Tycho, Seattle, larch mountain.

Off to see Tycho in Seattle this weekend (sat night). It was part of the electronic music festival called Decibel that was happening in Seattle. made me think it's kinda funny when you go to a show and a lot of people (not all) are a good 10yrs younger than you! There were a couple of opening Seattle act's that I cannot remember the names, but it was alright, I'm not gonna say great, but alright. the whole Capital Hill area of Seattle seems like a nice area, little bit him, little underdeveloped, nice character.

 

Got a message from my mum on Sat, my Gran is doing well, in fact really well, good spirits, alert and what not but she's not eating good, but they have her on high protein drink thingy's.

 

Of course there was cycling this weekend also, a quick trip up Larch Mountain, 4000ft of climbing, great views, cold cold descent.

This made me laugh this morning:

Commute to work

Fog is the SE was dense and thick, could taste it, the regular commuer douchbags were still thinking it's a road race over the hawthorne bridge - like usual, I guess.  I climbed up Montgomery- west side, mid way up the fog started to break, hit Sylvan top of the hill, the sun broke, the skys were blue. All was right. Some euphoric ambient tunes in the ears, made me appriciate Fridays even more.

Snow Goodies, Moontan & interbike

I got all excited by snow goodies. This is some seriously nice snowboard gear. On the subject of snow, check out my summer moon tan, it's strange because it appears that only have suntan on my arms, and the moonrays burnt the rest of my matchstick body.


































Photos - Burton Custom X Snowboard |Burton 3L AK Gore-tex Jacket | pasty white British guy |ics burton channel

Also this week - Interbike in Vegas, I did not go this year, I went last year, so I gave my place to someone else. So a few of teh bike Vigilantes are racing Cross Vegas, should be fun, I have heard that lance is racing it also. I wonder how they did - It looked a blast last year.

Here are a few interbike links to keep you up to date.
www.interbiketimes.com
http://www.cyclelicio.us/
http://commutebybike.com/
www.crossvegas.com

New Snowboard Day !!! yessss

James pretending his Cross bike is a mountain bike.

The massive news is that my Gran was taken into hospital and they found an aneurysm in her abdomen - at her age it's too risky to operate, so from now it's a day by day thing with medication. I've been speaking with my mum a lot and my gran has been doing ok, my mum doesn't sound worried, so that's a good thing. I guess a bit of time will tell.

In the bike world gold is the new white and bike stuff is now boring, welcome the new snowboard, yaeh it's new snowboard day and I just picked up the snowboard for my dreams. Burton Custom X.

I'm excited about the upcoming winter season, I also bought a gore-tex jacket to kit myself out. Even though snow is far away and there is this whole season called Cyclocross in between then, I'm still amped to be spending my weekends on the snow.

On with cyclocross, as you know, Portland is big big time into cyclocross and I raced my first season in Chicago, which was fun, very cold but fun and Portland is warmer but super muddy. So this year I have been to a few skills clinics to see if I can improve. Last night took a training ride in Forrest Park (dirt and fast gravel), headlamps and all, was very nice, some fast riding.

Gold is the new white

Rapha Continetal Gentlmen ride 09/06

Rapha Gentlemen ride.
unsanctioned, unsupported -Hood river to Portland.
137miles
13,300ft (4,053m) of climbing
2 stops for water.
7hr 15 in the saddle.
6 team riders
3rd place out of 12 teams.

james = 1 bad shoulder on 4 miles of gravel climbing = no fun.
little better route planning next time and we could have 2nd.

me (center) with killer bad shoulder.