Still Rolling...

Well, it's been a while.
Cross season is over,
unless you're doing Nationals.
The road guys are bolting up
for a winter of indoor trainers.
And the commuters have dwindled
to the dedicated few.
And those with no other options.
I fall somewhere in between both.

I hit my five year slump in dedication
and spent the last couple of months
not racing,
and appreciating the expanded limits
of using a car.

Sometimes, not having a car or the
option of using a car, can make me
feel like a total loser. But I'm also
very aware of the addictive or
uncontrolled decisions I make when
I have a vehicle. More on that later.

Right now I'm trying to build up the
motivation to be a dedicated winter
commuter, again. The torrential rain
that seems to be promising snow
for my commute home tonight makes
the thoughts that much more intense.

Old is new?

Well,
new can get old, eventually.
There are times,
when I think I spend too much time
thinking.

Right now I think I'm pretty much over
being 'the bike guy'. It's something I've
taken issue with several times. But for
the last couple of months I've found
myself at the limits of 'only a bike'.
And it's shifted to spending more time
in a car, than on a bike.

I could ponder this thing to death.
Actually, I'm pretty sure I already have,
several times. What is possibly ironic,
is I'll probably buy a car, be let down,
and years from now, be car free,
again. Stupid me. A vicious cycle.

Neato stuff!

Well, first off I've almost pulled the plug
on this blog, twice.
But it's easier to ignore it as life
becomes too busy.
But isn't it always?

So maybe it becomes the online
journal of my frantic & sporadic mind?

Bikes are still the drug of choice,
and they get mixed in with art & the
camera. So on that note.

I almost hit delete on this particular
email. You order one thing years ago,
and receive weekly adds every week.
I should unsubscribe, but you never
know. Lucky us!

Timbuk2 was my standby bag, first a
plain old medium, then you realize
exactly how much you can carry by
bike. And then the upgrades begin!
So I got a multi paneled large. But
in America we're never satisfied until
we over do it. And we have to be
different (cause that makes you just
a bit better than the guy next to you
at the light). So I got on the pedestal
and got a Reload. And why not get a
rolltop for those 'hauling' car free bike
commuter needs?

But the biggest issue is camera gear!
Camera bags suck to ride with, plus
you still need to stash tools & tubes.
And a messenger bag is unnerving
when you have lenses digging into
your back, flashes bumping into
cameras, and you have to dig through
it all.

Finally my need was met! Available in
Small or Medium, I think I'ld still take
a Large option. Timbuk2 now has an
insert available. Lined, zipper closure,
and adjustable dividers. Good thing I'm
a pack rat & still have all of my bags.
I'll set this up & give you an update!

It's the time of the season.

Ahhh
Long time with no posts!
Cross season is in full swing,
and I've sidelined myself,
with camera in hand,
for now.

The flickr site is slowly
getting uploaded.
And I'll have to get myself back to
posting. Lots of catching up to do.

Ommegang was the latest adventure,
with a healthy serving of mud,
and beer, as usual.

Electric Children

Spreading this stuff thin!

www.artgeekstudio.com

Just set up a smugmug pro account
for the 'cross season. Gonna be a son-
of-a-bitch getting last years photos
loaded, but seems like the easiest way
for people to get their photos.

Along with the other electronic children
I've been ignoring, there's a whole
'nother project in the works.

Set on Repeat?

Oh,
it's been a week.
And nothing has changed.
Barely made it through Irene,
a couple days of clear skies...
and the rain is back.

In my usual laziness
I never put away the pump & hoses,
so when I woke up to another yard
filled with water.
As I made coffee,
all I needed to do was plug the pump
back in.
Laziness Rewarded.

Not to make another post about boring
weather. Those were the conversations
I used to have with my dad,
when there was nothing to talk about.
We didn't share the same interest
in anything until I had kids. That was
our one common bond, weather was
the conversation filler during the
periodic phone call.

Analogy, sports related. This weather
is much like (and not helping) my
prep for the upcoming 'cross season.

So let's move this back to the usual
bike related things!

How High's the Water?

Not 3ft high,
but still rising.
Actually it's tapering off.

