Leap of Faith

That extra day given to us by the leap year stirred up a storm of trouble. After a remarkably mild winter, we got snow on the last day of February and first day of March. Then overnight the temperature fell and this morning the roads are snow-encrusted still. Frustrating for someone who had a carefully crafted training plan for a difficult century ride at the end of the month. If this weather continues for the next couple of weeks, what then?




All kinds of thoughts are now racing through my mind: "I shouldn't have taken time off over the winter... I should have ridden on those days when it rained, 'cause at least it wasn't snowing... I should be riding on the trainer more... There is no way I will be ready at this rate..." Advice from others is so diverse that it's only making me anxious with uncertainty. Some seem confident that I can do the ride, others seem equally certain that I cannot. And that's just among those who know me in person.




But pottering around my neighbourhood in the snow on a day I'd hoped to put in 50 miles, I realised that I need to let all of these worries go and just do the trip no matter what, ready or not.




I am not downplaying the importance of training. I am also not ignoring the fact that proper training can make the difference between being able to complete a challenging ride and not. But in the past, being worried about this has kept me from doing a lot of things on the bike that in retrospect I wish I'd done sooner.




It took me two and a half years to work up the nerve to try a century. I got as far as 65 mile rides pretty easily, but just couldn't take that last step. I read articles about it, listened to advice, and the timing never seemed right. Then one day I just did it. The timing was not any more right than any other time, and I hadn't trained in the weeks leading up to it at all. But I took it easy and rode those 100 miles.




I waited two years to join the local paceline rides, because I didn't feel ready. And it's true, I wasn't ready two years ago. But when I did finally get up the courage to try them, I wasn't ready either! I showed up, felt completely out of place, and struggled like I'd never struggled on a ride before. But I did it, and it changed me as a cyclist. I wish I'd tried it sooner, even if that meant failure.




It seems to me that we can't know where we stand unless we allow ourselves to experience failure, or come close to failure. Maybe the real benefit of the trip to Death Valley is that it will teach me about my limitations. Whether I get enough training or not, I will just have to deal with it instead of backing out or putting it off as I've done so many times before.

The “Happy 101” Award

The “Happy 101” award is making the rounds in geneablogger land and I'm happy to say that it has been given to me three times! I've received it from Carol at Reflections from the Fence, Harriet at Genealogy Fun, and Bill at West in New England.

I'm also happy to accept the happy award! By accepting it I am obligated to name 10 things that make me happy and pass the award along to 10 more bloggers that brighten my day.

Here are just 10 of the things that make me happy:

1. Being retired.
2. Traveling.
3. Sunshine and blue skies.
4. Meeting geneablogger friends.
5. Keeping in touch with family.
6. Warm weather.
7. Walking in the woods or along the seashore.
8. Writing.
9. Photography.
10. Watching the sun rise and set.

And the 10 bloggers to receive the award are:

• Jasia at Creative Gene
• Apple at Apple's Tree
• Denise at Moultrie Creek
• fM at footnoteMaven
• Ruby and Cheri at You Go Genealogy Girls
• Donna Pointkouski at What's Past is Prologue
• T.K. at Before My Time
• Debra Osborne Spindle at All My Ancestors
• Leah Kleylein at Random Notes
• Greta Koehl at Greta's Genealogy Bog

CAMP Contest Ski Mountaineering Race Suit review

The CAMP "Contest" Ski Mountaineering Race Suit..not racing.


http://www.camp-usa.com/products/backcountry-ski/ski-mountaineering-suit-1594.asp



Yep, Lycraagain!



If nothing else, reading Cold Thistle will give you an idea thatthe envelope can be pushed on how modern high tech gear is supposed to be used and where you might find a place for some of it in your own clothing and hardware systems. Much of it can be used far outside the original design parameters.



Point in case is skimo racing gear like this CAMP suit or some of the reviews coming up in the future of long distance running gear.



