To lazy to post

http://blog.myspace.com/zekesbiken

Since I spent waaaaayyyyy too much time on line any way and too much time on my other blog entries I am cheating and cutting and pasting today entries. Honestly I still haveing taken the time to figure out how to work Blogger very well and really I don't care. The Myspace page is so easy to use that I dont' see any reason as of yet to bother. Some day my sweets I will some day. I guess the biggest thing to figure out is posting photos but how blogger says to do it doesn't seem to work. Hell I can't even put a profile photo up with my profile let alone get my profile moved up to the top of the page... I have know idea how it ened up at the bottom of the page... doesn't make much sense is you look at this page but then again who is really? I don't think I would read it and I write the damn thing.

So we will start with the KC Cranksgiving wrap up -
What a weekend. Started off Friday morning with the loss of my house key and the keys to all my bike locks. Lucky for me I had just unlocked the CRB that has been riding around in the Green Torpedo.One problem avoided. Went and rode trail Friday morning with TS, it was supposed to be a pre work ride but after we had lunch and then I had to head for home to shower and change. One the way I decided to double check with the shop to see how much UPS dropped off today... not much so I took a personal day. I spent most of the day looking for my keys... I still havent found them... this place sucks up keys. I lost my keys to the Green Torpedo more than a month ago - some where in the house - still haven't found them. So strange. I thought I was going to see the new James Bond flick Friday afternoon but didn't want to drive and with out the keys to the bike locks - I have a feeling that they won't let you take you bike into the movie theatre with you. Too bad... but they won't let you smoke nad drink there either. Friday nights "retirement" party for my friend Danni, her husbands grandmother passed away so they left town for the fenural. I never actually made it out of the house friday night... got busy doing nothing... drank some whiskey... got lazy.
Saturday morning I got up -later than I wanted to - jumped in the van and burning it out to the shop. I needed to buy a new lock just in case I needed it. Burned back home, made coffee and some breakfest borritos. Got dressed and headed over to Static's pad. Met up there with Static, Melissa, Emily, Browing, and JP then headed to the trolly trail to meet up with Jessica - the off we went. We got to the Nelson-Atkins way early, about noon. It was funny when we arrived there were two guys there and they had just been being "hasseled" by the museum secrity. 5 minutes after we got there they came over agian - one of many apperances for the next hour and half while we rounded up the rider. Seemed that he Nelson wasn't aware or did they apporve of being the starting point of our "rally" and they were expecting lots of buses and childeren that day and we needed to stay clear of the drive... ok... not a problem. But they kept coming back, and our group kept growing... I think they were annoyed. Oh well. Finally every one was signd in and Forseter sounded the go.
6 grocery stores, lots of canned food bought, many miles ridden. Good times had by all. 60+ riders. There was beer waiting for us at the finish line and a couple of nice fellas went and got more... thanks guys.. the Colt 45 was tasty. Oh there was a track stand comp too.. I lasted a couple of minutes... it alwasy seems harder when you are being heckled.. I shot a vid of the ending which is on the profile. Those two were pretty good. Lots of bikes, lots of people and lots of fun. I have some photos but haven't got them posted on my Buzznet page yet but they are coming... I need to get the rest of the HFF photos up there too. To check out all the fun Forester has a flicker page and you check check them out there.
I hung out at Acme cycles until after dark swilling the beers with the likes of this guy. Then we all wondered over to Grinders for dinner for some and beers for others. I left there about 7 and pedaled over the Southwest Blvd to Ponac's for dinner and drinks with some other friends. Many pitchers of margreitas later we moved the party to Jilly's bar. Most people took off after midnight... I switched to whiskey and pulled my bike out of my friends car so they could leave...good thing I had the bike lock. Hung out until close... was going to head out when I ran across a couple of friends I hadn't seen in a while and talked me into going to the Lava room in Westport... more drinking... we closed that place down too... My nice driver drove me home and we had more whiskey and chit chat until til we realized it was 6 AM... good god where did the day go? We crashed out, woke up at 9 from the super bright sun streaming through the windows...ugh... off the breakfest we went. After breakfest I spent the rest of the day in a partical coma on the couch... trying to catch up on the sleep but not really having it happen.
Headed to Parkville that evening with some friends for a early Thanksgiving at a friends home. More good people, good beer and good times.
Wheew... what a weekend.
How was yours?


