I'm done with the blog. Unless I can find a good reason in the next day or two to keep it.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Meet in the Middle Ride
Short recap of the Meet in the Middle Ride yesterday. Seven of us met in Sioux Falls and rode to Beresford, fighting a 20 MPH wind the whole way. A couple of us joked as we were leaving that it might take us 3 hours to get there. It almost did. I showed an average speed between 12 and 13 MPH for the first half of the trip.
We met with 7 riders from Vermillion, they enjoyed the tailwind most of the way! One guy even rode in from Yankton.
We ate at Emily's Cafe. Food was good. The help was...interesting. Don't go there with a big group, it freaks out the waitress.
The ride back to Sioux Falls was good. It was getting hot, but the wind at our backs kept us moving at a good pace. I rode with Biking Brady. I only had to ask him to slow down a couple of times.
It was a fun ride! Total of 72 miles on a hot and windy summer day. We should do it again!
We met with 7 riders from Vermillion, they enjoyed the tailwind most of the way! One guy even rode in from Yankton.
We ate at Emily's Cafe. Food was good. The help was...interesting. Don't go there with a big group, it freaks out the waitress.
The ride back to Sioux Falls was good. It was getting hot, but the wind at our backs kept us moving at a good pace. I rode with Biking Brady. I only had to ask him to slow down a couple of times.
It was a fun ride! Total of 72 miles on a hot and windy summer day. We should do it again!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Nice Racks!
Posted this pic on Facebook yesterday. I used the TROLL to gather some fire wood. Next weekend, a trip to the liquor store!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Crazy Summer
Going to be a crazy summer. Lot of bike things going on. Lot of work things going on. Lot of family things going on.
Might be some time between posts, but I'll try to throw in a little rant once in a while. Maybe shit will settle down and I can relax for a day or a week... How many days til RAGBRAI?
Might be some time between posts, but I'll try to throw in a little rant once in a while. Maybe shit will settle down and I can relax for a day or a week... How many days til RAGBRAI?
Friday, May 27, 2011
SIOUX FALLS DRIVERS SUCK!
Well, not ALL of them...but, I got your attention!
The debate in Sioux Falls over bicyclists and their place in transportation rages on. There have been two cyclists killed in Sioux Falls in the last year, and a few others that have been struck and injured, by someone driving a car. The belief that a bicycle is a viable form of transportation just has not caught on here yet. All you have to do is read the comments on a story or two HERE to see what some of the nutjobs in this city really think.
My issue with some of the comments made is this.... Don't group everyone on bicycles together. Of course, there are some that ride on the wrong side of the street, dart through intersections, and generally cause confusion and disrupt the flow of traffic. There are also some that obey the traffic laws, signal turns, and try to ride predictably with the flow of traffic. I try to be that rider. I even took a Traffic Skills course from THIS GUY to learn the correct way to ride on the streets. (I recommend this course for anyone!)
Stop your whining! Anytime the subject of bicycles on the streets comes up in the news, the comments start showing up about all the bad things people on bikes do and how they just need to get out of the way. One today even demanded cyclists "share the road" by getting out of the way and moving over. It's the same bullshit over and over again.
I'll ride to the right. But, if the lane isn't wide enough to share I'm taking the lane. I'll be on the right, there won't be enough room for you to pass without going into the other lane. A driver may have to slow down for a few seconds for a clearing to pass, but they also won't be able to buzz me. I am not riding in the middle of the street. I would like to ask some of these idiots if they come up behind motorcycles and try to squeeze through like they do passing bikes. I bet they don't! One of the worst problems I have on the streets here is actually on the 4 lane streets. The left lane could be clear of traffic, I am riding in the right half of the right lane...and still get buzzed! What the hell!?! At that time I usually "point" to the open lane to let them know there is a lane open over there. (You could call it pointing, I am only using one finger.)
Most of the drivers in Sioux Falls are good about leaving space while passing. Others are not, maybe because they saw another cyclist doing something stupid, so they buzz me because I am just another guy on a bike and an easy target on the street. Well, let's turn that around and I'll just roll up behind a car at a stoplight and smash the back window with my frame pump! I could do that because someone else cut me off, right?
You just can't put all cyclists in one group, and all drivers in one group either.
Last part of this little rant is that some of the local cyclists need to think. As we rode the Ride of Silence a week and a half ago, I saw something that bugged me. As our group got split up, I tried to take the lead after a split. The first group was stopped at a red light, we were riding up behind a car that was behind them. As we approached the back of the car about 8 cyclists went around the car and got in front of the driver at the light. When the light turned green, a few more went past me and the car in front of me to the right. The driver had his right signal on and got a surprise when he started to turn and people on bikes were coming through. I wanted to yell, but didn't. Stupid moves like that that bug me. That guy might see me or someone else on a bike the next day, and think "I'll show them!"
End of online rant, I promise.... I'm not perfect and always right, neither are you. All cyclists are not the same. All drivers are not the same.... Be nice, and SHARE THE ROAD.
