Do you really want what you say you do?

I work at a bike shop, yet we are a corporation, therefor, we abide to what corporate wants. Customer Service is a huge factor. We pledge 100% satisfaction, and sometimes it seems to be 1000% satisfaction. Here a re a couple examples from just my store.

Example 1:
Customer buys a bike for 1300 bucks, rides it for a year. Never once was the bike taken care of. He began bringing the bike to us after buying from another store. WE fix the bike for free, he rides it, doesn't take care of it, then brings it back for us to fix again expressing his gross discontent for the product our company sold him. We fix it, it comes back, etc. This goes on for about 3 months. Not once did the bike ever come to us showing any signs of the customer fulfilling his obligation of regular maintenance.
Long story short, he cries, calls the District Manager, and gets a full refund a year later.
This pissed everyone I work with off, seeing how this guy totally took advantage of us, and did it smugly.

Example 2:
Cutomer buys both a road bike and mountain bike from Performance. After 3 years of owning these bikes, the customer writes a 5 page letter to our corporate office and complains of how his bikes rust too easily, and therefor are defective products.
I don't care what bike you own, if you payed $10-10,000, you leave it outside, it will rust.
But this customer was rewarded for his own negligence. He recieved at no cost, two bikes to replace the ones he bought, each costing 3 times the cost of the original bikes.

Now, where am I going with this? I work in a shop full of people (not all) who are open about a vision of a Socialist America.

Yet, all these people are deeply disgusted with how these customers were rewarded despite our deepest efforts to help them with their problems.

Now, how does re-distribution of wealth work? Just like what my co-workers are upset about. Performance spread their wealth to the others who wanted expensive stuff, but just couldn't afford to do it honestly.

In a socialized America, which sadly I see more and more people craving, the dishonest, the trash of society will be empowered.

Socialism may sound wonderful to some, but I know that the act of it is something no one can logically accept. Sadly, many minds are distorted, and I know why. I go to college in California. Every class I have had this semester has attacked conservatism in an "artful" manner, in order to influence students.

So now when I see people taking advantage of our "customer satisfaction", I shut them dow, hard, if its not legit. I have a reputation now at work for being tough on returns.
'

"Oh, your computer doesn't work? Let me show you that it really does...NO REFUND!!"

Basically I'm just sick of people who take advantage of things, ruining it for others. Thats ultimatley why there can never be a perfect world, these people will always be around.

Why Do We Believe What We Do?

I could write on this topic infinitley, one thought leads to another and to another, and it could go forever, to spare you and my fingers I am going to attempt to present the basis of my thoughts as quickly and direct as possible and hopefully let your own mind take it from there.

Why do we beleive what we do?

We are products of our enviroment and our ideas are formed from what we experience in life; in the enviroment which we exist.

We have free will and reach a point in life where we can choose an enviroment to exist within; such as work, school, sports, friends and social ativities.

As we have the free will to choose our enviroment we also have the same will to absorb beliefs and opnions discriminatley.

Yet, we are limited to absorb only which is present in the enviroment we chose to be in.

Right and wrong is deciphered through which we choose to absorb.

We are limited to absorb what is within the enviroment we chose.

We choose our enviroment.

We choose right and wrong.

Right and wrong is not as clear cut s black and white.

We do not choose blck and white, they already exist, they are immortal.

Right and wrong is not.

As we journey through life and disagree with others, lets remember that as we have chosen what is right and wrong, they have to.

Arguments are futile, we can not change anothers enviroment which they chose, which creates their beliefs.

But one can be a part of anothers enviroment and provide a part of your own enviroment to be shared.

If you let another persons enviroment affect your own too much, then it is your fault, because we you chose on your own.

...ok, I lost myself, my mind is going in too many different directions now to interpret through text.

Ummmm, hopefully this was somewhat interesting, but I don't care, my mind is stimulated.

By the way my "A" button doesn't work well.

And finally as I write this watching American History X, remind me to write a blog on it.

Oh finally finally, it is extremely difficult to articulate my thought in such a primitive form as writing...

Why Obama Won

Because his opponent looked just like Cotton Hill...Hank's father from King of the Hill.

RACISM

For some reason this topic has been on my mind recently, not sure why exactly but it's popped it's ugly head out and instead of beating it down like we all do to ugly things, I've been trying to find it's beauty, or perhaps, it's reality.

NO, I am not saying racism is beautiful, instead I am saying that many things often protrayed to be racist are in fact acts of human compassion which are misinterpreted.

Racism is often defined by society as an act of prejudice, favoritism, hate, dislike, contempt, etc. against a race other than one's own.

If I were to tell a Mexican that I don't have time to fix his bike right now, then tell a white guy mintues later that I will do the same job on the spot, then I am guilty of racism. Or am I?

If life was so clear cut, black and white, good and evil, sweet and sour, Linkin Park and good music, then yes, I would be racist.

But, what many fail to see when judging a person on an act they see as racism, is the inner connections between the people.

It is human nature to help others whom we can relate with. Although for me, being white is not something I find I relate with other people, however being American is. I also relate to other people who share my interests, others who go to my school, people who like the same music, etc.

When at work, am I more willing to work a little harder, or to do something I don't really want to do in order to help a person I relate with? YES. (or a hot girl, a curse of all men)

Is that wrong? I don't think so, everyone is this way. If a common bond is formed between two people, than most good people will be compassionate and help to the best of their abilities this other person who is in need.

How doe this apply to racism? Because things often construed to be racist aren't.

My boss, Yasser is an immigrant to America. He is a great American and I am proud to work for him. Yet sometimes, he will take a job in to be done before others. It is commonly from a hispanic person, and sometimes I end up doing the work despite having a full workload already.

Now, I could construe this to be racist giving preferential treatment to someone because they are hispanic.

But it's so far from racism.

The reason Yasser repeatedly will take in work on the spot from other hispanics is because he is a good person. He understands a strangers plight having been through it himself, and will selflessly do what he can to help a person whom he can relate to.

Many can judge these actions as a form of racism, I judge it as an act of compassion.

The more we can relate to someone else, the more we are willing to help them, it's human nature. It may be because we share the same religion, or we came from the same country, or perhap we shared a school. It doesn't matter. Fact is, most people are good.

So in conclusion, is the world full of racists, are we all racist to some extent, or are we just humans doing the best we know how?

my mind wanders

Going through my text book for my business class I came across a term which had a definition which got me thinking.

Although it seems to be a dead subject, "everybody knows this already" type thing.

I quickly realized that amongst me in class everyday are young, manipulative, naieve, and impressionable kids straight out of the confines of high school just now seeing a slight glimpse of light protruding from the reality of life.

Hence, they are easily swayed by what they are taught.

So this here is what they are taught.

"Affirmative Action: Employment activities designed to "RIGHT PAST WRONGS" by increasing oppurtunities for minorities and women."

So by now you are probably thinking I'm about to go off on "right past wrongs" but I'm not. Hopefully, that would be preaching to the choir.

