Viewer Discretion Advised: Some of the below images may cause mental anguish...

So, apparently my bike didn't get as much love as it should have this past fall/winter.  I was appalled & disappointed in myself when I finally took a moment to see the neglect.  Thought I'd take a moment to share these photos & to remind everyone to give their bike a "hug."  Grab your favorite brew, put on your favorite tunes, & take a moment to return the love that your bike gives you every time you ride. 

Iron Oxides...

Pedal Strike.

Was I seriously riding on this?

Different angle...same sad story.

The Build Begins...

The pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together...

The Seat.

The hotness.

The bling...

How about that advertising...

Bootsiebee's Bike Build...

So, unfortunately the events that follow happened over the course of the last month or so, but haven't made it here until now...  

So, after much thought and LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of advice from everyone (thanks, I think), I made the decision to build my own bike (with adult supervision of course).  Why?  Well, I wanted to learn more about my bike so that I could take care of her better in the future (I think I just now established that my new bike will be a she). I also wanted the satisfaction of building her myself. Of course there's always the fact that I get to hand pick every part.

So the story begins...

Step #1:  Decision to build bike vs. buying one already assembled.

Step #2:  The good old Hard Tail vs. Full Suspension dilemma.  Hard Tail Won.

Step #3:  Hire someone who knows what the fuck  

they're doing cuz I sure as hell don't & promise to feed them beer in return for their knowledge. Done.

Step #4:  Mission Statement:  Build a bike that is #1 Lightweight, #2 Low Maintenance, & #3 Within Budget.

Step #5:  Determine Budget - $1500 is the Magic   Number.  Gotta have money left for beer at MORBID events!!!

                                                                         

       

Step #6:  Decide on a frame - Salsa Ala Carte Steel is real baby.  Ride & Smile! 

Step #7:  Pick out components...Separate Blog!!!

Step #8:  Prodeal Prodeal Prodeal!!!  (it's good to   be an REI employee)  Most of my components were ordered from REI.  I did however support my LBS with the purchase of my beautiful Red Chris King HS.  It was really just an excuse to go hang with Chuck @ Behind Bars - good stuff. 

                    Let me just tell you a bit about the service we've received at this LBS!  Our first trip out was a Sunday afternoon. Our arrival was about 5 minutes past close, but the guys came to the door & let us in even after we told them we just wanted to look at their t-shirts/jerseys.  The second time we were in we were hoping to check out sizing for my Salsa Ala Carte & even though they didn't have the bike there Chuck was eager to order one so I could try it out!  If you like a cozy welcoming feel to your LBS, this is the place to go.  Ok... back on track...

                                                                                      

Step #9:  Waiting, waiting, waiting for bike parts to arrive.

Step #10:  It's Christmas!  Parts are flowing in and everyday feels like Christmas. More to come as the build continues.  ETA... this Wednesday in time for a trip to UP!!!

New Shiny and Things

New shiny!

Scott helped me pick out a new all purpose commuter/grocery/beer getter/bar hopper bike. It is a Surly Cross Check Complete, the only stuff I had to add were the Crank Bros Egg Beater pedals, rear rack, and the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic panniers.

Rode it to work today and I have to say it has probably the most comfortable ride I have ever experienced. I am really digging this bike.

Pictures:

On to other business. Wednesday Night saw a few of us hit up Murphy. It was in awesome shape, and lots of people out there. Mikey, Matt, Kris, and myself did nice lap and then drank a beer in the parking lot. It was a very nice night out.

Thursday I missed out on what sounded like an awesome Thursday Night Ride at Leb and then after party at Old Chicago. Next time!

Looks like there is some trail work at Murphy Sunday and also a group ride. Details on this post.

Have an awesome weekend! Looks like it is going to be a good one!

I Call Bull Shit.

From: Campus Squeeze

12 Beers You Should Only Drink In College

12.) Natural Light
11.) Natural Ice
10.) Keystone Light
9.) Busch Light
8.) Milwaukee's Best
7.) Milwaukee's Best Ice
6.) Pabst Blue Ribbon
5.) Old Milwaukee
4.) Coors Light
3.) Schmidt’s Beer
2.) Stroh's Beer
1.) Genesee Cream Ale

They have Old Milwakee and PBR on the list. Now anyone who knows someone with a fixed gear knows you can't be cool without a PBR tallboy. People bring their own tallboys to events where there is free beer! Old Milwakee and Coors Light? Well, what else are you going to drink while ice fishing or downing 24 beers for hydration during a bike race? These asshats need to go back to school and get a real education. I am sure that the douchebags that wrote this will soon be putting an airport sold Sam Adams on the AmEx card while waiting to sell me some crappy software. Then they will take me out to dinner on their dime and I will order a Old Mil and not order their software. They won't get commision and will loose their house because they look down their nose at a "lesser" beer. Every beer has its place, sure, I would rather drink a quality craft brew 80% of the time, but hell, you can't tell me a Mich Light doesn't taste good on a hot day.

There, I got my pissy-ness out of the way for today. I feel much better.
-pete

Terrace Oaks

Mikey, Aimee, and I joined up with Zoey the dog to do a few laps out at Terrace Oaks. Aimee and Zoey did some hiking, Mikey and I did the biking. I had to get out of there pretty quickly since I had to get to Best Buy and purchase a new fridge. So Mikey and I nailed out 3 quick laps, him on his single and me with gears on the Stumpjumper.

Beers were drank in the parking lot and off we went. Murphy tomorrow around 630pm and Leb Thursday around 6pm.

See ya on the trails!

The Road to Recovery

Commuting can drive you crazy -- no, literally

Traffic.
Think your commute drives you crazy? Well, you might be right. In a culture so accustomed to being on-the-go, sitting immobile in traffic for hours each day can take a toll on mental health, researchers say. "If you're stuck in traffic, there's a feeling of being out of control," says psychologist Laura Pinegar, who says she's hearing more and more complaints of traffic anxiety in her practice. Psychologist Ronald Nathan says it can get even more intense than that: "We can start to over-generalize by saying, 'My life is worthless. All I am is somebody who gets into a piece of metal and goes from one place to another.'" We prescribe one bicycle, to be taken twice daily.

source: Los Angeles Times

MORBID MEAT UP #2

Tuesday July 1st, 6pmish, Busters on 28th in So. MPLS.

See ya there!

Stub & Herb's - Meat Up - 5.28.08

Better late than never... after much harassment and even verbal abuse my photos from the Meat Up @ Stub n Herb's finally made the treacherous journey from my camera to my iPhoto account and finally arrived here this morning.

The drinks went down swimmingly and the debauchery arrived on cue.

We all sported our shiny and new MORBID t-shirts and our goal of clearing out the patio was mostly successful!

Time to shut up and let the photos speak for themselves.

Hope to see all those that missed this event out there next time... oh yes, there will be a next time.