Impending triumphal archness!

June 25, 2016

Hello my bicycling friends!  A sweet, sweet blessing upon your home and bicycle(s).  

I finished a quick lap over at Tranquility Park earlier today.  It was sweet!  I did not approach any of the log rides, nor did I make it up the Big Dipper, but I was satisfied nonetheless.  I also did not take any photos, but that’s fine because you should all get out there for yourselves and check it out if you haven’t recently.  T.H.O.R. continues to do a great job of maintaining and improving this fabulous trail system right in the midst of our fair to middlin’ city.

But you have heard about this before, I reckon.  Were you; however, aware of the following?!:

Item A)  South OmahaTrail has taken another step towards completion.  Final completion date estimated September of this year.  When this trail is complete it will be a milestone in the development of our triumphant city’s trail system.  An east-west trail in a fairly central part of the city will offer a nice commuting/travelling option to bicyclers who prefer to avoid some of the business that can occur along main thoroughfares.  I feel that this completion event will be triumphant enough to warrant a triumphal arch of some sort.  I will be busy preparing a possible design for this arch and I invite you to do likewise.  We’ll invite Mayor Jean over to my place (hmmm, hmmm, hmmm!?) to give her some posterboards, wine, cheese, and hors d’ovoures to convince her of the importance of this monument. 

Item B)  My role model Rich has informed me that he will participate in the upcoming GONG ride, organized by the committed and capable Scott Redd.  As one who is not always afraid to do things just because his friends do them, I plan on signing up too!  It should be great!  It’s at night, it’s on gravel, and you don’t have to ride for 60 miles if you don’t want to!  Let’s get it on!

Item C)  Mrs. Snot told me that July 31 is Family Bicycling Day!  It seems too good to be true (I think she may have made it up).  That's okay though.  You may be able to make this up too and coerce your family into bicycling with you too!  Ah!  I am savoring the joy of this upcoming event even just thinking of it now!  When I repeatedly asked for my family to bicycle with me in the past (most recently on Father's Day) they avoided the subject or scoffed, but I think this might be the real deal!  I will head out into the garage to pump up their tyres just as soon as I finish savoring the thought of this event, drinking more beer, maybe eating some popcorn and watching some tv. 

So that’s all I wanted to say.  Here’s a nice video to enjoy if you like.  Let’s pedal!

Mammel Power!

July 10, 2012

Hey Bikeheads! What is shaking? Since I am a big fan of Omaha Bikes, I actually went to one of their monthly meetings today! It was pretty cool. When I neared the gathering place, I knew that I was in the midst of a nexus of power, much like an urban, midwestern Sedona, Arizona. I knew this based on some utility markings and a large transformer I observed outside the meeting place - Mammel Hall at UNO's Peter Kiewit Institute. Mammel Hall is an impressive hall, with lots of sponsored areas.

This one,

however, is was still up for grabs. Hmmmm. I think Bike Snot OMA Restroom has a nice ring to it! Perhaps someday, young one, someday (sigh).

I got to the designated nexus of pedal power within the nexus of regular power before everyone but the club president- Patrick. Shook hands with several people. Settled in and listened to many of the bike valet, website plan, and bicycle advocacy-oriented items the club is involved in. I was impressed by the smart conciseness of club member comments. Good pacing on discussions. Interesting activities. I think they are in the process of becoming even more powerful, based not only on the meeting location,

but also some good ideas and a continued interest in building a more bicycle-oriented city. Plans to increase membership with some fun events, too. Delightful!

One item that caught my attention was the extension of the JFK Expressway to south of the Platte River along the current course of US Highway 75. This will make it impossible to efficiently bicycle along this thoroughfare by legal means unless bicycle or multi-use trails are added to the north and south of the river. The club agreed that this was an important issue to address and inform people about as early as possible. The expressway is slated for completion in 2015, but, as you may have noticed or forgotten about completely by now, these trail projects tend to take awhile. Speaking of which, I hear the first half of the South Omaha Trail, to eventually connect the Field Club Trail to the Keystone Trail will officially open soon. Possibly a ceremony and/or ride of some sort will occur.  This is a short section of trail (approximately 45th and Dayton to the Keystone Trail near 60th and Grover), but I am happy to see an east-west trail finally being constructed! Yay!

Another exciting bicycle-oriented event that occurs soon is the illuminating OWL ride which is scheduled for its 3rd annual night flight on July 14.

Happy night flying, owls of destiny. Happy nights.