tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70157799683364798722024-03-06T00:10:35.758-06:00Redd Shift<strong>One man's attempt at opting out of the total car culture <br>by walking, busing, and cycling in Omaha, Nebraska.</strong>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-79555031634199009752011-07-08T16:43:00.000-05:002011-07-08T16:43:21.902-05:00Exploring Minnesota Gravel Roads, Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Thursday morning, I set off just before 7am with the hopes of biking further north into Minnesota, using as many gravel roads and I could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even through Google Street View hasn't visited a lot of the rural roads up here, I was able to virtually visit some intersections where highways crossed other roads to see if the intersecting roads were gravel or not. That helped quite a bit.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Using that intelligence, I was able to plan an 80+ mile ride, using almost all gravel roads, to Windom, MN for lunch and then back along the same route. The next time I do this, I want to make it a century ride with a large sweeping loop, rather than an out-and-back. I'm fairly conservative when I bike alone, so for the first time, an out-an-back made me feel more secure than a large loop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unlike my first ride, <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2011/07/exploring-minnesota-gravel-roads-part-1.html">Exploring Minnesota Gravel Roads, Park 1</a>, I tried not to stop for every photo opportunity (it's hard, since it's so pretty up here) so that I could make better time. However, I couldn't resist snapping a few pics, particularly of the windmill construction that so strong in this area right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My day's supplies. When I tweeted this picture, The Douglas said I needed more food. He was right. What's not represented here was my planned stop for lunch at the turn-around point. I experimented with using halves of a PB&J instead of an extra Cliff Bar. That worked out really well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't actually ride this MMR, but it looks fun. Future routes might feature more MMRs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this an old schoolhouse? A church? Notice the handicapped accessible ramp and parking sign. I'm not sure if the outhouse affords the same accommodations.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Minnesota is filled with these lovely landscape scenes. This one is just north of Black Bridge Road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm guessing these signs are necessary to alert the farming traffic that there are new power lines overhead after the windmills are installed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crop circles? No, just a site being prepared for a new windmill. Note the cement base in the center of the picture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I saw about a dozen sites like this where windmill tower sections and blades were being prepared for erection. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A crewman told me they could erect five towers a day, using two cranes. Here's one at work. Notice all of the headless towers in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These new windmills aren't yet spinning, but it's cool to see them up close.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX9uIQm8Qef_90fh1jnvu4aYFxrlv6bYLJwD6UkA1kM-Bt3Jh-1SuFc2JZBhr2oSyrs-FlXDMvLhXLTqcx_Z4X2mf-nAJBL7YNLoZSMkam4w_mQST7Z42wA7ad3frctM7Mtcc9Zzg-8w/s1600/272777_2212289107338_1250848528_32608271_6108527_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX9uIQm8Qef_90fh1jnvu4aYFxrlv6bYLJwD6UkA1kM-Bt3Jh-1SuFc2JZBhr2oSyrs-FlXDMvLhXLTqcx_Z4X2mf-nAJBL7YNLoZSMkam4w_mQST7Z42wA7ad3frctM7Mtcc9Zzg-8w/s320/272777_2212289107338_1250848528_32608271_6108527_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had lunch at this Subway restaurant in Windom, MN. This restaurant took advantage of their proximity to the Des Moines river and incorporated a scenic overlook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtixDyD2KGBSrPQ6iXD-YaKgWzRFtHZtOMr3AGx59sad3CgKjQvnFZtB92wmcgAqa-WCR6nPCw2AUYbVcPPE7ke1kMAT08UMQ16KhWHtQ2sTnLqwdLv6PplYe4ed4t_Q_MbVykA9C-LU/s1600/273157_2212294067462_1250848528_32608275_5918119_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtixDyD2KGBSrPQ6iXD-YaKgWzRFtHZtOMr3AGx59sad3CgKjQvnFZtB92wmcgAqa-WCR6nPCw2AUYbVcPPE7ke1kMAT08UMQ16KhWHtQ2sTnLqwdLv6PplYe4ed4t_Q_MbVykA9C-LU/s320/273157_2212294067462_1250848528_32608275_5918119_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally back home after about seven hours on the saddle and 1.75 hours of stopping time. My average speed on the way out was between 14 and 15 MPH, but a headwind and general fatigue slowed my overall average down to 13.4. In all, it was some of the best 90 miles I've ridden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This was my longest solo ride, and I learned a lot. I found that I can keep myself company for hours on end, but that I have to keep myself at a reasonable pace (ie: not get lazy and go too slow). When riding with other people, that's often something I don't have to worry about. I also had to plan when to drink and eat. Often when cycling with other more experienced folks, I just take cues from them on when to take a sip from the bottle or nibble a bite to eat.<br />
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I never ran out of liquids, but I don't think two bottles would be enough in the heat and on a longer ride. I might research hydration packs, or alternative ways to carry more water. I knew of only two places where I could stop for water: one at the 20 miles out point, and the other at the halfway turn-around point. There were stretches of a dozen miles or so between townships, paved roads, and even a chance at food and water. I learned some about planning my own self-sufficiency.<br />
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I really enjoyed my time on the bike over this vacation week in Spirit Lake. I want to learn more roads and trails, and will share the routes online for others looking to do similar routes. Please comment below if you have any routes, information, or suggestions on where I should ride the next time I return to the Iowa Great Lakes region.<br />
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Here's the approximate route that I took: <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/40593364">MapMyRide link</a><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500px" id="mmf_blog_map" src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=141131014442445802&u=e&t=ride" width="400px">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/40593364"&amp;amp;gt;Spirit Lake / Windom 90 mile gravel out and back&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/?location=Windom, MN"&amp;amp;gt;Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in Windom, MN&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt; &lt;/p&gt;</iframe>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-27653601735988552322011-07-05T15:13:00.002-05:002011-09-02T11:13:49.516-05:00Exploring Minnesota Gravel Roads, Part 1Vacationing over the Independence Day holiday and the following week, I decided to take the gravel bike out exploring the rural roads of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota near Spirit Lake / Okoboji. Let me tell you, these roads up here do not disappoint. While I didn't find much in the way of rollers like we have in Nebraska, I did find endless miles of road and beautiful scenery. The grid system of roads here seems more consistent than in Nebraska, with a road just about every mile. Another difference is that the roads seem to be on a 10 blocks per mile system, rather than the 12 block per mile that we have in Nebraska.<br />
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For my first ride, I intended to explore the roads between Spirit Lake, IA and Jackson, MN. This wasn't a great fitness and training opportunity, since I kept stopping to take photos and to enjoy the scenery. My 48 mile ride took about four hours and 20 minutes, including an hour of stopping time. However, I had a great time and mapped out a good route that I want to try again. Maybe once the route isn't new any more, I can turn it into a workout the next time.<br />
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I ended up with more highway miles than I had intended (about 28 miles road and 20 miles gravel), but I think by choosing a different set of roads, I can turn this into mostly all gravel.<br />
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For the last five miles or so back along the east side of Spirit Lake, a cycling pastor pulled up beside me on his road bike. He slowed his pace to match mine and we chatted about about cycling in the area. For future reference, he told me about a local cycling blog, and about some places to ride cyclocross bikes. The links are included below:<br />
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<ul><li><a href="http://cyclingthelakes.blogspot.com/">Cycling the Lakes</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.watchablewildlifenwia.org/sites-KettlesonsHB.htm">Hogsback</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.co.dickinson.ia.us/departments/Conservation/Conservation%20Maps/HorseshoeBend.pdf">Horseshoe Bend</a></li>
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I opted to use my old hiking and Geocaching GPS receiver, just in case I got really lost. It was fun to ride with the GPS, even though its features are nearly as useful as a modern mapping GPS. The GPS did give me some security in that I could see for sure that I was headed in the right direction and that I could track back along my route if I had to.<br />
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I hope to get a 75 or 100 mile day in before I leave the area, but since I'm vacationing with family, I'll need to just balance bike time with family time.<br />
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Please see below for some of the photos I took on my ride.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQC7t-XR2Rcg18TO8mNomVnXhurqgQfxOp5OraF4AXe4YAn8Ph7X3A11HqiIRQemMm8-RmEIPhU-Bmzh5r-Opm56dkYH2wsfXixGsBUud_WO-ueBsUraLhagkykfLUez13wRt-p1-xRw/s1600/280332_2203847736309_1250848528_32594536_7066955_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQC7t-XR2Rcg18TO8mNomVnXhurqgQfxOp5OraF4AXe4YAn8Ph7X3A11HqiIRQemMm8-RmEIPhU-Bmzh5r-Opm56dkYH2wsfXixGsBUud_WO-ueBsUraLhagkykfLUez13wRt-p1-xRw/s320/280332_2203847736309_1250848528_32594536_7066955_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My riding partner. He's just as slow as I am.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4oJw4e1CctpPtF5nOXo_rYlf83ZLJ1dPNvXNX48ajncQm4nBr6aqZN8ZPVPR0m_IWELisB4iDYg-o2oHLFe4tpXjyNe4UmMemMNxPiZUCwgjxMz-Ub4uEujMVpripN_DkD7-YWCi43I/s1600/278360_2203839856112_1250848528_32594530_4160798_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4oJw4e1CctpPtF5nOXo_rYlf83ZLJ1dPNvXNX48ajncQm4nBr6aqZN8ZPVPR0m_IWELisB4iDYg-o2oHLFe4tpXjyNe4UmMemMNxPiZUCwgjxMz-Ub4uEujMVpripN_DkD7-YWCi43I/s320/278360_2203839856112_1250848528_32594530_4160798_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like how these Iowa lake roads leave a little extra pavement to the right of the line. De facto bike lane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTFdfrke-sjkJmfUW4ZwaM8rzhEHWP4uWQ_Z4TBeCSiDdyxwnTYvhWHXckWc70Fbp56iK9s6f0Zwky40a5cgSMdXT0rJdGoYTDOmqizAPWFEkan2fh9WVsIRWT7nu2EuwKjDBDU6RF94/s1600/271621_2203843096193_1250848528_32594532_1904106_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTFdfrke-sjkJmfUW4ZwaM8rzhEHWP4uWQ_Z4TBeCSiDdyxwnTYvhWHXckWc70Fbp56iK9s6f0Zwky40a5cgSMdXT0rJdGoYTDOmqizAPWFEkan2fh9WVsIRWT7nu2EuwKjDBDU6RF94/s320/271621_2203843096193_1250848528_32594532_1904106_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pavement stops and the gravel begins just north of the Iowa/Minnesota state line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOustH62LZqEkyB3lQecZtoUagtDH6P3a1cy00rSxpNtKE5PEKZIFFB1S9QFCepHsSDjEATg6aaiyfHAjF0jzd4jYDTOddpAgx4RaC-eQolTiOYZuQ_Sfq9fhnBPOikKZ4zedP9tmJJJI/s1600/272165_2203851976415_1250848528_32594538_560227_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOustH62LZqEkyB3lQecZtoUagtDH6P3a1cy00rSxpNtKE5PEKZIFFB1S9QFCepHsSDjEATg6aaiyfHAjF0jzd4jYDTOddpAgx4RaC-eQolTiOYZuQ_Sfq9fhnBPOikKZ4zedP9tmJJJI/s320/272165_2203851976415_1250848528_32594538_560227_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These gravel roads are arrow straight, and not very hilly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCo4OQH6dTONaPaLkyZm8FP9lYJq86XIo4IbT1OQqudbDRE18u1IJzJ9A6yev-hXHGKMwxaFM1IEngNgzehAAahH7iakJDKPVJzzymEBFjDmbXpcJ3mUX_a7eXOKk4XgncoMADJBNX8s/s320/265414_2203854336474_1250848528_32594539_5564191_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rustic scenes abound.</td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwXdRMCrcFt6ci6EGaj-PrwYn0vwuFOfms8v44Tx_2h1NVRq4AzoaEThXCoy__IFXkWzRf8YGY-K2tRozhwtducF6B1QM0IUIgOeQewrLKm-JGAO1T4FFw898zwba0Xv4Sdi32rHVNrM/s1600/279468_2203857256547_1250848528_32594540_2296558_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwXdRMCrcFt6ci6EGaj-PrwYn0vwuFOfms8v44Tx_2h1NVRq4AzoaEThXCoy__IFXkWzRf8YGY-K2tRozhwtducF6B1QM0IUIgOeQewrLKm-JGAO1T4FFw898zwba0Xv4Sdi32rHVNrM/s320/279468_2203857256547_1250848528_32594540_2296558_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This valley road into Jackson, MN has a sidepath.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV09UhuXu_c4UWR6VxjAjPSdnsVQsiHxiTvJBlgRPQgByO7QTgENuwppeD1uqOQT1rgxKFeOqIVaBMwy-cU_aEKUmtWp46UsLxVmE9Mvzvt0_3glH21BDDkn38MaS2SXPJK8u95WO0Fs/s1600/279893_2203862176670_1250848528_32594551_3900244_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV09UhuXu_c4UWR6VxjAjPSdnsVQsiHxiTvJBlgRPQgByO7QTgENuwppeD1uqOQT1rgxKFeOqIVaBMwy-cU_aEKUmtWp46UsLxVmE9Mvzvt0_3glH21BDDkn38MaS2SXPJK8u95WO0Fs/s320/279893_2203862176670_1250848528_32594551_3900244_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This trail in Jackson, MN is flooded. A familiar sight to us Omahans.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuo6ymXufCbyrD0zfREPh2Sr5At_c8IQs4w7f2KfzWuX1ZEDKoJdugW-yLZobcm0UNyKZwgn0srQ5W34dJvqm5vliyqYEIz4iljvkFvAY9u-pnaoV1_tQZBpBbgjCkbP6KWXxp16P-Ew/s1600/278592_2203870576880_1250848528_32594565_1099476_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuo6ymXufCbyrD0zfREPh2Sr5At_c8IQs4w7f2KfzWuX1ZEDKoJdugW-yLZobcm0UNyKZwgn0srQ5W34dJvqm5vliyqYEIz4iljvkFvAY9u-pnaoV1_tQZBpBbgjCkbP6KWXxp16P-Ew/s320/278592_2203870576880_1250848528_32594565_1099476_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippy sculpture at the Peace Park in Jackson, MN. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrTCVNvRltfd4Xg6Ecl9Uw1uTCDkqOtl5Pejy4ViYfYd4CywbC7OjG9JskuexrVSvlD6A8LlGmnU79vbERp6cgEBJwaiCzqSLE-A5HNaUfIp8KDdhXR5UBDQQtnpwXi47f1Fkv7pG92c/s1600/271364_2203874136969_1250848528_32594572_1066334_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrTCVNvRltfd4Xg6Ecl9Uw1uTCDkqOtl5Pejy4ViYfYd4CywbC7OjG9JskuexrVSvlD6A8LlGmnU79vbERp6cgEBJwaiCzqSLE-A5HNaUfIp8KDdhXR5UBDQQtnpwXi47f1Fkv7pG92c/s320/271364_2203874136969_1250848528_32594572_1066334_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meditation garden at the Peace Park in Jackson, MN.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9OVdxVj9KKgCq3rv5svVpvD0oN1YAX9YYwQsu438gYST-EUOdJj5Qc0h7uH317xOcXgeEdRHNHd-7AqMMnTgEYfloeGQ-_EwgZJpZtF5geaHKO2e6h0cRd9kkg0Wujv6gU92Vt2przE/s1600/265754_2203865576755_1250848528_32594556_5816734_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9OVdxVj9KKgCq3rv5svVpvD0oN1YAX9YYwQsu438gYST-EUOdJj5Qc0h7uH317xOcXgeEdRHNHd-7AqMMnTgEYfloeGQ-_EwgZJpZtF5geaHKO2e6h0cRd9kkg0Wujv6gU92Vt2przE/s320/265754_2203865576755_1250848528_32594556_5816734_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wishy Washy laundromat in Jackson, MN has a restroom, pop machine ($0.75) and free wifi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbF6_jxYIhFPGcObmOFAJs1uDSKZeZ7QCHDzBcZaDzYzZR9J_HGrGHN1Ek9WxyCzx6G7U9_6yDXglJ71nuNmCX4I0h_Rd9h3h0X3HYg9vqg_YYBV3QIvcimSmzmU8qlv0mqxvrFXExu0/s1600/280190_2203878897088_1250848528_32594574_163906_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbF6_jxYIhFPGcObmOFAJs1uDSKZeZ7QCHDzBcZaDzYzZR9J_HGrGHN1Ek9WxyCzx6G7U9_6yDXglJ71nuNmCX4I0h_Rd9h3h0X3HYg9vqg_YYBV3QIvcimSmzmU8qlv0mqxvrFXExu0/s320/280190_2203878897088_1250848528_32594574_163906_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Bridge Road is a must-ride for gravel enthusiasts in the area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOustH62LZqEkyB3lQecZtoUagtDH6P3a1cy00rSxpNtKE5PEKZIFFB1S9QFCepHsSDjEATg6aaiyfHAjF0jzd4jYDTOddpAgx4RaC-eQolTiOYZuQ_Sfq9fhnBPOikKZ4zedP9tmJJJI/s1600/272165_2203851976415_1250848528_32594538_560227_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwa8LV-OZer82H8qK5_6QosCf3mzSotFHYYREC22E9xBFCk2hNlc8W-IybVsvcS0RPFOEItOp2_cwKLAu8gzMgznyU6z1CzntgRUYYUc-apvQdHpxQrGZT0MyEzFSETjhmFPManzGOHE/s1600/272263_2203881457152_1250848528_32594576_5241357_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwa8LV-OZer82H8qK5_6QosCf3mzSotFHYYREC22E9xBFCk2hNlc8W-IybVsvcS0RPFOEItOp2_cwKLAu8gzMgznyU6z1CzntgRUYYUc-apvQdHpxQrGZT0MyEzFSETjhmFPManzGOHE/s320/272263_2203881457152_1250848528_32594576_5241357_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Bridge Road runs along the Des Moines River, a tributary of the Mississippi River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_LP_i3hFoyqQZqiL9BaiRAH2PhFCGkROq4wmfcecw5rvdN-E46h9Zym3KkQI4MCF0GV3vcqrVoS4r52xh07gZg-_o_yOZqp9YxFQPwiHSAXilHNbAbx70YodiD3wj9ttFagsnQBD7LI/s1600/272325_2203883857212_1250848528_32594577_7395439_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM_LP_i3hFoyqQZqiL9BaiRAH2PhFCGkROq4wmfcecw5rvdN-E46h9Zym3KkQI4MCF0GV3vcqrVoS4r52xh07gZg-_o_yOZqp9YxFQPwiHSAXilHNbAbx70YodiD3wj9ttFagsnQBD7LI/s320/272325_2203883857212_1250848528_32594577_7395439_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxbrmXEydywnuXrOUUZME0nuKWkCZ5thLXVeJnDMPVf0lYyBqNb43PWQgaskJaX-sDxn6vNrhMhK-J9OtCzsIziItKA-GBHIIcAy07oFn1MN3G_w08ez0MbNx8Tj25yRgYOHKeEDc26o/s1600/271417_2203889657357_1250848528_32594579_4456427_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxbrmXEydywnuXrOUUZME0nuKWkCZ5thLXVeJnDMPVf0lYyBqNb43PWQgaskJaX-sDxn6vNrhMhK-J9OtCzsIziItKA-GBHIIcAy07oFn1MN3G_w08ez0MbNx8Tj25yRgYOHKeEDc26o/s320/271417_2203889657357_1250848528_32594579_4456427_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeUHU9KS6e-6i7Ra63U7UXuYD4T-5QAGlHCO7qsWHrLOr7swBUfvVrfPDiry-Q-g6GxWQoZVXhxrTfWNJDnBZBHMFPhKissI7r6dLE56X0AGx_d3GMj_7YyG6QqRzPx4uUQrnUbU4yXo/s1600/279206_2203893097443_1250848528_32594581_4134494_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeUHU9KS6e-6i7Ra63U7UXuYD4T-5QAGlHCO7qsWHrLOr7swBUfvVrfPDiry-Q-g6GxWQoZVXhxrTfWNJDnBZBHMFPhKissI7r6dLE56X0AGx_d3GMj_7YyG6QqRzPx4uUQrnUbU4yXo/s320/279206_2203893097443_1250848528_32594581_4134494_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gravel roads and windmills, both an exercise in simplicity and beauty. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud3qY72YEa4suFr5wSLlns2EWCpOF44HdUpk8jlEWZNYHPdElc-8D2pcBLGOnzBL9Ob7HPRtXfEzIg4GtnkB_qrPzLQnfoBmMvEhkDjh70KHWBFszUszSZn1dD7s-XJCj_FGMKG6q9zA/s1600/277419_2203895937514_1250848528_32594583_6046255_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiud3qY72YEa4suFr5wSLlns2EWCpOF44HdUpk8jlEWZNYHPdElc-8D2pcBLGOnzBL9Ob7HPRtXfEzIg4GtnkB_qrPzLQnfoBmMvEhkDjh70KHWBFszUszSZn1dD7s-XJCj_FGMKG6q9zA/s320/277419_2203895937514_1250848528_32594583_6046255_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clear Lake, Minnesota</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Here's a simplified map of my ride.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500px" id="mmf_blog_map" src="http://js.mapmyfitness.com/embed/blogview.html?r=528130981088435612&u=e&t=ride" width="400px">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/40032912"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Spirit Lake / Jackson 40 Mile Gravel / Blacktop Ride&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/?location=Jackson, MN"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Find more Cycling Routes / Bike Rides in Jackson, MN&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-44488309571137019922011-06-26T17:32:00.002-05:002011-06-26T18:02:29.481-05:00Bacon with a Side of Drizzle<b>Drizzle </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a1b16tHCgVMxT5VAtXBblvibZ3lgs9_VZL7jWOI5rNwdGDs5Oi83gYtDB4Ucg0S9RNC5w5E_pbyxYt83-EMAX_ktSCS4430MC30L19sv7gxQjmiY7RbQpyOvkUgYUOarXJ1mKph92ks/s1600/271248_2184853021453_1250848528_32567750_7447529_o.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a1b16tHCgVMxT5VAtXBblvibZ3lgs9_VZL7jWOI5rNwdGDs5Oi83gYtDB4Ucg0S9RNC5w5E_pbyxYt83-EMAX_ktSCS4430MC30L19sv7gxQjmiY7RbQpyOvkUgYUOarXJ1mKph92ks/s200/271248_2184853021453_1250848528_32567750_7447529_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd and Chris</td></tr>
</tbody></table>While the radar and forecast didn't call for rain, there was a drizzle that hung in the air for a few hours. This sucks for folks like me who wear glasses. I had to wipe them off every now and again, and came close to just riding myopically with no specs.<b> </b><br />
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<b>Fresh Meat</b> <br />
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The new guy, Todd, showed up on a brand new steel Allez with retro down tube shifters. Despite not having gravel tires and clipless pedals, he hung in there pretty good. I hope to see him out there on some other rides.<br />
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<b>Oh No! A Flat!</b> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyP2KL8NIQH5aWZ2-XliwdP4danZKCnP1FcV6Py5VxW7OGoEarWJUuL9L7SCmlzpIBe9xBkR_Rz-fNZOGvzG_qopt_AQ0dXVHRiAgGBMh0W6MzL3k5jlNdGo0PNGHDqa1vhRUKqUXOSM/s1600/266757_2184856981552_1250848528_32567751_361061_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRyP2KL8NIQH5aWZ2-XliwdP4danZKCnP1FcV6Py5VxW7OGoEarWJUuL9L7SCmlzpIBe9xBkR_Rz-fNZOGvzG_qopt_AQ0dXVHRiAgGBMh0W6MzL3k5jlNdGo0PNGHDqa1vhRUKqUXOSM/s200/266757_2184856981552_1250848528_32567751_361061_o.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinch flat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Somewhere near Richfield, Todd got a pinch flat. Chris, being a roadside flat tire expert (grin), took the lead in helping Todd unmount and remount the tire. I was pleased to offer the services of my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lezyne-Pressure-Drive-Hand-Gloss/dp/B002VDLR3S?ie=UTF8&tag=interbughoming0b&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Lezyne pump</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=interbughoming0b&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002VDLR3S" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> (see Amazon link below). It took his replacement road tube up to full pressure in just a few minutes. The pump has a dual headed hose, and mounts securely on my frame and doesn't rattle at all. I'm pretty sold on this pump.<br />
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<b>Lights and Loops: They Don't Mix</b><br />
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Somewhere along Mahoney Road, Todd's new Planet Bike Superflash (the new 1W version is plenty bright) bounced off his seat bag loop. He stopped to look for it while Chris and I rode on a mile or so before turning back to see what was up (oops!). Unfortunately, he couldn't find the light.<br />
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<b>What's the Toll? </b><br />
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We had a funny incident with the kid running the gate at Plate River State Park. This guy seemed like he was 14 years old, but it was amazing how he was running the show there. We stopped and asked how much for bikes (it's $4 for a daily pass for autos). He scratched his chin and said, "Hmm, I don't know. Bikes usually just ride on through. No one has ever stopped and asked."<br />
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Respecting his authority, I told him it was up to him to tell us, however, I offered $4 for the three of us, and reminded him that the bikes plus the riders was still way lighter on the roads on than a single auto. He looked at us, half smiling, but with a bit of sternness, making me think he'd charge us $4 each if he thought more about it. Again, I made my offer, handing over some cash, and thankfully, he accepted, giving me a sticker pass, which I put in my pocket (I'm not going to stick it on my bike). Whew! <br />
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</b><br />
<b>The Reward</b><br />
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We rolled into PRSP just in time to see Leah, Mark, and another Todd just getting ready to leave. Leah made the Bacon Ride after having won a race title just the day before. Wow, Leah!<br />
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Fortunately, they didn't not eat all of the food, as they indicated to me as we were parking the bikes.<br />
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Todd's plan was to call his wife to come out with the kids and spend some time at the park. <br />
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Unaware of each other's actions, both Todd and Chris paid for my breakfast (oops!). <br />
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<b>The Return</b><br />
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Chris and I rode back along the usual Fishery/Pflug route. It was pretty awesome. We seemed to take turns chasing each other, which might mean we were pretty well matched for the day's ride.<br />
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Around Walnut Creek, we decided to ride back through Papillion and La Vista to save some time, versus riding back on the creek trails. This worked out pretty well, since the residential streets protected us from the wind that was picking up.<br />
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About this time I'm beginning to notice this weird cramp/numbness with the toes on my right foot. Does anyone know what this is all about, and how to fix it? <br />
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I think after doing this ride several times, I'm finally able to remember all of the residential streets and turns to pass more swiftly through La Vista and Papillion, saving a few miles over riding the creek trails. I hope to do it next time without a cue sheet. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhh-Gscv4Pc_i4sXBkCi7nXSI76Uc82dofeLpS-XMHZ6HYLcBfkk3_6NWH3CphNWaKrU-8utbUnPDQedY3dY1dDVsUs5Ej-LBuxO28gqG_JpPnJpXYKfEYpJ1t3QCtTlqeYtynEVzEc/s1600/271791_2184872061929_1250848528_32567767_796291_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhh-Gscv4Pc_i4sXBkCi7nXSI76Uc82dofeLpS-XMHZ6HYLcBfkk3_6NWH3CphNWaKrU-8utbUnPDQedY3dY1dDVsUs5Ej-LBuxO28gqG_JpPnJpXYKfEYpJ1t3QCtTlqeYtynEVzEc/s200/271791_2184872061929_1250848528_32567767_796291_o.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A B-Cycle station near the Keystone Trail </td></tr>
</tbody></table>On the way back on the Keystone, we saw a woman riding a B-Cycle. We stopped at Aksarben Village to check them out. I think it might be fun if we all rode B-Cycles on the next Bacon Ride. That would be one heck of a workout.<br />
