Blackbox for Cyclists - Interesting Idea

Yes, it can be a jungle out there, on the road, you against the cagers. This could be helpful, for a worse case scenario. But, riding smartly and defensively can go along way to preventing the worse case scenario.

Anyway- have not posted in a while. Consider this post my first March update. Hopefully, I'll be posting up soon, again, with some actual riding.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/25/4029248/helmet-of-justice-uses-cameras-as-a-black-box-for-bicyclists

Fat Bike? - Hmmmm... may be the next CycleSlogger Sloggin' tool!

Just a quick vid from the Seattle Times about a new type of biking. I have seen these in the Salsa website who I think was the first to come up with the concept. And in the vid - they are riding in the Methow valley - which is in our lovely state here - Washington. Anyway - enjoy!

A Cold Run for Vermouth

It was cold today in Seattle. Sunny, but real cold. I got this idea this morning - why not take the Fargo out for a ride? Well... let me look at my list of things to do today. Hmmm, pull up the kitchen floor, clean out the Jeep, put my laundry away, get vermouth, clean the garage. None of that sounds too fun I thought. Wait! I need to get some vermouth. Like a lightnin' bolt straight from Thor's Hammer - it came to me. Hop on the bike and go get that vermouth!

Why was vermouth the motivation to ride today? Sometimes, yes I admit, you gotta dig deep for that spark that will get you on your bike. I have not done much on any bike for about two months. Last significant ride was when I was in Sedona mountain biking. But let's get back to vermouth. I have taken a hankering to Manhattans recently. And part of this new "hobby" for me is enjoying a great bourbon mixed in the perfect cocktail. This has been my sort of "Manhattan Project" lately.

I've spent a fair amount of time finding and enjoying good bourbon. Here is Washington state, there are micro distilleries popping up that are making GREAT local bourbons and whiskeys. One I really like is the Woodinville Whiskey Company. But- why do I take my prized bourbon and mix it with standard fair vermouth? I dunno. Just because I've always done it that way? Nobody told me any different? Because I like to say "Martini and Rossi on the rocks?" Remember that jingle?

Ok, so, time to up the ante on my drink's congeners. Queue the internet.

Vermouth, as it turns out is quite a wine. What!? It's wine? Well, technically it is a fortified aromatized wine. The fortification comes from... extra alcohol. Brilliant! The aromatization comes from various roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs and spices. Hey Guiseppe, we need more bark! Apparently... Italian distiller Antonio Benedetto Carpono is widely credited with creating the first vermouth in 1786, when he blended white wine with herbs and named his new creation after a similar drink in Germany, which was infused with wormwood, for which the German word is “wermut.” The drink was a huge success, and soon began to be exported all over Europe where other countries began to make their own versions. 

Ok, so I know what it is and when it started. But, what is a good one? Well, this guy Carpano must make an OK one - since he came up with the drink. But where does one get good vermouth? I thought I must be able to order it on-line. Click... Amazon.com

Yes, you can get Carpano from Amazon.com. But, there is some fine print on the Amazon site that says something about legal limitations of shipping alcohol to certain states. And you know what? I really would like to get some vermouth soon. See, we are having a party next weekend and each and every one of our comrades at the party will want a manhattan - I'm sure! Oh wait... maybe they would want Vodka since they are comrades?  Anyway, I need some Vermouth soon. Stat!

Well... if it's wine... perhaps some of Seattle's finer wine purveyors may carry it? I make a few calls. Hit Google maps and head out.

The burro needed about 40 PSI in each tire. I bundle up and pedal south. I'm on my way to McCarthy & Schiering - they have Carpano.

So, I walk in. My cleats clicking on the wood floors and proclaiming I'm not from these parts. There is some wine tasting going on and some heavy accents and there was seemingly 1000s of bottles of wine on display. I better ask somebody where the hell is this Carpano stuff. Out it comes. Hmmm, man, that is a nice bottle. Fancy. Comes in an outer tin. Seems legit. Turn bottle over - $42. That seems high - but what do I know? Well, I rode all this way - it would seem silly not to bring some sort of reward home. I stick the tin in my Fargo frame bag and it fits! How cool is that?

I head north. The sun is going down... and the moon is coming up... and long ago somebody left with the cup. Wait, that is a song from Cake's album Fashion Nugget! How did that get in here? The cold must be getting to me. 

A few miles north, I bonk. This has not happened to me in some time. There is nothing worse. I whip into a Starbucks and grab a bite. 

By the time I pull into my driveway, I am quite cold and tired. But, I got that durn vermouth and I got some exercise to boot.

So what did I get for vermouth?

Carpano Antica Formula

It's getting late here in the blogosphere and I have not yet tried the stuff. I understand it it truly an aperitif and can stand on it's own. I dunno. I'm not an aperitif guy I think. But, yes, this stuff will be going in my manhattans. Supposedly, it has hints of vanilla spices, tobacco, dried fruit and orange rind. even though it seems like it is, this is not a blog about booze, but cycling - so I'll close out pivoting back to the ride.

I paid a little trick on myself today. I needed to ride, but somehow I managed to make it fun. Maybe you can do the same. Heck, if your thing is pork and beans and you got this crazy craving - why not hit the bike and and have some fun trotting down to the store for yer Van Camps! 

Mountain Biking in Sedona

Let me start with the premise bicycling is fun. Right? Now, hang with me alright? I have written about this idea in this blog - um, not specifically I suppose, but have certainly insinuated that... by God, this silly, almost perfect machine that moves one, is quintessentially fun. Plain and simple. Now, if you take this simple, blissful, meditative, therapeutic, giddy, physical motion state and do it on the dirt - oh my.

Had the opportunity while on vacation recently to do dust off my mountain bike skills. Jen and I met some family in Sedona, AZ for Thanksgiving week. This is what they call Red Rock country. I have ridden mountain bikes since 1981 when I got an original 1981 Specialized Stumpjumper. I was living in Vacaville, Ca about 30 miles from Marin county, the primordial epicenter of the genesis of the hallowed Mountain Bike. Say it... Mountain Bike. Feels good. I'm gonna go ride my Mountain Bike on that there mountain and be a mountain bike man.

Tuesday arrived, two days before Turkey day and it was off to ride the Red Rocks by our vulcanized knobbies and buzzing, pent up excitement. Yee haw!

I went with my brother-in-law, Dave and the S.O. Our plan was a 2-3 hours on the local trails, Dave guidin', me and Jen following.

We spent almost five hours boppin' and bombin' around the Red Rocks. We started on Bell Rock Pathway, went up Little Horse Trail to Chicken Point and then on Broken Arrow back to town.

It had been a while since I mountain biked and I was thrilled to be doing it with my side kick. Jen did awesome and I was so proud of her. I'm like yah babe... now it's time to get us some mountain bikes! Of course, I'm always looking for another excuse to get another bike.

So Sedona is beyond belief. The vistas, the mountain biking, the desert... um yah, upper 60s weather (Seattle had record rains while we were gone) - a great place to see!




Me, Jen and Dave.

Fall Ride or It's Been a While Since a Slogger Post?

Ok, one of my followers (I think there are two) mentioned to me today they had not seen a post from the Slogger world in quite some time. Well... I said it's soggy here in the Pacific North Wet and I'm busy gathering nuts for the long winter and I ain't got no time to do no stinkin' riding. Well... this is sort of true. I have been riding, but just not posting to the Slogger-sphere. In fact today I went for a short fall jaunt. I put my winter fenders on the Seven a few weeks back and so today, she was the bike of choice. Ahhh... life feels good. I like easy pedaling, like the crisp fall and like that I am still doing some riding. I've even been having flashes of ideas for next summers touring season. I can see an even longer multi-day tour... maybe from here to Montana! I can see an enduro-tour with the Fargo set up with the mountain bike tires and I head off into the dirt roads of the local mountains. Oh yah - gonna be great! I was just talking to the side kick last night I really had a great summer! The highlight was the Cascade Traverse By-Pedal Expedition to Save the Endangered Human Folly for sure. But, I continued the riding 'life style' through the summer and now into the fall. I ain't got no complaints. Anyway - enjoy the photo!

