Intro DIY Glow: Ground Effects Lights For Your Bike!
An easy DIY project to add ground effects lights to your bicycle or other means of conveyance, utilizing inexpensive and commonly available cold-cathode lights. They look cool, and really do increase your visibility at night.
Is this cool?
Maybe not.... but might be fun.Click the Link!
GORC Gloves?
Helmet Cam Videos
Some pretty amazing/interesting/other? helmet cam footage including ghostriding bikes while hauling ass down the middle of the frozen Charles River in Boston, and umm, let's say, not necessarily obeying traffic signals or directions during an urban race in Baltimore which requires pounding a 40 at each checkpoint.
Starting fires in the forest
Here is a decent article from the Post last November about the US Forest Service's prescribed burns in the Mark Twain National Forest. The newspaper always likes to present both sides, even when there's not that much controversy. The opening line reads like porn for pyromaniacs. Hey, that could be a band name...
Wildlife biologist Klaus Leidenfrost drizzled an oily, flaming mix of diesel fuel and gasoline on the forest floor - sometimes in swirling loops, other times just wavy lines.
Don't light your christmas tree on fire, at least take it outside first.
LINK
The Bonk Hard Chill
I don't know who the folks of Bonk Hard Racing out of Kansas are, but they're putting on an adventure race in Lake Ozark State Park on February 11th.
WHAT: Up to 18 hours of continuous mountain biking, paddling, running, trekking and orienteering.
FORMAT: 2-person teams only (male, female, co-ed)
More info at the website of course. http://www.bonkhardchill.com/bhc06/
Anyone feel like putting all their expensive outdoor gear to a good thrashing? Don't forget your orienteering skills. That's a big factor at these races. No GPS allowed.
Let's avoid work today!
Nobody wants to work today anyway. Here's some places I've been. These pics are courtesy of www.anthonysloan.com. He's got a great collection of trail pictures. Now, on with the show!
Pictures of trails that I've ridden and you haven't!! Click the green text, they're links to the pictures NATCH!
I rode this trail in a drizzling rain, with Ben Mitchell, Sam's son. The pics of the rocky sections DO NOT do it justice. This was some of the most technical/difficult trail I've ridden. On the Van Dessel (The orange one). This place is just west of Denver. Literally 5 minutes from Hwy 70.
Dakota Ridge/Red Rocks
This next one was my first ride in Denver. Again with the VanDessel. It was a ton of climbing, but I was rewarded with sweet sweet singletrack. Good stuff. The quote at the bottom about the enchanted forest trail is true.
Apex Trails
Here's another place I"ve been, but you haven't! Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City Nevada. It's just outside Las Vegas. Good riding. Great combination of gnarly singletrack, and swoopy bench-cut. Some sections overlook a golf course(about a 1/4-mile down hill), and it's kinda funky since everything is so brown, and then you look down the hill to this golf course and see this lush green place…ah chemicals!
Viva Las Vegas!
Here's a place we've been together. Mary's Loop in Froota. Ahhhh memories.
Loop de Mary
OK, time to set the wayback machine! Me 'n Kirb and Durango-Doug rode this place many moons ago. I think it was 1999. Super nice riding, hundreds of miles of singletrack. Good beer. What else could you possibly want. Hint…hit the "next" button at the bottom. Kirb will remember the supa-fast downhill run, and the cool roller-jumps that this guy is hitting. We were getting like 3 feet of air dude!
Winter Park
Ok. One more. This is back to "Places I've been that you haven't". Don't you wish you were cool like me?
Sourdough trail, Nederland, Colorado. Nederland is where Dan Vardamis lives, and is also the home to the company that makes those cool Colorado topo maps. It's just northwest of Boulder, and is surprisingly close, by trail, to Winter Park. Any way, we did an IMBA group ride up there, that climbed about 2500 feet over the course of 7 miles, followed by 11 miles of flowing downhill back into town. Oh yeah, I was on the singlespeed! Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Nederland Mojo
Now. Get back to WORK!!!
pimp
Pictures of trails that I've ridden and you haven't!! Click the green text, they're links to the pictures NATCH!
I rode this trail in a drizzling rain, with Ben Mitchell, Sam's son. The pics of the rocky sections DO NOT do it justice. This was some of the most technical/difficult trail I've ridden. On the Van Dessel (The orange one). This place is just west of Denver. Literally 5 minutes from Hwy 70.
Dakota Ridge/Red Rocks
This next one was my first ride in Denver. Again with the VanDessel. It was a ton of climbing, but I was rewarded with sweet sweet singletrack. Good stuff. The quote at the bottom about the enchanted forest trail is true.
Apex Trails
Here's another place I"ve been, but you haven't! Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City Nevada. It's just outside Las Vegas. Good riding. Great combination of gnarly singletrack, and swoopy bench-cut. Some sections overlook a golf course(about a 1/4-mile down hill), and it's kinda funky since everything is so brown, and then you look down the hill to this golf course and see this lush green place…ah chemicals!
Viva Las Vegas!
