Phriday Photo Post

Just some photos today, taken from here and there.

Gary Perkin photo- from the Cape Epic.

pink CX bike by Ira Ryan

Where does one buy a helmet like that?  from Sweetpea (the picture)

anodized lug nuts from Blue Lug bike shop in Japan.

Willow's book

Ms. Koerber-Rockwell has a book that's just come out too, btw- if you found yesterday's story inspiring.

Willow and Letting Go

Love this article about Willow Koerber Rockwell.  There's no doubt she sounds spacey and flighty, but she's also well aware of what everyone thinks of her and doesn't care.  There's a lot to think about in this article.  I encourage you to read it.

I can't say I know Willow on any level, but I'm sure I met her quite a few times when Kathy and I were attending the NORBA races at Mt. Snow and she was riding for Polo Sport/ RLX.  I only met Myles, her husband, once, but I did walk down the dowhill course in Big Bear/Snow Summit in CA once with some people, only to learn at the bottom of the mountain that I'd been talking to Myles' mom the whole time!

So that's my connection... tenuous though it may be.

Red Bull plus some results

If you don't know it

and

If you are interested in racing at the highest level

then

You should look up RedBull's TV coverage online.  I'd give you the link, but it's so easy to find on Google I won't even bother.

This weekend was South Africa's World Cup.  Christian Downhiller Aaron Gwin came in 2nd while Greg Minaar won.  Tracey Hannah (Mick Hannah's sister, btw) won the women's downhill.  (What IS it with these brother/sister dh teams?-- cf. the Athertons).

On the XC side, Emily Batty of Canada came in 2nd- a major, life-changing result for her.  Maja W. (a long, long name that's not on the tip of my tongue) from Poland won for the women, while Nino Schurter from Switzerland won for the men.  Bit of a bad day for the No. American men.  I believe the highest ranked was... um... let's see...Canada's Geoff Kabush in 37th.  Now, if you know about racing, that's actually not as bad as it sounds, but Kabush has won a world cup before, so you know he's not too psyched on this one.  Top USA rider?  Sam Schultz in 42nd.

So, that's the latest there.  At least memorize these names if you're going to watch MTB in London 2012!

Guilt & Groceries

After a long mountain bike ride the other day that was frankly a little too rocky and a little too long, I was laying down resting when the idea was put forth that my wife could get some things done she wanted to do, and I could take our daughter grocery shopping.  Sounded fine to me.  Until I heard those fatal words:

'We can take our bike!'.  You see, as the photo shows, we've recently acquired a Trail-a-bike, and Lucy really loves it.  So, since I've been brainwashing (I'm kidding, I think) my child into Velocentric thinking ever since she was born, I was well aware that there was no way I could say no to this request.  Backpacks were found, Mom made a list, and off we went.

Thankfully, the big hill was on the way TO the store.  Unfortunately so was a major avenue.  Not a big problem, I simply told her to hold on tight and since the crosswalk light took forever, had plenty of time to tell her why.  We got to the store, did our shopping (passing on the heavier items like multiple bottles of Pepsi) and headed home.

It had gotten dark, but this was not a major impediment either.  There were wide sidewalks the whole way home.  And it was this ride that really drove home why we did this in the first place.

We heard Spring Peeper frogs for the first time on the ride home.  Had they been out before?  I don't know, but we didn't hear them in the car.  But we did on the bike.  It took me until we were almost home to realize that this was the first day of 2012 that I'd had shorts on.  And it was the day after we'd 'sprung ahead' on the clock.

We were happy to see Mom when we got home (how long did she stand and wait?).  And my guess is, with the darkness, she was happy to see us as well.

What did I teach my daughter?  I'm not sure- but I will say that while we were locking the bike up, she said 'Cars will kill the earth- look at ALL THESE CARS!'.  I'm not sure she got that from me, and I'm not sure where she got it from, exactly.  But I don't disagree with her.

NAHBS & an offer

first, the offer- anyone want to trade a worn-but-solid Selle Italia Flite Ti saddle for the same, but in black?

Now, on to the reason for today's post: The North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

It was this weekend, in Sacramento, CA- and if you'd like so many photos of the bikes shown there that your head will spin, by all means head on over to bikeradar for over 400 photos.

But having looked at them all, I was personally happiest looking at:

• Jeremy Shlachter's Gallus old-school mountain bike.  650b wheels.  Ritchey-looking biplane fork crown.  Just sweet.
• Rob English's baby blue 29er was pretty cool.
• And always:  Tom Ritchey, Pereira, and Retrotec.

Leave a comment if you're interested in that saddle, and we can exchange pictures or whatever.

Also, I checked out Momentum Magazine today while at B&N.  Really impressed with it.  Def. check it out if you see it at the newsstand.

Brooksby Farm Ride

I <3 Silhouettes.

The moon framed by branches

Moonrise over orchard.

See?

My treasured Rapha hat I won in a photo contest.  First time I had the gall to wear it in the woods!

"Guy in the woods"

"What do you think it is?"    "Well, how should I know?"

"Hmmm.... Old style QR hubs.  Generic brand, too."

Serious off-road machinery

The stone table?

What are you supposed to do in a self-portrait?