moonshiner's rough riders

i am gonna be killin' it for cyclocross season

2011-07-01T01:56:00.003Z

what's 45 minutes of 110% effort compared to breaking your jaw and biking home, and then having surgery.

it's all about perspective, i've been to the pain cave.... ain't no big thing!

jaw wired shut, titanium in body

2011-06-27T23:29:00.002Z

luck still not running out, same area as a injured in 1985, different surface/abrasion. is it rad or just plain stupid! i have never seen as much liquid percacet as i have now in my possesion. (0) (0)

weekend riding and family

2011-06-14T03:43:00.002Z

ella has a new bicycle, turns 4 tomorrow and she's up and at 'em. jakob is happy to be riding tandem with dad on the trail-a-bike, it's good to be 7. we loaded up both and my wife and i met our friends at lake harriet for a picnic. my buddy had a large trailer and brought a grill, cooler, tons of food.
i might race or i might take some long road rides. MTB racing seems most attractive at the moment. we'll see how i feel after taking a few hot laps at theo wirth trails. it's gonna be a great summer.

update of sorts

2011-05-19T01:28:00.002Z

bridgestone xo2 : riser bars, no more road levers and mustache bars, geared, need some new tires ,think i found a pair 1.75 with some tread
meister: 42 x17 ss now that the bridgestone is up i can pull the cx tires, and ride fast
schwinn le tour: as close as it's ever been, crank and shifters close

been riding a whole lot more since the van bit the dust 3 weeks ago. $1500 in repairs on a 15 year old van means it's time to donate that money pit. so the wife and i are car free. april was cold may was a little bit too, riding is great and i'm doing it as often as i can. Not thinking about racin' until fall. i'd rather ride than blog about it

out on the road in the cold

2011-04-28T22:17:00.002Z

i like riding in spring and fall the best of all. and the beer in your bag stays cool, y'all

from the hip

2011-03-19T21:26:00.006Z

enough of the fore play let's just spit on it and shove it in. hipsters have seized on the concept of bicycle touring. One local bikeshop was lousy with the kids looking for a consultation. and this is a bikeshop that's only open on a saturday from 12-4. i mean really it was like waiting for the record shop to open so you could get in line to talk about that album from somebody you've probably never heard of. and there you have it, i don't need anything special just want to get my crap , talk a little bit and get out and back on my bicycle ASAP. buy the print above at HC

you knew it was coming to this, the signs where all there, rivendell waiting till they became fashionable again, brooks leather saddle more popular than ever, and the immortals a Rapha UK staging a road bike clothing revolution. i'm not gonna talk anymore the bike and coffee-shop combo either, i kinda like that. gravel road racing is good and i respect the ethics of the trend. but in the end its people thinking they are better than you cause the have more time to pay attention and actually follow through on things that are kinda cool but ultimately not all that big a deal. i've always said that being a hipster is a full-time job and i have children to raise and food to put on the table.
Now where i am find that 300 bucks i need to finish the touring bike i've been putting together for the last 2 years? you see i actually know a little bit about bicycle touring like an old man should. the trick is to do it on the cheap and expect the unexpected , bring a chain tool but don't bring an extra chain. you see, being a hipster is cool but don't get all excited about it, and spend too much money. on a lighter note, i think i found a cage for the pickled herring i plan on taking on my next spring road ride/tour, is that for a quart or a pint.

spring fever

2011-03-13T01:48:00.003Z

alright, so i didn't commit myself to anything this year. i had signed up for almonzo three years running and canceled in april every year, not gonna even hope for it and maybe then it'll happen.

[insert photo]

well.... there is that visit to crc before the doors close. ya, uptown is so over, except of course for this guy, but he's Pittsburgh. we'll see if i ever feel like blogging again, i could tweet my life away. if you can't say it in a haiku, then yinz aint no friend of mine. enough name dropping for now, see you in the funny papers

update, bike build

2010-06-28T19:27:00.001Z

the meister has bell lap cx bars and white tape, i'm riding as often as possible, maybe tonight.

cyclocross summer

2010-06-03T14:05:00.003Z

yea i'm thinking i should re-build the sin-glee speed psycho-cross. last month after hearing about it for years i had occasion to ride on the single track in theodore wirth park. it was nice, but i just have a feeling i would be more comfortable at high speed and with the style and grace of a cyclocross bike.

we'll see where this takes me

what's up with that....

2010-04-30T08:41:00.002Z

so i have a quirky taste in bicycles. actually i'm a broke mother fucker, and i ahven't the time to make everything work correctly, the bridgestone needs a renovation. i went out on an off road ride recently, it was fun and challenging. the single track wasn't the problem it was the ride there and back. gotta get that bike build thing figured out, i'm not happy with the stem height or the bars. of course that little fix would require that i invest some money, slow down old man.

