obie miller

Achilles Tendon Rupture - surgery repair with Xenograft

2011-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

If you had surgery to repair your Achilles Tendon Rupture and want a fast rehab, click here to see the AAOS only 2 highest agreements to be in support of early (≤ 2 weeks) post-operative protected weight bearing and the use of a protective device that allows mobilization by 2- 4 weeks post operatively.

On December 4, 2011 I finished a 90 minute bike ride and then met up with some friends to play fag football at the local park. We tossed the pigskin for another 90 minutes and I was feeling great but my calves and sprinting muscles were a little surprised to be doing all those short burst efforts (I haven't played a field sport in years). With a normal acceleration to provide pass coverage on Ronimal Shevock, I heard a loud pop and instantly collapsed. I thought somebody had stepped on my leg or kicked me, but really my Achilles tendon had completely ruptured. Spontaneous combustion, no warning, no impact, no contact, etc. A doctor friend came to the field to check me out and confirmed the tendon had snapped. It did not roll up my calf and create a large ball; it didn't really hurt that bad either. I was not able to walk, nor did I try to...

That night I confirmed the diagnosis with my own Simmonds-Thompson test by laying face down on my bed. Here is a picture of the ruptured Achilles tendon (left foot). You can see how the foot hangs at a different angle and there is no definition around the tendon:

Since the injury occurred on a Sunday, I couldn't get seen by a specialist until I made an appointment with my Primary Care Family Physician on Monday. Luckily I got both of those appointments taken care of and by Tuesday we were waiting for insurance approval to perform surgery with xenograft on Wednesday (3 days later).

The surgeon, Dr Cedric Wong said the operation went well and he did use the pig's intestine (xenograft jacket).

The first day or two after surgery was quite easy because of the heavy medication. They must put a block in your leg because the first day was very painless. I did not continue to take the Norco prescription after the 2nd day so I was fairly uncomfortable until Monday (5 days later) when I went back to work at my desk job. Sitting in the La-Z-Boy and watching TV for six days straight makes me bonkers.

I used a Knee Walker to transport myself instead of crutches. The walker is more like a knee scooter and allows you to carry things and open doors which is impossible with crutches. Its sort of fun to ride I guess, which helps for an active person like myself. Crutches are the worst, they should be outlawed.

After about 12 days I unwrapped the ace bandage and plaster half cast to take a sneak peak at the incision. It is about 4-5 inches long on the inside of my leg, not straight up the back as expected.

At my 2 week follow up appointment the doctor gave me an air cast which can be removed for bathing and dressing. My doc instructed me not to walk or do any weight bearing activities for 4 more weeks (6 weeks since surgery). However there is quite a bit of research that says supported weight bearing and movement can occur at 2 weeks post op.

At 3 weeks you can see the improvement in the incision. Its amazing how well the skin can heal an open wound.

However, what isn't as exciting is the muscle atrophy of my calf...

5 weeks post-op I am now bearing weight in my air cast with a heel wedge and doing range of motion (ROM) exercises despite my doctors orders of immobility up to 6 weeks. My tendon feels good, just tight in dorsiflexion so I don't push that much. My day to day life is very sedentary. I have a desk job and a nice family to take care of me at (our single story) home. There is slight risk of re-rupture with early mobility but that would probably be a result of a fall or blatant behavior (bar fight:). The other large risk with early mobility is gapping or tendon stretching.

6 weeks post-op my ortho doc told me to continue the same path for 6 more weeks: Air cast full weight bearing, no weight bearing ROM. That doesn't sound like my cup of tea so I am going to find some agressive rehab PT 2nd opinions. I cant let my leg sit in a cast for 3 months. Obviously I am not going to ignore that I am injured but I also believe in aggressive rehab. Hopefully this mentality goes well for me!

7 weeks post op, I am working out at the gym with the air cast on at least twice a week. I do core exercises, upper body weights, stationary bike (10-15 min), and quad work. I wear 2 shoes with heel insert around the office and the house and my air cast if I am going out and about. My ROM is good and I've been pushing (gently) on dorsalflexion (the only direction thats limited). I am going to start driving stick and using the clutch (injured foot plantarflexion).

1976 Jaguar XJ6L ~ For Sale!

2011-09-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

1976 Jaguar XJ6L

73,500 odometer (true original miles)

Silver exterior

Fantastic red leather interior

Automatic Transmission

Electric Windows

Power Door Locks

For Sale: 2011 Santa Cruz Nomad Review - Carbon frame, Stryker Wheels, Fox, Formula R1, and more

2011-09-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Carbon Santa Cruz Nomad Review ~

The redesigned nomad is fun to ride and I haven't had an issues with it yet. The only thing that happened was the stainless steel chain slap protector came off for no reason just riding along the singletrack.

The bike does climb, but certainly has a handicap that can't compare to other bikes that climb much better. Once the grade tips downward, you can easily catch anybody that dropped you on the climb :)

The bike does everything well, but goes through rough descents best. It really comes alive at high speeds in rough terrain. The fun starts when the rocks really start kicking up (and so does the paint off the rims of the WTB Stryker wheels).

6 Hour Kirkwood Super DXC

2011-08-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last year the contestants were all bummed out about how much pedaling there was and that I was able to win by choosing to not ride the first chair and pedal up to the second chair instead.

They must be really upset about this years race then. It was much harder with even more pedaling.

