Got a Machine Shop

Wahoo! I'm dialed in on a machine shop I can use that's only 10 minutes from my place. I also ordered the mittering system from Anvil. It won't be long now....

Placing Equipment Orders

I ordered up my TiG welder today. It should be here in a week or so. I also finalized a deal on a frame jig today (thank you Sycip). But I lost out on my E-Bay bidding. That's alright, I think it would have tapped my cash reserves to get a big machine right now. I'll be calling in a favor or two for usage of some friends mills to cut tubing on.

Damn I hope the weather is better tomorrow. I'm so glad I didn't have to ride today.

Another Day in the Saddle

I lucked out again today for weather, it was still cold out but we stayed dry. If only this weather would hold until the spring. I know it won't and I'm going to end up riding for hours in the cold rain. For some reason I don't mind racing in shit weather but I hate training in it.

I started of in a group of 20 or so riders but it soon became apparent that the rest in the group were content rolling along at 14mph. Now I'm all for base miles at an easy pace but come on, I was falling asleep on the bike. So Omer and I went off on our own and finished with a solid 3 hours in. It's good to have Omer around this year as I can always count on him to be on the rides, even in the shittiest weather. I'll be able to hang with him until both our programs become more specific but in the mean time we get to rap about bikes, business and life as the miles roll by.

Ahhh, That's Better

It's amazing what a day can do for your attitude. My registration conformation came in the mail today for my ti class in June. My Chris King dealer agreement came in the mail also. I was able to place a bid on a choice milling machine on E-bay. I got my beta riders threir sizing worksheets. And I got out for a 4 hour ride. With all that happening in one afternoon everything takes a step forward. Just when I was about to lose hope.

Another Wasted Day

It seems like I've wasted another day in my qwest to get my frame shop up and running. I can't find a used machine tool to buy. Frame fixture are in short supply. I can't get anyone in the bike industry to call me back. Hello, I have thousands of dollars I want to give you for your crappy ass over priced fixtures. It doesn't seem to matter. They must be doing so well that they don't need my business. I need to vertically integrate, too bad I don't ave an extra $100K in the bank to do so.

I must be going stir crazy. I haven't been on the bike for 5 days. That's all about to end because I'm riding tomorrow even if it's 35 degrees, raining and a 30mph wind.

Here it goes....

Alright. I'm going to attempt this new fangled 'blogging' It might be kinda nice to have a place to vent some frustrations or celebrate some successes over the next few months. That is if anyone is going to read it.

I'm sitting here with a mound of work to do to get my garage set up as a full on machine shop, my roof is still leaking (even after having the pros come out 3 times now), I'm getting over a cold, I'm stuffed to the gills with food that I know better than to eat and my fat cat's whinning at me to feed him. But, being that it's Thanksgiving, I should say this, I'm one of the luckyist guys in the world. From the loving wife I have to the opportunities I have for the future, I have a lot to be thankful for.