Dream Big Dreams...

I recently paid a visit to the home of Grin Cycles, brainchild of  local cyclist/wrench Joel Dyke.

 Good times like this always up the level of stoke. Thanks to Joel for the good words and feeding my mind with all things framebuilding.

Respect...

Do you remember 'The Photo Contest'?

The contest boiled down to two images, Mine and KuatJim's. It was a fight to the finish, to say the least. I did not know him, never met him. However, through social media outlets, we started shooting friendly notes back and forth during our heated photo contest battle that rang true of nothing but coolness and fun. This KuatJim character seemed to be a real class-act.

We kept in touch, knowing that we'd eventually meet at the Dirty Kanza and be able to tip a glass to good times had in cyberville. This indeed was the case, as we were able to visit and shake hands at said gravel event. He was even so kind as to purchase one of the Taddihogg Cycling Hats that I had been trusted in pawning, which helped pay the tab on my many beer purchases of the evening. Here's a sweet image of the man himself - our 2013 Taddihogg gravel grinding poster boy. 

KuatJim rides bikes. He even writes about riding bikes. You should click HERE and read about his experience racing the Dirty Kanza. Good stuff to get you psyched, really.

Riding bikes is fun, but meeting cool folks and making new friends just steps it up a few notches. It was a pleasure to meet you friend. Cheers!

Scallywag...

I'm pleased to announce, that in my absence, the P-Ride crew is sailing onward towards full glory; retaining the fine art of trying every obstacle in their path. Thanks to WhiteMike, we have photo/video evidence of Cuntwats failed attempt at stardom - riding the Highline Skinny while not staying rubber-side-down. All I can do is laugh, knowing that had he been using only one hand, things might have turned out differently...

Scallywag:

1. A person who is known to be a treacherous lying son-of-a-bitch, and usually smells bad. 

2. A term of endearment used by pirates. 

Into the Wind...

It seems as though the New York Times had a crew on site for the Dirty Kanza 200. 

Below is a screenshot of  a video they made of the race, with yours truly pulling team Ethos/8-Lumens (we're the first riders you'll see in the video). Video link is HERE. Three-seconds of fame folks, get in line for autographs...

Insult to Injury...

I'm out for a while, off the bike. I injured myself recently and it seems that a little R&R is not going to make it better. I'll keep everyone posted as I know more. 

Until that time I will be doing some research on other cycling related ventures, and when i return form the depths of despair, I will have an enlightened point of view, will be back on the bike and digging myself deep into the heart of our culture.

I'll still be posting sweet nothings for your viewing displeasure, I promise. I cannot escape the lair fully, nor the crew and the shenanigans that are singlespeedpirate. 

Drink a few and ride some dirt in my stead. Cheers!

Prairie Fire...

The Dirty Kanza 200

in photos...
(click to enlarge, use your arrows to flip thru)

Dirty Love...

I'll have a grip of Taddihogg Cycling Hats at the DK festivities Friday night. I'll be outside the Granada or at the bar down the street. Come find me. These are a limited edition DK embroidered, locally handmade custom hats - the beezneez. 
There are only 15 12 of these in existence for 2013. Be Awesome.

(we sold out of these hats in TEN MINUTES sitting in front of the Granada on Friday night!!!)

Booty Call...

My last big training ride for the DK200 went down last night like a rainstorm down a gutter. I was in a weird head-space and in turn forgot bringing my damn cycling shoes. This was the first of way too many hiccups in my only night of fun for the week. Thankfully Princess Boner Ghost had some flats that I swapped onto my steed and we were ready to slay some pave'.

The weather forecast was for thunderstorms and we were under a tornado warning until 10 p.m.. We could either ride bikes and risk getting wet and possibly ending our days in Oz, or sit around getting even fatter than we already are - swill booze and just fade away. We chose to roll the dice and ride. It's pretty much been raining here for the last 4 day straight. We needed the ride time. Blah Blah cry me a river.

After reaching our mid-ride point of 68* kilometers, we pit-stopped at the Bier Station for refreshments. It dumped rain while we drank fine ales and talked quantum mechanics. Suddenly, and with great enthusiasm WhiteMike popped out of his seat, headed for the door and said " there's my ride". WTF El Blanco Miguel! You're dissing the rest of our ultimate DK training ride for some fine looking blonde in short shorts? O.K., we get it. You had more fun than we did, but the final 89* mile push through the bowels of Scary Village was easily a close 2nd, or maybe 16th, or maybe just...not.

Gravel Death...

This weekend, I'm racing this.

200 miles of gravel B roads accross the Flint Hills and Kanza Prairie.

Should be a good time, assuming there are no tornado's.

Some good advice from Adventure Monkey HERE.

Oh Shit...

I saw it coming, about half-a-second before the barbed-wire ripped through my flesh and retired my new pair of Evil socks. I'd just left the crew doing laps at SMP, headed off on a rogue trail back towards the lair when I rounded a corner and there was it was, a fallen tree. As I attempted to dodge said tree, I lost control (as I was on a steep-ass rocky and rutted-out descent) and went OTB off the down hill side of the trail. As I ejected from my steed, I noted the barbed wire death-trap about 18" off the ground. I did what I could, used all of my Ninja skills, to avoid loosing both legs as I somersaulted into oblivion. The inside of my ankle looks like hamburger. Chicks dig scars.