New years eve

So this doesn't really apply to cycling, but I am going to post it anyways. Jenn and I are going camping tonight. Her family has some land in La Grange so we are going out there to camp, drink and have a huge bonfire. We both have done this since we have been dating. It is always a good time. It is going to suck that I don't get to play any games out there, I mean I can't really play a game were you need to be ultra quit and run fast if I am still on crutches.

I hope everyone has a great new years and I'll be seeing you next year.

til next time

OLC

STUPOR BOWL!!!!!

a>
Some of you may know....some may not....but it is happening again, the 11th annual STUPOR BOWL!!!!!!!




This is straight from their myspace,


Once again, the Minneapolis Bicycle Messengers are at it again, organizing the 11th Annual Stupor Bowl alleycat to be held in our fair city on the 1st and 2nd of February, 2008. Last year, depite the starting temprature -2 F, over 300 people braved the cold to race in what has turned into one of North America's biggest and longest running alleycat races.

Sponsored by: Seagull Bags, Freight Bags, Under the Weather, One on One, Swobo, Behind Bars, Crank Bros, Jonny Cycles, Twin Six, Cars R Coffins, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and more!

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE SUCKS: http://www.stuporbowlmpls.com all info will be listed here too.

email: stuporbowl11@gmail.com if you are coming from out of town and need accomodations!

Schedule

Friday Feb 1st-- welcome to town! 5pm-8pm Pre-REGISTRATION and Texas Twins @ Cars R Coffins 3346 Lyndale Ave

9pm meet at Grumpy's DT 1111 Washington AVE S for 1st annual Stuporbowlopoly: "Cash is King" Monopoly-Style Alleycat Race

1 1/2 race time from start. rules when you register (6 stops, DWNTWN MPLS, CA$H MONEY PAYOUT) - post race, dwntwn bar party.

Saturday Feb 2nd- 10am-1:00pm Registration @ One on One, 117 Washington Ave N 2:00pm Stupor Bowl XI, start your engines. post-race-- track stand comp, skidzzzz, awards, and, big time, for real stupor bowl XI sized party, location and beer SECURED. it is going to be awesome. y'all gonna have to race to find out, though. be prepared.

I really wish I was going to be riding again by this, I swear to God, nothing is going to keep me away from it next year. I have a friend up there so I can crash at his place and fucking race. Man, fuck having a broken leg!!!


til next time


OLC

10 Tips to Avoid Looking Like a Cycling Rookie

I saw this and thought it was funny as shit.....




With the recent explosion in cycling popularity through the dominance of Lance Armstrong, the United States is experiencing record growth in the sport of cycling. This is a particularly encouraging development in a country which has largely associated cyclists with automotive target practice using projectiles like Gatorade bottles and 7-11 Big Gulps.
Each day a new cyclist dons his or her two wheeled steed for the first time is a day where more people learn to tolerate the sport. However, if you go out on the road and look like the quintessential cycling geek who clearly doesn’t know what they’re doing, you will only hurt the cyclist’s cause for social acceptance.
We all have to start somewhere, and I was definitely not immune to being a neophyte. I had all the rookie characteristics: the obscenely large helmet, haggard looking shorts, baggy jersey, hairy legs, greasy chain marks on my calves, bobbing posture on the bike – oh yes, I was indeed a tool.
However, not all rookies have to be subject to ridicule. There is a way to look experienced without having thousands of miles under your legs; you just have to pay attention to the details. This article is targeted towards folks who are new to the sport of cycling and wish to avoid the potential embarrassment I was put through as a rookie.
Tip 1: No Pro Kits
The cardinal violation in trying to be a cool cyclist is when you buy a full professional team kit (jersey, shorts, socks, etc.) of a team you do not ride for. Nothing screams ROOKIE louder than a full Discovery Channel uniform on a non-payroll cyclist. Steer clear of these overpriced kits. The only time these types of jerseys are acceptable is when they are vintage. General rule of thumb is 10 years after a team’s disbanding. For instance, if you hit the road in a vintage Motorola or Coors Light jersey, you get big style points. Just make sure you know a few of the cyclists who rode for those teams so that when approached by other cyclists, you can sound knowledgeable.
Tip 2: Buy the coolest helmet you can afford
When it comes to helmets, don’t skimp. You are going to be wearing this piece of equipment all the time (hopefully), and you want to be motivated to put it on. If you have some cheapo brain bucket or a nicer one that is two sizes too small, you’ll never want to wear it. Back in the day when I was young and stupid, I thought riding around with no helmet and gel that made my hair glisten was cool - well, it wasn’t. My Giro Pneumo helmet looks far cooler than my bare cranium, especially when it’s hemorrhaging blood after a head-over-shammy 30 mile per hour crash.

Tip 3: Buy cycling clothes that fit
Okay, if you are new to cycling, and you’re a bit uncomfortable about the whole lycra thing, then you’d better suck it up. Don’t go out and buy clothing two sizes larger than what you wear on the street. Cycling is about aerodynamics. You need tight fitting clothes. If you wear a large t-shirt, get a medium jersey. Sometimes the fit is a bit different between brands, so try them on first. Riding down the road with a jersey as aero as a parachute will make any seasoned cyclist holler “tenderfoot ahoy!” In addition, as far as jackets, no, the orange rain poncho which you wore to the Steeler game last week is not appropriate rain gear attire. Get a clear cycling rain jacket. It is far more aero and far less ridicule inducing. Also, if you have a loose fitting jersey, don’t go making matters worse by tucking it into your bib shorts. This isn’t wrestling.

