Stevie Wonder Saturday Happy Street

I hope your holiday weekend party looks a bit.  Complete with trippy fish, table dancing and the crazy dancing tassle lady.



The trippy fish in the beginning of this clip makes it worth it but don't stop there.

Party on

The Modern Day Jerk

Through the miracles of the modern interweb I made contact with the fine folks over at Wheelbrothers.com. They were looking for an article on the differences in Bicycle racks for your car.  Since I happen to know a thing or two about bicycle racks I tapped out a description on my keyboard and sent it over.  They must have liked it because they published it.  Heck, they are even going to publish it in a two part series; presumably because in typical Velorambling fashion I gave a bunch of info.  Check the article out HERE.  Updated  the second part of the article is HERE.

I was so excited when I saw the article in print that I jumped around like Navis Johnson.



I thought this was appropriate because the interwerbs are clearly the new phonebook.

I kept stopping the backwards video above to memorize this line.  "I'm in print, thing's are going to start happening to me now"



Then they showed the guy with the shotgun.  I sincerely hope  someone's like Emmet Walsh's character doesn't drop his cursor on my little home on the interweb.  I don't need that kind of attention.

Now onto cycling.  Did you read the great article over at Wheel brothers.com on nice racks?

Wednesday night marked the first time in a year that I returned to Wednesday Night Worlds (WNW) here in my little corner of this big blue marble.  I would image that you have a ride very similar wherever you reside.  Around mid week a bunch of local fastish and striving to be fastish folks show up and beat the tar out of each other.

The rides almost always start the same.  Someone say's "I'm not feeling it today, let's take it easy" Then the stuff hit's the fan.  I have been riding some but mostly by myself.  The first group ride of the season was just last Sunday.  The Rapha Gentlemans Ride which was quick but a bit brutal and we regrouped for everyone to be gentlemanly.  There wasn't alot of regrouping Wednesday night.  Some, (waiting for me) but not a lot.  This made it difficult for me to judge my fitness level.

Over the last year the WNW has dwindled quite a bit.  Five years ago when I was riding it regularly there were routinely 30-50 people.  Not so anymore.  When I rolled up there were 12 of us heading out.  After the heckling of "Whoah, where have you been?", and assorted jokes about being chubby, out of shape, or what equipment choices we made it was time to roll out.

I would like to take this opportunity to let it be known that chubby is not out of shape since round is indeed a shape.  I think I learned that fact in kindergarden.

After rolling for a bit the pace started to heat up a little.  The local fast guy's were chatting, I was breathing like Darth Vader.  Joe proceeded to go to the front and that skinny dude ramped up the pace and as the kid's used to say "S*!t started getting real".

Years of memory and self preservation jumped to the forefront and I followed wheels like a champ.  I took my turn's at the front.  As soon as my nose hit the wind the count to 20 began.  That's right 20 seconds in the wind was all the work I was doing before I dropped back to hang.

This is the polar opposite of most of the riding I do.  I usually ride by myself and take in nature like on Wednesday's rambling.  They say variety is the spice of life and I would have to say that I had fun.  In some weird way punishing myself, breathing heavy, following 12" behind a wheel, and staring at the guys back directly in front of me was actually not as bad as it sounds.  It's also not as creepy, so you all get your mind's out of the gutter.

Six of us finished together.  I think I'll do it again soon.

Here in the good old U S of A it is a 3 day weekend.  Take full advantage; ride your bike, heck ride a couple different ones and see if the variety spices up your Memorial Day weekend.

When you are relaxing and chillin at the keyboard after your festivities go check out Wheelbrothers.com and read about rack's.

Wednesday Quote Nature

"I just want the to give nature the opportunity to survive"   Freddy Mella

I was riding my bicycle home sunday night.  It was nice, a rain shower had just passed and I had spent several hours with with my daughters and several thousand other children.  The venue was a few miles away so I rode my bicycle home.  My mom and dad went with me and I stuffed the bike in the back of their mini van.  They left before me and I was able to stay on my new kick of riding when possible. 