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<b>Ain't Gravel Fun?</b> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLx_h3ouKYIG8N-PcgtUn4gljr6e12M4jiQGRxJOPJ9VtU5JD4ZkQYyHRwx3ln8C4jfP9AuTIIR2r1jRlkVdQf1TLZt4o1j9LWxm-Yj0RBfHFalo8sTjsNJ2-51BxRGhCFp93d78zW4E/s1600/272432_2184860181632_1250848528_32567753_5332445_o.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLx_h3ouKYIG8N-PcgtUn4gljr6e12M4jiQGRxJOPJ9VtU5JD4ZkQYyHRwx3ln8C4jfP9AuTIIR2r1jRlkVdQf1TLZt4o1j9LWxm-Yj0RBfHFalo8sTjsNJ2-51BxRGhCFp93d78zW4E/s200/272432_2184860181632_1250848528_32567753_5332445_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todd climbs the Mahoney Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I enjoyed seeing some new roads, choosing Turkey Road out of Walnut Creek, and Mahoney Road out of Louisville. I just really enjoy riding gravel roads, and hope to be able to explore them all before they get paved over someday.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like trains!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5TZ4lpBnpKu3HdYaGE27Fn5ACP5r4f1WJVJvWFi5pxOtKS-kfz4_oMoupgwDZTXTMzl9nunGvq6VgVmQeeTsK41Q40NNRR_GMno6EB8fkkAaUnkCUMaT8kzH13jbdkTsEHbmujgmF7s/s1600/271321_2184863061704_1250848528_32567756_2456047_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5TZ4lpBnpKu3HdYaGE27Fn5ACP5r4f1WJVJvWFi5pxOtKS-kfz4_oMoupgwDZTXTMzl9nunGvq6VgVmQeeTsK41Q40NNRR_GMno6EB8fkkAaUnkCUMaT8kzH13jbdkTsEHbmujgmF7s/s200/271321_2184863061704_1250848528_32567756_2456047_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris likes trains, too. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a1b16tHCgVMxT5VAtXBblvibZ3lgs9_VZL7jWOI5rNwdGDs5Oi83gYtDB4Ucg0S9RNC5w5E_pbyxYt83-EMAX_ktSCS4430MC30L19sv7gxQjmiY7RbQpyOvkUgYUOarXJ1mKph92ks/s1600/271248_2184853021453_1250848528_32567750_7447529_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a1b16tHCgVMxT5VAtXBblvibZ3lgs9_VZL7jWOI5rNwdGDs5Oi83gYtDB4Ucg0S9RNC5w5E_pbyxYt83-EMAX_ktSCS4430MC30L19sv7gxQjmiY7RbQpyOvkUgYUOarXJ1mKph92ks/s1600/271248_2184853021453_1250848528_32567750_7447529_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4a1b16tHCgVMxT5VAtXBblvibZ3lgs9_VZL7jWOI5rNwdGDs5Oi83gYtDB4Ucg0S9RNC5w5E_pbyxYt83-EMAX_ktSCS4430MC30L19sv7gxQjmiY7RbQpyOvkUgYUOarXJ1mKph92ks/s1600/271248_2184853021453_1250848528_32567750_7447529_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-4953129256073603402011-06-12T15:55:00.001-05:002011-06-13T19:01:09.586-05:00Missouri River Flooding along Council Bluffs and Omaha Bike Trails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pell and I rode out Sunday morning to check out how flooding has affected bike facilities between the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in the north and the Veterans Memorial Bridge to the south. What we found wasn't surprising, giving the history of flooding in some of these areas, but it was nice to document them with photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please see the photos and captions below for some notes on the flooding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptmaWo1Rv0F54VeYa5OXhRA3_DbGcLVdZsWESgx4BXQGytbrqohNPPYAtvYWsAcIwaQbRjft7tx5cbgeiqkipzztT1Aq5NhRFmidQEAyMz85k249Cx7Ugi5_Mli9z0gYPEh-5rUUOxYU/s320/2011-River+Flooding+001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood Gate #8. Normally this is open to allow cyclists to access the Lewis and Clark Landing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKHoBl0F5kBZ14HRbHBMAAABxIm-AZqcdxeCHhT1dTMSPaY5zQRYd5oTfRwXxZa3esiDAs-LGyXxBFDJ27ahgcrQGOUUWv1kP6_JELe9iJoEVHCy-DHFW6lw2CxUpAMfgx-edWayCWr8/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKHoBl0F5kBZ14HRbHBMAAABxIm-AZqcdxeCHhT1dTMSPaY5zQRYd5oTfRwXxZa3esiDAs-LGyXxBFDJ27ahgcrQGOUUWv1kP6_JELe9iJoEVHCy-DHFW6lw2CxUpAMfgx-edWayCWr8/s320/2011-River+Flooding+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood Gate #8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagyvvp54Qa7wAHmI5FjVm_UXVaUMDtXXxtbAO2QXUvUy3lQKY9lwkrskgXu92pFAp3dO3UXpqMAwxlcbiOgRdVnPBLlVFXJo9KSbofyNUQQsqZGEEUkf9VnO1KnmCVkmHqP6bgYjP6NI/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagyvvp54Qa7wAHmI5FjVm_UXVaUMDtXXxtbAO2QXUvUy3lQKY9lwkrskgXu92pFAp3dO3UXpqMAwxlcbiOgRdVnPBLlVFXJo9KSbofyNUQQsqZGEEUkf9VnO1KnmCVkmHqP6bgYjP6NI/s320/2011-River+Flooding+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood Gate #8. Note the Bob Kerrey Bridge towers in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcR1SsLHszFdFWAnxEnfn2K3SjJ0S4g6vE5wmkGpg73y5KPtJIjW8rW1qWce9NrTgc6uysjJ6pOwTzZVbz0Y0R_Ii3GKfoTKSVsrjXHA0_GfFK3mishX6rSFUqHdHReuYkAwFQVrh8nE/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcR1SsLHszFdFWAnxEnfn2K3SjJ0S4g6vE5wmkGpg73y5KPtJIjW8rW1qWce9NrTgc6uysjJ6pOwTzZVbz0Y0R_Ii3GKfoTKSVsrjXHA0_GfFK3mishX6rSFUqHdHReuYkAwFQVrh8nE/s320/2011-River+Flooding+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water is only a couple of feet from the top of the walk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzejJSJThby642UQvhCPQ2VNAZTW7rHAlGRZekYSaFdtcujeCt_1OFxPvHyHjNPjriXdGk86bOnel2TZhfLR6QN1V1WddUAC0unI50BjjCqjPDQ67XSxFPr8uhbklbRkxjrDvpj0OZ2k/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzejJSJThby642UQvhCPQ2VNAZTW7rHAlGRZekYSaFdtcujeCt_1OFxPvHyHjNPjriXdGk86bOnel2TZhfLR6QN1V1WddUAC0unI50BjjCqjPDQ67XSxFPr8uhbklbRkxjrDvpj0OZ2k/s320/2011-River+Flooding+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the Omaha skyline from Council Bluffs. This section of levee appears to have been fortified.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUgvMsDIWtg-rtZ7CbskRvYWi4X_0OiohkzUFmJhKeCnIQSA4S2IDGVlZ532IDN2TDar-TWlG6kHXliHiitI-iAw1IUACk5jpHv1pEmNyOzNgLVbfzKjUq-sM8ql7xgVG-GdWMhb6wHo/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUgvMsDIWtg-rtZ7CbskRvYWi4X_0OiohkzUFmJhKeCnIQSA4S2IDGVlZ532IDN2TDar-TWlG6kHXliHiitI-iAw1IUACk5jpHv1pEmNyOzNgLVbfzKjUq-sM8ql7xgVG-GdWMhb6wHo/s320/2011-River+Flooding+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harrah's Casino parking lot is flooded. You can see geese on the gravel island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy30wNvz9iFt2I-2P4z8gzptF4ijkht1ek4R7VeqiXVzBmGYj17_Yn_klKVcEwVfDb423DGKBI0iHofWkmRF6h11oPTjgm1JVSLcE4LGxrhbUuZYOwNAxqYZe5rzmLfJoWlFxs5ureCw/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiy30wNvz9iFt2I-2P4z8gzptF4ijkht1ek4R7VeqiXVzBmGYj17_Yn_klKVcEwVfDb423DGKBI0iHofWkmRF6h11oPTjgm1JVSLcE4LGxrhbUuZYOwNAxqYZe5rzmLfJoWlFxs5ureCw/s320/2011-River+Flooding+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Iowa Riverfront Trail is officially closed heading south at Harrah's.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-PRgR-LQa4Vz19z31HWEfVOAXIgEHLDN-QARCga-yKsM7hz92qkrRxTUKxavnXRsYpXO8mLvnjZRzFLnv2Xn3dCehOEEa7opcbg1j67vOMZxcKHt0CXjKzmTE392AXHLnfuSjkxU0_0/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-PRgR-LQa4Vz19z31HWEfVOAXIgEHLDN-QARCga-yKsM7hz92qkrRxTUKxavnXRsYpXO8mLvnjZRzFLnv2Xn3dCehOEEa7opcbg1j67vOMZxcKHt0CXjKzmTE392AXHLnfuSjkxU0_0/s320/2011-River+Flooding+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bike trail passes underneath the parking garage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXE3KMyfM8GLp00YUvvMwSYcxU51Q5LvNNzJaHqDUBA1SSjyii0_JqSHquBgMigf_Pjz288COdv9nYiTdOhkgp5QN87F8031Ia3R-qMur9UKuNibdJrS994RR_mJB1__FbnjHVwDTaqY/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXE3KMyfM8GLp00YUvvMwSYcxU51Q5LvNNzJaHqDUBA1SSjyii0_JqSHquBgMigf_Pjz288COdv9nYiTdOhkgp5QN87F8031Ia3R-qMur9UKuNibdJrS994RR_mJB1__FbnjHVwDTaqY/s320/2011-River+Flooding+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The south side of the Harrah's Casino parking garage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutTH4c1GBwf1gZQvvpbIuRRkm7gQrpQAJkq6HbY34wsrPhhP8js-f1rkZVlyCqe8zRvf_M5lIX0AndhKL973K_x1ZPMEaMNVl3eZpm2o2QzWnGKmqrGXSy6c0bwK09TFjMqL64UtdsWQ/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutTH4c1GBwf1gZQvvpbIuRRkm7gQrpQAJkq6HbY34wsrPhhP8js-f1rkZVlyCqe8zRvf_M5lIX0AndhKL973K_x1ZPMEaMNVl3eZpm2o2QzWnGKmqrGXSy6c0bwK09TFjMqL64UtdsWQ/s320/2011-River+Flooding+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnT1jgdCsw7eKwemzQu-XhRB1fElzCPSx_yuMTQGLqlgqqT-utcH0gfCuRPMvMsHzJDk_OoNITjumDi3cZ0NL4w7p7umBHK3w-46HGvEDBAoMOzVpJFixnEe0xjx6zQsG1FWNvqL_nv4/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnT1jgdCsw7eKwemzQu-XhRB1fElzCPSx_yuMTQGLqlgqqT-utcH0gfCuRPMvMsHzJDk_OoNITjumDi3cZ0NL4w7p7umBHK3w-46HGvEDBAoMOzVpJFixnEe0xjx6zQsG1FWNvqL_nv4/s320/2011-River+Flooding+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDIRRwrYSMqK159f3bNqJEONpJeRmPy50Zp0feE3Or441rTA5h72M1Wum_xqw_4CoBwf5HE-U1-kEM4yQgXkCLVurJ5F7SoZRb7DXH7sdRsuTzKnerxo-TJRA7Xjj_tn_JQqaAD-sipQ/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDIRRwrYSMqK159f3bNqJEONpJeRmPy50Zp0feE3Or441rTA5h72M1Wum_xqw_4CoBwf5HE-U1-kEM4yQgXkCLVurJ5F7SoZRb7DXH7sdRsuTzKnerxo-TJRA7Xjj_tn_JQqaAD-sipQ/s320/2011-River+Flooding+012.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5kzy9TQAS0UYKsPDHOQhAEhuETUqi_pL8LEekxxp9hhUyROsex_hfAS0hekL8gfscvFsh9Bj9pEYS6mCv1zbLw4EeKJYaZnsdTAFFBG3VsImST6d6Lx9O2K60vz2ax7H6VvJ0OUPSUE/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41gGIq9mHfB-NAcNFDKScuwVRrRRN9vwvSgTJr6Skauyncsoto_SjDLYBjzALuYjpYMlsKxQXWTeauXL2t7A0EzVFFQOR1xQjkVPG9zHWrVqUjQVEjdZix4VQOCUNvGwHgZX6GzxdSSg/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41gGIq9mHfB-NAcNFDKScuwVRrRRN9vwvSgTJr6Skauyncsoto_SjDLYBjzALuYjpYMlsKxQXWTeauXL2t7A0EzVFFQOR1xQjkVPG9zHWrVqUjQVEjdZix4VQOCUNvGwHgZX6GzxdSSg/s320/2011-River+Flooding+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This water level photo shows the bike path simply slipping underneath the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWN5IdqSi6kkex57MXEYjvkqEIXCpSECCJeaq4-E-aomT0XEFnTTnX4nFxDyMCRXsagIhlDGWMWYu5l0TfDaMaoDRdinfE28FfHNQAzhRcxOku_BN9y6FAMf7iBpRIIFjNIE4VHr87xQ/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWN5IdqSi6kkex57MXEYjvkqEIXCpSECCJeaq4-E-aomT0XEFnTTnX4nFxDyMCRXsagIhlDGWMWYu5l0TfDaMaoDRdinfE28FfHNQAzhRcxOku_BN9y6FAMf7iBpRIIFjNIE4VHr87xQ/s320/2011-River+Flooding+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The north side of the Ameristar Casino is flooded, as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv00TEhJcOB2wRNwI5FdkWj5A8tZpB_P1r5ur3IGP6XKK9Ix1SuQi_y_B2kKRtQp0_stqzfU7eiHsfr2iQWcPc9ycqbz8LQ3-mRDgLZuJMAnoSLsrjDThwaRa7IyN6-9jHDu_LaSvoEc/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQv00TEhJcOB2wRNwI5FdkWj5A8tZpB_P1r5ur3IGP6XKK9Ix1SuQi_y_B2kKRtQp0_stqzfU7eiHsfr2iQWcPc9ycqbz8LQ3-mRDgLZuJMAnoSLsrjDThwaRa7IyN6-9jHDu_LaSvoEc/s320/2011-River+Flooding+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Iowa Riverfront Trail heading north is officially closed between Ameristar and Harrah's. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnhqyxZbBlVQ368Ptj55OL5Wiif-msu_oPs5YmcAatDhv8zRj6Wn26ose69HMSqsTop-XKOe1I9zsHcFuy06495R3kHccxTOpAIr-N0xi8dBgAORZQvOA4Wyh04sdNoOjUbu5UmHzk_g/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzGk9Xqbep-i8g38Jn7bZtaQCr57V9UJw5JY7z30Km7Lq6MeEFr3Sju9iP4_RLCXPOMpyHQ4FpMvB_KFaZp8bI1MVdGOMpovMtsmA9-MLF1WqFr5c0zfxiefzcPVS8T7gFpEU3qRRQJM/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzGk9Xqbep-i8g38Jn7bZtaQCr57V9UJw5JY7z30Km7Lq6MeEFr3Sju9iP4_RLCXPOMpyHQ4FpMvB_KFaZp8bI1MVdGOMpovMtsmA9-MLF1WqFr5c0zfxiefzcPVS8T7gFpEU3qRRQJM/s320/2011-River+Flooding+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only is the bike trail closed heading south on River Road from Ameristar Casino, the road itself is closed. Note the private security protecting the pumps and hoses running across the street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm45CRBs2pGfbZoiET3gs5OvB5LxVa2KI-Ax03AMBnOYPMnlWLTiW2DH6a6ahbZi7cFYOFOIIx-QxRMuI25RRHV22xG58yBMWqYUsaD4suqZJt6axdCAD6KtQyfyDSpDPJNr04UmwORpU/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm45CRBs2pGfbZoiET3gs5OvB5LxVa2KI-Ax03AMBnOYPMnlWLTiW2DH6a6ahbZi7cFYOFOIIx-QxRMuI25RRHV22xG58yBMWqYUsaD4suqZJt6axdCAD6KtQyfyDSpDPJNr04UmwORpU/s320/2011-River+Flooding+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The levee road heading south from the Western Historic Trails Center is closed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPXizVylwp-AoUIptyu8QmlWbqQND-V8Mwe7OexjturjJ-2LlXNY0M2zj2BQvbgR84AjwEQqRkghMZ3X95SWz3Eo1r4By3hafn2dOv-4GLRWFI8ut9uHUlV4IhKLg0ad5a2peePnWq_M/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPXizVylwp-AoUIptyu8QmlWbqQND-V8Mwe7OexjturjJ-2LlXNY0M2zj2BQvbgR84AjwEQqRkghMZ3X95SWz3Eo1r4By3hafn2dOv-4GLRWFI8ut9uHUlV4IhKLg0ad5a2peePnWq_M/s320/2011-River+Flooding+020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail heading west from the Western Historic Trails Center is closed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8a8zbDBfnF67Uus5zC855mreMNbGIPcMyzpGx6ZuzBxfkAH2KlNzQouCgPwfb2A_SvDXyTwQLeGKQv3iFBp0B8oogKEeho1lm_QlMLajKeeMAO_VpQOM7qK7vDWfHuqITuxk1THLXIs/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8a8zbDBfnF67Uus5zC855mreMNbGIPcMyzpGx6ZuzBxfkAH2KlNzQouCgPwfb2A_SvDXyTwQLeGKQv3iFBp0B8oogKEeho1lm_QlMLajKeeMAO_VpQOM7qK7vDWfHuqITuxk1THLXIs/s320/2011-River+Flooding+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is why it's closed. The trail is under 5-10 feet of water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
From this point on, we rode east to 24th Street in Council Bluffs and picked up the sidepath on Highway 92/275 (Veterans Memorial Parkway) and headed east back toward the South Omaha Bridge.<br />
<br />
The trail is almost complete. There's a missing section between the bridge and a block or so to the east. The cement sidepath on toward the Willow's Motel is done, but still has "Sidewalk Closed" signs posted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9rc-b4GVbJHDFfj25FW6jwQ-SIBsX-vr35lAq_B118DvDGFJNAGpXZwJZY8mW1B9m7z7wgW3itugaQA_4YA6IUYDCRaYwYOSrfW6fOXvSzXStd-iazMHy3cbMMi5MAatwkzwBBtZ9ro/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9rc-b4GVbJHDFfj25FW6jwQ-SIBsX-vr35lAq_B118DvDGFJNAGpXZwJZY8mW1B9m7z7wgW3itugaQA_4YA6IUYDCRaYwYOSrfW6fOXvSzXStd-iazMHy3cbMMi5MAatwkzwBBtZ9ro/s320/2011-River+Flooding+022.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwTkhAefzxSi_cx_h0qbYHIyRQz6Cz-IO36PAQd-giJcepOLdwbQ5emLGfU8700NnawyG09rvPNFoLPXbqmnaracow_pVKnbQSqb6HsgF69mjMb0IfVjL9fqwAc5JPe4xs_KxFbJuaGA/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwTkhAefzxSi_cx_h0qbYHIyRQz6Cz-IO36PAQd-giJcepOLdwbQ5emLGfU8700NnawyG09rvPNFoLPXbqmnaracow_pVKnbQSqb6HsgF69mjMb0IfVjL9fqwAc5JPe4xs_KxFbJuaGA/s320/2011-River+Flooding+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This used to be a gravel parking lot and trail access for dirt bike and ATV operators.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBl-TwFCN5FJSjfbbz6CTYgupU4iLG7VZJhvzPGb8OXCho4ogFX5c176UkZGoQ-7yGx6q6bSKmASivYeDBmRO4LASoZ_XO3n5JkEZpSzKBXSBy-m6GRBN2C08Rqm0nWdWBKSuZVwMF5w/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBl-TwFCN5FJSjfbbz6CTYgupU4iLG7VZJhvzPGb8OXCho4ogFX5c176UkZGoQ-7yGx6q6bSKmASivYeDBmRO4LASoZ_XO3n5JkEZpSzKBXSBy-m6GRBN2C08Rqm0nWdWBKSuZVwMF5w/s320/2011-River+Flooding+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZSuUIE_MNoJ1yBmDCpz8WIB5PDwa_wb9SijHJKIScsvt9iS6_2pp8Q3KCQ8yydzWuiJC48gL2V9VEeEeTc_DIyyWj50zoVQlUrTsqbbgECuN2_oOgnKv9sRuJAG22HcxAF9w5RAdIyo/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZSuUIE_MNoJ1yBmDCpz8WIB5PDwa_wb9SijHJKIScsvt9iS6_2pp8Q3KCQ8yydzWuiJC48gL2V9VEeEeTc_DIyyWj50zoVQlUrTsqbbgECuN2_oOgnKv9sRuJAG22HcxAF9w5RAdIyo/s320/2011-River+Flooding+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks like the river, but it's actually the motocross park just east of the river.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ6Bipv01z6ZsUrwHGeQh0tx2-ZQetlKpz0fZBvBTv4ww7a8OkkM7LUBgakt0mRSs2JQmwRbY158486DMln5luSo7tQW7xy1gPdIb8JaeWF3dwhW6rDavrICr5AFZTPa6JZ2enIebU10/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQ6Bipv01z6ZsUrwHGeQh0tx2-ZQetlKpz0fZBvBTv4ww7a8OkkM7LUBgakt0mRSs2JQmwRbY158486DMln5luSo7tQW7xy1gPdIb8JaeWF3dwhW6rDavrICr5AFZTPa6JZ2enIebU10/s320/2011-River+Flooding+027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Missouri River as seen from the Veterans Memorial Bridge bike path.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8dGGl_o_E8R6gIf9BbVpOaErhZW-I1gRteRr6T-cFrXMbxDYON7qc1b8QeoRmThDyo6V67Pzh5ndLbLDrn2qLx4DPF-Q2Wr9L6hyphenhyphenHvDyJaXbAEEV4kqcwK3s53hRF7TqRJLbCT8qW-U/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8dGGl_o_E8R6gIf9BbVpOaErhZW-I1gRteRr6T-cFrXMbxDYON7qc1b8QeoRmThDyo6V67Pzh5ndLbLDrn2qLx4DPF-Q2Wr9L6hyphenhyphenHvDyJaXbAEEV4kqcwK3s53hRF7TqRJLbCT8qW-U/s320/2011-River+Flooding+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the first time I've seen the Omaha Riverfront Trail gate open north of the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Cyclists normally have to lift their bikes over the gate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqCk-tP6rks63VIsMIkn2nEarMdxkejthgOz0lglUkHryn1Kf9X7hccX0ukAamFOzldlVy-4NptUC5I_VxsjR746L9jKw-qlUckoqA9EfQKHQINNuPqbXZUpOpwoTX0fWLsYAK-6qoD0/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqCk-tP6rks63VIsMIkn2nEarMdxkejthgOz0lglUkHryn1Kf9X7hccX0ukAamFOzldlVy-4NptUC5I_VxsjR746L9jKw-qlUckoqA9EfQKHQINNuPqbXZUpOpwoTX0fWLsYAK-6qoD0/s320/2011-River+Flooding+030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This ramp was constructed to allow vehicles to pass over the pump hoses.