indytriple's blog

The Five Albums I Purchased on iTunes This Year

2007-12-01T02:25:00.000-05:00

Occasionally I stray off course, and what is normally a cycling-related blog stumbles upon some other territory, which is usually musically related. As people are often wont to do this time of year, I am surveying the past year out of the corner of my eye. While cruising the "Purchased" playlist on my iTunes this evening I noticed that I purchased exactly five albums online during the calendar year of 2007.

The Muggs, The Muggs

Ok, lets get the embarassing, indulgent one out of the way first. Tania was gone one evening, and I found myself planted in front of the idiot box. Let me assure you, this is not my normal state unless the infernal thing is playing PBS, election night coverage, Seinfeld, The Office, or anything made before about 1990. The Next Great American Band was on some channel (it had to have been Fox), and I watched in horror as the typical talent malaise was paraded before the unsuspecting and gullible American TV market. The one bright spot that I spied during the entire debacle was The Muggs. This Detroit band has an interesting background story, and they represent Rock n' Roll better than Hugo Chavez represents Castroism. This is straightforward Rock n' Roll, people. If you don't like to listen to music loudly, this is not for you. Very much in the tradition of Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, AC/DC, and Mountain.

A Band of Bees, Octopus

The "sound caresser" of Indiana's own Umphrey's McGee, Kevin Browning, was in the shop with his bike. I respect Kevin and his work with UM very much, so I inquired about what albums he had been listening to and enjoying. He mentioned Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album and an album by the British rock group, The Bees. He explained that in America, they are known as A Band of Bees due to copyright issues. This album is a quirky frolic that is reminiscent of The Byrds or The Beatles. There are also doses of modern Brit-pop and even a touch of reggae in one track. Track #4, "Got to Let Go", has one of the greatest starts of any track of '07. With a funky, mellow groove running steadily, the heavily accented Brit singer intones, "I've got a job back in Texas...Cutting the grass before breakfast...Cleaning the park...I'm there til it's dark...and I'm saving up for a Lexus." Once I heard this chart, I was hooked, man.

Toubab Krewe, Toubab Krewe

Let's get one thing straight. I don't buy much "world music" lest I be turned into Tim Robbins' character of I. Raymond in John Cusak's masterpiece High Fidelity (see picture above). However, in 2006 I purchased Amadou and Mariam's Dimanche À Bamako, which I think just about any type of music lover would enjoy. My foray into world music for 2007 comes from Asheville, North Carolina's own Toubab Krewe. I've adopted Asheville as a sort of personal getaway over the years. With its amazing cycling destinations it is an eastern US cycling mecca. The city of Asheville is fun and quirky and has great food of all types. This band somehow embodies the spirit of the place. They sample great licks, techniques and instrumentation from all over the world, and they do it with aplomb. This is jammed-out world-influenced groove of the highest order. It would also be a great soundtrack while riding the Blue Ridge Parkway or sampling a tasty run of Pisgah singletrack.

Levon Helm and the RCO All Stars, Live at the Palladium NYC New Year's Eve 1977

As a huge fan of The Band, I've always had a fondness for Levon Helm. Most of the other members of The Band seemed somehow personally tormented, moody, or distant. Levon, by contrast, seemed gregarious, approachable, affable, and even cheerful when he was wailing the blues. This live release from Levon is absolutely top notch, and it is as likable as the drummer himself. There are big, heaping-helping portions of horns and driving blues. There is tons of energy as Levon and friends Paul Butterfield, Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), and the original Blues Brothers horn section please the enthusiastic New Year's Eve crowd. This is feel good music with absolutely sparkling musicianship. The Band favorite and Chuck Berry-penned "Back to Memphis" absolutely steamrolls with the tight horn section and Butterfield's edgy, bluesy harmonica. There is really no one out there performing music like this any more.

Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, Out Louder

I've seen Medeski Martin and Wood at the Indy Jazzfest. I've seen John Scofield from ten feet away at The Bluebird in a haze of smoke. I've admired all of these cats for a long time. Ever since they collaborated with Scofield on his '98 effort A Go Go I've hoped for a reunion effort. Well, this is it. This is loose-groove improv jazz goodness once again. Each player roams around until the collective ultimately finds the groove with metronome-like precision. These guys embody being loose and tight all at the same time. My high school jazz band teacher would be proud.

Luddites Beware

2007-11-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

In the famous words of Lili Von Schtupp in Blazing Saddles, "I'm tired!". I'm tired of convincing people that technology advancements in bicycles is normal, beneficial, and a good thing to embrace. In today's modern world, consumers happily lap-up technological gadgets at astonishing rates. People everywhere are willing to wait overnight in lines for the latest gadgets. While cruise control used to be a luxury feature on expensive vehicles, now GPS navigation systems appear on $15,000 economy sedans as standard equipment. People are ever-increasingly tied to techno-gadgets in astonishingly dependent ways.

And this is the world in which I find myself in a particularly annoying dilemma. I am constantly surrounded by techno-hipocrates. While I relish and enjoy almost every interaction I have with someone about bicycles, I bemoan talking to the guy with the Blue Tooth embedded in his ear and his iPhone in his belt holster about whether disc brakes are "really necessary" or whether carbon fiber is really "a safe choice" for a bicycle frame material. Meanwhile, his car is sitting out front communicating with a satellite so the OnStar advisor will know just where he is when Fifi-the-microchipped-labra-doodle jumps on the button and locks him out.

