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!

Westbound ups and downs

August 18, 2016

Good evening to you.  I trust you’ve been engaged.  As have I, beautiful one, as have I.  I went west, young man.  Here is some of the hype I read and fervently believed before I set forth to “see the elephant.”

from Trails.comhttps://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=BGM019-061

Fort Robinson is 3 miles west of Crawford in Sioux and Dawes Counties. An 18-mile trail network has been designated for mountain bike use in the Smiley Canyon-Soldier Creek area of Fort Robinson Park. It contains a series of three routes that descend over 600' along four-wheel-drive tracks from the ridge tops, through rugged canyons, to the soldier Creek valley below. An outer perimeter of roads and trails leads back to the upper ridge. Biking one of the descending trails with a return up one of the outer perimeter routes will result in a ride of from 6 to 12 miles, depending upon the combination chosen. With a mixture of open, grassy terrain, rocky ridges, and ample deadfalls from an old forest fire, there is a nice variety of challenges throughout the area, providing a moderate to difficult riding experience.

Here is what I experienced. 

a) “They” tried to keep me out of the Smiley Canyon-Soldier Creek area with warnings that a wiser man might have heeded.

b)  I rode around and eventually decided to head inwards and downwards via some of the aforely-mentioned four-wheel-drive tracks. 

c) I found some nice rocky descents.  

The ascents were not so nice as I am not used to activity that exceeds the moderate variety.  I huffed, puffed, and walked a lot.

d)  I eventually made it to what I determined after-the-fact was my de facto destination.

So that was that.  Next time I head that way, I intend to try bicycling in a different location, one Chad-Ron Statepark.  Here is some alluring hyper-bola (from Singletracks.com):

The topography here may make you forget you're in Nebraska. Some of the hills are dramatic and there are bluffs and canyons everywhere. Get a trail map at the park HQ and look for the big loop you can do around the NW quadrant of the park. One of the rangers is an avid biker, so you're in luck if she's manning the desk. I did the loop counterclockwise, but it may be just as good clockwise. There are a couple drawbacks. The entrances to the trail from the road don't match the map well, so you may spend some time looking. The northeast end of the loop is simply mowed prairie grass, even when it's in the pines, so it's not that interesting. Also, the sand hills are subject to rapid erosion, and the worst of the grades have no waterbars or armoring, so they are deply rutted. However, the western edge of the loop is very good. This trail is worth a stop if you're in the area--unless you're continuing on to the Black Hills, less than two hours away--save you're energy for the excellent singletrack there.

So that is something to look forward to, with a powerful telescope.  After venturing ever-so-slightly out of my comfort zone I was happy to be back in Umoha for some of my typical bicycling.  A bit sweaty yet, but I feel the impending coolness beckoningly lurking around the bend. 

Did you hear that Price Point closed?  That is kind of sad to me because I bought a ton of stuff from them over the years, including my disposable/reusable lightweight/packable plastic rain jacket that I have been carrying around a lot lately.  

But I guess there are other places to buy bicycle stuff, right?

What are your bicycling plans these days?  What?  I can’t hear you.  Please speak directly into the microphone.  Oh!  Corporate Cycling Challenge, eh?  That should be a hoot!  I may be there if I can talk my dad into it. am not planning on attending, but if you go please let me know how it is.

Hey, let’s get together at the next event and reminisce a little.  Power to the people!

Gong forth!

July 20, 2016

Salutations citizens!  Hark unto me!  I exhort you to further thine bicycling prowess!  

Thanks, Thor.  He just stopped by to make fun of me drink some mead. 

 

https://militantcyclist.wordpress.com

What are you doing?  Yeah!!  I’ll be over in 36. 

I am hear here to say thanks to Scott Redd and all who helped organize the enjoyable GONG Ride this past Saturday.  It was great!  There were two options – 22 miles or 45 miles.  Since the ride started at 8:54...p.m.(!?!), I was keen to finish in time to get a good night’s rest so that I wouldn’t be even more irritable than usual.  The 22 mile ride was primarily on gravelly roads and the MoPac Trail.   There was a nice stop in Louisville at Good Times, a very nice bar with lots of bar games, including darts, pool, and shuffleboard!  That’s right!  If I lived any closer I’d be there right now!  Also thanks to Dave and his family for allowing us to hang out and park on his country manor. 

I arrived early to mingle and to hit the gong.  Very satisfying.  I met some people and witnessed many intrepid livers pitching tents hither and yon.  Before long it was time for a safety briefing and course(s) summary by the organizers.  

Then we were off for a fairly flat, easy, and relaxing jaunt through the country shire.  As we began, I overheard a formidable and gregarious gravel-riding mainstay, whom I shall refer to as “Robbie,” state that tyres containing low-pressures were just as fast as those encapsulating high-pressures.  More inflation just meant you feel the bumps more and you feel like you’re going faster.  Hmmmm.  I like the sound of this young man’s bold philosophy.  

Upon arriving in Louisville I promptly toppled over after being unable to unclip from my left pedal.  It turns out the cleat screws were loose!  “Screw those loose cleats!”  I thought with inaccurate salaciousness.  Then we made it to the bar for some delicious salty popcorn and local beers.  Afterwards, it didn’t take long to ride the MOPAC back to the gravel rode a couple miles from our starting point.  When it was all over with I sat around by the fire and enjoyed a few more beers before retreating to my (sub)urban garrison. 

So that was great.  And the other riders I met were nice and sociable.   

On the daily commute, I’ve encountered some fairly thin mud flats on sidewalks that become pretty slick every other day (sprinkler days!  Yay!).  

I know, it looks harmless.  But it gets really slippery!  Whoa-aaaahh!

So I am gradually spending more and more time bicycling in roads, which is typically a little easier, faster, and not as messy.  That’s what Michael Scott said.

 

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/page/-/blog/stevecarell_new.jpg

Shortly after nearly becoming de-steeded on the mud flats, I noticed an unsettling irregularity in my rear brake.  For a couple days I was thinking my new wheels from my stepmom were a ripoff and that I would have to call up Amazon and get her money back in order to restore our family honour.  But after a couple days of consideration and not being able to use my rear brake I actually stopped and examined my rear wheel.  Here is what I found.

Perhaps that is why my worn-out brake pads exhibited uneven wear. worn-outness . 

Previously I assumed the grooved rim provides better stopping power because it might provide a way for moisture to get channeled away from the brake pad(?), but I never really considered it a potential trench for embedding the fearsome halberds  of the troll warriors of the bicycling world – dried, concrete-like mud!

Have at thee, knave!  I’ll bicycle thee into submission!

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!