I think that Kera’s favorite and now infamous in our house is “It’s easier to use one if you have one.” I spouted that one back in K.C. when a store was going out of business and we found a really nice coffee machine at 50% off or something. Her question to me was… “Would you use it if you had it?” Fair question… squirrelly answer but typical me.

So, it seems that I’m not alone in being an “idiot”. Check out these videos. If you do one of these sports (Beer Snobbery being an “official” International sport) you’ve probably heard some of these quotes.

Shit Mountain Bikers Say

Shit Roadies Say

Shit Runners Say

Shit Beer Snobs Say

That’s all for today gang… have a great weekend!

This is me getting off my ass and doing something

Time to get off my ass and do something….

Next year is the year I reach the half century mark. Many men go out and buy a new sports car or start dying their hair and so forth about that time. Since I can’t afford the sports car that I want… a old Hemi Cuda in some crazy color. I’ve decided to do something even more stupid……

Mid-life Crisis Hemi Cuda....only a dream

INSTEAD……. I’m going to do the Tour Divide Race!

As I have mentioned in the past a friend of mine from France had challenged me to do the Tour Divide Race (also known as the TDR) in “celebration” of my 50th birthday. For various reasons, he has had to back out of the trip which put my plans in limbo. At about the same time, a teammate of mine, Phil, decided also said he wasn’t going to go this year. Thankfully, he has now changed his mind. He’s in for 2012 and he’s already given me some valuable information and advice. Somehow, I don’t think that situation is going to change anytime soon as I have so many questions about this event.

It will probably be the biggest challenge that I’ve ever faced. In this beast, the biggest challenges most people face is getting past the first week (mentally & physically) and then handling the mental aspects of being alone for hours and sometimes days in the wilderness. It follows the Continental Divide 2745 miles/4418 kilometers from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The record is just under 18 days (yes, really). I’m just going to try to finish let alone set any land speed records.

The idea is that it’s totally self-supported (meaning no one can assist you along the way) and you do it at your own pace. Most leave from Banff heading south and others from Antelope Wells heading north. Different tactics, different race. The jury is still out on which direction is tougher. In any case, many reports refer to this as the toughest bicycle race in the world (yes, tougher than the Tour de France). In fact, it’s more like the old Tour de France in that they were self-supported as well. That’s why you see them with tires wrapped around them and big baskets of food on their bikes. That much hasn’t really changed.

In any case, my plan is to be in Banff for the start mid-June of 2012. In theory, each racer is in possession of a SPOT tracker which identifies each person and which you can follow online to see where everyone is. I’ll tell you more as the time gets closer.

A lot more info. on the TDR on their website (link above) if you’re interested and a lot of photos in Google images if you just type in the search phrase “tour divide” racing. I’ve linked to a couple of photos as well. Wish me luck!

This is apparently what a lot of the route looks like

Hopefully, not many of these...

I hope to make it to here

Oh… almost forgot the rest of the schedule….
15        April        City Bike Marathon
27-29  April      European Singlespeed Championship (http://ssec2012.over-blog.com/)
5          June       TDR (Trail Divide Race) (http://tourdivide.org/)
21        July         Kühlsheim 12 Hour (http://12stundenrennen.de/)
4/5       Aug.        SiS (http://www.schlaflosimsattel.de/)
1-6       Oct.        Trans Hellas Race (http://www.hellastransmountains.com/home-en.html)

This weekend we’re heading off on our next adventures (2 in one trip…maybe 3 if you stretch the idea). The main part of this trip started off as a trip to SSWC 2011 or SingleSpeed World Championships in Ireland. As Kera doesn’t do a whole lot of mountain biking these days I had to help make the trip fun for her as well. This resulted in adventure #2 which is a 5 day hiking trip on the Beara Way around most of one of the peninsulas on the southwest end of the island. The “stretched” part of the adventure is the 2500+ kilometers we’ll be doing in the Touran. It’s our first real road trip in many years.

We’ll be taking a lot of photos and having a great time while away. When we return, we’ll be sure to share our pics with everyone.

Till then….

The last downhill and feeling good

So, after nearly 9 months since my literally neck breaking accident, I’ve been training and now racing.

