Dickinson Commencement 2010

I'll save the details. Here's the important stuff:

Congratulations, Jake! Congratulations, Alyssa!

Jake, it's been great to ride with you these past few years and watch you improve as a rider and grow as a person.

Alyssa, we're glad we got to know you--you are a wonderful, kind person--we hope the two of you are happy for a long time!

Best wishes to both of you in your next steps.

Yes, they are actually hoods, in case you weren't sure. It was cold in medieval times.

Uh...

If you ever think you are a good speaker, read a transcript of yourself. This isn't me, but it is a possible candidate for governor of this fine, fine Commonwealth.

"Well, I uh supported President Bush, uh in his education reform, no child left behind. I thought that was uh, sensible. Uh you know, setting up standards and uh, requiring testing of school children. And uh, I thought that was an important step very early in his first term. Uh, the problem with that is that it wasn’t properly funded, uh once that law was started. Uh, but I worked in a bipartisan way and worked in the House to uh get that through and get that enacted in the law. Um, but it’s never quite been met its potential. Fundamentally, there hasn’t been enough money for the remedial programs that were needed for the kids that don’t measure up on the testing. I think testing kids on uh, uh standardized tests is a fine thing and an important thing to do. But if you don’t have remedial programs to help the kids that fail, then the whole thing’s a waste of time. And that’s where uh, no child left behind has fallen short."

Stolen from witf.org.

And no, I am not implying that I am any better.

That being said, today is election day. Educate yourself. Go vote.

Upgrayedd

Spelled thusly, "with two D's, as he says, 'for a double dose of this pimping'."


The Blackbuck received some additions this spring. Looking forward to trying them out. First off is from my wife, who totally rocks.

She got me this for my birthday. I had no idea I needed it until I opened the box and saw it. It is so going to Scotland with us. Combined with the bottle opener on the seatpost, I'm beginning to think it'll look like mountain biking is simply an excuse to drink...

Should I be worried?

The other bit is an IGH rear wheel with a Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub. Faux-SS. I'm hoping it's up to the task of wheeling my pimp-ass around. Tomi did the legwork last fall so it was pretty much plug-and-play for me. He took the pain. Thanks, Tom.

What else? Oh yeah, scored some Middleburn cranks, too.

An finally, more cushion for the pushin' . . . Maxxis Ardent 2.4 rubbers. Tubeless in the rear, tubed up front. Meaty beefy big and bouncy. I read that somewhere. I think on Mike Curiak's blog but he was referring to another tire. I just liked the way it sounded.

That is all.

Now I just need to ride it.

xkcd

more here.

Break in the Action

A crew from PMBA brought their big bikes to Michaux for the weekend so we switched up the schedule from firewood to riding to show them around both days. Had two great rides with a bunch of really great people. Saturday was a tour of Rattlesnake, V2, Corkscrew, Bitch, the enduro stuff, Loop to No Where, then got friendly with the fisherfolk out to Dead Woman's, Grave Ridge both ways, up DWH, out 3 Mile, over the ridge to finish on Deer Bingo (call it whatcha want).

Sunday was a shorter jaunt from Big Flat out Camp 3, then new moto rockgarden love, in the doubletrack to Abby, down to the Res, across Loon/Breast (call it whatcha want), then had to bail back up the road due to time constraints. Still a hoot.

And there's a sweet new rock line on Abby, thanks to idle hands during a flat change. Enjoy.

Thanks, PMBA, for looking us up--we had a great weekend.