The Maestro

Elvis Costello is a genius. With his incredible band, The Attractions, he spent the better part of 20 years visiting different musical genres. This clip is from "Get Happy!", his 20 song album that was a tribute to Motown & Stax. The name of the song is "Possession".

Good or Bad?

I've always wanted to have a fully stocked workshop, one that would rival any bike shop. I still have a very long way to go, but I did take a small step forward the other day, by mounting some pegboard above my tool cart. Now, all I can think of every time I go downstairs is what tools & fixtures I want to add to my growing collection. The one thing I really want now are these.

One!

Take $100 & set it aside to use as entry fees for three new rides you've never done. Even here in Huskerland, I can find one or two new ones. Slowly, you'll build a list of favorites & this will flesh out your riding calendar. Two rides I really enjoy are the BRR ride & Onabike. I'd like to take a moment & wish everyone a happy holidays.

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Now playing: joni mitchell. - in france they Kiss on main st
via FoxyTunes

Two!

I owe this gift idea to eDBiLLy. I feel a little funny posting it, after my "support your local shop" post, but when something works, you've got to use it. Performance Triflex tights are a must have if you're riding in temperatures below 30 degrees. If the wind is howling, these will save your tail (and other important parts).

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Now playing: Miles Davis - Backyard Ritual
via FoxyTunes

Tag, I'm it!

Snakebite tagged me, so here we go:
1) I was classically trained on the cello until I was a sophomore in high school, when I quit (I thought it was nerdy). I was pretty good-when I was a freshman, I played in this guy's senior college recital, where every other performer had at least a master's degree. I regret quitting to this day: I have actually learned a couple of Bach's cello pieces on the bass guitar, the instrument I still play.
2) Twice in my life, I've lost more than 30 lbs. in less than three months. Not because I'm a workout fanatic, but because I eat like a pig. If I didn't cycle, I'd be huge.
3) I've basically worked at the same job since I was 18. The company I started working for in 1980 was bought out by the company I currently work for. I've only been through a job interview four times in my life.
4) When I was in high school, I took a personality test.I had to go the guidance counselors when the results came back. I was told I was anti-social, that my dream job would be one where I had no contacts with other humans (that rules out most jobs, especially retail). Of course, maybe that explains why I only have two really close friends (and why I'm not going to tag five other bloggers).
5) I was an obsessive reader when I first got into cycling. I would go to the local bike shop & buy every magazine I could (I don't know why I didn't subscribe). I bought so many magazines that my nickname (unbeknownst to me until recently) was "magazine man".

3!

Thomson Seatposts are a must have for a couple of reasons: infinite adjustability & strength. I'm very analytical about my position on my bikes, and I have these posts on three of my favorites (including the fixie). Once you have your seat angle dialed in with these seatposts, the saddle stays put. Tomorrow, we'll have a slight interruption in the countdown: I've been tagged by Snakebite, so I'll have to come up with five jewels.

Four!

This item is one of my favorites. There's this lady named Jackie, who lives in Colorado, & makes awesome cycling caps. They are very reasonably priced ($13 including shipping). I've had one for a couple of months, & it has replaced my Swobo cap (stiffer brim) for my cycling needs.

Five!

Become good friends with your local bike shop. Bring them pizza, beer, cookies. Support your shop by buying locally. Yes, sometimes things are cheaper mailorder, but always take a step back & look at the final costs. Include shipping, & if you're trying to buy clothing, shoes or helmets, the inconvenience if they don't fit. I try to do most of my own maintenance, but sometimes, I either don't have the proper tool (I'm working on that) or don't have the experience or confidence (the hardest bike to work on is your own). This is my shop now. I used to go to Lincoln Bicycle Company (Hello Sam, Tony, Matt, Jay), but unfortunately they went out of business a couple of years ago.

Six!

Chris King headsets are the bomb! Bulletproof, a lifetime headset. Expensive, but worth every penny.

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Now playing: Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
via FoxyTunes

Unappreciated Genius

The band XTC are the mad scientists of pop music: brilliant musicians who haven't toured in many years (at least, not a major tour), whose pop sensibilities put them in the upper stratosphere. Here's a live acoustic cut from 1989.

