no biking tonight...yard work

I had two years of brush that was piling up. tonight was the night - started at 6pm.

Pete and Maria had fun while Dave was at Boy Scouts...they did a LOT of work and enjoyed burning things like matchbox cars.

Nine PM and still burning ...

This was actually at 10:45 just before I came in to do this - not 930. Still hot and will be in the morning. The yard is clean and I didnt get a chance to bike.

busy day.

Full day - Boy Scouts event in the a.m. - scouting for food...if you participated in giving food - thanks. 3 hours of driving around and picking up bags of goods. Thanks to my youngest Pete for being the runner. Then p/u daughter from a sleep-over - get home to do some house improvements - lights outisde, painting trim, nap and then 1.5 hours of riding in the slop in the park. Mostly off-road this time and it was a MESS...and all that water soaked me to the bone and the chill was insane. I never thought that 1.5 hours would have been so hard. Well, it wasnt 65 miles like Neil and Larry - you guys are monsters. I will make a shrine of power in honor of you guys.

ac

yet....another wonderful upgrade

I now can honestly say that I am and will be riding with RAAM now. Let me explain. I have this cannondale bike that I bought from Bikes LTD in LaCrosse in 1990 - its been faithful and true and I like it so much I kept "it" and sold the nice Virata so I can purchase a SS road and SS mt...I call that leverage.

So, yesterday I was riding home and noticed this metal crunch squeak slush sound on my pedal stroke. After a while I could feel it in the pedal - and if a sound turns into a feel - its time to operate. Stop by the shop - yep, need a bottom bracket and the crank was bent too. Original crank - not original bb. Aside from the seat post, stem, fork, frame - everything else has been replaced now. I asked around if someone had a used crank - and low and behold - B-train says - here's my old ultegra crank WITH bottom bracket.

I nice visit with his family and I got the story that this very crank set pedaled across America last year with RAAM. Now I have the power of Greyskull at my disposal - watch out...If Bernie owned it - you know its good. So with some help at the shop and some shinny new bolts we are in bidnis.

Thanks Bernie - it works great and I noticed that even standing still - this thing rests at 5 mph - its that fast.


ac

YNM

Got home and said - why not bike? Load up - head out - get soaked en-route up super prime and straight into the woods to commune with God. It was wet but no one was out - that I could see. Hit the horse trails - no luck...it was really slimy and I could barely accelerate so I hoofed it up a few climbs...the mud was deep and the rain was constant. 6 miles of off road and 5 miles of on road. Stoped and the shop to see Adam's new rig and bolted home - 14 deg drop in 1.5 hours of being out. a few trail pics of the new young nasty man....and some of that his horse dung.

stroll through the park....and then some

Opted for a wonderful ride around the park tonight. 1.5 hours of blissful riding and conversation. With who you say???? Terry on the recumbent. Met him about 1/4 of the way through the park and what an interesting - well educated guy. Topic? Origins of holidays, religious markers etc etc. Now much of the things we talked about - I knew about already... " like why did we settle on Dec 25th for Christmas...Why is it called Christmas...Very neat, very fascinating things and all very true - if you dare to look up history books or read your Bible. Also - this is cool - why on earth do we use a pine tree and where did that come from and why is it not-Biblical to do so? Heck - even the whole celebrating birthdays came up....As you can see, there was much talked about - much to think about...All while riding in the dark with lights...lol. There were many subjects from war to end time prophecy that was discussed and I must say that if I were to bring them up here - the comment section would be extended and added to for a while - so I wont.

Bottom line - it was enlightening and refreshing - not freaky.

with that - a total of 18 miles on the rat bike - and many things to look up now.


ac

saturday morning

wet, cool, not dressed right, 43 miles total for me - headed home at 9am with dave henningsgaard - we stopped at dunn bros in Champlain for a juice and some brew...lots of funny looks. It was PACKED. took the new bridge at french lake...got home in time to play a mean game of scrabble with the family - now its time for chili cheese dogs and yatze while mom works... i was not ready for the chill in the air this morning but it was sure nice to get out.

ac

Great Stuff - follow up to Neil's 40th

"And I didn't have to wipe..." said the nerdman

You really dont want to know...okay, maybe you do so ask Nerdalicious about the husky's in the woods and the time when they found out he was letting loose the #2. enough said.