Cyclocross season is 5 months away, i don't normally race in september, too fucking hot. Nice rain tonight/today. maybe i go rebuild the meister as a CX rig again and that means i have to build up the schwinn and that means money...it can wait.

riding many more miles that i used to, biking to work a full week of commuting would be sure to give me....let me see, about a 150 junk miles. they would be junk if i commuted like most, i don't. so i'm getting about a hundred miles a week in then, a few days i get a ride there and bike back or i drive both ways, better than nothing.

last week and yesterday

2010-04-14T15:21:00.003Z

so i've been riding my bike to work recently, from SW mpls/Richfield to NE mpls. 12-15 miles each way depending on how much traffic i want to avoid. takes me between an hour and an hour a quarter or maybe an hour and a half.... i could probably do it faster. first day i went there and back, hurt my taint that ride. i've been getting a ride on some mornings and biking back home. today again we'll hit there and back again, let's hope it doesn't rain.

no photo

i'm not a commuter, i ride my bike to work

2010-04-08T16:31:00.002Z

to work 12 or 14 miles

here we go, bitches...

2010-03-30T14:56:00.003Z

so it has come down to this. i did a recon ride in my home town last weekend. i realized that i am a cheap date. after 3 pints in an hour and a half, i was loopy.

so, i am riding. took my bike to wisconsin, didn't ride as much as i wanted to, but then i never do. 30 days without a break should be easy.

witches hat

2010-03-15T20:04:00.003Z

photo courtesy of jim thill

can't say i made it to the highest point in mpls today, but i did go on a bicycle journey. mechanical issues prevented me from fully enjoying the ride. the meister has been in more mechanics stands today than is has seen in the last year. i'm not going to bore you with the details, suffice to say it sucks to be my mechanical support team.

fitness; nominal.
saddle time; maybe 2 hours,
ride time from door to door; 9:45 to 14:00, 4.25 hrs
weather: glorious, 55-60 F, pt sunny to clear
road conditions: lame, moist in places, loose sand/gravel everywhere else

hasn't hit me yet

2010-03-12T07:30:00.001Z

fixed gear or single speed? 42 x 16 should be nice. either way there will be losers. single speed or fully loaded touring , there will be hills. i guess i could just get on with it

considering the future

2010-02-28T14:09:00.001Z

like the immediate future

2010-02-13T14:33:00.000Z

this summer....

2010-01-27T14:31:00.005Z

gravel road racing
almonzo
dirty benjamin

mountain bike racing
wors

ice and snow

2010-01-20T06:00:00.002Z

rode to and from the 46th street station and took a bus to/from rosedale. where is the angry catfish and why ain't they open at 9:30 pm? had to stop by a liquor store in nokomis cause i couldn't get a decent cup of coffee. Oh yea, i missed the bash at CRC and i could have had both i guess. but 34th ave is not 34th str. and driving a bus all day takes a little motivation out of you.

weather: 20 F and little snow on the way home
roads: excellent winter riding conditions

monday night cyclocross

2010-01-17T16:30:00.001Z

someday, there will be a monday night cx race, and you'll be sad you didn't show up. i'm just warning you....

where do we go from here

2010-01-13T15:26:00.003Z

on the new moon i like to crystallize my meditations.
here's the plan, endurance bicycle racing.

not anything epic or out-of-reach, just riding my bike for hours at a time, like 8 or ten...or 24.
first i need to get out for the slick 50(in march) and almonzo 100 in may. let's keep the enthusiasm in check. I may be riding a panasonic dx-5000, i'll keep you posted.

now to make that happen i will need to be a good commuter. yes,that means that i must get up early and ride when i'm exhausted. is there any goal worth reaching that is easy?

big yellow moon...

2010-01-05T05:02:00.002Z

cold, i guess...at least that's what my toes told me 10 minutes after i got home and the numbness was replaced by a tingling.funny , but my right pinky finger is usually the one that acts up, it was frostbit once or twice before and let's me know how cold it is on a regular basis. bridgestone ride tonight, slow and steady wins the race, what race? i was more aware of the slippery conditions on the downhills when i surrendered control for speed, always a tough compromise.

no-one else showed and owing to my own lack of regularity i'm not surprised.

weather: 1 F, clear
road conditions: icey, but not impassable. main roads excellent

36 hours out

2010-01-03T19:17:00.002Z

at 9 pm tomorrow the forecast calls for a temperature of -3 F. i am not afraid of the cold, after being cooped for two days inside with the family the fresh air will be welcome. i still think the bridgestone is the best for the job, could use some new tires....oh yea, school day on monday.

tonight's the night

2009-12-28T19:24:00.002Z

haven't been much for riding this week. snowstorm and the holiday and just general exhaustion from 8-10 hour days. we'll give it a shot tonight, the bridgestone on snow and ice. i'll keep the tire pressure reasonable for comfort and tread contact/adhesion.
let's think about setting up a set of studded(w/sheet metal screws) tires. if it ain't old school it ain't happening

attendance: 2

2009-12-22T14:10:00.002Z

great night for a ride, not much distance(45 minutes). trails/bridges in 52nd street almost unridable, at least in the dark, following a good line is tough when you can't see it

weather: 24 F, partly cloudy
roads: some accumulated snow from last week, other wise varied from excellent to fair

here it comes....

