All problems are ultimately a matter of time. All the troubles, they are actually asking for trouble!
Friday, February 28, 2014
Reluctant Friends
D2R Boogie: a Miniature Non-Folder
If you are looking for a simple city bicycle on a budget, this is one of the few in the lower-priced category I actually like. The proportions and small wheels are not for everyone, but I find the overall design and ride quality appealing.
Frog sounds
Sounds from the frog pond on the neighbor's property. (Sorry I don't know how to make just a sound file.)
There are at least three types of frogs and/or toads I think, but Bullfrog is the only one I'm sure of.
The picture I accidentally made with streetlights:

A red satellite passed before the big dipper, but the current camera was not good enough to capture that.
There are at least three types of frogs and/or toads I think, but Bullfrog is the only one I'm sure of.
The picture I accidentally made with streetlights:

A red satellite passed before the big dipper, but the current camera was not good enough to capture that.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Bloodroot

All moaning and complaining makes Rurality a dull blog, so I've tried to avoid a bunch of griping about my back problems.
Instead, here's the first Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the season. Only the one green leaf just beneath the rightmost petals actually belongs to the Bloodroot. And that thick dry parchment of a bent stem belongs to something else too -- the tender Bloodroot stalk is slightly visible just below it.
Although it's obviously not much of a diagnostic photo, it's still my favorite of several I took over the weekend.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Drop Bars: What Are They For?
After initially having set the handlebars on my Sam Hillborne quite high so that I could get used to them, I have now lowered them to a more typical position. Despite having done this, I think that there was nothing objectively wrong with my initial set-up. I received lots of comments and advice in my previous Hillborne posts, and one view expressed was that if I have to raise the bars so high, then perhaps I should not be riding with drop bars. This is an idea I very much disagree with, and here is why.
What is the purpose of drop handlebars? Many believe it is "to go fast" - that is, to achieve an aggressively forward-leaning position that would allow for maximum speed. And for that purpose, it would indeed make sense that the handlebars ought to be placed as low as possible.
However, while this is one of the things drop bars can be used for, it is by no means their only function or their mandated use. An equally important feature of drop handlebars is the unparalleled variety of ergonomic hand positions they offer - which is crucial for long rides. When cycling long distance, it is not only uncomfortable, but dangerous to use handlebars with limited gripping areas that allow for only one hand position. And by "dangerous" I mean that you can cause nerve damage to your hands. Drop bars, on the other hand, offer a continuous gripping surface with 5 distinct hand positions to switch between, greatly reducing the chances of this happening.
As I have mentioned before, I already have pre-existing nerve damage in my hands, so I feel hand "discomfort" (electric-current-like sensations running through my wrists and fingers) a lot sooner than those with healthy hands. This makes me an especially good candidate for drop bars when I go on long rides.
So what do ergonomic hand positions, nerve damage and touring have to do with speed or aggressive cycling? Absolutely nothing, and that is precisely my point. I have no interest in breaking speed records. All I want, is to cycle long distances without my hands ending up in bandages again. Drop bars are perfect for that, and whether they are placed high or low is completely irrelevant - as long as I am comfortable reaching all the available hand positions. Drop bars mounted high are better for touring than no drop bars at all. Sheldon Brown and Grant Petersen agree.
The perception that drop bars must be mounted as low as possible is an aesthetic preference rooted in racing culture and informed by the male anatomy (as males have longer torsos than females). But it's time to break that connection. Drop bars are fantastic for touring and exploring, and they can make your ride extremely enjoyable if used in a way that is right for you.
However, while this is one of the things drop bars can be used for, it is by no means their only function or their mandated use. An equally important feature of drop handlebars is the unparalleled variety of ergonomic hand positions they offer - which is crucial for long rides. When cycling long distance, it is not only uncomfortable, but dangerous to use handlebars with limited gripping areas that allow for only one hand position. And by "dangerous" I mean that you can cause nerve damage to your hands. Drop bars, on the other hand, offer a continuous gripping surface with 5 distinct hand positions to switch between, greatly reducing the chances of this happening.
So what do ergonomic hand positions, nerve damage and touring have to do with speed or aggressive cycling? Absolutely nothing, and that is precisely my point. I have no interest in breaking speed records. All I want, is to cycle long distances without my hands ending up in bandages again. Drop bars are perfect for that, and whether they are placed high or low is completely irrelevant - as long as I am comfortable reaching all the available hand positions. Drop bars mounted high are better for touring than no drop bars at all. Sheldon Brown and Grant Petersen agree.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Where I Was

