USA

USA is advancing to play the winner of Brasil and Australia. The womens team looks awesome. Hope Solo is going on a shut out streak since the 2 goals she allowed against Korea. Abby Wambach is chasing the goal record.

Marta

6:55 Eastern Time.

USA vs. England. Should be a pretty sweet match. The time difference to China kinda sucks, but I've been able to catch most of the first halfs this week while eating breakfast before taking the dogs for a walk with Tara.

Hoping for a match between Brasil and USA. That'd be pretty sweet. Marta is really awesome. Her ball skills are amazing.

I Luv Video

Tuesday nights at I Luv Video is free beer. Tara and I have been on a sex and the city kick. I love it, funny as hell. Love how i see aspects of people I know in the characters.

Motorcycle Park

Took a couple of pics before riding emma long last sunday. the willits for is super sweet. pretty much all i could ask for in a rigid fork and with the way i ride, there's no desire for a shock. shorter stem helps a lot too. more upright and way more comfortable. be pretty sweet riding one of his bikes.

More Rain

Raining some more. They say, "in a drought, when it rains it pours." True for this year. This moring they were saying we might get 4 inches before its done. Water in the creeks is pretty sweet.

Planning on riding Monday, but it rained hard on Sunday. Walnut Creek is out, way to clayey. Green Belt would have been flooded with all the run off. Why not city park. The place was built for trials motorcycles. Its crazy! Surprisingly its super sweet for bikes, even rigid singlespeeds and there's not too much erosion from rednecks twisting. Shallow, rocky soil and steep grades allow this place to be pretty dry even after a hard rain. Only the second time I rode their since moving to Austin. Far enough to warrant a drive, but not enough trails to warrant driving to ride.

It'd be a bitch of a climb up to the park and its a bitch of a climb climbing back up into Austin from Bull Creek (the GPS said I got 3300 feet of climbing in on a 22 mile ride). I decided to ride back after my buddy needed to head home after the first lap. I didn't realize he threw my floor pump in his car. Ride home up Farr West was definitely fun carrying a floor pump in a messenger bag and 28 psi tires.

Whiskey River Don 't Run Dry

Tara and I went and saw Willie Nelson at the Backyard tonight. Played with Asleep at the Wheel nad Jackie the Joke Man Martlin was there. Benefit for NORML and and some other Mary Jane cause.

There's been a lot of musicians who have passed who I would have like to see play. Mr. Nelson is still alive, but he is on the list of folks who I wanted to see play before they died.

Other than that I wasn't too psyched. Played Whiskey River during the set and then again during the Encore. The boy's got a lot of songs, he doesn't need to repeat.

My biggesgt complaint must be the venue. Some sweet Live Oaks, but the acousitcs (sp?) were lacking. Big open outdoor venue what do you expect. I've just been getting into music like Willie lately. Started with Doc Watson at the Lied Center. That was a sweet show. Great sound. To say this is similar to referring to something you don't like as "gay", but I've always prefered black music. Hip hop, jazz and the blues. After Dire Straits my the first group I considered my favorite was PE. I also got into Hard Core early in High School. Seeing that shit live you are more interested in moving your ass. Listening to stuff like Willie I prefer to sit back and digest. I want to hear it. Listen to the stories and the music.

All in all I was glad I went. It was a cultural experience. The only big cocerts I've been to in Tejas are Austin City Limts Festival and The Roots. Not typical Texas concets. This was ligit. Hot chicks, short denim skirts, Cowboy boots and Hats. An experience in itself. Woodstock 2007 for a NY son?

No Rain

Finally, a week without any rain. The trails were pretty sweet and mostly dry. A few gumboey spots, but dry and no dust. Took a break from studying and headed out to Walnut Creek. The new fork is pretty sweet. The greater offset seems to improve handling slightly. Not a suspension fork, but there is definately some movement in the legs. I notice it with how it is able to ride over things. Seems like the fork moves up and forward to glide over roots and rocks.

