Objective Jerk
Army Veteran Asshole that is learning to love Jesus. I use my MIC / Platform as a form of "Therapy", no schedule, no script, just whatever is floating my boat at the moment.
Objective Jerk
THE PERFECT DAY: Mass, Mountain Biking, and Getting Stuff Done
Exploring the challenges of updating mountain bike equipment and adapting riding techniques to new gear while finding balance between physical activity, spirituality, and daily responsibilities.
• Transitioning from a 2008 Specialized Hard Rock frame to a newer Kenz frame with updated geometry
• Experiencing easier climbing with new frame geometry but dealing with frequent pedal strikes
• Upgrading from 27.5" to 29" wheels to reduce pedal strikes while maintaining improved climbing ability
• Learning to time pedal strokes and anticipate terrain features to prevent pedal strikes
• Adding a dropper post for seamless transitions between climbing and descending sections
• Finding the perfect balance between mountain biking, attending mass, and accomplishing household tasks
• Comparing local food safety practices with experiences in the United States
• Reflecting on Pope Francis and speculating about potential successors
Again, thanks for hanging out with me!
Please feel free to comment or send an email to theobjectivejerk@gmail.com
What is up? This is the Objective, jerk, and I'm Sad, jerk, how you doing? Ooh, lots of energy, huh, ooh. What's going on? Everybody Hope everybody's doing. Well, I'm doing pretty good, pretty good.
Speaker 1:You know, I listened to another, did some stuff yesterday and I listened to Joe Rogan and he had what's his face. The guy directed Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn, robert Rodriguez, there we go. So I'm just kind of like dude. Hollywood actors and directors, they're all except for, like Clint Eastwood. There's a couple, but they're all just freaking retards, liberal idiots, you know. And I just was like, and I don't even know if this dude's a liberal or not, I think he's like more middle but but he's so inspirational and so smart and just like very level-headed and very, you know, objective about things and just kind of I don't know like I was. I was actually very surprised and and uh stuff. So it was kind of interesting so and it was a little inspirational. So I mean, if it's something that you like, I would recommend listening to it. The robert rodriguez one and plus, yeah, he, that's when I started getting into movies, you know, when I first started going to the movie theater with my friends, you know, and desperado was one of the first movies I went and saw, not the first, but you know it was around that time. I loved that movie and then, and then From Dusk Till Dawn, fell in love with Salma Hayek. Four Rooms, I thought was hilarious. Never really watched the Spy Kids, sin City. The first one was cool. What else did he do? He did that Alita Battle Angel thing which I have, but I haven't watched it yet and I don't know. He's done some other stuff. Oh, the Grindhouse movies, although his Grindhouse one was my least favorite one, the thing he did with. You know, you had Death Proof and then you had the other one, but anyway, but yeah, so it was just. It was actually a different podcast than I was expecting, so it was kind of interesting. So I listened to that. A different podcast than I was expecting, so it was kind of interesting. So I listened to that a lot yesterday when I was painting, doing some painting in the house and stuff and trying to organize and clean and everything. But yeah, trying to get some stuff done, love getting stuff done Just makes me feel better. You know what I mean Getting something accomplished. My room right here that I'm currently sitting in is a freaking disaster right now, but I had to clean and organize another to make room for some stuff that's got to go in there. So this is my next project, but right today I'm doing yard work with the family Went mountain biking this morning by myself because my son didn't want to get up.
Speaker 1:I rode this trail that we call B&B trail and, um, it's like a I don't know cross-country kind of enduro sort of like trail. You know, um, you can. You can go at it two different ways. The way I like to go is you. You pretty much have to push up the first part and you got to just hike and push your bike up most of it, which is fine, because when you come back down it's awesome. But then you get up there and there's just lots of twists and turns and ups and downs and you know some climbs and some rocking, some turn. You know it's like it's you gotta, you gotta. It's very technical in some points, you know, but it's fun.
