My Turn to Rant

I listened to an episode of To The Best of Our Knowledge this morning as I made my coffee. One segment covered The Apocalypse Reader, 34 short stories about the end of the world. Hey, it's on everyone's mind. When I listen to or read any form of news almost every story is about the impending drastic changes in our world: the economy, the price of oil, melting ice caps, rising tides, economic stimulus, and political unrest in many countries (this week it is Kenya and upcoming elections in Venezuela). Living on Earth is a great source. Their lead story in every episode is always global warming.

I rode with the TT group in Gainesville on Thursday. It was good to see some of the old guard (Peter, Pat, and Bryan) and some of the old trails. The talk of the group, when we talk, is always about carbon footprints and sustainability. Conversations about biodiesel versus bicycle and quick inflation with a CO2 cartridge versus a re-usable plastic pump are common. Isn't that funny, CO2 vs. plastic pump? Gees, Louise!

So yes, I'm always thinking about these things, the apocalypse, the economy, and sustainability, thinking about them as I continue to lead a comfortable, nearly-average American life. I have reached a few conclusions, however. First, walking is the only sustainable form of transportation. Don't think for a second that bicycles are sustainable. If all the metal parts were made of recycled materials fabricated with solar energy and there were no petroleum based tires, tubes, and grips, well then, perhaps. I will continue to ride my bike, don't misunderstand me. I may even try to go without a car at all. I'm just saying that pondering how to inflate a butyl tube with the smallest footprint is a waste of time. Next, I know for sure that our economy can not and will not continue to grow. A fossil fuel, consumer-based economy is a dying economy. My question is, why is growth the goal? Why grow? To what end? Aren't our leaders smarter than that? All they can think of is a tax cut so we can take the extra cash and buy more unnecessary plastic items. This is smart? I look forward to the day when a reporter says "the economy shrank last year...less houses, less cars, less corporations, less sprawl, and less items purchased from Wal Mart." Sure, when this happens my life will be hard. I am OK with that. My life is hard already, hard by choice. When the apocalypse happens, I'll still be on my bicycle. When bicycle tubes can't be found, I will walk.

Rant over.

Wildness and Bicycles

My time here in Florida is winding down. I find myself thinking about all of those old bicycles in my basement and backyard, and looking at the weather forecast in Logan. Cold. I have enjoyed being here in Florida. On Monday, Lupine and I were in the Ocala National Forest. We saw a black bear crossing the road! We took a little boat ride at sunset across the St. John's River at the Fort Gates Ferry. There was a bald eagle on a pole in the middle of the river. Every day this week, there has been nearly 1000 sand hill cranes on our lake. The wildness of this part of Florida is incredible. It seems wilder than Logan. Wilder, and at the same time there are so many more people, roads, cars, crime, and consumption (the stuff link again). In Florida it seems we have to drive the car no matter where we want to go. I can't believe how much gasoline I have poured into the Honda's tank while we have been here.

We are so insulated in Logan. There is much to be said about a place with limited sprawl (on the Florida scale), an excellent free bus system, and wide streets. In Logan, I can ride my bicycle anywhere I need to go. There is an emphasis on children and the people are fiscally conservative (they buy less stuff). If I could just have clean air and get everyone on a bicycle. While I'm dreaming, I would reforest the mountains, and reintroduce wolf, grizzly bear, and bison.

I will get on all of this just as soon as I get back. OK, I will at least recondition a bunch of old bicycles.

Saddle Time

It's raining here at the lake house! That is a rare site. Really, it never rains here. So, if this keeps up for a month or so, the lake might fill up again. Seriously, the lake is about as low as I have ever seen it, so rain is a good thing.

The Tour of San Felasco was a lot of fun yesterday. I spent the entire day chasing Jim Smart and cutting the course (I have no pride. I even cut off several miles at the end). I am so slow, and Jim is so fast, he may never ride with me again. The legs felt pretty good, but my rear end sure hurt. I developed some saddle sores from my attempted tour down to south Florida.

Oh, I haven't mentioned how that little ride turned out? Well, I bailed. I cut the course. On Wednesday I rode over 100 miles and ended up calling Patty to come rescue me near Orlando. Here are some lessons learned:

1. Don't sleep on the ground in just your clothes.
2. Take a sleeping bag and a pad.
3. Don't put all your stuff in a backpack. The extra weight on your back will really change how your bottom contacts the saddle. Ouch.
4. Don't attempt to ride the Florida Trail on a cyclocross bike.

