tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55386092783853640222024-02-07T18:48:49.732-08:00Singletrack M1ndSingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-64011757949242771582012-07-06T22:52:00.002-07:002012-07-06T22:53:00.146-07:00I wanna rock!<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45346456" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/45346456">Rock</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7349741">Casey Schlenker</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-80770760584516826932011-10-01T22:50:00.000-07:002011-10-01T22:51:38.406-07:00Best laid spontaneous actions.My day started with a few urget woofs from one of my riding buddies.<br />
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She wanted to go mountain biking, and she wanted to do it right now. Bella and I loaded up the truck, and headed to the Wood's Gulch trailhead in The Rattlesnake.<br />
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The first few miles went by without incident, but, I'm new to the area, and I had to stop and consult the map a few times.<br />
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There are a lot of reasons to ride a knobby tire bike through the woods; fast flowy trails, the rush of adrenaline while cleaning a technical section, the pure athleticism of grinding up endless climbs, actually being able to feel your own soul, however, mountain biking is first and formost about exploring in the woods.<br />
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I hadn't really explored the Wood's Gulch trail past the logging road yet, so when I got there, I figured I keep heading up the singletrack to Blue Point. The climb is steep, loose, and technical enough, that I was looking forward to the downhill. Once Bella and I got to the top we enjoyed the view, and split a Clif Bar. I figure even Bella-the-endless-energy-herding-dog needs a snack after a steep, technical, climb.<br />
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After a little snack, Bella was reenergized, and decided to run hot laps around the summit.<br />
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Since my riding partner was ready to rawk, we pointed downhill and pinned it for 3.5 miles, flat out shredding. I kept checking to make sure Bella was with me, and every time I glanced back, there she was, right on my wheel. I got a text from Ricky Gnarmichal after every turn I railed. Until...<br />
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Sometimes, you take a wrong turn. Sometimes, you hesitate and think when you should just trust your instincts. Sometimes, your worn-out rear tire just doesn't hook up. Regardless of why I blew a corner, I did, and slammed into a rock pile hard enough to cause an instant flat in my rear tire, and also hard enough to utterly fuck my big ring...not that one should ever need a big ring on an all-mountain bike.<br />
One does however, need a rear tire. Something I frequently tell people is: "Never ride with just a patch kit, sometimes tubes can't be patched." Tonight, I gained another anecdote to back up that maxim. The inch long slash in my tube wasn't fixable, even with four patches over it.<br />
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All's well that ends well though. Bella and I had a great afternoon/evening in the woods. I learned a little more about the sweet sweet singletrack that Missoula has to offer. And, after a sorta nasty crash, the worst thing I had to endure was a 1.5 mile hike, while my dog frolicked in the woods, chasing down unwitting squirrels.<br />
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On top of all of that, there was a gorgeous sunset while driving home from the Rattlesnake.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjG_Nm_D4OpI_Fr3ZDFoOQRnc5b1vOGk32JUrUI3xNfifeRO42LaqPHUmW3DSyM2lKDpLB7voTh3A0dkT78_WatDaoSmz-N9OJG4dqNKb3_ksslDiZ73xYr94L6lKPTBy9weRUPsbNWo/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjG_Nm_D4OpI_Fr3ZDFoOQRnc5b1vOGk32JUrUI3xNfifeRO42LaqPHUmW3DSyM2lKDpLB7voTh3A0dkT78_WatDaoSmz-N9OJG4dqNKb3_ksslDiZ73xYr94L6lKPTBy9weRUPsbNWo/s640/IMG_2060.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-30527763166124485432011-01-28T23:38:00.000-08:002011-01-28T23:38:55.140-08:00Bike FamilyAll four members of my nuclear family are cyclists. But all my close friends are cyclists as well, and friends are family that you consciously choose.<br />
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When I started grad school in Bozeman, I was socially isolated for the first time in a long time. However, one of my fellow grads, Seth, turned out to be one of those people for whom cycling is more of a lifestyle/religion, than an activity. Seth introduced me to other Bozeman cyclists like <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/johnfriedrich">John</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/captaine">Mason</a>, these guys quickly became friends and brothers. Through my contact with these individuals I became intricately plugged in to the Bozeman cycling scene, and I formed meaningful social connections more significant than I'd known previously.<br />
