Wednesday, December 17, 2008

8 miles - commute - 5/3 (above zero) degrees - 12/17/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

It was a much better experience to ride above zero today and my mechanicals worked better. But I have to say, after wiping out before I left my neighborhood today, that the snowy slush keeps a person on edge, especially when worrying about traffic when the shoulder is slush and snow.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

8 miles - Commute - -5/-9 degrees - 12/15/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

Its kind of stupid to ride below zero, but hey....I was chilly and my rear derailleur froze up and the bearings were sluggish and didn't want to move. I made it to work and home, saved 8 miles of gas, plus letting the car warm up...so it was worth it.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Swamp Monster Finished!


Nitto Bars, KHS removable fenders and lights pretty much turned this mediocre old Gary Fisher Alfresco hybrid bike into a great winter commuter...its been doing well so far...getting a handlebar angle that worked took some adjusting, but other than that it happy commuting!!!

8 miles - Errands - 16 degrees - 12/09/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

I wiped out for the first time today on ice...I decided to take a side street and upon exiting Cedar Lake into Dakota Park I came across a sheet of ice about 15 feet long that I didn't see until it was too late...I laid it over without injury. The bike was fine but I broke the clamp on my nice Cateye Opticube light...so, unless I can get a replacement clamp, I am out 50 bucks for a light...

12 miles - Errands - 22 degrees - 12/08/08

12 miles

Swamp Monster

Friday, December 5, 2008

10 miles - commute - 24 degrees - 12/05/08

10 miles
Swamp Monster

It snowed a couple of fresh inches while I was at work....so I took Cedar Lake Rd to Virginia Ave and got on the Cedar Lake Trail towards Hopkins and then took the SW Corridor home...really fun night ride in the snow...Swamp Monster was stupendous!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

15 miles - Greenway to Freewheel/Lake Calhoun/Wooddale/Sw Corridor - 34 degrees - 12/02/08

15 miles
Swamp Monster

Put a new bar on the Swamp Monster yesterday...it has made a world of a difference and looks a bit Uptowny at the same time...very cool! I will get some pics up soon.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

12 miles - Bryn Mar/Cuppa Java - 26 degrees - 11/25/08

12 miles

Swamp Monster

Went to lunch with my wife at Cuppa Java in Bryn Mar neighborhood of Minneapolis...I had the Reuben and a cup of asparagus and cheese soup...it was delicious...definitely recommend the Reuben!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Introducing the Swamp Monster winter bike!!!

The name comes the fact that this bike was in a flood...therefore it was severely dirty and has a lot of oxidization on the aluminum components.

I took the parts off and washed them in solvent and since there were no brakes, I added a set from my 1985 Trek MTB, which work swell.

I added the fenders, which obviously need adjusted, the Bontrager cyclocross tires (b/c this is a winter bike), the nice Bontrager saddle, my SPD pedals, a rear light and a couple of stickers to spruce it up.

I don't like Grip Shift, but it functions fine and I took it out for a 20 mile test ride today and the Monster rides great. I wish I could ditch the flat bar, but that would be too much work.

This is primarily a winter bad weather bike...so I can retire my Trek "winter bike" and save that nice old frame from the salt!!!

The Trek will get Extracycled next year!!! That I cannot wait for....














20 miles - Errands - Hardware Store TJ's/Lake Hariet/Uptown/SW Corridor - 34 degrees - 11/24/08

20 miles (approximate)

Maiden voyage of the Swamp Monster...see above post. I helped an old guy fix his flat on his Giant Yukon dics mountain bike...he never fixed one before...my good deed for the day is complete!!

