These are a few of my favorite Things

The small white sign does not show up so good but the name of the store is Beer 4 Less.

This photo was taken in Erie PA just a few miles From Presqe Isle State park, The only thnig that would have made this area better would have been a place to ride cross across the street. But that would involve tearing down a strip mall and a couple of cheap motels. Maybe that would not be a bad thing after all.
Ron posted this one on the Orrville cycling foum, and I felt it necessary to repost it. The guy in the picture has a good idea, BUT notice there is no way to keep it cold. What if a system could be added to cool the beer with liquid nitrogen, that way you would not have to deal with the weight of ice and a tub to contain it. Also it needs a cup dispenser for those red plastic cups that draft is always served in.

I do work in a machine shop so this would be an easy project to fabricate. Now who has a matching pair of rock shocks they would like to contribute?

Its Tour Time Again

What will the scandal be this year? Who will be caught, and who will beat doping control?

Why is it?

Why is it that you can ride a road bike for a season and not to much to it. Replace your cables and housings once every couple of years. Clean the drive train and keep it lubed. And you re pretty much good to go. Maybe every now and then you will have to adjust a derailleur, or change a flat tire or in a worse case scenario you may have to true up a rim after hitting a pot hole.

But Ride a mountain bike for 2.5 hours and come home and spend at least that much time cleaning and repairing.

Saturdays ride at Regan park resulted in a new middle chain ring (OK maybe I tweaked that one at Vulture's Knob). The replacement of a worn out chain.

Got up this morning to do the work only to find a flat tire on the front. Changed the tire and decided maybe I need to get the rim trued.

And to top it off, the day after a serious road ride you don't sit there and try to figure out where the large bruise on you leg came from, or where the scrapes on you shoulder came from.

Judge Judy

I know, I know, this is old news but it's still worth viewing.

Deerfield

Woke up this morning to a layer of heavy wet snow on the ground. There went the motivation right out the window. Finished up some projects I had started, cleaned the drive train on the XO1. And went and had the rear wheel re dished for my single speed.

By late afternoon the snow had melted and the roads had dried up. Wangpig had been in contact so I guess it was time to ride. He had time for a quick ride and so did I. So it was out the door I headed. He seemed to have a route in mind, one of these days I will learn to ask what he is thinking. We headed out towards Burton City and cut over to Burkhart. He said we were heading to Deerfield, and I thought to myself "cool, it's a pretty good ride south on Deerfield". We got there and he turned left............... OH &*%# he meant climb Deerfield! This is one of those hills that I usually leave till some time in June or July. Oh well once again I know that I must get out and do this one more often. At least he was kind enough to wait at the top and let me get a picture of the sign.

The Storm

Thursday night I put slick tires on one of the cross bikes, added some lights and did 30 miles on dry roads. Some of my normal night ride roads have taken quite a hit over the last couple of weeks. Lots of pot holes and frost heaves.

Friday mid morning the snow started. And didn't stop. It's been a good number of years since we have had decent snow to cross country ski. The thought of jumping on the rollers did not sound like fun so it was time to break out the skis.

I guess it's pretty bad out when you find yourself skiing down sidewalks and city streets. I bet some of my neighbors are still trying to figure out why there are ski tracks through their yards.

The car that was covered in ice a few days ago now looks like this.

Sunday morning and the storm had stopped. Clear blue skies, but the roads were a mess. I wanted to get at least one outside ride in this weekend. Out comes the mtb!

12 plus inches of snow made riding tricky but who can resist the idea of urban mountain biking. A couple of good friends, frozen sidewalk single track, drifts, slush, ice and mounds made by snow plows, who could ask for more.

I didn't set the computer or put on a heart rate monitor; this ride was strictly for fun. we were out about an hour and a half, just seeing what we could find to ride in.

I can't wait for spring but I would not have missed today's ride for any thing. Thanks Wangpig and Andrea.

Ice

Honest, I thought about riding outside today. The lights were charged and everything, but once again the weather was against me. Cold I can handle, rain I can handle but freezing rain just makes me want to stay inside. Another night on rollers. I'm starting to feel like a hamster on a wheel. Spin spin spin and you never get anywhere.

BUT on the other hand I did get a phone call from my older brother. He decided to brave the weather. After missing out on a lot of things last summer recovering from a motorcycle accident. The temptation was too great to resist. He bundled up got out his favorite dog Rascal and went kayaking in his neighbor's back yard. He had about a foot and a half of water and enough room to paddle around in circles. Kirk had a great time but Rascal was not amused.

.