Going Long and Hard.

jimvreeland said:
PS-Of the 6 dozen PMs and texts I got yesterday about my wheels, who's actually seriously interested?
Click to expand...

Couldn't find a shame-faced smily to attach. I'm out. The electrician took all my money yesterday. Said something about I should be happy the house didn't burn down. I guess I'm happy? Sorry to make you haul the wheels around. I promise next time to just show up with money and shut the hell up.
 
gtluke said:
I went and saw Frank from FTW bikes when I bought mine, got a tour of his place. No F'ing way would I ever even try to make a bike myself. IIRC he used 4 different Bridgeports and a dozen hand built custom tools to make my bike.
Tig welding takes mega practice. I can do steel parts okay to make an exhaust, but aluminum is much much harder. It would be awesome to step into one of those shops and get hands on fun and see how it's really done. Just seeing the shop blew my mind on how difficult it is to make a bike (that weighs less than 5 pounds). Maybe building a straight gauge townie bike with brazed gussets is something I could handle with enough lessons.
Click to expand...

Frank has a very nice setup and he's a real cool cat to boot. Between old school BMX, cars, trucks and bikes in general, not to mention metal fab I could've talked his ear off. Did you see his Saab Rally car in the basement? He showed me an intake he made from scratch for a VW (or was it for the Saab) as well. Pretty dope.

I was going gaga over his setup with the 4 Bridgeports :drooling: I like the way he has a station for each process and it loops around the shop in sequence. After hearing him tell stories of cutting his teeth by earning like a buck and a half for each fork he welded for Mongoose (back in the MotoMag/Skip Hess years) and said he could bang out something like 50 a day I could see why he does what he does.

The notching of a frame isn't too bad especially the front triangle and if you have a mill to work with then it can be even easier. Parts of the rear end are a bear to notch but the TIG welding part is the hardest. Or maybe I should say, takes the most training time to get right. BTW, I'm working on getting a Lincoln TIG box in my garage over the winter - stoked!

Jim - sorry to derail the thread but when I hear about making frames I need to respond 🙂
 
He had a Cobra kit car and a VW rally car in the potato barn area. He also had that VW manifold, super nice. He was an awesome dude. My wife asked him 9 zillion questions and he was awesome about it.
 
don said:
Jim - sorry to derail the thread but when I hear about making frames I need to respond 🙂
Click to expand...

Derail away!!

I'm really only doing this to get a better idea of what the process is like. And having something that I made myself is gonna be pretty cool, regardless of how good/bad it comes out 😀

-Jim.
 
jimvreeland said:
Yeah. Thruth is, I'm fairly sure I try to be competitive in too many different disciplines. Training for MTB and TTs are very different than crits and CX. I don't make the transfer from one to the other very well. The MTB and TT stuff comes to me very naturally, all I do is ride my bike and commute into work and I can stand on the podium every weekend (except this year 😱). Very little structure, a lot of dicking around, etc...Cross OTOH is a HUGE amount of effort, I don't think there's a single fast-twitch muscle in my body.

Having big TT and MTB power on it's own can get you pretty far in cross, but to hang with the specialists, you need to really devote the time to develop that skill set. I may not be willing to become one of those guys. I'd much rather spend my time becoming better at the things I'm already pretty good at and see where that gets me. I know I'll have more success focusing on less things.

So rough goals. Weight back down to where it needs to be. Maintain same power. TT win in the P1/2/3. Be ready for Battenkill. DH40 podium. The rest we'll play by ear.

-Jim.
Click to expand...

Why not killer B's Jim? Are you sandbagging ineligible? I don't recall you winning races in B's, but always being upfront.
 
TedH said:
Why not killer B's Jim? Are you sandbagging ineligible? I don't recall you winning races in B's, but always being upfront.
Click to expand...

