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.

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!

20.59 miles - SW Corridor/Cedar Lake Tr/Theo Wirth/Cedar Lake TR/Minnetonka Blvd to Traders Joe's - 10/17/08

20.59 miles
avg 18.1
max 32.7
cal 735.0
1.08.16
Poprad

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

14.52 miles
avg 16.9
max 32.3
cal 532.2
0.51.22
Poprad

15.16 miles - Ridgedale YMCA (via Shady Oak Rd) - 10/15/08

15.16 miles
avg 18.5
35.0 max
cal 590.2
0.49.05
Poprad

40.56 miles -Greenway/Fort Snelling/Downtown/Cedar Lake Trail/SW Corridor - 10/14/08

40.56 miles
avg 17.8
31.4 max
cal 1426.0
2.16.37
Poprad

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

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!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!

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!!!

Riders in black honor victims of recent bike deaths

By Chris Steller 10/4/08

http://minnesotaindependent.com/11704/riders-in-black-honor-victims-of-recent-bike-deaths#comment-13493

Picture from www.minnesotaindependent.com

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...

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.

4 Metro Cyclists Down - No More Please!!!

http://minnesotaindependent.com/10798/i-am-traffic-four-metro-cyclists-struck-and-killed-this-month#comment-13257

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.

13 miles - Errands - 9/29/08

13 miles
Vintage Trek Commuter

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

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...

Start Seeing Older Bikers

Start seeing older bikers: Blaine crash kills bicyclist in his 60s, the second this month
addthis_pub = 'minnesotaindependent';

By Chris Steller 9/23/08 3:28 PM

http://minnesotaindependent.com/9916/start-seeing-older-bikers-blaine-crash-kills-bicyclist-in-his-60s-the-2nd-this-month

8.23 miles - Commute - 9/23/08

8.23 miles
avg 16.1
max 31.8
cal 282.9
0.30.31
Vintage Trek 610

21.28 miles - Excelsior/HW101/McGinty Rd/Minnetonka Blvd/Cedar Lake Rd - 9/22/08

21.28 miles
avg 18.3
max 32.8
cal 795.7
1.09.33
Poprad

Bicycle Orgasm

18.1 miles - Commute/Crossroads breakfast/prework trip into Minnetonka - 9/21/08

18.1 miles
max 35.4
cal 730.0
1.03.29
Poprad

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...

2425 total miles...

8.89 miles - ride with Thatcher - 9/20/08

8.89 miles
avg 9.1
max 20.8
cal 135.9
0.58.31
Greenpeace

21.85 miles - Greenway/Rainbow errand - 9/19/08

21.85 miles
avg 17.3
max 26.6
cal 729.3
1.15.31
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

21.40 miles - Commute/ Ride with Liam to CRC - 9/18/08

8.21 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.2
cal 274.0
0.30.00
Trek commuter

13.19 miles
avg 14.1
max 23.3
cal 335.4
0.55.53
Greenpeace w/ ride-a-long

Love those rides with Liam...we stopped at the park across from CRC (Cars-R-Coffins) on Lyndale...great time!!!
Picked up the new copy of Momentum Magazine ( www.momentumplanet.com ).

6.99 miles - Lunch with my wife/groceries - 9/18/08

6.99 miles
avg 9.2
max 18.4
cal 109.0
0.45.00
Trek commuter

Nice ride with my wife...she rode her sweeeeet Trek 7.6fx...

36.49 miles - Chain of Lakes (all 4) - Evening errands - 9/16/08

23.15 miles
avg 19.0
28.6 max
cal 849.8
1.13.00
Poprad

13.34 miles
avg 17.2
36.4 max
cal 485.0
0.46.23
Poprad

24.64 miles - Cedar Lake trail/Downtown/U of MN/West River Parkway/Greenway - 9/15/08

24.64 miles
avg 17.8
max 30.4
cal 904.3
1.22.58
Poprad

Wheeeeew a great ride....cruising across the Hennepin Bridge at over 30mph...as soon as I climbed on the Poprad, I realized how much I missed riding it in the past week - its gonna be a long winter....

