Happy Thanksgiving

To both my loyal readers, Happy Thanksgiving:) The end of the year has been a struggle, but the search for positives leaves me feeling optimistic for the coming year. Change might be uncomfortable, but can be for the better.

I hope to Spin, ride and burn off the copious amounts of triptophene I intend to ingest.

I have included a couple cool pix I snagged of Fixed Gear Gallery. One of a concept bike



and the other is a statue at Pau, the top of a mountain stage in the TdF paying tribute to the riders.




My best to you all, enjoy the season and please, find something to be thankful for.

Spin On

F**k The God of War

Allow me to explain.

As I sit day after day at my desk staring at a blank pad of newsprint beckoning to be filled with the next greatest concept in marketing, flashing emails, plunging stock tickers or being interrupted about every eight minutes, jogging me from my stream of unconsciousness, I listen to iTunes Groove Salad in the background. It is calming and petty retribution to my staff for interruptions as I slow down the networks bandwidth;)

There is one tune in particular that is really a monolog set to music, I have not heard it lately and the name escapes me, but I do believe it is the actor Jeff Goldblum giving an address at a college commencement ceremony. He discusses how we each have a "God of War" within us, encouraging us to do wrong things, challenge ourselves with misguided dreams and ambitions and to follow paths we will not enjoy. He (or she) is a nasty character which controls most of our existences.

The music plays blissfully in the background as JG spells out his theory. It is the ending I have paid the most attention to. He suggests to the students that they think back to the times when they were 14- 16 and what they enjoyed most in life. He challenges them to follow those joys and make lives out of it. "Remember what you loved at 15, and f••k the God of War." I salute those who have f'd the God of War.

For me it was bikes. I loved to ride them and the freedom. I loved to strip them down, take them apart and rebuild them. I was on to enclosed cabling 32 years ago -- but never managed to pursue my summertime joys. I managed to get a job, hang out where the girls were and later on, where the beer was:) Who was f'd now?



Well I am finally going back, in a minor way. I have found my fixie frame to build, a vintage Raleigh Grand Prix. More to come on that. But for now here is the beginning of my old Trek 800 rehab prior to paint being stripped off. Next is priming and painting. I will try to detail the build -- and my magnificent faux spray booth -- a PVC famed phone booth sized contraption.

Spin On

I Got Nothin'

Repeat:

I got nothin' today.

Hail To The Red White & Blue

First, a quick thank you to all the brave men and women who have served in the Armed Forces to protect our nation, flag and for which it stands. Their sacrifice has been and continues to be immense. I hope everyone flies a flag and thanks a vet today -- I know I did.

I am having some trouble with motivation these days. Probably the weather, daylight savings time and work. I did manage to go to spin on Wednesday after my leg work out. It was tough! The muscles needed to stretch but I did not get out all the lactic acid from the night before. What I thought was cardiac issues really seems to be exercise induced asthma and it is getting a little more chronic. Guess I have to see the doc (again:( because it is becoming limiting.

Friday I wanted to ride but Mother Nature shut the lights down early so I attempted to spin on the trainer. Again the legs had no umph so I only did about 35 minutes. Of course Alvelo calls and talks me into a Saturday ride... why am I such an easy mark to guys like him, Spengahli and my Dad -- "come on, you'll have fun!" Well it was fun and fast paced. I met Alvelo and his buddy, Wil, and we rode out, up and back Sanibel. I am glad I took some ibuprofen for the legs before leaving. It did take a lot of the day to get my lungs feeling more normal though.

I do like being up early and going on Saturday's especially. I accomplished a lot and was able to do all my chores and work on the Trek rehab. I even started a PVC spray booth for future projects -- cheap, light and can break down and store away in between projects.

The Fixie Frame search continues...

More later. Thank a Veteran, please.

Spin On

Quad-simoto

Last night was the first time in about 6 weeks that I made it to the gym to lift in any fashion. I waited a long while because my elbow has been hurting since June. No avail from naprosene so it is off the the specialist now I suppose. I focused on my legs, mainly quads, nothing too intense since I wanted to build back up and still be able to hit Spin and cycling without lactic distraction. I really need to "hit the road" again.

