Kreuzland Adventures

Tour de Cure 2008- Fixed Gear Team Slideshow

2008-06-19T08:45:00.002-06:00

See below for the show...

:)

Tour de Cure 2008, Fixed Century Video

2008-06-18T20:43:00.013-06:00

Tour de Cure 2008, Fixed Century
I've included a small video of the ride below:

If anyone has some editing software please let me know! I would love to cut out a few seconds and add some music.
Cheers,
Ike

Sunday Wanderlust

2008-04-07T10:31:00.012-06:00

This started out as a trip to set the route for a Randonneur USA [RUSA] Permanent that I am trying to establish. I had talked a few brave soles into coming with me but weather, sickness, home moving, and grogginess played havoc with our attrition rates. While they didn't ride with me this day, Canyons were Conquered later that day. Best yet, was that rubber side was down for everyone that had fun.

I made it to Caffe Ibis on Federal at about 8:14… even I was late. Not a cycle to be seen except the red steel horse I was riding. If my surly x-check was really a horse, I would like to think it would be a Justin Morgan. Yet, it was far too early for such thoughts so I got a large cup of coffee and pulled out the cell phone.

“Hey, looks like the weather predictions are keeping everyone inside. Do you want to have breakfast with me?”

Lauren was there on her bike in about 15 minutes ---she was at the Cafe ca. 8:45.

We talked; and pondered; and rushed home; and then at around 9:58am give or take 30 sec.s we were rolling out of town towards my permanent’s maiden voyage, first stop Trenton then to Clarkston.

Even before arriving in Clarkston we started changing the route sheet. In many ways I was very very happy that no one had been waiting for me at 8:00 that morning. Nothing can compare to road time. Nothing.
Besides, this was turning into quite the adventure.

After heading out of Clarkston, the route sheet was history as one of the roads that I had set the route on was turning to icy gravel. I looked back a Lauren as she struggled to push 76 gearinches up an 8-10% grade.(**the hill shown below is just before Clarkston, UT)

We turned around and headed southwest along 142 and then took a right up 7800 North / Fielding RD / Long Divide Rd or as we later found out from a local covered in grease and dirt, “middle pass”. What ever it is, it is fantastic. I don’t know if we will talk anyone into riding again…Robert???...BUT this pass is beautiful!!!
(Up to the Pass out of Clarkston)

Once over the pass, we entered Box Elder county and made about a 3-4mile decent on gravel roads into Fielding, Ut. If we had taken a right or headed north on 3600West, we would have been in Plymouth, Utah.

Since it was getting late for lunch, we decided on a right in to Fielding and then on hwy13 to Riverside. We stopped at the Riverside gas station and country store for lunch and a regular sit down toilet. One would think that a rural area would afford plenty of private facility bushes but not so on a Sunday in northern Utah.

(I will have to take another video of Lauren demostrating the "fixed-gear-switchbacks"; it is sort of a lost art in cycling)

With less than "20 mile lefts" to get to Logan, Lauren and I decided to head south on 38. The quest for a century was still in our blood regardless of the forecasted foul weather(~40F,rain and/or snow).

On the horizon just past Plymouth, weather was boxing us in from the northwest. We were not ready to head home. Once again the route sheet was thrown to the wind.We headed away from Logan, away from any planned route and out in to Wanderlust. So, 38 to Brigham city it was.

Notice the weather following us...

FYI… 38 is a great road and goes right past a Hot Springs.
As I write this I’m thinking how easy a Tour du Hot Springs would be. Anyway,,,,

After Brigham City, we hit Sardine pass and Lauren had another *lat. We eventually split up as Lauren stomped and strained with her gearing up the pass. It was getting late, weather was turning for the worse, and I had given Lauren my taillights and headlights. Thinking, "Must get to Logan grab the Element and pick her up….."
(pictures is of the *LAT)

(the only sun over Sardine...at Dry Lake)

(At this moment I thought Logan was going to be HELL... I spun my legs off racing down to get the car...)

While I made great time getting home, I saw Lauren on 89 just outside of Honor Copy in Logan…. She had to have been going much faster down hill than she ever will give herself credit for because she was only 15minutes behind me at max…

(my entry into Cache Valley..yes I had to stop for this pic!)

ALL in All It was a great ride. There are many new ideas for the permanent but having useful controls is going to be rule of thumb from here on out. I hate to have the route on a major road but then I can’t have informational controls on 80% of the route either. I must plan more and test plans out on longer and longer trips! ;->

For those of you out on other adventures I will leave you with this parting shot:

Sunday Ride 06Apr2008

2008-04-04T13:06:00.006-06:00

I'm going to be updating this post over the next day or so. Please check back as I will have a downloadable route sheet and maybe edits to the map below.
View Larger Map

Warm Showers

2008-04-02T13:00:00.006-06:00

Howdy folks!
I've been a member of WarmShowers.org for almost a year now. It is spring in Utah and whether or not we can see the tulips for the snow, it is spring...
Since it is spring, cyclist are heading our way!
Look I know I'm not going to fill up the valley with two wheeled "vehicles" instead of the usually 4 wheeled smog generators.

YET!!

I can open my house to a select few cyclists looking for adventure thus tipping the car bike balance in my favor!

You can as well. Just sign up at Warm Showers. If you need a place to stay on your next cross county tour by bike, there are plenty of folks that will open their doors to you. For me it is a way to get back to my Southern roots and provide a bit of hospitality to the adventurous two wheeled tourer. Nothing more than good karma!

Old Man Winter Must Be Listening to Heather Small

2008-03-27T09:06:00.002-06:00

BUT it is you my cycling brothers and sisters that shouldn't give up the fight. Under the shadow of the mountains your going to have to ride like a mailman.

Ride on.

The Next Long Ride?

2008-03-27T00:41:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking on the next ride. While this weekend is out, the April 5th weekend is in the works. Email me and let me know if you would be "in"...

View Larger Map

Skid Patch, Fixed Gears and 17

2008-03-26T23:49:00.003-06:00

Spring is here and I'm seeing multiplicity of wonderful things. More bikes on campus and even some bike racks that have been under snow for months and months.
The only thing that has got my goat... is.. Fixed Gear Bikes without breaks....AND 48X16 gear ratio.
Dumb
Dumb
Dumb
Ok, lets say you figure how to stop that in the first day or two -GREAT! but unless you are taking the chain off and rotating the wheel you are skidding on the same patch of rubber. A 48 tooth chainring [front; attached to the crank arm] with a 16 tooth cog [back; on the rear wheel]. Don't ask me why but this is stock on may "track bikes" Worst yet, it gives you only one skid patch.

Look at this skid patch table

By just increasing the rear tooth count by ONE.... your rear tire would have 17 skid patches and last about 17 times longer!

And the difference between 48x16 vs. 48x17 in gear inches?
See Gear Inches Chart
It is 81.0 inches vs. 76.4... a bit different but not really for around town fixie fun. Oh, if you just have to have as near as possible to 80 inches... 50X17.. 79.4 gear inches with 17 skid patches.

Cool, eh?
In fact, if you look at that Skid Patch chart again you might notice that a 17tooth cog will have 17 skid patches on all but the 51 tooth chain ring. Yep, with the purchase of a 17 tooth cog your in for one of the greats joys of fixed gears - very low maintenance. Otherwise, have fun replacing those nicely colored 700x18 or 23 race tires!

So.. get out there with you new 17cog and ask around for a 51 tooth Chain Ring. Just about everyone has a 51tooth chain ring that they have been dying to put on their new bike.....and you now have a wonderful 17tooth cog... come on everyone has got ONE[skidpatch]! and on that very last note - Nekid group Ride! April 1st. 8am. Meet at Ibis Cafe on Church Street.

Upcoming Wednesday Ride

2008-03-25T08:10:00.001-06:00

Please go to the MCA for complete information... like:
Meet at 5:00pm in front of Sunrise
Bee ready to ride.

The Healthy Planet Rally

2008-03-25T08:07:00.001-06:00

The Healthy Planet Rally
April 5, 2008
Noon till 2:30 p.m.
451 South State Street/SLC Government Center
Cyclists in Salt Lake City will lead the pack on April 5th at a downtown march and rally to promote a healthy planet. Riders will take to the streets to call for peace, health care and healthy air. Walkers and cyclists will kick off the event at noon, followed by live music, speakers and slam poets at the SLC Government Center. We need 350 cyclists dressed for high visibility to bring the message home: 350 parts per million of CO2 is all our atmosphere can sustain. The current CO2 number is 383 ppm. Grab your bike and ten friends and come join Rocky Anderson in the fight for peace, health care and healthy air. The April 5th march and rally start at noon, 451 South State Street. The time to act is now.
contact:
Barbara Richardson
http://agenda08.org
barbarakayrich@gmail.com

Ally's Weather Update

2008-03-25T08:00:00.002-06:00

Yehuda Moon

2008-03-24T20:29:00.003-06:00

If you haven't seen Yehuda Moon well check it out.. this is one of the better ones: http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-02-03

Another Great Sunday Ride

2008-03-24T13:33:00.003-06:00

WE road until the payment wore out and the signs of spring turn to snow. The batteries in the GPS went out and the cycle computer turned off at around mile 21.0023695. Events couldn't have aligned themselves any better. The ride was not anything more than just that.... a wonderful ride.

