Beans In A Jar, Pflugerville Skatepark, & An Afternoon Ride in North Houston

While I was on tour with my band back in June, I made a quick list of roasters in the areas where I was touring so I could pick up a bag or two during my travels.

One of the roasters that I noted was Combs' Coffee near Denton, TX.  Many reviewers noted that Combs' place was like a coffee temple... so yeah, I had to go check it out!

My girlfriend found this coffee "jarringly" great!

When you first arrive at Combs' place - it's not a regular coffee shop. Rather, it's nestled in a small enclave of small but modern warehouses.  When you walk in, there's a wall of mason jars filled with roasted coffee beans from around the globe. When I say "around the globe", I'm not only talking about the usual suspects, but also places such as China, Thailand, Bali, and Nepal.  

And then, when you walk past the small room filled with jars of beans, it's only THEN that you see the coffee shop and finally meet the man behind the brand, James Combs.

From my conversations James Combs, he shared that he is close pals with Weihong Zhang of Blendin Coffee Club (Houston) and they will occasionally work together to buy super high quality beans and split up the prize for their respective shops.  Both of them are Q Arabica Graders - which I had never heard of until I met James. The best way to put it, a Q Grader is the wine sommelier equivalent to the coffee industry.

After spending a lot of time talking about coffee with James, I picked up two jars to take back to Houston. Today, I'm reviewing the Nicaraguan Fincas Mierish bean from the Comayagua region.  BTW - check out the Fincas Mierish link for some fantastic details about their farms and beans.

About the coffee: this is a wonderfully rich coffee. I know I tend to lust after the Central African beans but this batch from Nicaragua is exceptional and worth enjoying.  I noticed a beautifully sweet start with this coffee.  Have you ever had a great "coffee flavored" ice cream or coffee-infused beer?  That's what I tasted when I first took a dive into this brew. It's the taste of what coffee SHOULD taste like. I could see adding a bit of oat milk or a lightly sweet cream to this coffee, but it's so rewarding right out of the pot. I also imagine this would make for a fantastic cold-brew - but it may not be acidic enough for those who like a super strong cold-brew.

Note that when you order from Combs' - your coffee will be shipped in a regular bag, not in the quart-sized mason jar packaging you find at his shop.

Moving on from coffee, let's check out two skateparks I found in Pflugerville, Texas last month!

Pflugerville is north by northeast of Austin, TX.  Super cute city that has monetarily benefitted from the rapid growth in Austin, but I'm not sure the locals appreciate the higher home prices and rapid growth from the Austinites moving into their community. Nonetheless, the city is home to one of the BEST skateparks in the State: the appropriately named Pflugerville Skatepark.

At 41,400 square feet, this park is beautifully laid out, clean, plenty of safe parking, super smooth transitions, and perfectly maintained.  The photo I took does NOT do the park justice, so check out what others have posted. I was legit bummed out that it was so damn hot (over 100 F) and that I could only skate for about an hour before heat exhaustion kicked in. If I lived near this skatepark, I would be here as often as possible.  It's so well laid out and beautiful.  I love the two large seperated pools too.

There was a second Pflugerville skatepark (more like a pocket skatepark) that I skated while my girlfriend checked out a connecting trail.

It's called the "Skate Spot" and the connecting trail that links to it is called Bohl's Loop.  The trail is 7 miles long, but the Skate Spot is basically a ramp and a taco with picnic seating nearby. Yeah, it's tiny! On the plus side, it's shaded by the surrounding trees and if you decide to walk / run on Bohl's Loop like Pat did, then you're in luck as the trail is pretty great. 

And now... lemme talk to you about the bike ride I completed in the north Houston area last week.

The Spring Creek Greenway has been a favorite of mine ever since I started seriously riding bikes again in 2020.  This ~ 30 mile trail is a treasure!  Many parts are shaded, includes clearly marked trail markers, nearly 100% is paved, and (when there's not a drought) the meandering creek is a bonus zen experience.

I added ~ 12 miles to my ride by exploring the western side of the trail.  It was interesting to note that much the western portion was not on Google maps. Also, the western portion (noted as "ExxonMobile CityPlace") does not directly link with the rest of the Spring Creek Greenway. Kind of dumb and also kind of dangerous if you're trying to ride the entire route because you have to get onto the parkway and the highway feeder to get to the rest of the trail.

However, this is only a very small section of somewhat risky bike riding... 99% of the rest of the trails are absolutely beautiful. Sometimes, too beautiful. I remember thinking to myself how the beauty of my surroundings were becoming monotonous. When I first dove into the trail, I was stopping often to take photos of the trees, flowers, bugs... but then, it because the same thing over and over again... for miles.  

I had to stop and remind myself that this "monotonous beauty" was exactly what my soul needed.  This is exactly why I'm here!

When I ride on long stretches of road (such as the Hotter'N Hell ride last month) I remember feeling bored... numb... to the cycling experience. Was I so used to being constantly stimulated by technology and my surroundings that a peaceful bike ride - albeit a scorching hot one - was "just not enough"?

When that thought crossed my mind again, I physically stopped, made myself sit down on a bench to drink some water, and told myself to disengage, relax, and appreciate that I am here.

I found that once I let my mind clear itself, I could enjoy the ride more: the humming sound of the tyres against the ground, the steady cadence of my pedaling, the sound of my breathing, and the smells of my surroundings.

It wasn't all peace and love though. After I had made it to the end and was working my way back to my starting point, I found feel a cool breeze on my face.  The smell of rain was in the air and I was two hours away from my starting point!

Lucky for me, it did not rain on the trail area. However, I was pedaling furiously so I could get to a covered area just in case the rain hit.  That hard sprint was for about 30 minutes and THAT seriously drained my energy.

