New Ride: 1990 Trek 330

The brochure picture is what it looked like when I purchased it for 100 bucks in pretty darn good shape....however, my plans are to turn this one into a single speed...I am halfway there...

I installed new Origin 8 track cranks, 46 teeth, 175mm, chain, seat post and saddle. Currently I have the original freewheel installed with the chain installed on the 16 tooth cog to see how the ratio works out. Next I want to get a Surly flip flop hub and rebuild the rear wheel with the original rims. As you can see the original rims are concave - very interesting. Why change them, they are light and seem strong? I also want to upgrade the handlebar to a 44cm and install some new brake levers....

I'll keep the blog abreast!!!

27.59 miles - Donovan Boys' Tour De Minneapolis - 6/16/08

27.59 miles

avg 8.6

max 27.5

cal 414.1

3.12.19

Thatcher rode: Trek 7.2FX

Dad & Liam rode: Greenpeace with ride-a-long

We travelled down the Greenway, stopped at Freewheel Bike Shop for some java and snacks. Then to the River Parkway south to the Ford bridge. We then went across the Ford to the Parkway on the St. Paul side of the Mississippi and north to the Lake Street bridge and back across to Minneapolis. We had lunch at Birchwood Cafe. Then we took the Greenway back home.

I was quite proud of Thatcher for being a trooper and listening to my safety rules the whole way and for keeping up the pace, even when we hit the last stretch past of the SW Corridor past Lake Calhoun. Liam was great also for spending 3 hours on the ride-a-long.....

Couldn't ask for a better Fathers' Day!!!!!!

$ - 11.77 miles - Errands/Parktacular/Skateboard Competition - 6/14/08

11.77 miles
avg 10.2
22.4 max
cal 233.1
1.09.00
Greenpeace w/ ride-a-long

26.92 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - Errand/Pleasure Ride with Liam - 6/14/08

13.23 miles

avg 16.3

max 30.3

cal 468.0

0.48.42

Trek Commuter

Very windy (westerly) ride to work, but going home on Excelsior was a blast....

13.69 miles

avg 13.7

max 22.7

cal 346.0

0.59.38

Greenpeace w/ ride-a-long

Took out movies back to Redbox in Byerly's. Went down to Cal Surf to check out mini skateboards for Liam - they didn't come in yet. Then we went around Lake Calhoun and back to Ben and Jerry's for a, way-overpriced but very good, couple of cones of ice cream...then home.

14.33 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 6/12/08

14.33 miles
avg 16.0
max 33.1
cal 487.7
0.53.44
Trek Commuter

Nice ride...had an issue with my hokey chain guard, but fixed it at work....yesterday I picked up a 1990 Trek 330 steel framed bike in my size....had to drive to Wisconsin to get it....picked up a Origin 8 single speed 42t crank set at work that I installed tonight...I'll get some pics up soon!

LESSON LEARNED...

...NEVER WEEDWACK IN SANDALS

22.74 - Visit to Freewheel Bikes on Greenway with Liam - 6/10/08

22.74 miles
avg 12.8
max 26.8
cal 578.1
1.45.51
Greenpeace with NEW ride-a-long (pics coming soon)

Thank you Craigslist again!!! We woke up this morning groggy and I checked my e-mail right away because I am trying to sell my vintage Trek 310 (which turned out great by the way - someone from NYC is buying it and I have to ship it out)...anyway, of course I check the bike listing before I check my e-mail....and lo-and-behold some rich dude from Edina is giving away a like-new Adams trail-a-bike. Its a deluxe model, yellow in color, with a lightweight fender and a very cool rack (for Liam's skateboard). Liam was crying because his leg was cramping up and we grudgingly made it to the car and off to Edina thinking it was a lost cause and there it was, laying in the grass. So we took it home (after a stop at Sunnyside Up in Uptown for breakfast) and adjusted it, hooked it up and christened it with a nice 20 mile ride. Although Liam kept saying "can we go home," I told him that we were going to go to a new and cool place that he would like...and loved it. We had Cliff bars and coffee and Liam took 16 free Nature Valley granola bars and shoved them in my pack. We watched the bikes go past while Liam chided them with silly remarks in his natural smartass way.....

...the coolest thing was that I saw a guy pass with a bike that he bought from me...it was "Luce Lined" bike that I saved from a guy in Chaska. The bike was a very tall and bombproof vintage Raleigh hybrid bike. This bike I picked up for 15 bucks as a leftover from a yardsale....spent some time cleaning and adjusting, and it turned out fantastic...I sols it to some twenty-something in Uptown for 125 bucks. He got a great deal...it was a great bike....and it made me feel good to see some guy commuting with a bike that I sunk some love into!!!!