Here's a place we've been together. Mary's Loop in Froota. Ahhhh memories.
Loop de Mary
OK, time to set the wayback machine! Me 'n Kirb and Durango-Doug rode this place many moons ago. I think it was 1999. Super nice riding, hundreds of miles of singletrack. Good beer. What else could you possibly want. Hint…hit the "next" button at the bottom. Kirb will remember the supa-fast downhill run, and the cool roller-jumps that this guy is hitting. We were getting like 3 feet of air dude!
Winter Park
Ok. One more. This is back to "Places I've been that you haven't". Don't you wish you were cool like me?
Sourdough trail, Nederland, Colorado. Nederland is where Dan Vardamis lives, and is also the home to the company that makes those cool Colorado topo maps. It's just northwest of Boulder, and is surprisingly close, by trail, to Winter Park. Any way, we did an IMBA group ride up there, that climbed about 2500 feet over the course of 7 miles, followed by 11 miles of flowing downhill back into town. Oh yeah, I was on the singlespeed! Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Nederland Mojo
Now. Get back to WORK!!!
pimp
The Case of the Deviant Drill
It's a somewhat dull engineering writeup, but worth a skim. There are so many morals to this country death story I don't know where to begin.
Spade bits don't like to spin at 13,000 rpm.
If you're going to overrev a drill bit, cut it as short as possible first.
Keep your chainsaw tuned so it idles and starts easily.
There's nothing unmanly about using a cordless drill.
Don't be stupid.
Shonkyvision
I grabbed this from stlbiking:
::::::::::
In honor of all the numerous and great things that Critical Mass has accomplished for the city of St.Louis (and the world!) we will be showing Scorcher and Still We Ride as a fundraiser for the Saint Louis Bicycle Works.
Come join us and help raise money for a bicycling group that (drum roll....) does something for the community.
When: Friday the Thirteenth of January. 8PM
Where: St.Louis Bicycle Works; Corner of Thurman and Shenandoah
Why: Raise money for new tools
Cost: $5 if you ride in, $10 if you drive
Pending your response here we might also have bunny hop/track stand/other miscellaneous useless bike tricks competition.
::::::::::
If it's anything like the last film night I got wrecked at it should be a damn fine time. Build up a frankenbike and let the good times roll. Bikeworks is where I got all my stuff on the extremely cheap
Or you could stay home and ride the trainer.
verbage sourceage
::::::::::
In honor of all the numerous and great things that Critical Mass has accomplished for the city of St.Louis (and the world!) we will be showing Scorcher and Still We Ride as a fundraiser for the Saint Louis Bicycle Works.
Come join us and help raise money for a bicycling group that (drum roll....) does something for the community.
When: Friday the Thirteenth of January. 8PM
Where: St.Louis Bicycle Works; Corner of Thurman and Shenandoah
Why: Raise money for new tools
Cost: $5 if you ride in, $10 if you drive
Pending your response here we might also have bunny hop/track stand/other miscellaneous useless bike tricks competition.
::::::::::
If it's anything like the last film night I got wrecked at it should be a damn fine time. Build up a frankenbike and let the good times roll. Bikeworks is where I got all my stuff on the extremely cheap
Or you could stay home and ride the trainer.
verbage sourceage
2 New Brewpubs in St. Louis
One in Lafayette Square run by the same guy who owns Augusta Brewing Company is supposed to open this month.
The other is on Lindell near the Central West End. No website yet, but it's already open apparently.
With another one that's supposed to be opening in Kirkwood, it's good times for beer drinkers.
Upper Taum Sauk Lake dam failed this morning
This is about 10 miles from where we were last weekend (brushy creek). I was taking pictures of Proffit Mountain on Saturday. Now trucks get swept off hwy N by water and people get evacuated. craziness... I swear I didn't do it.
LINKS:
News page about it from KSDK Note, that page changes as news comes in.
News story on yahoo
IEEE link about the pumped-storage hydroelectric plant
Black River watershed hydrology
(c) 2005 The Associated Press
LESTERVILLE, Mo. — A dam in rural southeast Missouri failed Wednesday morning after a night of heavy rain and one person was missing in what officials called a "very dangerous situation."
A family of five was rescued after the Upper Taum Sauk Lake Dam failed at about 6:24 a.m., Reynolds County Sheriff's dispatcher Ginger Bell said. The National Weather Service warned that conditions along the Black River were creating a "dangerous and life-threatening situation." Residents of Lesterville and elsewhere downstream from the dam were urged to move quickly to higher ground.
Small creeks and streams, country roads and farmland will be flooded, the agency said. The dam is in the Ozarks, about 120 miles southwest of St. Louis. Reynolds County has a population of about 6,700
LINKS:
News page about it from KSDK Note, that page changes as news comes in.
News story on yahoo
IEEE link about the pumped-storage hydroelectric plant
Black River watershed hydrology
GORC Schools the Middle Fork or is it the other way around?