What has me going now is the exclusion of white males. The ONLY group in our country that does not fall into the category of minorities and women.

As a white male I am strongly opposed to this, and I don't mean the concept of affirmative action. I am upset over the demonization of me, my brother, my father, and friends.

Ok, I'll be honest, I quickly got over such a petty thing...until I read the next term and definition.

"Reverse Discrimiantion: Discrimination against whites or males in hiring or promoting."

ALRIGHT! Here we go, that makes up for the knock on white guys! I dig it.

Then I began to think, a curse of mine.

I thought, "Wait a minute, white males are once again being segregated from the rest of our society. A portrayal of people ignoring their own racism by screaming racist the other way. "Reverse Discrmination"? Is that confined to one class of people? What an attack on the people included, the ONLY people included in this definition, white males! Does reverse discriminaion not apply to Armenians and Turks? Jews and Aryans? Sunnis and Shiites? North Koreans and South Koreans? Africans and South Africns? Russia and the world?
Can reverse discrimination not apply to some people in these countries who might discriminate based on past conflicts?"

I guess my point to all this is, I don't know...REALITY!

These things are taught in a lot of schools, although seeming miniscule, it really adds to a broader reality.

I have no problem listening to political, racial, opiniated comments of my professors, because I know I am smart enough to create my own beliefs.

However I do see "discrimination" and "reverse discrimination" daily, at work and school.

Sadly the acts of "Reverse Discrimiation" far out weigh discrimination.

But the acts of discrimination are not limited to white males.

It is one race against ALL others. There is not a limitation to white males, all minorities are not united with other minorities.

It is racism that is accepted to be OK by our society, just as long as it is not a white male commiting it.

Now I tangentially strayed in this post, but my ultimate message (totally separate from when I started) is...

Racism is born within everyone despite race, but some of us are able to over come this.

Do you? Do you really? Would yoiu treat a person who is a dead on stereotype for their race differently? Or would you chuckle a little because you just saw a stereotype to be true? Is that racist? Are we all racists still? Or has the definition of racism been changed to a definition that is actually socially acceptable?

Kind of like Gay no longer means happy...although most seem to be overly happy.

Final question...

Do YOU always take me literal? If so...when will you find that key to unlock your mind?

As the World Turns, the Simpsons Reveal the Truth

The Simpsons, spot on.

I've been a fan of the Simpsons for a long time, I remember not being allowed to watch the show when I was younger. But my siblings and I were persistent, we turned the Simpsons on when we could. Eventually my parents slowly saw the humor, the adult humor (which I didn't see all of at the time) and gradually objected less to the display of this Fox program on our television. Although it was rare, occasionally my father would let out a subdued laugh during the show but quickly re-established his paternal presence as a stern fatherly figure. I saw his enjoyment, and it created an even greater liking for The Simpsons.

To get to the point, one thing in life which I look forward to in life is the Simpsons, m-f, 11:00pm. All re-runs, all funny.

Tonight the episode was Homer running for Sanittion Comissioner. How it got to that...you gotta watch, but the overall message is clear.

I'm sure Fox had no idea at the time of the message...being such a liberal tool, but unknowingly they hilighted some key things.

To sum it all up..."Love Day" is created in Springfield...the citizens mindlessly accept it, Homer tries to throw the "Love Day" trash out and gets mad at the trash men.

He eventually decides to run for waste management commisioner and wins.

At the end, he messes things up so horribly, the town has to move five miles down the road to escape what Homer has done.

Now...how does this apply to anyhting at all relevant?

Let me explain.

When Homer first speaks to the masses, it's at a U-2 concert. What sticks out is when Bono says the "people of Springfield" and the crowd goes wild just hearing their name. I remember being at a Mason Jennings show where in one of his songs he mentions los Angeles. When he did, everyone (hipsters, liberals, pretentious f*&$s) applauded. But he was talking about how crappy LA is and how excited he was to get out.

Yet, he said LA to the masses and they were easily amused despite what he was really saying.

Homer eventually wins saying things like "I'd be the most wack, tripped out Sanitation Commissioner ever!"

And "My Men will do ALL your MESSY jobs!"

Homer wins in a landslide.

After winning Marge asks Homer, "But can the garbage men really do all the things you said?"

The show goes into a musical of "The garbage man can"

Eventually all of Homer's promises of having the Trah Men doing all the dirty jobs which no one wants to do runs into a financial crisis leading to the town relocating because of the calamity of futile promises.

So now...how does this relate to anything? Well, maybe some of you are catching on by now...to those who aren't...sorry, go kick someone in the nuts out of frustration because you are unable to see the results of false promises and ideology destined to screw our country.

Love you all.

As the world changes

So will my blog, be patient, a new direction will be taken, one which few may be able to handle, yet the survivors shall be blessed with rants and raves no one in their right mind should listen to...

The Rider

The air is dry. The sun bares down relentlessly on all underneath its vast umbrella. The asphalt seemingly glows under the intensity of summers wrath.

The rider n a quiet highway has no quick escape. To continue forward or to retreat both will require the same amount of time, the same amount of suffering in the heat. He chooses to press forward.

Caught in a monotnous cadence of pedaling, struggling to hear the music from his Ipod. One speaker has already broken, creating a steady beat in one ear, and an eerie silence in the other.

A car hasn't passed for as long as he can remember, adding to the solitude. Peering at the landscape around, as sweat continually streams past his eyes, he sees cactus, dry brush, and other plants which find home in this dry high desert enviroment.

Up the road there are two blackbirds on the ground. As the rider approaches, they swiftly ascend to safety above. The rider looks down and eyes the roadkill the birds are keen on finishing, once passed the birds return with a delighted squawk.

There must be shade around, the rider thinks to himself. But none can be found as the rider trudges even farther uphill, up the road towards more pain, more suffering.

Still no cars have passed. Usually there are a few on this highway, though never many. Maybe it is too hot for even cars to be here today.

Up ahead he sees a small turnout off the highway. There is a small tree blocking the suns rays, barely big enough to be sufficient. Quickly the rider pedals to the shade, dismounting his bike, then crouches in this miniscule area of shade.

Grabbing his water bottle of his bicycle, he drinks the last two sips of warm water. Looking around he sees no running water. There will not be anymore for miles, miles of uphill, miles of sun.

Gritting his teeth, the rider begins to remount his bike, the sooner he leaves, the sooner he will escape the dry mouth which is plaguing him now.

There is a sound from down the highway. A car. As it approaches the rider hears a faint sound of European techno music bouncing off the mountains walls. Peering down the highway, the rider eyes a strange shaped car rapidly approaching, tires squeeling as the rubber clings to the asphalt on each turn.

The windows are down, yet the rider cannot make out the occupants, just black hair flailing in the wind, seeming to dance with the beat of the music.

Suddenly the car is by the rider. It turns sharply into the turnout, without slowing down, somehow maintaining its balance with the road.

With an abrupt stop, the car creates a cloud of dust, blocking the view of the car from the rider. As the cloud slowly clears, a blue and silver car sits in front of the rider. A strange barrel of sorts is attached to where the rear seat would normally be, but on this car, the rear has been removed.

