Big Surprise

We took the truck in this week for the front end work and got a call with bad news. The main thrust bearing is out.  On Friday I went to go pick it up and got the details.

From what the mechanic said, the motor needs to be rebuilt. It may go 20 miles or 20,000.

We picked up the truck. It just made it home before shredding the serpentine belt so is not drive able now.

The 1991 jeep purchased 10 years ago for $4700 has lasted 10 years and 100,000 miles.

Total miles on it are now near 170,000. I figure all told there have been brakes, tires, fuel pump, water pump etc not more than $5,200 spent in maintenance. For ten years and $10,000 that is cheap transportation.

This year I knew it was time to get ready for a replacement or spend the time and money to maintain it to last another 10 years. To have the wheel and axle bearings replaced might cost about $2k. The motor might last a bit longer and a rebuild one is about $1,200 to $2,000. The body and interior are in good shape.

For this truck I know that to get it to last another 10 years it might take a series of $1,500 to $2,000 dollar maintenance projects. I just thought they could proceed one at a time and not all at once.

My hope was these projects would not happen all at once. Even if $6,000 were spent on the truck it is cheaper than replacing it with one that cost $20,000 - $25,000.

Now is sooner rather than later. Time for a new engine or rebuild this one.

Estimates are at $3,500 installed out the door for motor replacement.

Still not bad considering I had the new brakes, tires and fuel pump done in the last 3 months. With the front end and power steering pump replaced then we should be good to go. Down the road would be the rear end and small paint touch ups. I have been told the transmission and transfer case are good for another 100,000 miles as is. The fluids were changed and looked good.

I'll go to the motor re-build specialists on Tuesday for further research. 

That was then. This is now

The place where all trails lead to great experiences is on fire today (again). Idaho and the world are watching as weather and nature consume single track and homes.

This too will pass. Let us not forget the history of this scenic region. Where 150 years ago there were fields of grass as high as the stirrups of the first white visitors to the Wood River Valley with herds of Elk and Antelope, natural wonders and fields of plenty.

Civilized man wants domesticated Sheep and Cows to raise, harvest and eat. Enter a 150 year period of domesticated civilization that would forever change the natural landscape of flora and fauna.

Terraced hillsides to prevent erosion. Constant fires in the early days where there was no National Fire Watch. White Cloud Mountains named because of the perpetual cloud over the majestic peaks.

In a year from now we can have a better place then we have now. Fires will consume but not kill everything.
As good stewards of the land we can rebuild homes, clear dead fall and come home again to see nature re-birth anew wonder of growth and prosperity.

The above photo was taken, in the grand scheme of things, not long after what many considered to be a devastating fire. As you can see the landscape does change and all things do become beautiful to be visited again with the wonder of how nature can recover. Come back. Rebuild. See the new growth that comes alive after a burn.

Plan you next year in advance. Come see what power nature has and how a little stewardship goes a long way to restore and enhance everyone's appreciation of nature. We are not always in control.

Start with the End in mind

Where will I end up? In this season of my life, approximately half way to eternity, I am reminded of the old adage to start with the end in mind. My wife of 14 years and 13 years younger than me wonders if statistics prove out for us that she will out live me.

I have found my home here in Idaho. Born in Texas, raised in the Pacific North West and California, I have traveled much of the world and know where I am going after this life.

Please spread my ashes in the White Cloud Mountains of Idaho.

I have a fond passion for maps. The hall way to my bedroom while in high school was wall papered with a map of the world. Next to the bathroom entrance was the local street map of our neighborhood. Wherever you wanted to go you had to plan. As my brother in law (from the east) likes to say with a New England accent "Ya can't get there from here".

How do I get there? On this last ride someone will have to carry my ashes. Not a difficult trail but narrow; High in the mountains. Be prepared. Have good shoes, or boots and socks. Plenty of water and a bite to eat. Perhaps a bottled drink and cheese and bread. Hard salami travels well.

