Rides - past, present and future.

Considering how much I like cars and bikes and karts and racing and going fast in general, it's surprising that I haven't done a post like this one before.  It's simply an automotive history of sorts - a list of cars I've owned, and cars I would like to own one day.  We did a similar exercise before about the "dream garage" or whatever you'd like to call it.  This is a bit different because it lists cars you've actually owned, which I think says a lot about a person.  Not that I would have this list in my signature line on a car forum, because that is LAME!

We'll start with the senior year ride.  And since I grew up in NYC, I'm talking about college, not high school!

1) 1990 (?) Civic Wagon.  I didn't actually own this car, but I claim ownership since I was the one who sent it to its demise.  Originally owned by my brother-in-law, who sold it to my brother, who let me drive it to/from school.  I moved out of college in this car, and got into the first accident on Broadway.  Second accident was in Chicago, which sent Grandma to the hospital (God bless her, she was a strong woman) and cut our cross-country trip short.  Don't know how we limped back home to NYC, but we did.  Then I think the car was junked.  I think this is how the wagon obsession started.

2) 1991 (?) Infiniti G20 sedan.  I can't believe I forgot the model year!  I know it was an early model since the 1993.5 got the high-port (or is it low port?) version of the venerable SR20DE engine.  I also know it was a '91 or '92 since I had the dreaded 5th gear pop-out!  I remember getting a heavy-ass package from UPS with my new transmission in it.  It came from a G20t model, so it had the factory LSD, though I don't think I put it to good use because I was just a punk ass kid street racing bum at the time.  I also remember my Greddy exhaust which I thought sounded great.  I think this car is still sitting around the parent's farm somewhere.

3) 2000 MR2 Spyder.  Moved to Cali so I had to get a convertible.  It was the peak of the dot-com boom and we all thought we were living the good life.  Well, I did for a few months before my company closed and I was making car payments with unemployment checks.  Great car though, glad I was able to keep it for so long.  I didn't put the top down as much as I should have.  This car got my started with real driving, i.e. autocrossing, twisty road rallies and open track days!  I sold it to a nice woman at Stanford medical school, and I still look around for another one considering how cheap they are.

During my MR2 ownership I went through a bit of a Nissan fanboy phase.  Kids were just starting this "drifting" thing and 240sx's weren't completely ridiculously overpriced just yet.  I may have helped contribute to their price inflation...

4) Smashatch - that's the name for the first 240sx I bought.  A tree had fallen on the hatch and it was completely fubar'ed.  Of course, I thought I could just take a Sawzall to it and make myself an El Camino.  I was wrong.  Living in an apartment with no parking didn't help.  I sold it for 3x the price.

5) Creamy - yellow and grey two-tone coupe.  I thought it was hot shit, but it probably was just shit to everyone else on the road.  It had a working HUD which was nuts for 1991 in-car technology.  Cleaned it up a bit, removed some tacky vinyl and drove it around for a bit.  Replaced 3 of 4 fuel injectors so there wouldn't be gas spurting all over the hot engine. Sold it for more than twice what I paid.  

6) OneLiner - black 240sx coupe with R32 Skyline taillights and the almighty SR20DET!  The name is a play on the Japanese name for the 240sx hatchback (180sx) and the Coupe body with GT-R lights.  Most people would call it a OneVia (for Silvia), but I had to be different.  This car was awesome!  Super light chassis, craptastic tires and stout power from an otherwise stock SR.  Probably only 200hp, but it felt like a lot more.  I even went to the track once, and despite the plastic-fantastic big-wheel like traction afforded by $100 tires (meaning $100 for ALL FOUR), I had lots of fun.  My buddy called it the "Beater Battle" since he brought out his 'other MR2' to have some fun.  I sold this one for a tidy profit as well.  I would still get another one.

7) 2004 WRX wagon - this was the "family car" to replace the Spyder.  It was still a compact sports car, but with rear seats that could (barely) fit a baby seat.  Had the works done to it, but unfortunately I never got to track the beast.  Went to a Subie rally once, but everyone was just sitting around.  I took her up Mt. Hamilton myself and boy was that fun!  Brembos were amazing, Stage 4 upgrades on the EJ20 was ridiculous.  It still oversteered a bit, but you could just manhandle the car and it would do no wrong.  Didn't help me improve as a driver, but it was an awesome car.  Sold it to a good friend of mine at work, so I know she's in good hands.

