So I have a few vices. Like, Bicycles, food and beer. Or are, What once were vices are now habits? I'm a pretty simple guy. None of these vices affect my ability to function daily.

So the mice took advanced soapmaking. I combined  a vice into class and Made an Ommegang Witte soap. City mouse made a goats milk Chai tea soap. You trade bars with other classmates. One lady called my beer soap weird. Good for her. Stay in your Ivory world.
I got a nice gardening soap and City got a almond bar. Shower anyone?

On the food side tried a nice pineapple polenta with a pineapple salsa. The curry for City's "Men who cook" turned out to be a big hit in Pa. Rocked that one.

Riding has been scientific to say the least. Cory and I have been true the program and I can feel it working. We did one of his famed road rides saturday. Now he posted it for all to come. Only 4 "ommegangsters" showed. Some view us as crazy riding our good bikes on dirt and seasonal roads. Way more fun than grinding out hours in the wind on the road.

Your fancy bike can do it.

Blogger is having a mind of its own again here.

City mouse did a nice concert. Jaunty and I made it down for it. Good to see the Tom and Mary again too. Ran into some old friends at dinner. Didn't even recognize them.

Looking forward to racing starting. How are the legs? Where's the fitness? It's all money in the bank towards that goal of a Kross Championship. Haven't even rode the new rig yet.  Right now the Merlin still continues to shine. Single Speed Palooza is only weeks away. Then the genetic freaks will be out in force.

Enjoy Life, Drink good beer, love the one your with.

Listen to Ray Wylie Hubbard , Elizabeth Cook, Robert Earl Keen, The Allman Brothers, Neil Young and Jimmy Buffett. The list could go on and on.  Add in the Band of heathens and The lost Immigrants or even the Bonzo Dog Band.

Now get out and ride.

Seems as though the world revolves around facebook,twitter, and texting. If you're not doing it you don't have a clue. Then there's the blog. It starts out fun. Constant updates. You read others. You get ideas. The camera is always with you. Followers come and go. Maybe you get linked to others. Then you after a few years it slows. Not because of passion. More who really wants to know? So looked here and sure enough it's been awhile.

So in no particular I present to the update.

The mice took a soapmaking class. This is my second time. City mouse's first. Gee, we were the only two men there. Who have guessed? Now the presenter is full of passion for her product. I view it a basic chemistry lesson. Get the ingredients right at the right temps and you have product. Healthy product.
So City decided on cinnamon oatmeal and I went for the mix. Mango,lemongrass with calendula.
Let the mess begin.  All the seesentials oiled were opened and I was starting to feel it. Those scents sre powerful. One ounce to thirty bars of soap. Three hours later and were poured and ready to take it home.

We could start using it this week. My tv room smells like never before.

While we were butching it up we had the opportunity to get out snowmobiling. That was fun. Snow was barely there in some section. Firts time I've done rock gardens on a sled. We headed down to Choconut and had breakfast. Then took the long way home. Fun, plain and simple.

As always we've continued to cook eat and drink. Here you have a tequila lime shrimp pizza with sundried tomatoes on a whole wheat crust and some tasty beers.

Next Pops had his sixtieth birthday bash. Turns out he quite the Civil War re-enactor now. In his spare time he's building a cannon.

• The party was fun, the food was good and the alcohol flowed liberally.
• I did a little painting for him in his quest for speed..

Heres to many more for him.

Now the mice have been going back and forth to Mansfield and Bingo. In our travels City has a good friend that showed us something he wasn't supposed to have. It was kind of eerie seeing it.

A signed copy of Mein Kampf.

Kross is months away. But really it's my focus of cycling. Already my dates are being screwed with. Drama. No respect for the King.

But on a brighter note. my new Titanium Pride frame made it here after some difficulties. It's just needs to be dialed in and it's ready to rock. I hope it rides as good as the Merlin. It's a full custom built to my spec.

Nothing stupid light or pricey just a good parts pick.

Now the big news is. Jaunty mouse totally redid the living room dining area. New furniture and paint. Window treatment on the way. Theater red on three walls,molasses on one. Hunter green doors. Sweet leather couch and chair.  Just a few of the stage one pics. Looks great.

No Dirt Farm lately. Ray Wylie Hubbard has caught my ear along with Bands of Heathens

Maybe I should ride my bike to Pixburg?

But that's another story.

Remember,it costs you nothing to be nice.

Enjoy life, OGQ

So here is the new year. Mom is 83 today. What a cougar. Go Mom.
I'd better get something posted or it will have been a month and the netizens will wonder. Like I have a huge following and can quit my day job.

So in no particular order I present the best of 2009.

The best coffee. Nezuntoz. A local coffee house that supports the DPM. Can't go wrong here. Tasty food too. Thanks.

Next up is the best new beers I've had this year. It's a tie between Six Point Brewing and Voodoo Brewing. Shane at Six Point races Kross and came here from Portland.  Voodoo killed at the Big Pour . Seek them out and enjoy them all.

