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2004 Lexus LS430 For Sale SOLD

2010-04-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

2004 Lexus LS430 4.3 V8 6AT Cypress Pearl with ash leather and walnut inlays. Equipped with the luxury pack (Navigation with Bluetooth and backup camera, Mark Levinson 6 CD audio, parking sensors, climate controlled (heated/cooled) front seats, heated rear seats, and premium perforated leather seating surfaces) and "Smart Access" keyless entry and start system. Standard features include power rear sunshade, adaptive xenon headlamps, rain sensing wipers, auto dimming mirrors, memory system, power everything, and much more. Never smoked in, includes 3 keys plus original window sticker, manuals, tool kit, first aid kit, etc. VIN JTHBN36F840160865 47,445 miles $22750, 208-866-4009

More photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeykun/sets/72157623653945117/

Silverhawk Aviation Academy

2010-01-23T12:31:00.001-08:00

Robinson R44's, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

I went on a discovery flight with Silverhawk Aviation Academy in Caldwell, Idaho. It involved a 30 minute ground lesson and a 30 minute flight in a Robinson R22 helicopter with an instructor. It was my first time in a helicopter. After the ground lesson, preflight and startup the instructor did a hovering turn over the interstate next to the airport and put the R22 into cruise flight. I was then given instruction to use the anti-torque pedals to keep the helicopter trimmed correctly. I did pretty well, small inputs is all it took. The instructor then gave me control of the cyclic (the joy stick looking control). I did alright-- wasn't real smooth but I was tense and nervous, which didn't help much. We flew a 4-5 mile pattern from the airport and the controls were handed back to the expert. Back at the Caldwell industrial airport, Scott put the helicopter into a steady hover over the taxiway. He then gave me control of the pedals and instructed me to turn left 90 degrees. I finessed the helicopter slowly to the left using small pressure inputs and held it steady. He then had me turn right 180 degrees and I slowly walked it to the right. I was then given control of the cyclic and was told to keep a steady hover. This was the most difficult part. Our smooth steady hover turned to PIT (Pilot Induced Turbulence). The helicopter started yawing to the right so I put a small left input into the cyclic (or what I thought was small) and the heli nose tilted up and yawed to the left, so I tried to correct it with a forward right input... and process repeated itself. It felt like I was balancing the aircraft on a pole. It didn't help that I was tense and nervous and my inputs were probably more like butter churns. I tried 4 more times and our 30 minutes ran up so we headed back to the helipad.

What's next? hopefully a flying career. This is going to be a long and expensive process but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm ready for something new.

Surly Big Dummy for sale, $1800 SOLD

2009-10-31T09:45:00.001-07:00

BD--Powder coated v-racks, wideloaders, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

18" frame, includes wideloaders, and footsies. Trying to free up some space in the garage and would like to see it go to someone who can use it more than I do. Bike is located in Boise, Idaho. Email joshmaus @ gmail.com

Backpacking food recipe

2009-08-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

A simple, delicious meal away from home. Put the spanish rice mix in a gallon size ziploc bag at home and when you're ready to prepare it, add 2 cups of boiling water, one package of chicken (shelf stable, no refrigeration necessary), mix the ingredients by gently shaking the ziploc bag, seal it up and wait 12-15 minutes. If it's cold outside, insulate the bag while it's cooking. I used a fleece hat.

Serves 2 hungry people.

Borah 2009

2009-08-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

IMG_0751, originally uploaded by BellatorisOpacus.

Last weekend was spent climbing Borah Peak, located in the central section of the Lost River Range. My friend Chris and I talked about climbing it a few years ago and we finally made it happen. We left rainy Boise Friday morning, stopped for lunch around noon, and visited Craters of the Moon National Monument along the way. I remember going there as a kid but it didn't make much of an impression on me then as it did this time around. I would like to do some more research on the area and plan a hike. I think it was around 6:30 when we reached the parking lot/campground at the Borah trailhead. We set up tents, had dinner, and loaded packs. The next morning we were on the trail by 6:00 am and making good time. My right hip started hurting after we reached the timberline and we ended up taking a break around 10400'. I ate a sandwich and put a sweatshirt on under my windbreaker because it was getting colder with the clouds rolling in. I stood up and tried to walk but the sharp pain in my hip wouldn't allow me to go any further. Chris and Kevin decided to press on and Justin and I hung out on the mountain for awhile. We hiked a little higher but with each step the pain got worse. I was frustrated with the situation, I wanted to make it to the top on my first attempt at climbing a big mountain but it wasn't going to happen. I think my pack was a bit too heavy and I wasn't used to it. We ended up dumping out some water bottles to lower the weight and Justin switched packs with me. 10446' was our highest and we started down the mountain.

