opinion time...Been helping my ex's dad restore a 65 gto for the better part of 20 years. We are finally down to putting the guts in it. Car was originally full red interior. During the body resto, he had a ivory headliner put in it. Car is tor red w a red dash/console and all the painted interior is red. So, here are the options...

Full red interior w a white headliner yuk personally
red carpet/door panels white seats
red carpet white door panels and seats
black carpet white door panels and seats
or the circus version black carpet red door panels white seats

Really want to finish this next summer. Even if i have to dump my own money into it. Still needs exhaust and bumpers as well. and wheels/tires and and and yeesh

Not much new to post about. Life has been busy with trail work and kid stuff. WikiD has been busy with LARS shows and practicing at AWWG. He also scored a job at Gamers and starts Friday. Crash is starting at Goodwill soon as well. Can't believe how hard it is to get a part time job in this town. I've been shot down for quite a few seasonal jobs. Guess i shouldn't have given the kids so much grief about not being able to get a job. Hopefully with them working, i won't have to do the night job thing.

I guess i'm in with the big bro with the knee problems. Might aren't near as severe as his but it still sucks. Been fighting with the left one for awhile, doc told me to sell the single speeds and learn how to spin. He said that should get me a few more years. Now the right one is swollen and clicking. That one has been perfect sense the last overhaul, don't even know what i did. Doc said to give it a week and come in if it still hurts.

So, the singles need to go, along with a few others...

17" Redline monocog 26" ss. 27.5"/650b wheels, X-fusion Velvet fork, pacenti quasi-motos, raceface headset, crankset, seatpost, carbon bars and stem, avid bb7's, handspun wheels with surly ss hubs. Spec ti railed seat and pedals are negotiable. maybe 30 miles on this bike sense built from all new parts... $1500 obo

56cm Redline 925 ss/fixie. Black to charcoal fade, planet bike fenders, rear rack, headlight and blinky taillight, computer, goofy hipster bars. Love this bike, it has been an awesome commuter. Again cb pedals are negotiable... $425 obo

Redline Pro Flight XL Bubba Harris Sig Series bmx'er. Mostly stock. Have a pile of sprockets for it as well as an answer carbon full face helmet, pants and vans spd shoes. Have flat and spd pedals for it. Ridden 3 times at most... $250 obo

Mirra Co Shorty bmx'er. All stock, flat pedals. Perfect for the shorter kid getting started. $125 obo

Gary Fisher Tarpon. Think it is a 14". Sublime green, comes with short 60mm stem and stock stem. Great starter bike to take on the trails. $150 obo

Think that's it. Gotta get everything cleaned up and put on craigslist. Then to ebay if nothing moves. Really wrong time of the year to do this...

weird...3 days of consecutive riding, 3 days of no health issues...hmmm...Guess i need to ride more!

Other weirdness. Swapped the cockpit from the Sycip to the Monocog. Decided to do some measuring. top tube = same, seat tube = same. Which doesn't make sense. Both bikes side by side, the monocog is a bigger frame. Looking at the amount of seatpost out of the frame it is obvious. Downtube is 1 1/2" shorter on the Sycip. The Sycip is also 1" longer in the chainstays. I'd pretty much say setting these bikes up with the same cockpit is not going to yield the same results.

Either way, hope to test it out tomorrow on the wnr depending where they go. Should probably ride tranq as it is what i know best and a good gauge to how the Sycip handles compared to the 'cog. Who knows, as usual i am over thinking all of it and just need to ride...

hmm, i really need to post more on here but really nothing too exciting going on...

School has begun and with my 2 youngest both in high school, i can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Wiki-d starts college at Metro tues. Got a late start on sign up due to switching schools, so he only got into 2 classes. He will hit full time next semester once financial aid kicks in. I think this is a good way to get him started in college.

The beetle has been back in action for almost 3 weeks. Sense then she has hit a curb and knocked the grill off. It then overheated because it knocked the lower rad hose loose at the same time. Got that all fixed and her car got hit at school and scuffed the new bumper cover. Then she got keyed this weekend at the mall. I really think this car is cursed! At least most of it should buff out...

