Knee to Rock

I have been waiting to post this picture and link for a while. Take a look at Patty's work. She is brilliant and beautiful. Beautiant. Smart and sexy. Smexy.

I got in a great ride yesterday with Paul G. We went up Stump Hollow and did a loop via Little Bear and the Turkey Trail. There was plenty of up, down, hike-a-bike, and one good tumble. I just could not get my foot out in time while crossing a boulder field in Peter Sinks. Knee to rock says it all. That Stump Hollow trail is not very good. I would not recommend it.

Fall is here. The maples are going off in Logan Canyon up by Tony Grove.

Crimson red maples
Under the yellow aspen
Painted mountain sides

One More Thing

I wanted to mention again, I will be playing and singing at the Gardner's Market on Wednesday at 5:30. The market is at the courthouse on Main Street each Wednesday. Come on out. Buy some veggies.

The Pendulum Swings

A few weeks ago, Dave B. at Seattle Bike Supply made me buy a bike. A bike with gears. OK, I guess I wanted it. I have not purchased a derailleured bicycle since 1998. I almost made it a decade only riding a single speed bicycle. I have not purchased a new bike since the Matt Chester Ute, seven years ago. So, now I'm shifting. If Matt Chester is going to build frames with derailleur hangers, I can ride a bike with gears. I own a bike shop, and I probably should be riding and racing the bicycles that I sell. Dave, thanks for the pro deal.

My new bike you ask? It is an 08 Redline Conquest Team(the bike in the picture is not my bike). Fun you ask? I have not ridden it very much, but I must admit it is a blast to go really fast in the flats. Now I can even go on a road ride with a group. I plan on doing the Utah Cyclocross Series which begins in a few weeks. I plan on doing the single speed race on the Monocog 29er with my drop bars and thin tires (click here for the Strong story) and then getting my rear spanked, kicked, and bruised by doing the A race on the new bike. Good training, no? I will blog more once I get in a few good rides on the new bike.

The Storm

The air was humid
Before our last thunderstorm
Almost like back home

Yesterday

Yesterday, Ryan finally took home his 08 Conquest. What a pretty blue bike with matching blue on the saddle and bar wrap.

Kristen got her Conquest Sport. Like several other Recycled & New Bicycles' customers, she works at Common Ground Outdoor Adventures. They do great work. Kristen pronounces one syllable words like they have two or three, just like I do. She is from Alabama. Roll Tide?

A while back I was the "official" bicycle suppler to the employees at Crumb Brothers. Five employees from Cafe Ibis have purchased bikes. Now it looks like I can add Common Ground to the list. Thank you everyone!

Yesterday I blogged that I only had three Redline R530s left. Today I only have two. Again, hurry. I will order more.

I have a gig tonight at our neighborhood block party. I will be playing around 7:30 at the pavilion behind the church at 1000 N and 1250 E near Evergreen Drive (think northeast of the Logan Cemetery).

I am also scheduled to play at the Cache Valley Gardner's Market on Wednesday at 5:30 at the downtown courthouse.

When will I go for a bike ride? I can not write baiku if I do not ride.

They Are Going Fast

Last Friday, I blogged about all the new Redline 530s I received. European sophistication indeed. Well, there are only 3 women's left. The men's are gone! So, hurry before they are all gone. Seriously, these bikes are so good, I will be ordering more in all sizes.

A Paid Endorsment?

My best buddy John forwarded the email below. It's good to know I'm doing a few things right. Notice that I haven't posted emails from all the people I've pissed off.

"Hey! So I took your advice when I saw you in Rob's bike shop about going to him for any bike need and I am grateful I did! I never thought riding my bike could be so enjoyable-and I wish I would have realized sooner that with a little bike tune-up there would be a lot less physical pain and exertion! It is amazing what he can do with the bike! But what else would you expect from a guy like him, eh?"

Fireweed

When I lived in Montana, fall's harbinger was watching the fireweeds lose there blossoms. Within a few weeks of all the flowers falling to the ground we would get our first snow of the fall. It does not happen that quickly here in Utah, but when I see the fluffy seed heads on the fireweed, I know fall has arrived. I look for the first cold front and dark clouds in the northwest sky. I think about cyclocross season. I think about snow, mud, tights, arm warmers, and cold toes.