Followed by the faithful Ommegang. We are the coolest team out there. We have the best kit. Everyone wants to be us. We  are sooo Belgian. We could suck and you'd still want to be part of our Kross Syndicate. Wait till the announcement of the new team. You'll see.

Next up we have Outlaw Earth Messenger bags. With one email they stepped up to the plate and sent some swag down for the DPM. Great Product. Fixsters and hipsters should be rocking these in their tight jeans.

Next is the most dominant couple on the planet. Jeffina or Jeff and Katina Walker. They come ,they race, they conquer and  are just great people to be around. As are Jeff's parents. They too come to all the races. Cheer on the gangsters, always have a smile and wave. Good people. Oddly enough I don't have a pic of them together. If you see them , say Hello.

Best website of the year. Pandora Radio. I can find anything there. Even the Bonzo Dog Band.

Hot on the heels are best new artists.

Robert Earl Keen, Cross Candadian Ragweed( the new CCR) and Band of Heathens. Go there tune them in relax and enjoy. My XM radio in the Vi-Bee is fighting for this spot too.

Best food at my parties. Chef Mike is constant winner here. Pheasant last time. Who needs big time restaurants when you have Chef Mike? The female winner is Robena , she has brought some tasty dishes to local parties. Of course I have to give Vince and I a pat on the back for our skills here. Honestly all of you who bring food to my house amaze me. Cyclists sure can cook.

Best bike shop. Chenango Point. The only shop the seems to get it around here. Shop rides. Shop parties, good times.

Most improved Krosser.  Josh" West coast" Miner. Josh just keeping climbing the ladder this season. Though a win eluded him, he showed class and rode hard all year.

The best race. Maybe we aren't big time, but the Dave Panella Memorial always brings new things to Kross and we have FUN!

Screw USA Cycling. Screw taping a course. Screw the rules. Build it and they will come.

Best sponsor for me. Soul Cycles. I've been on them six years now. Chad's bikes just keep getting better. If you need a frame get one of his. Ommegang is close behind.

Best part about being here in Bingo. My friends and the whole cycling community.

Best person to heckle at a Kross race:  Skinny Phil. That determined look through the cloud of pain. You can get him to crack a smile. With a simple " Hup. Hup, Buttercup". Great season by Skinny. Look out Timmerman.

So where's the food and drink Carl in Florida always asks? Here you go. Some beers and food from the holidays.

Now for some "textures" and New Years Eve pics. 

Enjoy Life. OGQ

Alright we capped off the night at the Dive Bar.

So the DPM was fast approaching. Sponsors pulled out and new ones came it in. It all came together. On a cold crisp morning we laid out the longest course ever. The sun contiued to burn off the fog and the arrived warm and clear. Not like the snow of the first DPM.
Masters  men, Open women and juniors were the first to go. Drumroll took the holeshot. Uncharacteristally I slipped a pedal and was about 6th. I took the lead in the mower section. Hit themearly I thought. I had a decent gap coming out of that section. Through the spral I could open it up. Then in the horse pewer sections they'd come back. I knew the "Train of talent" would come. But for three laps I could get a gap. Maybe today was my day. Then the elastic broke. Glenn brought me back. As we entered the final section. I herad someone yell to AJ attack him now. He and Greg had a tenuous lead.  But then I see AJ running. He'd dropped his chain!. Drumrool takes number three. Good for him , a gangster on the top spot.
Then came the first Kross realy. Random pics of teams. I got Dave Y. Everyone thought it was rigged. Dave killed it on lap one. I drank the beer and was off on lap two. Then I was stopped by raucous fans. The gap was shrinking Ruth cut the course aass they let the air out of my tire.I cut back in front and almosted crashed but took the sprint. Not a good a idea to stall someone on a mission. But Iheld my spirit and had fun.

Dolled out all the prizes. Made some money for Kim. Ate some killer chili,drank some Ommes and Kross was over.

Over? I'd just shown some form. Well nest year I'll be in the 55+. The return of the KING.

Now the bigger news is we got country mouse's MOm to come to NYC. Talk about following the script.
It was great to see Mom. The crew went to dinner together. MOm got to meet people she'd only heard about.

Then it was off to the city. We walked to all the stores, saw the Christmas decorations, shopped, saw the sites. Hit the Blind Tiger. Too noisy for Mom. Showed her Stonewall. Headed up to the Dive Bar. Fun place. Mom was a cougar talking to the 32 year New Zealanders. Wore her out. Poor Mom. Sick the next day. Then it  wa my turn. Ah the hustle and bustle.
Bill and Jant came into visit us. We saw the movie Precious. A good flick. But, I live with the WT everyday. Blacks have no collar on poverty or bad families. Then we went to the Amsterdam Ale House. Good times. Onward to the next Dive Bar. We ened up hitting all three.
Mom even spent a few days in Bingo! Now there's a feat. She had so much fun. We all did.  Jaunty Mouse gave her the tour.

