September-October Photo Dump

I've been neglecting the blogosphere as of late. Here is a photo dump of the last 2 months of bike related shenanigans, as biking really does make everything a whole lot more enjoyable.

Scored a new ride on craigslist: Scandium Salsa Motorapido. The sheer carbon footprint of manufacturing this rare-earth-element frame will force me to ride bikes long into my old age to offset the carbon deficit, but is sure is light and pretty.

Fall began. Riding in crunchy dead leaves is a special feeling.

Flew to Colorado to visit friends and family, and learn a little about traumatic brain injury, and hopefully ride bikes.

Zomba.

After drinking 650b flavored coolaide the past two years it felt good to get back on a 29er.  Raleigh XXIX. 

Durango dust.

The sky is bigger here.

Just standing near these jumps caused a fracture to my clavicle.

"Some times you just need to look at some bikes." -Douglas G.

Colorado waterfalls are somehow superior to those in Alaska, but far from compatible to anything in Iceland. 

Brainiacs. 

Listening to booring lectures for one day was a small price to pay for getting rad with my best friends, road tripping across the state with my mom, buying cheap avocados, and gourmet donut holes.

God bless America.

Back in Alaska:

Gold Mint Trail; Hatcher's Pass.

Fun with Photoshop app, but not as fun as the ride.

I was out of town on beaches, mountain tops, or shredding desert single track for almost all the cyclocross races this year but I did make it to the final race as a fan. Loaded up the xtracycle for some BBQ action, in town adventure by bike. 

Badass fat-tire chariot. 

Bike wash. 

Cyclocropcircle.

The trails had a very spooky feel to them this past weekend, must be close to Halloween.

Holding on to fall as long as the snow stays away...

I think all the radiation from Japan is making the sunsets more beautiful.

Spring Has Sprung

700x23c tires pumped to 120 psi on a svelte single speed feels like lightning after slogging through snow and ice on the fat bike all winter.  Me evening began with a speedy ride on my road bike on the lovely Chester Creek trail that lies just out my back door and snakes it's way across the city.

 I was thoroughly enjoying the ice free pavement.

Spinning as fast as I could, leaning into turns, grinning ear to ear.

All of a sudden I'm airborne; staring down at the pavement, feet rising over my head; bike is inverted.
This can't be good.

Endo.

Abrupt speed-bump in the middle of the path, directly after a fast sweeping corner, unmarked.



This is surprisingly accurate approximation of what happened.:

Flew 6ish feet, slid a few more, left side of my body took all the impact; my bike was still attached to my feet, and rag-dolled with me.

Gathered my thoughts, no broken bones. Can't move my left arm, blood pooling in my elbow, shoulder and hip;  heavy limp. 

Brittle aluminum frame and carbon fork intact.  Both wheels bent to hell. 

Was on my way to Alaska Leather  to sell some bike parts. 

Not thinking clearly, I limped the busted bike another 3 miles to the motorcycle apparel shop, where I was greeted with a handful of Advil and a cold Sierra Nevada; trading stories for the next hour of two wheeled carnage with the girls behind the counter.  

Talked Alaska Leather into setting up a cup-cake stand for all the bike commuters this Friday!

Made $40 toward my upcoming Iceland / Spain Tour.

Not a horrible night, all things considered.  Not sure if I'll be able to bike to work tomorrow.