Father's Day for a Mama project

Mama Wuleur has needed a new floor for over 10 years so Kev and I knocked it out... on Fathers Day

Wheels of Fire...

  

When I have to replace these guys...I will be a full time bicycle peddler

Jack Bruce knows a thing or two about Wheels of Fire

The wheels on the bus...

I pulled up to the garage this evening after a short spin with DP on my 49' Schwinn DX and realized that bicycles are useless without wheels. I mean totally and utterly useless. I managed to time my wheel usage (both sets worn down to the bone) fairly evenly over the years and found out the hard way that not having a back up set can relegate you to the sidelines. Give your wheels a hug and some love because they deserve every once of it. If you think back to every mile you have pedaled or every sketchy descent you've bombed down on your current set of wheels (my last set have been with me since George W was in office) it is mind blowing that they stay true and silky. Maybe it's just a testimony of riding hand built wheels from Harry Gurney at the Spokesman. I'm willing to wait as long as it takes to get my new set from him (HED + with DT 240 & revolutions T'ed&S'ed).

Speaking of wheels...here are a few spinning effortlessly up the canyon on a fine April morning. Video by Black Dog Productions

Italian Colnago...check, Assos Chamois...check

High school fighting weight...CHECK!

Craig "Tone" Schearer is arguably in the shape of his life and from the look of this photo - enjoyed himself as he pedaled his way into the park formerly known as "Yosemite" and stayed in the village formerly known as "Curry", ate at the lodge formerly known as "Yosemite Lodge" and visited the hotel formerly known as "The Ahwahnee". Craig and I shared a few monster training rides leading up to our Yosemite pilgrimage and let me tell you -it is a luxury and pleasure pedaling with someone who is so organized, prepared and willing to tackle any route that is thrown his way. Thank you for the inspiration, miles in the saddle and great conversation. I can't wait to see the look on his face when I show him our next route.

If we had horses...we'd be walking

                                  Fitz on the summit of Old Toll Road, Catheys Valley, Ca

                                           The troops putting in a hard days work on day 2

                          The Caletti's chewing up the final kilometers into Yosemite NP (HWY 140)

                                         Sir Silky enjoying the first taste of relief in two days

                                                The falls were very active this year

66'...on a wing and a prayer

We have a bet going to see if our support vehicle will make it to the top of Old Toll Road in 110 degree heat for our 11th addition of the Chris Grenier Yosemite Birthday Boogie.

We're packing the route cards for nostalgic reasons these days...and for those nasty last minute rock slides that can reroute you up Old Priest Grade from Hornitos.

Inspiration...the old fashion way

A friend of ours (Peter Flanders) connected with us today without the use of a fancy-pants phone or computer -he visited in person. It was so refreshing to catch up with a friend face-to-face in the Steel  Wul Lounge. We chatted about the dangers of cars, planned obsolescence within the cycling industry, the disk brake phenomenon, and what it means to be a "cyclist" now a days. He gave me a copy of 'The Ride Journal'. This is an eclectic mix of short stories and essays related to cycling. The artwork and photos are absolutely gorgeous. I happen to flip right to an article by Jeremy Powers appropriately named 'Cross J'. Powers described his adaptation from multiple cycling disciplines to cycle cross. He determined he needs to think of himself as an ultimate fighter versus a stage racer. I became inspired and appreciated his transformation and focus as he adapted to his new challenges.

Thank you Peter!

Ormsby Road visit with Peter and Harriet

Our friends on Ormsby happen to be in town this week so I pedaled up to check out their 2 year old grapes and  young olive trees. The views are incredible in every direction and they got an A on their fire safe landscaping. It's hard to believe it will be the 8 year anniversary of the Summit Fire on May 22nd at 0545.

Happy Birthday Luke Grenier!

My nephew turned 16 today and I can't believe what a stud he has become. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he scored this shot on goal. Keep up the good work and rootbeers are on me in Yosemite.

Roller Doping...

 

It's been a part of my regiment for decades. You have to be in the right mindset for it to work in your favor. Jury is still out for me this month.

St. Don Bosco Boogie...broken and thirsty

keeping with tradition, AC scored us a couple San Pellegrino's right at the buzzer

Brothers of the Bear...off duty for the day

 

DP enjoying some peace and quiet in one of the finest secret drainage's our county has to offer while elebrating 44 years of state service between the two of us.

Steel Wüleurs rained out at Hellyer...

T looking to release the Kraken on a 95" gear...next time!

Beep Beep Vegitation Fire...San Benito County

We dreaded hearing those words from the King City CDF Dispatch Center because we knew how hot, steep and miserable that country can be. As a 20 year old it really made you second guess your decision to not go off to college and instead work for federal minimum wage with 200' of hose strapped to your back. For some reason it all made sense once the fire was winding down, the Kentucky Fried Chicken was delivered to the fire-line by Marlee, and all the wonderful sights and smells of the Gabilan Range could be enjoyed. I learned how to fight fire on all those god forsaken roads while assigned to the San Benito / Monterey CDF Ranger Unit. Now I simply enjoy the memories and all the silky roads that I took for granted all those years. I would like to thank Division Chief Phil Matteson, Battalion Chief Don Lawler (retired), Captain Steve Beniot (retired), Battalion Chief Jeff Row (retired) and Captain Karen Griffith (retired) for teaching me the BEU (drip-torch & a shovel) version of wildland fire behavior.

AC enjoying some super early San Benito sunshine.

Bicycle Inn Boogie...

with the Bloom Creek Brothers

These sultans of soul have been enjoying life on the bike for a decade or two or three or four. I used to love checking out the photo of Harry that was hanging on his wall at the Bicycle Inn of the  LA Games Olympic Road Race coarse with him standing on the sideline and Alexi in the background putting the wood to Bauer. The question is, does he still have it?

Tour De Trump 1989

 

           Dag-Otto: "this is nothing like the Tour de France by the way"

           Donald: "where is the Tour De France?"

         

Patching Tubes - What would Jobst say?

I became a believer of patching tubes decades ago after pushing my blue and yellow lugged Fuji down Highland Drive for a couple of miles after a botched puncture repair on my final tube. My "enlightenment"(verbal evisceration) was inspired by a 6' 6" surly dude on a yellow Peter Johnson with fastback stays drinking a liter of coca cola. Let's just say he was not impressed that I was pedaling alone without a patch kit. I had run into Jobst Brandt on mountain roads over the years but never had the guts to chat him up because I knew he adhered to the -don't speak unless spoken to policy. Luckily I was schooled by Andrew Carroll in the art of tube patching while watching Breaking Away in his bike shrine on McDonald Road during the 80's. I felt confident that Jobst would give our technique a thumbs up. The only criticism I received was for taking too long to let the glue dry - give me a break I was using Jobst Brandt's personal glue stash, it was like asking to barrow Charlie Hunter's guitar so you can poach a couple of strings off of it. 

 

Finally got around to these beauties tonight
 
RIP Jobst

Ride Boss in good company

 

Lemond, Price, Moser, you know...the boys

French Wool:The gift that keeps on giving...

from the Goodwill to Olive to Peter to Jaden to Nate to Cole and now to the Drake!

Cousin Jay Dichary has been and always will be...

                               just a little bit faster and cooler than any of us. Now a days, he is                                                            simply known as "Cole's Dad".
                                           

 

                                   Jay slaying a prime at the LA state Crit Championships