tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53848079829467568232024-03-12T19:47:08.135-07:00Simply CycleThe daily joys and challenges of an incurable cyclist.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.comBlogger812125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-6381591721539031862024-03-08T06:40:00.000-08:002024-03-10T04:22:38.862-07:00The latest in the stable<div class="separator"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A few months ago, my friend Leah Peterson was chatting online with a biking acquaintance, Michael Downs, and noticed a frame in the background of a photo he sent her. When asked about it, he said he might be interested in selling it. She sent me a photo and I immediately bit the hook. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIxCnP-5ISI0vRHDuCVHpz9-NHzALwM0LqkfMwEVollJZt_lk4VDWI0DXO5wHKHOXg2DlS8hnPOMfGG1Nq4BpuiUOcAZhOo-xkBI0RMPr82qmAjU_DFZvIgzs_SDJRcQy-zN9goBhftdJH7t2T3t9hIH3jZAGkrLN_yG5sPNq7FJupZxpn689Wcbz8z0/s2351/20240303_145127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIxCnP-5ISI0vRHDuCVHpz9-NHzALwM0LqkfMwEVollJZt_lk4VDWI0DXO5wHKHOXg2DlS8hnPOMfGG1Nq4BpuiUOcAZhOo-xkBI0RMPr82qmAjU_DFZvIgzs_SDJRcQy-zN9goBhftdJH7t2T3t9hIH3jZAGkrLN_yG5sPNq7FJupZxpn689Wcbz8z0/w300-h400/20240303_145127.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It's a Rivendell Yves Gomez with a limited edition paint job. It was the first run of factory made mixte bikes after the Wilbury/Glorious became too expensive. I got it in late fall and spent the winter getting parts together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk0ZlNfNhfEI-1wcqi-KciEv1t0tS5NCIqcEUonesVOqbi0lWsh1DFHq8m6W81FQ6HDIFbhMP-rQqVH5vtjpVs4alfyhA1XVoQJmftYsPjFgYpeV3rXdYOEufjLTomPZ-0e31EpRgj8SX5J3ccNvVnJJhFxPoOb_dqHPeLv-b9DW3K4aWY2WBHhYfvJ0/w300-h400/20240303_145058.jpg" width="300" /></div></div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It came together beautifully, the cream colored fenders were raided from my Sam Hillborne and look much better with the dark green. I added Baby Bosco bars, VO Gran Cru brake levers (which are as sensitive as the Paul levers I put on my Hunq), Soma interupter levers and Brooks leather tape to finish them off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHhDpQ-mm8A9R-3spZrBc8L4Sv8jHNLLJajLG_IMZkwRy6ETmm9N-_LOk2nWgu3TzeODrulL78sZwl45FiwtwcGK9mfpKZ7_lINgVdyKSvJ3VNw-vmcWPyiJaRQ-4Ex3Xp69RiQjah0pi6mhI08RtsjJDE7sT6q4QtzyA3gbDINCaUEySlP9jAMvzO-w/s3320/20240303_145026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHhDpQ-mm8A9R-3spZrBc8L4Sv8jHNLLJajLG_IMZkwRy6ETmm9N-_LOk2nWgu3TzeODrulL78sZwl45FiwtwcGK9mfpKZ7_lINgVdyKSvJ3VNw-vmcWPyiJaRQ-4Ex3Xp69RiQjah0pi6mhI08RtsjJDE7sT6q4QtzyA3gbDINCaUEySlP9jAMvzO-w/w300-h400/20240303_145026.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a Sugino crank which I converted with a chain guard into 1x9 drive train with a Shimano Deore derailer and pulled a Sunrace thumb shifter out of the parts bin which works perfectly. The saddle is a VO leather saddle which wasn't being used and I may change later after some longer rides and a different seat post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLyLF2uz7pT97QdtDbuSRTfICkk97tMBZ8zt-lOXbrzB-Plj9Tk2ciUf1bcdNZuOBoiUldESZFxd0JJty6eFU-9W9GyJPQXLyNoXhqT4U5ZdHliGwbQjVAyvw0GCgu83MxDVF-s7y09_7xKs-rv3VI-8EH9Mb6-E3REJj4w3OBoSDgmQ7opCtR286ZvY/s4080/20240307_150859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLyLF2uz7pT97QdtDbuSRTfICkk97tMBZ8zt-lOXbrzB-Plj9Tk2ciUf1bcdNZuOBoiUldESZFxd0JJty6eFU-9W9GyJPQXLyNoXhqT4U5ZdHliGwbQjVAyvw0GCgu83MxDVF-s7y09_7xKs-rv3VI-8EH9Mb6-E3REJj4w3OBoSDgmQ7opCtR286ZvY/w300-h400/20240307_150859.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I ordered wheels from Velocity and Schwalbe Kojak tires. Tektro brake calipers and MKS pedals from the parts bin finished that off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfDK18Qna_8LZWdzlboEo4dZ5QzzlznagVLDb3uK2CDF2Bj_j54XJwFIw1ZFmHNRmdbwzvitC3bTg3zcSuD68Gt3FxjfTNQc9FfAOb_Lqa12U09y4E1Cr7e9OyVtXW6ven8CNbYD1sYg2EZJZt9S-eG_JMXXRhHQd67b3Fe_GXefNcdY7ihB1pFmLgQA/s4080/20240307_150948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfDK18Qna_8LZWdzlboEo4dZ5QzzlznagVLDb3uK2CDF2Bj_j54XJwFIw1ZFmHNRmdbwzvitC3bTg3zcSuD68Gt3FxjfTNQc9FfAOb_Lqa12U09y4E1Cr7e9OyVtXW6ven8CNbYD1sYg2EZJZt9S-eG_JMXXRhHQd67b3Fe_GXefNcdY7ihB1pFmLgQA/w300-h400/20240307_150948.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To make it practical, I added a light Tubus rack and a HUGE Wald basket. The basket weighs next to nothing and is a great convenience</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNyBbcXiXMxc9_FbgKKEul_Zv7GI0fi0-kfrFYKeg1X7lBeT70V6iD0yAqsFFDqdOxbSJ5cHw9Xfd97HhY5maJL6c9kW4hBBbEG_XuB7CDGpxLxIqcZwFbVIhHBreFoCUmUH27drQBbZUeC_abmLF8a64mcWFGoWDd5Ewygy9KlbzHFfXhYfwQL4AAMg/s4080/20240307_154338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNyBbcXiXMxc9_FbgKKEul_Zv7GI0fi0-kfrFYKeg1X7lBeT70V6iD0yAqsFFDqdOxbSJ5cHw9Xfd97HhY5maJL6c9kW4hBBbEG_XuB7CDGpxLxIqcZwFbVIhHBreFoCUmUH27drQBbZUeC_abmLF8a64mcWFGoWDd5Ewygy9KlbzHFfXhYfwQL4AAMg/w300-h400/20240307_154338.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">since I have a bag that was designed with that basket in mind. After a few hours of riding with the empty basket it held $75 worth of groceries with no problem on the way home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm really surprised at how spritely and light this bike is. The Kojak tires are extremely fast slicks and the only 35mm 650b tire I could find. There are several 38mm and larger tires out there for 650b wheels, but I've used these before and liked them. I'm looking forward to a lot of time on this bike</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj8iImyLSF9w2Srelf6r9_AWa08DAvbX934WCiBf18Iis5k1b2Zk4Gn85DA24_nd3UxnHGAgbjF6uQwhvscFngh0DWZddEkkkBt2yOe7R_ZE6gDphbyNoj0hwloh2EmpL4EMpYcIBz5MtMW_kvuZq1fI56cu4afAXkClaAUb6RuVOjjl97UEB99gqNqs/s2081/20240309_112137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2081" data-original-width="1561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj8iImyLSF9w2Srelf6r9_AWa08DAvbX934WCiBf18Iis5k1b2Zk4Gn85DA24_nd3UxnHGAgbjF6uQwhvscFngh0DWZddEkkkBt2yOe7R_ZE6gDphbyNoj0hwloh2EmpL4EMpYcIBz5MtMW_kvuZq1fI56cu4afAXkClaAUb6RuVOjjl97UEB99gqNqs/s320/20240309_112137.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and even found a helmet to match.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-68041781543853993222024-01-20T07:43:00.000-08:002024-01-20T10:35:57.239-08:00Growing pains. <p style="text-align: justify;"> Remember how growing up seemed really exciting, then you got a job, mortgage, kids and everything kinda sucked? When you pass all that there's a new phase. At 71, after reading for a couple hours, I've found it harder to get out a chair then it is to ride a bike 35 miles.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFP1DwomOR0ZmWY8yu7gZfddf4cYzZS6tgHA0aYufosgBo6zWuHxC_FusuG-VfLPZMvyPM5Z6wM7-zXHshBotTs4QiYph-x2g_LfDiivd64xgAPu4wR1Z2AaIDOp8jK1eu51UT1P7fyWw0WrSxKNPfoe7vjKXX9LQIe_FB8zSwM0nm-PDDcDPiYApgF0/s4080/20240120_124851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFP1DwomOR0ZmWY8yu7gZfddf4cYzZS6tgHA0aYufosgBo6zWuHxC_FusuG-VfLPZMvyPM5Z6wM7-zXHshBotTs4QiYph-x2g_LfDiivd64xgAPu4wR1Z2AaIDOp8jK1eu51UT1P7fyWw0WrSxKNPfoe7vjKXX9LQIe_FB8zSwM0nm-PDDcDPiYApgF0/s320/20240120_124851.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> This time of year is especially interesting. When the snow has fallen along with the temperatures, I shuffle across the parking lot to the garage telling myself how stupid I am until I've ridden a few blocks and need to loosen my cuffs and pull the hood back to cool off. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsSGxfz6RhTwSKbetydhWn_FYWeO57it1X67QyAPk4hdIaXaWOnJb-mD5I09sYwwMBJ4VEf7BAcqO7u7y_QA_SIC1euWZ540J_50X3ghRopr1Ht1e3Nu3brPoUcOSY1BHaTR_2uy2C6fSImkQI8lNnqnscpuoG_jpKS9zkxILbLQ5uy17s3XgA6pq-JY/s3264/20240119_150402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsSGxfz6RhTwSKbetydhWn_FYWeO57it1X67QyAPk4hdIaXaWOnJb-mD5I09sYwwMBJ4VEf7BAcqO7u7y_QA_SIC1euWZ540J_50X3ghRopr1Ht1e3Nu3brPoUcOSY1BHaTR_2uy2C6fSImkQI8lNnqnscpuoG_jpKS9zkxILbLQ5uy17s3XgA6pq-JY/w225-h400/20240119_150402.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">It's not a 35 mile ride this time of year, the roads are barely cleared for cars let alone bikes so it's a unique challenge to get around town, but the sense of smug superiority it provides is well worth it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivmEjVZ_qqc0UxwbR5RE_Uk4vFb1fTom_1dYYA7QjcUPK3P_dUvQ1nlRyycmM6M_wMnjPUV_R4EaI1IyronTMJDofMO8ajQBEPq6WkLrmmc_O2x35m8u7J2wG64moY3ErM71uK5l8nlr5gRqO2RaTgWv96CS-Hvf0Xe3iWymD14Q_G7_QfnwejXPnUCZw=w225-h400" width="225" />
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</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand our city does a responsible job of clearing, or at least trying to clear the trailways. The result is an icy mtb track protected from traffic where we can enjoy overheating under our parka for 25 miles or so. It's a limited pleasure and a change of pace for a few weeks.</p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-73072225573376710552024-01-14T11:54:00.000-08:002024-01-14T11:54:59.802-08:00<p> So winter finally arrived in Michigan. We got what looks like a foot or more overnight but I might be exaggerating. It will take a couple of days for the roads to be useful</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenPJkZsA3BhwZAYXRmc8d05J7xLpyRhYLuSsb7d23EgjC5C9XveaMs5swF-dY9LSw_ZWh4X0oWhultz4Oy-qmzlHQ9trh3O_hUCChwiLIbGvwGpTzT6bVj8rQYUp4TPAdcf6QbZFqO_h8Dzciz8C5tdzexIJ7SR65ArWIPXF658s-5X7FE8l3SN2MKM8/s720/IMG_20240113_143925_597.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenPJkZsA3BhwZAYXRmc8d05J7xLpyRhYLuSsb7d23EgjC5C9XveaMs5swF-dY9LSw_ZWh4X0oWhultz4Oy-qmzlHQ9trh3O_hUCChwiLIbGvwGpTzT6bVj8rQYUp4TPAdcf6QbZFqO_h8Dzciz8C5tdzexIJ7SR65ArWIPXF658s-5X7FE8l3SN2MKM8/s320/IMG_20240113_143925_597.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so I did what any reasonable person would do, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">stay inside, don't be part of the problem and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX5MZ9_W7bPbWj6ywWCM40ZuoP8scyh-PqLaVVMKV0VrKwwO-UGEepRefNekd793aparddt-A3APAZIBQqMesIA-5XHGQ6wyeluGDN96pkqYXEpltVFYS8RP4Fvu0F6Ei-_Mlej0KkTjQ-OLmRAdhd1AJ0NvNEUtbndfSky9hJUL_YZ4emZpSd3WM1Wo/s4080/20240113_200401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggX5MZ9_W7bPbWj6ywWCM40ZuoP8scyh-PqLaVVMKV0VrKwwO-UGEepRefNekd793aparddt-A3APAZIBQqMesIA-5XHGQ6wyeluGDN96pkqYXEpltVFYS8RP4Fvu0F6Ei-_Mlej0KkTjQ-OLmRAdhd1AJ0NvNEUtbndfSky9hJUL_YZ4emZpSd3WM1Wo/s320/20240113_200401.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">give one of my bikes a bath. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter had been so late coming </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hadn't bothered to put studded tires on the Brompton.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8SeQMW_KapQ5y7wFaRp45rjzJeQ1fmqSeQLUkL12Exd_zkUdmPUrdhTVIws3T2a2hzZ25U-0m-BmI8N538_IXW1CyJoeM8BO3IDBr0-09MEU3fln_MHKsHjzvkdB7Y3-eGz47PRKuYDIH5xNWCakyjwxTxgzHjwAOD2fEYHo1ZUand_kRU-DqnlKGVY/s4080/20240114_095106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8SeQMW_KapQ5y7wFaRp45rjzJeQ1fmqSeQLUkL12Exd_zkUdmPUrdhTVIws3T2a2hzZ25U-0m-BmI8N538_IXW1CyJoeM8BO3IDBr0-09MEU3fln_MHKsHjzvkdB7Y3-eGz47PRKuYDIH5xNWCakyjwxTxgzHjwAOD2fEYHo1ZUand_kRU-DqnlKGVY/s320/20240114_095106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since it was ridiculously cold in the garage I brought it inside where I could bear to work on it. Like most bikes it's easiest to flop it over on it's back </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> and it's pretty straight forward despite looking strange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7wBgaw8jGQj5yWsMEEniT-h1XhDB065NdQkD0MU7jByg0eygjj0sbjB9cvNvbtH5h42V4_1GeL_U4Mce3AbccTB6BMhMAV38IPuGD0u5_8e9eZg5bLeaMBP3T1ozaqtVXR4gbpyIMYvQQ4EqP2bTwlidHZS12zUq7wnNFagXLyJMtp5EQo2e0OeTZU/s4080/20240114_101857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWc7wBgaw8jGQj5yWsMEEniT-h1XhDB065NdQkD0MU7jByg0eygjj0sbjB9cvNvbtH5h42V4_1GeL_U4Mce3AbccTB6BMhMAV38IPuGD0u5_8e9eZg5bLeaMBP3T1ozaqtVXR4gbpyIMYvQQ4EqP2bTwlidHZS12zUq7wnNFagXLyJMtp5EQo2e0OeTZU/s320/20240114_101857.