34.94 miles - Greenway/U of MN/St. Paul River Parkway/Greenway - 6/10/08

34.94 miles
avg 16.8
max 28.7
cal 1174.7
2.04.16
Poprad

First, the view of the Mississippi River looking north from the Ford bridge is spectacular...you wouldn't even know that you were in the midst of two large cities if someone plopped you there blindfolded and had you open your eyes...it was great!! I never stood on that bridge before. The river parkway on the east side is very nice - its a totally different atmosphere than the west. That seems to be the way Minneapolis and St. Paul are - they both have a certain element all their own, even as close as across a bridge. I must say I like them both, but the Minneapolis side seems more familiar...more like home. The St Paul side gives me the feeling of myself as a tourist or visitor. It always has...maybe I am an Uptown hipster emotionally, but certainly not physically....great ride today...I just wish I didn't always have to be home and had a whole day to ride the Twin Cities....

17.31 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake Extemsion - 6/8/08

17.31 miles
avg 18.6
max 33.2
cal 652.3
0.55.41
Poprad

Nice day for a ride...stopped by Trader Joes to get a work lunch, which I will be doing more often because I got ripped off by my co-workers for 6 bucks and went without lunch on Saturday...so that sucks!!! Otherwise, I had a great ride despite getting passed by some mofo on a Quintana Roo tri bike and having him slow down after he passed me....worse than that typical action, was the fact that his cycling form was really pathetic for a guy in a tri bike - the old wobbly legs....the cool thing was that I passed by a house on Minnetonka Blvd and the was an antique Lambretta motor scooter idling in the driveway with its cowl off. It was a powder blue beauty....

8.05 miles - Commute - 6/7/08

8.05 miles
avg 18.1
max 31.9
cal 319.8
0.26.48
Poprad

SOLD: Vintage 1985 Trek Elance 310 (Serial Number is 208968)

I happened upon this bike last week...it came with an Adams trail-a-bike attachment on the seat post and with a riser bar setup...luckily I had my Bianchi setup with new brake levers, cables, housing and bar tape in the same size (1") quill....so I simply lifted out the riser bar and placed the setup from my Bianchi into the headset...crazily enough I am actually happy to setup my Bianchi with a straight bar....I may just list it on craigslist and see how much I can pull for it....unfortunately the "new" vintage Trek is way small for me (19") frame with a stand over of around 29"....so some lucky sap will end up with a cool old vintage Trek in excellent shape for a good price....

25.53 miles - SW Corridor/Cedar Lake/Theo Wirth/ Cedar Lake/SW Corridor - 6/2/08

25.53 miles
avg 17.6
max 31.8
cal 884.1
1.27.07
Poprad

I basically did the Theo Wirth route backwards for a change...the weather was just right, but I am not feeling up to par lately...probably from not enough time on the bike....

7.90 miles - Subday morning quick ride/FLAT = frustration = go home - 6/1/08

7.90 miles
avg 16.7
max 28.9
cal 265.5
0.28.24
Poprad

Like I said I flatted on the Hutch/Spur Trail and cut through St. Louis Park to get home with my ultra-lite/ultra-stupid spare tube....day after crazy hail storm...I thought I flatted from all the wood and leaf debris on the roads, but as it turns out I had a piece of glass about 5 mm across stuck in my tire!!!

13.11 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 5/30/08

13.11 miles
avg 18.0
max 31.8
cal 495.3
0.43.33
Poprad

Great ride both ways....

8.07 miles - Commute - 5/29/08

8.07 miles
avg 16.6
max 30.5
cal 294.5
0.29.01
Poprad

Nice ride home in the rain....unbelievably, I had to replace my rear brake pads already, after only a few hundred miles...

20.18 miles - Commute/Williston Extension - 5/28/08

20.18 miles
avg 17.2
max 38.4
cal 728.3
1.10.06
Poprad

Williston Rd going north to south is awesome indeed - and fast. Hill climbing is getting easier for me, which is fantastic - it means my fitness level has improved. It is also cool that my total miles has exceeded 1000 this year so far. I am hoping to surpass my goal of 2500 miles and hit the 3000 mark....we shall see!!

1015 total miles (approximate) - 350 commuter miles (approximate)

13.13 miles -Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 5/27/08

13.13 miles
avg 17.3
max 32.7
cal 468.5
0.45.22
Trek Commuter

Great ride home at dusk...

15.41 miles - Errands - 5/26/08

15.41 miles
avg 12.9
max 22.8
cal 400.8
1.11.29
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Rode down around Lake Calhoun and back to Trader Joe's for some dinner stuff....later a very short ride around the 'hood with Liam...

9.63 miles - Punch Pizza/Cruizin' with kids - 5/24/08

9.63 miles

avg 9.5

max 19.7

cal 164.5

1.00.42

Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Went with the fam to Punch Pizza in Calhoun Vilage via the SW Corridor....came home and later cruised the 'hood with my kids in the late evening...