2009-12-20T13:40:00.002Z

monday night cyclocross
sign up here

36 hrs and counting

2009-12-19T14:17:00.002Z

weather outside is delightful....i'm working too much to get out for rides at 9 or ten pm. time to take commuting seriously lest i come upon the slick 50 unprepared and get dropped again. why does riding with hurl seem like a high-school popularity contest?, i guess get a fancy outfit.

i'm nobody's role model

2009-12-17T12:04:00.002Z

Bicycle Master Plan

Richfield Transportation Commission Accepting Applications for the Richfield Bicycle Master Plan Task Force

Bicycle Master Plan Task Force Application

The Transportation Commission is inviting interested Richfield residents to apply for the Richfield Bicycle Master Plan Task Force. At the December 2, 2009 Transportation Commission Meeting, the Commission voted to create the Task Force with the intent of producing a Bike Master Plan for the City. The purpose of this Master Plan is to increase safety and opportunities for physical activity among residents as well as to provide options for alternative transportation methods through short and long term improvements to the bicycle network. Goals outlined in the Bike Plan portion of the City of Richfield Comprehensive Plan have largely been achieved or are scheduled to be achieved in the near future and these improvements provide an excellent foundation to build a successful and useful bicycle network that benefits all residents. If you are interested in participating in this process, please click on the link below to access the application. Applications can also be picked up at the Richfield Public Works building located at 1901 East 66th Street. Questions may be directed to Jeff Pearson, Richfield Transportation Engineer, at 612-861-9791.

building a course for the womens national cyclocross silver medalist

2009-12-17T11:35:00.001Z

the headline says it all.
ya , that's right on sunday 20 december
54th and penn

the only ride you need to go on this winter!

2009-12-16T13:36:00.002Z

First Annual Christmas Eve Ride down the Greenway

When; December 24th 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

Where; Start at the Freewheel Midtown Bike Station and finish at Lake Calhoun.

What; Anyone who wants to ride, walk, jog run or just sing

Dress your bike up, we will bring a boom box and sing Christmas Carols as we ride down the Greenway to the lakes and back.

No real sponsor, ride at your own risk, dress warm and perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee. Most important make you’re self known and help us celebrate winter. Sing and be safe.

how long should i leave'em hanging?

2009-12-16T04:23:00.001Z

Artisanal Imports Nice little Koningshoeven Quad review: http://bit.ly/5wGdzx

Fine Brew Reviews: Konings Hoeven Quadrupel Trappist Ale

bit.ly

Another Quadrupel, which is probably my favorite style, lets see how this holds up since it is the first beer from this brewery that I've had. Like all brews in this style it has a rather high ABV and comes in at 10%. ...

Yesterday at 2:43pm · Comment · · Share · Report

Chris Hoff likes this.

Andrew Rosenberg

koningshoeven, that's a Belgian cyclo-cross venue isn't it?
quadrupel laps and a sand trappist

Yesterday at 8:16pm · Delete

Artisanal Imports

Holy Beer Drinker but that's clever. Let me know if you want to recreate a Quad Laps course in the US.

9 hours ago · Report

Andrew Rosenberg

in mpls MN no less, details to follow

51 minutes ago · Delete

randonnneurs USA

2009-12-13T12:45:00.001Z

Location	Type [describe]	Date	Distance (km)	Route (proposed)	Contact	Web Site
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/05/01	200	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP flèche	2010/05/14	360		Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/06/12	300	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/06/26	400	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/07/24	600	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/08/21	400	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/09/11	600	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/09/18	300	route	Michael Aeling	info
MN: Rochester	ACP brevet	2010/10/02	200	route	Michael Aeling	info

getting ready for snow commuting

2009-12-08T01:25:00.002Z

ran a dry run today, loaded panniers and left one at home....not gonna be impossible. for the first week maybe we add the bus into the mix. from zero miles to 30 could be a stretch,.... but i'm not stressed out too bad.... got a new light. it's gonna great. I'll be tweaking the route for a while to develop the optimal mix of distance and traffic.

training log

2009-12-07T13:30:00.002Z

cool and fairly clear utterly alone , i'm fine with that. waited for 5 minutes at the corner of 54th and penn at 9:30 pm. went for a ride: no stairs, beard's plaisance run-up, cold toes, 45 minutes

weather: 18 F and clear/hazy
roads: excellent

getting used to work again and promoting cx races

2009-12-06T13:40:00.001Z

tonights the night, i'll be satisfied if i'm still up at 9 pm. h-wood's race yesterday a.m. drew 20-30 riders. there are people interested in this ...we'll see who shows. gotta find some course tape and glowstix.