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Several years ago <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/johnfriedrich">John</a> asked me if I wanted to drive to Boise ID for an alleycat called '<a href="http://wbcboise.blogspot.com/">Liverdance</a>'. He knew a Boise cyclist dubbed 'Charlie The Ninja', who would let us crash at his place for the weekend. I'm generally socially awkward enough, that I'd normally be apprehensive about hanging with some random people, in an unfamiliar town. But, these were cyclists, so I didn't give it a moment's thought. <a href="http://thebozemanfix.blogspot.com/2008/03/liverdance-3-part-two.html">After a harrowing drive in an '84 Toyota, John and I made it to Boise, and beheld a shadowy figure, beside the road. </a><br />
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I hopped out of the car, and threw my left hand up just fast enough to catch a Bud Diesel tallboy. Another tallboy was delivered to John, along with a command to 'slam those beers, and get your bikes out of the car, we've got 30 minutes before "last call"'. We did as told, and soon the three of us were racing fixies in the middle of the night, through a town I'd never been in before, to some bar. I don't remember if I even shook the guy's hand, but I do remember feeling I'd been accepted immediately into the pack. Upon reaching the bar, there was shaking of hands, drinking of whiskey, and talking of shit from people I'd never met, who treated me like an old friend, just because I was a fellow cyclist.<br />
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On another occasion, I received communication from <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mtnbikinggirl">MtnBikingGirl</a> that she and her <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/drcolinwilson">boyfriend</a> were going to be in Bozeman. I didn't hesitate to offer them a futon, these people are cyclists, and automatically, I considered them family. When my roommate asked me how I knew these people, I replied that I knew them from 'The Internet', but they were cyclists. She was actually incredulous for a moment, until I reminded her that I only knew her because she is a cyclist, and her cyclist boyfriend had looked up Bozeman cyclists in order to find people to connect with when she moved to Bozeman. The irony was palpable, and beautiful.<br />
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I could recount many more anecdotes, like how <a href="http://samh.net/">SamH</a> showed up at the <a href="http://www.bozemanbikekitchen.org/">Bozeman Bike Kitchen</a>, and I knew in about ten minutes that he and I would become friends approximating brothers, or how <a href="http://thebozemanfix.blogspot.com/2010/08/congratulations-reuben-and-alice-we.html">Reuben and Alice met during bike polo, and then got married</a>. But, the basic thesis is this, bike people are a pack, like a family. It doesn't matter if I've never met someone before, if they're a cyclist, I know in my soul that they're a member of my pack, they're family.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-3561532655960059692011-01-01T03:21:00.000-08:002011-01-01T03:36:07.492-08:00Oh yeh...That's right...I like to ride bikesI'm a pretty mediocre guy, but I hang out with some really badass people. A couple years ago, I was riding between 8 and 20 miles per day, winter or summer, night or day. The last few months though, I've been in a hole, and I've barely been riding more than 3-5 miles per day.<br />
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But leading up to New Years, <a href="http://samh.net/">SamH</a> continually expressed interest in a midnight, new year's eve bike ride. Before heading to the new years party, I made sure to outfit in suitable cold weather clothing, just in case a ride ensued, it was 17 below zero when I left my house.<br />
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The party went normally until about 11:30pm, until my wolfpack started girding for a cold-weather bike ride. We headed out, 12 strong, and did a 5 block route, and went back to the party. At this point <a href="http://samh.net/">SamH</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/tjdzor">Tom</a> stated that they wanted to put on some real miles. A destination 2 miles away was suggested, then I threw out heading to East Gallatin Rec, about 7 miles away. The three of us seemed to think that was a good idea, and with reckless abandon, we headed out on a 14 mile ride, at midnight, in weather far colder than negative 10 Fahrenheit. <br />
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It was cold tonight, but midway through the ride, I needed to shed a layer, and I enjoyed every moment of tonight's absurdity. After reaching our destination (East Gallatin Rec) we decided to take the long way to The Filling Station for a drink, and I have to say, my Supernova E3 Triple served me well in the utter darkness of a gravel road far north of Bozeman.<br />