More Rain

Its unbelievable how much its rained this year. Started getting hit hard again on Friday. Will it ever stop? I'm jonsin' for some dirt. Especially now that I got a WOW on the 29er. Replaced the bent Project 2 with a Willits. Little spin on the streets and this thing is sweet. Some nice action on the fork and its going to make for a sweet, smooth ride. Definately not suspension, but that's not what I'm looking for. Lost the long as stem I was running and went with a 90mm Thomson. Feels real nice.

Took some time to clean up the garage and get Tara's trainer set up. She hasn't been riding too much. Took the trainer out of the guest bedroom for when her mom stayed at our house to watch the dogs while we went to visit my family in New York. It never got put back up since we've been getting the room ready for the baby. Tara feels like she's slower, go figure, she's not showing at all! Being slow doesn't work for Tara riding in traffic, which is her favorite way to ride. But the trainer lets her get her rides in. The garage will work well. A bit hotter than the AC'd house, but that's fine for a southern gir.

Got everything set up while Tara was shopping for art supplies for her class. Went for a ride up and over Mt. Bonnel. Some great climbing. Love climbing the hills on the fixxie. Having to hammer is sweet and since your feet are being forced around it feels easier than a singlespeed. Got home and Tara was stoked to watch a movie and spin. The dogs and I chilled in the garage with her. Pretty sweet.

2 down in one week

Two cyclist killed last week. Sounds like it was the cyclists fault ran a red light on Springdale crossing hwy 290. though maybe it was a brakeless fixie rider, but the lady was wearing a helmet and that kinda goes against the whole look. Pretty shitty though. We've all done it and do it, running the reds. Here's one reason not to, or at least stop. Pretty easy to miss an approaching car when coming to the rolling stop.

Pretty hectic week in Austin last week. 2 girls on a conoe got caught in the current on Town Lake and took a ride through the damn below Pleasant Valley Rd. There was a boating ban on Town Lake due to the high waters and strong current. Guess the person who rented them the canoe at the Austin Hostel didn't know about that or think they needed life jackets. Ooops. Both girls survived without major injury.

Haven't seen it in the news, but some friends told me a guy and girl took a ride over the top of a dam on a jet ski. Guess they didn't see the dam due to the hight water and over they went at high speed. Both survived.

Another dead cyclist

Another cyclist killed by a motorist in Austin. At least the 2nd one in as many months. Technically the other was killed in Dripping Springs, but that's close enough.

Who knows what the hell this driver was doing when it happened. After he hit the cyclist he went into a ditch on the opposite side of the road and flipped into a parking lot on the other side.

Click the title for a link to an article.

Fucking nuts. Be careful out there.

Wa Wa Wee Woo!

Got the 44c Mutano Raptors yesterday. They look crazy. Can't wait to hit some good trails. Been raining like crazy so I had to settle for Pease Park and some crushed stone out to 183. Through the East Side on the way home.

Cool tires and the fatties fit fine, but the bike was definately not built with these in mind. Bit of a toe overlap, but its only an issue with slow turns with the peddles turning.

360 to Spicewood Springs

Yep, it was a good week for riding. I'm at 220 miles for the week. Its been a while since I've put over a hundred in during a week. Commuting helped. We'll see how it lasts, Tara's back home tonight from 2 weeks of traveling. Pretty stoked to see her. All but 25 of those miles were fixed.

The downhills on 360 are fucking scary on a fixed gear. My legs felt like they were going to explode.

Constitutional Law! What do you THINK?

