La Vie de Cyclisme

Photo Journal -- 26

2011-12-14T09:52:00.001-08:00

Fire in the Sky; near Butte, Montana

Photo Journal -- 25

2011-12-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

Utah hiking

Photo Journal -- 24

2011-12-10T17:59:00.001-08:00

near New Bruanfelds, Texas

Photo Journal -- 23

2011-12-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

Storm Break; Grand Canyon North Rim; Arizona

Photo Journal -- 22

2011-12-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Autumn Road; near St. Paul, MN

Photo Journal -- 21

2011-12-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

Rainbow Rim Trail; North Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ

Disclaimer: I did not take this photograph but it was taken on a trip I co-lead.

Photo Journal -- 20

2011-12-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

Nature's colors; Farmers Market, Eugene Oregon

Photo Journal -- 19

2011-12-05T07:35:00.001-08:00

Until Spring; St. Paul, MN

Photo Journal -- 18

2011-12-04T07:45:00.001-08:00

Winter tracks; near Stockholm, Wisconsin

Photo Journal -- 17

2011-12-03T07:04:00.001-08:00

Sand Road; White Sands National Monument; New Mexico

Photo Journal -- 16

2011-12-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

Sunset; Columbia River; Washington

Photo Journal -- 15

2011-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

The road less travelled; near Hite Crossing, Utah

Photo Journal -- 14

2011-11-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

Mountain Lake; Cascade Highway; Washington

Photo Journal -- 13

2011-11-29T07:20:00.001-08:00

Point Imperial; Grand Canyon North Rim

Photo Journal -- 12

2011-11-28T05:21:00.001-08:00

Anza Borrego State Park; California

Photo Journal --11

2011-11-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

Early spring snow; Los Padres National Forest; near Ojai, CA

Photo Journal -- 10

2011-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

Fall touring; Kaibab National Forest; North Rim, Grand Canyon

Photo Journal -- 9

2011-11-25T06:30:00.001-08:00

San Francisco; view from Mt. Tamalpais

Photo Journal -- 8

2011-11-24T09:02:00.001-08:00

Lake Powell; Hite Crossing, Utah

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Photo Journal -- 7

2011-11-23T13:58:00.001-08:00

Fall in the "Daks"; Adirondack Park, New York

Photo Journal -- 6

2011-11-22T06:13:00.000-08:00

Henry Mountains; Hatch, Utah

Photo Journal -- 5

2011-11-21T08:08:00.001-08:00

Oregon Coast

Photo Journal -- 4

2011-11-20T07:07:00.001-08:00

Desert Moon; Anza Borrego State Park, California

Photo Journal -- 3

2011-11-19T06:29:00.001-08:00

C & O Canal

Photo Journal 2

2011-11-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

River of Smoke

Controlled burn; Crazy Jug Point; Grand Canyon North Rim

Photo Journal 1

2011-11-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

Sunset; Montana; Empire Builder

Photo Journal

2011-11-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

I have had the great fortune over the past several years to travel to some amazing places. Travel is my passion, and I have amassed a large collection of photographs. Most were taken with my iPhone camera, and some have required some minor editing tweaks to more accurately capture what I remember seeing.

I have edited them down to a small set and over the next few weeks, will post them here on this blog. In most cases, I will release one a day but there may be times you'll see a few at a time. I'll try and post a link on Facebook but to avoid missing any, subscribe to the RSS feed for my blog.

Gulf of California, Baja Sur, Mexico

I hope you enjoy them.

Cheers

Kevin

The Adventure Continues

2011-06-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

From Hanksville, we headed west towards Capitol Reef National Park and beyond.

Tapestry Wall

Petroglyphs

Pioneer Register -- people would scratch their names and dates on the rock as they passed through

A wet spring created a great environment for desert flowers

From there, we headed south towards Boulder Town and the beginning of the Burr Trail.

Along the way, we encountered Willie pushing a beat up mountain bike and trailer up one of the grades. From Macon, Georgia, he's been on the road for 15 months. We gave him some food, and water and had a great time hearing his tales of life on the road. He works when he can get it but just seems to enjoy the solitude of traveling alone.

Waterpocket Fold; Capitol Reef

We traveled down the Notom/Bullfrog Road, eventually reaching Lake Powell at Hall's Crossing.

Crossing Lake Powell on the ferry was a great way to see the country.

After spending the night in Blanding, we headed north towards the zoo that Moab has become. Compared to the rest of the trip, Moab was packed with people and vehicles, it being the height of the tourist season. First stop was Arches National Park.

We did the hike to Delicate Arch along with a few hundred other folks.

The arch sits next to an amazing natural amphitheatre.

People kept adding to the rock cairns used as trail markers.

From Arches, we headed to the Island in The Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. Given it's about a 35 mile drive from Moab, it was far less crowded.

The La Sal Mountains still carry a heavy snow load.

A good omen, I hope.

That is the White Rim Road/Trail, a prime mountain bike route.

I convinced the missus to drive some of the Shafer Road Trail down the switchbacks a ways.

The goal was to follow the road over that hill to the overlook at Goose Neck Bend on the Colorado River.

It did not disappoint.

The cacti were in full bloom.

Heading out of Moab towards Fruita, CO, we followed the Colorado River east.

Cheers

Kevin and Linda's Excellent Adventure -- Days 1 & 2

2011-06-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

After spending two weeks helping riders enjoy the Utah landscape, I knew I needed to spend some time showing the missus this amazing country. We left St George, Utah Saturday morning and will spend the next week making our way back to Minnesota. Since words really cannot express how amazing this landscape is, I will let the pictures do the talking.

Cottonwood Road

Old Spanish Trail -- North of Cedar City, Utah

North Rim, Grand Canyon from Crazy Jug Point

Linda relaxing; East Rim View point; Kaibab National Forest

Sunset; Grand Canyon; Kaibab National Forest

Sunrise

Vermillion Cliffs

Paria Riffle; Lee's Ferry; Colorado River

Vermillion Cliffs

Navajo Bridge; Glen Canyon

The Colorado River; just below Lee's Ferry

Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam

Valley of The Gods; Mexican Hat, Utah

Natural Bridge National Monument

Views along Utah State Route 95

Hite Crossing; Colorado River

Petroglyphs; somewhere near the Dirty Devil River

Poison Springs Road; near Hanksville, Utah

Cheers

A Day of Contrasts

2011-06-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Utah Monday and have been scouting the ride I'm leading next week. Like most of the country, the West has had a record snow pack, and now that the temps have risen, the flooding is quite epic.

At Cedar Breaks National Monument, the road over the top typically opens on Memorial Day. It's not expected to open until one day after my ride is scheduled to summit so I spent part of today finding a good detour. The snow here is 5-6 feet high and there are reports that some drifts are close to 15 feet further down the road.

As I'm driving a frontage road parallel to I-15, I see a sign for Cottonwood Road. Being easily distracted, I start down it. It started innocently enough as a dirt track through some farm land and quickly became a pretty gnarly track. It did, however, take me up into Dixie National Forest to the intersection with the Old Spanish Trail.

The wet spring had created huge ruts that ran with and across the road so the going was slow.

The trees were just starting to green out and there were flowers everywhere.

I was glad to have a vehicle with high ground clearance and a tough drive train. It's officially broken in now.

Cheers

More Taco progress

2011-05-26T12:54:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Jeremy at Expedition Ops, the Taco now has a dual battery system and a fridge installed on the rear platform.

Before

After

Closeup

The dual battery system allows the second battery to be charged while the engine is running but its isolated from the main battery when the engine is off. That insures I always have a charged battery for starting the engine. The fridge has a 40 litre fridge and 10 litre freezer that can run on 12 volt, 110 and 220.

Looking forward to using it on the trip to Utah that starts this weekend.

Cheers

Green Mountains

2011-05-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

I've been in Vermont scouting a trip I'm leading in August and visiting my daughter and son-in-law. It's been a great trip and I had the opportunity to drive more than 750 miles through most of the upper half of the state.

Rural Vermont in general and the Northeast Kingdom in particular is rugged, isolated and mountainous. It's not the elevation of the Rockies but there is little flat land anywhere and roads were typically built over rather than around the mountains. Farming here is challenging and the stone walls that border the fields are the result of many strong backs clearing the fields. Maple syrup, timber and cows appear to make up the bulk of the economy, and the people I met were exceedingly friendly, proud of their state and always willing to stop and chat.