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What did I learn from tonight's midnight bike ride in sub freezing temperatures? I learned something I've always known, but forgot, I really really like to ride my bike, even in the middle of the night in the dead of winter. In fact, I think I enjoy riding my bike even more in the dead of winter, in the middle of the night. Bring that inclement shit!!SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-17119181305037309892010-12-16T23:46:00.000-08:002010-12-16T23:46:07.410-08:00Wolfpack<i>Canis lupus </i><br />
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Fierce, lean, loyal, social predators, cyclists run in packs. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeR3tcSG6g8BeqfPxIzudYeDzQqC2jEpqM-lpctVshWd7ebGcbiUL_SM3B8OvASUxaa6WqbhCYmoLfAskAmWTZhLZXYQQJTmxK3DIZOBEA-VczUYx6FWR7LRVfDmkhezXU13UCCC-hqc/s1600/j2OZ.Screen+shot+2010-12-17+at+00-44-25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeR3tcSG6g8BeqfPxIzudYeDzQqC2jEpqM-lpctVshWd7ebGcbiUL_SM3B8OvASUxaa6WqbhCYmoLfAskAmWTZhLZXYQQJTmxK3DIZOBEA-VczUYx6FWR7LRVfDmkhezXU13UCCC-hqc/s1600/j2OZ.Screen+shot+2010-12-17+at+00-44-25.png" /></a></div><br />
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When I encounter another cyclist, I know without doubt that they are family. <br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXGLRceIgSE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nXGLRceIgSE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-65094455175638988522010-09-09T19:12:00.000-07:002010-09-09T20:08:13.375-07:00How to tell if someone is a Jackass.1) They are friends with me.<br />
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2) They pull this off.<br />
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Nice work <a href="http://www.samh.net/">H</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zgxgQhHhJnjSGYQ-DgAN-bR5bOxYCn8aN-VJtLXduXgaDHYh7-wqWulUpLgp5WKabkoSS5lz4_uJSbZYLku-riTt_Kev3asgYODG6WCkQUEq5HBJg4rn7QkyfiOwHXsSl9auP2FYnUU/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-09+at+8.06.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zgxgQhHhJnjSGYQ-DgAN-bR5bOxYCn8aN-VJtLXduXgaDHYh7-wqWulUpLgp5WKabkoSS5lz4_uJSbZYLku-riTt_Kev3asgYODG6WCkQUEq5HBJg4rn7QkyfiOwHXsSl9auP2FYnUU/s640/Screen+shot+2010-09-09+at+8.06.58+PM.png" width="404" /></a></div>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-55271678018183759092010-07-09T00:35:00.000-07:002010-07-09T00:52:34.991-07:00Hauling stuff by bike makes me happy, ergo I laugh like a fool whilst doing soI quite enjoy using a bicycle to haul loads most people would decide to use an automobile for. When my friend <a href="http://twitter.com/sharalds">SamH </a>decided to recrute load-bike riders to move him from one house to another, I jumped at the chance to be involved.<br />
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The person laughing like an idiot in this video is me. I definitely wouldn't be remotely so mirthful if I'd been using my car to help move my friend.<br />
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Your fossil-fuel burning conveyance is unnecessary in a world with readily available load-hauling bicycles such as the <a href="http://www.xtracycle.com/">Xtracycle</a> and the <a href="http://www.madsencycles.com/">Madsen</a>. Rethink your reality. Americans have been sold on a life of convenience that is unhealthy to the point of reducing their life-span, and happiness.<br />
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I bet you've got a bike in your garage, collecting dust, sitting next to your inefficient, oil-burning car. I'm certain you'll have more fun riding your bike than driving your SUV.<br />
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<object height="450" width="800"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13037785&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13037785&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/13037785">Moving by Bicycle - 2010</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/samh">samh</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-39123855603365525262010-06-30T21:45:00.000-07:002010-06-30T21:45:47.099-07:00This is how we roll!!File this picture under 'Hell Yes!'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNb2yioHU3aFkvdOfvRf4w9ZWRPStFlLKIYSZIfn6AIuicxnekNcbS4S287kPyUenf5mq4l0I3l4Pj4RFLIXr3IjM0UujGm03jA3SNnXRZI76gBbBDZRi8nmQIApCICGGo5A_AjNlUb8/s1600/123230727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNb2yioHU3aFkvdOfvRf4w9ZWRPStFlLKIYSZIfn6AIuicxnekNcbS4S287kPyUenf5mq4l0I3l4Pj4RFLIXr3IjM0UujGm03jA3SNnXRZI76gBbBDZRi8nmQIApCICGGo5A_AjNlUb8/s640/123230727.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-11303836246014769472010-05-19T14:46:00.000-07:002010-05-19T14:48:45.844-07:00The Dirt ConcernDan Boyce did a feature on SW Montana's newest MTB club, The Dirt Concern.