Yeah - great job keepin' up w/ this, huh? i was kinda amazed to see that it's bene since mid-April since I wrote anything - pretty week. Lessee - what's gone down since then.......?
I've been up to my ears in the shop stuf - we've been crazy busy, which is awesome. Berger has been a force in the shop, everyone is rockin' it hard and we're having fun. The rides have been awesome and full.
JDRF stuff has been keeping me busy too - I just got back from Santa Rosa @ the 1st Ride to Cure - 'twas a big weekend! I was doin' the Head Coach thing so Berger was there to rock the Bike Room and rock it he did!
The band's been busy - 5 gigs comin' up in the next 6 weeks.
I'm riding a lot - at least 5 days a week. Legs aren't bad but I dunno if I have any real speed - haven't been to Grattan yet and I've been doin' the Sprint Ride on the tandem.
Michael Jackson is dead, Bernie Madoff is still scum and le Tour starts Saturday. I wish I was more excited about that...it's liable to be what my grandfather called a "real barnburner" but I'm so tired of all the cheating and doping and lying..............blecchh!
Still -= Bikelife is full and fine and for that I'm more grateful than I can tell you. Ride lots, be careful out there and stay in touch, okay?
MC
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Helluva Week!
Man! If there was any way I was gonna survive a week w/out my One True Love (who flew down to Mexico to visit our son) it would hafta be a week filled w/ rides and other Cool Stuff. Lucky for me - that's just egg-zac-lee the kind of week I've had! Actually this week sorta started last weekend - the band played a gig @ the Saugatuck Brewery that was a complete hoot - great crowd fulla friends and buds, we played well .........'twas pretty much perfect. Then Sunday Lin and I got out for 2 hours in the afternoon w/ good buddy CD in the warm part of the day and that was awesome. ( I do so much of my riding in the a.m. that I hardly ever hit the warm part of the day here in the Spring) I'm SO pumped that Lin is diggin' her new road bike and seems all about gettin' ready for her first JDRF Ride this summer. (As a rider anyway!) Monday 'twas her B-Day and then she left for the airport @ 4:00a.m. Tuesday. I came down to the shop after she left and f-i-n-a-l-l-y got my Seven back together and it is beautiful! 16 pounds & 2 ounces of fixed gear fury! We had a small turnout for the TNR - it was wet and cold - but we rode and it was great. Then the weather broke (about damn time!) and 'twas sunny and warm! We had a great ride Thursday morning, an even greater one Friday morning and then the 1st Sprint Ride yesterday was a blast too. Jess and I were a factor on the tandem, topped the climb up Beeline Hill w/ the group and laid down the law a bit on the return leg. Then after work I met up w/ C.P/T. for 30 miles on the White Pine (in shorts and a s/s jersey!!!!!!!) and then burritos. Now it's time to head over to Grandville for Team Ride # 2 and a Ride Committee meeting.
Somewhere in there (Thursday night, to be exact) a goodly chunk of the JDRF Team joined about 200 other folks @ Celebration Cinema in GR for the freakin' World Premiere of the movie that Tom made about our 2008 ride season. Words fail me.........it was SO well done, SO powerful amd brought forth SO many memories and feelings that I've haven't even come near to comin' down. We'll have DVD copies here @ the shop - feel free to come and get one - it's something else!
I've been too busy to miss Lin! (Too much anyway!)
Sounds like the weather's gonna turn to crap again for a few days but they're talkin' 70's for the end of next week and in 2 weeks I'll be in the desert w/ some good buds so it's hard to feel to blue about anything. The shop's been WAY busy, my staff is workin' hard and kickin' ass and I'm feeling pretty good about stuff in general.
Here I am again talkin' about how I'm gonna do a better job of keepin' up w/ this blog-thing. We'll see!
Later, MC
Somewhere in there (Thursday night, to be exact) a goodly chunk of the JDRF Team joined about 200 other folks @ Celebration Cinema in GR for the freakin' World Premiere of the movie that Tom made about our 2008 ride season. Words fail me.........it was SO well done, SO powerful amd brought forth SO many memories and feelings that I've haven't even come near to comin' down. We'll have DVD copies here @ the shop - feel free to come and get one - it's something else!
I've been too busy to miss Lin! (Too much anyway!)
Sounds like the weather's gonna turn to crap again for a few days but they're talkin' 70's for the end of next week and in 2 weeks I'll be in the desert w/ some good buds so it's hard to feel to blue about anything. The shop's been WAY busy, my staff is workin' hard and kickin' ass and I'm feeling pretty good about stuff in general.
Here I am again talkin' about how I'm gonna do a better job of keepin' up w/ this blog-thing. We'll see!
Later, MC
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
2 Races, 2 Uphill Finishes! What's Wrong w/ This Picture?
Well -pretty much everything if ya gotta know!
New stoker/victim Cathy & I did the inaugural Barry Roubaix Gravel Road Race on Saturday and the Fisk Knob Time Trial on Sunday - both hurt bad and were a ton of fun. Assuing that Rick does the Barry-Roubaix again next year you DO NOT wanna miss it - it was a hoot! 90+% gravel w/ a bit o' 2-track and a fast run ot the finish on the asphalt, 2200 feet o' climbing in 31 miles, great scenery.....perfect. The weather co-operated w/ sunshine and cool temps and we puffed, panted and sweated the new C-Dale to a 5th place finish. (Okay- outta 5 but so what?)
The next day we matched that finish exactly after flogging the big bike and our tired legs over the 17 miles of the Fisk TT course. Cold, wet and windy was rthe order of the day but we sucked it up and got 'er done.
Thanks to Berger and the boys for getting the bike re-set from dirt road warrior to TT machine on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks and congrats to all our compadres that braved the conditions on Sunday w/ grace and good cheer.
Thanks to Uber Good Sport and Full On Gamer Cathy Tahy (Priest) for comin' along for the rides!
April! Outdoor rides! No more Coach Troy! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More later - gotta go.
MC
New stoker/victim Cathy & I did the inaugural Barry Roubaix Gravel Road Race on Saturday and the Fisk Knob Time Trial on Sunday - both hurt bad and were a ton of fun. Assuing that Rick does the Barry-Roubaix again next year you DO NOT wanna miss it - it was a hoot! 90+% gravel w/ a bit o' 2-track and a fast run ot the finish on the asphalt, 2200 feet o' climbing in 31 miles, great scenery.....perfect. The weather co-operated w/ sunshine and cool temps and we puffed, panted and sweated the new C-Dale to a 5th place finish. (Okay- outta 5 but so what?)
The next day we matched that finish exactly after flogging the big bike and our tired legs over the 17 miles of the Fisk TT course. Cold, wet and windy was rthe order of the day but we sucked it up and got 'er done.
Thanks to Berger and the boys for getting the bike re-set from dirt road warrior to TT machine on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks and congrats to all our compadres that braved the conditions on Sunday w/ grace and good cheer.
Thanks to Uber Good Sport and Full On Gamer Cathy Tahy (Priest) for comin' along for the rides!
April! Outdoor rides! No more Coach Troy! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More later - gotta go.
MC
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
SCUM I TELL YA....SCUM!!!
Bernie Madoff? Scum.
Dude that ran the plant that shipped the poison peanuts? Scum.
A-holes @ AIG? Scum.
What do these jack-holes (and their all-to-numerous ilk) have in common you ask?
They think money is the shit. They let their desire for mo' money mo' money mo' money subvert the basic human decency they were (theoretically anyway) born with for the sake of the bottom line, a fancy car and a mansion w/ a heli-pad.
Scum.
They offer nothing, they take everything, in short...............they suck.
Screw them.
Let's talk about a better class of people. Let's talk about the folks @ JDRF for example. They will never be rich. They will never have a mansion w/ a heli-pad and they will damnsure never be doing the perp-walk from the courtroom to the jailhouse 'cuz they ripped a buncha folks off or killed some poor sucker to enhance the bottom line. (and their wallets)
What they will do is bust ass to make the world a better place.
What they will do is play a part in defeating Type 1 Diabetes and that means that they're gonna leave this world better than they found it.
And that, my friends, most definately does not suck!
This is a shout out,-and a long-overdue one at that - to everyone that has taken up arms to fight cancer, AIDS, hunger, homelessness or any of the plagues that bedevil this planet, be they man-made or a "gift" from the Gods.
You guys rock, w/ a capital "R".
Next time I'll talk about Bikelife, I promise.
Ride on, MC
Dude that ran the plant that shipped the poison peanuts? Scum.
A-holes @ AIG? Scum.
What do these jack-holes (and their all-to-numerous ilk) have in common you ask?
They think money is the shit. They let their desire for mo' money mo' money mo' money subvert the basic human decency they were (theoretically anyway) born with for the sake of the bottom line, a fancy car and a mansion w/ a heli-pad.
Scum.
They offer nothing, they take everything, in short...............they suck.
Screw them.
Let's talk about a better class of people. Let's talk about the folks @ JDRF for example. They will never be rich. They will never have a mansion w/ a heli-pad and they will damnsure never be doing the perp-walk from the courtroom to the jailhouse 'cuz they ripped a buncha folks off or killed some poor sucker to enhance the bottom line. (and their wallets)
What they will do is bust ass to make the world a better place.
What they will do is play a part in defeating Type 1 Diabetes and that means that they're gonna leave this world better than they found it.
And that, my friends, most definately does not suck!
This is a shout out,-and a long-overdue one at that - to everyone that has taken up arms to fight cancer, AIDS, hunger, homelessness or any of the plagues that bedevil this planet, be they man-made or a "gift" from the Gods.