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The challenging part about Brompton maintenance is removing the rear wheel. I'm not belaboring the details, but disconnecting the shift cable from the hub, removing the chain tensioner, getting the wheel off and reassembling the whole thing is harder than origami. Anybody who accomplishes this without profuse swearing in several languages deserves a degree in engineering or something..from somewhere. I flunk the swear test every time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsS0Flq0L-IvbezHGH8pKgTmhFBRgKJOPTYi0KZhc_XLj8F7uPwOmqUfLDOQMYol1zT7ptRm6Mdin6NTx5Z63Z-1Dck7cUTfaQImrq-nxdGgOPctBYvT0muGcYKB1xFhkFgxkvMUCdAaalM2nNdKxag9U0u67pBNkbFYxCjQuKgUxRcADVZgHd8zyD7I/s4080/20240114_102906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsS0Flq0L-IvbezHGH8pKgTmhFBRgKJOPTYi0KZhc_XLj8F7uPwOmqUfLDOQMYol1zT7ptRm6Mdin6NTx5Z63Z-1Dck7cUTfaQImrq-nxdGgOPctBYvT0muGcYKB1xFhkFgxkvMUCdAaalM2nNdKxag9U0u67pBNkbFYxCjQuKgUxRcADVZgHd8zyD7I/s320/20240114_102906.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Afterwards, the frame pump fits back in it's little spot</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovP-tSUx2Sm0rUJWLCxZPhckG3jbPBjTsjK87pFBZkS5aU6hzMvsX6PbHeqf6pqBR8CbjfIq46lu900-aUNm3A3sp7I0VjqMXXZhfCAsKTZPai9VgT8H0T2etmrXAlLXEiQjhVA54hPC6AK7wQQnHvUm6_vyqwzvTvt4LtnFbMkXofp52OmI6rgmI-54/s4080/20240114_102948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovP-tSUx2Sm0rUJWLCxZPhckG3jbPBjTsjK87pFBZkS5aU6hzMvsX6PbHeqf6pqBR8CbjfIq46lu900-aUNm3A3sp7I0VjqMXXZhfCAsKTZPai9VgT8H0T2etmrXAlLXEiQjhVA54hPC6AK7wQQnHvUm6_vyqwzvTvt4LtnFbMkXofp52OmI6rgmI-54/s320/20240114_102948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The handy dandy toolkit that accomplishes all things Brompton</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1Ws5jZdUm1-v7-GcYjJFj8K-QjxzIPB8fWIE-HEBK-GLd6Q5vw7K_AVnOTjPjfNRxywJyTvyAcPIEqeCGmWVPhpTdiaqYub6Y0g4rFe_x4ojQostNhFDJhvXqwUMsFRB0Lf9AZSCAfHxNpyBceo9bzUMKTKjUT2tfF7ucKf39xLqj34jFnR_SS3rwEE/s4080/20240114_103011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1Ws5jZdUm1-v7-GcYjJFj8K-QjxzIPB8fWIE-HEBK-GLd6Q5vw7K_AVnOTjPjfNRxywJyTvyAcPIEqeCGmWVPhpTdiaqYub6Y0g4rFe_x4ojQostNhFDJhvXqwUMsFRB0Lf9AZSCAfHxNpyBceo9bzUMKTKjUT2tfF7ucKf39xLqj34jFnR_SS3rwEE/s320/20240114_103011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">goes back inside the frame where it hides for next time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE88PimrSrz345khEOhSFq3oSihxeidpSfahzqnk0yed5zbezGAvgwtCG3CBeoKetBl8PjolklyjCbZt3DKiX3rySz2SrhLkIUtbRa-1nMPv44SjJS5DUPRoquDSiyioOTACHdjTJRyEtMF9u1mXhJzN4aSY1Iy12ZD80YiY52RYGpVTx1Pk8bP7QJDrA/s4080/20240114_144357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE88PimrSrz345khEOhSFq3oSihxeidpSfahzqnk0yed5zbezGAvgwtCG3CBeoKetBl8PjolklyjCbZt3DKiX3rySz2SrhLkIUtbRa-1nMPv44SjJS5DUPRoquDSiyioOTACHdjTJRyEtMF9u1mXhJzN4aSY1Iy12ZD80YiY52RYGpVTx1Pk8bP7QJDrA/s320/20240114_144357.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and it's a cute little rubics cube with spiky shoes, </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> ready for a few weeks of crusty roads. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-8845830128338134662023-12-31T07:20:00.000-08:002023-12-31T07:20:52.211-08:00Turned what corner?<p style="text-align: justify;"> It's that time of year, but it's nearly January and "freezing" still feels cold. Normally, we (those of us who don't Zwift) have become calloused to cold temps and forty degrees feels warm by now. We've had only 24 hours with snow on the ground and rainy 45 degree temps to live with most of the time. The winter solstice has come and gone, the days are getting longer by about 30 seconds a day and we are coasting towards spring already. Nearly a month of winter has passed us with barely a blink of cold or snow. Even though the spandex hamsters have retreated to their pretend cycling games, outdoor rides are demanding nothing more than a layer beneath a hoody. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNNmJsUkLjly2NAF9LN6pV3o90iq3s87D_Fq8K08imhqKUA1-4OH69wgU1j3D-Vh1hTveKuCU-PwWVqBxqCLMd_dd8g7b2H-sWN5761enYk47u8zLsyruGYb1Kbt7Y4DL6Elmad-7_isMLSVDas0CVp44sGlgpLA5Yuncetb4GJA1nuAyemzPtC3aHfU/s1600/1640540124812053-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsNNmJsUkLjly2NAF9LN6pV3o90iq3s87D_Fq8K08imhqKUA1-4OH69wgU1j3D-Vh1hTveKuCU-PwWVqBxqCLMd_dd8g7b2H-sWN5761enYk47u8zLsyruGYb1Kbt7Y4DL6Elmad-7_isMLSVDas0CVp44sGlgpLA5Yuncetb4GJA1nuAyemzPtC3aHfU/s320/1640540124812053-0.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">The outdoor season is normally limited to a daily commute or trip to the store on these days, but now I find myself taking a couple 25-30 mile rides a week. The smugness level enjoyed by riding ice encrusted trails on studded tires is not there this year and spring is slowly marching toward us. At least we can hope, we still do have January and February to face.</p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-90216849349141314882023-11-30T05:00:00.001-08:002023-12-01T05:55:56.207-08:00grocery<div><br></div><div>It seems to be a never ending argument that grocery shopping must be done by car. It makes no sense to me. On a normal trip I'd have to negotiate the enormous parking lot, </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU9o8WGTuwVG-Dm45CKzh4H79mTn2B_kVy-qk2xCN0rqFYy8BnqFOwdbndqfpBeACqgljFupTj7y3hNOhhZl4NprFIUJ-tfGhdImoyEwZJm3Ilcp4cwgjMmZISHJLjm9Gwf0vTC5jlZseY4f21ANbg04pSsnjm_9EmA3gpsXGlWKdBN51Lv_5Nzob9iKU" width="400">
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</div><br></div><div>find a spot where my car might be safe from from being dinged by the blind side of a huge SUV, walk nearly a block to the door, find a cart, fill the cart with stuff, stand in line at the checkout, unload the cart, reload the cart after the stuff is in bags, take the cart back across the parking lot, unload the cart to load the car, drive home, unload the car, carry the stuff into the house, unload the bags, and put the groceries away. Whew! I'm tired just writing a sentence about it!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcSd5srmSmC8EIs7gxeYP_9b-goD0ku9x4tymX4XBnzooSKGgW25YBCyrygf_Ho7tAx6B2usKd8i4_Q8PIw46OdeGNBmU-1Q2f5k-gE-AcjX9IgBVYHF8gDTYpwhXytYlq_-Pfpe5F8pUwjyIqF4FmnVerjuxQ5-sKylG6djB5w-xebSv5FKe_SmvxSao" width="400">
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</div>When I shop on my bike, I'll take the Travoy trailer</div><div>right to the door, lock the bike, </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgiG9IMIRubyIQVrSmNMNhbYPj7Jjg_QWbqyk7Qzj-EPJq4VKt9xJ07MRKZNMgyL2ztfNyjXtYPtTlyM7UELCpNl8y-KHhe3GIZWRi5fplB87Mv9D4TRlDwepaxY0Ik3YE7awn9UGEzBUkbek5H4ehgJF9Qzai3gJERKvCilLtSYKK7D9Ewz3apgkSraw" width="400"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fill the bags with stuff (even cart litter and laundry soap), I use my phone and the stores app to scan every thing,</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>roll through the self checkout, ride on home,</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div>Take the cart to the kitchen. Easy peasey. No, bagging, loading unloading or losing the car in the lot. $200 in groceries, no problem. On smaller trips, I fold the Brompton into shopping cart mode and don't even have to lock it outside. The bike is a better way to live. </div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-28577924284507581972023-11-25T10:27:00.000-08:002023-11-26T02:35:19.565-08:00More on a winter project<p> So I was innocently floating in the emotional delusion of N+0, feeling very comfortable with my collection of bikes all of which have their unique practical qualities while providing a variety of riding styles and options, when my world was upended by Leah Peterson and her obsession with Rivendell mixte's. Leah was involved in an internet conversation with Michael Downs, a Riv kinda guy in Brooklyn. During that, he sent her a photo of a bike in his shop and she noticed a Rivendell in the background and asked about it. He told her he was thinking of selling it since he wasn't using it anymore and sent her a photo of it. She sent me the photo along with his e-mail address and I told him : "I want that bike!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzBLeYLMT_bJ-CXlVok5jzbbqNzlHfcc55Tj3UBAuDv0qqLVOCBV3ra4NGziWRK0LW9qMSGeV8diQFUtyMR-nfmY262GIOksMQ-n5SxibeLWKrgECLnAL28-YMc3LOyctzFWY48oTKs76VsPD7pshlOb_EYduLizvX7fXB8XWHxi4XTFKQpENLRcGtO8/s4080/20231004_121716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzBLeYLMT_bJ-CXlVok5jzbbqNzlHfcc55Tj3UBAuDv0qqLVOCBV3ra4NGziWRK0LW9qMSGeV8diQFUtyMR-nfmY262GIOksMQ-n5SxibeLWKrgECLnAL28-YMc3LOyctzFWY48oTKs76VsPD7pshlOb_EYduLizvX7fXB8XWHxi4XTFKQpENLRcGtO8/w300-h400/20231004_121716.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> It's a limited edition Yves Gomez mixte which was Rivendell's first foot in the mixte puddle after the Wilbury/Glorious models became waaaay too expensive. It's in nearly pristine conditon, almost the same size and geometry as my Hillborne and after a couple of weeks wrangling around the logistics there it was on my dining table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TWWDcDmNiHcfdg0keumFbvaNHuibKesDsGKpDiBnuhyphenhyphenfa02lEpWMF2zw-v7QBheErHjxCbU9GKU0f92VWiJHO3a0-OZrIPOII9gQVPuzn57a5-0zOyBXfUsj55d4N38pv25FerwpQxZH9zmAoOlM27Bm0npl-H7k0UkVd_6T5s74YFUSBBBlL8TBlLs/s1600/1700090012634647-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TWWDcDmNiHcfdg0keumFbvaNHuibKesDsGKpDiBnuhyphenhyphenfa02lEpWMF2zw-v7QBheErHjxCbU9GKU0f92VWiJHO3a0-OZrIPOII9gQVPuzn57a5-0zOyBXfUsj55d4N38pv25FerwpQxZH9zmAoOlM27Bm0npl-H7k0UkVd_6T5s74YFUSBBBlL8TBlLs/w400-h300/1700090012634647-0.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Why Grant would name it after a french philosopher is a mystery, unless it's a reference to the extensive use of mixte's in France.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEfex60Ek4RE7mWsxqw_rTXCjN_Bgo2BcG-toWvvFbHiUQPHGnGvAupk16iCJG-N3bMjKI6IBOrt1Nh_SpnJ-9X_MaouWvKt-EKdKJ3u0ATiWfTomZ6KD7DvI_Xc-3j7N3ZxfhQlIMhZHISVkveI4Y5Jx7u7VoXXooLEW2L6osRkmVk6jX1Qqt4op0BA/s2437/20231004_133008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2437" data-original-width="1809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEfex60Ek4RE7mWsxqw_rTXCjN_Bgo2BcG-toWvvFbHiUQPHGnGvAupk16iCJG-N3bMjKI6IBOrt1Nh_SpnJ-9X_MaouWvKt-EKdKJ3u0ATiWfTomZ6KD7DvI_Xc-3j7N3ZxfhQlIMhZHISVkveI4Y5Jx7u7VoXXooLEW2L6osRkmVk6jX1Qqt4op0BA/w298-h400/20231004_133008.jpg" width="298" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I touched up a couple knicks, added my personal touch and polished it. I raided a few parts from my Trek (which I rarely ride), ordered a few and have gotten as far as putting the handlebars on,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pGnMNbpZrmBqZpIT2vWQ65taBA2ND_ObJ9J5h-SrWb1ahpSNhF50CMMhJgySgxUCzfg9ELa9rVUZqgoYLwDBhMG6Bzqe1ytgQh1qCE32DnuOgjFDbc-itkOYycI_MHw4jk0czBOVD9zXuyTnVNiARqmFQvkZsbst8re4TF2DtK8REclWwgjbvhjT9oE/s4080/20231118_150001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pGnMNbpZrmBqZpIT2vWQ65taBA2ND_ObJ9J5h-SrWb1ahpSNhF50CMMhJgySgxUCzfg9ELa9rVUZqgoYLwDBhMG6Bzqe1ytgQh1qCE32DnuOgjFDbc-itkOYycI_MHw4jk0czBOVD9zXuyTnVNiARqmFQvkZsbst8re4TF2DtK8REclWwgjbvhjT9oE/s320/20231118_150001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> but it's going to be staring back at me for months, because I'm not putting it on the road with winter right around the edge of the door.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK252_fq6_0U0ez8WZk8HLaW2oNZtyFeeaQaiYsAydGXW1ZUQoejqHbHssYxTUbPLXmfQaY49PJXnPCXNMNaWgAkIU49rkQlc_h-UStRVXFL0W03izGsGjSfUngGMJZSlPXwu_-z7AyMDDY2GhSUdRw7TNhw7Es7AEnzAJkbLxzT9clbpje_BXj6HdEUo/s4080/20231125_135531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK252_fq6_0U0ez8WZk8HLaW2oNZtyFeeaQaiYsAydGXW1ZUQoejqHbHssYxTUbPLXmfQaY49PJXnPCXNMNaWgAkIU49rkQlc_h-UStRVXFL0W03izGsGjSfUngGMJZSlPXwu_-z7AyMDDY2GhSUdRw7TNhw7Es7AEnzAJkbLxzT9clbpje_BXj6HdEUo/w400-h300/20231125_135531.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So I'll have some fun figuring it out for the spring thaw.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-36374268173751169182023-11-16T06:04:00.000-08:002023-11-16T06:08:08.925-08:00Ahh, the good life!