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="393"><param name="movie" value="http://www.kbzk.com/player/VideoPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param value="configXML=http%3A//www.kbzk.com/player/config.cfm%3Fvideo_id%3D2629%26zone_id%3D1%26categories%3D9%26categories%3D" name="flashvars"></param><embed src="http://www.kbzk.com/player/VideoPlayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="393" flashvars="configXML=http%3A//www.kbzk.com/player/config.cfm%3Fvideo_id%3D2629%26zone_id%3D1%26categories%3D9%26categories%3D"></embed></object>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-70210882776780480612010-05-16T00:18:00.000-07:002010-05-16T00:43:49.732-07:00Hauling stuff makes me happy.There a lot of things related to riding bikes that I like. I like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlxl4X-6Ows&feature=player_embedded">Mountain Biking</a>, I like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=467LhAiF77o&feature=channel">alleycats</a>, and I especially like <a href="http://bozemanbikekitchen.org/">Bozeman's own homegrown bicycling cooperative</a><br /><br />But judging by this picture taken by <a href="http://samh.net/">SamH</a>, what makes me really happy is hauling stuff on my Xtracycle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyiKwGiSWkgEUXGFIMBtnKnjE_qLSjF3qUvmK80znSfow3uXhbaXIC0uYM2wyHISpMHOacdgrre8oKL-NgeW6ozg6XssAyX4v1trODr95Fd4WIGR7gUBTpnoXAGcjQEM8WpAR4s_r5NI/s1600/4554480259_6795285bb4_b.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyiKwGiSWkgEUXGFIMBtnKnjE_qLSjF3qUvmK80znSfow3uXhbaXIC0uYM2wyHISpMHOacdgrre8oKL-NgeW6ozg6XssAyX4v1trODr95Fd4WIGR7gUBTpnoXAGcjQEM8WpAR4s_r5NI/s400/4554480259_6795285bb4_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471764665387099314" /></a>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-60441243032871303132010-03-31T20:11:00.000-07:002010-03-31T20:12:56.060-07:00I'm totally killing it.<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars"value="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/standard/9bfc39a6-0623-11df-926d-003048d69c21_17_standard_medium-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/standard/9bfc39a6-0623-11df-926d-003048d69c21_17_standard_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5987841&searchbar=false&autostart=false"/><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/standard/9bfc39a6-0623-11df-926d-003048d69c21_17_standard_medium-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/standard/9bfc39a6-0623-11df-926d-003048d69c21_17_standard_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5987841&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed></object><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-62637335222571872932009-12-29T09:55:00.000-08:002009-12-29T10:16:15.605-08:00MTB season. Now in DecemberSo, <a href="http://jpfriedrich.blogspot.com/">John</a> is now part of the <a href="http://trailcrew.specialized.com/john/">Specialized Trail Crew</a>. Without going in to all the details, the big S gave him an S-works Stumpy and a bunch of gear, and in return he blogs, <a href="http://twitter.com/johnfriedrich">tweets</a>, etc.<br /><br />He also makes videos, the most recent is below. If you squint you'll see me here and there, amongst shots of an extremely well designed suspension doing what it does. <br /><br />For the record, I am not sponsored by anyone. <a href="http://fisherbikes.com/">Gary Fisher</a> <span style="font-style:italic;">did</span> just hook me up with a carbon HiFi, however, that's another story.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rlxl4X-6Ows&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rlxl4X-6Ows&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-55371501768619004342009-09-02T12:57:00.000-07:002009-09-02T13:00:37.213-07:00iPod FTWI'll update this thing someday. Maybe when I'm done with my PhD. For now I'm typing on my iPod from an undisclosed location.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-26138054899415198152009-01-04T17:35:00.000-08:002009-01-04T18:04:37.465-08:00January Trail Riding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8RB3cvw8rsaQfuZ8ucGlCGmF2q_FobzpD_ibcaD4pignT1n3-hCeEhtzB37syNJ7qlarYVX3_WegO02XokyJ-RZeYvZMctVBCJwY5rraK1Wu4uL7hEQd1ZF3Gqs013w8-NeoqFR8c9g/s1600-h/DSCN1651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 403px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8RB3cvw8rsaQfuZ8ucGlCGmF2q_FobzpD_ibcaD4pignT1n3-hCeEhtzB37syNJ7qlarYVX3_WegO02XokyJ-RZeYvZMctVBCJwY5rraK1Wu4uL7hEQd1ZF3Gqs013w8-NeoqFR8c9g/s320/DSCN1651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287617836984999650" border="0" /></a>Most people probably don't do a lot of trail riding in January. Fortunately my peeps are not most people. Biking season? We don't even know what that phrase means.<br /><br />Now go ride and smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-BBMDYTPZSbVe4XjaKfUaENN2Rp8hr05pHvMj6i1B0tj_NEySNMh_bNgni-Ha3EdPi6gcl_hlTrYaDYLkXjDZQnrUmLa3M3WNnKT9m4qVeWZZVPKCVHaUIgdiqwaxR-IjOrnYGedt20/s1600-h/DSCN1655.