If I would have had some Tylenol I could've popped 3-4, waited 45 minutes and kept going but I didn't have any. (note to self: take some next time)

It was a fun time and I am looking forward to climbing it again next year.

Shaw mountain summit

2009-06-11T11:52:00.001-07:00

360 degrees
Originally uploaded by Monkeykun

A few weekends ago we hiked to the top of Shaw mountain east of Boise. The trail begins near Harris Ranch off of Warm Springs Avenue and it's a good 2 hour hike to the top. I snapped a few photos at the summit and we ate lunch.

More hikes to come.

Borah Peak links

2009-05-08T07:28:00.001-07:00

12borah, originally uploaded by Aubrey Sun.

Here are some links from others who have completed the Borah climb:

http://stormgasm.com/8-12-08/8-12-08-1.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aubandjen/sets/72157606934511446
http://www.naturalbornhikers.com/Borah/BorahPeak.htm

Borah Peak

2009-05-03T10:00:00.001-07:00

High Point, originally uploaded by James Neeley.

Summer 2009 Must do:

Finish projects around house.
Climb Borah Peak.

Fun video...

2009-04-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

Remind Me from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Chicken coop!

2009-03-22T20:07:00.001-07:00

Weekend #2, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

http://boiseurbanchickens.blogspot.com/

LA Times Big Dummy review

2008-10-08T12:12:00.001-07:00

LA Times cargo bike review, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Deadbeat blogger...

2008-09-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Yikes! Lots of things have happened since my last blog entry. I need to get my ass in gear and take some pictures of the house and the finished projects.

Updates coming soon!

Bike Hugger Snapdeck

2008-07-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

Galen asked me to pimp his snapdeck with a Bike Hugger green theme to match his future Surly Big Dummy. Here is the process from start to finish:

Pizza!

2008-07-25T11:45:00.001-07:00

pizza, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

House

2008-07-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Soon to be a homeowner [or a mortgage payer, after 30 years a homeowner]... hopefully things go well during the next few weeks. I am excited about having a garage for my bikes and eventually a garden in the backyard.

Outback Oven

2008-07-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I tried out the Outback Oven for the first time:

It was fairly simple to set up and bake with. The tricky part is dialing in the stove so things don't burn.

I want to bake a pizza next!

Snow Peak Giga Power

2008-07-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

Awesome stove! I will write a review about it soon.

Big Dummy price increase

2008-07-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

from the Surly blog:

The good news is that we managed to squeeze in another run of Big Dummy frames. That's one whole production run more than we had originally planned. It is much easier to type about adding another production run of frames than to actually implement such a thing. We did it because of demand, because you people have embraced the Big Dummy and other bikes of its ilk instead of simply buying a somewhat more fuel efficient car. There are not enough thank yous to express how gratifying that is. So more BD frames are coming in a few weeks, and then late this summer we should get even more. The bad news is that steel prices and transportation costs have increased significantly of late, which means our costs are going up and so are yours. While the price increases will be felt across the line, there are a lot of people waiting on Big Dummy frames who may have paid a deposit already. If you are waiting on a Big Dummy, or if you are a shop that has quoted a price to a customer for a Big Dummy (or Long Haul Trucker for that matter), check in with whoever you need to and update your agreement. MSRP for a Big Dummy frame and fork is now $1050. It was $895. We've actually factored into this number another impending and definitely happening price increase so that we won't have to do this again anytime soon. So that's that. Again, this will affect the prices of everything we sell, but it should be of particular importance to those of you who have been waiting and budgeting and maybe even paid some money down at your local bike shop in anticipation of your beautiful new whatever... Big Dummy, Long Haul Trucker, what have you. Sorry to get all business but sometimes cold got to be.

I tried to find the receipt for my Dummy frame but I can't find it. If I remember correctly, I was able to get my frame for under $800...

