Tranquilly dreaming the dirty dream

October 1, 2016

Hello, and welcome to October.  It started a few hours ago.  It feels nice, eh?  I have decided that I shall purchase a new rear taillight.  My decision was made easier by the fact that I had some sweet commuter checks to spend.  I went to the only local bike shop that accepts the commuter checks.  They had this light that I like quite a bit so far (oops, didn't read this review first, looks like it may not flare so well in wet, wintery conditions, but maybe my fenders will protect them...).  I also have to finish complaining about my Serfas triangle light – although it's a great light for its short battery life, my new, expensive batteries didn’t last any longer than the first, pre-purchase-installed batteries.  I have heard that I should buy my next batteries in bulk, on-line.  I may do so, but I will be looking for a better, rechargeable helmet taillight soon, commuter checks in hand!

Many bicyclers seem to be out and about, enjoying the nice, non-sweaty bicycling temperatures.  The camaraderie is intoxicating.  Speaking of intoxicating camaraderie, the B is for Bikes musical/performance event is coming up next weekend.  Although I was considering my usual participation, I did not beat the bell to class, as is my won't (i.e., they got all the 111 participants they needed before I submitted my resume avec accentes, SCREEEECHHHH!!).

 

October 11, 2016

Like birds migrating, so, too, are the days of our lives.  B is for Bikes is over, and they are allegedly putting together a grand video representation of this event.  Hear ye, hear ye!  The bold Nebraska has triumphed in this year’s National Bike Challenge.  Congratulations!  If you are like me, you are likely wanking with joy just recalling the gradually fading pleasure of our collective accomplishment.  Suck it Wisconsin!  Also, Lincoln has made it on to the storied Bicycling magazine's list of the 50 greatest bicycling cities in the US of A.  #44, high-caliber bicycling, folks!

Well, it is now one of my favorite times of year to bicycle because I don’t really have to sweat much.  I intend to get some quality mountainous bicycle-style riding in soon.  I feel this will allow me to keep what is left of my “edge”/wedge.  This is an important, if perhaps illusory, mental construct for me.  It is easy to be lulled into a sense of routine and complacency whilst pleasantly gallivanting back and forth to one’s place of work at the adhesive ratings institute; however, constant vigilance is our great goal and responsibility if we are to bicycle safely and happily hither and yon.  

https://www.quora.com/What-does-constant-vigilance-mean

To this end, I like to get out and test my reflexes by nervously jerking the handybar this-a-way and that-a-way and hitting/crashing off some sweet jumps.  Hopefully I’ll be able to make it out to Omaha’s crown jewel of mountain/dirt-bicycling (fanfare exclaiming) – Tranquility Park!

So here’s to tranquilly dreaming!  Let’s hit the dirt!  Paydirt, that is!  Suck it Wisconsin!

Shimming your way to safety and stability

September 1324, 2016

As you undoubtedly are aware, with the possible exception of those still under the supervision of parents/caregivers, old bicycle tyre inner-tubes are surpassed in usefulness only by the peerless duct tape.  Here is a toilet that I have been re-installing after misguidedly removing it because it wobbled!?  

Luckily, I had the insurmountable collaborative power of inner-tubes and duct tape to sustain me in my efforts.  

In hindsight, I would have let it wobble.  I could have imagined that I was swaying on a high toilet in a tree, like this one!  Ah!  Nothing like a good old fashioned shit in the woods!

 

https://www.travelblog.org/Photos/3965468

Anyway, the toilet now seems to be pretty stable in its place after I grouted it in thanks to some expert on-line advice and initial encouragement and advice from my friend Bob.  It might be kind of a pain if some sorry ass sucker has to replace the toilet in the future, but I ain't gonna worry about that until/if I have to!

I saw a few fellow bicyclers out and about, and I was even able to capture this exhilarating action shot of a fellow commuter. 

I put some new pedals on my bike because the old ones were wobblier than my toilet.  They also creaked and popped in a manner that I occasionally found bothersome.  Here are the new pedals that I purchased at a bike swap a few years back. 

I like to have a few of the more expendable bike components around in case I need them right now.