This past winter was hard here and Lake Champlain, which lies on the western border, is flooding at historic levels. The streams everywhere are running strong and the fields are still too muddy to plant in many areas. People tend to forget that Lake Champlain is very long at 125 miles, and when the wind blows from the north or south, waves in the 3-5+ foot range are not uncommon.

The Lake always wins.

Lake Memphremagog

Lake Seymour -- Northeast Kingdom

Lake Champlain -- looking west towards New York and the Adirondacks.

There are many of these.

The Northeast Kingdom must be spectacular in the fall when the maple and birch trees are at peak color, and it's been added to my personal bucket list.

Cheers

Moving Forward

2011-05-19T19:01:00.001-07:00

The planets aligned just right and on my one free day over the past two weeks, the shell I ordered for the truck arrived. Toppers and More were great and agreed to install it today. Then, I get the call that the foam mattress I had made for the back was ready as well. Booya.

It took no time to install the platform and drawer system I had built over the past few weeks.

Yes, those drawer pulls really are a Campy High Flange Hub (cut in half) and a Nuovo Record Rear Derailleur. The drawer stop is a Guerciotti pantographed shift lever. Tullio would have approved, I'm sure.

I'll be installing a dual battery system to run a fridge in the next few weeks. Then it's off to Utah for some bike trips and some equipment testing.

Cheers

Drop the Chalupa

2011-05-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Between work and travel, I have been struggling to make progress on the Tacoma deconstruction. Over the past week, I spent some late nights in the garage, and progress has been made.

The goal is to make the Taco self sufficient enough that we can take an extended trip in the next few years -- something like Alaska to Argentina. Two projects were undertaken. First, replace the worthless back seats with a stable platform where a fridge and second battery will be located. Second, convert the truck bed to a sleeping/storage space that eventually will have a camper shell over it.

No vehicle is perfect but the Tacoma has a lot of features that make it easily adaptable. The truck bed already has a solid plastic liner in it, and there are two cut outs that accommodate a 2X8 perfectly. Using that feature, I created a platform that is stable and can be easily removed.

Wanting additional storage, I pulled the drawer unit I originally built for the Element and it fit perfectly between the wheel wells.

The toggle bolts will ensure nothing bounces around on washboard roads.

Once the deck was laid out, I cut in two hatches to access all the storage space in front of the drawer unit. The shell I am getting has side windows that open up, giving me easy access to this area.

Here are the hatches open. The entire deck has been covered in grey carpeting over which a 3" foam pad will sit. The only thing I'm waiting on now is for the shell to be installed, hopefully this week.

Next up, gut the rear of the cab. Toyota had installed two pretty worthless jump seats and a storage box so out they came.

The tricky part was to install the platform using as many frame and shell access points as possible. It was definitely a multi-beer job trying to figure out what was going to work. The ah-ha moment came when I pulled the last seat support bracket away revealing a solid mounting platform.

Using Grade 8 metric hardware (thank god for 7 Corners Hardware), the supports are bolted directly to the cab using holes to which the rear seats were once mounted.

Two sheets of 1/2 inch Birch Plywood bolted to the supports and the result is an extremely solid surface. I also added some sound insulation behind and under the platform which will hopefully help reduce some road noise. This area will also be covered in carpet.

Stay tuned for further projects which will include replacing the crappy plastic bumpers and possibly, installing an awning.

Cheers

Measure 10 times

2011-04-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

and it still will not fit. That would be the FlipPac Camper in my garage. And it misses by about 3 inches.

So, I'm down to getting a nice topper and building a sleeping platform and storage in that. In the long run, it saves me a lot of dough and the truck can still be used for many purposes.

Cheers

Figured It Out -- Maybe!!

2011-04-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Its been over a month since Linda and I spent the weekend at Overland Expo. We went to listen and learn about what it takes to successfully undertake overland journeys in remote spaces. "Keep it light and keep it simple" was the message we heard over and over. If we followed that advice, many of the vehicles and much of the equipment we saw had to be ruled out. I also wanted to select a vehicle that was tough, adaptable and reasonably simple but could be used as an everyday hauler/transporter.

My Honda Element with the E Camper came pretty darn close. It's limitations are size and off road capabilities. Despite some modifications, and some trips into places that were truly pushing its limits, it did not have either the toughness nor the space that we wanted. We went looking for a platform that could be modified with a good selection of equipment, be serviced virtually anywhere, and had a long history of reliability all over the world.

There really are only three manufacturers that fit those criteria: Jeep, Land Rover and Toyota. Jeep's are certainly tough but don't have a great history of reliability. Land Rover's, particularly the old ones, are fantastic vehicles but can be expensive to buy and restore, and with few exceptions, are not designed to travel long distances at highway speeds. That leaves Toyota. Older models like the FJ40 have many of the same strengths and weaknesses as the older Land Rovers. Later models like the Land Cruiser could certainly work but they can be expensive to buy and maintain, and gas mileage is less than stellar.

After a lot of research, I purchased a 2011 Toyota Tacoma with the Off Road Package. It's a tough, proven platform and mileage is not too bad at an estimated 21 mpg highway. I am still working on a camping option for it but have narrowed it down to either a fiberglass shell with a sleeping platform or an AT FlipPac.

The FlipPac weighs less than 400 pounds and when closed, the back of the truck can be used for hauling stuff, like bikes. I've got some other ideas for it as well and I'll post more as they evolve.

Cheers

Overland Expo 2011

2011-04-07T15:37:00.001-07:00

As I have posted before, the idea of a big adventure has been rattling around in my brain for some time. Ultimately, it will involve bicycles but it will also include a vehicle of some type to allow me (and hopefully the missus) to visit remote areas with some measure of comfort.

If you've never looked at the equipment and vehicles available to undertake a multi-country adventure, the choices are mind blowing. They run the gamut from motorcycles to trucks the size of semi's. We spent last weekend in Amado, Arizona attending Overland Expo, a gathering of people and equipment manufacturers that allow one to undertake amazing journeys. There were speakers who described trips the length of the Americas or Africa in/on both 2 and 4 wheel vehicles. Manufacturers displayed their wares and Land Rover set up a driving course.

Our goal was to attend as many of the workshops as possible, listen to the stories, and collect as much info as possible so we could make some educated decisions. The range of vehicles was staggering. Some were gigantic (and IMHO, ridiculous):

Some historic. This is one of the 400 Camel Trophy Land Rovers.

Sportsmobile, a very creative 4WD conversion of a Ford Van.

Former military vehicles:

Lots of amazing 2 wheel vehicles

Our Honda was close to the smallest rig there but lots of people came by to look at it.

There were some really interesting camping set ups.

And some extremely creative kitchen set ups:

I never knew winch options existed for motorcycles.

A majority of the workshops were led by Brits, many of whom had decades of overland travel around the world. The overwhelming message I took away from all the workshops was -- keep it simple and keep it light. Many of the trips had been accomplished on vehicles that were not heavily modified. Lois Pryce rode the length of the America's and Africa on 250 cc Yamaha motorcycles. A number of cross Sahara trips were made in fairly stock vehicles. The American tendency to heavily modify vehicles was obvious in the manufacturer's exhibit area but not generally present in the trip reports I heard and saw. We met some very interesting folks and had a great time sharing stories and ideas.

The workshop I enjoyed most was "Bush Mechanics", a focus on temporary repairs that can get you and your vehicle to a place where a permanent fix can be completed. I learned that pepper, added to your radiator, reduces the risk of boil over; bar soap can be used to seal a leaking gas tank; a flat tire can be stuffed with grass and other plant material; brakes and clutches can be used (sparingly) with water and liquid soap, absent the appropriate fluids; chain, rope and ratchet straps can fix most suspension issues; and wood, properly shaped, can replace broken suspension parts.

So, did we figure out what direction we want to go? We have (I think) and it happened on the last night of the gathering. I'll share what it is after we figure everything out, but it will be comparatively light and simple compared with many of the options out there. Stay tuned.

Cheers

Slot Canyons

2011-04-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I think Southern Utah is one of the most beautiful places on earth is the varied terrain you can see. In addition to red rocks and grand vistas, the area contains many slot canyons carved by eons of wind and water.

