Abishag

(photo: Anthony Hennessy, cross ride at Wissahickon w/ dlowe and George Klimi)



I put away the bike last night, in the shed, along with all the others.

I like having a garden shed, we have no garage, or basement.

I latch open the door, to keep it from slamming shut by the strong breeze that comes up the yard.

It is its own world, one that has no electricity, or heat, so its a daylight only world.

the key, its an undersized key, just a turn lock.

dressed warm, I pushed the bike up the small slope and around the house

and out to ride today

met two blokes and off we rode, a very nice day to ride,  watching the sun rise, and its rays drop into the valley and warmed it up a bit.      Had the new treads the Clements LAS pump to 42, more sturdy than supple ride I needed from 'em.   The rubber compound, is a bit rubbery, supple-lish,  a bit different from the hardish casing of the jets I've been using to train on.   They gave a nice quality ride, smooth, fast and .... a very good grip, with a gentle transition a roundish flow from riding on the top of the tread to the bite of the side knobs.  Very predictable.   I felt like a surgeon, knife-ing up the top meadow trails of the Wiss.    Not quite sure of the durability of the rubber, but am looking forward to doing some pre-ride laps at Fairhill Saturday.

Cheers, d.

glom-ming

I'm off the Jets and trying something new

The Clement LAS tires

I got the clinchers, and if they ride nice, I'll move on to the tubulars.

I don't know what to call the tubulars,... they don't have tubes in 'em.

so not to confuse them with the blokes thinkin' they can do it, tube-less,

burp!

they've been made airtight,without a tube, but all in a casing.

I've loved the PDX, really nicely made,  just running the clincher, not the tubeless casing version,yet, they've kill it in the mud.

what I know,  not a diamond tread, but a Nail tread.

Small points to larger points as you work your way to the outside of the tread.

A "Knob" a biggish "knob"

on the outer rim

to bite and keep you in the corners.

Clements has that thing going, a glom factor, and good for 'em, they've created a coolness,
The labels on the sidewall look $$$, the hanger card stock, beautiful, A name, The hat with the logo,
got a get one, gotta glom.   Branding is important, and what sells, and just the look, the sound, "Clement", of course I'm a better bike handler, and a cold, beady eyed, soulless, pale-ed skin, bloke of epic proportions with 'em on my Hoops.   cheers, d.  I let ya know what I think of De treads. 


sorry I could not rezssist...NERDS!

cajones

I went to see the Meat Puppets last night, took my camera, and tried my best to take some nice shots.
I fell short, I took a bunch of pics, just not much good.  The show was OK, they seemed a bit weary, road worn, life worn, they didn't come alive till the jammin' at the end, and the jammin' not so good.
 

I'm listening to the Lou Reed Metallic album trying to figure out what I think about it, Who Cares? Me.  They all have so much history of accomplishment, but seem in this case to be falling very far short of making something listenable.   but I listen on. 

and as always the bike is there for me, my family.   I pulled the pedals and tightened them up on the SS mtBike,  hit up the mighty Wiss.  Nice ride, really nice.  A good zone, one of those days of pedaling and steering and just enjoying life.   I stopped at the over look.  Where years ago a religious sect would meditate, there is a strong strange power emanating from these glacier exposed stones.   Are they angry for being stirred up.  whatever, I don't hang here to long, maybe its me, maybe I'm just some anti-electric to them, Ha!  anyway, had a great ride at the Wiss.  oops.....   What I meant to say was, my friend Meisha, he's laid up, not to laid up, despite getting hit broad side by a hard charging car, and breaking bones in his neck and ribs,....  That bastard is at home, up and about, feisty and recovering.  Recovery, that's a hard thing for me to deal with.  so,....  I hope to go see him on Monday, maybe take some wine to the park and challenge him or his 75 year old bro. to some chess. 
Maybe smoke a cigar.    Cheers all, value those who bring you love.   david.

Hope

last night I listened to some Hope Sandoval , before heading to bed.
I've been in a funk, the last 3 races
making me
as much as I don't like to  have the bike affect my mood
funky

today

Mud.

I've worked on my mud skills, and today the work payed me back.
I got a great start, took a couple of turns loose, then settled in, and just rode the mud.

and despite losing 3 spots on the last lap, putting me in 13th, my mood is lighter.

I took some photos, just a few "artys", and the rest, just of the 35+ race, and then worked the pit for the wonderful LvG

I like the pit

a lot of small talk in the pit,

sorta like a pre-diner party

some clicks:

bad ass

I feel the teeter-tooter starting to sink, we are past the half way point of the MAC season

I'm going to work hard

and hope to make it back into the top10 finishers.

whew, d.