work,.. gotta spend more time riding, crazy shit gonna make me tweak out.

crazy shit, all day and all night

2009-12-02T12:42:00.002Z

big traffic accident right out in front of the satellite, helicopters and the intersection was closed for 2 hours.all my fares were on time and reasonable adults. the toughest thing about this job is finding a restroom, and maintaining a steady hand and an observant mind.

at the end of the day a bus driver, had a flashback and imagined himself in one of america's wars. it was kinda strange, he was writing something furiously and then went into an outburst followed by a crying jag. we figured out what his name was( by the ID we all carry ), and called 911. the ambulance had pulled when i was leaving.

i'm going to begin biking home from work today

riding with the ninja cook

2009-11-30T19:14:00.002Z

met raymond at hurl's coffee. went for a ride , no pictures, so i'm not sure it really happened. the meister performed like a well oiled machine, even if the rear brake cable casing was 3 inches short, aesthetics not performance...

weather: 35 F, cloudy, wind from the west
roads: excellent

hollywood via the comments section of smithersmpls

2009-11-26T09:14:00.001Z

Here is somthang else yer gonna learn…
…Cross 4 Tots!
Dec 5th, Bloomington get this its at
Vanderbee Park (all belgium style an shit)
11 am 30 min, 11:45 60 min

dude, Cross fer Tots!

shameless self promotion

2009-11-24T13:57:00.002Z

is a presence on the social network really the shit these days? i'm checking it out...tweet up on/about #moonshinercx

moonshine cyclocross

2009-11-23T21:33:00.003Z

ran across the venue just down from cafe maude. i looked for the terrain along the creek and a little spot to whet your whistle before and after. stay tuned for the date but i think we'll do it on a sunday . night or day?

moonshine saloon

2009-11-21T13:08:00.000Z

http://www.yellowbot.com/moonshine-saloon-saint-paul-mn.html

evil re-cycling

2009-11-19T05:21:00.002Z

i hereby claim all territory in wisconsin, minnesota, iowa and illinois formerly held by evil cycling. all former evil minions in these here territories will begin paying tribute forthwith.

new moon rituals

2009-11-16T20:05:00.003Z

from here i got this paragraph:

the new moon is the birthing cycle of the moon's various phases. The new moon phase is an optimal time for planning and seeding your intentions. Seedlings need a period of gestation before they break through the soil and reach for the sunlight. This is also true for our ideas and our desires. The dark side of the moon, with its mysterious unseen forces, offers a nurturing environment where our intentions can establish roots before their miraculous manifestations begin to sprout and reach out to the stars.

I think i need to begin logging massive amounts of junk miles. I'm building a winter commuter, richfield to roseville, single speed may be the wise choice, but i'll decide daily which bike i'll ride. i''m not putting too much thought into the whole thing, maybe i'll get a gps and do this shit right.

MN CX championships

2009-11-12T12:57:00.000Z

flyer

map dump

2009-11-11T12:57:00.000Z

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3345729

getting ready to panic

2009-11-11T04:49:00.003Z

so i decided that peak oil is a good thing for me, whether or not it is good for the economy. some would say i'm dreaming others would say something else. I think of the people that could benefit from peak oil and the ensuing panic. should we encourage or even foment that panic or just plan on it happening and just get on with it.

i'm going to remain flexible, if it comes to this, i will wait in gas-lines and submit to rationing without protest. I may need to grow more food and repair more household products. I sure hope we get more electric trains that will run on power power produced in natural gas and nuclear power plants. yes, my bicycle will be the most reliable form of transit. But how will i get to the bike races?

cx racing without training

2009-11-08T05:34:00.001Z

if i can get a bike built by sunday nov 15... maybe i can do this. oh there's this little problem about training. maybe i'll get on a bike tomorrow or monday

i need bike parts and i want 'em cheap

2009-11-01T17:18:00.001Z

3 bottom brackets: spindle length varies from 107-115mm all square taper

cash for the wheel i had jim at HC build in april

killing time...

2009-10-22T14:47:00.002Z

double posting across many social networking protocols, same thing different URL

could be a nice trip

2009-04-18T02:04:00.001Z

http://teambeerd.com/?p=220

the road taken

2009-04-06T17:51:00.004Z

i will ride my bike to work and home again at the end of the day. i am not a commuter.
04/06/2009 Route
Find more Bike Rides in Minneapolis, Minnesota

22 days to ragnarok...