Been riding a bit more. Got to hit the grand opening at Calvin Crest. The trail is sweet and Craig did a great job getting it ready. Been trying to ride more and work on the setup on the single speed. My body is kicking back and the doc isn't quite sure what to do with it. Been having massive leg cramps at night in my left leg. An ache in my right rotator cuff that hurts all the way to the front bottom of my ribcage, daily headaches and i puke after i eat about 70% of the time. Go in to get re-check for blood clots and a stress test next week. Fun...

Riding cc with Dale today and Swanson tomorrow with the Bike Way guys. Hope to see some of ya out there!

Wow, been a crazy month of no posting. Guess the facebook thing is easier but not much for novels.

The last month has been a whirlwind of trailwork/race prep at tranq, driving lessons and getting college/school stuff lined up. I even got to ride my bike a bit. Hopefully going to be more of that!

Tranq race went really well even with a 115 heat index. I decided to do the "south hill oasis" on the open climb. Did gatoraide/water handups for the racers. Also had some coke shots to get people over the long, hot climb. Feedback has been good, I'll have to figure out how to do it and race next year. Trail was in premo shape thanks to the hard work of alot of people. Thanks guys!

We are getting close to getting the big D his license. He is getting more comfortable in the car. Next we work on traffic. The beetle should be done this weekend. Finally got it painted after waiting a month for the painter to get to it. Just in time for school monday. Lots of school shopping left to do....

Gravecandy is no more but the side project "Lars" is doing well. Three tracks recorded and three more coming. Should have the ep done in early sept. Have a grip of shows lined up already to boot. Evidently their stage show involves people in panda and banana costumes hardcore dancing in the pit. This i have to see or partake in. I wanna be the banana! Also looks like the new project "At War With Giants" will be starting up next month after college gets rolling. He is gonna be a busy kid...

That's aboot it. Temps are dropping soon and hopefully that means commuting/riding will resume. Oh yea, grand opening for Calvin Crest mtb trail coming soon. Check thor blog for details. Hope to see ya there!

Rain, rain, go away! Jeez, enough already....

Good weekend! Got to see some family at the pap crit. Big bro won his class and worked the pro race for his team. Played some soccer with Curly and Pinky and just hung out and talked with some friends.

Worked tranq yesterday. Got the new section trimmed up but it was too wet to cut the berms in. Hope it drys up enough to finish the berms wed night. Ended up fixing the water bars and cleaning the drains on the north hill/fort st loop. Alot of standing water on the trail. Saw some people trying to ride, lucky for them, i didn't catch them. I had some major rage going on seeing the cars in the lot with bike racks. They were tearing the trail up pretty bad. I just don't see the fun in it...

Sitting here waiting for the ac guy. Wonder what this round is gonna cost me...

Oy yea, took the kiddies to Despicable Me. Great movie, gotta a lil too sweet at the end but the minions were worth it...

Good things today, got alot done. Beetle got the frame and little bits pulled as well the dents in the roof done. Got the headlamp brackets and all installed. Now if the painter was ready....

Then i headed out to tranq and got the last few berms done as good as they are going to get for now. Going to head out this weekend and cut the faces in, do a lil weed wackin and some benching and it should be good to go for now. I'm going to let it get ridden in a bit before adding the humps...

Some kids in an integra were sitting in the bottom lot surrounded by cops as i was leaving. 4 police cars seems a little much for a mip, wonder what they did. They were all cuffed on the ground and the cops were talking to a couple adults i assume were the parents. Weird...

Lots of baby turkeys out playing on the trail. Be careful, momma turkey is pretty mean...

Just got one thing to say to all the people that told me that i'd never finish the new section by hand....you were right.

Finished back building berm 3 and dumped another layer on berm 2 wed night. Got to chat with some friends that i haven't seen forever. My new bike is done, i wanna ride again...

So my current decision is to dump another load of dirt on berms 3 to 6 and do a little shaping, then open the section. I'd like to add the bumps the next weekend when i've got some people to flow the bumps in. If enough people like the section, i will then petition thor for a bobcat to finish the section the way i originally visioned. If response is not favorable, i can cut my losses now without putting another 100 hours into the section.

i thought about things while playing in the dirt the other night. I'm kinda being selfish on my new section and neglecting my duties as a trail leader. There are some things that need to be done before the race and my section is not one of them. Time to buck up and focus on the important things...

Got some good berm work completed today on turn 4, 5 and 6. Paul came out and helped a ton. Much faster work with 2 shovels over 1. Probably going out wed night and finish turn 3. It is the only one not back filled yet. Thanks again Paul!

