Why Montana?

Everytime I find myself in a conversation with somebody that I have either just met or don't know that well but feel obliged to talk to, my choice of University is always a topic. I have finally developed the perfect answer to this question.



[Person I don't know that well]: Why did you choose to go to school in Montana?

[Me]:

Oops.

It's been over a month since I updated this blog, which I don't feel so guilty about since I've probably got about two readers.

I don't have photos, because lately I've been making a habit of forgetting to bring important things on my adventures (like cameras), but here's a short list of stuff that I've done in the past month:

-Visited my parents in Texas
-Applied for a daytime radio slot (fingers crossed)
-Gone mountain biking every Saturday and Sunday without fail, and also some weekdays. Trails included:
*Emerald Lake
*Truman Gulch
*History Rock to South Cottonwood
*The Bangtail Divide
*Little Wapiti Creek
*Hood Creek
*Mystic Lake
-Bruised my thigh (guess how)
-Employed the services of a plumber to fix a broken hose bib
-Contacted the tech guys at MSU to figure out why my school email was disabled (it's fixed)
-Met Kassy's Parents
-Gone yardsale-ing most every Saturday morning, and even found some treasures like a waffle iron and a three-piece suit
-Painted my room
-Built a new bicycle (yes, another one)

Kassy's Father (Dr. Bill Lynass): You sure tie up a lot of money in bikes.
Me: Well, I've been saving since February for this one, but yes, it's kind of a priority.

It's a Surly Cross Check built very much like an older road bike, with modern conveniences. I had the opportunity to ride a bike that wasn't perfect for me for about two years, and in doing so learned what I wanted and didn't want in a bike. The first issue was the size - my old bike was far to big for me. The skinny tires gave a harsh ride, and only a rear fender left my feet soggy and filthy. The fixed gear was fun for cruising around town, but extremely impractical for longer distances. I loved the feel of the steel frame, the Brooks Saddle, and the shape of the handlebars, so those are the things I carried over to this bike. Every other component choice was a strategic decision made to eliminate past problems. This is the result:


The cranks, pedals, derailleurs, handlebars, and saddle were all either on my previous bike or spare parts that I had lying around. I chose downtube shifters because they're simple, reliable, and they look good. The full length fenders were chosen for near-perfectly dry riding in the rain, and wide tires for maximum comfort on bumpy roads and maximum control on gravel & dirt. Most of the components are sensible and Japanese.

I've been getting more comments on the handlebar tape than anything else about the bike. The tape looks like leather, and while Brooks does make leather tape, it costs $70 a roll, and it wasn't in the budget. The tape is Cinelli natural cork tape ($12-$15) coated with three coats of amber shellac. I learned about this trick from Rivendell bicycle works - a bunch of retrogrouch cyclists who advocate high handlebars, wide tires, full fenders, and a leisurely pace. The shellac keeps the tape from getting grimy, repels water, and makes the tape look like glowing leather.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled about it.

Also, I've been listening to a shameful amount of new music. My favorite over these past few weeks has been a band called Meho Plaza. They play electro-noise punk, similar to No Age and HEALTH, but with incredible melodies. Their new album is self titled, only about 35 minutes long, and great.