Get hot, 81

is this the last entry?

2010-06-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Did the POO ride last two weeks. A week ago it was great, three flat tires aside - a double pinch and another front pinch - pretty unheard of. But after that I was back on and going for it. Stayed with Deuce in the lead pack and some grumpy guy who told me after I caught him if I didn't pull I should go to the fucking back. Gentle folk of the Port Ride.

But yesterday was rough. Didn't have it at all. Still love it though.

Will be doing the Quake City Rumble Alleycat this weekend: http://www.facebook.com/#!/quakecityrumble?ref=ts

Then putting on another alleycat: The RadMassaker II!!! To the four of you that still are aware of this blog, do come: http://radmassakeralleycat.blogspot.com/

skitched in Walnut Creek again

2010-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Barted out to Walnut Creek to visit a friend in the hospital - bike crash. Skitched all the way there and back on Ygnacio Valley rd. People in Walnut Creek must have been confused.

Love skitching in Walnut Creek.

2010-02-08T23:49:00.001-08:00

2010

2010-01-31T22:01:00.000-08:00

Not riding until it stops raining.

Trashing my body and my garbage can

2009-11-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

About two weeks ago I crashed on a routine ride before work in the Berkeley hills. The road was wet and as I came out of a turn, my front wheel slipped out. I slid across the road, painting it red with my elbow.

A nice woman who saw me on the ground drove me to the ER in her Mercedes which I bled all over. I had to get eight stitches in my elbow and and about ten in my lower lip which looked (and tasted) like raw hamburger. And some other scratches here and there.

Blake took this the day of. He was riding with me but about 30 seconds back because he'd stopped to talk to guys coming off a cross trail. When he rolled up, he thought I'd been hit by one of the cars on the scene.

I bought a new trash can and have to throw out the old one. I'd gradually covered it with visitor stickers from my messenger days. Everyday I'd stick on what was left in my pocket. It will be sad to toss it but these things always are.

Lately I've been seriously considering going back to messengering part time. I miss it.

tandem skitch up Steiner

2009-09-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

After work today I had to ride up Steiner. Blondie said he'd come along. As he turned onto Steiner from Fillmore I heard him yell "card board pirates, cardboard pirates!". (The pirates are the dudes that stop by the shop in trucks, top heavy with their catch, to pick up bike boxes and other cardboard we've left in front, playing their part in the retail eco-system. )

photo taken from Brian_Brooks on flickr. actual SF cardboard pirate.

Instinctively I looked back towards the shop expecting to see some after-hours piracy but he kept yelling. When I looked ahead I saw him sprinting up to one of their vast ships.

Long story short, we both ended up epicly skitching all the way up Steiner hanging onto the same cardboard truck. You should have seen it. I thought about taking a picture, but didn't want to die.

Keep Tahoe Blue

2009-09-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

I rode around Lake Tahoe last weekend with Blake and Oliver. Towards the end I started yelling at them to get a photo of me skitching something. Thanks guys.

Very good times.

A flat

2009-08-24T02:29:00.001-07:00

Riding home from work, flying out of the Broadway Tunnel. Turning onto Columbus I got a flat. I decided the best thing to do would be to stop at a bar and fix it as I sipped a beer. It worked out well.

I met an interesting character who loaned me a pump that was kinda broken but gave me enough air to get going. Can't believe I didn't have a flat repair kit on me. I sell them all day.

All I had was a sticker patch kit. No extra tube.

Always love this view, riding down this street. I'm flying down Columbus.

Crackhead cyclocross course on my beater

2009-08-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Went down to the marina this afternoon to "work" on the super secret Kling Clang Cross course with Blake. Hard to ride out there on my old messenger road bike with SPD-SL shoes and pedals. I'm thinking about getting a cross bike so I can race this year. I heard they cost money though, which sucks. I'll need to get some of that.

Got fourth place in the crit a few weeks ago. It was fun to get out there. I could have raced a little bit smarter at the end, but oh well.

2009-07-27T23:46:00.001-07:00

some things in my life
are going to shit
but i just got
thee best skitch

five minutes ago down telegraph at 50 miles per hour on a perfect truck.

old speed limit

2009-07-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

I finally hit 55 mph going down South Park drive in the Berkeley Hills the other day. I wonder how much faster I can get in that straightaway without changing my cassette.

I'm working every day this month. It's weird. Trying to mix up my commute.

Washing my glasses the night before the Berkeley Bike Club Criterium which I did Sunday morning before work. Got fourth place. Out of 18 though. I should have tried harder at the end. Did win some socks and a pound of coffee.

Another alleycat

2009-06-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

This year Blake did all the work. While I was in Peru he put together the "Rad Massaker", a name his friend in Switzerland told him would be appropriate. Rad means bike over there. All I did was email Superfly about five times trying to score us both another personal stash of caffeinated energy tablets but they were lame and didn't even send so much as an envelope with Superfly dust...*

I spent yesterday driving around with Blake in his truck, blasting drum and bass and picking up stuff as it fell off the back into traffic. Had a great hanging out in the sun. Almost 200 people showed up and 100 finished. More than last year I think, and it was a hard course.

The start:

*Bevology, if you're reading this, for the record we only kept enough to become dependent before we ran out. We gave the rest away at the race. So next year, please hook us up again, ok?

Things I've missed

2009-06-10T22:29:00.000-07:00

The weekly Port of Oakland ride on Tuesdays. I was riding around the Port this afternoon with Blake. It's a totally different place during the day - full of trucks, some that I skitched simply because it was too easy. He took this video yesterday of the POO Ride

It looks fast, doesn't it? I hope I can hang on next Tuesday.

And this:

lame duck

2009-04-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

My trusty camera phone is busted and I more or less ride the same route day in and day out, so not much has been going on here.

I'll be out of the country for a month. Maybe when I get back I'll get a new phone and inspiration.

Skitched a car for half a second this morning on the way in to work. I haven't been doing much of that lately, mostly because I'm on my ridiculous cruiser with Dura-Ace pedals and carbon rail seat. It was a green pickup with a back cover, making a left I quickly found out, so I had to slingshoot off in the intersection.

Getting bored.