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here we are in Michigan in November,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> famous for having all four seasons in a week, or day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week, last year, we were struggling with a snowstorm, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this year it's in the 30's at night and nearly 60 during the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUEnV-cTMDYFIGv5Aa4Jxa319klT2J2CA1e_vPH5oHb3tGsm1-0NhvOZqADKmnEJrm2HR4Gxt6qES4DxJtcDzjwiqXgcTGZlGvmW0vnqODEMB_vo40OUqvOG_Pe52S23GiM7Kpi1n8VgkX7JK-QRJH77bXtNMFXUPyeU9SBkg2q3r_oBwGQQXqaML_2cI" width="400" />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So we just pedal onward enjoying the extended fall for a few weeks and ignore the winter beater bike hanging in the rafters. Even we are naive to ignore that winter can happen at any moment. I tell my friends from southern climes, "We just put the golf clubs away, get out the skis, put studs on the bike and play on."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> I, on the other hand, am already preparing for spring. I've started another bike project based on a frame found by none other than the High Priestess of the Riv Rider Granfalloon, Leah Peterson. She discovered it lurking in the background of a picture by another Riv Rider, she asked about it. He said he might sell it.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP1OjJJyPkIktOo1zPqSafqUBAha30HtD6upF3CDc4EyHwd0MSeo2TCV3ZmNuPTvsV8cu3ZCGz7IMVh--Nf4WxpTu3eynRt6IqzfMLjT4b7AZfx5UNivoc_tbR57FMl1mhWBlmzpEQVdcKhsWbkTjOTVwO-r3_Ro9cgtJdqbKsZy79tcooXvENWiA3ftM" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was simple, she showed me a picture, I wanted it and bought it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifte4WpCy64Kn5dEk51mHPH2kw2gsMnhFfiajALDQ0Xodn-i_nasWLHC4z9nGu7rFMbIX6emZet0VbQvJDCYDItyV4yAtV56b2bLU6nuWReVMbHjXXvqLwtj_jGul6cCFN_qop-pYcJpsz-I3tM2Xgvq-agJJYThIS1lai9cFozactFoDMi8W5Hv3xLnE/s4080/20231115_112052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifte4WpCy64Kn5dEk51mHPH2kw2gsMnhFfiajALDQ0Xodn-i_nasWLHC4z9nGu7rFMbIX6emZet0VbQvJDCYDItyV4yAtV56b2bLU6nuWReVMbHjXXvqLwtj_jGul6cCFN_qop-pYcJpsz-I3tM2Xgvq-agJJYThIS1lai9cFozactFoDMi8W5Hv3xLnE/s320/20231115_112052.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I like simple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I gotta build it, I'm getting all the stuff, but, if I order a wheelset now, it will be delivered in the midst of a January blizzard, so I'll take my time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>A dream of the good life will be staring back at me daily until we see the spring. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-26251903677160779572023-11-07T02:43:00.004-08:002023-11-07T02:43:27.661-08:00Surprise!!!<p> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It all seemed innocent and very low key. Our local club decided to gather a few people to ride the new cycle track through our downtown area. The track has, of course, inspired bike haters to complain. Ignoring the fact that the changes made, reducing and narrowing motorist's lanes, were made for their safety, they focus on the existence of bike lanesto justify their protest. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6kbQ-oPGXeP-IIBvC9FcbxYjnj2Dv_TecMTn4oGjW6pxzjxCW57jvrySsELje4zfrT41NO0ZHOlDHdiziVdAxQToDrCAuGIqRzoubLGCP23VpZpyX-m8rTR5bkvSHu8sXXFRP6qpOJXnsTD3xMzx-Hltoy4zecxdCd_uKbW-JnNNs7L4DIR3cCZU0bc/s1280/IMG_5676..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6kbQ-oPGXeP-IIBvC9FcbxYjnj2Dv_TecMTn4oGjW6pxzjxCW57jvrySsELje4zfrT41NO0ZHOlDHdiziVdAxQToDrCAuGIqRzoubLGCP23VpZpyX-m8rTR5bkvSHu8sXXFRP6qpOJXnsTD3xMzx-Hltoy4zecxdCd_uKbW-JnNNs7L4DIR3cCZU0bc/s320/IMG_5676..jpg" width="320" /></a></p><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> I expected 6-10 people would show up in support of the new cycle track. <span style="text-align: left;">Instead we found a gathering which rivaled a critical mass ride, well in our community it would qualify. Over 65 people came and created a very visible crowd of support for the cities new development.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-o0xVnmKWibjFO1CJWp0IkJMBncavvi1l9seg9vOc9N2lvVZZYoUqThUZIKpjoCTqz0zUCZHH7A3v0hj2g58dVMmCRikFXDa2bmjh6wfS5-rDuP95OZMU9vYoJR-kWi629Kqzk1wII2F4fiYKNEU-tDBumaE562XAhZtY-7Ve-2AE6IrVXNefwvP2Xk/s960/IMG_5647.~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="960" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-o0xVnmKWibjFO1CJWp0IkJMBncavvi1l9seg9vOc9N2lvVZZYoUqThUZIKpjoCTqz0zUCZHH7A3v0hj2g58dVMmCRikFXDa2bmjh6wfS5-rDuP95OZMU9vYoJR-kWi629Kqzk1wII2F4fiYKNEU-tDBumaE562XAhZtY-7Ve-2AE6IrVXNefwvP2Xk/s320/IMG_5647.~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even non cyclist spouses came out to be part of this transportation sub culture and participate along with the crowd whose ages spanned 6 decades. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2bhiO6iokUKwN65NwBufQ9Z69yPpxCosTdDUhzdMylIYD4jnWff86QJhUQKEqKC0MmeFbCJ7OMgt1S-7RjlVDFg7hnEM3-0qudXSrSrYTfE0vG3Io8y_39dGNR8j8Cshtt1M3-EtqEnBuakgEGn24dHFzj7qJW7RfdbpnbyRqoTI1KwMRHW3Bc-eG3A/s1600/IMG_4709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2bhiO6iokUKwN65NwBufQ9Z69yPpxCosTdDUhzdMylIYD4jnWff86QJhUQKEqKC0MmeFbCJ7OMgt1S-7RjlVDFg7hnEM3-0qudXSrSrYTfE0vG3Io8y_39dGNR8j8Cshtt1M3-EtqEnBuakgEGn24dHFzj7qJW7RfdbpnbyRqoTI1KwMRHW3Bc-eG3A/s320/IMG_4709.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">John Knowlton, the club's president tapped me out to drive this bus and I was helped by my two Rivendelian friends, Leah Peterson and "Doc" Rehkoph. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjNhqIWU0grG-WOnScsw4YS0KJT9-YvD_ObpCfsy9-fLrmthvQFKVeIBhYAD7WyBtmSk1gf3Ix7Bz3U07cIJz9tu36S9x6qwafEaLravhD3ksZFCWSqezalQODhWX2fVJ9eHVDk7V1EgwDgF7b-T9m7hEsSb1HwYQWEIVs7R2wp3EBJd25NL0d3WA2Xw/s4080/20231104_114036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjNhqIWU0grG-WOnScsw4YS0KJT9-YvD_ObpCfsy9-fLrmthvQFKVeIBhYAD7WyBtmSk1gf3Ix7Bz3U07cIJz9tu36S9x6qwafEaLravhD3ksZFCWSqezalQODhWX2fVJ9eHVDk7V1EgwDgF7b-T9m7hEsSb1HwYQWEIVs7R2wp3EBJd25NL0d3WA2Xw/s320/20231104_114036.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It didn't take long for the group to be broken into several groups by the new bike signals which have been installed. Bike signals are a new curiosity here in Kalamazoo and a major source of conversation among the riders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMm5Y_wZSsgCTwpQOoVsQbdivXeOis2IdHaVV4dq99zTArBnnZgO2JIz7QfQdjcHSJyAn5gCskG9p_XRYZHck1_Plkdz3HA-6eItvSCGXTS17LHpty6UDoU6YsjQtIckAYfq1wDAdQmDyli2wqxsNJjJDvXNXR9hQ_k-PEkKZJj6v7I4C5pC5Nk0ny0o/s4080/20231104_114054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMm5Y_wZSsgCTwpQOoVsQbdivXeOis2IdHaVV4dq99zTArBnnZgO2JIz7QfQdjcHSJyAn5gCskG9p_XRYZHck1_Plkdz3HA-6eItvSCGXTS17LHpty6UDoU6YsjQtIckAYfq1wDAdQmDyli2wqxsNJjJDvXNXR9hQ_k-PEkKZJj6v7I4C5pC5Nk0ny0o/s320/20231104_114054.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Every kind of bike and rider was represented somewhere in the group. We had a few dedicated roadies, vintage, custom and modern along with Dutch cargo bikes, touring, Big Dummies and trikes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F1-UqRD35i6Y_z-qrM8wC5DY4anonFMJ-Q9edCstn-5s0AWaE_F6s1ruf85rUB0AdNHM-6psw5jfLsyihw2qtR87GTc338ZLpuvIqqsoaCLnd8FJC8hlsWeIwKcTtxMxbWBnyXIHWLAWla5h-GyZIasoQxn3vn3TGc6hnqCglWLk8a-4_hsXInEVisk/s1280/IMG_5676..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3F1-UqRD35i6Y_z-qrM8wC5DY4anonFMJ-Q9edCstn-5s0AWaE_F6s1ruf85rUB0AdNHM-6psw5jfLsyihw2qtR87GTc338ZLpuvIqqsoaCLnd8FJC8hlsWeIwKcTtxMxbWBnyXIHWLAWla5h-GyZIasoQxn3vn3TGc6hnqCglWLk8a-4_hsXInEVisk/s320/IMG_5676..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After the ride everyone was invited to participate in a survey to be sent to the city, hopefully to be read rather than ignored. To say it was a successful demonstration of support would be an understatement, hopefully it will help the public accept the benefits they receive from it.Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-23829658455431985712023-10-29T04:57:00.003-07:002023-10-29T04:58:41.413-07:00Out of the Web and back to the real world.<p style="text-align: justify;"> It's been a while because the stats on this blog have been a little strange. For many weeks I was getting four to five thousand hits a week, from one device in Singapore over the first 3 days of each week. It looked like some kind of bizarre web crawling robotic program looking to create trouble. So I stopped posting to eliminate real new activity it might be searching for. The activity has stopped and I'm sure it has crawled off to find better prey on the web.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> In the real world, developments keep happening. The city has completed it's creation of a two way cycle track through downtown Kalamazoo. Signaling has been installed give the intersections to cyclists for safe crossing amid all the traffic crossing the lanes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7YxlGW4HLRChesIVUXZFQz6N-RYZRH2tDG88CzBSa1tt-kJnbZT-TVD4ge_dnGeEtvd4DrEH3dFS7n3jWcq4YzpCjc_yLYohsLvwiJB8TzlRoSHG8X92szeeHhGMlZT9v22HAJV1bygXTqPU7U8VWSZmC6_vUAp-uycO_OwqJ_MzbfCkVvFYmX9UTVs/s4080/20231028_140533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7YxlGW4HLRChesIVUXZFQz6N-RYZRH2tDG88CzBSa1tt-kJnbZT-TVD4ge_dnGeEtvd4DrEH3dFS7n3jWcq4YzpCjc_yLYohsLvwiJB8TzlRoSHG8X92szeeHhGMlZT9v22HAJV1bygXTqPU7U8VWSZmC6_vUAp-uycO_OwqJ_MzbfCkVvFYmX9UTVs/s320/20231028_140533.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The signals are very noticeable and motorists seem compliant, but the sequencing of the lights will need to be tweaked as traffic develops over time. Right now, it seems to be "pedal a block and wait" if you stick strictly with the lights. This cycle track is only 6 or 7 blocks long, not a couple of miles, so we will probably never see anything like the "green wave" they've developed in Chicago. where the sequence is refined to allow constant bike flow at 12 MPH. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fDC8QIYQeNYNcVeOYHd_OHsnmwkwCgmMuOA59Xin0m7eqD4_pLXrjNgiYSQcfqcnfQA1xaffkq6YGWqMO-9GekKbmBCzS6_SOk59nIfZ5iK1bpK7ucsbGihdrM3EYcURDbrubZz_s4JKadjsTNoYc9kjp2P9T1ugt2KNd7DcJsdaqtE037QyPOutQXY/s1226/20231022_140229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="919" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fDC8QIYQeNYNcVeOYHd_OHsnmwkwCgmMuOA59Xin0m7eqD4_pLXrjNgiYSQcfqcnfQA1xaffkq6YGWqMO-9GekKbmBCzS6_SOk59nIfZ5iK1bpK7ucsbGihdrM3EYcURDbrubZz_s4JKadjsTNoYc9kjp2P9T1ugt2KNd7DcJsdaqtE037QyPOutQXY/s320/20231022_140229.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it's a start, and the public seems to be behind the development.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-25307401375028711712023-08-23T08:04:00.000-07:002023-08-23T08:04:44.317-07:00A good day to be on the bike.<p> Improvements just keep popping up. After resurfacing Duke Street this past week, the city surprised me</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZRVP-bloV2GOnXWOu7BUkaVTr6_oOe9Mf7PNBEQsCSA4zc_78aPb6a-EC4jZubeTZ6C6mRtu5y0Hjo5xUftnIRzyhRv4LnAtaAZUMEWsdQCGULoBhjqAxO9D6uR6j6TAlsu4fBTL96NVgFbKKpIVZVehweaRL5t1QgKPxgfIdZQDIRqvM9_Pcv6xGc/s4080/20230822_131335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifeZRVP-bloV2GOnXWOu7BUkaVTr6_oOe9Mf7PNBEQsCSA4zc_78aPb6a-EC4jZubeTZ6C6mRtu5y0Hjo5xUftnIRzyhRv4LnAtaAZUMEWsdQCGULoBhjqAxO9D6uR6j6TAlsu4fBTL96NVgFbKKpIVZVehweaRL5t1QgKPxgfIdZQDIRqvM9_Pcv6xGc/s320/20230822_131335.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">with new bike lanes. On this residential street they saw fit to follow the popular protocol and striped narrower traffic lanes and marking the leftover space for bike lanes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq6fmuEraKdf0-TSFqpjnBkTYb4OZKEzBBq94g90OBE1b4nsj_19BBuDWcJ2qOxPEDEHsC8n5YCXeElCNrjDTs-YljuNlJmMUo3LpfN_CbR_vS0aP5yG4wiIhEVvFqEsB3qyDmV5ytkHoREevyRt-b0SNVL7sJ1-ydzW1orOT_fNUe5Sp_MdIPOzg2Pw/s4080/20230822_131919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq6fmuEraKdf0-TSFqpjnBkTYb4OZKEzBBq94g90OBE1b4nsj_19BBuDWcJ2qOxPEDEHsC8n5YCXeElCNrjDTs-YljuNlJmMUo3LpfN_CbR_vS0aP5yG4wiIhEVvFqEsB3qyDmV5ytkHoREevyRt-b0SNVL7sJ1-ydzW1orOT_fNUe5Sp_MdIPOzg2Pw/s320/20230822_131919.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was a surprise to me and leads all the way from Kilgore Rd to Whites Rd which is scheduled for a diet next year. The local bike network is growing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> After the fleeting celebration in my brain, I took a ride across town to the KRVT enjoying a perfect bike riding day. The temps were in the 70's, sunny, with a mild breeze and I was barely working up a sweat when I came upon a tourist having trouble with a flat. I had a spare Flat Attack tube which I gladly donated to get him on schedule. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh7izuFZb6Hdc27IL2-jgbT-1nAKQH9sPSW04AZgqnH23tUA071zpEo15gnMovd-mjaqEBrwyRHr7KQpx8TNrT4Zwig_w1KgkKO_dPRYL-2Nn51Jju-1VDRXPNFMm_CM2ZuXx8QCV1yJ7FjrJt2jUWYmnJqh1lXmsqqjAX8kynq61CRzKTJOOva4-2MM/s4080/20230822_150258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigh7izuFZb6Hdc27IL2-jgbT-1nAKQH9sPSW04AZgqnH23tUA071zpEo15gnMovd-mjaqEBrwyRHr7KQpx8TNrT4Zwig_w1KgkKO_dPRYL-2Nn51Jju-1VDRXPNFMm_CM2ZuXx8QCV1yJ7FjrJt2jUWYmnJqh1lXmsqqjAX8kynq61CRzKTJOOva4-2MM/s320/20230822_150258.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> After the flat incident I led him through the downtown maze to the bike shop where he could buy a couple extra tubes and patches. Sofian is a Swiss student who just completed his BA in German and History at the Swiss university in Lousanne. I rode along with him and had a great time talking. His English is much better than my French, so we stuck to English (not that I gave him a choice). His plans are to travel to Chicago, take Amtrak to Seattle and travel down the coast, through Mexico and Central America to Columbia before heading home to continue with his MA to pursue an academic career. I'm just glad I was able to help on the trip. If I knelt to the Strava god, my score would have sucked, but it was a great day to be on a bike.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-25912196637400290152023-08-14T05:15:00.003-07:002023-08-14T05:18:43.364-07:00Progress <p style="text-align: justify;"> I rode downtown to check out our latest bike lanes. Since the highway through town has been given back to the city by the state, some changes are occurring. The first is the calming of traffic on Michigan Ave in preparation to transform it from a multi-lane one way to a two way street. While the two way street conversion is still in the future, the city began by removing a lane and narrowing the existing. They did the right thing with the left over asphalt,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nQYE7pjBLNE6tTTlauqvyNXBpNcwKWRXMetl-QeNPrr6k-GFVu_5h7MCOnkUbt7Yl2D3Zv-5-giIszQsE1jgSKlVJ0g7hN6e6_lcq-j9Q6OBPXDlyQ_jtdK_WbfMgW7vxWgbGvfYI_3d8Y2WdnGee1G_rb1cq19VgyYgzu_I_svdfk8vO9cn0Os8E6E/s4080/20230812_134030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nQYE7pjBLNE6tTTlauqvyNXBpNcwKWRXMetl-QeNPrr6k-GFVu_5h7MCOnkUbt7Yl2D3Zv-5-giIszQsE1jgSKlVJ0g7hN6e6_lcq-j9Q6OBPXDlyQ_jtdK_WbfMgW7vxWgbGvfYI_3d8Y2WdnGee1G_rb1cq19VgyYgzu_I_svdfk8vO9cn0Os8E6E/s320/20230812_134030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">and striped it to be a cycle track for the length of the street. It's going to be a great addition to the community and probably the busiest cycle infrastructure in town. I even spotted some very stylish new bike racks along the route which leads past restaurants brew pubs, the mall and shops. They moved parking spaces from the curb and placed them on the traffic side of the lane (good move). Now there are several signaled intersections where a bike signal will be needed in the signal sequence. We really need the cyclists out of the way before cars take the territory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9YofIv2y5_j3Yigs99ION76kfc5Isl16yZVb2GTPj0MCMsUjzqAivcJX7kyZHf3cPeROrNLu2YoXBOOpXQdif7z-sQ6i7CqV3-KqaDWzMFhu43VKxqDI9UfhyZP1x1TIwdn78CtpbHtZWlYzYv12aDKud2fQay445gUP2qZAQjZ3WwJtcB348o-i4Xw/s4080/20230812_134654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9YofIv2y5_j3Yigs99ION76kfc5Isl16yZVb2GTPj0MCMsUjzqAivcJX7kyZHf3cPeROrNLu2YoXBOOpXQdif7z-sQ6i7CqV3-KqaDWzMFhu43VKxqDI9UfhyZP1x1TIwdn78CtpbHtZWlYzYv12aDKud2fQay445gUP2qZAQjZ3WwJtcB348o-i4Xw/s320/20230812_134654.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Apparently we ran out of real estate. On the eastern few blocks of the street, the cycle track narrows to a single lane. Hmm, not sure how that's going to fit in the grand scheme of things, but I'm not bitching. It's a huge improvement and I met several smiling people on cycles on my first trip through. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Of course this brought out the bike haters in conversations and social media. It's important when talking to those narrow minded buffoons, that they are told the change was made to reduce traffic speed, volume, crashes, injury and death. After making the traffic lane changes, the engineers are left with extra asphalt which they judiciously turned over to the bicyclists to keep them out of everybody's way, and that the city did not spend a bunch of money to patronize cyclists. The changes are intended entirely to improve the safety of motorists, bikers are just an afterthought. You can't expect them to understand, but at least tell them.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p><br /></p></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-22221294283775485132023-07-10T03:07:00.006-07:002023-07-10T03:08:29.273-07:00Impending trail renovation<p style="text-align: justify;"> Half the nearby Kal-Haven trail will be closed for the rest of the year. The West half of the trail has deteriorated into a neglected two track in the woods. So it's a good thing the DNR is going to resurface it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA3ROQ8dz6dZ6n4mVWp7qFvvwwLVXuXUrFOb94JKSrelzSobGOHFYyd8ZzxQg6kguzMNrMCqGZqFeh8dM688O7zcWxPLsJtK50cumn-KXQH_b0pfx9lvYIK33zqQqguW1dINnC2Rm9iGwl4l0UACPhePbxOHxNcQrUhv0J9A3JxqSemFZ6tHSTMtUl00/s4080/20230707_111422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA3ROQ8dz6dZ6n4mVWp7qFvvwwLVXuXUrFOb94JKSrelzSobGOHFYyd8ZzxQg6kguzMNrMCqGZqFeh8dM688O7zcWxPLsJtK50cumn-KXQH_b0pfx9lvYIK33zqQqguW1dINnC2Rm9iGwl4l0UACPhePbxOHxNcQrUhv0J9A3JxqSemFZ6tHSTMtUl00/s320/20230707_111422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> It's not without it's controversy. The covered bridge over the Black River in South Haven is also to be torn down and replaced in the process. Some locals have placed sentimental value to the structure. It's run down and needs replacing and the protests are a bit strange. They act as if it's an historical landmark. From what I understand, it's only about 50 years old, it's not even part of the original railroad. I get the impression it was built to be cute, but not very well and looks to me like it should be replaced with an upgrade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPllYjufqPuDaSZTHsVJCuvxUL4ANsABRR3i2yEhXgzDTLUJaFTrHzzEad00frS3gDfvY1jlmckqjsS_iVv_E-c5rcy5Bag7SUWPtzZ3_xnCpmJi8SkWp-snDV2a898GhWTnv0FoHiI-9_HsDBCUSjR88whsRqZgl0O8jU8F4ES9GKBCJAE1KtP3ZB-Uk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPllYjufqPuDaSZTHsVJCuvxUL4ANsABRR3i2yEhXgzDTLUJaFTrHzzEad00frS3gDfvY1jlmckqjsS_iVv_E-c5rcy5Bag7SUWPtzZ3_xnCpmJi8SkWp-snDV2a898GhWTnv0FoHiI-9_HsDBCUSjR88whsRqZgl0O8jU8F4ES9GKBCJAE1KtP3ZB-Uk" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What the hell do I know? I guess people will argue about it all summer while the work is going on. What I do know is that I like riding that part to South Haven a couple times a year just to get out and hang around the lake. I had to do it this week or not at all, so I did. Wednesday I took off and the weather was great although a bit hot in the nineties. I stopped at nearly every water pump to refill and pour cold water over my head. After stopping for lunch at Bloomingdale, I was rescued by a stray thundershower. The noise and lightning were south so I didn't worry much. I was about 10 miles from SH when it went by and absolutely drenched me with relief . It was truly rejuvenating, the storm was going East, I was going West, everything worked out just fine.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2-N5csAPm_Eptd8kFG_zwPzDY9LxuZNyrrBLL7bhj9S24YnmgTnXv4yYrOjXkUALixXRrNarPt4N5Dp2OhWV_IiAi_ummHNZPFp3f_4rraXc5GkjVZnQbZNjK6-QwnTECHJvOawLd00_gRUWBlp1YQxTA2cfG0qhsFySy57qC4KBVa2-rWdpmUCK-Hk/s4080/20230706_132956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2-N5csAPm_Eptd8kFG_zwPzDY9LxuZNyrrBLL7bhj9S24YnmgTnXv4yYrOjXkUALixXRrNarPt4N5Dp2OhWV_IiAi_ummHNZPFp3f_4rraXc5GkjVZnQbZNjK6-QwnTECHJvOawLd00_gRUWBlp1YQxTA2cfG0qhsFySy57qC4KBVa2-rWdpmUCK-Hk/s320/20230706_132956.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> I reached the Idler in South Haven in mid afternoon to cool off in customary fashion after a 50 mile ride. South Haven was busy, even after the holiday weekend there were people every where searching the boutiques and enjoying the different restaurants in town. I had reserved a site at the Van Buren State Park south of town for a couple of nights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp53ypkUjbSoNHuj0MJrIL26FEvmL_kJvt7Z_PLbNPDzIcXTZdeQgv5wgQ3IcAOhvBJxWTVuNnbzoqKsVduNj59kPqeNAXyhcH0w3te0-yE4qkwZQ2mTRDEedld-U8_M7X-xnbvbBf2WqPNpjjd6e-aQIhT3QTAMw-u0nPSi5R27w5YQv6TqSDMTlMVjI/s4032/20230705_205301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1941" data-original-width="4032" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp53ypkUjbSoNHuj0MJrIL26FEvmL_kJvt7Z_PLbNPDzIcXTZdeQgv5wgQ3IcAOhvBJxWTVuNnbzoqKsVduNj59kPqeNAXyhcH0w3te0-yE4qkwZQ2mTRDEedld-U8_M7X-xnbvbBf2WqPNpjjd6e-aQIhT3QTAMw-u0nPSi5R27w5YQv6TqSDMTlMVjI/s320/20230705_205301.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> It's not my favorite place to camp, with hundreds of RV 's and kids racing around the way they do, but the new showers are nice and I didn't worry about leaving my stuff there while I pedaled around the shoreline on Thursday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh110uBT-wR4eAwnYNmImv1gL6AbQ_wCQVwEX6sovYvtJqw9Qqh0Rq0e-9_JhD6Yy5RM9YATD4PbK1ng819AlUH2OzwIGFGdsLN8MuEVkAB4RYvdqB6RCohSiGuI7ZTHAU3X7AQVp_571g-sZ5MTbYC3nW_SqPO9PK8zLex6PPS-jKoboKGRq1E7KXUbfg/s4080/20230706_135423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh110uBT-wR4eAwnYNmImv1gL6AbQ_wCQVwEX6sovYvtJqw9Qqh0Rq0e-9_JhD6Yy5RM9YATD4PbK1ng819AlUH2OzwIGFGdsLN8MuEVkAB4RYvdqB6RCohSiGuI7ZTHAU3X7AQVp_571g-sZ5MTbYC3nW_SqPO9PK8zLex6PPS-jKoboKGRq1E7KXUbfg/s320/20230706_135423.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Thursday was downright cool in contrast to Wednesday. The sky was hazy, not from Canadian smoke but just cloudy and humid. The breezes from the lake were cool and strong enough that a few people actually tried to surf the waves with little success. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bCSedC5EGR3YDAdbrOYYtuE_YX0HK0p3u3Hmn12jKreWbYzmAAp3a4d3DQq6rWtVl-eFTVcXetjbuSzre85ByjdW8J2PqmsJ_G4HPivJs3gQPSn8oeXNzITtuPE2Yw9olaHQTdeM35VUgxgKWDPkeLe9XgSDfIvbGgnJMuQMbHxvS0Y_k8eOgpCRLZw/s4080/20230706_135436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bCSedC5EGR3YDAdbrOYYtuE_YX0HK0p3u3Hmn12jKreWbYzmAAp3a4d3DQq6rWtVl-eFTVcXetjbuSzre85ByjdW8J2PqmsJ_G4HPivJs3gQPSn8oeXNzITtuPE2Yw9olaHQTdeM35VUgxgKWDPkeLe9XgSDfIvbGgnJMuQMbHxvS0Y_k8eOgpCRLZw/s320/20230706_135436.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There weren't many people out on the beaches, but a day at the beach is not to be ignored when you have the chance and there were some fool hardy groups in the water despite warnings of waves, wind and rip currents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> The ride home was nearly perfect with temps in the '70's and NNW wind quartering behind. It took little time to make the 50 miles back home and I ran across my friend, Rick Whaley, doing the same thing. He wanted to ride that part of the trail once this year before it closed also. There were a number of groups heading out to SH, I assume for the same reason. In all it was a excellent 4 days of riding about 130 miles give or take a few. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-50330698274031197432023-06-23T08:02:00.000-07:002023-06-23T08:02:15.915-07:00This past trip showed the way<p style="text-align: justify;"> My recent trip to Chicago about navigation that are worth throwing out. On the ride up to Muskegon, I knew the way into Holland. Reaching Holland I found my way to US Bike Route 35 which follows the coast all the way to Mackinaw City. I'm sure Adventure Cycling has shared those established routes with Google. They didn't stop there but installed signage to denote the routes. The signage is sparse where it can be, but in the labyrinth of trails necessary to stay on track in Grand Haven, it was excellent.