Now I've ordered my dream bike. A titanium Kross frame from Pride cycles. Full custom. Can't wait. Buying up bits on Ebay and around to deck it out. No real high end. Just solid parts.
Enjoy life. Love the one you're with. OGQ

Been awhile. I guess country mouse has been busy.

Did the Red Kross at Broome Tioga. All week it threatened rain.
In my head I knew rain would be a factor there. Dry it would have been superfast. Then the skies opened friday, all day it poured.
Inside I smiled. I think I'm a good "mudder" I fitted up the mud tires.
Saturday I awoke to even more rain. I thought this could be my day.
Mud and cold. True Kross weather. I grinned. The VI-BEE was packed  to go. All pre race rituals followed. Rolled over to the new sounds of Cross Canadian Ragweed, or the New CCR as they're being called. Pitted, bid my greetings. Memebers of the tribe said "You got your wish". Kitted up and possible soon to be Gangster and tariner to the stars and  I headed out. What a mess. But lines formed. Lines changed. The rains came. We did two laps and went back and washed the bikes. I cahnged into a dry kit. We watched part of the 3/4 race. Josh and other memebers of the dirty little club were on the course. Josh was killing it. A win is coming for  him.

Time for the masters 35+. A sort of call up gets us ready. I knew today a holeshot would be critical. Like days of old here. I wanted that holeshot. If I could do it on the MC, I could do it on the bike.
We're off I'm slapping that shifeter like it's a fanner 50 from my youth. Round the first turn and keep it pinned but below redline.
I nailed it. The announcer can't pronunce my name. Now it was damage control. Try to stay with the train as it rolls past. First Dave Y come s up. Then AJ and Drumroll. I try to hang as long as I can. Then "blueman" shows up. I can hear the announcer slaughtering other names. I'm having a ball. In my head my best race of the year. I hang on for 6th. The Ithaca Mafia never got in the mix. It felt good to keep them and Brian at bay.
The worst part was all the clean up hours of cleaning from 45 minutes of racing.
Some notes: I had to cancel the Greene race. Now way could I pull that off. But we'll be back.
Have been thinking of twists for the DPM. Little unexpected perks for the Krossers. Maybe go deep in prizes. I'll keep my secrets to myself. As the Hell's Angels like to say "Three can keep a secret if two are dead."
This weekend we have a practice race. Pat and Marsha have donated there property for us to play one. It will be fun.

Our local oractices have ended. Either trainer hell or near dark rides for me now. I did hill repeats tonight. The legs thanked me for that.

Enjoy life, drink good beer. Love the one your with.

Comfort food was the order of the weekend.

The gangsters descended in Brewery Ommegang and followed the NYCross rules. We staked and taped.
We thought we made the course longer. All had input. It seemed fun. Then came the lap times 5:20. What?

Didn't matter there were no field sprints. It thinned out in all fields. So maybe the KIng is partially back. It didn't happen here. Dave F and I tangled bars at the start. So the holeshot wasn't mine. But I felt good and moved up. Way up from that start. I felt like me for the first time this year. I had fun too.
 Then I worked the beer tent and the beer hand ups. Maybe this is where the King is back. Or a new King?
We poured beers to racers and spectators alike. I even made fifty eight bucks in tips! I'm using it for Dave's race.

Anthony and crew from NYC made it up for the race. Shared a Brooklyn Black Ops with me. Very nice.
His krew had a ball. Thanks for coming.
Also the krew from Bicycling mag made it up. There's a write up there by the fit chick. Check it out at their site.
This weekend the Swandrome returned. Long laps tough power sections. My legs were feeling good. I took the holeshot,all were content. I didn't bump the rev limiter. Then Aj and I started rubbing shoulders. Soon the Ithaca Kross Mafia train came. I can't respond to those attacks. I've been working on it. Seems like I have just one speed. Tapped. I was able to work some good lines and  make time I thought. But in the end 5th. My best finish of the year. Glenn had food and beverage for all. We didn't spend a dime for the day. Had fun too.  Legs were in knots after the race. Did a single speed ride today to clear them out. Still pretty sore will have to work on that seat height issue. Waiting for my Fangos. Glenn is tempting me with a new road bike. Man what prices he has. One person from our "dirty little club" bought a new Kross bike and another is loooking. Welcome to the darkside.

The miss and out in Kross practice has been a big hit. A roadie came with one of my old bikes and proceeded to demolish our barriers and cause the first crash of the season. This lead to my saying you're not part of our "dirty little club." This has now grown into "We need shirts!"  Maybe "Would you like to join our dirty little club? Or "You're not oart of our Dirty Little Club." We'll see some prototypes are being formed.
Now for my races I have to check the one venue seems as construction has thrown a wrench into the works. I'm sure the course wizards will work it out. I'd hate to have top cancel it.
Syracuse is tis weekend. I'll try for the double. It's always worked before. Let's think positive.
As Glenn said in response to my email thanking him for having the Swandrome. "Life is full."
It sure is Glenn, It sure is.

Enjoy life. OGQ