Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

X-mas robots.

Good night, Keith Moon.

Ride On.

Today's Topic - Holiday Food

So, certain holidays are upon us and other are coming up. Each has specific foods associated and some have overlapper foods. For example, pumpkin pie. Do you really know where pumpkin pie comes from? You might be surprised.


Not what you expected is it? Just keep this visual in your mind when old Aunt Sara asks you if you'd like pumpkin pie for desert tomorrow.

Happy frickin' Thanksgiving.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – No Baby, But, Singletrack

I am somewhat happy to report that I’ve not pissed gravel yet. I am optimistic I won’t. It seems, or it is my hope and / or opinion, kidney stone Buck has dissolved, exiting under the radar. I’m continuing to hydrate well consuming at least one (1) gallon of water, in the form of water or coffee, per day. Beer is a bonus.

This past weekend we had a singletrack announcement meeting. We are very nearly all systems go. At the meeting that crazy Minuscar fellow gave a history of our involvement with the park and the City and touched on websites. I gave an update of our pending club formation, IMBA affiliation, corporation formation, and the related.

I also talked about trail building. It looks like we’ll have an expert trail builder here on the kick off date next spring. He’ll review my layout and design and also conduct a trail building school for the volunteers. This is a great development.

Messing with the trail layout, forming a corporation, filing for non-profit status are all things that will keep me engaged over the next winter months. I’m thankful for that. If I have nothing to do, I get bored and anxious. We can’t have that.

So, the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday to some of you, I’ll be tromping around the park taking notes, making squiggly lines on a map, and enjoying this nice fall weather. If you’re in my neck of the woods, having nothing to do that day, and are in need of some park tromping, shoot me an email and we can meet up.

Lastly, our City has put up a page on the official website about the singletrack project. You can see it HERE. Please note, the links found on that page are somewhat representative of the final trail layout. Final design / layout will likely resemble what you see. Those visuals are a fair representation of our intentions only.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Frogger, train style.

Creepy bubbles.

Ride On.

Today's Topic - Sad Truth

Why anyone would want to spend a large portion of their paycheck to own something that begins depreciating the moment you buy it, costs lots to run, costs lots to insure, indirectly causes deterioration of health, contributes to planet melt, and causes stress is beyond me.




Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Nope, Not Yet

I have not pissed gravel yet so Buck has not shown up. I did a follow up visit with the doctor on Friday, though. It was productive in the fact that she gave me an increased dosage and quantity of Vicodin.

I have found, that after taking one (1) of these, waiting the requisite amount of time, and then consuming a glass of red wine, makes time feel like if you took a 45 RPM vinyl record and suddenly switched the turntable to 33 RPM. Things really, really slow down.

Aside from that, I’m really not in any pain. So, I’m working on singletrack stuff. There are a few things left to hammer out before the meeting on Friday, the meeting with the Parks and Recs the following week, and the neighborhood meeting the week after that. There’s never a dull moment. Unless I want one (1). In which case I can always take a Vicodin and drink some red wine.

Looking ahead to singletrack stuff and actually having some to ride on, I’m thinking of building up a single speed mountain bike over the winter. I gots to has one (1)! Yeah, I’m thinking Surly 1 x 1. I’ll build up some wheels and then get the rest of the parts, etc. and put it together.

It’s not even winter yet and I can’t wait for spring. Geesh, this could be a long season, regardless of how severe or not it really is. The cooler mornings have different riders scrambling for different things. Some have now dusted off their trainers. I have got my full wool on. I don’t mind the cold. I layer up and ride.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Moments.

Killers on the roam.

Ride On.

Today’s Topic – In The E.R. Stoned

So, there I was, finishing my lunch yesterday, when suddenly I started to feel a pain. The pain was in my lower left side of my back. It slowly increased to the point I could barely stand or walk. I started to get hot and dizzy. It was time for an emergency room visit.

A co-worker hauled my ass to the hospital. I was admitted and the two (2) nurses took turns trying to get an I.V. going. Once that was going the drugs started flowing. One (1) dose of something and the pain reduced quite a bit. One (1) dose of morphine and life was very, very good.


