Commuter Bikes

I've recently gotten Seattle and Portland on my mind for places I'm likely to move to in the next year or so... so naturally the first thing to consider is what sort of commuter bike I'll need.

Owing to the wet environ (this is a much cooler way to say 'environment') of each locale (again, cooler way to say 'location') I figured something good in the rain would be necessary- and I immediately thought of one of those new belt driven bikes from Trek.
I was a little disappointed at this first effort at this type of bike. Clearly Trek knows who they are marketing this towards, having called it the "Urban". So it's a super commuter bike right? Well where are the fenders?? I mean, sure I'll just install them myself, but seriously, if you're marketing a commuter bike, just put some of the necessities on there! I'll take this as an opportunity to get some wooden fenders so dudes with curly mustaches and curly mustache bars will think that I'm hip.

The thing that really gets me, though, is the lack of ability to throw disc brakes on this bad boy and the seeming lack of clearance for phat tyres. Disc brakes make so much sense for a commuter bike... I can't imagine anything easier than a cheap pair of disc brakes. I think I'd go with cable actuated so that you have some ability to gradually apply the brakes. Come on Trek, a commuter bike that will be all covered in brake juice ruining those trendy orange hoops?? And hopefully the climate has not shifted towards a snowy existence in Portland/Seattle like this year portends, but I'd still like the option of throwing some fat rubber on my cruiser.

Hopefully by the time I'm looking to get a bike Trek will come out with a second version of this bike.... that or I'll have to learn some braze-on techniques to get this guy up to snub....Come on Trek, do you need Lance to tell you how to do everything?

Fuel Taxes...

I was thinking about fuel taxes the other day while reading some articles online about the new Honda hybrids, next gen Priuses and other smart car type vehicles slated for the US market. A number of of the articles and discussions spun off of them brought up the point that because the government collects tax on gasoline, that the they have an incentive to keep gasoline consumption rates growing- maybe one of the reason the CAFE standards haven't increased (that and Bush is a numb-nuts).

I would think it would make a lot more sense to get rid of the gas tax and replace it with a tax on vehicle miles traveled. Now in some ways in my head this seems almost backward- we want people to switch to more efficient vehicles. But on the other hand walking or riding your bike or taking public transportation are all WAY better options than driving a Prius around all day long. So maybe there needs to be a mix.... tax on gasoline to further drive people to efficient vehicles, and a tax on mileage to help keep people out of the vehicles they've shelled all that money out for.... ummm yeah. All makes me think of this Onion article. Wonderful stuff.

World Champions

While watching the NFL playoffs recently, I've been reminded how much I hate it when sports call their champions "World Champions". MLB does this (even calling it 'World Series'), NFL, I think NHL (though at least they include Canada, but hockey is VERY popular in other areas, so still not an accurate statement).

This is a real world champion. Competed against the best in the world, who qualified by racing their asses off for the whole year earning their county's entry spots, then winning.



This is not a real world champion (I can't help but also display a fat baseball player. It could just as easily been a fat lineman).

Football, Baseball, Hockey, Baseketball.... none of the American based leagues even attempt to engage all the teams that play these sports internationally. It would be a logistical nightmare to do this every year obviously, so take it from Soccer- just do it every 4! I really wish that these leagues would dial back the arrogance at calling their champions "World Champions". I mean... does the league champion from the English Premiere League just randomly claim to be the "World Champion"? I really hope some non-American league does do this.... but I would think this is the only country where such arrogance exists. (Maybe France can give us a run for our money??)

All that being said, I still like watching the NFL playoffs- I'm still American afterall. Somehow, though, the Superbowl always seems to be a let down. The NFC/AFC championship games always seem to be better.... we'll see what happens this time. GO CARDINALS!! Go become World Champions!!

Zion National Park

Too much stuff going on to write out a full post about our recent trip to Zion, but suffice it to say the 2nd night of 16deg low and the epic climb up (almost) to Angel's Landing made this trip well worth it. Zion is pretty sweet in the winter.

Taken from our first hike of the trip- the Great White Throne is visible in the background. Lots of religious names abound here.... not surprising if you know the background on "Zion"

Erik trying to be Ansel.
Really should have sucked it up and walked back to the car for the tripod for this one, but I tried to cover up my laziness with some computer magic. Sort of worked (click to see the big version, and you'll see how much it sucks @ real size). Learning slowly that even with digital, its much better to take your time and get it right in camera.

Waterfall above Emerald Pools on the way to Angel's Landing. You may wonder where this is if you've only been there in the summer- I wouldn't be surprised if most of these smaller waterfalls were dry during the summer. All the other stains on the rock are from previous "waterfalls" that have deposited minerals onto the rock.