night winter riding

sometimes it's a good idea to ride down icy hills and over ice skating rinks. sometimes your back hurts for a few days afterwards. perhaps sometimes it's not such a good idea afterall...



Just over two weeks to the end of beard-off '08. Who's up for the slick-50 ride this year? Be prepared, you will likely see grown men whimper in pain - it's a grueling ride, I'd like to get that out in the open right from the get-go.

Sunday Ride

I had a terrific ride yesterday heading west and back on the LRT from south Mpls. The trail conditions are currently favorable - mostly hard packed snow with the occasional greasy pit of wet slushy gravel. There is a length between hwy 101 and Bluff Creek Drive that is loose snow with no grooming and little other tire traffic, which was a bitch to ride through - on this stretch I was even second guessing my choice of the stock Detonator 25mm slicks on the steamroller!



All told it was a 50+ mile (80 km) ride on this sunny day - here's to many more.


The low point to my day was arriving home and having to witness the aftermath of a run over box of donuts on the street outside my building. Is there nothing respected in this heathen society?

another ice beard photo

I have to be honest, I'm not a weather person. I don't check the weather forecast and I feel the people at work talking about the weather should find something more worthwhile with their time. When I do check the weather it's mostly by riding by and looking up at the bank sign to see the drybulb temperature or looking at NOAA when I arrive somewhere if I thought it was hotter or colder than normal. So this morning I ride by and the sign says -11F(-24C), which is verified by the NOAA history page based on my commute time this morning. Layer up and it really doesn't matter what the temperature is over a fairly wide range - you just zip up if it's feeling colder and zip down when it's feeling warmer - easy enough. Oh, and if you can, grow a beard.


sorry to be so redundant but I'm having fun.

big dummy

the Big Dummy frames were in stock (18" only) for a few short hours before selling out til next shipment. Did you get one? I know a few people who did, one being B-Rose; check his blog for build updates - he's also selling the second frame he picked up - get it. I didn't put in an effort to score a frame, although it is my size - my priorities have changed for the time being.

ready for spring

It's -6F (-21C) drybulb with a -23F (-31C) windchill - that's why I was cold riding home at 3am.


Kudos to the Momentum crew - if it weren't for you I would have gotten a good nights sleep.

j.a.p.a.o.o.o.b.s.

Good friends, good riding, good times.


Shout out to the Kansas City crew who made it up for the weekend.

seen at Frostbike

Surly Steamroller, custom painted and purdied up

tonight at 1/1

Last night was fun, but tonight is guaranteed mayhem. If you're in Mpls and want to see or take part in some Texas Twins alley racing, be at One on One cycle studio starting at 7pm - it's gonna be a hoot and hollar. There will be beer, did I fail to mention that?

While you're there, you can see some sick time trial rigs such as

messenger run

I for one have never been, nor have I ever wished to be a bicycle messenger - but there are some good stories out there for those who have lived (or do live) the messenger lifestyle.

My favorites are the two stay of execution orders needing delivered under last minute conditions. Jebus, you'd think a fax would suffice.

MS-150 - sponsorship requested

Once again I am riding a 150-mile (241 km) bicycle ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis. This ride cannot happen without pledges from people like you.

Last year I raised $1500 USD and rode a fixed gear bicycle over the 2-day event. I'll be riding a fixed gear bike again this year, I just haven't decided on which one to take. In 2007 I rode my now 20-year old yellow Trek 360, equipped with a front basket and saddle stereo - I think the stereo will have to make a comeback as it was a nice distraction to some of the more mundane scenery. [edit - riding my roadbike this year.]

None of this money goes to me or any of my teammates. This money is tax deductible - great for tax season! Anything helps - thanks in advance!

Feel free to spread the word.

2007 Team 1FS

a good day to stay inside

It's currently -14F with a -36F windchill in Minneapolis. Perhaps I'll be taking my coffee at home this morning - perhaps you should too.

riding the bus

If you don't want to or can't ride a bike to work, at least consider taking the bus - hey, I do it from time to time - a few days this week in particular as I've been a bit under the weather.

There have been two articles in the past few days regarding riding the bus here in the Twin Cities. The first article about the rising number of suburban bus commuters, and the second about a record number of overall riders since 1982.

Notable quote from the first article:

And Miller confesses to a certain image, beforehand, of bus riders. "You sometimes think they're creepy people muttering things -- I don't mean that in a bad way...

No, of course you don't.

the po po are cracking down

no headlight tickets are more frequent these days in Minneapolis. get one, especially those of you who own a bike shop.

it's OK, you can come inside

Pearn and his Suzuki

What I'd be doing if I didn't ride my bike.



seen on drunkcyclist.com