06.17.2008 | 8:33 am
A few really good things have happened in the past few days. I’ve been sitting at my keyboard for five minutes (the absolute maximum amount of time I ever spend thinking about what I’m going to say here) trying to find a common thread between them.
But there isn’t a common thread. So I’m just going to throw them out there.
Is This Some Kind of Bike-Friendly Alternate Universe?
Suppose you’ve been on your road bike for about an hour, climbing. And climbing. And climbing. Riding up American Fork Canyon.
Finally, you reach the summit. You’ve earned the descent. And in the case of American Fork Canyon, it’s quite a descent you’ve earned. Because, as I have learned, American Fork Canyon has been specially designed to be exactly curvy and steep enough to be thrilling, yet open and straight enough to require only infrequent braking.
And once you get past Pine Hollow, no more braking is required for the rest of the ride. You’ve got a what I consider to be the ultimate working downhill in front of you. [Note: a "working downhill" is a downhill that is gradual enough that you can still pedal.]
This is really my favorite road descent in the world. It’s perfect.
Anyway, almost as soon as you begin the descent, you find yourself behind a slow truck, pulling a trailer. You groan in frustration, because this road is narrow and curvy enough that passing opportunities are rare. Your joyful flight has been converted into a slow and loud session of downhill brake-riding.
Except…it hasn’t.
The guy in the truck notices you in the rear-view mirror, and — perhaps because he rides? — immediately pulls over so you can get by.
You zoom by and wave. Your faith in humanity is bolstered.
Two minutes later, however, it gets worse. You’ve caught up behind another truck, and this one is already behind a minivan. Your shoulders droop, because you know that it’s practically impossible to pass two vehicles like this.
Except…it isn’t.
Magically, the minivan and truck pull over to the side of the road together, as if they’ve agreed that on a day like this, a road cyclist clearly cannot be denied.
And then you catch a motorcycle. It occurs to you that on this road, in this direction, nothing is as fast as a road bike.
The motorcycle edges over to the right side of the road, the rider nodding as you ride by.
And then the road’s clear the rest of the way down.
With a tailwind.
Next Steps for Susan
Susan’s done with radiation now, which, according to our old oncologist, was pretty much the end of the road for her, treatment-wise.
So yesterday, Susan and I spent a long, emotionally draining day at a new oncologist, one who will take our calls and keep looking for ways for us to fight.
The upshot is that for the rest of the week Susan’s going to be taking tests, and then next week the oncologist will recommend a course of action for fighting this cancer.
We don’t know what that course of action will be yet, but we do have a firm assurance that there will be a course of action.
We don’t expect things to be easy. But I much prefer a difficult course of action to no course of action at all.
Sometimes a hard day can also be a good day, relatively speaking.
More Raffle Goodness
Just in case you haven’t noticed, Ibis Cycles and I have partnered to raffle off an incredible dream bike: The Ibis Silk SL. You can read the details in my Friday post, but take a gander at what you’ll be riding:
I’ve gotta say, though, that I’m becoming increasingly partial to the British Racing Green frame color:
The color choice is up to you.
There’s something you might’ve missed, however. If you haven’t gone back and read the changes I made to the post on Friday afternoon, you won’t have caught the exciting update: The Silk SL will be outfitted with the Dura-Ace group, and Dura-Ace SL wheels.
I tell you what: If I ever meet Mr. Shimano, I am going to give him a hug.
Same goes for Chuck Ibis.
And you know what? That bike isn’t the only thing we’re giving away in this Triathalon-related raffle this Saturday. You’re also automatically entered to win:
- A Gary Fisher Rig. It’s a size Large, lovingly used, 2007 model. Donated privately and anonymously by a really good guy. I rode a Rig most of all last season, and I loved it.
- Several Boomerangs. Yeah, I’m totally serious. A Fat Cyclist reader owns a boomerang company. A few of the boomerangs have even had “WIN Susan” airbrushed on to them. I may keep one of these for myself.
- Twin Six Hotness. My good friends at Twin Six are donating several jerseys, t-thirts, bottles, and other awesomeness.
- Gary Fisher Apparel. In spite of the fact that I have not yet performed any of the tasks he has assigned me, Travis Ott is sending over several t-shirts and jerseys to be given away.