Still, it was a beautiful journey and I relax significantly after I realized the rain wasn't going to hit. The relaxed pace at the end didn't do anything for my average speed / timing... but this was not a race. It was a day off from everything, which means more that the numbers could report.

But Did You Die?

No, I didn't die... but I did feel disappointment for not completing 100 miles like I had planned.  Nonetheless, 89 miles* in 100+ degree heat is an accomplishment that I had (up until now) only dared to consider.

The Hotter'n Hell 100 bike ride was a ride that I had my sights on for a while as it seemed like such a ludicrous proposition that only true pros would dare to enter (and finish).  Over the last few months - I focused on doing up to 60 squats daily, regularly using 10 to 12 pound free weights for my biceps, and practice rides in the mornings and early afternoons during June, July, and August.

Even though I had a pretty nasty wreck 10 days BEFORE the ride, I recovered quickly and stayed on course with my exercises to ultimately compete.  The main reason why I didn't get to do the full 100 miles was that the temperature that day got above 107 degrees (F) and the ride organizers made the call to close off the 100 mile course and let riders complete the 100 KM course instead.  The news often cited the "wet-bulb" temperatures as the reason for closing off the 100 mile course earlier.

I didn't realize the 100 mile course was closed off until well after the 50 mile mark... so I was kinda bummed when I found out I wouldn't be able to reach my goal... but hey, at least I endeavored to try!

Should I try again next year?! 

* 77 miles on the official course and an additional 12 miles on the Wichita River Trail (also highly recommended)

You Didn't Have To Do That (But You Did)

Please, let me explain.

When I purchased the Fuji Sportif bicycle, I justified the (relatively) higher price tag by focusing on buying a bike with better quality stock parts rather than buying a less expensive bike and spending a lot on upgrades.  I did this with the State bicycle and - truth be told - it was fun exploring the world of bike parts.  Some items were truly upgrades to the stock State set up... while others were just "upgrades" with no discernable impact on performance [I'm looking at you ceramic bearings. Reader, please scroll down to the "The big question: durability or speed?" section of that link].

The Fuji Sportif has quite a bit of quality built into it, so the only real change I needed was to replace the stock pedals as I prefer regular flat pedals over the stirrup and clip on styles.

So, fast forward a few months and here I am holding two coupons for bike parts that are just burning a hole in my pocket!  I won both of these coupons from bike gatherings in Houston and I just held on to them since I didn't have any strong need to replace anything on the State or the Fuji.

However, after a particularly long ride on the Fuji, I felt like the saddle just wasn't cutting it and I wanted to switch to something else.  I looked at buying a Brooks saddle (I've used their B17 in the past and loved it) but I already had a WTB Volt saddle that I had installed on my State bike a few years ago.

The WTB Volt has been my only saddle for the past three years and, it was what I had used when I rode in both MS150 rides.  So, I knew it was a comfortable and solid piece of kit.  And since I was going to change out the seat.... what else can I change up???

Enter the Thomson Elite seat post.

I have the Thomson "Masterpiece Seatpost" on my State bike because I needed a setback post and I got sucked into the hype around Thomson's build quality.

I could have gone with a less expensive setback post but the price difference between a basic one and the Thomson was not significant (like it was less than $50 difference).

And it worked well.  The positioning of my saddle was more in line with my body, so it was more comfortable to ride the State.

The Fuji has no such issue.  It was comfy right away except (after a few rides) for the Oval Concepts 344 saddle.

Coffee & Bikes held an alleycat race back in January and while I didn't place 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc... I did win a Thomson coupon for $122 during the post-race raffle.  Huzzah!  When I looked up the post I would want for the Fuji - the total cost for the Elite Seatpost at 27.2mm, 250mm length, straight bar was....... $122.

The stock Fuji seatpost is an Oval Concepts 300, alloy, 27.2mm.

The Thomson is interesting in that it's thicker in the front and back of the tube (see photo), which I assume is for strength purposes.  It also has this interesting ring pattern on the exterior - you can kind of see it in the top photo.

Next - I had a coupon for $50 from an area bike shop that I won in a raffle at another bike event back in February.  I was planning to use the coupon for maintenance / service... but I kept forgetting to bring it!

One afternoon, out of curiosity, I decided to take apart the jockey wheels (pulley wheels) from the rear derailleur just to see how they worked.  Turns out, the stock jockey wheels are a bushing style, not bearings.  Here's an interesting article about bearings v. bushings for the rear derailleur!  Not really needing to change them out, I was tempted to try out bearings style jockey wheels. Aaaaand, since I had the $50 coupon - decided that I would try out a set of FSA ceramic derailleur pulleys.  My total cost after the coupon: $8.  Bonus, they're red!

I installed both of these items on my bike and went out last Sunday morning for a 43 mile ride.  My assessment on these changes:

Thomson Seat Post: no difference between the stock post and the Thomson.  

FSA ceramic bearing jockey wheels: no difference. The jockey wheels made a soothing clickity-clickity sound as the chain went over them... but I didn't notice a difference in the resistance with pedaling.

WTB Volt saddle: major difference!  Of course, this would be expected.  This saddle is much more comfy that the stock saddle as it has a little extra cushioning.  And since I don't use padded bike shorts, that extra cushion on the saddle helps make longer rides more bearable.

So what did I learn: focus on enjoying what you have and don't worry about what could make it better as it's already the best it needs to be.

Another Porch Culture Coffee + bike updates

Blended coffee (coffees with a mixture of beans) are not my go-to roast and readers have noticed that I tend to drink single origin coffees.

I've become something of a purist when it comes to food stuff as I tend to buy items with ingredients I can (mostly) identify and/or not processed.

With blended coffees, I want to savor the source beans as they are presented. I acknowledge that a good mélange of beans can result in something special, but I'm currently going through a puritanical phase when it comes to coffee.

Today's post is a great example of why I don't like blends because this bag of beans is quite special.

