Scott's Bicycle Doctor Blog

It's a Wonderful Life!

2011-12-31T21:24:00.000-05:00

What a difference five years can make! Too many people now know the feeling of being called into an office with their boss, only to be told that they are part of the company "downsizing." I certainly know what that is like. As my manager said those words, everything slowed down and I felt like I was in a vacuum. I saw his lips moving, but I heard nothing. I noticed the surroundings -- the projector in the conference room, the pad of paper and pencil on the table. I was numb. I knew that day would come eventually, but that doesn't make it any easier. Before I even had a chance to plan my next move (literally), I was whisked away into the HR office to sign paperwork, etc. The poor woman was crying, since she had been through this process so many times before, and faced doing it many more times.

Amazingly, I was actually relieved. Finally! It was like a burden being lifted. I was bored out of my skull in my job, and I just knew that I would be if I had to take another cubicle position. I love building and breaking things, diagnosing problems, and correcting the issues. Endless paperwork was definitely NOT the reason I worked so hard to get my degrees. The only engineering I ever saw was while I was preparing for design reviews or sitting through endless meetings (for design reviews). I just sat there and said. "Really? We are reviewing the SAME exact design as we did two weeks ago. If that one passed, how come we now have five action tasks if NOTHING has changed?" I realized at that point that the root problem was that people were creating work to prove that they were value-added. In other words, to keep their jobs! That is the problem with the corporate world (in my opinion) -- the job is primarily to keep the job. The further up the ladder they climb, the more true this becomes. No one is really accountable -- certainly not at the CEO level. If the company fails, so what? Whatever they did during their time at the company, it experiment and they get a golden parachute.

That lifestyle just wasn't for me. So when the woman in the HR department started telling me about the career counseling and resume classes being offered for free, I literally said, "Thank you, but I am going to open a bike shop. I already have a side business, so I am going to see where that takes me." She looked at me in disbelief -- I must have been in shock from finding out moments before that I was being laid-off, right? I didn't care how crazy it appeared, I knew right then and there that I was going to create my own destiny. As was required, I was led into an adjoining room with another woman with the career building information. I took the information packet I was given, but I politely told her that I was not going to be needing it.

I must have appeared crazy to those people! In retrospect, I definitely was crazy! I had no finances to draw from, except a small severance package. I had bills galore, a relationship on the rocks -- even my dog had recently died (to round it out and make the beginnings of a good country song! HA!). In other words, the only thing I knew for sure was that I might be making the biggest mistake of my life!!! Rather than rehash what I went through (the story is fully told in the posts of this blog), let's just say that I made it!!!

It took five years of constant struggle, stress, and sacrifice. There were definitely times when I didn't know if it would be worth the effort. However, I never stopped giving 110% every day. I am my own worst critic, which drove me to always make sure that "good enough" was not good enough. As Alan has told other employees, I am hypercritical, but I am not hypocritical. I just want to build the best shop in Atlanta -- it is really that simple.

2011 was literally the best year of my life! Although the business has always made money (basically since day one), it is on incredibly secure footing now. I am hoping to have the showroom 90% completed by spring (if we ever have a slow day!). Most importantly, I met the woman I will be marrying in 2012. Yes, you read that correctly -- I AM ENGAGED!!! To make a long story short, I asked Ali to marry me last Thursday, in front of 20+ people (family and friends). It was really special because I asked her at her uncle Tommy's house -- the uncle who introduced us when he was a customer. Only her parents and her brother's girlfriend knew what I was going to do -- her mother even brought a champagne glass from her wedding for me to place the ring in. It was a total shock to Ali (see photo)!!! Amazingly, I didn't mess it up!

I thought this week would be slow and relaxing, but that was a completely WRONG assumption! It was absolutely crazy! I completed the Gunnar Roadie build, performed multiple tune-ups, and even sold three bicycles!!! All in just four days! Needless to say, I need a break. We were closed today (New Year's Eve), and of course will be closed tomorrow. I am taking off Monday for some R&R.

One present we received at the shop was the return of Aaron as an employee -- much needed! He came back just in time, and plans to stay for the next few years while he attends Georgia State. It was definitely nice to have a "plug & play" employee this week!

Aaron mentioned VirtualBox to me, so I couldn't resist checking it out. WOW! I can run so many operating systems now without having to reboot -- just run them as a virtual machine! I have already loaded Ubuntu and Solaris. I will be experimenting with Fedora Linux and even load up the OS2 Warp which Alan gave me a few weeks ago. He did it as a joke, given my penchant for my 20-30 year-old computers! HA!

Of course, my year wouldn't be complete without a New Year's Eve operating system crash. Apparently I destroyed the Windows 7 64-bit on my home computer this afternoon. Luckily, the few files I have on that system are still intact (I think!). I just have to load up one of my drives with Windows 7 and add a few files. Since I run almost everything remotely on my shop computer (I am doing that now from Tommy's house while Ali and I prepare for the New Year), I never have much to worry about if my system crashes. Well, unless it is the shop computer, which happened a few weeks ago. Time to learn about RAID!

Speaking of failures, but pond pump failed after at least five years of constant running. What is life without unexpected expenses? Luckily the temperature is cool, so the fish can survive a few days without aeration until the new pump arrives.

Ali and I went to get one of the presents she got me for Christmas today -- a Motorola Droid Razr! Since one of my programs at Motorola was the battery for the original Razr phone, it is cool to have another MOT product. I waited FOREVER to decide on a new phone (I STILL have a 3G iPhone!). I think I made the right decision. Since I am so familiar with Android now, having rooted my Android, I was ready to convert. It only took me a few minutes to figure out how to move over my contacts (even without iTunes!), so I am fully converted now. She bought me some AMAZING toys (REAL toys) this year! I am so lucky!

Speaking of Ali, I found out that she set the record for the most leads generated by a new hire! Amazing! Actually, I am not surprised at all. Zero technology experience, yet she is already at the top of her group. If you wonder why I have absolutely no respect for the "occupiers," I'll tell you why. I succeeded by myself, against all odds. Ali made her own "luck." If you want something in life, you can have it. Plain and simple.

I encountered yet another computer problem while trying to get on the wireless network at Tommy's today. I have never logged in here with this computer, but I always use wireless everywhere else without an issue. However, I just couldn't log in. This laptop is OLD (Windows XP), but all it has to do is be a terminal for my shop computer -- the one with the horsepower. My Nook logged onto the network without a problem, and so did my new Razr. Using my Nook I found the problem. I had XP with Service Pack 2, but I did not have WPA2 for network authentication. I was able to find an Ethernet connection in the house, which allowed me to download the correct Windows patch. That was the trick! I am used to this by now -- nothing is EVER easy! HA!

Absolutely hilarious! Bieber in a nutshell.

As we close out the year, I want to wish all of my wonderful customers and supporters a wonderful New Year! I have no doubts that 2013 is going to be even more amazing!

For no particular reason, here is the last video post of the year...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

64 Problems and a Bit Ain't One!

2011-12-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

As I sit here and try to decide what to write, I cannot forget to mention how thankful I am for everything I have, since I haven't posted anything since before Thanksgiving. I am entering 2012 completely in the black. I have no personal or business debt -- everything you see in the store I own. This is not bragging -- not in the slightest. Believe me -- when I opened the shop less than five years ago, only a fool would have tried. I was not in any financial position to take such a risk. I had just been laid off, and I had plenty of bills (to say the least). I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I can say without hesitation that I would not have tried it knowing what I now know. Put simply, it was an absolutely crazy idea! I guess the old saying that "ignorance is bliss" is true! However, I did have a few things on my side. The most important was a belief in myself. Looking back, probably the only person who believed in me back then as much as I did was my stepfather. He was more proud of my shop than he was of my engineering degrees, even though he had two degrees himself! I wish he was here now to see how far I have come.

Along the way, I have heard all of the sayings thrown around by other shop owners to validate why they "can't" (and don't) succeed. "We aren't in it for the money" or "We all know there is no money in bikes -- we do it because we are passionate about them." Seriously? Sounds like a defeatist attitude if you ask me. More correctly, if you fail, you already have a built-in excuse -- "I knew that I wasn't going to succeed." Sorry, but I didn't give up a large part of my life in school and ten years in a career just to throw it all away because I am really into bikes. Call me crazy, but I would MUCH rather dabble in bikes on the side, and know that my bills are paid with a 9-5 job. I did not start a shop to fail. Lucky for me, I didn't.

Along those lines, Adam Carolla nails it in this rant. If you are easily offended by vulgarity or common sense, you probably shouldn't listen...

2011 was the best year of my life. The main reason was meeting Ali. She believed in me even when I barely believed in myself. Although we met after four years of my owning the shop, I know that she would have truly believed in me since day one. Being successful at anything can be tricky. Are your friends really around you because they like you, or do they like your toys or the lifestyle you lead? Dating is even worse. Can you really expect someone to stay with you during the years of stress? On the other hand, don't you want to know that they would? I found someone who would have stuck by me during all of the hard and trying times, yet she did not have to.I could not have met a better match.

I am extremely grateful for everything and everyone in my life.

Ali and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with her family. The food was amazing, and it was great spending time with everyone. Brad and I rode in the morning. I was surprised that I still had something -- riding to work a few times a week was a huge help. But it also proved that I had a long way to go if I wanted to reclaim my old form. Taking the four days off for the holiday allowed me to have the mental break I needed so badly, but it really was too short. Ali was wonderful and gave me the days I needed to play with my computers. In return, I took her to the UGA/Tech game. Well, we tried to go, but there just weren't any tickets -- even from scalpers. Of course, my uncle and cousin managed to get seats on the 50 yard line at the last minute, but we weren't as lucky. We did have a wonderful afternoon bar-hopping. It was a great holiday weekend!

Speaking of Ali, I have to say how insanely proud I am of her! She just started her second month on the job, yet she is leading her coworkers for the most sales leads generated for December! She had zero tech experience, and many of the people she works with have years of experience in the field. It was obvious that Dell had a lot of confidence in her when they hired her, and I certainly did, but her results are beyond comprehension! Even with my technical background, I couldn't sell the way she does. Simply amazing!

As I mentioned, I worked on my computers a lot. Mostly with my Nook, trying to install Ubuntu and Honeycomb. I failed with Ubuntu, but I was successful with the CM7 lod (and I LOVE it!). I literally spent large parts of several days trying to figure out why I couldn't communicate with the Nook via the ADB USB connection. Finally, I realized that it was the Windows 7 64-bit operating system -- it worked fine when I hooked it up to my netbook which uses Windows XP. 64 bits HAS to be better than 32, right? Not necessarily. I have encountered many similar issues with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. I am glad that I have other computers available with the previous versions of Windows -- I have needed them often. Even though I was finally able to successfully communicate via USB, I was never able to get Ubuntu loaded. I don't really care -- except that it is a challenge!!! We shall see if I continue on my quest... At least I have a fully functioning tablet with running on Honeycomb! It wasn't a complete waste of time (it never is)!

Speaking of computer fun, I crashed my shop computer two weeks ago. It was completely my fault, and I am embarrassed to admit what happened. However, it was amazing how quickly I was able to resurrect the system. I had the foundation back online in an hour or so, and everything was back online within a day! I have had so much practice over the past few years setting static IP addresses, fixing network issues, and correcting my own errors that it really doesn't scare me any more. As long as I have the raw data backed up, everything else just takes patience.

As for the rest of the shop, it has been absolutely crazy the past few weeks! Here are just some of the builds I have completed in the past month:

25" Ventana El Rey 29'er

Ventana El Saltamontes 650b/26"

Santa Cruz Tallboy Carbon

Santa Cruz Tallboy AL

BLUE RD1 flat bar conversion

Sprocket carries his toy everywhere!

Basically, I have been trying to finish/post this blog entry for the past several weeks -- I have just been so busy! Christmas is almost here, yet you would think it is the middle of summer (not to mention the temperature being over 70)! I have no complaints. Sure, I want to complete several winter projects and upgrades, but the whole purpose of those is to improve the shop. If things are already rocking, that is definitely not a priority! The focus should be on customer service, first and foremost. That means doing what we say we will do and on time. Everything else is secondary. If the warehouse isn't perfect, it will still be waiting when I have time.

This should be a great weekend. Went clothes shopping for the first time in forever with Ali-- for REAL clothes! Not just jeans/shorts/T-shirts. Grown-up clothes! HA! We have a party to attend tonight, so that should be nice. Tomorrow is more winter brewing at Brad's (Ali is so tolerant! HA!). Then one more week of hard work -- a Gunnar Crosshairs and a Niner Air Carbon with XTR to build. I am hoping to have some quality relaxation time during the week between Christmas and the New Year -- just me and Ali... and my computers... HAHA!

Time for this song again. It is just so darn true for me!!!

Rooted

2011-11-20T22:37:00.003-05:00

Custom 25" Ventana El Rey 29'er

About a week and a half ago, my (rooted) Nook Color started having problems with the Android Market. I couldn't load any new applications, nor update any of my existing apps. I tried everything I could, but nothing worked. Reluctantly, I decided to wipe the Nook clean and start fresh. This process is very simple, but time consuming. I reloaded the original software (1.2), updated to 1.3, then rooted the unit. Everything worked perfectly... or so it seemed. I loaded all of my favorite apps -- Netflix, Kindle, etc. All of the programs worked perfectly -- until I rebooted the Nook. After performing a restart, the Nook would remain in an infinite loop and never turn on. Amazingly, I remained patient. I searched and searched on Google -- trying to find a resolution, or at least a possible cause for the problems I was having. The issue I always have when I encounter these glitches is that the answer is out there -- IF you know the correct phrase to use for your search. However, that is far easier said than done. I put the Nook aside and decided to come back to it.

Working six days a week, I rarely have time to just relax and tackle problems any more. Working in the corporate world, it was easy. Weekends came and I was able to accomplish anything -- I had two full days at my disposal. Even weekdays allowed time for completing projects -- if I wasn't riding my bike or jet ski after leaving the office at 5PM, I could do anything. I am certainly not complaining, but my schedule is a little tighter now. Even waking at 7AM does not guarantee an easy day. I am usually on the computer checking my emails first thing after waking. No matter what, my days are always longer than I anticipate -- usually going in to the shop earlier than I had intended because of some fire needing to be put out. Every day is WFO (a term from my days racing motocross as a kid -- "Wide F*cking Open"). When the day is over, I am worn out. My body is tired, but my brain is even worse. I don't have the energy to focus on my computer projects. Today I had a chance to just sit down and work undisturbed on the Nook.

I had a few theories about the reason for the reboot issues, so I reloaded the Nook with a fresh install and started attacking the problem. Over and over I would install all of the software. Everything worked went smoothly until I would reboot -- the unit would lock up. Reloading everything takes about 20-30 minutes, but I am persistent when I encounter these problems. While waiting for the software installation, I would perform searches on Google for possible solutions. After almost ten tries, I finally found a possible solution. I noticed that everything would work until after the Market update. Research found that the Adobe Air and Flash updates were causing similar problems with other rooted Nooks, and the symptoms matched. Finding the cause was great, but it took me another hour to find the solution! That is the "fun" part of computer problems -- it can take a full day to find the answer, but implementation of the fix usually takes seconds! Regardless, I am happy to report that my Nook is fully functional again! Not only that, but I learned a lot along the way...

I am "lucky" to have all of the years of experience I have had working on bikes. It isn't rocket science by any stretch of the imagination (nor engineering! HA!), but bike repair can definitely present problems which can be just as frustrating as any other profession. Having worked on thousands of bikes over the years does have benefits -- I can often diagnose an issue just by a noise, without ever touching the bike. This only comes from experience. I can only imagine how aggravated my customers often become before bringing a bike in for something I appear to repair in minutes. They don't realize that those "minutes" actually took years in reality. I have to remind myself of this when I am battling a computer issue. Luckily, with enough perseverance, most issues can be resolved. It just takes time -- a lot of time!

This weekend was great -- very relaxing. The women in Ali's family were having a morning at the spa followed by lunch, but I was invited down to join them for breakfast. I think Ali's family gets good use out her past life as a bartender -- nothing like a bloody Mary first thing in the morning! HA... The day at the shop was great. Alan was a huge help -- we sold a FELT mountain bike which he built while I put the finishing touches on the custom 25" Ventana El Rey (customer is 6'9"!). That was the second Ventana with XTR I have completed this week! I also built yet another set of Stan's tubeless rims on Chris King (gold) hubs -- I have one more set to lace this week. What a month so far!

After work yesterday, Ali and I went Kevin's 4th birthday party -- it seems like he was only born yesterday! His favorite toys in the world are Legos, so we bought him a airplane kit. As expected, he received several other Lego kits as well. Brad is very smart -- he dared Jerom, Sergej, and myself to build them. I had never built a Lego set in my life -- how difficult could it be?... HA!... A few hours later I finally completed the task. Seeing that Kevin was doing his best to impersonate Godzilla and tearing apart the other kits they had just finished, I decided to capture the plan for posterity with my iPhone. It will never look that way again, I am sure!

Ever wonder what Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" would have sounded like if Faith No More had performed it? Wonder no more:

Back from the day...

The weekend is almost here!

2011-11-17T17:29:00.002-05:00

I don't know if I am worn out from the workload, working six days a week most of the year, the constant fluctuation of the temperature, or a combination of all three. Regardless, I was definitely glad that I was able to get mostly caught up today. Next week is going to be hectic with the arrival of frames and parts for several builds, so I needed a little break. Although today was relatively slow, I did have a sale of a pair of PowerCranks and checked in a tune-up, so it was a good day! Otherwise, I finished what I could on the 25" Ventana El Rey (the customer is 6'9"!!!), completed a tune-up, and tied up some loose ends around the shop. I definitely have a cold of some sort, so I will be crashing early tonight. The remaining parts arrive tomorrow for the Ventana, and he is picking it up in the evening -- I am hoping all goes according to plan!

I finished Lee's Ventana El Saltamontes bike yesterday -- it is gorgeous! The hubs and headset are both Chris King, and the drivetrain is Shimano XTR. He decided to build it as a 1x10, with a 650B front wheel and a 26" rear. We used an X-Fusion Velvet set to 650B for the fork -- the bike came out great! Personally, I am a fan of the larger front wheel with a traditional 26" rear. My Carver uses a 29"/26" combination, and I am planning to build a Ventana El Chucho this spring with that configuration. I feel very lucky to have been able to build so many custom bikes over the years, and I seem to be selling more each month as time goes on. I am very fortunate that so many of these builds have been the result of referrals from satisfied customers!

I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving! I am hoping to close early Wednesday if it is slow, then I will have FOUR DAYS off! That doesn't sound like much, but that is an eternity to me! I figure that I have another year or two at this pace, then I will search for a top-end mechanic to take much of the load off me so that I can focus on growing the business. It is so hard to believe that it has almost been five years! The shop has definitely grown beyond my wildest expectations! I didn't have to Occupy Norcross to make it happen, either -- nothing but hard work!

Hopefully next week will revive me. I know that the winter will be over before I know it and we will be right back into the heart of the season. If I am lucky, Ali and I will be able to take a few short weekend trips before the insanity begins again!

I am a commuter!

2011-11-16T16:39:00.001-05:00

I can honestly say that I am a bike commuter now. For the past several weeks, I have ridden my bicycle to work more than I have driven. I decided that I was tired of making excuses. I now have a garage at the shop where I can park one of my trucks, so I can always have a vehicle there to run errands if needed. I have a 1500 lumen headlight (Serfas TSL-1500), which confuses the living hell out of drivers -- "That can't be a bike!" I just bought a FELT F85 road bike for the 9-mile commute, so it was time to start riding! I rode the first sub-40 degree day last week -- not great, but not horrible. I can handle just about anything for 30-40 minutes, so I was determined not to wimp out. I won't necessarily ride every day, but I will definitely keep it up! The heavy rain today was definitely a good excuse to drive!

Ali started at Dell last week -- I am so proud of her! Apparently she was the only one hired out of 100 applicants! That is simply amazing! How exactly was I lucky enough to get her?! Life is good, and I have no complaints. She calls me each morning on her way to work, so I am getting up and accomplishing a lot before work. Working 11-7PM sounds like an idyllic schedule, but think about it for a minute... The morning can easily get away from you (believe me!), and the next thing you know you are at work. The day ends and all of a sudden you are at home and too worn out to do anything. Just as being a business owner takes discipline, so does maintaining a "normal" life with those business hours. Additionally, I am not just rolling into the shop at 11AM. I have already been online checking emails and taking care of loose ends, running errands to Blue or Lowe's, etc. It isn't just fun and games, but it is fulfilling.

We had an incredible time at the cabin with Ali's family the weekend before last! They rented one in Blue Ridge for the family, so we had been excited for several months! The only problem was that the weekend was over far too quickly. When I arrived and saw the pool and foosball table downstairs, I knew that I was going to be able to survive! HA! We definitely weren't roughing it! When I came upstairs Saturday morning for breakfast, her family saw my "Bacon Strips &" T-shirt and was basically like, "How cute! He loves bacon!..." I decided not to mention Epic Meal Time as the real reason behind it! HAHA!...

We went downtown, then five of us went on a six-mile hike (round-trip) on the Benton MacKaye Trail to the Swinging Bridge. I must admit that neither running nor riding use the same muscle groups as hiking through the mountains! We were battling time since we had to make it back before dark -- we basically just made it. A big dinner, the LSU-Alabama game, and I was done for! It was an exhausting day, but definitely worth it!

Having a full weekend was great, but I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving. It is going to be a huge dinner with Ali's family, so that will be fun. Even though Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping insanity, my shop is usually dead the day after Thanksgiving. I have decided that the store will be closed that day, and one of my guys can run it over the weekend. I am thoroughly burned-out, so I need a break.

You might think that things have slowed down here, but nothing could be further from the truth! I have two custom Ventana bikes which are almost done. We have two Santa Cruz builds coming down the pipe. Two complete Surly bikes are arriving next week which were sold last week, and a Gunnar frame is being built for delivery in the coming weeks. We are also in the talks with another Gunnar custom build. Amazing!!! Oh yeah -- let me not forget the Blue RD1 being picked up this Friday. I have zero complaints about the shop. Things are good!

Last Monday night I went to the Foo Fighters concert with Peter. Originally, I had tickets for Ali and myself, but we decided that it might not be a good idea for her to show up at her second day of work exhausted from a late night at a concert! HA... I wish she could have gone, but there will be plenty of other opportunities. Peter and I had a great time -- my ears literally rang for two days afterward. I do have a question, though. Take a look at the photo I took from our seats, and the one below it, which Joseph sent me from his seats. Is there something wrong with that picture (literally)? HA!!! I still had a great time, regardless -- even if I was just a LITTLE jealous...

Argh!!! At least I caught it! Luke's guys were able to replace it that day, so we were only an hour late leaving Atlanta. With two Land Rovers, the odds of my still having to ride a bike to work are quite high!!!

Great video and song!

Trapped Under the Asymptote

2011-10-31T17:52:00.001-04:00

Had a perfect weekend. It began with babysitting Kevin Friday night -- I now know more about Legos than any other (non-parent) adult on the planet! His Lego catalog is constantly by his side, and he knows EXACTLY what he wants for both his birthday and Christmas.

Ali and I spent Saturday at the family Halloween party. What did I dress up as? A Fatt Matt's customer. Ok, that was my excuse -- I wore a T-shirt from the restaurant. It was still a costume, right?

Sunday was a day at Stone Mountain with her family. Brad brought Kevin. Kevin brought his catalog. All was good in the world. Oh yeah -- our homebrew was apparently a hit, too! Her father brought their canoe, so we all took turns out on the lake. It was a cool and breezy day, but it was perfect!

I really don't have much else to report. No music video today, but I HIGHLY recommend spending five minutes to watch this...

Filling the Void

2011-10-25T21:43:00.000-04:00

Alan had a void in his life. It had been at least six months since he had moved any of the parts of the 600 gallon aquarium. He was sad -- very depressed, in fact. Well, I am here to help. Because of this emptiness in his life, I decided that it was time to move the aquarium again! Well, that and a 10'x30' storage unit would be able to accommodate my motorcycles and the aquarium. Of course, the main reason was to help Alan. I am incredibly altruistic, so I need to help. Now I just need to let Keaton and Nick in on the fun -- they are sad, too.

This week has been crazy! So much happened today alone. I had a better day in the register than most Tuesdays during the summer. I sold a BLUE Norcross frameset which has been in stock for two years. A complete overhaul came in -- full Campagnolo equipment! That customer actually lives in Maryland and is here on business. He drove all of the way from Buckhead to my shop to have us work on the bike -- because of our reviews on sites like Yelp! and Kudzu. It ain't rocket science -- people actually want businesses with good reviews! All of these businesses blame the economy and/or the Internet for their woes. I know this is a novel concept, but how about doing a good job and treat your customers right?! I know, I know -- I am crazy...

Moving some of my motorcycles to the storage unit allowed me to park my truck in the garage again, which in turn meant that I could ride my bike home tonight! The 1,500 lumen Serfas headlight was amazing! Sure, I was a little nervous riding home, but no more than when I ride during the day. Actually, I was probably more confident -- there is no way drivers couldn't see me, especially with the rear flasher! I am looking forward to my ride in tomorrow morning.

This time of year is perfect. We are finally at the level where we are busy through the winter, yet it is more relaxed. Big bike projects (such as the bike builds I have ahead, complete overhauls, etc.) make the pace more manageable. Additionally, we have PLENTY to accomplish on the "to-do" list. I applied the second coat of paint to the new fit studio today, so that is done. The painting was finished last week in the office, so I just need to paint the bathroom and that side of the shop will be ready to bring in all of the furniture. A little at a time, but it adds up.

That's really all I can think of to report today.

Ever see Epic Mealtime? If not, watch until you can't stomach any more...

Not at the same level as "Lose Yourself," but the words still ring true...

Occupy THIS!!!

2011-10-20T22:58:00.003-04:00

My girlfriend was just hired by DELL as a sales representative for their Internet security division... Was it because she has tech experience? Nope! She actually didn't have any! She just persevered and set herself apart from the other applicants! It didn't hurt that she had sold a product years earlier (by complete coincidence) to one of the interviewers. I am so proud of her!!! However, it does prove one of the things I write about often -- you can achieve anything you want in life if you want it badly enough, even in this economy! Protesting doesn't solve anything -- it just wastes time. I never get political, but one politician has it right -- if you aren't where you want to be in life, look in the mirror. The answer is staring you in the face. Everything you need to be successful is right there! It took me almost five years of constant struggle, but every dream I have ever had for my life has come true! I never blamed anyone else for my place in life -- I knew it was up to me to succeed.

I am lucky. I received that mentality from my (step)father. My motocross hero growing up was Bob Hannah. My father would point out Hannah's belief that everyone has excuses -- that stuck with me until this day. It is so easy to blame others for our failures in life. It is because no one loved us enough as a child... The "fat cats" on Wall Street are holding us down... etc... etc... etc.. Life is NOT fair! Who cares?!!! Man (or woman) up and take control of your destiny! We only get one chance -- do NOT waste it!

Ok, I am off my soap box. It needs to be said, though. Now, more than ever.

