Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

If “Ghostbusters” were made in 1954.

Top ten (10) things only women understand.

10. Cats' facial expressions

9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors

8. Why bean sprouts aren't just weeds

7. Fat clothes

6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time

5. The difference between beige, off-white, and eggshell

4. Cutting your bangs to make them grow

3. Eyelash curlers

2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made

1. OTHER WOMEN

Ride On

Today’s Topic – Cool

I’m beginning to think this whole internets thing just might catch on. Again, while perusing around them, I found this picture.



It’s by Mona Caron.

This coming weekend is the MS ride. As much as I’m looking forward to this ride, I’m sort of wishing for a weekend when I had absolutely nothing going on….. I can’t believe it is almost August.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Words

I was perusing around the internets and found this somewhat profound cautioning.

WARNING
If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word of this useless fine print is another second off your life. Don’t you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly can’t think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who claim it? Do you read everything you’re supposed to read? Do you think everything you’re supposed to think? Buy what you’re told you should want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex. Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you’re alive. If you don’t claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned …..

So, there you go.


Ride On.

Today's Topic - Bike Camping Weekend

This past weekend we loaded up the bikes

and did some riding South

to Union Grove State Park.

Upon arrival we had some beer

and then camped the night. It was a nice ride down with fifteen mile per hour (15 MPH) tailwinds. The fifty (50) mile ride was easy even riding loaded.

The next morning we got up when we wanted, had a little food and some coffee, and then hit the road

back. The tailwinds we had on the way down were now headwinds on the way back. However, they had diminished quite a bit. It did take longer to get back, but it was another fun ride.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Meltdowns with good endings.

Camels.

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – One (1) Step Closer

FAST (Falls Area SingleTrack) had our second (2nd) meeting with the City yesterday. The results of this meeting were very positive. We’ve only a few more things to do and, pending no neighbourhood revolt, we will be digging, soon –ish.

Four (4) of us met with five (6) of the Parks and Rec personnel. We did a mock neighbourhood presentation and then we discussed items, answered questions, and were given the last few things we need to take care of.

It seems all the hard work is finally paying off. Things are looking very favorably we’ll have some sweet singletrack within our city limits coming up.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Inciting Road Rage

Every once in a while I do drive. Occasionally I drive the S.O.’s vehicle either here or there. Once in a while I need to take the company vehicle to a jobsite or a contractor’s office.

I’ve decided to drive roughly ten miles per hour (10 MPH) less than the posted speed limit while within the city limits. The drivers in my fair city are among the worst anywhere. Those sonsabitches need to be slowed down a bit. I’m going to do my part to help them with just that.

If they want to honk or yell, they can honk or yell



at this.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Amusement Ride Or Cool Transport?

Scanning the internets I came across a cool link about self propelled monorail things. This is an amusement park ride in New Zealand. But, the transport possibilities are easy to comprehend.

The world’s populations are increasingly migrating to huge cities, and the densities within our cities are steadily climbing as residential towers become the dominant mode of residence. Traffic is slowing to walking pace, there is little parking and there is significant and ever-increasing pollution of the air we breathe. Of note, the average speed of a motor vehicle in central London in 1908 was 8 mph. In 2008 it was still 8 mph.

Here they are in action:



I bet on and off spurs (ramps?) can be easily engineered.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – You Have Too Much Money

So, let me help you out with that terrible problem.

On August 1st and 2nd I’m doing the MS – Pedal the Plains bike ride. I’m trying to raise $1000 in donations this year.

There are two signs a dude’s making to much money – a cocaine habit and reading assorted blogs. But, there’s hope.

Please consider making a pledge to the Multiple Sclerosis Society on my behalf. Please go to THIS link and click appropriately. I'd greatly appreciate your donation to this very worthy cause.



Ride On.

Today's Topic - I Need A Part

I have an old Campagnolo seat post. In all my bike care glory I've managed to lose a part off of it. I'm looking for the part of the seat post shown in the pictures below.

Anyway, if you have one (1) of these, or know of someone who might, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd contact me such that a transaction can take place. This is a great old seatpost and I'd like to put it back on the Raleigh fixie. My email address is on the profile page.

Thanks!


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Chicks fight with light sabers.

Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | More Video Clips

Marlin bull doggin’.

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Day Off

I have the day off from work today. I’m going to ride my bike for a bit and then listen to Buck Owens music while shooting tequila pretty much all the rest of the day and / or evening.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Bike Friendly?

My fair city is pursuing “Bike Friendly City” status within the League of American Bicyclists. Phase one (1), whatever that is / was, has been completed, and now the City is onto phase two (2).

This phase involves filling out a questionnaire regarding all sorts of “bike related about your city” questions. The dude from my fair city ram-rodding this pursuit filled out the questionnaire and then forwarded onto some of us (us being the dudes on the City Bike Committee, some City employees, and some other interested bike types) for comment.

I read through the questionnaire, I made some comments, and I sent it back. It was interesting. The questions were interesting and the answers provided were interesting. It made a dude think about bike stuff in new ways, some. I was pleasantly surprised to see questions regarding singletrack opportunities in the questionnaire.

This process got me thinking about how bike friendly, or not, my fair city is. Not in regards to League standards, but in reality based standards. My answer to the question of “Is my fair city “bike friendly?” is yes and no.

In my travels I can pretty easily find quick, easy, and safe ways to get almost anywhere I want or need to go. However, once the S.O. started biking to work (every now and then), I’ve been introduced to portions of my fair city that I would not remotely consider “bike friendly” as I provide escort service.