I was given a bag of Porch Culture's Finca La Amada Yellow Honey Microlot from a friend who was traveling in the north Texas area.  And since I have reviewed a couple of excellent bags of beans by Porch Culture in previous posts (here and here) - I was keen to try out this new batch.

After my first cup, I made the following notes:

Man, what's going on here?!  This coffee does a lot at once: sweet, bitter, then sweet.  I'm tasting dark, ripe cherries in the front.... then something with spice, like... black tea or bourbon?  And then... I'm tasting honeycomb.  What is this magical elixir?

If I sound pleasantly confused, it's because I am!  There's a lot to take in with this coffee which is why I wouldn't want to have it mixed with anything else.  

This coffee makes an excellent morning brew with its sweet / baking-spices notes.  I certainly wouldn't add anything to the cup as these flavor profiles should be enjoyed straight up.  

Here's a link to more details about the farm and the processing.  This coffee is another outstanding offering from Porch Culture - I recommend picking up a bag of La Amada Yellow Honey Microlot from either Porch Culture or your favorite local roaster.

Bike Stuff

This past weekend, I rode about 30+ miles in the Clear Lake (Texas) area.  I had to start around 7:30 in the morning due to the heatwave but also, I wanted to avoid vehicle traffic as much as possible since part of my planned route would involve major roads.

I had made a few small adjustments to my rear derailleur and even took out the jockey wheels to clean and... well... just to check them out. Turns out they are non-branded, barrel-style jockey wheels (no bearings).  I also adjusted my saddle (Oval Concepts 344) a bit before hitting the road.

Here's the video I watched to adjust my derailleur as I was experiencing exactly what this guy talked about with the chain jumping back and forth on the rear cogs.

After completing my ride, I decided the Oval Concepts saddle has got to go.  It just wasn't comfortable after a while as I kept having to adjust my seating position to get comfortable.  My State bike has a WTB Volt saddle that I have used for over two years - including two MS150 rides.  It's a saddle I don't think about, which is exactly how it should be!

Next update: I'm replacing the jockey wheels on the derailleur with a set of bearing-style wheels and I'm taking the seat from the State to test out on the Fuji.  I have been considering a Brooks C17, but since I have the WTB (and I know I like it) I'm going to go with what I have before spending $130 on a saddle.

[EDIT: I adjusted the saddle a little more, so I'm going to give it one more try]

Let's Ride, Kemosabe!

I haven't been doing much riding lately because the temperatures in Houston have been holding steady in the 100s (F).  In the big book of excuses to not go outside - I think heat waves would be ranked near the top.  Right?  Yes?  Please?

Well, anyway - I'm still doing what I can to train for some upcoming rides, which all promise to be fun while pushing my limits.  Here's the down and dirty on my upcoming bikes and deck actions!

Wichita Falls, TX -- August 25 - 27

Hotter'n Hell Ride - 100 miles

I mentioned this ride in an earlier post and I'm starting to get concerned that I won't survive... or... actually.... if I'll be able to complete 100 miles!  Nonetheless, I have been working out at home and in the office - mainly doing exercises for my glutes as that is the area where I feel I need the most work.  

Boneyard Garland Skatepark - Since I'll be up in Wichita Falls, I'm planning to make a stop in north Dallas on the day after the ride to check out this highly rated and recommended skatepark!

Pflugerville, TX -- September 2

I'll be in Austin for work August 30th and September 1st - but after that, Patty and I will be doing some hiking around the area, drinking too much coffee, and hitting up a couple of skateparks in Pflugerville (aka northeast Austin).

Northeast Metro Skatepark - This one is huge (40,000 square feet!) and looks like a lot of fun.  I'm eager to check it out as it looks like it has a lot to offer for my level of skating. Just from the photos, it looks similar to the North Houston Skatepark (77,000 square feet). 

Skate Spot - not a whole lot of info on the Internet on this one, but several people have recommended it to me as it features tree canopies and a lot of great features packed into a small area.  Very curious about this one.

EDITORIAL NOTE: SEPTEMBER 3rd IS MY BIRTHDAY

Spring, TX -- September 13

Spring Creek Greenway - 80 miles

This is not an official ride event, I just enjoy this trail in north Houston and I am eager to checked it out on the Fuji bike.  It's approximately 40 miles one-way and I plan on trying to achieve the roundtrip ride in under 6 hours.  My other go-to scenic Houston ride is the Terry Hershey Trail in west Houston. That trail is about 21 miles one-way - although I've clocked an additional 35 miles with the other trails that branch off the Terry Hershey system.

Galveston, TX -- October 21-22

Bike Around The Bay - 120 miles

And this is the ride that REALLY has me a wee bit worried.  It's the ride that prompted me to finally seek out a multi-speed bike.  I mean, the MS150 was definitely the catalyst for me wanting to shop around for a multi-speed... but the anticipation of this ride is what tipped the scale.  Horror stories abound about the treacherous headwinds, the long, long slog along the highways, and then trying to cover the distance in time to make it to the camp site and get enough rest... and reboot my energy for the next day.

The Fuji has given me the opportunity to learn the nuances of the gearing mechanism on a bike while also understanding where I need to concentrate (most important: pace yourself!) for longer rides such as Bike Around The Bay.

A Different Kind of Tour (no band this time)

I had hinted about this a while ago on my Instagram accounts, but here we are for the big reveal!  Yup - instead of touring for band promotion, I am hitting the road to enjoy traveling for a change and have fun exploring trails and parks.

Typing that sentence out is weird for me as I've spent 14+ years planning tours based on where my band can perform and how much distance we can "reasonably" tackle between cities.  Touring life - contrary to popular belief - is neither glorious nor fun.  It's a race from city to city, trying to stay awake, friendly, fed, passably sober and, not go broke in the process.  All in the name of trying to increase your fan base.  Many times, it's a thankless and frustrating experience and must be done with a degree of consistency for it to "work".

