Fall Already?

It doesn't bode well for summer lately.

SRAM XX, First Ride.

[great frame to hang the world's lightest MTB group on]

So, I had the chance to ride a Scott Spark with XX the other day - uhhh, yes please! The bike wasn't my exact size and I just jumped on it at the trailhead, so there wasn't time to really dial it in for myself, but still... it was a good time.

The parts basically make you feel like you're in a World Cup race on a World Cup-worthy bike. It was very fun, with little or no issues to report with XX. The best part is probably the ability to stay in the big ring (depending on your legs) for much of the riding. You can even big-big all day long. It keeps front shifting (which is still the best I've felt on an MTB) to a minimum and lets you concentrate on the trail ahead.

[XX Elixir brakes - ooh, juicy]

[10spd RD with Exact Actuation, hello XC riders!]

[stout FD with over 40 variations of clamps and mounts - your bike should be covered]


[Absalon-like Fulcrum Red Metal Zeros, very nice]

[and this 9 hour milled out Red-like cassette - so choice, expensive, and light as all get out]

Morning Meetings.

I have a meeting scheduled for 2 hours today with this guy.

Stone Arch Bridge.

Ok, there's almost no denying that MN is one of the top summer places (and perhaps winter as well). Hot days and cool nights, with many many "lakes" right in the middle of the city. They play hard all winter outside, and really gear up for summer fun too.

Want to rent a paddle boat or kayak on the lake? No problem. Would you like to do a century around a lake one day? I've heard of a few people doing this. Would you like to see an MLB game indoors? Ok, no one wants to do this, which is why next year they have a new outdoor stadium opening.

And this is the Stone Arch Bridge.

[this pis is from the weblink's site]

It's taken me a while to find out about it, but I know now. It's an old rail bridge that, at the time, was the only thing crossing the Mississippi (boy that pnemonic device from gradeschool comes in handy!). Now, it's a bit small for real traffic, so they have turned it into a pedestrian and cyclist crossing. It's pretty cool, with literal "ruins" down below it on the riverfront (which people can explore).

[there's a ton of spillway and a huge set of locks]

Results, Poll #56, March Madness.

Ok, it's July. There's not much to say about NCAA basketball now, but I do love the tourney.

3 people love the tourney - thank you.
2 people always get mad at their S.O. (SO's, are you listening?)
1 person gets driven crazy - crazy good or crazy bad?
3 people hate sports - ouch.

New poll up very very soon.

"What do we have for him, Johnny?!!!!!"....

.... "A new CAR !!!!"

Ok, the FaceBook experiment (at least for me) is over. Too many people making it seem rather impersonal. I mean, not everyone I've ever met needs to know I had a mole removed, right? Just my closest family and friends want to know that. So, this is my pledge to resurrect tc.

With that in mind, it's time to let everyone know (if you previously knew what I drove) that I no longer have my blue truck (for one small young man, he will no longer be able to call me, "Blue Truck Marty"). I have finally been able to work out the financing-ish and get something more fuel-efficient (not too hard), at a better monthly payment (phew), and at a lower interest rate (from 8% to 0%, thank you economy).

The winning car is the Chevy Aveo. I know what you're thinking, "that's lame". Well, in a way it is, but in a way it reminds me of all the small, fuel-efficient cars I've loved in the past. I pretty much learned to drive in a Dodge Omni (ok, really on the family lawn tractor). Then there was the uncle's rusty ole Toyota Corolla (lots of practice push starting with a manual transmission), and even a bit of time spent driving one of my favorite cars of all time, the Ford Festiva (no joke).

I do loose the four-wheel drive and a truck bed, but I gained three more doors, lower fuel costs and 34MPG higway... that will help me forget the, er, what was I driving before?


[this is a pic off the web, I didn't buy it in England]

Cabela's #4 - Camo Revisited.

It's been some time since the last post, but perhaps thinking about posts in terms of quality and not quantity will be best moving forward.

Recently, I stopped in the IL Cabela's and couldn't resist some more pics of camo and oddities. I hope this camo-palooza doesn't disappoint, enjoy.


A hot camo-bikini or your lady huntress?


Are the camo belts in the men's dept. or women's?

Alive or dead?

Alive or dead? (don't be too hasty, it's Cabela's)

Just the item to make a good impression at the office.

Antler pulls for the kitchen anyone?

Dress your little bundle of joy correctly for the big fall hunting trip!

Three sides of fileting possibilities.

No brainer.

Finally!!!