The 2nd Annual NSFW Ride Announcement.

Date: Wednesday 4/20/11

Location: Intersection of the Billy Wolff Trail & Rock Island Trail on the North end of the Zoo.

Time: 9am

Not Sorry (for) Forgetting Work

Put in now to take April 20 off as a vacation day. Celebrate spring on a ride around Lincoln with like-minded friends. Spend the workday riding while your co-workers toil away. Meet at 9am, ride is held on city trails. 40 miles long, ride for part of the day or the whole thing. 12-14 mph average speed. Last year's NSFW Ride was a ball!

Here is the map for this year's ride.

Ride starts and ends at the intersection of the Rock Island Trail and Billy Wolfe Trail on the North Side of the Zoo at 27th & Capital Parkway.

Several Lincoln bike shops will have free refreshments, giveaways, discounts and prizes for NSFW riders! Including Joyride, Bike Pedalers, The Bike Rack, Cycle Works, & Monkey Wrench Cycles.

The route will feature stops at these shops giving riders a chance to refuel, visit, shop, register for prizes, and use bathrooms or have mechanics make adjustments.

The NSFW Ride will be a fun chance to meet other cyclist, check out new bikes and biking gear, as well as a great way to get in some miles while everyone else is stuck at work. No fee to ride, but bring lunch money, lunch will be at your choice of Havelock restaurants.

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.

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!

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.

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!

CX practice at Van Dorn park.

I rode to work today. And this evening I rode with our boy to church then continued on to Van Dorn park to check out the cycle cross racers. Bike Pedalers paid for everyone to ride free tonight! How cool is that!?! They even had a bike mechanic on duty. Even if you don't race it's fun to go and watch, cheer on everyone, and visit with other cyclists. Today's miles = 22.1

The Felt ZA's maiden ride.

Yeah! I'm loving my new Felt ZA frame and fork and the new drive-train is sweet. I finally got a chance to sneak out tonight about 7PM to try it out. Matt from Bike Pedalers did a great job building it and it is an amazing bike! I took it to Holmes Lake, then East out of town on Hwy 2. I got back after dark with a grand total for the day of 31.51 miles.

I'm SO excited!

Look! Look! Look!!!

I got the call today from Bike Pedalers that my new Felt ZA frame and parts are in and ready. I picked it up, but had a busy evening with the family, so tomorrow I'll get to take it out. I can't wait!

Good things come to those who wait.

I biked to work, then rode to Bike Pedalers when I got off. My Felt isn't ready yet because we still had to pick out a new crank and bottom bracket, I also added in a new rear set and chain.

I got a chance to see the new Felt ZA frame. It is SO sweet! And crazy light too. If the parts come in on time I should be riding it this weekend. I can't wait! Today's miles = 21.9

Flatwater cyclocross training began tonight at Van Dorn Park.

I rode the Surly Cross Check loaner bike from Bike Pedalers to work today. I miss the snappy take-offs from stop lights that I had with my Felt. But I appreciate the comfort of the Cross Check over the bumps in the road.

After work I detoured to Van Dorn park to see area cyclocross racers train. They'll be at it on Wednesdays at 5:30 in the weeks to come, stop by and cheer them on. They got done and I headed home as the clouds opened up and the rain began. Today's miles = 22.7

Felt Z70 frame - RIP

10 months and 4757 miles on this bike.

This morning was gorgeous, but about 1/2 way to work my chain mysteriously jumped off the middle ring to the little ring. It continued to do that every time I was in low gears on the rear set. It was becoming a pain. No problem. Bike Pedalers gives a years worth of free tune-ups with a new bike purchase, and the Felt is only 10 months old. So after work I rode over to Bike Pedalers to have them adjust the front derailer and send me on my way.

Once they put it on the stand I pointed out the play in my bottom bracket, they opened it up to find my bearings were bad and that I'd wore a deep groove in the steal crank!

I also pointed out the cracks my Felt had developed where the rear drop outs connect to the carbon fiber seat stay. What began as a hairline paint crack eventually fatigued and separated clear through. The front fork also has some slight cracks in the carbon fiber, they haven't seemed to get worse like the ones in the back though.

Well, the wise folks at Bike Pedalers urged me to stop riding it until the frame could be replaced for safety reasons. Felt makes amazing bikes, and they guarantee their frames for as long as you own the bike.

I have plans to do lots of riding, and can't be with out a good bike for the 2 weeks or so it'll probably take to get a new frame, so, get this, Bike Pedalers graciously pulled a brand new bike off the floor and put my wheels, pedals, seat, etc on it for me to use till my new Felt frame comes in! Talk about service!

I have a LOT of love for my Felt. And hate to go without it for even a week or two. But, I'm thankful to have another quality bike to use in the meantime. Bike Pedalers has sold about a zillion Felts. And mine is the very first frame (besides shipping damaged ones) to ever need warrantied. I don't blame Felt. But, it'll be interesting to see what they warranty it with since 2009 was the last year they had the Z70. Hopefully they still have one laying around somewhere. If not, I hope I'll be as happy with the new frame set as I was with the Z70.

I still can't get over the great service Bike Pedalers is giving me. We've bought a lot of bikes (6) from them, but it's a true testimonial when you feel delighted with their service when you have a serious problem. There is a lot to be said for buying from a reputable local shop rather than used, on-line, or from a big box store. I've always liked Surly Cross Checks when I've tried them in the bike shop parking lots. But it'll be fun to see how I get along with it on some weekend rides and work commutes.

Stay tuned to see what happens.

Finally, a LBS on my commute route.

