Happy birthday.

Today I hit one of these head on and went over my handle bars onto the other side of it. On the bright side there isn't one, and a bunch of people saw me eat it.

Today I dished out all the money for SSCXWC in Victoria BC next weekend. Ferries, registration, hotel, etc. has all stolen my income.

Lucky, I want to go but I'm far too broke at the moment.

Today i am done with the job in Mexico City or "el DF" as the locals call it. Tomorrow I get to go home (good Lord willing and the creek don't rise).

I love working here and really enjoy the people at the plant but now i am ready to go home.

Did you visit el castillo in Chapultepec park ?

I am actually in Cuautitlan, Izcalli which is technically not in "El Distrito Federal."

Unfortunately these gigs entail fairly long days in the plant and then back to the hotel plus Mexico City is not the safest place to out and about at night.

I was training the crew for a new corrugator that is being installed soon. Young engineers, smart and hungry to learn. It is somewhat draining because they keep you on your toes with their questions. But it is also refreshing to be around enthusiastic people like that, kinda gives you hope for the future.

Today I got the Nishiki done.

Rims and rim tape arrived today, hubs should be here tomorrow, and spokes/nips should be here monday. Gonna try my hand at building a wheelset again.

Thinking about trying a wheel build sometime soon myself. Do you have a truing stand?

its not that big of a deal, ive built 2 sets of wheels now and the only confusing part for me is determining the first spoke. overall its really no big deal.

you gotta be ok with doing the same thing about 1000 times though and watching things very slowly come together

I wouldn't use Sheldon Brown's guide, of youre looking at it. I always found the wording to be too confusing for first timers. Art of Wheel building is more clear.

thats because sheldon was brilliant but he was also sortof a wackjob. i didnt find AoW to be super clear either tbh.

its intimidating before you build your first wheel, but theres really nothing to it, idunno what i got myself so worked up about.

its a good idea to have another wheel around for reference to see if youre doing the right thing. the only "hard" part is the initial lacing, and if you have a brain and a built wheel to look at you really dont need any instructions

+1 on this. The main thing to remember is that the spoke holes in the hub flanges are offset, and how you insert the spokes will determine whether the wheel ends up symmetric or anti-symmetric like machine built wheels. I lace my wheels one spoke at a time, which takes a bit longer, but I get it right the first time this way.

+1

Gerd Schraner's method of lacing is much easier.

Finally finished (99%) the2010 Langster rescue. Weighed it and found it to be slightly over 22 LBS. What a pig! My 1991 Pinarello 8 speed weighs less!

Anyway, I took it for a very short ride around the neighborhood to see what a SS is like. Sorry guys no different than my Pinarello except I can't change gears. I will give it a go on a longer ride then will likely sell it off.

[IMG]2010 Specialized Langster Steel - 61cm, on Flickr[/IMG]

Thanks for all the wheel building tips and resources!

ps: if you cant find the art of wheelbuilding, i haz.

i got from a guy, it fell off a truck.

today I'm at a wedding. I'm not in it and I don't know any of these people.
I'm uncomfortable

is there an open bar? that usually makes me pretty comfortable

I hate weddings with a passion.

Something is creaking on my Dean, and I can't figure it out. It happens both in and out of the saddle, so it can't be that. Chainring bolts are tight, and I've taken the cranks out and greased everything, along with the cups and greased those threads also. Also took apart the headset to regrease and make sure everything is tight. Also checked that my cleats are tight on my shoe, and lubed the chain, but the creaking is still there, every time the DS arm goes past 4'o clock.

I can't handle this. I have a threaded bb, there shouldn't be creaks.

does it happen just turning the cranks with your finger in the stand or when youre putting down the watts?

When I'm putting out sik wattz

check pedals, clean/grease skewers, clean/triflow stem clamp at the bars and maybe the hoods

where does the sound seem to be coming from?