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHokwwRxAJpTVy1Yc0B2gDDaLoiEq0edC1lxa7l3fjUfU2VuBm82oyUJisswIcnPHj5XrTjDQeP9u4TejWJNB42ZrkQMOVHh4OEWx9LGHBi82Ik-oobFDacGjKcpwx7jsZbaT1aKpf2Xo/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHokwwRxAJpTVy1Yc0B2gDDaLoiEq0edC1lxa7l3fjUfU2VuBm82oyUJisswIcnPHj5XrTjDQeP9u4TejWJNB42ZrkQMOVHh4OEWx9LGHBi82Ik-oobFDacGjKcpwx7jsZbaT1aKpf2Xo/s320/2011-River+Flooding+031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZyPAhYbN4pF9UNZcFslXBY4xU6dxet_QEkAUf4wVMhWzALZkl-nKtkENEkBwOajecdXF8F9QtgYe2borCem0tQOKMvMCk5jyNPpk5-xe-mrFkIz1Fpc2VXeA3F3znY1W4DdGxN3ZgMo/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZyPAhYbN4pF9UNZcFslXBY4xU6dxet_QEkAUf4wVMhWzALZkl-nKtkENEkBwOajecdXF8F9QtgYe2borCem0tQOKMvMCk5jyNPpk5-xe-mrFkIz1Fpc2VXeA3F3znY1W4DdGxN3ZgMo/s320/2011-River+Flooding+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This facility is protected by sandbags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO0iqMo5oHmjQIAzvbUP9mx_BD52HxidQBUnT8ilvMxYpq0M4IaO6905KXcV7JmGZgqkM7KxIRpxVQeWI2ItmbZCMINVNehOa26cT3x5e6ZNsmJVudmZSM2duYXi4pEPzM8i9Jdn90VQ/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO0iqMo5oHmjQIAzvbUP9mx_BD52HxidQBUnT8ilvMxYpq0M4IaO6905KXcV7JmGZgqkM7KxIRpxVQeWI2ItmbZCMINVNehOa26cT3x5e6ZNsmJVudmZSM2duYXi4pEPzM8i9Jdn90VQ/s320/2011-River+Flooding+033.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water is pumped across the levee back into a spillway to the Missouri River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPILrnQIM9xGIeTE56CotuMebwsXWl0b0s40X8QssD5e7eEfwJA3vksZfdxL-Ts3n5r5oxWTBn8Mc2YrMODbslzDQI2M86KVQn1pMmiQuc7dYr23CPFxqrsh9qsiYQ1xVT9OBha6W3_8/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPILrnQIM9xGIeTE56CotuMebwsXWl0b0s40X8QssD5e7eEfwJA3vksZfdxL-Ts3n5r5oxWTBn8Mc2YrMODbslzDQI2M86KVQn1pMmiQuc7dYr23CPFxqrsh9qsiYQ1xVT9OBha6W3_8/s320/2011-River+Flooding+034.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjzNCUisFsRaa272IUQvsVRdIETFLaVUsJKA-aY0gvAII6sFdQq4-t4-lHgsxIo32yfQwHcQLlzY3h6p8yHZHWJJFMz4ipMv-JtAgR5K-fRvR797c26xjCqmfmmkVDidwb43JPnkLxMU/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjzNCUisFsRaa272IUQvsVRdIETFLaVUsJKA-aY0gvAII6sFdQq4-t4-lHgsxIo32yfQwHcQLlzY3h6p8yHZHWJJFMz4ipMv-JtAgR5K-fRvR797c26xjCqmfmmkVDidwb43JPnkLxMU/s320/2011-River+Flooding+035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjQWgsvK-QrQTLEG626O1sHQ7NAv2HGur-OuJJDnX5Ra9QzYBka9KwZqIRv0O0CqJnj00I9e6QZWXkxddST8lEV432DFPCylSIFJYliMolQUEMBmxnHjLH6SrQTFLYG1R6iq5eqUdX9M/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjQWgsvK-QrQTLEG626O1sHQ7NAv2HGur-OuJJDnX5Ra9QzYBka9KwZqIRv0O0CqJnj00I9e6QZWXkxddST8lEV432DFPCylSIFJYliMolQUEMBmxnHjLH6SrQTFLYG1R6iq5eqUdX9M/s320/2011-River+Flooding+036.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vzzlxa4qctFWrjHS-kKV3V8ysmIQODJmoJMQROh00-qrWlPblKkno2B8xpNoRjdoeDVwkWyzX1HyEBuO5WqPgfaKoLB7q1MlZ9WUSBqF7YPAqxhMprPCnz_7dC194sJRZNX1UgbFHBw/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vzzlxa4qctFWrjHS-kKV3V8ysmIQODJmoJMQROh00-qrWlPblKkno2B8xpNoRjdoeDVwkWyzX1HyEBuO5WqPgfaKoLB7q1MlZ9WUSBqF7YPAqxhMprPCnz_7dC194sJRZNX1UgbFHBw/s320/2011-River+Flooding+037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pumps here were humming, creating quite a noise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZfzsOXMknZTbRAaISBVpOAVnGhIZljGnRiFr-EvUIjmYAPJKdqCOVeWjOeK5Q79mqUCOjKmWQszs1GHSbsTY4zzfU8hOCSDnQ2JDZcuJfjUaOuXjZn-8F9nafxrz52f86Z22L9YFek8/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZfzsOXMknZTbRAaISBVpOAVnGhIZljGnRiFr-EvUIjmYAPJKdqCOVeWjOeK5Q79mqUCOjKmWQszs1GHSbsTY4zzfU8hOCSDnQ2JDZcuJfjUaOuXjZn-8F9nafxrz52f86Z22L9YFek8/s320/2011-River+Flooding+038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These hoses were not protected. To our surprise, a a guy out siteseeing in his pickup truck drive right over the hoses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAQR5GeOKjLoNockP5e-5Ra9jcZYIkNvHFcD4Awn0DfbEcp8UFnebzYpJ8TNkN9op1Y6tHAIOuW3a0V1mrd8tlcL8phO5Qc-hZecSkaHKCPt21ES1aVV8EQmTKvHd_DW5DWeGt0wp7uE/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAQR5GeOKjLoNockP5e-5Ra9jcZYIkNvHFcD4Awn0DfbEcp8UFnebzYpJ8TNkN9op1Y6tHAIOuW3a0V1mrd8tlcL8phO5Qc-hZecSkaHKCPt21ES1aVV8EQmTKvHd_DW5DWeGt0wp7uE/s320/2011-River+Flooding+039.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUWy4TD8C16tUOHPjaxlTC16GHbNbLT4wcKKYgqA7c_oUd2rMVayIgJx-tEBnBeSf45oYYVW1YcMneqsmMA2qo81dV1Ii-zpiliW7kaF1cYZ4btpr4qwHQbQh5EFmZqQBUsnnLo0rxto/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUWy4TD8C16tUOHPjaxlTC16GHbNbLT4wcKKYgqA7c_oUd2rMVayIgJx-tEBnBeSf45oYYVW1YcMneqsmMA2qo81dV1Ii-zpiliW7kaF1cYZ4btpr4qwHQbQh5EFmZqQBUsnnLo0rxto/s320/2011-River+Flooding+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are several cabins and trailers on the wet side of the levee. I wonder if they will come back after the water recede.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjHHfvOXrKFiDNwWDbD7fQhQcTqhcNVxE8vFx4AGSxtt-uYAD5yUkhmQCC1Z_u-NJdfkAix5Gjx1OffRX9ueSzuNOuLxy0RkAc9Wi8H17kxSgM9YTNgfCtNWk9KAXwC4_XyifYxUGTjA/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjHHfvOXrKFiDNwWDbD7fQhQcTqhcNVxE8vFx4AGSxtt-uYAD5yUkhmQCC1Z_u-NJdfkAix5Gjx1OffRX9ueSzuNOuLxy0RkAc9Wi8H17kxSgM9YTNgfCtNWk9KAXwC4_XyifYxUGTjA/s320/2011-River+Flooding+041.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This house is underwater.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCR1W98bMgafjNstfD8K_1daz8zN8Y1nJ9iExzUS39TEvtIVcqsR2r0rw5aXeYGyM4jFWzCMl9jQ3h5x6hlu5_4dkJxOquUGwdvdZTktAMU0yjTGbrHA7VY40YSl8Qd_a9gzjiJjTkug/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCR1W98bMgafjNstfD8K_1daz8zN8Y1nJ9iExzUS39TEvtIVcqsR2r0rw5aXeYGyM4jFWzCMl9jQ3h5x6hlu5_4dkJxOquUGwdvdZTktAMU0yjTGbrHA7VY40YSl8Qd_a9gzjiJjTkug/s320/2011-River+Flooding+042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2zbklpQLl-AlEpQmRDur7tdN8YNKoyNOKq5Tqel8fVhIKQwbacdTjEGqdu-WLUW3ooIlUU5jT0B2db79V5u3omvTTbHUAeZfEqZAYL8GUEFBHl-fmCOc2ZVayB8NZOLUtaQv1zS0VyI/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2zbklpQLl-AlEpQmRDur7tdN8YNKoyNOKq5Tqel8fVhIKQwbacdTjEGqdu-WLUW3ooIlUU5jT0B2db79V5u3omvTTbHUAeZfEqZAYL8GUEFBHl-fmCOc2ZVayB8NZOLUtaQv1zS0VyI/s320/2011-River+Flooding+043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_-4Qhenz9wrNjXXCRQgXnrAi4XbiKoMnnP-MhIO8mz5j13ETIqCHMpGeH-o6XrdqS46GHTjxazTurQ0TJajnLCVFaHWw9OKV5d2C6q-HiyjRDsWSi7zPTadPfLtSJ-a9w4_4bAvHnHQ/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_-4Qhenz9wrNjXXCRQgXnrAi4XbiKoMnnP-MhIO8mz5j13ETIqCHMpGeH-o6XrdqS46GHTjxazTurQ0TJajnLCVFaHWw9OKV5d2C6q-HiyjRDsWSi7zPTadPfLtSJ-a9w4_4bAvHnHQ/s320/2011-River+Flooding+045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf2W9IawXUYTXP4aFfOYmJjpqNzJdg5dl8Aa2u-gzTyX69AcJC7fTzwQU14JZVlyr69xrfn65XPB8SjZCKROnjVxETig7qAdmG9KEV1_vgJ6HkEDaESbqaKT2jjcM3ueK27RNjNo3MX4/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf2W9IawXUYTXP4aFfOYmJjpqNzJdg5dl8Aa2u-gzTyX69AcJC7fTzwQU14JZVlyr69xrfn65XPB8SjZCKROnjVxETig7qAdmG9KEV1_vgJ6HkEDaESbqaKT2jjcM3ueK27RNjNo3MX4/s320/2011-River+Flooding+046.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I heard that these ramps will flat a bike tire instantly. I didn't even risk it, preferring to walk my bike over it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGW8qwZgSEy1cG014xe6Wum_gO-u-LLUa6a3wTRe_mtfLcW61bXIRjtjQEGqJLUuJhpw4wcy-f44T8w6xdKUG-5jdj3UGGYs6OPJsExo_6ciSKIi0Iq71b1yYkP5QSfupkFYk9wMS-bk/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGW8qwZgSEy1cG014xe6Wum_gO-u-LLUa6a3wTRe_mtfLcW61bXIRjtjQEGqJLUuJhpw4wcy-f44T8w6xdKUG-5jdj3UGGYs6OPJsExo_6ciSKIi0Iq71b1yYkP5QSfupkFYk9wMS-bk/s320/2011-River+Flooding+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those welded on grips look very sharp to a high pressure tire.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzIGE1_86h2qgjl3_BPS7oUVg4E0bZcmJgCQCTmW70KeqkmGYWueciVt1U5h4E9TLb7N53ZjZafxGFCRABPui0Iphdadr77H8cB4xx2KEYpO3NlD99Bo8t1nhdU5Yuz5XHkdQKdCM3o4/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzIGE1_86h2qgjl3_BPS7oUVg4E0bZcmJgCQCTmW70KeqkmGYWueciVt1U5h4E9TLb7N53ZjZafxGFCRABPui0Iphdadr77H8cB4xx2KEYpO3NlD99Bo8t1nhdU5Yuz5XHkdQKdCM3o4/s320/2011-River+Flooding+048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gate on the trail at Hickory Street was closed. There was an OPD cruiser waiting, presumably for the guy in the truck. The officers didn't say anything to us, but followed us on out to Hickory Street, moving barricades back into the street.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJf8pfd0A-curNeVuShwnBF1CsR7EamD6ZGMdPF1kVN_P8DBBuxisDH-wWpyf1NvCypCe-35S0Vta9-7eSB520e_Wc3leuabKNvRKEUdlG_ig9x7dWX23_mK-uinXapnYOCDX0u6r5KU/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJf8pfd0A-curNeVuShwnBF1CsR7EamD6ZGMdPF1kVN_P8DBBuxisDH-wWpyf1NvCypCe-35S0Vta9-7eSB520e_Wc3leuabKNvRKEUdlG_ig9x7dWX23_mK-uinXapnYOCDX0u6r5KU/s320/2011-River+Flooding+049.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And for fun, Pell and I rode up Hickory Street Hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XUIN_FKdXX7mL85tOvnmNz0SSsdIBGk65DXKh2kKwfb_6-5iYZKREgWjcjkNqIKJObYS7AwtmJliVWJOqLqKB0gcmfj40yC9-wKAwelhyD6aiaBOqKz5Fn1KpuVu3mWABidBjCnezVk/s1600/2011-River+Flooding+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XUIN_FKdXX7mL85tOvnmNz0SSsdIBGk65DXKh2kKwfb_6-5iYZKREgWjcjkNqIKJObYS7AwtmJliVWJOqLqKB0gcmfj40yC9-wKAwelhyD6aiaBOqKz5Fn1KpuVu3mWABidBjCnezVk/s320/2011-River+Flooding+050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this view from the top of the hill in the Dahlman neighborhood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'd like to do a similar trip showing the Omaha and Council Bluffs trails heading north from downtown.<br />
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If you know of any other interesting spots showing flooding, please discuss below.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-46060367463605306322011-06-06T20:20:00.000-05:002011-06-06T20:20:01.825-05:00Omaha to Shenandoah for Lunch: 120 easy milesMy brother and I did it in October. Chris G. rode along for part of he trip. If you missed out in the fall, here's your chance to give it a try. <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2010/10/lunch-anyone-shenandoah-sounds-good.html">Read the post and see the route from October</a>.<br />
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Saturday, June 18, 2011, Chris and I, and anyone else who wants to come along, will be leaving Turner Park at 6am and riding to El Portal in Shenandoah for thousands of calories of Mexican goodness.<br />
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If you want to come along, <a href="http://grouprideomaha.blogspot.com/2011/06/shenandoah-lunch-ride-in-june.html">check out the details here</a>.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-14972399942240109562011-04-08T07:23:00.000-05:002011-04-08T07:23:04.154-05:00Let Us Not ForgetI left my helmet at friend's house the other day and my fenders at home.<br />
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How does one forget a helmet? Twice, I've done it now. It's not so hard in the cooler months when I put on a cap under my helmet. With the snug fit and the brim visible over the brow, it's easy to pedal off thinking the helmet is on.<br />
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Cautiously, I pedaled off, paranoid that I'd hit some sand or crack and send my skull into a no win altercation with the street. However, that feeling gave way to a sense of freedom. Is this what it feels like to ride in Amsterdam? A couple of potholes and a close pass from a car reminded me that this is Nebraska, and though I may never fall, I really need to keep my noggin protected, just in case. <br />
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Yesterday I forgot my fenders and my feet got soaked on the way home from work in the rain. <br />
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Fenders seem like an odd thing to forget. My Earl has these groovy quick release fenders. These aren't your dad's quick release fenders, with the flimsy rubber straps and thin wire stays that need constant adjustment. These are sturdy fenders that connect into permanent mounts that stay on the bike. When the fenders are mounted, they look and feel like permanently installed fenders.<br />
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I removed the fenders earlier in the week when it was so windy with 20-40 MPH gusts. I figured it would be one less thing to catch the wind and slow my commutes. Well, lazy me, didn't think to remount the fenders before the rain. Most of me and my gear stayed dry, but I'd forgotten just how much fenders do to keep the feet from getting drenched.<br />
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You can see some <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-bikes-name-is-earl.html">photos of quick release fender mounts here</a>.<br />