8.05 miles - rainy Commute - 9/13/08

8.05 miles
avg 16.7
max 33.2
cal 280.7
0.28.50
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

12.94 miles - Commute Errands - 9/13/08

12.94 miles
avg 16.3
max 30.0
435.5
0.47.23
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

U of M threatens $80 fines for biking on restricted Washington Ave. bridge - The Minnesota Independent

http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/8640/draftu-of-m-threatens-80-fines-for-biking-on-restricted-washington-ave-bridge

21.25 miles - Home Depot/Office Max/Commute/Byerly's - 9/12/08

21.25 miles
avg 16.0
max 33.4
cal 693.1
1.19.27
Greenpeace

A lot of errand today...also, I changed my flat handlebar to a Bontrager Crowbar...too much money for what it is, but it is wider than the flat bar, which handles much better and is more comfortable...old bar - 56cm...new bar 60cm with a 5 degree rise....

Liam catchin' some air...not bad for a 5 year old!!!

18.61 miles - Greenway to River and back - 9/11/08

18.61 miles
avg 18.4
max 23.5
cal 648.4
1.00.32
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

Interestingly, it took exactly, almost to the second, 30 minutes, to get to the river and 30 minutes to get back...everyone should have a sweet single speed in their collection...they totally rock...

My first attempt at a BMX (I'm 36)

8.01 miles - Commute - 9/10/09

8.01 miles
avg 16.9
max 32.8
cal 277.9
0.28.21
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

13.42 miles - Errands/Vote in primary/Punch Pizza - 9/9/08

13.42 miles
12.9 avg
max 26.6
cal 373.7
1.02.00
Greenpeace

It was nice not having to pull a little dude around...but then again he is great company and he likes being pulled...I came to the conmclusion while riding around today that I am going to utilize my '84 Trek 500 for an Extracycle, so...the project begins!!!

www.xtracycle.com

20.09 miles - Greenway/CRC/RiverGreenway - 9/9/08

20.09 miles
17.7 avg
25.2 max
695.9 cal
1.07.49
Vintage Trek 330 single speed

26.91 miles - Edina is NOT bike friendly - Errand in Edina/Lake Hariet via Penn Ave/CRC for coffee/Lake Calhoun/SW Corridor

26.91 miles
avg 17.9
max 32.2
cal 970.8
1.30.03
Poprad

I had to ride to Circuit City, which is right off France just before you hit 494. It was hell getting to Circuit City on the west side of France Ave....I took Blake Rd to Vernon to Wooddale Ave to Valley View Rd and that is where the hell started....after I crossed under HW62 I had to zigzag in a weird parallel to France Ave....Edina needs to take a serious look at their biking routes!!!!

13.37 miles - Lake Calhoun/Dunn Bros on Hennepin - 8/7/08

13.37 miles
avg 15.9
max 23.6
cal 393.1
0.50.24
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Wells Fargo drive thru on my bike - NOT!!!

Image from www.blog.wellsfargo.com/.../Drive-UpWindow.jpg

Is it OK for Wells Fargo to restrict bikes from going through the drive-up window?

I was a bit purturbed when the Wells Fargo on Exelsior in St. Louis Park, made me go inside and refused to service me when I pulled up...even though the week before I had done it without an issue. They told me I was allowed to take my bike inside because - as usual - there were no bike racks. So I went in and rode my bike inside over to the teller and parked my bike and then rode across the bank on my way out...

I forgot about it until this week when I pulled up - in my car - beside one of those big ugly stupid and rediculously loud Harley's and he got served just fine...then I thought - why can't I on my bike????

Would they let their wago pull up??

Any help???

14.33 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake Extension - 8/5/08

14.33 miles
avg 19.0
max 36.3
cal 580.4
0.45.12
Poprad

8.48 miles - Commute - 8/4/08

8.48 miles
avg 18.4
max 33.0
cal 336.7
0.27.39
Poprad

18.73 miles - Greenway to River and back - 8/03/08

18.73 miles
avg 17.6
max 29.1
cal 650.2
1.03.50
Poprad

Starting to get chilly, considering it was 90 degrees yesterday...70 today.

