reasonable expectations v.2

waiting...

2012-01-28T19:38:00.000-06:00

I was a few tics early for the ride...

time lapse testing, 5 second mode...

mt, coach, & jb eventually showed. it was really windy, we rode our bikes...

later,

TK

thursday treat...

2012-01-26T04:55:00.001-06:00

Dogs in Cars from keith on Vimeo.

thanks keith (whoever you are)...

sunday, last...

2012-01-21T09:42:00.000-06:00

eyelid inspector from t-nuts on Vimeo.

gut it out...

2012-01-19T05:19:00.000-06:00

countin' it down, 2 days till the weekend. 2 long days...

I think it used too...

2012-01-16T05:17:00.000-06:00

snow that is. I think it used to be really cold in January also. I am a, or we are fool(s) to think it won't either get cold or snowy yet this winter but at this point we haven't seen either. So we just keep riding in the crisp air with the sun shining & the gravel bone-dry. The fatalist in me thinks there will be a miserable point yet this winter which will be payback for these bluebird days we've been graced with. Wait & see I guess...

Later,

TK

comin' to join ya honey...

2012-01-14T05:18:00.002-06:00

40 years ago today S & S started its run.

Growing up in the 70's (shit I'm old), we had a steady diet of Norman Lear classics. All in the Family, Good Times, The Jefferson's, and of course One Day at a Time. I never was a Maude fan, but Adrienne Barbeau was easy on the eyes.

Later,

TK

oblige...

2012-01-12T05:05:00.000-06:00

in the mean time...

2012-01-11T05:40:00.000-06:00

I've got a movie I'm sorting of working on, but it takes time. Messing around with (learning) all the features in iMovie is a time consuming endeavor. 15 minutes turns into an hour (or more) & eventually I just have to say enough is enough. In the mean time, I've got a project cooking. I delaced a wheel from the stash, a 26" mtb wheel built around this White Industries ENO. It'll be reborn soon, stay tuned....

Later,

TK

bust it...

2012-01-07T05:51:00.001-06:00

floop...

2012-01-05T04:53:00.004-06:00

floop from t-nuts on Vimeo.

hang in there, this "movie makin' will take some practice...

later,

TK

yeah, it was a little bit...

2011-12-31T13:21:00.003-06:00

YouTube Video

dry, windy, & 40 something. great last day of '11 riding dub-g. awesome!

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

consider this...

2011-12-27T04:59:00.000-06:00

madison county sleigh ride from t-nuts on Vimeo.

merry merry...

2011-12-24T15:41:00.000-06:00

uh oh, new gadget alert...

have a good one all!

later,

kickin' it off...

2011-12-23T05:33:00.000-06:00

the three-dayer that is, first of two. damn right!

b-o-11 part 2, can't go wrong with this jam. no shortage of versions out there, I'll just grab one. turn it up, sit back, commence the head a bobbin'...

stay tuned,

TK

B-o-11...

2011-12-22T05:33:00.000-06:00

hard to choose but Beirut floats to the top. My favorite song, Santa Fe. This npr session is sweet, wish I had the xmu session to share as well but I don't...

how do I pick my best of? satellite radio is on in our house from the time we get up to until we go to bed, been that way for years. partly because we like a backdrop of tunes but also because we think it keeps the dogs "occupied", less mischief maybe? the latter is probably wishful thinking. we hear a lot of songs many many times & the ones that I can listen to over & over again fall into the "best of", at least that's the formula I'm going with...

stay tuned,

TK

NE R.o.Y...

2011-12-20T05:17:00.000-06:00

nebraska rider of the year...well mine at least.

Trans Iowa - Finisher
Royal 162 - Finisher
Dirty Kanza - Finisher
Gravel Worlds - Finisher

That's a helluva lot of gravel racing.

Good job buddy.

Later,

TK

+1...

