A slow and hot MNR

Yowser it was a hot one yesterday. Its been a weird summer with temps in the 70s and 80s over the past few months. And then welcome to 96 degrees! Its a Monday. Crap! Time to go ride!

I missed the group by about 20 minutes but saw them coming back on the return route from NoFo side. Should I join them or just go at my own easy pace. My own pace is what I chose. It was hot. I stopped to drink my water. Stopped to take pics. I think even the animals and insects knew it was hot because they were slow moving too. Bunnies galore not moving off the trail, butterflies waiting till the last second to fly away. Everything was trying to beat the heat.

Sometimes going slow is a good thing. It opens up your senses to whats around you. The car with the bass attack going up Fort Street. The purple flowers just before the Fort Street loop. The branches that need to be removed and the grass/weeds that need to be trimmed also presented themselves to me. Consider this my nature walk. Its these times that you realize either how smooth your bike is rolling or if its making the squeaks and the rattles.

Fun times. Paul was a sick boy so we stopped over at Chris' place afterwards. Thank Dale for the Apple cider. Was delicious!

Finally a nice MNR with no rain!

Two weeks ago, MNR got rained out. This past Monday...perfect weather! The trail was dusty, people were out, and the times were good. PacMan was back on his bike, he's been MIA for about half a year! The usual turkeys and bunnies were in my way. But all was good!

Hopped on my Schwinn after the MNR and spun a lap around the block. Might have the possibility for some cool pics! Not gonna lie, the handlebar position takes some getting use to. Even riding one handed made me feel a little nervous when I took the pics.

So this is getting bad

I bought another bike today. I had no intentions until I had to give up the AMF Roadmaster to my sister/mom in MI. I loved how it rode, smooth and fast. Had a 2 x something setup. Looked so retro that I thought I looked hip riding it around town. Well my sister loves that bike, rode it on the Kal-Haven trail just north of my parents' house. Cool trail, like the Wabash Trace but starts in Kalamazoo and goes west to Lake Michigan, about 30 miles.

Elise and I walked it while my sister rode about 10 miles worth. And when I say walk, I mean power walked it. I had shin splints from walking! Ridiculous!

Kal-Haven trail in Michigan

So back to my bike. The other night I was checking on my Jeep listings on Craigslist. Looking to see if anything catches my eye. Lets check out bike stuff. Mostly crap Walmart bikes on there, some occasional used mt bikes, whoa, check out that Schwinn. Red and black. Not a bad price. I'm interested. I emailed the owner at 1:30 am, got a message back at 6am. Still for sale, not much detail. Email again, will it fit me? Yes it should. Rebuilt, picked up from Clay Center, Kansas. Had sx and can no longer ride it. No clue about the year of the bike or model. Okay.

I can show it on Sunday, what! Four days away! I can't wait that long...but I will. What about the Owl Ride, I want to ride it on that. But turns out the 311/Wailers concert I went to lasted till midnight anyway. Running on 4 hrs of sleep, I called the guy, then found myself driving to Lincoln with cash in my wallet.

Photobomb! Drinking and riding in the driveway. No cupholders!

I get there. Bike is dusty, seat all the way down. Tires had about 18 psi in them. Oh we can pump it up for you. Well little did the guy know that I already had it in my mind that I would buy it. Nah, no need to pump it up. I'll just ride up your street once and call it good. Bought!

Brought it home. Cleaned it up. Rode it around the block a few times then made my way to Waterford Lake. Wow, single speed sucks. Good job to you guys for riding SS on the trails. Not sure how you guys do it. More pics to follow!

I did not have my camera!

I rode tonight. Just basics...keys, ID and insurance card, bike and water bottle. Well I went to get groceries afterwards and saw something that caught my eye. I will get a picture of it soon. I have no clue what it is, but there are three of them. And they are stationary. And they are bike related. They are in west Omaha. In a parking lot. Guess what I am!

Stooges ride bikes too!

Okay so it's actually just one bike. Not sure that I've ever seen a triple tandem before, but the Three Stooges were riding one back in the 40s!

DDDs at Tranquility tonight!!!

Man, if you missed the MNR tonight then you really missed out! There were some triple D's out at Tranquility! Seriously you have to ask if I got pictures? Of course I did!


