Weekend plans

Today I'll be able to check off yet another neighbor island from my list: Kauai. The Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Association Annual Meeting is on Kauai this weekend. When I submitted my travel documents for this trip, my fiscal officer said, "You didn't list a rental car, how are you getting to the hotel?" I just shrugged my shoulders. I knew it was less than 10 miles from the airport to the hotel. I figured I could take a cab or see if someone else was going to the hotel, maybe find a hotel shuttle. A rental car seemed ridiculous. I didn't have a plan, but I didn't care. This week my plan has fully developed: Travelers Check + knobbies + minimal luggage (1 backpack) = I should be able to ride the 5.6 miles from Lihue Airport to the Aston Aloha Beach. This is reminiscent of Finland and I'm totally digging it. I fully expect some challenges along the way. More updates to come.

A continuation of my bike breaking saga

The new (rebuilt) FOX arrived a few weeks ago. I missed it. I liked being fully rigid for a variety of reasons: the principle of it, awesome cornering, amazing climbing, bike was a tough lighter. But then there's the lava rock... my rigid fork and I didn't agree on that topic. Maybe I'm getting old, but the lava rock was too hard on my upper body. I don't know how sideburnz does it- except maybe its his 2-9er set up. I recently found out that others of my stature ride 29ers.

Even with my new frame and new fork, I had a nagging creak. Thought it might be the seat or the handlebars... nope. My egg beaters had 1/2 cm of lateral play. I'm shocked that my pedal hadn't ejected itself. Now I have brand, spanking new pedals. They also don't click anymore. The next replacement item is my saddle. Unfortunately, my SDG saddle came from the Madison Swap (I think), and its no longer in production. What to do... might try the WTB Rocket V. It fits my primary requirements- narrow, sweeps up in the back, nothin fancy. Sideburnz also recommended new handle bars since I guess they have an expiration date. Pretty soon this Orbea will be all new (and my checking acct will be drained).

Recent items

When we returned from our mountain bike-beach activities today, we found a campaign flyer for Eric Marshall attached to our doorknob. Eric is running for the state senate. Normally, I glance at these flyers and they put them in the recycling pile. This one was different. In addition to the usual, "If you elect me, I will do all these great things..." garbage, it also included a wedding photo of Eric and his wife, Yuri:


Also, we now have an interesting recipe for Sesame Marinaded Spinach.

To top everything off, the flyer included the University of Hawaii Football Team's 2010 schedule. AWESOME!
So, I suppose I need to make the spinach to see if this guy is worth voting for... bad recipe would = no vote. Stay tuned.

In other news, Sideburnz suggested an awesome remedy for my leaky hydration bladder. My Nalgene bladder has only been used occasionally, and has not yet grown mold. I was quite disappointed to find most of my water spilling on to my butt last time we rode mountain bikes. This bladder is way too new for being broken. The leak was where the drink tube attached to the bladder.

What was the remedy for a leaky hose-bladder joint, you ask? Waxed dental floss. Yup, wrapped that baby up and, wha-la! No more leaky bladder, no more wet butt! The drink hose doesn't rotate anymore, but I'll survive.

Our labor day weekend didn't include much labor, mostly riding bikes. However, we helped out with a little trail maintenance today on the Windward side and scoped out some (new to us) trails. I would have enjoyed the beach more, both today and yesterday, if I didn't have 4 stiches in my calf. Yup, bike crash. Saturday, stopped at a stop light, swung my messenger bag around to adjust the strap, fell over, cut a nice little pocket in the top of my calf. Since I was in my big ring, I ruled out my chain ring. Most probably culprit is my front derailleur. Yuck- blunt metal gouging my flesh. Enough gory stuff.

A great way to lose motivation

Sideburnz made me a hammock this week (his first homemade hammock). He insisted on testing it this morning. The hammock works great- too great maybe. I should not lay in hammocks after swimming and before going to work. It makes me want to stay in the hammock. Alas... Next time I set it up, I'll take some photos. This hammock will be 100% TSA approved. The TSA does not like carabiners. Sideburnz rigged up a great non-metal carabiner alternative. This may be the birth of a serious cottage industry. More to come...

Asserting myself as "that girl"

Starting jumproping today in the parking lot. I sure got some looks. CX season is upon us.

what haven't i broken

In May my mountain bike frame bit the dust.  Got a darn good replacement- I might even be happier with my new Orbea than I was with my Kona.  Things were going well.  Then the creak started.  Seemed like my bottom bracket, so I reinstalled it with new grease and teflon tape.  That should have fixed it- I had ridden on some gnarly muddy trails over 4th of July- probably got some water or dirt inside my frame. 

My creak still persisted, so Sideburnz took my bike to the shop for a more thorough inspection.  Then I got the dreaded phone call.... "Welllllllll seems like the creak is coming from your fork, and the FOX guys gave me an RA number so I can send it in.  What do you want me to do? " "Could it fail catastrophically?" "I spose so."  Hmmm. Tough decision.  It might be nothing.  I'm going to Maui in 4 days to ride mountain bikes.  I need a fork.  I'm racing the Xterra qualifier in 10 days.  I need a fork.  I don't need to be hurt.  drrrrrrrrrrrr

I had to whip out some logic to solve this issue.  My gut instinct was to wait 2 weeks- ride on Maui, race Mountain Man, then send it in.  but...... There's a little bit of bad mana in Makawao Forest Reserve.  That's where the Kona to her last ride. That's where we're riding this weekend on Maui.  Undoubtably, Makawao Forest Reserve would do my fork in.  And even if I wanted to throw out the bad mana idea, logic continued to prove that the fork had to go.  If a 125lb girl can bust an aluminum frame, she can probably kill any bike part, including a fork.  Logic won 2-0, my fork is on its way to FOX.  The rigid fork is supposed to be for Eye of the Tiger, whenever I get around to building it.  So how much is Maui going to suck now that I'm fully rigid?  

Thought I'd better give it a test drive tonight so I have an idea.  Theo Wirth and Elk River are great for rigid forks, but I was skeptical about lava rocks and thousands of feet of elevation change.  My test ride at St. Louis had lava, roots, loose gravel and cinder, berms, jumps, and ~1000 ft of elevation.  The rigid fork passed, almost with flying colors.  I just have to remember to keep my weight back.  I also remember how lazy suspension makes you.  I can only imagine how little skill one must have to ride a double-boinger bike.  I think my lil' rigid Orbea is going to rock it for the next few weeks, but I'll enjoy getting a suspension fork back on my bike.  This weekend will be a major upper body work out.  I'll probably develop some man hands from hanging on to my handle bars.

Things I saw this weekend

Saturday

North Shore Cattle Company, Haleiwa, HI

At my house

Sunday

Dillingham Airfield

Where's the pot of gold?

Peacock Flats, over looking Makua Valley

A hot ascent