We ended up heading for a 31 mile ride tonight - great weather and good friends. That is what it is all about. we rode to the fletcher TT course - did it and came home. Early season is not easy... at least for the people that didnt do much all winter (me). I took a sign prime from Jorge and I came in second on the Fletch prime to B-train. I thought, for some reason, that by adding 5 gears to my weapons of mass destruction, that I would stand a chance. The sprint was on - Bernie was up shifting with perfect timing and so was I but when he decided to go to the 53 front ring...I realized that I didnt have one of those. I was spun out with my 42x11 and Bernie was not spun out - the diesel rolled on through with me on his rear wheel by a few inches. Good show Bern-dog. Once again proving that riding a lot in the winter - and being a stud - makes a difference in the on season.

Once back - we headed to Moon rock for b-day cake (Nerdster turned 40 - happy bday Neil) and lemonade. the night then got crazy when I ordered some wild turkey shots, then hemi ordered hot damns ( more than one for the crew), Larry jumped in with beefeater rounds.....and so on....note the pics. It was a GREAT time and fun was had by all. Happy b-day Neil - and thanks for getting older so we could have a good time.

I can say that the best time was spent with Johns daughter Lilly (spelling?)....what a riot and a handful. Kids are great! She was all about entertainment....I LOVE IT (last pic). John, you are blessed - what a great family!

afternoon wind extraveganza

I watched the flag outside my office window stand at attention ALL DAY. It was serious - the email machine was telling me that constant winds over 23 with gusts up to 45 mph....from the south. I took coon rapids blvd to the park and over to the shop. It is mainly heading NW so the wind was at my back - generally speaking as opposed to the ride in this morning. When you are going the same speed as the wind....in the same direction - it is like riding in a vacuum. it is neat...plus its the only time EVER I will feel like Merckx.

The ride around the EC park was interesting - 12 of us and the group split up just about 2 miles before the lap was done. I was spent - with 30 miles in already and I am not in the best shape - I sat up and then biked home - did two hill repeats up super prime and made it home in time to take the eldest to boy scouts.

So - 46 miles today - not bad - it was sure good to see everyone today. Geez, even Jorge came out with his freshly waxed cycling outfit and gold inlaid unobtainium voodoo road bike....good to see you bud - as always.

Pasta, salad, hershey's cookies and cream bar and an overpriced mocha - recovery foods in that order.


see yall on the road.


ac

the sum of my shortcuts.... morning ride

To not be out done by the Duke, I am staying on course to bike all week to work. It seems that each time I want to do what I know I should...I am met with doing what might be easier or more suitable to my immediate desires. Hence, sleeping in and driving to work sounded like a really nice idea.

I am not saying that I am the cycling dianetics zen master by any means but I opted for the bike, the ride in the 30 freeking mph wind....etc.... Why is it that it takes like 15 mins to realize why you were smart in the choice? I have grown accustom to reaping the reward of the immediate to the point that I cant see the forest through the trees...I mean I just about throw the baby out with the bath water or better yet I end up counting my chickens before they hatch....lol....

Still with my frustration mode on, I get to the half way point of the commute and I am still thinking - which way is quicker I just want off this bike and....whoa! I mean HOLD ON! Yeah, there are shorter paths to the end...there are little off shoots here and there that can reduce the amount of frustration....the end of course is the same either way so find a reason to enjoy and you will enjoy. Sounds like that could work for just about any application huh? Again I am not L Ron Hubbard here but the simple truth is that if we short our experience - there is no going back to get it and we live in the game of shoulda coulda woulda.

