Time to celebrate...

This is the meager hill I have to work with.

This is my favorite building along the north shore. It's wedged between two average looking ones. The camera didn't focus to well on the background but you can kinda make it out. Attempting an artsy shot.
Looking Back

Looking forward

Looking good

Today I turn 26. The last year of my middle twenties. What does that mean? I don't know. I haven't reached any milestones this year. I feel the same if not better than last year. I am just cruising. There are some things going well and others I need to work on. As long as I am looking for change and opportunity then I don't feel anything wrong with turning 26.

I got in a decent ride yesterday. I cruised on up the lake for about a half hour. Once I came back South I did 10 hill climbs (pictured above). The legs are feeling pretty good. I even had PT this morning so I thought I would run out of the power. I still had fuel left in the tank.

Fun stuff goin on

There was a propane tank in the back seat too. WTF

Notice two parking tickets

Got a good ride in yesterday. The wind was strong on the lake front. Close to 35mph. I rode into the wind for some hard efforts. It felt like I was climbing. I am racing for the first time this weekend. The fat & skinny tire fest in Warsaw, IN. I may also race at Ft. Custer on Sunday in MI. The geared bike on Saturday and singlespeed on Sunday. Awesome! Here are some pics of me on my ride as well as a Benz parking fail I saw this morning. Enjoy.

Pmac

My brother wore a dress...

For his graduation on Saturday! Congratulations John. I know you don't think it's that big of deal but you did it. You needed it for everything else you want to do. Good luck with everything you decide to take on. This past weekend was a lot of fun. Mostly full of eating, drinking, and joking around. The rain did not let up, though. I still got in about two hours on the bike Sunday night. Not bad I guess. First race this upcoming weekend in Indiana. I am looking forward to it.

I have a new blog!

I had an interesting idea the other day while I was sitting and stuffing my face with my roommate Aaron. I was a bit mesmerized by the pile of food I was attempting to consume. Low and behold I did it in a short period of time with few complications. He said, "Man, you should take a picture of that before you eat it, just so you know what you accomplished". "Too bad I don't have a camera", I glumly remarked. The digestive juice then got the creative juices flowing. What if I took pics of everything I ate and posted them on a blog? I have never seen that done before. It's pretty personal and will help me neatly set up my meals. Archiving and chronologically setting things up will help me stay organize as well as help me analyze what I am eating and the effects it has on me. This will be fun. I will still post to this site for day-to-day riding and other things. Check it out at: http://pmcclain83.blogspot.com/

Pmac

Content

Wow, I haven't posted here in a while. All last week I was in the ER aka the warranty repair center; fixin forks and brakes. I was rarely at a comp long enough to type anything. So, yea, a lot has gone on. I guess I could fill in the blank screen. I am realizing something, my blog updates are fairly superficial. In the sense that it's just event update and how I felt about it. So I am thinking of changing the content I put in here. Something more personal. Noo, not too personal just more personal. I have an idea but can't act on it until I get the right stuff. I just sold the Lenzsport which shall provide the funds for the right stuff. WTF? What am I talking about? I think a trip to Best Buy will help. Oooo, a chance to boost my credit. Let's see if I have any funny pics.

Pmac

Rippin & rollin

I had a good weekend in MI. I rode at Stony Creek twice; the trails were in great condition. I got a four hour ride in on Saturday, half of it riding from the house up there and back. They've done a good job with trail maintenance there. More corners are banked and muddy spots drained. A lot of downhill sections did not require braking b/c of this. My Salsa was nicely equipped for the trails. I must have had the right air pressure in both tires b/c they felt like velcro in corners and up climbs. I rode again on Sunday and experienced much of the same thing. Not much else went on at home. Just hanging out and eating. What else can you ask for?

Pmac

Out early today...

And I got quite the send off after throwing my keyboard into my unsuspecting Tron era monitor. I will be attacking I-94 on the road to one of the great metro areas of our time. No not Evansville, Indiana; DETROIT, MICHIGAN. I got plans too. Friday night I'm going to a rap show in the city with Aaron. Saturday I'm riding a long distance maybe check out some trails if it's not too wet. Maybe go see Fred, Martha & the kids. Also, I plan to do some online bike shopping with pops and then go out for some burgers, betties, and benevolent observation.

In Spring or Summer I really like going back to Troy. The comfort of home that you can only get from one place....home. I have not been able to recreate that feeling anywhere else. Sure, I've liked the places I've lived in but nothing has been like the house on the lake in Troy.

This past week has been fairly hectic. A lot of riding, taco eating, & Jack Daniels. Not necesarily in that order. I went to the GZA show last night out in the West. It was supposed to be a bad part of town but the gloc I had stashed in my trousers told me otherwise.

Pmacadocious

Update update update

For what? I don't know. Today the Niner EMD frame gets delivered. I will canabalize the Lenz to outfit this racing beast. The Lenz is hanging by a thread. It just doesn't fit right. So, what to do? Turn it into greater bike equity. I will sell for a premium and be able to buy this: http://www.transitionbikes.com/Covert.cfm
And this:
http://vassagocycles.com/fisty.html
With money to spare. It's nice to get industry discounts. I will not buy a bike mid season like I did last year. Too confusing to the body and too much time setting them up.

The Trek event went well. I didn't have to do much and it was cool meeting shop rats. They have a different take on riding especially in the flat midwest. They all ride 5"+ travel bikes and some of them have missing teeth. Where are they doing these tooth cracking activities? They all seem to like SRAM and appreciate an American (made in Taiwan) company. A lot of them don't buy our stuff b/c we don't give them a good enough deal. We can't hook up everyone so I'm not worried.

I drank a beer at the Hopleaf last night with my friend John. Belgian hops are pretty good.

Pmac

Critical Mass

Today I will ride for more bicycle transportation infrastructure. The last Friday of every month cyclists gather at Daley Plaza in downtown to take back the streets. It's just a big group riding together, which blocks cars and allows all to get through stop lights. Some end having confrontations with the police but most are fine just out there to stir up some awareness. This will be my first one and I am looking forward to it. What's funny is a lot of SRAM employees can't go b/c they need to stay after work for an event with a congressman who wants to promote cycling. If he wanted to promote cycling shouldn't he be at this ride getting media coverage? Oh well, it should be interesting.

This week at work has been tough. It hasn't been that exciting or dynamic so the days have just been draggin by. I need a changing environment to be at my best. There is only so much internet surfing I can do. Eventually the thrill of cyber waves passes me by.

A bright spot is coming this weekend. On Sunday night I am helping out with a sales presentation for Trek dealers. I will be able to meet shop guys in the area and talk about our road product. I also have my longest ride of the year planned on Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to get 3.5-4 hours in. My El Mariachi is all set up for it. Finally got a rear brake and light rear wheel on it.

PMAC

I gotta have it

I'm going crazy over here. I have all of a sudden switched to wanting to buy everything in sight. What will I be buying? more bikes. The Karate Monkey will be sold by friday which should leave me with a good chunk of change to get something else. The El Mariachi is great as a geared bike but I loved it as an SS. That's it I am buying a Niner EMD (pictured above) and changing the EM back to SS. I'll put a new Reba on the Niner and just ride the pedals off it. I am also going to get a road bike. Probably a CAAD 9. Then I will get a cross/commuter, probably a Vassago Fisitcuff. This is crazy.

I haven't been doing too well in the Tourney. Some of my picks have made it but none of my upsets came through. I'll just watch and drink beer. I met Kobe on Sunday. He's a good/smiley guy who must travel with a barber. He was all shaped up.

Pmac