Got out to Granite Basin with the Lunchbox today. This thing simply rocks. After 3 weeks off it, and multiple rides on the Ventana El Capitan, I have to say it outclasses the Ventana in pretty much every way.
It climbs technical stuff better, carves at high speed better, picks through tough stuff better, and is simply a funner bike to ride. At the same time very confidence inspiring, and I don't really see any downside to the super slack head angle, even climbing steep stuff and switchbacks.
If I can get my hands on a Milk Money frame, the Ventana will be out the door for sure. I really can't imagine a ride where I would prefer it to the Lenz.
I spent a little more time on the F 135 today. I let the air preload way down, and added spring preload. The theory being to get correct sag with the least amount of compression damping. Even with a significant amount of spring preload, I still needed to add air to get correct spring rate, so this is still a work in progress.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Great Advice
Unbelievably good article. A great way to end the year.
Takes an incredible amount of energy, but probably worth it.
Takes an incredible amount of energy, but probably worth it.
"One last thought: One reason why Christians are often limited in vision, energy, and blessings is that, contrary to the Lord’s command, we are ungrateful, unforgiving, and bitter. Far too many who profess the name of Christ spend more time obsessing on those who have wronged them than rejoicing in those who have blessed them.
Bitterness comes from being unwilling to forgive. Bitter people are small people. They are unsuccessful people. They are people who cannot move forward. They are people who believe that the personal wrongs against them are so great that they — the offended — are entitled to do to their offenders what they pray the Lord Jesus Christ will never do to them: refuse to forgive."
Thursday, December 27, 2007
One more...
The ideal number of bikes is N+1 with N being the number you have now.
I currently have 5 adult bikes.
Kids are kinda the same. I currently have 4 kids....
For now.
I currently have 5 adult bikes.
Kids are kinda the same. I currently have 4 kids....
For now.
El Capitan first ride
Got out for a nice relaxing ride on slightly muddy trails. This is my typical "new bike", or "changed something and want to test it" ride.
Riding it 5" rear, 4" front cuz I was too lazy to mess with it.
Fit: Unbelievably, I felt a little too stretched out. Time to get out the 80mm stem and non-setback post.
Suspension: Super plush. Sag checked out okay, but I blew through the rear too easily, so I needed to firm it up, but forgot the shock pump. So yeah, super plush.
Fork: Unbelievable that this is the same chassis I sent to White Bros a couple weeks ago for a damper change. Night and day, way better, uber plush, tracks great. For anyone on the fence, the new Fluid forks ride great. The prior IMV damper sucked for me and I am glad I ditched it. Felt like a lot more than 100mm.
Frame: Sorry to say this folks, but I think my Lenz is stiffer. No Ventana is a noodle, but slight flex was noticable. Not a fair comparison because the Lenz has Flows (instead of Arches) and a TA 150mm rear wheel in its favor, so some component (maybe a lot) is the wheels.
Technical climbing was awesome as I have found on pretty much all 29" bikes. This little frame did a great job in tight techy situations with rock drops in the middle of switchbacks, etc. Sort of like driving an economy car around the city. Very responsive to hopping around and body english. I did notice the rear wanting to let go a little quicker than the Lenz. I made some tight switchback moves with ease that vex me on the Lenz, but failed a couple rougher moves that I usually clear easily on the other bike.
The front end felt nowhere near as heavy as the Curtlo, but not as light as the Lenz. Felt balanced.
At high speed, it felt a little twitchier than I am used to, but not necessarily unstable. You just needed to pay attention.
Lawn darted off several tech moves I usually clear with ease on the Lenz. Just about crapped my pants on another steep roll-off that I don't much think about on the Lenz. I felt the longer stays for sure in many situations. I never felt they added anything positive to the ride.
It shreds best on smoother, tighter radius curvy singletrack, which is definitely its element, the front just tracks nicely around corners in these situations.
I would say that in general, I like the Lunchbox more in almost every situation except:
Tight, slow, technical climbingI posted the below in the wrong place, Should have been just before the 2nd ride post.
Tightish fast smoother singletrack
Which is a fancy way of saying this is a very nice XC bike. It is a good bike, much better than the Curtlo it replaced, but without the visceral love reaction I get from the Box.
I think I will ditch the 5" rockers and commit to 4" in order to gain a lower BB and slightly slacker HTA as better fits this bikes purpose. There are rides where I'm sure it will outperform the Lenz, unfortunately, they are mostly the tighter woods trails you find back east.
This is a very first impression, and is likely to change as I get the thing tweaked to my liking.
Just reaffirms the fact that all bikes are compromises, you just have to find the compromise that suits you best. My comparisons to the Lenz are like comparing a Salty to a Terremoto, or Spot to an RFX. There really is no comparison, and one frame or the other will appeal to you based on your needs.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Lap Colon #1
I was able to finish my first Lap Left colectomy today. I went in with trepidation, but was geeked to find out that is was not too difficult. I have done a couple rights with Lap assistance, only to eventually open to finish the case, so this is my first complete colectomy under the scope.
Finished in 1.5 hours, partly because if a a very favorable patient (thin, virgin belly, tumor in mid descending).
I found it very satisfying (and fun!) to remove and re-anastamose two feet of diseased colon through a three inch incision. In the long run, the patient is the beneficiary with much shorter recovery time and less complications related to the wound.
Finished in 1.5 hours, partly because if a a very favorable patient (thin, virgin belly, tumor in mid descending).
I found it very satisfying (and fun!) to remove and re-anastamose two feet of diseased colon through a three inch incision. In the long run, the patient is the beneficiary with much shorter recovery time and less complications related to the wound.
El Capitan 2nd Ride
Dialed.
This thing rocks.
Changes pre-ride included switching to 4" rockers, shortening stem 10mm, switching from setback post to Gravity retarder sit on top post.
Took it on a reasonably challenging ride with good steep climbing over water bars, fast, descending over the same sort of thing, and general tight and open sweeping turns.
Cockpit: perfect fit.
The previous twitchy feeling it gone and replaced by telepathic handling. Great handling balance between stability, and a real ability to throw the bike around and have some fun (flickability for lack of a better word).
The front end now comes up nicely when needed. Not heavy feeling at all. The only place I notice the difference from the Lenz is in panic, "instant manual needed now" situations. If I can get the slightest pedal stroke in, or if I even have a second to prepare to manual, I can land in whatever attitude I want.
What does this little experiment tell me:
1. For whatever reason: I like little bikes. It was no fluke that I loved riding Jayem's 6-Pack so much, with its little 23.25" ETT. It is supposedly a size too small for me. My Cross Check commuter is supposedly two sizes too small for me. This El Capitan is supposedly 1 or two sizes too small for me. El Comandante is supposedly one size smaller than recommended and I love the ride of all these bikes, and have generally disliked all bikes I've ridden with an ETT longer than 24 inches. Most folks would say this is crazy talk for someone 6'1". Most folks are wrong.
I'm sort of wondering how the Lenz would ride I had gone with medium instead of the large.
2. Ride bikes as they were designed. Sherwood designed this as a 4" bike. I tried to make it into something it wasn't with the Curtlo front end and 5" rockers and fork. Don't bother, just trust the designer. This was a good lesson. Luckily I have come out of it about where I would have been if I had just bought an El Cap in the first place.
3. I now own three mountain bikes and one commuter that I freaking love to ride!!! How blessed is that! They each have their place and are incredibly good bikes for their class of bike. No need for any fundamental tweaking that I can find. Now to find the time to enjoy them.
As I final thought, I wonder if this experience is isolated to me, or if, in general, in 29" world, folks are making ETT's too long. The 29" wheel does not need it for stability. I wonder if a lot of folks out there would be happier on smaller front center bikes. Hard to say. I definitely know what I like at this time, and any future bike purchases will find me getting the shortest ETT that I can get my saddle to full height on.
This thing rocks.
Changes pre-ride included switching to 4" rockers, shortening stem 10mm, switching from setback post to Gravity retarder sit on top post.
Took it on a reasonably challenging ride with good steep climbing over water bars, fast, descending over the same sort of thing, and general tight and open sweeping turns.
Cockpit: perfect fit.
The previous twitchy feeling it gone and replaced by telepathic handling. Great handling balance between stability, and a real ability to throw the bike around and have some fun (flickability for lack of a better word).
The front end now comes up nicely when needed. Not heavy feeling at all. The only place I notice the difference from the Lenz is in panic, "instant manual needed now" situations. If I can get the slightest pedal stroke in, or if I even have a second to prepare to manual, I can land in whatever attitude I want.
What does this little experiment tell me:
1. For whatever reason: I like little bikes. It was no fluke that I loved riding Jayem's 6-Pack so much, with its little 23.25" ETT. It is supposedly a size too small for me. My Cross Check commuter is supposedly two sizes too small for me. This El Capitan is supposedly 1 or two sizes too small for me. El Comandante is supposedly one size smaller than recommended and I love the ride of all these bikes, and have generally disliked all bikes I've ridden with an ETT longer than 24 inches. Most folks would say this is crazy talk for someone 6'1". Most folks are wrong.
I'm sort of wondering how the Lenz would ride I had gone with medium instead of the large.
2. Ride bikes as they were designed. Sherwood designed this as a 4" bike. I tried to make it into something it wasn't with the Curtlo front end and 5" rockers and fork. Don't bother, just trust the designer. This was a good lesson. Luckily I have come out of it about where I would have been if I had just bought an El Cap in the first place.
3. I now own three mountain bikes and one commuter that I freaking love to ride!!! How blessed is that! They each have their place and are incredibly good bikes for their class of bike. No need for any fundamental tweaking that I can find. Now to find the time to enjoy them.
As I final thought, I wonder if this experience is isolated to me, or if, in general, in 29" world, folks are making ETT's too long. The 29" wheel does not need it for stability. I wonder if a lot of folks out there would be happier on smaller front center bikes. Hard to say. I definitely know what I like at this time, and any future bike purchases will find me getting the shortest ETT that I can get my saddle to full height on.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Balance
Put the 4" rockers on El Capitan and swapped the Pushed Fox for a plain old (old) Float RC. Also shortened the stem to 80mm.
HTA slackens 1 degree or so. BB drops 0.5" (now 13.75).
Immediately, this bike feels more balanced.
Did a quick urban ride around the streets/lawns/landscaping, and it feels really great.
This should come as no surprise because this is how Sherwood designed this thing to handle anyway. I can't wait to get some trail time on this set up because it feels like a fast, nimble, stable all around XC performer.
HTA slackens 1 degree or so. BB drops 0.5" (now 13.75).
Immediately, this bike feels more balanced.
Did a quick urban ride around the streets/lawns/landscaping, and it feels really great.
This should come as no surprise because this is how Sherwood designed this thing to handle anyway. I can't wait to get some trail time on this set up because it feels like a fast, nimble, stable all around XC performer.
First Ride
Got out for a nice relaxing ride on slightly muddy trails. This is my typical "new bike", or "changed something and want to test it" ride.
Riding it 5" rear, 4" front cuz I was too lazy to mess with it.
Fit: Unbelievably, I felt a little too stretched out. Time to get out the 80mm stem and non-setback post.
Suspension: Super plush. Sag checked out okay, but I blew through the rear too easily, so I needed to firm it up, but forgot the shock pump. So yeah, super plush.
Fork: Unbelievable that this is the same chassis I sent to White Bros a couple weeks ago for a damper change. Night and day, way better, uber plush, tracks great. For anyone on the fence, the new Fluid forks ride great. The prior IMV damper sucked for me and I am glad I ditched it. Felt like a lot more than 100mm.