- Used copies of The Flying Dutchman and Breaking Away. Yeah, I saved the best for last. Ha.
So, if you haven’t yet signed up for the raffle, you’d better get moving. You can’t win unless you enter. Although Dug’s been trying to convince me otherwise.
And even if you don’t win, you’re still donating to a great cause.
Click here for details and to donate.
Comments (52)
06.12.2008 | 11:11 pm
UPDATE: New information below about the components for this bike. Hint: You are going to drool all over your keyboard.
I’ve been busting at the seams for about two days, wanting to talk about this, but didn’t want to mention it until it was locked down, because — well, it’s just too awesome to be true.
But it is true. Chuck himself told me it’s true. So let me say it right here, in bold and italics:
Ibis has donated a brand-spanking new SilkSL as the grand prize for the Fatty’s Triathalon Raffle.
Yeah, seriously. A brand-new carbon dream bike, made by the original bad-boy manufacturers of top-end bikes.
Behold:
And let me be clear on this. I’m not saying this is a dream bike because Ibis is donating it. I’m saying it’s a dream bike because I know firsthand. Yes, last year I sold a perfectly nice top-end road bike so I could get a bike very much like this one (except yours will be cooler, because it’s newer and stiffer and lighter and has an awesome paint job), because I wanted an Ibis more. Much, much more.
And now you can win one, at the same time you fight cancer. I’d call it win-win, but that’s not adequate for how awesome this is. It’s more like WIN-WIN, cubed.
UPDATE: Dura-Ace Heaven
As if this bike weren’t already sexy enough, we’ve just heard back from the good folks at Shimano, and you are going to drop your jaw. This bike’s going to be sporting a Dura-Ace group, as well as Dura-Ace wheels.
This bike’s going to weigh in at a maximum of around 15.0lbs. Quite probably less. And it would retail for about $5000. Or more.
We aren’t just kidding about this thing being a dream bike, kiddies.
In fact, screw all of you. I’m keeping this bike for myself.
OK, not really, but the temptation’s definitely there, you know?
Anyway, this is no longer a dream bike. It’s what dream bikes dream about growing up to be.
How You Can Make Everyone You Know Insanely Jealous Forever
Picture this for a moment. You’re riding your sexy new red SilkSL for the first time at the local group ride. Everyone wants to know how much you paid for it. “Well, technically, I got it for free,” you confess. “Although I did also donate some money to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight cancer.”
“How,” everyone asks, even as they fight to control their envy, “Did this person become simultaneously so lucky and philanthropic?”
But they will never find out, because you have ridden off the front on a solo attack that nobody dares challenge. Not when you’re on this bike.
How to Enter
OK, here’s how you can get a shot at winning the SilkSL: Just click here to donate some money to Mike’s LiveStrong Challenge effort (http://bayarea08.livestrong.org/mike). For every $5.00 you donate, we record your name on our very fancy Virtual Raffle Ticket Spreadsheet.
Seriously, that’s all there is to it. Just make a donation here in any multiple of $5.00 (such as $5.00, $25.00, $50.00, or $100), and you get a raffle ticket for each $5.00 you donate.
You’re fighting cancer and getting a shot at an exquisite bike. The only way it could be better would be if it were personally delivered by Mr. Chuck Ibis himself.
Which he has declined to do. Sorry, you can’t have everything.
When’s the Drawing?
We do the drawing for the SilkSL the evening of Saturday, June 21, after the Triathalon festivities have concluded. I’ll email the winner and announce it on my blog. Ibis will ship the bike.
Can I Win If I’m Not In the US?
As long as it’s not illegal in your country for you to do this kind of thing and you’re willing to cover customs charges yourself, sure. We’ll even suck it up and pay the extra shipping. Because we’re like that.
Do I Have to Be Present to Win?
Heck, no.
More Details About Fatty’s Triathalon
Of course, the raffle is just one part of Fatty’s Triathalon, to be held Saturday, June 21. I’ll be talking more about it this week, but here are some details:
- Prizes: The SilkSL isn’t the only thing your ticket might win you. There will be another bike — a used Gary Fisher Rig, size Large, several boomerangs, at least 20 Fat Cyclist T-Shirts, and more, more, more. Winning one of these smaller prizes doesn’t remove you from the pot for the big prize, though. Because that sucks when that happens.