These guys look confused…and ridonkulous.
Tip 4: Shave the legs
Obviously this tip is targeted for the guys, however, if you are a girl, and haven’t heeded this tip yet in your life, then maybe cycling is a great excuse and a God-send for your spouse. I know it sounds crazy, but if you are a cyclist with hairy legs, people will ride ten feet away from you and avoid conversation. It may sound shallow, but it’s the truth. Nobody should judge a book by its cover, or a cyclist by their leg hair, but it happens.
On a related note, I am often asked why cyclists shave their legs. Contrary to rumor, it is NOT for added aerodynamics – although it might play a miniscule factor. The real reason is avoiding the “Velcro effect” on your legs during a pavement slide and for ease of cleanup after experiencing an eventual fall.
Tip 5: Avoid “rookie marks”
Nothing gives away newbie status more than someone with “rookie marks” – greasy chain marks on your inner calf muscles. This often happens when someone doesn’t keep their chain clean and has an inefficient cycling posture, spin, or tries to clip out of the pedal towards the inside. To avoid rookie marks, keep your chain clean. Wipe it down often and use clear chain wax products like White Lightning which don’t turn your chain into a black grimy mess. Also make sure that you are cleaning the cogset and chainrings also to avoid getting cogset grime on your nice clean chain.
Tip 6: Pick the right accessories
Some accessories make a cyclist look cool, while others make them look tool. For instance, any saddle bag that you can actually fit your saddle into is way too big. Any more than two water bottle cages on a bike is overkill (unless you are a triathlete in training). Any cyclo-computer with more wires on it than your home PC is verboten. Pro cyclists go wireless, make sure you do too. Polar makes a heart rate monitor and wireless cyclo-computer with a cadence meter all in one device; that’s pro. Avoid all rear-view mirror related devices regardless of whether they mount on your helmet or handlebar – it’s a major nicht-nicht. Besides, do you really want to see yourself getting hit by a car? I’d rather not know.

Old school or complete tool? Its hard to tell. Nice ski goggles.
Tip 7: Dump the reflectors and “plastic ring”
If you just bought a brand new bicycle, congratulations! The first thing you must do once the bike arrives home is to remove all reflectors from the bike as well as the plastic ring which protects the top cog from the spokes in your rear wheel. If the bike is properly maintained and dialed-in, the ring is unnecessary, and it looks silly. Failure to comply with this advice will result in excessive finger pointing, hand-covered giggling, and cruel people shining flashlights at your bike. If you do heed this warning just be responsible enough to not sue anyone if you are riding at night like a numbskull with no lights and get hit by a car. Yes, that actually happened once, and the plaintiff won a multi-million dollar suit against a major bike manufacturer for making “faulty reflectors”.
Tip 8: Practice with your clipless pedals
Before going out on the road, if you have clipless pedals and are using them for the first time, practice in your driveway or backyard for a few hours beforehand. There is nothing more embarrassing than flopping over like a beached whale at an intersection for hundreds of people to see. Trust me, it’s ego crushing. It happens to almost everyone at least once, but by practicing, you are lowering the risk of this total rookie blunder.
Tip 9: Unless you’re riding a mountain bike, no hydration systems!
There is this guy who frequently rides, no, speeds around my neighborhood, and he makes me break into hysterics every time I see him. It isn’t the fact that he wears the exact same cycling clothes every day, or the fact that he appears to be time trialing always, or the fact that when he is time trialing, he even does it on a crowded paved trail with pedestrians and slow cyclists, or the ridiculous yellow spoke Spinergy Spox wheels that he has; no, those reasons are not the source of my laughter. The primary thing about this guy which makes me guffaw is that he rides with a Camelbak, and the nozzle is perpetually hanging from his bearded mouth like those guitar voice box tubes that Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh used to rock in the seventies. It isn’t like this guy is on a ten hour ride where he needs tons of hydration; he rides to the neighboring town and back, albeit probably at breakneck pace, but still, it is ridiculous looking. Unless you are mountain biking, leave the hydration system at home.
Tip 10: Know the cycling etiquette
If you are planning on doing a group ride, make sure you know common cycling etiquette. There are a lot of little things you pick up over the years, but the most important ones are:
pointing out potholes and other objects in the road for the person behind (don’t ever bunnyhop potholes without forewarning those behind you – I was guilty of that behavior)
indicate with your hand to people behind when the group ahead is slowing
do not make abrupt and unannounced speed or direction changes
never overlap wheels unless your handlebars are even with their thigh and they can see you
if you get a flat in the middle of the pack, raise your hand, yell out “flat”, and hold your line until everyone has passed
when standing out of the saddle, always pedal while simultaneously standing up to avoid a lag in momentum which can lead to the rider behind crashing into you.
if you are in a fast group and don’t have the energy to pull the other riders, stay at the back out of the rotation. Nothing irritates experienced riders more than some yo-yo infiltrating their paceline.

