a little revamp

Don't be worried. I'm just in the middle of a little revamp of the site. Give me a couple of days and let me know what you think.

Green?

So... I stumbled onto this today. It's a pedal powered roller coaster. Now, of course at first glance this seems surprisingly 'green' and just as surprisingly dangerous.

But once again, remember, this is over in Asia, specifically Japan. And if my experiences to China have given me any insight to safety requirements in other countries... let's just say there isn't OSHA on their back on a lot of things.

I remember assured that 'bamboo was just as strong as steel' in moments where safety was often questioned. Right....

Saturday Night Ride. Take 2. Part 2.

BE THERE.

Cross.

Well, I'll be the first to admit that once again I am not always the first to hop on treads, often I notice things either long after they were 'cool' or just when they begin to become vogue. [On a quick side note, sparing no pride, I'm pretty impressed with myself right now using vogue in the blog in its proper usage] For the last few weeks, especially after my transition to the new shop, I have been debating what would be the next bike for the stable. I have done a good job lately with the Soho just recently finding a new owner and I'm supplying Bottke with the 1x1 frame to build up with an Xtracycle kit, the basement and entry way of my house was beginning to feel a bit empty. After parting ways with the Poprad months ago, I've missed the set-up I've had with it even though I never got to really put in miles with it nor use it for it's intended purposes. The versatility of the cross bike is amazing.

That realization topped with going to the Kisscross even here on Sunday has gotten me sold on the idea of getting a cross bike. The Kisscross event at Highland Park was amazing, although my love for cycling has never transferred over to racing, the laid back yet competitive set up of the event has me extremely intrigued and I'm hoping to get a bike before the cross season is over so I might join in on the fun. I have also began to really focus on Trans Iowa or at least begin the process of preparing [be that just mentally at this point] since there is 7 solid months before the event, a cross bike seems to be the best weapon for that battle.

Carlos, I'm sure will be pleased to hear, that I know that buying a complete bike will be the better way for me to go since if I do a build from scratch I often go a bit 'far', saying that I keep landing on Cannondale's cross bike.

Out of the new stuff, I think I'd land on this:

The XR4

But at the shop, we've got a left over in this:

The Optimo 3

So what to do, what to do? Sizing? Proper Cross sizing is going down one size from what you would normally ride, I am typically a 58 or 60 depending on the bike, does that mean I go 56? That scares me for some reason.

From one small shop...

Now, it's just been great to see some of the guys from my old shop really do their thing either on the web or on the bike... it's amazing how much one shop in Iowa has had come out of it. Besides Ted and Jeff, there's a long line of others that definitely helped to shape many who came through... Vance, Carl, Clay, Chad, Ears, Chris, Brent, to name a few and more of who influenced me...

A video Mr. 24 put up a few days back... yep I think it's safe to say, he's big time now.


Cycling Reel from Venture Media Group on Vimeo.

Where I've been.

Well, for as much as I've tried I haven't been able to muster up a regular amount of posting. I kind of hinted at it a few month back on why I hadn't been posting and unfortunately I'm still working through a lot of the crap in my life. This is what I had resolved early on that would not be part of this little endeavor, that what was written here would focus on cycling or there abouts.

This last week, I can only say that I probably hit one of the lowest points in my life, unlike other hard times I didn't just keep it to myself and people came out of the woodwork to encourage, to kick me in the head [not literally of course], and remind me of the truth that is in the situation. I can't say I always heard it or wanted to sit through another talk of what someone thought was best for me but some thing happened.

I'd like to promise that I'll post more, but we'll just have to see on that. I'm shooting for 3 times a week at this point. I do have some mildly big news to share and what might lie ahead for No Drive, for now you'l just have to wait. [Do you feel this excitement building??? Me neither =)]

If you've got a minute, my roommate Joe, is a comedian, actor and all around great guy got a part in one of the videos for Nooma. This one is called Tomato, check out the preview here. He's the one on the left side eating the burrito.

Attn: GRAND RAPIDS!

Looking for some thing to do this Saturday Evening?

A few friends and I are going to be meeting up at Founders Brewery for some food and drinks around 5:30p-5:45p then heading out on a little ride around the greater Grand Rapids area. We'll mount up on the bikes probably around 6:30p-7:00p and if judging from the past the ride will probably go for a good 2 hours, but no promises. We're just cruising, so it could be shorter. Deal with it. Comment with questions.