Ya'll remember that computer game from the early 90's? My elementary school world studies teacher let us play the game if we aced the quizes. I was one of the top geography scholars at G.W. Carver Elementary School, so I spent some serious time with Carmen. She was a mysterious world-traveling babe who sent home clues about where she was hiding, and then you had to try and pinpoint her location. I'm sure I wasn't the only 11 year-old who thought she was seriously hot stuff.

I must confess my opinion still hasn't changed that much.

But I digress.

I've been getting lots of emails lately. Most of them are from a Kenyan banker who wants to transfer $5.4 million dollars into my bank account... but there are a few notes from friends saying "where the hell ya been, man?"

Well, I'll tell you.

Ian and I have been going full-bore with Happy Rickshaw. The last 3 months have been a whirlwind tour through the world of small business ownership, and I'm proud to say we've left a few skidmarks along the way.

People just love the 'shaws, and we've carried in excess of 700 poeple in our first 3 weeks of service. The 12 Happy Rickshaw drivers are quickly gaining celebrity status in Charlottesville.

Besides workin' the rickshaw business, I've been learning to sail with my babe,

capturing deadly spiders,

and playing with wooden blocks.

I promise it won't be a month before I make my next posting. Thanks for reading, people.

p.s. I also want to give props to Team Snow Valley racer, 2skinnypros reader, and allaround stud Tim Gresh, who's been documenting his recovery from some nasty back troubles on his website.

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What can I say? I'm swamped. I refuse to give anything up. It's all getting done.

I'm sitting here in my spin mix cockpit 11:30pm putting together a spin mix for tomorrow's hi-NRG class at UVA, and I'm starving. I can hear my stomach gurgle over my headphones. I'm working on the track transition between Chumbawumba's Tubthumping & Cascada's Everytime we Touch. It's not easy when all I can think about is a Five Guys burger and some burning hot fries. I get knocked down, but I get up again, to get a burger. I am trying to slip some Phil Collins into the mix. My class loves it. Anyway, since I've started to get back into training, the appetite is steadily gaining momentum. Before too long it'll be back to 7,000 calorie days. That's when eating becomes annoying.

Happy Rickshaw had a very successful weekend. Things are really coming together!!! We did a football game and 3 nights of service. The work is continuous, though. I love it, but there's no break. The to-do list keeps growing. Of course, prioritization is critical. Most important is the company debut party next week. We're sending out invitations tomorrow. Next item is to design happyrickshaw.com. I am going to design the site like a pro for a change... using CSS and div tags and lots of PHP nonsense. No more tables. I feel like a child who's giving up his dearest blankie.

Also, I am realizing that I need to get some rad rickshaw driver clothes and gear. Happy Rickshaw apparel is fourthcoming, but in the meanwhile, I need some of those leather aviator hat/goggles, and a jacket with lots of external pockets and discolorations. I don't know what kind of pants would be totally rad, but suggestions are welcome.

Ross McDermott is one of Happy Rickshaw's drivers. He's a cool guy and I hope you get the honor of taking a ride with him one day. He's also a phenomenal photographer. His website: http://surfacebelow.com. He took some photos for us. Check out a little photo album of rickshaw happiness here: http://uva.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31532467&id=1520698&l=9896f

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This kind of stuff cracks me up.

(please excuse the shoddy touch-up work)

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It's too often that life starts messin' with ya. Wouldn't you agree? Too often... Little this-and-thats jumping in your way like an angry midget stomping on a flaming bag of shit.

Well, for me, cycling fights the midget. Even as a high ranking systems engineer, I sometimes lose the forest in the trees. Thankfully, most of the forests are being cut down, and there's Google Earth.

I rode today with the Bizza and Winck. Here's the Bizza's ride email:
great weather
4pm
gy
3hrs
sketchy gravel + carter's mtn summit
ballin it on the hills, regroup after

let me know if you're in

pb

So, we balled it. It wasn't ballin' like basketball... it was ballin' like bowling. We bowled this mofo. I bowled like 25 midgets with this ride.

After 2 hours of "bowling" we came to the base of the Carter's Mountain climb. I'd never done the full climb because there's a big gate that says "NO TRESPASSING, anyone" on it. But, since the Bizza is a master of the imperceptible peer-press, we decided to climb it. We weavered our way through the apple orchard and passed the 17 large radio & microwave towers (danger radiation) and made our way to the most beautiful peak around.

The true summit of Carter's Mountain is private. There's a lush grassy field with a small cairn sitting on a larger rock at the very peak. There's a 270 degree view of Virginia. It's stunning. You can see the Blue Ridge forever, and if it were clear enough, it feels like your eyes could stretch across the flatland to the Atlantic. The air was sweet and warm, and the sky was deep blue. It was perfect.

We then went down the steepest freaking road I've ever descended. All my blood rushed to my face. I felt like my back wheel was gonna come around and knock me upside the head.

It was the greatest of rides. The midgets are now in the infirmary, but they'll be back another day. Until then, I'll be drinking recovery drink and massacring my to-do list.

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Happy Rickshaw, LLC
Charlottesville, VA
CONTACT: Christoph Herby
rickshaw@2skinnypros.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICKSHAW SERVICE DEBUTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Happy Rickshaw Offers Downtown and University Communities Offbeat Transportation Alternative
Charlottesville, VA - October 6, 2006 - On Friday, September 29th Happy Rickshaw carried its first passengers on a pedal-powered lap around Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. A rickshaw (also known as a "pedicab" or "pedal cab") is a three-wheeled specialty bicycle equipped with seatbelts, safety lights, and powerful disc brakes that can carry up to 3 passengers. Happy Rickshaw operates Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the downtown and University vicinities. Additionally, Happy Rickshaw will run at UVA football games, major events at the Pavilion and JPJ Arena, and private functions like weddings and company parties.

Happy Rickshaw is the brainchild of two recent UVA graduates, Ian Ayers and Christoph Herby. Both Ayers and Herby are professional cyclists who race throughout the United States and internationally. Charlottesville is home base for the bike racers, who love to train in the scenic rolling hills of Central Virginia. The two athletes developed their friendship while competing in the collegiate ranks for the cycling club at UVA. Having observed rickshaws in China as well as the United States, the two cyclists saw an opportunity to broaden Charlottesville's transportation horizons. "We developed the idea while training together this summer, and I thought it just might be the perfect job. We get to ride bikes and go out on the town at the same time... it hardly feels like work!" explains Ayers.

While the sight of pedicabs may come as a surprise to many locals, this transportation solution has successfully taken to the streets of other progressive cities like San Francisco, Missoula, and Charleston. The human-powered cabs are a step forward in developing a more sustainable community, but most passengers are simply drawn by the joy of traveling in the open air on an old-fashioned carriage. "I think pedicabs offer a fun and environmentally-friendly way for people to get where they need to go, and they may help to ensure that the heart of our City feels like it is a space designed more for people than for cars," says Alia Anderson, director of the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation.

Happy Rickshaw employs a jovial crew of experienced local cyclists to power the pedicabs. While the work is challenging, pedicab drivers tout the benefits of a job that enables them to deliver their passion for cycling to the lively streets of Charlottesville. "Nothing compares to the rush of hearing passengers giggle with excitement as I kick the pedicab into high gear. It's downright fun!" declares Herby.

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Happy Rickshaw is a limited liability corporation registered in Charlottesville, VA. For more information please contact Christoph Herby via email at rickshaw@2skinnypros.com, or call 540-555-5555.

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