Outlandish grimaces and other facial expressions are a must in pack riding.
Got all of that? Good. Now that you’re done with the article, go back and take detailed notes. There are more tips I could share, but the ones highlighted above will get you off to a respectable start and prevent you from being labeled as a greenhorn. So get out there and ride with people, because ultimately, observing the behavior of others is what’s most valuable in learning the ropes of cycling. Most importantly, get fit, have fun, and good luck!

Love Stinks

So it is a little early, but I pulled this off of the ATXfixed blog. Chris Lee is at it again, this time all proceeds go to Austin Food Bank and YBP.



Looks like this is going to be a blast! Check back at the ATXfixed blog, or here for updates later on.


til next time

OLC

59th and 60th Japanese championship keirin final

Watch at the end. The dude in the white would piss me off, enjoy.

59th


60th


til next time

OLC

Watch for car doors

Car door, bus kill cyclist.


A 38-year-old man fell off his bicycle after hitting a car door that was opened suddenly and was mowed down by a bus on Prince Anwar Shah Road.

Suman Ghosh, an employee of a bookstore at South City Mall, was taken to MR Bangur Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police said the Behala resident was on his way to work on Tuesday afternoon when the mishap occurred.

Witnesses said Ghosh was cycling at a moderate speed. While he was crossing a stationary WagonR from the right side, the driver suddenly opened the door.

Ghosh rammed into the door and was flung off the cycle. “He fell in front of a speeding Calcutta State Transport Corporation bus on route S-31 (WB04A 5068). The driver slammed the brakes but the front wheels had crushed the man’s head by then,” said Ajay Karmakar, who runs a food kiosk at the Lords Bakery crossing.

“The driver of the bus has been arrested and charged with causing death due to negligence,” said an officer of Lake police station. The car driver fled leaving behind the vehicle, which was damaged by a mob.

Ghosh’s family was shattered by the death of its main earning member. “I do not know how I will break the news to my mother and sister-in-law,” cried Ghosh’s younger brother Sudipto.

The cops cordoned off the accident spot leading to traffic snarls in the area.


Now I know this is in India, and the streets are probably pretty narrow, but this is fucking tragic. I can't tell you how many times I have pictured that riding through downtown or any other part of the city and having this happen. People in there cars don't pay attention when they are opening there doors when getting out of their cars. I mean most of us have cars as well and I am sure there are door dings from people not paying attention. I would hope that the city officials track down the guy who fled from the scene. This whole situation could have been avoided, if the fucker would have just looked and been paying attention. I'm glad the mob destroyed his car. I hope they find where he is. I am a firm believer in eye for an eye. I know he may not of done it intentionally, but it happened because of him and he should be punished in some way fitting.


So be careful out there, we all know about dooring, but just be aware of the vehicles behind you as well. I would hate to hear about this happening in our own city.


til next time

OLC

Some hip shit for ya

Track Bike Times Edit #2 from Matthew Rice on Vimeo.


I personally like the bombing of the hill and the smoke that follows.

Enjoy


til next time


OLC

Ahhh Sometimes I love CL. Worst of craigslist # 10

So I am at work be bored, and started looking at CL. This is just a little bit of stuff I thought was funny. We'll start with some ranting and raving.

I used to ride a bike when I was 15 and couldn't drive a damn car. (jhmember)

Reply to: pers-925079727@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-18, 10:59PM CST

"People who ride bikes are pussies.Lance Armstrong has won the Tour de France 7 times.The only reason Lance has won this race so many times, is because anyone who is badass enough LIKE ME !!! wouldn't ride a bike. so basically he is racing against a bunch of tools who couldn't play any other sport. If I wasn't lazy I could ride a bike around too. The fact is, that is stupid. When I drive by bike riders I always beep my horn then swerve in an attempt to scare the shit out of them. Just so I can watch in my rear view mirror as they flip over the top of their bike . Then I laugh and laugh"./span>

So I seem to start hating people more and more each day, but it was met with this response. I thought that it was very fitting.


re: I used to ride a bike when I was 15 and couldn't drive a damn car.

Reply to: pers-925100893@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-18, 11:32PM CST


Yeah, backass, meth-making, truck driving, Pabst Blue Ribbon drinking, wife beating, 8th-grade-educated, trailer-park-living, KKK rally attending, assjack, tardmonkey, cock knob, fuckrags like you love to watch NASCAR. Sure, NASCAR's got big-ass engines, noise, and lots o’ car crashes and flames and shit, which is manly. But they also got names of dishwashing soap on their cars. I’m surprised they don’t advertise feminine hygiene products on their racing uniforms. Besides, sitting on your ass all afternoon warchin’ cars drive by ain’t a sport. That’s called being a parking lot attendant.

You call Lance Armstrong a pussy, but at least he busted half a nut in Sheryl Crow's shapely ass.

So, hop back into your oversized small-penis overcompensating giant truck equipped with Gun Rack, 4-Wheel Drive, Confederate Flag, Toothpick Holder, 8-Track, Load of Wood, Hijacker Shocks, Mud-grip Tires, Racoon Hide seats, Dual CB Antenna, Fuzz Buster, Spitoon, Camper Top, Mag Wheels, Air Horns, Mud Flaps w/women on them, and Curb Feelers, and mosey on back to your double-wide Jethro.

Now onto some pictures....YAY!!!

