More Poetry

"My Bicycle" - 02 March 2007

2 wheels beneath me,
they roll.
2 wheels beneath me,
releasing my soul.
2 wheels beneath me,
my freedom.

El Gato goes Chuck

If you can see El Gato, El Gato can see you.

If you can't see El Gato, you're probably about to find a 'present' in your 'musette bag.'

Today's lesson a la "Chuck"

Chuck Norris can speak brail.

Right swing or Left swing?

I was excited today when I discovered I am Left Swing. Now before you get all excited and have wandering mind trouble; I'm talking about messenger bags.


According to PAC Designs, a pretty cool messenger bag company based out of Canada, most people are Right Swing. In other words Right Swing'ers have the bag's shoulder strap on the left shoulder allowing the bag to swing to the individual's right side. (see figure to the right.)




Left Swing'ers { that's me ;-) } have the bag's shoulder strap rest on the right shoulder allowing the bag to swing to the individual's left side. (see figure to the left.)



Maybe that's why I spell 'gray' 'grey'... or is it vice versa?



Still confused? Check out Pac Designs page on Swing Technology and how they design Pac Bags to swing both ways. Or, just browse their site and check out all their cool stuff. Looks like a really good messenger bag.

Finally got a grip

So my new Gary Fisher HiFi Pro sat for awhile as I had time to build it. One of the last things I did was install the grips, and believe me, everyone seemed to point out that I should use grips on my new mountain bike. Well, the grips have finally been installed... along with going tubeless via the Bontrager Superjuice Tubeless system.

What a change! My previous mountain bike had V-Brakes w/ Ceramic rims, inner tubes, and 3 inches of travel. Now, I'm rollin' Avid Juicy 7's disc brakes, tubeless, and 4.5 inches of travel. Not to mention, Gary Fisher's new Genesis 2.0 Geometry has tweaked the fork offset and trail to sharply respond at any speed. Needless to say, this bike rocks, and I'm proud to call the HiFi Pro my new mountain bike.

Been a little distracted lately

So, a couple of weekends ago, my girlfriend and I mutually ended our relationship. We'd been dating for over a year but struggling with living in different towns. Sad to say, the distance was inhibiting any more progression in our relationship. It's a little sad saying goodbye to someone you care about.

Winter Poetry

Driving to work today, the snowflakes started and it made me think. By the time I arrived at Mojoe's Coffee (my local shop), the following thoughts had formed in my mind:

First snowflakes falling
On my way to work
Bicycles calling, mine and theirs
Snowflakes falling, they don't care
Road, Mountain, Townie
Just get us out there
"Remember how it felt?" they said
Snow swirling
Quiet wheels turning
Soft sounds of winter riding
First snowflakes swirling in my mind

new title background?

Itie?! the cat's name is Jake.

Check it out. The Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg VA is having a screening of "Breaking Away" (a classic cycling movie for those out of the 'know'). The New River Valley Bicycle Association is sponsoring the showing. So Break yourself Away on Saturday 20 January 2007 at 15:00 (3pm) and look for the 50mph pedaling in the small ring while drafting a tractor trailer.


Just don't expect any Refunds.

btw. check out the crankset location in the pic above. must have been a special edition "Itie" bicycle.

bicycles better than autos

Four reasons bicycles are better than automobiles... replacing your auto's ball joints... one at a time... per week. Many thanks to James for helping on the mechanic side of things. Seen here.. an upper ball joint being removed. Also, note the new yellow shock inside the coil spring... a by product of the lower ball joint installation.

Susanna

okay. on my recent post holiday visit to family, there was much chastisement for no pictures of the woman whom I have been dating for quite some time now. so here goes. although not the best photos (who ever gets those?) these do a fair representation.


"hiding from the camera"


"kind, caring, willing to lend a hand"


"full of smiles and laughter"


and last but not least....
"not afraid to get tough"

polarbear run

I just got back from a brief jaunt around the building while it was snowing.

I was also going to blog some more, but now I don't feel like it.

Creme filled Doughnut Holes?!

Okay. Doughnut holes. You know them. The center of the doughnut. A left-over ball of dough, ingeniously transformed into a tasty snack. Simple, little, tasty recycling.




A tasty little snack for which hungry people will do more things than they would for a Klondike Bar. (What would you do?)





But creme filled doughnut holes?!! Spotted at work, today, an insidious creme filled doughnut hole. (Look closely at the doughnut hole in the upper corner of the box.) Is there no sanctity in the world? Taking something simple and stuffing it with more! Was the creme filled doughnut or chocolate eclaire not enough?! Obviously, they were not enough. Hence, the world is now let loose upon the vast expanse of yet another creme filled bakery delicacy... the creme filled doughnut hole. Oh well. There was only one left in the box. I guess someone thought the creme filled doughnut hole was a tasty obvious step in the right direction of doughnut-hole snacking evolution.

Fauxhawk

If the fauxhawk manages to survive sleeping, combing, and a full day of work... it deserves a blog. Watch out! the Leprechaun goes Tom Boonen / Euro roadie hair style. -- Granted though, the hawk's got nothing on Cole's Mullet.

A Birthday card from A.G.

Birthdays are great. Please note the hand drawn mustache and beard. As if the svelt shirt wasn't enough to look like me ;-}

Hmmm. Gary Fisher's Triton

It's Gary's urban fix-gear from 2006. Specs link is here.

I'm on cyclingnews.com

So there I was, reading the cyclingnews.com report on the NC Grand Prix CX weekend and checking out the photos. Wait... what's that? Could it be? El Gato.. the Leprechaun.. chasing up the climb?! Why yes. It is. Little ol' me on cyclingnews.com. Thanks, Sean Letterman for taking and submitting the photo. See the pic here.

Mistaken products

Don't try this on your toast. Try it on your buns.

Cyclocross 2006 mid season report

Sigh. Transitions and barriers, the heart of cyclocross, describes my season thus far. It has been a tough season for me, but I am continuing to keep pedaling. I discovered that I started the season with a drop in fitness from summer training as well as a lack of sufficient grass riding practice prior to the season's start. Throw those two factors in the mix with upgrading to intermediate catagory (CX 3 / B's) and the result is mid to back 1/3 pack positioning. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining, just discouraged after last year's success-filled introduction to cyclocross. Still, dedication and persitance has been seeing me through the season thus far. All things considered, I have had fairly decent placings while having a good time riding cyclocross.

'Retro Ted' finds a Bike he likes

'Retro Ted' finally gives his aproval to a bicycle. This vintage Ross with thumbies, cam brakes, and all things ala original ATB style recently came to the shop for a new tyre and tube. I think it made Ted's day.