Magical high tech toilets

I love it - do you?

Another Double?

This is starting to become my saturday theme - Ride Hall And Heil back to back. I haven't gotten to the point where I'm riding from one to the other... but that can't too far off in the future.
I'm also having a sunday tradition - riding with no legs... it sucks.
My sunday rides have turned to crap because of my long saturday doubles.... hopefully it'll payoff sometime soon.

I'm not any thinner that last season (disappointing)- but I am riding DH faster, and I'm getting my sprint back. I need to get back to running a few days a week too - I've been good about lifting weights and riding.. but now I need to loose some fat.

Update again later...

Weekend Riding

I got in a few rides this weekend - put in a double on Saturday, Hall Ranch and Heil. Sunday was supposed to be an easy ride (recovery) but I ended up riding super hard at Walker Ranch.
And I bonked. At Walker. It was embarrassing.

Colorado Whiskey

Man - when was the last time I talked about this stuff? Maybe about 5 minutes ago...
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I've been fully embracing all that Colorado has to offer before reaching out beyound this bountiful state, and one of my favorite finds is Colorado Whiskey

Thanks to Gerald, I've gotten a taste for Whiskey once again. I suspect one of the reasons that it's so good is that they may use mash from the Flying Dog Brewery (same owners). This would create a much easier and consistent ingredient list to work with...

Go to your local liquor store and buy a bottle. Yes, it's expensive - but you'll love it

Race Bikes

I'm getting my race bikes finalized for the race season... I'm hoping to race in 2 disciplines this year. Super-D and DH.
I had given some serious thought to DS, but there's only a couple of races in Colorado that are DS this year and I didn't want to buy a bike for 2 races. I am planning on getting a DS bike this year to race next year. Anyway - onto the bikes.

Super-D bike,
I am riding the almighty Commencal. This bike hasn't become a Super-D specific bike yet - but it's on it's way. I've got a couple of wheelsets, a light one and heavy one. I've also got quite the tire line up, Kenda has definetly hooked me up. I'll be rocking Nevegal's for most conditions but have a pair of Cortez's and Blue Groove's for alternate soil types. I'm still on the fox suspension setup from last season because I love it. Vanilla RC2 and Float RC. I'm running some nice wide Sunline Carbon Bars (28 inches) and Formula Oro Brakes. If you haven't ridden the Formula's - you are really missing out. These are the best things I've ever used.

DH Bike
I'm rocking a Giant Glory DH this season. I was considering a Sunday, but ended up with the Glory cause I got a screaming deal (leftover team frame and parts - Thanks!). Ive ben riding a lawwill suspension setup for years - and a 22.5 inch top tube. This setup is a dual link, and the top tube is 21 inches. The setup seems to be working jut fine, but only time will tell. Fox 40, Truevativ, Kenda Tires, WTB Wheels, 30.5 inch Sunline Bars, Easton flat pedals, and no brakes yet. I'm anticipating the Formula Dh brakes called "The One" but they are super pricey. My backup option is the Avid Brakes "Code".

In case you missed it (and know me) I did say I'd be running flat pedals this season. I've been a hard core Clipless Addict for years - and I'll probably still race in them, but I've decided on doing 75% of my riding on Flats. Why? I took a little trip to Seattly in February and got in some riding on a DH bike with Flats and realized how much skill I've lost over the years... I need to get it back. I need to stop using my clipless pedals as a crutch and use them like an advantage (like I used to).
Don't forget the 5/10 shoes.

Aight - so what races am I doing?
MSC - Crested Butte, Aspen, Sol Vista
maybe a national or 2 - but nothing serious
I also plan on heading up to Boise in September for an Hour long Super-D. i guess it runs from Bogus Basin to DT Boise. Sounds like it's right up my alley!

Since I have a newborn, and my wife is not a big fan of injuries - so I've promised her no podiums. That being said, I fully expect to have some top 10's.

I'll be posting up my 2008 Event Schedule soon, as well as my sponsor list for the season.

I suck

I know, I know...

I'm back now - should be for real this time.