2009-03-27T05:51:00.002Z

and i do not feel that i feasted enough at the tables in Valhalla.

the prospect of pulling out of this challenge pains me, i do not fear the prospect of a crushing defeat. that is a given, i am always the Dfl and it doesn't pain me to say that. preparation has gone poorly, not enough miles, i'm not looking to put in 105 miles every weekend or even hit that once before the randonnee`. i'm more concerned about financial and equipment issues. i did recently take a new job and the loss of income for chasing a goal that i am sure will be anti-climactic enters the picture. the straight story is that i haven't got the money or the time to prepare properly.

this will not be a cascade, i am committed to the almonzo a month later and feel that if i'm gonna do a gravel road race this should be the one. Now, some may question my performance in the slick 50(73 miles) as an indicator of my fitness. i actually felt pretty good for most of the ride, the loss of the group after a flat did bring my map reading skills into question.

i will not make any firm decisions until march 1st. i'm thinking about adding a 25 mile commute to my training schedule.

cheap parts abused here

2009-03-22T13:39:00.002Z

stubbs bay

2009-03-22T06:20:00.004Z

left at 10:15 am, met up with hurl and krewe at 12 left NE mpls for parts unknown. Flat tire on trail at maybe 1 pm, lost contact with group. followed best i could up trail ending on luce line and stubbs bay road at roughly 2:20. tracking skills determined that this was not the course, headed onto paved road where i flagged down an unknown rider and got an escort to wayzata and he dumped me onto mcginty road which lead me to minnetonka blvd, followed trail to hopkins where i headed to blake road and ended up on 44th and upton. at home and safe by 4:30 pm
nothing too scary i had plenty of food and water. rough estimate from google maps leaves me with a 45-55 mile route for the day. thanks for the inspiration and hope the ride was good for you hurl, rumors tell of an 80 mile route

training effects

2009-03-21T13:38:00.003Z

that's what you call it when you feel better after riding than before. or maybe it's the weather, i've got it..... i'm 45 years old and get 6 hours of sleep/day if i'm lucky.

grumpy's NE

2009-03-18T18:29:00.001Z

View Larger Map

lovely day for it....

2009-03-17T03:39:00.002Z

03/16/2009 Route
Find more Bike Rides in Minneapolis, Minnesota

left at 12:30 pm arrived home at 3 pm
weather:65 F, sunny
roads: sandy/wet

when the going get's tough...

2009-03-16T04:57:00.006Z

the tough jump on the fun bike. by some miracle of science i found the extra long seatpost i needed for the bridgestone, it was on the meister. nice to have a little leg room, and the opportunity for some highjinx. I always say it ain't mountain biking unless you take enough chances to dump the bike in the mud, ice, or snow. i'm not thinking distance tonight, that's for tomorrow.
route:
weather: 43F hazy/clear, excellent conditions
roads: the path less taken

dark and muddy

2009-03-15T05:32:00.003Z

one and one half hours on the beast of burden tonight. I thought i could head down to cold sprints, but i really didn't feel that fresh. i'm not getting that much sleep or having the quality of rides that i require. breaking out of the deep freeze is nice, i haven't been posting much on rides lately cause i'm not that amused with the progress toward my goal of competing at any level in a 105 mile challenge in a little more than a month. hopefully i will feel a little better after i ride this week and put in a passing grade in the 'slick 50' in a week.

weather: 43 and excellent riding conditions
roads: muddy not icy

a public apology to pinto

2009-03-15T05:19:00.003Z

i have perpetrated a cruel hoax, no-one should follow my advice in technical aspects of bicycle building. I am at best a hack mechanic and the assumption that if it works for me it will work for anyone else is dubious at best.

I apologize for misleading anyone in the matter of fixed gear/ single speed conversions. I very quickly dispensed partial information in an attempt to perpetrate a friday the 13th 'joke post' on the Bloodline bicycle racing blog. i have done myself a dis-service, i only hope that all true bicycle mechanics will forgive me.

i will not discuss this matter any further, besides if you need to explain the joke then it wasn't that funny. and now back to our regularly scheduled updates.

maps of gravel roads/back roads

2009-03-12T23:11:00.002Z

http://www.hudsonmap.com/
http://bikeverywhere.com/topic/twin-cities/tc-map-updates/

i'll update this post when i find the best maps for redwing area or... can one of my readers suggest a good source? hurl,

long rider

2009-03-11T13:10:00.003Z

how many litres of water for ragnarok?, during the summer i go 1 litre/or at least 20 oz per hour.
food: herring of course; but with vinegar or the sweeter swedish style

bicycle chosen: jamis aurora, i'm not trusting the new build on the schwinn for at least a month, i'm cutting corners if i rush the selection of cost efficient parts ...oh and cash is getting tight.

cat power 'moonshiner'

2009-03-10T01:00:00.002Z

The Moon is Increasing in Light

2009-03-08T17:07:00.001Z

The next phase will be
Full Moon
at 9:38 pm Mar, 10 2009
Full Worm Moon

An auspicious time for affairs and businesses which are at an expansive stage of development, as well as for new beginnings. A growth phase: stimulate the growth of plants which bear fruit above the earth now, and cut hair to accelerate its growth.

cat on a hot tin roof dialogue; Tennessee Williams

2009-03-08T06:00:00.004Z

                 
You know what I feel like
I feel all the time like a cat
on a hot tin roof
.
Then jump off the roof, Maggie
Cats jump off roofs and land uninjured.
Do it. Jump.

