A free weekend!

October 2010 had 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays! That's a whole extra weekend for biking. This is the first time this has happened since 2006. Not wanting to waste it our youngest and I rode to church, he on his Felt and me on the Austro-Daimler, we had the best parking spot there. That gave me 4.94 miles for the day. And that closes the books on October with 609.02 miles.

Late day errands.

I took the Felt to Bike Pedalers for a new light set, then rode to Menards for a few things for the house and grabbed a gallon of milk before I got back home. I saved a few dollars in gas, got to enjoy some time outdoors and had a lot more fun than if I'd have drove. Tonight's spin added another 18.0 miles to the odometer.

The Haunted Hustle.

Last night was the Haunted Hustle put on by Kat with help from SHECLISMO It was a well orchestrated race, and by far the biggest hustle ever held in Lincoln, it seemed like nearly everyone was there. We met up at Robbers Cave then began by racing to Camp Wilderness where we had to hunt for candy on a haunted bridge in the woods. Racers were then sent to the tunnel at 3rd and F st where we had to search through a kiddie pool filled with ramen noodles to find an eyeball before being allowed to continue to the old State Fair grounds where the No Coast Derby Girls were zombies quizzing us on state capitals. We then hurried into a headwind to the 27th & Capital Parkway tunnel to toss a severed head across the river of blood. Once we'd mastered that we went to the YWCA to be blindfolded and verbally told how to find our way through a maze by youth leadership girls. The last stop was Buzzard Billy's in the Haymarket. I came in 6th out of 50 and won a set of bike lights! This was a fund-raiser for SHECLISMO and they had raffle prizes including a new Globe bike that was won by Maggie! You'll see Amber is thumbs up after coming in first among the girls and Ian won the boys race. Yesterday's work commute and the Hustle totaled up to 41.78 miles for my Friday.

The Austro-Diamler's first commute, new Chrome bag & pot lovers.

The Austro-Diamler worked great on today's commute and felt right at home on the trails going across town. MWC called to say that the Chrome Mini-Metro bag I ordered had come in, so I stopped on the way home to pick it up. It was worth the wait. It is so comfortable, with plenty of room for my stuff. It's awesome! I was surprised to see some pot supporters set up with pamphlets and info encouraging voters to legalize recreational use.

Guess what I'm riding tomorrow?!?!

I've really loved the Austro-Daimler since I found it on the Lincoln Bicycle Swap Meet. Except, I couldn't stand the break levers. The hoods were small and the angle that you had to pull the levers was hard and awkward. I didn't feel safe enough on it to commute on, and that's what I was hoping to use it for.

So late last night I took it into Bike Pedalers to have it tuned up, new cables, bar tape and break levers. They said they'd work on it Friday and try to have it done by the end of the day Friday. They called early this afternoon to say it was ready to be picked up. Wow, that was quick! I rode it around a little and can't believe how smooth it shifts and how predictable the breaks feel now. It's awesome!

I had to work in Leigh today, so I couldn't ride. But I can't wait to take the Austro-Daimler to work tomorrow!

Nonstop.

Riding into work this morning I battled a headwind to downtown, then turned East and sailed to the office. I hit all the lights just right and literally never put a foot down on the ground from my driveway to the office door. When I did have to stop it was just for a moment and was able to balance for a second before taking off again.

By afternoon the wind had become ferocious, and I needed to get my pick-up home anyway since I have to work on the road tomorrow, so I drove without feeling too guilty. Today's miles = 10.1

The 6,000 mile Nacho Ride!

When I first started biking 3 years ago I read an article about a guy who rode 6,000 miles a year. At the time I thought that was amazing. Now I realize it's not, and that many of my readers and cycling friends get 6,000 miles every year.

But for some reason that number has always stuck in my head. 6,000 miles was my goal for 2010, and tonight at the shack 1/2 way to Eagle I rolled over the 6K mark for the year with a bang (Patches!). We stopped to celebrate then continued into Eagle where we ran into a few other biking friends. The guys decided to commemorate the occasion by dressing to the nines. They are always so fun and great to ride with. Tonight's accomplishment felt great, and gave us a chance to remember all the great times we've had riding this year.

There was a killer West wind all day that made riding a challenge. After riding to work and the Nacho Ride I ended up with 48.8 miles for the day.

Almost there.

The ride to work rocked with a nice tailwind. This afternoon I wanted to keep my mileage down and rode through neighborhoods straight home. Today's miles = 18.4

2010 Flatwater Cyclocross Race.

Races started at 10:00 this morning at Van Dorn Park. There were 6 different heats with things wrapping up at 3:30. They gave out over $2,000 in prizes and it was a blast to watch! Find out more at www.flatwatercycling.com I rode there and back for 11 miles today.

Fat Jack's coming to the Superior St. Trail soon.

Earl's closed over the summer and Fat Jack's is moving from Cornhusker to 56th & Superior. It'll be tough to ride by as they pump that BBQ smoke across the trail.

