then light your torches and go!

 This internet, jeez. It is winter here, and for many of us that means decreased ass kicking in the out of doors. Kick ass adventures are some celebratory shit, maing! That's where you get your Good Feelings from. That is not to be taken lightly. I'm not talking about some SAD bullshit, either, I'm talking about the source of some postive, creationary, eff you en.

When folks are not having some type of Good Feelings on a regular basis, they begin to feel mean. And lowdown. They begin some rants on the internet? Somebody might be upset...for instance, that carbon is so heavily used in the bike industry on account of they feel it is a creaky, breakable and expensive sleight of hand. Prolly mostly that it is so damned expensive. Or, maybe mostly that they weigh nearly 200lbs and ride the shit out of their stuff (daily) rather than polish it and wait for the fucking Saturday ride to race their Cat 5 buddies to the 1.5 hour mark, only to replace it next year with the version 2.0 because if it's new, it's better, right? Clearly.

Perhaps it's these new guys, the ones all fired up about fat bikes, that are the next bogeymen. I hate the hipster infusion of (recent everything) "colour ways" and their co-option of classic men's fashion into a stale, jokey uniform of moustaches and whatever the hell they call that haircut from the 1920s...but a fixed gear bicycle is a joy forever and classic men's wear is classic because it works. Those are stone cold facts. Hey, a fat bike is just a fun time, it's not the fair target for hating the new school. I remember when.

Or, somebody might feel like giant bike company A,B, or C has instigated the complete ruination of cycling via _____________. A legitimate concern, I'll grant you. Particularly in this era of "flagship" and "elite" brand-only stores. The soul can leak out thru that hole real easy, but.

All a these customers coming in to the shop with their me-too and their give-me-a-deal might find their way to becoming in love with cycling for the simple sake of pedaling along on a kick ass adventure with whatever gear(s) on whatever surface. They might. The benefit of the doubt could usefully be given at first glance, on a temporary basis, on a case-by-case tip. It wouldn't hurt. And if they don't? fuck 'em. Sell homeboy that geegaw with a smile.

Look. Nobody likes to have their scene turned out. To see this bastion of hardness softened up and divided. There was a recent interview in Dirt Rag with Missy Giove (remember?) that had a relevant bit about having the mtb race scene invaded by athaletes. People were bummed that genetic freaks had come calling to their fun thing and turned it into something....mmm...less pure. Folks had been attending the mtb county fair because they loved it and it was it's own reward, and then the money and the Circus had come to town, and it was clowns to the back of the train.

None of that can make actually riding any less rad than it ever was. Let the fools and their shysters have each other. We have bikes. To the limited and self-selected audience reading these words: If you are not riding, you are blowing it. I personally don't see how that happens, as the riding is required or I start getting mean and lowdown my ownself, but I see that it does, so. Shut up and ride.

 Maybe take a ride to your local graveyard and drink a beer near a mausoleum. It's quiet. Well, it might be on your way home from work.





And, as regards the recent (and welcome!) wet weather, I remounted the fendered and fixed Schwinn Le Tour; an old and trusted friend. Some 32s and a hella raked fork swing me to and from my work and garden path type trail use. And, yes, that fender line is tight.

 None of my experience with technical rainwear has been positive, so I'll let y'all in on a secret you won't like: Carradice riding poncho and Filson tincloth chaps:

Well, I said you wouldn't like it. Yes it's heavy, yes it suffers if there's crazy winds or one is descending a col whilst being chased down by the peloton, and yes it actually keeps you dry and comfortable. I don't use this combo on short "training" rides, I use it for a day(s) on the bike. For short stuff that sees a warm shower and dry bed soon, I'll either use more aero "normal" gear or just trust in wool to keep me warm while wet. For long stuff, or camping, you can't be too dry or comfortable. I know you will, but...don't kid yourself.

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Hello new friends! Welcome. I hope you found what that for which you were looking.

I'd like to show you the light. Careful you don't hurt your eyes. People ask: What is the right way to live? For one, consider the Samurai in the rain quote: “There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.”(Yamamoto Tsunetomo, The Hagakure: A code to the way of the samurai)

So, if there's rain in the offing...what? You got a rain bike. My rain bike is a beat-down Schwinn Le Tourist fixed gear (that's right, you heard right- am I gonna let "hipsters" make my fixed gear passe? No. Fixed gear bicycles were fun before, and they are fun now, and they will continue to be fun in the future.) with brass fenders(!) and it is the perfect bike for just not giving a shit and riding from Alfredo's out to Fort Ord, taking in some gritty sandy singletrack, and looping back to the mean streets of Carmel. I was wrapped up in my self-tent and feeling froggy. To those who played: well played. To those who did not: duh, you blew it.

