spin with 20 of my closest bike-forum-screen-name-people I've never met-friends. (click on pics = big)<br /><br /><center>Rolling out</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFFMlqUxto6EOMN73uT7Nyb4I04ba3hKxtLyXZN6-6DbGAyQ57RsZBzPR5iPrMKBAQgft5oiGAp4jP8Y5xVieD-idGa6XIttbrx_xRAxBGdsCFDNls_TlKp55ibabBIoS039i/s1600-h/IMG_0737.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFFMlqUxto6EOMN73uT7Nyb4I04ba3hKxtLyXZN6-6DbGAyQ57RsZBzPR5iPrMKBAQgft5oiGAp4jP8Y5xVieD-idGa6XIttbrx_xRAxBGdsCFDNls_TlKp55ibabBIoS039i/s320/IMG_0737.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376751248742440050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy-8ui97BHwt7CjIAjgms7zrIbD5b_c_wL17ZXOHAf0VA38rIiRFqKaJwBtjLTzhVNrE08GYNZgl9lhXEuFM6wIG_QKPqXpV7PsEKkmFQQV5n-GGhqdZ1UoKI91cDEhxQrLA9/s1600-h/IMG_0745.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhy-8ui97BHwt7CjIAjgms7zrIbD5b_c_wL17ZXOHAf0VA38rIiRFqKaJwBtjLTzhVNrE08GYNZgl9lhXEuFM6wIG_QKPqXpV7PsEKkmFQQV5n-GGhqdZ1UoKI91cDEhxQrLA9/s320/IMG_0745.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376725149649625634" /></a><br /><br /><center>Heading inland into the redwoods</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDZDG7ArrTKvbM7RIkHA2SyLiYR3fsfhSDuqWcJ0lqiuCi4HpJA6mk-BgeZ09xPkRJrbT1AWsxLXqH-DmRTQ0Xala2ibJx3KpoxCvWddxM0OdsktJojpVpQQd0jgv0M_sdPZX/s1600-h/IMG_0781.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDZDG7ArrTKvbM7RIkHA2SyLiYR3fsfhSDuqWcJ0lqiuCi4HpJA6mk-BgeZ09xPkRJrbT1AWsxLXqH-DmRTQ0Xala2ibJx3KpoxCvWddxM0OdsktJojpVpQQd0jgv0M_sdPZX/s320/IMG_0781.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376726573259217890" /></a><br /><br />Back home and changed into proper party-wear with our host.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgk-813hz7o3EVts5BdTI-J53H8uOuOZS-inKKED0tfWfEg1ovuql8FbZzVb-vgdHVxep-6O_wrsZZUi001ktAafcsn0ryp2pefRRxzNmq4OjbYAuX9pKJoCHCs6ETluUj10K/s1600-h/IMG_0965.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgk-813hz7o3EVts5BdTI-J53H8uOuOZS-inKKED0tfWfEg1ovuql8FbZzVb-vgdHVxep-6O_wrsZZUi001ktAafcsn0ryp2pefRRxzNmq4OjbYAuX9pKJoCHCs6ETluUj10K/s320/IMG_0965.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376728583946883666" /></a><br /><br /><center>Let the games begin!</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_gqqEqwrmoSXoeI6TYVacDI0e7ki4_eaPCV4j7NF9q0yKb7BdXcpqrCjPhJl08wXWppeIpExEYtb7RfKvgJEQjy1GXtvUsTZmmFoLs-okYpgsQ-Y08k5ULY07bhgKVOkyARn/s1600-h/IMG_0829.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_gqqEqwrmoSXoeI6TYVacDI0e7ki4_eaPCV4j7NF9q0yKb7BdXcpqrCjPhJl08wXWppeIpExEYtb7RfKvgJEQjy1GXtvUsTZmmFoLs-okYpgsQ-Y08k5ULY07bhgKVOkyARn/s320/IMG_0829.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376729389989626754" /></a><br /><br /><center>Cooper admires one of his creations</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaiqLWQyym7fAK-GAVHOqIWPVLtWaEUorfiOSVFRBb1Vy6qM86Sx7-CLTXCv62UZlZPi0w5qQoiXFBFu4H-YLvmJ-16wEkGY9nFeDho4M-T2YeTc2vYaTemacKBg9UReM4Xc/s1600-h/IMG_0832.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaiqLWQyym7fAK-GAVHOqIWPVLtWaEUorfiOSVFRBb1Vy6qM86Sx7-CLTXCv62UZlZPi0w5qQoiXFBFu4H-YLvmJ-16wEkGY9nFeDho4M-T2YeTc2vYaTemacKBg9UReM4Xc/s320/IMG_0832.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376730269411315186" /></a><br /><br /><center>"Need a light?"</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HYPTrMcGhLm3mjTj5U6Ynf821FqiHmCLp0U691pWXrEwVicr3-403Mv6Sg47QNy_X7S1zZBVF6G3Js59-g2dIBblJzQpNblRprGhebwinXdsmqn7S0uEvd6CK-_YKGhc_Os5/s1600-h/IMG_0847.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HYPTrMcGhLm3mjTj5U6Ynf821FqiHmCLp0U691pWXrEwVicr3-403Mv6Sg47QNy_X7S1zZBVF6G3Js59-g2dIBblJzQpNblRprGhebwinXdsmqn7S0uEvd6CK-_YKGhc_Os5/s320/IMG_0847.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376731675536745314" /></a><br /><br /><center>Alcohol and Fire go well together</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK85fTs_eTfLR21trk0YODYKVTspb4fEuq3MpWvyh5A6rRD1Fz6rm8KKFwCevqECylCDg2qkZ9jQdSyqKNwiuipfvm4rrMyRB8Ph0Mt4r75gtKakf8scmeFPXSdX3XPetWKGWb/s1600-h/IMG_0837.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK85fTs_eTfLR21trk0YODYKVTspb4fEuq3MpWvyh5A6rRD1Fz6rm8KKFwCevqECylCDg2qkZ9jQdSyqKNwiuipfvm4rrMyRB8Ph0Mt4r75gtKakf8scmeFPXSdX3XPetWKGWb/s320/IMG_0837.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376734407764555474" /></a><br /><br />Shit's getting <span style="font-style:italic;">serious</span> now. Westvleteren 12 from my luggage stash returning from Belgique<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzjI_fPn75CYERHk2Urv-yNdW8_kKP1Ddrs5L_ayZzZmlRGeTV__hsPwC_cv4tw-7xEMigxjHwpnz7QPt16vJSRp-Fh4edzbe2kR_t2hBqb-WLyCJvYUQmSi8EMqAsnUH22Rd/s1600-h/IMG_0866.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzjI_fPn75CYERHk2Urv-yNdW8_kKP1Ddrs5L_ayZzZmlRGeTV__hsPwC_cv4tw-7xEMigxjHwpnz7QPt16vJSRp-Fh4edzbe2kR_t2hBqb-WLyCJvYUQmSi8EMqAsnUH22Rd/s320/IMG_0866.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376734943950902098" /></a><br /><br /><center>Reacharound</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipj3HqInM8dFx0xHILwUaFReWqvA7ILvqBU3QGQlfESlO20jnXePw0DO_vWHooCpdiDXmF2i3-JLV7pwnD7lFZld8LB2PvY24A2e5IdkLdCFR-XI4ojgDxscpQBPxayDPZEZ89/s1600-h/IMG_0907.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipj3HqInM8dFx0xHILwUaFReWqvA7ILvqBU3QGQlfESlO20jnXePw0DO_vWHooCpdiDXmF2i3-JLV7pwnD7lFZld8LB2PvY24A2e5IdkLdCFR-XI4ojgDxscpQBPxayDPZEZ89/s320/IMG_0907.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376739931783881074" /></a><br /><br /><center>JB documents Mrs. Cooper's burning ring of fire</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRfUb1buEweJkRJ4lXTjcS6qCHgSdEL4ti6bkqZ97-CmRarrB_bgdcUPDRil5lwpXX1JwP6213q2ZOJToggy1pm09gQmPlRjcsHSlfxwWUJ9EKl3MQb2G1jInbcaIVYJFKNJE/s1600-h/IMG_0936.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRfUb1buEweJkRJ4lXTjcS6qCHgSdEL4ti6bkqZ97-CmRarrB_bgdcUPDRil5lwpXX1JwP6213q2ZOJToggy1pm09gQmPlRjcsHSlfxwWUJ9EKl3MQb2G1jInbcaIVYJFKNJE/s320/IMG_0936.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376744521005625842" /></a><br /><br /><center>Getting flamed</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpVg4pANFpRp7OEWTOMyv59cIYtnVOdVCAW4UedSwDx_44IEbjEKAZxHgm91M5Trw76loBCTvpA99h7iy4HZBbFbZhXAr4IUhWvOmvk6KJn5iO1sheQHUtsXuIcSzNHNM20sK/s1600-h/IMG_0934.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpVg4pANFpRp7OEWTOMyv59cIYtnVOdVCAW4UedSwDx_44IEbjEKAZxHgm91M5Trw76loBCTvpA99h7iy4HZBbFbZhXAr4IUhWvOmvk6KJn5iO1sheQHUtsXuIcSzNHNM20sK/s320/IMG_0934.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376751694328074274" /></a><br /><br /><center>Mrs. Coop & Eddy</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxOMW27V3LWVhRCZYKQisRArT-ExRpTjCwKolknYb6aq9wNG8dk9RCxRtFBrFoAS1PZtbtt3bl8F1NOTUNvz6VC8BNNplpYAsc3MQLC8gMhgIZEd3B7KT73nMVedwBAQH-nf5/s1600-h/IMG_0949.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxOMW27V3LWVhRCZYKQisRArT-ExRpTjCwKolknYb6aq9wNG8dk9RCxRtFBrFoAS1PZtbtt3bl8F1NOTUNvz6VC8BNNplpYAsc3MQLC8gMhgIZEd3B7KT73nMVedwBAQH-nf5/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376755409237321922" /></a><br /><br /><center>Nightfolk</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUj0jx1PWU0xhs4J1rDc2z6H6GNvz-_lbpKC2zyrE91W5STbQXQWpJWc_dLHS9Ur1mO2mFHAJzumisl5POknXAdfzPxPEYq5BrK7Oil3ObC5tl2qljhtKLlCWBMnAcCM7MIXG/s1600-h/IMG_0929.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUj0jx1PWU0xhs4J1rDc2z6H6GNvz-_lbpKC2zyrE91W5STbQXQWpJWc_dLHS9Ur1mO2mFHAJzumisl5POknXAdfzPxPEYq5BrK7Oil3ObC5tl2qljhtKLlCWBMnAcCM7MIXG/s320/IMG_0929.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376744112742856578" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sunday welcomes a mellow brunch cruise down the street to the always excellent <a href="http://www.harborcafesantacruz.com/harbor_cafe_photos.php">Harbor Cafe</a>.<br /><br /><center>My posse's getting big and my posse's getting bigger.</center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-4IiLY8Gs4MSFEx6Ych3o5oJtC_2X2MRgvhVr9YPMtEz8_cL7fkhB6uEfHjPfiBzG5P8dmH7xmkpne6SPjdzlzDYLSgStCvUU388d9991EfmlWqz4_g0JhhgO1CnqYQs23el/s1600-h/IMG_0967.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-4IiLY8Gs4MSFEx6Ych3o5oJtC_2X2MRgvhVr9YPMtEz8_cL7fkhB6uEfHjPfiBzG5P8dmH7xmkpne6SPjdzlzDYLSgStCvUU388d9991EfmlWqz4_g0JhhgO1CnqYQs23el/s320/IMG_0967.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376740556064314082" /></a><br /><br /><br /><center>Until next year....Happy trails</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vhzJzHbdUgszo0cryv-fGc4KLDaoMPdAzqGxGWtl4_pjSnN9r2i4Hew_p1R4Lf7px7Z6Csa2gCHYcrNnZ-z1gSmUS7_j1b4wufVndTvN5H9nFjxw1v3s1ZrG3WWgN3jNKXhN/s1600-h/IMG_0971.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vhzJzHbdUgszo0cryv-fGc4KLDaoMPdAzqGxGWtl4_pjSnN9r2i4Hew_p1R4Lf7px7Z6Csa2gCHYcrNnZ-z1gSmUS7_j1b4wufVndTvN5H9nFjxw1v3s1ZrG3WWgN3jNKXhN/s320/IMG_0971.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376742595824514802" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-75738256059961881962009-03-08T14:00:00.000-07:002009-03-09T21:44:02.312-07:00Underground to the MountainsI've never really explored Runyon Canyon, one of L.A.'s premiere "hike and be seen" spots where cute actresses and scruffy musicians walk their dogs and look fabulous. Its absolutely packed on weekends, with great scenery to be found - both of the human and nature varieties. So today I hopped on my friendly neighborhood subway with my singlespeed, which is no good for getting across town, and took it a stop or two to H-wood town.<br /><br />*click photos to enlarge<br /><br /><center>Obligatory still life + motion</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8fc9H9H0G2ohG9qvwEo27pz0avXz24B0oXraFmsj4ZE6P2G0eNWMMUQfbSzFR70omAOKfMbSoBpCBYUXMGcVSjSaJEjtbB9TONqh66G15YFZDNMaTV2mCP1F5C2-jPlbMmmt/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8fc9H9H0G2ohG9qvwEo27pz0avXz24B0oXraFmsj4ZE6P2G0eNWMMUQfbSzFR70omAOKfMbSoBpCBYUXMGcVSjSaJEjtbB9TONqh66G15YFZDNMaTV2mCP1F5C2-jPlbMmmt/s320/photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311388183613846642" /></a><br /><br /><center>Knobbies on Stars</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfe7zzCEsYNNr-0Dns6VhE6Vn7RGbH3Kyjy6KJzlIGJQainYJ_-bIqHECLCMT-1HTbYpRAStY6N_TTaQWDJmDEwYHQHsMeL3h0XFA7255Dw_3uE5rjhi0bQcLnn-Sp5ZWZo_l/s1600-h/photo(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfe7zzCEsYNNr-0Dns6VhE6Vn7RGbH3Kyjy6KJzlIGJQainYJ_-bIqHECLCMT-1HTbYpRAStY6N_TTaQWDJmDEwYHQHsMeL3h0XFA7255Dw_3uE5rjhi0bQcLnn-Sp5ZWZo_l/s320/photo(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311389154177164498" /></a><br /><br />A few quick blocks of dodging tourists and I was on my way up the hill to the entrance to Runyon. Leaving the BS of the city behind. Sorta.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGN752E-29pa6b3XDQLGE38ZpnMSUGDCKp3f0m463Y4IcBs8ivp88AX8py6cDX6FNMfXUs2EWY958-my_XHagz_ZRBPyiCu_kcmRS01TIvWeIb4x6IrsVu9sGVy42WuO329RU/s1600-h/photo(3).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGN752E-29pa6b3XDQLGE38ZpnMSUGDCKp3f0m463Y4IcBs8ivp88AX8py6cDX6FNMfXUs2EWY958-my_XHagz_ZRBPyiCu_kcmRS01TIvWeIb4x6IrsVu9sGVy42WuO329RU/s320/photo(3).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311401841644540194" /></a><br /><br />A much shorter ride than I'm used to, maybe 3-4 miles round trip, but I felt like I owed it to myself to get familiar with something in my backyard so to speak. The paved climb up from the bottom is a nice consistent grade, definitely a workout on a singlespeed. And I did not see any other cyclists the entire time, only swarms of people and dogs. Looking back down on the climb -<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham-Ep3lFGLEPKsb9jZGtnRUbqbB5NVDl2_craBWcI4gsE_kqAopSDAXs-tU888maYRxYiUhacy_YrdTE4NgOeElYLs5akZFvf5-qDRvLIp7IkS-EQUXkmPLgfuz09ZTXXF-N_/s1600-h/photo(4).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham-Ep3lFGLEPKsb9jZGtnRUbqbB5NVDl2_craBWcI4gsE_kqAopSDAXs-tU888maYRxYiUhacy_YrdTE4NgOeElYLs5akZFvf5-qDRvLIp7IkS-EQUXkmPLgfuz09ZTXXF-N_/s320/photo(4).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311404670347836802" /></a><br /><br />Great views looking south & west at the top. I rode to the gate at Mulholland to make my summit official then turned around to head back down. I conveniently looked the other direction as I passed the 'No Bikes' sign at the top of the dirt trail. For the sake of my knowledge and this blog I had to be a scofflaw <del>for a day</del> and see what was in store. Besides, riding down the way I came up would be no fun at all.<br /><br /><center>Top looking south</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnljywRh___xf0OglP7plf6HwxrAa77efuykAulIoK4d58YKoA4-csHFvbQbXmcodRSneRtYvoOcS67NolX50RmrEDn5mBD03KS7M-At15-5fpmaIY_boZj6WIbFEBNNRE1Z8c/s1600-h/photo(5).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnljywRh___xf0OglP7plf6HwxrAa77efuykAulIoK4d58YKoA4-csHFvbQbXmcodRSneRtYvoOcS67NolX50RmrEDn5mBD03KS7M-At15-5fpmaIY_boZj6WIbFEBNNRE1Z8c/s320/photo(5).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311406346948961554" /></a><br /><br /><center>East (HW sign center)</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eliEuGxgMmTVJjPSjPd7nCLZceeeqsjGN15xr897R6hMRFCQ4GViE3mH7xENNXRMO-EzXXCjGrkC8VncXw626Em7cjtp3U6W4qaH5JQjvsgiTR_rvuoV066hGzau-NlrCkU0/s1600-h/photo(7).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eliEuGxgMmTVJjPSjPd7nCLZceeeqsjGN15xr897R6hMRFCQ4GViE3mH7xENNXRMO-EzXXCjGrkC8VncXw626Em7cjtp3U6W4qaH5JQjvsgiTR_rvuoV066hGzau-NlrCkU0/s320/photo(7).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311406629071351250" /></a><br /><br /><center>Rustic living on the ridge. Downtown in b/g</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz9K4DiBQzeOJHNqEfhXBb8gW24oei2yKmraGWP0xdVLq1KKxTUHOcd9C1jFotlJf6UbjkcYZ6ztGL4z1X8JssqhHvmj6hk03OWD0NY3kJOcbjKYaUo1VRwYjzbVwukyC-KRL/s1600-h/photo(6).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz9K4DiBQzeOJHNqEfhXBb8gW24oei2yKmraGWP0xdVLq1KKxTUHOcd9C1jFotlJf6UbjkcYZ6ztGL4z1X8JssqhHvmj6hk03OWD0NY3kJOcbjKYaUo1VRwYjzbVwukyC-KRL/s320/photo(6).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311406983256257298" /></a><br /><br /><center>Summit Me</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cs64Q9gpNNQL2HS_EBYstrkkOacmNNVOd15x548hpdDjOUFE1LuBC32DKW4QrUf5Lb24b9z-_smaSE1IQnj-WLn2FDoJ0UgF0zmuI9efdPeX0R0clBFEznXLZBVOYULWd6tn/s1600-h/photo(8).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cs64Q9gpNNQL2HS_EBYstrkkOacmNNVOd15x548hpdDjOUFE1LuBC32DKW4QrUf5Lb24b9z-_smaSE1IQnj-WLn2FDoJ0UgF0zmuI9efdPeX0R0clBFEznXLZBVOYULWd6tn/s320/photo(8).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311408662610892738" /></a><br /><br />The top half of the dirt trail was rideable, with only some water bar drops and a few ruts to contend with. The second half? Yeah no. Hike-a-bike time.<br /><br /><center>Wheel catchers</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2chHLgAcxa5iP2zW8GsPJEw2hbptIsDiU-z-TLQb9Tqf8W0HjDuWMpT6zb07sJpqaUAp4keHcqp2aWpUEcTZlir3Uee-2prynwv3A1c8PBaf71T8UVkE-ii44tmvebLtIkgm/s1600-h/photo(9).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2chHLgAcxa5iP2zW8GsPJEw2hbptIsDiU-z-TLQb9Tqf8W0HjDuWMpT6zb07sJpqaUAp4keHcqp2aWpUEcTZlir3Uee-2prynwv3A1c8PBaf71T8UVkE-ii44tmvebLtIkgm/s320/photo(9).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311409290917594162" /></a><br /><br />Made it back down safe and sound with nary a gripe from any hikers. Ideally I would do 2 laps but the sun was setting and I had a train to catch. Next time. Back down to HW proper for a much-needed recovery beverage. Something tells me its mandatory to include Starbucks with a Runyon hike.<br /><br /><center>What Would Jesus Drink?</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6gcEunZJhA2jzMy8bUiWaBHZz0MsLWhVunmAM_w6tgFLkZFPZIAA_PRXHtvbUw_l3ephOXeQuaE7DxKtG2kpYpJkuA1HXm0hyphenhyphenihSvUuw_pswA4kmTkEJ_z4tw9zsfBjYE_ij/s1600-h/photo(10).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6gcEunZJhA2jzMy8bUiWaBHZz0MsLWhVunmAM_w6tgFLkZFPZIAA_PRXHtvbUw_l3ephOXeQuaE7DxKtG2kpYpJkuA1HXm0hyphenhyphenihSvUuw_pswA4kmTkEJ_z4tw9zsfBjYE_ij/s320/photo(10).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311410161088072162" /></a><br /><center>A. a double-tall cappuccino</center><br /><br /><br /><br />* all photos courtesy of my sucky iPhone cam.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runyon_Canyon_Park"><br />Runyon Wiki</a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-31086225768743904922009-03-07T23:59:00.000-08:002009-03-09T21:36:43.375-07:00OMG it's Lance!Following Lance Armstrong on Twitter is pretty entertaining, and tipped me off to his upcoming "group ride" in Hollywood. I took the info down, made the appropriate rsvp's and planned on attending whatever was in store for those who showed up. The group ride turned out to be: Closing Sunset Blvd completely for a 2 mile stretch from L.A. to Hollywood at 6pm on a Saturday night. Hundreds of people turned out, free water, snacks and mechanical support were provided, everyone got free t-shirts, PD & FD were out in force. Epic. All for a 2 mile ride.<br /><br />*click photos to enlarge.<br /><br /><center>Queuing up</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K5hlHV_r9szHbyRL_KfG0iUtuxAVFtJTyFrAcWfTBoA9RnXeJlaBpLrT9DHrGOZdJ3AAkeS8-RYJoXDiBi1JqfclkJZKZrlg-E4fbrMZXXuzzO03ltgXOgg36hrytW4DALI3/s1600-h/photo(3).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K5hlHV_r9szHbyRL_KfG0iUtuxAVFtJTyFrAcWfTBoA9RnXeJlaBpLrT9DHrGOZdJ3AAkeS8-RYJoXDiBi1JqfclkJZKZrlg-E4fbrMZXXuzzO03ltgXOgg36hrytW4DALI3/s320/photo(3).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311066284640210018" /></a><br /><br />I'm not the *best* when it comes to playing along by the rules, so I somehow decided that digging my "LiveWrong" tshirt out of the drawer would be a good idea for a LiveStrong event. More on that later. (wtf is that over my shoulder???)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviE_Ub4JqsjSIcEOHLdu2LJw-hTkY3iEweuVfYHFhlpbEl1GMVFF8M75QAq-0NnIMp6ZnsqL1O3mOWIQEslYCrcw9UOHVrnsRqpUDRyslGPTbqtBXV02gE3lXVATWL4Q0uqiD/s1600-h/photo(2).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviE_Ub4JqsjSIcEOHLdu2LJw-hTkY3iEweuVfYHFhlpbEl1GMVFF8M75QAq-0NnIMp6ZnsqL1O3mOWIQEslYCrcw9UOHVrnsRqpUDRyslGPTbqtBXV02gE3lXVATWL4Q0uqiD/s320/photo(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311068760824385698" /></a><br /><br />Lance and local politicians make chit chat under huge movie lights before the ride<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jj4MjGZBu8tY_NlVdw7CHJhq7nWX6EKqkugPqoDUrNcRK7KuJotpzg9zImPmPSBWRKYAQshOXaHiD6Wi4iqwlbInpsndZOt9yXBlh1Drmb7A6QZjB0KbC5S4bcfEcQi6sRiG/s1600-h/photo(5).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jj4MjGZBu8tY_NlVdw7CHJhq7nWX6EKqkugPqoDUrNcRK7KuJotpzg9zImPmPSBWRKYAQshOXaHiD6Wi4iqwlbInpsndZOt9yXBlh1Drmb7A6QZjB0KbC5S4bcfEcQi6sRiG/s320/photo(5).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311070117105070162" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lance then hopped on a bike <a href="http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/03/08/lacycle-killerslance-armstrongs-new-barry-mcgee-trek-madone/">customized by artist Barry McGee</a> and led the ride. Riding on a closed Sunset Blvd was pretty cool, not to soon be repeated. <br /><br /><center>Lance kits</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kF0KJK8k7x0/SbOk4EZylWI/AAAAAAAAAik/g3Eq9nJiyuk/s640/DSCF2084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kF0KJK8k7x0/SbOk4EZylWI/AAAAAAAAAik/g3Eq9nJiyuk/s640/DSCF2084.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><center>photo by James</center><br /><br /><br />We all arrived at the Montalban Theater on Vine and were greeted with a very efficient bike valet. We then entered the theater and were treated to an open beer & wine bar. Nice! A couple glasses of Pinot after a 2 mile sprint on an empty stomach is a great way to kick off a Saturday night.<br /><br />I was headed towards the men's room when I got stopped by a security guard in a suit. "Excuse me sir, we need you to step outside". What? I thought I had violated some "no open container while in the restroom" law. He looked around like he was was waiting for someone else to show up. A few seconds later a younger staffer shows up and confirms that they want me to leave. He follows up his request with "Whats with the shirt?". Oh, that. I smile and assure them that I'm just having a little fun. They don't like it. "Were you even on the ride??" they inquire. "Um, yes" I reply and show then my wristband. I attempt to defuse it by assuring them I will go to my seat, get my standard issue yellow shirt and wear it like everyone else, effectively covering up the offending message. They mull it over and agree. I'm sent off with a "no worries". Thanks fellas! <br /><br /><center>When in doubt, go half-shirt.</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGjuSuPwk2O4_XyA4zWQk3Be_ZAkfY3MqLFPvqiJKftokps6mHaKumpS77JqL9Ukv_yPtPcxaJA6WaAcwcOvNl8rDvzKVrssPmutDG-0oLDQXk6zA4zSHS6wr6rRHj-N-2FYW/s1600-h/photo(4).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGjuSuPwk2O4_XyA4zWQk3Be_ZAkfY3MqLFPvqiJKftokps6mHaKumpS77JqL9Ukv_yPtPcxaJA6WaAcwcOvNl8rDvzKVrssPmutDG-0oLDQXk6zA4zSHS6wr6rRHj-N-2FYW/s320/photo(4).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311079555755353634" /></a><br /><br /><br />We took our seats and Ben Stiller took the stage to get things under way. Apparently Ben and Lance had become friends on the Dodgeball film and now do favors like this for each other. He introduced Lance, LiveStrong CEO Doug Ulman and Nike CEO Mark Parker. They talked about Lance's mission with fighting cancer, his return to cycling and his newfound interest in the art world and how he is drawing his current favorite artists into his world to help promote his cause. Look for the unveiling of his "Stages" exhibit following the Tour de France in July. <br /><br /><center>Doug and Lance</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kF0KJK8k7x0/SbOlHHAxVQI/AAAAAAAAAj8/dInJKnf2yQY/s640/DSCF2096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 481px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kF0KJK8k7x0/SbOlHHAxVQI/AAAAAAAAAj8/dInJKnf2yQY/s640/DSCF2096.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lance then thanked everyone for coming, said he was off to Europe tomorrow and then introduced the second Ben-friend of the night - Ben Harper, who jammed a nice set with his band The Relentless Seven, which consisted of 3 dudes.<br /><br /><center>Ben</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSGTzRKKQOIF3dhyphenhyphenhRnEBZ2Sy4BPt1Xq1F1BhcjgI7DpypR7orsUQvXvapqulfQR6E0pApaS52iKTCAIIdCdEKLSrYc2sXV2RXFsf9xWOgAPr8nnpMWcyVcjWZoW5jDzD-ldr/s1600-h/photo(6).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSGTzRKKQOIF3dhyphenhyphenhRnEBZ2Sy4BPt1Xq1F1BhcjgI7DpypR7orsUQvXvapqulfQR6E0pApaS52iKTCAIIdCdEKLSrYc2sXV2RXFsf9xWOgAPr8nnpMWcyVcjWZoW5jDzD-ldr/s320/photo(6).