I needed to get my pick-up to the office, so today I drove over there, then pushed into a headwind getting home on the bike. Today's miles = 10.0

2010 Loup Valley Ducks Unlimited Banquet.

Last night was the DU banquet and before we got there we stopped off at the river to check out my parent's new deer stand. We're looking forward to going back in a few weeks for rifle deer season.

It's Harvest Season.

The stickers are out there, and this morning I found one deep in my tire. I was surprised to find that it didn't make it clear through. I've had these Continental tires since Fathers Day and they've done great. Today's miles on the work commute = 19.9

Biking to work, it's nothing new.

(Pic lifted off the oldphotos blog.) I neglected to blog yesterday's commute, but it was just another glorious day on two wheels. Nothing out of the ordinary. I made it home with 19.8 miles.

Basic transportation.

Seems like riding to work is about all I've been doing this month on the bike. But I'm not complaining. It's my daily chance to unwind and have some fun. Today's commute to work = 19.7 miles.

Don't be scared, do the Tuesday night Nacho Ride.

The crowd is dwindling but some hearty cyclist are still making the weekly trek out to Eagle for food and biking fun. Join us next week at the 84th St trailhead at 5:30 or at the shack at 6:00 to celebrate the 6,000 mile Nacho Ride. Today the work commute and Nacho Ride totaled 48.6 miles.

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Cool!

This morning the grass in the park was covered with frost. This afternoon I noticed the new bike bridge has been installed on the John Dietrich at Holders Street to connect to the Antelope Valley Trail. They were installing rear today so the concrete can be poured for the bridge surface. Having these trails connect is going to be so cool!

Bike path maintenance.

The frost heaves on the Billy Wolff trail just West of Van Dorn have been replaced with several sections of new smooth concrete. Their also redoing a bit of the John Dietrich along 48th.

These improvements are great, I'd love to see them redo the Billy Wolff on the East side of the zoo too. Today's miles on the way to work and back = 19.9

A flat 1st thing this morning.

The sticker on my finger was all it took to start my day off on the wrong foot. I apparently I picked it up yesterday, and it went flat over night. I fixed it quick and made my way into work.

After temps rose 40' throughout the workday I went home under sunny skies with a headwind to see the zoo's train on one of it's last laps this year. Today is the zoo's last regular day of the season. Today's miles = 19.8

Finally getting the work commute in the bag.

I've tried hard to buck the messenger bag trend to no avail. I've used a number of backpacks and thrift store bags and not liked any of them. I don't know why I'm so stubborn, but I finally got frustrated and decided to stop by MWC on the way home today and cough up the money for a nice Chrome messenger bag. They stock 3 styles, but they all seemed pretty big to me. So I ordered the Mini Metro, it should be here in a week. It'll be great on days like today when it's 34' and I'm bundled up in the morning, and the trip home is in shorts and a T-shirt with highs of 78' and I'm hauling all those winter clothes home.

I was slow to convert to cycling shorts, clipless pedals and narrow tires, and now I'm finally getting with the program by getting a bag that'll work right. Today's miles = 20.1

Don't be bashful, go for a ride!

This mornings trip to work was cool, but this afternoon gave me another ride home with a tail wind. Even in a city this big it seems like every time I ride I run into friends. One the way to work Jim and I chatted (me, in broken sentences, he's fast!) and on the way home, touring and Nacho Ride pal, Su, was out for a spin. I also got to finally meet Vanessa who I've been passing on the commute almost daily for over a year. Leave your coffin parked and make some friends on your bike. You'll love it! Today's miles on the work commute = 19.9

Survey says! The Tuesday Nacho Ride shouldn't be missed.

The NRD has a new survey box up at the trail head, Jon and Craig were happy to take part. We got to see the turning leaves on the way to Eagle. On the way back Council was sporting his new light. I can't believe he finally broke down and bought one! Today's miles on the commute and Nacho Ride = 47.9

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Leaves and more falling on the bike path.

Today's commute was awesome. This morning was peaceful with a light fog in some areas. The way home had a stiff tail wind making it a fast and easy ride back.

A cyclist dropped a good tube and tire lever on the Billy Wolff trail. If it's yours let me know.

Secret MTB trails.

Some of the folks from Bike Pedalers own land that has been developed into an amazing mountain biking spot. They've been very selective about who was invited out to this secret MTB heaven. This week the property was listed on Craigslist so after all the work they've put into the trails the guys wanted to show it off and have some fun riding before it's too late. I talked our oldest son into letting me borrow his Marin MTB and headed out to this secret private Eden. Once there, I got the grand tour. The trails are well made and full of sweet features! As I arrived they'd just built a vertical wall. We built up a berm before and after it, then tried our luck letting the g-force carry us through when we found the right line... when we didn't we got a chance to practice emergency off camber breaking. When you had the guts to hit it hard enough to stick it the wall was too fun! Back at the cabin the fire pit was the place to share stories and relax. It was an honor and a privilege to be invited and riding those trails made this afternoon one I'll never forget. There were a slew of other biking events going on all day today in Lincoln, and I hated to miss them, but chances like this can't be passed up. Hopefully a cyclist will be the buyer, it'd be a shame for this all to go to waste. It's an amazing place!