I got off to a good start on the pavement and could have holeshotted the first chair, but having never ridden the course I did not want to lead the first lap. I had seen the helmet cam footage of the track and knew it wasn't super simple

So I took second chair with Curtis Beavers in front of me and John Morrison behind me. They both went ahead on the first lap and I never saw them again all day. I guess at the end of 6 hours I was only 3 minutes behind Beavers, but I didn't know that during the race :(

The course was very technical, rugged, loose, duffy, snowy, switchbacky, and non flowy. It felt like about a thousand feet of climbing every lap. I did 8 laps.

Very tough day, and I was happy with 2nd Pro, 3rd Overall.

2011 Tahoe Sierra 100

2011-08-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Strava Suffer Score is an analysis of your heart rate data. By tracking your heart rate through the ride and its level relative to your maximum heart rate, Strava will attach a value to show exactly how hard you worked. The more time you spend going full gas and the longer you ride, the higher the score.

448Strava Suffer Score
What is this?

Leisurely 0-49
Moderate 50-99
Tough 100-149
Extreme 150-249
Epic 250+

According to Strava.com this ride is almost a double epic. It stops ranking after 250.
I did a 448. O. U. C. H.

I started the day with zero warmup and the first 10 minutes at 300 watts. Unfortunately this effort was spent catching the back of the field rather than going off the front of it. That's because after lining up scrambled and panicked at 5:59am, I realized 100 ft after the gun went off that I didn't have glasses. And I wasn't about to ride all damn day with no glasses. So I peeled off the race to back to the car and get my glasses. Which was funny because I was so panicked I got to the car to get the glasses and then locked the car back up again with them still in it. Had to open the car again to actually get them the second time. Some times you have to slow down to go faster.

From there I blasted through the field until I find Gregg Stone running slow and steady. I figure, if he's not in a rush then I don't need to be either. Going down to the first aid station I almost ate it big time right in front of him. He stopped at the aid station and I rode on alone. My game plan was to avoid stopping as much as possible. I learned in RAAM that you had better press on than hold up. To be able to not stop at the aid stations I brought 3,800 calories and 100 oz of water with me from the gun. The food was all liquid diet: SPIZ and EFS.

(photo credit - racer Jeff Barker)

The course surprised me. For one it was tougher than I had feared, mainly the last 3 canyons. For two, there wasn't as much ripping tahoe single track that I had expected. It was a tough course to pick a bike. Running my carbon SC Nomad wouldn't have solved my problems but some suspension would have been nice. All the descents were very rough with rocks, drops and debris. On the flip side there were hours of fire road and pavement climbs that well suited my Superfly 29er HT.

By the top of the second canyon my legs were serving up the most difficult cramps I've ever ridden through. You could reach down and feel golf balls in my legs. After one leg finished being locked up, the balls would roll on over to the next leg.

There must be some deep human mental need to accomplish and achieve. Because otherwise nobody would pay $200 to suffer like that.

2011 Downieville Classic race report

2011-07-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

This year I learned what it takes to be that guy looking down from the top step of the Expert All Mountain World Championship podium at Downieville. About 5,000 miles, in fact. And that it feels pretty good. For 5 years I've stared up at the guys on the Expert All Mountain podium, wondering how it could be possible. Now I know its just a lot of hard work and time on the bike.

Good fortune was really on my side too. Stosh Bankston flatted in the DH which was a bummer for the team, but good luck for me.

Here is my 2011 Santa Cruz carbon Nomad built up by Curty at Bicycle Emporium in Auburn.

Here is a pic of me and the boys on the Expert All Mountain podium:

2011 RAAM Race Report

2011-06-26T21:50:00.001-07:00

TDL Team Live Forever completed RAAM yesterday with a sub 7 day finish time. We had no accidents, no crashes, 4 bike flats (no mechanicals), 1 car flat, and a new appreciation for the comforts of everyday life.

Our race was very competitive early in the week, arriving at the desert time stations like Flagstaff, AZ well ahead of top level teams. Unfortunately, we failed to execute a crew rotation system that could support full speed race pace. Crossing the country safely without delays requires certain tools and leaders that we overlooked. We basically rode the wheels off our train.

By Kansas, our unstructured rotation plan had taken apart the team. We were so mis-directed that I had to ride into Missouri solo after 15 hours on 2 man shift without steady racer and crew rotation taking place.
This resulted in some infighting amongst the team. Some people prioritized rest and safety, others solely focused on riding fast.

The conflict boiled over when a fatal car accident closed the race course near Greensberg IN. Some wanted to take the opportunity to rest, others wanted to find a way to keep racing. By this time, members of our crew had already contacted the RAAM headquarters to report that our team was a safety hazard. The race officials agreed and put a mandatory rest on certain crew and 1 racer.

So for 8 hours that day, we stopped racing and tried to sort out our issues. By this point, our competitors were far enough ahead that the race took on more of a relaxed tempo. Our transitions and our stopped time and frequency increased greatly.

We were able to bring things back together, have moments of efficiency and conquered some difficult terrain but ultimately the mixed agendas and priorities tore the team apart. We were also able to ride the last 70 miles of the race together as a unified team with all 4 racers on the road and a full support crew marking the course and keep us fresh going to the finish line (picture attached).