Next we will tackle the Turkey day wrap up -

OH my.... good times yesterday. Around 11 I pointed the Long Haul Trucker south towards the moms house. 25 miles and an hour and 45 minutes later I was walking in the door to everyone getting ready to sit down and eat... talk about perfect timing. I ate my fill - more than once. Turkey, sweet potatos, mashed patatos, green beans, corn, and gravy on all of it. Yum. Next came the cookies and the pie and running round the yard with the neices. A few more snacks and general chit chat with the fam... came close to taking a nap on the couch but I resisted. As the sun started to set I loaded up the paniers with my take home food. Gotta love my step dad - he made two trukeys yesterday - one for dinner and one for left overs - the second one he cut in half and bagged for my step brother and me to take home. An action that had my sister wondering out loud where hers was which mom pointed out she wouldn't take anyway, she has 4 childeren and is currently the foster parents of three others (lots of rotation there) and with the way she runs her home the meals for the next week are already preplanned... what would she use the left overs for? Where as me and my step bro are single guys who don't mind haveing the food... she grumply gave in. So currently in my fidge I have enough left overs that I could repeat my turkey day meal a few times in the next week... too bad some of it is never as good again as it was fresh from mom. I am sure I will live, it might be a nice change from my pasta dinners I have been having alot of as late.
....where was I? Oh yes, so I loaded up the paniers, go my lights all situated, said my good byes and headed home. I was running with out the headlight for a while and was pretty comfty with it... then I hit a series of unseen pot holes at spead with one hand off the bar and almost ended up in the ditch... I quicky turned the head lamp on.
What a great evening for riding! I took a slighly different route home than I took out which turns out knocked a mile out of the route.... that was suprising since I was getting undeided on which way to go and figured because of that I would end up riding more. No biggie either way. I pulled in my drive, unloaded the food into the fridge, poped open a oat soda, and texted one of the boys to see where they were. A few if the fellas were down at the annual Plaza lighting ceremony. They were in one of the fine drinking establishments down there. I checked out some of the Cheifs football game on the tube while I drank my second Rouge Dead Guy Ale (fyi if you want to send me beer for x-mas that is one of my favorites), changed the the sweaty bike shorts and woolie jersey for a pair of fresh dawers, my Buck Fifty approved Swobo T, and my CRC hoodie. Shoved my U-lock in the back of my pants, grabbed the Peugeot and headed down town.
Still a great night for riding, it was 59 degrees when I left the pad. The light base layer, t-shirt, hoodie combo was perfect... almost too warm. I beat it down the the plaza feeling the earlier 50 miles in my legs a bit. The switch from the heavy LHT to the light fixie made me feel quick and daring. Some times I like riding in traffic, espically in the plaza were you can wip around cars and walkers... makes me feel like I live in a big city for a moment. The Plaza was nutty and busy. I found the bar where I was supposed to meet up but there was a door man which ment cover charge... zeke don't pay cover charges - unless there is a good band inside or fine looking ladies and not suprisingly thoses some times go hand in hand. I radioed inside to verify that Tromans and company were actually in there. "Don't come in we are tabbing out". Sweet. I was itching to spin around the Plaza in the crazy traffic and see the lights and the people so off I went. Not much of chance to see the lights - granted they have been the same since the early 70's - with having to keep my eye watching all around me with the drunkn traffic and side walk stumblers. I wiped a couple of fun laps weaving through traffic - auto and foot alike - then my pocket started buzzing. It was Tromans - "Dude where the hell did you go?" I wiped around the corner and met them. Breif conversation on the curb, hand shakes all around - Tromans I dont' know who that gal was in your group but I must say, Oh my! hot! - The were heading to the next drinking establishment but I had no intrest of squezzing into a preppy packed bar fully of kakis and suv owners... besides I was having fun. I bid my fair wells and pushed back into traffic. On more lap around the area, then I turned up hill to the Westport bar district... it was suprisingly dead. I remembered the reason later...Cheifs home game... I am sure it filled up after the victory. Out of Westport and back to the Waldo hood... my stomping grounds. I popped in to the ol' fav watering hole 75th street brewery. Caught the end of the Cheifs game and started swilling the house brews.... many beers later it was closing time. I mounted my steed and made the easy <.5 mile jant back to the pad and collasped into the bed.
Over all a fantastic day. Good food, family, good ride, good beers, and friends all round. I would estimate that I was boarding on 65 miles for the day. Very suprised that my legs are not sore today but we will see how true that is when I go for a leg streching pedal later. I was supposed to meet up with a group for a trail ride eariler today but I slept in, had a late breakfest and have slowly been working on cleaning up this pit I call home.
What will the rest of the day bring? We shall see.
FYI it might be too late for some of you but November 24 (today) is "Buy Nothing Day" - thanks to Swobo for bring that to my attention.