The debate in Sioux Falls over bicyclists and their place in transportation rages on. There have been two cyclists killed in Sioux Falls in the last year, and a few others that have been struck and injured, by someone driving a car. The belief that a bicycle is a viable form of transportation just has not caught on here yet. All you have to do is read the comments on a story or two HERE to see what some of the nutjobs in this city really think.
My issue with some of the comments made is this.... Don't group everyone on bicycles together. Of course, there are some that ride on the wrong side of the street, dart through intersections, and generally cause confusion and disrupt the flow of traffic. There are also some that obey the traffic laws, signal turns, and try to ride predictably with the flow of traffic. I try to be that rider. I even took a Traffic Skills course from THIS GUY to learn the correct way to ride on the streets. (I recommend this course for anyone!)
Stop your whining! Anytime the subject of bicycles on the streets comes up in the news, the comments start showing up about all the bad things people on bikes do and how they just need to get out of the way. One today even demanded cyclists "share the road" by getting out of the way and moving over. It's the same bullshit over and over again.
I'll ride to the right. But, if the lane isn't wide enough to share I'm taking the lane. I'll be on the right, there won't be enough room for you to pass without going into the other lane. A driver may have to slow down for a few seconds for a clearing to pass, but they also won't be able to buzz me. I am not riding in the middle of the street. I would like to ask some of these idiots if they come up behind motorcycles and try to squeeze through like they do passing bikes. I bet they don't! One of the worst problems I have on the streets here is actually on the 4 lane streets. The left lane could be clear of traffic, I am riding in the right half of the right lane...and still get buzzed! What the hell!?! At that time I usually "point" to the open lane to let them know there is a lane open over there. (You could call it pointing, I am only using one finger.)
Most of the drivers in Sioux Falls are good about leaving space while passing. Others are not, maybe because they saw another cyclist doing something stupid, so they buzz me because I am just another guy on a bike and an easy target on the street. Well, let's turn that around and I'll just roll up behind a car at a stoplight and smash the back window with my frame pump! I could do that because someone else cut me off, right?
You just can't put all cyclists in one group, and all drivers in one group either.
Last part of this little rant is that some of the local cyclists need to think. As we rode the Ride of Silence a week and a half ago, I saw something that bugged me. As our group got split up, I tried to take the lead after a split. The first group was stopped at a red light, we were riding up behind a car that was behind them. As we approached the back of the car about 8 cyclists went around the car and got in front of the driver at the light. When the light turned green, a few more went past me and the car in front of me to the right. The driver had his right signal on and got a surprise when he started to turn and people on bikes were coming through. I wanted to yell, but didn't. Stupid moves like that that bug me. That guy might see me or someone else on a bike the next day, and think "I'll show them!"
End of online rant, I promise.... I'm not perfect and always right, neither are you. All cyclists are not the same. All drivers are not the same.... Be nice, and SHARE THE ROAD.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Bowling Season Wrap Up
Another league bowling season is done. I finished with averages right around 200, which is where I have been for almost 15 years.
I entered 2 tournaments this season, and have prize money coming back from both of them. Both times I shot a little better than my average and my doubles partner shot well over their average. Two tournaments, two checks coming in the mail. Not much, but it feels good to win some money back.
The league season was fun. The Saturday night mixed league team was fun, loud, and obnoxious. We will be taking on Eastway Bowl next fall. I subbed quite a few times on Thursday nights. That is a good team to bowl with...fun and competitive (we had a good time at state tournament too.) After I quit working at Empire Bowl, I bowled the last half of the season on Monday nights. Good team to bowl with here, we made a run at winning the league but just couldn't quite get it.
Another season done. Nothing exceptional, I had a mix of good and bad scores. In the end, my average was right where I finish up almost every year.
The bowling balls are put away until late August. More time for bikes!
I entered 2 tournaments this season, and have prize money coming back from both of them. Both times I shot a little better than my average and my doubles partner shot well over their average. Two tournaments, two checks coming in the mail. Not much, but it feels good to win some money back.
The league season was fun. The Saturday night mixed league team was fun, loud, and obnoxious. We will be taking on Eastway Bowl next fall. I subbed quite a few times on Thursday nights. That is a good team to bowl with...fun and competitive (we had a good time at state tournament too.) After I quit working at Empire Bowl, I bowled the last half of the season on Monday nights. Good team to bowl with here, we made a run at winning the league but just couldn't quite get it.
Another season done. Nothing exceptional, I had a mix of good and bad scores. In the end, my average was right where I finish up almost every year.
The bowling balls are put away until late August. More time for bikes!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
BUSY DAY!
Worked on fixing a few things around the house today. Replaced the drain in the kitchen sink, patched a couple of holes in the ceiling where we took out a light fixture, fixed a couple pieces of furniture, fixed the closet doors in one of the kid's rooms, and a few other little tasks.
Next up was grocery shopping with Niki.
After that, a little bit of work from home.
Tonight, our last night of Saturday mixed league bowling. The last night is usually a good time. We will not finish very high in the standings. We will not win a lot of money, no one really does in a mixed league. But, this was a really fun bowling season. We are moving the team from Empire Bowl to Eastway Bowl next fall.... Hope they are ready for us!
Next up was grocery shopping with Niki.
After that, a little bit of work from home.
