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A student walk out? Everyone just skips class? If I were a university I would just say fine, it's your money, you're the customers getting short-changed, boneheads

only in Idaho

Bill I hate to disagree, but I think the ratings at Beacon are fair. They feel a little hard at first, but once you are used to it, they seem to make sense to me. There are a few notable "testpieces" for a few grades to be sure. You can count on multiple moves at the grade, rather than one move wonders (like say, a good number of sporto routes at Smith), so you have to keep your head together for longer.

As far as I know DeWalt is owned by Black and Decker. I have a DeWalt 18v drill, cutoff tool, and impact wrench (!) and all seem to be pretty good at what they do. The impact wrench is pretty giant though, so it sucks a bit for getting to hard-to-reach stuck drain caps on trucks etc. The 18v cordless recip. saws definitely require extra batteries on hand for almost any job. Churned through the batteries cutting into a Cessna recently, and that's like cutting a tin can.

yes. but I would like a pair. yes I would. Yo RuMR FRESHIEZ FRESHIEZ FRESHIEZ

Some people love to hate the Tri-Met Max lines (too expensive, too inefficient, etc etc) but I love it! It is so nice to just roll your bike onto the Max and head downtown, or head out to the Airport w/o dealing with parking or begging for rides. With the fareless square extended far on the east side now, it's a no-brainer for going downtown. I think it's worth the expense, and it doesn't take up much room (you don't need an elevated elaborate thing). I think the Seattle thing is pretty ugly and imposing, though the Tri-Met Streetcar rails are the nemesis of every bike commuter.

Prepare to be terrified!

The Mississippi River is the Army Corps' pet project. It's pretty much the classic example of how forcing a river to do something it doesn't want to do will lead to problems (but it does keep a bunch of people employed). The Yangtze will probably surpass the infamy of the Mississippi in the coming years.

Cool, thanks for the input. Yeah I will sacrifice a bit of weight for reliability. It pretty much can't break down. Craig's list might treat me right too, esp in Portland.

For a long time I have wanted a cyclocross bike for commuting. Unfortunately the low end seems to be about $1k these days. The Cannondales go for about $1200 retail. Disc brakes will set you back $1500. I've been eyeing the bianchis but they are pricey. The Cannondale looks like a moving commercial but it seems to be a good value (relatively). I find a carbon fork, seat post, and bars make an aluminum road ride much more pleasant if you are doing it every day. I put in 34 miles/day for my commute so I find it worth the expense. Basically I want a bombproof bike with a massive high gear and a mid-range gear for getting off the line at a traffic light. Right now I have put some slicks on my Klein Pulse Comp but I spin that thing out so fast. Frustrating!

is "chamois" french for "look at me I'm sponsored by all these sponsors, and by that I mean I'm paying them to advertise on my ass."?

what I want to know is what gives people license to wear some of the most fruity clothes in existance just because they are on a bike. Is there some 80's eurotrash discount card you get with every bike sold?

I used to post a TON on here and still not even close to half the spray and that's not considering the quiver of avatars. a MACHINE

Meanwhile, in Oregon

wow that sounds like a megathon. I remember having fun on the actual route though. It was still a long day (got back to car at midnight) even on route. Your red dotted line shows you going up the left skyline but I think the typical line is up the middle, then traverse over right to the right side. At least that's how we did it. You should have tried that monstrous offwidth at the top to complete the epic.

Some body armor and a parasail might be more appropriate. This route is so much more fun, more safe, more of everything that is good when it is covered with snow and cold. I do not understand why people are drawn to this pile in August. That said, people still go up there, slip around on some vertical bb's and pull down on stacked graham crackers for a few hours, and have a good time w/o killing themselves. But why?

The Mythos cycle is fun. A new pair is great as a thin sporty climb shoe when agonizingly tight. They stretch out a bit and enter a sweet spot period for a few weeks where they are really comfortable and work well on anything. Then finally they become roomy, the wear-all-day shoe, but still perform great. I've no idea why they cost as much as LS' latest designs though. Seem a bit overpriced at retail for a shoe that has been around since the late 80's or so.

I'm not sure. I just assumed cast iron frying pan material knowing those burly early folks. I know someone was going around tossing them off of summits in the central OR cascades back in the 70's/80's. I think only the Mt. Jefferson one remains. I seem to remember one on Stuart too, and I'm sure lots of other summits in WA still.

the best are the guys who carve 420 into the actual toilet seat. dedication!

I remember turning the corner onto that final snow arete on NB Fury being a big release, knowing it's a waltz to the top. Even better is kicking back at Luna Col with both picket ranges at your feet at the end of the day. One of the most powerful places I've been in the NW mountains, in my limited experience. Great report, a nice distraction for the day, thanks. I miss it! For those who have not been to Luna Col, it's a place you need to go at least once in your life.

you could fry up some good eggs and stuff on that cast iron mazama model.

I detected a hint of fall in the morning today. The air was cool, the light was a little lower-angle than usual, and the start of the bike commute was a little colder than it has been. Makes me dream of dynafits mwahaha

Yeah they're pretty much permanent residents until it starts frosting at night. If I remember right they really start to kick in after White Branch, but it has been awhile since I was in the area. A head net is a nice option. I think they just sit on the trees and wait for you. There, now you won't have any bugs because I predicted you will.

how about the random can of wd-40 dropped into the campfire as every dives for cover? always a nice way to end the day.