Great success!

Slacker June

2008-06-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't tended to the blog consistently this month but I will try to get back at it and make it interesting again.

Big Dummy transport service

2008-06-24T21:11:00.001-07:00

Big Dummy transport, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

I left my Raleigh Rx1.0 at work over the weekend and needed to get it home tonight so I secured it to the side of Dummy and made it home without any problems. I ended up using a grande zip tie around the down tube and front rim of the Raleigh to keep the chain ring from chewing up the left Wideloader if I made any sharp turns. I think if I transported other bikes more often I would invest in a Traybien.

Urban canoe adventure

2008-06-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we ventured to Veterans Memorial State Park in Boise with the Sevylor Colorado. Inflating the canoe and installing the seats took about 15 minutes to complete. I ended up storing the pump and canoe storage bag in the mesh cargo bag and secured it in the stern with plenty of room for additional items. My digital camera stored nicely in the seatback storage bag but I think I will bring my waterproof container for it and other important items next time. The canoe is easy to paddle and it tracks quite well (a few online reviews complain that the Colorado tracks poorly). The lake wasn't real big so we spent a little over an hour paddling from one end to the other looking at the ducks and trying to see fish in the murky water.

The canoe is a bit awkward to carry long distances in the storage bag so I think next time I will bring a pack frame to carry it on. Better PFD's (life jackets) are on their way too. Other than that, I'm very happy with it. I'm looking forward to exploring Wallowa lake in Oregon soon!

Cargo

2008-06-13T06:45:00.001-07:00

Morning commute, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Sevylor Colorado

2008-06-10T19:59:00.001-07:00

Sevylor Colorado, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Ready to paddle!

Backpacker's Pantry--Lasagna (a review)

2008-06-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

After our camping companions introduced us to the wonders of freeze dried camping food a few weekends ago, we decided to give it a try...

Here I am using my MSR Dragonfly stove to boil a little over 2 cups of water in the largest pot of Snow Peak's 3 piece titanium cook set. This set is ultra compact (maybe too compact) and light weight.

The pots stack up nicely, the handles fold in, and they go inside a mesh bag. Very clever.

Backpacker's Pantry meatless Lasagna ready to cook.

Stir boiling water into mix, cover and wait 13 minutes.

I was worried the skillet would be too small for making grilled cheese sandwiches, luckily we had a mini loaf of sour dough bread.

13 minutes later, gourmet food in the wilderness (or on the back deck).

I really enjoyed the lasagna-- it tasted homemade and familiar which is probably why I liked it so much. The Snow Peak cook set will take more practice to get used to but I think they'll work out well.

Freeze dried camping food is the way to go!

Sevylor Colorado

2008-06-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

Sevylor Colorado features:

Bruneau Dunes State Park

2008-06-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went camping with Kevin, Anne and their daughter Toren at Bruneau Dunes state park, located 63 miles from Boise. Bruneau contains the largest single-structured sand dune in North America and geologists believe they started forming 15,000 years ago. It is also home to Idaho's largest astronomical observatory. It was a great time and the landscape was awesome!

We spent early Saturday hiking, climbing, and exploring the smaller dunes for a few hours. Later in the afternoon we took our first canoe trip around one of the small lakes. I really enjoyed the canoe part of the trip and hope to do it again soon (I've been looking at inflatable canoes). Around 7pm the weather turned ugly bringing rain and strong gusts of wind through the campsite. Fortunately our tent was staked down and made it through without any problems. The storm blew over and we hiked to the observatory to watch a short orientation program about comets. After the slideshow and Q&A session, we lined up for a chance to see Saturn through the large telescope. I wasn't really interested at first but after the line shortened up I decided to climb the ladder and take a peek. Looking at Saturn through a telescope was probably one of the coolest experiences I've ever had, it was amazing!

Chainsaw Massacre

2008-05-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night I finished mowing the back yard and decided to do something about the tree branch that has been pushing down on the back fence for awhile now (see Rain below, just right of the well in the background, mid photo). I did some searching and found a couple gas powered chainsaws in the shed. Surprisingly they both started and ran fine, so I decided to start cutting! The first saw, the smaller of the two, wasn't the sharpest so I ditched it after about a minute of no progress and went for the bigger saw. It did the trick and the branch crashed over the fence into the horse pasture. I didn't realize how big it was until it was on the ground, I was committed - no turning back now. I spent the next 2 hours cutting it into more manageable pieces and throwing them over the fence into the back yard. I would've finished sooner but the local horses kept getting in the way and I was almost attacked by a jackass (or donkey, I'm not sure what the hell it was).

