INTERGALACTIC UPDATE: OFF CAMBER MOVING!

Hey all! I've started the process of moving all the information from this site to a TypePad site that allows me more flexibility to do what I want to do, and is cheaper. On February 1, 2005 (or thereabout) I'll transfer the name of that site to www.offcamber.com, but in the meantime just click this link to read the latest blogs and Intergalactic news. We'll have enhanced info about Discos, the IGSSC, the TDD and all other important items at the new site eventually, but for now you can just link to that stuff from this page. Happy Trails!

As items dissapear from the left side of this page, they will be replaced on the new page. Basically, a slow but steady transition from this site to the next. Again, the new site will eventually be the new http://www.offcamber.com, but until the new year you'll need to link there from here.

Thursday, November 25

Happy Thanksgiving. Off to Devils Thumb tomorrow to kick off the nordic season with three days of gliding around the snow covered trails. Training, I suppose.

Little to say lately. Good writing can be defined as having something to say and saying it well. When one has nothing to say, one should remain silent. Silence is always beautiful at such times. Borrowed yes, but appropriate.

Friday, November 19

Unfortunately, on deadline today so missed opening day at Eldora. Ah well, the chaos of hundreds of hyped-up, slightly off form skiers and boarders on a single 20 foot wide swath is a recipe for a short season, so it's just as well to have missed it. Headed north on the troll bike instead. They say a storms moving in tonight, but this morning we actually had blue skies and sun for the first time in days. The sun makes all the difference in the world, especially at this latitude, where you feel the heat thaw and soothe ever so slightly, even in the dead of winter. Different patterns going north - you see different people, including a lot of kids waiting for the bus to pick them up for school. When I become a teacher I'm going to give extra credit to those who bike or walk to school. Independence does not need to be in the form of a car. Get on your bike, pedal down the road, and all of the sudden you are free. Personally I'd take a chilled ride with a bit of a headwind over avoiding spit balls and the stupid social insecurities prevelant in the school bus society.

Thursday, November 18

Buzy-ness at work lately, but managed to keep things in perspective with a couple nice morning rides. Went south yesterday, north today. Rawer today, with a light snowfall greeting me in Happy Valley last night. Overcast, gray, typical November days, but music and a different rhythm from riding the Moots has kept things fun. Indeed, I definitely cracked a grin when, of all thing, Super Trooper from Abba made it's way into the random iPod shuffle while I was gingerly riding across an ice covered patch of Magnolia yesterday. It's not that I'm a huge Abba fan, but the music was such the antithesis of the conditions out that I couldn't help but laugh.

It would most certainly be easier to drive to work. The warmth, the security, the ease of it all. And when my toes and hands are about to fall off from being so cold, I sometimes contemplate hitching a ride, grabbing that instant warmth. But I also believe a little hardship makes you better, especially when the hardship is mixed with absolute moments of excellence - a good song, spotting wildlife, a brief view, gnarly clouds, a sweet section of singletrack or something else that adds some spice to an otherwise mundane process. You commute to get from point A to B, but you also do it to experience a brief sensation caused by the factors above. And without exception, you get that feeling, whether it's for ten seconds, ten minutes or occasionally, the whole damned jaunt.

Tuesday, November 16

Deadline week. Worked till 10 pm last night, but not without a little diversion of Stiga Table Hockey. The NHL may be on strike, but table hockey is not.

So apparentely there was 14 inches of fresh last weekend at Berthoud Pass. Come on Meriweather...give us some words...or at least a photo, to keep the winter stoke rolling! Also, one of the pilots, Timmy, has really stepped it up with his photo-of-the-day. Dudes got mad skills with the camera. Check it out!

Friday, November 11

Day off today. A belabored celebration of Veteran's Day. I wonder how the veterans feel about the ongoing slaughter half a world away? I mean, what's the darned point really, and will any of these "perceived" problems truly be eliminated, even in the best case scenario. I read today how two classmates from school enlisted in the Marines, and both recentely were killed. Tragic stuff, that words don't justify, especially when the motives of the battle are questionable at best. As is often the case, Ed Abbey expressed it well: "The tragedy of modern war is not so much that the young men die but that they die fighting each other - instead of the real enemies back home in the capitals."

What are you gonna do? If there's a serious movement for revolt, sure I'll load up the .22 biathlon rifle and join the movement, but until then you pick your battles. So today I decided to battle six inches of fresh snow and hike Spencer. Quality, in the moment time with the dogs. A few photos above for your viewing enjoyment.

On a completely unrelated note, got a cool offer from a local frame builder to race for them next year, single speeds. After some contemplation, I liking the idea more-and-more. Something to break up the routine, and it seems like an almost ideal situation. I'd have to race more, but it seems the schedule can almost be custom tailored...as well as the bike...and that's a good thing. As long as we can figure out some sort of baggy shorts solution, I think we can make it work.

Finally, in the newness category, I'm looking for any recommendations for good music, books and movies. Something to inspire, with soul, funk and the power to provoke. Or, just all around entertaining. So if you've got it, send it on. Keeping it new and fresh and creative...that's the new years resolution for '05, even if it's only November. Oh, that and learning to play the electric guitar. Cause you can make some damn loud and cool sounds with those things.