Let me clear up any false impression that I might have unintentionally lefthere on CT in the past. I am not askimo racer or abike racer. I have done races in both venues. But if you are thinking I am competitive, I am not. I push hard and I race...but only against myself. I am how ever, an alpinist. Which I consider in my ownegotistical away, better than a mountaineer. Obviously I write a alpine climbing blog. So I think my opinions are worth sharing with the world ;) Your mileage may, very well, vary :)



Which brings us back to Lycra and eventually, if you have a little patience, to the CAMP skimo racing suit pictured above and other suits and clothinglike it.






Ever felt like you needed to climb in just your base layers on a hot day on the glacier?









Fact is, Lycra is better looking and given the right fabric blend and specific pattern, not a bad option on hard rock or a hot glacier.



Clearly Lycra is not the best option in clothing for ever situation in the mountains. In the recent past I have used Lycraas a base layer, a light insulation layer and a wind shell depending on what has been required and the current environment. Some times all three on the same trip.



As I mentioned in the previous post on Lycra this last week had been one of the most comfortable ski trips I have done. Temps ranged from around 25Fas the sun came upto as 80F by mid afternoon. in bright sun out of the wind. It was a wide range of temperatures. Only above 11Krequired the addition of a Patagonia Micro D pullover when I was stopped. Impressive IMO.

If you needed more in the wind a Camp Flash pull over would do morenicely enough.











Above is another versatile ski rig that is mostly Lycra with a Patagnia Piton Hoody and a Dynafit Movement pant.



Micro D is here:

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//04/patagonia-micro-d-14-zip-synchilla.html



Flash is here:

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//02/it-is-all-same.html



For base layers under this suit I used a tech short sleeved shirt and tech briefs. Not much between you and the environment. That I painfully realised the first time I took a spill on the pavementhard snow because I hadn't brought ski crampons.



Same basic set up Brian used on his c2c speed run up the Gib Chute but in a Crazy Idea suit.









It is worth paying attention to what is being worn and why.



Check out the usual suspects (the guys out doing it) on the web. More here on skimo specific clothing:



http://slc-samurai.blogspot.com//11/backcountry-ski-clothing-systems-what.html



http://www.getstrongergolonger.com/journal//7/17/grand-teton-speed-project-update-weight-matters.html



Look closely at what they are using on their own back country missions.



So why am I about to start raving about a once piece suit?



After all, one piece suits are notorious to ventilate and control your temperature. Too hot generally by design or too cold in only Lycra because the material doesn't offer enough insulation. And then how do you ventilate and breath in a once piece suit? Hard to head the call of nature in as well.



I've used well designed one piece suits often in my climbing career to good effect. All the way back to early Goretex versions in 1977. But never in such an aerobic situation.







But never ata really high level of physical out put. Enter Lycra one piece suits fitted correctly and with the additional insulation and breathable material required. It all starts to make sense.



Stuff a bunch of food/skins/gear into a kangaroo style pocket system (as they have above or below) and you profile will look funky and fat no matter how skinny you are...or aren't. Get over it.









The one and only time (a local ski mo race) I have ever had sweat running down my forehead and snow blowing hard enough to blind me while at the same time freezing on my outer layer all at the same time, I was in Lycra. And I was comfortable. As long as I didn';t have to stop!



The Flat Bellied Stallion?



The jokes never end and the questions don't stop. Takes so confidence to wear Lycra at any age in any style. It generally isn't flattering to the human form. Unless of course your human form is what the current society norm considers attractive.



Here are twoclassic views and the casual observation.








Big gut! This guy shouldn't be in Lycra.







Big gut! This guy shouldn't be climbing in Lycra either.


Truth is I have had a big gut in the past. No reason to deny it. But for the most part, chemo and radiation during Cancer treatment eliminated it. Damn near have abs in both these pictures an no spare tire there. I had friends comment on the pictures from this winter in the Dynafit Movement pant and the Patagonia Piton Hoody. And now in the Camp Speed suit. No gut hanging out there just extra gear and fabric no matter what the first impression was. Not Gym Jones fit either. If you spend your life worrying about what people think you'll likely miss most of a well lived life.



