By Aaron | 5/13/08 | 7:22 PM
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If there was a band that most defined my high school days, it was the Mats. Loud, rambunctious, with a certain ambivalence toward polish… When I finally made the Varsity hockey team, the 1st thing I did was change the warm-up music. Out went the AC/DC (no offense to any current fans, but one can only listen to Hell’s Bells so many times). If you’ve never heard the song “We’re Coming Out” give it a try before your next ride - It was the intro to every Northfield High School hockey game I played in… Tough to not get amped from that one. Oh, and my recommendation for late night road trips - THE last of the hard core troubadours…
By Alex | 5/12/08 | 9:27 PM
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Here in Chicago it is not unusual to see a two frame tall commuter bike or even a triple frame tall bike. During my daily perusing of numerous biking forums and websites I found this picture and it must be shared. When looking at this picture just keep in mind that if this is his commuter bike just imagine what his 29er Mountain bike Looks like! Craziness!
By Aaron | 5/01/08 | 5:24 PM
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If I was going to be one of the Seven Dwarves, it would definitely be Sleepy… In case you don’t remember, or you think Sleepy was slow… he was the only dwarf to figure out that the Evil Queen had Snow White… Sleepy rides again this weekend. Iola, Northern Wisco.
P.S. If you’re in Iola, and you see me napping on the side of the trail… Well, you’ll know what to do.
By Mark | 4/30/08 | 12:34 PM
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At this point, the plan was to be talking about road trips and bike racing on big wheels. It’s seems though that the common theme here is a long winter and wet spring that just won’t quit. This past weekend we were slated to head south to Topeka where the HMBCS boys were to be putting on a brilliant little event known as the Crocodile Rock. The higher ups at Midwest Cycling were kind enough to give us sprinter van usage and come Sunday morning we were loaded up and making the pick-up rounds. That was until Steve comes out in his Pajamas. “Race is cancelled, it poured last night from nine until one.” Race number 2, canned. April is, literally, a wash.
So what are you to do? A third of an inch of rain had fallen in Omaha too, maybe the trails are dry enough. We held out until late afternoon and sure enough, perfectly tacky trails. Time to fly.
I wouldn’t have thought my first race would be taking place in May. Unfortunately again, the rains seem to be rolling in on Thusday’s and Friday’s. Third times a charm, right?
By Dan | 4/14/08 | 8:00 AM
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boxes are overwhelming
I just sat. I looked at my boxes. I could see no breath, for if it was cold it would be warm but it was warm not cold, either way…it was like all life was sucked out of me, my breath was gone. The handicap man at the store, the oversize lady at the bank, or Jeremy the autistic kid who walks around my block bouncing a ball every few steps always remembers my name, “Your name is DAN”; these people don’t ride bikes. The breadth and width of these boxes in my family room, in my foyer… More »
By Mark | 4/12/08 | 4:21 PM
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A week of ups and downs for sure. The biggest downer has to be the fact that old man winter just won’t go away. Monday and Tuesday were thwarted. The window was cracked ever so slightly on Wednesday, only to be slammed shut with equipment woes. My season opener was subsequently postponed, waking Saturday to a dusting of snow, all along the way having three of my 1st Amendment rights challenged.
On the positive side of the karma swing I got a sweet new kit (thanks Travis), was named dealer of the month for 1W2W (Thanks Rebecca). For which I recieved this absolutely bad ass Ag bag. It’s made from recycled tubes and seat belts. The 76 refers to the percentage of recycled materials used. Staying on the subject of 1W2W, check out 2 Mile Challenge. What can you access in your 2 miles? If it wasn’t for commutting this winter the eight ball would be even bigger than it already is. It’s only April though right?
So now it’s 2 more weeks before the legs will truly be tested. 2 more weeks hopefully of attacking singletrack, and warmer weather. Mother Nature be kind…please?
By Dan | 4/07/08 | 11:13 PM
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Stuff. You got it. I got it. They got it. Who gets it? All the stuff you have accumulated throughout life. I once subscribed to the motto, “If all my earthly possessions don’t fit in my 1996 Sable station wagon, then I am too heavy.” These damn Jimmy’s Cookies have me 5 pounds heavy this time of year but that is okay it was snowing. Just in April. In Michigan. That’s right. Passion not profit is what drives my 5 pounds – Ullrich I am, 15 pounds heavy here (in photo). Today I have these visions of finishing 2 or 3 in an Elite level cross country race here in Michigan and screaming as I cross the line, “I love Jimmy’s Cookies…Walnut Chocolate Chip.” They use butter and I swear there is passion somewhere in there. $3.29 and I am lit up like Life magazine. Before my time a poster sized journal of stories were read by Americans from coast to coast regularly in the name of one Life magazine. I remember seeing them in my grandparent’s basement. More »
By Nick | 4/02/08 | 9:11 PM
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My sister had her second kid about a week ago, a boy. His name is Dylan Jay (sweet.. DJ) the pic is of my nice Tara. She is finally big enough to fit a bike so I didn’t hesitate to promptly swoop over to visit the new nephew and bring what every kid wants… a shiny new bike all their own. The sweet Mystic 12, in pink, complete with basket, flowers and Dragonflies.
**insert warm fuzzy feeling here**
