{images carey}Bikes: All New Cadent FT Series
Location: Olympic Sculpture Park Seattle, WA
Enjoy!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
ROLL AFTER ROLL OF FILM
{words & images carey}{well, it really isn't film anymore, but you get the idea}
It's exciting times around Raleigh these days; our 2008 sample bikes are alive and look pretty hot! With the new bikes comes the photo shoot for our catalog; we've decided to keep the shoot local this year and celebrate the landscape and climate that we design our bikes around.
I hope to have internet access over the next two weeks so I can present you with some images while on location; it will be a taste of what will come in September.
Enjoy.
Bike: Rush Hour
Location: TT Minor Park Seattle, WA
Every Tuesday night the messengers of Seattle, bike shop wrenches, and incrediable bike handlers meet to play polo until the wee hours of the morning.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
WEIRD VIBES
{words & images carey}
Vibe #1
“Wow check out that plane over there!” I said, while pointing to the right.
“Huh, what, where?” Brian questions as he looks around.
I have to admit, my “hey look” comment was pretty vague, and Brian was still scanning the tarmac for the plane I told him to look at as we approached an intersection that was empty. Within a second, though, a large Ford pick-up emerged, forcing me to swing a little wider than the line we were originally following and - BUMP! - I feel a soft body hit my arm and see Brian on the ground at least five feet from his bike, still looking for the plane.
Vibe #2
Back on the bikes, talking about the Tour and all the crashes that have happened this year and - “Holy, S*#$!!!” - as we come around a blind corner a husky guy is heading straight for me. He was huge and moving fast. I’m thinking, “How am I going to take the impact most efficiently, but at the last moment we both swerve; I sucked the left side of my body in to avoid getting a shoulder in the face and Brian swerved into the bushes. We missed near carnage by half an inch. My heart hasn’t beat that fast on the way into work for a very long time - shooo!
Vibe #3
There‘s a detour on the Green River trail due to some construction (which in my opinion has taken way too long); it leads you up an overpass and has you cross a rather busy four-lane road. Brian and I scoped out the traffic and saw a generous gap between cars that looked good to jet through - BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP! - The car that was probably about 5 car lengths back decided to speed up and honk us loud and long. What the heck?
Vibe#4
Lastly, we were passed by a large entourage of Army vehicles with satellites and trucks full of what looked like hard suitcases, both being escorted by two stealthy-looking Ford trucks. A bit creepy.
So, for a ride that we thought was going to be normal this morning ended up being strangely eventful. “Ohh, but the Americano we started off with was so good! How did the ride end up like this?” Brian asked as we rolled into Raleigh. “Well, I did have goose bumps this morning and I don’t think it was from the cold – maybe a dark spirit was following us.” I suggested.
{This Monorail building machine has now lifted the parts that Brian was goofing around in from this POST}
{Pretty amazing machine}
Vibe #1
“Wow check out that plane over there!” I said, while pointing to the right.
“Huh, what, where?” Brian questions as he looks around.
I have to admit, my “hey look” comment was pretty vague, and Brian was still scanning the tarmac for the plane I told him to look at as we approached an intersection that was empty. Within a second, though, a large Ford pick-up emerged, forcing me to swing a little wider than the line we were originally following and - BUMP! - I feel a soft body hit my arm and see Brian on the ground at least five feet from his bike, still looking for the plane.
Vibe #2
Back on the bikes, talking about the Tour and all the crashes that have happened this year and - “Holy, S*#$!!!” - as we come around a blind corner a husky guy is heading straight for me. He was huge and moving fast. I’m thinking, “How am I going to take the impact most efficiently, but at the last moment we both swerve; I sucked the left side of my body in to avoid getting a shoulder in the face and Brian swerved into the bushes. We missed near carnage by half an inch. My heart hasn’t beat that fast on the way into work for a very long time - shooo!
Vibe #3
There‘s a detour on the Green River trail due to some construction (which in my opinion has taken way too long); it leads you up an overpass and has you cross a rather busy four-lane road. Brian and I scoped out the traffic and saw a generous gap between cars that looked good to jet through - BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPP! - The car that was probably about 5 car lengths back decided to speed up and honk us loud and long. What the heck?