I take my time with pictures generally. Simply to help meget my point across. But I am at least as vain as the next guy (likely more) when it comes to how I look and am perceived by others.



Belowis a picture looking down across my absfrom above, while wearingthe CAMP Contest suit. The Cliff Bar Shot Block that is sticking out is just the tip of the iceberg. I have 10 Gu packets, 4 Shot Blocks, sun screen, lip balm and my freakin camerastored in the first layer of pockets inside my suit. It may look a little funky but if you are trying to stay up on the calories and keep moving at the same time you have to work on a system to do so. Some use gel flasks. Right now I am using, and really like, the simplicity of the pocket system the Contest suit offers. You will have a "spare tire" fully loaded, butwith the end result of easy access to your fuel and other essentials while moving.



The suitis easy to use no matter what you might think of the aesthetics of sucha garment.



I know what I look like in and out of Lycra. It isn't always a fashion show. But it is always about how fast and how far can you go if you are pushing yourself and your gear.














Looking down at my boots. I can stomach a "spare tire" for the easy access.







The "junk" in a a well designedskimo suit. My Gels and Shot Blocks are in the "outside pouch" Accessed through the zipper via either the top or bottom slider. There is another layer of pockets big enough to take the smaller race skins behind this "pouch". And finally a transceiver pocket behind all of them.Four pockets total inside the suit.




There is also a separate pee zipper below all the pouch pockets.




On the outside there is a small zippered breast pocket and two huge, elastic closed chest pockets intended for short term skin storage. I used them for used Gu wrappers, gloves andmy camera on this trip. The current colors may be not all that flattering foryou physical profile but this suit reallyworks as advertised if not even better!




I set a several decade old PB using this rig on Rainier recently. You might not want to be too critical on first impressions.


More interesting to me is that not only was I never passed on the uphill (which is extremely unusual) I actually passed a lot of folks both going up and coming down. Much of that"speed"was the difference in weight of my entire kit. But it also had as much to do with how capable my clothing was on the extreme ends of both hot and cold.



If it makes thatbig difference for me...you can only imagine the difference it might make for you. I write a blog but I am no fitness animal in the mtns. Far from it. When I can easily drop anyone else on the trail I am more than happy.



I had one goal using this suit. And that wasto climb with the least amount of effort. If I can turn Rainier into a half day's effort you likely can do even more with similar gear.



No hood on this suit. Which I can't really applaud for the application but like much better than with a hood. Even though no question I would want and use a hood if the conditions required it. I am admittedly not a skimo "racer" although I like being part of them. For me the majority of the time a hood isn't required or needed. So I am glad to see a finished product covered without the hood.






The stand-up collar is my favorite.


The collar is a high stand up version with plenty of coverage on the neck. My actual preference over a hood. Easy enough to add a thicker head band or hat. Short of really nasty weather my preference to dump excess heat is through my head and neck first.



Speaking of dumping heat. Both the under arms, which features tiny holes in the fabric.






under arm vents




And the back panel, via a mess panel are there to dump excess heat on the uphill and work exceptionally well imo.






The entire black backpanel is open weave nylon mess. Directly under your pack which really helps me control my body temperature on the uphill. And easily protected with even a light wind shell or my favorite Patagonia Micro D pull over.


Funny how the good clothing works so easily in a "systems" approach over a broad spectrum of conditions and clothing choices. The Micro D or a simple base layer is one of the basics for me skiing, especially on the down side of the ski track.







As you can see from the length of this blog post there is a lot involved in the features of these race suits. And for the asking price of $400 per suit there should be. But I originally thought $1000 was a lot of money for a TLT boot and now I think the price is a steal for the weight and performance involved. Same on a "race" suit. Like the TLT P the suit is another piece of highly technical gear I will use almost anywhere in the mountain now if a ski boot is involved and I want to eat right on the effort.