Tonight, our last night of Saturday mixed league bowling. The last night is usually a good time. We will not finish very high in the standings. We will not win a lot of money, no one really does in a mixed league. But, this was a really fun bowling season. We are moving the team from Empire Bowl to Eastway Bowl next fall.... Hope they are ready for us!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
LBL 2011 Recap
Last weekend I attended the CiTyBiLLy CyCLe spring classic, LBL. BriMAn, thE kErnEl, and I drove to Omaha Friday, then on to Lincoln. It was a fun weekend and a good start to the spring and summer rides for me.
We almost lost the bikes off the back of my car while driving on I29 in Sioux City. There is a HUGE dip in the road. I hit it going about 60 MPH. The 2 bikes (my Vegas Langster single speed and BriMAn's Redline single speed) on the trunk rack went up and slammed back down on the trunk. I looked in the rearview mirror to see one of the straps for the racks flying in the breeze and the whole thing was sliding off the trunk of the car. Quick pull over to the side of the road, fixed the rack, then on to Omaha.
The trip to Omaha was for one thing, pizza at La Casa!
On to Lincoln. We got to eDLoNNie's house. Sat around talking bikes. Drank some HOPLUIA (Awesome Beer!)
Saturday morning BriMAn was not in shape to ride, or eat the egg bake that Mrs. eDLoNNie made. I ate 3 helpings, so I made up for him not eating any. Five of us rode through Lincoln and South on Hwy 77 to Cortland, NE for our self guided tour of Spilker Ales. thE kErnEl and I took a trail that runs parallel to the highway on the way back to Lincoln. (that trail should be the route next year, more fun that riding on the highway). We almost got lost on the streets of Lincoln, but his DROID phone saved us and guided us back to the house. We consumed some sandwiches, some more HOPLUIA, and drove home that night.
It was a good time, can't wait for the next ride that does not involve going to work!
We almost lost the bikes off the back of my car while driving on I29 in Sioux City. There is a HUGE dip in the road. I hit it going about 60 MPH. The 2 bikes (my Vegas Langster single speed and BriMAn's Redline single speed) on the trunk rack went up and slammed back down on the trunk. I looked in the rearview mirror to see one of the straps for the racks flying in the breeze and the whole thing was sliding off the trunk of the car. Quick pull over to the side of the road, fixed the rack, then on to Omaha.
The trip to Omaha was for one thing, pizza at La Casa!
On to Lincoln. We got to eDLoNNie's house. Sat around talking bikes. Drank some HOPLUIA (Awesome Beer!)
Saturday morning BriMAn was not in shape to ride, or eat the egg bake that Mrs. eDLoNNie made. I ate 3 helpings, so I made up for him not eating any. Five of us rode through Lincoln and South on Hwy 77 to Cortland, NE for our self guided tour of Spilker Ales. thE kErnEl and I took a trail that runs parallel to the highway on the way back to Lincoln. (that trail should be the route next year, more fun that riding on the highway). We almost got lost on the streets of Lincoln, but his DROID phone saved us and guided us back to the house. We consumed some sandwiches, some more HOPLUIA, and drove home that night.
It was a good time, can't wait for the next ride that does not involve going to work!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
My New SUV (SURLY Utility Vehicle)
Thank you to Chad and the guys at Spoke N Sport for getting this bike together! I can't wait to put a few thousand miles on it this year.
I can go off road with it like your SUV, but probably will keep it on the street like yours.
I can haul a lot of cargo with it like your SUV.
I can only move one person with it (me). That's OK, there is usually only one person (you) in your SUV, too.
$4 gas is not a problem with mine.
This thing will get me wherever I need to go almost every day of the week.
Some details for the bike geeks....
SURLY Troll frame
Shimano SLX drivetrain
Shimano SLX hubs
Salsa Delgado rims
Easton seatpost
Easton stem
SURLY racks
Avid Disc Brakes
SKS Commuter Fenders
Continental Tires
I can go off road with it like your SUV, but probably will keep it on the street like yours.
I can haul a lot of cargo with it like your SUV.
I can only move one person with it (me). That's OK, there is usually only one person (you) in your SUV, too.
$4 gas is not a problem with mine.
This thing will get me wherever I need to go almost every day of the week.
Some details for the bike geeks....
SURLY Troll frame
Shimano SLX drivetrain
Shimano SLX hubs
Salsa Delgado rims
Easton seatpost
Easton stem
SURLY racks
Avid Disc Brakes
SKS Commuter Fenders
Continental Tires
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
South Dakota Weather for Bike Commuting
Started today on the road to work before 6 AM. Dressed for winter including a light base layer, gloves, and hat...the temp was in the low to mid 30s.
Hit the road on the way home from work about 5:45 PM. Dressed for summer with shorts and a t-shirt...the temp was in the low 70s.
Preparing for rain and a chance of snow the next couple of days....guess I could call that Spring!
Get out and ride your bike!
Hit the road on the way home from work about 5:45 PM. Dressed for summer with shorts and a t-shirt...the temp was in the low 70s.
Preparing for rain and a chance of snow the next couple of days....guess I could call that Spring!
Get out and ride your bike!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