The peaks circled the dirty city below in a brilliantly white halo and what we thought was a "bad day" was just the inability to realize we had been riding uphill since breakfast. While I knew I was having to stand up to get to that last vista, I didn't remember the effort that it took to get me to that last hill.

Minds. The fickle trickster of the body...every one's own inner coyote. No other organ plays such cruel jokes. Eagles turned to Red Tail hawks and quite rides in the mountainous halo of the city turned in to a 200+ rmp spin. Sandhill Cranes dances above while gravity took it's second toll of the day. The feet spun as wind rocketed into my ears and the noise of the past week became instantly quiet. Nothing but the descent mattered and all was good - the ride just was.

Robert only grinned, he seemed to lose the cold that had been pestering him over the past weeks. I gasped for air feeling like a top losing its momentum; losing its spin; starting to wobble. The cranes still danced and looking up at them made me feel motionless. Another gasp, I looked at the fields around me. Time progressed again and the fields rushed past the hubs and spokes. I was lost somewhere in between.

Conversations began again yet even after all the wind stop its constant barrage on my ears, I faded in and out of the discussions.

Don Henley still echoing around in the grey matter today [Monday; not Sunday]much like "Yellow Submarine" that can be passed from field crew to field crew throughout a season in the back country. Infectious. Insidious. "Robert, may your cold linger!"..... but alas, I never passed my voodoo classes.

Road 1 Class Completion

2008-03-24T12:34:00.007-06:00

Just finished the League of American Bicyclists Road I class on Saturday. This was done in preparation for the League Cycling Instructor qualification next weekend. Much of what I'm trying to accomplish with this is speaking with one voice[more on this later].

First look at this! It is the inside of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective... they even have the test video on their website as well! Who would have thunk?!
Hey, this is only 1/3rd of the shop!!! 6 Work stands with complete sets of tools and truing stands.
There is a plethora of reason to stop at the shop but today I did it for the Road 1 class.
I keep seeing so many many reasons to cycle and even more ways to express awareness and advocacy to others. Yet, even the best information gets muddled very very quickly. After reading and listening to Richard Burke, Chairman, Trek Bicycle. I started to see a definite advantage to consolidating the message. Although Burk just recently passed away [15 march 2008], I believe he has set into motion one of the most powerful bicycling advocacy campaigns - One World, Two Wheels. Regardless of what you may think about Trek bikes they are setting a stage for the "Got Milk" of the transportation industry. It makes sense to me. Just get out there and ride.

Yet, when I encourage/finagle/bribe/coerce... others to 'just ride', I had a deep desire to do it so that they were safe and knew what they were doing. The two seem to go together:Safety and knowledge. Publication after publication became just stats and chatter when compared to my goal and message 'just ride'....every day. Thus, the synonymous voice of the League of American Bicyclist started to have appeal to me while in the past it had not.

I will be posting on this topic again after I compete the LCI cert this coming weekend. Right now I'm ecstatic about visiting the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective Shop again!

LDS ... and more [St. Patties Day Recap]

2008-03-18T08:19:00.014-06:00

Hey, Folks thanks for a great ride and sorry for the very very tardy post. Robert and Lukas have already written up the ride but I still feel that a few things need to be said.

We road for Spring, Russel Burger, Hot Chocolate, Green Beer, Corn Beef, Cabbage...for fixed gears, liberation, gearly bikes and "red flashies". We road for fun.

For me it was a Christmas like experience. Maybe, just maybe, it was because of the multitude of blinking red lights heading south on 89 back to Logan or the satiated feeling that is forever linked to the holiday experience. Regardless, is was good. Let there be rejoicing! "So long, and thanks for all the fish!"

There will be another ride very very soon along with some longer ones designed to resurrect the 'BONK' form the most gluttonous racer-x out there... Basically, I would like to have a chatty, fun ride once a month with the destinations all about food. It should be viewed as a chance to get everyone out: friends, family, your Bishop, and even a town heathen or two.

Then, on a weekend day have a more challenging self supported 200k+ ride in the same month. A brief note on the longer rides planned here. These are going to be set up to simulate actual Brevets and Permanents. While not actually RUSA [http://www.rusa.org/index.html] events I do have plans on hosting these as actual routes and events in the future as well as setting up rides[permanents] to qualify for the R-12.

Notices, Maps, and destinations will follow!

Same Bat-Time. Same Bat-Channel. Rubber side down!

On the lighter side - He Must Have Been Riding a Fixie

2008-03-15T00:09:00.002-06:00

Polish police are baffled after a cyclist was badly burned when his trousers burst into flames.

Mieczyslaw Jasinski, 55, told doctors he smelt burning and looked down to see his trousers had caught fire.

He jumped off his bike and rolled on the ground trying to douse the flames but suffered second degree burns to his legs, back and stomach.

Passers-by spotted him lying at the side of the road in Koroszczyn, still smoking from the tattered remains of his trousers and groaning in pain.

A police spokesman said: "Witnesses said he was like a flaming human torch cycling along the road.

"We do not know how it happened but we have heard that it could have been caused by a reaction between friction as he cycled, sweat and the material of his trousers."

Take from Ananova.com

News

2008-03-14T22:38:00.005-06:00

It has been a busy week in the news for cyclist this week. Since I like to end on a good note let me start with this:
Condolences to the families of Kristy Gough, 30, of San Leandro and Matt Peterson, 29, of San Francisco. Kristy and Matt died last weekend after being hit by a car. I have nothing to add to or any comments on the events leading up to this accident. More details can be found here.

This is just one of those tragedies that makes me rethink my trips up Logan Canyon or vacations down the coast of California on Hwy 1. I feel the suck of a 18 wheeler passing to close down in my bones, in my marrow and my skin crawls. I can been mad later....

As many of you can tell, this blog has departed from the traditional, "Here is my ride..." or "I really bonked today..." I'm looking forward to getting out under the sun and on top of some hot asphalt... Uh.. scratch that asphalt bit unless it is taking me to some red dirt. Yep, I'm stir-crazy with spring! Yet, Monday wasn't particularly great. I was in Ohio for a funeral and was sent a few notices about the crash that I've already mentioned. Cleveland was still recovering from a blizzard.Unable to ride or do much else... I started reading.

After receiving a few emails back from the Cascade Bike Club and James Malone, Dist. 12A (Maryland), I was starting to get a bit down. Starting a 3Feet campaign in Logan is just not happening. Add to the fact and my personal realization of how little 3 feet really is. I'm wanting to spend time and energy to only fight for three stinking feet of road? It is ridiculous! How about 4 or even 6 feet? By Tuesday I was ready to quite. What good was 3 feet anyway.

Then I read this! A driver is acutely being taken to court in Utah for violating the "Give Cyclists 3 Feet" law and the prosecutor Sim Gill is being pro-active. Sim is going after a bad guy because the rights of a cyclist were violated.

Let me say that again, "Cyclists Rights". I'm starting to feel better now...

When I first heard about the Salt Lake case while riding I thought it was hearsay. Wow, how great it feels to be wrong. Then came some more uplifting news. The City Councils of Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C.have just beef up existing laws to protect cyclist. These laws also include fines between $150 and $500 but only if a crash results.
Here are the additions:

Turning Left or Right in Front of a Bicyclist
Overtaking a Bicyclist at an Unsafe Distance (defined as three feet)
Opening a Vehicle Door into the Path of a Bicyclist
Driving, Standing or Parking in Bike Lanes or Marked Shared Lanes

Then I got to read a Business Wire on AAA - yep that is AAA as in automotive help and hotel discount:

“This proposed ordinance clearly defines the rules and responsibilities and will increase the safety of everyone who shares the roadways in Chicago,” said Beth Mosher, spokesperson for AAA Chicago. “Chicago has become a terrific multimodal city, and now pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists alike need to do a better job of sharing the roads safely.”

Mosher then follow that by saying, “This ordinance underscores rules that motorists should already be following for the sake of their fellow travelers."

And what is Richard Daley saying? Well he has chimed in with, "We are committed to making Chicago the most bicycle-friendly city in the country, and safety is a very critical part of the plan."

Words and works of HOPE...

YET the best part of today was an email form Nicole Freedman (Director of Bicycle Programs; Boston, MA). Ideas for a zero budget and big impact... and another post....

Friends,
All the best and rubber side down!

Set Your Calenders, Wheels North 4-17July2009

2008-03-13T23:45:00.009-06:00

The Big Fix Crew [Big Fix 2006: The Movie] is getting together again in 2009 to fight Histiocytosis.

Arms linked to support each other, looking forward with hope for adventures to come, Vic and Ray [see picture above] capture the spirit of fixed gear adventure that awaits you in 2009 as a part of the Wheels North ride to Fight Histiocytosis (what is Histio?). The book 'Two Wheels North' is based on the true story....

of Vic McDaniel and Ray Francisco, two teenagers from Santa Rosa, California, who in 1909 rode fixed-gear bikes to the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition in Seattle, Washington. Their story was told by Vic's daughter, Evelyn McDaniel Gibb, in Two Wheels North, published by Oregon State University Press. The 2009 Wheels North is recreating the epic 1909 adventure of two young cyclists by riding from Santa Rosa, California to Seattle, Washington.

