24.12.15

Prairie Oyster

An oyster ready for shucking on the prairies.

18.12.15

HL88 Business News

HL88 Manufactory is constantly striving for excellence.  This past year was no different.  HL88 began to derisk the process by cleaning up normalizations with its motivated buy side.  The inorganic growth was governed by  push / pull and was situation specific.  Oh and HL88 has a new electronic dataroom!

A feckless HL88 staff member using the electronic dataroom. 

7.12.15

Winter in NYC

The Flatiron building in December 1916

3.12.15

Say Hello

Say hello to my little friend, the FAT Train.  Ride them FAT bikes. 


20.11.15

the Manufactory -- origins

Many readers often wonder where the venerable industrial and cultural giant, HL88 Manufactory, originated. While most of the facts remained sealed for security reasons, HL88 publicists have released a rare glimpse into the 1961 mobile hyperbaric chamber project. Conventional wisdom of the day dictated that athletes live in these suits for 31 days prior to any strenuous activity.  This increased their bariatric interface threshold levels. HL88 scientists have since proven that maximum interface thresholds can be achieved after 60 days of continuous use. Go figure. 
 

7.11.15

Tunnel of Terror Trauma Terminated

Local cyclists celebrate the destruction of the Tunnel of Terror along Petroleum Way.  The dark oversized culvert was filled with pools of stagnant water, the home of dengue fever. The many unseen potholes and gaping fissures were all capable of bending rims. Those who entered feared the acid splash from the fetid stench of the unknowable.  Entering the Tunnel of Terror always began with a quick prayer that no on-coming oil hauling 18 wheeler would be met before a bone shaking exit could be effected. The Tunnel of Terror was an unsatisfying warm-up for the "the most frightening 90 seconds of cycling" when the peleton mixed with a multitude of 18 wheelers to cross Highway 16.
Foto proof that giant snippers can slice the galvanized culvert material like scissors cutting a thin cellulose product. 
Travel is discouraged in this area for the next 18 months while a suitable replacement structure is located and installed. 
 In the meantime enjoy your ride.


22.10.15

Artisinal Vegan Paleolithic bread

heavy on the artisinal
Fresh baked monthly

18.10.15

Oct 18 Road Ride

Superb weather & sensational sensations 

16.10.15

Stunting in DC

Ballsy riding down the steps of the Capital building in Washington DC - 1895  
Even though there is no plywood involved,  HL88 Manufactory approves

12.10.15

Dachshund eye view

Q:  How will the wolf survive? 
A:  By showing some intensity and giving 110%. 

9.10.15

Domo Arigato Day

Canadian Domo Arigato Day is upon us.  Let us give thanks for our families, our friends and our bicycles (not necessarily in that order).

6.10.15

The Wait is OVER

There was a time to ride and so the choice was gravel (which turned out to be hard packed including some loose stones) and some paved sections.  WARNING: this clip contains three minutes and thirty four seconds of herky jerky footage and could cause retinal detachment in some viewers.


4.10.15

And Gravel was Ground

Aboard the Moots PsychloX grinding about 20 kms of gravel west of the Cosmodrome. The bike seems sluggish on the pavement but when it tastes gravel it comes alive. This makes sense. The geometry is longer with a lower BB. Slap on some 32mm Conti slicks and paved performance is going to suffer. The steed is comfortable in the loose rock and soaks up the washboard admirably. Makes me wanna rip up some more gravel real soon. 

27.9.15

Raking light

Just another day drawing with light.

26.9.15

Recipe for Recovery

Mmm good and good for you too.

18.9.15

14.9.15

Phat Fat Season Approacheth

All over the place cyclists prepare their fat bikes with feather dusters, endless air pumping, and phat mood altering drugs.  To celebrate the return of those bicycles with the BIG rubbah, let us reflect upon these wonderful phat/fat inventions.

Admiral Byrd's snow cruiser (1939):

Pre-radar big horns to assist listening (1921):

Super duty sub-mariner suit weighing 250 kgs. (1911) :

Not really fat but a phat flying car (1947):


30.8.15

Undaunted by Gravel

Freshly plowed gravel road was no match for the Ridley Ripper. 

28.8.15

Banff Dossard

Strategically pinned to Moots wind vest 

24.8.15

Enemy alert

The evil badger is the nemesis of any brave wiener dog. 

Taxidermed hawk

Goshawk with fake glass eye. 

22.8.15

HL88 team car

bow tie bob and Lampo Bianco at the conclusion of the Banffondo. 

The Revolution Begins

Taking PLYWOOD to the next level. 

Ready to Race

race start temp minus 2. 

21.8.15

Pre-Fondo the night before

The Titanium Room

It is important that the titanium steeds have their own space. 

20.8.15

HL88 in the Mtns

Ready for the onslaught. 

19.8.15

Fondo Face

Time to put on your Fondo face. The temperature at start time in Banff is forecast to be minus 2. Maybe some berry protection would be good too. 

5.8.15

5 Reasons You're Not Improving

1.  You don't ride enough.
      Solution:  RIDE MORE
2.  You are too hung up on your weight
      Solution:  GET OVER YOURSELF
3.   Your technique sucks
       Solution:  THERE ISN'T ONE but see #4.
4.   You get blown out the back on your group ride.
       Solution:  BUY A NEW BIKE
5.   You can't maintain your training schedule.
       Solution:  BUY A NEW BIKE, QUIT YOUR JOB AND RIDE

28.7.15

Toy car in toy car

Roads like these

A section of road only a cyclist could love in Chickapoo country.  

25.7.15

Wing suits welcome

Use caution though

Prime Number Footing

Happy to report that 43, a prime number, exists in the nature. 

Oldman border lands

The Blood Reserve is in the other side of the river. 

Vital Matchng

It is important to match the electrical tape to the stem cap and hubs when one forgets the Garmin holder thingy. 

22.7.15

Positive reinforcement

praying team car can find me. 

21.7.15

Training begins

Johan uses this to motivate the climbing repeats. 

19.7.15

Downward facing shot

Caught during brief natural break on today's metric century. 

13.7.15

Torn Beauty - a metaphor for cycling

The detritus art of  removed posters is an eerie reminder of the shredded peleton after a HEAVY DROP.

6.7.15

Waving Grain under Stormatious Cloud

It was a dark and windy training 84 kms ride punctuated by two punctures - one caused by a packing box staple and the other by operator install error.