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Please share stories of things you've forgotten to bring on a bike ride in the comments below.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-40161529520942538762011-01-02T21:30:00.000-06:002011-01-02T21:30:37.947-06:00Goodbye Fat Jeans. Hello Skinny!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This post isn't exactly about cycling, but cycling plays such an important role in the subject.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two and one-half years ago <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2008/08/about-redd-shift-blog.html">I started commuting to work by bicycle</a> to save money and to attempt to get into shape. I enjoyed bike commuting, but also began incorporating cycling into my daily life. I learned to ride my bike, not only to work, but for grocery shopping, errands, and for fun. I made many cycling friends and have since been on many long rides, as many as <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2010/10/lunch-anyone-shenandoah-sounds-good.html">120 miles in a day</a>. I've since moved closer to town and in addition to cycling to work, I can easily walk to work, the grocery store, movies, bars, restaurants, etc. Basically, I've tried to simplify and orient my lifestyle around active transportation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I started cycling to work, I weighed about 213 pounds. I was able to get down to 188 within a year by cycling alone. Then this summer, I decided to shift fitness into high gear by joining Weight Watchers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After five months, I am now down to 165 pounds. As an aside, I weighed 250 pounds about 10 years ago, and lost a lot of that by switching to a vegan diet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between cycling and sensible eating using the Weight Watcher system, I have lost almost 50 pounds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I count back to 2001, when I was at my heaviest, I have lost a total of 85 pounds, most of it lost by diet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So now that I'm at a weight I like (perhaps even lighter than I was when I graduated high school), my plan now is to perform regular workouts to get into a better form and shape, both for cycling and general fitness. So far, my sessions with a personal trainer are proving to be both fun, and productive. I've lost another inch around my waist, and gained a little around my chest and arms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you've made it this far into my seemingly self-gratifying post, please note that this isn't about bragging. Simply, I want to pass along to anyone reading this that weight loss is, indeed, possible, and within reach. As a lifelong pudgy guy, I always thought the natural order of things was to get fatter and fatter as I aged. Between my diet and exercise, I'm finding that it's not only possible to lose and keep off weight, but once the proper mind frame and motivation is found, it's not as hard and I imagined.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IQfXLVBambfGBXf2C2yJj9HR4A-T1XSN7WeL1w0byr_z3M3XqDpfZQiUsmB5wE4grBS0H6742ULKzHwIctlqXJjM6so8Yg2woPhA53RFSbt2UIp3zgqXwsQShh3VclG1zNGf88Bo6dw/s320/2010+Lost+Weight+006.jpg" width="240" /></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0etKtX0OBvjlmQauFPNsxf54BpRFtxr-ef26gzsBy8kBtuMX118SRKFfBsDItO_EXzzx_we-F4sE_TNqFepaU1atmJ7TB3UqILIq21EUEvngbzlyCZogsHE5AVpb8GrpczFsRnXN6WWI/s1600/2010+Lost+Weight+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0etKtX0OBvjlmQauFPNsxf54BpRFtxr-ef26gzsBy8kBtuMX118SRKFfBsDItO_EXzzx_we-F4sE_TNqFepaU1atmJ7TB3UqILIq21EUEvngbzlyCZogsHE5AVpb8GrpczFsRnXN6WWI/s320/2010+Lost+Weight+017.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many pairs of fat jeans are going to Goodwill. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I much prefer the new skinny ones.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLUngnNnWNDKLzYqK4KKzJ7FTExhhrD4viPr91fvVimE0WxBrBeTZaRhKD9-aS4shNHEDSMf9t98iPlekv-ba2rlXEfBicoGpXH2qQPD32es6ItB5QjZaZh_utpYD7gpdW-beq8PCqV0/s1600/ww-chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLUngnNnWNDKLzYqK4KKzJ7FTExhhrD4viPr91fvVimE0WxBrBeTZaRhKD9-aS4shNHEDSMf9t98iPlekv-ba2rlXEfBicoGpXH2qQPD32es6ItB5QjZaZh_utpYD7gpdW-beq8PCqV0/s320/ww-chart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Weight Watchers tool help me track my progress.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'd be remiss if I didn't shout out to <a href="http://bamajason.blogspot.com/">my brother, Jason</a>, who, over the past year, has lost 118 pounds through cycling. He really put the fire under me and inspired me to get more serious with my weight loss plans. Thanks, bro.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=interbughoming0b&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0471705284&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-61304254444336094302010-12-15T18:38:00.010-06:002010-12-15T19:41:35.841-06:002010 Omaha Bike De'LightsThe <a href="http://bikeomaha.blogspot.com/2010/11/2010-bike-delights.html">2010 Omaha Bike De'Lights ride</a> was Friday, December 10.<br /><br />Here are my photos and video from the fun event.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Videos</span><br /><br /><div><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JV84u0zm9Uw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JV84u0zm9Uw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SPqw1JBO21c?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SPqw1JBO21c?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photos</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpmpYJaudG5Fgyazg22DCPfRGKRvsL6FzeBh9Mwo2lrV9ukig1YReS3qNz0x58vykiV4-BDSetoTJS8JzuHj4L3LO3sH_S3efmnbNPCywGwXJ1SUa1XO51KDcYg9NXrZExhqqJDsdHwg/s1600/2010+Unsorted+204.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpmpYJaudG5Fgyazg22DCPfRGKRvsL6FzeBh9Mwo2lrV9ukig1YReS3qNz0x58vykiV4-BDSetoTJS8JzuHj4L3LO3sH_S3efmnbNPCywGwXJ1SUa1XO51KDcYg9NXrZExhqqJDsdHwg/s320/2010+Unsorted+204.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551080559946818978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xGFe1UO4w6515DBpjGvB0TirIQ2nspe83ep1uwVnscKO_VewpW1-fMe2VNxpTfendBo1Dl2mUi4I9VJDu7t_mMYVQcCt4rsk4Sny-aSJz67ZoV14ZSZCQRCxq2YSaEy4C-QVbgONFDY/s1600/2010+Unsorted+205.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xGFe1UO4w6515DBpjGvB0TirIQ2nspe83ep1uwVnscKO_VewpW1-fMe2VNxpTfendBo1Dl2mUi4I9VJDu7t_mMYVQcCt4rsk4Sny-aSJz67ZoV14ZSZCQRCxq2YSaEy4C-QVbgONFDY/s320/2010+Unsorted+205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551080551035830466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVwNUOOK463O8BqJy9pDOsdDm67zDtCk7rD15ksarQTldkUSKewsKBSMDXoPyltOy3Bn1-18MU1iLYseFtlLTyHhjxY26AvpUnkYHT4EaYKHYN9eAhLK5vG36L1nlEyYvwuAT_tA07yE/s1600/2010+Unsorted+206.jpg"><img style="display: block; 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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiczwhm1GhGxyIbVdR1BfPP3921uKcA5B2e03vfFmqhqxILSY5u3PWD9INOY7L1j307h8N1Y_bGpwc9DT7LSEQjlgklsk4xN9UR9YNlk1XJsmYo-u6yYGh_XU4KEDOFbtbcql5rYuUQuY/s320/2010+Unsorted+1701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551075231845540642" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/206342267.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1292462581&Signature=U09Bu0w4tKmf5vMTIORdhEcaKpU%3D"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 803px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/206342267.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1292462581&Signature=U09Bu0w4tKmf5vMTIORdhEcaKpU%3D" alt="" border="0" /></a>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-68552216535274384422010-11-01T20:36:00.004-05:002010-11-01T21:03:12.427-05:00Getting Ready for WinterFor you readers in climes where it snows and ices over, I can assure you that you can, indeed, continue bike commuting through the winter. In my <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2010/10/skinny-rims-fat-tires.html">last post</a>, you'll recall that I fitted some 35mm studded tires to my Trek Earl. The fit was tight, but I did seem to be able to get the fat tires on the skinny rims.<br /><br />Last week I refitted the studs and rode the bike a few miles to the <a href="http://bikeomaha.blogspot.com/2010/10/winter-bicycle-commuting-clinic.html">Omaha Bikes winter commuting clinic</a>. I felt silly riding studded tires when it was nearly 70 degrees out, but I wanted to do two things:<br /><ul><li>test ride the Earl with studs</li><li>show the studded tires to the clinic participants</li></ul>I also got a new rack and a waterproof Pacific Outdoor Equipment pannier. I think the pannier is actually supposed to go on a front rack, but it fits pretty well on the rear rack. Even though I am comfortable on my commutes with a Chrome shoulder bag, my theory is that a rear pannier might help keep weight over my rear wheel for better traction. Having a rack also helps for trips to the grocery store.<br /><br />I had wanted to replace the 17 tooth single speed freewheel with a new 22 tooth freewheel, but I ran out of chain. Simply, the new cog was large enough that there wasn't enough chain to go around it. The larger cog also put the chain up so high that I couldn't keep the chain guard. The 44 tooth chainring on a 22 tooth cog will provide for a 2-to-1 pedaling ratio, which may be easy enough to power through snow on the streets. Since I couldn't fit the chain, I ended up riding the bike with it stock 44 tooth chainring on a 17 tooth freewheel. Talk about slogging up the hills!<br /><br />Yesterday I got a new chain to use for the winter configuration and took the bike for a spin. Certainly climbing Omaha's hills on the 44x22 was super easy, but all I could do on the downhills and flats was to coast and coast and coast ...<br /><br />At this point, I think I have everything ready for the first snow. All I need to do is put the studs back on and I'm ready to roll. However, I may trade the cogs again so that I can use the rack for <a href="http://cranksgiving-omaha.blogspot.com/">Cranksgiving</a> in a couple of weeks.<br /><br />Here are some pics of the new configuration.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja905Weaw36KxED9WmJ6eOK_JlEomOqa_qkEZjnqY8Gh_sl5k7oE1NhkxvYwnKyy4BLQB6nwSaS1PmYUCBmw-TTh48XLS6_StCiasFUmBgGiwxUUC-fJCFj4W4GDQJIluFirnnxy70qK8/s1600/2010-earl-winterized+003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja905Weaw36KxED9WmJ6eOK_JlEomOqa_qkEZjnqY8Gh_sl5k7oE1NhkxvYwnKyy4BLQB6nwSaS1PmYUCBmw-TTh48XLS6_StCiasFUmBgGiwxUUC-fJCFj4W4GDQJIluFirnnxy70qK8/s320/2010-earl-winterized+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534765657179313874" border="0" /></a>From this angle, the freewheel looks as large as the chainring.<br /> <br /> <br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjkv6dhJ8MeIWSL4tk0I3O9Tlo9dMeZ884ZKPo_F8xZ_OQGStQehlhG4AO3RVdah3D8C-ZhfkUQ-WK-8xlUhko4PwuS3C6aDG7p-DoZaf3YIeQDNkRd9Mq8OrhyphenhyphennyWs2hIg5GxafrdJc/s1600/2010-earl-winterized+004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjkv6dhJ8MeIWSL4tk0I3O9Tlo9dMeZ884ZKPo_F8xZ_OQGStQehlhG4AO3RVdah3D8C-ZhfkUQ-WK-8xlUhko4PwuS3C6aDG7p-DoZaf3YIeQDNkRd9Mq8OrhyphenhyphennyWs2hIg5GxafrdJc/s320/2010-earl-winterized+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534765653047184626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq2TXW9twjMsJ31dLkltQsBxSlZoxgpDep0hKapDe-4edGJQVdqvLN8sCYAe38jJhU15ysDL9iZX6snTNFhR4jpZZ9ijP7Ma0aCqHEDrOb33nfCI4Xx7KOczkfojQs8rtuq2_OYTH8ug/s1600/2010-earl-winterized+011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKq2TXW9twjMsJ31dLkltQsBxSlZoxgpDep0hKapDe-4edGJQVdqvLN8sCYAe38jJhU15ysDL9iZX6snTNFhR4jpZZ9ijP7Ma0aCqHEDrOb33nfCI4Xx7KOczkfojQs8rtuq2_OYTH8ug/s320/2010-earl-winterized+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534765647077361602" border="0" /></a>The Pacific Outdoor Equipment bag features pockets just the right size for my<br />wingtips. None of my other shoes fit, however.<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltI8ujksPw8lI-MU8r9JnSnXA1CPYoJn6SIQTMMYa4R7p4cQ80J4djfbF7v_2hOWr7c6WzgC_J9rabVzM341x2AYQdgghrO9hAQfE3BZ-Wa6Zy8ic6VuaNl7fD5WjhbLT9JeGOyVIY9U/s1600/2010-earl-winterized+009.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltI8ujksPw8lI-MU8r9JnSnXA1CPYoJn6SIQTMMYa4R7p4cQ80J4djfbF7v_2hOWr7c6WzgC_J9rabVzM341x2AYQdgghrO9hAQfE3BZ-Wa6Zy8ic6VuaNl7fD5WjhbLT9JeGOyVIY9U/s320/2010-earl-winterized+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534765645597337154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbJ9UCztUfIy8yBPv5DxZsfzNZng0izaJBj1hdgTf3aCGZSHVHgJ6HK9LGtvVgtMDsoq8IJ-7CceLHa5bEctvnb0dSLyuATvTkDeQnZtlazlX0QpamDmoDbb1XrE5JeBuIU6c1mFnQZw/s1600/2010-earl-winterized+007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbJ9UCztUfIy8yBPv5DxZsfzNZng0izaJBj1hdgTf3aCGZSHVHgJ6HK9LGtvVgtMDsoq8IJ-7CceLHa5bEctvnb0dSLyuATvTkDeQnZtlazlX0QpamDmoDbb1XrE5JeBuIU6c1mFnQZw/s320/2010-earl-winterized+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534765640014199714" border="0" /></a>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-58867049757845444742010-10-14T22:17:00.004-05:002010-10-14T22:52:44.014-05:00Lunch Anyone? Shenandoah Sounds Good.My brother, Jason, the author of his blog, <a href="http://bamajason.blogspot.com/">Laughing Right Out Loud</a>, is coming out for a visit next week, and I want to show him a good time.<br /><br />The plan is to ride Sunday, October 24, from Midtown Crossing to Shenandoah, Iowa for lunch and Coronas at El Portal, and then ride back in time for dinner, possibly with more Coronas.<br /><br />The pace would be relaxed, trying to keep an average of 15 MPH on the Wabash Trace. We'd likely leave around 6am and plan to be back in Omaha by 5pm-6pm. Estimated round trip distance: 120 miles.<br /><br />Any and all are welcome.<br /><br />Please see the route below:<br /><br /><!-- Bikely on-my-site code. --><br /><div id="routemapiframe" style="width: 450px; border: 1px solid rgb(208, 208, 208); background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(119, 85, 85); overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap;"><br /><span style="display: block; font: bold 11px verdana,arial; padding: 2px;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Omaha-to-Shendoah">Omaha to Shendoah</a></span><br /><iframe id="rmiframe" style="height: 360px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(238, 238, 238);" src="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Omaha-to-Shendoah/embed/1" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><span style="display: block; font: 10px verdana,arial; text-align: right; padding: 1px;"><a style="color: rgb(221, 221, 221); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.bikely.com/">Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com</a></span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Omaha-to-Shendoah">Click here to view the map at Bikely.com</a><br /><!-- Bikely on-my-site code. -->Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-32865424605302177532010-10-04T17:44:00.006-05:002010-10-04T18:18:44.135-05:00Skinny Rims, Fat TiresIf Fat Tire is a beer, then perhaps Skinny Rim could be an energy drink.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFTiEyWOawqF0uig3ruBCUjefEEYMuUtkXvhsqQyU9UoD42WH2jaJEIN_9cR5kNtY3r09BN0W2QytOQfDPO3atT9WC3xOMwjYt-R63hCJeguGRItrrzgpFH0IQ7a27QlH4mk24jmY-1w/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFTiEyWOawqF0uig3ruBCUjefEEYMuUtkXvhsqQyU9UoD42WH2jaJEIN_9cR5kNtY3r09BN0W2QytOQfDPO3atT9WC3xOMwjYt-R63hCJeguGRItrrzgpFH0IQ7a27QlH4mk24jmY-1w/s200/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524333055038338194" border="0" /></a>Actually, this post is about trying to winterize my new Trek Earl. My plan is to put Nokian Hakkapeliitta 700c x 35mm <a href="http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/studdedtires.asp">studded tires</a> underneath full fenders and a low gearing ratio on its single speed drivetrain so I can pedal out of snow drifts and slowly up steep hills.<br /><br />When I bought the bike, the shop mechanic assured me that I could fit the 35mm tires on the rims that were sold with 28mm tires. Yesterday, I tried mounting the tire, just to see how it would fit.<br /><br />The rims are stamped at 14mm. Upon researching tire fit online, I found (you guessed it) that Sheldon had a <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width">great chart that shows tire/rim compatibility</a>. This chart delivered a bit of bad news, in that my 14mm rims are not depicted holding a tire much larger than 28mm; a difference of 7mm. However, there's a note that says the dimensions depicted may be conservative.