The talking heads on tv say 6",
but with neighbor's run off,
I've got more than that!
Over the berms,
through the ditch,
and over the back deck.
Then...
a nice 6" deep stream past the house,
onto the driveway... away it goes.
Worth the moving dirt this weekend.
Except...
for the water that went around the
other side,
and into the basement.

Not flooded out,
just wet floors....

Time to open some windows
and start cleaning up.

First Tracks

We made it out!
Not out of the storm yet,
but we got out on the trails early this
morning.

Years ago we took the dogs out to
the preserve,
and came back covered with ticks.
Something I never experienced while
living out west. The fact that most of
the land in the northeast is private and
posted really killed my motivation for
mountain biking. So it was back to the
20", a couple times. A short go at the
road bike - but I don't take myself too
serious. Mix in commuting, and the
perfect weapon was the 'cross bike.

But today was fun. Sandy & packed
rolling trails, totally doable on a 'cross
bike. And no tick issues today. Looks
like I'll be heading back for more trail
time as the kids head back to school.
And I think I'll try to squeeze another
day in with the not-so-mini-me.

No Man is an Island

Well
maybe in this case...

As I planned on my vacation with the
larger mini-me...
total man time of pizza, ice cream,
movies, sleeping in,
and some biking...

I pulled the trigger and ordered some
DIRT.
A dump truck full.
Sitting in my driveway.

But it's not for a pump track in the
backyard. Or jumps.

I spent this evening berming
.... my house.

This hurricane is turning out to be the
fun sucker of our vacation.

We'll see if this house is gonna float
or sink on Sunday.

Still gonna grab mini-me to hit the
trails tomorrow morning, before I
finish our storm prep.

Dog Days

The first 'official' day of vacation.
Some errands
and alot of laying around like dogs.

Nonsense

This sums up my life in many ways.
This is what sits behind me
as I stare at the computer....

Get On It.

Single speed 'cross bike everywhere.
Here
and there.
Everywhere.

Gotta work those legs,
and lungs.

'Cross season is soon upon us.
And the commitment level
is the same as the preparedness.
Low.

Don't Like Mondays.

I do not like the rain.
I do not like feeling like a wet dog.
I do not like wearing
a reflective jacket,
looking like a neon lemon.
I do not like this Monday.
Not at all.

What do you choose?

It's one of those stories.

The kind you hear as you trail at the
end of a group ride. Casually rolling
along, making small talk.

"So this lady at my work,
her husband won his choice of ANY
bike. Up to $5000. And he doesn't
ride! So he wants to unload it."

"Whats IT?" you ask.

Well, any bike they make...
Carbon frame with Dura Ace?
Or,
a carbon frame hardtail mountain bike,
or,
a full suspension cross country rig.
Or...?

Except this time,
it's not me listening to some
unbelievable story.

So I told him to order my size.
See if you can sell it,
and when it gets to hard to unload,
give me a call....

But I still don't know what to tell him
to order. If that company made a
$5000 cross bike, there'ld be NO
question. I'm psyched on my SRAM
stuff, and cross bikes...
so a carbon/Dura Ace bike is just
as appealing as a SRAM f/s rig.

Don't know what to choose....
Or, if I'll even get a chance to.

Like Momma Bear

I'm pissed.
Not the casual pissed,
or the over-stating for emphasis.
It's the split second contemplation
of is it worth jail time?
YES! It is!
That kind of pissed.

The pissed where you think back
to the movie "Falling Down", and
say to yourself "I can fucking relate".

The back story:
Before summer starts we ask the kids
what do you REALLY want to do?
Skipping the replies of "being lazy
pigs & sleep in & eat ice cream all day".
They want to ride bikes.
So this year I have the Tag-a-long
for the little guy.
And we've been trying to make every
thing a biking adventure.
And I've been trying to instill them with
some street smarts and rules.
Passing in the left, right of ways, etc.

Now as much as motorists bitch about
cyclists. Drivers where I live are not
doing themselves any favors. The
other week my son almost got clipped
by a guy in a pickup hanging a hard
and fast right onto our street. Luckily
both of them stopped quick as I
screamed.

