Back in Blacker Death Mode

One cool thing about Surly bits is you can order parts to rebuild most of them. Such is the case of the Tuggnut. For $7 (including shipping) I got 2 new thumb screws, 2 lock rings, a new slider, and a new 10mm-6mm axle adapter. Putting the new bits on the old tug, I pulled the wheel out of it's stasis (have to link to the big words for krs-1) and suited it up in one of my birthday tires from the EMIL (evil mother-in-law) and went to work truing it up. Due to fierce and intentional bovine attacks while racing, it was imperative to learn how to true up wheels.

Not having a truing stand I enlisted the help of several strategically placed zip-ties. The flight back did almost as good of a number on the wheels as a charging bovine, but I managed to get it to come back around (get it? ah nevermind).


Progress on the web app is coming along nicely and I'm really enjoying the challenge of it. Most folks would call it LAMP based, but as I'm developing on a Mac but using a Linux server I call it McLAMP. I'm hoping it leads to more work down the road, but if not, at least I'm having fun programming again and getting to learn new things and reprise old ideas with newer technologies.

Despite the 'regular' job woes, I'm rich in the sponsor department. Not money aspects, just quality people and quality products. Several of us in the Southeast have inked a 2 year commitment with Moots (hand built in the rockies). At first it was exciting mostly for the sexy titanium frames, but in my talks with the guys behind the curtain I can see we share similar outlooks on life, responsibility, advocacy, community, and how it all should be. Those of you whom know me best know I'm pretty blue collar when it comes to bikes. I'm not to eccentric and typically go after bomb proof vs bling. Well, I'm getting a bomb proof frame that's even more bomb proof (and rust proof to boot! How 'aboot' that T.roy?). This frame will become my bike, not just my race bike. It'll be my commooter, my mootain bike, my gravel grinder, my polo bike, my pub crawler, my transportation. I'm pretty stoked and hopefully the gophers deliver here before monkeybutt gets his.

More aboot Moots as the time comes, but great things are in motion for the Southeast. For now you can click here (or on the graphic in the sidebar) and buy as many $10 raffle tickets you desire for a chance win your own custom Moots frame and help SORBA at the same time. The $10 is a donation that all goes to SORBA, by donating you get a raffle ticket and a chance to win.

edit:
This was todays link on my Earthlink page. Thought there might be a few others out there who could benefit from tips for job searching in a recession. I read through it with H. and chuckled about how many I've been doing without realizing they existed as "tips". Primarily 1, 2, 3, 4, & 8. I need to work on 5, 7, & especially 9.