17.76 miles - SW Corridor/Lake Calhoun/Hutchinson Spur - 9/1/08

17.76 miles
avg 17.8
max 27.5
cal 607.9
0.59.41
Poprad

Quick ride before putting the kids to bed...beautiful night for a ride...unfortunately, there are too many people who ride at dusk without the proper lighting...riding at dusk can be very dangerous...especially on the trails.

30.16 miles - Greenway/Stop at Penn Cycle Uptown/Freewheel/River Trail/Minnehaha Parkway/Sw Corridor - 8/31/08

30.16 miles
avg 13.2
max 29.0
cal 745.2
2.16.07
Greenpeace with Ride-a-long

I adore my sons, Liam and Thatcher, so anytime I get to do something we all enjoy is great. Liam and I took a nice long ride today...the weather was gorgeous...we stopped for a treat at Freewheel and to pick up a part at Penn Cycle...we also stopped for a rest along the creek. I let Liam walk around in the water and play for awhile...good times!!

26.23 miles - Errands/Commute - 8/30/08

26.23 miles
avg 16.5
max 26.7
cal 872.5
1.34.53
Lemond Poprad

Nearly car free couple of days.....great August weather. I am not looking forward to winter...

9.74 miles - ride with Liam to Hopkins and around the 'hood - 8/28/08

9.74 miles
avg 7.6
max 23.3
cal 143.7
1.16.05
Greenpeace

32.72 miles - Pleasure ride and commute - 8/28 - 8/29/08

19.50 mile fitness/pleasure ride
13.22 mile commute
32.72 total miles
avg 17.1
max33.2
cal 1130.3
1.54.17
Lemond Poprad

Bike-Free (due to sickness) vacation to bike-friendly Grand Marais, Minnesota

As you can see there is a bike lane where Liam is running across the road from our parked car...unfortunately, due to a cold, I was unable to take advantage of our vacation in Minnesota's mountain bike and road excursion mecca of the North Shore...but there was some canoeing and short hikes involved...most appreciated was the beauty of this unmolested-by-Corporate-America place.

8.85 miles - Commute - 8/22/08

8.85 miles
avg 14.6
max 32.0
cal 298.1
0.36.11
Trek Commuter

21.96 miles - Kids/Commute-Shady Oak Extension - 8/21/08

10 miles riding with kids
12 mile commute
21.96 total miles
avg 10.8
max 29.7
cal 535.4
2.01.52
Trek Commuter

8.43 miles - Commute - 8/18/08

8.43 miles
avg 16.1
max 32.5
cal 279.6
0.31.23

Trek Commuter

WHOOOOO!!!! 2000 MILES this year so far!!!!!

23.54 miles - Kids/Skate Park/Errands - Lake Calhoun/Lake of the Isles/Byerly's - 8/17/08

6 miles with the boys

17.5 miles on Lakes Tour

23.54 total miles
avg 12.4
max 24.1
cal 626.8
1.52.53

Trek Commuter - Me
Haro BMX - Liam
Trek 7.2fx - Thatcher

I had a fun ride with the kids...Liam was rockin' at the skatepark on his BMX...later on I took my commuter on a ride around the lakes and then to get some things to make smors at Byerly's...when I got home I built a fire and the kids and LeeAnn had smores...

13.91 miles - Commute/Errands - 8/15/08

13.91 miles
avg 16.1
max 27.4
cal 467.3
0.51.42

Trek Commuter

Still recovering from whatever has been bothering my hip...but not as bad as yesterday...I was denied access to the Wells Fargo drive-in teller today, which was quite annoying. What bothers me is that we are supposed to be on par with vehicles/cars when it comes to following laws, but we are second-class citizens when it comes to either enforcement of those laws, or when it is inconvenient. My guess is that some jackass driver complained to Wells Fargo about bikes pulling up to the window, so the bank changed policy.

