Blog moving over to wordpress - http://asthecogsturn.wordpress.com/
Same name and same stale entries, but a new format.
C-ya there!
Not sicky
11 hours ago
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Garage Sale II
I am unloading some items that I no longer need. Click HERE for a slide show of the items below.
- Items for sale include
- Salsa Stem - 90mm x 105Deg x 31.8mm handlebar clamp - $15
- Tektro CX brake levers - 31.8mm clamp - $15
- e.thirteen bash guard - 4bolt x 104mm bcd - SOLD
- Enduro External BB Bearing puller/press - SOLD
- Easton EA70 road/cx bars - 44cm x 31.8mm clamp area - relativly new - $15
- Kalloy road/cx bars - 42cm x 31.8mm clamp area - $10
- Bontrager Single Speed or Double cranks - ISIS - 4bolt x 104mm bcd - 175mm - SOLD
- Dean Ace Derailleur hanger - New - $12
- Go Fast Sports 9in Decals - $2 each or one FREE with another item purchase
- Shimano LX M570 Frt Derailleur - 28.6mm clamp - low clamp - Top pull - NEW - $10
- Willits W.O.W Fork - 29er ready - 465mm Axle2Crown - fender and rack mounts - 9.250 inch steerer tube - 1-1/8 in dia - Disc only - $185
- Lake Cycling MX400 Mens size 41 - New - Carbon sole - heat moldable heel - $135
- Crankbrothers Short Ti Spindles - New - for Eggbeater pedals - $60
- U.S.E. Ring-Go-Star - 1-1/8in dia - $10
- SRAM X-Gen Front derailleur - 34.9/35mm clamp - New - SOLD
- Various 26" Mountain Bike tires - $5 each
- Mavic Speedcity Wheels - 700c/29er - Disc/rim brake - 135mm rear/100mm front - SOLD
- On-one Fleegle bar - like new - uncut - 25.4mm clamp area - $35
- NiteRider Moab HID Light - Spot beam - LiIon Battery - 8 to 12hrs of Light - complete - $325
If you see something you want please reply via email calzone68 at gmail dot com or leave a comment. Watch for new items to appear as I dig deeper into the stash.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Holy Cow
Cancellara is Back...Wow what a performance!
Contador is definitly the Leader of Astana. Oh, I can't wait to see Lance's jersey stuffed with bottles...that'll be priceless.
My prologue predictions stunk, kind of like Menchov who left his legs in Italy. Hopefully he'll find 'em in the mountains.
Contador is definitly the Leader of Astana. Oh, I can't wait to see Lance's jersey stuffed with bottles...that'll be priceless.
My prologue predictions stunk, kind of like Menchov who left his legs in Italy. Hopefully he'll find 'em in the mountains.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
2009 TDF predictions
Here are my predictions for the top 5 in Saturday's Tour de France Prologue in Monaco
1) Denis Menchov
2) David Millar
3) Levi Leiphiemer
4) Cadel Evans
5) Lance Armstrong
As for Contador - he'll be lucky to crack the top 15.
For the final GC in Paris:
1) Contador
2) Menchov
3) Evans
Levi - 5th
Lance - 7th
Hincapie - 37th
The remaining awards:
Astana should win the team competition
Cavendish the Green Jersey
Andy Schleck both the Polka dot and White Jersey
1) Denis Menchov
2) David Millar
3) Levi Leiphiemer
4) Cadel Evans
5) Lance Armstrong
As for Contador - he'll be lucky to crack the top 15.
For the final GC in Paris:
1) Contador
2) Menchov
3) Evans
Levi - 5th
Lance - 7th
Hincapie - 37th
The remaining awards:
Astana should win the team competition
Cavendish the Green Jersey
Andy Schleck both the Polka dot and White Jersey
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Not enough gas
... in the tank, but plenty coming out the rear as I turned tail and headed back to camp. Saturdaze Big Ride was a bust. Sure there were some high points - like not getting lost thanks to the Garmin GPS mounted on the stem, and not "Going Down on Nate". But, then there were the lows - such as losing a shock pump, Eos light, and a CO2 cartridge due to an open pack caused either by human error or the tree limbs I banged into while bouncing off a couple rocks climbing CT in Lost Park.
