Sunset

Streets were still very icy yesterday morning, so once again, no bike ride. On the way home, there were several new lakes in town which confirmed that it was probably best to not have ridden the old bicycle.

I did notice this sunset right as I was pulling out of the parking lot at work, and I thought it deserved a picture. It would have been great to have been out of town with my good camera, but oh well. I always carry my little Xacti with me for times like this.

Ice

Well, yesterday I had to go to Regina again for a meeting. At least it was just a fly in at 11 and fly out at 3 type of a thing. I can't say I'd ever really want to spend too much time there. But anyway, I obviously didn't ride my bike yesterday.

This morning I got up early and went for the first run of my training for my 4th marathon. Full marathon that is. I have a thing for people who run a half and think it's the same thing. I also hate it how some people think that watching the Brady bunch all day long somehow deserves the term Marathon. A Marathon is a 26.2 mile foot race. That's it, that's all. Those of you who have done one before probably understand how I feel. Those of you who haven't, you don't have the right call any other activity, regardless of how hard you think it is, a Marathon. It's not the grandest or greatest feats, it's done by many people now and getting ever popular. But, it is not easy and it does take effort and mental toughness that few activities I've ever participated in do.

Anyway, that is a rant that I was not planning on. What I was trying to get at, and now will, is that when I was running this morning, the roads, bike paths and side walks were pure ice and I mean clear, smooth ice. Yesterday while I was in Regina with -15C, my home town was enjoying +8C degree weather. Snow melted and started to run off of driveways and onto roads and sidewalks. It dipped to around freezing overnight, and I could well have skated to work.

All that to say that I didn't ride my bike to work today.

Hard Falls, Warmer Days

Well, on the way to work today (done with the MS Project course!!) I had the worst crash I've ever had. I was probably doing about 25km/h, starting into a corner and all of a sudden I was sliding on the ground with my bike still between my legs. I knew better than to be going that fast around that corner. What's more is that I deliberately blew a stop sign while making the turn. Nothing hurt or broken (the bike) I got up, re-installed my chain and came off the rear cassette, and carried on my way.

As I was on the phone at work, my screen saver was flashing up my collection of fixie pics and this one of my bike came up. Instantly I thought of warmer days when I could ride this bike and when I didn't crash on the way to work. I love the winter, but I am getting anxious for summer. Oh those lovely days of riding any bike in the line up (I've now got 7) including my brakeless fixie, always having plenty of light, green grass and a warm breeze to move me along.

Soon enough. Until then, I should stop torturing myself.

Jerome.

MS Project

Well, I'm stuck in a MS Project course today and I have learned one thing so far. How to take a picture of your screen view with project itself. The file type is a GIF, so I thought I better put it up on here. Nothing else to do right now. This is turning into a great time to check out bike blogs that I haven't checked up on lately. Gotta love edumacation!

Jerome

Slippery Today

Well, last night I got me gear all ready for riding to work today. I woke up to 3 inches of snow. No big deal I thought.

Well, this was different snow than I have ever ridden in. It was the slickest commute I've done so far.

After shoveling the driveway and I jumped on the bike and headed out. Instantly I was saving myself from embarrassment as I barely recovered a wipe out in front of a bunch of kids waiting for the school bus. I slowed down and bit, and found myself slowing down several more times before I was at a speed that didn't lead to making snake trails in the snow. I've never ever ridden this way before. My front tire was left, right, left, right over and over. I don't know if there was a thin layer of ice under the snow, but it was fantastically slick.

Even these studded tires didn't stand a chance on this snow/ice.

Once I was on the main roads it was better, but still a few moments when I was surprised to still be up right.

When I got to work, I was glad the ride was over. Would I do it again you bet! Days like this I am temped just to fire up the old Chevy, but I always am glad that I didn't.

Ride yer bike!!

Jerome

Product Review #2 - AirZound bike horn

Well, here is installment # 2 for my product reviews. This one is a beaut if you're a bike commuter or hooligan a like. It's a 120 dB air horn for your bicycle!!!

Yes, being part hooligan myself, I was instantly grinning when I opened this for Christmas thinking of the reactions I could envoke on the bike baths right before I blow passed some unsuspecting victim enjoying the fresh air. Then I realized that it also might have some very practical application. All joking aside, this is a great bike horn for traffic!! Let's get down to the details.