Tour de France Race Bike!!! - $200 (S. Austin)

Reply to: sale-960262999@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-16, 12:44PM CST



This is a sweet vintage road bike. It is a Cierra - from what I know the frames were manufactured in Korea for a company in Wisconsin - The bike has the bigger 27" wheels, but has spacing that would accomodate 700c rims. Frame is free of dents but there are several scratches. I just put new tires on it and it is ready to ride. Rides smooth and shifts well. Excellent starter road bike or commuter. Please call Jody, 903-253-****.






I love how this bike is called a "Tour de France" bike. Maybe if it was 1972. I mean don't get me wrong, looks like it "might" be a decent bike, but then again..... it was made in Korea. I love that people try and take advantage of people. Love it.


grey fixed gear - $250 (central)

Reply to: sale-959605553@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-15, 9:34PM CST

like new condition fixed gear bike...
i believe its 52cm...im 5'6" and it was perfect.
has a front brake, bullhorn handlebars, no flip flop hub.
no major scratches or dents.
very lightweight.

photo is a stock photo...my camera is broken :(




My biggest issue with this bike is that you can go to bikesdirect.com and purchase your exact size and get it shipped for free. Now if that is your size good deal for you, but just do a little research. I have said that time and time again. Just FYI, if you are new into the "fixie" scene, this might be a "alright" bike, but if you want a solid bike, look into something else.


Electric Bike - CHARGER - $800 (West Austin)

Reply to: sale-958919628@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-15, 1:05PM CST




The Charger is perhaps the most advanced vehicle ever designed for personal use! Both the electronic and mechanical control you have, make this bike the greatest!

The Shimano 7 speed internal hub transmission, activated by the Revo twist shifter...gives you a wide range of gears, to further let you choose how much (or little) you wish to struggle! Try down-shifting at a stop sign on any other e-bike...or pedaling in any gear with no motor drag whatsoever!

This bike is a collectors item aswell, only 1000 or so were made. This bike has been sitting in the crate in my garage for years and just now assembled. Brand new batteries were installed. This bike is a blast to ride . To charge you just plug it in the wall. You can also use the bike without the battery pack. The frame is made by GT bikes.

http://www.electric-bikes.com/bikes/charger.html



AWESOME!!! I thought the point in riding around on a bicycle is to actually ride and get some what of a work out. If you want a motorized bike, get a fucking scooter.


fixed gear - $400 (south austin)

Reply to: sale-958681891@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-12-15, 10:47AM CST

my fixie from the good old days. i'm a little more into brakes thies days, cant tell you frame size i'm 5'11 though. 48:16, shogun frame. this is an old bike. come ride you'll like it.
winston
297-****





YES!!!! Shitty fixed gear conversion for only 400 bucks!!! AWESOME!!

Alright, I am already tired of looking at shitastic bikes and need to get back to work.


til next time


OLC

ggrrr on you, asshole in the white car who almost hit me...

I told this to Les yesterday when I picked him up from work, but didn't mention it in the blog. My blog was happy news, and this pissed me off, so I didn't say anything about it, but of course I'm going to today.

Yesterday, when I was on my way home from my ride. I stopped by Seatlle's Best (well, now Texenza Coffee) to rest, drink some water, and talk to my friends. After I left, I was heading east on 5th street, just riding to get home.. not going especially fast or slow, but apparently slow enough for this car behind me. This dude had a stick up his ass. At 5th and some street (the street where the fire station is).. I was already a quarter of the way across the intersection, this guy speeds up from behind me, goes around me and makes a left hand turn in front of me. By doing this, and having little room to do such a move, he came about an inch from hitting me. I started yelling at him.

***It's times like this that I want an air horn for my bike.. If I had my bell on my bike, it would be a nice *ding ding* for me screaming "What the fuck are you doing?!!" as opposed to a nice *roaring squeal* for the same statement.

Anywho, I looked to the left to get this guys' license plate number.. all I could read were the first 3 letters.. so after passing through the intersection, I was pissed. stopped, got off my bike, and ran back to the intersection to see if the guy was still stopped at the light at 6th street. He wasn't, and I saw him driving away, and I was just mad... So I tried and tried to remember his license plate number. As I'm turning around (looking at the fire station), who else do I see than the people who should be looking out for this. A cop. Sitting in his car, facing the intersection where I was nearly mauled down. I just sat there and stared at him for a minute, just trying to understand.

Did he see that car pull from behind and around me to turn across my path? If so, why the fuck didn't he do anything about it? If a car had done the same thing, and they had seen it, I'm sure a ticket would have been issued.

I understand if the cop didn't see it, but c'mon now. You're sitting, facing the intersection. I suppose you're there to catch people who run red lights or are speeding. You're eyes are obviously on the intersection at all times, so what stopped him from seeing this?

Either way, I was going to go up to him and ask if he saw the car, but then where would I go from there? I only remembered it was white, headed north, I had the first three numbers of the license, and it was a dick driver... needless to say, I was pissed and discouraged. So i just rode home thinking about all the asshole drivers in the world that have turned in front of me and in front of other people... notably, Les.. I know he's been cut off more than twice in his life by a car, but the past 2 times have turned out to be rather serious injuries..

So, my purpose of this is to make aware drivers who turn in front of cyclists and to all you who decide to read this. Just please be cautious around cyclists (I know I'm preaching to the choir here).