Accompanied by Jack and Joe, we explored one in the Goblin Valley area, north of Hanksville. My words really won't add anything to what I saw so hopefully, you'll be as amazed as I was.

Cheers

Snow and Sand

2011-04-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

Armed with a new laptop and time, I can finally catch up on my blogging. Despite a pretty snowy winter in the Twin Cities, winter seemed to fade away as I headed west. After making across Nebraska and eastern Colorado, and spending the night west of Denver, we headed towards Utah.

The Henry Mountains - east of Grand Staircase.

After spending the night in Hanksville, we headed east to explore the Poison Springs area and get some riding in.

Camp

Jack getting dinner ready.

After a cold night, the day dawned bright and much warmer. I was anxious to ride my new Ti Fargo as we headed towards the Poison River. The road was little more than a jeep track with multiple creek crossings, and covered in rock and loose gravel. The bike was amazing, handling all the road offered with no problems.

After we returned to camp, the sun was at such an angle that the petroglyphs on the rocks above. This is a fairly remote area but the fact that these drawings had survived centuries of sun and wind was pretty humbling.

Cheers

WTF?

2011-02-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

In the late 70's and 1980's, I spent a few years investigating motorcycle gangs on the east coast. At the time, gang members were heavily involved in many nefarious activities, namely drugs, prostitution and loan sharking. The members I interacted with were pretty bad individuals who thumbed their noses at government, religion and civil society in general.

I worked the motorcycle show today and the vast majority of bikers wearing colors were sporting this patch. Some were handing out fliers with information about joining, and the few I spoke with seemed pleasant and genuine. While the criminal activity of the original gangs was wrong, I always admired both their rebellious attitudes and their desire to live life on their own terms. IMHO, religion is quickly morphing into a brand instead of a belief, and many of it's most strident followers feel the need to wear their beliefs for all to see.

Ironically, right next door to the motorcycle show, was a gathering of thousands of teens attending the Acquire The Fire Tour. From what I saw, it was a series of Christian bands combined with the occasional preacher. The kids were being kids, dancing and singing and generally having a good time.

And then it happened. A preacher walked to the center of the stage and yelled (and I quote):

" God is your true parent. You should listen to him, and him only". I looked around at the parents in the audience to see if their was going to be any reaction but they continued to drink the kool aid for the next 20 minutes as the preacher went on about how bad the world was blah, blah. It's no wonder teen suicide is on the rise. Being a teenager is hard enough without having an extra guilt trip laid on you.

Crimes aside, the attitudes of the original bikers would do those teens a lot more good than the preachers. Live your life your way -- and listen to your real parents.

Cheers

Snotmeal

2011-01-31T16:43:00.000-08:00

On any flat surface:

Combine several inches of fresh snow with old, compacted snow and frozen water

Run countless vehicles over the mix, taking care to churn it up thoroughly

For a garnish, add stupid, angry drivers

Clear As A Bell

2011-01-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

As long as I can remember, I have had poor vision. When I first got glasses at the age of 5, my mother told me that she cried when, upon leaving the doctor's office, I remarked that I could see the birds and the trees clearly for the first time.

In the mid-70's, I started wearing contact lenses which for me, was life changing. I finally had great peripheral vision and gone were the issues with glasses sliding down my nose in the heat, or fogging up coming in from the cold. The daily cleaning and maintaining process became as routine as brushing my teeth.

Over the past few years, I could tell my vision was starting to deteriorate. Images were blurry, there were halos around lights after dark, and colors were just not as vibrant. It was much like looking through a frosty window -- all year. A visit to the doctor confirmed that I had cataracts, and surgery was really the only solution. Based on research I did and talking with people who had gone through the process, the outcomes were almost always successful with no side effects.

Last Thursday, I had the first eye done. The actual surgery took about 20 minutes and I was semi-awake during the whole procedure. My doctor and I were discussing winter biking, and I could see a bright light with things moving in and out of my field of vision. My vision was hazy for about 48 hours and, based upon an eye exam yesterday, I now have 20/20 distance vision.

Tomorrow, I get the other eye done. I am planning on being at the HC Pub Crawl Sunday but if I ride, I may need some help.

Cheers

Mon ordure est gelée

2011-01-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

I always enjoyed visits to my paternal grandmother. She was French, never weighed more than 100 pounds, and carried herself with great dignity and poise. But energy and passion was packed densely within that small frame, and whenever something angered her, she would revert to her native tongue, especially with my father. "Merde" was heard quite frequently, usually accompanied by wild hand gestures that required the flexibility of a yoga master. I am fairly certain she knew we understood at least the "bad" words but she was our grandmother, and one's dignity had be preserved!!.

My ride today took me north into a steady wind, and with the air temperature hovering at about 5 above, the wind chill was brisk. Any male cyclist who rides through the winter knows that keeping certain parts one's anatomy warm is, uh, critical. I was starting to feel a great deal of discomfort and being a long way from home, knew I needed to correct the problem. To take my mind off the growing pain, I was running through as many French words as I could remember.

The first person I see on the trail is a very small, older woman walking her two dogs. She was covered from head to toe, and only her eyes peered out from the scarf wrapped around her head. I did notice a few plastic bags tied to her leash so I stopped and said hello. After a brief conversation about her dogs and the weather, I asked if she could kindly spare one of her plastic bags.

After looking around, apparently assuming I had a dog hidden somewhere , she lowered the scarf from over her mouth.

"But you don't have a dog. Why do you need a bag?"

Now, if I was say Jay Leno, a quick and witty response would have flowed from my mouth. The best I could do was smile.

"Oh, Oh! That must be quite painful. Here, please, take one", she replied, the light bulb over her head burning brightly.

I thanked her, she smiled and we parted ways.

Oh, and if you're wondering what the title of the post means, the picture should help you figure it out.

Cheers

Dreaming and Scheming

2010-12-25T15:53:00.001-08:00

As I sit here, full after a huge Christmas dinner, it's 8 degrees out and the ground is covered in 30+ inches of snow. My thoughts turn to possible 2011 trips and adventures, at least one of which will be in what I consider one of, if not the most beautiful places in America -- southern Utah. I have visited a few times in recent years, not even scratching the surface of all that is there.

The trip will most certainly include two wheel travel but may also include the 4 wheel type as well. This trip report provides just a sample of what I have seen there.

Happy holidays all. May 2011 bring you much happiness and joy.

Cheers

Planet Convergence

2010-12-08T17:54:00.000-08:00

At almost every amateur athletic event I have attended, they usually seem to play Eye of The Tiger to inspire the athletes at whatever physical challenge they are attempting. I think they have it all wrong.

Tonight, as I was riding home from dinner with the missus, Handel's Messiah was in play. At the base of the only major climb on the route, the London Philharmonic and Kings College Choir broke into the Hallelujah Chorus and by the time I was at the top, I was singing along. My apologies to the jogger who I am pretty sure I scared half to death. Now that is an inspiring piece of music!!

Minneapolis across the Mississippi

Closing Note: I have received a few emails from folks who tried to link to last night's post, only to find it gone. A person referenced in the post wrote a comment that indicated they had taken it personally. Rather than perpetuate the misunderstanding, and in an effort to minimize the passive-aggressive behavior so rampant here, I deleted it.

Cheers

Embracing in progress

2010-12-07T06:16:00.000-08:00

The last light. Sunset, Lake Harriet.

Cheers

Finding Winter Bliss

2010-12-05T16:28:00.001-08:00

Bliss:

great joy or happiness
spiritual joy; heavenly rapture
any cause of bliss

In Italian, it's:

gioia immensa,
felicità perfetta,
beatitudine

Regardless of how you say it, I have never found the winter version of it. With the exception of a few years as a child living in Equatorial West Africa, I have spent most of my life in places that have very defined climates. Winter has always been present to varying degrees and I have usually tried to do whatever possible to embrace it. I am definitely affected by the lack of daylight that prevails this time of year so the combination of cold and dark often feels quite confining.

I'm not a skier -- I've tried downhill and nordic and both seem to take away from the experience of being outdoors -- one's too fast and the other requires too much concentration. I greatly enjoy the pace of hiking, snowshoeing and of course, winter biking.