This product again is available from MEC as well as other I'm sure, but MEC is the only place that I've seen it. It retails for $17.00 Canadian as is also made here in Canada.

The horn itself fastens like most other bar-mounted bike accessories, clapping around your handlebar. The actuator button lifts to reveal a schraider valve. Hook up your bike pump, or gas station tire-filler hose and load up the included 500ml air tank (plastic bottle) up to 80psi!. They say that you shouldn't use any other air reservoir than the one that they provide, but I'm sure that any other plastic pop bottle would do. I haven't tried any bigger bottles because this has enough capacity for about 50 loud blasts, and obviously we cyclists tend to like to keep things small and neat. But it would be fun to ride around all day just blasting your horn for the sake of blasting your horn with a 2L bottle. Maybe something to try next time I'm bored.

The air tank (plastic bottle) comes in a Velcro sleeve and mounts using another piece of Velcro and 2 zip ties. Another easy way to mount the air tank is just stick it in your water bottle cage. One could also go out to a fabric store and buy a second piece of Velcro to mount to another bike if this would be something that you would like to use on different bikes. I don't think I'll be doing that. This will stay on my winter commuter bike.

Now, how well does it work in the real world?? Great! The second day I rode to work with this bad boy, the town was clearing snow from a big dump we had. At 6 in the morning, dump trucks and loaders that are moving snow don't really expect to see a cyclist. I was riding down one of the main roads in town and a dump truck full of snow was wanting to make a left hand turn in front of me. I think that the driver did see me (as I'm now lit like a Christmas tree) but thought that I was going slower than I really was. He started to move after stopping at the stop sign and I gave him my first real blast. He stopped instantly and looked around. Then I think he realized that the noise came from me. As I passed in front of him, I gave him another little honk and waived thanks. This thing works great!! If you are riding in traffic, in the dark or find that you're often yelling to get cars to yield to you, this is a very useful product.

Add to that, the limitless amounts of fun and it's well worth adding to your collection of bike stuff. I am very excited for the summer to come, as right when I leave my house, I ride a bike bath that runs 15ft from the 13th and 16th holes of a golf course. I've had fun before with a fog horn. Now the get a way will already be in progress when the offense takes place!! Yippee.

Please use only as directed and for safety reasons only.

I thought I should put that in, just in case.

Cheers,

Jerome

Young Talent, hot seat

Well, I've been traveling a bit again (Thunder Bay Ontario Yippie!!) for work and as a result haven't been biking or blogging much. No excuse I guess, just a little lazy. I found this clip and it's great to see them starting out so young.
And here's a pic that I got off of Drumbent. Great for riding in Canadian winters. (not recommended for long rides)
Cheers,

Product Review: MEC Turtlelights

Well, I've gotten a quite a few great bike accessories for Christmas and I thought it would be good if I let you all know about them. Sort of a product review if you will. I will make sure that I've given each item a really good test run on several rides so I can give some real world feed back.

Okay, let start with a product that I've used previously and got more of for Christmas. It's the MEC turtle light. These little babies are great! Cheap, bright and so far long lasting.

They're a single LED flashing or stead light with an elastic mounting band. I've had one on my fixie for a while (I don't want to clutter up that bike with anything, so this is a great option for winter illumination) and it's worked flawlessly. I also have one mounted on my helmet for the past month and a half, and I really notice that traffic notices me more. One great thing about having one of these mounted on your helmet, is that even if your main light are being blocked by cars, people waiting to turn out in front of me, have yet to miss the flashing bulb up top. I also aim it right at their eyes to make sure they don't miss it. A new addition to the helmet is a red one on the back. Unfortunately I can't aim this in their eyes, but I do think that it makes me more visible from behind. I've been told (by one of my co-workers) that when following me, I show up well, except when on-coming traffic's headlights get close. I guess the lights on my bike seem to disappear when next to a car head light. A light up on your noodle is less likely to do that. The elastic also makes for quick mounting to handlebars, seat post and loads of other applications.

I received 6 for Christmas (3 front and 3 rear) to bring my total up to 8. I still would like more, they are just really cool little lights with a whole whack of uses. Most recommended. At $3.50 CDN, they are a great value also.