Finally. One of the things that make or break a pair of pants for me BC and touring is the cuff. Movement pant and the Dynafit buckle system is a serious PIA to me. I like simple. Simple because I want the boot easy to get at and easy to adjust. But I also don't want snow in my boot. All of which is a problem for a TLT user. Or at least in my experience it is. For races to date I've used simple tights. Easier to hit the top buckle latch and not deal with Velcro/ cutting holes in one's pants and what to do with the buckles when open. The Movement pant is decent. But not fast to hit the hole in the pant leg and a true bitch to get on and off.No my favorite thing to use when in a hurry. So I have used several simple soft shells. Notably the Arcteryx Gamma LT pant as well.







CAMP suit is simply brilliant on those lines. The buckle slips in and out via a open and reinforced seam. It is the very best method I have seen yet to utilise the TLT buckle system. I was forced to put one small hole forthe cuff buckle latch to go through and lock the boot in down hill mode.. If I am not in a hurry, easy enough to use and latch/unlatchin the field. Durable and a slick system to keep snow and crap out of your boots with the boots wide open in walk mode.








Simple round hole I put in with a wood burner. Lycra is reinforced at the point and a soldering iron seems an obvious tool for the choice.







CAMP isn't the only one making race suits. Or the least expensive. I've not used any thing else for asimilar purpose other than the two piece Dynafit system they made for the recreational racer in previous winters. TheDynafit Movement pants and jacketsare really good imo. I use them both.



But the once piece suits are a big step up in performance. There is a reason they call them "race" suits. But the label doesn't mean they are only good on race day,












Dynafit Movement Pant and jacket











The CAMP Contest Race Suit










CONTEST SKI MOUNTAINEERING RACE SUIT


• Competitive Ski Mountaineering

• Constructed from durable, lightweight Lycra and mesh panels

• Double layers on the knees for warmth and durability

• Dedicated external pockets for fast access to skins and gels

• Internal pocket for avalanche transceiver

• Kevlar reinforced cuffs with reinforced elastic stirrups

• Dedicated slots for back boot buckles are compatible with all boot models

• Full chest zipper for temperature regulation and quick-zip for emergency evacuations
Holy smokes Batman! The new Contest ski mountaineering suit is optimized for competitive ski mountaineering like super suits are designed to combat villains and protect the victors. Lycra construction is lightweight and breathable and the mesh backing helps with temperature regulation even during the fastest competitions. Every detail has been tended to with dedicated skin pockets on the chest positioned at an angle that makes getting skins in and out fluid and natural, a dedicated external pocket for gels, an internal pocket for a transceiver, full-length chest zipper, stirrups, and back cuff slots designed to be compatible with all boot models. Suits like the Contest have become so perfectly optimized that many racers now wear their suits as a base layer even on casual back country days.

SPECS
ID: 1519
Sizes: S - M - L - XL
Weight (M): 480 g, oz
$399.95 USD





More here on the skimo race suits I do know a little about.



http://skitrab.com/en-no/c-22-clothing/49-dragon-track-suit-man.html




http://www.crazyidea.it/index.php/products/catalogo/undefined/undefined/race/page:4

http://www.dynafit.com/product/first-layer/dy-speed-up-race-suit-l





Bottom line? If you really want to preform better in the mountains, this is speed you can buy. People need to simply get over their aversion to Lycra based sportswear. Lycra isn't a right, it is a privilege to wear. But the privilege is not for the typical reasons most consider before sliding Lycra on or avoiding it in the store. It is a privilege to be able to go fast, safelyin the mountains. Any gear that helps you do that is a very good gear.



I have to remind myself of that fact as well, every time I pull my Lycraout of the gear room.

The use might be skiing, or a run, a Tri or a bike ride. Either way using Lycra is always worth the extra effort.

Bicycle Shopping: What Do We Expect?

