more of the same

partial accident payment coming my way
frame/parts/clothes/helmet
covered so far
shopping list in the works
sticking with the tried and true
crosscheck

just me and my shadow

spoke warpage at speed
enjoying the sun
before chance of weather
rolls in
for the remainder
of the week

commuter criteria

steel
no carbon fiber silliness
eyelets for fenders
28's mandatory with said fenders
sidepull or canti
horizontal dropouts for single cog application
road or cross geometry

original plan was just a replacement crosscheck frame
reuse the parts i got
but as time drags on
and the insurance payout hasn't occurred yet
i've had time to ponder other build options
vassago fisticuff, salsa casseroll, pake c'mute....
or do i just stick with the tried and true xcheck?



but then the complete casseroll single looks sweet too
solid build spec
fits the above criteria
and the completes only 300 more than the frameset
porteur rack, fenders, fixed cog, and lockring
ideal commuter stead begins to materialize

any other frameset options i'm missing out there?

who likes the pool?

the expenses of ownership

100
200
300
400
500 bucks
the vw got inspected today
needed some love
one more payment and it's ours
glad I got rid of my car
bikes are way cooler

down from the rafters

track bike revived once again
too many derailleur aided commutes lately
ribs allow for wrenching on the bars
though soreness remains

what am i, a mountain biker?

2 days, 2 rides in the dirt on the fixed monkey. both touched neversink but todays ride expanded to include mt penn as well. and a new guest tagged along as well. matt and i have been intending to meet up for a while now but calenders fill oh so easy.

shortly after 9 we rollled out of home and I comensed the spun out session that would last the remainder of the rail trail. just as before, schuylkill trail east, then exeter trail west to the foot of neversink. rain has marginally fazed the trails with little sections of mud but mainly the classic rooty rocks that I know so well remain intact. trail points up and out of saddle grunt ensues providing a nice pedal timing warmup. now classic route taken but a right hand turn points us back on trail heading to the witches hatch pavillion; a relic of the past history of the mountain.

switchbacky tarmac down into the city then ascending once again with the pagoda the destination. a brief respite, then one final section of elevation gain before returning to the rocky narrow tract. ridgeline tech ensues as pedals are timed and rollout to obstacles is measured and memorized. timing is crucial. not going down on a healing rib is crucial. slight bobble. tense nerves. relax and find the flow. first log is hopped clean and confidence rises. lots of trail to choose from with time being the limiting factor.

we plot a course dodging and weaving our way around laurel and up and over the numerous logs. easy cruising is not found around these parts and the trail deserves all the attention you've got. we motor along but caution creeps in and we reign in the tech. I'm pushing my luck and we detour to milder doubletrack. a touch more ridgeline, cross grade descent, then back into the city. roll into the homestead with 25 or so in less than 3 hours elapsed. not too shabby and a nice return to dirt.

neversink in the rain

neversink in the rain
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

looks a little different with rain pouring down. gotta love the rocky
soil drains oh so well trails.

iphone update

for all you fellow dorks
software update
at long last, cut and paste
landscape keypad too
plus some other trick stuff
go nerd out

not much to complain about today

but...

like always
perception
is worse than reality
though it did rain like hell

it rains

nearly every day
morning and night
perpetually damp
overcast grey excitement
blinkie lights always glowing
misted by road spray from cars
head down
churning out the miles
the novelty wears off
when wetness becomes the norm

lakeside monday afternoon

lakeside monday afternoon
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

who works mondays anymore?
apparently I don't
hours have been cut
less pay but three day weekends
blue marsh in the background
fine day for a hike

return to dirt

rib healing has slowly progressed. commuting has been largely pain free. standing to climb has resumed. to the garage to tune the karate monkey. free no more, time for the fix once again. unbolt the brake. mount up the tomicog. sunday morning go. rail trail to the east. cross the schuylkill. rail trail to the west. see the first photo for the entrance to the trails. lead out mark on the first pitch. time the ever churning pedals. little bit of pain as a reminder of the accident. hit the outlooks. hike up to a higher elevation for a clearer view. back on bikes cutting thru the dump. road section then trail again to avoid the gigantic great dane on south 9th. dirt and rock end so back on asphalt spun out thru the city to home.

one kick ass bike

this fine stead is keeping me rolling busted rib and all. fenders to ward off all this incessant rain. lights for morning darkness. rack for portaging and freeing my back from the burden of a bag. smart handlebar position for all day comfort. trailer mount for towing evey. makes being a single car household fairly easy. kick ass indeed.

wtf

four flats in seven days
one last friday fixed over lunch
one monday morning before leaving
one wednesday heading home
one today still waiting to be repaired
bad mojo or something

rain and racing

wet shoes and damp clothes
just about everyday this week
sun has been absent
cloud cover has been low
still pedaling into work daily
ribs are slowly mending
coughing has been managable
sneezing just about drops me though
out of saddle climbing has returned
though gravity has to do most of the work
wrenching on the bars doesn't feel so good
just need to be patient

tour divide kicks off today
the official site and mtbcast have coverage
justin kline from princeton tec is out there
hopefully starting today and not a few days late
flew out west injured from an accident this past weekend
wishing the best for him
always interesting to see how this race plays out

all stripped down

headset cups and crown race need to be knocked off yet
then up in the rafters retirement
or some cold setting by rack n roll
shopping list has been started
just waiting on the payout from insurance
some replacement parts will be ordered
most parts will be switched over
good thing i like the new color

caught and hiding

caught and hiding
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

halfway to work
sketchy ass lightening everywhere
lurking under a bridge
fifteen minute delay

speedy commute motivation

speedy commute motivation
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

storms heading east
i'm heading southwest
just below the turnpike
race is on

i rode forty miles...

and all i got was a picture of a snapping turtle.

eleven pm

back porch
full moon shining
nut brown ale
wheezy cough
sore ribs
fighting a cold
carpenter bees eating my fence
can't see but hear instead
sidewalk covered in dog piss
crickets chirping
ride in the morning
can't climb hills
rail trail flatness instead
reading to pottstown
pottstown to reading
damn that dog piss smells
time to tune the pacer

photos from ithaca

full set of pics here.

friday in the rain

drip
drip
drip
the brim of my cap
blocks the rain
releasing the water
in tiny droplets
just inches from my face
head down
hands in the drops
elbows bent
flat back
all cylinders firing
getting the work done

back in the saddle

back in the saddle
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

last night around 8
i let out a hearty sneeze
heard and felt my rib pop
winced with pain as usual
but then it disappeared
the persistant dull ache was gone
seems the bone wasn't set all day
slept well last night
kitted up this morn
pedaled to work
couldn't stand to climb
but seated cruising worked
one week today since getting hit

the tuesday after

4:30 am wake up call
seems I've been sleeping my stomach
ribs are screaming
I can hardly lift myself up to roll over
seerng pain reverts to dull ache
hobble to the bathroom
feeling each footfall in my chest
return to bed
comfort found laying on my back
hour later alarm blares
guilty of a lazy snooze habit
clock is feet away on bookcase
painfully rise 3 times before finally getting up
kit up for the commute
unlock bike in the garage
almost ready to leave
twist and reach for the lightswitch
disconnected nerve endings scrape together
wince grimace flinch

back inside
change into civies
grab car keys
not all pain can be pushed thru

may wrap up

may wrap up
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

orange = ride to work (14 days, 378 miles)
yellow = drive to work (1 day)
blue = dirt or road ride (6 days)
year commute stats = 92 days, 2,484 miles

and I got hit by a car on the 27th
busted rib and bruises
didn't commute today but will tomorrow