8) 2008 VW Passat wagon - yup, another wagon.  This was the first German car and we got it at a very good price.  I wanted an STI wagon, but it wasn't any bigger than my WRX.  The new A4 Avant is nice too, but about $10k too much.  And it felt slower than the Passat, which has the same motor, but doesn't carry the weight penalty of AWD.  It's a family wagon, FWD is fine.  I'm actually surprised by how much I like this car.  I don't think I would ever "love" it, but it's a dman fine vehicle.  The small details in design and functionality really make you appreciate good engineering.  I expect to drive this one for a long while, at least until the kids are out of school (elementary, not high).

That's the list!  I'm actually disappointed that it's only 8 and not 10.  I could count the G35, but I always think of it as the wife's car.  If it were mine I would have modified something (anything!) a long time ago.

-Hong

What is that? A VW Passa?

As is customary of al(most)l my cars, I had to take the little chrome letters off the rear of the PeeDub (Passat Wagon).  The emblems were actually quite small and rather tastefully done, but we've got a tradition to uphold!  

Can you believe people actually post on car forums asking how it's done?  I mean, seriously!  If you need to ask, maybe it's too hard for you...  I started with the T and was surprised to find I could just pry it off with my fingernail, right in the cold cold garage.  Usually people will suggest some assortment of heat, fishing line, floss, chemicals, knives, spatulas, crowbars...

I should post some pictures, but the FF is now a "        ". It was a PASSA, a PASS, an ASS and an SS at one point or another. Wendy actually thought "ASS" was funny and said I should leave it like that for awhile. I love that girl!

I did hit it with a little adhesive cleaner, but overall it was quick and painless.  A really easy "mod" that changes the look of the car for the better.

-A.s.s

Proud to be an... Columbian?

No, not Colombian.  Though they do make fine coffee, and uh, *other* exports.  I got an e-mail from the President today.  No, not *that* President.

President Bollinger from Columbia University.  I don't mention it much in day to day life, because out here on the West Coast, people haven't even heard of Columbia!  How crazy is that?  Shouldn't everyone know the 8 Ivy League schools off the top of their head?  (Yes.  And Brown is the one you're forgetting...)  Well, good 'ole Lee (that's what we call him) sent out the expected note that one of our OWN (no, I'm not Black) was elected to the highest office in the land (world?).  President Elect Barack Obama is a Columbia College grad just like me.  

Well, he transfered in, but that's still pretty hard to do right?

Yesterday was a historic day in American History.  Now let's see what we can do with all this change...

-Hong

Three Car Garage.

It's every red-blooded American's dream - the Three Car Garage (TCG).  Maybe it's just every motor-oil-blooded American's dream.  Well check it out!  

I didn't think we could fit three across, but there's plenty of space.  Mostly because Max's ride is so SMALL.  

I just picked it up tonight and am thinking the maiden voyage is tomorrow morning.  Wendy thinks it too dangerous for her little king, but I'll make sure he wears his helmet and takes it easy on the 'Go' pedal.  At least until he gets the hang of it!

I'm already thinking of what mods I could do to his kart.  Drop it, some stickier tires (plastic has such a low coefficient of friction!), maybe a paint job...

-Motor Daddy

Recent Rides.

It's been a while huh?  Just been spending time with The King and his Mommy.  I gotta get that kid to update his blog as well.  Had a few minutes at lunch and wanted to put some words down about cars I've recently seen/driven/bought/sold.

GT-R.  Finally saw one in the flesh (metal?).  Going to get The King from daycare.  Of course, Palo Alto would be where I would spot the Godzilla.  Also saw a Can-Am Spyder there a few months ago.  Both are pretty rare.  And both will be mine one day.  The Nissan was the same color as the one I own... in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.

Just got back from vacation and we got to "pick a car" off the Enterprise lot.  We were slated for a Pontiac G6, but that's an ugly beast and it looked like your typical rental.  Saw they had a 300C, Charger and a white VW Passat! (more on this later).  We passed on those because they're considered 'premium' cars and would cost more.  No need to waste $ on a rental.  I saw a Malibu in the corner and asked if that was the same price.  I was surprised that it was since it was bigger and newer than the Ponti-crap.  Overall I was impressed with the Malibu, though I still wouldn't buy one myself.  It had lots of room, decent power from the Ecotec and a decently finished cabin.  GM really did up it's game with this one.  Too bad 90% of it's lineup is still crap.  I wouldn't chuckle-under-my-breath if someone told me they bought a Malibu.  I'd consider putting my own cash down on a G8 GT or a CTS-V now.