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 403px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-BBMDYTPZSbVe4XjaKfUaENN2Rp8hr05pHvMj6i1B0tj_NEySNMh_bNgni-Ha3EdPi6gcl_hlTrYaDYLkXjDZQnrUmLa3M3WNnKT9m4qVeWZZVPKCVHaUIgdiqwaxR-IjOrnYGedt20/s320/DSCN1655.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287618525748973762" border="0" /></a>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-89834209243746343072009-01-01T01:25:00.000-08:002009-01-01T01:34:19.283-08:00It's January...You know what that means?I missed sprints. I missed it really bad. People are gonna hurt, people are gonna hurl, people are gonna throw DOWN for no reason other than the fact that they are on stage and they want to KICK. SOME. ASS. Welcome back Winter. I've had enmity towards you at times, but I see you now as one Samurai sees another, you are my most worthy adversary.<br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-06716481341296088 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rm_dOQNe2to&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rm_dOQNe2to&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rm_dOQNe2to&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-81062565746852689482008-12-31T00:09:00.001-08:002008-12-31T00:29:37.013-08:00Twenty Three MilesI didn't do a 'ride' today. I never set out to put on any real mileage, I was even kind of thinking I'd try to take it easy today, and yet just moving myself hither and thither netted me <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2461289">twenty-three miles</a>. It's not really all that astounding, there are people that ride twice that in a daily commute. But, it's a couple gallons of gas in my truck. It's twenty-three miles I wouldn't have ridden otherwise, whether or not it was a 'ride'. It was twenty-three miles during which I could make my legs harder than they were when I woke up this morning.<br /><br />The greatest wrestling coach, pretty much ever, Dan Gable, used to say that every minute of his life he was training. If he had to get across the University of Iowa campus, he did it at a run. My 'commuting' mileage could also be 'training' mileage, it's just a matter of perspective. Why not hammer on the way home from the grocery store? A fifty pound bike loaded with thirty pounds of crap is probably good resistance training. One hundred forty miles is a long way to travel in a day, particularly if you expect to finish by running a marathon. I'll probably need to seize every single opportunity I can get to prepare myself. One smelts iron with great heat and effort after all.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-39574323592399558992008-12-29T19:42:00.000-08:002008-12-29T19:49:14.951-08:00T minus...well, we'll see...There will come a day when there are more letters behind my name than "B.S" Shortly after I gain those extra letters, I'm doing <a href="http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/transamerica.cfm">this</a>. Anyone who wants to accompany me is welcome for any and all of the 4,262 miles, side trips non-withstanding. Just sayin'.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-72606777787360700422008-12-26T00:38:00.000-08:002008-12-26T00:42:47.014-08:00Merry ChristmasI went over to DNA and Capt'n E's and we fried, well, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cnote162/Christmas2008#">pretty much everything</a>.<br /><br />Then I rode home in several inches of fresh snow, which was interesting to say the least.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVI46Fh7ObO5WBMcXYqusFijTVdmIYY04sE5ZQeWbrPMoYeSAvmADkghr05KutEufPv2xaoyYeqRxSQb_SylYDkspv5PWTmDhKCSmk5CgvrZC4sUtx7tM8-ZV3iCyFAr8QTbOb-zJw4s/s1600-h/DSCN1612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 423px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVI46Fh7ObO5WBMcXYqusFijTVdmIYY04sE5ZQeWbrPMoYeSAvmADkghr05KutEufPv2xaoyYeqRxSQb_SylYDkspv5PWTmDhKCSmk5CgvrZC4sUtx7tM8-ZV3iCyFAr8QTbOb-zJw4s/s320/DSCN1612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284016186056433122" border="0" /></a><br />Merry Christmas everybody!SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-5775490725613607812008-12-09T16:14:00.001-08:002008-12-10T21:09:59.898-08:00I blame my motherThere are those who consider Mt. Biking in the winter time to be "hard core", and commuting 100% by bike, year round, in Montana, to be patently ridiculous. Personally I consider both to be perfectly natural, especially since I live in a town with a high concentration of badasses. But for those of you who consider me outside the norm...well, it's not my fault. I place the blame firmly on the shoulders of my parents.<br /><br />Consider Exhibit A. My Mom decided that since there was still five feet of open water on the lake (in December) that she would get her paddle on, never mind the ice and freezing water.