For today, a quote

Look after your body like you will live forever. Look after your soul like you will die tomorrow. -author unknown-

RIP BB.......I pulled the plug

In an effort to simplify my life, and also in realizing what things really matter, I’ve opted out of the fully connected, always available, email, facebook and internet always at my fingertips lifestyle. Simple Freedom. It’s a beautiful thing. Aahhhhh…

Longer Days

It's nice to ride to lions meeting in the light now.

Good Woolies

This past winter, I have finally started in on wool. After reading about it for so long, and having used modern technical fabrics, and come to realize their short-falls, I've been quite interested to give wool a try.

For Christmas, my sweet wife bought me 2 wool garments. First being the Kucharik long-sleeve jersey from Rivendell, second was a wool T-shirt from some on-line retailer. I've worn the Kucharik jersey for cycling, and skiing, and I have to say that this is a great, tough garment. 3 back pockets for tubes, tools and food. I can wear the jersey several rides before it needs washing (not the case at all with synthetic technical fabrics). A little caveat to this statement. I'm not saying they are perfectly clean, but I'm riding solo, and I don't sweat much when I ride. I used to only use modern synthetic technical clothing, and still do use the synthetics. When I ride once in the modern stuff, it's time for a cleaning. A second ride isn't even optional.

A few months ago, my parents gave me $100 birthday money (yeah, I still get birthday money from my folks, but hey, I'm not even 30 yet!?) and I've been saving it fiercely. I have virtually spent it hundreds of times, on many different products. I started tracking what I was virtually spending this on, and it kept coming down to 2 things. Wool cycling clothing, and brooks saddles. I figured I'd keep squeezing those dollars until I came across some good deals. After all, I don't actually need any additional bicycle equipment or related accoutrement's.

A few weeks ago, I saw Russ Roca posting about the Swobo Sunday Bobby, and that he already had a few of them. What's more, they were on sale. So I jumped over to the site to check it out myself.

Sure enough, a great deal on a great product. I also ended up picking up a 100% merino wool T-shirt. I've yet to use these for cycling, but I have worn them each a few times to work, and for several ping pong matches. I will say, the T-shirt is of incredibly fine merino. The bobby is not quite so soft, but still doesn't itch against bare skin.

If you're one who hasn't given fine wool a try, I highly recommend you do. It feels great in a wide range of temperatures, and looks good too. Swobo kicks up the bobby and the T-shirt up a bit by sewing on a bicycle chain link to the left sleeve. Styling all the way.

GWEPPI 2009 Recap

Well, this doesn't really make up for the lack of posting as of late, but I just haven't had the time the last few days. I have been wrenching on the Xtracycle, getting that back on the road. Different frame, different drive train, should be good. In the mean time, I'll leave you with this video recap of the Great Western Empire Ping Pong Invitational 2009. Cheers.

I've made the GWE ping pong invitational!

Should be some intense competition. I'm feeling pretty good though. I'm on a 9 day winning streak, never giving up a single match. I guess I'll have to cancel my guitar lesson Friday afternoon.

I was invited to the 1st GWEPPI 4 years ago, but couldn't make it. I can't let a chance like that get away on me twice! You've probably never heard of such an event. It's pretty hush hush. No media coverage (might get a bit on this little bloggy) and as it says, invitation only. Location cannot even be disclosed. Those who are invited, just know where to be and when......

39 away from 35,000

This humble little blog has gone farther than I would have ever thought. No plans of killing it in the near future. Thanks for reading. Cheers.

The Current Live Stream

Freak out

The drive to work this morning was brutal! I've never driven in such poor visibility in my life. Almost wondering if I risked it getting to work. Snow and gusting winds up to 60 mph. There were two times, about 10 seconds each, when I couldn't even see the front of my car. I cracked the door open to try and see where the yellow line was. No dice. I've never felt so odd. Driving (only 30 kph) and not being able to see anything but white. Is there a car stopped in front of me? Don't know. Some rig-pig in his jacked up 4X4 sailing up behind me? Don't know. I was glad to learn that the answer to both of those questions was no.

The picture below shows the average visibility I had, probably about 20ft. It was like this about 95% of the 45 minute drive. (I probably shouldn't have been going 80kph.) This was the best visibility of the trip. At least the car was warm, and the music loud! Eat that winter.

Change Battery Pack...

...was the message my camera gave me after I had set up a great photo of fixie dangling gingerly over a snow cliff that looked like it was going to avalanche. Light was perfect, the composure would have been great, and it looked cool. Ticked off at my lack of checking the batteries. Put the camera back in the bag. Fixie fell off the cliff.

either way it was a great 20kms of hills.

Fixed after all

After the snow cleared up this morning, and a judgment call that turned out to be the right one, the fixie was the steed of the day. Started out on the roads, which for the most part were clear of slush, just wet. Ended up on a bike path and headed towards my old house. The bike paths were pure slush. Past the my old house, the golf course, and checked up on a trail I’d seen the other day while looking at show homes. It is a great path along an irrigation canal, but once off the beaten bath, 6” of soft snow proved too much for the fixie. Even with those nice fatties mounted. So I turned around.
On the way home, I hammered Wheatland trail, which is the route I used to commute on every day. It’s been too long since I’ve had nice asphalt that was snowless. It felt so great to wax it out on a road bike is temps above freezing. Snow and ice biking have their places, but when you’re limited to only that type of riding for months on end, it sure feels good to whirl up the cranks a bit. Of course I was soaked, but I was planning on that.

A nice little 18kms for lunch. Mmm tasty.

Winter should leave us alone

When I left my house @ 6 this morning, it was pouring rain. Half way to work, the snow was so heavy it slowed my to 60kph (37mph) and even as such was iffy. Twice I was in 4 wheel drift. No one else on the roads. I loaded up my fixie, thinking it would be a nice rainy lunch time ride. With this snow and freezing rain, it’ll have to be ice-spiker again for lunch. I’ve got a serious itch to get out of this winter season! At least it’s not cold. This is the view from my office right now. It's about 2" thick. Yuck!

DIY Camp Stove from Surly Blog

The 3.8 liter paint can was purchased to become a wood stove project...check the rest here.