So far this winter, we have had two big snow storms. The first dumped a few inches of heavy, wet glop all over everything, and riding in it required a wetsuit to survive. The one that arrived this weekend was 5-8 inches of light, fluffy snow combined with cold temperatures. Riding to and from the shop Saturday was not terribly fun as the cars had turned the snow into oatmeal that defied traction, even with 4 inch wide tires.

After a day spent working in the shop on personal projects, and being told by my far more intelligent wife to quit complaining and embrace winter, I ventured out at dusk to see if I could "trovare la felicita" -- find some of that bliss. Both cities had declared snow emergencies and the parks department had cleared the bike paths -- it was like riding on a white carpet. Even the intersections had been cleared, and the riding was as easy as it is on those late summer nights when you know you could ride forever.

I only rode for an hour or so but it was very, very peaceful. The only sounds were my tires crunching on the dry, packed powder and Willie and Waylon saying something about tuned guitars and firm feeling women being the only things that make life worth living. I stuck to the paths along the Mississippi and encountered only a few people in those ten miles.

Minneapolis from Franklin Street

Festive

Ford Bridge

Honestly, I'd still rather be sitting in a remote desert someplace, taking in the immense night sky, but as Garrison Keillor so accurately stated -- "I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it".

So, I will ride as many nights as I can, embracing the reality that is winter here in the Northland, and always hoping to get a little closer to finding felicità perfetta.

Cheers

Back in Black

2010-11-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

People who know me would probably never call me flamboyant, especially when it comes to my attire. Most of the family agrees that I have no fashion sense whatsoever-- and I'm fine with that. When my daughter lived at home, she would comment almost every day -- "you're really wearing that out?". I never knew if she was serious or not.

When it comes to bikes, however, I tend to lean towards some pretty outrageous color schemes. I can't seem to leave well enough alone and generally hate stock colors. When we first opened the shop, we ordered a Pugsley which, at that time, came in purple. I immediately had it changed to this:

That's right. Blaze orange. I loved it and we eventually sold it.

Next came the Big Dummy. If I recall, it came in some green that matched a uniform I once wore. I put white tires on it and turned that into what became affectionately called the "Creamsicle". I still have it and use for a variety of grocery and other hauling chores.

When I had Curt Goodrich build me a frame, there was a color that I really liked and that bike is now called the "Green Hornet".

My Long Haul Trucker was originally tan -- Surly called it "truckachino". I called it ugly and changed it to this.

My Retrotec is officially called the GT40 because it's the color scheme Gulf used for their very successful race teams.

My own Pugsley had been through three winters of riding in snow and brine and despite my best efforts at maintenance, was starting to show the effects. When I pulled it out to set her up for winter, there was a lot of rust in various nooks and crannies -- essentially it was a big salt lick.. So I did the only sensible thing and stripped it down and had it powder coated. I toyed with the idea of something over the top in red but ended up going with flat black. Most of the components were black anyway so it seemed to make sense. It's kind of the Johnny Cash version -- understated but always ready to roll.

I got out for a few miles of urban riding and met the missus for dinner. It's unseasonably warm here for this time of year and winter is right around the corner. But there are still remnants of fall lingering behind.

Cheers

Home at Last!!

2010-10-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

To make a long story short, I got my camera back. I had left it in a rental vehicle in California and through a lengthy series of events, it showed up today. Contained within its bowels are some pictures of my Grand Canyon adventure this summer.

Along the Arizona Trail.

Sunset at Timp Point.

Rainbow Rim Trail.

Enjoy.

Happy Birthday

2010-10-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

to my Mother. She would have been 82 today and this was her favorite time of year.

Every fall, she and my Dad would drive up to the Skyline Drive to see the amazing display of red's, oranges and yellows. As long as I can remember, seeing the fall colors anywhere was probably at the top of her list of simple pleasures.

Our birthday's are only 7 days apart and in the past decade or so, the cards we exchanged got more and more outrageous. You never received one card from her -- it was usually 5 or 6. And in recent years, they were often animated with music or funny sayings, and a few always contained political satire. I had a hard time keeping up and to this day, have no idea where she got some of them.

Buying a birthday gift was always easy -- Borders gift cards. She was a voracious reader and since her town didn't have a Barnes and Noble, and she didn't want to buy books online, gift cards it was. A few weeks later, I would get a call in which she would describe what books she had bought and usually, already read.

Linda, being an avid scrap booker, reminded me the other day how much interest Mom took in whatever project she was working on. The projects of late included a multi-volume scrapbook of our daughter's wedding and thankfully, she got to see most of the completed project. She was unable to attend our daughter's graduation from medical school but Linda prepared a wonderful scrapbook that I was able to deliver personally. She took quite awhile savoring each picture and asking very pointed questions about each one. She died a week later.

Of all the poetry I have read, none describes her life as well as Robert Frost's classic. She always took the road less traveled, and everyone she met on that journey was a better person for it.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What I Learned at Interbike

2010-09-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: This is the first industry wide trade show I have attended since they were regional shows in the early 1980's. I attempted to see the whole thing in one day which means I certainly missed stuff -- but I saw enough!

Apparently, there is a shortage of helmet selection in the industry. I stopped counting at 20 separate brands.

There is a perceived market for:

$400 floor pumps

$200 frame pumps

$700 helmets

$900 bike shoes

$300 jerseys

Custom bike shorts. You go into a room, fondle some fabric swatches and provide numerous measurements. In 2 months, you get new shorts. Price unknown. I thought spandex provided a custom fit already (within reason)

BMX -- is huge, at least everywhere but Minneapolis. Those dorks who got stuffed in lockers when I was in high school? If they can risk life and limb riding a board or bike, they are guaranteed 2 hot chicks hanging on every word. They also speak in tongues -- no idea what they say, but it sounds righteous.

BMX for senior citizens -- there were a number of guys who had to be within a decade of my age still trying to throw a BMX bike around with some success. They should seriously check up on what Medicare covers cause they will be in big trouble in a few years.

Adult beverage ESP -- At exactly three PM, almost every booth produced beer in some shape or form. The biggest had caterers bringing out kegs while the rest had coolers hidden and waiting for the signal. I had beers thrust into my hand more than once. Even the kids in the BMX zone were imbibing but given what they do for fun, a few dead brain cells is the least of their worries.

Bike fitting -- there were numerous bike fit systems represented. I stood and watched a fit

demo by a world famous "fitter" as he attempted to fit a middle aged rider to one of the uber- expensive time trial machines. At the end of the process, we all thought the seat height was wrong. The "fitter" told us, and I quote "a shop's ability to charge $500 for a fitting is the difference between profitability and mediocrity".

Note to Jim: I think we need to modify the "arm pit method". They're going to expect more for their $500. Maybe a beret and clove cigarettes?

Nitrogen -- I also listened to a guy pedaling a nitrogen system for shops. Nitrogen allegedly prevents normal tire deflation and can be a "profit rocket" for shops. Apparently, if you charge customers $5 for a shot, they will be customers for life. I think it would be cheaper to mark a pump "nitrogen" and be done with it.

Special People -- there were several vendors who had enclosed booths and only allowed "VIP's" inside. I always believe in asking forgiveness rather than permission so attempted to enter 3 of said booths. I failed in two attempts, blocked by rather swarthy women. On the third, I followed a group in and hung out for about 2 minutes before exiting. What was the secret? Oversized BMX bikes. At least that's what it looked like.

Seriously, there was lots of interesting stuff as well. But I have completely forgotten what it was. Getting old sucks.

Cheers

She Could Always Draw a Crowd

2010-07-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

On a hot hazy afternoon, we buried my mother at Arlington National Cemetery. Her final resting place overlooks the Potomac River and the city she loved.

Almost 100 people came to her service, some traveling from Europe to celebrate her life. Wine and food were served, and while there were no formal speeches, many shared their memories and stories of her with us. I learned much and one never knows the impact one person can have on others until they are gone.

She had an enormous influence on me personally, and is the one person whose example I most wanted to follow. We didn't always agree but respected each other, no matter where we stood.

She lived life her way to the end and despite a 9 year battle with cancer, never complained once. In the end, she went with her wit, dignity and sense of humor intact.

God speed Bette Mullen. Save some wine for the rest of us!!

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."