Popcorn / Bart Rope

2009-03-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Apparently the economy hasn't gotten so bad that you still can't find free popcorn in the dumpster:

I marveled at the BART art again the other day at Embarcadero station:

They cleaned the Broadway tunnel

2009-02-10T21:38:00.001-08:00

I ride back through it most days after work. I saw the sign mentioning it was going to be cleaned the week before.

When I entered the first night, something was off. It was so much brighter. Then I put it all together. I love that tunnel.

Wrist Keys

2009-01-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

Bike messengers all have certain lock and key systems. After trying a few out, I settled on the popular key on a bracelet one.

It was momentously sad when I moved my Kryptonite key to my keychain.

Back to work

2008-12-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

That it now seems colder than it was in New York is a sign that I've adjusted to my return to the west side, packing NYC back in the realm of exotic, far away places.

Dangling from the basket of a messenger bike in Manhattan

I saw the Catherine Opie exhibit at the Gugenheim museum. She is tightt.

Now I'm back to job at the bike shop and I can't complain.

Fast Boots, a.k.a. "Blondie" doing a backwards, no handed track stand on VI's bike:

Running through traffic in New York

2008-12-12T01:00:00.000-08:00

Before I had a chance to borrow a bike and ride in New York I'd gotten so antsy walking everywhere that one afternoon I just took off and started running down the middle of the street in an effort to make it to a meeting with a friend on time:

New York Messengers

2008-12-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

Come in more varieties than their SF cousins. And they never roll up their right pant leg.

There are guys that get around on public transportation:

Many bikes have front baskets. Plus there is an entire subsection of messengers who just deliver food. I heard the money's not that bad.

Most use the diesel chain to lock up:

Over the course of my visit, I tried to imagine working in this city. I think I would have enjoyed it, though the cold might be an issue.

New York Messengers

2008-12-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

They're different than San Francisco messengers. On the whole they are older and ride ~~shittier~~ more practical bikes. There is also this sort of world weariness about them.

I hope to take some pictures and post them later.

Manhattan is as overwhelming as ever. I love this city.

Skitching - It's Timeless

2008-11-17T21:22:00.000-08:00

Today on my way to work I got off at Embarcadero BART again. I was thinking about stopping by a downtown store to buy some more pants for work, but I got got up talking to Jeremiah and "Battle Ax" Mike at the statue. One of those clear, blue, perfect days where messengers don't know how good they have it.

I had some time to kill so I rode all the way up market. Chaz, a messenger transplant from Portland, caught up with me somewhere around 1390 Market and we started racing. Dude is fast, [er than me] but he doesn't have gears, so I had the advantage.

I turned up Van Ness and proceded to catch a few different skitches, just for the fun of it, up Van.

Last Sunday I learned that my late Grandfather used to skitch trucks growing up in Los Angeles in the 20's. Pretty stoked about that.

Sign reads: Bicycle Parking Prohibited

2008-11-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

I was running late so I decided to get off at Embarcadero, the first place BART stops in the city, and race to work instead of waiting a few more stops which would put me closer to Bike Nut.

Even though I was late, I swung by the statue after running into Kalman of Spirit Courier, on his fixed gear heading the same way.

Biking to work from downtown was invigorating. I may be missing the messenger job less these days but I'm sure as hell loving city car wrestling more.

Plus the skitch I caught from Broadway and Stockton about a quarter of the way into the Stockton Tunnel was grand. 40mph was fast enough in that decaying tube, wearing sunglasses that blinded me. K-dawg from work told me the other day that the tunnel's full of asbestos. Nice.

I've been taking fewer photos since I switched phones.

I used to work for a translation company in Japan where there are a lot of bicycles:

Critical Mass / Becoming a Square

2008-10-31T22:36:00.000-07:00

I must be turning into an L7. On my ride home from work this evening I ran into critical mass, and "damn" was my first thought.

The almost critical mass of cyclists was careening towards the Broadway Tunnel and I knew I had to beat them in to salvage my commute, which I did with gusto. [By using the word "gusto" my Ty coon Status has been revoked.]

Here's a picture I snagged from John who was apparently in the tunnel:

Goldsprints Again

2008-10-23T08:31:00.000-07:00

Did another Goldsprints last week. I was tired. Saw a bunch of East Bay friends, a bike shuttle buddy, and plenty of messengers I used to see more of though, so it wasn't a total loss.

GoldSprints @ Mike's Bikes Berkeley - 10/16/08 from Mike's Bikes on Vimeo.

In the Middle

2008-10-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

There was a crane in the middle of Montgomery street the other day.

Men in Tights / Backhanded Compliments

2008-10-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it, I was flattered when coming back from a ride in the city, exiting Ashby BART a woman, worse for wear, asked me "if I wasn't worried about getting raped wearing them tight, tight shorts".

To be honest, the thought hadn't yet crossed my mind.

Incongruous

2008-10-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

I found myself at Walgreen's this evening and was somehow drawn to the "bike section". Hella generic parts and such. Pretty much just "Bike Gear" brand, priced very low. So it was surprising to spot a three pack of tire levers by Park Tool, one of the more well known "serious" bike tool manufacturers.

Barely Works Bag

2008-09-30T23:42:00.000-07:00

I dropped by Rickshaw today and John was nice enough to make some repairs and subtle upgrades to my Bailey Works bag:

Man, riding around SF today, wearing my old messenger outfit - cut off Ben Davis with u-lock holster over bike shorts - cutting through traffic - rush hour downtown traffic.

Riding through that city felt so god damned good today.

I'm ridng my bicycle drunk

2008-09-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

And this is my one hundred and fiftieth post.

Punkin' Out

2008-09-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

I was planning on doing the POO ride tonight, but I have a pimple on my left ass cheek and my legs are sore from mashing down College at 30 mph trying (and succeeding I might add) to beat automobiles two days ago on my way to Cole Coffee (my favorite place to buy beans in the East Bay). Plus I don't have any clean bibs. And a few more excuses I will think up later.

Got some cool Japanese sock drying hangers last week from my girlfriend. Stoked to use them on this hot, sunny Berkeley day. Yes, you heard me, I'm stoked to dry my socks. This is rockstar living here, people.

I've never been a huge fan of folding bikes - too much compromise - but I got an email about this one from a friend the other day:

Then ran into a nice French dude on BART the following day who was sporting one. If I had to buy one, I'd be tempted to go with one of these. I think the kevlar belt drive is a neat idea and I like the minimalist, functional geometry. The green brakes are pimp, too.