The last pink petals
From the Epilobium
Just fell to the ground.

What a Week

The last three days have been crazy. There is nothing like doing repairs from 10pm to 3 o'clock in the morning. There is nothing like selling used Burley trailers, new trailers, used bikes (was it four or five?) and new bikes (three just today!). It looks like I'll be able to pay the rent on Tuesday. Thank you customers. Thank you. Will I be able to pay for the twenty-five new bikes? I hope so.

It looks like I will stay busy for a while. I have a whole bunch of repairs to do. Ryan D. gets his 08 Conquest on Tuesday or Wednesday after waiting for a whole month. Thank you for your patience, Ryan. I will order an Atlas trike for Pat G. on Tuesday.

So much for staying small. It looks like I found some good help for building bikes. Bryan showed up on Tuesday and answered "the" interview question. He was the first one to get it correct out of about a dozen people who have asked to build bikes. The question, you ask? "My bike shifts perfect on the first three or four cogs. On the next four it gets worse and worse. What is wrong with my bike?" If you know the answer, post it in the comments section. A small latte to the first correct answer. Ike has also been building some bicycles for me. Thanks guys. I ain't no rock. I ain't no island.

Comfort Bikes, Single Speeds, Road and Cross

A big FedEx Freight truck delivered over 25 bikes to the shop today. If there is anyone out there reading this in need of a bike, come see me. The majority of the bikes are Redline 530s and 520s. Both models are big wheeled (700c) bikes with an upright position, front shocks, seat post shocks, and Slime tubes. The 530s are the Euro bikes complete with internal 7 speed, drum brakes, full fenders, rack, and full-cover chain guard (no grease, no brake dust). What a bike!

I also have single speeds, road bikes, and cyclocross bikes.

Bring cash or check.

Another Ride

I was on my bike at 6:30 this morning. I rode up Green Canyon for a change. Fall has left its early fingerprints on the vegetation. Some mornings have been quite chilly, even down into the upper 40s. This morning I wore a windbreaker; and my hands and feet were cold.

Maples and aspen
Have lost their bright green luster,
Now soft yellow-green

On my way down the sun came over the mountains, rising into a clear blue sky. It was so drastic seeing the trail change instantly from shadow to bright sun. It wasn't just the change from dark to light, it was the effect of the bicycle's motion over the trail. Rolling fast down a single track gives the illusion of the whole world rushing past you as if you were standing still. The instantaneous contrast between shadow and sun combined with speed blinded me.

From shadow to sun
My world bright, flying past me
Blind, for a moment.

I am still getting use to my new bike. She don't climb, she don't climb, terrain.

My new bike climbs slow
Compared to the old one, or,
Perhaps it's just me.

Chinese Graduate Students' Bicycles

I know it has been said many times before, but it's really "not about the bike." It's about the bike you are used to riding. The bike I'm used to is dead. Perhaps dead for a long time, although a new chain stay is not out of the question. The new bike is fine, it's just not my bike. Yet. I have tried to keep my position and feel with my drop bars, stem, wheels, and saddle. The only thing really new is the frame. I rode it with Patty today. We had a good ride. We realized how lucky we are to live in a place where a real mountain bike ride, in real mountains, beside a mountain stream, is just outside our door. The new bike did pretty good. The biggest change is that the rear wheel is just a lot farther back than on the Strong. I will learn to climb with more weight over the rear wheel.

We live just a few blocks from USU's married student housing. Picture the bike racks there full of Next and Huffy bicycles in various states of disrepair and oxidation, all with low tire pressure (TT riders can substitute their experiences near UF's married student housing. Chinese graduate students' bicycles are the same everywhere you go). With this image in mind, here is Today's baiku:

North bound, west sidewalk
Uphill, big ring, walking speed
Crank clanking kickstand

They Come in Threes

A few weeks ago I found a big crack in my Ute. Patty has been riding it for the past three years so I guess she can take the blame. Well, that would not be fair at all. I rode that bike really hard for five years. I stripped the Ute and put some of the parts on my Strong monster cross. The broken frame hangs in my basement, never to see the light of day again.