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Now playing: Captain Beefheart - Semi - Multicoloured Caucasian
via FoxyTunes

Seven

Here's something that every CiTy BiLLy should have: a WrapPack. It's a pouch to hold your keys, tools & beer (or bail) money in your jersey pocket when you're riding. It's water resistant & built to last. I was one of the last BiLLys to get one & it's now an indispensable piece of equipment.

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Now playing: Ani Difranco - Letter To A John
via FoxyTunes

8 Days

I've posted some reasonably priced holiday gifts, now it's time to splurge! Phil Wood hubs are one of the most extravagant parts you can put on your bike, yet, due to the fact they last forever (almost), in the long haul, they're a wise purchase. They are elegantly made, yet wear like iron. Phil Wood is an american company, doing things the right way.

The Kings of Pop

Here's a live cut, from the late 70's, featuring The Police. This was before Sting forgot how to play bass & hadn't discovered how to make the ladies scream by taking off his shirt. The best music they ever made was when they had to stretch their sets out because they only had a couple albums worth of material to perform. Stewart Copeland is one of the best rock drummers ever. The thing to notice in this performance is the space Sting, Andy & Stewart leave.

9 Days of Christmas

Cycling.TV is a godsend, now that Versus realized that Lance Armstrong retired & canceled a lot of their coverage. The free section is good, but if you love the early spring races (and the Classics), get somebody to pony up the $50 (approximately) & purchase the Premium package. There is nothing like drinking Chimay while watching hours of Paris Roubaix!

More Pop Music!

The band is a relatively unknown band, Any Trouble, from the early eighties. This clip is from a Swedish television appearance. Lame interview followed by a gem of a song at 3:03.

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Now playing: Nick Drake - One Of These Things First
via FoxyTunes

Pop Music!

eDBiLLy calls me "bubblegum", because I love pop music. Here's a live cut by one of my all time favorites, the dBs, from the early 80's. This band should have been huge-one of the best pop bands of all time.

10 Days left

The Pedro's Beverage Wrench is a must have for any well equipped shop (or their equally brilliant wall mount unit).My brother-in-law put it best (he's opened a few beer bottles in his day); "This opener is great: it's built like a tool".

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Now playing: Paul Bearer and the Caskets - I Want U
via FoxyTunes

Eleven Days of Christmas

I'm not a big fan of the holidays. Working retail for nearly 30 years will do that to you. While others want to gather with family, I want to retreat to my basement & be left alone. So, in the spirit of the season, I offer my eleven days of Christmas, where I offer you items that I would like to find under my Christmas tree (if I had one of the overpriced things). Item one: Drunk Cyclist socks. A refined reminder that you're hip to one of the funniest sites on the net.

You can't believe everything on the Internet

Sell your Soul to the MAN

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Now playing: Michael Jackson - Human Nature
via FoxyTunes

Sure Sign of Winter

In eDLoNNiE's world, this the first sure indication of Winter's onset. I hate trainers, although this Nashbar unit performs very well. When I ride indoors, I'm always torn between listening to music & watching ESPN on TV. The most fun I've ever had riding a trainer was when t-BiLLy sponsored an indoor group ride at his school. My basic rule of thumb is if I can ride outside, I will. Unfortunately, we just got a shot of ice, but, hopefully by the weekend, I can go outside. What tricks do you use to ride more indoors?

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Now playing: Marshall Crenshaw - Whenever You're on my mind
via FoxyTunes

Beer of the Day: Mojo

In my never ending quest to find brewed nirvana, my neighbor helped me find this wildcard. Boulder Brewing created this India Pale Ale. India Pale Ale is a hit or miss with me. I love most of Goose Island's products, but their IPA is so bitter that I can barely drink it. But I digress, back to Mojo. This beer has a finish with a strong citrus tone, leaning towards grapefruit. It's great to drink when it's hot outside & equally satisfying on a December day, watching the damn snow come down.

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Now playing: Billy Bragg - Debris [Live]
via FoxyTunes

Gift Idea

If you want something you'll use, get one of these. I'm not sure if these have back pockets, but for $59, I'd be willing to find out.

Kick a man while he's down

In the "you've got to be kidding me" department, comes this news . If ever there was a need for government intervention, this is it. Beer prices can't go up- can't we have some of the farmers getting subsidies for growing corn (for ethanol) start growing barley & hops? KeRNeL-take a real close look at this beer tree (Rockefeller Center doesn't have a thing on eDLoNNiE).