Monday

2008-09-23T01:35:00.000-07:00

Caught up to Jimbo from Godspeed this morning around Civic Center on my way into work then saw Frank Chan of the SFBC a few mintues later heading the opposite direction on Polk Street. Caught a little skitch for half a block after that. Made it to work in under 10 minutes. Hate to break a sweat before work, but it felt good.

On my way back home, riding down Columbus to BART. These days it is getting dark earlier. Not a fan.

Riding home, for whatever reason, felt especially good this evening. Sometimes it's nothing more than a commute, while other times just riding through the city on a bike is enough to make me euphoric.

criterium race

2008-09-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

Last week I watched a crit that was held around the corner from the bike shop where I work. Dudes were riding very, very fast.

It was difficult photographing such fast moving objects.

video from first DFL race

2008-09-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

Didn't do race 2 and can't do the finale this Saturday. Might race in the Box Dog Bikes 100km alleycat on Sunday though.

I'm the radicality at 4:14.

DFL

2008-09-10T21:47:00.001-07:00

Did my first DFL race earlier this evening. Jesus Christ. It was also my first time riding on dirt, rocks, pine cones, etc. I did go off road once in jr. high to be fair.

Lot's of fun, crashed four times, nothing serious. Saw a lot of people taking pictures. Waiting for them to appear on flickr.

The dirt line, taken on the way back to the Beast in Blake's truck.

3rd Poo

2008-09-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

Finally did another Tuesday night Port of Oakland ride. I made it to 8:20 pm, ten minutes short of the last lap. Averaged 26.2 mph for 45 minutes and hit a top speed of 34.3. I mean, I still didn't finish, but damn, that was some hard riding. Hopefully I'll be able to hold on to the end next time.

As for transporting my bike, I'm still experimenting. If only a device existed that would somehow attach to the back of my car and hold a it...

I've been doing some great rides recently. Had an epic day climbing up Mt. Hamilton two weeks ago. Did "The Bears" last Sunday. Hit 54.2 on Southpark. Goal is now 55mph.

I'm selling a helmet, a Lazer Genesis, size L, as seen below. $80. Just not big enough for my massive, complex head. Used five times. Four by me, once by Raineer last Sunday:

Beef Jerkey Fix / Dreams of Polo Tattoos

2008-09-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

I was riding back to BART from work last week, trying for the life of me to identify a tic-ing sound coming from somewhere on my bike. I first removed the springs from my skewers and greased them which was goggles*. I tightened the chainring bolts, seatpost collar, and some other screws. By the time I got to the gas station at Filbert and Van Ness I realized it was coming from the bolts on my saddle clamp.

I started tightening them - I have a KCNC scandium seatpost with titanium hardware that is a bitch to adjust - then suddenly PING!!! The titanium bolt head snapped off ejecting the seat into the sky and onto the pavement four feet away.

Astonishlingly, I happened to have a spare seatpost in my bag that day. I walked over to the attendent and asked to borrow a measuring tape but the only one he had was broken - why they kept it I do not know.

So I bought a stick of beef jerkey, oddly Nacho flavored, and bit it down to the correct size. While I like beef jerkey as much as the next man, I find it hard to fathom how nasty yet popular Slim Jims manage to be.

On a completely unrelated note, I dreamt I had two tattoos last night. One I forget, but the other was a two foot long outline of the Ralph Lauren polo guy on my right arm. Most of the dream was me looking at it and thinking "damn, why did I do this? If I get lazer removal, how will that turn out? Etc... "

*it did nothing

53 / Four days a week

2008-09-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Due to foreseen circumstances, my hours have been cut back at bike nut. Now I'm back to my part time schedule which was cool when I was messengering as my primary job, but now it's like damn, I only have to work three days a week? I need to figure something out, but for now, wow, four days off a week? I'll take it!

Today I rode up Tunnel and down "Botanical" in Tilden and hit 53.7 mph. I averaged 12.2 climbing up - first time I've had a computer. Now I have a baseline for how fast I can do it out of shape. Hope to get better. Didn't feel like doing the POO Ride this evening. Want to be in better shape.

drying

2008-09-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

I really went a long while before washing my bike clothes this time. Was down to wearing, gasp, regular bike shorts as opposed to bibs.

Note: blogger keeps cutting off the right side of my photos. If anybody, or Lydia, knows how to fix this, please let me know. #wrap2 { width:800px;}
#main-wrapper { width:510px !important;}
#header-wrapper { width:800px;}

I almost got shot last night / look at the sea lions!

2008-08-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Riding (dirty) back to my boat at four in the morning after a party on Hampshire and 20th, I pulled up to a lone black SUV sitting at a red light. Setting up the skitch, I grabbed the rear door handle and waited. When I glanced inside, I saw a man load a clip into a black handgun, cock it, then turn around and look at me while raising the weapon in one action.

So I missed that skitch, deciding to ride for my life in the opposite direction.

Passed out on the boat. Checked out the sea lions around the corner this morning on the way to work. Now, sweet sleep.

Love Boat

2008-08-23T01:00:00.001-07:00

Slept on my boat last night.

Hell yes I brought my bike in.

After work I...

2008-08-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Used our shop's "parts washer" to clean some components for Koji's bike I'm working on.

Rode back downtown through the Broadway Tunnel.

Watched a tap dancer in Northbeach get down.

Yyyyyyep.

Wrenching

2008-08-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ. I can't believe how loud my upstairs neighbor's snores are. Messing with my concentration.

Anyway, I spent some time this evening wrenching on a bike for a friend.

Popping off the bottom bracket was a bit tricky. You need a lot of leverage and my low-end stand wasn't having it. In the end I used a hammer to bang on the wrench which eventually loosened the drive side cup.

Here is is. The bearings still feel good even though it was quite dirty. The above picture is post wipe down.

I removed the rear derailleur and will let it soak in some degreaser overnight. The pulleys are shot and will be replaced.

I ride this one more

2008-08-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

Trek 5000, DT Swiss 240s hubs laced to DT Swiss rims, KCNC Pro Lite seat post, Selle Italia Gel Flow saddle, Ibis stem, Deda bar ends, and plenty of other innappropirate acessories. Did you know the chain in the background is BART art? Around the corner there is a matching statue made out of filthy rope and other things.

