huayno

Their are certain things that I would rather just have forgotten.  Then something comes along and reminds you of some past terror from your life. Though how it happened is still unclear to me, today I was reminded of Wendy Sulca.  Who is Wendy Sulca you ask? Turn it up to 11.



Back when we were visiting my sister in Peru several years ago nearly every place you would go in the Andes was blasting huayno music.  Imagine being motion sick on a bus for 5 hours trying to sleep in a cramped seat freezing your ass off while the speaker above you is making that noise as loud as it can go. All night, then day in and day out. Suffice it to say I am less than pleased that this memory that I had buried deep in my lizard brain has resurfaced. While we're on the topic of terribly obnoxious music. Here's some footage of this years SSCXWC set to the inspired verse of Israeli taste makers Infected Mushroom.  Perfect jams for mashing on your equally as ridiculously monikered Thruster Fixie Bike.




Sorry about this one folks, but I just needed to get it out of my system. Now if you'll excuse me their are some m-80s around here somewhere that have a date with my eardrums.

stable

 

 Dug around in the stable for a bit and realized how badly I've really got to get my garage cleaned.

Unfortunately I am just much to busy reading new NN2S comics and pigging out on falafel to do it.  I'll see ya on "Hoarders"

 Wednesday began a very very much needed 5day vacation.  I went out for a nice chilly road ride making it home in time to clean up and spend far too much time in front of a computer watching tv shows.  Thursday Jen and I got up in time to go catch the Packers game at the Mousetrap, which was the only open bar downtown.  They  were kind enough to also have a full Thanksgiving spread out for half time.  This marked the beginning of sustained gluttony that continued up to this morning. We got out of the Mousetrap and headed to my grandmas for dinner which was another amazing albeit nontraditional spread of spanakopita, veggie lasagna, cheesy veggies and pie.  Thursday night we got back to town and hit up Clancy's which began a long long night of debauchery.  I spent the better half of Friday on the couch drinking tea and eating granola bars, before eventually picking my lazy ass up to go for a ride and go curl for a bit.  

Saturday was a nice lazy day in preperation for Princeton Valley on Sunday.  

Sunday I got up with every intention of going to Princeton Valley Cyclocross, but as the morning progressed my body just didn't want to work with me and my desire waned.  I still rode out and caught the action however and it was a blast just to watch.  Which is evinced by the buttloads of coverage from places like the Leader-Telegram and WEAU.   Nice work organizers!

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, because I hear a nap calling my name. Keep on rocking in the free world.

enjoy

 Been busy enjoying vacation and riding my bike.  More later

recreation

 I got out of work early and after lunch I decided to take the centurion out to look for some fun trails and shiny garbage. I was quickly reminded of how therapeutic aimlessly riding a bike by yourself can be.  I love mountain biking and road riding, but just going out and goofing around on your bike by yourself with no intentions is hands down one of the best feelings there is.    

My Thanksturkey vacation starts today.  I'm out of here.

powder keg

This race isn't for a couple months yet, but the flyer is too cool not to post.  Should be a lot of fun. Going on Saturday Jan. 28.  Mark your calendars and find out more here

gc3

Ghettorcross wrapped up yesterday at Lakeshore park.  Race 3 drew a record number of racers and spectators who endured rain turning to sleet turning to snow smiling through it the whole time. Magyar took the triple crown GC champion title.  When the race wrapped up we hit the beach for a roaring campfire until the last of the beer was gone and then headed home for a much needed hot shower.  Big thanks to everyone who showed up and raced or watched, and shared kind words for the organizers.  It was a blast, see you all at the next one. I'm sure more pictures will turn up in the next few days, so stay tuned.

thankscurry

 Every year an elite group of amateur chefs get together to celebrate the day that cowboy and native americans led by Abraham Lincoln sailed on the Mayflower to the exotic coast of India in search of curries and beverages with more flavor then the bland fish/corn/squash gruel they were accustomed to. The celebration is called thankscurry and it's one of my favorite yearly traditions.

