Pefect morning for a ride

Actually, I shouldn't brag; it wasn't really perfect. Had to throw on a long sleeve jersey and knee warmers.

Hope you get some on your birthday.....beer that is.

Alright boys...

Chunk and I can't be the only ones contributing to this little project. So here's a challenge.


Find a classic picture of yourself. And by classic...I mean one you wish never existed.
Next. Find a celebrity picture that closely resembles you in that Classic picture.
Last. A recent picture of yourself involved in some recent JackAssery. If I know ya'll...this really should be that hard.

Good luck.

Yup...

Told ya so.

The naked guy...my team.

Slaven BLAZING though the foam...my team.

Crossing the finish line in style at the end...my team.

Ya'll have 12 months to book your tickets for next year. I recommend you do it.

If it's going to be that kind of party...

SSCXWC. Ya'll are sucka's for not coming out to this thing.
Colorado's cool...
California's nice...
Harvard...well...

I'm going to go on record right now as saying "I told you so"...that this weekend actually tops last years event.

Like bringing a knife to the proverbial gun fight.

Last Sunday I broke out the mountain bike for only the fourth time this year. Went out on a whim with a buddy I've never rode with on the dirt before. We met up at the trail head with his friend and when I pulled out my trusty hardtail from the back of the car, they both looked at me like I had a set of tits growing out of my back.

"What's that thing?"

"My mountain bike."

"Have you ridden out here before?"

"A couple times."

"You're insane man, insane."

Made it down just fine with the only crash being the sort that only I could pull off. Flying down the single track, I approached a boulder that occupied the better half of the trail and I told myself "now don't be a dumb ass and run into the giant rock."

So I just went in the other direction and literally rode off the trail and had a nice flight over the bars.

Good times.

It's that time of year again...

O'Rourke's or Pro Tour?

Does this remind anyone else of a skinnier, more sober bar tender from downtown Lincoln?  What's with the Star City and the pro peloton look-a-likes?  CVO and Hincapie?  Sally and Levi? Davey and Floyd?  Now KB and JV?  Who's next?

Name that torso.

Spotted this on Cyclingnews today. Hint: It's not Todd Flanders

Interbike souvenirs

Took a quick little to Vegas for Interbike and made the most of it.

Added yet another photo to my "Why I can't ever run for President photo album."

Then, after half a day cruising the show I returned home with the following items:

A Bottle of ProLink Chain Lube.

A Sweet Raleigh Patch and an assortment of Raleigh pins for my bedazzled jean jacket.

2 Complimentary issues of Triathlete Magazine.

Half a dozen random price lists and catalogs.

4 sample packs of Power Bar Gel Blast Energy Chews

1 limited edition Super Record 11 speed equipped Pinarello Prince in the special edition Prince of Spain paint scheme.

Yep, it's this bike. It's the only one in Los Estados Unidos at the moment and it's chillin' in my living room. If you have the means I highly suggest picking one up.

Please excuse me for cutting this short. I have to get back filling out the required paperwork to legally change my name to Don Alejandro.

The one that started it all.

Not to be crass but feel free to rub one out if you like. I won't mind. Just don't tell me.

After months of waiting and one heated bidding war later, I'm happy to announce the addition of a semi-pristine 1984 Stu Thomsen signature Huffy to my quiver of bicycles.

In the 4th grade this was the absolutely sweetest bike a kid could get. I was lucky enough to have one to call my own and it had a nice, long life of sweet jumps at Tornado Hill before it be succumbed to its Huffy genetics and finally tapped out.

I spent a good chunk of Saturday out in the garage polishing it with a diaper and listening to Van Halen. The only thing that made this day any different from any given day back in 1984 was the fact that I was listening to an iPod instead of a Walkman.

Think Fruita...

It is your birthday isn't it?

How old are you? I can't seem to remember, damn oldtimers...

Sign Up Now

This morning...when I opened my Inbox...it was like I received an early Christmas present. Registration for SSCXWC is now open.

Now I know that trying to get ya'll up to the NW is a bit of a challenge, and normally I wouldn't even want anyone to visit during November...Crap. I normally try and get the hell out of here in November. However...this is the event of the year that really should not be missed...by anyone.

Go here and here. Registration will fill up...I guarantee it.

I'm putting together ideas for team Stiff Link and lining up my Cheerleaders for the race. Anyone interested should sign up...NOW!

Happy 30th F***n Birthday Brent

So, you know you're getting old when your baby brother turns thirty.  But I guess there's really nothing you can do but raise a glass, wish him the best and try your damnedest not to grow up as fast as him.  Lucky for Brent, our mom has all the really embarrassing photos so I'm left posting a few that actually mean something.

 

This was taken pre-bike shop days for both of us and was right around the time we figured out that we could be friends as well as brothers.  I'd guess he's about 13 here, and already turning a wrench better than any of the schmoes he's working with these days.

Here we are hiking behind the cabin at Redfeather Lakes about an hour out of Fort Collins.  We may or not have had bikes at the cabin on this trip, but regardless, we always found time for scrambling and exploring the woods around the lake.

I think this was taken on one of our last summer family vacations.  (Mom was taking the photo)  This is on one of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the US, the Flume Trail in Lake Tahoe, and we were lucky enough to ride it together on a couple occasions.

To see why he's more grown up, just scroll back through the summer's posts and check the bachelor party and wedding shots.  And while I'm still getting greasy everyday playing with all things two-wheeled, he's teaching America's youth.  Nice work lil'brother, and Happy Birthday.  I'm sorry I can't be there to celebrate with you, but at least I won't be there when Mom realizes she's old enough to have another 30 year old son.

