mental

bliss

Nothing could be better than a winter weekend that feels like the most perfect of fall days. Friday couldn't have arrived any quicker with the anticipation of building a new steed. Out of the box she is lifted, the shit brown of a new Surly Kung-Fu Monkey. Assembly happened rather quickly and I was out the door with a hootch and beer buzz to dial it in on the dark rainy streets with the Dutch Eagle. Stopping for a safety break by the Lehigh, the Dutch and I came to the conclusion that the best inaugural ride would be the next morning on the American Standard. That trail will get any kinks out a new ride. In true coal country tradition, many a beer was consumed in preparation for the next days adventures. The Broad Mountain never sailed sweeter with the end of hunting season and the unbelievable trail conditions. After numerous rocks, safety breaks, and diner stories we were rolling down the Deer Path. Who said these trails are closed! Almost a flawless ride with a flat on the DH for the Dutch. Before departing, it was made mandatory that Sunday was no reason to watch football, but rather keep the season alive with some more stellar riding. Accompanied by Scott and Dan-O, we set out on the Nesque Trails. Letting it all hang out was my mantra for the day, and we did just that. Hitting the signature loop on the hill. We even crossed some motos with a flat tire problem. Safety breaks had us reelin once again and taking big chances on some hairy terrain, but that seemed to be all right. Until next time...rubber side down, smile side up.

5 alive

listening pleasures!


led zeppelin - bbc sessions

gameface - three to get ready

yonder mountain string band - penns peak show

grateful dead - always

g n' r - right now

from behind

I'll follow that line any day, and there's no trail in sight!

dutch treat

What a holiday weekend. Weather like this in November is something to take advantage of if you can. Being an unfettered twenty something, I decided to cruise around the PA hillsides on my singlespeeder. With my trusty sidekick, The Dutch Eagle, we logged some goods rides with some good friends. Saturday we rolled a sweet loop with Elk and on Sunday celebrated the birth of The Valtergeist and The Dutch Eagle, and the rebirth DeJesus on a ride in the beastiality capital of PA, Noxon. The riding up there is sweet and we had a good crew with a few of my old teammates from Cedar Bikes. Thanks to Frankie for hooking up such a nice loop and some beers for recovery. Afterwards we all conviened at the Ricketts Glen Hotel for some dining and dutch treats (aka stories from Dean). Until next time...rubber side down, smile side up.

holidaze

Yesterday I was out riding my bike on a local rail trail when I came across a good ole friend. The afterwork hunter. This guy was decked out in the orange and real tree gear, lookin' totally legit with his rifle. He obviously took a bunch of time to suit up in his gear to head out for the kill. Anyway, I roll past him and he gives me a dirty look like, "God damn bikers chasing all the animals and ruining the trails." As I ride on I think to myself, "What a shitty hunter." This guy is hunting on a community recreation trail that is highly used not just by bikers, but by people of all kinds looking to enjoy a little time in the woods. He's not going to be able to shoot anything hunting here. Also, he was tokin' on a fat cigar as I rolled by. Last time I checked animals have a keen sense of smell and being that I smelled the cigar 100 yards before I got to him. Hmmmm. Not good hunting tactics. My roommate is a huge hunter. Gets all geared up the night before the big hunt, smeering deer piss on his clothes. He must be stressed on gear assembly because of the amount of cigarettes he smokes while getting ready. The next day heads out hoping to put some meat on the table. Not a chance when you smell like a Marlboro. I figure I live in a town with a lot of hunters, so I need to share some hunting stories. I also spend a lot of time in the woods, so it is only proper to wear my orange while going to the bar or grocery store in order to strike some conversation with the local woodsman. Remember to wear your hunter orange in and out of the woods. It might save your life. Have a great turkey day and remember the fate of the human race if the humans become the hunted. At least on the traditional meat isn't lobster!

sicky sunday

When you work with sick people all week, it is only a matter of time before you get nailed.

