Adrenalin Junkie

Beardcicle: \ ‘bird,si-kel\ (noun). a pendent mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water or sweat from ones face/beard. often found on hardened commuters of the cycling kind that use beards as a form of face protection.  This does not include boogers, bugs, or beverages.

I wish I had a camera to take a pic of them this morning. It was great, my beard was thick of them. My beard is not that thick….yet. I gotta tell ya though, without that beard my face would have been a bit more crispy when I arrived at work today. The ride started with chubby flakes of snow. About half way through it turned into these icy daggers that were forced into my eyes and face by the 20mph wind. I really expected to have a bloody face when i stopped riding . It sounds sick but I enjoyed every mile.

Also while riding in today I was into my pedaling and syncing every pedal stroke with the music I was listening to. Really in a trance. Every song that came on made me really think of my cadence. It certainly wasn’t my fastest time, but I think it made me look at the road more to make sure that each beat was on time. I even found my self wiping around obstacles to the guitar riffs of Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates”. Man on man can Dimebag Darrell shred.

I left for work early this morning. In hopes to get to my destination early so that I could take my shower, and get pumped up with some coffee. All while listening to some good tunes. I suggest the band Department of Eagles. Chill music with lots of feeling.  The green river was flowing as well. Yippie!

Went trail building with the crew yesterday. We got closer to finishing our bridge.  It is now approx’ 100ft long. Most of it is done we just have to put some supports the rest of it and it will be rideable. Some more work on the trail will finish it and hopefully by then we will have pics of, not only the trail, but of me huckin’ the knar off of the big drop (big for us).  i 16+ feet big to you? Looks smooth and it looks easy…but…well you know…E-brakes have been a worry. The pics I have kind of suck so I will post some in the future.  Stay tuned.

The Last 5 have been stellar. I have packed so much bike related fun into my life during the past few days that I am ready for a night off.

Starting with Turkey Day. I started the day with a phenominal ride at Burlington Res. with a great group of mixed nuts. It was cold but crisp. We all were there for the same reason, to gain hunger for our Thanksgiving meals, and we sure did succeed. We rode about 18mi. of single track and took some time to smell the flowers while doing it.

After the ride I got home and had a quick snack before jumping on my singlespeed (Totem) to ride the 4ish miles to my parents for a grand meal of the Turkey variety. It was awesome. Good time with the family. My niece was especially awesome that day. Her first Turkey Day. After I rode back to my apartment I participated in a some extra activities and rode Totem over to my friends house were I proceeded to get black out drunk. Not a normal thing to happen to me. I don’t remember most of the night and apparently went on a very drunken ride…again about 4ish miles (my apartment is only a 1/2 mile from the party). Woke up the next morning and found a bit of a mess in my apartment. Let’s just say I defenitely drank too much.

The next morning I felt pretty damn spry (because of the mess) and rode to work. Felt good too. Totem was on the ball even though I got a flat. I wussed out and got a ride home from one of my pals so that we could go drinking with my favorite person in the world. We did a bit of new beer tasting and critiqued the flavors and smells. Good times! All three of us agreed to go to The Summit on Saturday and do some trail building. Yay outdoors!

Saturday was one of my most productive days Trail building. We had 7 people and we got sooo much done. New berm and the extension the K and I had dreamed about, that involved 100+ feet of wooden bridge and a double with the berm. Sickness! We also got to ride on the slick trails (rained the day before). Made it a bit interesting. By the way that pick…I swear I am not using the woods as my bathroom…just bending over for something.

While drinking beers I spotted a deer tick on D’s neck and then at my apartment spotted two ticks on me then another the next morning. So watch out they are still thriving in the cold.

