Kyoto ´08

Lovely shots by Riki (thx Riki).
Kyotoloco has been going on for a long time and everyone I know who has been to one gets a smile on their face when they talk about it.. It´s a sign!

Nippon - The land of the rising sun..

I dont know about you, but I have a lot of butterflies flickering in my stomach when I think of next years CMWC.. Tokyo ´09 - oh yeah!

STRIKE!!

Or at least union meeting.
There are some issues with the percentages and sickpay wages in the company Bring formerly known as "De grønne bude".
So for the first time in the world to my knowledge there was a united refusal to work while a meeting with the bosses was scheduled and planned.
This is great proof of that if it happens in united form we can get the attention of the powers that be and we should not be afraid to communicate what we want for fear of our jobs.
Thanks to Tekno for the pics..

New wheels!

The Level and Deep V connection.
I know I could have gotten better lighter and more blingy rims, but these are the ones my daughter liked..

Something wonderous my way came..

I still have not quite realized what has happened. Normally I sit down and write what´s in my head - These first sentences took 5 tries to start rolling.. I am honored and humbled by the names that sits on the base of this piece of art that I was presented with by the few that braved the weather and came out to celebrate my friends bikeshop (www.trackbikeshop.com) 1 year and change anniversary.
My girlfriend Tif was apparently told a couple of weks back - and hinted already then that a surprise would come in the mail for me. Hmm what has she been up to? A funny bike part, a piece of clothing, a new sex toy? I was starting to think what ever it was it was lost in the mail..
Then on saturday my 7 year old daughter Selma was adamant we´d go to the polo/alleycat/celebration for trackbikeshop.. Hmm shouldn´t we stay in watch a movie and eat good food? No we had to go! Ok - but who are you texting with? It´s a secret dad. Well it is not the first secret a girl has kept from me - I have come to realize it is best not to inquire - you will not be told so I tend to just let it go..
So when I roll up with Selma nice and warm in her Cargo trike - me drenched from riding 40 minutes in pouring rain - My brother is there I´m still just guessing he was bored and decided to come hang with me and mine.. Im starting to suspect that my friends have decided to pony up a little something for good cooperations (I build wheels) so Im thinking a sign of good standings with the Gaggia would be nice - but whadevver..
Then my friend Angus gets on a box and starts talking about that the global messenger community has an award concieved by Buffalo Bill - At that instance I know!
I have been chosen to recieve The Marcus Cooke award!
My eyes well up and the first thing on my mind is that I´m glad Selma is here. I try to listen, but a million thoughts kind of drown out what Angus says - so I give him a hug and rambles off some drivel to thank for the honour.
I´m still in awe - Thank you.

For more on the MCA:
http://www.messengers.org/ifbma/mca.html

I was really glad I was mentioned in sentences with the MCA and was even nominated this year. I was also pretty sure I was not up for the award - I was not entirely satisfied with the level of competition the race achieved this year. I was particularly disappointed that we did not make it absolutely clear to all including the japanese what was required to participate in the main race. I take this as my personal mistake that the communication was less than adequate to the main race participants.
I was really happy with the whole event coming off despite various divisions and fractions in the organizing group. It again proved to me the strength and ability to overcome in my brothers of all colours and sexes..
Special mention goes to Cory who is consistently in the finals except when he throws it out the window to help me. Please consider asking him to make a bag if you look for one. He does not have a www page - yet. It has been in the works for 3-4 years, but he makes bags that love you back. Look up Dank in Seattle.
And my brothers Morgan and smiling Steve and a hell of a lot of more great people who made my trip to Toronto worth while.
As I read this again before sending it off into the world I realize that I am being a goldfish - again. Toronto is just still very much on my mind - I guess the MCA members remembers Zurich, Copenhagen, Gijon, London, Sydney, Oslo, Seattle, DC, Philly, NYC, and I remember a good handful of other cities where i have met and broken bread with messengers.
Thank you all.

A day in life..

Somebody has to stand up when the italians steamroll the world..

Breschel wins bronze

Matti Breschel (Denmark)
Photo ©: AFP

Matti Breschel won a bronze medal at the elite men's UCI Road World Championships on Sunday, thanks in part to the help of fellow Dane Chris Anker Sørensen.

Sørensen made several attempts in front groups and was eventually joined by riders including Breschel, making a total group of 13 for the final selection. He then picked up the pace so no more riders would be able to join the leading bunch.

The race was more or less decided three kilometers from the finish line, when Italian Alessandro Ballan made a strong attack. Sørensen got little help from the other 11, and he was unable to reel in the Italian rider. In the final sprint Breschel was the only one able to prevent a pure Italian podium as Damiano Cunego took second and Davide Rebellin took fourth. Sørensen would finish 13th

"This is huge! I'm extremely satisfied with getting a medal at the World Championships at the age of 24," said an elated Breschel according to a team press release. "My career at this level has only just begun so I'm very happy to be standing here with a medal.

"Of course I was sitting in the group at end hoping to take the rainbow colored jersey, but this is amazing though. I owe Chris and the other Danish guys a big thanks for all their hard work – they have a big share in this medal too."

Thx cyclingnews.com