And now, with the passing of time, I don't have an interest in that lifestyle.  Often when I was on tour, I would wish I had more leisure time to explore the cities we stopped at and just enjoy the community and the surrounding countryside.  

I started embracing that concept on my last few tours with Stockhausen & The Amplified Riot -- taking my bike and/or my skateboard and giving myself extra time between gigs to enjoy the experience.  And now... I'm ditching the band aspect completely and focusing on exploring the bike trails and skateparks without any band pressure.

And so, below is my plan of travel for late September [edit: November].  I'll be packing up my trusty Nissan Rouge with my bike, skateboard, and whatever else I need for the journey.

Along the way, I'll also check out local breweries and (most importantly) coffee roasters!  I'll have a large, insulated bag so I can keep the bags of coffee protected as I drive from place to place over the course of two weeks.

My goal is not to achieve hundreds of miles of bike riding - it's to enjoy the trip and check out the bike trails and skate parks that I had to drive past when I used to hustle for band work.

In other bike news, I'll be training for the Hotter'n Hell bike ride (100 miles) in August and the Bike Around the Bay (174 miles) in October.

Other big endeavors on the horizon - I'm planning on late Spring 2024 to ride on the Great Allegheny Passage.  This route will take about 10 days to complete and cover 500 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to Harpers Ferry, WV and back.  I'm planning to do this ride instead of the MS150. I'd like to do the MS150 again... but I feel there's some changes that will need to be made in the management of the ride for it to become enjoyable again.

I know there are plenty of riders and groups that can accomplish these rides / routes in far less time... but my goal is not to crush miles under my wheels in the name of distance.  I want to enjoy the sights, sounds (solitude) and nature and be able to enjoy these rides while I still can do them.  :) 

New Bicycle Alert: the Fuji Sportif!

Well, look what I just did.  🚴‍♀️

It's not like I said I would NEVER use a multi-speed bike... I was just very committed to staying on that single speed train to the point of being obstinate.  I still adore the State 4130 bike (and the hundreds... if not thousands... of dollars in upgrades / changes), but I need a bike that can help me tackle a significant amount of miles while also not breaking my body into useless goo.

And so, behold!!!  The Fuji Sportif 2.1.

I promised myself that I would make minimal changes to this bike - which was a big reason why I purchased this particular brand and model.  I looked at less expensive multi-speeds; but many reviewers of those bikes noted the quality issues with the gearing, seat, and other parts.

The Fuji Sportif line has received several good reviews - although the 2.1 model hasn't received a lot of reviews that I could find online... and I looked and looked and looked.  I found several "reviews" of the bike by online stores / dealers... but not many true, independent product reviewers.  

Nonetheless, I looked up the major parts individually and noted that most pieces were either made by Fuji directly or via one of their holdings - such as Oval.  The crank mechanism was made by FSA (Full Speed Ahead) and the gear shifting system is an R9 made by microSHIFT (with cabling made by Jagwire).  The bike came with Vittoria Zaffrio 700 x 30 tyres (with Chaoyang tubes) and a tried-and-true KMC X9 chain. 

The rear cassette is a microSHIFT 9 speed and has the following gears:  34, 28, 24, 21, 19, 17, 15, 13, 11. The front crankset is an FSA 50/34 set.  Another note: The fork is C5 carbon while the bike frame is A2 butted aluminum.

So all-in-all, a very good set-up right out of the box.  MY only issue with the set up are the pedals.  They are non-branded pedal with footstraps on one side - which I didn't like.  I'm not a fan of clip / strap pedals as I like a big, wide platform pedal.  My State bike has a set of Chromag Scarabs, but I have been wanting to try out something different.  After a bit of reading / research, I decided on a set of Deity Deftraps.  They are plastic - so they are light - but also strong and less expensive than metal pedals.

I also decided on changing out the tyres for a set of Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TRs - mainly because I had read review after review about how amazing these tyres are for road biking.  So, what the heck, why not try them?!  I had a spare set of Continental tubes that I was planning on using with the State bike, but never did since the tyres on it are still good -- although will probably need to get replaced very soon. 

TLDR: As of this post, I have completed 150 miles on the bike and my impressions are that this is a GREAT bike for me.  It's light (21 pounds), has a robust gearing system, very quiet on the pavement,  and is a lot of fun!  It doesn't have the distinctive colour scheme as my State bike, but I'm very much into the feel of how this bike handles.

Lemma Coffee Co - Mara Estate (Kenya)

I was in the North Dallas area a little while ago for gigs and general mayhem... and, like I usually do, I went on the hunt for some good coffee.  And boy howdy, did I find it!!!

I found Lemma Coffee Company in a small strip of shops in Carrollton, TX and was immediately in love: GREAT selection of coffee, excellent staff, a good location to just chill (either in the shop of around Carrollton Square), and... it's next door to Dead Wax Records!

But for now, let's check out this bag of beans I picked up.

I haven't tried a lot of coffees from Kenya, but I am super into the idea of trying beans from Africa.

The Mara Estate in Kenya has had a brief, but interesting history.  While Kenya coffee production is not as long as their neighbor Ethiopia, they produce some exceptional coffees.

This roast from Lemma is quite good and complex.  The coffee is not as smooth as Ethiopian and initially, I felt like it left a coffee film in my mouth.  But as the coffee cooled a bit, that filmy texture went away... or I just got used to it.  I definitely picked up on the blueberry and dark cherry essence of this coffee as well as a hint of cinnamon.  This is especially true after grinding the beans before brewing as the fragrance of blueberries and coffee fills the kitchen!

