Lynne was a friend of all of us, a friend of the firm, our focus for the Road Rockets, a client of Cindy's, and basically just a good example of how to live life.
Very eloquent family that can bring feelings to a crowded room and a microphone with ease. It reminded me of how I was asked recently about the upcoming Yak Attack - but it looks so hard, is that fun for you?
As my friends know, and others who I've cajoled into various things - judging difficulty and one's abilities in advance isn't the approach. I signed up - and to this day I haven't particularly thought about the feelings I'll get from it "being hard".
Instead I think about blue sky optimism, adventures with a little grit, all spent with great friends - making memories that'll last a lifetime. Think of that, not if something is "hard".
Norco Indie IGH Commuter
After last year's bike shuffle and modernization, I ended up in a situation where I was riding quite nice race bikes to work each day. I'm fine with that - our building security is as good as one could expect, and in fair weather that's fine. However strapping on fenders and dragging nice components through grey muck slush at times of year isn't that smart. So I talked to Bow about the Norco Indie IGH commuter bike as I'm a fan of internal hubs, lower cost options.
Its beautiful in a sublte way. The Alfine 11 hub is excellent. I've got it with a 39t chainring and a 18t cog - for hills a larger cog would be better (especially with winter clothes and a backpack probably amounting to well over 10lbs). I can do Edworthy hill with a backpack, but it's not at a "commuting" effort. They offer cogs up to 23t, and with a different crank you could do what you wanted with the chainring.
Fenders and lights are in place, and I've converted it over to clipless pedals. The issue here is the chain stay flares out for the hub, inducing some heel rub. I've put in eggbeaters with 5mm longer axles which has taken care of this issue. Also some Bar mitts have helped with the cold.
Its beautiful in a sublte way. The Alfine 11 hub is excellent. I've got it with a 39t chainring and a 18t cog - for hills a larger cog would be better (especially with winter clothes and a backpack probably amounting to well over 10lbs). I can do Edworthy hill with a backpack, but it's not at a "commuting" effort. They offer cogs up to 23t, and with a different crank you could do what you wanted with the chainring.
Fenders and lights are in place, and I've converted it over to clipless pedals. The issue here is the chain stay flares out for the hub, inducing some heel rub. I've put in eggbeaters with 5mm longer axles which has taken care of this issue. Also some Bar mitts have helped with the cold.
Yak Attack 2014 packing
Gerry hosted our second "packing party" with food that approximated Nepal, Olympic viewing, and packing talk. Good times had by all. I rush packed my bag, brought my scale, and surprised myself their with it's weight: 20kgs on the dot. That's the limit.
I'd say it was about 90% refined. I removed Marvin to save 8lbs. But he's keen on the trip, everytime I turn around he's jumping in the bag or inspecting my gear.
I need to make a final call on footwear, and the list of things I didn't have was short, but would amount to a couple pounds, so something needs to come out.
Everytime I open my iPhone weather app it just has "Frigid" below the graphics of current weather, so at the very least, I've had plenty of feeling -20's weather, which is where Thorong La is consistently hitting for day lows (I presume we'll be well exposed to the day lows as we're starting at 4am that day). I think it'll feel more harsh at Thorong La, partly due to wind, partly due to thin air and slowed pace of movment, and partly psychologically as there's no just going in the warm car or warm house a few feet away.
Kate and Shawn rode outside a bit and said they cooled off quickly. I dropped Cindy off at SpeedTheory for a spin, then stayed at the back just for the motivation of a group. Sunday did the rollers for a couple hours before errands. Good enough base maintenance given the weather. Aside from that and packing errands, I'm making attempts to de-blubberize myself so there's less to carry up the Himalaya.
I'd say it was about 90% refined. I removed Marvin to save 8lbs. But he's keen on the trip, everytime I turn around he's jumping in the bag or inspecting my gear.
I need to make a final call on footwear, and the list of things I didn't have was short, but would amount to a couple pounds, so something needs to come out.
Everytime I open my iPhone weather app it just has "Frigid" below the graphics of current weather, so at the very least, I've had plenty of feeling -20's weather, which is where Thorong La is consistently hitting for day lows (I presume we'll be well exposed to the day lows as we're starting at 4am that day). I think it'll feel more harsh at Thorong La, partly due to wind, partly due to thin air and slowed pace of movment, and partly psychologically as there's no just going in the warm car or warm house a few feet away.
Kate and Shawn rode outside a bit and said they cooled off quickly. I dropped Cindy off at SpeedTheory for a spin, then stayed at the back just for the motivation of a group. Sunday did the rollers for a couple hours before errands. Good enough base maintenance given the weather. Aside from that and packing errands, I'm making attempts to de-blubberize myself so there's less to carry up the Himalaya.