Want to be Part of Wheels North?

Send an email to Eric Norris, director of Wheels North. Click here for basic information about what it takes to be a Wheels North rider. It took Vic and Ray several months to reach Seattle. We'll do the ride in two weeks. Click here for a calendar, and to find out when we will reach each town along the route.Click here to learn about fundraising requirements to take part in Wheels North!

More?
How about visiting the Wheels North Blog!
Click here to visit our blog.
Stay in touch with preparations for the ride, and join us in 2009 as we retrace Vic and Ray's ride. Our blog is located at http://wheelsnorth.blogspot.com

Saint Patrick's Day Ride: Update

2008-03-13T19:43:00.002-06:00

Just a simple ride form Logan to Richmond with the sole purpose of eating corn beef and cabbage. I've added a lot of information on this ride that was not in the original post.

So, on the 17th of March 2008 be ready to ride at 5:30pm!!

Simple Directions:
Meet at in the parking lot across form Cafe Ibis on Church Street Logan, Utah.
The ride will stop for dinner at:
L D'S Cafe
39 W Main St
Richmond, UT 84333
435-258-5135

And then...Back again!
More Details/Route/Map.....all are here! Click below to read more.
Details:
Cut, past, and print these directions so that you have your own route sheet!!

What to bring?:
* Money for dinner
* Head and Tail lights for the ride home
* Touring gear for a 50mile ride
* Hunger
* Happy Face because your riding and it is almost spring
* Something green

Directions and Route Sheet:

Start address: Church St Logan, UT 84321
Midpoint/Dinner address: 39 W Main St Richmond, UT 84333
End address: Church St Logan, UT 84321

Start at: Church St Logan, UT 84321
1. Head north on Church Ave toward 200 No - 404 ft
2. Turn left at 200 No - 0.2 mi
3. Continue on W 200 N/UT-30 - 3.9 mi
4. Turn right at Water Trough Rd - 3.1 mi
5. Turn left at Blackrock Rd - 1.0 mi
6. Turn right at N 4000 W - 1.0 mi
7. Continue on N 3800 W/Sam Fellow Rd Continue to follow Sam Fellow Rd - 2.9 mi
8. Turn right at N 4800 W - 5.7 mi
9. Turn right at W Main St/UT-142 Continue to follow 39 W Main St - 7.8 mi

The ride will stop for dinner at:
L D'S Cafe
39 W Main St
Richmond, UT 84333
435-258-5135

then we will ride home.
NOTE! If you want to arrange a carpool or sag wagon, feel free to leave a comment with your email<--- This is the extent of any arranging of this type that I'm going to do. Map:

View Larger Map

Take the Test

2008-03-13T12:38:00.004-06:00

Hey, give this a shot - I bet you fail. It will take 30 seconds....

The Test

Please leave a comment after taking the test and don't read the comments until you take the test.

St Patrick's Day

2008-03-10T08:17:00.010-06:00

Hey, we are not doing anything radical here like dying the Chicago River green! We are just going a ride with a little corn beef and cabbage at the mid-way point!

So, on the 17th of March 2008 be ready to ride at 5:30pm!!

Ride routes, times, start location and other details have been updated-
Full details are HERE!!!

Logan, Utah Alley Cat

2008-03-06T00:02:00.003-07:00

About 6 hours after my ride to Hypo I set out for another fun filled night in Logan. Thanks to the MCA it was just that!

Lukas showing off mad skids in the falling snow.

While the HJ did cover the prior month's ride, I have to say,"Folks, If you weren't there you missed out!"

Logan to Wellsville to Hypothermia

2008-03-05T22:55:00.004-07:00

Now, when you find road trash like this at about the half way point...one might expect a great ride. Let me go on to define great....

"Great" is all in the eye of the beholder and sometimes that eye needs to have hindsight. This was the first and only picture that I took while riding that day although I did take one more when I got home...:

It is horrible. Right? The picture is out of focus and not of really anything. Look closely... just to the right of the rider in yellow. You might be able to just make out part of a mountain side. Now, the impetus of the effort that it took to turn on the camera with cold 'stubby' fingers was the clouds that are covering the mouth of that canyon. Yes, 'that canyon' is the one that you can not see for the wall of grey. The wind told me it was Blacksmith.

~Yet, already that day had been a blast. At times we had cruised along at 20mph and hey I was keeping up with the gearly folks. Yes, Regan and Reed had soft peddled at times but all in all I was having a blast! These types of thoughts were shortly prior to the picture you just saw...20mph!!

Needless to say - After years and years of backpacking and almost 22 months of living out of a tent in the Sierras, I have never made such a series of mistakes and poor judgment. I also have never gotten even near hypothermia. That day was a turning point in things that I hadn't "accomplished" in my life.

~Cold and cruising along...10 to 14mph

Soon after taking this picture, I felt a bonk coming on. I ate some snacks and some how managed to keep control of the wrappers with my nub like fingers. The truth of the matter was that my bonk wasn't really a bonk but the start of hypo.

~We entered the Nibley road that I like so much... The 2 man pace-line at 18mph just to catch up with Regan.

This is a picture from a prior ride of the Nibley road:...will upload later....

~The storm started to really let loose...we had slowed to 12 mph...MAX

About 10 miles later Reed and I stumbled into a service station and started downing hot fluids, donuts, and even more hot fluids. At that time, I didn't really think I had any thing near Hypo just a back case of bonks. It felt like a six pack of bonks! We got back on the bikes.

~Riding, unable to see... I'm still going... 0+mph

3 miles later I was home...

~Standing in shower with all my clothes on...0.00MPH...well, 0.01mph when the hot water started to fail.

~Sitting here thinking about what a great time I had along parts of the ride and how lucky I am... 97bpm

Leap Day 2008!!!

2008-02-29T16:36:00.002-07:00

Yes I've been holding this picture just for Today!

I would also like to note that this post is also in honor of Mark Twain and was taken during the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee

In honor of Leap Year, 29FEB2008

2008-02-29T16:30:00.002-07:00

Google Maps and BIKE THERE

2008-02-26T00:06:00.006-07:00

Before reading my banter please just click on this banner and sign the petition.

Yes, I know that with the Google Map API anyone with more knowledge than me or the average banana slug could put something like the following together:

http://bycycle.org/ is an excellent working example. Be sure to zoom into Portland and have a look at the information available - pull up the map legend as well.

These other sites might help you understand some of the uses that Google's mapping API could be used for on a personal site... there are many many more than what I have here:
http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/15341
http://www.nickfessel.com/gmaps/burlingtonbikeRide.html
http://www.programmableweb.com/mashup/101-road-bike-endurance-rides-in-california

Yet...

What the petition is striving for is a "...feature [that] would take into account actual bicycle lanes from the locality being mapped, and it would automatically plan a route for a bicyclist, possibly even providing the cyclist options for either the most direct route, or the most bicycle-friendly (safest) route."

Unlike the above sights or examples given of Google's Mapping API mashing, this tool [or toy?] would be located right up there with options like:
Directions
Satellite
Terrain
Avoid Highways
Public Transit
Find businesses

We are just asking for a tab "Bike There" with all the wonders of Google Maps!

What do you think? Comments? Click here and sign the petition!

Alvey Wash Slip N Slid

2008-02-19T12:42:00.015-07:00

Went for a warm ride in the desert but ended up taking a mud bath.. Please enjoy the pictures as I have yet to think of how to sum this adventure up.

As you can see Lauren is on the pugs with a bit of 'Dry Road' underneath But the road only held while it was cold....

And the same could be said for the rivers....

Missed Connections: A Gun Carring Drivers Appology??

2008-02-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is from a Craigslist “missed connections” posting from the morning of Feb5.

"To the girl who ran into my car door on her bike -

As you peddled away crying, I realized that I had over reacted. I was having a bad day and had just spent a lot of money on a new paint job, but pulling a gun on you was out of line. I’d like to make a formal apology in person. Over a bottle of wine and/or dinner, perhaps?"

At first I had a lot to say about this. Maybe some temperance is in order on my part. Especially, in the light of my last few postings. At least the driver that posted this piece in Craigslist didn't get in his car and try to run over the cyclist.

With the drivers the world over in mind I say this - more cyclist are injured due to inattentiveness than by meanness and YOU ARE in control of a 2000lbs bullet. I can't say more than that. After another close call this week, I'm speechless. I don't even want to contemplate whose fault the Craigslist accident truly was.

You know, I bet this was just another cure Internet hoax to get me "typen"...

Sheldon Brown Memorial Site

2008-02-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Please visit Sheldon Browns Memorial Site and leave your message.

Sheldon Brown
cyclist, ambassador, more
(July 14, 1944 - February 3, 2008)

Sheldon Brown Died Last Night

2008-02-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sheldon Brown: 1944 - 2008
Thoughts and moments of quite reflections go out to his Friends and Family.

We will miss you, Sheldon!

If you must ask:
Visit Sheldon Brown on Wikipedia

Winter Surprises

2008-02-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

Now imagine how I felt when it came time to head home...

GREAT!
I think I had one of the longest skids in my fixed gear history. ALMOST, all the way form the USU campus to 400N and 500E! AND another long skid from that stoplight to the bottom of the "dugway"[Very steep road].