I purchased a postcard at the gift shop that I still have posted on the bulletin board next to my computer. It included a few words written by Ann Zwinger ". . . even in winter there is the promise of spring. . . The white of snow becomes the white of summer clouds. . . part of each season is contained in every other."
Anyone care to venture a guess as to where this picture was taken? A little hint, western United States ;-)
Update May 21, .. 11:00 a.m
Craig Manson of Geneablogie fame has correctly identified the above scene as the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, it is an amazing area. It's on my list of places to visit, again. Someday.
Some incredibly nice photographs:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/resources/photos_dunes.htm
Children's artwork inspired by the dunes:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/artwork.htm
Links to more photographs:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grsa/resources/photos.htm
There are a lot of other nice websites, just do a search for Great Sand Dunes...
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Northward Bound
Tuesday, April 19th - - After four lovely days of visiting friends in northeast Louisiana, I headed north on Sunday morning (April 17th). My goal was to get back to Indiana without traveling on Interstate Highways at all and to avoid four-lane highways as much as possible. That I have done thus far but I'm only halfway there!
I stopped at the Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth yesterday (a post is forthcoming on that visit). Last night I stayed at this beautiful State Park in Mississippi – the Natchez Trace Parkway runs through it – and got on the Parkway this morning.

My campsite alongside the lake at Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi.

The sun had been hidden by heavy clouds all day but showed itself for a few minutes late in the evening.


I just love the “green” all around. Delightful. And easy on the eyes.
I stopped at the Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth yesterday (a post is forthcoming on that visit). Last night I stayed at this beautiful State Park in Mississippi – the Natchez Trace Parkway runs through it – and got on the Parkway this morning.

My campsite alongside the lake at Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi.

The sun had been hidden by heavy clouds all day but showed itself for a few minutes late in the evening.


I just love the “green” all around. Delightful. And easy on the eyes.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Take Me to the River!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Happy Hour Queen Returns to Clermont
We've had quite a few happy hours here lately, but we had to have one more because Diane who is "the Happy Hour Queen is back. I forgot my camera so you'll have to go to Donna's blog to see the pictures.
Nathan and I are practicing for a pickleball tournament and I've noticed something. When we play against the guys, they play much harder against me this year than they did last year. I got hit twice today, and both times I was so glad because it reminds me to get my paddle up and that they aren't going easy on me so I need to stay focused and in the game.
Beyond that, we haven't been up to much because it's COLD again so I'm staying inside and doing some baking. I tried two different cookie recipes today, to see which one we like best. I asked Nathan if the first batch was better than my regular cookie recipe and he wisely answered, "It's hard to compare awesome to awesome." I'll try to remember to report the results from the other two guys who will be more honest with me.
In the meantime, here are the NY Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Nathan and I are practicing for a pickleball tournament and I've noticed something. When we play against the guys, they play much harder against me this year than they did last year. I got hit twice today, and both times I was so glad because it reminds me to get my paddle up and that they aren't going easy on me so I need to stay focused and in the game.
Beyond that, we haven't been up to much because it's COLD again so I'm staying inside and doing some baking. I tried two different cookie recipes today, to see which one we like best. I asked Nathan if the first batch was better than my regular cookie recipe and he wisely answered, "It's hard to compare awesome to awesome." I'll try to remember to report the results from the other two guys who will be more honest with me.
In the meantime, here are the NY Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Wednesday, February 12, 2014
CAMP Contest Ski Mountaineering Race Suit review
The CAMP "Contest" Ski Mountaineering Race Suit..not racing.
http://www.camp-usa.com/products/backcountry-ski/ski-mountaineering-suit-1594.asp
Yep, Lycraagain!
If nothing else, reading Cold Thistle will give you an idea thatthe envelope can be pushed on how modern high tech gear is supposed to be used and where you might find a place for some of it in your own clothing and hardware systems. Much of it can be used far outside the original design parameters.
Point in case is skimo racing gear like this CAMP suit or some of the reviews coming up in the future of long distance running gear.
Let me clear up any false impression that I might have unintentionally lefthere on CT in the past. I am not askimo racer or abike racer. I have done races in both venues. But if you are thinking I am competitive, I am not. I push hard and I race...but only against myself. I am how ever, an alpinist. Which I consider in my ownegotistical away, better than a mountaineer. Obviously I write a alpine climbing blog. So I think my opinions are worth sharing with the world ;) Your mileage may, very well, vary :)
Which brings us back to Lycra and eventually, if you have a little patience, to the CAMP skimo racing suit pictured above and other suits and clothinglike it.