Both doors swing open and out step two young ladies, both dressed in closely fitting white tank tops and black jeans. Each with black hair blowing in a breeze which the rider cannot feel.

They approach and speak.

"Want a Red Bull?"

The rider suddenly realizes the strange car is nothing other than the red bull mini cooper.

"Yeah, I'd actually love one right now."

A brief conversation, a picture taken of the passenger handing the rider the red bull, then the car is gone.

Stunned by what has just happened the rider pinches himself, but he isn't dreaming. There is still a cold red bull in his hand. He drinks it.

Suddenly, like he has grown wings, the rider mounts his stallion and finishes his ride with his new found energy.

Fact or fiction? I'll let you decide.

At the end of a long week

This past week I finished school for the semester. I'll be taking the summer off, focusing on work, racing, and other things.

The racing started fast. On Tuesday night I did an hour long weekly crit down in Long Beach, fun race on a great course in a nice park. I finished mid pack, I made my moves, chased down most the breaks, mostly using it as just a training ride, not really going for the win. It was good times, if I can I plan to head down there some more this year.

On Saturday was the annual San Fernando Criterium. Fortunatley I won't be a cat 5 for very much longer because the start was at 7:30, that means I woke up at 5 on Saturday...ME! Anyways, course was 6 corners with a false flat to the finish line each time around. It was the first time I had raced with teammates, only 3 of us but we made sure to lead the pack across the line on several laps, just to get that Bearclaw jersey in the eyes of the crowd.

I made a move at the last turn before heading to the line in the final lap. It stuck and I pulled a huge gap over the field. Crossing the line feeling victorious, I was suddenly stunned to hear the race directors decided that we should go one more lap...later citing that the race was set up for multiple people to sprint to the line, not for some joker to go across by himself. Anyways, I now had one more lap to go and thought I just might hold on. I didn't. I got caught somewhere close to the line, but still finished top 10.

Sunday's crit was in Glendale, only a four corner course but it was fun. We had a later start time which I was thankful of. For the most part the field sstayed together. Riders tried to attack, including myself, but as I've seen in cat 5 races...if you attack, you will be by yourself. It seems to be easier to not work hard for the majority of the race, so thats what most riders do.

I did witness my first crash in a race, first corner of the last lap, 2 riders direct next to me on the outside had a bonding experience, it was pretty loud, but as I rode away inches from being taken down with them, all I could do was chuckle. The race came to a sprint, my positioning was a little farther back than it should have but I still took 9th, by inchs.
(All the pics are from Sundays Bicycle John's Grand Prix in Glendale...taken by mom, thanks!)

Charlton-Chilao-Horse Flats

>

Today was a good one. I got a chance to ride with Ben and Michele who recently returned from a month in Thailand, judging by their stories, it sounds like an awesome place.
We piled the bikes on and in my car and made our way up the crest, although the weather in the basin was OK, once up in the mountains it was nothing but clear skies and clean air. I have to say I often take for granted the beauty of the mountains which I have spent so much time in over the years, but going up there with Ben and Michele, who have not been there at all or for a real long time, helped to put back in perspective the treasure nestled so close to the madness of Los Angeles.
We got to Charlton where the ride starts and I quickly realized I forgot socks... Ben quickly realized he forgot his MTB shoes. Fortunate for me, Ben had an extra pair of socks in his pockets...? But, sadly my pockets were empty of extra shoes to help Ben. He was able to make due with the shoes he had though and rode surprisingly well with the shoes he had. Fortunately his clipless pedals had a platform, but that only helps a little.
The ride was great, the forest service was cutting up dead trees near where we started,leaving a pleasant scent of pine in the air, a good change to the smell of LA air I am well accustomed to.
We stopped at Horse Flats and pulled out our climbing shoes we had all brought and gave some bouldering problems a try. I'll admit, it's been awhile since I've climbed and to say the least I was a bit rusty, however, Ben and Michele rocked it!
We finished out the trail, all of us riding excellent. Ben met a yucca plant face to face which drew some good blood from his face, unfortunately, the camera battery had already died. The crash was pretty sweet though, something he should be proud of!
We all made it up the brutally steep climb at the end then headed back to civilization, that is all.

The ride

I haven't ridden with the Peloton for quite awhile, maybe a month now. My last showing was...pitiful, I was dropped on the first lap, was able to rejoin, but only for a short time.
I guess I have avoided riding there since, instead opting to ride the Angeles Crest where I could climb alone and not feel bad because the guys who do this ride with me have no chance of dropping me. Although this will change soon, Yasser today was w/i 15 minutes of me to Clear Creek...he's getting his old racing legs back.
Anyways, today I decided it was time to face my nemesis, the Peloton. I still wanted to climb so Yasser and I headed up to Clear Creek before we returned to the Rose Bowl. I felt strong on the way up, averaging a mile an hour faster than the last time I did this climb (still slower than Eric's pace to Mt Wilson ,10 miles farther, which he could do in his early season training).
On the descent I planned on taking the pull all the way down, keeping the pace mellow to allow myself energy for the Peloton. Yasser had different plans and quickly passed me picking the pace up. I had to follow suit so like usual when I ride with him, it was much tougher descending than going up.
We got to the Rose Bowl at the NW corner just as the pack was coming around that turn. I looked at Yasser, he looked at me...and we said lets go. We had a bit of chasing to do to get onto the pack but with a nice downhill entrance we were able to attach to the Peloton as it reached the backside. I spent a lot of energy catching them and was afraid that I would just get dropped immediately, but from somewhere I found the legs to stay on.
I used Yasser to position myself, although I am stronger than him, he has the pack skills which I lack. I made sure to stick on his wheel as he maneuvered his way into the middle, a safe spot to be.
I rode here for awhile than realized I had plenty of strength to move up. It seemed easy to do this which blew my mind. Eventually I found myself chasing down a lil breakaway off the front on the uphill side. I blew up and took it easy but it took awhile for the main field to get to me...and I was able to jump back in with no problem.
On the next uphill section I found myself at the front again! I wasn't at some ridiculous pace or anything but compared to in the past barely hanging on to the back, it was a big change!
Anyways, there was no great riding shown by me in the eyes of others. There was however a great feeling of accomplishment for myself. A month ago I couldn't even think of being at the front of the Peloton. Tonight I was there. My training has paid off. I'm only going to get faster, maybe in a month I'll be able to initiate a break and keep it away for awhile....who knows.
In conclusion, tonight was a very gratifying ride. I actually saw a lot of improvement in myself...and I'm more motivated to get faster.
Also, which I learned tonight, Chet Bearclaw has given us permission to win races, not to just take second or worse. If only he had allowed that this last weekend!

