Close Call in Traffic

Close call in traffic this morning on the ride to work! I was riding East on 54th St. just before 7 this morning when I got a surprise.

There was a car on the other side of Cliff Ave. that was there long enough to trip the light. It turned green, I kept the pedals going to get through the intersection while the light was green. I glanced to the right crossing the intersection... and reacting, swerved to the left just a little. It happened so quick even I could not think of anything worth yelling.

I could have been hit! By another bicycle!!!

This idiot was riding North on Cliff Ave. in the dark with no lights, and a helmet strapped to the handlebars!

Schnoctobeerfest 2009

Last Saturday I went to Schnoctobeerfest 2009 at CiTyBiLLy headquarters in Elkhorn, NE. Same as last year it was a cool and cloudy day, but that did not ruin the fun. A 55 mile ride, followed by a great meal and beer that evening.

I had the car loaded up in the garage and ready to go Friday night. I was double checking the straps on the car trunk rack and thought I had better double check the bike too. CRAP, the back tire is flat! At 5:30 in the morning I was not in the mood to mess with a flat, so I took the Vegas bike off the car and took my Giant OCR road bike instead.

We had a great group of riders, great food and a lot of great beer. OK, some of the beer wasn't that great. But, it doesn't hurt to take a little sip and try.

Here are some pics!

Making a comeback??

Am I making a comeback on the bowling lanes? I hope so.

After a slow start to the season, averaging in the 170s, I shot a 626 series last night. The first game was UGLY, I think 189. Good thing I could pick up my spares because the first ball in each of the first 9 frames SUCKED! Second game, strikes and more strikes! Except the 9th frame, big, bad split. I shot 244 !! Highest game this season so far. Last game, not much to talk about, it was a decent game.

What happened between the 1st and 2nd games? A shot of chilled Southern Comfort late in the first game might have something to do with it! Maybe it was that I just kept trying? Nah, it was the SoCo.

We won 3 of 4 points against a good team too. On our way to winning the league again!!

Bad Influence

I am a jerk. I know it. I have been told it many times. Actually, I have been called things worse than that more times than I can count!

I don't care.

Maybe some of this is rubbing off on my wife...or maybe it was the Fat Tire and Blue Moon beers talking. Here's what happened.

We were at Buffalo Alice in Sioux City for her brother's birthday last night. We really had a good time (I was surprised). Part way through the night a group of guys (7 or 8) walks in and steps up to the bar. I didn't see them until she said "Hey, check out the douchebags that just walked in here!" I turned around to see a bunch of guys that can't wear a hat straight, big fake diamond earrings in their ears, and trying to talk to some girls that looked way to high maintenance for me.

All I could do was laugh, she was right! Good call Mrs. Dirk !!!

In closing, a note to those of you in the front row at the strip club... GET OUT YOUR DAMN MONEY or get back to your table! I want up front and I have money to spend!

Back online

The computer is all fixed up and working again. Not much has changed in the last 3 weeks....

I am still bowling like shit.
I am still riding my bike to work almost every day.
I only drive a car about two or three times a week and most of that time is with family, I rarely drive by myself anymore.
The best part of my day is the ride home from work!
My time as FAB president is almost over.
Schnoctobeerfest is October 17th at eDBiLLy's house in Elkhorn, NE.
Empire Bowl has Fat Tire on tap. I think Bryan, Will, and I drank at least 3/4 of that first keg!
I have changed 2 flat tires on bikes in the last three weeks.
My wife found a baby snapping turtle by the river. I hope it grows big enough to eat the dog.
I added a MinusCar sticker to my mountain bike turned into a commuter bike.
FAB meeting and Apple Orchard Ride this Saturday October 3.

Today's Commute

Rode to work, should carry my camera. I cannot even start to describe the sunrise today. Rode to Empire Bowl, waved at Snakebite on Russell St. Rode home from Empire Bowl, waved at Mr. and Mrs. Snakebite on the bike trail.

Also, I cannot leave out the MinusCar Dad. I've waved at him a couple of times in the last week, too.

Ride your damn bike!

Is this FUNNY to you?

