KC Sprints, Mustaches & Beer

Jones and I were talking the other night (drinking beers) when he mentioned that with our KC Sprints 1st event of the season coming up perhaps we should repost that sweet promotional video that Lucas Marshall made for us after our Lincoln event last January.

So here ya go.



Since I'm on the topic of KC Sprints, Jones is also strongly considering getting some KCS hoodies made.
Not sure what the cost to you would be for them yet. As of now they don't even exist except for on paper but Jones (and maybe me) should have them on soon while we are out and about.

So if you think you might be interested in getting one shoot us an email at KCSprints@gmail.com

November is also know as Movember. Around the world men are growing mustaches to raise awareness for men's cancers.
And since women don't want to be left out today November 18th, er... Movember 18th, is "Have Sex with a Man with a Mustache Day"
Needless to say with a mustache like mine I've been patiently waiting by the phone and computer for an phone call/text message/email from some gal who wants to do her part to show her support in the fight against cancers that affect men.
I think I'm gonna have a long wait.

And while I wait I might as well have a beer.
Yesterday was Boulevard Brewing Company's 21st Birthday!
Happy Birthday to my favorite beer!

I'll have a Pilsner please!

Oh my what a mess August has been.

OK.

So if you are getting texts from me in all capitals its because my phone broke & my backup sucks. It sucks alot.

So many bad things have happened (more on that in a later post) since I got home from the RAGBRAI... I wanna go back to Iowa and just ride my bike.

Was doing a little single track riding on my cyclecross bike Saturday and went down. I jumped up right away because I knew I had landed on my phone.

I cracked the screen & its a touch screen.
I was kinda pissed and then I realized what my phone had saved me from. I had fallen right on to a couple huge chunks of beer bottle that surely would have impaled me.
Thank you phone. I need my kidneys.
My phone still worked just fine.
No big deal I can deal with a crack in the corner of the screen for a while.

It worked fine the rest of the day (I use my phone alot) Went to a party. Got home at 2AM went to bed got up at 5AM to work an event (Tour de Shawnee)

Phone still worked.

By the time I was home from the event at 10:30AM the phone started acting funny. Then it started shutting off and not coming back on very quickly.

Now it won't come on at all.

Shit.

Not something I really want to invest money into right now.

Oh well.
I got out my cheap back up phone and charged up the battery.
It was being funky at first but now seems to be working just fine.

Monday morning I was laying in bed trying to, once again, set the time and date.
The back up phone randomly shut off, again, and in a fit of irritation pitched it across the room.
Right into the bottom of the full length mirror in the corner.

Shatter.
Shit.

So there I am at 7:30AM freshly out of bed squatting on the floor picking broken glass out of my bedroom carpet and I couldn't help but start laughing at how ridiculous my life has gotten in the past several weeks.

Whats a boy to do?

Heres to hoping that with August wrapping up today that things will start to look up for yours truly.
Even the things that have happened for which I don't know what the end result will be as of yet.

Cheers!

Ahh... July. Sunburns. Fireworks. the RAGBRAI!!

Its July which means its time to head north for the RAGBRAI



I don't know Ron but I sure do thank for him the use of his 2010 route map. Strangely it was the only one I could find

I head out Friday, the 23rd, from Omaha with the Dutch .
The official RAGBRAI starts Sunday, the 25th, out of Souix City.

The Go, Dutch, Go! Plan:

Friday, Saturday & Sunday we'll work our way North East to the official route via Earling & Breda to Pocahantas.
We pick up the offical route there on what for RAGBRAI is Day 2 to Algona.
It will be our 4th day of riding.
Ah yes.... good times are a come'n

I'm really ready for a vacation. The RAGBRAI fits the bill nicely.
Its a great time that I think everyone should do once.
I think this is my 10th pilgrimage
I've made some great friends on the RAGBRAI & I can't wait to see them



Once again this year I'll be attempting to make posts from the road to my Twitter
Granted this is dependant on getting phone reception. Which in years past on the RAGBRAI has been spotty. We'll see what happens
I'll be back to file a full report next month