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Now playing: U2 - Shadows and Tall Trees
via FoxyTunes

LBL 2008 Preliminary Schedule

Date: April 19th, 2008
Location: eDLoNNiE's

8 am- Breakfast with bagels, fruit, mimosas, juice & coffee

9am-Ride begins- if the last two LBLs are any indication, we will begin with a hellacious headwind

4pm (approximate)-Arrive back at eDLoNNiE's for supper (Lasagna, Chili, Bratwursts are all possibilities), brews (may have a surprise on this) & a screening of "A Sunday in Hell"

Please give me suggestions on how to make this ride even more fun.

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Now playing: U2 - Out of Control
via FoxyTunes

LBL 2008 Map

As you can see, it's pretty hard to get lost!

Happy Birthday, Jaco!

December 1st was Jaco Pastorius' birthday. Jaco is a big musical hero of mine- a bassist without compare, a character & ultimately, a victim of his own excesses & mental illness. Here's a video from the latter days in Jaco's life, a period when his performances reflected the turmoil in his life. This is Jaco with Gypsy guitarist Bireli Lagrene & drummer Thomas Borocz, playing Jaco's composition, "Teen Town". This is a trio on fire, at the peak of their musical abilities. Enjoy!

Short Spin

I went out for a little spin today. It was cold, but for me at least, a short ride outside is better than a long spin inside. I hate trainers!
Here's a picture of my singlespeed mountain bike. It's been a faithful friend for 14 years. Plans are continuing for LBL 2008. I'll be posting a few details in the next week or so. Until then, stay warm!

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Now playing: King Crimson - Two Hands
via FoxyTunes

A Sunday In Hell

Here's a short section from "A Sunday In Hell", Jorgen Leth's masterpiece documenting the 1976 Paris Roubaix race.

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Now playing: Miles Davis - Human Nature
via FoxyTunes

LBL April 19th, 2008?

The KeRNeL dropped me a note, lobbying for April 19th for our Spring Classic. So, that's the date, for now. If you can't make it on this date, let me know.

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Now playing: Johnny Cash - Danny Boy
via FoxyTunes

Saturday

I got up early & made some coffee. My knee is still a little tender, so I decided to ride the Panzer (pictured), instead of the fixie. I purposely went out early, to avoid football traffic & because I love riding when the temperature is in the forties & fifties. Cooler weather requires a little forethought in clothing selection. It took me a while to realize that one of the reasons my toes would get cold when the mercury dropped was due to the fact I racheted my shoes too tight. Another hard earned prize was windblocking layers. I currently use these tights and a Craft windblock short sleeve base layer when the shivers start (usually around 35 degrees). I've been lusting after a pair of Lake winter shoes, but haven't pulled the trigger. Wool jersey, socks, leg warmers & cap are all part of my cycling wardrobe. What cold weather cycling tips do you all have?

Gettin' by, day by day!

Most of you know I'm an Assistant Store Director at a local grocery store. I recently moved to another location & it's been a challenge. So, I apologize for not posting more. Things will work out. Somehow, during my last ride (about 2 weeks ago), I managed to tweak my right knee. So, I've been off the bike for a couple of weeks, but am planning to go out for a fixie ride Saturday. I'll post some pics: I'll probably go out early to beat the traffic to the Husker game. In the meantime, one of the schwag items for LBL has already been purchased. What do you think would be a cool memento from a ride? Let me know.

Two Great Beers

I just got back from Ohio; my niece got married. Good trip, other than having to drive for almost 1800 miles! As is my custom when arriving in a new locale, I immediately went to the liquor store & bought some local flavor. Wowza, did I get lucky! This was one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying, with this as a very close second.

Today's Ride

Here's today's ride:stayed in town. Had to stop to return some Martian Marzen Oktoberfest (Archie Bunker said, "You can never buy beer, you just rent it".)

Reroute of Schnoctobeerfest

This is the site eDBiLLy & I saw Saturday morning at 7:30 am (also known as time to start drinking PBR.) Thankfully eDBiLLy knows his home turf, & a quick reroute was invented. Unfortunately, we missed the fantastic hill out of Arlington (there's always next year). eDBiLLy & I spent an hour on Sunday brainstorming & I promise you on a stack Of Dancing Man, that next year will be even better. Now, to begin plans for Lincoln-Beatrice-Lincoln, CiTy BiLLy's spring classic! It happens in April, I'll get the date nailed down in the next couple of months.

