Roll call...

Who all has been riding? Who all hasn't been riding?

My son can ride a bike... finally.

Haven't posted in awhile. Figured this would be good to share. My 6-year-old son finally conquered the bike. I had a three day weekend a couple weekends ago and decided on Friday that it was time. No more wimping out for Jr.

I lowered the seat so he could touch the ground while sitting, planted him on the bike and forced him to ride it without help. The first few times he steered down the driveway, then off to the left and fell in the grass. I then said "No more turning into the grass, if you're going to fall over, it will be on concrete." Long story short -- we were out there for about an hour. He had tears, I had anger/frustration and the wife couldn't bare to look out the window. Then, it happened. He made it all the way across the cul de sac and into the neighbor's driveway.

The next day was even better. At the end of the weekend, he was cruising around the circle and jumping off curbs. He rode with me on the trail to his soccer practice last week and is finally enjoying all the things I told him he would once he learned to quit worrying about crashing and ride.

I knew he was bit by the bike bug when the Saturday after learning, he was out riding his bike at 8 a.m. instead of watching SpongeBob in his pajamas.

Time to catch up

I haven't posted anything in a while, so I came to the conclusion that either I need to write something, or just let this blog die a natural death. I still hold out hope that this can be a place for people to post ride (or FAC) announcements, pictures, stories, or whatever.

The last three weeks or so have been pretty stressful for me and my family. Kind of a long story which begins with the natural frustration we have all felt due to the long and harsh winter. Seems like everybody I talk to is behind where they usually are this time of year.

Anyway, about three weeks ago, we had LPS spring break. I was looking forward to riding a lot during this week, but was unable to because my father in law had a stroke and we needed to spend time in the hospital with him, the weather didn't cooperate very well, and because we went through a kind of forced remodel in the kitchen (microwave broke, followed by the need to replace cabinets so the microwave would fit, followed by a new stove and fridge so that all of the appliances would match, followed by more new cabinets to install so the fridge would fit). Also, my rear wheel on my road bike broke (not a spoke, of course, but the actual hub broke). At first I was unable to get anybody to sell me a single rear wheel, but eventually I found one at CycleWorks that Kris sold me cheap. I have new wheels on order from a custom wheel builder (Psimet.com) who comes highly recommended on Bikeforums.net. They should be here in a week or two. Obligatory pic at the Cortland gas station of the new wheel I'm riding now:

And of the wheels I have on order:

At the end of spring break, my father in law passed away (suddenly, but not totally unexpected). We spent the next week doing what was necessary for the family. It is amazing how much it helps when a family comes together when something sad happens.

So recently, I have been riding a lot solo - out to Cortland, or the Roca rollers, or just downtown to watch part of the spring game. Obligatory pic of the huge crowd at the spring game:

We just got my son a bike as well (Kona Jake), so maybe he will join me on some rides. I have done some group rides - a couple of Mondays ago I started out with the JoyRide ride, but saw Janna and Kim and Gravy and others go flying by while we were waiting for a guy to fix a flat. I decided to chase (they were a quarter mile away by the time I started, took me from the Crete bridge to Princeton to chase them down). Turns out that there is now a 6 pm ride on Mondays from the Bike Rack - I will be joining that one when I can. I also tried the Bike Pedalers Thursday ride finally - seemed like good fun, a mix of racers, wannabes, and noobs. We got out to Pioneers Park before a big rainstorm hit - we headed for the shelter and I got out my cell phone - the rest went ahead and did some laps in the rain. I didn't trust my ability to see in those conditions, so I went home.

I'm looking forward to things getting a little more normal - hope to see you all on the road!

Ground Zero

Make sure you take a second to read today's Ground Zero section in the Journal-Star.

Click here to read the article online.

Windy

I decided to brave the wind and went out for a solo ride Monday afternoon. The temps were nice, but the wind was tough. It's hard to keep your mind in it when you are working hard in your small front ring going downhill. What a difference after turning around at Sprague and heading through Roca. I hit 40 mph for the first time in a couple of years coming down the hill on 54th street by the quarry (the older photo Adrian referred to on Facebook was actually 44.1 mph - still my highest max speed, and was from 2007).

Monday night I played my only Monday Night Big Band gig for this month - Loup Garou came on down to listen and hang out. Always more enjoyable to play with friends out there.

Today I may go ahead and try the Bike Pedalers ride - it's going to be windy and I will need to be sucking wheel like these two:

Spring Break is Here!

Spring break has arrived and I'm ready to get caught up with my riding and playing. Tonight I'll be leading the Monday Night Big Band down at Brewsky's (as featured in the recent edition of L Magazine) should be a great night to ride down and listen! Kew - bring your guitar, it's only $3 cover if you bring an instrument to sit in :)

The rest of the week is going to be taken up with riding and practicing. I have to get both my legs and my chops in shape, as I have not been riding much, and I have a big performance on April 13 with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra. Hope to see some of you out enjoying the nice weather this week!

Evening Rides Starting?

I need the evening rides to start to motivate me to get out and ride - I'm having trouble shedding the hibernation weight and need a kick in the butt to get moving. I'm going to try the new Bike Pedalers no drop ride tonight (I called and they said they will start tonight), and I'll show up at the bench tomorrow as well. I haven't heard any official word on starting date for the teamFIRE ride, but it is supposed to be nice (mid 50s, light wind from the SW), and it only seems right to have a green jersey ride on St. Patrick's Day. Depending on whether anyone shows, we may have to stop afterwards for the traditional adult beverage.

Here's the info on some of the rides I am aware of that are not racer-oriented:

Monday, 6:00 p.m. - JoyRide Chit Chat Ride
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. - Bike Pedalers No Drop Ride
Wednesday, 5:45* p.m. - teamFIRE No Rider Left Behind Ride
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. - Bike Pedalers No Drop Ride
Thursday, 5:45 p.m.* - teamFIRE off-road ride
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. - Bike Pedalers No Drop Ride

* start at the 27th and Highway 2 bench - time will change to 6 p.m. later in the year

The Great Plains Cycling Club also has rides at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday leaving from the bench - they start next week.

Does anybody know if Bike Rack still has a Monday night ride?

Anybody gonna come out with me on Wednesday???