You guys rock, w/ a capital "R".
Next time I'll talk about Bikelife, I promise.
Ride on, MC
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bike Life its Ownself
This crazy mashed-together & mixed up thing I call "BikeLife" gets crazier and more mixed up every day it seems like! The running joke @ meetings is that I need a cap w/ at least 3 "fronts" so I can rotate it to tell folks which "we" I mean when I say that "we" oughta do this or "we" need that. There are some meetings where that cap would spin so much that it'd wear a groove in my scalp! JDRF, VCC, MCC....they all combine and seperate like 3 rivers that join for awhile and then split off again downstream. And every once in awhile you can toss the band in there too.
Still - I don't thing I'd have it any other way!
Lots' going on, 'natch. The Ultimate Cycling Challenge was last weekend - a 24 hour indoor relay ride to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation. (Whoever he is). We had 3 teams - JDRF, a shop-employee team and a Velo City squad. I did 8 hours at differnet times throughout the event, mostly in one hour chunks. There WAS that 11pm - 3am shift.......that last hour went by s-l-o-w! ( "Dont' look at'cher watch! Don't look at'cher watch! Don't look at'cher watch! Ohhh DAMN - you looked at'cher watch!") It was cool to see a coupla hundred folks goin' nowhere fast and raising 40K for the L.A.F.
This Sunday is the Handmade Show in Indy and I can't wait! It's gonna be awesome, even if I hafta miss a ride!
Dang - the sun's out and it's supposed to hit 40 today! Could it be that Spring is actually gonna show up this year?
The JDRF stuff is keeping me busy - lots of planning for all the Rides, the Tech Support, all the Team stuff.........it's a damn good thing that I love it so much 'cuz sometimes it's kind of a pain in the ass! We have a great team again - a goodly % of my favorite folks I've met through JDRF!
The staff for the season is taking shape - just gotta fill in a few gaps and tie up a few loose ends. It' sux not havin' KP on the schedule but she'll be around and Rhonda's gonna be great.
It's hard to figure out what to expect w/ all the economic gloom and doom out there......I don't intend to take it lightly in ANY WAY but we're gonna proceed here @ VCC as if things are gonna be okay. Not great, but okay. The suns' gonna come out, the roads and trails are gonna dry out and folks will be on their bikes. And we'll be ready!
Ride on!
MC
Still - I don't thing I'd have it any other way!
Lots' going on, 'natch. The Ultimate Cycling Challenge was last weekend - a 24 hour indoor relay ride to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation. (Whoever he is). We had 3 teams - JDRF, a shop-employee team and a Velo City squad. I did 8 hours at differnet times throughout the event, mostly in one hour chunks. There WAS that 11pm - 3am shift.......that last hour went by s-l-o-w! ( "Dont' look at'cher watch! Don't look at'cher watch! Don't look at'cher watch! Ohhh DAMN - you looked at'cher watch!") It was cool to see a coupla hundred folks goin' nowhere fast and raising 40K for the L.A.F.
This Sunday is the Handmade Show in Indy and I can't wait! It's gonna be awesome, even if I hafta miss a ride!
Dang - the sun's out and it's supposed to hit 40 today! Could it be that Spring is actually gonna show up this year?
The JDRF stuff is keeping me busy - lots of planning for all the Rides, the Tech Support, all the Team stuff.........it's a damn good thing that I love it so much 'cuz sometimes it's kind of a pain in the ass! We have a great team again - a goodly % of my favorite folks I've met through JDRF!
The staff for the season is taking shape - just gotta fill in a few gaps and tie up a few loose ends. It' sux not havin' KP on the schedule but she'll be around and Rhonda's gonna be great.
It's hard to figure out what to expect w/ all the economic gloom and doom out there......I don't intend to take it lightly in ANY WAY but we're gonna proceed here @ VCC as if things are gonna be okay. Not great, but okay. The suns' gonna come out, the roads and trails are gonna dry out and folks will be on their bikes. And we'll be ready!
Ride on!
MC
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Spring was here (for a sec anyway!)
Man! Was that sweet or what!?!?!?!?!? 57 degrees and sunshine? On 2/10? I'll frickin' take it, thank yew very much! My good bud J2 hit me w/ a text @ about noon - "Ride 2:30-ish?" My first response was that I couldn't get away.......I'm kinda pretty much buried in shop stuff, JDRF stuff, wondering-who-I'm-gonna-work-with-this-year stuff, you name it. I told him to count me out but thank gawd he came by and talked me into it. I rode home, kitted up and off we went, west and south into the howlin' gale that we owed the warm temps to. Oh - did I forget to mention that we were riding about 17K of demo Seven carbon bikes that are still here from the Seven Rendezvous? I did? My bad! (I'm not the world's biggest carbon frame fan to say the least but that V11 is sweet! It had Sram Red on it as well - nice enough I reckon, if you can't have Campy!)
Damn glad I went, and I owe it all to J2! You da man, man!
Speakin' of the Seven Ron-day-voo.....it was a huge success. We had at least 45 folks there, gave away some cool tech tees and displayed over 30 Seven bikes and frames! Joe-from-Seven was way impressed w/ the turnout and the whole deal. We'll do it again sometime, you just wait and see!
The other BIG NEWS around here of course is that manana' is Ted's last day. The commute from GR has f-i-n-a-l-l-y gotten to him and he'll be @ Ada Bike Shop as of next week. A good change for him methinks and I hope it works out. We've worked together for a long time - it seems weird to contemplate him not being here.
But - shit like this is a regular part of any bike shop and has been a constant thread in my life. I'm excited about Berger takin' the reins in the workshop - he's a great wrench and I know he's excited. It'll be a drag for awhile - especially for me - but by mid-April my guess is that we'll be rockin' it harder and stronger!
Soup Ride this Sunday - big fun!
Ride on!
MC
Damn glad I went, and I owe it all to J2! You da man, man!
Speakin' of the Seven Ron-day-voo.....it was a huge success. We had at least 45 folks there, gave away some cool tech tees and displayed over 30 Seven bikes and frames! Joe-from-Seven was way impressed w/ the turnout and the whole deal. We'll do it again sometime, you just wait and see!
The other BIG NEWS around here of course is that manana' is Ted's last day. The commute from GR has f-i-n-a-l-l-y gotten to him and he'll be @ Ada Bike Shop as of next week. A good change for him methinks and I hope it works out. We've worked together for a long time - it seems weird to contemplate him not being here.
But - shit like this is a regular part of any bike shop and has been a constant thread in my life. I'm excited about Berger takin' the reins in the workshop - he's a great wrench and I know he's excited. It'll be a drag for awhile - especially for me - but by mid-April my guess is that we'll be rockin' it harder and stronger!
Soup Ride this Sunday - big fun!
Ride on!
MC
Monday, February 02, 2009
Off the back AGAIN....dang!
Man, at the risk of repeating myself - how do all them Blog-studs do it!?!? I really wanna keep up w/ this project (putting aside the whole "why?" thing for the moment) but I swear.......it's kind of a challenge!
Lots goin' on at the shop. Let's see if I can deliver a re-cap in somewhat chronological order:
I went down to Greenville SC on a scouting trip 2 weekends ago. I know a decent # of folks there through my work w/ JDRF and I was hoping to take a shop trip down there in March. Plenty of good rides there to be sure, but the main thing I learned is that there ain't no flat ones! Jeez......every good local ride involved headin' outta town and then up and over something big enough to have it's own name! Great climbs, sweet switch-back-y descents...it'd be a great place to put a nice edge on your fitness @ the end of a long winter! As it happens, recent events have made it less-than-likely that I'll be able to pull it off, but still....it was worth a shot and good to get outta town for a few days.
JDRF stuff is rocking hard! Velo City will be the official provider for the tech support @ every Ride this season, so that's new. A big deal and a considerable source of stress for Mrs. Clark's favorite son but there's nothing new about that! Our Team has 55 riders registered for either the new Killington Ride in August or Death Valley but it's not to late to get on board! (Man, I gotta start fund-raising!) We added a 2nd Coach to help me out so that'll be good. (Yay Nicole!)
The shop has been kinda busy, actually. We have this "Seven Rendezvous" coming up this Sunday, the Indoor Rides have been drawing a solid 18-20 riders, Yoga Class has been going well, we're still ridin' outside on Fri. morning and Sunday afternoon.........lots goin' on! I'm late getting the newsletter out 'natch, but that'll happen within 48 hours, mark my words!
Hard to believe, but I'm up to my ears in 2009 Fall/Winter clothing decisions. Kind of a drag, when you get right down to it. I understand that they gotta have time to get stuff made and all but sheesh! (Gotta say though...the new Cannondale stuff looks pretty good. I really like the LE jacket I've been riding in all winter!)
I sent my beloved Seven Axiom back to the factory for a re-finish and it looks wicked awesome! Nice to see the original ti finish again! It'be be one sweet fixxie for the Spring!
So - the big news shop-side is that Ted's leaving later this month. I totally understand - the drive is a drag. (Hell - I wouldn't do it!) and there's a position open @ Ada Bike Shop 'cuz the last wrench they got from me just left. Still - it's always a drag when key staff leave.......not to mention friends. For sure my least favorite part of this gig! Fear not - your bike will be in good hands even if I'm not 100% sure whose hands that might be at this very instant. (I have some stuff going that's not solid enough to discuss right now)
MCC meeting tonight - then I hafta go to the Rapid Wheelmen meeting in GR on Thursday w/ my JDRF hat on. There's a Fitness Fair @ GVSU this week, the GR Bicycle Film Festival on Saturday, the Seven deal on Sunday...all this in addition to the regular rides and such.
