Saturday we had a real group ride. There were so many people heading out Noblestown Rd that some dude standing at a bus stop asked if buses were running on their normal schedule even with the event. What event? 8 dudes riding on a Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Awesome.
Husker Du - It's not funny anymore
You can do what you want to do
You can say what you want to say
You can think what you think you want
It doesn’t matter anyway
It’s not funny anymore
Play what you want to play
Hear what you want to hear
Don’t worry about the result
Or the effect is has on your career
Act like you want to act
Be what you want to be
Find out who you really are
And don’t pay any attention to me
If you like to download music: http://www.mediafire.com/?cwyndhong2g
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2010 so far.
2010.
I took up cross country skiing. I skied 13 hours in 5 days, then the snow melted and I started riding bikes again. I was lucky twice. The first day I owned skis I went to North Park and ran into two women skiing. They were actually both ski instructors. Having never even downhill skied before, I thought it was going to take me a long time to get it. However, much like cycling, there is a sharp learning curve and after only a few hours I was pretty good to go. Then I was lucky enough to go with Sharon to the big mountain where there 20+ miles of trails. She has been doing it a long time and stopped me from making any Noob moves.
Other things:
A good blog
Cycling Inquisition interviewed me about making those dumb cartoons. However, the blog is pretty awesome and worth reading.
We/I are working on 2010 sponsors and the team. We have some frames and tires lined up it looks like. ... awesome.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
self fulfilling prophecy
Most cyclists in the Pittsburgh area know frick park. It is a huge city park with lots of mountain bike trails. It is in the east end (where most of the hip kids live), and is generally pretty rad. It is a standard ride for me to ride there, ride most or all of the trails, then ride home and get about 2 hours in.
That was today's simple plan. That coupled with the the possibility of a Schenley Park bonus loop if my feet were not too cold. As a non engineer, non crafty person, I came up with a pretty simple idea to try and keep my feet a bit warmer. Today was like 7 degrees when I left, with an 18mph wind.
I cut some tarps up, doubled them over and screwed bolts into the holes for the toe spikes. I figured this would seal them up well enough to block some snow and wind. It would also create a non breathable layer to help my feet stay warm.
Photos of my rig job.
So anyway, I get there a bit late and pedal around looking for Mayhew, Rowley and Hoffman. I am on my crossbike and they are on their mountain bikes. I didnt know how long I would even be able to ride with them, and I was running late. I rode up to where they were parked and thought about where they would go after that trail. I ended up on the ridge trail behind the new Environmnetal Charter School.
I was riding along when I came across a typical East End guy. He was wearing North Face gear, had a dog and was exercising. As I approached he verbally tried slowing his running dog down. This is a typical thing dog walkers who are pretending to care about anybody else do. Its like when you know somebody is going to get up and grab something, but you fake starting to get up and are like "oh you got it? cool."
Anyway, his dog blows past him and runs at me. I just keep pedaling and smile at him when I realize his dog has turned around and started chasing me. As weird as this might sound to some, it is totally standard to get chased in Frick by dogs. It is a part of riding there, despite there being signs everywhere threatening fines for doing otherwise.
So I have to admit that I ride with people who bring their dogs along. My brother takes his dog to Frick all the time. The google link above has a video of a friend's now deceased dog, and a link to the DirtRag editor's photo of 2 dogs. None on leashes. I generally dont mind, as I think MOST people are reasonable and they know their dogs well enough to judge their behavior.
On the flip side, when a dog walker gives me attitude for not slowing down at a dog that charges me, or when I get chased and nipped at, I try to convey to the owners that they are breaking the law and should really put the dogs on leashes.
Mayhew and I have gotten into debates over what is cool and what is not regarding dogs. He has 2 big dogs that I have never had a problem with, and I dont think they have ever caused any problems. My points are basically that it is racist to think that white yuppies should be allowed to disobey the law and you should not fear their dogs, however if a bunch of black dudes from Homewood started walking pit bulls around Frick without leashes, I think the law would quickly be enforced. Also my little Somali buddies are forbidden by their religion to be touched by dogs, and I am sure as East End liberal yuppies, most dog walkers would want to be culturally sensitive while walking dog, before driving their Volvos the 3 blocks from Frick to the food coop
I have gotten into a few verbal matches with people that pretty much boil down to me saying "you are breaking the law, if I kill your dog because it runs in front of me while I am bombing down single track... it is going to be a double whammy when I sue you because I mess up my bike or my body while killing your dog."
Sorry, back to the story again... today I am riding along and in a great mood. It is 7 degrees, I am riding, the conditions are great, I am not cold. I look over at this dude's happy dog that is chasing me, and say "my brothers dog is so much faster than you" in the voice that you use talking to an infant or a dog. I look up and keep pedaling until I feel this giant dog bite into my thigh.