(19) riders, bikes & gear took off from Brushy Creek to take on the Middle Fork section of the Ozark Trail. We were met with 12 miles of pristine singletrack and another 12 miles of soggy, energy zapping trail. Unfortunately, you can't predict the weather, but we still had a great time. Look for this trail to be THE destination in the next year or two.
Beer 102
This is a pretty good general article from a more scientific perspective which describes the process of beer brewing. It describes how the chemistry of the various ingredients affect the flavor of beer, including undesirable ones that can lead to that well known "skunky" taste.
The picture is of Franziskaner Hefeweizen, a German Wheat Beer as viewed through a microscope. Here are other similar pictures of beers from around the world.
North Trace Creek Ride
The day after Thanksgiving, six of us rode an out-and-back of approximately 22 miles on North Trace from the DD crossing to Hazel Creek. Temperature was pretty nice, but a bit cold in the low to mid-20's at the start.
The trail was in fairly good shape, although there were many surprises hidden under the inches-deep leaf cover. There were approximately 15-20 trees down across the trail, with maybe 3 that will require a chainsaw. The rest can be take care of with packsaws. Most of the creek crossings had very little water in them or were frozen, so didn't present any challenge to keeping our feet warm and dry.
Beavers have been very active at the Hazel Creek crossing. The water there was probably 2-4 feet deep. We tried to get Terbo to cross and find out if it was passable, but couldn't pony up enough cash to get him to do it.
Bender Injured!
Josh Bender was injured during this drop in Utah on Nov 14th. Surgery for a broken ankle, another for a fractured L2 vertebre. That's gotta hurt.
The drop: It's a 35 footer, with a gap to clear. Bender apparently tried to bail just before the landing and was tangled up in his bike.
Don't try this at home...
Get In Touch With Your Inner (Holiday) Beer Drinker
This guy (not the one in the Surly shirt) is drinking 50 Seasonal/Holiday Beers in 50 days. As of today, he's up to number 16. Learn about some new beers. Just don't try them all in one day.
Dogwood Loop
Last Saturday was a big day for GORC. The near total reroute of the Dogwood Trail at Greensfelder was completed. The trail, which was formerly a muddy, sodden mess with straight-up climbs is now beautiful, twisty, flowing, and most importantly, sustainable singletrack. Terbo and Bryan, and everyone else involved did a great job with the new design.
After the workday, despite the threat of a downpour, some of us decided to give the new trail a test ride. All I can say is wow! This trail has everything-- climbs, banked turns, rocks, fast descents... There was some talk-- well ok, it was just me, but I'm sure that once you ride it, you'll agree, that this might be GORC's best piece of work.
I had been reluctant to do much work at GF, because while I thought the park had the best terrain for mountain biking in the area, I figured the horses would just trash it. After seeing how well the DeClue reroute and the first section of the Dogwood had held up to the abuse, I was convinced otherwise. Perhaps our "Equestrian Outreach Officer" will have some success in persuading them to pay more attention to trail conditions when they ride. Ha!
According to our own Ninja master, this loop combined with the DeClue is around 9 or 10 miles.
So when you go out and ride this trail, and are having a great time, think about what was there before, and what a difference volunteers can actually make.
Tired of Riding on Roads With Rock & Glass Strewn Shoulders?
Turns out that MODOT will clean the shoulder of roads which they maintain on request. More info on the MOBikeFed website. Anyone know if Illinois will do the same thing?
Greensfelder Dogwood Trailbuilding - Nov 12
We should be finishing two stretches of new trail on the Dogwood trail at Greensfelder Park Saturday, making for a loop that's double what it used to be, better quality and more sustainable of course.
Work goes from 9am to 1pm. Lunch will be provided by St. Louis County Parks afterwards. To preregister and ensure a piece of a sandwich, email Kay at khartzke@stlouisco.com or call 314-638-2100 by Thursday. Please say you're with GORC, as they're already booked full for other volunteer groups. Boots, long pants, and gloves are highly recommended. Gloves and eyewear are available. Bring a mcleod, pulaski, shovel, digging bar or rock bar, whatever you have, as this is shaping up to be the biggest GF workday yet. And of course bring your bike for a ride after lunch!
Meet at Dogwood Shelter (not Muckerman like the original flyer said)
Directions:
* Hwy 44 to Six Flags exit, Allenton Road North
* Go past six flags, into Greensfelder Park, just past the visitor's center, turn left on Hencken Road
* Go past Muckerman shelter and the operations office (it's a house) on your left
* Take the next left into the parking lot.
* Look for the St. Louis County Parks tool trailer.
St. Louis County has really recruited some volunteers for Saturday so we've got a special request out for experienced trailbuilders, anyone who's done this before counts. If you're a biker who's new to trailbuilding, (or if you're busy Saturday) consider SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday instead. It'll be a little smaller and more intimate, and lots of fun. Or just go nuts and do both.
tom
Work goes from 9am to 1pm. Lunch will be provided by St. Louis County Parks afterwards. To preregister and ensure a piece of a sandwich, email Kay at khartzke@stlouisco.com or call 314-638-2100 by Thursday. Please say you're with GORC, as they're already booked full for other volunteer groups. Boots, long pants, and gloves are highly recommended. Gloves and eyewear are available. Bring a mcleod, pulaski, shovel, digging bar or rock bar, whatever you have, as this is shaping up to be the biggest GF workday yet. And of course bring your bike for a ride after lunch!