Good progress on the beetle today. Front suspension is fixed and straight. Got some of the bent metal back in place. Now it is off to the body guy and painter. Have all the parts ready to go but the front bumper cover. It should be here monday. Don't want to hurry too much. She really doesn't need the car back till she can find a job...

welp, the pics below depict what happens when a teen is easily distracted and drives into a pole @ less than 20mph. $6400 in damages was well over the cars value, so it is totalled. Bought it back to rebuild. Gonna be a long road this time. I'd really like her to pay for it but i'd like the car out of the shop before she is 40. So the bone yard hunting begins. Anyone got a lead on a 98-05 beetle with a good front clip? lol

Went out and played in the dirt again today. Talked with the city and decided the dirt offered wasn't as good as what was in the area i'm working in. So i just kept digging. Hit an awesome area of clay. Good thing about clay is it packs really well. Bad thing about clay is that it packs really well, which means it takes alot to get anywhere.

This is berm 2 back filled about 1/2 way. That was 30 wheel barrows worth of dirt.




This is berm 1 after close to 40 loads of dirt. I'd say it is about 1/2 way done. I'm going to get each berm this far then go back and start back filling again. If i can get 2 berms a week done, i should be ready for flows and bumps by the end of the month. Here's to wishfull thinking!

Oh man, think the city will let us build this?

Flow and berms are amazing. Wonder what kind of soil was used? I know i'd never have the guts to ride it but a smaller version would be interesting. Had at least 4 people this weekend ask me when the bsa is going in @ tranq. Wish i had an answer. A couple of them work construction and were offering the use of equipment to get it done...hmmmm...

i don't know where this sign went but i wasn't gonna find out. I've spent enough time "otb" lately...



Swung by genoa, il while out in chitown to snap a pic of pops old house. Neighborhood is huge now. I remember when you turned off the highway there was just a sign pointing to the golf course. now there is a light and houses all the way to and around the course. Crazy considering this is in the middle of nowhere. Even Sycamore is huge now...



Got back to town and the pump track gave me inspiration to go work on the new section @ tranq. Got berm 3, 4, 5 done sunday and berm 6 done today. Figure i am going to need around ten pickup loads of dirt to finish the berms then 2-3 more to build the humps in the straights. Looks like crap now but i think it will be a blast once the berms are built full and are hit-able. Still need to mow and get sign posts put up. Sure were alot of new, lost riders out today.






pics from the joliet jump park are on facebook and grad pics are on the family blog.
That's aboot it for me. I'll post on the bike park findings later. Gotta go mow my own yard!

jeez, does anyone ride bikes anymore? The blogs have been pretty dull as of late. Must be that everyone is riding so much that there is no time to blog!

I'm stuck in Denver for work. Weather is amazing today...mountains are so sweet. i could wake up to this view everyday with no problem. To bad no one is hiring and i can't leave anyway. Besides, if i'm getting hurt this much in nebraska, imagine how it would be here....

Bummed that i found a conure like the one the passed away a few years ago out here and i have no way to get him back.... I want a new Milo....

Gravecandy Vampire hits the studio!!!!!

got a sweet virus and had to format my drive. If ya'll could send me an email so i can get your addys again, that would be peachy!

Stolen bike!!!!!!

Dale's Haro Mary from the shop yesterday. Bronze fixie, front brake only, fenders and size large. Pics on bmcc and mtbomaha blogs. Anyone eyes his bike give him a call at bike masters or give me a call and i'll get ahold of him. Really need to get his bike. There is no one that works as hard for the mtb community as Dale. Time to go search the neighborhood around tranq for his ride...

nothing much to blog about...

Trail day went well at Adams Park. Much more to do before the end of May. Sounds like they want the first loop in and the pump track done by then. Should be interesting...

Shoulder is doing pretty good. For some reason it hurts sitting or hanging down but feels ok when over my head. Weird...

Silverstein concert is this Wed. It's GcV's first big show and it should be wicked. Looks like i will get to roadie the show. Kinda fun being onstage building the kit before the show...