Beer Judging Continued

Here I am sifting through "the barrel of goodness", finding another gem. There was only one loser in this competition. Ladies & Gentlemen, I present the worst beer I've ever tried to choke down. I'd really like to try Lakefront's other products, because I've had the runt of the litter.

Schnoctobeerfest Beer Judging

You are looking at the "Dead Sea Scrolls" of Schnoctobeerfest: the tablecover that was used to record yours truly's beer tasting scores. First place went to New Glarus Dancing Man Wheat. Second went to Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale. Third (with a judge's bonus) went to Grain Belt.

Schnoctobeerfest Recap

Here's a link to Snakebite's recap of the event. Here's Briman's pictures of the festivities. It was a great time, hot & windy enough to make it a fairly tough day in the saddle (or on the barstool). The route had to be changed the morning of the ride, due to road construction. We did have an encounter with the State Patrol, but everything ended fine. Over the next couple of posts, I'll try to share some pictures with everyone. A big thank you goes out to MeG & MiMi, oTTo & the fabulous GoRe on the motorsickle.

Thank You!

10 riders completed Schnoctobeerfest & I'd like to thank everyone of them, whether they hailed from Omaha, Millard, Sioux Falls, Lincoln or Elkhorn! Good friends, good beers, good times! I will post pics as soon as I can.

Tomorrow!

See everyone tomorrow! Safe journeys!

Two!

Two days to go! Music is now done, I've got more Barry Manilow & Neil Sedaka than I thought. The pic above is t-BiLLy & the KeRNeL from the first Tour de Kota. It's not too late to join the festivities! Drop me a note using the link to the right. Time to go & get my bail money together!

Three!

Nose to the grindstone, less than 72 hours to go! Here's a sampling of what's coming with me to the ride (still have to get the stuff for mimosas). I'm continuing to work on refining my pallette with some Goose Island Harvest Ale. Tomorrow, I hope to assemble a soundtrack for these hijinx.

Four!

Weather is going to be almost summer-like. But, we'll adapt: wool will be replaced with poly, schnapps with ice cold beer. It looks like it'll be fairly windy, so the brave (foolish?) souls that will be riding fixies or single speeds should have a test. Here's another question for participants, or should it be victims of Schnoctobeerfest: what music would you like to listen to on Saturday? As for eDLoNNiE, my tastes are extremely varied: Abba, Miles Davis, Sigur Ros, Joni Mitchell. What about you?

Five Days to Go!

Just five days to go! The weather is a little worrisome, but we're professionals, right?

One week to go!

One week to go! I'm really stressing about the weather. If the temperature would drop about 15 degrees, it would be perfect. As it stands, it looks like it may be 80 during the last couple of riding hours for Schnoctobeerfest. Would any participants other than the KeRNeL, like to give hints as to the beer they're bringing to the festivities? As for me, I plan on bringing a few cases of "volume" beer. Would any riders be interested in mimosas during the riders meeting? Let me know.

Map of where we're riding

This is for those of us that won't remember (a special thanks to Lee for creating this)

I'm ready: are you?

All I have left to do is some libation shopping & buy some food!

Back of the Sweatshirts

This is the back of the sweatshirt, resplendant with the flying alcoholic devil! The color of the ink is "bloody nose red".

Sneak peek of the Sweatshirts

Here's the front . Excuse the crappy picture: I didn't have my good camera.

Beer of the day?

Just had a six of this wonderful elixir. Oktoberfest is upon us & I, for one, couldn't be happier! Tomorrow, I ride, then sample Beck's Oktoberfest & Left Hand Oktoberfest, plus visit eDBiLLy! Yeah, life's a bitch!

It's going to be a trainwreck!

Two weeks from this Saturday is our Fall "classic", Schnoctobeerfest. Entries are starting to come in. We've got three (maybe four) from Sioux Falls (home of the KeRNeL), three from Omaha & two from Lincoln. The ride starts from an acreage outside of Elkhorn, so parking is no problem. I hope to have sneak peeks of the shirt design by early next week.
I'd like to take a minute & recognize the passing of the great Joe Zawinul, keyboardist & composer extraordinaire. Joe's collaborations with Jaco Pastorius are one of the reasons I play bass.

