Well of course you do. It's with great pride that I have the opportunity to showcase first here, before anywhere else in the world, the 2009 Swobo Sanchez.

From a brief communiqué that Sky sent;

"Changes are front and rear brakes/levers, machined rims, white flip-flop hubs, water bottle mounts on the downtube and Azure Blue second color.

It comes with a single-speed freewheel now, and not a fixed cog."

This is just the tip of the iceberg, as Sky has been spending many sleepless nights designing a slew of the good stuff that will be making it's way to our top secret fortress in the coming weeks.
Aside from this, I got a sneak peek at a bunch of new soft goods as well, so prepare to prepare yourself for the barrage that is going to be Swobo 2009.

Due to a previous snafu in manufacturing, this may even be the year that we go into production on our new line of Swobo shoes.

In other news, recently while trolling the internet, I came across a video clip that reminded me of some photos that Bobo The Clown sent to me from a mountain biking trip he had taken to Europe a couple of years ago;

"This is the Val d'Uina Pass is in Switzerland and takes you into Italy.

The route was constructed during WW 1 by smugglers. Insane drop (1000' in some places) into the gorge that is not for the timid.

-Bobo"

Now for the clip. I defy you to watch this and not shift uncomfortably in your chair;

Lets see you pull that route off, Hans Ray...

In industry news, in a recent email from our friend DPow! he got us up to speed on what he and his band of ner-do-wells have been up to lately. Get your clicking fingers ready and feast your eyes on their new gig- Portland Design Works.
We of course wish them the best of luck, and unfaltering confedence in their imminent success.

Plus, if you're in the neighborhood, swing by and say hello. They are rumored to be ping pong ninjas and would probably rather humiliate you in a game then do work, so give them a reason to take a break.

And now, for those of you who might find yourselves in the bottom of the humdrums, I offer a spark of motivation;

I think you'll be finding it a bit easier to get out of bed after that spiritual kick start.

But maybe your heart is hardened and you need a bit more to light that fire.
Well then for you my friends, I present you with this one;

For the good people in the Republic of Boulder where cyclocross is taken seriously, I made a Parkin special;

I even made one for our ace homie, 685;

It should be noted that in the original I used a bad word, but this is a family friendly web log, and I don't use bad words here.

Much.

Anyway, in regards to this image that he sent to me, he writes;

"410 17th street. Denver, Colorado, 1992.

I was arrested 20 minutes later.

it used to be the hang out for couriers when there was a coffee cart located there.
i'd drink more money in espresso shots than i was making daily as a messenger.

don't know if you've seen the pics of me getting 'cuffed' there or not, will try and find them.

the whole time i was singing the lyrics to the DRI song, 'Busted'

Police drive by, I hold my breath
I've got 10 warrants for my arrest
They stop at the light and whip it around
Ten minutes later I'm headed downtown
Free Ride
Busted... stepped out of line
Busted... no place to hide
Busted... couldn't pay my fines
It makes no sense to live this way
But I'm gonna do it anyway
Busted... for being me
Busted... for being free
Busted... can't pay my bail
Busted... I'll die in jail
It makes no sense to live this way
But I'm gonna do it anyway"

I've used the phrase "when they made him, they broke the mold" many times before, but in 685's case, it is an undeniable truth.

Well, if these images of unparalleled inspiration don't do the trick for you, then I'm afraid your soul is calloused beyond help.
Or you could simply make your own.

And for that matter, I think I smell a contest. The first one that makes a motivational poster that inspires me.. One that makes me laugh and cry, and feel like running across the warehouse to first engage in The Skipper's warm embrace, and then punch him in the stomach wins a one of a kind 'stuff-off-of-Stevil's-desk-gift pack'.
Now there is more there than stale doughnuts and empty beer cans on my desk. Why, I have a whole plethora of cool magazines, t-shirts, stickers, brand new CDs and an entire range of what-nots there to choose from. Of course you might not end up receiving those things, but then again, you probably will.
As always, the contest ends when either I'm damn good and ready, or a winner is picked.
You know- which ever happens first.

Until then, here is a Fox News WTF heard around the world. Did you hear a minute and 55 seconds like I heard a minute and 55 seconds?

That's it for me. If you're in the Pacific Northwest, look to the skys and you just might catch a glimpse of my shining, happy face right before you get hit by a water balloon.

But not before I get hit with this t-shirt;

Be good without me.