2011-12-18T07:29:00.001-06:00

what a day! rolled out around 35 & settled into the low 40's with a light westerly, damn nice! ran into some peeps out by conestoga - PC, Janna, Lis, & Ryan. they had the same plan as myself, enjoying it! we wished each other a great rest of the day & I pushed on. just a few clicks later I met some new friends...

one by one, 4 outta the six made its way to the fence to introduce themselves. we were all in agreement, what a beautiful day! (#4 not pictured, picture sucked)

horses are hard to read, at least for me. a dog...their a lot easier, you got the tail wagging, smiling, hopping about or the opposite...barking, growling, standing their ground. worse yet, chasing you on the bike pissed off.

here's how I look at it, if a horse walks up to you I think he/she is probably pretty cool with you being there. I still take it pretty slow, extend the back of the hand (that's what I do with dogs) let 'em check ya out & proceed with some forehead patting & scratching.

I said goodbye & thought maybe I'd show up with a few apples someday, I'm guessing I'd be 6 for 6 at the fence...

Later,

5 hunge...

2011-12-16T05:36:00.000-06:00

A survivor. Not sure what it is or how it happened but this stuffed animal has been in the mix for 2 years, maybe more. It's eyes were ripped off on day one like everything introduced into the mix but for some unknown reason it hasn't been torn to shreds & emptied of its stuffing. It still sees action, getting routinely pulled from the box of toys but never dismembered?

Day one for this guy...the eyes went straight away then it looks like an ear. Stuffing was strewn from the kitchen into the living room. Must have been quite a battle. I was thinking about setting up some kind of critter cam to see what goes on when were not home, then again...maybe I don't want to know.

oh yeah...this is the 500th post on this damn thing. I'm glad it could be a such a pithy commentary. Real "water cooler" material. Raise your glass, coffee mug, or whatever. Here's to 500 more posts about virtually nothing. Thanks for tuning in. I can't promise 500 more glances at the trivial & mundane but I'll give it a shot...or not.

Later,

TK

poly styrene thursday...

2011-12-15T05:31:00.000-06:00

the way I look at...there's today & tomorrow, then its the weekend. Hell, I'm seeing some gravel riding as a possibility this weekend. I'm also seeing TWO three day weekends in the near future, oh yeah!

hang in there...

TK

custom...

2011-12-12T07:36:00.002-06:00

...castelli touchpad ready glove.

actually it wore out, but it does work with the iPhone.

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

ssabmud...

2011-12-08T05:29:00.000-06:00

2012? hmmmm? After multiple "never again" moments following the finish of last year's TI, time has healed all wounds, well most anyway, and I'm back on the roster for this year's event. As a finisher it was only a matter of emailing GT to let him know I was planning on coming, a nice change from my last two registrations which involved getting a postcard to him & entry being based on a first-come/first-in basis. I got in both times but the process was far more involved than just hitting send. My first TI attempt ended at the 2nd checkpoint after 130ish rain soaked miles, I pulled the plug on the event there but still had a historic 40+ mile journey back to Grinnell on the pavement in a driving rain with Sean Mailen & Joe Mann. Historic. Last year...I won't get into it, check out my posts if you like, soooo much happened but at the end I finished, 329 miles on my computer. Still difficult to get my head completely around that number. Some names missing off the roster this year, primarily Mr Ek! Hope all is well dude, I'll keep my eye on Charlie for you:) Nice to see both the Braun's on the list, no Joe Fox though? I think I counted 6 Nebraskans, a few down from last year. Oh yeah, one last thing...I signed up for single speed? Why? Why not. Dumbass...

photo: Steve Fuller

Long live the PCL! Keep gravel racing free! Thanks GT for giving it another go!

Later,

TK

yeah I'm bored...

2011-12-05T05:08:00.000-06:00

My least favorite snow event scenario, rain followed by rain/snow followed by wet snow, followed by snow, followed by sub-freezing temperatures. Makes my commute sketch, streets lumpy with ice & all. Been running with the dogs the last couple weeks, I'll call it jogging not running. Calling it running is an insult to runners. The dogs of course are naturals, even the little one. Me...various aches & pains but they are subsiding.

