Who??

The question we all want answered: Who is Doctor Catfish????? This is what I get when I ask for "followers". What would I get if I asked for disciples?

By the way, has anyone checked out Kim's blogs? Thanks, Kim and everyone else, for following. The rest of the followers are all folks I know, even the Biking Brits.

OK, no more posting, I have to pack the car. Really.

Welcome To Redundancy Theater, Again

All the new news is old news, so just go back almost exactly one year and read this.

Not enough? Here just go back and read this. It is really uncanny. Last night I worked on Destry's bike, the last repair of 07 and 08. Still not enough? Go to the archives and click on December 2007. Good. I will post from the road. We should be near Santa Fe by Saturday night.

I Need A Bike Ride

Anyone want to join me? We only got a half-foot of snow today. How does this look, a nice ride up Logan Canyon? The high for tomorrow is 15.

Finally, The WRIAD Video

Thanks Jason!

A Map?

Here is an attempt at a map to go with this morning's narrative. I hope. I have a lot to learn about google maps and google earth.


View Larger Map

I Ain't Got No Stinkin' Followers

I added a "Followers" gadget to the blog today (left side bar near the bottom). As expected, I have no followers. Who will be first to sign up????

Long Rides, Short Days, Last Day

Last Wednesday I did a long ride. I was feeling a little down and just needed to suffer. I pedalled to Hollow Road, up Blacksmith Canyon, Left Fork, and Herd Hollow. There were no herds, just a flock of turkeys, some deer tracks, me, and the cross bike (the Forest Service Roads are officially closed, this ride was unofficial). The snow began to fall as I started to climb. I had no legs, but I just kept pedaling. Like I said, I wanted to suffer. I kept thinking how bad it could get if I had any problems (a 10 mile walk out). Was I under dressed and overconfident? Long before I got to the saddle at the top of Herd and Cowley Canyon the snow covered all the rocks in the road (Herd is quite rocky so I'm thinking at least 4 or 5 inches of snow). At the top, my hands and feet were numb. I ate a goo, put on my jacket and balaclava, and headed down. When I got to Right Fork and Logan Canyon, there was no snow and air was much warmer. In the summer I can do this ride in well under four hours. Last Wednesday it took four and one-half hours. I was happy to be home. Hot water on my numb feet never felt better.

Long shadows at noon
Climbing the snow covered road
Where Left and Right meet

Recycled & New Bicycles' last shop day of 2008 will be Tuesday, December 16. The Shop Christmas party has been canceled because of the recession. If I sell a few bikes this week, and a few kind folks pay their bills, I may reconsider, and we will party on Saturday the 13th. What the hell, if you are reading this, come by on Saturday and I will have coffee and snacks.

We (four bicycles, three silly humans, two black cats, and one good dog, go ahead and sing, you know the melody) will pile into the car and head for Florida on December 19. Recycled & New Bicycles will re-open some time in February.

Turkey Day Ride!

And they say you can't ride in northern Utah in the winter. Thanks for the picture, Adam. The guys in this picture (left to right, Brian, Tim, Jason, and me) were all part of the White Rim crew. I've been thinking long and hard about a blog post for the trip. What can you say about 100 miles in Canyonlands National Park? When Jason finishes the video, it will get posted here. In the mean time, I plan to keep on riding. The snow bike is coming out soon.

The White Rim, In Black And White

Photo by Jason.

WRIAD

That stands for White Rim in a Day. 100 miles of Utah's best scenery. I'll be closed today and Saturday. Wish me luck. Here are some more pictures.

A Photo...

...ripped of course. It's just to prove that I really did a race this year. Yes, Peter, I did it in cut-offs and a t-shirt.

Amy's Journey and Great Poetry

Amy came into Recycled & New Bicycles about a month ago. Her eyes sparkled with the fire of life smoldering inside. I’m not trying to be literary. You could plainly see the beauty and warmth in her eyes. The permanent smile lines entrenched in her young face were a road map leading to the fire. Amy needed a reconditioned bicycle for a journey. No, she was not just riding up to the USU campus; she was going to pedal all the way to Cincinnati. I asked her about WKRP, but she had never heard of it. Ah, youth.

I was ready to help. Here was a chance to vicariously go along on her journey, and a chance to relive a journey I took over 15 years ago. I sold her a reliable old steel MTB and told her the journey would change her life forever. I told her about my life changing, sinusoidal ride from Chattanooga to Jacksonville, a long time ago. We put a rear rack on the bicycle. She hooked up an old trailer, and rolled away.

Amy has sent four post cards since she left. Here are her baikus:

Windshield-less, naked
Eyes and ears more thoughtful now
Watch, smell, feel. Love life.

Characteristic
Black chain marks on my right calf
Gaily shout, “I bike”

Their eighteen big wheels
Knock the living breath from me
My lifted hand waves

Coy spider’s silk thread
Flaps merrily in the breezes
Catching bug and sun

Warm river, wet vein
Sun pulses as heartbeat of
Tree, squirrel, rock, me

Hot honeyed tea cup
Warms chilled hands and mind to
Consciousness of time

Colors swirl and dance
Encircling bike and me
Leaves trace summer’s light

My “partner” called
“When you get back home, we’re through"
Ouch. Illinois hurts

Rocking towards home
What awaits, unknown
Yet I pedal still

Well, Amy, I told you the journey would change your life. I hope you made it home. Thank you for the poetry (my edits are allowed under International Poetic License). Leave a comment if you want to.