Ever felt like you needed to climb in just your base layers on a hot day on the glacier?

Fact is, Lycra is better looking and given the right fabric blend and specific pattern, not a bad option on hard rock or a hot glacier.
Clearly Lycra is not the best option in clothing for ever situation in the mountains. In the recent past I have used Lycraas a base layer, a light insulation layer and a wind shell depending on what has been required and the current environment. Some times all three on the same trip.
As I mentioned in the previous post on Lycra this last week had been one of the most comfortable ski trips I have done. Temps ranged from around 25Fas the sun came upto as 80F by mid afternoon. in bright sun out of the wind. It was a wide range of temperatures. Only above 11Krequired the addition of a Patagonia Micro D pullover when I was stopped. Impressive IMO.
If you needed more in the wind a Camp Flash pull over would do morenicely enough.

Above is another versatile ski rig that is mostly Lycra with a Patagnia Piton Hoody and a Dynafit Movement pant.
Micro D is here:
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//04/patagonia-micro-d-14-zip-synchilla.html
Flash is here:
http://coldthistle.blogspot.com//02/it-is-all-same.html
For base layers under this suit I used a tech short sleeved shirt and tech briefs. Not much between you and the environment. That I painfully realised the first time I took a spill on the pavementhard snow because I hadn't brought ski crampons.
Same basic set up Brian used on his c2c speed run up the Gib Chute but in a Crazy Idea suit.
It is worth paying attention to what is being worn and why.
Check out the usual suspects (the guys out doing it) on the web. More here on skimo specific clothing:
http://slc-samurai.blogspot.com//11/backcountry-ski-clothing-systems-what.html
http://www.getstrongergolonger.com/journal//7/17/grand-teton-speed-project-update-weight-matters.html
Look closely at what they are using on their own back country missions.
So why am I about to start raving about a once piece suit?
After all, one piece suits are notorious to ventilate and control your temperature. Too hot generally by design or too cold in only Lycra because the material doesn't offer enough insulation. And then how do you ventilate and breath in a once piece suit? Hard to head the call of nature in as well.
I've used well designed one piece suits often in my climbing career to good effect. All the way back to early Goretex versions in 1977. But never in such an aerobic situation.

But never ata really high level of physical out put. Enter Lycra one piece suits fitted correctly and with the additional insulation and breathable material required. It all starts to make sense.
Stuff a bunch of food/skins/gear into a kangaroo style pocket system (as they have above or below) and you profile will look funky and fat no matter how skinny you are...or aren't. Get over it.

The one and only time (a local ski mo race) I have ever had sweat running down my forehead and snow blowing hard enough to blind me while at the same time freezing on my outer layer all at the same time, I was in Lycra. And I was comfortable. As long as I didn';t have to stop!
The Flat Bellied Stallion?
The jokes never end and the questions don't stop. Takes so confidence to wear Lycra at any age in any style. It generally isn't flattering to the human form. Unless of course your human form is what the current society norm considers attractive.
Here are twoclassic views and the casual observation.
Big gut! This guy shouldn't be in Lycra.