In 2005 a Supreme Court case decided the fate of 2 displays of the 10 Commandments at Kentucky Court Houses and our at the Texas Capitol (see photo). Click on the link, it'll bring you to the CNN report on the deciscion. I thought it was pretty good one. Heard it on NPR. Saw the display at the Texas Capitol before. Seems like a lot of road or mtn bike rides (if you ride to the trails) take you through the Capitol Grounds. I saw it before the decision and never really had a problem with it. I am a freak and a liberal so I really believe in the separation of church and state. I'd actually be very happy if our gov't was god less. Uncapitalized in order to not discriminate between those who worship many or One. I though Animism was pretty cool when I learned about it in high school, but although I see some reason for spirituality and even mysticism, I think I believe in the eternal Dirt Nap. Dirt to Dirt, dust to dust, literally. If you think about it, is that not eternal life, on the molecular level? Personally I think that idea is pretty cool. But fuck it, what do I now?

I ride beer and and drink bikes. Nobody is buying my training videos.

Better Week

Picked up another 20 miles today. Buddy Brook called me up to go for a ride down to Town Lake. He was on his 24-inch bmx, I got to ride my 1x1 with platforms. First freewheel ride of the week. Up to about 170 miles for the week. Pretty nice considering only 20 miles were with a freewheel. First 100 were riding 39x13 fixed. Fixed that and switched the cross check to 39x14. Handled Mt. Bonnell pretty well and is great on the flats and I can handle steep downs with it. Just ordered some 700cx44 Mutanoraptors for the cross check. The thing is going to be bad ass. I'll throw those tires on the wheels that came with the Unit 29er. 39x16 free with that for the trails when I want to ride dirt with a drop and 39x14 fixed for the day to day. It going to be sweet. Ended the evening with some tacos and pitchers of Real Ale Full Moon Rye Pale Ale. My favorite beer. Pretty sweet.

My bro Brook rocks the short shorts! On the ride dudes were trying to pick him up and the ladies were telling him to put on a shirt. Except the punk rock chicks. They were telling him he was one hot bitch. My theory is all the punk rock men wear the tight ass jeans. Their chicks get a preview of their cocks through the pants. My boy was letting it hang out with those short shorts.

Red Rockets and Short Shorts. No mention of the gay-m here or the gay this or that. I know what my orientation is and I'll fly that Rainbow Flag with pride.

Who's the bitch?

Oh yeah. Here come an edit, so when I am talking about rides, if you're interested I'll probably be linking a ride map via the title to the post. You probably don't give ahit, but maybe I actually have some Austin Readers, so there you go. I'll try to remember for some time to remind that the link is there, but ya' know.

Good Week

60 miles on the dam loop sunday. 2 days commuting to work. peddler tuesday loop tonight through some rain. took the long way up shoal creek to north austin. wore all my jerseys except long sleeve and wool. all the shorts are gone except the ones that are worn out.

What the Fuck

Click on the title.

Yeah, it sure is friendly for cyclists down here. Just read about some downed brothers in Iowa on my homeboy Squirrel's blog.

Saw this on the local fox station tonight. Don't worry, I don't watch fox for news but was over at a friend's. This is really fucked up. The dude crossed the line and fucking plowed into this dude.

Pull Over Son

Commuted to work today by bike. Got pulled over crossing under I-35 along Grand Avenue. Guess your not allowed to lane split in Texas, at least when a sherrif is around.

Dam Loop

Rode the dam loop with my buddies Rey and Jeremy. Pretty sweet having the cross check back so I can do rides like this. About 60 miles when all said and done. 39x13 was pretty steep, but a lot less spinning on the way down. 39x14 would probably be perfect.

Title is a link to a google pedometer map.

Willits

Rode by the Willits shop yesterday and KVUE was there doing an interview. Hung out and talked to Jared and Wes while they weren't being interviewed. Wes was having me ride some bikes. Got to ride one of his personal monster x's, built in 2000 as a concept bike. Strutted ti fork, custom stem and bent seat post. Fucking sweet. Maroon on the front of the frame, the stem and seatpost to match the schelacked (sp) bars and maroon swift saddle. Pimpin.

The clicking on the title should provide a link to the video on KVUE's website. There's a shot of me in there riding the monster x back up to the shop.