Invigorating???

Today I rode to work. I've ridden to work every day for the past month. Very, very steady. In fact, so far this year I've driven my truck only once to work, and that was because I had to drop off my table saw with a buddy before work.

The Xtracycle has made huge contributions to making this happen.

Today however was the coldest I've ever ridden my bike. It was -38C (-36.4F) with a windchill factor of -48C (-54.4F). I know in my post this morning I said I would not be taking pictures, but you just can't turn down a shot like this can ya? The 15 seconds I had my gloves off almost brought tears to my eyes. They said on the radio that exposed skin freezes in less than a minute with these windchill factors. I think they might be right. Didn't really want to find out though. We haven't had too much snow, but some monster drifts. I've lately found them to be very handy as bike racks. Seems everywhere I want to park my bike (work, the arena, outside of my shed) there seems to be a great stiff snow drift that does the job well. One of those benefits to winter cycling, huh?
Cheers.

PR

I just woke up, walked over to our little thermometer and it is -37.6C. We have a wind of 15 km/h. The temperature with wind chill is -51C!! I'm riding my bike to work today. That will be the PR part. I've never ridden in temperature that cold. You can be sure I won't be stopping to take any pictures.

Stay warm, wherever you are. Peace.

Pink Bike

Love the winter riding on the SS.

Fortunate, aren't we

I've always liked this Gary Jules tune. Very fitting for this information.

B-double-E-double-R U N

Lovin it

Ye ole Xtra-cycle
Snow falling, 70 lbs of tools, 2 wheels, 1 huge smile.
Dang I'm loving this thing!
After our nasty wind storm, I rode the Xtra to the arena to see if there was still Shinny. Good news, there was...other good news, this thing is even smile-making when it's empty.

Tagged

Well, a while back I was tagged by Mr. Doug. I should finally get on it. Much like all yall who were also tagged.

1. My real name is Jeremy. Jerome is a nickname I received from my co-workers. Why, I don't know. I like to think it's because I play hockey like my all time favorite player, who happen to play for my all time favorite team, who happen to be my home team: Jerome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.
2. I love and play hockey. Drop the gloves boys!
3. I am afraid of Islam.
4. I've out-ran the cops twice on my motorcycle. They are incredibly slow if you know what to do with a 97 CBR Fireblade.
5. I'm pretty damn good at wheelies on a motorcycle. 1.5 miles straight in Dothan Alabama 130 mph, yes MPH, not KPH. I can't wheelie a bicycle worth shit. Maybe pictures would be good?

I tag: Sarah, Roman, Steeker, Jeff, and Smudge. Hopefully I didn't steal any others that were already tagged.

Cheers.

RAT

While in my motorcycle years, I was always a huge fan of Rat, or survival motorbikes.

Since makeing the change to pedal powered obsesion, I've never seen much of the Rat theme. That is until this entry from FGG.

Toot sweet!

Rockyford Arena

This morning started early and interesting.

I woke up to a monster wind, rattling the house, blowing over the bar-b-q and sliding our glass patio table 10ft across the deck. Wow, that's what I call a wind. I walked over the the patio doors in the kitchen to see my neighbours wrestling a tarp from the power line going to there house. I laid back down just as the train started through town, at 3:30.

It wasn't more than 2 minutes later, I heard one of the loudest crashes of steel that I've ever heard. The noise rattle the house! Immediately I ran to the window, expecting to see the train noodling off of the tracks. It was still rolling along normally. What the, was that noise?? Couldn't figure it out, but I couldn't go to sleep either.

By this time(4am) we had been without power for about 1/2 hour. Next thing I noticed was the lights of fire trucks flashing behind the garage. I got dressed and wondered out to see what was going on. Seeing as I know most all of the firefighters, and many of them I had visited with several hours earlier at our Lions meeting, I went to ask what was going on.

Well I didn't have to ask to find out. The roof (installed only this past summer) had blown off and rolled itself up like a taco going from the roof to the ground. I was going to get my tri-pod and take some photos in the dark with the fire-trucks lights and blowing snow, but I think it would have been all most impossible to steady a camera in that kind of wind. I don't know if I've ever been in wind that strong.

I went back in the house and about a half hour later I get a knock at the door. "Hey Jeremy, we're going to have to evacuate." Oh yeah, just what I wanted to hear.

Upstairs, wake up the boys, gather a few things and off to the community center. We hung out there for about 3 hours until the fire department came to escort anyone who wanted to gather a few more belongings for the day. We went and grabbed some clothes for the boys, toiletries and off we went to the in-laws for the day?? As of right now,we are still not allowed in our house. There's no power, no water.

Engineers and lawyers are on the way.

I went and told my boss all that had gone on and that I might not be back to work today. He jumped in his truck to take a look for himself.

I snapped these pictures, and dropped them off at the Strathmore Standard. They did a quick interview and said they are going to use them in next weeks paper.

It's still windy as all get out right now. Looks like I might not be playing hockey for a while now. Crap!

Fredo Viola

I got a facebook friend request from Fredo today. Sweet!! Check out some of his songs including remixes here.

Peace.

Volae on RB

Makes me glad to own a Volea.

Keep It Street Level

Huge thanks to good man Roman for these stickers! They shall be place on my SS MTB and my beloved fixie promptly.

Check out his blog here.

Cheers.

Imagery

This video is what I would consider a powerful use of imagery. Tragic song and music video and I really can't relate at all, but I was moved by it. BTW, this tune might get stuck in your head too.

Proof Hide??

As recommended by Brooks, one should apply several doses of proof hide during the break-in period, and every 3-6 months thereafter. I don't have any proof hide. Should I hold of riding this saddle until I get some? Has anyone ridden one without ever using the proof hide? Just wondering. Peace.

The B-17

Chinook Arch

It's taking away our snow!! Horse Hockey!

G-Ted

He's gota pretty cool blog. Check it.

My new Truck

Of course, it's the Extra Cycle.

Yesterday Morning I decided I would give the ole beast a run with a full load. I mean a full load. I had a bunch of my tools home for the weekend to do more work on mi casa and needed them back at work. Usually I've been piece mealing them to and fro to avoid starting my Chevy(which I haven't started in over 2 weeks!!) but today, all in.

I had my Dewalt tool pack and my caddy of hand tools. I would say the combined was around 180 lbs. Heavy, heavy, heavy. Add to that a 200 lb cyclist and you've got a taxed Trek. Glad to say it handles quite nicely. Defiantly slow around the icy corners, but not bad at all.
When I first got my Extra cycle I was sort of thinking I'd get more use out of it if I still lived in Strathmore. Mostly because my errand rides were longer distances there. Not at all. I've used my Extra cycle to pick up potatos, Eggnog, milk, tools, beer, mail, chicken wings you name it, it seems to fit the bill. I honestly wonder how I survived with out one. In the last 2 weeks, I've only driven a vehicle 5 times. 3 of which were for Christmas gatherings where the whole family was going. I think I'm even going to add a stoker bar like Smudgemo did. My 3 1/2 year old would just love the idea of riding on Daddy's bike.

Today I did my first lolly gagging trip in the Xtra cycle. I did a bit of banking after going home for lunch and had a bit of time to kill, so I cruised.
I saw this sign that reminded me that Rockyford has a bottle collection. Between May and October apparently. I almost feel bad I didn't go this past year. Oh well, something to look forward to this summer! Maybe even a full on blog post with photos and everything,......of the Rockyford Antique bottle collection!!!!!! Might just put the big R on the map. HHAAAA.
Cheers, happy riding.