- Rock Band: No, we won’t have a live band. But I may fire up the Playstation and we can play Rock Band. My rendition of Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” is going to Blow. Your. Mind.
I need to start getting a hard count of how many people are going to be at the Triathalon. Send me an email with the subject “Triathalon” and tell me how many of you are coming.
Go Donate Now
On a more serious note, I’m not just getting behind the Lance Armstrong Foundation because Lance is a cyclist. I’m getting behind the LAF because this foundation has done my wife and me a lot of good while she’s battling cancer. They’re providing practical, meaningful help for thousands of people every day, and that means a lot to me. And to Chuck Ibis.
Now go win yerself a bike.
PS: Those of you who bought raffle tickets before the bike was part of the deal, you’re automatically entered in the raffle for the bike. Way to be early adopters.
Comments (88)
06.12.2008 | 11:11 am
I was planning to spend my lunch hour writing about some exciying
developments and details for next weekend’s Triathalon.
But my computer is dead.
So for now please hold a vigorous debate amongst yourselves which is
the very best kind of pie.
I’ll post about the Triathalon tonight. You won’t want to miss it.
This concludes the longest thing I have ever written on my iPhone. My
thumbs are exhausted.
Comments (115)
06.10.2008 | 2:42 pm
Before I get to the main part of today’s post, I have a couple items of business to discuss. Please read them carefully. If you want to.
When Will Jerseys Be Available Again?
Like many of you, I was caught completely off-guard by how quickly the 2008 Fat Cyclist Jerseys sold out: all 500 disappeared in less than 24 hours. I’ve been getting a lot of questions from people on when jerseys will be available again.
Because I’m not a big ol’ company, I can’t muscle my way to the front of the jersey manufacturing line (and Twin Six can’t either). So it’s not as simple as just re-ordering.
So the short answer is: we’ll have jerseys available again in early November (plenty of time for giving as Christmas gifts, hint hint).
But I don’t want to happen with this batch of jerseys what happened with the last batch. If you want to get a jersey, I want you to be able to get one.
So here’s what we’re gonna do.
- July 8: I’ll unveil the new 2009 jersey design and colors. That’s right, it will be a new design. Twin Six and I are working on it right now. There will be elements you recognize, along with some surprises. I’m excited to show it off.
- July 14 – 20: You’ll be able to pre-order your jerseys, ensuring that you get the size / color / gender combination you want.
- Early November: Your jersey will be shipped to you.
And while it’s too early to say right now, it’s possible there’ll be more than jerseys and socks this time. Shorts? Armwarmers? A shell? An enormous bratwurst-shaped helmet? It’s hard to say at this point, but we’re looking at lots of possibilities. Feel free to weigh in with what you’d like to see, Fat Cyclist clothing-wise, this year.
Don’t Miss This Ad
I know that some of you use ad blockers and some of you read this blog using RSS readers, so I’m going to go ahead and call out what those of you who do see my blog ads can see for yourselves: I’ve now got LiveStrong Challenge ads running.
Take a moment to visit the site and see where the events are, how they help, and maybe consider supporting them yourselves. As I’ve mentioned before, the Lance Armstrong Foundation has been very helpful to Susan and me, and I’m always excited to see readers — ClydeSteve and MikeRoadie, among others — working so hard to raise money for this crucial cause.
And, if you’d be so inclined, why don’t you go and click here to support MikeRoadie as he works to raise $30,000 (wow) to fight cancer this year.
Looking Around
A couple days ago, I was alone, riding Hogg’s Hollow (Hogg South to Jacob’s Ladder to Ghost to Clark to Hogg South, for any interested local riders). It’s a ride I’ve done before dozens of times, to the point that if I plug into an iPod and have stuff on my mind, the entire ride can go by without me noticing my surroundings.
But this time, about halfway through the ride, I did the opposite.
Having just finished the climb, ready to do the descent, I looked down into Utah Valley. And it struck me: In all the years of riding I’ve done, I’ve never just sat down by myself in the middle of a ride and looked around.