8.44 miles - Commute - 8/14/08

8.44 miles
avg 15.0
max 29.9
cal 256.4
0.33.30

Trek Commuter

Major pain in my hip and back today....probably should've drove my car...I think I may have injured myself swimming at the YMCA with my kids a couple of days ago....

8 miles - Commute - 8/13/08

8 miles

Vintage Trek 330 SS

14 miles - YMCA - 8/12/08

14 miles

Vintage Trek 330 SS

Didn't want to ride this one in the rain, but I have two other flats on two other bikes....but the nice thing was that on this ride I decided what to do with my 1984 Trek 500 frame - make it a rainy day bike so that I don't have to ride my others in the bad weather...

15 miles - Trader Joes wine run/ Minnetonka Blvd/Minnetaonka Mills/Hopkins/Exelsior/Louisianna Ave - 8/11/08

15 miles

night ride on the vintage Trek 330 SS

The other great thing about the single speed is that it forces me out of the saddle when I, a) have to climb a hill and, b) when I have to make a quick start - in traffic for example. I used to be an anti-out-of-the-saddle rider. Now I feel the opposite. It can really be a benefit to crank up the power.

20 miles - Cedar lake/Theo Wirth/Cedar lake/ SW Corridor - 8/10/08

20 miles

Vintage Trek 330 SS

Great ride on the single speed...don't have a computer on the single speed yet and don't know if I am going to so I don't ever know my true miles...I checked another post that has that route at 25 miles...but it didn't feel like 25 miles....I think my fitness level has shot up with my rides and my loss of 16-18 pounds this year...t has been great to see the scale below 200 for the first time in about 10 years...

I want to start taking a fanny pack and taking my camera because I miss many many great shots of places on my rides...I don't like fanny packs because they look geeky and they never quite fit right...but I may worth the hassle for some great pics!!!

8.54 miles - Commute - 8/8/08

8.54 miles
avg 16.5
max 34.1
cal 305.3
0.31.00
Poprad

13.49 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension- 8/7/08

13.49 miles
avg 16.7
max 35.8
cal 487.3
0.48.24
Poprad

13.04 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 8/6/08

13.04 miles
avg 16.9
max 33.9
cal 459.6
0.46.06
Trek Commuter

$ - 16.18 miles - Commute/Errands - 7/4/08

9.31 miles
avg 15.9
max 25.1
cal 320.2
0.35.08
Vintage Trek 610

Nice ride to work...flatted when at work....Guze trued my rear wheel for me...had a great ride to Trader Joe's to pick up dinner food and flatted while in Trader Joe's....my wife LeeAnn was going nearby on her way home from violin lessons with the kids and picked me up although I was prepared to easily fix it...oh well....probably have something sharp lodged into my tire...

6.87 miles
avg 10.1
max 17.6
cal 124.6
0.40.25
Greenpeace with ride-a-long
Thatcher on his Trek 7.2 fx KDS

Took the kids to Wells Fargo, then the coffee shop and then the new park equipment at Wolf Park....took the SW Corridor home

12.28 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 8/3/08

12.28 miles
avg 17.6
max 29.3
cal 446.0
0.41.52

Poprad

$ - 33.16 miles - Minnehaha Parkway/East River Parkway via Ford Bridge/Lake St Bridge/Greenway - 8/1/08

33.16 miles
avg 18.1
max 29.7
cal 1185.2
1.49.52
Poprad

Felt good to be on the Poprad again...got a pre-work ride in so I can take the moped to work - go carless today - and the Vespa to work tomorrow....

1805 total miles (approximate) 550 commuting miles (approximate)

Random picture off the internet....hopefully those boxes are empty...

14.92 miles - Liam's soccer game/Lake Calhoun - 7/31/08

14.92 miles
avg 17.5
max 27.3
cal 509.6
0.51.02

Trek Commuter

Liam almost scored a goal 4 or 5 times...he did great....then I took a stroll down around Cedar Lake and the Lake Calhoun....beautiful evening for a ride, but still quite hot...still love riding my old Trek 400...

