Blog, dammit!

This morning my kids' school had a big breakfast event, Breakfast With a Grandparent.  My wife and I went along with my parents.  Nancy's parents live three hours out of town, but were considering making the drive.  6 hours in the car for a pre-packaged danish, a bowl of Lucky Charms and a half a banana is not a deal I would make.  But they're grandparents, and by definition slightly dotty when it comes to the subject of their grandkids.  And that's a good thing.

 

While eating the new school principal came and sat at our table to chat.  After a bit, the topic of biking came up (it often does when I'm around).  Turns out he's a pretty big cyclist.  He's originally from Minnesota but has lived out in California for the last few years.  When he moved back he left a bike at his sister's place so he would have something to ride when he visited.  We talked about commuting (I do, he wants to start again) and fixies (neither of us have them, but we're both curious), and other various bikey stuff.  I invited him to come to a Hiawatha ride, though he sort of glazed over when I tried to describe the location of the shop.  One of those "St Paulites who gets nervous when they cross the river" reactions.  He also admitted to owning 3 bikes.  I let him know the old adage of "The number of bikes you need is equal to the number of bikes you own, plus one."  He told me my girls are getting extra credit in school for that one.  You're welcome, girls.

 

Date: November 13
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Premis
November mileage: 80
Year to date mileage: 3687

 

Date: November 14
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Premis
November mileage: 106
Year to date mileage: 3713

Date: November 16
Mileage: 24
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Premis
November mileage: 130
Year to date mileage: 3737

 

Date: November 19
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Premis
November mileage: 156
Year to date mileage: 3763

A tisket, a tasket

By popular demand, photos of the Suburban with the front basket. Look closely and you may be able to see the snowflakes we had yesterday morning.

Voter fraud is my middle name

I went for the Hiawatha ride this past Saturday.  Because it was "parade bike" day I took out the Suburban for a final ride of the season.  I'd actually hung it up on the hook earlier in the week (and tore my pants in the process) thinking it would slumber in the rafters until next spring.  But after I popped a spoke on the Jamis I took it as a sign that the Suburban wanted one last ride.  I installed a huge Wald basket on the front and had ridden it around the neighborhood.  During the short test ride I thought the handling was negatively impacted by the basket.  But with my messenger bag in there on the Hiawatha ride it tracked really well.  I think I'm going to like being a basket guy.  Or a basket case, if you will.

 

And now for some shameless self promotion:  The bicyclefixation website is holding The Great Bike Rack Hunt photo contest.  Rick from bicyclefixation.com is looking for photos of the best and worst bike racks out there.  The contest is now closed and the popular vote is started.  My submission is #30, the bike rack with antlers.

 

Vote early, vote often.  No pressure.

Date: November 1
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Premis
November mileage: 26
Year to date mileage: 3633

 

Date: November 3
Mileage: 28
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha/Suburban
November mileage: 54
Year to date mileage: 3661