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPc7wdO_Hwbgwe-5vDDJ5rWjg17cI9oYVB9mZxNzp0P7Bufv1DNAxaaJuy-jH0lk-P9oDvlAHS_UhCMtg7B-ZtQY8b_usrvWR0PetpIgcO3QEzaGi88hgkwBh5IGW9Z_62c4dXdzMBIA/s1600-h/-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPc7wdO_Hwbgwe-5vDDJ5rWjg17cI9oYVB9mZxNzp0P7Bufv1DNAxaaJuy-jH0lk-P9oDvlAHS_UhCMtg7B-ZtQY8b_usrvWR0PetpIgcO3QEzaGi88hgkwBh5IGW9Z_62c4dXdzMBIA/s320/-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277949056857354658" border="0" /></a>So it's not my fault, blame nature and/or nurture, but I take no credit/responsibility for my predilection towards "inappropriate" wintertime activities.<br /><br />Next we'll get into my Dad. He and I decided to ride bikes on that same lake, two Decembers past. I don't have pictures, but after he fell through the ice, and extricated himself, he ran up to the house to change, and we then finished a ten mile ride, back on the ice.<br /><br />Like I said, not my fault.<br /><br />Mom. Dad. Love you guys. Thanks for the adventures.<br /><br />Update: Here's my Pops out on a little ride.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bvigpPF0S9QU97suG2rdvwQzmpGcu3R3NaCcGa2O8HAwtzlwTUnHMvPKOtH648HtCyfwzRUywM5SW86fMWgRipBteXyazVuSVcgMiRHgCel_oeZ4ybBIRGA4h1N9mmhOlpgTjIfFnbQ/s1600-h/P1010102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bvigpPF0S9QU97suG2rdvwQzmpGcu3R3NaCcGa2O8HAwtzlwTUnHMvPKOtH648HtCyfwzRUywM5SW86fMWgRipBteXyazVuSVcgMiRHgCel_oeZ4ybBIRGA4h1N9mmhOlpgTjIfFnbQ/s320/P1010102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278395245935808626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="file:///Users/Casey/Desktop/-2.jpg" alt="" />SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-79508805758001897252008-12-08T22:36:00.000-08:002008-12-08T23:04:56.436-08:00Long Bike pornSome <a href="http://practicalpedal.com/blog/?p=161">cyclophilic buddies of mine</a> have been conducting a series of real world (as well as patently ridiculous) tests pitting the <a href="http://www.xtracycle.com/">Xtracycle</a> against the <a href="http://www.madsencycles.com/">Madsen</a>. Keep your eye on the <a href="http://practicalpedal.com/blog/">Practical Pedal blog</a> for juicy updates.<br /><br />Being present for some/all of this has afforded me some opportunities to snap some pics of the various long bikes belonging to my peeps. Here's a few. (BTW, I shouldn't really have to explain this, but if you click on each pic, it will open a much bigger/higher quality pic...just sayin')<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQqa6C5aP4R2OtkfOhbnK01hyphenhyphen5IGwBCG55M9zvSV9H_m56cXdFFwtp5YwnGVpEiVJbVDmMTSe6DOhBARpcZ-W2PG61JKrieYZYHvDJI5RJ988pqK7oK_6vDENlpAJNUt9YPqM-gG8Xrk/s1600-h/DSCN1480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQqa6C5aP4R2OtkfOhbnK01hyphenhyphen5IGwBCG55M9zvSV9H_m56cXdFFwtp5YwnGVpEiVJbVDmMTSe6DOhBARpcZ-W2PG61JKrieYZYHvDJI5RJ988pqK7oK_6vDENlpAJNUt9YPqM-gG8Xrk/s320/DSCN1480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277679593416721570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IfabcUoCq4XoNqyY7wVfOLykr1F-OmFl5bk7qpshH1eE7e0St0lpeouG7qEhKK36IwAT4lL8XkyNaDKID_rXMoNBxXChx67tbG26kBeNjny9sXd4bdYZ1vffuXYnjd_UZ8yAPUceaoQ/s1600-h/DSCN1477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IfabcUoCq4XoNqyY7wVfOLykr1F-OmFl5bk7qpshH1eE7e0St0lpeouG7qEhKK36IwAT4lL8XkyNaDKID_rXMoNBxXChx67tbG26kBeNjny9sXd4bdYZ1vffuXYnjd_UZ8yAPUceaoQ/s320/DSCN1477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277679079994435138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3sqLyL25nrnZVyif4perPCrIuqVsYg55CSOW2TjJ6QLKB_3FHzReU_OOO3k7w-V1hWDQ_96u4KhhJKFVN5CKBJsJ5CeUUjgvahXP2mThNvnFdyOGDXyWankyhTzUVx8GEgAIFMA_JuQ/s1600-h/DSCN1476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3sqLyL25nrnZVyif4perPCrIuqVsYg55CSOW2TjJ6QLKB_3FHzReU_OOO3k7w-V1hWDQ_96u4KhhJKFVN5CKBJsJ5CeUUjgvahXP2mThNvnFdyOGDXyWankyhTzUVx8GEgAIFMA_JuQ/s320/DSCN1476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277679075744283362" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCQ2YQS_R5e9B0odFbswVAQQp30S5v8B0BIrFISnQvvF9_IvJ6zLib7zzF5uePlLgzCjwgAI5YFeCDxZT79Rbdg_6DmLN16DWF2kXzqeD09vkZ5ATIv2Gbi-cXoQRrqGpqmTGcjxWuwA/s1600-h/DSCN1482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCQ2YQS_R5e9B0odFbswVAQQp30S5v8B0BIrFISnQvvF9_IvJ6zLib7zzF5uePlLgzCjwgAI5YFeCDxZT79Rbdg_6DmLN16DWF2kXzqeD09vkZ5ATIv2Gbi-cXoQRrqGpqmTGcjxWuwA/s320/DSCN1482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277679070779943698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ckEuem__hbp_Uovn_l4t_DsJ6tZe5UyBh4tIjrxap56w1TRwI4ESm7k_sZ6fMpmTeRd27jjwcVa4mWy0DXH0LqIDmPZEBjUQdYf1jcxCD23O6wJkejWot5unQBo4IRqum6Tp6zj1shA/s1600-h/DSCN1420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ckEuem__hbp_Uovn_l4t_DsJ6tZe5UyBh4tIjrxap56w1TRwI4ESm7k_sZ6fMpmTeRd27jjwcVa4mWy0DXH0LqIDmPZEBjUQdYf1jcxCD23O6wJkejWot5unQBo4IRqum6Tp6zj1shA/s320/DSCN1420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277679068320080274" border="0" /></a><br />I'm a dyed in the wool Xtracycle fan, but I will say, you can haul thirty or so gallons of water in the Madsen, which is interesting to say the least...rolling hottube anyone?SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-18742817078630104942008-12-06T00:18:00.000-08:002008-12-06T00:22:13.199-08:00IdiotsThe folks at <a href="http://miscellaneoushaberdashery.blogspot.com/2008/12/echo-echo-echo-echo.html">Miscellaneous Haberdashery</a> seem to have taken stupid to a new level. It was really funny tho. Sorry <a href="http://thebozemanfix.blogspot.com/">Cap'n E!