Halloween weekend... its here

Well Halloween weekend is upon us.
Which means all over the place there are "crazy & spooky "things happening in the next couple of days.
Supposedly... I wouldn't know for sure. I don't get invited to those kinda things.
However, I do know about at least one.
The annual Homie Fall Fest in MPLS

If you have the means and time to be there I suggest being there.
If you ride bikes, drink beer, and enjoy fun you won't be disappointed.
Believe me.
I won't be there again this year. I had planned to go but the whole new bike thing kinda got in the way of it.
Ah well. I'm sure I can make my own kind of fun here...granted it might be locking all the doors, turning off the lights and hiding under a blanket.
But hey... I'll have fun. And thats all that matters.
Right?

Have a good weekend. I'm gonna go ride my bike.

The Vortex of Terror

Jessee LaLonde (Gary Fisher, BKB, CantiCult) is pretty freaking amazing



Blatantly lifted form All Hail the Black Market

Saturday roll

More Saturday RAGBRAI "training" photos here

Statement Question Answer

My Statement:

Riding fixed gear one handed, in the rain, while balancing a fresh pizza on the bars isn't as easy as it sounds

The Question:

Why would you ride a fixed gear in the rain, with a pizza. Why would you ride a fixed gear at all if you weren't on the track, as the track is closed in the rain. I just don't understand.

The Answer:

The simple answer: I like it.
90% of my riding is done on a fixed gear.
There was a time when ALL my riding was done on a fixed gear...on road and off.
My first 4 RAGBARI trips I did fixed.
I even did my very first cross race on a fixed gear.
I'm not a hipster, its not a fashion choice or a trend.
I don't do tricks (unless track standing while waiting for the light to change is a trick) or big skids in some elaborate showy way.
I just ride.
Its what I do.


*exchange on Facebook

3rd (?) Annual F*uk L-town Pub Crawl

The word came down today from "Sexy Pants"...

We are doing the third annual Fu*k Lawrence Pub Crawl on Saturday the 31st
We will meet at 75 Street Brewery at 7 pm.
We leave when we want to & go ride & drink until we fall over.
Pass this on to any you deem irresponsible enough.

big grin...

So there you have it. If you wanna play come play. If not stay home.
I would imagine that we will at least ride from 75Th to the River Market and back.
But then again who knows... it could very well end up being an all Waldo pub crawl.
Weather and what not could be a factor.
Guess we will have to wait and see.

Things to bring:
Drinking cap
Bike (duh)
Bike lock (may not get used but never a bad idea)
Camera (to capture the shenanigans)
Drinking money (shots are mandatory and I ain't buy'n yours, hell I may not be able to buy mine)
Dancing shoes (you never know)
A friend (the more the merrier right?)
A good attitude (act like a dick and you will get treated like a dick and probably smacked around, tied to a pole and left for dead. Hey it could happen!).

A little advice from the single guy...
If you are "attached" and your mate doesn't play... er,ride get a kitchen pass early so you can.
Also spend sometime buttering he/she/it up during the week, taking out the trash etc.
This way when you call them drunk at 4AM lost and alone (or tied to a pole cause you were being a dick) they won't laugh and hang up but come and find you.
Trust me... this does/can/will happen.

*Little history...
The F*ck L-town Pub Crawl started a few years back (technically it hasn't happened annually for 3 years... we slacked and forgot last year, maybe one other year too but this is the third year of doing it... I think. It all kinda runs together after a while).
Back in the day there was a huge pub crawl every year in L-town the weekend of or before (Like I said its all run together) the Super Bowl.
After several years of doing it we (I) realized that we didn't know anyone that lived in L-town any more. So no place to crash.
We hoteled it one year but that got expensive quick.
And whats the point of driving out to L-town for a pub crawl if you can't get blind drunk when you have to drive home? F*ck L-town, we can do it better in KCMO.
Thus the F*ck L-town Pub Crawl was born.

See you kids on the 31st.

