Tricycle

Last month I rode my trike to work for the first time this winter. This prompted a public outcry for photos of the machine. I am always happy to oblige my legion of fans, so here are a few stock photos from last summer, not long after I purchased it. First, a side view:

The trike itself is a Sun EZ Tadpole SX model. The SX is the base model, made of TIG welded steel and no consideration given for weight. The stock weight for the machine is 49 pounds. Here is a front facing photo:

This shot is nearly identical to the first, but taken from the other side. I'm posting it mainly to remind myself that the trees will again be green, sooner rather than later according to Phil.

Because I'm a commuter, I needed a way to carry stuff on this bike. Obviously a messenger bag won't work. And even so, I'm not a fan of messenger bags. I'm a pannier kind of guy. I bought a rear rack and had to fabricate a support for the lower pannier hook, since a pannier-specific rack doesn't seem to exist for this bike. Here's a shot of my simple, but fairly attractive solution:


It's a fun bike to ride, though just not practical for my day to day commute. This is a slow down and smell the roses machine. I'm not a fast rider, but I'm always driven to go at a pace that's fast for me. This machine forces me to slow down a bit and enjoy the journey, since I know I'm not going to get there quickly. And the world could probably use a bit more of that.

Salty Dogs

When I got home from the Hiawatha ride today I stashed my Schwinn next to my Raleigh in their appointed corner of the garage. I puttered around the garage a bit and as I was walking past the bikes I noticed just how salty they've become. It's a sign that we haven't had a huge amount of snow here and I've put a lot of miles on the dry salt covered streets. It might be warm enough tomorrow to actually give these two a bath.

The ride today was gorgeous, with the exception of a brisk north wind. The wind kept the ride pretty short, and as I left the shop I found myself wanting to get a few more miles in. I headed north into Minnehaha Park, but only made it about a mile before the wind convinced me to head home.

Date: February 16
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
February mileage: 141
Year to date mileage: 460

Date: February 17
Mileage: 25
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha/Schwinn
February mileage: 166
Year to date mileage: 485

It's like a frightened turtle

Everybody's all excited by the long range forecast. Mid 30s by the beginning of next week! Phooey. To be honest, I'd rather stay in the low 20s. Why? Winter's not over just yet. This mini-heat wave is just going to make me soft, so when it gets cold again I'll be shivering. It's much like riding my Schwinn in the winter. I've ridden the Schwinn to work the last two Mondays in a row. Monday the 5th it was negative 16 and I didn't even notice what bike I was riding, I was so busy trying to keep feeling in my extremities. Then we got snow that night and I was back to pushing the studs on the Raleigh.

Fast forward one week. I rode the Schwinn Monday and was amazed at how fast 14 miles per hour can seem. It just drives home how slow I really am on the Raleigh. It's a 50+ pound ride, and coupled with 60psi studded tires I could get passed by a kid on a 20" Magna. Fortunately there's not many of them out in January. But I don't really notice it because I'm used to it. Much like the weather. We were supposed to get snow on Tuesday, but it never happened. I'm hoping that we've reached the part of winter where I can ride the Schwinn more often than the Raleigh. But March is always a bastard to the bike commuter.

The plague has hit my house, so not much riding this week. Tuesday I stayed home with daughter M who had a horrible fever/stomach bug. Today I chauffered daughter E to school with the 6 dozen valentines cookies we made and decorated last night. And I brought my computer home tonight, anticipating another day spent home with daughter M. The Mrs. even got in on the action and stayed home sick today. I feel so left out...

Date: February 12
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
February mileage: 121
Year to date mileage: 440

Chuck E.'s in love

That's right, a swinging Saturday night spent at the Chuck E. Cheese. Jealous? You should be...

Never trust a man with a butt broom on his face

Even though it was sub-zero in the morning yesterday, it didn't seem that bad. I must be acclimating. We're having overnight housepests tonight, so we spent yesterday evening and this morning cleaning all those nooks and crannies that you only clean when you have overnight housepests coming. I'm hoping to make it over to the Bike Swap for a bit tomorrow. Why yes, I am interested in that complete Suntour drivetrain. Who wouldn't be?

Date: February 9
Mileage: 21
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
February mileage: 101
Year to date mileage: 420

Weather Update: It's still cold

Yesterday turned out to be a giant-pain-in-the-butt kind of day. After my chilling commute on Monday I still had two red patches on my cheeks. I think I might have gotten a slight touch of frostbite in those two spots between the goggles and my neck gaiter. So I went to REI and picked up a new balaclava. The balaclava seems to be the bright point of yesterday. I wore it as I rode to the train station and it was keeping me pretty darn toasty.

When I got to the train station at Ft Snelling there was a pretty good crowd. I figured that people were scared after the scores of traffic accidents on Tuesday. As I waited a southbound train came and went. Then another. When the third southbound train came I'd been waiting at the platform for nearly 25 minutes without seeing a northbound train. I finally got fed up and headed to work on my bike. I did finally see a train, but this was close to the Lake St/Midtown station, and it seemed pointless to catch it there. So in all I was almost 40 minutes late getting in.

Work was unusually annoying, and then I got roped into a last minute urgent project that kept me at work until after 7:30. So it was after 9 by the time I finally got home. I had a late dinner, read for a bit and went to bed. What a day. Today I'm working from home, for my own sanity. But the new balaclava is nice.

Date: February 7
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
February mileage: 80
Year to date mileage: 399

Not getting any smarter...

A post from last year, on February 16:

This morning's checklist:
Windpants
Tights
Bike shorts
polypropelyne shirt
second warmer shirt
lobster gloves
balaclava
goggles
jacket

Check the weather on the internet:

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON.

NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH ARCTIC AIR TO
CREATE WIND CHILL READINGS OF MINUS 30 TO MINUS 45 TODAY.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL
COMBINE TO GENERATE VERY LOW WIND CHILLS. WEATHER CONDITIONS
TODAY WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND COULD LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF
PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

Screw this. Drive.

Similar conditions this morning. Actual air temp of -16. I rode. Froze my ass.

Date: February 5
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
February mileage: 54
Year to date mileage: 373

Too early for flapjacks?

