I forgot.

So I forgot to blog about the 2nd cross race of the season back on Sept. 8th.
I sucked. There, you happy now.

No excuses.

I brazenly invited myself along on a weekly cyclocross training ride w/ some fellow racers who are much faster than myself. You know the old adage, Play w/ better players and get better yourself. Well, that may be true, but I hardly ever even SEE these guys. Man can they hurt themselves. They graciously wait for me at various points and don't brazenly mock me to my face for which I'm eternally grateful. I've never beaten them and never will. Such is my lot in life. On several of the rides, we've been joined by TR. He's about to do his 1st cross race. He's super strong, a fast descender (we're training on MTB trails riding cross bikes, always a thrill), and can match the attacks and accelerations of the others while I cannot. He's my age (44), and has decided to race Masters 35+ B. I pretend to race Masters 35+ A. If he doesn't win, I'll eat my hat....then guilt him into racing A's. Why would I encourage someone who I know is faster than me to race the same category you ask? Because that's just the kind of guy I am.....stupid.

Hey, not everything in my blog revolves around bikes o.k. Deal.

I wish I had more disposable income. I'd spend it on art. Tom Haney and Brian Dettmer are two of my favs. I've always been a fan of Amercian folk art and automata. When you see Tom's pieces, you'll understand why I love his stuff. Check out "Combo and Combo II" in the "Portfolio section.
Brain Dettmer pieces are well, brilliant.

Svaagen RULZ!

Andy, a fellow speedvageneer set up a great little blog to chronicle his love of all things speedvagen. He's agreed that it could be the home away from home for any and all things vagen (vaagen?). So if you're getting one, want one, or just want to peek in once and a while, head on over.I'll be cross posting here and there and around the square. Gotta go set up a google bomb.
Be right back.

Horner...

I like Chris Horner. He's one of the few cyclist interviewed who seems to shoot straight . He rarely sugar coats and at times makes comments I'm sure neither his sponsors, teammates or even other teams appreciate. He loves to race his bike and it shows. He gives insight into race tactics that remind everyone yet again what turd is Troutwig. Once gain, he delivers a quote that rings true....too true.

"Come on, you've made your career in cycling, and now that the sport is trying to clean itself up, you're just walking away?"
-Chris Horner on Lance Armstrong and the Tailwind Sports abandoning it's sponsor search.

While I'm not entirely convinced that everyone in the sport is trying to clean it up, the hypocrisy of LA and Tailwind sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth...like the taste of earwax. Ewwww!

The holiday decorations.

Tis the season. Cross season that is!
All these ornaments sit patiently waiting for a tree on which to hang them:
Frame/Fork (aka the tree). three quesses ;-)
Chris King Headset. What else.
Sram Force Shifters+F. & R. Der
Wipperman SS 10sp. Chain
PMP Micro Road Crankset 38/44
PMP Ti square taper BB.
Deda Zero100 stem and Deda Elementi Shallow drop bar
Selle Italia SLR saddle and Off The Front Cyclocross tape
Velox bar ends
Paul brakes and Swissstop yellow pads
Jagwire cables/Housing. inline adjusters
IRD deep drop cable hanger
Egg Beater Ti pedals

Race day Tubular Wheels (just finished-1175g/pair! yikes):
DT 240S hubs and Mavic composite quick releases
ZIPP 285 Pave rims.
Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Radial Front, 2x Rear
Shimano Ultegra 14-25 10 sp. cassette
FMB SSC Sprint 32 tubulars
Tufo tape + smidge of mastic one

Pit/Mud/Rough Course Wheels (still gotta lace these up):
King hubs and Mavic composite quick releases
Mavic Reflex rims
DT competition spokes. 3x all around.
Shimano Ultegra 14-25 10 sp. cassette
FMB SSC 32 tubulars.
Tufo tape + smidge of mastic one

Holy Crap!

beta-sway. go there. It's a very slick cycling/running/sports-in-general e-zine out of germany (but in english). Very high quality production. Homestarrunner says check it out.

Classic! the sequel.

If I tried to pull this look off, well, lets just say I could never pull it off and leave it at that. Koblet makes it look all so easy. I'd like to think it took him hours to perfect. It probably took him minutes.

"What, this old thing? I only wear this when I don't care how I look"

A tad eccentric...

I remember seeing this years ago. Just stumbled upon it once again. It's a UK thing. Easy to explain, hard to understand. While I applaud anyone riding any kind of bike for any reason, I can't help but snicker. It looks like something Victorian era Gentleman did to while away the hours between noon and high tea. That being said, I bet it's fun as hell. Of course they have a website.

Hrrmmmmmph.

The cross season started a bit early this year. A MONTH early! Three consecutive weeks of hot, dusty races to flake off the rust. Not that I mind, since I skipped the entire road season (no regrets) but I've been trying to decide whether or not to blog about the races this season. It seems I could just have a fill in the blanks these days.

"Todays race went from bad to ______. I felt like _______. Ended up ______-ith. Why do I bother.

Anyway, despite 95 degree heat, it was good to get the first race out of the way. I managed 8th out of 20 starters. not half bad considering. That pleasurable veneer was stripped the following weekend. For a racer w/ my lack of talent and training, there are always two races going on, the actual one, and the one in my head. If I've got good legs, the stars are aligned, and I've said my novenas, the two races are actually in sync. This happens about as often as it snows here. Usually, the races diverge. Just how long this takes is a good indication of how I'm feeling. This past Sunday, It happened just after lap two....out of eight. That's a loooooong time to be stuck in your own head. Especially mine. Twenty minutes of racing and 40 minutes of talking smack to myself. Looking back, the crap that pops in to dull the pain is actually pretty funny. "Does that guy know how silly his socks look?","What should I be for Halloween?", "How much lighter will I be if I throw up?". You see what I mean. To be honest, I can't really explain the motivation for doing this to myself, especially since I'm never even in contention for a pair of tires or those ugly socks. All I do know is that if I don't do it, I'm unhappy. Oddly, my wife understands. I love my wife.

Who. Are. These. People!

Stamen, a design firm in San Francisco, appears to be staffed by nothing but MacArthur fellows. I bet they are all really, really nice and attractive too. Bastards.

Exhibit A.
Exhibit B.
Still not convinced...

True dat.

Having worked in and loitered around shops for more than half my life, I might appreciate this more than most, but any bike nerd can relate. Take a few minutes and mosey on over to Bike Snob NYC. These are especially worth reading. Fixie Manual, Geared Manual, and this gem, Craigslist Bike ad. Oh, and dont' forget to read some of the comments. Almost as good as the blog.

My birthday is coming up.

I've lusted after this thing since it hit the wires about a year ago as a DIY. For those too lazy to click the link, it's the guts of a GSM cell phone hacked into a rotary dial. Think about it. Funny as hell and quite a feet. You dial it! It rings! Sweet Jesus! If you're not smiling or amazed, please leave the room. What I lack in time and soldering skills has now been lovingly packaged by SparkFun. Truth be told, I'd prefer the kit. That way I could locate an avocado version or that hideously beautiful mustard yellow.