Kilimanjaro

It's been a long time since my last post... but my interests haven't changed and I'm still in love with adventure and computers.  I've moved around 5 times, switched jobs 3 times and been in a number of relationships... but it's funny how some things tend to never change and hiking, biking, skiing and programming are are still some of my favorite things.

Kilimanjaro was my latest adventure.  And it was wonderful.  It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be, but the altitude and hiking with porters were both very new experiences.  If anything the best part was the pictures I got at the top after the sunrise. 

But the most important part of this adventure is that it sparked my interest in getting back to climbing more.  After many years doing hikes in Tucson, Colorado and other places I realize I need to take it up a notch, not because I need the challenge, but rather I love the experience of it all so much.

Adrenaline Pumping Minnesota Style Sport

Photo By: Tomi.T

I've been living in the Midwest for about 5 years and there are few things worse then a Minnesota winter. The lack of fresh air and adrenaline staying inside during winter has caused me to look for new “Midwest” type sports. I’m not talking about hockey or cross country skiing, albeit fun don’t offer the same risk taking, pee-my-pants feeling that snowboarding and skydiving do. Since it’s too cold to go skydiving in the winter and mountains don’t exist in the Midwest I had to find something new. So after a little research I discovered winter Snowkiting. The premise is that you have a large parachute like “kite” and a board depending on the surface you’re riding on. If you haven’t heard of Kite-boarding before it’s most commonly found on windy beaches in Texas. In the Midwest you can use your snowboard and take it out on any of the thousands of lakes and fields that fill the entire northern region. Snowkiting is the perfect sport for the Midwest because the best riding is done on flat surfaces and in windy conditions. The sport has everything an extreme sport needs including lots of airtime to complete tricks and is pretty easy to pick up. The best part about learning this awesome sport is that it's so similar to all the other kite sports that you won't lose that skill in the off season. Instructors are popping up all over the Midwest and I’ve been slowly seeing more and more people on my lake giving it a try. It’s a sweet mix between wakeboarding and snowboarding and I suggest giving it a try especially if you live in the Midwest.

Road Bike Myths

Photo By: Darkmoon Evil

To get things started here at Mountain Static, I want to stir the cauldron with a few simple myths when buying a road bike.

Myth #1: I need a new bike. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, unless you've been biking competitively for years and need the best of what technology has to offer theres no need to buy a new bike. Head over to your local ebay and browse through the used bike section. Not only are they half as expensive, but contain most of the technology that makes newer bikes so expensive.

Myth #2: I need an extremely light weight bike. The difference in the weight of a $3000 carbon bike and a $1000 aluminum bike is minimal and unless you're competing at a high level there no need to buy a really light bike. Carbon fiber is awesome, but not worth the extra cash you could put into all the other cool bike stuff (i.e. new saddle, bike shirt and shorts). I recommend staying away from Carbon frames and sticking with aluminum or steel. Steel and aluminum are cheaper (a lot) and are much more common when searching for used bikes.

Myth #3: I can't afford a bike. This is the grandest myth of all. You can afford a bike, you just need to set a budget and follow it. Put some money into an older bike, steel or aluminum frame with all the necessities. It doesn't need to have carbon forks or Shimano anything, just a simple bike that looks like its made for the road. On average you should be able to find a bike like this for about $100 - $200 depending on how many specialty parts are on the bike. Invest in the bike, get clip-ins and shoes (~$150 new), a bike jersey, and you'll look like a pro in no time. Not only will these components help your style meter, but they'll also make riding much easier. Slowly you can take off older parts and replace them with news ones as your budget sees fit. You'll learn all about road biking parts, how to replace them yourself and maybe write your own blog about the experience. In the end a bike that could cost you $1500 brand new could be built for about $600, I did it, so can you.