Can't really teach him right of way
when drivers don't yield. So that
became a lesson in watching for
blinkers and judging speed. A hard
thing to teach a ten year old with Lego
and Star Wars on the brain.

Today our bikeavan pushed off. Again
with looking all directions, cross at
cross walks, etc. Often times he rides
ahead of me while my daughter rides
behind. At this particular crosswalk, we
waited for the light, with plans of a
water stop after we cross.

Teach him to watch the signals.

Now check for the crosswalk signal.

Is anyone turning right that might hit
you? No.

Okay let's go.

I roll halfway through & stop so no one
makes a right & hits my girl that moves
at a turtles pace. Just as my son is passing me, I spot a car coming
towards us, and it's NOT slowing!

I quickly grab him and continually scream stop! Twenty feet and closing,
suddenly the screech of tires as it
skids through the crosswalk. Right
where my son would have been.
Fucking hell!

"Asshole!!!"
"What the hell!?"
"You fucking idiot! You're gonna kill
somebody out here!"
"The hell is your problem?!"
"You see him? You could've killed him!
FUCKING IDIOT!"

The whole time the light was red
I stood at her bumper and proceeded
to unload on her. She would look at
me. No apology. No eye contact.
Just looking straight ahead, waiting
for the light to change. Waiting.

And that was it.

Had I not assumed drivers are idiots.
Not looked at cars with a skeptical
and jaded view, expecting the worse.
Then my kid would be in the hospital,
if we were lucky. And that fucking
idiot would still be driving, just with a
higher cost of insurance.

It would be labelled an "accident" so
the driver could continue on in life
with less remorse. Cause no one
actually does time or looses a license
due to being too fucking stupid to
operate a motor vehicle.

I apologized to the kids.
Those were not words we use....

Harder though was reality setting in
on my son.

"So she wasn't going to stop?"
"nope"
"Why? It was a red light!"
"yep. Some people are just stupid."

And not apologetic about it either.
So I guess I need to teach him to
assume the worse in drivers. They'll
run red lights, turn without signaling,
swerve towards you, even run you
over without stopping.

Sorry son, assume all drivers are
stupid assholes that are out to get you.
Is that what I need to say to make him
a little safer out there?

Had it been just me I probably would
have kicked her car and rode off. Or
pulled my valve stem remover and
yanked the core while she ignored me.

"What are you gonna do? Call the
police after you nearly killed some
one?"

So you can argue about clueless
cyclists. I'ld rather get hit by 200 lbs
of clueless going 15 mph then 3000
lbs of stupidity going 40 mph.
Simple physics.

I vow next time,
I will physically remove them from their
car.
They WILL be scared.
They WILL learn.

Assert yourself,
and safe pedaling!

New Project!

Not really new.
It's been in the basement
laying in boxes.
But now it's starting to take shape!

Growing Up.

It started with my socks,
each day they were disappearing.

Then I couldn't find my iPod.

"well, I didn't have any,
and yours fit!"

"I wanted to listen to music,
when I go to bed!"

After leaving his bike & helmet
in the van,
I guess my bike & helmet also fit.

Somewhat.

I now have a not-so mini-me?

Americana Training Program

If my legs were food
they'ld most likely be a pretzel-dog.

In the midst of road racing
it's already time to stretch the legs
for the pending 'cross season.
Two months before the first race,
and my legs feel like weighted down
fatty hotdogs. A mid-pack placing
would be considered a win at this
point.

Base miles, and lots of them
or alot of interval training. Neither of
which seems to be a reality right now.

Unrelated News

A tattoo tribute to Goonies!
I like this guy even more!

Almost like my friend who had the
Stay Puft marshmallow man tattoo
on his ass.

Ok. Back to riding.

2011 UCI World Cup

Still sorting through photos.
But here's an idea of it...

Shoes!

Simply put,
I'm a creature of habit.
When I worked at a skate shop,
all I owned was ipaths.
Tons of them. A pair for every day of
the month.
You find something that works,
or fits... ya stick with it.