Last night I was out stacking and trimming the branches with a cordless chainsaw when the blade slipped, caught my left thumb and split it wide open. I wrapped it in a wet bandanna and Justin drove us to my parents house to have my dad look at it and advise me if it needed stitches or not (he's an urgent care physician at an area hospital--fortunately he had the night off). Of course it needed to be sutured, so off to the hospital we went. I ended up getting 4 stitches and a thumb that doesn't bend so well.

I think my chainsaw days are over with.

"Depth of Discomfort: High Gas Prices"

2008-05-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

NBC Nightly News asked viewers to email their stories of sacrifices made over the Memorial day weekend due to high fuel prices, here are a few of the responses:

Jenna from Nebraska says: "It's a sad time in America when people who work hard and should be (and used to be) considered "Middle Class" are now living paycheck to paycheck and could lose everything if much more hits the pocketbook. What do we tell our children about why we have to stay home this summer? I guess it's a good time to become green and start growing our own produce, baking our own bread, and limiting the meat."

Katie from Sacramento says: "We will be spending a lot less. We usually do rib eye steaks and racks of ribs with lots of sides - macaroni salad, corn on the cob, baked beans, etc. This year it will be homemade hamburgers with french fries and soda instead of beer. The ground beef was bought on clearance a few weeks ago and frozen - I'll thaw it for weekend use."

Laura from California says: "Instead of our usual ribs, we are having hamburgers. As bleak as it sounds, next year we may have a cup of soup."

Yolen Jeunky, 45, collects dried mud cookies to sell in Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince on Nov. 29, 2007. Rising prices and food shortages threaten the nation's fragile stability, and the mud cookies are one of very few options the poorest people have to stave off hunger.

Rain

2008-05-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

Mowing the lawn has been cancelled!

Ultimate Sport Mechanic repair stand

2008-05-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

I picked up an Ultimate brand Sport Mechanic repair stand at REI for $119 a couple weeks ago when they were on sale. It's a solid unit and seems to handle the Dummy quite well.

5 photos from Saturday

2008-05-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

This is the welcome sign for Meridian, Idaho. Passing by in a car at 30-35 mph it might look alright, but upon closer inspection the ground is littered with trash and spent cigarettes.

Highway 21 to Idaho City, Lucky Peak reservoir.

A hand out the window shot of the Honda Insight. I was feeling caged up and bored riding in the car.

62 MPG, 600 miles on one tank of gas: the Honda Insight is a technological wonder (almost). I know it's supposed to be "burning calories, not fossil fuels", but my allergies were really bad and I don't do so great riding a bike and sneezing uncontrollably.

And finally, Mr. High Wheel. Cool bike and cool helmet.

Idaho Green Expo

2008-05-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I rode the Big Dummy to the Boise Centre on the Grove and gave a car-free living presentation at the 1st Annual Idaho Green Expo. It didn't go as well as I had hoped it would but I guess that's what happens when you put something together at the last minute. Maybe someday I will put together a well thought out and organized presentation and hopefully encourage more people to ditch their cars.

Anyway, it was cool to meet Clancy and check out his sweet Kona Xtracycle long bike! I really like the Schwalbe Big Apples he has on it and the way they ride, it's an awesome setup. Clancy pointed out a Yuba Mundo with a custom plyboo snapdeck on it parked outside of the expo doors and I met the owner of it later when I was riding around the the electric vehicle display. I complimented him on his plyboo creation and told him about wanting to make Xtracycle footsies out of bamboo but the price was too high (Franklin Building Supply quoted $200 for a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plyboo!). He handed me his card and told me to email him. Turns out he is the owner of a company named Sustainabuilt and they build furniture out of the stuff! So yesterday I emailed him and here is his reply:

Hey Josh,
I'll be at the shop everyday this week except Thursday. Feel free to swing by and I'll get you a couple pieces of scrap plyboo. If it's just footsie material your after, It's on me. We'll come up with something.
Check the website for directions. 221 W 37 Suite F in Garden City.
Take care,

Brad Boggess
Sustainabuilt, LLC

I'm stoked! now I can finish the footsie project I started a few weeks ago.