Frame: Sorry to say this folks, but I think my Lenz is stiffer. No Ventana is a noodle, but slight flex was noticable. Not a fair comparison because the Lenz has Flows (instead of Arches) and a TA 150mm rear wheel in its favor, so some component (maybe a lot) is the wheels.
Technical climbing was awesome as I have found on pretty much all 29" bikes. This little frame did a great job in tight techy situations with rock drops in the middle of switchbacks, etc. Sort of like driving an economy car around the city. Very responsive to hopping around and body english. I did notice the rear wanting to let go a little quicker than the Lenz. I made some tight switchback moves with ease that vex me on the Lenz, but failed a couple rougher moves that I usually clear easily on the other bike.
The front end felt nowhere near as heavy as the Curtlo, but not as light as the Lenz. Felt balanced.
At high speed, it felt a little twitchier than I am used to, but not necessarily unstable. You just needed to pay attention.
Lawn darted off several tech moves I usually clear with ease on the Lenz. Just about crapped my pants on another steep roll-off that I don't much think about on the Lenz. I felt the longer stays for sure in many situations. I never felt they added anything positive to the ride.
It shreds best on smoother, tighter radius curvy singletrack, which is definitely its element, the front just tracks nicely around corners in these situations.
I would say that in general, I like the Lunchbox more in almost every situation except:
I think I will ditch the 5" rockers and commit to 4" in order to gain a lower BB and slightly slacker HTA as better fits this bikes purpose. There are rides where I'm sure it will outperform the Lenz, unfortunately, they are mostly the tighter woods trails you find back east.
This is a very first impression, and is likely to change as I get the thing tweaked to my liking.
Just reaffirms the fact that all bikes are compromises, you just have to find the compromise that suits you best. My comparisons to the Lenz are like comparing a Salty to a Terremoto, or Spot to an RFX. There really is no comparison, and one frame or the other will appeal to you based on your needs.
Riding it 5" rear, 4" front cuz I was too lazy to mess with it.
Fit: Unbelievably, I felt a little too stretched out. Time to get out the 80mm stem and non-setback post.
Suspension: Super plush. Sag checked out okay, but I blew through the rear too easily, so I needed to firm it up, but forgot the shock pump. So yeah, super plush.
Fork: Unbelievable that this is the same chassis I sent to White Bros a couple weeks ago for a damper change. Night and day, way better, uber plush, tracks great. For anyone on the fence, the new Fluid forks ride great. The prior IMV damper sucked for me and I am glad I ditched it. Felt like a lot more than 100mm.
Frame: Sorry to say this folks, but I think my Lenz is stiffer. No Ventana is a noodle, but slight flex was noticable. Not a fair comparison because the Lenz has Flows (instead of Arches) and a TA 150mm rear wheel in its favor, so some component (maybe a lot) is the wheels.
Technical climbing was awesome as I have found on pretty much all 29" bikes. This little frame did a great job in tight techy situations with rock drops in the middle of switchbacks, etc. Sort of like driving an economy car around the city. Very responsive to hopping around and body english. I did notice the rear wanting to let go a little quicker than the Lenz. I made some tight switchback moves with ease that vex me on the Lenz, but failed a couple rougher moves that I usually clear easily on the other bike.
The front end felt nowhere near as heavy as the Curtlo, but not as light as the Lenz. Felt balanced.
At high speed, it felt a little twitchier than I am used to, but not necessarily unstable. You just needed to pay attention.
Lawn darted off several tech moves I usually clear with ease on the Lenz. Just about crapped my pants on another steep roll-off that I don't much think about on the Lenz. I felt the longer stays for sure in many situations. I never felt they added anything positive to the ride.
It shreds best on smoother, tighter radius curvy singletrack, which is definitely its element, the front just tracks nicely around corners in these situations.
I would say that in general, I like the Lunchbox more in almost every situation except:
Tight, slow, technical climbingWhich is a fancy way of saying this is a very nice XC bike. It is a good bike, much better than the Curtlo it replaced, but without the visceral love reaction I get from the Box.
Tightish fast smoother singletrack
I think I will ditch the 5" rockers and commit to 4" in order to gain a lower BB and slightly slacker HTA as better fits this bikes purpose. There are rides where I'm sure it will outperform the Lenz, unfortunately, they are mostly the tighter woods trails you find back east.
This is a very first impression, and is likely to change as I get the thing tweaked to my liking.
Just reaffirms the fact that all bikes are compromises, you just have to find the compromise that suits you best. My comparisons to the Lenz are like comparing a Salty to a Terremoto, or Spot to an RFX. There really is no comparison, and one frame or the other will appeal to you based on your needs.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Blade Runner
Caught this on the way home last night.
A groundbreaking film from my favorite director, I'll have to check out the update.
A groundbreaking film from my favorite director, I'll have to check out the update.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Couple changes
First, rode the Comandante rigid this am up 305 and down with Dan. My legs were pretty worked by the end letting me know I have not SS'd enough. I still had reasonable explosiveness, but the recovery from those explosive efforts left a lot to be desired. I was weak by the end, and a little jelly legged most of the morning.
Dang it was fun. Did I say it was fun? I really like this bike rigid and think it will stay that way. I have a bunch of other rides for more epic, stuff that beats you up. I would not want to ride rigid every day, but it is simply a hoot to have such a responsive, light rig that really doesn't beat you up too bad.
It just looks right as well except for the seatpost, but I am hopelessly addicted to how it makes any bike ride.As for the bike to which El Comandante donated a fork:
Almost done, lacks a chain, cassette, and derailleur which should be here this week. With its tiny cockpit, and massive stand over, it looks to be quite the fun bike as well. I can tell just coasting it around the driveway that it is not nearly so ponderous as the Curtlo.The WB fork just got back from having the IMV guts exchanged for Fluid guts, and a new longer steer tube put on it. Dramatic difference in plushness. The IMV was just too harsh feeling for me.
Clean-up
Finally put the extra stall in the new garage to good use. I started with one 6 foot pole on the Minoura rack for every bike, and it was clear it would not be adequate for kid and adult bikes.
I replaced the metal crossbar that came with the Minoura rack with a 10 foot one to gain some space. Using it for sundry kids bikes because it is lower, and the round pole fits under theri saddles better. This rack cost $110.
I built this one out of scrap wood and $3 in brackets from the hardware store.
They work about the same:( Lesson learned.
I replaced the metal crossbar that came with the Minoura rack with a 10 foot one to gain some space. Using it for sundry kids bikes because it is lower, and the round pole fits under theri saddles better. This rack cost $110.
I built this one out of scrap wood and $3 in brackets from the hardware store.
They work about the same:( Lesson learned.
Stairs
Got out for a little father son time earlier this week. Ran into some friends with a camera while the boy was showing off his new found riding down stairs skills.
Amazing, couldn't do that a month ago, now he does it like no sweat. His COG to wheelbase ratio makes it almost impossible to go OTB. If he can lay off the brakes, and stay up on the pedals (harder than it sounds when you are new to it), he is fine. He found out the hard way what it is like to slip off the pedals and ride down seated.
Yeah, I always wear full face around the hood.
Amazing, couldn't do that a month ago, now he does it like no sweat. His COG to wheelbase ratio makes it almost impossible to go OTB. If he can lay off the brakes, and stay up on the pedals (harder than it sounds when you are new to it), he is fine. He found out the hard way what it is like to slip off the pedals and ride down seated.
Yeah, I always wear full face around the hood.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
It fits!
Was able to get the fork/wheels/cranks/rear brake on Greenie tonight. Just rolling around with no power and bouncing shows that it fits, and no toe overlap (although it is close.)
90mm stem yeilds a very nice cockpit for me.
Oh yeah, it feels nimble (but not as nimble as the Box).
Need a few more parts (cassette, chain, rear derailleur, decent headset) and I am golden.
90mm stem yeilds a very nice cockpit for me.
Oh yeah, it feels nimble (but not as nimble as the Box).
Need a few more parts (cassette, chain, rear derailleur, decent headset) and I am golden.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Score
Not much to report here. I am up to my eyeballs with work, getting settled in the new house (read, hanging stuff and unpacking boxes for the wife). In my spare time I am buying stuff for the new office, getting the computers set up, getting the accounting systems set up, etc.
I did find time to get a little something off of Ebay, however.
Bolts up nicely to the Curtlo's rear end.
Fork will come off the Comandante, so I am rigid SSer for a while. Bought it simply because I have most of the stuff to build it lying around and it will make a more than nice spare, spouse(right), loaner or kid bike in the future. Plus it lets me fool around with a really little frame and see how I like it.
Full story here.
Hopefully I can ride again in the near future.
I did find time to get a little something off of Ebay, however.
Bolts up nicely to the Curtlo's rear end.
Fork will come off the Comandante, so I am rigid SSer for a while. Bought it simply because I have most of the stuff to build it lying around and it will make a more than nice spare, spouse(right), loaner or kid bike in the future. Plus it lets me fool around with a really little frame and see how I like it.
Full story here.
Hopefully I can ride again in the near future.
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Weekend
I don't want to do that again for a while.
Thursday: on call, plus turning 38, plus trying to move. Had a very nice day at friends who graciously invited us and our large family over for dinner with all the fixins. Actually got a nap. Made 100 trips in the van with house junk to the new place. Up half the night doing surgery.
Friday: More van trips, more surgery.
Saturday: Off call, but this is moving day, got all the big stuff moved thanks to some great friends (all bikers BTW), slept part of the night in the new house.
Sunday: Call again, reasonably busy. But, did get to demo a couple Bionicons which I liked, but not as much as the Box.
So in all, the score is:
Three lives saved by surgical intervention, four lives changed for the better, one 38 year old birthday, and the family snug in a new house.
Not a bad weekend, but the pace is blistering.
Thursday: on call, plus turning 38, plus trying to move. Had a very nice day at friends who graciously invited us and our large family over for dinner with all the fixins. Actually got a nap. Made 100 trips in the van with house junk to the new place. Up half the night doing surgery.
Friday: More van trips, more surgery.
Saturday: Off call, but this is moving day, got all the big stuff moved thanks to some great friends (all bikers BTW), slept part of the night in the new house.
Sunday: Call again, reasonably busy. But, did get to demo a couple Bionicons which I liked, but not as much as the Box.
So in all, the score is:
Three lives saved by surgical intervention, four lives changed for the better, one 38 year old birthday, and the family snug in a new house.
Not a bad weekend, but the pace is blistering.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Immunizations (or not)
A great friend brought to my attention that some vaccines used in the USA are produced using aborted fetal tissue. I never knew this, and frankly was shocked to find out that he was right.
I spent a lot of time on my response to him so I thought it would be blog worthy. There are folks out ther that distrust everything not "natural". Most are fairly ignorant. I appreciate it when someone sincerely researches and wrestles with the issues based on the facts. In general, not immunizing your kids is dumb for a lot of reasons. It is morally repugnant that we are using aborted tissue cell lines when I believe alternatives are available. I am not an expert in vaccine production, so it would be interesting to know why they are still using these 40 year old cell lines.
Thanks to your wife for researching this and stimulating my mind. I did not know these facts.
I found some stuff that will help you as you think about it attached below.
There is no doubt that aborted tissue is used in the production of the chicken Pox and Rubella (German Measles) vaccines. These are the only common vaccines that use human tissue. The human tissue does not come from continuous abortions. They are cell lines cultured and grown since the 60's from abortions at that time. In other words, they came from two aborted children, but none since. So called embryonic stem cells.
Here are some good details on the cell lines involved:
The Rubella Vaccine is also part of the MMR (measles mumps rubella) shot series.
