Gal Bladder

I created this blog for documenting my frame building experiences for others to share. Well I have been real sick this winter with some unexplainable abdominal pain, so I have not been doing anything real exciting with the frame building. My wife and I actually diagnosed my condition with the use of "Dr. Google". We told the doctors what we thought was the problem and they dismissed it and ordered another test, time and time again. Finally the only test left to take was a Heida-scan, where they inject you with some type of radioactive isotope and watch as your liver and gal bladder process it. Well my test came back with a gal bladder squeeze of 14% (that is bad you have too have it out if it is below 35%). Chalk one up for "Dr. Google" and my wife. Needless to say I have had it removed and I am finally feeling better. The only problem with having your gal bladder removed is you trade one problem for another. The gal bladder aids in digestion and it takes some time for your body to adapt, but it eventually does. I am real glad this is behind me and I have my health back and it could not have come at a better time, the phone has been ringing and the torch has been burning.

Ulcers

Not much happening around here. Just plugging along building bikes and still working on my carbon fiber. I was hoping to have a prototype by now but things just keep coming up. I got busy doing some contract work for another bike company so that has taken away a little time I have wanted to spend on building my own bikes. I have also not had much luck with my health for the past couple of months. I have had some unexplained abdominal pain that we have been getting test after test on. The doctors just have not been able to come up with anything, and I am sick of being scanned and poked with needles. So I have been taking some over the counter medication for ulcers and I think it is working. I have been feeling better and that is good because I can not stand laying around, especially when there is a lot to do.

Spring is around the corner and I am counting the day's. It takes a long time for things to finally warm up around here so as soon as I have a full custom carbon prototype bike done, I will be heading south for some warm weather and some serious miles. I hope it happens soon, I am just waiting on a few tools, material and my curing oven. All the molds are done and they turned out really good. I will post some pictures soon.

COW BELLS, PIT BOOTS

Winter came early. One day it was in the low 90's, and the next day snowing and mid 40's. That is Idaho. We have a saying around here "if you don't like the weather wait 24 hours". This rather rapid temperature change caused quite the scramble amongst the cross racer's - myself included. I had to get a bike done and out the door so the rider could get some time on it before the series started. It turned out great. Availability on fork's and a delay in the paint job really slowed things down, but we remained patient and ended up with a snazzy bike. Truly custom with a sweet combination of parts. I am real happy to see the enthusiasm for cross bikes. They are a lot of fun to build and even more fun to ride.

Next, on the list is to finish up our carbon frame. It will be a winter long project getting it just right. I have changed a couple of things on how we are going to build them so as a result I am staying focused on the development of our carbon - taking my time and testing the process. There is a simpler way of building them, but that would just not be my style. I think I enjoy torturing myself when it comes to developing products.

I still have a full platter building bikes. A couple of last minute cross bikes, and customers looking to have the bikes by early spring. We will also be helping with some prototyping and development of a bike line. More on that later. Right now I have to go dig out the cowbell's and find some pit boots for my kid's. It's RACING time!