The title of this article is somewhat of a misnomer, as I haven’t been on a bike in about a week and a half, and I probably won’t be on one for another three weeks or so. I just started the second week of a month long theater training program at Skidmore College with the SITI Company, a truly incredible group of artists who produce consistently beautiful and intelligent work. I’m living a somewhat monastic existence; all I do is eat, sleep, and do crazy Japanese acting training. Hopefully by the end of the month I will be a samurai.
I’m making up for my lack of access to a bike by watching a truly immense amount of cycling videos of YouTube. You may have noticed a couple videos I posted to the Facebook page—this is just the beginning of a continuous stream of YouTube spam I plan on sharing with y’all in the next month. Thus far in my research I have come to two conclusions: 1) cyclocross looks like a stupid amount of fun, and 2) Jens Voigt is awesome.
I’m also deep in the throes of bike GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I plan on bringing a bike with me to Oxford next year, and I’ve been thinking for a while about perhaps doing some light touring in the UK/Europe. I love my LeMond, but I want something a bit more versatile and comfortable for off the beaten path (or more accurately, off the nicely paved road) adventures. Also, I kind of just want a cross bike. Thus, I’ve been building up a new bike in my head, and checking prices and whatnot on the internet. While I have gone back and forth on some things, right now I’m pretty much set on a Surly Crosscheck with a full SRAM Apex group, Paul Comp brakes, and a set of (relatively inexpensive) hand built wheels (probably Velocity rims on Ultegra hubs or something similar). All I need now is a job to finance this endeavor.
Speaking of endeavors, the team’s Ragmaster General a.k.a. JJ and his compadres are now two weeks or so into their cross-country trek. Everyone is still alive, and they still seem to be on track, which is amazing given the navigation skills JJ displayed this spring while driving (or at least attempting to drive) to New Jersey. In addition to the incredible scenery, it seems that they (and by they I mean the esteemed Mr. Fox) have discovered the joys of the false flat (http://ephdetour.com/?p=615). In all seriousness, I wish them the best of luck and hope that they have a wonderful experience. It sounds like an amazing way to spend a summer and I am supremely jealous.
In other team news it sounds like people are keeping busy, doing outdoorsy things, and generally summering it up. Amy and Todd got older recently, and I think I saw that Henry rode a crit or something. Remember, whatever you do, to follow Rule 5 a.k.a. THE V, and everything will work out for the best
In other other news I will be on campus in Billsville the weekend of 16th-17th, hit me up if you’ll be around and we will chill.
That’s it for now.
