factory viait.

yesterday i drove a thousend kilometers... but it was worth it, as i got to visit the cannondale bike company factory. it was really hard to find it!!
the tour was interesting and enlighting. i went through all the manufaturing process, and got to ask alot of questions.
they have some cool bikes, and alot of cool people. it is located in bedford, a little blue collar town, and the people are "regular" people... not bike riders, just people who love their jobs, and create great bikes. i always had a thing with cannondale, especially their racing hardtails. yumm...

you know its new york...

when a guy in harlem washes his car with the fire thingy... typical new york, isn't it?
and when your pizza is that good. in fact, it was so good, that i had another slice...
bank leumi seems to make enough money off our backs in israel, that it has a branch on 7th av. money making money... i heard the dollar bills smell better that way. ha!

single in the city...

this town is crazy!! i forgot how this city feels alive... it took me 20 minutes of riding, and i became as crazy as those bike messangers, going into on coming traffic on 7th avanue, all the way up from 23rd to the park. it was c-r-a-z-y... i love it! and this guy is the famous "naked cowboy", and believe it or not, he is sponsored...
the weather was better today, and by lunch time the whole park was filled with hot girls sun bathing, in their bekinis, and buff guys staring at those hot girls. it was funny... this city is so touristy, its amazing...
the obligatory times squere picture. i took all the pictures my self, so if they are a little off, well, suck it up!!!

more road pictures...

since the drive was long, i will put some more pics from it... crazy motorbikes crossing the country.
and the road "trains". three trailers. they go faster than i do.
sunset on the move, somwhere in ohio.
next pictures will be of the big apple. wwoooohhhhhhhooooo!!!

the things i have seen....

man' that was a long one... this was my view, right in front of me, in the past 3 days. cruise control set to a little over 65 miles an hour, and blury vision, having spent 50 hours at the helm...
nebraska. nuff' said!
damn those truck drivers... they never, ever, ever (!!!)- turn off their engine. never. its like they're afraid their truck would die, or explode. i could not sleep in the rest areas because of that. so it was another night infront of some dude's house, in utah, nebraska and ohio.

at least i made it to new york. its like a 100 degrees here, and a 100 pecent humidity. yukk.

even a 3000 mile trip....

starts with a single pedal stroke. (the famous rider- confucicycle...)
my trip begins now. i will not be anywhere near intenet, so next post will come from the cannondale factory, where i will be visiting on thursday.
wish me luck.

show me your chain line....

and i will tell you who you are. a good chain line is the base for a good bike design, and is very important when it comes to single speeds. i have been working on it for the past month, and now i think i found it. perfect.
the trails of bend are known for eating your bike...
in my eyes, everybody needs a 1970's porsche 911. oh lord, won't you buy me... etc, etc...

back to school...

today i was a student. i went to ann's university, "oregon state university", and sat in a class that was studying about the middle east through the western eyes. it was interesting, and i even participated and brought up a few points of my own, being from the area, you know... after that, we went pedaling in a kanoe on the river, which was great, but a little boring. no biking today, then... again...
god, i love this town! i do not want to leave. ever.

live up to my name...

in hebrew, "hanoch" means- educate. well, today i was a teacher. i answerd questions at the oregon state university, in a class full of students. it was all about pop culture, and how it effects different parts of the world. i was the study case. and as all of you know by now, i am the perfect example for pop culture... and how it gets to every part of the world.
i know all the american shows, all the great movies, and alot of music artists, mostly because as a pro rider i have alot of time on my hand, and i watch lots of TV back home in israel.
hhmmmmm.... TV. (i don't have one in my motorhome...).
it was a great day in bend. i don't want to leave this place.

reflection...

you see that smile i have on my face? this is how i feel. simple, huh? let a guy ride his single speed around some wicked trails that last forever, and you've got yourself one happy camper.
today i met a great guy on the trails of bend- patrick. he showed me some awesome trails, and i used his rudy projects to take this photo. thanks patrick.

break on through....

to the other side.
well, change of plans. my parents are coming earlier..! so i am about to go on a loooooooong trip- to new york city. its 3000 miles, but i will not do it all at once. i will drive to boise, idaho, and ride around there for 2 days, and then i will drive to pennsylvania, for a visit to cannondale's factory, for a magazine story.
now that sounds like a plan.

jump!!

today we went on a hike. we didn't ride nor biked, so at least we got some workout.
then we went climbing up the big dune on the beach.
the views were great. very sandy though...

single speed productions present:

H redlich stars in the motion picture of the year: the oregonian. a true story of one happy single speeder, who embarks on a 110 kilometer road ride, along the very hilly oregonian pacific coast.
featuring breath taking views, cold clean air, and green trees. lots and lots of green trees. join our hero, as he struggles to climb up the huge ascents, and fights the cold northwest wind. he only has a ratio of 32\17, so on the flats he pedals like a rider on crack, and forgot just how painful it is to ride 4 hours on the road. join him on his greatest adventure yet!
coming soon to a bike trail near you.

again...

even if you are not a pro (and believe me, i am not one...), at least look the part.
as we walked into the water i felt like in that seinfeld episode, when george wanted to save the whale, because he was a "marine biologist...". well, i drank so much ocean water, and got beaten by the waves... it is sooooo hard to surf. kudos for those cool guys who do it daily.
ann and jeff were chillin' on the beach after i drank all the water in the pacific ocean.

surfs up!!!

well, i am off to a surfing weekend. i do not know what i am getting my self into, as i have never surfed in my life. but all the cool guys do it. so i want to do it also.
i am cool. i am hip. look.... takakakakakakakakaka. hey, makarena.

its the little things....

that make or break your day. it started badly with rain, and a car problem...
and then, when all seemed to go in the wrong direction, the sun came out, and i could ride again...
then i was invited to jeff's and his girlfriend's house, where i could shower, and leave the water running while i soaped!!! and where i found this trampoline, and discovered my inner child.
it is so much fun!

time to move on...

more than a week in the same place, and i am itching to go out on the roads again. i think that saturday sounds like a good time to leave. i heard of a race near by, and i will drive there, and maybe even race... meanwhile i am waiting for a new wheel from the trek guys, and maybe some new clothing... there is an open stage jam tomorrow, so i might go play the drums and be the rock star i really am... (ahmm).

somtimes....

its a little lonely here in the motorhome. usually at night, after the streets are empty of cars and people. after i get back from friends, or from an evening ride. when all that is left is to go to sleep... then it feels a little lonely. no one to speak to, or share the day's adventures with. even on a regular day, when nothing really happens. "got up, went to the coffee shop, rode my bike, went to the movies, had dinner..."- your regular everyday stuff. being alone on the roads is a big adventure for one to take upon himself. boooooo hoooooo.

weather...

it is unusually rainy in bend, oregon, since i got into town... could i have any influence on the weather? i highly doubt it. the dress code around here runs from guys in shorts and t's, to girls in coats and boots. i hope it will all clear up soon, as i am a little tired of the rain.

some things change....

some stay the same. today is memorial day here in the states, and i went to the local cemetery to pay some respect. being that i am a part of a family who lost a soldier, i felt obliged to do so. cemeteries are a sad place. quiet, and peaceful. i hate cemeteries. the rows of little flags, and the names on the stones were a loud reminder of whats wrong with this world. celebrate the weekend as you please, just remember.