When I consider these parts of the city that I don’t feel safe or comfortable riding in I see two (2) things. The first (1st) is, if I don’t feel good about riding in these areas, a newbie would probably be terrified and give up bike commuting completely. The second (2nd) is if only portions of my fair city are bike friendly while others are hazardous, it is my opinion this is an “all or nothing” type of thing in that the city is friendly for all bike commuters regardless of where they live and work or it should be consider “not bike friendly” in the eyes of the League.

Granted every city, even Portland, even Minneapolis, have areas that are not a good place to bike. However, the sections of my city that I feel are unsafe or confusing or have some major aspect that make them “not bike friendly” is quite far spread.

So, it will be interesting to see what the League’s take on this city will be. I know my views, and they are my own. Personally, I’m anxious for $4.00 per gallon gas, or more, to force the bike friendly issue into the forefront. It will then become an actual important issue and elevate it above “résumé padding” for this city, or any other.


Ride On.

Today's Topic - Two (2) Non-Bike Blogs I Like

There's a couple '0 (2) non-bike blogs I try to visit daily. Though they're non-bike, they have a great theme. Anyhow, I wanted to point these out and let you decide if it's something you'd like to read now and then.

No Impact Man - I'd suggest going back to his original posts and getting caught up with him

Free-Range Kids - I suggest the same, here, start at the start. Maybe buy the book!


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Explanation You’ll Not Like

I was perusing the internets and catching up on some reading. I visited THIS guys site and found the best story regarding European bicycle racing, including the Tour de France, I’ve ever come across.

You can read it HERE. But, be forewarned, IF you understand it, you’ll likely not like it. A lot of dudes get knocked off that pedestal you put them on.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Pyrotechnic ball remover.

EMBED-Failed Firework Nutshot Explosion - Watch more free videos

Bra

The Bra @ Yahoo! Video

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Vaca

You know the feeling you get when you’re approaching burn-out and you know it’s time for some vacation? Well, I’m there.



I’m getting tired of dealing with daily crap and people who produce this crap. I’m needing some crap-free recharge time.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Travelers

I was commuting home last night when what did I happen upon? A couple on bikes! Not just any couple. No, these were two (2) older, retired sorts roughly half (1/2) way through their journey from Tacoma, WA to Boston, MA.

They were riding loaded. She on a Rodriguez and he on a Surly Long Haul Trucker. They had panniers fore and aft plus stuff strapped on top of the racks on the back. When I found them they were stopped looking at their map.

Once we’d greeted each other and talked a bit I asked them where they were headed in town. I knew right where this was and offered to help them navigate the streets of Sioux Falls. They were going to ride Minnesota Avenue, and for those in the know, that’s not the most bike friendly of streets.

As we rode we chatted. They told me of leaving Rapid City in search of Wall, Wall Drug, and free ice water. They found some route on the internets that had them on a highway that parallels I-90. The highway turned to gravel, then to a cow pasture, and then to “not a trail.” They hoisted their bags and bikes over, under, and through a barbed wire fence and rode the last bit to Wall on I-90.

They had other stories as well. Their route was going to have them meet up and ride RAGBRAI and hit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. She’d been retired for four (4) years and he, just.

They are a nice old couple with not necessarily no particular place to go, just no hard schedule to keep. I keep playing “Powerball” in hopes I’d be doing just this – sooner rather than later.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Brunching Bumper Stickers

The past weekend had its ups and downs. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the S.O,. and I were not able to make the Saturday Beresford Ride we’d signed up for. Bummer.

Sunday rolled around, as it usually does, and the morning weather was about as perfect as it could have been. After coffee at a local coffee joint we went for a roll. Towards the end we decided brunch was in order.

Brunch, in this town, usually means an all-you-can-eat buffet. Yuck. Mass produced, kept “warm” in large containers, food just doesn’t taste that good and is of questionable quality all the way around. Give me an order-off-the-menu place any day over the all-you-can-eat places.

We dined at an order-off-the-menu place and then got ready to leave. We walked out of the door over to where I had the bikes cabled up. Digression – the place we ate has good food, is in a good location, but is seriously lacking in the bike rack department. I indicated as such on the comment card.

When I got over to where we had the bikes, I noticed this bumper sticker on the nearest vehicle. (Go ahead, click for big.)



I split a gut! Holy crap was that funny! I’d never seen one of those! Evidently they’ve been around a while. For those not in the know, check out Voldemort here.



Ride On.

Keeping It Very Real

Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Pac Man

Got Liquid Nitrogen?

Ride On.

Today's Topic - Day Off

I have the day off from work today. I'm going to go ride my bike! Here, have a picture while you're waiting for the Friday Afternoon Grab Bag.




Ride On.

Today’s Topic – From the “Duh” Department

You’ve probably seen this picture before



but I wanted to post it again anyway. You already get it, but when will “they?”

Also, from the “why can’t we all get along?” department, we as cyclists want equal rights, space, etc regarding the road. We’d like cage holes to be a little more courteous toward rollers. If you want courtesy, then why not give it?

There are times when it is simply safer to take the lane. There are other times when it is not necessary. In those not necessary times, please RIDE RIGHT. Courtesy and respect are both two (2) way streets. Word. Some of you need to revisit the "riding right" idea again.



Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Back On Track, Singletrack That Is

Tonight I will meet with some of the FAST (Falls Area SingleTrack) Gringos regarding our local project. We will attempt to lay blame assign responsibility for the remaining tasks for our neighbourhood presentation.

I (only half jokingly) say our project is moving at the speed of City Government. The reality is I haven’t driven this project as hard as I should. The speed in which this project is moving is dependant on me and the group. But, now that “other activities” are behind me, I can concentrate on this one (1) to get it on the fast track to FAST trails.

I’m anxious for full approval of our scheme. I’m anxious to finalize design, flag corridors, and start moving dirt. I’m even more anxious to start riding the trails we build.



Ride On.