Last week, I wrote about my sister's search for a basic, comfortable roadbike and in the post I explained that she is looking for a "normal" bike - That is, for a bike that is neither vintage, nor classic, nor lugged, nor artisanal - just a regular bike in the sense that one could walk into a bicycle shop off the street and buy it for a reasonable price. Once again I thank you all for the feedback, which was immensely helpful, and I will post an update regarding what bike she ends up getting. But on a separate note, I was intrigued by the category of replies that "pathologized" the way I described my sister's criteria - a few even questioning whether she ought to be buying a bike at all under the circumstances. Those comments made me think about expectations when it comes to bicycle shopping. And frankly, I think that "we" - i.e. those of us who are "into" bicycles, and especially into classic and vintage bicycles - can be out of touch with what people who "just want a bike" expect. Here are some of my observations about first time bike buyers' expectations that I've gathered from personal conversations and reader emails over the past two years:



It's toocomplicated

I think it is accurate to say that most people off to buy their first bicycle as an adult initially expect for the experience to be fairly simple. They envision being able to walk into a bike shop, to ask for some advice, and to walk out with a nice shiny bike. And I don't think that this attitude makes them "lazy" or "not committed to cycling." I think it is an entirely normal and healthy attitude. Unfortunately, hopes for simplicity are all too frequently crushed as bicycle shopping turns frustrating. The bicycles suggested at bike shops are often uncomfortable or otherwise unappealing, and the customer does not know how to express what exactly does not feel right. Purchasing a bicycle should be simple. But I believe that both bicycle shops and the industry at large are out of touch with what customers actually need.



It's too expensive

I receive lots of emails from people looking to buy their first bike, and the figure $500 comes up over and over again as theupperlimit of their budget - regardless of how well off the person is. While that expectation is unrealistic, I think that from the customer's point of view - assuming that they are not familiar with the industry - it is reasonable. Once they get to know the market a little better, chances are that they will come to terms with spending considerably more on a bike than they initially expected to. I blame this discrepancy on the industry and not on the customer being "cheap." In theory, large manufacturers could churn out attractive and functional bikes for $500, but for a variety of reasons, they do not.



I don't want to be a bike expert, I just want to rideI hear this one repeatedly, and I agree. Wanting to buy a bike should not require one to become an expert in bikes first. There is a difference between cycling and being "into bicycles," and it is perfectly normal to be the former without becoming the latter.

The fact is, that those of us who enjoy customising bicycles, building up bicycles from the frame up, hunting for rare parts and refurbishing vintage bikes, seeking out unique and unusual bicycles that are only available in specialty shops, and so on... are not in the majority, and I think we need to respect that. Most people - even those who are excited about cycling - just want to go to a "regular" bike shop, buy a bike, ride it without problems, and fiddle as little with it as possible. There is nothing wrong with that, and I think it would be misguided of me to try and convince everyone I meet that my preferences are "better." And in fact I don't think they are better; they are just different.



I would venture to say that a large percentage of would-be cyclists in North America are turned off from cycling by the discrepancy between their expectations and their actual experiences, when it comes to buying their first bicycle. And it seems to me that rather than blame the "victim," it would be more useful to rethink how the bicycle industry approaches potential customers. I have spoken to way too many people at this point who've told me that they'd love to cycle but are having terrible luck finding a bike. And that just isn't right.

Old Bird

this is a very old Christmas decoration that my mom gave to me when I first had my own home. She had the birds long before I was born, so I am not sure how old they really are. Maybe early 1940's.

Joslin Rendezvous :: The Homestead

If you had been a young man eager to begin a new life back in the early 1900s and you saw something like this photo below, would you have invested several years of your life trying to make a go of it?





South of Murdo in Mellette County, South Dakota

Twenty-five year old Virgil Newton Joslin did just that in 1916. Tired of working for other men he was determined to have a place of his own. He took up homesteading in west-central Mellette County, South Dakota, almost on the eastern edge of The Badlands. His first abode on the homestead was a dugout in the side of a hill. About the same time or shortly thereafter, his parents Luther and Phoebe (Elliott) Joslin joined him on the homestead. Two years later Virgil married Mary Matilda Hutcheson and he built what he called a “tar paper shack.” It was 12x16 feet, constructed of boards and covered in tar paper that was normally used for covering a roof before the shingles are put down.