I believe despite proving many times this season that my fitness is not up to par, that I would receive a public lashing if I showed up in the B field. Hell, if a guy gets top ten too many times in row he's considered a sandbagger these days. :hmmm:

There is a very slight, and I mean VERY slight, chance I may show up somewhere just to make sure I have enough fire to motivate me through the winter. But it will be slight. And I mean slight.

-Jim.
 
jimvreeland said:
I believe despite proving many times this season that my fitness is not up to par, that I would receive a public lashing if I showed up in the B field. Hell, if a guy gets top ten too many times in row he's considered a sandbagger these days. :hmmm:

There is a very slight, and I mean VERY slight, chance I may show up somewhere just to make sure I have enough fire to motivate me through the winter. But it will be slight. And I mean slight.

-Jim.
Click to expand...

The Bs in NJ are 3/4 only I believe. The Bs and 35+ in the MAC are like the As in NJ, just 10 times the field size. You just need to get old faster.
 
jimvreeland said:
Derail away!!

I'm really only doing this to get a better idea of what the process is like. And having something that I made myself is gonna be pretty cool, regardless of how good/bad it comes out 😀

-Jim.
Click to expand...

I think the course will be really great for someone like you. You will get your miters good, and I would try to learn as much as you can about TIG welding but you'll have Steve there for the welding part if you don't pick it up immediately. Steve said there were a few people that welded their frames but I would guess they had some welding under their belt or they were just mechanically gifted mutants.

For my frame I did all the cuts, grinding, sanding, and prep - Mike welded most of it and Steve helped out with some bends and welding. My goal is to get good enough with a torch to do it all but I am guessing that will be another year or 2 from now. Reading the mtbr frame building forum will be good too - there are a lot of knowledgable guys on there and quite a few discussion on TIG weld and cutting miter joints. I know you've worked with bikes for a really long time and you take to it like a fish to water.
 
Saturday.

Rain. Sweet!! It's finally cold enough to start using my rain gear 😀

I however didn't take the weatherman too seriously and I rode the EVO in. Hmmmm, right around noontime I realized that wasn't such a good idea. Should've ridden the Sola in.

We ended up closing the shop around 1 and EJP gave me a lift home. There were trees and roads closed all over the place. This storm took a lot of people by surprise I suspect...Myself included.

Did get to fix a bike or 3 today though. Saw Norm and Utah in the same day. HI!!

319559_2582693888593_1291834825_3143621_234854855_n.jpg


Ran out to the supermarket to get some supplies and poop just in case the storm gets any worse. Made my own dinner. These days I need to cut out some of the stuff my wife normally makes in favor of something better. Tonight she made pizza. I made a big bowl of Soybeans and black pepper.

301035_2582998816216_1291834825_3143916_1261407177_n.jpg


Finished the night off with my core circuit and plopped in front of the TV to watch The Shining...Spooky...BOO!!

This morning I weigh 168.5...It's happening. It's all going in the right direction. Slowly but surely. The overall goal is to be as light as possible before base starts in December. I'd rather concentrate on building my engine than losing weight during that phase as to come into Battenkill swinging, which is a goal FYI.

My feelings on Rule#2.

Live it. Cut out the BS. Get it done. Suck it up. Murder. Etc, etc, etc...Point is, in the end you're only lying to yourself. Your one "binge-day" because your out with your homies could shoot your entire week, don't do it. The cupcakes some customer brings in as a tip? It'll erase any good you did that day, don't do it. You think you earned some sweet recovery meal because you rode 40 miles? You don't, don't do it. Strength, core, and any workout where you roll on the floor doesn't count towards calories out. Neither does taking the stairs or walking down the street to pick up lunch. Just because you're not sitting in a chair in front of the computer doesn't qualify it as a workout. Don't log them as such.

Once you start being honest with yourself about what you're actually doing, you'll see results. Take the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole really goes.

-Jim.

PS-I have one less pair of wheels now 😀
 
Last edited:
jimvreeland said:
Saturday.