I will try it again some day. I'll just be a little better prepared.

I still plan on posting some pictures and stories from the cross country trip. It may take a while.

Stuff

It is so wonderful to wake up in our north Florida house. I sip my coffee, look out at the lake, watch the fog lift, and listen to the sand hill cranes. Patty's parents gave us an inexpensive espresso machine. It works, sort of. Since we have been here, we've bought other stuff for our "other house", sheets, pillows, comforter, odds and ends. Patty's parents have offered us one of their couches and another bar stool. We would have to rent a van and burn the gas to go down to Port Salerno to get the stuff. So, I grapple with stuff and the ethics of stuff. I have been pondering it for the last few days, and then I came across this. Watch it. It will make you ask some questions and it may even change your life. Me? I have to go to town and buy a gasket for my toilet. I have been told to buy a new toilet, but I will try to fix the one I already have. Wish me luck.

On a sadder, less global note, today is the day for my dog waggles' euthanasia. I have been thinking about the impending moment of his death all morning. Then, right on cue, NPR does a story on capital punishment. Thanks Nina.

We Made It

We are home in Florida. I know, so many of you wanted daily updates. I'm sorry, but there was just no time to blog, and few hot spots to blog from. We made the trip in 6 days.

In the next few days I will put up some pictures and tell the tale. We have an Internet connection here. The short version: the cat is cool, he did not run away and acted as if every place we stopped was home. He never put his claws into my head. More later.

The Adventure Continues

This morning we are in El Paso. We've come a long way, come a long way, 500 miles per day. Yesterday we woke up in Canyon de Chelly. The drive has been quite scenic. The only problem is, we have not had a chance to stop and enjoy it. Drive, drive, drive. Today we start across the big state of Texas. San Antonio tonight? Who knows? I will keep you posted if I get a chance to post.

Still Here

We're still in Utah
It is time to start driving
A snowstorm's coming

The Adventure Begins

The shop is closed
Except for those who need me
Like James and Destry

I must change the oil
Pack the car with bikes and dogs
And rotate the tires

Southern Utah and
Red rock country, Navajo
Mexican Water

Apache Sitgreaves
Arizona, White Mountains
Wolf tracks in the snow

A big adventure
Isn't that what life's about?
Stranded in Texas

Sunrise on the gulf
Cajun music and crayfish
Flocks of white ibis

Resurrection ferns
Spanish moss on the live oaks
It's good to be home

Hell

I think my face says it all in this photo. This was the hardest race of the entire series. Each lap got worse and worse. Above is lap number one. Nice white shirt. I wish I had a picture at the end. I had at least 10 pounds of mud on me and the bike. Below is lap three, getting dirty. One lap later I was down more than once. With one to go, Clark M., who had just passed me after another slip, went down right in front of me and I lost another place. Bad day.

This Week is the Last Week

Well, if you tell people you are not going to be around for a while, they bring you a bunch of bicycles to work on. I will be in the shop this week, and I will be busy. There is even a lugged steel cyclocross bike to convert into a single speed for Andy. Josh A. needs a seat post and a wheel true. Again, come on buy.

The cyclocross series is over, and it leaves me a little down. Now there is no "next race" to look forward to. I do plan on taking the cross bike to Florida. There are races almost every week in January, so I will put that in my head, think positive, and try to do a little training. It's hard to go ride when it is 10 degrees out. Most of next week will be spent in the car. The bike needs help. It is still covered in mud from the last race.

The races are run
Brake cables frozen with mud
Pedals do not spin

The Last Days

Saturday, December 15, will be the last day open in 07 for Recycled & New Bicycles. I should be back in the shop by early February. We will be on the road to Florida the week of December 17. We plan to take the southern route to avoid the sideways snow in Wyoming. This route includes Moab, UT, Arizona, Silver City, NM, all of Texas, the gulf coast, then home.

The Utah Cyclocross Series is over. It's like "lost dogs and mixed blessings." At yesterday's race, I started fast and finished slow. I got in a crash near the end and lost a place. I crashed several times before that. Not a good day, riding in about a half-foot of mud and snow all day. Overall, I will end up 6th in the points standings. That sounds good, but I am near the bottom of the list of those who did at least 7 races. I probably will not do the series next year. Bicycle riding is a priority, but the travel involved in racing is not. I may try to put on a Logan cyclocross series next year. I could ride to the races.

Last night's Alley Cat Race was a blast. What a turn out!

