the angry buddhist

2010-10-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Just the first half of a great descent last Saturday

2010-10-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Sunset to Schultz Upper porton from Jason on Vimeo.

2010-10-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well a month later and ...

Rode this past Saturday up in Flag. Sweet ride. I recommend Sunset to Schultz down, Who really cares about gong up. Never had much fun doing that but the rewards sure are swell.

Temps finally broke the triple digit basement. In other words it is finally cool enough to ride in the day light in the valley. Working up to riding several days a week before work to lose a few pounds and get back some form. Not like racing form, I just want to lose some of the round shape I have become.

2010-09-01T23:46:00.001-07:00

Well I am back I guess. A bit fatter and a lot slower. I have had two crashes this year. Big knock you off the bike and walk funny crashes. Go to the ER crashes. The last one made me hurt. Hurt real bad. It invaded my brain and stuck in the grey matter. In essence, it destroyed my desire.

I smacked the slick rock in Sedona. I actually thought I was going to need an airlift off the hill. Needless to say I rode it out and never went to the Doc's. I guess that was a dumb move as I am now certain I did damage that is permanent and going to make me walk funny ( er ).

I also got a motorcycle and have used that excuse to not pedal A LOT. It has saved me however, from the suffering heat and dismal early morning rides. I get my miles by getting fat and twisting throttle. I see a dirt road and find out where it goes and what neato things it can show me. So far I have seen more of AZ by moto than I could have ever imagined.

Sorry for the go away. I will do better. If you are still there.

Oh yea. I am riding again.

Yea That

2010-03-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

Click

I have been amiss in updating the blog. Sue me.

It is the end of winter, or officially Spring ( ala Daylight Savings. )

But who really cares?

It is prime time riding season!!

This year has been exceptionally rainy. A LOT of rain.

I believe the last time it rained like this I was living in Tucson.

Actually, I had just moved there and EL Nino was kicking.

I loved that time in the desert. Great way to spend the first year. Just digging on the green and riding superb trails.

This year is more of that only a bit different. I am older and have an awesome wife who

gets to see just what the hell I was talking about.

It is just starting to explode, the color that the desert hides most often.

Grass does not grow here.

The desert is just a bunch of rocks and dirt.

The plants look like they are dying.

Heard all that before and I am telling you. You are a damn liar.

This place is rad.

I have been listening to a bunch of music as of late. Try it.

Grand Canyon X-Mas

2009-12-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

We STILL cannot imagine why our family has not visited us! We certainly do not think Michigan is all that great this time of the year. Arizona has much to offer and plenty to do. I guess our friends will be the only ones to reap the rewards. Too bad our family will only see it in pictures....

National Trail

2009-12-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

more loose goose

2009-10-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Gooseberry Mesa

2009-10-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

Vegas and the death of my soul

2009-09-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Bikes are pretty much the only thing that would bring me to Vegas.

Other than the two wheeled wonder, Vegas has little to offer me. I just am not to into

wading around in shit, and celebrating excess. ( unless it has to do with bikes...excess that is, not shit.)

I am going to go ahead and just state something here.

Four years ago Slingshot had dirty bikes in their booth.

I know because they were my responsibility to get them there.

This year I saw a few. I heard exclamations of genius.

Really?

Well in that case, the only cool as hell dirty bike was Salsa's. (not pictured)

Why?

A friend of mine designed and rode it along the continental divide.

Sorry, but that is badass and takes the cake.

Vegas.

A vacant waste of humanity.

A black hole where so many dreams come to die and wither.

That is if you are fortunate.

Whilst having drinks with Scott and Danielle I was witness to the life suck.

These coin operated devils would literally suck life from souls right in front of us.

I would have tried to stop it but I was enjoying a margarita.

Speaking to real live human beings about our real lives.

Who would have thought that alcohol could save?

Vegas is an abomination.

I have never ever found reason for its existence.

The fact that an inanimate object which brings so much joy to so many people all over the globe

binds us yearly to this place makes me wonder if all hope is not lost.

In no uncertain terms the bike is the antithesis of the hell of Vegas.

And yet, like the apple in the garden, it draws us yearly to the abyss.

Eff Vegas.

The end....

2009-09-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

That's it the end.

I have officially retired from living in yellow hotel rooms,

doing coin operated laundry,

living in a chevy,

and most importantly...

I have retired from having an iChat only relationship with my wife.

I am not going to come off like it was all bad.

I had a good job. I was able to ride singletrack all over this country.

I met some super cool people.

I also was able to have midget join me for a few bucklist trips.

One of the trips involved the greatest place on earth.

Colorado.

I have often dreamed about moving there. I love it.

It has great riding, uncanny views, and much to do and or see.

I like the front range and the western slop and everything in the middle.

It just suits me and the midget agrees with it as well.

I am desperately seeking work there. Opportunity is around, it just needs to land.

Our trip seemed to coincide with the spring thaw in the upper elevation.

This was awesome and quickly turned out trip into the " waterfall tour".

We set out to Pagosa Hot Springs for a surprise lifestyles of the rich and famous weekend.

It was rad just sitting in the Springs over looking the San Juan river in all its deathly beauty.

The runoff was ripping and we literally watched the banks swell and envelope the lower portions of the resort.

After a tooooo long time apart she came back out and saw me again. We drove.

A lot.

We left Salt Lake City and drove to Portland.

And then we drove some more.

To the great Redwoods.

It was surreal.

I am going to just finish this up with stellar scenery.

Enjoy.

I have no idea the future direction of this blog. Hell I am not sure people even

know its out there.

Perhaps I will get into food again and do that.

seven springs pa

2009-08-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

A ride on the legendary Mackenzie River Trail

2009-07-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Gone Riding

2009-07-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

My wife hates the Earth?!?!?!?

2009-07-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Homage to the Banana Slug

2009-07-06T18:45:00.001-07:00

work

2009-06-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yup this is work alright!

End of the Colorado experience for a bit

2009-06-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

Funny how living on the road for the past year or so has really exposed me to a ton of new things. My favorite is Colorado and the riding that is so abundant in this state.

I say this having barely scratched the surface of the tasty single track that runs amuck, the exception being BOULDER ( home of IMBA ).

Irony?????

Colorado is not all about the off road experience. When I have to work, I sneak in a few mile son the road. By far and away you can really see life on a road bike...or maybe its the near death experience while suffering from oxygen deprivation.

In Leadville I enjoyed the vast expanse of the sky surrounded by

expansive mountain ranges.

Salida was all about a quick blast of single track before work. Exceptionally well built single track.

The above shot fails the Colorado title. However, with all the flowers blooming on top of Hazard -- I felt it qualified. Hazard down to UPS to LPS in Moab is the best ride on the planet ( that I have experienced. )

Above video was our ride up to Maroon Bells.

Simply a place to behold!

GR meets CO; a ride with Jill

2009-06-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

I travelled up to FT. Collins to ride and see and old teammate and co-worker, Jill N.

I had never ridden in the FT. and was really looking forward to it.

Jill did not disappoint.

But I failed.

I forgot to bring her a demo bike. DUH.

We started our ride in a rainstorm.

Not really the way I planned but I was told we had a 45 minute road climb.

UH, What?

Maybe 45 Minutes for Jill but I was weak sauce!

My WTB seat caused some painful issues that you only know about if you have had them!

It was awesome after we hit single track.

The trail was already pretty dry and it was nice to know we were not alone

in enjoying the day.

Jill shredding some insane single track!

Fat guy on a road bike

2009-05-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Went up a big hill. Felt like a donkey.

2009-05-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

Having travelled around the country now for quite a bit, I realized some things.

Everywhere is like everywhere else except,

some places have more crappy people.

I like the fact that I left Michigan, again.

I had a seriously cool crew of people I hung out with.

All of them great people,

I just felt it was a crappy place for me.