The race rewards prepared teams who limit their lost time. Its so easy to make quick mistakes, yet so hard to gain time. Pushing 1 or even 2 miles per hour faster for several hours requires a lot of precious energy and effort and only gains a few minutes. Stopping for minutes, let alone hours to rest takes you out of the race.
To all of the team, thank you for coming along on this wild ride. I'm sorry I couldn't be more clear on what was to be expected but until you've done RAAM (none of us had), you can't properly prepare for it.

I hope we can all take away something new, something learned, something worthy about ourselves and others. Please feel free share your pictures and memories...

Our 2nd start line - RAAM 2011

2011-06-23T17:27:00.001-07:00

Some people say the race starts at the Mississippi. For T415, its at a little motel past time station 40. Our several festering wounds boiled over at once. RAAM won the fist round, now we fight back in round two.

Race Against Adversity

2011-06-22T14:42:00.001-07:00

So here is an example. I'm totally zoinked from the preceding events. I trade up two rest blocks to get a six hour break. But to stop that long you have to haul ass up the road 125 miles which takes 2 hours. Then a motel check in, shit and shower takes 1 hour. Now the vehicles need gas, ice, and food for the next shift which I have to take the first pull. So I get on the bike after a 30 min nap and the incoming racer gets lost in town at the time station. Its illegal for me to ride the race course in reverse to find him and make a transition. We trade about 10 frustrated cell phone calls until I can get back to racing. 45 minutes lost. Again, I'm shot to france so I need a short pull. They set up a transition down the road to relieve me and his pedal breaks on acceleration. Again I have to keep on keeping on.

Its so easy to lose time and so hard to gain it back.

Running too hot, too soon.

2011-06-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

We've cleared 2 states in 2 days and I've got 2 hours sleep. having to pull a lot of slack for the others but still having fun. up next: more climbing thru UT and CO.

RAAM day one drama.

2011-06-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

10:27pm - Blyth CA

We are underway, about 110 miles into the race. I pulled the first solo shift to get us out onto the city, about 24 miles.
At our 3rd rider transition we find the road closed due to an accident. I don't believe there was a cyclist involved but the road was closed to all traffic.

That we really screw up the teams trying to get riders up the road for new transitions.

Luckily, our team seems to be racing ahead unaffected.

The race is crazy. Fun too. So far.

The explanation about 3 riders.

2011-06-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

So the saga that previously developed was like this: our 4th rider Charlie, collapsed uncounsious at the top of Sleeping Indian climb. This was thursday afternoon on a course pre-ride.
So charlie spent that night and all of friday in the hospital. Our crew member Kim attended to him until 1 or 2 in the morning.

He passed several extensive test and decided to join us at the start line. (Despite the fact I had line up a pinch hitter - Dez Wilder).

From: Kimberly Ferguson <swimca@gmail.com>

Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:35:23 -0700

To: obie miller<obie.miller@gmail.com>

Subject: Pic

The start line of a 3000 mile bike race.

2011-06-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

Team Live Forever

2011-06-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Where is the fourth rider?

The saga will be unveiled next post... :)

RAAM official inspection

2011-06-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Lon Haldeman, RAAM founder, was on-hand at vehicle and equipment inspection this morning. He offered some insider info and pointers for us to take with us on the chaotic journey ahead.

We made a few adjustments to our gear and left inspections early. Then off to official team photoshoot, which in the spirit of RAAM chaos was only attended by 3 of our 4 racers.

To be continued...

RAAM opener

2011-06-16T20:28:00.001-07:00

We arrived in Oceanside today to register with RAAM headquarters and checkin at the hotel.

The beach scene at the Oceanside Pier was just right out of Baywatch. Kids skateboarding the strand, teenage girls in bikinis, etc.

After a whirlwind of packetpickup and jersey sizing we stepped out for a ride as a team at 4:30. The RAAM spirit was quick to blow us over. At the top of a considerable grade, we pulled over to talk stragedy. And this point marks the start of the RAAM saga.

To be continued...

RAAM fueling station

2011-06-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Racing a bicycle 24/7 (literally) will require a significant amount of calories. I expect to use a liquid diet while racing and then eating comfort food immediately after a shift.

These are the Hammer Nutrition products we've selected.

AC Shoulder Separation - Grade 2 with X-rays

2011-04-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

While on my first practice run at the Sea Otter Downhill MTB course, I got bucked after casing the landing on the first jump. I really should know better. As a result of the crash I got a grade 2 AC separation in my left shoulder. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is formed by the cap of the shoulder (acromion) and the collar bone (clavicle). It is held together by three taut ligaments. I tore one or two of these ligaments.

The rear suspension bucked me OTB (over the bars) so fast I just slammed instantly in to the wall of the next jump. I was seriously dizzy and nauseous as the medic on course evaluated me.

After 3 days I got xrays and saw an Orthopedic specialist. He said no surgery, 6 weeks rehab, and hope for the best.

Now I get to ride the trainer in my garage for a month to stay fit enough to attempt RAAM

Alive

2011-03-21T22:12:00.001-07:00

How do you top an epic powder day? By being brought back to life by your incredibly heroic, brave, medically trained, and properly equipped friends. That's how.

Tahoe has been buried under deep snow all week. Sunday was 5 ft of fresh in 48 hours. I skied most the day solo but met up with my angels on the last run. I took them over to my secret stash. Amazingly, Craig was watching me close enough to notice that I disappeared suddenly. He saw the base graphics of my K2 Hellbents lying on the snow. He dug my ski out and found my leg still attached.