The forecast here in the Twin Cities is that it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be gray, and it's gonna last you the rest of your life. Of course, I'm not here to bitch about the cold. Not when I saw a woman on Tuesday riding her bike wearing a skirt. And this morning I saw a guy collapse face down on the side of the road. He went down like a bag of hammers. He was running with a military unit by Ft. Snelling. His drill sargent (a small woman) came back and shouted at him until he got up and started running again.

What I am gonna bitch about is flat tires. After building up some karma, I spent Wednesday evening patching tubes and fixed the flat tire on my Schwinn. I put the newly repaired tire back on the bike that night, but haven't ridden it since. When I got home from tonight's commute and went to put the Raleigh away, I noticed that the tire on the Schwinn was flat. Again. Without a single ride. I think I'm going to have to sacrifice a chicken or a virgin to get rid of this juju.

Date: February 1
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
February mileage: 18
Year to date mileage: 327

Date: February 2
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
February mileage: 36
Year to date mileage: 355

My Name is Pete

I'm a big believer in karma. Not that I believe that karma is going to cause me to come back in the next life as a dung beetle or anything like that. But more along the lines of what goes around comes around. If I do something nice for somebody, it makes them happy. This makes the world a better place. The end. I've apparently done something to get my bike karma out of whack, as I've had three flat tires since the first of the year. Prior to that, I think the last flat I had was last summer. It's weird.

So last night as I left work there was another fellow suiting up to do bike battle with the elements. We chatted for a bit and he asked me if I thought the downtown Target would have inner tubes for his skinny tires (he's riding 700/23s in the winter, brave or crazy). I told him I didn't think so. As we talked I noticed his tire was completely flat. I pulled out my frame pump and we pumped his tire up. It seemed to be holding air quite well, and he rode off with enough air to get home. In an effort to fully appease the god(s) of flat tires, I spent the evening last night patching up all my tubes and finally fixed the flat on my Schwinn. Just in time for snow.

Date: January 31
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 309
Year to date mileage: 309

Two Minutes for Hooking

Somebody out in San Fran managed to get some video of a cyclist getting hooked by a car, and of course now it's on youtube. Pretty quick reaction time by the cyclist, if you ask me.


Date: January 29
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 269
Year to date mileage: 269

Date: January 30
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 289
Year to date mileage: 289

Feel better, ya bastard!

So much for my plans. Shortly after laying out my grand scheme for today my body decided to have an impromptu evacuation drill of my entire digestive system. I spent Thursday curled into a ball on the couch in the basement, hoping I'd die soon. I went in to work on Friday because I had to facilitate a meeting. (insert sarcasm here) That went well. Last night I slept for approximately 13 1/2 hours and today I'm feeling somewhat human again. Just in time for mexican food tonight at Boca Chica. Yum. I think.

I hope somebody made it to the ice races today and posts some photos. At least Jim got a flat on the Hiawatha ride today. I flatted on the way home from last week's ride proving Jim's theorem of "they come in threes."

Son, you got a panty on your head

Sheesh, almost missed the 2007 Ice Races. This Saturday at 10am on Rogers Lake, near my neck of the woods. I'm thinking I'll get up early and hit the Hiawatha ride (two weeks in a row, that's some kinda record!) and then peel off and head for the lake. Or, if I'm tired and/or cold I can head for home to get the car. We'll see how late I stay out on Friday.

Date: January 23
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 229
Year to date mileage: 229

Date: January 24
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 249
Year to date mileage: 249

Hello, I Love You

The trails were in dismal shape tonight, almost as bad as the bike lanes. I feel so betrayed. Minneapolis Parks, how can you let me down like this? Even the Greenway, normally the Gold Star Standard of bike trail maintainance, was covered with icy sheets. While I was slowly heading down a hill on the River Road bike trail a woman on a bike called out "Coming by on your left!" and totally blew past me. I shouldn't even admit that I had studded tires on.

Date: January 22
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 209
Year to date mileage: 209

Camera phone not acceptable substitute for real camera

I had this sweet picture of my Schwinn with the snow buildup from this morning's ride. I was going to say that it makes me more aero and faster. But for some reason the photo from my phone won't enlarge more than this. So I'll have to go with this lame photo of Ray instead.




Date: January 20
Mileage: 23
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha/Schwinn
January mileage: 189
Year to date mileage: 189

Titles often Elude Me

So we finally got some snow here in Mpls/St Paul. I decided to be adventureous and ride the trike today instead of toddling along on the studded tires. I haven't ridden the trike in quite a while, and when my thighs were screaming Uncle! after about 10 miles I kind of remembered why. Damn, that thing's heavy. And slow. Probably almost as slow as the Raleigh with it's studs on.

But, it's a whole lot of fun. I was chugging along up some of the Eagan hills, cursing the heaviness and lack of plowing on the shoulders. When I hit the Highway 55 bridge I was pleasantly surprised to find it was plowed. But for some reason the plow left little piles of snow every 100 yards or so. When I hit the first one the trike slid sideways. There's nothing quite like sliding at about a 30 degree angle to the bridge pavement. But that's when it hit me. If I was on an upright, I would have been down. Sliding sideways on a bicycle is a unique feeling. I did it several more times on the way to and from work. There's a feeling of impending doom coupled with an endorphin rush, but no real danger. When I was flying down a hill on the river road that wasn't plowed well and started to shimmy, twist and vibrate, I actually giggled.

So it's heavy. That just means stronger leg muscles eventually, right?

Date: January 17
Mileage: 28
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Trike
January mileage: 166
Year to date mileage: 166

Stuff I Ate

We went to Chicago this weekend. Spent some time visiting with family and friends, and also some time being total tourists. And we spent a lot of time eating.

We ate lunch at the airport on Saturday, because our morning flight was cancelled and we were rebooked. I was super hungry and ate my entire cuban sandwich from Axel's before I could photograph it.


When we met our friends, they took us to the local mexican eatery, El Cid. I had the fish tacos. Best fish tacos I've ever had.


I also had an avacado tostada on the side.


Sunday morning we had a pretty darn good brunch that I forgot to photograph. Between our kids and the relations there was way too much going on. But Sunday evening we had a killer thai meal. I can't even remember what everything was, but everything I tried was good.


Since we were in Chicago, pizza seemed appropriate. But we couldn't get Chicago style delivered. We settled for this.


We made a pretty good dent, considering the girls were asleep and didn't help.


