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.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
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
Sunday, November 12, 2006
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.
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.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
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
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
Monday, October 30, 2006
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
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
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
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
Sunday, October 22, 2006
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
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
Monday, October 16, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, October 09, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
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
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
Monday, October 02, 2006
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
Sunday, October 01, 2006
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?
Saturday, September 30, 2006
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
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
Saturday, September 23, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
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
Friday, September 15, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
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
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
Saturday, September 09, 2006
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
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
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