Say it Ain't So Floyd!!

No no no.... I wake up to read the days sports headlines and there blaring across the front of TSN.ca was "Landis busted for doping". Noooooo...why!?!? I hope and pray that the B sample proves it was a mistake, or another reason surfaces. The positive test comes from Stage 17, when he pulled off one of the most inspiring comebacks to claw back to striking distance of the yellow jersey. If it is true, I say eat it cycling. I feel bad for guys like Robbie, who *may* be clean, but their going to be tainted as well. The world expects superhuman feats, and maybe it pushed Floyd over the line after the now famous bonk on Stage 16. Maybe he did put the testosterone patch on his nuts that night and recovered faster than he would've normally. I prefer to believe not though, I won't dive onto the 'cheater!' bandwagon that fast. Landis published his 'power ratings' throughout the stage, and they were impressive, but not superhuman. He just held his strong pace for longer than the others thought he could. Many other leaders COULD have held that and probably have done it in training many times, but they banked on Floyd hitting the wall after such a disastrous day on Stage 16. I prefer to believe he dug deep and found the will to drop the hammer that day. And until further notice.....

Lance Armstrong Nike Commercial

If this vid doesn't give you goosebumps you've got issues.

Lance Armstrong-Time Trial-2005

Opening Time Trial of Armstrongs last Tour. Watch him blow past Jan.

First mini "Tour"

Allright, up at 6:30am, and by the time I was packed up with trailer hitched on, it was 8:50. Might need to work on that prep time. It was my first time out with a load on the BOB Trailer, and with the front handlebar bag on too. I packed my tent, sleeping bag, goretex clothes, and some random tools in the BOB Bag on the trailer. I went straight up to the Toyohira River, hoping to stay out of traffic while I get used to a 1.6m trailer behind me. After 5k I stopped underneath a bridge to check the nuts n bolts, re-adjust some things, and get comfy. The river trail was nice, even in the constant mist and drizzle. I made it to Route 230 by Jozankei and then had to ride next to the traffic. It was a challenge to keep remembering the trailer behind me, especially at those times when you just want to bunnyhop up onto the sidewalk. I even got to do my first tunnels (they're everywhere in Japan), before arriving to Jozankei with a big shit eating grin on my face. A few pics then I found an onsen foot bath. Its a warm hot spring bath, just to soak your feet in after a hard day walking the tourist shops (or biking there from Sapporo). There was a couple in there from Kushiro (far far away), I could tell they were looking for a way to talk to me, suddenly the guy offers me a piece of gum. Umm, ok. Started chatting a bit and found that they drove all the way from Kushiro to Jozankei in one day, overall about 10 hours with stops they said!! Now it was about 11am, and they were about to head back the WHOLE way today! Some people just love driving. I asked if they had a day off tomorrow, they did, but wanted to spend it relaxing in their house. Before I leave, the guy ruffles around his wifes purse and finds a box of Frisk to give me as a present. By now I've definitely developed a complex, though I am sure that I brushed my teeth pretty thoroughly this morning. Anyways, nice people and a great break soaking my feet. I climbed back on and tore the return route up. It was mostly downhill so I was able to hit 45kph sometimes and see how the trailer holds on. I made it into Sapporo just when the rain started pounding me. I stopped by Road Kids to see Takashi and show him the trailer, then arrived home well before 1pm and able to rest up before picking up Mom and Sis from the airport later tonight..
Great ride.

Prep and Logistics!!

I'm firing up this blog, so someday after all my tours/trips are finished off, I'll have something to show, and I'll be able to see where it started.

Where the hell did it start?... The bike? I loved riding for the same reason all kids love riding, you get out of your parents house and you can get dirty. Later on, I learned to love covering great distances on two wheels, powered only by yourself (and hopefully a tailwind)...and with that I discovered a new freedom. The freedom to pack what you need on your bike, and go. The best places to discover in the world aren't looking through the window of a car as you whiz by the "Welcome to Oregon" sign, they aren't at a roadside turnout showing you the same canyon or gorge that the other 14 bus tours are about to see as they line up behind you, the best places are found on your own power, on foot or by bike.

I've had a tendency to get attached to my wheels. I bought an old Raleigh "Infinity" back in maybe 1993 when I was 16, for $300. Big money back then when I was making $5 to pump gas from a tiger tail at Esso. Rode the living crap out of that poor thing, through water that would go over the handlebars (flooding season), and through water falls at Grizzly Creek. When it died, I went for a Specialized Rockhopper, first bike I had with a front shock. No more than 2", but only really compressed half that I figure. One tragic day on Spread Eagle Road though the Rockhopper and I got stuck in a rut and went for a massive launch upon hitting the boulder at the end. I was no worse for wear, but the Rockhoppers poor frame was crumpled, along with the rim, off to the LBS in the sky. When one door closes, another opens, and I went for a new Kona Kilauea. Sleek and fast that hardtail was, lasted from 95 through to 2000, when I passed it on to my brother, and opted for a Kona Mano Mano. The MM is still ripping today, 7000k put on it that I have recorded, and can't imagine life without my wheels now.

Fast forward a few years...I've ended up in northern Japan, dodging missiles from KJI and doing the Hokey Pokey for a living. With me came the ManoMano, commute, trails, escapes from my own tangled webs... The MM has been modified, upgraded, kept up, maintained, gadget'd out, and its still rolling. Now for the plan....

I'm going to rock around Hokkaido for most of September, at the very least, up to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. From there I'll head to Nepal by October 8th, fly to Lhasa Tibet, then from Lhasa bike 16-17 days through the mountains back to Kathmandu. Sounds exotic?.. but what a logistical nightmare. Airline fees, airlines not having rules laid out about how long I can stopover, how much coin, go earlier?.. It'll all work out in the end, and I refuse to question the validity of dropping $4000 on a dream trip to see Tibet and Nepal... that 4g wouldnt do much for me in my pocket when they bury me would it.

I also have a tendency (some call it an obsession) to make the most out of time, MY time. I thought, hell while I'm down in Nepal on Royal Thai Airways, why not stopover in Thailand again. Its been 5 years since I've been there, but I feel the need to hit up Cambodia again, and all of Vietnam. Whats maybe $900 to enjoy 3 weeks backpacking!? Need to find a place to store my bike/gear in Bangkok first and foremost though, along with determining the airlines rules. Now I know I'm getting a bit greedy, trying to cram so much in, along with determining some pretty heavy life choices for after the trip....but we only get one spin on this earth dont we? That would bring me back to Japan maybe by November 20th. If I stay, Ill need more work again (quit my job to travel). If I go, Ill just ride my wheels down the Japan Sea coastline til I get to Osaka and fly to Canada from there.

No shortage of decisions to be made...but it all starts here.