WARPED VISIONS

Catching up...

2009-08-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Life without bike ain't a life... bike's are nothing without a life. It's all a balance.

So I could dedicate some time to the stuff that matters... My wife, son and bike. Living at a beach location helps some.

I got myself a nice cheapo hardtail that I had not the time to build up, even when I have now an assistant to help me out to build my bikes now.

I also could actually ride my old trusty bike. It rained that morning after a lot of days with no rain, so trails were muddy as hell. What else could you ask for?!

Life's good. Never easy, but really good.

VW's rule...

2009-08-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

I recently got the old Dub running again. It still needs a boatload of repairs like new CV joints, some TLC on the brakes and such. But other than that is running.

It was down like three months due to a bad battery and lack of time to get it fixed. But it started like a champ after I replaced the offending battery. I almost cried of joy when I heard the engine's muffled roaring on idle. Not bad for a 22yo card! It sounds so nice, just like a kitten's purring.

I'm amazed at how sturdy this car is. Made to be ridden hard and put away wet.

Unfortunately it was just not cutting it as a family car anymore and had to be replaced with what you see in the pics. I sure miss to drive it, though!

Back at home...

2009-07-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing much to say but just that I survived the 16hrs flight and I'm back at home. No doubt the economic crunch have made effects even to those airlines you wouldn't think so.

Off course, when you travel with just one piece of luggage, you end up with zero pieces at your destination. Next time, I'll bring in two and see if one arrives. I can take more frijoles on the way back... if they make my destination on the way back.

I'm as happy as a pup with two tails. I'm back to my family, pork meat, beer and tortillas!! Yeah-ha!

Banshee Spitfire...

2009-07-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

So, rumour has it that Banshee has a new 5" trailbike in the making. They're aiming at 30# with a decent (read: not fully blinged out) build.

Here's the tease pic...

Just like the one I'm looking for. If their geometry is like the one on the Pyre/Rune and the suspension works as good as my friends on a Rune say it does, then I'm all in for one of these babies!

Somebody wakes me up when the Tour gets to the Alps...

2009-07-16T08:59:00.001-07:00

Some people like suspense. The hunt, not the prey... but I like things easy and simple. I enjoy them much more. I'm the kind of guy who gives kudos to Rambo III for the lack of argument and the overwhelming amount of kills.

This year's Tour - please stop reading if you have to ask "what tour? - has a lot of suspense going on with the possible duel between Contador and Lance.

There are solid arguments to go either way. Lance is experienced, motivated and knows the race like no other, just not to mention he seems to be superhuman. Contador is young and has won the three great ones already.

Both have reasons not to like each other. Contador WAS the Astana leader until Lance arrived and lance knows that if anyone has the legs and will to out him is Contador.

During Stage 7, Contador showed what could be the signs of a battle inside Astana and for the Tour's supremacy by doing a tour de force in the last two kilometers out running his Astana team mates. Lance was pissed and Bruyneel puzzled.

With the second last Stage peaking at the Mont Ventoux and all the Alps still to come, the suspense is huge as both riders have played quietly in the last stages and keeping it all for the Stages to come.

As it is now, the Tour has been kind of boring... I'd love to those two going head to head in an all out attack to each other, but I know that this is all about the strategy and it's a tough long battle that only ends at the Champs Elysees. It's been boring but it promises to have a Grand Finale!!!