The last few weeks have been a blur. Business has been crazy -- currently working on a 25" Ventana El Ray custom build (customer is 6'9"!), and a Santa Cruz Tallboy carbon with SRAM X9 2X10.The upstairs has been completely renovated, the new warehouse is done, my new office is painted with carpet, and even the insulation by the show bikes has been covered! We have made major, major progress. However, there is so much more to accomplish. I still need to acid stain the showroom floor, setup my office, prepare the fit studio, etc. It never, ever ends. On top of all of that, it is now almost November, yet I am still buried in repairs every single day! Not complaining!

We now have well over one hundred bikes in stock! I can't repeat the words Nick sent in his text after I sent him the photo at right -- let's just say that he has a lot of work ahead of him this winter! We both do. Over sixty bikes in boxes, with more arriving daily. I have said it before, but Atlanta hasn't seen anything yet. I am on a mission, and I won't be stopped! Believe me yet?!!! Honestly, it doesn't matter if you do -- it is reality...

A "shout out" to Dave for completing 250 miles in 24 hours at the 24 Hours of Booty -- WOW!

What else has been going on in my absence of almost a month? I received my father's SV1000 and my (third) VMAX! I have been talking about these bikes for a while, and they are finally a reality. I am VERY excited about the Suzuki -- I have been wanting a V-twin sport bike for a while! Of course, Rich had to steal my thunder by buying a Honda RC51 -- ARGH!!! HAHA! Oh well... I guess I can survive. HA! Now I just need to find me a Triumph Speed Triple! He who dies with the most toys.. still dies...Although, he did bring me a bottle of a Johnnie Walker Blue Label from his trip to Korea. I guess all is forgiven!

It is fall, so we all know what that means -- BEER BREWING SEASON!!! You might think that it is a difficult transition, but Brad and I are seasoned professionals. Ali is more than happy to help -- as a taster... Actually, she is a trooper -- she dives in helping no matter what we need! Yeah, I have it rough. Thanks, Tommy!!!

We took a trip to TX to help Roswitha take care of loose ends regarding my father. Nothing like waking at 4:30AM for the flight out! Ali's parents were wonderful -- her father made us incredible coffee, while her mother made the early morning drive to drop us off at the airport. It was great seeing Roswitha under better circumstances than last year when I had to make the trip for the funeral. She thinks I worked hard, but I did get to use a grinder! I would have PAID for that experience!!! The best part was seeing how much she loved his fish. If you remember, many entries ago I posted a photo of the aquarium he built. It was great seeing how healthy the fish were, as well as how much effort she put into keeping it in perfect shape.

Otherwise, things are rocking. I said it more than once today -- March is right around the corner. I have been placing preseason order after preseason order. Ali and I are heading to the mountains with her family the first weekend of November for a Halloween getaway. Having seen the photos from last year, I am truly afraid. Will I survive? Tune in next time!!!!

Last night Peter and I went to the Dream Theater concert at the Tabernacle downtown. We actually went to see them several years ago, but I am now definitely a fan! Their new drummer, Mike Mangini is phenomenal. He set five World's Fastest Drummer records -- simply amazing! It was a blast! A perfect ending to yet another hectic week!

No Rest for the Wicked

2011-10-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

I am sitting here with Ali's family watching football and I get a text from Bill, my police officer friend. "I just met a dude from your past... Said he used to work in the same shops as you..." I ask his name -- "Mike." I find out that his wife had been in a small wreck, so Bill was there at the accident scene. I dug for more information. I was supposed to park at Michael's tonight for the Greek Festival (although we never made it). Could it have been him? After several texts back and forth, I realized that it was another Mike, although still someone I knew quite well. Amazing that this world is so darn small! I am glad that he and his wife are ok...

Tomorrow is the big day -- receiving the Suzuki SV1000 (and Yamaha VMAX) from my father's estate. I am really excited about both, but I have definitely been anticipating the SV1000 the most -- I have always wanted a V-twin sport bike! With the correct exhaust, they sound amazing! My father bought it as a crashed bike with LOW mileage. He spent a lot of time bringing it back to almost perfect, but never really had the chance to ride it due to his cancer. I am really looking forward to adding the finishing touches. It will be gorgeous!... In the meantime, we get our needs filled by motorcycle-esque creations. Early in the day we dealt with an electric bicycle, then finished the day with the contraption in the picture. Nick can attest that it weighed as much as a true 50cc motorcycle, even though it was electric! My question is, "why?" Why not just add a real motor? Oh well...

The week was actually great. Our season basically slows down after the big Six Gap Century, so it was very relaxing. That doesn't mean I have nothing to do. I am currently working on two $6k+ builds, several custom hand-built wheels, other repairs, etc. Additionally, we have to complete the new office and fit studio, organize the warehouse, and add finishing touches to the showroom (and acid stain the concrete floor). I just ordered over fifty bicycles yesterday -- we will have over one hundred bikes in stock now! all of those need to be built! Spring will be here before we know it, so there is no rest for the wicked!

I actually built Dave's new TREK Madone 6.9 under the gun for this weekend's 24 Hours of Booty. He brought in the used frame Thursday, so excited to have it for the weekend. However, the previous owner had shipped it to him without ANY of the required proprietary parts -- just a frame and fork. No headset (proprietary), no cable guides (not even the bottom guides!), etc. The guy sent it COMPLETELY STRIPPED!!! How ridiculous! I was able to overnight the specific headset parts from Cane Creek (great guys!!!), and Dave ordered the parts next day from TREK. We actually had the bike ready by 4:30PM the next day -- WOW! I was really glad to see it work out! Dave was so nice that he put our vehicle magnets on his car for the event today. So cool! I hope he did well -- he was aiming for 300 miles in 24 hours!

Otherwise, it was a relatively boring (a.k.a. RELAXING) week! I needed that! We now switch gears into the part of the season where shop projects are the focus. As always, repairs and customer service will be the priority, but it is time to make the dreams I have had for the shop become a reality!

Luke finished with the Range Rover, so I rode my new commuter bike (2011 FELT F85) to his shop from my house one morning to get it. I plan on reviewing the bike soon, but WOW -- it was great! I have been riding SRAM (Rival, Force, and Red on my other bikes), but I was VERY pleased with the Shimano 105 components -- great stuff. I needed relatively inexpensive commuter, and this bike fit the bill perfectly. Sure, $1,500 is a LOT of money for a bike for most people, but I was very nervous riding my shop bike as a commuter. One hit to the Mavic R-sys wheels alone would have been extremely costly, so I needed something with good components which didn't break the bank. Additionally, I was surprised how much I liked the compact gearing. Normally I love a 53x39T setup, but starting a straight-up climb immediately out of the door with a loaded backpack is NOT ideal. The compact gears (50x34T) are perfect for a commuter. Amazingly, a 50x11T is faster than a 53x12T, so not much is lost at the top end. Then again, a 53x11T definitely trumps that for top speed. My commute rarely goes over 35mph, so that is perfectly fine! The week was so pleasantly paced that I actually washed the Disco for the first time in MONTHS! Bob said that he remembers Nick washing the truck a few months ago (which he actually loves to do???). I don't remember it, but I will take his word for it. It was so nice to finally have a clean truck!

That is about it for the day. Tech won (good!) and UGA won (uh... yeah, that's great, Ali!). Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks even lost., so all is good in the world!!! I could care less about South Carolina, but Spurrier sure ranks at the bottom of my list of coaches.

Ali and her mother just returned from Fellini's Pizza with dinner, so it is time to eat! She also brought back a jug of beer from Trader Joe's, so I am interested to see how it tastes.

The American Dream

2011-09-28T23:38:00.006-04:00

I want to begin by stating what the "American Dream" isn't. It is NOT the guarantee that we can have an education, a big house, an expensive car, or anything else. It is the OPPORTUNITY to make our lives what we want. Nothing is a given. Too many people have come to believe that life is supposed to be fair or that we are owed something. In April of 2007, I started this shop with a dream. I hoped that one day I would be able to make a living doing something I knew that I was good at. I decided to try to get outside of the cubicle world. There were no guarantees that my plan would work. All I had was the belief in myself, and the great country we live in to make it a reality. When I picked up my KTM SMR450 from Alan last night, I realized that I am truly living the American Dream!

In the past six months, my life has taken the most unbelievable turn. However, it didn't just happen -- it was the result of the past several years of hard work. I put everything on the line for this business, and had to give up so much. I truly believe that sacrifice is the only path to happiness, and that the best sense of personal worth can only come from what we earn. I wouldn't change a thing about the path I have taken. In the past six months, so many things have happened. I met the most amazing woman ever -- because a customer introduced me to his niece. I was able to double the size of the store by taking over the space next door. My previous office has just been fully renovated with hardwood floors -- a plan I have had in my head for years. I am about to receive my father's motorcycles this weekend -- they were picked up last Saturday in Texas by tractor trailer. There is so much more happening -- I just can't believe it. Basically, every goal for my shop and my life in general has become a reality! I honestly feel that I am incredibly lucky, but I know that luck is really the result of planning and execution. Working hard and seeing the results is such a rewarding feeling! Even in today's economy, amazing things can still happen with hard work and perseverance!

This week marks the beginning of the slower period at the shop. By "slow," I mean reasonable. It was a CRAZY summer!!! However, that doesn't mean that I have nothing to do. Quite the contrary! I just ordered two sets (front and rear) of Chris King ISO disc hubs for wheel builds. One is for the custom Ventana El Saltamontes 650b/26" 1x9 build for Lee. What a gorgeous bike! It almost makes me want the candy apple red for the El Chucho (29"/26") I am planning for myself instead of the white frame I have in mind! It is beautiful! We have red hubs on the way -- it is going to be sweet! I also just tore down Dave's TREK USPS OCLV carbon frame for the rebuild tomorrow. No shortage of work!

We had a Jay sighting this week! When I told Keaton, he said, "It is like Sasquatch. A hipster Sasquatch!" I am too lazy to go back through my blog and find his pictures. If you have the time, do the research -- same position down to the nano meter! The more things change, the more they remain the same (and insane!). Honestly, it was great seeing him. It has been a long time. A long time. A long lonely, lonely, lonely time...

Want to know a secret? Manitou is pretty awesome. If you have an older fork and it is worn out, they will upgrade it for an incredible price -- AND the upgrade will apply to any fork in their line! Very, very cool! That is what differentiates one company from another in this business.

I mentioned that the new warehouse is really coming along. I took a break from repairs Monday and applied the first coat of paint to my new office. I am just waiting for the carpet to be installed, then I can move everything in. Calling it an "office" is probably an over-simplification. It will have all of my paperwork and a desk, but it won't be where I hang out. Sure, it will be used for the day-to-day operations, but that is about it. Everyone needs a 150 sq.ft. area for printing and a desk they never use, right?

I took a mini-break last weekend. Nick needed Sunday off, so I filled in for him. With one hour left, Alan and I realized that it was going to be a slow day, so I headed down toward the airport to skeet shoot with Ali's family. What a gorgeous day! I am really incredibly lucky -- I feel like I am part of her family. It only costs me $2,000 a month, but it is well worth the membership dues! Seriously, we always have a great time! After the shooting/redneck fun, we went to Fox Brothers BBQ for amazing food. So what if my deep-fried ribs were 20k calories? That place rocks! I highly recommend the "Fox-a-Roni!" Ali's mother said that I am officially a southerner (and therefore welcome in the family) because I ordered collard greens. I just like the vinegar, but don't tell her! HA!

That about sums up the past few weeks. What about Sprocket, you may ask? He has become insanely sweet in his old age. He LOVES Angry Birds, apparently! There is something wrong with that boy...

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an incredible actor, but... I am just waiting for Kevin Bacon to pop up at any moment!!!

Alan told me that this is me when things go wrong with the computers. I beg to differ -- I am IMMEDIATELY saying "MOVE!!!" I don't wait for dialog!

This is for you, Brad. You know what I'm saying!

This blog entry was brought to you by Ubuntu, Remote Desktop (via Ubuntu), and a VERY tolerant girlfriend!!!

I'm still around

2011-09-17T00:13:00.011-04:00

I just thought I would make an entry for those two people out there who check in. The past few weeks have been crazy. I am not necessarily working more (than the usual ten hour days), but the intensity has definitely increased -- if that is even possible. Nick has gone back to school, so Alan fills in for the extra day he is off during the week. I was able to run the shop solo for several years, but that is no longer possible -- not even in the middle of September! The shop requires two people around the clock, and that may not even be enough. It is strange -- statistics show that most businesses "turn the corner" around the fifth year. We are at four and a half, and WOW -- things have really kicked into overdrive! I mean, I have always found a way to pay the bills. I never borrowed a dime from anyone, nor did I take out any business loans. It has been incredibly rough, yet I did it. However, it wasn't until this spring/summer that I really saw that I really had a business. It has been an insane five years (almost), but definitely worth the effort!

Needless to say, I have been just a little exhausted lately. I needed some time for myself, without the obligation of writing in this blog. It takes a lot of time to make an entry. Writing is the easy part. Next come the spell checks. Then the grammar checks. Adding images can take forever! I just haven't had the desire the past few weeks. I hope you can understand.

What have I been doing at the shop beside cranking out repairs? My office now has hardwoods thanks to the hard work of Bo! Ok, I say that it is my office, but it probably won't be my office now -- it is just too darn nice! It will most likely become my lair. I don't know if that is better or worse, but it will definitely become a great place to hang out when I am unwinding from a hard day at the shop (or before). I am currently choosing colors for paint. The bathroom is all new, and Bo was able to build a closet. I am truly amazed by what has been accomplished in the past several months!

We also added shelves upstairs in the warehouse -- the 300 sq. ft. (700 total upstairs) we had built a few months ago has really come in handy! I am planning to add a second identical rack shortly. This will allow us to store small parts such as cassettes, bottom brackets, etc., in bins. I am most excited about the organization this will allow. Not only will our inventory be computerized, but having a visual system will really help. We are literally adding new items daily. Customers are always amazed by how many parts and accessories we have in stock. To me, it is not acceptable to be out of something, and this will make us even more efficient! Alan organized all of the tires the week above the repair storage racks. It looks like we have a lot of tires, right? Well, that is only HALF of our stock of repair tires in the warehouse! Again, we can tell immediately if we are low on a specific tire. I order ten or more of each at a time, so we always have plenty! The same with tubes, brake pads, or any other commonly used parts. It took a long time to get to this level. I will leave it to the other shops to be out of something as simple as a set of Avid BB5 brake pads.

We have a full size run of Santa Cruz Tallboy aluminum bikes coming this January for rent/demo. Stay tuned -- BIG plans for 2012!!!

I have always prided myself on the fact that we never turn away customers, no matter what level of bike they ride. However, that does not mean that we don't see the other end of the spectrum -- the high-end bikes. Quite the contrary! I actually work on more $5k+ bikes than most mechanics. This week I completed the transfer of SRAM Red parts from a Pinarello Prince to a LOOK 695 SR for a good customer. The LOOK frameset is worth $6,000. Yes, you read that correctly. The FRAME alone is $6,000! Of course, that includes the integrated bottom bracket and cranks, stem, and seatpost. To be able to work on bikes of this caliber is amazing! I never would have guessed that I would be doing that when I opened the shop! Sure, that is the dream of many bike shops -- to be a "Pro" shop. I can honestly say that we attained that status from very early on. However, we will still happily work on a bike purchased from Walmart. Maybe that is part of the formula for our success? I just don't understand how a shop can think they are above those bikes? Seriously, they are bicycles. No matter how you slice it. That's it. It ain't rocket science.

As for my spare time, just the usual. Although the usual now includes learning Linux, in addition to spending time with Ali, brewing and gaming with Brad, etc. My "nerd room" at home is coming around. I just mounted a 32-inch "monitor" (flat screen TV) to the wall, although I will be playing with the positioning. It is for gaming, movies, or even as a computer monitor . I am currently watching a movie on it as I write this. I HAVE to multi-task, so this allows me to push it to the limit! The bottom two screens will be replaced this week with twin 24" monitors, with one input switched between one and the 32". I can use them side-by-side, or switch alter them so that I can use the lower monitor and the big one above. While using the two lower 24" screens for programming (or blogging), I can watch a movie above on Netflix or Zune (my current configuration). For gaming,. I can use the 32" with my Xbox, PS3, or Steam on the computer. I know, I know, it is rough.

What about my girlfriend, you might ask? Ali is VERY tolerant of my insanity! I am incredibly lucky -- I know that most guys would have been thrown to the curb long ago! For some reason, she thinks it is a cute trait. HAHA! She gives me time to pursue my (many!) hobbies. In return, I give her "quality time." Is it an even trade? I like to think so, but I am sure that I am the winner in this regard. However, if I have learned anything about relationships, it is that you have to accept someone 100% for who they are. Accepting her is easy -- I couldn't ask for a more wonderful woman! As for her acceptance of me? One day she will realize the error of her ways. Until then, I am reaping the benefits! Lucky for her, I am not the jealous type. Today she sent me a text, telling me that she was the recipient of yet an unsolicited advance. Ok, this was only the 2nd since I have known her, although both were incredibly creepy! Hilarious! We have such a great relationship! She can tell me about those situations and I can just laugh -- we are great friends, and that is what is most important. The rest is easy!

My father's 64th birthday would have been yesterday. How does someone who lives such a healthy lifestyle get such a raw deal? An avid runner, non-smoker, who enjoyed an occasional beer... Absolute proof that we have to live every single day to the fullest. I am planning a trip to TX with Ali to help his wife organize his belongings, as well as to get the motorcycles ready for shipping back to GA. It is surreal -- he died almost a year ago. Why does time go by so quickly? Alan once said, "Scott is hyper-critical, but he is not hypocritical" regarding my standards for the shop (I am sure that he hates this quality of mine! HA!). I push my limits every single day since I know that we only get so many shots in life, and only one or two to make a real difference. This is my shot. I know that I have included this video many, many times in my blog. It is just so relevant. One more time, for my father. I think he would be proud of what I have accomplished...

Don't Need a Gun

2011-08-15T23:41:00.004-04:00

I mean, seriously... I am trying. I come in two hours early, hoping that I will have time to install the extra slat wall or paint. No matter how early I arrive or how late I stay, there are just repairs upon repairs to complete. Nick always matches my intensity and arrival times, yet we are always just keeping up. I try to wear the freshest hat, tipping it just to perfection like the best 12-year-old. What is the magic formula for success?! I mean seriously, taste is nothing and image is everything, right? No matter what I do, it is never, ever enough -- there just aren't more than 24 hours in the day to improve the shop to that level of perfection. Sure, the door is constantly revolving with customers (almost never a moment without one in the store), our numbers are at record levels, and I haven't seen my office in months. Yet, I know deep down that we just don't have the correct formula for a successful business... or do I? This could all be an inside joke, while I laugh hysterically at other posers. Hmm...

We received our Niner bikes and frames last week -- and they are paid for. Wow, how does that happen? We picked up both Santa Cruz and Niner within the last few months. Our commitments to both companies have been met for the year, and I don't owe either a dime. There is nothing more important to me than building the best shop in Atlanta, with the most impressive selection of bikes and accessories. I would love to rationalize that being at a trail every night to ride is going to bring me loyal customers, but it is just that -- rationalization. I have spent almost every day of the past five years building this business, and it has been worth every sacrifice. As I said last time, you ain't seen nothing yet! Watch out, Atlanta shops... we might just sneak up on you when you aren't looking. Wait -- we already have! I never make statements that I can't back up, so listen closely... Customers are tired of hearing "We don't have it in stock, but we can order it" from local shops. Guess what? They can order it, too! Not only that, but they can probably have it more quickly and for less. We carry all of the most sought-after items, and then some. Every day we get more and more. We have full demo saddle kits from Fizik, WTB, and Terry. That isn't enough -- we have ISM Adamo demo saddles coming! In a year where everyone else is cutting back on inventory, we are adding daily. The snowball effect has really started this year -- if you have been to the store, you have seen it. I won't stop until we are the best shop around. Period.

Last week was amazing -- two Ibis builds in one day, and we aren't even a dealer. It is only Monday, yet we are booked for the week with repairs. By "booked," I don't mean that we have three flat changes and a tune-up. Shock rebuilds, tune-ups, wheel builds, overhauls, etc. It keeps coming. I thrive under deadlines and pressure. Bring it!!!

Working six days a week can take a toll, so I try to make the most of my day off. This week, I took full advantage of it within hours of closing the store Saturday. Ali's brother had promised her to take her out for her birthday last week -- he kept that promise Saturday night. Wow! 4AM came around and we threw in Office Space to wind down the night, crashing at his place for the night. We were back up at 9AM, then headed out for brunch. A few hours later we were sailing on Lake Lanier. The wind was PERFECT, and Ali's father took FULL advantage of it! I kept reminding myself, "We have a 4,500lb keel below us -- we will NOT tip over!" What a day!

That's all I can think of for today. Back to Python programming...

Then...

And now...

Taking no prisoners!

2011-08-04T23:16:00.008-04:00

Let this be a warning shot across the bow... the second phase of The Bicycle Doctor is about to begin. Make no mistake -- this IS a threat, and you ain't seen nothing yet! Nick, Alan, and I have already built an amazing shop, but it is time to ramp it up a few notches. I needed a break, but it is time to come back stronger than ever! I worked full time while getting a master's degree from GA Tech -- it was always fun seeing my the jaws of my professors drop when I told them that. Basically, it was unheard of -- and it wasn't like I was taking basket weaving, either. And I graduated with high honors doing the "impossible." This isn't bragging -- anyone can achieve whatever they want if they want it badly enough. However, it won't just be handed to you. I am willing do whatever it takes to succeed. My father never allowed me to have excuses. I learned to work (very) hard for what I wanted, and to never give up.

I have fought tooth and nail to build my business. I'll admit it -- I was worn out. Four and a half years took their toll. I was burned out. Ok, maybe that isn't a perfect analogy. There were hot coals, but no real flame. It isn't like my business isn't doing well -- quite the contrary. We had our BEST week ever last week -- by a LONG shot! My competitive fire has just been smoldering. Every once in a while you need to take a step back and reevaluate. When I was at Tech, I never let my competition (other students) trip me up. My ONLY competition was myself. I almost forgot this rule recently. There are several big established shops which have deep pockets. I see new upstarts every once in a while with "fresh" ideas. There are guys out there dumb enough to let investors pay for their new shop. This is akin to the young couple where the wife's parents cosign for a house. Are they really ever free -- do they really own anything? I started the shop with absolutely nothing. I'll admit it -- I was in way over my head. Ignorance was bliss. When you don't have a net, you will do whatever it takes not to fall. I started with one brand (KHS) and grew that into a stocking dealer for KHS, BLUE, FELT, Redline, Santa Cruz, Niner, Tomac, and Gunnar -- without borrowing a dime from anyone. Again, this isn't bragging. It is proof positive what hard work can accomplish. If only our leaders in Washington had a few members from the business community instead of professional politicians. Oh well...

Riding home tonight (yes, you read that correctly), I realized that the competitive fire was stoked again -- for the first time in a while. The only competition I have is myself. I even felt my legs coming back -- I took five minutes off my normal commute time! I am back! We have almost 4,000 sq. ft. of space now, with a greater variety of stock than almost any other shop in town. We really don't have any competition except for ourselves! Nick and I have been talking about how excited we are for winter to arrive so that we can start our projects -- why wait?! No one seems to care that the floors haven't been acid stained except for us. However, that is no excuse. We have the best store in town -- time to finish making it look that way! The warehouse has really been coming along, but not fast enough. If we don't have time, we will make time! Watch out Atlanta -- here we come!

Last week was such a blur -- we are finally catching up. Nick and I are completely worn out. He has been putting in six days a week -- I think he finally realizes what my life has been like for the past several years. Much like me, it only fuels his fire, though! We have been riding before work several days a week, and it really makes a difference. You would think that we would talk about anything BUT the shop! However, we are constantly bouncing ideas off each other the entire time. It is a relatively painless way to get back in shape, and we are productive at the same time!

A few weeks ago I stripped down my Storck Absolutist 1.0 frameset. I LOVE Storck, but since my vendor stopped carrying them, I decided that I should probably start riding my custom Bicycle Doctor frame. I have two, so I could still leave one on display. As much as I loved the Absolutist, it was time to tear it apart and sell it. So, I transferred the parts and actually started riding to work -- and with Nick. I figured that the Absolutist would be on display for a while -- maybe the right buyer would stop in one day. No worries -- I have a lot of other things going on.

Monday, I heard Nick on the phone -- "Yes, we have a 57cm Storck Absolutist 1.0 in stock. Let me see how much Scott wants for it." We get those calls all of the time, so I wasn't really too excited -- until I heard that it was Andy inquiring. Why would he want a new frame? He had an Absolutist 0.9 (900 grams versus 1,000 for the 1.0). Did he like it so much that he wanted a backup bike? Well, I found out Tuesday morning. Does the term "catastrophic failure" mean anything to you? This was NOT a Storck issue -- Andy crashed into several tangled riders on a local morning ride, snapping a $3,000 carbon frame into two pieces! I have never seen anything like it! The most amazing thing is that he wasn't even hurt -- barely a scratch on him! Wow!!!... What are the odds that my frame would be available? There are times when we get lucky, and this was one of those times!

In other news, I am delving further and further into my obsession with computers. I finally restored the netbook which Ubuntu fried -- that was no easy feat. Due to the known issue, I will just load it through Windows. My next larger laptop is running Ubuntu flawlessly. I will soon load it onto my "mack daddy" laptop -- maybe even a true dual boot install! I will definitely back up that machine first, though! I am really enjoying Linux -- reminds me of my days with MS-DOS. Once I feel comfortable with Linux, I will dive into Python. I miss programming!

Ali's birthday is Sunday. I couldn't resist giving her one of her presents early -- a Barnes & Noble Nook Color. Let me start over... I couldn't resist giving myself my Nook, which meant that I wasn't about to let her think that her Nook was an afterthought. So, she received her Nook Monday -- which meant that I could immediately play with mine! The guys were even nice enough to eat somewhere different for "Pub Night" so that I could pick up the units... Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why would such a computer nerd buy a book reader instead of a tablet?" It's simple -- the Nook Color IS an Android tablet!!! Buy a Nook, spend a day rooting/uninstalling/re-rooting (right Alan?), and you have a kick-butt tablet! Seriously, this thing does EVERYTHING I want it to do -- Netflix, YouTube, web browsing, and the all-important Angry Birds! Once I was confident that I knew the procedure with mine, I rooted Ali's with her permission. Although I couldn't join her tonight for her camping trip with her parents, I am happy to report that she played with it during their entire drive to the mountains!

If my new Android wasn't enough to satisfy my technology addiction, I have one more word: "Spotify." It is the future. I am a user.

That's all I can think of for one day. Time to mess with Linux!

A double hat trick... almost

2011-07-26T00:02:00.003-04:00

Can I actually have more to talk about already? Hell yes! Today was a blur -- never really got anything in the schedule finished, yet we were busy from the second we opened -- it was crazy. The city turned on the power in the new warehouse, so Bob spent the afternoon sweating out there installing the shelves and supports for the bikes and tires. It is really coming together! We should start moving bikes out there in the next day or two, so I will have photos of the progress shortly. What a transformation! It is going to be amazing to have everything organized. We will be able to hang 56 repair bikes on the bottom tier alone! At the moment, we have less than half of that number of hooks in the repair room, so it will be a huge improvement! The current room will become the main service shop, with the current shop being used for on the spot repairs. Four work bays -- each complete with benches and all tools. Most importantly, a total of four computer screens! Can it be any better?! HAHA!