I wanted to be free from the oppressive midwest "it's a great place to raise a family".

Really???

Why?

Maybe for you.

I have become quite saddened by people's general lack of

compassion and tolerance.

Gays cannot marry.

What difference does it make to you?

You have to believe this religion or I will kill you.

^ I will never comprehend that^

I also am not really comprehending hotel type coffee.

Or the slamming of hotel doors as you come and go.

Why? Do you slam your doors at home?

I went and saw a movie last night.

I was the first person in the theater, so I chose my best seat.

Three mouth breathers come in and sit right behind me, in an otherwise vacant theater.

So I was miffed.

I realized my intolerance and stifled it.

I was going to learn from my wife and just relax.

After 15 kicks to the back of my chair from a grown person, I was not

going to just stifle it.

I turned and gave the WTF A HOLE look.

Kicking stopped.

For ten whole minutes.

In the past I would have said something.

Something that included not nice words.

I did not.

I gave the you ass hole look,

and moved seats.

I could go on about the person being black, jewish, mexican or heaven forbid

just plain white.

But really what does that accomplish?

The guy was just a douche bag.

Simple as that.

Funny thing about the story is that I let it go.

the angry buddhist

let it go.

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

Thanks wife.

And with that I am learning to become tolerant.

I urge you to become more tolerant.

Unless your driving, because I need to figure that one out still ;)

traveling along with Midget

2009-05-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

IIIMMMMMM BBBAAAAACCCCKKKK

2009-05-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

We chilled lifestyles of the rich and famous style at the Pagosa Hot Springs,

'cept it was super cheap.

You can see the San Juan raging in the back. It gained a few feet overnight and flooded

at least two pools.

Treasure Falls...nuff said

Our soon to be neighborhood...

soon as we win the lotto.

'Course you gotta play first.

How did THAT guy get that girl?

I see a petrified Gollum...you?

Two heads are better than one.

Bright Lights Big City

2009-04-08T19:41:00.001-07:00

That is a pretty funny sign...being that most of the people I saw were getting it on

WITH THEIR HAND.

Remember to always wash your hands.

Found the above out riding wheelies.

Funny how at one time someone thought it was a good idea to build this.

Now it sits on an abandoned school lot.

Pretty sure my old classmate did not start his own business.

Ok Larry's place.

Later.

Firebird in the Garden of Eden

2009-04-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

So I stayed one night in the worst possible dump.

The first pics below are from my cat box of a room.

I DID NOT have pizza, but someone did and they left me a bit.

Apparently the room service is looking out for my hunger pains.

Below notice what I would assume is

FECAL

matter adorning the door.

Fear not it was all over the walls as well.

Only the finest in non smoking accommodations as you can tell by the bedspread.

So after I moved out of the dump, I went for a bit of a ride.

So let me first tell you of the importance of one simple question.

How long are we going to ride?

That is a question I should have asked. I ate a chocolate croissant, and had a coffee.

I then went out for a four and a half hour death march in the birth place of the mtn bike.

I emptied a 100 oz. bladder 75% of the way through the ride.

I also fell over and cramped, on the side of the trail, while my guides were laughing at me.

Well played, as I would do the same.

I have never cramped, ever, before.

Good times!

Sorry for being away but I had nothing to share.

Except violent food poisoning.

Enjoy your day.

Dead Horse Ride

2009-03-15T17:22:00.001-07:00

Skinny tire time on electronic Dura Ace

2009-03-13T21:05:00.001-07:00

Jumped out and about for a road spin on the G4 with Electric Dura Ace.

In 400mph wind I might add.

Jug handle arch.

I was wanting a jug of Centennial.

That was the pain train track I was on

Still managed to smile...and not crash while taking an action shot.

The bike is .

wanna be photog

2009-03-11T21:01:00.001-07:00

Whatever. You love it or hate it but man this is why I have my job. I must live see and breathe the craziness that is this part of the earth. My motivation for being away from the midget? To see and live things so I can share them with her. Soon very soon, we will embark on an epic journey aboard the BMW moto. To tie in my epic roads into one journey. My job allows me the research, and ability to ride epic mind blowing singletrack. I cannot wait to blow midget up with the journey aboard the moto.

Life is about living.

the road changes you --- Anthony Bourdain

my new mission statement.

where are you going?

Amgen TOC picture dump

2009-02-25T17:46:00.001-08:00

And thats a wrap.

14 hour minimum work days,

too many cities to count,

far too many hotels.

Now I am home with the midget.

Bye

lance blah blah blah

2009-02-22T21:47:00.000-08:00

his bike getting stolen was a publicity stunt.

the end.

SOCAL And TOC starter

2009-02-13T15:36:00.003-08:00

Today was one of the few days it has not rained since I have been in California. So I decided to sneak off for a few road miles. I will be pretty much working like a crazy person for the next week and a few days. Amgen Tour of California, or the first traveling circus I have the privilege of being a part of in 2009.

I jumped on the bike paths around Sacramento and quickly became part of the pro peloton.

Every team had decided to get out and spin the legs before the rains moved in. I was mistaken for one of them by the paparazzi. Which is utterly stupid, I have never shaved my legs and was sporting pretty non euro legs.

It was still cool to be out there with some of the biggest stars in road racing, and I really mean out there with them.

The AG2R team mech's putting final touches on the TT bikes. I am sorta amazed that my rig severely outclasses theirs. But I am sure they outclass me in skills and leg shaving.

Whatever, you do notice the full on winter bibs the mechanic is wearing. It was and will be very cold and very wet for the majority of the tour.

I went to the SuperCross in Anaheim. We ( BH USA ) sponsor the Pro Circuit 250 riders. These guys are sititing on top of their class in total points. It was cool to get comped tickets and hear your company get shout outs in the riders sponsorship mention. Mainly it was cool to see those crazy peeps jump 60 foot gaps.

Oh, yea, the blowup doll.

Well some people were bouncing a beach ball in the crowd...

and some were molesting a blow up doll.

I thought is was funny until the red necks got a hold of her ( er it ) and well look at the pics.

There were too many kids around for this -- I do have some manner of decorum.

Circus starts promptly in the morning. It will be wet,cold, and a metric poolah of work.

Do me a favor and watch the thing on Versus.

I get to live my dream and go behind the scenes of the bike biz...

It is more work than you can ever imagine.

We will have the electronic Durace in our both.

It is sick!

A friend gets a Helicopter ride.....not good

2009-02-01T20:38:00.000-08:00

Clicky the title.

The video is just the footage of us packing out her bike. I have the wheels, Ken the camera and frame, Miki has Sara's pack.

It was surreal to go through this experience.

She had cleaned some pretty rough stuff and managed to spill in an easier area.

No major major breaks or blood but we think she dislocated her hip.

I had just met her and a few good hours of riding had a new friend.

It is crazy to see this and realize just how crazy the trails we ride are,

the risk we all take every time.

It is even better to know that people still drop it all for someone in need.

I hope to have updates.

Just found out Sarah has indeed dislocated her hip....ouch.

She was put under and they popped it back in place. Could be worse I guess but sift tissue damage is a beeeaaaatttccchhh.

new kid in town.....

2009-02-01T07:23:00.001-08:00

Well, I seem to have gotten into the reality that I am done racing.

I am now riding the Firebird, a near 7 inch travel bike that as pictured weighs in a touch over 30 pounds.

I am amazed that I can climb this bike as easy, if not easier than the Mach 4.

Of course, it is more fun pointed down the hill.

Zip ties are bling......

I am guilty of buying the whole bike just to have these DT wheels.

I am enamored with white wheels.

Like most I have spent a few hours staring at my bike.

The whole shebang, enchilada, whatever...

I look forward to getting back in shape and developing enough base where the 5 pound gain in bike weight will not matter.

At any rate I am satisfied, a lot more travel, and a lot more fun.

And for those noticing.....

