Good Riddance

Monday was my last appointment with Thee Mistress of Pain. Today is my (theoretical) last appointment with the doctor regarding my shoulder injury thing. Good riddance.

In addition to being a hassle to get to and from sessions, it really cuts into a roller’s bike commuting. But, no longer. The leased vehicle is about to get parked and parked hard.

In addition to being able to bike commute every day after today, I do have the Big Dummy back in service. Grocery getting could not possibly get more fun than on that bike.

In other noise, I found out the rims for the touring bike are not due in until April 9th. Crap. I wanted to get those wheels built so I could start to put some serious miles on that bike. Oh well, all in good time, I guess.

For those interested in Faces To The Falls, we’ll not be riding in a tiny group. It’s sounding like it might be an actual posse! Hell, maybe even a convoy!!! Anyway, the more the merrier. If you think you’d be interested, shoot me an email and we’ll talk.


Ride On.

The List Is Out

I put together a list of sleep accommodations for the Roam 2010 – Face to the Falls bike ride this July. I sent it to the interested parties. This ride is in mid July but I’m already getting excited.

Part of reason I getting excited is thinking about places to stay. The biggest part is the frame, fork, and most the parts are in for the touring bike. Saturday I sprayed frame saver on the innards of what is going to be my touring rig. This is a Surly Long Haul Trucker.

The bike will be a custom build. When its done I’ll do a post on components and have pictures. As typical with my bikes, I’ll be building the wheel set. I’m just waiting for the rims to get in and then I’ll start lacing them up.

In other noise, we’re supposed to have some days in the seventies (70’s) this week! Finally! Also, Monday is my last day with the Mistress of Pain and Wednesday is my final (hopefully) last visit to the doctor regarding my shoulder. It’s not completely back to normal, but, I can sleep at night and the doctor said there is nothing I shouldn’t do.


Ride On.

Saturday Short

Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Fool’s gold.

Finally, a good use for cars.

Ride On.

Gauntlet Thrown Down

On Wednesday, right after work, I made haste toward downtown and a mayoral candidate forum. All six (6) were to be in attendance. I wanted to take the opportunity to put them all on the spot.

Last year, that crazy MinusCar fellow and I put on a bike to work contest. We each ponied up some bones, had rollers sign up, for free, and keep a log of the days they biked to work from mid May to mid October. We weighed them at the start and weighed them again at the end. I concocted a formula to determine who won.

That crazy MinusCar fellow and I are going to do it again this year. We’re expanding our reach, some. Wednesday evening, at the forum, I announced the contest and, to the applause of the crowd, invited all candidates to take part.

Crazy MinusCar passed them info and sign-up sheets while I spoke. They were directed to fill out the form and show up at Bike to Work Day on May 21st. We’ll see how many, if any, follow through.

Oh yes, I’ll be posting names and their actions, or inactions, on here. I’m setting my expectations very low – zero (0) of them participating. But, we’ll see. Maybe I’ll be very surprised.

Back to the candidates for a minute – the forum was hosted by a local “green” group. The questions asked to them were “green” in nature. I was unable to stay for the whole thing, but, based on what I already know about the candidates, how and what they answered the questions with, I’m wishing there were more, and especially better, choices.


Ride On.

Skippin’ Out

I’ve been looking forward to attending the Fruita Fat Tire Festival at the end of April for some time. I need a vacation. The trails are awesome. But now fate has me questioning the decision.

I’m building a touring bike. That’s costing some money. All of my shoulder rehab and treatments aren’t free. Gas prices are climbing.

I add all of those up and they equal me not going to the fest. Oh well. I can’t get to ‘em all. Besides, I’m getting dangerously close to spreading myself too thin the way it is. So many social engagements, so little time.



Ride On.

Recon Report

This past weekend I ventured westward to the Black Hills. My mission, scout the Roam 2010 – Faces to the Falls bike ride. But, before I could scout, there was beer.

Saturday proper was scouting. The first two (2) days of riding, specifically. Those two (2) are looking good. With sunset imminent, it was time to check in to hotel two (2) in Spearfish to prepare for dining and drinking with Ross and Johanna.