What is it about the bicycle that makes people resist advancements in technology that would otherwise be adopted without question in other forms? Perhaps it is the long history or the pure, simple mechanical nature of it. If that is so, then how do you account for the automobile. It's been around almost as long, and when you get down to it, it's not really that much more mechanically complicated. Yet it becomes increasingly garish and techno-loaded with each passing year. Meanwhile, I hear absolutely no one exclaiming that cars would be so much more enjoyable if they would just do away with silly things like gears, powerful brakes, and suspension. In fact, most people wouldn't even give up that 9th cup holder or those heated seats that warm their tushy on chilly mornings. It's in this world where I find myself.

"But sir, these tubeless tires and wheels are really fantastic. They hardly ever go flat. We have lots of customers that have been running them for years flat-free. You can run them at much lower pressures for greater traction. It's impossible to get a pinch-flat with them." That's when they giggle under their breath and look at me like I'm a naive little puppy and say "I hardly think that's necessary. I think I'll be perfectly happy with the way things have always been. I'll take the model with those good-ol' tubes in the tires. Those things have always worked and never let me down." Should I remind him about the 82 times that he has changed a flat bicycle tire in his life? Should I remind him that his Subaru has a sensor on each wheel that monitors air pressure in his tires and a little light on his dash that reassures him as he drives that his tire pressure if safe.

Bicycle techno-hating is not just in the realm of the suburbanite blue-toother. Everyone from mod-styled fixie riders to hippie mountain bikers takes their turn. The fixie rider loves the "pure" sensation of no brakes and gears while toting their 17" laptop to the coffee shop for their half-caf-mocha-latte-low-fat-whip-cream while being serenaded by the tunes from their iPod nano that is conspicuously attached to their limited edition high-fashion messenger bag. The hippie mountain biker says that gears and suspension are superfluos. They then return home in their hybrid SUV whilst listening to Sirius satellite radio. They relax that evening by downloading a lossless format, non-compressed Dead show to their external hard drive for their weekly home-spun podcast. Ahh, so pure. So simple.

This May Help Explain My Lack of Blogs Lately, I've Been in The Video Realm...

2007-10-05T02:22:00.000-04:00

B Double E Double R U N...Beer Run

2007-06-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

Some people say, "If you are going to do something, do it right." I say, "If you are going to do something, do it right AND have fun doing it."

People talk about all kinds of cycling. Through various publications, web sites, and other mediums you can find out everything about long-distance touring or bicycle polo. Unfortunately, one of my favorite types of cycling is virtually ignored and receives none of the glory it deserves. You might call it task-specific adventure cycling. There are many bike rides that fall into this category such as The Milk Run, The Post Office Run, The Coffee Run, The Grocery Run, The "Insert Any Noun Here" Run, and, of course, the aforementioned Beer Run. Most people here in America (and even cyclists) don't even do this kind of riding. Even when they do, they see it as an irksome, unfashionable activity. They couldn't be more wrong. These types of rides are just dying to be infused with a sense of flair and style. For proof, see how many smiles you get when you make your next trip to the pharmacy on your cruiser bike with your dog in the front basket, your flip-flops and shades on, and an attitude that says, "I even know how to have fun while running errands."

Breaking Into Heaven

2007-04-25T17:06:00.000-04:00

I finally got something done that I've been planning on doing for a long, long time. If you click on this link, you'll be taken to my YouTube page. There you'll find the first series of what will hopefully be several riding videos that will feature Indiana mountain bike trails as well as trails in Idaho, Colorado, North Carolina, and more. The "Mountain Biking Brown County" videos feature the mountain bike trail system at Brown County State Park in Nashville, Indiana. Choosing a trail to use as my first subject was an easy choice. Brown County State Park is home to some of the finest trails in the Eastern United States, and it is poised to have much more growth in the next few years. With the trail inventory being doubled in the next calendar year, BCSP will become a regional and national destination for mountain bikers. Each foot of the BCSP trail has been built by mountain bikers with mountain bikers in mind. I think that the video really highlights the incredible terrain, feautres, and flow of this very unique trail system. Over the next few months, I hope to create more videos for other Indiana riding destinations. Videos such as these will hopefully inspire more people to get outside on a bike and enjoy our wonderful selection of Hoosier singletrack. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Back Home Again (Mountain Biking) In Indiana

2007-04-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

I put together this short video last night using some snippets that were "laying on the cutting room floor", so to speak. As I was cruising through my files and files of photos and videos, I realized that I had all of these video clip "orphans". I figured that they weren't very useful sitting around on my hard drive, so I pieced them together in a rough fashion to make a little piece that showcases something that is very near and dear to my heart...Indiana mountain biking. Indiana mountain biking is enjoying an amazing boom right now. That might come as a surprise to some, but to those of us that have worked to gain momentum for off-road riding in Indiana it is the inevitable payoff for some really hard work over many years. But alas, the best is yet to come! As you read this, the HMBA is building new mountain bike trails and planning for much more. Now is a good time to be a mountain biker in or around our fine state. Get out and enjoy it when you can. For now, just hit "play", sit back, and enjoy the ride.

Also, who can be the first person to tell me who is the artist behind the rendition of "Back Home Again in Indiana"?