The first race of the year was the München City Bike Marathon. It just so happened that I was test riding (doing some of that now and contributing reviews to a well known 29′er website too) an On One Carbon Race 29′er (one of our co-sponsors). Since I had it and I’d also done this race on a singlespeed a few times previously, I decided to run with what I had. It turns out that it was a good idea which made the race a lot more fun. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have had a couple of teammates there to race with. I actually think that we could have done well.

As it turns out, I started strong and seemingly got stronger throughout the race. I kept getting into mtb pacelines (often a scary thing around here), riding with them for awhile and then moving forward to the next group. I couldn’t tell you how many times that occurred through the course of the race. In the end, I finished 195th overall out of over 700 people (including pros) and 65th of 200+ men in my category. It made me quite happy in the end.

It’s hard to tell here but I was sporting the new Geax AKA tires which are now my new favorite tire, other sponsor products which helped me do well are my awesome Sock Guy socks, Biciclista.it uniform, CarboRocket sports nutrition, Specialized helmet and shoes. Thanks to all of you for the continuing support!

Well, it seems that the time has come to maybe look into moving on to my next life step.

Steps... where am I heading?

Granted, I love teaching but with most things in my life (other than my loving and VERY tolerant wife), I want to do it on my terms and mine alone. It’s been that way my entire life. One reason might be due my parents early deaths but it could be other things, my age (my mid-life crisis possibly), situational, etc. I’m not sure. However, since last years accident, I’ve grown ever more restless in wanting to set my own course. Not only that, but we Clevelands (especially the males) aren’t known for our bullshit tolerance and that trait kicks in on nearly a daily basis.

Honestly, I’m not sure what that means for me. Does it mean attempting to start SpōK as a business or to get mountain guide training and then hope that I can get a license? Possibly, it could also mean that I go back to freelancing and try to cobble together a living from doing two or three things? These are the questions I’ve spent hundreds of hours contemplating during bike rides and while lying awake nights and have yet to achieve any ‘real’ answers.

I know that I’m a good, if not really good teacher. It shows in my students scores and their feedbacks. Also, in the number of them that renew or ask me to teach them privately (which I can’t/won’t do for ethical and lack of time reasons). My guess is that freelancing might be a good start along with SpōK and maybe, just maybe I might check into SPIN training as well. Kera always tells me that I’m a shitty relaxer, maybe I should take that as a sign and do something active.

Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. If only I had known this 30 years ago I could and would have had my outdoor career and could now pass that accumulated knowledge on to others.

Alas, I’m left wondering the age old question of “what am I here to achieve?”

A FEW DAYS AFTER STARTING THIS ENTRY…..

After speaking with Kera about it, I’ve come to the conclusion that I should kick up the pace on trying to get SpōK off the ground as a legit business. I’ve never tried to run a business of my own but I think that it’s time that I try it. As some of you know, I’m not good with failure so the jump forward is not only scary, the future is more so. However, Kera and I are pretty good at putting our heads, hearts and skills together to come up with some pretty cool ideas. Combined with that, as I get to thinking about potential things to produce, my creative nature goes into overdrive. Seems that I need to start carrying around a sketchbook for all my ideas otherwise they may pop into being and vanish like a soap bubble.

Last thing… Saturday is 8 months + 1 day from my accident. On that day, I’m having surgery to remove the plates that were installed in July of 2010. The doctor says that there shouldn’t be any complications but please cross your fingers for me if you would.

Symbolic of new horizons for 2011.

Well, I’m continuing to fail at my attempt to keep my blog up to date with at least one post per month. Would love to shoot for one a week but we’ll take twelve over fifty-two and see where that goes first.

In any case. I just wanted to take a bit of your time and mine to point out a few things about 2010 (both good and bad) as well as a few hopes for 2011.

From beginning to end as best as I can remember.

1st Quarter of the year….

Kera having fun... Antman is somewhere else.

Had a great visit from our buddy Anthony where we had a bit of outdoor fun.

Kera in the worlds largest salt lake.

We went to South America, had a great time and managed to precede any of the many disasters there. An amazing place that we’d both like to revisit some day (maybe starting in Chile and heading south from there).

Only back a week or so and then Kera was off traveling for most of a couple of months. It was interesting being alone that much after being together so much for our first 5+ years together. Yes, we definitely missed each other but we survived.

2nd Quarter -

Work, work, work….. for both of us.

