B is for Bolton

Argh, Kansas

2006-06-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend at Devils Den state park in Arkansas. It was a pretty good time. Spent most of the time riding DH, I can talk it and walk it. It was the Betty Ford's virgin shuttle experience and she suprised us all. Who knew a 2wd, 4 cyclinder truck would handle haggard back woods roads so well? The weekend was supposed to be a regional meeting of people from the central/ mid-south. At first the turn out was a bit disapointing with 3 Columbians being the only ones there. Later in the evening a couple Texans rolled into camp and not long afer that a couple of guys form the KC area showed up as well. Arrangements had been made to meet up with some locals around ten on Sat. Locals turned out to be local. In the half hour before the local go there we managed one shuttle and one man down. I won't go into the details, but it was silly and with a lot of luck he is not severely injured. Fortunatly or unfortunaly depending on how you choose to see it, this event put enough doubt in my mind not to hit the larger features on the course. I have hit them in the past, but under better conditions (Excuse Randomizer executed) : first, new bike that I don't have much time on; second, Features in bad shape, a couple of large stunts were built before the last race, but were "disabled" afterwards, they have been "repaired", but not to their former glory; third, the trail gap at the end of the course is in terrible shape and then it was crashed on. I have no desire to pay for an air evac.
All that said, my new bike is incredible. Going from 3-4 inches to 7 on the rear is a huge improvement, not to mention the advantages of running bigger tires. Sketchy corners? Rocks? No problem.
I might have some pictures, but probably not.

For Lou.

2006-05-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

I know pros...

... that is all.

Okay seriously, I know pros. Not just Cat 1 STL pros, like real pros.

A good friend of mine from my time in KY is having a good start to his season.
14th at the fontana NORBA national
1st at Massanutten, a good sized regional.
Hopfully he will continue to ride well.
pics.

mmm... ...east coasty rock gardens.
(pics from Ridemonkey.com dh/south forums)

boredom

2006-05-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

The beast.

Update #2

2006-05-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

update #1

2006-05-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor on my mothers advice this morning. I figured they would look at me tell me to ice my leg and take it easy. Well, now I have a week off work and can't ride for a two, great. Pics comming soon.

One for the haters:
You might have to turn you screen until the trees are vertical to get the full effect.

Stupid log!

2006-05-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well this weekend held promise. I took a trip to Manhattan, KS with some of the MU cycling kids. A glorious trip had been planned with an itinerary spanning more than 12 hours. For me the trip started late Friday. I hadn't planned on going, at the last minute plans changed and I decided to go. So I packed up my bikes, clothes and what have you. It was probably 10pm before I was able to leave C-town. I stayed at the GF's parent's on Friday (she was going home for mothers day). Woke up early on Saturday to meet Chadical:We drove to the IHOP in Independence to meet the rest of the crew and drive to KS.

After 3hrs on the road we ran out of gas. The gas station at the Manhattan exit on I-70 some how managed to go out of business, leaving us on E with 15 miles to go.

We finally made it to the MRT. I had heard of the trail through KC locals a number of times over the last few years, so I had some idea of what to expect. The place was pretty much what I expected; some nice flat single track trail with stunts and jumps built around it. We made our way down the trail sessioning each section for a while and moving. At this point I was riding my big bike. I have been on the road a lot this spring,
so I figured I would take some time to break it in and get used to its set up. I'm glad I did, the set up was all wrong. My fork is too soft, stem is too long and the saddle was too high (for dirt jumping). Two of the three have already been fixed, the first will take some investigation. After playing for a few minutes on the dirt jumps and feeling really uncomfortable on the big bike I switched to the hard tail. My discomfort went away almost immediately and the jumps were more fun. Boys will be boys and a lamest trick contest began.

the next section of trail had a number of obstacles arranged in a figure eight. Nothing too big or technical. Every one played around for a while. Part of the trail included a small log/skinny, I'm not a fan, but if it's there I will ride it. Every one is just messing around including me. I take a lap and come around to the log, hop on and am rolling fine, then I'm on the ground in a lot of pain. My front tire slid out from under me and landed on the log with the unprotected part of my thigh. In the process of falling also choked the shit out of myself with my forearm. This is the scariest crash I've had In a long time. A friend broke his femur last fall in Arkansas, this was all I could think about. It took more than ten minutes for me to get to my feet and check out the damage, no broken bones or skin, just one sore leg.