English didn't seem to be the pizza guy's first language, and when we placed the order we weren't sure they would be able to find us or get the correct order. They succeded on both counts, even though this seems to be all that was written down.


I ate other stuff too, but most of it was too unremarkable to photograph.

Frigid Bits

I felt pretty good all the way home tonight, despite the single digit temps. But with about two miles to go, I realized that I need to improve my layering technique for "my boys." They was cold, they was.

Next stop Chi'town, Lido put the money down

Big snowstorm heading for Chicago this weekend. Coincidentally, I am also headed to Chicago this weekend. Fortunately my two flight days, Saturday and Tuesday, are the clear ones. Enjoy the leaderless Hiawatha ride, and have an extra baked good on my behalf.

Date: January 12
Mileage: 22
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
January mileage: 138
Year to date mileage: 138

Here a flat, there a flat, everywhere a flat flat

Last Thursday I woke up to a flat front tire on the Schwinn. I was already bundled up and fortunately I have other bikes I can ride. I once read that you're a true bike commuter if you have a back-up commuting bike, just in case something happens to your primary commuter. So I fired up the Raleigh and went to work. That evening I fixed the flat and I rode the Schwinn the next day. I rode it again Monday and today.

Tonight as I left work I got flat number two on the Schwinn. It was the rear wheel this time. I knew I didn't have a spare tube, and I didn't really feel like messing with a patch because they never seem to hold when applied in cold weather. So, I rang up my lifeline. Can you come get me honey? But, I had forgotten that the piano tuner was coming. So my honey was home with the kids and a semi-tuned piano. Think fast, rabbit. I hopped onto the train. I knew I'd never make it before Hiawatha closed, so I got off at the Lake Street stop. I walked the bike the couple blocks to The Hub and bought three tubes. I fixed the flat outside the store on the sidewalk and rode home.

Before last week, I couldn't even tell you the last time I had a flat. But now, two separate tires within a week's time? Bad karma, that. I wonder what minor deity I've offended. Or, maybe I was just due.

Date: January 9
Mileage: 14
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
January mileage: 116
Year to date mileage: 116

Let's do the time warp again

Where the heck did the weekend go? One minute I was watching Meerkat Manor with the kids and the next I was at work on Monday morning.

Thursday morning I woke up to a flat tire on the Schwinn, so I rode the Raleigh and listened to the crunch of the studded tires. I wasn't thrilled. So Thursday night I changed out the flat and rode the Schwinn on Friday. I rode it again today, though it's making me a little nervous. I don't have a spare tube for the Schwinn right now, so I'm kind of without a net. I'm sure it will be fine. I was going to grab a tube after the Saturday morning ride, but I didn't actually make the ride.

I did manage to get something done over the weekend. Saturday night I helped a friend of mine get his website up and semi-running. And Sunday I cleaned out the garage while half paying attention to the football games. I'd started a shelving project several months ago and the garage was full of various shelving crap. After yesterday, I can finally park both cars in there again. Don't worry, there's always been room for the important stuff. The bikes.

Date: January 4
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
January mileage: 46
Year to date mileage: 46

Date: January 5
Mileage: 28
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
January mileage: 74
Year to date mileage: 74

Date: January 8
Mileage: 28
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
January mileage: 102
Year to date mileage: 102

A tale of two commutes

This morning I decided to take the Schwinn without the studded tires. I figured it wouldn't be too bad. It wasn't. But the ride over the Hwy 55 bridge sucked ass. I finally lifted the bike over the barrier and rode on the shoulder. When I got into Minneapolis I decided to take Minnehaha Blvd. The bike lane on Minnehaha wasn't in great shape and I spent a lot of time out in the main lane. Fortunately traffic was light. But everywhere there was snow it seemed really slippy. I was probably just paranoid, this being the first real snow of the year. No crappie flops, but I was nervous the whole way in.

On the way home I did the smart thing. I took Portland to the Greenway. The bike lane on Portland was in decent shape, which is good because traffic wasn't light. The Greenway was beautiful. The only way I could have fallen there was by wiping out in a pile of salt. When I got to the West River Parkway trail that was pretty good as well. But, it was 40 degrees out. Even when there was snow, it was really just snow-shaped slush. There was one clown coming northbound on the trail. No lights and riding on the wrong side of the trail. He was heading straight toward me, even though my 10w headlight was shining right at him. I waited until I couldn't wait any longer and then yelled at him. "Head's up!" And he followed instructions to a T. His head snapped up, he realized that he was going to have a head on collision and he nearly overcorrected right off the path. Other than that it was a great ride home. Even the bridge was rideable. All in all, I'm glad I didn't take the studded bike.

Date: January 3
Mileage: 26
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
January mileage: 26
Year to date mileage: 26

My only friend, the end

Ever since I was a kid, the one thing I truly had a talent for has been sleeping. I've read that an increase in sleeping is a sign of depression. If that's true, I'll probably sleep about 20 hours a day if I get truly depressed. My personal best is 17 hours straight, back in high school. I don't even remember why I would have been tired. But the family was out of the house for the day and I didn't wake up until 6:30 in the evening. And the only reason I got up is because my friends were downstairs knocking on the door. You see, we were supposed to see a play that evening at 7. It was that late spring-early summer time of year when 6pm looks a whole lot like 6am. I was so disoriented that I staggered downstairs, answered the door and said "What the hell are you guys doing here at 6 in the morning?!"

The fact that I voluntarily set my alarm for 6:30 on a Saturday morning would shock most people I know. But I did it on this last Saturday of 2006 to get another Hiawatha ride in. I can't think of a better way to end the year. We headed North on the parkway and made our way to Birchwood because I'd never been there before. If nothing else, the Saturday ride is a good way to learn about the Minneapolis coffee houses within a 10 mile radius of the Shop. After coffee and various goodies we headed West on the Greenway, then cut South on Bryant. Emboldened by the experimental bikeway markings we took up as much of the road as 5 riders could. Ray brought the Clown Bike and honked at anybody who got in our way. It made me feel safe, anyhow.

After a quick detour to CRC we zipped back to the shop. Jim forgot to leave the secret security code, so no sales could take place. So much for his plan to take over the world "tens of dollars at a time." I was hankering for one of those snazzy Planet Bike taillights. Next time.