Crash, Burn

2007-04-18T17:07:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when you are realing flying high and feeling good but then you get a "correction". You are flowing like water one moment, and then the next...you're lying on the ground wondering what just happened. These are definitely some of those moments.

Zoom Flume

2007-04-17T10:14:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite rides this winter was one of those that didn't even seem to have much potential when it was conceived or as it began. Like so many things in life, you don't know until you go. Ron and I parked at the east end of Hickory Ridge Trail #19, also known as the Nathan Avery Trail. The trails were soaked with a combination of snow melt and late winter rain. Only the truly ambitious (or completely insane) were out on bicycles on this particular evening. It could be said with certainty and fortitude that we were most likely the only souls on two-wheeled human propulsion machines within the National Forest boundaries. The solitude lent to the different feeling of this ride. On rides like these, you feel something deep, something good. Something that just might separate you from those poor saps sitting at home. The tires made that soft rush of sound that can only be created by large, knobby tires on a cold, lonely gravel road. After a few miles the sound begins to lull you to sleep. No other noises exist in the trees on a wintry night such as this. We traversed west on Tower Ridge Road. When we reached 446 we headed north down to Lake Monroe. This was not a planned diversion, but it seems as if we decided to do it without speech or discussion. Sometimes decisions are made on a ride through an unspoken telepathy. The decision is so obvious it just presents itself. We made our way to the lake, and the water had a consistency of chrome. Not an imperfection could be seen across the huge expanse of its volume. As we made our way back up the road climb to retrace our steps, Ron turned immediately in front of me and dodged down an abandoned driveway of some sort. All the while exclaiming, "Zoom Flume, Zoom Flume!" In my morbid curiousity I followed him, and we came upon a relic of Indiana summers past. It was a dilapidated, extinct water slide that ran in a meandering fashion towards the shore of the lake. Ron had spent days there with his brother many years ago, and the rememberance had injected itself into his brain at the moment we rode by. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied the run-down ticket booth just off to the side of the road amidst the dumped appliances and underbrush. I hope that someday, a long time from now I will struggle up that climb again. My legs may tremble a bit, not quite so strong as they were that evening long ago. I'll meander by that long-forgotten relic, and I'll remember Ron and his stories of the place. I'll also remember that night where we shared memories without even knowing that we were creating new ones.

Cycling to The Top of The World

2006-11-06T16:16:00.000-05:00

Some people just have a drive. A drive that pushes them onward towards goals that others would find impossible or insane. These are my kind of people. One of the most rewarding things that I do at my job is to help these kind of people achieve their goals and dreams. You can imagine my reaction the morning that I received an email from my good friend Alex that had this picture attached to it (click on the picture to view the gorgeous, full size version). The sign says, "Thanks Nebo Ridge Bicycles" and in small print at the bottom it says "Everest Base Camp 2006". There are moments in life when your choice of vocation is vindicated. This was one of those moments for me. We had helped two human beings achieve one of the greatest feats of their lives. You can follow their ongoing adventures at www.wonderide.com. Please consider sending them an email or donating some money to them via the link on their website. They have no real destination or schedule. They aren't riding for a charity or a cause. They are simply on the adventure of a lifetime. Ride on, gentemen.

Present, Tense?

2006-10-23T11:43:00.000-04:00

It's funny how the rememberance of things past morphs with the passing of time. What you experienced, and what you remember are not necessarily always congruent. I've been spending the morning trying to digest this past summer and pondering the upcoming slumber of winter. It's got me thinking that our past is best viewed with a quick smile and a fond rememberance. It also has me thinking that contemplating the future is a fruitless task.

I've recently been re-reading Steinbeck's masterpiece "The Grapes of Wrath". I last read it in high school. Although I remember enjoying the book, it was utterly dissected, discussed, and thoroughly ravaged in the hands of my motivated english teacher. My reading of it now, over fifteen years later, is so amazingly different and fresh, that I wonder if it is at all the same book. Which also begs the question, "Am I the same person?"

In the book, as the Joad's chaotically catapult towards the moment that they are to leave their Oklahoma roots and head to California, Ma says, "Up ahead they's a thousan' lives we might live, but when it comes, it'll on'y be one."

As I continue to read the book, the theme of living in the present crops up recurrently. Even though we probably discussed this theme to the point of nausea in my high school classroom, I don't remember it. I'm sure it didn't register with me then as it does now. I was looking forward then, now I look around me a lot more. Our perception and experience in the moment is all that really ever ads up to anything.

Oh Idaho

2006-08-11T09:11:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that Charles, Kado, and I are only two weeks away from our annual Idaho trip. The summer has absolutely flown by. As I talk about the trip to friends and customers, a lot of them have wondered why in the world we choose Stanley, Idaho as our destination. Most people ask why we're not going to Moab, Denver, Telluride, Fruita, Lake Tahoe, or one of the other various wildly popular mountain bike destinations. Mountain bike destinations are not unlike restaurants. Sometimes the best ones are little known, hard to find joints. Sure, you can get a great dinner at a national chain, but your experience is hardly unique or solitary. When we go to Stanley we literally have the whole place to ourselves, and the beauty is second to none. Mountain bike meccas have fancy burrito joints and bike shops that sell as many t-shirts as they do innertubes, but that's not what we're looking for. We're in search of great trails and great scenery in a solitary, serene location. On our way back home we will stop in Fruita to sample the trails there for a couple of days. We'll probably even stop in town for a burrito and a t-shirt, but I guarantee you that those won't be the things we'll remember years from now as we reminisce about our journey.