San Luis Rey Classic

One more race to add to history this last weekend. It was my debut to SoCal racing, my first glimpse at the riders whom I will be competing against this season and possibly many more seasons to come. It was the largest field I have ridden in since my entrance to the sport not so long ago, 44 riders I think. The week building up to the race I'll admit I was nervous, not knowing what to expect...I mean Californians are better at everything, so obviously, I would be facing much tougher competition than I did in Utah and Arizona. The plan was to stay at Rob's house the night prior (the race being near Oceanside), get a good nights sleep, then drive down on Sunday morning well rested. Well, I forgot the X factor. I was staying at Rob's. I didn't end up going to sleep until about 1:00 and then had his drunk brother come home, who realized I was there. Fortunately Rob explained to him it wasn't ok to just wake people up in the middle of the night because he wanted to say hi.

I did however get in about 6 hrs of sleep so all and all I was good. with a good breakfast at some place near Newport w/ hot waitresses and a pleasant drive down the PCH, Rob and I made it to the race. There were tons of people there. More than any other race I had been in, or gone to watch. This added to the intimidation factor just a bit. As I'm rolling through the endless line of cars, people checking out what bike I got on my roof..."look at that cheap thing, what a joke...he's going to race that?...Scattante? and so forth" Obviously just a figment of my imagination, but still.

Anyways, as I got dressed and emerged from the car in the Bearclaw kit, my attitude changed. I forgot the trainer so I warmed up through the parking lot as others got ready. Now (in my mind) people weren't looking at the bike, but instead the Team Bearclaw kit I was wearing. The confidence suddenly escalated. I was ready to kick some ass.

As I sat at the start, a guy w/o a team kit pulled up next to me. I laughed to myself, who is this guy? After all, I ride for someone now...I earned the right to be pretentious. I ignored his futile attempts at conversation and successfully made myself out to be pretentious. As we rolled to the start line after the A group left I heard a call from the side, "Hey! Performance!" Taking a second to realize that was me, I looked to see a rider who occasionally comes to the store. We struck up a conversation across the whole peloton, him saying he thought I was just a mtn biker and me telling him I'm just starting but I don't expect much. This of course was to throw off everyone at the start who was sitting there nervously themselves just before the race started. Psychological warfare, that's the name of the game. I listened to some other riders making jokes to everyone, speaking loud so all could here. But as my experience in Utah told me, these were the guys who would be as easy to drop as a match above a fire pit full of gas.

For those still reading, I'll finish quickly. The race started. I moved my way to the front of the pack but spent little time on the front for the first third of the race. After the first lap on the second half of the climb I moved to the front, picked up the pace hoping to separate the field a bit. It worked and by the top of the climb we were 4. For the next 22 miles we held off the pack and the chase group, dropping one rider at the end of the final climb. I didn't push as hard as I could on the final climb thinking that since I felt so fresh still I'd have a chance to out sprint the other two who were left. I was wrong and they took me in the final 500 meters. I still placed third though, so a good race.

When I first joined up w/ Bearclaw, one of them told me that it was guaranteed that w/i 3 weeks, hot girls would be knocking at my door. Well, not exactly. But a pretty hot photographer who was there told me she had been cheering for me because I was with Bearclaw. Good enough for me!

Everyday is a new one. I work with a man named Peter. He's a pleasure to work with, positive attitude, knows what he's talking about, and a mechanical Engineer since the 70's. I just found this out, he's only working here because he's going to his daughters college graduation in Europe, so is filling the time between jobs. Well, I'm aspiring to be in the same trade as him so I felt the time was oppurtune to probe his mind on that particular industry. Long story short he told me as a mechanical engineer it is tough. If you are working for Boeing and they don't get that Gov contract...kiss your job goodbye. He did however mention that his wife who is a civil engineer has held a steady job for years. Peter told me that the civil engineering world is where it's at. So I have been thinking of this all night. Civil engineering? What do you think?

The time has come

I have taken the advice of many, ignored the advice of many more. I have fought the battle against my own mind and succumbed to the will of one.

Yes, thats me, again wearing spandex, but now I have a sponser. A secondary one (to Dad), although i bought the kit at cost and only get a minor discount at Montrose Bike, it's a step towards the point of no return. There is no quitting at this point. I'm just now bridging into the greatest team America has ever seen. A team that is owned by an eccentric bilionaire. I was promised hot girls knocking at the door at 1-2 weeks just for wearing the kit. The team has their own Winnabeargo!

So back to the point...or lack of a point. I have enjoyed the races I have done, hated the suffering during the rides and my training before them. Yet, still after I recover I look forward to the next race, then get anxious knowing that each race will be pushing me to the maximum of my physical capabilty, a level of pain I have not yet felt. Is it my addictive personality that leads me to this pain? Is it me trying to prove that my physical talents didn't end in HS? Maybe I just want to be better than other people...or that I want to be able to tell people that I actually do something with my life, when asked what I do in my spare time I can say something more than the generic "well you know, hang out with friends and watch TV". I couldn't live with myself if that was the most interesting thing about me. Sadly, for many, especially a few girls I have dated recently, this is the most interesting thing.

I refuse to be mundane. I will avoid this by racing. So far it has worked, I have a date with a 6 foot tall blonde on Saturday night. I once told Rob that I didn't want to race because it would take all my time and I wanted to leave time for girls...he said I should because Iwould get more girls. I thought of the girls I've seen at races...and he would be right if I was a lesbian, but I'm not. However, girls do dig winners. Thats my motivation, the more I win, the more those tights become sexy.

Why?

I've done two stage races now, within those stage races I was in 2 road races. Basically I have limited experience racing.
But one thing I have noticed really bugs me. I have been watching all the pro races that have been aired on TV this year. When i see them I see guys who are RACING. There are attacks, breakaways, and suffering....FOR THE WHOLE RACE! But in my lil cat5 races, the consensus among the riders has seemed to be "take it easy guys, we have a long ways to go". Now c'mon, are we here to race or hold hands and sing songs? Today in my race I found myself out front with a bit of a gap after taking a pull on a moderate incline, hoping to pick the pace up. I guess to everyone else it was too much work that early into the race, although we had been going for 18 miles in only a 60 mile race. Well, I had two options. Let the lil effort I had put in go to waste and fall back in with the sissies behind me or to just keep on going with 35 miles of headwinds in front of me to tackle by my lonesome.
Pride took the best of me, especially because there already was a mutual agreement to STOP (if we were all together) at the feedzone to get water...not this time, I had no one to hand me bottles and was carrying four on me, everyone else could kiss my butt. Let them stop if they want, but I was out on the front, no wankering out in this race. So I made my break, basically sacrificing my chances to win the whole stage race which i could've done if I was conservative about it. Long story short I stuck the break for about 20 miles and got caught. I held on with the lead group over the major climb and to the sprint at the end taking 5th still, even after dropping my chain 3 times throughout the race.
Basically what I'm getting at is...where is the competitive spirit? Yeah, I didn't make it to the end on my lil solo break, but why weren't there any other riders willing to get their heart rates up before 1 km to go? Watching Paris Roubaix, the 3 breakaway riders knowing that it was coming down to just them, kept the pace high the whole time. The guys I have raced with slow down towards the end. WE WERE GOING 11MPH at one point on relativley flat ground in the last 5miles of the race! As i watch the Pro races, I'm envious. I want to race with people willing to take chances, to work hard the whole time. If I had just one person who decided to come with me, I know we would've held off the pack for the 35 miles, but they were all scared to give an effort till the last second. WHERE ARE YOUR BALLS PEOPLE?!?