As an espresso - this coffee would work well as it imparts an almost Turkish coffee sweetness when finely ground.  Maybe that filmy texture I noticed is what Lemma calls "creamy"?  Also, I'm not picking up on the mango tasting notes as printed on the package - but that's not a deal-killer as I'm very happy with this bean and hope to check out Lemma again the next time I'm in the Dallas area!

In other news - I freaking completed the MS150!!!  one hundred and fifty miles on a bike.  And strangely enough, my body was not in complete pain afterward.  I probably don't look very ecstatic in the photos below because it was HOT and I was wiped out & sore by the time I got to the finish line.  I almost started crying once I crossed the finish as I was so relieved and just... I don't know how to explain it.  Relief / exhaustion / overwhelmed...?

I want to also note that I will probably not be riding the MS150 next year as I felt like I have accomplished what I wanted to do and would like to participate in other big, long-distance rides.  Plus, I kinda hate fund-raising.  I had to fund-raise when I was in 6th and 7th grade while at a Catholic school and I hated it then too: both the fund-raising and the Catholic part.  I'd rather just pay a fee (I know these things can be expensive to organize) and focus on the ride. 

But, I also gotta say that I am going to (gasp!) buy a multi-speed bike.  Yup - after three years of being obstinate about riding a single-speed EVERYWHERE, I'm going to pick up a multi-speed bike for longer rides such as these.  Alas Purple Reign, you will always be with me for local, fun rides - but the time has come to acknowledge that I need to use better gear for these more demanding rides.  

I'm kinda sad again!  :(

Thousand Helmets: version 2.0

I know the importance of safety while either riding my bike or while on a skateboard, but I was never keen on the styles available.  Not that safety NEEDS to be stylish, I just found the dominate bicycle helmet styles to be a little too… I don't know... weird?  And then Thousand comes along and I was immediately sold on their aesthetic.  So, if you’re shopping around for a helmet, I’d like to recommend Thousand helmets – but only their latest version (aka 2.0).

I bought my first Thousand helmet (Speedway Crème) in August 2020.  I instantly loved it: comfortable, solid, and looked cool.  At the time - we were still in the arms of the pandemic and even though I didn’t see a lot of people out and about, I definitely didn’t see anyone in Houston wearing a helmet like this.  More importantly – I was doing exactly what Thousands’ marketing was hoping to achieve: wearing a helmet, but also, doing it in style.

Many riders have more than one bicycle and I am no exception.  I have one at my apartment and one at the house where my sons live.  So, I decided to buy a second helmet and just keep it at the house so there’s no excuse for NOT riding.  The second helmet I ordered was in Stealth Black (#2 in the photo below) and is a good quality helmet, but didn’t feel as solid as the first one.  After examining the two helmets side-by-side I found that my perception of the “solid feel” of the first helmet was due to the straps that are used.  #1 uses vegan leather straps, which are slightly stiffer / thicker than the all-fabric straps used on the Stealth Black.  The difference in the thickness of the straps allows the plastic harness in the back of the helmet to move up and down a bit more.

I presume it is more of an aesthetic thing to use the different strap materials as the brown vegan leather wouldn’t look as stealthy on a black helmet with a blacked out logo.  It didn’t bother me too much that the back harness moved around more freely (but still stayed secure while on your head), but I noticed it.  If I didn’t have the two helmets side-by-side, I would have never known the difference.

After a few more months of riding and increasing my distance / stamina, I decided to upgrade my helmet to one that had a higher safety rating.  Again, I ended up back with Thousand but this time, I purchased their Chapter MIPS helmet.

When I received the new helmet, I tried it on and immediately did not like it.  I had never worn a MIPS helmet before, so I can’t fault Thousand.  The helmet wobbled quite a bit on my head, which is understandable as the MIPS design is like a cage inside the helmet that allows the exterior of the helmet to move / rotate in case of an accident.  However, the wobble was distracting and I felt like the helmet was going to slide off my head.  The MIPS design inside the helmet was nice and snug but that exterior shell moved around too much while riding.

Thousand was quick to respond about my concern and offered me either a refund or an exchange.  At this point in my post, I want to note that Thousand have been consistently quick and friendly with my questions and concerns.  So, I decided on an exchange – I ordered (basically) the same helmet as before but in navy blue.  My plan was to give my stealth black helmet to a friend who needs a helmet and just have the two.

However, when helmet #3 arrived, I noticed something was off.  The black plastic harness in the back was attached a little closer to the center of the helmet, which made the helmet feel too snug, even when the adjustment wheel was fully loosened.  Also, I noticed the trim around the bottom of the helmet was not fully attached, so I added a little glue to the inside and now it’s secure.  Neither of these are deal killers, but it was weird.  So, I kept helmet #2 and was planning to give #3 away… but then my friend bought himself a helmet (after I kept bugging him to do so!)… so now I have three helmets and decided just to keep #3 in a box until someone else comes along that needs a helmet.

All was going just fine until……. Thousand announced version2.0 of their helmets!  They claim that the new helmets are lighter and have better ventilation – which is appealing to me as it’s really ding-dang hot here in Houston for most of the year.  So, why not give it a try?

Enter helmet #4 from Thousand!

Right away, and I mean right-out-of-the-box right away, this helmet felt great!  It felt more secure… solid… but also familiar.  However, the white trim was also a loose like on helmet #3.  What’s up with that Thousand?  Anyway, I had the Gran Fondo Texas ride coming up so I took this helmet with me to give it a go.

Straight up, the vents on top are better positioned for air flow to your scalp.  Version 1 was good, but I felt a major difference with the airflow using the new 2.0 version.  Also, there’s a “howl” that occurs with version 1 from the air vents when you’re gaining speed (or hit with a strong head wind).  That howl is the sound of the air going across the air vents on top.  With the new design, that howl is gone.  The internal pads are good too, although they are on the thin side.  I would recommend Thousand consider adding a second set of internal pads to each helmet as the pads will wear out before the helmet does – as is the case with my #1 helmet.  I noticed that the pop-lock hole feature on the back is slightly bigger than version 1.0.  Oh yeah, and the new versions have a small “shelf” on the back so you can magnetically attach a bike light – although (as of this post) those lights are not available and it’s not clear if future purchases of this helmet will include the bike light like the MIPS version does.

