Breezy....

When I got home from work yesterday Judy told me to go ride my bike. She said "go ride today because if you don't you'll be bitching tomorrow". I assured her that I don't "bitch". She assured me right back that I most definitely do. Especially when I pass up a ride and the weather is crap the next day. (It's supposed to rain today. That's what she was getting at. I think it will be fine by this afternoon)

The wind was out of the ESE at 32, gusting to 43, but it was 51 degrees so I decided to ride through the parks, since that would be somewhat sheltered. Not that it mattered much....LOL.

I didn't figure I'd see any others riding but I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few other brave souls out and about. Ran into John and Kat at Black Hawk Park near Cottage Row. They were chatting with Chris Congdon when I rolled up, so I joined the conversation for a few minutes then rode back into Cedar Falls with Chris. Good talking to you guys! Ended up with 20 thigh burning miles. Not bad.

I do believe that spring is almost here! Can I get a big "woohoo" on that? It's about time!

That's it for now. Have a great day!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

I didn't realize that this was a "formal" occasion....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

Atlanta was ok, but....

I missed my Baby....
Kansas City....

Kansas City....

Kansas City....

Kansas City.... (can you spot Fatty?)

I've always thought that the Atlanta area was pretty neat. Well, other than the traffic and the hordes of people and the oppressive heat in summer.... We were actually in the Marietta and Woodstock areas. Woodstock is nice. I could live there if it weren't for the traffic and the hordes of people and the oppressive heat in summer.

It rained most of the time that we were there, which was ok. They need the moisture. The area has been suffering a drought for a very long time.

I took a lot of pictures of the 3 large printing presses that are still in our building there but not of much else. Soon the building will be totally empty. It is a large building and seems downright cavernous without all of the presses that used to be in there. Most of them went to our Florida facility, along with most of the operators. They all wanted to move. I was surprised when they agreed to go south. Not one of them hesitated. It sure made the transition much easier. We're making decisions now as to whether or not we want to keep the last three web presses.... One of them will go to our Utah plant, for sure. One is complete junk, and the third one could be used but there isn't a large demand for the format that it produces.

It's trying to snow here today. It isn't having a lot of success. Yes, a bit of snow is coming from the sky but the ground has warmed enough that it isn't going to stay. It will all be gone tomorrow.

Sadly, I wasn't able to make it to Hooters while in Georgia. Perhaps the next time, if there is a next time.... I'll be in Phoenix on the 14th, 15th, and 16 of April. I'm hitching a ride on the company plane to go visit my dad and sister. Another opportunity to introduce myself to the girls and have some wings. ;) It'll be good.

Jackal has authored his "final" blog post. You may want to surf on over and wish him well. Perhaps get him to reconsider. There are apparently too many other things competing for his time, I guess. Too bad, in my opinion. Oh well, ya gotta do whatcha gotta do.

I wonder how Brian and A.Lo did at Barry-Roubaix? Hmmmm....

That's it for now. Fat Albert just sent me an email and said that I'm an unbathed heathen and that he isn't going to talk to me anymore. Seems like bullshit to me :(

Ride safe, my blogosphere friends.

Peace out, yo!

Windy and cool....

The Queen got a new swingset....
47F and windy....
This is the midwest....

Grrrrr......

Ernesto....

Not a lot of cyclists out today....

Why is it that 47 and sunshine feels so much different than 47 and cloudy? 35 miles today in the wind and chill. I worked hard and it felt pretty good.

Rain in the forecast over the next couple of days. I got hit with a few drops as I came home from my ride. It'll clean up the sand, I hope.

Atlanta Wednesday and Thursday. I wonder if they have a Hooter's there?

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

The Boys....

Jackal....
Fat Albert....

I ran into these two clowns as I was pedaling my happy ass south to Hudson into the 20+ mph south wind tonight. They were going north. I met Chris Congdon heading south into Hudson as I was heading north towards Waterloo on my way back home. Lots of trail users out there today. 67F. Glorious! It was much easier going north (23+ mph) than it was going south (15 mph). You're gonna have days like that.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

Florida....