Jump where?
Into what?

Take a lover

i don't deserve that!
I can't see any man but you.
Even with my eyes closed, I just see you.
Why can't you get ugly, Brick?
Why can't you get fat or ugly or something,
so I can stand it?

You'll make out fine.
Your kind always does.

I'm more determined than you think
I'll win all right.

Win what?


What is the victory
of a cat on a hot tin roof?

Just staying on it, I guess...
...as long as she can.


             
Calm down. Not yet. Now wait a minute.

something to think about..

2009-03-05T21:13:00.000Z

lost in transmission

2009-03-05T03:34:00.003Z

the jamis, left home at 2:30 pm returned at 5:30 pm. unusual, yes... first half of the ride was marred by drivetrain issues, water, salt and sand. stooped to pick up ray and visit a mechanic, 10 spot later, problems identified and smoothed out. I am a hack mechanic, and i don't have a stand in my basement, i can replace, i can adjust on the fly, i can call on the professionals. i'll be replacing some casings and cables soon enough.
oh the ride was long but not difficult, i mmm, like gears, they vex me sometimes. route: creek trail, to nokomis, back roads to HC and then to the river road, almost stopped by a ghost bike, back on to green way trail at the railway bridge, greenway to bryant to 36th and of course the kings highway(potholed) to harriet and back onto penn and home. long enough, not many stops. some employee at the midtown freewheel tried to sell me a lock, i bought a snickers.

weather: 40 F and sunny
roads: oatmeal slush on the back alleys, main roads/trails good

end of an era...

2009-03-02T18:40:00.002Z

and the beginning of a new team.

press release
bloodline/bloodclot bicycle racing for the unemployed announces an addition to the roster;

next saturday @freewheel bike, west bank

2009-03-01T03:55:00.001Z

find it and buy it

2009-02-27T03:57:00.001Z

Kenda Kozmik Lite II

L3R Pro rubber compound
Tread design offers greater traction and control due to its wider casing size
Lightweight


NEW!	212129	L3R PRO	F/R	26x1.75	Folding	120	40-80	375±20g	$39.99

upcoming expenditures

2009-02-26T16:14:00.006Z

just a quick run-down of potential yet necessary cash outlay in the next coupla months...

headsets: 2-3
bottom brackets: probably 3
one bmx freewheel
1 handbuilt wheel on a 7 speed hub(purchased)
tires: 1 set mtb/26", 1 set 700c
fancy shorts and a skinsuit

cables/casing/brake pads
tubes and pump/pressurized CO2

.......my birthday is may 7th

a partial accounting of expenses...

2009-02-26T14:37:00.003Z

Anybody that know's me will tell you that i'm cheap, fortunately i'm not stupid and know when to replace bicycle parts that are vital. here's the run-down for the last 6 months... three mistresses can get expensive or not

tubes: 4-5
tires: o
wheels 0
brake or derailleur cable/casing: 3-4 sets(cx, XO-2)
chains: 2 or 3( new builds, restorations)
saddles: 3
pedals: 3 sets(only one good pair in the bunch, but i haven't paid retail in a while) i'll be picking up another pair next week maybe
brake pads: 3 pair, Koolstop (like the menthol smokes)
handlebar tape: 3-4 boxes i'm a scraper/basher
headset: 1

news of the coming shitstorm...

2009-02-26T05:35:00.005Z

the more bikes i have rolling the more it seems i get stuck in the money pit. swapped pedals to the le tour and left the base at ten pm, olbermann was on fire on MSNBC, i couldn't leave when that was going on. i noticed 10 blocks into the ride that i was in for it when the freewheel began acting up, time for an ACS not a dicta. so i soft pedaled to the closest well lit petrol stop for a little investigation, closed ! ...then on to another station up 54th to lyndale. nothing that i could see, except the coffee shop across the street turning out the lights, those fuckers used to be open until 11pm too.

so it goes, i still was out for an hour, got in loop around the lake and didn't loose the forward propulsion mechanism. i should have rode the jamis but i didn't, as soon as the plows hit the sidestreets tomorrow or friday i'll be back in action on the chosen steed....the one that ain't bleeding me for another $20.

weather: 23 degrees and clear
roads: some clear, frozen in spots, black ice abounds

maiden voyage

2009-02-25T05:14:00.003Z

first ride on the bridgestone tonight. out a 9:45 pm back with-in an hour. Due to a few technical issues with the build and a nagging...ahem... cough, i hadn't made it out before tonight.

first impression, i need a couple more inches of seatpost, at minimum insertion now and it's not feeling right. of course there's the fat tire issue, this is definitely an off-road bicycle. got into the snow a little bit but i'll wait until i can ride in daylight or at least scout my route before i fly headlong into the woods. definitely enough low end with the gearing, felt nice to downshift cause i had the option. liked the pedals too much to leave them on this bike, i'll think i'll put them on a bike that i will ride more often.

weather:35 degrees F, cloudy
roads: greasy, and despite the warm temps seemed like ice was freezing not thawing.

danish bicycles and accessories

2009-02-23T03:56:00.002Z

http://www.sogreni.dk/Bicycles.php

well, it's been announced..