I had made a strong turn, unloaded my weight and tipped head first into deep snow near a tree. I immediately addressed the situation and struggled with all my might but was completely helpless. Inverted and unable to move my arms and legs, I thrashed my head to create airspace but got nothing. I either suffocated within 30 seconds or the memory of the final fight had been deleted from my hard drive. There was no pain, fear, panic, or last thought. Just darkness. Carbon dioxide displacement asphyxia can be accelerated by anice mask formation or by lack of an adequate air pocket. An Avalung in my mouth would have bought so much more time.

Craig was the first responder. He called the others to the scene. Both he and Ryan had shovels and began to dig. Alicia and another girl helped with their hands. 2 or 3 minutes passed and they couldn't locate my head in all the deep snow. Craig felt concerned about creating an injury by yanking me out with brute force, but time was up so he put all his strength into pulling my body out.

This is the part that was harder for them than me. I came out of the hole appearing as a frozen corpse; I was blue and not breathing. Ryan immediately began CPR. He had to clear my mouth which was full of snow. 2-3 sets of breathing and compression resuscitation was enough for me to sputter back to life.

Arriving back amongst the living was literally a dream come true. I was in dreamland and it faded into reality, rather than the opposite. Alicia was screaming in my face to wake up. As I came back, her voice went from faint and distantly familiar to confusingly real: very similar to slowly waking up from a deep sleep.

Full consciousness came quickly, I immediately sat up and said, “Thank you for saving my life!” Then I let out a huge burp. I asked what time it was. “2:50,” someone said. I thought, “Better hurry up”. My precious 6-year-old son is waiting by himself to be picked up from ski school. I wouldn't want to not be there for him.

Non Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Death (NARSID) is a very real, frequently overlooked risk of powder skiing. Tree wells specifically are almost impossible get out of alone; you have to be rescued immediately to survive. The correct equipment literally means life or death.

Thank the heavens for my angel rescuers who were alert, prepared, and equipped. How do you repay your friends for saving your life?

- Play with friends. They may save your life.

- Be within visual and audible contact of your ski partner. (do not use an ipod)

- Be a doer. Action saves lives.

- Begin shoveling next to a burial victim, rather than directly above them.

- Take rescue training and CPR.

- Put your financial house in order. A Living Will or Living Trust can be called upon sooner than you expect.

IMG-20110320-00158.jpg

2011-03-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

RAAM - Race Across America for Team Donate Life

2011-01-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

Looks like I will be riding with a four man team across the country this summer. Hopefully taking brief turns on the bike for 6 days straight is a fun adventure!

I pursued this opportunity to participate in Race Across America for the following reasons:

- camaraderie
- training accountability
- personal achievement
- social networking
- contributing to the greater good

Powder Skis for sale

2011-01-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

189cm prototype K2 Pontoons with Hippy Stinx graphics, Salomon metal bindings (DIN14) needs base grind, $200 (pictured center).

175cm prototype K2 Seth Vicious with Hippy Stinx graphics, adjustable binding, great condition. $150 (pictured left)

168 Rossignol B3 Bandits with bindings, excellent condition. $150 (pictured right)

2005 Ski-Doo Summit 600 HO 144" track w/trailer

2011-01-11T21:51:00.001-08:00

For Sale!

- New Dynamo Joe Clutch Kit
- New VForce Reeds
- New Rings
- New Complete Service by TBonz
- Reverse
- Heated grips and throttle
- Rider Forward XP platform
- CA green sticker 2012
- Trailer tags and DMV perm plate
- Clear title/pink slip

Awesome mountain sled, starts and runs great. The sled is ready to rock, starts first pull and plenty of power with the clutch kit. Perfect for a first timer/friends.

The trailer is all steel and super heavy duty. It can hold two sleds. It’s a bit old and rusty but not your typical lightweight cheap little trailer. This thing is stout!

Call Obie at 916-717-8701

Georgetown January Moto

2011-01-10T11:44:00.001-08:00

East Side trails only were open so we made some laps, but "more fun than humans are supposed to have"!

Colorado Christmas TR

2010-12-29T16:32:00.000-08:00

Breckenridge delivered crowd congestion, traversing tourists, and deep fried twinkies.

Arapahoe Basin gets this leftover vid of my brother Lukie Pukie

Ward gives us a calorie burning XC/BC approach.

Beaver Creek had some tight trees for me to ski in.

Loveland offered up some windbuff and high altitude vistas.

Plus some follow cam of Professor Eetu

And Steamboat was freezing cold!

Dont forget the kiddos who had a great time at Howelsen Hill!

FLEA

2010-12-13T14:16:00.001-08:00

Epic 45 miles of norcal single track delivered on a beautiful sunny winter day.

Huge group, no issues, perfect pace. Great ride! Several riders were members of MTBR.com, so the ride was reviewed there.

2003 Toyota Matrix XR

2010-11-16T19:29:00.001-08:00

This is what the street looked like after my trusty single owner 160k mile 2003 Toyota Matrix XR shot the oil filter out.

I heard a loud noise and then the oil pressure light turned on. Now I know why! What I don't know is why the oil filter was released so quickly and violently without any oil leaks beforehand. When it happened I was thinking a rock hit the oil pan, or the motor threw a rod through the crankcase. Both of which would have been more expensive than a new oil filter!

