aluminum swingarm damage.

So what does a $24.57 bolt do when it snaps?
Well, funny you should ask. If loosened, said bolt will allow the end cap of the chain adjusters to slip back and spin....consequently hitting the rear sprocket and chucking it into traffic somewhere....while at the same time ripping a chunk of the aluminum swingarm, outwardly with it.

Didn't even feel it happen while out riding. Was scrubbing in new tires, took a 111 mile quick trip here in the bay area shoreline area, and came home to this.

bummer. already lining up an Aluminum welder to repair it, and just need to get the parts. unbelievable that that 2 sided bolt is over $20 bucks.

It's PBR time.

Ducati M900 aluminum swingarm damage

DEAR BROWNIE, a Pirates blunder!!!

DEAR BROWNIE, just thought you may not have seen this little gem yet. :D
It doesn't matter that the Pirates won, the only thing remembered from this game will be, Lasting Milledge, and his awesome blunder thinking the ball had left the field of play. HAHAHAHA doh!!!

edit: the more I thought of it, I wondered what would possess someone to let it slip their mind, to keep their eye on the ball. I mean, they get paid millions to play the game at top form, physically and mentally. I'm just saying, I learned these things while playing little league baseball. Never take you eye off the ball & no matter what you think the ball may be doing, you run it out. Always run it out. hahaha

at least Milledge was their for a good laugh for everyone that watched and his teammates too. hahaha

I do have to say, he handled it decently by admitting and owning up to it, and not making hugely lame excuses for what he did.
I wonder if he'll have to run laps, like we used to when we screwed up during little league games.

SV 650s repairs....she runs!!! 5-2-10

It was a fine sunny weekend (not over yet, btw), so I decided, it was not a bad time to work on the SV. After the last trip to Infineon raceway to watch my roomate Adam, race in his first AFM race weekend, I wanted to be out on the track soooo badly.

So nothing more for me to do, than to start working on the race bike.

First: get her running. Problem with racing, and not too many trackdays is the length of time the race bike (not street legal) goes without running or being started.

So after dumping the turpentine (read: gasoline) out of the tank, and emptying the bowls in the flatslide carbs (race carburetors that allow faster and smoother flow of gasoline into the bike), I put new fuel in it, and changed out the spark plugs. She fired up, and ran. Warming her up, zip ties added, parts bolted on where they go, tires inflated....and then a few passes up and down the street to verify. hahahaha she is LOUD as hell, with some yoshimura straight pipes, and a Leo Vince exhaust can.

I pulled out the brand new Sharkskinz race plastics that I bought a little over 2 years ago, and have been lugging around with me since. Time to mock it up, and thanks to Calvin for lending me the front fairing stay to get'r done.

some photos as she takes shape. I think May 31st will be my first trackday and return to the track for the year 2010.

dammit. can't get the cell phone video to upload. anyone got any ideas how to?

BBQ in da hood! 4-30-2010

So every Friday, at Surfside Liquors, the boys from the local black m.c. bring out their grill, and cook up some of the most delicious ribs I've tasted. That is saying a lot, especially, since a) it's not Texas b) it's California and c) I've never tasted ribs this good out here.

It's just a grill on the sidewalk in Hunters Point hood, next to the liquor store. With a few tables set out so the locals can play dominos. hahaha

most of my friends won't venture down here to buy beer or even the food, but F it, it's too good not too. and they're pretty cool actually.

Chicken and rib combo plate, $11. :D

Oh, and to add to the flavor, I had to pick up a 40oz of Old English and some orange juice for some "Brass Monkey" on such a fine, warm and sunny day. With the added warmth, it's good to have a coozie for your 40oz. so that it doesn't slip out of your hand. hahaha wetsuit for a 40 oz bottle.

Utah, Nevada portion of the trip...back to California. (April 2010)

Well, we made it past New mexico, with a nights stay at the historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM. A lot of old movies were filmed in this region back in the day (northwest New Mexico).
After being denied entrance into "four corners" landmark, as it was gated up and under construction, we made our way west towards Utah.

Along the way, we stopped off to see this little heard of landmark, Mexican Hat.


