just some random stuff...

I am happy Joey is here. She helps me AND she cleans the shop. Props!

I jacked up my knee playing hockey 2 Wednesdays ago. It still hurts. I hadnt been riding because of it, but am going to try after I leave the shop today.

For some unknown reason, my twitter account wont work. wth?

Jason Lytle's new cd sounds so much like his former band Grandaddy. So much so, he should get the band back together.

I bought a USACycling license. I am a Category 5. Ouch.

Last night, Brooke Crum won her first race on the track bike I made her. Congrats Brooke!

Thats all I got for now...

DW

Meet Joey!

The search for a new apprentice has ended. "Joey" Brown has come into the shop to learn about all things bicycle. She comes from an art/sculpture and furniture background and I am excited to have this self starter in the shop. She made it through her first week at the shop, so thats a good sign...

She is seen here cleaning a 1960s Hercules 3 speed bicycle in for a tune up.

DW

Brilliant!

Ok, so I am hearing thru the grapevine that Indy's Major Taylor Velodrome just lost Masters Nationals. I am hearing that the change in admin at Indy Parks Dept. was kind of a factor, since the new admin didnt have the money to spend to host Masters Track Nationals. I'm no rocket scientist, but why would you bid to host Nationals when you don't have the money in the budget or at least in an escrow account? Why does this matter? I brought NAHBS to Indy and it was a tough sell to my exhibitors, but most of them came. The one's that didnt said there was no cycling culture here. The only thing is that now Indy Parks, in their infinite wisdom just undid what I had accomplished, the masses thinking Indy is a great cycling destination. Thank you Indy Parks! Dumbasses. Done ranting. DW

well, the misery continues...

Thursday nights group ride. After I switched wheels, used Chain-L lube on the chain I was about 6 miles into the group ride and then it started.... The chain went skipping, no matter what gear I was in. I adjusted the derraileur cable and that seemed to stop it from skipping real bad, but I already lost contact with the group. Rather than torture myself with the 20 miles solo, I turned around and headed back to the start. I was glad I did because the chain never really got a good feel to it the entire way back. I have ordered a new chain, a new rear derraileur and will replace the derraileur first and see if that solves the problem. All this from a tip-over crash.... damn. DW

Are you kidding me? Random thoughts and rants

I have lost between 10 and 14 pounds thus far, depending on the morning when I hop on the scale. I have been doing the group rides out of Nebo on the north side. Last week, I went with the Killer Bee's. I stayed out of the back of the group and opted for the front 1/3rd, knowing that at some point the wind would be a factor. The split came about halfway thru the ride and although I had been gapped, I put the hammer down and got onto the back of the lead group. The only problem with that was that I didnt have the recovery. I know I am fat, out of shape (well, round is a shape, right?) and old and slow... well, sort of. My body can still go fast. I know how to suffer. Its one thing I can do. So, after the split, with me hangin on the back hoping for some sort of recovery, we turned left onto Boone Co. road. I remained with the pack for maybe a mile, mile and a half. With no recovery for our hero, I faded off the back and was left to solo in for quite a while. I hooked up with the next group that hadnt made the split. I rode with them but my cassette or hub or chain kept on making nasty noises like it was falling apart... Not exactly sure what was up with it, but I came in with a feeling of accomplishment. I think a few more weeks of riding and such, and I'll be able to stay with them up to the sprint.

Oh, heres something that pisses me off...

If you werent familiar with the Project Tessa bike from a few years ago at NAHBS in San Jose, it was a raffle bike with all proceeds to benefit the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

The project took a while, as the concept was to have 10 of the most experienced builders in the USA all contribute a peice of this one of a kind bike. Each builder would get a portion or lug of the bike and carve it in their style and the frame would be brazed together by 1 builder and painted by another builder.

This is all fine and dandy in concept; the harsh reality of it is some of the builders took their sweet ass time delivering their portion of the bike. So, delays happened. Once the bike was brazed however, it was sent to a "master" builder/painter in the midwest for brazeons and paint. The bike was delivered to them back in August of 08.

I was assured once it was in their hands, it would be ready for NAHBS in Indy, because they were "clearing the month of February just for this bike". It became almost comical at how the next series of events unfolded.

On January 28th, I inform the painter the following information; (quoted from email)

>>>I will need the bike at least 2 weeks before the show to have it built up and photographed professionally.

FYI.