Like I said.......lots' going on!
I guess I better get to it, huh?
Talk to you later, MC
Lots goin' on at the shop. Let's see if I can deliver a re-cap in somewhat chronological order:
I went down to Greenville SC on a scouting trip 2 weekends ago. I know a decent # of folks there through my work w/ JDRF and I was hoping to take a shop trip down there in March. Plenty of good rides there to be sure, but the main thing I learned is that there ain't no flat ones! Jeez......every good local ride involved headin' outta town and then up and over something big enough to have it's own name! Great climbs, sweet switch-back-y descents...it'd be a great place to put a nice edge on your fitness @ the end of a long winter! As it happens, recent events have made it less-than-likely that I'll be able to pull it off, but still....it was worth a shot and good to get outta town for a few days.
JDRF stuff is rocking hard! Velo City will be the official provider for the tech support @ every Ride this season, so that's new. A big deal and a considerable source of stress for Mrs. Clark's favorite son but there's nothing new about that! Our Team has 55 riders registered for either the new Killington Ride in August or Death Valley but it's not to late to get on board! (Man, I gotta start fund-raising!) We added a 2nd Coach to help me out so that'll be good. (Yay Nicole!)
The shop has been kinda busy, actually. We have this "Seven Rendezvous" coming up this Sunday, the Indoor Rides have been drawing a solid 18-20 riders, Yoga Class has been going well, we're still ridin' outside on Fri. morning and Sunday afternoon.........lots goin' on! I'm late getting the newsletter out 'natch, but that'll happen within 48 hours, mark my words!
Hard to believe, but I'm up to my ears in 2009 Fall/Winter clothing decisions. Kind of a drag, when you get right down to it. I understand that they gotta have time to get stuff made and all but sheesh! (Gotta say though...the new Cannondale stuff looks pretty good. I really like the LE jacket I've been riding in all winter!)
I sent my beloved Seven Axiom back to the factory for a re-finish and it looks wicked awesome! Nice to see the original ti finish again! It'be be one sweet fixxie for the Spring!
So - the big news shop-side is that Ted's leaving later this month. I totally understand - the drive is a drag. (Hell - I wouldn't do it!) and there's a position open @ Ada Bike Shop 'cuz the last wrench they got from me just left. Still - it's always a drag when key staff leave.......not to mention friends. For sure my least favorite part of this gig! Fear not - your bike will be in good hands even if I'm not 100% sure whose hands that might be at this very instant. (I have some stuff going that's not solid enough to discuss right now)
MCC meeting tonight - then I hafta go to the Rapid Wheelmen meeting in GR on Thursday w/ my JDRF hat on. There's a Fitness Fair @ GVSU this week, the GR Bicycle Film Festival on Saturday, the Seven deal on Sunday...all this in addition to the regular rides and such.
Like I said.......lots' going on!
I guess I better get to it, huh?
Talk to you later, MC
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
CHAMOIS REPORT, PART ONE!
So - despite the possibility of publicly declaring myself an idiot I am compelled to offer this endorsment of the new-for-2009 Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Octane bibshorts:
It's my habit to test potential new stuff for the shop in the only way I really know how - I use it. In the off-season I like to try out new shorts 'cuz I've always felt that if I can find shorts or bibs that don't bother me on the rollers or trainer then they're gonna be great out on the road. (By the way - that theory applies to saddles, shoes, cleat placement and any other positional changes you might be contemplating. There's no better place to experiment than the trainer!)
So - I've been putting a pair of these new bibs from Pearl to the test. They are pretty good lookin' - featuring the oh-so-trendy black and white look that 90+% of the bikes, bibs, shoes and helmets we saw @ Interbike had - w/ a zippy little red stripe. They are 100% Italian in a departure from PI's US roots and I'm kind of digging them so far.
So.......we had a 2 hour indoor ride scheduled for last Sunday. I thought it'd be a great chance to really check them out so I made sure that they were washed that morning. I had to leave for the shop early so I got grabbed them outta the dryer and threw them in my bag w/ just a quick check to make sure they were dry.
Oops.
90 minutes later I'm kitting up for the ride and notice that the chamois is soaked. Not just "not dry"......................soaked. I figure that I'm screwed, 'twas my bad so I resign myself to a l-o-n-g uncomfortable ride and jump on my bike.
Well.............it wasn't until we had 10 minutes to go in the ride that I remembered the wet chamois! I never thought about it the entire ride! Pretty impressive, I gotta say.
Still stupid, sure............but still.............impressive.
Thanks for savin' my ass, Pearl!
Now - are we gonna carry them? I dunno yet. After all - they are $275 and there are some other bibs I wanna try in that price range. I'll let'cha know.
It's my habit to test potential new stuff for the shop in the only way I really know how - I use it. In the off-season I like to try out new shorts 'cuz I've always felt that if I can find shorts or bibs that don't bother me on the rollers or trainer then they're gonna be great out on the road. (By the way - that theory applies to saddles, shoes, cleat placement and any other positional changes you might be contemplating. There's no better place to experiment than the trainer!)
So - I've been putting a pair of these new bibs from Pearl to the test. They are pretty good lookin' - featuring the oh-so-trendy black and white look that 90+% of the bikes, bibs, shoes and helmets we saw @ Interbike had - w/ a zippy little red stripe. They are 100% Italian in a departure from PI's US roots and I'm kind of digging them so far.
So.......we had a 2 hour indoor ride scheduled for last Sunday. I thought it'd be a great chance to really check them out so I made sure that they were washed that morning. I had to leave for the shop early so I got grabbed them outta the dryer and threw them in my bag w/ just a quick check to make sure they were dry.
Oops.
90 minutes later I'm kitting up for the ride and notice that the chamois is soaked. Not just "not dry"......................soaked. I figure that I'm screwed, 'twas my bad so I resign myself to a l-o-n-g uncomfortable ride and jump on my bike.
Well.............it wasn't until we had 10 minutes to go in the ride that I remembered the wet chamois! I never thought about it the entire ride! Pretty impressive, I gotta say.
Still stupid, sure............but still.............impressive.
Thanks for savin' my ass, Pearl!
Now - are we gonna carry them? I dunno yet. After all - they are $275 and there are some other bibs I wanna try in that price range. I'll let'cha know.
Monday, January 05, 2009
I'm Proud of My Friends.....
....and it's a beautiful thing. I was tryin' to think of a better word than "proud"...it's a great word but it seems kinda, I dunno, serious for an entry on my blog, y'know? Still.....it's the right word and I think that I'll just go w/ it. (After all...you'll never know, huh?)
Heres' the deal (and you can decide if I oughta find a new word)
There's a new face around here. By "here" I mean the shop and the rides and the JDRF team and that whole loosely defined chunk of my life that's all wrapped up around what I usta call "BikeLife". We'll call her "Carol Bishop" (not her real name). She showed up for a Tuesday Night Ride in late November or maybe early December....in conditions that were gnarly enough to keep the majority of the "hardcore" riders home and on the trainer. (Or the couch!) She stuck it out, stayed for yoga, came back for another ride, helped set up the 'cross course, did the 'cross race and has pretty much become a fixture on the scene. No big news there....that happens all the time, right?
Well - yes and no. I've watched the loosely-defined group of folks that I'm lucky enough to get to hang out with bring "Carol Bishop" into their circle w/out hesitation or weirdness. She's a rider, she's a friend of mine and that's good enough for them. (Not implying that being a friend of mine is an endorsement or carries any special weight...at all!).
I dig that. A ton. If I had sat down 25 years ago and tried to tell you exactly what I hoped to accomplish w/ the shop this is what it would be: A place for "Carol Bishop" to discover and use as the entry point into the whole big beautiful world of bikes and bike folks. Especially bike folks like my friends, 'cause they kinda rock.
But they know that.
I'm gonna go w/ "proud". I hope that's okay w/ you.
Heres' the deal (and you can decide if I oughta find a new word)
There's a new face around here. By "here" I mean the shop and the rides and the JDRF team and that whole loosely defined chunk of my life that's all wrapped up around what I usta call "BikeLife". We'll call her "Carol Bishop" (not her real name). She showed up for a Tuesday Night Ride in late November or maybe early December....in conditions that were gnarly enough to keep the majority of the "hardcore" riders home and on the trainer. (Or the couch!) She stuck it out, stayed for yoga, came back for another ride, helped set up the 'cross course, did the 'cross race and has pretty much become a fixture on the scene. No big news there....that happens all the time, right?
Well - yes and no. I've watched the loosely-defined group of folks that I'm lucky enough to get to hang out with bring "Carol Bishop" into their circle w/out hesitation or weirdness. She's a rider, she's a friend of mine and that's good enough for them. (Not implying that being a friend of mine is an endorsement or carries any special weight...at all!).
I dig that. A ton. If I had sat down 25 years ago and tried to tell you exactly what I hoped to accomplish w/ the shop this is what it would be: A place for "Carol Bishop" to discover and use as the entry point into the whole big beautiful world of bikes and bike folks. Especially bike folks like my friends, 'cause they kinda rock.
But they know that.
I'm gonna go w/ "proud". I hope that's okay w/ you.
Monday, December 29, 2008
There ain't no bad rides!
A case in point: Yesterday's "Crazy Bastard West" ride wasn't the best one ever by any means! The seasonal roads were an impassable mess of ice ruts, frozen snow, thinly iced over puddles and that meant lots of walking, pushing, falling and wet feet. BB's crank arm fell off at the farthest-possible-point-from-the-cars and we had to push him back (on gravel and pavement) until a rescue car arrived and it was cold and windy.