Fall 2008 Inventory

With the Fall 2008 inventory coming up in the shop I got to thinking.
I have a few bikes and with nothing better to do today (besides Voting) and before an afternoon ride I decided to take inventroy of my own personal collection:

The fixed daily driver - Peugeot:

SS Cross Dresser/Racer - The Van Dessel CRB:

Tour Machine - Long Haul Trucker:

Single Track Dirt Burner - Karate Monkey 29er:

Pave Eating Speed Machine - Pacer:

Fatty Fixie Commuter - The BFM (Bloody F#cking Mess)-Cross Check #3:

The Back Up Cross Racer/Trainer - 1x9 - Cross Check #4:

You might say I have a few Surlys:

SS Roadie - The Odd ball:

The Bar Hopper/Neighborhood Ripper - Electra Classic Cruiser 2005 New Belgium LTD:

Your SUV sucks:



Go ride a bike!

Changing things up

Decided to change things up a little bit
So my Surly Cross Check frame set is going on the action block.
I really love this bike (its the 4Th Cross Check I've owned) but its the newest so its got to go to make room and help pay for the next one.
Odds are it will be on EBay by this time next week.
Its a 60cm, less than a year old (purchased in January 2008), never raced or wrecked, and is Surly's slick Misty Mountain Gray in color. I did cut down the steer tube on the fork but not much. I will have to measure it for those that are really interested.
Thinking $320 plus shipping (MSRP is $420).
THIS IS FOR THE FRAME SET ONLY!
I am keeping the kit for another cross project.


Click the link above for official Surly specs.
If you are interested email me at zekesbiken@hotmail.com

I did a bang up job...

I haven't done an entry in a bit due to a small injury... typing has been difficult to say the least.

If you are wondering why I have the first photo its because of the 2ND photo.
The second photo is because of the large orange traffic barrel in the back ground.
"Damn zeke how did you not see that?"
OK it wasn't the barrel but the chain that is hanging off of it.
Let me explain:
Set out for the normal Saturday road ride with Bryce (OK not real normal but that is a long embarrassing story I will save for later when/if it is resolved)
We were getting a late start and headed north towards downtown and the bar district
We were (and did) going to hit the Westport area because being one of the big bar districts in town it was hosting a team pub crawl for raise money for cancer awareness.
Seemed like a good place to go and have a mid ride beer and to people watch.
We came in to the Westport area the "back way" as I have done many times.
There is a parking lot I normally cut through that has a chain across the entrance to keep people from parking in the businesses lot. This chain is always there and I know it but alot of times there is a gap to slip through with out having to dismount. I've done it before.
As I lead the charge down the hill I was squinting ahead looking at the parking lot entrance. I could see the giant orange barrel (who couldn't?) and I could see the chain stretching from the pole on my left to the barrel in the center. From the perspective I had it didn't appear to continue from the barrel to the other pole on the my right.
This is where I made my mistake.
I, in all my one eyed glory, trusted what I saw; not what I knew to normally be true.
I let off the brakes and accelerated down the rest of the hill and over the curb thinking I would sail smoothly into the parking lot...
Such was not the case.
The chain was there... hidden in the asphalt background
I saw it too late and grabbed two hand fulls of brake as I plowed into it at 20+ MPH.
The bike hit the chain dead on in the center of the head tube, the chain broke loose from the pole on my right but not before the combination of me trying to stop and the chain trying to stop me brought the rear of the bike up off the ground pitching me over the bars.
I hit the ground HARD hands first and crumbled in to a painful pile on the tarmac while my rear wheel continued in its upward and forward arc sending the bike flipping over the chain to bounce off the saddle and then go skittering across the pavement.
I had stopped sitting up right and was a little dazed and confused. I hadn't hit my head, my hands, forearms and left side took the brunt of the impact but I hurt all over.
Bryce appeared next to me with a: "Shit! You alright?"
He said as we approached the chain (he could see it where as I couldn't for some reason) that he kept waiting for me to slow down and stop. Much like me by the time he realized I wasn't going too it was too late to yell out in warning.
It was my own fault, I simply couldn't see the chain.
I wobbled to my feet, feeling pain shooting across the left side of my body, to check the damage to my road machine (Surly Pacer)
At first I was really upset with what I found because not only was the saddle bent almost 90 degrees to one side the wheels wouldn't spin through the brakes leading me to believe I had trashed the wheel set.
Turned out to not be true.
Between the brakes being knocked all katty wompass and the levers being twisted in and down the extent of the damage was the saddle and head tube badge (which was pushed up the head tube and left crumpled in almost a ball but still stuck in to the frame).
Much love for 4130 CroMo! Not even a dent in the head tube, my full carbon fork seemed to be OK (I had it double check today at the shop to be sure).
A couple of minor adjustments and with the exception of the saddle and my acheing body the bike was very rideable.
Bryce offered to buy me a beer as a pain killer for giving him a show which I gratefully accepted.
We soft pedaled up to the bar and locked out bikes.
I ran into Sam the manager of Buzzard Beach and he set me up with a bar towel and some ice for my wrists and hands.
I played tough guy for the rest of the day as we wandered Westport being social. I sipped water, drank a couple of beers and kept a smile on my face while shaking off peoples concern about my battered apperance while tried to stay active so I wouldn't tighten up.
After a few hours of that and short pedal over to our pratically mandatory Saturday stop at Galhollie's I realized I really, REALLY need to go home.
After Bryce and I parted ways I was alone for the first time and my tough guy front crumbled.
The pain and agony I had ignored all day took over and it was all I could do to hang on and turn the pedals hard enough to get home.
Things only got worse from there.
Road rash in the shower hurts and I always forget until that water spray hits.
Cripes!!
I showered and then spent sometime trying to find a comfortable way to lay on the couch.
A friend I had spoken to about the incident earlier in the day swang by with ibuprofen (which I didn't have) and some ice cream (which I didn't have either).
I had to be a pretty pathetic sight. I couldn't even eat the ice cream.
Between my sore hands and wrists I couldn't hold the container and push hard enough with the spoon to scoop any out... my friend took pity and fed me some.
Thanks darlin', you rock.
By ten I was ready to crash but once again struggled with finding a comfortable way to lay in bed. Plus I also got concerned with sleeping although I needed it.

