Dear Specialized

I’d happily exchange this

Gary Fisher Paragon 29er

for this

2010 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR

and then most likely look like this for an entire year (minus the pretend riding in my mom’s kitchen)

Dear Specialized,

Start My Engine and PICK ME! I think I’m the right guy for the job, and besides, my tag cloud includes such topics as “Shiatsu”, “LOHAS”, and “Mullets” so I’ve got a little something for everyone to enjoy.

Your loyal customer and Decibel-helmet-wearing friend,

@craigrandall

Mountain biking for lunch – eat shit and grin!

Hey Boulder people – do yourself a favor and ride Betasso during your lunch hour. It will change your everyday office-monkey experience into a sweat soaked parade, especially if, like me, you wait to “lunch” in the heat of a 2 pm afternoon. This is precisely what I did yesterday. After a tire that needed reseating (thanks U-Bikes!) I headed over to the Creek path past the summer vacation having high schoolers at Eben G. Fine (it’s a must if you’re 17, school’s out, and it’s hot outside to launch a tube into the creek on any given weekday…did it a time or twelve, myself!), and up to where the Creek path hits Canyon. Ride the mellow mountain road about a mile and hit the Boulder Canyon link on the right side of the road. Because Betasso alone is a pretty short ride (only about 3 miles) and you’re pressed for time, it’s best to just go for it up the Boulder link despite it’s grueling grades and loose trail. So up the link I went, still lacking any semblance of handling/climbing skills (they’ll come!) so it was half ride-half hike-a-bike until you reach the gorgeous bit of meadow/singletrack that is Betasso. And that’s where the serious fun sets in!

My only knock against the 29er so far is the wheels – they’re tubeless-ready and as I’m not running tubeless, they seem a little finicky for…you guessed it…tubes. One flat so far, knock on wood (taps crotch) it’s the last for a while.

Summer means Mountain Bikes and new blogs

And so I welcome myself back to the game with…a brand new Gary Fisher “Paragon” 29er. After much trepidation about dropping bucks on more bikes (but why break from tradition, right?) and whether the new one be a hard tail or full suspension – Gary Fisher or Yeti – used or new – single speed or multi - I finally found an apt replacement for my faithful British Columbia-bred Rocky Mountain Element. Sold that one on Craigslist for about half of what I paid for it new (love you Craigslist!) and going to apply some “economic stimulus” to pay for the 29er. This new bike purchase was a really comforting reminder for me. As financially impaired as I feel most of the time, the purchase of this bike was a happy reminder of the financial security I’ve attained. I’ve got money in the bank, I live within my means, and I’ve made some “smart” money choices over the last few years – namely not owning a CAR for going on FIVE years, baby!

So to welcome the 29er to the world I’m going to christen her in Salida this weekend. Clare, Shadow and I are driving down tomorrow afternoon for Fibark weekend (huuuge whitewater festival) where the plan is to hang out with her family and friends (ones from all the way back when she was just a tiny “Bubs”), participate in some pro New Belgium beer drinking, and hit the famous Salida singletrack. So excited! We’ll see how I adapt to the 29er although I’m sure it will be smooth. I’ve literally not heard one dissenting comment about 29ers, especially if you’re over 6′ (I’m 6′3”). 

On a completely unrelated note, remember when there was “beef” between the east and west coast hip-hop scenes? Whoa, that was a long time ago – I just thought about it b/c I’m listening to Tribe Called Quest’s Beats, Ryhmes, & Life. That was some serious ‘ish. ‘Ish is so 1996.

Off to bed. I have a 7:00 am appointment with my chiropractor tomorrow to look at the changes in my alignment (particularly my wretched pelvis) and to hopefully get the seal of approval. I can already smell the coffee that is going to coax me out of bed…yum.

Starting a new blog is like giving birth; so exciting, so promising, and then it just sits there and wants to be fed.