Meet at Dogwood Shelter (not Muckerman like the original flyer said)
Directions:
* Hwy 44 to Six Flags exit, Allenton Road North
* Go past six flags, into Greensfelder Park, just past the visitor's center, turn left on Hencken Road
* Go past Muckerman shelter and the operations office (it's a house) on your left
* Take the next left into the parking lot.
* Look for the St. Louis County Parks tool trailer.
St. Louis County has really recruited some volunteers for Saturday so we've got a special request out for experienced trailbuilders, anyone who's done this before counts. If you're a biker who's new to trailbuilding, (or if you're busy Saturday) consider SIU-Edwardsville on Sunday instead. It'll be a little smaller and more intimate, and lots of fun. Or just go nuts and do both.
tom
Dope...
Another rider joins the ranks of our Burnin' Team!
Heras' A-sample has tested positive for EPO. In a few weeks, we'll get the B-sample test to confirm his status for next year's Council Bluff Race, maybe a 'fast' team eh Tom?
Here's a great editorial on the whole "dopers suck" thing...good times.
BTW: Last nights ride at LV was fun, the trails were primo and we had 11 riders, not including the folks we saw out on the trail, and the DRJ crew that showed up around 9pm to hit the trail. THese rides are gaining momentum once again, thanks to the nice fall weather. Contrast this to last year when the weather SUCKED A$$ for the entire Nov/Dec riding season.
BTW Part II: COME TO GREENSFELDER SATURDAY AND HELP US FINISH THE TRAIL!!!!
MTB Positioning Chart
For those of you who like to tinker with the position of various components on your bike, here's an article about how to keep track of any changes you might make. Includes a link to a chart from Park Tool where you can record the measurements.
Here's the one for road bikes.
Here's the one for road bikes.
Story on Mountain Biking in Missouri
JohnnyD gets interviewed briefly as part of a general article about Mountain Biking in Missouri. Published oddly enough by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Free music to listen to at work
Hey desk jockeys, here's some legal music you can listen to on the computer.
NPR has been internet broadcasting a series of concerts from a club in Washington DC. They get some good bands (your mileage may vary) and you can listen on demand. Audio quality varies from one show to the next. Some of them, notably Son Volt and Bloc Party can be downloaded in MP3 format so you can take them with you. Most of them have to stream. Check back because they keep adding more.
Also of note is NPR's podcast directory. You don't actually need a dorkpod to listen to any of it (but that's how I do it). Itunes on the computer will do fine, or look up podcasting on wikipedia for much more info.
LINKS:
NPR Live Concert Series
NPR podcast directory
NPR has been internet broadcasting a series of concerts from a club in Washington DC. They get some good bands (your mileage may vary) and you can listen on demand. Audio quality varies from one show to the next. Some of them, notably Son Volt and Bloc Party can be downloaded in MP3 format so you can take them with you. Most of them have to stream. Check back because they keep adding more.
Also of note is NPR's podcast directory. You don't actually need a dorkpod to listen to any of it (but that's how I do it). Itunes on the computer will do fine, or look up podcasting on wikipedia for much more info.
LINKS:
NPR Live Concert Series
NPR podcast directory
As if we needed more proof that the french suck.
But it could be said that the presentation of the 2006 route did more than turn its back on Discovery Channel, the American super-squad. In an extraordinary mission statement by Amaury Sport Organisations's deputy managing director Jean-Marie LeBlanc and director of cycling Christian Prudhomme, the pair said in their introduction to the 2006 event:
"On the 24th of July we turned the page on a long, very long chapter in the history of the Tour de France. And one month later, current events made it clear to us that it was just as well that this was so."
It could only be a reference to seven-time Tour winner Armstrong, and the subsequent doping allegations published in the ASO-owned L'Equipe newspaper that came out one month later (see report).
They continued: "Does this justify closing the entire book and erasing all the emotions that, for so many years, the Tour and its champions have provided us with?
"Taken as a whole, judged on its lifelong worth - like an artist or a poet - and in particular on its future productions, we want to believe that the Tour de France deserves a better fate. The dream that it embodies, the values that it is capable of generating mean that it has a duty to be able to hold its head up in pride."
"On the 24th of July we turned the page on a long, very long chapter in the history of the Tour de France. And one month later, current events made it clear to us that it was just as well that this was so."
It could only be a reference to seven-time Tour winner Armstrong, and the subsequent doping allegations published in the ASO-owned L'Equipe newspaper that came out one month later (see report).
They continued: "Does this justify closing the entire book and erasing all the emotions that, for so many years, the Tour and its champions have provided us with?