23.81 miles - Errands - 5/23/08

23.81 miles
avg 13.4
max 35.0
cal 610.2
1.45.59
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Liam and I hooked up the ride-a-long and ran all of our errands. First we went to the hardware store in Hopkins. We then went to the park on McGinty Rd, where Liam bossed around some younger kids and sold me some movie tickets at the "ticket booth." Then we went to eat at Ridgedale Subway - footlong meatball and vinegar chips of course. Then we went to Penn Cycle to grab my paycheck, pick up the heart rate monitor that Al sold me and get Liam a new "Incredibell" because he broke his old one. Liam also got a ride on Doug's motor scooter - very cool! Then we went to Trader Joe's to pick up some dinner, took a detour around Bass Lake and home....

19.68 miles - Commute/Errands/Lake Calhoun - 5/22/08

19.68 miles
avg 17.6
max 27.4
cal 692.6
1.06.58
Poprad

On yesterday's post I noted how these foolish testosterone idiots keep passing me and then slowing down in front of me because they expend all their energy catching me, while I am simply pacing myself and enjoying my ride...well, today, some out-of-shape dick (I hope I can say that on the Internet) on a yellow Kestrel tri-bike, with a yellow jersey and yellow cycling shoes was tailing me while I didn't now it...here I am riding along the trail between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles and I think I here a chain that needs lubed behind me...I don't pay any mind for a while, then I look back and there is this dick right on my back wheel...so I swerve quickly and yell "just go around" and he slowly proceeds around me....why do people do that crap???

Other than that it was a cool ride home from work, around the lake and home again, with a stop at Trader Joes first....

36.84 miles - Greenway/Cedar Lake/ SW Coriidor - 5/21/08

36.84 miles
avg 17.3
max 31.1
cal 1288.2
2.07.31
Poprad

If you ever take the Greenway east and you have time, it is worth a stop at The Birchwood Cafe on 25th st in South Minneapolis. When you come off the Greenway, go north a couple of blocks on the River Parkway and turn left onto 25th st. Birchwood is only a couple of blocks west.

I make it a point every time I take a ride that way to stop at Birchwood. The food is fantastic and you get bottomless cups of java...

It was a very nice day for a ride...I have to tell ya that I am a bit tired of foolish dudes who think they are hot shit and catch me and then, since they exhausted themselves catching me, proceed to slow in front of me and then I end up passing them again....quite annoying...

13.11 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 5/21/08

13.11 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.3
cal 433.4
0.47.44
Trek Commuter

Advice....stretch regularly...every pedal stroke on my way to work was agonizing...I stretched at work and had a great ride home in the dark.

8.06 miles - Commute - 5/19/08

8.06 miles
avg 16.8
max 29.5
cal 287.6
0.28.41
Trek Commuter

Totally free of incident...

10 miles (approx) MTB - Murphy Hanrehan Park

10 miles

Kona Manomano

(stock photo from http://www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/parks/murphy-hanrehan.cfm where you download a PDF of the trail)

I got up early and christened my full-suspension Kona Manomano at Murphy-Hanrehan Park. There is nothing like jamming full speed on tight single track...now I know what it is like on a decent mountain bike....anyway, I flatted within the first mile or so and learned how to use my CO2 pump the hard way. All I had with me was a superlite tube, so I was on pins and needles the rest of the ride, hoping that I wouldn't flat again. I ended up taking an obstacle that I never would normally take - by accident!! It was a step obstacle that sprang up around a bend on a downhill. I ended up pretty much not using my brakes and just hanging on to the bike. I was shaken up for about 10 minutes afterward, but it was cool...

I did, however, wipe out - about .2 miles from the end of the trail. There were some knuclenuts standing with their back wheels on the trail chatting and in an effort to avoid them, I scraped a small berm and end up being thrown off my bike and sliding past them on the dusty trail.

Great time!

8 miles - Commute - 5/21/08

8 miles
Bianchi SS

22 miles total - Commute/YMCA - 5/16/08

14 miles
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Took Liam to the gym after stopping for donuts and coffee at Dunn Bros in Minnetonka Mills...on the way home at the intersection of Hopkins Crossroads and the 394 frontage rd, a community police volunteer stopped us and gave Liam a certificate for a free ice cream cone at Dairy Queen - all because he was wearing his helmet - he thought it was the coolest thing ever...we had an awesome ride today...

8 miles
Bianchi SS

Rode to work on my Bianchi....very fun bike to ride, but I may have to replace the flip flop hub in the rear because it is making some creepy noises....

29.51 miles - Commute/errands/locked myself out of the house - 5/15/08

29.51 miles
avg 16.8
max 30.1
cal 992.3
1.45.07
Trek Commuter

Beautiful day to get home from work and notice that I can see my keys hanging next to the back door through the window...so I called my wife and went to trader Joes and fetched some dinner stuff - I took the long way to Trader Joes - around Lake Calhoun....great day, great ride!!