Thursday, November 11

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's 4,000 words to suffice as todays snowy entry.

Wednesday, November 10

Suz and I took a couple kids from the youth group to the Bad Religion/Rise Against concert last night. Killer show, lots of good, healthy subservient energy. PETA was there espousing the benefits of the vegan lifestyle, handing out QUESTION AUTHORITY stickers. The lead singer of Rise Against had a funny comment: "So Colorado went Republican, eh?" Chorus of boos. "The again, I realize you're probably not responsible. There probably aren't alot of Republicans at a Bad Religion and Rise Against show." The kids managed to survive the mosh pit, highlighted by a couple chances to crowd surf. While I can't say I'm hugely knowledgeable about punk rock music, I actually like it a lot. Good singlespeed music, with lots of attitude needed in these times. A cool crowd too...I got probably a dozen positive comments on my "DOPERS SUCK" t-shirt. A lot less seedy than the rave crowd for sure.

Tuesday, November 9

It's been awhile since I've had a good rant, so here goes...

2004-2008: The Age of Disobedience. Put off the retirement plans. Stall on the vacation home purchases, the hopes of kicking back on a beach somewhere, reclined on a lazy boy, relaxing. This countries a pretty fucked up place, run by 51% idiots. Witnessed this first hand last week on a work trip to Mississippi. A strange place. Almost everyone is quite overweight, no doubt brought about by a sedentary lifestyle and fried crap food. And while I have no problem with religion, the literal belief in this part of the country is phenomenal. It's not religion (or anything even mildly related to spirituality) in my mind – it's an excuse to take bigoted ideals and run with them. Finally, the environmental ethics of these people suck: they basically see animals as something to shoot or beat with a stick (not particularly Godly, one would think).

It's depressing that these people run the country, but the good news is the rest of us can still do a heck of a lot of damage. Enough to stop environmental and human rights abuse if need be.

Perhaps it's a subtle act of rebellion against a car culture, but since returning from Mississippi I've been absolutely jazzed to ride. To hit winter running, as opposed to a mellow trot. Headed north the past couple mornings, climbing various dirt roads to the Liechtenstein Trail. This trail has been sweet: a silky white carpet of hard packed snow, with 360 degree views of the divide, canyons and plains to the east. Sweetness. More climbing going north too, so I feel like I'm actually getting something out of the ride. Today's ride was fueled by Bad Religion – perfect in light of recent events. Going to the concert in Denver tonight.

I read somewhere on the web that the Bush administration plans to renew efforts to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, especially since the balance of power is now more in their favor in congress. To corrupt one of the last pure places on earth with their fucked up policies, all in the name of what will amount to about six months of oil.

On my ride this morning I passed Caribou Ranch on a dirt road above it. Caribou Ranch is a very pristine area that was recently sold to Boulder Open Space. B.O.S. is in the process of building all the "necessary" items so people can enjoy the area: parking lots, toilets, trailhead signs, garbage cans, blah, blah, blah. I heard a contrast of sounds this morning that was distressing. The machinelike drone of excavators, plowing earth to create these infrastructures. Boards slamming on the ground, being unloaded from a truck. And then, off to the north, an elk bugle. Piercing, haunting sounds. The elk have many enemies: hunters, development, disease, and now this encroachment on their eternal home, Caribou Ranch.

This is minor compared to what would happen if ANWR is exploited for oil. The area in question is home to polar bears, caribou, wolves, muskox and a host of other animals that are thriving primarily because people are not there. If the area is opened for drilling, their home would likely be destroyed. Kind of like taking a big shit in the most beautiful cathedral in the world. Which brings up a good question: whose going to defend their homes if they can't do it for themselves? You silly. Support your local and national environmental group now. They need your help today more than ever.

Monday, November 1

Winter has arrived to the hi-country. Four inches of fresh snow in Happy Valley, but more significantly, the air is crisp - 22 degrees - and the wind is whipping. Spent yesterday doing inventory on my various ski and snowboard equipment for this winter. Need new bumpers for the classic skis. Picked up a new pair of classic boots through warranty. Need a new binding on the old wooden skis, as a bracket snapped on a super cold day last year. Snowboards are fairly OK – I'd love to have a new deck but lack of pro-deal hook-ups and cost will probably prohibit this. No matter - what I've got will do for now. Purchased 32 sets of toe warmers for the cold days at Wind-ora, and Suz is doing some modifications to a new pair of overpants that I picked up at the Army Store for $10. Snowboarder meet long-line fisherman it will be!

Wood is stacked for the winter. Car probably needs a last look before we delve into the dark cold season. Want to get a pair of studded snow tires for the bike, but I'm going to wait until the Chester arrives since I may want to get them in the larger wheel size. I've gone this long without 'em, so I can survive a few more months. Ditto for fenders. I feel a bit like a chipmunk, stocking, storing, preparing. This is going to be an epic winter. One look to the west, across the divide, will tell you why. For proof, check out the tundra cam, the coolest damn website on the planet.

Finally big news. I got in, and I'm stoked as all heck. The first step in multi-year plan, but an important one.