I think everyone at the office sees my bike parked by the front door of the office as a source of amusement. Some ask me "What ya gonna do when it gets cold?" I calmly answer "Well, guess I'll bundle up and keep riding." What I really want to say is "I'm going to put on a fucking coat and keep riding my bike, asshole. Now quit asking me stupid questions every damn day!"

I have survived the first few weeks with good weather on most days. Some rain and hail have tried to stop me. Even two flat tires couldn't stop me! I'm still looking at this as my next challenge. I have even taken my bike when the car is available and the rest of the family isn't going anywhere. That's OK, leave it parked in the driveway. In the last month, I think I have averaged driving my car twice a week. I'll go 3, 4, 5, or 6 days in a row without driving. That's a HUGE CHANGE in my mindset from a couple of years ago, Hell even a couple of months ago!

To those few of you out there that commute everyday and read this nonsense, sorry if I bore you. But, I am actually excited to get on my bike in the morning and ride to work. (Excited for the ride and not the work) Maybe that explains why I wake up before 5 AM and my alarm clock is set for 5:30. I am usually the first person to the office each day, and I ride my damn bike to get there!!

Now I am getting bored with the office talk of the traffic on I-229 every morning. I don't miss driving on that piece of road. I don't miss driving on Cliff Ave. every morning either. It's always the same dipshits and assholes that contribute to my road rage.

I am happier riding my bike. My issue on the commute this morning was about 30 geese on the trail by Falls Park. I flashed my headlight a few times and they moved just far enough for me to get by. That's a lot easier to handle than some douchebag driving the exact same speed as the guy next to him, together holding up everyone behind them. Instead, I say "Good Morning" to some of the same people at least a couple of times a week. I believe some of them are also riding to work, and some are just out for some early morning exercise.

This morning was a little cool. Temps in the low 40s. Not cold though, not even close to cold.

Next up, a bus excursion. I have not been on public transportation since... before I got my drivers license (sorry, MinusCar). I picked up some route schedules and now is the time to find my way to and from work using the bus for part of the trip, and see if I can get my bike on the front of the bus without looking like an idiot.

Keep riding and be sure to stare back at everyone that stares at you from behind the wheel of their car! You'd think some of them have never seen a bike before!

Mileage Goal in August!!

I set a goal for biking mileage for this year. I consulted various experts (I had a poll on this blog) and decided on 2000 miles. I had never kept track before so I guess I was curious to see how many miles I could cover in a year.

Maybe I should have set the mark higher. It's not even September yet and I have surpassed my goal for the year! The recent change in my routine to ride to work every day has helped a little, but not much, it's only been three weeks.

I know that in each of the last few years I have covered more miles than the previous year. What can I look forward to next year? 3000, 4000, 5000?

Maybe I'll track it, maybe I won't. We'll see how this year ends up.

Maybe next year, I'll track how many beers and shots of Southern Comfort I consume.... Nah, better not!

Mom says I'm CRAZY !

My mom thinks I am crazy. My wife talked with her on the phone today and my mom was asking about the broken down car. She told her that the car will probably get fixed sometime and that I was riding my bike to work every day. Whenever the car gets fixed, or we get another cheap car, it will be my backup. I think I want to keep up the bike commuting.

I guess riding my bike to and from work makes me crazy! My wife said that it was my choice and that she supports me in that. Another reason I love my wife! (She doesn't mind this little deal either... She went from driving her 10 year old car to driving my 1 year old car).

We'll see how crazy I am when I have to ride in the rain this fall, or the snow this winter!

2 FLAT TIRES

I flatted twice on the way home from work today. No big deal, just buy some tires and tubes and keep riding. My son even wanted to do a little cleaning and maintenance on his bike, so we went to the garage for a little bike work. I popped open a beer, he popped open a can of pop, I turned on the radio, and we messed around with the bikes in the garage as it rained outside. I would much rather have a clear evening and go out for a ride, but this alternative wasn't too bad either.

In celebration of my first full week of commuting by bicycle, I will be going to Monk's House of Ale Repute after the FAB Starlight Ride. Come out for the ride, or just hit the bar around 10 PM on Friday night.

I really don't need a reason to go to Monk's for a tasty beverage or two, but it just sounds better if there is something special to celebrate!