Sunday Ride

I went for a ride this morning, up the River Trail. I'm sure it will be covered in snow the next time I am there. I have not posted any poetry in a while, so enjoy.

Follow the river

Rolling on wet maple leaves

Sunday, grey, lonely.

Calm before the storm

Maple leaves faded crimson

Soon covered with snow

Climb past the maples

Up to Douglas fir and snow

Green, white, and silent

The SE Singlespeeds Are Here

I just love the orange and blue Draft. Gator colors. I have a size run in the brown and blue Draft Light. Did you look at the msrps? No, that is not a misprint. $310!!

Choices, Choices, Choices!

It's official. Recycled & New Bicycles is now a Fuji Bicycle dealer. Yes, there are more bicycle choices than can be shaken at with a stick (I just couldn't end a sentence with a preposition). Just take a look! I will blog more when the bikes get here next week.

National Champ, 2019

I'll never earn a National Championship. Maybe Lupine will.

A Great Day at the Races

Lupine had a great first race yesterday in Ogden. She rode really hard and finished fourth in the Junior Women category. At the end she was in front of several boys her age and even a grown woman. I am so proud of her. When she got off the bike she was spent and just about to cry, and said "I'm never doing that again." My heart sank. By the time we were ready to go home she was talking about next weekend's race. That's my girl. I'll try to put in some pictures on the next post.

I did not place as well as Lupine. I only got a fifth in the Men's 35+ B race. I lost the leaders on the first lap as usual (my warm up was running around the course cheering for Lupine). By the third lap I was riding pretty fast. I knew I was in the top ten and with four laps to go some racers were coming back to me. I passed a guy named Jon and spent a lap and a half trying to shake him. With one to go I let him pass me. I told him "I can't get away from you, so go get them." I sucked his wheel until we caught another rider. Right before we made contact I blasted past both of them. I got into some traffic and the guy we had just caught came around me at a barrier, with Jon on my wheel. With the finish line coming up I instinctively took a direct line to the inside corner of the last barrier. I jumped it at an angle rather than taking a longer line to hit it perpendicularly. The gamble paid off (I did it the normal way eight other times). I made the pass before we were back on the bikes and headed for the Finish. I crossed the line with both guys still behind me.

It felt really good to move up two places on the last lap. The last time I raced was eight months ago in Florida. In that race I quite after only two laps. Yesterday, I did not quit. The rust came off, and I'm ready to go hard again next weekend. Right after I run around ringing the cowbell for Lupine.

First Race

Tomorrow is a day of firsts. I have already missed two races of the Utah Cyclocross Series, so I'll be doing my first race of the season at noon. At 11:30, Lupine will be doing her first race ever! I am a lot more excited than she is. I've waited a long time for this, daddy and daughter day at the races.

Dude, You Got To Update

It seems that if you do not update your blog, people stop looking at it. So, here is the update. Fall is here. The Indian paintbrush and green gentian have come and gone. There is snow on the mountains today. Things are slowing down a little. There are fewer bikes in the shop. I have begun training for the upcoming cyclocross season; the first race is October 4th. I will be doing the singlespeed class once again. Imagine that?

I plan on being a little smaller next year, and working fewer hours. I will be working for Patty in Montana taking and analyzing pictures of animals moving under U.S. 93. So, shop hours will be reduced. How does Wednesday through Friday sound? I want to do more singlespeed bikes. What do you think about Pake and Soma? I may also do some Voodoo. Of course, I plan on having lots of Redlines as usual.

More later. I promise.

Monthly Update

Yes, I am alive. August was busy like the last four months. I have been doing a little riding. Two Sudays ago Greg (my new neighbor and customer) and I went up Spring Hollow, the North Sincline Trail, and down Dry Canyon. It was a perfect 5 hour ride. Here are the pictures from the top of the Sincline Trail with Logon in the background. Steep!

There is plenty of other news: a new neice, a new car, and lots of new work in Montana. More later.

A Short Rant

"I have my own bag, thanks," I said to the cashier.

"I'm sorry, we have to put all items in little petroleum derived bags. It's store policy."

Bad policy if you ask me. I had my item and my receipt. How could anyone have a problem or think I was stealing something? I know, I know, it's the long hair again.

In Utah, there are many people who are told exactly what to say, do, and think. For them the world is black and white. For them, they need to tell others what to do. It all flows downhill.

The world is gray. Rant over.

A Short Post

I'm back in Utah. I even went for a ride this morning. The shop is busy. Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles are back in stock in all sizes. The Redline r540's are all gone and the Redline r550's are almost gone. I still have a medium, a medium-large, and a small left. Only $599 while supplies last.

New fitness and comfort bicycles are drying up, so call me if you want a new Redline. I still have 29er d440's that can do it all, and a Monocog 29er in medium. Cyclocross bikes are now available. Can I order you one?

Remember: Cheap shoes cost more than Wal Mart Bicycles. They have no moving parts and less rubber. So, do you really expect $89 to get you a bicycle?

At Last, A New Post

I'm on vacation. I'm back home in north Florida for the weekend, for my sister Lynn's 50th birthday. I've slowed down a little. I needed a break. My mind and body are still tired from working seven days a week for the last four months, but I'm strong enough to finally post. I'm sorry for staying quiet for so long; I know my sisters have missed an up to date blog. Perhaps, some have even missed the poetry.