Sunday was a series of events that weren’t huge but defenitley played a roll in how happy I am now. I was in a bad spot on Sunday. Rode in (7ish miles) to the shop in the rainy sleet on Totem and worked the Service Dept. on my own. Not super busy, but busy enough to keep me going. Rode home in some less the stellar conditions. Thought I was gonna be swallowed by a few puddles and killed by a few cars. Where are the police when you need them? Got picked up by my friend F and went to J’s to eat some vegan (Keep in mind I’m not vegan at all) food. Actually very delicious. Stew that had all sorts of good stuff….rice, leaks, colliebuds (flower),  and chick(sp) peas. It was so harty…I always thought vegan would leave me hungry, but it certainly didn’t. Got to drink some beers have some delicious food and desert with two of my favorite people. Topped it off with a great convo with “her” and I had the permy smile on my face the rest of the night. Maybe shouldn’t of had the Irish Coffee. But it may have been a good idea too.

Today… 🙂 woke up early and rode into Bean Town. After seeing her off to work I went for an Urban Velo through the streets of boston. I Love people watching when on a bike. Then headed to work. Losts of miles and every type of weather that you would expect from Boston.  The Sun came out it has been warm ever since.  I am about to suit up to ride home. Drinkin’ a Double Bastard (Curtousy of Stone Brewing) 10.5% alc. amazing beer. You should try it.

Cheers to you all that read this. Ride fast and take chances! See you out on the road/trails. Can’t miss Heroes!

R

Hello all,

This past week has been a series of events that have brought me down a bit. First I have some issues with my trusty MTB bike that I gave birth two early this year. She is a Knolly Delirium T that I call Bessie. She is a beaut’ and has not given any issues. Really the problems that I had on our Tuesday night ride are not her fault (Derailleur munched, hanger bent, wheel untrue, and eventually the chain broke).  But I can’t help but wonder what I may have done to her that she may have helped these problems arise. On top of the mechanical issues I smashed my left shoulder into a tree and smacked my knee. Then, the next day, when trying to get ready to go for a ride on a demo bike that I came across, I found a crack on that. Ehh! Not my week with bikes I guess.

Then…trying to help a guy at the gas station that needed a jump my battery died…crazy right? So I have sworn off motor vehicles for a while. Just not gonna drive right now. Brave the winter on the 2 wheeled wonders that beg me to ride them every morning.

Maybe I will reach the state of cycling Zen that I have been trying to reach for the last 27 years of my life. Finding a new pocket of zest in my brain that I haven’t touched yet. I am sure drugs and alcohol will help with that right? Maybe not…some cleaner living and better eating will suffice. I am ripe with a motivation that I have never had…it might as well get used. You all should Join me. Get your winter gear out…jump on what ever bike you feel is proper that day and ride your ass off. Enjoy life on bikes!

This is an old picture and an old warranty (yes warranty) issue that Gary Fisher was so gracious to take care of with there wonderful warranty program. For those of you that think I am trying to sell Fishers…I am not…not really a fan of there line to be honest! Don’t tell GF that though….he might take offense.

This person, we will call him Jake, came in with his bike. it was held together with a small thread of metal keeping the bike from seperating into two pieces. He had ridden this bike for many years and apparently never thought to look at the bike. Check for cracks. He Hadn’t maintained the bike for some time.  Or at least I would hope that any self respecting mechanic that worked on it while is was cracked or breaking would have caught it then said something.  Luckily the guy didn’t get hurt when it snapped in half.

I promise I have positive things to say.  He is okay…that’s positive right! So now he is riding a new aluminum frame with some new bits and seems to be happy. I  think/hope he has learned to be a bit more attentive to his bikes. I relearn that lesson everyday.

“JRA” is never the reason for things that break…NEVER! There is always a cause and an effect.

Overhaul your bottom bracket today. Or this could be your bike.

I have started this blog with hope to spread my words and thoughts about what cycleing means to me.  This will involve pictures and some videos to express what I am thinking. Being a mechanic and a cyclist puts an interesting spin on how I view things. You will see some pics of examples of what you shouldn’t do on or to your trusty bike. Sometimes wonder….Cheers!