<br /><br />It took a bit of persuasion with a plastic tire lever to get the snow tire on my rim. As I tried to pump it up with air, I heard an odd creaky noise, followed by a loud pop as the tube herniated through an improperly set bead.<br /><br />Hmm.<br /><br />I searched my closet and found, thankfully, another tube with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schrader_valve">Schrader valve</a>. I made extra special sure that the bead was set as I remounted the tire, as well as spot checked it as I pumped. Finally I mounted the wheel back on the bike to check for clearance.<br /><br />It looks good!<br /><br />My question to any readers: do you have experience in mounting wide tires on narrow rims. Is the 35mm on a 14mm pushing it too far? I won't know how the bike feels until I can get the tires remounted and go for a test spin, though I'd feel silly riding a studded tire around in October while it's still 75 degrees outside.<br /><br />I may consider a brake upgrade, as the check stock brake has no quick release to facilitate tire changes. I put Tektro brakes on my <a href="http://redd-shift.blogspot.com/2009/07/schwinn-le-tour-ii-restoration-phase-3.html">Schwinn Le Tour II</a>, and I like them, so I may consider a similar brake for the Earl.<br /><br />My next step is to put on a bigger freewheel. I've got a 22 tooth freewheel on the way.<br /><br />I'm not in a hurry to see the snow, but I'll be eager to give the Earl a whirl.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-38209944228714804882010-09-28T21:16:00.014-05:002010-09-30T07:53:20.407-05:00My [Bike's] Name Is Earl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCbev3dweMMIgdEhAfxYHwJX-iCvy0iiQpziX_UzdHCQUvuNRb2P8mRq8d-kp1mswFVj2hnbNwxVIHsoUAY8DU3sB2ilvp1gKTOwNJ65c5ex4NL5YxY4l4XP9ZQBtlJAMGbK_RqJuzc/s1600/2010-earl-review+032.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByCbev3dweMMIgdEhAfxYHwJX-iCvy0iiQpziX_UzdHCQUvuNRb2P8mRq8d-kp1mswFVj2hnbNwxVIHsoUAY8DU3sB2ilvp1gKTOwNJ65c5ex4NL5YxY4l4XP9ZQBtlJAMGbK_RqJuzc/s200/2010-earl-review+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522499314007046418" border="0" /></a>You've heard <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaNjY5EVN2Q">the song by The Dixie Dicks</a>. You've seen the <a href="http://www.tbs.com/shows/mynameisearl.jsp">TV show</a>. Now meet the bike.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the Earl?</span><br /><br />The Earl is a new offering from Trek. Without a doubt, the Earl is designed for city riding.<br /><br />Here's why, in my opinion:<br /><ul><li>single speed or fixed gear for ultimate simplicity (stock configuration: 44T chainring, 17T freewheel)<br /></li><li>chromoly steel construction, while heavy, soaks up the bumps on the road</li><li>double top tube that is designed to hold a U-lock while biking to work or running errands<br /></li><li>28mm tire with a good tread pattern can handle wet or sandy spots or the occasional gravel road</li><li>tall stem with riser bar to sit up high in traffic</li><li>flat handlebars make for lots of leverage when navigating city streets, sidewalks, and curbs<br /></li><li>long wheel base means no toe clipping when track standing (or trying to) at stop lights</li><li>chain guard to keep pant legs from getting dirty or ripped, or having to wear a pant leg strap</li><li>bosses and eyelets for mounting a rack and fenders, plus two sets of bosses for bottle cages or other accessories<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Good Value</span><br /><br />At $439, the Earl is a fairly inexpensive bike. The simplicity of the bike with its lack of shifters, cabling, and derailleurs probably keeps the cost down. The brakes, levers and tires, while adequate, aren't anything special.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things I Really Like About Earl</span><br /><ul><li>the blue paint job, called "Earl Blue". Sure there's a "Gloss Black" version, but everyone sells a black city bike. The mix of blue with black accents makes for one pretty bike. Nice job, Trek.<br /></li><li>frame graphics are a nice touch. The Earl has its own head badge, and a very regal Earl himself, with trucker hat and scruffy beard, makes an appearance on the down tube design. There are also also a few graphics placed here and there that you'll never see unless you're working on or cleaning the bike.</li><li>saddle designed just for the Earl features a custom logo impressed into the seat</li><li>relatively narrow handlebars go easily up and down my old apartment building's stairwell</li><li>cool bend in the frame where the double top tubes become the seat stays. Very interesting looking</li><li>fun to ride! The 44x17 makes for pretty quick starts from stop lights. The balance is solid, and the saddle is quite comfortable.<br /></li><li>I can open beer bottles on the frame. How cool is that?<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things I Don't Like About Earl</span><br /><ul><li>scuffed up the top tubes after carrying a lock just two miles. I've since wrapped several layers of tape around the each end of the barrel of my U-lock, and I secure it tightly with a Velcro strap to keep it from bouncing around</li><li>the chain guard clangs against the crank arm when I hit bumps</li><li>ugh, it's heavy, but it's a real steel bike... what do I expect?<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Winter Commuter's Dream?</span><br /><br />What has me most excited about this bike is the generous clearance between the seat stays and the fork blades. My plan is to use fenders and 35mm studded snow tires to make this one mean winter commuter. No more frozen derailleurs or stiff shifter cables.<br /><br />Jake at the Trek Omaha store put on some really useful Bontrager quick release fenders. Unlike strap on fenders, these have nifty ball mounts that go into the frame eyelets on the rear dropouts and fork blades. The fender stays have a socket that snaps sturdily on to the balls. Also a clip/guide mounts to the rear brake bridge to hold the top of the rear fender, and a cam lever goes at the top of the fork to secure the top of the fender. Basically, these behave like permanently mounted fenders when they are on, but come off in about 30 seconds, leaving behind very minimal attaching hardware.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that the 44x17 gearing is too steep for me in the snow. Riding the bike up and down Leavenworth a couple of times this week actually has me wondering if it's too steep for me in general, but that's another story. I'm thinking that for pedaling through snow and fighting harsh winter winds, an 18, 20, or even 22 tooth cog might fit the bill.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video</span><br /><br />How to open a bottle on the Earl's frame.<br /><br /><object height="258" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9hlRQGDVQ_Y?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9hlRQGDVQ_Y?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="258" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pictures</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOPf6kjngjb0uF3JgUVNGOWTnvxeOuGEdhdGt4LPX4eEVULuTf21xl1oJlef0Ykbur82rbTql-pOa5DLt0JALoo03-q_6cu2AEAUO7R7UwEW8jXliQ_s1zSTehCJrstI7p1zV1qIrCQ8/s1600/photo+22.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOPf6kjngjb0uF3JgUVNGOWTnvxeOuGEdhdGt4LPX4eEVULuTf21xl1oJlef0Ykbur82rbTql-pOa5DLt0JALoo03-q_6cu2AEAUO7R7UwEW8jXliQ_s1zSTehCJrstI7p1zV1qIrCQ8/s400/photo+22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522499845824209570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdije_kCxlpb9x5b9KTgm3TSmE0OxcBql8Pb9V4LJPE-yTSTdYX44BAkjo2rqOK5EVa6yEXIYisgA-umB87GHB9Nk6VDZyb8BKJnUrZaU0HZejPGb3KiYIuDBgXUhC5Z6QfTayxALQZrU/s1600/photo+25.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdije_kCxlpb9x5b9KTgm3TSmE0OxcBql8Pb9V4LJPE-yTSTdYX44BAkjo2rqOK5EVa6yEXIYisgA-umB87GHB9Nk6VDZyb8BKJnUrZaU0HZejPGb3KiYIuDBgXUhC5Z6QfTayxALQZrU/s400/photo+25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522519377703308354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcur0UZp3TTmcaVogE22L0TH2nV9-Da1r05Xzql_nsFHJyrcMAznCkZPHEv5o7fnnxqnjhjjJBEGjpS9mF3RWz4WEhWC6uQwsB2P2iY-Lfcz7FDDxnpn895i_EfM69pyLXqLS3EdHkFdo/s1600/photo+1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcur0UZp3TTmcaVogE22L0TH2nV9-Da1r05Xzql_nsFHJyrcMAznCkZPHEv5o7fnnxqnjhjjJBEGjpS9mF3RWz4WEhWC6uQwsB2P2iY-Lfcz7FDDxnpn895i_EfM69pyLXqLS3EdHkFdo/s400/photo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522519372143314578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hxiCjGu6_wE_hJc1tI77GKu_hCU6fusFovJMOFRS0PpxEuEDk7bzgXoq8IwzBBdjCY-cvLAtozvG2IN_5R8aZverhw4zKEohtfK_LDsuJIT4GR0yNKSt-qmnE5e4lqwfdVPWS30St78/s1600/photo+24.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hxiCjGu6_wE_hJc1tI77GKu_hCU6fusFovJMOFRS0PpxEuEDk7bzgXoq8IwzBBdjCY-cvLAtozvG2IN_5R8aZverhw4zKEohtfK_LDsuJIT4GR0yNKSt-qmnE5e4lqwfdVPWS30St78/s400/photo+24.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522519363927801330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdije_kCxlpb9x5b9KTgm3TSmE0OxcBql8Pb9V4LJPE-yTSTdYX44BAkjo2rqOK5EVa6yEXIYisgA-umB87GHB9Nk6VDZyb8BKJnUrZaU0HZejPGb3KiYIuDBgXUhC5Z6QfTayxALQZrU/s1600/photo+25.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgwBKF43M3GfAmO_t5KpBdJfcVnBkAc3PEaiSj0aO8aONFW8elMDFWJdv8mHRfMytcOem6ps1ADzMUxlvU5M19BjZ4ECeh4WPCWZ5pQRW6XWMkYTuXdoSdyVpq5hD5lgP77j2nkEoNL8/s1600/2010-earl-review+037.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgwBKF43M3GfAmO_t5KpBdJfcVnBkAc3PEaiSj0aO8aONFW8elMDFWJdv8mHRfMytcOem6ps1ADzMUxlvU5M19BjZ4ECeh4WPCWZ5pQRW6XWMkYTuXdoSdyVpq5hD5lgP77j2nkEoNL8/s400/2010-earl-review+037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522498967315793250" border="0" /></a>The chain guard makes riding in pants a little safer and more comfortable.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SA1Bacchyf4sXyWADPc-PpvE-V_g5fabkk4GeXKl8IsOB1zZ9xtXG7PZPJzzj_yAopGcTN9Ee6Wti4FsAn_n73H7jlJBh7R5N2owCLLTFs3hG3TBhy_6kTXTUF_2ZFrEp_7BT5lN0I0/s1600/2010-earl-review+036.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SA1Bacchyf4sXyWADPc-PpvE-V_g5fabkk4GeXKl8IsOB1zZ9xtXG7PZPJzzj_yAopGcTN9Ee6Wti4FsAn_n73H7jlJBh7R5N2owCLLTFs3hG3TBhy_6kTXTUF_2ZFrEp_7BT5lN0I0/s400/2010-earl-review+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522497958975836098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNYhHPLpk82T44rVbLKUhAHaVYtBDqTOs5UFxzvKE-RMVfnGwByK5heDefmHRGs8ndp6uSS7nIYBeKXarhEPGnDgGPkxfSiox7XmeUv9miRyt88mPy2z3WlqRIfuyh_92r3S3ceAP_cs/s1600/2010-earl-review+034.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNYhHPLpk82T44rVbLKUhAHaVYtBDqTOs5UFxzvKE-RMVfnGwByK5heDefmHRGs8ndp6uSS7nIYBeKXarhEPGnDgGPkxfSiox7XmeUv9miRyt88mPy2z3WlqRIfuyh_92r3S3ceAP_cs/s400/2010-earl-review+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522497953400519858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYcftMNLdP29SD2ggUSxghOzzAWzae0Bv9Hqgr920hhNBeciFTIjaCKXYA9H9ka9jaAgdVwEqlQ_7w321Z9sPHNmoQ2WQi81aUBtbMxAHZm_mwzO-RFfCYT8IFsam-ZMo8ohe_vmpjGo/s1600/2010-earl-review+033.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYcftMNLdP29SD2ggUSxghOzzAWzae0Bv9Hqgr920hhNBeciFTIjaCKXYA9H9ka9jaAgdVwEqlQ_7w321Z9sPHNmoQ2WQi81aUBtbMxAHZm_mwzO-RFfCYT8IFsam-ZMo8ohe_vmpjGo/s400/2010-earl-review+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522497951290655234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LDRnWzyMbJGaJF_TkYNN5tST4F1ALHi43CaAHvHiciJHf_L0tsu5KIGPkvVAQrB7Yx7eUcgQQT5b-GJjwh6MURMf09QqURou_9SYjztGKJT7Q-lyLGXwZU9LbA_R7avYjt4AzikzRI4/s1600/2010-earl-review+029.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LDRnWzyMbJGaJF_TkYNN5tST4F1ALHi43CaAHvHiciJHf_L0tsu5KIGPkvVAQrB7Yx7eUcgQQT5b-GJjwh6MURMf09QqURou_9SYjztGKJT7Q-lyLGXwZU9LbA_R7avYjt4AzikzRI4/s400/2010-earl-review+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522497940648175090" border="0" /></a>The head badge<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98srcRtYoHRRRSxqg-bsEuT1qsokIcht2OM-mo_cG3ZvIfaJvm1tE24gnLev01LrorQkZsRmWN6ZNbVocNIyb75V3NESowaMDfmhDGuwN9F4l3LWncTg9xNFKjEYBPQnL0bJffB3pgHc/s1600/2010-earl-review+026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98srcRtYoHRRRSxqg-bsEuT1qsokIcht2OM-mo_cG3ZvIfaJvm1tE24gnLev01LrorQkZsRmWN6ZNbVocNIyb75V3NESowaMDfmhDGuwN9F4l3LWncTg9xNFKjEYBPQnL0bJffB3pgHc/s400/2010-earl-review+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522497936806145074" border="0" /></a>The aftermarket add-on quick-release fender guide under the brake bridge.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpTbjeZX4trEJy_wZBlJMm48XKZsjzs6OOU_XKquNNPcIMs0rVFlgpX0HhHmMhcHwRiBbAjBuEbFCgJca-qCJRMulr_9GAfuTbrOJAA0k1vlWLa1Qle-eIx2p7zyPaPd3HJyhCKxgxy8/s1600/2010-earl-review+025.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpTbjeZX4trEJy_wZBlJMm48XKZsjzs6OOU_XKquNNPcIMs0rVFlgpX0HhHmMhcHwRiBbAjBuEbFCgJca-qCJRMulr_9GAfuTbrOJAA0k1vlWLa1Qle-eIx2p7zyPaPd3HJyhCKxgxy8/s400/2010-earl-review+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522496551308993778" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgfbyb6CDTsOKIC3dzdqnsKxB_yU2Ou7xw0-ojtp2jUj8BAclDF_2wt9WcaX7RXQNhz6aj_xbCmQW9bojx0HRxuTuCTaVC2tR7n8diqSFFXdt7OoI9bdiq4Bb3-YLQCeKRuPHdF_b31k/s1600/2010-earl-review+027.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgfbyb6CDTsOKIC3dzdqnsKxB_yU2Ou7xw0-ojtp2jUj8BAclDF_2wt9WcaX7RXQNhz6aj_xbCmQW9bojx0HRxuTuCTaVC2tR7n8diqSFFXdt7OoI9bdiq4Bb3-YLQCeKRuPHdF_b31k/s400/2010-earl-review+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522530683691978162" border="0" /></a>The quick release fender stay ball-and-socket joint<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinV_gZMafSt3rUwtX1cNVDW6cGuTuRuE7wIAn-AlnK-bSg1HM1zeAPN0TWrm8joQGHLOcS73Uif_wYDwaKSip6MWaU_7Xv1YhqFDDKVLJN1h-lYIEIZ8LWyfPaeMihNe91OiLfPkbUmg/s1600/2010-earl-review+022.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinV_gZMafSt3rUwtX1cNVDW6cGuTuRuE7wIAn-AlnK-bSg1HM1zeAPN0TWrm8joQGHLOcS73Uif_wYDwaKSip6MWaU_7Xv1YhqFDDKVLJN1h-lYIEIZ8LWyfPaeMihNe91OiLfPkbUmg/s400/2010-earl-review+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522496538926606338" border="0" /></a>This cam lever binds the fender to the quick release mount<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iEivx1POrVUq4Cuk3OKs9OHOahO3O_20Ak06jfqHGr29bJkRh0Y24UHlCe39WGYfd9hgjlSiia3IOjz5CTkn5OhIzxN_Zn8B8bxvrk9E7OQVkJ4GZ37_Ry3Nxine0aZXxbvSz4LM1Wk/s1600/2010-earl-review+020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iEivx1POrVUq4Cuk3OKs9OHOahO3O_20Ak06jfqHGr29bJkRh0Y24UHlCe39WGYfd9hgjlSiia3IOjz5CTkn5OhIzxN_Zn8B8bxvrk9E7OQVkJ4GZ37_Ry3Nxine0aZXxbvSz4LM1Wk/s400/2010-earl-review+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522496539139723490" border="0" /></a>The custom Earl saddle<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKAOKagb-ziB-6rKBpn_MVFtWMSPlqBSdffannqBf78YLtT4zuzqecvp2scjWFQ4Oce9xo_h198t5rbvJLYpKIraz0WsaWTQ5xDP75QoNzA7vPi7NyfDnCj7HWYYLCJnnA_vniAV-UT8/s1600/2010-earl-review+017.