On the road at last.

It's been a long time coming.  I hopped on the bike yesterday to get an official start on my birthday.  Today. I roll south out of Albuquerque, NM.  Wahooooooooooooooo!
 

"Ain't nothing to it but to do it."   --Ronnie Coleman

Colloquialism of the day: chatty kathy-- someone who doesn't stop talking.

RENO!

Forget it.  I found true love in Reno playing nickel slots.  The money for the trip is gone, but it was worth it.

Divide By 1

I finally got around to uploading the film about last year's unicycle ride from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide.  Enjoy!  I carried that camera on my back for 2700 miles so you could come along too (crotch pain not included).  Please take a moment to show your appreciation by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society here.


Divide By 1 from trog dor on Vimeo.

Departure for Mexico on Monday.  Bike is back from paint and ready to ride.  Pictures tomorrow! Incomplete sentence! Coffee!

a headbadge for tatanka

Tatanka is Sioux for bison.  The bison were North American nomads.  I was really leaning towards the buxom beauty from the cover of the Heavy Metal soundtrack (which is an awesome album, by the way), but this fits the bike a little better and was easier to make.  I used a sheet of brass that used to serve as the kick plate for the front door of the house I grew up in.  I like the idea of giving new life to old things.

drill holes, cut with a small cutting wheel, and use lots of files.

start cutting out the design with a cut-off wheel

design is cut out roughly

with a few drill shavings for effect.

shaped and ready for a brushed look

all dressed up and ready to be shaped for the head tube

Dread Not the December Departure

I'm going to be in Mexico by Christmas!  People ask me if I'm excited.  I'm not very excited yet.  Actually, it is with a sense of relief that I am finally about to start. Pedaling a bike down the road or trail is the easy part.  The hard part is the commitment to realizing a dream that has inspired and haunted me through my 20s.  Sometimes I wonder why it has taken me so long to leave.  But deep down I know that I needed to learn a few lessons about life that will allow me to cycle deeper through this world.  I decided early this year that I would be gone before the end of 2010.  Well, the hard part is ALMOST over.   I've said almost all my goodbyes.  I'll be rolling south in a few short weeks to San Miguel de Allende.  Then the ride begins...  For all you superstitious folks, the start of my ride will more or less coincide with my 28th birthday on the 28th of December.

Next post will come after the bike (AKA Tatanka) gets back from powder coat all shiny.  Long awaited pictures, too!  And a link to the DivideBy1 film!!!!!!!