Lincoln, NE from RAPHA on Vimeo.

Not sure how many of you know but I spent my 3rd grade year in a small town in Nebraska.  Besides leaving my friends in Montana my time in Nebraska was fun, relatively uneventful, but fun.  I thought my teacher, Mrs. Peterson, was pretty, I could see my sister (we had an open classroom school) in her 6th grade class which was incredibly comforting.    I was kicking some serious butt in my AAU midget wrestling weight class, the kid across the alley from us had a new “gaming” system.   Ahhhh, hours of Pong.  I was generally living the dream…

For my Mom and Dad it was not so enjoyable.  To make this long story short; after a night of heavy drinking my father dawned his newly acquired “Happiness is Alliance Nebraska in my rear view mirror” t-shirt and we jumped in the U-Haul and made a B Line “Home”.  Our future was uncertain, what was certain was our happiness was deeply rooted in Montana. I have been back to Nebraska several times and even did a stint in Omaha back in my trading days.  All of which were prior to the now infamous, Manifest Destiny.  I now find myself wanting to return to Nebraska, to do this ride.  AE and I talked about it soon after he finished and then again when he returned to Jet City.  It was hard, windy, and dirty.  Combine that with will and determination, sprinkle in a great group of guys and they may have proven my father and his t-shirt wrong. At least for 150 painful miles.
This Rapha Continental video is hands down my favorite to date.

I wonder when Aaron will send his first updates from his new Flip HD Camera?

Don’t know how to surf? Check it. How To Surf

I went for a ride this last Sunday with Aaron E. (see previous Rapha Continental post). Needless to say, the ride was excellent and we spent much of the time getting to know each other a bit better. Reality is, I am pretty sure that I got more out of it than Aaron. Simply due to the fact that I was fortunate enough to learn about his job and the company that he works for, Simulab what a facinating company and rewarding place to work. Click on the image to check more out on Simulab. Ground breaking stuff.

From Simulab’s site:
Simulab is a market leader in the development of realistic, portable, and affordable medical simulators and surgical simulators for a wide array of educational and medical training needs.

TraumaMan SystemWith research and development efforts focused on anatomical realism and product innovation, Simulab has contributed significant advances to the field of medical simulation. The TraumaMan® System, an advanced trauma surgery trainer, has virtually replaced the use of human cadavers and live animals for the leading surgical education society’s Advanced Trauma Surgical Skills Practicum, and both the CentraLineMan System and the FemoraLineMan System, central venous simulators, offer replaceable tissues that are unmatched in realism and respond to ultrasound imaging for needle guidance. Simulab’s capabilities simulating soft tissue and hard tissue also expand to customized solutions for clinicians, medical educators, and medical device companies worldwide. These custom products include a variety of tissue simulations, bone models, and display solutions.

CVC TrainersSimulab collaborates with leading educators worldwide and bringing our specialized knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes to the medical model and simulation industry. Simulab is located in Seattle, Washington, USA, just minutes from the highly acclaimed University of Washington School of Medicine. Simulab has four U.S. patents granted and twelve pending for anatomical technology, videoendoscopic technology and various methods.

And you can RENT TraumaMan! I smell a bar-b-que with a special guest. I wonder if I would pass out when I cut into TraumaMan?

I know that many folks are posting these videos from Rapha (as well they should). They represent a greater part of me. Sure, the love of cycling, the simple nature of being on your bike. The folks at Rapha have an uncanny knack for capturing and speaking to the right brained side of cycling… They often speak to the artist in me that sees the beauty in the tree lined climbs, the effort that is given and shared in order to get out of the wind, the elements, and to the finish line. Few can argue that the aesthetics of their cycling clothing [how they earn a living] is unparalleled. I am betting that even the non cycling readers will see the beauty in their “art” on and off the bike and perhaps convince some of you to to dusk off that old beast in the garage.

I wonder if Cora is ready for a Skuut Balance Bike
yet?