I took some interesting photos of Sprocket today to show him in "action." Have you ever seen a cat before which shows more apathy? I have seen friendly cats before, but nothing like this! He just lays on the counter (knocking off anything around him) while business goes on. Usually he wanders upstairs to sleep on the couch after a few hours, but then returns for the closing ceremonies each night. He definitely has a miserable life, doesn't he? It is really quite comical -- he really believes that he owns the shop, and we are all there for his amusement. Maybe that is the truth -- he does get what he wants and when he wants it. I rescue him from a gutter downspout, and this is the thanks I get?! HA! Nick thinks we should get a shop dog -- that would truly be entertaining. I have a feeling that Sprocket would rule the dog, too.

I am really excited to have Linux running on some of my computers. I have been intending to learn the operating system for years, but I just never made the time. No better time than the present! I mean, I really have plenty of free time. HAHAHA!

I actually rode my bike to work today -- miracles never cease. It is actually quite easy. I plan to keep it up -- I want it to become a habit. It really doesn't take any more time than driving, and I get miles in without much effort. Killing two birds with one stone works for me!

Otherwise, not really much new to report. After closing, Nick, Alan, and I went to the Tavern in Norcross for dinner. For a while, they had the lights very low -- so low that we couldn't see our menus. That wasn't going to stop us from ordering, as can be seen by Alan's creativity! Nick and Alan ordered the Hat Trick (sandwich, salad, and soup). I had to mess up our own little hat trick by ordering something else!

I have been searching for a good chess search engine to improve my skills. I was coming up empty until I dug deeper -- I found Arena, which can run dozens of chess engines. Amazing program!

Membership has its privileges

2011-07-24T10:52:00.007-04:00

I think I have forgotten to mention it before, but Ali and I realized that we have been to many of the same concerts together over the years -- just not with each other. Keane was one of them. Weird, huh? Life is very, very strange.

She has been having an amazing time in New Orleans at Tales of the Cocktail. Sure -- I would LOVE to be there. However, all is not lost. Unlike me (and 99% of society), she will actually learn while she is there! She will be coming back with amazing drink concoctions and recipes. She mentally absorbs all of the things I would not. She has informed me that she is returning with amazing food, and I am sure that she will have at least a few new cocktails for me to try! My hard work at the shop hasn't been completely in vain!

I was completely out of shop rags, so I stopped by Sam's Club Friday morning to restock. I had several errands to run, so I checked their website -- they opened at 7AM. Great! When I arrived at 9, they were still closed. I was shocked. I saw people coming out, and the parking lot had customers. What was I missing? The sign said they opened at 10AM... but they were open at 7AM for business and "plus" customers. I have a business membership! I actually got lucky for once! Membership does have privileges -- even if they are minor ones!

Nick and I went in early yesterday morning to install bottom brackets in LeMond Revmasters for a customer who refurbishes them. Apparently we have dozens to install in the coming weeks! We were able to install three in an hour. If there is one thing I have taught Nick, it is how to install bottom brackets! He is the master!!! Honestly, we are a perfect team. I mean, seriously -- what 20-year-old wouldn't want to come in at 8:30AM on a Saturday morning? HA! Then again, it was his idea!

All he needs is a beer!

This week was crazy, but what else is new? We are caught up, but I am sure that is only a temporary situation. It is always that way -- caught up Saturday, Monday is a fiasco, work like crazy the entire week, repeat. No complaints here. Bob and Nick installed the new monster racks in our warehouse -- they are going to help SO much! I will have photos as soon as the power is on Monday.

I actually rode my bike home from the shop yesterday. As sick as I was, I decided that it was time to put up or shut up! I never really felt the heat (over 90 degrees) -- I just couldn't breathe due to my congestion. That made it one of the worst rides of my life! However, I did it. I am planning to sell some of my other bikes and build a Gunnar steel road bike to commute on. Why not? It will pay for itself quickly. Having one truck in my garage at home and one in the shop garage makes it impossible for me to make any more excuses for not riding. I mean, seriously -- I do have it pretty darn good.

I have a question... Tommy buys a titanium bicycle from me. Then he introduces me to his niece, the most amazing woman I have ever met. He invites us to his house once or twice a month for amazing dinners. The other night he says, "I have a present for Scott!" He hands me the most perfect gift I have received for the shop -- a sign he found and bought for me. What gives?!!! HAHAHA! Seriously -- there HAS to be a catch somewhere. What am I not seeing?

Along those lines, I actually had the most amazing compliment the other day. A regular customer came by and was telling me about a new chain oil he really liked. He had been talking with the company which makes it, and they asked which shop was around him. He told me that he replied, "There is only ONE shop in town -- the others are jokers." Wow! Seriously? I am amazed that he feels that way about my shop... As I told him, I have tried VERY hard to build an "old-fashioned" bike shop while being completely professional at the same time. It is so nice to see that my efforts are paying off. There are the mega stores out there which are all about bringing in the dollars. There are guys who are so "passionate" about cycling -- the ones who put their own riding and interests before the customer and their business. My shop has one mission -- to serve the customer better than any other shop! That is the "secret" recipe. Complicated, huh? Thanks for the incredible compliment, Patrick!

A customer came by last night with a Mavic Ksyrium rebuild. He came in with a startled look on his face. He said, "I came here because of a referral. What are you guys doing out in this warehouse in Norcross?! I see a cat.. I see bikes... What do you do?!" Well, I guess that my only answer can be is that we do it right. We were working on a customer's Pinarello Prince with full SRAM Red while he waited -- basically as good as it gets in the bike world. How many shops can say that?

Congratulations to Cadel Evans on his Tour win!!! I wish I could personally thank him and the Schleck brothers for keeping Contador off the podium!!! I mean, seriously -- I could not be happy enough. Finally!!!!

Last night's insanity was installing Ubuntu on my Toshiba netbook computer. Nothing EVER goes smoothly. If there is one thing I have learned in life, it is that I am a lightning rod for computer problems. If there is going to be a glitch or bug, I will encounter it. After downloading the .iso file and burning it to a CD, I installed the operating system with an external CD drive. I wanted to have the system as a Windows/Ubuntu dual-boot. Everything was fine... until I tried booting into XP. As expected, that is when the fun began! Of course, I have the one computer with KNOWN issues for this configuration (as I found out AFTER the installation)! I worked on it throughout the night, attempting the suggested fixes in a terminal session under Ubuntu -- to no avail. Around midnight I gave up -- I know when I need a break.

I woke this morning and battled it for a bit. I then asked myself something -- what do I really use the netbook for, anyway? Kindle books, logging into my shop computer, etc. I haven't touched it in months, so my new goal was to use it for learning Linux. Did I really need Windows, after all? Heck no! A quick search online and I found that Ubuntu comes with the required software to remote desktop into my Windows machine at the shop (too damn easy, honestly!). Sure, I could buy a copy of Windows 7 which would most likely fix the problem., but that was ridiculous. I decided to just go for it and install Ubuntu as the sole operating system on the netbook. After completing that, it took me just one minute to log into my shop computer from the Terminal Server Client -- all was good in the world! Now I just have one VERY thick book to read! More to follow (Python, Blender, etc.). Why? I have NO idea!

I did successfully install Ubuntu on my old laptop as dual-boot. Let the games begin. No sleep in the near future for me!

I won't get political (I know better), but I will say one thing regarding this debt ceiling thing. I made several mistakes in my youth with finances -- mostly business related. However, it is never "just business" -- it trickles down to personal finances. It is all-encompassing. I started the shop in a financial situation where any sane person would have just given up. The only person who believed in me was myself (and my stepfather). It has been over four years of personal suffering -- I never put anything before the shop's needs. Guess what, I now own every single thing in the shop, and I am back on my feet -- better than that, actually. That NEVER would have happened if I had spent like there was no tomorrow. I buckled down and did whatever it took to get things in line. I pay off my vendors as quickly as possible, and I never borrow more than I know I can pay off. That is the only remedy for this country, period. We need to stop spending money we don't have -- personally and at the government level. We need to tighten our belts for a while. It is as simple as that... That's all I am going to say.

Now that I have two machines successfully running Linux, I am happy. Time to mow my lawn!

From the group which brought us Joan Jett and Lita Ford...

Sick and tired of being sick and tired...

2011-07-21T20:59:00.001-04:00

Gunnar Sport frame and fork

Ali is off to New Orleans with her aunt and uncle for amazing food and drink, while I am stuck at the shop... with a miserable cold, no less!!! Argh!!! Oh well. That is how committed I am to the success of my shop. HAHA! Actually, things have been rocking! We have moved dozens of repairs, and several road and mountain bikes have been sold. I received our Gunnar frames for display (they are gorgeous!). Of course, Sprocket was more than happy to pose with the frames!

Niner Jet 9

I am placing our first order from Niner -- we will have a complete Jet 9 bike on display, as well as an Air 9 and and E.M.D. 9. A few months ago I realized that our shop was mostly considered a high-end road shop. The irony is that although I ride both road and mountain bikes, I am definitely more of a mountain biker. I made a conscious effort to change this by first adding Santa Cruz bikes. We IMMEDIATELY saw increased interest in our high-end mountain bikes -- several Santa Cruz bikes have gone out the door in just a few months. Although I have been able to get Niner for a while, I decided that it was also time to invest in having bikes and frames on the floor. I don't just want my store to be one of the "candy stores" in town -- I want it to be THE candy store!!! I have BIG plans for my shop. This is just the beginning, I promise!

Speaking of which, the new garage in the other shop was completed in ONE DAY!!! I found a pile of lumber in front of the door at 10AM last week. By 6PM, Bo and his crew were sweeping up! We have added 300 sq. ft. of storage above, while allowing me to have a parking garage and a personal workshop! I love having my toys, but the shop always comes first. We need all of the space we can get, so I could not park inside without figuring out how to keep the same storage space. I am VERY pleased with the results! I can't wait to build my work bench and start assembling the engine for my KTM!

Nick and Bob are going to be assembling the two 12' tall racks in the shop next door tomorrow. We will be able to store dozens of repairs and all of the extra new bikes. It is amazing how many projects we have going on simultaneously. It doesn't seem that we are getting anywhere on a daily basis, but I am simply astounded when I look back and see how far the shop has come in only four and a half years!

All in all, things are great (other than being sick as a dog!). We have finally reached critical mass, I believe. Every day at least three new customers come through the doors. That is pretty darn amazing, considering the ONLY forms of advertising we utilize are word of mouth and our website. I just believe in good, old-fashioned customer service. It really isn't that difficult...

DEFINITELY worth watching!

Anyone want a slightly used cat? Only $13... HAHA!

Up all night...

2011-07-14T22:56:00.010-04:00

... sleep all day!

Or... not. Basically, it is "Up all night... up all day..." This week has been a complete blur. "No rest for the wicked... Plenty of time to sleep when you're dead... Etc., etc., etc..." I have never really mentioned this, but has ANYONE who has ever come into the shop noticed that I am NEVER (I mean never) just hanging out, doing nothing? That is the absolute truth. I am always working. That is not a complaint. It is just a fact -- a fact that I am very, very proud of. I sold a bike to a kid from GA Tech yesterday. He handed me his Tech student ID so that I could enter his information. I said, "I went to school there, too," and pointed at my degrees. He responded (in disbelief), "What was your degree?" When I told him that it was a master's in electrical engineering, he replied, "Wow! I am getting my undergrad in EE!... What happened?!" I hear that often... A customer a few weeks ago said, "It is all over. A double-E working in a bike shop."

I guess I could be down, huh? I mean, how horrible that I have to work with my hands. How demeaning! After all of those years working to become "successful." Why would I "throw it all away?" It must be because I am so passionate about bicycles, right? I am following my heart's desire, forsaking money for love of cycling. Yeah, that's it! The Tour de France has been on for over a week. Guess how much I have watched? NONE!... The irony is that if someone looked around and saw what I own (everything is paid for in the shop), and thought about how much they just spent, they might just get it... Yes, I work with my hands -- and they get VERY dirty every single day. I have to scrub them many times for several minutes each day just to get the grime off. Mike Rowe would be proud! I am completely exhausted at the end of each work day -- physically and emotionally. Nick and I are completely in sync -- we turn out amazing numbers together. A rep told me the other day that we are definitely a "mid-level" shop (in only four years of business, mind you) -- most shops would die to see similar register results each day. I CHOOSE to be at work each and every single day. The harder I work, the more results I see. How many people are that fortunate?

When people ask why I would throw away my degrees, I just have to snicker inside. I am happy. My destiny is completely in my control.

Things have ramped up so much the last two weeks -- I am working 10-14 hour a day. It is strange -- the temperature is hitting 100 degrees almost every day, yet we have never been busier! I am ALMOST caught up with repairs, so that is a good feeling. Then again, we are already booked into next week. I'll be working a lot over the coming days and weeks, but I couldn't be happier. My new "garage in a garage" will be built tomorrow in the warehouse space -- I can't wait! Time to bring some of my motorcycles over and install a flat screen for late night tinkering. Life could be worse!

Time to get some sleep. I have to get up early to work on more bikes. Damn -- I could be in a design review if I hadn't thrown it all away...

Saving lives

2011-07-13T00:23:00.003-04:00

I have finally realized that my calling in life is to save lives. For instance, I saved Nick's life just yesterday. I also saved a baby bird (I think). I am a healer. I am delusional. Let me 'splain... No, there is too much... Let me sum up...

I came out of the house yesterday to feed the fish (isn't that when all of my amazing discoveries occur?). I noticed a fluttering motion out of the corner of my eye, then I saw the baby bird in my pond (it had fallen from the nest). My big fear was seeing the beast come up from the depths and swallow him whole. I knew that I had to act fast, so I grabbed the net and scooped the little critter from the water. Seriously -- can you imagine a such a short life being extinguished in a flash by a prehistoric dinosaur which lurks beneath the depths?!!! Before that happened, I sprang into action. He was "safe..."

Ok, now what? I have a baby bird in a pool skimmer net. And???... I think... and I think... I have heard all of the theories -- "the mother bird will abandon the babies if they smell the human scent." What about the scent of a snapping turtle?! Don't they take that into consideration?!!! I saved the life of their baby, for crying out loud -- doesn't that count for something?! Of course it doesn't -- I am dealing with a bird. However, I needed to do something. I knew that the chances of my raising a baby bird were negligible. What to do? I finally grabbed it and waited for the inevitable bite -- it never came. I don't know if it was just spooked, or actually trusted me -- it was very docile. I decided to see if it could fly.. After several tries, I was able to get him/her to "fly" off my finger -- if the definition of "flight" is falling at 45-degrees while flapping wildly! I tried several times, and it actually got better. Ali said, "It looks like your remote controlled helicopter!" None of the other birds were still in the nest, so logic dictated that it should be able to fly -- they all did, right? I finally put him outside of the gate and decided that it was time for him to fend for himself. Five minutes later, he was gone. Either in the belly of a cat, or flying through the air with the greatest of ease (I am hoping for the latter). I did my best...

Sunday, we went to Fox Brothers BBQ for... you guessed it... barbeque. Kevin went nuts and ate more meat than macaroni and cheese, if that tells you anything. After saying goodbye to Brad, Dawn, Kevin, and Jerom, Ali and I headed to the Brick Store pub for a few adult beverages. We had a great time -- I even saw a guy (from afar) who I have seen for 20+ years in the cycling community. Scary! Well, that trip was a lifesaver, as it turns out. Monday came, and Nick and I were kicking ass all day. Around 4PM, I realized that we were NOT going to be able to eat. So... I fed Nick some incredible BBQ. Another life saved! That is my job.

This week has been amazing. First of all, I had to fix Brian's bike. This wasn't just any bike, after all. Brian designed my logo for me many years ago. 'Twas the night before the due date, and I needed to true his Specialized Roval wheel. I have EVERY (and I mean every) spoke tool on the planet, yet I didn't have that one. What to do? I called Tom -- I had just sold his Roubaix. I knew if there was one person on the planet who would have the spoke wrench for the Roval, he would. Guess what? He did!!! Saved me!!! Now I just have to build his Santa Cruz Nomad -- small price to pay.

I sold a Blue RD 1.1 to Mike today -- a longtime customer. What a great guy! He actually just sold his software company and turned me on to Django. I mean, really -- what are the odds? I recently pick up Python (because Ali's brother recommends it to me), and the next thing I know, I am selling a bike to a regular customer who specializes in the stuff! It gets stranger by the minute!

Alan needs a plug? Here it is. Now get to work!

Sprocket photo of the day -- posing in the display case. What a ham!

Today's movie suggestion? It is The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia. Enter at your own risk. As a preview, here ya go...

TURN UP THE (PANDORA) RADIO!!!

2011-07-10T12:13:00.002-04:00

Remember my victory from the last blog post? I was able to get the Pandora script to work on XBMC? Well, it worked -- for less than 24 hours... I turned it on only the other morning only to receive an error signing in. WTF?!!!! I had a system problem the night before -- maybe that was interfering with the XBMC in some way? I assumed that it wasn't a problem with my user name and password because I double and triple-checked them. I mean, what were the odds that a parameter with XBMC or Pandora had changed only a day after I installed the script? It had to be something else, right???

Well, to make a long story short, Pandora actually DID in fact change a setting. Like I have said earlier, I haven't been programming in years, so it is a massive refresher for me. There isn't any programming involved, but I did go through the Python scripts for possible problems, etc. After FINALLY figuring out the key words to Google, I discovered the log files for XBMC and I was able to find where the script was failing. Googling this new information led me to a forum post from last night, describing the solution! Believe me, I would not have been able to function normally if I did not fix this problem!!! HA! Now I can start really messing around with XBMC to see what it is capable of!

Had a much-needed night of relaxation at Brad's last night. We all just hung out and had a few beers and watched movies. Exactly what I needed after yet another insane week! My next day off is next Sunday (working today), so every little break is incredibly important to me.

Speaking of which, time to crank out a few repairs before we open...

I hit a squirrel... but I didn't like it.

2011-07-08T00:20:00.001-04:00

Yup, you guessed it -- I have been riding a bike. I know, I know -- miracles never cease! I don't know what has gotten into me. Things are perfect lately -- wonderful girlfriend, the bills are getting paid at the shop, etc. Maybe I finally feel that I deserve something for myself? I have gone riding three out of the last four mornings -- I should be out tomorrow, too. The only negative so far is that I actually hit a squirrel. Damn those things are stupid! I was coasting on a flat section when he darted in front of me. Keeping true to my personal rules, I stayed on course. I thought I was in the clear, but at the last nanosecond the little sucker turned 180 degrees and ran straight into my wheel!!! He scampered off into the woods, but I don't know if he made it -- the "crunch" I heard did not give me much hope. Then again, isn't the lifespan of a squirrel only a day or two longer than a bumble bee?

Speaking of nature, I came home today to a surprise -- baby fish in my pond! I don't know if they are koi or goldfish (not willing to get a close look considering the snapping turtle), but I am willing to bet they are koi! I have had koi offspring in the past, and I have been hoping for more. We shall see!

Today was absolutely crazy! I woke at 6am. I rode for about an hour, then made a trip to my accountant to drop off a check (what fun!) and pick up documents. I came back to a minor emergency (it wouldn't be a day at the shop without one!). After that was taken care of, I tackled the repairs. We had almost a dozen boxes of stock to put out (I warned Nick!), and I was busy wrenching all day. At closing time, I was totally worn out -- at least for bikes!

You see, I have this problem. When I get stuck on a problem , I get tunnel vision. I installed XBMC the other day as a media center, and I had figured out how to load my Netflix account and control it with my iPhone, but I was unable to get Pandora up and running. I found a site with the information and loaded everything according to their directions (including the header files), but I kept receiving an error. Of course, the problem was ambiguous -- an error message and nothing more. Well, I just couldn't give up -- one of my character flaws. After an hour or two of digging, I finally discovered that my add-on file did not appear to be loading in the correct location. I pieced together the limited information I could find on forums and realized that I could load the file from a ZIP format (rather than downloading a RAR file and unzipping as instructed). This was an improvement, albeit a slight one. However, I had made progress -- I couldn't give up!!! I finally decided to pack the files I needed back into a ZIP file and load it that way. EUREKA!!! As the photo proves, I now have Pandora loaded on XBMC! My programming skills are still far from where they used to be, but I can fly by the seat of my pants with the best of them!!!

Lucky me -- I get to work both days this weekend. Nick is off at some wedding thing, so it is Alan and me. Not so bad, really. I am having the time of my life now that I am back to my former self (as I write this at 12:16AM). Work hard and play hard. It doesn't really get any better than that! Time to read a bit...

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Angry Birds

2011-07-05T17:46:00.000-04:00

Ali apparently has an addiction. I might play a video game for twenty minutes at night to unwind, but she has a dangerous affliction to the game "Angry Birds." This might even be classified as a disease according to some in the medical profession. Maybe she can claim that she has a disability? HA!... Actually, it is just a minor problem for her. Her brother is probably the most affected by it -- I think she will wear out his iPad shortly! When we were all relaxing yesterday, she picked up the tablet and couldn't stop! Hilarious!

Not only do I have the world's happiest (and probably fattest) snapping turtle living in my koi pond by the front porch, but I also have my own little angry birds. Many years ago I had installed under the roof covering my porch. A bird found that to be a perfect spot for a nest. I removed the speakers and left only the brackets -- the bird build a nest the following year. I removed the brackets last year, only to have the bird build a nest between my house and the front door porch light. I removed that nest. A few weeks ago I found yet another nest from the same bird in one of the support beams above the pond -- I gave up! If he had to have a nest, that was the perfect compromise. Sunday morning I discovered several babies in the nest while feeding the fish (and inherently, the turtle). Maybe I will have a pregnant deer show up next on my porch? Hmm...

I started off my week on a positive note in the morning while Ali was running the Peachtree 10k -- I actually rode my bike! I know -- hell must be freezing over, right? Maybe I was sick. I really don't know what possessed me, other than just being tired of having all of these bikes I don't ride. I wanted to mountain bike, but I didn't want to have to leave at 7AM just to be able to fit in a ride. I did several laps around Berkeley Lake from the shop - it was a perfect way to get back on the bike. I'll admit it -- I own a bike shop as a business first, and as my "passion" much further down the line. This might sound surprising, but that is the way it has to be as the owner of any business. I enjoy bikes, and I loved them WELL before they ever became the "new golf." I don't go home and stay up all night reading bike magazines or bike "bling" blogs. I leave and enjoy the things I am interested in outside of the shop. But guess what? I am still in business after four years and the shop is growing daily, while other shops are closing their doors. I work very hard while I am at the shop, and goof around with my hobbies when I am away from it. It keeps my sanity, and my shop is better for it. My customers reap the rewards as well.

One of the things I am really getting more involved with again is programming. Although I received undergraduate and master's degrees in electrical engineering, my real love was always programming computers. To me, the ability to design AND test a product is about the most fun I can have! There are many other hobbies I enjoy where this is possible, but the time between design and testing is much longer. Plus, there are no raw materials (usually) required for programming. After the initial investment of the computer has been made, the possibilities are endless. Ali's brother has introduced me to the Python language, and I am spending about an hour a night playing with that when I can. I have always wanted to experiment with Linux, so I will be installing Ubuntu on a spare computer shortly messing around with that Ali really inspires me with everything she reads. I am becoming a human sponge, soaking up everything I can get my hands on. Why not? Life is too short to waste it!

Todd made the mistake of showing me his home entertainment setup yesterday driven by XBMC. If you have read my blog over the years you know that I was using Boxee (which is based to some degree on the framework of XBMC). However, I was never very happy with it. It was something which was great in theory (in my opinion), but wasn't quite as successful in the application aspect. XBMC is open-source, and Todd has actually made several tweaks to his. I downloaded the software last night when I got home, and I was instantly blown away by the interface! I know that the system can be modified extensively, and I am excited to goof around with it! Boxee was based on the whole social networking thing (sharing videos, music, etc., with 1,000 of your closest "friends.") I could care less about that -- I just want a media center!!! I think this will be a major improvement!

Basically I am on a mission to become "Project Man" again. I was in that mode for so long. I have spent the last 4+ years building this place, with little time for myself. Time to play a little!

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Happy 4th!

2011-07-03T15:37:00.003-04:00

I am rarely on the sales floor, but it finally hit me that the music playlist on Pandora was rather limited. I was hearing the same songs quite often, although they weren't from the same "station." I have all 100 stations filled. I merge them all together, which explains the very eclectic mix of music our customers have become accustomed to. Yet, that mix had become rather vanilla. I had attributed this to just my lack of time on the floor... I have been listening more to Pandora at home, and I realized that something was wrong. The songs at home were from every genre under the sun -- why was there such a difference? I decided to take a look at the settings at the shop. I don't know what it was set to, but it certainly wasn't the 100 station mix! One click of a button and BINGO! Amazing music at the shop again!!!... Too bad I have to wait for the damn Tour de France to be over before I can actually enjoy it! I fixed the problem just in time for the start of yet another scandal-filled Tour. Let the doping games begin! Make sure to eat only the approved meat this time, Contador! What a joke...

This week was probably the most insane since I have opened! WOW! Tom ordered a Santa Cruz Nomad, we performed dozens of repairs, and basically kicked butt all around. I had made plans a few months ago to go visit Joe in Colorado -- it would have been an incredible blow-out! I was basically going to be given the keys to an H1 Humvee for the visit, for crying out loud! However, I knew that it was just going to be too difficult to pull off without a true back-up mechanic. I decided to put the trip off for now -- I wouldn't be able to relax knowing that Nick and Alan might be in over their heads. It was a judgement call, but it appears that I made one of the smartest decisions I have made since opening the shop -- it was plain crazy! Holiday weekends can go either way, since many of our customers are out of town on vacation. The insanity began Thursday (a "Friday") for many people -- it never let up until we closed the doors at 4PM on Saturday. It looks like Nick and Alan are having a break today, which is to be expected, since tomorrow is the 4th.

I don't have any real plans for the 4th of July. Ali is running the Peachtree, but I decided that it might be a good day to ride one of my bikes. I mean, I only have a dozen or so, right? We will meet up afterward to hang at with her family at the townhouse her brother just moved to -- should be a very relaxing time! Just what my brain needs!

What I have been doing other than working? Not much, and certainly not complaining! Bo started on the construction of the new "garage" in our new warehouse -- I can't wait! I have been parking at least one of the Rovers in the space, but that takes up very valuable real estate.We are going to build a deck above the parking space so that I don't lose any storage. The lower part will be a separate unit for parking a truck, storing my personal bicycles, and a working on motorcycles. It is going to be a great investment -- even that one added parking space for customers is beneficial! Plus, I will have another play room! HAHA!

Actually having two days off is allowing me to clean my house and tackle some of the projects I have been putting off. I decided to see if the Furminator would clean out some of the undercoat in Baco's fur -- I found another cat!!! HA! Damn that thing works!... I wanted to clean one of my nano cube aquariums. I have been dreading this day forever, since it was overrun with coralline algae. That stuff is rock hard, and I knew it would be a pain to remove. After a quick Google search, I discovered that filling tank with vinegar would break down the algae -- worked like a charm! When I decided to actually use the tank again, it will look brand new! In the meantime, it will go into storage with my other dozen tanks! HA! No sense getting all of my aquariums going until I decide where I will be moving. I will have one or two at home, then start back up with the hobby when I buy my next house. I feel like I actually accomplished something today, though!

