So I saw this guy sunning himself up in Fort Snelling where 5 and 55 meet near the quick gravel sections between the concrete walk/bikeways. I whipped out the RAZR and snapped this crappy picture. I wasn't sure what it was at the time, it looked and acted like a Rattlesnake but without the rattler part of the tail. But it did shake it's tail like one. I kept my distance and a few other guys on bikes showed up and I warned them of the snake. Since it was in the middle of the trail we decided to try to get it to move off the trail.

It did eventually slither off into the grass near the buildings and we all went on our way. I was on my way to the SPBRC BRP class #3. We worked on some paceline skills and cornering. It was a nice time and there was no threat of rain. It has rained the last two times I was down there.

The part of the trail I take down there will be closed from May 29th to June 29th so I need to find an alternate route... Oh well, a longer ride won't hurt too bad.

Oh, I looked up the snake today while at work, my guess: Fox Snake. Your thoughts on it?

Labels: bike, snake, spbrc

This is part of my afternoon commute home. I ride through part of Fort Snelling State Park. I prefer this much more than driving. As I took this picture up on 5 and 55 cars are backed up for nearly a mile along the road. Suckers.

Friday is bike to work day and you should do it. If you have showers near/at work you have no excuse. If you drive less than 5 miles, no excuse. :) 10 miles was my excuse for a long time not to ride in, but it is pretty easy. I met one guy here who rides nearly 26 miles each way 2-3 times a week. Makes me feel like a slacker all these years. Get out and ride!



I have been riding this route for about a month now, 3-4 days a week and I never want to go back to commuting full time by car. The thought of it makes me sad. Even in the winter I want to ride in and I am going to try. Right now my route is about 10 miles in each direction but the ride home usually get stretched into about 15 depending on time. :)



I am not exactly sure how many miles I have ridden, or how much weight I have dropped but by riding into work I am happier in the AM, get in two 45 minute workouts each time I ride in. Well have a good bike to work day Friday!

-pete

Labels: bike, commute

Too may acronyms? St. Paul Bike Racing Club Beginners Racing Program.

Tonight was the first night of the BRP. I wasn't feeling well when I left work today but by about 5:15pm I was feeling okay. Since I signed up for this program I figured I better head over there. The class is held in Ft. Snelling and we met in the first parking lot. They split the group in to two smaller groups, red and blue. I am pretty sure it was split by skill level, blue were more accomplished riders and red, not as much. I was placed in the red group. I was fine with that.

We talked through a few things about pace lines, tire sweeping, etc. Then came some rain. We made our way over to a shelter and hung out there talking about some of the concepts until the rain stopped. Then we did some riding, single file at first at about 12-14 mph. A nice easy pace. Both of the leaders did a great job controlling the group and answering questions.

There were no major crashes but there was a guy at the end who came into the parking lot a little too fast and his brakes were still wet. I didn't see him go down but his jersey and stuff looked okay. It looks like he might of blew his front tire and then went down. Either way a little ice might help.

If you are thinking about racing road bikes or just want to learn to ride in groups try the BRP next year. So far totally worth it.

-pete

Labels: bike, racing, spbrc

After work yesterday I came home to let the Fred out, I was already late to softball and most of the first game was done before I left work last night. I decided not to go to the rest of the 2nd game. I looked at the forecast and saw lots of rain in our future. I decided to cut the grass. The front was much longer than the back but it still wasn't terribly long. I raised the blades of the mower and started pushing.

It took me about 10 minutes to do the front yard and I bet I could do in in 5 since I now know how the reel mower works. It works pretty well, I liked it. I used our battery powered Toro weed whip to edge and do a little clean up. It also worked well.

After all the lawn care was done I played with Fredo for a little bit and then decided to pull down the fast bike off the rack in the basement. I filled the tires with more air, took the watt computer I had on it for the trainer off, cleaned it up, and took it for a short spin up and down the street to see how she was feeling.

Wow, I forgot how fast that thing is. It gets up to speed in no time and keep the speed on inclines also. I hope we get some nice periods this weekend because I would love to get it out on the road again and do 40-50 miles.

Have a good weekend.

