SMIOKE

Can I get a break over here, PLEASE!

"If it's not a one thing, it's another" - Rosanna Rosanna Danna. 

It's been one of those years.  Now.............it's smoke.  Talk about a rough go of things.  Between the fires in No-Cal and the fires out west in Box Elder County, the air is nearly unbearable.  It's bad enough that a lot of folks are getting raspy throats and burning eyes.  Try to get your heart rate up, and you're simply asking for trouble.

The early ride Friday morning was actually pretty good.  Aside from several construction areas, and new chip seal over on 162.  Still, 51 miles, with a spoke bender add-on in sub-three hours - all solo.  I'll take it.  The air quality wasn't nearly as bad as it would become later that afternoon.  By Saturday morning, it wasn't worth the risk.  I did a series of things on the stationary spin bike instead.

Mechanically, I've got to figure out what to do with wheels.  My Race X-lite set is pretty much worn out.  I rode a set of Alex A-Class, which were fast, but I don't think they'll handle the stresses I put into the hub.  If I can shred a DT Swiss hub, I'll decimate that 12 spoke drive in a few hundred climbing miles.  There's no way I'll run carbon with rim brakes, so I'm kind of limited to good aluminum.  There's a lot more to do this than just riding a bike.  The details can make, or break the whole thing - and right now, the details are becoming an issue.

Let's see what tomorrow looks like.  You know how plans can go.

Fundraising is getting some traction.  Page hits are starting to accumulate - all of which fuel the tempo in willingness and desire.  

A big thank you to my favorite Delta "left-seat" R.W.  He's as good a neighbor as anyone could have, and a darn good guy to boot.  This is what it's all about, and it gets me fired up.  This is gonna work.

Speaking of pilots and smoke.  From a pretty good movie that kind of depicted this summer - albeit thirty years ago.

The Platters - Smoke Gets in your eyes.

Ride HARD! (cough cough)