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisx5VWb4B_nMV0mSwCbzYyl0lvpiMMGhuLmOpQ-196LmScfNb_uumBc_2rWUxwDXdnAmRuuJfneKI4wUlr_u5wiBRJKPza4_SxnxOwEwpq0QmD_2EopKC4cO862Uvamm3qmc0ao5GR5ERStwpXzMFi9ZUpDesZlI-3pxa9TevTrVRvbAmhAH6eJqo/s1600/Screenshot_20230616_054808_Maps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisx5VWb4B_nMV0mSwCbzYyl0lvpiMMGhuLmOpQ-196LmScfNb_uumBc_2rWUxwDXdnAmRuuJfneKI4wUlr_u5wiBRJKPza4_SxnxOwEwpq0QmD_2EopKC4cO862Uvamm3qmc0ao5GR5ERStwpXzMFi9ZUpDesZlI-3pxa9TevTrVRvbAmhAH6eJqo/w288-h640/Screenshot_20230616_054808_Maps.jpg" width="288" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;">There were signs at each intersection and turn in the bike paths, It was a real luxury to stay in the saddle and not have to refer to the phone every other block. Each turn and intersection was clearly marked and saved a lot of problems, time and unnecessary miles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vTRQRXFcJc4Dlkry5fAg9c_-Oqchk5tJz2DTxnfpcHfqMBQhEiQOYFWyF0VEANHQZ9-oQ9kxRQAFPVV7Gh9C6HpZkHcWMXRR2TkQ601yc4FSNdGnH-T0LBtf92TCyfK_R3XOqd9aWUZvelgytsuRXbmm681Qu5k1yf1a5YdkhvfsbQ4VSiDt3zbl/s1600/Screenshot_20230616_055434_Maps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vTRQRXFcJc4Dlkry5fAg9c_-Oqchk5tJz2DTxnfpcHfqMBQhEiQOYFWyF0VEANHQZ9-oQ9kxRQAFPVV7Gh9C6HpZkHcWMXRR2TkQ601yc4FSNdGnH-T0LBtf92TCyfK_R3XOqd9aWUZvelgytsuRXbmm681Qu5k1yf1a5YdkhvfsbQ4VSiDt3zbl/w288-h640/Screenshot_20230616_055434_Maps.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> In Kenosha the connection between the trail leading into town, and the one leading to Illinois through the middle of town, became an absolute mystery of disconnected and unlisted bike lanes, residential streets and business areas which were very dangerous at times. Google did not have those improvements updated and there was no signage on the ground Google Maps is an incredible asset while touring by bicycle but is only as good as the information it's given.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wzxlxt7Mf_fluKcIpPkm_Ks1fdHStcmepyuTcx5MbECZ54UyyI1RLv6VZfqXqbN9uWt-nxOqPF2zlz1GDgY-cGDMY0oYe_e8VnRItgka1kOuXc0X6Uud05r1rDVxT5gBdmr2HfxWNF7gD-XVk7ptxu-jPQrYkLcyy2hPM5RhsjUsH3v6URwFS9ZfeZg/s1600/Screenshot_20230618_081901_Maps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wzxlxt7Mf_fluKcIpPkm_Ks1fdHStcmepyuTcx5MbECZ54UyyI1RLv6VZfqXqbN9uWt-nxOqPF2zlz1GDgY-cGDMY0oYe_e8VnRItgka1kOuXc0X6Uud05r1rDVxT5gBdmr2HfxWNF7gD-XVk7ptxu-jPQrYkLcyy2hPM5RhsjUsH3v6URwFS9ZfeZg/w288-h640/Screenshot_20230618_081901_Maps.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> This is the way Google Maps shows the bike infrastructure in the Kalamazoo area I call home. It's good, and helpful to a certain extent, but it is incomplete. <span style="text-align: left;">Having spent a few years working with KATS (Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study) on a 30 year Non-Motorized plan we know that much more exists and additions are made in the area each year.</span>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe1h7Gl82kV4TR5-6ESuIPT7iAtivQeh0LY8Bo0bj0tRJF-qngnzNqJEZg9EIKasU6xsis1d18KZ5pNULaTh5MXAy3Hktn3eNN6iCvcpzNYCQ6fLMsWNNul-ksDlj1jW7hB8JBM0f4G844SM8n1F48S0z4fcN9MGtaXDOBVGA6x7H8mEO50r-04_7ci0/s1600/Screenshot_20230618_081955_Maps.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe1h7Gl82kV4TR5-6ESuIPT7iAtivQeh0LY8Bo0bj0tRJF-qngnzNqJEZg9EIKasU6xsis1d18KZ5pNULaTh5MXAy3Hktn3eNN6iCvcpzNYCQ6fLMsWNNul-ksDlj1jW7hB8JBM0f4G844SM8n1F48S0z4fcN9MGtaXDOBVGA6x7H8mEO50r-04_7ci0/w288-h640/Screenshot_20230618_081955_Maps.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Above is the map my friend Paul Sotherland created of our current cycling infrastructure. Most of this has not been discovered by or provided to Google. It will be when KATS has verified all the data. That will be a tremendous improvement for new or visiting cyclists to find their way from A to B or through the metro area on two wheels. Since Google is the most popular map system on the web it only makes sense that updates be provided to them on a regular basis as improvements are completed. Rattle some cages in your home town to get some better information on the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-73618877135429515452023-06-11T05:24:00.000-07:002023-06-11T05:24:04.541-07:00A few multi-modal days<p> Riding a new route to Chicago. There was excellent weather predicted, so I decided to stretch my legs for a few days roaming to the north rather than south. I know the roads to Muskegon and headed out in the morning. The first day would be the longest but it was time for an 80 mile ride, it ain't nothin' to an experienced tourist.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHqG77YxM3-VRIC597ySrpmzqXJgSspSQGCi6U1UNHiFtmnbPlschDa2jid2It3uu9ou1VaYFekefZ-0k5tNNabp5iNKuX6SZ_xUhvYSoswVdnkZ2v_9y0srPS0k8tuUrqe_6_3PRdu69rjhfFwxxcrzNPzEJXCZ8jnPZiQ2IduoP2wHsTdnrFIvk/s4080/20230607_144359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHqG77YxM3-VRIC597ySrpmzqXJgSspSQGCi6U1UNHiFtmnbPlschDa2jid2It3uu9ou1VaYFekefZ-0k5tNNabp5iNKuX6SZ_xUhvYSoswVdnkZ2v_9y0srPS0k8tuUrqe_6_3PRdu69rjhfFwxxcrzNPzEJXCZ8jnPZiQ2IduoP2wHsTdnrFIvk/s320/20230607_144359.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Most of the real estate was covered in the morning with highway travel along M40 to Holland. The pavement good, traffic is pretty heavy but the wide shoulders are accommodating despite the noise. I didn't expect 25-30 mph winds whipping across the empty fields all day, but I got 'em.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDZ9rzgEZh5QUZtW1mt17U1eaJQfsu0vWcg_IX0v5bwKplnf6KPZWiZ8S2Um7Jigr23VKfoXzFm9o4g7qBURPDuW_Yn4AVHfKiUl3KzulbqjWIG5mKlqsHBS3tP1YWGjtEqKkIhlXIQ1E4pWq1UZWO6fhM3LFpCMYa5TivzcdiQ-3Ke-0fnj4FkmR/s4080/20230607_181017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDZ9rzgEZh5QUZtW1mt17U1eaJQfsu0vWcg_IX0v5bwKplnf6KPZWiZ8S2Um7Jigr23VKfoXzFm9o4g7qBURPDuW_Yn4AVHfKiUl3KzulbqjWIG5mKlqsHBS3tP1YWGjtEqKkIhlXIQ1E4pWq1UZWO6fhM3LFpCMYa5TivzcdiQ-3Ke-0fnj4FkmR/s320/20230607_181017.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Turning north at Holland I found my way onto Bike Route 35 marking city streets and trails sheltering against the crosswind.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyatpQagPlBzXjPJ9vL08L8jCb1u-Qj9fooJICtCsBK9sToWLLyJi-dT0rgeGq6e3Pgh_akM-X59br5Hu4tsT9lFoVKp5MKVHZtgEH6HmekdqqxotpAUuXMYH_6fQhfgy9MpkiZYWKHDyYhZdTMpBJrk5KEB3wwNiCi6Enp4EkasKT9COYg-GHM-p/s4080/20230607_184942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyatpQagPlBzXjPJ9vL08L8jCb1u-Qj9fooJICtCsBK9sToWLLyJi-dT0rgeGq6e3Pgh_akM-X59br5Hu4tsT9lFoVKp5MKVHZtgEH6HmekdqqxotpAUuXMYH_6fQhfgy9MpkiZYWKHDyYhZdTMpBJrk5KEB3wwNiCi6Enp4EkasKT9COYg-GHM-p/s320/20230607_184942.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The wind finally quit and BR 35 led me through the labyrinth of trails in Grand Haven (thank you Adventure Cycling!). I was shocked. I kept looking at the map thinking this couldn't be, but it led right to the entrance of Hoffmaster State Park. After getting a campsite and chatting with the officer, I felt better. He said they had been closing beaches all along the coast because of the wind, wave and rip tide danger. So, it wasn't just the worst I could remember, it really was bad, . It had been a long day and my legs were were screaming: "80 miles AIN'T NOTHIN' Dumbass. "</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5V4j-S7SqG_NL6qPmk44TcLE1M57y6AmveNpGs3tmdxSu1xjaH4CFMJ5LmZWJSCYHCPisnWdReDv1o1is7YjXD4HdLaIu2mIUKN35xO98nmbqWw4vXLbJ-F4cov2AjznHKWhxfI4LPSu7DuIGmy1g8Frmal7u16Pc3xRH9Kr9TBmvOroz68oCeu/s4080/20230608_124626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun5V4j-S7SqG_NL6qPmk44TcLE1M57y6AmveNpGs3tmdxSu1xjaH4CFMJ5LmZWJSCYHCPisnWdReDv1o1is7YjXD4HdLaIu2mIUKN35xO98nmbqWw4vXLbJ-F4cov2AjznHKWhxfI4LPSu7DuIGmy1g8Frmal7u16Pc3xRH9Kr9TBmvOroz68oCeu/s320/20230608_124626.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The morning was a pleasant 7 mile jaunt down the road to the ferry dock where I stowed the Hunq in the hold,<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5TNJ_InOOu3PKrFF9mpxRLanopGl91L8MBVUBurKMQc6TcUdZrVil6tkRjhYIs0tgkl9IKj0MR7bK8lmAS9p2LUvhK7wVZ4iFlrKLjIdaMaE9zDKpYe-qvM_WYWvgi7ovFBTb1Mu1tgOUZ9UQdOFkgKP2jFcZajwdOpYGCetM4MKbD1EQ7HF62YG/s4080/20230608_104029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5TNJ_InOOu3PKrFF9mpxRLanopGl91L8MBVUBurKMQc6TcUdZrVil6tkRjhYIs0tgkl9IKj0MR7bK8lmAS9p2LUvhK7wVZ4iFlrKLjIdaMaE9zDKpYe-qvM_WYWvgi7ovFBTb1Mu1tgOUZ9UQdOFkgKP2jFcZajwdOpYGCetM4MKbD1EQ7HF62YG/s320/20230608_104029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">relaxed in the cabin with a cup of coffee and a sandwich </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">leaving Michigan in our wake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ig1el0x3G0aLssuEGNpj2CF39RnC_Hy20HdEh_TtxCiki3QiqAMQseS57x9IgMsJikvlVOiDXJhy-sfkckvcrhCS4nsB0lkq5rPJ_hulOCP1PNelSSLN3jyxkoaeqgiHlNIw5iRUEsjcS0s_2cl3OBTzhr1hZlOFYoC27C_Kud8hCQ4hrxR9e69/s4080/20230608_131817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4ig1el0x3G0aLssuEGNpj2CF39RnC_Hy20HdEh_TtxCiki3QiqAMQseS57x9IgMsJikvlVOiDXJhy-sfkckvcrhCS4nsB0lkq5rPJ_hulOCP1PNelSSLN3jyxkoaeqgiHlNIw5iRUEsjcS0s_2cl3OBTzhr1hZlOFYoC27C_Kud8hCQ4hrxR9e69/s320/20230608_131817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arriving in Milwaukee I was greeted by a trail system </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">starting at the docks through the marina, past the beaches </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk5sdz-n0ZV1YkjyDLKqV6cbfk_5YSkNEuIavT5t3EIWmH0UtO80hhhg2xmOj7KOaLBV93YBoQ9OtGrgzYoOKIjpZsoKOSrhETco_fM5xRnytj95KQvxL-C7CXRo7gTWaTrCJHhtn9uRzXHVc0fAOGl0R23sxQmFOf7tav--l5EGtQCvUJTOCyldK/s4080/20230608_140652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrk5sdz-n0ZV1YkjyDLKqV6cbfk_5YSkNEuIavT5t3EIWmH0UtO80hhhg2xmOj7KOaLBV93YBoQ9OtGrgzYoOKIjpZsoKOSrhETco_fM5xRnytj95KQvxL-C7CXRo7gTWaTrCJHhtn9uRzXHVc0fAOGl0R23sxQmFOf7tav--l5EGtQCvUJTOCyldK/s320/20230608_140652.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to a beautiful trail system leading south. After the south 'burbs of Milwaukee, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hit the highway for a fairly pleasant ride toward Kenosha</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZJzpV9IEcCuJ0Rne51jOOyBjY3ok-hCeAMEkl2qDsxTbyO5xqSXYxlB7C0PB-wxq8OGMLgZdNDExE2Qa0nRQbQ_IR5qVOATc0blFKcIsGNsmWq5wHylCplzXA71PaPZzPkHiQJbWA1DdXtIXtOg5hcIzYFYRCCU3-o2r-kKpzm4jDSgIT0MtyZQc/s4080/20230609_110618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZJzpV9IEcCuJ0Rne51jOOyBjY3ok-hCeAMEkl2qDsxTbyO5xqSXYxlB7C0PB-wxq8OGMLgZdNDExE2Qa0nRQbQ_IR5qVOATc0blFKcIsGNsmWq5wHylCplzXA71PaPZzPkHiQJbWA1DdXtIXtOg5hcIzYFYRCCU3-o2r-kKpzm4jDSgIT0MtyZQc/s320/20230609_110618.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">where I could catch the paved trails leading to Illinois. This system is part of US BR 37 leading to Zion Il. where I spent the night at the Illinois Beach State Park. It's a regular stop for bikers on that side of the pond (it's 50 miles between Milwaukee and Chicago) and I got to meet a number of cyclist enroute both ways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgjTnBaBb19t0TQqrgrE141t64zenK2wGt1FAT-VnLaA8VyKalBk0ELDyW6Hjpxv0xk7waY6xNolLCy_u4aqOxT_1yzCIkvMJWeG5nBILV4A1OLp0OgYAsXgSiztA-nubdcEp4PayV8aqgK9orT3KOmSetlZ6cjX6BXYUW8w0-YL4IGYkIAAqEr9w/s4080/20230609_144928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgjTnBaBb19t0TQqrgrE141t64zenK2wGt1FAT-VnLaA8VyKalBk0ELDyW6Hjpxv0xk7waY6xNolLCy_u4aqOxT_1yzCIkvMJWeG5nBILV4A1OLp0OgYAsXgSiztA-nubdcEp4PayV8aqgK9orT3KOmSetlZ6cjX6BXYUW8w0-YL4IGYkIAAqEr9w/s320/20230609_144928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In the morning I traveled on the McClory bike path, again BR37, down into the the North 'burbs of Chitown where bike routes, trails and lanes create a network </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdAFfv5cpxe4fqMIIyhyJYF6XgKMMk2FlpTLKOZjysjypEta0mhiBC33MvezN4b807M2X5pLnLTKwyEsc9ubXQnnzxM5ExDHpVcwgViPjT25QgsXdG1tqN2Im3ZL0bqX6yU_xaW_yoVvtZmlifKHN4KXq0GPdgZzQU_fRhxcsENHdIzNV5qYmhUh6/s2595/20230609_144503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2595" data-original-width="1946" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdAFfv5cpxe4fqMIIyhyJYF6XgKMMk2FlpTLKOZjysjypEta0mhiBC33MvezN4b807M2X5pLnLTKwyEsc9ubXQnnzxM5ExDHpVcwgViPjT25QgsXdG1tqN2Im3ZL0bqX6yU_xaW_yoVvtZmlifKHN4KXq0GPdgZzQU_fRhxcsENHdIzNV5qYmhUh6/s320/20230609_144503.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">to the shops, restaurants and cafe's for cyclists to congregate. The route leads down through Highland Park into Evanston. Past Evanston, I stumbled onto Clark Street and rode it downtown rather than taking the lake shore.