Leaving the school there is a nice downhill into the town where I live.   Naturally I was cruising down it, having fun and loving life.  There was a good size rock in the road that I swerved around so i wouldn't crash into it.  Only it wasn't a rock; it was a pretty large turtle enjoying the warm wet asphalt.  I slowed to a stop and looped around to get him or her out of the street before it got run over.  

As i looped around to get Mrs. Turtle a man in an SUV drove by and drove right over her.  I  could here the screech and pop of the shell being only 10 or so feet away.  I was shocked and devastated.   It appeared to me that he did it on purpose.  Normally wouldn't you swerve just a bit for a rock or turtle on the street  If he did run that turtle over on purpose then in my opinion he has serious issues.

I thought of going and clearing the now dead turtle off the street but I am sad to admit that I couldn't face it.  Mrs. Turtle was already dead and I was more than confused.  That is such a cruel act.  Riding the rest of the way home I thought of the abundance of wildlife that I had seen in just the previous week.

Sometime's I tried to get a picture but couldn't get the phone out of the jersey pocket quick enough.  Other time's I just watched and enjoyed.  Last week alone I saw countless baby duckling's and their mother's, lot's of deer and probably 10 or so spotted babies, a lone turkey walking next to the road, and a baby fox that was warming in the street.  The fox was only about as long as my forearm and half tail.  He bounced away when I slowed to look and my freehub body sprang to life WIRRRRIng the baby fox away.

It is upon reflecting back on all I have seen in the last week alone that I realized that not only is the earth coming back to life, but so is my love of riding.  I don't feel like i have to ride to train for something, I want to ride to be outside and take in the surrounding's.  

Yesterday I was happy to be able to redeem my inability to help Mrs. Turtle.  Riding down the road I found this guy sitting on the white line.

I moved him a ways in to the grass and mud off tot he side of the road.  All the while car's were honking at me because I was stopped off the side of the road with the bike leaning on the guard rail.  I was happy I had moved him, he was not so sure. 

Look around while you are riding, be aware, take in the sight's.  You will see some wonderful things.  Heck you might even find some cool stuff.  I have had lots of interesting road finds in my years.  I even found what is probably the most used tool on my workbench while riding.

 Go ride your bicycle and revel in where it can take you. 

I've Been Raptured by Rapha

I would definitely prefer my rapture in the form of a smoking hot singer than a bunch of people evaporating into the air.

My rapture/conversion was in the form of becoming a Rapha convert.  Yes It's true.  I have alway's been a fan of the event's that Rapha put's on.  The experience of riding is so fantastic that it is worthwhile sharing.

Allow me to digress from my thoughts of fancy clothes and fancy rides to ask/beg for some assistance from you the reader's of MLBB.  More specifically the taller of you who read.  I am looking for a 58-60 cm. road bike to introduce a 16 year old kid to cycling.  He is a rower and asked for help in getting a road bike.  He wants to cross-train, and I want to help get him excited about cycling.  So if you have a road bike that is hanging in your garage or workshop and needs a home let me know.  He's a kid so he only has a couple hundred dollars to spend but you will know that the bike is gong to a good home and maybe you can help build a lifelong cyclist.  Drop me a line if you can help out.

Now back to today's rambling....

The area that I live in has such great riding, that for Rapha to bring their ride to my backyard.  Rapha had a Gentleman's race this past Saturday and a Gentleman's ride on Sunday.  The race and ride started in the Lehigh Valley and I believe went to Quebec and back.  Or something like that.  Bill and Beth Strickland with some others put the loop together.  The race was 134 miles with almost 10,000 feet of climbing, the ride was 46 miles with 2,500 feet of climbing.  (People's Garmin's said that it was over 4,000 feet)

The race was invitation only.  I was lucky enough to get an invitation.  Jed asked me to ride a tandem with someone from Bilenky Cycles.  I immediately said yes.  I dig riding tandems.  About two weeks later the reality set in.  I couldn't do it.  I had family obligations.  It was more important for me to support my kid's than chase people around Pa on two wheels.

