A New Year

Welcome to 2009, everyone. If ever a year was stacked to exceed expectations, this is the one, if you know what I mean. What resolutions have you made? Besides wishing for more (more miles, more bikes...) I hope you've included a measure of serendipity in your resolutions.

In 2009, I hope you encounter a new form of cycling. Is it fixed gear, commuting, 29R, restoration, humanitarian, 3rd World travel, invention? Will this be the year you build a frame or wheel? Will you try piloting a tandem for a blind friend; sell an unused bike for less than it's worth to someone deserving? The list is limitless. Cycling is just that way.

As for me, I began the season by leaving Full Speed Ahead after nearly six years. Now I can put some serious effort into Wheel Fanatyk and some other cycling projects. This is also my opportunity to become better acquainted with the NW cycling scene; so many great shops, builders, publishers, promoters, clubs, and events that I want to check out. Example: Vintage Bicycle Press, home of Jan Heine's famous "Bicycle Quarterly" and those awesome books, Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles and The Competition Bicycle.

There's also more time to wander in the great outdoors. Donna and I recently visited 2nd Beach nr. La Push, home to the Quileute Tribe. The beach has a lot of driftwood and, below, I'm leaning against a typical piece.

Wood of one sort or another has been following me around lately.

Many of you know my brother, Jon, from our infamous days with Wheelsmith in California. Currently, he's wood working in Whitefish, MT with Mark King. Mark road raced in Colorado back "in the day," including a Red Zinger with Laurence Malone of CX fame. A peek at their workshop:

Old, sharp, reliable tools.

Here is a stairway Jon built last year. He's having no problem expressing his artistic side although says he could use more wheel building, so please keep up the orders. You can definitely trust him with wood rims.