Speaker 1:I've always liked it. It needs some trimming, really bad brushes and stuff like that and we used to keep up with it a couple years ago. Well, we kind of at least I kind of quit riding for a little while, um, but um, so it's like I want to trim it, but then it's like, man, rainy season is coming, so it seems like it's kind of pointless because we'll trim it up and then you know August time or wherever we decide to ride again after the rainy season. I mean the rainy season, it's not like it rains nonstop, but it rains heavy as hell, like it's either in the morning and then it's like it seems like it starts off in the morning and then it moves to the afternoon. So when it's raining in the morning I can't go riding, but when it rains in the afternoon, that'll be a good time to go riding. So I'll just go in the morning, right, but that's you plus. Then when, when, when the rain comes down, it's going to wash a lot of the leaves and a lot of stuff that's on the trail right now. So that'll be nice, but, um, yeah, it's a fun trail.
Speaker 1:Um, I wish you know I've spoken that my wife has some properties, but they're all low level, like there's no hills or small mountain range or whatever to kind of make a trail out of. That'd be so awesome if there was, but you should keep my eyes open for a piece of property that's just just big enough to put a trail on. You know, to ride down that'd be cool, um, but so I've, you know I've, I've. I've changed bikes. Right, I talked about my frame. I had a 2008 specialized hard rock frame, which I still have, but I'm not riding anymore, and then I bought this Kenz frame, which is a newer, you know it's updated geometry, it's I don't know, people at the bike shop called it Endduro, but I think enduro is full suspension. Technically, I don't know, but anyway, and so the bike is great, it's I've.
Speaker 1:You know, I've noticed immediately it's just a little easier to climb because it's like I'm lower to the ground. You know it's because before I was like shorter and I was up higher, so, like you know, climbing was like a little more difficult. So now it's like the bike is stretched out a little bit and I'm a little bit lower, so it's easier to climb. The problem is, though, is I get pedal strikes a lot. You know I hit pedals on rocks and whatever, and you know it did happen with my other bike occasionally, but now it's like it's, it's, it's a lot. I mean, it was happening like crazy when I had the 27 and a half wheels on. That's why I upgraded to 29 as quick as I could, cause it was like it was just nonstop, just crack, crack, crack. Oh, I can't ride like this. So the 29ers are it's. You know, it alleviates a little bit of that, but they're still because I'm so much lower to the ground than my old frame. It makes it, it makes my riding.
Speaker 1:I have to adjust the way I ride. I got to change the way I ride, basically. Basically, you know what I mean. Um, I mean going downhill. You know you level your pedals out anyway, so that's not a problem, but you know, it's like I just, you know, if I do, if I am going downhill and I do have to pedal a little bit, I really have to pay attention when I'm gonna pedal, and I have to really think about it. So it's like, you know, the way I used to look at and focus, the things I used to focus on when I rode is changing a little bit. So now I really have to remember about my pedals. So when I see certain things come up, I have to change. You know, pedal before or pedal after, and just try and avoid the pedal strikes, you know.
Speaker 1:The thing that sucks, though, is when you're climbing, like if I'm climbing and there's a couple little it's like a difficult climb, you know, like it's fun going down, like just little teeny drops, I mean you can make it, but it's hard. But then it makes it that much harder, like when I'm trying to pedal, and then it's like you have to like time it just right to like kind of pedal really hard, get over the hump so you can pass it, to continue pedaling, so your pedals don't strike the little drop-offs or the little step or whatever it is. You know what I mean. So it's yeah, so it's like I'm kind of having to relearn how to ride. But I mean I guess that goes with anything, though you know it's just like if you get a different car, it feels and drives a little different, you know. So you just have to get used to it. So that's all you know.
Speaker 1:I mean I think it's. I mean, would I like it to where I didn't have pedal strikes? Yeah, but I don't think I would have the, the ease of climbing like it's, I don't know. So when there's not a huge, you know big rocks or certain whatever, like it's. Just, you know it's so much easier, but I just I really do have to focus on where I'm at when I have to pedal. And you know, and I kind of, just, you know pedal a little earlier, of just you know, pedal a little earlier to build some momentum, get over something, so I can level my pedals and then pedal afterward. You know, it's just a different and there are probably some people that's like, oh yeah, dude, that's how you ride retard. Yeah, okay, I know, but it's not how I've had to ride lately, you know. So it's.