I also drove a Jetta 2.5 "Wolfsburg Edition".  I think the "WE" trim is just some cosmetic stuff, so I would have to say a base Jetta is a solid car.  The motor has good torque, and no real top end - though it makes good grunting noises.  The cabin is nice and it does the "euro sedan" thing well enough, at a competitive price.  I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cheap european car.  I assume the Rabbit is equally competent given the shared chassis.

Speaking of which, the MKV also rides under the Passat.  Which is why I was driving a Jetta loaner.  We had to get the windshield replaced on our BRAND NEW car because the (other) VW dealership is staffed by idiots.  We got the car in a dealer-trade, but it was missing a wiper and someone had turned on the wipers leaving a nice long scratch in the windshield.  The service guys at Winn VW aren't the brightest bulbs either, but I insisted they replace it.  It's just as bad as a long scratch on the side of the car, and I was looking at it every time I drove!

Other than that, the Passat Wagon has been a joy to drive.  Sure it's nothing like the WRX, but that's the point.  It's LARGE, quiet, comfy, gets good mileage and does a decent impression of an entry-level luxury car.  It was such a logical decision that I feel like I've been slowly getting to know the car, and I like what I'm finding. VW ownership is like finding small gifts in the form of thoughtful features (tap-to-pass blinkers, driver-side glovebox, etc.).  Well, at least until those things break and I end up in the service bay.  AGAIN.

I also managed to put in a short drive in the G35 after about a month away.  Wow.  What a great car.  I had forgotten how awesome the VQ35 was, and what a marvelous chassis the FM platform is.  Just coming out of the driveway and around the first corner I was smitten once again.  The G has held up very well over these last 3.5yrs and still is a joy to dive into a corner with.  The power was nice, definitely missing from the Passat and a different experience from the WRX.  The steering wheel is one of my favorite features, and makes the plastic-fantastic of the PW an even bigger letdown.

Which brings us to the WRX wagon.  I was worried about smog testing, but a switch back to the stock exhaust and she passed with flying colors.  Not bad for 300+hp.  Now she's officially "not mine".

Now I just need to chip the Passat.

-Hong

Sold the Subie. :(

It's the end of an era.  My wifey would say that the "Reign of Rice" is over.  I sold the WRX to a friend from work tonight.  It was with mixed feelings that I handed over the keys.  I enjoyed my time with the "STI wagon", but I also know it was going to be in good hands.  Rob had a WRX and and STI before, and in a way, this third Impreza will be a combo of those two.

I'll have to make another post about the new whip after I've given her the proper break-in (and first mod!).

I guess I can't be considered a "Ricer" anymore.

-Strudeler

Four more years? Yes Please!

Today was our 4th anniversary and it was awesome!

Dropped off the baby genius in the morning, and he wailed as usual.  This kid really loves his Mommy!  Hung out at the Stanford Mall until stores opened and the Mrs. bought herself a nice new coat (with a lot of pushing).

After that we went to the Tesla Motors showroom, and I sat in a Roadster. It's a pretty nicely tarted up Elise. I've always wanted to check one out in person and it did not disappoint.  Then we did a spa session at Watercourse Way - very hot/cool and relaxing.  I can see why my wife likes to do this stuff! 

For lunch we hit up a Brazilian steakhouse (all you can eat!). After we stuffed ourselves silly, we went to test drive the new A4. Wen liked it more than I expected, but I think she'd rather have a new G35 (or G37!).  I only wish that Infiniti made a wagon to go head to head with the Avant.  Well, there is that EX35 CUV/Crossover/tall wagon thing.  It has surprisingly little legroom in the rear, even less than it's chassis-twin (the G35 sedan).

At this point, Momma bear missed her baby bear too dearly so we went to pick him up early.  Hit the pool for a bit and just relaxed the rest of the evening with a good movie.  What a great day!  I can't wait to see what the next four years brings!

-Hong

Gimme a break!

Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar!  Well, it was bound to happen.  I thought I haven't had a bad ankle injury since I moved to California, but my wife reminded me that I did something stupid at the pre-Super Bowl flag football game one year.  So maybe it's been about 5 years injury free... until this past Thursday.

We were playing our usual lunchtime game, had a good number of people on the court and things were getting, uh, competitive.  I went for a drive and got bumped pretty good.  Should have finished stronger. Next play I come back and Sully's shooting an open shot outside.  Not on my watch!  I went hard for the ball, and it turned out to be too hard.  Landed on his foot coming down and I heard the all too familiar POP!  