Bottom line – I’m impressed with the improvements on version 2.0 of the Thousand helmet and I recommend it over the original version.  I implore Thousand to keep an eye on the quality control as they have a great product.  #4 will be my main bike helmet for now!  I'm keeping helmets #1 and #2 (mainly to be used for skateboarding) and donating #3 to a local bike shop that's active in the biking community.

TLDR: please use a helmet when either bike riding, skateboarding, or rollerblading.  These helmets are great for those sports. 

Whole Lotta Shakin Going On

Got a crazy busy month ahead of me!

This weekend, I'm participating in the Pedaling the Prairie ride with several members of the Saint Arnold's Bike Team - along with a few hundred new friends joining in on the fun.  Last weekend I rode 66 miles and I've already forgotten how terrible I felt after the ride.  How much I was regretting the ride by the mid-way point.  How much I wanted it to be over when I had another bridge to crest while riding against the wind.  Yup, I have totally forgotten all of that and I'm ready for the next one.

And then, the following week - I'll be up ion the Woodlands for my annual coursework on my professional certification.  I'll be taking time in the evenings to hit up a few skateparks in the area - making sure I make time on Friday to skate the 2nd largest skate park in the world!

THEN - I'm on a short tour in the Texas/ OK area with my band.  I'm super excited for the tour because I'm running low on coffee (I always pick up a bag or two while I tour) and I'll keep working on the new material that I'll be recording in May in Chicago.

And finally - of special note - I'll be riding in a Gran Fondo being held in far north Houston.  This will be my last big ride before the Texas MS150.  Yowza!!!

Near Death Experience (let's do it again!)

This past weekend, I had signed up to ride in the 40-mile course of the Tour de Houston.  And that was my intention when I got to the starting line on Sunday morning... but... it's only 20 more itsy bitsy miles to ride the full 60-mile course.  Right?

So yeah, I rode the whole dang course and while it seemed like a REALLY bad idea about 35 miles into the ride, by the time I crossed the finish line, I felt super happy and accomplished about the ride.  66 miles!

I was surprised by my average speed because nearly the entire time down to the lake, I was battling a strong head-wind - it got to the point where I simple put my head straight down and pedaled without looking up - just following the lines on the road to ensure I wasn't going into a ditch.

The ride back to the starting point was a completely different story in that the head-winds were now behind me and I was freaking GOING!  Once I hit that stride, my confidence boosted and I was pedaling like no tomorrow. The route went super close to the house where my sons and their mother live, so once I got near, I sent a message and they were out there to cheer me on!  It's important for them to see their parents active in community events as it's a healthy way to share our enthusiasm.

During the ride - when I wasn't being smashed in the face with head-winds - I had a fantastic, hard rhythm going through my mind (I think it was inspired by The Notorious B.I.G.) and I did my best to capture it via a voice memo.  I'm going to double track the drum machine for the demos I'm making - recording a second take in a different part of the room - so I can experiment with getting a bigger tone.

Also, for the record - my trousers are not ripped on the sides in the photo of me with my sons.  Those are zippered vents on mountaineering stretch trousers.  I find these much better (and durable) for bike riding and skateboarding than the Castelli pants I also picked up.  The Castelli pants are nice to look at and feel good, but don't have that durable feel to them... I'll have to post about the two later.  

After the ride, I went home, showered off, and then rewarded myself with my favorite comfort food - Indian food!!!  Dahi puri and a masala dosa along with a mango lassi (see pic below).  I went to one of my favorite spots, Honest Indian Food, and just quietly enjoyed the amazing food.  Went home and - basically - passed the fuck out.  Hopefully I can get on the drum machine this week to try and capture some of my rhythm ideas.

Since I almost died on this ride, I felt that I should try again... like this upcoming weekend... in Hempstead, Texas at the Pedaling the Prairie event.  This time, I'm feeling ambitious and signing up for 54 miles.  Ha ha... guess I'll see what happened when I reach that half-way point.  :)

All of this bike riding is leading up to the massive 150 mile ride that is the Texas MS150.  I did the ride last year and felt an euphoric sense of accomplishment when I was done.  I believe I'm far more prepared for this year's race than last year as I now know what to pack and what to leave behind.  Last year - I carried a back-pack with my bike tool, extra snacks, extra shirt, and some other stuff.  I didn't realize that at each stop, I could load up on what I needed (even minor bike adjustments) without carrying a bunch of stuff with me.  I'm on the Saint Arnold's Bike Team again too.

Oh yeah - my sons and I went to go check out Doomsday Wrestling this past Saturday night at Urban South Brewery.  I mean... how could I NOT take them.  Live-action wrestling with a bunch of characters is the stuff dreams are made of.  They enjoyed it even though it got REALLY loud inside.

That remind me, I should check out some Urban South brews the next time I'm at Beers Looking At You.  And now, here's a few more beauty photos from my day at the races!

At the finish line - death or glory!!

Dehi puri and masala dosa

Coffee & Bikes ;)

This weekend - I'll be riding 40 miles in the Tour de Houston and also checking out Doomsday Wrestling with my sons!  But first, how about some coffee?  

The last time I was in San Antonio, I stopped by Black Laboratory Brewing as I enjoy their stouts after a long bike ride.  While I was there, I also picked up a bag of their Ethiopian coffee that they have used in some of their beers - which I think is a brilliant idea to have both available.