Vibe#4
Lastly, we were passed by a large entourage of Army vehicles with satellites and trucks full of what looked like hard suitcases, both being escorted by two stealthy-looking Ford trucks. A bit creepy.
So, for a ride that we thought was going to be normal this morning ended up being strangely eventful. “Ohh, but the Americano we started off with was so good! How did the ride end up like this?” Brian asked as we rolled into Raleigh. “Well, I did have goose bumps this morning and I don’t think it was from the cold – maybe a dark spirit was following us.” I suggested.
{This Monorail building machine has now lifted the parts that Brian was goofing around in from this POST}
{Pretty amazing machine}
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
STP - PTS
Sunday morning, July 15th 2007. 6:30am outside Portland OR. I come across a lone cyclist in the industrial part of the city.
“Nice mornin for a ride isn’t it?” I asked as I pulled along side.
“Yup. I just got done riding the STP and I’m going to ride home today.”
“Congratulations. Where you riding too?”
“(I couldn’t make out the town name)”
“Is that far?”
“About 50 miles or so. Are you riding home?”
“Yup.”
“Where’s home?”
“Seattle.”
“… You’re one of those Crazies, aren’t ya?!”
This is not the first time this phrase has been uttered in my direction. And I think everyone at some point in their life, has or will do something considered crazy. My most recent bout with sanity was an annual event in the NW called the Seattle To Portland. A 202 mile, point to point organized ride that people can do one of two ways. Either a ‘sane’ 2 day, back to back century with an over night stay mid way with 6500 cyclists or a ‘committed’ all out assault to tackle the 202 miles in one day with 2500 other cyclists. However, a third option reveled itself to me at the bottom of a PBR and I decided to try a “crazy” 2 day back to back double century that (as far as I know) saw one rider.
Without going into too much detail about the whole weekend…Day one I got a late start at 6, because trying to be at the start line at 445am sounded nuts to me! I saw a 3 person/bike pile up in front of me around mile 65. I was able to ride with all my friends that I knew were riding that day and made a few along the way. The last stretch into Portland is the most dismal part of the whole ride but the welcoming committee in P town made me forget about it as I crossed the finish line. And by ‘welcoming committee’ I mean the New Belgium beer garden located 20 yards from the finish line. I managed to arrive in P town somewhere around 6pm but didn’t find my bed till midnight. Don’t ask me why it took so long to find bed. To know me is to know why.
530 am came around all too quick. But I was up, on my Prestige, and riding solo by 6. I saw my first 2 day rider some time around 8. I stopped waving to the 6500 cyclists heading for P town by 9. Instead I became content to examine their quizzical looks as I went the wrong way. Around mile 280 I passed my last STP’r and continued the rest of my ride home alone. Mile 320 my ipod died and I came to the conclusion that I would not finish my ride in a quiet and beer-less house. I sent out a text message to my friends informing them of my plan to stop at Hooverville for a celebratory pint when I rolled into town. With this in mind I put my head down, ignored the head wind, disregarded my legs, paid no attention to my gooch and focused on finishing.
At 6 pm I rolled up to the front of the bar and almost broke down from exhaustion. Lucky for me my friends were waiting with Pizza, a pint of Manny’s, and an amazing Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll Cake as my reward. (you’d have to see the cake to believe it)
Three days later I’m still tired and haven’t been back on my bike. My legs are feeling better and the yoga ball I sit on at work has been a welcome relief from my Sella Italia saddle. I’m glad I did it. Will I do it again? Doubtful. I might be crazy, but I’m not dumb.
My final stats…
20 hours of saddle time
396 miles (I didn’t use the official start line)
19.9 mph average
“Nice mornin for a ride isn’t it?” I asked as I pulled along side.
“Yup. I just got done riding the STP and I’m going to ride home today.”
“Congratulations. Where you riding too?”
“(I couldn’t make out the town name)”
“Is that far?”
“About 50 miles or so. Are you riding home?”