12.64 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake/Minnetonka Blvd Extension - 31/31/degrees - 11/23/08

12.64 miles
avg 16.4
max 26.1
cal 395.9
0.46.11

Trek Winter Bike

Friday, November 21, 2008

10.94 miles - Commute - 24/19 degrees - 11/21/08

10.94 miles
avg 15.4
max 25.9
cal 323.4
0.42.04

Trek Winter Bike

Thursday, November 20, 2008

12.34 miles - Commute - 24/16 degrees - 11/20/08

12.34 miles
avg 15.0
max 29.7
cal 349.9
0.49.15
Trek Winter Bike

Very chilly ride...the goggles helped tremendously, but they don't work well with the helmet...I am going to look at the helmet option.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

3240 miles - goal 3500 mile mark by December 31rst

19.31 miles - Lake Circuit/Errands - 31 degrees - 11/18/08

19.31 miles
avg 15.1
max 23.1
cal 524.3
1.16.20

Trek Winter Bike

Was going to do the Greenway/Minnehaha Parkway loop but decided against it due to the windy cold...I figured that if it got too chilly I could just hop off the Lake Trails and head home...it was a good idea...I hit all the lakes from Cedar to Lake of the Isles to the E side of Calhoun and 3/4 of the way around Lake Hariet...I went through Linden Hills to trader Joe's to finish up my grocery shopping...so I had to ride with both panniers and my backpack - no big deal really...not too excited about taking "pleasure" rides in this weather...

My two dilemmas are:
1. figuring out how to dry my lobster gloves...I put them in the dryer tonight, but I don't want to waste a half hour of electric just to dry my gloves...my other thoughts were a) use the hair dryer shoved inside them on low, or b) take a piece of PVC pipe and shove it into the wrists to open them up to air, or c) a combination of both.
2. finding a system, besides just taping under the sole of my shoe to keep the air out. I was thinking that my Am-Phib shoe pullovers just don't keep the cold wind out enough. I may try and Velcro something over the toe area, because the pullover only covers the top of the shoe and allows air to get into the front of the shoe.

7.81 miles - Commute - 11/17/08

7.81 miles
avg 15.3
max 29.3
cal 230.0
0.30.36
Trek Winterbike

Sunday, November 16, 2008

22.93 miles - Commute/Errands - 28/31 degrees - 11/16/08

22.93 miles
avg 15.2
max 30.5
cal 660.7
1.30.04

Trek Winter Bike

SW Corridor to Dunn Bros on lake St...by Lake of the Isles/Cedar lake/bridge over Cedar Lake Trail to Cedar Lake Rd...west to Penn Cycle/work...home and then to Trader Joe's and back...chilly ride...on the way to work my index finger and thumb swelled and went numb on my right hand...

Friday, November 14, 2008

23.21 miles - Commute/Erands - 36/31 degrees - 11/14/08

23.21 miles
avg 15.1
max 28.4
cal 665.3
1.31.33

Trek Winter Bike

Thursday, November 13, 2008

7 miles - Errands - 11/13/08

7 miles

Trek Winter Bike

Trader Joes/Jerry's Hardware and home via SW Corridor

Vintage Trek "Winter Bike"

My very slow, but very comfortable winter bike put together with a vintage Trek (1981 or 82?) Ishiwata tubed lugged steel frame.


It has Tektro brake levers and Tektro long reach caliper brakes on a Salsa "Moto Ace bell Lap" 44cm cyclcocross handlebar. The bar is attached to a new origin 8 80mm long quill stem. The stem sits inside a newly installed Shimano STX headset.




It rides on Serfas Vida Cruiser - 700x38 80psi tires. I've installed the best fender set available, which is the Bontrager Select removeable fender.



022 Ishiwata steel frame.




Bontrager mountain bike saddle (very comfy actually) and a Bontrager aluminum seat post - 26.6 I believe. I have a bracket for a Planet Bike rear light - the best on the market in my opinion.





The coolest feature is the vintage Shimano bar end friction shifter, which came of a very old "Sentinel" bike frame...the find of the year!!! Its works great. I say it because I do not use the left hand shifter - I find that there is no need for a front derailleur here in Minnesota.






Vintage Shimano bar end shifter states "patent pending." I also installed Bontrager grippy handlebar tape - great stuff!!







New stem and headset as noted before...








XT rear derailleur...I may replace this with an LX or something....I don't want to risk ruining a great rear derailleur this winter!! The 5 speed cassette may contribute to the slowness of this bike, but it may be hard to find a faster geared cassette to fit this wheel...
My wheelset is culled from a 1990 Trek 330 road bike. It has a sturdy concave rims that I feel will be great for what I need on this bike...





Origin 8 175mm crankeset with Shimano SPD 520 pedals...