New toys

Ok, a follow up.

Yes Kelsey, I got a new car, or a new old car. It's a 2003 Pontiac Vibe, same as a Toyota Matrix but usually goes for about 2 grand less and has a factory roof rack, a definite plus. I got the GT version so it has a six speed manual tranny (sorry Eric, but if you wanna drive it you better learn), Kelsey you can drive it...the seat even moves forward so you can reach the pedals! It has 180 hp opposed to the 150 in other models. All and all it suits me really well, the roof rack, the seats that fold down really well, the sunroof with plenty of headroom to spare, the "premium sound" (which is a lot better than the stereo in my truck!), Pirelli tires, FOG LIGHTS!, front sway bar, power everything which makes me feel all high class and alloy wheels (which I really don't like, a bit cheesy but it's cool).

On top of a new car, I really felt I needed another new toy...so I got a bike, surprise right? Well this particular bike cost me 50 bucks and I have to say it's the pride and joy of the fleet. I don't know what year it is, 70's I think. It's got semi horizontal dropouts so you know what that means! If you don't, which is most of you, it means the derailleurs are gone and its evolved into a single speed. I've worked on it a bit and it's almost finished. I'm using as many original parts as I can, frame, bars (classic style), brakes, crankset, levers, post, and saddle. But along with that I have to choose a gearing option that would be somewhat versatile. The crankset basically leaves me with a 53 or 39 tooth , I chose the 53, pretty high, but I threw a 20 tooth cog onto it to give me a chain length of 70, most road single speeds run about 67 so it's close enough. Anyways, the bike is going to Eric, I'm thinking about making it fixed but I'm unsure if he could/wants to ride with no freewheel. I might just do it anyways and then he'll be forced to learn how to ride one! Here it is. ( The wheels aren't the originals , if you couldn't tell. I'm just not down with 27 " wheels, what a pain in the butt they are)

It needs bar tape, I'm thinking yellow, maybe green, any suggestions? The only condition is that the color totally clashes with everything else on the bike (for Eric's sake)

A new ride

Thats right, I felt the vibe so I got one. More to come.

Triple Valley Stage Race

So, I did it.

Eric, your constant nagging paid off and you got me to race.

All and all it was good. Dissapointing the first stage, gratifying the second and a mix on the third. These feeling had nothing to do with results, but more so the way Cat 5's race. In retrospect, I would've planned my final move on the third stage better. Only 3 seconds out of third, I should've outsprinted the guy ahead of me at the line instead of throwing the hail mary 1km from the line. Then I could've got the time bonus to boost me into the top 3. Oh well, 4th in my first stage race is cool.


I feel motivated to train a bit harder, not longer but more intense. Taking fourth in the Time Trial was a great achievment. A measure of indivisual strength, nothing else. The 3 who beat me had TT bikes and all the aero stuff to go with. I had a 21 pound bike with clip on bars which I was riding basically for the first time. Looking at the pics, I wasn't really that aero, so I can be happy I powered through into fourth.


Anyways, I hopefully will be racing again this weekend...another Stage Race...I'm going to be so tired. It will suit me better though, some big climbs to really separate those pansies looking for the participation awards from those who actually want blood. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my truck hasn't passed away at the mechanics while I was in UT.


Here are some pics from the weekend. I'd like to thank my personal photographers, Kelsey, Eric, Ben, you guys are great!

Warming up before the first stage

Just before the TT finish line

Neutral rollout, stage 3, always got time to pose.

In the breakaway group, stage 3

After my hail mary, right before the line...at least one guy couldn't hang w/ the pace I set

Post race (I'm stepping, my leg isn't jacked up)

Finally Eric sprinting from the restroom before his race starts.

Another day

After a rough weekend, I'm feeling better. My truck was broken into, dash ripped off, stereo, cd's, Ben's glasses....all gone. All this right in front of the house, now when I'm outside and I hear a noise on the street I'm ready with my gat in hand to avenge these cowards who broke into my truck. Worst part was that in the stereo was an awesome CD a buddy gave me, ("Me Without You", check em out) Also, a pair of sunglasses Ben left last time he was here was stolen along with other things.
But as I said, things are better. I mean, stuff happens right? I'm sure I have quite a bit of Karma credit built up waiting to be cashed, and a lil bit was cashed in this weekend...but I somehow managed to build more up. But, like I've always believed, even the worst things that may happen in life, it's all good as long as you learn from it, and act upon what you've learned. So in a sense, I feel that the negative events from this weekend, are exactly what I needed. (Although, I wish they never happened)
Alright, to those wondering what the good is...I'll get to that. I got my tax returns yesterday. Apparently while in the military I was paying CA taxes, but was exempt because I was in TX and FL. So all that money came back on top of the federal return. I bought a bike immediatley with the money. I shouldn't have, but as soon as I get it, it will be posted for sale and I will be able to ride it until it gets bought. (I have to test the waters to see if I can profit from Pro Deals) Yesterday, I sold the truck shell that has been collecting cobwebs for years. It went to a guy and his girlfriend with dogs and they seemed totally stoked to get it for the price.
On top of all that riveting news, I got a good ride in today, making up for my lack of training over the weekend. Yasser and I rode from the Rose Bowl to Red Box. 19 miles of climbing, and 19 miles of descent. On the way up I decided to just stay on his wheel for the first 8 miles of real climbing. It was great, I never felt strained and was able to ramble to him for an hour as he suffered up the climb struggling to find the air to respond. On the leg from Clear Creek to red Box I left him behind doing some sprint training. I was amazed that I was able to hold a speed up the climb of about 20mph for 45 seconds at a time. I thought back of the first time I had ridden it, on old MTB bikes with Eric, his untuned bike slowing him down, making me feel stronger than I was on my brand new bike.
Anyways, the descent was a rush. Yasser used to be a very good sprinter so when the downhill hit, we were cranking in the big chainring swapping pulls, wheel to wheel, at 35-40 mph for the whole descent. Not a car passed us, it felt good. From Foothill to the freeway, Yasser showed me some sprinting techniques and we did some mock sprints through La Canada. Best part of the ride was, 2.5+ hrs from when we started and we were back at our cars....I just wanted to do it again, and I think I had the strength to.
Basically, from this ride, I've seen improvement. I've seen that as I apply myself to something, I will better myself. Ultimatley this isn't just about biking, but life in general. If you really want something, if you're serious about it and can work hard for it, you will be rewarded. I hope to apply this to other aspects of my life, knowing that improvement will come.
Nobodys perfect, but it's never too late to work towards it.