“Yup.”
“Where’s home?”
“Seattle.”
“… You’re one of those Crazies, aren’t ya?!”
This is not the first time this phrase has been uttered in my direction. And I think everyone at some point in their life, has or will do something considered crazy. My most recent bout with sanity was an annual event in the NW called the Seattle To Portland. A 202 mile, point to point organized ride that people can do one of two ways. Either a ‘sane’ 2 day, back to back century with an over night stay mid way with 6500 cyclists or a ‘committed’ all out assault to tackle the 202 miles in one day with 2500 other cyclists. However, a third option reveled itself to me at the bottom of a PBR and I decided to try a “crazy” 2 day back to back double century that (as far as I know) saw one rider.
Without going into too much detail about the whole weekend…Day one I got a late start at 6, because trying to be at the start line at 445am sounded nuts to me! I saw a 3 person/bike pile up in front of me around mile 65. I was able to ride with all my friends that I knew were riding that day and made a few along the way. The last stretch into Portland is the most dismal part of the whole ride but the welcoming committee in P town made me forget about it as I crossed the finish line. And by ‘welcoming committee’ I mean the New Belgium beer garden located 20 yards from the finish line. I managed to arrive in P town somewhere around 6pm but didn’t find my bed till midnight. Don’t ask me why it took so long to find bed. To know me is to know why.
530 am came around all too quick. But I was up, on my Prestige, and riding solo by 6. I saw my first 2 day rider some time around 8. I stopped waving to the 6500 cyclists heading for P town by 9. Instead I became content to examine their quizzical looks as I went the wrong way. Around mile 280 I passed my last STP’r and continued the rest of my ride home alone. Mile 320 my ipod died and I came to the conclusion that I would not finish my ride in a quiet and beer-less house. I sent out a text message to my friends informing them of my plan to stop at Hooverville for a celebratory pint when I rolled into town. With this in mind I put my head down, ignored the head wind, disregarded my legs, paid no attention to my gooch and focused on finishing.
At 6 pm I rolled up to the front of the bar and almost broke down from exhaustion. Lucky for me my friends were waiting with Pizza, a pint of Manny’s, and an amazing Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll Cake as my reward. (you’d have to see the cake to believe it)
Three days later I’m still tired and haven’t been back on my bike. My legs are feeling better and the yoga ball I sit on at work has been a welcome relief from my Sella Italia saddle. I’m glad I did it. Will I do it again? Doubtful. I might be crazy, but I’m not dumb.
My final stats…
20 hours of saddle time
396 miles (I didn’t use the official start line)
19.9 mph average
Monday, July 9, 2007
RULE 1K2
{words brian}
“1K2. Jerseys must be worn in all races and shall cover the shoulders. No additional equipment, whether worn over or under a rider's uniform, which has the effect of reducing wind resistance is permitted, except in the case of inclement weather, additional covering designed solely to protect against precipitation or cold may be worn. However, shoe covers are permitted in any conditions." - USCF Rulebook
This rule ended my race in Redmond before it even started. The race officials have, apparently, had enough of my shenanigans and decided to crack down on me. Minutes before the race was about to start I was told to change my outfit or get off the course. I argued my side briefly, but realized all I was doing was wasting precious seconds. I scrambled to look official, but wasn’t quick enough. By the time I got back to the Start/Finish line the race was already underway. I tried to chase back on for 5 (or so) laps but was never able to see the end of the group. I sat up and waited to be absorbed by the pack and just raced from there. I felt good at the end, it looks like I was top 10 in a field of 75 (you can see my pissed off face over the shoulder of the winner). I didn’t contest for the over all victory, as I didn’t want to F up the results…hind sight, I should have. I should have and crossed the finish line with ‘fingers a blaze’n’.
It was fun while it lasted, but it looks like the coveralls will have to be retired till ‘Cross season. I have a feeling my ‘antics’ will be better appreciated there.