Speaker 1:I've had, you know, I had an old style frame. The geometry was, you know, old. So yeah, it's just one of the pros and cons. I guess you know it's like it's is it? Is it a switch or what's? What's the right word I'm trying to think of? Is it? I don't know. Is it worth it, the pedal strikes? Is it worth the climbing and the riding? I think so Because, like I said, I can. I just got to change the way I ride a little bit for the pedal strikes to not be such a burden. You know what I mean. So it's just, you know.
Speaker 1:I mean it's like, you know, when you go downhill and you're going fast and you go on a turn, you would kind of, instead of being your pedals leveled out, you would rotate your pedals so that the whatever side you're turning on that pedal's up higher so you don't hit the ground. You know, there's little things like that that I've always done or not, but I mean I've worked on or learned to do, or not, but I mean I've worked on or learned to do, but but now it's just with this new frame, it's it's. I do have to kind of pay attention more to where my pedals are and if I'm gonna have to pedal or not. You know, I mean, like before, it was just more like my posture and picking the right route. And then, you know, just trying to avoid, like big rocks or you know, if there's a drop off coming, just you know, get in the right position. That was basically just the right positions and stuff. And, of course, like the dropper posts, you know, or shifting your gears.
Speaker 1:So I was like you see, something you're gonna have to do some climbing. You got to get your gears ready, you know, and like there's some parts on this trail that I forgot, cause I we used to ride it all the time, so I had it down. So it was like coming up, shift, shift, shift, shift. It was almost just like rally car racing. I don't know if you've ever seen those, those guys freaking haul ass on dirt road. This is actually much it's funner to watch than F1, I think.
Speaker 1:But you have two people and they have the route and they have it timed out and he's like, okay, left turn at whatever this and that, and he just dude, hauling ass through these turns and shifting like it's insane. So you kind of have to do that. You know to ride trails quick. You got to kind of do the same thing. So it's like you know you're haul, hauling ass, but then you know that there's gonna be a sharp turn and you have to climb. So you got to kind of start shifting your gears and get ready. So as soon as you get there you're in easy mode and you can get up that hill, things like that. You know like that's the kind of stuff that you know I'm accustomed to.
Speaker 1:But so now I have to add, my pedal strikes a little bit, just kind of I just got to be cognizant. It's not like it's a huge thing, but I just have to, um, you know, just be mindful of it more than I used to be. Anyway, I guess I could put even bigger wheels. Supposedly they got like 32s or something I heard. That's insane, that's a little too big. Like it feels weird the tires I got on now, cause I was used to the 27 and a half, so these ones like seem huge but 29s. But it's all right, it's fun, but yeah, I, I enjoy it. It's I gotta do it, I, but yeah, I enjoy it, I got to do it.
Speaker 1:I don't know why I didn't ride for so long. I just remember I was having problems with the bike. Like every time I went riding something would break and then I'd have to wait and get it to work. And I just was kind of like I think I just got. I just was in a depressed state and was like fuck it. And then, if I was ever in a mood to do it, but it's like I can't ride, gotta get it fixed, I gotta wait, and I just couldn't. You know what I mean. So finally I just pulled the trigger and was like, okay, I need to get a new drivetrain. And then you know, those that listen, they know, or you know that's how it started. And then now I have basically a whole new bike all because I was, um, what do you call it?
Speaker 1:Impulsive with the dropper post. It's so nice though. Dropper post is just really nice. I mean, if you like this one trail that is a good beginner trail that I was taking my son on it's mainly flat and climbing right, so you don't need to have the seat, the seat just is up the whole time so you just up, up, up, up up. Then once we get there and we're like, okay, we're going back down, then we lower the seat and then you just ride down. So I mean, you know you don't need a dropper post necessarily, but a lot of trails there's some down and there's some up and whatever. So when you got that dropper post makes a huge difference.