Hoof fit by horse, foot or ride a bike. Hiking is required to get to the top. Weather can change fast. Carry a wrap. Bring your eye for wonder. How can solid rock be plastic enough to bend that way?

The geology of creation is a fantastic mystery. So is my time here. When it is my time I hope my friends and family take the hike to my favorite last ride.

Heart of the White Clouds

Data>Information>Knowledge>Wisdom

Marketing, Advertising, Sales and Service. How is value added to enhance the Cycling Experience?

This last fall I researched a variety of on line web based mapping sites for the Cycle Idaho dot com index of all the great places to ride in Idaho.

42 was a number that came up in my research. Wow, from the first beta of Google maps in @2001 to a range of online services such as Motion Based, Tremble Outdoors, Map my Ride and now STRAVA.

Data from Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the raw can be overwhelming and ultimately valuable if it can be compiled into Information that leads to Wise decisions.

As an example the popular SIMCITY game series is based on fictional design elements, However real city and regional planing data and demographics can be used for computer simulation to see how urban and rural life and landscapes would change over time given a change in the circumstances.

A computer can make the single elemental change and project the influential outcome over time to predict what a human might find impossible to calculate.

Change the rural agricultural zoning for 5 acres to residential housing and see how this influences the landscape, transportation, water, public services and air quality.

Much like predicting the weather, with enough data a computer can compile the data mess into information for us to make wise decisions.

But what fun is that? I want to go for a RIDE on my bike, with my girlfriend...and dog...and not spend a lot of time researching where to go in a city I am not familiar with...

Cycle Idaho - THE web based index of the great bicycling opportunities (in development)

Time to get to it!

What's The Big Idea?

The last year was personally difficult for me after the unexpected death of my sister while visiting her over the Thanks Giving weekend. She was my business mentor. In 2012 I have ridden very little, perhaps 200 miles mostly commuting to work. This last week I struggle with recovering from a torn retina.
These annual blog postings do not develop a strong reader base. This Cycle Idaho Blog is the personal side of what I envision for Cycle Idaho.com. I have posted personal adventures and bicycle builds. I plan to devote at least one day a week to making progress and reporting on this blog about the BIG IDEA.

Eventually Cycle Idaho will be the index of all the bicycling opportunities in the great state of Idaho.

Boise State University College of Business and the Small Business Development Center are developing a business plan for Cycle Idaho, LLC For 2013 Cycle Idaho will expand to include all of the Bicycle Businesses in Idaho. I'll post the progress reports here.

The Big Idea is to follow the wise advice of business specialists and my personal passion to see Idaho become known for world class bicycling opportunities. The new CEO of Yahoo was speaking this week regarding the famous Vince Lombardi quote: For Marissa Mayer, it's God, family and Yahoo.

Me too. God first, then family then business. The Big Idea is to put my skills and passion into a business of "Bringing a variety of cycling opportunities to everyone in Idaho." For 2013 the Cycle Idaho.com web site will strive to implement the big idea.

It is only through God's will working through us that I can accomplish anything. May we all have a prosperous 2013.
Thanks for listening.

----------------------------------------

Cyclo Cross Hurts so Good.

Not sure why so I went out for my second ever Cycle Cross event on an old 1994 or so Kona rigid mountain bike. Like Paul from Meridian Cycles said-"sucking 2 hours of air in one hour" or some such just means it is go all out as fast as you can...ouch but feels so good when you stop.

See y'all at the next one !!

Big Bike -Big Ride

Sunday September 4, 2011 Started a big ride in Ketchum. We met at Java on Fourth around 9:30am. Drove out Warm Springs Road about 10 miles to the Frenchmen's Hot Springs and the Red Warrior Trail Head. From here the plan was to ride up the road another 7 miles to the South fork of Warm Springs. We got shuttled these 7 miles to conserve time and water. We forgot to bring a water filter for this big ride.

Came out at Red Warrior  near the Hot Springs for a happy ending to a great big ride.

Total time about 6 hours.

Slide show of trail intersections here.

What a great Day!