I still, in a way, had myself convinced that a good nights sleep was all I would need to set me right. Then the next day, with alot of supportive tape on the wrists, I would be ready, painful but ready, to rock the Chris Cross cyclocross race.
It seems like it could happen and in the morning when I woke up for a minute I thought it might. Then I moved and my wrists started screaming at me.
Nope, no race today.... damnit.

I still tagged along with Mr. Joshua and his lovely wife to do some bell ringing, cheering, and beer swilling at the cross race. It was good times and for his 2ND cross race ever Mr. Joshua held his own quite well.

Maybe he did a little bit too well...
According to him I need to heal up before the BLVD Cup this weekend so he feels better about kicking my ass.

Hummmm.... sounds like a challenge I am willing to accept

Today!!

Handlebars... on your bike and on your face

Decided what the hell...
I have the parts, the tools, and today the spare time.. so I took the Peugeot the hipster route

Narrow-ish rizer bars... its the hip thing to do... right?
I also had some flat pedals with toe straps but after a couple of test rides up and down my street I remembered why I don't run them... They suck.




Also decided on a whim today, that I was done with my mustache. It was a hard choice. Its been getting on my nerves more and more over the last couple of weeks. I actually attempted to trim it some what in order to make it more tolerable. But the more I trimmed the worse looking it got so off it came. I figure what the hell... it will grow back.

Besides.... look how pretty I am with out it>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey its Friday. Get out there and have a good weekend!

The Weekend in Photos

Friday...

Saturday...



Sunday...

Meh... its all I got today.

Aero Bars...

If they were EMO they could cut themselves.
Until then we'll just have Travis do it.

*Thanks to Big Grin for the photo!

Its that time of year again!

Its spring at the shop which means its time for the annual spring sale.
The signs went up on Thursday and the sale runs through April 13th.
Come on by, check it out and buy something.
I unload boxes of new product everyday and I am running out of room.
Help me help you by giving us your money and taking some of these great deals home!

