34.2 miles - Exelsior/101/Wayzata/New Trail to St. Boni from Wayzata - 75 degrees - 5/28/09

34.2 miles
avg 18.0
29.8 max
1:53:16
Poprad

Tried out the new trail that connects Wayzata with St. Bonifacious...its nice, but judging by the wealth along the trails, it made me well aware of how monetarily poor I really am. Great day for a ride...got a sunburn. Skipped lunch so I was very tired and ran out of energy on this relatively short ride....dah!

18.2 miles - Greenway Quick Route - 55 degrees - 5/27/09

18.2miles
0:58:28
27.7 max
18.7 avg
Poprad

Quick ride to the river and back...

17 miles - commute - 5/26/09

17 miles
Gary Fisher Burley puller

Rode to work and then off to Dinkytown to pick up my car...an absolutely beautiful night in Minnapolis...

31.7 miles - Commute/Williston Extension/Shady Oak Extension - 5/24/09

31.7 miles
1:45:41
30.3 max
17.9 avg
Poprad

Rebuilt rear wheel with a step up in rim to the Bontrager Race Lite....built by Doug...great ride and great wheel build!!

7.8 miles - commute - 5/23/09

7.8 mils
0:26:59
32.4 max
17.4 avg

Vintage Trek

42 miles - Errand - Greenway/UMN/Ford Bridge/Minnehaha/SW Corridor - 68 degrees - 5/22/09

42 miles total

3.5 miles
Fisher Burley Puller
Trip to Trader Joe's

38.4 miles
2:15:18
30.5 max
avg 17.0
Vintage Trek

Greeeaaat ride...put the bar end shifter in friction mode and it shifted perfectly. Stopped twice to readjust my new saddle...still haven't hit the sweet spot, but soon. It was a great time...the River Parkway is quite beautiful...

11.9 miles Commute/Trader Joes - 95 degrees - 5/19/09

11.9 miles
avg 17.1
0:41:28
28.8 max
Poprad

Whewww...hot!!

35 miles - Greenway/Minnehaha Loop - Eve trip to Minnetonka - 5/18/09

35 miles total for today

25.0 miles
1:20:16
18.7 avg
26.6 max
Poprad

10 miles
Fisher Burley Puller

15.0 miles - Williston Rd Quick route - 65 degrees - 5/17/09

15 miles
35.4 max
18.3 avg
0:49:05
Poprad

Kept my average above 18...getting a little better...

7.8 miles - Commute - 5/14/09

7.8 miles
avg 17.5
31.3 max
0:26:35
Poprad

Josh straightened out my reaer rim as best as he could...there are 3 dings and a flat spot on the rim...looks like I need a new rim. Maybe upgrade to a Race Light? Why not!

20.2 miles - Commute to Richfield Penn - 65 degrees - 5/14/09

20.2 miles
1:11:38
31.3 max
16.9 avg
Poprad

Got a flat by Lake Hariet on my way to work. It is really an eightish mile commute, but I must've somehow aded an extra 4 miles on my way to work. Penn Ave sucks as a cycling route. Chilly ride home.

18.2 miles - Green way to River and back - 5/12/09

18.2 miles
Poprad

I erased the rest of my computer results today before my trip to work. I remember that on this ride I noticed that close to half of the cyclists were women...interesting.

19.2 miles - Commute/Williston Extension/Trader Joes/Target - 48 degrees - 5/10/09

19.2 miles
1:03:37
33.4 max
18.1 avg
Poprad

Did Williston Rd for some hilly cardio...felt stronger on the ride home...

13.18 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 45 degrees - 5/9/09

13.18 miles
avg 18.1
max 29.8
0:43:41
Trek 330 SS

8.90 miles - Commute - 5/8/09

8.9 mles
avg 16.4
28.3 max
0:32:38
Trek 330 SS

Rainy ride hime...I took Minnetonka Blvd....

15.8 miles - Theo Wirth Quick route(thru Bryn Mar) - 7? degrees - 5/07/09

15.8 miles
17.4 avg
27.9 max
0:54:17
Poprad

13.8 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake Extension - 77 degrees - 5/4/09

13.8 miles
0:47:44
28.7 max
17.3 avg

Vintage Trek

Time to start finishing what I started with this old Trek and build it properly. Going to start with a front derailleur and hopefully a new set of brakes (Cane Creek is on my wish list) and a chain and cassette. It rides like a dream...now I want it to perform.