And, if riding around at night on questionably accessed trails is your thing, then you might find yourself throwing your bike over a series of gates as you get out and get in it. And you might say to yourself, "This is it."

hard hitting hot stuff

After the week plus of solid rain, I'd had enough yesterday. I dressed in wool from the inside out, I put on the self-tent and I climbed aboard the fixie. Full fendered rainy Goodness. It rained like hell. Then it hailed. Then it hailed some more. Then it kept raining.


Fixed is the way to go in slippery conditions. Full fendered is the way to go in the rain. Self-tent is the way to go if you are not concerned about making good time, are sitting uprightish, and it is not windy. It is also good for keeping you cool, and making you look like a weirdo.


I grew a beard? I must say: the combination old school weirdo self-tent coupled with the uber commuter dork safety yellow helmet cover was both surprisingly workable and satisfyingly ridiculous looking.

I outlasted the rain and experienced some sun! It was short-lived.


Let me also say: I need to change the height, angle, and (most importantly) brake lever angle on those moustache bars. The Schwinn sized steerer makes it a pain in the ash to find a stem that works. I have been reluctant to mess with the bars because it seems like a pain/waste to cut off the nicely shellacked and weathered cotton tape, but enough is enough. And plus, I have some light blue cotton tape that will turn a to-be-witnessed shade of green so whatevah, anyways.

I tend to ride bikes in phases (uh....whichever is working best at the moment, ahem!) and switching between them does wonders for recognizing that which is crying out for redress but would be ignored without the bird's eye of comparison. Reason #9,346 for having several bikes.


I rode out to the stairs and drank a beer. The rain returned like I owed it money on the way home. Then it hailed.


32ish miles.

kick em when they're up, kick em when they're down

Rhus diversilobum

Took that shinyish newish old bike out in the torrent today. (I am weary of the rain.) Rolled those 28s right off the streets and into the woods. Lots of sinking and slipping. Some sliding. Several big trees down right now, as those Monterey Pines just fold right over in a storm with their shallow roots. I don't have the saw for them. What sawing I could do I did. Beat the hell out of lots of poison oak; back on that plan. If you take a stick (of not-poison-oak) and swing it, you can lop the tops right off. Clearing trail for days when it will be fun to ride.

I make it sound like it wasn't fun, but who am I kidding? Being out in it is being out in it=Good.

It is definitely self-tent weather, and I used the Carradice waxed cotton Duxback poncho to good effect in the trees. Hard to beat for comfort when coupled with wool underneath. Hard to stay upright if there is serious wind and it is not ezzackly aerodynamic. Choose your weapon for the specifics of the field, I guess. None of the Gore __________(insert whichever model is current when) stuff keeps me dry for an extended period, and I end up overheating and sweating like mad in my personal sauna suit. Also, the self-tent is quiet- not crinkly. And plus, I look like a hobo and that is always a bonus.

Rolled out of the woods and into the town...stopped at the store for ingredients(and I will point out that the semisweet chips were $1.99 right next to the Vegan chips for $2.99, and both "may contain milk" as they are produced in a factory, etc...but the only listed ingredient difference was that the "vegan" chips had dehydrated cane juice instead of sugar) for these vegan "brownies" , and then it was home again to make the goods with N after school. She wanted cupcakes this time-complete with the vegan frosting of melted chocolate chips whipped with Silken firm tofu...we also left OUT the almond extract, reduced the sugar by 1/3, and reduced the cayenne(!) by 1/2 on account of how my kids are soft . But to each their own...If you make them you will be happy with the result. Full stop.

Also: Softy Newton is coming to town this weekend, from the wide open singletrackless (well, mostly) desert of Southeastern Utah, and I am putting out feelers to those innerested in dragging a hard man around so's we can show him up on trails we know the ins-and-outs of. He foolishly declined to bring his cross bike, so he will pay the price on his little bitty wheels...if that puts you in mind of some looong slogs involving plenty of quality road sections mixed in with suhweet singletrack. I know it does me.

stuff

Were these twins separated at birth? Local tongues are wagging after Fast F____ P____ takes a redhot #5 spot at latest CCCX mountain bike race in Ft. Ord. Looks like Team VanJossholeBurningmanhamDamme had a very strong showing...

The trails were sure to be in fine shape at present. The sandy bottom holds up well to the wet, becoming firm and packed in. Talking about the trails, here, not Senor Fast F____. His training regimen (vis. riding full rigid 29") has clearly paid off. Big Time. Mr. F____ P____ handed out a Belgian style asskicking like the flahute he is. Look out 4 guys who finished ahead of him...he's 2 Damme tough, and may have the ability to travel in time to "earn" those scorching finishes. Mr. P____ is also a very accomplished dancer.

The rain seems to be back, after our brief flirtation with Sunshine. If it keeps up,we may need this, but you know my preference for this.And since I only , unlike our Fast friend (and maybe it's why I'm not Fast?), lik to ride Brookses, I will use this (scroll down a little- in the middle) or maybe fabricate this.