Oh, and whom of the few hikers on CT at Kenosha could forget when I almost threw up while trying to eat a half mushed banana. The warm soft gooey fermenting mush set off the barf alarm upon entry. Fortunately, I was able to spit out the mush and thort the certain eruption of stomach gunk, but I would never recover. As for the hikers - they promptly hopped off the trail, not sure if any of them spewed chunks.
Now that you've read the Cliff Notes here's the lowdown, if U care.
As dawn approached myself, Spike, Paul, and a few others headed out for the day. While I attempted the big arse loops, the others set out on various distances ranging from 50 to 85 miles. I was already 70 minutes behind schedule so I put the hammer down early to make up some time on the road sections . Navigating the roads was a breeze thanks to Spike's cue sheet and the GPS.
I reached the intersection of the first big loop and kept motoring on to Lost Park' single track. The sky was blue and the temp was cool as I climbed the CT to the meadow of Lost Park. Upon entering the meadow I was stunned by all the green grasses and vegetation. Zipping along the single track the columbines and iris waved a gently good bye as I rolled by.
Upon reaching the base of the single track to Monkey "Butt" Creek I stopped to mark the occasion with a pic and I'd be damned. As I lowered the pack it was half open. Chit this was not good since one of the items missing was my light for navigating gold dust back to camp. Ding Dang, I was not very happy at this point. I stewed the whole way up Monkey Butt and then some. Finally upon reaching the top of Nate's Trail I was feeling a bit more positive, the bad mojo was subsiding. Then after a quick prayer I headed down Nate's. This would be my second trip down Nate's trail. the first time down was not ideal conditions, the rocks and roots were slicker than Moose poop from the dayz rains and I went down hard. But today Nate's was relatively dry. I managed to stay upright coming down Nate's and only walked two wicked sections of boulders and roots. And yes, one of those sections was where I went down a month prior.
Once on the fire roads the sun was starting to heat things up and I was drinking alot more, but stopped eating. Looking back, the lack of calories on this stretch was my first mental mistake. I recall feeling strong as I reached the first Hop-A-Fence. But at the second Hop-A-Fence I was not able to stick the landing and stepped back into a ball of barbed wire fencing and sliced the back of my right knee clean open. The gash was about 2.5 inches in length and man was I Pi$$ed at myself. After a bit of cursing I remounted Q and mashed up the hill and headed on CT to Kenosha East.
At Kenosha East I stopped and refilled the water bottles and the camelbak. At this point in the ride I had consumed two powerbars, some beef jerky, 80 ounces of Nuun-ified water, 500 calories of perpetum and 200 calories of Heed. I was definitely lacking on the calorie intake side of the equation. As I finished off a GoFast I hopped back on Q fully stocked and headed for Georgia Pass. But on the west side of kenosha I made the mistake of attempting to eat the banana that had been slightly crushed, probably from setting the pack down on it. The first bite was fine, but not the second - there was something about the mushy texture and the fermenting smell that caused my brain to send a signal to the stomach to abandon ship. Luckily I was able to avoid the perils of barfing, but I was not the same after that instance. The body felt weak and the legs were lacking power. I struggled to find a good rhythm as I plodded along the trail. I recall looking down and the watch and deciding that if I was not able to reach Georgia Pass by 4:00, then I'd have to turn around and back track to 285 and take the road back to camp.
As I reached the six mile's to GP marker, the body was feeling better but not great. As I pushed the bike up the rocky sections of trail the confidence meter would dip a bit more. After three miles of on-the-bike, off-the-bike the upper section of the CT smoothed out and the pedals began to spin a more consistent cadence, but time was slipping by quicker than the miles traveled. At 4:15 PM, with Georgia Pass insight, I made good on my decision to turn around. For beyond the pass there was more snow to post hole through and sections of dead fall on the flume trail to climb over. And without my light I was not willing to take the chance of being caught in nightfall and having Spike or Alpine Rescue come looking for my azzhat somewhere between Breck and Como.
So I turned around and headed back down the very trail I was cursing earlier. As I descended a smile began to emerge, as the speed increased the smile grew bigger and I began to enjoy the ride again. Ripping down the single track with the sussy fork wide open was a hoot. That feeling of FUN was lacking from the ride after cutting open my leg. But know after being defeated, the good feeling is back. Hell, I even cleaned the long climb out of the valley to the rock pyramid with ease.