This pic is from day 2, it's a small fracture on the fibula so recovery should be no problema

Pain.  Shit. F*&K!  I needed to sit down, but I knew what happened.  I hopped off the court and just dropped to the floor.  Dang, I remember how badly these things hurt.  How am I going to drive to work tomorrow?!?

The guys were cool, and everyone came over.  I felt bad since they stopped the game, but it was towards the end of the lunch hour anyway.  Long story short, the swelling was immediate and looked very strange in location and size.  I went to the hospital and got some x-rays.

Broken Ankle!  People joke about it in basketball (i.e. point guard trash talking), but apparently it happens all the time.  2 weeks off the foot (crutches suck) and 4+ weeks recovery.  I think I'll pick up golfing again.

-HQ

Bad Car-ma week.

Last week sucked big time! Monday I get pulled over by CHP and I was only doing 70 in the left lane. I moved over when I saw him come up, but then he pulled in right behind me. Then he went on my right, and paced me for a 1/4 mile. When he went behind me again I knew it was coming, but it still sucked when the lights came on. I pulled off the 101 and sat on the highway off-ramp (see below) for my first misadventure of the automotive kind. Turns out I wasn't speeding (duh!) but he pulled me over for TINTED WINDOWS.

SO LAME!

The fact that it was March 31st wasn't lost on me. Go ahead and make your quotas buddy. Cops have to deal with Car-ma too!

Just three days later, the cruel hand of Car-ma strikes down upon the Scooby Doo yet again. I'm driving home from work, and see the 101 is becoming a parking lot. I get off a few exits early thinking the surface streets will be faster. It normally is, but today this stupid lady in a minivan in front of me decides to STOP at the Yield sign. I guess she doesn't know the difference between the two. I come to a stop on the off-ramp (I'm starting to hate these things), but the guy in the Jeep behind me doesn't. BAM! My poor unmolested wagon is gonna need a visit to the bodyshop. I should stop here, because I haven't gotten the estimate yet. At least his insurance called and admitted fault, so it's going to be fixed up (borat voice) "real nice" .

One last note, CHP was completely unprofessional and semi-abusive, even though I was just in an accident and did nothing wrong. I guess it's too much to ask them to DO THEIR JOB and help motorists in need. Sorry my taxes aren't enough for you buddy!

-Very Angy VG

I'm a fricking Maverick (owner)!

If you've never heard of them, head on over to their site and read a bit. Also check out the wheel path video, it's crazy!

So I finally did it. Welcome to the 21st Century of mountain biking! Granted Maverick started a bit before the actual turn of the century, but this was what I've been waiting for - at least for the past week while it was being shipped.

6" up front and 4" of rear travel. Disc brakes are a welcome upgrade from a guy who started on "cantilevers" and recalls "U-brakes". Yeah, I'm old. The bike came in this ordinary Specialized box, but I was as excited as can be. I pulled everything out and the massive DUC 32 was in it's own wrapping. Surprisingly light for that much travel. Pretty good packing job by the seller 'cause he's a bike shop manager for a store in NYC. Those are my old stomping grounds and I guarantee there aren't any trails in NYC worthy of this rig. I wanted to build it up right away, but Max needed to eat and he's way cooler than any aluminum, steel and rubber contraption.

I finally got some quiet time at 3am and started to put it together. I'm no professional mechanic, but I did alright for not having any instructions. The DUC is a pretty straight forward assembly, as was the front disc brake. I made the final adjustments to some bolts, seat height and dropped the rear air pressure down to 100psi. I think Mav suggests something in the 30-40psi range, but we'll have to see. I didn't get a cool "sag-o-meter" in the manual, so I'll give them a call.

Took it out for a 5 minute parking lot ride and OMG. This thing is fricking awesome! I was riding straight into curbs with hardly a pause. My standard two-stairstep-drop is now just a muted "thump-thump". I don't even have the suspension setup for my weight yet, but it's so plush I sit through all this stuff. Now I'll be able to keep up with my buddies on the downhill! It's not that heavy either, probably no more than a few pounds up on the Bontrager. There is a "climb mode" on the fork, but I'll have to tear it down to get it working again.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with my purchase (Thanks Honey!). Can't wait to go try out some trails with this beast.

Funniest part? Maverick uses a "serial name" instead of a number. Mine is "Daddy", which is what I had just become a few months ago. Cool huh?

-Hong

Comcast SUCKS!

If you want to know how a company is doing in terms of customer service, do a Google search for "[Company Name] Sucks". No surprise that you'll get close to 830,000 pages!

