this morning I got on my single speed and rode through the rolling hills of Gallating Valley to get to work. having replaced my chainring in the front with a bigger one and after buying a pump I finally feel equipped for such a journey and not worry about being stranded somewhere in between.

all the while, I felt like people thought I am crazy. at my work they do, on the road the seemed to. but when I visited the bike shops around town mentioning what it is I’d like to do on my single speed stallion, they seemed to think it was a splendid idea. montana is for badasses. I like walking into a ski/bike shop and knowing that everyone who works there is a ripper in some sport or another. a fact that I find endearing as well as somewhat annoying at times. I think because everyone here is such a badass, sometimes they forget to stop competing each other.. or just forget that not everyone is competitive about it.

I love Bozeman. I have made a lot more friends lately and surprisingly enough I have made a lot of female friends. last night I went to Music on Main again and for the first time I felt like I was actually a part of something… part of a group of 8 blond chicks in fact. hot ones at that too. it was a sudden and strange occurrence and somehow basking in the light of all these beautiful, strong women was very powerful. I was intrigued by the sudden elated feeling of empowerment and comfort. I was fascinated that this simple fact had such an effect on me even enough to notice.