Big gut! This guy shouldn't be climbing in Lycra either.
Truth is I have had a big gut in the past. No reason to deny it. But for the most part, chemo and radiation during Cancer treatment eliminated it. Damn near have abs in both these pictures an no spare tire there. I had friends comment on the pictures from this winter in the Dynafit Movement pant and the Patagonia Piton Hoody. And now in the Camp Speed suit. No gut hanging out there just extra gear and fabric no matter what the first impression was. Not Gym Jones fit either. If you spend your life worrying about what people think you'll likely miss most of a well lived life.
I take my time with pictures generally. Simply to help meget my point across. But I am at least as vain as the next guy (likely more) when it comes to how I look and am perceived by others.
Belowis a picture looking down across my absfrom above, while wearingthe CAMP Contest suit. The Cliff Bar Shot Block that is sticking out is just the tip of the iceberg. I have 10 Gu packets, 4 Shot Blocks, sun screen, lip balm and my freakin camerastored in the first layer of pockets inside my suit. It may look a little funky but if you are trying to stay up on the calories and keep moving at the same time you have to work on a system to do so. Some use gel flasks. Right now I am using, and really like, the simplicity of the pocket system the Contest suit offers. You will have a "spare tire" fully loaded, butwith the end result of easy access to your fuel and other essentials while moving.
The suitis easy to use no matter what you might think of the aesthetics of sucha garment.
I know what I look like in and out of Lycra. It isn't always a fashion show. But it is always about how fast and how far can you go if you are pushing yourself and your gear.
Looking down at my boots. I can stomach a "spare tire" for the easy access.
The "junk" in a a well designedskimo suit. My Gels and Shot Blocks are in the "outside pouch" Accessed through the zipper via either the top or bottom slider. There is another layer of pockets big enough to take the smaller race skins behind this "pouch". And finally a transceiver pocket behind all of them.Four pockets total inside the suit.
There is also a separate pee zipper below all the pouch pockets.
On the outside there is a small zippered breast pocket and two huge, elastic closed chest pockets intended for short term skin storage. I used them for used Gu wrappers, gloves andmy camera on this trip. The current colors may be not all that flattering foryou physical profile but this suit reallyworks as advertised if not even better!
I set a several decade old PB using this rig on Rainier recently. You might not want to be too critical on first impressions.
More interesting to me is that not only was I never passed on the uphill (which is extremely unusual) I actually passed a lot of folks both going up and coming down. Much of that"speed"was the difference in weight of my entire kit. But it also had as much to do with how capable my clothing was on the extreme ends of both hot and cold.
If it makes thatbig difference for me...you can only imagine the difference it might make for you. I write a blog but I am no fitness animal in the mtns. Far from it. When I can easily drop anyone else on the trail I am more than happy.
I had one goal using this suit. And that wasto climb with the least amount of effort. If I can turn Rainier into a half day's effort you likely can do even more with similar gear.
No hood on this suit. Which I can't really applaud for the application but like much better than with a hood. Even though no question I would want and use a hood if the conditions required it. I am admittedly not a skimo "racer" although I like being part of them. For me the majority of the time a hood isn't required or needed. So I am glad to see a finished product covered without the hood.
The stand-up collar is my favorite.
The collar is a high stand up version with plenty of coverage on the neck. My actual preference over a hood. Easy enough to add a thicker head band or hat. Short of really nasty weather my preference to dump excess heat is through my head and neck first.
Speaking of dumping heat. Both the under arms, which features tiny holes in the fabric.
under arm vents
And the back panel, via a mess panel are there to dump excess heat on the uphill and work exceptionally well imo.
The entire black backpanel is open weave nylon mess. Directly under your pack which really helps me control my body temperature on the uphill. And easily protected with even a light wind shell or my favorite Patagonia Micro D pull over.
Funny how the good clothing works so easily in a "systems" approach over a broad spectrum of conditions and clothing choices. The Micro D or a simple base layer is one of the basics for me skiing, especially on the down side of the ski track.
As you can see from the length of this blog post there is a lot involved in the features of these race suits. And for the asking price of $400 per suit there should be. But I originally thought $1000 was a lot of money for a TLT boot and now I think the price is a steal for the weight and performance involved. Same on a "race" suit. Like the TLT P the suit is another piece of highly technical gear I will use almost anywhere in the mountain now if a ski boot is involved and I want to eat right on the effort.
Finally. One of the things that make or break a pair of pants for me BC and touring is the cuff. Movement pant and the Dynafit buckle system is a serious PIA to me. I like simple. Simple because I want the boot easy to get at and easy to adjust. But I also don't want snow in my boot. All of which is a problem for a TLT user. Or at least in my experience it is. For races to date I've used simple tights. Easier to hit the top buckle latch and not deal with Velcro/ cutting holes in one's pants and what to do with the buckles when open. The Movement pant is decent. But not fast to hit the hole in the pant leg and a true bitch to get on and off.No my favorite thing to use when in a hurry. So I have used several simple soft shells. Notably the Arcteryx Gamma LT pant as well.
CAMP suit is simply brilliant on those lines. The buckle slips in and out via a open and reinforced seam. It is the very best method I have seen yet to utilise the TLT buckle system. I was forced to put one small hole forthe cuff buckle latch to go through and lock the boot in down hill mode.. If I am not in a hurry, easy enough to use and latch/unlatchin the field. Durable and a slick system to keep snow and crap out of your boots with the boots wide open in walk mode.
Simple round hole I put in with a wood burner. Lycra is reinforced at the point and a soldering iron seems an obvious tool for the choice.
CAMP isn't the only one making race suits. Or the least expensive. I've not used any thing else for asimilar purpose other than the two piece Dynafit system they made for the recreational racer in previous winters. TheDynafit Movement pants and jacketsare really good imo. I use them both.
But the once piece suits are a big step up in performance. There is a reason they call them "race" suits. But the label doesn't mean they are only good on race day,


