Rain and snow in Boulder

A post-work run on Towhee Trail.

These days are full. Full of preparing for the true onset of winter where certain things just shut down and have to wait for the springtime. Full of errands, chores, that spending $ we don't have just to get ready. Full of trepidation on a new work project that will last one year from today and has the opportunity to be historical or a complete frustration and waste of time. Full of experiencing the open spaces all around us, solo or with the ones we love, makes it all worthwhile.

Too old to die young

That was the text on drummer John Wright's shirt of NoMeansNo.

Too old to die young.

Such a funny quote if you know the punk world. Circle Jerks with "Live fast, Die young", 7 Seconds with "Young till I die" and the many other bands making such statements in their song titles or lyrics, mostly written when they were young punks. To see Victims Family and NoMeansNo in 2009, when these guys are older and greying is just amazing. NMN hasn't stopped touring or making albums for the 30 years they've been around. Their energy is persistent and infective...a true working man's band. With Rob Wright being 55 now, I don't know when they'll STOP so I make every effort to see their shows.

I decided to fly out to see family, and also sneak in a show while the band was in the Bay Area. Met up with SpeedRacer and stayed at the Soulcraft abode. (One thing I know is the next frame I buy will likely be a Soulcraft.) Anyways, after dinner and a pint or two of the local brewmaster's Lagunitas IPA, we headed to the historic Phoenix Theater. The surrounding scene was of old 'retired' punks first at the old speakeasy bar across the street and then with some young punks added into the mix at the show. I was one of the younger people there (at 36) if you can imagine that.

You wouldn't expect it, but Petaluma is home to some very cool things: Lagunitas Brewery, Soulcraft cycles (Salsa Cycles too when Ross was still making bike stuff), and Victims Family. Victims Family are one of, if not my favorite, bands so getting to see them WITH NoMeansNo is unheard of if not impossible. It's kinda absurd really. The last time it happened was over 20 years ago I believe. When VF came on stage i didn't know what to expect. The last time I saw them was at this very hometown theater 7 years ago...and they haven't toured since. Let's just say they have been practicing and they rocked the theater. It felt like a reunion with the local crowd being friends with the band and truly respecting them coming back to play this show, for one night only. The other bands were watching too - it was an historic event. They played a long set, with many tunes off White Bread Blues. I don't understand how Ralph can sing and play some of that stuff at the same time. Larry's bass work is incredible, no pick, just slapping at those strings like the best of them. If you don't know VF, they're a 3-piece band that is the punk version of Rush with pieces of Van Halen crossed with the Chili Peppers. They don't even fit that description though as they created their own genre like the Minutemen.

But simply, it was a night to remember. And I even got a steel toe to the ankle to make sure I remember. Yes, it still hurts a week later.

War wounds

Running hurts

I truly don't understand how Brother Wolfe can do this.
While out in the Sunshine State (CA) last weekend, I toured norcal - Tahoe specifically - before heading back to the Marin area to see family. I don't run...well. I love to run though, I just don't do it enough. But when I get extremely sore and painful from a 4 mile run in the woods around Pollock Pines, well i cannot express my intense appreciation for those who run, and run very long distances especially. There's something so simple about running. All you need is your running shoes and you're off. I really find that appetizing, especially compared to the gear intensive backcountry skiing and even mountain biking. Anyway, be sure to read the link to our friend in Eugene's epic adventure on the Western States 100.

XC boarding

This is classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w7sVSMbjyM&feature=youtube_gdata

Monday

Boulder Creek looking at Elephant Buttress.

It sprinkled on me the entire commute and of course I left my rain jacket at the office. For once, it was drier at the house on leaving than on the rest of the ride. Tank handled it all in stride. Full fenders are awesome. Don't know how I lived without (well, it doesn't rain much here so that's how).

Brooks update. I'm calling the Brooks saddle break-in period at 15 hours. Maybe 20. I've lost track at what hour I'm at but I can tell you I don't see any difference between 15 and 30 hours. It started to feel 'comfortable' at 15 and the comfort-increments are becoming increasingly un-noticeable. Maybe in a year it'll be a different story when it REALLY has broken in. It's definitely a different vibe and ride than a new-school saddle. You sit back on the seat more, butt bones on the platform with less weight on the middle 'nose' of the saddle. It's more slippery still, I almost have to push myself back as I slide forward while riding on flat terrain. I wonder if they get less slippery over time? I notice my butt bones are creating indentations in the leather, it's slowly taking the form of my arse. Apparently, my pelvis tilts to the right side as the dent on the right is bigger than the dent on the left by a lot. Weird what you learn about yourself sometimes.

6pm outside my office. I saw a few deer grazing which is not a normal occurrence as we're sandwiched between a major highway and another busy road but as you can see (other than the office and roads being cropped out of the picture) it's a pretty natural setting. It's nice to see deer sneaking in to graze the hayfields instead of cows.

SSWC09 footage

A very small taste of SSWC09 here.

Fall wind

This year has been a year of extremes in weather. We had a very mild summer with zero days above 100 degrees and very few above 90 and lots of moisture. We now appear to be skipping fall. Sadly all the leaves have been BLOWN off to Kansas in the last few days with what seems to be the windiest fall I can recall. I didn't have to pedal today on my ride to work as the tailwind was so strong! It snowed a little, but it was all blowing sideways simulating warp speed in Star Wars. Get out leaf-peeping while you can people, it's goin quick.