Speaking of recumbents...

2008-05-18T20:45:00.000-07:00

Recumbent Rally review

2008-05-18T20:12:00.001-07:00

Boise Bike Week spokecard, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Friday night we participated in the Boise Bike Week recumbent ride. I commuted to work on my Burley Koosah recumbent and intended to work until 5pm then ride to the Julia Davis park bandshell but I ended up leaving at 2:30 and riding home to drop off my work clothes. We left Meridian at 5:00 and made it downtown Boise about an hour later. We were greeted by about 4 other bent riders and by the time we rolled out there were about a dozen or so bents and a couple of upright bikes. The ride route took us from downtown Boise all the way up highway 21 to the base of Lucky Peak dam and back to the park, roughly 25 miles. The pace was awesome and the other riders were way cool, I would definitely ride with them again. The Koosah doesn't have a trip computer on it but I estimate the work commute, riding to and from the rally, and the recumbent ride itself was a little over 60 miles.

Recumbent Rally

2008-05-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

A Recumbent Rally has been included in Boise Bike Week this year and it will be taking place tomorrow night at 6:30pm. I haven't ridden my Burley for awhile so tonight I spent a few hours cleaning and adjusting-- getting it ready for the ride. I will take some pictures of the event and post them later.

The best deal in town...

2008-05-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

The cafeteria at St. Lukes West hospital on Eagle road: 2 salads, 2 drinks, 1 icecream, 1 soup, and 1 plate of roasted potatoes= $9.00! They usually have a good selection of vegetarian food and there's lots of bicycle parking too.

It's done!

2008-05-13T17:21:00.001-07:00

BD--Powder coated v-racks, wideloaders, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Freshly powder coated v-racks and wideloaders. I thought about having them done in matte black but decided on bronze 20% gloss, I'm pretty happy with the results.

Pizza by bicycle

2008-05-11T16:39:00.001-07:00

Pizza delivered by bicycle, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

After transporting two large pizzas home last weekend with no problems, I decided to send an email to the pizza company we ordered from and share my idea of having bicycle delivery service offered for 3 mile or less orders (of course I hinted that I would be interested in doing the job). Their response:

"Great idea, and we appreciate your interest. We have seen motorbike and bicycle deliveries in very densely populated areas (near office buildings, high-rise apartment buildings, etc.) Our method of delivery uses hot ovens in our trucks to keep our food at the proper temperature, and we also have a need to have consistent delivery. For example, if it's raining or snowing, a bike would probably not work out if the distance was more than a couple blocks. You haven't given any indication of your age, but if you are at least 16, stop in and apply for an entry level job. Our delivery drivers must be at least 21, as that's the age our insurance allows us to hire for using company vehicles.

All the best,
Joy Kealey
Chicago Connection, LLC"

Oh well, it was worth a shot. Maybe when gas hits $5/gallon they'll need me.

Outlaw in Lycra

2008-05-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

Specialized Movies presents "Outlaw in Lycra". Be sure to watch "Happy Entrails", maybe even throw a few tomatoes at the drive-in movie screen or at the cyclists watching it.

CARtoons by Andy Singer

2008-05-09T11:37:00.001-07:00

CARtoons by Andy Singer is a 100 page book filled with anti-automobile illustrations, facts, quotations, and more. I've read it several times and it never fails to make me laugh.

Filmed by Bike 2008 DVD

2008-05-07T20:04:00.001-07:00

Filmed by Bike 2008 DVD, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

It arrived today! Filmed by Bike is a festival of bike-themed short films held in Portland, Oregon. All of the films were entertaining but "Bent" was probably the best of the lot. Incredibly well made and worth watching more than once.

I better get to work...

2008-05-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.idahogreenexpo.org/seminars.asp?id=138

Flat tire!