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKAOKagb-ziB-6rKBpn_MVFtWMSPlqBSdffannqBf78YLtT4zuzqecvp2scjWFQ4Oce9xo_h198t5rbvJLYpKIraz0WsaWTQ5xDP75QoNzA7vPi7NyfDnCj7HWYYLCJnnA_vniAV-UT8/s400/2010-earl-review+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522496531189188290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJXB3Ca-sGGQpR2fhtZeUccoz430zWimLvVhcUvB0canPZmxQ0IBcskTP-G5hM5fLOzynPDBvntYST_yEIgZj2PukY0ZtnO_5hf-08We-4dfRYS5G2j5vS8CFZZQpjPZtC2RJxRXIAYI/s1600/2010-earl-review+019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJXB3Ca-sGGQpR2fhtZeUccoz430zWimLvVhcUvB0canPZmxQ0IBcskTP-G5hM5fLOzynPDBvntYST_yEIgZj2PukY0ZtnO_5hf-08We-4dfRYS5G2j5vS8CFZZQpjPZtC2RJxRXIAYI/s400/2010-earl-review+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495887078033810" border="0" /></a>Two views of the double top tube design<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXfIoq7sQR_3DxIniw9Db2sUZSnRh1ALIaLmUq59xcaa_r_dbp9kmaFw_ds3sk8Umn44fFT0f10CgNw9WDoAWJD6jnTM3zWDTPPyCvciQ-r1tiVRawyKXOtub185D0DYYFjMmk6Htn98/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXfIoq7sQR_3DxIniw9Db2sUZSnRh1ALIaLmUq59xcaa_r_dbp9kmaFw_ds3sk8Umn44fFT0f10CgNw9WDoAWJD6jnTM3zWDTPPyCvciQ-r1tiVRawyKXOtub185D0DYYFjMmk6Htn98/s400/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522527510985213330" border="0" /></a>How to carry a U-lock<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzMqw8yGSMcCH1B2d5MqAXqO3Lg3toK2lllgIWG8_XJYdL-NE6p_vjR7WkabZPeSAtlLeWZm3sTZhvVEFrV2M9b8yEhn274D-RsgMOIONCvEnMzTKgllNOHjzZqcUugbnuL4Ox2BLZhg/s1600/2010-earl-review+016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzMqw8yGSMcCH1B2d5MqAXqO3Lg3toK2lllgIWG8_XJYdL-NE6p_vjR7WkabZPeSAtlLeWZm3sTZhvVEFrV2M9b8yEhn274D-RsgMOIONCvEnMzTKgllNOHjzZqcUugbnuL4Ox2BLZhg/s400/2010-earl-review+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495875125677506" border="0" /></a>Single speed freewheel or track cog... take your pick<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsd0sMV8HFu4CRMgWKEf57D_jLmDxzChORSCBVfZFeVBzRyamYbRSDq83xy04OuNdrsVmiAvVup213cptsSZnbO03MHamWQd_yzefKPt9pvuNu3Yuv8tdk_l0ai0p1HQc73hQy__OqxGg/s1600/2010-earl-review+015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsd0sMV8HFu4CRMgWKEf57D_jLmDxzChORSCBVfZFeVBzRyamYbRSDq83xy04OuNdrsVmiAvVup213cptsSZnbO03MHamWQd_yzefKPt9pvuNu3Yuv8tdk_l0ai0p1HQc73hQy__OqxGg/s400/2010-earl-review+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495864218356530" border="0" /></a>The custom logo and on the chainring is a nice touch<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfWQSQl_UEY1e1P_QtAvDDQONqksfeRrDkMQpwJyiohoTZAXVmG5ylfSfMDLtcz6kg7E_T91vsKLgemL7BIJfVXFbARTft4iTTYOvUWuix9npUICWjzBi3WGceO08hWQdU6KPAC3zS8k/s1600/2010-earl-review+013.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfWQSQl_UEY1e1P_QtAvDDQONqksfeRrDkMQpwJyiohoTZAXVmG5ylfSfMDLtcz6kg7E_T91vsKLgemL7BIJfVXFbARTft4iTTYOvUWuix9npUICWjzBi3WGceO08hWQdU6KPAC3zS8k/s400/2010-earl-review+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495855244134690" border="0" /></a>Two sets of bottle cage bosses<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgxafMj4FBUnBk9UNg-09r3JrWEZKH4WTeLLKLerVEALPAmJcv-WtwZELny1-72HONP0ym6hLkkQx8UsVvFo707acCsNwoxEi-So0bASfLMrulE5x8dfP0IoSANpz3znSkAeYlKP4KlU/s1600/2010-earl-review+012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgxafMj4FBUnBk9UNg-09r3JrWEZKH4WTeLLKLerVEALPAmJcv-WtwZELny1-72HONP0ym6hLkkQx8UsVvFo707acCsNwoxEi-So0bASfLMrulE5x8dfP0IoSANpz3znSkAeYlKP4KlU/s400/2010-earl-review+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495846093046082" border="0" /></a>Open beer here<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5sTnbzPzjRWuaECvKuS2Kk_JyRS6jksPOi7_VSIHc8Uxf5ogm5sdxRLzCCSncRoILXT40OFnZH1XTVOU8q-SYpD8GqxSLGGOcaVhG6XWerYyW3Hv_eszC8V6mdT9OzvKYJEyJNkxFb8/s1600/2010-earl-review+011.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5sTnbzPzjRWuaECvKuS2Kk_JyRS6jksPOi7_VSIHc8Uxf5ogm5sdxRLzCCSncRoILXT40OFnZH1XTVOU8q-SYpD8GqxSLGGOcaVhG6XWerYyW3Hv_eszC8V6mdT9OzvKYJEyJNkxFb8/s400/2010-earl-review+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495316017941506" border="0" /></a>Retro "TREK" design<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtc4HW-szEF1wZhIAidopHFeSuDm7hy-sse8_czWl7heVZqLRrEuhQY1PXA06O8tBOpMWeAPEH2jfBmKXh0jkKgfDRPpDvqX5voj5dM-FaW83e_ejjNctbZaUkRg0-xSJ3mBUC7navX0/s1600/2010-earl-review+010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtc4HW-szEF1wZhIAidopHFeSuDm7hy-sse8_czWl7heVZqLRrEuhQY1PXA06O8tBOpMWeAPEH2jfBmKXh0jkKgfDRPpDvqX5voj5dM-FaW83e_ejjNctbZaUkRg0-xSJ3mBUC7navX0/s400/2010-earl-review+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495313976349890" border="0" /></a>Earl sports a trucker cap and carries a wrench<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucRkBg_c5ZMxzevfocBvzE8iWdY8pDRE7Qo537cv3vlLc7fKHH09Z6hIHAksS7W6Z78IoEMjvowOCoxJ19HmiszWG7eJ7Jnhs9sSwIkXyNVw-CXK322dc3TZSQOEyFLu5cocpKhzw-TM/s1600/2010-earl-review+005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucRkBg_c5ZMxzevfocBvzE8iWdY8pDRE7Qo537cv3vlLc7fKHH09Z6hIHAksS7W6Z78IoEMjvowOCoxJ19HmiszWG7eJ7Jnhs9sSwIkXyNVw-CXK322dc3TZSQOEyFLu5cocpKhzw-TM/s400/2010-earl-review+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495300352770690" border="0" /></a>The Earl design also hides in places not normally seen<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kOtRERPTouO5XULMjEwWHfe_gyk2q5YEKb43u-djRrTrq2-kqz0vj0r7wWvkCNduf32DsM6CgsK5es16C7SDdV5q2jAzQcL5bf6Lyh-o-Fy0uoTaDKnZ_iyWnbUsEsaaltk5MXp3V5M/s1600/2010-earl-review+003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kOtRERPTouO5XULMjEwWHfe_gyk2q5YEKb43u-djRrTrq2-kqz0vj0r7wWvkCNduf32DsM6CgsK5es16C7SDdV5q2jAzQcL5bf6Lyh-o-Fy0uoTaDKnZ_iyWnbUsEsaaltk5MXp3V5M/s400/2010-earl-review+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495282128580546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vKtFqUNP77D5dZNmq5U5vrffgbD98cB-yH38nOatMkkepZdmdNnNQSadLWWOVYD7kt5I2GkLavdnTniNsIdRq0tJpXSjXQfwM7x_NqcYqTkl8uTw3272DSw88pVHb2bO-NvWkQqCIfI/s1600/2010-earl-review+002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vKtFqUNP77D5dZNmq5U5vrffgbD98cB-yH38nOatMkkepZdmdNnNQSadLWWOVYD7kt5I2GkLavdnTniNsIdRq0tJpXSjXQfwM7x_NqcYqTkl8uTw3272DSw88pVHb2bO-NvWkQqCIfI/s400/2010-earl-review+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522495276695583602" border="0" /></a><br />So far, I think I've got the only Earl in town. Does that make me the "Duke of Earl?" I hope to see more of these on the road soon.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-43866461876521580852010-09-26T18:48:00.005-05:002010-09-26T19:53:47.009-05:00I'll Take a Slow Bacon Ride Over No Bacon RideToday was the last day for a 2010 Bacon Ride. It was rainy all day Saturday, but the gravel roads seemed to recover quickly. The ride was hardly messy at all. Actually, the moist roads helped keep the gravel dust to a minimum. No crusty black boogies this time. :)<br /><br />I met Pell at Midtown Crossing and together we rode to Aksarben Village to meet Chris. I'm guessing everyone else was too sleepy, assumed the roads were too wet, or were busy with the <a href="http://www.omahamarathon.com/">35th Annual Omaha Marathon</a> and various bike races.<br /><br />I'm lazy, so I didn't mind planning on a longer ride that reduced some of the hills and simplified the through-town navigation (<a href="http://pedal-omaha.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-change-for-bacon-ride-in-2010.html">see routes here</a>). We rode the Keystone Trail to the West Papio Trail where it terminated at 96th Street. By the time we started on the gravel just south of Walnut Creek, we had added about 5 extra miles on the trip. The extra miles were fun, as it helped keep the Slow Bacon Ride Slow.<br /><br />At Louisville, we tried an <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=aksarben+village,+omaha&daddr=Platte+River+state+park&hl=en&geocode=FRpidQIdbwxH-ik3KzQ8S4yThzF-o_y4n9A6tQ%3BFfpncQIdkNpD-iEoJIsMX8m8vSmBhRacmA-UhzHkTDIXXgDA0Q&mra=ltm&dirflg=b&sll=41.11275,-96.1106&sspn=0.440767,1.234589&ie=UTF8&ll=40.993115,-96.186333&spn=0.055196,0.154324&t=h&z=13&lci=bike">alternate route that Google maps suggested</a>, but I'm not sure of the lawfulness of the ride. There was a segment of the route that went through Lousiville State Park along "2 Gates Drive." Yes. There are two gates, and one of them is locked with "Private Property, Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted" sign. According the Google, the road looked like a public road, but it was really hard to tell.<br /><br />We hoisted the bikes over the gate and squeezed through. The road was great, but if I'd known it was private property beforehand, I wouldn't have suggested the route.<br /><br />We saw only one other bike at the park. Breakfast was good, but no one ate bacon. I suggested that the Bacon Ride was a failure if no one ate any bacon. Pell saved the day by eating a single piece.<br /><br />The ride back along Fishery Road and Pflug Road was great. Normally Fishery Road has some coarse gravel, but it was smooth. Parts of Pflug Road was so hard packed and smooth that it felt like cement.<br /><br />We rode the Omaha trails back and saw dozens of people out enjoying what turned out to be one fine day.<br /><br />Chris rode on home while Pell and I stopped at <a href="http://www.blueplanetnaturalgrill.com/">Blue Planet</a> to help me finish off my last Groupon with a yummy vegan Thai pizza.<br /><br />Doing an 80 miler with friends on a cool pre-Fall day was awesome, and really got me in the mood to do some more Fall gravel grinders. I'm also already thinking about Bacon Rides in 2011.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photos</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFui_rpz5HJZuKq9ypEoN6wNmTZb3iLvR_4SLehouvplSLa4A5Ng-5zc4O8ODNG_1bj4sQ7VjZ1JC1hbWZx0Mjg71aQ6TcE23Tg4rpmW3gkmn2gNII3xo1eBwW7RUdae0aAYVdoMsabPc/s1600/photo+01.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFui_rpz5HJZuKq9ypEoN6wNmTZb3iLvR_4SLehouvplSLa4A5Ng-5zc4O8ODNG_1bj4sQ7VjZ1JC1hbWZx0Mjg71aQ6TcE23Tg4rpmW3gkmn2gNII3xo1eBwW7RUdae0aAYVdoMsabPc/s400/photo+01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521382998332342946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSEVvH7AdHHKw7PucUMxnqe7nFBD8pOmjkzKloAblLTrwKWHkeEYB-1ufBDKY6T9AWMcsNOYyR_h133j2CSNSV2ndT90XMiR2IKy-l4xakC8a1JY_Z0nqWkVUOI8_-_aZbwhg2DoI4pk/s1600/photo+02.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSEVvH7AdHHKw7PucUMxnqe7nFBD8pOmjkzKloAblLTrwKWHkeEYB-1ufBDKY6T9AWMcsNOYyR_h133j2CSNSV2ndT90XMiR2IKy-l4xakC8a1JY_Z0nqWkVUOI8_-_aZbwhg2DoI4pk/s400/photo+02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521383011634726562" border="0" /></a>I could almost keep up with the guy on the Razor Scooter</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0veVzeVyIbob0vaNe39nHwg9CVFa5LRINT0gZJ3B04HogEedLKR9gwGbDmu3PRQ8LtI4wQ04I9iR3Egn-TuQxC-AXYrB5euv9N70Ti4eKO_T11fBvjhM8iaqmYKxLYs7BVNCg731Y60/s1600/photo+55.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0veVzeVyIbob0vaNe39nHwg9CVFa5LRINT0gZJ3B04HogEedLKR9gwGbDmu3PRQ8LtI4wQ04I9iR3Egn-TuQxC-AXYrB5euv9N70Ti4eKO_T11fBvjhM8iaqmYKxLYs7BVNCg731Y60/s400/photo+55.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521386193361712082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGWJKeGTzuujuQvfM__vNzrM4JChdpzFRTUMgzywEecAVichvCxp-0wdURqFXu0WAEIU0WqtcBtSRStgx9QU_jttPlxelGLtGS4a33XDfSjkVEIew3Uup0ZfeB7r3sCiId-S2uCE9dM8/s1600/photo+04.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGWJKeGTzuujuQvfM__vNzrM4JChdpzFRTUMgzywEecAVichvCxp-0wdURqFXu0WAEIU0WqtcBtSRStgx9QU_jttPlxelGLtGS4a33XDfSjkVEIew3Uup0ZfeB7r3sCiId-S2uCE9dM8/s400/photo+04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521386179356747330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXUyE69t1dti52lLUEmtCNh5tJSJRhSx2rPh5BgBN92igU_Mta9lmHmntDp2ievJXXNomHvQgvf8HUtVh8QD_F1xN3Bkt2FiLNWOy3rjBXNkcz3Xlvny1tUEMUShjBOvJM2pZQz21V3Q/s1600/photo+3.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXUyE69t1dti52lLUEmtCNh5tJSJRhSx2rPh5BgBN92igU_Mta9lmHmntDp2ievJXXNomHvQgvf8HUtVh8QD_F1xN3Bkt2FiLNWOy3rjBXNkcz3Xlvny1tUEMUShjBOvJM2pZQz21V3Q/s400/photo+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521386176826361522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd5ggR2f_TqUjwdqX8_VPmuYgK8oT-xS6tuR8A5d7JNCW-9-CQ58OGhcR3DP26K539xHXLvuSLtFgyjm2KyYTjYLHkDaZwCzsVOOOO9zXfbkhbxPyU6FSk6w2B5cvHlkiMwIQnYvWKxQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd5ggR2f_TqUjwdqX8_VPmuYgK8oT-xS6tuR8A5d7JNCW-9-CQ58OGhcR3DP26K539xHXLvuSLtFgyjm2KyYTjYLHkDaZwCzsVOOOO9zXfbkhbxPyU6FSk6w2B5cvHlkiMwIQnYvWKxQ/s400/photo+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521386186591556930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhd-ckJx5PpdsEP_hKmB-mOd_sSHSwnZR6C1ct-zvZgd0I9xfI01JNGpKA4E9I4DO8KuUE_zc_GFd2D5LqCmJJ8q8J0fDhC0_idEX3wr6m6Ic_DNSk4OQNhSVeqBF7KekQYxk0HvuwVw/s1600/photo+2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhd-ckJx5PpdsEP_hKmB-mOd_sSHSwnZR6C1ct-zvZgd0I9xfI01JNGpKA4E9I4DO8KuUE_zc_GFd2D5LqCmJJ8q8J0fDhC0_idEX3wr6m6Ic_DNSk4OQNhSVeqBF7KekQYxk0HvuwVw/s400/photo+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521383028176983266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCC3suvgB-FLQ6DBNQltxw-v2L9VXYiWzhI6pxMJ72XXOEsx0_J_-JLmMMcNjhuOWmkR5WniTLGVlDeZ1z1RLXTOnXnlCw0jkMFN8lZclqJIaSSRHgI72QT9Muhed-b-PXSGpt9rn7Aw/s1600/photo+1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCC3suvgB-FLQ6DBNQltxw-v2L9VXYiWzhI6pxMJ72XXOEsx0_J_-JLmMMcNjhuOWmkR5WniTLGVlDeZ1z1RLXTOnXnlCw0jkMFN8lZclqJIaSSRHgI72QT9Muhed-b-PXSGpt9rn7Aw/s400/photo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521383003366475586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9dqbaNeqV_8_QqY_OgX4z1b34haDcDwrdEIwfFN1vBGc3SJ71SpzobSRWH7c7nlu-AUt0p39vVo7jBWGkZVhtSZH19TWh0A67Hi9OsifFh6Dgczl8sCKsOSaCOw1Cmk86RDcyEtTA0A/s1600/photo+5.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9dqbaNeqV_8_QqY_OgX4z1b34haDcDwrdEIwfFN1vBGc3SJ71SpzobSRWH7c7nlu-AUt0p39vVo7jBWGkZVhtSZH19TWh0A67Hi9OsifFh6Dgczl8sCKsOSaCOw1Cmk86RDcyEtTA0A/s400/photo+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521386192117399506" border="0" /></a>Vegan Thai Pizza at Blue Planet<br /></div>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-83004188163228142442010-09-24T08:22:00.002-05:002010-09-24T08:23:42.470-05:00It's a Slow Bacon RideSee the details for the Last Bacon Ride of 2010 at <a href="http://pedal-omaha.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-change-for-bacon-ride-in-2010.html">Pedal-Omaha</a>. Sunday, September 26.