2009-02-22T21:14:00.004Z

march 21st, 2009,
the Slick 50 bicycle tour
the cultural icon is taking ya'll on a trip....a booze cruise on bicycles....sure to be the highlight of the spring season

brigdestone XO-2

2009-02-21T05:59:00.001Z

..the long whiner of our discontent

2009-02-20T13:10:00.003Z

not here MF. gonna get up them trails in wirth park this weekend, cross country ski season is done, it's bike-able until we get warmer and muddy, at least i think it will be. i'm bored, that's why i stopped posting my daily ride, rest assured i am ready and able to kick some ass.

switch out the track bars and add a rear brake to the schwinn, try to look into a new rack for the jamis, something with a litle more stradle cable clearance. so i'll be riding 3 bikes this season...and bring the meister up to 'code' for cyclocross next fall or should ride a....

59 days until ragnarok...

2009-02-18T08:56:00.004Z

long have the sagas foretold of this twilight of the gods. the rooster will crow, the great serpent shall be be unleashed and the ship shall bust it's moorings.....after the battle asgar shall rise again from it's destruction

back to my reality:

i have mainly engaged in the 'mental preparation'
i have an adequate but not ideal bicycle for the trek
i have been kicked off the team...as if...

still warm

2009-02-11T05:55:00.002Z

out at 10:15 back by 11:25, next week attempt to break a personal hour record. schwinn, journey - 2 fer...with a little wind. feel like i'm coming down with a head cold. XO-2 still needs a chain and bar tape, maybe the jamis tomorrow night.

weather: 36 degrees F, overcast but no rain
roads: excellent but sandy

this one we bank...

2009-02-10T06:11:00.002Z

there will be colder days and longer rides but tonight was kinda special. didn't get out until 10:10 pm, back at 11:45 wet and warm. took in all three lakes and part of the greenway, i was thinking about cedar lake, but i remember a low spot in the trail at about 22nd that i didn't feel like fjording.
still plenty wet but the chain needs a little grit and polish once in a while. of course on the single speed american bike with the french name, and it was a clif bar ride. best moment: wind assisted speed coming into a turn on the path at isles, outside leg up, inside crank at 12 o'clock and hope ya don't slide out. tonight's ride will keep me sated as i endure a few more snow storms and icy conditions until april.

weather: 44 degrees F, intermittent light rain
roads: wet and still a few spots with ice and snow stayed to main drag instead of rutted side streets

offroad biking with fat tires

2009-02-08T20:53:00.003Z

i have determined that a mountain bike would be a nice addition to my rolling stock. parts have been lined up to reacquaint my bridgestone with the snow/ice and gravel of late winter. looks like a pretty nice build, modified mustache bars, thumb shifters and road levers up front. still not happy with my tires, but we'll keep an eye out for something nice. last pieces are a chain and brake cable and casing.

on another note, i am so happy with the feel of the letour that i purchased a freewheel and will be building a rear wheel soon. couple of months more on the budget before i get that done, until then i'll stick with a single speed on that frame.

2009-02-08T06:03:00.001Z

the spring campaign

2009-02-08T05:53:00.003Z

tonight's ride was refreshing, i was expecting poor conditions and they did not materialize. out at 9:30 pm back by 11. at every corner i expected to slide out and i dd not, i was watching for long unridable sections of ice and oatmeal slush and there was none. 2 lakes and no incidents, felt strong on 48X16 and i probably was going fast enough. nothing more to report.

weather: 25 degrees F, clear, bright moon
roads: a little sketchy in places but nothing spectacular,

tonight i'm hers completely

2009-02-05T03:15:00.003Z

...'one for the boys' will be thursday, friday, saturday....and forever. see ya at the bike swap

gone to the county farm...

2009-02-04T04:16:00.001Z

Lightnin' Hopkins - Baby Please Don't Go
Uploaded by nighttripper

where this man may go...

