Set out on a easy 2 hour spin, ended up getting 5500+ ft elevation gain.

Today, I got a new bike! Not brand new, but new to me. Singlespeed MTB with a sliding rear dropout. Currently running a combo 16T/18T White Industries freewheel on there.

Kona Unit frameset, Salsa Delgado Disc wheels + Schwalbe Racing Ralph tires, Raceface crankset, RaceFace stem and bars, Thomson Elite seatpost and a WTB Pure team level saddle.



http://i.imgur.com/pYzukBk.jpg



http://i.imgur.com/xK8oLau.jpg



http://i.imgur.com/smDHSpa.jpg

that chainstay decal is a lie.

wut? I'm confused...

Have you ever gotten laid on that bike?

too speedz.

Not yet ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)



damn, you got me. 2 fking speeds.

Be glad you are in Austin now, instead of in June. ****ing miserable. And everyone there says "you get used to it".

Are you driving? If you make it up to Oregon, I have a couple friends there, if you need a place to crash for a night or two. Portland/Hood River area. I know that's far off from where you are now.

Today I rode my bike to work and really really really really wanted to keep going. Mondays always stink.

Today (Saturday) I rode 37 miles, longest ride I've ever done. Beautiful weather, felt great, didn't die. Time to ramp up the mileage to prep for Iowa.

Nice :thumb:

You'll get there! Are you doing that bike across Iowa dealio?

Yes I am. The wife decided we were doing it after getting on a bike for the first time in years last summer. "OK", and that was that. I honestly don't think the atmosphere will be my cup of tea, but I'm willing to try it once.

Eh, you'll be fine. Iowa is flat so you got that goin for ya! My parents actually flew out to cheer on their friends who were doing it -- they only brought one change of clothes, a blender and margarita mixings.

You got this :thumb:

Flat is fine. Unless there's a headwind. Makes 5 miles feel like 100....

But if you get a TAILwind............

I know some people that do RAGBRAI every year and they love it. There's usually so many people that you can find a few people to mingle with.

Iowa doesn't have mountains but it does have hills, and plenty of wind.

Pssh, details.

+1. It's definitely not flat. The first and last days have a decent amount of elevation change due to the river valleys.

As for the crowd/atmosphere, the partiers tend to get up later in the day, so you can avoid a lot of that by getting up early if you want. That also means shorter lines for food, less chance of running out of TP at the bathrooms... ;)

i think i just got high from eating food.

2x bacon, guac & cheddar grilled cheese on rye dipped in hotsauce

i need a cigarette.

i need that grilled cheese. pictures?

I'd have never chosen rye but based on your recommendation I'm gonna give it a shot

I remember someone got super mad on [*edit* the new digg] about people calling their sandwiches the wrong things and made a really mad post about it.

Found it.

ate it too fast for pictures. i chose rye simply because the bread itself was bigger and im tired of white bread, those were my only two choices

that place (because actually mentioning it gets censored? wtf?) is chock full of the worst kind of humans. it cracks me up that people care so much to post rants like that and basically nothing else. it should just be called rants.com

Thanks for the advice. I think that will be the plan especially as my wife doesn't do well in extreme heat.

Today I went get in my hybrid car and it was totally dead. Couldn't even unlock the door with the key fob, thought maybe its little battery was dead, but the spare key fob wouldn't work either. So I used the little emergency key to enter the car and couldn't start it, which meant I couldn't get it out of park or steer it so it could be towed. Opened the hood and checked the voltage of the 12 volt battery that is needed to start the car and operate all the electronics. It was dead as a doornail, like just 2 volts. Fortunately, I have this small portable battery jump starter that allowed me to start this thing and get it loaded on the wrecker. When they unload it at the dealer they have to jump it again so it doesn't get damaged. Just last week I replaced the dead battery in my truck or I would otherwise be sol for motorized transport. Well, at least all this stuff including the tow is covered by warranty.

Those portable battery jumpers are awesome. I got one for X-mas. Its got usb ports and all kindsa stuff. And its really small. I take it with me junkyarding, if I'm going to pull a starter or something, so I can put 12V to it and make sure it works before buying it.