Soon a son, Irwin, was born. In 1922, the tar paper shack was replaced by the beginnings of a “real” house - a concrete basement. A few years later a daughter was added to the family and then two more sons – Ruth, Jim, and George were all born in the nearest "large" town, White River.



A barn was built. A dam was constructed across a stream and a pond was dug. Virgil and Mary worked hard on their homestead. His parents helped as much as they could. Virgil still had to work for other men to help feed his growing family.



The dream house was never built. The family was caught up in the wrath of Mother Nature. It started with a prolonged drought. Irwin tells about the conditions in the early 1930s in his memoirs:

“For two or three years there was not enough rainfall to produce crops. Then the wind, which always blows in South Dakota, began picking up the dirt from the dry fields and we had dust storms. They might not have been as bad as in the Oklahoma dust bowl, but I recall them lasting for 2-3 days and the fine dust was everywhere...It literally blew all the dirt out of the fields as deep as it had been plowed.”

“In addition to the drought, depression and dust storms we had plagues of insects. Beetles overran the place once and ate anything green that was growing. Another year it was grasshoppers – the big kind that fly. They were so thick that, at times, when they flew over they made a shade like a cloud. they ate everything – even the dried bark off fence posts that had been in the ground for years. They also ate pitch fork handles because of the salty taste of perspiration from our hands.”

“During these times my father did as everyone else did, and kept borrowing money from the local bank and giving livestock and farm implements as collateral. The taxes on the land couldn't be paid in these years either. Everyone hoped for a better year – next year. but it came too late for most of them – their resources ended. My father finally had to just turn it all over to the banker and let the land go back for unpaid taxes. Then we left the homestead.”

In 1928, Luther and Phoebe Joslin had moved to Missouri where a daughter lived. Virgil and his family remained on the homestead until sometime in 1934 when they moved to Martin, South Dakota. A Sheriff's sale held at the homestead in May 1936 raised $2219.31 all of which went to the state. Soon thereafter, Virgil and Mary and the four children moved to Turkey Ridge, Pulaski County, Missouri not far from where his sister and parents lived.



In October 1986, 50 years after the family left Mellette County, South Dakota the four children of Virgil Joslin “revisited” their homestead. Over the years they returned several more times. George and his wife Lorene made a visit there in September of last year and learned that Mellette County was going to have its Centennial Celebration this year. Descendants of the early homesteaders were invited to return. George and Jim began planning the trip and invited me to join them. I'd heard so much about “The Homestead” that I just had to see it for myself!





I was standing a ways south of where the basement house was located, looking to the north. George was trying to determine where the barn had been – he's standing a little right of the center of the photo.





Hardly a trace of the buildings remain – just a few pieces of concrete where the basement house was dug out. Fred is walking down into the hole where the basement was. It is partially filled with debris and junk. When they were here in 1991, they could still see the square walls of the basement, which have begun to cave in.





Looking to the west from the location of the house.



The pond that Virgil dug out. It lies to the north of the house, below the hill.



The view to the East.



And, looking toward the south.

I was quite surprised to see so much green grass, especially this late in the summer, but it has been an unusually wet summer in South Dakota this year, unlike some areas of the country that are experiencing a prolonged drought. It does look inviting. Coming from a land with an abundance of trees and lakes and streams, I enjoy visiting these “desolate looking” places but I would find it difficult to live here. The folks that do have my admiration even if I do think they are a bit crazy!





The Joslin Clan – standing - Richard (descendant of Luther's daughter Phoebe), Me (descendant of Luther's sister Malissa), Tim (son of George), Babs (daughter of Irwin), Joann (daughter of Ruth), Fred (husband of Sue), Sue (daughter of Ruth). Seated are George, Ruth and Jim (children of Virgil). Irwin passed away in 1990. Ten people came from six states: Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri and Virginia!