2009-02-03T03:47:00.002Z

not riding tonight, 20 below wind chill put a damper on that noise, the ice that was created after the thaw this weekend seals the deal. but i must look forward, it's cold but i'm stoked for a DFL real soon.

events:

stupor bowl, a DNS due to family responsibilities, beyond my control
Ragnarok 105, a challenge which will be met
almonzo 100, ditto
optional mtb race june 7th big ring classic, in my home town
july, august are too damn hot to race
september, singlespeed cyclocross, too early to fill in the details

training:
group rides will keep me honest, gotta stretch out my distance from 1 hour to 2 hours at least, and throw in one or two 50 - 75 mile rides. when i can do this is the hardest part....
i have learned something from the cx worlds this weekend, set aside petty differences and just ride, the belgians placed 6 racers in the top ten at Hoogerheide. cyclocomputer purchase immenent, cadence is the thing to watch.

equipment
race what ya got. if it wears out replace it.... don't expect any major purchases this year. i have parts and ingenuity to keep 4 bicycles in the rotation, gravel road touring rig, sport touring rig, mtb and cyclocross bikes.

is this something or nothing...

2009-01-31T05:54:00.003Z

went out for a ride and came back with a beer, a t-shirt and a spoke card.
at home changing i had a chance to watch letterman and saw an old segment called 'is this something or is this nothing?'
made me think of my situation currently, i'm pre-registered for 3 events: stupor bowl(1/31), ragnarok 105 april 18th and almonzo 100 in may. is this something or is this nothing?

one thing you can count on.....

2009-01-29T05:52:00.002Z

is an hour ride in beautiful conditions. out by 9:45pm back at 11pm. sweet water at the lake harriet spring, paths were delightful with 1/2 inch of new snow, silence is golden. i think the mercury actually rose as i was riding. the steed was reliable and the gearing spot on at 48x16.....gonna be a nice weekend.

weather: 16 degrees, light snow, overcast
roads: excellent winter riding conditions

oh yeah, it's wednesday .......i thought it was two days until friday

2009-01-28T21:48:00.001Z

would it be that hard to ride a road bike tonight..... i'm just saying.

pub crawl with HC family

2009-01-26T01:36:00.002Z

..nothing special but breaking a sweat at 7 degrees F is kinda interesting. 15 miles according to google maps, between stops i most likely was in the saddle for maybe an hour and one half. not exactly blazing speed, visited an old employer and saw a few people..... i need to hit the anti-inflammatory and water up before the cramps set in.

saturday night january 24, 2009 10pm

2009-01-24T03:36:00.001Z

From IBIKEMPLS.COM

What: 2nd annual group ride in memory of Rachel Dow. It's been more
than a year now since the passing of Rachel, let's get together and
raise a glass and ride our bikes to her memory.

Where: Meet in the back room at Chiang Mai Thai in Uptown MPLS, bike
to the bench, have a vigil, and bike to the hexagon afterward. Pi's
closed, unfortunately.

When: 10pm this Saturday the 24th.

You didn't know Rachel? That's okay, you're still invited to be with
friends and ride your bike.

Here are a few photos from last year's ride:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanobikerdotcom/sets/72157603818705343/

Bring a friend, ride your bike, bring a few beverages, have fun,
smile, celebrate life and the memories it brings.

See you Saturday night.

-mark
ibikempls.com

back in the saddle

2009-01-22T05:28:00.002Z

out at 9:45 pm....ran into the hardy boys taking pictures of a dead squirrel, a nice thing since today is squirrel appreciation day. first trip on the new build, alright 'cept for my choice in pedals, swap those out tomorrow. nothing special about the handling, 48x16 is manageable but less than ideal at this level, we'll grow into it. skinny(26mm) road tires are alright and 6 atm is a good pressure

weather: clear, 16 degrees at arrival home
roads: good winter riding condition, stuck to well traveled steets, paths are a little bumpy, snow build-up on back streets.

wednesday means wednesday night ride

2009-01-21T18:31:00.002Z

that's all...

oh, and this from NOAA

A couple more mild days will be experienced across the area today and tomorrow. Highs both days will be near 30, with southwest Minnesota getting to or slightly above freezing. However, this will all change Friday morning as a strong cold front ushers in another round of bitterly cold arctic air just in time for the weekend.

wild at heart-opening scene

2009-01-20T02:55:00.000Z

waiting for the challenge....

2009-01-14T16:17:00.002Z

the spring campaign begins....

2009-01-14T13:56:00.004Z

on the next new moon.
and what would the emphasis be in the year of the ox?

randonneuring

solidarity with my brethren in Oakland, BART police must be controlled. good luck today

who had this idea first...

2009-01-14T02:02:00.001Z

and the MF stole the name of a cultural icon in the interview...
http://cxmagazine.com/clandestine-cross-hits-louivill

warm weather cross is for pussies.

coaching corner

2009-01-12T12:59:00.002Z

nothing motivates as well as fear of public embarrassment

***There will be a professional documentry made this year during and after the race. The filmmakers are looking for people who will be riding with helmet cams. This will hopefully and should be in this year's Bicycle Film Fest! If you or anyone you know will be filming of any kind, please contact us if we could use your footage. Thanks!***

bloodline wears red

2009-01-12T06:59:00.002Z