It's all downhill (then uphill, then down again)

I'd been wanting a nicer bike than my ElCheapo Walmart/Target type bike for a couple of years, even though it did fit what I used it for, and now I've got one.
A Jamis Dakar XLT 20th Anniversary Edition (the 2005 model) to be exact.

Now that I'm in Colorado, I want to start riding more interesting terrain, and my heavy, rigid frame bike just wasn't going to cut it.

I originally intended to get a hardtail because the full suspensions were a bit more than I wanted to spend.
I'd rather have a nicer frame hardtail with good components than a decent full-sus frame with lower quality components.

I spent about two weeks browsing sites for specs and visiting local shops to test ride what they had and found that I liked the fit of Giant bicycles.
Their price point wasn't too bad and they really did fit me well.

I went to Ute City Cycles here in Aspen, but was unimpressed with them because they didn't carry any hardtails in stock.
After meeting Chris at the Carbondale store, my attitude changed.

I had been to pretty much every LBS in the valley and was leaning towards a Specialized bike, either the Rockhopper Comp Disc or the FSR-XC, or maybe a Giant Pistol.

Even though I only spent about 45 seconds in the Aspen store, I realized that I should check them out because as my roommate said, I should try as many bikes as possible (since I'm basically a newbie and he's done road racing and coaching of riding teams, I figure I ought to listen to him).
The Carbondale store is bigger than the Aspen store, and they were 30 seconds from another shop I had been to.

I told Chris what I was looking to spend and he showed me a couple of hardtail bikes in that range, and like any other salesman worth their salt, tried to upsell.

I knew I could afford the few extra bucks, it was just a matter of whether I wanted to afford it.

Chris spent a lot of time talking to me and was very helpful in answering questions that I had.
After I first test rode the Dakar, I had asked a few questions and then asked, essentially, 'If I were to buy this bike, is there anything you would suggest upgrading straight away?'.
The only thing he suggested would be the hubs and rims, the whole wheel essentially.
He basically said 'Sure, the stock equipment isn't top of the line, but it's good quality stuff. When you've worn down the stock gear, then yeah, let's upgrade a couple things.'
He gave me exactly the answer I suspected from my research and my roomie's advice.

I knew that anything I bought (or even considered buying) would be such a huge improvement over what I had, I wouldn't notice any difference between the best parts and the step or two down that would be on what I bought.
I knew before asking that I couldn't afford both the bike and new wheels, so that's going to wait for a season or two.
Maybe I'll upgrade the SRAM X7 shifters to X9, go tubeless on the tires, some clipless pedals, a different saddle, a different rear shock, or some other little improvement later this season or next, but for now, I'm happy with what I've got.

I pretty much knew that was the bike I wanted.
I went home to compare the Dakar with everything else I'd seen (I'd even made a spreadsheet to compare everything), and sleep on it.
I called the shop the next morning and told Chris to put it up on the rack and give it a once-over because I'd be there in about an hour to pick it up.

They did a great job setting up the machine for me, adjusting the shift levers, brake levers, saddle, derailers, and rear shock to give me a good fit that felt like I wanted it to.
He asked if I needed any other parts or accessories and I just couldn't think of anything I needed.
After thinking for a few minutes and nothing coming to mind, I thought a shock pump for the rear shock might be good, since it's an air preload type (Fox Float R) and he said I didn't really need one, but if I'd had an air fork, then yeah, I ought to get one.
And if I needed any adjustment on it, I could very easily go and have it done at the store in Aspen.
How's that for honesty?

I highly recommend paying Chris a visit if you're in the area and looking for a bike.

And so far, I'm really diggin' this bike.
As they told me at the shop, Jamis makes a quality bike, they just don't spend as much money on advertising as some other companies, and so they add value to their bikes with better components.

I'd love to stay and chat more, but there's a trail somewhere calling my name.

Moving

Moving is such a pain in the ass.
And I don't even have that much stuff.

When I was younger, about 10-14, I went to Colorado a few times with family and once one a Scouting trip.
I did enjoy my time there, but never realized how nice it was there.

If you've read some of my other posts, you should know what I do to pay the bills.
But in case you hadn't, I do concert and theatrical production.
Mostly lighting, but occasionally sound, set construction, grips, rigger, flyman, and pretty much anything else other than props or costumes, though I've done both once or twice.

Anyway, because of my work, I ws again given the opportunity to visit Colorado several times starting about 5 years ago.
Now I'm old enough to see how bitchin' this place is.
Scenery, fresh air, not too hot, not too cool, snowboarding in the winter, mountainbiking in the summer, just damn cool.

