Really that vain?

Besides the whole
'Planned Obsolesence' thing,
my other big complaint was
Shimano's cable routing for their
road grouppos.

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?

I think it's funny

thanks Andy for the FB post of this:

Funny cause it's the all to common attitude?
The note I leave in permanent marker will be funnier though.

New Times Union post...

Latest Times Union post is.....here.
Comment away, or not.
I'm going to bed and
cannot participate in this electronic merry-go-round anymore.
I will be biked up this week though!

Not Hanging Around

Well, sort of...
If I'm not riding,
it feels like I'm not moving...
that I'm being a bum.
But I've been moving.

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.

Finding the Tipping Point

I've found it a couple times in the last month.
Been trying to shake the fun,
get psyched on living?

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.

Another Show

Another Friday night
brings another 'core show
and another slice for me.

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?

On the Road.

A shot from one of three trips from Spokane to Albion, Wa. and back.

I can honestly say between:
a camera,
great conversations,
and some deep thinking,
the time and miles pass quickly.

While I was out...

While doing a walking tour of Port Angeles,
we visited a bike shop in a historical building.
And they just happen to stock Globes.
I have eyed the website a couple times,
but my local shop has never stocked the fixed gear models
or the hauling ones.
Seeing both the Live and the Haul in person
really got gears turning for bike #2 or 3!

When the insurance FINALLY pays out for my totalled Gunnar 'cross,
I have to replace it with another race worthy rig
(more on that later).
But I learned a lesson (maybe) on only having one bike.
I was trying to keep it simple,
but there are those times when your bike is not going to be there.
Then what?
And as much as I am able to function with my 'cross
and a big messenger bag,
there are some trips that would be better suited to a cargo type bike.
Especially large artwork.
My last gallery drop I utilized a kid trailer, which worked well,
but could've been better.
So maybe something like a Haul 1 or 2 with a front rack,
or the Live 1 or 2 with an xtracycle kit.
The possibilities.
I need to wrap up the bike search soon though!

back on the path

well... we don't have any bike paths.

But it looks like I'm gonna be able to put alot of crap
behind me.
The trip helped sort some things out.
Because I had to put my head around bigger things.
Such as meeting my birth father for the first time.
And the big surprise?
Meeting my other half-sister.
But "sister" is the correct title.
My family keeps growing and growing,
and it's awesome.

I spent WAY too much time driving around.
To the point I can't stand cars, again.
So that's good.
I also spent time in a totally bike friendly city,
and wasn't cycling. That MAKES you want to ride.
So I'm back home, and back to the drawing board.
Trying to figure out what my new bike will be.

It's mind numbing going through catalogs looking for parts,
measuring & remeasuring,
writting down part numbers.
I tried to do it before I flew out,
and after a couple of hours,
threw the paper away and pondered buying a car.

It's easy to build your dream bike,
over a couple of months,
as you have a regular rider.

But to try and piece together your dream rig out of a catalog,
with out being able to handle the parts,
double check the overall fit & look?
Killing me here.

So, it'll be a compromise.
Start with a base,
and assume there's gonna be a few changes (or a lot).
I know what I love,
and I do considered myself...

SAVED BY BIKE

Being Elsewhere

NEW POST!
Kind of a summary of my trip to the Northwest,
really far Northwest.

Click and enjoy.
And thanks for stopping in.
I'm still amazed anyone even reads this blog....
or dumbfounded.

Either way, THANKS!

Go Skate!

at Hillyard today...
a friendly reminder of NY's shortcomings....

Heading out....

Sometimes clearing your head,
means filling it with even more things.

It's just a mental change of scenery.
In this case it's a physical change too.
Put together a new skate,
grabbed the bags, cameras, art stuff,
and some things to pass the time.

Psyched,
but nervous.

Ready,
but already worn out.

Managed to drag myself through security
in record time.
Especially with all the crap jammed into
my bag.

In one hour I will be in the air,
on my way to Seattle....