RR: Time To Rant

It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

As most folks 'round here (east coast) know, it's been damn cold.
When I suited up today it was probably around 30 F. (A heat wave
indeed) I knew trail conditions would be perfect. After the Honey Do
List was completed the trails would be all mine...or so I thought.

Begin Rant:
Double gloved and double socked I approach the trail head, SHIAT! 5 or
6 SUV's already there. Probably a bunch of
Barney-Trailpoaching-Rat*******-Wannabe-ProRiders ripping the hell out
of my trails. Eh, no bid deal "People are people so why should it be
you and I get along so awfully?" Immediately the dark days of Depeche
Mode invade my psyche.

Made me feel like I needed to Break Stuff. "You don't really know why,
but you wanna justify rippin someone's head off." Ah yes Limp Bizkit
good tunes for a ride much better than the DM, and I wasn't in a
Classic Rock mood.

I'm down in the park now riding is absolutely great, no mud,
everything seemed dry or frozen. I haven't seen the trails that fast
in probably 8 to 10 months. The hills felt like mole hills, me and
the SS were definitely in the zone.

I connect up with a group of 4 riders at one of the cross cuts. I get
in as the 4th rider, their original 4th is lagging behind the group
and is well behind me.

The first thing I noticed is the "Lefty". Someone please tell me WTF
is the point of a "Lefty"? Weight saving? Less to maintain? I just
don't fvcking get it. The damn fork and the wheel needed for it
nearly cost as much as my SS. If they wanted to be so unique why
didn't they make it a "Righty"? What a waste of time and money. I'll
take my rigid fork over that POS any day. For those of you who own a
"Lefty", "WAKE THE FVCK UP!"

As we approach another fork in the road, I go high they go low. I can
see their 4th finally catch up. I'm making very good time much better
than I expected even though my plan was to go slow and work the hills.
I decide to hit the far side of the Rockburn Branch trail then head up
towards the Belmont entrance. I come to a stream crossing that I
thought for sure would be frozen over. Nope, not yet and I was not
gonna take any chances this time. Tried that dumb sh!t last year and
nearly lost a toe. So I turn around and remap my route. I make my
way to the Ridge trail. After a short stop to take off my over gloves
and head band I start up the Ridge. It's amazing how your body can
work up a sweat in 30 F weather.

Who should I see again? Yes the "Crack-N-Fail" crew outfitted to the
9's, Leftys and all. Yep, you guessed it, their 4th was still
lagging behind. I told her I was in no hurry and didn't need to pass,
but she pulled over anyway. I politely thanked her and proceeded to
pass their third rider also. All those fscking gears, a Lefty,
outfitted to the 9's and it still didn't help them on the hills.
Perhaps they should have "cut down" their bars. I wonder what they
were thinking when I passed them on a bike the cost less than their
forks? I wonder if each of them came in their own SUV?....So many
thoughts so little time.

I cut off after the hill and started my way back out on another cross
cut.

It was a good day. Of course now it's snowing/raining/sleeting.
When's the frigging oobleck comming?!

End Rant:

Better now,
Bill
....one speed to rule them all, one speed to find them,
one speed to bring them all and on the trails pass them
In the Land of Avalon where the geared pigs lie...

Bill Wheeler wrote:
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

Good one, though I still like me gears.

Tom

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 00:15:40 -0500, Bill Wheeler wrote:
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

Nah, I think its funny how people get so worked up about somebody ELSE's
bike.

--
-BB-
To reply to me, drop the attitude (from my e-mail address, at least)

Bill Wheeler wrote:
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

As most folks 'round here (east coast) know, it's been damn cold.
When I suited up today it was probably around 30 F. (A heat wave
indeed) I knew trail conditions would be perfect. After the Honey Do
List was completed the trails would be all mine...or so I thought.

Begin Rant:
Double gloved and double socked I approach the trail head, SHIAT! 5 or
6 SUV's already there. Probably a bunch of
Barney-Trailpoaching-Rat*******-Wannabe-ProRiders ripping the hell out
of my trails. Eh, no bid deal "People are people so why should it be
you and I get along so awfully?" Immediately the dark days of Depeche
Mode invade my psyche.

SNIP

Dark days of Depeche Mode? Actually that was before he decided to do
heroine and turn the band into gloom and doom.

SNIP SOME MORE
The first thing I noticed is the "Lefty". Someone please tell me WTF
is the point of a "Lefty"? Weight saving? Less to maintain? I just
don't fvcking get it. The damn fork and the wheel needed for it
nearly cost as much as my SS. If they wanted to be so unique why
didn't they make it a "Righty"? What a waste of time and money. I'll
take my rigid fork over that POS any day. For those of you who own a
"Lefty", "WAKE THE FVCK UP!"

Everytime I look at one of those I think the wheel is going to bend in half.
I mean, what keeps it from bending on a fast left hand technical turn? Add
to that the Cannondale mentality of making things proprietary.


As we approach another fork in the road, I go high they go low. I can
see their 4th finally catch up. I'm making very good time much better
than I expected even though my plan was to go slow and work the hills.
I decide to hit the far side of the Rockburn Branch trail then head up
towards the Belmont entrance. I come to a stream crossing that I
thought for sure would be frozen over. Nope, not yet and I was not
gonna take any chances this time. Tried that dumb sh!t last year and
nearly lost a toe. So I turn around and remap my route. I make my
way to the Ridge trail. After a short stop to take off my over gloves
and head band I start up the Ridge. It's amazing how your body can
work up a sweat in 30 F weather.

