Today’s Topic – Out On A Limb

Yesterday I registered for the lottery to get into the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race. The way I take it, it costs fifteen dollars ($15) to get your name in the hat and an additional two-hundred-seventy-five dollars ($275) is sucked out of your account if your name is drawn the first week of February, 2010.

I’ve ridden at altitude in Colorado before. I do know what it’s like. The physical challenge of the race, the training required, and mostly the belt buckle given to those who’ve finished under a certain amount of time are all very appealing to me.

So, with a winter storm allegedly bearing down on us, more months of winter to go, I’m glad I have another something to look forward to.

If my name is drawn, the training will start in earnest. I’m sure I’ll be forced to make a few trips to Spearfish to train. Oh, the sacrifices I’ll have to make.

Which of you are going to throw your names into the hat?


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Climate Conference Bust

Were you paying any attention to that Climate Conference in Copenhagen? I was. Was I hoping something actually and quantifiably good was going to come of it? No. I knew there wasn’t going to and I was correct.

There was lots of talk. There were also lots of limos and lots of carbon created by something that had little chance of making any meaningful difference. And, in the end, it was a total bust.

But what about the resolutions? Some of you might actually ask that. You mean the non-binding ones? Those? The repercussions of doing nothing, or small token amounts, about climate change have not resonated deep enough with political types yet.

If you think any country is going to follow through with anything from the non-binding resolutions, then I’ve got some prime real estate to sell you. Contact me. The political types and the corporate types are still whining that doing something about the climate is going to make it more expensive to make their widgets. No shit. Of course it is. And because it is, no country wants to be at a competitive disadvantage by being the first (1st) to actually do something meaningful about climate change.


What the short-sighted dumb asses are ignoring is doing nothing, or little, now, will have hyper dire ramifications at some point in the future. It is my hope my lifetime will be complete when the energy, resources, and food wars start. It’s called “Mother” Earth for a reason. Because, if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody’s going to be happy. If you try to kill Mama, she’s going to try to kill you back.



Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Tricksters at play.

Who wants one?

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Wednesday Monk’s Day

The local roller bar, Monk’s House of Ale Repute, is doing something unique tonight. They’ve got a container of Sam Adams Utopias their opening. You’ll have to Google Sam Adams Utopias to see what that’s all about. What I will tell you it’s a twenty-seven percent (27%) alcohol beer. Monk’s is selling it by the ounce. I think for eight dollars ($8.00) per. I’m not sure how many, if any, ounces they have left to sell. They have one (1) container of the beer and when it’s sold, it’s sold.


Anyway, I’ll be converging on Monk’s tonight just before the seven (7) PM opening of the Utopias. I’m curious to see how this beer tastes.

Let’s see, what else? Hmmm…need a time waster? HERE you go.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – It’s Starting To Feel Like Summer Might Be Over

So, how do you like the frigid temperatures? Are they making a dent in your bike commuting days?

Last week and the first (1st) part of this week I have determined I do not have the appropriate clothing from minus five degrees Fahrenheit (-5 F) to plus five degrees Fahrenheit (+5 F). I’m too warm. But, if I pull one (1) layer, I’m a bit cold.

Also, I pulled the clipless pedals off the commuter and put on platforms. Studded tyres are the option, too. Since the Surly Cross Check is single speed to the tune of approximately seventy-two (72) gear inches, commuting feels a bit like work.

Yesterday, Monday, the wind was from the North at about eighteen miles per hour (18 MPH). Platform pedals, increased rolling resistance from the studded tyres, somewhat high geared single speed, and a head wind made for a slow commute.

But, I’d rather light a candle than curse my darkness. I’d much rather be out in the elements than in a car. The increased rolling resistance is good leg training. And, I like the challenge and required motivation to commute by bike in the winter months.

How’s that trainer working for you?


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

I’ll have what he’s having.

Math explained, finally.

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Cleaning The Bilge

Winter is clean up time. Cleaning up the bikes that won’t get ridden much over the winter months and also cleaning up the blog thing. I think I’ve got some dead links in the blog roll and also some blogs listed that you can still get to, but there’s no posting going on. It’s time to fix that. No one wants to click to a dead link or a blog that doesn’t get posted to.

Tuesday night, blizzard and all, I made my way to Augustana Junior College for that crazy MinusCar fellow's, in conjunction with the Sioux Falls Green Project, showing of the movie “No Impact Man.” See the trailer HERE.

Fifty (50) others braved the weather as well. It was quite a though provoking movie. If you get a chance, I recommend it.

Lastly, the Cross Check has undergone a bit of a transformation. I put a rack on the back, had Mary bars with a taller stem put on the front, and am about to put the studded tyres on as well. Oh, I took the clipless pedals off and put some platforms on, too. I’m now winter ready. Pictures likely next week.


Ride On.