Recap: Weekend Tour of Whidbey

Well... all is done. I'm home - chillin' with my side kick and Luna the wonder dog. What a ride I had this weekend. Left on Friday, rode 58, camped, got up, rode 30, camped with the aforementioned chill crew and came home - by car, recollectin' and replaying in my head the great time I had. First camp trip for me by bike. First bike overnight for me - leaving from my very own front door. When I finally got to camp on Friday - there was something very satisfying, knowing I had used my very own propulsion system to get there. Well, to be fair - for just the part on the Puget Sound, I used the very able boat of the Washington State Ferry system, Cathlamet to travel from Mulkiteo to Clinton on Whidbey Island. But the rest, all 90 miles was by my own two rotating, pedaling feet. I swilled some whiskey Friday night, stared at the stars and felt proud of the journey I had done that day.

Day 1: Kenmore to Ebey State Park, Whidbey Island.
58 miles
Ferry Ride
Back roads of Whidbey Island.
Camped at Fort Ebey State Park

Day 2: Ebey State Park to Anacortes.
30 miles
Stopped at Deception Pass
Camped at Washington Park in Anacortes.

Day 3: Anacortes to Kenmore.
With Jen and Luna.
By car. (Yes, I know this does not count!).


Here is the sat tracker my trip.

The Burro - loaded up and ready.

This shot is about 10 minutes from my house , going over I-5. Thought it would make a great pic... me heading out, the rat race being left behind.

 Waiting for the Mulkiteo to Clinton Ferry.

On the ferry.

Coming into Coupeville.

At camp. First pic!

Dinner of champions.

These next few shots, were taken from the bluff by my campground - only about 100 feet from my tent!

Slept... ah, ok. Had a stiff neck from a cobbled pillow I put together. But- this is breakfast!

I stayed at Fort Ebey State Park. The park is was originally built as a coastal defense fort in World War II. Here is one of the bunkers.

An old gun turret foundation.

An old pill box.

So, I had some shifting problems on the first day. For some reason the front derailleur would not shift down to the lower chain ring. It was a minor annoyance for the day - but at times it made it quite difficult to run up a steep grade. I decided to take a look Saturday morning to see if I could find out what the issue was. I had just added a set of fenders to the bike and low and behold - the front rear fender was impinging the down shifts. I just needed to get some room between the fender and the derailleur...  Well, I found an appropriate sized stick, zip tied it in and all was fine. Nice job I thought!

Buffalo just off the road on Saturday - heading to Anacortes.

Road art!

So, I stopped at Starbucks in Oak Harbor for coffee and went to the bathroom. When I came out - I saw this young kid doing something strange around the Burro. As I got closer - I noticed he had dropped his latte... and it had splashed my front tire and fender. I felt bad for the kid and was trying to make lite of the situation and said "oh man, you got latte on my bike!" He sort of smiled and then I said - "no worries - its one of those stories I'll tell about my trip and its sort of an adventure anyway." That seemed to help him a bit.

These are at the entry to NAS Whidbey, just north of Oak Harbor. This was a very cool part of my trip to see these. Here is what the NAS Whidbey website says about their mission:

NAS Whidbey Island is the premier naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest and home of all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. Adding to the depth and capability of the air station are four P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol squadrons and two Fleet Reconnaissance squadrons flying the EP-3E Aries.

When I booked a camp site - it had a disclaimer that at any point in time, day or night, Navy jet maneuvers may be passing over head. Fortunately, all was quiet - but I did hear some really mesmerizing and haunting owl calls late Friday night.

Way off in the distance is Mt Baker. Man, what a day!

Deception Pass - just south of Anacortes.

The current just rips though there! Its a narrow pinch point that connects Skagit Bay with the Puget sound. Here is a link to a video showing how intense it can be in this area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B3sd0XRFBE

Looking west into the Sound.

Finally, some shots in Anacortes. Looking at the ferries coming from Sidney, BC.

And... Luna. :)