All Competitors and Former Teammates Are Important

As some of you know Brandon from my former team, Expo Racing, was struck by a motorist last week when riding home from school. He did get taken to the hospital, fortunately he should pull through and make a full recovery. I don't know many of the details but I want everyone to pray for him, and his recovery, hopefully he'll recover and be as strong as ever.

Brandon was probably obeying every last rule and law. Bikesafer has pointed out many laws that motorists are bound to abide by. Cases like this remind cyclist and Motorists of the possible conflict between them. Me personally, I've always had the mantra of expect the unexpected, as a cyclist most motorists overlook you. When you learn to drive you are taught the same, its called defensive driving, relatively speaking this holds true to cyclists. You must practice defensive riding. The world isn't perfect. Anticipate motorists to not yield to you when you have the right of way. Look for people backing out of their driveways. Always be aware of the traffic around you at all times. Unfortunately in the united states, drivers are not predictable and depending on where you are, people are less bicycle conscience. The Lake Country Area people are very cyclist aware. If you are a motorist take notice of the two wheeled non-motorized people you share the road with. If you are a cyclist, please pay more attention to your defensive riding, it will save your life someday.

I did the unthinkable

I paid the $90 to USA Cycling so I can race in road and mountain this year without those pesky 1 day licenses.

The ghetto Rockhound

I'm naming it "Shitty"

How many of you have ever seen a brown bike? There is a reason you don't. Johnny D Painted it the color he decided to go with. I think it looks like shit personally. For those of you who don't know I picked this frame and fork up from someone via Jeremy Rodriguez for a low low, undisclosed price. I had it chemically acid dipped, sanded away what little corrosion and dings I could, took it to my painting guy and had it primered and then handed it off to Johnny. Johnny wanted it in "Medium Grey". I was afraid I would screw it up, and his brother works at a dealership or w/e. Instead of painting it right right way he took the frame home and decided to paint it the most ugly brown I have ever seen. Its a total slap in the face. I just want to go to his house and steal it away from him for Bike frame neglect. I wanted to paint it "Ergon Green" PMS #563. with Gloss Black Decals and gloss clear, would have looked a little like a Bianchi Lewis, just brighter. Johnny get the frame for 1 year then he must return it and he has already agreed to pay for the repainting of the frame in MY desired color. In the meantime I'm just going to deny that I had anything to do with the painting of it.

Addition of a few more items

Addition of handlebars, Ergon Grips, The Rear Brake/Lever. (not shown in picture, Li-Ion Arc Handlebar mount.)

tomorrow should mark the arrival of the Front Hub and Freewheel. I received the rim today. So now all that is left is front wheel, reinstallation of front brake/lever and installation of freewheel.

BTW, I just finished my registration for Do the rock 2008, go here, and there on April 20th or be square.

This is How the Build is Shaping up

2005 ZR9000 "8500" frame
Salsa Lip Lock seat collar
2007 Fox F80 RLC
Rear: White Industries ENO Disc 32h (3x), Velocity VXC Rim, DT Swiss Revolution Spokes
Front: White Industries M16 32h (3x), Velocity VXC Rim, ??? Spokes
Chris King Headset
Avid BB7 Brakes w/ Jagwire cable housings and Avid SL Levers, Roundagon Rotors (160mm)
Race Face Prodigy XC Forged (34t)
White Industries (16t) ENO Freewheel
Ritchey WCS Alloy Seatpost
Ritchey WCS Carbon Rizer Handlebars
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 17 degree rise (100mm) stem
WTB Speed V Cro-Mo Rails
Michlien Dry2 or Maxxis Crossmark Tires
KMC Superlight Chain
Bontrager Tubes
Ergon Team Green GE1 Grips

Roughly a $2000 Singlespeed by my calculations, Trek 69er, eat your heart out.

Its getting there

addition on Crank & BB, wheels, Fork, Seat, Post, 7 coats of Turtle Wax, and the Eno rear, the front wheel is just a stand in until my White Industries M16 Disc & Velocity VXC gets built. I just threw on the only handlebars I could find that I had laying around that were 31.8mm, some road bars. I will be getting the correct handlebars (I already own) they are just on the fritz. and the reason I haven't installed any of the rear brakes are because the rear disc brake tabs still need to be refaced. There are still alot of little details to be figured out, but in 2 weeks or less I should have one really cool ride. At some point this year I'm going to crash and I'm going to cry, not because I got hurt but because I scratched my paint.

Not 1 pair but 2 pair!

I just want to thank the good folks at Ergon. You can find their line of great high quality products @ http://www.ergon-bike.com/

I am looking for someone who has this tool

Who are the hippies in the Pictures below

That is Bill and Hillary Clinton in the 70s

New Sponsor

Painted

New Game: Identify the Hippie

Moto rapido, Translation, Motion Express

What the Vinyls are going to look like

Greens don't show up well on most screens but it will be pretty bright green, like MARS Green

Stripped

How does Cogitory sit?

I just want your opinions, line 3 is what my name is in, that is already done. If you are wondering how I came up with the name, its a combo of "Cog" and "Purgatory".