I do plan on trimming the brake lines...

and removing the zip bling.

http://vimeo.com/3025570

the link is a video of my favorite trail on SOMO.

I was driving the shuttle this day so our reps could get a taste of the Firebird.

Ken the camera man is just a little sick with skills.

I rode this trail just yesterday and broke in the new ride.

Sweet.

And Again

2009-01-27T06:47:00.001-08:00

Pat on the back cactus.

Dead cactus.

Me and the little man

Little lizard

Hugging cactii

Desert is beginning to bloom.

I am just glad to live here and not in the crap that is MI.

Sorry to get down on michigan but jeez.

2009-01-25T07:47:00.001-08:00

Once again the desert is going crazy with recent rainfall. You cannot understand the amount of life that is hidden until it rains.

Absurdly fun single track with sick views.

Not too sure about my last trip. I made it out to Texas and Little Rock AR.

I still do not care for Texas at all. I did however like Austin a lot but I contend it is not really Texas.

I was told by people that Little Rock is cool. Well, yes it was. It hovered right around 30 degrees most of my time there. But I doubt that is what they meant really. I was not too keen on Little Rock but I must say it was all work.

I think I see a truck.

Ok so I thought this was silly as all hell. A RED and CAMO scheme?

Really?

Well I was not the only one as three other people took pictures and walked off laughing.

Sign says Michigan Flat, I agree.

FOR SALE $2800

2009-01-20T16:56:00.001-08:00

Its time.

Large Pivot Mach 4 DW Link Black XT

You get

Full XT kit

New XT Shifters

New XT rear Derailleur

New Spare XT wheel

I am keeping the cockpit in the Pic so you get

Thomson X4 100mm Stem

Ritchey WCS Carbon Rizer

XTR pedals

And a spare set of KENDA Nevegals

bike will come Tubeless

Spare Tires are not Tubeless.

$2800

tell someone.

end of the year #3 --- best for last!

2008-12-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

to me from the FARMER & FAMILY!!

now this is how you know you have friends.

FYI

from what I hear there is a force to be reckoned with come summer in MI!

you'll know when she passes you.

bag of broken hammers end of the year #2

2008-12-29T18:46:00.001-08:00

How often do you get to see a moth on a ride in December?

Licking a cactus is not recommended.

If you are looking at my face you are not seeing the picture.

Sweaty short sleeve arm in December.

Just reminding the cold weather folk that single track exists. So why do you live where it snows?

Many people tell me I have the perfect job. Well, I think its pretty good. But the man who has the perfect job...

His name is Anthony Bourdain. I want his job. The man has the life.

I dare you to find another job that rules as much. Post it up and we will see. But the man travels, writes, eats, and drinks for his job. That's it folks. But that's not all, he is also free to curse and say WTF ever he wants.

"Travel changes you. It leaves marks." A.B.

And with that I start my Travels again. The three ring bike circus is on again. I leave for Texas on the second day of '09.

end of the year #1

2008-12-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

rode today

realized i really

REALLY

really

miss FOUNDERS BEER

oh well i am not shoveling snow, and rode in shorts today. had a good ride on the Mach 4.

selling it soon, pretty good deal if you know anyone.

hiking for Xmas

2008-12-25T14:42:00.000-08:00

More Ventura

2008-12-11T17:33:00.000-08:00

Ventura

2008-12-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

Is it really November? or HAHAHAHA to Michigan

2008-12-01T06:27:00.001-08:00

Took Midget out for a bike ride, and she decided to throw down.

The end of San Juan road, pretty much always closed to vehicles.

The cool night air seems to pack in all the great Phoenix pollution...

Me looking fat and deciding on my next MTN ride. There are a few trails on this side of SOMO I want to give a try.

My dog tried to eat me.........

yup she IS a badass!!!!!

2008-11-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

i am truly a fan!

11 Shari Versluis  Grand Rapids MI Founders Racing 1:56:55

Looks like Monday

2008-11-08T06:18:00.001-08:00

Just randoms from my monday at work....

Hey, does that look like a dust storm?????

I am pretty sure that is a dust storm...

Yup that is.

yup this IS work

2008-11-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

unbelieveable.

all hallows eve : the early report

2008-10-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

If you're starting out the night like this you are sure to have some ....

issues

So, logically adding alcohol into the mix is the next step...

If your former roommate shows up looking worse for the wear....

and pregnant people are at a bar....

then dueling geisha gals...

will have to rumble with old hags.

I am sooooo glad I have never been this guy at a party!

Midget and 'ren having fun

V is for...

KT explaining to a pregnant nun that smoking is bad for babies...uh?

So thirty seconds later this dude is outta there...puking is so amateur

MAN I am so over chicked

Four boobs are better than....

Got Insurance????

What really happens at Boy Scout camp

Designated driver....

Little School girl runs amuck

Like My Happy Pants????

hello atomic wedgie!!!

it was all this gals fault!

so it all ended up ok...i think....

And so this is how I spent my Saturday night. $35 bucks and all I could drink...So the way I feel I MUST be up a good $100 on the house.

'ren would like everyone to know that she recommends a Designated Driver. She spent four days in jury duty where a poor soul got his arse handed to him because he had two beers. Of course he got rear ended by a 'body who had 30. Life can really FUBAR you if you end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Off to Moab....

and Fruita...

and Grand Junction...

HEHE I suck!

hello face meet mr rock....

2008-10-20T13:06:00.003-07:00

yea it sorta hurt

Time Machine

2008-10-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

i have always wanted a time machine.

think of all the stuff you'd change,

me ...well i have a few mistakes to rid my life of.

but who knows maybe they happened to get me here, and right now here ain't so bad.

point is

today i am heading to tucson to work and ride.

i used to live there back a decade or so ago.

the experience was not too great as a whole but really awesome in others.

just like life.

so i got my facebook crack on the last week and found some more of my past.

pretty funny seeing all the people you went to high school with.

even more entertaining to see them now.

i really hope i was not too much of a self absorbed prick to some of them.

but i guess that is what high school is about.

teenage years seemed to be so drama and all about you.

well i get to hopefully meet up with amy.

i met amy back in junior year.

me and a few friends all got together and dated a group of girls from East.

it was pretty funny.

we would all play our soccer game or finish practice

and head over to one of the groups house to watch 90210.

EVERY WEEK

that was such a cool group of people

no not brenda and luke---my friends.

i disappeared from that group a bit after and life just sped up.

funny to me,

i seem to fall off groups and disappear often

I am trying now to only let that happen on group rides

I suck...

2008-10-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

I got two hours in on the bike today, dirt, it was my commute to work. One hour each way, with less than 1.5 miles on pavement, I told you I suck. More tomorrow...

Oh yea.

For "work" this weekend I lined up a shuttle on Mt. Lemmon and a ride on the 50 year trail.

Oh one other thing.

For Friday we are riding out at Fountain Hills for R&R. So basically I HAVE to ride for "work". Three days in a row.

I suck.

35 years old and the adventures of humpback whales in the high desert

2008-10-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

Shake's is showing the famous two headed dog style of his ancestral kung fu

Me. Just explaining to Midget that what we ate was not Mexican food it was Mexican't.

Pretty sure I will never try Fudge Cheese...anyone???

Shakes explaining to me that he needs a bigger fire, that he was perfectly happy at 90 degrees and sub 40 degree temperatures are for Michigan people stuck in Mi.

So we went camping and found out how well we acclimated to AZ. It was cold. The wind was gusting upwards of 30 mph and it was still kick ass. We shopped ourselves a real camp stove and had a fantastic meal of red beans and rice. I stupidly forgot beer. FAIL.

So we 21st century camped after that and fired up a movie on the Mac. We watched a movie while my tent heater fired up. ( take hot rocks from fire pit and place in metal bucket in center of tent. )

After the movie we stuck our heads turtle style out of the front door and watched the moon race across the sky. Pretty awesome.