I'm staring at the marble floor at Embarcadero BART.

I think that's a blind transvestite. Which raises all sorts of questions.

Lake CX-401 Shoes / Danes

2008-08-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Lee, the owner, president, CEO or something of Lake Cycling flew in from Chicago and stopped by the shop today with a bag of 2009 prototype bike shoes, including the CX-401 road shoe which I've ordered. Two things about it - it's made out of carbon and kangaroo leather, it's about $600. The shit is advanced.

Lee, with our local Lake rep, Sophie, getting his back talk about shoes with Huseyin

I never imagined I'd buy shoes that cost more than my rent. I'm not sure with employee discounts how much I'll pay in the end, but I can say with confidence, dearly.

These are them:

And then a film crew from Denmark stopped by at random and I ended up starring in a minute and half of Danish soap opera.

Getting mic'd

Half of the crew. Sound guy, one producer, camera dude is stage left with Dane

Bar Tape

2008-08-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

In preparation for another Alpine [god] Dam[n I have to get up early to do this shit] ride tomorrow morning I decided to re-tape my bars.

One of the perks of working at a bike shop is "take off" parts. Stuff that comes off of new bikes, heavily if not 100% discounted for employees. We have a box full of bar tape in all lengths, colors and brands. Some of it, like the red Fizik I used, has been taken off a new bike at the whim of a customer who may have wanted a different color or brand. In my bike's case, as you can see, it's a pretty horrendous choice, but I've been meaning to try Fizik as it looks like it feels special.

Starting on the right side.

If working on a bike is zen, then taping your bar is especially so. It's something plenty of people pay bike shops to do, but well worth learning, and with some practice, eminently doable.

Finished. The book on the couch is Icon by C.J. Grindly. I highly recommend it. In fact, I recommend the shit out of it.

Been working a lot. Taking BART to and from. Days blur. As long as I am riding my bike, I will probably not lose it.

Usually I get off here, at West O[akland] and ride the
five miles back to my apartment to stretch my legs.

My elbows are sore

2008-08-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

My eyes have been opened a bit. I did the weekly "POO Ride" (Port of Oakland Ride) crit last Tuesday. Ever since high school track and field, I've known I was faster than average, something that's transmitted to bicycling.

That did not mean shit last Tuesday. I was more or less smoked by everybody at that ride, man, woman, child.

I ran into Nick, a CAT 2 or 3 racer who was doing some part time building bikes at Bike Nut last month who was riding with the somewhat famous DFL Brad who took this video during one of the early laps. I can't tell if I'm in it or not, it might have been one of the warm up laps:

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the next one. And the one after that.

On Thursday I rode up to the top of Mt. Tam with Grey, a long time messenger now at Jetset and ex CAT 2 racer. I'm always amazed at how beautiful the scenery gets after just a few hours of riding in the Bay Area and I'm from here. The ride was mellow, with Grey on a steel frame cross bike probably taking it easy on me. Throughly enjoyable.

~~Highly~~ photoshopped view from Tam taken from WarzauWynn's flickr without permission:

Still Skitching

2008-07-28T23:31:00.001-07:00

I caught a crucial skitch up Lombard from the Presidio on a black Toyota SUV's rear left door handle. Like the last time I skitched that hill I had to let go on the final sharp right turn to avoid getting forced off the road into nature. First time I wore jeans to work and wasn't feeling riding up that hill in them. The lady in the car behind us scolded me through her rolled up windows as she passed.

Going for a long ride tomorrow with Alex from work, a.k.a. "VI" (short for "very important" - appropriate nickname bestowed by our boss). Rode with VI to Alpine Damn a week ago and was surprised at his speed up the hills. Quick little wanker.

Dialing down my ride necessities. Not wearing the Bike Nut kit tomorrow - it's dirty. Going to sport my old Cannondale jersey - the first expensive article of bike clothing I bought after I quit messenging the first time and was riding (marin headlands loop) everyday after work. Spending the night in SF tonight so I only have to get up at 6:00 am - hence the table with flowers and four matching chairs.

bikes

2008-07-21T22:18:00.001-07:00

Giant's new top of the line road and mountain bike frames for 2009 arrived at the shop today - just one of each. We are going to build them up using thousands of dollars worth of ridiculous-grade parts. Giant is going to feature our builds Interbike again this year. Apparently there are only a handful of these frames in existence and we're the only shop in the US to have them right now. Giant loves us and all of our Gucci parts.

Going to do Alpine damn again. Setting up a backup alarm this time. Sam trued my wheels after work today, a pair of Neuvation's I bought from Alex for $50 last month. Stoked about that.

On another note:

So it seems this blog is no longer about me being a bike messenger. Some days I don't think about the job and some days I miss it terribly. I've never had a job give me so much euphoria on a damn near daily basis. How could I not miss that?

I quit my job at Speedway without really having another one lined up. I was able to bring three companies over to Jetset after two afternoons of hustling, but somehow I lost interest in doing that. Even after two years, I still feel a bit like a tourist in the bike messenger game. I knew it was never something I could devote my life to. If I had five lives, I'd certainly give it one.

I think right now it's 70/30 against me going back to work as a messenger. As for this blog, I never wanted to just write about whatever popped into my head - I wanted to keep it on one topic that I thought might interest some people.

So I'm not sure what I'll do with it now that I'm not wrestling cars for a living. I'm not sure how many people even read this shit. Maybe "anonymous" is all the same dude. My thinking right now is to keep it marginally about bikes. Or maybe just wrap it up. I'm not sure.

Lindsay, Mike "Battle-Ax" of Flash, ex Speedway's girlfriend too this shot of me a few months ago coming out of the Broadway Tunnel.

booooooring

2008-07-15T01:50:00.001-07:00

fuuuuuuck. i miss being a bike messenger.

Building up a track bike

2008-07-10T01:38:00.000-07:00

Stayed up late tonight building up my '08 Felt TK2 track bike.

I finally got all of the parts together. This is as far as I got. Yes, I realize the seatpost is in backwards:

I think I'm going to bring it over to MontanoVelo tomorrow. Need help with some stuff, and probably a new chain - kind of botched it. Built the rear wheel - Deep V laced to a Dura Ace hub, over a year ago at a class held by the Bike Kitchen.

Alpine Damn!