Like still black water
Spanish moss on the live oaks
My life moves slower

I've missed the lake
Panicum, green, wet, and tall
Meadowbeauty, pink

Running Recycled & New Bicycles has been hard as of late, a product of my own success, a control freak completely out of control. I've become another in a long line of jaded bike shop owners, my emotions constantly changing between exuberance, anger, depression, and giddiness. All or nothing, I've allowed myself to become consumed. I've made a lot of people happy, and I've even changed a few lives. Last week as I pedaled to Smith's, I saw three people on Redline Bicycles. A few days before that, I was passed by a customer on a Conquest Sport. She was flying.

I've also made people angry. I've even lost a few friends. I've been flamed on my own blog. There are customers who have been waiting for over a month to get their bikes worked on. These things I truly regret. If I have hurt your feelings or pissed you off, I am sorry. If I cussed you and told you to "get the hell out of my shop" that was uncalled for and I was wrong. Nothing is worth losing friends.

That said, there will be some changes at the shop. I'm not sure what these changes will entail. I don't know if I will be selling new or used bikes next year, or running a bicycle cooperative, or operating a mobile repair service. Who knows? I may even be a wildlife ecologist again. I do know that there have been many days standing in the shop juggling tools, customers, invoices, tubes, and cog sets, and asking myself, "for this, I earned a graduate degree?" I also know I can not go for weeks without a real bike ride. My heart and mind wont allow it. Palpitations and depression are unacceptable. Saturdays with my family and evening meals before 8:00 pm are pretty important too. I may even keep a regular blog. Like a long ride on a fixed gear bicycle, putting my feelings into words for the world to see is cheap therapy. Thanks for reading.

There's Plenty...

...to blog about, bicycles, life, and the shop. There's just no time. So, my blog will remain static for the near future. Computers are nothing but a time suck anyway.

A Short Update

Build
Repair
Order
Sell
Repeat

Yes, it is still the busy season. I got in a short ride on Sunday (thank you Patty, it was your day). I am scheduled to go again in the morning at 6:45. That's dedication.

I will blog more in the Fall. I promise.

It's the busy season. What can I say? There is no time to post and no time to ride. People are buying bicycles and getting repairs done. Thank you customers.

I did get in a ride today. The weather was beautiful. I met up with Cody and Erin on the way down the River Trail. I took them through "the tube", did some hike-a-bike, and made them follow me along the canal leading to the golf course. Cody went to the house with me where we feasted on Patty's enchiladas and gogi berry tea. Delicious.

On my bike, a slug
Overworked, old, and slow
New pri0rities?

The Answer (Well, One Answer At Least)

Yesterday oil was up to $115 per barrel. Before we went to Iraq it was twenty-something dollars per barrel, but that is not the point of this post. My point is this:

This is the Redline R540, a fender compatible, lightweight, fast, flat-bar road bike. I just ordered a size run of these. I got a good deal on them and will pass the savings on to you. Ride one to work and for your errands for the next two months and it will pay for itself. You'll have nothing to loose but blood pressure and 10 pounds.

Bike Shop Owners Ride A Lot And Work On Their Bikes A Lot

Sunday and Monday were the most beautiful days of 2008. Yesterday was actually hot. I never did get a ride in either day. There are no new baiku (I know several of you are reading this just for the poetry). There is still so much to do; It may take another six months just to move in to our new house. Sunday was spent working on the "to do" list. Yesterday, I paid my Utah Sales Tax for the first quarter and sent the US Treasury my quarterly estimated tax for 2008. Like my sister, Bonnie, I now work on my day off. I also worked on ordering more R.E. Load messenger bags, more bicycles. and various parts. The Redline 925's are finally available.
Lee R. and Lee M. have been waiting for a long time. Thanks for your patience, guys. There will also be two Redline d660's in the shop this week. Both may already be sold, but come on buy and look (drool) at them.

The bars on my beater bike have been creaking. Yesterday a stem bolt gave up the ghost. Who knows when I will get the chance to work on my own bike?

The price of oil is now $112 per barrel. Gas is well over $3 per gallon, soon to reach $4 per gallon. These prices are stirring a wave of change that is clearly visible. The two-wheeled revolution is beginning to churn. There are more lycra-clad, carbon-frame mounted riders on the streets of Logan. There are more hipsters on fixed gear bikes (and any old 10 speed that will roll, it's like 1972 all over again). There are more university types commuting on their early 90's rigid steel MTB's (when biopace was king). I had to stand yesterday on the bus, all the seats were taken. The stroller pushing Mommy Brigade has seen their ranks swell. The time is right. bikecoop.org. Stay tuned.

Busy

The week has zipped by. The shop has been very busy. Yesterday was a thirteen hour day. Four bikes went out the door, and three or more others are scheduled to go out. Two were Recycled Bicycles, and that is a good thing. I have a lot of great news about used bicycles, but it will have to wait. Let's just say that I am going to be involved in the future Cache Bicycle Cooperative. Today, I am heading out for a ride, my first in more than two weeks. When I get back, I may even post a baiku.

Logan Alley Cat

There was supposed to be an unofficially disorganized Alley Cat last night. No one showed up. It just goes to show that if it's not on the internet, it does not exist. That said, I hear there will be another on Saturday May 3 at 10:30 pm at the Logan Post Office. That's what I hear.

There were prizes/treasure set up at each location last night. Patty and I pedaled around this morning and collected the booty. I gave a lot of it away during brunch at the Ibis.

