Paul Brush: Bicycle rides and other stuff

Not really using blogger now

2008-09-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well, Facebook is way easier to keep everything organized in, so I;m using that now. See you there!

Yikes, a real NorCal spring encounter!

2008-05-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ever since I moved here to California and started roaming around the woods, I was always told that I had to be on the lookout for a certain type of person who you might not want to meet.

Yesterday, I had my encounter. I was off the main trail, but on a little side trail I noticed. I went far. I got to the end of the trail. I looked up. There sit 3 marijuana growers cooking potatoes and eggs for lunch, or maybe it was a late breakfast.

Oh shit is the first thing I think of, but I put on a big smile and act friendly. They are nervous for a minute, but relax quickly. They offer me a drink of water, but I politely declined and left after pretending I'm half-lost and ask for directions.

I wonder if they are going to stay there or if I ruined their good thing. Who knows? I had suspicions that someone was growing pot around there anyway, you could sometimes get a smell of it on one section of a particular trail in the summer time a few years ago.

Good thing for them it's a very low-use place. I bet they cover their tracks better now.

Titus El Guapo build

2008-04-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

If you're interested, a Titus El Guapo, built up with a Lyrik 2-step air, mostly XT components and Crossmax SL's comes out to 31 pounds.

Totally American

2008-04-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after our ride, we watched a guy in a huge 4 wheel drive pickup circle around the Howarth Park parking lot 4 or 5 times looking for a parking spot.
He finally finds one on the top level near the trailhead. He and his dog get out of the truck and they go hiking!
50% of the parking spots on the next level down, about 150 yards away were all open.

Well, maybe he only wanted to walk a total of 250 yards for the day.

And to be honest, there were at least 10 people cruising in circles looking for close parking spots so they could go do their walking.

I hate going to the park on weekends.

Best feeling road bars ever

2008-03-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

I got to build a brand new Orbea Orca the other day. It's a sweet bike, but to me the best part is the handlebars, they are the Zeus Cat III carbon bar model. They feel like magic and fit my hands perfectly.
I'm getting Orbea to send me one, I've always avoided using carbon handlebars, but these feel too good to not ride.

Forgot to post this

2008-03-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

I took this picture in early March. Riding in the snow is so quiet it's almost creepy some times.

Oh man

2008-02-26T23:42:00.000-08:00

Steve, aka Short White Dude has died. What a crappy reminder of how short life can be.
Just, wow.
pinkbike.com/news/SWD-racing-founder-passes-away-2008.html

Go heart attack!!!

2008-02-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

OK, Romney is gone!!
Now if Huckabee will drop out and the 70 year old McCain has the heart attack he's long overdue for we'll get Ron Paul.

Actually we wouldn't really get that lucky. Romney only 'suspended', which means he doesn't lose his already gained electoral votes and can come back at any time. I wonder if the above scenario was what prompted his suspension instead of actually quitting.

Anyone else have problems?

2008-02-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Change your party affiliation so you could vote for Ron Paul? Did you have problems being allowed to vote? Yep, everybody did.

Phew, the end of WiiBay

2007-12-24T07:49:00.001-08:00

Well, the Wii craze wasn't a hype. I managed to get a half dozen of them and threw most of them up on Ebay, or should I say WiiBay. It was pretty hectic, and this morning I had 3 emails from people on Craigslist still looking for one. I went in and removed the ad, I guess I forgot to do it a couple days ago.

I kept one for myself. They seem pretty fun.

Now, it's time for Road Trip 2007-8. See ya soon!

Woah, I'm actually sick

2007-12-05T01:50:00.000-08:00

I never get sick. Like hardly ever, so now that I've been laid up since Sunday night, I'm starting to get worried.
I really started throwing up in earnest yesterday, so hopefully it's passing. We'll see.