atomic wedgie warfare

It seems like it's been raining for the last week. Wait a sec, it almost has. The natives are restless and need to get the singletrack fix before it's to late. Hopefully the weekend forecast will be good for the festivities that are abound. I am hoping to get some trail in before I get freeky at this place. If anyone is interested let me know, it is a good time. Also, I hope the weather is nice for the DeJesus Benefit. Another good place to be this weekend. Hopefully I will run into some folks this weekend. Congrats to Jen and Bob on their most holiest of unions. Love, peace, hair grease and sticky bed sheets.

reschedule

Due to the shatty weather on Sunday, the Benefit Jump Jam has been rescheduled for Sunday Nov. 19th.

Donations can be sent to:

Jay de Jesus Benefit Fund
C/O Strawberry Mountain Farm
P.O. Box 69R.R. 1 Box 137A
Noxen, PA 18636

Check out the lower post for info on the Jamboree!

jump for jay!

Hey everyone, Ted here at Rancho Relaxo in Downingtown , PA. Things are progressing rapidly for this Sunday’s big bike party/benefit. We’ll be having XC rides, a killer Jump Jam, tons of food, good music, and just a killer time, all for just $20.00/person. All proceeds are going towards Jay’s medical bills, so here’s a chance for you to enjoy a great all-day riding party while helping a brother out.
We have completed many new lines since this summer, including a hip into the 360 deg. “Blender” berm, which has two exit options. High above the Blender we’ve strategically placed a tree-stand for filming. There is a new set of DEEP roller doubles out of a bowl-turn. There is also new step-up to berm to Super Roller that Jay laid out a week before getting sick. It has a lot of elevation change, and you’ll need some pump to get it. Overall, there are more than 25 doubles, rollers, and hips with lines for all abilities. Everything is buffed and ready to shred.
For the Cross Country guys, there is a 10:00am XC ride over to Marsh Creek, led by Downhill Dave and leaving right from here. It should take roughly 2 hours. Marsh Creek has some seriously fun, twisty/rooty singletrack, and it is very singlespeed friendly. The ride will return just in time for the grill to be fired up! After, we encourage you to try out some of the smaller tabletop jumps and berms if you’d like. Jay wants you to…
Please re-post this everywhere and help spread the word – it’ll be a hell of a party.
For detailed directions to the Benefit Jump @ Jam Rancho Relaxo, please email: stevenc@ptd.net

service announcement

If you can bitch up a storm on a barstool, you can get your ass out and vote! Paid for by the Less Gears, More Beers Coalition.

happy halloween!

who invited me?

What a cool weekend. Friday I get a call from this guy. We'll call him Ben. He says "Broseph, there are some people ridin' Thorpe on Sunday, you should come along." I say " Let's see here my good fella. I will ditch a cross race to partake in the shennanigans of another JT group ride? Sure!" In true halloween weekend fashion, Saturday night I go out, in full disco swing kit, and reel in third prize in a costume contest. Oh, and also punched in the time clock on way to many wheat beers. I figure daylight saving. Shit, I'm spending my hour! Wake up all carbed up from wheat and roll to meet the group. Damn, thats alot of dudes. Where are the chicks? Feelin' all mischievious about it, I start asking people who knows the trails around here? They said I did! Time to have some fun and fun it sure was. Thanks for the invite to whoever organized the ride. I had a blast and the fact that I had some riding partners was alright with me. Viva la one speed!