2008-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was all set to do the Alpine Dam ride yesterday morning with Sam and Alex from work. I was up late wrenching on my Trek 5000 (threw in a set of Neuvation wheels I bought from Alex for $50 for an astounding 260g weight reduction, cleaned the cassette, degreased and lubed chain, and a few other tricks and trinkets) and setting aside everything I'd need for the ride:

I must have messed up setting the alarm because I was woken up at 6:35 instead of 5:15, by a call from Sam. I needed the sleep, but shit, I was ready to go man!

Bikes in Hotels

2008-07-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Had occasion to stay in a few hotels recently and figured it would be best to bring my bike up to the room so it wouldn't be lonely:

2008 Oakland Scrape Video by All Out Productions

2008-06-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Video by Teo, of All Out Productions. Thanks dude!

Click here for a higher resolution quicktime version.

Alpine Dam

2008-06-25T01:04:00.000-07:00

Rode to Alpine Dam with Sam, one of the mechanics at Bike Nut. Started at the shop at around 6:40 (AM) and finished back there around 10:00. Probably the longest ride I've done to date. Really enjoyed it.

What I brought with me:

Keeping Busy

2008-06-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

I meant to BART out to SF again today to hustle more businss for Jetset, but ended up doing other things.

Photo courtesy of Miles, the dude who sleeps on our couch. Latex gloving it because
I hate the smell of old smoke on my fingers.

I did find out that a company I'd talked to last year finally switched over to American Flyer's, Sean (and Kirk's) old company that has now merged with Cricket (former NOBS worker collective). They seem to be very happy with Cricket and forwarded me an email they sent out to friends lauding the company. I'm happy to help out solid companies like AF and Cricket but wish I could have brought the business to Jetset.

What I saw on Market Street

2008-06-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

Some sort of deity at rest, I believe.

Now that I'm out of the messenger game (temporarily) I've been riding my bike much less. Just to and from work at Bike Nut. Taking BART to downtown and riding over to Fillmore & Filbert. On the way back, I've been getting off at West Oakland because I just need to fucking ride somewhere.

I missed the Friday the 13th alleycat this evening - had to work too late. I plan on doing the next Gumball Rally though in a few weeks. I think I'll ride on my "nice" bike. That's the one I've been steadily pimping out with parts from work.

Gumball Rally

2008-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Did another Alleycat yesterday:

Josh Godar, A.K.A. Godar A.K.A. Sgt. Sweetz organized this one. It was a point to point race. We met at the Ferry Building and took the ferry out to the start. Finish was at Bender's on 19th & S. Van Ness.

Here we are on the ferry to Tiburon (the start), drinking PBR. I'm on the left in my unibomber costume. Godar's in the middle and Adam Shapiro's on the right - he came in first. Adam and I sat down on the second floor of the boat and planned a route on the way over. He stuck with it while I decided to follow the pack. Should have stayed with the Shap.

I came in 5th out of 10 and won a $25 entry into QCR, a major alleycat coming up on fourth of July weekend.

This was a small race, but a lot of fun. My legs started cramping up on the Golden Gate Bridge, maybe because I haven't been riding much this past week. Otherwise I know I would have smoked everybody as this is my kind of race. Damn.

Last Thursday was my final day at Speedway. I'm trying to talk Jetset into hiring me because they are one of the best companies in SF and I have 'nuff* respect for them. In the meantime I'll be spending my days working at Bike Nut and out riding around SF trying to hustle new business for Jetset. They told me that they did not have enough business to hire another rider so last Thursday I proposed that I go out and get them some more clients so they would need to hire me. Pete, one of the two owners, liked the idea. He gave me a company jersey and wished me luck.

Hopefully I will be back on the road soon.

If your company needs a good courier service, do me a solid and sign up with Jetset here. Tell them R-Y-A-N sent you. They are seriously one of the best companies in SF and will not do you wrong. Plus I want to keep writing about being a bike messenger.

*said with Messenger of Doom's English accent

Scraped

2008-06-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

The race was a success. 173 people registered. We raised bookoo $ ($1,753). It was reported to be hella fun by those who raced.

I throughly enjoyed working with John and Blake putting the whole thing together. Maybe I'll do another one someday.

Here we are in all our Scrape finery, right before the start of the race:
(from left, Me, John, Blake - I'm calling check point volunteers to make sure they're at they're spots, John is yelling at everybody to "shut the fuck up" and Blake is touching a camera to his face)

thanks Jenny for the photo

Me at the afterparty:

thanks doxasticlogic for the photo

Here is a link to hundreds of photos from the race submitted by various people.

Special thanks to all of the people who helped out, our sponsors, and my family members and friends who donated cash, including my parents, my cousin Jeff in LA who is a reader and has a blog of his own all about the Mixed Martial Arts scene: www.whaledog.com check it out, Dale who just finished the AIDS ride, , my aunt and uncle, other cousins and more. THANKS DUDES!

Did anyone who reads this blog race? Let me know and I'll try to score you a hat.

OAKLAND SCRAPE ALLEYCAT! TOMORROW AT NOON!

2008-05-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Drinking Sherry, Taking Pictures

2008-05-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

I put in my two weeks notice at Speedway last Thursday and need to start looking for a new job. I dropped off a resume at Jetset today. We will see what happens with that.

My bosses set up a memorial for Kirk in the office:

Bag of carrots at Geary and Arguello:

Richard Wegner at SFMOMA:

Kensington Park Hotel on Geary serves free sherry in the afternoon to guests and me:

After a few glasses, I don't know why, but I took a picture of my work phone in the grass as I sat around at the end of the day at 221 Main:

Been busy working on stuff for the Oakland Scrape:

Got a new bike today. A Felt TK2 from Sports Basement. Going to start doing some track riding at Hellyer:

Rest In Peace Kirk Janes

2008-05-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

Surreal end to the day. Kirk Janes, a friend and messenger with whom I used to work was killed this morning. Hit by a truck on Steiner and Fulton.

Fuck...

Click here for the article in SF Gate.

Justice, the sequel

2008-05-20T00:19:00.001-07:00

Another red light ticket dismissed. Will three be a charm?