Sir Winston Churchill

Cycle Utah

2010-06-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

I just returned from working Adventure Cycling's Cycle Utah trip and it was a great time. Great staff, great participants and IMHO, some of the most beautiful country on this planet. The more time I spend in the west, the more I am convinced I am a westerner at heart -- the grand vistas, dry air and lots of public land to explore. No move west is imminent but it has long been a dream of mine so hopefully, it will happen.

We spent a night outside Bryce Canyon National Park and the staff did a hike on the Peek a Boo trail. All hikes in Bryce start at the rim and go down into the canyon.

The trail ahead.

Yep, that is the trail.

Bryce is famous for it's hoodoos, rock formations carved by wind and rain.

The Wall of windows.

The most challenging day for riders is the climb from Panguitch up over Cedar Breaks to Cedar City. They had really great weather for it with some wind at the top and relatively warm temps. In years past, this ride has been done in snow and rain.

Some snow remains over 10,000 feet.

The ride also goes through Red Canyon just outside of Bryce. The crappy cell phone pix really do not do the colors justice.

Home next week and then the missus and I travel west to Seattle where I will work, and she will ride ACA's Cycle Washington. We hope to stop along the way at Teddy Roosevelt NP, Glacier (I'm hoping to ride the Going To The Sun Road) and Missoula, MT.

Look for FaceBook and possibly a blog post or two along the way.

Cheers

A Life Well Lived

2010-05-28T07:16:00.001-07:00

Bette Mullen

1928 -- 2010

Wife, mother, grandmother, friend, mentor and inspiration.

I have no doubt that, upon meeting St. Peter at the gate, they cracked a bottle of wine, discussed all the challenges in the world, and came up with a plan to solve them. She lived life her way to the very end, and left the world and the lives of those she knew, a better place.

"It is not length of life, but depth of life."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

All He's missing is a bike

2010-05-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lauren K. MacAfee, M.D

2010-05-07T14:34:00.001-07:00

Cheers

How Cool Would It Be . . .

2010-05-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

to have an interstate travel system for bicycling? Believe it or not, work has been underway for some time to create a network of roads that cyclists could use to connect to almost anywhere in these United States.

Adventure Cycling, an organization that I both support and sometimes work for, is trying to raise $20,000 towards that effort. I have already donated $50 and since many of my readers are cyclists as well, would encourage you to participate as well.

It's really easy to donate here, and contribution of any size will make a difference.

Cheers

Is It Possible

2010-04-29T18:44:00.001-07:00

to be completely "biked" out? To have ridden the local trails, paths and routes so many times that you just can't do it anymore?

For that matter, can one be totally "biked" out? I've got more bikes and stuff than any one person deserves - and really can't get enthusiastic about riding. It's gotten very easy to find something, anything to fill my time other than riding. I still love hanging around with people who do ride, supporting them in their efforts, but actually riding myself has gotten challenging. Hell, I have seriously entertained the idea of getting a motorcycle.

And yet, an epic ride has been occupying most of my thoughts of late. The Silk Road, the length of Africa, the Great Divide, Trans Am, Trans Europe. But I could see doing it on a motorcycle just as easily as on a bicycle. I'll be 55 in a few months so if I'm going to learn to ride a motorcycle well enough for such a trip, it'd better be soon, don't ya think?

Biking is what I do. It's what I've always done. Is it time for a change?

Cheers

In The Throne Room Of The God's of Mud

2010-04-24T16:37:00.001-07:00

HC was a proud sponsor of Trans Iowa 6 this year, and Jim and I drove to Grinnell, Iowa to help out. By volunteering, you are guaranteed a spot in next year's race (if there is one) and Jim has this quaint notion of attempting it. I have his back but am not sure I will be joining him.

What is Trans Iowa? It is a race of just over 310 miles that must be completed in 36 hours. There are 3 checkpoints with cut off times and you have to make it by the time or you are out. What makes this particular event so insane is: 1) most of the route is on gravel or the far more challenging "b" farm roads (more on that in a sec); 2) you don't know the route for the next section until you get to the checkpoint. You can't scout it using Google maps; 3) You cannot receive any support whatsoever. You are completely on your own. Break down in the middle of some road at 2AM? No one is going to come get you. And finally, it snows and rains in Iowa in the spring so the road conditions can be absolutely horrendous, as you shall soon see.

58 riders massed at the start in downtown Grinnell this morning at 4AM.

Ken and Scott raring to go

And they're off.

Jim and I were assisting at Checkpoint 1, located in the small town of Monroe. The riders had to cover 45 miles and arrive no later than 8AM to stay in it. It had been raining most of the night and the drive down there was through heavy rain and lightening. It continued to rain for almost three hours.

The first riders made it to the check point at about 7:20. This group contained last year's winner, Joe Meiser as well as some other heavyweights of the this type of event. By my calculation, they averaged something like 12 mph to get to this point, no small feat considering the conditions. Riders reported that lightening struck the ground very near them and they were forced to walk a 1 mile stretch of "B" road that was impassable. B roads are essentially farm roads that get no maintenance -- they are what they are.

The fast group took off immediately and more riders came in as the 8AM deadline drew near. Of the 58 riders that started, only 21 made it to checkpoint 1 by 8AM. Ken and Scott missed it by several minutes but were in good spirits despite the fact they had to ride the 40+ miles back to Grinnell and their car.

Ken

Scott

All of the bikes and riders that made it to Monroe were covered in thick brown mud. Many reported their brakes were already on the way out and drive trains couldn't be far behind -- and they still had 267 miles to go!!

Once all the riders were through, Jim and I planned to do some riding of our own. We opted to retrace the race's route back to Grinnell, and either ride from there or nearby. The first 15 miles or so took us through gorgeous rolling farmland over roads that were soft but drivable.

Remember that section of "B" road the riders walked? This is what greeted us at the beginning of it:

Jim and I looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and drove on. The absence of other tire tracks should have been the clue we were idiots.

Good progress was made despite mud that was inches thick.

We made it most of the way up that big hill but completely lost traction. We managed to get the rig turned around and were on our way out when we got stock trying to re-cross an old wooden bridge covered in mud.

And, no cell phone coverage. So I hiked a ways out and up a hill until I could call AAA. AAA is awesome but they don't cover towing morons who get their vehicles stuck on roads they should not be on. But Angie of AAA did call me a wrecker that arrived about an hour later. Two guys, both of who I know were laughing inside, carefully pulled me out of the ditch and I was able to drive the rest of the way back to the county road. We followed them back to Monroe where we could settle the bill.

Here is how the exchange went as I paid the bill.

Ronnie: "What were you doing Bajaing down that road?"

Me: We were trying to retrace the route of that bike race.

Ronnie: "It's a good thing you didn't get caught over that first hill. We'd have to send the big wrecker".

I can only imagine that it resembles this:

So, if you're traveling the "B" roads of Iowa anywhere near Monroe and need a tow, call Ronnie at Hewitt's Service Center and tell him Baja sent you.

Cheers

You Go Girl

2010-04-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

A Bike version of The E-Camper

2010-04-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

As my readers know, I recently had my Honda Element converted to this:

Now, I find that Target, of all places, is carrying a bike trailer called the Kamp-Rite Midget Bushtrekka that has similar characteristics. It's not light (56 pounds) or cheap ($850) but it is a very cool concept.

The company is based in Australia and also makes a single wheel trailer/camper that fits in a backpack called the TrailRat.

There's a whole crazy world out there, for sure,

Cheers

This is Certainly Another Option

2010-04-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

HC rickshaw conversion?

Cheers

Great. Now What?

2010-04-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Bicycling Magazine just ranked Minneapolis as the #1 bike friendly city in the US, beating out perennial favorite Portland, Oregon. This, despite cold winters, particularly this last one during which road conditions were sub-optimal for all modes of transportation. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for here and this is a great place to ride.

Like most people, I look at "Best of . . ." lists with both interest and a healthy dose of skepticism, especially of the criteria used in selecting the winners. People who aren't involved in the cycling scene here would, after reading the reasons Minneapolis won, conclude that our success was based on the existence of but a few shops, and dominated by one or two individuals driving it all. This is really lazy journalism since these same sources are used over and over again whenever articles are written about cycling here in the Twin Cities.

The reality is that the cycling community here is comprised of a diverse variety of shops, craftsmen, clubs and individuals who are the heart and soul of what makes this area worthy of this recognition. An inquisitive journalist would do well to look beyond sources that are often more hype than substance, and peel away the layers. They will uncover an amazing story of ingenuity, creativity and plain old midwestern pragmatism.