"Where's Blaa Blaa Blaa," She Said

Well, my sister Bonnie, and everyone else, here you go. It's funny, there are actually a lot of people reading my blog. Some days I get more than 25 visits. When I fail to post, people let me know. It's just that life of late has been quite complicated and busy. I have the flu. We bought a house last Monday and are still moving in today. There are boxes all over the floors, and we are quickly "knocking off the new" in several places. Why didn't they leave me some touch up paint? Now that we have a house here, Logan is taking on a more special meaning. We are in town, close to everything. Recycled & New Bicycles is only two blocks away.

Normal shop hours should resume next week, as long as I don't get pneumonia. I am getting busy. I'm ordering more Redline Bicycles on Thursday. Call me if you want to add one to the list.

R.E. Load Baggage

I only have two R.E. Load messenger bags left. So, I am putting together another order. If you want custom colors and options, let me know. These bags are the best I have ever seen. I did a lot of research. There is not a better bag out there.

I Opened The Box

I opened Pandora's Box today (thanks Christy and Lisa). I wont say anything more than this; I finally have a "radio station" that plays the music I like. It's free and there are no commercials. Try it.

Ah....Amsterdam

I saw this video on my friend Jim B.'s blog. This video is great. We have a lot to learn it seems.

The Snow Is Gone

The snow pile in front of Recycled & New Bicycles melted this week. It all officially disappeared on March 24. That means I win the "Guess The Day The Snow Pile Melts" game. My guess was March 23. Justin guessed April 4, and Anonymous guessed March 31. It's not fair, really. I've always been a careful observer of nature. Like Thoreau and Leopold, I've been known to record the dates when certain plants bloom and leaf out, and when the sand hill cranes depart and return (in case you have never noticed, the sand hill crane is my animal spirit guide).

It's in our genes, if we just listen hard enough. Humans evolved as a hyper-vigilant species. As our earliest ancestors walked the African savannas looking for their next meal, they were also looking over their shoulders for lions and other predators, looking for their next meal. Early humans knew where to find food, water, and shelter in each season. They knew when each fruit ripened and when each water hole dried up. They knew which plants were good to eat and which had medicinal properties. They knew when the rains would begin and end. They knew the phase of the moon, and what it meant when the wind blew hard out of the southwest. The actions of other animals in their world had direct meaning (see animal spirit guide above). In short, they were directly connected to the natural world, and hyper-vigilant about their surroundings.

What does it all mean for us? Well, we are still hyper-vigilant. We love stimulation. Again, it's genetic. Responding to changes in our environment (stimuli) allowed us to survive and our brains to grow. The problem is that we have replaced the natural world with artificial stimuli: the automobile, TV, Hollywood, fast food, Dancing With The Stars, drugs, consumer goods, sex, and computers.

So, get outside. Ride you bike or go for a hike. The direction of the wind, the sound of running water, the phase of the moon, that bird singing in the tree, the purple flower, the sound of the wind in the trees, they all have an something very important to tell you. There is more stimuli out there than one could ever process. Global warming is not something you read about. It's something you see, hear, and feel. When I first began recording the departure of sand hill cranes from north Florida in the early 1980's it was always the first week of March (right around my birthday). Today, 25 years later, they consistently leave two to three weeks earlier, in mid to late February.

Enough. I'm hungry and I do not know where my next meal is coming from. Good thing I know the location of both Burger Kings.

A View From The Top

This was the view from the top of Cache Valley's Meridian Road on Sunday's ride with Ike. That's Idaho, 40 miles to the north. We ride every Sunday from Caffe Ibis at 9:00 am if anyone reading this wants to come along. No, Jimbo Smartypants, that's not your Meridian Road, snow and live oaks just don't mix. But, check out the jersey. Thank you Jimbo! I love it because it has a zippered pocket. When it's cold out, a zippered collar is not necessary. The air temperature at the start of Sunday's ride was 22. Burr.

Photo by Ike. The Hound Dog saw this photo and wrote this baiku. Thanks, Chip.

Leagues of iced gravel
Flat equals frozen carcass
Must...reach...Idaho

Just for comparison purposes, here is a picture of Jimbo's Meridian Road, located in Tallahassee, Florida.

Tour De G'ville Roll Out

Here is a video of the roll out from the 08 Tour De G'ville. I sure wish I could have been there. It's 100k of Gainesville, Florida's trails. Just wait until next year.

Too Busy To Blog

The madness begins. Four bikes went out the door yesterday, one went out today, and three go out tomorrow (one of which is not done yet). Thank you customers. I truly appreciate your business.

Today's Baiku, I Guess It Really Is Spring

As we pedaled
The rattle of sand hill cranes
Returning again

A Testimonial

Two bikes went out the door yesterday. Thank you customers! Two more should go out on Thursday. I will be in the shop late tonight building them. Here is Trey's Testimonial with a lot of pictures of his New Baby. Thanks Trey.

We Had A Great Ride Last Night

The ride to L.D.'s in Richmond last night was a lot of cold fun. We had six make the trip: Ike, Lauren, Lukas, Erin, and myself. Mark met us on the outskirts of Richmond and rode with us for a while and joined us for food. Thanks everyone. Being a part of a "community" makes me feel great. The photographs are Ike's, stolen from his blog. There are a few more there. Lukas has some really good pictures too.


"Saddle up, we're burnin' daylight."


The long cold ride home.

Another Great Video From the Brits

I got this video from the WestfieldWander. This video is just as good as Do The Test. Both are brilliant. I guess I am becoming a real bicycle advocate as of late. Anyone who rides a bicycle is a bicycle advocate, no?