At 4 am we were awakened by the sound of the great humpback high desert whale. This is commonly confused with the great Elk. All one really has to do is pay attention. The trumpeting is most decidedly humpback whale and not the mating call of the great Elk. I really should let those scientist types know how wrong they are...

By the way, coolest sound ever to wake to.

Enjoy the desert...

faster than you

2008-10-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

start training real hard.

these girls come from farmer and farmers wife.

enough said.

losing my mind????????

2008-10-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am in a weird way. I am getting stir crazy and not spending time on my bike. I have no 'cross rig, no road bike, and am thinking of selling my mtn bike.

OK. I am selling my Mtn. bike.

I do plan on getting another. I just want/need/really want more of a trail bike. To me that means more than 5 inches of travel. I now only have four. Sounds a bit like penis envy but I now ride areas that more travel is better and the bikes I ride can climb well with that travel.

Here's your chance to bid on my ride.

A large Black Mach 4. XT wheels, XT brakes, thomson X4 stem, Ritchey carbon Lo riser bar, Xt drivetrain which includes a new set of XT shifters and XT shadow rear derailleur. Featuring DW link and Fox suspension.( above picture does not show XT drivetrain--that's why it's new)

Now don't get too crazy. It always makes me laugh a bit when people think we get our gear and rides for free. I did not. I paid a fancy price for it. I did not pay full price. Full price is $4200+.

Shipping will be free. WOW.

Yea I know pics. Those will follow. Bike is clean, fork has cosmetic issues-- not too major. Wheelset is true and can be run tubeless.

are we there yet?

2008-09-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the blurry images but I was up at 3 45 am to catch a flight back to Vegas for the indoor portion of the show. We built up a standard Mach 4 at this incredible weight for a size Medium. It will retail for under $8K and the parts are fully ridable for one year based on our testing- and we don't do easy tests. OTHER companies really skimp on weight in critical areas, areas that will fail. We rode the crap outta this stuff and it is doing nicely thanks.

Most definitely not our bike but pretty cool.

Guess which happy campers may be riding Pivot next year???????

Again not our bike but pretty pretty. It just reminds me I am missing Iron Cross VI. AH well, I won't be getting beat by any girls then....

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Next weekend I am joining up with some PIVOT folks and getting my ride on shuttle style in Moab. I am really excited to get back to DH on a super rig. Even though I guess you need more than 6.7 inches for it to be a DH rig....oh well I am breaking out the body armor, full face and letting er go. I do believe I have earned it a bit.

Cheers. and please get some fall riding in for me will ya?

Leaving Las Vegas

2008-09-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

I recall a time when I used to get excited about the annual meeting in Las Vegas. I would burn through pages of each and every magazine that covered the show in attempts to find my next must have items. This was before the Internet turned out images and news long before the show, and before you could just tune into this or that blog/review site and have a pretty darn good idea of whats what.

A few long years back I went to the show as a shop rat and had a blast. Except for a minor surgery that is. I was able to see the show live and drool over cool bits. A kid in a candy store.

Now a days I am in the industry and part of that show. I spent the last two years with a small time operation trying hard to find a way to break in. I learned a lot in those years. How the industry works, how sponsoring riders work, and how to really make things happen-----more importantly how not to make it happen.

I do not want to sound jaded or bitter but Inter-bike killed me. I just came off the road for 8 months and was looking forward to some time off with Midget and getting to ride everyday should I want. I was looking forward to only setting up the bike I was riding, and not 50 others. Well, that was a delusion at best. Instead I grabbed 3 days rest and went back to 12-14 hour days getting ready for the show.

How does one get ready for Inter-bike? Start by building a demo fleet from scratch. This year was 60 bikes, evenly split from road to mountain. Mix in catalogue bikes-- that's four mountain bikes times two of every color. Then you must have a new road catalogue as well so add 6 more bikes, two colors and several options on parts and gruppo's. There you have near 20 bikes you are not going to use for show or demo. Just for pictures and then after the show you can use them for other uses....say our factory showroom or whatnot.

Ok. Now you can build the demo fleet. Then you must pack catalogues, displays, tools, spare parts, give aways, the whole enchilada so to speak. Everything has to be there should something go wrong, and you must plan for every JRA that can or will happen. You have to get your dealer programs ready, market breakdowns, and you must have you technical knowledge ready to roll of the tongue---- about 1000 times a day. The crowds do not stop. They just grow.

My Vegas experience was started on Sunday morning with a 3 am departure for Bootleg Canyon. KT the design guru and I headed out for a 10 Am load into the outdoor demo area. Come late and you have a logistical nightmare. We were 1/2 hour plus early---and late at the same time. Parking was still OK. But I would have preferred to be first in our area--I was second.

Dirt Demo was CRAZY. I work for one of the three most popular IT bikes it seems. The crowds sorta confirmed that. We had every bike gone all day and 2-3 hour waits for our new bike. All in all it was a good two days, busy beyond comprehension but good. After Tuesdays 6 am start I had to follow that up by driving my rig back to Phoenix right after Dirt Demo ended Tuesday at 6pm. We were loaded and I was rolling at 7pm. Made it home to Phoenix and in bed by 12.31 am Wednesday.

got my camera back...so here are some pics again

2008-09-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

The trail the Dark Horse 40 follows ran through several distinctly different land areas. This was the most picturesque.

I then show you the view as I drive into NY to do a demo.

We ate pizza and I noticed some crazy things hanging around what appeared to be an abandoned building across the street.

Turns out some crazy cool art was to be seen.

Definitely not me.

And that pretty much wraps up the demo tour shots I was able to get. A few days later the camera was stolen, and my ability to take any shots down south.

Perhaps more after Interbike.

Kiss Cross

2008-08-30T07:25:00.001-07:00

This is usually the time of year when I am gearing up for more painful fun than non riders can possibly imagine. We call it KissCross in west Michigan. However, I am in AZ. his is the time of year when the weather is starting to cool down a bit and you are able to get your mtn bike on.

I am also without a 'cross rig for the first time in six years. I am feeling a bit out of whack because of that. So I guess with all my friends getting ready to chase the Farmer around and try to hold his wheel, I will be enjoying single track.

It has been nice to be home and have a few days off before the crazy craziness that Interbike brings to my industry this time of year. I doubt I can explain it, I never really worked for a company as hot as this one. We are launching a few new surprises and have already been the IN bike this year, so it should be non-stop.

I was hoping I could just get stuck doing the dirt demo. Two days of a million people riding bikes, just because. I have been informed that, due to my uncanny knack of being able to do sales as well, that I am going to man the battle stations inside as well. SO 15 hour days await, in Vegas, and its all work.

I may forgo the 'crossvegas and just hit up the crit as well as the new arena 4X.

Hopefully I will have a camera by then.

enjoy the cross season, and remember not to whine---we drink beer.

far away places....

2008-08-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

"dry county"

2008-08-25T05:35:00.000-07:00

are you serious? there are places they forbid selling of alcohol? get the f--- out!

how in the world can people outlaw this? isn't this how we poisoned the indians so we could rob, rape, and murder our way into "discovering" this country? and now we forbid selling it.

I made arkansas last night after 500 miles of driving. that sux by the way, both the driving 500 miles and getting so tired I had to stop in a dry county. Good thing I am like a Boy Scout and was prepared with the night time elixir.

outlawing beer sales is damn right un american.

"today was a good day..."

2008-08-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

I woke up and rode the " neighborhood trails" in Charlotte. Pretty much an abandoned green space the guys put a trail network on. Pretty cool to ride from the shop a few blocks and disappear into a trail.

Of course the said trail has to be cool, otherwise it is just a mess in the neighborhood. This trail has the local flavor. That flavor is trail obstacles that kick ass. Want a double? there ya go, how boot a kicker? take several, try me on a few rhythm sections, it was tight and twisty and lots of fun.