Vintage Trek Commuter

I purchased this frame from a friend for a six pack of brew.

I built it from the frame up...piece-by-piece.

It has:

• Bontrager Race Lite wheels


• Continental Gator Skins tires


• Bontrager saddle


• Bontrager Select handlebar - 44cm


• Shimano bar end shifter - 9 speed


• KHS removeable fenders


• Bontrager Race Lite cranks and BB


• carbon fiber seat post


• Shimano 105 rear derailleur


• Salsa Cromoto quill stem

I originally had a straight bar with an LX shifter but I wanted more reach so I installed the drop bars.

Now this is a great and confortable bike that is a true pleasure to commute with....

Kona Manomano - full suspension mountain bike

Here is my Manomano. I bought (an awesome deal - at 200 bucks) this used with very few miles.

The lady I bought it off of had it from new ad didn't ride it because it was too big for her, and she was going into the military and had to unload it quick.

It had a finagled crank setup. So I had to replace the bottom bracket, chainrings and crank.

I installed a used LX crank that is perfectly fine.

It's got an XT rear derailleur, LX shifters, Continental Supersonic foldable tires, Fox Vanilla Float rear shock, and a Marzochi Bomber front fork.

40.29 miles - Greenway/U of MN/Cedar Lake - 5/14/08

40.29 miles
avg 18.0
max 30.2
cal 1444.1
2.14.14
Poprad

Great day for a ride....just air conditioning...like the title says I took the Greenway to the U of MN and back across the river on Franklin (I think) and stopped for coffee and a cookie at Birchwood Cafe... took the parkway south to Lake Nokomis and then the Minnehaha Parkway to Lake Hariet and then past Lake Calhoun to the Cedar Lake Trail to Excelsior and home on the SW Corridor...not one rude driver today....everyone was very courteous - both on bikes and in cars...
The Poprad is doing very well with the Bontrager X Lite road tires. I will keep them on for awhile...I don't think I want to ride any nice bikes so early in the spring any longer. I am hearing the grinding noise from sand in the drive train. I tried cleaning and lube, but I may have to get more extensive in cleaning the Poprad and trying to be a bit more careful with road sand....

13 Miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 5/12/08

13 miles
Bianchi SS

Maiden voyage on the Bianchi single speed...I rode it to work as a fixed gear, and rode it home as a single speed...although riding fixed gear is a really interesting and cool experience, I feel like I don't have much control and prefer the single speed version.

So now the Bianchi is set up with 39 tooth ring in the front and a 16 tooth freewheel in the rear.

Bianchi Single Speed

I finally picked myself up a decent vintage road frame for my flip flop wheel set. I came across this Bianchi road bike at a yard sale in the Fern Hill Neighborhood. The guy had it originally priced at 120 bucks, but I got it for 80 bucks.

Once it came home I stripped it down and installed the new wheel set. I replaced the brake levers, handlebar tape, saddle, cables and housing.

I still have to install the 14 tooth freewheel and take off the large chain ring....

The top photo is the most recent and the bottom three are during the strip down process...

13.19 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 5/12/08

13.19 miles
avg 16.7
max 29.1
cal 446.9
0.47.25
Trek Commuter

My old Trek is working great...Doug indexed the bar end shifter (which I could've done, but he is a great dude)...
It was pretty windy for the ride home, but it was a nice, warm and sunny day. Gonna take my new (old) Bianchi single speed to work tomorrow to get the freewheel 14 tooth cog attached (I have the wrong tool) and take off one of the front chain rings (I need a spacer set)...then I will be in action with a cool beater bike...

12.00 miles - Commute - 5/9/08

12.00 miles
avg 16.7
max 31.9
cal 435.9
0.42.59

Trek Commuter

12.20 miles - Cedar Lake quick loop - 5/7/08

12.20 miles
avg 18.5
max 23.0
cal 434.3
0.39.29
Poprad

Beautiful day for a ride. The leaves are starting to emerge on the deciduous trees and you can actually smell the chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides being sprayed on peoples lawns....its spring in the suburbs...
There were a few recreational riders on the trails....mostly just gramma's and grandpa's our strolling on their upright hybrid and cruiser bikes...which is cool anyway. I only wish I had more time to ride longer!!

720 total miles (approximate) - 250 commuting miles (approximate)

17.12 miles - Errands - 5/6/08

17.12 miles
avg 17.5
max 30.7
cal 625.0
0.58.38
Trek Commuter

Maiden voyage of my new and improved vintage Trek Commuter. I decided to give it a try and see how my upgrades work...turns out just fine!!
I took the SW Corridor to Excelsior Blvd to Shady Oak rd. Then I went onto Minnetonka Blvd and up Plymouth Rd to the library....then off to Office Max next to Home Depot in St. Louis Park via the 394 frontage road. Then back to Louisiana Ave and home...
Nice ride...