Manifest from a typical slow day at Speedway on the longboard:

Mash Diablo

2008-05-18T17:49:00.001-07:00

Mt. Diablo, kind of like Mt. Doom

Second Sunday in a row riding up Mt. Diablo from Berkeley. Last week I went with Blake and Shawn and it kicked my ass. This week I went with Blake and three of the guys from MASH, Garret, Andy and Jonathan, and it kicked my ass. I got some horrible leg cramps near the top. I'm just not used to riding so long and hard - the pace was quick too. Looking forward to doing more riding like this in the future. Gotta get my "good bike" together.

Thanks to the MASH Blog for posting the flier I made for the Oakland Scrape. Check it out here.

Biggest Box

2008-05-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

It was 10 kinds of hot today. Heat that could not be ignored for even a minute. I heard it was over 90 degrees (32 Celsius).

I met a driver in front of 50 Beale and took a huge box off of him. As you can see, it was big. But it wasn't terribly heavy and it only had to go to the basement of the building.

Riding down Mission near the Transbay Terminal I was about to squeeze through this truck and bus, but it got so tight I decided to take a picture instead, so it would last longer.

Exhausted. Working on a handbill for the Oakland Scrape right now, but feel like I've been snorting lines of ruffies.

Saturday I start my new part time job at Bike Nut - two days a week. The shop is sick. Nine pound bikes, kangaroo leather shoes, titanium tight.

2008 Oakland Scrape - Poster

2008-05-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

I made this poster. First time using photoshop. Thanks for your help Lydia. Er'body come out to this race!!!!

California Cuisine

2008-05-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

Getting to 720 California isn't killer, it takes just a touch of savagery if you want to get there with a quickness.

Looking out from 720 Cal:

Oatmeal with cheddar, cut up hotdog, sri racha sauce and avocado.

By the way, check out my friend FastBoot's blog: http://fastboots.blogspot.com/ He quit the messenger game to travel around for a while.

66 Pounds

2008-05-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Picked up three 22 lb. boxes from Macy's.

My new Bailey Works came through, holding them all.

One of my heaviest loads. Re-dic-a-less.

Colors

2008-05-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

What's in my bag:

rrrr

Some of the things I deliver, part IV

2008-05-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Man, it's been a slooooow week. It seems like things are slow for almost everybody. Maybe not Cricket. Anyway it's hard to find a place to sit at the statue these days.

Last few weeks, among other things I transported:

Prescription Drugs (from a shrinks office to a Mail Boxes Etc.)

A "beach kit" (from a magazine company - this one was going to sausalito and was handed off to a driver, I've only had to bike there once)

44 lbs. of Macy's "savings passes" (to hotel front desks)

An apostille to the (from a law firm to the sec. of state I think)

Scraaaaaper Biiikes!!!!!

2008-05-07T23:47:00.000-07:00

I'm helping put together an alleycat with Blake and John. My friend Yoav turned this flier out today:

We've been working the race for a few months - planning the course, the party, getting sponsors, that kind of ish. It's been keeping me busy but seeing it come together feels good. Everyone who reads this blog is cordially invited. I really hope Anonymous can make it out. For more information, check out myspace.com/oaklandscrape.

Inspired by this:

Beard Update:

Down to Dogpatch

2008-05-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

I'm riding down a highway overpass into the area of San Francisco called the "Dog Patch".

Look right, left,

I love going over these things...

Dropped off a check to a big warehouse full of wooden furniture. Looking out of their driveway:

will skitch many things

2008-05-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

Skitched this almost all the way up to the top of 19th ave. last week on my way to 1801 Vicente. I held onto the basket railings. Was good times.

Good night!

Last Fling

2008-05-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Got second place in the last race of April's Spring Fling series Saturday. Like the last two, another really fun race. Took a spill on Cortland following Grey's back wheel too close and have some nice road rash to show for it.

More Savagery

2008-04-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

I've taken to riding up steep hills in part because I'm too lazy to take the longer way. And in part because I'm just S A V A G E.

Approaching Fillmore on the Marina side. I had to pick up a 2880 Broadway tag after dropping a Bay St.

Heading up Fillmore I felt the roll I was carrying start to slip out of my bag. Oh shit! I was already dismounting when it dropped. I was lucky that it landed parallel to the hill and didn't roll down. That would have been extreme FAIL.

I had an exclusive 50 Beale to 505 Parnassus later on. My new thing is to go straight up Hillway. It's absurdly steep, but short, and in the end much faster than taking the elevator up to Parnassus.

This is the Bailey Works bag I won at GoldSprints. (I won the XL and traded it in for an XXL). Today was my first day using it for work. So far I like it.

My friend John at Rickshaw Bagworks sewed on the SFBMA patch, fixed the side strap and made a cool modification for the pullstrap, complete with a Rickshaw tag.

Saw this guy signing autographs at the end of the day:

Ways to lock up your bike

2008-04-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

At 205 13th last week:

Fastboots helped me build a new rear wheel the other day:

He builds a mean wheel. Not sure what to say about his sartorial decision making skillz though:

Last Friday

2008-04-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

We ~~clean tile and grout~~ skitch vans!

...while they're being towed down Howard Street.

I decided for the first time ever to ride straight up Hillway from Carl to get to 505 Parnassus. I must have been feeling all kinds of oats at the time, because it's vertical:

I stopped for lunch in Laurel Village. Got a sandwich at A.G. Ferrari. F that place. With an Orangina, I paid almost ten dollars for a half-assed, hella bready sandwich and was surrounded by all manner of Pac Heights douchbags while I ate.

Every once in a while this guy sings James Brown songs on Market St. in front of Old Navy with a lot of passion:

Beard Watch, '08

Popsicles

2008-04-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

Today was one of the slowest days ever. I hung out at the statue for a record period of time before being let go early. Then at around quarter to four, my dispatcher called me up to ask if I'd pick up a tag on 17th and Valencia and a few others. I was doing nothing and had no excuse not to so I got back on the bike and made a few more dollars.

Today was another hot one. A popsicle salesman came by the statue. Me, Katie from Western, Fox from Flash(?) and Burdick from Western.

Saw a Wayne Thiebaud hanging at Farallon Capital Management. I like his new stuff.

Have been getting some crucial skitches these past few days.

When Minutes Matter...Time is Brain

2008-04-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Went through Geary/Masonic tunnel today:

Went down Market St. from the tippy yesterday:

Saw a turtle at the Academy of Science's temporary building on Howard last week:

Dude was in another tank:

Last Thursday and Friday were some of the best days I've ever worked. Hot as shit (after a cold spell), lots of fun and interesting tags. I'm exhausted as I write this but I haven't posted anything in a while so I felt like I should throw something together. Here's post number 100.