Be safe,

TK

saturday...

2011-12-03T05:55:00.001-06:00

all day!

cold & wet, but enjoy!

Later,

TK

It's all about...

2011-11-30T09:29:00.001-06:00

...the snacks. Custom mega-mix!

wasabi peas
habanero pretzels
chex mix

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

tuesday flow...

2011-11-29T05:20:00.001-06:00

I'm in winter mode but it's still November, I better come up with a plan...soon.

riking...

2011-11-25T15:49:00.001-06:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

worship...

2011-11-23T05:25:00.000-06:00

...the three day work week. Be thankful.

and...

2011-11-20T11:25:00.001-06:00

...it's over. CX season that is. I'm done. Somehow made it through Louisville & that was my short term goal, or was it my longterm? Quit while your ahead or at least while you perceive your ahead. I don't feel happy I'm done but at this point it feels like I would be forcing it. I felt great in Louisville, both days. Big show, big fields, good time. Quit while your ahead.

I knew months ago I wouldn't make it to the last USGP stop when they moved the races from Portland to Bend. Portland was a strong possibility but Bend made it a challenge. Too much effort to get to Bend, Portland made way more sense. Bend venue is pretty sweet but off the beaten path. Too much cash outlay to race a couple sub-40 minute races. Last year the USGP finale was in Portland followed by Nats the following weekend in Bend, trip made more sense last year. Raced 5 times in 7 days.

Nats...I knew a year ago when they moved Nats to January that I probably wouldn't make it. Too late, I can't even keep the fire burning into December. It has usually taken everything I've got to make it through Nats in December let alone in January. Worlds...was never on my radar. I won't rule it out completely but there's a 1% chance that I might go to Nats.

Been sick all week but felt the worst yesterday, haven't missed the local since I started racing in '04. Woke up today feeling better in some respects but worse in others. It needed to be way warmer than it is for me to drag my ass out there today.

So now what? Shit, I don't know. Maybe I'll bundle up & go clean the leaves out of the gutters.

Later,

TK

it's coming...

2011-11-17T16:55:00.001-06:00

...a review that is of this year's rides. Been riding & racing them for around 3 months, I've had plenty of time to form an opinion & it's all good! Thanks Curtis!

don't know when I'll elaborate but in the mean time pay curtis a visit...

Later,

TK

hey cookie...

2011-11-14T16:01:00.000-06:00

I hate being away from home. Road trips are getting harder & harder to get fired up for. I love big races but damn it's taking its toll, somethings gotta give...

If I can just make it through this weekend...

staying "uptown" never hurts...

file treads rocked it all weekend...

bye L-ville...

So how'd it go? Actually...really well. Best 2 days of racing I've had in quite a while, mentally & physically.

Season over yet? Probably, maybe...shit I don't know. I do know I'm home:)

Later,

TK

the horses are on the track...

2011-11-11T16:33:00.002-06:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

ugh...

2011-11-10T05:36:00.000-06:00

...here we go again. I'm ready to be home. Shit! We haven't left yet...

More later,

tk

one love...

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

made it down to somewhere in the KC area Saturday to race. albeit a short course, it had some tough bits. the 360 crew laid out a good track. even more memorable than the racing was the overall good vibe, thick. a few years back I used to race down there all the time, road & cx. made lots of bonds with folks. it was great seeing some people I hadn't seen in a while & seeing some I only see once a year maybe. lap after lap the cheers & support from all those in attendance kept the fire stoked. thanks.

reloading for louisville this weekend, trying to keep it all together...

Later,

TK

063...

2011-11-05T06:54:00.001-05:00

...it takes a lot of courage to go out there & radiate your essence

stand by...

TK

funny...