Cold and Wet

It was slow at the shop again today. I sold only one tube, one fixed cog, and one lock ring. Just a week or so to go, so come on in. The deals are hot; the air is cold.

We have some serious winter weather moving in. The final race of the cyclocross series is on Saturday. And you thought last week's conditions were bad. This time it may be worse. The temperature should be near 20 for the single speed race. Saturday night I plan on doing the Mooseknuckler alley cat race. Iced roads on the fixed gear! Wish me luck. Or brains.

Migrations

Like a sandhill crane
I feel the urge to fly south
Back to Florida

To sit on my porch
And stare at the blue water
Watching the sunset

The sandy trails call
Gold Head and Etonia
Black waters move slow

Video

Here is a video from Saturday's race. That was a lot of snow for skinny tires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuxnUZyzs30

A Picture Says 1000 Snow Flakes

I took this picture from my friend Seth's blog. I'm sure he would not care too much. Anyway, this was the start of Saturday's single speed race. The snow was falling pretty hard, about two inches just during the race. Looking for me? White jersey, red helmet, head down.

Slick

Yesterday I did a cyclocross race in a snow storm. At the start there was four inches on the ground. After the finish, there was another three inches on top of the car. I rode too conservatively. I slipped and dabbed a lot, but I never hit the ground. I gained and lost a place on the last lap. I will have to work harder on my "killer instinct." In cross, if you pass someone, you have to go as hard as you can and bury them. There was enough snow for burial, I just should have shoveled harder.

I will blog the results when I find out where I finished. Bottom line: "if last week's results still look good this week, this week's results are not so good."

Patty's birthday is on Tuesday, and her sister is coming for a visit. So, the shop will be open when I am there. I may not be there very much. Call me if you need me. I still have plenty of nice bikes I need to move.

It's Monday

I will be open regular hours this week. I'm sure there will be a rush of holiday shoppers eager to take advantage of the great deals at Recycled & New Bicycles. Seriously, I will sell all new bikes at any price, as long as I can cover my costs. Come and see me. Or, call me.

Results and points have been posted from this past weekend's cross races. I placed a solid 5th in Saturday's race. That puts me in 6th overall in the single speed class. Racer Gibson is in 5th overall. It is mathematically possible that I could catch him, but highly, highly improbable. He has been faster than me the entire series until last Saturday. I also have to mark Ryan Ashbridge. He could easily move in front of me in the points standings (he has done 4 races, I have done 5). I have never beaten him, although I was only seconds behind him on Saturday. Next Saturday, I am going to ride fast. Nice mantra, no?

A Long Day

I was out the door this morning before 7:30. I drove to SLC for race #8 in the Utah Cyclocross Series. All day yesterday I continued to tell myself "I am going to ride fast, I am going to ride fast, I am going to ride fast." It's all mental. I did some research about the course and found out that it was "fast." I went to the shop last night at 10 pm at put on a bigger gear, 46/20. That's a big gear for me. I got there early and did the Men's C race as a warm up. In the single speed race, I worked hard to turn over my big gear coming out of each turn. It was probably my best race this year. I have no idea where I finished, but I know I could not have gone much faster. I was not really racing the top 5 guys, because I know I can't keep up with them. I was racing me, the guy who had to be forced to sprint out of each corner. My lungs burned. It hurt to go that fast. When I got off the bike, I felt no pain at all. Next week, "I am going to ride fast." It's all mental.

I opened up the shop today at 2 pm. I had only one customer all day. So, I put all the bikes back in the shop and came home before 5. Like the note on the door says, "if you need anything, call me, I'll be right in."

And Then It Snowed

All morning I kept looking to the northwest for a line of dark clouds. All I saw was Easter-egg blue. At lunch I looked out the window, and there it was, snow flurries. It came from the east, wrap around effect, from the low pressure center that went northeast of us. The Bear River Range mountains were covered in gray clouds and white snow. Still, the northwest sky was clear and blue. Neat-o.

I may have sold a Mono Cog and a Conquest today. Really neat-o. Other than two maybes, the bike business is really slow.

I finally have my bike set up as a single speed using the magic numbers 44/20. Half link, vertical dropouts, perfect chain tension, and no derailleur. It took a new wheel without a 10 speed free hub body, but now it's right. I will be racing in SLC on Saturday morning. Magic numbers will work on any bike. You can learn more by looking at this Magic Numbers site. Feel free to ask, if the fix me up site does not make sense.

Today's Haiku

The forecast said snow.
Migrating raptors float south
In a clear blue sky.