Dynafit Movement Pant and jacket


The CAMP Contest Race Suit
CONTEST SKI MOUNTAINEERING RACE SUIT
• Competitive Ski Mountaineering
• Constructed from durable, lightweight Lycra and mesh panels
• Double layers on the knees for warmth and durability
• Dedicated external pockets for fast access to skins and gels
• Internal pocket for avalanche transceiver
• Kevlar reinforced cuffs with reinforced elastic stirrups
• Dedicated slots for back boot buckles are compatible with all boot models
• Full chest zipper for temperature regulation and quick-zip for emergency evacuations
Holy smokes Batman! The new Contest ski mountaineering suit is optimized for competitive ski mountaineering like super suits are designed to combat villains and protect the victors. Lycra construction is lightweight and breathable and the mesh backing helps with temperature regulation even during the fastest competitions. Every detail has been tended to with dedicated skin pockets on the chest positioned at an angle that makes getting skins in and out fluid and natural, a dedicated external pocket for gels, an internal pocket for a transceiver, full-length chest zipper, stirrups, and back cuff slots designed to be compatible with all boot models. Suits like the Contest have become so perfectly optimized that many racers now wear their suits as a base layer even on casual back country days.
SPECS
ID: 1519
Sizes: S - M - L - XL
Weight (M): 480 g, oz
$399.95 USD
More here on the skimo race suits I do know a little about.
http://skitrab.com/en-no/c-22-clothing/49-dragon-track-suit-man.html
http://www.crazyidea.it/index.php/products/catalogo/undefined/undefined/race/page:4
http://www.dynafit.com/product/first-layer/dy-speed-up-race-suit-l
Bottom line? If you really want to preform better in the mountains, this is speed you can buy. People need to simply get over their aversion to Lycra based sportswear. Lycra isn't a right, it is a privilege to wear. But the privilege is not for the typical reasons most consider before sliding Lycra on or avoiding it in the store. It is a privilege to be able to go fast, safelyin the mountains. Any gear that helps you do that is a very good gear.
I have to remind myself of that fact as well, every time I pull my Lycraout of the gear room.
The use might be skiing, or a run, a Tri or a bike ride. Either way using Lycra is always worth the extra effort.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
O Joshua Tree! O Joshua Tree!
The Joshua Tree isn't really a tree at all, rather, it is a giant yucca plant. The trunk of a Joshua Tree consists of thousands of small fibers and it lacks annual growth rings, making it difficult to determine it's age. New seedlings can grow up to 3 inches per year in their first ten years. After that they grow only 1 1/2 inches per year.
According to park literature, the Joshua tree was so named by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.
I was told by a Ranger, that each of the “arms” or the branches of a Joshua Tree was the result of it blooming and flowering. Each bloom creates another branch. The trees bloom in the spring, though they don't all bloom every year. In fact there were some Joshua Trees that were six to eight feet tall without any branches! And then there were other trees with an overabundance of blooms. After flowering, the blossoms drop off, leaving a length of dried stalk. New leaves grow beneath this dead portion, and a new branch begins its growth in another direction. The numerous shapes and sizes of the trees is fascinating.
This was one of the largest Joshua Trees that I saw in the park, perhaps 35 feet high. I don't know what caused it to lose the limb hanging down on the ground but it was somewhat recent damage.
It wasn't the first damage this tree sustained. On the side opposite of the new downed limb was a gaping hole from a loss in the distant past.
It also had one of the most complex branching systems that I saw. It must be very old and is still blooming!
The “furry” nature of the branches helps it to grab and retain moisture from the air.
New branches will grow from the remnants of the flower stalk.
One of the blooms of the Joshua Tree.
And another.
According to park literature, the Joshua tree was so named by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.
I was told by a Ranger, that each of the “arms” or the branches of a Joshua Tree was the result of it blooming and flowering. Each bloom creates another branch. The trees bloom in the spring, though they don't all bloom every year. In fact there were some Joshua Trees that were six to eight feet tall without any branches! And then there were other trees with an overabundance of blooms. After flowering, the blossoms drop off, leaving a length of dried stalk. New leaves grow beneath this dead portion, and a new branch begins its growth in another direction. The numerous shapes and sizes of the trees is fascinating.







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