I love budweiser commercials!

MIchelin 32 DH tire review

Aight - if you know me, then you know my fondness for tires.
I live and die by the rubber - and i'm about as picky as you'll ever get.
To quote EC "I can live with bad geometry, I can even live with bad suspension - but I won't ride or race without great tires!"

I'll try reviewing most of the tires that I ride this season... I do have my tire hookups open again, So I'll be getting a fair amount and variety of tires.

Let's start with the infamous Michelin 32

I've been riding on this tire since it's inception... and have seen some small improvements along the way. Over all the charector and style of this tire hasn't changed at all, and you'd ride today's version the same way as you would the first generate. This is the tire you throw on for high-speed outdoor motocross style riding. When I'm on a mixed conditions course where I'll be charging the whole run - this is the tire I grab. Back in the day - i used to race for michelin, and this was the team's fav tire - and was always the tires we ran while we figured out the course, we'd adjust tires for the conditions later.

The tire is completely predictable - i feel comfortable drifting, and letting the front end break loose (not fast, but fun!). for big, rocky and rooty gnar sections -this tire is definetly the one. It'll take anything and rarely flat - infact, I run regular tubes in this tire.

The knobs don't appear to stick off the sides of the tire as much as some of the other tires out there, but honestly, I've never lost my front end with this tire (unless I really deserved it). It WILL hold you all day long.

Break in time is significant. When I was racing, I'd sometimes tear up the tire before I'd break it in (I used to ride like an a$$). nowadays - I get significant time out of these tires as I'll take 4-5 runs before I really start to push the tire hard. I notice that this helps me to achieve a longer lasting and more predictable tire. NEVER race on one of these without breaking it in first! You really need to have the tire starting to wear a bit before you get optimum traction and predictability.

So - for high speed, rocky and mixed terrain (including roots) - reach for this tire.
When does this tire suck? really flat courses when you need to pedal. or really smooth courses. I guess the tire doesn't suck on the smooth stuff - but you've got better options out there.
Avoid this tire for muddy conditions also. It'll work in a pinch - but you'd want to cut the "inside" outer knobs off for optimum shedding (I've done this many times). The tire is just too dam fat to be good in slop - so look for a spike or the 16 in sloppy conditions.


Aight - more reviews to come! I've got all the michelin dh series - the all mountain extreme, panaracer cinder, panaracer rampage, maxxis high rollers (3 sizes), minion (DHR and DHF), and possibly some schwalbe tires!!

I'm Back!

Ok - I have a little baby, but that doesn't mean i can't get back to my blog right?

The collective is putting out a new movie soon called "Seasons" -
check it out here


More Mountain Biking Videos >>

I'm a DAD!!!

Wow - sorry for the lack of posts, but at the same time - not so much.

I hope to be posting full time again soon, but until then -


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Sam Hill 1:04

Seasame Street Music

If you're into musicians... this might your bag.
Compliments of "JohnnyBiker" who sent me this gem over the weekend.

My Lottery Ticket

ya ya -
I've got it in writing... so it must be true!



>From Desk of Robert Kenolly
Principal Attorney
Supreme Chambers


Attn: Sir/Madam.

Compliments of the day to you. I must solicit your confidentiality and assure you that I am contacting you in good faith and this proposal will be of mutual benefit. I am Robert Kenolly (Esq.), a legal Practitioner. My client late Mr. Andrew was killed with his entire family in fatal auto crash, sparing none of their lives, some years ago.

Before his death, I assisted him in the deposit of some funds with a bank for safekeeping. The funds have remained unclaimed since his death, and such unclaimed funds are appropriated and returned to the treasury as a matter of policy. Considering the lack of success in my bid to locate any of his relatives for over a year now, I hereby solicit your consent to enable me present you as the Next of Kin to my deceased client.

I am contacting you for this sole reason and strongly believe that the bank does not deserve to inherit the funds. These reasons led to my resolve to claim the funds, which was why I contacted you. With your permission, I will proceed to establish you as the next of kin/Beneficiary to my late client. As soon as this is done, you will then give instructions to the bank, to transfer the deposited funds into another account you will provide, after which we shall then share the funds upon agreed terms.