Me racing in München

Did the München City Bike Marathon per each year…. singlespeeded a 95 km course and enjoyed almost every bit of it.

Me racing in Finale Ligure, Italy

Kera and I in the Italian part of Switzerland

Off to Finale Ligure for the 24 Hour race and then a week of vacation in Italy and Switzerland. Who knew that in parts of Switzerland they don’t speak German?

Also, broke my first frame of the year at Finale.

Went in and added yet another bit of tattoo work to my small but growing collection.

3rd Quarter -

Mother-in-laws jump in Austria

Went for an amazing week long hut-to-hut hiking trip around Dachstein in Austria. We’ll be doing a lot more in 2011.

Avoided death and paralysis when my bike broke in two and I smashed my face into the ground while racing. Spent the next 6+ weeks in the hospital and then recuperating at home. Really glad to be in an amazing German hospital.

Kera… continued to work, work and work.

While recuperating I started to take on some of the hat construction that Kera had previously done on her own (outside of color combo recommendations from me).

After constant prodding from many friends we went to SiS (Schlaflos im Sattel) which is a yearly destination. I was awarded the #1 number plate for life and a lifetime entry.

Discovered that in spite of my sarcasm and cynicism I have an amazing group of family & friends in the U.S., here in Europe and other places worldwide.

4th Quarter -

The new Indy Fab

Received my new Independent Fabrications Ti Deluxe 29′er and started riding again.

Switched from my old job to full-time teacher trainer within the same company for many reasons.

Kera received her Niederlassungserlaubnis (a long word for Permanent Residency) and I received the ability to work anywhere doing anything I want.

Back to working a lot for both of us. Sadly, that means that working out and riding suffered also (tends to make me REALLY grumpy as a side-effect).

Two new Mexican restaurants (Wahaka & Milagros) opened in München which help fill a HUGE void in our dietary needs. Believe it or not… they are both REALLY great!

Our new (to us) car

We bought our first car in Europe. Freedom….FINALLY!

Went snowshoeing a couple of times in the large amounts of snow that we received in December (record amounts, by the way).

Had a great Christmas seeing friends before and after as well as hanging out with Kera for both Christmas and New Years.

Now… on to 2011.

Plans and wishes

London (my first trip) this coming week.

Much more hiking

Much more cycling and at least working out in preparation for 2012 (planning to do a HUGE race for my 50th)

Much more sewing and creation

Maybe starting a couple of small companies (depends on how the German government takes it). Only time will tell.

Ireland for Single Speed World Championships 2011

Possibility of us moving out to the country, closer to the mountains, at some point if we can work out Keras commute situation (again…super tentative and a big wish).

Kera is going to do a fair amount of traveling in the first quarter again.

….Some other things up our sleeves too.

The main plan is for us to stay healthy and happy.

The new car... to us

It's going to be interesting being "Free"!

We all have milestones in our life and as of late, Kera and I have hit a few of them.

First…the fives….

Five years of marriage
Five years in Germany
Almost five months since my accident

3 years without a car (should have our “new” one tomorrow evening). See above for what we are getting. We tried doing it for as long as we were able. We’ve used public transport (trains & buses) combined with rental cars and car sharing to make up for not having an auto. We’ve finally decided that we’ve done enough of the train thing for now. It’s just that we would like to be more spontaneous and go where we want to go for once. It’ll make hiking and cycling trips much easier, especially since it’s got room for our gear and with the back seats flipped up, room for at least 2 bikes if not more. We’ll, eventually, get a rear rack for it and a roof box to fully outfit it for various activities.

New milestones…. well, Kera and me soon, has Permanent Residency in Germany.

Also… I’ve got a new bike that I’m really enjoying. It’s an Independent Fabrications Ti Deluxe 29′er. You can see a photo of it below. Hopefully, I can order my other bike soon. It’ll be a Retrotec Triple 29′er.

Here's the new ride

Here’s the geometry -

Geometry

Frame

Selling only the Frame & Struts w/Fork

This will take you places!

James from Black Sheep builds some of the most sought after Titanium frames on the market today. His welding is some of the best in the world and the styling is like no other. I need to sell this to fund a new project. New, this frame, fork and head badge would cost close to $4000. I’m selling all three for $2500 plus shipping.

Here’s the link to the Black Sheep webpage for info. http://www.blacksheepbikes.com or you can contact me if you have any questions.