He didnt nip at it. He didnt just hit me with his nose. I have had a puncture wound before and I know what it feels like. I stop and turn around, screaming at the owner that his dog just bit me. The owner says "dude" and "sorry" like 500 times. I have about 30 seconds to decide this dog's fate. I tell the guy that I think if I call animal control the dog will be destroyed (I used the F word like 30 times and may have told him that it should have been destroyed)...
I pulled down my pants and realize that I do a pretty poor job shaving my legs in the winter, and that the dog indeed broke my skin and that I was bleeding and already bruised.
I should have taken his information and made him give me like millions of dollars cash while threatening to have his dog killed. Or at least take his fancy 600 dollar snow outfit. Instead, I rode off as he apologized a bunch more.
While riding out I passed a half dozen dog owners letting their dogs run the main trail off-leash. I actually got nervous for a second. When leaving the park, I saw Rowley and Hofman, they said that MAYHEW GOT BIT TOO!!!!!!! Different dog though.
I got home, scrubbed the cut with antibacterial soap for 10 minutes then dumped alcohol and peroxide into it.
Yes this is my thigh.
This is the maddest I have been in awhile.
That was today's simple plan. That coupled with the the possibility of a Schenley Park bonus loop if my feet were not too cold. As a non engineer, non crafty person, I came up with a pretty simple idea to try and keep my feet a bit warmer. Today was like 7 degrees when I left, with an 18mph wind.
I cut some tarps up, doubled them over and screwed bolts into the holes for the toe spikes. I figured this would seal them up well enough to block some snow and wind. It would also create a non breathable layer to help my feet stay warm.
Photos of my rig job.
So anyway, I get there a bit late and pedal around looking for Mayhew, Rowley and Hoffman. I am on my crossbike and they are on their mountain bikes. I didnt know how long I would even be able to ride with them, and I was running late. I rode up to where they were parked and thought about where they would go after that trail. I ended up on the ridge trail behind the new Environmnetal Charter School.
I was riding along when I came across a typical East End guy. He was wearing North Face gear, had a dog and was exercising. As I approached he verbally tried slowing his running dog down. This is a typical thing dog walkers who are pretending to care about anybody else do. Its like when you know somebody is going to get up and grab something, but you fake starting to get up and are like "oh you got it? cool."
Anyway, his dog blows past him and runs at me. I just keep pedaling and smile at him when I realize his dog has turned around and started chasing me. As weird as this might sound to some, it is totally standard to get chased in Frick by dogs. It is a part of riding there, despite there being signs everywhere threatening fines for doing otherwise.
So I have to admit that I ride with people who bring their dogs along. My brother takes his dog to Frick all the time. The google link above has a video of a friend's now deceased dog, and a link to the DirtRag editor's photo of 2 dogs. None on leashes. I generally dont mind, as I think MOST people are reasonable and they know their dogs well enough to judge their behavior.
On the flip side, when a dog walker gives me attitude for not slowing down at a dog that charges me, or when I get chased and nipped at, I try to convey to the owners that they are breaking the law and should really put the dogs on leashes.
Mayhew and I have gotten into debates over what is cool and what is not regarding dogs. He has 2 big dogs that I have never had a problem with, and I dont think they have ever caused any problems. My points are basically that it is racist to think that white yuppies should be allowed to disobey the law and you should not fear their dogs, however if a bunch of black dudes from Homewood started walking pit bulls around Frick without leashes, I think the law would quickly be enforced. Also my little Somali buddies are forbidden by their religion to be touched by dogs, and I am sure as East End liberal yuppies, most dog walkers would want to be culturally sensitive while walking dog, before driving their Volvos the 3 blocks from Frick to the food coop
I have gotten into a few verbal matches with people that pretty much boil down to me saying "you are breaking the law, if I kill your dog because it runs in front of me while I am bombing down single track... it is going to be a double whammy when I sue you because I mess up my bike or my body while killing your dog."
Sorry, back to the story again... today I am riding along and in a great mood. It is 7 degrees, I am riding, the conditions are great, I am not cold. I look over at this dude's happy dog that is chasing me, and say "my brothers dog is so much faster than you" in the voice that you use talking to an infant or a dog. I look up and keep pedaling until I feel this giant dog bite into my thigh.
He didnt nip at it. He didnt just hit me with his nose. I have had a puncture wound before and I know what it feels like. I stop and turn around, screaming at the owner that his dog just bit me. The owner says "dude" and "sorry" like 500 times. I have about 30 seconds to decide this dog's fate. I tell the guy that I think if I call animal control the dog will be destroyed (I used the F word like 30 times and may have told him that it should have been destroyed)...
I pulled down my pants and realize that I do a pretty poor job shaving my legs in the winter, and that the dog indeed broke my skin and that I was bleeding and already bruised.
