Niko

This is Niko.  I meet him about two years ago randomly in a bar and we've been pretty close ever since.  In fact I dare call him one of my best friends.  A little over a year ago I helped him move back home to Queens.  It was one of those bittersweet things that I really didn't want to see happen, but knew it was inevitable.  I've never seen so much life trapped inside such a small body and knew that he needed to be in a place that would allow him to affect people the same way he has me. 

Niko called me today to tell me that he walked to Penn Station from work at Saks in Manhattan.  Then he took the train back to Bayside and walked home from the train station.  That's probably a 4 mile walk when it's all said and done. I was pretty proud of him considering he usually takes a car service door to door.  I think I'm going to have to send him some walking shoes though.  

I have a few stories that involve this guy, so I thought now would be a good time to introduce him.  On the other hand it looks like the Fendi Bear is his new best friend.

Niko Fun Fact-  Niko and my mother share the same favorite movie, "You've Got Mail."

Foiled!!

So I've been trying to figure out what prevents me from doing this more. One of the reasons is the strange (to me) way that blogger handles spacing and also the pain it is to properly link a picture to a photobucket account. I can't do a lot about the spacing, but I have decided to just push my pictures onto the server supplied by blogger (google / picasa). Also, I've started using Photoshop express on my desktop at work so that should allow for some more opportunities to edit pictures properly.

Leesburg Baker's Dozen is filled which is a bummer. I was going to register singlespeed solo until my brother expressed interest in a duo team. I talked to Anthony about it and he said he'd like to make it a trio, but he was going to check with a few other guys to see if we wanted to get another team going. Well we made some phone calls, got some "maybes", decided to just go it as three, then got shutout. Boo. Good luck to everyone going, especially Jason. Next stop, Big Bear XC.

ps- So I went to post a picture illustrating my upsetedness about the race. Straight to Google Image and the word "foiled." The only thing that really comes up are a bunch of pictures of desks and assorted office knick-knacks covered in the stuff. (You crazy Americans!) That won't do, so I try again with the word "ruined." The first picture to grace the screen is one of two naked Asian chicks. One lying on top of the other and puking on her face. Ok nevermind.

pps- That sure is a lot of vomit isn't it?

New light system is go.

Please take note of the urgency in opening the box.

So I got a new light. My brother has been itching to come night riding, but not not so much to drop the money on a worthwhile lantern. I figured now was as good a time as any to have a have a solid HID spare and also jump into the LED pool. It's a Dinotte 600-LI. It's supposed to put out the same light as my HID and also keep the same burn time. All of this at a fraction of the weight. The system comes with all the usual mounting crap along with two batteries. I choose a 2 cell and a 4 cell. Replacement batteries cost a paltry $50 or $70 depending on size. I'm sure it seems steep to some, but a replacement battery for my other system is currently going for $159.99. It's probably priced twice as much because it weighs 3 times as much.

This is the 4 cell larger battery
For reference, my cell phone weighs 105 grams.

Awake.

So tonight reminded me why I ride bikes.  Tonight all of the hours on the rollers suddenly made sense.  Learning how to pedal circles and not squares while sweating onto a towel placed between the drums.  Tonight those rides that started in the dark at 5:30 with the temperature maxing out at 12 degrees were all forgiven.  A week or so ago Dicky asked, "What do people do if they don't ride mountain bikes?"  I'm still trying to figure that one out.  

St. Patrick's Day

Now that I'm actually starting to be able to ride comfortably outside, I should have a few more things to write about. It’s not that I wasn’t riding outside at all, it just wasn’t worth writing the same thing three times a week:

Fuck it’s cold.

Yeah I know there are people like Mike Curiak riding across Alaska. I know there are people that are commuting to work in like temperatures. I fully recognize these guys are tougher than me. They’re purple belts. If I could amputate my hands, I would probably be ok.

I managed to get out on the road Saturday for a 60 mile jaunt. I felt pretty good the entire way through. I could have probably done a better job at eating throughout the ride; something to work on. I took the cross bike with 30c tires and full fenders. It’s kind of a goat, but the ride was nice. I don’t have proper road wheels right so the carbon guy is sitting up-side-down in the garage. Note to self- Get on that.

Sunday saw a return to Apollo with Anthony and Brad #2. Since the last three times we had been there the temperature maxed out at 10, we decided to embrace the balmy 34 with a lap around the bigger loop. The trails were surprisingly dry considering the thaw, reiterating our belief that Apollo drains a little better than most places. I always have a ton of fun at Apollo. I don’t’ really know exactly what it is. I have great memories of riding there last year for the first time when I met Doctor Don, Aaron, and Scott Root. These guys showed up and graciously ripped the legs off of a 5 month rider in early January. I remember working so hard trying to keep up, to not fall off. I had so much to prove to these guys and refused to leave them with anything but a good impression. I remember wearing cheap tights underneath cargo shorts with a thermal lined cotton hoodie. That first hill seemed so long the first time I ever climbed it, it seemed like it would never end. I specifically remember one section on the second loop. It’s a rocky uphill with a few typical Apollo switchbacks. Don and Scott were at the top and I was finishing the climb, one small section to go. As I made the turn and glanced up, I caught Don looking at me and talking to Scott, “He’s pretty good.” That really meant the world to me. I’m sure that ride has long faded in all of their heads, but it’ll stick with me for a long time. I don’t know my way around Apollo, but every time I come to that section, I remember it. I always push a little harder there, like I still have something to prove to it. Maybe I just have a lot to prove to myself. Happy St. Patrick's Day.