Another day

The time has come...or will soon

I cant believe I'm doing this. It's literally been years in the making, the constant persistance from my brother has finally worked I guess. I am going to race my bike this coming saturday and sunday. I chose this race for a couple reasons. (www.triplevalley.com) The first reason is that Eric is going to be racing in it too...at a different level of course, but we'll be doing the same race which helps me a lot. The second reason is it is a stage race, in it I will experience a road race, a time trial, and a criterium, all this in just one weekend. The way I figure it is that if road racing is something I might enjoy in the future, I will experience almost all its aspects at once. I may like it, I may hate it. Problem is, if by some act of God I actually win at least one part of it, I will be motivated to continue and win more. The next problem is that if I win nothing and get totally worked over, I will want to continue to redeem myself. Thanks a lot Eric, I've avoided this for so long and I feel the addiction already, I haven't even raced yet. To top it off I'm registered to do another stage race the following weekend, in Arizona. Kind of wierd that my first two races are out of state...I guess I'm justifying the spandex by using it as an escape from CA (which I do love). Anyways, I'm knee deep now, there's no turning back. I just hope that the power that Eric naturally has is somewhat in my DNA also. I've trained hard but I feel it's not nearly enough. Saying that, it ultimatley comes down to this. I never raced before because the prospect of failure. It's easy to ride my SS on El Prieto, to be called the second fastest rider there over a 25 year span, etc. but through these rides I'm not finding my true potential. I feel almost a fake when I pass absolutley everyone on the fireroad who started within 30 minutes of me. All I can think of is that Eric would put me to shame along with so many others who race. I can't ever take the compliments on how fast I am seriously because I know I'm not fast, at least not yet...it's all relative. These two race will be an awakening to me and thats exactly what I need. Hopefully my support crews in UT and AZ;) will be motivation enough for me to push myself to a limit I've never seen before...but we'll see what happens.
Another big fear is that through racing I will become that pretentious f*&$ working in a bike shop. I know I'm not that, but I hate those guys, I don't want to be that.

It's generally the simple things in life that make me smile. Maybe this means I have a simple mind, but I'll let you be the judge of that. Everyday at school I see so many different people of different race, sexual orientaion, political motives, and so forth. With so many different types of people, there is a lot to observe and many oppurtunities to rationalize common stereotypes. I won't lie and say that I try not to stereotype different people, because I most certainly do and I get a kick when I see people who completley support one.

For instance, Asians are stereotypically slow people. Both driving and walking. I am so often astonished on the ability of some to walk the speed they do. I absolutley hate getting stuck behind a couple asian girls walking up the stairs or even worse, a couple holding eachother arm in arm. It's hard enough to walk arm in arm with someone, trying to coordinate your footsteps so your hip movments somewhat coincide with your partners. Kind of like a 3 legged race, but slightly easier. So get two Asians walking arm in arm and you'll realize the true meaning of slow.

Then there are the protesters. There are so many ridiculous causes out there that people care about for some reason and you never really realize it until you go to a college campus. I was told today that our Governor, Arnold, would castrate me if he had the oppurtunity. Not sure what that applied to really, but the guy who told me seemed pretty passionate. I guess the stereotype of protesters is that they are a bit loony, which in reality, they really are.

A lot of Blacks go to PCC also. I get a kick out of it when I walk by a group of them and they are there with their boom boxes "rhyming", usually pretty bad, I think a lot of them don't really understand the concept of words that work together. It's still fun to see though, it gives me a smile.

Now for the Armenians, the felt sweat suits, expensive jewelry, conversations of their Escalades on dubs, and the word "bro" used as much as valley girls use "like".

Then we have white people, although not as many, they are still around. The white kids problem is that they have no clue what they are. The hipsters who follow the "Hipster Handbook" perfectly, the ones who think they are Jamaican and sport the dreads and the rasta beenies, the pretentious ones like myself walking around stereotyping everyone, and the lil punk rock kids who come from wealthy families but dress to look poor in their own rebellion against the "Man"...whoever that is, I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Anyways, I have friends in classes of every race so this isn't meant to be at all derogatory. Everyone doesn't fit a stereotype, most people are completely normal, or as close to what normal would be if there was such thing. But, to the few out there who fulfill the stereotypes, thank you for making me smile, keep it up.

...

I guess I'm going to try to update this blog a lil more often...in turn you may have to suffer through some boring ones, but I hope to keep things a bit interesting. I guess that all depends on how I'm feeling, how much I have to rant about, and if I can come up with something more than a blog about riding my bike. For now however, you get bikes. Well not entirely, but...just read on.

This past week Ben and Michele were able to come down to SoCal for family baby shower stuff so it was a perfect oppurtunity for us to all go ride together. It's been since last Sept I think when we rode last. They're good company so it was a blast just as I had expected.

They came out to La Crescenta on wednesday and before we rode I gave Ben his new Fork which I had hooked up for him. As I was putting it on his bike I realized that I had been wrong about what parts he would need to adapt it to his frame, strike one against my "expertise". I had the part he needed on an old frame but in order to install it I had to go by work. Problem is, I'm not supposed to Pro Deal anything for other people, and by going to work with his bike and putting on a fork they knew I had bought, might give myself away. Fortunatley the main man wasn't there and the others don't care so it worked out and we got it on and headed to the trail head.

As we were gearing up I noticed on Ben's bike the lack of two important bolts which tighten the stem to the handlebars. Oops, I forgot to put them back on and they were sitting at work. Strike two. To not look like an idiot I quietly rummaged through my truck hoping to have some bolts to replace them, but nothing was found. Time to bite the bullet. I began to tell him and as I did, I remembered reading an article on how some MTB racers take off bolts that aren't really neccessary. Not these ones however. But thinking it out I decided it was safe to risk Ben's safety so we could still ride. I told him they were gone, but it was alright because racers do it and they aren't really needed. We headed out, Ben and Michele with big smiles and me with my fingers crossed. I mean if his handlebars were to slip in a nasty technical section, it could be disastrous, and I think I just might be the one to blame.

Well, by the time we reached the top then made it to the singletrack I had completely forgotten the problem. I even told Ben to follow me off one of the bigger drops on the trail, assuring him it was easy (forgetting a hard landing puts a lot of strain on the joint missing the bolts). Luckily, we finished with no accidents...sorry if you were expecting one. Back at the parking lot I had to confess my sin, at least he was cool about it. Afterall, I guess I was right that they weren't needed. (No, there is no strike three, I don't strike out...at least in my mind)

We got to ride again Saturday morning out in La Verne, Rob came up for it and Craigers, Ben's dad decided he wanted to come along also on a sweet 13 year old bike. It was a fun ride, Ben, Michele, and I holding up the front on the climbing with Rob and Old man Rossell going slow so as not to show any of us up, it was nice of them.

Overall, it was a good weekend, great seeing all of Ben's family, meeting the new members, seeing the old, its always good times with them.

To those who haven't seen me in awhile, yes, I am letting my hair get long...my way to make up for years of weekly hair cuts.

Time to come clean...

So I have some things that I've been keeping inside for a little bit and feel a strong need to get them off my chest. I'm sorry to anyone whos perception of me will be altered dramatically and I hope that you'll understand, and possibly forgive me for what I have done.