Thanks>>>

On January 30th, this "master" asks the framebuilders email list if anyone has a stainless front derrailuer braze on. I respond and ask if its for the Project bike. Of course it is. I overnight the braze on to make sure there is plenty of time for this to be brazed to the bike. Then I am met with a request 5 days later for the Cranks, BB and front derraileur, which hadnt even been shipped to me yet. I was stunned to find out that this "master" needs them; (see email quote)

>>>Which Dura Ace parts are they? If they are the new ones, then I need to have them in my hands somehow so I can work the paint scheme around them. I don’t know any store in my area that has them where I can see what they look like. Can they be shipped to me? I remember at Interbike at the Shimano booth, those parts had a strong color. I’d be nuts to paint something that didn’t go with them. You aren’t taking pictures of just a frame but a complete bike.<<<

I've been around bikes a loooong time, yet, I have never once heard of painting a bike to match the components. Okay, maybe thats a "normal" thing...?

So, after a slew of email exchanges, including giving this "master" a deadline extension of 1 week, the bike still doesnt get done in time for NAHBS. I was furious, because there was more time emailing than there was painting by this so-called "master".

Fast forward to March 5th, when I finally laid down the law; (see email)

>>>The time has come and passed.That bike needs to be in my hands on Friday of this week. To make myself more clear, Friday the 13th of March, 2009. I don't want excuses or explanations. Send the bike. >>>

I was done allowing this "master" the opportunity to paint this bike. In return, I get an email explaining that the bike is being painted, the decals werent done, blah blah blah, yada yada yada.

April 29th comes and I recieve an email that the bike is painted but it needs to cure for a week or two before it will be boxed and shipped. I just let it go this long because in my heart and mind, I was having it painted by someone who wouldnt mess around and who would do a professional, FLAWLESS job. Notice how I capitalized the word "flawless". This bike is something that is near and dear to my heart. It is in honor of my daughter Tessa, who was diagnosed at the age of 5 with type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. This bike is something special. It belongs in a museum.

Below are pictures of the bike when it arrived to me from this "master".

As a side note, I would like to say the following; these pictures are not doctored, photoshopped or altered in any way. I only wish to show how shoddy the work is from someone that many people hold in such high esteem. IMHO, this "master" is no master of the craft. His work is clearly half assed and he should be ashamed of himself for such a terrible job.

Now, onto the horror.

Good bye!

Dear San Jose Sharks Management and Players,

I am writing you today to inform you that you are now "FIRED" as my team of choice to support and root for in the NHL. This decision has been a difficult one for me to make, but I feel it is the correct decision for both parties, given the current circumstances.

I have been an avid (and sometimes rabid) fan of the Sharks since their days at the Cow Palace and have always supported them as a team, regardless of their ability to make the playoffs or advance in them.

I haven't lived in Northern California in at least 10 years, and I still supported the Sharks wherever I lived. Kansas, Texas and now Indiana, the Sharks were always my team. If I came back home to visit family and friends, I would always try to attend a Sharks game. Of those games I attended, The Sharks won approximately 35% of them. I thought it was me being there that brought bad luck, but we all know how untrue those types of statements are.

Last night's elimination from the playoffs clinched my decision to let you go. Before I totally slam the door on you, I feel that its important to let you know how proud I was of the Teal and Black when you won the Presidents Cup.

However, as important as that trophy and accomplishment may be, a first round exit to the 8th seed in the playoffs this year is as much of an embarrassment as the Sharks could ever have and as much as I can take as a fan. What happened to the team that dominated October and November? What happened to the team that was so far ahead in points, no one would catch them? A simple answer; They didn't show up. Gone was Thornton, Marleau and Nabby for the first two games, much was dependant on them and their ability to dominate at the Shark tank. By the time they had shown up, it was simply "too little, too late".

While I know you will have plenty of support in future years from the Bay Area and even areas a bit beyond, you will no longer have my support. If I wanted to live with a sense of "we can do it this year" only to watch a team fail, I would watch the Chicago Cubs.

Goodbye, good luck and good riddance.

Sincerely,

Don Walker (former Sharks fan)

ride report.

Last night I went on the Nebo Ridge group ride. they have 4 groups. Racers, Killer B's, Honey B's and rookies.
I opted for the Honey B's. Its supposed to have a 19mph average. It was windy as Kansas last night and it was hard work the whole way round. The group splintered even with a tailwind on the way out. I managed to make the split each time. We were echeloning the entire time. Once we turned into the wind, it was a bit more difficult for me. I skipped some pulls and stayed at the back a few times to catch my wind because I didn't want to get caught out there by myself. I held my own and even took some pulls once I had my lungs again. I stayed with the lead group all the way until the sprint. Once they jumped, I was gassed from my effort to hang with them after the first 100 meters and shot out the back. I soloed in during the cool down and thought to myself "give me a few more weeks and I will be contesting the sprints". Not bad for my 3rd ride of the year.

btw, my new road bike kicks all kinds of ass.

DW