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SuSepmIoKR8CRZ1YfG_-VPbt1r0jJHWarWIIH_ZGE91QrXT_Cp3tcJY_IofrhKDhkmTc86sgkIkgvWkn8sEC0P2rEoG_Rws008lByap7BJY3xJau569PFkCt2-heUwehL9piL1CwnqQPf1eM9HCRbZANe_gWc9VA9oiZDbXUoB8w2urIhtvC4_O1/s4080/20230609_153953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5SuSepmIoKR8CRZ1YfG_-VPbt1r0jJHWarWIIH_ZGE91QrXT_Cp3tcJY_IofrhKDhkmTc86sgkIkgvWkn8sEC0P2rEoG_Rws008lByap7BJY3xJau569PFkCt2-heUwehL9piL1CwnqQPf1eM9HCRbZANe_gWc9VA9oiZDbXUoB8w2urIhtvC4_O1/s320/20230609_153953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clark street shows the development of </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> protected bike lanes on much of the route.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc5hiKNdMfs8hwqW8TVDyHeWRiZEr6FmKSyhSixpEyWLj10g2aoi_cRaf67HjIFXb8fmO0ZCXOZfj887dNdwC7N9RAg67gGAW1nvo4C_tQ9pdPlOJEysFJ0LO5mc-sBa1mqRu4bqsKEpzkd8fmGWOfvb1my0E9yc6RkKVdHHX5MHkiHZ8PFdJ45Ny/s4080/20230609_162740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvc5hiKNdMfs8hwqW8TVDyHeWRiZEr6FmKSyhSixpEyWLj10g2aoi_cRaf67HjIFXb8fmO0ZCXOZfj887dNdwC7N9RAg67gGAW1nvo4C_tQ9pdPlOJEysFJ0LO5mc-sBa1mqRu4bqsKEpzkd8fmGWOfvb1my0E9yc6RkKVdHHX5MHkiHZ8PFdJ45Ny/s320/20230609_162740.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Getting closer to The Loop, another cyclist I met at a stop light remarked that it is so much more relaxing to ride through this traffic on a bike. He's right, the drivers, at 5-10 mph look panic stricken and frustrated while we were all smiles and jokes winding our way through the crowds in this virtual parking lot. It's an empowering feeling to cycle through traffic in Chicago at 3 pm Friday, past Wrigley Field preparing for a game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-yF-07Tr8vDGx7YFQS76ybM7sgnZa5EzhBhvRglQh_J_PQxP6-ydaC9sza7x57Xff-L9CgVWSSs9PE53DFzYlLgG92UQw5OvvKikGMyxEkPG_MgbA7zBsoLSs_NcB2qWF_zHxOfAAPMSmdBuq0oR4dQE43heesZV70jhZOFmPbc42JOx-V8QAJMt/s4080/20230609_184515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-yF-07Tr8vDGx7YFQS76ybM7sgnZa5EzhBhvRglQh_J_PQxP6-ydaC9sza7x57Xff-L9CgVWSSs9PE53DFzYlLgG92UQw5OvvKikGMyxEkPG_MgbA7zBsoLSs_NcB2qWF_zHxOfAAPMSmdBuq0oR4dQE43heesZV70jhZOFmPbc42JOx-V8QAJMt/s320/20230609_184515.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Arriving at Union Station, I had time for pizza and beer before boarding Amtrak and testing their new bike racks. The Hunq was happy, I was happy, took a nap and was home.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-35551431328015689022023-05-24T11:35:00.130-07:002023-06-04T17:25:06.984-07:00Red bikes are faster...so add some RED!<div><br /> For the SOMA lovers out there I thought I should share my experience with a pair of their fenders. After two years of enjoying my Buena Vista, I found myself using it more and more. The best thing I could do to improve it was add fenders and SOMA still had "Rain Dogs" in that color.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkuKnorNz2VgjZ9KY7ut8PKAQitcyPwoa5sj3MCaQKdjjMQmw67_uMDCKj7dboY76psLlvn6Wt3pBHft8gyKzFcQnYx_tJt1KqXN0Bb4XIkvIYKIDOreoNcy6LK9BCg-iwJhd39I1EEhwlpJrHGfD0YBFPmZ2JjO8CGZqCEgBXTCKOU9AyG8pZLrCm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkuKnorNz2VgjZ9KY7ut8PKAQitcyPwoa5sj3MCaQKdjjMQmw67_uMDCKj7dboY76psLlvn6Wt3pBHft8gyKzFcQnYx_tJt1KqXN0Bb4XIkvIYKIDOreoNcy6LK9BCg-iwJhd39I1EEhwlpJrHGfD0YBFPmZ2JjO8CGZqCEgBXTCKOU9AyG8pZLrCm" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are (almost) exactly like SKS fenders right down to the hardware</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjALvltvThBDMVhGwbYWHIe0J_b_JNFIdj_R5WtoiYDA0jjqn4AA8EFpi57e9-lBA5pArV7YgJwFX9PopU7N2Udcxw5_AouYnOVt68pnOQX309YWjH60onfhNHJymL3EOi0mnjL9TOSKqBso_eSu1vtzqiUI7aBO0180-tvSeHyLgiOnSlwmdD3_eQ/s4080/20230604_133623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjALvltvThBDMVhGwbYWHIe0J_b_JNFIdj_R5WtoiYDA0jjqn4AA8EFpi57e9-lBA5pArV7YgJwFX9PopU7N2Udcxw5_AouYnOVt68pnOQX309YWjH60onfhNHJymL3EOi0mnjL9TOSKqBso_eSu1vtzqiUI7aBO0180-tvSeHyLgiOnSlwmdD3_eQ/s320/20230604_133623.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div>and fender stays. Except that the Soma brand has a simpler cap for the stay.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifFlAs_zNAQ111J5bDr49XqJL_XgH9IAbE7uG5PCfwB8JNZY-JRGn-UKTEgRs-6GVOrfzRSbGu-HXTabBP615_AY1PwirHnM-yBuZcieDrk5nC6_kG_it8Vkt8lT6UjF_3PN97iGS-LmHUtH3fY2X_X2zmfqAMGyZUhUuERSROB5NuPFdqY7XbjR3C" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifFlAs_zNAQ111J5bDr49XqJL_XgH9IAbE7uG5PCfwB8JNZY-JRGn-UKTEgRs-6GVOrfzRSbGu-HXTabBP615_AY1PwirHnM-yBuZcieDrk5nC6_kG_it8Vkt8lT6UjF_3PN97iGS-LmHUtH3fY2X_X2zmfqAMGyZUhUuERSROB5NuPFdqY7XbjR3C" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The front stays lack safety releases the SKS have. But the stays are so much alike they fit right into a pair of unused unused tabs from the parts bin.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtL7vw7XdBtCoPmWoAK2JpPEXL5FJuGTn5TXDBo5lBjI4xc853ajEoIOmMLRuD0ac2gkb7ARb4fKetPXCOrAr4NOdbnl2uQ_AhT0nizQp0Elbbkm6O7EExnzkIrt8yCHRkE7t2q1g8rcenb8wpQCoy4lZcRx41kVUzmLmpuSb_HDHJuChMTjxTNRSj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtL7vw7XdBtCoPmWoAK2JpPEXL5FJuGTn5TXDBo5lBjI4xc853ajEoIOmMLRuD0ac2gkb7ARb4fKetPXCOrAr4NOdbnl2uQ_AhT0nizQp0Elbbkm6O7EExnzkIrt8yCHRkE7t2q1g8rcenb8wpQCoy4lZcRx41kVUzmLmpuSb_HDHJuChMTjxTNRSj" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything else was easy as can be. The extra bridge on the seat stays of the mixte frame has a boss built in to the underside so drilling a single hole </div><div style="text-align: center;">allowed flush mounting with a bolt and washer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2J3qIpWSL1M8g0gz1LfMepchHEjx6lX4cCsRCxcmNWD6vxMykZ8f-gsv0AyTeRX5ztC8hjISwtuGRYLIWzxzZgx7DZG-AvP9uqspnMMcBOV6Vtc_Kf9qO1Rj3T371rSOyqRM7yiBZjI3-2V32lOvZOUxJMqRMPwjRCcSt1XhwSe4OWoWoIVN_2wK/s4080/20230604_133606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2J3qIpWSL1M8g0gz1LfMepchHEjx6lX4cCsRCxcmNWD6vxMykZ8f-gsv0AyTeRX5ztC8hjISwtuGRYLIWzxzZgx7DZG-AvP9uqspnMMcBOV6Vtc_Kf9qO1Rj3T371rSOyqRM7yiBZjI3-2V32lOvZOUxJMqRMPwjRCcSt1XhwSe4OWoWoIVN_2wK/s320/20230604_133606.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I happened to have a "Sheldon's Fender Nut" in the bin </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">which makes mounting the front a breeze.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV0RQ_SvdOzZ9t26EWAoqfgcvtNJAs5eqTzezxW8dlOP1G68FybU0f_1D2zNxgYKVfyp2yaLc2YjyF29P57DhwdnjKQZDmPysJp2qr0mhpWEdqkAguUsZGG6uYzhsstB4favfyRdVEpO6-m-nayHai1wQhQ7861mcrhJyKzracfrNZ1vRI34ZLfVj6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV0RQ_SvdOzZ9t26EWAoqfgcvtNJAs5eqTzezxW8dlOP1G68FybU0f_1D2zNxgYKVfyp2yaLc2YjyF29P57DhwdnjKQZDmPysJp2qr0mhpWEdqkAguUsZGG6uYzhsstB4favfyRdVEpO6-m-nayHai1wQhQ7861mcrhJyKzracfrNZ1vRI34ZLfVj6" width="400" />
</a>
</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end result is a near perfect fit without fumbling, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">awkward stay adjustments</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTRqMJ5s-NWQ_9D-WUqqAs2GsH-60NV9j06GIKNVLhLfoWv2IzUgQ0cj2SuS8B7SnrVloxcndBGQCMw6TLqXEVW78SeMUaPukZoPg-wPeayn1hU6aHAnhkPMdAYPkglH0Pe95J54n8h6mv0JYLS-8zsBkUozci8Cyu97jSD3ebExk5RaBLfuKUKPNM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjTRqMJ5s-NWQ_9D-WUqqAs2GsH-60NV9j06GIKNVLhLfoWv2IzUgQ0cj2SuS8B7SnrVloxcndBGQCMw6TLqXEVW78SeMUaPukZoPg-wPeayn1hU6aHAnhkPMdAYPkglH0Pe95J54n8h6mv0JYLS-8zsBkUozci8Cyu97jSD3ebExk5RaBLfuKUKPNM" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">. These are the 45mm fenders with 32 mm Panaracer T-serv tires</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> and fit perfectly as I could hope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now the bikes redder, I know I'll go faster!</div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-74068114818984676702023-05-15T11:51:00.003-07:002023-05-15T16:15:10.126-07:00<p style="text-align: justify;"> Didn't have a thing to do for a few days and the weather was cooperating for a change. There were a few passing rain showers on Saturday morning but not the thunderstorms predicted. I decided to make a ride to the coast for dinner. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLheRw_c2S1x32mhuqKwbtsew6qYIRntakB758-sinupnXC-13YPX7emZaJwpp8CE238PXnWS1M96IKQUzKQu5mTSq49MvmWRaGpzqaPcgD11k17UQneIIaZaPkMDXQCTM7Pn24ONVxMd4vu2uF5IdIDCfC4OTbKKR5nSTzO2TDt4XROcW-eR4O99B/s4080/20230513_123913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLheRw_c2S1x32mhuqKwbtsew6qYIRntakB758-sinupnXC-13YPX7emZaJwpp8CE238PXnWS1M96IKQUzKQu5mTSq49MvmWRaGpzqaPcgD11k17UQneIIaZaPkMDXQCTM7Pn24ONVxMd4vu2uF5IdIDCfC4OTbKKR5nSTzO2TDt4XROcW-eR4O99B/s320/20230513_123913.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;">The Hunq needed some exercise so I loaded him and wandered out to the bike show in the middle of town where presenters from different shops and bike enthusiasts had set up presentations for their organizations. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1RKy80YARQTf9hK9cuKIWIuPVGd6Cm3muGeAUAhXAW866Ei5f0WsRJHFmC44TusmRfp_hvZS-JYMtzkuc4H7Sxi9g6zxeVXdEbg2b3baS5emVsvGGOHbvK2n_Il3ZdcpHHd0no8xI1fWTfXfWP_DhZPuxgQy60bb3hTuRHXLLG7l_P4CAs1GbOMn/s4080/20230513_124947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1RKy80YARQTf9hK9cuKIWIuPVGd6Cm3muGeAUAhXAW866Ei5f0WsRJHFmC44TusmRfp_hvZS-JYMtzkuc4H7Sxi9g6zxeVXdEbg2b3baS5emVsvGGOHbvK2n_Il3ZdcpHHd0no8xI1fWTfXfWP_DhZPuxgQy60bb3hTuRHXLLG7l_P4CAs1GbOMn/s320/20230513_124947.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our local bike club, the KBC, was there</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok2JMZZq6Pcm0AHx_pvWnc9k41pPHpYN0BoMdizNeGkmYilK6YsR0HymCbn7R__2BTSR1FR5a7VAHl68_su5y77w_Ep4sGreM3eA9ugENDhVoormWMfQaTjOyk3XiuhuOjmB2t6ETcwhGDJ7soF9t7CT_JQIIA-JpQLFXzPmMD908ynPVAweZpyXM/s4080/20230513_123927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok2JMZZq6Pcm0AHx_pvWnc9k41pPHpYN0BoMdizNeGkmYilK6YsR0HymCbn7R__2BTSR1FR5a7VAHl68_su5y77w_Ep4sGreM3eA9ugENDhVoormWMfQaTjOyk3XiuhuOjmB2t6ETcwhGDJ7soF9t7CT_JQIIA-JpQLFXzPmMD908ynPVAweZpyXM/s320/20230513_123927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">Everybody was talking bikes and rides and riding and showing off their latest. It was a good turnout and I hope it grows as an introduction to Bike Week activities every year.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla4dIycxhIKrTP0aCI6M_aCY1CbVUDe59oyFcn_kZSt0bSJ3VbFHRkV-T8XARGmY65MKDR2lnr9ceXQeEetN_sPe36dkpefu00elWpMIn7VKy59I4jNMz65qtU0kpYDIwYNGj4vk0CUndPPVKW0SlqTVbAnTNfVycjc6q5UjoTfsEAlL6HkAB2vQj/s1080/IMG_20230513_181406_209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla4dIycxhIKrTP0aCI6M_aCY1CbVUDe59oyFcn_kZSt0bSJ3VbFHRkV-T8XARGmY65MKDR2lnr9ceXQeEetN_sPe36dkpefu00elWpMIn7VKy59I4jNMz65qtU0kpYDIwYNGj4vk0CUndPPVKW0SlqTVbAnTNfVycjc6q5UjoTfsEAlL6HkAB2vQj/s320/IMG_20230513_181406_209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> After an hour or so of hanging out talkin' bikes, it was time to ride and the weather was great, the wind was mild and helpful (remember that), a passing downpour caught me just as I reached a small shelter on the trail. But the trail was a casual afternoon ride with friendly passing groups all the way to South Haven </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2ix0ZjWCg4P1PYsi01jCP834NQGiAXh0nqJZGCwKKSrwVe87JV-9Yyx2Siss-xj-7I_EIfLVdVLkagSglYS_wyDIblbpTYASluZ_GU6vaW7GqOYLfv6DExDM0TojswotYkrkLGrC7hkOhgI_rh7_8n6F4Zj6orUSRFzrWr-QE4L50TN_pO33lQgN/s4080/20230513_175912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2ix0ZjWCg4P1PYsi01jCP834NQGiAXh0nqJZGCwKKSrwVe87JV-9Yyx2Siss-xj-7I_EIfLVdVLkagSglYS_wyDIblbpTYASluZ_GU6vaW7GqOYLfv6DExDM0TojswotYkrkLGrC7hkOhgI_rh7_8n6F4Zj6orUSRFzrWr-QE4L50TN_pO33lQgN/s320/20230513_175912.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">which was busy with tourist traffic, not thronged, but busy, and people looked relieved to get out after the unpredictable spring weather we have had. There were groups on the beach but not many in the water this early.