2008-05-06T18:35:00.001-07:00

I-84, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

About a mile away from work this morning I noticed it was getting harder to pedal, something wasn't right. Sure enough, the rear tire went flat. This time I was equipped with a patch kit and wrench but I thought to hell with it, I'll walk the last mile. About a minute after I started walking my bike down the street, a commuter on a recumbent pulling a BOB trailer slowed down and asked if everything was okay. I smiled and told him I was fine, and that I was almost to work, thanks for stopping. A little further down the road another commuter, this time on a road bike slowed and asked if I needed anything. I thanked him and explained that I was almost to work. I was amazed! Most people who drive cars wouldn't think to stop and offer help to a fellow stranded motorist but this morning the bicycle community proved the opposite. During my lunch hour I took the rear rim off, borrowed the shop truck and drove to a LBS. I planned on buying a tube and installing it myself but I ran out of patience dealing with all the things going on at work and I probably would've thrown the rim across the shop, so I had them install one for me.

Tonight I stopped at the Locust Grove overpass and snapped the picture above. As I drank from my water bottle and watched the cars snail along, I concluded the inconvenience of an occasional flat tire is still worth the freedom my bicycle gives me.

Bike Car documentary and weekend review

2008-05-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

My copy of Bike Car was returned a few weeks ago so I watched it again this morning and folded some laundry as well. It's a great documentary and if you get an opportunity to see it I highly recommend it.

Yesterday we rode to a family-owned, organic farm near where we live and picked up some fresh asparagus and a packet of squash seeds for the garden. They should have salad greens in a few weeks so we'll be visiting again soon. I rode my Raleigh One Way and on the way back the front tire went flat. I wasn't prepared for it of course (no 15mm wrench to remove the wheel or a patch kit for that matter), and I ended up walking about a mile home. I broke it down after getting home and found the tube was sliced (it must've been pinched) and not repairable. So this afternoon we ventured to REI and bought 2 tubes, another patch kit (can never have too many), a presta adapter, and a Park 15mm wrench. I installed a new tube and it should be ready for commuting this week.

Tag

2008-05-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

Quite possibly the coolest human powered chase ever filmed? I think so.

Raleigh One Way

2008-05-01T20:40:00.001-07:00

Raleigh One Way, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

This is the last one (for awhile). I picked up a leftover 2007 Raleigh One Way for a decent price from the bike shop in Meridian earlier this week. I like the simplicity of having one speed, the fenders for wet weather, and the comfortable riding position. It will be a great commuter.

On another note, my Xtracycle v-racks and wideloaders are still sitting in my boss's office (they've been there since last Thursday). He has a friend who is in the process of setting up his powder coating shop and should be able to work on them soon. I can't wait to get the Dummy back together and do some riding!

Monday Commute

2008-04-30T20:47:00.001-07:00

commuter computer, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Riding home Monday after work I was stopped at a traffic light waiting for the go when I glanced back to see an older guy on a road bike waiting behind me. A bicycle commuter perhaps? Feeling strong and confident about the 1.5 mile section of roadway until the next traffic light, I decided to see if he could keep up. When the light turned green I unleashed the fury. About a mile later I looked back and he was still there! As we neared the stop light I started winding down when he pulled up next to me chuckled and said "that's a large bag you got there", (my timbuk2 filled with 2 days worth of work clothes, water bottle, a book, and camera) "yeah" I said, "you're pretty fast!". He smiled, the light turned green before we had to stop, so I jumped in the left turn lane and he kept heading west.

Cooking with Sun

2008-04-28T18:52:00.001-07:00

Cooking with Sun, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

I fired up the solar oven for the first time this year on Sunday morning. I forgot how much fun it is to use and how great the food turns out. It's also a great feeling to know it uses current sunlight instead of ancient sunlight (i.e., electricity generated by coal, or natural gas) to get the job done. The corn bread took a little over an hour to bake at 225 degrees, not bad for a 60 degree morning. I plan to use it a lot more this year at home and on camping trips so check back for future solar cooking adventures.

What's a girl to do?

2008-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Boise Critical Mass

2008-04-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

Tonight will be the first critical mass ride of the year (as far as I know). If you would like to participate, we will be meeting @ the Julia Davis park bandshell around 6:30pm. The ride starts at 7 and it should be a lot of fun!

Snapdeck!