Got second place in Saturday's alleycat.

Ali Cat today

2008-04-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Have a new chain. Ready to do this.

The stairs are HISTORIC

2008-04-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

Not talking about these ones. For the historical, you will have to read on, reader. I did walk up the Filbert Steps today to get to Alta St. On the way back down I slipped as some German said something about messengers in Holland, but I caught myself. Normally I'd be routed in a way which wouldn't have me walking back down these bitches, but not today.

First time dropping a package here. Right around the corner from Montague Place.

By far, the best elevator buttons I've come across. Yes, better than big buttons.

Looking hella savage with the littlest gash a'bleeding on my new shoes.

I spent some time in court doing legal work today. Had to return something to West Bay law on Market which gave me some time to rekindle with the hugegantus urinal in the 18th floor bathroom.

Written in white at the bottom was "(Unless you have attained TYCOON STATUS)".

Elevator Accion

2008-04-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

There's a monitor built into the wall at 1 Shrader so you can stay abreast of the two elevators' actions. Watching it, I'm reminded of:

1 Shrader's a weird building. The entrance o Fulton St. is the 4th floor, where I was supposed to deliver. Not noticing that I got in the elevator, pressed 4, watched the doors close, pause, open, then stepped out again thinking "damn that's a smooth elevator" before I realized I hadn't gone anywhere.

I got some more bubbly at the Getty's. The guards are so cool. They often ask If I need any water, and this time they gave me a 3/4's full bottle, plucked straight from the Getty's fridge I imagine.

I got new white shoes last week because my Lake's are having technical difficulties after changing the cleats. The Shimano's I bought are a bit racey for messenger work but they feel nice.

live! beard cam:

View from ______ (4 of 100)

2008-04-04T00:22:00.000-07:00

View from the top of 50 Fremont. There's a Spanish language TV station headquartered up here.

Beard Update Corner

Day 5 Since last shave. Beard is getting blacker.

Marshmallows don't fit through hole

2008-04-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

I didn't get enough sleep, was a bit out of it, but a good, busy day. I just noticed this view of the Bay Bridge in between the buildings on Harrison this morning

I had some ha gow and shu mai at Wing Lee Bakery on Clement after picking up an exclusive at the De Young Museum. I used to live around there and always liked that place. If you order "for here", your food is served on an aluminum plate topped with a sheet of plastic. Makes sense I guess.

Oh hell naw: I had to carry these big boxes by hand from Gumps on Maiden Lane to the Westin St. Francis Hotel on Union Square.

I'm pretty sure these are those things you see on newscaster's mics. I picked them up from fox sports or some such business, along with a videotape.

I ended up having to ride up Mason for four blocks to get to California. Shit gets steeeeep.

It was a busy day. I didn't even get a lunch break which is unusual. I got some coffee instead and added a swiss miss pack I took from some office a few minutes before.

Saw this fenced in plot with wildflowers. California Poppies are my favorite flower. Not that I sit around ranking flowers or anything.

Thanks to Johnny Hsu for above photo / just realized the right part is cut off. click on the photo to see my ass on the far right

I got 2nd place at GoldSprints! First time doing that shit. My best time was 19.09 for 500 meters. I really only got the third fastest time, but because of the heat structure the two fastest dudes had to go against each other in another heat and one got knocked out. I won a nice Bailey Works bag that I'm going to send back and trade up for an XXL and start using for work.

Beard Update Center

Day 2 (Since last shave. I'm gonna grow it back now. Maybe shave it again when it gets hot)

raaaaaaah

2008-03-30T22:24:00.001-07:00

Gold Sprints

2008-03-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

This is what I'm going to be doing later today:

Wish me some luck.

Yesterday there was this:

Pay attention bike riders: This is how you should use these things when there are two bikes. If you angle your bike, like in the picture, it makes adding a second one easy.

I saw this happy piece of cardboard around 24th and Shotwell.

Lamborghinis

2008-03-27T23:16:00.000-07:00

I've seen Lambos three days in a row.

Was out in the Presidio. Went to Danielle Steel's place. Visited US District and the other Court on McAllister. Had another banh mi from Saigon Sammich. Was more or less busy all day doing the same old stuff.

Am I "Tycoon Status" yet?

2008-03-27T01:24:00.000-07:00

Am I? Saw this on the way to work. I used to be all about attaining Baller Status, but I will now update that to Tycoon.

I ate lunch in Union Square with a friend from the bike shuttle as I often do. More 桜桜桜. Cherry blossoms are everywhere these days. Maybe they're not cherry, but blossoms at least.

Duuuude. This was my lunch from Lee's Deli on Battery. They sell by the pound for not too much, and sold for $9.00. That's a personal Lee's record.

It was pounds of food, but it's all about TYCOON STATUS now.

Had a pick up at 720 California. Got there via Grant which runs through Chinatown. One of these buildings is taller than the other.

I shaved my beard and am 14 years old again. It was all donated to locks of love.

John Locke:

Tuesday 花見

2008-03-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the blossoming trees on the 700 block of Alabama as I made my last drop before lunch.

I bought a burrito from a truck around the corner and sat down here to eat it. It wasn't long before some pigeons started creepin' on me.

Later on I got a front flat because I'd jinxed myself by talking about how I never get flats this morning on the bike shuttle. I could have used a new tube, but I decided to patch it because I wasn't in a hurry and it's more economical. Above is me in the lobby of 51 Federal waiting for the glue to dry.

This is what a patched tube looks like.

I stopped to watch the break dancers on Market street.

This guy was my favorite and he had the tightest outfit. Every time his turn came around, the guy to his right in the background, crouched over in the white t would eventually have to tell him "that's enough, come back, come back" because he apparently was stretching out his turn too long.

At the end of the day I saw this dude carrying his toilet home with him. A true champion.

Further Reflection

2008-03-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

I wrote about the reflectors on UPS trucks in an earlier post. Like Hot Chip says, nothing's new forever.

I had a drop on Liggett Ave. in the Presidio. There was a birthday party for a little girl set up down the street. There was bouncy castle and two set tables with mini Swedish flags in the centerpiece decorations which reminded me of the time I wandered around the suburbs of Basil, Switzerland high.

