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Here's the CHUNK kit in action, as featured by Brandon in the video short, AMBITION.

Chunk debunks shrinkage

While visiting family up in Northern Virginia a couple weekends ago I had the luxury of getting out for a nice Sunday morning ride. Weatherman had my back as the high was to be in the mid 50's, alas that was afternoon high. Tartar sauce!

After careful embrocation calculation and selection of my favorite red argyle socks I set outside to get ready for the blast that would be with me for the next hour or more. TV says it's 45 out, it's all good.

If ever a ginormous ball of flame could be a good thing, today was that day! The sun beamed brightly and my wiener wanted to get in on some of the action!



Have a great day peeps

Riding On My Bicycle

So, after a half-assed search, it looks like I've misplaced my copy of Life's Too Good-- actually I've found the case, but no disc. It's probably doubled up with another cd I had in the car around the time of it's alleged disappearance. Anyway, while waiting for Chuck's post about cold weather riding and shrinkage, I thought I'd throw this video up here as some visual filler-- Not only does it offer everything I could possibly want in a music video, it also features one of the coolest cycling jerseys I've ever seen. If you are cruising the ebay late at night and happen upon a Vibor team jersey, size 3/medium, please let me know IMMEDIATELY!
   
     While I'm on the subject of jerseys, you should know that we are doing a second run of the CHUNK kit. Order deadline is April 15, so let me know if you are interested.

The CHUNK Guide To: The Moka Pot

For making delicious coffee, you really can't beat the french press. In just four minutes, you are enjoying a excellent cup of java and you can pretty much be guaranteed of this every time if you've been attentive and have followed the directions. Despite intimidating some, the same is true for the moka pot-- and it's really just as easy. The biggest difference between the brewing methods is that you are going to get about half the amount of coffee you'd get with a press pot, but it's going to deliver twice the punch. Here's how you do it:

Make sure you grind your beans just before you start- you can use the funnel of the moka pot to measure the amount you will need. Grind the beans so that they are just a bit finer than pre-ground coffee, but don't turn them into dust. If you are using a blade style grinder, give the beans short blasts followed by a shake of the grinder to allow the bigger chunks of the beans to fall to the bottom as you grind away.

The result should look something like this-- pour the grounds into the top of the funnel and level them off with your index finger. You can use the palm of your hand to pack them down so that they are level with the top of the funnel. Now, carefully remove the funnel and set it aside- you can stand it upright in your coffee cup to prevent it from getting knocked over. Notice the towel under the bottom half of the moka pot, you will need this in a later step, so have one ready.

If you haven't started to boil your water, it's time to. Just like Olympia beer, the key ingredient is the water. Norfolk has a decent water supply and only second in taste to what comes out of the ground in Burlington NC, so I just use cold tap water. Boil the water and get your towel folded lengthwise into thirds and place it under the bottom half of the moka pot as seen in the picture below.

Because you are after an awesome cup of coffee, you are going to boil the water before you pour it into the base of the moka pot. Heating up the water inside of the pot without pre-boiling the water will make your coffee taste nasty-- metallic nasty and doing it this way is going to make you some of the best coffee you've ever had. Carefully pour the water up to the fill line inside the base of the pot and fold each end of the towel up and around the bottom to protect your hand as you securely screw the top of the moka pot on with the other one. It should be nice and tight, but don't kill it.

It's go time! With the lid open, move the moka pot onto the burner- if it's a gas stove, make sure the flame doesn't creep past the edge of the bottom or you will burn / melt off the pot's handle. Continue to keep the lid open. After you get the pot on the burner, run the towel under cold water, fold it lengthwise into thirds again and place it back on the counter.

Focus your attention back to the pot now. You will soon  hear a "cough" or see a puff of steam emit from the center spout. As the coffee begins to stream out it will be very dark-- as it fades from amber to blonde in color, close the top, remove the moka pot from the stove and place it onto the center of the folded wet towel. Carefully bring up the edges of the towel around the bottom of the pot to stop the brewing process.

That's it! Pour immediately into your favorite cup and enjoy. If you have followed these steps, you will have one strong, but extremely smooth cup of coffee.

Monster Cross Course Recce

It was a wintry day in Chesterfield, VA. Temps were in the low 30's. A mix of snow and sleet was falling between the bare trees that surrounded the muddy cyclocross course. If you were dumb enough to be out in this weather at Pocahontas State Park, you would have seen two Team CHUNK riders laboriously trying to make up for failed race preparation by getting a sneak peek of the Monster Cross course. That's right. The smell of mud and embrocation was in the air.

If you blinked you would have missed us. We intended to ride 26 miles, but dadgum it was cold! We only lasted about 8, but we looked good doing it! Definitely excited for next week's race. Chuck is riding in the 40+ division and Erin will ride the 26-mile route. Come out to watch us and the other Team CHUNK riders crush it at Monster Cross 2012!

The Answer Is: Today

It's official, CHUNK kits are here-- get in touch with me to arrange pick up. Once again, Brandon scores first. I expect to be seeing Mr. Miller pretty soon in second place and he better have one of those signed Zach heads with him.

Giddy About Twitter

Follow Chunk on Twitter at Chunkcyclocross. We just received a shout out from Zach McDonald! He says:

@Chunkcyclocross thanks for stopping by the shop!

I guess he didn't find us as creepy as I thought he did. See image below for referenced creepiness:

Yes, those are custom Zach Heads made by Zach's loving mother. They're autographed and sure to be a fixture at Chunk events this year.

I'm Lovin' It

Got a call from Chunk Miller saying that he and Erin had a chance run in with U23 Cyclocross National Champ, Zach McDonald at a bike shop in Seattle.

Team

Thank you to everyone who recently purchased CHUNK team kit. To commemorate our inaugural year, we will be offering our first team t-shirt. Stolen from Gage+DeSoto, who stole from Experimental Jetset, who stole from Sonic Youth, who stole from Musical Youth..., it displays our team riders names in gray and celeste and of course, it's set in Helvetica.

Crossmore 2011

Exactly two months from it's inception, CHUNK was featured at Trashmore CX. Thanks to D.B.O., we've got this sweet group photo to prove it.

CHUNK Store

 

The CHUNK Store is now open on the Voler site until November 27, so we've got a little more time to get our orders in. If you haven't seen it already, here's a look at the final design of the 2012 team jersey. Let me know if you have any questions about the ordering process- Thanks again.

Shameless Self Promotion

 

Whether it's chewing bubble gum, kicking ass or both, it doesn't matter, just as long as you're wearing your CHUNK jersey. Remember the order deadline for CHUNK team kit is Monday, November 14. Thanks.

Mr. "Chunk" Miller

I still can't remember where the nickname came from, maybe it was one of Mr. C.H. Lowery's creations-- who by the way, now resides in a transplanted Rancho-Relaxo in Nashville. You know, we should drop by and pay him a visit one day.