KYOTO

Sunday,

Downtown

My guides and new friends, Takumi & Akiko

The journey upwards

Many shops along the way

And sacred shrines

Atop, the Kiyomizu-dera

And a beautiful view of Kyoto City

Aragato gozaimasu, Akiko & Takumi-san!

AM ROUTINE

Wake up to a pleasant view of the sunrising over Kishiwada.

Head down to the convenience store in the train station across the street for a donut, Starbucks or Kirin (Milk-Tea).

Fire off some emails in my small but comfortable hotel room before getting ready for work. 7:00AM here = 4:00PM at home.

7:30ish, Leave hotel...

And down this alleyway to the...

Arcade, where I continue on..

Down this street. 2 intersections before it ends, I take a right...

Down this narrow street,

Then a jog across this busy road...

And down this walkway.

When I look to the left and see King Kong...

I know I've arrived at Asahi (7:45ish).

MORE BIKES

JAPAN

As you may have noticed, for the last week I've been in Japan. I was sent here by Hayes for training in spoke making with Asahi Spoke Co. and will be here for two more weeks. This is my first time outside the U.S. and so far the trip has been unbelievable. Everything is amazingly clean, the people are very accomodating and the food is excellent. Sushi, Tempura, Udon and Okonomiyaki are all very good and I've become quite proficient at using chopsticks!

What strikes me most though, is the culture here. The values, traditions and work ethic is unmatched. The Japanese don't necessarily work harder than most Americans, they are just more organized and take great pride in everything they do. From 8 o'clock to 4:30 we make spokes. We make spokes the best way we know how. There isn't socializing or waiting around for the next coffee break. It sounds simple but, really people just do what is expected of them and things get done. In that aspect Japan is really self governed. I have seen very little law enforcement since I arrived here. Trust and respect are very strong values in Japan. There are millions of bicycles(primary transportation here) parked everywhere in the cities and train stations and no one owns a lock. In some ways the society is almost Utopic.

It also saddens me to think our country once held core values such as these but has since been on the backslide. Don't get me wrong, I love America and Japan isn't perfect, but my genereration has grown up having to watch our backs, and when I hear older generations like my parents and grandparents talk about the degradation of society I now have an idea what they meant.

Anyway, today is Sunday and I have the day off so I'm going to visit Kyoto with a friend. I'll update again when I have time. Take care back home.

Ja, mata !

ARCADE

SORRY RUSSELL,

This ain't no Rusty Tool Shed.

JUST LIKE HOME

SATISFYING-

Took the DJ down to the track tonight. Once i refrained from muscleing it like a 20", flow was found. Boosting doubles- effortless, rythm section- just let the fork do its thing, gates- well, 100mm won't help you there, but it is a fun ride. Afterwards- Big thanks to Russell and Pat for the enlightenment that is Sushi. Most enjoyable- Wasabi, Asahi. Updates from Osaka are imminent- Stay tuned.

SUNDAY RECOVERY

OF COURSE WE DID.

Menomonee River trails today. Russell, Bubba, Da Sug, DIHAF, Minigoat, Megatron, FG Sam and a few others in attendance. Trails were packed smooth and fast. Tbone missed out, again.

DJ

THANKS BUBBA.

Old school meets new and everything in between. Stay in long enough and everyone comes back around again. Lately 28X has been looking like a local Vet Pro class. Fast, clean and respectable. Some thursday practices have had MTBr's outnumbering core BMXr's, fuel to the fire. BMX has been the only thing keeping me going with the arctic winds and exhausting work schedule as of late, but tis the season. Base miles? Fuggettaboutit. That's what March-April will be for, once i'm settled into my new locale. Finished my latest project tonight. Still steel, still one gear, stay tuned. Weekend rewind<< hours on the hamtser wheel and props DVDs, party at Carlos' & Sonia's- great food great people, racing for guaranteed tokens, Russell rockin his first 20" race, crashing the cross banquet with Labecki's and Schneiders, pondering 07 bikes with T, umm, i think thats it.

B-DAY TO DA TBONE