Now, I have to admit that I did let the rear wheel rotate every now and then to spread out the skip patch. Secondly, the 'Dugway-Skid' was more of an adventure of not falling down. I'm going to have to follow up on this post and add more.... I'm currently thinking of away to relate the exhilaration of making it to the bottom of the dugway without hitting pavement.

"Explicative" "Explicative" "Explicative" YES!!!!!

A Fixed Commute and Thoughts on the Color Taupe

2008-01-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Funny, Ironic, Sad state of Affairs... maybe. Yet, thanks to a turning of the planets or just some free time to think on the ride to work today I put a few things together. The first was the picture that you see above. The second was another new article that FixedGear [blogger] had posted. It included a link to this audio file but please don't listen to it now. I've yet to truly start on this venture and need to add the gesso.While chugging up 400n towards the USU campus I was given a myriad of things to speculate.

So that you know, heading up 400n gives wondrous view of Logan Canyon looming in the foreground with the Southern Cache valley, specifically "the Island", splayed out to the right. Sometimes I try imagining Bonneville Lake before it became a name in books or a feature in ArcMap. I invision tearing the Wellsvilles apart and forming the original lake with child like "gutter-dams" of infinite magnitude. **Rhythms of Kubla Khan adding into the constant rhythm of moving the bike up the hill. Isn't there a Xanadu restaurant up the hill somewhere...?**

Not yet...Don't listen Yet..

Today however, there was a Bald Eagle eye level with me imagining his/her own poetic assent as it hovered over "the island"[which is not an island at all but a "lower section of the city". It is more of an inverse island if you ask me]. It could have been trying to remember the words to Kubla Khan as well but I think it more likely that it was searching for someones poodle or maybe even a cold malnourished cat.
"Stick with the dog," I say.
Take out the head and you don't have to worry about the claws like you do on a hungry cat that may survive your first attempt at dispatch.
"Stick with the dog."
Listen it is crying for your attention. Can't you smell it? Well maybe not....but put your beak into it and you will!

Not yet...Don't listen to it Yet..

Yes, all this time I'm still peddling. Two pulses of traffic metered by the stop light at 500 East have passed me. Hey, I'm really not that fast but as I crest the hill and preparing to take a left into campus, I see a taupe car coming in the left hand lane. I'm in the right. Get this. It is in the left and I'm in the right. More peddle strokes... It passes me in my lane... The taupe Ford Taurus then merges back into the left lane right after passing me-without signal. So now I'm curious... is this what the driver of that car was thinking audio file? Yes, you can now listen. Am I the Frenchman, gay guy, cyclist, leftist-eco-liberal-pig... or all of the above and more to that driver?

To The Taupe Ford Taurus.... If you were trying to kill a French guy, think on this. Your were driving a car with the average color of the French mole, named after the astrological sign of the bull, and uses a derived Indo-European root[Taurus] instead of just saying "Ford Bull". Yes, 18 inches closer and you could have been the Cache Valley Zodiac killer.

For those that think I shouldn't have been on 400 in the first place. Well yes, there are better entry points to the USU campus. I could have ridden up old main hill as I have many mornings. Which reminds me that, a different path wouldn't have spared me almost being hit by the city truck that ran their stop sign near 500e and Center...

Conclusions? You ask. There are none. I don't know what was going on in either of those drivers heads. This is a rant and the second rant in a row on this blog.

Yea, I get mad and that could be the impetus of this post. Part of me is sorry that you have actually read this far.

YET, I think that Edward Abby and I will have a nice conversation on all this tomorrow on the way to work. With the hopes and distinct possibility of seeing our poodle feasting friend. I really don't see Xanadu or Kubla Khan as being a discussion point of tomorrow's ride either - Abby seems to be more of the do it yourself'er with sweat, grease, and dynamite.

I'm sure Hayduke would have ridden his bike if he lived in Logan. He would have put his jeep aside for a time. What I'm I kidding myself Hayduke would have never lived in Logan but he might have visited and he would have taken chances. He wouldn't have let anyone tell him were to ride or how fast to go or what was proper... Chances would have been taken.

In fact- now that I type this, I'm thinking about the redneck with the bumper sicker "SAVE a Deer - hit a cyclist instead" on the tail-end of some behemoth cretin-mobile. Yes,Yes,, I'm thinking these thoughts with an imaginary indelible marker in my hand...the "Did the Coyotes eat your Deer?" has been changed once. What is next?

Hopefully a wolf will be taking down an elk or an moose in Logan Canyon long before another motorist takes my wheel out of true... Abbey. You, me and Hayduke really need to get together soon. I'm thinking a long and quite ride without derailers (or dérailleur, if you prefer the French spelling and taupe colored cars) next time the hore frost invades the valley around the Bear River.

Road Trash

2008-01-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know what started this post but no idea where it is going..

We have all done it. Dropped something that doesn't go there but didn't stop to pick it up. The tip off a gel pack-it for instance...yet I bet anyone would be hard pressed to go back and find one of those blowing off into the wide yander..

CO2 cartridges lying right there beside the sun bleached floppy rubber tube is not ok... Alright the argument is that if you were driving [notice the avoidance of "riding"] a car you could just carry it with you. That is until you got to the next gas station or home at which point the offensive item could be thrown away.

See logic still works...

YET WHY does there seem to be an 1:1 ratio with it comes to increasing vehicular size and increasing roadside litter. This is just an observation - not science! Please note that I didn't want to spoil the last post with the taint and anger from this post. Riders, drivers and passengers - your trash sucks...

Maybe I'm just stupid and forgetful thus taking the proceeds of this thoughtlessness out on litterers the world over[see pic]. Maybe it was walking back from a beautiful overlook and seeing a 'Driver' through out a rolled up diaper into the parking lot and this has not been the first time that I've seen "dipper-flowers" along the road. Although she was aiming for the parking space next to her - Quite evident from the downward lob or shall I venture "plop" that the projectile made... Yet, Her aim was a bit off - only 25 feet from a trash can and just a few more parking spaces from a open restroom....

Arrrr!!!

Pocket your trash... it really isn't that bad!!!! maybe just maybe this [see picture again] was one of those things that happened so that I remembered to write this post and hold riders to task for throwing their spent tubs on the ground. I mean come on now.. You just took out a tube that has been in your saddlebag for hundreds and hundreds of miles - put the floppy one back.

From Don't Litter

Tri-State Fixed Gear Stomp

2008-01-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

And- It was cold!!

It seemed that Cache Valley was holding in the bad weather and from reports of friends that like to walk on water [white fluffy water] the snow fell all day on the mountain. The first 40miles[Logan to Garden City] of the ride were through fog and falling snow. YET a 15 minute stop in Garden City produced clear weather 'almost' all the way into Wyoming.

Of special note-The descents on both the passes were snow covered and/or icy but I managed not to have a 'yard sale' or end up 'ass over tea kettle'[See Mooseknukler Cycling Alliance! for further details on asses and teakettles].Actually, it was the first time that I've noticed that the descending lane is more treacherous regardless of the side of the mountain that you are on. YET, the observation of this simple but plainly obvious fact could all be a factor of low oxygen and descent induced brain freeze on a failing mind. Please, Please let me know if you think I'm full of shit on this or not.

Anyway once over the pass just east of Laketown, it was smooth spinning.... for about another 40 miles. AND! most importantly, soon after Laketown I deposited the jacket, wind pants, arm warmers and leg warmers into the fanny pack[the gloves I kept on...and beanie and the beanie- brain freeze bad; bad bad bad]. It was time for sun and blue sky . Much like the juniper trees in the Desert during the peak of day, the road had a soothing effect on the eyes. The beauty of the mountains and snow covered hills was a harsh and blinding beauty. Today[that day] the road was my princess regardless of the surroundings.

The Descent after Laketown made me think of similar descents in NV along hwy50 where you could see the road disappear into the next ascent, horizon, dried up town,... The spin continued nicely up until the storm kicked up and started blowing into me...

Oh, and on that note- Wyoming Drivers- You rock. Utah Drivers I'm not sure if you saw me there. Sorry for chipping your side view mirror with my head...ok, no that didn't happen but I've got stories to curl your toenails. Emphasis here is on the plural.

No - I didn't make it to Soda Springs which was my first "final destination". Lauren ended up picking me up at around mile 90something for a wonderful "thaw" and Thai dinner at Lava Hot Springs, ID.

Given an earlier start [I left at 8:30] and a few more hours of day this trip could be made into the perfect bicycling weekend. A 150 mile ride over to two beautiful passes, a night at Lava Hot Springs,ID; a big breakfast the following morning, and a nice easy rolling 80 miles home. A fixed gear rider couldn't hope for a better ascent and descent when riding form Laketown, Ut to Wyoming. It's a hard churn up hill followed by a nice even slope out into Wyoming - it seemed like miles and miles of just about the same rpm's. I couldn't have hope for anything better! Oh,,, I did flip the dingle cog over at the top of the pass but I like to remeber it as having a good day.

Finally Activity!

2008-01-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, after a long long hiatus I've finally started to upload pictures and may even start typing in a few posts. Blog time will just have to take second, third and fourth row seats to work, biking, sking,,,, well, everything else.