</a>SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-18587112010902806232008-12-01T23:30:00.000-08:002008-12-02T00:46:07.625-08:00Bidness fo shidnessI'm a big believer in monogamy, I just want that one perfect woman. However, I can not fathom not having less than...well, I've got a few bikes. Enough that one of them (gorgeous Bianchi with gold inlaid spades and Bianchi script on the lugs, and matching gold Deep V's...muey bueno) hung from my garage ceiling for the last month or so because it had a flat tire, and I had just built up another fixie, which I've been <span style="font-style:italic;">digging.</span> It's an old Trek 520 touring frame and it had the dual distinctions of being able to run 35 mm studded tires and riding like silk made out butter. And then, of course there's the Xtracycle, which is a go-to if there's even a remote possibility I need to haul anything lager that a couple cinder blocks (you'd be surprised). The long and the short if it being I'm not really hurting for transportation. Hell, worst case scenario I could drive my car, which has only been started once in about three months and only to move it to the other side of the block (long story).<br /><br />However, I had set the Trek up geared a little higher for a <a href="http://thebozemanfix.blogspot.com/2008/10/f60-reminder.html">race we had a while back.</a> Of course that was fine (great actually) with 23 mm slicks. But when the snow started to fly, and I ended up on my ass a couple (ok, like 8) times on my way home from the bar one night, I promptly threw my Schwalbe Marathon Winters on the Trek. Now, bigger heavier tires require a little more torque to get rolling, and today, while trying to beat a car between stoplights, I felt a little pop in my right knee. It didn't hurt all <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> bad and I didn't think all that much of it, but it didn't feel right.<br /><br />Then of course came the straw. Once I got home I felt the need to bust out a few miles on foot (I'm not a 'runner' but I do run). When I got back from my jaunt, my right knee was hurtin'. It wasn't hurtin' bad, but it hurt enough, and I decided to gear the 35 mil stud adorned Trek from 42x15 to 42x17 (the 17's been sitting in my messenger bag for about a month, I'm just to frikken lazy to do something til I get a swift kick in the butt, or in this case a pop in my knee).<br /><br />While I was getting my hands dirty, it occurred to me that one of my other favoritest bikes was just hanging there unusable for no reason besides my colossal procrastination. So, I took the requisite ten minutes and patched a few tubes (since I was at it), pulled a piece of metal the size of the tip of a nail (good chance that was the issue) out of the tire, and got another of my other favoritist bikes back in action. This, of course necessitated a ride...so I busted out just shy of 12 miles around the BZN, which is sublimely quiet on a Monday night at 11:00pm. <br /><br />I've said this before, but there's just nothing like getting back on a bike you haven't ridden in a while, it's like having a beer with a best friend that's been on hiatus for months, best part of my whole day! I <3 my bike!<br /><br />Good to have you back Bianchi, I didn't realize how much I missed you until we were flying down Oak at about twenty miles an hour, and I was hammering up Willson as fast as my anaerobic threshold would manage. Careening through campus, and navigating the eerily dark 8th street with just shy of a full charge on my LED headlight batteries, riding a bike is really my favorite thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LIubXjqi1oqNT39MN0_THd7SWIXoAuWlF9vtWgkOBO4Sytu5dbgO5U3VKQi_d_bv_8pfwi-MZjRdWQ2nN2VW57TqMidrNxZ2_9sofg9ygDDGZN6SsaUkIhG5oanyc_Te6ZCthObKW54/s1600-h/DSCN1196_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LIubXjqi1oqNT39MN0_THd7SWIXoAuWlF9vtWgkOBO4Sytu5dbgO5U3VKQi_d_bv_8pfwi-MZjRdWQ2nN2VW57TqMidrNxZ2_9sofg9ygDDGZN6SsaUkIhG5oanyc_Te6ZCthObKW54/s320/DSCN1196_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275100775220983170" /></a><br /><br />Today's millage: 19 miles bike (total including commute), 4 miles running. I prolly better get back in the pool here pretty soon. It seems like some fat dumbass (i.e. me) once said something about doing some triathlons.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-41776549096626925112008-12-01T00:12:00.000-08:002008-12-01T00:37:21.588-08:00Not really sure why...I've never really been all that concerned with my mileage. I ride a lot. I ride a lot even by the standards of people who ride bikes a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span>. But lately, for reasons not worth discussing I've been a little obsessed with it. I think it has to do with the realization that I kind of hate winter and I think it's because I don't ride enough in the winter time.