Essentially there are alternatives to everything except Rubella and Varicella. Ironically, the Rubella vaccine is actually given mainly to protect the unborn from the catastrophic effects of Rubella on the fetus (that is the disease my sister came home with when my mom was pregnant with me). In other words, you protect the unborn by immunizing potential mothers, and by eliminating the disease from the surrounding population (this is called herd immunity).
I thought this site had some great reasoning
Medically, the so called cancer causing things in the vaccines are extremely minute. The site you sent me especially focuses on the "dangers of vaccine" Little time is spent on the danger of the diseases themselves. If we didn't vaccinate, lots of kids would die or be permanently brain damaged from various childhood illnesses. You have never seen someone paralyzed for life from polio I bet? Probably never seen a photo of an infant with Tetanus near death? I'll spare you the infants, but here are some adults. Search google images under "risus sardonicus" if you want to see some creepy stuff.
Those folks are holding that posture involuntarily thus the moniker "lockjaw"
This whole site is dedicated to educating you about what these buggers can do. We forget this because we don't see these diseases much anymore because of immunization.
More pro vaccine propaganda
Go to the source and read these comprehensive studies.
Be sure to check all the vaccine safety tabs on that one. Vaccines are incredibly carefully studied.
Finally, check out a few articles from pro life medical organizations. The first is from Christian Medical Society. The second is a very detailed, well reasoned one from the Vatican (believe what you want about the catholics, they are very thoughtful on most issues)
I am really glad you are doing your homework. Continue to do so, and be sure to see the other side of the story. These diseases are nasty.
Hope this overwhelming amount of information helps. You have several hours of homework here.
I personally am leaning towards avoiding the Rubella and Varicella vaccines for our kids until something else is available. I do this for moral reasons and not safety concerns. I don't know AZ law on this, but it might keep your kids out of public school of you do so.
In my opinion it would be morally wrong to allow someone to die from rabies if I had a treatment for it even though the treatment was produced in a morally unacceptable fashion. I can't change the past. I would like to see a rabies alternative, however. The other vaccines on your list are very uncommon to use.
I spent a lot of time on my response to him so I thought it would be blog worthy. There are folks out ther that distrust everything not "natural". Most are fairly ignorant. I appreciate it when someone sincerely researches and wrestles with the issues based on the facts. In general, not immunizing your kids is dumb for a lot of reasons. It is morally repugnant that we are using aborted tissue cell lines when I believe alternatives are available. I am not an expert in vaccine production, so it would be interesting to know why they are still using these 40 year old cell lines.
Thanks to your wife for researching this and stimulating my mind. I did not know these facts.
I found some stuff that will help you as you think about it attached below.
There is no doubt that aborted tissue is used in the production of the chicken Pox and Rubella (German Measles) vaccines. These are the only common vaccines that use human tissue. The human tissue does not come from continuous abortions. They are cell lines cultured and grown since the 60's from abortions at that time. In other words, they came from two aborted children, but none since. So called embryonic stem cells.
Here are some good details on the cell lines involved:
The Rubella Vaccine is also part of the MMR (measles mumps rubella) shot series.
Essentially there are alternatives to everything except Rubella and Varicella. Ironically, the Rubella vaccine is actually given mainly to protect the unborn from the catastrophic effects of Rubella on the fetus (that is the disease my sister came home with when my mom was pregnant with me). In other words, you protect the unborn by immunizing potential mothers, and by eliminating the disease from the surrounding population (this is called herd immunity).
I thought this site had some great reasoning
Medically, the so called cancer causing things in the vaccines are extremely minute. The site you sent me especially focuses on the "dangers of vaccine" Little time is spent on the danger of the diseases themselves. If we didn't vaccinate, lots of kids would die or be permanently brain damaged from various childhood illnesses. You have never seen someone paralyzed for life from polio I bet? Probably never seen a photo of an infant with Tetanus near death? I'll spare you the infants, but here are some adults. Search google images under "risus sardonicus" if you want to see some creepy stuff.
Those folks are holding that posture involuntarily thus the moniker "lockjaw"This whole site is dedicated to educating you about what these buggers can do. We forget this because we don't see these diseases much anymore because of immunization.
More pro vaccine propaganda
Go to the source and read these comprehensive studies.
Be sure to check all the vaccine safety tabs on that one. Vaccines are incredibly carefully studied.
Finally, check out a few articles from pro life medical organizations. The first is from Christian Medical Society. The second is a very detailed, well reasoned one from the Vatican (believe what you want about the catholics, they are very thoughtful on most issues)
I am really glad you are doing your homework. Continue to do so, and be sure to see the other side of the story. These diseases are nasty.
Hope this overwhelming amount of information helps. You have several hours of homework here.
I personally am leaning towards avoiding the Rubella and Varicella vaccines for our kids until something else is available. I do this for moral reasons and not safety concerns. I don't know AZ law on this, but it might keep your kids out of public school of you do so.
In my opinion it would be morally wrong to allow someone to die from rabies if I had a treatment for it even though the treatment was produced in a morally unacceptable fashion. I can't change the past. I would like to see a rabies alternative, however. The other vaccines on your list are very uncommon to use.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Creationism
Stimulated to thought by Dave's thoughts on the evolution/intelligent design debate. I'll attempt to add to the discussion.
I am currently reading the book "The Myth of Certainty". I have barely begun, but the author seems to be describing me to a T. He discusses so called "reflective Christians" and the difficulties they run in to. Good review of it here. Essentially, reflective believers are caught between subcultures. They refuse to toe every line of the institutional church, while at the same time not totally measuring up to the demands of secularism. They are Christians of deep faith and commitment with a willingness to think outside of the Christian box. To ask difficult questions, and possibly receive difficult answers. Here is a quote:
". . . each group is impatient with the recalcitrant who wants to retain parts of both worlds. Conservative Christendom will allow you to think, as long as you think 'correctly,' or keep dangerous thoughts to yourself. The secular world will allow you to be a Christian, as long as your faith is kept in quarantine and not allowed to influence your judgments or lead to you to question secular presuppositions." P 60
Thus we come to the Creation/evolution debate. On the one hand, we have literal seven day creationists a great example would be the good folks at Vision Forum. Their statement on creation can be seen here. They are closely allied with the Institute for Creation Research. The very basic tenets these groups hold is this: The bible was written by God, is therefore inerrant in every possible way, and literally true Therefore, the earth is 7000 years old and was created in seven literal days. If we find any evidence contrary to this using the scientific method, then our methodology is incorrect because the evidence can not overrule God's inerrant word because only God was there in the beginning.
I have great respect for the folks at both institutions, especially their devotion and integrity of their faith. I also disagree with them.
On the other hand, we have secular humanism which completely rejects the possibility of an interactive God out of hand (just as close minded as the literal bible believers I might add). Since they believe God does not and can not exist, they must explain everything naturally. If it does not add up, then we simply don't know enough yet. The disturbing endpoint of this thinking is that everything and everyone is a random event with no meaning, no purpose. Might as well blow your brains out. What the secularists have going for them is the scientific method and empiric observation.....truth if you will.
I have great respect for science and the scientific method, but find the Secularists to be as close minded as the Christians at times.
What is the answer? I'm not smart enough to tell you. The bible is God's word. The scientific evidence suggests an old earth. We are here, so we came from somewhere, but evolutionary theory has thus far not been able to explain pre-biotic (life from non-life) evolution in any satisfactory manner. Where did all the energy for these processes (big bang) come from in the first place?
In the first Chapter of Velvet Elvis (highly recommended), Rob Bell states there are two different kinds of philosophical stances. One is a brick wall where if even one brick is removed, the whole thing is in danger of toppling. This represents the biblical literalists, and their fear of thinking outside of the doctrinal box as well as humanistic thinkers who categorically deny a personal God. The other stance is more like a trampoline that stretches and bends, but generally retains its shape. This represents Christians who are willing to probe and think, and push the limits. the whole thing will not necessarily break down.
I'm too tired to think so I might update this in the future....or not. No conclusions unfortunately, other than we are all a bit more close minded than we think.
I am currently reading the book "The Myth of Certainty". I have barely begun, but the author seems to be describing me to a T. He discusses so called "reflective Christians" and the difficulties they run in to. Good review of it here. Essentially, reflective believers are caught between subcultures. They refuse to toe every line of the institutional church, while at the same time not totally measuring up to the demands of secularism. They are Christians of deep faith and commitment with a willingness to think outside of the Christian box. To ask difficult questions, and possibly receive difficult answers. Here is a quote:
". . . each group is impatient with the recalcitrant who wants to retain parts of both worlds. Conservative Christendom will allow you to think, as long as you think 'correctly,' or keep dangerous thoughts to yourself. The secular world will allow you to be a Christian, as long as your faith is kept in quarantine and not allowed to influence your judgments or lead to you to question secular presuppositions." P 60
Thus we come to the Creation/evolution debate. On the one hand, we have literal seven day creationists a great example would be the good folks at Vision Forum. Their statement on creation can be seen here. They are closely allied with the Institute for Creation Research. The very basic tenets these groups hold is this: The bible was written by God, is therefore inerrant in every possible way, and literally true Therefore, the earth is 7000 years old and was created in seven literal days. If we find any evidence contrary to this using the scientific method, then our methodology is incorrect because the evidence can not overrule God's inerrant word because only God was there in the beginning.
I have great respect for the folks at both institutions, especially their devotion and integrity of their faith. I also disagree with them.
On the other hand, we have secular humanism which completely rejects the possibility of an interactive God out of hand (just as close minded as the literal bible believers I might add). Since they believe God does not and can not exist, they must explain everything naturally. If it does not add up, then we simply don't know enough yet. The disturbing endpoint of this thinking is that everything and everyone is a random event with no meaning, no purpose. Might as well blow your brains out. What the secularists have going for them is the scientific method and empiric observation.....truth if you will.
I have great respect for science and the scientific method, but find the Secularists to be as close minded as the Christians at times.
What is the answer? I'm not smart enough to tell you. The bible is God's word. The scientific evidence suggests an old earth. We are here, so we came from somewhere, but evolutionary theory has thus far not been able to explain pre-biotic (life from non-life) evolution in any satisfactory manner. Where did all the energy for these processes (big bang) come from in the first place?
In the first Chapter of Velvet Elvis (highly recommended), Rob Bell states there are two different kinds of philosophical stances. One is a brick wall where if even one brick is removed, the whole thing is in danger of toppling. This represents the biblical literalists, and their fear of thinking outside of the doctrinal box as well as humanistic thinkers who categorically deny a personal God. The other stance is more like a trampoline that stretches and bends, but generally retains its shape. This represents Christians who are willing to probe and think, and push the limits. the whole thing will not necessarily break down.
I'm too tired to think so I might update this in the future....or not. No conclusions unfortunately, other than we are all a bit more close minded than we think.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Freeeedom!
Gave notice to my current employer that I was not signing up again. This occurred for a lot of reasons.
I am now thrust upon the path of small business ownership and transient (hopefully) financial stress.
I have no doubt this was the right decision, but it was hard to reach.
So at 38, I will finally be my own man in a few months. Part of the reason I am here, doing what I am is because I just didn't have the guts to go for things on my own, so I stayed in school as long as possible, then accepted an employment position which kept my hassles to a minimum.
The decision took a lot of prayer and thought, but ultimately, I am 100% sure it is the right direction for this family. It also takes a lot of faith in the provision and goodness of God, and a lot of belief that I have what it takes to pull off a successful small business.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
First Ascent
I'm proud of me, so I thought I'd post it.