2011-11-03T05:29:00.001-05:00

...the puddle right after the start/finish was the least of my worries. Sitting on the trainer before the race I had told myself that I was going to avoid that puddle & not start the race off with wet feet. I already knew the course from a pre-ride on Saturday so no need to leave the comfort of the tent & trainer. After the whistle & my successful avoidance of the "the puddle" after the start, it wasn't long before I discovered the three stream crossings on the course created by the heavy rain/wet snow that fell all day. Wet feet, deal with it. I've raced in colder & wetter conditions...whatever. KC Nats in '07 it was in the 20's, snowing, & we had to ride through two big ponds each lap. That was wet & cold!

Thanks to all that make the Wednesday-nighters happen. It pretty much sets the tone for my Thursday, tired & out of it. Seriously though, thanks to those who help pull it off.

I'd guess maybe 8 people made the 1 hour trip up from Lincoln, good job to all those that did & to everyone else that ventured out of their warm homes to willingly make themselves uncomfortable.

Later,

TK

11-2-11...

2011-11-02T05:40:00.000-05:00

made it through all of yesterday without realizing it was 11.1.11, I'm guessing that's not going to happen again for a while. 9 days & it'll be 11.11.11, I''ll be ready this time.

mid-weeker in Omaha tonite, feels more like a race than our local wednesday affairs. Must be the having to drive an hour to the venue plus having to pack the kitchen sink due to the weather forecast.

best part about today is getting outta work a bit early...

reconnoiter...

2011-10-29T12:24:00.002-05:00

thanks lucas & mod for hosting, good times...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

asking myself...

2011-10-28T05:33:00.002-05:00

why....

we made it, enjoy the weekend.

half-way there...

2011-10-26T05:36:00.001-05:00

well not quite. wednesday is one of my favorite days, 40% of the week is behind me, by noon I'll be half-way there. by quitting time, 60% bagged. while the week crawls by, the weekend seems to end before it hardly gets going & the cycle begins again.

what a fall we're having, the best I can remember...

Later,

TK

Shutter down...

2011-10-23T14:18:00.001-05:00

...it was a good crop year.

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

respect...

2011-10-21T05:22:00.000-05:00

biker billy...

fucking weekend couldn't have come soon enough...

TK

farewell...

2011-10-19T05:17:00.001-05:00

...biker billy

you won't soon be forgotten, our freezer is stocked with your heat...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

high dessert...

2011-10-15T20:47:00.001-05:00

yum...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

the pits...

2011-10-14T22:28:00.001-05:00

...a little quieter this evening.

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

hunters...

2011-10-13T09:57:00.001-05:00

...or ?

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

nbc...

2011-10-11T05:18:00.000-05:00

friday's pre-ride...mid 60's, dry, dusty

saturday...mid 40's & North wind blowing. started in a drizzle & finished in pouring rain, frozen...

sunday...sun came back out, dried the mud & ended up being a beautiful day in the 50's.

crazy weekend...

how'd my races go? did I have fun? I'll give my racing a c+. Thanks Woody & MT in the pits, seemed like I was in and out a bunch this weekend.

Saw some peeps I hadn't seen in a while & it's always cool seeing all the regulars on tour...

What's up next? Local stuff for a bit then & then KY in a few weeks.

Later,

TK

whole lotta love...

2011-10-09T13:39:00.001-05:00

one of the best things about racing in FoCo is my parent's live here:) thanks for putting up with us (letting us take over your house!) & cheering us on at the races! Had a spot of trouble today but finished 12th (I think), ehhhh. It was fun (I think).

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

8...

2011-10-08T22:24:00.001-05:00

...th

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

not at work...

2011-10-07T11:53:00.001-05:00

Oh yeah!

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

me love...

2011-10-06T06:43:00.001-05:00

cookies!!

Snickers inside doesn't hurt either...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

wed-ness...

2011-10-05T05:15:00.000-05:00

45, 48...

2011-10-04T05:05:00.001-05:00

photo cred...jet

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

Dobrý den...

2011-10-01T09:06:00.000-05:00

hippocampe...

2011-09-30T05:07:00.000-05:00

See some of you tomorrow...

