Bitchin

Got tired of gettin' flats. Got myself a piss load of new tires, new tubes and some pimp ass mother fucking italian swanky Sidi cycling shoes! Get up off that thing!

5/9 - 71 Single Speed Miles

OK. I've had it. I've blown 5 tubes with these damned 700x23 tires. I love Conti's, but these 4000 S are impossible to get on a rim.

Saturday's route was really nice. It teetered into the brutal space as I was on the singlespeed with 39x17 gearing. Low for the hills, but brutal on the flat....If I had ridden my geared cross bike with the knobbies, that would have been easier.

Kirkland, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mirrormount Hill (2x), Renton, Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Medina, Kirkland.

http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=787124207011693307

110 Miles

Kirkland - Granite Falls - Kirkland = 110 miles. 7 hours in the saddle.

I ride to ride

A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles.
When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students, "Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!"

The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."


The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path."

The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."


The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle, I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo."

The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."


The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings."

The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."


The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle."

The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."

Fire Road Flyer - Stage 1

Decided I needed a geared all weather bike. The Litespeed certainly fills that void easily. Pulled the old Dura Ace 8 speed, and XT deraileur, put on some used Dura Ace 9 speed I had from the other road bike.

Swapped the alum bars for some used Easton Carbons. Peeled the decals for a stealthy look. Added Fenders, a new SRAM 12/23 cassette and 9 speed chain.

Sun is shining, weather is sweet

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, yeah.

Make you wanna move your dancing feet now.

To the rescue, here I am.

Want you to know, yall, can you understand?

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Want you to know thatTook the nice bike out for a spin. Across the 100th street bridge. The nicest way to get over the 405. Then up Hollywood Hill for the "Top Shelf" run.

Up 135th SE, headed toward Trilogy.

Back down Novelity and across 124th.

.

I then headed north a took Big Rock road in Duvall out to Kelly road, down Stillwater hill and into Carnation.

Up and over Tolt.Cascades were visible today...Nice. Down the 202 to Duthie Hill road. Duthie hill up to Samm Plateau, QFC for a quick bite then along ELSP.
Back into Redmond via Marymoor.
Across the 72nd(?) Street Bridge
When you see the Chesapeake's butt, you know the ride is over.

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4.5 hours in the saddle, little hills included Hollywood, 135th SE, Big Rock, Tolt, and Duthie. I'm guessing what, 60 miles total?

McClinchy Mile

Roger convinced me to ride the McClincy mile with him today. A super flat ride of 47 miles and I rode my SS road bike.

Roger and Mt Pilchuck in the background.
Finished with energy to spare. Weather was perfect and it was a pretty nice ride.

My Ride Today

I usually send out an email mid week to see who wants to ride. Some can, some can't. Today, no one can. So Saturday AM it's raining...raining....Shit....

About 11:00 it stops.....Time to go.

I head across the valley and drop by to see a friend. He's tied up with domestic daddy duties. He won't be riding, even with somebody on his doorstep. Oh well.

Down Novelty, I cross 124th, and decide to jump on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail.

It's looking a little gloomy....I suspect the bad weather is a coming.

Maybe it will clear up...No body on the rail trail on a day like to day...Snow forcasted. Rail Trail Action Shot

I pass through Carnation, get a coffee (which she didn't do right, which pissed me off, but instead of having her redo it, I just let it bother me. What a dumb ass.) and head up Tolt.This is a spot on the road where I stopped to fix a flat I got probably 100 yards ago. Is that the karma for being pissed off about the coffee drink? Probably.

I decide to climb Ames Lake, like 100 times before. but on my way back on Union, I decide to detour, cut through a couple of subdivisions and end up back on Ames Lake again. Good. Now I know more of the Broadhurst subdivision. I use my usual bypass road.Back on the side road of the 203....This spot always floods.No problemo as it's barely past my rim.....I've ridden it MUCH deeper.
The dark gloomy weather coming? Here it was. BB sized hail. Nice.
It's OK as someone was home, waiting for me to return.

I've got wood

On the mountain SS, about 5 weeks ago, took a bash in the left shin. Couldn't walk for two days. Had to buy another bottle of Advil as I drained the few remaining pills. Even had to dig deep into my little pharamcological stash and get out a Percocet.

.

Anyway, more Advil from Fred Meyer (it was on sale) and I was able to get by. A week ago, the thing is still swollen, but just a little. Huh...It actually stings a little. Damn. Damn.

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Go to the local GP doc, and express my desire to lance and drain it, to make sure it doesn't get worse. As he cuts into it, he finds wood. Nice...

I keep the largest chunk he finds. On the right is the current anti-biotic. Gonna have to take 40 of the bastards.....

The crosshairs, the old scab and no swelling. Healing nicely..

Classic

Guerciotti is here

So the Guerciotti I bought of craigslist showed up via UPS a couple days ago. Not bad, but not as nice as I had hoped. It's got a couple of really nasty patch spots, one on the back side of the seat tube that is horrible.

Overall it's a nice frame with a matching fork, and it's the correct size, but not totally sure I'm gonna keep it. I think I'll just offer it up on craigslist.

I'm really in search of a nice track frame, but since they are popular now they are super hard to find.

4 Hours Singlespeed

Got out on the singlespeed for a nice 4 hour ride today. I think the weather's gonna change and we're gonna see some big rain or snow.

Bianchi Back

Got my single speed Bianchi back from UBRDO today. James did a pretty good job of getting my rear wheel back into some reasonable shape...Now waiting on replacement bearings from WTB.

Long Ride Palomino

Sold my good old ride, Klein Palomino today. I just wasn't riding it, and I've got other project bikes in the works. Young guy who's wanted a decent bike and can't really afford something super pricey got a nice used bike for 725. I originally paid well over 2700 for that bike 4 years ago. It's still got lots of life in it.

Guerciotti On The Way

I found (what I think) is a 10 year old Guerciotti frame that is really clean and nice as a project bike. It's nice columbus tubing and hopefully is really nice and straight.

I've also started building out my Colnago Master. This was my first "real" frame, and although I had it repainted, it's still super sweet. I should have left it alone, but the repaint was at least 10 years ago.

Goodbye Litespeed

Litespeed found a new home today. Guy's gonna use it as a rain bike. He got a fantastic deal on a really decent frame. Fix the paint gashes and she's a pretty decent looking bike.

Nice Day!

3 hours on the nice bike today.....Excellent ride

Back on the WAGON

Yep, 10/1 time to start tracking calories, again.

Gotta get sub 160 before the end of the month.

Saddle Time: 4.5 Hours

I rode 4.5 hours today, on the new bike of course. I really like that bike.

• It rides really well.
• It fits me really well.
• It looks cool.

What more could you ask of a 9K dollar bicycle? :)

Sweeeet