Fw:Ma(Doh)ne

Garage 1, Bike 0

Ma(Doh)ne

Garage 1, Bike 0

Tea Bags...

Are not just for "Tea" any more.
Alright kids. This was a "brain" child of a kid in know in Portland. I got in on the ground floor...even though it felt completely wrong. At first I thought it was a passing fancy and was mildly amused trying to snag a picture outside the Space Needle (the first public shot I might add!) However, it was recently brought up on the Bummer Life so I guess the sight is out there.

This is in NO WAY safe for work. This is TOTALLY disturbing. I DO NOT recommend that anyone go to this site. (I'm not joking here people...before you go to the site you have to ask your self...how do I feel about full frontal male nudity?) I'm really not kidding here.



It's kinda like this scene from Bachelor Party...you can't wash the shame off once you've been to the site.



I think I've warned ya'll enough...

With that being said. I present you with this...TeaBags on TopTubes.

Your 'God' can't help you now.

A slice of awesome for your Friday...

Really, does this photo need an explanation?

Yellow Jersey in Madison

That's a pile Phil Wood hubs in their protective red wrapper.  At least ten by my count but I could easily have missed a couple.

Very cool shop for those of you who have been around bikes for awhile.  Kinda like a posh downtown Blue's.

How do you get your new bike home?

On the back of your old bike. Doy.

1000 watts of rage...

Whenever my life becomes blessed enough that I "get" to install a power meter and I reach the boiling point in trying to make the damn thing work, I take a step back, take a deep, focused breath and ask myself what Outdoor Bob would do in such a situation.

Since throwing wrenches at my own head is a rather counter productive option, I chose to focus my feelings of despair into a story. The kind of personal essay a person could learn to write at the Learning Annex.

You can read it here.

And it's all true.

Really, it is.

Especially the last part.

Shit like that can't be made up.

Guess who...

Hint: It wasn't a party til his shirt came off.

Hope they made the new guy clean it up...

Nothing like an earthquake to ruin a perfectly good day at the bike shop.

Maybe this will get Sally's Bert costume out of retirement...

Genius.

My Weekend...

In a Nutshell right here...I had to take the slow route into work this morning.

Poking Fun

In honor or the most recent Douche Bag getting busted.

Maybe ya'll can get Swanson to translate it for you, if not I think the message is still pretty clear.

And I don't know if ya'll caught it but Chunk layed down a little smack of his own a couple days ago. Thanks Re-Todd-ed for saying what I really couldn't.

New Side Project

Check out Douchebags On Bikes. If you spot anything good, send yer pics to
sawadouche [at] gmail.com.

Total Sand Bagger

Yup. It was this close.

check out the 'other' blog for details.

And thanks for all the pictures from the Zoo Bar 35th.

Congrats Baby Bro

Nectar of the Gods...

You will kneel before Zod!

A few requirements for fixed gear ownership...

Please feel free to add any requirements you might deem necessary...

1) At some point since the start of the 21st Century, you have occasionally ridden a non-fixed bicycle, either for recreation or transportation.

2) Possess the physical stamina to complete a five mile bike ride featuring at least one notable hill in 30 minutes or less AND without needing to stop for a smoke break.

3) If you're going to insist upon riding a Brooks saddle, you are forbidden from asking for a refund because it still makes your ass hurt after two week's of use.

4) When selecting your Chrome Bag, please, take no more than three into the dressing room at one time.

5) You fully comprehend that 40 mph skid stops are not covered under ANY tire manufacturer's warranty and adversely affect the durability of a tire.

6) You have the mechanical expertise needed diagnose and remedy problems such as a "chain coming loose" without having to drive your bicycle back to the bicycle shop.

7) If a repairing a flat tire is out of your comfort zone when it comes to bike repair, have at least $13.40 in your pocket or left on your parent's credit card before having said repair completed. It's all but impossible to "dine and dash" when a bicycle mechanic still has your bike in his repair stand.

Tony and Stacey's wedding weekend

Sean, Zach, Ricci, Davey, Tony, Brent, Chris, Butch - not a bad looking crew, for a bunch of Bike Shop Boys.



Our camera girl. Thanks Sweetpea.


Fort Collins Brewery to Odell Brewing Co.


Tony celebrating the next morn.


Tony owned'em and Zach is still drinking...

BP Riding Pics

Zach climbing outside Junction


Brent riding outside Junction


Brent leading Davey up the ridge at the Book Cliffs


Zach making the Kessel Run in under 4 parsecs.


Guess we proved them wrong

BSB Bachelor Party Crew

Brent - The Bachelor, my baby brother. Thanks for getting married so we had an excuse to make this trip and have the fun, cause the trouble, drink the booze, burn the stuff, see the friends and ride the bikes.

Zach - Throw your sign in the air. Always reppin' the MW.















Davey - The Drunken Text Master. When ColoradoDave decides to throw down, it's ON!

Chumphead - He doesn't get outta Lincoln much but when he does, you can't deny he does it in style. Next stop, Harvard.

Sean - Just along for the ride to make sure the fun never stops and we keep our promise to Ma and Tiffy to bring Brent back alive.

Can you identify that beer?

Since the race was in Philly you can pretty much rule out Old Style or Rainier. My guess is leaning towards a Coors Light based on the shiny can.

Either way it's cool to see someone has adopted Sally's racing program.

Now this is good marketing...

I think I'm off to a banner start here kids. Remember...marketing is all about placement.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

For real?

Ft Fun

A bachelor party, mtb rides, a wedding, 2 breweries, and many friends, beers and good times make Davey a tired boy.

FCB

Hoffmann can't wait for round 5.

Fruita yo

Mmmm. Brinner.