This car gets 33mpg combined average fuel economy, fits 1 car seat, 1 bike and 1 pair of skis easily. All without roof racks. Its not fancy or built for expensive taste, but it gets the job done on the cheap. And for this I say, "cheers, another beer"!

2010 Specialized Epic Marathon Carbon

2010-09-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tonight will be the maiden voyage on a 2010 Specialized Epic Marathon Carbon. This bike is bone stock and weighs about 24 lbs with SPD pedals. The idea behind this bike is simple: go fast for a long time. 4" of travel is only activated by heavy impact, so the bike rides very rigid on most terrain. I'm guessing that the rugged trails will be pretty bouncy on this bike, but anything close to hardpack terrain will be at the rider's mercy.

I kept the bike for about 3 or 4 rides and then sold it. It only handles flat and bumpy terrain really well. I need to also be able to go very fast downhill. The 70 degree head angle and 100mm front fork prevented that.

My friend Chris rides this bike with a 160 TALAS with 15QR and it actually is a really fun combination. I loved it on 45 miles of norcal single track this weekend!

2007 KTM 400 XC-W

2010-07-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

This is the weapon I chose to replace my YZ250. This bike doesn't have the same crazy fast power of a 450, but when ridden correctly it would only need that extra power in the sand or wide open desert.

2001 Yamaha YZ 250

2010-02-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to have owned a YZ250. This bike is incredibly powerful, amazingly durable, widely versitile, and a handful of FUN!

The YZ two strokes can easily be adapted for true MX motocross track riding, open desert hare scrambles, or tight woods trail riding.

On my YZ250, I added hand guards, 3 gallon tank, 11 oz fly wheel weight, and FMF Q/FMF gnarly pipe combo. What an awesome bike!

Fitness Together - personal training

2010-02-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

Abs from laying on the bench:

- legs straight up, crunch a 10 lb weight straight up.

- legs straight up and down, like a draw bridge (add a ball between your ankles for difficulty)

- shoulders off the end of the bench, crunch up

Abs from laying on the ground:

- have somebody throw your legs to the ground, you send them back up.

- from full extension pass a ball between you ankles and hands

Lat pulls

hamstring curls

step ups, skier, mt climber for cardio

Avatar 3-D movie Review

2010-01-04T13:23:00.001-08:00

In the blockbuster hit, Avatar, James Cameron takes us for another thrill ride, packed with action and adventure. His characters are cliché and the story line well used (Dances with Wolves), but the visual delivery and suspension of disbelief is fantastic. The audience is transported to Cameron’s hand crafted, imaginary world that is full of inspiration, beauty, and believability.

You aren’t going to come home from this movie and reconsider your life, but you will completely lose yourself in a wonderful story with incredible imagery and special effects. The technology used to make this movie is unheard of and the budget was over $300 million USD; all that adds up to a unique, powerful movie going experience.

To learn more about the decade Cameron spent making this movie, visit the Wikepedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)

Canon PowerShot S90 vs. SD780

2009-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

Canon SD780 IS hand held shot in low light with ISO800 - 1/8 sec - F3.2

Canon S90 IS hand held shot in low light with ISO800 - 1/25 sec - F2.0

Canon Powershot handheld digital cameras are legendary. I have owned many cameras and the image quality from a Canon Powershot is fantastic. This holiday season my Digital Elph SD850 IS was dropped and the "lens error" would be $100 to fix. Instead we just went to Mikes Camera in Boulder, CO and bought a new SD780 IS for me and a S90 IS for my dad. The cameras are both beautiful all black with large LCD displays. They are not competitors in the marketplace as the S90 is more expensive.

The bottom line:
-S90 doesnt have HD video mode and the SD780 does have HD video
-S90 takes excellent pictures in low light, the SD780 does not.
-S90 will bulge any pocket you have, the SD780 is tiny and sleek.
-S90 has many features that the SD780 does not, but for "joe point and shoot" user it may not matter!

SD780 IS

SD90 IS

The Best Do It Yourself Garage Floor Epoxy Review

2009-12-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

This fall I finally decided to give my garage floor the ultimate treatment. A heavy duty, commercial grade two part, three coat epoxy floor coating. This is the stuff that shines like glass and you see in a ferrari dealership.

At first I was going to purchase a DIY product that I had seen at a home show in Las Vegas called U Coat It. But right before I placed my order I found a website called www.garagejournal.com. I landed here by doing some k

eyword research about do it yourself garage epoxies. I'm sure the UCoatIt product is a good one, but after reading about a lot of other floors on that website's forum I decided to go with Woverine Coatings. This is a commercial grade, 100% solids epoxy product that is only available through a guy named Fred who posts on that website. Sounds sketchy, right?

Fred runs a company called www.AlphaGarage.com and the guys at Wolverine Coatings gave him the OK to sell direct to the DIY market. He was a great help and offered email and phone support to me during the entire process.

______________

The worst part about going after a project like this is emptying the garage. Unless you've just moved into your new home, chances are your garage is full of JUNK. You've not only got to clean all this junk up, but you've got to find a place to keep it for a month while you put the magic touches on your new garage floor. After you get it all cleaned out the concrete floor has to be properly prepped for the new epoxy coating. I did two separate acid etching sessions with plenty of pressure washing and sweeping. Once the floor was clean and rough to the touch, I filled my expansion joints with backer rod and a flexible sealant. After everything was dry and cured I began the epoxy process. First a bond coat, the next day the body coat and flake, followed by a clear coat on the third day. Each coat was applied with squeegee, a 18" nap roller, and spiked shoes so you can walk on top of the epoxy.