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311377105403703714" /></a><br /><br />After Ben's set we headed out to bike valet to recover the bikes, then decided on <a href="http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/">Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles</a> for some late night eats. On the way there, a woman joined along to ride with us. We knew her vaguely from hanging around various L.A. bike events. She had way too much to drink at the event and decided that riding no-handed down the middle of Sunset Blvd would be fun. Until she wobbled and hit the blacktop. Hard. Hard enough to knock her unconscious in the middle of the street. Doh! Traffic waited while we carried her off to the sidewalk and laid her back down, still out cold. Lots of "is she ok?/ Should we call 911?" shouts from strangers. No and No. We eventually got her to come around then called an ambulance. She had no clue where she was or what she was doing earlier, or even that she had crashed. Her helmet was cracked, hands and lips bleeding. The paramedics hauled her and her bike (thanks guys!) off to the hospital. Drinking and dumb riding don't mix. Thank god for her helmet. She recovered ok with some stitches on her hand and a concussion. Lucky.<br /><br />We wished her well over excellent fried chicken, cornbread and waffles slathered in butter and honey. Then off to the subway to complete the journey home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q2OgmOBAbYom3v-xL4B2n-sthamM4g-fJvFdLAH_3mM1KGAmb6TcCvuuIpjdS_ffN487OSSEnrqlotfehNO4XxWv3ip2M_Vomv9Gdfk3WlGzGy-325WUyODOZk6u8pGZrqkg/s1600-h/photo(8).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q2OgmOBAbYom3v-xL4B2n-sthamM4g-fJvFdLAH_3mM1KGAmb6TcCvuuIpjdS_ffN487OSSEnrqlotfehNO4XxWv3ip2M_Vomv9Gdfk3WlGzGy-325WUyODOZk6u8pGZrqkg/s320/photo(8).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311377365218018562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rbaction.net/fly.aspx?layout=content&taxid=69&cid=1279">More on Lance here</a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-25001526399365996382008-10-27T23:12:00.001-07:002008-10-31T07:40:27.432-07:00The Airborne Toxic Event ride<div style="text-align: left;">Local indie rockers <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theairbornetoxicevent%20">The Airborne Toxic Event</a> put out an open call on the Midnight Ridazz website for a music video shoot, and we couldn't think of a better way to spend a Friday night. The ride gathered in Echo Park, maybe 50 or so people on bikes including the five band members, and the shoot was ON.<br /><br />Spoke cards and free copies of their new self-titled CD were handed out at the start.<br /><br />They picked a route through Silverlake, Los Feliz and Glendale at a very leisurely pace. Occasionally we would all pass the camera guys - I have no idea what the final cut will look like but it will end up in the video for the "Gasoline" single.<br /><br />HW and Anna<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2988684260_9a75d6a3fc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2988684260_9a75d6a3fc.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-91757961297898740182008-10-26T23:12:00.000-07:002008-10-30T23:53:10.440-07:00Birthday Pub Crawl to Cougar BarWas I there???<br /><br />Last night saw a group of us gathering for burgers & beer at the newly opened Laurel Tavern. Twenty-two people strong, most arriving on bikes, all to help celebrate Ryan getting a little older.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8410.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 0px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" src="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8410.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Next stop: The Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City; landmark since 1880 and long-time hangout, hotel and hideaway for musicians and actors. <br /><br />Getting there<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926852_3650.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 604px; height: 532px;" src="http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926852_3650.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">In 2007, the Sportsmen's Lodge was sold to developer Richard Weintraub for approximately $50 million. Weintraub reportedly plans to renovate the existing hotel and add retail space. The project would retain the Sportsmen's Lodge name, and would be renovated "to evoke the mid-century cool" of the San Fernando Valley in the 1950s. Weintraub's redevelopment plans include construction of as much as 300,000 square feet of retail space on the site.</span>"<br /><br />In other words, its days are numbered in its native state, including the Muddy Moose Bar & Lounge, currently where the over-55 crowd goes to drink Gin & Tonics and dance to a live band busting out such hits as Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" and Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart". The bar scene here is so awesomely rich with sights & smells; Ladies wearing Shalimar perfume with salon do's getting hit on by suave silver haired smooth-talkers with names like Edgar and Morris.<br /><br />Us youngsters crashed Edgar's action, drank his booze and dragged his women out on to the dance floor with a refreshing display of flexibility and stamina. Partying past 10:30pm proved we were the real deal, 20-somethings with our whole lives ahead of us.<br /><br />Throwin' down with Cougar #1<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926908_177.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926908_177.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Still going strong with Cougar #2<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8448.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 466px; height: 700px;" src="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8448.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Illy bags a Sugar Mama<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926997_9784.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v343/81/123/830032898/n830032898_926997_9784.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Things start getting a little fuzzy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8451.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 466px; height: 700px;" src="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8451.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />...and ended in birthday boy's room for a nightcap.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8536.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 533px;" src="http://blinkylights.net/photos/20081025-RyanDay/8536.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Somehow, the Xtracycle managed to guide me and my full-faced head back home, prefacing an unholy hangover on Sunday - the upside being it distracted my brain from the aches and pains resulting from the One Less Fixie wreck.<br /><br />photos courtesy aosty & EndoHWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-41753054693530170532008-10-25T23:11:00.000-07:002008-11-16T13:31:27.053-08:00One Less FixieOne finally got me. I guess its just a matter of time when you tempt the automobile's playground day after day. Riding home from work in the bike lane, doing all the proper things I should be doing, I approached a driveway on my right and before I could shout "Fuh..!" I was plowing my beloved fixed-gear Trek into the passenger door of a silver Ford Mustang convertible that appeared effectively out of nowhere.<br /><br />For a split second I thought I'd be going over the hood. Then there was an explosion of plastic, glass and carbon fiber as I slammed into the sideview mirror and promptly dropped to the asphalt.<br /><br />Rewinding a few minutes, there were 2 lanes of traffic to my left as I rode. Bumper to bumper, not moving. I was moving however. And so was the driver of the Mustang who took advantage of a gap in traffic to zip into said driveway on his way to work. Thats the point at which we were violently introduced.<br /><br />He called 911 and put me on the phone. I was in shock/denial/tough-guy mode of course so I declined an ambulance AND the police. 30 minutes later after swapping insurance and drivers licenses, I came to my senses and told the driver I'd be calling the police to document the incident with a police report. Otherwise I was ready to leave with a bloody knee and a broken bike. Ungood.<br /><br />Which brings me to the bike, which I actually mourned in slo-mo as we both collapsed onto the street after impact - "oh noooo myyyyy biiiiiiike....."<br /><br />Its fucked. The fork was shoved straight back towards the downtube and the downtube itself has crumpled. The handling of the bike is noticeably more twitchy now thanks to the modified head angle. Two of the Spinergy Rev-X bladed snapped off the rear rim. How the front wheel stayed intact and the rear failed is a mystery of science.<br /><br />So now the aches & pains have set in. Bruised ribs, jacked up wrists, gimpy walk and a whiplashed neck. Insurance companies contacted, police report submitted, pain meds swallowed. All in all I'm lucky to get tangled up with a car and walk away. The bike won't be ridden again but can be replaced (and I just had it powdercoated about a month ago! Grrr!). The Spinergys are toast as well. All because some fool didn't look close enough to anyone that might be approaching him in the bike lane. <span style="font-style: italic;">C'est la vie</span>. Its done and time to think about what will take the Trek's place.<br /><br />And now in tribute to my bike, vis-Ã -vis <a href="http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/this-just-in-one-less-car-in-la.html">a post on BikeSnobNYC</a> earlier this year, I give you One Less Fixie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3036147994_d880c6b16a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3036147994_d880c6b16a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-78151077978571978192008-08-26T14:21:00.000-07:002008-09-06T22:27:37.603-07:00Singlespeed Worlds '08. Napa, CAI went to Singlespeed Worlds and all I got was this DNF bottle opener and one unused burrito coupon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym83_ESyTBUmaRiNRPgXpR8Z1I9O944DDhH_pR_sFmbNKFbsWX5To8Y3-nfWuTDCOHDppi4py8kkLDLO5t42_8JVZ-GbE0oS0RgYJ_7XI0Xkg1X4NlBOycc-gasUMWtwwMp-V/s1600-h/DSC_0268.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym83_ESyTBUmaRiNRPgXpR8Z1I9O944DDhH_pR_sFmbNKFbsWX5To8Y3-nfWuTDCOHDppi4py8kkLDLO5t42_8JVZ-GbE0oS0RgYJ_7XI0Xkg1X4NlBOycc-gasUMWtwwMp-V/s400/DSC_0268.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242728286509775202" /></a><br /><br /><center>Wannabe racers without confirmed entry had a foot-race to determine who would get in. Here's me anaerobic @ DFL. Ultimately we all got in.</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie66ZEwzaiM-D3yYrLHWg5PI018aulFR1vl1k08WUk_4CL_u0m51LcCg7IcGAouJi2lOLRRjQkWXGSKAokG0jOPR9w-UjKXG9W3Go5Avzl6TFNxYMydykwcjwHPrJZYhzdKOt9/s1600-h/IMG_0916.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie66ZEwzaiM-D3yYrLHWg5PI018aulFR1vl1k08WUk_4CL_u0m51LcCg7IcGAouJi2lOLRRjQkWXGSKAokG0jOPR9w-UjKXG9W3Go5Avzl6TFNxYMydykwcjwHPrJZYhzdKOt9/s400/IMG_0916.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240881219493504114" /></a><br /><br /><center>My motto: "If you can't race, throw a gnarly powerslide as a diversion."</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kEok52coWiHWbDzHh3dUY_nW9uRlqRLNcNx7W5K-FOmOwJ7krppr_LHnuuj3fVM5H7xBAm0AiLjPNeMk3gAxwP3ZsXul_Byn6tBYA5hQtlvSDRutqYAL6m3mszzNbZ4Zrbln/s1600-h/IMG_0933.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kEok52coWiHWbDzHh3dUY_nW9uRlqRLNcNx7W5K-FOmOwJ7krppr_LHnuuj3fVM5H7xBAm0AiLjPNeMk3gAxwP3ZsXul_Byn6tBYA5hQtlvSDRutqYAL6m3mszzNbZ4Zrbln/s400/IMG_0933.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242731764719466930" /></a><br /><br /><center>Feet of Failure</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0VsZjl4QwDi_knyUGRANKYS_LBxgDR7cXqOrPQT-c2EFr2xRMyLlnNWOfcgFNkxtWzbKFZBey-NV-r5yv7YsL327T65RUEsGi7EXRnPl23g6r-Zww-V3F-lwBTxXP0YowQR1/s1600-h/DSC_0236.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0VsZjl4QwDi_knyUGRANKYS_LBxgDR7cXqOrPQT-c2EFr2xRMyLlnNWOfcgFNkxtWzbKFZBey-NV-r5yv7YsL327T65RUEsGi7EXRnPl23g6r-Zww-V3F-lwBTxXP0YowQR1/s400/DSC_0236.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242731281973211858" /></a><br /><br /><center>Winners Carl Decker and Rachel Lloyd went straight to the tattoo artist for their trophy. Their permanent trophy (chest & butt, respectively). See ya in Durango '09!</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5d9x_ilBdAl7xOZ4SJOy8gueMDzmP3V5DRGXpKZ2qQ47dMWxDP-8kVRxln41J1RliT0eF8l1atdXv_v3T2uLkdwINOTLy8ZPpUQ-2ohiqe8ZU0IitGI7rffnGh52BCcjWUkFI/s1600-h/carl08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5d9x_ilBdAl7xOZ4SJOy8gueMDzmP3V5DRGXpKZ2qQ47dMWxDP-8kVRxln41J1RliT0eF8l1atdXv_v3T2uLkdwINOTLy8ZPpUQ-2ohiqe8ZU0IitGI7rffnGh52BCcjWUkFI/s400/carl08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242740916114189090" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqSM5Zp8_yD0IF4dHRyTDpsvNv6mmMtrmJKrdgqO-vitWMwGAZuwvSlY5Mori5uc0y9wUnAcqEKnO8ce3NnjDmhrzZjK5AVgobVV9XqindFmQqHRSfuYCWPJrQ2vYlYQ-VSop/s1600-h/Rachel08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqSM5Zp8_yD0IF4dHRyTDpsvNv6mmMtrmJKrdgqO-vitWMwGAZuwvSlY5Mori5uc0y9wUnAcqEKnO8ce3NnjDmhrzZjK5AVgobVV9XqindFmQqHRSfuYCWPJrQ2vYlYQ-VSop/s400/Rachel08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242741560332453074" /></a><br />2 photos courtesy <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/iconoclasst1/sets/72157606954458723/">Icon O'classt</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157606975499510/show/">MORE PICS</a></center>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-5525492519683286912008-08-25T20:44:00.000-07:002008-09-06T22:26:39.141-07:00Coastal train trip '08With the <a href="http://sswc08.blogspot.com/">Singlespeed World Championships</a> in Napa, CA as a catalyst, I set out to plan a trip to the race from L.A. without driving. That involved some cross-referencing of various train schedules and planning stops along the way where I could visit and stay with friends, see some sights, and still arrive on time.<br /><br />I gave myself a full week to travel the 400 or so miles north, with stops in Santa Barbara, San Jose / Mountain View, San Francisco and ultimately Napa.<br /><br />I called friends in Santa Barbara, SJ and Napa and confirmed a place to crash. San Francisco was the only unsure segment so I booked a room at the <a href="http://www.redvic.com/">Red Victorian</a> - a funky B&B in the Haight district with themed rooms. I booked a less expensive room ($99) that shared bathrooms in the hall with other rooms just to make things more interesting. Never know who you might run into during a late night pee run. :)<br /><br />Back to L.A., I departed on Amtrak at 10am on Sunday headed straight for Santa Barbara. A relatively easy 2 hour trip and I was then off the train and rolling, stop #1. Was a beautiful day in Santa Barbara and I cruised the town, the bike path, the piers and State St., taking in lots of people watching. I eventually made my way to my friend's place in nearby Montecito, where we walked into the village for dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cava-restaurant-and-bar-santa-barbara">Cava</a>. Very nice.<br /><br />CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE<br />or <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157606978605279/show/">HERE</a> for slideshow<br /><br /><center>Departing</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5SirMxqQCTfnC8Pg2khjCYPvJvfKPcKrAR5KB5SIBJDxkrq9Jbb1LXO2o_7_UagNdj9Hzlk0OjPDUv27fLu8UusBGJF6idOSkTOYDKtz2xu5-2VjNFCNKSuQYjbvxRiz1BHd/s1600-h/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI5SirMxqQCTfnC8Pg2khjCYPvJvfKPcKrAR5KB5SIBJDxkrq9Jbb1LXO2o_7_UagNdj9Hzlk0OjPDUv27fLu8UusBGJF6idOSkTOYDKtz2xu5-2VjNFCNKSuQYjbvxRiz1BHd/s320/DSC_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240402276947326914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>Air-drying some still wet laundry at the train station</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PEYuYPA_CuZemDl9zGzVH8YCR3_jHnr9HXEfPXRRKZC5aplRitzgB6O1a-BFdXkOfLCcqUMGAIePXsHsc7OufOi-hjJmtKI3gyZCCkRLH01b2irONh23F3KD4UXauzY-bbjs/s1600-h/DSC_0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PEYuYPA_CuZemDl9zGzVH8YCR3_jHnr9HXEfPXRRKZC5aplRitzgB6O1a-BFdXkOfLCcqUMGAIePXsHsc7OufOi-hjJmtKI3gyZCCkRLH01b2irONh23F3KD4UXauzY-bbjs/s320/DSC_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240402705956520898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>First stop on a pier in SB</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj35XxB9EyfJe9IQZ8AEu05HgxjWShV8OIfDvblgz5eE42mCeRc2g9P3Xxuy6vKv9vkgHiQBnrdo4ENCpHuAFdnbQ-FIAJQYfvG688mHONnprrFQMxpBUG89Y9CFAfd_w6Arb/s1600-h/DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj35XxB9EyfJe9IQZ8AEu05HgxjWShV8OIfDvblgz5eE42mCeRc2g9P3Xxuy6vKv9vkgHiQBnrdo4ENCpHuAFdnbQ-FIAJQYfvG688mHONnprrFQMxpBUG89Y9CFAfd_w6Arb/s320/DSC_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240403148915531602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><center>Views along the SB bike path</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWA-JSpBFBxNYufmy9Z9ZgnnTUCgQb-2_1JzwiBehDkLHMlpwhr3ZUIXyshqIQG9mR3_Vudpa5PCvV9J3Pf1WfWggqhbyUOlPoEdsnDRgRSLdGTAgiZYpXK_sInsRGJiHbzcs/s1600-h/DSC_0023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWA-JSpBFBxNYufmy9Z9ZgnnTUCgQb-2_1JzwiBehDkLHMlpwhr3ZUIXyshqIQG9mR3_Vudpa5PCvV9J3Pf1WfWggqhbyUOlPoEdsnDRgRSLdGTAgiZYpXK_sInsRGJiHbzcs/s320/DSC_0023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240403610737361922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj9nCxOrclBlCyT6aYdt9r5AOJhmPb9i9xavMO-ArPrvBYQMdjTMd-LPQkZ278UKICOM9HAH40Vvz1FgvQfW9sAgUAPP50u2QiXMesdZ8NtyUkGGiH9gzeO_zTi09h2XpmRbU/s1600-h/DSC_0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj9nCxOrclBlCyT6aYdt9r5AOJhmPb9i9xavMO-ArPrvBYQMdjTMd-LPQkZ278UKICOM9HAH40Vvz1FgvQfW9sAgUAPP50u2QiXMesdZ8NtyUkGGiH9gzeO_zTi09h2XpmRbU/s320/DSC_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240417574467513474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The next morning was rise & shine, deflate my bed, grab some coffee and breakfast and pedal back into Santa Barbara to the train station. I arrived early to prep the bike for cargo; remove the pedals and rotate the bars so it all fit in the large box which is provided by Amtrak for $20.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Vertical_Route_Page&cid=1081256321841&c=am2Route&ssid=135">Coast Starlight</a> is a great way to travel. It runs from L.A. to Seattle and back once daily. After we departed SB I walked through the various cars to check things out. There was a cafe for snacks and drinks including beer, a bright viewing car full of windows, a Parlour car later to be used for wine tasting, a dining car, a sleeper car and an arcade room with full-size video games. The scenery was fantastic along the coast and I found it helped pass the time just to sit and watch the coast go by. The train proved to be a very relaxing way to travel, slowing things down to the point where you accept the fact that you'll be on the train for a while, might as well enjoy it.<br /><br />I slept, I read, I listened to Tom Waits on the iPod which made for an excellent railroad soundtrack. I participated in the wine tasting and met people with many different itineraries. A college student heading home to Oakland, a widow getting away from a too-familiar home, families going to visit relatives and opting not to fly. I made dinner reservations for 5:15 in the dining car and was seated in the booth with other random passengers - another cool way to hear about other's stories.<br /><br />Coast Starlight shots:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmlhayQNoNwkFPa7X79x4MnMBT1M9f3ql-h8D5Z1i19_3UYHv1s9zlPpYSVy56JbEtus991OsriVg2dqbLo6bAUT3f6Yub0g2Ud22jemRq3PjFaRDS3pwjw6IoqmrDnsppjVI/s1600-h/DSC_0045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmlhayQNoNwkFPa7X79x4MnMBT1M9f3ql-h8D5Z1i19_3UYHv1s9zlPpYSVy56JbEtus991OsriVg2dqbLo6bAUT3f6Yub0g2Ud22jemRq3PjFaRDS3pwjw6IoqmrDnsppjVI/s320/DSC_0045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240418390727513314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhSubu6k3-6BHStwwZzF8Q8DyZgKPcM49x8cT2QMqRuxANP5F84j_Xox4GPGReH7q0c73s4eKNgiSBWvn5Pz4t1JOWoNDjCqbsaFzJ48xnmKuB75LJPutXnNJ4ABPQW9x_mWd/s1600-h/DSC_0055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhSubu6k3-6BHStwwZzF8Q8DyZgKPcM49x8cT2QMqRuxANP5F84j_Xox4GPGReH7q0c73s4eKNgiSBWvn5Pz4t1JOWoNDjCqbsaFzJ48xnmKuB75LJPutXnNJ4ABPQW9x_mWd/s320/DSC_0055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240418892381771810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><center>Reflecting</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrrTya3ViyopX50GCuE09F1iKx41PNeZ5VvZSKFfbWf6JoX6Ip6QcUGGPaOlVvD8zym6fubjO_-NXNLH6CI12-4z15r-A5umqlv0msabdzpX_IVPISFmMLJTKoakxIV2JN3fF/s1600-h/DSC_0036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrrTya3ViyopX50GCuE09F1iKx41PNeZ5VvZSKFfbWf6JoX6Ip6QcUGGPaOlVvD8zym6fubjO_-NXNLH6CI12-4z15r-A5umqlv0msabdzpX_IVPISFmMLJTKoakxIV2JN3fF/s320/DSC_0036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240419087597588818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>Parlour</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs5LcQn3Te5sHLpIfJ3PNEilCU1sRZVwC8UyyHUDdkHg1HyPxAn3ihb6oLWre3O9HhGnyQlVV-q5fCxxKssYDV53K0wJIw3bEP76k6Hp6TjY35_XIpjtFz81touxQzNxsrcb4/s1600-h/DSC_0050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs5LcQn3Te5sHLpIfJ3PNEilCU1sRZVwC8UyyHUDdkHg1HyPxAn3ihb6oLWre3O9HhGnyQlVV-q5fCxxKssYDV53K0wJIw3bEP76k6Hp6TjY35_XIpjtFz81touxQzNxsrcb4/s320/DSC_0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240419311805950146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>Looking upon ourselves</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotYYxSTKSg2QnBApsTu_Z8ugfttk8jNFvaJzEEe5zur4vw9amHgUBAkH9Iq7MiTw3pSzz2QNC0JgaaHAmkg-YxnmKwcBMeUkszNNAxiwTcsTKWiWCLAD75jfQz_HOKnNEnTWk/s1600-h/DSC_0056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotYYxSTKSg2QnBApsTu_Z8ugfttk8jNFvaJzEEe5zur4vw9amHgUBAkH9Iq7MiTw3pSzz2QNC0JgaaHAmkg-YxnmKwcBMeUkszNNAxiwTcsTKWiWCLAD75jfQz_HOKnNEnTWk/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240419604855592450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>Wine tasting on board</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA4C25dF73ZX_BW7reXXKpnqmMRRqnNi3lJDZG6cWwIqXTFfvI1G9ImfuzvrPOCAKvMvx-mPZeH6W2kO2WFs-6mS-72MDRLbBzCRyas8WZwHauSGkmYroRafxa8DHcyMKcRPF/s1600-h/DSC_0059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiA4C25dF73ZX_BW7reXXKpnqmMRRqnNi3lJDZG6cWwIqXTFfvI1G9ImfuzvrPOCAKvMvx-mPZeH6W2kO2WFs-6mS-72MDRLbBzCRyas8WZwHauSGkmYroRafxa8DHcyMKcRPF/s320/DSC_0059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240426213758197378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><center>Sunset at speed</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRxnAKiwZSwet3NCQydIE5KttuSZhZ3PCeJ0huv_OeyUCBIwHuLJVrD-ThR0Q9YAyfiLP-cmKC6rnrr67GHoCFjKbBHy-KSnhpGaQyQrauVbEj1j2xzUWmory27ZuxhmiRnms/s1600-h/DSC_0070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRxnAKiwZSwet3NCQydIE5KttuSZhZ3PCeJ0huv_OeyUCBIwHuLJVrD-ThR0Q9YAyfiLP-cmKC6rnrr67GHoCFjKbBHy-KSnhpGaQyQrauVbEj1j2xzUWmory27ZuxhmiRnms/s320/DSC_0070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240427131755094274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Eight hours later we arrived in San Jose. My friend Wendy met me at the station where I (thankfully) recovered my bike from the cargo car, reassembled it, loaded it on her car and we were off to her home in Mountain View.