Who should I see again? Yes the "Crack-N-Fail" crew outfitted to the
9's, Leftys and all. Yep, you guessed it, their 4th was still
lagging behind. I told her I was in no hurry and didn't need to pass,
but she pulled over anyway. I politely thanked her and proceeded to
pass their third rider also. All those fscking gears, a Lefty,
outfitted to the 9's and it still didn't help them on the hills.
Perhaps they should have "cut down" their bars. I wonder what they
were thinking when I passed them on a bike the cost less than their
forks? I wonder if each of them came in their own SUV?....So many
thoughts so little time.

I cut off after the hill and started my way back out on another cross
cut.

It was a good day. Of course now it's snowing/raining/sleeting.
When's the frigging oobleck comming?!

End Rant:

Better now,
Bill
...one speed to rule them all, one speed to find them,
one speed to bring them all and on the trails pass them
In the Land of Avalon where the geared pigs lie...

Enjoyed it. Thanks.

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 00:15:40 -0500, Bill Wheeler wrote:
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.


U da man Bill. Your rants crack me up! Way to
get after it.

Gman

"Bill Wheeler" ranted in message
news
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

As most folks 'round here (east coast) know, it's been damn cold.
When I suited up today it was probably around 30 F. (A heat wave
indeed) I knew trail conditions would be perfect.

Bet if you went today you'd have the trails to yourself!

Begin Rant:
Double gloved and double socked I approach the trail head, SHIAT! 5 or
6 SUV's already there. Probably a bunch of
Barney-Trailpoaching-Rat*******-Wannabe-ProRiders ripping the hell out
of my trails. Eh, no bid deal

Sounds like it WAS a big deal!



I'm down in the park now riding is absolutely great, no mud,
everything seemed dry or frozen. I haven't seen the trails that fast
in probably 8 to 10 months. The hills felt like mole hills, me and
the SS were definitely in the zone.

I love when it's like that. Btw, I still don't get
it........................
SS that is.


The first thing I noticed is the "Lefty". Someone please tell me WTF
is the point of a "Lefty"? Weight saving? Less to maintain? I just
don't fvcking get it. The damn fork and the wheel needed for it
nearly cost as much as my SS. If they wanted to be so unique why
didn't they make it a "Righty"? What a waste of time and money. I'll
take my rigid fork over that POS any day. For those of you who own a
"Lefty", "WAKE THE FVCK UP!"

I wonder the same things about that rig.


As we approach another fork in the road, I go high they go low. I can
see their 4th finally catch up. I'm making very good time much better
than I expected even though my plan was to go slow and work the hills.
I decide to hit the far side of the Rockburn Branch trail then head up
towards the Belmont entrance. I come to a stream crossing that I
thought for sure would be frozen over. Nope, not yet and I was not
gonna take any chances this time. Tried that dumb sh!t last year and
nearly lost a toe.

Wuss. You have 9 more. You REALLY want to prove a point, lose 9 toes
and single toed............. Had to be done.

So I turn around and remap my route. I make my
way to the Ridge trail. After a short stop to take off my over gloves
and head band I start up the Ridge. It's amazing how your body can
work up a sweat in 30 F weather.

You can sweat in sub-zero but THAT's some dangerous shiite.


I cut off after the hill and started my way back out on another cross
cut.

It was a good day. Of course now it's snowing/raining/sleeting.
When's the frigging oobleck comming?!

End Rant:

Better now,
Bill
...one speed to rule them all, one speed to find them,
one speed to bring them all and on the trails pass them
In the Land of Avalon where the geared pigs lie...

Nice.

Marty

Bill Wheeler wrote:

It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants.


Not long enough... http://www.pbase.com/image/19662684
http://www.pbase.com/image/19662695

--
Slacker

What about the snow falling since 4am. That 12
hours now. I went pedaling around 11am,pretty dam wet heavy snow.
Shoveled twice and going out for 3rd time. Steve says I'm crazy
but I'm just having fun.

I MTB 2004

Crazy says:

Steve says I'm crazy

HEY! Wait a minute! I only implied that, not stated.
Well, OK..... ;-)

but I'm just having fun.

Good enough. This is the weather for it. Not much sticking here today, too
"hot", but it's sure purty.

Steve

Bill Wheeler wrote in message . ..
It's been a long time since I've had one of my rants. Warning, don't
bother reading any further if rants annoy you.

As most folks 'round here (east coast) know, it's been damn cold.
When I suited up today it was probably around 30 F. (A heat wave
indeed) I knew trail conditions would be perfect. After the Honey Do
List was completed the trails would be all mine...or so I thought.

It was a good day. Of course now it's snowing/raining/sleeting.
When's the frigging oobleck comming?!

End Rant:

Better now,
Bill
...one speed to rule them all, one speed to find them,
one speed to bring them all and on the trails pass them
In the Land of Avalon where the geared pigs lie...

I know deep down you really had nothing but pity and compassion for
those excessive fools.

Paladin