Pretty soon, my bike is going to be loaded up with 50 air horns and a mega phone.. to let all those, who piss me off on my bicycle, know that they suck ass!!

Oh, Les, the air horn is what I remembered I want for Christmas :) hey, at least I remembered it.

so I finally relieved some stress!!!

some things have gone sour at work, so I took today and tomorrow off. I need to use up some vacation days before the end of the year, and since I now have to work on my birthday (thats what went sour), what better days to take off than the middle of the week?

I decided to ride my bike (since I haven't ridden my new geared bike any reasonable distance since I've had it - and I have the day off), so I rode up to Les' work. He works off 183 near Oak Knoll, and I live relatively central Austin. Needless to say, my route was 18 miles to his work, and 18 miles back... =) I did some extra riding around (to Chik-fil-A and whatnot to get us lunch) and all in all, my ride ended up to be just under 40 miles.

I'm very very very excited that I had the day off to ride my bike, and even more excited because so much of my stress from not riding my bike has drifted away.


lovelovelove my bike and my boyfriend.

good luck on your exam today!

at least he is honest

this is a long time coming

I started this blog last week sometime, possibly two weeks ago when I had Friday off, but alas, my computer was going too slow so I gave up.

Well, here it is... some pictures I want to share with everyone.

This first picture is a view of Austin from my work's balcony...

Me, stuck in traffic on 360 the first day I took Les to work. There was a wreck, so traffic was horrible. Usually, it's not this bad, but its so iffy. I'm jealous of all of the cyclists I see passing me while I'm stuck in traffic. boo. **Note: Don't let the length between my car and the car in front of me fool you into thinking cars were moving at a steady pace. I assure you, we were moving slower than molasses, and I never once pressed the gas pedal in this traffic, only my brake. Double boo..

This is from a foggy foggy day. I'm a horrible estimator of distance, but you can tell I was basically about to cross the bridge when I took this picture. SO so foggy!! I couldn't even see the lake beneath the bridge. It was great. I was again stuck in traffic but the fog seemed to keep me a bit more sane as I could not tell exactly how much traffic I was in.

This is my kitty, Little Jackie Blackie. His name started out as Jack (my mom named him this when he was tiny, but I'm not a fan of the name), so I added to his name. He then became "Little Jack Black Tail." Part of this comes from Seinfeld and the rooster named Little Jerry Seinfeld, and the other part comes from his coat color. He is obviously an orange tabby, but his back half looks dirty, like he was dipped in oil, although he was not and is clean.. hence, the "black tail" part.. Then, his name morphed into Jackie Blackie because he cries alot. If he gets in trouble, his eyes start watering and he cries. NO JOKE! It happens all the time.

Well, the picture isn't about his name, but rather his love for sitting on my cruiser's seat. Isn't he so cute .. little jackie blackie!!

And finally, my new new bicycle!!! I haven't gotten the chance to ride it to work yet, but soon enough my friends!!! Whatever the Friday after December 13th is, that will be its first day on a journey to work with me. I'm stoked!! I hope its not too terribly cold that day, so cross your fingers.

That's all for now, I've got to go to work again...

word.

December 1st

So we are in December now. I have been looking forward to the cooler weather, but it seems now my knee will start acting up because of the plate and screws that I have in it. So I am going to be one of those old men that can tell when bad weather is a brewing, because I am going to feel it, before it hits.

So just to give you another update, the Snot and Tears alleycat is still going down. It sounds fun as shit. I hope I don't have to work. I'd like to just hang out and see what goes down.







"10 dollar race entry fee
lots of prizes
wheelset,frame,bars,grips,bag,pads etc.etc..
food and beer
after race party/jam/competition/debauchery
all for ten bucks !
first 10 racers signed up get free "KNOG" lights
its gonna be dark so bring lights,and youll need a camera, any bike will work
and there will be a magical floating bonus checkpoint worth 50 bucks"


I'll also keep you up to date on the cross alleycat's the Mr. Skwidvicious is putting on. They sound like a fucking blast! I am going to try and be one of the checkpoints next race, so I'll post something as soon as I find out when it is.

gotta get back to work,


til next time


OLC

pretty awesome video

I think I am going to make some of these

Classic Commercial

Ouch!!!!!

MY BALLS

About to be an ouch!






FACE PLANT!!!!




til next time



OLC

Calling all you hipsters

Got some new stuff for ya, I actually dig the shirt.







If that didn't get your attention, then check these out. For the small small price of......




Now go and bust a fat ass skid on this,





til next time

OLC

H+Son Champion

So I personal think these H+Son wheels aren't that bad. I mean if you use them for what they are supposed to be used for, then they aren't going to just taco on ya. With that being said, it looks like they made some new ones....just for all you champions.






til next time

OLC

Turkey day ramblings

I hope everyone had a great turkey day. Mine was good, got very full and now am about to drink some coffee because I am about to pass out. So I was surfing around whilst being lazy, and came across this article from bike radar. I found it a little interesting. I remembered this awhile back and was wondering what was going on with it. Well they have gotten a lot of signatures. I like the fact that I am second on the list.

Anyways, found some shots of some Keirin racing, I thought some of you might enjoy.