Photographs taken August 20th and 21st.



Update August 30, ..: Sue has additional photos of the visit to White River on her blog. Also, see her post The Homestead Tour.

Light weight kit?

This from a blog reader today,

"Sorry to go off topic, but from looking at your pack contents photo, there were a few pieces of kit that could be substituted to lower the weight/bulk.Swap the GSI cookset, Snowpeak stove and MSR canister for a Jetboil Sol Ti cook system plusa 100g gas canister. Swap your BD krabs for DMM i-beam versions, eg Spectre 2 or Alpha Trad? Finally you could swap the friends for the new 'Helium' version, the Reverso 3 for the 4, and maybe even the harness for an Arc'teryx M270. All

together I think you would be saving over a pound in weight. What are your

thoughts"

Thoughts?  Good idea :)  I thought it worth weighing the suggestion, Jon :) 

1. Jetboil stove 258g

   100g fuel can 196g (110g fuel)

   Snow Peak stove 128g

   GSI cook kit 162g

   MSR can 374g (227g fuel)

My kit is 32g heavier (fuel cell sizes change depending on the project) 

But bigger fuel cells are slightly more efficient for what you carry in fuel

My Snow Peak stove and cook kit are way smaller/less bulk over all than a Jetboil

2. DMM Spectra 2 biner 32g

   DMM Alpha Trad biner 34g

   BD OZ biner 28g

   Trango Super Fly 30g

with 25 biners my kit is 100g lighter or more

3. Helium Friend  [1] 3.35 oz [2] 3.84 oz [3] 5.11 oz 

   Rigid stem Friend [1] 3.1 oz; [2] 3.80 oz; [3] 5.00 oz (sewn Spectra slings)

Carry only five cams and I am at least 25g lighter 

4. Reverso 4 56g  (edit of correct weights on my scale)

   Reverso 3 78g

same here

5. Petzl Hirundos 315g in a large

   Arcteryx M270  310g in a large

5g heavier here

Total difference in weight between the suggested kit and mine?

I am 63g lighter if not more from Jon's suggestions.  Or 2.2 oz :)

I don't doubt the Jetboil is a better stove than the Snow Peak but I normally usea MSR Reactor if I want a "real" stove.  I like the Snow Peak because of the verysmall volume it takes up in my pack. A full pound savings was being very optimistic on Jon's part. But you never know so I took the time to weigh what I have hereand make a side by side comparison. I have both Helium and older rigid stem Friends and already knew what the result would be there. Take the time to weigh and know what you have in your own pack. Jon, thanks again for the suggestion!

Cocoa Beach and Good Friends

I had the chance not once, but twice this past week to share with family members of ours how great of friends we have made since living this lifestyle. I was so fanatical in my sharing with one of them that I think I may have scared them a bit. It's hard not to be really passionate when trying to explain how special of a crowd we have been lucky enough to hang out with the past few years though.



We have said time and time again what exceptional people the pickleball crowd in particular are. This past week was a great example of that. Rich and Donna invited us to their beach condo. I can honestly say we have never had friends invite us along on their vacation to stay in their condo with them, let alone a beach one! I am so grateful to them!



We had to squeeze this trip in around my work schedule so we only had a few days to visit, but we made those days as fun filled as possible. We were also spoiled rotten by Rich and Donna who definitely have the gift of being great hosts. I do not have this gift, so I will have to bake extra goodies when they come to stay with us to make up for it! First thing we got to tour the facilities at the place where there condo is at, and we were very impressed with it.



We then headed out to do a bit of sight seeing. We have never actually visited Cocoa Beach so it was neat to visit some place new in Florida. There was the typical touristy Florida beach stuff of course, but they took us to some non-touristy unique spots. We stopped at Manatee park where they have been able to see manatees and dolphins in their previous visits. Sadly, we did not encounter any wildlife but the park was really pretty so we still enjoyed the stop.