9.8 miles - Commute - 65 degrees - 4/3/09

9.8 miles
avg 18.4
32.1 max
0:31:53

Vintage Trek

12.3 miles - Commute - 4/2/09

12.3 miles
0:41:16
17.8 avg
33.4 max
Poprad

28.2 miles - Minnehaha Prkwy/Downtown/Whole Foods - 61 degrees - 5/1/09

28.2 miles
1:38:50
28.5 max
17.0 avg
Poprad

Beautiful, but chilly day. I really smelled the roses today...probably because I have not been out this whole week. I stopped for a burrito and then at Dunn Bros in Loring Park for a cookie and coffee on the way home.

April 2009 = 255 miles - 892 total (2009)

That sucks!!! I need to get it in gear...

20.6 miles - Commute/Errands - 65 degrees - 4/24/09

20.6 miles
avg 17.8
28.4 max
1:09:00
Poprad

Was going to take the Old Trek Commuter today, but I am having trouble getting it to shift properly due to a bad mesh of parts. I am going to get a new crank set, chain, cassette and front derailleur for it and then it should be quite a sweeeet ride!

15.5 miles - Commute/Cedar Lake Extension - 77 degrees - 4/23/09

15.5 miles
17.4 avg
30.7 max
0:49:52
Poprad

8.0 miles - commute - 65 dgrees - 4/22/09

8 miles
17.3 avg
32.0 max
0:27:48
Poprad

7.9 miles - Commute - 4/21/09 - 45 degrees

7.9 miles
avg 17.2
max 31.9
0:27:30
Poprad

17.45 - Commute x2 - 4/18 - 4/19/09

17.45 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.0
cal 593.9
1:03:41
Winter Commuter (i.e., Swamp Monster)

23.8 miles - Hutch-Spur/Cedar Lake/Noodles and Co/Lk-o-the-Isles/Lake Calhoun/Trader Joes - 73 degrees - 4/17/09

23.8 miles
17.7 avg
26.3 max
1:20:32
Poprad

Great beautiful day....BUT THERE ARE SO MANY FRIGGIN' IDIOTS ON THE TRAIL THIS TIME OF THE YEAR...

50.4 miles - CRC/Fort Snelling/E River Pkwy/UMN/Theo Wirth/Penn Cycle/Fern Hill/Minnetonka Blvd - 55 degrees - 4/13/09

50.4 miles
17.6 avg
31.0 max
2:51:16
Poprad

What a great ride....I must've had tons of energy from Easter candy and Easter meal stored up from the day before....I didn't bonk from lack of food until 4 miles from home...I need to make a note to self that anything over 35 miles I need some provisions...

12 miles - Lake Calhoun/SW Corridor - 4/12/09

12 miles
45 minutes
Fisher Burley Puller with ride-a-long

Attached the ride-a-long today and Liam and I went for a cruise down to Lake Calhoun...I forgot how much I love pulling Liam around....and it is a good workout.

22.2 miles - Cedar Lake Tr/Bryn Mar/Theo Wirth/Cedar Lake/SW Corridor - 4/10/09

22.2 miles
1:11:48
25.4 max
17.7 avg
Poprad

Nice ride...felt good...finally had an 18.0 average MPH until I hit the neighborhood and stopped to talk to a friend and it dropped while riding slowly to a 17.7...but I felt really good this ride...

13.64 miles - Errands - 4/10/09

13.64 miles
16.8 avg
31.6 max
456.4 cal
0:48:39
Swamp Monster

Rode to "Picture Person" art volunteering at Aquila and Cedar Manor...then to Trader Joe's and home via the Gary Fisher Alfresco winter bike. I took off the cyclocross tires that I used for winter and replaced them with 700x23 Continental Gator Skins...feels much faster now...

7.9 miles - Commute - 4/8/09

7.9 miles
0:26:42
avg 15.5
31.6 max
Poprad

14.6 miles - Commute/Trader Joes - 26/42 degrees - 4/7/09

14.6 miles
0:48:31
18.0 avg
Poprad

Cleaned the Poprad at work tonight...it's that feeling on the bike, which is the same as a car - after the wash everything feels smoother and faster....very quick but an enjoyable ride home from work!!

32.3 miles - Errands/Backwards Minnehaha/River Pkwy/Greenway - 41 degrees - 4/3/09

32.3 miles
1:48:48
32.2 max
16.9 avg
Poprad

I noticed how squeaky people's bikes are and I also noticed that people buy really expensive bikes that don't fit them, or don't have them fitted to them properly. Buy some detergent and some lube people!!! And take your bikes to your local shop and ask them for a fitting!!!