That's all for today. Heading out to grab something to grill with Ali tonight. Have a great 4th!

Quick post

2011-06-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

As I sit here and wait for my clothes to dry before I start my day, I decided to post a short entry. Yes, Jack Black -- I am prepared to do what is necessary to become a rock star. I AM willing to wake before the crack of noon!

My diet was going along perfectly -- until Ali let me know that she had a sourdough bread bowl filled with clam chowder straight from the wharf in San Francisco! Argh -- what is a boy to do?! I have had it on the wharf before, and once when Joe brought some back to Colorado. It become a moral imperative!!! I mean, I had eaten eggs for breakfast, a burrito bowl (sans burrito and rice) for lunch, as well as shrimp and avocado salad for dinner at "pub night" with the guys. I had been good, so I deserved the chowder, right? I can rationalize with the best of them!

I am really excited about my father's Suzuki SV1000. It is the exact model and color as pictured. I wish that he could have enjoyed it more when he had it -- he loved working on it. He had found it for a ridiculous deal with very low mileage. You know the story -- someone buys a bike and crashes it immediately. The bike had insanely little damage and only needed a few cosmetic items. I will bring it back to new condition and add to to my current stable. My personal garage in the new building at the shop should be completed by then, so I can't wait! I will never, ever have to go home! Might have to install a flat screen to keep myself occupied while I rebuild the KTM motor, etc. It should be a fun winter (even if I can never leave the shop)!

Hoping to go to the Tennessee Aquarium this weekend. Even though I worked at the Georgia Aquarium for the first year that it was open, the Tennessee is my favorite. I just think that the smaller tanks are better from an educational standpoint. The Georgia Aquarium is amazing, and the main tank is very realistic, but it is very difficult for people who aren't familiar with the fish to know which species they are seeing. Ali wants me to get my saltwater tanks going again, so maybe this trip will get that fire lit!

Off to work...

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Frankie Say Relax

2011-06-26T23:38:00.001-04:00

I believe that we have successfully lived an entire week in the last 30 hours. Work hard, play hard -- works for me. It was a strange week. It was slow and easy, but the shop rocked. Can't be possible? Check our receipts. Timothy Ferriss would be proud of us. Nick and I really enjoyed ourselves, watching Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Chasing Amy, Swingers, and whatever else we could get our dirty hands on. All the while, we were selling wheels, bikes, and sending out repairs. Sounds like work, huh? Yeah, believe whatever you want. It was fun!

How did I celebrate? Ali and I went to Brad's after the shop close for exploding homebrew, a movie, and watching Kevin doing stunts on his bike -- not in that order... Could the weather have been any better? I doubt it! What a nice night! Mild weather in Atlanta in June. We WILL pay for this somehow. Oh yes, we will... The whole time, Joe was texting me with updates from the MX National in CO. I think he is just trying to get back at me for not coming to visit next weekend. Oh well, such is life... We will be heading that way soon, though.

Ali and I had the most incredible day today. It was our "cheat" day on the 4-Hour Body diet. We could have whatever we wanted -- we took full advantage of it! First, we met Keaton at Felini's for pizza and beer. I mean, eating no carbs or processed food last week was not too bad, but it sure was nice to pig out today! Afterward, we hit Dick's Sporting Goods (funny story, but I used to go to the original location as a child in Binghamton, NY). Ali wants to get kayaks. so we were just goofing around, spending our day looking at what was available. We parted ways with Keaton and headed to my shop to pick up my laptop. We then went to REI to see if they had real play boats (nope), as well as what they had in the the way of climbing gear (argh -- going climbing this week...). We then stopped at Atlanta Water Gardens to check out their koi and water features. Their fish are cool, but they don't have a snapping turtle! HA! We then grabbed the BEST hot dogs and frozen yogurt. Next, we finished off the pizza we had taken home and downed a few martinis and I had a beer (or two). I played a bit of Crysis, downloaded Battlefield:Bad Company 2, programmed in Python, read a book or two, etc., etc. Now we are ready to eat amazing lasagna Ali has been preparing! Today's theme was "relaxation." I LOVE cheat days!!!

Hang 'Em High

2011-06-23T17:19:00.000-04:00

Apparently the snapping turtle is coming of out it's shell, so to speak. I was leaving my house this morning, wondering if he would make an appearance. As soon as I opened the door, he clambered over the divider in the middle of the pond to the other side (with the fish). The fish swim back and forth over this section many times a day, but this was the first I had ever seen the turtle on that side. I am not sure if he has associated me with feeding, or if he even knew I was there. However, he swam within inches of me at the edge and gobbled down food as I fed him and fish. I kept moving the camera closer, but I was smart enough to stay a decent distance away -- I like my fingers!

When I first met Ali's brother and his girlfriend several months ago, they had just come back from rock climbing at Stone Summit. Ali loved climbing and wanted to get back into it. We finally all met up there last night, although I just watched. I know that I won't have that option for long, though -- she is ready to start climbing again. I guess I have a new hobby, huh?

Ali climbing

At top -- 60'

Her brother being evil
by not letting her down

We have done great numbers this week! Ali's uncle Tommy purchased a set of Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels this morning. He buys a custom titanium frame from my shop, introduces me to his niece who I am now dating, and then buys more expensive equipment? That would fall under the "WTF?!" category, I believe! HA!... Am I complaining? Heck no!!!

From Joseph...

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

I am currently finishing the restoration of an old Schwinn for a customer, but I am caught up otherwise. The shop is running very efficiently, and things could not be better. I have decided to stay in town for the 4th of July. I probably could make the trip to Colorado (believe me, I want to!), but the shop would basically be incapacitated for the week. I am paying my dues now so that I can play whenever I want in the future. That's the theory, anyway! Ali and I will have a great time over that weekend, so I have zero complaints!

The 4-Hour Mechanic

2011-06-21T14:39:00.004-04:00

Where do I begin? The last post was almost three weeks ago, so I Nick and Ali have been prodding me to write something. Well, I guess the turtle is as good a place as any to pick back up at. About two weeks ago I was feeding the koi in my pond. I noticed something swimming around, but it took my brain a few moments to register what was going on. I finally realized what I was seeing -- a snapping turtle, approximately 18" in diameter! I have actually seen him in there once or twice before, but only for a fleeting instance, although I had no idea that it actually LIVED in my pond! I have waded in there before to move rocks, etc. -- never realizing what lurked below the surface. I called to Ali, knowing that we wouldn't have much time before he disappeared below. She was expecting a small box turtle -- she was definitely surprised! She calls it my "dinosaur" -- I feel as though I am living next to Loch Ness. I have seen him/her there several times since that sighting. I have a feeling that it has resided in the pond for the past several years. I have not lost any koi or other fish, so I am guessing that he lives off the koi food (I witnessed him inhaling pellets when I took this photo). I will be buying several dozen feeder fish just to make sure, though! Who needs a guard dog? I have a guard turtle living by my front porch! I would much rather take on a dog than this thing any day! The research I have done states that they are only aggressive when on land. I don't intend to test this theory!

We have been rocking at the shop the past several weeks! I have a feeling that the extreme heat might slow things down a bit, but things are great so far. I have had to stay late a few nights, but otherwise things have been running incredibly smoothly with just Nick and myself. He has everything down to a science, and we have a blast. He knows what I need and when, and he does an excellent job handling the floor while I tackle repairs. His mechanical abilities are increasing rapidly, too! We have about 20 new bikes in boxes in the warehouse, so he will be getting a crash course in bike building very shortly. I am willing to work 6-7 days a week until next year, which will allow me to invest more into the business. Alan has been a huge help, working Saturdays and/or Sundays to fill in the gaps.

Speaking of the warehouse, Nick, Alan, Keaton, and I moved the 600 gallon aquarium to a 10'x10' storage space last night. That was one heck of a job! There are actually three main parts to the aquarium -- the base, the middle platform, and the aquarium itself. The last time we moved everything from a storage unit to the new warehouse, we ripped one of the four wheels off. I thought that we would have plenty of space in the warehouse, but we need every square inch for the racking and shelves. We tore off another of the wheels this trip, leaving us with only two. Since the aquarium probably weighs at least 250lbs and is extremely bulky, this was no easy feat! However, we were able to successfully move everything without any injuries. We deserved that dinner afterward! I am indebted to those guys for their help!

While everyone indulged in beer and food at the tavern, I ate my salad and drank water. Why? I have finally decided that it is time to get back in shape. Most people would say that I am already in good condition physically -- maybe by society's standards. However, I know where I have been, and where I want to be. Working to build my business over the past several years, I have neglected this area of my life. I have had time to ride, run, and workout, but I just haven't been able to get serious about it. I could have woken early to accomplish these before work, but I'll admit it -- I am just worn out. My business is finally to a point where it is very smooth and efficient, and I have been yearning to get back to my former self. I had heard about The 4-Hour Work Week (by Timothy Ferriss) from a friend a few years ago, but I had never picked up the book. Outside magazine had an article about Ferris this month, and I read about his new book, The 4-Hour Body. I was skeptical about some of the claims in the book, but I decided to purchase a copy for my Kindle (I have been devouring books on a variety of topics lately). Ferriss is a believer in maximizing efficiency in life, so I can't wait to read the copy of The 4-Hour Work Week.

Previously, the most logical diet books I have read are Body for Life and The Abs Diet. While the Atkins Diet may work, it is still lacking in my opinion. Protein is great and carbs can be bad, but that diet takes it a little too far. The South Beach Diet just seems like too much work, and the dietary requirements do not seem to be easily sustainable. I have always been a believer in the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle in my life. Whether it is repairing bikes, working on computers, brewing beer, or eating, people try to make things overly complicated. I have been working around bicycles for 25 years. Know how many shift levers I have seen which were causing a bike to shift incorrectly (other than old grease in the pawls)? ZERO. Absolutely none. Sure, the lever may be worn out and not engaging. However, literally 95% of the shifting problems I have encountered with bikes come down to one of three things -- bent derailleur hanger, bad housing, or bad cable. That is it -- period! I want a diet to be the same -- simple, easy, and logical. No fluff or magic. Ferris nails it. Plus, most importantly, I get to PIG OUT one day a week!!! Not just indulge -- I can eat or drink ANYTHING all day long!!! Impossible? I doubt it -- his logic and scientific research are solid. The best part is that my girlfriend is a culinary genius and plans to make me creations on this diet which actually TASTE GOOD!!! How lucky am I?!

The Bicycle Doctor bicycle lives again! My Blue AC1 has full SRAM Red with Zero Gravity Red Devil Brakes, so I needed a beater. I moved the parts over from my Storck Absolutist 1.0 to the shop bike. With a complete SRAM Rival group and Mavic R-Sys wheels, it still only weighs 16.4lbs with pedals! Wow! Now I just need to ride, huh?

Ryan brought by his titanium hand cycle, hoping that we could help him install pedals. The holders for his feet were not safe on fast descents -- he actually had a foot bounce out at almost 40mph and drag behind him. Luckily, he wasn't hurt, but he did realize that he needed to improve the design. Once again, the machine shop next door to us came to the rescue! Within 24 hours, Dave was able to manufacture custom inserts out of aluminum, which will allow Ryan to clip in with standard pedals and shoes. Having been a professional road bicycle racer before his injury allows him to use his past experience to innovate the chairs. Who knows? We might be able to market something like this. If nothing else, it means a lot to be able to help him when we can.

Now for my (short) rant section... Things I hate:

Kids straight out of college who think they are entitled to anything -- a job, weekends off, an easy life, etc., etc., etc. If there is one thing I know for a fact about life -- you don't deserve one single thing. People in this country think they are too good to work or get their hands dirty. I worked VERY hard for my degrees, and I am extremely proud of them. Yet, I get my hands (very) dirty every single day to achieve my goals. I am not too good for anything. No one is.
People who think their personal problems allow them to treat others poorly.
The general whining in this country. The litigious society we have formed. The belief that there is a medical solution for everything. "My son is not a bad kid who eats far too much sugar -- he has ADD." America -- stop whining and get off your ass and fix your life. It isn't easy, but it is worth it. Then we die.

This brief excerpt from Conan O'Brien's commencement speech at Dartmouth College is excellent:

Otherwise, things are great. Spent a wonderful Father's Day with Ali's family on their sailboat at Lake Lanier. Think being at the lake in 95 degree weather makes it feel less hot? You are COMPLETELY wrong!!! However, it was a perfect day, nonetheless! Steaks and gin and tonic -- need I say more?

Memorial Brew

2011-06-02T23:00:00.006-04:00

Before Nick became ornery again, I decided to quickly kick out a blog post. Things have been absolutely crazy the last few days -- finished building the two $8k Santa Cruz Tallboys, performed dozens of tune-ups, two Campagnolo shifter rebuilds (today), etc., etc. I worked 12 hours straight two days ago to get caught up -- I am actually having a blast! How can I complain when things are going this well? I can't!

Osbourne I computer

Why did I include the commercial for the original Apple Macintosh? Because I actually have one now (as well as a Macintosh SE and an Apple IIe) for the computer museum I will have at the shop. It all started with an idea. I have had a working Osbourne computer in storage for years -- it was the first "portable" computer. I knew that I wanted to do something cool with it, but I wasn't quite sure what. I started searching eBay for vintage computers and I was amazed at what I found! The very first computer I ever used (other than the terminals my father brought home from work) was a Timex Sinclair Z81. My friend had one which his family bought for him, but he really had no idea what to do with it -- that is where I came in. I taught myself how to program in BASIC on that computer. I found a Z81 on eBay for next to nothing which was in perfect condition, so I couldn't refuse.

Next I searched for an Apple IIe. I was lucky enough to be in a high school which had purchased several II Plus and IIe computers, as well as one Apple Macintosh. It was basically the first year my school had computers and a lab, so the teacher really didn't know much beyond the basics (no pun intended). When we had questions, we had to figure things out ourselves. I honestly don't know where we found our information in the days before the Internet! Soon I was basically teaching the class -- my teacher let me stay unattended in the lab after the school was closed. I remember riding back to the school on my bike in the snow (upstate NY) just so that I could spend more hours on the computers! I was such a geek (as they say about electrical engineering, "You can't spell 'geek' without double-E!"). Eventually I taught myself Pascal and other languages during high school (I am now messing around with C++ again). Those were some of my favorite times!

Think Mark Zuckerberg has an ego? Watch this...

Having read several biographies and autobiographies of Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Larry Ellison, and others, all of my memories of the early days of computers have been coming back. I wanted to have something from my past, so I decided to find all of those early computers which meant so much to me, as well as others which were just important for the time. I have found replica kits of the Altair and Apple I. It would be ridiculous to purchase the original versions, since they can cost thousands and tens of thousands of dollars now. I will be buying a DEC Rainbow, since that was the first personal computer my father bought for us (with the powerful 8088 processor!). I have samples of an IBM XT and a Commodore 64 coming -- I never had them, but both were important in history. The XT is a slightly upgraded version of the hugely popular IBM PC, and the Commodore was the best-selling computer in history! Amazing, huh?

Am I insane? Absolutely!... I plan to have a multi-tiered display of all of these (working!) models upstairs at my shop in the near future. Amazingly, Ali is very supportive of my illness. Actually, she encourages me in all of my endeavors, even when she doesn't fully understand why I am doing it. There HAS to be something wrong with her! The other night we were watching the documentary Welcome to Macintosh, which basically the history of Apple Inc. I had seen it before, so I fell asleep. When I woke, I was startled to find that she was still watching it -- intently! HAHA!!! What a catch!

I worked Sunday, so we went to Memorial Meat after I closed the shop. It was my third time attending, so I mostly wanted to introduce Ali to my good friends I met during my days at GA Tech. The event is held every year at Josh's house, and it did not disappoint! Monday we went to Brad's house for, you guessed it, more brewing! I think we shall start a new tradition ourselves -- "Memorial Brew." Brad had purchased a lager, so we spent the morning brewing that. Using her bartending experience from her days at that OTHER school (UGA), she made us some amazing martinis -- very dirty with blue cheese olives! Wow!!! As usual, we feasted on amazing food Brad cooked us (meatball appetizers and bacon cheeseburgers!). Perfect day!

From our police correspondent in the field!

That's really about it for now. This is for Nick...

This Blog's for You!

2011-05-27T23:44:00.006-04:00

By "you," I mean, Nick... You asked for it, you got it.

So, the last two weeks it has just been Nick and myself. Have we survived? Barely. However, it has been the most fun form of barely surviving I can imagine! I honestly can't describe how lucky I am to have Nick, and that is not a lie. He can literally complete my sentences. He is three steps ahead of me when I am working on a repair. There is only one problem with Nick -- he just won't focus when I am trying to get him to watch South Park. I mean, seriously -- the boy just won't get his priorities, straight! Oh well... I guess no one is perfect. Now if he would just stop talking about how wonderful his girlfriend is -- we all know that mine is the best!

Yes, Alan... You are dreamy, too.

What have we been doing the last several weeks? LOTS of repairs, that's what! Not only repairs, but several high-end bike builds. One (of two) Santa Cruz Tallboys is almost done, ready for Joe to pick up tomorrow. Chris King hubs and headset, with full Shimano XTR 2x10 -- does it get any better? Since I can log into the main shop computer from any computer in the shop or from anywhere, I am able to work again as the mechanic and also keep up with emails, orders, etc. I am definitely the king of multitasking! Nick and I were talking about it the other day. Do we work harder than other retail businesses? Nope -- just smarter. Two people can effectively run a (now) 4,000 sq.ft. business -- pretty amazing. In the last week I was able to keep up with all of the repairs, build several wheels, assemble two Santa Cruz bikes for the floor, etc. I still have to answer customer calls, deal with vendors, place orders, etc. It is all possible due to (a) Nick and Alan and (b) a very smooth-running system. I don't need 13 high school kids running around as most shops do. If you place an order or bring in a repair, you know that the task will be performed on time.

My favorite accomplishment last week was building the wheels for Ryan's race wheelchair. It was definitely a challenge. Luckily, I have a machine shop next door -- one willing to trade out favors for bike stuff. Dave was nice enough to make me custom spacers so that I could true and dish the wheels! I must say that the custom-built American Classic rims on carbon hubs came out perfectly! It required a little thought and engineering, but I am very happy with the results. One more notch in our belt! Sure, it was a lot more work and difficult to accomplish -- so what? That is what sets us apart from other businesses -- the ability to make things happen. We can't do everything, but I believe that we can definitely do more than average.

Bob (a.k.a. my bitch) has been hard at work. He rewired the electrical system so that he could install he door to Narnia. Is it really a gateway to Narnia? Just because I spent an entire lifetime over there fighting another kingdom only to come back through the door seconds after I left does not mean this is true. I have no proof. Just take my word for it... Actually, it is the door to the new warehouse next door (at least that is what we tell our customers). I plan to have the power turned on shortly, and we should be ready to rock! We just need to move the 600 gallon (yes, your read that correctly) aquarium to a storage space -- we will then assemble the racking for the new and repair bikes. Bo (as in Bo & Luke fame) is having his boys build the upper deck (above my parking space/motorcycle garage). I cannot wait!... Finally, the obvious question -- how can I call Bob my "bitch" and get away with it? Hmm... good question! One of these days it will all backfire. Until then...

Today a cyclist we know well came by and told us this "amazing" story. He had a flat way out in the middle of nowhere. As he is performing the tube change, a "gorgeous" woman in a new BMW convertible backs up and asks if she can help. Mind you, said rider is single (I believe). Let's face it -- most road riders really need intervention when it comes to meeting women. I mean, this is not a myth or a stereotype -- it is a cold fact. So, does this rider jump at the chance to introduce himself and pretend to need assistance? Of course not -- he is more worried about getting in a "full training ride," so he politely waves her on. Seriously?! Sadly, yes. And so we have the basic problem with cyclists -- zero life outside of their hobby (term carefully chosen).

Do I have a life? Well, maybe not by the definition of some people, but it works for me. I work hard and play hard. My days are fulfilling -- far more so than they were in the corporate world. Best of all, I have a wonderful woman to share it with! Last weekend we were sailing on Lake Lanier again with her family -- I am very lucky. Seriously -- look at the love that Ali's brother is giving me as I take their photo as they are dragged behind the sailboat. How can it possibly ever be better than that?! My one or two days off a week feel like a month -- I am making the best of it! I get up every day to run and workout, work insanely hard during the day, and spend my evenings with wonderful friends. It really can't get any better!

This one is for Sprocket. Nick will know the meaning...

Transition

2011-05-13T16:47:00.065-04:00

This is strange... I started writing this post last week (with the same title), describing the transition I PLANNED to begin in my role at the shop:

Today is the day that I start transitioning from my role as the mechanic/salesman/janitor/lion tamer (Sprocket) to that of a true business owner. Sure, I will still be all of the above. However, I am finally going to tackle the new website, add all of our new services to the site, start utilizing Facebook and Twitter, etc. Basically, it is time for me to grow the business. We have so many loyal customers, and new ones every day. However, I am ready to make this store a force to contend with! We now have all of the space we need, with an insane amount of shelving in the new warehouse which will allow us to completely organizing the bikes and products.

I found out last Thursday that Daniel has taken a job at one of our largest distributors -- BLUE Competition Cycles. Ironic, huh? HA!... I hired him last summer, and he has done an incredible job as mechanic here. I wish him nothing but the best, and they will be very lucky to have him. He gave me plenty of notice, but I knew that they needed him, so he will start work at BLUE this coming Monday. The door will always be open for him here!

Well, that is the fun thing about life. Just when you make plans, everything changes! HA! A quote I have always lived by is, "You can't control the wind, but you can adjust the sails." That basically summarizes my life. When I was laid off from Motorola, I think I was too naive to understand what I was up against. I said to myself, "I have my side business, why not try to give it a shot?" My last day at Motorola was a Friday, and the following Saturday morning I was open for business.That was over four years ago -- time has flown!

I am using that same mentality now. Instead of thinking about what I don't have, and how much more I will have to work, I look at what I DO have. I have a business which isn't just surviving during this recession -- it is thriving! That is the absolute most important thing. I don't have to go out and find a job -- I have all of the work I could possibly need right here. How many people that fortunate today? I extremely lucky!... Next, I have two great employees -- Nick and Alan. I can honestly say that we have the friendliest staff of any shop in town, and our reviews attest to that! Nick started with no mechanical knowledge -- he was a racer kid when I met him. He has this amazing ability to learn things the first time around, and knows exactly how I want things done here. He has become my right-hand man, and I could not ask for better! Alan helps out whenever needed, and has allowed me to keep my sanity over the last several years by letting me have escapes when needed, and as a sounding board for decisions.

Daniel was a perfect fit for what I needed last year -- that doesn't come along every day. I have had a taste of having weekends off over the past several months, and it was great. However, the MOST important thing I need to do at this point in time is to solidify the business. I realize that I still have a few more years of hard work ahead of me, but everything I have done has paid off dramatically! That is the beauty of working for yourself rather than in a cubicle. You see a direct correlation between the hard work you put in, and what you get back out. I could hire a mechanic now, but I would rather buckle down and reinvest back into the business. I built the business by my reputation -- time to get my hands dirty for a while! By doing that, I can afford to finish the showroom, the new warehouse, and the repair area. I can also bring in more bikes and products at a much faster if I am not paying for a mechanic. People say daily, "It must be great to have this shop -- to work with something you are passionate about." That is true, of course. However, do you really think I would have worked as hard as I did to get my master's degree from GA Tech if I didn't think this business would be at least as lucrative as the corporate world? I do love the bicycle industry, but what I love more is watching something I made from nothing grow into a true entity. The reason I say that is because I am willing to do whatever it takes to make this shop successful. Will I have to work longer hours and work on the website in my off hours? Sure. I will have to work some weekends and I might not be able to take as many vacations this year as I had planned, but it is all a means toward an end. I have an absolutely wonderful girlfriend who encourages me to build this business. Things could be MUCH worse!

Speaking of my incredible girlfriend, this is pretty funny. When we started dating, I said to myself, "She probably doesn't cook, but that is completely fine. She has so many amazing qualities, I can certainly handle it if she doesn't. She can't be perfect, right?" Damn I was wrong! Not only does she cook, but she makes me the most amazing meals -- eating out is honestly a disappointment! She will work in the kitchen for 2-3 hours at times to make dinner. The whole time I am asking what I can do. Her response? "I love cooking. Just relax and do whatever you want." Huh? You mean I can actually read a book or play a video game to decompress? WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?!!! Not only is she perfect in the ways I mentioned, but she LOVES BEER! She even tolerates the brewing days at Brad's, my insane need for toys, and my projects. Yep -- the perfect woman! I am not gonna blow this -- we only get so many opportunities in life, and I know a good thing when I have it!

We took advantage of the nice weather last weekend and drove to the beach to visit her aunt and uncle in Beaufort, SC. While they decide where they want to live, they are renting a "carriage house" (pictured) right on the water. I can't begin to describe how nice this place was! We took a tour of the main house -- straight out of Architectural Digest magazine! We spent two afternoons out on the dock which led straight away from the house. Every time we walked out, the vibrations would send fiddler crabs scrambling in the mud below us! We even saw at least one dolphin out on the water...

We decided to rent a car again for the drive, since it would actually save us money due the gas prices. Plus, there is something to be said for not worrying about wear and tear on our vehicles, mechanical issues, etc. Just get in the car and go! One of my Rovers is always in the shop, anyway! HAHA! The only problem we had was that the air conditioning barely cooled us. It was a Honda with less than 7,000 miles, so it must have been a fluke. That one complaint aside, I must say that it really made sense for us to rent the car.

We went to the Taste of Beaufort that Saturday. The weather was picture-perfect, and it was a large turnout. It never ceases to amaze me when I find random photos on my iPhone. Seeing the palm trees reminded me of my visits to see my father in Texas. We will be making that trip next month to get the vehicles, so it will be nice to see Roswitha and help out. The one to the right was accidentally taken when I was trying to juggle a beer and snap a shot of the crowd. Luckily, I only dropped my phone and not the beer -- priorities! (Pretend you don't recognize the Budweiser label -- IT WAS ALL THEY HAD!!!) That night we had dinner at a seafood restaurant with her aunt. None of us could move afterward... What a day!

It was such a great trip, and so relaxing. I received the first tan/burn I have had in over four years! I was able to read most of Paul Allen's new autobiography. Basically, it was the rest I needed to prepare for the onslaught we are already having this summer. It is going to be a rough one, but I will survive! We have two trips planned for the summer (TX and CO), and Ali is trying to arrange a fly fishing vacation for us in Montana. It is going to be a great summer!

Bob has been working steadily on the different updates to the shop -- the clothing changing room, the new door to the warehouse, and figuring out how to cover the office walls upstairs. He even has a new apprentice as an electrician -- Sprocket! I am sure he was a huge help.

Brad invited me to join them for pizza last night. two former coworkers from Motorola were playing in the band, so it was good seeing them. Kevin was having a great time building amazingly symmetrical LEGO creations. It was great getting out.

Well, that is all I can think of. I get to work my first weekend in a long time tomorrow -- fun, fun! Building an empire ain't easy! HA!

Never trust Google Maps when walking!

