Rain, Rain, Rain and more rain. The Pacific Northwest has returned in full swing to....well....the Pacific Northwest. We're currently getting the full on Pineapple express-52 degrees and raining sideways. Snow level is at 8,000 feet so we're on flood watch too. Fun times for sure.

Yesterday though the venerable Wendy Simms came down to pick up here skookum new Kona team rides. The Hei Hei Supreme, Kula Supreme and King Zing. Man was she a happy camper with all the new goods and the new team kits to match. We had planned on going for a ride but just as today it was pissing rain sideways. I was looking to maybe bag out and keep hammering away on the avalanche of emails that have assailed me. But the BC girl, DUBS, I like to call her would have none of it.

So we rallied to the launching pad (my house) grabbed a quick bite to eat and waited for her friend Nicola to show up. We rolled out to incessant rain and promptly had a great time. Both those gals are so cool and Wendy I tell ya is one of the best technical bike riders around. It was a treat to take her on the greasy, muddy singletrack and have her stuck on my rear wheel for the most part. Stoked she's riding for Kona full time this year I am for sure.

I was trying to get my butt out to ride today but just couldn't force it to happen. Too many super wet rides in a row and the motivation left me. But tomorrow I'll head out rain or shine or both....then I'm going to head up and finish scouting the new trail connector we'll be building on the Kona trail day April 22nd. It's going to be a great trail, Kona will be kicking down some cool swag and anyone that wants to come help should. More on that late.

Peace Out.....

MP

PS: this photo of mine is from Smith Rock outside Redmond, OR. Really cools spot if you ever get the chance. It was winter when I was there and hardly anyone was around. Rumor has it though it is rock climbing Mecca.

OK-I OWE BARRY THE WICKNASTY SOME LOVE.

I diss'd him in my last post in my own parole officer, Den Mother type way with nothing but love intended. I mean after all I did say he was going to uncork one at worlds. I still think he will.

But he did send me some mail letting me know he pulled out of the race in Hoogeeerrrheeideeee due to the fact that he had only a summer skinsuit to race in. Seems one of the many star alliance airlines thought it would be funny to lose his bags for him. Thus he didn't get his kits and other stuff until three days after the event. I should have known better. Wicknasty wouldn't puss out without good reason and he let me know straight up.



So here we just hours away for the big big show, really big show. Sounds like the course is becoming more and more Tonkinator like with each hour. Heavy nasty mud. Nice. Maybe it will bode well for the Tree Farm and Wicks too. They'll revert back to the old days of Pacific Northwest brotherhood when they were just wee little grasshopper students of Master Tonkin.

Use the force kids. Dig deep and suffer, suffer, suffer. And when you have suffered all you can it's time to turn down the suck nob for the big time finish.

I know the Kona boys are going to roll and roll tough.

Peace Out,

Marko

"Why not?" I said to myself. Might as well make another post. Talked with the Tree Farm from Belgium today. We're trying out the new Skype internet phone stuff and I can tell ya the phone quality pretty much sucks. It's ok Skype to a regular phone but computer to computer it just aint cutting it unless you're into a huge feedback echo. It's like being at the back of a huge arena concert with the sound echoing in and out

So the Bone did pretty well over there in rainy nasty Belgium. I was stoked to see him pull off staying in the race let alone hit the top 10. He lolly gags along when it's like that over but but boots in over with the Euros? What's up with that. Anyway I was really stoked to see Tonkin in the top 25. I mean that's huge for a guy that puts in 60 hours in a bike shop for the big part of the year. (Shameless plug her for Sellwood Cycle Repair in Portland, OR. That's Tonkin's shop and if you're in the hood you should go see him). The Caveman out there givin 'er with all the high paid big dogs and young guys is pretty hot. Barry pulled out after three laps. I hope he's feeling ok otherwise I might wonder if Santa Cruz is making him a bit soft. But I know Barry and he's going to uncork one at Worlds.

We're getting ready to hit the Kona 24hrs In the Old Pueblo in Tucson. It should be a good time. We're headed down with the full demo rig, a media team and a rag tag half ass Kona team. It should be a good time. Todd from Epic Rides has been great to work with and it's going to be great to check it all out in the cold desert and be a part of it all.

Peace Out,

Marko

Marko in summer time on the Wonderland.
That's What I'm thinking of!

Yeah, it's been a long time. But hey we all get busy and there is tons to catch up on so here we go. Fitting it's about time for me to fire this here ole blog again since it was this time last year it started with the Old Goat Ride my annual B'day ride post. The ride is just around the corner coming up here January 27th, 2007. I'm looking forward to a good long muddy ride with some buds.

There's tons to share too on the whole Kona team front. What a crazy year. 7 National Champions, World Cup Overall Winner, Triple Crown-USA National Championship and a District Ride Winner to boot. It's nuts trying to keep up with all the good things our team has been doing.

Right now we got guys Barry, Ryan and Erik T. over in Belgium getting ready to battle at worlds. Matson is wrenching for the US team. Pretty cool, I bet he's working his ass off as I type. Man I wish I was going but I'll have to watch afar this year. It's been really nice to get some family time in and the travel season is coming up here shortly.