Here's a quick video of them in flashing mode on my lid.

I'm not sure how ordering works (I think they can be ordered up from the US) but the website should let you know what you need. You do need to buy a membership ($5.00 for life) to MEC prior to purchasing, but I have found that it is well worth it. If you get a chance, get to one of their locations in Canada.

Cheers,

Jerome.

Calgary Flames - Red Hot

Well, I am a die-hard Flames fan and was checking for the highlights of tonights game and found this. If you're a flames fan for a long time, you'll recognize some of the faces. This is a real crack up.

Jerome

Wheel Chair Wheelie

Here is some fotage of the nonsense that ensues after working too many long days away from home.

More Snow

Well, we've received a fresh dump of snow here in Strathmore. Kind of nice to cover up the brown again, but much of this white stuff is hiding the frozen car ruts and ice patches that don't seem to die.

I wiped out on my way back to work from lunch. Not bad, just embarrassing. I don't think that anyone saw though. That's the important part. These studded tires to make a difference, but I guess they don't compensate for stupid. I was moving far to fast for the corner I was trying to take. It's the only corner that I've ever crashed my bike in the past 2 years. After the crash, I thought it would be a good time for a picture, as I was off my bike already.

Ride on.

Outhouse

Here is a cool present that I received for Christmas.

It is a little metal sculpture of an outhouse. It was made by my wife uncle, and is after an outhouse of my wife's great aunt. The artist makes all sorts of sculptures from old car hoods. Kind of a cool way to recycle.

This shot shows you that this outhouse is actually a 2 person model. Gross! Thank goodness for modern plumbing technology, especially in the winter!

I can Only Imagine Father Son

This is an incredible video of a Father and his son, who was born with physical disabilities. The father still wanted his son to enjoy running, playing sports riding a bike and all of the great things that are for most of us, part of growing up. He decided that he would need to be the arms, legs and movement for his boy. Together they have completed several full iron man races and many full marathons. This is incredible and inspiring.
CAN
Enjoy

On the Road

Well,

I am in Dallas right now, wrapping up a job and going over the commissioning and testing of 4 carousels we installed at Love Field Airport.

For some reason the hotel internet connection won't let me upload photos, so I've got a bunch of drafts that do need the pics in them, and as a result, they ain't posted yet.

I'll get them posted once I am able to load up photo again. The good news is that it's been warm back home, and I'm hoping that the slop and slush is gone when I get back so I can crack out the fixie again.

Cheers,

Jerome

Weelies

Well, while we were walking out to the car from where we were working in the Dallas Airport, I saw this lonely wheel chair beckoning for someone who could ride it. I couldn't resist and my buddy James snapped a shot. I've never needed to be in a wheel chair, but I can wheelie them for as long as I want, even down easy stairs. I've fallen a time or two, but after a little practice, you too can wheelie like a pro! Go out there, find yourself a lonely wheel chair and give it a whirl!

Cheers,

Bicycle T.L.C.

Well, all of this great warm weather (note the Chinook arch in this photo) that has come lately is creating a lot of muck on the roads.

After missing and struggling for shifts on the way home today, I decide it was time to give my winter (beater) a quick cleaning.

This muck loves bikes. Particularly the drive train. Bottom Bracket





Rear Derailer

Wheel

Rear Hub
Scraping crap out fo the cogs with a screw driver

Well, I soaked them all in degreaser, cleaned everything up and ran through some shifts on the stand and noted a significant improvement.

Tomorrow (this) morning, we'll do a road test on the way to work.

Cheers,

Jerome

Fixie Update

A few new things for the fixie (not that I've had a chance to ride it for the past 3 weeks).

First, a Surly Chain Tensioner. This bike is a conversion (meaning it didn't have fork ends for the rear wheel, just horizontal drop-outs) and the first time I asked a bike mechanic about using one of these Surly's, he said that it wouldn't work on horizontal drop outs, they had to be used on rear fork ends. Well, I went and bought one anyway and what do you know, it worked (so far). I guess the real test will be when I actually take the bike out for a spin with this on it. The reason that I wanted one, is because I don't have brakes on this bike and rely heavily on skidding to stop. Skidding by the way is by far the funnest way to slow down a bike!! The problem is that after a hard day of riding (and skidding) the rear wheel has moved forward and my chain tension is saggy. Gross. This should help that out so I can skid happy and skid often.