update from jay

Hello everyone . Jay here. It has been quite an experience for klebsiella bacterial meningitis, septic shock and multiple organ failure caused by an abcess in my liver after an impact to the upper-right quadrant of my torso. I was in an extremely dire situation for many days, and I nearly lost my life
I know you have all been reading Val’s updates for the last 10 days, so I wanted to add a few words of my own.
The outpouring of concern and kindness from everyone (from so many places) has been a major factor in helping my family through the horror of seeing their own on life support systems. Val has been tremendous in her care, and has been bedside throughout. After I woke up, 5 days into the situation, my condition was still extremely critical (I just checked in, to see what condition my condition was in. Yeah, yeah, yeeeeeaaaaaaa…. -- from “The Big Lebowski“). I came too with wrist restraints, a breathing tube, naso-gastric tube, urinary catheter (Van Dine, we now have something else in common), numerous life-support IV drips, and a subclavian catheter directly into my heart. Imagine my mom having to give permission for the doctor to do that. It was necessary for emergency injections of medication to immediately stimulate my heart to keep beating. They dumped over 16 pounds of fluids into my body to sustain blood pressure.
Recovery in the critical care unit has been remarkable they tell me, and the pace fairly rapid. I went from having them monitoring how many ice chips I could sooth my rough, dry throat with to being put on a high calorie and high protein diet in a few days.
Due to the complexity of the situation and the fact that I still cannot sleep more than a few minutes at a time due to the battery of testing and injections and all other related stress, visitation at the hospital from friends remains just not possible. Though I am progressing, I have a very long way to go before being out of the woods on this one. I will get there, and all the doctors and staff attribute my pulling out of a less than 30% chance to being an athlete and in excellent health. They have been excellent and deserve as much or more credit for the job that they performed upon me.
Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers flowing -- they are working. Jay de Jesus

Probably no CX race for me tomorrow. Ditch the $27 prereg fee for trail riding and less travel? Will the Dutch Eagle succeed with his 9spd setup? Find out tomorrow!

update from jay

Hello everyone . Jay here. It has been quite an experience for klebsiella bacterial meningitis, septic shock and multiple organ failure caused by an abcess in my liver after an impact to the upper-right quadrant of my torso. I was in an extremely dire situation for many days, and I nearly lost my life
I know you have all been reading Val’s updates for the last 10 days, so I wanted to add a few words of my own.
The outpouring of concern and kindness from everyone (from so many places) has been a major factor in helping my family through the horror of seeing their own on life support systems. Val has been tremendous in her care, and has been bedside throughout. After I woke up, 5 days into the situation, my condition was still extremely critical (I just checked in, to see what condition my condition was in. Yeah, yeah, yeeeeeaaaaaaa…. -- from “The Big Lebowski“). I came too with wrist restraints, a breathing tube, naso-gastric tube, urinary catheter (Van Dine, we now have something else in common), numerous life-support IV drips, and a subclavian catheter directly into my heart. Imagine my mom having to give permission for the doctor to do that. It was necessary for emergency injections of medication to immediately stimulate my heart to keep beating. They dumped over 16 pounds of fluids into my body to sustain blood pressure.
Recovery in the critical care unit has been remarkable they tell me, and the pace fairly rapid. I went from having them monitoring how many ice chips I could sooth my rough, dry throat with to being put on a high calorie and high protein diet in a few days.
Due to the complexity of the situation and the fact that I still cannot sleep more than a few minutes at a time due to the battery of testing and injections and all other related stress, visitation at the hospital from friends remains just not possible. Though I am progressing, I have a very long way to go before being out of the woods on this one. I will get there, and all the doctors and staff attribute my pulling out of a less than 30% chance to being an athlete and in excellent health. They have been excellent and deserve as much or more credit for the job that they performed upon me.
Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers flowing -- they are working. Jay de Jesus

Now I'm up in the air about the CX race tomorrow. Ditch $27 on the pre-reg fee and go mountain biking or spend more money to drive to Jersey to race? Decision decisions!

fall back

It's the last Friday in October, must be time to turn the clocks back this weekend. Oh well, could mean an extra hour of sleep, or an extra hour to have a few more. We will see now won't we! Beacon cross on Sunday, if your going, I'll see y'all there.