I performed the first Laparoscopic Splenectomy ever in out little community last night.
This is a rare case to be performed for non-trauma purposes, so no one has a lot of experience with it.
It is one of those situations where I knew I had the abilities, but didn't have a ton of experience. But who does up here? It is also a surgery that can go from routine to a bloodbath very, very quickly with one wrong move.
I went in with careful preparation, and was able to successfully remove a very large, inflammed, infected spleen with a two inch incision so this otherwise healthy guy will be back to work quickly.
In general the experience was emotionally exhausting because you get all the adrenaline rush of teasing a cobra for 3 hours, but you have to keep still, and have no flight/fight outlet for those neurotransmitters.
I don't think I would want to do this every day, but when you pull off a challenge it definitely gives you a buzz for a while.
----------------
Now playing: Allegro - Oboe Concerto in D minor, RV 454
via FoxyTunes
I performed the first Laparoscopic Splenectomy ever in out little community last night.
This is a rare case to be performed for non-trauma purposes, so no one has a lot of experience with it.
It is one of those situations where I knew I had the abilities, but didn't have a ton of experience. But who does up here? It is also a surgery that can go from routine to a bloodbath very, very quickly with one wrong move.
I went in with careful preparation, and was able to successfully remove a very large, inflammed, infected spleen with a two inch incision so this otherwise healthy guy will be back to work quickly.
In general the experience was emotionally exhausting because you get all the adrenaline rush of teasing a cobra for 3 hours, but you have to keep still, and have no flight/fight outlet for those neurotransmitters.
I don't think I would want to do this every day, but when you pull off a challenge it definitely gives you a buzz for a while.
----------------
Now playing: Allegro - Oboe Concerto in D minor, RV 454
via FoxyTunes
How to wreck your bike
Loan it to 230 lb strong like bull beginner rider.
Watch said rider crash on derailleur side.
5 minutes later, see derailleur shift into rear wheel and frag the chain, bend the wheel, break the hanger and derailleur.
Realize that in prior crash, derailleur was bent ever so slightly in to allow for above disaster.
Realize that spare hanger in your pack is not the correct one for the bike despite coming in the box with the bike.
Get home and fix it all.
Up and running again thanks to quick work on Devin's part. New chain, new hanger, I thought the derailluer was okay, but it works like crap despite appearing adjusted on the workstand, so I switched it out for a spare that works fine.
From now on newbie riders are riding the SS. They have enough to worry about to add shifting into the mix.
----------------
Now playing: Michael W. Smith - Hand of Providence
via FoxyTunes
Watch said rider crash on derailleur side.
5 minutes later, see derailleur shift into rear wheel and frag the chain, bend the wheel, break the hanger and derailleur.
Realize that in prior crash, derailleur was bent ever so slightly in to allow for above disaster.
Realize that spare hanger in your pack is not the correct one for the bike despite coming in the box with the bike.
Get home and fix it all.
Up and running again thanks to quick work on Devin's part. New chain, new hanger, I thought the derailluer was okay, but it works like crap despite appearing adjusted on the workstand, so I switched it out for a spare that works fine.
From now on newbie riders are riding the SS. They have enough to worry about to add shifting into the mix.
----------------
Now playing: Michael W. Smith - Hand of Providence
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Congratulations Luke!!
My best bud's 13 yo after winning his age group in a cross race. The back story is that he had battled two other kids back and forth for 40 minutes to get this win by a mere 40 seconds.
What more needs to be said. Already has the winning form.
The younger kids had fun too.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
My Visit with Wayne
Wayne is the inventor/manufacturer of the Gravity Dropper seat post. He was out visiting Hosking post interbike and he and Chris wanted to ride.
We did a magnificent loop from the Wmson Valley Trailhead, in via the technical way, counter clockwise around the basin, hitting all the techy stuff in Mint Wash, the "Triple Challenge" climbing 349, then the long descent from above Cayuse out through the gate.
We had lots, and I mean lots of fun. Wayne never rides much anymore, but he is one of these guys who can kick the crap out of you anyway (small, near zero body fat, high natural VO2). Technical skills are superb. He rode every technical obstacle I could lead him in to, on sight on his decidely XC-ish blur. Didn't even slow down to take a look, just held my wheel.
Seatposts are a second career and certainly don't pay the bills for him, but he is passionate about the product. He is probably the last person who would need such a device. Nice guy. Makes me happier about recommending these posts to everyone who rides a bike. I am getting one for the SS, and maybe the commuter some day. Amazing how something I never "needed" before has changed my riding style and comfort so much it has basically become a necessity. I put it's utility up there with suspension and big wheels. I also wonder if I ever would have migrated to the big wheel format if I had had this dealio before.
Stand-out memory is flying all out down the last long descent. Chris and Wayne on my heels. Sliding both wheels frequently in the loose DG. Three, dare I say, expert riders with totally different styles (?, Moto, XC-racer), Weights (175, 220?, 130?) bikes (Lunchbox, Bionicon, Blur), drivetrains (Gripshift, Sram trigger, XTR), and two different wheel sizes; all ripping it up and having a blast.
We were so evenly matched (at least downhill). I think that is what made it so fun. That is such a rare thing on any group ride.
Great times. Nice to meet you Wayne. Hope the company takes off eventually before Special-ed steals the idea and puts it on all their bikes.
To anyone else, buy one of these things.
We did a magnificent loop from the Wmson Valley Trailhead, in via the technical way, counter clockwise around the basin, hitting all the techy stuff in Mint Wash, the "Triple Challenge" climbing 349, then the long descent from above Cayuse out through the gate.
We had lots, and I mean lots of fun. Wayne never rides much anymore, but he is one of these guys who can kick the crap out of you anyway (small, near zero body fat, high natural VO2). Technical skills are superb. He rode every technical obstacle I could lead him in to, on sight on his decidely XC-ish blur. Didn't even slow down to take a look, just held my wheel.
Seatposts are a second career and certainly don't pay the bills for him, but he is passionate about the product. He is probably the last person who would need such a device. Nice guy. Makes me happier about recommending these posts to everyone who rides a bike. I am getting one for the SS, and maybe the commuter some day. Amazing how something I never "needed" before has changed my riding style and comfort so much it has basically become a necessity. I put it's utility up there with suspension and big wheels. I also wonder if I ever would have migrated to the big wheel format if I had had this dealio before.
Stand-out memory is flying all out down the last long descent. Chris and Wayne on my heels. Sliding both wheels frequently in the loose DG. Three, dare I say, expert riders with totally different styles (?, Moto, XC-racer), Weights (175, 220?, 130?) bikes (Lunchbox, Bionicon, Blur), drivetrains (Gripshift, Sram trigger, XTR), and two different wheel sizes; all ripping it up and having a blast.
We were so evenly matched (at least downhill). I think that is what made it so fun. That is such a rare thing on any group ride.
Great times. Nice to meet you Wayne. Hope the company takes off eventually before Special-ed steals the idea and puts it on all their bikes.
To anyone else, buy one of these things.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
The War
Whilst folding clothes last night turned on the tube for the first time in weeks, checked PBS and caught the beginning of a two hour session of "The War" By Ken Burns.
Wow!
Amazing portrait of the biggest human tragedy ever. I was hooked in for two hours. Granted I am a WWII buff, but I learned things I never had known before. Seems to me that the problems of our time pale in comparison to those of the Greatest Generation.
Did you know allied bombers killed 500,000 German civilians during the war (100,000) children, and at least as many in Japan? Me either. Not being critical, everyone did what they thought necessary to defeat two empires that would stop at nothing, even when they were clearly defeated. Still, the human cost is staggering.
Highly recommended.
Wow!
Amazing portrait of the biggest human tragedy ever. I was hooked in for two hours. Granted I am a WWII buff, but I learned things I never had known before. Seems to me that the problems of our time pale in comparison to those of the Greatest Generation.
Did you know allied bombers killed 500,000 German civilians during the war (100,000) children, and at least as many in Japan? Me either. Not being critical, everyone did what they thought necessary to defeat two empires that would stop at nothing, even when they were clearly defeated. Still, the human cost is staggering.
Highly recommended.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Career Reflections
From a hand surgeon of 20 years experience. Emphasis mine:
"A computer printout of my case mix shows that 52% of my hand cases in private practice consists of the “simple stuff”. By this I mean carpal tunnel releases, trigger fingers, ganglion excisions, hardware removal, simple fasciectomies and so forth. Society over here requires these services; we provide them.
"A computer printout of my case mix shows that 52% of my hand cases in private practice consists of the “simple stuff”. By this I mean carpal tunnel releases, trigger fingers, ganglion excisions, hardware removal, simple fasciectomies and so forth. Society over here requires these services; we provide them.
Now consider the lecture by Graham Gumley at the 2001 ASSH meeting in Baltimore. For those who missed the meeting (it was shortly after 9/11) it was a most tantalizing talk by a man who had spent six years as a hand surgeon in Cambodia. It was an eye opener as well as a tearjerker. What struck me most was his statement that in six years he could count on the fingers of one hand the number of carpal tunnels and other minor cases that he had done “ not because they are not there, but because they don’t reach the level of importance to take them to the doctor” (not verbatim but close). Just imagine that! Over half of what I do here for a living is considered, by humanity elsewhere on the planet, to be trivial.
Needless to say this revelation has disturbed and obsessed me for all the obvious reasons. My one career regret is that I never followed the example of many of my colleagues and volunteer for regular short overseas service of say one or two weeks a year."
Those thoughts again make me ponder the richness of our lives in this country. What is our responsibility to the rest of mankind with the skills and riches we have each been entrusted with? Are we to waste our lives seeking pleasure? I certainly do this, but I am entirely double minded about it.
Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Those thoughts again make me ponder the richness of our lives in this country. What is our responsibility to the rest of mankind with the skills and riches we have each been entrusted with? Are we to waste our lives seeking pleasure? I certainly do this, but I am entirely double minded about it.
Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Lunchbox: Good!
Today I rode it to work, then to Taco Bell, then up, up Iron Springs to 37, up to 40, down to 49, up, around and out to Katahn road, then roads home. Descending 40 was dream like. Nothing could touch me. Climbing 37 was a no brainer.
The handling is amazingly intuitive. It flies through the air with the greatest of ease. It feels much smaller than it is. Dare I say flickable? I am hitting stuff off the side of the trail I never considered riding before, just lift the front, pull up the rear, fly over and it takes care of you. Bunny hops are back. Wheelies are back. Instant manual drops at speed are back. Woo Hoo!
After 12 hours on the thing, I can find no bad habits. It has not burned me once. I can not really find one downside to the shorter stays.
I have heard there are only six or so out there. That is way, way too few, and I feel privileged to be riding one. I imagine, but don't know, that the handling on the short CS Behemoth would be nearly identical.
This is the standard I will judge all future bikes by, and In My Opinion, pretty much every other manufacturer is playing catch up.
Yeah, I like it. I'm not getting any more bikew with stays longer than 17.5"
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Thoughts on flex
Yesterday while descending Smith Ravine, I thought I noticed the rear end of the Lunchbox flexing when I was pushing it. Just a vague sort of feeling that the rear was wandering a little bit. Reminiscent of a tire that was a little low.
I was concerned it was frame flex and I was going to have to live with it.
I pulled off the rear wheel today to fix the out of dish problem. Checked spoke tension...BINGO.
Tension was in the 80 lb range and needs to be up towards 120. I put 1.5 turns into the spokes, tightened everything up, re-dished, and hopefully this will cure the flex I felt. I'm nearly certain it will.
