One of the best things about traveling is getting the feel of each new area thru their individual businesses. But, that has been disappearing as the chain stores/franchises spread throughout the country/the world. That is one thing that attracts me to Austin, Texas, the diversity of eateries and small privately owned businesses. It is very unusual for a town the size of Austin to stay so simple in this new world of ours.

A new coffee shop opened last Friday in Topeka. It is called The Flying Monkey. I think that name is for one of the coffees that their owner’s, PT’s Coffee, roasts, but don’t quote me on that. Topeka as a city is hurting for a lot of things, but it really needed a good coffee shop, more centrally located, near our local university, Washburn. And that is the what the Flying Money is. A very good coffee shop owned and run by guys that are super passionate about coffee.

PT’s coffee is pretty famous in the coffee world. They won the National roaster of the year award for 2008. Pretty strange for a small start up coffee company in the midwest. The owner’s Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin have been doing this for nearly 20 years and travel all over the world buying the best coffee they can find. I appreciate their passion.

I’ve went to the Flying Monkey everyday since they opened last Friday and love the ambiance. Welded metal, natural woods, concrete and glass. It is a comfortable place to hang. Anyway, if you want to get some of the best coffee on the planet from some guys that are crazy knowledgeable and passionate about coffee, click here to go to their website to shop online. Their are quite a few different choices from throughout the world. Their website is very good, with lots of depth. If you happen to come through Topeka sometime and want a great cup of joe, then make sure you go by the Flying Monkey.

Handcrafted Brews, I like that.

They make each cup individual. Or press pot or about any other way you can imagine coffee to be served.

Front of the Topeka magazine a while back.

The owners actually work at the shop.

I love the industrial look of the furniture.

Here’s a little video of the guys that run the place and their passion.

As you read this I’m probably in Oklahoma. Or hope to be. I’ve had enough of this 20 something degree Kansas weather and have decided to do the 10 hour drive down to Austin Texas. There are a couple cyclocross races there this weekend and my friend, Ann, is having a holiday party Sunday night that is not to be missed.

I can’t believe that by December I haven’t gotten much of any of my cyclocross race equipment together. Supposedly the FMB tires I had made, with the Michelin Mud 2 tread, are on their way to Texas from Belgium. They should be there early next week I hope. TRP is sending some new brakes, which I truly need and appreciate. I’m still thinking a little about riding discs on one bike, but haven’t gotten the wheel thing figured out yet.

I’m also thinking about stopping and getting a blood test on the way. I think my problem recently is cold and lack of sleep, maybe not in that order. That should change tonight. But, these online blood test being only $27, it seems cheap. It can’t hurt.

I checked the participates in the Masters Cyclocross Worlds. My category has the most with 42 people registered. That is about half of what we need to race a qualifying race. I’ve been playing phone tag with the promoter, Joan Hanscom, for the last few days. She is a busy woman, but sounds super nice on her messages. Here is a good interview with her. The only thing I doubt from the interview is that 400 riders are going to be coming from Europe. I’d give that a 0 percent chance of occurring since there are a total of 260 riders entered total as of now, about a month before the event.

Okay. That is about all I have for today. I like the drive to Texas. Pretty dramatic terrain difference in such a short way. It’s supposed to be raining from Sunday thru Wednesday. At least it will be semi warm rain.

Austin Texas has been seriously into 'cross since the 70's. A little before my time, but just.