1.Demo days for Niner:

Some really fast and light bikes there. X-0 throughout. Should I try one...nah. Better not or I might as well just give them my credit card right there on the trail!

2. Deer galore out there tonight. Bunnies too!

3. Devo kids were out riding

And then there were jumps. THOR didn't build them so ride at your own risk. 

Good times with good folks.

My new ride

My new bike...or old bike...whatever you want to call it is a used bike that I saved from the garbage. It was sitting out next to the trashcan, Elise had already discussed it with the neighbor and it was mine for the taking! It's an AMF Roadmaster Courier 10 speed. Really hard to find info on it, most online are only 3 speed.

So I always thought the GF Sawyer had a really cool shape and lines to it. It's almost a copy of my AMF!

I pumped up the flat tires and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the bike other than some chips on the frame. I rode it to Waterford Lake tonight and had a big smile on my face. Not the same smile from riding my fatbike, but the almost embarrassing smile that I had mt bike shorts on, full gloves and helmet on and here I am riding this 1960's cruiser bike down the street. Felt like I needed to be wearing a big hat or even go for the hipster look.

Shimano Eagle. Not sure what the hook looking thing is for. There is still a kickstand on this bike, which I kicked down twice tonight on my ride and it nearly bucked me off as it dug into the road.

So my parents want the bike, I mentioned to my sister that I might give it to her, but secretly I want it. The frame shape is so cool. I could keep it stock or start with a new paint job and swap parts out to make it look more up to date and lighter. Not sure yet.

What does this do you ask? Oh, your carbon bike doesn't have one?

It powers the headlight and the taillight of course!

Juno Jumpr

Dead phone. Dead tablet. Dead car battery? Why not jump them all with this small device? Seriously, is this enough to get a car started? 6000 mAH. Isn't a rechargable AA battery 2650 mAH? Maybe I'm missing something here.

photo from junopower.com

http://junopower.com/products/jumpr-cars-best-friend-jumpstart-cars-on-the-go#14029763169912&{"close":true}

Check out this great MSN video - 7 Camping Hacks Everyone Should Try This Summer

Check out this great MSN video - 7 Camping Hacks Everyone Should Try This Summer

Another try at this...

After riding Wednesday night, I decided to pull the cars out of the garage and have another go at this. Drinking the beer helped with the frustration. I almost sprained my ankle while stepping down from the unicycle and onto a ladder. Whoops!

Walnut Creek!

New trail! It's fresh...Looking through these pictures, you'll realize that its not the normal MNR at Tranquility. Instead, we hit up Walnut Creek out in Papillion. Located at 96th and highway 370, the trail is kind of a hike from my house. But that's okay.

The trail is fun. Not very flowing, but more technical, turning, watch where your wheel is going type of a trail. It is tight and lots of trees. Some log crossings. The only thing is that there is some two way traffic. I showed up a little late after having to go home to get my bike. I got out there and couldn't find the group. But I did find the trail. I started riding it, luckily I followed the marked signage. But towards the end, I wasn't sure where to go. Next thing I know, I'm facing the back of the signs! I was like huh?

Well after discussing it with the group, I realized that there are some two way traffic areas. Not a big deal. Just watch out as you're riding.

There is a grand opening planned for next week. Wednesday, June 18
at 5:30pm. Check the THOR Facebook page for more details.

Another gorgeous sunset! I was planning to fish after riding, but couldn't pass up scenery like this!

Last week's tacoride!

Fun! Should call it Margaritaville ride. It rained. It got messy. It got cold. We turned around after drinking a few beverages. Didn't even make it to Mineola. But that's okay because we still got some good riding in before the storm rolled in. Driving home I saw a couple of cars stuck in the mud. I have a tow strap in my Jeep. Should I help to pull them out? Ummm...no. Why not you ask? Because I drove in nothing but my shoes and my boxers. I was wet muddy from head to toe, not even a mud but that limestone muck. So I drove home with next to nothing on. Stopping by the side of the road to help two stranded motorists might not be the best thing for me to do. Lots more taco rides planned for this summer!

Storm rolling in!

It was Nalyn and Kyle's first time on the tacoride. Felt like I let them down because we didn't make it to the delicious tacos!

We rode back 1 mile and took shelter in the tunnel. Rumor was that the rain was going to get heavier. But it didn't. 

Yeah, not getting into my car like this.

Gorgeous sunset afterwards...