cookie toss

c

Got out of work early and went to Lowes Creek.  Forget everything else, this is the stuff that matters.   Ghettocross race 3 is tomorrow. Race at 1, meet at lakeshore park shelter around 12:30ish for important registration stuff.  Read this is preperation, then disregard all of it.

hot shots

All-City recently updated their website.  I was browsing their new opening page slide show when I was pleasantly surprised by this gem.  This is a snapshot of the EC Velo Professional Dance Team bringing the shirtless dance party to the after party.  This brings back some pretty awesome memories, can't wait to go back there and cut a rug again. Their is also another shot of the ACC Le Mans start where the "Where's Waldo" aficionados amongst you can spot 1.Magyar 2.Magyars bike 3. My bike 4.Col. Sanders.  Very cool stuff, check out All-City's lineup here.

wooden gifts

Holy Shit!  On my way home today I realized that I almost missed an opportunity to gloat, reflect, air guitar, and give myself a high five.  My front loaded November has meant that I completely spaced that this blog is now five years old.  FIVE GOD DAMN YEARS OLD! If this blog was a child I would be sending it to kindergarten. How do ya like them apples?      

 Now trust me, I get that the bike community in Eau Claire is much much larger than any one person and any one stupid internet page, but I do feel lucky to be a part of the collection of stupid internet pages that help prop it's digital form up.  By and large what I've been trying to do with this thing since day one is harness some of the energy and passion people in this city have for cycling and share it with others.  Shit, people in Eau Claire ride their bikes in the rain, snow, sun, over fire, through water, off road, off ramps, up hills, and all while drinking monstrous amounts of beer smiling ear to ear and looking quite dapper.

 That said every year around this time I turn into a total sap when I look back at the highs and lows of years past using this blog as a reference.  November is a rough time of year.  It gets busy and cold and dark and depressing in a hurry.  It's easy to get pissed and forget about gorgeous summer rides when you can't feel your toes.

Of course every year has it's lows and its even lower lows.  That is why it is so endearing to see and know so many people who actually give a shit about the place they live and whether it be by organizing events, sponsoring them, attending them, or just riding and hanging out on a TNR actively support an amazing cycling community here in Eau Claire. 

 Since the inception of this blog that has always been part of the intent.  To take all of those little elements of riding in Eau Claire and provide a place to showcase even a fraction of them if for no other reason than posterity's sake. The fan mail, champagne brunches, whirlwind speaking tours, movie guest appearances, and sponsorship's are all nice, but really the biggest thing that keeps this thing going is the people in this community, coffee, and a desire to share something I really care deeply about with others.

 So in closing thanks to everyone reading this for giving me shit to write about, and giving me an audience to write it to.  I know sometimes it can be painful to read (like the past 3 minutes) but I appreciate it and hope we can keep this relationship going for a while.  And to me, nice work David, you managed to find some time between checking bonktown and playing toy tank arena to run a blog about bicycles for the past five years. Whoop de dooo.  Seriously though, I have learned and done so much in the past five years I am completely humbled.  Every fall, every goof, every fuckup, every mishap, every dumb little thing has been 100% worth it. No regrets, ever.  

                                                     
                                                          Ride your bike, have fun with it.

                                                                Here's to another year, see you Thursday

PVC

Baywatch-cross in a week, see you there Pam Anderson Gierke II

ftg

A few weeks ago my waste management bill went up $8 because of cuts to recycling in Wisconsin due to the new budget repair bill.  That's a 12 pack a month folks. I've been trying to think of ways to retaliate ever since...  

Today's the day,sign the petition.  Give him the boot. Seriously, fuck this guy.  

Ghettocross race 2 went off Saturday on a beautiful day.  Magyar won again, these are some pictures, the middle two are stolen from facebook, and are not mine.

