Let's hope for a snow day!
It's green.
And beautiful.
And here!
What actions will have the most impact
What lessons will they learn
What will shape them as adults
Sometimes it's intentional.
But it always feels like a crap shoot.
I would like to think the art and bikes
that fills my life will only be a positive.
But maybe they'll grow sick of art,
and resent it as an adult?
But bikes?
Alot of kids grow up with a bike.
But it falls the way with many toys.
Some may continue with bmx,
until they get a car.
So I commute daily by bike.
Yes. The main reason is pure selfishness.
But I want them to percieve it as
normal. Accepted.
This last year I feel I failed a little.
The little man transitioned
onto a trail-a-bike.
But that was the extent of family rides.
I need to make a focused effort.
Everyone on bikes.
And having fun!
At the last 'cross race of the season,
the family finally was able to attend.
My oldest expressed a great interest
in racing.
Kind of caught me off guard.
Now I have to figure out a plan.
This week he becomes old enough.
Do I race the combined class,
and stay along side of him.
To offer motivation and keep it fun
(and take continual lasts)?
Then race the next field,
which at full effort,
will net me some more last places?
I'll figure this out while it unfolds
I'm sure.
I'm just psyched he might be 'into it'.
And I have to remember he might
walk away from it mid race.
But the first little man
will have his first "real bike" this week!
Where it goes from here, I don't know.
Extra cool was the hook up from my
favorite alleycat mechanic on the bike.
And the team kit from the local club.
There are some great people on bikes!
Eleven straight days of work.
Leading up to the holidays.
It's the same crabiness that takes over
when you're REALLY hungry.
But times ten.
And the mall shows just as ugly face
as Walmart. But then add all the frantic
running around and rudeness
that engulfs you.
I know it's not new.
But this year caught me off guard.
And I struggle to find any enjoyment
with this season.
I think we all need a huge snow day.
Where no one ventures outside,
everything is closed,
and I can sit with a cup of coffee,
and watch the lights.
And then go for a quiet ride.
Think SNOW!
Not today though.
The light snow flurries means
it's now time to clear off the deck.
A month late. As usual.
Santa's work must be done.
A painting is due.
Some winter 'cleaning'.
Which is a result of digging out
cold weather commuting gear.
Procrastination becomes
the motivator.
Gallery window for the UnDead show.
Awesome!
I have to work some skulls into this
holiday season. We'll see how.
I would almost say opening night
was anti-climatic. That accomplishing goals isn't as satisfying. It's
the work to actually get there that feels good.
Regardless. What was the highlight? Two really cool cafe racers in the
gallery. I spent most of my time crawling through them. And
entertaining the thought of a new bike.
The kind of bike with a motor.....
It was a good night for "art".
I like to go into the hibernating time
with a frame
or some parts.
Up until this week I had
nothing.
But I just got the ball rolling.
Gotta clean off the workbench.
Already took inventory of parts.
And as soon as the holiday season
is over, it's building time!
Will keep you posted!
I live in a zoo.
A quiet day for reflection
of those things I'm thankful for,
family.
And some mandatory food induced
nap time on the couch.
I'm a product of suburbia.
Something that I haven't liked since...
highschool.
And when it came time to buy a house. I wanted something 'in town' and
central to everything. Over the years I've reaped the benefits of
living in the city. Skip trying to find a parking place for anything
in town, just bike.
While walking the two blocks back home I wonder if my kids will want
the opposite. A ranch house out in the country? A 'new' house in some
nicely named subdivision? A place that doesn't embrace cycling? Where
every commute must be by car. Or will they want something that
represents how they grew up? I'm not sure.
All the art is set.
Thirteen in all.
Plus,
another ten right down the street,
at the gallery.
There is absolutely NOT
enough coffee to get through the day!
And a random mention while staging,
someone other than my mom
reads this blog! Better get back on it!
Along with ALL of the photos
waiting for me to edit & post!
Tomorrow's list is growing,
more to follow!
On another note:
finally brewed the perfect cup of coffee
and a big noreaster is rolling in...
just in time for the next 'cross race!
This one was particularly promising
since EVERYONE was in Mass.
And being able to visit a friend who
works at Ommegang, was an extra
plus!
I'll post more.
And get the couple hundred photos up
on flickr. That's the plan for Thursday!
Finally getting around to setting up the
new bike.
Pedals, set the seat, along with setting
up the extra wheels with new tires.
Rainy days are only awesome
for checking things off of the list.....
And obviously if cars are turning right,
I fall back a bit.
And I try to stay out of blindspots.
The other day commuting home,
I was three cars back as the light
turned red.
Instead of creeping to the front,
the thing you always hear drivers
complaining about,
I moved a little more into the lane,
and held my spot.
The driver behind me slowly crept.
Somehow I should just move?
As the light turns green,
I pace the car in front of me
2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet behind.
Keeping pace with the slow
rush hour traffic.
It's not hard.
As I enter the intersection
I'm almost a car length behind.
I check my position in the lane
since there's no shoulder after.
That's when the driver passes.
Overtaken in the intersection,
with no out,
flanked by a curb,
and a rear quarter panel.