Weird neighborhood unlike most others in SF. Also reminds me of the one in A Wrinkle in Time where everybody's jumping rope in unison and all that.

Woah

2008-03-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

We were SLAMMED today. Six riders short. One of the busiest days of my career. Rode all over town till 6:30. Exhausted.

Got a free beer at the Anchor Steam tasting room when I was there picking something up at around 5:30 today. Picking up a 1700 Mariposa going to 100 Larkin on my way out to 2565 3rd after five? DUDE

Once again, exhuasted. Gonna eat some spaghetti and take a shower.

Pier 39, dry heave

2008-03-19T23:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I delivered some jewelry from a place at the beginning of Bryant St. by the Bay to Pier 39:

Pier 39 is truly the 39th circle of Hell, one of the worst places in San Francisco, and should be avoided at all costs along with Fisherman's Wharf, Ghiradelli Square and jail.

Then today I had to drop off a big roll from 2nd street to a jobsite on 5600 3rd St. A "jobsite" is usually a trailer set up near a construction site. This one wasn't occupied this afternoon so I had to take the roll back. Luckily I had a drop on Yosemite St. nearby, so riding way the hell out to the HP wasn't a total loss.

There I had to walk through some mystery workshop to find the recipient of the odd-shaped package I'd carried over. There were two barrels full of green liquid, spinning:

And this:
Not sure either. I rode back to 461 2nd, another fresh atrium and returned the roll:

afk

2008-03-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

will put something up tonight. trying to navigate through the protesters downtown today. I guess the war will be ending after this protest, so that's good.

nasty

2008-03-14T00:39:00.001-07:00

Rode up some nasty hills today.

Not enough sleep this week.

Wednesday

2008-03-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

God dammit. I got another ticket for running a red light this afternoon around the 3400 Block of California. I'm sick of this shit.

I delivered some blood from 400 Parnassus to the hospital on 45 Castro.

Just noticed that the city set up one of those counter devices near the Gough/Octavia entrance where bikers keep getting run over:

I locked up my bike half assedly in front of 2 EC:

SSS

2008-03-11T19:42:00.001-07:00

I started off the day with a super sick skitch all the way down Telegraph on the back of this pickup with hella clean graphics:

But other than that, the day was pretty slow. Aside from a 3700 block of Broderick and a few others, I didn't do much longboard. At the end of the day I noticed that our system fucked up and only gave me $6.33 for that run. My dispatcher looked into it and corrected it - $11.67 - of which I get 37%. If I didn't love the longboard work so much and have such low rent, I'd be out of Speedway because they rape us so badly with so little lube when it comes to pay. Sadder still, this tag was one we picked up from NOBS after buying them out and I know they made way more for it.

What's up with dogs licking the shit out of my legs? These two went for it when I showed up to drop off a package at 240 Stockton.

Towards the end of the day I got a delicious pork bun with all sorts of shit in it from Saigon Sandwich which I ate after dropping off a Charles Schwab tag at the 701 Grant Bank of America in Chinatown. Still hungry, I went over to this place down the street which claimed to be the oldest Chinese Bakery in SF with pictures of the time Bill Clinton visited on the wall.

I got the worst ha gow of my life there. It tasted like food poisoning. The cookies were good though.

Spring Fling Alley Cat

2008-03-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

I raced in a fun alleycat through the O on Saturday.

Standing around before the race:

I had to sport my front: "Oakland" back: "Town Bussiness [sic]" shirt.

Briefing before the start at the amphitheater in Mosswood Park:

I came in 8th place out of sixty or so finishers. I stuck with my (lazy) plan to follow someone fast, riding with James from Mash for most of the race. On the way to the last checkpoint I caught up with Morgan in 5th place and hung with him till about thirty feet from the finish when my motherfucking chain popped off! Argh!!!

A few posts ago: "I'm going to try to follow the winner then beat him at the end and don't want my chain popping off."

So I would have been 5th or 6th, but while I was running the few feet to the finish, carrying my bike, two guys flew in ahead of me.

The finish was at Oliver, Adam and Dewey's house on 25th and MLK

Some good bands played in the back yard and things got a little hectic for a minute

More pictures of the race by OwenErnst here.

The Week In Review

2008-03-07T23:42:00.000-08:00

Instead of showing up to work on four hours of sleep, I slept in and was just late. It was the right decision. Busy day, with my final tag out on 44th ave, an inch from the Pacific Ocean.

Sex workers marched down Market Street with a police escort.

A spooky staircase in the medical building on Jackson street in Chinatown.

Lots of ships in the bay. Hard to see, but there were. Going down this street, 21st I think, is great fun by the way.

Out on 44th and Judah, smelling the ocean air, satisfied with everything.

Light soda is free at Economy Restaurant Fixtures on 7th st, as is popcorn. (What's up Bianca. I stopped here after dropping by to see you a week or two ago. Save me a cupcake.) On this day they were out of popped corn and all of the sodas were mysteriously flat or didn't have enough syrup. When I mentioned this to the guy as I handed him the package, he reminded me I shouldn't complain about free soda. Dick.

Gonna go to bed early to-night and hyphenate words like it was the mid 19th century. Rest up for to-morrow's alleycat.

March 6, 2008

2008-03-07T02:19:00.001-08:00

Dang, staying up this late always fucks me up the next day. I've been working on my bike and had to finish. I took apart and cleaned the drive train. It was filthy and now it's clean. Just tested it out and it feels much better.

I've ordered new parts (chain rings, cassette, chain) through the Wilsons catalog (bike parts at wholesale prices, good deal) at work to replace my worn stuff so this will probably be the last time I clean it.

I wanted it to be in good shape for the alleycat this Saturday. I'm going to try to follow the winner then beat him at the end and don't want my chain popping off.

I ran into Fastboots over at 3333 California this morning:

Then again later on at 400 Treat St. This time he was holding two huge boxes of paper that must have weighed 30 pounds each:

He insisted that I try it on, and the shit was HEAVY to be sure.

I saw this painting in an office downtown yesterday. Looks like a Sunset district street:

And some of this:

To the three people that read my blog: The last post is messed up. I was going to write about what's in my bag, but I can't get the whole picture to show. As soon as I figure it out, I'll make it better.

test

2008-03-05T20:09:00.001-08:00