It was nice to see a lot of fresh faces, and a lot of faces from the last race. These are really turning into a fun little series of races, and next weekend the grand finale promises to be no exception.  Expect a lot more obstacles, and a lot more fun.  

Also, don't forget besides the next weekend of Ghettocross Princeton Valley Cyclocross will be happening this month as well.  November is shaping up to be a pretty sweet cross-centric month in this city.  So show up and stretch your legs next Saturday, what do you have to lose? 

gc

Ghettocross race 2 today.  Here are some picture Mary took of GC  race1 that I stole from her.  Don't miss this one.  Half Moon Beach 1pm  $3

Have fun this weekend

snow

This morning I woke up to something that I've been anticipating for the past three weeks.  Snow.  Not a lot of it, but just enough for me to jump out of bed and make a go outside to make a few snowballs and bring some in to rub all over my cats face.  The weather dudes have been saying this is coming for the past three days now and that means for the past three days people have been bitching about it and talking about how they aren't ready for winter/cold/blah blah blah.  Don't get me wrong, I've had my "Oh shit, the leaves aren't all raked up yet" old man freakout as well, but the second the snow falls that goes out the window.  I love winter.  I love snow and cold and sweatshirts and slippers, and all of that feelgood winter stuff.  And even though the snow from this morning is already gone, that is now my frame of mind. Everything from here on out is in the context of winter.  The next two or three weeks with no snow will all be, "holy balls, can you believe it's been winter with no snow for three weeks?! We are some lucky load of ding dongs!"  Because the sooner people just shut up and accept the inevitability of winter the sooner we can all start basking in the fun parts of winter, and start vindicating ourselves for sleeping in, eating too much, daytime drinking, wearing sweatpants for days on end, looking unkempt, and we can all start to feel those warm fuzzies midwesterners get for putting up with living in a wasteland half of the year. Anyway, it's fleeting, but winter is here suckers.  Don't forget TNR tonight and Ghettocross Saturday.  

Also, if you like funny things, this really funny thing is going on in EC on Saturday.  Check it out.

media

UWEC Update News came out and taped a bunch of Ghettocross, read the story here.

I love it when biking in Eau Claire gets any sort of media attention, but I do think it's funny that they managed to shoot the whole thing without any beer drinking, smoke bombing, fire riding, or bike crashing.

picture picture

Volume One has a few photos up from the photo show.  If you are into looking at pictures of people looking at pictures, look here.

mondays

 I woke up Sunday bruised and sore from the past few days.  And while trying to review the events of the past few days, my almost complete lack of photographic documentation is a testament to my failure as an observer and my active participation in the debauchery.  Thursday the photo show went off without a hitch, and I want to thank all those who attended and submitted photos.  Friday night Andy2 organized a rolling bike dance party which ended up being a lot more fun than I anticipated.

The dance party took us all over the valley and somehow managed to avoid any sort of trouble.  Madison dudes came up and after the dance party ended we all rolled to Hilltop for a while before heading to the Elbow Room where the shirtless Indian leg wrestling with the bartender began.

Saturday I managed to pull myself out of bed early to go set up the Ghettocross race with Magyar.  The course this year included 3 stream crossings and a super sketchy bridge across the fire pit.  I didn't manage to get a single picture of the entire event, but it all went off without a hitch and I think everyone had a total blast.  Saturday night was more goofs and a late bedtime. Yesterday was a much needed recovery day to ward off a cold that has been trying to creep in for the past week.  During my down time I saw this really cool little bit that Bicycling Magazine did on the Bike Gear Hall of Fame.  It provides some industry background to some of the stuff that just gets taken for granted today.  Check it out here

I'm sure over the next few days some photos of the weekend will appear and I will post them here. But for now relax a bit until next weekend for the second Ghettocross race of the year.  

In the meantime, watch this. Mister Heavenly is members of Islands, Man Man, and Modest Mouse, this is just too good not to share.