In other words - we had a blast!
'Tis true............11 "grown-ups" endured all that crap when they could've been doing a whole buncha other stuff and all agreed - once we got back to the coffee shop - that their days were made and another Great Ride was in the books.
Go figure.
Take my bike for a walk in the uneven, well-nigh-unwalkable frozen snow? You bet.
Push buddy B for 3-4 miles 'cuz his bike broke? Sign me up.
Thaw my fingers out around a cuppa hot chocolate while doin' the post-ride wind down w/ good buddies? HELL yes!
We'll see you out there next Sunday, huh? Same time, same place. It'll be a hoot. Trust me.
Don't forget the first riode of 2009! Here @ the shop at 1:00pm on 1-1.
In other words - we had a blast!
'Tis true............11 "grown-ups" endured all that crap when they could've been doing a whole buncha other stuff and all agreed - once we got back to the coffee shop - that their days were made and another Great Ride was in the books.
Go figure.
Take my bike for a walk in the uneven, well-nigh-unwalkable frozen snow? You bet.
Push buddy B for 3-4 miles 'cuz his bike broke? Sign me up.
Thaw my fingers out around a cuppa hot chocolate while doin' the post-ride wind down w/ good buddies? HELL yes!
We'll see you out there next Sunday, huh? Same time, same place. It'll be a hoot. Trust me.
Don't forget the first riode of 2009! Here @ the shop at 1:00pm on 1-1.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
'Whole Lotta Things That I Have Done - I Ain't Never Had Too Much Fun"
That's a lyric and title of a Bill Kirchen song (that's him playing that signature guitar run on Hot Rod Lincoln) but I gotta say that if ol' Bill had been w'/ the Crazy Bastards on their last 2 rides he might've had to re-think that song!
The last 2 Sundays we've met down in Hammy-town and headed into the Allegan Woods area on 'cross or mountain bikes in search of snow-covered dirt and "seasonal" roads. There've been at least a dozen of us - all bundled up and ready to get all wet and cold. Folks look at us as if we're full-on loonies as we kit up and roll west outta the parking lot of the market - especially a coupla Sundays ago when those big wet flakes were falling faster than plows or windshield wipers could keep up - but we just grin and pedal on 'cuz we know something that they don't...............and that is the simple fact that riding a bike w'/ your buds is ALWAYS better than not riding - even if it means falling on your ass several times and/or freezing your toes off.
There was one point on that first ride where 4 of us were down in the snow -I had my front tire slide out in the rut I was following down a 2-track, Alan was too close behind me and piled into my bike, Dave hit the ground as he passed us and Kirk wiped out tryin' to get around the pile. We all lay there in that soft and welcoming snow and laughed our asses off. I remember thinking to myself as I got up and brushed myself off ..."These are grown -ups! And not just bike shop guys - some of these dudes are respectable members of the community - the kind of guys that have jobs w/ real offices and a closet full of shirts /w collars and shoes that you can polish! You know - adults! And we're back here falling down and getting up and laughin' 'til our sides hurt."?!?!
That's when I knew that we were on to something. Just another reminder of the Power Of The Bike I guess. You may think that your bike(s) are just that - bikes. Not that there's anything wrong w/ that - the bicycle is one of our finest inventions and the most energy efficient vehicle ever devised - but it's more than that. It's a time machine and it'll take you back to those perfect, care-free, sun-filled days of your youth when your sneakers and your bike and your buds were all you needed to be Superman (or woman!)
Good Buddy Ross and I were talking as we rolled back towards the cars and he said that the best way to describe the silly kick of rides like this was that it feels like we're Getting Away With Something. It's true - the odds are that our moms would not approve...so we got that going for us!
These rides are apt to keep happening but there are several other events coming up ('Cross race! Fun-Raiser!) that'll keep them from being a regular event. Wanna hear about them - drop me a line (mike@velo-citycycles.com) and I'll make sure you get word. Keep in mind that these rides call for a 'cross-esque or mountain bike, a good collection of cold weather gear and - most important of all - an adventurous spirit and the surgical removal of your whining gene.
As mentioned above - there's a ton of stuff goin' on - this weekend sees the band playin' on Friday and Saturday nights, the race on Sunday, the big Mel Trotter Benefit Party on the 17th (gig #3!), the "Holiday Ride" next Sunday, all added to the regular menu of indoor and outdoor rides, yoga class....Man! So much for the concept of an "off-season" huh? Screw that! Let's just keep it in the big ring!
Hey - if you get a sec feel free to join me in writing a letter to the editor of our local paper (the Holland Sentinel) and let them know what you think of their "Miss" editorial about folks that commute by bike in the winter! Turns out that they're against it. Wankers. (Be nice, yet firm!)
See you out there...be safe, ride lots, stop in the shop if you have a mind to...it'd be good to see you!
The last 2 Sundays we've met down in Hammy-town and headed into the Allegan Woods area on 'cross or mountain bikes in search of snow-covered dirt and "seasonal" roads. There've been at least a dozen of us - all bundled up and ready to get all wet and cold. Folks look at us as if we're full-on loonies as we kit up and roll west outta the parking lot of the market - especially a coupla Sundays ago when those big wet flakes were falling faster than plows or windshield wipers could keep up - but we just grin and pedal on 'cuz we know something that they don't...............and that is the simple fact that riding a bike w'/ your buds is ALWAYS better than not riding - even if it means falling on your ass several times and/or freezing your toes off.
There was one point on that first ride where 4 of us were down in the snow -I had my front tire slide out in the rut I was following down a 2-track, Alan was too close behind me and piled into my bike, Dave hit the ground as he passed us and Kirk wiped out tryin' to get around the pile. We all lay there in that soft and welcoming snow and laughed our asses off. I remember thinking to myself as I got up and brushed myself off ..."These are grown -ups! And not just bike shop guys - some of these dudes are respectable members of the community - the kind of guys that have jobs w/ real offices and a closet full of shirts /w collars and shoes that you can polish! You know - adults! And we're back here falling down and getting up and laughin' 'til our sides hurt."?!?!
That's when I knew that we were on to something. Just another reminder of the Power Of The Bike I guess. You may think that your bike(s) are just that - bikes. Not that there's anything wrong w/ that - the bicycle is one of our finest inventions and the most energy efficient vehicle ever devised - but it's more than that. It's a time machine and it'll take you back to those perfect, care-free, sun-filled days of your youth when your sneakers and your bike and your buds were all you needed to be Superman (or woman!)
Good Buddy Ross and I were talking as we rolled back towards the cars and he said that the best way to describe the silly kick of rides like this was that it feels like we're Getting Away With Something. It's true - the odds are that our moms would not approve...so we got that going for us!
These rides are apt to keep happening but there are several other events coming up ('Cross race! Fun-Raiser!) that'll keep them from being a regular event. Wanna hear about them - drop me a line (mike@velo-citycycles.com) and I'll make sure you get word. Keep in mind that these rides call for a 'cross-esque or mountain bike, a good collection of cold weather gear and - most important of all - an adventurous spirit and the surgical removal of your whining gene.
As mentioned above - there's a ton of stuff goin' on - this weekend sees the band playin' on Friday and Saturday nights, the race on Sunday, the big Mel Trotter Benefit Party on the 17th (gig #3!), the "Holiday Ride" next Sunday, all added to the regular menu of indoor and outdoor rides, yoga class....Man! So much for the concept of an "off-season" huh? Screw that! Let's just keep it in the big ring!
Hey - if you get a sec feel free to join me in writing a letter to the editor of our local paper (the Holland Sentinel) and let them know what you think of their "Miss" editorial about folks that commute by bike in the winter! Turns out that they're against it. Wankers. (Be nice, yet firm!)
See you out there...be safe, ride lots, stop in the shop if you have a mind to...it'd be good to see you!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Off the Back Again!
Man! Here I am again, wonderin' how all those dedicated Blog-Meisters do it! It's just a lotta words man, y'know? Now...I gotta lotta words. I use 'em every day. All my jobs (shop, band, JDRF) involve words. I LOVE words! Everywhere I look there are books to read, websites to visit, magazines, newspapers...........!!!!!
Not to mention all those songs!
Too late - I mentioned 'em! How you could run outta song lyrics to dig? There are so many great songs! Holy crap!
Anyway - the point that I think I'm s-l-o-w-ly workin' myself around to here is that I think about writing stuff down a helluva lot more than I do it. Aside from minor issues like talent and work ethic that might be the major difference 'tween writer-hacks like me and real writers like my friend Heather. You read her stuff and you go "Oh, that's what it's supposed to be like!" On her Blog she writes about how writing can be like cycling. She's a lot smarter'n me so I'll take her word for it but I'm secretly suspicious.
It's been a good coupla weeks......the Yoga for Cyclist classes have been well received and that's cool. I like it when New Stuff works out. We've had a steady 10-11 "students" (Acolytes? Practitioners?) and some new faces each night. The class pretty much hands me my ass and remonds me that I'm way fatter than I oughta be. Heather (a different one!) says that steady attendance @ the class will pay off - once again here we have a situation where a person named Heather is smarter'n me (I sense a trend!) so I'll go along. One issue is the timing.....Yoga Class is a mere 11 hours prior to my weekly torture session w/ The Queen of Pain, my trainer. (AKA Jessica). I'm still kinda sore when I get up on Wed morning for Yoga and then there's an hour of core work and such. Oof. It's a good thing that I hate being out of shape more than I do getting into shape!
