Dreams Of Cogs

2 wheeldrive motorcycle...with a twist!!

2010-02-26T09:44:00.000-06:00

Some people just don't get it.

2009-04-04T12:43:00.000-05:00

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must Have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:

Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-1 6s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a. m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Who m do we thank for the morning air show? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

Using the ATM

2009-04-04T12:39:00.000-05:00

Drive Through ATM Procedures

Please note that Banks are installing new "Drive-through" teller
machines. Customers will be able to withdraw cash without leaving their
vehicles. To enable customers to use this new facility the following
procedures have been drawn up.

MALE PROCEDURE

* 1 Drive up to the cash machine.

* 2 Put down your car window.

* 3 Insert card into machine and enter PIN.

* 4 Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.

* 5 Retrieve card, cash and receipt.

* 6 Put window up.

* 7 Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE

* 1 Drive up to cash machine.

* 2 Reverse back the required amount to align car window to machine.

* 3 Set parking Brake, Put the window down.

* 4 Find handbag, remove all contents onto passenger seat to locate
card.

* 5 Turn the radio down.

* 6 Attempt to insert card into machine.

* 7 Attempt to insert card into machine.

* 8 Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive
distance from the car.

* 9 Insert card.

* 10 Re-insert card the right side up

* 11 Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the
inside back page.

* 12 Enter PIN.

* 13 Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.

* 14 Enter amount of cash required.

* 15 Check make up in rear view mirror.

* 16 Retrieve cash and receipt.

* 17 Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.

* 18 Place receipt in back of checkbook.

* 19 Re-check make-up again.

* 20 Drive forwards 2 feet.

* 21 Reverse back to cash machine.

* 22 Retrieve card.

* 23 Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot
provided.

* 24 Give appropriate one-fingered hand signal to irate male drivers
queuing behind.

* 25 Restart stalled engine and pull off.

* 26 Drive for 2 to 3 miles.

* 27 Release Parking Brake

Eye Candy

2008-08-22T00:45:00.002-05:00

Quick-Release going bye-bye in NJ?

2008-02-28T22:15:00.001-06:00

NBDA ADDS $7500 TO QUICK-RELEASE FIGHT
New donation to be matched by suppliers.

Following an initial contribution of $7500 last summer, the NBDA Board has voted to commit another $7500 to defend the ubiquitous quick-release axle. The latest contribution will be matched by the supplier side of the industry, said NBDA Executive Director Fred Clements.

The fight is against a ban on quick-release axles that has been proposed in the New Jersey legislature. While the law, if passed, would affect only New Jersey, it might set a national trend, making the fight a national issue. The bill exempts axles that also have a “secondary safety device,” but fork tips apparently do not qualify for the exemption and there is currently no other technology that would.

The proposed law was a response to injuries to children riding Wal-Mart bikes with quick-release wheels, Clements said. But with the exception of some high-end BMX bikes, the kids bikes sold by independent dealers do not have quick-release axles anyway. The New Jersey bill as written would ban quick-releases on all bikes, adult as well as juvenile. Funds contributed by the NBDA and the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association are to be used to hire a lobbyist to make the case against the bill.-John Francis, Editor, NBDA Outspokin'

2008-02-25T16:50:00.001-06:00

More snow!!

The season is about over.

2008-01-26T14:57:00.000-06:00

This is the look I got when I told Nick that the hunting season was almost over.
What will he do until next season? Help train a new partner....?

Gee I Could' ve Had a V-8!