I hit the brakes,
keep the cadence,
and drop onto this asshole's bumper.
Close?
As they passed,
I could've dropped my left hand down
and adjusted their mirror.
I pace a foot off of their bumper
for the next two lights,
as the driver chatted on their cell.
Then they turn into the grocery store.
Haphazardly parked,
and walked across the parking lot,
with the cell still glued to their ear.
Should I do it?
Fuck yeah!
So I dug into my bag,
found my little friend,
and glanced around the parking lot.
No one around.
I casually rolled up to the car.
No valve caps on,
even easier!
Leaned over,
and with a couple counterclockwise
turns...... out popped the core!
Followed by a too obvious.....
psssssssssssssssssssst!
I fumbled the core.
No time, people are approaching!
I push off to finish my commute.
Did that driver learn of what they did?
No.
But no most even care?
Doubtful.
I felt better.
If you're gonna throw 2 tons within
inches of me,
you're gonna be walkin'
when I find your car.
It might not be today,
or even next week.
The Karma Police?
I don't know.
Aggresive/bad driver therapy?
Maybe.
So my funk has left,
with help of my local shop and
the cycling lawyer.
Cashed out,
bikes ordered,
and I'm rolling again!
Familiar routines bring me happiness
I've realized.
And yes, you read that correct....
BIKES. As in more than one.
So we have plenty to talk about.
And the first 'cross race of the season
has already happened.
And I had a bike set up just in time.
I can't say it enough,
I (HEART) my bike shop!
More so than my bartender,
but don't tell them that.
Just Plain Ugly.
So Campy, with the ability to be
rebuilt, was my first choice. But the
cost has always been limiting,
especially for 'cross and everyday
commuting.
Then Sram came along.
Tucked in cables,
Well designed,
And multiple price levels.
So as I started my quest for a new
bike, I figured I'ld run Sram's Rival,
found on alot of mid-line bikes. Then
I stumbled upon this:
Shimano's 2011 105.
I seriously thought the bike wasn't
finished. Shifters have the same 105
body, just no visable cables....
Impressive. Still not a fan.
But impressed.
On the showroom floors this fall.
Turns out my bike is coming with the
ugly old 105, so we're gonna check
the bank account and hopefully swap
to Rival. Or I'm just gonna bury those
105's into the mud this season.
But I now know that I am really that
vain. To put fashion over possible
function. But the simple fact that colors
of the frame can be a deal breaker,
you gotta love what you ride, right?
At the bike shop getting the ride thing
sorted out.
Getting ready for cyclocross season.
First race is in TWO WEEKS.
Another wedding shoot lined up.
Try to get some tat time,
now that the shop is slowing down.
And trying to get all those little things,
the stuff that must be done before
WINTER, done.
It's a long list.
This week blew past in a day.
Lots of good things in the works!
Most should wrap up this next week.
Go get yourself hit by a car!
And then hold on for everything that follows.
Anger.
Panic.
Weightlessness,
Pain.
Panic.
Anger.
Pissed.
Disbelief.
Pissed! Pissed! Pissed!
Adrenaline.
Relief (kind of).
Stress.
And reality doesn't settle in for hours.
Then things start swelling.
The pain sets in.
The realization that your bike is done,
almost hurts more.
But you feel like you should be happy,
happy you survived.
But you're pissed that you are now
in this situation.
And it wasn't your decision, or fault.
You find fleeting moments when you're with the kids, that you have
another day with them. You tell yourself "I will now live everyday to
it's fullest!". No wasted hours on the couch. No missed opportunities.
But the bike isn't replaced yet.
You're renting a car.
There's no idea when you'll have,
your bike.
The car is new.
It's something you wouldn't own.
Everyone likes it.
Getting around is easy.
Fifteen minutes to get to work?
No problem!
It lures you in.
The anger has temporarily passed.
You start pondering...
'maybe I should buy a car with the insurance money'
You start looking online for various forms of transportation.
A motorcycle? What kind?
A pratical sedan?
An SUV for the winter?
And then the funk returns.
More than the lazy sitting on the couch eating a whole bag of chips.
It's nearly a depression.
The internal anger towards inattentive drivers has cooled.
The need to stretch the legs
and spin the gears is gone.
New bike mags get lost on the coffee table, unread.
There's nothing.
You are, nothing.
Then I had to fill up the tank
of that lame ass car.
I looked at the pump.
F me!
I don't get reimbursed for gas.
That rental car company doesn't deserve my support.
My local bike shop?
They deserve support!
So at the end of the week,
I dropped off that car with a full tank of gas, and walked away.
And went to my local shop to rent a bike.
I feel ALOT better about submitting that bill to the insurance company!
You're inattentive driver can support me and the local bike shop.
Where did the fixed gears go?
I see more mopeds
but the bikes
are not getting dumped on Craigslist.
Will there be a revival of sorts?
Or will they linger in mom's basement,
as hipsters finish grad. school,
and drive into yuppiedom
in their new Volvo?
I can honestly say between:
a camera,
great conversations,
and some deep thinking,
the time and miles pass quickly.