The 'cross season is drawing to a close. I did 3 races in as many weekends, there's a week off now and then 2 more in December. The State Championships are next Sunday and then we host the KissCross Season Finale on the 14th. I'm gonna finish out the season on the fixxie........it's not slowing me down at all (like I need any help doing that!) and I'm kinda diggin' it. I've had 2 okay and one shitty race so far - but I crashed last week on the last friggin' lap and I'm still whining about it. (Tore a nice chunk outta my hip - waaa waaa). Damn - I love everything about 'cross! The weather, the bikes, the vibe, embrocation, the cowbells.......!!!! It rocks! I just gotta figure out not to suck at it so bad.
So. December. Christmas. New Years. All that stuff. I dig it. It's gonna be a good month @ the end of a good year. Let's keep riding, shall we?
As my friend Baber would say.............."Peace Out!"
Not to mention all those songs!
Too late - I mentioned 'em! How you could run outta song lyrics to dig? There are so many great songs! Holy crap!
Anyway - the point that I think I'm s-l-o-w-ly workin' myself around to here is that I think about writing stuff down a helluva lot more than I do it. Aside from minor issues like talent and work ethic that might be the major difference 'tween writer-hacks like me and real writers like my friend Heather. You read her stuff and you go "Oh, that's what it's supposed to be like!" On her Blog she writes about how writing can be like cycling. She's a lot smarter'n me so I'll take her word for it but I'm secretly suspicious.
It's been a good coupla weeks......the Yoga for Cyclist classes have been well received and that's cool. I like it when New Stuff works out. We've had a steady 10-11 "students" (Acolytes? Practitioners?) and some new faces each night. The class pretty much hands me my ass and remonds me that I'm way fatter than I oughta be. Heather (a different one!) says that steady attendance @ the class will pay off - once again here we have a situation where a person named Heather is smarter'n me (I sense a trend!) so I'll go along. One issue is the timing.....Yoga Class is a mere 11 hours prior to my weekly torture session w/ The Queen of Pain, my trainer. (AKA Jessica). I'm still kinda sore when I get up on Wed morning for Yoga and then there's an hour of core work and such. Oof. It's a good thing that I hate being out of shape more than I do getting into shape!
The 'cross season is drawing to a close. I did 3 races in as many weekends, there's a week off now and then 2 more in December. The State Championships are next Sunday and then we host the KissCross Season Finale on the 14th. I'm gonna finish out the season on the fixxie........it's not slowing me down at all (like I need any help doing that!) and I'm kinda diggin' it. I've had 2 okay and one shitty race so far - but I crashed last week on the last friggin' lap and I'm still whining about it. (Tore a nice chunk outta my hip - waaa waaa). Damn - I love everything about 'cross! The weather, the bikes, the vibe, embrocation, the cowbells.......!!!! It rocks! I just gotta figure out not to suck at it so bad.
So. December. Christmas. New Years. All that stuff. I dig it. It's gonna be a good month @ the end of a good year. Let's keep riding, shall we?
As my friend Baber would say.............."Peace Out!"
Monday, November 10, 2008
ICEMAN, CHILLY MAN, TIRED MAN!
So, the Iceman race has cometh and goneth. I had fun, mostly and had an okay race. I was about 5 minutes off of my PR of '07, but I was racin' single-speed and all...so I'm mostly okay w/ it. There are many trails where I truely believe that having gears would not be any faster, (since a s/s makes you attack the climbs) but the Iceman isn't one of those trails. I geared up pretty heavily so I'd have enough gear for the flats but I still spun out on several long-ish sections where I could've gained some time. Of course - I coulda been fitter and faster too, but what's your point? The weather was fine, about 37 degrees and spittin' snow-ice-rain drops @ the start but 5 minutes in it dried out and I never thought about the elements again. I gambled on the "if you're under-dressed you'll hafta hammer" strategy when I kitted up and it paid off. (Although I was one frozen popsicle on the start line!) Wool l/s baselayer under s/s VCC jersey and knicks was the perfect set-up. The course was in great shape and as far as i could tell all 2500 of had a fine time! I finished, racked my bike in the corral, grabbed my bag outta the tent and jumped on the first bus back to Kalkaska to get the van. I was back @ the finish line when J2 rolled in and we hung a spell then collected bikes, bags and such and hit it for home. At 5:30, 26 hours after leaving town, we were back with only empty wallets and tired legs to prove that we had even gone a'tall!
Then it was off to the market for chili fixings. I did a red "Texas" style (I put beans in it just to piss my least favorite Texan off) and a white chicken one. Sunday dawned wet and cold...but my ride time it was just cold. Oh yeah......and windy. We had about 30 riders and 9 pots' o' chili. It was a good ride, although we got kinda broken up, but back @ the shop everyone was in a great mood, eatin' chilio, drinkin' beer and talkin' rides and races and bikestuff.
Sounds good, huh?
So...looking ahead there are 4 more 'cross races, a coupla holidays and a few gigs. There oughta be enough in there to keep me engaged and hoppin'.
By the way - has anyone seen my fitness? I had it earlier but now I can't find it anywhere. If you happen across it, lemme know, okay?
Thanks!
Then it was off to the market for chili fixings. I did a red "Texas" style (I put beans in it just to piss my least favorite Texan off) and a white chicken one. Sunday dawned wet and cold...but my ride time it was just cold. Oh yeah......and windy. We had about 30 riders and 9 pots' o' chili. It was a good ride, although we got kinda broken up, but back @ the shop everyone was in a great mood, eatin' chilio, drinkin' beer and talkin' rides and races and bikestuff.
Sounds good, huh?
So...looking ahead there are 4 more 'cross races, a coupla holidays and a few gigs. There oughta be enough in there to keep me engaged and hoppin'.
By the way - has anyone seen my fitness? I had it earlier but now I can't find it anywhere. If you happen across it, lemme know, okay?
Thanks!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Bike-ma bites back hard!
"Karma" - n. 1. Buddhism and Hinduism the totality of one's acts in each state of one's existence. 2. loosely, fate.
"Bike-ma" - the same thing, but in the saddle.
So it's a beautiful day in early November and J2 and I are takin' advantage of it. Shorts and short sleeves! In November in Michigan! You gotta grab that, am I right? Anyway...we're rollin' south and I decide that it's my solemn duty to give good buddy Ross some crap 'cuz he's at work and we're not. (After all -what are friends for?) So I send him a text message. (Yes - while I was riding....I know it's dumb)
"Hey! J2 and I are rolling south and you're not!" Or words to that effect.
He responds right away. (I knew he would) "Bite me! I haven't seen the sun for 3 days!"
Touched and feeling emotional I respond "Don't feel too bad, there's a little headwind and the sun is really bright in my eyes!" (I'm a softie, huh?)
As I hit "send" I feel something wrong w/ my bike. Shit. Flat tire. We pull obver and I pull a sheet metal screw 3/4" long outta my rear tire.
Bike-ma.
Still....'twas a great ride, 40 miles or so w/ J2 as company is about as good as it gets. Sorry you missed it Ross ol' buddy!
Big weekend comin' up - Iceman on Saturday and Chili Chilly Ride on Sunday! YEE-Haa! Then 4 more 'cross races in the next 5 weeksens, then another Fun-Raiser and then it's frickin' Christmas and then it's New Years and then...............well, there's lots goin' on, that's all I'm saying.
Be well, ride lots, stay safe!
MC
"Bike-ma" - the same thing, but in the saddle.
So it's a beautiful day in early November and J2 and I are takin' advantage of it. Shorts and short sleeves! In November in Michigan! You gotta grab that, am I right? Anyway...we're rollin' south and I decide that it's my solemn duty to give good buddy Ross some crap 'cuz he's at work and we're not. (After all -what are friends for?) So I send him a text message. (Yes - while I was riding....I know it's dumb)
"Hey! J2 and I are rolling south and you're not!" Or words to that effect.
He responds right away. (I knew he would) "Bite me! I haven't seen the sun for 3 days!"
Touched and feeling emotional I respond "Don't feel too bad, there's a little headwind and the sun is really bright in my eyes!" (I'm a softie, huh?)
As I hit "send" I feel something wrong w/ my bike. Shit. Flat tire. We pull obver and I pull a sheet metal screw 3/4" long outta my rear tire.
Bike-ma.
Still....'twas a great ride, 40 miles or so w/ J2 as company is about as good as it gets. Sorry you missed it Ross ol' buddy!
Big weekend comin' up - Iceman on Saturday and Chili Chilly Ride on Sunday! YEE-Haa! Then 4 more 'cross races in the next 5 weeksens, then another Fun-Raiser and then it's frickin' Christmas and then it's New Years and then...............well, there's lots goin' on, that's all I'm saying.
Be well, ride lots, stay safe!
MC
Monday, October 27, 2008
Pineapple Bob Classic Report
So........it was a somewhat disappointed group of 20 or so milling around the shop yesterday, kitting up and talking about the much-better-than-forecast weather outside. "Where's the 'wintery mix'?" "Whats' w/all the sunshine?" "What 'plummeting temps?" and other such comments were commonly overheard as we got ready to roll.
It's weird that way......although if you're reading this it may well not seem weird at all.....but it seems like a main component of a great ride is having some horrible weather thrown into the mix. I know that I was mentally prepared to be miserable yesterday - and the fact that I wasn't didn't ruin the ride by any means but it did change it. Still - we had a blast. 30 miles, 7 of it gravel and what seemed like most of it into a stiff west wind that had us lookin' @ single digit speeds once in awhile. My group included JD, Ross, Tom W., J2 and Berger and we amused ourselves by goin' outta our way lookin' for mud puddles and extra "Flahute Points". Big fun!