Last week I began to hear a creak from the front end of the Strong. I checked the bars and stem. I noticed the fork was a little twisted and that no-hand riding resulted in a pull to the right. Yesterday, close inspection revealed a big crack in the bend of the fork. I put on a new fork last night. This morning I woke up early to go for a ride. I flipped the flop to head up the trail and there on the chain stay at the track-end was a big crack. My baby is broke. Like the Ute, I have ridden this bike hard year-round for four years. I hold only myself responsible for the failures, not the frame and fork manufactures. Problems or defects would have shown up years ago, especially the way I ride. It is not a coincidence that the fork and frame broke at the same time, with the exact same amount of cyclic fatigue. It's also interesting to note that steel and ti never fail catastrophically. The failures happen slowly over time. With Aluminum, I probably would have walked home.

Now what do I do? More than one person has told me I should ride what I sell. Looks like I may be riding a Redline Monocog 29er, for a few years anyway. I bet I could break one of those too after four or five years of JRA Robert style.

Free Mini Concert

I will playing a few new songs (new for me, and never performed by me) at the USU Amphitheater on Wednesday August 22 at 2:00 pm. The Amphitheater is tucked in on the south end of Old Main Hill. There will be a captive audience, but all are welcome. The more the merrier and the better I will sing.

I will be doing songs by Texas singer-songwriters James McMurtry, Michelle Shocked, and probably at least one by Robert Earl Keen. The theme is change, reflection, and personal growth. You can take what you want. I'm not being pushy.

Hints of Fall

The monsoons return
Lighting the evening sky
Too late for brown plants

Geranium leaves
Now crimson, yellow, orange
Their chlorophyll gone

Pica pica wings
Growing flocks swirl black, white, green
On gold wheat stubble

A baiku for Tom

I'm growing old fast.
My knees, ankles, and back fail,
Like new broken spokes.

Social Work

"Can you fix this bike?
I don't have any money.
It is for my son."

Tubes, tire, and used chain
Bike repair is social work.
The boy rides, and smiles.



The Immigrant

"The other bike shop
They sent me here for a wheel.
This one does not work.

This bike cost ten bucks.
I bought it at the DI.
The gears do not work."



The Grandfather

"Here's my daughter's bike.
She's back in Guatemala.
So, she can't pay you.

She's not coming back.
So, you can have her kid's bikes.
Are they worth something?"



Homeless

"That bike you gave me?
I left it in Idaho,
Because the fork broke.

The old bike's still here?
The one with the leather strap
On the derailleur?"

He rides away, south.
Dirty rags and torn blue tarp
His stench in the air.

A Busy Day

Busy is good. July was quite slow. Quite a few bicycles went out the door today, two recycled bicycles (24 inch wheeled kids bikes) , a Monocog 29er, and a Redline 520. Eva is getting a Conquest Sport on Tuesday. Thanks Eva and Mikie. Busy.

After work I took off my cracked crankset. It was the last crankset from my stash of old Deore DXs. I replaced it with the Raceface set from my Matt Chester Utilitiman (after many years of hard riding, the Ute has a crack at the bottom of the downtube-headtube joint, Matt, if you ever read this, I need a repair job). I put on a pair of DiaComp levers for V-brakes, the brakes from the Ute, a new free wheel and chain, and removed the two fixed cogs. My bike is now a drop bared, 180mm cranked, 32/20 single speed 29er, sort of. One look at it and it's still just a cross bike.

At 8 am tomorrow, me and Hoda ride. Yes, I am going for a ride.

Got Computer?

Yes, I do, for now. Dr. Windbag dropped off his old laptop this morning. So, just as soon as I have something clever to say or compose an extra good baiku I will post it.

I'm Here...

...working, selling bicycles, and even riding a little bit. I'm still without a computer (mixed blessings). Come in to the shop and see me. I'll be there.