11.69 miles - Cedar Lake Quick Route - 7/31/08

11.69 miles
avg 17.1
max 25.0
cal 379.2
0.40.57
Vintage Trek 610

34.58 miles CRC/Greenway/East River Parkway via Stone Arch Bridge/Minnehaha Parkway - 7/29/08

34.58 miles
avg 16.0
max 27.1
cal 1059.4
2.09.32

Trek 610

First decent ride on my 610...it was pretty lovely I must say...beautiful day but hot-as-hell!! Its amazing how the 35W bridge has come along - just in time for the RNC in St. Paul - coincidence? Probably not....

8 miles - Commute - 7/28/08

8 miles
Trek Commuter

12 miles - Cedar Lake Quick Route - 7/27/08

12 miles
35 minutes

Trek 330 Single Speed

Gotta ride when you can...

8.03 - Errands - 7/26/08

8.03 miles
avg 11.4
max.4
cal 174.7
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Thatcher, Mitch and Liam to the Jones' house and ten a stop at Target on the way home....

12 miles - Cedar Lake Quick Route - 7/25/08

12 miles
Trek 330 Single Speed

I friend wants to buy my 330 frame because he likes and because he believes that it is too big for me...I happen to disagree about the size, but it is a really difficult decision since I picked up a 1984 58cm Trek 500 frame and fork....I would want to get the 500 custom painted, which would mean that I would be out a single speed for a while...????

26.34 miles - Greenway/Minnehaha Parkway/SW Corridor - 7/24/08

26.34 miles
avg 17.8
max 26.8
cal 931.9
1.28.25
Trek Commuter

Nice ride on my old commuter...started out feeling sluggish....but really reached a zen on the way back west...it was one of those moments when you truly can say "there is nothing else I would rather be doing right now."

9.36 miles - Ben & Jerry's Trip/part of Lake Calhoun - 7/23/08

9.36 miles
avg 13.8
max 19.8
cal 232.5
0.40.33
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Liam enjoyed his cone but was very squiggly on the way home...he was yelling and singing and throwing the bike all over the place....its called tired kid syndrome...!!!

19 miles - Greenway to Mississipi River and back - 8/22/08

19 miles
Trek 330 Single Speed

What is the great thing about a well setup single speed? One word....quiet. I love the smooth quiet ride on my 330...the gear ratio seems to be about just right and it is dialed in for comfort....

15.73 miles - Dinner @ Punch with Liam/ Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun - 7/21/08

15.73 miles
avg 14.8
max 21.1
cal 428.8
1.03.38
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Had pizza and a beer with Liam and went around a couple of the lakes...it was an absolutely beautiful evening. Liam called the clouds "his mountains," which was a surprising quote from a kid who tends not to notice (or at least not vocalize) these certain aesthetic pleasures in life. It was an awesome ride with my great little guy....

14 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake Extension - 8/20/08

14 miles
Vintage 610

Greenpeace with ride-a-long attached

I bought this Gary Fisher Tassahara mountain bike new in 2000.

It has been a great bike.

I installed the XT rear derailluer last year after the original LX failed.

It has Continental high pressure (85psi) road tires on a cheapie rear wheel that I replaced because the freehub died. On the front I have a Deore.

Right now I have the cheapie Wellgo pedals with SPD's on one side and standard pedal on the other.

The crappie Manitou fork will probably last awhile because I don't want it to...this bike is on my "no sale" list because it has simply been too good to me!!!

It is decked out with the seat post rack and Trek Interchange bag...you got to be prepared with the kids in tow!!!

The Adams trail-a-bike that we call a "ride-a-long" has a nice handy rear rack.

I took off the dangerous original handlebar and attached a vintage bar that Liam appreciates much beter than the clunky BMX style bar that came on the thing...he also gets a bottle holder and an Incredibell...

