Wednesday, July 29, 2009

And on the 8th day he rested...

No riding today. I had the day off from work, Jack's birthday is tomorrow and so I had fun with the family today. Tomorrow I have things to do with Jack and so I won't ride again. But I do get to see gerbils in 3D. It really can't get much better than that.

Some tubes came into the shop, but the tubes for the main triangle, the lugs and BB are still in transit. So far, just the head tube, seat and chain stays and drop outs have arrived.

I can't wait to see how this thing turns out. Neil has some tricky stuff planned for at least one area in particular, but I refuse to give it out here.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cernitz Bikes

My buddy Neil is building me one sweeeet singlespeed cyclocross frame. I can't wait. He has started a blog to show it going together. I imagine in the future other frames he builds will be up there too.

Here is the link: Cernitz Bikes


Here are the parts that are either in my garage or on order for the bike build

Easton EC90X fork
Easton EC90 carbon cranks
Easton ceramic bb
Easton EC90SLX tubular carbon wheels (this is currently on the Curtlo, but the curtlo has other wheelsets, one carbon tubular and a alloy tubular (need to order still), plus I have a clincher wheelset for the bikes too I can use.)
Crank Brothers Eggbeater SL pedals
Ritchey WCS Stem
Ritchey WCS road bar
Selle San Marco Aspide Saddle
Chris King headset

Still need:
Thomson seatpost
Campy Record Brake Levers (no shifter guts)
TRP EuroX brakes
Tires, not sure which yet
Chain

176 miles in 7 days

That is probably a record for me. That's all for this post...just wanted to put that out there. Just wanted to, ya know, pat myself on the back a little...

Well one more thing, no I still haven't begun to lose any of my California weight.

Alright and a little complaint before I leave...will people please stop spitting on me and giving me the middle finger? I have been spit on by assholes for no reason other than they probably think that guys in lycra on bikes are homosexuals or something. Once was when I was with my brother-in-law over the weekend and then last night. Then a guy almost hits me tonight when I obviously had the right of way--it wasn't even a close thing--and still calls me an Mother-F'er and gives me the bird as he turned on to the freeway on-ramp. Where are all these jackasses coming from? It has me a bit grumpy.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Flippin' Hot

Temp on the road on the way home from work tonight...


It is probably hard to see, but the cyclometer has a temperature gauge on the lower information bar. It reads 109 degrees. It actually got up to 111.5 degrees on one particular stretch of baked asphalt. In the shade it read about 104 to 106 along my route. I took the ride home somewhat easy obviously and I even had a water bottle with me. I usually don't worry about the bottle since my commute is just a little under 13 miles back home. I don't usually get dehydrated during that time. I am pretty sure I would have tonight.

By the way, 150 miles in the last 6 days. Not too shabby. Too bad I can't seem to lose the weight I gained in CA.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Dave Formerly Known as DTP

Dave is faster than I am on the bike. I wanted to be honest. I gave him lots of crap for being out of shape in the past. He is in better shape than I am. He has less fat on him and I could tell out there on the road bike today he would have been the better man had we decided to throw down and make an issue of it.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Overheard

Will at the shop to nice looking woman at the shop: "...it works best take your hand and run it along inside until you find the prick..."

He was describing how to find the thorn or other foreign matter that caused a flat tire. I, of course, had to snicker.

Yes, I have the ability to turn the innocuous into the iniquitous.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A Warm Welcome to...

my GT Zaskar 9r, aka, Vanilla. I have dubbed it that because it isn't anything fancy. It just works. And that is all I wanted in a mtb. I took it to Browns Camp today and it handled everything really really well. Fits like a glove and all I had to do is put one of my saddles on and a different set of tires that would roll a bit better. Turns out that the rear tire I put on is slightly too big--its a Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.4, but I have a couple of other tires in the garage that will work just fine.

A more extensive review to come later. Here is a picture of it before I made the saddle and tire changes:


And after the ride this afternoon. Not too dirty...yet.


Back in the early 90's I really wanted a Zaskar bad...and now many, many years later I finally have one.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Triathlons: One more and I am out

I am going to Re-do the Idaho Half next year and then I am done with these things. At least for a while.

The payoff is not enough. I am in need of a new challenge. Just something with less swimming. And running.

Not sure what the challenge will be.

I let you all know when I figure it out.

By the way, had the worst time ever at Browns Camp today in the Tillamook Forest. This is what happens when one rides a bike that is not the correct size. At one point I remember thinking that if mountain biking felt this way all the time I wouldn't bother.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Randomness: Bachelor Parties

I have an idea. Why don't guys have their bachelor parties when they aren't getting married? Seems to make more sense. Especially when they don't even have a girlfriend or anything. Then having a bachelor party seems to make more sense. All of the debachery that seems to go on an some of these shindigs might help cheer a guy up that isn't having much luck with the ladies. I mean having a bachelor party right before a wedding seems inappropriate to me--at least the stereotypical one. But a bachelor party when you are down on your luck with the ladies...well that might be just the thing. A slumpbuster event perhaps.