League Night

2006-07-12T11:50:00.000-04:00

It's Tuesday, and the trails are soaked. It's hot, dark, humid, wet, and windy. Those just happen to be terrific ingredients for a gigantic city ride. Grab the bike with the fenders and a bell, strap on the lights, and grab a rain jacket. Pack tons of food and drink. Stir and bake for four hours. Whoila! The recipe for an urban classique. We started downtown, headed through Fountain Square, took a fast lap around Garfield Park, and then took the Pleasant Run through Irvington. We headed northeast and rode counterclockwise around the outside of Ft. Ben and grabbed a cup of Fourbucks at 56th and Emerson. Then we took Fall Creek to the Monon and back downtown for a couple of laps around the circle and a post-ride beer on the river. Whoosh. We rode all types of surfaces; pavement, concrete, brick, gravel, packed gravel, grass, mud, slurry, deep water, and pothole minefields that made me appreciate my sturdy steel bike with durable tires. What a fantastic ride. We worked like dogs, mixed it up with traffic, and had an absolute blast. Not bad for a league night trail substitute.

Oh, Victory of Vicissitudinous Vicariousness!

2006-07-11T13:59:00.000-04:00

One of the best aspects of my job is the ability to live vicariously through the numerous adventures of my customers and friends. Whether it's a cross country touring trip, a hut-to-hut mountain bike trip in Colorado, or a ride with a throng of 20,000 riders along Chicago's lakeshore, the preparations and the stories supply me with endless inspiration and joyous mind-fuel. At this moment, Claudia is probably somewhere in Iowa on her way back from the west coast. Nancy is planning a three-week touring trip in the Canadian Rockies for this fall. John leaves tomorrow morning to drive to Colorado for a 100 mile mountain bike race. Mike just got back from days and days of singletrack riding around Durango. Most of these folks are just about as crazy as I am about bicycles and the experiences that they can bring to our lives. Being around them is great, and the osmosis of energy is contagious.

My good friend Alex is taking the bicycle adventure to new heights, and I, along with you, can go along with him thanks to the transcendent wonder we call the internet. This is a picture of his bike that he and I designed for the trip. While carefully thinking through each individual piece we had to create the situations that he might encounter in our minds. I was almost giddy picturing him roaming all over Asia as we mulled over the mundane pros and cons of sealed bearings and bottom bracket interfaces. And, in a way, I am there with him right now too. Thanks for the daydream fodder, man.

The Great American Road Trip

2006-07-05T22:44:00.000-04:00

What is it that sparks a road trip wanderlust in some of us? I had my first coast-to-coast road trip when I was only five years old. That summer my family and I drove all the way out west in a '67 Plymouth Barracuda. The back seat folded down to create a space where my sister and I could lay down and stare up at the stars through the expansive back window. I can still remember so many things from that trip and the myriads of others that I went on as a child. How many kids can say they've stood in four states at the same time, watched a bear climb into the family car, or fed chipmunks on a chilly mountain morning somewhere on the outskirts of Durango, CO? These road trips and all of the experiences I had on them went a long way to shaping the person that I am today. It gave me perspectives on our country, it's people, and its places that I will forever be thankful for. My parents were smart enough to know that some of life's best lessons are not learned in the classroom, which is ironic considering that both of them were teachers. In today's age of brief vacations and relatively cheap airfares, it appears as if the traditional American road trip is a bit of a lost art form. I will forever sing the praises of an open car window and an open highway over the fish-bowl window of a jet plane at thousands of feet in the air. Even though most people scoff at the fact that my vacations involve left-arm tans and hours upon hours of windshield time, I know that nothing compares to the amazing feeling of leaving it all behind and hitting the open road.

I Can See A Little LIght, I Know You Will

2006-06-29T00:11:00.000-04:00

Conflict. It's all over the news. It's on the roads. No matter where you are, you can probably find some. In those same places you can also find resolution. What you see is from your eyes alone. It's amazing how our lives are filled with beauty that is so often never seen or recognized. What will you do today to see the beauty and the resolution around you?

... ... ... >>>... ... ...

I spent my day today cavorting with friends. We talked a lot about bikes, our adventures and misadventures, gossip, world politics, music, the weather and seemingly thousands of other pithy subjects. We had spirited friendly debates, and we renewed old ties and friendships. We created some new friends as well. I'm sure it must sound like a nice, carefree day away from work. For me and my fellow compatriots it was just another day in the bike shop. If you've ever thought that we have it easy and fun working at a bike shop, you're right, we do.