Second, is an aggressive rear wheel. I actually bought this rear wheel in conjunction with a Schwable snow stud front, but ended up returning the front for a 26" Schwable tire and bought another one for my commuter bike. I decided against using the fixie for commuting in the snow, as it's still too new (to me) for mucking up. I've ridden to work a few times with the fat rear tire and haven't found it too bad. It was also only $6, so I can skid this to the threads and not feel bad. Man is skidding ever fun!!

Sunrise

Well, still great weather for riding a bike to work around here. I did't ride yesterday, as I had a MS Project course in Calgary (50Km one way), but this morning even after getting up a little late, I rode my bike.



Mornings like this are great, and even better when experienced on a bike. It seems that you miss so much of what is around you when you're encapulated in your car. The sunrise was one of the many benifits of riding to work. I appologize for the blurry pictures (didn't have a tripod with me)



I will say though, that right now, with the weather getting nicer, the ruts that are created in the sand-like snow/slush, it gets a little hairy most days. I chopped the bars on my trek much narrower and they are now more comfortable, but I do wish I hadn't done it when I'm fighting to stay upright. Oh well.

Slush!

Well, I did ride my bike in today. I couldn't yesterday as I flew to Regina (ho yippies) in the morning and flew back in the evening. I had to measure up a job there, and now I can say I've been to Regina. For those that haven't been there, I wouldn't be jelous of those who have. You're not missing too much.

Anyway, today I did ride my bike and this morning was fine. But, on the way home for lunch, it was slushy!! 3C above makes snow melt, mixes with rocks and salt and create a lovely grime that doesn't stay on the ground. Especially when cars are passing you. Tasty stuff it is. I wasn't going to ride back to work after lunch, but if I'm preaching ride your bike, I had better be riding mine!

Even in the muck, as soon as I'm riding, I'm always glad I am. Big deal about a little dirt. That's what we have showers and washing machines for. I'm lucky enough to work in my own office, and being as all my projects are at airports, I don't meet with customers and contractors on a daily basis. I can be muddy and mucky and the other guys in a suite on the other end of the phone or email probably thinks I'm in a suite as well. I love my job!

Cheers,

Fixed Gear Gallery

I forgot to post a link to my bike on the Fixed Gear Gallery. My bike is # 4080. If you haven't checked the site out already, you should. It's amazing!

Peace

DO NOT STOP RIDING YOUR BIKE!!

I think I've found my inspiration for riding, regardless of the weather.

This girl stopped riding her bike! OH NO!

Waste of Time

Well, I haven't posted anything new because lately I've been a wuss! It hasn't gotten above -12C and mostly stayed closer to -20C all weak, so the bike is collecting dust. It's terrible I know. I'm hopping to pick up some fixie parts this weekend to convert my Trek, but we'll see.

For the in-term, check out this great waste of time. LINERIDER!!

It is Cold!

Well, the tires work great, but it is very cold outside.

I was heading home for lunch, into the wind which was coming from the North. I checked the local weather before I left and they said that it was -17C out and with the windchill, it feels like -28C. At to that I am riding into the wind and you could say it was a little nippy. The only part that gets cold though are my fingers and toes. Still, I'm finding it such a blast to be riding in the winter! Some of the cars driving by look at you like your crazy. I don't think that's true, I think that it just that they are confined to the belief that you need to drive a car if you live in this part of the world. I certainly am not against cars, I've a truck, a mini-van and a 1965 rambler marlin of my own and really like them all. I just think that it is important to evaluate whether or not you can find alternative transportation some of the time. I only ride 3 miles to work and back twice a day. I don't have to carry much, so why wouldn't I ride a bike.?

A friend of mine once put it like this. Your car weighs 2500lbs, you weight 179lbs, how much of the gas you are using is going to transport you and how much of it is going to transport your car. Around 5% of they fuel your buying goes to transport yourself based on the above numbers. Essentially, you are paying to move your car from place to place. Interesting way to look at it.

Cheers,

Jerome

Studded Bike Tires

Well, I was able to get my studded winter tires on my bike and do they ever work well.