2008-04-23T18:25:00.001-07:00

Snapdeck!, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

After looking through the manufacturer paint catalog for a few hours I decided on 8491/491 Rocky Mountains Brown Dark met, Mercedes-Benz Maybach paint. I started by using a scotchbrite pad to remove the VERY thin layer of Xtracycle varnish, sprayed a coat of sealer on it, then the base coat, and finally some clear coat. Things looked good until it started to bubble in the oven, so we took it out, wet sanded the whole deck, sprayed another coat of base, 4 coats of clear, and let it air dry this time. It turned out well and it was a great experience! Tonight I am going to take the freeloaders off the v-racks and take them to work to be powder coated flat black.

Modification!

2008-04-22T11:19:00.001-07:00

Snapdeck, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Check back for the finished product.

Bichosis

2008-04-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's going around, be careful.

First trip to grocery store

2008-04-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

First trip to grocery store, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Bought more than usual this time just to see how it would do. It did great! I should have put the other wide loader on (they help support weight while loading multiple items), and brought more reusable grocery bags. Nothing fell of during the 2 mile ride home but I think I will probably load things more efficiently next time.

Pedal Power

2008-04-18T11:45:00.001-07:00

I purchased this book online a week or so ago and started reading it last night. I thought the quiet rise of the bicycle in American public life was due from the fact that bikes are so much damn fun to ride and people are starting to slowly figure that out but this book offers several other reasons why more people are switching to pedal power.

BENT

2008-04-18T05:56:00.001-07:00

Movie poster for "Filmed by Bike" titled Bent. A film by Jane Machamer & Nancy Breaux. "The recumbent bike is often seen as the quirky cousin of the upright bike and not taken seriously. This glimpse into the 'bent world is heart felt and eye-opening"

Yesterday I ordered the 2008 Filmed by Bike DVD which includes this film. I am anxious to see it.

Not this one Klaus

2008-04-16T19:44:00.001-07:00

Raleigh Rx1.0, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

I have been keeping my Raleigh inside the house lately instead of the garage. It all started when the new washing machine was delivered, I was worried the garage door wouldn't get shut after they left. I decided this was the bike I wanted to be left with (I really wanted to get the Dummy inside but parking space is limited in my room) if somebody stole any or all of them.

Abandoned bicycle

2008-04-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

This bike has been sitting outside of my work next to the shipping container since last week. I'm guessing somebody rode it down here to pick up their car from one of the impound lots and decided to ditch it. Granted it's not a great bike, but it probably came in handy when they needed it.

Big Dummy commuter

2008-04-14T18:52:00.001-07:00

Big Dummy commute home, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Today I hauled: huge stack of old magazines, work clothes, work jacket, work boots, Klean Kanteen, and a copy of Asphalt Nation.

I love this bike.

The real threat to Americans

2008-04-13T20:42:00.001-07:00

No longer needed, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System website, in 2006 42,642 people died as a result of automobile related accidents in the United States. Every 12 minutes, one person dies because of a car accident. Every 14 seconds, a car accident results in an injured victim.

I think it's time we declared war against cars.

Goodbye Mango

2008-04-12T07:38:00.001-07:00

Mango!, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

I started bicycle commuting on a daily basis early last year using an older Cannondale mountain bike that was sitting unused in the garage. It was a little undersized but I fell in love with the freedom and benefits of commuting by bike. After awhile I decided it was time to buy a new one that would fit me and meet what I thought were the requirements of a commuting bicycle. I chose a 2007 Specialized Rockhopper. Why? I can't really remember. I think it was the color that attracted me most (and the slick Juicy Avid brakes). I named it "Mango". As time went by, the bicycle obsession grew. I sold my car and started collecting bikes. I now have a Raleigh Rx1.0, a Burley Koosah recumbent, a single speed cruiser, and the the most recent addition--a Surly Big Dummy. Probably more than one person needs but I love them all.

A year later, Mango doesn't get used as much as it should. My Raleigh is usually my first choice for most urban riding adventures and lately I've been enjoying the Surly. I decided Mango needed to go onto bigger and better things instead of collecting dust in the garage. My first thought was to sell it on Craigslist, try to recover a portion of what I paid for it, but I decided to do something else. Today Mango will be going to a new home in Medford, Oregon. I am giving it to my younger brother Jake. I hope it will open the door of two wheels and the "meat motor" for him and infect him with bike-fluenza like it did for me.

See ya Mango.