It also seems that my biking time is being cut tremendously by the cold weather. Don't get me wrong Lauren and I have been out and about but today was the first ride in a long time. While this might be changing [more on that in a later post], I'll happily confess that I'm liking xc-skiing - I know that the dogs like me xc-skiing much more than when I pull the bike out [i.e... when they have to stay home].

I've also posted some old pictures on the first of the year that never made it off the camera during 2007! Hope that you enjoy.

Happy New Year,
Ike

Zion National Park to Mesquite NV

2008-01-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

This was one of the longer Fixed Gear rides that I accomplished this summer. Looking back on rides like this, I like to think of how I could have done things differently maybe trained harder...etc.. etc..

Mostly though, are thoughts of a trip that would not be so based on the debit card. While it was nice to know that I could crank out some miles [still], I have to ask myself, "How far could it get if only self supported? How far without gas stations for extra water and snacks?...Where does that dirt road really go to? What is really 'off limits' in Shivwitts Res... I mean, Could I take any road as long as I think it is a road?"

Box Death Hollow Hike

2008-01-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

Bike and Hike slide show of Zion National Park

2007-07-17T18:17:00.000-06:00

Kolob Terrace Road - Revisited

2007-05-03T20:45:00.000-06:00

I don't know what it is about this ride but I really enjoyed beating myself up on it last weekend. As far as traffic[few and far between] and road quality it ranks as a nice road but add the views in, it is fantastic! Note 'Red Roads' are inside the park while gray roads are outside the park. Kolob Terrace Road [KTR] winds in and out of the Zion NP. Below are pictures from my second ride that took me to the end of the 'road'.... Yet, the pictures only tell a story of one tooth along the many many turns of the crank. Enjoy...
This was the first ride that I used the Dingle's 20t cog since I've been to Zion. Around town moving form a 42X17 to the 42X20 makes pulling the B.O.B. feel like taking a nap... Still, I know that I couldn't have pulled the B.O.B. up this with camping gear and supplies for the weekend. Even with the 42X20, I struggled up the grades. Maybe a 36 chainring is in order... or needs to be ordered.

I went through 4 water bottles on the ride up KTR and still felt lacking as I road back into Virgin[at the mouth of the KTR]. The only place to "fill up" in Virgin is a RV park [mobile retirement homes] with a rather large convenience store. Of special note, they are open on Sundays! and are happy to have bicyclists stop by.

I’ve uploaded the ride to Google Maps and Motion Based.

Ending it all with Dinner at Sol Foods.... and a full moon ride home.

Fixed Gear in the NYTimes

2007-05-02T21:52:00.000-06:00

This was just sent to me. It is a great article but a bit messenger-centric. Whether you’re with brakes or without, Enjoy.
NEW YORK REGION / THE CITY April 29, 2007 Unstoppable By JOCKO WEYLAND

Fixed Gear grind up Kolob Terrace Road [Zion NP]

2007-04-27T21:26:00.000-06:00

Although this ride was great, I had to back off because I didn't fill up with water in Virgin, Ut. Simple mistake but I didn't know if I could fill up at the Kolob Reservoir. I didn't want to take the chance... So, I'm going to leave earlier and try it with better preparations. Thus far all my rides in and around Zion have used a "forty-two X17" gearing. I've been using the Surly hub and dingle cog when on fire or BLM roads. I have yet to stop and move the chain form the 17t cog to the 20t cog. On this ride I had the Phil hub on with a 17t / 15t cogs [fixed-fixed flip flop] but was aggravated at turning around due not stopping in Virgin - thus I didn't flip over to the 15t cog. Instead working on my spin was the theme of the day as I enjoyed the ride and canyons.

I’ve uploaded the ride to Google Maps and Motion Based.

Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures from the ride but pictures from Kolob Terrace Road will follow shortly! Instead I have a few pictures form my ride on Wednesday and the cold weather the desert has been having.

view form Hwy 9

Links to the La Verkin ride are here: Google Maps and Motion Based. This section on highway 9 is fantastic and was the access to Kolob Terrace Road as well.

Zion to Shivwits In. Res. 21Apr2007

2007-04-22T15:47:00.000-06:00

Motion Based Link
After a bit of preparation and pouring over maps [specifically BLM’s “Arizona Strip Visitor Map; scale 1:160,000; 1”=2.5miles; revision 5 -2006], I decided to scout out a way around Interstate 15 that could take me from Zion down to Mesquite, NV.

It was just becoming light when I road past Virgin and "Monkey Launch Mesa". The Mesa is a restricted sight and avionic testing does occur there but the rest is local lore [unless I find out more in the ride to come…].

The Shortest distance turned out to be Hwy9 out of the park to Telegraph RD. in St George and then on the only roads that connect to Shivwits, UT and eventually Littlefield, AZ. Check out the Motion Based route to see my exact route as I modified it on the way back and cut out a few miles. The view form Hwy 9 down into La Verkin was un believable!

While there was never a “bad” or negative part of the ride, I can say that the worst stretch of road was along highway9 from Hurricane to St George and onto Santa Clara. Had I not traveled these roads in the am and pm I might have said it was one of the best places to set your tires. The afternoon ride through St George had me on my toes and both hands on the breaks. I almost got clocked by someone making a left across a 4 lane road [Telegraph in St. George]. Anyway I ducked right and they almost got hit by oncoming traffic – it was ugly but nothing really happened. Fixie or not I was ready to lock things up with legs, breaks and jump up onto a curb by the time I made it back to Hurricane where I took a nap. ;-)

Once pasted Santa Clara I began to see multiple groups of cyclists as well as the solo’s like myself. I never managed to ‘hop on’ a passing peloton and talk a bit. Yet, waves and thumbs-up were passed around generously. While there were sections of rough roads, small houses and distant farms, I felt that I owned the place. Looking around constantly while maintaining [trying to maintain] a smooth, complete spin on the fixie was zen. I’m gong back! and might even make it a three day trip with many many more destinations. No I didn’t make Mesquite but then is that really a bad thing…. ?

In fact had I eaten a bit better and realized that I was going up a pretty constant incline since Ivins, I might have not turned around when I did. I got caught up in a bit of a psychological defeatism – Half-way was wherever I turned the bike around. I was feeling good and knew that I could get back with out a problem but I didn’t want to push myself so far as not to have fun and/or a great ride. AT some point I had decided that staying in Mesquite would not be that fun. I turned around with 62 miles under my belt and with hopes of making the end of the Earth Day celebrations and presentations at Zion National Park. I made it in time for the last band and a great discussion.

Scouting: There are some great road rides after Ivins on Old Hwy 91[Old Spanish National trail (Northern route) and Old Mormon Wagon Road] but many of the side roads are on Indian land – they are off limits. I had also hoped to scout out the “Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Road and Scenic Byway” but either I didn’t go far enough or it was an unmarked road that I thought was off limits.

Yet, my next ride might be down Main Street Valley [South of St George] so that I can do two short hikes: Mokaac Trail and to the east side of Quail Hill. If the roads are all paved out of Main Street and Wolf Hole Valley, I might be able to link this ride to the one I just finished via: back roads through Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, up to Mesquite, Littlefield, Shivwits, and Hwy 9 to Zion. I'm going to try to stay on payment though but...as always... wonderlust may take hold and dirt may fly.

Red Mountain and the rest of this rides pictures can be view on my Picasa Album

Hikes instead of Bikes

2007-04-16T18:32:00.000-06:00

Hey, I had a blast.

"Whoo Whooooo"
-Luna

"Ahrrrrrrrrrrr"
-Alley

"[Censored] awesome"
-Lauren

Windy/Rain Rides

2007-04-12T19:45:00.000-06:00

After a few rides out of Zion it isn't hard to discover the wind.
Canyon winds.. My ride on the 9th had 47mi/hr gusts with a 27mi/hr average wind. Ug!

"As the canyons cool and the setting sun lights up a glorious cascade of hues I am heading out on another ride," has been my daily moto that last two weeks. However the weather is playing spring. This time the ride was in the rain with very light winds although at the same time canyon winds usually pick-up.

It was one of the best and ended in a very nice sunset.

View the ride on Motion Based & just click on the Photos to view in full size.

Zion Adventures

2007-04-10T20:54:00.000-06:00

Starting my second week in Zion, I have more than a few stories to tell. Yet, in order to keep things rolling I'm going to have to let my pictures tell the story.

Visit www.splashblog.com/Burly_Surly to view the latest Surly Adventures....

I will be using the Splash blog account when on the road or to busy to use a real computer. The Picasa web Albums will eventualy have all updated ride info and senery descriptions.

Cheers,
Ike

Zion NP to Grafton

2007-04-10T20:10:00.000-06:00

View the ride on Motion Based & just click on the Photos to view in full size.

This ride, as with most all of my rides, headed south out of the park on state Highway 9. It started off with my first clear view of the Eagle Crags just out side of Spring Dale. I was constantly reminded of the wind every time I looked up and even pedaling down hill was a struggle. As I crested the hills on my way to Grafton I didn’t feel the usual rush of spin that my fixed Surly usually gives, just the need to churn and grind harder to over come the wall that I just hit.

The Exit to Grafton form Hwy9 is the first left in Rockville, Bridge road.