Oktoberfest!

I finally drank my first Leinie's Oktoberfest of the year. It definitely made me think of crisp mornings, dressed in wool, punching out the miles, where every breath is a little pin prick telling you that you're alive. I typically take a weeks vacation every October just to ride my bike.

25 days left to sign up!

Here's the youngest member of CiTy BiLLy, training for Schnoctobeerfest (just kidding)! eDBiLLy has decided to go with a crew sweatshirt as the commemorative garment for Schnoctobeerfest! For just $10, you'll get food, drink & a killer sweatshirt!
Last Saturday, eDBiLLy & I rode down to Roca for a couple of beers. On the way down, we ran into Endurosnob & Cornbread.This morning, I celebrated the unofficial beginning of Fall by going out for a fixie ride in wool. Bring on the cool weather!

Update

I've been on several sweet rides as of late. A week ago Saturday, I did the Heatstroke 100 out of Ashland. It was a perfect day & a great time. Last Saturday, I got up at 5 am & rode south of Lincoln on Highway 77- it was surreal pedaling in the darkness (I had lights on my bike). Yesterday, I took the trail through Wilderness & then headed south to Roca. Fun!
Schnoctobeerfest update: eDBiLLy & I are meeting on Saturday to finalize everything. The shirt design will be really something. Next week, I'll post complete info for the ride, so if anyone is interested in coming to Elkhorn, they can reserve October 6th on their calendar. Until then, enjoy the change in the weather!

39 Days until Schnoctobeerfest!

Autumn-my favorite time of year! The air is crisp, colors beautiful & the beer flavorful. Here's a picture from last year's Schnoctobeerfest, with all of us sporting wool jerseys. For those of you who have never tried wool, I encourage you to try one. I thought I'd buy one about 5 years ago just to satisfy my curiosity. Now, I rarely go out in the Fall (never in the Winter) without a wool jersey (I have several now). Wool is comfortable over a wide temperature range & stays warm in cold, driving rain & snow. It doesn't retain body odor. Yes, they're a little expensive, but they last for many seasons. Now, back to my other love, beer. New Belgium Brewing released a wool jersey a couple of years ago, which harkened back to the glory days of cycling (when some of the pro teams were sponsored by european breweries). There were two versions, a black one with pockets in the back (a true cycling jersey) & a beautiful dark brown one without pockets. They were priced pretty much at wholesale, around $60. Unfortunately, they're no longer available. But, if one scours bike shops in the Spring & Summer, once in a while, there are wool jerseys on the markdown racks. This is a great way to score that first fix!

Schnoctobeerfest Update

eDBiLLy came up with a great idea- everyone bring a 6 pack of your favorite brew & we'll have a smorgasboard! We will still provide more beer than you can drink, but this is a great opportunity for people to try new beers! We will provide a special prize for the most unique beer- be it home brew or some unique lager that you found.

Shirt from last year

Here is eDBiLLy's design from last year, in all its splendor. eDBiLLy called the ink color "I shit you not brown", so you know this one's a keeper.

Schnoctobeerfest

Saturday October 6th, CiTy BiLLy cycle will be hosting the second annual Schnoctobeerfest ride out of Elkhorn, Nebraska. This ride is a celebration of cooler weather, wool jerseys, singlespeeds (fixed & free) & Oktoberfest! Please join us for a 55 mile ride followed by beer & food. For just ten bucks, you'll get a t-shirt designed by founding father eDBiLLy, beer & food. Drop me an e-mail if you're interested- it will be fun!





Here's a pic from last year's ride. We're saving lonely beers from boring lives one bottle, can or glass at a time!

RAGBRAI 2007

eDBiLLy, Steel & I only rode two days of RAGBRAI this year. Quite frankly, the excitement of having a 7 time TdF winner along has brought out way too many riders. On the second day (Monday), I felt nervous all day. We came up on two serious accidents. People just flat out don't use common sense. A four wide paceline, passing other cyclists (who are of varying competence)? I think we'll look for our Route 666 kicks somewhere else ( I hear that South Dakota next summer is the place to be). Special thanks to the KeRNeL for riding with us Sunday & being the photographer.