Splish, splash, sploosh!

January  30, 2016!?

As I splished and sploshed my way homewards, I came to an intersection with some sun-in-yer-face.

Hmmm, thought I, could make it difficult for motorists to see all/some of my three rear lights.  So I took a pastoral detour along a multi-use trail 

and past the construction site.

Quite relaxing and enjoyable, old chum, quite so. 

Here is a bicycling bill that may make it to the Nebraska legislature for a vote sometime this session.  Here is an article about the topic that I spied in our local newspaper.

In response to your questions and concerns, legislators, I have sent you the following statements:  (to be determined once I finish my snark attack).

To be honest, I don’t really think much about laws when I am bicycling.  I just want to be safe.  But I am sure I would be more concerned about laws if I were involved in a collision.  The current law is not explicit in protecting bicyclists in crosswalks, but it should be. 

Here is an insightful/inciteful analysis by our Senators Brasch & Smith:

Sen. Lydia Brasch of Bancroft said she has seen bicyclists ride from sidewalks into crosswalks without paying any attention to motorists. Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, the committee chairman, said he is concerned that giving cyclists right-of-way could also give them a “false sense of security,” when they should try to avoid collisions.

These senators seemed to be hinting that are boldly speculating that, should this bill pass, the crosswalks would soon become crammed and congested with inattentive bicyclists with headphones on and dogs loping lazily behind.   Ah, what a beautiful thought!  I would also like it if the crosswalks were grassed so that I could graze my goat and picnic upon my travels as well!  I would state as much in my letters, but I think the foot in the door approach might be more prudent at this juncture.

But, slightly more seriously, yes, Senator Smith, knowing that I am legally protected will immediately lower my fear of being struck and perhaps injured or killed by a vehicle wielded with abandon/near impunity/God's will by a texting teen or a sleepy septuagenarian. 

And Senator Brasch, yes, the danger of bicyclists not paying attention to motorists is nearly as serious as the threat I face daily of mass shooters unleashing hellish terror upon my cranium and sphincter (I know what you’re shooting for, you bastards!), which is why I have my concealed carry permit securely stashed next to my respirator in my survival bag securely stowed in my voluminous Nashbar pannier. 

Senator McCoy stated that he didn’t think it was necessary to remove the stipulation that bicyclers must use a multi-use path when it is available and, “Stay out of the damn street!” 

“How would this make bicycling safer?” he querulously queried!

Well, Senator McCoy, it’s because multi-use trails are frequently icy and/or mud-covered and can be dangerous.  Believe me, Beau, this does happen (I would supply photographs, but it’s been cool to cold and icy and I’ve just been concentrating on getting safely from A to B).  It’s not so bad when the mud is frozen like a delicious mudslide, but when it’s really liquidy and several inches thick, it can be a tad dicey, albeit fun.  The icy part I’m just not too crazy about.  It if for this very reason that I've recently modified my usual route to and from my place of working to include some more street bicycling in order to avoid the icy permafrost coating the multi-use trail like a lobbyist’s money lining the campaign contribution-containing pockets of our elected officials.  That shit is slick!

So, to conclude, thank you senators for your time and concerns.  I’ll be sure to get a nicey-nice letter together to illustrate my concerns in a manner that I hope you will address with less snark and more smart than my initial attempt!

Let’s all go for a ride next time you’re in town senators!  Or maybe play a game of Senet.

Edible sunshine

January 28, 2016

Well it’s been a beautiful past couple of evening rides home.  There is more light and I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy a couple nice sunsets – 

haven’t seen those for awhile! 

There have been some nice Omaha Bikes blogs by the informative and motivational Mr. Dale Robeaux Rabideau.  

Also, my Shimano SH MT31 shoes are getting pretty worn.  I think I bought them in 2008 or so, and worn them approximately 3 times/week, on average, so I guess I've gotten my $50 out of them.  Here is a photo of one, next to my ill-fitting and nigh-indestructible Duluth Trading Co. gloves.

They (the gloves, that is) are not comfortable, or much worn, even though I've had them longer than my shoes.

No disrespect intended by close-up of sole

Isn’t that the way?!  as my grandmas and grandpas would oft espouse. 

As for the shoes, as the reviews tended to say, they were great!  Comfortable, durable, good for walking.  One minor complaint was that on very long rides I would frequently suffer hot foot in these shoes.  That is why I bought another pair of shoeswith carbon soles that, thus far, seem to alleviate this issue.

As for the gloves, I recommend buying a size up, or just getting some great, reasonably priced Kinco gloves.  Or you could read Bicycling magazine’s article citing their review of some cold-weather, cycling-specific gloves.

This time of year getting enough vitamin D can be a real challenge.  I recently became aware that mushrooms have plenty of vitamin D.  You will probably be able to purchase some very nice mushrooms at the impending farmer’s market that is coming to town, called Fresh Thyme, as you can’t possibly tell by taking a look at this grainy abstract photo.

Let's all eat some nature's sunshine substitute and ride on!

Look up! Look down! LOOK OUT! Look around!

January 13, 2016

Although you may not be able to tell from this blurry photo, it was soggy out for awhile, then it was

cold, but now it's just right.

Here’s a great new light I got for Christmas!

I attached it to the back of my helmet so that people could see me sooner when they're cresting a hill I am toiling laboriously wheezingly over.

I also got a sweet wheel set!  

Thanks Mary and Amazon.com wishlist! Yes, as you may have previously discerned, I am a spoiled brat.

I also gave a sweet compass-bell to my uncle, based on the uncertain directions we travelled upon during last summer’s Heatstroke 100. 

http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_173403_-1___

I hope you gave and or received some bicycle-related gifts over the holiday season.

Now that it has often been snowy and/or icy, some of my usual paths are a bit too snowy/icy for my taste.  I’ve had to modify my usual workplace commute to take advantage of less-trafficky and less-snowy/icy roads, sidewalks, and multi-use trails.  It is about ½ mile longer in each direction, but, now that I’ve adjusted to it, it’s kind of nice to be on some slightly different roads.  I feel that variety can be good for the palate.  

Some people have a bicycle or two that they prefer not to pedal in the cold.  Winter for bicycles, much like lawn mowers, can be a good time to get some maintenance work done on the trusty steed(s).    That reminds me that I should call the lawn mower people to get them to do a tune-up.  My mower is not bicycle-powered like these mowers, but I kind of wish it was. 

http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/the-cutting-edge-bicycle-lawnmowing.html

Maybe I’ll put one on my Amazon.com wishlist for next year.

Today the President was in town!  Our governor Peter Ricketts was a little pouty and was reluctant to come to see him.  That was probably because good ol’ PR and I usually try to get out for a nice spin around town on Wednesday afternoons.  

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/private-donations-equip-troopers-to-ride-with-gov-pete-ricketts/article_65d6fcfd-33e6-5f65-863f-b04323f03b2d.html

I am the guy to the left of the governor guvnah' who was cropped out of the frame due to my too-bright Illuminite jacket and my typically sullen and disheveled demeanor.

I had been trying to get our Commander in Chief to join us for awhile, but he did not return any of my texts.  Too many emoticons, I imagine 8-(  Hence PR’s disgruntlement. 

I also was in danger of bumping into 1 pedestrian and 1 fellow bicycler this a.m.  8-0  That is because it was cold and I was keeping my head down to keep my face somewhat sheltered from the damp, chilly air.  Also because I normally encounter nary a soul outside a vehicle on my way to work at the aerodyne carbide refinery.  I should try to look up.  Another way to look at things is that things are looking up!  More pedestrians and bicyclers = better chance our fair to fairer city will merge into the fast lane to multi-modal transport paradise!

So, until next time, I am sorry I almost ran into you.  And, as Jack Horkheimer would say, “Keep looking up.”

Ride and smile every darn day!

January 9, 2016

As you most likely have heard a dearly beloved person has left the world as we know it and moved on to the unknown.  Kelly Smith was an inspiration to all of us bicyclers he came into contact with.  He was the face, legs, and heart of Omaha bicycling.  He seemed to be a force of nature, a bicycling demigod.  As my uncle put it, he had a great talent for making everyone feel like he or she was his best friend.  He was a warm, generous soul.  Most any bicycler who has participated in a charity ride in the vicinity of Omaha will have one or more fond memories of interactions with Kelly. 

The last memorable interaction I have was on the Jim Johnston memorial ride last summer. 

Rich and I had stopped to see if we could offer assistance to an attractive female bicycler.  Rich gallantly removed her flattened tyre tube and was contemplating the cause of the airlessness when our hero and inspiration Kelly arrived.  Whilst procuring the tyre, he shrewdly noted, “Beauty and two beasts!”

 

You brought smiles to so many faces and new energy to so many tired legs! 

Although I didn’t know him well, I did feel like I was his long-lost best friend. 

The amount of miles he rode on a regular basis seemed virtually supernatural to me.  He made my modest bicycling habits seem sedate, unambitious, and reasonable (which they are).

I would try to say more about Kelly, but there are a lot more people out there who can say it a lot better than I.   There are hundreds or thousands of great stories about this wonderful soul.  Many of them are shared on The Kelly Smith Memorial Facebook page.

Let’s ride and smile!