I should have taken his information and made him give me like millions of dollars cash while threatening to have his dog killed. Or at least take his fancy 600 dollar snow outfit. Instead, I rode off as he apologized a bunch more.
While riding out I passed a half dozen dog owners letting their dogs run the main trail off-leash. I actually got nervous for a second. When leaving the park, I saw Rowley and Hofman, they said that MAYHEW GOT BIT TOO!!!!!!! Different dog though.
I got home, scrubbed the cut with antibacterial soap for 10 minutes then dumped alcohol and peroxide into it.
Yes this is my thigh.
This is the maddest I have been in awhile.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Somali xmas rager.
So Amy's mom convinced her coworkers that instead of buying each other scented candles and lottery tickets, or whatever crap office workers buy one another, they should all sponsor a Somali refugee from the hood (mine and Amy's neighbors.)In years past we had just donated used toys and things, which was awesome, but this year each kid got to open a new gift. All 14 of them. Some people from outside her office gave Amy's mom money, with which she bought a shop n save gift card for the Grandma/Matriarch of Little Somalia.
They were all really stoked and it was a good time. Somehow my favorite dude didnt end up with a gift. I bought him a 7 dollar soccer ball. Best 7 dollars spent in a long time.
Photo Summary:
We had pizza. We opened gifts. We had them write and read thank you cards. Oriel, my brother in law who is black but not Somali, told stories about fishing on his Island to the kids. Santa showed up. We had cake.
Little Ibihim fell asleep so hard in the car on the way home he was snoring like an adult. I carried him to his door. He woke up and said "Where is my train..." That is nice.
They were all really stoked and it was a good time. Somehow my favorite dude didnt end up with a gift. I bought him a 7 dollar soccer ball. Best 7 dollars spent in a long time.
Photo Summary:
We had pizza. We opened gifts. We had them write and read thank you cards. Oriel, my brother in law who is black but not Somali, told stories about fishing on his Island to the kids. Santa showed up. We had cake.
Little Ibihim fell asleep so hard in the car on the way home he was snoring like an adult. I carried him to his door. He woke up and said "Where is my train..." That is nice.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Laurel Highlands Trail Fail....
I generally dont like quitting things. At a certain point being safe trumps being epic. Oh well, another day.
Day 1.
Hiked in to the first shelters. Cooked some food. Some guys from Ohio showed up and invited me to their shelter to help better stay warm. I declined at first, but went over when the sun finally went down. They had a raging fire. 5 of us and a fire kept it super warm. Then at like 9pm a woman hiked in solo in the dark. Dang. 6 people in a shelter + 2 dogs = warm.
Day 2.
Long day. Started with a 3 mile climb. Scenic views. Had people leapfrogging all day. Ohio dudes went home. Checked in with Amy. Rad shelters at night on a cliff. Nice fire. Warm. NewfriendLex and I hung out and ate food.
Day 3.
Another long day. Walked forever. Through 7 springs. Ended with the forest ranger giving me and NewfriendLex a ride around the Turnpike because the bridge over the road was closed that day due to it falling down. Weird.
Day 4. Wake up with snow IN the shelter. 8 - 10 inches of snow on the ground. Camera dead due to cold. REALLY hard day breaking trail through the snow all day. Days 5 and 6 were supposed to be 12 mile days. I bailed on it. The area the trail goes through for those two days has 1 road crossing over 24 miles. The pace I held on day 4 while breaking snow would have left me hiking from 6 am to 6 pm and it was hard enough to find the blazes in the daylight with all the snow. I hiked about 44 miles total in 4 days.Good times.
Another day.
Day 1.
Hiked in to the first shelters. Cooked some food. Some guys from Ohio showed up and invited me to their shelter to help better stay warm. I declined at first, but went over when the sun finally went down. They had a raging fire. 5 of us and a fire kept it super warm. Then at like 9pm a woman hiked in solo in the dark. Dang. 6 people in a shelter + 2 dogs = warm.
Day 2.
Long day. Started with a 3 mile climb. Scenic views. Had people leapfrogging all day. Ohio dudes went home. Checked in with Amy. Rad shelters at night on a cliff. Nice fire. Warm. NewfriendLex and I hung out and ate food.
Day 3.
Another long day. Walked forever. Through 7 springs. Ended with the forest ranger giving me and NewfriendLex a ride around the Turnpike because the bridge over the road was closed that day due to it falling down. Weird.
Day 4. Wake up with snow IN the shelter. 8 - 10 inches of snow on the ground. Camera dead due to cold. REALLY hard day breaking trail through the snow all day. Days 5 and 6 were supposed to be 12 mile days. I bailed on it. The area the trail goes through for those two days has 1 road crossing over 24 miles. The pace I held on day 4 while breaking snow would have left me hiking from 6 am to 6 pm and it was hard enough to find the blazes in the daylight with all the snow. I hiked about 44 miles total in 4 days.Good times.
Another day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)