Charlie and the SS Factory

So much to blog and so little time. I've got too much work to get caught up on at the moment kids, but I promise I'll try to write something witty, charming, or at least informative later on. Here's a bit to keep you all occupied in the interim.

First check out Dicky and his new duds in this month's Endurance Magazine. I'd like to thank the talented graphic artists who worked tirelessly on his photo cleaning up that mug for display. Congrats fjool (nice hat & jersey)!

Second, if you're bitter about how your New Year's Eve turned out, well stop yer whinin' and come throw down at SSUSA. Yes that's right kiddies, Curtis Inglis has thrown down two golden tickets to SSWC08. So clean out the hibachis, pack a tent, and over gear the SS and come throw down and try to earn a ticket to the ultimate '08 party destination by participating in the ultimate '08 pre-party.

Special thanks to the Squirrels at DSG, the Ambassadors of Fun, and to Curtis (for the Golden Tickets) .

Note: No asses or mules were harmed in this posting.

Robsta Craw

Happy Birthday (Feb.22) Papa Ted. Enjoy the Maine Lobster.



Edit:
Since much of the past week's posts have showcased Clay's little ass, I figured it only fair to let the world see his big Willie too. Say "Sa-loooo" to Clay's Willie.

Want a new West Side Trail?

Or some bike lanes for access to Percy-Warner? Then hightail it here Thursday night:

Community Meetings Scheduled to Update Metro Parks’ Master Plan
Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., Warner Parks Nature Center,
7311 Highway 100, Edwin Warner Park, Nashville, TN 37221, Phone: 615-352-6299

A few of us will be riding over, shout a holla if'n you're down. Pub afterwards. (West side Fred!).

Snow Day (What is this Iowa?)

More snow. This is the most days of snow I've experienced in my 11 years in TN. Sure we've had more snow, but usually just for an overnight or two. One time we had a Friday through Monday with a decent amount of snow, but this has been the most days it has snowed. Nothing catastrophic or even life changing, just good ol' fashioned Winter. I love it, as do the wupples. Showed up to work this morning to an empty parking lot and only 2 co-workers. The "collar" (aka boss-man) brought in donuts and Ghirardelli cocoa powder and a gallon of milk to make hot cocoa for a snow day celebration. He'd woken up early and taken his daughter sledding and was feeling in the spirit.

Cleaned the sand and clay off of the Ocoee last night. Scrubbed my chain and put the first coating of Ernesto Lube on. It's not near as messy as I was expecting (based off of other soy lubes, remember that mess of your's T.roy?) and is a bit thicker and very tenacious, which I think helps. The gritty sounding chain silenced quickly upon application and spins freely. It'll get the first road test tomorrow, first to work, then to the Percy Park meeting, then hopefully either around the park or to a pub, then home. I can't wait to run it through the soupy sand/clay roads and creek crossings to see how it holds up. Hopefully I have scraped the last of waxy residues off my cogs, I like T-9's performance just hate the waxy build up.

Taunt Free Beans

I think I'm starting to get over my fear of mail day. Last week Walz love, this week a little Wisconsin love.





And a little White Industries lovin'.


The last 2 weeks of gravel grinding has left my drive train a wreck. Tonight is bike maintenance night. I'd been using Bio-lube that White Lightin' Werle gave to me at last years NashCross series. I loved it as it kept my chain quiet for miles and miles through all sorts of conditions, but the bottle top popped off and it went all over the place and I never bothered to replace it. T-9 has been my other lube of choice, but it requires a lot of weekly wax scrapin' from my cogs and frequent applications. I'm excited to get another soy-based (helps with my estrogen levels) lube to try out. Best part is I don't toss this bottle into a recycle bin or landfill, I send it back and it gets refilled. Good for me, good for Ernesto, and good for Mamma Earth.

The bearings are going into my excessively (ab)used and minimally (read: none) maintained White Industries Eccentric Eno hub. From trials (Ivory), to XC racing, to endurance racing, cross racing, alley cat racing, daily commuting, bike polo, and everything in between this hub has been the bomb. Still spins like new. I've developed a small bit of play in the bearings. Figuring the amount of miles this hub is going to see inside the next 3 months, I thought it was time to give it a little love for all it's faithful service. Between the last weekend of April until the last weekend of May there is a 300 mile gravel grinder, an unknown length SS race, a 12 hour race, and a 200 mile gravel grinder. Can you say testing grounds? Not too mention the gravel grinding mileage between now and then. Full report on the lube to follow.

Thank you for the drive train love Ernesto.

Sing with me H. & Hennessey:

Beans and corn, corn and beans
Beans and corn and corn and beans

Hee Haw Donkey

Saturday I got a special prize from Clay during the post workday swag raffle. I had my eye on a sweet DSG/Yazoo pint glass but got surprised with a more fitting take home present. Now Merle can bray me awake every morning. Who wouldn't enjoy waking up this face and an earful of braying? Thanks Clay. I love it.

Sunday the plan initially was for a quick gravel grinder as I had a bit of a time limit, but that soon fell way and the day was wide open. Mike and gRant met me in Leiper's with The Mannondale making a rare early morning appearance. We loaded up into the two trucks and headed off for Fly as we wanted to spend more time on clay, dirt, and gravel than the familiar pavement. We met pumptrack/downhill Jim at the store. The Fly store owner is a really cool guy. He graciously offered up parking for us and he and I went over my map with him spending probably 20-30 minutes showing me all sorts of dirt roads in the area. Even hooking them up to 2 wineries so we could "refuel". He also noted where other general stores were in the event we needed water. He used to be active in small dirt bikes and led dirt road excursions for off-roaders. Even has maps of tours for touring cyclists to explore. He also makes a mean turkey on wheat. Nothing beats small town hospitality. I enjoyed watching The Mannondale's face (who knew nothing of the ride that lay ahead) as the old guy said "you're going up Elam? Boy I'd love to see that I've watched many a motorcycle not be able make that turn going up or down". Classic.

The loop ended about perfectly in our desired mileage window and all of us were pretty well spent after playing in the hills all day. I mentioned to gRant and Mike after we met back up after getting split up, how I have no idea on how many miles I've put in this year or even an average speed/wattage idea, but I remember every fun mile, joke, smack talking, and cheesy grin inspiring downhill. Last weekend the description from most was that the roads are "the closest thing to downhills skiing on a bike". Mannondale said the same words of praise after the end of Tyler Ridge (Trevor). Dinner and fish bowls of Gerst with the ladies joining us after their long day of errands. Eli made an appearance and made a comment about my life being like a sitcom. Upon a short reflection I answered with "that's because I don't hang out with people I wouldn't watch on TV." So thanks to all my loony friends (the characters and the train wreck reality shows for making life worth smiling about.

Ridin' Clay's Ass

photo courtesy of twolfcon Mike

Today was a workday out at the Cotton Mill Preserve preparing and repairing the DSG course. Old Greg, Hennessey and I loaded up the truckster with bikes and mutts and headed out to meet gRant and the SORBA/NMB crew. Good times. Clay put me in charge, so I made certain to act the part. Thanks Clay, I had fun ridin' your ass.  

Video courtesy of Old Greg: