Kyle

Butcher

2011-02-03T21:59:00.006-05:00

I took my Uncle Steven's old brooks and chopped it. It's really hard and needs conditioning. I'll get it there. It get's a place on my new commuter bike.

Wasted Time?

2010-10-20T09:11:00.002-04:00

It seems my mornings are either filled with hanging around the living room watching the clock, or me trying to get too many things done before it's time to go to work. It just depends on the day. Some days work is at 10am, others 12noon.

This morning:
6am Wake up, back to sleep right away
8:22am Out of bed
Breakfast on the couch
Make tea
Bathroom
Drink tea
9:05 Start boiling eggs
9:15 Start wring blog post

9:30 - Should be leaving for work and I'll be scrambling to peel eggs and make lunch for the day, and still have dirty dishes in the sink.

Megan I really good about talking to me about these situations. She'll say things like "maybe you could get up the same time as me and go riding before work?" It really sounds nice! It's had for me to always have that motivation when I know I'd be riding by myself.

Sunday we rode bikes and had a picnic lunch. Meg seamed to like riding. We rode on a dirt road that ran along side the trails. Time will tell if Meg will enjoy mountain biking. She's got the potential and it looks like it could be a good "distraction" from grad school / QT spouse time.

Less talking...More egg peeling. Time is short.

Dealing.

2010-10-06T18:18:00.004-04:00

We've been living in Williamsburg for a little over two months and I can really say that things are going according to plan because we (or I), don't have a plan. Before the move my friend at work told me that moving was 3rd most stressful life change. According to some list online. I'm not sure how it stacks up to other people's experiences but, it was pretty high on my list. Quitting my job, renting our house out, packing, actually moving shit. Our families were a big help. It makes me want to be there a little more next time my friends need help with something like this.

Getting used to a completely different job and hours is harder then I thought. A shift like 10-7 is kinda hard because it doesn't give a lot of time before work or after work to do much. I'll have a weekday off most weeks and I've been riding then. Today I didn't work. I rode for about an hour and a half by myself this afternoon. Not what I'm used to, I'd much rather ride with anybody. Work hours make it tough to make it to group rides or find people to ride with.

I violated one of my own pet peeves...riding trails with an iPod. I felt bad while I was making the playlist but, things were seeming to come together despite my tiredness. Usually I make a playlist thats inspiring, uplifting, rocking, even times I build it so it starts slow and the pace and feel build over each song, today was a bit different. I went with my tired, "I can feel the winter depression coming soon" mood... Spaceman 3, Heartless Bastards, Feist, Likke Li. Some photos earlier in the day had me thinking about my Dad and I put in some songs that remind me of him, Led Zeppelin, Elvis Costello, (early) Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters? A lot of early grunge/alternative reminds my of Dad. I figure it's because the when I started to explore music for myself and start going to shows it was before I had a drivers license. Dad's a great dad, he did most of the taxiing and driving in those days. Which (weather we realized it or not) lead to bonding over music. Me finding the new rock stations and bringing in CDs and he making the comparisons to music that was in his vocabulary.

We'll see if the iPod catches on as a solo ride companion, and hope the guilt and danger of riding with headphones doesn't follow.

Todays playlist:

✓ Less Than Zero- Elvis Costello
✓ I Feel It All - Feist
✓ This Is a Call - Foo Fighters
✓ The Mountain - Heartless Bastards
✓ Stop - Jane's Addiction
✓ Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
✓ Possibility - Lykke Li
✓ The World At Large - Modest Mouse
✓ Sun, Moon, Stars - Mos Def
✓ Just To See You Smile [Instrumental] - Spacemen 3
✓ Timorous Me - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
✓ Misunderstood - Wilco
✓ Tom Courtenay - Yo La Tengo
✓ Good Night - Al Be Back, Kanye West & Mos Def

Getting rest on the clock

2009-10-13T16:21:00.001-04:00

Blue Moon Diner Pancakes

2009-06-25T14:31:00.002-04:00

the latest in pancakes that Ike ordered. from the Blue Moon.
More to follow...

Found this

2009-06-25T14:29:00.001-04:00

This is what I found when I jetted to the back of a gas station building having to pee. Very startling.

.Kyle.

God Damn...

2009-05-19T23:17:00.001-04:00

...this blog

Dust like Us

2009-02-16T09:35:00.004-05:00

This project has been in the planning stages for almost 2 years. i'm just getting around to is this winter. we assume that there was a coat closet right by the front door that the previous owner had taken to door off of, tiled the floor and made it a "nook." to Meg and i it just seemed like pest of a wall.

This dust is killing us from the inside.

Although i forgot to take "before" photos, this is a "during" photo of where the wall was. the concrete floor had tile on it. i'll be continuing the wood floor there now.
the outside spigot was a mystery for a while. it was leaking only when the water was on. and just inside the house. none outside. i replaced it. not leaking now.

this is the "before" of the half wall. i took it down 14 inches. you can see if you look at the first photo of this post. Bruce is cutting a slab of Blue Stone to cap it.

Come into form

2008-12-17T22:29:00.002-05:00

while changing tires today i was reminded of my anticipation for joining the IF Racing Team in 2009. i hope i never have to see the yellow during a race, but the green will do just fine.

Race Day Follies

2008-11-29T19:54:00.003-05:00

I've been catching up on some late season race news. i noticed that JB's been using the Simple Strap a bunch. he mentioned something about a custom "Rocktown" run of the straps. i'll look into it. thanks to friends who are using the Simple Strap, it means a lot.

JB wins Iceman. and way to go with UCI cross points!

JB JB JB ICEMAN

Watch this

2008-11-21T15:51:00.000-05:00

To Death

2008-10-23T09:56:00.003-04:00

Wow. this blog has been burning a hole in my computer for a while now. just like the I9 29er wheels i bought two days ago. it's that dumbest game i play with myself, i buy one piece of equipment, know that in the FUTURE i'll have a bike that will require it. but, what really happens is that i end up giving in all to soon and i build a bike around whatever it was i bought first.

fall riding:: can't wait
29er:: can't wait
Blue ridge cup final:: can't wait
Paranormal:: just about here

looks like Cville holds the right to host the Blue Ridge Cup final. lots of talk about how the first Cville race was more of a MTB race. now's our chance to beat em at their own game and pull together a proper cross course. Foof in your Face!

carry me to the...

2008-07-10T08:45:00.002-04:00

ahhhh....pegs!!

who could resist asking for a ride when one of your friends has a ride like this? i know that everyone has (recently) seriously considered riding on your firend's handlebars or that "i'll sit on the seat, and you stand up and pedal" thing. But when you know folk who hook it up with a sweet set of pegs, you can piggy back in style and comfort!

and check out that rockin' basket up front!

-kyle

Circ for real

2008-07-01T09:45:00.005-04:00

the "official" RTF circumnavigation ride happened this past weekend. after some trail work, and a little getting lost, we made it.

we found ourselves off the bike quite a bit. whatever... there were about 15 of us. it was so awesome to look back behind you and see a (what seemed to be) never ending line of riders behind you. sure it made for slow creek crossings, and a lot of stopping, but the RIDE is what is all about.

seeming to become just as much a tradition is...the stop at Bodos. this year Bodos was a bit closer to the end of the ride. but it's the perfect egg stop. hanging out under the trees wishing we had a tub full of Tecnu, it was amazing.
countless hikers, dogs, runners, down trees, and one bum on a drunk bike with a disassembled derailleur who was "going to get me a cold one."

perfect ride.

post ride BBQ hosted by James and Johanna, hit the spot. so did the cold one.

IF make

2008-06-24T11:07:00.009-04:00

headed up to Boston to see me brother to college orientation. i stopped in at the IF shop to meet some folk and see where the pieces parts get put together.

Joe shows a Ti frame welding jig that pumps argon gas in to the frame to push out all the oxygen, to prevent ti welds from failing. somewhere behind the jig was a HUGE container of liquid argon gas that looked like something out of Die Hard. well...you could say that about most of the things around that shop.

...like this ream machine

we wandered our way through many sections of hanging frames. many with SS couplers and Phil Wood eccentric BBs. there was a good mix of Ti and Steel, and some of the new 953 steel. which was super high demand. Joe says that all the 953 they have in stock is already spoken for and other 953 frames are on "back order"

this is Tyler (i think) and his super light lugged fork made from chain stays. for yet another bike he is building for himself. the fork is awesome! he was super excited about how light it was..he was trying to hand it to me as it was still hot. i was really light.

i can't remember whos project this was but...the trike is amazing! Ti frame with a chopped up brooks, and Phil hubs. Joe was saying something about the handlebars not working correctly. i think he said that the problem was user induced.

my favorite bike in the place was this 10th anniversary commuter. sweet paint job, nice rack, nice seat and bars. this is the IF coffee bike, and i'm so jealous.

thank you Joe, for showing me around and being so hospitable. everyone i met at IF was super cool, no ego, no awkward "this is the first time i'm meeting you and i know more about bikes then you" attitudes. i'll hangout longer next time. guaranteed.

-kyle

Circ

2008-06-17T09:14:00.004-04:00

i live near an entrance trail to the Rivanna Trail. i was feeling kinda ho hum the other day and decided to hop on the trail and bail when i felt like it. i got around the trail and back to my place without realizing that i thought i would bail before that.
storms made the ride a bit hard. lots of down trees, washed out ruts. the overgrowth is a little overwhelming in a few areas, but manageable. i love this trail because where ever you are, you're always a few steps away from town, or a friends house.

i discovered, what seems to be, cyclocross heaven. just off the Monticello trail there are "farm trails" which is land that has been donated by a couple. and it's basically several open fields connected by either mowed "trails", gravel roads, or mulch layed road. it's a big cross riding/training mecca.

oh...and the secret decent is amazing.