And we will top it all off with a stolen artile from Dirt Rag mag written by Jeff Guerrero

BIKAKURE
THE BOOK OF THE COMMUTER
Although it stands to reason that a commuter should be mindful of the Way of the Commuter, it would seem that we are all negligent. Consequently, if someone were to ask, "What is the true meaning of the Way of the Commuter?" the person who would be able to answer promptly is rare. This is because it has not been established in one's mind beforehand. From this, one's unmindfulness of the Way can be known.

Negligence is an extreme thing.
The Way of the Commuter is found in riding. When the question is whether to ride or not, the answer is always to ride. The Way of the Commuter places emphasis on many qualities, including loyalty, self-sacrifice, justice, sense of shame, refined manners, purity, modesty, frugality, commuting spirit, honor and affection.

• Loyalty is a forgotten asset in this day and age, and society has come to regard sacred institutions as little more than folklore. Remaining loyal to the Way trains the mind and body. The commuter rides with a steely resolve, hardened by countless miles, and avoids the temptation of the combustion engine.

• Self-sacrifice is an often-misunderstood character trait. Not intended to be a basis for self-righteousness or self-pity, self-sacrifice keeps the commuter humble and grateful. The commuter takes solace in knowing their sacrifice of temporary comfort and efficiency will be rewarded with strength, knowledge and a clean conscience.

• Justice often appears to elude the commuter, as ignorant automobile operators cause havok on the world's roadways without repercussion. While it is tempting, and in rare cases necessary, to take charge of such matters, the Way teaches patience and resolve. When harassed, deny the offender the satisfaction of acknowledging their affront. When the situation merits confrontation, the wise commuter chooses thought and reason before U-lock.

• A well-developed sense of shame is a useful tool for the commuter. While cycling to work affords the commuter a deserving sense of pride, a commuter who has succumbed to automotive temptation knows no pride that day.

• Refined manners influence society's view of commuters as a whole. While the commuter cares not for the whims of the popular tastemakers, consideration for other users on the roadways inspires reciprocation. In simple terms, yield the right of way to faster moving vehicles whenever possible. While the Way allows for a certain degree of traffic law evasion, the sight of a commuter flagrantly ignoring the law of the road only serves to infuriate motorists.

• Purity is an almost unattainable goal for commuters, as the inevitable weakness of the human body eventually hinders one's ability to ride—even if only temporarily. Still, the commuter must aspire to ride every day, only then can the commuter be prepared to ride as often as the body is able.

• Modesty is a virtue, as no matter how many miles the commuter rides, there is always someone riding farther, longer, faster, higher, with more weight and in worse conditions than oneself. The commuter only needs to consider the saddle time of a stalwart bicycle messenger, who cannot rest during the day, to be once again humbled.

• Frugality is an indispensable quality for the commuter, as all cycling equipment eventually fails and must be repaired or replaced. Thus, the question is often whether to buy new or upgrade the old. When it comes to expenditure, there is but one justification—if the purchase will cause one to ride more then the cost is justified.

• The commuting spirit is kept alive by those who are faithful to the Way. While boasting is contrary to the commuter's ethos, an honest exaltation of the days ride among peers keeps the spirit alive.

• There is no honor among thieves, but there is honor among bicycle commuters. Regardless of distance traveled, the commuter acknowledges their peer's perseverance and sacrifice.

• Affection for fellow commuters is an important tactic in the battle for bicycle proliferation. A friendly nod or casual wave encourages a sense of community among cyclists, and could potentially initiate companionship, camaraderie or even friendly competition.

• Ultimately, it is up to each and every commuter to follow in the Way, and to enlighten their fellow man. So go forth, brothers and sisters, and carry on in the Way of the Commuter.

That pretty much sums up the last several good posts on my other blog. Granted I wish I had other things to type but can't seem to make this page work the way I would like. I am considering 86ing the whole damn thing and just using the myspace or starting a new one. However one of the things I like better here is that it keeps an archive whick myspace does not and I have written some cleavor things if I do say so my self.