We've had tons of snow in B'ham this year. Nothing compare to places that really get snow but for us it's been a lot and when you aren't really set up for it gets old sooner than later. The roads have been crazy and really slowed the riding some. I get pretty stir crazy with it after a while. So do the kids and wife so now all the snow is gone and it's all good.

So, I had a great cross ride today. The perfect mix of pavement and Greenways. I tell ya Bellingham has it good. There are miles and miles of trail that link up through the city and the cyclocross bike is the perfect machine for it. It was sunny and tons of folks were out. They were all smiling. It was cool too see all the people out and about, getting some exercise, taking in the view or playing at the park. It was a good day.

That's it for now.

Peace Out,

Marko

Sea Otter, Plane Flights the World Champ and more. Whoa what a bunch of craziness in Monterey, in between and since! It's been a while since the last update but my time flies.

Sea Otter once again was the typical watch the West and hope the clouds don't let loose. Well they already had been and that made for a complete mudfest. Yeah you've heard the racers whine about it but let me tell ya it aint no picnic for the wrench and the rest of the team.

Right down to Trebon's mud caked baggy shorts from the STX, sitting in the middle of the trailer floor...(By the way Bone they're hanging in your locker stewing nicely and waiting for you in Fontana.)

For the most part events like this with so many people, adverse weather and the general free for all that ensues all you hope for organized chaos at best. We're pretty good at that so it was biz as usual at the Kona Compound. The keg taps worked great all week-end so that was a real plus. Thanks Kona Brewing Company!

Seeing the whole team in one spot is really cool too. It's not often all the Kona teams hang in the same place and it was killer to see them all again. The Velo-Bella Kona gals kept it going all week-end and they sure brought some serious fun to the equation. I got to play driver for Gibby during the photo shoot for the road team and I tell ya those gals are a hoot & cool!

Maybe I'll post some more on this later. Well maybe.

The flight back was hell. ONCE AGAIN ALASKA AIR WAS LATE! Yeah like three hours late, then could only book me on stand by and I ended up waiting forever in San Jose Airport. At least E Double D Y was stuck too and I had someone to chill with. But then I got screwed on Standby in Seatac and had to rent a car in Seattle and drive back. Lame. Like the $6 voucher to the lame SJ airport food court really made me feel more like a valued customer. Whatever.

So that's what I know for now.

Peace Out,

MP

Well it's true the Fat Man Sulli himself finally made it back up here to Bellingham to ride. It was great to see him back in the hood and on two wheels, at least most the time.

Sulli cruised into town and we had an truly old school posse with Fryar, EVL, Danny Boy, BO, Mellick & Jeff rolling out after many espresso shots from Big Red. Sulli convinced me to buy Big Red the Straight 6 of espresso machines way back when he was leaving town. It's about the only good advice I ever got from him.

It was great to see the Sulli Man still riding strong and talking smack with that fine flair. But along the way he could only lament the lack of trails in Nor Cal where he lives now. They are clawing for a SINGLE trail to be open to bikes in 36,000 acres of public land. The outcome is still dicey at best.

And he was green with envy of all the sweet singletrack we have in this fine place we call home. Hail to the WHIMPs he bellowed with a fair chunk of pride as we descended the Candy oh so sweet.

Crazy to think I went on my first ride with Sulli almost 20 years a go now in 1988. I never could really recall who was actually on that ride because of the suffering that was involved. I know for sure it was Sulli, Joe Murray, Chef Woerne and I think Alex Stieda was there too. Oh man that ride hurt.

But no matter how you slice it riding with the guy that really helped start it all in these here parts is always cool and a reminder we got it good.

Peace,

MP

Wow, it's been a really long time since I posted on the blog. Lots of really cool stuff has happened in the meantime and not in the least heading to Cross Worlds in Zeddam NED to see the Kona team turn some crank. While the whole Kona crew didn't have a super good day over there Ann Knapp showed once again she is the cross Queen of N. America beating Lyne Bessette and everyone else from our side of the pond.

Wicknasty had a great ride going but flatted then ran into a post and busted a shifter cable. My man Tonkin had one of the three worst rides of his career. But he gave 'er till the end and the crowd loved him for it. Dubs Simms just couldn't find the legs all day but she will seek redemption this next year on the mtb bike for Velo Bella-Kona then Kona Factory for CX. Me well I shot some great photos and drank a bunch of beer with nutso Belgiand and Dutch folks who were outshined by the Portland Cross Crusade Crowd.


After Muffin Man's and other trip in Amsterdam I was a bit worried they weren't going to live up to the hype but they rallied the beer tents for sure. I figure they're redeemed in my book. I'll say this now just so they have to come through. They year end Gran Prix CX party in Portland after next years season will go down in history.

I gots other updates coming soon. The old man Sulli was in town my Man and my good bro Rocky the Wildabeast is bailing town. But not before we got in a great super old school ride on some Hush Hush singletrack before he left.

PEACE,

MP

PS: My pick for gutty ride of the week-end goes to Rooooody.