2011-05-02T19:00:00.006-04:00

Ali's brother left for the British Virgin Islands last week. Understandably, her mother was nervous about his trip, since he will be the captain of the sailboat for 10 days. Ali has been wanting to get away for a quick trip, so we rented a car and drove to Birmingham for the weekend for the Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil. Birmingham is landlocked, so what kind of crawfish boil could they have, right? More on that in a minute...

So, her mother is worried about her brother, but who would possibly worry about us going on a simple trip to Alabama? We certainly didn't think anything about it. We jumped in the car after I begged to have a breakfast of leftover bacon wrapped duck (stuffed with cream cheese!) and risotto. I mean, I couldn't let it go to waste, could I?! HA!... The drive was only two hours, but she had found a ridiculous rate on a rental so that we could save the wear and tear on our vehicles. When we arrived in Birmingham, we found a festival in the center of town, so we assumed that must be where we were going. We checked in at our hotel about two miles away. We found a great deal on the hotel, so it was worth not being next to the festival. I was amazed by how nice the room was -- I could live there!

We decided to walk down to the event. When we arrived, we discovered that it was an arts festival in the center of town, so I pulled out my iPhone to map our destination with Google Maps. I didn't have the exact address, so I typed in the cross streets -- it instantly pulled up a destination 2.8 miles away. Ali had originally told me that the crawfish boil was about three miles from the hotel, so that made sense. We had probably walked away from the event somewhat by going to the arts festival, so we had just made a detour. Logical, huh? Well, we followed the GPS on my phone until we came to an overpass. Since we didn't know the area, we just assumed the directions were correct. After walking for another twenty minutes, we realized that people were staring at us with confused looks. We said "hi" as we passed two guys taking a break from work outside of a factory -- no big deal.

About half a mile later, Ali starts giggling hysterically, saying "Take a picture of that! Take a picture of that!!!" She was pointing to the graffiti sprayed on the garage door in the first photo. While I walked, I snapped a quick picture. As soon as I had accomplished that goal, a man walked by us. As he passed, he said "Don't worry, I won't hurt you" to Ali. She had been right behind me, so I turned around -- she was nowhere! Somehow she happened to come around me at the exact rate that I was turning -- scared the heck out of me! We were starting to get nervous, but assumed that since we were getting closer to our destination, so we continued on. The further we went, the worse the neighborhood became. Bars on doors, most lawns more than a foot high, and boarded up windows. Apparently someone had been recently evicted -- a pile of trash and belongings was in the middle of the sidewalk. The residents of the area looked at us with complete suspicion and confusion. We knew we were out of our element!

We finally came to an overpass, so we decided to stop and check the destination again. GPS pulls a lot of current from the battery, so it was draining fast. At the very least, we might need to make an emergency phone call to 911, so I had to be smart with the remaining 50% of the battery. I pulled up the website for the festival and entered it into Google Maps again -- it was in the exact OPPOSITE direction!!! Not only had we gone the wrong way, but we had to go back the same route we had just negotiated! Two months into dating, and we were finally going to see how we would handle a rough situation. I must say that I am amazed at how well we handled it! We were both more than a little freaked out, but we knew that we had to keep our brains about us. We headed back the same direction, very happy that it was broad daylight. When we were literally yards from civilization, a guy came out of his house and asked us if we had a cigarette -- did we really look like smokers? Hilarious AND scary at the same time! We were so glad to make it back unscathed!

Why can't Google Maps have a "Did you mean:" when offering directions?!!! HA!

Chickenpox
Tags: SOUTH
PARK more...

We arrived at the festival as the first band was starting to play. The first thing that we both realized was that we had entered the mecca of people-watching! Never in the history of this country have so many strange people been put together in one place, not even at a monster truck event or tractor pull! Our jaws were literally on the ground, as we sat there and just watched for an hour. If I am ever forced to move to Alabama, I do know what business to open -- a tattoo parlor! Holy crap!

On the top of the hill, they had the crawfish -- it was catered from Atlanta! HAHA! We drive two hours away, only to find out that the food was brought from where we live! Hilarious! Ali is so amazingly easy (and it was HER idea), so we still had a great time. As the day went on, more "normal" people started arriving for the better bands, so it really turned out to be a wonderful idea. We hung around for Cage the Elephant -- they were excellent. It would have been great to wait for Buckcherry or Stone Temple Pilots, but we knew wouldn't get out of there for another six or seven hours if we did. Speaking of concerts, after discussing the ones we have seen, we realized that we have seen at least two or three concerts "together!" Funny!

We decided to leave, but this time we wanted to be smart -- we asked a police officer how to get back to the hotel. A look of astonishment came over his face as he replied, "That is a long way -- at least two or three miles!" Seriously? That is the state of our country where people think it is ridiculous to walk a few miles? We informed him that we knew, since we had walked from there (leaving out the excitement from our incorrect route). He still looked at us as though we were crazy, but he pointed us in the direction. We had a really nice walk back -- our heart rates were much lower than they had been earlier in the day! We did learn our lesson, though -- we asked directions at the hotel for restaurants. We walked to the Five Points area for pizza and beer. The day could not have been better!

Sunday we headed to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. which was on our way back. I have been there twice with my father, but I knew that Ali would be very interested. However, I was very surprised by her level of interest. We spent almost three hours looking at the different bikes, and Ali read the description cards for several dozen of the bikes! Wow! I would have been thrilled if she had humored me with false interest. It was simply amazing that she really appreciated the museum and the motorcycles! Sorry, Keaton -- I definitely won a golden ticket with this one! HAHA!

Speaking of Ali, apparently Baco has adopted her. I was goofing around in my computer room the other day, so she was reading behind me on the futon. I turn around and see Baco (the dog-sized cat) curled up beside her. He follows her everywhere, and runs to greet her at the door. I like it because he actually leaves me alone now! HA!

If you have seen the movie Amélie, you know that she takes her photos of her father's lawn gnome in front of landmarks around the world, then sends them to her father. Well, the same thing is happening with my Range Rover -- it is living a life without me! The other night I received a text from Daniel -- "What are you doing in Roswell?" I was confused, but assumed that he must have accidentally sent me that instead of the intended recipient. He asked me in person the next day, so I realized that Luke must have been driving it while trying to diagnose the engine problem. Later that day, two photos of the truck were tagged on my Facebook page -- at a location I was nowhere near! My truck is having an incredible time, apparently!

The shop is coming along VERY well! I couldn't stomach the new baby blue color in the fit studio, so I tortured Nick by getting a darker blue. We actually repainted the entire room in one day (in between customers), so it wasn't horrible. I like the new color MUCH better! I have also finished painting the frame and door for the room to connect the shop and warehouse -- progress! Now if I can just get Bob to cut the hole! HAHA!

Daniel has been cranking out the repairs, while I handle all of the vendors. We should have some Niner frames here soon to accompany the Santa Cruz models were are receiving this week, so I am very excited! Things are getting better daily!

Normally, I try to keep this blog rated PG. However, nothing describes the news from last night better than this song (from the BEST movie EVER!!!)

Toys

2011-04-25T13:52:00.000-04:00

I have a problem with toys. Previously, I thought that it was something I could control -- that I could be responsible for my behavior. However, we live in America! Everything, and I mean everything, can be attributed to something out of our control -- demons we battle from our youth, a disease, etc. Lucky for us, all we have to do is pop a pill or blame our environment, and all responsibility for our actions has been absolved. Therefore, my need for toys -- big and small -- is not my fault! I can now freely pursue all of the toys (motorcycles, bicycles, electronic gadgets, etc.) without guilt!!! How convenient!

Lucky for me, one of the toys I won't have to purchase in the near future is a sailboat, thanks to Ali's family. What a prefect way to spend Easter! First, she and I went for an early hike at her local trails. Although the view was not ideal due to the haze, it was still enjoyable getting out. We wanted to be active, knowing that the rest of our day would be pure relaxation! The boat was gorgeous -- a 31' Hunter! We spent the day with her parents, brother, and his girlfriend sailing much of the lake -- when we had wind. Eating, drinking, and sailing with family on a holiday -- does it get any better?! I have a feeling that we will be seeing that boat quite a bit this summer! Of course, she wants to spend part of the summer skiing, too. I might actually have a slight tan for the first time in many years! It is gonna be rough! HA!

Her brother and his girlfriend leave Friday for the British Virgin Islands. They are chartering a 35' sailboat with another couple to sail the islands. That will be amazing! Can't wait to see their photos!

Under way

Before setting sail

Gorgeous day on the lake!

My galley wench

Speaking of toys, it looks like the trip to TX to pick up the motorcycles and van will be delayed until June. Nothing like driving a van (with no AC) and trailer across the country in the middle of June! HA! Amazingly, Ali is up for the challenge -- am I lucky or what?! She might regret this decision... So, what am I doing with these vehicles? The van will become the shop van after Luke gives it a full going over, a paint job, and a wrap job. The SV1000 will be another motorcycle for the stable. What about the VMAX? Why would anyone need three VMAX motorcycles? Well... The goal has been to turn one of my current bikes into a Mad Max style creation. The blue and white VMAX at the bottom is the best version I have seen yet of what I am hoping for. In my opinion, restoring my father's old bike into a (supercharged) piece of art is the best homage that I could give him. I have always talked about doing it, and I know he would have loved to see it.

Stock Yamaha VMAX


Complete customization of VMAX

What other toys am I currently seeking? Well, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy at the moment, and a wonderful girlfriend who encourages me to pursue them! Don't get me wrong -- I am making sure that I keep a happy balance between time for myself and quality time together. She even wants to spend time with me on the projects, so it can't be any better! I need to write a list tonight of my project goals for the year, then start working on them. I definitely want to get my saltwater aquariums going again, so those will be at the top of my list!

The shop is really coming around! Summer is finally here, so the shop should be rocking very shortly. Since we had a slight break from repairs last week, I tackled installing the remaining slat wall on the left side of the shop -- I have put that off for four years! I finally decided that I should stop saying "one day I will fill in the missing pieces of wall" and just do it! It is amazing how much of a difference it made! Bob is working on the clothing changing room, the door to the warehouse next door, and the remaining slat wall. I am mulling options for the floor. This place is really coming together!

Nick has been painting the new fit studio, so that should be ready for the carpet installation shortly. The color is called "Ships Ahoy," but we have nicknamed it our "Happy Place" -- where we will go when we get stressed out! HA!

That's all for today -- time to get to work... The words to this song are so appropriate for where I am now:

The Golden Ticket

2011-04-18T18:32:00.004-04:00

Keaton is mad at me. Why? Did I do him wrong in some way? No... Well, not directly. He is upset because he feels that I have taken one of the "golden tickets" left in the dating world. In other words, we have both had enough poor dating experiences to know how rare finding a great person can be. Should I tell him that Nick also believes that he has found a golden ticket himself? We are definitely ruining his chances for finding an awesome woman in the near future, because there are only so many out there! If I didn't have so many miserable experiences all of those years myself, I would even feel sorry for him. He is young -- he can suffer a while longer! HAHA!

My weekend was excellent! I had received my new laptop Friday, an ASUS G73SW-XT1, so I was excited to play with it. Basically, it is a pure gaming computer. Knowing that I will be spending a lot of time at Ali's new place, as well as taking several weekend trips over the coming months, I needed something a little more powerful than my old laptop and netbook. Saturday was a perfect example. Although I was at home and technically off for the weekend, I worked from 10-4 (the same hours the store was open) preparing a quote for four bikes we sold (TWO Santa Cruz Tallboys and a Santa Cruz Juliana among them!). I was constantly running numbers, adding items to the quote, etc. I need something with some real horsepower when I am not at home, so that I can log into the shop computer as well as run the programs I need. Now that I have real computers at the shop and home, I needed something to match their abilities when I am not at either location. This ASUS will definitely meet my needs! It will pay for itself over the coming months. If not, at least I will be able to play some killer games while mobile!

Speaking of this, I am really amazed how often I hear that customers say things like, "I am glad to hear that Scott is taking time off -- he deserves it." Believe me, I never thought that the day would come. I worked 6-7 days a week for almost four years to get to this point. To be honest, I do it for my mental sanity. To some, it may appear that I live some sort of glamorous life, having weekends off, coming in at 11, etc. They don't know about the worries I have when I leave every night. They don't realize that every morning I am on the computer making sure that orders are ready. When I am "off" on weekends, I often take half a dozen calls (or more) regarding issues at the shop. I am never, ever off -- I am just not here. It would be awesome to take a break while I am upstairs during the day -- to play a video game or otherwise relax. I can honestly say that I have never had this luxury. I am either on the phone with a vendor, preparing tax documentation, placing orders, filling out dealer forms, answering customer emails, or one of a dozen other possible aspects of running the shop. I have NEVER worked harder in my life! No complaints here, though!

One customer we sold a bike to last week made it all worth it. Nick and I were talking with him after his purchase, and we mentioned something about my being off weekends. He said, "I am in IT. If there is work to be done on the weekend, I would NEVER expect to see the CEO, CIO, or anyone else that high up in the company there." Of course, my job is nowhere near that level. However, it definitely made me feel great to hear that. If I didn't take some time off, I would crack -- I was SO close to losing it last year. Why work so hard if we don't get some reward? When I had received my undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and was working at AT&T while going to grad school, I still worked Saturdays at a bike shop so that I could have the toys I wanted. It is all part of it. I will never be too good to work weekends if needed. This business is my baby, and I will do ANYTHING required to make it work!

As for the rest of my weekend, it was very relaxing. I am definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to introducing Ali to new experiences. I am the winner in this regard -- she has done so much, and is definitely the cultured one in the relationship. She speaks fluent French and Spanish, and has even learned Japanese and other languages. She has traveled, and loves doing so. When I found out that Brad and Dawn were going to temple for the Buddhist new year celebration, I knew that it was my opportunity to show her something she had not experienced. I had gone with them last year, so I knew she would enjoy it. To say that it was a perfect day for such an event is a dramatic understatement -- the weather could not have been better! There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the temperature could not have been better! We had a blast! Well, there was one glitch -- trying to leave. We drove to the exit, but it was blocked by a group dancing. Since there was no one else trying to leave, we drove to the entrance -- blocked by a police car! Argh... One of the attendants asked us if we had gone to the exit -- we explained the situation. He was nice enough to walk ahead of us to get us out. Lucky for us that he did! I have never seen anything like it -- EVERY person acted as though we were not in a car -- they would not move, even though we were inches from them! The guy leading us out looked as confused as we were -- what were these people thinking? I was finally able to get her car out without hitting anyone!

Afterward, we went back to Brad's. I showed him the new laptop, and he let me play around with the new video card he added to his computer. Geeks and toys!!! I showed Ali how we transfer beer to the 2nd fermenter. We had two 5 gallon batches fermenting -- one of which was a Bourbon Barrel Porter. Since it required adding bourbon at this stage, it was a moral imperative that we all have a taste of the 1792, which is one of my favorites! My only question is how could Brad be so blasphemous by covering the beer with a Budweiser T-shirt!!! Our beer is ruined!

Finally, we headed to Ali's aunt's house to help them with some things while they went to a party. Her parents were there, so the four of us grilled steaks and had an amazing meal. Not only is Ali absolutely perfect, but it is so amazing feeling like I am already part of her great family! I could not have asked for a better day!

The shop has been surprisingly slow the last few days (other than selling THREE Santa Cruz bikes!!!), but I am starting to see the trends. Spring is up and down until the warm weather is solid. We have been focusing on doing fork and shock overhauls lately, so that is a major plus for us! I want to be a full-service shop -- unlike any other in Atlanta. Anyone can do the "big box" thing -- this place is going to be the best, bar none. I will not stop until we are!

Reid brought in his newest dog Friday -- a German Shorthaired Pointer. As soon as it smelled Sprocket, it had one mission in life -- to eat him. Luckily, Sprocket ran away. Afterward, he took a long nap to recover from the stress...

Until next time...

The tale of the rooster and the crawfish...

2011-04-13T17:35:00.003-04:00

I owe everyone an apology for not making a post earlier. Not because you are all waiting for grains of wisdom -- you certainly won't get them here! While camping last weekend, Brad begged me to update my blog because he was freaked out every time he saw that photo of my bloodshot eye! HAHA! This is for you, Brad...

Why haven't I written lately? No real reason. I actually started something a week ago, but I have just had writer's block, I guess. I didn't really have anything exciting to talk about, and I was burned out. Do I have anything exciting to talk about now? Of course not. I am just not (as) burned out. Here goes.

Let's start with the camping trip. Ali's uncle passed away unexpectedly last week, so she attended the funeral in Florida. Alan invited me to go camping, so the next thing I knew Keaton, Brad, Dawn, and Kevin were headed with us to Dawson Forest for the weekend. For those of you who don't know the history of this area (I didn't), this is the site of the Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory. Alan had been telling me about the tunnels for the past few months, so I was excited to see them in person. All I could think about was the TV show LOST, and discovering a secret hatch to the Dharma Initiative. Believe it or not, we actually did find a filled-in entrance to... somewhere -- ONE HUNDRED FEET from our campsite! Freaky! This wasn't the typical "car camping," either -- we actually hiked in about a mile. Not very far, but it was still a blast! My next investments will be for a pack, stove, hammock, etc., for light camping. The stove Alan built was amazingly light, and it boiled water perfectly. The WWII era (seriously) stove he brought for heavier duty cooking, well... it was entertaining at least! We all stood back as it became engulfed in flames, then finally settled down -- for a few seconds. Then it finally blew the pressure seal and flamed out! HILARIOUS!

The best thing Alan brought was the water purifier -- filters down to 0.02 microns from what he said. Since I am still alive, I have to believe him! It was very hot that weekend (87 apparently), so we were going through fluids like crazy (not just the bourbon kind, either!). I went on a search for water with Alan and Keaton, using Alan's map and a compass to guide us. Does the term, "the blind leading the blind" mean anything to anyone? We threw the imaginary dice and headed down yet another random trail. We stopped for a second and I heard what I thought was running water -- it was! While Alan was filtering the water and filling the containers, Keaton and I explored the stream like children. Keaton called out and said that he saw a crayfish, so I decided that it was my mission to capture it! Having had them in my aquariums before I knew how to grab them -- provided that I could find it. We almost gave up, but I finally found the little sucker! Keaton and I pounded a bottle of Gatorade, then filled it with stream water to take back our game (sorry -- had to say that!) to the campsite. I mean, Ali and I are heading to a crawfish boil soon, so I needed to prepare myself, right? Ha... We went back to camp, victorious in our hunt!

I was exhausted from the week, so I crashed in my tent for a while. Believe me, that was tough -- it was hot! I heard Brad rambling on about not having any chairs. Alan was the only smart one in the group -- he brought a hammock! As usual, Brad needed to do something about it. I drifted in and out of consciousness, hearing phrases like "I need to lash these together" and "I think these branches will do." When I came out of the tent, what do I see? Brad propped up in one of his two new "chairs." I almost died from laughter!

Knowing that one crayfish would be no more than a nibble for Keaton and I, we hiked back to the stream a while later with Alan to see if we could find more. I'll admit it -- I am a man-child. There can be no question about this after we turned over dozens of rocks on our quest. Luckily, no one was watching (or videotaping). Of course, we didn't find anything. I did see a dead one, but that was it. So, we went back to camp and proceeded to fire up the stove for our meal. After achieving the golden orange color you see in the photo, Dawn showed us how to peel apart the tail for our 1.32g each of crawdad. Was it good? I really have no idea -- there wasn't enough mass there to actually contain any flavor! We didn't care -- it was all about the experience.

What about the rooster, you may ask? Enter Kevin. Somewhere Kevin, all of 3 1/2 years old, has learned to perfectly imitate a rooster. He and I were trading back calls all night before he went to bed. Of course, he destroyed Brad's chairs before doing so! I had taken a bottle of Knob Creek for the trip. Keaton, Brad, and I had a second wind (actually, that was my first), so we hung around the campfire drinking bourbon. Very late in the evening we all headed to bed... This part is no lie. At 6:30AM, a "rooster" started crowing -- "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!!!" It was one of the funniest things I have ever heard! Kevin the rooster!

After taking everything back to the cars and saying goodbye to Brad, Dawn, and Kevin, we drove to the really cool part of Dawson Forest where the nuclear reactor testing took place so many years ago. We hiked around a bit, finding holes in the abandoned buildings where people have tried to gain access. Alan has actually been in the tunnels, and was excited to show us. As luck would have it, the entrance had been recently bulldozed. It was an amazing experience, though. I have never seen anything like it -- it literally felt like we were on the set of LOST! Keaton ("Eagle-Eyes") spotted a 5' rat snake in the trees only a few feet away from us. After that, I was much more careful where I placed my hands!

Take a few minutes and watch this video about the past and present at Dawson Forest -- very cool!

Otherwise, my past few weekends have consisted of helping Ali move, hanging out with her wonderful family, and brewing beer. The house I have neglected for so many years is finally coming back around, albeit slowly. As long as Ali doesn't care (she doesn't), I am happy. She has so many trips planned for us over the coming months -- I will probably not be home much, anyway. One of those will be heading to Texas to pick up my father's Suzuki SV1000, and his van. If the van is in good mechanical shape, I will be using it as the new shop vehicle -- crossing my fingers. It will get the full wrap job from Paul if it works out -- can't wait! Luckily I am turning part of the new warehouse into a two-car (deep) garage for one of my trucks (or the van) and my motorcycles -- I have basically lost count now how many there are. Time to use them!... I have also been hitting the weights hard still, but I need to do cardio. I know, I know -- I keep saying that. It just seems that every morning something comes up and before I know it I am opening the store. No more excuses -- I am riding or running tomorrow!!! Wait... do I see rain in the forecast? HAHA!

I am too lazy to write about everything below in the normal fashion, so I will let the captions tell the stories...

Packing up Ali's old house.

Ali's amazing new loft!

A typical weekend of brewing at Brad's.

Jerom's mutant claw-hand and our brilliant brewing stand design.

Beer sweaters -- only the best for our beer!


BEST. INVENTION. EVER!!!

That is basically it. The shop is rocking, and I am really excited! The season is in full-swing, so we are just planning to hold on and enjoy the ride! More Santa Cruz bikes should be arriving soon so that should be a huge help! Time to work on the website!!!

Thanks for stopping by the blog. I will definitely be adding more again soon!

I am possessed!

2011-03-23T20:53:00.002-04:00

Apparently my tree cutting did not go as well as I had thought the other day. While balanced precariously on the top of a ladder, the wind blew sawdust into my face, and of course my eyes were open. I brushed the fragments from my face and continued working. That was Sunday. Last night (Tuesday) I felt a dull ache in my left eye. Today I discovered that I am a victim of demonic possession! I can't tell if the debris is out of my eye now, but I am sure that I will figure it out in the coming days. It was hilarious seeing the look on the faces of my customers and friends!

Today was insane! Poor little Nick. As he said, it was one of those days where he actually had to work for his money. What a concept! HA! When he ran up the street to grab us lunch, both the FedEx and UPS trucks pulled up at the same time with an abundance of product! It is simply amazing how much money I spend at this time of year. I am definitely not complaining! When the day was done, Nick had checked in about six tune-ups, and we had a ton of sales! I could not afford to get behind with repairs, so Nick would remove cables and clean drivetrains while I did the repair work. He and I were a well-oiled machine. Amazing how many bikes we finished today!

The Range Rover went to Luke's today for some work. Nothing major -- just the usual Land Rover stuff. If it doesn't rain tonight, I will ride the VMAX to the shop tomorrow. I will start riding a bicycle to work next week. I can now keep the Rover locked in the spare garage, so I will always have a vehicle available. I am determined to get back to my former self this year, so riding to work is a great way to accomplish that!

Otherwise, nothing else to report. It has been a great week so far!

The End of the Internet

2011-03-22T21:21:00.006-04:00

I honestly believe that I have found the end of the Internet -- or at least NetFlix. I swear that I have seen every 5-star movie on NetFlix! I now have to slum it with those of 4.5 stars or lower. However, in a reversal of roles, Keaton did get me addicted to Better Off Ted -- very funny show. Actually, it is better than funny -- absolutely hilarious. Well, for someone with my sense of humor, anyway.

Last weekend was good. Ali was nice enough to attend two birthday parties with me Saturday -- we had a blast. I rode my LeMond trainer hard Saturday morning, ran (that was PAINFUL), then hit the weights. Maybe that explains why I was a mental zombie at the parties and couldn't get up Sunday? Amazingly, I did manage to spray weed killer, mow, cut down branches, and create an extreme fire hazard Sunday (the fire pit is 6' wide)! How I did it, I have no idea -- I was in a total fog. Was it the smoke? No clue. Whatever it was, I was barely functioning. Oh well -- I did manage to run on autopilot, so that is all that matters. Right?

As for sales, the weekend was amazing. I was burning yard waste while Alan and Daniel sold THREE bikes Sunday! Wow! Sprocket managed to puke on the couch from the stress, apparently. Of course, he had that "What?!!" look on his face while sitting in the area a cushion should have been. We are just here to serve you, Sprocket!!!

Nick and I are both in a state of panic... It appears that the stars have aligned in the universe (or hell is freezing over). He told me today that he is basically a Mini-Me, and that he is going to live my life. How sad. HA! He works in a bike shop, he tells it like it is, and finally has a sweet girlfriend, etc. The next thing I know he will be addicted to Land Rovers!

Speaking of which, Joe invited Ali and I out to Colorado for the 4th of July. He had me at, "You will be driving the H1 Humvee to our lake place in Nebraska..." HAHA! I might just "accidentally" take a detour to Atlanta and never go back! If there is ONE reason for me to make this shop succeed, it is an H1! Sure, it guzzles diesel. So what? Seriously. So what? Ever ride in one? I thought not... It is easy to talk of hybrids when you haven't felt the torque of a turbo diesel.

After all of these years, I have finally been keeping my word and working out hard again. It is hard getting up each morning and lifting, but I have been consistently doing it 6 days a week with one day off. I am doing cardio. I hate the cardio, but it is a necessary evil. As a matter of fact, I ran after work before writing this. It is weird coming back to my previous self, but I am not complaining!

I have finally realized what Facebook is. As much as I hate Al Franken (and, yes -- hate is a very strong word), this clip basically describes what Facebook is. I mean, do we really care what you ate for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner? Ironic coming from a guy writing a blog, right? Wrong. Sure, a blog is a glorified diary. However, you choose to read it. I don't throw it in your face -- you have a choice. Speaking of which, the ability to select which Facebook posts I read can only be summed up in one phrase -- "HELL YEAH, BABY!!!"...

Normally, I end with a music video. However, today is different. This video is amazing. Even though it was made by world champion free divers, it is fiction. The hole is 407 feet deep, though. It is an amazing video, all the same...

I HATE running!!!

2011-03-14T22:19:00.006-04:00

Well, it is official -- I am off the market... I have waited (and waited... and waited...) for the right person to come along, and I have found her. I am completely grateful to Tommy for introducing me to his niece, Ali. If someone had asked me for a list of the qualities I was hoping to find in an "ideal" woman, I might have thought that I would be lucky to find someone who met 60%. However, Ali has blown away every possible expectation I could have ever imagined! She is incredibly sweet, caring, intelligent, and on and on and on... She just "gets" me (and vice versa). What an amazing person! She started her own business straight out of college, and now works in corporate real estate. On the side, she is working with a medical product for children. She is so passionate about helping them -- it is inspiring! She understands (and respects!) what I have been through to get my business going. My friends are in shock that I have found such a wonderful woman! The real test was when Baco came running straight for her the first time he met her at my house. That cat has NEVER done that in his life -- he always hides until he has scoped out the scene. She doesn't even mind the funky Aztec-themed futon upstairs at the shop (sorry, Alan)!!! I am incredibly lucky to have met her!