8.08 miles - Commute - 5/6/08

8.08 miles
avg 16.0
max 31.6
cal 274.0
0.30.10
Poprad

22.97 miles - Errands/Commute - 5/5/08

14.91 miles
max 36.7
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

8.06 miles
avg 16.2
max 31.5
cal 264.6
0.29.44
Trek Commuter

Rode on Greenpeace pulling Liam to lunch at Bruggers Bagels and then to the YMCA and back home just in time to go to work.

Then off to work with a quick switch of bikes....would've been an awesome night for a night-ride, but the wifey wanted me home ASAP....

Thatcher's Varsity coming along...

In this pic Thatcher is cleaning the bike. We have all the cables pulled off. Today I will pick up his tires and we can begin replacing all the cables, housing, brake pads, bar tape, and tires.

20.43 miles - Errands - 5/4/08

20.43 miles
max 27.7
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Picked up Thatcher from archery at the Westwood Nature Center. Then rode with him over to the Jones' house. Liam and I stopped at Target on the way home to pick up some marshmallows for toasting...a fun Sunday of riding with the boys...

8.10 miles - Commute - 5/2/08

8.10 miles
avg 17.3
max 32.2
cal 300.7
0.28.04
Poprad

Very tired...steady downpour all the way home...cold and stinging face...but fun!

12.44 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension/Got Flipped Off for No Reason - 5/1/08

Note: This is an actual picture of Bush giving the finger. You can see the video here.

12.44 miles

avg 17.8

max 31.1

cal 476.4

0.41.58

Poprad

I way overdressed for this ride...I was roasting. I thought it was going to rain.

On my way in to work I was going north on Shady Oak Rd on my way to Minnetonka Blvd and as I was going down a hill there was a mail truck parked on the road. The lady moving up beside me slowed down to let me go...I waved my appreciation and she kind;y waved back in acknowledgement. I felt really great about that. 15 seconds later as I rode over the next hill and down the other side a truck with a small trailer stopped at the stop sign. The gray haired clean cut guy behind the wheel reached out of his winder and FLIPPED ME OFF. I totally and intentionally failed to react, because that is what he wanted me to do. He is obviously a coward and knows that as he has to do is push down on his pedal and I cannot catch him. He is obviously a dickhead and a bully and I am not going to give him the rise that he was looking for with his gesture.

Within 20 seconds I saw both sides of the coin and was a microcosm of the up and downs of respect and commuting to and from work.

Thatcher's new ride - before picture

A couple of days ago Thatcher, Liam and I drove to St. Paul to pick up Thatcher's new ride - Its a vintage kids road bike. We have researched it and found out that it is likely a 1977 (August) Youth Varsity. It has 24 inch wheels. Tonight Thatcher, Liam and I pulled all the, reflectors, cables and brake pads off. We are going to replace pads, cables/housing, bar tape, and tires and tubes. Then we will polish, lube and adjust it.

Thatcher wants to leave it the way it is. I offered to strip and repaint it, but he likes the "uniqueness" of it just the way it is. He's ecstatic!!!!

I will post pics as things progress with this bike....

14.43 miles - Cedar Lake quick route - 4/30/08

14.43 miles

avg 18.6

max 26.3

cal 523.8

0.46.29

Poprad

Dropped a couple of Redbox movies off at Byerly's and headed over for a swurvy loop around Bass Lake. Then I went down the SW Corridor and headed over to Cedar Lake Trail and back by way of the Hutchinson Spur Trail. On my way back a young and pretty lady pulled out just behind me and followed me for about a mile and proceeded to pass me. We were obviously going in the same direction so I stayed behind her. I wanted to pass many times, but I thought it may be a bit sexist or pushy to pass her. She eventually slowed down intentionally so I could pass. I didn't want to freak her out, I was hoping I was being courteous by not passing. Its like when someone you don't know begins walking next to you at the same pace - you are forced to slow down or speed up - it feels awkward to keep the same pace. Did I brake some trail/biking etiquette? Should I have passed her and played a passing game?

13.67 - Commute/errands - 4/29/08

13.67 miles

25.4 max

Greenpeace (partly w/ ride-a-long)

Take Liam to preschool, lock up the ride-a-long, then off to work, then back to pick up ride-a-long, then home....
Great nighttime ride....I only wish I had more time....

8.12 - Commute - 3/28/08

8.12 miles

avg 16.8

max 31.3

cal 290.4

0.28.52

Poprad

Nice commute...no frills ride...

50.83 miles - Ironman - 4/27/08

50.83 miles

13.4 avg

34.6 max

cal 1556.0

3.46.03

Poprad

Unfortunately, I didn't remember my camera to take pictures of the Ironman Bike Ride with Thatcher and myself. Thatcher rode with me for the first 12.5 miles and I did the rest on my own - which, turned out to be a crazy day.