Also, if you are looking forward to some deals, then check out Ben's Cycle they have 15% off. Do it!!!





til next time



OLC

my new b-i-c-y-c-l-e

I picked up my brand spankin' "it's new to me" bicycle last week which I am utterly excited about!!

I spent all day Friday (well, not all day) riding about my neighborhood and getting comfortable with this crazy new brake system. Let me tell you, it is so weird coasting and a little scary at times. First off, I couldn't stop pedaling..even when I didn't have to. My feets are used to fixed gear, so this is going to take some adjusting. INSANE! I will post a picture of it at a later time I actually tried doing it on Friday but ran into some problems with hard drives and memory cards and blah blah blah. Then, I got frustrated and gave up :)

What is very exciting is that I will be able to ride my new geared bike to and from work every Friday. It will be nice to have a substantial amount of riding in my routine again, even if it is only for one day. As for this car situation goes, last week I drove 378 miles. 378 miles!! I know this is only temporary (driving to work and all), but this too will take some getting used to.

CONGRATS to Jason for being appointed to the Bicycle Advisory Committee!!! Very awesome news. As for everything else, I'm off work at 3PM tomorrow, and then the Thanksgiving weekend full of fun, family, awesome food, and even more delicious beer awaits Les and I. Everyone be safe out there - no more injured cyclists!!

lovelovelove

No I'm not drunk....

Awesome video!!! Just thought I would share with everyone!

til next time


OLC

gooble wooble, fast Friday, Snot and Tears oh my

So Jason got to the update before me, but I thought I would go ahead and post it up too. Brian sent out the email yesterday and I didn't have time to post it at work, and really didn't feel like it after work. This is what he had to say....these are his cross alleycats that will be going on through out the winter months....


Race sunday.
What: First alleycross of the series
Time: 8 pm
Day: Sunday
Start: Lamar Ped Bridge
Duh: BRING LIGHTS!
Fee: $5
Prizes: First Place: 75% of the money, plus something nice (if 20 people show up, that's $75!)
Second Place: 15% of the loot and something smaller but nice
Third Place: 10% of the fees, and something crappy. hehe Kidding.
Everyone else: a really fun ride with friends
Chance of rain: 30%
Chance of fun: 100%


He also gave a date for the gooble wooble race that is but on by Brent Nutting



Thanksgiving:
Just forgot to remind about this. Gobble Wobble. I haven't gotten more info or a flyer or anything from Nutt yet, but I will pass it on as soon as I know. Olde Skool Austin style alleycat on a time limit. You will smile, guaranteed.

I mean shit, do I need to make up a flyer for this shit or what????


So that is it for now, I gotta get back to work...I'll try and post something later....oh and as far as the Snot and Tears alleycat check the post I posted yesterday or the other day.

One last thing,



til next time


OLC

*Update on Alleycat*

Here is an update on the alleycat I posted earlier.


here it is final place and time..
december 14th 6pm
drungo ice house @ 2828 rio grande
drungo ice house
10 dollar race entry fee
lots of prizes
wheelset,frame,bars,grips,bag,pads etc.etc..
food and beer
after race party/jam/competition/debauchery
all for ten bucks !
first 10 racers signed up get free "KNOG" lights
its gonna be dark so bring lights,and youll need a camera, any bike will work
and there will be a magical floating bonus checkpoint worth 50 bucks



There you have it. $50 floating check point....sounds like alot of fucking fun!!



til next time


OLC

Holy Crap

This is one the worst things that I have heard!

last night in Toronto, a cyclist had a loud argument with a cab driver and the next thing residents heard was a sickening crunch and a man screaming for help- the cabbie rammed the cyclist against a pole and severed his leg.

WTF!

This is the tree where the cabbie severed the guys leg.... to me it also looks like the tree has marks in it too from the car backing into it.


The cab drivers, cab. I mean are a couple of dents actually worth someone's leg? I really hope this guy gets what he deserves.


This is one of the worst things I have ever seen!


til next time


OLC

Upcoming alleycat

So I recently received an email from nIC telling me about an alleycat that he was going to be promoting. I don't have much information other than this.....



i still havent gotten everything nailed down but id still like people to know about it.. so this is kinda generic right now

but i got mellow johnnys on board..
theres gonna be a shit load of prizes..

free knog lights to the first ten riders
chrome bags ,velocity wheels, lots of tubes and tires..
maybe a frame , soem cranks maybe.. ??? who knows ?
theres gonna be hella prizes..
but yeah theres gonna be music and festivities.. for sure.. but i just dont have everything nailed down as of yet..







So there you have it. I will post more information when I receive it.


I REALLY WISH I DIDN'T HAVE A BROKEN LEG


Not really sure if there is going to be an entry fee, or the time and day that the race is, but I'll keep you updated when I find out.


Also, welcome Jenn into the world of blogging!!!!



til next time

OLC

a first time for everything

As you all know, Les has asked for some help keeping up with his blog. He's a busy boy with his new job and all, so I'm taking on the task of second-in-command over "the blog."

I'm really really new at this blog stuff, and I'm not sure how much help I will actually be, but I will try to contribute something exciting. As I stare at a computer all day long, the last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at another computer screen, so most of these posts - if not all - will be done at work. Thank you work for paying me to write blogs for my boyfriend!! I can honestly say I've only used my laptop at home maybe 2 or 3 times since starting my big girl job. Computers and technology are just not my thing. I end up breaking every technological device I own, and have gone back to basics, so bear with me.