Long winded randoms

OK, I had a blog planned... sorta
I think of lengthy tangent filled rants/monologues while I am working, riding, driving, dumping, whatever. Many of times by the time I sit down to put them in a keyboard, for your reading pleasure, my mind goes blank.
Damn.
To combat this blatant short term memory loss I have taken to scribbling on scrap paper little notes.
Its silly really. Mostly because to be quick and save space I keep my notes so condensed and abbreviated that later I don't even remember what they were about. Reminds me of the old school days.
Lets give today's notes a shot anyway, shall we?

Mother Nature is a being a cruel mistress this week.
Not sure what is happening with the race Saturday. Per the HSP boys the 8+ mile course for Saturdays Spoke Pony Showdown 3/6 is piratically perfect!
"I was completely amazed. There were a total of about 30 feet of soupy trail on the entire loop, the rest was a mix of hardpack and slightly tacky trail." -CS
Finally after months of frozen then a month of wet things are drying out!
But there is rain in the forecast for the next several days. There was spotty rain around town today. It looked awfully dark off to the east where Landahl is...
Every forecast I have looked at is different.
Guess we will have to wait and see.
I would like to ride my 29er Saturday.

Speaking of riding...
I never got up in time or moving quick enough in the morning this week to commute but I have been on the bike every day.
Monday was the first ride with the new double freewheel from White Industries. Pushed around the hood for an hour before dark with the "road" gear.
Tuesday night I got out for a 25er on the geared Cross Check that I think I decided to name the Gray Ghost... but then decided that was entirely too cheesy. I had intended to go ride with Mr. J and with wife or Chasm and Co. downtown. But I really just wanted to get some continuous miles in. So I rode the opposite direction (south) and ended up in Grandview. Good ride. I topped it off with a beer and dinner at Club 75.

I got out again Wednesday night for several hours of spin
How I love day lights savings time!
I split out of work an hour early. Boogied home and did a handle bar swap on the Peugeot. Discovered that I don't have any lengths of brake housing. But I did have one perfect length of shift housing. Doesn't work nearly as well (don't inter-mix your housing) but it got me through a ride. I replaced it with real brake housing this morning.
I rode downtown to retrieve my lock from Comedian M.
I got blasted drunk at his house Saturday night with some kats. Woke up Sunday morning on his living room floor. I had managed to take off my shoes and glasses but other than that I was ready to ride, coat and all. As I stumbled out his door I managed to forget my mini. I didn't even notice I lost it until Mondays ride. Glad I have it back.
I just cruised around downtown enjoying the new/old set up on the Peugeot til dusk. Stopped at the market to find something for dinner when a bro called wanting to get a beer. I had a hankering for something fried with a beer anyway so we met up at Club 75; again.
Damn I love gift cards.



Friend and co-worker Hunter is pimping himself in Oakley's monthly contest again. Check out his video and give him your vote.

I have know that boy for a long time. He kicks ass.

Sad news from the Tetons today.
K, the "Best Ex Ever", called very sad and teary eyed. She was with others sitting in a hospital ER waiting room. A close friend had been involved in a climbing mishap. Life Flighted to the ER with major head trauma. Things don't sound promising. I have been there so I feel for the guy. Send your positive thoughts and energy towards the mountains.

To get back on a lighter note...
I am in front of a computer most of the day at work. So I have a habit of checking the news, my email, my favorite blogs etc through the course of the day.
Thanks to HTATBL I came across this story today. I occasionally have long sits in the bathroom but this is a bit over the top. Agreed?

I was thinking last night that I needed to get a new deck of cards. I have a deck but it is getting a bit worn with age and shuffling. I don't play more than solitaire but I like to shuffle cards or palm my balls while I watch TV, listen to music or compose my thoughts for a blog(?).
Then I noticed on the book shelf a forgotten deck of cards. The 2005 Hooters Calendar playing cards.
Hooray! I forgot about these. I don't remember exactly where I picked them up at but I know they weren't paid for...