6 miles - Errands - 41 degrees - 4/2/09

6 miles
Fisher Burley Puller

Thatcher and went for a ride to the Rec Center to pick up a key for the Louisiana Oaks Pavilion. He REALLY loves his new bike - the Trek 7.6fx. I am glad he enjoys it. Then in the evening I rode over to the neighborhood meeting and then returned the Redbox DVD...the newly built Gary Fisher Tassahara Burley puller works great. I am really enjoying riding it. Unfortunately the front derailleur is giving me problems and on the way home the drive-side crank loosened up. I don't think it is chronic, but I am carrying a crank wrench with me anyway...

24.5 miles - SW Corridor/Cedar Lake Tr/Downtown/Riv Pkwy/Greenway - 41 degrees - 4/2/09

24.5 miles
17.0 avg
33.1 max
1:26:16
Poprad

A very tired ride with what seemed like a very strong NW headwind...its nice to ride without a lot of water covering the trails...toes got really cold for some reason...I also drew the conclusion that I do not like Continental Ultra Sport road tires. I much prefer the Gator Skins..they both wear and ride much better. The Ultra Sports seem to be very slow...

March 2009 - 255 miles = 537 total

10 miles - Commute - 39 degrees - 3/29/09

10 miles
Vintage Trek Commuter

7.83 miles - Commute - 31 degrees - 3/26/09

7.83 miles
avg 15.6
max 27.2
cal 246.8
0.30.04
Swamp Monster

Crazy strong headwind going to work...made it not fun....

22.3 miles - Commute/SW Corridor/Bryn Mar/Cedar Lake Rd/Work/Hopkins - 3/22/09

22.3 miles
avg 17.1
27.4 max
1:18:03
Poprad

Strong easterly headwind today...so I rode into the wind and then with the wind to my back on Cedar Lake Rd...very pleasant weather...NOT liking my Pearl Izumi AmPhib shoe covers though...they don't stay in place very well, unlike their Caliente shoe covers...maybe its the user...we'll see...

18.6 miles - Commute/Noodles/Bryn Mar - 3/21/09

18.6 MILES
16.9 AVG
32.4MAX
1:05:52
Poprad

33.9 miles - Ford Bridge/U of MN loop - 51 degrees - 3/18/09

33.9 miles
avg 16.8
max 32.5
2:00:23
Poprad

I took the SW Corridor east to the Lakes and went by Lake Hariet the on to the Minnehaha Parkway to the River Parkway and onto the Ford Bridge - went across the Mississippi River to the St. Paul side and the E River Parkway and into the University of Minnesota - then went by the new stadium construction and into Dinkytown - the by Dunn Bros across University Ave and down and across the Stone Arch Bridge and back into Minneapolis and the W River Parkway and back up to the Greenway...I stopped at Freewheel bikes on the Greenway to get a coffee and a Cliff Bar then home...
Excellent day for a ride...again, I wish I could've kept going...the Poprad is very sandy and salty, but holding up quite well...with all the crap on the roads from winter I am glad I installed the Conty Gator Skins last year...I have run over some unsightly objects...

15 miles - Bryn Mar quick route - 71 degrees - 3/16/09

15 miles
0:53:49
16.7 avg
26.7 max
Poprad

Not much time, but managed to sneak a ride in....best day yet - warm and sunny - rode in shorts....Sw Corridor/Ceadr Lake/Brymn Mar/Wayzata Blvd/Cedar Lake Rd/Virginia/Louisianna...felt good!

21.8 miles - Commute/Salsa a la Salsa on Nicolette/Cedar Lake/Wooddale - 54 degrees - 3/15/09

21.8 miles
1:16:10
28.1 max
avg 16.4
Poprad

Went to work and then met the family for authentic Mexican at Salsa A La Salsa on Nicollete Ave in Minneapolis...then rode home on the Blake School/ Walker Art road to Lake of the Isles and by Lake Calhoun and back in through St. Louis Park to home...I also went through Bryn Mar to get to the restaurant...very nice day for a ride - very pleasant. I stopped at the Walker Sculpture Garden on the way home because the were a boatload of starlings flying around in strange formations. There were also tons of them in the trees. One tree down by the parking lot was black with birds. I am not sure what they were doing, but I bet it had something to do with finding a mate and nesting.