Freaks of the Industry

2006-06-24T23:04:00.000-04:00

Why in the world don't my bikes look like anyone else's? I think I have a problem. I have a collection of some of the freakiest bikes in this area code. I guess there just isn't much about "off-the-shelf" bikes that intrigues me. When I do buy a "stock" bike it usually stays that way from the box to the workstand. After that, there are NO rules, and all bets are off. The change is perpetual, and most bikes don't stay the same way for longer than a few weeks or a couple of months. I see some bikes come into the shop that are over ten years old, and they still look the same way that they did the day they were purchased. Many of them still have the size sticker plastered on the downtube like one of Minnie Pearl's tagged hats on Hee-Haw. How drab. What a shame. How am I supposed to know anything about the person who owns this bike? It's kind of like people who drive non-descript burgundy or champagne colored sedans with absolutely no distinguishing features. Although decals of large soccer balls, fuzzy dice, crown-shaped air fresheners, and "My kid is an honor student" bumper stickers are not exactly creative, at least they tell me something about the owner of the vehicle. They've at least gone out of their way to say, "Hey, this is me!" If you haven't already, take the time to make your bicycle (or bicycles) your own. Maybe a bell will do it. Maybe a sticker in just the right place. Maybe some pink streamers, spokey-dokeys, or one of those little plastic license plates with your name on it. Heck, kick it old school and put a baseball card in your spokes. The bicycle is a playful, fun thing. Not only can it propel you through space and time, but it can also be a billboard for the interesting, unique person that you are. How will you say it?

Thanks for Going Along on The Ride

2006-06-15T09:21:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much I owe to the bicycle. The bicycle has provided me with so much over the years. It's a symbiotic relationship of sorts. I put people on bicycles and sell the bicycle lifestyle, and in return the bicycle provides me with a whole host of things that I could never put a value on. It has always given me a large number of great friends that have in common with me a love for this two-wheeled machine. Any person worth their salt knows that friends are the source of life's wealth. Who cares if your bank account is empty if you have a wealth of friendship? Bicycling has provided me an abundance of acquaintances and friends that each have a special meaning and value to me. I'm sure that without cycling I would still have friends, but cycling friends are special because we have a tie that binds. Our common love keeps bringing us back together. I have now also been blessed with a cycling family. Tania and Ian and I also share this common love, and it brings us together as a family. Every day at work I see the bicycle and its power to transform, empower, and bring joy to people. It changes people's lives in amazing ways. It has certainly changed mine.

Blast From The Past

2006-06-07T22:00:00.000-04:00

I awoke early this morning to rumbles of thunder spelling impending doom for my morning ride with my friend Jason. I continued getting ready to go and mounting my fenders on the bike. My drive to Jason's house south of Danville was a downpour of rain nearly the entire way. Just a few minutes before reaching his house I began to spot some breaks in the clouds. He took a few minutes to show me his beautiful 1845 farmhouse that he is restoring. Once we got our bikes ready to go the rain was mostly past. We left his house with just a few sprinkles of rain coming down. That would end up being the only precipiation we would see all morning. We rode west and north from his house to two covered bridges on Big Walnut Creek; Rolling Stone Bridge and Pine Bluff Bridge (both built in 1915). The ride was terrific, and the weather was beautiful. We had lots of rolling hills, and some nice miles of gravel roads. The bridges were a great destination, and they provided an interesting and picturesque stopping point. We both rode our vintage Trek road bikes. Jason recently finished a restoration on a mid-80's Trek tourer. It's gorgeous and it's a great riding bike. I love the aesthetics and the way he's put it together. The riding reminded me very much of my rides that I used to take as a teenager around the rural roads of Huntington County. Old starting point, old destinations, old bikes, and old memories. A great, great day in the saddle.

I Was So Much Older Then, I'm Younger Than That Now

2006-06-06T22:42:00.000-04:00

Right now this child is having one of the best nights of sleep that he's ever had. We spent the evening riding at Town Run. He had some crashes that were quite impressive, but he perservered all the way to the end. As evidenced by the photo he's still smiling despite the dents and dings. Taking a kid mountain biking is fantastic. I highly recommend that you take one of your own kids or someone else's. We had a great evening in the woods together. He also got to see some of his favorite people in the parking lot. Even though he's shy, he likes and remembers just about everyone that he meets at the trailhead. He waves and says "Hi" to all that roll or stroll by. While most of us pass by each other silently or give a subtle nod, he gives an enthusiastic greeting as if to say, "Hey, we're out here on a bike ride together!". I think we'd all be a little better off if we were as friendly and approachable as a four year old cyclist. He sees how bikes are the common bond between a lot of really, really great people. Ah, the wisdom of the young.

It's All Ball Bearings These Days

2006-06-04T00:42:00.000-04:00

Myself and Team Negative-Nine (Ron, Scott G. and honorary team member Charles) went for a Cave Run adventure just after Memorial Day weekend. We left Indy on Sunday night and camped in Cave Run. On Monday we rode a ton of trails including the 112, Buckskin, Zilpo, and more. One of the highlights of the day was the refreshing swim at the Zilpo beach. On the way back on the Zilpo in-and-out we had a close encounter with a 4+ foot rattlesnake. Ron just missed running him over and he was able to give me enough warning so I could stop short. After a few pictures and a short detour hike, we were on our way again. Cave Run was in pretty good shape, but even in good shape it still delivers large proportions of punishment. Between horse damage, downfall, and some poor trail design it is never a picnic. I would have to say that I recommend Cave Run to only a select few of the hardiest souls that I know. Weak sissies need not apply. It was Ron's first time there, and he'll never be the same. Wait until he sees Idaho. Put it on your calendar, Rabbit. On Tuesday we did my favorite trail at Cave Run; the Sheltowee Trace or what is commonly referred to as the "Arch Trail" or the "Iron Furnace" trail. We rode out to the second arch and back. The horses had beaten the tar out of it over the weekend, but it was still a great day in the saddle. It was one of the best mountain bike trips I've taken in a long time. We laughed a ton, and had a great time. Kudos to Ron for the fantastic dinner fare on Monday night.