Ah Hooters, good clean wholesome family dining.
This set of cards is new. Nice slick cards with no folds so they shuffle well. I did decided that I have a favorite but to be fair I picked out a top five.
Jack of Hearts - Natalie
Ten of Spades - Nikki
Ace of Dimonds - Aimee
Ace of Spades - Martina
King of Hearts - Tammy
From the bottom of the card box:
"Outfits pictured herein are not necessarily the official dress of the HOOTERS concept and may vary somewhat"
Oh my.

I have a love/hate relationship with Circus Peanuts
I spotted some in the store the other night when I was buying TP
They can't be good for me but I love them


OK. Thats enough of that.
I had a big salad for dinner and I am hungry again already.
Maybe I should have some ice cream or a bowl of Fruit Loops
I'd bet I'm better off just going to bed

I will leave you with this from Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz

"Remember where the thought is
I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless
Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead
No squealing, remember
(that it's all in your head)"

Good night

I hate when this happens

Here I am. Its after 9 AM and I had planned to ride to work today.
Instead of getting things ready last night I did nothing. Well OK I did do some bike work last night so I had something to ride today.
But I didn't get any clothing or other gear together thinking that I knew where it was and could grab it and pull it on in the morning.
OK course this did not go as planned.
Supposedly racing this weekend and I am way behind on getting miles on my legs. Most years a majority of my riding is commuting and this year I am way behind my normal schedule.
So it looks like I am driving today. After 9 to ride would mean being late.
I will get myself laid out better tonight for tomorrow morning.
Hopefully this doesn't set the tone for the rest of the day.
The up side is that I did ride a few miles around the hood last night on the 29er.
The White Industries double freewheel arrived yesterday. I forgot to take a photo.

Spinning my wheels

I was riding around the hood yesterday getting a feel for my new fork on the 29er (see post below). I was wishing trails were dry so I could really test it out but Mother Nature hasn't been very nice to dirt riders in these parts lately.

So there I was, spinning my brains out wishing that I had more of a road gear on my 29er. Which I got to thinking that today I would buy a new smaller (15 or 16t) freewheel for city riding.

I haven't been on my 29er since October so I figure if the trails are gonna be wet some street riding on it wouldn't' be a bad idea to get me used to the feel of the bike again.

This will require a different gear.

Wouldn't it nice if some one made a double freewheel?

Kinda like Surly's Dingle Cog?

Turns out someone does, namely White Industries.

I have a White Industries freewheel on my racing cross bike now and love it.

It bounces back and forth between my cross bike and my 29er.

It was expensive, I only have one, and luckily both my cross bike and 29er run the same gear on the rear.

Now if I had a WI double freewheel it would be like having the best of both worlds.

No more spinning my brains out for no speed on the road or not being able to muscle my way down the trail.

And no pulling off the wheel, getting out the chain whip and freewheel remover to do it.

I am liking this idea.

I am going to inquire to WI to see what I can get a double freewheel for and then possibly order myself up the 16/18 for the 29er.

Seems like a great idea and I am glad to discover that someone makes one.

OK... that's enough from me for now, back to work.

******************************************************************************************

I just got off the phone with White Industries. Ordered my 16/18 double freewheel and it will ship tomorrow.

I bet I have it by the weekend!!

Woo! Woo!

Gotta stop spending money on bike parts and pay some rent and bills...

or me and all my bikes will be living out of my van down by the river.

Done and Done!

My new On-One fork arrived at the shop Saturday

I ran out this morning and installed it

Now all my spring changes have been made to the Karate Monkey

LD purple Surly hubs have QR axles with Hope skewers

Front Avid BB-7 brake has been dropped to a 160 rotor (did have an 8 inch)

New SRAM 8 speed chain (old one was beyond stretched)

New Surly stainless seat post clamp

I have been considering painting the frame a different color

But I decided its not worth the time, trouble or expense

Even if I am biting Rottenmac's style

Besides, I like "Skid Mark Brown"

Now that I have used up the nice sunny but windy 70 degree Sunday morning I am gonna pull on some SPD shoes and take the KM up and down the Trolley Trail a couple of times before the temps drop and the predicted rain arrives today.