That's aboot it. Got on facebook. Kids told me no one blogs anymore and i needed to get with the times, so be it. Don't post much on there either but i do get to chat with my niece and that is pretty sweet. Look for buc onine if you wanna at me on...

the good and the bad-ish.

shoulder is healing good. 1 more week in the sling before weight limited work release. 2 weeks after that he expects a full release and self pt. 2 months before i can ride on dirt for sake of re-injury. looks like i will be a roadie most of this year.

good thing the classics are on. it does make me want to go riding pretty bad tho...

suppose i should go get the sycip from Paul and check it over for damage. From what i remember it took a pretty good hit... still pretty fuzzy tho. heh, i remember hitting the lip, saying oh sh*t in my head and then Paul asking if i needed an ambulance. lost about 30 seconds somewhere...

thanks again everyone for the help and support. i'll see ya at the imba class on sat.

opinions needed:

remove the lips on the last 2 camel humps or leave them alone? heh, that sounds dirty...

with that section getting packed in and smooth the effort to climb the wall of the 3rd hump is gone. that was the first time i've been up the wall without a pedal stroke to get me up and over. with no real breaking room, the lip is kinda sketchy. that and hearing from the ladies at the appts that they see lots of crashes there makes me think some adjustments may be in order. let me know your thoughts and we will adjust accordingly...

typing sucks, so this will be short and not sweet. crashed at tranq on the mnr. grade 3 ac separation and a couple bruised ribs. thanks to all that helped get me off the trail and to the hospital. nice to know the tube sling actually works and it helped a ton for the drive to the er. get final decision from doc on healing path next wed. wish me luck!

augh, what is wrong with people in this town. My daughter got her license and has driven the beetle twice. She came home from school the first day with a 6" crease in the door from a hit an run in the parking lot. Came home from a job interview last night with a huge door ding in the same door. Doesn't anyone have any respect for other peoples property anymore? Love to catch someone doing this just once. That car was mint...


On a better note. WNR at tranq tomorrow. Ride rolls at 6, weather permitting. Hope the rain holds off. Might be there if my car deal doesn't go thru..

I've been plotting some rides for this season and i thought it toss them out there for you guys to look at. Mindless babbling here Lemme know what ya think!

ahhh, good news at last....

Sense i was getting close to my 3 month mark, the doc decided to do my vein doppler a bit early. He called today and said all was good and i can quit the thinners. Give it a few weeks to get out of my system. Have to go back in a couple weeks to make sure my levels are sano before the full release but i'll take it! Gonna have to go get a new helmet to be ready when i get the green light. That's my 3rd helmet in 3 years. I need to change something...lol.

If i ever hit the lottery....





Not much to post lately. They messed up my meds again and i've learned some new things about warfarin. Evidently when they have you really thin, you have issues with your temper. I've talked with several people that have been on it and all agreed that they knew when there levels were off by they're hair trigger tempers. I fully agree. The kids hit me up wanting to know why i flip out so easy lately. The test confirmed it, doc agreed. Super thin again, super pissed again. Hope they get it better next round. I'm getting tired of avoiding conversations at work and staying off forums for the sake of not flipping out on someone. Ugh, at least it is warmer...

Ok everyone, we need your help. Gravecandy Vampire is trying to get on the Warped Tour in kc this summer. If we are one of the top 4 bands picked, we are in the show. Go here, register as a fan and vote for GcV! These are a really solid group of kids and i'd really like to see them succeed in their dreams. Thanks for the help!!!!

My driveway is cursed i think...

First the boy runs the truck into the house, now girlie 2 rips the bumper off the honda backing out of the driveway...

I need to move, the run of wicked bad luck sense we've moved in here is just getting worse. Either that or i've got some nasty karma going on here.

If it wasn't for bad luck, i'd have none at all...

Well, had some good news today. The ankle is completely healed and no new fractures. He said the pain is from hitting it at the top of the plate and probably the blood thinners. Only have to wear the boot while riding or lifting heavy weights. Woohoo!

On the down note, he said with the clots i had it would be a miracle if i was off the thinners in less than 6 months. Evidently they have me a lil thin. Got a bloody nose this morning and it looked like a murder scene in 30 seconds. Had to hop in the shower till it quit... Going in for a re-check tomorrow. Hope it's over soon...



Here's the new summer beastie. With kid 2 ready anytime for her license and kid 1 not far behind, i figured i better get some wheels for me. Not bad for a $300 beater. Just hope the weather turns soon so i can take it for a spin and make sure all is good with it. Trying to get a bike rack i picked up from a buddy to fit but evidently they changed the crossbars between a 05 and a 99 impreza. They mounts are kinda narrow and i'm nervous that they might pull thru. Anyone have experience with Saris racks? Tech supports says they are all the same...

