Pedal Damn It!

More riding. Less Not-riding. Or in other words...stop thinking about riding and just go ride.

Seeing as how this blog is about my Cyclosis, I figured I chould chime in now and again...

Went out for a great ride yesterday on the SIR 9. Nice bike. I still think deep down that a Reynolds 853 hardtail is the bee's knees. However, the reality of back pain dictates that I also have a full squish in the quiver.

Anyhow, the ride was great. Cleared my head and put to rest any thoughts I was having about selling the hardtail. I also decided that I am going to keep running the SIR as a SS. I had been toying wit the idea of popping some gears on it...meh...I like it how it is.

So I think I will be sporting the RIP and the SIR this summer. My hope is to be able to remain convinced that I don't need to do the whole end of season buy/sell/get the updated stuff when November comes around. It would be a novelty for me to ride a bike for two seasons in a row, i.e. not have a new rig every year. Just because one "can" doesn't mean one "can", or should.

Along the same lines, I came across a nice thread on mtbr.com yesterday. Something about "What's cool for 2009?". I was surprised to see how many folks responded with "keep what you have", "ride it 'til it breaks", etc. Apparently I'm not the only one with this sentiment.

Thread is here: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=493924

Bike Bloggers in Our Home

When we drove to Colorado Springs for Christmas we got a little bored driving through Nebraska and Iowa. Okay, it was more than a little bored. We had some conversations about what our favorite bloggers were blogging about that day...

Here's who we talked about and are on a first name (well sort of) basis with in the R&R household:

Jeff Kerkove http://www.jeffkerkove.net/

Team Dicky http://www.teamdicky.blogspot.com/ and his spouse "The Pie"

Guitar Ted http://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/

Drunk Cyclist http://drunkcyclist.com/

Mike Curiak http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/

Bike 29 http://bike29.com/ride29er/

I get to hear:
-"Guitar Ted's neighbor is going to be on Wife Swap." You should hear what his neighbor probably says about him...
-"Mike Curiak biked the Iditarod!...without support"
-"does my Drunk Cyclist jersey make me look fat?"
-"bike29's wife commented!"
-" (_____fill in the blank) went back to a rigid fork."

He gets to hear:

-"Crunchy Peas went skiing and she got a new haircut."
-"Friday Playdate is drinking vodka again and she just painted her dining room."
-"Posie Gets Cozy just finished up a new pattern and it is full of beautiful colors."
-"This Young House refinished their hardwood floors."

I like to read happy blogs and he likes to read biker blogs.

Buy the F-ing Pugsley

This time he isn't the one who is hummming and hawwwing about a Pugsley. Thank goodness! Buy the Pugsley to ride on snow in the wintertime if you really are going to ride it. Don't buy it to show up at a ride in Ishpeming to look cool. Stop humming and hawwing. Geesh!

If you want one there was a pretty dark gray one right in the stinkin' shop. Just buy it and be done with it. Alright? Alright.

You think you're tough? Try this: http://www.arrowheadultra.com/blogger/blogger.html

Riding the RIP 9 in the snow

Last night he went for a ride on the trails near Tourist Park. Up to the 8, down to the 5, down by the river and up the hill to Wright street. He said his front brake was acting up and later realized he hadn't tightened up the bolt that holds it in place. 1 bolt down. No people on the trails. A pretty good ride.

Selling It S.I.R. 9

What I'm hearing these days...
-I think I want to keep the singlespeed so we can ride together (mountain bikes)
-I think I'm going to sell the SIR9 to get a headstart
-I think I want to keep the singlespeed so we can ride together (road bikes)
-I think I'm going to sell the SIR9 because it might be too small.

Skiing

We're skiing this week in Northern Minnesota -- Tofte. Hoping for more snow instead of rain--the complete opposite from normal where more rain would mean less snow and less snow means more biking.

Marquette City Bike Ordinance

There must be a lot of bike riding happening these days.

NMU Students,

Marquette business owners and city officials have asked the university to remind students about the city ordinance against riding bicycles (as well as skateboards, roller skates and similar devices) on city sidewalks in business districts during regular business hours. Doing so is unsafe for many reasons, but becomes particularly dangerous during the winter months when sidewalks are more narrow and icy. Business owners are also concerned about bike riders being hit by doors that open out into the sidewalk. There has been an increase in the number of accidents involving bike riders on city sidewalks this year.

The city’s ordinance (Uniform Traffic Code, chapter 34, section 6) states: No person shall ride a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, coaster or similar device on a sidewalk in the City of Marquette in the following business districts, except between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays: Washington Street between Lake Shore Boulevard and Seventh Street; Third Street between Fair Avenue and Baraga Avenue; and Front Street between Ridge Street and Baraga Avenue.

To comply with the ordinance, please dismount from your bike (skateboard or other travel device) when using city sidewalks in these business areas during business hours. If you have questions about this ordinance, please contact the City of Marquette Police at 228-0400. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Cindy Paavola
NMU Director of Communications and Marketing

Featured LBS: Lakeshore Bike | Marquette, MI

Two minutes from our house, Lakeshore Bike is too convenient... "Can we just stop in during lunch so I can drop off my wheels?"

Lakeshore sells and services bikes. They "specialize" in Specialized, Rocky Mountain, Niner, Jamis, and Electra bikes. They sell mountain, road, BMX, and bike path bikes.

Like a kid in a candy store.

505 North Lakeshore Boulevard Marquette, MI 49855 906.228.7547

Open all year - but not on Sundays

Snowy Bike - DePauw

Cost (Room and Board + Tuition and Fees) of attending DePauw University 2008-2009 = $40,225.00
http://depauw.edu/univ/profile.asp

Cost of the full suspension bike locked to the bike rack = $96.00 http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4231518

Article photo featured here: http://depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=22883

A Crap Load of Snow

When we get enough snow at once we're lucky enough to get a snow day. The last two days we've been getting snow, just not quite enough. Skiing instead of biking. Or shoveling instead of biking.

It's Baaack

After further thought and calculations the RIP is still with us.

Niner R.I.P.9 December 2008- February 2009

When he was thinking about selling it I thought he was joking.

He had lots of different emotions. Even though he was a little sad about selling the RIP 9, it was ultimately his decision.

R.I.P 9 = Rest In Peace

RIP 9 was a solid bike. She glowed in the dark, didn't creak, had a color similar to the Ferrous, and rode amazingly. Purchased less than two months ago, she was brought into Bill's life with loads of joy and anticipation--an amazingly built 29er, full suspension, a solid fork, nice welds, and quality travel. There was nothing wrong with her, just not the right time.

She joins many amazing bikes who have passed before her (see sidebar). Leaving behind one hardtail Niner, the S.I.R. 9.

E-bay listing soon. May she go for lots of money.

Winter Riding

Places to ride:

• Plowed bike path around town
• Packed snow shoe trails
• Quiet roads
• Hiking trails