In some ways it sucks to be that sensitive to how a bike rides. Maybe I shouldn't be so demanding of professional builds, but I have not generally been over impressed with the wheel building skills of many folks. I don't blame them because it is time consuming to do it right, and if you get paid $20 for the build why take massive amounts of time? Why check tension accurately with and instrument, rather than your fingers? Proves my point about many, but not all mechanics...trust no one. Do it yourself. This applies to your car as well.
Descending Smith ravine is by far the best test around these parts of a bikes handling characteristics by the way. It exposes any flaws that are present.
I have one more issue of headset creaking and I fear it may the the known problem of King incompatibility with big forks. I fiddled with it tonight, and if this doesn't cure it, will need to pop in an FSA or Cane Creek.
Otherwise this bike is dialed.
I can actually ride a very nice wheelie on this thing to impress the kiddos.
I was concerned it was frame flex and I was going to have to live with it.
I pulled off the rear wheel today to fix the out of dish problem. Checked spoke tension...BINGO.
Tension was in the 80 lb range and needs to be up towards 120. I put 1.5 turns into the spokes, tightened everything up, re-dished, and hopefully this will cure the flex I felt. I'm nearly certain it will.
In some ways it sucks to be that sensitive to how a bike rides. Maybe I shouldn't be so demanding of professional builds, but I have not generally been over impressed with the wheel building skills of many folks. I don't blame them because it is time consuming to do it right, and if you get paid $20 for the build why take massive amounts of time? Why check tension accurately with and instrument, rather than your fingers? Proves my point about many, but not all mechanics...trust no one. Do it yourself. This applies to your car as well.
Descending Smith ravine is by far the best test around these parts of a bikes handling characteristics by the way. It exposes any flaws that are present.
I have one more issue of headset creaking and I fear it may the the known problem of King incompatibility with big forks. I fiddled with it tonight, and if this doesn't cure it, will need to pop in an FSA or Cane Creek.
Otherwise this bike is dialed.
I can actually ride a very nice wheelie on this thing to impress the kiddos.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Lunch on the Long Loop
Or how the long loop ate my lunch.
Had a nice long afternoon before the long non-riding upcoming weekend. I had not yet tested the Box on the Ranch trail climb, and the Smith Ravine Descent, so I went for it.
Before I started I knew I was in for it. Just too hot and exposed on this trail. Even left off the leg armor for the climb. The trail is torn up badly from the rain.
Hard to evaluate the bike since I did such a poor job pushing it. Between the heat, smoke, and my general lack of intense climbing work outs, I walked a lot. When I did ride, it performed admirably. At no time did I need to step off due to a flaw in the equipment.
The descent down Smith and 305 was fun. I took it relatively easy, and just enjoyed how easy this thinkg is to loft, jump, and bunny hop. No drama at all. The burned out part of Smith now has a beautiful green weedy ground cover that I had not noticed before. Worth a visit if you
haven't been up there in a while.
I need to face facts and realize I really love this bike. I may tweak it a bit here and there but it has no bad points. El Comandante is getting lonely. I am selling the Curtlo.
It was little hard for me as I held the stripped frame of the Curtlo in my hands. It has lots of nicks and scratches put there on many great rides. I just never loved it. I liked it all right. It really has no use here although I dream that I might build it up as some sort of loaner. It needs to go to someone who can love it for what it is.
Ad here.
Dave, since you name stuff all the time, come up with some name options for the Box for me. I have a hard enough time naming my kids.
Had a nice long afternoon before the long non-riding upcoming weekend. I had not yet tested the Box on the Ranch trail climb, and the Smith Ravine Descent, so I went for it.
Before I started I knew I was in for it. Just too hot and exposed on this trail. Even left off the leg armor for the climb. The trail is torn up badly from the rain.
Hard to evaluate the bike since I did such a poor job pushing it. Between the heat, smoke, and my general lack of intense climbing work outs, I walked a lot. When I did ride, it performed admirably. At no time did I need to step off due to a flaw in the equipment.
The descent down Smith and 305 was fun. I took it relatively easy, and just enjoyed how easy this thinkg is to loft, jump, and bunny hop. No drama at all. The burned out part of Smith now has a beautiful green weedy ground cover that I had not noticed before. Worth a visit if you
haven't been up there in a while.I need to face facts and realize I really love this bike. I may tweak it a bit here and there but it has no bad points. El Comandante is getting lonely. I am selling the Curtlo.
It was little hard for me as I held the stripped frame of the Curtlo in my hands. It has lots of nicks and scratches put there on many great rides. I just never loved it. I liked it all right. It really has no use here although I dream that I might build it up as some sort of loaner. It needs to go to someone who can love it for what it is.
Ad here.
Dave, since you name stuff all the time, come up with some name options for the Box for me. I have a hard enough time naming my kids.
Burnout
No, I mean burnout!
From my buddy John. Thanks for the laugh.
I miss the Mustang sometimes for just such reasons.
This is about as redneck as it gets.
From my buddy John. Thanks for the laugh.
I miss the Mustang sometimes for just such reasons.
This is about as redneck as it gets.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Lunchbox update
Let's be clear. This is the best bike I have ever owned or ridden. Period.
Today proved it. Techy Little Granite trail to trail 39 to trail 38 and back up and down Little Granite.
After eight hours on this thing, it clearly outperforms the Curtlo in every way I can measure and evaluate. It's handling is instinctive, with a minimal learning curve.
It bashes through rock gardens with authority, but can still finesse lines as needed.
Why I like high BB's:
My one concern regarding the Box's ability to tech/loose/steep climb was alleviated today. I was climbing stuff I know I have never climbed before on any bike, and this stuff is tough. What it took mainly, was moving the saddle from all the way back (Curtlo setting) to all the way forward on its rails, a difference of roughly 1.5 inches. This one little move puts me in the perfect position to weight the front and rear wheels sliding back and forth as necessary. The beauty of the short stays, however is that when I need to I can give a little standing mojo without totally losing traction to the rear. Nice.
I like long chainstays, but I like these more. They give me options. I can adapt to shortish chainstays by moving the saddle position. You really can't adapt position wise to the longer stays. I suppose you can slacken the STA, and shorten the TT to maintain position, but you will end up quite cramped on the bike if you ever stand up. As soon as you stand, you are still confronted with your weight distribution through the bars and pedals.
Standing with the shorter stays is a joy. I can lift the front at will, pop it over obstacles climbing, I bunny hop way, way better, I can unweight the front in chunky stuff.
I am usually quite nervous about riding these trails alone. Today was no exception. I can usually count on at least 1-2 trips over the bars at slow speed.
Today was totally undramatic. Amazing competence on a bike that seems like it reads my thoughts.
It is a keeper. I would change nothing except a little more braking power. Maybe it's time for new pad compound or a 200 rotor for the front. Probably some Hope M4's eventually, but not now.
Today proved it. Techy Little Granite trail to trail 39 to trail 38 and back up and down Little Granite.
After eight hours on this thing, it clearly outperforms the Curtlo in every way I can measure and evaluate. It's handling is instinctive, with a minimal learning curve.It bashes through rock gardens with authority, but can still finesse lines as needed.
Why I like high BB's:
My one concern regarding the Box's ability to tech/loose/steep climb was alleviated today. I was climbing stuff I know I have never climbed before on any bike, and this stuff is tough. What it took mainly, was moving the saddle from all the way back (Curtlo setting) to all the way forward on its rails, a difference of roughly 1.5 inches. This one little move puts me in the perfect position to weight the front and rear wheels sliding back and forth as necessary. The beauty of the short stays, however is that when I need to I can give a little standing mojo without totally losing traction to the rear. Nice.
I like long chainstays, but I like these more. They give me options. I can adapt to shortish chainstays by moving the saddle position. You really can't adapt position wise to the longer stays. I suppose you can slacken the STA, and shorten the TT to maintain position, but you will end up quite cramped on the bike if you ever stand up. As soon as you stand, you are still confronted with your weight distribution through the bars and pedals.
Standing with the shorter stays is a joy. I can lift the front at will, pop it over obstacles climbing, I bunny hop way, way better, I can unweight the front in chunky stuff.
I am usually quite nervous about riding these trails alone. Today was no exception. I can usually count on at least 1-2 trips over the bars at slow speed.
Today was totally undramatic. Amazing competence on a bike that seems like it reads my thoughts.
It is a keeper. I would change nothing except a little more braking power. Maybe it's time for new pad compound or a 200 rotor for the front. Probably some Hope M4's eventually, but not now.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Owen Meany
This was my first Irving book. I'm not too enthused to read any more. Very creative and engaging characters, great symbolism, too many words to tell the story.
The book fascinated me, and bored me alternately. Probably one of the best opening lines I've read in a long time:
I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice-not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.
Overall, I couldn't recommend it except to Lit. majors who will love it.
PS: The narrator is not a Christian in any sense that I understand the word.
The book fascinated me, and bored me alternately. Probably one of the best opening lines I've read in a long time:
I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice-not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.
Overall, I couldn't recommend it except to Lit. majors who will love it.
PS: The narrator is not a Christian in any sense that I understand the word.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
A Good Ride
Two weeks ago I started to get flashing lights in my left eye . After putting up with it for a week, I did a little research and became concerned and this can be a sign of retinal detachment....which rapidly leads to blindness in that eye if untreated. So it was not something optional to get checked out.
I got an appointment with the ophthalmologist next day after a 1/2 day at work. Rode this bike to work and appointment:
Note bitchen looking new road wheels courtesy of a trade with Dan.
Ophtho says everything is okay and that I suffer from Posterior Vitreous Detachment which is normal with ,ahem, aging. It is also usually no big deal. I had the rest of the afternoon off, so I figures a celebratory ride was in order.
With my eyes looking like this:
I headed out up Iron Springs in full commuter garb and one water bottle turned off into Granite Basin at the top of the climb on trail 332. From there it was all trails on the CX bike for the next 1.5 hours. 332-349-351-348-347-341, and out Katahn to the street, all streets home.
I had a ball. I didn't know skinny tires could be so fun off road. Don't need suspension because the tires won't really let you go fast enough downhill to need it. Climbing feels weightless compared to the usual huge meats. I think I actually enjoyed riding the narrow tires rigid more than MTB rigid because I really didn't have any choice but to slow down in the nasty bits. The larger volume tires give one unwarranted courage. Don't need disc brakes because you never really need a lot of braking power and the narrow tires wouldn't put it to the ground if you had it anyway.
The only downer was the nasty toe overlap I get from my fender.
On the streets, the narrower tires blow away the larger one's for sure. Nice to get home in a hurry.
Moral: Pretty much all bikes are fun nearly all the time.
PS: I found the limits of the little tires on this weeks road/dirt foray from home, up Copper Basin, to the Prietta overlook and down. I thought the CX bike would be perfect for the road/dirt road combo. It sorta was for the climb; No pack, light wheels and tires, very nice. Descending was another matter. The dirt road portion beat the tar out of me. The visibility and straightish, widish dirt road were too inviting, and I very badly out rode the limits of the tires, bashing over everything, hardly in control, and yes, I was wishing for more brakes. I can't remember the last time I was wishing for a descent to be over!
The moral here is that I lack the self control to slow it down descending if I think I can get away with it. I liked the skinny tires much more on the trail where I was less tempted to let 'er go.
I hope to get some Lunchbox stuff up some time, but no time to blog. Suffice to say that I love it, and am now a Lenz zealot. More info in this thread.
I got an appointment with the ophthalmologist next day after a 1/2 day at work. Rode this bike to work and appointment:
Note bitchen looking new road wheels courtesy of a trade with Dan.