Sunrise....
Jackal can read....

Looking out the window....

Static electricity screws with Jeff's hair....

Supper of champions....

?????....

New coffee maker....

The Queen of Cross and G'ma....
Drinking Papa's tea....

Pink argyle Piglet socks. They didn't have them in my size. :(

Jackal on the way to Hudson this afternoon....

The obligatory thermometer pic for Chris....

It was a nice day today. I hope this weather lasts for awhile. I actually broke a sweat riding into the wind with Jackal this afternoon. You have no idea how much I wanted to just tuck in behind him and let him do all the work. I didn't do it.

We rode the bike path to Hudson then refilled water bottles at the cemetary and headed back. Rode the old gravel railbed in Hudson. That was a first for Jackal. We also rode the top of the dike along Black Hawk Creek when we got back to Waterloo. Jackal calls it resistance training. My thighs were on fire. About a mile of grass on soft earth. Fun. Yeah, right.

It's supposed to be in the upper 60s for the next couple days and not getting below freezing at night for a few days. Hopefully that will get the last of the snow and ice off the paved trails around East Lake, the South Riverside Trail, and the Wyth trails. I did notice that there is quite a bit of water in the Greenbelt so that will keep the MTBs off some of the trails out there. I hope it dries out this summer. That place is a gem when it isn't underwater.

I was surprised that there wasn't more sand on the roads today. There was some, but not a lot. Thankful for that, after the miserable winter we had.

My sit bones are feeling it today after riding yesterday. I rode the trainer quite a bit this winter but my bottom still hurts today. Whooda thunk?

That's about it for now.

Oh yeah! I bought a new Bunn coffee maker today. I'll try it out in the morning. French Roast Extra Bold. Should be good.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

March 14....

On top of the dike....
Hairy legs....

East Lake....

Big Woods Lake Trail....

The blue bike....

Frogglegs and Geax tires....

It was nice outside today. Around 50F. Had to ride. It was good! 20 miles on mostly paved trails, and a little ice and snow. I took a spill coming around the gate at Washington Park near the CF Utilities. I hit hard. The front wheel slid out as I was turning in the mud at the end of the fence. Be careful if you ride through there :)

Jackal made it back from Florida at about midnight last night. I'd bet that The Queen of Cross was happy to see her daddy!

Fatty got chased by the Rottweiler on Leversee today. I hate that dog.

The Thin Man is starting the Tuesday/Thursday shop rides on April 2nd at 6:10 p.m. behind the shop. No one left behind on these rides (Other than me. I can find my way home, so don't worry) 16 - 24 mph pace, depending on the group. A good time will be had by all....

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

Quick note....

It was 85F when we left Florida yesterday afternoon. When we landed in Waterloo 3 hours and 20 minutes later it was 80 degrees cooler than that. Quite a change.

Jackal is still in Florida. He'll be back here on a commercial flight Friday night, but that's another story. It will be warmer for his arrival than it was for mine. Sounds like he may get to go watch the shuttle launch tonight. That would be pretty cool!

More later.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

Sunday, snowy Sunday....

Spring is coming....
Soon, please....

I am soooo ready for spring. Last week was a teaser, for sure. A couple of days with highs in the 50s and 60s, then back to "winter-like" weather yesterday and today. Actually, it rained all day yesterday and today started with rain that turned to snow. Less than 2 weeks until the "official" beginning of spring. I'm ready.

Jackal and I are heading to Florida tomorrow for 3 days of fun and sun. Well, not really for fun and sun. For work. But it will definitely be warmer there with very little chance of snow. We'll be back Wednesday evening and I'm sure it will be much different here than in Florida. Oh well.... Take the jackets along. LOL. If we have time I'll take him to the Cannondale dealer in Lakeland. Pretty cool place. I'm sure he'll like it!

Today starts Daylight Savings Time which means that the Tuesday and Thursday group rides should start soon. I'm down for that. It'll be a chance to chase Fat Albert around until I get dropped. I can hardly wait!