Later,

TK

plus 2...

2011-09-27T05:43:00.001-05:00

Between getting home after midnight yesterday & the weekend's efforts, I'm still dragging ass. I was up yesterday morning at 4:30am hosing down my muddy bike clothes & shoes in the driveway before work. Work sucked. After work I spent 2 hours getting the bikes back to the living, I hate mud.

Where did the summer go? Saturday it'll be October already.

A bit longer version of the weekend...by virtue of a 4th place finish in last year's overall 45+ series, I was fortunate to line up on the front row for this year's Sunny-P series opener in WI. This course & venue are the best in the series. They've had a few years to dial it in & it's dialed, on multiple levels. I'm not the fastest guy on the front, I may not even be the the 4th fastest guy on the front but I'm the guy who's usually there when one of the fast guys is having a "not my day" moment. Sometimes I have "my day" but I'm more of a fit-opportunist, stay fast, consistent & see what plays out in front of you.

Saturday's start was a mess, TP & I lined up next to each other in the middle & got swallowed up by riders on both sides pinching inward. Unsure how nobody went down on that one? Track was dry & fast. This being my first race of the year, I had a couple moments during the first lap where I said to myself, "oh shit, you can't keep up this pace", but it passed & I got down to the task at hand. I'm not a fan of only racing 40 minutes, Saturday was no exception. I had brought back the guy in 5th, losing to him by inches at the line in a sprint & 4th was just ahead. Needed one more lap...

Always great seeing familiar faces & meeting new people.

Sunday was a mess. My first lap was forgettable. Yard sale dropping into the shire. By the time I had the sloppy course figured out...race over. I had probably dropped back to around 20-25th at some point & had to pick my way back through the field. I'm calling 12th a victory (I don't really believe that).

Omaha Saturday, FoCo the following.

Later,

TK

deux...

2011-09-25T16:03:00.001-05:00

12th. I'll take it, I hate mud...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

A lot if this...

2011-09-25T13:12:00.001-05:00

I think I was...? TP won! Happy b-day man:)

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

day one...

2011-09-24T19:50:00.001-05:00

6th by a few inches. Good time. Sprecher on tap followed...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

35+ pits...

2011-09-24T13:51:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

dawn @ the GP...

2011-09-24T07:04:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

Pre-ride...

2011-09-23T16:32:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

DM...

2011-09-23T08:53:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

usgp round one...

2011-09-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

send...that is the weekend, ya dog!

more when I got something...

TK

pro...

2011-09-18T19:51:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

training day...

2011-09-17T12:33:00.001-05:00

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

ftgif...

2011-09-16T04:50:00.000-05:00

the final comment is my fave...

Have a great weekend!

TK

could be useful...

2011-09-14T10:09:00.001-05:00

Or not...

- Posted by t-nuts mobile

eeyore says...

2011-09-14T09:22:00.001-05:00

look out...

TK

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

DLD...

2011-09-12T04:52:00.001-05:00

2nd & P Street...

a lot of this this weekend...

Later,

keep'n it real...

2011-09-10T13:41:00.002-05:00

weekend's going good so far...

TK

bring on the weekend, now...

2011-09-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

training camp...

2011-09-06T04:47:00.000-05:00

The fully rigid 26 inch commuter at 10,000+...

Barely above 40 degrees, perfect...

Not all biking, some hiking. Steep...

unbelievable weather...

Yep, it was that nice. Highs in the 60's...

As we slowed to 77mph through Sidney, a pterodactyl slowly took flight from the side of the road. It proceeded to fly right into the side of the car. Hit on the back side of the side mirror, shattering the glass. A few feet either way & it would have gone through the front windshield or the side window. Turkey vulture/pterodactyl, same thing...

This mornings commute may be a bit slower with the 36x20 still on there...

Later,

TK

O diem praeclarum...

2011-08-31T04:57:00.000-05:00

and with you...

2011-08-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

made it, barely...