I'd like to thank everybody who stops by and reads this blog, both on a regular and irregular basis. It's been a lot of fun in 2006 and I'm looking forward to 2007. My resolutions are to eat more, work out less and sleep later (Saturday mornings excepted). When you set the bar low, you'll make your goals. Have a safe New Year all y'all.

Date: December 30
Mileage: 28
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha Ride/Schwinn
December mileage: 183
Year to date mileage: 3174

Just under the wire, snow

Minneapolis/St Paul finally got some snow that has a chance of staying through Christmas. If we're lucky. I can still see patchy grass in the backyard as I sit here in the living room and type. A good sunny afternoon could wipe away this slightly-white with no effort at all. It's one where I'm not even sure it's worth putting shovel to pavement. Of course, my sloth could also backfire if temps drop. I'd be stuck with a driveway full of ice until March. Still, at this point I'm willing to take my chances. Maybe the afternoon will see me in a different mindset.

The photo above was taken on the new section of the Minneapolis Greenway on last night's commute home. There was maybe an inch of snow, and that's being generous. The bike lanes were in horrendous shape, at least for someone who hasn't ridden in snow in 9 months. But the bike lane on 10th St had those irregular patches of slippery hardpack, and Portland was a slushy mess. After only a couple blocks I opted to leave Portland and side-street it over to Franklin. Franklin doesn't have a bike lane, but traffic was moving so slowly that I felt infinitely safer. Even on the good days Portland puts a little fear into me. That's the street where people are trying to go as fast as vehicularly possible to get to the next red light. Franklin, at least between 11th and Minnehaha Ave always has more of a laid back vibe, which I appreciated.

Once I made it to the Greenway it was smooth, if slow, sailing. This is the first time I've had the Raleigh out this year with the studded tires. I was amazed in the morning how much slower they feel than the 100psi cross tires that I've moved from the Raleigh to the Schwinn. And on the way home that feeling of slowness was compounded into downright sluggishness going through the snow. But I was glad to have the surefootedness. I only had one potential crappie flop, going down the hill on West River Road near Lake Street. I'm not sure what happened, but I nearly biffed it. But I recovered nicely and rode the rest of the way home without incident.

The commute felt good, but it left me overtired and cranky for the rest of the evening. The stinky Vikings didn't help matters any. But, I'm off work until January 3 so a lazy day is in order. Woo.

Date: December 21
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Raleigh
December mileage: 155
Year to date mileage: 3146

What did I do?

OK, let's recap. Yesterday I forgot the battery for my light and was looking at a 14 mile commute in the dark, with traffic and no front lighting of any sort. I did have a tailight, but that's not really even half the battle. I received many helpful, and some not so helpful, suggestions. Let's start with the not so helpful.

I think option F - stay overnight at work.

Staying overnight at work is just wrong. I do everything I can to ensure I only work somewhere between 35-40 hours per week on a regular basis, and I certainly don't want to change that. Thanks Snake, but I'm sending you to the remedial class.

Dude - you forget option G: buy another battery!

I'm currently rockin' the Planet Bike Alias light for my commute. It looks a little something like this:


I can't imagine anywhere downtown that would have one. Plus, I don't really want to shell out in the neighborhood of $70 for another battery. Nice idea, but loses something in the execution.

Doug wins the prize for what I should have done. He's absolutely right, I can always use another light. All my bikes should have blinkies front and rear, permanently mounted instead of shuttled back and forth. This scenario is the perfect proof as to why. But, since either of the bike shops I wanted to go to required miles of riding in traffic, I decided not to go with this one.

Oddly enough, the first comment hit the nail on the head. Minus Car (aka mytzpyk) guessed choice b right away. And that's what I went with. I took the train from downtown to Fort Snelling and rode the remaining 4 miles home. From Fort Snelling, it's pretty light traffic and nice wide shoulders. No worries.

Thanks for playing!

Date: December 20
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 135
Year to date mileage: 3126

Tagged!

Crap. Not only have I been tagged, but double tagged. I guess that means I gotta do it. So, five things that readers would not know about me. I'll leave it to the readers to decide if they are interesting things or not.

1. I've had more jobs than pretty much anyone I know. Going from memory in chronological order: Busboy at Perkins, working on a pick your own strawberry farm, Busboy at Esteban's, perfume salesman, grocery store stocker, Blue Bell ice cream man (I drove the truck and everything), various light industrial temping one summer (mostly warehouse work), recycling truck driver, car wash 'dude who wipes your car down after it's been washed' (I had that job twice), pizza delivery guy, pizza cook (after I lost my drivers' license), stereo/appliance salesman, telephone transaction agent, Service Recovery agent, Process Consultant, Service Manager, Project Manager and Senior Business Analyst. And I know I'm missing one or two in there somewhere.

2. I still have scars on my hands from stair sledding. Way before youtube was even invented.

3. I lived in Huron, South Dakota, for nearly three years. I'm still not sure why.

4. I played the Alto Saxaphone in high school band. Yes, that's right, I was a band geek. I also played the triangle on our band trip to Florida, because we were short a percussionist and the piece we were playing needed a triangle.

5. Once we found one of those old vibrating belt exercise machines. The kind from the 50s where you wrap the belt around your waist and it jiggled you to weight loss. It still worked so we would have contests to see who could stay in it the longest. I still hold the record, because the next person who tried it totally broke the belt.

And for the hell of it, I'll tag some folks. I tag Karl and Baggie. I think everybody else has been gotten.

Date: December 19
Mileage: 10
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 115
Year to date mileage: 3106

Decisions, decisions

It's now quittin' time and I've realized that I forgot the battery to my 10w headlight at home. And the bike I rode in doesn't even have a blinkie on the front. So, do I:

a) Ride home with no light?
b) Take the train most of the way and ride the remaining portion with no light?
c) Ride to The Hub and buy a light?
d) Ride to Hiawatha and buy a light?
e) Call the wife for a ride home?

Tune in to see what I decide!

Why shouldn't mythological creatures love one another?

The reports of people falling down this morning make me glad that I drove today. I've been doing that a lot lately. Pretty much ever since somebody decided that a presentation was called for, with only a week to prepare. Then said somebody delegated the creation of the presentation to some low level lackey (i.e. me). And it's been hell on wheels ever since.