"Taken as a whole, judged on its lifelong worth - like an artist or a poet - and in particular on its future productions, we want to believe that the Tour de France deserves a better fate. The dream that it embodies, the values that it is capable of generating mean that it has a duty to be able to hold its head up in pride."
Greensfelder goodness
We're building another big stretch of new trail on the Dogwood loop at Greensfelder Park this fall. It'll take big turnouts to get it done in the remaining two scheduled workdays, 10/29 and 11/12. Here are the details.
We work from 9am to 1pm. Lunch will be provided by St. Louis County Parks afterwards. To preregister and ensure a sandwich, email Kay at khartzke@stlouisco.com or call 314-638-2100 by Thursday. Boots, long pants, and gloves are recommended. Gloves and eyewear are available..
Bring your bike for a ride after lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meet at Muckerman Shelter
Directions:
* Hwy 44 to Six Flags exit, Allenton Road North
* Go past six flags, into Greensfelder Park, just past the visitor's center, turn left on Hencken Road
* Take an almost immediate left into the parking lot.
* Look for the St. Louis County Parks tool trailer.
We work from 9am to 1pm. Lunch will be provided by St. Louis County Parks afterwards. To preregister and ensure a sandwich, email Kay at khartzke@stlouisco.com or call 314-638-2100 by Thursday. Boots, long pants, and gloves are recommended. Gloves and eyewear are available..
Bring your bike for a ride after lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meet at Muckerman Shelter
Directions:
* Hwy 44 to Six Flags exit, Allenton Road North
* Go past six flags, into Greensfelder Park, just past the visitor's center, turn left on Hencken Road
* Take an almost immediate left into the parking lot.
* Look for the St. Louis County Parks tool trailer.
Madison County Bike Trails
Sunday's Post-Dispatch has an article about the network of bike trails across the river in Illinois. Of particular interest is the attitude of homeowners whose property lies near the various trails:
Contrast the Madison County situation with recent events in Maryland Heights. The free bike magazine "Point to Point", which is available apparently, in most local bike shops, has an informative analysis of the Maryland Heights story as well.
"Initially, there were complaints from people who feared their privacy would be invaded," Kane said. Today, the complaints are from people who want to know when they'll get their spur (link) to the trails."
Contrast the Madison County situation with recent events in Maryland Heights. The free bike magazine "Point to Point", which is available apparently, in most local bike shops, has an informative analysis of the Maryland Heights story as well.
Ozark Trail event
Maybe some of you don't regularly read the GORC forum. Well, now [edited 10/24] it is too late to go to the Ozark Trail Association GORC 10/22 mega event on the Middle Fork section. You probably got email about it. See all the gorcy details on the forum HERE. We have a a big new section of hard trail to build, new trail to ride, new place to camp, free beer and camping, lots of fiends, and food. This will be too fun to miss.
There's another one on Nov 5th. See the OTA page for details.
LINKS:
Details about the 10/22 event
Ozark Trail Association
Maps of the Ozark Trail
There's another one on Nov 5th. See the OTA page for details.
LINKS:
Details about the 10/22 event
Ozark Trail Association
Maps of the Ozark Trail
Rockboy Rants
How about that burnin Revive at the BURN 05? Typical GORC affair for sure. What can be done to amp that deal up?
Lets burn it down, Rockboy
Lets burn it down, Rockboy
GORC Socks Are Here
The stylish new GORC Socks have arrived, and we managed to convince a world-famous underwear and ankle model to give you all a preview of what they look like. Available now from your friendly neighborhood Trail Pimp, or at the next meeting or workday.
Cliff Cave
Today's Post-Dispatch has an article about what's happening at Cliff Cave Park.
The printed version also mentions the need for volunteers for the 10/29 Greensfelder Workday.
The printed version also mentions the need for volunteers for the 10/29 Greensfelder Workday.
Bikeworks NYC chainwheel archive
Seeing these silly disk brake rotors from interbike reminded me of the online museum of decorative chainwheels. Most of them are old and cool. A few, like the dirty dancing one, are just silly. Also note the chainrings (that bolt onto a spider) are on another page.
link:
http://www.bikecult.com/works/chainwheel.html
Stinky? Where's the love?
Like you love your same sex parents...not that there's anything wrong with that!
Politics with the Pimp!
Let's do a quick recap of the current administration:
Hint: Click the links for more info...
Tom Delay: The latest in the string of scandals. Finally approval ratings begin to slip.
__________________________________________________
Karl Rove...Treasonist Outlaw/Republican Master Strategist.
"I didn't know her name. I didn't leak her name," This is a typically
misleading "Bush Inc." quote. Since he wouldn't have to say her name,
he could just say "Joseph Wilson's wife is a CIA operative", and it has
the same effect, AND IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW!
Lewis "Scooter" Libby =
SCAPEGOAT!
For a full-list of the players in this latest conundrum
______________________________________
And the newest "Busy Insider" Harriet Myers...
Generalisimo El-Busho has sought a lawyer to fill the bench. Why?
Because most of their legal positions are beyond accusation, they can
point to the fact that they were being paid to argue a point, whether
they agreed to it or not. Another clever move by Karl Rove and Dick
Cheney...oops, I mean "President Bush Inc."
