Not too much going on here. I’ve been busy with less than important things like work and school. It has been a little cold and a little rainy, so not too much riding. I don’t even have any good photos, of anything, at all. So, you get this old postcard:

Vanagon GL Syncro — Volkswagen’s automatically engaging all-wheel drive van features a patented, new, viscus coupling to adapt the driving mode to existing driving conditions. Also available in two Vanagon Camper models.

What else? Here is a “good” link I stumbled across: so, you like odd brakes, eh?

I suppose this site “good” if you have an interest in weird old cantilever bicycle brakes…

So last Thursday I managed to take a considerable chunk out of a wooden post with my commuter bike, and get a fist-sized bruise from the same post on my left leg about 4″ above the knee. This Thursday (today) Eric and I went for a night ride at Grindstone; I rode the M2 and Eric was on the Litespeed. About four miles into the ride I hit a tree that had fallen near the trail, went over the bars, hit my right thigh on the end of the handle bar, and smacked my head on the trail. Ouch. This photo was taken mere seconds after the incident. Eric claims he asked if I was okay prior to taking the photo, I’m not sure…

The helmet worked, sending the visor off to the side of the trail (but still intact). The sound of a helmet crunching on the dirt/rocks is not a good one. Remember: Wear a helmet and keep it adjusted properly. Anyway, I sit here with ice on my leg and nice perfectly round bruise. The bike fared pretty well with a slightly tweaked front wheel and a noticeably louder shock.

We kept riding after that, I think the temperature hovering in the low 30s helped a lot. The rest of the ride was relatively uneventful. We rode through campus and down some more single track before getting home with about an hour of ride time and 11 miles.

Here is a shot of that post I mentioned. Not bad eh?

The M2 had been collecting dust in the garage for almost a month. Most of my free time has been spent on bike repairs and upgrades, leaving little time for rides (other than commuting). Last week I finally got the M2 out to Rock Bridge for ~11 mile ride. The trails were fast and dusty, and the water was deep and cold. I took the opportunity to disassemble and re-lube the M2. The headset had a little corrosion between the cartridge bearings and the cups. I suppose I should get stainless steel bearings next time. Other than that, no big surprises.

Oh yeah, in that first photo the M2 is floating, there is no stick behind the crank arm holding the bike up (it is that light). This is one of the many advantages of having a ceramic-aluminum frame. One of the many disadvantages is that is the most unforgiving, stiff frame I have ever ridden. I suppose Eric’s M2xx S-Works may be worse with the rigid fork…

Photo credits to Eric, with his new point-and-shoot.