In most cases biking to work is a stress reliver. It's nice to deal with various things all day and then be able to pound out any frustrations on the 14 mile ride home. But when stress hits a certain level for me then bike commuting becomes and added stressor. The stuff I take for granted, like having warm clothes packed and getting all my gear lined up on a day in/day out basis starts adding to the problem instead of taking away from it. I've learned to just go with it and drive when things get to that point. I've already reached my mileage goal of 3,000 for the year so it's not a huge loss. Next year I think I'm going to try Kevin's "ride 100 miles for every year of your age" goal. So that means my goal would be 3,800. That's only 316.66666 miles per month. In theory, very possible.

This has absolutely nothing to do with biking, but it made me laugh out loud for the first time in days. Make sure you have the volume on. Enjoy.


Date: December 7
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 85
Year to date mileage: 3076


Date: December 8
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 105
Year to date mileage: 3096

Dang!

Check out this video, it's only a minute and a half long. You've got time before your next meeting. This guy has some mad bike skilz!


Here's the youtube link in case the embed doesn't work in your browser. Found via goclipless.com

Date: December 5
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 65
Year to date mileage: 3056

Fenders

We had a dusting of snow this morning when I woke up. When I was riding through Ft. Snelling one of the groundskeepers was using a leaf blower to clear off the sidewalk. And yet it was enough to stick to my tires and make a mini-snowdrift from the brakes. I really need to figure out my fender options if I'm going to keep riding the Schwinn any longer this year.

Date: December 4
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
December mileage: 45
Year to date mileage: 3036

Mmmm, forbidden doughnut

Another fun ride with the boys from Hiawatha. It was a balmy 16 degrees when I headed out from the house at 7:15am, and it didn't get much warmer. We managed to accidentally ride through the Lifetime Reindeer Run at Lake Harriet this morning. People say I'm nuts for riding my bike in the winter, yet nobody seems to have any issues with these idiot joggers running through 3 feet of snow. What gives?

I don't have any clear idea of where we were most of the morning, so I guesstimated a route that's probably more conservative than what we took, what with the indecision at the beginning of the ride. We ended up at Melo-Glaze bakery which doesn't seem to have a web presence, hence they get no linky goodness from me. When we walked in, the only people in the place was another group of cyclists. Who would have thought that on a 16 degree December morning two different groups of cyclists would have a random meeting at a doughnut shop? That's Minneapolis for you. Melo-Glaze's coffee was less than stellar, but the glazed doughnuts were good. I can still feel them sitting in my gut at quarter to five, and that's the sign of a good doughnut.

Date: December 2
Mileage: 25
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha Ride/Schwinn
December mileage: 25
Year to date mileage: 3016

Vision Correction to Vision Protection

Karl asked a good question the other day in the comments. He said, "So now will you be riding with some kind of non-corrective eyewear to keep the bugs, dust, and beer cans away from your new investments?" Now, I know Karl and know that he rides here in Minneapolis. I'm not sure what part of Minneapolis, but obviously a different part than me. Getting a flying beer can in the eye has never been high on my list of things to worry about.

I have, however, been thinking about what to wear on the old eyeballs. Both in the first month following the surgery where the mere act of turning my head fast causes my eyes to get dry and me to run for some eye drops. But also for the long term. I've never ridden any distance without the specs on, at least since I was a kid. They were no safety glasses, but they did offer a modicum of protection from the wind and elements. And flying beer cans.

Today was my first day back on the bike after the surgery. I decided to give the old ski goggles a try. I have a pair of ski goggles that I picked up at a thrift store last year and have never worn. After one day, I'm hooked. The goggles were great. My eyes weren't tearing up like they have in previous cold weather riding. And the top half of my face, previously my Achillies heel in winter armor, was snug and comfortable. I did have issues seeing clearly on the way home in the dark, however. I hadn't cleaned the lenses very well after buying them, and there was residue from the thrift store price tag in front of one eye and residue from something I'm sure I'm glad I don't know what it is in front of the other eye. But a few minutes with a rag and some windex tonight and things are all "cleared" up. That's a joke, son.

The goggles did have one drawback. They seem to ride low on my nose. Or perhaps it's because my nose is larger than average. But either way it felt as though I was wearing the opposite of a Breathe-Right strip. Call it a Breathe-Wrong strip. The goggles pushed down and instead of magically opening my nasal passages they made it harder to breathe through my nose. I'm hoping that some adjustments to the elastic strap will help with these issues. Either that, or perhaps a pair of goggles that costs me more than $8.

Date: November 29
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
November mileage: 80
Year to date mileage: 2991

I know you've been worried

It was a busy holiday weekend for me and mine. I had the Lasik procedure on Tuesday, which shot that day to hell. By Wednesday morning I could see really well. It's like a high-tech miracle. I spent Wednesday with my kids, getting used to not wearing glasses and getting used to the eye drop ritual. Wednesday afternoon we went to my one day eye follow-up appointment. The hottie doc told me I was already seeing 20/20 and sent me home.

Thursday we had the traditional Thanksgiving with my family, and I ate until I was sure I'd gain a few pounds. To make sure I'd keep those pounds on, Friday we hopped in the car and headed to Bemidji to see family, a parade, and fireworks. The kids swam in the hotel pool Friday night and Saturday morning. I hot tubbed, but no swimming (gotta keep the eyes dry for 7 days). Then Saturday afternoon we drove back home.

Sunday I did manage to burn some calories, but not on a bike. After a morning spent drinking coffee and cleaning the house I made waffles for the girls. Then I changed the oil in our van and watched a bit of the Vikings. The Vikes didn't really hold my attention so I put up the outside Christmas lights and cleaned the gutters since all the leaves are down from the trees.

The way things are going, it's going to be Christmas before I can even turn around.

Low miles and eyes

I'm going to be lucky to break 100 miles this month. I'm currently sitting at 60, and looking ahead I don't see a ton of miles in my future. I worked from home yesterday and today and I'm scheduled for Lasik this afternoon. After that, I'm off work the rest of the week. This may be my lowest mileage month in over a year. Which is a bummer, because it's been an awesome November for bike riding. No snow and decent temps. The few days I have been out have been wonderful.