<br /><br />So I've begun tracking my daily mileage using <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/">Pedometer</a>. Wednesday I put on well over 30, Friday I put on 12 miles. Last night I did a little over 19, and tonight it was 16. Really all it's going to take is making some circuitous routes home from work, and a few early morning 10 mile spins.<br /><br />The "harshest" time of the year for cycling is nigh, but I'm pretty sure the only real barriers are in my mind, hopefully, it'll just become habit, the way it always done when I'm consistently riding. I'm really just trying to regain my normal equilibrium after all. I'm going to try to keep track and use this here blog to catalog it all. Of course, I'm fairly sure I'll loose the disciplined impetus to blog about this. Hopefully the riding will just continue to be a habit. It is what I do after all.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-14290201312494498872008-11-26T18:59:00.000-08:002008-11-26T20:08:37.904-08:00Ah HA!No, I'm not getting into ironically notable-by-way-of-obscurity '80's bands (although, now that that's come up I could do with some Journey, Steve Perry's falsetto really is the greatest thing ever). No, I'm talking about rediscovering something a little more significant to me. It's not that I forgot about bike riding, or even that I haven't been riding, just not the way I was a couple months ago. Blame the earlier sunset, the cold, the wet, the snow, whatever, for many reasons I'm not putting many miles on lately.<br /><br />Concurrent with my drop in mileage, I've been in a %&$#ing SHITTY mood of late (ask my friends and co-workers, no one can really stand to be around me right now). There are also a number of reasons for that, grad school and certain members of the opposite sex playing somewhat significant roles in my ill temper, but there is definitely a correlation between my mood and my mileage. Today was particularly bad, and I walked (ok I stomped, like a toddler having a tantrum) out of my lab around 5:00 pm and hopped on my fixie just because I couldn't really handle anything else at that point. <br /><br />I wasn't really headed anywhere, the sun was setting, and the temps were starting to drop below thirty, so I certainly wasn't planning on putting on any significant mileage. However, this being Montana, and me being a dedicated bike commuter, I did have the lights, clothes, and studded tires to handle pretty much any of the standard winter-time barriers against doing some riding. I headed south out of town. By around mile five I was feeling really good and I realized that a ride, a real ride was exactly what I needed.<br /><br />I made my favorite post-work way-home south-of-town loop, and got back into Bozeman feeling warmed up and better than I have in a few days. I certainly wasn't in any rush to get off of my bike. By this point, I was remembering all those conversations I'd had with various friends over the years regarding the malaise of not riding for a while, and I decided to keep going. I headed north. I hit up some snowpacked trails, and some rutted out gravel roads. I spun over sections of desolate asphalt and navigated traffic-filled highways. My trusty little LED headlight illuminating just enough road to allow me to navigate the terrain, but also leaving a few unseen surprises, just to keep it all interesting. I hammered up climbs and spun out coming down the other side. I spent a couple hours listening to the cacophonous sound of my frenetic thoughts being tempered by the soothing bzzzz of my studded tires. I rode back into Bozeman, exhausted, and chasing traffic from stop light to stop light. My legs were like lead weights from spinning a 42x15, studded tire adorned fixie, for around <a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2414551">thirty miles</a>, and the rest of me felt good, real good.<br /><br />I rode my bike. I haven't done that in a while, not really. I'm still stressed about this and that, but I remembered what it seems I'd forgotten.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538609278385364022.post-977883939172378672008-11-24T22:58:00.000-08:002008-11-24T23:04:28.704-08:00New Blog!Yes. New blog, apropos of very little and/or nothing. It'll unfocus on the mediocre, mundane, and utterly anti-thematic, and it would probably be best if it was never read by anyone at any time. In fact, it will most likely be the buffer for all that late night drunken blogging I feel the need to do.<br /><br />Meh...<br /><br />Whatever...<br /><br />It's here <a href="http://miscellaneoushaberdashery.blogspot.com/">Micellaneous Haberdashery</a>.SingletrackM1ndhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11213140649542131333noreply@blogger.com3