Halloween 2013!

Love this holiday. Parties, bars, and tomorrow night a Thor pub crawl by bike with costumes. Unfortunately didn't make it to any dance clubs, thats the best because you can dance like an idiot dressed up and nobody has any clue who you are.

Some pics!

Curt and Danielle, newly engaged couple!

So I handed out a ton of candy Halloween night. But the kids were creeping me out. Instead of ringing the doorbell or knocking on my door, they would just look through my storm door and stare into my house. Like they were scoping the joint. Maybe they were mesmerized by the dog with the LED eyeballs, but it was freaking me out. 

Elise was up singing with her friends from Hidden Agenda at Two Fine Irish

Crazy, ended up bumping into someone I had met years ago, the boyfriend of a friend of a friend. I heard the GF say my name, and I was like huh? 

Last Sunday's CC trailday and some RC car action

Why not make Sunday into the longest day ever...well almost ever. Made it out to Calvin Crest last Sunday for a trailday with the THOR folk. It's been awhile since I've biked out there, so figured I'd make an appearance. Packed a shovel, the fat, and then some RC cars. Heck why not. Fremont has that RC track so figured I'd swing by. Hobbytown track is way too crowded and dark, heck I can barely see the other side of their track because its so big!

Arrived late to Calvin Crest, had way too much to pack into the Jeep. Better late than never I guess. Ended up Chris was taking people down to the trail in shifts, so it worked out in the long run. We worked on two berms during the time that I was there. Mostly I just shoveled dirt into the wheelbarrels and then helped to tamp some of the dirt down. I still don't know how to ride berms and some of the other berms were on nearly flat after uphill sections, but I didn't question them. Whatever. Not my design, I'm just a worker!

Calvin Crest is more fun than ever. The trail has really matured since we first started riding there a couple of years ago. I almost ate it once, it was on the downhill after the Tower Climb before it dumps you out to the flat section. I took the turn and felt the rear end swinging out. I was really cranking it and was really leaning the bike. I managed to lower my right foot just in time and caught myself and it kept me going. Troy behind me saw it happen, maybe it looked like I meant to do it? Great times! Too bad I had only eaten a protein bar 5 hours before. Was tired and didn't have enough energy to ride another lap. Great work to all who help out there.

About 4 pm I ventured over to the RC track to run my buggy and truck. Small track, but it has a couple of jumps. Then I walked about 50 ft over to the sandy oval track. That was fun too. Man those RC cars are fast! Think I'm a terrible driver because I couldn't even keep them on the track after the turns, might have to actually let off of the throttle to make the turns! Lol. Guess I drive them like I drive Mariokart. No brakes, just gas!

Never good when the truck comes back rubbing on the body. But it was just a shock top that came loose.

This isn't good either, but a cheap easy fix.

The truck came back looking like a lowrider, one of the tops had come off of the shocks and I ended up with shock oil all over the place. Screwed the top back on and finished the lap. Then pulled out the buggy. Was having a blast with that. What a difference 4wd compared to 2wd makes. The turning, acceleration, everything is different. Eventually lost a rod that connects the A arm to the body. Looked all over for it, couldn't find it. But I did find other peoples' car parts in the dirt. Like a treasure hunt!

Jones Loop bar and some new tires!

Let me clear that up right away. I want these things. I haven't bought them yet. The leaves are falling and I need some new shoes for my bike. Anybody have about $420 (to be exact) laying around? I would like to order some new fatbike tires (120 tpi of course) and a Jones H-bar Loop handlebar. I originally wanted the H bar cut handlebar but come to find out that it requires thumbshifters that are above the bar. Silly. The question is, will the new handlebars fit in my Jeep or will they punch through my rear glass when the bike is standing up. Hmm... Darn...looks like they've stopped making the Titec H bar knockoff of the JJ counterpart.

Day late and a dollar short! Everyone have a great week!