My fixie-ation continues. I am still searching for that perfect frame. In the mean time I have a new off-season hobby: restoration. My first attempt in over 35 years to rebuild a bike will be my old Trek 800 mountain bike. I started Sunday by grinding off all the paint I could. Now it is down to stripping off the detail areas, priming and getting it painted. Progress pics to follow.

After that I will be on to a rare find -- a Carlton Corsa, vintage late 60s early 70s. These were apparently hand made in England prior to Raleigh taking them over. This one looks pretty cool and I am already learning a lot. I am searching the best way to recreate the graphics. Here is a good site for the Corsa.

More to come.

Spin On

Bike Porn

Bicycle pornography comes in many forms, from lust for parts and bikes to the stimulation of a wonderful ride. Well, the past couple weeks has me "fixie-ated" on a new bike, a fixed gear or "fixie". Why? It is a new challenge, a new skill and the chance to get my hands dirty again with a build from a vintage bike. Problem is scouring Ebay and Craig's List has netted no results. Frustration -- the other side of porn I suppose. For the uninitiated, a fixie has one gear and no brakes (for the most part.) It is direct drive, you must pedal or the wheel locks up -- no coasting like a freewheel. I presume it will be hugely challenging to learn and feel secure riding a fixie. They get their renown from being used by bicycle messengers in cities like NY and San Francisco. Imagine bombing (or climbing) the hills of SF -- it is amazing to watch.

So, if anyone can point me to a vintage Bianchi or Raleigh in decent shape with a 51-53 cm frame, it would be much appreciated. Besides, like good porn it is hard to keep hiding my Ebay time from Nifi, I have almost been caught a couple times... doesn't anyone knock anymore?

Secondly, bike porn came in the form of what could be "phone sex" or more accurately "spin sex." Saturday's substitute instructor was good and used terminology like "add some more road" to have us up resistance. She had us focus on our quads, hamstrings and glutes. But when she had us focus on squeezing, straining and pushing so we could "feel the riot in our butts" she lost me. What...? What...? A riot where? Watts in the '60s was one thing, my rear is another thing all together -- and I want no burning, glass breaking or pillaging anywhere near my derriere. "Riot In Your Butt", it sounds like a bad porn film... How about "Shaving Ryan's Privates" or "Trick or Teat II - The Witches of Eastit" Being release just in time for Halloween. Riot my ass. I'll have nothing to do with that!

On a serious note, please keep Fat Cyclist, Elden and his wife, Susan and family in your prayers as Susan fights her rapidly spreading brain cancer. I don't know the man, but from his writing I am inclined to call him "Friend."

Spin On

An Open Letter To The Training Ground

Dear Training Ground Management:

When I joined about a year ago, it was my first foray into a gym membership. As part of that membership I had to sign a contract. By nature, a contract indicates a certain level of responsibility from both parties involved. For my part, I agree to pay you. I agree to be respectful, responsible and follow gym rules. I must respect other members, clean off equipment I sweat upon and to not misuse the machines.

For your part you are to keep the facilities in order, supplied, have available instruction and -- here's the kicker -- be open.

I have only two days to get rest, Saturday and Sunday. Now, it is my choice to select Saturday to get up as I would for work and prepare to go to a Spin class. That is a very important class to me because it allows me to train muscle groups I would not normally be able to on our flat terrain. I do it for my team and foundation to raise money for animal shelters via distance bike rides. I value it so much so I forgo sleep to attend the class.

This past Saturday I arrived to an unopened gym. Sure, we are all late sometimes, but it was 2-1/14 hours past opening time, plus I waited 20 more minutes until it was pointless. If this was an isolated incident I wouldn't mind but is not. I really did not mind when you converted a nice, organized facility into a seemingly random collection of machines to make way for an "old-school" type high-school gym class. It certainly benefits some, not myself however. I never mentioned it in part because I valued my membership and the management would terminate the "contract" of anyone who raised issue or complaint -- be it employee or member.

But you crossed my line and robbed me of sleep time. Am I tired and cranky? You bet. But I joined The Training Ground to better myself -- I suggest you do the same.

Spin On