The ride from kenosha pass on 285 back to Como seemed to take an eternity. I was quite disappointed in myself for not making it over Georgia Pass. Thoughts of could-of, should-of, would-of, only made the distance greater. As I reached Como I spotted a few riders from the either the 50 or the 85 miler coming down Boreas Pass Rd. They obviously rode over Georgia Pass and appeared very satisfied. With a simple wave I hermitted-on.
Upon reaching camp I was cheerfully greeted by Spike, Paul, and then Mateo rolled in. Soon my spirit began to lift as the three recalled their day's adventure. What a wonderful time they had.
While the mission was incomplete, I managed to cap off 110 miles and 12K vertical in 14hrs and 2 stinking minutes without barfing. I'll definitly be back, but I'll be sure to do a few things differently.
Oh, and whom of the few hikers on CT at Kenosha could forget when I almost threw up while trying to eat a half mushed banana. The warm soft gooey fermenting mush set off the barf alarm upon entry. Fortunately, I was able to spit out the mush and thort the certain eruption of stomach gunk, but I would never recover. As for the hikers - they promptly hopped off the trail, not sure if any of them spewed chunks.
Now that you've read the Cliff Notes here's the lowdown, if U care.
As dawn approached myself, Spike, Paul, and a few others headed out for the day. While I attempted the big arse loops, the others set out on various distances ranging from 50 to 85 miles. I was already 70 minutes behind schedule so I put the hammer down early to make up some time on the road sections . Navigating the roads was a breeze thanks to Spike's cue sheet and the GPS.
I reached the intersection of the first big loop and kept motoring on to Lost Park' single track. The sky was blue and the temp was cool as I climbed the CT to the meadow of Lost Park. Upon entering the meadow I was stunned by all the green grasses and vegetation. Zipping along the single track the columbines and iris waved a gently good bye as I rolled by.
Upon reaching the base of the single track to Monkey "Butt" Creek I stopped to mark the occasion with a pic and I'd be damned. As I lowered the pack it was half open. Chit this was not good since one of the items missing was my light for navigating gold dust back to camp. Ding Dang, I was not very happy at this point. I stewed the whole way up Monkey Butt and then some. Finally upon reaching the top of Nate's Trail I was feeling a bit more positive, the bad mojo was subsiding. Then after a quick prayer I headed down Nate's. This would be my second trip down Nate's trail. the first time down was not ideal conditions, the rocks and roots were slicker than Moose poop from the dayz rains and I went down hard. But today Nate's was relatively dry. I managed to stay upright coming down Nate's and only walked two wicked sections of boulders and roots. And yes, one of those sections was where I went down a month prior.
Once on the fire roads the sun was starting to heat things up and I was drinking alot more, but stopped eating. Looking back, the lack of calories on this stretch was my first mental mistake. I recall feeling strong as I reached the first Hop-A-Fence. But at the second Hop-A-Fence I was not able to stick the landing and stepped back into a ball of barbed wire fencing and sliced the back of my right knee clean open. The gash was about 2.5 inches in length and man was I Pi$$ed at myself. After a bit of cursing I remounted Q and mashed up the hill and headed on CT to Kenosha East.
At Kenosha East I stopped and refilled the water bottles and the camelbak. At this point in the ride I had consumed two powerbars, some beef jerky, 80 ounces of Nuun-ified water, 500 calories of perpetum and 200 calories of Heed. I was definitely lacking on the calorie intake side of the equation. As I finished off a GoFast I hopped back on Q fully stocked and headed for Georgia Pass. But on the west side of kenosha I made the mistake of attempting to eat the banana that had been slightly crushed, probably from setting the pack down on it. The first bite was fine, but not the second - there was something about the mushy texture and the fermenting smell that caused my brain to send a signal to the stomach to abandon ship. Luckily I was able to avoid the perils of barfing, but I was not the same after that instance. The body felt weak and the legs were lacking power. I struggled to find a good rhythm as I plodded along the trail. I recall looking down and the watch and deciding that if I was not able to reach Georgia Pass by 4:00, then I'd have to turn around and back track to 285 and take the road back to camp.