Yes, I Admit It...

...I am Bicycle Repair Man.

Winter

Yes, I must admit, it is still winter in Logan, Utah. Here is a shot from Saturday of Lupine on the still frozen, snow covered, Bear Lake.


I plan on doing Ike's St. Patrick's Day Ride to Richmond tonight at 5:30 (meet near the Ibis). I'm sure temperatures will be just above freezing before we get there. I'm putting the chemical toe warmers into my shoes.

Recycled & New Bicycles will be open Tuesday from 12 to 6. Come on buy and solve my cash flow problems.

Another Missed Ride

All my Florida friends did their "Tour de G'ville" today. I missed out. Just wait until next year. Here is a baiku for you all:

Wish I had been there
To smell the yellow jasmine
And ride with my friends

I know the posts have been short as of late. The shop is starting to get busy even though it is still snowing every other day. I plan on doing a ride in the morning with Ike, so it's time for bed.

As I pedaled down the hill this morning on the way to the shop, I saw so many willow trees down on the Island, growing bright yellow and gold against a snowy backdrop. Spring is close at hand.

Swollen willow buds
Yellow and Gold promises
Of impending green

Do The Test

Ike found this site, so I had to put a link here too. It is great! Do The Test. It only takes 30 seconds, and you will probably fail. I did.

St. Patrick's Day Ride

My buddy Ike is leading a ride on Monday, March 17. Just follow the link for details. I will be there on Das fixed gear Vinterbike.

The Klean Kanteens Are Here!

Recycled & New Bicycles now has Klean Kanteen water bottles. Come and get them! I have the 40 oz. and 27 oz bottles with your choice of tops (they are all interchangeable). I even have stainless steel tops and nylon slings.

A Meadowlark Day

Today was my first ride of 2008 without frozen, numb toes. As I write this, it is 45 degrees outside. Blistering hot! The snow is melting and the birds are singing.

My ride today was a slow slog on Das Fixed Vinterbike. I had nothing more to give than soft pedaling. Soft pedaling is better than no pedaling. It is interesting, so much of riding a bicycle, or any physical exercise for that matter, is mental. If you just don't have the ability to make yourself turn over the pedals, it's going to be a long slow ride.

The meadowlark sings
A musical reprimand
To lingering snow

Why Cyclocross?

Here is one answer.

The Snow Pile Is Shrinking

I can't believe no one wants to venture a guess on the melt date of the pile of snow in front of the shop. It is about 3 feet high right now and melting fast today. My guess is still March 23. Come on, leave your guess in the comments section. Spring is on the way.

Hot Water

We made it to Maple Grove today. The hot water was divine. I only pedaled part of the way there via Richmond, Mountain Home Road, Cove, and Franklin. Patty picked me up at La Tienda. I was a little down than no one wanted to come with us or pedal with me, but I know people are busy. We saw deer, swans, geese, a great horned owl, a bald eagle, and lots of snow.

The bald eagle flew
Higher, climbing in circles
Over the mountain

It was only a few degrees above freezing today, but there are some signs of Spring out there. I saw towhees singing their heads off, along with chickadees, robins, and other returning birds. I also saw downy woodpeckers and killdeer today. The yellow warblers will return just as soon as the cottonwoods break bud.

Recycled & New Bicycles will be open for regular hours this week and from here on out. Things will be getting busy, so come on in. I have had some phone calls asking about repair prices. As many of you know, I do not do "set price" tune ups. I fix what needs to be fixed on your bike. I do not charge for work that I do not do, and I do not charge for work that does not need to be done. A tune up may cost you $20 or it may cost you $60. It may cost $100 or it may be free. If you want an estimate I will be glad to give you one. I think I do the best work in town for the best price. If you want to insult or haggle, please, take your bicycle some where else. Repair rant over.

It's My Party

Today is my birthday. 43. To celebrate, I want to pedal up to Maple Grove on Sunday. If anyone wants to pedal along with me, just let me know. Everyone reading this (both of you) is invited for all or part of the ride, I would love some company. I will roll out before lunch and after breakfast.

Holy Cow, Press Coverage

Logan's Alley Cat Races must be getting really popular. We made the paper. This is just the type of press that we need, "Drunk Cyclists Running Red Lights." Hey, who is that long-haired guy with the red helmet and Turbo-Cat?

More Snow, Less Bike

Recycled & New Bicycles will be open this afternoon, even though it is snowing again. The soft, large, wet flakes are swirling and blowing as I write. That's alright. I have finally found a snow sport without the steep learning curve and price tag, Snow Shoeing. We went on Sunday and had a great time.


We had other off-the-bike weekend adventures too. On Saturday we went to the USU Powwow. If you have never been to a Native American powwow, you are missing something special. I like to get close to the singers and feel the drum. It is a powerful thing.



Yes, this post has nothing to do with bicycles. Here is a picture of a Thai style chicken dish I made a while back. Think lime, soy, fish sauce, Asian five-spice, coconut milk, brown sugar, Thai red chilies, and curry. I marinated chicken in this sauce for 24 hours, stir fried it, and served it over rice, over raw spinach, cucumbers, red peppers, and sweet red onions. Yes, it was most delicious.

C Mass

Lupine rode with her old dad in her first Critical Mass ride. Photo by Lukas.

Revolution?