I had the misfortune of having to call Comcast Customer Service, a misnomer if ever there was one, last week. I was calling to see if my recently increased bill could be made a bit more palpable. It went from $20 to $43 a month for cable internet. That's a bit much for just some at home browsing. The CSR told me specifically to cancel my existing service and go sign up for the current $20/month special. Now keep in mind, this is a Comcast employee telling me a workaround to some promotional pricing plan they have. Seems the CSR can't make the change from the call center, but customers are told to do this on their own.

So I signed up. It takes you to some Live Chat after you order, but the window stayed open for an hour and NO ONE showed up. I just closed it, assuming my order would go through.

I called again today to confirm and of course, my order never got processed. Seems talking to a Live Chat representative was a key part of the ordering process. So I talked to two more idiots at Comcast's call centers. One actually had the audacity to tell me I had the wrong number!?! Uh, isn't this Comcast? (Yes.) And you handle cable internet questions? (Yes.) Then why do you think I have the wrong number? (Because I didn't hear you.) Duh!

I called for the fourth or fifth time and asked to speak to a Manager directly. Turns out his reps weren't doing the right thing (No way...) and it was bad advice to disconnect service.

So I had it turned back on. But when we move, we'll go with ANY other product that gives us a decent connection. Comcast SUCKS!

-Angry VNese Guy

Another year, another new bike?

So my birthday has come and gone and my lovely wife and son suggest that I go ahead and get whatever I want for myself this year. Seems they think I have earned it somehow by being such a good Dad! I've already got a nice lugged steel roadie and a nicer modern carbon speed racer for the asphalt. I just finished building up the classic steel hardtail which I promised myself I would get back in college! So the only logical bike to add to the quiver would be a full suspension mountain bike.

I coulda kicked myself in the nuts for missing out on a Maverick ML7 auction on eBay. That one still hurts. It ended $20 UNDER my self imposed budget. DMAN!

Man, 2008 is going to be a great year for bikes! I was looking at some closeout Specialized bikes but in researching them I found out the 2008's are completely redone. The new Stumpy FSR is now a linkage bike with the shock by the seat tube like Turner and Trek and almost everyone else. The curvy frame is pretty nice too, I dig how the top tube lines up with the seat stays.

So I wanted a new Stumpy.

Then I went to the Cannondale forum on MTBR.com and everyone's talking about the new '08 Cannies. Well, the Scalpel is completely new as well! 100mm of rear PIVOTLESS travel. Sick. 22.5lb XC racing machine. Now I want one of those. But they'll be like $6000. Ouch.

Then I see a post by Scott Nicol, Mr. Chuck Ibis himself. The new '08 MojoSL has a handful of changes that makes it under 5lbs for a large frame. This is for 5.5 inches of DW-link travel! Complete bike under 22lbs.!?!?!!! Probably like $10k or something stupid. Okay, so it's actually $6400 with the wicked funny "WTF" group. Hmm, seems almost a bargain compared to the big bike companies ($6500 S-works, $6500 Scalpel Team).

Now I want a(nother) Mojo!

Of course, I go back and put a correct sized MTB stem (NOS Control Tech 1" baby!) on the Bonty instead of the 130mm negative 17degree road stem that was on it. SICK. This bike is 10yrs old but it just feels SO good.

We'll see what I end up with. I need to make more money. :)

-Hong

Demo Dirt Ride!

Forest Of Nisene Marks & Soquel Demonstration Forest. Long name but great trails. Some of the best riding I've done in my life. So my buddy Augi called yesterday and said he could actually do a ride! He's in retail so weekends are usually spent helping people spend money and keep the economy going.

I asked the boss (and his Mom) if I could go and got the green light. My poor Wife! She has to watch the little king 6 days a week without any help. I can believe I'm going for a 2nd mtb ride in as many weeks.

We're supposed to meet at 9:30, but knowing Long I said we should make it 10am. Augi and I got there right on time and we waited. And waited. And waited some more! It was cool just hanging out, but I wanted to hit the trails. Long comes flying down the road closer to 11am and soon enough we're off.

The "warm-up" climb was killer. I am in such bad shape! The rest of the guys seemed to be doing pretty well. Though my hardtail wasn't a liability on the climb, it didn't seem to be of much help either. I was barely able to hang on to the others and this was just the first few miles.

Luckily the climb was over before I was. We dropped into some sweet singletrack and started flying back down. It was great! The Bonty continues to impress being both nimble and resilient. I did wish for some more cush, but I can't blame my lack of speed on the bike. It's the nut behind the bars! More trail time will cure all woes. I am definitely rusty from being off the mtb for so long.