The Iron Giant (1999)

2009-11-29T07:24:00.000-08:00

I just don't understand why you go to all the trouble to make a kid's cartoon and cram pack it full of scary violence, guns, themes of isolation, troubled family home life, and then back it up with guns, cannons, tanks, and the atom bomb.

I'm mean really, am I that old fashion? I had heard this was a great cartoon so we ordered it up last night and I couldn't have been more dissapointed. My poor kids were FREAKED! The movie sucks (production is excellent) bad just because the content is totally inappropriate.

Back to PBS sprout I guess...

Night Rider MTB light location

2009-10-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

I have ridden with my Niterider Storm HID mt bike light for about 5 years. I’ve tried it in both locations: handlebar mount and helmet mount. Let me tell you what light location works best for mt biking at night.

Handle Bar Mount:

Pro: the light and battery are not on your body, so you feel more comfortable

Con: the light is only pointed where your bike is facing so switchbacks, looking over your shoulder, etc are not lit up.

Con: if the terrain is bumpy the light beam with shake all over the place

Helmet Mount:

Pro: you’ve got a bright beam anywhere you look and it is more steady than a handle bar mount.

Cons: if its dusty then you lose some visibility and you have to carry the bulk light and battery on your body.

2008 Trek Fuel EX 8 - For Sale

2009-08-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

2008 Trek Fuel EX 8

17.5''
Full Suspension
Active Brake Pivot Technology
Fox Racing Shox Front (Float RL) and Rear (RP2)
Shimano XT rear derailleur
Shimano LX Cranks
Avid Juicy 5 Disk Brakes
Bontrager Race Lite Wheels
27 lbs

It’s a clean machine. There are some scratches on the frame and fork, but no dents or major dings. I bought the bike new from the local shop about 10 months ago. I ride once or twice a week all year.

The only reason I’m selling this one is to buy a 2010 model.

Thursday Potato Bar Special

2009-08-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Frank at the Capitol Ave Cafe hooked me up with the very coveted hot potato (last one!) And I hit the toppings bar hard.

Base layer of shredded cheddar cheese
Homemade salsa
Sour cream
Homemade chili
Nacho cheese spread
Thick guacamole
Tapatio on top

BAM!

Cold Brewed Coffee. The Toddy Cafe!

2009-08-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

In the hot summer months do you swing by starbucks everyday to buy one of those yummy frappuccinos or iced lattes?

If you do, that $$$ adds up quick. This cold brewed coffee gadget called a Toddy is perfect for an instant iced latte on the way to work in the morning.

The Toddy brews one pound of coffee at once with only nine cups of water. The jug of coffee concentrate can then be kept in the fridge or freezer for a month perfectly fresh. Just add about twice the water or milk to the concentrated Toddy Coffee when you are making your iced latte venti :)

http://www.toddycafe.com/

Hope Valley Haiku

2009-08-09T21:07:00.001-07:00

We just love this place.

Seem to go back twice a year.

What an awesome spot.

Capitol Ave Cafe & Grill - Placerville CA

2009-07-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

If you can't find anywhere to eat and the line at In-n-Out is a mile (or two) long, head over to the Capitol Ave Cafe & Grill. Its the bomb.

Capitol Ave Cafe

6425 Capitol Ave,

Diamond Springs, CA 95619

530-626-2906

What a great find. This place has a daily specials list that can't be beat. The burgers and grill food is fantastic, the deli sandwiches and salads are superb, and the folks that run the place are friendly.

Bike Monkey Boggs MTB Race pit update.

2009-03-28T11:30:00.001-07:00

You know when you are on course for the first time and you finally clear through the congestion, hit an open fire road complete with whoop dee water bars and your hauling ass and you start to get a bad feeling and you're not seeing any more bike tracks. Then you stop and nobody is coming behind you. And you gulp. Could I have missed the turn? Yup, you did. And now you've got to hike all the way back up.

I knocked out the first two laps at Boggs IV and Barker is on course for the next two. Then we will do it all again for at least 8 laps in 8 hours. When its over, we drink beer for 8 hours as a reward for good behavior.

Mt Rose Review

2009-01-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

Mt Rose ski resort has the wicked awesome chutes. I don't see how Motts Canyon is any better. The Mt Rose Chutes are longer.

Heavenly Review

2009-01-16T13:39:00.000-08:00

So its always nice to be up at Heavenly Ski Resort. The place is beautiful. Day like today the skies are blue as the lake. Sunny skiing is great but its not supposed to be enjoyed in the middle of January.

The other catch is the freeking morons everywhere. MLK holiday starts tomorrow and the runs are full of sport class retards going way too fast on their skis and snowboards.

Accelerate your online marketing

2009-01-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

If you have a business, you know that advertising is expensive. And your return on investment is questionable at best.

What if you could increase customers and spend less? I can help you specifically target your market base at different phases of the buying cycle. For less $$$

obie.miller@gmail.com

Tahoe Sledding Review

2009-01-12T21:29:00.001-08:00

Tore it up last weekend in tahoe… pics attached. Hope ya’ll well.