My very first time back up here, I realized that I wanted to live here.
Not that I came from someplace crappy, Topeka was ok on the air quality front, though it does tend to get a little bit warmer than I like there in the summer, and doesn't really get as much snow as we used to in the winter.

But, it was a dream that was out of reach.
I had a decent job doing a lot of work, which I really liked, overall.
There's always a gig that you have to do even though you don't like the venue, hands, food, or some other reason.
There just wasn't a lot of work for me here when I wasn't here with my company.
Because of my work for the Jazz Aspen/Snowmass festival, I made some contacts and got involved with the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.
They've had some great shows the last few years that I've been able to work it.
And I'd made some friends working on both of those shows.
One of whom had a job at a nightclub as a lighting person.
When she needed to be gone for vacation and such, she needed someone to fill in and there are very few people here qualified enough to do the job, so I got a call.
It's been nice working there. They have had some great shows including Gogol Bordello, Buckethead, Danger Kitty, Toots and the Maytals, Ben Harper, G Love and Special Sauce, Galactic, and others.

So I was here in February working for my friend, then went home for about two weeks, then was to come back again for the Comedy Fest.
That's when I found out a couple of interesting things.

Turns out that she is getting a bit tired of working 6-7 days a week in-season and they are wanting to hire someone to split shows with her.

Am I interested?
Of course.
Then, it turns out that one of her roommates is moving out April 1.

Hmm, so I could have a job that pays well, and a place to live that isn't much more expensive than what I already pay?

Guess I better jump on that one, eh?

So I did.
Besides, I was getting tired of driving out here 6 times a year to work.
700 miles each way tends to add up and cut into the profit margin from the paycheck a bit.

So now I'm here for two weeks in February, going home for about a week, coming back here for two more weeks, then going back to Kansas for a week to pack my crap, then drive back to Colorado once again.
Oh, and I've got to take my U-Haul trailer back to Denver too.

Many, I'm just a glutten for punishment I guess.

So, it turns out that it's cheaper to rent a U-Haul from Topeka to Denver than Topeka to somewhere closer.
Like $100 bucks cheaper.
So I can either spend an extra $100 to drop it off within 40 miles, or I can drive it back 160 miles to Denver and spend $50 on gas for both ways.
Gee, not much to figure out there.

I got back on a Sunday night and had plans to go out with some friends since I knew I wouldn't have much time to do anything the rest of the week because of packing and cleaning up to get my deposit back.

We had a lot of fun that night.

Monday morning, I woke to find I was not well.
Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with what I had consumed the night before.
So I got to lay around on the couch and watch TV and nap all day.
Neato, I've got 3 days to pack and clean, and now I'm sick on one of them.
But I got through it and started packing up on Tuesday morning.
When I moved last time, it was an in-town move, so it wasn't a huge logistics issue.
This time, I knew I'd have to get rid of a few things.
And I did. Nothing really important, old magazines, some clothes for Goodwill or whomever, things like that.
I got a number of nice sized boxes from my sister who works at a grocery store, and my father who works at a printing plant.

On moving day, dispite all my efforts, all my junk wouldn't fit inside the trailer.
Shouldn't really be a big shocker, and it wasn't but I didn't think I would end up as short on space as I did.
I had always planned to put some stuff in the back seat of my cab, and maybe a couple things in the bed of my truck (a Dodge Dakota, which I love and plan to drive Dak's until the day I die [though hopefully not this one]), but I ended up with a dresser, office chair, bicycle, skis, and a few other things cramed in back there.
I had set aside some things that I knew I could leave behind just in case I was running short on room, and despite this, I still got basically every thing I had loaded up.
There were a few books and some pictures that I didn't have anywhere to put, but that was basically it.
So it went into my parents vehicles to be stored in their basement.

The plan was to be out on Thursday afternoon/evening and have dinner with all the family that lived in town.
Come 5:30, I was out of the apartment and headed over to my folks place to clean up and rest for the nice long drive on Friday.
It was a good dinner and a good time was had by all.

My parents went above and beyond on Friday as they went back to my apartment and finished some light cleaning and to turn in my keys for me.

It was a mostly uneventful trip back here, and I got a few calls from friends and family which was nice, and not so.
Ya know how it is, they always call at inopportune times like when you've stopped to fill the one tank and empty the other, or right when you hit rushhour traffic.
I did appreciate the thoughts intended though.
Thanks.

So, I'm at my new home now and ready for sleeping as I need to unload all my crap on Saturday, so I can return my trailer on Sunday.
Man this was a tiring schedule.

But I got it all done, and even though I haven't quite unpacked all my stuff a month later, I'm basically settled in.
There's been some work, though not as much as I'd hoped for, but that's what I get for moving here at the beginning of off-season.
It'll pick up soon as we move into the summer season.