Ugh, time to go to the store....

this one is for you pops! fed, nostalgia funnies and altereds. Nothing but nitro!



Go in Monday for re-x-rays of the ankle. They don't think it is broken again but they are going to double check to be sure. No swelling anymore, bruising gone and it still lets me know that something isn't right. Supposed to be my last week in the boot but who knows....

augh, is it spring yet? Somehow managed to break the pinky toe on my left foot last night. i was loading stuff up and kicked a bar stool i couldn't see. It is a pretty shade of purple and was pointing an odd direction this morning. A popsickle stick and some duct tape and all is good now. Also slipped on the ice today and my right knee no longer works on stairs. I'm starting to think i should just wrap myself in pillows and bubble wrap before i do anything anymore. I am such a klutz... It is funny trying to limp with both legs tho....

Show was epic last night. The crew was wound up from the big announcement and just threw down. If they can pull the same energy at Sokol with Silverstein, they are going to tear the house down.

Be interesting to hear how the race meeting went yesterday. Don't really care to much, my race season is already over. Think this will be an underground fun type of race year for me.

is it spring yet?

sweet, gotta love good news. Just got this announcement from the band guys...

4/21/2010 8:00 PM at Sokol Underground W/ Silverstein, Gravecandy Vampire, Kakarot!, and What Dwells Within.

Wooo! Got a gig with a national touring band! Time to get some merch together and finish the ep so these boys can make some money finally!!!

They are playing rebels in CB tomorrow night if anyone is up for a cheap gig. Always great to hang out with mark and the crew there. He is really trying to make something out of a rough past...

Wow, wish it would get warmer. Way to much band posts and way too little trail work/riding ramblings....

Other ramblings....got hosed on the beetle title again, for the 3rd time. Missing another part of paperwork. Be another 45+ days before i can try again. Thinking that she might just get the civic for now and sell the beetle when/if i ever get a title. Then i can use that money to get the punk a small pickup or something to haul his gear with. I did manage to score an old impreza with a broken timing belt. Hoping with any luck it didn't hit any valves and i can have something cheap to drive once kiddo starts driving.

Did i mention nyquil and warfarin is a bad combo no matter what the pharm tech says? Ya, reaaaly bad idea. Got my head ripped off by the doc for that one...

THOR meeting Feb 6th. Click the thor link for more details. Wish i could be there but I had to trade weekends for the imba meeting and don't have the chance to swap anymore days for awhile. I really look forward to the changes coming down the line for the group. Hope it all works out for the best.

With any luck i'll be able to get out to the imba trail days and help out with the new adams trail. Be really nice to have the crew ride tranq while they are in town but with current weather, that probably won't happen.

I'm sick again and can't tale anything with the thinners so i'm going to bed...

Man, what a weekend. I am cooked. A weekend full of being a roadie was alot for this old fart. Overall a very good time for all...

Big thanks to Paul for the hookup on some cymbals. Thanks to Guido for some other cymbals, gig bags and advice from an old touring pro. Thanks to JD Drums for dropping everything to help us out on a Sunday 2 hours before show time. Definitely a quality outfit... Thanks to the venues for giving the up and coming bands a shot to play. Only can hope for bigger and better in the future...







Rambling on me. Didn't get released last week from the doc. They put me in an ankle brace for a month. I also get to ride in it for 3 months after i get off the blood thinners. He felt with my history of being hard on my body, better safe than sorry. Been spinning on the bike trainer a bit. Doc said 15 min a couple times a week and ramp it up from there....

wow

Where oh where have my calf muscles gone...
Such a depressing pic. My left leg is sooo skinny now and so weak. I get to attempt walking again this weekend after 6 weeks+ on crutches. It has not been pretty so far. Doc advised walking around the house instead of trial by fire of walking around for 8 hours at work. It's gonna be a long year...




If anything good comes out of all this at least i'll be walking for the punks upcoming shows. The sound is really coming together and each song gets better. Anyones kiddies are into the popcore/screamo type bands come on out to the shows...

Oh yea,
Happy New Year everyone! Maybe it be much better than the last...