The Truth Is Out There; Part Two of FEAR

I squinted in an effort to see beyond the blinding spotlight of the interrogation room. Who were these people and how many of them were in there? I repeated my statement. "I'm telling you the truth, my dad knows a man named Ted who lives in the Yollo Bolly Wilderness, in a cabin he built! He has a ton of books!" I pleaded. Just then over the intercom I heard a voice say, "Mr. H. There is a Mr. Seely here to see you." "Send him in!" He said. I continued my story. "This guy Ted says he used to be a professor at Berkley, he says he's going to re-write history!" I proudly announced. "That is the end of the interview!" My father said, as he entered the room.

Red Bluff 1972; Part one of FEAR

When I was in tenth grade at Red Bluff Union High School, my class was given the dreaded book report assignment. I decided that if I were to find a book that I thought no one (namely my teacher) had ever read, I could B.S. my way through and hopefully, get my famous C- grade. I selected this little book and wrote my heavily plagiarized report. Upon returning to class the day after handing in the assignment, I was met at the door by my teacher and the boy's V.P. I was told to accompany Mr. H to the office for a little talk. He took me to a room in the administrations building and there I discovered what appeared to be an interrogation room. I was informed that my father had been contacted and that I was to cooperate with the investigation or be expelled from school. All they wanted to know was, "Where did you get the book and where is it now?"

I Got Owned!

They say that one man's easy, century-recovery-ride is another man's butt-kicking, longest-ride-of-the-season, survival-fest. This certainly was the case yesterday, when I rode to Red Bluff and back with Mr. Souphouse, aka Stanley to my Ollie. The fact that he was on his Cyclocross bike and I was on my "Fast Bike" didn't help matters of ego much either. I am here today to debunk the myth that Cyclocross training and Mt. Bike riding are good ways to get ready for Road Season. I would say it's the other way 'round. Regular 50-100 mile road rides is how you get ready for Road Season!

Raised By Wolves

Blessing of the Bikes... and burgers

Please join us this April for the annual Blessing of the Bikes out at Father Herman's Church in beautiful Uptown Platina. Burgers after the show.

Easter Radishes

If you happen to stumble upon any of these little beauties in your organic vegetable shopping rounds, grab a bunch for me as well as yourself! They are mighty tasty!

More My Speed

Yes my friends, that is a V.W. bus out on the salt flats. Mid-engine, 500 cubic inch big block V8. It pretty much stays out of the way of anything coming up from behind!

Coming To A city Near You!

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Oregon-based Tillamook Cheese shut the dairy farm gates behind it and hit the open road Jan. 9 on The Loaf Love Tour, making its first stop in Tucson, AZ, then nine other states and 25 cities over 11 months. At the center of the tour is a fleet of Loaf Love Buses: 1967 Volkswagen buses shortened by four feet, lowered by one foot and refurbished as replicas of Tillamook’s baby cheddar cheese loaves. Thanks and a tip o' the hat to Jacquie Phelan.

My Boyhood Hero

The Rifleman's Rifle. The trick feature of the rifle was a screw pin attached to the large loop lever which was positioned so as to trip the trigger when the ring was slammed home, thus allowing Lucas to rapid-fire the rifle, similarly to a semi-automatic rifle. The trigger trip screw pin was also used in two configurations. Sometimes McCain had the screw head turned inside close to the trigger. Most of the times he had it on the outside of the trigger guard with a lock nut on the outside to further secure its position. In some of the episodes the screw was taken out completely when rapid fire action was not needed. When properly adjusted, this screw “squeezed” the trigger when the lever was fully closed.

So Long and Thanks For All the Fish!

I'm off to the cloisters for a weekend sabbatical in preparation for Palm Sunday See Ya'll at Bechelli North for Cyclocross this Sunday.

Some Folks Calls It A Vapour Trail...

I call it a contrail. As a wing generates lift, it causes a vortex to form at each wingtip, and sometimes also at the tip of each wing flap. These wingtip vortices persist in the atmosphere long after the aircraft has passed. The reduction in pressure and temperature across each vortex can cause water to condense and make the cores of the wingtip vortices visible. This effect is more common on humid days. Wingtip vortices can sometimes be seen behind the wing flaps of airliners during takeoff and landing, and during landing of the Space shuttle. Any persisting rumors of contrails forming behind a certain, local, 6 foot 5 inch, single-speed rider on downhill sections, is merely conjecture.

Hot Stuff!

Pert near took my head clean off last night with a little home-made cold remedy my buddy made. Comprised of cayenne, ginger, hot water and honey, this little concoction will cure what ails ya!

Seems To Me It's Chemistry

Signal transmitted
Message received
Reaction making impact
Invisibly

Elemental telepathy
Exchange of energy
Reaction making contact
Mysteriously

Eye to I
Reaction burning hotter
Two to one
Reflection on the water
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh but how
Do they make contact
With one another?

Electricity? Biology?
Seems to me it's Chemistry

Emotion transmitted
Emotion received
Music in the abstract
Positively

Elemental empathy
A change of synergy
Music making contact
Naturally

One, two, three
Add without subtraction
Sound on sound
Multiplied reaction
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh, but how
Do we make contact
With one another?