It all started a couple weeks ago. While riding my bike I was doing a lot of thinking. I had forgotten my Ipod, which I usually bring on rides to avoid thinking. While my mind was bouncing from thought to thought I somehow convinced myself to do something I've sworn off, something which I have sworn to other people I would never do. It just isn't me and I've always felt by doing it I would be cheating myself, demoralizing myself, and ultimatley going against everything I stand for. I thought I was strong.

Well, I went ahead and did it anyways. I wore spandex.

Thats not all though. After riding my road bike in spandex bike shorts I had another crazy notion, even worse than the first. As I looked at my legs, I felt awkward having the hair on my legs extend past the bike shorts. Whats the point of bike shorts if the hair on your legs is "baggier" than your shorts. Well, this had to be fixed, but I'm not about to shave my legs, thats as bad as shooting up heroin in my opinion. So I went home and took a trimmer to my legs. I guess the trimmer was a gateway drug and the very next day I took a razor to my legs. Just to see what it's like, right?

Well, I have a problem. It's not that bad, at least for the time being. I'm going to race right? So why should I quit, it's not hurting anyone else, and I can stop at any time, it doesn't control me...

I blame my brother.

Oh, and today in my spandex and my shaved legs I rode w/ the Peloton at the Rose Bowl. I thought they started at 5:00 so i got there about 4:30 for a little warmup and then I could be fresh for the start. They didn't start at five, nor 5:30, not even 5:45. It finally got going at six so by the time we began I had already put in about 20 miles. I still felt strong but not as fresh as I could've been. Anyways, it went good and fast. There were probably about 100 riders at the beginning and after the first 3 miles about 20 had been dropped, then more each lap. I made it four laps, 12 miles. The speed was around 27-33mph, pretty fast for me.

The biggest problem was that I was in the back, I'm not that comfortable yet riding inches away from other riders. Howevwer, at the back, riders go to die. They were like the passengers in the back of the plane in Alive. When the tail was lost, one by one they were sucked out. So everytime a rider plummeted to his demise I had to fight to get back in the slipstream of the survivors. Eventually, I too plummeted to my death.

I did another 10 miles by myself and then called it quits.

I'll get there a little later next week and hopefully hang for the whole 25 miles at that speed. Maybe I hadn't shaved my legs close enough so I had extra wind drag keeping me back...?

THE Best Stage yet...

The Tour of California, what a magnificent race. First, it's in CA and we all know its the best state to be in, so right away we know a race w/ CA in the name is destined to be great. I've been watching the race. Slowly, each day, I learn a bit more about the riders and the way guys dressed in spandex battle each other both psycholgically and physically, very interesting stuff.

So today was a stage from the Ventura to Santa Clarita, A good amount of climbing towards the beginning of this 105 mile race then a long gradual ascent into Santa Clarita where 3 laps were done on a 3.5 mile course, then the finish line.

A breakaway started near the beginning and these 6-7 riders held off the Peloton forever! I thought they had it, but then they got caught by the pack and a new breakaway started just miles from the finish. This one got caught too and it came to the final sprint, there were the ones who went too soon and broke down and the one who won.

The rider who won had been in an accident just miles earlier...w/ 3-4 Rock Racing guys.

Now to Rock Racing...many of you have no idea about them, but for particular reasons, they have become the underdog which I am rooting for, so any sign of any of there members taking a stage win....I'm at the edge of my seat. (Today Rock Racing even called my shop looking for some stuff for after their race on Sunday, I was gitty like a schoolgirl talking to them)

Anyways, where am I going with this? I don't know, I never do! I think I'm trying to somehow put into words the emotion, the passion, the motivation, I get from this sports discipline which I have yet to truly understand, but I am so intrigued.

Just watching the race, I am frantically picking who I'm pulling for as the race dynamics change, how I want so bad for those six riders to stay away from the pack but when they get caught and have no chance, I quickly have to pick a new underdog to root for, then everything changes again....and I see my beloved Rock Racing Team all picking up there bikes which are broken from a crash and I feel so dissapointed. Then all of a sudden I see Cippolini (of Rock Racing) coming at the last sprint after the wreckage and I'm ready to scream if he wins, but he doesn't quite make it and the EMOTIONS ARE AMAZING!!

Anyways...I cant wait for tomorrow, last day of the race, it ends just two miles from work (hopefully I can take a long lunch and see it) and Rock is coming to my shop! I love it!

Are you Liberal?

You know to be honest with everyone, I am Liberal...its scary to say that...and it can be misconstrued. The ideas of the Democratic party do not intrigue me at all, but the philosophy behind it, well, yes. I guess living in CA for so long, I'm bound to have an overwhelming influence from the left. Its kind of like Marxism I guess. In a perfect world, its a grand idea. But, correct me if I'm wrong, we all live in reality...at least most of us, and the reality is, it just doesn't work.
So, for what I want...I dream of a day when no one has to worry about getting the proper healthcare they need, a time where getting old is ok and seniors get everything they need, a place where there are no factories polluting the air, adding to Global warming. A country who can give higher education to all at no cost, and a world that has no dissputes, and thus, no need for military. Problem is, I live in reality. The time is now and what we have to deal with is now.
All these things would be wonderful, but as I tried so hard to portray to Wabo last week on his ridiculous health care philosophy, THINGS ARE NOT THAT SIMPLE! The idea was that everyone pays a tax for healthcare, and everyone gets covered. Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, it's not.
The problem arises when people think that it only takes one solution at a time. Unfortunatley, everything revolves around something else. So, with the universal healthcare proposal from Wabo, sounds great, but couldn't work. All of a sudden , people who get Healthcare from their employer, all of a sudden don't. Why would a company spend money on health care if the government gives it for free? If I were a CEO, I sure wouldn't. Now, with everyone having free health care, the doctors offices become flooded w/ people who got a paper cut, or bruised their knee. Miniscule inflictions, but hey, the government is paying for me, I might as well go. So eventually the act of seeing a doctor becomes even harder than it is now. Just look at the Emergency room, although I don't have the exact statistics, if you now go to the one place where people aren't turned around...you are waiting a long time!
Alright, say you don't mind waiting for a doctor as long as everyone can see one...cool. But remember, w/ this added tax, people have less money, therefore they are not spending as much and businesses are making less and then they start charging more...its a downward spiral.
I'm going to cut this much shorter than I really want cuz I have a test in the morning, but just remember this. People are like that mouse in the book I loved growing up..."if you give a mouse a cookie, he'll want a glass of milk" The more government providing handouts to people, the more the recievers will want. The more taxes we'll all pay for these free loaders, a larger deficit will be created, and the ambition of Americans, which enables us to be great, will be underminded.
We all care about others and don't want anyone to get the short end of the stick, but what do we really want to promote? A society where no matter what you do, you'll have others taking care of you, or a society where people are striving to better themselves and essentially continuing what has made our counrty great?

Say no to CraCain, no to Hil and Bama...yes to Romney, the one man who is actually smart enough to give everyone in this country (dem or rep) what they want.