Rain. Sweet!! It's finally cold enough to start using my rain gear 😀

I however didn't take the weatherman too seriously and I rode the EVO in. Hmmmm, right around noontime I realized that wasn't such a good idea. Should've ridden the Sola in.

We ended up closing the shop around 1 and EJP gave me a lift home. There were trees and roads closed all over the place. This storm took a lot of people by surprise I suspect...Myself included.

Did get to fix a bike or 3 today though. Saw Norm and Utah in the same day. HI!!

319559_2582693888593_1291834825_3143621_234854855_n.jpg


Ran out to the supermarket to get some supplies and poop just in case the storm gets any worse. Made my own dinner. These days I need to cut out some of the stuff my wife normally makes in favor of something better. Tonight she made pizza. I made a big bowl of Soybeans and black pepper.

301035_2582998816216_1291834825_3143916_1261407177_n.jpg


Finished the night off with my core circuit and plopped in front of the TV to watch The Shining...Spooky...BOO!!

This morning I weigh 168.5...It's happening. It's all going in the right direction. Slowly but surely. The overall goal is to be as light as possible before base starts in December. I'd rather concentrate on building my engine than losing weight during that phase as to come into Battenkill swinging, which is a goal FYI.

My feelings on Rule#2.

Live it. Cut out the BS. Get it done. Suck it up. Murder. Etc, etc, etc...Point is, in the end you're only lying to yourself. Your one "binge-day" because your out with your homies could shoot your entire week, don't do it. The cupcakes some customer brings in as a tip? It'll erase any good you did that day, don't do it. You think you earned some sweet recovery meal because you rode 40 miles? You don't, don't do it. Strength, core, and any workout where you roll on the floor doesn't count towards calories out. Neither does taking the stairs or walking down the street to pick up lunch. Just because you're not sitting in a chair in front of the computer doesn't qualify it as a workout. Don't log them as such.

Once you start being honest with yourself about what you're actually doing, you'll see results. Take the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole really goes.

-Jim.

PS-I have one less pair of wheels now 😀
Click to expand...

no offense Jim but 😛uke: on the soy beans LOL
 
Sunday.

Short New Brunswick, D&R Canal, Middlesex loop on the MTB. I was sorta expecting there to be a lot more snow than I came across. Actually, there was more snow on the road on the trip over than on the canal itself. I was mildly disappointed. Boo.

302396_2585881048270_1291834825_3147354_803130801_n.jpg


Obligatory weird shack photo shot. This is like the little blue car at 6-Mile.

377138_2585882528307_1291834825_3147360_56742766_n.jpg


Ended up with only about 20 miles. Just over an hour. That's fine, I have poop to do today anyhoo. Like look up stuff for my next project. Which is...

FM3181.jpg

Fat bike. It looks like we're in for another snow-filled winter so I'd like to be a bit more prepared. Or, I should say, I'd like to be in the woods. Not that the Roubaix loops aren't fun through the winter, but I can guarantee this will be more fun 😀

I like the building process and picking out the stuff and whatnot. Bike weenie stuff. I'm toying with the idea of doing an internal-geared hub, more specifically, a Shimano Alfine hub. I think given the muck it'll see having no derailleurs will be a good thing. The gear-range is wide enough to not only ride the canal, but also singletrack. Or commute to work on the uber bad days. I can see having one of these in your stable to be a useful thing. Skis are gay.

-Jim.
 
Halloween.

First off.

391740_2588788480954_1291834825_3151613_665474675_n.jpg


18 years ago whilst out trick-or-treating and seemingly minding my own business, I ran into this lovely young lady. Well this lovely young lady dressed as Little Red Hood. 😉

We immediately hit it off. Call it love at first sight or whatever you'd like, either way we've been by each other's sides ever since. Originally, we planned on getting married on Halloween as well, but since we both wanted kids, decided against it so our day wouldn't be overshadowed by our little gremlins. We both still consider this anniversary to be more important than our wedding anniversary. Weddings are just a legal thing, the day you met your soulmate is special 😀

The Ride.