We then visited the pier there, which Donna already wrote about so I'll just send you to her blog Florida Picklers. The first thing I saw there was this cool 3-D mural on the side of this building.



We stopped to catch a few waves, with the ladies trying out the surfboard first.







Then on to the pier, where we visited a shop and I found a pair of flip flop earrings that I loved (and bought).



We saw some fishing being done, birds flying around, lots of beach activity and real surfing in the water.



I thought the pier itself was really neat.



Donna had a great idea for a group shot, taking a picture of our reflections in the water. Love this!



We also managed to squeeze in dinner at an Italian restaurant they have eaten at before. Nathan was able to try one of their small stombolis. Yes, folks, that is their small size! The food there was very good!



After all of that, we still were not done with our day. We took our drinks outside and lounged by the pool and chatted for a bit. Once we digested enough of our dinner we headed over to the tennis courts and chalked off lines for some pickleball. It was very windy and we had fun even with the frustration of not knowing at all where they ball would go after we hit it. I didn't realize until the next day how hard I had really played because the wind really kept me cooled off. After so much fun, we headed to bed for the night gearing up for another fun day the next day.

"Gasoline Rainbow" 28

My first climb at the grade. Gas Rain is probably still my favourite line at Coolum, it's a second pitch start, steepening up after the second bolt. I took so many plunges from the crux of this route, some of them beauties with an armfull of rope out to clip, just falling into clean air.

36 attempts finally acheived a tick.





photo: Phil Box

Who Makes Your Bottle Cage?

So... do you know who makes your bottle cages? It might seem like a silly question. I mean, of all things, one is not about to seek out some super special artisanal cages, right? Well, recently I learned that mine were just that: made by Ron Andrews and crew, by hand, in Colorado. I feel a little embarrassed that I did not know this aboutKing Cage bottle cages, but the truth is I didn't. I bought mine because they were available at local bike shops, reasonably priced and reputed to be good. I like them, but I assumed that like most things they were mass produced in Taiwan. Until there I was, walking around Interbike. And there he was, a guy wearing a crown and twirling around all manner of cage-like contraptions. Several minutes into our conversation, it finally dawned on me that this person actually makes my bottle cages. I also learned of his connection to the Fat City Cycles clanand our local New England framebuilders. He asked me how this guy and that guy were doing. I get ridiculously excited by encounters like this.






Of course it's generally impossible to be at the King Cage booth and not get excited. It is like a miniature circus. A wind-up monkey dances across the table, inserting a tiny water bottle into a miniature cage instead of banging cymbals.






Items such as stop motion animation booklets and huge titanium back scratchers are demonstrated with enthusiasm.






An under-the-saddle titanium cage, with titanium flask sporting an #OCCUPYBIKESEATdecal. There was much more, and the booth was a bit like a parallel universe. Soon I craved every crazy accessory made by King Cage. But I limited myself to snagging a set of titanium cages at special Interbike prices, before they were all gone. My roadbike was very pleased to receive these!






Ron Andrews started out making cages in titanium, and still offers these in addition to the more popular and affordable stainless cages. He also offers titanium tire levers, stainless toe cages, and top cap mounts (pictured above) that make it possible to attach a bottle cage to a bicycle's stem. All of these items can be bought from the King Cage website directly, as well as at many bike shops.






Other than a Nitto cage I once received as a gift, all of my other bottle cages have been by King Cage. They are advertised as lightweight, non-marking and super strong, and after 3 years of use I have not experienced anything to contradict that. I use them with both plastic and (twine-wrapped) stainless steel bottles, and it's always a good fit. I can't fully explain why it made me so giddily happy to learn that these simple cages - widely available and relatively inexpensive - are made by hand by a friend of friends. Maybe it's precisely because they are such small accessories, and many of us don't give them much thought. It is heartening to know that somebody does, that somebody has made them their life's work with such dedication and panache.