("Flahute" is a Flemish word used to describe the 'hard men' of that region who are always out there in the wet and wind training for the Spring Classics)
Back at the shop there were tacos w/all the fixin's and a buncha dirty dudes.
Speaking of "dudes" - there were exactly zero riders of the female persuasion on this ride and that reminds of the truest thing I ever heard Berger say. Now - Brier Berger is one of those "still waters rub deep" sorta guys and for all we know he's chock-full of pithy wisdom but last Friday he said one of the truest things I've EVER heard anyone say about riding. We had done the Bagel Ride despite the fact that it was 45 degrees -n-raining so we had no one to blame but ourselves when we rolled up to the cafe as 4 popsicles. Soaking wet, chilled to the bone and most likely hypothermic we sat, a little table of misery, in the middle of the bagel shop, dripping on the floor w/ numb hands cupped around coffee, tea and hot cider. At one point Greg pointed out through chattering teeth that KP, despite having the day off and looking forward to a ride was a no-show. That led Berger to observe that "Yeah, there's never any women on these stupid rides." to general agreement.
And it's true. And by no means a knock on our cycling sisters in any way - I know and ride with LOTS of way hardcore ladies - but when it comes to what Berger so adroitly termed a "stupid ride".......they're smart enough to say no.
Maybe when I grow up I'll be that smart.
Anyway - the ride was a blast and it's great to have the Fun-Raiser Series back on the calendar. It's Chilly Chili Ride time in less than 2 weeks so it's time to start experimenting w/ this year's recipe. Rumours that Bobby Flay might show up for a chili "throwdown" are just that - rumours! Still, you don't wanna miss this ride, it's one of the best!
Man - the calendar is crazy-full still! Looking ahead @ the next 7 weekends they look like this: Cross Race - Iceman / Chilly Chili Ride - Cross race - Cross Race - Thanksgiving Weekend - State Cross Championships - Cross Race in Holland! Is that cool or what?
I've decided to go w/ my fixxie for the races...at least for the one this weekend. We'll see if that's as stupid an idea as my HupUnited buds seem to think that it is. My theory is that since I have failed utterly - again - to carry my summer fitness into the 'cross season I might as well try something different. Besides, I'll need all the excuses I can get!
Stay tuned - ride lots - vote - get excited/angry/passionate about SOMETHING!
It's weird that way......although if you're reading this it may well not seem weird at all.....but it seems like a main component of a great ride is having some horrible weather thrown into the mix. I know that I was mentally prepared to be miserable yesterday - and the fact that I wasn't didn't ruin the ride by any means but it did change it. Still - we had a blast. 30 miles, 7 of it gravel and what seemed like most of it into a stiff west wind that had us lookin' @ single digit speeds once in awhile. My group included JD, Ross, Tom W., J2 and Berger and we amused ourselves by goin' outta our way lookin' for mud puddles and extra "Flahute Points". Big fun!
("Flahute" is a Flemish word used to describe the 'hard men' of that region who are always out there in the wet and wind training for the Spring Classics)
Back at the shop there were tacos w/all the fixin's and a buncha dirty dudes.
Speaking of "dudes" - there were exactly zero riders of the female persuasion on this ride and that reminds of the truest thing I ever heard Berger say. Now - Brier Berger is one of those "still waters rub deep" sorta guys and for all we know he's chock-full of pithy wisdom but last Friday he said one of the truest things I've EVER heard anyone say about riding. We had done the Bagel Ride despite the fact that it was 45 degrees -n-raining so we had no one to blame but ourselves when we rolled up to the cafe as 4 popsicles. Soaking wet, chilled to the bone and most likely hypothermic we sat, a little table of misery, in the middle of the bagel shop, dripping on the floor w/ numb hands cupped around coffee, tea and hot cider. At one point Greg pointed out through chattering teeth that KP, despite having the day off and looking forward to a ride was a no-show. That led Berger to observe that "Yeah, there's never any women on these stupid rides." to general agreement.
And it's true. And by no means a knock on our cycling sisters in any way - I know and ride with LOTS of way hardcore ladies - but when it comes to what Berger so adroitly termed a "stupid ride".......they're smart enough to say no.
Maybe when I grow up I'll be that smart.
Anyway - the ride was a blast and it's great to have the Fun-Raiser Series back on the calendar. It's Chilly Chili Ride time in less than 2 weeks so it's time to start experimenting w/ this year's recipe. Rumours that Bobby Flay might show up for a chili "throwdown" are just that - rumours! Still, you don't wanna miss this ride, it's one of the best!
Man - the calendar is crazy-full still! Looking ahead @ the next 7 weekends they look like this: Cross Race - Iceman / Chilly Chili Ride - Cross race - Cross Race - Thanksgiving Weekend - State Cross Championships - Cross Race in Holland! Is that cool or what?
I've decided to go w/ my fixxie for the races...at least for the one this weekend. We'll see if that's as stupid an idea as my HupUnited buds seem to think that it is. My theory is that since I have failed utterly - again - to carry my summer fitness into the 'cross season I might as well try something different. Besides, I'll need all the excuses I can get!
Stay tuned - ride lots - vote - get excited/angry/passionate about SOMETHING!
Friday, October 24, 2008
What a difference a week makes!
Last Friday's Ride (10/17) - Furnace Creek Ranch to Golden Canyon and Zabriseke Point, Death Valley. 15 miles. 90 degrees. 100% sunshine. S/S jersey, bibs, summer shoes. gloves etc. Sat @ the Point w/ about 50 other riders and about 300 Euro-Tourists.
Today's Ride (10/24) - From the shop out to Gilligan Lake via South Shore Drive and 66th. 45 degrees. Steady rain. Wool baselayer, Thermal jersey, knickers, winter shoes, thermal gloves, winter socks. Got to the bagel shop mildly hypothermic - sat there shivering and dripping - still chilled an hour later. 3 compadres.
I think I prefer Death Valley. In fact, I wish I was there right now, rolling out bound for Jubilee Pass or Scotty's Castle and surrounded by my buds. Sounds pretty much perfect to this boy. Next year I wanna stay out there for a day or two after the Ride - I've been there 4 times now and have basically seen the same damn 53 miles 8 times. I'm guessin' that since it's the biggest National Park outside of Alaska (where you can see Russia from your house) there might be more to see.
Until.............guess I'll ride around here. not a thing wrong w/ that!
Let's go, huh?
Today's Ride (10/24) - From the shop out to Gilligan Lake via South Shore Drive and 66th. 45 degrees. Steady rain. Wool baselayer, Thermal jersey, knickers, winter shoes, thermal gloves, winter socks. Got to the bagel shop mildly hypothermic - sat there shivering and dripping - still chilled an hour later. 3 compadres.
I think I prefer Death Valley. In fact, I wish I was there right now, rolling out bound for Jubilee Pass or Scotty's Castle and surrounded by my buds. Sounds pretty much perfect to this boy. Next year I wanna stay out there for a day or two after the Ride - I've been there 4 times now and have basically seen the same damn 53 miles 8 times. I'm guessin' that since it's the biggest National Park outside of Alaska (where you can see Russia from your house) there might be more to see.
Until.............guess I'll ride around here. not a thing wrong w/ that!
Let's go, huh?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wow!
So....if I turn my head to the left I can see the Effel Tower. Okay - maybe not the real one, but from the 9th floor of the Paris casino it looks kinda real. ( For all I know). I woke up in Death Valley and I'm goin' to bed in Las Vegas which means that I've merely traded one surreal environment for the next. There might not be any 2 locations so close geographically (2+ hours by bus) and yet so bloody different.
I like DV a helluva lot more!
Yesterday's Ride was AWESOME! The Team rode great, strong and caring. All the riders (all 290 of us!) had a safe day and we got the course cleared of riders by 6:00pm. To quote our National Head Coach TSC "By any imaginable measure, this was a great Ride!"
I second that emotion!
A whole buncha West Michigan Riders had a record day. I'm not gonna list names "cuz I'll for damnsure miss one and that'd be unfair and would suck, basically. Trust me when I say that all our riders - first-timers and vets - all rode strong!
In another nod to our Team I was voted "Most Motivational Coach", an honor I'm not sure I earned but will cherish.
It's been a spectacular season for JDRF and I really can't fathom that it's over. It'll hit me eventually I suppose but since we're gonna start planning for '09 asap I'm not sure it matters!
You really oughta join us you know! The 2009 dates are set and will be up on the website any day now.
Gotta go.it's way late and i have an early flight. See you around.
MC
I like DV a helluva lot more!
Yesterday's Ride was AWESOME! The Team rode great, strong and caring. All the riders (all 290 of us!) had a safe day and we got the course cleared of riders by 6:00pm. To quote our National Head Coach TSC "By any imaginable measure, this was a great Ride!"
I second that emotion!
A whole buncha West Michigan Riders had a record day. I'm not gonna list names "cuz I'll for damnsure miss one and that'd be unfair and would suck, basically. Trust me when I say that all our riders - first-timers and vets - all rode strong!
In another nod to our Team I was voted "Most Motivational Coach", an honor I'm not sure I earned but will cherish.
It's been a spectacular season for JDRF and I really can't fathom that it's over. It'll hit me eventually I suppose but since we're gonna start planning for '09 asap I'm not sure it matters!
You really oughta join us you know! The 2009 dates are set and will be up on the website any day now.
Gotta go.it's way late and i have an early flight. See you around.
MC
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
SOMETIMES I JUST DON'T THINK THINGS THROUGH ALL THAT WELL, PT 2
Or 3, or 4......or whatever.