After hitting a dirt road, the first signs of Grafton will be the Grafton Cemetery. I had NO problems riding 16-20 mph along these roads on the Surly Cross-X but if I come back I will put on wider tires [35 to 40mm and not the 23 mm and 25mm that I had on for this ride]. Big bumps/rocks jolted the hell out of me when I didn’t miss them but I felt I had the stability that it took to avoid any seen obstacle, even on the washboards.

Some might recognize this little town from the Movie ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969). The Film was shot in a variety of places [Durango and Silverton, Colorado, St. George and Grafton, Utah, with Cuernavaca and Taxco, Mexico, standing in for South America]. If you remember seeing the movie, you might recognize the church in the background of of the shot of my Cross-Check and the Grafton Town Hall porch. For more information on Grafton visit http://www.graftonheritage.org/ .

I finished the journey into the night with out the aid of an expected tailwind. Oh, Well! I can’t say that it wasn’t fun but not getting one’s way can be an unexpected surprise. It was a great ride and one that I will probably re-peat, regardless of the wind or lack of, in the upcoming months as the Bridge Rd out of Rockville and towards Grafton splits giving access to Gooseberry Mesa and new surprises!
All the best,
Ike

Mount Kinesava and the rest of this rides pictures can be view on my Picasa Album.

Zion NP to Lava Flow

2007-04-09T20:14:00.000-06:00

View this ride at Motion Based

Fixed Gear Conversion: Miyata cont....

2007-03-31T02:28:00.000-06:00

Fixed Gear Conversion: Miyata

After a few tries and failures I'm posting the remaining pictures here. Blogger has temporally lost the ability to be edited or to add pictures. I'll combine this write up at a later date.
Tailwinds, Ike

Fixed Gear Conversion: Miyata

2007-03-31T02:02:00.000-06:00

Ok, this post is a little premature but here are some pictures immediately following the striping off of parts. This bike was discovered at Recycled Bicycles in Logan, Ut! If Robert Hamlin [R.B. owner] had been open a few years back I might not have gotten my Surly but I wouldn't have known then what I know now. I have yet to find a better match for me than the Cross Check. Although I haven't been by Recycled Bicycles often, every time I'm there Robert Hamlin is rebuilding a commuting tool [many are fixed gear and singlespeed creations] or sending an old frame out the door with great expectations.

Winter's Grip

2007-03-30T00:20:00.000-06:00

A perfect month. March. Sunshine & Tailwinds. Spring was here. At some point things changed this week and I was amazed how a bit of winter could put a blanket on a town....I too wanted nothing more than a cup of coffee and to stay at home. The campus and even the city looked deserted like everyone decided to take a sick day.

For me I was running late, again. Forcing myself on to the bike and up to work, I went out into the muck. Stupidly I skidded, churned the cranks, skidded and skidded throughout the town, into campus and right up to the front door at work. Although the streets felt wet, a brand new gatorskin tire was compromised in the name of fun. No I'm not going to embarrass myself by posting a skid on youtube but I will continue to make my rides enjoyable. When I'm asked about "why do you like your fixed gear?", I think of days like this. Miserable days to be out except on a bike. I'm sure skiers, snowshoers , and many others could say the same thing but then how many of them get to work that way....

Other...Before I head off for the summer, I had hoped to finish the fixing of the Miyata. The Miyata "fix" was really done last week in about 30min... I'm still holding off on pictures because we haven't painted it, taken off the cable-bosses or the down tube shifting-bosses. We have both ridden it around a bit but I'm waiting on a half-link to make the chain length just right before any major rides. Even after a few short trips, Lauren thinks it is easier to ride up hill on the fixie . Another sole changed forever....

Sunday's ride

2007-03-26T00:42:00.000-06:00

The day began with plans of a short trip… Ride when the day grew warm and end long before the sun started it’s decent. At some point Lauren suggested that no matter what the plans “we were going to pack an entire lunch”. So, a Sunday tour of homes in Richmond, UT found us heading up Smithfield Canyon with empty water bottles and the taste of Luna bars in out mouths. Since distance wasn’t our aim, we turned around yet not before the small roads disappeared in to dirt trails. After a few more stops and side jaunts we stayed off the bonk with hot dogs in Richmond. I had to..Fresh Sauerkraut on a polish dog and Cholula hot sauce imported form Mexico. How could anyone in their right mind pick a better food to stay off a bonk. Chased with donuts and Gatorade – 20 miles later I wanted to kill myself but it was still a great ride. Sorry – no GPS, no cycling computers, no back pack/camelback and/or worries to get in the way of the ride or to help tell this story. However, all our pictues have been up-loaded to Splash blog and my picasa web album. Click on any picture here to get a larger view.

Lessons from the Big Fix crew were ringing in my head as we headed back – I hadn’t worn my helmet because it was going to be a short one. A nice head wind was brewing as we jumped on Hwy89 to get back home. The Lessons? The little things…. Helmets, always having a snack, water, giving the bike a once over every time it is ridden - Peter, Bo, Steve, Greg, Ricky, Walt-Dawg, Crash, Eric – Thanks. Lauren and I finished the day off by working together into the wind as the sky clouded-up with the sun peaking through just over the mountain tops– It was simply Great!

Spring

2007-03-21T01:49:00.000-06:00

Update.

While an overly obvious statement like, “Spring is here!” is in order. The overall spirit of things needs to be clarified -Every ride seems to have a tailwind.

Work will take me to Zion N.P. for the first 3 months of summer [April-June] followed by a return to Logan, UT. I fully anticipate that emailing, calling, and blogging will become even more sporadic. After a bought of Flu and respiratory distress, I have been too happy peddling on the Surly to even touch the computer and I expect this trend to continue…the days are only going to get longer.

Over the last few weeks the cycling computer has been put aside, I’ve taken the rear breaks off and built up a Phil Fixed/Fixed rear wheel. Skidding and short sprints have pushed aside any notions of long driven rides this past week. Audio books and NPR in the mornings have been replaced by raucous music on my rides but I’m sure that the passing of March will eliminate sounds produce by the likes of the Dropkick Murphies.

The crosscheck looks goofy with naked rear break bosses sticking out the back and the canyons aren’t holding enough cold air to warrant second thoughts of an ascent. Who knows what the surly will look like in a week but whether it has a loaded B.O.B. with a new dingle cog or the Phil rear wheel with no breaks, fun will be had.

While the impetus for the Phil was to have a flip-flop wheel for some of the longer brevets this spring and potentially for PBP[Paris-Brest-Paris is August 20-24, 2007 ], I have backed away form any notions of heading to France. I still have high hopes of knocking off a 600km brevet [possibly 1000km] fixed. Other exploits like touring the grand circle is going to be more my style for this summer.

Lauren is slowly taking to road riding and she now has her own fixie in the stable. I'll be posting the renovation and fixing of the Miyata soon. Although not completely committed to a fixed brevet or century the intentions for adventure are there...it will just have to wait until after may [post graduation]. All in all I think a healthy mix of hiking and climbing will be the only obstacles for some great cycling this summer.

Stay in touch,

Ike

Dingle Cog...

2007-03-21T00:44:00.000-06:00

Dingle cog-
"the word derives from from dual and single"-Surlyville

What a great Idea! While I don't think that this is the best option for Randonneuring, the 17/20t dingle cog gave me the perfect combination of gears when touring or commuting with a loaded Yak B.O.B. I have considered using it for Randonneuring but I just built up a fixed/fixed Phil wood hub for the longer jaunts and like the idea of having a knobby and road wheel set for the Surly. Regardless of your perceived application, the Dingle cog gives a virtual fixed/fixed wheel and can be run with two front chainrings, similar to a Rivendell Quickbeam, or with a single chainring.

While the Dingle cog comes in 17/19t, 17/20t or 17/21t combinations it is only available for use with a 3/32" [narrow or "9 speed"] chain width. I’m using a single 42t chainring with my Dingle Cog. I went with the 17/20t cog for 2 reasons. First, I'm only going to be using one chainring. This means that when I change form the 17t to the 20t cog my axle will move forward 3/8 of an inch. While there is plenty of room to move the axle forward almost an entire inch, the type of tires greatly affect the range of movement that rear axle can make. When using wide knobbies (700X45 or 35) I can not move the axle as far forward in the dropout. "Fatties Fit Fine" in the Surly Crosscheck but only when the axle is in the rear most position. Otherwise, they tend to rub on the rear triangle. Since I wanted to use the dingle on fire break roads and some single track, I made a compromise. There is about a 10 inch gear difference between the 17t and 20t. I expect that I'm still going to have to walk some of the steeper hills and gullies but this is a great way play on the road until I get to the trails. The 17/21t missed out based on mud and snow clearance. Yes, 1/8 inch does matter.

The other huge advantage that the Dingle Cog gives me is with my B.O.B. trailer. Yes, I've been pulling that thing around on a fixed gear! Up until now I have had a surly fixed/free hub with "B.O.B. Nutz" instead of the normal solid axle nuts. It is a fantastic setup. I've been running with a 42/15 around town (groceries, recycling) and 42/17t on a few short camping trips. YET, the 42/17t just gets me to the back roads and pulling the B.O.B. up hills on uneven, rocky ground was a bit much. The ability to change gear ratios while on the trail, road, or lost is heavenly! 17/’anything’ would win here. For less than the price of 2 cogs I just opened the door to riding [i.e. without pushing or walking the bike] up one canyon and down another!