Today it was -17C when I headed out the door with my bike, on my way to work. I was amazed at how well the tire gripped the ice and snow. The street that I live on is well covered with packed snow and some icy spots, and these babies didn't let it show. I wasn't pushing them too hard, but I wasn't taking it easy either. A far cry from my crashing yesterday and resorting to driving my truck.

I put these on my commuter trek and I think they will stay there.

I picked these us at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Calgary for $55.00. I figure that if I was going to try to ride my bike to work as much as possible, these would be vital. If the road clear up and I want a faster running bike, I jump on the fixie or any other of my 7 bikes. I was amazed though at how fast these tires do roll. Another thing that I like about them is that the side walls have a reflective ring around them. Nice when it's to work and back in the dark at this time of year.

Front Before

Front After

Rear Before

Rear After

Winter

Well, the 2nd spell of winter has come upon us. For the last several days we've had highs of -8 to -12 C. I've been riding my bike to work everyday this week and the cold hasn't been all that bad. You can dress for it, and as long as you do, everything is fine.

Snow, that a whole other story. Here is a picture from my office. This morning I geared up jumped on the bike and headed out. We had received about 2 inches of now overnight and I thought that it wouldn't be that bad with my specialized slicks on my commuter bike. Was I ever wrong! I wiped out twice before I got to the end of my street and turned around and started up my truck. Chicken and I know it.

But, I did something (or am doing) about it. I picked up a set of set of Schwable studded snow tire for my bike today and will be installing them tonight (provided I can get the time after the kids are in bed). I'll take some picks and if I get them on, I'll be testing them out tomorrow.

I don't mind wiping out, it's not a big deal, the issue is that I have never ever seen another person commuting to work by bike in this town. People are not used to bikes being a part of their traffic and if I am unable to make quick maneuvers, well, I don't want to think about it.

Hopefully I'll let be able to report tomorrow on how well, or not so well they work.

Cheers,

Jerome.

Fixie Commute

Well, these pictures are the first day that I rode my fixed gear to work! I was great. One little glitch, I was so excited about getting the bike built, I didn't quite take enough time to tighten up my left side crank arm. I came loose. I tightened it as best as I can without any tools, only to have it fall of completely.

If you look closely at the pictures, you'll see that there is no nut holding the crank arm. I thought that since I was stranded anyway, may as well whip out the camera and snap away.

I went over the bike last night and made sure that everything was good and rode it to work again today. I must say that I love riding this bike! I'm hooked on fixed gear bikes! There is a purity and a simplicity in riding this thing that I've never come across on any other bike I've been on. You notice that there are no brakes on the bike? I think that it might stay that way too. I have not found it to be too bad riding brake less. It certainly forces you to read traffic better and make some wiser decisions.

I'm already starting to line up parts for my second fixie project. I would like to have something with mountain bike tires so I can run studs for winter. We'll see. I am looking into converting a disc brake hub. I think it'll be cheaper and I work at a place that has a laser cutter. All I have to do is make a drawing, send it down and they'll cut my a sprocket from whatever material I choose. I think that this will be a lot cheaper.

If anyone is thinking of or is even remotely interested in a fixed gear bike, I would absolutely recommend it.

Cheers,

Jerome

Fixie Project Bike Update

It's done!

I finally have my first fixed gear bike! I managed to get almost everything done over the weekend and with a few adjustments early this morning, It's a ridable bike.

I go over the parts in a little more detail another time, but I couldn't wait to get these picture up. I haven't even ridden the bike yet. I was going to this morning but it was snowing and sloppy, and I would hate to do that to a 'new' bike.

Anyway, I'll take a few nicer pictures outside and and get those up. I'll also be sending a few to fixed gear gallery, which is an incredible web site and great inspiration if you are looking at building a fixie!!

Cheers,

Jerome

Fixie Project Bike Update

Here is a picture showing the basic concept I want to achieve with this bike.

Right now I am sanding the bike and hope to have the frame painted this weekend. Then, I'll start putting it back together again.

I also need to order a new set of wheels. The rear obviously needs to be a fixed rear hub and the front wheel that is currently on this bike is steel, and that's just no good. Steel is especially bad in cold weather, as snow seems to stick to it more so than aluminum.