Speaking of Lasik, I can't believe how nervous I am about the procedure. Stuff like this usually doesn't bother me, but I've been finding myself obsessing over it for the last few days. And I'm not normally the obsessing type. I'm sure it will all go according to plan, but I wish they would have given me a couple day supply of tranquilizers. Just a little something to take the edge off. Ah well, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Sweet ride

Now this is a sweet bike. Quick, take up a collection for the "buy Pete a cool old bike" fund. Found via craigslist

Scratch scratch

From the stall where I change into and out of my biking clothes:

I hope this guy had better luck with his other business than he did with the scratch-off he brought into the stall.


Date: November 15
Mileage: 20
Ride type/bike: Commute/Schwinn
November mileage: 60
Year to date mileage: 2971

Cue the crickets

I haven't been riding for over a week. I had a big training class last week that made commuting difficult, and Friday I worked from home. So to blow the dust off of the blog, here's a 4 page article about bike relations in New York, from The New Yorker appropriately enough. That should keep you busy for a bit. It's Sunday morning, pull up a couch and some coffee. And read nuggets like this:

Of course, some people’s fun is another person’s nightmare. The completion of the thirteen-mile greenway along the Hudson has inspired a great many people—five thousand, on a good day—to ride their bikes. According to Michael Smith, a veteran city cyclist, the new riders tend to wear spandex and helmets and go very fast, with a great sense of purpose, on expensive machines. Smith is a member of Right of Way, an organization “dedicated to the overthrow of car tyranny.” On its Web site, he wrote, “Back when we were all fighting the cars on the street, I felt a certain sense of solidarity. But now that we’ve got this dedicated—or sorta dedicated—space, I’m finding out that a lot of us are, well, assholes . . . just like that Guido in the S.U.V. who nearly killed you on Sixth Avenue last week.” Smith longed for a return of that “good, mutinous urban attitude” about cycling, where “we’d just laugh at the stoplights, and give the finger to the indignant, honking drivers. And we’d all feel like comrades or co-conspirators or something.” The “drivers on bikes,” as he called them, are really suburbanites in disguise. “Will they—please God!—move to fucking Scarsdale as soon as their kids are born?”

Discuss.

Vehicle Update

It's been an unproductive week here at the Velocipete HQ. The kids picked up some kind of plague and now it's been transferred to Mrs. Velocipete. I've either already had an extremely mild version or I'm coming down with it, and I can't for the life of me figure out which. This is causing not much to get done. Yesterday I was on a quest to get my blinkers to blink on my 1990 Montero. I've been driving around for at least a month manually moving the blinker wand up and down to get an artifical "blink" from the turn signals. I know that the left rear signal is completely non-functional, and it's bothering me a bit. So Saturday I did some interweb digging and found a salvage yard in Rosemount that was supposed to have a Montero. I drove out there with one daughter only to find they didn't. We stopped at Checker on the way home and bought a new flasher. But the one they sold me had three prongs and I couldn't find anything under the dash that remotely resembled it. I spent probably an hour taking apart the dash with no luck. So I did some testing and found that the true flasher only has two prongs. I removed it and took the part back to Checker. They don't carry one that will work. So I either need to find a vehicle at salvage with the flasher and rear taillight assembly or go the dealer. This is a whole lot more work than I'm interesting in doing for a vehicle I'm probably going to unload soon.

I spent some time in the garage this afternoon cleaning a whole lotta stuff that has been piling up. The garage is now in a state where, once my current basement shelving project is done, I'll actually be able to park both cars in there again! And more importantly, I've got space to do bike repairs. So I took advantage of that and replaced the brakes on the Raleigh during the Vikings game. I got a pair of NOS Coda cantilever brakes from eBay for about $20, so I won't be too heartbroken if they're trashed come spring. Now I can confidently brake with both front and rear brakes. What a concept! Now I just need to do something about the drivetrain. Work, work, work.

Date: November 2
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
November mileage: 20
Year to date mileage: 2931

Date: November 3
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
November mileage: 20
Year to date mileage: 2951

Trek or Treat

It looks like Ms. Witchy traded in her broomstick for something a little more exciting. Possibly with carbon fiber. Happy halloween from all of us here at Velocipete!

Date: October 25
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 291
Year to date mileage: 2891

Date: October 30
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 311
Year to date mileage: 2911

D'oh, a deer!

I had a bit of excitement last night on the way home. As I was riding down Highway 13 a car passed me. So far, nothing out of the ordinary. Cars pass me on Highway 13 all the time. It's after it passed me where things got interesting. The car was about 100 feet in front of me when suddenly the driver hit the brakes, hard. The car skidded and left long black skid marks on the pavement and created a huge cloud of blue smoke. As my brain registered this it also figured out what was going on. A deer had run out of the ditch in front of the car.

I saw two things happen almost simultaneously. First, the car hit the deerand the deer flipped over onto it's side. At the same time, I saw a second deer in the ditch that had been getting ready to follow the first onto the highway. As soon as the first deer was hit, the second reversed course and headed for the hills.

The car pulled off to the side and the passenger got out and walked back to the deer, where I had stopped my bike. The deer was alive, but it didn't look good. She looked sort of shocked by the whole incident. Her husband was looking at the car, which appeared to be undamaged. Because I was less than a mile from home, I offered to call the Highway Patrol for them. They were dressed up and looked like they had someplace to be. They accepted and I went on my way.

I got home and called the Highway Patrol and told them what happened. They said they would send someone out to "dispatch" the deer. This morning on my way in it was still lying on the shoulder. I wasn't looking forward to riding past that corpse every day, but by the time I came home tonight it was gone.

Date: October 23
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 251
Year to date mileage: 2851

Date: October 24
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 271
Year to date mileage: 2871

Note to Self: Don't Bike to the Airport

I saw this story in today's Star Trib about a man who parked his bike at the airport, only to return and find it destroyed. I won't post the entire article here, but please read it here:

Leave your bike at the airport? Not a good idea, rider says

I am first going to start out with the unpopular position that the cyclist had a small part of the blame here. I say this because he locked his bike up inside the terminal. Not including the underground parking garage at my work and Jim's shop, I can't think of a single place where I can lock my bike up indoors. Locking your bike inside of a building is asking for trouble. But, this is a very small part of the story. If I had done this, I wouldn't be entirely surprised to come back after four days and find my bike had been removed. I would be incredibly surprised to find that my bike had been cut in half. It's a bit like parking in the handicap spot, only to find that instead of being impounded your car has been sent to the crusher.