First - the beer!  Their Vanilla Joe Coffee Stout is truly a beautiful brew.  It's made using Costa Rican coffee, which is an excellent choice for a smoother drink.  I find Costa Rican coffee has a bright, honey-like profile that's great for lattes, so blending it into a stout beer is a good choice in my book (blog).  And yeah, this beer delivers the goods.  It's smooth and delicious, dark but not heavy - as in filling.  A fantastic brew that deserves your attention.  :) 

Since I'm a fan of Ethiopian coffees, I couldn't resist picking up a bag of their light roast.  The Ethiopian Sidamo Natural is not a bean I'm very familiar with, although it's (apparently) commonly used by coffee shops.

I find the flavor profile of this bean to be not as robust as a Yirgacheffe (not many beans are) but still gives a distinct character... almost like a dark red wine feel. I also pick up hints of vanilla and smooth milk chocolate.  I'm not so sure about making a cold brew out of this roast... I think I need something a bit stronger for that... but overall, this is a great light roast for your morning routine.

Speaking of mornings... this Sunday I'll be biking 40 miles (maybe more if I'm feeling it) in the Tour de Houston!  I participated in this event last year as my first ever bike "race" and I loved it - although it was fucking grueling due to strong headwinds. This year, the route goes from downtown to Clear Lake, which is going to be great as I've taken that route before with the Saint Arnold's Bike Team.

I didn't pick up a bike jersey for this ride... but I might do it anyway as they look pretty slick this year.  But more importantly, I'm excited to be riding again and being a part of a larger effort.

I kind of wish I could listen to music while I ride as I want to keep listening to my latest demos of songs that I'll be recording in May.  Still a lot to do with these new batch of songs!

The Bike That Stole My Heart (State Bicycles)

While it may not be the fanciest bike out there, it's perfect for me. ☺  As of today's post, I’ve logged 1,700 miles on it and every mile on my road bike from State has been rewarding.

Backstory: When I was much younger, I used to take apart (aka destroy) my toys as I wanted to see what was inside... what makes these things do what they do so effortlessly?  I grew to appreciate the work that was inside the toy as well as the work that went into the exterior.

Fast forward a few decades and I'm now taking apart my guitars and amplifiers - not only because I want to see what's behind the curtain, but also because... well... sometimes stuff breaks.  After taking my gear to a repair shop a few times, I felt the need to do it myself.  So I did... and it was exciting!!!

Inside the guitar, I found a little self-contained universe of wires, magnets, capacitors and controllers.  The problem I faced when trying to repair and/or replace parts of guitar and amplifiers is that I never actually understood WHY they were in there to begin with.  I vaguely understood how this collection of things processed signals and worked their magic. 

So I asked repair techs and my engineering friends to share some insight (explain like I'm 5) and that's when the "why is this here?" and "what does this do?" questions turned into understanding and appreciation of how these miracles of electrical engineering worked together. 

Fast forward again to the 2020 pandemic and I'm stuck in my apartment looking at my bike.... I've got a bunch of tools and I'm feeling a little restless. So... I decided to take apart my bike and see how this thing works!  

After watching dozens of YouTube videos by Zach Gallardo and Park Tools, I tackled each piece of the bike to learn about bike maintenance and repairs.  And, much like with working on guitars and amps, if I couldn’t figure it out, I could take it to my local shop and get a pro’s opinion.

Here’s a look at the original specifications of the bike as received and then a note below of the upgrades.  Perhaps this will be helpful to anyone searching up this information in the future.

State Bike – 4130  (as of 2020)

• Cheng Shin Tires (CST) 700x25c
• Cheng Shin Tires (CST) tube 700 x 25/32
• JOOD Handlebar - 25mm wide.  600mm across. 
• KMC Chain - 96 links  1/8"
• Langhang Crankset - 46 teeth 130bcd
• Tri Diamond freewheel - 16 teeth
• Wellgo M248DU pedals
• Brakes - unknown, no markings.
• Gineyea bottom bracket - 103mm wide, 68mm bottom bracket width
• Wheel bearings – unknown. 6000RS

As of today's post, here’s what’s on the bike now

• Specialized - Armadillo Elite 700 x 28 tires
• Goodyear bike tubes (can’t recall the specs) – presta valve
• KMC – K1 (wide) chain
• Chromag - Scarab pedals
• Shimano - Ultegra BR-R8000 Brake Calipers
• Thomson Masterpiece Setback Seatpost (27.2)
• Thomson Seatpost Collar (28.6)
• White Industries - 16t freewheel
• Appleman - 2XR Crankset - 155mm
• Wolf Tooth - 110×5 BCD, 42 tooth, Drop Stop-A
• Kogel - BSA30 (cross) bottom bracket
• Acer – 6000RS ceramic nitride bearings

I plan to go into details about these upgrades (or "upgrades") over the next few months because I'm weirdly nerdy about this kind of stuff.

TLDR: I like to take things apart.

Porch Culture Coffee (2nd bag) and a new Grateful Dead live album (Dave's Picks 45)

Yes!  A new bag of coffee is ready to be opened and enjoyed at my home.  Let's dive in!

Today I am posting about the second bag of coffee I picked up in Tyler, Texas at Porch Culture and its name is as much of a mouthful as its flavor profile: Aurelio Villatoro Campamento Alto from Guatemala.  Here's a link to the coffee grower and his farm.  Guatemala coffees tend to be smooth and rich, so I was curious about this roast for a milder coffee experience.

Right away I noted that this coffee truly delivers.  It is smooth and has a melted chocolate feel with dark berry tasting notes. There's nothing complex about this roast but that doesn't mean it's boring.  I recommend not adding anything to this coffee such as milk, sugar.  Nope.  Just enjoy it straight up as it's a smooth and pleasant brew without an acidic bite.  Well done!

