Honest Tea and Magic Hat

"Unless someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -- 'The Lorax' - Dr. Seuss

"There is more to life than increasing its speed." -- Gandhi

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Gandhi

"If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." -- Bette Reese

"Minds awaken on roads less taken."

delinquent blogging

one post a month? man have i been slow to blog of late.

i've been slow on the bike as well. still riding regularly until the sudden frigid temps hit. (what the heck happened to fall?!) its like i just stalled out in rock garden and am standing there in a daze.

now, seemingly all of a sudden, its just shy of december.

maybe december is coming just in time. post cyclocross season means relaxed riding. time to sift through the cold weather gear and keep that fresh air coming in and sunshine in my eyes.

my new bell!

nope... not me.

I am not a pilgrim... perhaps you should have taken some water.

Last Sunday, I staffed a water spot near the top of the Poor Mountain Hill Climb.



A racer commented on the way back down... after rest... "what's with the outfit?"
"I'm the Forest Leprechaun."

"I thought you were a pilgrim. Didn't you have a pilgrim hat?"

clearly... he needed the water when he passed my oasis on the way up the hill.

stale weeks...

Blahhhhh. like hard bread found in your pantry.

life should be more delicious... like a crumpet w/ honey or maple syrup or nutella.

alas... life is what we make it.

just in case

Just in case the Goonies post isn't good enough for you.

Here are some clips I found while making the Goonies blog post:

Office Warfare... it's a good one.. I'd like to think of myself as the guy on the couch sipping his coffee amidst all the chaos.




Crickets Chirping... 2 minutes worth.. really - i'm warning you... don't do it:

sometimes... i'm just different

A bit ago, we were talking about something in the shop when 'Capt'n Slappy and the Crawfish Daddies - Born from the eye of the Hurricane' came up as a good band name (by me).

"That's better than this band I saw named 'Sloth loves Chunk.' Who ever heard of a name like that?!" said someone else.

Pause ... silence...

Pause... silence.... some more.

(crickets chirp)

"Uh, the Goonies?" I replied.

Everyone just looked at me with blank eyes.... very blank eyes.

"The Goonies? The movie from the 80's. Chunk and Sloth were key characters? Theme song by Cyndi Lauper? Bunch of kid's get together before their low rent side of town becomes a golf course, and they stumble through an adventure that leads to hidden pirate treasure!?

Still the blank eyes.

Um. yeah. Goonies.... They're Good Enough for Me.

Cindy Lauper - Goonies (Uncut) -
by Sunskynet

Check out the trailer..



pause...

silence...

Thank you, Mr. Steven Spielberg. Another cult classic... Good Enough for me and for midnight showings at a local theatre near you.

Last day of Summer and First day of Autumn

How quickly the time goes by.

Sunday was the last day of Summer. I spent it in true lazy summer day fashion... doing much of nothing, but different than the day before. no really, i did much of nothing including sleeping in and later taking a nap.

Monday (a day off for me) just happened to coincide w/ the first day of Fall. I started welcoming the new season by 'falling' back to sleep after the alarm clock went off. Aside from the usual Monday errands, i squeezed in a welcome mountain bike ride.

It's been a long while since riding at the 'cove.' Initial plan was a lazy ride on the lowers, maybe an hour or so. Must have been feeling good with the first day of autumn. two and a half hours after starting, I had covered just shy of 25 miles and finally got to see the carvins cove bears.

yup. after more than a year of hearing about others seeing bears at the cove, I finally got to see them myself. it's funny, i have a long history of spending time in the woods and up until now, have only seen one bear in the wild. Today, I got a double sighting. Just after the four way intersection and heading down lower comet, i saw something moving off to my right and then something smaller to my left. Then the the object to the right stood up. No mistaking that blackish brown fur with a chocolate snout staring me in the eyes from a short distance. Meanwhile, the smaller object on my left had hidden behind a tree and was lowering itself towards the ground while spying me as best it could. Calmly, drifting between the two as i soft pedaled along the trail, i checked the surrounding area to make sure there weren't any others I needed to give berth. With one last look over my shoulder, I bid them a silent goodbye and wished them well.

flat tires and full moons

hmph. now that i've typed it, that title could go just about anywhere.

so, here it goes.

why i waited so late (18:15) to start my ride on my day off, i'll never know. none the less, there I was just past greenhill park and into the slow uphill on habourwood going for the long route towards wildwood. hmmm. the front seems a little sluggish. cause it's Flat!