The saddest part is that no matter the outcome, this man has lost a bicycle he's owned since 1957. Nearly 50 years. Each scratch on the frame had a story that is now gone. Every small modification made by the owner to increase his satisfaction cannot be duplicated. Another Raleigh 3-speed, while the same bike in theory, can't come close to replacing what has been lost. Every time Paul rode this bike, he was likely reminded of a lifetime of biking and adventure. He will never build this type of connection again, and that is the true crime here.



Date: October 10
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 130
Year to date mileage: 2730

Date: October 12
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 150
Year to date mileage: 2750

Date: October 16
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 170
Year to date mileage: 2770

Date: October 17
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 190
Year to date mileage: 2790

Date: October 20
Mileage: 10
Ride type/Bike: Fun Ride/Jamis
October mileage: 200
Year to date mileage: 2800

Date: October 21
Mileage: 31
Ride type/Bike: Hiawatha Ride/Raleigh
October mileage: 231
Year to date mileage: 2831

Oh Merry Men!

First of all, let me say that this post is long overdue. The the most overdue part is a big thank you to Michael from andsoforth.com. For it was Michael's generousity that makes this post even possible.

Way back in May, Michael posted that he had an old Raleigh Robin Hood that he wanted to give to someone who would appreciate it. At the time, I felt I was that someone. Michael drove out to my place one morning and dropped of this beauty, my first foray into the world of English Three Speeds.




When I got it it had two brand new tires on it, but the front was flat. I didn't want to take pictures of the bike with a bum shoe so I waited. I finally got a couple of 26" tubes since the front was completely blown and went about replacing the tube. I pumped it up and all was well.




We went for a spin around the block and I noticed the seat was really loose. So I decided to tighten up the bolt that holds it together. Apparently I don't know my own strength, as I snapped the bolt in two. So the bike was hung in the garage again. And at some point while it was hanging, it blew the front tube again.



Fast forward to October. It's been a busy summer for me, and I'm behind on the scheduled maintenence on the bikes I ride regularly, let alone keeping up with the Hood. But after a cold snap that brought some light mid-October snow we had a gorgeous 60 degree Sunday afternoon. So I pulled the bike down again and replaced the front tube again. This time I sanded down a couple of burrs inside the front rim. I also found a bolt that fits the seat, pulled out the dremel and spent some time re-grooving the seat supports that were worn down and causing the seat to slip.




I took it out for a short ride yesterday, and I can see the allure of the bike and why people enjoy riding them. I think the seat needs a little more love, but I could possibly be ready for Lake Pepin next spring.

Weather

The forecast is calling for snow on Wednesday. This means I need to start wearing long pants. And socks.

For the record, I will not be biking on Wednesday. I have an early meeting. Nothing to do with the forecast.

Date: October 4
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
October mileage: 54
Year to date mileage: 2654

Date: October 5
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 72
Year to date mileage: 2672

Date: October 6
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 90
Year to date mileage: 2690

Date: October 9
Mileage: 20
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 110
Year to date mileage: 2710

Another great day

I was pulling the early shift today so Yon Saucy Wench can attend her Tuesday night class. Between the early hours and the forecast calling for rain I was planning on driving in. When I got to the car I noticed that the dome light was on, dimly. The seat belt catch was caught between the door and the jamb, preventing the door from closing all the way. I tried to turn it over, but there wasn't enough juice in the battery. So, quick change of plans, grabbed a different bag and some clothes and hit the road on the Schwinn. I was about 20 minutes late to work, which wasn't bad considering about 15 of those were due to oversnoozing the alarm. It worked out well because today was another October smoker.



After the bus dropped daughter #1 off we grabbed their scooters and headed to the school to pick up daughter #2, who had Mad Science after school. The two of them scootered home while I hoofed it. The sky was darkening up with every step, but I never did get rained on. Nice.

Date: October 3
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
October mileage: 36
Year to date mileage: 2636

Perhaps I really do like Mondays

I'm sure us Minnesota folks are starting to sound like a broken record by now, but it was just absolutely gorgeous out today. It's not often that I ride home in October in shorts, short sleeve shirt and sandals. I realize it's only the second day of October, but I'm not going to quibble over the details. It's October, it counts.

I was riding home on the Greenway thinking that this day just really couldn't get any better. And because the universe loves to prove me wrong, it did get better. As I slowed down to cross 26th Ave a guy on a bike passed me. I rode along behind him for a bit thinking "That bike looks familiar." I finally put all the clues together and realized I was riding behind Kevin. So I pulled along side and we rode together for a few miles. He peeled off toward home at Lake Street and I continued down Minnehaha Parkway.

I decided to stop and get the above picture of the parkway sign with my bike leaned against it (bike dork picture #8). As I was doing so, a friendly guy walking along offered to take my picture so I took him up on it. Hence, the shot of me in my majestic glory you see before you.


And to top it off, once I got through Minnehaha Park I saw Kevin's wife Linda on her way home. We exchanged smiles and waves. I should get some kind of prize for spotting the two of them on the same day.

Date: October 2
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
October mileage: 18
Year to date mileage: 2618

Add on

Here's a photo from Friday's commute. I had meant to add it to my prior post, but couldn't find the ferschluggin' cord to upload pics from the camera.

We also made some beer this weekend. And tonight I made bread and rolls from the leftover brewing grains. Is there anything better than fresh baked bread? Especially when it's made from beer?

All Fall Down

Don't let them kid you. Those people who are hanging their bikes up in the rafters of their garage right now. This is some of the best time to ride. Yesterday on the way home I could feel the coming warm front. In the tepid drizzle I could almost convince myself that this was a spring ride, and long summer days were just around the corner. It was so different from the cold and rainy days over the last week. The changing leaves that were mostly still on the trees, but starting to fall on the path told the truth about my internal lie, however. We can only delude ourselves if we ignore the obvious. It's easy to do.

Fall truly is my favorite time to ride. It's cool I feel like I could ride all day. Even the occasional warm fall day isn't the same as a warm spring day. There's a certain undefinable quality to the air that's not there any other time of year. There should be more organized group rides this time of year. People don't know the beauty that they're missing.