I was wheeled into a room where they scanned my CAT. Back to the original room I went. The doctor came in and announced I was going to give birth, through my pecker, to a three millimeter (3 mm) kidney stone. Nice.


I was given a prescription for some pain pills and sent on my way with instructions to drink lots of fluids. So, I am. So far, I’ve not given birth to the stone. Oh boy, I can hardly wait. When it gets here, I think I’ll name it Buck.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Getting There

The City Parks and Recs types met with the City Parks and Recs Board and suggested letting FAST build some singletrack in a City Park would be a good thing. The Board agreed. Now comes Neighbourhood Meeting Time.

It’s good policy to hold neighbourhood meetings if something is going to change or potentially affect people is some way. So, FAST (Falls Area SingleTrack) will be holding a neighbourhood meeting in conjunction with the City.

A presentation has been prepared. Visual aids have been prepared. We’re damn prepared!

I don’t think there will be digging yet this year. But, if things stay on track, there will be digging as soon as the ground will allow it next year. Time to get those trail locations nailed down a bit more.

First (1st) we had “Bike Friendly City” status and now it looks like we’ll be getting some singletrack within City limits. It’s been a good year for biking in my fair city.


Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Glub glub.

A Reason to Bike from Brighter Planet on Vimeo.

Typical SUV driver

Ride On.

Words To Live By

And, everyone needs one of THESE.


Ride On.

Today’s Topic – Restaurant Reviews And DIY Medical

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to two (2) fairly new eating establishments in my fair city. I offer my bike related review of each.

On Saturday I was able to check out Jacky’s. Jacky’s is a Mexican food joint. They do have Mexican Coke. I THINK Mexican Coke is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, but don’t quote me on that one (1). It did taste good. The menu has a nice variety. The establishment doesn’t have too much in the ways of ambiance, but the food was very good. It is on a bike friendly street. Final verdict – Jacky’s is recommended.

The second (2nd) establishment I had the opportunity to check out was Senor Weiner. This is a hotdog joint. It offers dogs, polish sausages, and brats. Other choices include buns and toppings. The base price was two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) and the “special” toppings were an extra fifty cents ($0.50) each. Toppings included cheeses, chilies, onions, peppers, and other crap. There was not nearly enough seating in this place due to City regulations. It was pretty plain-Jane. This place fits exactly the “you get what you pay for” cliché. You don’t pay much and you don’t get much. The food didn’t taste that good, it was slow and therefore not hot, and there’s not enough seating. It’s on forty-worst (41st) St and not in a particularly good biking spot, though you can get there if you try. Final verdict – Senor Weiner is not recommended.

In other noise, I’ve had some shoulder area pain lately. It hurts when I bend my arm in a certain way. Through conversations and research I have self diagnosed myself with either a slight rotator cuff tear or tendonitis in that area. The funny thing is I don’t remember a specific incident that caused the problem. Weird.

I have decided I’m going to ice it periodically to reduce inflammation. I’m also going to mind what I do such that I’ll try not to aggravate the injury. I’ll do this for the month of November. In the month of December I’m going to do some rotator cuff specific strengthening exercises. My hope is I can fix this thing without needing real medical attention. Worst case is it doesn’t get better and I’ll go in to have it looked at.

It’s not a full blown tear or separation. At least I’m pretty sure of this. It only hurts when I move my arm in a particular way. This is my do-it-yourself diagnosis and treatment plan. The thought of being told I need to wear a sling, or worse, have surgery and be out of commission for upwards of one (1) year, is pretty unbearable to me. I’m not ignoring the problem, I’m doing what I’ve researched to fix it.

Hey, it’s my body and I’ll do what I want to with it. Most doctors I’ve visited don’t “get it” and I’d rather not consult them unless absolutely necessary.


Ride On.

I Wonder If This Is Any Good

I was wandering around the internets when I came upon this movie trailer. I think I'd like to see the whole movie.




Ride On.