Oh, and expect to hear the words "attorney/client privledge" used often in the hearings.
_____________________________________
Finally, let's consider the following questions:
Where's Osama Bin Laden?
Where are all the WMDs?
Why did we invade Iraq in the first place? (check the previous question)
What ever happened to the Clean Air Act?
Do you think that Senator Bill Frist will get a similar sentence for insider trading that Martha Stewart recieved? (Frist was rumored to be a future prez candidate...was)
Yes, I'm just scratching the surface here. I could go on, just do your
own research.
The Pimp!
yeah, these are my opinions, not GORC's. It's a bike club.
Hint: Click the links for more info...
Tom Delay: The latest in the string of scandals. Finally approval ratings begin to slip.
__________________________________________________
Karl Rove...Treasonist Outlaw/Republican Master Strategist.
"I didn't know her name. I didn't leak her name," This is a typically
misleading "Bush Inc." quote. Since he wouldn't have to say her name,
he could just say "Joseph Wilson's wife is a CIA operative", and it has
the same effect, AND IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW!
Lewis "Scooter" Libby =
SCAPEGOAT!
For a full-list of the players in this latest conundrum
______________________________________
And the newest "Busy Insider" Harriet Myers...
Generalisimo El-Busho has sought a lawyer to fill the bench. Why?
Because most of their legal positions are beyond accusation, they can
point to the fact that they were being paid to argue a point, whether
they agreed to it or not. Another clever move by Karl Rove and Dick
Cheney...oops, I mean "President Bush Inc."
Oh, and expect to hear the words "attorney/client privledge" used often in the hearings.
_____________________________________
Finally, let's consider the following questions:
Where's Osama Bin Laden?
Where are all the WMDs?
Why did we invade Iraq in the first place? (check the previous question)
What ever happened to the Clean Air Act?
Do you think that Senator Bill Frist will get a similar sentence for insider trading that Martha Stewart recieved? (Frist was rumored to be a future prez candidate...was)
Yes, I'm just scratching the surface here. I could go on, just do your
own research.
The Pimp!
yeah, these are my opinions, not GORC's. It's a bike club.
And the Best Place in St. Louis to Mountain Bike is...
According to the Riverfront Times the best place in St. Louis to Mountain Bike is....
They also list the best "urban bike ride" as Gravois Avenue. No mention of flying bricks or roving gangs.
Here's the best bike shop.
They also list the best "urban bike ride" as Gravois Avenue. No mention of flying bricks or roving gangs.
Here's the best bike shop.
Boonen tops 'em in Spain
Angry-Sprinter, Tom Boonen and his Belgian hit-squad reeled in a huge attack in the closing laps by none other than Alexandre Vinokourov, and Paolo Bettini to win the 2005 World Championships in Spain yesterday.
This tops a fantastic year for Tom, that included Flanders and Paris-Roubaix victories.
American bright spot, Saul Raisin, failed to finish, but put in a great effort as part of an early break.
...with Worlds down, that can only mean one thing...BRING ON THE CYCLOCROSS!!!
This tops a fantastic year for Tom, that included Flanders and Paris-Roubaix victories.
American bright spot, Saul Raisin, failed to finish, but put in a great effort as part of an early break.
...with Worlds down, that can only mean one thing...BRING ON THE CYCLOCROSS!!!
Problems Facing Completion of Katy Trail North of St. Charles
Here's an article which details some of the problems facing the completion of the Katy Trail from St. Charles, north towards Illinois.
Bridge Access For Cyclists in STL Area
This answers a question which had been burning somewhere in the back of my mind for awhile: How many different bridges can you cycle across in the STL Area?
You also might check out the Missouri Bike Fed which is working for better and safer conditions for cycling around the state. GORC belongs to it.
You also might check out the Missouri Bike Fed which is working for better and safer conditions for cycling around the state. GORC belongs to it.
Ninja-Pirate Assembly of God
First we find out that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day.
There's also a church that will embrace both Izak and F'Ed.
The FSM is certainly amazing.
There's also a church that will embrace both Izak and F'Ed.
The FSM is certainly amazing.
More motorcycle madness
The Formula Smack Pack race in Texas sounds a lot like the mountainbike singlespeed "competitions." Nurse's costumes on guys (over leathers), the women's winner didn't even ride, lemans start and major course-cutting without consequences, and it sounds like tons of fun, for charity even. Oh yeah, and they were on supermotard motorcycles -- tricked out single-cylinder dirt bikes set up for street riding. It's kind of the motorcycle equivalent of urban assault or singlespeed or something.
My friend sent me the link with the byline, "all they needed was a jump through fire." I can't believe they missed that.
Story Link:
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=23989
My friend sent me the link with the byline, "all they needed was a jump through fire." I can't believe they missed that.
Story Link:
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=23989
The future of downhill bikes?