<br /><br />Tuesday morning we grabbed the bikes and checked out Los Altos, a quiet town with tree-lined streets and lots of sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, galleries, etc. We came home, changed and walked to the CalTrain station in Mountain View where we took the train up to San Francisco for dinner. With the help of Yelp we found a great sushi place called <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/eiji-san-francisco">Eiji</a>. Very small with excellent food. We walked in promptly at 5:30 without reservations, got a table, then watched as many people got turned away at the door the later it got. After dinner we walked over to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/zeitgeist-san-francisco">Zeitgeist</a> for a drink - a bar I had heard lots about and was recommended by cyclist friends. Loved it! Great beer on tap and an enormous yard in back full of picnic tables and a spot to hang bikes. There had to be 300 people hanging out.<br /><br />Wednesday morning I packed the backpack once again, said farewell to Wendy and pedaled back towards the Mtn View station, stopping at <a href="http://www.redrockcoffee.org/">Red Rock Coffee</a> for a little pick-me-up. The Silicon Valley scene was noticeably different that the Hollywood scene, lots of overheard tech speak, VC money discussions, and comparisons to other websites. iPhones and MacBooks everywhere. So maybe not <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> much different than L.A.<br /><br /><center>CalTrain</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mxjC-z_S-AIYMekvS1YL5dy4JVhc60ThUlBAB8O6TQ09b-nex4XA-DhBN8JyHv8b1p9N6gjYe6a0jbb76ci94Zuzr6VkZetZgsSehJsAeVzlEa2-hbTFDgZlsMV8Pgd72pJI/s1600-h/DSC_0071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mxjC-z_S-AIYMekvS1YL5dy4JVhc60ThUlBAB8O6TQ09b-nex4XA-DhBN8JyHv8b1p9N6gjYe6a0jbb76ci94Zuzr6VkZetZgsSehJsAeVzlEa2-hbTFDgZlsMV8Pgd72pJI/s320/DSC_0071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240428091238977762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was surprised and pleased to find an entire bicycle car waiting for me on the CalTrain to San Francisco. No extra fees, just find a spot and bungee your bike. The regulars all use tags to identify which stop they get off at so you know whether to stack in front of them or not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFVqNxc79MXqb4OUNNEdRiYLd4B0mPauJmXYiteYdkgu0m_Et9pdmX5vHzsfK3KXc_P6w93976YqKphHwQ-HsF2DyyemN7PJNfOJtF1IX8oF41J4R18VfeA79HXEIJIJoUMf8/s1600-h/DSC_0077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFVqNxc79MXqb4OUNNEdRiYLd4B0mPauJmXYiteYdkgu0m_Et9pdmX5vHzsfK3KXc_P6w93976YqKphHwQ-HsF2DyyemN7PJNfOJtF1IX8oF41J4R18VfeA79HXEIJIJoUMf8/s320/DSC_0077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240428419169691906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Changed trains in Millbrae and got on the BART train to the city.<br /><br /><center>packed bike racks at BART</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHqryOwEse_vq6x08MUdcxEx2vzlDdmYl_RBXqAqmmSYVRLhhb3aONLKUkNziCMcjqLHwN2zsMVR3dkwEeP3stjirvxommGqnE33smj6zw-Nm4iYZ4-dAdcJfnyXlKntFNjT/s1600-h/DSC_0074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzHqryOwEse_vq6x08MUdcxEx2vzlDdmYl_RBXqAqmmSYVRLhhb3aONLKUkNziCMcjqLHwN2zsMVR3dkwEeP3stjirvxommGqnE33smj6zw-Nm4iYZ4-dAdcJfnyXlKntFNjT/s320/DSC_0074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240429517671689538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHae28j-EzA5DR2u04VI6jdbUZeHNgJIliq1aSTrSIuAhyphenhyphen37iUOwIzTCTc5mLw3vIe3zMzVpqBvrAYIQkIm3PfjC-v3qDRivcj3Bt2fVk5f6XL8AN83ufweaDax6l0CwpDVM7p/s1600-h/DSC_0076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHae28j-EzA5DR2u04VI6jdbUZeHNgJIliq1aSTrSIuAhyphenhyphen37iUOwIzTCTc5mLw3vIe3zMzVpqBvrAYIQkIm3PfjC-v3qDRivcj3Bt2fVk5f6XL8AN83ufweaDax6l0CwpDVM7p/s320/DSC_0076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240429804456081010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I arrived in San Francisco excited to get riding and see the city. I was now starving so I headed straight back to Zeitgeist for lunch. At 1:00pm I was one of two customers in the place, a complete opposite of the night before. I ordered a burger and a Chimay and sat outside in the sun, joined by a bartender who was also headed to SSWC over the weekend.<br /><br /><center>Zeitgeist</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD_7vRk1wNkBxttz0SiEEk-HiwBWaoPHv2bGGe9wby8eFk53FSj3GV5oaKZC2ZHFcCXVVoo99OYnu_k_eJ6eSBsYcYfwohhSRrpXrQVrVKUmjXX7W1OBdztOaNj-vl_vWuFGJ/s1600-h/DSC_0090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD_7vRk1wNkBxttz0SiEEk-HiwBWaoPHv2bGGe9wby8eFk53FSj3GV5oaKZC2ZHFcCXVVoo99OYnu_k_eJ6eSBsYcYfwohhSRrpXrQVrVKUmjXX7W1OBdztOaNj-vl_vWuFGJ/s320/DSC_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240430220154742722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I was then off to find the Red Victorian. I quickly learned that going by a printed one-dimensional map in SF can be hazardous to your health - what looks like a direct route can turn out to be full of very steep hills. I envied the locals who knew how to flow from street to street avoiding the steep routes.<br /><br /><center>Red Vic</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://jsfbay.com/SanFrancisco/RedVictorian-1a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://jsfbay.com/SanFrancisco/RedVictorian-1a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Wednesday night found me walking down Haight St. to dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/cha-cha-cha-san-francisco-4">Cha Cha Cha</a>, a Spanish tapas restaurant and bar. Being solo I chose to sit at the bar and order dinner. I also ordered a pitcher of excellent sangria, a good way I figured, to meet new people by sharing. It worked :) Made friends with a couple from Seattle who were in town for a tech conference.<br /><br />Thursday morning I was back on the bike and headed directly to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/ritual-coffee-roasters-san-francisco#hrid:zitgL4MiP-lxAK4OYDeIWw/query:ritual%20coffee">Ritual Coffee</a> in the Mission district. A great spot for people watching, good coffee and once again.... meeting people. A big community table in front helped with that. Fully caffeinated I took off to see the city on bike, cruising through the Mission, Noe Valley, Castro, Haight, and stopping for lunch at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/papalote-mexican-grill-san-francisco#hrid:ZghJiWHhHxKMoeSrzti-pw/query:taco%20mission">Papalote</a>.<br /><br /><center>Quiet foggy morning on Haight St.</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpGJUFT6lX1GhUS29PoT2IqCfG08ZAqTdD4g58sH-r-kg_Xlmmg5LQCDCUAkZX3dymlf8ocBbWLjWjpQ9OOLizytPe9LXPVJwzxjl_ElX7dRigVbmu9vluwB4duFvYXn-t-Ax/s1600-h/DSC_0098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpGJUFT6lX1GhUS29PoT2IqCfG08ZAqTdD4g58sH-r-kg_Xlmmg5LQCDCUAkZX3dymlf8ocBbWLjWjpQ9OOLizytPe9LXPVJwzxjl_ElX7dRigVbmu9vluwB4duFvYXn-t-Ax/s320/DSC_0098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240434008806140690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><center>Ritual</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T62seU1wDNiItfM4kmaVGCoMwC_xHMAXE0NVrppig5qDgPkoZfvdD5tLwbftcAijv319rAyUJFOO6vniTxumpwzxpj43LsjPkan9i_KwCRYXRR325cCfY0eenc6ozOqG1_s8/s1600-h/DSC_0115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0T62seU1wDNiItfM4kmaVGCoMwC_xHMAXE0NVrppig5qDgPkoZfvdD5tLwbftcAijv319rAyUJFOO6vniTxumpwzxpj43LsjPkan9i_KwCRYXRR325cCfY0eenc6ozOqG1_s8/s320/DSC_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240433580843222562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Later Thursday night I found myself once again back at Zeitgeist, this time meeting a local friend there for a pitcher of Stone Pale Ale. The back patio was packed, making for a fun night of drinking & chat.<br /><br />Friday was to be my last day in the city. I checked out of the Red Vic and headed out for breakfast at a cafe around the corner. Then I was off to explore Golden Gate Park, which also happened to be home for the Outside Lands Festival that same weekend. I was suddenly torn between sticking to my schedule or ditching everything to see Radiohead in the park. I stuck to my original game plan and kept pedaling, at one point hopping on the BART out to the Embarcadero and riding the bike path north around the Bay back towards the Golden Gate bridge, then up and over a hill through the Presidio and back into the city. I found <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/mojo-bicycle-cafe-san-francisco#hrid:DQsDJagPRYIHE9X_jWy88Q/query:cafe%20mojo">Mojo Bicycle Cafe</a> and used the unique cafe / bike shop layout to have a bowl of soup while the mechanics gave the Niner a quick once-over, tightening a couple of bolts that had worked loose on the ride.<br /><br /><center>Me & Golden Gate bridge from the beach</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkOiSSDCGodNJVFmPKfv0iK_H6xt9XHRDch6D1M3g9kB8drBviMq7-vQS-BNpmVo9S7atR6eXNqYP6IfiRLq9-Si9-8zHy3l-3vuSrq_sezsG_GYasZnGLueCt771alomtEHE/s1600-h/DSC_0147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkOiSSDCGodNJVFmPKfv0iK_H6xt9XHRDch6D1M3g9kB8drBviMq7-vQS-BNpmVo9S7atR6eXNqYP6IfiRLq9-Si9-8zHy3l-3vuSrq_sezsG_GYasZnGLueCt771alomtEHE/s320/DSC_0147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240434567175494642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At 4:00pm Friday <a href="http://www.americancyclery.com/">American Cyclery</a> hosted a get-together at their shop, followed by riding across the GG bridge and out to the Marin headlands for a beach party. Over 100 singlespeeders left the shop and promptly dropped in to the singletrack in Golden Gate park as we made our way to the bridge. We regrouped at the bridge and then headed across, an experience common to some bike commuters but one I won't soon forget. The cross-winds were gusting and made for an *interesting* ride, with the peaks of the bridge towers disappearing into fog above us.<br /><br />We then bombed down a fireroad to the beach, dropped the bikes and partook in the BYOB festivities.<br /><br /><center>Party at American Cyclery</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpG3T0JYAgDzZiKtyNexADtm4E5OjLY56tlONQgDOi2ZglTK4aSdZ1e52DwqBUHEBrjjVQgh-UrwWHc-6CTzz7-CpA9JPVxa7aCrDPcbcOYPlbKUongO3Qj2_pM-rg_c2vlNq/s1600-h/DSC_0166.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpG3T0JYAgDzZiKtyNexADtm4E5OjLY56tlONQgDOi2ZglTK4aSdZ1e52DwqBUHEBrjjVQgh-UrwWHc-6CTzz7-CpA9JPVxa7aCrDPcbcOYPlbKUongO3Qj2_pM-rg_c2vlNq/s320/DSC_0166.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240872931778612738" /></a><br /><br /><center>Bono aka Billy Spaceman rallies the crowd</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhNuOG2IUU-8Sf6gNkZ5cLfgXn7bdNada_w5PNikIwtpz1kNvSx4n2HSNaMu2hYbDH2jd1NekviVNadtsS3q5SZ5FdosPqFqS0peYuiZ8I7f2ZtiQ6A1PgqVO2HbjDCmz6exx/s1600-h/DSC_0169.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhNuOG2IUU-8Sf6gNkZ5cLfgXn7bdNada_w5PNikIwtpz1kNvSx4n2HSNaMu2hYbDH2jd1NekviVNadtsS3q5SZ5FdosPqFqS0peYuiZ8I7f2ZtiQ6A1PgqVO2HbjDCmz6exx/s320/DSC_0169.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240873380410694114" /></a><br /><br /><center>Regroup at the GG bridge</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lXck_S9C1f5bIkg1_V209Yy3aSLy1trUtYpvbnqu_TzDuE5KHzOSXNSqmhT2evwiJMWNnSAfUVKAguScoFWVoSmCvxmYTPNbJ8DhzBcN-M2FDK07YeM9A9QHWoIzZH8HLuY8/s1600-h/DSC_0175.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lXck_S9C1f5bIkg1_V209Yy3aSLy1trUtYpvbnqu_TzDuE5KHzOSXNSqmhT2evwiJMWNnSAfUVKAguScoFWVoSmCvxmYTPNbJ8DhzBcN-M2FDK07YeM9A9QHWoIzZH8HLuY8/s320/DSC_0175.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240873857276108562" /></a><br /><br /><center>Bridge crossing</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieux52D6BWUoAJwpChHUDeE14QF3i4pTIFjI_5_C7VPJC2ksFiq2OOEbnKWx-pL-SlHlLNg5a2nwJzGtyJIS3cGVZ5mxlhgd8p7pTnQ2aWfqjWu94V5nUhvUBYq8E6mnZJxomT/s1600-h/DSC_0181.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieux52D6BWUoAJwpChHUDeE14QF3i4pTIFjI_5_C7VPJC2ksFiq2OOEbnKWx-pL-SlHlLNg5a2nwJzGtyJIS3cGVZ5mxlhgd8p7pTnQ2aWfqjWu94V5nUhvUBYq8E6mnZJxomT/s320/DSC_0181.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240874412124908738" /></a><br /><br /><center>Bombing to the beach</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DbVzWUexlraqbaIWIXKiOrPFovk_yI_C3rlq1YO_EIq52rdmUfZX0X-gWLxvSA6dp8LC5PV_g92qZsjFF4f-YJh7-KTQ7h2achc9qJ1lUN412QaY_F_u6nmBSJ09M4DvYa_4/s1600-h/DSC_0187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DbVzWUexlraqbaIWIXKiOrPFovk_yI_C3rlq1YO_EIq52rdmUfZX0X-gWLxvSA6dp8LC5PV_g92qZsjFF4f-YJh7-KTQ7h2achc9qJ1lUN412QaY_F_u6nmBSJ09M4DvYa_4/s320/DSC_0187.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240874955186465122" /></a><br /><br /><center>Looking back</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrjoSCird5hZ2QLVAkf4PArdgp4AOxr0_uC8aqSuNgo4G46W5vCLqolBqOgWKlwTScUET1EhNby9W9auIuI8QxHWyREayj7EabRfQP-F2cSDPHBDtgLEvhLbSueLUH6NLLy_r/s1600-h/DSC_0183.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrjoSCird5hZ2QLVAkf4PArdgp4AOxr0_uC8aqSuNgo4G46W5vCLqolBqOgWKlwTScUET1EhNby9W9auIuI8QxHWyREayj7EabRfQP-F2cSDPHBDtgLEvhLbSueLUH6NLLy_r/s320/DSC_0183.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240874622618596242" /></a><br /><br /><center>Singlespeed Beach Party</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEALyqDt4KsvzGVXGGpMfv1UtTd5yQ-nSGg5fjvvhQFY7Q8lUNdhkuuGBRqkmwE_H4Dl0QNGz-qA9wF7ToheJZN8nTdn5m-rdWwf4LcWxo3_qgvKKdTWlWjr_RQk5LzW0YqzF/s1600-h/DSC_0196.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEALyqDt4KsvzGVXGGpMfv1UtTd5yQ-nSGg5fjvvhQFY7Q8lUNdhkuuGBRqkmwE_H4Dl0QNGz-qA9wF7ToheJZN8nTdn5m-rdWwf4LcWxo3_qgvKKdTWlWjr_RQk5LzW0YqzF/s320/DSC_0196.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240875432252189538" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is where things got interesting. I was now on the other side of the bridge from the city, had all of my belongings with me and needed to somehow get to Napa that night, about an hour's drive north. I did NOT want to ride back into the city and then figure out a way to Napa. The Red Vic was sold out so I couldn't return there. A little bit of asking "you guys headed to Napa tonight? Got room for one more?" and I managed to find a lift with a cool couple from Boulder. They rearranged bikes & gear in their car for me and the three of us headed towards wine country. After about 20 minutes in the car I realized I was with Kristin & Ryan, former <a href="http://www.imba.com/tcc/">IMBA Trail Care</a> crew who spent 2 years roaming the country for IMBA, helping build trails and educate future trail builders. Kristin had also just competed in the <a href="http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/hellridefive/">Santa Cruz Hell Ride</a>. Respect! (and thanks again for the ride!).<br /><br />Friday night and I was now homeless in downtown Napa. I pedaled around town at 10:30pm, stumbling upon the opulent Chardonnay Motor Lodge. A bed, a shower and a TV and I was in heaven. It was also the first TV I had seen in at least 4 days, allowing for a quick catch-up on the Beijing Olympics.<br /><br />I had arrived. It worked! 7 days on the road with no car and I made it to the races. I felt like I had been on the road for a month at this point. So many different sites and people and experiences. I can't recommend this type of travel enough; 80-90% confirmed with the rest left for uncertainty. It makes you feel alive and you will make choices that lead you down paths you never would have discovered, both literally and figuratively. Go!<br /><br />This story will pick up in the SSWC08 blog entry.<br /><br />thanks for reading.<br />JeffHWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-31819761620166482432008-02-11T17:43:00.000-08:002008-02-22T20:59:54.289-08:00Handmade Bicycle Show 2008, Portland, ORWe flew in to Portland from LAX first thing the Saturday morning of the show, walked out the airport doors and stepped on to the waiting Max lightrail. A quick 40 minute train ride costing only $2 and we were dropped off at the Convention Center, home of the Handmade Show for the weekend. The glaring differences in the two cities' mass transit infrastructures were already smacking us in the face. The train stops have automated announcements and they are bilingual. In Oregon. In Los Angeles they are not. Portland had just provided the first of several pleasant surprises to these jaded out of towners.<br /><br />On to the show! Our first stop was to check in with the Roadbikereview.com / MTBR.com booth. The guys were already cranking, bringing some of the custom bikes into their booth for photo coverage, as well as bringing the builders themselves in for personal one-on-one interviews on video.<br /><br />See their <a href="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/showgallery.php?cat=604">pics</a> and <a href="http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/nahbs/category/videos/">video</a> interviews.<br /><br />At first glance the venue looked fairly small. Much smaller than Interbike in fact and you assume, falsely, that you can see the entire show in a couple of hours. Its not until you've seen the work of only two builders in an hour that you realize its going to be a much longer day than anticipated. At the Handmade show, the amount of "filler" exhibits is almost non-existent. That is, there are hardly any booths that you pass by from lack of interest. Everything warrants stopping. Whether its something that halts you in your tracks such as a frame made of wood, or maybe its a small crafted detail that registers in your subconscious as you pass by and makes you stop and backtrack to determine what it was that you think you just saw. In most cases you're left gawking at some cleverly designed detail. A lugged stem, a unique fork, a pump peg, a dropout. Or something radical like a drivetrain-mounted disc brake from California's <a href="http://www.sycip.com/" title="Sycip" target="_blank">Sycip</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2273949298_9e7b7a5601.jpg" alt="Sycip" align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />Or a custom made stem face plate from Colorado's<a href="http://www.moots.com/#/product/bicycles/" title="Moots" target="_blank"> Moots</a> that doubles as headlight mount.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2298/2273156087_94846fa568.jpg" alt="Moots face plate" align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />NAHBS is a show about detail. You will waste your day by observing bikes solely as a whole machine. Yes you will see beautiful bicycles, but overlook the fine details and you will have missed the creative nuances that set the framebuilders apart.<br /><br />Hammered & polished lugs from Florida's <a href="http://www.villincycleworks.com/gallery.cfm" title="Villin" target="_blank">Villin Cycle Works</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2273185989_4d181e7702.jpg" alt="Villin" align="middle" border="5" height="335" width="500" /><br /><br />Double chain stays from Portland's own <a href="http://www.ahearnecycles.com/" title="Ahearne" target="_blank">Ahearne Cycles</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2257/2273981438_fd9c7b581b.jpg" alt="Ahearne" align="middle" border="5" height="335" width="500" /><br /><br />**********<br />Beer Break<br />**********<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2261312264_fbc16c9a68_o.jpg" alt="beer" align="middle" border="5" height="586" width="394" /><br /><br />Time to take 5 and sit down with a cold one to process everything that has been in our faces so far; far too many amazing bikes, gracious and approachable framebuilders, celeb sightings such as Lance Armstrong and Robin Williams - both cruising the booths along with everyone else, and getting a peek at cool production components like the new Shimano 29er mtb wheelset.<br /><br />Also scattered about the show were creative bits like this belt buckle from <a href="http://www.whiteind.com/" title="White Ind." target="_blank">White Industries</a>, designed for you to mount your favorite cog or freewheel to, cowboy.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2260519551_ffbb32652e_o.jpg" alt="White Ind." align="left" border="5" height="394" width="586" /><br /><br />Also spied at the White Ind. table was their swanky new set of track hubs. Note the splined cog/hub interface.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2273151959_7a6307da4a.jpg" alt="White Ind." align="middle" border="5" height="351" width="500" /><br /><br />We checked back in with the RBR guys and as usual they were still hustling builders into their ad-hoc studio, seen here with the guys from Austin's <a href="http://www.truefabricationbicycles.com/" title="True Fab" target="_blank">True Fabrication</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2273948472_1dc364415a.jpg" alt="RBR" align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />detail of faux pitting and rust on a new True Fab mountain frame<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2273155519_d823409803.jpg" alt="True Fab." align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />We were in the <a href="http://www.soulcraftbikes.com/">Soulcraft</a> booth when I felt an electricity in the air. People were whispering and shuffling around. I looked up and Lance was chatting with the Soulcraft staff. I debated whether or not I should bug him for a photo. I decided "what the hell" and asked him after he finished talking. He shot me a classic "Lance" look; tensed up his lips and looked away like "Fuck, another photo". Awkward pause. I looked at him and said "You can say 'No'". He obliged and here's the result. Hooray.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31vC220Y1lRqILb-yJyvp_OFTQgCh44Ty6PPGa1jCOfDpfsjKXnZFkRE_8OTqQivGaLAZSWwpkvxfVCPXFmKzReRIjiREtHv6NrnvthSpFTkboJv4UrBjudWOyIue3nmYhkwr/s1600-h/JT_LA_nahbs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31vC220Y1lRqILb-yJyvp_OFTQgCh44Ty6PPGa1jCOfDpfsjKXnZFkRE_8OTqQivGaLAZSWwpkvxfVCPXFmKzReRIjiREtHv6NrnvthSpFTkboJv4UrBjudWOyIue3nmYhkwr/s320/JT_LA_nahbs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170012525467800770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we spotted Robin Williams booth-hopping. After the Lance debacle I was hesitant to approach anyone else. There were 4 of us so we decided on asking him for one group shot. I approached Robin, tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he'd mind a group shot. He said "Group shot? No problem!"