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsbDbEwQu8eomK_fePNe4IB66gbS7Fe45Dz0zuETKbwF5-bjfdVdl4U0ZJ5gUI9xNx6RQTNuqTc2hphL9nJCxb4moI3maGGXQaltLPWnZYskMkQj9CF8onevGwIxm933CNJvkgmqVoQ16vHzBqd7BxJ2Pbck2cERs7q_DhRiT906qNBETd1wFH4a_/s1080/IMG_20230513_181406_126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsbDbEwQu8eomK_fePNe4IB66gbS7Fe45Dz0zuETKbwF5-bjfdVdl4U0ZJ5gUI9xNx6RQTNuqTc2hphL9nJCxb4moI3maGGXQaltLPWnZYskMkQj9CF8onevGwIxm933CNJvkgmqVoQ16vHzBqd7BxJ2Pbck2cERs7q_DhRiT906qNBETd1wFH4a_/s320/IMG_20230513_181406_126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The restaurants were not so busy you couldn't find a seat and I reached the most popular right during the dinner hour. After some much deserved well presented calories supplemented with Oberon, it was gettin' on late evening and I moseyed back down the trail to Eagles Point to find the campsites open and had pleasant evening with the trees and birdsong providing the background score to the forest and wildflowers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Refreshed in the morning I started the ride back with moderate temps and sunshine to enjoy on the 40 mile ramble home. It's a good thing I wasn't in a hurry. Remember that wind thing I mentioned? Well, as meteorologic events go, it kinda sucked. It was a beautiful day and a good thing I had nothing to do because the 15 mile per hour wind was directly in my face all the way back to Kalamazoo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSsnk0lUSFaViabC2436qlcPeC76H86S1lOdQBNeiXLrzg3ETbz7meMDQ-A1Ue4YY4TzixotRyhvced8oWKYkq8CR13TcwZTxn6w5Nn4ONOA4LNE4dGDSzw7ObbNwjuyT1aj6eo5xWqOvqmW4oMKbUH_uTuKTze-hrTH84GrKGI15xHaXO8ErJBy4/s4080/20230514_083841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSsnk0lUSFaViabC2436qlcPeC76H86S1lOdQBNeiXLrzg3ETbz7meMDQ-A1Ue4YY4TzixotRyhvced8oWKYkq8CR13TcwZTxn6w5Nn4ONOA4LNE4dGDSzw7ObbNwjuyT1aj6eo5xWqOvqmW4oMKbUH_uTuKTze-hrTH84GrKGI15xHaXO8ErJBy4/s320/20230514_083841.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Then there was this. Faced with a 15 mph wind against a consistent 1 1/2 per cent grade, on a 70 lb bike, they remind you EVERY 1/2 mile how little you travel. This is cruel and unusual, like water torture. I wouldn't notice it in July or August but today I would. It's nothing I haven't done before, just gear into a comfortable cadence and keep going. It was an exercise in patience but I did run across a couple of friends, Gordy Vader and Paul Guthrie out enjoying the trail as well. I finally got to town and turned the corner out of the wind and have to admit it was a great overnight ride on a wonderful weekend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-27084504795784258732023-04-03T18:15:00.005-07:002023-04-06T06:14:54.575-07:00New shoes<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> After weeks of gut wrenching I caved and bought new tires for the Sam Hillborne. I loved the Rene Herse 44 mm tires I put on the Hunq, <a href="http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2022/06/more-tired.html" target="_blank">it was a trans-formative experience. </a>The Hunq rode like a different bike, faster, smoother, more nimble and much more comfortable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UEFlcUF_cNQjQSSkcJJCbO4TpE7t9y2BihrP99tyhm0aliE5pOrp08PbwfSN_PaLXTUQksnAIo8cxMNZy3J-FzxTF6xzuMAVcAjrTTCS0XxNrWptuMBv7tnRIYNeuq5IXbih9Hczj2Geb6a-F1j5WykdghF8F5yU48qa1J6OamSl9U-z-LgJeC3F/s1407/20230402_155137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1055" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UEFlcUF_cNQjQSSkcJJCbO4TpE7t9y2BihrP99tyhm0aliE5pOrp08PbwfSN_PaLXTUQksnAIo8cxMNZy3J-FzxTF6xzuMAVcAjrTTCS0XxNrWptuMBv7tnRIYNeuq5IXbih9Hczj2Geb6a-F1j5WykdghF8F5yU48qa1J6OamSl9U-z-LgJeC3F/s320/20230402_155137.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I had to see if the same would be true for Sam. The past year I used Gravel King slicks on the bike and, although they were quick and sturdy, the ride quality is stiff compared to the Panaracer Pasela I've aways used. After mounting the new Bon Jon Pass tires I took a quick 10 mile ride into a really obnoxious wind and came to no conclusion except that they were seated properly. I'm running them with tubes like the Gravelkings and inflating them between 50-60 psi.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The next day I took a casual ride around town to test them a bit more. I rode a bit through town to get my hair cut, then headed downtown to have lunch at one of the deli's. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjpUNq16_9FX2SS2tMLBXdiH8MdYg_kwfgBWa0Jk4GxpTLmkqBsqdEgbol-S-__qMQS-Xt6Bh0B6xA85pORvlwPxrXYdiucIGwE2AxjOv17IPLVMHGW3D1OSdd2RSttLBMP4iXur0rJVq2VOb5sTfnDXRwsyr2mqMWUhMkWr9YMsQeEgJC2sqYXqR/s2983/20230403_110907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2983" data-original-width="2237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjpUNq16_9FX2SS2tMLBXdiH8MdYg_kwfgBWa0Jk4GxpTLmkqBsqdEgbol-S-__qMQS-Xt6Bh0B6xA85pORvlwPxrXYdiucIGwE2AxjOv17IPLVMHGW3D1OSdd2RSttLBMP4iXur0rJVq2VOb5sTfnDXRwsyr2mqMWUhMkWr9YMsQeEgJC2sqYXqR/s320/20230403_110907.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a great Rueben I headed across town to the mall to find myself a new pair of shoes and meandered through town to get home before the raindrops fell (just in time in fact). So, I put about 35 miles on the tires the last couple days and they feel really good. Not a game changing feeling like I had on the Hunq, but they are as fast as the Gravelkings on asphalt and a much nicer ride than either the Gravelkings or Paselas. The Pasela gum sidewalls are pretty close in ride quality but the Rene Herse produced no vibrations or chatter to my hands, so they were rolling much more efficiently. Bear in mind that Panaracer manufactures all three tires and if I could compare them I would say the Rene Herse Bon Jon Pass combines the tread of the Gravelking slicks with a refinement of the Pasela sidewall. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The dilemma is the price. On the Hunq it wasn't such an issue, I was already spending 50-60 dollars a tire on the Hunq, so upgrading to standard sidewalls on Rene Herse was only a $15 jump for a huge increase in performance and pleasure. Pasela's and Gravelkings go for around $40-45, so that's a bigger jump, but I wanted the extra light casing on the Sam for the luxury ride. Rene Herse tires with the xtra light casings are $94. Ouch! They are a little faster and a bit more comfortable than the Pasela's. The question is, "Are they worth twice as much?" We'll see. Time will come to replace them, but you know the life of a bike addict; once you get a sniff, you're a slave.</div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-21208057527641190922023-03-29T09:15:00.000-07:002023-03-29T09:15:34.212-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Two days of dry weather and sunshine are some things to celebrate in Michigan, in March. Monday night was near 50 for a Monday Night ride with the KBC. I ended up with about 40 miles in the blustery evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ebpGCvEAVes/ZCRcHNk9-fI/AAAAAAAAXFM/wH4OxXhPXjwkIROh8R9hUYzZR9JrVYhfwCNcBGAsYHQ/w377-h400/1680104474007527-0.png" width="377" />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Tuesday afternoon was more beautiful without the wind for a relaxing 20 mile roll around the Portage trails. Of course that's over, it's Wednesday, and snowing.</div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-68611256820793145742023-03-17T08:45:00.003-07:002023-03-17T08:45:47.614-07:00Spring is in the hallway<div style="text-align: center;"> It must be spring, bike parts are sprouting in the hallway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zhXDPFr5ogw/ZBQ_AbbzgOI/AAAAAAAAW70/-bAQEj2rJLkvKOr_8bkGl6p35pXj1_a8gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1679048446863925-0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zhXDPFr5ogw/ZBQ_AbbzgOI/AAAAAAAAW70/-bAQEj2rJLkvKOr_8bkGl6p35pXj1_a8gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1679048446863925-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My Soma Buena Vista has been in need of a couple upgrades. The wheels, borrowed from my Sam Hillborne when I upgraded his, had reached a point where it was best to get a new pair for the Soma, along with new tires. Since the bike is a city ride I got the Pasela T-Serv with reflectorized sidewalls. Those are some really tough tires that put up with the abuse of city streets without sacrificing much in performance. They're not as tough as Schwalbe Marathons, but they are not as heavy and slow either.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IBHw8OBkMo8/ZBRAgFSvTWI/AAAAAAAAW8E/ZeiknfYZziYpFWYYKVJnlANL18bsxikYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1679048828547115-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ordering all black (spokes, hubs and rims) Velocity wheels matched up the other accents and while I was at it I added a Soma Albion single crank to complete the color scheme. These things really are important and it's just money, right?</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zlf2LEC2bAhd_X3yKigFWc06RrxjQc4wODU5B2IXFLkF6C3nJv-JHNJncjSpQPp48u7jUCoMUnoYgb33a-DIir_h8vJ0SHXm2JqcjTCrWUd64Ih0j-_1aFVStbsmIHBfK8ZLp6G2fzQH31jukx4t0tvmbPx6loDAdqQAX9HN7ULUwHXFowFRZ8mK/s2048/20160815_130246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Zlf2LEC2bAhd_X3yKigFWc06RrxjQc4wODU5B2IXFLkF6C3nJv-JHNJncjSpQPp48u7jUCoMUnoYgb33a-DIir_h8vJ0SHXm2JqcjTCrWUd64Ih0j-_1aFVStbsmIHBfK8ZLp6G2fzQH31jukx4t0tvmbPx6loDAdqQAX9HN7ULUwHXFowFRZ8mK/s320/20160815_130246.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the second Buena vista I have had can't say enough about this frame. The first I had built up fully accessorized for city riding and shopping. The frame handled all the gear, lights, dynohub, baskets, platrack, fenders etc and was still fun to ride. But, it got stolen and without it I solved the shopping problem with a Burley Travoy trailer.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><font><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0000ee; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-anaCmNjfUig/ZBRAfJ2NlvI/AAAAAAAAW8A/C-E-ppkAoy4wBLSNoQxAoA79zIFQMkY3gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1679048825329811-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-anaCmNjfUig/ZBRAfJ2NlvI/AAAAAAAAW8A/C-E-ppkAoy4wBLSNoQxAoA79zIFQMkY3gCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1679048825329811-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, when I finally sprang for a replacement bike I decided to built it lighter. It's more of a cafe racer setup that works great for errands with the small basket on the rear. The simple 1X9 drive train has enough options to climb out of the local river valley and provide a zippy ride around town to get to work, lunch, run errands or just plain ride around. It's light enough to be a lot of fun while still having the capacity to carry just about anything you might throw on it for an overnight or weekend trip. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Now that I have the color scheme all prettified</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I feel better too.</div></font></div><br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-7946611487098935302023-02-13T04:37:00.004-08:002023-02-13T04:42:07.502-08:00Take the pleasure you can.<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> So, a week ago I was out there enjoying a good reason to live in Michigan. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V2z0KYUUUxmZ1tKEw6fH7uDGjnl15H4SQ2fyxGQ5vFzE5ZLVJPsZsIb_qnF63p9lWBmXtUr4M3S7DDRRcerTFA1P0fDJmDDdWProoI69RlBxNF2SEOXTa9J01dm-NrFc96w3LtVwup5nwyx_V2aHO7N2CKnUysXtGgPnopxu4P_lQv4t8Y-KgNKD/s4080/20230204_151213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3060" data-original-width="4080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V2z0KYUUUxmZ1tKEw6fH7uDGjnl15H4SQ2fyxGQ5vFzE5ZLVJPsZsIb_qnF63p9lWBmXtUr4M3S7DDRRcerTFA1P0fDJmDDdWProoI69RlBxNF2SEOXTa9J01dm-NrFc96w3LtVwup5nwyx_V2aHO7N2CKnUysXtGgPnopxu4P_lQv4t8Y-KgNKD/w400-h300/20230204_151213.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the local ski slopes and looking forward to another 6 weeks of snowy hills and trails to create a little recreation. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-M721GrYYiojsXL2kkF1P2zsJ6e_04MlkIhfX5hoe7hjPU8adQ06BFuRy_go6Y-ZWpqpByzUXpZMWFsBpkY-mXJj8vcagQnLjIESDV53y4sCeuaWWCruv8XLzqUPP7WaIIG375emHlnWuqxVLEp_UZ80NWbhFySkWyM04PsYfe3YUZicpQFyjQHT/s720/Hunq%20a%20snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-M721GrYYiojsXL2kkF1P2zsJ6e_04MlkIhfX5hoe7hjPU8adQ06BFuRy_go6Y-ZWpqpByzUXpZMWFsBpkY-mXJj8vcagQnLjIESDV53y4sCeuaWWCruv8XLzqUPP7WaIIG375emHlnWuqxVLEp_UZ80NWbhFySkWyM04PsYfe3YUZicpQFyjQHT/s320/Hunq%20a%20snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Google reminded me where we were 5 years ago. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8t6YvnWpetX3KkmT6Tr75MLJ7HIkIFdWbSewNxcKKmQ3Agb_7wPr3KsGFFF1aiBVqW1NiNWASSzYYjlOu7zIbMUtpH5g8TO8t5uvlkdosd_EVWaEtCZFh9Ve8TNG6WCn6q_l_mUjgzBWN8QfcW31RfeOoCipg3Z6ZQ-R8HLa2qVYhF6H7AOZx7ue/s4080/20230212_133342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8t6YvnWpetX3KkmT6Tr75MLJ7HIkIFdWbSewNxcKKmQ3Agb_7wPr3KsGFFF1aiBVqW1NiNWASSzYYjlOu7zIbMUtpH5g8TO8t5uvlkdosd_EVWaEtCZFh9Ve8TNG6WCn6q_l_mUjgzBWN8QfcW31RfeOoCipg3Z6ZQ-R8HLa2qVYhF6H7AOZx7ue/w300-h400/20230212_133342.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Here we are today.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Once again the snow has gone away amidst a week of temps in the 40's promising to be near 60...in mid February?!? This reminds me of 30 years ago when I was transferred from South Carolina and my employees were freaking out. "My god Marc, they have snow up there don't they?" I said, "Yes, but I grew up in the Midwest, snow is no big deal, and you have to take global warming into consideration. I'll be retiring in a tropical paradise while you roast in Hell's Kitchen." I thought I was kidding. I guess we have to grab the pleasure we can and enjoy a 25 mile ride when the streets clear off.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-52004085782059424152023-01-04T07:07:00.001-08:002023-01-04T07:21:25.902-08:00Decisions we make<div style="text-align: justify;"> Anytime I talk to cyclists about the benefits and convenience of practical cycling they argue that they need their cars for shopping. A few days ago I was coming back into town in my car and decided to stop at Barnes and Noble for one thing. I pulled into the lot at the Southland Mall</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MpeHHbR5urc/Y7QLNImM2eI/AAAAAAAAWj0/mLlvNdEruTE1I-WEyg0cf9i2TfEH7sidQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1672743730687729-0.png" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">and circled this little slice of autogeddon twice to find a reasonable parking spot for the visit. I realized how stupid the exercise was and went home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> A couple of days later I was enjoying the unseasonably warm January by taking a bike ride on the trails. I decided to cut through the Mall area to get the book.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-15Q-hi-a9T8/Y7Tjy9YCPGI/AAAAAAAAWkA/USZWnHJqHo8PaBJvjDCnHg27NPh2l2KBACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1672799177530029-0.png" width="400" />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I locked the bike to a nearby, sign picked up the book and went on my way in less time than it took to circle the lot to find a parking spot. Sure it was only one item, but I could have done the same with a couple full bags of stuff and not suffer the indignity of wandering the lot another 10 minutes to find my car.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-38419166946527190782022-12-25T16:43:00.001-08:002022-12-25T16:43:29.073-08:00Riding into history<div> I might be exaggerating but somebody on the internet said this was an historic storm. The worst in 10 years so I guess that's history. Fortunately there was no traffic on the streets but 72 hours of snow made it hard on a bike with studded tires, a car workout would be dangerous. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LcxMzEdxZq8/Y6jdWOKsq1I/AAAAAAAAWg0/aewwRwN8YAYYY19kMf0Oyb0a5Hd5YnXmACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1672011094784390-0.png" width="400" />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I hadn't planned to go out but neglected to buy cat food </div><div style="text-align: center;">and any cat owned person knows what that means. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7MDiDq9Ld0E/Y6jdVtCUeAI/AAAAAAAAWgw/XO2lomwhN3wwOMKLfPEQXC9efmIf7y65wCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1672011091378194-1.png" width="400" />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">the risk of not taking risks can be frightening</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAluW_kGWcx8HxSeEYBrysQ_hnkKwhj_2oWcq4Oe7cebZiyyZeVhmrNimcj_0ZCWj7c2N46oC9tpv80v_a4zhPNk__-eV82-P4aVbRVwBefvU4Xdd63KdW1JsGU4SKbePLiNpUrlEhc5URh_eRLMXWwc6bsgsx45E9f9Nh376OwVC5bmLha6ecuAtf/s960/cold%20truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="960" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAluW_kGWcx8HxSeEYBrysQ_hnkKwhj_2oWcq4Oe7cebZiyyZeVhmrNimcj_0ZCWj7c2N46oC9tpv80v_a4zhPNk__-eV82-P4aVbRVwBefvU4Xdd63KdW1JsGU4SKbePLiNpUrlEhc5URh_eRLMXWwc6bsgsx45E9f9Nh376OwVC5bmLha6ecuAtf/s320/cold%20truth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and there's always inspiration on the interweb.</div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-17968094362179294912022-12-17T18:01:00.000-08:002022-12-17T18:01:48.780-08:00Let's get to work<div> It seems winter has finally arrived in Michigan after the faux fall temps have teased us the past few weeks. That's the way it goes around here, early snow storm followed by a meltdown, but now the real thing is coming and the temps promise to be in the 20's for the next week, or whenever. It brings up the issue of dressing for the weather. The normal mode of dress for this climate is an insulated jacket with a waterproof finish, basically a ski parka. That's what everybody grabs to go out the door. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADxuaUGuqAzXsYlwEYWV4hbq_e2ZIoSldi305UwTxG644B6HjJpQ25ei53EZQ8vhqBvS9Cf_XcPHIxc_hrUZWKpdGkleOX0lpwhOj7oojYJzFX-R8cZrd-6HwJ9rrrZouz8qPOXkQCNxmr9dq22QTSrSxpsO50c4gOClBc4qF8MxKNvyKoi2s0wur/s4080/coat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADxuaUGuqAzXsYlwEYWV4hbq_e2ZIoSldi305UwTxG644B6HjJpQ25ei53EZQ8vhqBvS9Cf_XcPHIxc_hrUZWKpdGkleOX0lpwhOj7oojYJzFX-R8cZrd-6HwJ9rrrZouz8qPOXkQCNxmr9dq22QTSrSxpsO50c4gOClBc4qF8MxKNvyKoi2s0wur/s320/coat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Using my bike for daily transportation, I'm no different. I do wear a wool base layer on my legs (longjohns!) but other than that I dress normally. That seems to be a controversy among cyclists thinking of practical cycling. In any weather people seem to think they are obligated to wear special clothes to ride a bike. I asked the bike, it didn't care. It doesn't seem to matter to anybody I meet either. People seem to think you have to "layer up" to be active in the cold when actually the opposite is true. The real challenge is to keep from over dressing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dZcwbUJq6c8/Y5xwZrfeY6I/AAAAAAAAWeE/I850Ih3o08A6Xm4kCsnbJsiMUdeRqcgUwCNcBGAsYHQ/w240-h320/1671196772854507-0.png" width="240" />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> When I get to my occasional job as a pretend teacher (substitute) I'm dressed like anybody else. On the cold days one of the kids will always ask; "Weren't you freezing?" I say; "No, I worked up a bit of a sweat on the way, did you?" "No" they say. "I guess I was warmer." That's the way things work, walking out to the house in bad weather I curse myself a bit, but after a couple of blocks on the bike I'm pulling off the hood, unzipping the parka and trying to cool off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-28306663488145195162022-11-25T14:27:00.003-08:002022-12-10T07:21:57.882-08:00and a week later... So, last Thursday I was riding in this. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gbuVuQITqk8/Y4FBO_JhwdI/AAAAAAAAWUk/wq30MfTt6dUiXJZWGuWwGdpMjmbHUUBBwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669415225516960-0.png" width="400" />
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</div>A few people had the nerve to question my behavior, but you're a cyclist or not. This can be managed safely, believe it or not, and it's an interesting change of the seasons. </div><div> Now, a week later</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vN7FRIuGg08/Y4FBOZ0DDlI/AAAAAAAAWUg/e6GWLbCaCzIUR1jQuNomLQiECoPdVt_PQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1669415222606462-1.png" width="400" />
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</div>fourteen inches of snow is gone and left us feeling as if 50 degrees is 70. It feels downright balmy out there. Typical Michigan weather has kicked in, things will change a bit day to day, but that's normal in Michigan. We're gonna slide into real winter now, but there's plenty of recreational riding for those of us who dress for the weather. </div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384807982946756823.post-25747554043876097732022-11-19T02:40:00.004-08:002022-11-19T02:43:29.272-08:00Just a week later...<p>Last Thursday was an unexpected pleasure and Michigan came back to grab it's dominance over Summertime. Thursday, one week after 70 degree weather, it began to snow. There was a little snowfall in the morning, by noon it had melted from the pavement so riding was pretty much normal in the afternoon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniSqSFAmBoBl1cObB5WdvWP2JO1oTt7zn6ZryrWxknK5BQYu_zRSH7ugrTaj_I7fC5cHOLBNJAOpiPYToJE1OzQSLQTVxl0kmXMo8LC0LH4ADsJRdZAi_9SW0dEATVY0Fhof4KHMFbhuOx1ctgdrwkrt4DQtgYUoMPn2YVFCoMO-UpTHWlBq5ctsX/s4080/20221117_150806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniSqSFAmBoBl1cObB5WdvWP2JO1oTt7zn6ZryrWxknK5BQYu_zRSH7ugrTaj_I7fC5cHOLBNJAOpiPYToJE1OzQSLQTVxl0kmXMo8LC0LH4ADsJRdZAi_9SW0dEATVY0Fhof4KHMFbhuOx1ctgdrwkrt4DQtgYUoMPn2YVFCoMO-UpTHWlBq5ctsX/w300-h400/20221117_150806.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Predictably, the snow stayed on the grass, the wind picked up all afternoon and the temperatures were going to drop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgehoeVSi__zIPLPsSCtCOVqplo6oU1OqyjaOrhL7fpqk-Zge0SOBVn98jt087p5-bMSko_OuTsz3QDoawFkGYMHFDQAKzEt8NXdpOR9tUaznJ67kT1GPdNRR7MnepDd83QJgQxlK6NpwGT6NIjcIOLIGi_TsY63xab9V-bctNT04jeuJIgnNn5ZKT/s4080/20221117_150311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgehoeVSi__zIPLPsSCtCOVqplo6oU1OqyjaOrhL7fpqk-Zge0SOBVn98jt087p5-bMSko_OuTsz3QDoawFkGYMHFDQAKzEt8NXdpOR9tUaznJ67kT1GPdNRR7MnepDd83QJgQxlK6NpwGT6NIjcIOLIGi_TsY63xab9V-bctNT04jeuJIgnNn5ZKT/w300-h400/20221117_150311.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And they dropped all night, the wind </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">fueled the lake effect machine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49VelJ2cXGeu6dlvcnQfdgU3edC7uwQay61ScwcLb6KvJCN3CxrceG1waxMqMRC4MWE7SLeISdmXepwAaXJcnExJxI_Hpo_qB4mRiSzZNUeZynQUDr-U7tEa15347Pi6mHocrhW3accCExrhAp5XXIQr8J005Pjje0UzD5obLwLWzGMDVXJBH9v38/s4080/20221118_150940.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49VelJ2cXGeu6dlvcnQfdgU3edC7uwQay61ScwcLb6KvJCN3CxrceG1waxMqMRC4MWE7SLeISdmXepwAaXJcnExJxI_Hpo_qB4mRiSzZNUeZynQUDr-U7tEa15347Pi6mHocrhW3accCExrhAp5XXIQr8J005Pjje0UzD5obLwLWzGMDVXJBH9v38/w300-h400/20221118_150940.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so we woke up to this and the snow pummeled us all day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not to be intimidated by the weather, I went out to run a few errands, which became fewer by the pedal stroke. But hey, I got out there and you can't ignore the extra smugness that fills your head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S9IWhgKuIP3EgDI2AxrxnTrCpX_FDpiE9amv_w2ge0tFV-2vzv-rsoOEZ4dS5mqRqBV1jGxQZnvs7e-Z9DIujU7uXNDicwPuKGYEHmUTSeSBi--w1AZUtUc-F3c_qB9rLm317yufDh4ZHuVMgIgVEfm8y_7Qsyjyfsak3g2Gc-_Th19vJwnEdOGB/s4080/20221118_161422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S9IWhgKuIP3EgDI2AxrxnTrCpX_FDpiE9amv_w2ge0tFV-2vzv-rsoOEZ4dS5mqRqBV1jGxQZnvs7e-Z9DIujU7uXNDicwPuKGYEHmUTSeSBi--w1AZUtUc-F3c_qB9rLm317yufDh4ZHuVMgIgVEfm8y_7Qsyjyfsak3g2Gc-_Th19vJwnEdOGB/w300-h400/20221118_161422.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">On the way home, I stopped for a drink at Buddy's pizza. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;">In the space of (OK) two drinks the ride was sugar coated and looked like a sick tree ornament out there in the middle of a thriving snow globe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Marchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240252773932276478noreply@blogger.com0