Yes, things in the bicycle industry are starting to change. I failed to write about this change in my late night ramblings, as I described the Cayne Cyckle. The industry is slowly feeling the demand for utilitarian transportation bicycles. When gas goes to $4 per gallon this summer that demand may grow even more. For example, I keep coming across Freewheel's blog, Bikes For The Rest Of Us. Just check out his link list, commuters, cargo haulers, advocates, and many many others (he even put my blog there).

Here is what Freewheel says about the industry: in the late 80's "bike shops across the country began putting aside their single speeds, 3-speeds and cruisers to make room for expensive, lightweight, “high-end” racing bikes. In other words, bike shops lost interest in selling regular bikes to regular people. We need a bicycle industry that pays attention to people who bike as a means of basic transportation, instead focusing solely on roadies and mountain bikers. We need bikes that you can hop onto at any moment without putting on spandex or special cleats. We need bikes with wider, more comfortable seats. We need bikes that can carry stuff. We need bikes that are fun to ride. We need bikes with function and style."

Well, I agree. Recycled & New Bicycles will always focus on "selling regular bikes to regular people."

If you need even more people writing about bicycles, check out the Bike Blog Collection. Then, stop reading and go ride.

I Can't Sleep

Yes, it's 3 in the morning and I am posting. I can't sleep. Why, you ask? Well, my mind will not stop; it's busy with worry about all the new merchandise I bought this week. It's pretty exciting really, I just hope it all sells, and sells fast. I know, now you're asking, "what did he buy?"

I bought a whole bunch of these, the Cayne Cyckle (click on cycles, then click on urban). It is a lugged steel, retro-looking scorcher with a SRAM (you have to click on usa, then products, then T-3 to see it) T-3 internal 3-speed, and cantilever brakes. The bars are not as pictured. Incredible isn't it? How much? $449. No, that is not a misprint. $449. Sure, I can put a wheel with a fixed cog on it for you. We would not have it any other way. Choices are good.

Oh, this is so exciting. What else, what else? Recycled & New Bicycles now has a small selection of real messenger bags from R.E. Load Baggage Inc. These are not cheap bags sewn is Asia. These are the real deal, hand sewn in the USA, custom designed messenger bags. Oh, the colors! I have the Deluxe, the Civilian, and the Small Civilian.

On the serious side, we have all heard about the potential health effects of using plastic water bottles. I'm not going to go into the debate here, but this I know. Water out of plastic bottles tastes like plastic to me. So, Recycled & New Bicycles will not be selling any more plastic bottles. I just ordered dozens of Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles. I have the 27 ounce size to go in your water bottle holder on your bike and the 40 ounce size to go in your pack. I also have slings for the big bottles. I ordered plenty of stainless steel caps if you don't want the plastic caps.

Is there more? Sure there is. The credit card is so thin you can see through it. I love this bike too, the 08 Redline Monocog 29er. Black is back.
And, I have all sizes of the 08 Redline D440 29er. This bike is just fantastic. It's a 1x8! Check out the picture below and the reviews so far. There are some nice pictures at that link by bikerboy.


Well, that's about it. It's funny, last week I was questioning the whole bike shop thing. This week I'm spending money I do not have and getting pretty excited about the coming busy months. Flipflopper. I'm not even going to complain about our air this week (I'll just let you take a look for yourself). If I can just sell a whole bunch of bicycles, the air will get better. Thanks for putting up with my fit of insomnia. I'm going to bed now.

This Morning's Snow Ride

"Go ride," Patty said
As I sat mesmerized
By the falling snow

Along the east bench
Below cloud shrouded mountains
Rolling through the gray

Focus on the sound
Water spraying on fenders
Ignore cold numb toes

And The Rain Washed Us Clean

Clean at last, clean at last. The p.m. 2.5 levels in Logan, UT have dropped from 100 ug/m3 to around 10 ug/m3 in less than 24 hours. What does this mean? Well, the national standard is 35 ug/m3. This means there is not a lot of particulate matter in the air today; there's a lot of precipitation, but not a lot of particulate matter. My lungs are safe. I am going for a ride in the rain and snow today. Really.

I read Matt Chester's blog today and started thinking about how much I would love to tackle rides like the GDR, the Tour Divide, and Trans Iowa. Matt wrote that it is silly to burn fuel to show up at these events unprepared. I agree. I pulled out the Utah Gazetteer (I love the word gazetteer) and looked at the countless possibilities for my own grand tortures. Jeez, I live in Utah. I could ride from my door, spend the next five years on my bike, and not see all the trails and unpaved roads in this state. If I did, there is always Wyoming. Then Montana. Then New Mexico. Matt is right. Why do an event just because it is an event? I can make up my own. Just ride my bike.

So here is my plan. I do as many 8 to 12 hour rides as I can this summer, right from my door. The first one will be Deer Fence to Avon to Eden (with a stop at Eden Coffee) up 39 to FR 54 to Hardware Ranch to Nibley and back to home. There. My own one day of hell. I better rethink the timetable. Perhaps I could do it in 14 hours.

The next day I could do a different loop. Logan to Mantua to Willard Peak to Skyline Trail to Eden (and the coffee) and back over the pass to home. It would be like doing the Tour Divide without the bivy sack, sleeping in my own bed every night.

There are so many possibilities. How about an off road tour all the way down to Moab or Escalante? As I said, I could ride for a long time and not see all of my back yard.

08 Redline Bicycles

I will soon order some 08 Redline Bicycles. I have had quite a bit of interest in the D440 29er. For some one gear is not enough, 8 just about right. Simple, quality, bombproof, great reviews, and very inexpensive. One is already sold. Anyone else? Speak up now before I order.

