Whats in a name?

 So yes things have arrived.  Here's a thirst trap:

 

But now the REAL struggle begins.  What's in a Name?  I think a lot.  I've named many of my bikes and cars and such since being a kid.  Sure most of the time the name was "GDFPOS" or "HeavyAssCrapBMX" or such.   But of late I've generally felt a strong relation to naming them with Characters or Things aspirationally.  The CX ride has been Ichigo now for probably 6 or 7 of it's 10 year life mission at least.   The other day I was thinking about names like:

• Savage\The Savage
• TheFuture
• Fred
• BlueZombie
• Kitt\KnightRider
• Cobra Commander
• Sheppard
• The Normandy

More thought required.   Hopefully the right pedals arrive today.  These things are....trrbl.

 

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, there is always.... OOOOH YEAH!

 

Delivery imminent. 

Heck, I'd be more excited but honestly I'm wiped with how busy I've been at work.  Hell I forgot to order new pedals.  And light mounts.  Etc.  Etc.   Some are solved.

Go Avenga's

Finally, got 2 updates on the new hoopty, got a update frame was finished and they were doing graphix.  Now I just got the update that they are in the Ass-Sembly stage.  Go Avengers!

 

 

 

New Ride by end of next week?  ohhhhh yah!  Call me the Kool-Aid Man.

Wakefield on the 4th - Trails weren't too bad, say 90% but freeze thaw is around.  Low wet area's were wet'ish even 2 days later.   It was COLD AF by 9.  With windchill - say 25F.   Ugh. 

No Snow No Ice, just Rain

 Yuck 

 That is the only word to fit the commute this morning.  34 and cold rain.  Yuck.

 

No Snow.  No Ice.  Studded tires.  Bad Shifting (errr cassette not properly torqued I suspect) and brakes?  What Brakes!  the rotors on the 2 wheel sets are...radically different.  Like hugely.  I could barely get the discs in between the pads.  The rotors on the main set must be near EOL on thin-ness.  Holy crap.

 

Day 13 - Patience is a virtue.   

 

Off to re-tune my pad spacing, at least it's easy with TRP cable discs.    

Flo - rider

 Down in the FLA for the big bird day this week.  Not too bad honestly.  Though ask me after round 2 of christmas light work today and I may have a different answer.  

 

 What is the saying about the watched pot never boiling, same goes for bikes:

 

Hopefully the hit the green light on this and get up to speed post holidays.  Should be here before the fatman rolls in next month so I understand.  Hoping to get it by mid-month to get some solid epic rides in over the holidaze.

 Was hoping to get a longer ride in today, probably limited to some neighborhood hot laps.  Hopefully I start the GPS this time.  Missed almost first 4 miles on the ride on Monday.  Stupid watch GPS.  :) 

Commutes 2025

 Just had a moment to spend pondering my commutes this year so far.  Today was my 69th day of commuting in by bike.  I generally work 2 days a week where I can commute, 1 at VA Office where I can't and 2 at home.

I figure out of 52 weeks in a year, 2 are out due to holidays, 2 to vacations, 2 to travel/events, and 2 to truly nasty weather.   46 Weeks would be 92 Rides.   So mod to 90 rides.    This year I should be at 75 to almost 80 depending on how I stretch things.   With more travel and a few other things on the horizon (Meeting offsite tomorrow on a normal commute day for one).

 Put a new waxed chain on Betty earlier this week, on the CX bike it's been amazing so far.   It's soo much cleaner.  

 But MTB will be the test, the old GX 12 Speed chain was a bit over due at 540 miles in a bit over a year.   I can see I may try and get more MTB riding in especially this winter in MoCo.  We shall see.  

 It's also time to re-lube the waxed chain on CX bike, its at over 400+ miles since july and it's due!  Got a bottle of Silca Super Secret Stuff and will dope it this week.  No commute tomorrow and off to see an awesome show tonight.  Woot.

204 on Friday.  Not shabby.

 

Fall ya later 2025

 Fall is flying past already and I'm not sure where the 2nd half of summer went honestly from July thru September.  

Some of it was travel, great trip to Bos to hit up a work conference.  Great to see ole beanie town and get in a few runs.  Got to see Weezer at the MGM Music Hall as part of the conference.   Wow!  

Decent year riding so far, 200+ activities logged.  61 commutes by bike as of today.  Hopefully to hit 75 days of commuting.  It would be like what a 1.5 to 1.75 avg when you drop out a few commutes due to holidays/travel weeks/etc.   Next year 80?  We'll see how winter goes as that's what really slows the numbers down Jan thru early Mar. 1722 miles logged YTD in Strava, so not sure I will hit my 2k goal, but 

Garnin logged as follows so far, though the "walking",                

Type	Distance
Cycling	1711.2
Hiking	18.96
Other	15.96
Running	7.89
Walking	9.44
Grand Total	1763.45

 Weight - Floating a solid two ohhhh eat.   Not terrible.  I'm going to try and focus up a tad more and solidly get down to 205 or less before the holidaze.   

 

The world is truly a strange and in someways unrecognizable place these days.  Embrace kindness.  Question everything.   Persuasion/Compliance is everywhere!  :P  It's an in joke.

 Also if your in the DC area highly recommend the newly re-opened Milken Center for Advancement of the American Dream.  It's right near the whitehouse.  Some really cool info and amazing art, and other stuff.  And the building is really amazing.   

New Bike FY2026 - The New Commuter - TBD.   Mainly something capable of Racks, Fenders, Bigger Tires and a bit larger than the ole RXC.  The RXC is probably still a great CX bike but I haven't raced CX since 2017 or 2018 maybe.   New bike adventures await and next summer not having to have a sweaty backpack back will be a REAL nice thing. 

Doing plugs on side mount V6? SUUUUUCK.   Especially the back side.   Even more when you drop the last plug and socket into the pan underneath.  Many bad words.