Labels: bike, house

I left work excited to get through the first 4 miles of my ride home. The first 4 miles are all on highways, usually the speed limit is 55 but people usually go 60 or more. Once I got across the bridge and into Fort Snelling I decided to take a few minutes and watch the people across the river sitting on the beach. There were a few people playing with dogs and a few just tanning. I snap a quick picture up river and move out.

I look at my watch when I get near the dog park, 5:10 it blinks at me. I remember telling Anne I would be home by 6. Quick math, 50 minutes to keep riding. It was too nice just to go straight home. So I keep heading north through Minnehaha Park. I come to Minnehaha parkway and cross 55 heading toward Lake Nokomis. I follow the parkway and go around the Nokomis ball fields until I hit Cedar. I follow Cedar back south towards the lake.

When I hit the lake I have a choice to make, long way or short way. Long way it is. I made it home with plenty of time to spare. It was a great day to commute by bike.

Labels: bike, commute

They made it hanging off the handle bars for about 4.5 miles into work. They smell nice.

Labels: bike, commute, flowers

I wish I would have had my camera this morning. As I was crossing the Mendota Bridge the sun was shining through the mist over the river, the wind was non existent and I didn't even notice the cars. It was awesome. I rode that mile of bridge pretty slow. When I got off the bridge and up the hill I could smell something... It was my favorite smell of spring. Lilacs. God they smelled good. I rode pretty slow along that stretch as well.

The commuter tires are working well, 40 miles on this week. The ride home was windy and out of the North, felt like a 10 mile uphill ride, I cut down to the lower part of Fort Snelling for the part of the ride after the bridge, got some wind relief but there are more hills and way more runners. Damn shirtless runners. :)

Later.

Labels: bike, commute

I left off the last post with a lumpy tube in my tire and a good guess that it would also be flat when I got back out there. I did some thinking in the afternoon and decided I may need to figure out how to get a ride to a shop to buy a tube or find someone at work that also may have biked in. I decide to hit up the Caribou Coffee to grab some coffee and think about my situation. Miss the first part? Here!

As I was walking to the elevators I ran into a guy I know from Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists that also works in the building. I asked him if he had an extra tube and told him my story. He says, "Yeah, I do, let's go grab it." Yes! So we go out, grab a tube from his bike and head back in, I promise to bring him a new tube on Monday and pray to god that he doesn't get a flat on the way home since this was his only tube. He didn't.

End of the day. Walking out to my bike I can see that the tire is flat. Not low but flat. I remember that West has a mobile repair guy that repairs flats on cars and jump starts them. I replace the smaller tube for the larger one I secured earlier in the day. I walk my bike up to the building and head to the guard desk and ask them to have the guy swing up to the front for an air fill.

When he arrived I walked over to him and showed him my flat. He tells me that he has never filled up a bike tire at West. He asks me how many PSI to put into the tire, I tell him 40. He says okay and it is full in about 2 seconds. I thank him and am on my way.

I get to my Super America turn about 4 miles into the ride and notice that the tire is leaking slowly still. I looked over that whole damn tire and couldn't find anything in there. So I pull up to the SA and run inside and ask them to flip on the compressor. I fill the tire back up. On my way again.

I decide to hit up Hiawatha Cyclery to pick up some tubes and sympathy. Got both, 3 tubes and a little bit of sympathy. :) The tire is holding air better since the SA fill up, so I ride it home. It is running at about 10 PSI when I get home and bring it downstairs.

It goes up on the stand, I eat dinner and go to work. Time to put the commuter slicks on the spare wheel set, the winter wheel set. I pull off the studded tires and hang them up. I pull the slicks off the Bianchi and hang that back up. I pull the tires off my MTB and hang the front up. I pull the flat tire off the back and give it a closer inspection. Nothing that I can see on the outside, so I turn it inside out.

I am running my hand over the inside and feel a little something. I look, don't see anything. Run the hand over again. Ahh, What is that? It looks like a needle or something. I grab the needle nose pliers and try to get a hold of it. Nothing. Umm, try the other side and I get it pulled out. It is literately about this big --> | but 1/2 the thickness.. I hang that tire up, I don't even remount it on the rim, too frustrated. I do however mount the slicks and adjust the brakes on the bike...

I guess we will see how she rides Monday...

Labels: bike, commute, flat