Fox Confessor Blows My Mind

2006-05-24T11:43:00.000-04:00

This is pretty much a bicycle related blog. That would logically follow because I'm the author, and I'm completely encompassed and bombarded by bikes and bike stuff. I also dig music in a big way. Believe me, this isn't going to become a pulpit for me to write album reviews. However, when I run into something that I think is the best thing I've heard in a while, I'm going to pass it on to you. You should do yourself a favor and check out "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood" by Neko Case. It's a Patsy Cline meets Wilco kind-of-thing, but also way more than that. That's just a fairly stark way to describe the sound. But the lyrics and the songwriting are what shine in my opinion. The song structure is new and unique as well. The pictures she paints are amazing, but she leaves so much to the imagination too. This is a careful balance that pervades the whole album. Her voice is her signature, but it's not the only star of the show. It's a beatiful piece within a great work of art. There are doses of Americana, fairy tales, gospel, 50's crooning and more all wrapped up into this amazing, concise package. Run out to your local record store or get it on iTunes for $10.

daynighter

2006-05-24T11:26:00.000-04:00

We rolled to BCSP again last night for what has become the Tuesday night schtick. It's always great riding with the sub-9'er crew. The conditions were absolutely perfect. I made a major change to the bike that has endeared me to it even more. I definitely had that "no chain" feeling. After predicting early in the ride that we would see BCSP locals Dale, Len, and Rob. We proceeded to bump into none other than Dale, Len, and Rob along the route. We told Rob about our prognostication and he said, "Well, that's pretty much like predicting that the sun will rise." A good point there. Rob had Alex with him, so the trailbuilding contingent was out in force. They'd been out flagging new trail for the upcoming work weekend. They flagged the new route up to Hesitation Point that will eventually remove that terribly punishing fire road climb. We also rode the little piece of trail that Alex and Rob built to replace the fire-road section on the North Tower Loop. It's only a few hundred yards long now, but it's a great glimpse into what will become one of the best downhills/climbs out there. They built it with the machine, which is also a good indication of things to come. I would predict that BCSP will become one of the best places to ride in the midwest, but that would be silly...because it already is.

Lunatic Fringe

2006-05-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

Ah, the "fringe" ride. Everyone else is at home sulking because the trails are too wet. The weatherman has everyone in such a tizzy that they are considering building an ark. These are the times when the fringe riders appear. They know what others don't. They seem to know the precise instant that the trails are rideable again. This takes a tremendous amount of courage, mind you. These fringe riders are often ridiculed by others. Jealousy and fear makes reasonable people believe that it would be impossible for trails to be dry. I'll always be a fringe rider. That's when the good stuff really takes place. It's on those rides that the trail belongs completely to you. No one else in sight. Where is everyone else? At home, comfy on their couch. They let their significant others and "friends" hypnotize them into believing that the earth couldn't possibly dry out that fast. What they don't know is that the joke's on them. I love those people. Because they stay home, I will always be a "fringy". I wouldn't have it any other way. Where are the rest of you? I know you're out there...

My 4 Year Old Can Beat Your Lap Time at Town Run

2006-05-10T21:38:00.000-04:00

Well, Ian took a huge step the other night and rode at his first officially sanctioned mountain bike trail. Tania and I took him to Town Run Trail Park to see how he'd do. He's been getting better and better on the bike. It's amazing how quickly kids catch on to things. The best part is that we don't push or pressure him at all. I get the idea that growing up in our house the kid just thinks that bicycles and bicycling are a part of life. He's constantly surrounded by bikes, bike magazines, bike talk, and he's always going on a ride of some kind. His desire to ride is fueled by the fact that he is dying to go along with mom and I on our riding adventures. We were all down south at the cabin last weekend, and I was leaving on a night ride to rendezvous with Charles, Kado, Scott G., and Ron who were already on the trail. I was locked and loaded and ready to go with gear from head to toe. As I was making my last-minute adjustments Ian said, "I think I'm going to go with you." It broke my heart to try tell him that he couldn't go this time. Be patient, buddy. Slow down. That day will be here before you know it.

Expand Thy Horizons

2006-05-10T21:12:00.000-04:00

The power of riding somewhere new can be huge. Don't underestimate its power to shake things up. When things seem stodgy, boring, or run-of-the mill...find a new place to ride. As cyclists, we often get riding myopia. We get way too entrenched in routine and familiarity. Looking back, it seems that many of my best riding experiences were from new places or finding a way to see an old ride in a new light.

Along these lines, I've learned that it's also good to defy convention with your equipment. Set up your bike in a different way. Use a piece of equipment you swore you'd never try. Blow convention out of the water and do it with an M-80 firecracker attitude. Approach change with reckless abandon. Human beings love routine, but what is the human experience if not varied and new?

Drive, Drive, Drive...Rock, Rock, Rock...Drive, Drive, Drive

2006-04-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

Ah, Otter Creek. I always forget why I like this place so much until I come back. Ron provided me with the title for this post. That pretty much sums up an Otter Creek journey. Ron, Scott G. and I had a beautiful day in the woods. We were also able to see the infamous Charles on the way back through Louisville that evening. He treated us to a fine Louisville Germantown dinner at Flabby's restaurant. The meatloaf is fantastic, especially after a long day in the saddle. Otter Creek was in good shape. They've made some really nice fixes to some parts of the trail that have traditionally caused problems and erosion. I was extremely pleased to have all 5 inches of travel available to me. The rocks are brutal. We did a clockwise loop with the VOT out-and-back, and then did the loop counter-clockwise.