a young lady pulls over to ask if i'm okay. sure, just changing a flat tire. Duh! why didn't i introduce myself and ask for a ride home! maybe next time.

now, i'm no Bo and Luke Duke but i'm no slow poke changing a flat either. none the less there i was committed to a longer route and burning daylight. hmm. looks like the training ride is gonna get amped.

so off i went like Rosco P. Coletrain was on my tail and my musette bag was full of moonshine. head down and givin' it all got. (sometimes, that's just a little bit more than the law will allow... but no running red lights. i did push an orange light, though near the Kroger distribution center.) back on river road, i lift my eyes a bit a catch a glimpse.. of a full moon (the astronomical type) in a soft reddish orange colour. Well, if it hadn't been for the flat, I might not have seen such a pretty collage of colour in the dusk sky!

so what was i doing out on my road bike pushing my heart rate in the first place you ask!? well, let's just say that my cyclocross bike is no longer in the back of my pile of bicycles.

(who is that coming out of the trees and over hill?)

on the inside

Does anybody know where I can get some packing tape?

Oh. Here's some.


But this packing tape might be better.


It's amazing what can be found on google... or at a High School art show in our own C'ville, Virginia... circa 2006

notes of interest this week

Hmm. where to begin.

So much of it happened on the same day.

Monday: I tried to pay a traffic ticket at the courthouse; one week after getting the ticket. They asked me to come back and pay later as my ticket had not be processed yet and were unable to accept my payment at that time... despite at least 3 places on my copy of the ticket urging me,the recipient, to address the matter promptly. sigh.
- also saw an old 'Elvis' at Roanoke Electric Zupply.

(This is one of the results from Google Image Searching for 'Promptly.' Get to the search engine... yah!)

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday : it rained and i worked.

Friday: The sun came out to play. Again at Roanoke Electric Zupply, I saw a 3 legged cat and the same old Elvis. (no, he doesn't work there. he was a customer.) Elvis sighting twice in the same week? Well, it was also Michael Jackson's 50th birthday. ( I am old enough to have seen the MTV world premier of 'Thriller' video.)

Not the same cat, but you get the idea. it's kind of like.. something's not quite right. where's the fourth leg? -- if only I could have found an image of Michael Jackson holding a 3 legged cat standing next to Elvis.

Saturday: i worked and replaced my first ballast in an overhead light fixture... without shocking myself or falling of the ladder ;-)

My own overdue poetry

I wrote this poem in May 2007, shortly after I purchased my Gary Fisher Triton Fix-gear bike. At the time, the Triton became my 5th bike.


N + 1
can you really have too many

N + 1
whose fault is it really

N + 1
when does it become an obsession

N + 1
or is it just your pursuit of passion

N + 1
road, mountain, townie, just to name a few

N + 1
each one fufilling dreams unto me or you

- dave

I'm currently up to 6 different types of bikes with 2 duplicates for a total of 8. (this doesn't count the 2 projects waiting to be finished some day.)

Poetry from Ted

Very overdue posting.. from May / June 2007

sometimes during a hard work-day, I sit out back to take a break. when it rains and I've driven my truck to work, I'll sit inside and rest my eyes. coming back in from such a break one day in summer of 2007, Ted handed me a scratch piece of paper with the following hyku, composed by Ted.

The quiet rain drops
On the red roof of my truck
Calm my tortured soul

- Ted

quick check in

Still a Forest Leprechaun but using more of my El Gato skills of late.

been moving pretty quick of late with lots of August fun to keep me busy.
must be in other room now! in the most cat like way :-)

Even squeezed in a trip up to Madison and Waterloo Wisconsin to see Trek's latest and greatest.

Aside from carbon mountain bike wheels and the redesigned 7.6FX..
I'd say right up there was the Trek Adult Trike being jumped over the BMX table ramp!

RMBC 2008 results

More than a week later... details and results.

Saturday Day 01: Up hill time trial on Mill Mountain; 3 miles and 900 feet.

Starting at the Star Mart at the bottom of the hill, heading up the alley just off Walnut (past the man trimming his hedges w/ a 2 cycle gas powered trimmer), right on Sylvan, onto Monument Trail just below Terra Alta House, cross the road at the Monument, continue up hill on Ridge Line Trail (over the switch back I helped to build), past the zoo and Discovery Center for the final push up the grassy knoll to the upper picnic shelter. This was no picnic, though.



