Taxes and New Socks: Prepare to be thrilled

I was off yesterday due to the holiday, but before I could make the most of the unseasonably warm temps I had business to tend to...

Time to get my tax stuff together. One of the great parts about being an unprofessional cyclist and hack journalist is the copious amount of 1099 income that comes with the territory. Now I've got to figure out if I can write off the beer I drank at TSE and Breck Epic last year as "entertainment." I certainly was entertained...

Once I knocked out the adult paperwork, I headed over to the BYT (codename for the Fight Club type trails about five miles from my house). Once I got there I wasn't so sure I would be welcomed with open arms.

I've got to say that the recent work out there is off the (insert whatever the kids say things are off of nowadays; chain, hook, hizzle, pushpin, etc). It seems like I was just out there a couple of months ago, and I can't believe how much new trail there is and how many features have been built since my last visit. I've gotta ride there more often.

Taking care of my obligations as a high life, elitist sponsored rider, I put on my new Swiftwick Aspire socks for one final ride before passing judgment on them.

What are the new Aspire socks all about (aboot for the Canadianicans)?

That piece of marketing propaganda might have been considered "For your eyes only" distribution, but nobody told me, so whatever. Swiftwick has a lot more to say about the technological advances of the new sock in their January newsletter. Their newsletter writer is not very funny, but they certainly are more informative than I am.

Grant at Swiftwick knew I would be interested in these socks because they have something I've been wanting (and asking for) for quite awhile.


Did you get that? No seam AT ALL - NONE. There are times, some times, when I get the seam of my sock, any sock, all funky, and it rubs on my pinky toe in an adverse manner. Sometimes it's no big deal, but other times it bugs the shit out of me. Now there is no seam, and life is all good in the piggy hood. I have now worn them on three rides, including the very long ride/hike at SSAZ, and I really want to make them my go-to socks, but I feel like they are going to get my...

Seal of Semi-Approval.

What could I possibly have to complain about with the Aspire? I mean, they're black, comfortable, wicking, and tasteful enough to wear with my tux, but something is missing...

Huh?

How about the two extra inches of cuff* that I've grown accustomed to?

My first Swiftwick socks were Zeros. Once I got my hands on some Fours I thought I had found true love. I did have a short fling with some Twelves, but it was definitely a Papa Bear experience. There might have even been a carefree weekend of debauchery with a pair of Twos, but I'd like to try to forget that ever happened. I went back to the Fours and did my best to stay away from the Sevens lest I get even more confused and conflicted. The Fours are my comfort zone, my happy place, my cool side of the pillow.

Maybe I'll just put my Fours in a time capsule where I can't get to them for a few weeks in order to give the Aspire a fair chance. Sock fidelity is hardly my forte'.

* The new Aspire comes with a two inch cuff (shown in my photo), a one inch cuff, or with the Namrita approved... *urp*... Zero.