The guys are flying which allows me lots of open trail ahead. We stop for a picture and then head down another trail. Augi jokes that the slowest guy should go first, as this is the fastest way to get better. I jump on the pedals and ask for a generous time gap. I'm sure they obliged but I'm on a really good clip. Then I hear it. The sure sounds of someone catching up! I go a bit harder and dive into the corners deeper. Unfortunately the eggbeaters can't take the pressure and my right foot disengages from the pedal. I click back in only to have the left foot fall out on the next turn as my front wheel washes out wide. Augi takes the inside line and laughs as he goes by. Bastard! I jump on his wheel but he's fricking crazy. We're both riding Bonty hardtails but he's clearing the trail at a much faster clip. I guess I will be getting one of those fancy dual suspension bikes!

We regrouped at the bottom and decided to just climb out to the cars. 3 miles and what feels like an eternity later, we're packing up and heading home.

Just another great day sampling NorCal's finest trails!

-Hong

It's about time! Finally hit some dirt.

Been doing mostly road riding since I moved to California. Sure we've got some great roads around these parts, and a very serious roadie community, but...

I'm a Mountain Biker!

Can't believe I've waited this long. Finally got my dirt fix satisfied!

Went to Skeggs with my buddy Long. I was riding my latest bike in the quiver, one of the last REAL Bontragers from Keith before being bought by the big bad Trek. It's a Race model built up with mostly vintage (?) era appropriate XTR and chi-chi cottage industry parts. Even has a ratty old Flite saddle that looks like it is from 1997!

The Bonty performed really well, especially for having been put together at midnight yesterday! Long would drop me on his FSR when the trail headed down, but I was able to hold my own on the climbs. By the end of the two hours I was getting really familiar with the Bonty's handling traits. Even with the longer travel fork, it was still a sweet riding machine!

The only downside was that I did only have 5 cogs working, then it became 3 gears (small, mid and large chainrings!). The bike came with this XTR RapidRise derailler that I thought didn't work. Turns out it's the XT shifter. Only goes up/down four clicks. Oh well.

Going to put 8spd XTR on it now. Even have the old 12-32 Titanium cassette which is superlight. Going real old-skool and stepping up to the 'R.

-Hong

Finally finished an AV ride.

Yesterday was a milestone in my "recreational cyclist" adventures. It was significant because I've been off the bike at least a month, maybe even two. The new job and concerns around a budding family don't leave much weekend time for a jaunt into the mountains.

I got the usual "B-Ride" details via the AV mailing list. This weekend looked promising in terms of the weather and the short distance of the planned route. It was *only* a 40 miler as opposed to their usual 60 mile route. The plan was to hit the Old La Honda and West Old La Honda climbs, in a bit of a figure 8.

I managed to hang on all the way to the base of OLH. Of course I got dropped quickly, but at least I wasn't at the very end. I managed to find this AV/Webcor rider who was going at a decent pace. I followed her up about 4/5's of the way. Then her conversation with the AV guy on the S-Works Tarmac got personal so I stopped trying to hang on. As I dropped back and refueled, a trio of other guys were blazing by everyone. I hung on to their wheel and finished strong.

Regroup at Sky Londa before heading down to the base of WOLH for the 2nd climb of the day. Funny to stop here on a bike after having done so many regroups here in the car. These roads are great for everyone, as long as we can all share it. The descent was challenging, but I was able to hang off the back for the whole way down. Keeping the group in sight was a big deal for a nervous descender like me. It was also pretty cool to see all these riders (40+?) going down faster than the cars behind (which i was holding up!).

After an abrupt stop and 180 turn back up WOLH, i get dropped again. Funny thing, that same AV rider is getting dropped so I suck her wheel for a bit. Then I get dropped. At least I know where the regroup is this time. I finish the climb and head down to Sky Londa. Some big dude passes me and I tuck in behind him for the short ride down. Feels like we're doing 45mph!

When I get to the regroup, I barely have time for a swig before the group heads off. Again I'm at the back and again I get dropped. These people seriously go fast. I had to let a few cars go by, but I'm certainly getting better than last time. I'll have to keep practicing. The Roubaix descents pretty well and is much more maneuverable than the old Stilleto. And that's supposed to be a Crit bike versus this "comfortable" frame. Crazy what 10yrs of tech can do for you.

Soft pedaled it back to Peet's, and got passed by the B-Ride folks on Foothill. So I skipped out a few miles, I still feel like I finished the ride with them!

-Hong

Meet the Pros.