Commuting by your own POWER

As many of you know I have been riding my bike to work whenever possible. Ultimatley, I began this to save money on gas. The ridiculous gas prices and my ridiculously fuel guzzling truck motivated me, but I have gained so much more than saving money and doing my share to be "green" in a non-liberal inspired way, nothing against liberals, but they aren't the only ones who care about the enviroment. Yes, to get to work in time I have to leave earlier. I began leaving an hour and a half before I had to work, more than I needed to get there, its only 12 miles if I go directly, but it gave me enough time to cool down and stop sweating before I clock in. But now it takes 35 min tops to get there. Only about 15 mins more than driving, not too bad. This is both because I am much stronger now, and I've learned the lil secrets in riding with cars and how to use my driver/pedestrian status to bend laws (safely) to save time.

Anyways, what I have found from commuting on a bike is almost a spiritual journey. Don't take that the wrong way, but by commuting on my bike I eliminate so many stresses that cars provide. Yeah, I still have to deal with cars, but I'm not one of them. On a bike you enter a different world of commute, there is no waiting behind others at red lights, no following that slow old lady who cant drive, or dealing with teh prick in the Porsche who thinks he's God's gift to the road, and no confinement of sitting in a bubble (car) enclosed from nature. As I cruise through the crowded streets on my bike I remain free. The fresh air (or almost fresh) I breathe, the wind in my hair and the adrenaline that flows as I have to react to drivers who act unexpectadley, all provide a natural high for me.

When I get to work in my car, I'm worn out from the journey, and I don't really want to work. When I arrive by bike it's totally different. I'm enthusiastic to get out there and share what I feel about bikes w/ customers who either feel the same passion or for some reason ended up there with the potential to feel what I do, all they need is that enthusiastic person to motivate them, and perhaps motivate them enough to give a try to what this guy seems to love so much. Then, when work is over, it just feels good, instead of everyone getting their keys out, we put on our riding shoes and take off into the night on our bikes. And its not just commuting, its being out on the mtn roads on a road bike using every last ounce of energy to make it up that hill, or to be ripping down a narrow singletrack, taking the drops, flowing with the trail, or just tooling around by the beach on a 50 pound beach cruiser. No matter where you are on your bike, the stresses from the world seem to dissipate...rapidly, your mind becomes free and the simple thing in life, such as just living, becomes so much more enjoyable.

So anyways, to those who can...I know not all of us are blessed enough to be able to ride through the winter...get on that bike and ride. Life becomes simpler. And as Brock Rossell told me before Thanksgiving...bicycles are the answer for world peace. Lol, so true.

To those interested, Gary Fisher actually inspired this post. Check it out here. http://youtube.com/watch?v=o7tV8pQbaxU

Why Spandexers should stay on the road

I love how after this potentially fatla crash, the friend asks..."did you film it?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftujM1zxis&feature=related

Doing my best...

have you ever gone into that bike shop, or music store, or perhaps a running shoe store, and just found the employees to have an eliteist attitude? In my opnion bike shop employees are the number one culprits in this. Such as when Dad, Eric and I went to that shop in Salt Lake. We were there for at least half an hour with almost no other customers in the shop. We looked at bikes, skis, boots, clothes...everything. The whole time we were there two employees sat at the front counter talking about things, that to one listening in, would think these guys are the s@%$ in the outdoors. But never once, was I asked if I had a question. Potentially, we could've been looking to buy a 1000 dollar bike (which is huge in an industry like this). Even though I wasn't going to spend any money, they didn't know that. A simple hello can I help you find something would have totally satisfied me. But nothing. I don't even remeber them saying something like thank you after Eric bought something. Honestly, I wont ever spend any money there if I ever go back. If I was their boss, I'd fire them.
Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit on firing but it is often overlooked how important it is to make people feel welcome in a retail shop. I've been guilty of this too on occasion, but the more I'm on the other end, the more I try to never let that happen.
The more I deal with customers, put on that smiling face, and put myself into the customers position and understand why that piece of crap bike for 300 bucks is actually a sweet bike for them, I realize I feel much better when a customer leaves feeling on top of the world because they now own a bike. In my standards, I wouldn't be caught dead on the bike they bought, but to them, its their pride and joy....afterall, they can tell their friends this is a 300 dollar bike!!!!
Many customers who buy bikes from our shop say how great our customer service is. Especially people who have looked in other shops for bikes while trying to find that right one. So, although I work at the "Wally world" of the cycling industry, I feel good because someone who comes to buy a bike from me will honestly feel that they were helped w/ sincerity.

Its all about who you know...

My first year at Dixie State the freshman had to go to a seminar. The speaker was some motivational guy and I don't remember everything he said, but I do remember one key point he tried to get across. He basically stressed the fact that no matter what you do in life, how well you do in school...one of the most important things is making contacts. You never know when that one guy you met may just unlock the key to something you may have otherwise been lost in obtaining.
Perfect example is this. I want to learn welding skills. So possibly in the future I can build my own bikes, and if anything else, i can learn more about bikes. My plan was to take a welding class at PCC this spring but unfortunatley none of the classes fit into my schedule and I've had to postpone it. But today at work a fairly regular customer stopped by. An older gentleman about dad's age, but a guy who rides locally just as much as me. Although we've yet to see eachother on the trail, we both share the passion for the local singletrack. Tonight when he came by he mentioned how he built a 1950's schwinn into a trail machine. He did this by welding the essential derailleur hangars and brake mounts to the old frame. Turns out the bike was featured in a MTB magasine. And all the work was done at the PCC welding shop...with his good friend the teacher. The teacher is apparently a bike fanatic and for many years has had a passion for bikes, helping students build prototypes and other man powered "cars".
Long story short, he gave me the name of the guy and said stop by and say you're a friend of mine and want to learn, that he would be more than willing to help me learn and go out of his way to make something work around my schedule.
It's about who you know and on tuesday, the next day I'm at school I will be stopping by and saying teach me oh great one.

Anyone there?

So, I decided to start posting again, motivated by others who have rejuvenated their efforts...Ben, Eric, someone ele probably. Anyways, anyone out there? Am I wasting my time?
Just started or re-started school today, just one class for the winter intersession, but its going to be busy. The teacher expects about 6 hrs of work outside of class for every day in class. After the first day spending about 4 hrs to do the "easy" homework, I think shes serious. It'll be good though, teach me to stay on top of things. Class was good, made sure to strategically position myself in a seat next to a hot girl. Afterall, the first day is most important, everyone always seems to sit in the same place as they do the first day...so far so good.
It's good to be bcak in school, especuially because it will open up more time to ride, not having to work during the good riding times. It'll give me a chance to get to El Prieto and possibly be confronted by some I may have bothered on socalmtb.com w/ my big mouth, oh well. They cant catch me anyways. L8r

Engineering

Go to MTBR.com and view the interbike videos. Basically, short videos from various companies talking about new products. Afterwards, think about how awesome it would be to be involved in this. motivation, thats what it is for me.