Knowing it was more important made the decision automatic, but truth be told I was still jonesing to do the ride.  There was lot's of dirt and gravel roads on tap and a great group of people that I don't get to spend nearly enough time with.  For a good write up of the race check out the always entertaining and inappropriately named Fatmarc.

I put on my big boy pant's and dealt with the fact that I wouldn't ride.  To be defiant though I didn't put them on one leg at a time.  That's right I put my big boy pant's on both leg's at the same time.  Try that sometime.  It's best if you do it laying down like a hipster trying to put on their sister jeans.  Please don't ask how I know this.

When I saw that there was a ride Sunday I was in for sure.  It was well worth it.  The ride was everything it was cracked up to be.  There were four or five sections of dirt gravel road with some pretty steep climbs.  We had to channel our inner Giro rider and imagine the Zoncolan.

Derrick from Rapha led the ride from the front.  He was a strong rider and a true gentleman.  This was truly a great experience.  I met some people and reconnected with other's I hadn't seen in quite awhile.  At the end of the ride Derrick and I played the six degrees of bicycle induatry separation game.  We didn't need to get past one degree.

Does Rapha make sweet clothing?... yes.  Is it well made?... yes.  Is it good looking?... yes.  Above all  these guys just get it.  The experience was what made the event.  Rapha get's the culture of cycling.  I would do another of these in a heartbeat.

I must say I have spent an inordinate amount of time surfing the Rapha site today.  My wish list is growing.

Obligatory picture dump...

That's Derrick from Rapha in the pink and Andy from Main Line Cycles in the Main Line Cycles Jersey.

That is Erica in the yellow jersey.  The only girl to do the long loop on Sunday.

That is Tom Kellog of Spectrum Cycles.  Fast guy frame builder from the Lehigh Valley. 

I was too busy riding and enjoying to take more pictures.

Thanks for reading.

Stevie Wonder Saturday A Place in the Sun

Sunny this morning time to ride.

I Did It.

Remember this campaign?

I was all fired up to write a huge diatribe about these latest doping revelations.  I am going to settle for a short one instead.

Why do Ex-dopers feel the need to tear other's down in order to lessen the sting of them admitting that they did thing's that are wrong.  I have more respect for people like David Millar who get busted and admit it and serve their time.

Of course I'm not for doping, or more accurately called cheating.  But at a certain point I do understand it.  It's a fact that people cheat at times.  We have all seen it.  Heck I even understand the initial denial.  When people are backed into a corner they often come out swinging.  The vigorous attempts at clearing one's name when they are guilty I don't get.  Think Floyd Fairness fund or I Believe Tyler.

That is alot of work to cover up something only to later say "Whoops My Bad".  I like bicycle racing, I like to ride my bicycle.  Some people who cheat won't change this.

Speaking of riding my bicycle.....

Lately it has been raining quite a bit here in the Mid Atlantic.  I have been strapping on the scuba tank and riding.  At least it's warmish wet weather.  As Chris the neighbor with the big bike and fast wife pointed out to me, it is time to channel our inner Flahute.

The nice thing about channeling your inner Flahute is that the only acceptable Belgian thing to do after a ride is to have a nice cold barley pop.  

Guess I'm cooking dinner tonight.

Now go ride your bike.

Wednesday Quote Green Laker Tribute

I don't know squat about jazz but I know a thing or 2 about improvisation.

 Today's improvisation is going to get me out of writing.  While in Nor-Cal a few weeks ago I saw a cool car that I thought the Green Laker would get a kick out of.  The Green Laker is a honch over at the Electra Bicycle company.   He regularly has a "Down on the Street" segment.  I have posted a car in his honor before but this will be a post all hopped up on Clenbuterol tainted beef.

This was the car that started the thought process.  Normally the Green one would get all wordy about the car and it's history; I hardly know how an internal combustion engine works so I am not going to do that.  I will say that this is a righteous race vehicle.

It's a Nash.

  Then I saw this older Volvo on the corner of Haight and Ashbury.

This car seemed to be restored or just reveling in an environment where they don't spread salt on the roads in winter.

It had seats too.