Off to the Chop House and Whiskey Bar for food. And it was good. Then, off to Crows Peak Brewery for some pints. Those were very good. Rumour has it the proprietors of Crows Peak are contemplating distributing here. Their beers would fit right in at Monk’s House of Ale Repute.

Back to the ride – the remaining days of the bike trip were scouted. Day three (3) will have major changes. Included, no Wall and, therefore, no Wall Drug. Since that is “Tourist Central” in the summer, no biggie, we’ll stay away from the cage holes.

The rest of the days should fall pretty much as I’ve anticipated. I’m going to tweak maps and then make them public.



Ride On.

Saturday Short

Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

What if you’re wrong?

The definition of acceleration.

Ride On.

Ride The Divide

In yesterday’s email inbox I had a notification of a movie premiering at the Vail Film Festival in Colorado. It’s called “Ride the Divide” and is a movie about the Great Divide Race.

The Great Divide Race follows the continental divide from up in Canada down through the US to the Mexican border. It covers roughly 2700 miles and there’s cumlative climbing of 200,000 feet.

Here the movie trailer:

Ride The Divide Movie Trailer from Ride The Divide on Vimeo.

I’d love to give this a go. However, the long time frame of this race would mean I’d either need to win Powerball or have one million people give me $2.30 each. My job would not be that understanding and retirement is my only option.



Ride On.

Date Change?

For those interested or not in the know, I’m planning on doing an eight (8) day, unsupported tour bike ride this summer. I had originally thought the only week it would fit was the same as RAGBRAI. Now, I’m not so sure.

This weekend I’ll be scouting the route. This weekend I’ll also make the final date determination. It could possibly move to the first day of riding on July 11th.

If, for whatever reason, this affects you, better let me know.

If you have no clue what I’m talking about and would like to know, the ride starts in Spearfish, SD, rolls through Spearfish canyon, the Mickelson trail (some), stops by Mt. Rushmore, visits Wall Drug (have you dug Wall Drug?), passes through Badlands National Park, and has more than its fair share of wide open prairie and farmland, finally meeting its end at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD.

No support, just bikes, carry your gear, no whining, eight (8) days and four-hundred-eight-three (483) miles, of free-wheeling adventure. The cost is zero. The money you’ll need will depend entirely on you. I am assuming you’ll want to eat, etc., so plan accordingly. That is, if you’re in.

Ride On.

Got Hitched

Yesterday I had one of these


put on the leased vehicle.

I have one of these


on order. It should be here in plenty of time for my trip to Colorado for the Fruita Fat Tire Festival.



Ride On.

Another Ride To The Ride Opportunity

This summer I’m planning on riding at least some of the Tour de Kota. Right now I’m fairly certain I’ll be riding days one (1), five (5), and six (6). I might be able to do more. I’ll know that later.

I can fit in a “pre” and a “post” day, though. I’m thinking I’ll do that. The start of this year’s version is in Elk Point, SD. On Saturday June 5th I’d like to ride to the ride. It’s about ninety (90) miles and would be a nice ride.

The last day of this year’s ride is June 11th and ends in Sisseton. Sisseton is a mere fifty-five (55) miles from my parent’s house. Eureka! I’ll stay overnight in Sisseton and bike to my parents on Saturday! Of course a (some) car(s) will be planted there the week before.

You never know who might want to ride along. If there’s more than one (1), additional cars will need to be planted. Either way, it will be a nice additional day to the official ride. If you’re in, or think you might want to be, contact me. We’ll work out the particulars.



Ride On.

Ride To The Ride

I’ve been thinking about doing the Highway 212 Gut Check bike race again. I’m trying to decide whether to do the main ride, about four-hundred-twelve (412) miles or whether to do the Hell and Back option which eight-hundred-twenty-four (824) miles.

An off-shoot to doing the race proper is riding to the ride. I did a mapmyrides map and have concluded it’s four-hundred-sixty (460) miles from my apartment to the start of the race.



Since this race is in mid August, I do have time to decide what I’m going to do. It is only two (2) weeks after the eight (8) day ride I’m doing from Spearfish to Sioux Falls. Training wise, good timing. Being gone from work time, not the best timing.

If I rode to the ride, did the ride, and rode home, it would make for an approximately one-thousand (1,000) mile week or so.



Ride On.

The Reason Why

I saw this over on Thee Olde Bagge. It's pretty sweet.




Ride On.

Saturday Short

Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Classic.

If naked girls (nudity warning) were drift wood.

TIDES HD from Amy Greenfield on Vimeo.

Ride On.

Lebowski

Have you ever had one (1) of those weeks where you need a weekend with nothing more complicated than to watch The Big Lebowski?


I’ve had one (1) of those weeks. But now I can smell weekend!



Ride On.

Moment Of Decision

The FAST (Falls Area SingleTrack) proposal to build singletrack within Leader’s Park is being put in front of the Parks and Recreation BOARD by the Parks and Recreation DEPARTMENT later this month.

It’s been a long road. We’ve been at this for almost one and one half (1 ½) years. We’ve taken part in two (2) very well attended neighborhood meetings. We’ve become FAST, Inc. We have about seventy (70) people say they’ll help build trail.

Looking past the Leader’s Park project there are other things on the horizon. Leader’s park would be a great place to get some great riding in without having to load up your bike and drive somewhere (if you’re from here). It is highly critical FAST does a good job with this project as it will demonstrate what we can do on other potential projects.

The two (2) projects I’m referring to are the possible new State Park at Blood Run and a mystery project I’m working toward. It would be awesome to have a large area, such as a State Park, where we could be in on the planning process and develop great trails from the start. The mystery project will remain just that for a bit longer.

Other than that, FAST will be working bylaws and then applying for non profit status within the IRS’s tax code thing. This will be a key factor for upcoming stuff.



Ride On.

Friday Afternoon Grab Bag

Pivot. Surprise ending. Looks kind of like an old Dire Straights video.

Pivot from Pivot on Vimeo.

Paper wars.

Papierkrieg from Makaio Tisu on Vimeo.

Ride On.

Back In The Saddle

I had a follow-up visit with the doc regarding my shoulder thing. I have good news, bad news, and good news.

The good news is I’m making progress. Rotation in one (1) direction is about seventy percent (70%) of normal and rotation is another direction is about fifty-five percent (55%) of normal. This is progress in the right direction.

The bad news is I have another one (1) month of physical therapy. This means three (3) times per week Thee Mistress of Pain gets to crank on my shoulder. I also have stretches and exercises I’m doing at home. Aleve and ice packs are my friend. Whiskey is my best friend.

The good news is the doc cleared me to do any physical activity I want. Sweet! I’ve not done much in the gym except ride the bike to no where for the past two (2) months. I can lift weights again!

The best part is I can resume bike commuting. Before, there was a concern of pressure on my shoulder joint. Not any more! ~I’m back in the saddle again!~ I’m almost tempted to pull the studded tyres off the rig. The streets are getting very clean and dry.

However, March can be a fickle bitch. I’m sure we’ll get another dump of snow or two (2) before it’s all gone.


Ride On.

Faces To The Falls Update

I’ve procured reservations for Rapid City on a Friday night and Spearfish the next night in an close upcoming weekend. The purpose of this trip will be to meet up with some friends and check out the Roam 2010 – Faces to the Falls route.

I want to check to make sure certain roads are safe and to get campsite and hotel information. This is our first (1st) lengthy unsupported type ride so we’re doing some prep work before we ride.

That and it’s in big time tourist country. Reservations might be the thing to have regardless of the accommodations.



Ride On.

Bike Swap Final

We had our local bike swap on Sunday. The room was filled with sold tables, bike corral bikes, and general public types grabbing bargains. A couple 'o things didn't sell. For example, this 1896 High Wheeler (crappy camera phone picture)


which was priced at $5,000.00. Which, at first, you might think much. But, it's all original. I'd say that was a bargain.

I didn't take any other pictures. It was a long day but a good day. Proceeds will be given to FAST for singletrack trail building.

Ride On.