I basically locked myself upstairs at the shop over the past week and worked on taxes. The weekend was gorgeous, yet I was plugging in numbers. I am pleased to say that I am completely up-to-date now! I think my accountants will pass out when I bring them all of the documentation. That is one burden I happy to be relieved of!

The shop is still cranking along, and we are about to hit the season. It is truly amazing how far it has come! I would not change a thing about the way I started it. Sure, the store could use more visibility, but I have proven conclusively that is not what matters. From day number one (almost exactly four years ago), I have built the business on service, quality, and knowledge. It doesn't take a flashy store or a great location. Those are nice, but if you don't have the foundation, none of that will matter.

I have been hitting the weights hard again for the first time in probably 15 years. I have no excuse now -- I can literally roll out of bed and into my weight room, so I am lifting six days a week. I am also doing cardio almost every day. I LOVE the LeMond trainer I have set up. Sure, it is loud, but it is amazing. I have been running consistently, but I doubt that I will ever enjoy it. I ran 10k today -- it was pure misery! Ali was surprised to hear that I wasn't listening to my iPod when I run. What a concept! I might actually be able to tolerate it now... HA!

That's all for now. I was falling behind with my posts, so I decided that I needed to write something. More soon...

Great remake of the Jay-Z song, and it says it all...

In Sync

2011-03-03T19:56:00.001-05:00

Waiting to go down to Doug's to hang out, so I figured that I would write a quick post. The week has been rocking! We are currently 80% over last year -- wow! I only use the numbers as a reference. Sure, the economy seems to be picking up steam, but I think that the real reason is that we have reached "critical mass" -- the word is out there now, and we are finally a true entity. I don't expect this type of growth forever, but I will take it for now! One of the coolest things this week was having a customer come in who hadn't been here in a while. He said, "Wow -- you guys have really added so much product! I saw Daniel (another customer) wearing your jersey -- it looks great! I will definitely pick one up this week!" It doesn't get any better than that, I will tell you! That is what this is all about!

I finally hooked up the Apple TV and stereo to the TV upstairs at the shop the other night when Keaton was here. Of course, we first tried Dirty Jobs -- we were both blown away by the quality of the picture! The 32" TCL LCD I purchased a few months ago had received excellent reviews, but I never expected the picture to be so brilliant, especially since I have 42" and a 50" plasmas. Wow! I am slowly becoming an Apple convert. Sure, I LOVE technology and messing around with stuff, but sometimes it is just nice when things work. Do I want an Android product? Of course. However, that iPad 2 is calling my name!!! Toys, toys, toys! I mean, I have an RC helicopter for the shop, for crying out loud! He who dies with the most toys, wins...

Here is the latest photo from our Gwinnett County police correspondent. Tortillas EVERYWHERE! Hilarious!!!

Sprocket has such a rough life, doesn't he?

Well, that is all for today. More soon!

You Can't Always Get What You Want...

2011-03-01T21:08:00.001-05:00

We all know the words to the Rolling Stones song:

You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I definitely agree. I spent nine years working full time and taking classes to receive my undergraduate and master's degrees. The sole factor driving me that hard was that I was absolutely determined to NEVER work in a bike shop again -- period. I loved bicycles and riding them -- well before it was the "new golf." I grew up riding bikes every single day that I could. I just knew that I wanted to do something more with my life. If you had told me back in 1999 when I received my master's degree that I would be right back in a bike shop, I would have laughed in your face. Seriously. Yet, it was my destiny.

I didn't get "what I wanted." I got what I needed. Bicycles have given me everything in life. The first gift I received was a mechanical aptitude -- something I never had growing up. I was the LAST person you wanted working on anything -- period. Because of bicycles, I was eventually able to take ANYTHING apart -- I rebuilt an entire car, and I am now rebuilding a motorcycle engine. From that newly found talent, I gained confidence in myself and my abilities. I know for a fact that it allowed me to make it through Georgia Tech -- with very good grades, too! I was not exactly the most athletic person growing up -- racing bikes showed me that I could excel at that as well. Starting this business has given the most incredible education. I owe everything to bikes. I didn't get what I wanted, but I got what I needed.

I even owe my new relationship to bikes. I would not have met this amazing woman if I had not gotten into bikes back when. I would not have met her uncle, leading her to me. None of this would have ever happened. However, in this instance, I not only got what I needed, I received what I wanted -- in every single way. I can honestly say that I have never met anyone who just "gets" me before. I have known what I wanted for years, yet we are told that we have to settle -- that what we want is not possible. Sorry to disappoint anyone who has settled -- you can have what you want in life. You have to believe -- even when everyone around you tells you that you are a dreamer. I am living proof. I am the luckiest person alive.

I often let this place get to me. I give and give and give. So many people realize this, and they make it worth it. I want to please every single person, yet I realize that is not possible. There are people who are just ungrateful, no matter how hard your work to make them happy. There are others who believe that because they are in the industry in some way, they deserve something. I will never please everyone. I will say, however, that you will never find anyone who tries harder to do this. In the end, that is all I can do.

To those of you who appreciate what we do here, all I can say is, "Thank You!" You have made every single day of the last four years of my life the best I could have ever hoped for. You have all given me what I needed, and I will be forever grateful!

It's Good to be the King!

2011-02-22T22:19:00.003-05:00

I arrived at the shop today after my meeting with my accountant. I get settled, then Nick says, "It is almost that time of year when I start washing your trucks -- want me to wash the Discovery today?..." I basically do a double-take, then pinch myself. "Did he really say that?" I mean, seriously -- who actually ASKS to wash cars?! Well, who am I to chase a boy away from his dreams? The Disco hadn't been washed in a while. I mean, I had thought about it -- just like I think about doing a lot of things. Let the boy live his dream, I say!!! HA! One of my customers came in after he finished and said, "Wow! The truck looks amazing!!! Did you have it detailed?" Yeah -- by my personal detailer...

I read an article today about people addicted to the iPad. I sent it to Rich, since he definitely suffers from that affliction. Apparently I hit a sore spot, since he sent me this photo shortly afterward -- HAHAHA! Don't get me wrong -- I would be addicted to one, too! I have resisted the urge (so far) to purchase a tablet. I am sure that will happen. I do have his Kindle as a hand-me-down, though. Toys, toys, toys! Can never have enough! Sprocket even guards his toys while sleeping!

Not much else to report. It was relatively slow, but Tuesdays usually are. I was very busy, though! I have been working an extra hour most nights, and it really helping! Amazing what I can get accomplished when I have some time to myself!

Something different for the video du jour...

I think I broke Brad...

2011-02-20T21:04:00.006-05:00

This week started off great, then proceeded to get better and better! One of my best weeks ever. It was that good! It began when I grabbed the motorcycle trailer Phil gave me. He has retired from road racing, so he decided to get rid of everything, I guess. I have needed a trailer ever since I sold my truck a few years ago. My motocross bike and jet ski have been waiting patiently for me in my garage. It is time to use them! Although I would not complain about anything which is free, the trailer is awesome! I am going to paint it, install skids so that I can also pull my jet ski, and grease the axle bearings for good measure. It will be as good as new!!!... Speaking of motorcycles, I will have the KTM 450 SMR from Alan very shortly! If I don't install the motor, does it qualify as a downhill bike? HA! I have wanted a "super motard" bike for quite a while -- I can't wait! I even rode my VMAX to work this week on Friday -- it was a GORGEOUS day!

We are having an amazing month so far -- way above last year! I think this is going to be a great year. Mostly, I am thrilled to see how much the shop is growing. When I was at Georgia Tech, so many students always worried about their classmates -- instead of just focusing on doing their absolute best. I have never understood that. People try to bring others down so that they can do better than their competition. Guess what? Your only competition is yourself, and you can ALWAYS improve! I have seen the same games in the bike industry for as long as I have been in it. Shops are often more worried about cutting down their competitors, rather than just focusing on improvement. When your goal is to be the best you can, everything else follows suit. I have seen it in school, and I have definitely experienced it in my own business. I started four years ago with nothing -- other than desire and belief. Riding at Yargo today in my "Bicycle Doctor" jersey and shorts made me realize how far I have come! Improvement doesn't have to be dramatic changes, either. It is normally small consistent steps forward. We just installed the new sign on the street last week, yet we realized that it could be better with a few changes. We removed the "www" in the web address and made the "bicycledoc.com" SIGNIFICANTLY larger! The goal is that people will see the address and hopefully pull it up later. Plus, my business is slowly becoming branded as bicycledoc.com, anyway. I am sure we will change the sign again, but for now it is a huge improvement!

Hardy just ordered a Gunnar Grand Tour frame. I am definitely looking forward to building that! After I finish buying the Santa Cruz bikes for stock (we already have customers interested!), I will be getting some Gunnar frames. As I have said before, I want to be that "candy store" for bikes. I'll let the other shops play it safe (a.k.a., "dull and boring"). We have built the Carver titanium road frame -- it is nice! I think the customer is going to be ecstatic with it!

In my last blog entry, I mentioned that I planned to start using lists to plan my goals for weekends. I cannot begin to describe how much I have accomplished the past two weekends! Last weekend I made a ton of progress around the yard, cleaned leaves out of the pond, and Keaton and I brewed two beer recipes. We even made a HUGE batch of antelope chili! Yesterday, Keaton was nice enough to help with more yard work, and today I thoroughly cleaned the front porch and garage. That was AFTER riding at Yargo with Luke and Paul and grabbing lunch with them. There are literally dozens of other small tasks I was able to get checked off the lists as well. Oh yeah -- I also lifted weights yesterday morning and rode my LeMond Revolution! There is something about writing down goals which cannot be explained. I believe it is because it makes the goals tangible, and you feel accountable for achieving them.

Why do I think that I broke Brad? I called him this morning to see if he wanted to go riding... He replied, "I think I am going to just relax this morning. I read your blog about how much time it takes to go mountain biking, and I agree." What have I done? He wasn't actually supposed to LISTEN to me! HAHA!... Actually, I can't say that I blame him. He had just returned very late Thursday night (or early Friday morning, depending how you look at it) from an emergency trip to Denmark for work. He worked through last weekend, although he was able to get out a few times as a tourist. I figured that I wouldn't be seeing him this weekend. However, I forgot our priorities -- beer brewing! He called me yesterday to see if I wanted to keg and bottle our last batches of beer, so we headed that way. Keaton has now experienced the full process of brewing from beginning to end. It was a great day! Now if I can just get Brad back on the bike!

I am definitely the luckiest person alive! Why? I have developed so many amazing friendships over the past several years because of the shop! In addition to just being friends, here are some examples of what these people have done for me. With the exception of Tom, who I have known for years, I have met every other person through the shop. Tom drops off beer quite often. Joseph has introduced me to new breweries and music. Steven has brought me some of the most amazing wine. Jyll brings me lunch every time she visits, which is often. Keaton has helped me with project after project. Rich brings me amazing foods from his store, as well as toys! Bill donated a set of Polk Audio speakers to the playhouse at the shop. Paul has brought me high-end cigars from his humidor. Hardy was incredibly generous when my father passed away. Terry has done me so many favors. I cannot even mention all of the amazing things which have happened to me, nor all of the customers who have been so generous and kind. I just want them all to know how grateful I am every day. Friday, however, just blew my mind...

A few weeks ago, I spend half an hour talking with a customer about relationships. He told me about his first marriage, and how they just weren't compatible. He proceeded to describe how tough it was meeting a nice woman (I can certainly relate). He is now extremely happy, having married again. He told me that you never know when or where you will meet someone, or how it may occur. I felt encouraged by his story -- it was very nice that he would take the time to tell me about his situation and how incredible life can be. Well, when he came by the store Friday, he was accompanied by a woman. He introduced her as his niece and said that she was interested in cycling. She and I spoke for about thirty minutes. She had to return to work, so she left while we worked on his bike. He then explained that he had told her all about me, my shop, and that he felt that we should meet. He then asked if I would be interested in calling her? You have no idea how quickly I said "Yes!" HAHA! I have no idea where it will go, but I can definitely say that I am already very impressed with her! I have never had a problem meeting anyone, but I just haven't really been interested recently. I have been focused 100% on the shop, as well as getting my house back in order and having fun with friends. I would rather be alone than go through more of the dating games -- I have done that plenty. It just blew me away that a customer would think highly enough of me to introduce me to a family member! That is probably the ultimate compliment I have ever been given, since it reflects on me personally. Wow. I can't describe what that means to me. I am the luckiest person alive.

We haven't had any photos of Sprocket lately, have we? I took this the other day during a lull while Nick was at the register. Hilarious.

This song from Ben Folds says it all. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Lists

2011-02-11T21:13:00.005-05:00

An ex-girlfriend used to tell me that I accomplished more in a day than most people do in a week. Looking back, I am often amazed at what I used to get done. For instance, not only did I have a full-time job, but I took a full load of classes at GA Tech, ran my bike business on the side, and even played lacrosse at Tech. I am certainly not bragging -- anyone can do that with the correct mindset. How was I able to get great grades and do everything else? I have absolutely no idea. Obviously, motivation was a large part of the equation. I just feel that I don't do nearly as much as I used to any more -- especially before and after work and weekends. Sure, I accomplish plenty, but I don't really feel that I am living life at my full potential at the moment. I was definitely burned out, so taking a break was needed. However, I am ready to go again. I have no complaints regarding the shop -- two of us do more than much larger shops with many times our staff. How do I rekindle that fire in my personal life?

The answer is actually quite simple: LISTS. Having a list of objectives is the easiest way to actually accomplish goals, in my opinion. The weekend is here. Rather than letting it slip away again, only feeling that I did a few things, I am going to write a list of my objectives for the weekend. Whether it is a huge project, or something as simple as reading a chapter in a book I haven't touched, my chances of actually completing the tasks are much greater if I write down everything in a list. Additionally, if I look back at the completed objectives, I have tangible proof that I did what I hoped to do. This weekend, I want to brew beer, ride both days and lift weights, as well as cook some new recipes (including antelope chili!!!). I am taking a pad of paper home tonight and spending 15 minutes listing goals for the weekend. That short amount of time will allow me to accomplish 2-3 times (or more) what I normally do in a weekend if past history is any barometer.

This month has been great so far! Only 11 days into February (40% of month), and we are already at 75% of last year's numbers! I know that I am jinxing myself by saying that, but I definitely believe in looking at concrete evidence -- not just a "feeling" of where we are. We had incredible feedback on the SORBA site! We have a solid core group of road racers/riders, but I really want to increase our exposure to the mountain bike and triathlon markets. Reviews like that are a great start! Speaking of exposure, the new sign has been installed at the street! It is 2.5 times the size of the old one, so I am hoping that it brings us more business. My ultimate goal is to have a double-sided sign, but I will take what I can get at the moment. 50% visibility is better than none!

If you read this blog but aren't a "friend" of the shop on Facebook, add us!

I didn't go grocery shopping before the predicted snow storms the other night, but I have a feeling they were stripped clean after the previous adventure we had! The next morning, I was SOOOOO lucky to make it out of my driveway -- it was incredibly scary! Luckily, I have 4WD! HAHA! The news stations THRIVE on that stuff, though!

On that note, a classic. No video, but it doesn't need one...

A new motivation

2011-02-09T22:55:00.001-05:00

I must admit that I enjoy rainy weekends. Although the precipitation ended before Saturday last week, muddy trails mean trail closures. Trail closures mean that I can accomplish my chores guilt- free, without worrying that I should be out riding. I know this may sound like sacrilege to many of you -- ride, ride, ride... Sorry, but I have stuff to do in life. Let's face it -- a day of mountain biking almost always requires 2-3 hours in drive time alone (usually more). Another half an hour to load, and 30 minutes more to unpack and wash the bike. Let's be conservative. That is a minimum of 2.5 hours dedicated to riding -- without even factoring in riding time!!! If you want a decent ride, that is a minimum of 1.5 hours on the bike. FOUR HOURS -- minimum! If you get a late start, the day is effectively dedicated to the bike. Let's say that you want to mountain bike twice a weekend, that is a total of eight hours (or more). I just have too many things I want to do in life. I love riding, but it isn't realistic to ride that much (actually, driving is the main component), and have any semblance of a life. That is why I actually LIKE a trainer. Strange, I know.

Don't get me wrong -- I am not saying that I don't want to get back in shape or stop riding. I have slacked off for the past four years. I guess "slacking off" isn't a correct description -- I was working my ass off to build my shop. The past several months, I have truly slacked off. I COULD have been riding or working out, but I have been burned out. It has been nice to just come home and relax. I have been working eight hours a day (while my minions do my bidding), and I must say that it is a nice change. But that just isn't my nature. I worked 80 hours a week for 3 1/2 years, so I deserved a reprieve. Now it is time to get back to it. Working smarter rather than harder is my new mantra.

Acquiring Santa Cruz Bicycles was the boost I needed to get motivated to take the store to the next level. Signing the lease on the space next to us (which Nick is ECSTATIC about!) also gave us the room to expand. The shop will now be more oriented toward high-end displays. Customers have always commented that the store is different every time they come to visit -- that will not change. Nick has known that I have been contemplating removing the carpet to acid stain the concrete (as I have done at my house). He took the initiative to start the process yesterday. The change to the showroom is going to be amazing! We are often called a "boutique" by our vendor reps -- the floor and lighting changes should only add to that label!

Things have been rocking at the shop already this year! Our numbers are off the charts, and we have been as busy with repairs the past few weeks as we normally are during the spring! I think this is going to be an amazing year. Not only is the reputation of the store growing, but we are constantly adding new products. We just received a set of ZIPP 404 carbon clincher wheels for display. I can't believe how many wheels we currently have in stock, as well as the variety of manufacturers. My goal has always been to have the best candy store in town, and that hasn't changed. I know what people want to see, so I get it!

Back to my comment about riding. It isn't that I am not going to ride or workout -- quite the contrary. I am working out weekday mornings with weights at home, as well as an our of cardio. I rowed this week, as well as riding my LeMond Revolution. Everything fits perfectly into my spare room. Now that the mini-ITX board has a home in the new case (with 1Tb HD and Blu-Ray player), I have music and movies to keep me occupied while I exercise. Basically, I just enjoy my evenings too much to have to come home and do these things. I have no excuse, since I don't even have to be to the shop until 11AM! I can get a workout in, run errands, and even go for a run. I just want it out of the way and done in the morning. However, I am definitely on a path to get back to the shape I was in at GA Tech!

As for weekends, I have been spending a lot of time lately cleaning... and cleaning... and cleaning. Although that has allowed me to get my life back in order, I am not able to do the things I want (such as the occasional long mountain bike adventure).Tonight I decided to change that. I came home and worked on an issue with the kegerator, then mopped the entire house. I decided to get that done now, rather than waiting for the weekend. Sure, I will have projects this weekend. I am just tired of them taking up my entire weekend! Everything in moderation. Work hard and play hard.

Last weekend Brad had me over for a brewing extravaganza! We transferred two 5-gallon carboys to new containers and brewed another 5-gallon batch. We used the leftover yeast from the beer we transferred to make bread and pizza dough. I have been wanting to try a new recipe, so we made it with the pizza dough after it had risen. Pretty cool!

We had a mini Super Bowl party at the shop Sunday. Brad brought his turkey fryer and heated up the best chili ever (ground pork is the key)! It was actually a good game, and everyone seemed to have a fun time. I can't wait until my playhouse is finished upstairs -- I will never go home! I did receive the Apple TV this week, and I will probably get the pool table moved over there this weekend from my house. Eventually that project will be finished...

Brad found out this morning that he has to fly to Denmark for an emergency issue tomorrow afternoon -- for a week. Not only will Dawn be left without him for a week, but he will be gone for Valentine's Day. Sure, that is a manufactured holiday -- just try telling a woman that! HA!

Since Brad will be gone this weekend, Keaton is coming by to help brew at my house. Otherwise, I plan to ride (and not feel guilty!), bring my bar aquarium back to life, and do some chores around the house. Who knows? Maybe I will actually go out and try something new! HA...

Screwy

2011-02-01T23:40:00.014-05:00

I just finished chatting with Krista Park via instant messenger -- I haven't talked with her in quite a while. Hard to believe that three of us former "Motorolans" are now making our living from bicycles. Krista is a top-ten professional mountain bike racer, and Cody and I both own shops. We all rode together after work not that long ago. Funny how things change, yet remain strangely the same. Speaking of that world, I received this from my first employee the other day (he is now a co-op in engineering). I will keep his name anonymous:

I thought you would appreciate this, I got the unparalleled pleasure of reading through some Motorola University or whatever it is called powerpoints on design of experiments and six sigma and all that noise this past week. I spent about an hour reading that and wanted to kill myself. I feel like now I finally understand every "corporate work blows" story you've told.

Hilarious. As Krista, Cody, and I can all attest, there are definitely other ways to make a living than the cubicle world. That doesn't mean that our way is better -- it just works for us. Krista was an insanely talented electrical engineer, yet she had the guts to live out her dreams. I bet that she has more fun in a day than most people do in a month. That is truly living to me!

This week has already been completely insane! I signed the lease on the space next door (we now have about 3,500 sq. ft!), revamped our clothing room, added QBP as a vendor (gaining Surly and Salsa bicycles), changed credit card processors (for a much better rate!), and sold a bike and Mavic wheels -- and it is only Tuesday! We had a PERFECT weekend, and we have already seen the benefits of that weather. Road racing is starting back up, and we are beginning to see our regulars again. This season should be amazing!

Last weekend I actually took my Carver out to Yargo. The ride was great, although I owe the credit to the bike in this case. I have been trying to get in shape again, but I must admit that my motivation isn't where I need it to be. I have no excuses any more -- time to put up or shut up! I ordered the remaining pieces for the computer in my workout room, so I will now be able to listen to music, watch Netflix or a Blu-Ray movie, or anything else to keep my mind off the drudgery of working out! Whatever it takes... Tonight I even stayed late at the shop and finally finished my entertainment system rack (do you have ANY IDEA how long it took to thread the nuts on each rod?!!! Hence, the title of the blog. Making and staining the shelves was nothing compared to that!!!). I mean, everyone needs an Xbox, PS3, Apple TV, pool table, and kegerator at work, right?! HAHA!

James stopped by to show us the trophy and jersey he won last week -- at the Tour of the Bahamas! He won the overall for the the 12-14 year-old junior class -- at the ripe old age of 12! He placed 1st, 2nd, and 1st in the three races! Simply amazing! I have known James since he was... er... just a kid! HAHA! There is no question in my mind that he is destined for great things! Of course, he will still have to dump the garbage every week, but I will allow a few more minutes for his autograph signing! HA!

Speaking of which, I cannot reiterate enough how lucky I have been to have had such amazing employees over the years! The people you meet working at my shop don't just treat it like a job -- they all deserve so much of my gratitude. Without them, the shop wouldn't be where it is today. Thank you, everyone!

That is all for tonight. I cannot wait to see how this year goes! I am already amazed!

How was YOUR day?!

2011-01-28T20:44:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to come up with a title for today's blog, but the one I chose seemed appropriate. I hope everyone had the day I did!!! I was thinking of, "My Best Day in 5 Years!" (because it literally was!), but the one I chose just fit better. Where do I begin???... Well, for starters, I now have Quality Bicycle Products as distributor. Why is that important? They are the #1 bicycle distributor in the country (if not world)! Equally as important (to me), they carry Salsa and Surly -- two brands which fit PERFECTLY with the "boutique" atmosphere of my shop. I am excited beyond words! You have no idea!...

The next big news is that I took acquisition of the building next door -- doubling our square footage. Customers won't directly notice the additional space, but it is a HUGE win! We will be able to move excess bikes/repairs/product over there, which will allow for an amazing transformation of the sales floor! We can finally showcase bikes and components, yet have instant access to the products when needed. Having a dedicated fit studio will also be a bonus! Exciting times!

To cap off the day, four friends dropped by as the day drew to a close -- Tom, Paul, Daniel, and Chris. Who else has a "job" like that? Not to mention that Tom dropped off beer! Yes, it is a rough life!!!

Jack picked up the Surly Long Haul Trucker we built for him today. If you are looking for a touring bicycle, I don't think you can find a better bike for the money. He is taking four months to tour from Washington state to Maine! Some electrical engineers retire early and tour, some open bike shops. I have a lot of fun here, but touring seems like so much more fun of an option! I can't wait to hear about his trip!

Today was crazy. It is supposed to be 50-60 degrees this weekend. We had a taste of that today, and I am honestly scared of what is coming this summer! Sure, I have a great mechanic and sales guys, but it is really starting to make me nervous. I have invested in more space, knowledge (such as the Shimano XTR seminar last night), and people -- it is starting to snowball. Am I complaining? HELL NO!

I haven't posted a Sprocket photo in a while. Speaking of hard lives...

The weekend is here! Have a great one!

Hoppy New Year!

2011-01-26T18:23:00.003-05:00

Black IPA on tap at home!

I am addicted to hops! I never really cared until I started brewing, but now I can honestly say that the more I can have in a beer, the better! I am currently reading How to Brew by John Palmer, and I am definitely learning a lot. Sure, Brad and I have been brewing for a year, and we have definitely increased our skills. We started off with malt extract kits and bottled the beer. We are now brewing from all-grain kits and kegging the beer. However, we both want to learn the process at a much deeper level. It reminds me of when I first got into saltwater aquariums -- I immersed myself in books on the subject, visited forums, etc. You can find books dedicated to just hops, "exotic" brews, or anything else you might want to try. I don't know how far we will take this hobby, but I can definitely say that I don't think I will run out of information in the near future. Plus, you can never have enough beer!

I didn't really have anything for Nick today, but I told him he could come by to study and clock in if it became busy. From the time I arrived at 11, I was completely busy with vendor reps from 11-4, filling out dealer applications, placing orders, and working on a lease for the place next door (more on that in a second). Didn't I leave the corporate world because of that type of work? HAHA! Some people open bike shops because they are passionate about bicycles, and just want to work on them. Sure, I have that passion, too. However, I want to see this shop grow into a true entity, and I realize that the only way that will happen is if I treat it like a business, and handle the sometimes unpleasant aspects. If I want to see this grow, I will have to become further removed from the repairs and sales, and build the business. I am lucky enough to have an incredible staff, so I am using my time to do just that.

Speaking of growth, we are expanding! I am negotiating a lease with the building adjacent to mine. Basically, I will be doubling the space I currently have! We already have a 300 sq. ft. warehouse, but we need more space. Rather than leasing another similar unit, I have decided to rent another building directly next to our current location. Not only will we be able to use it for our normal storage needs, but now we can better utilize our showroom. We will be able to display one model of each bike in the showroom, while having other sizes immediately available next door. We will use one of the two offices as a fit studio, offering even better service to our customers. Most importantly, I will be able to park a truck and motorcycle securely at the shop so that I will always have a vehicle available at my house or the shop! HAHA! Ok, this is only a benefit. A damn good one, though!

That sums up everything for now. Until next time...

If you build it, they will come...