18.38 miles - Greenway/River/Greenway - 36 degree - 11/12/08

18.38 miles
avg 15.8
max 20.7
cal 524.9
1.09.48
Trek Winter bike

First real ride on the winter bike as a complete bike...I took off the cyclocross tires (700x38 - 90psi) due to lack of clearance from the knobbies on the side and put on the Serfas Vida (700x38 - 75 psi)....it is very slow - feels like I am riding in slow motion....but it is very comfortable - I prefer fast!!!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

21.47 miles - Commute/ Cedar Lake Extension - 26 degrees - 11/10/08

21.47 miles
16.4 avg
max 28.6
cal 707.4
1.18.29
Trek 330 single speed

Very chilly at 26 degrees, but surprizingly my feet and fingers stayed warm, which was probably due to the lack of wind today...although my water bottle froze a nice layer on my ride home.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

My Trek Project One Madone 6.9 Pro dream bike!!!


You can customise your own at:
I may be able to win this one...Trek is giving away 6 custom bikes to employees and dealer employees...but you can build your own bike just for fun...it really is a cool site.
Mine resembles a Ferrari dream bike, which really doesn't fit my personality...but I like this one anyway!!!

8.03 miles -Commute - 11/-07/08

8.03 miles
avg 16.7
max 32.8
cal 273.2
0.28.45
Trek 330 Single speed

Thursday, November 6, 2008

10.12 miles - Commute/Target - 11/06/08

10.12 miles
16.0 avg
max 27.7
cal 320.9
0.37.45
Trek 330 single speed

Starting to get chilly.....

Bye Bye George - Don't Call Us. We'll Call You!!!


Wednesday, November 5, 2008

8.42 miles - Commute - 11/5/08

8.42 miles
avg 16.2
max 32.8
cal 280.1
0.31.01
Trek 330 Single Speed

50.24 miles - Lunch w/ LeeAnn (my wife)/Theo Wirth/YMCA/Lake Calhoun/Wooddale - 11/4/08

50.24 miles
16.7 avg
max 33.0
cal 1653.5
3.00.23
Poprad

November...70 degrees....what??? It was absolutely gorgeous outside today....I had to split my ride today - afternnon and then evening...even the evening ride was great. I got hoem at 11PM...can't wait 'til next year!!!

Monday, November 3, 2008

15.72 miles - Commute/Errands/Quick joy ride - 11/3/08

15.72 miles
16.9 avg
max 26.1
cal 536.0
0.55.39
Vintage Trek Commuter

Today was absolutely perfect...probably over 70 degrees - and its November!!!!

Waiting for Train video



It lame...I know!

12.80 miles - Errands - 11/2/08

12.80 miles
avg 15.8
max 24.7
cal 394.8
0.48.25
Vintage Trek Commuter

Drop off movie rental...FedEx...CRC for coffee - read a great short story called "The Hermit's Story" by Rick Bass...headed home...

Friday, October 31, 2008

3015 miles!!!!!!!!!

35.77 miles - Commute/Scooterville - 1-/31/08

35.77 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.8
cal 1151.7
2.10.05
Vintage Trek Commuter

A lot of soul searching during my ride today...also the most stupid thing I have done on a bike in many years...great day. Great ride!!!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

10 miles - Commute - 10/30/08

10 miles
Trek 330 single speed

Dropped the Vespa off at the shop and rode the SS the long way home.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

27.30 miles - Gorshe Auto in Dinkytown to work/work to Gorshe's - 10/29/08

27.30 miles
avg 15.8
max 29.2
cal 852.5
1.43.19
Poprad

Very sluggish and cold morning ride....nice/warm/42 degree night ride....

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Sunday, October 26, 2008

26.69 miles - Greenway/Lake St Brdige/E Rvr Parkweay/Ford Bridge/Minnehaha Prkwy/Wooddale Blvd - 10/26/08

26.69 miles
avg 16.7
max 28.1
cal 866.7
1.35.24
Poprad

35 degree ride in evening and then night....new AmPhibs work well on the feet, but still got pretty cold toes...fun ride - I spent 10 seconds or so inside a leaf dust devil on the E River Parkway and nearly ran into a pack of raccoons coming down the hill after Lyndale Ave on the Minnehaha Parkway!!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