We went to the Amgen Tour of California today! Stage 1 started out in beautiful Sausalito, heading out to the coast, up PCH 1 and back over to Santa Rosa. We drove up north to catch the start of the race and it was really a lot of fun!

I was able to see some of my favorite riders up close and personal. I got some really cool shots of Wendy as she was trying to get autographs from Levi and Paolo. Saw some other big names literally walking right in front of me; Bobby Julich, Jens Voight, Michael Rasmussen and some other Dutch guy sitting next to him.

We walked to the starting area and finally saw the Disco bus! Wendy spotted Tommy D as he was riding off. We walked over to the Volvo wagon and there was another rider coming towards us. It was local boy Levi himself. Everyone crowded around him, as he was trying to get his saddle height perfect. He had to go back and forth 3 times, but he was always nice and even managed to sign some autographs and snap some pictures with fans as he was "working". He then took off to the start line and we all wished him good luck. Maybe more people should have done so because he took a nasty fall at the finish line (on the first of three laps of the closing circuit) when he got home to Santa Rosa.

I also got pictures with Johan and Eki as they were going in/out of the team cars.

All in all, a great day by the Bay and we got to see some *real* pros up close and personal.

-Hong

Porsche Cayman of bikes.

I was trying to think of an apt automotive equivalent to my new road bike, and the Cayman seems to fit. It's not the top 'o da line Tarmac (911) in the Specialized product offerings hierarchy, but it could possibly be the better bike.

Alto Velo is a good club. One of it's members was selling her "old" bikes. Granted, old to these semi-pro, super serious riders is like 2 years. So she was getting rid of a Serotta Ottrott and a Specialized Roubaix Pro, both with some very nice kit (can you say bling?) and at very attractive prices.

I knew they would go quickly so I e-mailed my friend Augi. He was all over it. He went to see the bikes and was luckily the first one there. Of course he ended up buying both, and was gracious enough to offer me the Roubaix. I saw the Ottrott when I went to check out the Spec and it's a gorgeous bike. Didn't fit me or else we would have had some serious discussions...

So I decided to try another AV group ride, choosing the "easier" B-Ride this morning. I usually get dropped after about 5 miles with either A or B groups, but I thought I actually had a shot of staying on with the new road rocket.

Turns out I was right! This bike is simply amazing. My wife asked me if it was better than my trusty Davidson and I had to admit that it was. In every way. It's lighter (16.5lbs w/regular Chorus wheels and Eggbeater pedals), stiffer, more compliant, faster, quicker, sharper but also more stable. It accelerates faster, slows quicker, climbs easier and descends better. I couldn't believe it, but I guess technology moves along pretty quick (10 yrs of improvements). I still love my lugged steel bike and will likely keep it forever. But the old girl is looking pretty shabby next to this new machine.

I managed to stay with the group, even when the pace inevitably picked up on Arastradero. I was riding along Portola tucked in at the rear when I heard a strange noise. It was a twap, twap, twap like the old playing card in the spokes noise. Had on my earmuff/wrap thing, so it was a muted sound, but the two guys ahead turned around and were looking at my bike. I thought I might have something stuck in the frame/wheels, so I did a quick check and was still ok.

The group slows and turns up Old La Honda. I hope to be able to climb with everyone in the pack. I make the left and the bike feels very odd. I go a bit up the climb and then realize my front tire was flat! I haven't had a flat in about 5 years, so I was glad I actually brought my old Zefal frame pump and an extra tube. I pull over to repair the wheel and it was a little thorn/pine leaf thing that actually went through the tire. Unbelievable. After a slow repair (to catch my breath) I decided to continue forth. A lot of cyclists had passed me, and a majority of them had asked if I was okay. That was pretty cool.

I didn't time myself, but I know I would be much faster on this bike. We'll have to see next time. I'm really starting to like the OLH climb, and my little 30 mile loop.

-Hong

Where is Ricky Bobby?

So I finally got some time to play with my new PS3. It's pretty slick looking with a black finish and a touch of chrome. Just like how I'll order my Escalade...

I have one game for it and it's quite difficult to play. NBA 2K7 will be a good waste of time as it is quite deep. There is a "street mode" as well, so it's not just going through a NBA season, or picking interesting teams to play each other. Of course, everyone is talking about Resistance: Fall of Man.

I quickly get setup and go to the PlayStation Store. Download the GT: HD demo since it might be a limited time deal. It was a Christmas present from Sony and Polyphony Digital. The game looks great, but I'm going to wait and set up my Logitech DFPro wheel to get the full experience. The target lap times are easy enough that I can still get all ten cars (and ten tuners) with the "slower" wheel input. I wonder if I'll get faster than the regular controller?