Cheers

Why Not?

2010-04-05T06:35:00.001-07:00

Cheers

Home Sweet Home

2010-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

I made it back Thursday after a 15 hour drive from west of Denver. The plan was for an early morning ride but given the altitude (8500 feet) and the congestion in my chest and head, I opted to forgo it. Of course, maybe it was the fact that my buddy had planned the route up a road unofficially called "Oh My God" by the locals because most of them had uttered those words either ascending or descending it in the winter.

The first 500 miles of Eastern Colorado and Nebraska are mind numbingly boring. The only excitement came when an Aston Martin Vantage passed me at what I guess was in excess of 100 mph in Nebraska. It wasn't until a truck slowed its progress that I was able to snap this. I'll bet he can't camp in it, so there!

After leaving Flagstaff, I headed northeast into Utah, passing by Monument Valley. The Navajo that own and run Monument Valley don't allow camping within so I continued north towards Mexican Hat, Utah, so named for this interesting rock formation.

North of Mexican Hat is Valley of The Gods, described as a mini-Monument Valley. It's part of Glen Canyon Recreation Area so dry camping is permissible wherever one can find a spot. There is a 17 mile dirt road through it which affords magnificent views in every direction. It was also a full moon night so I was excited that my last night of camping would be in such a great spot. I was unable to accurately record the full moon by camera but, take my word, it was magnificent.

The approach.

Sunset and moon rise.

What I call "Thumbs Up" mesa.

Just me and the coyotes.

Next trip is in June when I head back to Utah to wrench on Cycle Utah. The snow should be gone by then so I am planning a combo driving/mountain biking trip over part of Hole in the Rock Road. Stay tuned.

Cheers

Wilderness Medicine

2010-03-31T06:29:00.001-07:00

I finished my wilderness EMT recertification in Flagstaff a few days ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What makes this training so much more valuable than the urban EMT training I have taken is in the backcountry, you don't have access to 911 and all the stuff it comes with. You need to be "Machyver" and improvise.

What really sets this training above others is the use of scenarios to test skills. The instructors used lots of theatrical props and fake blood to simulate a mass casualty incident. In this case, a load of tourists shot down in a hot air baloon.

A.hand shredded in the fall.

A mid shaft femur break. This came with a pump that squirted fake blood several feet.

An evisceration using condoms and tape.

I was the gunshot vistim and had both entry and exit wounds glued to my torso and then was covered in fake blood.

It's a very realistic way to test skills and I hope I never have to deal with it in reality

Cheers

Serious Snow

2010-03-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

This winter has sure felt epic in the TC. Lots of snow and ice that seemed to stick around forever.

But parts of the west have had it far worse. Here in Flagstaff, they have had over 140 inches with one storm dumping over 44 inches alone.

The big difference is that, sitting at 7000 feet, the sun's strength is amazing so much has melted.

Reportedly, places in the San Francisco peaks got in excess of 400 inches. And that will be there awhile.

Cheers

Hostels - where have they gone?

2010-03-26T09:32:00.001-07:00

Since I am taking a class here the next few days,I am currently staying at the Grand Canyon International Hostel in downtown Flagstaff. $40/night with breakfast for a private room and shared bath. Laundry and wifi on site.

This morning, I ate breakfast with folks from Germany, the UK, Netherlands and South Africa who shared stories of their travels. One woman is attempting to see as much of the US as possible in 6 weeks by staying no longer than 2 nights in any one location, and travelling by plane, train and auto.

It's hard to know why hostelling has all but dissapeared here in the States. I'm sure there are a few around but they seem well hidden. My breakfast guests were complaining about the lack of cheap accomodations available in a country with so much to see.

Flagstaff is quite a fun town with a large university, many book and outdoor shops and cyclists everywhere. Route 66 runs a block from where I sit and you can both ski and trek the red rocks in an hour depending on the direction you head.

I found this spot rather intriguing and may try it.

Cheers

Take that Joey

2010-03-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post, I introduced you to my four wheeling friend, Joey. Now, Joey was correct in sharing his wisdom about the local conditions in Show Low. But, sometimes, you just have to say "what the f%$k" and go for it. As Jim Thill would say -- "What's the worst that can happen?"

I located a jeep road on the map and decided that it would lead me to remote camping opportunities.

I ignored this.

And immediately ran into this.

And this.

I'm pretty sure the Honda engineers would be hitting the sake a little heavier if they saw these pictures.

To quote Mr. Thill again -- "keep your standards low and your spirits high, and you'll never be dissapointed. Sage advice.

Cheers

Tales From The Road --Long and Overdue

2010-03-23T19:33:00.000-07:00

I landed in Flagstaff, Arizona this morning and have good/great internet connectivity. This is rather long but contains mostly photos.

The lovely missus flew in Friday evening and we headed out Saturday morning to explore Arizona, south of Tucson. First stop was back at Kitt Peak, which was open this time. We walked around gawking at the views and poking around the various telescopes that are there.

As I mentioned before, this is the largest collection on earth.

The largest solar telescope. The sun's light is shot 75 feet into the mountain.

Lots of telescopes of various sizes.

From there, we headed south into Coronado National Forest to explore some of the dirt roads that run parallel to the Mexican border. Despite very warm days, there is still snow above 5000 feet.

The roads are designated for 4 wheel drive vehicles but the Element has AWD and upgraded off road tires so we though we'd try our luck.

Lots of small creek crossings.

We poked around some of the side roads and found a great camp site along a creek.

The road in.

The missus relaxing in camp.

I managed to get out for a short ride up Bear Canyon that involved more than one creek crossing and boulder hopping. That night, it was just us and the coyotes.

The next morning, we continued east, following the road through various canyons and across one beautiful grass land valley.

The dirt road ended at the top of the pass at Coronado National Monument which is a very short distance from the border,

We looked for a good camping spot all afternoon but the only side roads led south almost directly to the border. The only other vehicles we saw all afternoon were Border Patrol trucks so the area is a hotbed for human and drug smuggling. One of their vehicles was pulling a large sled to smooth out the road surface so they could see foot and tire prints later. At Coronado Pass, they had a radar unit operating.

At this point, we opted for safety and headed to Bisbee, a really fun town in the mountains. The bike trip I just finished over nighted here so we stayed at the Jonquil Motel, in business since 1936.

After a great breakfast and poking around a few antique shops, we headed back to Tucson and stopped by the Saguaro National Monument, hoping the flowers were blooming. They were in a few spots but still have a few days to go.

I dropped the missus off at the airport Tuesday morning and headed north east towards the White Mountain town of Show Low, hoping to get in some mountain biking. My first stop was the Chamber of Commerce where a very nice lady told me that all the trails were open and the Mogollon Rim road was perfectly fine to drive. Hmm. My second stop was at the local bike shop where the owner informed me that local trails were either buried under multiple feet of snow or so muddy, they's suck the tires off your rims. Strike one.

My next stop was at the local 4X4 store to see whether the Mogollon Rim Road was indeed drivable. The man behind the counter was named Joey and here is roughly how the exchange went.

Me -- "Joey, is it possible to drive the Mogollon Rim road from here to Payson"?

Joey, laughing. -- "Come with me". We walk through the shop and out into the rear lot. No kidding, if I was a few inches shorter, I could walk under most of the trucks back there.

Joey -- "See that truck over there"?, pointing to the largest one in the lot. "That's mine and I had to have it towed out of that road a few days ago. Would have cost me $500 but I own the wrecker company here too."

Me -- "Well, that answers that. Thanks for the advice".

Joey -- "What kind of truck are you driving?"

At this point, I am trying to avoid the laughter that will ensue after he sees the Element. After he does see it and I explain about the camper on top, Joey places his rather large hand on my shoulder, looks me in the eye and says " if you tried to drive that thing up there, I'd have to come pull you out. Chances are, the whole drive train would get left behind but you could sure use that camper thing as a small guest room in your yard back in Minneapolis." Nuff said!!

I headed towards Payson, hoping to find a camping spot in the National Forest. This is what I ran into.

I continued into Payson and found a cheap motel run by a Japanese guy who spoke little English. I am pretty sure there was a Twilight Zone episode with the same theme.