21.9 miles - Exlesior.Williston/Minnetonka/Ridgedale Mall/Wayzata Blvd/Virginia - 41 degrees - 3/13/09

21.9 miles
1:17:59
avg 16.8
max 35.8
Poprad

Great ride - picked up my glasses from Ridgedale Mall Len's Crafters.... a bit chilly, but not bad.

24.5 miles - Exelsior Blvd/Williston/Minn Blvd/Cedar Lake Rd/Bryn Mar/Cedar Lake/Whole Foods/Home - 36 degrees - 3/9/09

24.5 miles
avg 16.4
max 32.9
1.29.15
Poprad

I shouldn't be riding the Poprad this time of year...a kid could play in the amount of sand on the road shoulders. It was a nice ride. I was happy that I took the Williston hills no problem (unlike last year when I felt like I would die climbing them), but I was not so happy that my avg speed was in the 16MPH's....hopefully I can start upping that!! It was above freezing but yet felt very cold...probably from the dampness in the fog...

11.34 miles - Commute/Hopkins - 38 degrees - 3/8/08

11.34 miles
avg 15.3
max 31.1
cal 342.1
0.44.19
Swamp Monster

Moved a working Cateye computer over from my MTB...wished I could rode another 20 miles on the way home....it was beautiful!!!

10 miles - Commute - 3/7/09

10 miles
Swamp Monster

23.8 miles - Greenway/Miss Riv Parkwy/ Lk Hariet/Lk Calhoun/SW Corridor - 36 degrees - 3/6/09

23.8 miles
1:25:12
max 28.5
avg 16.7
Poprad

Probably shouldn't have taken the Poprad and probably should've used the fenders - I was totally drenched from the knee down...other than that it was a fun ride..

21.2 miles - SW Corridor/MInn Blvd/Ridgedale Lib/HW101/Minn Blvd - 25 degrees - 3/3/09

21.2 miles
1:15:02
max 36.5
avg 16.9
Poprad

First use of the new Trek Incite 9i wireless computer. It has a cool reverse light monitor and a temp guage. Love it so far. I had to cut the ride short because of the very windy cross winds (yaws). My legs and toes got way too cold...oh and I rode for the first time with my new heart rate monitor...very cool...I'll talk about it next time...

13 miles - Commute/Shady Oak Extension - 13/16 degrees - 3/1/09

13 miles
Swamp Monster

192 miles in February = 282 total (I do not include indoor miles)

12 miles - Commute/Trader Joe's - 4/20 degrees - 2/29/09

12 miles
Swamp Monster

12 miles - Commute/Trader Joe's - 2/22/09

12 miles
Swamp Monster

8 miles - Commute - 15 degrees - 2/21/09

8 miles
Swamp Monster

5 inches of fresh snow...a little slow going but good roads on the ride home...

19.14 miles - SW Corridor/Theo Wirth/Cedar Lake/Calhoun/Trader Joe's - 23 degrees - 2/20/09

19.14 miles
avg 17.1
max 30.9
cal 654.4
1.07.08
Poprad

Not a good idea to ride the Poprad, but I was crazy to ride a real bike that was fast and responsive....although the road salts may compromise the Poprad...it was worth it. I love that bike!! I had to ride slow around a lot of ice and my cardio needs to get back up to par....

8 miles - Commute - 5/16 degrees - 2/20/09

8 miles
Trek "Winter" bike

36.24 miles - Commute x 2/errands/extensions - 2/14-16/09

36.24 miles
avg 16.4
max 31 9
cal 1215.1
2.13.21
Trek 330 single speed

Everything is frozen and dry, therefore, it makes a great time to use a bike other than the Swamp Monster...I changed the tires on the SS out to Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase tires, which have been fantastic tires for the SS 330...we will see how they hold out throughout the Spring and Summer months...

12.4 miles - Commute - 2/13/09

12.4 miles
15.9 avg
28.4 max
396.1 cal
0.50.31
Swamp Monster
Wish I would've rode the SS...

18 miles - Commute/Mini Hops - 30 degrees - 2/08/09

18 miles
Swamp Monster

Commuted to work...left early to go and see Liam's first gymnastics meet at Mini Hops in Minnetonka/Wayzata....very tired ride...I bailed coming into the neighbohrood on the way home - 4th wipeout on ice this season.