2011-08-27T07:02:00.000-05:00

summer...

hmmm...

that's texas toast to you pilgrim...

homemade strawberry/rhubarb slather...

Have a great weekend!

TK

2011 Gravel Worlds *

2011-08-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

by request...

2011-08-25T04:49:00.001-05:00

thanks sam...

ya know yesterday was a bullshit day, here's hoping today is fucking better...

later,

TK

gwavull wolds...

2011-08-24T05:08:00.003-05:00

Up at 3:15am, C-bread picked me up at 4:15, start line before 5:00am. Fast forward to MT's NW27th moral booster oasis around 7:30 - 8:00 am...

Hour and a bit later, saw Super Don on some gravel on the way back into Lincoln, stopped for some b-day coffee & brownies from about 9:30 - 11:00. Who's though?

Whoops, camera facing the wrong way...

Noon napper...

Open woman & 50+ from DM...

C-bread & Chris from Ohio...

SS Women's, bad ass...

Says it all, it was a good day...

Thanks everyone!

TK

exhale...

2011-08-23T04:51:00.001-05:00

minerals...

2011-08-19T07:03:00.002-05:00

I would have updated the tree saga but it knocked out the cable line to the house when they removed the tree & we've been w/o internet since Tuesday (I'm posting from work). Since then the ever present danger of the remaining portion of the tree has held us captive while we wait for it to either come crashing down on our house & garage or the tree service to get there this morning to start removing it. I think we made it, I hope. Last night's wild storm had me camped out at the back door watching it get hammered by the high winds, but somehow it made it through the night.

Less than 24 hours from now g-dubs will be in full swing. It's going to be historic! Who has the most guts, determination, staying power...whatever you want to call it. I always mentally prepare for the worst & anything less is a bonus.

I'll be riding a bit & helping promote this year so don't look for me at the pointed end. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the finish. Dig deep, push yourself further than you think possible, pain & suffering are temporary...gravel glory lasts a life-time!!!

Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!

Later,

TK

mardi gras...

2011-08-16T04:55:00.000-05:00

The two on the left are poised to take out the neighbors house, the middle one her garage, the one on the right our garage...

This guy could have taken out the whole house but somehow found the least damaging path to come to rest...

The house did take a hit, but minor compared to what could have happened....

Tree people are coming today. We feel lucky, lucky there wasn't more damage & lucky there coming today. After last weeks storms the tree services are buried in work.

I did manage to get the car out of the garage at lunch yesterday by driving it through the neighbor's back yard.

Later,

TK

good, good, bad...

2011-08-15T04:52:00.000-05:00

some big things going down in the lab yesterday, stay tuned...

...and at the grocery store. I was chatting up the old guy handing out cookie samples in the bakery and he upgraded me to a full cookie vs. a couple small nuggets in a little cup. A little more small talk & he hit me with round 2 (as seen below). Oh yeah...

unhappy ending alert...approximately 11:30 pm the neighbors unsafe tree attempted to take out our house. Somehow it missed the house but got both fences & is blocking our driveway & the other neighbors drive, it's that big. Here's the LES dude restoring our power at 12:30am this morning, oh yeah it tore down the power lines as well.

Could have been way worse, it did clip the corner of the house causing some damage to the gutter & roof. Could have been way worse! I'm preparing myself for an insurance cluster with my neighbor. The kicker is there is still multiple HUGE appendages left of this tree, the one I'm worried about would take out the lab & our car which is trapped inside...

I was just discussing this accident waiting to happen with Mrs. Mod on Saturday, well it happened...

Later,

TK

we made it...

2011-08-12T19:47:00.002-05:00

...have a killer weekend!!!

almost half-way there...

2011-08-10T05:11:00.000-05:00

small doses...

2011-08-08T05:04:00.001-05:00

Oh yeah gravel riding, I remember that. Friday I decided to get down the gravel rig & prepare it for the business trip at hand. With g-dubs less than 2 weeks away, a few things needed to be ironed out. Mission accomplished both days this weekend. Best part, I had fun doing it...

