MORE random pics......

[legion]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Modern Stonehenge?

I've been in a room nicknamed the "Q Lab". It looks something like that, but much larger, and a much more varied selection of hardware. I'm not allowed to take pictures though.

[gprsh924]

[gprsh924]

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

Why do I get the feeling the words "here, hold my beer and watch this" immediately prefaced this picture? You sure this is a good thing to be on the Internet where people like insurance adjusters might see it?

In the same vein as this - the jet-powered barstool (yes, it's real):



http://www.turbinegroup.com/page2.html

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Why do I get the feeling the words "here, hold my beer and watch this" immediately prefaced this picture? You sure this is a good thing to be on the Internet where people like insurance adjusters might see it?

Stone sober, my friends and I really enjoy doing stupid stuff though. We spent most of high school doing stuff that probably would have gotten us arrested if we had ever been caught, the drinking did not come until later.

Earlier that day we were on our way to eat lunch at Chipotle. I saw that office chair out on someone's curb for the garbage man. I pulled a u-turn and went and picked it up with the explanation to my friends "I know we will think of something fun to do with this." We made a few runs, then my friend's dad saw us doing that and came and made the guy in the chair put on a helmet. Then he went back inside.

[dzls rok]

[dzls rok]

[quaz]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Modern Stonehenge?

That is the most beautiful sight! Wait, I think that is because I sell IBM

[legion]

Ever seen a T-Rex?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by dzls rok

Is that Wayne on the right???

[JV911SYDNEY]

930?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

More bike porn. Here's my ride. Currently I've got about 70 miles logged for the last three days and about 165 since last Saturday (including two trips from Long Beach up to the Palos Verdes summit). Boo-yah! I love getting back into riding!


Gratuitous bike porn shot:



Random shot from inside the garage today (yes the pile of parts is all for the 911 under the cover):



Recent upgrade. I like it better for climbing than the original Shimano 600 6-speed rear that it originally came with:

[BRPORSCHE]

Jeff, how much does something like that cost? I have been trying to get into running, but I want to go longer distances.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

All-in-all that's probably cost me about $2,000 to build it as you see it - over a couple of years.

The frame you see is an OLD (mid-80s) steel Pinarello frame that I bought from a guy on Craigslist for $300. Personally I love steel bikes and when I saw that particular one for that price, I just about dropped a load in my pants. Those were THE top-of-the line bikes in the 80s when I was growing up. Olympic-quality stuff for that era. Had to get it. I went down that afternoon with cash in hand to make sure nobody else got it. I've done a lot of work to it though.

I found a set of decals on the Internet from a guy in Australia who specializes in vintage bike decals. The original Mavic wheels I still have, but they're very old school (tubeless, glue-on type). Actually kind of nice because they're so light - even by today's standards (there's less metal because of no tire bead, etc), but they're also extremely hard to find tires for, so I don't train on them - just keep them around for special occasions.

The wheels on there are better for training anyway - they're a bit heavier than "race" wheels, more durable, more modern, easier to find parts for (new Mavics with a "typical" bead setup) - those, the Bontrager tires, tubes, yada yada were about $400. 10-speed rear cassette & chain was about $250. New front crank (Dura-ace) I got for I think $450 along with some other stuff (was a pretty good deal actually). Rear dura-ace rear dérailleur was $130 I think. Cycling computer was $65. The heart-rate monitor I got off of woot.com for $20 I think - you can find 'em cheap. Pedals were about $200. Shoes were about another $200. Add some funky jerseys, some tools (a Park stand is an absolute must), a CO2 inflater for blowouts, a helmet (don't skimp!), etc. and you're into it for another $500 easy. Next I'll probably get the 10-speed indexed Dura-Ace downtube shifters (still using the original 600s in "non-indexed" mode, which works okay 85% of the time, 15% of the time you have to fiddle with it so you're completely in a particular gear and not trying to be in two at once). I looked at brifters, but that would add another 500 clams or more - and I actually like the lightness of the dts.

Cycling is a blast, but it can get REALLY expensive really quick if you get into it. The good news is you can very often recoup some of your costs if you ever want to sell pieces/parts off as you trade up - kind of like Porsches. You won't get back 100%, but you can usually sell well-cared-for used components for halfway decent returns. Best advice (especially since you're around a college and typically colleges have halfway decent used bike markets) pick up a used road bike that someone's looking to get rid of for $700 or $800 and just ride the snot out of it. I imagine 90% of the students ride mountain bikes or cruisers, but look around and check C-list. If you find a decent road frame that's your size and you like, get it. As you start riding more, look into (and get) the components/upgrades you want one at a time, just like you would with a P-car. It makes the $$$ pain more tolerable if you do it in little pieces and you can either sell off your original components or keep them as spares.

Or you can go down to your LBS (local bike shop) and have them put you on a modern carbon frame bike with decent components (Ultegra) for anywhere between probably $1,600 and $whatever out the door. The modern Pinarello frames are sicko awesome, but also insanely expensive. I'd feel like a total poseur riding a 12-pound bike at this point (plus I'm old school and like steel). I need to tune up the engine before I start worrying about 10ths of a gram here and there on the machine, ya' know what I mean?

If you have some cashola saved and are gonna' stick with it for sure, start researching. Try bikeforums.net and lurk a bit or ask some ?s. Talk to some bike shop guys. Definitely try a bunch of different frames to decide what you like/want before you plop down that much coin. If $$$ is tight, save up and get a used one.

Here's another couple just to tease. . . I'm like that.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Weirdness:



Here's the article:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/baby.heads.ap/index.html

Insert your bad jokes about girls being "two-faced" here. . .

[BRPORSCHE]

Jeff,
WOW! Thanks for the write-up! I never knew it could be so expensive, ok I did, but your bike didn't look 2 grand to me! When I think of that price I want to see Carbon and looks for words like Titanium. Not steel and 1980's frame. I have been searching around for around a week and still very knew to the game. I am willing to spend right around half of my income return. A few of my friends have 'Kona' bicycles. They mainly offroad so I can't try out a roadbike. Also, regarding the fitment of the bike. How do I know my inseam? Do I just need to go to a bike shop and get fitted on one bike? Is this fitment universal to all makes?

This is the bike I am looking at.
http://www.konaworld.com/08_dew_w.htm


P.S I am going to get the wackiest team outfit to wear when I ride. It's almost mandatory.

[billyboy]

[cashflyer]

This airplane was recently in the back of Motor Trend, parked next to a white 911. WHY? Read below....

This airplane has a very unique history. It was purchased by Porche Motors Ltd. in the mid-80's. They used it to demonstrate an aftermarket engine they designed. N172PA was extensively modified by them to help sell their engines. Most of the work listed above was completed by them. The project was scrapped in the late 80's and N172PA had its Porsche engine removed and it was placed in storage for over 10 years. It was purchased in 2000 and returned to Cessna original new firewall forward condition in 2001, with the exception that the original Lycoming H2AD O-320 engine was replaced by a Lycoming D2J O-320 engine. The non-engine related mod's done by Porsche were all retained and the aircraft received the addition of the Powerflow exhaust and digital engine instruments during its restoration.

http://www.mclainenterprises.com/cessna172pa/

[m325ix]

Edited - pics removed. -Z-man.

[id10t]

well, those probably won't last long...