That's about it for now. Enjoy the upcoming week!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

St. Cloud....

The 494 in Minneapolis....
They still have snow laying around....

Grocery-go-getter....

Judy and I drove up to St. Cloud Wednesday night so that we could attend the funeral of the wife of one of my friends and co-workers from our facility in The Great White North this afternoon. Brain tumor that had been in remission for 7 years. Fortunately, she went without pain and was not afraid. She was only 36. Sad. She left behind a husband and 3 kids.

It was good to see all of my old friends up there, considering the circumstances.

We left St. Cloud this afternoon knowing we'd hit The Cities at rush hour. It wasn't terrible, just 30 minutes to go the last 4 miles on the 494 before hitting 35W southbound. The commuters up there deal with that everyday. Big city life wouldn't be for me. I know that cities are "alive" and "vibrant", but I like the relative peace and quiet of where we live now. I enjoy visiting from time to time, but.... Not my cup of tea.

Foggy from just south of The Cities all the way to Waverly. That's a long haul. About 200 miles. Judy was a good passenger tonight. Thanks, Sweetie!

That's it for tonight.

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!

Re: Thanks, Buddy....

So, there I was....

Sitting at my computer after work last Friday, minding my own business, when I heard Judy come down to the basement to get something for supper out of the freezer. Nothing unusual. I heard her open the freezer door and move some things around then shut it. "Where'd this black Colnago come from"?

Crap!

I said "Say what? I don't have a black Colnago".

"It's gold and black. Where'd it come from?" she asked.

I got up from my chair at the 'puter and walked out to the other room. She was standing there looking at the bike with a twinkle in her eyes. Busted!

I heard someone come in the back door. It was Jackal and Moo with The Queen of Cross. They were quiet. LOL.

I said "It's been here since October (oops, I meant to say January. October just slipped out. No going back now). Didn't you see the frame sitting on top of the table saw"? Trying to think fast I said "I bought that frameset a long time ago. It was sitting on top of the table saw for months".

She said "Don't think that you can sneak around and buy a frame and get away with it. It's a bike now and I said no more bikes".

Holding a frozen pizza, she starts looking around and counting out loud. "One, two, three...." "I know you had the red one. You've had it forever".

"Yup, since 1985", I said.

"And that white one..."

"I bought that one in 1986 thinking Jackal would ride it".

I was starting to sweat....

"Where'd that one come from"?

"Judy.... you went with me to Chicago to pick it up a couple of years ago".

"OK", she says, "Where'd that black one come from"?

"That's the Surly Adam rides" was my reply.

"I know you bought that yellow one up in Minnesota".

I said "yes, in 2005". "I bought the green Surly from Brent in '06. You were with me when I ordered the parts to build it." (That comment didn't appease her...)

"How many Colnagos do you have"?

"Four"

"There are 9 bikes in this basement"

"OK". Crap.

I mentioned that "One of them is yours, Dear".

"I know. One of them. One. Just one".

Jackal and Moo were listening, wondering what they'd walked into....

"Why do you need so damned many bikes"? "You don't need all these bikes...."

Pointing at the blue Master X Light on the trainer she says "How long have you had that one"?

"4 or 5 years, Dear"

"OK, I know I've seen it before".

By now she was walking up the steps. Jackal was standing in the kitchen and she says to him "He bought another bike. There's another Colnago in the basement".

"Huh?" "The one he bought in October"? "That was a frame he built up". (a perfect blend of ignorance and innocense)

He headed to the basement to check it out..... (You would have had to see it with your own eyes.)

I could hear her upstairs talking to Amy and telling Jackal "9 bikes. He has 9 bikes in the basement. Why the hell does he need 9 bikes?"

Anyway, that's the story of Friday night. It was all Jackal could do to keep from busting up and laughing out loud. Why is it so funny when I get busted?

I was taking a shower Saturday morning and broke out laughing when I thought about it. I guess you would have had to have been there but, well, it was funny as hell at the time.

That's it for now. Have a great day!

Ride safe.

Peace out, yo!