Now, on to bike stuff.

Good news is that I will be the proud owner of a geared bike hopefully by the end of the day. Lee called Les and I last night to say my bike was pretty much complete minus the bar tape. The bike is a bright blue color with yellow lettering. Instead of making it look completely hideous (which is usually how I like things to look) and choosing a sea foam green, light pink, or tan color bar tape, I just decided to go with .. white. yummy. Now that I have a geared bike, I hope I can begin riding to work again in a relatively short period of time.

As all of you know, Les has started training at Apple again, and I get to drive him to work :) sucky part about that though is we work on opposite ends of the earth, so we end up spending roughly 2-3 hours a day in my car (spending 2-3 hours in my car used to take about 2-3 weeks). He works north west, and I work south west. boo.

Tomorrow is the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting. I applied, was frustrated by one of the members (which Les posted a blog about), and I'm not sure what to expect out of the whole situation. It would be really awesome if any of us daily commuters who applied are given a position. Good luck to everyone!! Hopefully traffic will be on my side tomorrow so Les and I can make it to the meeting. I'm a little terrified to go. Will they ask you questions if you show up? Will they tell me I suck? I feel like if I go to the meeting I might experience the same sensation as being picked last in gym class. You know? (uh oh Les, that's one for me) Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Good luck again everyone. I'm off to eat a banana!

P.S. There is only one more day to vote on how/if Les should ride in the MS150. Everyone go vote to ride a tandem!! You can only vote once, so that ruins my plan of voting a billion times for tandem, but don't let it stop you!!

work

So I go back to work today. It is my first day at work in almost a month. I am going to do my best to keep this blog going everyday, but I have a feeling that I am going to be super busy. So with that being said, I might have someone start writing besides me. If you want to maybe contribute to writing, then let me know. I'd rather not do this, but I'd like there to be some kind of content on a somewhat daily basis. So if you want to give it a shot. Let me know. Send emails to lesbennett@ymail.com

til next time,

OLC

MS 150...Tandem or Solo

So as you know I will be riding in the MS 150. Well, I might not be 100% to ride because of the accident, and the registration cannot be transferred to someone else. Apparently it is not a "rare enough" circumstance. So that leaves me getting enough donations plus the registration fees, and maybe not even riding in it. So Jenn came up with the idea that maybe we could rent a tandem bike for the ride. IT is around 50 plus dollars a day to rent the bike and we would need it for at least three days. So that means the registration, donations, and then the cost of renting a tandem bike for three days.

So here is the deal, I can either not ride and still have to raise money and what not. Ride solo....if I can. Or we can rent a tandem bike and ride in the event. I wouldn't have to pedal as hard going up some hills and I would definitely be able to cost going down them.

I am not opposed to riding a tandem, it is just the cost of everything that makes me a little leery of the idea. So I have put up a poll on what I should do. Ride the tandem, ride solo on a road bike, not ride at all, or just make sure I'm drunk. Give me some feed back yo!

This is pretty much the bike I would rent.



til next time


OLC

APD Crackdown

So I'm sure if you read any of the blogs in Austin, then you have read about the "crackdown on cyclist" for running reds and etc. Daniel Mottola from the Austin Chronicle, just wrote an article about it. Jason over at ATXBS has blogged a few different times about this. I yeah if you drive a car and you see a cyclist run a red light it sucks. You are still sitting at the light being pissed off at the world because you're stuck and you see someone breaking the law. What about the cars that run reds? Do they piss you off too?

This was my comment to the article about the crackdown.

I'm not opposed to APD giving tickets out to people who break the law. I don't think it is fair to single out cyclist. I see cars run red lights downtown all the time, not to mention when there are pedestrians in the cross walks that almost get hit by the driver not "paying attention" or "not seeing them". My main question to APD would be, are you (APD) cracking down on all, not just cyclist, running of red lights and illegal turning on red, and almost hitting pedestrians?

Most everyone I know that rides bikes do not ride on the sidewalk, that is where people walk. I follow the rules of the road and I don't ride on the side walk, and I also have front and rear lights on my bike. I also wear a helmet and have reflective material on my bag and on my bike, so that cars see me at night.

I am not in fear of getting a ticket from APD, I'm in fear for my life at the car that runs the red light when I have the green and nothing gets done about it. Or when someone hits me when I have the right of way, causing me to go to the hospital and stay there for days and the motorist doesn't even get a ticket. I mean if I was in a car and got into a wreck because someone did not yield the right of way they would get a ticket, and I wouldn't be in the hospital. This is what upsets me.

I would like to see APD actually give tickets to motorist when they hit a cyclist when they (the motorist) are in the wrong.

Maybe then I wouldn't see such a big deal about cyclist getting ticketed more for running reds and etc.



I like how the picture for the article is a brake less fixed gear (presumably) running a red in front of a cop. This whole thing makes me think of the online comic
yehuda moon







I personally would like to see more of this....






til next time


OLC

2012 and what not

Ok, so this technically doesn't have anything to do with cycling, but it will eventually effect everyone. That means us cyclist too.