With a late start from the shop (East Coasters) and pulling a Ron Glowczynski by arriving at the start gate with elevated heart rate and 20-25 seconds to 'go' I managed a pretty good time, so I thought, of 20 minutes 11 seconds for 4th in 35-44 men expert and 6th overall. I was hoping for top 3 and sub 20. (maybe next year without sapping myself just trying to get to the race.) Then back to work at the shop where I spent another hour helping customers before being able to change out of my kit and shoes. (Thanks to Wes, Ted, and Bob for hanging in there while I left to go race!)

Sunday Day 02: Carvins Cove Cross Country Mtn Bike Race.

Expert Course 20 miles: rolling start down pavement to full throttle at the gate, left onto Songbird, right onto fire road, left onto Enchanted Forest, cross the creek, right onto Lower Comet, left up 1000' climb, left onto Hemlock Tunnel, left onto fire road, right onto Upper Comet across to Lower Comet, left up 1000' climb, right onto Four Gordge, left up Hi-Dee-Ho (of pain), right along fire road, right down Bucks Rut, right onto Hotel and finish at the parking lot... finally.

Man it was hot. mid 90's hot. Praise God for the cool breezes out of nowhere when we needed it the most along slow exposed steep climbs, and thanks to Dick Howard for dumping cold water and Warren S. handing out cool bottles of water. Did I mention it was hot? That was Wes with a look of surprise from the refreshing cool water. Man, it took my breath away when I got my refresher on trip two up the 1000' climb. Made me crave a 7-Up or Sierra Mist the rest of the race.

What a way to start a race, though. Nothing but having a Sunday ride in the woods on my mind and no pressure. Sure. There were guys who are usually faster than me, but most of them had not raced in the Time Trial. Not to mention, one of those faster than me at the time trial (Warren Carswell) was not racing today and the only racer behind me (Warren S on the Singlespeed) opted out of the XC race. By default and just finishing, I was guaranteed 3rd in the Overall... so I thought. I had forgotten about the experts being combined for overall and there was one more in the 19+ age group that could have displaced me. But I was just heading for a conservative but steady fast paced 20 mile Sunday Ride in the woods... with a smile on my face. Did I mention it was hot?! Check out the sweat stains on my jersey!

It was a scramble for the entrance to Songbird with Gary Roach taking the risky move of the allowed shortcut. Ed Dickenson was next with entry onto the official trailhead. Someone bobbled and the rest of us bottlenecked and ended up tire to tire on single track. Not really caring much, I hung back last in line. Finally, some passing started, and I fell into a group with Davy Hazelgrove of Blackwater Bikes Lynchburg, VA and some fella I didn't recognize. As Davy and the other battled a bit, I hung back and conserved while taking the new log bridge crossing on Songbird. Wait a minute... playing around during a race?! It was a good day ;-p I shouted encouragement to Davy as he and the other battled around a bit. This was Davy's first Expert Race after winning Kyle Inman's series in the sport class. Davy was no stranger to the distance and terrain, but I think the high speed start and battle royal for hole shot caught him a bit by surprise.

Later on Lower Comet, I took a stump jump short cut (still playing around) and passed Davy and the other. Shouting encouragement back to Davy and feeling well warmed and ready for the 1000' climb, I lit my afterburners. When who do I see fixing a flat... Chris P. Suddenly by the fates, I've moved from 3rd to 2nd overall. I just had to maintain the lead.

Once on the dusty 1000' climb, I started picking off the riders. Little did I know, most of them were non racers. None the less, I kept climbing like the El Gato I am. Latching onto a Cardinal Jersey, I caught Charles of Cardinal Bicycles at the entrance to Hemlock Tunnel... where he left me like I was sitting still in a rocking chair. That is until suddenly I was on his rear wheel as the trail leveled out and started heading upwards again. Passing with a steady pace and purpose, I proceeded to shake Charles off my back and out of sight before the next downhill onto Upper Comet. (Sometimes, all you have to do is get out of sight to end the pursuit.) I was having a great day, and my decision to gloveless had paid off with easier feeding access into my pockets. Did I mention it was hot and dusty! Check out the line just about my socks. That's no tan line. And yes, those are Roanoke Valley Mountain Bike Patrol Socks...

Well. keeping the pace and rolling like a Forest Leprechaun, I passed some spectators at the 4 Way Intersection saying I was only 2 minutes back.. from whom? I had no idea who was still in front of me at that point. Little did I know.. it was precious few.

Rolling onto the 1000' Climb for round 2, I passed Andrew Issem, junior racer and son of Mythical Legendary Rob Issem. Riding Support was his mother, Christina. Way to go you two. Well, I got my breathtaking cold water douse as I hit the Four Gordges Trail. What a crazy feeling to race on trails I helped build over almost 3 years ago. Keeping the pace and wondering if I'll catch anyone else. I cruised along the connector trail.