There's Music in Them Hills of Brown

2006-03-22T15:12:00.000-05:00

I had two great rides at Brown County State Park last week with Tania. We rode on Wednesday afternoon (3/15) and early on Saturday morning (3/18). On Wednesday we parked at the North Tower and rode North Tower loop. On Saturday we parked down below and rode up the connector and out around Aynes loop. The trail conditions were excellent. The creeks were still flowing strongly from the rains the weekend before. Riding Brown County was fantastic after this long, cold, wet winter. It was good to get back down into the "Little Smokies". It's always a feeling that captures my spirit. I've been listening to more and more bluegrass this winter, and it just seems to play in my head as I roll up, down, and around those hills. Pickin' and ridin' were meant to go together. I can almost hear old Bill Monroe and his boys playin just a few valleys north in Bean Blossom as my wheels roll over the dirt. I picked up a live recording of Bill's 7th Annual Bluegrass Festival from Bean Blossom in 1973. It was a recording that was released by MCA. It's available on iTunes, and it is some great, classic picking with tons of notable players. The crowd is quite lively. I wish I could beam back in time, go to the show, and then go for a ride. Since Bill is gone now, the iPod and conjurations of his ghost will have to suffice.

Great Trails Dry Fast

2006-03-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

The trails down south dried out wonderfully after the torrential rains the weekend of the 11th and 12th. Directly after the rain it was reasonalby warm (50 degrees), sunny, and definitely windy. Strong winds and sun will dry out trails quicker than one would think. After several inches of rain on Saturday night, Ron and Scott G. and I went for a night ride at Nebo on Tuesday night (3/14). We knew that the Nebo trailhead, initial climb and doubletrack sections would be a muddy mess so we drove past Story, up Mt. Nebo Road, and onto Berry Ridge Road to where it runs alongside the trail. We parked there at about 8 or 9 p.m. and headed south on Nebo Ridge. As we suspected, the trail conditions were near perfect. The south half of Nebo is always so fast. We hot-dogged it all the way to the south trailhead at 1100N just west of Houston (that's House-ton, NOT Hugh-ston...and don't get it wrong while you're there). At the old "sit-a-spell" spot with the log benches we heard the coyotes howling at one another all throughout the valleys below. The moon was nearly full and shining strong. Spectacular! We took the road west over the bridge and into Hickory Ridge. We took gravel up to the east end of Hickory Ridge Trail 19 (the Nathan Avery). We weren't on 19 long before we suffered some shock issues and decided to head back. The gravel road downhill from 19 to the cliff camp was exhilirating and oh so fast. Back to Nebo. Why is it that heading north on Nebo from the south terminus is always so hard? After several minutes of suffering the flow got going and before I knew it we were back at the car. This was also my first ride using my new light. I picked up a new fancy Light and Motion Lithium-Ion HID. It sure is purdy, and it lights like the sun. It weighs less than most of the other junk I throw into my pack. It probably weighs the same as two bananas.

The Great Deluge

2006-03-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Well, in my last post I mentioned that five of us were going to go down to the Hickory Ridge fire tower area of Hoosier National forest for a ride and camping on Saturday evening (3/11). Well, the impending doom of the wet weather forecast frightened off all but the bravest (or most stupid) of us. Charles and I forged ahead with the journey despite weather forecasts of rain, rain, and more rain. Charles had arrived in the afternoon, and he already had camp set up when I got there at about 8:30 p.m. I had checked the weather for the Norman, IN area, and I noticed that there was going to be a 3-4 hour "hole" of dry weather from about 9 p.m. until midnight. When I arrived I convinced the reluctant (and somewhat tipsy) Charles that we should ride immediately instead of in the morning as originally planned. We got our gear and bikes ready to roll, and we headed out from our campsite near the fire tower and we headed west on Tower Ridge Road. There were beatiful, ominous-looking clouds above that zipped past the nearly-full moon. The light from the moon was so plentiful despite the clouds that we rarely used our lights. We rode west on Tower Ridge Road until we could hear cars on 446. We stopped for a bit and decided to head back. We heard the grumble of thunder off into the distance. We also began to see lightning light the sky. We hot-footed it back east on Tower Ridge to the campsite. We weren't back more than 10 or 15 minutes when it began to rain. We were dry underneath Chuck's EZup tent. We had an amazing dinner of beer brats, potatoes, and grilled green pepper and onion. We also each had a 22 oz. Fat Tire. Sidenote: They are now selling Fat Tire Ale in Chicago! It rained very steadily all night long. In the morning the campsite had several inches of standing water all over it. It stopped raining and the sun came out just as I left for home at about 9 a.m. I barely made it out of the area due to the extremely high water conditions and flash flooding everywhere. The water in Salt Creek was almost touching the bottom of the Maumee Bridge. It is usually 20-25 feet below that level. I had to turn around or detour on Houston Road, Christianburg Road, and also on 135 because of high water levels. What an adventure!