Ophtho says everything is okay and that I suffer from Posterior Vitreous Detachment which is normal with ,ahem, aging. It is also usually no big deal. I had the rest of the afternoon off, so I figures a celebratory ride was in order.
With my eyes looking like this:
I headed out up Iron Springs in full commuter garb and one water bottle turned off into Granite Basin at the top of the climb on trail 332. From there it was all trails on the CX bike for the next 1.5 hours. 332-349-351-348-347-341, and out Katahn to the street, all streets home.
I had a ball. I didn't know skinny tires could be so fun off road. Don't need suspension because the tires won't really let you go fast enough downhill to need it. Climbing feels weightless compared to the usual huge meats. I think I actually enjoyed riding the narrow tires rigid more than MTB rigid because I really didn't have any choice but to slow down in the nasty bits. The larger volume tires give one unwarranted courage. Don't need disc brakes because you never really need a lot of braking power and the narrow tires wouldn't put it to the ground if you had it anyway.
The only downer was the nasty toe overlap I get from my fender.
On the streets, the narrower tires blow away the larger one's for sure. Nice to get home in a hurry.
Moral: Pretty much all bikes are fun nearly all the time.
PS: I found the limits of the little tires on this weeks road/dirt foray from home, up Copper Basin, to the Prietta overlook and down. I thought the CX bike would be perfect for the road/dirt road combo. It sorta was for the climb; No pack, light wheels and tires, very nice. Descending was another matter. The dirt road portion beat the tar out of me. The visibility and straightish, widish dirt road were too inviting, and I very badly out rode the limits of the tires, bashing over everything, hardly in control, and yes, I was wishing for more brakes. I can't remember the last time I was wishing for a descent to be over!
The moral here is that I lack the self control to slow it down descending if I think I can get away with it. I liked the skinny tires much more on the trail where I was less tempted to let 'er go.
I hope to get some Lunchbox stuff up some time, but no time to blog. Suffice to say that I love it, and am now a Lenz zealot. More info in this thread.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Lunchbox news...
Still not here yet. Still sitting in Devin's shop.
Don't ask. Nothing to say except bike shop guys are bike shop guys and work on bike shop guy schedules for the most part. Very likely to be here by labor day weekend.
Moved some bars and stems around tonight and got parts ready for the build in preparation for its arrival.
90 X 10 stem on to the SS (feels a little long after the overly short 70).
70 X 0 with Gravity light bars for the Box
50 X 0 with Bontrager Crow bars on the Curtlo. These bars feel much better than the overly swept Syntace flat bars.
Gravity dropper remote moved to the right side under the bars and feels much better. This is a toy that I am totally attached to.
The Box is 14mm shorter ETT than the Curtlo. The saddle is about 10mm further back, so I think the cockpits will be very close. The sit on top Gravity dropper will go to the Box, and the Curtlo will get back its Thomson setback post and QR to help even things out a little more.
Just tooling around in the street with the Curtlo reminds me how much I like the bike. It also reminds me just how difficult it is to get the heavy front end of it up in a hurry. I'm pretty sure it will become the loaner once I ride the Box.
News scoop: Talked with Devin today and he said he is working on a short chain stay version of the Revelation 29er FS SS (it will be sold under a new name). It will have interchangeable drop outs available so you can run it geared or SS. 3" travel. Those drop outs would also make it an ideal Rohloff-able XC bike. Stays around 17". That is Monkey territory!
I know my next frame (assuming I like the short stay Box).
PS: I like talking to Devin. Good guy.
Don't ask. Nothing to say except bike shop guys are bike shop guys and work on bike shop guy schedules for the most part. Very likely to be here by labor day weekend.
Moved some bars and stems around tonight and got parts ready for the build in preparation for its arrival.
90 X 10 stem on to the SS (feels a little long after the overly short 70).
70 X 0 with Gravity light bars for the Box
50 X 0 with Bontrager Crow bars on the Curtlo. These bars feel much better than the overly swept Syntace flat bars.
Gravity dropper remote moved to the right side under the bars and feels much better. This is a toy that I am totally attached to.
The Box is 14mm shorter ETT than the Curtlo. The saddle is about 10mm further back, so I think the cockpits will be very close. The sit on top Gravity dropper will go to the Box, and the Curtlo will get back its Thomson setback post and QR to help even things out a little more.
Just tooling around in the street with the Curtlo reminds me how much I like the bike. It also reminds me just how difficult it is to get the heavy front end of it up in a hurry. I'm pretty sure it will become the loaner once I ride the Box.
News scoop: Talked with Devin today and he said he is working on a short chain stay version of the Revelation 29er FS SS (it will be sold under a new name). It will have interchangeable drop outs available so you can run it geared or SS. 3" travel. Those drop outs would also make it an ideal Rohloff-able XC bike. Stays around 17". That is Monkey territory!
I know my next frame (assuming I like the short stay Box).
PS: I like talking to Devin. Good guy.
Martin Luther
Thoughts on Marriage and Childbearing
It seems life was not so different in 1522. I found the paragraph about how to encourage women in childbirth particularly challenging/troubling, given that death was a very real possibility for women of that age.
Work with all your might to bring forth the child. Should it mean your death, then depart happily, for you will die in a noble deed and in subservience to God. If you were not a woman you should now wish to be one for the sake of this very work alone, that you might thus gloriously suffer and even die in the performance of God’s work and will.
Those are tough words for a woman or husband of any century to say or swallow. It takes a pretty incredible faith to believe what you are doing (bearing children) is within the will of God and pleasing to him even when things go catastrophically wrong. I think folks of that time had much less perceived control over their lives health wise than we do. Due to this, they had a much greater sense of God's providence and sovereignty. Essentially they were forced to trust in God alone rather than all the scientific medical doo-dads we have now a days. Guess what though, we still all die, just usually not so young.
More exerpts:
But he who recognises the estate of marriage will find therein delight, love, and joy without end; as Solomon says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing,” etc. [Prov. 18:22].
Now the ones who recognise the estate of marriage are those who firmly believe that God himself instituted it, brought husband and wife together, and ordained that they should beget children and care for them. For this they have God’s word, Genesis 1 [:28], and they can be certain that he does not lie. They can therefore also be certain that the estate of marriage and everything that goes with it in the way of conduct, works, and suffering is pleasing to God. Now tell me, how can the heart have greater good, joy, and delight than in God, when one is certain that his estate, conduct, and work is pleasing to God?
I say these things in order that we may learn how honourable a thing it is to live in that estate which God has ordained. In it we find God’s word and good pleasure, by which all the works, conduct, and sufferings of that estate become holy, godly, and precious so that Solomon even congratulates such a man and says in Proverbs 5 [:18], “Rejoice in the wife of your youth,” and again in Ecclesiastes 11 [9:9], “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life.”
It seems life was not so different in 1522. I found the paragraph about how to encourage women in childbirth particularly challenging/troubling, given that death was a very real possibility for women of that age.
Work with all your might to bring forth the child. Should it mean your death, then depart happily, for you will die in a noble deed and in subservience to God. If you were not a woman you should now wish to be one for the sake of this very work alone, that you might thus gloriously suffer and even die in the performance of God’s work and will.
Those are tough words for a woman or husband of any century to say or swallow. It takes a pretty incredible faith to believe what you are doing (bearing children) is within the will of God and pleasing to him even when things go catastrophically wrong. I think folks of that time had much less perceived control over their lives health wise than we do. Due to this, they had a much greater sense of God's providence and sovereignty. Essentially they were forced to trust in God alone rather than all the scientific medical doo-dads we have now a days. Guess what though, we still all die, just usually not so young.
More exerpts:
But he who recognises the estate of marriage will find therein delight, love, and joy without end; as Solomon says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing,” etc. [Prov. 18:22].
Now the ones who recognise the estate of marriage are those who firmly believe that God himself instituted it, brought husband and wife together, and ordained that they should beget children and care for them. For this they have God’s word, Genesis 1 [:28], and they can be certain that he does not lie. They can therefore also be certain that the estate of marriage and everything that goes with it in the way of conduct, works, and suffering is pleasing to God. Now tell me, how can the heart have greater good, joy, and delight than in God, when one is certain that his estate, conduct, and work is pleasing to God?
I say these things in order that we may learn how honourable a thing it is to live in that estate which God has ordained. In it we find God’s word and good pleasure, by which all the works, conduct, and sufferings of that estate become holy, godly, and precious so that Solomon even congratulates such a man and says in Proverbs 5 [:18], “Rejoice in the wife of your youth,” and again in Ecclesiastes 11 [9:9], “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life.”
Mother Teresa
While I am not Catholic, and find much of Catholic tradition to be at odds with the teaching of the scriptures, Mother Teresa is almost universally held as an example of self sacrificing love and service to the poor. I found this very lengthy article interesting, in that she went about her ministry for 50 years without any "feeling" of the presence of Christ in her own life.
I found the article to be impressively well researched getting opinions from religious leaders, secular psychologists, and atheist leaders.
Some quotes below:
Mother Teresa- "So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them - because of the blasphemy - If there be God - please forgive me - When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven - there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. - I am told God loves me - and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?"
"Let's say you're married and you fall in love and you believe with all your heart that marriage is a sacrament. And your wife, God forbid, gets a stroke and she's comatose. And you will never experience her love again. It's like loving and caring for a person for 50 years and once in a while you complain to your spiritual director, but you know on the deepest level that she loves you even though she's silent and that what you're doing makes sense. Mother Teresa knew that what she was doing made sense."
"Who would have thought that the person who was considered the most faithful woman in the world struggled like that with her faith?" he asks. "And who would have thought that the one thought to be the most ardent of believers could be a saint to the skeptics?"
I found the article to be impressively well researched getting opinions from religious leaders, secular psychologists, and atheist leaders.
Some quotes below:
Mother Teresa- "So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them - because of the blasphemy - If there be God - please forgive me - When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven - there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. - I am told God loves me - and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?"
"Let's say you're married and you fall in love and you believe with all your heart that marriage is a sacrament. And your wife, God forbid, gets a stroke and she's comatose. And you will never experience her love again. It's like loving and caring for a person for 50 years and once in a while you complain to your spiritual director, but you know on the deepest level that she loves you even though she's silent and that what you're doing makes sense. Mother Teresa knew that what she was doing made sense."
"Who would have thought that the person who was considered the most faithful woman in the world struggled like that with her faith?" he asks. "And who would have thought that the one thought to be the most ardent of believers could be a saint to the skeptics?"
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Geniuses
Very interesting article about those on the upper end of "special."
To some extent, complacency is built into the system. American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs. But it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential.
In a no-child-left-behind conception of public education, lifting everyone up to a minimum level is more important than allowing students to excel to their limit. It has become more important for schools to identify deficiencies than to cultivate gifts.
AS A CULTURE, WE FEEL DEEPLY ambiguous about genius. We venerate Einstein, but there is no more detested creature than the know-it-all.
Home schoolers would also say that our education system is great at training followers and employees, but who is training the leaders to lead.
I am not three deviations above the mean, but I went to public school until college, took all the advanced AP classes, etc, and was essentially never challenged much. That all changed when I started my rigorous college studies woefully under prepared, and struggled my freshman and sophomore years to get up to speed. My college experience prepared me well, and made med school a cake walk. My point? The public education system of Anaheim CA let me down, and I don't think I was alone in that.
My other point: it was not the Government's job to make sure I was educated properly. My parents should have seen to that. I don't want to seem too hard on them. They did what their generation thought was right: sent me to school and provided lots of opportunity outside of school. They also paid my way through that excellent private college.