reborn

Yesterday at about 5:20 in the afternoon my sister gave birth to her first child. A healthy Irish baby girl by the name of Brinn. Thus, I became an uncle for the first time. It was a great day and a welcome addition to the family. As I sat in the hospital with my sis, Seth and my folks I couldn't help but have this weird feeling. A feeling of there is something more here that is going unnoticed. Just then it hit me. When I was in high school, my best friend Matt had pasted away in an automobile accident. Being a sophmore it was a devastating time for the family and friends of Matt. I remember going to numerous birthday parties as a youngster at his families home in Lake Harmony, around the end of October. Wait a minute! Matt's birthday fell on October 23rd, the same day my niece was born. Realizing, I turned to my folks with what was happening here. Later on that night I got a call from Matt's brother to congradulate me on becoming an uncle. We both talked about the forces that were at work on October the 23rd and both felt that someone is keeping an eye on who he loved. Things work in mysterious ways and that's what makes life worth living. Congradulations to Seth and my sister on the start of there new family and thanks to Matt for being a great friend.

good news/crossed up

Good news about Jay. He is coming around and is improving slowly right now. It is definetly a step in a good direction. Continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. On Sunday I rolled my butt down to the first state for some cross racing. I just do it for fun and something to get me out of town for the day. I always have a good time if cycling is involved. Anyway, rolling out of town down the turnpike the foliage was awesome. The leaves are the best right before they drop. Getting my prerace on with a little Social D, coffee, gatorade, and a bitchin' hangover from a few 90 Minute IPA's the night before, I was looking to have me some fun. The event at Granogue was pretty good. The course is fun and the free beer is even better. It is fun rolling up to the start with a bunch of serious racer types with bling bling bikes with myself on a singlespeeder with flat bars. I try to represent. My gear may have been a little tall, 44-18, but I hammered and finished about mid-pack. Continuing on with the festivities Werner and I drank a few brews spectating for the rest of the event. The Elite race was killer. Some dudes were riding this climb that was so brutal. After the race I rolled north for a night of crazy ale guzzling and a late night trip to the local greasy spoon. Fantastic!

jay update/cross it up

Thanks so much to everyone for all the thoughts, prayers and support. Jay held steady through the night last night and his doctors have said they are hopeful it is a good step in the right direction. He is firmly diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and has suffered a life threatening septic shock. They have identified and now eradicated the bacteria from his body but are still trying to find out the exact cause and have ruled out injury/rupture to the intestine after MRI scans. They saw something to indicate the possibility he may have a liver abscess (total freak occurence) and this could be the source, but cannot give him radioactive dyes until he improves a bit more. At that point hopefully they can get a picture and eliminate any cause of reinfection later.

He is still on a ventilator and full life support care, including blood pressure support meds and platelets/plasma. They are going to try to start weaning him off blood pressure meds and hopefully sedative and ventilator over the next few days to a week. Improvements can be slow at this point and he is still very sick and it is touch and go. Please keep praying. He is heavily sedated so as not to move the tubes in his throat and cause bleeding there, or disrupt the many lines into his circulatory system including a subclavian catheter. For this reason his family asks his friends from this point until further notice to please respect the family-only policy at the ICU and not try to visit yet. His immune system is so weakened and compromised it is not worth the risk of bringing in an outside germ, nor is it productive to the nurses and staff who are watching him and monitoring machines surrounding him at all times and are uncomfortable when their view is disrupted by people standing in the line of sight and around the bedside.
The ICU staff has asked us in addition to inform friends not to call the ICU as the nurses were bombarded last night with calls and were disrupted from their routine in fielding those calls. Again, I will keep Nora Hottenstein, Mark and Sue Farrell, Rob Lichtenwalner and Joe Wychock updated with phone calls so you can call them and I will continue to try to send emails as soon as I have news. If you feel you must visit, Jay's family and I are camped out in the waiting room at the ICU, but please, don't go into the ICU.

Thanks again, and please keep sending the positive healing karma at Jay. I know he will be overwhelmed to know how many people care.