After zipping by the hat, we drove our way out to Zion National Park.
After paying our entry fees, we made our way down through a mile long tunnel that takes you along the inside face of the mountain as seen on the first photo (a vent for fumes and probably construction access. Just head for the light at the end of the tunnel. It's when I found out that she has a bit of a claustrophobic side. :D

Saw some cars stopped, and this little fella was walking by on the road. It took him a bit, but I must have been scrambling in the truck to put the zoom lense on my camera, because, he had this inquisitive look on him when I looked up. hahaha

There were some cool structures and lines in the mountains through the park, truly breathtaking area. Wish we could have spent more days here.

While driving into the visitors center, I saw this old car, and approached the couple when we all parked. It's a 1970 3CV that they were driving up from Ushuaia, Argentina, with a final destination of Alaska...and then back home. The couple had been on the road for 2 years, and were just plugging along. You too can see them on their blog site.....not sure how google translator will work, but there is an option for it, as their blog is in spanish.

on the way out of the park, I saw this cool little wagon parked out in the middle of a well groomed field next to this tree. Didn't look like it was running, but the photo seemed like one to take.

I stopped at the road sign for the "Extraterrestrial Highway" (Hwy 375 thru Nevada) one funny sticker, "I don't masturbate, I just wash my d*ck really fast" HAHAHAHAHA dropped an on-on sticker in place, and we moved on.

One final stop in Hawthorne, Nv. before rounding our way into Reno for 2 days. I have seen this tow truck before, and really really want to buy it and restore it into a tow truck rat rodd. I think it would look sick, but alas, no room to store it at the moment. soon though, I hope.

Spent a nice 2 days in Reno with my sister and brother-in-law.

Pics from the trip through New Mexico

I ran across several old cars throughout the trip. It always draws my attention, as I think of what brought that car to that particular location and what conditions made it stay there. history is all.


While in New Mexico, we made a stop near Alamogordo at the White Sands N.P.

I wanted a shot of my truck, with bike, against the white "sands".

LOL yes, there is a pistachio farm in New Mexico, which advertises the largetst pistachio EVAR!!! It's on the side of the road at McGinn's Pistachio tree farm.

random encounter in New Mexico

So I know I've been lame and not updated too much lately, but I'm lurking trying to put some together. gonna post up a few moments in the last few weeks.


as you all know, I was in Texas for 2 weeks in charge of putting together the Texas Interhash 2010. 27 years of TXIH and we finally got a chance to host it, and it went spectacularly.


I will get back to that very soon, but meanwhile.....


On my drive back to California, from Texas, I was in the middle of New Mexico, and passed a guy on a bicycle riding the opposite directions.

It always amazes me to see people (men and women) out on the road, on a bicycle, with everything they needed strapped and loaded on the bike. So when I passed another bicyclist going my direction, a few miles up, I stopped to snap a few photos and to chat with the guy. Mostly, because I've ran across people on bicycles while on my very long motorcycle trips, and I've always wanted to chat with them. As it takes more fortitude and dedication to ride across countries over months, than it does to ride across them in days. :)


Todd, had left Florida 2 months earlier, and was making his way north to Colorado from New Mexico, and then was going to take a train back to Montana where his car was parked with family.

After snapping some shots, I chatted with Todd, and he was a cool dude, and said he had just stopped to talk to the other bicyclist that was going the opposite direction, and that he must have been having a bad day. He said, that the guy was in a pissy mood, albeit cordial, but Todd could tell it wasn't a kind day.

For Todd the day only got worse (from the email I got later on), he hit heavy head winds after we parted ways, and it was one of the worst days of his riding. Some pictures I took.

After which, we made our way on towards Gallup, NM.

enjoy.

busy busy

man, I've been running ragged. so much to do. business and pleasure. :D so I can't complain.

I have a few days off as of this morning, and I'm planning on updating, and posting photos, for sure.

I think today, I will work on the race bike. After riding up to Infineon Raceway last weekend to watch my friends race with the AFM, I got the bug bad. No rushing into it, but I definitely want the bike running and up to speed for the next trackday available. :D Time to make the budget.
tires - $350
paint - $200
maintenance work - $100
steering damper - $400
trackdays - $250
raceday priceless (actually, not so priceless...hahahaha, about $500 for race weekend).