Still, we are going about it differently with our kids. Hopefully with better results.
To some extent, complacency is built into the system. American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs. But it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential.
In a no-child-left-behind conception of public education, lifting everyone up to a minimum level is more important than allowing students to excel to their limit. It has become more important for schools to identify deficiencies than to cultivate gifts.
AS A CULTURE, WE FEEL DEEPLY ambiguous about genius. We venerate Einstein, but there is no more detested creature than the know-it-all.
Home schoolers would also say that our education system is great at training followers and employees, but who is training the leaders to lead.
I am not three deviations above the mean, but I went to public school until college, took all the advanced AP classes, etc, and was essentially never challenged much. That all changed when I started my rigorous college studies woefully under prepared, and struggled my freshman and sophomore years to get up to speed. My college experience prepared me well, and made med school a cake walk. My point? The public education system of Anaheim CA let me down, and I don't think I was alone in that.
My other point: it was not the Government's job to make sure I was educated properly. My parents should have seen to that. I don't want to seem too hard on them. They did what their generation thought was right: sent me to school and provided lots of opportunity outside of school. They also paid my way through that excellent private college.
Still, we are going about it differently with our kids. Hopefully with better results.
Hox Genes
"Genetic processes were not simple in early aquatic vertebrates only to become more complex as the animals adapted to terrestrial living. They were complex from the outset,"
I read a much more detailed story about these diverse genes in National Geographic a year or two ago. Honestly the whole concept is mind blowing. Why does a "simple" single celled organism need all the genetic templates to go on to form, in the future, heads, eyes, limbs, etc. There is a wasteful genetic excess in these complex, simple organisms that suggests to me a designer, at the very least of the Deist sort.
My background is Biochemistry, and I find it much easier to accept evolutionary processes in the development of the current diversity of life from single cellular organisms. The key problem not yet solved, however is how those first cells got there, relatively quickly (almost immediately!!) after the earth was cool enough to support life. With our current knowledge of thermodynamics, the process is impossible without some sort of life catalyst.
Currently scientists are toying seriously with the idea of life developing on comets extraterrestrially and being delivered to earth, the so called panspermia theory, to get around the time problem involved in inorganic to cellular evolution.
I can only stand back in awe and say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The dust of stars flows in our blood! Indeed every element heavier than Helium was synthesized in a star. We certainly don't understand all the hows at this point, not by a long shot.
I read a much more detailed story about these diverse genes in National Geographic a year or two ago. Honestly the whole concept is mind blowing. Why does a "simple" single celled organism need all the genetic templates to go on to form, in the future, heads, eyes, limbs, etc. There is a wasteful genetic excess in these complex, simple organisms that suggests to me a designer, at the very least of the Deist sort.
My background is Biochemistry, and I find it much easier to accept evolutionary processes in the development of the current diversity of life from single cellular organisms. The key problem not yet solved, however is how those first cells got there, relatively quickly (almost immediately!!) after the earth was cool enough to support life. With our current knowledge of thermodynamics, the process is impossible without some sort of life catalyst.
Currently scientists are toying seriously with the idea of life developing on comets extraterrestrially and being delivered to earth, the so called panspermia theory, to get around the time problem involved in inorganic to cellular evolution.
I can only stand back in awe and say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The dust of stars flows in our blood! Indeed every element heavier than Helium was synthesized in a star. We certainly don't understand all the hows at this point, not by a long shot.
The Wizard of Waukesha
Recovering in his hospital room after what was in fact a quintuple bypass, Paul made two lists. In the first column were all the things he did not like:
"I didn't want to play for big crowds. I didn't want a boss telling me that you ran over two minutes. I don't want a guy to direct the show and put a lot of pressure on me. I didn't want to do a lot of interviews. And I had no reason in the world to be famous."
In the other column, he discovered something surprising about himself:
"The best fun I ever had was in the little joint where I could do what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, play for a few of my friends. It would be great therapy, a reason to get me out of bed. I could always surround myself with young musicians that could play what I used to play or play better than what I played. And I could continue making new friends."
I loved the story and the rendition of "Over the Rainbow" at the end. A great example of aging with grace.Monday, August 13, 2007
Copper basin-Sierra Prieta-West Spruce and down
I just had the nicest ride. Seems too seldom lately. Good news is that I am not as out of shape as I feared. Lots of climbing, felt fine. Nicely overcast day, no rain, tacky trails.
Hosking set me up with a nice route. Park at the pavement's end on Copper Basin, up to 393, ride it back down to near the gate of Pearlstein camp, take a left onto the technical rocky 2 track that follows the drainage up to the Sierra Prieta overlook. Takes an hour of climbing mostly.
From Sierra Prieta, I bombed over to 264 (W Spruce), and rode up and down it about 1/2 hour, turning around before west spruce when it became apparent that a lot of hike-a-bike was in store on the return if I didn't stop. Back up to the overlook, then the Whiskey race course down to the 4-way intersection with 51, go straight across to little used 391, and take this back to the car. Nice 2 hour lollipop if you are fast, 2:30 for me.
Map here of most of the ride.
The Curtlo is simply an amazing climber. I've said it many times before, but it continues to blow me away. Let's be clear that I am talking about slow, relentlessly technical climbing, if you want to go fast up a fire road look elsewhere. Especially with the ground moist and tacky, the bike will not give up, and will go as far as its pilot can push it in technical terrain. Steep, rocky, loose, ledgy, matters it doesn't. I do not see how the Lunch box can be any better. The Box will do other things better, but I hope it still climbs the technical stuff well. That is probably my one above average skill mountain biking, and I want to keep it!
Still, the Tractor performs like a tool. A very capable tool for climbing impossible things and descending safely. Unfortunately, it also feels like a tool. No passion, no fun, very deliberate. I'm certain the long wheelbase is a the cause of this. I'm dreaming the Box (with its 1 inch shorter stays, and 2.5" shorter wheelbase) will bring all that capability, and a Boxful of fun in addition.
I should note that I think my prior F135 fork was not indicative of how awesome this thing is. The repaired fork is way better than before. Plush, keeps the front where you want it, and takes a beating. This is the first time I have ever enjoyed the loose rock descent down the Whiskey race course from Prieta. I pretty much had no need for braking although I did out of fear from prior runs. Hope it lasts because it is superb.
Hosking set me up with a nice route. Park at the pavement's end on Copper Basin, up to 393, ride it back down to near the gate of Pearlstein camp, take a left onto the technical rocky 2 track that follows the drainage up to the Sierra Prieta overlook. Takes an hour of climbing mostly.
From Sierra Prieta, I bombed over to 264 (W Spruce), and rode up and down it about 1/2 hour, turning around before west spruce when it became apparent that a lot of hike-a-bike was in store on the return if I didn't stop. Back up to the overlook, then the Whiskey race course down to the 4-way intersection with 51, go straight across to little used 391, and take this back to the car. Nice 2 hour lollipop if you are fast, 2:30 for me.
Map here of most of the ride.
The Curtlo is simply an amazing climber. I've said it many times before, but it continues to blow me away. Let's be clear that I am talking about slow, relentlessly technical climbing, if you want to go fast up a fire road look elsewhere. Especially with the ground moist and tacky, the bike will not give up, and will go as far as its pilot can push it in technical terrain. Steep, rocky, loose, ledgy, matters it doesn't. I do not see how the Lunch box can be any better. The Box will do other things better, but I hope it still climbs the technical stuff well. That is probably my one above average skill mountain biking, and I want to keep it!
Still, the Tractor performs like a tool. A very capable tool for climbing impossible things and descending safely. Unfortunately, it also feels like a tool. No passion, no fun, very deliberate. I'm certain the long wheelbase is a the cause of this. I'm dreaming the Box (with its 1 inch shorter stays, and 2.5" shorter wheelbase) will bring all that capability, and a Boxful of fun in addition.
I should note that I think my prior F135 fork was not indicative of how awesome this thing is. The repaired fork is way better than before. Plush, keeps the front where you want it, and takes a beating. This is the first time I have ever enjoyed the loose rock descent down the Whiskey race course from Prieta. I pretty much had no need for braking although I did out of fear from prior runs. Hope it lasts because it is superb.
Friday, August 10, 2007
F135 back
Nice to have that black beauty back on the front of the Curtlo.
Initial impression is that it is more supple now compared to the earlier fork. Weird how only two weeks off the FS bike and it feels like I have a rear flat when I first get on.
Let's hope this "upgraded" fork holds up.
The Lunchbox is back at Lenz for assembly and should be shipping out next week with new rear wheel (150mm Hope Pro2 10mm TA, Flow, Comps.....NO DISH). My initial plan is to swap the fork with front brake and front wheel back and forth between the Curtlo and the Box for a while on some comparison rides. If I can ride the Box up the super steeps with managable front wheel lift, it will become the go-to ride since I am certain it will outperform the Curtlo in almost every other way. I don't think it will ever out (technical/steep) climb the Curtlo, but if it is close, it will be a done deal.
Got totally spanked on an afternoon run thursday at Granite Basin. Only an hour, but I overheated so badly I was walking quite a bit. Heat simply kills my performance, and there is nothing to be done but slow down until the radiator catches up. I have never acclimated well to it since I typically ride/exercise early.
Initial impression is that it is more supple now compared to the earlier fork. Weird how only two weeks off the FS bike and it feels like I have a rear flat when I first get on.
Let's hope this "upgraded" fork holds up.
The Lunchbox is back at Lenz for assembly and should be shipping out next week with new rear wheel (150mm Hope Pro2 10mm TA, Flow, Comps.....NO DISH). My initial plan is to swap the fork with front brake and front wheel back and forth between the Curtlo and the Box for a while on some comparison rides. If I can ride the Box up the super steeps with managable front wheel lift, it will become the go-to ride since I am certain it will outperform the Curtlo in almost every other way. I don't think it will ever out (technical/steep) climb the Curtlo, but if it is close, it will be a done deal.
Got totally spanked on an afternoon run thursday at Granite Basin. Only an hour, but I overheated so badly I was walking quite a bit. Heat simply kills my performance, and there is nothing to be done but slow down until the radiator catches up. I have never acclimated well to it since I typically ride/exercise early.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The Separation of Church and State
In the simplest terms, separating Church and State means that the institution and the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church is separate from the institution and the civil jurisdiction of the State. The Church as an institution cannot mingle in the institutional affairs of civil government. Neither can its officers. In the same way, civil government cannot disturb the ministry and operation of the Church by tampering with the Church’s doctrines or courts.
Interesting, well researched article on the jurisdictional separation of church government and state government.
God has placed both the church and civil authorities in their positions for different purposes and given each jurisdiction over their own matters. Equal but separate. The rub of course is where does one jurisdiction end and the other begin. Is abortion a church or state issue? How does the state determine the legality of "moral" behaviors such as murder, theft, perjury, etc?
Interesting, well researched article on the jurisdictional separation of church government and state government.
God has placed both the church and civil authorities in their positions for different purposes and given each jurisdiction over their own matters. Equal but separate. The rub of course is where does one jurisdiction end and the other begin. Is abortion a church or state issue? How does the state determine the legality of "moral" behaviors such as murder, theft, perjury, etc?
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Chuckles
Lots more where this came from on the site:
"Which leads me to my next management myth. You don't have to hire the best people. You can hire anyone, as long as you scare the bejesus out of them."
Another:
"Don't get me wrong. I'm a liberal. I vote for Democrats. But I just get really bummed out when I have to actually spend time with any of them."
"Which leads me to my next management myth. You don't have to hire the best people. You can hire anyone, as long as you scare the bejesus out of them."