I have recently noticed that most bike lights don’t seem to handle rain well.  Why, just in the past 2 or 3 months I’ve had a tail light and a head light shoot craps.  I blame the rain. 

I read about a few tail lights at this cool bike light review website.  Maybe I’ll buy one of these so my lights last longer and I’m even more visible than I normally am.  Here (Serfas USL-TL60 USB) is the one that most effectively caught my eye so far....  Unfortunately the small Serfas light that I've had on my helmet lately has either not been functioning properly after being saturated a few times or maybe it just burns through batteries faster than I'd like, but I may still give Serfas another chance.

Here (Pedal the Planet) is a book I heard about that relates the true-life, inspirational experience of a man who used bicycling as a means to fight depression. 

And Here (Omaha Bicycle Co.) is a chance to submit stories, poems, illustrations, or photos to be in a book about bicycling here in our very own Home-aha!  I can hardly wait to try to come up with something for this compilation!  

So, if things get a little wet and wobbly, maybe a bicycle tyre tube shim, and/or a bike light might help keep it all together.

Let's pedal!

Last days of summer in line

September 7, 2016

Dearly bedazzled,

What does that mean?  Well, I am here to tell you that summer is winding down, so do something desperate, as needed.  Here is how I am celebrating the last few weeks of summer. 

There may be some end of summer outsidey activities to enjoy.  Here is one that I witnessed on my way homeward.  Yes those are ponies.

I am okay with moving on to fall for the following reasons:

1.     The sun burns my pale white flesh!  Agggghhhhh!

2.     Oktoberfests!

3.     Less sweating, more sitting around, drinking beer and bitching about how summer’s over.

Here are some fall events that are impending:

1.  Psycowpath race - probably end of season, Sept 17

2.  Artsy bicycley event - October 7 evening  (also note that "All participants will receive a bell, t-shirt, and dinner + drinks post performance. ")

3.  Tour de garden 2016 - Sept 11 + block party and bands

I got Ronnie James Dio's inspirational and bicycle-based "The Last in Line" stuck in my head today.    

Here is how Ronnie would have reacted to the end of summer:

persona.rin.ru

Cryptically.  Let's find the sacred heart, on bikes!  We rock!

Winds of weiners

August 2224 , 2016

Well hello again!  What has blown up onto your little patch of paradise these days?  Here are a few things I saw interacting with the wind today:

https://www.thinbluelineusa.com

I also saw these fine-feathered friends out enjoying some quality multi-use trail time. 

What a fine day!  And the days may even be getting finer!  Cooler.  Also it is nearly now time for the annual joyous event known as Millard (pronounced me yard, named after the Spaniards [pronounced spayin’ yards] Californians who refused to settle here due to lack of windmills wine and/or gold) Days.  There are many bicycle-related events at Millard Days, such as… you can ride your bike there!

I hope that the winds have been good to you lately.  What is going on these days?  Good question.  Snot Jr. has been enjoying some quality time on his Strider.  Here he is in action.

Let’s get our kids together so they can bicycle together.  And race.  Any money exchanged is not gambling, we are merely donating to the other person’s favorite charity when your if our respective kid loses.  Oh, and that’s right, your kid is a might be a loser.  He/she may as well get used to it, because we all lose in one way or another.  Here’s a place for losers to become winners (pronounced wieners) by learning about bikes, or maybe just losers who are also bike geeks.   You can look at it however you want; nevertheless, it’s good to know, accept, and embrace your place in the world. 

I was recently trying to get my bike geek on by figuring out what saddle width I should get on my new WTB Rocket Comp saddle.  I am pretty sure when I ordered my last WTBRC saddle 10 or more years ago there weren't any saddle width choices.  You took what they gave you, sat on it and liked it, damn it!  I found a few articles/videos about measuring your “sit bones.”  Your sit bones are really just part of your pelvis, I think.  It didn’t seem all that easy to figure, and so I decided I’m about a medium/average sit boner.  So away to Pricepoint Nashbar to order my saddle!

So let’s all order some bike parts and geek out.  Or off to a ride and to feel the wind of winners/weiners!