24.83 miles - Commute/Cedar lake Extension/Dinkytown on the way home - 10/24/08

24.83 miles
avg 16.3
max 27.4
cal 798.5
1.31.14
Trek 330 single speed

Wow...I am going to take more night rides. I took Cedar Lake Rd and crossed Cedar Lake Bike Trail via the walking bridge that leads to Cedar Lake. Then I rode over to Lake of the Isles and stopped at the canal bridge overlooking the lake with a full view of downtown - it was serene, urban and beautiful. I sat for a while and enjoyed the silence. I got a little mixed in Downtown, but eventually made it across the Hennepin Bridge and into Dinkytown. The sights and the feel of the city were sensational. It makes one appreciate Minneapolis and the various connectivity in the suburbs.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Winter bike - 1982 Trek road bike -> winterized!

This is the frame of its previous existence - nice Reynolds 501 steel frame from 1984...it is presently up for auction on Ebay...











This is the 1982 Trek winter bike, with Bontrager Jones cycocross tires, Salsa cyclocross bars, Trek concave wheels from 1990, an XT rear derailleur, Origin 8 SS crank set and stem, a Bontrager seat post and saddle, and a really cool vintage Shimano bar-end shifter (the set came off of an early 70's "Sentinal" road bike). Thanks to Mr. Eric Guse, we ended up installing a new head set this evening in the switchover process from 1984 to 1982 Trek road frame.




8 miles - Commute - 10/22/08

8 miles
Trek winterbike

Left on my Trek 500 winterbike...came home on a different frame - same parts. I will be posting some pics...

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Panoramas from today's ride!



Views from the Stone Arch Bridge

Not prize-winnig photos by any means, but this is a such a great spot, I thought it necessary to share it!!!

The fourth picture is a shot of the new 35W bridge...




Cedar Lake Bike Highway - Minneapolis

Looking west from Cedar Lake in these photos.




25.09 miles - SW Corridor/Cedar Lake Trail/Walker Art/Hennepin/W River Pkwy/Greenway - 10/21/08

25.09 miles
avg 17.4
max 28.1
cal 838.1
1.26.19
Poprad

Nice ride, but with a strong E/SE wind that really slowed me down....still a great time of the year to ride. I enjoy the parkway a lot, but it tends to be rather bumpy...I took some pictures on the ride of Cedar Lake Bike Highway and a few of downtown MPLS from the arch bridge.

I also wicked up a vintage Trek frame and fork today....I may swap it out on my winter bike and sell the Reynolds frame that is currently on the winter bike...we'll see.

Monday, October 20, 2008

20.69 miles - Commute/Wliston Rd extension - 10/20/08

20.69 miles
avg 18.0
max 32.5
cal 759.4
1.08.57
Poprad

I don't know what was going on, but I died going to the top of Williston Rd hill....I had lung burn and my heart was racing. The ride home from work was great...I felt totally fine. Weird!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

14.52 miles - Commute/Errands - 10/16/08

14.52 miles
avg 16.9
max 32.3
cal 532.2
0.51.22
Poprad

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Cateye Velo 8 Cycling Computer = indestructable!!!


I have been using the wired Cateye Velo 8 computers on all of my bikes (I don't mind the wire) because Cateye specializes in computers and lights. I really didn't understand how great the Cateye cycling computer is until a couple of days ago, when I failed to push it onto its holder all of the way and it fell off on busy Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park. I stopped ASAP and tried to rescue it, but it was too late. Two cars ran over it. It popped under at least wheels and on the third wheel it flew over to the shoulder of the road. As I watched I yelled F#%K and swung my arms thinking I am going to have to lay down some cash for a new computer for my road bikes.

Alas, I picked the computer up angrily, looked at it and started pushing the buttons. Unbelievable, it was still working totally fine and totally intact. I was shocked. I simply stuck it back on its holder (correctly this time) and rode away!!

I would recommend the Cateye cycling computer. Its affordable, dependable, easy to use and obviously indestructible!!!

Its got some road rash, but hey, it was run over 3 times...what do ya expect!!!

2735 miles!