Long way 'round

2008-06-08T18:35:00.003-04:00

god! i rode about 20 miles on the rode today. spitting blood, feeling hung over. WTF! there was no crash, no drinking the night before. the heat was a slammin' 95+.

on another tip: racing is going well. i'm just starting to get acclimated to a training schedule and learn about how i can't race every race like it was the last. i wish i had Thor Hushovd's jersey!! that Norwegian flag collar is sweet! (i'm watching a TT right now). anyway......i've had a few good races so far and a few bad ones.

this one was the biggest mud fest ever.
wow Thor Hushovd just crushed it!

i'ma keep ridin' and i'am plan to do the 100 this year.

dinner time.

-k

rack, RACK....

2008-02-27T12:00:00.002-05:00

Torey, Torey, Torey....

riding that Ridge is a blast. Present was: Fenton, Johanna, Kevin, Dave, Me.

a few falls, one BAD fall left me linping for a few days. a bunch of big rolling rocks left my down tube scared.
Switchbacks: made it further than ever(almost there), and faster than...well...not that fast.

the parking smelled like rotting death but, at least i found a new rug for my living room.
Thanks Guys!

if you know how

2008-02-13T10:05:00.002-05:00

girl and i hit the snow on skiis. i seamed to almost be "ridable" there was so much mud.

Snowboarders--stand up!

can't belive they close the dimond trails @ 4:15. i did get to see a poor 11 year old throw-up something pink a few time in the lift line. man, he had zero expression on his face. like he was channeling Stone Wall Jackson.

veiw from the top was top notch! i mean, who would i be if i didn't take it in? that high over the world.... view 50 miles out. nothin' wrong there.

wish you were here.

love,
kyle

spell check not working today

one for the...

2008-01-22T17:21:00.000-05:00

wawaaaa......

started off alright, just a but slow in the morning. the crud set in around 11am. for now it's just Die Hard, and lollypops on the couch.
see you on the other side

The Fall

2007-11-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

I hit Sherando with James and Johanna on Saturday. all that off camber shit is awesome but scary with the wet Fall leaves. when we got to the top of the switch backs there was a bit of snow on the ground, which made me a little excited. from there we could see Torey Ridge an Jo showed me what to expect. after riding half of the ridge we dipped down Slacks, AMAZING! i can see why it's James' and Jo's favorite.
all those leaves were killer. riding in the Fall is one of the best. riding is the best.

i'm gonna make those switchbacks, i will.
first time out there. it was awesome! thanks guys!

-kyle

New Friend

2007-11-04T16:05:00.000-05:00

since i wanted to hit the trails with some good friends, i opted for the, "all the rage" ergo grips, because of the messed up thumb. i was skeptical at first but, they did what i wanted them to do (make it not hurt my hand, holding on). in all honesty, i liked 'em. still able to rip downhill, hop, and fall going uphill. i'll give 'em a while and see what happens.
-kyle

the ride and my friends are fun.

To race, or Too race?

2007-11-02T15:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Racing,
we've been together since March, and it's been real. you've made me sweat, you've made me hurt, you've made me fast, and you've made me tired. although our relationship is very strong and meaningful, i'm feeling closed in. i'm not a man with many needs, and what needs i do have you do a great job of meeting. but...there are some that you'll never understand. i value the lessons i've learned recently and am thankful for them. you can never be replaced. i have something to tell you; you're not the only love in my life. i also love Riding, just plan Riding.
so, you're going to have to deal with it. i'll be shearing my fun between the both of you. have no fear, we will never be torn apart, i just need some space.

love always
-kyle

The Big Stink

2007-10-25T19:52:00.000-04:00

One year has gone by and the day to eat the year old cake was upon us. we set it out to defrost. then we had a killer dinner and wine at C&O. the duck is killer! went to see Superbad (AMAZING!). we got home, open that brown paper box and smelled the year old, moist, rotting roses on the cake. it took a lot of convinsing ourselves to eat it. so, Meg stepped up to remove to shit smelling flowers, then we ate...

with love,
kyle

IX IX IX

2007-10-25T19:40:00.000-04:00

this race was one of the best. check it.

the sand was tough and deep, yet mangable

Stu wasn't so lucky

Ben was there.

so was Jonny. and it shows

more after this weekend.
-kyle

Cross Season

2007-10-25T14:07:00.001-04:00

here's cross season. two races each weekend is taking a shit ton out of me. all the races, so far have been like grass crits, except for the C'ville IX race. the races seem less technical. it's been so dry and fast, the rodies are owning that shit.

it's been real in the B race but, this weekend it's the A race that holds my heart.

Open Season

2007-10-25T13:44:00.001-04:00

...here goes nothin'