Orange to Red

Well, the Air Quality Index in Logan is above 150. That puts us at Unhealthy, rather than Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups. That's it. I'm out of here. I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore.

Our air quality situation is complicated, a combination of topography (we are in a bowl), cars, and cows. It is cold when the air gets bad and when the air gets bad it stays cold. No one wants to ride a bicycle or wait for the bus when it is 20 degrees outside. Who wants to walk when your lungs hurt? What do? What do? The easy answer for most people is to get in their car and drive around just like it was any other day. Some drive even more. It is so cold they let their car idle in the morning before they drive, and they let it idle in the parking lot while they shop. It is a real catch 22.

Still Brown

The air that is. I want to go for a bike ride but my lungs deserve better. I was thinking about getting out of the valley, but where would we go? We would have to drive hundreds of miles to get out the brown gunk. Ike took a road trip and here is what he got. Thanks for the picture H. Here are some more pictures from his trip. I will now stop complaining about ice on the roads.

Das Vinterbike

This is my winter bike. It was also my first off-road fixed-gear bike. The frame and fork were found in a dumpster in Bozo, MT. The On One Mary bar is just the best for winter control. Fenders are a must when the roads are wet with melting snow.

Up Into The Blue

I got my ride in yesterday. The only choice, really, was to go up the canyon. I pedaled Das Singlespeed Vinterbike all the way to Beaver.

Up into the blue
Out of the brown inversion
A dance with my bike

It's a simple dance
Standing up on the pedals
Rhythm, circle, sway

I saw literally everyone who is anyone driving down from their day on the slopes. I'm sure they were shaking their heads, saying "what is wrong with that guy." Sure it was cold. Yes, the road had snow on the sides. But, hardly anyone was going up. The sun was at my back nearly the entire ride, so I was visible. I spent a lot of time looking directly at my shadow. The only mishap was the guy coming down who drove his car into the Logan River. Only one person told me I was crazy. I saw him point to his head and turn his hand in circles. Near Tony Grove, one really nice guy honked and swerved across two of the three lanes (passing area) pretending that he was going to flatten me. Maybe I am crazy.

Skis, boards, snowmobiles
A single file armada
Subys and diesels

Perhaps I should ski
Not crazy, just different
I do not like snow

The Air We Breath

It is a Red Air day in Cache County. Red is the county designation. The actual label is USG, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Cache wants to make it simple for people and focus on not using wood stoves rather than the real problem, cars and cows. Want to see the air quality forecast for the next few days? Not good.

There is not a cloud in the sky, but you can't see across the valley. I can't really complain. I rode in the car last night after Patty picked me up at the shop. We made two or three stops, doing some shopping, contributing to the gunk. Today the heat is on in the house. The only way out of the bad air is to go up. Patty and Lupine want to go skiing up at Beaver, another car ride. Perhaps I will pedal up.

Here is an edited haiku I posted on December 10, 2006:

The inversion's back
Mountains have disappeared
In fog white and brown

My Sunday Ride With H.

H. took these pictures on our Sunday ride, without my knowledge or permission of course. It was a beautiful warm day. Really.


The shadows are long
On cold winter afternoons
In the Cache Valley

Erik D., the new jacket works pretty well. Toasty. Thank you for the wonderful gift. I should be your national winter wear model and spokes person.

So, does anyone in Florida want to come out for a ride next week? It's snowing like crazy today in Logan, Utah. Peter, my brother?

Pick The Date

There is a big pile of snow in front of Recycled & New Bicycles. I've been working to get the ice off of the sidewalk and wondering when it will all melt. My guess is March 23. Post yours by leaving a comment. The winner gets something.

Yesterday's Ride

We went for a ride
Two guys on one geared bikes
Around the valley

The valley was white
Except for brown manure
Fresh spread on the snow

A yellow air day
The inversion, a tight lid
Trapping the odors

Cow and diesel mix
Red-tailed hawk and kestrel
Sight, sound, and smells swirl

As the sun went down
The temperature fell too
Numb fingers and toes

Fix It!

I'm back in the shop
Another turn of the wrench
More snow on the way

It is a strange thing
Everyone wants a fixie
The bandwagon rolls

I have two choices
This, or this, (click urban, then uno) or your old frame
I have wheels, flip-flop

Back In Logan...

...and back in the snow. Is it too late to turn around? Seriously, we made it safe and sound. The snow is knee deep, the cat is really sick, but the rest of us are doing just fine after six long days in the car. I will never drive to or from Florida again. Really. I know, I said that last time.

I will post some pictures when I can. We did little but drive, so the trip was pretty uneventful. North Texas really is a horror movie set.

Here is one last Florida haiku. I wrote it on the first hour of the trip passing through the flatwoods of north Florida near Lake City. It seems to me fall and spring in north Florida blend together. Leaves on many of the trees don't really change color and fall. They are "tardily deciduous". The new flowers and leaves of spring just sort of slowly push the old leaves off the tree. The real color comes in late January and early February when red bud, plum, and maple break bud.

The maple forests
Turn a leafless crimson red
Samaras swelling

Basho

There is a great article about Matsuo Basho in February's National Geographic. Basho was a haiku poet in 17th century Japan. A Zen Buddhist, he embarked on spiritual journeys walking around Honshu "shedding all worldly belongings and casting fate to the winds...paying heed to nature's modest drama." I started reading Basho's poetry and prose in 1988. My poetry here in this blog is inspired by his work. Riding a bicycle is a spiritual journey for me, my Buddhist path, slow enough to observe the fleeting ephemeral essence of the natural world and my own life.