Off the album, Signals by Rush.

Webfoot Finale

Wow, I was not expecting a turn out like that! Even with the time change, we ended up with our biggest and best ride yet! I want to thank all who attended our season closer and remind you to stay tuned for next years "Rolling Party" schedule. Until then keep the rubber side down and the muddy-side up!

Burning Dan and Tea Fairy

Firedrums is coming up soon and by golly, this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. I am planning on riding my unicycle over Hwy 36, juggling all the way. My friend Zuma called last night and said he has built a tree house that rivals the Swiss Family Robinson's and I am to be comp'd my entry fees! Oh. oh, oh, it's magic!

Say Good Bye To Your Only Friend...

at least for awhile that is. You see we are all in for a rude awakening come next Monday morning when we begin our days, in total darkness. Stupid Daylight Saving Time kicks in early Sunday morning. Since we are planning a final Webfoot ride this Sunday (Thanks Brooke) I am planing on a 10 a.m. departure time. That way it will feel like 9 a.m. Unfortunately, the real world won't be so accommodating. Sunday Mar. 14th, 10 a.m. Daylight Saving Time. Webfoot. Be there!

WOMBATS

I have included a link to my ol' pal Jacquie Phelan's blog for yall check out. Jacquie was introduced to me back in the 80's, by a guy who was on Gary Fisher's original Mt. Bike Team, Peter Lewendal. Jacquie founded an organization (after her years as women's world champion) called WOMBATS. Women Of Mt. Biking And Tea Society. Occasionally they allow a token man to join. I really don't think I could keep up with them. But it would be fun to try!

Nice Touch!

You know, I'm still blown away by the way old Jack W. was able to ride his way up through the pack during the "B" race on Sunday. But when those girls came out after the race and pushed his bike back to the truck... Good show old Chap!

Turtle Bay Sneak Peek

Spy cameras have captured images of a certain Red Bluff man's secret weapon for the upcoming Turtle Bay race in 2 weeks. Rumors persist that he is filling the bike's frame tubes and tires with helium. And there may be more in his innocent looking banana bread than just bananas. Race officials are considering a 20 lb additional weight requirement for this madman in the form of a large bag of dog food strapped to his back. Crikey, he'd still hand it to us!

Amelia Earhart FOUND!

A rumor which claimed that Earhart had made propaganda radio broadcasts as one of the many women compelled to serve as Tokyo Rose was investigated closely by Jim Blevins. According to several biographies of Earhart, Blev investigated this rumor personally but after listening to many recordings of numerous Tokyo Roses he did not recognize her voice among them. Well after 50 years of being moth-balled, David Seely has evidence of the contrary! As you can see by the clock on the wall, this photo was taken late in the evening (for old farts!) and Amelia was allegedly well into her cups.

Big Money

Big money goes around the world
Big money underground
Big money got a mighty voice
Big money make no sound
Big money pull a million strings
Big money hold the prize
Big money weave a mighty web
Big money draw the flies

Sometimes pushing people around
Sometimes pulling out the rug
Sometimes pushing all the buttons
Sometimes pulling out the plug
It's the power and the glory
It's a war in paradise
It's a Cinderella story
On a tumble of the dice

Big money goes around the world
Big money take a cruise
Big money leave a mighty wake
Big money leave a bruise
Big money make a million dreams
Big money spin big deals
Big money make a mighty head
Big money spin big wheels

Sometimes building ivory towers
Sometimes knocking castles down
Sometimes building you a stairway
Lock you underground
It's that old time religion
It's the kingdom they would rule
It's the fool on television
Getting paid to play the fool

Big money goes around the world
Big money give and take
Big money done a power of good
Big money make mistakes
Big money got a heavy hand
Big money take control
Big money got a mean streak
Big money got no soul... Rush from their album Power Windows

Roll The Bones

Peart (1991): "The song Roll the Bones is full of any number of little decisions that I had to make about what I thought, and how best to express them and how to introduce the idea that yes we do have free will and yes we do have choices, and yes our choices do affect the way our fates turn out. But at the same time, there are always these wild cards that are going to come along, sometimes tragically, sometimes triumphantly. The motto comes down to 'Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst'."

Geek Culture And The Joy Of Tech

Here's a fun little link to explore. Not a lot about bicycles but still cool. geekculture.com And speaking of JEOPARDY, I saw a clue the other night that was kind o' disturbing. "Known as, H.F.C.S. in the food industry, the average American consumes 40 pounds of it a year." What is High Fructose Corn Syrup! Yuk!

Occam's Razor

Occam's razor (or Ockham's razor), entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, is the principle that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity" and the conclusion thereof, that the simplest explanation or strategy tends to be the best one. The principle is attributed to 14th-century English logician, theologian and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham. I've been hearing a fair amount of buzz regarding a return to the olden days of shaving. It is with this principal in mind that I offer my opinion regarding the matter. Have a nice shave!