Finally, skid patches! The 17t tooth cog gives me 17 skid patches on the rear and the 20t cog gives me 10 when running my 42t chainring. Although this probably should be an after thought, I have burned through a few tires and couldn’t leave it alone. The 19t and 17t cogs are the best choice if you are going to skid. They produce 17 and 19 skid patches with almost every front chain ring configuration [51/17 and 38/19 will have 1 skid patch --- skid patch = #chainring teeth divided by the greatest common divisor between the # of teeth on the cog and chainring]. In any case, I just didn't see myself skidding around on trial and with a B.O.B. as mush as I do around town. The 17/20 won based on gear inches and tire clearance again.

Yes, the chain line is a bit off but I haven’t had any problems to date and shouldn’t unless I let my chain become loose while crossing bumpy terrain. I'll update this post at a later date once I've been off road with "B.O.B" and "Dingle" on some multi-day adventures.

NPR STORY: Day to Day, February 6, 2007 - Cyclists Switch to Single-Speed Bikes

2007-02-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

NPR's Dan Charles reported on "Fixed Gears" recently on the National Public Radio show Day to Day.
Listen or Read the show by clicking here.

I give Dan an "A-" but as with most reports that can only spend a few minutes on the subject some facts were given a precursory explanation. If you would like to learn more about fixed gears I suggest two sites:

1>The Fixed Gear Gallery has an astonishing as well as the best display of aesthetics and diversity of a Fixed Gear Bicycle on the web.

2>Sheldon Brown is the fixed gear guru. Visit his site if you have a question no one else can answer.

Campy Only's Big Fix/PBP Blog

2007-01-16T02:45:00.000-07:00

Eric [AKA “The Campy Only Guy” / “The Diesel”] has posted a very small write up on “The Ride2007” as well.
Campy Only's Big Fix/PBP Blog
Enjoy,
Ike

The Ride 2007

2007-01-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Ride 2007 was a fantastic journey with some friends from the BIG FIX 2006, Utah State University and some new ones made along the way. The ride started on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and continued ~350miles along the coast of California to Santa Barbra.

Unfortunately, I missed out on the last 30 miles of day three. I would like to blame my exodus from the bike and into the car on pains but I had given it my all. With that said – The Ride 2007 was an amazing trip down the coast of California. I intend to do it again as part of “The Ride” and maybe split up into smaller 60 mile stages with ‘ecologically oriented friends’ that will have to stop and look at things for hours at a time.

In the mean time I’m back in Logan, UT and trying to stay in shape for my next ride. Spring time is almost here and I can’t wait to put the rollers away!

I have put all my pictures from the Ride 2007 in to a Picasa Web Album [by Google]. Click on the photo below to view: Individual pictures, web slide shows, leave comments on pictures, or download pictures.

The Ride 2007.1

The Big Fix 2006 Photos

2006-11-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hey, Just as a side note on the blog- Instead of recreating the Campy Only Big Fix Blog . I've posted all my photos on picasaweb. Click on the picture below to view, comment, or download pictures.
Enjoy!

BIG FIX 2006

Blacksmith canyon to Logan canyon - The Surly is Back online!

2006-11-08T22:47:00.000-07:00

This was a ride that we did Sunday. Over 30miles of it was on dirt roads and this heralds the season of the Burly Surly on the net again...

Hope all is well and your out riding! Cheers!
Posted on Motion Based.

The Latest Press - Rare Disease Gets Special Attention

2006-06-16T23:21:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the another post without verbage... folks from back in Tejas might reconize this write up!
Rare Disease Gets Special Attention

See you soon - Ike

I'll explain all the pictures soon....

2006-06-01T19:00:00.000-06:00

Calaveras Countt Jumping Frog Contest and A Big Fix Surly

2006-06-01T18:57:00.001-06:00

How to Jump a Surly CrossCheck

2006-06-01T18:57:00.000-06:00

The Leger Hotel

2006-06-01T18:55:00.000-06:00

The Haunted Room #8

2006-06-01T18:54:00.000-06:00

Home for a night

2006-06-01T18:53:00.000-06:00

Wet Land Surpirse

2006-06-01T18:52:00.000-06:00

Loyal Order of Moose - This one is for you

2006-06-01T18:51:00.000-06:00

The Road Home

2006-06-01T18:46:00.000-06:00

The Route - BIG FIX 2006

2006-05-05T15:52:00.000-06:00

Day 1-June 17
Davis to Pollock Pines, CA
85 miles

Day 2-June 18
Pollock Pines to Fallon, NV
151 miles

Day 3-June 19
Fallon to Austin, NV
110 miles–4,700 ft.

Day 4-June 20
Austin to Ely, NV (M-6)
147 miles–6,500 ft.

Day 5-June 21
Ely to Beaver, UT (M-6/C)
175 miles

Day 6-June 22
Beaver to Tropic, UT
85 miles

Day 7-June 23
Tropic to Hanksville, UT
141 miles

Day 8-June 24
Hanksville to Blanding, UT
126 miles

Day 9-June 25
Blanding to Rico, CO
118 miles

Day 10-June 26
Rico to Montrose, CO
87 miles

Day 11-June 27
Montrose to Salida,CO
128 miles

Day 12-June 28
Salida to Pueblo, CO
98 miles

Day 13-June 29
Pueblo to Eads, CO
111 miles

Day 14-June 30
Eads to Scott City, KS (C)
101 miles

Day 15-July 1
Scott City to Great Bend, KS
119 miles

Day 16-July 2
Great Bend to Emporia,KS
143 miles

Day 17-July 3
Emporia toWarrensburg, MO
151 Miles

Day 18-July 4
Warrensburg to Monroe City, MO
170 miles

Day 19-July 5
Monroe City to Springfield, IL (M-6)
130 miles

Day 20-July 6
Springfield to W. Lafayette, IN
160 miles

Day 21-July 7
W. Lafayette to Fort Wayne,IN
143 miles

Day 22-July 8
Fort Wayne to Brookpark, OH
185 miles

Day 23-July 9
REST DAY Cleveland, Ohio –
Histioctytosis Conference, hosted by Michael Golding

Day 24-July 10
Brookpark/Cleveland to Lakewood, NY
158 miles

Day 25-July 11
Lakewood to Elmira, NY (M-6)
170 miles

Day 26-July 12
Elmira to Tannerville, NY
155 miles

Day 27-July 13
Tannerville toWilbraham, MA
137 miles

Day 28-July14
Wilbraham to Boston,MA
84 miles

For more information visit www.fixhistio.org

There and Back Again

2006-05-02T00:57:00.000-06:00

There and Back Again... the road to Sonora started off with a little bit of work. Yep even on my day off I managed to do a bit of work as well as log a 120+mile day in before the end of April!

There are a few passive collection traps in the foreground.

It felt good although I, once again, didn't eat enough and bonked towards the end of the ride. I've also determined that wearing a backpack while riding is out of the question on these long rides...

Anyway I've bonked, rebounded, blogged and am ready for more...

The Cable House

2006-05-02T00:48:00.000-06:00

While I expect that most drive right past this, I found myself pealing away the Hantavirus warning... and standing just inside the door with my bike.

Hey, I'm a biologist I know what I'm doing...right. All others that question my sanity in this would probably be right as well.

The fact was that this was a couple of weeks or so before the chain suck incident and I'm just now updating the blog. In my defense, at the point in time that I preyed open that door; cold and dampness had me to the bone. I didn't care. Moreover, I'm still alive even after riding back to take pictures in the sunshine. Survived adventures must = justification

Not only was this shack a godsend but it has a story to tell besides housing rodents and the occasional soggy creature and his bike. The shack appears to be a cable house that is hydro powered or was at one time, I think... It is on the north facing slope of the Tuolumne drainage just before you get to the Cherry Lake Road turnoff. It might have once been a trolley or just helped pull the power lines across the valley. I don't know yet but I bet there is someone in Hetch Hetchy that can tell me. The dirt road that shows hints of once being paved goes down to the cheery lake road. That Mt.bike friendly section is less that a quarter mile long and feels like it is going straight down....

It was a blast on the Surly once I beefed it up by adding 700X41 tires.... I'm still running the same gear 42 tooth chainring X 17 tooth cog. Without a flip-flop hub this has been my bread and butter. Just enough to power up the hills and just enough to let me spin like mad down them. I know I shoul be training else where in the gear range but the sudden down hills followed by the ups make this choice a must.

Every time - riding opens itself in the form of new excursions and adventures. I wish that this blog would auto-write itself.... work and sunny weather keep me form riding as much as I need yet I shutter at the prospects of a cold drizzly ride.

Sunny days make nice rides but little to tell Friends, Family, acquaintances and fellow bloggers - I'm drinking in the rain as if it was a beer with y'all.

Chain suck..

2006-05-01T23:27:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure what happened here except for the fact that it happened so fast. I had just left camp and was cursing down evergreen road.

In reality I was trying to warm up by pouring everything I had into the downhill before the road started to twist and turn.

There was one rather large pop and I think something hit my ankle although I don't know if it was the chain, a rock, a stick or Casper just playing a joke. Maybe I only hear the pop. I just glad that when the chain snapped back around my peddle that it didn't loop around my foot.