“1K2. Jerseys must be worn in all races and shall cover the shoulders. No additional equipment, whether worn over or under a rider's uniform, which has the effect of reducing wind resistance is permitted, except in the case of inclement weather, additional covering designed solely to protect against precipitation or cold may be worn. However, shoe covers are permitted in any conditions." - USCF Rulebook
This rule ended my race in Redmond before it even started. The race officials have, apparently, had enough of my shenanigans and decided to crack down on me. Minutes before the race was about to start I was told to change my outfit or get off the course. I argued my side briefly, but realized all I was doing was wasting precious seconds. I scrambled to look official, but wasn’t quick enough. By the time I got back to the Start/Finish line the race was already underway. I tried to chase back on for 5 (or so) laps but was never able to see the end of the group. I sat up and waited to be absorbed by the pack and just raced from there. I felt good at the end, it looks like I was top 10 in a field of 75 (you can see my pissed off face over the shoulder of the winner). I didn’t contest for the over all victory, as I didn’t want to F up the results…hind sight, I should have. I should have and crossed the finish line with ‘fingers a blaze’n’.
It was fun while it lasted, but it looks like the coveralls will have to be retired till ‘Cross season. I have a feeling my ‘antics’ will be better appreciated there.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
URBAN WANDERINGS
{words carey}
Buyer’s guides, team requests, 2008 product launch, 2009 concepts, sunny weather, fresh produce, summer vacations, so on and so on . . . Summer is in full swing, which for me means getting up when the sun rises and staying out until it sets (here in Seattle that's about 9:45pm); the summer months are precious to us NW folk - the gloom is not that far off. So, cutting to the chase - postings have been sparse. The bike industry is in full swing and everyone here at Raleigh has less time to craft stories and recollect our commutes. But, we are still out there, riding everyday to and from work.
Yesterday was a particularly fun commute. I met Brian for coffee at Zeitgeist before we rolled down to the Cascade Designs offices and manufacturing facility.
We were scheduled to met Erik Flink (Brand Manger for SealLine bags) to get a tour of their buildings and
to hook-up with one of their new cycling inspired Urban Packs. Cascade Designs is the mother of Therm-A-Rest, SealLine, MSR, Platypus, and Tracks. Recently, a Cascade Designs employee had gotten a bike through us and while exchanging emails I mentioned that I was intrigued by SealLine's new urban packs. I have been riding with an Ortlieb for the past 4 years and have been looking around for something different. Not that there is anything wrong with the Ortlieb, I guess I’m just a bit bored with it, and yet it’s been hard to find a replacement because it fits me so well. The SealLine pack is a possible solution, but I’ll have to give it a few miles to see if it holds up to the commute. It has a couple added features, such as the welded front pocket and daisy chain, and it weighs in at 2lbs, which, for a 37 liter pack, is super light. So, Erik Flink hooked me up with a pack and gave Brian and me a tour of their manufacturing facility in south Seattle
{A new route in offered an amazing 6am view of Seattle and Elliot Bay}
{My favorite wolf pack is back after being painted over by the city & yes...we saw a riding chipmunk in Georgetown the other day}
Enjoy!
Buyer’s guides, team requests, 2008 product launch, 2009 concepts, sunny weather, fresh produce, summer vacations, so on and so on . . . Summer is in full swing, which for me means getting up when the sun rises and staying out until it sets (here in Seattle that's about 9:45pm); the summer months are precious to us NW folk - the gloom is not that far off. So, cutting to the chase - postings have been sparse. The bike industry is in full swing and everyone here at Raleigh has less time to craft stories and recollect our commutes. But, we are still out there, riding everyday to and from work.
Yesterday was a particularly fun commute. I met Brian for coffee at Zeitgeist before we rolled down to the Cascade Designs offices and manufacturing facility.
