A little late.

It's late in the year to try and get 2011's mileage total any higher, but this great weather and a breather at work gave me the chance to ride across town to the office and back yesterday and today. The last half of 2011 had me working pretty hard, but I look forward to slowing down and spending more time in the saddle next year. These two commutes added up to 40.83 miles. And that puts 2011 in the books with 1,637.17 miles on the bike.

The Nintendo Hustle.

After a long hiatus from biking due to a hectic work schedule I took time tonight to host the 'Paperboy Challenge Checkpoint' on Josh's Nintendo Hustle. I couldn't race, but did ride to the finish to catch up with the other Hustlers downtown. It was a good night and it was great to get back on the bike! Everyone is looking forward to this weekend's cx races at Pioneers Park. Tonight's miles = 9.96

Here we go... Again.

This morning a layer of fog made the crisp and cool ride to the office neat. The Holdrege St. bike path overpass has been closed for the next couple of weeks. That was a small setback compared to what I was in store for at the office. I was given notice from my employee in Columbus. Turnover again means I'll be really busy the next couple of months and behind the wheel more than the handlebars. After work the Mrs. and I went for a spin on the Jamaica North to take in some of this week's perfect weather. Nothing like a ride to get the negatively out of your head. All told I ended up with 33.19 miles today.

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Commute route improves.

The new bike path bridge Northwest of 27th and Capital Parkway and connecting trail are now open making the commute faster and safer. After riding to work and back we rode to the store giving me 23.71 miles today.

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Labor Day hunt.

Our youngest and I joined my dad at Bunker Hill East of Hastings for some upland hunting. The weather was beautiful, the dogs were working great and they both shot well. We went home with 4 birds and some early season teal my dad got that morning off the Platte.

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If I slowed down, would I lose my ballance?

I've worked 59 out of the last 60 days and am excited about being off tomorrow for Labor Day. Although it'd be nice to stay home and rest, we're planning another outdoor adventure.

The last few days all the biking I've got in was a couple of trips up the hill totaling 9.6 miles.

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The Hwy. 34 Nacho Ride.

After the rains on Tuesday we thought we'd take the highway to Eagle and give those carbon ponies a chance to stretch their legs. It gave me 18.5 miles on Tuesday.

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Been spotted around.

I have fallen behind on blogging, but I have been spotted with the wife on her new 2009 Trek FX 7.6 WSD from The Bike Rack while we rode the South Point loop, I worked the sign-up table at today's GPBC's Heatstroke 100 and I've taken a couple of trips up the hill this weekend. Togther I got another 17.6 miles.

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Gravel Worlds 2011

I rode from 6am to noon in some mushy roads and mud, but it was a ton of fun and I felt great. I used my son's MTB and it worked well. I had to stop at noon to get back to Lincoln and ended the day with 51.4 miles.

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Yum! Gravel for breakfast.

Councel and I met up before work to ride some gravel East of Lincoln this morning. Afterward I went on to the office racking up 35.3 miles for the day.

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They just don't get it.

When it's this nice out it's a shame to drive. Give riding to work a try, you'll love it! I got 20.66 miles today commuting to work.
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Aaarrrr!

Pirates are coming to Lincoln from all over for Saturday's annual 150 mile long Pirate Cycling League's Gravel Worlds race. In support of this weekend's race even the hobos that live under the 27th street overpass have their pirate flags hung from their antennas. Check out www.piratecyclingleague.blogspot.com for all the details.

I rode up the hill Sunday and to the office today for 25.51 miles.

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Gravel toward Wahoo.

4 of us from the GPBC left Lincoln yesterday morning and headed North on gravel to train a little for next Saturday's Gravel Worlds race. I had to get back on time and turned around 8 miles shy of Wahoo. It was a beautiful morning and I had a nice tailwind push me home. Later I rode up the hill and back giving me 46.6 miles in all for the day.

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Enjoy your summer!

I know I am! I rode to work yesterday in perfect conditions. And tonight I rode up the hill. Tomorrow we'll get some gravel goodness. Yesterday was 20.66 miles and tonight was 4.81. Hope your getting outdoors for some fun too.
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Use oil. Neatsfoot Oil that is.

I've been content with the Brooks saddle on my Austro-Dieamler. But the other day when I got the Felt out for a ride I realized how much better the Brooks on the Felt was broke-in than the one on the Austro-Dieamler. It has 10 times more miles on it, but I couldn't help but wish it would break in faster. So I got out the Neatsfoot Oil and submerged the saddle in it for a few days. I had to add a few rocks to the bucket to displace the oil enough to cover the saddle.

