Ranger--->Happy Camper--->Zombie Monkie

It sounds like a Widespread Panic setlist but it's not.  Yesterday, Will and I set off in kayaks in pursuit of the WyCo headwaters.  We found it and a whole lot more.  Did you know that when ducks take off they run across the water?

Problem solved.  The Curtlo MTB and I have only one disagreement:  BB height.

The Curtlo is about 3/4" lower than the Chester was and I've been chucking, chipping, and catching rocks and roots with my pedals.  I've been attentive about pedal position but I was still catching a few.  Before I rode yesterday I swapped out my 175mm cranks w/ some 170's.  Voila.  It was just enough extra clearance to give me the clearance I needed.  It's not much, but apparently it's enough.  I haven't noticed the decreased leverage b/c I'm still nursing a broken toe.  So yeah, add 170mm cranks to the list of freakshow items on this thing.  I don't care.  I'm just doing what works.

Shadowy shadow

Ketchupy ketchup.

It is what it is.

MAH TOH!  I broke my toe again 2 weeks ago.  Finally rode yesterday and noticed this.

Same toe I broke in June.  Same toe I had pinned back together 10 years ago.  I've not been kind to that toe.

A smart young man by the name of Chris Moseler once asked me, "Do addicts get all the drugs they want in Heaven?"

Home-crafted bike rack

I made a small fork-mount bike rack for the back of my car but I got tired of taking the front wheel off every time I went to the trail.  It works great for roadtrips b/c it keeps everything inside, but when I'm just driving 30 minutes to a trailhead it's kind of a PITA.  So, I made a receiver hitch rack.

Basic design- no arms to swing about or latches to work.  Just a tray w/ two tie-down points.  Solid.  Works.  It's all steel and it weighs just under 20 pounds so it's easy to load on the vehicle.  I spent $65 on it including the cost of a brand new set of tie-down straps.  I had Metal By The Foot make the tray for me.  They cut and bent it to my exact specifications.  The rest of it is hardware store stuff.  I spent a few hours at the drill press and grinder and, after some finish filing, bolted it all together and rattle-canned it.

It holds tight but I cut a tennis ball to fit over the handlebar just in case.  If testing goes well over the next few months I'll probably build a 2-bike rack of the same design.