Bike & Build

Shell sent me a cool link to a totally awesome project called Bike & Build. It's a summer project where participants cycle across the country, stopping to build houses with Habitat for Humanity or comparable organizations. I perused their website and it looks totally sweet, but when I clicked over to the application page I noticed that I'm TOO OLD to apply. I guess I wouldn't be able to do it this summer anyway. And maybe it's best to put an age limit on it to keep creepers from scaring away the girls and to avoid injury/heal faster in case of injury.

Spreadable PB

Bread and Roses has been selling peanut butter made by people pedaling a modified bike to grind up peanuts. That's right, just 2 ingredients: peanuts & manpower. It tastes alright, but it's a little hard to spread on my sandwich.

I just bought a jar of it yesterday (at $1.89/lb, it's pretty cheap...compare to this 3 pack of 40oz Peter Pan @ $2.30/lb). I decided that Peter Pan has more than one ingredient (cottonseed oil, salt, sugar, something else) so I'll have more than one ingredient. I have tried adding sugar in the past and that didn't work too well. Today I added peanut oil, which makes it spread nicely, honey to sweeten it a little, and salt to do its thing. Result: yummy and spreadable and cheap.

Triathlon Banner

Designed by Javi's friend.

I'm not really big on the swim, bike, run icons, but it would look a little empty without them. Plus, if you do the work to design it, you get it how you want. I really like the use of Chief Osceola's face to make an O and I always dig a spear.

Tap Water

This is a water fountain in IU's student union.

Pick #186

Soular System - "Fire Extinguish-Her"

Bike Nerd Info

Man, there's a lot of excellent bike info on Sheldon Brown's website. Good for reference if you don't have a copy of Zinn sitting right next to you. Clear explanations and pretty pictures. I feel like I'll probably be spending a lot of time here learning.

Some Good Things Must End

Today was the last day of my month long membership to the Tallahassee Rock Gym. I had an alright day on the rocks...I finished the mushroom route twice in a row, something I've never done before. There were also plenty of challenges that I felt like I could master if I kept working. I've seen amazing progress since I first started climbing and I'm very glad I have had this opportunity.

Now I might go every so often on Wednesdays (when it's only $3.50 to boulder), but I'm going to shift to a couple other athletic activities: long bike rides to destinations like Panama City and Dothan, AL, swimming in the olympic size FSU outdoor pool, and off-road "barefoot" running in my Five Fingers.

It's going to be kinda crappy watching my calluses disappear slowly and even worse trying to build them back up in the fall when I start climbing again with the FSU club. It will be nice to have a break, though and come back with renewed gusto. Just like everything good, you need a little time without it to remind you that you like it.