That being done I had to hustle to make a 9:30 / 12:30 conference call with the office. Check, now what? How about a ride over at the White Water center in Charlotte? OK. That was pretty cool as well. It being so dry here the single track was wicked wicked fast and pretty much paved. I mean paved with fun.

By now I was hungry, so I went over to the White Water place and had a Pint and some deep fried pickles. Hell ya! Just friggin beat that. Topped that off with Black Bean burger and another Pint.

Off to shower, do some laundry and drink more beer. Life as a mountain biker sure rocks.

Did I mention tomorrow marks the end of my demo tour!!!!!!!!! Heading home Sunday to the little Midget and Shakes.

Boogers

2008-08-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

Since I have been in Charlotte, NC, I have been noticing I have a booger problem. Not that I am walking around with a bat in my cave, but more like when you first move out west. I am not quite sure what it is, but you definitely have BOOGERS.

The riding in and around the CITY of Charlotte is very very good. There are not a ton of miles in the parks but more parks with miles. Also. the trails are tight,twisty, and filled with roots. This makes for a ten mile BMX course if you want to jump around a bit. The roots are not tooo bad if you feel like TT either but I prefer fun. Plus there are table tops, step ups, and bermed turns. All this is reminding me of Michigan without all the sand. So far everything I have ridden has been better than Michigan, save the NCT> that trail is top notch and for another disclaimer I really have not ridden everything in Michigan.

Last demo is this weekend and then I get to head for home, sorta. I have slept in our new place like three maybe four times. When I left things were still in boxes; so I guess I really mean I am heading to Midget and Shakes the Clown.

riding on flats

2008-08-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

so i have been amiss at this blogging thing due to many factors or excuses read on and decide for your self.

I am nearing the end of my first year getting paid to travel on someone else's dime and ride trails i have only read or looked at in magazines. pretty cool gig overall and i have rather enjoyed most of it. i have met really cool people and made friends of most of them. i have gotten to ride very cool places and NOT ride in REALLY cool places---sometimes it really is work.

I must say that the thing i absolutely hated the most out of this whole year was missing my wife by my side. uh and my dog. the two of them together can make me laugh till i cry. nothing better than the midget getting pissed off cause shakes is following her around underfoot.

so lets see...NY was pretty cool.I did a gig at the Dark Horse 40. a race put on by the Dark Horse Cycles guys. they know how to pit on a show. tons of food tons of beer and tons of pretty killer single track.Michigan riders should check it out and go collect a paycheck. they aint got the founders team speed, but pretty damn good payouts and tons of fun.

what was not all that fun was going to manhattan to do a few shop openings and have shop guys demo bikes in the city. they have a great bit of single track right in the middle of parks where super urban jungle gives way to single track. bad news is junkies take drug induced shits on that trail and then shop guys on a demo ride into it and poo poo is all over your mach 4 and mach 5, fine if you hit dog crap and fine if you hit horse crap but human druggie feces is not too f in cool. good thing the NYC car wash had a powerwasher. it just threw the bike in and let the suds wash off the human waste.....uh yea i puked.

went to vagina beach ( virginia beach) to hang with my boy K. he first called me when i was at slingshot and wanted a deal on a ddx. he gave so i gave and we been kickin since. so i figure what the heck i would give him a shout and let him take me for rides while i set him up on fancy bikes. we did a good road ride and set to chillin. SORTA. damn security system on my trailer went ape crazy and i spent the next few hours getting that fixed. WHICH WAS A GOOD THING...cause that night a crime spree went nutz in his hood. i got robbed of my personal belongings..namely midgets camera and my ipod god, plus a few things i really liked as well.

Kevin lives in mr rodgers neighborhood so it was pretty f-ed up to have this happen. so i gots my insurance company on it and i get to go shoppin...but in the meantime i got no ipod....lets see you drive a gillion miles and not have a pod. ( yea i got xm but the pod is where its at).

i am on the home stretch. i see my wife soon and get to recharge a few days then time to strap it on for interbike. i plan on getting my as kicked as we are the hot shit right now, and getting hotter with our crazy new stuff.

if you want pics in this blog go kick some virginia ass and get me back my crap...

thanks for reading.

ps. shout out to kevin,sal,and juds. thanks for watching the train wreck!

Pennsyltucky

2008-07-24T06:43:00.001-07:00

Went for a road ride upon my arrival into Pennsylvania. I really had forgotten about this state. I was reminded just how much this place rocks. Great winding roads with plenty of elevation gains and drops to make life interesting on the road.

Throw in great views and the riding is top notch. I would highly recommend the place to anyone from Michigan. It has all the things we seem to do without. I recall my friends saying several times over how cool Michigan would be if it only had mountains, and no sand on the singletrack.....well ya just described Pennsylvania.

But you will also get big ass rattlesnakes, these things are huge and get just a bit upset if you get too close.

Just a bit of double track in the woods, The single track was better.

Definitely 29. Definitely.

Selling Selling

2008-07-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am selling a Large Farmboy 29 er from Slingshot. Complete with Velocity Blunts, set up SS with a Paul tensioner, Race Face ISIS crankset with bashring, White Brothers Magic 29, Avid BB7, and fairly new Kenda Karmas. King Headset Ritchey pro cockpit. Lets say $950 you pay shipping.

56cm Cannondale Six13 frame and fork. Fork is full carbon including dropouts. It is first generation Six13. Very comfy for the long rides, fairly nimble as well.$475 you pay shipping.

SOLDAnd how about a Slingshot DDX frame and fork. 56 cm and well the frame is aluminum and carbon, with the rear holding the carbon portion of the equation. $400 you pay shipping.SOLD

I mean real shipping. Not the inflated shipping cost so I make a few inconsequential dollars.

All items are used but pretty well taken care of.

Later.

A few more days in Colorado

2008-06-25T20:40:00.001-07:00

Here is me in all my splendor. I had difficulty breathing at the ride's start. Early morning, very poor coffee, 9,500+ ft. elevation at the start and that is the short list of excuses.

I really really really like riding in Colorado.

Have we mentioned this is at 10,000 feet?

Crested Butte was astonishing in its splendor. Not to mention the fortune I threw down on sushi. Slutty slutty slutty Goose martinis and sushi made for a difficult ride as well.

So this is all thats left as I finally blew up. Pretty interesting sunset. I also had a very interesting experience. I was fortunate to have the chance to set up a world champion on one of our mountain bikes. She was extremely patient and very pleasant. To top it off, she brought my bike back clean. To me that is the sign of a champion. She had enough respect in my work to bring me back a clean bike. It was nice to hear she enjoyed the ride as well.

Off to Texas.

so the following should hurt...

2008-06-23T20:03:00.001-07:00

time to ride...

Found a Fixer Upper

2008-06-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Found this little love nest in the woods near Monarch

I had to run for some reason this night. I have not run in long time. Last time I did was with Mike and I believe it was snow covered paths in Ada. Needless to say I was much happier running at 11,ooo feet and offroad to boot. It was very quiet and I loved the isolation, especially after being a wrench for a whole week for 4000 people. I had fun, but even the midget will tell you thats long enough for me to have to talk. So I guess I found two fixer uppers ! One ramshackle house and a good lung destroyer of a run.

time for the little blessings

2008-06-17T21:47:00.001-07:00

Today we set up in Telluride.

I had a pretty great view from my office all day long including this huge waterfall.

The views are just astonishing. The drive was just one after another after another.

The only downer for me was not having the midget along. I cannot wait until we get our BMW touring motorcycle so I can take her on all of the best routes in Colorado. We plan on getting this done ASAP. I hope we can swing it this fall so we can see all the aspens turn gold along the way.

Yea I know I am way over chicked.

Just get off your bike now and quit....

2008-06-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

So i get word from the man who grows the best corn on the planet that his beautiful wife killed it at the Big M F'er.