Hadn't ridden gravel since 6-4-11, DK. I was burned out, didn't even want to ride gravel. I hung the bike from the rafters & walked away, hoping the enjoyment would someday return. This weekend's rides were baby steps towards adding some gravel back into the diet. So far so good, again...it was fun.

Pit stop...

Later,

TK

shri hari sharnam mamaha...

2011-08-05T05:13:00.000-05:00

Just 10 hours of bullshit stand between me & the weekend. He'll yay! What?

Happy birthday JT! 40 dog, damn.

Weekend plan...ride. Where, don't know.

Later,

TK

aout...

2011-08-01T18:36:00.000-05:00

morty moot mope...

2011-07-29T04:54:00.000-05:00

and so it ends...my meteoric rise to mtb immortality. Something came up for this Saturday so no BO racin' for me. Last I heard Manawa was under water & I'll be at a wedding the Stanton weekend. The race bike returns to full time commuter duty. As seen below, it was fun while it lasted...

photo prop: Nathan Swanson

Later,

anserine...

2011-07-27T05:18:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm a full-time mtb'r, not really but I've raced twice, maybe I better give my "race" bike a look-see. The brown stain, wobble, & squeak coming from my rear hub needed some attention. One bearing, well I'll let the picture tell the story, what's left of one bearing had some issues...

Hammer & fire needed. This was actually the easy part, liberating the freewheel that had been on their for 10 years was the pisser. I probably lost a couple pounds sweating in the 90+ degree garage last evening. In the end I triumphed, got the freewheel off & put in a couple new bearings, victory.

that extra advantage...

the "biker billy" harvest has begun...

Later,

TK

ill booten gotty...

2011-07-24T17:27:00.001-05:00

csg/bo/ag from t-nuts on Vimeo.

stickin' it...

2011-07-21T04:54:00.000-05:00

...to the man, or whatever you want to call it. Tuesday & Wednesday I rolled out in the dark at 5:30 am for a couple pre-work jams. First time ever, brought about by afternoon heat index's in the triple digits. Upside, beating the heat (relatively), downside...get to work an hour later putting myself behind to start off the day. Whatever, it was worth it. I found there was something unexpectedly liberating about having my ride out of the way. The day-long stress of what time I would get out of work & how beat down I would be after work was gone. It's not like I had to get up any earlier, I'm an early riser as it is...

This morning we're getting a little bit of rain, just what we need to moisten the oven.

That extra advantage...

The Tour...with the exception of there being bike racing on TV (in HD) every day it has been seriously boring. France is a beautiful country & HD definitely does it justice. The next couple days are our last chance for something exciting to happen, please let something exciting happen...

Later,

TK

enhance your calm, always...

2011-07-17T07:23:00.000-05:00

All week I had planned on doing one thing on Saturday only to change my mind Friday & decide to do something else on Saturday. To quote k-dub, "I do what I want". I try to keep things hassle free & low-key, my original plan for Saturday was neither one of those. The new plan...me & the wood-nuts loaded up a six-er of Coke medio litro's & headed it for BO. Now that I'm a mtb'r, not really, but I'm just "doing what I want" & having fun. Keeping the mental stress to a minimum, there'll be plenty of that come Fall.

Full on heat warning was in effect, but with a bit of overcast & a breeze blowing it wasn't that bad. It was the humidity that was inescapable. We didn't realize that there was a planned jam for 8:00ish as we rolled up at 10:00 ish. Schmidt-dog & a newbie were the only sweaty remnants of the earlier sesh.

Track was in really good shape, freshly mowed, fast...

"do what you want"...

Check it out lap, fast one, & then a somewhere in between lap. 3 & done. Joel was just arriving as we loaded up...

Back to Lincoln, Oso, a nap, hammered through the tour recording (boring), dinner, & good night. It was a good day.

Later,

TK

a piece...

2011-07-15T05:45:00.000-05:00

...of my world. Welcome.

vimana...