I've been so geeked for the Death Valley Ride that lately I've actually been paranoid about gettin' hurt before we leave. That's a first, as far as I can recall. As I rode to work yesterday, and then rode over to the Holland Stadium to see about the 'cross race course and then back I was extra-mindful of cars and the regular daily dose of risks that I guess I take every day just to get around. I mentioned it to Ted, John J and Dennis @ various points throughout the day so it's on record, that's all I'm sayin'.
So.....keep that in mind 'cuz, as I once heard a guy in a bluegrass band say from the stage - "I told ya'll that story so I can tell ya'll this'n"..............
On the Tuesday Night Ride I noticed that the rear wheel on Dave Z's Salsa was in a world of hurt.... outta true, outta round, outta everything. The bike's fairly new so I asked him whether he had ridden or driven to the shop - tryin' to get an idea of when we could get our hands on it. You see - I kinda get the vibe that Dave's a member of what we call the "shut up and ride club" (folks that aren't all that fussy about their bikes) PLUS I know that he's a very busy dude and I was skepical that he'd be able to get it to us asap - which is what needed to happen. When I realized that our route would take us through his neighborhood and that he had the same pedals as I use an idea worked it's way through my soggy brain. "Hey Dave", says I "How 'bout I leave my bike w/ you and ride yours to the shop? That'll save you a trip and we can get'cher wheel fixed up tomorrow." "Great idea" says he "Can you ride my bike?"
A fair question since it's about 3 sizes too big.
"Oh sure - I can deal w/ it for 4 miles" I say, thinkin' to myself that at least I can clip in even though I'll hardly be able to reach the pedals from the saddle.
So I tell the group what I'm up to and Dennis right away asks if I want him to hold up the group. "Nah", says our clever narrator "I'll be fine and right behind you guys." So off they go.
Dave and I get to his house and do the switch. I climb (I use the word in it's literal sense) onto his bike and realize that I WOULD be able to clip in to his pedals IF I was actually wearing my road shoes but since they are on the truck on the way to DEATH FREAKIN' VALLEY I'm not.
Oops.
Oh well, no biggie, I can carefully stand on those little tiny slippery Speedplay pedals in my slick nylon soled off-road shoes for 4 miles, right? And I can ride this bike w/ the rear wheel feelin' like it's gonna collapse at any second, right? And......oh yeah, no lights and the group's up the road.
Oops, #2. (Or #3, or #4, or whatever, I've lost count)
So - now I'm THAT GUY again! Riding through town, in the dark, with no lights, on a bike that's WAY too big, that I can't clip into, with a sick rear wheel.
Way to be extra-careful huh?
Well, since you're reading this and I've written it I musta made it, and I did. Once again whatever Guardian Angel that drew the short straw and got stuck w/ watchin my back came through and I got away w/ it. Again. Still - I was compelled to go home (my headlight died on my commuter bike en route, of course) and confess to the Lovely Linda that she was married to an idiot.
She did not seem surprised.
So......Death Valley tomorrow and as previously stated I can not wait! I dyin' to see the Panamint Mountains, Furnace Creek Ranch, Jubilee Pass and all that stuff but I'm even more excited to get another dose of the all-powerful JDRF medicine. It's good for what ails ya!
If you read this drivel (and I have no idea who does - or why) I assume that I'll be carrying your best wishes for our Team as we head out to the Valley and for that I thank you. If any of you have seen fit to support any of my Team Mates w/ a donation then I thank you once again. (It's not too late - go to www.ride.jdrf.org, click "donate" and choose a rider!)
Thanks for reading, thanks for caring - if you do. (It's cool either way!) I'm not sure that there'll be internet access in DV so I might be "off the 'net" for a bit. I imagine the world will survive!
Be safe! Ride lots! Get passionate about something! Take care!
MC
I've been so geeked for the Death Valley Ride that lately I've actually been paranoid about gettin' hurt before we leave. That's a first, as far as I can recall. As I rode to work yesterday, and then rode over to the Holland Stadium to see about the 'cross race course and then back I was extra-mindful of cars and the regular daily dose of risks that I guess I take every day just to get around. I mentioned it to Ted, John J and Dennis @ various points throughout the day so it's on record, that's all I'm sayin'.
So.....keep that in mind 'cuz, as I once heard a guy in a bluegrass band say from the stage - "I told ya'll that story so I can tell ya'll this'n"..............
On the Tuesday Night Ride I noticed that the rear wheel on Dave Z's Salsa was in a world of hurt.... outta true, outta round, outta everything. The bike's fairly new so I asked him whether he had ridden or driven to the shop - tryin' to get an idea of when we could get our hands on it. You see - I kinda get the vibe that Dave's a member of what we call the "shut up and ride club" (folks that aren't all that fussy about their bikes) PLUS I know that he's a very busy dude and I was skepical that he'd be able to get it to us asap - which is what needed to happen. When I realized that our route would take us through his neighborhood and that he had the same pedals as I use an idea worked it's way through my soggy brain. "Hey Dave", says I "How 'bout I leave my bike w/ you and ride yours to the shop? That'll save you a trip and we can get'cher wheel fixed up tomorrow." "Great idea" says he "Can you ride my bike?"
A fair question since it's about 3 sizes too big.
"Oh sure - I can deal w/ it for 4 miles" I say, thinkin' to myself that at least I can clip in even though I'll hardly be able to reach the pedals from the saddle.
So I tell the group what I'm up to and Dennis right away asks if I want him to hold up the group. "Nah", says our clever narrator "I'll be fine and right behind you guys." So off they go.
Dave and I get to his house and do the switch. I climb (I use the word in it's literal sense) onto his bike and realize that I WOULD be able to clip in to his pedals IF I was actually wearing my road shoes but since they are on the truck on the way to DEATH FREAKIN' VALLEY I'm not.
Oops.
Oh well, no biggie, I can carefully stand on those little tiny slippery Speedplay pedals in my slick nylon soled off-road shoes for 4 miles, right? And I can ride this bike w/ the rear wheel feelin' like it's gonna collapse at any second, right? And......oh yeah, no lights and the group's up the road.
Oops, #2. (Or #3, or #4, or whatever, I've lost count)
So - now I'm THAT GUY again! Riding through town, in the dark, with no lights, on a bike that's WAY too big, that I can't clip into, with a sick rear wheel.
Way to be extra-careful huh?
Well, since you're reading this and I've written it I musta made it, and I did. Once again whatever Guardian Angel that drew the short straw and got stuck w/ watchin my back came through and I got away w/ it. Again. Still - I was compelled to go home (my headlight died on my commuter bike en route, of course) and confess to the Lovely Linda that she was married to an idiot.
She did not seem surprised.
So......Death Valley tomorrow and as previously stated I can not wait! I dyin' to see the Panamint Mountains, Furnace Creek Ranch, Jubilee Pass and all that stuff but I'm even more excited to get another dose of the all-powerful JDRF medicine. It's good for what ails ya!
If you read this drivel (and I have no idea who does - or why) I assume that I'll be carrying your best wishes for our Team as we head out to the Valley and for that I thank you. If any of you have seen fit to support any of my Team Mates w/ a donation then I thank you once again. (It's not too late - go to www.ride.jdrf.org, click "donate" and choose a rider!)
Thanks for reading, thanks for caring - if you do. (It's cool either way!) I'm not sure that there'll be internet access in DV so I might be "off the 'net" for a bit. I imagine the world will survive!
Be safe! Ride lots! Get passionate about something! Take care!
MC
Monday, October 13, 2008
Time to Catch Up! (Again!)
Man! I repeat...how do all those dedicated daily Blogger types do it!?!?!?!? I have a hard time believing that it's been 2 weeks since I sat down to update this damn thing.............it feels like we just got back from the show. Anyway, here's what's been goin' on:
We got back and for a while there the shop was becalmed in the off-season doldrums. Then someone turned on the Weather Way-Back Machine and summer staged a strong comeback. Temps in the 80's and heartbreakingly clear blue skies were the rule for most of early October and the buzz at the shop rose accordingly. Kinda fun. We've been doin' the 'Cross Clinics for 3 weeks now but the turn-out is low. Not sure if that's due to the location change (Ransom Park on the North Side), the 'un 'crosslike weather or the fact that I've been listed as one of the "instructors". (That seems most likely to me)
I'm dyin' to get my cyclo-cross season started but I'm resigned to waitin' 'til November. @ that point the JDRF Ride season will be done, my #1 bike will be back from Death Valley (one of my riders has had it since May) and I'll be able to focus. November looks full......3 'cross races, the Iceman, a gig...........too bad I have ZERO edge or fitness. Based on a one-time experiment I'm seriously considering using my Macatawa Bike Works fixxie for 'cross - I can just fit a pair of Maxxis 'cross tires on it and there's just something about the whole fixxie thing...............
Wanna read something extra-cool about this sport that we love? My good friend Heather is a real live writer of no small renown and she was inspired after a Tuesday Night Ride to toss a few lines together about just what it is that makes her so crazy 'bout cycling and she was kind enough to gimme a heads-up. Man.......reading it gave me goosebumps and almost made me tear up! Do yourself a solid and visit www.heathersellers.com/blog/ and enjoy!
So......we're off to Death Valley in 3 more days! The last JDRF Ride of 2008. The 5th of 5 for me this season but only the 2nd where I'll get to ride and the first where my only duty will be as coach of my team. (Kinda excited about that!) 43 members of the West Mich squad will join 260+ other riders for the biggest Ride to Cure O' the year! This group has a pretty decent % of Velo-Folk.......J2, Ross, JD, Ted, Lin and I, plus Did, Cindy, Katie & Steve, Tom & Mary and other mainstays of the Team lo these last 3-4 years. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!
