New Shoes

I managed to catch the window to send in shoes for Chrome's "Turds for Gold", and my new shoes arrived yesterday. Don't you just love when you get back from work and there are new shoes waiting for you? I know I do. I have been wanting some new kicks for riding when I don't clip in and these seem almost perfect. Much stiffer than chucks, but still some sweet styling. Maybe I should consider changing pedals for TI, just to make it a little more challenging.

Thanks Chrome!

New Setup

I have been working on gathering parts for the Cross Check for a while and they are all starting to come together. Today was the start of the shake down, to make sure I feel somewhat prepared for Trans Iowa. I was thinking that I wanted to run as fat of tyre as I could, so I opted for the Bontrager XR-1. A 29er tyre, it makes the tag "fatties fit fine" a true statement. They do actually roll with no rubbing (minus the molding whiskers) underneath my fenders. I had to change gearing a little to make sure my rear wheel was all the way back in the dropouts, but there is plenty of room up front. I'm pretty sure they aren't going to make the final build, but they are fun to ride.


Working in a bike shop sure has it's advantages. I sure didn't have to go with the Schmidt hub, or two Brooks mudflaps, but it really gives the bike some nice flair. I think my favorite is the Edelux light that you can just make out under the basket and the very front of the fender. They just happened to have a black one in stock when I was ordering some other items. What luck! I had my Berthoud fenders powder coated and they turned out really nice. I will remember to take the parts to match in with me the next time. I didn't know I would have to choose from 12 different blacks.

Riding my Pake since October, I have missed getting on different bikes. I can't believe how quick this handles, even with all that wheel underneath me. It definitely is a faster ride and it gives me a small feeling of relief that I don't have to work quite so hard. I know it isn't all about the bike, but it isn't all about the rider either. Balance, always.

So don't always believe the specs that are out there for bikes. Sometimes you have to experiment a little. 29x1.9 tyres and 60mm fenders. Optimal fit, no. Functional, somewhat. Fun, absolutely.

Why I ride a bike: Reason #2

Giggling

I took the studded tyres off my bike this past Thursday. Friday when I rode to work I couldn't stop giggling. Actually it fluctuated between smiling and outright laughing, so I will average it to a 6 mile giggle. It's amazing what we can get used to and riding clunky studded tyres all winter was something I DID get used to. But now that I have shed the studs, I don't know how I do it.

Today was even better as I broke out the Schwinn Voyageur II with platform pedals and all. One of the great things about working Sundays is that we get to ride home in the daylight. That changes what kind of equipment I choose for riding. No lights required! With the exception of my skinny 28mm tyres, it is the perfect metro cruiser for me. If it weren't for riding with Dan, I would have been giggling all the way home. There were small bursts on the way to work.

These experiences this week again remind me what I'm doing with this whole bike thing. The freedom of riding is enough to bring giggles to my mouth and lightens my soul. Who wouldn't want to experience that?

Good Ride?

I asked Ken if he wanted to go riding yesterday sometime around 7AM. Wouldn't you know I was out the door by 5:30. Questioning why I would want to give up a nice warm bed to freeze my everything off, I was answered with the moon hanging over Como Park. I was able to ride all the way through the park, enjoy the amazing view, and not be bothered by a single car. Pretty much made the ride worthwhile, and I was only 2 miles from home.

After a short stop to straighten Ken out, we rode out east and stopped for a hearty breakfast. I made the right choice in changing base layers and eating was fantastic. Then it was through St Paul to stop at Hiawatha for some parts for Ken. Somewhere in St Paul I really started feeling like crap. I had upper chest pains and it felt like I wasn't getting oxygen to body parts. I could breath all right, but I had no energy and almost felt dizzy. So I figured I would ride easier and that should help.

We stopped down along the river and that maybe helped a little, but not much. We hung out at Hiawatha for a while and looking back, I think that was a really good idea. Still wasn't feeling good, but I did make it home. I ate and drank a little after I was home and took a small nap. It wasn't until 7 or 8 that evening that I really felt good. Super tired, but good. Slept like a rock the whole night and woke up this morning almost as if nothing happened yesterday but a good ride.

Ken mapped out our route HERE...I added at least 25 miles to the total as the stupid one using studded tyres.

More Bits

My mudflaps and rack bolts came in. I eyeballed up the mudflaps and they are going to work very well. I still wish for a little more coverage behind my rear tyre and a little more to the front of my front tyre, but that's what I get for not making my own fenders. Front and rear may seem like overkill, but after riding behind people around town, I figure less spatter is better. The real issue being, when will someone be behind ME?

As expensive as they are, the Paul rack bolts are almost a work of art. Such precision in the machining is great, even to look at. Not to mention it makes such a difference when needing to perform their function. A word of warning: Be careful of the road you begin to travel. Once you start with the nice stuff, it's a let down to go back.

Coming together

Now that the broomball season is over, it is time to start concentrating on Trans Iowa. I have been thinking hard about the CrossCheck setup and finally started to bring some things together. I spent the better part of today installing my new Bertoud fenders, Nitto M18 rack, and Wald basket. It's not a good picture, but if you look closely you can see all of them. The fenders turned out ok, but there is a little line issue that isn't consistent. Fitting those 60mm wide beasts in there was easier than I thought. I didn't want to destroy them too badly, so therefore I have the line issue.I think the picture makes the rear fender look worse than it is. I had to push it all the way forward to make room for my wheel to come out. The front fender lines are almost right. Now that all those parts are on there, I can remove them to be powder coated. It seems a shame to do that to all those nice shiny pieces, but in the end, I think the overall theme will work out nicely. I don't have the mudflaps yet, but they will be added (they if there is room on the front fender for one).

There are still a couple of items yet to be decided on. I need a computer and some sort of q-sheet set up. I have the crankset and I am pretty sure of my gearing, so I sleep easier because of that. I don't know if my Edelux will fit under my basket, so there may be some engineering to fit it in there. And the coffee cup is just resting in the basket right now. I am hoping to put a mount inside or out to have java along the way.

Training

On my way to work yesterday I came down the pedestrian bridge onto Energy Ln. The St Paul police often use this street for training new officers on protocol when pulling over vehicles. I have been by these vehicles many, many times and I have never seen them move. So I was very surprised when, as I started to pass them, they both pulled away from the curb, cutting me off. No signals. I'm not sure this is what is supposed to be taught new police officers.

I made up for it by not stopping at the stop sign at the end of the street. Take that cops!!
(I do not advocate running stop signs. There is virtually no traffic at that intersection. I did slow down and since I ride really slow, it means I was nearly stopped.)

I am starting to become more and more nervous about Trans Iowa. With the amount of snow and ice around here, it makes training rides less than enjoyable. I am thinking that we are going to have ice encrusted roads for a while yet, and the weeks are counting down. I may have to do something rash...rollers. I shudder at the thought of dusting them off.