2011-01-20T19:23:00.007-05:00

Be forewarned -- this is a long one!!!

When I opened my shop, I had no idea what I was doing. I mean, I had worked my way through college in bike shops, and I even had vendor accounts for my side business. The problem certainly wasn't the repairs or bike knowledge. I just had ZERO true business experience. I had some experience with marketing (having learned that the Yellow Pages did NOT work! HA). I had built websites in school and for my mobile repair business. I knew how to sell, and I certainly knew the industry. What I didn't have was merchandising experience. I certainly didn't have capital to invest, having been laid-off unexpectedly. What I did have, was desire. Most importantly, I was too naive to know what I was getting myself into!

It was April 7, 2007 when I first opened the shop. The previous day was my final as an employee with Motorola, after seven years with the company. I was still in shock to some degree. I had witnessed some incredible engineers taking jobs at half of the salary they deserved, just to make ends meet. Even though that was before the economy collapsed, I knew full well that I could end up without a job again, since electrical engineering jobs in this country were being outsourced daily. I wanted more control. Everyone had been telling me that I needed to open a true bike shop for years, so I guess I just decided to go for it. I already had this location, so I just decided to give it a shot. No real thought involved. One day I am sitting in my cube staring at a computer screen, the next I am changing tubes on bicycles. BIG change! (The irony is that I now spend much of my day staring at a computer screen again! HAHA!)

I really can't remember those first months -- it was basically all a blur. I spent my days painting, installing more slat wall, opening more vendor accounts, and occasionally working on repairs as they came in. I knew that I could NOT compete with the other shops in the normal ways. I have zero street visibility, so I couldn't expect the normal drive-by traffic. I did not have a big budget (negative budget was probably more correct), so traditional advertising was also out. I was in a hole-in-the-wall location, and I no longer ran in the same circles with cyclists. Basically, it seemed that I was doomed.

I decided to take one big risk. I took a portion of my severance pay and bought air time for a commercial during the Tour de France that summer. I basically decided that I was truly gambling, so I treated it as such. I was going to play with the money, treating it as though I would never see it again. I had no way of knowing if it made sense, but I went for it. I don't know how, but it was the best business decision I ever made! Road bike customers came by in droves to see this new shop they had seen in the commercial. The ad paid for itself many times over, and still does to this day! It was like catching lightning in a bottle, and I don't know if I could duplicate the event again. The best part was reconnecting with old friends -- people I hadn't seen in probably 15 years. It was amazing!

Watching that clip again, I realized one other smart move I had made. When I opened, I was a dealer for KHS and Redline. They are both great brands, but I didn't have anything to offer at the upper level. I had known Chris Pic when he had just started racing bikes, well before he went on to become a pro. He was working for Blue Competition Cycles, so I dropped him a line. At the time, Blue was just starting to make waves in the industry, but they were growing rapidly. Being a local company in Norcross, it also meant that I could sell the "homegrown" aspect. Because of this connection with Chris, I was able to get my foot in the door with them. I really believed in the bikes. They must have seen the potential with me as well, considering that my store was little more than a converted warehouse at the time. Who would have thought that the company would have a rider placing 2nd (2010) and 3rd (2009) at the Ironman in Kona?!

The next year, I needed a bike brand which would fill in the gaps between KHS and Blue. The perfect fit turned out to be FELT. Jim Felt was involved in the motocross industry at the beginning of his career, so that was definitely a reason for me to be interested due my background! However, FELT is an incredible brand. They are the perfect size company -- solid and respected (FELT bikes won both the men's and women's triathlon in the 2008 Olympics, and sponsored the Garmin pro team for several years). At the same time, they are not a giant corporation with layers of red tape and ridiculous requirements for dealers. Acquiring FELT was equal in importance to my TV spot and becoming a Blue dealer. I have never regretted one of those decisions -- I would not be where I am today without those choices!

Over time, I have added several more bike brands, becoming more of a "boutique" dealer. Don't get me wrong -- we will always repair any bicycles, and continue to stock parts and accessories for everything. There will never be an elitist atmosphere here. Honestly, I just don't get that -- it is a bike shop after all, right? However, I also want to be a "candy store." I want people to come in here and see bikes, components, and accessories that they will never see at other stores. Sure, there are online dealers which compete for our sales, and there always will be. However, those places can't give the customer the experience that we can. THAT is where my shop differs from any other bike store in the state -- the customer experience.

My father visited after the store was open for almost a year. He watched as customers came and went that Saturday. At the end of the day, he said, "I have never seen a business where every customer leaves with a smile on their face!" That was the best compliment I could have ever received! I had never really put into words what I was aiming for, but that was it. If everyone left with a smile, I was doing the right thing. I guess that is just my personality and the way I treat people. I was raised right, and I cannot take credit for that. My experience in the corporate world taught me to keep customers updated by following up, to make things happen on schedule, and to expect absolute perfection. I am so lucky to have the foundation I have had, because that is truly what made this shop become successful. I have seen people open businesses with all of the money in the world behind them, only to fail because they did not follow these basic principles. Hype doesn't make a business successful, either. It takes consistency -- day in and day out.

People ask me why I write this blog. When I started writing it, I thought it would be cool to see where I had come from. I had an ulterior motive as well, but that was the main reason. As time went on, it became fun, and I was very surprised to find out how many people follow! It is amazing to look back and see pictures of the shop, Sprocket, and friends. Yesterday, I received an email from one of my first customers, Ken. I asked him if I could share it, because it really meant a lot to me.

Hi Scott,

I haven't been to your shop in quite some time. I enjoy, however, visiting your blog periodically to make sure you are still "alive and kicking". I can imagine that business may not be really good right now. I ran a small business during a previous economic downturn that made it seem like I was walking in molasses sometimes just to keep the doors open. My own business was service oriented, not so much inventory but I did have a huge (for me) up front cost for laboratory instruments/equipment.

I did my best, when I first discovered your shop (saw it on a Tour de France coverage), to use Bicycledoc whenever I could. Partly because I really needed your expertise and partly because I know how difficult it can be when opening the doors of a new business. Any contribution I might have made toward your positive cash flow was partly negated by your too generous fees.

If I am any kind of example, you have a very large customer base out there that is impressed by you honesty, experience and good communication ability.

Ken Homer

THAT is why I do this. It is the reason I write my blog. Knowing that people feel that way about me drives me to keep improving this shop every day. I never felt that I was throwing away my education by opening this shop. I'll admit that there were times when I doubted myself, and whether I was making the correct decision career-wise. Emails like Ken's make me realize that I could not have made a better decision as to what I should do with my life!!! Sure, there was prestige in saying "I work as an electrical engineer." However, there is nothing which can possibly replace the way I feel when I know that so many people care!

On that note, I wanted to show you one of the coolest videos I have seen in a long time. When I first heard about Jack White, he ranked up (or down) there with the Justin Biebers of the world (even before Bieber polluted the planet). I thought, "Who is this guy?!" However, the more I came to know about him, the more impressed I was. He is a rarity in our society -- he is the definition of "cool" to me. He lives life on his terms, and does what he wants, never apologizing for it. He seeks perfection, and is always learning (see It Might Get Loud). He stands on the shoulders of giants, and he knows it. He works with legends, and gives them the respect they deserve. This video is amazing, in my humble opinion (thanks, Joseph!):

Addendum...

2011-01-18T22:19:00.003-05:00

This isn't EXACTLY an addendum. I mean, to some extent it is. This post can be considered a supplement to the last one, which is correcting errors in that "document." Having heard from friends, I decided against making a subscription a mandatory requirement for reading this blog. At the time, I was completely ready to follow through with it. It wasn't a rash decision -- I had thought about it for a long time. I am thoroughly fed up with Facebook -- a minute-by-minute account of the most trivial life experiences for many people. It isn't that I don't understand the fascination -- quite the contrary. I will no longer post on Facebook, except for articles slamming the privacy issues of Facebook, etc., such as this one regarding their use of cell phone numbers. (Ironically, I am actually chatting with my friend Yoshi in Singapore on FB now -- I just heard the "bleep" when he said "Hi!," even though I did not know that FB was active in a browser tab! HA!)

I just realized that it wasn't fair to make everyone log into my blog. Brad has his "special reading time" on his iPhone. Will he really want to hassle with that step? I am sure that people will still read it, but that just adds complication. Enough people have told me that they enjoy reading it, so I decided to change my mind. I am allowed to do that. If you are reading this in the Ukraine (yes, there are readers there) and want to believe that I am some creepy cat guy because I happen to show an occasional picture of Sprocket, so be it. He is the main attraction at the shop -- I give the people what they want. Believe it or not, every move I make, everything I write about is calculated. If you know me, you will know that everything I do is thought out -- to the Nth degree. Do I like cats? Sure. But I also love dogs and children (preferably with ketchup). I am compassionate, and I don't have a problem admitting that. I enjoy the occasional video game, but I am not a "gamer." There is no label you can place on me -- check out my selection of music. What has my goal been with this blog? To keep you guessing. I am incredibly opinionated (there are no "shades of gray" in my life -- black and white, baby!). At the same time, I am always up for anything -- people often think that I am indecisive because I am happy with anything.

I'll admit that I was a WEE bit cranky Saturday when I finally decided that I was done with letting anyone read this. Something happened last week which completely confused me -- I will probably never know the answer. I just decided that I was tired of the overshare we see in society now. I had grown weary of certain people reading this. But you know what? I don't care. Think what you want to think. Just remember, I am not really sharing who I am with you. Think chess...

That being said, let's get on with some shop news. I picked up Santa Cruz Bicycles!!!! If there is one brand of bikes I have wanted, it is Santa Cruz! I have Tomac, Carver, Ventana, and Niner as custom mountain bikes. They are all AMAZING! However, I needed something in the full suspension arena -- Santa Cruz is the PERFECT fit! My shop has developed a reputation (for some reason) as a road bike shop, yet my "passion" (I REALLY hate that term) lies with mountain bikes! Growing up racing motocross, mountain bikes (specifically downhill) were an obvious logical progression for me with bicycles. Santa Cruz is THE brand which is synonymous with full suspension mountain bikes. In my opinion, I have some of the best brands in cycling. I believe in what I sell. Always have, and always will!!! Now a word from the most famous Santa Cruz racer, Steve Peat:

Many people would say that last week was wasted because we were basically closed due to the snow and ice. I don't look at it that way. It isn't like other shops were stealing business -- why not enjoy the time off? I spent almost four years working basically every day. I took advantage of the time off. Why let it get me down? Everything works out, so why not take a break if I have no choice. However, even with two Land Rovers, I wasn't about to drive anywhere. I did make two trips on two different days, and scared myself silly. I grew up in upstate NY, and I know how to drive in the snow. The rest of Atlanta? Not going there...

This week has been good so far. Waiting for the custom titanium Carver road bike frame to arrive for the swap, and getting ready to build a Surly Long Haul Trucker. One week after the worst snow in a decade and the shop is rocking! I have an incredible mechanic in Daniel, and Nick just "gets it" when it comes to the way I handle business. Alan can always be depended on for anything, and Ben is going to be an amazing addition. Seriously -- I couldn't ask for a better crew. As customers, you couldn't ask for a better staff!

That's really about it. I will keep writing this blog. I reserve the right to change my mind at any time, though -- HA HA!

My theme song, one more time...

My last blog entry...

2011-01-15T16:48:00.002-05:00

This will be the last time anyone without a subscription to my blog will be able to read it. To be honest, I am just tired of overshare. I am weary of people posting the smallest details about their life of Facebook, I know, I know -- it makes you feel that people care. It is your 15 minutes of fame, etc., etc. I get it. However, that just isn't me. I am as technologically savvy as anyone. Actually, far more so. I just don't believe that technology is always for the best. I believe in the good old-fashioned forms of communication -- write me, ask me how I am doing, etc. I also know for a fact that people check up (by that, I mean SPY) on me and use the blog as a way to see what I am doing (I know who is reading and when -- that technologically savvy thing again). Why? I have no idea... I don't need that. If you want to know, just subscribe to my blog. Better yet, call me!

What did I do during the worst snow storm in a decade? I couldn't make it to the shop (Bill, my friend and Gwinnett County police officer told me that the main street to my subdivision was the worst in the county). I spent the week goofing off with some video games. After cleaning and organizing, I threw away so much junk -- it was amazing! I had incredible conversations with a new friend. It was a perfect "vacation." I did work Friday, but I left early to brew at Brad's. We have brewed 10 gallons of beer, bottled five gallons, and kegged five. I think we are set -- for this week, anyway! Summer brewing is fun, but it is so much better during the winter. We are snowed-in, can't ride, etc. Why not hang out and brew?!

That's about it. Feel free to subscribe. I will only be posting on Facebook for my business. If you want to know what I am up to, you have two choices. Personal contact is always nice :)

Goodbye to another friend...

2011-01-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

Just a brief post today. I had to make the difficult decision to have Flea put to sleep this morning. He could no longer eat, so he was becoming weaker by the day. I was hoping for a better outcome, but I knew this day would eventually arrive. Doctor Brady at Killian Hill Animal Hospital was wonderful. He rearranged his schedule once he found out I was bringing in Flea so that I could be there during the procedure. It was rough, but I could no longer watch him suffer. He put up a brave fight until the very end...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

2011-01-04T18:45:00.003-05:00

I left the shop New Year's day ready to ride my Kreitler rollers. I have new shoes for my AC1SL, but I don't have the Speedplay cleats, so I will have to wait before I ride it on the LeMond Revolution (see the product review I wrote). I was so excited to try it, but of course it would have to wait! As luck would have it, my shoes for my cross bike were in my other truck, so I couldn't even try it with that! Joseph harassed me and said that I was just making excuses for not training. I drove home ready to get on the rollers. Of course, my plans deviated...

Dishwasher hot-wired!

I had pulled the dishwasher a few days earlier after it died, and I ordered a new one. Knowing better than to just assume that it was broken, I tested the power to it with a voltmeter -- it was receiving the proper voltage. I did some research and decided that either the switch in the handle was bad, or the main control board was burned out. Even if I could have found the parts, I know it would have been at least $100 -- to fix a very old dishwasher. I found a really nice unit for $400 ($200 off), so I decided to just go that route. End of story, right? Well, after I came home, I tried using the garbage disposal as I was making dinner -- nothing. What were the odds that BOTH the dishwasher AND the disposal had died at the same time? That would have to be almost impossible. My first reaction was that they must be on the same circuit, so I tested the voltage -- it was in the 110-120V range as it should be. Huh?... I was thinking that maybe there was a faulty breaker, or something along those lines, so I went out to the garage and shut everything down. I left the voltmeter attached to the power for the dishwasher and slowly brought everything back online until I isolated that circuit. I didn't just turn them on one at a time -- I used the computer programming version of sorting. I flipped on half. If I had power at the wires, I knew it was in that half, or vice versa. Switching half, then half of half, and so on is MUCH faster than going back and forth and turning on one breaker at a time.

I then decided to hot-wire the dishwasher. I found an old computer cord (I have dozens! HA), and cut off one end. I wired the connections together and plugged it in to an outlet -- the damn thing ran!!! Huh?! I then used some Romex cable to connect the dishwasher to the old connection -- again it worked! Argh! I was so close to throwing that thing away, and there isn't a single problem with it!!! I was so lucky! I reinstalled the unit and ran a full load -- perfect. The only thing I can think of is that the connection between the wires and the unit was somehow broken. However, the disposal still doesn't work! HAHA... I guess I know what I will be doing this weekend... Luckily, the new dishwasher wasn't arriving until this weekend, so I was able to cancel the order. I will replace it and the stove when I install new cabinets, but no reason to do that right now!

I am very skeptical now when things don't work -- this comes from experience. I am a firm believer that 90% of the time problems are simple by nature. For instance, I once had a battery issue with the first VMAX motorcycle I bought. That is not uncommon, since the 1200cc engine takes a lot of juice to turn over. However, this one just wouldn't start. I tried a new battery -- no luck. I tested the starter motor stators -- they were in spec. I still believed that it had to be a bad starter motor (my father disagreed), so I bought a new one. The factory service manual stated that the engine had to be pulled in order to remove the starter, so I began the process of removal. After many hours of work, I noticed something. The ground for the motor was not located on the engine -- it was attached to the frame. The problem with this is that the engine is isolated from the frame by rubber motor mounts! The idiots who had the bike before me had moved the ground when they had installed fancy coverings over the coolant lines! The motorcycle only had 7,000 miles, yet it was incapacitated by something so simple! What a waste of my time and money! I vowed to never overlook the simple things after that. It saved me with the dishwasher!

This mentality translates to most areas of my life. Flea has been sick for several months, as I have mentioned in this blog. Having had saltwater fish, stingrays, and sharks, I am accustomed to the death of living things. I truly understand that death is part of the life cycle. Just having lost my father, I had to come to terms with this on that level. I know that people will pour money into pets to keep them alive -- not for the animal's sake necessarily, but often as a way to postpone their own loss. It is an incredibly difficult time for anyone when they lose a pet. I have been prepared for that with Flea, but because of my "fix it" mentality, I couldn't say "goodbye" without trying everything I could to make sure that it wasn't a simple problem. I would hate to find out later that I had overlooked something very simple. Even my vet thought I might be right when I discovered hyperthyroidism in cats one day while researching. Almost all of the symptoms matched. Well, medical issues are never as simple as mechanical problems. It just wasn't meant to be that I would find a fix for Flea. In a few days, I will probably have to make the incredibly difficult decision to put him to sleep. He can no longer eat anything due to the swelling of the tumor in his throat. I have done everything I could, and I have spent a lot of time with him recently. I know that I have done the best I could.

On the other end of the animal spectrum, this story is crazy. Luke took in two stray dogs the other day. He left them at his shop to get them off the streets while he tried to find the owners. Well, the pit bull mix was apparently hungry (or bored). He actually chewed on the fenders of Luke's Audi -- he destroyed them and the hood!!! The entire car will now have to be repainted! The only "good" thing is that it was Luke's car and not a customer's! No good deed goes unpunished...

Trim finished for all 12 shelves

First application of stain

What have I done this week at the shop? It was actually crazy here Sunday and Monday -- a few bike sales, several new repairs, and lots of paperwork. Didn't I leave the corporate world to get away from documentation? HA!... During the slow periods, I worked on the shelves for my entertainment equipment -- twelve total for three rack units. I will finally be done with that project! Only 5+ years in the making!

Duplicate part on right

I must say that there are definitely benefits to having a machine shop (Dave Hassell Machining) a few doors down. Being good friends with them is even better! We received a carbon frame repair, which was missing one spacer/shim specific only to Giant TCR carbon frames. I know why companies make proprietary parts, but seriously -- WHY?! No one else has a headset designed like this. However, without this specific part, the bike would be useless. Of course, Giant was out of stock at their headquarters, without any idea of when they might have it. This is one thing I definitely learned in the corporate world -- make things happen! I went next door to Dave's with the part I needed duplicated in my hand. Within one hour, he had turned one out on the CNC machine for me! Actually, he made five more in case I ever need them. Giant dealers may not have them, but The Bicycle Doctor does!!! HA

I finally tested the 5,760 x 1,080 resolution of my the displays attached to my work computer with Wings of Prey -- insane! Rich came by to order his SRAM Quarq power cranks, so I showed him the monster he created when we designed this system. His reaction said it all! He did mention feeling a little motion sickness, but what do expect from a combined screen width of almost six feet?! HAHA

After writing a product review and a blog entry, I am worn out! Here is some Pinback...

The Hangover

2011-01-01T11:43:00.000-05:00

I know what you are thinking. However, I only had two beers last night (Dogfish Head Chicory Stout). Went to dinner and a party with friends. It was a very low-key night, but that was perfect. I even ran 5k after closing the shop at 4PM, just to end the year on a high note!... Sprocket, on the other hand, did not fare as well. Apparently he had a little too much catnip or one too many cockroaches (or both). I have warned him many times not to overindulge -- it serves him right! HA!

Yesterday was actually very busy, considering the fact that it was the last day of the year. Ben was a huge help. We were basically busy the entire day, only able to wolf down our lunches near closing time. The joys of retail! I am not complaining, though -- I'll take that any day over the alternative.

I don't really have any resolutions for the coming year. I believe in constant improvement, so I never wait to make a change. They don't always stick immediately, but I keep trying. If there is one area that I have decided to improve for 2011, I guess that it would be that I won't procrastinate with little things around the house. For instance, when I came home at 1:15AM last night, I finished drilling the last holes for my entertainment system shelves. It only took a minute, since I already had the jig clamped to the drill press. It would have been easy to say, "I'll just do it in the morning." I would have forgotten, and I wouldn't be able to finish attaching the trim today. It was so easy -- the worst part was taking that first step toward the garage!.. Otherwise, I want to continue working out the way I have been. I plan to set up the LeMond Revolution at the shop today if I have time. We will have one on display for test riding, which I will also use for training before or after work. It is a rough life, huh?

I realized something the other day. Growing up, I assume that most people had a repairman come to their house to fix something? At the very least, their family car was in the garage for repairs (especially back before vehicles could easily surpass 100k miles!). I am being completely honest -- we NEVER, EVER had a repairman for anything. My father fixed every single thing! Whether it was improving the flow of the well for our drinking water, building homemade wood burning stoves, painting his car for resale, or cultivating a huge garden, he did it all! Meanwhile, he worked for companies like IBM, using his intellect as a systems administrator. Men have become so emasculated, especially in big cities -- they can't do anything for themselves any longer, outside of their chosen career path. The definition of being a man has changed so dramatically over the past few decades. Personally, I don't think it is for the better. Unconsciously, I have followed in my father's footsteps. I have done everything from installing a transmission and clutch by myself to building the 250 gallon fish tank in my house from scratch. I don't believe it is because I have more talent than anyone else. I think part of the key is having grown up in an atmosphere of self-reliance. My first question is, "How can I do this?" I'll admit that when I am in a pinch, I call people like Bob or Alan for advice. Why spend four days trying to figure out something when I have experienced friends who can help? However, there is nothing I won't tackle. I am probably too stupid to know my own shortcomings! HA

Personally, I think this is one of the main problems with this country -- a lack of real men. Sure, our cities are filled with "cultured" latte-drinking sophisticates, but what can they fall back on when their career is no longer a career? Times are changing, people. A career path which might have been a promising land of endless opportunities two years ago may now be an absolute dead end. Where do you go from there? How do you pay for your McMansion and BMW when your previous source of income wasn't really based in anything tangible? I am sorry, but a lot of people have been making money (until recently) in spite of themselves. We have separated a lot of wheat from the chaff! My cousin (who also died from cancer) was an incredibly successful corporate ladder-climber. He lived in gated communities with houses always well above $1 million. However, he had one thing very rare in those developments -- the ability to build anything and work with his hands. I know that if he had been laid off, he would have survived. He was not too good to do anything. My father was the same way. A corporate job does not mean you can't also know how to work with your hands. Brad is amazingly gifted as a computer programmer, yet he has so many other talents. When he wants to learn something, he just does it -- with amazing results. We need more people with various talents. We don't need more men with "man purses" (I am sorry -- satchels).

Ironically, Brad pulled this up on YouTube last night at the party while we were waiting for the ball to drop. We need more men like this...

That brings to mind a good question -- how am I a "real man" if I like cats? HA... Well, first of all, I never I said that I was a real man. However , it isn't cats I like -- I love all animals. My cats have all been rescues -- I often feel like Cartman in the clip below... I am almost ready to get another dog -- hopefully this spring. Cats are just low maintenance. I haven't felt that it would be fair to have a dog with my schedule over the past several years. Plus, I now have my minions to take a puppy for walks, etc. HA!...

Major Boobage
Tags: SOUTH
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That is enough pontificating for one day. Have a Happy New Year, everyone! Remember those of us working today. You know, the less fortunate. HA

Thanks for this awesome video, Joseph! Dave Grohl has had such an amazing career!

The simple things in life...

2010-12-30T17:07:00.005-05:00

Although the veil of gloom and doom we felt at the beginning of the recession seems to be lifting to some extent, there is still a heaviness surrounding our lives. We realize now that nothing should be taken for granted. Who would have believed a few years ago that the economy could take such a drastic turn so quickly? Sure, many analysts predicted the burst of the housing bubble, but who really thought it could happen? Although things have stabilized to some degree, we aren't out of the woods yet. The current unemployment rate is staggering, with many professionals unable to find work in their fields. The threat of war from North Korea and a nuclear Iran are constantly on our minds (or at least they should be). Gas prices are predicted to reach $5 a gallon in the US by the end of the decade, if not more quickly. I am a very optimistic person, yet these times have me slightly on edge, I must admit...

With the death of my father a few months ago, I promised myself that I would appreciate every day to the fullest. I feel that I have been doing that. I definitely believe in the "work hard and play hard" mantra. I had one of the best times last night, yet it was really quite low-key. I spent a few hours on the phone with Fable, catching up for the first time in a year. While we were talking, I made a huge salad for dinner. I lit a fire in the fireplace on the porch, knowing that it takes quite a while to radiate heat. Since my new dishwasher won't arrive until next weekend, I washed the dishes by hand -- I actually found it to be quite relaxing and enjoyable. Who knew? HA! When I finished, I grabbed a small glass of Famous Grouse Scotch (thanks for the recommendation, Rich!), my Petzl headlamp, the novel I am reading, and headed out to the porch. Even though the temperature outside fell to 35 degrees by the time I finished reading at 11PM, I was perfectly warm! It was almost as enjoyable as actually camping! I finished the night watching Serpico.

I watched my koi floating motionless in the water which was barely above freezing -- they looked like strange blimps suspended in space. People often ask me, "Don't they die in the winter?" The answer to that question is, no. As long as the pond is deep enough (about 3' in Georgia), only the top layer freezes. Fish are cold blooded, so they can adapt to their surroundings. Well, freshwater fish can. The temperature in the ocean is much more stable, so (most) saltwater fish (especially sharks) are unable to handle fluctuations in temperature. Anyway, I have had these koi for almost ten years, and they have survived many freezes.

I actually lifted weights this morning, and used my rowing machine. Do miracles ever cease?! I am determined to get back to my previous self -- I have no excuses now!

That question reminds me of my 2nd most favorite question -- "Do you have to pay for all of these bikes. Don't bike companies just let you have them on consignment, and you pay when they sell?" I wish!!! HA... Nope -- I have to pay for every single thing in the store. Dollars are just numbers to me now -- at least on the business level. I wish I could say that for my personal life, but when it comes to the shop, it is just dealing with big numbers. No guts, no glory, right?

Speaking of the shop, we have had a really good week so far! Several repairs, a wheel build, and lots of other odds and ends. Only two months until spring!!! I will most likely keep the shop open this weekend. I could close for New Year's Day, but I have plenty to do, so I might as well be here. Daniel is on vacation, so I'll do the dirty work...

Courtesy of Brad. Engineering AND beer together -- it doesn't get any better!

It wouldn't be my blog without some Ok Go!

One piece of paper...

2010-12-27T19:13:00.000-05:00

I have been using a charcoal chimney for several years, yet it never ceases to amaze me how truly incredible that thing is! Growing up, I never once witnessed charcoal actually on fire. I mean, sure -- dowse charcoal in lighter fluid and it will "light" -- until the fluid is gone. Of course, the aftertaste from the fluid is yet another problem to deal with. The charcoal chimney is one of the best inventions ever, yet it is so insanely simple. With enough ventilation, charcoal will burn -- at an amazing rate! Now that I finally have a back door again, I am grilling several times a week. I thawed out the antelope flank steaks Thursday night -- incredible! I can't wait to try everything!