Tonight I took it out and put it back on the bike, then went for a little spin around Hwy 2. I've also rode up the hill and to work since I last blogged for a total of 19.61 miles.

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Changes.

Bike Pedalers closing has been the topic this week on the local cycling scene. We were all sad to see it happen. They have done so much for me, the scene, the sport, the lifestyle and the community. The Flatwater Cycling team and events will continue. And they are going to have a sale. To get on their email list and find out about the upcoming sale go to www.bikeped.com and send them an email. It was an epic ride. I wish everyone at the store the best in whatever path they choose.

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Loup to loop.

I went for a spin late this morning on the South Point Loop after sleeping in because I was up late dancing on the bank of the Loup at Bobbie's wedding reception lastnight.

Later today I rode up the hill and back for a total if 12.5 miles.

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Aloha! From the 2011 Hawaiian Nacho Ride.

The Mopac was the place to be tonight as cyclists took a couple of hours from their responsibilities for the prescribed weekly dosage of endorphins. The Hawaiian themed Nacho Ride is an annual event and it's always a hoot to see everyone decked out as if we were riding the Big Island. Tonight's ride began hot and steamy, but that only made it seem more authentic. I ended the evening with 20.43 miles.
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Happy Hour.

Saw the sun come up as I rode into work this morning. We have to shuffle cars this afternoon, so I don't get to ride home. But with today's heat index at 112' F. I won't argue. Today's miles = 10.38

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Future cyclists.

The high school runners are practicing again. It's that time of year. I just smile when I see then on the trails, because I know most of them will come around and become cyclist.

I always ask other bikers how they got into cycling. Lots of times they say they used to be runners, but gave it up, and now are cyclist. Ever notice how you seldom find a runner who has given up biking to run? But there are tons of great athletes on two wheels who have been told by their doctor that the impact is causing permanent damage and that they should switch to biking.

Nothing against runners. But it's hard not to wonder why schools don't have competitive cycling instead of Cross Country. Probably because of liability and cost.

Anyway, I always remember to smile and say "hi" to the runners when they go by. I want to stay on their good side, because in 10 years, they'll show up on a group ride and I'll need them to pull me into the wind.

I rode to the office, then up the hill today getting me 25.86 miles on the Austro-Diamler.


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Bike path improvements continue on the Billy Wolff.

I took yesterday off, and drove to a meeting today in Omaha. But I did ride to work and back on Tuesday where the new bike path bridge is in place on the Billy Wolff just Northwest of 27th & Capital Parkway. Their working on the connector path that'll link it to the new Antelope Valley Project Trail. This will enable cyclist to cross Randolph to the East of Capital Parkway avoiding a crossing where cars are always seemingly stopped on the crosswalk and making right-hand turns without looking for bikes. The new bridge isn't quite open yet, but will be soon.

My miles on Tuesday's commute = 20.76

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Just bumming.

I don't know what it was about yesterday's commute, but there were bums everywhere. Is there a homeless convention in town this week?

Also, I didn't think much about it when it happend. But later in the day it was a topic of discussion on Facebook. Apparently Shane saw me have a close call with a white minivan that wasn't paying attention. I had a feeling she wasn't going to look my way or stop and I finally had to yell "wait". She did, and as I rode by I thanked her. Remember, when your driving a car to look for bikes.

I got home from work with 20.84 miles on the Austro-Daimler for the day.

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Quality not quantity.

I haven't been able to ride as much as I'd like. But I had my timing down pat today. I rode up the hill and back, and happend across Matt on his sweet new whip shortly after leaving the house. I missed this evening's storm and rode home on a dry bike path. Everything worked out in my favor. Today's miles = 4.81

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Riding more than blogging.

Since everyone is tuned into TDF I figured it was ok to slack off a bit on blogging lately. But I have been riding a little. I biked to work and back today for 20.85 miles and rode up the hill 4 times lately for another 19.2 miles.

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Ducked out for a short ride.

This morning I went for a spin up the hill equaling 4.80 miles.
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It just gets better and better.

The trail center / bike shop is being built along the Antelope Valley Trail, new trees were planted this week, and the new bike bridge footings are in the ground on the Billy Wolfe. If you haven't been on a ride lately get your bike out and see what's new.
Yesterday's ride to the office = 20.84 miles.

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