Ooops. Speaking of gremlins. They're here. Time to go Trick-or-Treating!!

-Jim.
 
jimvreeland said:
Halloween.

First off.

391740_2588788480954_1291834825_3151613_665474675_n.jpg


18 years ago whilst out trick-or-treating and seemingly minding my own business, I ran into this lovely young lady. Well this lovely young lady dressed as Little Red Hood. 😉

We immediately hit it off. Call it love at first sight or whatever you'd like, either way we've been by each other's sides ever since. Originally, we planned on getting married on Halloween as well, but since we both wanted kids, decided against it so our day wouldn't be overshadowed by our little gremlins. We both still consider this anniversary to be more important than our wedding anniversary. Weddings are just a legal thing, the day you met your soulmate is special 😀

The Ride.

Ooops. Speaking of gremlins. They're here. Time to go Trick-or-Treating!!

-Jim.
Click to expand...

:popcorn:
 
Back!!

Kids ran themselves silly and wore out pretty quick. Good. After today's ride I'm running a little lean.

Well..Being that we're out of order today anyways. The dorks.

377477_2590984015841_1291834825_3153440_1844708518_n.jpg


Yet again we find ourselves in the middle of a good vs. evil theme. Ethan has the upper hand here as he's learned to use his newly acquired Spidey powers against his big brother. His big brother is of course, un-phased.

Earlier Today...

The ride. Met Joe over at Burnt Mills for some good ole fashioned Roubaix goodness. Given the uncertainty of the roads, we opted for mountain bikes. We opted well. Most of the dirt roads are just fine but there was carnage everywhere we turned. Trees down, telephone poles down, roads closed, cops directing people away from areas. Total shit show out there.

391381_2590416121644_1291834825_3152931_201784478_n.jpg


Scenes like this were pretty much everywhere. Our 45 mile ride took almost 5 hours, only 3.5 of it riding. We stopped at the Califon General Store which was running off a generator and some candles.

Today I used my modified separation of church and state in regards to nutrition. A day like today can really help kick some of those pounds away. As long as you play it smart and let your body do what it does. I went into the day as usual, with a 200 calorie breakfast. Immediately after hitting the loop I ate another 190 calories, in this case, a SCRAWBURRY waffle. 190 calories per hour, on the hour, no calories in the bottle. The thought is to stay just inside calorie deficit so your body uses primarily fat storage as fuel. All the 190 calories really do is stop you from completely bonking. So from waking up, through a 3.5 hour bike ride to 2 pm, I've had under 1,000 calories. So for the day I'm completely in the negative, by a good amount. I have a veggie burger from Sonic on the way home. No cheese or mayo. Let's say it's 500 calories? I can't find it on their site. Either way, realistically, I'm still in the negative for the day. Yet because I stayed in zone and had my body tapping into it's natural fuel supply, I feel perfectly fine. Fine enough that I broke down and had 2 slices of pizza at my cousin's house this evening 😀

Doing the above may not yield any performance benefits, but it will certainly lean you out, which is my #1 goal at the moment. Actually, it will be my #1 goal until I drop below 160 again. Then, as stated somewhere a few posts ago, we'll begin working on re-building the engine. A lean, powerful, clean-burning engine :getsome:

That is all...I have to go do stuff to my wife.

-Jim.
 
Sweet!! I guessed 50 over!! That's it, I'm eating a Reeses 🙂

Oh, Sonic and Murder King both have veggie burgers. Get either without cheese or mayo and you get a quick quasi-healthy meal. It was very hard to turn down the tater tots though.
 
Last edited:
jimvreeland said:
Sweet!! I guessed 50 over!! That's it, I'm eating a Reeses 🙂

Oh, Sonic and Murder King both have veggie burgers. Get either without cheese or mayo and you get a quick quasi-healthy meal. It was very hard to turn down the tater tots though.
Click to expand...

See my problem is that I cant turn down the tater tots. Ill balance it all out with the veggie burger. I wont eat the bread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom