Look what turned up!

 March 21, 2026

To the brave and the bold,

Thank you for taking a moment to check in with me to see how things are going.  I hope you are surviving the many twists and turns fate may have been throwing your way lately.  Life isn’t always easy and it’s sometimes unclear what may be coming next!  For instance, I have recently started a new job which has affected my bicycle riding habits.  I now ride my bike a shorter distance than previously up to a bus stop where I load up ye olde bastarde on the bus bike rack and kick back for 20 or 30 minutes until I get to my place of employment.  

There are no showers at this employer, so I guess it’s lucky that I don’t have to ride my bike as far / get all sweaty!  I did get some nice wicking socks recently that kept my feet comfortable and dry, not to mention that they really make my ankles pop (in a good way).

I also went on a bike ride with my friend Todd in the Chalco Hills area.  We tried to mostly ride the dirt paths, which also involved riding over some bushy vegetation and backtracking.  It was kind of confusing but generally enjoyable and rewarding.  It was also very hot for this time of year.  Around 90 degrees(!) F(!) but thankfully pretty dry and with a slight breeze.  We rode for almost 2 hours, and covered 10.67 miles, which was a lot for this guy this early in the season.  

I am also excited to have planned a trip out to Rocky Mountain National Park to attempt to reach the summit of a mountain that is more that 14,000 feet above mean sea level.  If only there were a shorter way to convey that meaning, but alas there is not.  NO!  I typed “there is not”!  To have a good shot at obtaining this lofty goal I plan on not only maintaining a moderately active lifestyle, but also doing more hiking, backpacking, and strenuous cardiovascular exercise for the next few months.  When it comes to cardiovascular exercise, I tried some “mountain climber” the other day. That was intense, let me tell you!  However, despite the intensity, I persevered for almost 1 minute, then I rested for more than 1 minute, and then I persevered for almost 1 minute again.  For those of you not familiar with the mountain climber, here is a video that demonstrates the ordeal/activity:

Nice!  After re-watching I see that he suggested trying 45 seconds at first, so I guess there’s hope for me yet!  

In addition to all of this excitement, I am also about to head out to watch some University of Nebraska men’s basketball as they are involved in an event known as the National College Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.  I’ll let you know how this turns out.  They did win their first every victory in this event a couple days ago, so maybe there’s hope for them to win again!?  The unknown can be exciting, no?

March 22, 2026

 Huskers win!  What a game!  What a team effort!  Vanderbilt looked good too, but it seemed like Tyler Tanner carried them (and almost won the game for them).  He seems like a likable guy, especially because he’s “only” 6 feet tall. Nice job Huskers!  And although they may no longer have an Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, it looks like they might still have some nice bicycling adventure options.

Anyway, back to my usual topics:  I watched a really good movie a week or two ago called Mountain Queen:  The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa.  There is some hard, grim subject matter, but overall it’s a story of triumph and strength.  It was also a chance for me to reminisce about some of the excitement and enjoyment I experienced whilst living in Nepal for two years. You could even ride on top of the buses over there!  What a thrill!  And that is (at least one reason) why there are no amusement parks in Nepal!  

Living in Nepal allowed me to do some high altitude trekking, which I hope will assist me as I plan and prepare for my planned alpine hiking expedition I mentioned earlier.  

No matter what your altitude, I hope you're loving your attitude!

Wishing you a peaceful (but not silent) spring,

BSO

Savoring the out-of-touchiness

April 25, 2015

Hey everybody!  Did you go out on a bicycle ride today?  It was actually pretty nice, if a bit on the cool side.  I did not actually go out for a bicycle ride, but I know there were some who did, so goody, goody two shoes for you!  I stayed in my garage and replaced the Old Bastard’s flat handlebar with a 5 cm riser bar.  The OB now looks like an old guy’s bike.  And I guess it is.  I am hoping the old guy bike will allow me to do the old guy standing up-bent over-and gradually straightening out routine less often!  Ach!

Old guys often like to live in the past, like Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull describes in this classic song-

I also like to reminisce about the goodle days, much like John Hartford does in this classic song-

When I saw this sign lying in the grass the other day, 

it took me back to my goodle days of life in a large desert town.  I lived in a crack neighborhood in a trailer in the side lot of Jim’s place, next to the bus.  I met crack whores aplenty and witnessed some unabashed prostituting to buy the shiny crystalline substance.  I worked crappy jobs, played my guitar, and cranked up the swamp cooler and drank Red Dog in my trailer while watching Phoenix Coyote hockey on the tv to cool off in the heat of the late afternoon/early evening.  Ahhh!  That felt cool!

Apart from reminiscing, I have also enjoyed the arrival of spring.  The signs of it are unavoidable around these parts these days.  Couples hold hands, drakes drive away other drakes who are trying to mess with their duck, flowers are blindingly vivid, and freshly-cut grass sticks to one’s tyres as one bicycles about in a state of springy intoxication.

Here is a cool-looking commuter bicycle that one won an editor’s choice award from the staff of Bicycling magazine.  http://www.bicycling.com/bikes-and-gear-features/2015-editors-choice/breezer-beltway-elite

Sure it’s got some sweet features like dynamo-powered lights and an internal hub.  But it’s handlebar has a mere 15mm of rise!  Pshaw!  You young whippersnappers with some disposable income can have it.  The Old B and me will be just fine just the way we were are!

Winter?! Where?! How!?

December 4, 2014

Seasonal greetings to you!  And to you!  James Brown is smiling in heaven.  And I have been smiling whilst bicycling about and thinking about that first precious spin of my hard drive as it cranks out “Christmas in Heaven.” 

What have you been doing with yourself of late?  Please text me for a chance to win an exciting interactive musical bicycling funkfest prize if you actually tell me (in detail) what you have been doing with yourself.   Mmmmmm.  Feels good!

Here are some things that I have been itching to bee listing for yous. 

1.1     I went out bicycling on Thanksgiving Eve and it was cold.  Also Bob did not go. ;-{(->

2. 2    My tyre was not able to withstand the festive fatness of my inner tub(e) any longer and burst at the seam.

Bye Kenda Kwest!  You were great!

3. 3    Did you know that you can log your bicycling myles at the following self-indulgently improving web siteuation? https://www.endomondo.com/challenges/19093104

4. 4    That is all.

But wait!  That is not all.  How’s about some philosophizing?!

Some base their worldview around their actions.  Others have a worldview upon which they base their actions.  Still others have acted upon their base worldly basic instinctive stinkiness, & et cetera.  Wherefore art thou sense?  Herefore.  What is upon us with this portly bicycle-mania?  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatbike

I am as befuddled as usual!?  I do not have the thyme, energy, or liquid assets to jump upon this cushy trendfest of comfortable happiness.  “Why?” you may be asking yourself or others.  Well, it is probably because I’m cheap and also I value my garage space.  It is also due to my minimalist tendencies, although I do not like to burden myself with the label of a minimalist.  Also I am hoping to find the perfect commuter bicycle with a dynamo that powers daytime running lights, a USB port, a cigarette lighter, and a flirtatious onboard GPS navigational system to guide me seamlessly through the seamy neighborhoods I sometimes find myself riding through.  And that is when I ask myself, “How did I get here?”

Close, but no cigar.  http://inhabitat.com/silverback-builds-urban-bikes-with-usb-chargers-for-your-gadgets/

But I am not above enjoying a balloon tyre enjoymental orgy.  Is there, I ask, a way for a man of meager means to enjoy a semblance of big-boned bicycle smiling without expending resources upon a Clydesdale of such plentiful proportions?  Why yes!  It's a very wide tyre!  Like this!:

http://www.schwalbe.com/en/offroad-reader/hans-dampf.html
 

Well, I do knot know a hole lot, but I do know how I got here.  I drank some coffee of the uppity variety at 7 p.m.!?!?  I know!?   No, I don’t know why, but I do know how.  Alright, nice chat.  Now, get back to something productive!  The both of yous!

Gomaha! Nebrasking!

October 8, 2014

What are you doing!?  Why!?  Why you do that!? 

Just curious.  Many people have asked me the same question in relation to my relentlessly confused webly ramblings.  My answer is generally along the lines of 

Luckily I have cut back on my habit, although I do listen to a lot more country-western music these days, so I’m not sure if this was a good trade-off. 

If you are in Nebraska and/or Omaha, then you may have been riding your bicycle and recording your miles on your computer for the National BikeChallenge/Live Well Omaha Commuter Challenge.  We’re number 2!  Yayay!  We are winners!  Nebraska was #2 and beat those mapley Vermonters.  Maybe if those Vermonters weren't so busy fox-trotting to Rudy Vallee's catchy Deep Night they would be able to be #2 instead of we persistent mid-westerners.  

We did that because we like to bicycle.  Also we like to be recognized for our bicycling relentlessness.  I myself have a compulsion to document various aspects of my bicycling related thoughts and experiences.  

By the way, what is almost as much fun as actually bicycling is finding out stuff that relates to bicycles.  Here are some neat bicycles.
Hey, I've got an idea!  Let’s all bicycle!

Carefully!  Easy!!!  DON'T TENSE UP!!!!!!  
Note to self:  less coffee, more bicycling

    

Trail Explorers Ho!

November 14, 2012

Hey peoples and/or computers, like me, what is going on?  Yes, I feel I may as well admit that I am just a computer stringing together random words and phrases and juxtoposing various adjectives and activities to fruitfully multiply the meaningless ramblings of the world-wide web.  Hey, do you know who else is nationwide worldwide?  That's right, Lil' Brian and the Travelers.  Check out this sweet vid buoyos and grillos and binary communicating devices.

What a delightful day 'twas, eh?  I was enamored with the evening sky.

Now we must build a bicycle/pedestrian bridge that enables a lovely ride off into the sun-setting sky.  Yeee-haaawww!  Make it so, peoples.

Don't you love getting unsolicited mail asking for you to invest your hardly-earned dollars?  Wha?!  I thought it was just me!  We really should get together for some cupcakes ASAFP!  We have so much in common! Speaking of outlandish construction ideas, I received a notice in the mail that proposes a pedestrian/multi-use trail that spans the imposing girth of Mexico's hot-air balloon, the US of A.  This project is called the American Discovery Trail.  It looks pretty f-ing cool too homo saps.   You can become an Explorer with the ADT for a mere $30!?  I'll be right back.  Woo-hooo!  Explore this, bitty babies!  That's right, you can call me Snot Explorer from now on!  Or Explorer Snot.  Or Explosive Snot.  Whatev.  I intend to build a portion of the trail and install a bench dedicated to me!  Oh, yeah!  Fame, ye shall elude me no longer!

On a more serious note, have you tried E flat?  Wha?!  Where did this programmer come from?  The rejected scary clown bin at Walmart?  Zoiks.

I love the idea of long trails.  They are also perfect for pipelines.  And corporate sponsorship.  Maybe a few billboards.  Let's make this happen!  I am currently reading a book called The Hard Road West, which is about the '49ers heading out to California to find gold.  I am pretty sure that the ADT will not be near the Gold Rush trail, but maybe it should be.  It's already branching off into 2 options between Ohio and Colorado.  May as well make a Gold Rush option.  Hey, if you're gonna get grandiose, why not get a little grandioser?

Back to the lovely evening ride, it was while I was embarked upon it that I encountered three fellow bicyclists while meandering through a residentially zoned sub-urban development.  Since my typical form of communication while bicycling is ringing my bell I rang my bell at the first one that came into sight.  (I decided to stick with the bell-communicating method since I am often quite winded out there spasmodically pedaling hither and yon, and therefore unable to speak intelligibly.  It may be affecting my ability to form coherent sentences while typing, too.)  "Halooo!  Don't cross!"  he responded puckishly to my ring.  Then his buddy said, "I like your bike."  And, this being the first time I had ever heard such a sentiment expressed, instead of chastising him for poor taste in bicycles I simply thanked him.  Ahh, the camaraderie of the two-wheeling movers and shakers!

What else is coming up?  Well, I have heard there is an Ugly Sweater Run scheduled for December 16 at the Century-Linky-poo Centery.  So get your jug of egg nog fermenting now so it'll be ready to partake in the upcoming festivities.

It's getting holidayey out there, isn't it?  I am feeling it.  By Chanukah I will be sporting a mehnorah-like lighting system on the Old Bastard and carrying a hand-held bell and kettle in a fiendishly clever mobile-money-making scheme.  Ho, ho, ha, ha!  Let the fun get down the chimney!