The end result was a skid with me jumping up onto, ok ok leaning far forward, onto the handlebars and hitting the front break. The tire blew almost instantly but I was more worried about the rim at that point. Why I didn't flip over the handlebars I don't know either.

Actually, I don't know why I was thinking that or how I ended up thinking that. Somewhere in those moments I went form thinking about the rain and the upcoming turning into a thought process that went like this.
WHAT$^#$$^%&
IT'S Going to BLOW!!
My Rim, My Rim..

The end result is that I haven't been able to remove the cog [yet] although I have used liquid wrench on the cog on every ride, fatter tires are now on the bike for longer rides, Hutchison Carbon Comps will only be used on rainy days (WAIT!! it was raining during that event), I hammered a bent tooth on the chain ring backinto plance and I'm carrying an extra chain on rides that take me away form everyone and civilization. There might be more to add into that run on but I can't think of it now.

Until the sunshine hides again, Best Wishes

Work.

2006-04-29T02:17:00.000-06:00

Ok, what work has me in this part of the world?
I have to add this because there are even some members of my family that still ask the above question...
I'm a biologist (technician - officially) for the USDA-ARS Bee Lab. I guess that with every thing government, I've just told you nothing.

Basically, the park has never had a compete invertebrate survey. The logistics and size of the park alone make a small study like this one difficult but surveys and studies have been done on every thing from Ravens to black bears. SO what makes bees so special, let alone invertebrates.

The stories that they can tell! I have no guess as to the total species of invertebrates that the park has. It has between 370 and 500 species of bees and each one of these species has a different life history. This project hopes to identify and document all species occurring in the Yosemite National park. Then start to weave a tapestry, a grand series of stories, of the interrelationships bees have with flowers, slopes, gravel types, and presents of different nesting materials/substrates as well as the fires that make the flora of Yosemite an ever changing a mosaic.

Much better than tracking West Nile Virus in mosquitoes....eh?

Links that officially describe what I/we are doing for the Yosemite Fund, NPS and the USGS in Yosemite are below.

http://www.yosemitefund.org/yoseprojects/yoseprojects.htm
http://ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?accn_no=408262
http://www.yorku.ca/yorkint/internships/placements/usda.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parsons/

70 days Till the Big Fix 2006

2006-04-10T18:02:00.000-06:00

Wants and reality very rarely meet.

Yesterday(April 9) I decided to go for a ride in a cold drizzle out of an attempt to add a polish to a wonderful but coffee driven day. I wanted to started clocking miles in my goal for 1400 in the month of showers...

As much work was done as I could possibly do: No bees to catch, no note cards to fill out, no plants to identify. To cool for even mushrooms to rear their heads form the humus....camp was set and the cold was setting in to the bones untouched by the warmth of hot coffee in a metal cup!

1400 miles. Now just 1370 and I have the knowledge that the wall is only 30 miles away. Maybe zipping along a rolling down hill slope wasn't so bad but the last mile back I was almost walking. Nothing left... BONK.

I feel good today but it is raining even harder and my tail is in between my legs. I have about 60 days before the BIG FIX and I just bonked at mile 30... we are going to be riding 5 times that almost every day. I feel impending DOOM!

Tomorrow rain or shine - Bonk elixir and an update to polish tomorrow off with! A polish that was stolen form me some where in the cold yesterday.

Sorry no photos for awhile...
Ike

Reflections

2006-01-24T00:10:00.000-07:00

Fundraising has to be the hardest part of this. The rides are the fun part and in many ways keep me focused on the overall goal, raising funds for a cure and patient care.

Most of this time, I don't listen to music when I ride but I do develop a thirst for it during the rides. Usually because I can't quite remember the words correctly or the tune completely. Yet, it is during those moments when my mind is not pestered with cellphone-drivers, lost lyrics or sudden lanes changes that I can concentrate on fundraising, work or a new way to teach ultimate. During those moments, I find that miles click by and speed is irrelevant to time. Somehow I can concentrate by not thinking and let things happen at their pace. It is wonderful....as was this ride.

There is a place where time stands still.
...illuminated by only the most feeble red light, for light is diminished to almost nothing at the center of time, its vibrations slowed to echoes in vast canyons, its intensity reduced to the faint glow of fireflies.
-Alan Lightman, Einstein's Dreams

Somewhere in-between sky and happiness

2006-01-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

This was a trip under the best of circumstances. I couldn't have been happier!
Thanks Lauren!

Franklin, Idaho

2006-01-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

This is the trip where daylight and time were not on my side. Franklin is a wonderful piece of the US but it holds little hospitality when Mother Nature decides to blast you off the road.

In any case - Those "Hot Hands or Hot Feet" instant packs that I carried for the past few months in case of emergency...... Well, don't waste your money!. .....Save it for a cab fare.

Dino Bones

2006-01-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

I had to!

It's hilarious to have a mascot at a service station/gas station that is literally the product. I think of it as like having a cow petting zoo in front of Micky-D's or a "Pick your Chick then come on back and we'll fried her up" sign in front of a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Well at least the Dino is dead. We can paint him up green, borrow a few "bones" to coast on by and support the local emperor in the process.

Add to this a funny though: In the Ozarks and Smokey Mountains there are a few restaurants that proudly let you point to the rainbow trout that you are about the eat. Healthy looking animals, I might add, ready for the fryer but time and fond memories play ticks on the mind. It has been a while since I was in either the Ozarks or the Smokey Mountains.

In truth the Man in Black is who really inspired this picture. Every time I passed my green friend on a ride out to Idaho I had Johnny's lyrics rattling around in my head.

Too cold to start a fire
I'm burning diesel, burning dinosaur bones
I'll take the river down to still water
And ride a pack of dogs

I'm gonna break
I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage .....and run
-Johnny Cash

Holiday Hiatus

2006-01-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

After a Holiday Hiatus, I thought I should update the blog with a westerly view of home. I went on numerous rides to Preston, Franklin [When lazy or just picking up Mormonbane], Salt Lake City on Christmas day, Lava Hot Springs, Hardware Ranch, Smithville, Wellsville..ect. I should have taken better notes on my trips but at the time, the most important part was trying to average 18mph on trips of 30miles or more. All I have now are a few pictures and a list of numbers. I hope that this will soon change as will the weather!

Cheers,
Ike

Sunday's Ride

2005-12-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday’s ride was great but I didn’t quite make it up to Hardware Ranch. It will be one that I tackle again in the near future. It is a wonderful ride and the paucity of cars is an added bonus. This is looking up Left Hand Fork, which I rode a few miles just to see.

Friday's Ride

2005-12-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

I’ve started logging miles. My goal of 200 non-commuting miles on the bike has turned out harder to fit into the week than I first thought.

Facing it, always facing it, that's the way to get through. Face it.
-Joseph Conrad

Yet, the first wet and cold ride of the season is now past and there are two new converts to the cause. Normal folk of this area certainly think I’m crazy but I’m slowly convincing them that is all for a good cause over a cup of coffee while I warm my feet. At lest one gas station has volunteered to be an unofficial sponsor on cold days by providing a free coffee stop. Dam the snow plows, full steam ahead. Hopefully, these rides will serve a double propose with donations to the www.fixhistio.org as well as a tempering of the bones and sinew.

Most of the time I’m just riding up to Franklin, Idaho but I’m going to shoot for Bear Lake on Sunday. Not as many stops but the infrequency of stops is off set by Logan Canyon.

Locks of Love

2005-12-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

Locks of Love - That's Lauren and Lisa in a pre-December picture behind the snowboard. Every vote counts!

Thankyou

2005-12-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

Only in men's imagination does every truth find an effective and undeniable existence. Imagination, not invention, is the supreme master of art as of life.
Joseph Conrad

Journeying in a quagmire of questions is one of the easiest places to start. The compass bears no direction and there are no tail winds to elicit an easy choice.
Let me begin with Thank You.
Below are a few names but let me first mention Lisa B. and Lauren F. They had been an inspiration on the bike but most importantly they have been instrumental in raising funds for a Histiocytosis cure. I don’t think I would have been able to cold call anyone had I not seen the energy with which they just took this on. I think that this cause just rings true and we want to see results.
Lauren and Lisa are also [“possibly”] donating their hair to Locks of Love [ http://www.locksoflove.org/ ]. The tie in here is that if you donated, you need to let me know whether or not they should get scalped. $1=1vote. I’ll tally the votes and post them just before Christmas.
Once again Thank you for your donations. Virginia A., Gabriela B., Lisa B., Justin Br., Matt D., Colin E., Maria F., Lauren F., Heather H., Helen Ikerd, Carrie K., Maritza M., Joyce P., Claudia R., Ivan Z. and Stephanie Z.!!

All the best,
IKE

Other---Joseph Conrad’s] birthday [Dec 6] is coming up so expect me to pull a few quotes from him to accent this Blog. I can only imagine that the poor man is turning over in his grave as he sees his words bastardized to my ends. Yet, this whole adventure is about turning – pushing and pulling – spinning the cranks and turning the wheels – educating and changing the normal wheels of though in to possibilities for the future.

Let one who wants to move and convince others, first be convinced and moved themselves. If a person speaks with genuine earnestness the thoughts, the emotion and the actual condition of their own heart, others will listen because we all are knit together by the tie of sympathy.
Thomas Carlyle