2007-11-25T07:24:00.000-06:00

Raleigh MD slams customers in Guardian profile

2007-11-25T07:01:00.000-06:00

UPDATED: Raleigh boss says IBDs are "Steptoe and Son"; Halfords "vipers"In a piece titled 'In the Raleigh saddle, facing an uphill struggle', business writer David Teather says Raleigh MD Mark Gouldthorp "could have the drive and stamina to revive a great British brand."The Guardian says Gouldthorp claims Raleigh's market share of the UK bicycle market is 20 percent.Raleigh's latest financials show the company with a profit of £1.2m on turnover of £31m. In 2002 the business lost nearly £6m.Gouldthorp said:"I have spent my whole career working for classic British industries that couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery - 15 years at ICI, eight years at ICL. The management spent 90 percent of their time rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic."It is soul destroying. So to come to Raleigh at the point where it has got the chance of a new life is a tremendous opportunity."This "new life" could be made a tad more difficult by Gouldthorp's outspoken criticisms of his own customers.According to the Guardian, Gouldthorp calls Argos, Halfords and JJB "a bunch of vipers."Independents are "a shambles," Gouldthorp is reported as saying. "It is real Steptoe and Son stuff. Most of them will turn the lights off on a sunny day to save a bit of lecky. If you want to imagine the typical independent bike dealer, he is 50-60, highly cynical, miserable, moaning, scruffy. That's my customer. It is great."According to a competitor to Raleigh, this isn't the typical IBD recognisible to upmarket brands such as Marin, Specialized, GT, Scott, Giant or Kona.Raleigh is currently trying to interest IBDs in becoming Cyclelife dealers, which aims to "spruce up" faded dealerships with a soft franchise relationship. Some Cyclelife dealerships are also start-ups, with little or zero experience in the cycle market.The full, and frank, profile can be read here. One IBD has said the interview is Gouldthorp's "Ratner moment," a reference to the infamous 1991 business gaffe of jeweller Gerald Ratner.In a telephone call with BikeBiz, Gouldthorp said Tuesday's interview with the Guardian reporter had been partially "tongue in cheek" but had also been "taken out of context".Gouldthorp admitted he called his mass market customers "a brood of vipers" and his IBD customers "Steptoe and Son."But he said the reporter missed off his comment about not all IBDs being in the retail Dark Ages."Too many are like Steptoe and Son, but not all of them," Gouldthorp told BikeBiz."There's a kaleidoscope of standards, with no enough IBDs keeping up with the better ones."Gouldthorp said he was "frustrated" with the "colourful" Guardian piece but said it wasn't a Ratner moment:"If the IBD who said that is a quality 21st Century IBD, I beg their forgiveness. But they have to look at themselves, if they're languishing in 1985 they need to come and talk to me about Cyclelife."When asked whether the current PR blitz (Raleigh recently appointed a PR company) was anything to do with chairman Alan Finden-Crofts seeking a buyer for the company, Gouldthorp replied with an emphatic 'no'."We're not for sale. The company is growing and is successful. I am keen to get that message across to the public. PR is a cheap way of doing that."We had a really successful Cycle show stand. It was heartwarming to get so much positive feedback from the public and dealers alike. But we've got to get IBDs to embrace the brand again."
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Need Some Motivation To Get Through The Day?!

2007-11-20T07:55:00.000-06:00

It is that time of year!

2007-10-24T11:36:00.000-05:00

This weekend it all begins!!

W.T.F.

2007-10-15T15:22:00.000-05:00

The BS in Bike Shops

Wow, what a response to the theory that bad attitude in bike shops is
a key reason cycling has lost 17 million participants in the last 10
years. This dramatic decline was found by a Shimano survey.

We gave you the chance to weigh in on the issue by answering this
question: "How often do you encounter lousy customer service in bike
shops?"

This sparked the biggest turnout yet for the new RBR polling feature.
More than 2,100 people voted.

---35% say they "frequently" encounter poor treatment in shops
---25% say "occasionally"
---13% say "rarely"
---18% say their local shop is "the greatest" when it comes to customer service

Classy

2007-10-15T14:32:00.000-05:00

What its NOT About

2007-10-15T14:06:00.001-05:00

ride your bike or stay home and have a beer.

What it is ALL ABOUT

2007-10-15T14:00:00.001-05:00

Thursday Night

2007-10-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

Work until 5:30 and then..... a night full of Steves. First the wife and I had a great sushi dinner with a friend Steve that lives out of town. Then hurry up and get home, throw on a light and some gear and meet up with a great riding buddy named Steve and his son Steven.

What a great night, food, a ride, then home. The dog has even warmed my spot in bed.

I'm ready for the Friday night ride.

SWEET

2007-07-03T09:59:00.000-05:00

The new ride.

New Member in the 500 club

2007-06-06T07:45:00.000-05:00

Well a friend of the family stoped by last night to show us his new ride.
I've gotta tell you that I'm not an American Iron kinda guy.... but I would own one of these!!
Look long and hard you will be hard pressed to EVER see a Viper that color again.
Very well done! Oh it's got a little neck snapping action.

Trek's New Madone

2007-06-03T10:06:00.000-05:00

How long before I'm forced to buy a cross country bike from trek with that silly 1.5 headtube. Had it once before, that was enough. Maybe they will start building sus. forks for mountain bikes....I can hardly wait.

Saturday free time

2007-06-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

Well,
Saturday, started off slow and carried on as such. I saw my old "landlord" which was good. I also spent a couple of hours with a good friend, having a late lunch. We checked out some very nice "line 5s." Then movie time with the little lady. Back to work tomorrow or "tommorrow" if I were to run for office.