Bamm. With a left turn, Hi-Dee-Hoe hit me like Hulk Hogan body slamming Andre the Giant in Wrestle Mania. Well, I made it to the first sharp left turn anyway before dismounting like usual on this steep, hot, crazy climb. Did I mention Praise God for the cool breezes?! I don't think I got any real consistent remounts the rest of climb. I also started battling cramps at this point. I knew I was only losing time by walking, but I was staying in the race. Funny, where's Chris P.? He should have caught me by now.

Hitting the top of the ridge with a solid remount, I fending off cramps and starting picking up the pace... from walking speed.. and heading with a purpose towards Bucks Rut. Picking up courage, I started the descent and slid off the trail. Bobbling at a creek crossing as Buck's Rut melds into Hotel, I knew I was tired.. especially as Gretchen Wilson's 'Red Neck Girl' came to mind. I hung in there, like Christmas lights on your front porch all year long, and maintained a smart steady ride, hoping to prevent anyone from catching me. Still a Sunday Ride in the Woods... Well a long steady Sunday ride in the woods anyway.

Finally. At 2:09:44, I rolled into the finish. Less than 10 minutes back on Ed Dickenson and not more than 15 minutes back from Gary Roach. Wait a minute. Is that all?!! I had just placed 3rd in Men's expert 35-44!! Sweet! With only Ed in front of me (remember that Gary did not race the time trial) and the 19+ expert guy dnf'ing... I had placed 2nd overall in Omnium!! Ultimate Bonus. What a great weekend. Not to mention, Chris P. after flatting a 2nd time was talked into finishing by Wes Best, racing on a Trek 69er, and just for finishing, Chris placed 3rd in the omnium... still in the money. WAY to Go, Chris. See you at Rowdy Dawg 12 oct 2008.. I'm sure you'll put the hurt on.

See the Forest Leprechaun's Gold?! 3rd in men's Expert 35-44 xc race and 2nd overall in the Roanoke Mountain Bike Omnium. Check out the check.. made out to Dave 'the Forest Leprechaun' Tompkins. It's not often El Gato the Forest Leprechaun places on the podium let alone with prize money! Check out the koozies and tire levers too. Thanks Maxxis.



A final shout out:

Props to Wes Best, my boss and co-owner of East Coasters Bicycles - I didn't think you would show. Good to see you out there... warming up for cross season.

Props to Maggie Crawford and Susan Heck of the Diva Dirt Girls. Excited to see ya racing and placing... you two are better than you think.

Props to Ron G and crew for another fun event with Roanoke Cycling.

God Bless you Dick Howard and Warren S. for the cool water on the 1000' climb.

Keep the rubber side down and the smiles rolling along.

local racing...

Will you be there?!
Bring your mountain bike.
You too, Wes, Kristin, and Frank.
(Gordon will be crankin' it up at SS Nationals)

Click Here to get more details.

changing gears

So, my Fisher Big Sur is back from loan to a friend and some things have settled. What better time to try something i've been pondering for a long time.

Pretend there is still a standard triple mountain bike crank on the bike ;-)

Hmmm. 3 chain rings to the left and one on the right...

Behold. The 1x8. See the pretty tan line from the dérailleur clamp?

Yes. I said 1x8. Droppin' some old school 8spd XT from the upgrade in 1997 to my first mountain bike (may it rest in peace). In fact, with exception for the AC/DC frame, this 1x8 oozes old school. XT dual pivot parallax v-brakes, 110 parallax front hub, Marzocchi Bomber Flyweight 100. okay. so it's not super old school rigid cantilever, but considering technology today...

Probably, just a matter of time until the single rear cog gets fitted (with some sort of chain tensioner) and brings me the joy of singlespeed.

This one's for Papa Wes

We're going to have to hire some more folks, though. Wait minute. Wes (1) Ted (2) Dave (3) Frank (4) Bob (5) Kristin (6) Gordon (7)... hmmm. and Rob, the mythical shop legend (8). Eight IS enough!

dancin' yo

I hope some folks at Primal Quest got to see a live version of the dance.

(you know who you are.)

heart full of cheetos

"I've got more heart than a bag full of Cheetos."




(insert pause and thought track jump here.)


art comes in the strangest settings sometimes but I kind of like the bathtub pic; so i included it out of interest while the first pic best fits the quote.