Simmering Ideas

Speaking of playing in the snow, it has been really cool over the last couple of weeks to see what Dave Ollila has been up to. The Marquette Backcountry Ski is pretty much exactly what I've been looking for in a ski for years. I worked at a ski lodge at the pro shop back in my college days. Loved the other people that worked at the mountain (in the rental shop, lifties, bar tenders, groomers, etc.) but really disliked the people that came to ski. So much so that I never once even used my free season pass...however, if you take the resort out of the picture, and give me the powder, fun and friends well, I think you see where I'm going with this: Backcountry.
Dave describes the skis as "70% ski, 30% snowshoe, 100% fun." I'm not very good at math, but that is an equation that I can understand.
The above Voile bindings have been traveling around with me for years, just waiting for the right opportunity to carry me into the snow filled hills and woods for some earned turns! Pretty sure they came out of a box on non-sense back in my Surfer Publications days, not sure. Either way, I think I'm going to buy some of these fat skis from Dave and give them a try.
Dig it?

Snow

Got up to the snow on Mt. Hood Sunday with Jenny, Elsa and Frank. We just walked along a Forest Service road for an hour before turning around and walking back. Not super exciting, but what the doctor ordered after too much food on Thanksgiving. Certainly need to get back up there soon.

Good Design

I'd love to see more bikes with chain cases like the ones above. Such a simple, classy thing.

Nice!

I've had this poster in my office for a few years. I never get timed of it.

The Good Book(s)

I picked up a used copy of "Shelter" a few weeks back. Not sure if you've heard of it, but it is an incredible book with more than 1,000 photographs of people's homes from around the world. Mind blowing, awesome stuff. I had originally gone to Powell's to pick up a copy of Builders of the Pacific Coast, but it wasn't in stock that day. Little did I realize, they had been produced by the same man, Llyod Kahn, some 25 years apart. Do yourself a favor and buy them both from Shelter Publications!

It's Good To Be Me

There were lots of great pics from last weekend, but this one that Cory Grove snapped at the jump is by far my favorite!

Holeshot in Urban Velo

The article about Holeshot I wrote for Urban Velo is now online, check it out if you get a chance!

Good Design

I purchased this Optimus 8R camp stove at Phog Bounder in Astoria this weekend. Very stoked on it. Awesome 1960-70s hiking stove. Just a little restoration project. Really cool, super simple design!

Halloween 2010

Dave Roth Photo/ Cross Crusade #6 Astoria

Every pedal stroke hurt, but it sure was a fun race! Damn near every inch of the course was people urging ET to phone home, or "Go Elliot". The bike and my body are trashed, but once again: is there anything the Ahearne Cycle Truck cannot do?