Speaker 1:And you know some people might be like, well, it's not like you're racing or whatever. You don't have for post makes a huge difference. And you know some people might be like, well, it's not like you're racing or whatever, you don't have to. No, it's like, yeah, I'm not, it's not, I'm not racing anybody, but it's nice to to hit these trails and not have to stop to adjust my seat post in order to, you know, conquer a climb or something. So it's, I don't know, it makes a big difference. Actually, it's pretty nice. Let's see when am I at 14. Yeah, I just kind of wanted to.
Speaker 1:I don't know, like all my the guys I ride with are, you know, either working or whatever doing this, and I was kind of talking about what I'm talking about right now, but it was on our GC, on messenger, and it was just like it's just not the same. You know, it's like I like to kind of discuss it a little bit and there is one dude that he's more into it than I am, like he's all about bikes and talking about the technicalities and this and that, like he would love to like talk about what I'm talking about right now. But he's a little bit younger and he's got his career and stuff in Manila and everything. So it's, you know, can't be bugging him all the time and everything. So it's you know, can't be bugging him all the time. But, um, but yeah, that's what's been going on with me.
Speaker 1:And then we got home today and I just started kind of doing some yard work, trimming some bushes and stuff and clearing out some stuff, taking it to the dump and just trying to get some stuff, get the yard looking a little better and stuff like that. Cause my wife wants to go on a trip tomorrow, I guess, and I'm just like, oh, I know she wants me to go. She's like you don't have to go and I'm like, yeah, okay, but I know she wants me to go and I'll probably have fun and stuff. It's just I don't know and I like I like to have time.
Speaker 1:The perfect day for me is, well, the perfect day would actually I can't do a perfect day because I can't go to mass and go riding. So it's like, but a perfect day would be go to mass and go riding. So I was like, but a perfect day would be maybe go riding in the morning and then go to mass and then come home and just get stuff done and that's it. You know what I mean. So, like I was going to go to mass today but for some reason I just was like I need to go riding, I need to go ride my bike. So that's what I did. I went riding Because Monday couldn't go to Mass because of the well, and then yesterday they don't do it in English which I could have went, I guess, but you know it's not in English. I mean, I don't know, I can't really hear. Even when they do it in English, it's still hard for me to hear a lot of what they. I definitely like the morning mass, though so much better, let's see. So there's that. There's that.
Speaker 1:Actually, I wasn't really paying attention to stuff in the news too much. Let's see, trump administration accuses University of Pennsylvania of violent sex discrimination. Dude, that guy, the trans swimmer guy still, it's just not some of the stuff that just stays in the um, what do you call it in the? There's a word for it, but I can't think of what it is, not atmosphere, but in the metasphere, is that what it is? That's what I'm trying to say. So right now, I can't think of what it is, not atmosphere, but in the metasphere, is that what it is? That's what I'm trying to say. So right now, I'm just kind of looking at some headlines just to see if there's anything to spark a conversation.
Speaker 1:Flesh-eating parasites spread USDA threatens Mexico's beef imports over fear of flesh-eating parasites spreading northward. Oh cool, I guess I don't have to worry about that, dude. That's one thing here, though, is you know, I don't know, I haven't had a problem. So there's lots of you know, vendors and and little restaurant type stuff and this and that, but they don't have to go through. They don't have to jump through the same hoops that you would if you were to try and start your own uh, eatery or or, or you know, food court or a little hot dog stand even, or anything like that. You know, you just have to get like a little license.