Past Recollections: CPC Euphoria LT




I helped design and build this frame about 10-12 years ago. 5 inches of travel. The rear end is somewhat flexy. With all of the CNC work it is really over the top. Look at the chainstay. Each side started out as a 25 pound block of aluminum and ended up weighing about .4 lbs. It was cool to do in hindsight dispite my lingering feelings that I wasted my time there and should have been going to school instead. But, hindsight is...

I was in charge of all of the drawings and the design. I also helped or designed the individual parts on the CAD program. The owner of the company came up with the pivot position around the bottom bracket shell and how to make it work as well as a few other tricks. The aluminum front triangle was hard annodized which made it virtually scratch proof. The Garlock DU bushings actually rode/pivoted on the hard annodized surface on the bottom bracket shell. I was always a little worried about that part--I was worried about how durable it was. But, no worries, the company was done just a couple of years later anyway. I wonder if anyone is still riding any of the frames we built. This one isn't mine. I didn't keep any of them. Frankly, I didn't think they rode as well as some other things out there. But, with a little refinement, it would a been a sweet frameset.

Anyway, this is a blast from the past.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Still In California...

...tying up lose ends. Not that all of them will be tied up when I head back next week. The focus now is on selling everything that Dad had that wasn't given to us kids. There is a great deal of stuff, most of it of little value. But regardless we are having an estate sale this weekend. Lots of tools, some furniture and quite a bit of stereo equipment and LP's. The stereo equipment was state of the art about 20 years ago. There are some speakers here that cost my Dad about $8K when I was a kid. Now, I am just hoping that someone will give us something for them so that I don't have to store them.

There still is a camper trailer to sell, a Mustang Cobra, a new truck, a Harley Davidson and some undeveloped real estate. We are hoping to break even on his debts. The truck and the Harley are not worth near what he owes on them. Then he also has a personal loan that is fairly large. In the end we will not get much of anything in the way of an inheritance, but that is OK. We all received some personal items and a few things that he wanted each of us to have and that is enough.

Dad, did leave us with a few change jars. Enough that all of us and our kids went to Disneyland a couple of days ago. That was pretty fun. I know this post doesn't have anything to do with cycling at all, but I just feel like putting some other stuff up. I have a family blog, and so I could post them up there, but for whatever reason I think I will put some up here as well.


I put this pick in here because it is a pretty good picture of Bridget. The girl with us is my niece. My boys wanted to ride with my brother and sisters.



I am pretty talented. Going double barrel to shoot the bad guys on the Buzz Lightyear ride and while keeping my 10 month old safe besides...I got skilz


California driver?!?!


Colin on the Nemo submarine ride.

My kids have had a blast playing with their cousins. Much of the time has been spent in the backyard. Here's just a few pictures:


Some 4th of July fun.



Keeping cool when it is near 100 degrees...


Jack on the right with his Cousin Raquel.

I have no time to ride at all. Everyday I am working with my siblings to get things moved, cleaned, fixed, faxed, sent, etc., etc. It never ends. I am a week behind where I thought I would be. But, it is what it is. I have gained some weight. I am mildly upset about it. When I get back to PDX I am sure there will be much more time to ride than I currently have.

And the funeral went off fine. I spoke along with my brother. My sisters wussed out. They said they didn't want to cry. So my brother and I did. Blast my brother too. I had a speech written that was lighthearted with just a hint of sappiness. But then Patrick had to go and get all serious and emotional. I just could swing my speech as written. Instead, I went from the hip and managed to say things that were more inline with the tone of the event. I still tossed in some stupid jokes, but I had to cut it way back. My original thought was to keep it lighthearted, afterall funerals are serious enough without the family making things worse for everyone else with a bunch of crying. But, what can I say. I managed to get sappy anyway. Weirdly, even some of the things that I had thought to say that I thought would be funny actually choked me up while talking of them that day. And, for the record I hate getting all choked up and letting the tears roll. But, whatever. It is over and everyone really thought it was well done--like anyone would say different as such a function. Nevertheless, I was pleased.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Great Ride This Morning

I rode from Mom's house in Grand Terrace, Ca toward Redlands, out on San Timoteo Canyon Road then cut up and over the hills and back down to Moreno Valley. From there I dropped down a bit to Riverside and then back to home. A nice 34 mile loop. The temp was in the mid 80's as I was finishing at 10AM. It is a dry heat and it felt good. I am getting used to the weather change down here. Sadly, I think I could actually like it down here. Lots of roads to ride and the food is good. I like Portland much better, but I could deal with it. That is something I didn't think I could say over the past few years.

But wait...

No cyclocross close by--at least not of any quality (mud, rain, etc.).

Nope. Can't live down here. No way.