Sunday ride 1-31-10

Went out south on the CVNT cedar valley nature trail. Trail was clear and took a short video. I didn't get out of the house until almost 4. slept in and ate, took a nap. Once on the bike, felt great. You know that part about getting up off your ass and actually out the door is the hardest part. I received 4 phone calls on this ride, which equals my cell phone use for the whole week. After watching Lakers/Celtics shoot back to back 3 point airballs, I knew I had to get out. I took a small video while riding the path. I am smiling with a full beard, the kind of happiness you can't fake. Still tons of snow on the ground. It was about 15 degrees and sunny. I rode the motobecane fantom cross with studs. The tires are heavy, I really don't notice them until i try and stand on the pedals, and the bike kind of grinds against the pavement and really doesn't accelerate like I am use to. Fenders are hanging on by zip ties and duct tape. Went passed the turn off for the Shack about a mile before I realized it. 4 mountain bikers by the dump. Turned around and went back to the New Shack Tavern turnoff. Went passed the shack and there were 4 or 5 bikes there, some 700c commuters with small bags and one giant HUGE mountain bike. I kept going all the way passed Cheyenne park out into the country side. Lots of older people along the river looking for eagles I guess, they just stop in the road and look around. I saw my eagles before I left the downtown riverfront, over by penford. I made my way back to Cheyenne park and took a quick glance at the BMX park and then into the lot by the dog park. Then up to the end of the street, on total ice, with ruts, not much fun. Kind of scary at times. at the end of the road is a pile of trash. I had my camera and took a picture of all the junk laying there that had been dumped, christmas tree stands, plastic tent like dog tunnels? old carpet etc. I also took a picture of the bike out in the country with a long shadow. Heading back formthe park, the house on the corner has a whole yard full of dogs barking and running around, The first time by I was going downhill and there was a car, so they had no real chance, but on the way back it is up hill and they could see me coming for about a half mile. Two little tan rat dogs came out first, running at full speed toward me going down hill I sped up and headed for them and veered at the last second, they tried to stop and turn around and bumped into each other and tumbled out of view. I kept some good speed up as I saw number 3 dog coming out of the driveway. He was bigger and white, I had to yell and he moved off to the side and one of the rat dogs caught me and was keeping pace, I looked down and he started to move his mouth toward my leg and I swerved, yelled again and had to stand on the pedals to escaped tiny teeth. I now had a headwind and it was getting near dark, stopped at Shack for a drink, crazy prices on Fat Tire, $1.25 shell, $2.50 pints , $3.25 mini pitcher(which I had first then a couple of shells later) and only $5.50 for a large pitcher, the same pitcher would cost $16-18 at Mahoney's Some crazy lady saw me and told me I was cute and tried to start up a conversation. Then Abar showed up in his Denali all shiny and everyone was looking at it out the window. Same crazy lady wanted to have sex in it. He said it was his dad's and he had to get it back to him. ha,!
gloves were wet with sweat, on to Parlor City for benefit for Doug Chadima, suicide. I didn't even want to go in, it was completely packed with 50-60 year olds all dancing and what ever.

forzen

I was hoping that el nino was going to help this winter be warmer than usual. especially this morning, I was hoping for 20 degrees and only got 4. The beard is helping? it tends to have frozen dingle balls hanging in it. My eyes water under 5 degrees.

Bought a new bike, redline D660 with mostly xtr and a white bros fork. paid $750 shipped on ebay.

It arrived on Monday, barely packed with just a piece of cardboard between the front wheel and frame, some plastic bits to keep sharp parts from poking through the box. The front skewer was missing. I am happy with the bike so far. It is cold and snowy out, so only a test ride around the block on plastic pedals, I have multi-colored spoke nipples. I added up all the parts and it would be about a $3000 bike to build, $600 fork, $600 wheel set (list) about $250 in discount catalogs.
XTR crank, shifters, derailleurs. Chris King red headset ($130) avid juicy brakes($250+) titanium bar and thompson post and stem.