finally fixed

No, my computer is still not working but a few months ago with the help the help of a student friend here in Tokyo I got my bike working just about the way I wanted. I had originally wanted to build a fixed gear before I left Austin but with my looming departure and two bikes that at the time I didn't have a home for, I put the idea on hold. Fast forward two and a half years later and there you have it. Both bikes, the Haro 24 BMX and the old hand-me-down 20 year old Peugeot, are outside my door here in Tokyo. The latter is now a fixed gear conversion.

I've been riding it around here in Tokyo for a while now but this past Sunday was definitely a highlight. There had been a couple of Alleycat (bike messenger oriented city races, half scavenger hunt, half race) but I usually had to work. Well, me and the group of people I met there, three foreigners and two Japanese, didn't even finish half the race but had a great time meeting people and riding nonetheless. The even was called Mixpressions and consisted of a skidding, trackstand and backwards circle competitions in addition to the race itself. I'm still learning to trackstand, can't go backwards except by accident and can't really skid at all but it was a blast to watch. Furthermore the even ended in a Barbecue and more than anything gave me the opportunity to meet some people in the bike community here.

It's holiday season (for other teachers) which means I'm picking up extra shifts for a few weeks and right not need to split to get to work. I've been bad about pictures as of late but I've been busy with a bike business idea and beginning the NamaRocku podcast but I will get some new pictures up very soon. In the mean time one of the hosts of the event, Booooooo , posted up much nicer pictures that I'll have here which are worth a look.

Lastly, about the podcast, it's almost ready. I have to finish the translation, audio levels, subtitling, credits,get permission for the credits song, etc. but I hope to have it submitted to iTunes in the next week or so. Also, there should be a new website coming to host it so it downloads faster. In the mean time there is a preview up here and any feedback is much appreciated.