16.37 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake extension - 10/11/08

16.37 miles
avg 17.2
max 32.2
cal 561.2
0.57.08
Trek 330 single speed

Saturday, October 11, 2008

22.68 miles - Commute/Errands/Whole Foods - 10/11/08

22.68 miles
avg 17.4
max 25.4
cal 773.2
1.17.48
Trek 330 single speed

Great ride to work this morning - stopped at the Harvest Moon Coffeehouse for some bread pudding. Then rode out to Cedar Lake and took the trail to Virginia Ave and then to work. Rode the opposite way home and stopped for dinner foods at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Gotta love this fall weather!

Friday, October 10, 2008

12.74 miles - SW Corridor/Shady Oak Rd/Penn/Grocery Store - 10/10/08

12.74 miles
avg 18.3
max31.0
cal 496.7
0.41.30
Poprad

Felt really strong today...wish I had the time to ride farther!!!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

25.40 miles - Greenway/Coffee@Birchwood/W River Pkwy/Minnehaha PkWy/Trader Joes - 10/09/08

25.40 miles
avg 18.5
max 28.5
cal 938.3
1.22.27
Poprad

Replaced the Race x Lite tires with Coninental Ultra Gator Skins for better protection against road debris...I like them so far. They ride a bit harder, but they seem to be just as fast. Beautiful time of year!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

17.26 miles - Cedar Lake Trail/Lake Calhoun/Trader Joes Errand - 10/08/08

17.26 miles
avg 17.7
max 28.4
cal 616.0
0.58.11
Vintage Trek Commuter

9.60 miles - Commute - 10/07/08

9.60 miles
avg 15.5
max 30.7
cal 289.3
0.37.01
Trek 500 winter bike

Rainy ride to work....when I got home and was hanging around with my kids in the basement play room, the tire blew out in a huge bang!!

Monday, October 6, 2008

13.05 - Shady Oak Rd Quick Route - 10/06/08

13.05 miles
avg 19.1
max 29.7
cal 510.5
0.40.58
Poprad

Flatted on the Hutchinson Spur Trail portion between Excelsior Blvd and Minnetonka Blvd - same place I flatted with the same bike earlier this year. I think I am going to change my tires out to the Conty Gator Skins for the early and late parts of the season from now on...there is too much debris in the roadway and trails this time of the year!!!

Friday, October 3, 2008

10.89 miles - Cedar Lake Quick Route (sprint) - 10/03/08

10.89 miles
avg 19.1
max 32.4
cal 419.4
0.34.10
Poprad

Had to sneak a ride in today...

Thursday, October 2, 2008

30.38 miles - Greenway/ E River Parkway/Ford Bridge/Minnehaha Pkwy/SW Corridor - 10/02/08

30.38 miles
avg 18.1
max 28.6
cal 1079.3
1.40.24
Poprad

Like riding in air conditioning....beautiful time of year to ride.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

4 Metro Cyclists Down - No More Please!!!


See the link above for the story...how effective are ghost bikes?
It is truly not that dangerous to comute by bike...

8.44 miles - Commute - 10/01/08

8.44 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.3
cal 279.9
0.30.49
Vintage Trek Commuter

15.32 miles - Freewheel/Lake Calhoun quick ride - 9/30/08

15.32 miles
avg 18.0
max 23.8
cal 539.1
0.51.03
Vintage Trek Commuter

Got a ride in before my wisdom teeth were pulled...a little chilly.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

40.50 miles - Errands/Penn/Dinner/Library - 9/26/08

15 miles (to the library with Liam)
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

14.30 miles
avg 17.2
max 28.6
cal 495.4
0.49.48
Vintage Trek Commuter

11.20 miles
avg 12.7
max 23.2
cal 256.2
0.52.45
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Thursday, September 25, 2008

25 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake loop/YMCA after work - 9/25/08

14 miles (Comute/YMCA) on Trek 500 winter bike

11.67 miles (Cedar Lake/Harvest Moon in afternoon)
17.6 avg
max 24.6
cal 392.3
0.39.46
Trek 330 single speed

8 miles - Commute ("new" winter bike) - 9/25/08

8 miles

Put together the winter bike and roe it home...details and pics later...

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Pics from the Sabo Bike Bridge

Toward downtown...

There's always some industry...and it always looks rundown...
Going west across the bridge toward the Greenway...
Looking up across the bridge toward the east...