Rough days carry over

Man, yesterday was a bad day. Not like Walker Texas Ranger re-runs bad, but bad nonetheless. I lost a good friend yesterday, Alfredo the black lab. Probably one of the nicest, happiest, healthiest, most exuberant four legged companions I have ever known. This dog lived a life like Richard Branson and I am sure he is telling some good stories to the likes of Spuds Mackenzie and Lassie up in the sky right now. Ugh, and I received some disturbing news by means of electronic carrier pigeons from the wrong coast that still is not sitting well.

On a lighter note I took the old single speed to work today, gosh that's a sweet ride. So on bike portland.org today there was a story related to a older NYT's article on how expensive used bikes here in Ptown are. Now this guy apparently has some credibility in some media circuit because he gets clearly gets paid to bash our biking prices. I read this a few weeks ago and after perusing his posts I did not see another one related to bicycles so I wrote him off as uninformed. Of course this article being posted on BikePortland stirred up quite the hubbub, being how many people in Portland are:

Cyclists, whether commuters, recreational riders, racers, mechanics, etc.

Unemployed, thus leaving them plenty of time to comment on blogs

Constantly looking for a chance to prove why Portland is better than all other US cities

Always looking for an avenue to explain the good deal they got on their "track" bike

This brings me to a point which has been bothering me recently. First off I love the fixed gear, it is a fun way to master your cadence in between race seasons and great for the velodrome. But, on the street in Portland I don't get it. People choose to commute miles and miles on some crap roads (Portland is great for biking, but the roads have other ideas) on a bike with no brakes. I don't get it, I just don't. Maybe everyone thinks they look super cool and that is the driving factor, the simplicity of a good track bike is beautiful, but then again so is coasting home downhill after a rabble rousing night at the bar. I guess my biggest peeve is the dropouts, fixed gear bikes need rear facing dropouts, ask any kid on a BMX and he will tell you. Just because you bought a cheap ass Raleigh off of good ol Craigslist and put on a rear track wheel doesn't make it a track bike. Ugh.

Now these are clearly not your typical Portland fixed gear aficionado's. Notice the board shorts, clip in shoes, and 3 to 5 cycling cap ratio. Oh no, this will not do. In Ptown there would be way more chuck taylors, tight pants, and neon sunglasses

Loose Planning reaps no rewards.

Super amazing bike ride in to work today, except for the whole cat and mouse game I play for three miles with a Tri-Met bus. Another "heat wave" is on us here in Portland meaning there will be plenty of whining and complaining but not much heat. Lets do a little example here, I have had Oregonians complaining to me about the heat and have had no Baltimorons complaining, so it has to be cooler in Baltimore now right?

I don't even understand how this is possible, seriously. Oh well it is indeed a beautiful day outside and I am looking forward to biking around later and blowing off some steam from this day at work. yesterday was trying for myself, I have been in a funk as of late towards what I want to do with my life. Last night I started making some plans and figured I could keep them tentative until I realized that those types of plans really don't benefit anyone, it just breeds insecurity, questioning, and disappointment. There was also a conversation that I was involved in that made me realize I really don't have it bad at all, and my whole quest to free myself from having too many possessions resulted in me realized I don't actually own that much. I do have four bicycles, which I believe I could have more, but they all have their own purposes. I guess I am just stuck in a rut and I plan on shaking it soon enough, not hard really. I do plan on leaving this country in the future it is just up in the air as to when, where and why. But one day those questions will be answered. It will be on a bicycle however, that is for sure. They make so much sense and it still blows my mind that in America they are considering child's things and a second rate form of transportation. Well I guess that also partly explains our obesity rate but hey who am I to judge?

This is one of the beautiful things about this city, Hawthorne Bridge Bicycle rush hour. Sure it sucks to be stuck in it, because there can be a real back up at the light in the bike lane. But when you are stuck in the cyclo-commute traffic it can be more enjoyable than hearing that they are making another Rocky movie:

This one should be good, I bet the bear wins until the last round. So anyways, the commute has been fine, I cancelled my insurance today and turned in my title to my car so now it is official. Next is a way to figure out how to shed my student loans without actually having to pay them off...

Bear with me while I find my way.

My name is Noah and I am your typical mid twenties "young professional." I have a good job, steady paycheck, I live in a condo, I dress like an east coast prep school dropout, and I always thought this was fine, until something changed...

This is going to be a hard eye opener to convey;

I have came to the conclusion that my previous mindset was a mere ploy to surround my self with objects and utensils used to provoke thoughts and ideas about who I am to those who don't know me.

I am over this mental deprivation, for good.

This all started with my decision to live sans car and see how it affects my life, but once I started considering this revelation I realized there are other things I need to shed from my life to free my mind. As they come to fruition I will analyze, comment, and describe them fully in this fine little piece of real estate on the interweb.

Dont get me wrong, i am a happy individual. A happy individual who knows there is more out there and way more people that need to influence my life, in one way or another I will figure all of this out and give myself roughly a year to do it. Lets hope all goes well, and starting in 3 the adventure will begin.

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Commence