I signed up for the 62 mile ride. Like I said, I did the first 12.5 with my son. Then my wife picked Thatcher and his bike up (pics to come later of him and his bike). I proceeded to go from that point on to Panama Ave, where I mistakenly took the wrong turn (yes, it was clearly marked as I found out later) and ended up about 10, or so, miles north of my route ( I saw signs for New Prague). So I decided, of course, to head back to the first rest stop at 28 miles in Lonsdale - my mile 50. Right as I pulled in the American Legion parking lot it started to drizzle. After my hot dog I went outside to icy, rainy, snowy mix. On my right was the direction out of the lot, on my left was a warm bus with a trailer for taking bikes back to start. I chose the bus. I am glad I did, because when I got back to Lakeville High School and rode my bike the 1/2 mile to my car I was shivering from the rainy cold. If I would have stayed on route I would have had 35 miles of icy cold rain and no rain gear in 35 degrees. I think I made a smart move.

It was an interesting experience. The highlight was having a great discussion with my son and spending some quality time with him on the first 12.5 miles....thanks Thatcher for making my day!!!!

PS: The pics are of my Poprad with my Bontrager road tires...looks great!!! Rides great too!!!

12.72 miles - Commute Shady Oak Extension - 4/25/08

12.72 miles

avg 16.6

max 27.3

cal 437.4

0.45.58

Poprad

Rainy nighttime commute home....took the long way along Shady Oak Rd to Excelsior Blvd. It was around 35 degrees and raining steadily. Not too cold though. The danger was the rain on my glasses being reflected by oncoming car lights and not being able to keep the proper path on the road and trying to avoid potholes....but I made it home fine. It was very enjoyable watching the rain splashing up in front of me and reflecting through the headlight. I love rain!!!

505 miles total (approximate) - 185 commuting miles (approximate)

12.64 miles - Cedar Lake Quick Route - 4/24/08

12.64 miles

avg 17.1

max 22.1

cal 404.7

0.44.21

Poprad

Rain, rain, go away...steady rain for the whole ride...I only had time (like usual) for a "quick route." But it was a great ride....riding in warm rain is the best....

13.44 miles - Errands Running - 4/23/08

13.44 miles

max 25.0

Greenpeace and Ride-a-long

I ran errands to the store, pick up Liam from school and take Thatcher to yoga....a pleasant way to run errands on my very smooth and comfy bike Greenpeace....

8.94 miles - Commute - 4/22/08

8.94 miles

avg 16.0

max 25.0

cal 288.7

0.33.21

Poprad

31.51 miles - Greenway, Downtown, U of M, Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun ride - 4/21/08

31.51 miles

avg 16.2

max 36.4

cal 984.3

1.56.27

Poprad

Title says it all about the ride...I was a little freaked out when the Minneapolis Police came flying down the trail between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles without a warning...the squad car was probably doing about 50 mph....very stupid and very dangerous. I didn't know the car was coming until it was about 10 feet behind me.

Otherwise I am confident of having a fun ride at the Ironman next Sunday....

It was a beautiful day!!!

16.08 miles - Commute wiith Cedar Lake Extension - 4/20/08

Note To Self: Get different handlebars for Trek Commuter.

16.08 miles

avg 16.6

max 30.4

cal 513.2

0.58.01

Trek Commuter

Nice ride this morning...stopped at the Harvest Moon for a cup of Joe. Went back down the SW Corridor to the Kenwood Trail and took that to the Cedar Lake Trail all the way to Virginia and onto Cedar Lake Rd and to Penn Cycle. Return home was straight home...

I felt kinda like I need an alteration to the Trek Commuter. I have a titanium straight bar on there now and I may look at the bars on the Trek Soho as an option. My hands get really numb for lack of proper position along with maybe a better grip.

New Edition to the Bike Family - Sears 3 Speed

SOLD IT ON 5/2/08
I don't really know why. A young lady had been looking at a bike from me previously - a 1963 Schwinn Typhoon. She called back asking if I had anything else. I showed her this one. She liked it. I gave her a good price and she bought it...I miss it already...but I picked up an early black Schwinn Racer single speed...so we'll see how that goes...


These pictures are right off the car rack when I brought it home. There is something that draws me to these bikes, and I am not sure of what that might be.














I am thinking it might be the graphics and overall English 3 speed look. It would be cool to try and figure out what the graphics mean.





I'm not sure of the age, but I think I may just keep her for awhile. I paid 35 bucks from the original owner who lives across from the Armatage Park in South Minneapolis. He said it is mechanically sound, so a good cleaning and once-over might do the trick. I will probably outfit her with some new tread and black cable housing...














Here is a picture of my Sears fixie with similar graphics, but the symbol on the top tube is different...