From a biking perspective here - I see that the total culmination of my efforts means that years may be extended on my life, Fat Tire 40 might be easier, group rides are more enjoyable, my clothes fit better, I may be able to beat Bernie on a sign prime, I can experience the simple joys of a morning ride and most of all my mind is able to release and know that the journey is well worth the extra miles and effort – some of these are immediate and some are 5 months to 50 years away…that is a good outcome for just getting on the bike this morning – high yield.( by the way, that was one long...run....on sentence....i know it was not gooder english)

So if I decided to plod through the easy route all the time, I must also learn to accept the fact that the sum total of my shortcuts will result in the misfortune of my soul.

Bird of Prey...

en route this morning - I witness a pretty darn neato experience. Normal commute - down the busy w.river road to the coon rapids damn - south out of the park - up behind target and of course Caribou coffee - they are so nice....then into work....

Okay - rewind...the Coon Rapids park. This is a series of paths that resemble riding over parking curbs...the heaves and buckled asphalt is horrible. so I take it easy through here...So I am near some pavilion thing and I look up - there is an eagle soaring above. yes, an eagle, white head, huge wings....looming over the water. So I stop, listen to a few screeches and watch this amazing creature skim the water and latch onto what appeared to be a mid sized carp or bull-head.

As I watched this happen, I realized I wasn't alone - about 4 joggers had opted to stare with amazement. One guy with purple shades on looks at me and says with a plain face - " you don't 'f-ing' see that every day huh?".

So I was hesitant to bike in this morning - I guess it took 12 miles to realize that gratification doesn't always come quickly.

ac

Highlights from the weekend...

For the three readers of the blog - recap. it is good for me to log a bunch of crap so I look like i am doing something important on the computer.

For the first time in a while - the weekend was free. I was a bit worried on Friday as I had a specific assignment at work to locate a few people willing to relocate to Iraq for a year or two...it ended up being a late night - some really cool conversations with non- linguists for a change but rather organizational management people. So when 8 pm rolled around and I was supposed to pull a rabbit out of my bag of tricks by 4 pm I was concerned that my efforts were pointless. I hope they weren't.

Sat morning - up early....anticipating some semblance of a ride I saw no indication. So I head out with the Rat single speed for a low gear high spin around the park. I didnt have all day so I tried to get cardio in full swing - it worked. The trail was fraut with 2 inch slush/snow which actually made it safe to ride but it was really hard for some reason. I did some hill repeats on super prime about 4 times and then hit the park - taking off shoots here and there the google map thing said I did 22 miles in all. I made it to the shop on my way home - looking for the new bike - and met up with an old but crazy friend - Justin....the Samurai is alive and well - got a new gig with some nuclear electrician job and he seems to enjoy his work.... so about 30 mins later its time to leave and Justin said he would once over the rat real quick and found out that my rear brakes were off and the right side pad was forced into the rim the entire time - hence the hard ride. Funny - I thought I put an easy gear on for spinning and it ended up being a watt maximizing exercise.

The ride home was all on the street and in the snow fall - sleet really. I am really beginning to loath the cold/wet weather. It is time to warm up and it looks like that will happen.


Sunday was low key - home from church...left over papa murphy's...lazy games inside with the kids and the low hum of the new washing machine cleaning my cycling clothes. Happy times.

Monday....all is set for the commute...it is time to add to the miles in better weather....Fat Tire is about 5 months away and I still dont have a mt bike to do it with...wait - the Rat is ready and so is that Monocog I am going to win.


drew

i found one. wow.

Russian Doll

Long story - not gonna get into it...pointless to explain...other than Neil was the Russian Doll. it really isnt that funny but it works for a title. On the Local - nice ride...bit chilly but not snowing. Mr.Anderson gets a flat and I do some down and backs to stay warm and literally about 15 min later...I come by again with Jay H and there was the most amazing struggle - 4 guys all working on the same tire/wheel. That tire kicked their butts. It was funny.

New Bike -

trigger pulled - Bowery mine....worry about the monocog later.

whoa....these are at TH

THIS COULD BEAT OUT THE MONOCOG FOR MY NEW BIKE