Seriously, she grows kids and cuts hair full time. Apparently she has ridden a bike or two in her day as well. Four kids, full time job, and a podium in her first 100 miler.

I just sold all my bikes....

Oh yea, Farmer ripped a 40x16 on a 29 er for a Third place finish in SS. Uh my knees just split in half.

Some crazy dude Dan the Man apparently was sitting third for the first 50.....FIXED.

And my man BIG RALPH finished in his second attempt at 100 as well as Shawn of the Dead...who really almost died in his first attempt last year. Way to go guys. I really wish I was there to join in the fun. My man Mike had so much fun I think he may quit the 100 miler thing...but I think he just had sour grapes and will be back to kill me in one later.

Congrats to Sherri. I am so very happy for you.

New Mexico the Good, Bad, and Ugly...

2008-06-13T21:24:00.003-07:00

I love this ride. Yea I get paid to like it but F-N-A it is a great rig.

This is a "little" climb I did in Santa Fe. Topped out at 8600 or so. Those little specs are Sante Fe and the downtown area.

Backside to above picture. Think there are rides to be had???

This little lake was in the middle of the desert. Super high elevation lake in the high desert ( it gets depressing later).

That sexy hunk of man love is Josh. He is a sight indeed...

Have you had enough of Josh???

Apparently when you go to a nice little lake high in the desert you must consume shit beer and throw it off the side of the road.

Pretty damn sure if you drank a good beer you'd have enough damn sense to put the bottle in a better place.....like far up the asses of the shit beer drinkers.

What I am missing the most....

2008-06-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

My better half, the midget. I can not stand it any more, she is too cute to be away from this long.

The Founders/ Farmers garage nights. Too little beer, too little time.

The Lumberjack 100, the Big M'Fer. Hell of a race I am missing, pretty pissed about it too.

Good Food. New Mexico has been shit ass eating. Want to argue about it?????? Food poisoning. Never ever had it until I came to this place. Still want to argue??? I am a freaking vegetarian, how the hell does a veg get food poisoning??? I went to Thailand and lived for a few months, never got it there. That is a third world country for chrissakes. New Mexico can piss off.

PLUS NEW MEXICO HAS PISS POOR DRIVERS. The worst I have ever run across. Did I mention I drive everywhere for a living! I have seen 6 accidents in a week. Do the math.

Peace out and I cannot wait to see Colorado again.

Wet Week

2008-06-01T10:51:00.001-07:00

so far i think things are looking ok for my first down time. which means i can sneak some riding in.

so i am starting to think i may not ride this day...

now i am wondering if midget should send me the snowboard...

todays demo is going to be touch and go.

all in all i had a tough time in Utah. it rained and or snowed most every day. I snuck in two very short rides. Snowbird had a few huge dumps, one day they had 17 inches of fresh. i made a mental note to include the snowboard on the next trip. i am also upset that i forgot my skate board. i could hit a ton of skateparks. so far every town has had the kind of skatepark michigan kids only dream of. why or why does the midwest have to be so lame like that???

yea tough working conditions fer sure eh?

2008-05-14T20:38:00.001-07:00

big sky

big field

that is where i am headed

How about a road ride???

so...uh.....

Road in Colorado Springs

2008-05-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

so i rode a bit today and this is what i saw...

some cool dh on four wheels

crazy peoples pink flamingos

the bike that provided the view.

wait until i post about the road trip we took today...for work. it will make you hate my job!

Fort Collins or the pain cave...

2008-05-08T14:08:00.001-07:00

so today i was invited to join the lunch ride in fort collins. apparently, this ride attracts quite a few of the hardcore roadies and several past champions.

so i took out the BH G4 and suited up. up rolls super dork (me) in full BH gear on a $7K bike and try to hang with the locals.

We rolled out at a pace that reminded me of summer time FOUNDERS team rides...when they are going fast. i knew i was headed down a long and dark tunnel of pain right from the get go. the group was at about 30 and we just kept rollin people up to the front for their turn at the pain wheel.

where was i?

at the back sucking wheels,wind, whatever to keep me alive. i felt like the weezer kid in class. i was hurting and hurting bad. then they decided to pick up the pace. yup that was just the first act.

we headed up hill, we headed into the wind. not too soon after we became me. there i was out in the middle of no where in the pain cave and wondering how i got so alone so fast. i said screw it and jumped back into the hole of doom and cranked it up a notch. i soon found a wheel to follow and we worked together for a bit trying to catch back on. it was not to be. the red light god was against us and then mother nature decided to pile on.

colorado hail. wind. and me in bibs and jersey, lost and in the center of a painful universe. i loved it. i pushed so hard and pulled the other guy as hard as i ever have in my life. I was hurting and showing it but the bike just rode so well i felt compelled to grind it.

pain hurts.

that's why god made beer.

off to Boulder for a few.

enjoy your ride.

Colorado Springs

2008-05-06T07:47:00.001-07:00

I went for a ride today with brent w, one of our outside reps. he is a very cool cat and an accomplished rider. he was pro and even podiumed some times in super d. in the above picture we are looking at a view of garden of the gods from above. way above.

the views riding here are breathe taking to say the least, or maybe that was the climb to 8500 feet. who knows but i hope this is helping with my overall fitness.

ok. this is a bit Freudian. but nonetheless it provided a unique riding experience. in the middle of the tunnel you can't see the ground and just have to trust its there. just ride into the light.

this was near the top of the trail and we were headed down from here. the trail had so many fun features to ride. there were whoops and banked turns everywhere. it had a cheshire cat grin the whole time.

this sorta gives some perspective of how high we climbed.

my buddy mike would love living here. these deer just wander in and out all the time. brent told me he saw a "trophy" earlier this year. he stopped counting points at 8. out the back of brents house is open space. meaning single track galore and hunting a bit further up.

this was the most fun ride to date and also the first time i have ridden three days in a row. i may be able to get four in a row here this afternoon after our demo event. if so i am taking it easy, the legs are feeling mushy but the mind is loving it.

on a side note my wisdom teeth are killing me and i may have to visit the dentist. not really looking forward to it but the tooth is killing me. not sure when i can fit it in due to not be able to drive on meds and being the only person who can legally haul the trailer around. i have tried what i am sure the FARMER would prescribe...beer more beer and some whiskey. it helps some but ...

off to work.

Golden

2008-05-04T19:59:00.001-07:00

I like riding to the top of mountains

Colorado..............

my job sucks. Yupper this was what I got paid for.

Looks like Midget may be able to join the Arizona working folk fairly soon.

I think we are very close to leaving Michigan for good.

Wanna buy a house?????

Winters final insult

2008-05-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

So here I am all geeked out to be driving into the Mountains.

I am liking the scenery and feeling pretty lucky about my life.

Now I am thinking of my homies Cipo, Farmer, Shawn o the dead.

They would probably be hiking up there to squeeze out a few runs.

This is where it ends. After this picture I arrive in Denver. I awake the next day to 4 inches of snow! Pretty bummed as I thought I left all that behind when I vacated Michigan. I called home to speak with Midget and she laughs and tells me it was like 65...and I get to enjoy a day of mid 30's.

Not all bad as I spent the day bumming around inside of Wheat Ridge Cyclery. A totally huge shop where any bike geek can find something. Their fit stations (3) are super impressive. It is by far the biggest bike shop I have ever seen. Three to four times larger than Ada Bike.

Hope you get to ride...

Cause the storm that hit me is well on its way to you!!!

Holy Cross while you were working

2008-04-29T16:36:00.007-07:00

you can almost see the single track in this picture over to the left

this is just before the wind almost stole my bike

they take care of trail bandits here in a different way

The view of Grand Junction from above.

going down???

As you can see, I got my ride on today. The "lunch loops" in grand junction are great. The Holy Cross trail was an absolute blast. Very technical and extremely well built. I rode up on Eagles wing which was a butt kicker of a climb that I preferred riding down the other day. Just very steep with several rock faced climbs and a ton of exposure. Exposure here means stay on the trail or fall to your death. Add 20+ mph wind gusts and you have a great time!