14.42 miles - Lake Calhoun/Bass Lake Loop - 8/18/08

14.42 miles
avg 14.4
max 20.7
cal 380.5
0.59.50
Greenpeace with Liam on the ride-a-long

Its a bird, its a plane, no its bicycle repairman!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eCdIe0wdvU&feature=related

8 miles - Commute - 7/17/08

8 miles
Trek 610

21.71 miles - Errands - 7/16/08

21.71 miles
avg 13.3
max 28.3
cal 562.2
1.37.44
Greenpeace with ride-a-long

Picked Liam up from his class at the Edina Art Center and rode back into Uptown and had lunch at Jimmy Johns. Rode to Cal-Surf in Uptown and then home...

1984 Trek 610 to add to the collection - pics now, details later

13.24 miles - Freewheel quick route - 7/15/08

13.24 miles
avg 17.4
max 23.4
cal 459.1
0.45.37
Poprad

Had just enough time to go to Freewheel on the Greenway and back...

7.04 miles - Bass Lake Quick route - 7/14/08

7.04 miles
Greenpeace w/ride-a-long

Had a few minutes with Liam and pulled him down and around bass Lake via the SW Corridor....haven't had much time to ride with my boy lately...so it was great to get out with him again...

8.03 miles - Commute - 7/12/08

8.03 miles
avg15.7
max 32.4
cal 256.8
0.30.39
Trek Commuter

27.43 miles - Commute/Errands - 7/12/08

27.43 miles
avg 16.5
max 30.0
cal 910.9
1.39.04
Trek Commuter

Gave my panniers a workout today....holding all sorts of stuff from work clothes to wine bottles to 300 sheets of paper...its amazing how many miles you can get by running errands on your bike....

11.40 miles - Commute - 7/12/08

11.40 miles
avg 14.0
max 29.0
cal 384.6
0.48.43
Trek Commuter

14 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 7/11/08

14 miles
Trek Single Speed

I love this bike!!!

17.27 miles - Ridgedale YMCA via Shady oak Rd/ home by Minnetonka Blvd - 7/9/08

17.27 miles
avg 16.5
max 30.7
cal 587.6
1.02.26
Poprad

A "little" pre-ride slows ya down....recovery with a cup of coffee ad a cookie and a nice exhilarating ride home....

11.57 miles - Commute - 7/8/09

11.57 miles
avg 15.6
max 26.1
cal 361.1
0.44.28
Trek Commuter

New addition to the bike family - vintage Trek road bike 1981-83?

This bike did not originally come with flat bars, but normal road bars and downtube shifters...someone also replaced the saddle and seat post...I am not sure if I want to restore this bike or alter it and use it for myself. I may replace the wheel set with something of a new vintage (9 or 10 speed freehub) and replace the bars, saddle seat post tires, shifters and rear derailuers...all of this is speculation.
This was a great find...I'll keep the blog posted....

23.78 miles - Greenway/Minnehaha Parkway - 7/7/08

23.78 miles
avg 16.6
max 25.2
cal 752.2
1.25.35
Poprad

Nice relaxing ride after being laid up for 5 days with a nasty sinus infection....

8 miles - Commute - 7/3/08

8 miles
Trek Commuter

Vintage Trek 330 Single Speed

Its almost done...decided on some "new" single speed wheels....now all I have to do is put on some SPD's and likely a new handlebar, tape. cables and housing someday and I will have myself a finished SS...this one is a keeper and will NOT be going up for sale.....

$ - 26.16 miles - Winnetka Ave/ New Hope /Robbinsdale / Theo Wirth/ Lyndale Ave/ Lake of the Isles/ SW Corridor - 7/1/08

26.16 miles
avg 16.8
max 31.4
cal 885.8
1.33.13
Poprad

New addition to the bike family - Trek mountain bike

I am not sure what I am going to do with this bike...I was thinking about equipping it for transporting goods - maybe a grocery setup, or an Extracycle, or maybe I will simply resell it if something else comes along....

I like the idea of having a rigid fork mountain bike, but what I am really looking for is a 1985 or older vintage Trek mountain bike - the kind with "USA" on the seat post tube and the cool old head badge....I found one last week and drive to St. Paul to check it out. It was mechanically sound, but cosmetically in very bad shape...so I turned it down.