We were scheduled to met Erik Flink (Brand Manger for SealLine bags) to get a tour of their buildings and
to hook-up with one of their new cycling inspired Urban Packs. Cascade Designs is the mother of Therm-A-Rest, SealLine, MSR, Platypus, and Tracks. Recently, a Cascade Designs employee had gotten a bike through us and while exchanging emails I mentioned that I was intrigued by SealLine's new urban packs. I have been riding with an Ortlieb for the past 4 years and have been looking around for something different. Not that there is anything wrong with the Ortlieb, I guess I’m just a bit bored with it, and yet it’s been hard to find a replacement because it fits me so well. The SealLine pack is a possible solution, but I’ll have to give it a few miles to see if it holds up to the commute. It has a couple added features, such as the welded front pocket and daisy chain, and it weighs in at 2lbs, which, for a 37 liter pack, is super light. So, Erik Flink hooked me up with a pack and gave Brian and me a tour of their manufacturing facility in south
I had always known that Cascade Designs was a Northwest company, but I didn't know it made all their products here. I am a big fan of keeping things local and I was excited to see a super innovative company that supplies the world with some of the most advanced camping and outdoor equipment exist just south of downtown.
Bellow you will find a few images of MSR's stove manufacturing facility and some images of current and past commutes that I have been late in getting up. Enjoy!
{MSR Stove packaging, fuel lines, and a contraption that tests every stove for fuel leaks.}
{Georgetown Post-Carnival findings}
{Perimeter Rd - I feel like that bush sometimes}
{A new route in offered an amazing 6am view of Seattle and Elliot Bay}
{My favorite wolf pack is back after being painted over by the city & yes...we saw a riding chipmunk in Georgetown the other day}Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
AT IT AGAIN
{words by brian}
Saturday was the State Crit Championships in Olympia, WA. 40 minutes on a .7 mile “technical course." The weather was sunny and warm. The course was pretty fun. And the coveralls were ach’n to get out again.
The pace at the beginning was just to my liking as I was working off a 2am night of drinking with the Oly boys…slow. But after 10 minutes of racing I got bored. So I attacked on the home stretch incline to spice up the race. Before I knew it I had a pretty good size gap on the field. I didn’t plan on staying out front but the cheers of “COVERALLS!” kept me going longer than I expected. Next thing I hear is the announcer calling me Sally over the intercom (thanks Oly boys) and the crowd cheering for me. During the course of this, a rider bridged the gap up to me…and to my surprise, this guy started working with me. On the last lap he jumped me on the incline…I bridged…he jumped again into the head wind…my legs were done. I had enough of a gap on the rest of the field that I was able to wave to the crowd as I coasted in for 2nd and grabbed the PBR tall boy hand up from Uncle Jesse.
The kid who won rolled up to me and congratulated me and commented “Hey, I think you did most of the work but I couldn’t get beat by a guy in coveralls. Ya know?” I could only smile and said “Imagine how all those other guys feel.”
I heard today the officials contemplated disqualifying me for the PBR. But honestly, how can you DQ a guy who raced in 80+ degree heat in a pair of coveralls who just wanted something to drink?!
Saturday was the State Crit Championships in Olympia, WA. 40 minutes on a .7 mile “technical course." The weather was sunny and warm. The course was pretty fun. And the coveralls were ach’n to get out again.
The pace at the beginning was just to my liking as I was working off a 2am night of drinking with the Oly boys…slow. But after 10 minutes of racing I got bored. So I attacked on the home stretch incline to spice up the race. Before I knew it I had a pretty good size gap on the field. I didn’t plan on staying out front but the cheers of “COVERALLS!” kept me going longer than I expected. Next thing I hear is the announcer calling me Sally over the intercom (thanks Oly boys) and the crowd cheering for me. During the course of this, a rider bridged the gap up to me…and to my surprise, this guy started working with me. On the last lap he jumped me on the incline…I bridged…he jumped again into the head wind…my legs were done. I had enough of a gap on the rest of the field that I was able to wave to the crowd as I coasted in for 2nd and grabbed the PBR tall boy hand up from Uncle Jesse.
The kid who won rolled up to me and congratulated me and commented “Hey, I think you did most of the work but I couldn’t get beat by a guy in coveralls. Ya know?” I could only smile and said “Imagine how all those other guys feel.”
I heard today the officials contemplated disqualifying me for the PBR. But honestly, how can you DQ a guy who raced in 80+ degree heat in a pair of coveralls who just wanted something to drink?!
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