Off to Vail for a quick stop. Then over to the front range before the snow storm has me putting chains on the circus trailer.

enjoy your day!

my definition of SHIT

2008-04-28T20:12:00.001-07:00

See those two shit mongers in the picture? there are two little pisspoor excuses for animals in that shot. i had to inventory my trailer today. which was not great. it was made worse by these two shit stains on life barking nonstop for the whole five hour ordeal. i like animals, sometimes more than people. these two premature ejacs needed to be fed poisoned meat. preferably the meat of the owners who did a shite job of raising them.

Now this pile of shit i like. i went to DT for a day and got a tour and some gear. the gear is great cause i need new clothes to wear so i do not have to recycle as much. sometimes my wife wonders where the dirty hippy she married went....well i found him, three days is minimum for a pair of jeans. lets not talk about that much.

i cut short a conversation with the midget to eat tonite. i was starved so i went into a mexican place for grub. lets just say it was not mexican at all. it was a pile of reheated frozen shit sticks covered in "seasoning". rice was comparable to sawdust only less satisfying. the "fish tacos" would require an archaeologist to find the damn fish, cause it was not present. the margarita was warm piss water with added salt. this was an embarrassment of food( ish ) items on a plate. i would dare say the so called chef was the biggest white guy ever. i would rather have eaten those two shit stains in the first picture. this was a severe disservice to mexicans everywhere. absolute slop. it rates as my worst meal ever. ever.ever.

and i did not get to ride today due to above mentioning of inventory. it is shit to be in grand junction/ fruita and NOT ride.

Whats on tap for tomorrow?

riding mother trucker and lotsa it.

Wednesday i get some altitude training by drinking er riding in VAIL. I am not sure if it will be road or trail but then again who cares?

Careful what you ask for

2008-04-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Beer,

I seem to get a lot dropped off for just doing my job. Sweet. Too bad some people think Bud is beer. Oh well free is still my favorite.

Travel,

Ya. I got my share in the last few days. Several early mornings and very few chances to chat with Midget.

Riding,

Hell man I got to ride in my favorite place...Flagstaff. I love the riding there, too bad I got my legs ripped off by a shop rat named Todd. Whom just took third at sea otter in single speed. I think it was Todd. Nice kid, wicked balls fast.

I hope to ride while i am in fruita for fat tire fest. we are so busy sending people out on demo's that it seems unlikely. price you pay for working with the hot new company. i'll take it.

So I am on the road a bit more, next down time is scheduled for July. So I should be used to the trailer for sure. Waking up in a different town every day gets confusing and I rarely care what day of the week it is, heck mostly i do not even know.

Hope all is well where you're at and that you are pedaling more than me.

Clubbing Otters and Scratch o the Day

2008-04-21T18:34:00.003-07:00

It was very cool to hang out with the Vanderkitten Crew at Sea Otter. They were kind enough to take their bike sponsors out to dinner. This is a group of beautiful women in kick ass clothes on bad ass bikes. If you have a kick ass woman in your life check out Vanderkitten clothing. I am pretty sure they have something she would like. I must work on my metro side...then perhaps I could pull some of their gear off.

This is what I looked at this am. Halfway into a Venti triple shot. Temp 27 degrees.

These hills pretty much beg for the farmer and cipo. My guess is danjan is already doing repeats....

The office, so to speak. We were hammered all day by media and riders wanting to try our bikes. I let good ol Joe P rip mine around for the short track. He had no complaints. Which is a stunning review from a guy who has no use for gears,26 inch wheels, or suspension.

The brain trust ripping the course. Yea... i actually got ahead on the CLIMB to get some shots. Hear that Founders guys.... you taught me how to climb...into the bottom of a beer:)

Also, congrats to Sherri (farmers better looking half). I hear she made the podium and got a fistful of stitches at Yankee. She grows babies and cuts hair full time...rips legs off for fun! Way to Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I predict good things at the Big M'Fer!

Sea Otter Set Up/ Holy Sheep!

2008-04-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

I guess this is what they mean when shit hits the fan.......yea it was windy.

Kevin the Director of Intergalatic Engineering Studies and Rotational Experimenttation rides with local Carlan through the sheep. This was fun as they would sometimes randomly just charge you. Much like the sheep on Americas freeways....

I arrived at Laguna Seca Monday. I dropped the trailer and watched some sport bike racing.

Tuesday I was dropped off to finish some prep work on a few bikes for the show. They were racing cars this day. The wind slowly started to pick up today and I was hoping Kevin would hurry up and get back out to pick me up for a ride.

By the time he arrived it was 3pm and we were late for our pre arranged time to ride. We were both working too hard to notice the time. No worries as we rode anyway. We jumped on the cross country course and the wind was crazy. Anytime you went air borne you drifted five feet off your planned line. Fun but a bit scary.

HELP

2008-04-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

i need a title.

an off the wall description of what i do for my business card.

the job description is demo driver and tech rep.

Spin that into something.

Schwag for the one i use.

so far we have a renowned sales guru, director of S&M (sales and marketing), so spin me something.

i got shot down with road kill and my own "circus carnie".

Best thing ever....

2008-04-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago I met the most wonderful person ever and it changed my life.

Babe I love you. I really cannot wait until we can live together again.

a case (almost) of the mondays

2008-04-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

so i was looking at my boy K's blog and see him slammin a mini of two hearted...started feeling beer related homesick.

not that i should complain mind you cause i got the hook up all weekend. on saturday i got worked over by the amateur class racers. typical things like bringing road shoes to a mtn bike race, and a few other random fixes that really had nothing to do with why i was there, but they all tipped me with beer. and free beer is my favorite. i shared plenty with my fellow bike carnies, and still have several in the fridge.

so i get home on monday and my roomie is handing me a big old box. good ol michigan boy matt h sent me the goodness from home. a sixer of FOUNDERS ipa, a devil dancer, and a few pale ales. christmas in april.

Topped it off with a little chat with the FARMER.

now that is a good day!!!!!!!

Thanks matt. A LOT!!!!!!!!!!

not bad for a tuesday

2008-04-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

I spoke with some real cool cats today on the phone. Good ole SS joe p will be racing at sea otter. i hope i can break away to check that out. o hell i figure he will do damn fine specially if he breaks out the angry face.

also spoke to eddie o. turns out i may get to join in on fools gold. it will of course be very serious work. some people are being lame and only doing the 50.....danielle. guess she wants to be fresh for the next one psssshh. says she will be watching me and heckling me as she drinks beer. yea i have never seen her drink more than 2. so i guess there will be plenty left..."d" you may beat me racing but i kill you where it counts beer.

also spoke to Kevin. now there is a full day of cool cool bike dudes. kevin and i hopefully can get some riding in outside of the iron cross---where he was fed and showered before i was even thinking of being done. course i got killed by all the founders girls there too. i would like to look at the famous no footer stairs ...

have a good ride......

My precious has cometh part 2

2008-03-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

you may think i messed with this picture.......try drinking enough of these and you CAN read the label correctly just ask the Founders team!

thanks to Chris C in Grand Rapids.

kevin i know you got your own special flavor...cheers!

God Bless the Brits

2008-03-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Ok. so we stopped to watch the sunset in monument valley. we ran the batteries down in the digital camera and decided to use the Mac goodness that is photo booth to get some shots. me, being super genius and all, goes to the passenger door and locks ( trying to unlock) the doors to VW. i was attempting to get the laptop. instead, i locked the keys in the car...along with everything else.

just a few moments before, a car pulled up right next to us. so much for a nice romantic sunset in the desert. well i was glad as hell they stopped there. i was just about to bust out a window when the midget finds an old metal frame for a sign. the little coat hanger style frame that is often used for voting signs. i decide to go through the sunroof to fetch the keys through the tiny opening.

