mmm bar fun

Was up in Connecticut for the weekend. Made more since to go there then to hang out in bedford where i would more then likely want to head home. got up there late Friday night. built a few bikes for the truck in my sweet hotel room then headed to dinner with Andy's old roomate Avery and her friend julie who was visiting her. so the three of us went to toshi a japanese place. ate some good food then went to a completely random party at some old guys house. he had some really cool bike stuff, like a richard sachs time trial bike as well as some dura ace 10 pitch stuff. after that we headed down to harford to go to some real bars. first place was pretty cool, a lot like a college bar, probably was. got drunk for the first time in a while. then we went to a place that was more in tune with dancing which isnt my normal thing but had fun anyway.

had plans to go on a Mountain (had plenty of large brand new bikes to ride) ride the next day with avery but andy decided we were leaving on sunday instead of monday. it worked out better for getting prepared but he should told me before i left my hotel because i just had to go back there anyway....


anyway the truck is almost ready and amazingly i think ill be ready to leave town tomorrow.

back to Connecticut

driving shotgun at the moment n the way back to bethel Conn and New
hartford. had the option to stay in PA but figured i might as well get
on the road more to be used to it rather then going back to md or
something like that.

in the past 3 days ive spent a total of 9 hours out to dinner. 3 hours
a night for 3 nights. it really gets to be a bit long in the tooth.
tuesday dinner was at ramshead in savage mill back in hoco with Andy,
Ted and some of andys old friends. my turn to drive more later.

Yeah so then wednesday night and thursday night we went out with some reps and some dealers from new england. that was cool. but all that hanging out at dinner gets old.

just got to my new hotel room in Avon Connecticut. at the residence inn by marriott. its like a little apartment its pretty rocking. going back to chatterly's (from last weekend) in a bit. then who knows what else

The view from HQ went to Bethel today to meet some folks and get a picture of me and the truck. since i took this picture there is no me, just the truck and cannondale HQ. Pretty cool place. Saw some hush hush bicycles, dont ask i wont tell. The truck is easy to drive, although i almost ran over a small jeep yesterday (saturday) on the way back from ikea.

Tomorrow i am headed back home to pick up a scooter from nick and pick up my snowboard. also on tap is dropping the 4runner off at my folks house.

Entertainment at the bar. 3

Entertainment at the bar. 3 nights in a row. 3 diners in the same place. I have company this time. Weird. Oh well its good practice.

"Our Flavored Butter Tonight is Salsa"

here i am in connecticut already. Strange land. Went to a place for
dinner by my lonesome,chatterlys is the name. Its pretty fancy. no
open spots at the bar so i got my own table weak. good points its
expensive and i dont have to pay for it. well maybe the tip and the
draught New Castle. oh did i mention the salsa butter. we will see how
i adapt to this lifestyle. i am looking forward to it but id rather be
sitting at the bar. i hope this steak is as good as a sterling silver
New York Strip Steak sounds. On tap for tomorrow, nothing. Sunday
working on the truck. word.

Today was my last day of work. I got my first picture with Dorsey. dont we look happy? will spend the rest of the night packing and the leaving at 7 am for the new job and the unknown. Ill be packing plenty of Rollins books to keep me "company". Just got Black Coffee Blues and Do I Come Here Often. From the preface of Black Coffee Blues:

"I started work on Black Coffee Blues in the late eighties. I wanted to make a book that would be great to have along with you on a long trip. If you were stuck in some moving vehicle, far from familiar surroundings this book would come to your rescue."

I didnt know that this book would be written entirely for the purpose of the journey i am going on, but i am glad it is.

Fuck

Little recap. Flight cancelled yesterday. Called dave from work who goes to CU. He was flying into denver. So we arranged a stay at his place. Got a rental car. Btw colorado springs airport sucks. As does denver at the moment So we go out and pick him up at the airport. Then back to his place hit some bars black out then throwup on his carpet. Drive to the airport this morning get lost twiiiiice. And miss our flight. Get an eighty dollar ticket for parking in front of the airport. Its real hard to be positive in a situation such as this.

It really is confusing now, i wish everything wasnt. I guess the only option is to be positive. By today i am really depressed.

And its over. Bill Woodul Race mechanic's Clinic

So we finished up today. Turned in our tests and I passed. So i am now a USCF certified Race Mechanic and Official. Big pimpin. Last night we had an expo where they gave out swag. Got some of the new XTR tools as well as some mavic nipple and eyelet wrenches not the plastic ones either.

I would say some of the cooler experiences were the wheel talk by Ric Hjertberg (of Wheelsmith and FSA fame)He is a great instructor and you could tell how much he liked being there and to talk wheels. He also had some wood rims he imports, have to look into what hubs would go well with wood rims, maybe campy? maybe ill have to Call Euro Asia and see what they have kicking around.

Other notable parts were hearing from Matt Bracken President of IF. and seeing his baller IF XS with 24k gold head tube badge. He gave a talk on materials as well as a talk on sizing. His knowledge of MTN bike beginnings and Chris Chance / Fat chance and the name of Kestrel (merlin) was quite cool.

Over all this was probably the best $462 i spent in a while. and considering my bar tab 2 months ago was 50% more then that i think its money well spent. They really dont do the course justice with the description, they say you will talk with industry people but you wouldnt believe it till you are here.

Time to go, the shuttle should be here soon and then its back to MD for 2 more days then off to Cannondale.

Day one review

Hit the velodrome today very cool. I dont know how it compares with the one in cupertino. But it looked to be more aggressive and shorter. Saw their shop and a lot of specialized. Ill put up some pictures when i get back. The food is good. Well see how the rest of this goes but i think it will go well.

Bill Wodul Race Mechanic's clinic

And so begins the journey. At the airport by 435 at the gate by 445. Must be a record. I dont know im still new to this whole traveling thing. Or at least having time to enjoy myself when i get to said destination.

I really dont know what to expect from this clinic besides cold. I certainly hope im busy the whole time so im not bored. Its better to be busy and not have the time to think about everything. After i return from this i have one day off. Then one day of work. Then to PA to begin the life of a make believe rock star. Also during these 2 days i have to meet up with some riding buddies for some drinks and dinner. Then a dinner date for sushi. Whats the point of taking a girl out before leaving, i cant say but id rather that then thinking i should have.

Ill keep up with this journey from the phone. This is more to look back on then for anyone to read.

Tungsten

I got real excited the other day because i found my package of
tungsten electrodes that i misplaced while moving waaaay back in
june. I now know where they are but im too lazy to do anything with
them.

Only got one more day of work after today. but tomorrow i head to
Colorado Springs for USA cyclings mechanic certification.