The next day, I headed towards Sedona, passing through Snake River Canyon.

Arriving in Sedona, I discovered it was peak tourist season and the place was jammed. I stopped by a bike shop, got a trail map, and headed into Coconino National Forest, both to camp and ride. The recommended route was great with just enough technical stuff to make it interesting.

The trails are well marked, and the scenery spectacular.

I did fall and landed in a nice soft cactus. 14 thorns in me; 0 in the tubes. Trail side surgery was in order but fortunately, I am a trained professional.

After the ride I headed into the forest, looking for a remote area for the night. Tons of roads to choose from.

Not a bad view.

Cheers

Moving to Vermont

2010-03-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Not me. But my daughter Lauren found out today she matched for her #1 pick of an OB residency at the University of Vermont. 600 applied, 60 were interviewed and 3 chosen. She'll be there 4 years, maybe 5 or longer, who knows?

Burlington is an awesome town in an awesome area for biking and hiking. Not to mention it's the home of the Magic Hat Brewery. Looking forward to exploring there a bit.

Cheers

Tales From The Road

2010-03-15T12:58:00.001-07:00

Ok, not really tales. The second ACA ride I am working is on day 2 already. Weather has definitely improved and it is much warmer than last week. Wind is a bit of an issue today and tomorrow, however.

We did have a rider airlifted to the hospital yesterday after he suffered a seizure and then went into cardiac arrest. Last report was he was stabilized in ICU.

And the moped died. The moped was purchased by ACA in an attempt to lower our carbon our carbon footprint as we mark the routes ahead of the riders. Unfortunately, 20+ miles of sustained use didn't agree with her much and she gave up the ghost.

Other than that, the group is a lot of fun and as mechanic, I have not needed to do any major repairs to date. Of interest to some readers is the presence of a new Salsa Vaya, ridden by an HC customer. I helped her assemble it and it is one nice ride. Think of it as a Fargo lite. I will try and post a picture shortly.

This has been one of the wettest winters on record here and the snow pack is down to probably 4000 feet or less.

Cheers

I Digress

2010-03-11T15:21:00.001-08:00

This post isn't about my current journey and there are no photos. It also isn't about politics as promised but more of a social observation.

As background, I'm in Tucson with an afternoon to kill before having dinner with a friend. I headed over to the University of Arizona to visit the Center for Contemporary Photography. Among other collections, it includes most of the work of Ansel Adams, a personal favorite. It was worth the visit. Afterwards, I visited the art museum and wandered around campus ending up in the Student Union where I now sit.

I went to a small college in the 70's so comparing my expetience to attending a major university like UA today would be unfair. But when I read about how many of today's college students have no focus or ambition, and I look at the facilities and opportunities available today, I am somewhat bewildered. My age certainly has something to do with it.

At the UA student center, they probably have 20 restaurants representing every ethnic food imaginable, in addition to the offering of every fast food restaurant. The bookstore sells PC and Mac equipment that rivals a Best Buy. The book selection rivals any big box store and there is a Kaplan University office on site for test prep. Their athletic center has virtually ever piece of equipment imaginable. I can only imagine that their classroom and lab facilities are all state of the art.

Is it all so overwhelming that "analysis paralysis" sets in? If you can't find something to inspire you here, follow the advice of Judge Smelz in Caddyshack; "the world can always use more ditch diggers".

Cheers

SoCal To Tucson

2010-03-11T11:20:00.001-08:00

I arrived in Tucson last night after several great days of exploring and dry camping. I have decent internet access here at the RV Park the next ACA ride starts from so I am doing a bit of a picture dump. The weather here has been pretty windy and cool and the natives are claiming its the coldest and wettest in 25 years. The desert is carpeted in green and it is only a matter of days until the flowers explode.

One of the riders enjoying the route east of San Diego.

The route east of San Diego goes through some very beautiful country. In a few months, this will be hot, dry and brown.

I was able to ride sweep one day south of Borrego Springs. It was extremely windy but still great to ride.

Views from camp in Borrego Springs.

The route back towards San Diego took us over Mt. Laguna where there is still snow on the ground. Locals like to drive up and either load snow into their trunks or have impromptu snow ball fights by the side of the road.

Once the ride ended, I spent the weekend in Palm Springs and then headed back towards Borrego Springs to explore the southern end of Anza Borrego State Park.

These sculptures are set up in the desert around Borrego Springs.

Views from the southern end of the park.

From there, I headed east on I-8 towards Yuma. From Yuma, I drove north to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to explore the park and camp. The refuge adjoins the Yuma Proving Ground and these signs were everywhere. Camping is a bit tenuous.

Scenes from the wilderness.

A pretty nice back door.

From the park, I headed back through Yuma towards Tucson and opted for more back roads. About 50 miles west of Tucson is Kitt Peak Observatory, the largest collection of telescopes in one place on Earth. The road up climbs to almost 7000 feet in 12 miles offering spectacular views of the desert floor. The temperature and the wind at the top were literally breathtaking and as I arrived at closing, will go back after the missus arrives in a week or so.

The ride starts Saturday so internet access will be sporadic for the next week. I will take and post more pictures and text then. Until then, I leave you with this. It applies to some of my readers and you know who you are.

Cheers

Off The Beaten Path

2010-03-10T07:12:00.001-08:00

Since leaving the comfort of friends house in Palm Springs, I have been roaming the land south and east exploring and trying out the new Camper mod.

The first night was spent camping near the Mexican border far back in what is called Indian Canyon. It was just me and the coyotes breaking silence that engulfed you. The night sky was stars from horizon to horizon.

From there I drove thru Yuma in a sandstorm to the Kofa Wildlife Refuge. It was quite windy and cold as I set up camp but the camper offered a snug shelter from the elements.

The camper conversion is a genius of design and works flawlessly. Even with the big basket and bike on top, road noise has not increased much at all. Wind was always an issue with the Boxy Element but it's no worse now.

On to Tucson with a stop hopefully at Kitts Peak Observatory.

Cheers

ECamper

2010-03-07T15:02:00.001-08:00

I picked up the Element yesterday with the freshly installed camper top. I haven't had time to test it but will this week, I can say that it doesn't affect the handling and highway noise seems no different.

I'll be using it this week and will post pics of my camping adventures.

Cheers

Damp Days In The Desert

2010-03-07T14:54:00.001-08:00

I arrived in Palm Springs yesterday to visit with some friends who have a house here. Reportedly, they have something like 350 days of sun here so, of course, it rained today.

None the less, my friend Dave and I did about a 20 mile ride, much of it walking thru open houses. The market here, once hot, has cooled significantly so there is much desperation in the air. Many of the houses were decorated or staged like a Ramada Hotel or "McDesert" as my friend likes to say. Stucco gone wild.

I love modern and mid-century modern architecture so one house was quite appealing. It's currently on the market for $1.6 million but I suspect any reasonable offer over $1 million would be entertained. At the peak, it was probably $2 + million.

I loved the huge sliding door.

A very cool house but way too big and expensive for the street it on. If I won the lottery, I'd have it reduced by half the footprint and moved to an isolated location.

I have a dinner riding on it selling for under 1.3.

Tomorrow, I am off to explore the desert south of here. Warm temps and sun should cause the desert to explode with flowers. I will post pics and commentary once I have Internet access again.

Cheers

Shitter's Full

2010-03-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

Nothing but the best for our riders.

Along SR22 west of Salton City.

Cheers

The Office

2010-03-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Here's my office the past few days. This is an overlook looking east over Borrego Springs towards the Salton Sea.

Cheers

Carbon Fiber Sweetness

2010-02-25T20:04:00.001-08:00

I dropped my Element off to get the camper top
Installed next week. It's mostly carbon fiber and fiberglass.

Here's the base that's bolted to the roof.

And here's the top unit. Sanwiched in between is the sleeping area.

I cannot wait to pick it ip and try it out.

Cheers

Travels Through The Original Disneyland

2010-02-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

I got an early start out of Panguitch, Utah and had planned to just blast down the Interstate to Chula Vista. But, being easily distracted by the many route possibilities here, I detoured north of Vegas to visit Valley of Fire State Park and Lake Mead. Valley of Fire is dramatic due to the brilliant red color of the rock outcroppings amidst all the brown desert. The day was overcast so the pictures really don't do the contrast justice.