<br /><br />So I handed him my camera, then walked back to pose with my friends. He just looked at me then laughed and got the joke. We never asked him to be in one :) Photo Credit: Robin Williams.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA53kY3lkx-w3V_JmDPV2rdFEVw33u_CXr7ShgfA85D0_Hoo8wmr-NPZZlVnBkbckhjoHcsEz9YC8uh3_bPjdxg1kD5W9NfduGQyjVuW8Sex0-Pm_bPzYwVhKcyv0_J1uCT8B/s1600-h/RW_group.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRA53kY3lkx-w3V_JmDPV2rdFEVw33u_CXr7ShgfA85D0_Hoo8wmr-NPZZlVnBkbckhjoHcsEz9YC8uh3_bPjdxg1kD5W9NfduGQyjVuW8Sex0-Pm_bPzYwVhKcyv0_J1uCT8B/s320/RW_group.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170024663045379282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We were officially overwhelmed. We had met Richard Sachs, Jeff Jones and Dario Pegoretti. We had left our fingerprints on countless glossy tubes. Met Lance and Robin. We had snapped camera shutters and popped flashes until batteries ran dead. It was time to go.<br /><br />Portland now offered us a spectacular range of options for nightlife and we dove right in. Getting around town was once again a piece of cake. Walking, riding or taking the Max (free in the Business district!). There are bicycles <em>everywhere</em> in town. Weather be damned, these people are riding. Several places we hit after the show, all withing walking/biking distance were the <a href="http://www.rogue.com/brews.html" title="Rogue" target="_blank">Rogue Brew House</a> for beer, the <a href="http://www.barflymag.com/bar/yamhill-pub.html" title="Yamhill Pub" target="_blank">Yamhill Pub</a> and <a href="http://www.barflymag.com/bar/plan-b.html" title="Plan B" target="_blank">Plan B</a> for more beer and another Lance sighting, <a href="http://www.clydecommon.com/photos.html" title="Clyde Common" target="_blank">Clyde Common</a> for dinner and <a href="http://voodoodoughnut.com/" title="Voodoo ">Voodoo Donuts</a> for dessert. We eventually crashed at the uber-hip <a href="http://www.acehotel.com/portland/" title="Ace Hotel" target="_blank">Ace Hotel</a>, drifting off to sleep while trying to remember which builders were going to be a must-see on Sunday.<br /><br />Sunday morning brought a hot shower, recharged camera batteries and a hot cup of Portland's <a href="http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/" title="Stumptown Coffee" target="_blank">Stumptown Coffee</a>. We caught the Max train and were off to the show in no time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.curtlo.com/" title="Curtlo" target="_blank">Curtlo</a>-built commuter frame at the Rohloff booth, utilizing a belt-driven drivetrain. Note the single S&S coupler used to separate the chainstay for belt installation and removal.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2273952748_0a52b56ff0.jpg" alt="Curlto belt drive" align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />Custom-molded-to-your-butt carbon fiber saddles offered by California framebuilder <a href="http://www.ybarrola.com/Gallery.htm" title="Ybarrola" target="_blank">Ybarrola</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2273949948_7a0bd4e49e.jpg" alt="Ybarrola" align="middle" border="5" height="336" width="500" /><br /><br />A make-shift shrine to our recently lost comrade <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/" title="Sheldon Brown" target="_blank">Sheldon Brown</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2261312156_5737729069_o.jpg" alt="Sheldon shrine" align="middle" border="5" height="703" width="472" /><br /><br />We took several more laps of the venue, catching things we had overlooked the day prior and re-appreciating things we had already stared at and smiled. We left the show with enough time left in the day to visit <a href="http://www.rivercitybicycles.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=38&products_id=505" title="River City" target="_blank">River City Cycles</a>, home of the handmade Full Wood wooden bicycle fenders. What a beautiful shop!<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2260519907_927e1532a2_o.jpg" alt="River City" align="middle" border="5" height="394" width="600" /><br /><br />Next up was lunch and beer at <a href="http://www.luckylab.com/" title="Lucky Labrador" target="_blank">Lucky Labrador Brewing</a> and catching the amazing bicycle <a href="http://www.rouleur.cc/portland_exhib.html" title="Photos" target="_blank">photography exhibit</a> put on by Rapha clothing and Rouleur Magazine.<br /><br />It was a short weekend, jam packed with goodness. The weather was kind to us. Our luggage was stuffed with brochures, business cards, pint glasses, decals, clothing and other miscellaneous swag. And our bank accounts were given reprieve from what could have been a disastrous weekend for our financial stability. There were plenty of opportunities to justify the need for "just one more" bicycle in the stable.<br /><br />Thank you Portland! See you all next year in Indianapolis.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2260576939_2c4be786de.jpg" alt="FGANRB" align="middle" border="5" height="500" width="336" /><br /><br />more of my show photos on <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157603899270571/">Flickr</a>.HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-16488859960889513632007-12-17T10:00:00.001-08:002007-12-17T12:22:35.223-08:00Holiday Shopping, Day 1My personal vow for Christmas shopping this year is to do it all via bike. If it won't fit in my messenger bag, I won't buy it. I've also outlawed Gift Cards from my list. Won't do it. I'd rather give a crisp $20 than a piece of plastic with a corporate logo on it. A little last-minute, so time to get crackin'.<br /><br />I set out to get "over the hill" to West Hollywood for the Sunday flea market on Melrose. This would require taking the shuttle bus over Laurel Canyon, as its a little too treacherous for a bike, especially a fixed gear. $1.25 and I was safely on my way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_qfwLfpcNAmOLXGGQ8SXFjJblk4XE_RiouM4iXF0B2G9B8qTU3hkJYRZsa_aJVJK7sv3uGGY9Yo7PcUK96kpeeFJ0J3Bac_3tSvAEQ4vFhP91LJ2AexdQEPjRKHwrf92TTGG/s1600-h/DSC_0813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_qfwLfpcNAmOLXGGQ8SXFjJblk4XE_RiouM4iXF0B2G9B8qTU3hkJYRZsa_aJVJK7sv3uGGY9Yo7PcUK96kpeeFJ0J3Bac_3tSvAEQ4vFhP91LJ2AexdQEPjRKHwrf92TTGG/s320/DSC_0813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145021253045776402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this flea market. Always tons of cool vintage stuff; clothes, vinyl, home stuff, etc. A great place for unique gifts for people too.<br /><br />Hippie mugs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OKi5Qc0FKG0-ibZk7HQQAeh1eD8s-Jp1lyGi_lSIay-cFDbr6ym_1KXVimUf8UazYhCu03039-9BXGxoT5iKLnucLcGoOllufUt2sxJny0uFhFUCfE0a0ldS0pd5mnYRB4x/s1600-h/DSC_0817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7OKi5Qc0FKG0-ibZk7HQQAeh1eD8s-Jp1lyGi_lSIay-cFDbr6ym_1KXVimUf8UazYhCu03039-9BXGxoT5iKLnucLcGoOllufUt2sxJny0uFhFUCfE0a0ldS0pd5mnYRB4x/s320/DSC_0817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145022142104006690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />bar ware<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQXJXqvHctxLPn_HXKTuiRsN0S05Kbb99d_wFckyWhNeYCldveBNd1iwiWjfI0XL_VawBxHaukPc5wy_wr8NThaS25FcnjuB0Dm9I-HOq-DnuRGStMIXAgOM2siyMsYY7Bupw/s1600-h/DSC_0816.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQXJXqvHctxLPn_HXKTuiRsN0S05Kbb99d_wFckyWhNeYCldveBNd1iwiWjfI0XL_VawBxHaukPc5wy_wr8NThaS25FcnjuB0Dm9I-HOq-DnuRGStMIXAgOM2siyMsYY7Bupw/s320/DSC_0816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145024306767523890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />vintage chicken and kabobs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFb8yC-iwmDQYPMgsRvVO_THyQ9csuZrnxFgNAGLk7RfPbFmsW-sGGQ4fdekJ-QnzN8dV3pt38cyLf0qp6iV-LKLU_4TMAiAlA4IS32If-BmAsSft1UnK1LERmSguja_sn-ZC/s1600-h/DSC_0814.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFb8yC-iwmDQYPMgsRvVO_THyQ9csuZrnxFgNAGLk7RfPbFmsW-sGGQ4fdekJ-QnzN8dV3pt38cyLf0qp6iV-LKLU_4TMAiAlA4IS32If-BmAsSft1UnK1LERmSguja_sn-ZC/s320/DSC_0814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145024491451117634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I scored several gifts for people on my list, then picked up these beauties for my own self. Fine 70's leather boots as modeled at my bar. <span style="font-style: italic;">Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,<br />I'm a womans man, no time to talk.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2oNayPZggPSgKquXlrqykpqEECMyjEqTvvYlutnN4zbCOZp8zsGY9cH9izb88AGyrDaSbjtbi4RUE4hUJrckkCkE2djT76-xDi3mwt-a7O_Wd_EfHwWgN_eAIoJRX9ImPlc1/s1600-h/boots.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2oNayPZggPSgKquXlrqykpqEECMyjEqTvvYlutnN4zbCOZp8zsGY9cH9izb88AGyrDaSbjtbi4RUE4hUJrckkCkE2djT76-xDi3mwt-a7O_Wd_EfHwWgN_eAIoJRX9ImPlc1/s320/boots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145027536582930514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After cleaning out the flea market, I pointed my bike eastbound on Melrose towards HW.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm">Banksy</a> strikes on Melrose<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImva4k2pFDurrbh1V4sRlK6MS-Q0dgmxFEcSQzXmvr8GWZMtBp1JPKDUtAl7U-rtuP5yORqO1L9PE3QtAmkTEWjh_PKMZCP2piFxPgwGgtvFEZT6xK5zXN2DK2m9NKX2sLhu1/s1600-h/DSC_0821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImva4k2pFDurrbh1V4sRlK6MS-Q0dgmxFEcSQzXmvr8GWZMtBp1JPKDUtAl7U-rtuP5yORqO1L9PE3QtAmkTEWjh_PKMZCP2piFxPgwGgtvFEZT6xK5zXN2DK2m9NKX2sLhu1/s320/DSC_0821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145028412756258914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Wasteland<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjed1MxoFvAzDMNpJDFobaSjkYmMZcrstpmNm_cOWn_qHsGrANyLyWc7Bt_rxoYnR7-RFR6EpjvSRz9hv0QpcWKhrMiLxIpMwS16NbGWOFZF1Uxq1OK1rYCyU4c1w5OnjtnRWSp/s1600-h/DSC_0829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjed1MxoFvAzDMNpJDFobaSjkYmMZcrstpmNm_cOWn_qHsGrANyLyWc7Bt_rxoYnR7-RFR6EpjvSRz9hv0QpcWKhrMiLxIpMwS16NbGWOFZF1Uxq1OK1rYCyU4c1w5OnjtnRWSp/s320/DSC_0829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145028850842923122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Riding down Sunset Blvd. I happened upon the premiere for The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Jack and Morgan were both cruising the red carpet to the cheers of fans. I put the bike down on the sidewalk and walked into the middle of Sunset to get this shot, just as an LAPD office asked "Sir, what are you doing?". To which I answered "just getting a shot..." He notified me that I was blocking traffic which was already crawling so all the drivers could gawk at the fanfare. Thank you officer!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRslNrnpeBSUKDPQPQT5Rb_p3jRvyve-Ah956I0EqDO_UfwTXxms1IrjgKftCpOsztU4KoCzT8JyQYT2n8hXhRYdwd22Zq1zU7dRrDb7Be8JJt-tnRDZfzavGCl9wkNT1I_50k/s1600-h/DSC_0833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRslNrnpeBSUKDPQPQT5Rb_p3jRvyve-Ah956I0EqDO_UfwTXxms1IrjgKftCpOsztU4KoCzT8JyQYT2n8hXhRYdwd22Zq1zU7dRrDb7Be8JJt-tnRDZfzavGCl9wkNT1I_50k/s320/DSC_0833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145029989009256578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a few more stops for shopping and it was time for some refreshment at my favorite ice cream parlour "<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/scoops-los-angeles">Scoops</a>". Unique handmade ice cream that changes daily. Tonight's choice: peanut butter & coffee. So good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47asK6oheAiGcn0xSLeUSXUTRtIir_BN17SgKNtJvTL3frfBTIc6AexXjtHBCMQENialqs5gErpUDY7szLutqy9Z4YlmStzvTZ4aNllm_I0zRUTU86zk-o6ophHpxgCxcZKxs/s1600-h/DSC_0837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47asK6oheAiGcn0xSLeUSXUTRtIir_BN17SgKNtJvTL3frfBTIc6AexXjtHBCMQENialqs5gErpUDY7szLutqy9Z4YlmStzvTZ4aNllm_I0zRUTU86zk-o6ophHpxgCxcZKxs/s320/DSC_0837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145030719153696914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All this riding around made me thirsty too, so a stop into <a href="http://tinysko.com/">Tiny's KO</a> in Hollywood was in order. A proper dive bar with punk and metal on the jukebox, tat'd bartenders with no-bullshit attitudes and cheap drinks. I ordered a PBR in a can because I could. The bartender placed 2 in front of me for the low price of $4. Uh oh, some kind of Sunday night special. I finished them, still felt a little wanting, so I ordered a shot of whiskey. Plunk! 2 shots for me. Damn! I spent a total of $11 on drinks and was now well on my way to a Riding Under the Influence citation. Best to get off the streets and take the subway home.<br /><br />Tiny's<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-amkr2iRuvQaFb1SL1WRQSnNP9iP0aEs7xkeWo_DkAHMRZOsRxQGpXJswhYHd1KXf_bIt-sJVx9kRBXhg5J-HQ0CBH0iPeS1rfksTkzz4uIgfbWmSRCg0qTB9MzUipNoBKrdF/s1600-h/DSC_0845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-amkr2iRuvQaFb1SL1WRQSnNP9iP0aEs7xkeWo_DkAHMRZOsRxQGpXJswhYHd1KXf_bIt-sJVx9kRBXhg5J-HQ0CBH0iPeS1rfksTkzz4uIgfbWmSRCg0qTB9MzUipNoBKrdF/s320/DSC_0845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145032832277606562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Down, down, down to the Hollywood & Vine train station, by far the nicest and most ornate of all the stops on this line, maybe all of L.A. The entire ceiling is covered with film reels.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mGUE3ouVd4gXHa-git2PyDDpW1KOAbD8C3CNyOkHRetKgO77oECVoH5EcFUk4v-LJYAwywd7fUM7HRIi0G4WEPm1fppkzpV406gBULw8BgwiUUNBfZIF6PJv7LsHeSbezQ5e/s1600-h/DSC_0847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mGUE3ouVd4gXHa-git2PyDDpW1KOAbD8C3CNyOkHRetKgO77oECVoH5EcFUk4v-LJYAwywd7fUM7HRIi0G4WEPm1fppkzpV406gBULw8BgwiUUNBfZIF6PJv7LsHeSbezQ5e/s320/DSC_0847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145035838754713778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNWgXqidM4X0MqPTVvN-uC2jZc20NMe-xEqSklV_9c1SYHIjJGpzwptmmdwhAx2VOE-SedtpPb-gGy2B1-LgLjJBoURjNqhUrZX3je_RxnNFirQroH7P4z__jZBGa5uQANO0_/s1600-h/DSC_0856.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNWgXqidM4X0MqPTVvN-uC2jZc20NMe-xEqSklV_9c1SYHIjJGpzwptmmdwhAx2VOE-SedtpPb-gGy2B1-LgLjJBoURjNqhUrZX3je_RxnNFirQroH7P4z__jZBGa5uQANO0_/s320/DSC_0856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145035993373536450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />my ride home has arrived....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT98ot8LkoCYazWBkSoAQ9zdgjBeIRsWEERXWvuo954Ipl9d0d4_p3pIWwRWRrtmHvkbY2w1XWOperye6WcAVDVhWo2LT6y_DjnRMgfzLIeFBl4Nqi2856XaX_O6VnawunTtH3/s1600-h/DSC_0859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT98ot8LkoCYazWBkSoAQ9zdgjBeIRsWEERXWvuo954Ipl9d0d4_p3pIWwRWRrtmHvkbY2w1XWOperye6WcAVDVhWo2LT6y_DjnRMgfzLIeFBl4Nqi2856XaX_O6VnawunTtH3/s320/DSC_0859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145036160877261010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Have a great holiday~<br />JeffHWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-39196390941495236292007-10-22T01:20:00.000-07:002007-10-26T23:42:16.898-07:00Homie Fall Festival - Mpls, MN 2007aka "Show me Ball Testicle"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkS_DKUw1DtvYn3UtgITujmjhMqTDJ4cQ8G9i8CZ1PGHswLdoRxVTmHdQE92DI3bw26AUovw4USi2XJeKcq4Ry2T7CpZHhUqX2yhwEXaxtWzYeNz7_2VWV_W-pJjYoG5GYAxn/s1600-h/hff07.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkS_DKUw1DtvYn3UtgITujmjhMqTDJ4cQ8G9i8CZ1PGHswLdoRxVTmHdQE92DI3bw26AUovw4USi2XJeKcq4Ry2T7CpZHhUqX2yhwEXaxtWzYeNz7_2VWV_W-pJjYoG5GYAxn/s320/hff07.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125814324602809890" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short Version:</span><br />LAX, Red Eye, CRC Cafe, Heineken, grease, cappuccino, Hurl's couch, Kelly Mac's, One on One, MGD, bikes, GeneO, cock, (not in that order), pizza, Jaeger, fire, Grumpy's, PBR, Liquor Lyle's, Bloody Marys, Tater Tots, #120, Hurl's kilt, Surly, foot meets SUV, derbies, carnage, 36", Bud, bud, singlespeeds, marriage, hummus, duck, belly lint, Feats of Strength, Squirrel, Emily, blood, paramedics, mushrooms, beer, fire, smokes, leaves, stuffed peppers, bacon donuts, venison, fireworks, Hurl's balls, music in the woods,'wood in the woods, lost in the woods, Hollywood, Simon says "like riding on a cloud", Zeke, Mayor, Swobo, Troy's toe, Elena, jerky, beer, B double-E double-R U-N, firecrackers, bikes, Richter, 'cross, cowbells, trains, planes, automobiles, LAX, bewilderment, confusion.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey Hemingway, take me to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/72157602686302777/">photos</a> already...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long version or, "Stand back, I don't know how big this thing gets":</span><br /><br />A visit to Minneapolis has been on my To Do list for a while now. See the city, visit friends, see the bike shops, relax and enjoy the sights and smells of a new place.<br /><br />Three out of four ain't bad I guess.<br /><br />During Interbike, a formal invitation was presented to me via courier to the 2007 Homie Fall Fest. In Minneapolis, a bunch of people getting together to ride bikes, how <span style="font-style: italic;">FUN</span> is that?? Didn't really have a sure grasp on what exactly goes on at a Homie, but how bad could it be? I immediately started checking Yelp.com and other online restaurant review sites to pick some of my favorite places to taste the cuisine of the Midwest. "Oooh there's a nice looking Bistro called JP's, I'll add that to my dining list." I booked a flight, taking a red eye flight on Thursday, arriving Friday morning in Chicago, then on to the 612.<br /><br />I packed up the Niner singlespeed and headed to LAX. That's probably the last sentence I can write where everything seemed normal and went smoothly. I checked in to American Airlines (bikes fly free! Who knew?) where I was informed that I had incorrectly booked the redeye for Friday night, not Thursday. According to the lovely counter agent, I was 24 hours early. It was now 11pm and the flight I wanted to be on left in one hour. She put me on stand-by and hoisted my bike box around the corner, me wondering if I'd ever see it again. Way to go, Slick.<br /><br />Lonely Planet (click photos to enlarge)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSR4heg7TgoX3-EdG74B7-OHXeTtDA5pun3pH7pba-1eNo3FEI4SAqdjBM1Mu8fs_UIyOq1DSYrlSSOUF47gQblOKyMW87KU2kx2Hs134uXQN_kCPkyWG5iYSlQrwgZCFVltr/s1600-h/bags.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSR4heg7TgoX3-EdG74B7-OHXeTtDA5pun3pH7pba-1eNo3FEI4SAqdjBM1Mu8fs_UIyOq1DSYrlSSOUF47gQblOKyMW87KU2kx2Hs134uXQN_kCPkyWG5iYSlQrwgZCFVltr/s320/bags.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125120056024312786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The midnight flight was then bumped to 1:30am. Neat. People napped on the carpet. Babies cried. Problematic Bluetooth headsets frustrated businessmen. 1:30 came and we were wheels-up. I squeezed out a solid 3 hours of sleep before I heard "flight attendants please prepare for arrival to Chicago."<br /><br />A short layover and I was on my way to the Twin Cities, where I was eventually reunited with my blinglespeed and bag of assorted strange clothing. Then it was a quick hop to the <a href="http://crccoffeebar.blogspot.com/">CRC Cafe</a>, a perfect fusion of bicycles, caffeine, soup and cotton garments. I had some "me time" to enjoy a nice cappuccino and cookie before the proprietor and his posse arrived, allowing me full run of the shop in the rear to get the Niner precision-tuned back into cranking order. The weather was cool with a little drizzle, a pleasant change from warm and dry L.A.<br /><br />CRC:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyLL9X-9Jb6ibw6peOkz9StWtznACfPNZ5O8haxde0EMcSFZfvdO6FXKajbCypYC1EIDJCc1CQUPsr8lR9gQqoShQe79AuB3KqP9YtGft4Ter0V31VeyKui70neh9dezjxz5V/s1600-h/crc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyLL9X-9Jb6ibw6peOkz9StWtznACfPNZ5O8haxde0EMcSFZfvdO6FXKajbCypYC1EIDJCc1CQUPsr8lR9gQqoShQe79AuB3KqP9YtGft4Ter0V31VeyKui70neh9dezjxz5V/s320/crc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125120403916663778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVUnTZ5yO3GxefPLaI3x1b_Hl4oECyBen-KbZSDuUbnpF2GeNIYpzG0sjjxQoUIf9JbsnMB8P-_AxIbHQpgx_2etHroYELt0H_TbF3eP48R4xtZ7bAONry9aiM8RwHpXy0hYe/s1600-h/crc2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqVUnTZ5yO3GxefPLaI3x1b_Hl4oECyBen-KbZSDuUbnpF2GeNIYpzG0sjjxQoUIf9JbsnMB8P-_AxIbHQpgx_2etHroYELt0H_TbF3eP48R4xtZ7bAONry9aiM8RwHpXy0hYe/s320/crc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125122289407306754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGUdkdcKMHjMDeIEDbOThyphenhyphenHMljfwTUzIO-j6uFeT48uIA5ETgUkr-bYWR96VDZkFMvRU6U26hep9QRhNGTZs4XH5ScW9h7KSXL8ULEkOBflqEF_f8NI9rOlvd5NpoTCBRQdMg/s1600-h/crc3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGUdkdcKMHjMDeIEDbOThyphenhyphenHMljfwTUzIO-j6uFeT48uIA5ETgUkr-bYWR96VDZkFMvRU6U26hep9QRhNGTZs4XH5ScW9h7KSXL8ULEkOBflqEF_f8NI9rOlvd5NpoTCBRQdMg/s320/crc3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125122478385867794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hurl welcomes me with open finger to his home town<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKrs6_LkxsR3dKHDpey8hGkZN7CZQQMvm3mm_4G_R171RpvNz3HQEMwwEvXpoH7Ujpk9av-jxqYj3LvjP_bmOXEK66e_4EyuFkdXrVeE4kC55TjPfpxUvnswEIBQlJ8CUE4ba/s1600-h/hurl1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKrs6_LkxsR3dKHDpey8hGkZN7CZQQMvm3mm_4G_R171RpvNz3HQEMwwEvXpoH7Ujpk9av-jxqYj3LvjP_bmOXEK66e_4EyuFkdXrVeE4kC55TjPfpxUvnswEIBQlJ8CUE4ba/s320/hurl1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125122779033578530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then on to Hurl's house via Zeke's van. Drop off bags, get settled, pick a spot to crash, pull on a beanie and it was off to Gene's <a href="http://www.oneononebike.com/about.php">One On One bicycle studio</a>, with a quick stopover at Kelly Mac's house to pick up more of the 612 crew.<br /><br />BIG Homie Eve party at One on One. I realize I now know exactly 3 people out of about 100. I give myself the self-guided tour of the incredible shop, studio and basement, which holds more new bikes, old bikes and 'parts' bikes than I could count. I also took a quick run to <a href="http://www.pizzaluce.com/">Pizza Luce</a> for a quick bite. I wondered if JP's was anywhere near where I was...? Um, no. There will be no Bistros for you, city boy. Close the shop party, mount up and ride to Clubhouse Jaeger for beer and a fire pit. Riders keep showing up, flooding the patio. The locals look concerned. Someone leaps the fire. After Jaeger bores us, we all ride across town to <a href="http://www.grumpysbar.com/downtown/downtown.html">Grumpy's</a>, a nice big, packed bar with many bikes already outside where the pre-Homie frolic raged on til the wee hours...eventually my head hit my makeshift pillow at 3am sharp.