Speaker 1:You do like a kind of rinky dink kind of food handling, and then people do it and then they go out and it's like. You know, it's not the most healthy, safe kind of. I don't know, it's not bad. You know it's not like stuff. You see, like see those videos in India where they're like making food on the sidewalk with their hands and it looks disgusting, where they're like making food on the sidewalk with their hands and it looks disgusting. But, um, you know, it's just there's no, you know nobody's going around and just making sure that people are being clean and doing that. You know there is none of that. So it's just so. That's why there's some vendors that we don't go to, because they just don't seem to work in a clean manner. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:So why am I talking about this? Though there was a reason I was bringing this up? Oh, because the parasites and so I mean they have like the meat market and and stuff here and, like I said, you have people that have the fish and and, but you'll have. You don't have just like one person that has you know, meat to sell or whatever. There's a bunch of them so you can kind of pick and decide who you think is like a little cleaner maybe or whatever, um, you know to to buy from and stuff. You know, and I've been here five years and I haven't gotten like food poisoning, sick or anything like that. You know what I mean. So, and it used to happen, I swear it used to happen once a year in the States. So what does that tell you? You know? I just you know things are more organic here. That's a good thing.
Speaker 1:So I didn't really talk about the Pope, so the Pope passed away. It's kind of crazy. I did talk about the funeral a little bit, but what? Who, for all you Catholics out there? Who do you want to be the next Pope? Who do you think? Who do you hope is the next Pope? Um, I hope it's. Uh.
Speaker 1:So I watched this guy dang it. What's his name? I don't know. He's got a YouTube channel, but he's been talking about all the different prospects and doing like a little background on all of them. You know, and I think I want Sarah or Sarah, I don't know how you say his name, but he's a black dude from Africa, but everything like all his views and his platform, basically I like. So I kind of hope it's him, but he's more conservative, I guess. I mean, they're not really conservative or liberal or whatever, but if you have to classify it, pope Francis was a little more on the liberal side, and this guy, sarah, is a little more conservative, but he's older though too. And then there's a pope that's what's his name. He's a lot younger, so he would end up being Pope for a long time. But you know what? I kind of think that they shouldn't be a Pope longer than 10 years. Really, they shouldn't have a. You know, I don't know, I don't know what's his face, what was his name? Pope Benedict, was it? I think he was Pope Benedict, was it? I think he was Pope when I was born, and then it seemed like he was Pope forever. I guess he was pretty good.
Speaker 1:I haven't really, I just remember him growing up, but I haven't really researched much. I go through my periods of being super into Catholic history and whatever, being like super into Catholic history and whatever. Like I got my um Catholicism, not Catholicism catechism book I've read a little bit, but not I haven't read it. Lately I've been kind of slacking on the Bible too. So it's like I go through periods where I'm I'm really just want to absorb as much knowledge and information and history on Catholicism as I can and then I won't do anything, for I mean I still pray and this and that and go to mass, obviously, um, but uh, yeah, I don't know, I'm just weird. I kind of I think that's my bipolarism or whatever you want to. I don't know if it's, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Oh, hey, gene Hackman, what's going on? Let's see. I guess I saw some pictures where it looks like his house was a little nasty. I don't know, we're a little cluttered anyway. Kind of crazy man, gene Hackman. So that was kind of a bummer. You know, he's been around. He's been around forever. The uh, what is it? I have um, the French connection, which is. It's a film of his time. You know what I mean, but it's so awesome though it was reported Sunday.
Speaker 1:Okay, so his final, hackman, 95, his wife 65. Yeah, we know all that. Blah, blah, blah. Cognitive heart failure, I guess. Yeah, like because he had a peacemaker and they know when it stopped working, so they know when he died Alzheimer's disease. Blah, blah, blah, blah. He also had a coronary artery stents and a bypass graft. Okay, or these have said Arcawana died of a rare hantavirus, which is kind of crazy Pulmonary syndrome, a rodent-borne disease that can cause. Yeah, so it's like, if there's like rat poop and all this kind of stuff and when I read that I was thinking like man, there's like rats and rice all over. Well, there is lots of rice all over, but rats and mice all over the place and I don't know. Uh-oh, sounds like my family's home. Well, I'm at my time. So I thank you for hanging out with me and listening to me complain and talk about my life. Uh, let me know what you think. You can send me an email or however. But uh, again, I appreciate it. God bless, and I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