The multistrada just got out of the shop for regular maintenance and service, and she's running fresh. one little problem with the dashboard, but hoping that I can fix that today.

After which, Speakeasy brewery in BVHP for some afternoon beers.

repairs

spending the morning defraging and spyware protecting my computer. lame.

but she is running way faster. :D

Great day at the races yesterday, AFM Rd 2 @ Infineon Raceway.

My roomate, Adam's first race weekend. He did well, finished up clubman well, and had 2 races on Sunday, when it counts.
I rode out on Sunday mid morning and immediately ran into everyone I know. hahahaha it was super fun, and got to catch up with loads of people. Watching the FP race and all others was uber cool, and of course got me thinking I want to be ON THE TRACK asap!!! haha

time to look at the SV and get her running just right. There is a trackday this coming Sunday that I might try to get into.

working

wow, finally working this week. haha only had 2 days scheduled, but was cancelled on Tuesday. having this much time off and lots to do back in the city (SF) is not helping my working out.

time to knuckle up and get to it. Rock climbing gym membership is back on and I just joined the GGTC for some swimming help and to get set for July and my 2nd triathlon (graeagle tri)

pic of Pete taking on the New Mexico Stomper...

in Colorado Springs, after the Salida Marathon weekend. hahaha

sorry, A-bomb, it's the only one I got, and picked it off this site. :D

I think at last count, he downed 6 of the 10 patties, the fries and most of the chili. They give you one hour to finish it, and you gotta let them know in advance, since making it takes up the entire grill at the original Kings Chef.

haha

update

Well, made it as far as Reno, post TXIH craze.

a few updates, before I get home, and throw out some photos and stories.

TXIH went off great, with little to no hitches. Nothing that couldn't be solved on the spot. Everyone will get gimmee bags, as we're reprinting shirts, etc for them. :D 39 kegs of beer were drank.
My ballbuster destroyed people. I'm so happy.
Spread'm drove 9 hours from New Orleans on Friday evening to make it.
Ball buster injuries:
Buffy had corneal abrasion from the thorns in the brush.
Twinkletoes lacerated his toe (since he runs barefoot) and had to put on moccassins before finishing the run.
Padre, had 12.15 miles on his gps, and was scratched to hell and back and exhausted at the end.
Visa blew out his knee.

hahaha
wtf?! so many injuries.

Knuckledraggers put the Balls back into the Ballbuster trails!
We put the U in Hurt!!!

The Brass Monkey H3's skit to "all the single ladies" is priceless. I'll post video soon.

the drive back has been great. Taking my time, arrived in Reno yesterday, to some noise coming from the engine compartment, and today, I have a mechanic looking at it. I think one of the spark plug cables broke (they're more like individual plugs per spark plug) and they're replacing today.

Alamo City Humpin H3 - pre lube to the pre lube

check

hahaha what a great time, short trail, as guamarhea balls laid it and made it back in before we'd gone out of the backyard. it's a live, pick up hash, with hares names picked out of a hat. Usually, only 5 min head start, and if the hare is caught, the next person takes over, with a 5 min head start.

all in all a fabulous time, more work and errands to do tomorrow. finalize the trail, and finish laying it. (yep, dead trail), but for these events it's just best to do it that way.

on on

Schedule of events - TXIH 2010

Wednesday: April 7, 2010: Alamo City Humpin H3 run
Thursday: April 8, 2010: Bay Area Larrikins H3 run @ 6:30pm
Thursday: April 8, 2010: TXIH official pre-lube, Corpus Christi @ 8:30pm
Friday: April 9, 2010: KDH3 official ride to TXIH 11:00am
Friday: official start of TXIH 2010 @ Lake Corpus Christi, 12:00
Sunday: April 11, 2010: hope that we are all alive, that we drank all the beer, ate all the food, no snake bites, no bulls charging, not much blood lost, hangovers a'plenty, and KDH3 circle to send everyone home.

on on
I'll be off computer for the rest of the weekend, I hope. :D

pre lubes

had a great run with the Austin H3, about 6.5 miles, after a few wrong way loops (Padre ran 11 miles, hahahahahahahaha), for a trail that was actually 5 miles long.

great weather in the mid 80's. but great run. the marks got scant near the end, and they ran out of beer in circle. for shame. hahaha but over all, I dug the run.