<br /><br />One on One:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLqXAhGEigZ4sPvtwZZuhg5AuKv1uV5f6EyU9Tp9gW2Lgmx1ABublzjT5gxxUtwFUeHYxUfDYwKth7EGqprdffK9uYHAX7gTyx0Fo7dwwF-7jzhhsA3F-E_CJhbFFwn_dhNi9/s1600-h/1on1_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLqXAhGEigZ4sPvtwZZuhg5AuKv1uV5f6EyU9Tp9gW2Lgmx1ABublzjT5gxxUtwFUeHYxUfDYwKth7EGqprdffK9uYHAX7gTyx0Fo7dwwF-7jzhhsA3F-E_CJhbFFwn_dhNi9/s320/1on1_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125123324494425138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCicf743WNtNHFgzTP8oAmozvQ0mSfp3cfV0IVvfcm8wFiudRWZMo5shiShWrbxyM5S2cfSCH4H5SaEpWXYn0uS9w10mFJQKw18DErlaOHXqBdUZdj_nGeQGX9K4OsQIThMLI/s1600-h/1on1_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCicf743WNtNHFgzTP8oAmozvQ0mSfp3cfV0IVvfcm8wFiudRWZMo5shiShWrbxyM5S2cfSCH4H5SaEpWXYn0uS9w10mFJQKw18DErlaOHXqBdUZdj_nGeQGX9K4OsQIThMLI/s320/1on1_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125123560717626434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDZ8gCShRP-qGg_ZdQLq_MDh7Kkrxo5bqouZs-KDoJRXMfkrlC193XwMS9V9nzKC4kRZsw78jXty3f1Vav7BD_Cg9MBGDwJWIl-RbDQELtGr8VxOw7P605thphBBaOfdlPvCP/s1600-h/1on1_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDZ8gCShRP-qGg_ZdQLq_MDh7Kkrxo5bqouZs-KDoJRXMfkrlC193XwMS9V9nzKC4kRZsw78jXty3f1Vav7BD_Cg9MBGDwJWIl-RbDQELtGr8VxOw7P605thphBBaOfdlPvCP/s320/1on1_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125123801235795026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47oa2zW9jx7ABUZy6oHUJ-k2r5SWbdEkzYfYVG09q58Z62qx_aPGkiP6ZcLPi6fcYfn8k0omtPt8S9vawyxmiy444uEo-IbjwGsH1rX7bnbucotZI87p6jTrz0uXrc4j8wh6C/s1600-h/1on1_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47oa2zW9jx7ABUZy6oHUJ-k2r5SWbdEkzYfYVG09q58Z62qx_aPGkiP6ZcLPi6fcYfn8k0omtPt8S9vawyxmiy444uEo-IbjwGsH1rX7bnbucotZI87p6jTrz0uXrc4j8wh6C/s320/1on1_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125124097588538466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYDLe1CzIlAZqQL-APPrSRERAIUh0mzxZ61uAq5WCF5bSkzQM1SuUVsIwFTQB8RfOQCoaecW-KleILgVwn2Ce1Rld6SPZhTAu6fLe1bSDnzcdlxkuUmVy_1E6ZKP6rodXj6xP/s1600-h/1on1_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYDLe1CzIlAZqQL-APPrSRERAIUh0mzxZ61uAq5WCF5bSkzQM1SuUVsIwFTQB8RfOQCoaecW-KleILgVwn2Ce1Rld6SPZhTAu6fLe1bSDnzcdlxkuUmVy_1E6ZKP6rodXj6xP/s320/1on1_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125124338106707058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Saturday morning was rise, shine, dress and head out for <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/lyles-bar-and-restaurant-minneapolis#hrid:smjbZEUcz91khGaelF-9mA/query:lyle%27s">Lyle's</a>, the official meeting spot and start of the Festival. And a perfect day it was. Warm temps, blue skies and stunning colors of fall foliage on display with every turn of a corner. I signed in for the ride and got my paper number plate. Rider #120 was officially In The House. I had time to side up to the rowdy bar action, order some breakfast that included damn tasty tater tots, and warshed it all down with 2-for-1 Bloody Marys.<br /><br />Let's roll.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N-v1Y2b_FCxB5SYoE_3W3Ox9jWGVjMjKX0HdK4Nqbu6IJlIgKPgd0eK1hQ5Gc_KLlSTM9F12jAMLbocgxWLZKZ3_yJqlWyOIJLaqhFDZRDLLVw5yIykHJ7XVgDT-xcc_vONv/s1600-h/Hurl2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N-v1Y2b_FCxB5SYoE_3W3Ox9jWGVjMjKX0HdK4Nqbu6IJlIgKPgd0eK1hQ5Gc_KLlSTM9F12jAMLbocgxWLZKZ3_yJqlWyOIJLaqhFDZRDLLVw5yIykHJ7XVgDT-xcc_vONv/s320/Hurl2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125126343856434370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sov reviews the bylaws<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcud7UmgpD7JDwl1hPcZjzPpZ1mudG-2fO10SocxrMclaLoHIZ7ZDJH6errg2ZUvtQPlNrmIY33PPqQ886R6caflxjyKKCDfD4KR-DReu2oTz7jXCYa6p0Hm8wQp7jDY0dT4Dl/s1600-h/sov1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcud7UmgpD7JDwl1hPcZjzPpZ1mudG-2fO10SocxrMclaLoHIZ7ZDJH6errg2ZUvtQPlNrmIY33PPqQ886R6caflxjyKKCDfD4KR-DReu2oTz7jXCYa6p0Hm8wQp7jDY0dT4Dl/s320/sov1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125124617279581314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At least 200 bikers gathered outside Lyle's, all in various form of creative wardrobing. Matching skunk outfits? sure. Skinsuits? check. Kilts? rad.<br /><br />Homies:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq-kTILy6qAIa9ADS7oLCMYaw15x5imxapFQOwbU31KZWociP2oF3GUVzsKyrAGBiKYqafJMqllfDYjJrHm2NykinIlTC8TsfbKE7Pn2jU-Xaj5wi6QQLplKd9JN2ZmMqQ8Vn/s1600-h/DSC_0493.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq-kTILy6qAIa9ADS7oLCMYaw15x5imxapFQOwbU31KZWociP2oF3GUVzsKyrAGBiKYqafJMqllfDYjJrHm2NykinIlTC8TsfbKE7Pn2jU-Xaj5wi6QQLplKd9JN2ZmMqQ8Vn/s320/DSC_0493.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125124892157488274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7AydAVrFBSO7AldllmQ4FbPPiKVxhR6PBvkm8EP7BywUO4cWsdLMIO_tXOR2YcizJTDKJwzWe5mWiX3yI6pxIRJrQTrfPrzwfoBJY188b_TDER3tZLoTlc2DXlyWLdaxTwrF/s1600-h/DSC_0494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7AydAVrFBSO7AldllmQ4FbPPiKVxhR6PBvkm8EP7BywUO4cWsdLMIO_tXOR2YcizJTDKJwzWe5mWiX3yI6pxIRJrQTrfPrzwfoBJY188b_TDER3tZLoTlc2DXlyWLdaxTwrF/s320/DSC_0494.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125125106905853090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV9wt-IqnewXQ9VzLG1GrvErlSZPFUcHNP5kPiQdGG4LfMNu2qwD_zcWgn9mrDd327mJf2VwS9dJaoWX9E-EduZ9iN2xXxXq72hMWIHcPBMmkoevtzUGqzvXflpv3yymkMZn9/s1600-h/DSC_0495.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV9wt-IqnewXQ9VzLG1GrvErlSZPFUcHNP5kPiQdGG4LfMNu2qwD_zcWgn9mrDd327mJf2VwS9dJaoWX9E-EduZ9iN2xXxXq72hMWIHcPBMmkoevtzUGqzvXflpv3yymkMZn9/s320/DSC_0495.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125125424733433010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We rolled out and less than 2 blocks into the ride crossed paths with Angry 4Runner Driver, who decided he wasn't going to stop for the pack that was now surrounding him, including one rider whose Ritchey met the fate of the truck's front tire. The next image I saw was that of a Homie leg kicking in the door of the aforementioned truck. I tried to get a good look at the door but couldn't tell if it was an SPD cleat or Crank Bros. that was gouging the paint. Maybe Crank Bros. The driver wisely did not stop and get out, and sped off but not before his prized wool driving cap was snatched from his head. Homies: 1, Angry 4Runners belongings: 0.<br /><br />We all rode across town, stopping twice or thrice to derby and make sure that at least one other person's bike wasn't going to ride as good as it did at the start.<br /><br />Let's get it on -<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxbdCfinbzryGViI_xMcLpXY3svpJC204tFrm1abxKqFNxl2Fyww-0xYZMXGbYf5eGG77A5Jt-OcSpjB4y0Ck-b3ff486PYaSevFWXfJkrcGbu_I9MVhO0AvVorYXP9prrcqI/s1600-h/DSC_0514.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxbdCfinbzryGViI_xMcLpXY3svpJC204tFrm1abxKqFNxl2Fyww-0xYZMXGbYf5eGG77A5Jt-OcSpjB4y0Ck-b3ff486PYaSevFWXfJkrcGbu_I9MVhO0AvVorYXP9prrcqI/s320/DSC_0514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125133928768679122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fzn9LHgO-g72ECZYchhyZKere1__h8Ohh2WPixoGTAoshhzNl9lwfgItckHz0hcDG7IiCC3Hg6T6sbmNT3guIjtxwddnZM_zylopLf3oGJ0DegnEve59AMEvJhlany8cDbFo/s1600-h/DSC_0548.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fzn9LHgO-g72ECZYchhyZKere1__h8Ohh2WPixoGTAoshhzNl9lwfgItckHz0hcDG7IiCC3Hg6T6sbmNT3guIjtxwddnZM_zylopLf3oGJ0DegnEve59AMEvJhlany8cDbFo/s320/DSC_0548.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125134414099983586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymbGWizrrv4nnjDgOd9z-imhA5FwNhXpFJWAzEOa9s2i5yoAhKC2xBu7yd24FwmP_Xh2_0q5hm1aYHLqybxSAL301a3C8ZHBWXzrbPlZ1yblok3BUpMga6sDfgxydI9dEc4d7/s1600-h/DSC_0517.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymbGWizrrv4nnjDgOd9z-imhA5FwNhXpFJWAzEOa9s2i5yoAhKC2xBu7yd24FwmP_Xh2_0q5hm1aYHLqybxSAL301a3C8ZHBWXzrbPlZ1yblok3BUpMga6sDfgxydI9dEc4d7/s320/DSC_0517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125134701862792434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cl-CEZ6MAlh3imSEV_nUuXtjSMhofLdasNya0UEHbt9lrYx9kfxKkHVpPzrBUCgtoBpZYmb-pLTzTWDHWCFuVyrS3pHAFZuMfdoy6nxODjo3-GA4nQrDebIplnFIU0opIXHP/s1600-h/DSC_0541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cl-CEZ6MAlh3imSEV_nUuXtjSMhofLdasNya0UEHbt9lrYx9kfxKkHVpPzrBUCgtoBpZYmb-pLTzTWDHWCFuVyrS3pHAFZuMfdoy6nxODjo3-GA4nQrDebIplnFIU0opIXHP/s320/DSC_0541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125135105589718274" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Man down!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeoNQSNBx92jFoCl4oFX3E5dmho1z9nwluzogsbxaHihufibvCUz3ANGFRgMmO3xjOsfM7k1X_UsQ0YSvt1gsOqC780Zk_LUJ7O9kq5AhqU2kfqtfqQWgXqQUL-w7nSlwes-G/s1600-h/DSC_0526.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeoNQSNBx92jFoCl4oFX3E5dmho1z9nwluzogsbxaHihufibvCUz3ANGFRgMmO3xjOsfM7k1X_UsQ0YSvt1gsOqC780Zk_LUJ7O9kq5AhqU2kfqtfqQWgXqQUL-w7nSlwes-G/s320/DSC_0526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125136471389318418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Eventually we made it to the woods, where we entered via a slightly technical downhill that bottlenecked most of the pack while they carefully studied which line would send them over the bars the quickest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnzzBrJ79KO70SIoEnxOilqsjwdFeRNkbc0ITMY9UBtbfVL8W7Egs2-c3-QtLXRUlQb1iMYzCDEmq7Ya-n02fCYoTHPNn80JGGySxKZa2OQL8RzV7646xzZ0FSMawmivMLPAS/s1600-h/DSC_0564.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnzzBrJ79KO70SIoEnxOilqsjwdFeRNkbc0ITMY9UBtbfVL8W7Egs2-c3-QtLXRUlQb1iMYzCDEmq7Ya-n02fCYoTHPNn80JGGySxKZa2OQL8RzV7646xzZ0FSMawmivMLPAS/s320/DSC_0564.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125138541563555106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />A few more twists through the trees and the Homies had finally arrived. Bikes were laid to rest in the woods, beverages were freed from their various messenger bags and backpacks, campfires were lit and the celebration was upon us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HFF</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivczAwGKF2xArhClxyZRs357iKATFdzm5bmAiEgExwE7jZNiAnNCgbjRaCxBCEY3p5wjFx-KdcMCzbRu7Rxz0fzP4t8un_B9Yh3HLQeoki_LOEuE5PYuPlafzec_jsN-q_rhWh/s1600-h/DSC_0583.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivczAwGKF2xArhClxyZRs357iKATFdzm5bmAiEgExwE7jZNiAnNCgbjRaCxBCEY3p5wjFx-KdcMCzbRu7Rxz0fzP4t8un_B9Yh3HLQeoki_LOEuE5PYuPlafzec_jsN-q_rhWh/s320/DSC_0583.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125142196580724018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ztQi2deTh1gMBsz2sillAjezIn8tm5s1kNlry8SQPtuA8RFxk17nXiDMqaqQCNkhzanm5tNK1_rVdhb2xVrCnEAnY6cw1jwRXhGdZHz7eCjiGrykVYPGfmsdlnH4cF4bm3dx/s1600-h/DSC_0569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ztQi2deTh1gMBsz2sillAjezIn8tm5s1kNlry8SQPtuA8RFxk17nXiDMqaqQCNkhzanm5tNK1_rVdhb2xVrCnEAnY6cw1jwRXhGdZHz7eCjiGrykVYPGfmsdlnH4cF4bm3dx/s320/DSC_0569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125145898842533186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5ILRmaVG4p17cv5LIieWQqz0S_rUMNwBJRB8K9VHUr8RJPZjItqjfQBcZ5UflHQFB5r4pIDbiWgP1mOlS_xRUeRKjnzSljo1HkjwoWYEcqR25f_BHRLMLq0bHLg_xKXjzWKX/s1600-h/DSC_0589.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5ILRmaVG4p17cv5LIieWQqz0S_rUMNwBJRB8K9VHUr8RJPZjItqjfQBcZ5UflHQFB5r4pIDbiWgP1mOlS_xRUeRKjnzSljo1HkjwoWYEcqR25f_BHRLMLq0bHLg_xKXjzWKX/s320/DSC_0589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125147277527035218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jfKa4gyNK7okjxGyQJME9iL8SEo4bQ98VjmhZQm4JML-Q10VI575PgAW4fJ8GqcIv6KwdXpaV_7d7cJBABjSoOhd0ICiw4MXi3XddiCfHxNUHzz6Z6abEhct_voiyo7_Yku1/s1600-h/DSC_0581.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jfKa4gyNK7okjxGyQJME9iL8SEo4bQ98VjmhZQm4JML-Q10VI575PgAW4fJ8GqcIv6KwdXpaV_7d7cJBABjSoOhd0ICiw4MXi3XddiCfHxNUHzz6Z6abEhct_voiyo7_Yku1/s320/DSC_0581.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125519260349574546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The 3-Stage Feats of Strength began after everyone got a little Liquid Courage in their system. First up was a solo try up a river; rocks, water, logs. Guys & Gals alike. The first rider up started with confidence and promptly endo'd and stuffed his face underwater. Game On. Stage 2 brought short 'n steep ups & downs, finishing with yet another river run. Stage 3 was the sketchiest. A stairway descent feeding a bridge over the river with a narrow plank as an exit, followed by a steep up to another small bridge. Like putt-putt golf on wheels. Last up was Emily who aced the stairs but misjudged the bridge exit and ended her run with a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBSdqhH9PbI">nasty face plant</a> into the earth. She sat upright and the blood began to flow from her nose... 911, an ambulance and medics are what occupied the next few minutes of everyone's day. I hope she recovers ok, but that's gotta be one helluva black eye.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Feats of Strength</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N39_greDh3HKyCxdlNmE8tEyk4bs9nAg7SKNChyphenhyphenGxE9Y11fJdBI0_yptBitm1SAVhw0hRuy7wIWFE0CS9kxiaZ5Yby9g3jkKcEA1P4S4s6vsmxR0yoaBNf-k0zFABglHbcoH/s1600-h/DSC_0593.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N39_greDh3HKyCxdlNmE8tEyk4bs9nAg7SKNChyphenhyphenGxE9Y11fJdBI0_yptBitm1SAVhw0hRuy7wIWFE0CS9kxiaZ5Yby9g3jkKcEA1P4S4s6vsmxR0yoaBNf-k0zFABglHbcoH/s320/DSC_0593.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125518989766634882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dFYK5HmW4rbgDPcrbiT3sCjBKLdEhNx9uZDAx4ooUC_Cpfi7OIYyeUQC85UJNZuLsWXFQuEUN75BrKJI23m_fv4HKZ51noF0zK7PY1cKGB5H-cOX-TmVQ6GSDM2fdvQ1KLeJ/s1600-h/DSC_0618.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dFYK5HmW4rbgDPcrbiT3sCjBKLdEhNx9uZDAx4ooUC_Cpfi7OIYyeUQC85UJNZuLsWXFQuEUN75BrKJI23m_fv4HKZ51noF0zK7PY1cKGB5H-cOX-TmVQ6GSDM2fdvQ1KLeJ/s320/DSC_0618.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125520974041525666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hollywood of the Midwest!! (and my doppelganger?)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XpTnrtAIxc-Hv7V42GxK776hwIoz2P5UNYWAc5C7V8e0fAP8lRiWWQ3of1bI0lpiNtvHf1U6lveg0wCdeJG7NoyofxSUZgCy4vPna7dJ_Jc28kkLkuGx6ywhSp9a9oYihY4x/s1600-h/DSC_0611.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XpTnrtAIxc-Hv7V42GxK776hwIoz2P5UNYWAc5C7V8e0fAP8lRiWWQ3of1bI0lpiNtvHf1U6lveg0wCdeJG7NoyofxSUZgCy4vPna7dJ_Jc28kkLkuGx6ywhSp9a9oYihY4x/s320/DSC_0611.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125522180927335858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />From there is was back to the woods to get the Fest back on its feet, proper. More campfires, more beer, more *what have yous* being shared amongst friends. My buddy, who I'll call "Nick" for this particular blog shared some mushrooms with me. Now I'm not a big partaker of the the psychedelics, but this day was special and I was feeling adventurous. Right then! Down the hatch! Should make for some interesting photography at least. I didn't realize that I'd soon find myself wandering through the woods under a pitch black sky, having absolutely no idea where I was, both immediately and in the larger, existential "in the universe" picture. I returned to base camp and was offered a bacon donut. Everything suddenly made sense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN1uK2HIentwLO4ETrrD9C-rn4sdhSK5JpONtPSl-P0XIje3DVViRicVUwNV70nFo8rfeyWhfTOd3zjG3RAZrtU8pOoR3A37OnnbpRfeRJHrCWVcgCjlb2C0IBLxBkuTfHiLz/s1600-h/IMG00182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipN1uK2HIentwLO4ETrrD9C-rn4sdhSK5JpONtPSl-P0XIje3DVViRicVUwNV70nFo8rfeyWhfTOd3zjG3RAZrtU8pOoR3A37OnnbpRfeRJHrCWVcgCjlb2C0IBLxBkuTfHiLz/s320/IMG00182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125523001266089410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Homies raged on into the wee hours. Bonfires warmed, beer hydrated, conversation between friends comforted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpm8ipBdIbqVhh5zz_6fJlCQe73uqc15IpNgHZWh54WSQm1RfZ1avX340EM86GB88Pbja9VUJEytMseCGFZHHIHCYCzuHUY6cEWpGNhdLmsDYySw8Plk7jDKM5ETsKoedhuNe/s1600-h/IMG00183.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpm8ipBdIbqVhh5zz_6fJlCQe73uqc15IpNgHZWh54WSQm1RfZ1avX340EM86GB88Pbja9VUJEytMseCGFZHHIHCYCzuHUY6cEWpGNhdLmsDYySw8Plk7jDKM5ETsKoedhuNe/s320/IMG00183.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125523228899356114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />At what must have been 1am our small band of housemates departed the woods for the twinkling downtown in the distance. A lightrail train helped conserve what was left of our energy. End of the line, a quick spin through the downtown nightlife scene and we were home-bound.<br /><br />3am: head hits pillow. Homie Fall Fest in the bag, as was I.<br /><br />The following morning we woke to find the clouds and cooler temps had moved back in. We showered, bundled up, grabbed a bike and pedaled across town to Powderhorn park to spectate the cyclocross races taking place. We cheered on housemate Eric as he sprinted on & off the bike around the course in the Men's B race.<br /><br />It was time for me to depart. Ride back to CRC, strip the bike down and prep it for air travel, call a cab and I was off to La La Land. On my flight out of MN I was seated in a row 3 seats across; myself, an empty middle seat and "grandma" on the aisle. I smiled thinking of a 2+ hour flight without a passenger between us. It was then that an enormous shadow darkened our row. "Oh God please" I whispered...but my prayer was too late as I slowly looked up to see most definitely the most obese woman on the plane. "I need to get in there" she commanded. Luckily I had some Pedro's lube handy, which I applied liberally to her hips, followed by a hop or two on her lap to wedge her positively into her seat. She asked the flight attendant for a seatbelt extension so she could wrap the safety belt around her massive pooch. My right thigh was now mashed against her left, slowly heating up to an uncomfortable temperature and yet nowhere to go. I escaped to the world of iPod and The Outcast and slipped into denial.<br /><br />During my layover in Dallas I was introduced to news of my state being on fire. On the late flight into LAX I could see several fires burning up homes and hillsides from my comfortable window seat. Fortunately no immediate family or friends have lived close enough to be evacuated, but the fires have reminded us all that this 8 year drought is having a huge impact on our lives in more ways than one.<br /><br />Table for one, some TV news and some nice Tex-Mex <span style="font-style: italic;">con margarita</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7IXOXo2LwrbXtNttAnei9g5NHSnuzrKA440T-N_HQoHSXeHzqBgir5H8dDqWuNvAQkRV8AXuaGAra_BSLPEqhyGCV-XrCEg-AA1aNQwqgK4xNdY8WBNjrOa6j-pMzf92CGq5/s1600-h/DSC_0624.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7IXOXo2LwrbXtNttAnei9g5NHSnuzrKA440T-N_HQoHSXeHzqBgir5H8dDqWuNvAQkRV8AXuaGAra_BSLPEqhyGCV-XrCEg-AA1aNQwqgK4xNdY8WBNjrOa6j-pMzf92CGq5/s320/DSC_0624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125526617628552674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm really fortunate to be able to spend such a fun-filled, debaucherously good weekend with great people while thousands had to flee their homes with whatever belongings they could cram in their cars.<br /><br />Until next Fall...<br /><br /><br />more photos on <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/557636@N23/">Flickr</a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-15134908032345102632007-09-16T01:30:00.000-07:002007-10-29T00:11:48.411-07:00RIP: Cat<span style="font-weight:bold;">1990 - 2007</span><br /><br />He'll be missed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs3UgC-n2lKz_LeJBDD4B0TDVjwRKrGj179dOCUVqY6TdmjmDFd6zvOUVPx6mlffetCxoutiV1JmSToMyGSrXONGaq6xeIVzN-Yzcbco_VyYVQTCgIjuxlJBs0g5dOQW8yLgA/s1600-h/IMG_6681.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVs3UgC-n2lKz_LeJBDD4B0TDVjwRKrGj179dOCUVqY6TdmjmDFd6zvOUVPx6mlffetCxoutiV1JmSToMyGSrXONGaq6xeIVzN-Yzcbco_VyYVQTCgIjuxlJBs0g5dOQW8yLgA/s320/IMG_6681.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126652053678927458" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-12009549313760824342007-07-08T17:19:00.000-07:002007-07-16T15:34:11.561-07:00San Juan Hut Trip 2007to skip the text and go straight to the photos, click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56893061@N00/sets/">here</a><br /><br />A discussion over dinner between friends regarding combining camping and a bike ride resulted in narrowing in on the <a href="http://www.sanjuanhuts.com/">San Juan Hut</a> system of trails and huts. 8 of us chose the more difficult Durango, CO to Moab, UT route over the "easier" Telluride to Moab route. 225 miles with 26,000 ft. of climbing over 7 days and 6 nights. We planned for months, debated over gear, bike choice, clothing choices, transportation, etc. We settled on the week of the 4th of July for a couple reasons; take advantage of holiday days off and get out there before it gets insanely hot (well, one outta two ain't bad...). Two riders bailed mid-way through the planning, leaving 6 to do the trip. We paid, got our maps and keys to the huts and counted down the days 'til departure.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Personal Profiles:</span><br />Al - L.A., rigid 29" titanium singlespeed, rack + panniers<br />Carl - L.A., Niner 29" hardtail, backpack<br />Colette - L.A., Niner 29" hardtail, rack + dry sack<br />Jeff - L.A., Niner 29" hardtail, rack + panniers<br />Josh - L.A., Turner 26" dual-sus., rack + panniers<br />Peter - Brooklyn, Ibis 26" hardtail, BOB trailer<br /><br />On Wednesday morning Josh and Carl picked me up at home, loaded my bike and gear and we were off to Moab. 12 short hours later we arrived. We checked in to our hotel and headed to <a href="http://www.eddiemcstiffs.com/">Eddie McStiffs</a> for dinner and drinks. Peter had flown in to Vegas from NY and caught a ride from Al & Colette on their way through Nevada.<br /><br />The next day we had scheduled a shuttle van to transport all of us to Durango, CO. This would allow us to leave cars and extra baggage behind (thanks Best Western) and have everything waiting for us when (if?) we made it back to Moab. We loaded only what we would take on the ride into the van and Driver Dave headed east for Durango.<br /><br />4 hours later we pulled in to Durango and went straight for the <a href="http://steamworksbrewing.com/">Steamworks Brewery</a>. Turns out they have beer there too. We treated Dave to dinner for being a cool guide, and quoting Edward Abbey during the drive:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I like my job. The pay is generous; I might even say munificent: $1.95 per hour, earned or not, backed solidly by the world's most powerful Air Force, biggest national debt, and grossest national product. The fringe benefits are priceless: clean air to breathe (after the spring sand-storms); stillness, solitude and space; an unobstructed view every day and every night of sun, sky, stars, clouds, mountains, moon, cliffrock and canyons; a sense of time enough to let thought and feeling range from here to the end of the world and back; the discovery of something intimate -- though impossible to name -- in the remote.