In contrast, my cycling shoes?
It took a couple pairs, but finally my
Sidi Dominator mtbs were/are
awesome for everything.
Except for those times where you don't
want to look like a bike geek.
Problem is, I don't want to grab a
wrench to put on some bmx flats just
to ride to the store, or gallery, or bar.
Which was part of the reason I built
up the DJ bike. Something I could just
hop on with regular shoes and ride.
No clip-clapping around like a hefty
tap dancer, or slipping on beer covered
floors like it was ice.

Yes, Chrome makes a pair of SPD
shoes, as does Vans. But all black
doesn't do it for me. No thanks.

BUT! I came across the Districts from

www.dzrshoes.com

Tried to google any reviews or fit
opinions with no luck. So I bit the
bullet and with a couple clicks, they
were on their way!

First impression? Solid! Clean and
simple. The fit is true to size. Not too
narrow. I have monsterously wide feet
and these are snug, but not tight. So
no thick socks, unless they stretch out.

So I'm mildly psyched on them.
Since I'm no longer a shoe whore,
(I think I have more bikes than shoes)
hopefully these will stay in regular
rotation. Gonna go pick up an extra
set of cleats and go for a ride!

Pedal Pushers Club

I remember seeing this shirt....
maybe in the Bicycling Mag,
not sure.

While wondering around the vendor's
row/pits I came across Brian's tent.
He made the trip up from DC with a
load of Pedal Pushers gear.

I didn't hesitate to relieve him of a
shirt. Some good stuff here:

www.pedalpushersclub.com

Check it out!
I needed another T like I need another
flat tire. But this I couldn't pass.
Goes with the shoes...
Shoes? Yup. Found something else
too!

So, the world has a cup...

70's photo processing app.
Because the combination of UCI,
cross country racing, and euro pros
in denim cut offs, big glasses, and
strong cologne - just leaves me
mildly entertained.

The dirty part that I feel?
That was from laying in the dirt all day
and by Tuesday I should have some
photographic evidence posted.

The UCI reminds me off mall security
it's easier to just avoid them.

I had a good time crawling along the
course though....
So much stuff to post,
let's come back to this with some
photos... and move onto some other
stuff.....

UCI World Cup @ Windham

What does this photo have to do with it?

Nothing!
Cause I'll be shooting tomorrow.

I'ld say maybe a day later,
but there's still photos from last year
... that I still haven't put up.

And I'm scanning the computer
for some nasty virus... bummed.

So it's iPhone posts for now.

Go ART yourself...

Changes.
The Starbucks stuff came down after
a two month run.
There was a brief one night show in
NYC.
And a small piece in the library.

Beside the NYC show,
the biggest news is my website is
finally done! Besides the redoing of
flickr and building another blog.

www.artgeekstudio.com

Free time for the 'little things'?

These are the little things....

Get back on it...

Well there's a vacation for you.
This little and often neglected blog
got the delete button.

And after a quick revival,
just sat there.

Sometimes you need a break,
but I should know by now that a break
from the bike never helps my mental
health.

So after beating myself up mentally,
I dusted off the Green Machine...
and got back on it.
Things are good.
Bikes are good.

Lately...

So I was recently interviewed.

It came at the end of "Bike Month",
which was kind of a flop, at least in my little mind.
And I was sucking motivation
like a monster truck sucks high octane.

It reinforced my feeling as the "token bike commuter",
that only pops up during bke month.

Sometimes it just sucks going by bike.
Gotta go across town,
the sketchy part of town,
late at night.

Don't want to walk around with cleats,
and the only bike with flat pedals is the dirt jumper,
that's single speed.

Oh,
and you have to bring a ten pound art book with you,
and really don't want to walk around with a messenger bag?




There I was,
pedaling my ass off.
Didn't get jumped.
But it sucked.

Tired off being the "bike guy".
There's the "photo guy",
the "art guy",
I'm even more of a "family guy", in a lot of ways.
But my name isn't Peter,
and as big as I am,
he's still got more poundage.

But I'm just "the bike guy".
So disappointed with it,
I deleted this blog.
(luckily blogger is an easy girlfriend to get back together with)
Restoring the flickr account,
F me!
I''ve always admitted I'm an idiot.
oh-well.
I'm back after my self imposed exile.

I'm also a "dog guy",
actually more of "the guy who's wife rescues all of those dogs".
That's my usual introduction to non-bike people.