On On to San Antonio for the pre lube to the pre-lube, with the Alamo City Humpin' H3. :D

oh, and some costco runs, if we have time, not sure if we're going to have time....LOL

Austin H3 - today.

Oh, and as an even more added bonus, I'm off to the Austin Hash this afternoon just south of the river. downtown.

should be fun, it's lightly sprinkling, and warm rain is awesome rain to run in.

on on

Ballbuster scouted.

We were down at the KOA campground yesterday talking to the owners and finalizing some things for TXIH. Went on the property where we got permission to run, and scouted out the ballbuster trail. :D hahaha I'm not going to say how long it is, because I'd rather let people find out.

I'll just say, it's not as long as the 18 mile Tex-Mex bb. but it will do. between rattlesnakes, angry horny bulls, to brush thorns...I think they will have their share of stories on trial.

I did manage to make it so that 3 of the beer stops have more than two of the different trails meet up with some fishing for beer.

only 4 days until the Corpus prelube. Wed. I think that I'll be able to hash in San Antonio as an added bonus.

Expedition blog

Reading up on a friend of mines, blog. He is trekking across the frozen tundra of Russia. Great guy, awesome hasher, and all around adventure maniac. hahaha

McAllen, Texas

Finally made it home to McAllen. Lots to do, final preps for TXIH 2010 to be done. I'll be driving a lot in the next few days, having to be in Corpus Christi, then San Antonio, Austin, back to Corpus Christi, the campsite, etc.... should be fun. hahaha

flight out of Houston was delayed, so I went to Pappadeux's to have a snack, and when I came back there was hardly anyone in the waiting area. wtf?! so I ask the lady and she says, the plane is gone. WTF?!?!?! she calls them, they still have the door open, everyone is boarded already, and so they shuffle me down the rampway and I board. 1 minute later, we're backing out of the gate. HAHAHAHA that'll learn me to be impatient.

great to be near my home though.

onon
to TXIH

4 of 4...

...another night in the pod (7 bed room). last night, so that's fine with me. and good money. especially as the rumor is that staff is working towards a strike. hahaha oh well.

It's why I like to keep myself linked to my travel company at all times. At a moments notice I can bail (actually, not bail, but go to another job), without much problem. Just like the job in Austin was.

Flying to Texas tomorrow, to see family, and finalize all the planning and leg work for TXIH 2010. Can't wait. So far our budget has been: $6,000 in beer, booze, refrig truck, etc...
Haberdashery is ordered, patches ordered, food ordered, entertainment secured, trails planned (just need to lay them), porta potties ordered...cause damn, there is some shittin' mofo's in the H3. haha

I think I'm going to be logging a lot of miles in the next week.

on on to Texas Interhash 2010.

Next race - May 9th

Just signed up for my next Ultramarathon. Redwood 50k, in Oakland, Ca.
May 9th. I had to, it's the best way to get myself to run and train. hahahaha

this, along with, the two triathlons in July, should move me forward. I think I will try and sign up for the SF marathon as well. Missed it last year. :D

IAH 2011 or bust!!!

Well, I made the executive decision to sign up for the IAH 2011 in Savannah, Georgia.
It's been too long (2005) since my last long distance ride to a hashing event, and this sounds about right. Clear across the country, with many awesome way points to stop at. The event is in mid-October, so not so sure how far north I will travel, but I will for certain get to ride some areas I have never ridden in the south east.

There are a few Knuckledraggers signed up so far, and we'll be converging on Savannah from all points on the map. Should be awesome. My last few trips to IAH (Costa Rica 2003) and (Toronto 2005) were amazing and super fun. I unfortunately missed Puerto Vallarta in 2007 due to some injuries from a motorcycle race crash....so I followed it up with a ride out and around the same areas, later the following year.

This should be a good time, and I'm looking forward to it. I have heard great things about Savannah.

work work work

Day 2 of 4, and charge is asking if anyone wants an A day tomorrow (basically a day off, with pay) I think I get cancelled first for being relief position if no one wants one. eh. I'd rather work right before heading off to Texas, but if I don't, then it's off to the San Francisco H3 tomorrow night for some miles. :D

Squaw Valley Board Meeting! 3-6-10

A few weeks ago, I drove out to Reno to see my sister and brother in law. Him and I managed to sneak away from the city to get some board time at Squaw Valley Ski resort (olympic location). I ran into my friend Emma out on the slopes after we threw a few texts back and forth. We also got to make a few runs down the mountain before we all went our way.


