CAR CRASHES!

Check out the ten greatest car crashes in movie history.  (Just Google it).  When you get to the

website, you will find 10 youtubes of the best car crashes.  I was impressed by the chase scene in Bad Boys II, where Will Smith is driving and the bad guys are literally throwing cars at them from the back of a big truck with spectacular results.  At one point a big boat hits a car.  In another shot a car rolls over and over and over.  How many movies have you seen with car chases and crashes?  We just love them.  It's so fun and exciting to destroy cars, and of course, nobody is really hurt (well except maybe some stunt drivers, but we don't see that).  At one point Will Smith says, "This is sick shit!"  And of course he is right.

THE INJURY

Here's the pic of the injury.  Too bad you can't see the actual damage.  The doctor thought I had broken my arm, but it turned out to be a bad gash and rash.  Lots of bleeding.  K and K tell me that the obstacle course was created by Matt Stone, not them, and that is it totally easy, no one could possibly get hurt.  Well, all I can say is that you don't want to fall off and hit the round rock that is part of the course. The stitches come out in two weeks.  No riding until then.  

TEN STICHES

I tired to ride Kyia's obstacle course today, got half way across,  and fell off.  Result was a trip

to the ER and 10 stiches, which need to stay in for two weeks.  I hit one of the rocks!

MONT DU LAC

I drove up to Mont Du Lac to do the Series Race.  I got there early so I preroad the course.

As an age group winner, I was called up to the front row for the start of the Over Forties.

We cranked up the ski hill.  I was in my lowest gear spinning up the top part.  Then single

track.  Very rooty.  I like the fast down and ups and since I was sort in the front of the group

I didn't have to dismount.  My nemesis Bob Meuller bridged up to me and I let him go.  I was

bouncing around a lot in the RigorMootis and he was on a dual suspension--an advantage.

On the second lap a spoke broke on my rear Mavic Wheel and my brake was rubbing, but

I struggled in, sliding out on final turn trying to pass some dufus.  Jena was there so

I rode up the hill again to cheer.  Jena led up the hill, and then at the final climb she stood up

and decisively attacked, gapping Rebecca (I think).  Sara K-J was further back.  J.  looked

very strong and confident.  Some young kid was leading the pros or elites up the hill.  It looked

like they were letting him lead, no problem.   By the way, there is some new single track which

has one dicy left turn but is otherwise good.  This is a pretty hard course in my opinion.

1985 Schwinn King Sting

This was my first mountain bike, bought at Granite City Schwinn Bike Shop in 1985 brand new.

At that time the shop was owned by Ray Fitch.  Later his son Dan took over, and then Mike

Baldwin.  When I bought the bike it was geared with toe clip pedals.  Somewhat later I single

speeded it, and put on flat pedals, but it still has the original brakes and handlebars.  The frame has been broken and welded together. When Mike White was in high school he rode it to school every day and threw it on the ground.  Nobody would steal it!  Now I ride it around town to the coffee shop the grocery store and so on and nobody messes with it.  It is too old and funky and battered to attract any attention.  Besides it weighs about 50 pounds.  Try and lift it!  It's ghetto,

man.  The guy who rides it must have too many DUIs!  Or the bum can't even afford a car!

2001 Gary Fisher Sugar 2

I bought this bike in Breckenridge Colorado after I broke my Klein (for the second time) and

was waiting for a replacement.  I love this bike.  I have replaced the rear triangle twice.  The Mars

fork failed early on and I have gone through two Rockshok forks.  The latest SID is good.  The crank arms were replaced with XTR as well as the shifters, cogs, cassette, chain, etc.  The bar is a Raceface.  The seatpost was replaced with a Thomson Elite--the best in my opinion.  The wheels are Mavics with ceramic rims.  Ceramic rims and brake pads are the best.  The are durable, simple, quiet, and provide plenty of stopping power.  (I have not had good luck with disc brakes which squeal, rub, and quickly wear out--I'm referring to XTR disc brakes, not Avid or Hayes, which may be good products or all I know.)  This bike has been raced hard since 2001 and endured many crashes and much abuse.  I will be sad when it finally breaks.

TWO FLATS AND A DOLLAR BILL

Yesterday I went road riding with Al and Patrick, starting from his house out in the country near

the Skow House.  All went well to the Cold Spring Bakery where P. bought a dozen date filled oatmeal cookies, which were excellent by the way with a fresh soft googy center.  But outside of

Cold Spring my rear tire exploded--WHOOSH, thump, thump, thump.  I took the rear wheel off but didn't see what was wrong.  P. quickly took the tire off and he looked at it.  Hmmm.  He put in the tube and put the tire on using hands only.  I don't know how to do this, well, I know in theory

how to do it, but my little weak thumbs are not strong enough.  I need to use those plastic Park

Tool things.  OK, on  our way.  At the top of the Alp WHOOSH, thump, etc. you get the idea.

WTF?  Now Al is pissed and carefully looks at the tire (after P. again has done his thing) and

he (Al that is) finds a hole in the sidewall!  Now what?  I remember Anderson putting in a 5 dollar bill, but I figure the one dollar bill will do the trick.  You put it between the tube and the tire where there is a hole.  So P. does this, and I carefully ride back to P's house no problem.

The Moral:  Always carry a one dollar bill!  (Well, a 5 or a 10 or a 100 would work too).

Maxxis Crossmark Tires

To follow up on the tire problem, yes, the Maxxis Crossmark Tire (rear) has definitely failed

to pass the test of going over some bumps and rocks in a race at speed.  Apparently the bead

has failed so that the tire leaks air.  Now I'm not complaining about more broken stuff,

hmmm, maybe I am a little disappointed since I rode on these tires like maybe three times,

but come on Maxxis, you are supposed to make Mountain Bike Tires!  That means they are supposed to be able to take take a few hits already.  So if anybody is reading this shit, please give me some advice about tires.  I'm thinking Michelin Muds.  They are still holding their breath, air I mean.