I guess it was inevitable. The throttle twisters at FX Bikes in New Zealand finally realized that modern downhill bicycles are just motorcycles without motors and replaced the drivetrain with a little two-stroke. Or I guess you could say they replaced the heavy parts of a motorcycle with "lightweight" DH bicycle parts to make a motorcycle that weighs about 100 pounds.
My favorite quotes from the article.
HANDLING
You can actually bunny-hop
obstacles and pull up the front wheel with
your own strength.
...
WHAT BROKE?
Broken wheel – The spokes on the mountain bike rear wheel collapsed under load. They have now been rebuilt with all the nipples Loctited.
...
RIDER FEEDBACK:
I could see myself sneaking onto tracks I shouldn’t be on.
Well at least he's honest.
I'm sure these bikes are loads of fun and all (in the right place) but I won't be replacing my hardtail with one anytime soon.
Vuelta anyone?
There is a race going on in Spain, and even if Lance isn't in it...
Here's the profile for today's stage. Heras has managed to retake the lead by putting 4-1/2 minutes into Menchov.
That's called ripping the legs off the competition folks. Heras deserves another one.
Here's the profile for today's stage. Heras has managed to retake the lead by putting 4-1/2 minutes into Menchov.
That's called ripping the legs off the competition folks. Heras deserves another one.
Monthly Meeting Wed. 9/07
The regular monthly meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Schlafly Tap Room.
Be there to find out what this picture is all about.
Wednesday Report from Salida
Wednesday, Fresh legs. The-Pimp, 3-Bowl, and the Great Randini fly in. We take all of a few hours to acclimate, drink some of the great beer (nice Stout), and kit-up for the 35-mile epic of Monarch Crest to Rainbow trail.We're also joined by Special guest rider #1, Jim Butler. A former StL resident and supa-fast dude. He's on a singlespeed, a truly bad man. The ride is stellar, and everyone on the GORC-crew nails it big-time. We had a great ride that punctuated by unbelievable views, great trail, and sunny 60-degree temps. Rain threatened briefly, but the ride was dry, and the trails were fast.
Wednesday night we headed into Salida for some fresh parts - chainring for the pimp, and derailluer hangar for Big-Pun. The evening on the town ends with Giant Burrito's at White Water Wraps in Salida.
We're gonna be ready to rock on Thursday, for legendary Trail 401 in Crested Butte!
Stay Tuned.
Typical GORC rest day
Tuesday in Salida, GORC takes an easy day. This means we go to Alpine Tunnel, which is about three miles from the highest place you can park, along steady uphill rail-to-trail. This is not KATY trail, but an old narrow-guage railway that's been out of commission since 1910. The tunnel under the continental divide is closed so you have to hike or hike a bike to get to the other side. Narrow guage trains can climb much steeper than what we're used to, at least 5%. SO, at the town of St. Elmo's we're leaving a truck for later. About eight of us decide (stupidly) to ride the six miles to the high parking place, then ride the rest with GORC. Then we get to the tunnel, then hike on up to the continental divide, and see why Bryan "The Crusher" Adams chose the truck ride up. After 20 minutes of hike-a-bike, then huddling behind a rock for 15 minutes taking picures and cowering from the wind, the last five dumbasses take what we called the "hell and back" trail, which was a beautiful piece of little-used singletrack, most of it above 12,000 feet. Anyway, since we're on dialup out here, the pictures aren't plentiful. Here's a shot of Big Pun at the mouth of the Alpine Tunnel. Big Pun and Matt Hayes are not bound by earth's laws of physics. Somehow those guys can dish out the punishment, take more of it, and keep coming back for more. Both killed it today. Here's a rare shot of Greg taking a little breather at the mouth of the tunnel.
By the way, the first keg is long dead, so we got a bigger one for the second. It just might kill us.
No links today. I'm on vacation.
By the way, the first keg is long dead, so we got a bigger one for the second. It just might kill us.
No links today. I'm on vacation.
Rain N Shine
So it decides to rain on us after we arrived in Salida on Saturday. We had some keg and waited for the sun to reappear. As soon as it did we put together a haphazard ride out the door onto some local fireroads to Boss Lake. As we ascended it began to rain and the crew turned around and stopped at a local business (see photo). It let up and we attempted to climb the heinous fireroad. Scott, Matt and Ron made a left turn, leaving the others to their own fate. It began to hail and it hurt like hell. Ron and Matt stopped under a tree to make sure they were saturated with as much rain water before continuing. Kirby showed up and the 3 continued up a monster fireroad.
It never stopped raining and the temperature continued to drop. Lighting and thunder followed us up the steep hillside for over a mile until we crested onto Boss Lake. The fireroad literally ended in the lake waters and we had to skirt the bank until we reached uberknarl singletrack similar to the Worlds SS course.
We bombed down the wet and slimy trail, walking the blood prone sections, and landed on another fireroad back to basecamp. Kirby, Matt and Ron bombed the descent, absolutely frozen and soaked to the core.
Though only 3 of the 15 completed the first challenge of the week, it was a ride to be remembered by all.
GORC Makes Landfall in Salida!