We begin another journey today. We are packing up to head back to Logan. We should be on the road for 6 or 7 days. Leaving my Florida home rips me right in half. This place is in my heart; it is part of me. More than just familiar, it is what I know. Florida's ecosystems have become deeply rooted in my soul.

Our journey begins
As the chickasaw plums bloom
There's sand in my shoes

Consumption Again

The beauty of the internet is that there is always someone writing things that I want to say. That is to say, it has already been said. Here is a link to Jared Diamond's latest op-ed in the NY Times. It is long, but worth reading.

DNF

A cyclocross race
Will make your body scream "STOP!"
But your brain says "GO!"

On Saturday afternoon I pedaled over to Gainesville, a nice two and one-half hour singlespeed ride in the rain and sun, cold and hot. Jim Smart and Kristen Bowers picked me up at the northwest Starbucks near 43erd Street. With caffeine in hand, I hopped into the back of their "big white marshmallow" with their friend Jeremy, and we were on our way to Largo for the State Cyclocross Championship races. We looked like real racers with two bikes on top and two bikes on the back of their Volvo wagon. The "marshmallow" moniker was the running joke for the trip. With six air bags, we were told that a car crash would be like bouncing around inside a giant marshmallow. I told Jim he should charge admission.

We stayed the night at Erik DeKold and Kathy's house in Tampa. (Thank you Erik and Kathy!) We woke up early on Sunday and headed for the races. The course was really difficult with a lot of mud, tight turns, and quick ups and downs making for a slow ride. A 29er or MTB with a 36 x 18 gear would have been an ideal bicycle to race.

Jim and I did the Master's 35+. Below is a picture of Jimbo in the mud (photo by Erik).


I did well for the first lap or so. I made a move and was in second for a little bit. I got a cramp in my diaphragm (kick-in-the-side) and quickly moved to the back of the race. After two more laps, my 48 x 22 became really hard to turn over. I knew before the start I was over-geared, but there was no choice. With one to go, I quit. Did Not Finish. DNF is better than DFL. Jimbo, on the other hand, held on for the Silver. He was by far the strongest rider in the race, and on any other day, he would have been the state champion. Truly, I have never seen Jim ride so slow and passive. We are still trying to figure out why he had such a hard time.

Kristen, unlike her spouse, was blazing. She easily won the Women's Expert race. Her fastest lap was only a few seconds slower than Jim's fastest lap! She also took third in the points standings for the entire series, having only done two races. Here is a shot of her flying remount taken by Christian. By the way, us guys don't do it like this!

Erik and Jeremy did the Men's B race. It was the most competitive race of the day. Erik fought for second for most of the race, but ended up in third. He slowed down the last few laps allowing the 4th through 7th place riders to get pretty close to him at the end. Jeremy was 7th, less than a minute behind Mr. DeKold. Below is a great shot of Erik flying over the barrier. That's me on the left with Erik's camera. Both of the other photos in this post are by Carrie Pratt. Thanks Carrie. I steal photos because I do not have a camera.



Gold, Silver, and Bronze for our crew, those are pretty good results. They may even let me tag along again next year, if I keep my promise to do a little more training. A little more than nothing at all is a good place to start.

Do I want to race?
I could quit, just ride for fun
And smell Spring's flowers

The ride's discomfort
Is a metamorphosis
It makes me feel right

No, I want to ride
Hours on the bike - cold, dark
Before the snows melt

More Trip Pictures

We stopped at this cemetery on day four, somewhere (Weimar??) between San Antonio and Houston. The vegetation here looked just like north Florida with magnolias, live oaks, and St. Augustine runner grass. We were hot and tired. We had begun day four in Kerrville, a beautiful little town in the Texas hill country on the Guadalupe River.

Day five began in Lafayette, Louisiana. Above is the re-planted beach at Pass Christian, Mississippi. This area was flattened pretty good by hurricane Katrina (notice the live oaks in the background coming back along with the new houses). Lupine and Patty were overjoyed to get out of the car and see the Gulf of Mexico.

There are no pictures of day five or six. We were getting tired of the trip by then. Above is a shot of mangroves at Chokoloskee. We needed more driving so we went to the Everglades. We may be in the Everglades for all of next winter if Patty gets to work with the Park helping to place Florida panther crossings.

If we live in Chokoloskee, I may get a job here working for cafe con leche and Cuban food. Delicious!

Me and Lupine in the Fakahatchee Strand.
Florida still has a lot of oranges. Hamlin oranges. Really, the Hamlin is an important variety of juice orange in Florida. Remember this picture the next time you buy a half gallon of the good stuff for $3.49.
Goodbye Waggles. We are going to miss you, old man.

Our next destination? Logan, UT, by the first week in February.

The Trip. What a Trip.

I finally have some pictures of our cross the country adventure to share. I'll try to keep the comments to a minimum and let the pictures speak. Above is the Book Cliffs north of Moab on day one.


How did the animals do? Pretty good!

How did you fit 2 dogs, a cat, a 6 year old, two adults, and all of your stuff in a Honda Civic?

Day two, blue skies of New Mexico near the San Francisco River Hot Springs, west of the Gila Wilderness.

Day three, on the road in El Paso. I can do anything as long as there is coffee.

More to come. Stay tuned!!