BOOM!

Lars Boom of Rabobank took the World Cross title today, and I was bonging a beer to celbrate at 8:45 am....thats about all I got, its Sunday, time to rest.

Great Horned Surprise

Saw a great horned owl last night on the walk with the dogs. Don't see that everyday. Made me think of my favorite book as a kid, "Owls in the Family" by Farley Mowat. Good memories. Watched the mountain bike film "ROAM" today, and it made me want to be someplace warm riding my bike...

In His Own Words

From time to time we host a guest writer on the Snot Rocket, and today Lord Haden tells us the story of our friendly neighborhood skull bong:

"His name could be Bosepheus? Couldn't hurt.

The true backstory is that his father Skully was a known dipsomaniac and all around naer-do-well who was found passed out in D*Pow's bushes when he lived downtown. Being cognizant of his need for booze, Dan filled him full of Old Style and like Magic Jesus himself he sprang to life, demanding more booze and the racing of tiny bicycles. He partied for several years around the greater Madison area, but just like that he was snuffed out, crushed to death by the draconian corps that is the Madison Police Department at Mifflin Block Party. I guess those "madison free-thinkers" just weren't ready to let a dead man drink. Fortunately, Skully had a problem keeping his tube in his non-existent pants, and had shared his seed with a barhag harlot shortly before his demise. 9 weeks later, my Les-baru mail carrier brought the infant in swaddling clothes and a cardboard box and left it on my doorstep. And from that day on, wherever there was beer to be chugged, young Bosepheus was there, sharing his gift with the world."

Thanks for setting the record straight, sounds like Bo is going to drop by the 'Cross Worlds Dawn Patrol Party this weekend. We'll make sure we spill a little out for you Lord.

Keepin' Warm, Stayin' Busy

The above rack is one of the cooler ones I've seen. Handmade in Wisco don't cha' know? Spent the evening yesterday over at the Mainframe buffing a few boxes of them helpin out Ahren. He said thanks with a sixer of Two Hearted, which Bells touts as "well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula" indeed it is, especially when the mercury dips so low. I plan on partaking in more this eve with the wife by the fire side.
World CX champs this weekend, my money is on Lars Boom, but will have wait and see what happens, won't we?

Framebuilders

Antbikemike has a blog now with Flickr photos so when you have some time to check out his work, and a napkin to dab the drool off of your chin, take a look. Truely he is THE best in the biz. He gets it totally, and when I say "it" I mean the bicycle as more than a toy.
Speaking of custom framebuilders, I was riding over to the Mainframe last night to drop off a 650b wheel for ZR to use on spacing his disc caliper on his new frame, when a near tragedy struck. As per my custom, I never go to the Mainframe empty handed, and I had stopped for a sixer of High Life at the Spot. There was a wheel tied on my back pack, so I just wrapped the paper bag around my bar and held on tight through my mittens. As I was just about to turn off of Cottage Grove Road, i heard the bag tear and saw my golden payload plummet to the snowy pavement. Fuck!
I ditched my bike in the snow bank and darted into the street for my beers. I had a couple of horns blown at me by passing motorists...I can only imagine what they thought of the nut job with a wheel on his back picking up cans of beer of the street durning rush hour when its below zero...I got 5 of 6 back, which is a small price to pay, all things considered.
And it was -17 on the ride in this morning... so I've got that going for me. I is supposed to get up to 7 this afternoon. Thats what we call, a heat wave 'round here.

Steady Diet of Nothing

I don't know much about art or photography. I'll never claim to. I do, however, know what I like, and who I think is good. One such artist is the photographer Glen E. Friedman. A few years ago when I was residing in LA, I had the great honor to go to an opening for his Idealist show at at a the gallery Sixspace. His photos run the gammut of pop culture, and the opening was a spectacle. The high point for me was while trying to move onto the next picture, literally running into Guy Picciotto from Fugazi. I of course knew who he was, he did not know me...there were people who basically WERE the scene, as far as Dogtown goes. Watching Red Hot Chilli Pepper John Frucainte guitarist haggle with Friedman about a Jay Adams pool shot was also pretty sweet...needless to say, it is a night I'll never forget.

The Load

Sometimes the load is heavy,
Sometimes not.
On good days the wind is still,
On great days it’s blows over your shoulder.
Some nights you sleep in a ditch,
Others nights by the ocean.
The roads may be cracked and hot,
But they might often by smooth and flat.
Rain and cold can invade every crack,
Or the sun can kiss your closed eyelids.
Your bike will be your escape,
And you could leave your troubles as fast as you can pedal.

When I dream of the road, I take solace knowing my friends our out there, finding their way, chasing their dreams, giving in to wanderlust. Got a good old fashioned letter from my buddy Charles the other day, who is riding ‘round the world, and it was such a joy. When was the last time I got a letter….in the mail. Its been a long time. In this world of instant gratification letter writing has been lost. So has the art of making a mix tape, sending a post card….sometimes I feel like all of this interconnectivity, is slowly cutting us all apart….

Time For My Favorite Winter Activity

What do you know, another 7 inches of powder fell last night, and that means its time for snowshoeing. When we lived in the U.P. we used to go all the time, but the snowfall has been pretty weak around Wisco the last few winters. Time to dig the shoes out and dust them off for this weekend, or maybe a night shoe somewhere this week...also picked up a sixer last night of my favorite New Glarus beer, look for one in a cooler near you!

More Flickr Gold

I read on Bike Hugger recently about the Library of Congress releasing a bunch of photos from the turn of the century. They've all been posted on Flickr, and the above photo was from the set. I refer to the image as metal horse...I like the horse shoes laying around on the ground. I looked around for the link again, but couldn't find it.
Still cold as hell here, rode a bit yesterday, and I found that I had to double up on the gloves. Really hoping this cold weather breaks soon. It kind of robs me of my motivation to get out and ride, just due to the process of layering, and fastening of all of the gloves, shoes, etc.

????????

Temp outside is -12, feels like -27.

That is brutal. Time to find some layers!