Montbell Plasma 1000 jacket
I was in the market for a lightweight jacket, and stumbled across this model. This post even showed detail and comps relative to others, and this is by far not the most expensive of its class. I ordered.
Roll forward a week and it arrives, my first trip is to walk 5 blocks to a restaurant to meet Cindy and friends for dinner. I'm wearing an undershirt, cotton button up shirt that's thin, and this jacket. As I exit my building, I feel the temperature that declined through the day - it's around -10 to -11C. My face feels it, I put my hands in my pockets right away, and think to myself how many blocks it'll be before I feel the chill go through to my chest.
As it turns out, it didn't. This thing is ethereally light and surprisingly warm. I thought it would be "ok warm" as in "gee it's so light, I'm surprised it provides even enough warmth to keep the chill out for a few blocks" and that it'd be a better -5C jacket. I was surprised. And impressed.
A week later I did similar walks downtown of 6-7 blocks in -16C. If my hands were out to answer my phone, they'd be cold in 60 seconds. I was warm when walking with the wind, and just got the slight chill walking into the wind. That well exceeds my warmth expectation for something this light, and that again was dressed in just an undershirt and a cotton mens dress shirt, not really purposeful heat retaining layers.
It's 135g, or a quarter the weight of my MEC Uplink Hoodie. It doesn't have hood or pockets, and it's not really a weight thing per se, what it really means is it can pack to virtually nothing as there's very little mass present. With a water proof case I could very easily put this in a bike jersey pocket if we think we'll finish ahead of luggage arrival on the cooler days at the Yak Attack.
Nice piece of textile work Montbell!
Roll forward a week and it arrives, my first trip is to walk 5 blocks to a restaurant to meet Cindy and friends for dinner. I'm wearing an undershirt, cotton button up shirt that's thin, and this jacket. As I exit my building, I feel the temperature that declined through the day - it's around -10 to -11C. My face feels it, I put my hands in my pockets right away, and think to myself how many blocks it'll be before I feel the chill go through to my chest.
As it turns out, it didn't. This thing is ethereally light and surprisingly warm. I thought it would be "ok warm" as in "gee it's so light, I'm surprised it provides even enough warmth to keep the chill out for a few blocks" and that it'd be a better -5C jacket. I was surprised. And impressed.
A week later I did similar walks downtown of 6-7 blocks in -16C. If my hands were out to answer my phone, they'd be cold in 60 seconds. I was warm when walking with the wind, and just got the slight chill walking into the wind. That well exceeds my warmth expectation for something this light, and that again was dressed in just an undershirt and a cotton mens dress shirt, not really purposeful heat retaining layers.
It's 135g, or a quarter the weight of my MEC Uplink Hoodie. It doesn't have hood or pockets, and it's not really a weight thing per se, what it really means is it can pack to virtually nothing as there's very little mass present. With a water proof case I could very easily put this in a bike jersey pocket if we think we'll finish ahead of luggage arrival on the cooler days at the Yak Attack.
Nice piece of textile work Montbell!
Josh Ritter, Knox church
We did a double date night at Knox church a block from my work which I've not been in despite 13 downtown years of walking by it. Nice venue for a good performance by Josh Ritter.
Sunshine!
Nice weekend all in up at Sunshine Village. Nice weather, warm and about -1C Saturday, little cooler (like -6, -7C Sunday). I’d heard lots of people complaining about snow - it’s thin in trouble spots, but fine for blue groomers all day. Hasn’t been warm enough for ice. After a decade of Nakiska, not much to complain about in my view. Great couple skiing weather with Cindy, then also Shawn and Ashley. Refurbished hotel up on the hill was nice. Certain signs of “this place is run by 20 year old Australian kids” always crops up, but not enough to ruin a weekend. Healthy menu is available beyond the beer, nachos and burgers of old, which I appreciated given my preference for responsible eating before the Yak Attack. Cindy is pulling off some carves very well, and dabbling with air. She may have married into a ski jumper family, and we’ll get her there, but she’s not quite getting hang time yet ; ) Fit in a small amount of hiking, but we'll just say the 7,000ft lodge and the 9,000ft top of divide chair was counting as altitude training.
Cool cutting board
A very special, and very nice little birdie offered this up as a wedding present. Thanks so much!
Cindy, Marvin and I love the coolest cutting board we've ever seen!
Cindy, Marvin and I love the coolest cutting board we've ever seen!
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