The GORC crew has arrived in Salida, and true to form taken care of the important business first -- getting the keg lined up for the day. After some rest, we're hitting the trails for some riding. More to follow...
Press F10 to Initialise FMode
The SSWC pictorial through the eyes of the punmobile (matt, john, pun) is short but sweet...
Saturday night: After sleeping for less than 4 hours since Friday we all head out and get shitty and eat shittier chinese food. More or less, this was the attitude towards tools, poseurs, and race bred shonkies. we came to ride the ride. stay up late till about 4:30.
Again, later that night we hang out at the official race bar (the big easy). good times. then we met ray who is a small radio DJ whose focus niche is "avant garde." strange, but true. i assume that he's been growing is dread beard since he was 13 and is still completing college? definitely a surreal conversation.
The race went well. John and I pretty much chilled out the whole time and finished in about 5 and a half hours. brutal downhills and rocks everywhere. one downhill dropped 600 feet in a half mile, basically straight down. john rode the entire thing. i skipped about 150 feet because i want to go to colorado. this is a scene from the "wall" riders had to climb, or walk. it was the only spot we walked up hill (about a quarter mile.)
weird sidenote: of course we hung off the back in a race for last, but almost every rider we came across was walking their bike on 10% or less grades. weird shit. and many riders on zoot bikes have little or no tech, not even a hint of it. at least the last 50 or so.
after the race and missing the kart action, we hung out with the EVILcycling and Dirt Rag crew until absolutely everyone but us in the photo were left, thus claiming the title "SSWC Dead Fucking Last" status.
I hear it's in New Zealand next year. maybe...
Saturday night: After sleeping for less than 4 hours since Friday we all head out and get shitty and eat shittier chinese food. More or less, this was the attitude towards tools, poseurs, and race bred shonkies. we came to ride the ride. stay up late till about 4:30.
Again, later that night we hang out at the official race bar (the big easy). good times. then we met ray who is a small radio DJ whose focus niche is "avant garde." strange, but true. i assume that he's been growing is dread beard since he was 13 and is still completing college? definitely a surreal conversation.
The race went well. John and I pretty much chilled out the whole time and finished in about 5 and a half hours. brutal downhills and rocks everywhere. one downhill dropped 600 feet in a half mile, basically straight down. john rode the entire thing. i skipped about 150 feet because i want to go to colorado. this is a scene from the "wall" riders had to climb, or walk. it was the only spot we walked up hill (about a quarter mile.)
weird sidenote: of course we hung off the back in a race for last, but almost every rider we came across was walking their bike on 10% or less grades. weird shit. and many riders on zoot bikes have little or no tech, not even a hint of it. at least the last 50 or so.
after the race and missing the kart action, we hung out with the EVILcycling and Dirt Rag crew until absolutely everyone but us in the photo were left, thus claiming the title "SSWC Dead Fucking Last" status.
I hear it's in New Zealand next year. maybe...
SingleSpeed Worlds. Mini-report
Brian "Buck" Keich from PA 
your 2005 Singlespeed World Champ.
More Pics at: http://www.pbase.com/dens/sswc_05
Enjoy. Full GORC report to follow soon....
your 2005 Singlespeed World Champ.More Pics at: http://www.pbase.com/dens/sswc_05
Enjoy. Full GORC report to follow soon....
SSWC-Keith Bontrager's Perspective (John Farinella's best friend)
The link above takes you to an intersting article by K.B.. He is apparently keeping a diary for teh 2005 season and it is pretty interesting.
Kirbs
Kirbs
GORC Socks
Here's the design for the GORC socks. All proceeds go back into the club for supporting your local trails. Ordering details will be on the website. Buy a pair of these 100% wool socks for yourself, and one for grandma, she'll love them.
God hates Castlewood
OK, that's no way to put it. God loves castlewood. He just has to let mother nature lay the smack down every now and then or there would be great unrest upstairs.
I was talking to Sam last night and he told me about some cool maps and storm descriptions on the NOAA website. Turns out the storms of August 13 were pretty notable, as evidenced by the manually drawn map of the five strong downbursts that hit the area that day. There are a lot of cool storm damage pictures there too (like the one below). To see other weather events around here you can just go to the abundantly useful St. Louis weather page (not the forecast) and click "recent events" on the left side of the page.
Unfortunately for us they hit Castlewood dead on and put a lot of trees down over the trail. Sam said he and the rangers "have never seen anything like it." One thing I learned in the old-growth forests of the porcupine mountains is that down trees are a great thing for the forest. They're not so good for the trails which are completely unusable right now.
That's why they're calling for help cleaning up. People who know what they're doing with chainsaws are doubly appreciated but anyone can be put to work.
Meet on Sunday August 21, 9:00 am at the Castlewood ranger station. See the gorc message board for more details.
LINKS GALORE:
August 13 event
Cool Aug 13 downburst map
Aug 13 Storm damage pictures
St. Louis weather central page
St. Louis recent signifigant weather events
Chat about trail cleanup
wikipedia entry for downburst
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)