Days when the riding isn't to be had lead a person's thoughts to alternatives...like trail maintenance, or street maintenance?


Check Pruned for some inneresting urban/street architecture. It's a continually intriguing site.

Clearly, I got nothing. That's what comes of living in a vaccuum and encountering only projections of myself- cuz that's what all y'all intirweeb shadows are. Don't tell my parents I'm on the computer, I'll get in trouble.

This little piggy went to market.

Went to the grocer's today. J and I took the Xtracycle train. We started in the rain (all caped up in the selftent) and 2/3 up the hill it cleared above us. Yesssssss. Sunshine.


This was the lockup- wheels removed and secured. I forgot the cable.


Here's the 6 bags. It was a cartload. I didn't leave stuff out that we needed, but I kept in mind the fact that I was hauling all this back up/over. Packing loomed large in my purchase decisions too.


J enjoying the ride back up the hill. The green drybag is filled only with another larger drybag, as we anticipated rain. Figured the paper sacks would dissolve.



The choice: this or that. Give thanks for some sun!


The returned rig, parked in the drive.


Perspective upon unloading. Look at the Grip King pedals...I gotta be King where I can.


After so much rain it was a joy to be outside and lugging things by bike. Physically I'm feeling really good right now. SI issues are quiet, legs feel clean. (Rollers...Thanks, Mysterious B___ S_____ for turning me on to them. You were right. For once.) J is always stoked to ride, so I'm lucky there. ( He told me at one point that he had to "deal with [his] juice". WTH?) The packing required some care, as it does. Made sure the bags were balanced weight side to side. Put the high riding bags (stuff out the top) in the back of the trailer. The little junky red sack is for straps/multitool/tube...straps aren't easy but they're very necessary. Used the outrigger support on only one side due to trailer interference, but for this load they don't really help anyway. The trailer and the Xtracycle complement each other very well (using the skewer hitch), . We've had Great Success using this setup on several camping trips as well, so I'm sure it's solid. The overall ride quality is "couchy". That's a description that gets thrown out a little too casually, imho, but the springy Brooks B66 and soooper loooooong wheelbase make it fit. Lotta flex...

I'm waiting on Big Dummy, dammit.

Don't push the red button.

Another rainy day start. Testing the Rain Cape while in easy-motion-mode pulling the trailer.
The cape works well in that I stay much cooler than in traditional raingear. And no one can see what I'm up to in there, which is nice. It catches the wind waaaaaaay too much to ride fast in it. It is NOT ideal for high traffic areas, as it really impedes moving the hands around quickly. Nice and styley ( and cool) for low traffic moderately paced rides. Also, it keeps me dry when I'm standing around in the rain much better than a jacket.

Look at the snow(!) on Toro... it was chilly. We rode to Joselyn's to pick up a blinkie light, and get some pictures taken. then it was on to REI in Marina to buy some chemical feet warmers! Upon application, my feet weren't warm in my regular mesh Sidis, but they were comfortable.

The skies cleared on the way out..see the double rainbow.


Then we hit the dirt. Your eyes see 48 (!) cm Nitto bars. I like to breathe when I ride, so gimme some wide bars. Those are not knobbies, we're running 35mm Panaracer Paselas. Super versatile in the big width- scmoove like Eric B. & Raakim on the street, and very serviceable offroad. (It helps traction to have the trailer weighting the rear wheel.) I like that. The ability to ride wherever fancy takes me is rad. Getting Rad...

To the stairs for a hot lunch, (we had lentil soup, which J called "a brown lunch". Hmmmm) and beyond on trails toward Trail#50...




This is inneresting because it illustrates the line choices I have to make differently when pulling the trailer. Normally, I'd ride to the left to skip all the wet. With the trailer, I have to veer left around the 1st puddle, wait for the trailer to clear it, and then come back to the right line. At the far set of puddles, I have to skirt the middle right line ( mindful that the trailer tracks slightly left behind me). Keeping always in mind the position of the trailer is mostly 2nd nature. J lets me know if I screw it up and rock his boat too much.
Following is the branch I spoke about in the 2nd annual Jossholes employee ride. This is what I will recreate in papier mache at courses across the nation to throw my opponents off their line.

Today we saw 2 coyotes in different wetland areas, 3 hawks in trees, and lots of turkey tracks (up the Grind, which was a boggy mess in places). It was down #50, up the road climb towards #82, down same road and up the Grind to South Boundary to the Frog Pond to HWY 218 and back the bike path to Jose's for some veggie chimichangas.

Here's one of the wonderfully graphic and scarifying signs warning of unexploded ordinance. It reeks of supernatural piracy. Especially at twilight.
I'm tired. And I will crush you.