And wheels.

I walked down Haight street to the end where Golden Gate park is.  There I saw a treasure trove.  These aren't the Euro cars that Mr. Green covet's but gold old-fashioned American Steel.  I was told by an overly friendly security guard that they were shooting a movie on Jack Kerouac's life.  He had no idea who Mr. Kerouac was.

I saw this first and then I turned the corner.

Next up an Edsel.  I know it's an Edsel because I can read.

I turned the corner and saw this lineup.  Aside from the rental Toyota I knew that one day soon I would be loading lot's of pictures.  That day has come.

This car is a ???? I have no clue.

I think this is a Ford

Next up a Ford Fairlane....AND NO not this Ford Fairlane.

My favorite; The Plymouth Sport Suburban.  I could roll around in this.

This Cadillac was in the best shape of any of the auto's on display.  My uninformed guess was that his was more prominently featured and the other's were just fill on the street.

A couple cool trucks.

Those of you that noticed that there were two different truck's get bonus points.

Last car of this band width sucking upload is a Chrysler Royal.  Again I know this through my keen sense of observation and ability to read.

And I said that was the end but alas; I lied.  This sweet convertible with dog in the passenger seat and the California bike rack will be the last.

B3

When you receive an invitation like this in your inbox the only appropriate reply is "Yes I will be there"

Thing is that this isn't as dirty as it sounds.  I say not as dirty because I know these folks and....... I'll leave it at that.  This is for a friends birthday party that is instrumental in the Young Survival Coalition.  More specifically involved with the Tour de Pink.  You may remember this from last year when I rode the ride.  The ride is changing this year and will be very close to my local stomping grounds.  This has me torn as to whether I will ride it/ work it, go do the West Coast version, or any combination of the above.

If you are interested in doing a great multi-day ride that will help many people out, and possibly change your perspective on life.  I highly recommend these ride's and this organization.

I spoke of another ride in my neck of the woods on Friday, also known internationally as Stevie Wonder's birthday.  This one... Cycle Bucks County is new this year, and put on by one of the best event companies in the cycling world; G4 Productions.  G4 also puts on the TDP mentioned above.  Cycle Bucks County benefit's the Tara Reidley Foundation.  This foundation has a number of different thing's that they help out.  Please click through and check it out, you should be impressed; I was.

So we covered Bike's and Boob's already today.  Instead  of Birthday's I am going to take poetic license and the third B of this post will be Beer.  Because Bike's, Boob's and Beer has a certain ring to it.

I spent Saturday at the Washington Crossing Brewfest.  It was my first Beer Fest and I was able to walk past the large line to get in and avoid the person with their hand stuck out wanting money.  I was able to do this by helping Suzy from SlyFox pour beer's and hand them out to the throngs of thirsty people.  Many years of tending bar comes back in a heart beat.  It made it easier that there were only two choices for me to pour.  The Saison which I am a BIG fan of, and the wickedly popular 113 IPA.

Sly fox is one of the Craft breweries at the leading edge of having good beer in can's.  The can's are easy to carry, don't shatter when you drop them and super fancy to look at.  I highly recommend keeping your novelty coozie away from these portable, tasty work's of art.

Suzy is also known as the Beerlass.  Miss Beerlass is a cute, vivacious bundle of beer knowledge.  She know's beer and the beer industry the way I know bike's and the bike industry.  Walking the festival with her was an exercise in stopping every 10 feet or so and talking with a brewer or someone from a brewery.  It reminded me of having a chance to get out of my booth at Interbike.  Walk a few feet, stop talk, walk a few feet, stop talk, repeat, and then WHOAH, we gotta get back to the booth.

The event sold out and even a massive downpour in the middle of it couldn't keep people away.

That's Suzy.... Yes, the girl on the left.

I did get a chance to try a bunch of good brew's and chatted with some great people and a ton of character's.  Follow the Beerlass's travels and insight's on Twitter.

Now to finish this B3 related post off with non-B related thing's....

I got a Unicorn for my Spruck.  What should I name it?

Remember this piece of advice friend's.