what a week

so yeah - things have flipped from the first week of january, it was nice and quiet and calm and slow. kind of deliberate on my part, esp knowing what the last week was going to be like.

Prints, so many prints, only have to sell a handful at gallery list price to cover them (30% margin - so kind of like bikes i guess - how do you price art and then factor the gallery cut - makes etsy and other online 'gallery' fees seem low). Not bitching about it, it is what it is. I'm very much grateful for the opportunity to share the work.

The install has gone well - mostly documented on Instagram, gallery reception is tonight at 5pm. Who knows who is going to show up, i have no idea, been passing out post cards, inviting people. Looking forward to talking with Doug and Damon and Elena even if no one else shows up. The prints aren't installed absolutely to perfection, i think these flat tacks are too slippery, not enough friction to keep the paper from sagging, but ignoring the edges, I really like the way the prints look so i'm trying to ignore the rest, knowing that i'm probably as critical as possible. I'm also pretty okay with not everyone getting it or liking it, that's fine. I think they're a great collection and with the microscopes there to look through, really help document the whole process of scale, and that was the goal of this proposal.

I've been riding the normal bikes lately. first i got everything sorted, the Surly single speed, the big orange tank, has a new crank with 110 BCD rings instead of the unicorn 94 -5 arm ones. Rode that yesterday, I think it is good for a Hundo, me good for getting that in on that bike? maybe not, but never know. The black blue is alive as well, I don't think i've ever had as many drop bar bikes ready to go with their own wheels, 8 of them? Sure there's the Crockett single speed with CX tires and a low gear, there is the Crossrip+ and then the white blue that is set up for trainer riding (did that on Sunday watching the Expanse) and the orange surly, and finally the black blue, but the Q-pro is ready to ride and the paramount is too. Heck even the Adroit has pedals and saddle...  everything has pedals and saddles. the Croll is the only one lingering as a frame, but it is just bars and stem and headset and brakes at this point. Seatpost and cranks and wheels have moved on to other bikes.

But brakes, holy shit do the canti's suck on the black blue. omg so much lever force and the rear ones need to be toed desperately. Then there is the BB7 on the Surly, the pads are pretty worn and the springs have busted but it stops better than the Black Blue (norcross EX that is still too small). And well the Crockett disc brakes are down to the backing as well, need brakes all around. Maybe going with the metallic ones for longer wear.

The big wolvhammer boots are amazing and warm. the heel strike on the chainstay is kind of annoying but not the worst. They are a bit taller and I'll need to adjust the seat height for any ride longer than a commute but no matter what the temp or the ride distance, wearing those means having warm feet.

Gonna hop back on the e-bike for today's commute, I have been getting spoiled by the lights on it for the ride home, but it has def been spoiling my legs, aka making me soft. Has belt good to ride the other bikes this week.

Time for more coffee and a shower and to figure out clothes for the opening and lunch and everything. Kind of hoped that I could invite a few friends out to restaurant week for lunch today but I've had to schedule a bunch of stuff all day and have to make a run to the printer this afternoon and will need to do the normal eat as I'm working thing.

The Bike maintenance class I'm teaching on Sunday is full, just in time for the big nor'easter to blast through and then get really fucking cold on monday. And then I start teaching on the 28th. Getting the Hundo in is going to be tough, and I'm honestly stressing a bit about it but not too much, although I should just sign up for the Michigan race to make sure I can't bail on it. Maybe I'll sell a few prints over the next week and will feel more comfortable spending that money.

Had a wicked disruptive dream that woke me up just before my alarm, writing this helped me forget it for a bit but a flashback to the part that was disturbing and just the people that were in it kind of have me a bit off balance mentally.

moving forward, never stopping, feeling old lately, realizing i am old, and that's an odd thing, it happens and i look around and others seem to be aging faster or more visibly so i usually don't feel old but still...  it is happening i guess... beats the alternative...

more coffee, then prep then crazy then stand around and chill. If you're local (are there any that read this that are?) swing by the gallery tonight. The Chazan Gallery at the Wheeler School. 5-7pm. A proper search engine will get you directions.

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