I'm fired up to get the Fun-Raiser Series rollin' this month too! Life's just better when there's a Big Ride comin'up every month. For October it's gonna be the (in)famous Pineapple Bob Classic w/ a Taco Chaser. I've decided to move the November Chilly Chili Ride from the date in the newsletter (11/22) to the day after the Iceman (11/9) You heard it here first! (Unless you were on the Friday Morning Bagel Ride last week - but you know who you are!)
I'm starting to ponder staffing for next season...........the more we talk about stuff on this end the more it seems likely that we'll be lookin' for a full-timer to help keep things here on a even keel while I work on Velo-Ventures trips, JDRF stuff and suchlike. Know anyone I oughta talk to?
Lots to do before I shove of for DV.........there are 5-6 pre-season orders that are due by 10/15, all the usual loose-end-tying that precedes a break and at some point I gotta pack.
Maybe I oughta get workin' on that, huh?
Later..MC
We got back and for a while there the shop was becalmed in the off-season doldrums. Then someone turned on the Weather Way-Back Machine and summer staged a strong comeback. Temps in the 80's and heartbreakingly clear blue skies were the rule for most of early October and the buzz at the shop rose accordingly. Kinda fun. We've been doin' the 'Cross Clinics for 3 weeks now but the turn-out is low. Not sure if that's due to the location change (Ransom Park on the North Side), the 'un 'crosslike weather or the fact that I've been listed as one of the "instructors". (That seems most likely to me)
I'm dyin' to get my cyclo-cross season started but I'm resigned to waitin' 'til November. @ that point the JDRF Ride season will be done, my #1 bike will be back from Death Valley (one of my riders has had it since May) and I'll be able to focus. November looks full......3 'cross races, the Iceman, a gig...........too bad I have ZERO edge or fitness. Based on a one-time experiment I'm seriously considering using my Macatawa Bike Works fixxie for 'cross - I can just fit a pair of Maxxis 'cross tires on it and there's just something about the whole fixxie thing...............
Wanna read something extra-cool about this sport that we love? My good friend Heather is a real live writer of no small renown and she was inspired after a Tuesday Night Ride to toss a few lines together about just what it is that makes her so crazy 'bout cycling and she was kind enough to gimme a heads-up. Man.......reading it gave me goosebumps and almost made me tear up! Do yourself a solid and visit www.heathersellers.com/blog/ and enjoy!
So......we're off to Death Valley in 3 more days! The last JDRF Ride of 2008. The 5th of 5 for me this season but only the 2nd where I'll get to ride and the first where my only duty will be as coach of my team. (Kinda excited about that!) 43 members of the West Mich squad will join 260+ other riders for the biggest Ride to Cure O' the year! This group has a pretty decent % of Velo-Folk.......J2, Ross, JD, Ted, Lin and I, plus Did, Cindy, Katie & Steve, Tom & Mary and other mainstays of the Team lo these last 3-4 years. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!
I'm fired up to get the Fun-Raiser Series rollin' this month too! Life's just better when there's a Big Ride comin'up every month. For October it's gonna be the (in)famous Pineapple Bob Classic w/ a Taco Chaser. I've decided to move the November Chilly Chili Ride from the date in the newsletter (11/22) to the day after the Iceman (11/9) You heard it here first! (Unless you were on the Friday Morning Bagel Ride last week - but you know who you are!)
I'm starting to ponder staffing for next season...........the more we talk about stuff on this end the more it seems likely that we'll be lookin' for a full-timer to help keep things here on a even keel while I work on Velo-Ventures trips, JDRF stuff and suchlike. Know anyone I oughta talk to?
Lots to do before I shove of for DV.........there are 5-6 pre-season orders that are due by 10/15, all the usual loose-end-tying that precedes a break and at some point I gotta pack.
Maybe I oughta get workin' on that, huh?
Later..MC
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Interbike Wrap-Up Report
Whew! This Bike Show thing is kind of a bitch when you get right down to it, y'know? By the time we all re-convened @ the end of the day Thursday it was all we could do to ride the escalator up a floor to our fav Mexican joint, re-load and limp over to out hotel to retrieve our bags and catch a taxi f or the airport.
I know.................you're bleeding for me right now, huh? I appreciate that, I really do.
On Wed I had several appointments but managed to get around the show a bit as well. Co-Motion's tandems looked great - not a lot new there really - and I checked out a buncha new stuff from Terry, Salsa, Surly and a bunch more that frankly escape me @ the moment. The big thing was the 'Cross Vegas rcae that night. Rumours were all over the show that His Lanceness was gonna make the scene and race but we were skeptical to say the least. We had the major hook-up through our friends @ Quality Bike Products and Lazer Helmets......we caught a ride in the Lazer bus, all neoned out and stocked w/ Belgian beer and pizza(I don't think it was Belgian pizza). They kitted us out w/ a sweet Lazer polo shirt, cap and cowbell and let us loose on the race. The Women's race was wild....Katie Compton slayed all on the grassy-n-wicked-fast course. By then the announcers had whipped the enormous crowd into a frenzy w/ his regular Lance Status Reports. ("He's in the airport!" "He's en route!" "He's here at the venue!!!!!"
And so he was............all kitted out in LiveStrong and on a nondescript red Trek. He held his own....considering this was the most stacked field EVER in a North American 'Cross Race. Ryan Trebon gapped Tim Johnson on the last lap to win and L.A. was 20th or so. The whole cowbell-ringin', beer swillin', taco eatin' scene was a stone blast!!!!! You shoulda been there!
Thursday was more meetings, more shitty Expo food and more walkin' the endless aisles. I met w/ Seven MajorDomo Rob Vandermark, the Felt guys, Pearl Izumi, an interesting new little clothing company called Panache, Sidi, CycleOps and a ton more. Stuff that made an impression?
Sidis new prices. (Ouch!)
Felt's tri bikes (Nice!)
QR's too. (")
All the new stuff @ QBP. (Salsa, Surly, Assos, Civia....tons more)
Easton wheels.
Blackburn lights.
Giro's gloves.
Lazer's new $110 helmet.........................and a bunch more. Stop in the shop, we'll have the stuff to show you!
So...I was home for a whole 36 hours, then I headed to Chicago for the JDRF Coaching Meeting. It's a quickie.....I'll leave for home late tomorrow afternoon......and then I'm really looking forward to getting back into the flow around the shop and back on the bike. Death Valley is 3 weeks away.................and I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!! DV is one of my fav weekends of the entire season and it can't come soon enough.
So.....gotta go. The red-eye flight Thursday night, workin' all day Friday, giggin' last night and comin' here today is catching up w/ me.
Hope all is well in your world...............things are great in mine!
Oh yeah...KP would want me to tell you that the new VCC Hoodies are awesome and that they were all her idea. (Truth)
I know.................you're bleeding for me right now, huh? I appreciate that, I really do.
On Wed I had several appointments but managed to get around the show a bit as well. Co-Motion's tandems looked great - not a lot new there really - and I checked out a buncha new stuff from Terry, Salsa, Surly and a bunch more that frankly escape me @ the moment. The big thing was the 'Cross Vegas rcae that night. Rumours were all over the show that His Lanceness was gonna make the scene and race but we were skeptical to say the least. We had the major hook-up through our friends @ Quality Bike Products and Lazer Helmets......we caught a ride in the Lazer bus, all neoned out and stocked w/ Belgian beer and pizza(I don't think it was Belgian pizza). They kitted us out w/ a sweet Lazer polo shirt, cap and cowbell and let us loose on the race. The Women's race was wild....Katie Compton slayed all on the grassy-n-wicked-fast course. By then the announcers had whipped the enormous crowd into a frenzy w/ his regular Lance Status Reports. ("He's in the airport!" "He's en route!" "He's here at the venue!!!!!"
And so he was............all kitted out in LiveStrong and on a nondescript red Trek. He held his own....considering this was the most stacked field EVER in a North American 'Cross Race. Ryan Trebon gapped Tim Johnson on the last lap to win and L.A. was 20th or so. The whole cowbell-ringin', beer swillin', taco eatin' scene was a stone blast!!!!! You shoulda been there!
Thursday was more meetings, more shitty Expo food and more walkin' the endless aisles. I met w/ Seven MajorDomo Rob Vandermark, the Felt guys, Pearl Izumi, an interesting new little clothing company called Panache, Sidi, CycleOps and a ton more. Stuff that made an impression?
Sidis new prices. (Ouch!)
Felt's tri bikes (Nice!)
QR's too. (")
All the new stuff @ QBP. (Salsa, Surly, Assos, Civia....tons more)
Easton wheels.
Blackburn lights.
Giro's gloves.
Lazer's new $110 helmet.........................and a bunch more. Stop in the shop, we'll have the stuff to show you!
So...I was home for a whole 36 hours, then I headed to Chicago for the JDRF Coaching Meeting. It's a quickie.....I'll leave for home late tomorrow afternoon......and then I'm really looking forward to getting back into the flow around the shop and back on the bike. Death Valley is 3 weeks away.................and I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!! DV is one of my fav weekends of the entire season and it can't come soon enough.
So.....gotta go. The red-eye flight Thursday night, workin' all day Friday, giggin' last night and comin' here today is catching up w/ me.
Hope all is well in your world...............things are great in mine!
Oh yeah...KP would want me to tell you that the new VCC Hoodies are awesome and that they were all her idea. (Truth)
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