12.69 miles - Commute Shady Oak Extension - 4/19/08

12.69 miles

avg 16.7

max 31.5

cal 422.7

0.45.39

Poprad

Rain smelled like fish this morning...wanted to get up and go for a pre-work ride, but overslept...

7.81 miles - Commute - 4/18/08

7.81 miles

avg 16.0

max 29.8

cal 256.3

0.29.13

Poprad

Standard commute...rainy going, dry coming home...

Big Dummy??

http://www.surlybikes.com/bigdummy.html

Next year I am going to be in the market for a new bike....and I am thinking UTILITY. The Surly Big Dummy seems to be the obvious choice. However, I see that Kona has a utility bike called the Ute.

The Kona Ute has 700c wheels that are more acceptable for touring (unless you are this guy: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/bikearthride but he is another story) and it also accepts panniers. I also like the idea of a 3-case-of-beer carrier!!! Hmmm, can it handle a keg???

The Big Dummy is a collaborative effort between ExtraCycle and Surly Bikes, so it accepts the trimmings of an ExtraCycle ( www.xtracycle.com/ ). The Big Dummy is only sold as a frame set, so you have to build the bike around the frame, which can get expensive, unless you have a bike laying around that you can move components from.

10 miles - Ride-a-long with Liam - 4/17/08

10 miles

Ride-a-long Rig/Greenpeace

A day for cruising with my boy Liam. First we went to Aquila Primary Center to do our Picture Person Art presentation and then we went to The Depot, which had no seating due to a private party....so we decided to hit the Harvest Moon Coffeehouse (see my other blog: http://tccoffeeshopcritic.blogspot.com/ for details), where Liam had a grilled cheese and I had the luscious Reuben sandwich and a coffee. I then pulled Liam to school....on the way I noticed that my chain was very close to breakage...made it home and decided to get a new chain...

I also hit my record for last year by weighing in at 208.0 pounds, and it is only mid-April...hopefully I can get to my goal of 195.0 lbs by my birthday - September 23rd!!!!

11.57 miles - Sprint down Excelsior - 4/16/08

11.57 miles

avg 17.3

max 33.4

cal 442.1

0.40.01

Poprad

Extreme westerly headwinds going down Minnetonka Blvd...however, the few mile sprint going east on Excelsior was freakin' awesome!!! The wind was blowing at my back and I maintained a speed from 28 to 33mph for miles because I hit every light....

Typical day when you have less than 45 minutes to get a ride in...

11.09 miles - Commute - 3/15/08

11.09 miles

avg 15.6

max 28.7

cal 352.5

0.42.36

Poprad

Freakin' crazy headwinds today...but overall nice and warm. It was a little chilly when I was pulling Liam around this morning....

15.86 miles - Ride-a-long pull - 3/14, 3/15/08

15.86 miles

max 25.8

Greenpeace w/ ride-a-long

Two days of puling the ride-a-long with Liam. Yesterday we went to The Depot and today we rode down to Dunn Bros on Hennepin Ave and then around Lake Calhoun...a good time....

Crazy Intersection at Excelsior Blvd and SW Corridor in Hopkins

Note: it doesn't show it on the map, but the SW Corridor Bike Trail runs parallel to the Soo Line train tracks.

As you may be able to see through the photo and map this intersection is on a very busy boulevard that has a railroad track running through it, a bike trail crossing, and a major on/off ramp to a major metro traffic artery.

This intersection, with HW169, Excelsior Blvd, the railway and the bike trail all conglomerate at one point.

Not only is it dangerous for an adult rider to be able to maneuver through the traffic and trust the traffic, but my kids are forced to ride parallel to the railroad tracks, while oncoming traffic is less than five feet from them.

What happens when one of my kids strays into oncoming traffic, or his wheel gets stuck in one of the rail ruts and he flies off his bike and into traffic???


This intersection is only going to get worse when Cargill the infamous corporate genetics/eugenicists open up their mega office building across the street. The traffic is going to get worse and the danger to bikers, commuters and pedestrians will only get worse. It needs addressed!!

365 miles total (approximate) - 135 commuter miles (approximate)

22.18 miles - Commute/Williston/394 frontage rd - 3/9/08

22.18 miles

avg 15.8

max 38.3

cal 713.7

1.23.41

Poprad

I decided to take Excelsior to Williston Road to the 494 frontage "path" to McGinty to Minnetonka Mills across the dirt Minnetonka Loop to Cedar Lake Rd to the shop. Pretty good ride but tired for some reason.

When I got to work I was informed, and thus shocked, that Lemond is being dissolved immediately from Trek due to advertising disputes I am told (hope to blog with link shorty on the subject).

I decided to take the 394 frontage road home...it was a nice night, but the evil snow is coming back tomorrow to torture us again!!!!! This winter never ends.......