I am kind of second guessing going with no brakes. Some people that I've talked to said that riding a fixed gear bike takes a bit of getting used to. If you have any comments or pointers for me, please leave a comment.

Peace,

Jerome

Cool Car

Here is a quick pic of a car that one of my buddys took while on a project in Florida.

I want one of these just for the slime factor.

Crazy.

Fixie Project Bike

Here is a picture of a bike that I am going to turn into a fixed gear bicycle. A fixed gear bike is a bike that has no free-wheel hub on the back wheel, so if the back wheel is moving, your pedals will be moving. You can't coast on a fixie.

I think that I am going to go hardcore and run a brakeless bike. I can always resist the forward motion of the pedals to slow down and stop.

Making a fixed gear bike can be done for not much money. The most expensive part of my project is going to be the rear wheel with a fixed gear hub. There are cheaper ways to get around this, but this is the safest and the best. Also, the hub that I am going to use is a flip-flop meaning that on side of the hub is fixed to the wheel, and the other has a single free-wheel sprocket and can be changed by simply flipping the wheel around.

I'll keep you posted on the progress and some of the parts that I am finding for this project.

Cheers,

Jerome

Mountian Bike

So sorry it's taken so long for another update.

Here is a photo of another one of my bikes. I rode this to work to day because I had to drop my car of at the body shop and this is the easiest to minimize to fit into a vehicle. It was a cheap and the first bike that I ever purchased new.

This is the bike that I started commuting on. I installed a pair of specialized nimbus tires and toe-clips and off I went. I've since put it back to a typical mtb setup with knobbies and flat pedals.

I think that I might install studded tires on this one for winter commuting and then I should probably get some fenters for it. The disc brakes work great and are also said to be the best brakes for mud, rain and snow so this bike might work out to be a great winter bike.

Keep on riding and Cheers,

Jerome

Bike Accident

Well, it's been a few days and I'm due for a new post so here it is.

In the last post I was asking about a bike club in Strathmore. Today I read an article on the first page of the Strathmore Standard that drove the point home. A girl was riding her bike on August 28th when she was struck by the driver of a pick up truck who failed to stop at a stop light.

Brings me back to mid December last year when I was struck by a pick up who failed to stop at a stop light. It was the very first day of training for my 3rd marathon, 5:30am and I was in the cross walk. Just as the story in the paper, the twit left the scene of the crime. I couldn't remember his plate number by the time I got to the cop shop (I ran there) and nothing ever came of it.

I'm glad to see that the witness perused reporting the guy and the cops were actually able to press charges. The girl apparently walked away from the accident and thankfully wasn't injured!

I think that it is hard for cyclists in small towns or places that are over-run with jacked up pickups and young, drunk stupid men driving them who are all making over 100K a year as a rig pig. It's an oil town Strathmore. I like it here, but it is turning into an oil town. The police here have a hard enough time with natives, drunks and drugs: but I do think that there needs to be a real crack down on not stopping at stop lights and stop signs!!!

In my bike commuting, most of the 'close-calls' that I have had are when I've had the right of way, yet the vehicles think that they don't need to stop because I'm just a bike, or they are habitually blowing stop signs all the time. Either way, it's unacceptable and dangerous!

I've often thought of taking matters into my own hands, however I won't publish how, in case I actually do it, then there might be evidence that it is me doing it. Enough about that.

I am really interested in getting a bicycling advocacy and awareness group together in Strathmore!! We need to do this!!! If you are at all interested, please leave a comment and possibly even you email address and we can start something. I am going to start posting signs about this around Strathmore, so watch for them and lets get something going. The point that I would like to make, is that there is a peaceful, respectable and non-boisterous way that we can inform the public and car drivers that we are on the road, we have legal rights, and ultimately, we allow them to move about the town faster simply because we aren't clogging up the roads with a vehicle of our own. The more people that ride bikes, the less the traffic congestion!! Motorists should thank us for keeping 'their' routes clear, by giving us just a bit of respect and consideration as they pass us.

This is a bit of a rant, but I want it to be more than that. I want to get as many people as possible on bikes. I would love the day when people complain about the bike paths being too crowded with bikes on the way to work!!! What a problem that would be. It's up to you. It's up to me. To quote (at least this is where I saw this) an inspiration to me, Mark Rehder, "RIDE YER BIKE"!!!