So while I'm digging the coffee, I'm also digging hard on the latest release from the Dave's Picks series by the Grateful Dead.

I've been listening to the Grateful Dead for a few decades now and was lucky to catch them in DC at RFK on July 13, 1989.  Even though my first show was in the late period of the band, I truly admire and enjoy the 70s era best... specifically late '71 to early '78.  So, when the announcement came out about the dates for the Dave's Picks #45 - I was ready!  

What sells it for me from the 70s are the beautiful tones and feel of the songs that they would play.  This set lacks the here-goes-nothing sonic experiments from the 60s and early 70s, but the playing is absolutely top notch with very, very few songs repeated over two nights.

I love listening to the Dead because I like their pace. Their songs never get too fast and sometimes their music blends into the background to the point of being sonic wallpaper.  But that mellow vibe of their songs, their playing, their sound... it gives me comfort during long drives on the road or when I'm just chilling at home.

Also, because of their pace, I tend to hear Grateful Dead's music in my head while I'm riding my bike to keep my cadence at a reasonable and steady pace.

Speaking of touring and races... I have three major bike rides coming up in March and April as well as a mini tour getting scheduled for late March.  And then in May, I'm back in Chicago for more touring as well as studio recording.  Yikes!

TLDR:  Guatemala coffee is good and I love The Dead!

Spurcycle - Original Bell (guaranteed for life?)

A bike bell may seem like a cute accessory for your bike - but it's super handy on crowded trails in urban areas - or even when you're just wanting to say hello to your fellow biker!

Like everything else, I did a bit of online reading and was down to either the Knog Oi Luxe Bike Bell or the Spurcycle.  The Knog looks so cool, but most reviewers liked the Spurcycle for it's loud (cuts through the mix) but pleasant tone, serviceable parts, and the lifetime guarantee.  That last part didn't factor to much for me until very recently.

I bought this bell in September 2020 and it remained a faithful and sturdy companion on my State bike until one night when I was out riding.  I was about to flick the hammer of the bell when I noticed the lever was... gone!  I have no idea when it happened or anything, it just randomly came off during the ride.

When I got home, I checked the Spurcycle site and saw the lifetime guarantee disclaimer.  So... I emailed them about the missing lever and asked about repair options.  The bell itself was still perfectly fine, I just needed the lever mechanism replaced.

Spurcycle was quick to respond - although a bit pedantic.  They offer a replacement kit for the lever but I was missing the spring as well.  So, they asked me to send it back for an inspection and repair.

When it arrived at their place, their contact person sent me a message about the condition of my bell.

"We received your Bell today. There is a decent amount of corrosion forming on the Dome, so I'm putting together a replacement Bell that has a protective clear coat over the black DLC." 

Cool, eh?  However - what's really interesting is that Spurcycle sent over my original bell with the repaired lever AND a new bell.  I wasn't expecting that!

So 1000% kudos to Spurcycle on their attention to their customers and for their outstanding bells.

January

Got a couple of gigs and rides lined up for January that I am eager to post about.

Saturday the 21st will be in Dallas at Three Links in the Deep Ellum district with Moon Phase (Houston), True To Form (Houston), and Wish Kit (Denton).   

Deep Ellum has changed a lot over the past four years from being a kind of dive bar district with a lot of savory and "interesting" characters to now being a very slick, urban setting with shops, bars, and restaurants that accommodate tourists.  While the district has lost a lot of its dirty charm, it still has a good amount to offer if you're looking in the right places.  I love stopping by Deep Vellum Bookstore, Murray Street Coffee Shop, Nylo Wool Vintage Clothes, and Merit Coffee.

And then, a week later, I'm in San Antonio on Saturday the 28th at Saige Cave - which is a punk house show.  I love house shows, but I worry about the PA capacity since I rely on the house PA for the drum machine.  I'm eager to perform with Gauze, Could Be Worse, Florish, and Gult (all from SATX).  I love that the gig poster references Johnny The Homicidal Maniac. 

The trail system around San Antonio is no joke as it's an incredible... almost zen-like trail system. They have an amazing system that circles the outside of the city as well as trails stemming out from the downtown area.  But also, there's a wide range of topography along the trails that feels like you're not in Texas at all.  I really can't recommend it enough.  Start at Eisenhower Park and go in either direction - it's so worth it!

Also, I make a point to stop by either Black Laboratory Brewing or Philoçoffee (both if I can!) when I'm in San Antonio.  Not only does Black Laboratory have fantastic beers on tap (and canned) - they also have limited batches of coffee beans available that are used in their brews.  Philoçoffee is a quiet and friendly little cafe that serves up great coffee plus a limited but well-crafted food menu.  It's not a place to go if you're in a hurry - but it's so dang worth it!

Oh right... I need to mention a couple of rides I have this month!

I signed up for the Texas MS 150 to be held at the end of April.  This will be a 150 miles ride over two days from Houston to College Station, TX.  I've signed up (once again) to be part of the Saint Arnold's Brewery Bike Team, which is an absolute honor.

My first time doing this ride was last year and it was a serious learning / growth experience.  I tested my body and mind to push further than I had gone before and I felt more accomplished than ever before.  AND... I did the ride on a single speed (the State bike) which many people claimed was an absurd and crazy proposition... but I DID IT!

So... I have a group ride coming up with the brewery team on Saturday (planning on 41 miles) and theeeeeen, I have an Alleycat Race for Sunday the 29th with the Coffee and Bikes group.  Much excite!

If you're keeping tabs - I'm in San Antonio on the 28th, playing a gig at a punk house show, and then participating in a bike race less than 12 hours later in Houston.  WTF is wrong with me?  I suppose it's all part of the thrill of testing my mind and body once again to a near-death experience with music and biking.  You gotta stay tuned to see if I survive.

TLDR: Gigs in Dallas and San Antonio with rides in Houston rides.