When I receive your response, I will provide you with further details.

I await your reply,

Robert Kenolly Esq.

Bad Day at the Office

Big Johnny over at Drunk Cyclist posted this bad boy - made me think of the good ol' days, working at CDW-G in Chicago.
Then again - I still hate technology as much as I use it (and sell it).

glumbert - Bad Day at the Office

Microsoft to buy Yahoo?

Less than 2 hours ago, word came down that Microsoft execs met with Yahoo's Board - and offered them $31 per share. For those of you keeping the math - currently, Yahoo is trading athttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif $28.5, and an offer of $31 puts the deal at about $44.6 Billion dollars.

Yahoo's profit in 2007 declined to "only" 206 million.... yea


Here's the story from AP on Yahoo

F1rst

Click HERE to see the original



Dammit - now I want to ride the lifts...

new camera

got a new point and shoot Canon - would love and SLR... but too many toys on the list before that one happens.

Editors

Saw this gem of a player on DrunkCyclist - the music's not bad... but the player is pretty cool

Drunk Woman Laughs about killing cyclist

Via Drunkcyclist Blog and my boy Dan's blog -

WTF is wrong with people?????

This woman get 10.5 years (thanks judge!) for getting drunk, driving into a bicycle lane in Tuscon, and killing the cyclist.
As it turns out... she got caught on tape laughing about killing the guy - and the judge got to hear it, so he made sure to give her the maximum.

Bitch

Story from Tuscon
Video from CNN
Tuscon Lawyer Blog Post

WTF is going on???? This just ain't right...

http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?PageID=330

DENVER POST EDITORIAL ON FORT COLLINS ATTACKS

The Denver Post, Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Bicycle 'boxing' no kids' game

Denver Post Editorial

Sue O'Brien, Editor of the Editorial Page



A series of attacks on bicyclists by teen hoodlums on wheels in northern Colorado cannot easily be dismissed as youthful indiscretion: These are vicious, potentially lethal assaults that should be punished severely.

So far, three male teens from Windsor have been arrested in the case. One, a 17-year-old, has been charged with felony assault, reckless endangerment and underage use of alcohol. Authorities say the boys come from comfortable, middle-class backgrounds.

Beginning in December, police in Windsor and Fort Collins received reports of about a dozen incidents with the deceptively innocuous-sounding name of "bicycle boxing." The reality is anything but sporting: Participants in a four-wheel-drive vehicle apparently rolled up next to unsuspecting riders and one teen struck victims with an aluminum baseball bat. Sometimes, bike riders were forced off the road by the motor vehicle.

That there have been no fatalities is just pure luck. A rider hunched over the drop-style handlebars of a touring bicycle traveling at moderate speed is extremely vulnerable to a serious, disabling injury or death, even when wearing a safety helmet.

Fort Collins and Windsor police haven't learned of any similar attacks elsewhere in the United States, so this appears to be homegrown Colorado product.

Windsor Police Chief John Michaels said he's heard only vague rumors of how the term "bicycle boxing" came about.

Charlie Henderson, president of the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club, said the attacks in northern Colorado are "the first we've heard of." "It's something they've got to squash," Henderson added.

Patrick McCormick, spokesman for the American League of Bicyclists in Washington, D.C., also said the Colorado incidents are a first.

Both Henderson and McCormick say bicyclists often encounter hostile motorists, and most long-time riders have been targeted for road-rage of one kind or another. But those usually are chance encounters. The "bicycle boxing" teens allegedly sought out their victims.

For now, the attacks are being handled as a juvenile case, and the Larimer County district attorney's office hasn't decided yet whether to charge those involved as adults.

Given the assailants' apparent depraved indifference to the potential for death or serious injury and the large number of attacks, adult felony charges might be an appropriate way to discourage wannabe copycats.

Meantime, the teens' parents should ask themselves what kind of monsters they've raised. They may not like the answer.