The crew ventured on, we went to some local 20" trails and then to the spillway, which is an ATV area, not unlike Finger Lakes. It had been a few hours since my fall so I figured I'd try to ride a little and hopfully alleviate some of the soreness and tightness in my muscles. It was pretty rough going at first, gut things started to loosen up enough that I could have a little fun. We found a little area to play in, that had some fast chutes to roll in on and then hit a couple of jumps. The gamey tweekfest went on for an hour or so, by then people were getting tired and we headed back to KC.

Hopefully I can publish some pics of my leg. The bruising is just beginning, its going to be nasty for a month or so. It will probably look like I've been in a car wreck by tomorrow

2006-04-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend. There is an unspoken rule about weekends and talking about work in my house, you don't. But, I need something to talk about so... My job isn't the greatest (its not the worst). I'm an transporter/orderly at a local hospital. Basically this means I move patients and random equipment from A to B all day. Like any other job it has its bullshit. With any job the key to survival is figuring out the BS and dealing with it. It has been my long standing opinion that the only difference between most jobs is the BS, when you change jobs you're just changing your BS. This is not to say that some jobs are not preferable to others. Any entry level job where you are paid to be a pack animal is going to suck. All of this probably makes it sound like I hate my job, I don't. It has some rewards. I meet people every day from all walks of life. Each of them with a different story. Some are on their way home others are on their way Home in the most proper sense. While I wouldn't call it a perk, I've been to a few "code blue" situations, assisting with CPR. Some live and some die. When you think about it, that's a major moment in some person's life, second only to birth. This is my job.

Down to the meat of it. I work with an assorted crew: college students, people between jobs they would prefer and career people. One of the more career type comes to work and cusses every moment she is there, is rude to every one else and is basically just foul. I recognize that her job is shitty, I do it every day(see above, did I mention I get shit on occasionally), but I manage to keep my head up. Her attitude goes beyond the job to her life, she has chosen to be bitter and upset about all the things she cannot change and not take the good things and cherish them.

This got me thinking about my life, the things I have, had and want from it. My life is awesome! What can I complain about?
(riding content for the day) I get to ride every day, I eat, have shelter, clothes, good friends and a good woman that loves me. I guess my point is: own your life. "You can't have the sweet with out the sour," because the sweet isn't sweet without the sour to compare it to.

The goods:

Thanks Lance.

2006-04-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

If you are a cyclist this will sound all too familiar.

I have a job. If you are like me then you are probably aware that every office has its sports nut. The guy that knows sports stats, numbers and trivia about every team and player. Not just professional, but college and even for high schools throughout the state. Personally the high school bit is creepy. The character in my office probably spends more time diverting other peoples attention to sports than to actual work.

I'm not complaining about this character in particular or sports fanatics in general. What I will complain about is the mainstream sports media and its feeble attempt to include fringe sports in its coverage and commentary. According to previously mentioned character the difficulty of "le Tour" vs. a marathon was debated on a mourning sports show recently. Of course me being a cyclist he wanted my opinion. It was early in the day and I was not ready to deal with people, especially those probing me for information on a subject they have limited understanding. Why would you compare the Tour de France and a marathon. This is an apples and oranges issue. The Tour is a pro only invitational stage race. A marathon is none of these things. That's not to take away from the intensity of a marathon, but Oprah ran a marathon. You can't just go ride The Tour.

This brings me to another thought I had. In America sports participation is mostly from a fan level ie: not really participating. Cycling is unique in that most people who are fans are infact cyclist. For many of the sports popular in America, the fans do not have first hand experience to appreciate what takes place in the "field".

Say word!

2006-04-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

So, it begins. Out of boredom and excess time I give you: B is for Bolton.

It doesn't make much sense for someone like me to have a blog. These things seem to be for the opinionated and outspoken, especially when it comes to politics. Here in BoCoMO we speak of greatness, anger and cold forging. What do I have to add to the Blog-o-Spere (is that a proper noun?)? I don't know. Hopefully I can offer a perspective that is unique and challenge your ability to read with my equally unique usage of grammar and spelling.

Greateness:

If your asking yourself,"who is that?" and you ride a mountain bike, consider this an education. Shaun Palmer invented the mountain bike, not Gary Fischer.

Anger:

A new album in a few short weeks. Shredder inspiration.

Cold Forging:

2-nineness for butthead.

Alex Morgan makes these bikes by hand. Why carbon? Because he didn't have a welder back in '91 when he started.