Contributions

Every month is bike month.
And every day is bike to work day.

At some point last year
the apathy of others
killed my motivation.
I came to realize that:
just because you have a bike "event",
doesn't mean that cyclists will show up,
or care.
No matter how accommodating
you try to be.

Unless some highspeed lightrail
pops up over night,
and gas goes to $8 a gallon,
I'm not placing any bets on 'change'.

But I did do an interview for
The Business Journal on,
yep,
what I'm know for,
the Token Bike Commuter.

We'll see how it went.
I tend to say really stupid shit.
Those people who still call me
their friend,
must have a judgement deficit.
Or be easily amused.

Secondly,
was a Bike Safety class for Pre K
and second graders at the elementary
school. Best described as trying to
give kittens a bath, after feeding them
sugar. Doubt there's a way to measure
any success with it. For the 80 second
graders I resorted to the secret stash
of blinkies in the messenger bag.

Some kids were psyched.

Sure some teachers were not.

And it's off to work.

Bike Week & bike work

I think it's Bike Week.
The Ride of Silence is tomorrow,
but I'll be at work.
There's a group ride tonight,
but I've been on the couch, sick.
The Commuter Contest got canned.
Sucks, cause I liked that one.

Friday I'll be doing a bike safety class
at the kid's school.
'Bike to Work Day'?
Well, that's pretty much everyday.

Bike Month just doesn't have the
punch that it used to.

Wheels are Wheels

I have been spending too much time
on the dirt jumper.

To the point of using the bus
to commute to work,
so I can ride to and from the bus stop.
There is just no way to pedal
more than a mile on this thing.

At some point I need to get back on
the cross bike.
But this is a good summer diversion,
something I didn't know I needed.

Flat Stanley

The tradition continues.
I never had a Flat Stanley as a kid,
but he makes even the most redundant events
a little more eventful,
I suppose.

Stanley and I went out for a good ride,
pictures for the cousin's 'Stanley's Vacation'.
All documented.
He's a pretty good guy to ride with.
Just sits in the bag with nothing to say.
Sometimes you need that on a ride.

Rainy days have passed

Work Work Work

Often,
I find myself staring at the bike
while at work.
A little reminder
that freedom is a couple hours away.
Feels like watching the clock
slowly ticking away
when you were (are) at school....

Hanging @ Starbucks

Literally.
I live on coffee.
But not $5 a cup things.

I'll never turn down a soy chai though.

Just a cool opportunity
to get into some place new.

Short show this month.
Joint showing in May.
And a larger solo showing in June.

Kink BMX!

well....
Blogger doesn't want to upload sequence.
So this is all you get:

How high is your hop?

Kink started their East Coast Tour today.
Today was a good day.

The Destroyer!

Balls!
It's done!

No problems,
a bunch of random parts
went together perfectly.

That never happens!

Photo of the photo

The guy with a camera
rarely ends up getting photographed.

My plan of "no plan" worked quite well.
My slacker attitude in sorting years of photos
bit me in the ass real hard like.
So I'm off to see the man on fixing this computer.
Photos up tomorrow!

A big thanks to John Bulmer,
super cool guy that was down for sharing a car,
along with secret spots and tips.
And Corey Tucker,
for being so cool to drive two random guys
with cameras all over the countryside.

*These photos by John. Click names, get links. Simple huh?

Awesome day!

Tour of the Photo Sort

Like all of my other 'projects',
sorting and posting will take place
'later'.

It was a great unplanned day.
New friends.
Friends riding strong.
And a reminder
that bikes are awesome.
And usually anything bike related
will be a good time!

Battenkill Done

Done for me.
Another hour for the pros to finish,
and the rain is just starting.

Should be some decent photos.

Battenkill back ON!

Images from last year.
This year will be in the usual unplanned style.
Meaning there is no plan.
Cameras in bag.
Run around the course for eight hours.
See what I end up with.

Like taking a last minute flight to Vegas.
With $100 in your pocket.
And no place to stay.

Tour of the Battenkill, last year.

Last years photos,
sadly I won't make this year,
with even more people to cheer on.
So, rehashing....
Better planning already in the works for next year!