Went to the Dr. had a pre cancerous skin blemish removed from my face. I guess I should have been wearing sun-screen all these years. There's a couple more they want to take a look at. :/

And finally, we got out of Washington just in time. Kitsap county had 100MPH+ winds, and I-5 is shut down between Seattle and Portland. That makes for a 6 hour+ detour on a 13 hour drive. OUCH

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T11:07:00.001-08:00

Hope everybody had a good turkey day. I rode 25 miles of this for mine. :D This is why I don't mind going to the in-laws for visits.

One way border

2007-10-25T06:26:00.001-07:00

It's amazing how our southern border can't keep illegals out, but somehow it magically does an excellent job of keeping the flames in. Seems kind of suspicious to me.

Sunrise riding

2007-10-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I've rode up at Annadel. It's been even longer since I was able to be on the trail before sunrise.
Yesterday, I managed to do both.

We got going a little later than we had planned, and some people had to make sure they got to work on time so we only did about 12 miles or so. That was OK, since I didn't have my shock pressure quite right and someone forgot their camelbak in my truck and we were sharing water. A longer ride probably wouldn't have been much fun.

It was good fun and not nearly as cold as we were thinking it was going to be. Hopefully the rain stays away in the mornings so we can do it again, but that probably won't happen.

Tire Balls

2007-10-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here's the coolest thing from Interbike that nobody is talking about:
Tireballs. Check the video's out for a better explanation than I could give.
They are pretty expensive, but it's basically a one-time outlay. If you're riding and getting lots of pinch-flats or constantly burping your tubeless setup, these may be for you.
The main use right now is for downhill tires, but the guy said XC versions were being worked on, and there might even be a road version in the future.

Supposedly they are really hot in moto and ATV baja-style racing.

that's a wrap! Interbike is done

2007-09-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

definately fun, but very tiring. Since I got up on Tuesday I've got a whole 14 hours sleep.
thankfully the expo hall is like one giant hit of speed or I would have never made it.

I'll post more when I get back.

Will it never stop?

2007-09-22T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hey, here is a great idea:

1. Get lunchboxes made for 56,000 students.
2. Have the lunchboxes silk-screened with good-eating habits and ways to stay healthy.
3. Order lead-tainted lunchboxes from China so your students can read about eating healthy.

It's really happening: Look here.

Some pictures from Northstar

2007-09-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pictures taken this year at the newly re-opened Northstar Bike Park. Some are of me, some are of my friend Nelson. Click for the big version.

China gives us good stuff. Cheap

2007-08-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, just imagine how much crap they have sent us in the 30 years before this when nobody was really checking up on them.

Dead Pets, kids' make-up, and now, baby bibs.

It makes you wonder exactly what chemicals they are using in the corrosion resistant paint in your microwave, the type of insulation in your refrigerator, or the amount of off-gassing that occurs from the cheap plastic water cooler in the office.
Mmmmm, tasty vaporized plastic particles from non-food grade plastic.

So ends the cool job

2007-08-04T16:03:00.001-07:00

Once your boss has called you a liar to your customers, it's time to go.

Ah, finally....

2007-08-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Nite rides for the win!!!

2007-08-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

What's coming next?

2007-03-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

So, the top Agilent Executive in Santa Rosa quits.
That isn't too unusual in itself, people quit every day.
What is unusual is that this guy was next in line to be CEO of the entire company. So, he must be doing a really important and vital job in his present position, correct?

So, why is his position not being re-filled? Was it really a useless position that paid him $800,000 a year plus stock options, or is something happening that makes re-filling the Vice President of the Electronic Measurements Group unnecessary?

The honest truth

2007-03-06T02:23:00.000-08:00

So, I dont update this as much any more. Why?
To be honest since I'm not sitting at a computer half the day any more, I don't get a chance to work on posts bit by bit thru the day, so I don't post at all. Then I get behind and don't have the time to catch up, so I don't post some more, and soon I'm soo far behind I just say screw it for awhile.

With the days getting longer and the weather getting better hopefully I'll start having something worthwhile to yap about soon.

Bad timing

2007-02-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

I got my second flat ever on my road bike last night, while riding home from work in the dark in the pouring rain. Bummer.