Another:
"Don't get me wrong. I'm a liberal. I vote for Democrats. But I just get really bummed out when I have to actually spend time with any of them."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Foot Pain
I think I just solved an annoying ball of the foot pain...finally. Thsi concerned me enough I thought I was going to have to quit riding the hard tail. The feet would ache for days after a ride.
Just FYI in case you suffer from the same:
The progression went like this:
1. Use 2-3 running (cheap) insoles in old running shoes, notice numb feet (did
this for years).
2. Consult podiatry, get orthotics, get new shoes (cheapish Shimano)
3. Hate orthotics....very painful arch, give them back for modification,
return to 3 layer cheap insoles and numb feet.
4. Try modified orthotics (thin), arch feels good, but now I bruise ball of the foot
Not numb, but painful. Bruising gets worse each ride.
5. Return to 3 layer..now numb and painful.
6. Discover my screws protrude 1mm into the shoe while moving cleats around. Not enough to consciously perceive or feel. I figure, what the heck.
Grind screws 1mm shorter, use thin orthotic, move cleat all the way back.....COMFORT!!!
Rode SS for two hours (305 to the Juniper on Smith) with zero pain, zero numbness.
Just don't forget to check the simple things. I evidently was bruising myself on that screw even with that tiny amount of protrusion.
Speaking of numbness, Dan is back on the bike!!! What a joy it was to ride with him again in the early am. He is using gears to get around the numbness (doesn't have to pull the bars so hard). We had a blast on the very humid, very tacky trails today.
Just FYI in case you suffer from the same:
The progression went like this:
1. Use 2-3 running (cheap) insoles in old running shoes, notice numb feet (did
this for years).
2. Consult podiatry, get orthotics, get new shoes (cheapish Shimano)
3. Hate orthotics....very painful arch, give them back for modification,
return to 3 layer cheap insoles and numb feet.
4. Try modified orthotics (thin), arch feels good, but now I bruise ball of the foot
Not numb, but painful. Bruising gets worse each ride.
5. Return to 3 layer..now numb and painful.
6. Discover my screws protrude 1mm into the shoe while moving cleats around. Not enough to consciously perceive or feel. I figure, what the heck.
Grind screws 1mm shorter, use thin orthotic, move cleat all the way back.....COMFORT!!!
Rode SS for two hours (305 to the Juniper on Smith) with zero pain, zero numbness.
Just don't forget to check the simple things. I evidently was bruising myself on that screw even with that tiny amount of protrusion.
Speaking of numbness, Dan is back on the bike!!! What a joy it was to ride with him again in the early am. He is using gears to get around the numbness (doesn't have to pull the bars so hard). We had a blast on the very humid, very tacky trails today.
Baby Boom?
Apparently, our family is not all that unusual in our demographic, although I would hardly call all the kids around here a "status symbol" or "fashion trend". In fact, I find referring to our family in such terms highly offensive.
"Competitive birthing"...give me a break.
We have all these kids because we think it is part of the stewardship of our lives. We are responsible to God Almighty for our use of our bodies and our lives, and part of that is the children we rear. The scriptures state that children are a blessing. We have taken God at his word and found out that it is indeed true because I for one was very reluctant to start on the path to fatherhood. In retrospect, it has been nothing but good.
Very interesting listen for sure.
Speaking of having a few kids....Wow! The Duggers seem quite organized, however. How could you not be. Debt free too. Inspiring story of family, but I don't aspire to that many.
"Competitive birthing"...give me a break.
We have all these kids because we think it is part of the stewardship of our lives. We are responsible to God Almighty for our use of our bodies and our lives, and part of that is the children we rear. The scriptures state that children are a blessing. We have taken God at his word and found out that it is indeed true because I for one was very reluctant to start on the path to fatherhood. In retrospect, it has been nothing but good.
Very interesting listen for sure.
Speaking of having a few kids....Wow! The Duggers seem quite organized, however. How could you not be. Debt free too. Inspiring story of family, but I don't aspire to that many.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
I've Been Busy
Working like mad, and a side trip to Oshkosh.
Unfortunately, not much riding, not even commuting. The F135 fork spewed oil (again) the night before I left, and is now at WB for investigation/service.
The bikes of Oshkosh:
It felt like living in China or Holland. So many really crappy bikes being put to such good use. I wish we could see sights like this on a daily basis.
Most memorable was a tandem with mom and dad, a kid seat on the tandem, towing two trail a bikes with a chariot connected at the end. That's six folks on that train. Wish I'd had my camera.
Unfortunately, not much riding, not even commuting. The F135 fork spewed oil (again) the night before I left, and is now at WB for investigation/service.
The bikes of Oshkosh:
It felt like living in China or Holland. So many really crappy bikes being put to such good use. I wish we could see sights like this on a daily basis.
Most memorable was a tandem with mom and dad, a kid seat on the tandem, towing two trail a bikes with a chariot connected at the end. That's six folks on that train. Wish I'd had my camera.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Torah
"If the Torah is really the words of the living God, then it continues to impart revelation regardless of how many times a person has read it. It is always new....
Ben Bag Bag says, “Turn it over, turn it over again, for everything is within it. Look into it and become gray haired and old in it.” (m.Avot 5:22)"
Ben Bag Bag says, “Turn it over, turn it over again, for everything is within it. Look into it and become gray haired and old in it.” (m.Avot 5:22)"
Monday, July 16, 2007
Better
Atul Gawande is at it again.
Better is his second book and my mother in law just gave it to me for a gift. I was sucked in from the introduction.
"What does it take to be good at something in which failure is so easy, so effortless?"
"People often look to great athletes for lessons about performance. And for a surgeon like me, athletes do indeed have lessons to teach-about the value of perseverance, of hard work and practice, of precision. But success in medicine has dimensions that cannot be found on a playing field. For one, lives are on the line. Our decisions and omissions are therefore moral in nature. We also face daunting expectations. In medicine, our task is to cope with illness and to enable every human being to lead a life as long and free of frailty as science will allow. The steps are often uncertain. The knowledge to be mastered is both vast and incomplete. Yet we are expected to act with swiftness and consistency.....We are also expected to do our work humanely, with gentleness and concern. It's not only the stakes but also the complexity of performance in medicine that makes it so interesting and at the same time so unsettling."
Complications was great as well.
Maybe because I am a surgeon about the same age, I relate very much to him and his great stories. He is able to put in to words things I have experienced many times over.
Of course he is a Macarthur award winner, and on staff at Harvard's hospital so maybe he is just a bit better than than the average bear.
Both highly recommended.
Better is his second book and my mother in law just gave it to me for a gift. I was sucked in from the introduction.
"What does it take to be good at something in which failure is so easy, so effortless?"
"People often look to great athletes for lessons about performance. And for a surgeon like me, athletes do indeed have lessons to teach-about the value of perseverance, of hard work and practice, of precision. But success in medicine has dimensions that cannot be found on a playing field. For one, lives are on the line. Our decisions and omissions are therefore moral in nature. We also face daunting expectations. In medicine, our task is to cope with illness and to enable every human being to lead a life as long and free of frailty as science will allow. The steps are often uncertain. The knowledge to be mastered is both vast and incomplete. Yet we are expected to act with swiftness and consistency.....We are also expected to do our work humanely, with gentleness and concern. It's not only the stakes but also the complexity of performance in medicine that makes it so interesting and at the same time so unsettling."
Complications was great as well.
Maybe because I am a surgeon about the same age, I relate very much to him and his great stories. He is able to put in to words things I have experienced many times over.
Of course he is a Macarthur award winner, and on staff at Harvard's hospital so maybe he is just a bit better than than the average bear.
Both highly recommended.
Little Granite...On Foot
Finally got some time off after an exceptionally busy and stress filled five days. Opted to run.
Little Granite coast to coast.
9 miles
2:03 (59 out)
2k or so vertical
I was rewarded with splendid views of thunder storms, and very little sprinkled rain under overcast skies. Had to walk most of the up hills due to my fitness, and developing heel blisters. Maybe asking the Montrails to work trails this steep this early in their lives was a mistake.
Got rattled at for the first time ever in AZ. Never saw the snake.
My legs are worked and I will feel it for a while. I have reached my time goal, but definitely am weak on the climbs. Still, it was quite satisfying to walk them and I still felt reasonably alive at the end.
Little Granite coast to coast.
9 miles
2:03 (59 out)
2k or so vertical
I was rewarded with splendid views of thunder storms, and very little sprinkled rain under overcast skies. Had to walk most of the up hills due to my fitness, and developing heel blisters. Maybe asking the Montrails to work trails this steep this early in their lives was a mistake.
Got rattled at for the first time ever in AZ. Never saw the snake.
My legs are worked and I will feel it for a while. I have reached my time goal, but definitely am weak on the climbs. Still, it was quite satisfying to walk them and I still felt reasonably alive at the end.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I love this excerpt
"Remember that little guy I told you about, with the shiny boots and a pair of six-shooters? The best part of the story is that it wasn’t all pretend. I had a place to live out those dreams. My grandfather, my father’s father, was a cowboy. He worked his own cattle ranch in eastern Oregon. And though I was raised in the suburbs, the redemption of my life and the real training grounds for my own masculine journey took place on that ranch, where I spent my boyhood summers. Oh, that every boy should be so lucky. To have your days filled with tractors and pickup trucks, horses and roping steers, fishing in the ponds. I was Huck Finn for three wonderful months every year. How I loved it when my grandfather—“Pop” is what I called him—would look at me, his thumbs tucked in his belt, smile, and say, “Saddle up.”
One afternoon Pop took me into town, to my favorite store. It was a combination feed and tack/hardware/ranch supply shop. It smelled of hay and linseed oil, of leather and gunpowder and kerosene—all the things that thrill a boy’s heart. That summer Pop was having a problem with an overrun pigeon population on the ranch. He hated the dirty birds, feared they were carrying diseases to the cattle. “Flying rats” is what he called them. Pop walked straight over to the firearms counter, picked out a BB rifle and a quart-sized milk carton with about a million BBs in it, and handed them to me. The old shopkeeper looked a bit surprised as he stared down at me, squinting over his glasses. “Isn’t he a bit young for that?” Pop put his hand on my shoulder and smiled. “This is my grandson, Hal. He’s riding shotgun for me.”
I may have walked into that feed store a squirrelly little kid, but I walked out as Sheriff Wyatt Earp. I had an identity and a place in the story. I was invited to be dangerous. If a boy is to become a man, if a man is to know he is one, this is not an option. A man has to know where he comes from, and what he’s made of. "
(Wild at Heart , 20-21)
One afternoon Pop took me into town, to my favorite store. It was a combination feed and tack/hardware/ranch supply shop. It smelled of hay and linseed oil, of leather and gunpowder and kerosene—all the things that thrill a boy’s heart. That summer Pop was having a problem with an overrun pigeon population on the ranch. He hated the dirty birds, feared they were carrying diseases to the cattle. “Flying rats” is what he called them. Pop walked straight over to the firearms counter, picked out a BB rifle and a quart-sized milk carton with about a million BBs in it, and handed them to me. The old shopkeeper looked a bit surprised as he stared down at me, squinting over his glasses. “Isn’t he a bit young for that?” Pop put his hand on my shoulder and smiled. “This is my grandson, Hal. He’s riding shotgun for me.”
I may have walked into that feed store a squirrelly little kid, but I walked out as Sheriff Wyatt Earp. I had an identity and a place in the story. I was invited to be dangerous. If a boy is to become a man, if a man is to know he is one, this is not an option. A man has to know where he comes from, and what he’s made of. "
(Wild at Heart , 20-21)
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