Val

Tomorrow I will be racing some cross at the Granogue event. Maybe I will see some folks there. Keep it real for Jay and ride hard!

jay dejesus

This morning when I arrived at work and checked my mail I found this. On Monday October 16 Jay became ill with a high fever and headache and on Tuesday night was hospitalized for an unknown illness. The illness progressed rapidly and according to his doctors is life threatening. He remains in critical condition in the ICU at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and is on life support systems. At this point his diagnosis has not been firmly established. The doctors suspect viral encephalitis, possibly the result of an insect bite and it is a great mystery as to how such a rapid onset and debilitating sickness could attack such a young and healthy man so quickly. His blood is being tested at outside labs and it may take days for results to influence the treatment. Please share this information with any of his friends so that we can all pray for his soonest recovery.

This email was sent to me by Jay's girlfriend. Jay has been one of my favorite riding partners for years, and has brought me through the ranks of mountain biking/bike mechanics since I was a grom. I recall the first time I met Jay was at a mountain bike race that I attended with my friend Chris Van Dine. I raced BMX at the time and was dabbling with mountain biking. Jay and I clicked, do to our love of bikes and a true friendship was forged. A picture of Jay is in the below post from Sunday's Thorpe ride. Let us all keep Jay in our thoughts and prayers for a positive outcome.

the ghouls & fools

I would like to thank everyone that came out for the first Ghouls & Fools Fall Classic. The ride started with a group of 18 and rolled through the PA hillsides almost flawlessly. The only mechanical of the day was a broken titanium frame. With a few headset adjustments, one sweet pit stop for lunch, beers, and a farewell to some of the group members, we ended the 37 mile loop with a lucky number 13. All in all it couldn't have been a better day. The weather was perfect, trail conditions were primo, and most of the group was riding singlespeeds. It was one of the best group rides I have ever been on/put together, and it will reer it's head next year. Actually, I was thinking of a Spring Fling. I'll keep y'all posted.

happy friday the 13th!!!

ghouls & fools fall classic aka coal cracker butt smacker part dos

Looks like were at 17 strong for the ride so far. Thats alot of beer for a stash, but well worth it. The weather is looking like perfect fall conditions. Keep your bars crossed! Looks like a big weekend ahead for me. Going to hit up the first day of the Noxon 2-day ride. I will try and leave before the sheep comes out for the evenings festivities. Just kidding Mr. Shalata. Hope to see more single speeders than gearys on Sunday!

ghouls & fools fall classic

Since the demise of the JT mountain bike weekend I figured there needs to be a new traditional ride. Hence the Ghouls & Fools Fall Classic. The best time to ride is in the fall. One can cruise some super rocky singletrack while checking out the foliage after going over the handlebars. The ride will take place on Sunday, October 15th from the train station parking lot in downtown Jim Thorpe. The ride will group up at 9:30 and rollout at 10! We will ride two ridges, Mt. Pisgah and Broad Mountain. The mileage is undetermind. The ride will be big, burly, rocky, and rooty. As usual, being self-sufficiant in the woods is a must. I plan on having a stash of gooodies about halfway through the ride, so bring something to contribute if you would like and I can pick it up in the parking lot before we shove off. Come and join the party dressed to kill!



You bess be ready if you plan on soaring with the Dutch Eagle!

as i paint my masterpeace

What a weekend! The travels on Friday couldn't have started any better. Hopping on the interstate to sit hour 1.5 hours in traffic. Oh well. Back on track we rolled to Parker Dam State Park for the annual fall Grizvitational. Werner, Dean, and I arrived at about 8 at the cabin to find Karl and Carol warming it up with some food. Griz rolled in shortly after and the festivities started. It got cold as a mofo going down in the thirties with heavy frost and a full moon. Saturday morning came early and breakfast was served with heaps of dutch style meets. More of the group showed up and off we were to the trailhead in the Moshannon Wilderness. We road some remote and epic trail with no spills or frills. Everybody was riding solid! After about 35 we rolled back for dinner, showers and a camp fire. The full moon finally poked out of the days clouds and shewed them away for the Sunday ride. Most of the group rolled home, and seven of us enjoyed about 18 of the sweetest trails PA had to offer. My thanks to all the cool folks that show up to Griz's rides and contribute to the great weekend. HUGE props to the Grizzly One for his trail knowledge and unifying qualities that bring such a fun bunch of people together. You know, if you look between your legs and see Shalata, you might have some problems!

