Well, the nasty storms that pledged the west and claimed a few lives have passed. It's been in the high 70s along the cost of southern California and that means big crowds at the local mass starts. As always, it's my steel cable- less fixer stealing looks from the techno thoroughbreds. That alone elevates my game a notch or two. An honest game where "the buck stops here" attitude. I'm having fun again.

It's been said that water seeks it's own level. That holds true to fixers as well. The relatively few fixers here in San Diego (home to many world class triathletes and professional RR training camps) seek validation from each other. I liken it to being in a foreign land and finding others speaking your language. For ours is a culture of "man and machine," rather than "man and technology." Some have said to me "you must really like that bike" with emphases on "that." My reply has been "like it?...I love it!" I feel no need to apologize for my preference for a fixer; my steel companion. What I should say, what I really mean is that I came out here to ride, at the end of this ride I better feel it, I better not have anything left. If I felt like you, I'd pull out my road bike, coast when I could, listen to my dancing chain, and when I got home I'd do push-ups on my knees.

In this uniformed world of, index-shifting and NASA materials there is no rest, everyday is a work day for the fixer. In groups tows and or, drafting, is luxury lost on the brake-less. I'm not the best, but I'm game, and I do my best to hide the pain. I'll be damed if I ever let "them" perceive my FG as handicap. I want leave them scratching their heads. However, hard work can be fun too. We make it fun. In numbers we behave like a pack of wolves amongst the lycra herd. Outsiders branding a single gear urban assault, an asphalt riot with a clear message - spin class is officially over. Outsiders.

This is a role for which I am well versed. A role requiring patents, inventory of ones own weakness, an iron will, and the ability strike at opportunity. Wolf? Naw, speaking only for myself, I'm more like a weasel. It's not such a bad thing either. Have you ever watched weasels? They always seem to be having the most fun.