2011-07-12T05:09:00.002-05:00

4:35 am...just walked one of the dogs, 78 degrees/89% humidity. That's what I'm talking about, already got my Tuesday glow started...

Hey Bike Master's crew! Thanks for the good time, job well done. I'm beat down but I'll be back...

exploring the hood...

that extra advantage...

my phone takes some pretty decent pix...

35 for a local this Saturday, no comment...

Enjoy the sweat, no break in sight. No shit...it's summer.

You're not seeing things...that's me racing off road Sunday. That's my fully rigid SS commuter enlisted for a day at the races. First mtb race, good times were had. Thanks Michael Wong for the photo...

Later,

TK

that extra advantage...

2011-07-06T05:40:00.000-05:00

Soon-d...

2011-07-03T07:15:00.002-05:00

Semi-retirment. Haven't ridden dub-g since DK. Mentally I went down in flames after that event. The downward spiral started after TI & hit its zenith during DK. None of what I was doing was making sense, why did I want to put myself through this anymore. A little time has passed & the really strange thing is that the event I want to approach again is TI? That was the event that hurt me the most. I was actually angry afterwards that I did that to myself. It was so big that everything after couldn't compare. I haven't seen any sign(s) that there will be a TIv8, but I'm cautiously, quietly, secretly, hoping there will be.

hey now...

Yesterday I coaxed C-bread on to the skinnies. A quick loop around BO, pit stop at the general, & then back to the Star City...

I used to get the "2-pack", a combo of a Pick-5 QP & a Powerball QP. That has been discontinued. They now have a 3 -pack, although it's not called that, which adds in a Megamillions QP. I guess their plan worked, they got an extra buck out of me. You can't call me a habitual lottery player though, it's been months since I bought any tickets. A byproduct of shorter rides which means fewer convenience store stops.

rorschach...

hi...

Good friend MT lit it up down in Lawrence, 4th in the Cat 3 CR yesterday afternoon! Oh yeah!

Rainy Sunday morning at the moment...

Later,

TK

freshee...

2011-07-02T06:07:00.000-05:00

ahhh, fresh macaroni...

the root...

2011-06-30T05:05:00.001-05:00

Rim strip has slipped, exposing about a half dozen spoke holes. I've had blinders on because I've been rolling tires at the twilight of their lives and I never looked at the rim closely...dumb-ass. "Fixed" the latest last night & took my chances, made it another hour & eventually home without another incident. This road-side repair stand (in the shade) made the task a bit more tolerable...

On an unrelated note...2 new Swiss Gold #4 filters in the house...

So it's getting hot out & only going to get hotter. No shit...it's summer.

Later,

my turn...

2011-06-27T04:36:00.004-05:00

It started two Sundays ago when I ran over something sharp coming through the Alps into Denton. A sneaky cut tire was the result that lay dormant until the following Friday when I flatted again on the back roads of Battle Creek. Then again the next morning when I finally discovered the problem. So how long can a dollar bill boot last? How about until the following Thursday when I wore through the boot & flatted again. Actually I had forgotten about it until Thursday's flat but the stupidity of not dealing with it became evident quickly. I booted it with a fresh green back & off I went. 30 minutes later I flatted again, not the boot this time, something else. Friday night I threw that tire out & put on a "new" rear from the garage stock & assumed I would be good to go for a bit. Nope, Saturday morning I flatted again. Not even sure what caused Saturday's flat, didn't find anything & I rode it again Sunday with no problems.

Yep...past due. Hard to remember when I flatted last before this spree. Shit, I've done three DK's & two TI's (one shortened) without a flat. I can't even remember the last flat I had, had to have been sometime in the last year? Maybe...

An alternative to the extended arm self-portrait, a work in progress...
This Thursday's weather was amazing after two punishing days of hellacious wind. I spent a little extra time staring into the sky as I mulled over my latest predicament...

Later,

if today sucks, there's always tomorrow...

2011-06-23T05:07:00.000-05:00