As I reached the six mile's to GP marker, the body was feeling better but not great. As I pushed the bike up the rocky sections of trail the confidence meter would dip a bit more. After three miles of on-the-bike, off-the-bike the upper section of the CT smoothed out and the pedals began to spin a more consistent cadence, but time was slipping by quicker than the miles traveled. At 4:15 PM, with Georgia Pass insight, I made good on my decision to turn around. For beyond the pass there was more snow to post hole through and sections of dead fall on the flume trail to climb over. And without my light I was not willing to take the chance of being caught in nightfall and having Spike or Alpine Rescue come looking for my azzhat somewhere between Breck and Como.
So I turned around and headed back down the very trail I was cursing earlier. As I descended a smile began to emerge, as the speed increased the smile grew bigger and I began to enjoy the ride again. Ripping down the single track with the sussy fork wide open was a hoot. That feeling of FUN was lacking from the ride after cutting open my leg. But know after being defeated, the good feeling is back. Hell, I even cleaned the long climb out of the valley to the rock pyramid with ease.
The ride from kenosha pass on 285 back to Como seemed to take an eternity. I was quite disappointed in myself for not making it over Georgia Pass. Thoughts of could-of, should-of, would-of, only made the distance greater. As I reached Como I spotted a few riders from the either the 50 or the 85 miler coming down Boreas Pass Rd. They obviously rode over Georgia Pass and appeared very satisfied. With a simple wave I hermitted-on.
Upon reaching camp I was cheerfully greeted by Spike, Paul, and then Mateo rolled in. Soon my spirit began to lift as the three recalled their day's adventure. What a wonderful time they had.
While the mission was incomplete, I managed to cap off 110 miles and 12K vertical in 14hrs and 2 stinking minutes without barfing. I'll definitly be back, but I'll be sure to do a few things differently.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Big Methane Xpelling Ride
Saturday I'll be riding the Red Line, consuming Hammer Nutrition products and expelling Methane - the other green house gas.Screw the House of ObamaBots and Pelosetts...
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Prep-a-ra-tion
According to Merriam-Webster : preparation is the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty. I'm doing both; making the steed ready for use and getting myself ready for a long day in the saddle (occasion).
This coming Saturday's ride will consist of 110+ miles of high country splendor - single track, double track, dirt roads, paved roads, wrong turns, right turns, and crossing three mountain passes. The steed of choice will be Q running a Rock Shox Reba Team @ 100mm up front, three water bottle holders, and 32:19 gearing. I've spent the last week working on Q - trying to eliminate squeaks and creaks and breaking in the fork. I replaced the worn UN73 bottom bracket with a Sinz square taper BB. Hopefully the Sinz BB will last longer than 6 month running average of the past UN73s.
As for the gear, food, and water - The gear details are still being hashed out with an emphasis to go as lean, but as prepared possible. As for aqua and food; I do plan to carry 3 bottles and a camelbak. Water reserves to be dropped off at the halfway point. I'll carry all my food and Hammer stuff in the pack and prolly purchase a few items in Breck for the final push.
The Navigation duties will be handled by the GPS mounted on the stem with cue sheet, compass, and backup maps stashed in the pack. And hopefully with a lot of luck I'll stay on course.
This coming Saturday's ride will consist of 110+ miles of high country splendor - single track, double track, dirt roads, paved roads, wrong turns, right turns, and crossing three mountain passes. The steed of choice will be Q running a Rock Shox Reba Team @ 100mm up front, three water bottle holders, and 32:19 gearing. I've spent the last week working on Q - trying to eliminate squeaks and creaks and breaking in the fork. I replaced the worn UN73 bottom bracket with a Sinz square taper BB. Hopefully the Sinz BB will last longer than 6 month running average of the past UN73s.
As for the gear, food, and water - The gear details are still being hashed out with an emphasis to go as lean, but as prepared possible. As for aqua and food; I do plan to carry 3 bottles and a camelbak. Water reserves to be dropped off at the halfway point. I'll carry all my food and Hammer stuff in the pack and prolly purchase a few items in Breck for the final push.
The Navigation duties will be handled by the GPS mounted on the stem with cue sheet, compass, and backup maps stashed in the pack. And hopefully with a lot of luck I'll stay on course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