So that’s what I did. I sat down on a rock and just enjoyed the view. At first, I looked down into the valley. Then I pivoted around and looked at the mountain. Then I stopped looking so far away and just looked at the trees, scrub oak, and trail.
It is all so beautiful.
With all that’s going on in my family’s life, I kind of expected to start thinking about my troubles, but I didn’t. Being swamped by the massive gorgeousness of the mountain took my mind off me. Instead, I just looked. Not having deep, sublime insights, just looking. There’s a lot to see. A lot more to see than I realized.
I’m not sure how long I sat there, just enjoying the beauty that a mountain bike can deliver so quickly and easily. Yeah, I think “easily” is the right word, because even though the climb was anything but easy, the fact is I was alone on a beautiful mountain after only an hour of work. Relatively speaking, that’s pretty easy.
It occurs to me now that this is really one of the primary virtues of the mountain bike: it can take you to some incredible spots, fast enough that you can do it without packing for a trip, but slow enough that you can enjoy the view along the way.
My problem has always been that I’m inclined to keep moving — I’m wasting ride time if I’m not in motion.
I now realize that’s just stupid.
From now on — not every ride, but definitely not rarely, either — I’m taking the time to see where my mountain bike has taken me.
Comments (90)
06.9.2008 | 5:11 pm
For the past several weeks, I’ve been considering writing a post about how great the tubeless setup (I’m using traditional rims, the Stan’s NoTubes system, and Geax Saguaros) on my mountain bike has been working out. After all, I had not had a single MTB flat in more than a year.
Each time I thought about writing that post, though, I backed away. That would be inviting a flat, and no mistake.
Now, however, I’m going to have to re-evaluate my superstition. Evidently you don’t even have to mention your good luck in avoiding flats to jinx yourself. All you’ve got to do is think about it in order to get one.
Just thinking about it’s enough.
Psssssssss
As you’ve no doubt guessed, today when I was on a ride — coming down the South side of Hogg’s Hollow — it happened. I hit a big rock good and solid. My 20psi front tire (yes, I really have been riding at 20psi on my MTB, and quite happily so) was no match for it. I pinched open a nice 1/8″ cut, and the air immediately began hissing out.
When you’re riding with tires that use sealant, that hissing is your cue to get really religious, really fast. Because if you pray to Alfonzo, patron saint of liquid latex and inflated rubber devices, fervently enough, there’s a decent chance that the sealant will…well…seal. And then you can ride off triumphantly, knowing that where others would have been stopped cold by such a nasty puncture, you can feel free to merrily continue on your merry way.
This time, however, I would not be merry. No, not merry. Quite the contrary.
The Gamble
The hissing didn’t stop until there was no air in the tires. I rolled to a stop, confronted with a monumental decision:
Would the tire seal up if I put some more air in it and spun the tire around for a minute?
This question was monumental for the following reason: I had only one CO2 cartridge.
You see where I’m going with this? Here were my options, and potential consequences:
- Put in a tube. This, of course, was the safe approach. It would almost certainly work. But it would take time. And it would make a mess, in the form of a gooey, latex-soaked rimstrip I’d have to stow in my jersey pocket, not to mention all that surplus liquid latex sloshing around in the tire. Yuck.
- Put air in the tire and hope it seals. If it seals, I win! I get to continue on, blithely and somewhat smugly. But if it doesn’t seal, I’m super-screwed, because then I’m out of CO2, I’m four miles from home, I don’t have a phone with me, and I need to be home in an hour to take Susan to radiation.
So of course I put air in the tire, hoping it would seal. Because I am an idiot, that’s why.
Of course, it didn’t seal. Or rather: of course it didn’t seal.
Two miles of downhill hike-a-biking later (I bummed a ride for the final two miles, allowing me to avoid the acute embarrassment of walking my bike on paved roads), I’ve learned my lesson. No more gambling for me.
Unless I feel like I might win, of course.
PS: As I was walking my bike down the trail, two different riders passed me. I made eye contact and fully expected the traditional “Need any help?” question. Both times, the guys just rode on. No help offered. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.
Comments (90)
« Previous Page — « Previous Entries Next Entries » — Next Page »