BOB Dreams

2006-03-09T11:40:00.000-05:00

Well, I ended up not riding at BCSP the other night. Ron and Scott G. did and said that the trail conditions were excellent. The trails are a muddy mess now I'm sure. Oh well, that's March in Indiana. I've got the bike and the new light ready for the next dry opportunity to night ride. Charles, Kado, Ron, and maybe Jason O. will be heading to the Hoosier National Forest for a gravel road ride this weekend. We're going to car camp near the fire tower in Hickory Ridge/Deam Wilderness. Depending on the weather we'll either do a night ride on Saturday or a morning ride on Sunday. The route is yet to be determined. It will be a last minute call, I'm sure. It will be the inaugural ride for the '85 Trek 620 in its latest incarnation for country touring on asphalt, gravel, and dirt roads. I'm going to add some new platform pedals and some SKS full coverage fenders before this weekend and it will be pretty much complete. I added some Salsa cantilever brake converters this week to make the XT cantis work much better with the Tektro reverse time trial levers. I also put on a modern rear derailleur. It is a Shimano rapid rise derailleur, which I despise, but I've heard good things about using them with down-tube shifters. I'll try anything once. During a few short city rides, the action felt smooth and natural, so indications are good. I aligned the derailleur hanger, which dramatically improved the shifting.

Speaking of touring, I've been thinking a lot lately about the BOB trailer, and just what a dreamweaver it is. One of the best things about being a BOB owner is to constantly try to think of new and creative ways to use it. It can be used to haul almost anything of reasonable size and weight. It can also help you realize wild fantasies of escaping the grid. Whether it's a run to the corner store or a 6 day backcountry escape, the BOB will be your friend throughout. Not all products are this exciting or empowering. Do yourself a favor. Buy a BOB and challenge yourself to use it over and over again.

Althought the original BOB Yak trailer is a fine piece (I've owned one), it just can't compare to the BOB Ibex. Yes, it's a few extra bucks, but it is definitely worth the dough. The suspension makes it oh so much more pleasurable to pull. It greatly increases the possibilities of use as well. You'll never have to make compromises with the suspension. Pull it over anything! It can handle 35mph mountain decents with ease. It will handle anything you can dish out. I loan my personal BOB out. Borrow it sometime (when I'm not using it, of course). Haul flowers from the nursery. Go get a gallon of milk. Do trail work with it. Escape civilization. You'll love it. Be forewarned. You'll want one.

Expecting to Fly, Learning to Ride

2006-03-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

Spent a quiet morning at home with Ian and the dogs. We just got done with another session of learning to ride with no training wheels. He is doing fantastic, and we're both having a lot of fun. He just about has it. He rode 30-40 feet by himself this time. It's a sunny, perfect spring day for a bike ride. We may hit the greenway in Z-ville later or make a run to the store on the bikes.

Ron, Scott G. and I are planning to night ride at BCSP tonight. The trails should be pretty good after the sun and wind today. I just checked out the pictures from the workday this weekend on HMBA.org. Great job guys! Wow. It looks like some big improvements were made on the HP Trail. I can't wait to check it out in person this evening.

Now it's off to the shop to get the sled ready for the ride tonight. I think I might check out some headlights. I've needed a new light for a long time. For the last ten years (that's right, a decade) I've been using the same Blackburn VistaLites. The things just will not die. They are going to be turned into commuting lights exclusively. I think I'm going to dive into the world of modern HID headlights.

Morning Ride at Nebo

2006-03-05T12:17:00.000-05:00

Ron and I spent the evening at the cabin. It was quite cold. Despite a raging fire in the woodstove, the temperature never really crested the 60-65 degree mark. We left Irvington at about 9, and we were in bed by about midnight. Ron's phone alarm went off at 6:00 and it was still dark outside. It was hard to get out of the warm sleeping bag and put the cold riding clothes on. We were on the bikes by about 7:00. The cabin lane and gravel road ride to the Nebo trailhead was really, really cold. We warmed up (and the sun came up) on the Nebo climb. It was my first ride on the new demo bike (19" '06 Kona Dawg Primo). The bike was feeling great. The trail was super solid and frozen. The conditions were fantastic. We got to the top of the Nebo climb and decided to continue out Nebo to do the WB loop. On one of the downhills my rear shock blew out. Bummer. The bike was still rideable so I limped it back to the cabin. It happened 75% of the way through the ride, so not all was lost. The trails were just barely beginning to get soft on our way out of the woods at 9:00 a.m.

The new bike was great despite the problem with the rear shock. I still need to change the cassette to an 11-34 instead of the idiotic 11-32 that came stock on it. Why would you put that gearing on a 32 pound, 5-inch travel trail bike? I'm also going to put Sram X.9 derailleur and twisties on it. The Shimano triggers are horrible. They feel about as solid as shaking hands with a four year old girl. The upshift is somewhat OK, but the downshifts in the rear are totally imperceptible. The Shimano chain will go away as well. I'll give it to my worst enemy. The shifting was unpredictable. The Hayes brakes were very solid, and the Race Face crank felt very stiff. I've used RF Evolve cranks in a splined style BB as well as the new outboard BB design. The outboard design does feel a bit more stiff and solid. The handlebars are 27" wide now. That's about 1" too wide for my liking. I'll trim them to 26" and probably be real happy. I really liked the WTB saddle as well. I've used a lot of Speed V's in the past and liked them, but I think I liked this Laser V a little better. I also must mention that the green color of this bike is fantastic. It's a real good looker.