ENTER THE BRITISH>the family that parked next to use was from jolly old england.

Dad breaks out some duct tape and a leatherman and presto a long metal hook to aide in key fishing.....i really wanted to break that window...

we took these picts on the way out to arches national park. where we took no pics due to lack of proper batteries...read forgotten charger. oh well guess you should go yourself.

battle at the midget corral

2008-03-23T19:14:00.001-07:00

We went to Tucson to see some stupid sun thing

The Sedona area is highly overrated.

This corner rocks going down, not so much going up.( 8,000ft up)

Gates Pass area in Tucson, where Midget was always looking for Javelina. I tried to distract her by showing her how close you could get to the Cholla.....hehe

Some rocks are really big

Everyone we know wonders what she sees in me.

This is for Cipo And Farmer

2008-03-17T19:07:00.003-07:00

i am pretty sure you two get what i am saying.

heres to fast guys on bikes

who like the cold beer

happy paddy's day

when things go crunch in the night

2008-03-15T19:08:00.001-07:00

put my flop on in the dark. sucks for this little guy but at least i did not get stung.

yup, these freak me out.

Cool People

2008-03-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

this is just a little shout out to my cool people. the people i miss hanging out with, riding with, and drinking good FOUNDERS beer with in the farmers garage....hell i miss that garage...mucho good times in that thing.

Midget--always

Neeley

Steve and Suebaru

cipo

baconandeggs

lil jef

farmer

Shari--seriously fast mama

Big Ralph

Rickthebigmf'er,Cathy breaksalot

Hendershot--got beer?

Mhall

dudenate

KevinH--a class act all around.

kate,abbey,jake, and pea pod (cause she was always under wraps)

the whole dark side founders crew--you know.

DANJANTHEMAN

JoeP

Shawn'o the dead(buy my house)

joe i can't pick a pace fro

the two other joe's, or is it three

steveB

musto

others not named are not forgotten...

Poor a cool one for me and i will ride in the sun for you. Peace.

Let me show you my cubicle...

2008-03-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

as you can see it is tough to be stuck in one spot all day. at least they let me listen to music. i get enough sunlight; but they simply must do something about the bathroom! i use a different one all the time and each one is just as disgusting as the next. the cleaning crew should be let go. i never really realized how much us guys are similar to pigs. i know i am not that bad, and i assume my friends are just as neat---being properly trained (married). but some of us out there could use a swift kick in the balls...you know to adjust the aim. wtf is wrong with at least TRYING to hit the inside of the bowl? i really could not miss that bad if i tried.

sorry got off an a rage there.

anyway i am safely back in "tookie" as i guess the cool kids call it. drove in to town and caught the beginning of rush hour. now i drive a big a$$ pickup truck and pull a 33 ft trailer. i have like 24,000 pounds rolling down the road. and there are just a few of those semi's out there as well. why on earth would some j-hole in a two door honda, shoving a phone in their ear, think it was cool to cut two semi's off then me, and get all the way in the lane the were DYING to get to, just to sit still- think that was ok. i literally knew two of those semi drivers we thinking about getting out to "talk". man what a stupid group some of us are. (yea i cannot commute to work--being i work in the whole U>S. --- so there i sit--- at the circus ) .

still......not a bad cubicle.

really.

This is for Danielle

2008-03-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

now don't get me wrong i like danielle. in a kid sister kinda way. we have travelled a lot together and i have seen her accomplish some pretty amazing feats. she routinely beats me at most races. i did beat her once in a 12 hour...............of course she had quit about three hours early. but i'll take it.

so this is my last day in Moab. I am putting a few people on bikes and getting to spread the word a lot more. we have a super buzz about us and a lot of people are ready to see the bikes first hand. apparently our marketing is working as a lot of people want an in depth look. tough gig i have.

i got in a super cool road ride with a group from Poison Spider and several locals. These guys throw down. there was a former pro tour/tour de france rider with us, a very fit and fast shop owner and several other locals who just plain push pedals hard. I also had my first recumbanent (sp?) in a group ride. and let me tell you it was great.

we spun around 24mph and then went up from there. my time in Moab has whipped my end into shape. i hung in the back for a bit to learn group dynamics and as soon as i felt comfy i went up and took my turns. well these locals musta smelled a bit of fresh meat and the pace just kept going. not in a bad way but in a hey let's rock way. other than the famed Founder's Tuesday mash fests this ride was up in the best ever category.

for those of you who know....riding with this group was like riding with 15 FARMERS. the FARMER has an infectious positive attitude and can drop the pedals with the best. this group was the same. only negative was the beer, or flavored utah water. oh well i tried to make up for it in quantity. lets just say some of my michigan training paid off...:)

So FIRST PERSON TO SEND ME REAL FOUNDERS BEER WILL GET SOME SCHWAG.

and shawn....i hope we can battle at LUMBERJACK. i would really like to see some peeps. i can't even register as of yet as my schedule is not final. but if not why don't you try and join rick at the FOOLS GOLD. this event may be on my calender.

what i learned today

2008-03-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

today rob, kevin, rolph, and myself rode the sovereign (?) trail in moab. now, to me this is some of the best moab has to offer. it was nice and singletracky with great flow. several challenging climbs and a few really fun techy downhill areas. as always a spectacular view.

rolph is an older gentleman, and i use the older part loosely. he is 57 and absolutely rages on a bike. never more than a minute behind. mostly behind due to his appreciation of the new bike he was demoing and not because of skill or ability. matter of fact he could probably kick most of my michigan friends butts as well as mine. He also has one of the most infectious attitudes i have ever come across. he is so stoked on life and just adores every minute he has. let alone most of his time is spent on or around bikes. i certainly hope to be half as fast and stoked on life when i reach his young age.

time to get out yer notebooks cause here is what i learned from rob.

barking drunk.

this is when you come home so drunk your dog does not recognize you and barks at you. laughed my ass off when he told me that, shakes can attest to my having been there and he having done that. love it.

fruit a

2008-03-05T17:57:00.000-08:00

(the above picture is from slickrock in moab)

rob and i had a tough day at the office.

rob is my roommate in tempe. we work together as well.

today the plan was to drive to Fruita, Co and ride bikes with some shop folks. Well, we were well on our way and we hit a port of entry. now i drive a big ol rig and it needs to be checked at these stops now and again. today was the day. let's just say it did not go well. we got nicked for some safety violations and some this and that. it could have been worse.

we got to the ride and it was great. fruita has it going on in a great way. i really like the trail construction and flow was present for sure. had a very enjoyable day at work. yup that is my job. i really really like it. its a tough way to pay the bills.

talked to the big boss today, CC, and i am able to take some time off work to hang with the midget when she gets in. i can hardly wait. it will be so fun to have my wife around. even more fun to show her some very cool sights and maybe even camp. mostly i am looking forward to her strapping on the womans shoes and cooking. not that its her place but she is a great cook and i really miss home food. if i have a complaint about my job its eating out. that's all i do. some times its good sometimes not.

walking on the moon

2008-03-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

yup, walking. after the double i pulled yesterday my legs were toast. kevin our design guru showed up and took me out to the famed slick rock trail. we faced a wicked head wind most of the ride. the kind that throws you hard off your line. it ruined all flow the trail had. but as i say it was the worst fun i ever had.

the trail had super steep ups that were short and toasted my legs. i cannot climb anyway. it was fun and i was reminded of just how lucky i am. i have a super cool wife who will be joining me in two weeks. i have a great job. i meet really really cool people. it is all centered around my favorite thing...the bike.

hope all is well where you are at.

A few pictures of the first days in Moab

2008-03-02T13:16:00.001-08:00

As you can tell there is really nothing at all to see in Moab. It truly is a pathetic place and all should avoid this ugly sore on the earth. Carry on.....