Date: September 25
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
September mileage: 154
Year to date mileage: 2582

Date: September 29
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
September mileage: 172
Year to date mileage: 2600

It's raining, it's pouring

Apparently yesterday was World Car Free Day. Good thing I rode my bike to work. It was actually a nice day to ride. It was misting/sprinkling in the morning so I wasn't drenched. And on the way home it rained pretty hard but I was plenty warm. I don't mind riding in the rain unless it's a really cold rain. It's tough to get that chill out of your bones sometimes after a ride in cold rain.

I was riding the Schwinn with the new Panaracer tires I got at the bike swap this spring. I realized how dry a summer this has been when I was cornering on the wet roads. I still don't fully trust these tires in wet conditions. Not that they've done anything to make me mistrust them, but I just haven't ridden them in the wet enough to inspire confidence. I thought about it as I was on the greenway sprinting across Hiawatha trying to beat the walk signal countdown (I did). As I was halfway across I had a vision of my tires slipping on the crosswalk markings. Probably just paranoia.

It does pose an issue though. When I got the Jamis my initial thought was that I could start riding the Schwinn in the winter when the paths were clear. If I go through with that, I'm going to need some different tires. Probably cross tires with a slight knob on the sides for grip in the corners. Clearance could be an issue. And I'd probably need to figure out some fenders. Otherwise, it's the Raleigh again. Which needs some work. Decisions, decisions.

Date: September 20
Mileage: 20
Ride type/bike: Commute/Jamis
September mileage: 118
Year to date mileage: 2546

Date: September 22
Mileage: 18
Ride type/bike: Commute/Schwinn
September mileage: 136
Year to date mileage: 2564

Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole?

I took t' trike for a pretty decent commute ayeterday. Yon saucy wench had t' day off so I had no time constraints. I decided t' take t' river road t' t' greenway, since I'd only ridden t' new greenway in one direction. Me an' t' greenway are only on a nodding aquaintance, but I knew I was headed into t' other side o' downtown so I could hit t' Y. So instead o' departin' at yon Portland Avenue exit I rode all t' way t' Bryant. I headed north on Byrant not knowin' how I was goin' t' get t' downtown, but in fact it worked out beautifully. Bryant went t' Davy Jones' locker-ends near Hennepin Avenue, but feeds starboard into what appears t' be part o' t' Kenilworth Trail. There's a bonny bike bridge that crosses 94 and brin's you starboard t' Lorin' Park. By t' time I got in I was wishin' I had worn socks, and maybe even long pants. It's supposed t' get down t' 37 tomorrow mornin'.

TLAPD

Date: September 19
Mileage: 30
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Trike
September mileage: 98
Year to date mileage: 2526

Ray was right, lawnmowing is hazardous

I was all set to write about riding on the new section of the Greenway tonight. But when I got home, the family was still swimming at the Y so I decided to take advantage of the solitude and get some chores done. Specifically, mowing the lawn. I'm not all anal and obsessive about the lawn, and usually only mow when the grass starts to wave in the wind like something out of The Lion King. But the weather forecast over the next week or so will make people start to wonder what exactly a cubit is, so I figured that this was the time to do it.

We had a lovely Honda riding lawn mower for about 2 years, but this summer the transmission decided to shuffle off this mortal coil. So I've been mowing with the mini-mower, a little unit that we bought when we lived in South Dakota nearly 10 years ago. It was cheap as all get out ($79 I think) and has been a workhorse ever since. But the 20" cutting width just isn't cutting it for our half acre lot.

I fired up the mini-mower and started mowing. I usually mow in concentric circles. Again not because I really care about lawn patterns, but because it just seems easier. Our yard has a ton of trees and other things to mow around, but the majority are around the edges. So if I start at the outside and work my way in most of the hard part is over first.

I'd made two laps around the yard. On the second lap I put a pretty good scratch in my shoulder from a tree branch. And then on the third time around I felt something poke me in the leg. That's odd, I thought. I wasn't anywhere near a tree or shrub. Then something else poked me in the back. I looked down and saw a bee on my shirt. Then I felt another poke (or sting, I realized) and figured out what was going on. I shut off the mower and started running like a cartoon character, running while twisting, turning and swatting. As I ran toward the house, I could feel that one was on my back and I started calling to my wife so she could come out and get it off me. But it stung me instead. Nancy came outside just in time to hear me curse and swat some more. I took my clothes off on the patio (what will the neighbors think?!) and went inside. As we watched, two more bees crawled out of my shorts!

I decided my mowing was over for the night, went inside and took a shower. After getting doused with calomine lotion we counted 7 stings. And when I went to look, those two bees were still buzzing around my clothes, trying to find something to sting. I went back up and got the lawnmower, and I think I saw the hole in the ground where the bees are coming from.

Tomorrow, me and my friend the gas can are going to burn those bastards out.

Date: September 15
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
September mileage: 68
Year to date mileage: 2496

Random Photo Dump

I finally went through my phone and uploaded the pictures that were on it. Judging by the snow, it's been a while.

My Peace Coffee bottle I got at the 2005 Bike To Work event is on the left. The one I got at the 2006 Bike To Work event is on the right. But you probably could have guessed which was which.


Sledding with the kid.




I ride by this bike almost every morning. It's cool.


Who knew a fifty cent kiddie merry go round outside a grocery store could get such big smiles?


Sorry for taking your picture at work, Christopher. And doubly sorry for posting it on the internet.


I really don't know what I was thinking when I took this.


Gopher hockey!


I don't even know what this is.


Date: September 11
Mileage: 16
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
September mileage: 50
Year to date mileage: 2478

Dairy Run

Yesterday afternoon my wife called me at work.

Nancy: Did you drive or bike today?
Me: I biked.
Nancy: Oh.
Me: Why?
Nancy: I wanted you to pick up some sour cream on the way home. But I guess we can do without.
Me: I can pick up sour cream. No problem.

And I picked up that sour cream, all 16 ounces.

Date: August 29
Mileage: 23
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
August mileage: 291
Year to date mileage: 2405

Date: August 31
Mileage: 23
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
August mileage: 314
Year to date mileage: 2428

Date: September 6
Mileage: 16
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Jamis
September mileage: 16
Year to date mileage: 2444

Date: September 8
Mileage: 18
Ride type/Bike: Commute/Schwinn
September mileage: 34
Year to date mileage: 2462