10.94 miles - Commute/Target Stop - 3/8/08

10.94 miles
avg 15.8
max 28.7
cal 350.8
0.41.29
Poprad
Chilly day going to work had to stop at Target on the way home....not a whole lot to tell...

29.40 miles - Downtown MPLS/Lower Grande Rounds - 4/7/08

29.40 miles

avg 16.2

max 28.1

cal 929.6

1.48.32

Poprad

It was in the mid-30's today. I decided to ride into Downtown MPLS via SW Corridor/Kenwood Trail/Cedar Lake Trail so that I could research a commuter route for my wife LeeAnn. The Cedar Lake Trail ends abruptly Downtown near the Target Center. I decided to take any-ol'-street and ended up near the Convention Center. Strangely enough, there are center lane bike lane that end suddenly leaving you wondering where to go and there are bike lanes located very inconveniently between parked cars and traffic (watch those car doors). Downtown Minneapolis is NOT very bike friendly. Luckily, from my personal experience, Downtown MPLS is not very congested or else we would have a sick scenario on our hands, but from my experiences it is not a bike friendly or bike structured city center. I was not successful at finding a good route for my wife.

I decided to take Nicolette Ave out of Downtown and back towards the Uptown area so I could get on the Midtown Greenway and head east to the River and get on the lower half of Grande Rounds, which took me and my cold feet back home via the Minnehaha Parkway, Lake Hariet, Lake Calhoun and the SW Corridor.

Truly the highlight of my trip was the hawk (I believe a Cooper's Hawk) that swooped down in front of me and flew next to me for ten to 15 feet before perching on a fence behind Northland Products on the SW Corridor...what a beautiful bird!!!

20.28 miles - Commute/Williston Extension/Ottowa Ped Bridge Ext - 4/6/08

20.28 miles

avg 15.8

max 35.4

cal 656.0

1.16.42

Poprad

Rainy, rainy day! Slept in because the weather people said it was going to rain all morning...woke up dry and decided to go for an extra commute ride on Williston and also went up along US494 on the windy and fast side trail. Started to rain on Willistion and pour when I was coming down McGinty Rd...so I stopped at Dunn Bros in Minnetonka Mills for an apple fritter and a coffee. It was really pouring and chilly when I left the coffee shop. I was drenched and took a shower at work.

The ride home in the rain was awesome....the rain was warm, so I took Minnetonka Blvd to the Ottawa Ped Bridge over HW7 and took the SW Corridor home. I LOVE the rain!!! I put a seat post rear fender on the Poprad (that Doug gave me) and it worked great. I also put the Zefel quick fender on my down tube, which doesn't work so hot. The water runs off the fender and into my shoes...maybe I'll try another front fender setup...it was a short, but fun ride in the wet Minnesota spring!

4.84 miles - 1/2 Commute - 4/5/08

4.84 miles

avg 15.2

max 23.5

cal 151.7

0.19.03

Trek Commuter

Got picked up at work by my wife to eat at the Lone Spur and go to the Science Museum with the kids....

12.74 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 4/4/08

12.74 miles

avg 16.0

max 29.2

cal 414.9

0.47.34

Poprad

Rode with the kids in the afternoon....commuted to work and took the long way home...nice warm day and night...got caught by a couple of nasty potholes on Excelsior....glad I had the Poprad!

First 2008 Ride With the Boys!!! - 04/04/08

What a great day for a ride to the Depot Coffeehouse in Hopkins with Liam and Thatcher. The temp was close to 50 degrees and it was sunny - as you can see in the pics.

Liam started off better than he ended last year. He was a bit frustrated at first, but I successfully showed him how to stop and start properly. He is a speed freak once he gets going!!! He loves to blast down the trail!!! That is Liam way ahead in the top picture.

We played Tony Hawke on the PlayStation for a half-hour at the Depot and then headed home....I will be blogging later about the horrific intersection on Excelsior near the Depot...


Thatcher and I went rode down to Calhoun Village for lunch at Punch Pizza after Liam went to his buddies house. It was great hanging with Thatcher...he was really curious how the shifters work and figured out that if you reach down and pull the cable on the top tube the derailleur will shift without using the shifters....smart kid!!! I love his busyness and curiosity!!! We had a good time. His endorphins must have been at an all-time high because he was about 10 times more energetic than usual for the rest of the day. He also kept saying things like, "I wish I could do this all day every day!"

What a great day with my boys!!!!

12.84 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 4/2/08

12.84 miles

avg 15.6

max 31.8

cal 416.1

0.49.12

Poprad

A truck honked at me for no particular reason and startled me on Louisiana Ave. Also, on my way to work a couple of punks yelled out the window at me. The first guy I gave the finger to and the punks I gave the thumbs up. I think I may take the high road from now on with these ignorant acts, because just like bullies they want to get a rise out of the cyclist. If we rise above them, maybe it will take the thrill out of it....we shall see!!!