I spent Christmas Eve with Brad and his family, and had a wonderful time. As usual, Brad was cooking -- yet another jambalaya recipe. When he called us to dinner, I was amazed by his generosity! HA! Afterward, we all watched a few movies and drank adult beverages, while Kevin attempted to prove that human flight is possible. We are currently out of the beer we have been brewing, but we currently have three batches in various stages. Soon!

Even though I only had Saturday off, I had a wonderful Christmas dinner with another friend -- it was a great day. As someone who has never really been able to relax, I am starting to get used to it! HA... I always worked 40 hours per week and went to school full-time (even grad school -- NOT fun!). When I finally finished school, I had a side business and was always involved in some project. I have learned to find balance as of late. For instance, I spent most of the day yesterday reading and working on the computer. I am learning to enjoy the simple things. Everything in moderation. Today I worked on shelves for my entertainment system components -- I have had the wood cut for probably five years! Of course, yet another project popped up this morning -- the dishwasher finally died, so I guess I will be buying one this week and installing it! Argh...

My Christmas Present from Joe

Today was actually quite busy. I sold an old full suspension KHS which has been here a while, but another bike which was sold last week, performed a few repairs, and checked in several as well. Not a bad day all around!

I feel like I deserve to relax tonight -- I can get used to this!

Today's music is from a band you have probably never heard of -- Bad 4 Good. The band was put together by Steve Vai. All of the members were 16 or younger (the guitarist was 12 when the song below came out). If the lead singer looks vaguely familiar, he played Sam McKinney for three years on Diff'rent Strokes. Strange, huh?

Can't get started

2010-12-22T15:21:00.007-05:00

Sprocket's Rough Life

If I was in the corporate world, I would attribute my current state of mind to the holiday season. There are two modes for most people working in cubicle hell -- either a last-minute project which consumes every waking moment (right, Keaton?), or they are sitting around in a desolate building eating cake and cookies left on all of the tables in the intersecting hallways. Of course, there are those people who take the entire month off as opposed to losing those vacation days after the first of the year. I think I am just burned out -- at least that is my excuse. I have given almost four years of my life to this "dream" (I might argue that it is more of a nightmare! HA!). Now that I have realized my goals faster than I could have ever imagined, I am basically confused as to where to go from here. I have weekends off, yet I don't really know what to do with myself now that they are here. I know it seems like a strange quandary, but try it sometime. Work 24/7 for a few years, then attempt to readjust. I'll figure it out, I am sure. It will just take some time...

It appears that Flea might have cancer. We could never find the source of his problems, and he was improving. Last Thursday I noticed that one of his eyes was partially closed, and he was hiding in dark spaces. I took him to the vet again, and this time we thought the cause could have been an infection since he has never been on antibiotics (we previously tried steroids). At the same time, the veterinarian discovered a lump in his throat. This made sense with all of the symptoms he has had for the past several months -- loss of voice, inability to swallow, and even the eyelid problem (Horner's syndrome). The doctor was hopeful that the problems were all caused by an infection, so she prescribed a very strong antibiotic (Clavamox). I have been very diligent about giving him his doses. This is no easy feat, since he now knows to run when he sees me coming with the syringe! Although his symptoms have improved, the mass in his throat has remained, and he still has the eye issue. I am hopeful that the medication is working, but I am not very optimistic. As long as he is not in pain, I will continue doing whatever I can to help him. Having lost my Great Dane, Thunder, to cancer a few years ago, it would be easy to swear off pets because one day they will be gone (usually prematurely). However, I have to remember that every single one of my pets has been rescued in one fashion or another, and that their lives with me are better than they would have been otherwise. When my father passed recently, I was comforted by knowing that I had done everything I could while he was here. I am applying that same lesson now.

Last weekend was nasty -- all of the local mountain bike trails were closed. I decided to just relax. I went to Brad's house early Saturday morning to brew. It was COLD! When we brew at his house, we are currently doing everything in the garage. This is a perfect location, since he connects his Xbox to the "spare" 65" TV in the garage, and we are able to monitor the brewing progress from the comfort of the camping chairs we set up. This is great in THEORY... However, Atlanta has two temperatures -- insanely hot and freezing. There is nothing in-between. We are either sweating profusely, or we are too cold to move our fingers to play video games. Obviously, last weekend was the latter scenario. Jerom said, "It was cold the day we brewed at your house, too." Thinking back, I realized that it was -- with one minor difference. Thanks to the new rear door at my house, we could watch the brewing progress a few feet away through the glass from the warmth of my house! I am not complaining -- brewing at Brad's house is akin to camping (complete with the same chairs!). It is always a blast (except when I am branding my arm on the turkey fryer!). We definitely have the system down now. Last weekend we brewed a black IPA from a whole grain kit. Next we will probably try a few stouts. The ultimate goal is to experiment with recipes. Hard to believe that we have been doing this for almost a year!

That night, we all went out to celebrate Sergej's birthday at a Japanese restaurant. How was it? I think Kevin's gesture says it all! HA!... We had a wonderful time, and it was a great end to the day.

Sunday, I did absolutely nothing, and I am damn proud of it! The DELL Dimension 2400 computer I intended to use for Boxee in my workout room just isn't up to par with the HD graphics today. Of course, I only found this out AFTER installing 2Gb of RAM and a cheap PCI 256Mb video card! Argh!... I am learning, though, and I probably have the baddest old DELL computer around! HA!... I will find a use for it, even if it is just as a glorified MAME machine! I am doing my best to resist purchasing an Apple TV. It is slick, simple, and cheap ($99!!!). It is just a little too restrictive for my tastes. However, being the gadget freak that I am, I will probably get one for my bedroom -- HAHA! I still have the Mini-ITX board which just needs a case, so I might just have to try that tonight. Joe sent me an entire antelope he killed in Colorado, so it might be a night of antelope steaks and computer geekdom!

Speaking of computer geeks, ever heard of TRON Guy? Proceed at your own risk...

"What about bike-related stuff?," you might ask... Well, I do some of that, too. Because of his obsession with all-things fixie, I am constantly deluged with weird issues from Jay. The latest was the need to mill down the steerer tube of an old Nishiki. This is a good example of what differentiates us from other shops. Not only have I invested in the old school tools, but I actually know how to use them! Sure, there are (soon to be out business) shops which "specialize" in these bikes because they sell all of the latest trendy items so popular in the fixed gear community. However, I would NOT trust taking my bike to one of those places if I had a fixed gear -- neither the talent nor expertise exists. It would be like someone loving NASCAR (not a perfect analogy), so they decide to open an engine building shop, yet they have no prior experience. Sure, they can open accounts with vendors and purchase parts and tools. Just wait until they build an engine (or install an Italian bottom bracket BACKWARDS, as I have seen!)... Since this whole fixed-gear fad (yes, that is what it is, Mr. Hipster) is dying, they don't have the knowledge base to sustain their business when these trends end. I am lucky enough to have worked on bikes back when threaded steerer tubes and quill stems were the norm. I only use these specialty tools once every year or so, but it sure is great having them on hand when I do need them! Don't get me wrong -- I am in no way against fixed-gear bicycles, as I have one myself. I am just saying that some businesses can survive IN SPITE of themselves -- until the wheat has been separated from the chaff...

More regarding one of my favorite subjects -- beer! First, we think that we have discovered how to tell the age of beer -- just count the rings on the glass! HA! I have no idea what was going on in this photo I took the other night at the Iron Horse Tavern in Norcross. Apparently, the New Belgium 2 Below I was drinking had something going on with the glass. Pretty funny!... Rich brought me some incredible Japanese beers from his store the other day -- great stuff!

I forgot to mention my adventure Sunday night. I was invited to dinner at a couple's house in the Highlands. The husband is an oral surgeon, and I must say that the house was amazing! It is a converted warehouse, which has been transformed into a piece of artwork -- very modern. Someday... One of my customers works for a wine distributor, and he had given me a bottle of Hecht & Bannier Faugeres. I knew that it would be a good choice, but I had no idea how much everyone would enjoy it! Wow -- that was the smartest decision I have made in a long time! It was a perfect evening, and I can't even begin to describe the dinner we had. Even though I did nothing all day, my Sunday could not have been better!

In my last blog, I mentioned that while we fear Big Brother, we are voluntarily giving away the same information on Facebook. Here is the proof -- http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/21/worse-wikileaks-facebook/?test=faces. I recommend reading it before you make your next Facebook update. Then again, what is so wrong with telling your 500+ "friends" that you are going to be out of town for Christmas? They couldn't possibly use that information for the wrong reasons, right?

In other news, Homeland Security is doing a great job keeping our skies safe, huh?

A little Megadeth to end today's blog...

You Have Zero Friends

2010-12-15T19:05:00.005-05:00

You Have 0 Friends
Tags: SOUTH
PARK more...

So, Mark Zuckerberg was named the TIME "Person of the Year," huh? I'll rank that right up there with some of the recent Nobel Peace Prize recipients insofar as relevance. Yes, Facebook has changed the world, although I am not sure that it necessarily for the better. However, I will say that he is not in the leagues of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or any other visionary. He just happened to put several pieces of the puzzle together before anyone else. Actually, it is my understanding that it wasn't really his idea to begin with. Every time we turn around, we find some other Big Brother type of privacy issue he is trying to slip by us. We are so afraid of 1984 becoming a reality, yet we are voluntarily giving away so much of our privacy -- all in the name of "social networking." I would be able to recognize almost every single one of the "friends" on the street which I have on my personal Facebook page, and I plan on keeping it that way. I can't wait to see The Social Network, although I am not really an Aaron Sorkin (screenplay writer) fan. For some reason, I have an aversion to coke addicts. The story does seem to be factually-based, though.

Although I don't send out alerts to my friends about the asparagus I ate for dinner (hoping for a "thumbs-up"), I do see a use for both Twitter and Facebook business pages. I can instantly send out alerts regarding price changes, new products, etc. It can benefit both businesses and customers. I decided to start using those tools again today after a year hiatus.

You might ask, "How is posting every single minute of my day on Facebook any different than your writing a blog?" Simple. You actually have to CHOOSE to come to my blog to read about my stupid pet tricks, beer brewing, or faulty invention of the day. I am not inundating you with this information unless you CHOOSE to visit my blog and read it. I will also add one other tidbit. Facebook (and the like) are basically a way for many (not all) people to have a high school reunion -- daily. "Read about my exotic trip... Let me tell you how wonderful and exciting my life is compared to yours! Etc., etc., etc." The funny thing is that I know people who are in fact leading amazing lives (definitely not me -- I talk about my damn cats, for crying out loud!). Guess what? They aren't sending out minute-by-minute updates about it -- they are TOO BUSY!... Oh well -- what do I know, anyway?

I ran to the post office today. When I walked around my Discovery, what do I see? The sprayer for the headlight was missing. Did I hit something? Did something hit me? Nope... Just the good old quality of Land Rover plastic. It isn't usually the big things with Rovers -- it is always the little items which nickel and dime you to death! At least I have two. Brilliant, huh?

My first "employee," Will, sent me the above clip. I go through that scenario almost daily. No big deal -- it is one of the joys of working retail. However, when a "friend" tries to pull that on me? That is a different story. Speaking from experience.

The other day I installed the 32" flat screen in the spare room upstairs -- perfect for relaxing after work with friends. The only question is, where does the kegerator with our homebrew go? HA!... A customer picked up his new 2011 FELT Nine Sport today, and Daniel took care of a few repairs. I rebuilt Joseph's laptop -- installing the drivers is so much fun! HA... I also made a few tweaks to website (15% off 2010 bikes and 20% off 2009!), and worked on the shop Facebook page and announced a few things on Twitter.

That's about it. Heading down to Joseph's for dinner, then probably a computer game tonight. Bill sent me this photo a few weeks ago because he says I am a "rock star." I have some rock star life, huh? HA!

Worth the Weight

2010-12-14T12:49:00.011-05:00

"I'm never wrong. I once thought I was wrong, turns out, I was mistaken." Anonymous... If you think you caught me misspelling "wait" as "weight," well it was intentional. Sorry to disappoint the grammar and spelling Nazis out there. I may not have an English degree, but I must say that it cracks me up when engineers use the "I am good with math, not English" excuse. Whatever. If you want to rationalize your intellectual laziness, go right ahead. It's a cop-out, plain and simple. Then again, that is what we are best at, isn't it?...

I have been wanting to hit the weights again, but it is such a hassle, not to mention a waste of gas driving to the gym every morning. Mostly, if I ever hope to ride my bike to work (as Rich does ONLY when it is below freezing, for some reason), then I need to figure out an efficient way to accomplish this. It isn't an easy route to the gym, and I don't trust the lockers, considering my lock was broken off two years ago. I know that the best solution is to work out at home.

When I started assessing my fitness equipment, I realized that I had an insane collection. 600lbs of Olympic free weights, a squat rack which can double as a rack for the bench. I have a dip/pull-up station, Roman chair, Concept II rowing machine, rollers, LeMond revolution trainer (arriving this week), etc. I finally decided to do something about it! I have a spare 12'x12' room, which I decided that I would MAKE work for this purpose, no matter what... I spent a morning organizing and cleaning, and now I have an awesome little workout room! I invested a little in a weight tree and a few dumbbells I didn't have, and I am now ready! I hope to get a calf raise machine at some point, but that is really all I need.

To keep myself motivated enough to actually work out, I have built a Boxee box from an old Dell Dimension 2400 which Joseph donated me a few weeks ago (formerly one of my MAME test computers). It may be underpowered, but it should suffice. My neighbor gave me 2Gb of RAM as a memory upgrade, and I found a 256Mb PCI memory card on eBay for $30 including shipping. I tried Boxee before any upgrades, but it couldn't get out of it's own way! I knew any video apps such as YouTube would have a difficult time, but even Pandora couldn't run properly. It does add a nice echo/stuttering effect, though -- HA! I could have bought an Apple TV for $99, which really isn't much more than the parts I needed. However, there are limitations to the Apple unit, and I don't get the enjoyment of building it myself! I actually lifted weights this morning running Pandora in a browser (Mozilla, of course). The new video card should do the trick so that I can watch mindless TV shows on Netflix while riding a bike or rowing. I need to be amused in order to work out!

I have actually been riding my mountain bike consistently on weekends, however. Saturday I rode at Chicopee on my rigid 29" single speed On One. Considering that Brad, Sergei, Jerom, and I were all up VERY late Friday night drinking adult beverages and watching Sergie play Limbo on the Xbox, I rode surprisingly well the next morning. Maybe that is the key? HA!... I am beginning to think that Sergei is a video game savant. He is able to pick up any game and immediately have the hang of it. It was amazing how far he made it through the game in just a few hours!

What about the bike shop, you may ask? It has been slow the last few days as people gear up for Christmas. I am not worried -- we always get an onslaught of last minute gifts before the 25th, and bike sales remain steady through the winter as spring approaches. Believe me, we have plenty of projects before spring arrives! Yesterday, Daniel cleaned out and organized the future changing room -- lots of junk to throw away! My main project was getting the hot air upstairs diverted to the showroom below. As we all know, hot air rises. Well, when you have 20'+ ceilings, this becomes very apparent. It can be 100 degrees in my office, while only 65 degrees below. Not only does this make working in my office completely miserable, it wastes a lot of money while we basically heat the upstairs hoping for some of the residual warmth to trickle down... We have turned on the HVAC fans to suck air from upstairs and blow it to the lower level, reversed the entrance fan to do the same, and I placed the large drum fan on the deck platform to circulate the air. What a difference it made! The repair are was VERY warm this morning, and my office is reasonable. Most importantly, the heater should come on far less, resulting in a lower utility bill (since fans are relatively cheap to operate). Funny how many other things go on around here than just bikes, huh?

Ok, this is hilarious -- even if David Hasseloff is in it!

I will be transferring our latest batch to a secondary carboy this weekend, and maybe I can convince Brad to brew a batch or two. If you are (very) bored, this is what I am talking about:

Joseph sent me this -- cool

Beer Culture Trailer 1 from FM Productions on Vimeo.

Finally, the music video du jour...

Brewing 101

2010-12-06T19:43:00.005-05:00

Completed our first brewing ever at my house. Let me not get ahead of myself, though...

Had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving at Bill's house. Perfect meal, followed by hanging on the deck with Bill and his father-in-law. Absolutely perfect day. I am very grateful for having all of the friends I have!

Last weekend I rode -- a lot. I put 5.5 hours on the mountain bike between Saturday and Sunday. One ride was at Yargo. The other involved "secret" trails. All I can say is "WOW!" I don't think I have ever been so tired, but it was a happy tired.I need more rides like that -- I am motivated!

I don't really remember much about last week at the shop. Maybe it was because I built four wheels, among all of the other repairs? Daniel was sick Sunday and Monday, so being by myself Monday brought back memories of the old days at the shop -- by myself. Luckily, Nick was on hand to help out. I don't think he was prepared for the project I had in store for him, though. One of the slow days, I had him tear out the carpet in my office upstairs while I worked on the repairs. We are VERY close to installing the hardwood floors -- I cannot wait! I am taking most of my bikes home (and selling a few), then painting the two rooms. It is going to be a very nice place to hang out when we are finished! Sprocket has already given his approval...

Brad is back in town!!! Don't worry, there is plenty of Scott to go around -- even if he does take precedence! HAHA!... He had some amazing stories, photos, and videos from Laos. I can't imagine! He was back for less than 24 hours when he invited me over for homemade pizza and adult beverages. I must admit that he partied very hard for having just gotten back in town. Then again, it was "morning" for him. We did have a blast, though!

I decided to take him out Saturday and pay him back for the past few months of him dragging me around the trails when I was out of shape. I have been riding, and he had an entire month off! I must admit that he held his own, although I think we are finally back to the old days -- me dragging HIM around the trails! The way God intended!

Brad, Keaton, and Jerom all came by yesterday to brew. Let me start by saying that Jerom's name IS spelled without an "e" on the end. That being said, we brewed an Irish Red Ale. It took most of the day since we had to attach the valves to the cooler, build the turkey fryer, etc. My chiller worked perfectly, so that was satisfying! Brad made two quick trips to the grocery store for us, but overall it was a very smooth operation. When I woke this morning, I had bubbles percolating from the carboy -- mission accomplished. FERMENTATION!

For those of you wondering about the status of Flea, he is doing very well... I didn't sleep for about two months. This wasn't because of worry -- he kept me up all night with his breathing (due to asthma)!!! HA. However, he is back to "normal" -- at least as normal as his grumpy self can be. I have spare pieces of carpet for the laundry room which I temporarily placed in my bedroom. He instantly declared one as his. Brad told me that he would prefer having no pets (he has two cats and two fish tanks). I told him, "Brad, you have the most demanding pet of all -- a child!" Heh...

That's it for today. Great day -- Michal (again, proper spelling, thank you) picked up his FELT B16 tri bike. Great day overall. Maybe that is amplified because Keaton bought my Kurt Kinetic trainer so I can get my own Lemond Revolution!!! HA! All I can say is that it should be the baddest trainer around! I am EXTREMELY motivated to get back in shape, and this should get me there!

WATCH THIS VIDEO! MACASKILL IS AMAZING!

No particular reason for this video (or is there?). IMO (In My Opinion), best rock band ever...

Pulled Polk (and Pork)...

2010-11-24T18:03:00.004-05:00

Friday Bill brought us the best pulled pork (homemade, of course), as well as a set of Polk Audio speakers (with center channel). We are going to have the best playhouse ever! What a friend! Again, I think it is important to state that I met Bill in a QT parking lot -- he pulled up in his police car and asked where my shop was. He first met me as a customer. Now I consider us friends first, customer second. I have so many friends because of this shop. I feel like the luckiest person around! Although I still maintain friendships with many people from my past life (like Brad), I am surrounded with people who I never would have met if it weren't for this shop! Alan, Keaton, Jyll, Joseph, Josh, Rich, Paul, Luke, Jay, Terry, Hardy -- just to name a few... If I have anything to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it is that. Bill invited me over to his place after he gets off work Thanksgiving to hang out with him and his family. Honestly -- does it get any better? Of course, I plan to get a good ride in that morning! I am really starting to enjoy mountain biking again!

I finally have the MAME functional with Atari USB joysticks. Next step? I need to map the controls to the inputs. I am close to building a cabinet and buying the joysticks, buttons, and track ball. Getting closer by the day!

What did I do last weekend? Saturday I rode with a group at Yellow River. Although that trail has FAR too many intersections, I am glad to see that most of the original singletrack is still there. I haven't been there in probably seven years -- before they added the parking areas, etc. I am glad to see that it is still around, even if the trails aren't exactly the same. Sunday I rode at Ft. Yargo by myself. I finally installed a computer on the bike -- the Garmin Edge 500 just wasn't working. It is perfect as a road bike computer, but the zig-zag trails of mountain biking and the cover from trees just mess up the readings. A 13-mile loop registered as 8 miles? I don't think so. The new Planet Bike 9.0 Wireless was exactly correct!

Saturday night Keaton came over to help me build my wort chiller for beer brewing. Sure, it would have cost a little less to buy one, but I really enjoy the satisfaction of DIY (do it yourself) projects. That is why I love making beer so much -- a true DIY experience! The chiller was made by wrapping soft copper tubing around a paint can, then soldering the inlet and outlet pipes. In the scheme of projects, it was probably a 2 out of 10 insofar as difficulty. Still a lot of fun, though!

Afterward, we lit the MOAF (mother of all fires) in the chimnea and just hung out. The temperature outside was very cold, but it was almost too hot by the fire! I was afraid to take the photo to the right -- I had to hold my phone above the chimney long enough to snap that picture. I have destroyed one iPhone by dropping it into my 250 gallon saltwater aquarium, and another by repeated drops -- haven't melted one... yet.

Monday, Bob volunteered his day to help me install the new French doors at my house. You have NO IDEA how much I have waited for that day! About eight or nine years ago, Thunder (my Great Dane) had run through the sliding glass door to my back yard. He shattered it, without receiving a scratch! I installed a replacement door in the track, but it was never quite right. Over the years, it became harder and harder to open. About three years ago, I stopped using it completely. I could no longer grill easily, nor do anything out back without traveling around the entire perimeter of the house to get there. I had been planning to install a new door, but it wasn't a priority -- the shop has been the focus. Since I am trying to reclaim my life, I finally decided that it was time to replace that door. He arrived at 9AM and we set to work tearing out the old door and installing the new one. I cannot describe how happy I am! The best part, however, is the internal blinds! I know, I know -- it is the simple things! HA... Finally -- I can easily grill again!

The funniest part of this story was what happened a few minutes ago. Remember when I fixed my beer storage refrigerator (which is still holding at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, thank you!)? A refrigeration guy pulled up to the shop, so I traded him some labor for the part I needed -- which he had in his truck. Well, when we finished the door Monday, we just needed a few magnets and a switch to finish the alarm system. I figured that I would get those parts one morning next week -- no big deal. Anyway, I was discussing a bike repair with a customer this afternoon. He mentioned something about doing alarm system work down the street for another company. Do you see where this is heading??? I told him about my door and the parts I needed for my alarm. He walked out to his truck and brought in the parts!!! Only charged me $5! What are the freaking odds? This seems to happen a lot to me! I am not complaining...

Bill's Ventana build with SRAM X9 is almost complete. He is picking it up Friday and planning to break his normal rule of not riding weekends to take it out. I know he is excited! I am jealous -- I definitely want to build an XX bike soon! I just haven't decided what frame to build it around. Maybe another Carver, a Ventana, or even a Tomac! Decisions, decisions!

I can't really think of much else to say, other than HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I am heading out for an early morning ride, then a day of relaxation at Bill's. Have a wonderful day!

The secret

2010-11-17T18:04:00.000-05:00

If you are expecting to find the secrets to life in this blog because of the title, you will be disappointed. As a matter of fact, if you happen to know some secret regarding life, let me know. HA!... Basically, Brad let me in one of his secrets to cleaning and doing chores a few months ago. It is so simple, and I am sure that many of you already know the trick -- just add music. For some reason, it makes the monotonous not so... er... monotonous. I have made a lot of progress at my house and even with the organization of my shop office by turning on Pandora and going to town! Now that I have Boxee installed on most of my computers, it makes it even easier. However, it is so easy to just go into my computer room and work (with music) or clean my room (with music) or do basically anything else BUT do chores around the house when I get home at night... Until now!!! I finally used my brain and installed Boxee on my HP z540 computer in the living room, which drives the projector. Music and 92 diagonal inches of light show while I work! HAHA!... This brainstorm occurred Sunday night when Rich came by to grill out. We hung out by the pond and fire and ate the blood sausage he brought, while drinking adult beverages. Great ending to the weekend.

Otherwise, I spent the majority of Saturday blowing and raking leaves around the house, installing the new lights around the front, etc. Although the new solar lights aren't as bright as the old low-voltage ones I have had for years, I like the look, and they will be essentially "free" for quite some time. The solar lights I have used for the last several years are still working! Low-maintenance is definitely a new favorite term in my book!... Afterward,I helped Jerom remove viruses and installed anti-malware and anti-spyware programs.To pass the time, we searched YouTube for videos (such as the making of the Ok Go video above) and drank homebrew. It was a great weekend! I even rode my mountain bike -- miracles never cease!

Due to having Boxee on the computer in my living room, I decided to tackle the bar last night. Not the alcohol (HA!), but the aquarium and the kegerator. I removed the protein skimmer because it was completely covered with salt due to salt creep over the years. For some reason, my 250 gallon tank has never had this common problem -- I have no idea why. I plan to get them both filled with fish again since they are running. I always loved having lionfish in the bar tank -- they are gorgeous! I will start by adding damsels this week and trying to get the nitrogen cycle going again. The tank has been running continuously since I had the last fish, so hopefully the nitrogen cycle does not have to be restarted. We shall see. As for the kegerator, I need to hook up the spout since we are using our own kegs now. I have a nozzle attached, but the last step is attaching the keg to the main faucet. Shouldn't be too difficult -- as long as I can remember where everything goes, having dismantled the system a few months ago!

The shop is really coming along. Before I left Friday night, I bolted up twelve of the sixteen bike mounts to the back wall. I have been planning this for a while. As with everything here, it is in my mind for quite some time before it becomes reality. Everything in due time. In addition to all of the other bikes we received from FELT, we had another 14 KHS bike come in Monday. We have a bunch of work ahead of us building bikes, not to mention keeping up with the repairs! We also have a Lemond Revolution on the way. From the reviews, it should be one of the best trainers available!

If there is any doubt as to whether Sprocket is insane, this photo should prove it conclusively (note close-up). Apparently he is in the "attack Paul" position. Poor unsuspecting Paul...

I guess the only other news is that I have been riding the VMAX to work. I sure wish that I had started it several years ago! I love that beast! One more to get running...

This movie trailer is definitely NOT PG, but it is hilarious! Thanks for sending it to me, Rich!

I spent the day cleaning and organizing my office -- made a LOT of progress! Oh yeah -- I also watched several episodes of House on Hulu while performing these tasks. Rough life, huh? Time to head out to meet Michael and Joseph for dinner...