Photo #1: Myself and Chris. Photo #2: Chris, Emma and Myself.

Great fun, and the weather held out just fine for the entire day. Unfortunately, when we came to the lower end of the mountain, the snow sucked, and wasn't sticking. bleh. we decided to be done for the day and get back to town.

Space Cowboys were playing at the bar at the main resort, and that was pretty cool. Tons of people outside, having beers, listening to music and having a blast.

I enjoyed finally snowboarding Squaw Valley Resort during the day time. Not just night boarding.

A day at "The Wall"

A quick shot of me with Oakland, the bay, the bay bridge and SF in the background.
It was a little hazy out, but warm and scenic. I had heard from my buddy Ben that they would be coming up here, so I figured why not come up and meet them. It took them a little longer as some of the girls riding were taking their sweet time. haha


photos: #1 Kurt and I. #2Katia and Myself. #3 Ben, Myself and Katia

While sitting around waiting, I saw a bike coming up from the other direction, and noticed it was red, and it was a hypermotard......then I immediately saw the rider had on a bright yellow jacket....and I know only one person that is that nerdy...Kurt. hahahaha I stood up, looked, the bike pulls in, points at me, and sure the hell enough, it was Kurt, one of my riding buddies, who happened to be coming up this way to go home (the long way). haha

so he hung out and we chatted for a while.

Ben and Katia rolled up on their respective bikes, we snapped a few photos and hung out, talking bikes and shooting the shit. It was a great time. Jeff ,another buddy of ours, happened to roll up, and stopped also.

The wall is a well known local bike hangout/stop, up in the Oakland Hills. You'll usually find some bikes at this spot, especially when the weather is awesome.

this is an addendum to one of my previous posts yesterday about spending the day riding and at the wall, in Oakland.

Sunny weather these last few days has gotten people out from behind their computers and out riding. It's great.

Last days in Colorado!

Spent the last 2 days in Colorado taking it easy and tapering on the drinking. Brownie wanted to check into rehab, but we all know it's just for quitters who like to whine. So I think he just kept drinking.

On Sunday after the marathon, we got a moderately slow start back to the Springs. With two stops at some breweries, and then a stop at the Thunderbird Inn for a beer, some photos, and this rad painting of Willie Nelson. Very cool. The snow was coming down relentlessly, and we skirted over the pass without much problems.




That night, Brownie, Pete (who had just arrived in the Springs), and myself were going to the Black Sheep.....again....to see Stockholm Syndrome in concert.
The show was pretty good, and they packed them in. The opening band "These United States" were actually pretty good. Even though the singer was so out of breath. hahahaha as he stated, "we're not used to playing at these altitudes". Needless to say, we consumed quite a few tall boys, and I think Pete was pretty glazed over by the time we headed out, calling Katie to come get us at the Irish #4. :D

He passed out on the hard wood floor, which is when I realized how out of it he was. LOL

The next morning, we decided we'd get a quick run in, before heading over to Kings Chef for some breakfast/lunch. Over to Red Rock Canyon, with Blos, Pete, Nacheux and myself for a quick 4 miler. It was absolutely stunning. The snow had fallen all night, the sun was up, but it wasn't warm enough to melt the snow off the branches. It was like running in a winter wonderland. Very cool stuff.


After which, it was off to the Kings Chef for a bacon cheeseburger, with green chili on the side, + fries. :D finished it off, and earned my 2nd "Clean Plate Sticker" of the weekend. The Kings Chef is an iconic local diner, and they have the "New Mexico Stomper" which is a 5 lb hamburger (10 .5lb patties on two buns, covered in green chili, all the fixins and a side of fries. You get an hour to complete it, and nobody had done it.

Well Pete decided he was going to go for it the following day. Sadly, I'd be on a plane. He made a good run at it, but came up short. Don't blame him. That is a shit ton of food.

All in all a phenomenal weekend of drinking, partying, running and shenanigans. :D