16 miles - commute/Shady Oak Extension/Minnetonka Mills Loop/Trader Joe's - 37 degrees - 2/07/09

16 miles
Swamp Monster

25 miles - Greenway/W River Prkwy/Downtown/Bryn Mar/Cedar Lake/SW Corridor - 37 degrees - 2/06/09

25 Miles
Swamp Monster
1.75 hours

Great ride. but not long enough!! I flatted when I reached the end of the Greenway. Luckily, I am alwaysd prepared with extra gloves, tube, etc... There was a peice of glass about .5 centimeters in width sticking out of my front tire - right down the center line.
I was going to take my Trek 330 single speed, but I am glad I didn't because the ice and slush was very problematic, even for my cyclocross tires on the Monster. I stopped and had dinner at First Wok with my wife, Liam and Kian (the baby) and rode home very chilly from the sweat. I am looking forward to more rides in the next few months...
PS: Saw a lot of commuters in full gear...mostly riding squeaky shitboxes and fixies, but I did see a cool Pugsley all decked out for winter commmuting...

13 miles - Commute - Shady Oak Extension - 15/26 degrees - 2/05/09

13 miles
Swamp Monster

12 miles - Commute - 27/28 degrees - 2/01/09

12 miles
Swamp Monster

Took some extra roads to extend the ride a bit...wiped out on the ice coming out of the neighborhood onto the SW Corridor...

January 2009 - 90 Miles

....with many horrific hours on the indoor trainer at home and at the gym....

12 miles - Commute/Trader Joe's - 25/40 degrees - 1/31/09

12 miles
Swamp Monster

8 miles - Commute - 9/15 degrees - 1/29/09

8 miles
Swamp Monster

22 miles - BMX to Depot/Greenway to River/Whole Foods - 24/26 degrees - 1/22/09

Me and bike on SW Corridor...

West River Parkway

"Train" bridge over the Mississippi from the parkway...

SW Corridor looking east...

22 miles

2 miles

BMX

Liam and I rode down to the Depot Coffeehouse in the morning on our BMX bikes...

20 niles

Swamp Monster

To the Mississippi River and back via the Greenway with a stop at Whole Foods on the way home.

22 miles - Greenway to Missisippi,Trader Joes - 23/25 degrees - 1/21/09

22 miles
Swamp Monster

Great snowy ride to the river...if only there was something that would keep my toes warm?!?!?

Obama - A Hero for My Kids' Generation!!!

Very cool fixie indeed!

Glad to see he rides a Trek!!!

And a tricycle!!



Better times are ahead.....and hopefully more bike lanes...

10 miles - Commute - 14/18 degrees - 1/18/09

10 miles
Swamp Monster

Took the snow covered trails for a little fun...

8 miles - commute - 18/14 degrees - 1/17/09

8 miles
Swamp Monster

Very slushy!

"Vintage" Trek 1000 - 56cm

I overhauled this Trek 1000 that I traveled to Eau Clare, Wisconsin to pick up. I bought it sight-unseen and am very glad I did. It is a great bike.

New Edition to the Family - Kian Joseph Donovan - born 1/7/09 - 8lbs 4oz

My wife LeeAnn, Thatcher (10), Liam (5) and Kian...

Me, Liam and Kian...

I can't wait to take my boy to the skate park in the spring!!!!

8 miles - Commute - 5/9 degrees

8 miles

Swamp Monster

2008 total miles - 3420!!!

3420 miles in 2008!!!

The Yakkay Bike Helmet - yours for just $165

www.yakkay.com

http://www.wired.com/reviews/product/pr_yakkay_helmet

Quite dashing!!!

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.

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.

8 miles - commute - 9/16 degrees - 12/11/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

8 miles - commute - 19 degress - 12/10/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

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

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!!

13 miles - Commute/Trader Joe's - 22/16 degrees - 12/03/08

13 miles
Swamp Monster

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.

8 miles - Commute - 24/29 degrees - 12/01/08

8 miles
Swamp Monster

12 miles - Commute - 11/26/08

12 miles

Swamp Monster

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!!!

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

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

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.

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

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...

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

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!!!!

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.

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

You can customise your own at:

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/projectone/

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

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!!!

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!!!

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...

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!!!

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.

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....

15.28 miles - SW Corridor/Cedar Lake Tr/Theo Wirth/Cedar lake Tr/Louisianna Ave - 10/28/08

15.28 miles
16.9 avg
max 33.3
cal 498.4
0.54.12
Trek 330 Single Speed

Very tired...sluggish ride!!

Obama Supporters: Don't get cocky!!

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!!!

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.

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...

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.