For those of us riding the Billy Wolff trail West of 70th we haven't had a local bike shop along the trail since Bike Pedalers moved from 33rd & B to Pine Lake Rd.

And the John Dietrich hasn't had a shop as long as I know of.

Bike Pedalers and Scheels has the South Point Trail covered.

The Bike Rack takes care of those on the Hwy 2 Trail and the Rock Island Trail users.

Joyride handles cyclist on the Rock Island as well as those riding the Old Cheney Trail.

Cycle Works South store is there for anyone on the 70th St Trail and East side of the Billy Wolff Trail.

Cycle Works 27th & Vine store is handy for Mopac cyclist.

Well, now, Monkey Wrench Cycles has moved 7 blocks East, and is now just 2 blocks West of the Antelope Valley Trail at 19th & Q! They have doubled their space and are situated perfectly for UNL bikers, downtown cyclist, and Antelope Valley Trail users.

This is an exciting move for MWC and their new digs are already set up and ready for shoppers and bikers needing service work. Stop in and check out the new MWC shop and say "hi".

The new Antelope Valley Trail connects Lincoln's trails and has become a hub for cyclists riding from one part of the city to another. MWC is now positioned to be a handy stop for commuters to grab essentials or have quick repairs done.

I decided to sit out today's Nacho Ride. On the commute to work and back I got in 20.6 miles for the day.

It pays to be a good dad!

Today we had a severe storm roll though this morning the same time as I needed to ride to work so I ended up driving. After a few hours at the office I got a call that our finished basement had standing water in it. I rushed home to clean it up.

It was bad enough that my commute got rained/hailed out, but now my basement was flooded. We vacuumed and mopped up 195 gallons of water as the sump pump tried to catch up.

But, things took a turn for the better later when we went to pick up my Fathers Day gifts from Bike Pedalers. I was given a new Brooks B17 Special saddle for Trusty Rusty and new road tires since I'd wore my factory rubber down to the fabric. I was also given a set of wider tires with a bit of tread for riding on gravel from my wife & kids. After Seward's 4th of July ride I'll switch them out and ride more gravel.

What great fathers day gifts! Even though I don't go for all that mushy stuff, and am known to pronounce 'I love you' to sound more like; "Lets go for a (bike) ride" or "Do you want to go fishing with me" somehow my kids must understand my poor speech and know what I'm really trying to say. I feel very loved.

Tomorrow we Nacho Ride, then, first thing Wednesday it's off to the Tour De Nebraska!!! Whoo Hoo!!!

Bike Pedalers ride to Yia Yias

After riding to work & back today I met up with the BP crew (as in LBS, not oil) for a leisurely ride to Yia Yias pizza for supper.

We no more than got started and I got a flat, I told them to go on and kept Dan as my pit-crew and action photographer. This is only my 3rd flat this year and my first one in quite a while. We got the tube changed out in no time flat (sorry, I love puns) after a attempt to patch it failed. We kicked it in high gear and made good time. The food was great and it was fun to chill and BS about bikes and biking. Including the work commute I ended up with 37.8 miles today.

The commute & Bike Pedalers bread & cup ride.

Last nights storms dumped 2 inches in Lincoln and this morning on the ride to work the trails were still wet and the underpasses still flooded. By afternoon everything was dried and it was perfect riding weather. I took a detour to the Saltdogs ticket office to pick up tickets to a game next week with a gift certificate we got at last years DU banquet.

Tonight I finally had the chance to join the Bike Pedalers crew on their ride downtown to bread & cup. They do the bread & cup ride on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 7pm. It's a leisurely ride and the food is very good. Tonight there were 18 of us there.

Today's total miles = 43.7

The Pivot Mach 4 commute.

Since I didn't have to return the demo Pivot Mach 4 to Bike Pedalers till close yesterday I decided to make the most of it and rode it to work and back too. It was sure footed. Quick on the hills and off the starts. It floated over bumps and sailed over curbs. I really only noticed the slower wide tires on the straight-aways when my road bike would have had an advantage. The extra effort pedaling, though nominal, was made up for with extra comfort. If you'd rather take a couple more minutes to get there, but not feel like you've had your fillings rattled out of your teeth you might be just as happy using something like the Pivot Mach 4 in town as well as on the single track.

Demo'd the Pivot Mach 4 at Wagon Train.

I LOVE this bike!

Ok, we got back to Lincoln and unpacked. I then headed to Bike Pedalers to pickup my Felt from getting a tune-up and new brake pads. They showed me their newest line of bikes. They are now a dealer for Pivot Cycles. I was planning to ride some single track tonight with family and asked if they would let me demo one. I was excited when they said "yes", but I had no idea what a treat I was in for!

I was given the Pivot Mach 4 with Fox suspension, and Deore XT components all the way around to use for the next 24 hours. We rode the same trail as was used for the recent Angry Cow Adventure series 12 hour Mountain Bike Race. It was my first time riding out there and shortly after starting I went into a turn on a downhill section too fast and braked too hard sending me head first into the trail. After shaking it off and realizing those disk brakes will do what you ask of them weather your ready or not. I took a moment to visit with other riders before hitting the trail again.

The Pivot line of MTBs have a stiff fast feel and are very quick! It was a real treat to ride and it found torque over every type of surface. The Mach 4 really shined in the climbs. It was like a rocket going up the hills! If your a competitive single track racer or considering some serious trail riding you need to give the Pivot a try. I had a great time and absolutely loved this bike.

I'm going to ride it on my urban work commute tomorrow and see if it behaves in the city as well as it does in the woods. Stay tuned. This bike is too cool!!! Tonight's miles = 5.1