</span><br /><br />We left the Brewery and Dave dropped us at our condo in Cascade Village, just up the highway from where our trip would start the next morning. The 6 of us in the condo spent the evening checking and rechecking bags, tools, maps and energy snacks. Water bottles and CamelBaks were filled in the kitchen sink. We were as ready as we could be. I used the office computer for one last glance at the internet before pulling the plug for a week.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 1</span><br />Durango to Bolam Pass.<br />18.7 miles<br />Hut at 11,400'<br />9:15am - 1:00pm<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zFO1-sfkqYsBj7t9d6TPmPLaOlEu0zIzbAeQDwZd7M4CGGmYH_efzYyxvhBqD27SQ9HDI08sE7pEPPIhDEs1n5jE17jJh_Jtx95cocGJnafkEUXgxPR6LxE5dzeBF2PDhbPo/s1600-h/IMG_6907.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zFO1-sfkqYsBj7t9d6TPmPLaOlEu0zIzbAeQDwZd7M4CGGmYH_efzYyxvhBqD27SQ9HDI08sE7pEPPIhDEs1n5jE17jJh_Jtx95cocGJnafkEUXgxPR6LxE5dzeBF2PDhbPo/s320/IMG_6907.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087676928055902002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Starting a ride at 8000'+ is an eye-opener. Heading up to 11,000' is a lung-burner. But it was the shortest day so how bad could it be? We climbed a bit then hit a smooth 3 mile downhill. This ain't so bad! Eventually the road turned up to an endless series of switchbacks. I bailed to walk a steep section. Al, Peter and Josh were the strong climbers, dropping the rest of us on most all of the climbs. Even Peter with his BOB trailer would slowly pull away from me until he was out of sight. Blah. Nearing the top of the peak I started to hallucinate. I felt giddy. Talking to myself, laughing at nothing, I was tripping on a lack of O2. Sipping from my CamelBak tube and breathing through my nose for a second while I drank would leave me gasping for air. We arrived at the Hut exhausted, only to find two other riders still there who should have been long gone. One guy was puking non-stop then curling up in the grass, lying in the hut bunks, obviously not having a good Hut Experience. We broke out our Sat. phone and called the main office for help. SJH owner Joe Ryan hopped in his truck and drove up the hill to rescue the stranded riders. About 2 hours later they were loaded up and headed back down the hill; trip over, do not pass go, do not advance to Hut #2. We were so taken by the food in the pantry that we prepped a great pasta dinner, beginning with chopping and sauteeing some fresh garlic in olive oil, adding in diced tomatoes and basil flakes. I enjoyed a warm PBR beer. We didn't realize then that we were at the peak of our culinary adventures and soon we'd be eating ravioli out of a can. We cruised back down the road to watch the sunset over the stunning valley below us. We all passed out by 10pm to the light of the embers burning in the pot-belly wood stove in the hut. We were officially on vacation.<br /><br />(click on images to enlarge)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7eVlsxw09ml_rEwtRt1nIJx2ELjQISGZH7vOICzbfAcPu6OTR1ZOb92YSTkyNFQ1E2iArBOJyMrzbe9Qp-irrI6Pb4fWUoDwJTYOXQWUCddhPgru5_v-qN1oxv12hQajlq3Y/s1600-h/IMG_6931.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7eVlsxw09ml_rEwtRt1nIJx2ELjQISGZH7vOICzbfAcPu6OTR1ZOb92YSTkyNFQ1E2iArBOJyMrzbe9Qp-irrI6Pb4fWUoDwJTYOXQWUCddhPgru5_v-qN1oxv12hQajlq3Y/s320/IMG_6931.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087677829999034178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 2 </span><br />Bolam Pass to Black Mesa.<br />29 miles<br />Hut at 10,625'<br />9:45am - 2:45pm<br /><br />Up at 6:30am, cook some oatmeal, make coffee, prep PB&J sandwiches for lunch. Hit the bikes at 9:45 am and I can feel yesterday's climbing in my legs. Not a good sign on day 2 of 7. I warm up and get past the cramps. We're getting passed by lots of trucks and ATVs. Some are cool and slow down, others blow by leaving us to suck dust. Apparently when you're overweight and ride an ATV with a firearm on your belt, you take seniority on the trails. We cross a wide river where I stop to dunk my hat to keep me cool on the climbs ahead. We reach a small bridge over a river where some of us crouch underneath to take a lunch break, out of the sun and enjoying the steady sounds of water over rock. After lunch we cross a busy blacktop highway and once again head up a dirt road. We're now used to direction such as "<span style="font-style: italic;">Mile 3.2: Cross stream. Double-track goes to your left. DON'T take it!!!</span>" I had been using my iPod Shuffle to keep me preoccupied during long climbs, but today it decides that it no longer wants to function, so I grind out the climb at 3-4mph under a hot sun, without the sweet sounds of Kelly Clarkson in my ears. C'est la vie. I arrive at the hut after most have made it. Another great location; tucked away in the woods, invisible from passing ATV traffic. We cook burritos and enjoy the full moon rising over the valley. Hit the bunks at 10:00pm again, passing out immediately.<br /><br />Colette forges...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByvoDVd5jBokFKesX2J3qiMVBEc3ucMyXVDkhSqwnokcwaYChfJNMR94JwS1QLQgLnPVBRHfaquZQGt-p0mA-79tyiu91nk3S1CunXjUwYkhk5JAzzXlzFU0TYs_5RjGF6zre/s1600-h/IMG_6917.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByvoDVd5jBokFKesX2J3qiMVBEc3ucMyXVDkhSqwnokcwaYChfJNMR94JwS1QLQgLnPVBRHfaquZQGt-p0mA-79tyiu91nk3S1CunXjUwYkhk5JAzzXlzFU0TYs_5RjGF6zre/s320/IMG_6917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087678534373670738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our toilet with a view<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDofZnS0hQeQkBjCGqS60s-NobCPQP5mDEuOuGZnUF3Fv9OntFMPEx0N_I5YmMJZfeT7trp_0rilRy3tWi3uoTlJMe_xxxQyYVI8XDZzs5cVr2NERl2p6nj1AshoGpBBVcINis/s1600-h/IMG_6961.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDofZnS0hQeQkBjCGqS60s-NobCPQP5mDEuOuGZnUF3Fv9OntFMPEx0N_I5YmMJZfeT7trp_0rilRy3tWi3uoTlJMe_xxxQyYVI8XDZzs5cVr2NERl2p6nj1AshoGpBBVcINis/s320/IMG_6961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087679002525106018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />full moon<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVM64jGJeV2MukBXS_M5exZ5LKZA5U-qEmLGffVt1IGFGHOYrhaNJ6sqn98cD_b-p4Y3yFLI6J1grHUm03-_wxJAA4L03gehnmbT7HY43CdXtNFjFt7c5u43QU5sNOemMEhuo/s1600-h/IMG_6972.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVM64jGJeV2MukBXS_M5exZ5LKZA5U-qEmLGffVt1IGFGHOYrhaNJ6sqn98cD_b-p4Y3yFLI6J1grHUm03-_wxJAA4L03gehnmbT7HY43CdXtNFjFt7c5u43QU5sNOemMEhuo/s320/IMG_6972.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087679487856410482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3</span><br />Black Mesa to Dry Creek Basin<br />40 miles<br />Hut at 6,600'<br />8am - 1:30pm<br /><br />Somebody's up at 5am and its making me cranky. I get up at 6, Colette hands me a cup of fresh Joe and I head back out to the overlook to take in the sunrise. Not a bad way to start a day. Make some oatmeal and mount up by 8am, our earliest day on the bikes so far. Lots of descending today, can't wait. It changes from smooth, fast, wide dirt roads to a backwoods Jeep road that's so bumpy my bike starts to jettison gear. My Keen sandals strapped to the rear rack are the first to go, then the chain bails off the chainring. A quick stop fixes all the issues, other than being briefly lost by the quirky directions. We get back to the smooth roads and now we're cruising at 30mph watching clusters of Aspen trees flicker by. At the 25 mile mark we hit Miramonte Reservoir. We all ride to the boat launch ramp, drop the bikes, slip out of our shoes and walk down the ramp into the water for a) refreshment, b) a bath and c) laundry day. We have lunch while our wet clothes air dry in the sun. We pry ourselves from the water's edge, re-sunscreen and hit the hot, dusty trail. At one point we all reach 40+ mph on a downhill. On one descent I feel a pinch near my groin and realize that I've been stung by a bee while riding. A 30mph "ow!" in the crotch. Neat. I arrive at the Hut shortly after and Colette treats my sting with some first aid. At 6600' its much warmer here and chaparral, Joshua trees and red sand have replaced the pines and crisp air we were used to. Bugs everywhere. Carl is snoring at 3pm in his bunk. I have a warm PBR and watch the sunset over the valley, constantly waving my arm at the pesky flies and mosquitos lapping up my Deet. No wood stove needed here - its hot! Dinner degenerates to instant Mac 'n Cheese with grilled Spam as a treat. Seconds anyone? We discuss having left email spam long behind for actual Spam in a can that we are eating. Josh politely declines the Spam addition and sticks to M&C. Bedtime? 10pm. Peter and Josh haul their mats and sleeping bags out to the deck and have a romantic night of sleep under the stars. They start the idea that this might be a cool thing to do from now on. Dibs on night 4!<br /><br />Where are we???<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE2jmhCLkYWgk7MlCLv6Z9a1lw9X6Gyi73N3TmPTn6Gx6xtubu6RYPOOG1JYAQidrgmazuV5er0nXqYQjzufRI_90tsfDezwHIcPYIftMN9vWIGu4qm_4lmu6d29uTQjEPhja/s1600-h/IMG_6989.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE2jmhCLkYWgk7MlCLv6Z9a1lw9X6Gyi73N3TmPTn6Gx6xtubu6RYPOOG1JYAQidrgmazuV5er0nXqYQjzufRI_90tsfDezwHIcPYIftMN9vWIGu4qm_4lmu6d29uTQjEPhja/s320/IMG_6989.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087680153576341378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Laundry day<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjguaPltC4QbBwSx6uSmHPcyCRXTtwQb03-gaKRN-fG6z08XvFHVNxYFBQdYG2PcIVi0L6WQSRGAMYQ-VFfhG0uGWAMyQ3EXAwdU7hlm6AqBEylTcYlj4wuoRMjSbD8i-rmg4S/s1600-h/IMG_7001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjguaPltC4QbBwSx6uSmHPcyCRXTtwQb03-gaKRN-fG6z08XvFHVNxYFBQdYG2PcIVi0L6WQSRGAMYQ-VFfhG0uGWAMyQ3EXAwdU7hlm6AqBEylTcYlj4wuoRMjSbD8i-rmg4S/s320/IMG_7001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087680535828430738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 4</span><br />Dry Creek Basin to Wedding Bell (Hell?)<br />33 miles<br />Hut at 6,580'<br />6:45am - ?<br /><br />Up <span style="font-style: italic;">early</span>. Like 5:15 early. It's "Desert Day" after all and we need an early start. We're pedaling by 6:45 and headed to the small town of Basin, CO for the Basin Store and Diner. We sit down and look at an actual menu. Biscuits and gravy and eggs please. And another cup of hot coffee can't hurt. Man that was good. So good that I forgot about the six of us sitting there in our spandex while the camo-dressed locals flipped through "Big Cat Hunter" magazine over their breakfast. Filled with grease and animal fats, we file back out to the bikes and took a 5 mile, single-file blacktop spin down the highway, headed to our next turnoff to decipher from the magical directions - "<span style="font-style: italic;">Mile 7.2: T-Intersection. Go Right/northish onto a larger road.</span>" Northish. As the miles passed, the sun got hotter and hotter. Short steep climbs tested our persistence. We took a short break at an amazing canyon overlook and another at an old cobbler's workshop. We continue on so we can get out of the heat soon and make it to the hut. Not so fast, Hutters! We take a second read of the directions and realize we're not where we should be. Nothing jives with the paper. Al takes off by himself to scout for the hut. Carl and I ride the opposite direction to scout while the others wait under a tree for shade. We return with no news. Al still hasn't returned 30 minutes later. No response on the walkie-talkies. We start to count our collective ounces of water. I leave my bike and hike up the road shouting Al's name. Nothing. I'm alone and for the first time get a sense of how easy it is to perish in the desert. I'm a mere speck out here. Nobody back home has a clue as to where 6 of their friends are at this moment. Then Al rides up on his bike, Hut-less.<br /><br />Thankfully Josh is able to pinpoint where the Hut should be with his GPS. We all pedal in his direction and spot the Hut on a hillside. During the short, steep, loose climb up the driveway I stall out. I go to unclip from my pedals and realize I can't, I'm stuck. The bike tips over and I collapse on top of it, squarely planting my handlebar end in the center of my sternum. This knocks the wind out of me and leaves me lying in agony in the dirt, mere yards from the Hut. The other gather around to help and when my breath returns they assist me up and I make my way to the Hut. Once comfortable, I join in on some poker and blackjack being dealt in the shade of Hut #4. Drink a hot beer. Tough day. We cook fusili pasta with canned chili as a sauce and sit under the most unbelievable canopy of stars. Pitch black sky with millions of brilliant stars. We spot satellites silently passing over the planet, wondering if anyone's spotting 6 infrared bodies out in the middle of nowhere. Bed at 9:30pm with a Vicodin chaser for my chest pain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT7vmMIODc_rJEeMAIOxMSPKfzJiMAwXmM7GI3MUnSxIeiPKH62QgDcwmssOu1L2NTVdRtgGrNkhpAP41LRcOL5Wod_-pF9fQRDzakWeKPC24obb7-Zl5pmlInNHy5p4TVaHl/s1600-h/IMG_7039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT7vmMIODc_rJEeMAIOxMSPKfzJiMAwXmM7GI3MUnSxIeiPKH62QgDcwmssOu1L2NTVdRtgGrNkhpAP41LRcOL5Wod_-pF9fQRDzakWeKPC24obb7-Zl5pmlInNHy5p4TVaHl/s320/IMG_7039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087681042634571682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmIl5wIK8o4KVZXMNzHIJEVmnro55kouetcb2jCK4ybZeHlCes6ueTOydeMJAV6lQPEx3mrqTwzx9lIvoAQqK9c5BvMLuPXPIdMrHCEXp3r_fpyh7PeFi2vPMN4zNFRrvInZQ/s1600-h/IMG_7058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmIl5wIK8o4KVZXMNzHIJEVmnro55kouetcb2jCK4ybZeHlCes6ueTOydeMJAV6lQPEx3mrqTwzx9lIvoAQqK9c5BvMLuPXPIdMrHCEXp3r_fpyh7PeFi2vPMN4zNFRrvInZQ/s320/IMG_7058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087681875858227122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoidJJoa9sYztrTZQwL3B8cdbdNcpK2YRKdwY4Z0eRvxWTPivnj4Mug50q-tCRepmUDSA_LMGeDDjjYSxpllCMOO7HcKdBqibgmX4onzj7TrIiF_Lmloqln9IPs49Gg69t5lo/s1600-h/IMG_7072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoidJJoa9sYztrTZQwL3B8cdbdNcpK2YRKdwY4Z0eRvxWTPivnj4Mug50q-tCRepmUDSA_LMGeDDjjYSxpllCMOO7HcKdBqibgmX4onzj7TrIiF_Lmloqln9IPs49Gg69t5lo/s320/IMG_7072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087682382664368066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 5</span><br />Wedding Bell to Paradox<br />38 miles<br />Hut at 5,240'<br />6:30am - 2:30pm<br /><br />Up at 5:15am. Its starting to wear on me now. I'm sore. I'm tired. I'm wearing the same shorts, socks and wool jersey that I was wearing 5 days ago. I'm a little groggy from the Vicodin. But the show must go on. I mix powdered milk so I can have a bowl of raisin bran. We're pedaling at 6:30am, before the sun's up and getting a bright moon as travel companion. I yawn. We pass through some old Uranium mines, imagining what the area must have been like in its mining heyday in the 50's. The flat road ends as it always does and we begin a long climb. I feel strong and set a good pace climbing. Was it the drugs? The coffee? Raisin Bran? Whatever it is, I'll take it. We arrive at the lookout over the Paradox Valley. We're at least 1000' above the valley floor and we begin our descent. SJH's Joe Ryan has directed us to bypass a 10 mile section of highway in favor of the "Catch 'em Up Trail", an actual cattle trail used for moving herds of cows up to mesa, and back down, as needed. We quickly realize that its basically a sketchy singletrack trail that has no potential for riding a bike down. None. We begin the balancing act of trying to walk our bikes down the trail without slipping and falling to our deaths. We need to detach Peter's trailer from his bike and hand-carry it down the hill. We later hear that the road ride is almost all downhill and a pleasant experience. Good for you. Excuse me while I shake the 10 pounds of dirt out of my shoes.<br /><br />We regroup at the bottom and ride directly to the quaint Bedrock Store. This is a landmark in the directions, a spot for cold drinks, ice cream and beer. Its a great old place, in this location since the 1880's. Everyone goes straight for the cold drinks and starts the cooling down process. Its over 100F in the shade. I grab the hose on the side of the store and give myself a quick hose-down, rinsing my hair and more importantly - my socks. We could spend all day at the store. They have cold things here. They have shade. We wave at passing traffic like the locals do. I drop .50 cents into the pay phone to make my first call home since leaving Durango. Planning ahead, I drop a Fat Tire Ale inside my CamelBak bladder and fill the remaining space with ice. We grudgingly get back on the bikes under a searing sun and set out to tackle the last 10 miles to the Hut.<br /><br />Later that evening I hire one of the neighbors to run me back to the Bedrock store for more ice, beer and drinks. "Jeannie" takes me to town, waits for me to shop and returns me to the hut, much to the delight of my fellow hutters. She's used to seeing groups of cyclists come through Bedrock. Some are having a great time, some are not thrilled with having to hike down a cattle trail. That night we make ramen noodles with canned chicken, complimented by an ice cold beer. Al and I decide to try out sleeping on the deck this night. Pretty cool, other than being awoken at 3:30am by the farming machinery being fired up. Then again at 4:30am by Colette who is up boiling water for coffee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3fYJjK7eB2xioGOTMkLGn7o3uLlOGWH5Ib-x-TblbUEKe7Lw-4QHMjM5_wtlXLTIJtD1B2m8wW2nwgKC1tFrxe_hk-qdTV__2QGq-LI_1WK-zaodt1PKOqJa1l7rUYNFN_TM/s1600-h/IMG_7077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3fYJjK7eB2xioGOTMkLGn7o3uLlOGWH5Ib-x-TblbUEKe7Lw-4QHMjM5_wtlXLTIJtD1B2m8wW2nwgKC1tFrxe_hk-qdTV__2QGq-LI_1WK-zaodt1PKOqJa1l7rUYNFN_TM/s320/IMG_7077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087682846520836050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqlPLEsBE3DaSdXm0SjxkesrTBj7rnJSAgbteTRmnQgV_S5s1u8ZcMcsoQzVxVru-iENVTJVhbPNrTP8ZVcV3sxg-5DBeqSncipxxRiDygnHxa9hqN95KuuAgmpjcDfjTd6-5/s1600-h/IMG_7088.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqlPLEsBE3DaSdXm0SjxkesrTBj7rnJSAgbteTRmnQgV_S5s1u8ZcMcsoQzVxVru-iENVTJVhbPNrTP8ZVcV3sxg-5DBeqSncipxxRiDygnHxa9hqN95KuuAgmpjcDfjTd6-5/s320/IMG_7088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087683185823252450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARFCm5Qzf5FlaNLzquw3wOpsEu99wG_GItyiJ0Wrlpz1NvwrwvQQw-RSMYftlC3fv11hsnrf6icJOsz6pFUxamKkC8WEBygvqwMlDiR-DxWKXu7c3hu7jakSpbe5GT74kqBze/s1600-h/IMG_7090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARFCm5Qzf5FlaNLzquw3wOpsEu99wG_GItyiJ0Wrlpz1NvwrwvQQw-RSMYftlC3fv11hsnrf6icJOsz6pFUxamKkC8WEBygvqwMlDiR-DxWKXu7c3hu7jakSpbe5GT74kqBze/s320/IMG_7090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087683533715603442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWJrCuU9edpveH2MgYrtulNpKFWHxyCFSWylx2S0MCqRWGJZzZ70TolcRymY_QOX0ISx9UcGBBH8cAr9xMrGu0PWale3LSkI6lKXyYwJQPWwGJsawzvrW_a2Fpyn-m1-_BemD/s1600-h/IMG_7106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWJrCuU9edpveH2MgYrtulNpKFWHxyCFSWylx2S0MCqRWGJZzZ70TolcRymY_QOX0ISx9UcGBBH8cAr9xMrGu0PWale3LSkI6lKXyYwJQPWwGJsawzvrW_a2Fpyn-m1-_BemD/s320/IMG_7106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087683907377758210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 6</span><br />Paradox to Geyser Pass (CO to UT)<br />25 miles<br />Hut at 9,864'<br /><br />We're up early again. I'm yawning again, didn't sleep well with the tractor and all. It's another huge day of riding so we need another rudely early start. We spin for 30 minutes across flat farmland, then turn up to Carpenter Ridge - a 4 mile fireroad climb that we're happy to hit in the cool shade of morning. Well, kinda happy. I'm not warmed up and end up walking and cursing most of it. I don't have it in my legs today. I finally crest the hill and find everyone grouped, waiting for me. We shove on, Carl suffering a mechanical that requires Al to remove his crankset from his bike to fix the problem. Then we're back on bikes on our way to Buckeye reservoir. Its still fairly early so not all of us are gung-ho to jump in the lake. We relax, eat, drink water and enjoy the scenery, completely in denial of the long miles still ahead of us.<br /><br />We cross the state line and leave Colorado behind. Farewell Aspens, hello 3.2% beer. We cruise into the enormous Redd-Geyser Ranch; private property that we have permission to cross due to Joe's arrangements with the huts. Hut #6 also sits on this private land. It's amazing property complete with horses, cattle, rivers, forest, etc. Beautiful. We hit more climbs. I'm done, toast. For some strange reason I resort to counting out loud just to keep a pace and to keep me motivated. "<span style="font-style: italic;">One, huff, two, puff, three, huff...." </span>all the way up to 100 then I start over. We find what *should* be our turn-off to get to the hut but its not too clear. Just a mound of rocks blocking what looks like an entrance to some sort of Jeep road. We decide to take it as no other choices are left nearby - it has to be our turnoff. About a mile of walking our bikes up the too-steep-to-ride road, we wonder what the hell we're doing and if we're on the right path. 2 miles of walking later and I'm going numb. 3 miles of walking later and I'm officially a zombie. Peter pushes his bike + trailer past me with a blank, empty look on his face. All I can muster to tell him as he goes by is "I'm covered in flies." Gray clouds start dropping large, heavy, cold raindrops. Some stick to me as bits of ice. We press on, slowly marching towards some unknown destination. I see Josh up ahead detouring us off the Highway to Hell and down into the woods. "The Hut is that way" he tells us, and I want to hug him but I'm too mad and too tired. Peter and I arrive at the Hut and both take some much-needed "Me Time". We're fried. I don't want to talk to anyone. "Just leave me alone for a second..."<br /><br />Once again Joe has pulled off placing his hut in an amazing location. Nestled in Aspen trees, a meadow, a pond and the sound of a nearby river flowing. I honestly don't know how he gets permission to drop a small mobile cabin in the places he does, but it really counters all the difficult parts of the trip by having such beautiful settings to relax in.<br /><br />We went full-circle on dinner tonight, going back to boiling pasta, chopping garlic and tomatoes and offering canned chicken on the side for a little protein. We crashed at 9:30, everyone completely wiped out.