I’m bothered when news anchors hype the price of gas to stir up the general public. Although, I have to admit it is entertaining to watch the remote camera crew interview some rube at the pump. If anyone would bother to do the math, most would see that the annual cost difference is negligible. I became interested in this after wondering what the next ten years of economic change will bring. At some point, everyone will have to buy a fuel-efficient car, but that’s my point. Now is not the time to buy a car specifically designed to be fuel-efficient.

 To start, the difference in cost between filling my tank at $2.75 gallon and 3.09 is only $4. If I drove 15,000 miles using premium fuel at $3.09 per gallon the fuel cost would be $1655. The same distance on regular gas would be $1607. The fuel cost for driving a hybrid Toyota Prius using regular gas is $966. The difference in cost seems to be large enough to consider driving a Prius. Now, diesel, the cost of driving a diesel Jetta is $1380. The advantage to driving a hybrid vehicle at this point is small, $689 over gas and $414 diesel.

2006’ Toyota Prius 45 mpg, 2006 VW Jetta diesel 39 mpg, 2005 Honda Civic Si 28 mpg

Consider now the enjoyment factor. The Prius has a real world 0-60 time of 11.3 seconds thanks in part to extra torque from it’s electric motor. The diesel ran the longest time of 12.4 seconds. This is in great part due to the Jetta’s 3306 lb curb weight. Comparatively, the Honda comes in at 4.9 seconds. This is directly related to it’s supercharged 240 wheel hp and 2470 lb curb weight.

Early adopters do a service for the rest of us. They are the front line in funding the machine that will ultimately bring forth a proper hybrid. In ten years when China and India have twice the number of cars on the road as we do and oil is $400 per barrel, I will be driving a 350 hp electric car. Until then I will be ripping by Prius owners while they shake their fists in vain.

The setting for many narrow escapes and a number of moments that are forever engraved in my memory. I have never been much of a jumper, but that is about to change. Now, every of my visits to Ray’s is accompanied by twenty runs through the ramps. I do all of my riding at Ray’s on my Gary Fisher Ziggurat cross-country bike, of course clipped in with the seat jacked up. A long time ago, a pro rider told me that I should do all of my training on the bike I plan on racing. This way there will no question as to whether I can do the move in a race. Practice makes permanent.

On Friday, I had my first jumping related crash. It was a good one, and as usual, wearing denim saved me from more injuries. In the expert section, on the last box jump, I missed the landing traveling in a diagonal direction. In the mix, I somehow managed to break my carbon soled cycling shoe.

If you see me jumping a little crooked, it’s probably my shoe.  I’m in the market for another set.

I have gotten a couple great opportunities lately.  The most dynamic is to be a contributing editor and bike test rider for a new social networking website.  The site is not public yet, but it has the potential to be the largest social website in the bike community. I am sure it will be a lot of work, but the payoff will be a public forum to talk about mountain biking.

I have also been working out the details for a novice day with the Boy Scouts. The opportunity took form through an acquaintance with a troop leader at River Front. Having been a scout, I jumped at the chance to spread the word of Gary Fisher to a younger generation. The scouts are looking to learn the basics of riding and fundamentals of trail maintenance. Wanting to make the most of my time, I thought about scheduling the day like a novice drivers day. The schedule should be bike inspection, tech, on the trail, more basics, lunch, on the trail again for a full ride, followed by individual questions.  

In search of some ideas, I went to Ray’s and picked up Mastering Mountain Bike Skills by Brian Lopes. This book is loaded with great stuff. The way that the author puts complex ideas into words will come in handy with the scouts.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend is here, and another workweek filled with crazy boat owners is over. I will not be able to put this job to sleep soon enough.

Pictured is the bilge of a 32’ Marinette. The owner emptied the engine blocks and coolant water into the bilge. When I opened the boat, I found 10 quarts of oil sitting on 25 gallons of water. We were able to drain the water through the bottom of the boat and a couple of my guys used high-pressure steam to blow the rest of the sick crap out.

The bilge is looking good now, but I'll bet it was a mess before the engines puked out all that oil.

I’m heading to Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park for a ride and to practice jumping.