Sweet. I imagine you already know, but the anodized upper pulley probably doesn't have any float like it's supposed to. Probably not a huge deal with 7/8 speed shifting, but still something to note.

One of the local bike shops are closing down and fire selling everything, I saw so much stuff I wanted but it was bike parts or pay rent next week and I decided to be responsible for once.

Today I bought a mountain bike...and proceeded to eat dirt within my first mile of riding.

Jesus. I raced that gravel race I've been talking about and it was absolutely brutal. 4475 feet of climbing in 37 miles. Also, it wasn't gravel it was solid farm roads and terrible. I finished, more then some can say. I was the last "cat 1" racer in. It's choose your own speed Cat 1, 2, 3. I'll upload photos on Monday.

This morning, I went on a ride with the local shop owner and got my ass handed to me. I need to get in shape, it was embarrassing.

Old school meets new school.

7400 is one of my fav groups.

Today I'm starting to get gear lust, real bad. I need a roadie.

Oh yeah, I'm shifting 7 of 8 with Powershift barends so I think I can live without Centeron action. I'll have to keep that in mind if I ever get brifters again, though.

My face and jaw hurts today.

So melty.

today i'm in austin, tx.

Good to get that out of your system early.

Made a gallon of chicken soup, played Hearthstone all day. Ranked Platinum, nbd.

today i almost cried when i found out lou reed died.

I ordered a Timbuk2 Especial Quatro
http://www.shoebuy.com/timbuk2-espec...ackpack/519854
Got it for $182 w/ the 20% off coupon. I needed something large to replace my Classic Messenger XL because the weekly food shopping was bothering my shoulder.
I really want(ed) the Mission Workshop Vandal but I cannot justify the $330 *w/ waist strap*.

Just got back from a much needed ride. I have to get back into it, tattoo season always puts a damper on my progress.
[TABLE="class: summaryTable overall"]
[TR]
[TD="class: summaryTableLabel"]Distance:[/TD]
[TD]16.36 mi[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: summaryTableLabel"]Time:[/TD]
[TD]1:01:58[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: summaryTableLabel"]Avg Speed:[/TD]
[TD]15.8 mph[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: summaryTableLabel"]Elevation Gain:[/TD]
[TD]469 ft[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: summaryTableLabel"]Calories:[/TD]
[TD]1,024 C[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Anyone in NYC area down for a ride on this upcoming Saturday? Relaxed or pushed don't matter to me, just want to get out there, especially since my tattoo appointment got pushed to next week.

would probably be down for a ride [MENTION=299067]AristoNYC[/MENTION]

this weekend i had the pleasure of being best man at my bffs wedding, i honestly think it mightve been one of the greatest times of my life

got to spend some Q time with maid of honor, exchanged #s , feeling good about it

really dont want to go to work in 7 hours. throat kinda hurts from singing and yelling and generally kicking ass for the last 4 days so calling out for the first time might be a real possibility

It was surprising that he made it to 71... he was such a genius but not smart enough to have backed off the gas and said no to the drugs and alcohol that probably had more than a little to do with his early exit from this plane. The damage was probably already done when he sobered up a decade ago.

Today I just went out for an easy ride to enjoy the crisp weather and first snow of the season...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...ide1%20(3).JPG

Today I found out I won't be homeless for another month! *swish* Apartment hunting just got a whole lot more reasonable.

that video is ****ing weird...

It was kind of a "well that wasn't so bad" experience. I'm a little sore though.

I fall on my MTB frequently, but hitting dirt is so much easier on the body than roads, and it's usually from much lower speeds too.

Here are some photos and a little recap from the most brutal race of my life. I did stop and take a couple photos during the race, I pretty much solo'ed the entire event, so it really didnt matter. The race started with a hill climb, right turn, descent then hardest climb of the day. I said earlier that it had 4,475' of climbing in 37 miles (according to my edge 500). 1,491 feet per lap, it was 3 laps total. None of the climbs were long really. Just short and painfully super steep. I couldnt find a rhythm during the entire event, which is what lead me to riding solo. After every lap I debated quitting, hell after the first 3 miles I thought about it. A mountain bike probably would have been a better choice, I dont think "gravel race" is a good description. Most of the rocks were first sized and it wasnt on "real" roads mainly farm roads and b roads. I pinch flatted the rear at the end of the second lap. I was running 77psi in a 90 psi max tire. I had no idea that was possible. The biggest thing I learned was that my bike handling skills are not as great as I thought. The descents were what really lost me time, for the first time ever I wished I had disc brakes. I did finish, I was the last to finish in my category, but there were a number of DNF's. Finished with an average speed of 10.9 mph and topped out at 36 mph.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4a1fd558.png
Race Map

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps68ab7612.png
Elevation Profile.

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps284d471a.png
This was the first real climb and it was just a punch in the mouth. Each of the sharp vertical angles is over 14%
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...ps55c20504.png
If you can follow the road it goes all the way up to the tower, but you turn left before it.
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf9e28ab.png
Looking down the second to last climb
http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...psf839ab2d.png
Down and up all day long.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...59115659_n.jpg
This picture I have posted before, this descent was called the "wash out" section and immediately followed the toughest climb. The first time down I could barely ride it. The best line I ever found was riding as far to the right as possible. I thought this would be just a short section but it seems like 45% of the race was on this type of gravel. Sorry for the long post.

It's kind of embarrassing to say how it happened...I get so used to using the front brake on the road that I forgot the front brake would be a bad choice while going down hill on loose rocks and dirt...total slow motion. I hit my mouth on a boulder, but only a slight cut and no swelling. My knew is scraped to hell and decent bruise on my right shoulder. I'm a little stiff but it was totally worth it.

That said, it scared me a bit...I got off and hiked a few times on the mountain yesterday. Hiking trails aren't necessarily the best riding trails. I hope to get out to some proper trails next weekend.

That looks like absolute hell!

Truly was. If you want a challenging short race I would highly recommend it. I mean, if you are the kind of person that like an absolute sufferfest. The same guy that planned this route does a Dirty Kanza 200 "warm up" ride on mothers day weekend, its called Maisie's Pride. Its supposed to be pretty hard as well. I will either be doing it or Almanzo.

i guess Kansas isn't totally flat!

Nice.