I'd Rather Be Riding...

...but it feels like I'm running.

It's late.

I'm still at the office.

I didn't get to ride my new bike in today. (nope, not that one...I got another that'll I'll let ya'll see next week)

I haven't posted a thing yet this week!

I'm heading out of town tomorrow and I haven't packed...shoot, I don't even know what I'm going to be for Halloween yet this year. (the most beloved of holidays in my family) I might just have to crack out what I wore last year.

{What you don't see is the SlimJim wand completing the RedNeckFairy outfit}

If I was sticking around Seattle for the weekend you could almost bet that I would be at this event... Shoot...I don't even thing Vegas would be willing to place a wager on that! What really gets me is I know the inventor of the Mitch Morgan drink you see highlighted in their flier. Crud...I think I hold the record for the largest Mitch Morgan EVER drank...and I most likely own the record for the 'shortest amount of time it took to lose a pair of pants after drinking a Mitch Morgan' as well.

I digress...that is a story for another time.

However after the great Bacon Brawl I'm sure you'd find me at MessMann's event as well.

And lastly...don't forget that SSCXWC are just over a week away! Honestly...it's been a year, and the only thing that has even come close to the amount of fun I had at the first SSCXWC was the RollerCross event we attended just a little while ago.

I have a theme, I have a team, and I'm now dreaming of this event and will be counting down the days till we get there.

(And as a little motivation to any of you out there...a Raleigh Rainier frameset will be given away as one of the prizes)

If there's more fun to be had on a bike than at a Cross event...I want to know about!

Happy Halloween

NightStick!

This morning I was finally able to wash the blood, sweat and beer off me from this weekend. The Manifest was beautiful, the cross race a riot, and the Roller event...well...we'll just say this. Of the 14 teams invited to participate, there was only one from Seattle.

Four Rainier drinking single speed riding Saboteurs vs 52 of Oregon's finest and rowdiest

David vs Goliath

A Poindexter vs the Bully

Karate Kid vs Cobra Kai

(Suffice it to say...we were a long shot)

And as the beer began to dry and stick to shoes...one rider and one team stood alone at the top.

Our little "NightStick" took home the honor and top prize of a custom built Signal bike of his choosing.

There will be much, much more posted about this weekend...however, I'm currently tired and polluted. For now you can see a few more pictures here.

We get off more…

Single Speeders that is.

Anyone who really knows single speeds knows you actually have 2. Riding and walking. And it’s that second gear that I’m most thankful for. Since I figured out there are some sections that just can’t be ridden I’ve checked my ego at the trail head and am totally content taking my bike for a walk.

{gear #2, and plug for TwinSix}

Sunday was one of those days I was stoked to have 2 gears. Nat and Pete were nice enough to drag my Scavenger-Hunt-weary-ass all over the Palisade trail outside of Greenwater, WA.
We picked up a nice trail to begin with that was fast and techie…at one point we stopped and Nat pointed at a Mountain across a stream from us. “We’re going to climb to the top of that.”

{up there...}

I mustered a smile and a giggle as the sun continued to draw the scent of Hops out of my pores. (stupid scavenger hunt)
Once we hit the base of the service road climb Nat turned to me and grinned…this is where the pain really starts. 10 miles and 3200ft of climbing (ish). Uff-da. We passed snow and I used my second gear twice on the road. Once we hit the top though, the view made it all worth it.

The downhill went on forever. While V-Brakes were great in the 90’s, disc brakes are definitely where it’s at. Actually, during the descent I couldn’t help but dream about picking up one of our new XXIX bikes and slapping a Fox on it. (Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge, to any of my bosses reading this)

{as every good ride should end}

We had a Bike-In Outdoor Movie at my house again last nite. Chevy Chase in one of his finer roles as the fun obsessed Clark Griswold in Vacation. It’s been a number of years since I’ve seen this movie, but I could help notice the Bicycles in the movie this time. I may be completely off the mark here, but it appeared to me that the bicycles were on Tour from Chicago to LA. I recall seeing them as they were leaving Chicago, along the road at a lunch stop, and at the Grand Canyon.

Great satirical joke by John Huges, that I’ve over looked for years. I feel like watching it again just to see if they appear anywhere else.

A few Rush Hours recently made a visit to a pretty big competitors store in Texas. Check out the stories and the pictures here, here and here.

Whew...I need a brake. I'm going to take the week off next week as we're doing our 2009 Photoshoot. I'll try and get pictures up as soon as I get back in the office. Plus...if you find yourself in Seattle the first weekend of August, the Dead Baby Bicycle Club is hosting their annual Down Hill, and the Tour de Fat will be here as well.

Hey Seattle...

It's that time of year in the North West. We received one great day of sunshine this past weekend to really get everyone psyched for summer. BBQ's were fired up, sunglasses were purchased, and people got sunburned. Truly, it appeared that spring was upon us.


Now, this weekend, they're predicting snow. Mother Nature...she can be a real Mother...

With the possibility of spring happening any day...at any moment...the time is quickly approaching for everyone to shake off their heavy rain coats for a much lighter rain jacket. For people to rally their co-workers out of their winter slumber. For the commuters of the Emerald City to come up with creative names for teams, and sign up for Bike To Work Month.

It may not appear to be almost May outside...but it is. So gather up teams of 4-10, or do it solo. What ever you do, grab your bike and go for a ride.

SEATTLE BIKE EXPO GO-ERS

Get yourself a brand new Raleigh lid (the one in the picture) at the Expo - if you mention seeing this post, it's yours! Limited supply so come early.

SEE YA ALL THERE!

SEATTLE BIKE EXPO THIS WEEKEND

Come by and say hi to us Raleigh folk down at the Expo; we will have a taste of our 2008 bikes like the One Way, Sojourn, Cadent line, Road line, and our XXIX's.

Links to get you there:
Cascade Bicycle Club
Directions to venue
Hours:
Saturday March 8, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday March 9 10:00am- 4:00pm

Later.