In-N-Out Burger Review

2009-01-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

Few things compare to good simple eats. You can get all crazy and order a panini sandwich and espresso across the street, but if you just want a tasty meal on easy street then go to In-N-Out Burger.

There is a reason In-N-Out Burger is always busy. It's good! Its cheap! And its simple. I mean the menu is how you like your burger and if you want fries and a drink. That's it.

Hooray for In-N-Out Burger!

Sierra at Tahoe Ski Report 1/2/09

2009-01-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

Snowy. Stormy. Windy. Cold. And it hasn't snowed enough to be a powder day. But any day on the mountain is a good day so I am thankful. Skiing and snowboarding in Tahoe is a fun privilege no matter how you look at it.

Weather conditions seem to be set in like this for the day but this weekend's skiing in Tahoe should be real good.

Christmas Ski Review

2008-12-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

Oh what a fine week of Christmas skiing I've had. Truly blessed to get 6 out of 7 days during the week that snow accumulated to over 10 feet at some resorts. I hit Sierra mostly, but scored an epic blue bird powder day at Kirkwood on Friday 12/26/08.

Folsom Ice Rink Review

2008-12-27T19:24:00.000-08:00

Shelbey loves cute little small towns. You know, Boulder, Bend, Calistoga, etc. Folsom has never quite lived up to the dream cute town but today she is happy with Folsom, CA. Today we checked out the Folsom Ice Rink and she thinks its super cute. Our kids aren't old enough to fall down on the ice like all the teenagers out there but we still had fun people watching and drinking hot chocolate.

The Historic Sutter St Folsom Ice Rink will be open until Jan 25th.

------------
Obie Miller
916.717.8701 (via mobile)

Review K2 HellBent Skis - 179cm

2008-12-27T15:43:00.000-08:00

I bought a pair of 179cm K2 HellBents skis on eBay last February for $400 new in the plastic expecting to get a bunch of powder days on them that year. Well we proceeded to have the driest spring EVER. So I didn't get them mounted up until this winter and finally stepped into them Christmas Eve at Sierra at Tahoe with 2 feet of fresh pow.

First review for the K2 HellBents is obvious: these skis are FAT. They have super fat DIMENSIONS of 150/122/141 tip to tail. You don't even need a snowboard anymore to enjoy deep powder turns if you have skis like this. 122mm underfoot means that you can stomp any landing that you like, you can hop out of trouble on one ski, and you can't go fast enough.

My review of the K2 HellBents is also simple. You need to be steep and deep to bring the k2 HellBents to life. These skis thrive on going fast and launching air. If you aren't trying your hardest to do that, then you don't need these skis.

Edgy Wedgy Review

2008-12-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

I spent two days snowplowing next to Cooper and cheering him down the ski slope. He really has come along nicely since his first day on the slopes in diapers!

The secret to teaching small kids to ski is a positive attitude and the Edgy-Wedgy. This is an absolute must for helping kids stay in control and forcing the snowplow position. Kids Can Ski Too!

Drake Review

2008-12-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

Hey super fan club! I am cute and you are not.

RV Microwave Review - Travel Trailer RV Microwave Fire

2008-12-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Samsung RV Microwave model MR5492W

We alomst lost our 2001 Coleman Travel Trailer RV Camper over christmas vacation to a microwave fire. For some silly reason we keep a roll of paper towels inside the microwave (since it rarely gets used, the microwave is like a kitchen cabinet to us). The RV was plugged into the house and a couple days later we went inside and smelled a burnt electrical or plastic stink. Upon further inspection, the paper towel roll had completely burst into flames and melted the inside of the microwave. We are very lucky the fire never breached the microwave, because we could have lost our entire RV to fire or even worse our house (because the RV is parked next to the house)!

There must have been a power surge or something because the microwave was not turned on by us or anybody else. The microwave fire was in a Samsung model MR5492W. I hope this manufacturer isn't responisble for a defective product!

_________

11/29/09 - UPDATE: the microwave used in the RV was recalled by the manufacturer. The recall states that the control panel may self start causing fire! "AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN OCCUR CAUSING THE OVEN TO ACTIVATE WITHOUT PRESSING ANY KEY PADS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, OR POSSIBLY A FIRE." Well that sound familiar. We used the phone number in the recall to get a check for $200 to replace ours. CONTACT SAMSUNG SERVICE DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AT 800-932-3837.

Zac Sunderland Review

2008-11-22T07:44:00.000-08:00

This kid is a hero. He is attempting to set the world record as the youngest person to sail solo around the world. He is 16.

http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/

PCT - Boreal to Downieville

2008-11-02T21:37:00.001-08:00

40 Miles of the PCT.
We try to make a go at this ride once a year late in the season when you won't bother anybody. It is an epic ride that usually involves bad weather. This year the trail had perfect traction because it was frozen rock solid. The average temperature all day was probably 20 degrees. It took three days for my finger tips to thaw. And I'm not kidding.

The Hogan Trail

2008-11-02T21:30:00.001-08:00

Down Stockton way, a few MTB folks made themselves some hot, rocky, technical singletrack. Luckily it is close to a nice looking lake so you can take a dip if need be, but please don't forget LOTS of water. Also it looks like you only have to turn around when you are halfway exhausted, which means for a pretty long ride if you're up for it.

Henry Coe

2008-11-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

NorCal MTB singletrack.

