“Steel is not only real, it’s FUCKING DREAMY.” Literally, those were the first words to flutter through my brain. No, the difference was not subtle, it was clearly obvious. As compared to the cyclocross bikes I’d been riding for some time, this was something else entirely. Lower to the ground. More stable. Quick and agile. Oh…did I mention smooth? Rolling around my neighborhood, I could tell this was going to be different; very different.
Just before I started this build, my left hip began hurting. After an MRI I found that I have a torn labrum (cartilage lining of the hip socket). This was likely a leftover effect from an accident in which I was involved in August of 2009 (I was hit by a car on my commute to work). As such, I’ve been unable to get in as much time on the bike as I’d like, but I’ve gotten in a good 20+ hours so far. The following is my opinion:
The "near-final" build.
Part I – The Build
As soon as she came out of the box, I knew the pictures from the Soma website didn’t do the paint justice. The pearlescence glimmered subtly in the sun. Pictures were taken and more pictures were taken. This would be my first steel bike since half a life ago when I rode and raced BMX. Back then, aluminum was just coming into its own; steel, it seemed, was on its way out.
Check out that pearlescence.
Along with my frame came the stash of parts needed to build her up, I was only missing a few key things (braze-on derailleur mount, downtube shift guides, and some tools to face the headtube and bottom bracket). Luckily for me the local bicycle collective had to tools to chase and face the bottom bracket, but as they didn’t have anything with which to face the head tube, I took the frame to Salt Lake City Bicycle Company for final prep. With the head tube faced and headset cups pressed, I set out to continue the build. Unfortunately, that’d be brought to a quick halt.
Continue reading ‘Soma Smoothie Build and Review (Part I)’
Last year, I made some commitments at the beginning of the new year. Of course, that was a departure from my usual MO, but I felt I had been through so much in the year prior, something needed to change. List item #5 was “Look for and accentuate the positive.” Let me tell you, this has been no easy task, but I’ve seen improvements. I don’t want to spend a lot of time discussing the changes I’ve seen in myself, but I will share a few platitudes I’ve developed in the past 19 months.
- The only thing over what one truly has control is oneself and one’s reaction to the surrounding world.
- Most people spend too much time trying to control that which they cannot control, and little time – if any at all – controlling that which they can.
- Happy people are not happy because of some gift or genetic benefit. At some point in their lives they have learned the skill of being happy, interpreting difficulty as challenge, and the art of acceptance.
- Accepting something one cannot change does NOT translate to one agreeing with what cannot change.
- Chris Velan puts it best when he sings “If there is nowhere that you fit in, maybe you are already where you belong.” I spent years running from who I knew I was, trying on different lives, before I realized I just didn’t want to accept who I long knew I was. Once I accepted myself, everything else fell right in place.
- No amount of money is worth my health, happiness, and sanity.
- For too long, I failed to see the beauty in the gifts other had given to me. Though I cannot change the past, I can – and will – be more cognizant and appreciative of the gifts I continue to receive from others.
- Trust is both given and earned.
- Relationships are about quality, not quantity and having 200+ virtual friends can never replace the value of a single real-life relationship.
- Guilt is a useful emotion, but not when levied as a weapon.
Of course, this list isn’t complete. There are many things I’ve come to realize that I have yet to articulate into words. Regardless, one things remains: for the first time in almost half my life, I’m happy with who I am and confident in where I’m going and while I’m finally content, I will be forever vigilant of complacency and lazy thinking. My aspiration is (through those actions), to never again be caught in the trap of self-centered action and singular thinking. The progress I’ve made is progress I cannot afford to lose.
Well…km I guess (Doug!). Today, I hit 3,000 kilometers on the bike. July 1 of this year, I hit 2,000 kilometers and decided then I was going to double my previous year’s effort. I’m a little behind it, but it seems I’m on my way. I know there are a LOT of people who ride a LOT more than I do, but I’m pretty proud of myself.
Today is a miserable and cold day outside, I decided I needed a ride. Knowing I wouldn’t be around much this afternoon, I decided to get downstairs and pound out some distance on the rollers. As I began cranking away, I remembered I was only 22k from my goal; so I dropped a few gears and mashed down hard on the cranks. Inside, without wind resistance and shit road conditions, 22k isn’t much work, so it only took my all of about 40 minutes, but what a great 40 it was. With that goal in mind, the kilometers seemed to melt away and before I knew it, my goal had been reached (Cosmic Egg by Wolfmother also helped).
With the winter upon us, I’m not so sure I’ll be able to keep pounding out the miles. Frankly, though I have great winter gear, I’ve not been all that enthused about riding in the cold weather. While the rollers are a lot of fun, it’s just not the same as being outside. So, with that, I’ve renewed my commitment to riding at least once (though I’ll shoot for twice) each week. Here’s to thousands of more kilometers on one of man’s greatest creations.
Old man winter is coming. I stepped outside this evening and the wind told me so; the clouds gathering in the sky signified his approach as well. Though I often get quite depressed during the winter, I always anticipate his coming. He’s a tough bastard, old man winter, but he’s a good friend; as familiar as anything I know.
I was born in December and I know my first experience outside was one of snow, cold, and gray cloud cover. Old man winter kissed me on the forehead as I was brought into the world and welcomed me with open arms and a cold slap to the face. Despite the depression and gloomy feelings I often experience, winter holds some very familiar memories; memories of snow up to my little waist, snow days from school, Christmas, and tunneling through the huge piles of snow in my grandparents’ driveway.
This year, I have big plans for winter. I plan on continuing to commute to work on my bike twice a week and I almost have all the gear to do so. In addition to my winter commute, Friday morning mountain bike rides at Wheeler Farm are also in order. I also plan on picking up a pair of snow shoes for myself and taking my kids out into the snow white drift for their first experiences snowshoeing. I’d like to get my old snowboard into shape and haul that old board into the backcountry via snowshoe for some well-deserved powdery downhill. This year, rather than allowing him to pummel me again, I hope to offset the darkness of his coldness through the brightness of activity I remember from my youth. This year, I vow to make old man winter my partner again rather than allow him to continue on as my nemesis. This year, will be better.