Fall Foliage Ride!

Just a brief. There will be a Thorpe ride on October 15th to view some of the foliage. The ride will be big and burly. The trails will be technical singletrack and lots of it with some dual track, and a little road here and there. The ride will start in the morning. I will post more info after the weekend. Heading to western PA for the Grizvitational. It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Get out and ride!

Into The Night

Last night I packed up my gear and rolled to what I think is the coolest group nightride around. It is hosted by the Bean's Bikeshop crew and the start/finish is at the Victory Brewery. What more can someone ask for! Beers, Bikes, Hmmmm? Anyway, the ride is not for the aerobically challenged. I did say it met at the Victory Brewery! It is a rippin' pace, and the trails alot pushing the limilts of speed on twisty singletrack. I dig the ride because it is totally different terrain than what I normally ride. I got there a little early so I was able to carboload like a true warrior on a small one at the bar. Mark also had the same idea. I met the crew, mostly Beaners, but some new folks showed up. Good luck to them. We rolled out and got moving quickly. Zippin' through the woods with a light on your helmet is awesome. A few turns and a stop for a safety check someone noticed that the new guy got dropped. I guess he is a possible Beaner for next year. After maxing the heartrate in both directions, drinking all my water it was off to the brewery for some eats and treats. Killer ales from PA is on the menu. Usually a nice brown/darker ale is good for me in the fall. After a few ales, watching some guys climb a flag pole, and a few 70 yard dashes, I was back on the good road. Thanks to the Bean's crew for showing me their trails. They are a blast, the crew and the trails. Bob for hooking me up with Craig's light, and Craig for lending me a light for the night. Until next time, rubber side down, smile side up!

Inspiration

This cat taught me how to cross it up!

The Sun Is Shining!

Three years ago I embarked on a new job field. It was totally different from anything I have ever done before and I was wondering if I could handle the fact that I was going to be working with adjudicated youth. I was to be working as an Adventure Counselor/Trip Leader of sorts. Taking the youth into unchartered territories, at least to them, to give them an outdoor experience that they would not recieve otherwise. Over the course of the last few years, I have led trips to most of the national parks, national forests, state forests, and any place worth camping/backpacking on the east coast. I have taken groups backpacking to the Smokies, Shenandoah, Assategue, the Adirondaks, the Catskills, the White Mountains, rock climbing in the Gunks several times, mountain biking all over PA, and have backpacked many different sections of the AT. I have many stories of crazy situations that occured while out in the wilderness. Today I hung up my gear, at least for the job and bid good luck to my partner in crime for the last two years. Now I am starting a new chapter of the book of Mother Nature's Son. A career path as an educator of the sciences. All my hands on experience will now guide me into the classroom to stimulate the minds of young men and women. I am very excited. Over the past couple years I have worked with some of the greatest people. True individuals. Together we have shared some of the deepest conversations in the remotest of places, and have forged solid bonds that will never be broken.
For this I thank you all.

fall weekends on the way

If ya'll are into some heavy riffs and redneck watering holes then check out The Kiss Of Death at the Wild Creek Tavern in Beltzville, PA this Friday night. I guess the show starts around 8 and there is a $5 cover. Opening will be The Sinking Earth. It is sure to be loud and proud. Otherwise, there will be some sort of mountain cycling going on in Jim Thorpe on Sunday with the Dutch Eagle and I. You know who to contact. Rubber side down, smile side up!

how does this thing work?

I am new to this blog stuff, but it will get better in the future. This will be a place for tickling your mind, fancy, and anything else that needs to be. My interests are singlespeed mountain biking, cycling, music, beer drinking, and anything else that I feel is necessary to my existance. Stay tuned...