*spent some time reading up on fat bike tires. Dillinger (studded), Escalator, Nate, Larry, Husker Du, Knard, and Devist8er, Those are my options. That's it.. Surly discontinued the Endomorph which I personally thought was a great tire. Like Big Mike and I discussed, it was like an angled paddle wheel. Great for getting through the snow and dirt. The problem is that these tires are hella expensive. I'm looking to get some new wheels and tires on the Jeep and a fat bike tire that might last me two years is as much as a Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac? Are you kidding me? I guess you have to pay to play....

Hmm...what if I threw on some cheapo tires for now on the bike? Enough to get me through the fall and winter riding before I drop 4x the amount on a good set of tires. Something like these?


http://www.jensonusa.com/Bicycle-Tires/Vee-Rubber-Mission-26-Fat-Bike-Tire

ReActive Adapations

Fat Bomber and Fat Nuke. Check out the video. Looks like a ton of work, but pretty awesome that people with/without a handicap can also enjoy those fat tires in the snow!

Chocolate Festival!

How would I describe this event? Like Black Friday, except its women with children going after chocolate. Yikes! Elise had won two tix to this event that was being held at the whatever hotel convention center out by Cabelas. Yeah. I already forgot the name of it. But thats not important. What's important is that we got to sample 5 items each per ticket, ranging from candy, to choc flavored popcorn, to cupcakes and bundt cakes. Anything dealing with chocolate was there, including a snow cone make.

A mint chocolate chip cupcake

Pretty funny stuff right there

So I usually enter myself into raffles, especially if they go towards a good cause. But for some reason, the thought didn't even cross my mind this time. Elise on the other hand purchased five raffle tickets and put my name on two of them. Well guess who won...TWICE! I got a phone call that same afternoon saying that I had won a raffle. I happened to see a nice pair of sunglasses behind the lady and said ooh that would be nice to win. Well I didn't win that. Instead, what I won was a $25 gift certificate to Pettit's bakery AND a huge candy basket from Smej's candy shop on 120th and Blondo. Sugar overload!

It was fun, but way too many people. Vendors were running out of samples after only a few hours. I spoke to the lady telling me about my winnings. Last year, they had 2500 in attendance and it was held at the field club. Well this year, 5000 showed up! Crazy sweet times.

The raffle winnings.

The raffle

Way too many people fighting for sweets.

Those cool things you see while riding...

It was a fall day...temps were in the 60s...the sun was out...you hop on the bike for a pavement ride, not knowing what you'll see that day. That happens alot in the fall, you come across an over-the-top Halloween decorated house, some awesome trees that are beginning their change into fall colored foliage, or a guy cleaning out his garage up the street with his 442 in the driveway (is this a true 442?). Nice...

Headed for a ride around Standing Bear Lake

Treats after!

Tranquility Trail Day

Not your normal mowing and a weed wacky this time. This time we're moving dirt. Saturday, October 12, 2013.  8:45am. Go!

"back fill the south hill climb and inner loop. Tools needed are shovels, hoes and tampers. Meet at fort st trail head"

Oh yeah, and this!

"Tranquility: south side of the trail will be closed this Saturday 10/12 for the duration of the trail day. We are going to be hauling a lot of dirt and with tractors and trucks on the trail, we'd really prefer not to run you over. Please join us for the trail day if you can..."

The Helmet Set to Revolutionize Mountain Biking

Smith is entering the bike helmet world, sounds pretty good. Although for down hill/mountain right now, its stronger and lighter than your EPS foam helmet. A bit pricey now, but maybe prices will come down.

I use their ski/snowboarding helmets and so far they've worked great.

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/cycle-life/The-Helmet-Set-to-Revolutionize-Mountain-Biking.html

Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!

Stolen BIke Alert!

My buddy Paul had his bike taken from work. Please be on the lookout for this bike. If you happen to see someone riding it, punch or kick them in the face then take off on the bike!

Paul Neuberger
Please be on the lookout for old Marin taken from the garage.
It's a 2000 Model: Palisades Trail
Serial Number: C420AAD035
It is silver, has a rack, red grips, a Thompson seat post, and Michelin Tires.