I also get Genji (eh, ok - great visuals, decent game play, just button mashing), Formula 1 (awesome!) and Go! Sodoku for Wendy to play with. Got Motorstorm demo as well, no longer have to play it at Target and Best Buy.

But where is Ricky?!?!

The first 500,000 units are supposed to have a Blu-Ray disc of this movie. I did not get said disc. I know Sony hasn't sold 500k of these things, so what's up?!

I guess I'll have to ask Best Buy or Sony about this.

-Hong

Next Gen Systems - My Rankings

So my buddy Long asked me to rank the three next-gen consoles, having been lucky enough to play all three this holiday break. Here is my e-mail back to him and my friends:

I'm not sure how you define "best" but here are my rankings. Please note that I'm biased towards Sony, having been on their consoles for over a decade.

1) PS3 - amazing power, sleek looks and familiar controls. The Ferrari of gaming systems. Fall of Man is simply stunning to watch and even better to play. GT: HD looks stupendous on a regular set, I can only imagine what it will be like on HDTV. Plato has tried it on his set, so maybe ask his opinion? Driving feel is similar, drift mode is kinda cool. There is a reason this is the most expensive system, and it could very well be worth every penny (need to buy an HDTV to confirm).

2) Wii - one word: Fun! This is the most versatile system and will make the most "gamers" out of ordinary folks. It's great for my 4yr old neice as well as my Mom. Call of Duty 3 is awesome on the Wii, I'll give up some graphics for a more interactive controller. Wii Sports is actually a lot of fun and makes a great party game (like Sing Star of Guitar Hero).

3) X360 - third doesn't mean last - it's right up there with the other two and leagues better than PS2 or Xbox. Gears of War is my favorite game right now. I dig the easy setup (Microsoft thinks things through) and have yet to dive into Xbox Live yet. 160+ titles out make it the clear winner of the Next-Gen trio if you want to play right now. I will likely spend more time on 360 than PS3 in the next three months.

-Hong

Christmas 2006 - I was a good boy this year!

So we went to NYC for Christmas this year, haven't done that in a few years. We usually just stay in the Bay Area with memories of a HORRIBLE American Airlines experience seared into my memory. This year wasn't so bad, but that could be attributed to the timing of our flights.

Before we left, Wendy found this Amazon Customer Vote page. Of course we signed up and voted for the Wii. Having gone to half a dozen stores at 6am over the weekend, this was really our last shot at scoring one for Christmas. I had told everyone I was getting one for the kids, before the news that Nintendo was cutting back on their shipments. Our chances were about 1 in 30, but it was worth throwing our hat in the ring.

Next day, I get the e-mail. Unbelievable! We got a Wii! Amazon rocks!! I tell all the other adults so they can buy extra controllers and games.

NYC was pretty much the same. We did get out of the house a few times but more importantly, we got some quality time with the family. Man these kids grow up quick! After a few days we were bored at home. I convinced my sister to let the kids open up one gift early. Of course they picked the Wii!

What a cool system. The one word that came up most often to describe it was "Fun". That's what games are all about. Even my 4 year old niece was having a blast. She was bowling 136 by the end of the weekend, and that's higher than I could bowl in real life. I'm surprised at how well the controller worked, and how different the game play is. Call of Duty 3 with the Wiimote/Nunchuk is a whole different experience.

My little sister bought her BF a Xbox360, so we had two of three next-gen consoles in the house. Rumors started to spread that someone had gotten the kids a PS3 as well. No way! They are super hard to get.

Well we're done eating the Christmas Eve dinner and it's around 7pm. Our old tradition was to open gifts right at the stroke of midnight. I remember fighting off the sleep fairy every year when I was younger. Of course, I was getting one Tonka truck or something much less exciting than a PS3! So the kids open up the box from their Mom and lo and behold - it's a Shiny Black Box. They simply go nuts. My little sis hands me what appears to be a calendar. I open it up and it's a PS3 catalog - pretty neat, I can leave it in my office.

Then, she goes into the bedroom and brings out another box. No way! It's the same size as the kids' gift and seems to be the same weight. Is it possible? I rip open the box and yes... YES! YES!!! It's my very own PS3! Holy cow. That was an awesome surprise.

My wife bought me the 360 for Christmas, and I opened it before we left for NYC. I bought all the games myself because I'm crazy. Well, the two lying down are from the best little sister in the whole wide world!

-Hong