After passing through the park, one enters Lake Mead Recreational Area which runs along Lake Mead to Hoover Dam. The going was slow due to a massive road rebuilding project but I was able to scope out a number of stealth camping locations for future trips.

I had to skirt the hell that is now Henderson and Las Vegas. My daughter and I came through here in the mid-90's and there was nothing here but desert. It's nothing but casino's, strip malls and housing developments that may define what "slumburbia" will ultimately look like.

From here on, I travelled I-15 across California. Once you leave Nevada, you cross the Mojave National Preserve which is miles and miles of open desert. I find it beautiful country because of the desolation.

It went downhill from there as I entered the sprawl that surrounds LA and San Diego. I hit rush hour just north of San Diego and I seriously cannot imagine doing that drive every day.

Thank goodness for GPS because it did lead me to the KOA I am staying in near Chula Vista. After dumping my gear, I headed into town and had a most excellent pizza and adult beverage.

I am here until Saturday getting some logistical stuff done for the trip. I am serving as the mechanic this time which I know scares the hell out of Mark at HC. I can wrench but I wasn't born with the innate mechanical ability that people like Mark have. Some of the new technology confounds me, especially that carbon stuff!! As my dear old dad used to say - "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit".

I'm not dragging the laptop on the ride but I may post photos and comments from my phone.

Cheers

Wandering Among The Hoodoos

2010-02-23T19:39:00.000-08:00

I left Ft. Morgan, Colorado at the crack of dawn and headed west across the Rockies. It was another clear, sunny day so the traveling was easy. I managed to get through Denver without hitting much traffic and headed up the mountains.

I 70 takes one through the Eisenhower Tunnel and passes Vail before slicing through Glenwood Canyon, one of the most beautiful stretches of road anywhere. I stopped at a rest area and just hung out, enjoying the very warm sun.

Dropping off the Rockies, the snow levels decreased a bit and by the time I got to Grand Junction, there was lots of dirt visible. Just past Green River, I headed south towards Hanksville to take the scenic route thru Capital Reef National Park and Grand Staircase.

At Hanksville, this gas station/convenience store is cut into the rock.

Decisions, decisions. So many destination possibilities, so little time.

Heading west towards Torrey, one begins to see the red rock hoodoos that are such a unique feature of this area.

These look like sentinels guarding the mesa.

Capital Reef.

Grand Staircase Escalante

Unfortunately, most of tomorrow is a final interstate slog to San Diego so there may not be much to photograph. But, you never know.

Cheers

Day 1 Westbound

2010-02-23T05:16:00.000-08:00

Made it to Fort Morgan Colorado, east of Denver. About 750 miles from St. Paul across half of Iowa and Nebraska.

Except for a few snow showers near Albert Lea, weather was clear and sunny. No pictures cause there really wasn't much interesting to see.

I'm off across the Rockies today and plan on driving the scenic route thru Capital Reef and Grand Staircase so stay tuned for pictures tonight.

Cheers

Cheers

Frostbike Bling

2010-02-20T12:48:00.001-08:00

A group of us attended QBP's annual dealer show and as usual, there was lots of cool new stuff.

This is Dave Gray's ride on the Arrowhead 135. Mark and I spent some time chatting with him about snow biking, equipment and the fun had making bike hacks.

Salsa has a ton of new stuff including 3 new titanium frames. The El Mariachi Ti 29'er was extremely sweet.

Salsa also showed their ingenuity with a line of new racks. The one pictured can mount front or rear and has an assortment of mounting options which will make this a huge seller. They also will have a lowridet front rack as well as a new touring rear rack that is slightly less robust than the Surly Rack but still capable of carrying a full touring load.

I'm hoping for a major lottery won so that both the Fargo and Ti El Mariachi can find their way into my garage this summer.

Cheers

Heading Out

2010-02-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

next week for the west coast to work a few bike trips and do some exploring. I can only hope, at some point, my Element looks like this:

or will be seen doing this:

Cheers

Swap Meet Psychology

2010-02-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

Swap Meet -- "a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered."

The reason for the definition will become evident in a minute. Jim and I attended the Twin Cities Bicycle Swap at the National Sports Center in Blaine. There were lots of vendors and the crowds seemed consistently heavy so hopefully, it was a success for the organizers. It was fun to visit with customers and friends and I came home with more cash than I went with and lightened the personal inventory a bit so I met my goals.

None the less, people's behavior and expectations at these events never cease to amaze me, despite having attended them for years. As defined by Wiki, the goods typically sold are inexpensive and/or second hand. Obviously, "inexpensive" can be interpreted a number of ways, but generally the items are used and sold for less than their retail prices. People's expectations are usually set at the point where they expect to get killer deals on used bike stuff and most are not disappointed.

However, given the breadth of bike stuff out there, many people simply don't know what they're buying. Well, well used mountain bike tires were being sold for $20. Many people were on the hunt for used rims. Seriously -- once most rims have been laced to a hub and ridden, they are rarely worth re-lacing again. People just seemed fixated on buying well used crap and ignored items that were priced higher but would probably serve them better.

I was attempting to sell some used Campagnolo cranks at what I know is a good price -- and was willing to haggle. A gentleman came by several times fondling them but he just couldn't seem to pull the trigger. On his last pass, he asked if I had the dust caps. Obviously, if I had them and they would have been installed on the crank arms. And those dust caps are worth more than the cranks themselves.

I also had for sale, a new old stock (NOS) Campy bottom bracket in the original box from the late 1970's. One of the local gurus's, whose knowledge of old bike ephemera is legendary, showed some interest in it and pulled it from the box for inspection. Apparently, what he saw was so unique that he borrowed the item and consulted with two other local gurus for a full 5 minutes. End result -- there was some question as to the whether or not what he saw was consistent with his encyclopedic knowledge of this particular item. Forget the fact that the item in question would be completely hidden within the recesses of the frame when installed and was offered at a good price -- it simply wouldn't do.

Oh well. It was still fun people watching. But seriously, the word in the Wiki definition should be spelled "bizarre", not "bazaar".

Cheers

It'll Be a Bed of Flowers

2010-02-12T08:12:00.001-08:00

At least the roads will be if we follow this approach. Apparently, the pot hole situation in Britain has gotten to the point that one enterprising fellow has taken to filling pot holes with dirt and flowers,

Once the snow melts here, most of our streets will become garden lanes.

Lovely!!

Those Crazy Brits -- Part ?

2010-02-12T08:08:00.001-08:00

This approach will keep you cool while you while away the hours on your trainer. Watching TV or reading a book may be tough.

And of course, there's the spring tune up to think about.

Blimey!!

Own Your Own Velodrome -- Update

2010-02-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: It just hit Craigslist for -- $299k.

More info, especially tax stuff and aerial photos here. It has a pool.

This house is for sale down near Northfield, Minnesota. It has an 8 car heated garage on 5 acres -- and it's round. Looking at the pictures, I am pretty sure you could take laps around the inside edge of it.

What's amazing is that the taxes shown for 2009 are based on an assessed value of $1.5 million. It's selling today for $315k and owned by a bank. I am pretty sure they'd take $299k if you asked real nice.

Cheers

Grand Canyon Revisted

2010-02-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

Mike C and some friends took a little snow biking adventure from Jacob Lake south towards the Grand Canyon. This is essentially the same trip I lead last year and posted about but Mike's pictures are far better.

Enjoy.

Cheers

And, Finally

2010-02-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

A story about a 72 year old Brit who has logged over 906,000 miles -- on the same bike! He is the leader of the 300,000 mile club, sponsored by England's CTC.

Cheers

Yo, St Paul and Minneapolis

2010-02-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Listen up and read this. I know we're not Copenhagen and we're not asking for salt and plowing to be focused on the bike lanes.

But could you get the plow drivers to at least scrape a few feet of the lanes? I'm getting sick of cars honking at me.

Cheers

A Wonderful Short Film

2010-02-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

An excerpt from the film L'Ours, produced in 1988. I saw it once in a theatre and it is visually stunning. I found this via a link to one of the blogs Seaburg sends me to as part of his sleep deprivation scheme. Bastard ;-)

Cheers

They Will Take Over The World

2010-02-05T09:05:00.001-08:00

I wonder what the trail on that fork is, hmm?

Cheers