I ventured deep up a windy road until I finally arrived at Henry Coe Headquarters. Having no idea where to ride, I whipped out my blackberry and did a Google search. I saw something about a couple of trail names and started out with a few hours and no extra calories to burn. Next time I think I'll tag along with somebody who know the way mo' better.

I did enjoy Middle Ridge Trail quite a bit! But there was an awful lot of fireroads and no bike signs. Whatever, still nice to ride single track all over Northern California.

Will the IBD survive?

2008-10-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

An intriguing aspect of the bicycle industry is the incredible staying power of the Local Bike Shop (LBS). Most retail sectors have been hit hard by the big box retailer. Amazingly, the vast majority of independent bicycle dealerships (IBD) today are single-location operations.

What if Specialized were to vertically integrate the retail distribution of its product line? With the launch of each new concept store, Specialized moves closer to becoming a mass merchant in the bike business. Think Dell, but not completely. Dell skipped the value added retailer and went straight to the consumer. In the bike business, this technique may not work because to service requirements, etc. But looking out of the bike industry might be the solution to the success of the Specialized concept store. Chartering new territory is not easy (don't reinvent the wheel).

Loss of Sales - Why you haven't hit the numbers?

2008-10-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Again, you folks at Specialized are the experts. But from my 8 years of experience servicing retail stores, I have identified these factors.

Economic Slow Down.
This is obviously the case right now in most industries. When consumer spending is down, how do you stay afloat, or even grow? You have to create value. A solid value proposition will pry the cash from a buyer's hand. Unfortunately value in a down economy is frequently closely related to price.

I think the bike business stands to benefit from this situation and here is why. Consumers have never been so "Green Conscious". Plus times are tight and cost of transportation is high. So you don't have to have the cheapest product, you have to convince the buyer that your brand will solve the cost of gas and environmental issues in the news.

Competition.
If your brand isn't growing, but your retail base is not showing a lack in sales, you may be loosing market share to a competitor. Put your ears to the ground and listen. If consumers and shop staff are a buzz about another brand its time to meet with the R&D department to drum up some new tricks! You may short term boost sales against a superior product by creating value with your brand. Lower the price or increase the product's specs for the same price.

Retailer's Performance.
Is your retailer doing his job. Go back to square one: is the store merchandising the product correctly?

A first class Specialized retail environment needs to be clean and well lit. Lots of windows are nice but not required. You need to identify your customer (see this post), and the corresponding market area.

In the case of Kinetic Cycles, the store may have been too Performance Buyer oriented in a Comfort Buyer market.

Retail Sales - Identify your customer

2008-10-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

At the risk of sounding like a moron in front of a premier supplier in the bike business, I figure it would be important to cover the basics.

Bicycle consumers cover a broad spectrum of the population. However, I've tried to simplify this to help educate a retail shop's sales staff.

The Comfort Buyer.

Typically this customer is similar to the recreational user. When a Comfort Buyer is making a purchase decision it is based on their need to be comfortable on the bike. This can apply to gloves, a saddle, apparel, or a bicycle. This customer usually has a fairly minimal amount of brand awareness but can easily be upsold with tech talk. The Comfort Buyer is willing to part with cash if it will make them more comfortable.

The Value Buyer.
This guy likes to shop around and hunts for what he thinks is a great deal. Value buyers spend a long time in the pre-purchase phase researching different products and their price points. This guy isn't particularly brand or shop loyal; he is "buying to save". However, the value buyer will spend more for a product if the marketing has proven the product's effectiveness. The Value Buyer is willing to part with cash if it makes him feel like he got a bargain.

The Performance Buyer.
This customer is easy to identify. Most men will have shaved legs and most women will be fit. They are basing their purchase decision on what they think will be a competitive edge. The Performance Buyer is almost always highly informed and most likely to be brand loyal or brand aware. The marketing strategy here is to focus on technological advancement and hype. The Performance Buyer is willing to part with cash if it will make them faster.

All of these customers are willing to pay more and buy now if the company's marketing has properly sold them a brand image.

1980's - Growing up in spandex and thumb shifters

2008-10-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

My first road race was on a 1979 Peugot with friction shifters and toe clips. I was 9 years old. Lucky for me the Red Zinger Mini Classic was based in my home town of Boulder, CO. I've still got a giant box of medals, ribbons, and trophies from all those podium finishes.

Thankfully, my dad was cool enough to take us to Moab, UT year after year in the early days. Here is a picture of me on a sweet vintage Specialized Rockhopper (equipped with U-Brakes!).

All the early riding led to early Mt. Bike racing too. I was featured on the cover of Mountain Bike Action in May 1992 while racing the Grundig NORBA Nationals at Park City, UT the year before. At the time I was on the Fat City Cycles "Grass Roots" team.

So, that early exposure has lead to a life of passion for two wheels. Here is me in the high Sierra Nevada on a 2006 Specialized Stumpy.

And it will continue to the next generation. This is my son Cooper riding his red Specialized Hot Rock with no training wheels at 3 years old!

2008 Season - Still racing and riding...

2008-10-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

4th Place - Downieville Classic Sport X-Country
5th Place - Prairie City Race Series Expert
9th Place - Napa Valley Dirt Classic Sport
Top 10 - Golden State Criterium Cat 5
Top 10 - Folsom Criterium Cat 5
Top 10 - Folsom South Canal Time Trial Open