<br /><br />2 days left to get over those mountains<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjx5gXepoacDRyVAPSTQGiTSvYXzi-ymde4HuL2Au6eWiy3eKOq5NIKSTD-BfS7A-tf1GQeJlBVVj-hz4f-g16DaS0Tgg8uBmhKZEMRExyAbIO5iyEyWsiRUFcFykzW4gi49J/s1600-h/IMG_7109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjx5gXepoacDRyVAPSTQGiTSvYXzi-ymde4HuL2Au6eWiy3eKOq5NIKSTD-BfS7A-tf1GQeJlBVVj-hz4f-g16DaS0Tgg8uBmhKZEMRExyAbIO5iyEyWsiRUFcFykzW4gi49J/s320/IMG_7109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087684409888931858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qY5B04_sutuWxyEIJFPP1DnR7rPixX8XCr6IFwOMVymoPi1GYRLea1WZnQBuuIdQHWFpVW_KnORafKeekETFwYDAFCczZPh828BzFdYrpRMJwpeQOAu4RZbCnVOx2Kjv83HA/s1600-h/IMG_7113.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qY5B04_sutuWxyEIJFPP1DnR7rPixX8XCr6IFwOMVymoPi1GYRLea1WZnQBuuIdQHWFpVW_KnORafKeekETFwYDAFCczZPh828BzFdYrpRMJwpeQOAu4RZbCnVOx2Kjv83HA/s320/IMG_7113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087684869450432546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAeVmLI4uilGjsHSUEE0MtWQ0-sZx3GTTepu3bnGdPNqqxfbTSYCPvl7xBFZqEv6C2QdN2CZCNfl49WbxI4hZHY9LltW3GtWdmda_wiByQYj7K8T_7in8uNJ0Z_InYbPjvwJx/s1600-h/IMG_7114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAeVmLI4uilGjsHSUEE0MtWQ0-sZx3GTTepu3bnGdPNqqxfbTSYCPvl7xBFZqEv6C2QdN2CZCNfl49WbxI4hZHY9LltW3GtWdmda_wiByQYj7K8T_7in8uNJ0Z_InYbPjvwJx/s320/IMG_7114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087685204457881650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMvEVksBR9CIg_ZdIhFb6JmWNYD61D8QVQcX-wRPxCkuJ9IQvp6r5f9gvujL2c9Qa_UO5R_k1TEzDmNAMFgN-NqcpEo5jqpkrXs8mg5Vx8VRQp1vidcAmJPohWSEXGfdBVnRw/s1600-h/IMG_7128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMvEVksBR9CIg_ZdIhFb6JmWNYD61D8QVQcX-wRPxCkuJ9IQvp6r5f9gvujL2c9Qa_UO5R_k1TEzDmNAMFgN-NqcpEo5jqpkrXs8mg5Vx8VRQp1vidcAmJPohWSEXGfdBVnRw/s320/IMG_7128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087686424228593730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 7<br />Geyser Pass to Moab<br />35 miles<br />Moab or Bust!<br />9am - 2pm<br /><br />Up at 6am today but taking a real slow pace getting going. No hurry, as it's almost all downhill to Moab and we have all day to get there. We pack up our things, have breakfast and coffee, sweep out the hut one last time and grab a final group shot. It's hard to leave such a pretty spot, and also hard to swing a leg over a bicycle again after the previous day's toll on the legs. Three hours later, we're rolling. Colette's having trouble with her cleat/pedal so we pull over and I swap cleats from my shoe to hers and we're rolling again. We have a brief climb through dense woods, Colette and Carl spot bear tracks in the road, but alas no bears. Honestly that is one of the things I really missed on the trip was having a bear sighting. It didn't have to be up close thank you, but I did want the experience of seeing one in the wild. Next time. (did I just type "next time"???). We wind down the La Salles, coasting ever so closer to civilization. We're hardly pedaling, we're almost home, life is good. We come around a bend and hit the brakes. "Bridge Out" signs dare us to make it back smoothly. The bridge for local traffic is completely gone. We double check our maps to make sure this is the road we want. It is. The only way across is a small aluminum foot bridge for the construction crew. We size it up to see the feasibility of getting bikes and bodies across the river safely. Colette snaps. "I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">done</span>." She has a little rant about not wanting to figure out one more obstacle, she turns her bike around and announces "I'll see you guys in Moab." Yikes. And we were so close. Fast forward, Al and Colette talk, we all cross the bridge together, helping as needed and we continue on. A few small climbs later and we're back in coasting mode, clicking off miles and feeling the temperature rise hotter and hotter the lower we get.<br /><br />And we've done it! We roll down Main St. in Moab in our tired, dirty, smiling paceline. Its about 104F degrees out and the sun is blazing. We all agree that food is in prompt order, so we steer the bikes for Zax restaurant and bar, the same spot we lunched at prior to leaving Moab a week earlier. Little things like wait staff, cold drinks and bus boys seemed like miracles. Only 7 days had past and yet we felt like we just walked out of the jungles of Aitutaki for the first time in our lives. Jokes were plenty; we wanted to throw all of our paper trash in the fire of the pizza oven, our waitress would leave, and then return with beer!, and we had to refrain from belches and other "body sounds" in public which went unedited for 7 days.<br /><br />We left Zax and crossed the street to our hotel. After checking back in we all scattered to our respective rooms to enjoy the first real shower in a week with real soap and real shampoo and big, real towels. Best. Shower. Ever. My shoes and socks were so nasty that they joined me in the shower, getting a nice flooding to let the healing process begin. Later that evening, cleansed and scrubbed and dressed, the six of us walked up the boulevard to the Moab Brewery for dinner (and yes more beer). It was a great night out - warm and calm and relaxing, a perfect end to a week of adventure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv02H3CPw1h2wbBoJ0fKQLd1j2ndHPfZfchEjyTEcMMJ5ukHeKlocsqvL11P32jzNflCFWvdRJZt-qyxaNClkO1fR7MWJV3M1_jH6V6XsSHSciKd5T_yHWs6g-eIys2k5eEz2Y/s1600-h/IMG_7130.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv02H3CPw1h2wbBoJ0fKQLd1j2ndHPfZfchEjyTEcMMJ5ukHeKlocsqvL11P32jzNflCFWvdRJZt-qyxaNClkO1fR7MWJV3M1_jH6V6XsSHSciKd5T_yHWs6g-eIys2k5eEz2Y/s320/IMG_7130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087686862315257938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl0eyf7IKDeA8IqJiZ6Jw7B1ULpeOeVe7v3v0vojzNt5jMyiSswcR7IK3aLVJm1gDuhP3wtMLZuhk8wT9ITDq3sWYaoHNB_JDKlAZ3srpV6FNYVx5gFRaq4fSblM_c2A6Z4Th/s1600-h/IMG_7132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl0eyf7IKDeA8IqJiZ6Jw7B1ULpeOeVe7v3v0vojzNt5jMyiSswcR7IK3aLVJm1gDuhP3wtMLZuhk8wT9ITDq3sWYaoHNB_JDKlAZ3srpV6FNYVx5gFRaq4fSblM_c2A6Z4Th/s320/IMG_7132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087687244567347298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKmJ6GILxNU45X6everEp5UD1uae29hwoPSHCfU6tjcESQTADiY-TzZda9DjB5OqAp212roCfJjF48nzH-OJDIkv2Gn4GV8InvfPxY4ftpmY4agcsAWZr5m6cH53GRNxctYoF/s1600-h/IMG_7134.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKmJ6GILxNU45X6everEp5UD1uae29hwoPSHCfU6tjcESQTADiY-TzZda9DjB5OqAp212roCfJjF48nzH-OJDIkv2Gn4GV8InvfPxY4ftpmY4agcsAWZr5m6cH53GRNxctYoF/s320/IMG_7134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087687691243946098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzwBV3Yy1-W6xNiDl9sxBHdi_irGyUQ6aIYFJDi6BVzxqaV-8hfhdjkaqR9YiLEQ5TZATLHU77s-vjq6IxpoIy-DjcuGpanNqqCXe6VUb5KdPPJOMlO_uIRmXMK4FrBNBMZQa/s1600-h/IMG_7157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzwBV3Yy1-W6xNiDl9sxBHdi_irGyUQ6aIYFJDi6BVzxqaV-8hfhdjkaqR9YiLEQ5TZATLHU77s-vjq6IxpoIy-DjcuGpanNqqCXe6VUb5KdPPJOMlO_uIRmXMK4FrBNBMZQa/s320/IMG_7157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087688210934988930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was an amazing week. The West is so vast and remote and beautiful and varied. It can also make you vanish in the blink of an eye. Its the perfect remedy to claustrophobic city life, fearing that if every bit of open space in your neighborhood is being developed, then the rest of the country must be headed that way too. Its not. I had 360 degree views of nothing but millions of pine tress on millions of untouched acres, day after day. We rode miles of trails that the locals don't know exist and have no reason to explore. You're still in your United States, but far away from anything that resembles a modern society. I highly recommend unplugging and taking a tour of your West. The EndHWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-37457550925070556762007-06-21T18:44:00.000-07:002007-06-21T18:49:46.796-07:00Passing the BarI had two nice old ladies living in the house across the street from me. Their husbands had passed away years ago and they found companionship in living together. Inevitably, they both passed as well. I didn't know them well, but I knew they both loved to sing, dance and entertain back in the day.<br /><br />Their grandson and his Life Partner (nttawwt) cared for the ladies as they aged, and were the trustees of the home. They asked me if there was anything I would want before the big estate sale this past weekend. I took a look through the house that was filled with their furniture, old showbiz memorabilia and knick-knacks. Everything seemed to represent a grand old time of friends, song and laughter.<br /><br />Only one piece of furniture caught my eye: the bar. Not just any bar, but an avocado green, tuck n rolled naugahyde piece of history, goddammit. A bar that has had more booze spilled on it than I've consumed in my newbie life as an of-age drinker.<br /><br />I asked if it was up for grabs and they were thrilled that I would be interested in taking it off their hands. So they GAVE it to me. Along with 4 matching barstools. Mind you, this comes with a heavy aire of responsibility. This is where the ladies held court; entertaining guests, pouring spirits and singing show tunes into the wee hours of the morning. This isn't "walk into Ikea and buy a bar for $99". This is somebody's <span style="font-style:italic;">life</span>. I reassured them that it would be well taken care of and utilized. I don't really have a lot of room for it, but I had to make it fit. It was my duty. Family members stopped by and expressed wishes (and concern) that I treat it kindly. Four of us then unearthed it from its roots and hoisted it across the street and up the stairs to its new home.<br /><br />Thrown into the already-sweet deal was a few framed photos of old friends at said bar. I absolutely had to have them, to keep the spirits alive and happy and familiar with their new surroundings.<br /><br />The ladies' favorite cocktail was a Vodka tonic. So I will soon toast to them, with some Sinatra on the turntable, ice clinking in my glass and a smile on my face. Here's to you, ladies. The show must go on...<br /><br />In its new home:<br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6887.jpg"border=5><br /><br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6892.jpg"border=5><br /><br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6888.jpg"border=5><br /><br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6889.jpg"border=5><br /><br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6890.jpg"border=5><br /><br /><img src="http://gallery.roadbikereview.com/data/roadbike/500/IMG_6891.jpg"border=5><br /><br />Post-ride drinks are on me. Cheers!HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-55723996293534373062007-05-29T23:48:00.000-07:002007-05-30T00:20:14.861-07:00Learn how to ride, hippie...On Saturday night I joined in on one of the Midnight Ridazz rides, a monthly, loosely led group ride around L.A. that starts late and ends early in the AM.<br /><br />Long story short, we hit a very steep section of downhill coming off of the Universal Studios theme park. There are stop signs and an intersection with a signal at the bottom. I've hit 48mph before on this downhill, passing cars on the way down, knuckles: white.<br /><br />So bad idea to route 100+ riders down this hill late at night. Some drunk, some on brakeless fixies, some newbies not used to steep hills. As I'm approaching the stop sign and slowing my beach cruiser via coaster brake, another rider flies by my left side out of control, clips my bars and SPLAT - down I go in the street. He keeps going. Another rider passes and offers me "Way to go dude". Nice. Another fixie rider loses control next to me and bails in to the median at speed, slamming his torso into a palm tree trunk with a thud. I thought he was dead. Other riders were screaming "MOVE!" in terror because they couldn't control their bikes. I got up, got back on the bike and rode to the regroup spot across the street, then on home to pour peroxide on my leg. I'll be off the bike for a few more days. Thanks bro.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEGJBIc13eti3Fh08qrwAgkcTEUXoBt79jT9UMM6dGngxSGeYKfRIcnBYptTC7qhkhvHjNOerf_SpPKXPhJZ6_T4mVBbGd3CMgTB-Qod8YKHxcITF0aHTckCyqpt2MdRgZnWy/s1600-h/ow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEGJBIc13eti3Fh08qrwAgkcTEUXoBt79jT9UMM6dGngxSGeYKfRIcnBYptTC7qhkhvHjNOerf_SpPKXPhJZ6_T4mVBbGd3CMgTB-Qod8YKHxcITF0aHTckCyqpt2MdRgZnWy/s320/ow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5070249278979056210" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-54241601329670191272007-04-15T23:59:00.000-07:002007-04-19T22:54:33.086-07:00Team Mandem vs. the Sea OtterJust got back in to L.A. after another crazy weekend at Laguna Seca for the <a href="http://www.seaotterclassic.com/">Sea Otter Classic</a>, or as it's now known to me and my therapist: "The weekend Jeff gets busted for public indecency".<p> As of last Thursday I was planning on racing my 29er singlespeed in the Sport SS class. Those plans got ass-ended when my friend Al suggested we race his tandem in the tandem mountain bike race. Our IM exchange went something like this:<p>Al: Me and you on a tandem. <br />Jeff: serious? <br />Al: Not a 100% bad idea. <br />Al: More like a 82% bad idea. <br />Jeff: train. <br />Jeff: wreck. <br />Jeff: who rides rear? <br />Al: Hint: Not me. <br />Al: The bike is ride-worthy.... never been offroad.<p> Funny thought, just one problem - I've never ridden a tandem before, much less nutted up to <span style="font-style:italic;">race</span> one. Once the laughter settled down we both realized we were actually considering it. How bad could it be? (bad). We had the right gear - Al's 90s-era Univega steel tandem with V-brakes, a rigid fork and tires that nobody was really sure how old they were.<p>I jetted over to Al's the night before I left town to try the tandem out. He had tuned it up as much as possible and thrown on some 31" wide titanium downhill/moto handlebars for stability. He would take Captain (front) and I, stoker (rear). I swung a leg over, clipped in and we took off. I was instantly out of my element. The bike leaned right and I instinctively turned the bars right to compensate, but the stoker handlebars don't move. So I fought the goddamn thing the entire ride around the block while Al tried to work on key words like "coast!", "bump!" and "dude what the fuck are you doing back there? Sit still!". Oh yeah, this was a good idea. We can't make it around the block but we're signing up to race 19 miles in the mountains. Good call guys. I loaded the Univega into my car and there was no turning back.<p>On Friday we met up at the Sea Otter venue for the pre-ride. It was a beautiful sunny day and the shiny red paint on the tandem invited us to give her a whirl. Here we are, me giving my Captain a nice warm-up shoulder rub. Nothing wrong with that amongst friends.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCR4AF6J47gj2mjgsEIssWMI9sIcnvBGauHgMTh5DGawd1Ss2mpaH_RvC3vYitx9FbciuoCX9g6MOiVgd2WnfgCaWv4ArSSaS6VJXWoofRLKFdzKKxD0BEsqjMUtOtmMtAJT/s1600-h/pre_mandem.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYCR4AF6J47gj2mjgsEIssWMI9sIcnvBGauHgMTh5DGawd1Ss2mpaH_RvC3vYitx9FbciuoCX9g6MOiVgd2WnfgCaWv4ArSSaS6VJXWoofRLKFdzKKxD0BEsqjMUtOtmMtAJT/s320/pre_mandem.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054237928636124642" /></a><p>We made it about 2 miles or so into the ride and flatted the rear tire, stopping to inspect it in a patch of poison oak. Good times. We found that the tube had rotated and sliced the stem wide open. Swapped tubes and we were back on the singletrack to try and make sense of the senseless. After much bitching, "WTF'ing" and making constructive criticism, we arrived back at the venue in one piece. One big, tired, laughing-yet-cranky piece.<p> My alarm went off at 5:30am on Saturday morning. Race day! I opened the hotel room door to a black morning and drizzling rain. Cool. Now we'll add rain and mud to this mess. I got dressed in my <a href="http://www.evilcycling.com">special race-day kit</a> (thanks Dave) and was out the door by 6am. The weather actually started to clear and the rain stopped. We were both sporting "big girl" sized pantyhose to keep warm. Another classy touch to this head-scratcher of an idea. The race started at 7:30am and at 7:25 we were in the men's room, me bitching at Al to pull his goddamn pants up and get on the goddamn bike. We raced to the starting line as the announcer counted down the tandem start. We forced our way through a barrier just in time to join the pack of 11 other teams on tandems, including <a href="http://www.velobella.org/index.htm">Team Velo Bella</a> and Curtis Inglis on his handmade <a href="http://ingliscycles.com/bikes/tag.php?tid=6">Retrotec cruiser-tandem</a> with 29" wheels and a 14 speed Rohloff rear hub. The beginner singlespeed class was lined up right behind us. I looked around to sum up our competition: People had shocks. People had matching kit. People had done this before. People.... "<span style="font-weight:bold;">GO!</span>" Jesus!<p> We sprinted around the Laguna Seca race track, taking it easy yet not getting dropped completely. Team Retrotec was gone off the front. Them boys can <span style="font-style:italic;">mash</span>. We veered off the race track to hit the dirt. But the dirt never came. Instead the course had been mis-marked and all of the racers were routed to a road race course. So all that pent-up energy and adrenaline was now shot, as nobody knew which way to go. Fuck. The singlespeed class had now caught us and it was one big clusterfuck of confusion and frustration. We finally located the singletrack and it was Race On after bypassing much of the dirt start. Whatever. We settled in to our pace and started climbing with the singlespeeders. We held our own on the climbs and cleaned all but one steep uphill. I had learned that the best way to deal with sketchy, rutted, sandy downhills was not to deal with them. I simply looked at the back of Al's jersey and hoped for the best as his arms tugged the bars violently back and forth trying to keep the Univega upright. "Relax, bitch!" "I am relaxed, bitch!". Good stuff.<p> A few of the highlights were; passing another tandem on a singletrack climb ("on your left!"), dumping the bike into the brush after a sandy derailment and mashing the big ring to god knows how many MPH's on the smooth downhills. "Tandem up!". We started passing youngsters racing the junior class on the climbs and I'd offer a friendly "Pedal, pussies!" as we went by. The looks on their faces? Priceless.<p>Action shot<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dW8CnCWiPmKh0OxVBClzNQOmhokyco0IaR6jF4mcufCKIT48TX3zuMjq2h2stpYacp1pkGt3UiYkrC3iTPU5NqqgviDDUaTcftSH7ixGO2wyFYF_k_NoFSKVVvmDvhP9aP88/s1600-h/mandem_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dW8CnCWiPmKh0OxVBClzNQOmhokyco0IaR6jF4mcufCKIT48TX3zuMjq2h2stpYacp1pkGt3UiYkrC3iTPU5NqqgviDDUaTcftSH7ixGO2wyFYF_k_NoFSKVVvmDvhP9aP88/s320/mandem_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054245638102420978" /></a><p>We were getting lots of props from fellow racers and spectators alike. We had actually fooled people into thinking that we knew what we were doing. All we wanted wanted to do was finish, and not DFL (dead f'ing last). Between us and a respectable finish was a father/son team that must have had a nice big bowl of EPO for breakfast. "Dad" was setting a climbing pace that was crushing us. I'd yell at Al to pedal and he'd reply with "it's all I got". I was max'd as well. Humiliating thoughts of finishing behind a 9 year old clouded my concentration. It couldn't happen! We continued the good fight mile after mile and finally passed Mr. Mom and junior, putting a pretty good gap on them. Losers! HA! My self-esteem soared. Stupid 9 year olds...We gave them a nice parting shot of Team Mandem. Eat my hot pants, junior!<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxAHuE6EtrBdHBOdlSEaBLJoIgMyO4vmF2YSMoCovNcLF4R2aH3SmtjUYAgIgTDeD6Ruc-SXrS2KikHuu7EePW9iUUSyuhZCtDe3Khv0ZbEiUb1n1M6_RkVsCTjCuMlLA3zAY/s1600-h/mandem_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxAHuE6EtrBdHBOdlSEaBLJoIgMyO4vmF2YSMoCovNcLF4R2aH3SmtjUYAgIgTDeD6Ruc-SXrS2KikHuu7EePW9iUUSyuhZCtDe3Khv0ZbEiUb1n1M6_RkVsCTjCuMlLA3zAY/s320/mandem_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054248425536196114" /></a><p>We bounced our way down to the finish line in a bristling 1:51. Good enough for 6th place out of 12. Not bad for total noobs! Prizes were awarded for Top 5, so we were one spot out of the podium. If we would have made the podium I would have cried like a baby. There's always next year... Shortly after we finished racing the skies absolutely opened up into an insane downpour and the wind gusted with wild force, blowing the rain sideways and taking booths and banners with it. Our pride was once again reduced a notch as we huddled in the shelter of a vendors trailer, wet and shivering in our pantyhose.<p>Hand check!<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CE62Jf5lGbHRyFSVMKHwP7tPxOo2LLbgPHsO9bnP13oVTnSQSsBU94UVugyfi5tQjoGZXrNrIDnn6ZQVrVux2oVnhIth68ZCfxMO02c2iq-KRSanP6J6ZTAiuHHbwJ5FZbqu/s1600-h/mandem_5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4CE62Jf5lGbHRyFSVMKHwP7tPxOo2LLbgPHsO9bnP13oVTnSQSsBU94UVugyfi5tQjoGZXrNrIDnn6ZQVrVux2oVnhIth68ZCfxMO02c2iq-KRSanP6J6ZTAiuHHbwJ5FZbqu/s320/mandem_5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054249323184360994" /></a><p>Southbound and down, just me and my Mandem...<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7crKx2Jt2wKzpsTFIl9rGeche355K02GMDCrlu9zyeOUGVd-xokerbDP8ZNPsxXFoCrT-yiAG2T9xwWSa_jSckTVMWAU6WHwETydME4s3ZF55kcyqXgc4NnaEn615WR39QzW/s1600-h/road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7crKx2Jt2wKzpsTFIl9rGeche355K02GMDCrlu9zyeOUGVd-xokerbDP8ZNPsxXFoCrT-yiAG2T9xwWSa_jSckTVMWAU6WHwETydME4s3ZF55kcyqXgc4NnaEn615WR39QzW/s320/road.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5054651213540898018" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-23020864579228948352007-04-08T22:19:00.000-07:002007-04-16T22:13:02.954-07:00Table 18A truly underground hot spot is hard to come by in L.A. Once your Parises and your Dicaprioses start showing up, it's all over. Every wannabe trendster in town *has* to be there too.< /hotspot ><p> Enter Table 18. A dining spot so secluded there is no address, no sign out front, no phone listing. They serve excellent Thai food and plenty of beer. The crowd is lively and varied, from attorneys to the semi-homeless and coincidentally almost all patrons are cyclists. Conversation topics range from the mystery of the derailleur to the mystery of the vagina. Table 18 turns away no one. Basically if you can find Table 18 you are welcome to its bounty.<p>Here's a spy shot of Table 18. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmBGrBlLZXgkM7eGuhiqvNsaYtyRBz4h7pLmOwEKVmIE-LWV-APMUkTpnHJ-i2ZhjzWtTwJLQe95p_i_ccLWI2Mrcc1iYuSYF0DRu5UMzCPUK0GGV4o_6V9zVzRumdL-C9Rb/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhmBGrBlLZXgkM7eGuhiqvNsaYtyRBz4h7pLmOwEKVmIE-LWV-APMUkTpnHJ-i2ZhjzWtTwJLQe95p_i_ccLWI2Mrcc1iYuSYF0DRu5UMzCPUK0GGV4o_6V9zVzRumdL-C9Rb/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051300639304392322" /></a><p>Beer from Avery Brewing and a flaming Sapporo can full of torch fuel are just a few of the sights at Table 18.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuycgtIZduxtZz8serSX_k5ozc4hhFTSfdAxxGTFmNteNUFl0HDMJeIoP2FTQnJPTMF3iZnxWph7M3v1Jsey9jry1zg9FAPSGmS6fkNAsimMwBQZbOAuL1buJNCdnNB6HqqG52/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuycgtIZduxtZz8serSX_k5ozc4hhFTSfdAxxGTFmNteNUFl0HDMJeIoP2FTQnJPTMF3iZnxWph7M3v1Jsey9jry1zg9FAPSGmS6fkNAsimMwBQZbOAuL1buJNCdnNB6HqqG52/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051301640031772306" /></a><p> At Table 18, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tNFS41ezTrc8ItDWWZGl3PnfSnMlQc8Gfcefpjutz1FOIIspQXNiCilGJWtscoi-Qz56bM3InRTWAgy0PpeKM2T_dt4PBnIm0fr5HlcOmO8tQZxzPVc7OvgThd5Wv7St6O4N/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tNFS41ezTrc8ItDWWZGl3PnfSnMlQc8Gfcefpjutz1FOIIspQXNiCilGJWtscoi-Qz56bM3InRTWAgy0PpeKM2T_dt4PBnIm0fr5HlcOmO8tQZxzPVc7OvgThd5Wv7St6O4N/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051302009398959778" /></a><p>The history behind Table 18 is that the food actually comes from a neighboring upscale Thai restaurant called Talesai. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ_ef-03qFj5zz_UNMhEHxh58ow8_9N3j4DT6BGR_uCQBqiQ795Hip2zrM0Zfz3Da6LLpU6xhdo9d7NLpfa5SegSzCfVwOJP8tC-AaUagZ-BhThPpvj9ZlrNoikfchgwuCmyg/s1600-h/t.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ_ef-03qFj5zz_UNMhEHxh58ow8_9N3j4DT6BGR_uCQBqiQ795Hip2zrM0Zfz3Da6LLpU6xhdo9d7NLpfa5SegSzCfVwOJP8tC-AaUagZ-BhThPpvj9ZlrNoikfchgwuCmyg/s320/t.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051307687345725106" /></a> <p> The owner of the restaurant and his staff have fondly come to recognize the PVC table behind the bike shop as an extension of their own table layout. Requesting delivery to Table 18 gets wait staff delivering food and utensils to you via the back door. So while Mr. fancy-pants is having his Beemer valet parked out front to impress his latest Match.com date, we're having the exact same dishes brought to us while we crack open fine Belgians, microbrews and other tasty Ales from the the primo <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bb5xEh7UAbSFiWGzbGTDBQ">Vendome Liquors</a> down the street and talk about bikes and laugh as loud as we please without annoyed looks from our fellow diners. Dessert? Yes please! Someone grab the menu and call it in...<p>See you there?HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-23142366683869522132007-03-04T00:05:00.000-08:002007-05-17T22:28:45.036-07:00NAHBS '07...just back in from San Jose for the annual <a href="http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/">North American Handmade Bicycle Show</a>. Aosty and I headed north on Friday morning for the weekend, lying to each other the whole way up that we had enough bikes in our stable and committing to any custom builds at this point was unnecessary. Yeah. Right.<p> We arrived at the smallish venue and had a look around. At a normal walking pace you could cover the show in about an hour. At "Holyshitlookatthis!" pace it was gonna take slightly longer...<p>Back at the luxe Clarion Motor Inn the Island Room bar was gearing up for a show by the MutherFluxers; a 4 piece band made up of original buildaz Ross Shafer (Salsa), Paul Sadoff (Rock Lobster), Brian Baylis (Masi, etc.) and David Garouette of DKG. They tore through cover after cover, nailing Hendrix and rocking the mostly bike industry crowd out of their Crocs. I got hit on by a local San Jose cougar, which was flattering. But I'd rather turn the other direction and chat with Chris King or Craig Calfee. Sorry hon.<p>MutherFluxers: David, Ross, Brian, Paul<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnG7XCpuZb6K-3NTkV5ijMb-Js60sFoTqGJSrMo4Jyt27RrNnB2zNjNr7_1_c52oGM4zk5Q0BU_HOTc6hiy3Q1eeIptHQw74jl8nnyhQx8Lbs2FsHhQWQC7SmsLETlyafFOET/s1600-h/theband.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnG7XCpuZb6K-3NTkV5ijMb-Js60sFoTqGJSrMo4Jyt27RrNnB2zNjNr7_1_c52oGM4zk5Q0BU_HOTc6hiy3Q1eeIptHQw74jl8nnyhQx8Lbs2FsHhQWQC7SmsLETlyafFOET/s320/theband.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065018013107495378" /></a><p>Curtis Inglis of <a href="http://www.ingliscycles.com/">RetroTec/Inglis</a>, gettin' his crunk on (I didn't have the heart to tell him he had a squirrel on his chin).<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-o1w3EsfuYfbMvGJwM5hycfPh0vpaZicWvfWho8fyFTwLTnRrD6LEGyeHDxiM4_7CddvIKejUOwaBKJAFU45PRln0v8AKFw61m3goUJoHE-CRuTBENNFCe0CrDWvt5jhCWg3/s1600-h/curtis.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-o1w3EsfuYfbMvGJwM5hycfPh0vpaZicWvfWho8fyFTwLTnRrD6LEGyeHDxiM4_7CddvIKejUOwaBKJAFU45PRln0v8AKFw61m3goUJoHE-CRuTBENNFCe0CrDWvt5jhCWg3/s320/curtis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065021376066888162" /></a><p>Team <a href="http://www.willitsbikes.com/Willits.html">Willits</a><br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPapPdiO9CjtaKu_6XDUM_3C3zwl649KE7j3tzIU1QM5uOfNkfRmp8YB2HDUx0kz8UcPUj7RUI5DAR3fjNyRopkqZw7PPxlWqxpKl57FNXJHEn1vOKswBaUAVjH-KAyNzwFnz/s1600-h/willits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPapPdiO9CjtaKu_6XDUM_3C3zwl649KE7j3tzIU1QM5uOfNkfRmp8YB2HDUx0kz8UcPUj7RUI5DAR3fjNyRopkqZw7PPxlWqxpKl57FNXJHEn1vOKswBaUAVjH-KAyNzwFnz/s320/willits.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065044238177804802" /></a><p>Fortunately my hotel room was about 20 paces from the bar, and then 20 paces back to the hotel restaurant the next morning. Most of the industry folk were staying there too so breakfast included dining with most of bike's finest. I fantasized that I could stand up, clink my knife on my glass and declare "Excuse me - can I have your attention....I need to build a bicycle from scratch and I need some help. You in the corner - Chris King, you're in for hubs and a headset? Cool. Yo, FSA guy - carbon cranks? Sweet. Bruce Gordon; put the bacon down and build me some custom racks. Wes Williams; some bent ti would be nice." And so on...<p>meanwhile back at the show...<p>Sasha White of <a href="http://www.vanillabicycles.com/">Vanilla Cycles</a> poseurs with his new SpeedVagen cyclocross bike. A forthcoming run of 30 frames is in the works to be cranked out before 'cross season '07 is upon us. Snatch one up and you can heckle the suckers waiting 4 years for their Vanilla.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH08108UKanDTfNNc8sdSc4NSVJktsTFPvK34FgDV0rLeEKeTX1xFWYVxpGgnn8Qq8U6eDLjXcRwXj1AXsRyHc2qJEYp0wwpDbw2VxecwFcR9hplOKCnvOxUrKROQqSYKz547/s1600-h/vanilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH08108UKanDTfNNc8sdSc4NSVJktsTFPvK34FgDV0rLeEKeTX1xFWYVxpGgnn8Qq8U6eDLjXcRwXj1AXsRyHc2qJEYp0wwpDbw2VxecwFcR9hplOKCnvOxUrKROQqSYKz547/s320/vanilla.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065392250787865106" /></a><p><a href="http://www.moyercycles.com/splash2.htm">Whitney Moyer</a> of Austin, TX is building some crazy-clean frames for a youngster.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjrhvt25BN6OrAxcnUWv5SC9qOoqd19xUWxh5JL-5ZXsCFlT8eXmuycRFNonHvbHEE3GXTF5H1_8gEetug4MM94wv3aT2vSygmz5tnXuS3okPPcWpzR8dV4NTVCPyvW1KRDi/s1600-h/moyer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJjrhvt25BN6OrAxcnUWv5SC9qOoqd19xUWxh5JL-5ZXsCFlT8eXmuycRFNonHvbHEE3GXTF5H1_8gEetug4MM94wv3aT2vSygmz5tnXuS3okPPcWpzR8dV4NTVCPyvW1KRDi/s320/moyer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065393139846095394" /></a><p>Nice detail work by <a href="http://www.engincycles.com/open_frame.html">Engin Cycles</a> in Philly.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovw7yZMJ7597pv8No1-hLam5qF6unfviJ-0iJcOVkRldyE2x3_K10TGjuZnZBb1jUI0htLJ1OiNMJReQVy-CWuwt5HPraliFcjApPBHiR60KEpselUg-sCUML4G1vEbM8T91v/s1600-h/engin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovw7yZMJ7597pv8No1-hLam5qF6unfviJ-0iJcOVkRldyE2x3_K10TGjuZnZBb1jUI0htLJ1OiNMJReQVy-CWuwt5HPraliFcjApPBHiR60KEpselUg-sCUML4G1vEbM8T91v/s320/engin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065394905077654066" /></a><p>Disc-roadie by <a href="http://www.peacockgroove.com/slideshow/slideshow.html">Peacock Groove</a>.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq77Y2GvtsjJJBoGRONZbw_2ZavMiphqYWzhbbl04rBgAmHjZTVEaVgvfaTAuXpFWMEkwINdKkJmoOE8H2n1tJS8RjPMiaVjHk60Pt5v1nkgDOrSdtLyeq588d9oLaCyepTLKi/s1600-h/disc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq77Y2GvtsjJJBoGRONZbw_2ZavMiphqYWzhbbl04rBgAmHjZTVEaVgvfaTAuXpFWMEkwINdKkJmoOE8H2n1tJS8RjPMiaVjHk60Pt5v1nkgDOrSdtLyeq588d9oLaCyepTLKi/s320/disc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065768180685349442" /></a><p>...as you can imagine there were lots of cool bikes to stroke lovingly and want to take home to momma. Landshark, Willits, Pereira, Rock Lobster, Sachs, Sycip...the list goes on. Alas Aosty and I came back to L.A. brochure-rich and new frame poor, with 5 hours worth of "if you could only pick one bike..." conversation on the drive home. Check back from time to time to see if anything materializes.... :)HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-25788122688918580312007-02-25T20:45:00.000-08:002007-02-25T21:45:22.963-08:002007 Tour of CaliforniaToday was Stage 7, the final stage of the week-long <a href="http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/">Tour of California</a> race. We got to Long Beach early to check out the teams prepping to race, and more importantly - find the hospitality tents. If the pro racers can be pampered with free food and comfy chairs, then so can I dammit.<p> We hung out at the Discovery Channel team bus for a while, catching glimpses of Tour leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Leipheimer">Levi Leipheimer</a> and new team mate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Basso">Ivan Basso</a>. For kicks I held my camera high over the crowd and shouted "Lance!! Lance, over here!!!!", causing a minor ripple of panic and chaos in the crowd. Unfortunately there was no Lance to be seen. My bad.<p> Ivan gets directions to the Porta-Potty.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s5d_Ol9CXaDLt-CJw-SYuNOh5Iy43Kx6UqiFRIKm9jtCY9mjG6KrcJRnXAz_jyQzApa6p4NAV3wtaek-dFuURfDoRkVJiI8b46VenSvUrrYGARKDunK5Aqt3XnbJk9O6b0tx/s1600-h/basso.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8s5d_Ol9CXaDLt-CJw-SYuNOh5Iy43Kx6UqiFRIKm9jtCY9mjG6KrcJRnXAz_jyQzApa6p4NAV3wtaek-dFuURfDoRkVJiI8b46VenSvUrrYGARKDunK5Aqt3XnbJk9O6b0tx/s320/basso.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035705505352447538" /></a><p>Levi meets the Media.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc81rPO82GI1kMtf7c52UYG3-ZHLGC4giLeUAaLZxmvkeIcLh49PVfggSiaw2-lFtJ61XE2n0ss0K75QluQxy4orUCZzhYUry5tvjZa-jeQz9_g_O4hk2b4SHOmdplqn0t0vN/s1600-h/levi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc81rPO82GI1kMtf7c52UYG3-ZHLGC4giLeUAaLZxmvkeIcLh49PVfggSiaw2-lFtJ61XE2n0ss0K75QluQxy4orUCZzhYUry5tvjZa-jeQz9_g_O4hk2b4SHOmdplqn0t0vN/s320/levi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035705793115256386" /></a><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Bettini">Paolo "The Cricket" Bettini</a> seconds away from starting the race, in his current World Champion jersey.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ6-JY27Rj8Rz3Bjq6I0yRPrYjh26swnen9n34_3GuGOJjHVxfiwccEHTJHsJvSIuBo6MoROczlgHfArxjWJSXyRICMRZ1eVBQVQTNMa1ppBwGVB-KD00wg7OG1fNVT8UH3pX/s1600-h/bettini.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQ6-JY27Rj8Rz3Bjq6I0yRPrYjh26swnen9n34_3GuGOJjHVxfiwccEHTJHsJvSIuBo6MoROczlgHfArxjWJSXyRICMRZ1eVBQVQTNMa1ppBwGVB-KD00wg7OG1fNVT8UH3pX/s320/bettini.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035706746597996114" /></a><p>An impressive crowd turned up to watch<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB3a9lW0nMVq9o1FHzoF3xzOQ6VSfoMmB7ZHjyncBAMyPaLOOXBUd8oT9Iff9j7XKQIn7FVkVqMkmkPXk7FhMMlAiMIgF8WGG0Sd5pSM9g7MIddgnxAQdG-EOePxXa6aMvODD/s1600-h/crowd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB3a9lW0nMVq9o1FHzoF3xzOQ6VSfoMmB7ZHjyncBAMyPaLOOXBUd8oT9Iff9j7XKQIn7FVkVqMkmkPXk7FhMMlAiMIgF8WGG0Sd5pSM9g7MIddgnxAQdG-EOePxXa6aMvODD/s320/crowd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035711445292217986" /></a><p>Team Discovery leads the peloton with 8 laps to go (Levi in 6th spot).<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eBKuhyphenhyphenKf5I_-M7jdkOdqJrR_i9543Fo-sbL5madIifvmrx0A6tDXX3ZLGAtRa828-ts_3EL66cWVjDiqZWxfuXAcCJJrpYlWmNJVDoJ-PlQOekEUFiqd27NzPl2r0_Z0BgqP/s1600-h/disc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eBKuhyphenhyphenKf5I_-M7jdkOdqJrR_i9543Fo-sbL5madIifvmrx0A6tDXX3ZLGAtRa828-ts_3EL66cWVjDiqZWxfuXAcCJJrpYlWmNJVDoJ-PlQOekEUFiqd27NzPl2r0_Z0BgqP/s320/disc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035710594888693346" /></a><p>Close to the racing action-<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdIRZJaLLF216q3ANFfKA3taWY4CLb1YuIJts2B_keBLPGwZXLVlF5RcKvf-lGW1OSddIybBgbSlYy3223-jVfyfhN1SLgapiYFfaDL09Dp1Vi12Vv2KM1TVEeJhoYQpZ73Ya/s1600-h/blur.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdIRZJaLLF216q3ANFfKA3taWY4CLb1YuIJts2B_keBLPGwZXLVlF5RcKvf-lGW1OSddIybBgbSlYy3223-jVfyfhN1SLgapiYFfaDL09Dp1Vi12Vv2KM1TVEeJhoYQpZ73Ya/s320/blur.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035710882651502194" /></a><p>Levi hangs in as the race leader and takes the yellow jersey for Team Discovery Channel.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaFmv1R2SX9npQw8hZjneDb_P8yjt8KrId1EA89n8fvAL0ABOD_F7aTP4yb84rNynEY-vLT-ryaP869Zc6WbDht1OAF6jh5rzYf5EHB18ztNVyRs_l6ZI6F8mXqa4e5hhOVXQ/s1600-h/levi2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaFmv1R2SX9npQw8hZjneDb_P8yjt8KrId1EA89n8fvAL0ABOD_F7aTP4yb84rNynEY-vLT-ryaP869Zc6WbDht1OAF6jh5rzYf5EHB18ztNVyRs_l6ZI6F8mXqa4e5hhOVXQ/s320/levi2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035712454609532562" /></a><p>I also ran into my old friend Floyd Landis. I realized that during this picture he tried to take my wallet. Either that or he was just feeling my ass, I'm not totally sure. Other than that, he's still a cool guy.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQdTePtSz5zX9lMH3n8vl4xZ93uQIUlLN9ICgc-8tKyelTn-VQZeI5KXQSVPwJaM4CsQVl5cVDvvgu2NEiNAhaghMhOwAYaLQRyaKgIRvuYzZjVLxP34OEO6y5shmpgBT2CBg/s1600-h/JT_FL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQdTePtSz5zX9lMH3n8vl4xZ93uQIUlLN9ICgc-8tKyelTn-VQZeI5KXQSVPwJaM4CsQVl5cVDvvgu2NEiNAhaghMhOwAYaLQRyaKgIRvuYzZjVLxP34OEO6y5shmpgBT2CBg/s320/JT_FL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035713609955735202" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-75814304134496007342007-01-31T20:09:00.000-08:002007-02-05T22:08:16.307-08:00KCRW winter pledge driveI knew that the inevitable was coming...local public radio station <a href="http://www.kcrw.com">KCRW 89.9 FM</a> was about to run their 10 day long pledge drive. Where the usual cool music programs are interrupted 24/7 to ask for your support, aka $$$. I am an annual subscriber but still find it hard to listen to DJ after DJ asking for more and more money. It is public radio after all and I understand the financial demands of the station, but sometimes ya just want to hear a song dammit.<p> This year I decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So when KCRW put out a request for phone volunteers, I happily signed up. After all, this is the station that hosts <a href="http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb">Morning Becomes Eclectic</a> - a daily 3 hour program of hand-picked, commercial free music. It's also the program where I first heard artists such as Keane, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Damien Rice, Zero 7/Sia, Gomez and many more, way before these artists had any commercial success. I've also been lucky enough to win tickets to concerts of some of the mentioned artists. So spending 3 hours on a weekday taking people's money on behalf of KCRW while chatting about music seemed like an ok way to spend a morning. I arrived at the station, which is housed in the basement of an unmarked building on the campus of Santa Monica City College, a JC about 2 miles from the beach. I signed up, slapped on a name badge and manned my station. My first call of the morning turned out to be an "Angel". That's KCRW-speak for a subscriber who pledges $1 a day, or $365 at once. Nice way to kick off the day!<p> Many "premiums" are given away when you pledge, for example dinner for two at a cool restaurant for a pledge of $100, or a spa day or concert tickets. Some of the restaurants were on-site cooking for the volunteer staff. This was not stale bagels and bad coffee my friend...more like some of the better restaurants in L.A. providing platter after platter of great foods and even fresh stirfry by local chefs for lunch.<p> I highly recommend giving Nic a listen from 9-12 PST on weekdays. You'll discover some great new music and who knows - maybe even call in and become a member one day :) If you can't listen in live, check out the Archives on the website. TONS of cool shows from artists recorded live in their studios, some available in video form too. They have also produced their own line of CDs, also from live shows and have several artist's recordings available on iTunes, just search "kcrw".<p>Host Nic Harcourt at work<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0e1uhJBZIvd9-kAuTE6WBWdsVI_oPlZD0UDbrSKSRbEGPpT_IYme-Kx8IvQhEQC52EzyTbVxHYyAMRKTDy9MxNj-5Rkm8b4UgdhzeLV9sUScPsI6g82cG4nxFJIP3EvS3xjj/s1600-h/nh1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0e1uhJBZIvd9-kAuTE6WBWdsVI_oPlZD0UDbrSKSRbEGPpT_IYme-Kx8IvQhEQC52EzyTbVxHYyAMRKTDy9MxNj-5Rkm8b4UgdhzeLV9sUScPsI6g82cG4nxFJIP3EvS3xjj/s320/nh1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028297739954899490" /></a>HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11655491.post-60893550122975119352007-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:002007-02-06T23:04:57.674-08:002007 UCI Track World CupLast night myself and two of my cycling buddies headed south to the <a href="http://www.lavelodrome.org/index.htm">velodrome</a> at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA for the World Cup track races. This is a beautiful indoor 250m velodrome with a wooden track that reportedly cost $15-20 mil. to construct. The banked turns are 40 degrees and would be impossible to walk up or down without sliding.<p> Racers from all over the world were in town to compete in different disciplines of track racing. Our program began at 7:00pm and included Sprints, Time Trials, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keirin">Keirin</a>, Pursuit and a 20km women's points race. That's 80 laps! We moved around to various vantage points throughout the racing and there's really not a bad seat in the house. I ran into a few people I've only been acquainted with on a cycling forum <a href="http://forums.roadbikereview.com">Roadbikereview.com</a>, so it was nice to put a face to a screen name. The racing was always exciting and the sprint finishes with a rider winning by a nose had everyone out of their seats. Its refreshing to see a turnout like this for cycling in a city known for its (in)famous ball-sports heroes.<p><br />Racers come out of the turn and head for the finish line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bIQ9DPmPpPthWpo1Ob851xKJxPwIOPA4N0xVe0k8P2qwVBtwBt-AnaoY7167-wXWuekLzJJDo-EqGszWEXIN_LeovJuCZuJv1cbhoE7uIJQhiU3qcEhz6ikDm7haS5TJ-sb1/s1600-h/1961.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bIQ9DPmPpPthWpo1Ob851xKJxPwIOPA4N0xVe0k8P2qwVBtwBt-AnaoY7167-wXWuekLzJJDo-EqGszWEXIN_LeovJuCZuJv1cbhoE7uIJQhiU3qcEhz6ikDm7haS5TJ-sb1/s320/1961.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025719410723669602" /></a><p><br /><br />American racer Sarah Hammer sweeps the women's endurance races, taking 1st in three contests.<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVw3AhG8pxBMSAlWY_1zQFNVhB8RGjEEFeSv5bAZQvnicDcwEQrGvjmJcdiHlMjLKJ1LB5ZyFyLwkIey6bOS4NNCvyW8aMXQeiIWz975p_LwNdo0TgtcFLzQ4KVqdCmbLfHJo/s1600-h/1919.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVw3AhG8pxBMSAlWY_1zQFNVhB8RGjEEFeSv5bAZQvnicDcwEQrGvjmJcdiHlMjLKJ1LB5ZyFyLwkIey6bOS4NNCvyW8aMXQeiIWz975p_LwNdo0TgtcFLzQ4KVqdCmbLfHJo/s320/1919.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028679416518625842" /></a><p><br />More racing action<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVwNOvH9vEqGIvhPNvnabnTmwkWe9PFX3_SrdF2dfK2LK7Vw3svQNTANiQx5DfiHnKMP2xUgFpoNEiWgh5F_3a7-zevg7v1on9omsneoVOdoBTMWvN3siMFGzMn-8pGT5ul8Q/s1600-h/2112.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVwNOvH9vEqGIvhPNvnabnTmwkWe9PFX3_SrdF2dfK2LK7Vw3svQNTANiQx5DfiHnKMP2xUgFpoNEiWgh5F_3a7-zevg7v1on9omsneoVOdoBTMWvN3siMFGzMn-8pGT5ul8Q/s320/2112.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028679914734832194" /></a><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2bRRKXwrporq40ZuRxTA6cONcAxf1Oax9KSdK0uXDc-wKftbQlIE774bOFdSelZuW_KRiPFkK9GUJHUw98TtSMJz40XP8JnBkxumHQS9h5nrB65X18q8aEgQb8MpRacJzXrD/s1600-h/1997.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2bRRKXwrporq40ZuRxTA6cONcAxf1Oax9KSdK0uXDc-wKftbQlIE774bOFdSelZuW_KRiPFkK9GUJHUw98TtSMJz40XP8JnBkxumHQS9h5nrB65X18q8aEgQb8MpRacJzXrD/s320/1997.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028680103713393234" /></a><br>all photos courtesy of blinkylights.net<p><br />Also spotted at the races was this guy<br><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ivEk2o2D7xVg1oCTgf4nz1QF4zRJwWpa5AedPThqwf8cQryEgxQaIjgTENeIXr7ANLNy2TE-DJoH5bzSBzis5yFArwIKSJgjBKHI2iNqbqPDW01kdQsQ4-GMFoj_i9nKi-l/s1600-h/FL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ivEk2o2D7xVg1oCTgf4nz1QF4zRJwWpa5AedPThqwf8cQryEgxQaIjgTENeIXr7ANLNy2TE-DJoH5bzSBzis5yFArwIKSJgjBKHI2iNqbqPDW01kdQsQ4-GMFoj_i9nKi-l/s320/FL.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028680649174239842" /></a><br>Also known as Floyd Landis, controversial winner of the 2006 Tour de France.<p> After the races were over my friends I went looking for a late dinner. It was about 10pm and we had no idea what was nearby. We ended up finding a Chili's just a few minutes from the Velodrome. We sat and ate and joked about "Floyd walking in to Chili's". After about 3 gags, we looked up to see Floyd and posse waiting for a table. They sat down and we called our waiter over and requested that he bring a beer to someone. The waiter got into it and asked "which one is she?". He didn't quite get it when I replied "It's for a guy." I quickly explained who Floyd was and now his interest was back. So we sent him over a 20 oz. glass of Red Trolley Ale, the waiter pointed to our table and we toasted him across the restaurant. It was either a cool moment or something only a bike geek would be caught dead doing. After Floyd's group finished they all stopped by our table to say thanks for the beer and to chat for a couple minutes about the races. Doper or not, he was a pretty cool guy who still has more cycling experience in his little finger than the three of us combined.HWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10821940431603604587noreply@blogger.com0