We got the house....

Signed the papers and got the keys. Life is good.

Projects for the next 365 days.
1. convert garage to art studio / workshop
2. create amazing Japanese style garden in back yard
3. build desks for study/craft room
4. build privacy fence
5. renovate bathroom
6. renovate kitchen
7. create amazing perennial/butterfly garden
8. create HUGE vegetable garden
9. plant cypress, redbud, and other trees
10. build chicken coop
11. install gutters
12. get rain barrells
13. build fish pond
14. renovate laundry room
15. renovate front porch
16. put up lots of bird houses/feeders

That should keep me busy.

New bike project...

I'll be the first to admit that this bike is somewhat retarded... just to get that out of the way.

Brooklyn Machine Works frame built in Brooklyn of all places.
The Chub Hub is back and I laced it up to some of the new H+Son rims. 42mm deep. Same as a Shamal but with standard spoke nipples.

Hyphy bars from the guys out in California.
Does this bike look ridiculous? Yes. Is it super comfortable and fun to ride around? Yes and yes.

Bike messengers....

Had a conversation with a guy today in the shop in his 60's that was a bike messenger in the 70's. Hip problems took him off the bike a while ago but he had both hips replaced a last year and now he is riding again like an addict. He was telling me about how he keeps seeing so many kids around on track bikes and it blows his mind.

To my whiny emo friends... you know who you are...

HOLY SHIT!

God bless the internet! You can all think the Metal Inquisition blog for this gem.

Losing my mind...

I found out today that if all goes as it should we will be closing on the house next Tuesday. The next week will hold much racing around finding missing paperwork, tons of stress, and hopefully the actual act of closing. On top of all this I am sick. Skipped out on riding this morning and went to the gym instead. This turned out to be a good move because as the day went on I started to feel worse and I imagine a few hours of riding this morning would not have exactly made it better. This feels like one of those 24 hour bugs so hopefully I will be feeling better tomorrow.

4:30 pm... Cary St.

Guy in a chicken suit enjoying a beer in front of Moshi Moshi. Does this need an explanation? I think not.

Oatmeal cookies

Normally I am more of a chocolate chip guy but there is something different about Sarah's oatmeal cookies. Delicious.

First for real ride in two months. Did about 3 hours with some of the team and others. Weather could not have been any better. I was hurting at times (out of shape) and the saddle seemed worse (need to toughen up) but I can't complain.
Only one downside. 3/4 of the way through the ride Beckmann managed to throw his chain as he was getting ready to sprint after Troy. This was just dumb luck and it threw his balance completely off and he basically just fell over. Sarah C rolled over him and ate it as well almost rolling across the street into an oncoming car. I was ahead and looked back in time to see her almost get squashed and it was really messed up to watch. After everyone got up and was ok Sarah said when she went down she was most worried about having the borrowed bike she was riding go under that car. Luckily aside from a bit of road rash no body was hurt and hopefully this gets our annual stupid training ride crash out of the way.
Still I feel amazing. Got back, took a shower, now it's time to hit up Kroger for some lunch and dinner fixings.

To everyone racing this weekend... good luck. See you later.

Outlaw Earth...

Well it may not be the best name for a bag but the bags are nice. A nice mix of features from Chrome and Timbuk2. Kevin Dillard of Demoncats came down and did a photoshoot for their catalog and some of the CBC staff (including myself) along with Andrew Alli helped out.

Back on the bike...

After almost eight weeks out I got back on the road bike yesterday to spin around the riverside drive route. Feels amazing to be riding again but damn I am in terrible shape.

Oh well... 8:30 am ride tomorrow with the Sarahs and some pro speed-skater. Next week the training starts.

This just in... The Rat cops to doping...

Jeff over at "actions speak" broke the story late Wednesday night. In the last two days there was much speculation as to weather the man known only as "The Rat" would indeed come forward and admit to using performance enhancing drugs. Now the truth is out. I can only hope that Tyler Hamilton will see this act of transparency and be inspired to reveal the location of his disappearing twin.

Hyphy Bars

We got in Hyphy Bars this week. These are hand built out in California. Much cooler than the average riser bar and amazing light for a cro-mo bar. 25.4 clamp only for now. Word is a 31.8 is on the way though. White or black, 2" or 3" rise. $60.I could not resist putting some on my Olmo for the time being. I'll end up up putting them on the Brooklyn frame I have in the works. But for now they are here. The grip is a big larger than standard so they don't take brakelevers and it's a stretch to put on grips but they do set up nice.

Hyphy bars, chub hubs, gangsta track and more...

I'll post up more tomorrow.

Ukrops ground beef seasoned Sauers hamburger spices.
Fresh tomatos
Mixed greens
More cous cous (what can I say... I'm predictable)
<$5

New cross rig

Traded the old frame straight up for a new one... upgraded the fork... painted it obnoxious green. Now I just have to wait a few more weeks to ride it.

Pine-nut cous cous
Tilapia cooked in olive oil and adobo
Field greens
$3.22

My life changed....

...the first time I listened.

I don't get it

The idea of protesting at the Republican National Convention is totally lost on me. Sure lots of shitty policy comes out of that half of our government but the same can easily be said about the other half as well. Making a stink and getting arrested does not exactly accomplish anything and it certainly is not going to change the minds of those who feel strongly enough about the GOP to go to the convention in the first place. Seriously all the dirt balls protesting should just stay home. Think about all the gas you can save by NOT going out to do this kind of thing. If you knuckleheads could not be counted on for this kind of douchebaggery each year I would think they would have to invest less time and state money in putting a bunch of cops out there to keep an eye on you. Besides trying to disrupt a group's little get together just because you disagree with them seems so... I don't know... un-American? I don't mean that in the silly waving flags way but more in the freedom of speech way. They have the right to their opinions too. Spend your time volunteering at a Democratic candidates campaign headquarters or something if you feel that strongly about sharing your views... in November we will see who comes out on top. My money is that the winner will be a carreer politician who makes far more money than I do and really does not have any reason to keep the interests of average citizen in mind. All this posturing and grandstanding is just silly.