Food Riots, Tax Rebellions By 2012...Trend forecaster, renowned for being accurate in the past, says

The man who predicted the 1987 stock market crash and the fall of the Soviet Union is now forecasting revolution in America, food riots and tax rebellions - all within four years, while cautioning that putting food on the table will be a more pressing concern than buying Christmas gifts by 2012.



Gerald Celente, the CEO of Trends Research Institute, is renowned for his accuracy in predicting fut More..ure world and economic events, which will send a chill down your spine considering what he told Fox News this week.



Celente says that by 2012 America will become an undeveloped nation, that there will be a revolution marked by food riots, squatter rebellions, tax revolts and job marches, and that holidays will be more about obtaining food, not gifts.



"We're going to see the end of the retail Christmas....we're going to see a fundamental shift take place....putting food on the table is going to be more important that putting gifts under the Christmas tree," said Celente, adding that the situation would be "worse than the great depression".



"America's going to go through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for," said Celente, noting that people's refusal to acknowledge that America was even in a recession highlights how big a problem denial is in being ready for the true scale of the crisis.



Celente, who successfully predicted the 1997 Asian Currency Crisis, the subprime mortgage collapse and the massive devaluation of the U.S. dollar, told UPI in November last year that the following year would be known as "The Panic of 2008," adding that "giants (would) tumble to their deaths," which is exactly what we have witnessed with the collapse of Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns and others. He also said that the dollar would eventually be devalued by as much as 90 per cent.



The consequence of what we have seen unfold this year would lead to a lowering in living standards, Celente predicted a year ago, which is also being borne out by plummeting retail sales figures.



The prospect of revolution was a concept echoed by a British Ministry of Defense report last year, which predicted that within 30 years, the growing gap between the super rich and the middle class, along with an urban underclass threatening social order would mean, "The world's middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest," and that, "The middle classes could become a revolutionary class.

"

In a separate recent interview, Celente went further on the subject of revolution in America.



"There will be a revolution in this country," he said. "It’s not going to come yet, but it’s going to come down the line and we’re going to see a third party and this was the catalyst for it: the takeover of Washington, D. C., in broad daylight by Wall Street in this bloodless coup. And it will happen as conditions continue to worsen.

"

"The first thing to do is organize with tax revolts. That’s going to be the big one because people can’t afford to pay more school tax, property tax, any kind of tax. You’re going to start seeing those kinds of protests start to develop.

"

"It’s going to be very bleak. Very sad. And there is going to be a lot of homeless, the likes of which we have never seen before. Tent cities are already sprouting up around the country and we’re going to see many more.

"

"We’re going to start seeing huge areas of vacant real estate and squatters living in them as well. It’s going to be a picture the likes of which Americans are not going to be used to. It’s going to come as a shock and with it, there’s going to be a lot of crime. And the crime is going to be a lot worse than it was before because in the last 1929 Depression, people’s minds weren’t wrecked on all these modern drugs – over-the-counter drugs, or crystal meth or whatever it might be. So, you have a huge underclass of very desperate people with their minds chemically blown beyond anybody’s comprehension.

"

"When CNN wants to know about the Top Trends, we ask Gerald Celente.

"
— CNN Headline News

"A network of 25 experts whose range of specialties would rival many university faculties.

"
— The Economist

"Gerald Celente has a knack for getting the zeitgeist right.

"
— USA Today

"There’s not a better trend forecaster than Gerald Celente. The man knows what he’s talking about.

"
- CNBC

"Those who take their predictions seriously ... consider the Trends Research Institute.

"
— The Wall Street Journal

"Gerald Celente is always ahead of the curve on trends and uncannily on the mark ... he's one of the most accurate forecasters around.

"
— The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Mr. Celente tracks the world’s social, economic and business trends for corporate clients.

"
— The New York Times

"Mr. Celente is a very intelligent guy. We are able to learn about trends from an authority.

"
— 48 Hours, CBS News

"Gerald Celente has a solid track record. He has predicted everything from the 1987 stock market crash and the demise of the Soviet Union to green marketing and corporate downsizing.

"
— The Detroit News

"Gerald Celente forecast the 1987 stock market crash, ‘green marketing,’ and the boom in gourmet coffees.

"
— Chicago Tribune

"The Trends Research Institute is the Standard and Poors of Popular Culture.

"
— The Los Angeles Times

"If Nostradamus were alive today, he'd have a hard time keeping up with Gerald Celente.

"
— New York Post

So there you have it - hardly a nutjob conspiracy theorist blowhard now is he? The price of not heeding his warnings will be far greater than the cost of preparing for the future now. Storable food and gold are two good places to make a start.


Then there is this. I read some of "Hal Turner's" blog, and I don't agree with hardly any of it, but this video does make a point.




If you read his blog and it's comments, most of it will probably piss you off. I do think he made a good point about the U.S. Dollar though. This kind of makes you open your open your mind a little bit. I mean everything in general.

I have for a long time now been waiting for 2012 and all the different but the same looks about it and the change that I think it brings, but the closer we get the more it seems it might turn into something like what you have just read and watched.




til next time


OLC

Bike Porn

So today being a Monday, I thought I might start the week out with a little bike porn. I wish some of these bikes were in my stable.....oh well enjoy.












Perfect Halloween bike.
I love seeing a baddass bike ridden so hard.....just excellent.







Hope you enjoyed....


til next time


OLC