Powered by vegetable tempura

2008-04-11T12:05:00.001-07:00

Vegetable tempura, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

The traditional Friday lunch.

Footsie project

2008-04-10T11:44:00.001-07:00

Metal Market, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Today I walked to the metal shop next door to get a price on some aluminum tubing for making a couple sets of knock-off Xtracycle footsies. The owner Tom thought he had some leftover tubing from a special order he made a few months ago but he couldn't locate it. He found a similiar product with a larger inside diameter (should be okay) and I ended up buying enough to build 2 sets of footsies.

Environmental impact of automobile accidents

2008-04-09T16:33:00.001-07:00

Honda crash trash, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

Part of the environmental impact of automobile accidents: all of these items will end up buried in a landfill. These parts are from a 2006 Honda Accord, they include the interior headliner, both front seatbelt pretensioners, 2 crash sensors, sun visor, deployed side curtain airbag, miscellaneous interior trim panels, seatbelt buckle, and a restraint control module (1 interior grab handle and 1 additional seatbelt buckle not pictured).

Xtracycle Footsies review

2008-04-08T07:31:00.001-07:00

Xtracycle Footsie, originally uploaded by Monkeykun.

The set of Xtracycle Footsies I ordered showed up last week.
I probably could have fabricated my own but I wanted to try the real deal first. After a closer inspection, I was disappointed with the quality of the left side footsie platform. It appears that the varnish hadn't quite dried before it was stacked on top of a like unit causing the Xtracycle decal to flake off in a few places. No big deal really, just disappointing for $59.00 shipped (from Xtracycle). Anyway, they install nicely on the Dummy frame and velco keeps them in place securely. They lack the "springy plunger" that the Wideloaders come equipped with, I think it would be nice if the Footsies had the same feature.

If I made my own, I would use bamboo plywood, make a cool stencil to spray paint on the surface of them, and maybe make a few extras to sell at a reasonable price to other people who want to transport other
people.

Monday 1/2 commute

2008-04-07T10:51:00.001-07:00

I rode the Big Dummy to work last Friday but it started pouring rain when it was time to ride home, I decided to leave my bike here over the weekend and hitch a ride with Justin. So today I will be riding my bike home today and hopefully the weather cooperates... (it was snowing about an hour ago)

I am going to ride with my Raleigh cap for the first time today. Carey from the Raleigh Commutes blog sent it to me and she even threw in a glossy 2008 Raleigh catalog. Needless to say I was excited to receive them both.

Powered by Nachos

2004 Lexus LS430 For Sale **SOLD**

Silverhawk Aviation Academy

Surly Big Dummy for sale, $1800 **SOLD**

Backpacking food recipe

Borah 2009

Shaw mountain summit

Borah Peak links

Borah Peak

Fun video...

Chicken coop!

LA Times Big Dummy review

Deadbeat blogger...

Bike Hugger Snapdeck

Pizza!

House

Outback Oven

Snow Peak Giga Power

Big Dummy price increase

Slacker June

Big Dummy transport service

Urban canoe adventure

Cargo

Sevylor Colorado

Backpacker's Pantry--Lasagna (a review)

Sevylor Colorado

Bruneau Dunes State Park

Chainsaw Massacre

"Depth of Discomfort: High Gas Prices"

Rain

Ultimate Sport Mechanic repair stand

5 photos from Saturday

Idaho Green Expo

Speaking of recumbents...

Recumbent Rally review

Recumbent Rally

The best deal in town...

It's done!

Pizza by bicycle

Outlaw in Lycra

CARtoons by Andy Singer

Filmed by Bike 2008 DVD

I better get to work...

Flat tire!

Bike Car documentary and weekend review

Tag

Raleigh One Way

Monday Commute

Cooking with Sun

What's a girl to do?

Boise Critical Mass

Snapdeck!

Modification!

Bichosis

First trip to grocery store

Pedal Power

BENT

Not this one Klaus

Abandoned bicycle

Big Dummy commuter

The real threat to Americans

Goodbye Mango

Powered by vegetable tempura

Footsie project

Environmental impact of automobile accidents

Xtracycle Footsies review

Monday 1/2 commute

2004 Lexus LS430 For Sale SOLD

Surly Big Dummy for sale, $1800 SOLD