EPIC.

30 July 2008

In this world of coarse philistines, hacks and would-be gun-slingers, there are few better and more skilled in the finesse and craft of the knife-fighter than our friend, RAINIER.

In the above diagram, in fig. 01 we see the humble, yet dexterous folding pocket knife. Fig. 02 illustrates the AS50 fifty caliber sniper/antimaterial rifle.

An adage told to me by my grandfather comes to mind. It says: “Never bring a knife to a gunfight.”

Tomorrow, Rainier and I will ride from Sacramento, California to Donner Lake, in the Sierra Nevada mountains by way of a North-Easterly approach from Lake Tahoe. All told, there will be a gain of some 8,500 feet/2,590 metres in altitude, the larger majority of which will mandate many, many feet of vertical climbing. The route is close to 200 miles/321 kilometres in length. Consequently, the (more) obvious choice of weapon with which to wage battle is the multi-geared, hand-brake equipped road bike.

Rainier has opted to do this ride on his track bike.

For those unaware (or too dumbstruck to recall), track bikes are designed to be ridden on the flat, smooth surface of the velodrome. They are not intended to make right-hand turns. A track bike lacks mechanical brakes and has one (1) gear only; and no provisions for carrying water-bottles.

If it were anyone else on the planet, I’d balk at his assertion to arm himself thusly. However, I can promise that if you check back in the next day or so, I’ll be posting a photo or two of a very tired, but very stoked Mr. Schaefer standing atop the high-mountain passes!

For your EDIFICATION.

_garrett chow