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-34734053508073482652010-09-08T21:04:00.002-05:002010-09-08T21:14:11.101-05:00I Miss This Blog"I miss this blog," wrote <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/05844615323936521322">Colin</a> from San Diego, back on May 8, 2010.<br /><br />Indeed, so do I. The <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7015779968336479872&postID=5636060779995716875">last post</a> was back on January 17, 2010. That was almost seven months ago.<br /><br />The name of this blog is the Redd-Shift, and boy howdy, has there been some shift in the Redd world.<br /><br />There are some personal issues that I need to address before I put it all out for the world to read, but those of you who know me personally have an idea of what's up. Those of you who don't know me will likely care less.<br /><br />However, rest assured that I'm doing well, better than ever, in fact, and that Redd-Shift is still very focused on bike commuting issues, and there will be many more posts to come. With any luck, the post-shift blog posts will still be of interest to some of you out there.<br /><br />So please, bear with me and keep checking back for a new and improved Redd-Shift. In the mean time, hit the streets and make your local bike commuting community proud.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-56360607799957168752010-01-17T20:52:00.006-06:002010-01-17T21:15:52.044-06:00Guerrilla Trail Crew - Doing What Must Be DoneI'm too lazy (and tired following an afternoon of digging) to write anything about this, so I'll just rely on links and photos to tell the story.<br /><br />The Guerrilla Trail Crew web site: <a href="http://guerrillatrailcrew.blogspot.com/">http://guerrillatrailcrew.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Join the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=247994724631&ref=mf#/group.php?gid=245978484925">Facebook fan page</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GTC 2010 Strike #1 (North Keystone Trail, Jan. 11, 2010): </span><br /><ul><li><a href="http://guerrillatrailcrew.blogspot.com/2010/01/action-louder-than-words.html">Writeup at the GTC blog</a></li><li><a href="http://omaha.net/articles/guerrilla-trail-crew-tweets-shovels-and-rides-again">Article in Omaha.NET</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2048168&id=1250848528&l=38479b4034">Photos at Facebook</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr2UcJvBcdU">Video at YouTube</a><br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">GTC 2010 Strike #1 (North West Papio Trail, Jan. 17, 2010):</span><br /><ul><li><a href="http://guerrillatrailcrew.blogspot.com/2010/01/guerrilla-strike-2-go.html">Preparation and planning at the GTC blog</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2048841&id=1250848528&l=495c2e56fb">My Facebook photos</a></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few photos:<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMmbJVyBWGLoYKjVXWou7AYENPpbfWERzdyH2Ti4TOjE27hQHLs17GLE3v9U3Kr8eMa4TxryClDQv1TYDjmDTs-cOy9g5xUI3FsvnLTKo41TdYsQ6y1DG1wCJiOLbl57TzFUDFuFbFto/s1600-h/gtc8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMmbJVyBWGLoYKjVXWou7AYENPpbfWERzdyH2Ti4TOjE27hQHLs17GLE3v9U3Kr8eMa4TxryClDQv1TYDjmDTs-cOy9g5xUI3FsvnLTKo41TdYsQ6y1DG1wCJiOLbl57TzFUDFuFbFto/s400/gtc8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427912045366354738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7onqmRQV7MRyPb_ArxVyOPXeR1eGTpSNFSkIJ7LoU-G4_BLE2aBAp5w72hzw7GmLEbXhCn_OFSVacRgKcAghiQVU-oIhybP4zKfSIX7hQfSosMeC0dOEH-cVbX0_TjYWlcUFBGBbRA8s/s1600-h/100_1717.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7onqmRQV7MRyPb_ArxVyOPXeR1eGTpSNFSkIJ7LoU-G4_BLE2aBAp5w72hzw7GmLEbXhCn_OFSVacRgKcAghiQVU-oIhybP4zKfSIX7hQfSosMeC0dOEH-cVbX0_TjYWlcUFBGBbRA8s/s400/100_1717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427912036463757762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5NcFBCKWug2sp1I377qR8LZPXXNr-djzzW8bvh3fFxRR9qSw09Syv9saUQPfdI6r6fBdjDkzZDd2MEG1k5SIylbSTRPNyxZnixiQsyyAn48jc68dxEnwrnikWUuLMCvTqH6K7eTfMf0/s1600-h/gtc1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5NcFBCKWug2sp1I377qR8LZPXXNr-djzzW8bvh3fFxRR9qSw09Syv9saUQPfdI6r6fBdjDkzZDd2MEG1k5SIylbSTRPNyxZnixiQsyyAn48jc68dxEnwrnikWUuLMCvTqH6K7eTfMf0/s400/gtc1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427912031798521682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGfjgjuWRJa20CUiOw2AzbI0TxgcjCRTaJGf4KOhFflR-21Imm_JhtkQkRMQ4h8A8ivyk7NNantFX-l1fYdsEQA78cwpUeBKg-Nv01kroQBQkHlKY5WmXrNrSxyJkJy8brzIvzPBskBg/s1600-h/GTC+2010-2+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGfjgjuWRJa20CUiOw2AzbI0TxgcjCRTaJGf4KOhFflR-21Imm_JhtkQkRMQ4h8A8ivyk7NNantFX-l1fYdsEQA78cwpUeBKg-Nv01kroQBQkHlKY5WmXrNrSxyJkJy8brzIvzPBskBg/s400/GTC+2010-2+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427912027262715490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaZAL7oOhSY5kimwnIjuKO9sJF_mJLp7V4QWBO29FdZK8-NAlroGVkGWmqHLPoTO7HABs6s7WP9C1t42BJMt1_gpkrH0kYBWFvc_lNVQTgyzSAkXhjP93T75Tn20w31q5DmnxYLSbg6g/s1600-h/GTC+2010-2+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaZAL7oOhSY5kimwnIjuKO9sJF_mJLp7V4QWBO29FdZK8-NAlroGVkGWmqHLPoTO7HABs6s7WP9C1t42BJMt1_gpkrH0kYBWFvc_lNVQTgyzSAkXhjP93T75Tn20w31q5DmnxYLSbg6g/s400/GTC+2010-2+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427911616346902594" border="0" /></a>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-8124676161727462192009-12-25T20:53:00.003-06:002009-12-25T22:41:45.907-06:00Biking After (Another) Blizzard<span style="font-weight: bold;">Second Blizzard of the Season</span><br /><br />Omaha hasn't had a Christmas blizzard since 1941. While most people stayed in this Christmas, I needed to deliver some presents, so what better opportunity or excuse to get the bike out again than the second blizzard of the season. Being still stir crazy from remaining indoors all Christmas Eve also helped me make the decision to head out. I love a challenge, and needed to burn off some holiday treats calories. <br /><br />The drifts were deep in my neighborhood, and my elbow still hurts from digging out from the last storm, so I wanted no more shovel action. The streets in my hilly destination neighborhood hadn't seen a plow, so getting there by automobile would have been difficult, anyway. I'm happy to leave my truck in the drifts while my bike gets all the fun. Considering all this, I donned my blizzard biking apparel, loaded the messenger bag with gifts, and set out for a four mile trip.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2Kb3cW9QgiDZwm3VnF-Lxqeusv3A9ww-nL8tZuVUo9-3XnLSUGJVyyezdXpkCxKpK23HaCH2BqW0mgN_hu4UYQONshTo1hb5kGC5rLPezV5vEFyEId_CZnebdFphNl5NdV4cn_asEPY/s1600-h/blizzard_bike10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2Kb3cW9QgiDZwm3VnF-Lxqeusv3A9ww-nL8tZuVUo9-3XnLSUGJVyyezdXpkCxKpK23HaCH2BqW0mgN_hu4UYQONshTo1hb5kGC5rLPezV5vEFyEId_CZnebdFphNl5NdV4cn_asEPY/s400/blizzard_bike10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419373335220090594" border="0" /></a>There's a sidewalk under there somewhere.<br /></div><br />Considering that there would not be a lot of traffic, I took my chances on routes I would never bike under normal circumstances. I rode Dodge Street and 42nd Street, with only a few gentle passes from holiday travelers, and not much trouble with the snow. It was when I turned onto Grover Street one-half mile from my destination that I had a problem. A silly wipeout (with witnesses) reminded me how slick things were as I turned off a plowed road onto one with drifts. Fortunately, falling on the snow drifts wasn't unlike falling onto a couch. I ended up walking about 1/3 of a mile in a spot where the snow was just too thick on an uphill climb. For my final hill climb, I carried my bike on my shoulder cyclocross style, taking tiny steps into really deep snow.<br /><br />I didn't take any more pictures as I made my way out. I arrived safely, and not at all cold or chilled, in time for gifts exchange, a nice Christmas lunch, and time spent with family.<br /><br />On the way back, I made really good time since some of the roads had been plowed for the first time, or perhaps replowed. I didn't have to do any walking or pushing this time.<br /><br />The trips were slow, but consistent, averaging about 10 MPH in my lowest gear.<br /><br />I did stop for some fun photos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEy2HRCZfpKIAqUM_IvvVbvcCV7te2Q-j5B2geDdTGekkNk62Oy8WkPgupFHBbaUCYXXVHq9TQnPtaohTPl4tG9kBXjJN-pCEcK6DuKPs1m0vnlHfUJCIu75qDbQi72sa3DjT28wcxYE/s1600-h/blizzard_bike1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEy2HRCZfpKIAqUM_IvvVbvcCV7te2Q-j5B2geDdTGekkNk62Oy8WkPgupFHBbaUCYXXVHq9TQnPtaohTPl4tG9kBXjJN-pCEcK6DuKPs1m0vnlHfUJCIu75qDbQi72sa3DjT28wcxYE/s400/blizzard_bike1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419382153534951794" border="0" /></a>King of the hill!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHtsBVsBSXvaRBrKfuJ8jhOJ3YfKCJc5pZXQyBMWxqXxYpuratdR2BbdpUr4mfxyZA0PwmJSfOFDGM5SZMJLWH_V-G69UaUUHLy0CMpc2NfJt2Do-_MfQpgbNYKSEseu5MmY-50STZo/s1600-h/blizzard_bike2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHtsBVsBSXvaRBrKfuJ8jhOJ3YfKCJc5pZXQyBMWxqXxYpuratdR2BbdpUr4mfxyZA0PwmJSfOFDGM5SZMJLWH_V-G69UaUUHLy0CMpc2NfJt2Do-_MfQpgbNYKSEseu5MmY-50STZo/s400/blizzard_bike2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419382153215545890" border="0" /></a>I wish I could say I rode my bike to the top.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIvM7kXERJ8AvAzJWmkzXe515BOR48nLQgtxOOpz6ypq-w3w4mIiMU16pcDrHjP59dZ0TKyGJYLLqtjGhD0X03DMn7TRptCcJvvFjVL5HddJ_ZCPkxW83Xzfq5MlAiOWlhWz1JS2Imtc/s1600-h/blizzard_bike5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIvM7kXERJ8AvAzJWmkzXe515BOR48nLQgtxOOpz6ypq-w3w4mIiMU16pcDrHjP59dZ0TKyGJYLLqtjGhD0X03DMn7TRptCcJvvFjVL5HddJ_ZCPkxW83Xzfq5MlAiOWlhWz1JS2Imtc/s400/blizzard_bike5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419373343093838434" border="0" /></a>This is my leg sunk into a drift up to my knee.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjEZk-4uOpjUPSGTZ5_KUc5xxOeAe26_w9r1VkXzN7ix8FZqEDoZDCHoe41ai2Gr1JBPbhTBVeIz00kOONbCjFHrAVviyIBBhv9UvR-0Hu2jYtP72J8yPAFMvnBdA7mmy3y03Svyz0f0/s1600-h/blizzard_bike8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjEZk-4uOpjUPSGTZ5_KUc5xxOeAe26_w9r1VkXzN7ix8FZqEDoZDCHoe41ai2Gr1JBPbhTBVeIz00kOONbCjFHrAVviyIBBhv9UvR-0Hu2jYtP72J8yPAFMvnBdA7mmy3y03Svyz0f0/s400/blizzard_bike8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419373338613991218" border="0" /></a>Warning: Don't try this with your SUV.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What To Wear?</span><br /><br />After a year of all-season bike commuting, I've got down pretty well what works for me. In case any of this information may be of use to others, I'll list the conditions, and what I wore.<br /><br />Blizzard Trip, Leg One: High winds with blowing snow, temperature around 10 degrees.<br /><br />Blizzard Trip, Leg Two: Reduced winds, no more falling snow, temperature around 22 degrees.<br /><br />Gear:<br /><ul><li>long sleeved base layer top, polypropylene (from sporting goods store)</li><li>short sleeved wicking shirt (from department store)</li><li>another long sleeved base layer shirt<br /></li><li>long sleeved wicking ski shirt (from sporting goods store)</li><li>long sleeved zip-up cycling jersey jacket (from bike shop)</li><li>hi-visibility cycling wind breaking shell (from sporting goods store)</li><li>AmFIB leg tights (from cycling store)</li><li>base layer leg tights on top of AmFIBs (from sporting goods store. I probably didn't need these, but in case I ended up walking more, I wanted to make sure I'd stay warm)</li><li>cycling knickers (custom made from Scout Dry Goods)</li><li>glove liners under lobster claw gloves</li><li>fleece balaclava over head and face</li><li>polypro balaclava on top of head</li><li>wool cycling cap on top of head</li><li>helmet, of course</li><li>MTB style SPD shoes for clipless pedals</li><li>ski goggles on the trip out. Didn't need them for the return trip. 10 degrees seems to be my threshold for requiring goggles. </li></ul>To the uninitiated, biking in the snow might seem strange, but a properly equipped bike and rider can really get around quite well on city streets. There's no dig out, defrost, or warm up time, and the freedom of self propelled travel in the face of weather that all but shuts down a city is a great feeling. It's also fun to cycle past people trying to get their cars unstuck.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-17821578600114725492009-12-09T19:40:00.005-06:002009-12-09T21:53:40.435-06:00Biking After A Blizzard<span style="font-weight: bold;">First Blizzard of the Season</span><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDomcZY9OCU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDomcZY9OCU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Heck, yeah! I'm riding!<br /><br />Technically, the blizzard was overnight, and while there were still 30 MPH winds in the morning, the snow had stopped and most of the blowing snow had settled. There were still some wicked drifts and plow wakes on the neighborhood and side streets. I don't think it was ever warmer than 10 degrees Fahrenheit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AM Commute</span><br /><br />There was lots of pushing in the neighborhoods and side streets. It took me about 30 minutes to go 2 miles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PM Commute</span><br /><br />I only had to dismount once, and riding on the main streets was pretty easy. It took me 15 minutes to go 2 miles.<br /><br />I halfway considered taking the bus home, but as the day went on, MAT kept pushing back the time they were going to resume service. Finally they announced that they weren't going to run any buses. So much for dependable public transportation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photos</span><br /><br />Here are some photos I took in the morning and around lunch time. You'll notice the large wakes in the center lanes. The city is experimenting with pushing snow to the center to ease parking and pedestrian access to sidewalks. I think it's working, but it seemed to make for some awkward moments when traffic needed to move from one side of the street to the other.<br /><br />Cycling home on Farnam Street, also with a huge wake in the middle, made me believe that the one way street might serve better as a two way street, especially if there were bike lanes along either side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4P0OsOQMgmWVuJiNB7xLqbLJAxsX-V-QGl-OTSELxkh1nkKi1SowwoGQ8fQPViK8le7fdUeaXr04kMmI-Fzvv_k_03FmtjWdpE9He9tkDNIdoLYGS3HYHw8G5W1YA9B3BgJrw9dwOFA/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4P0OsOQMgmWVuJiNB7xLqbLJAxsX-V-QGl-OTSELxkh1nkKi1SowwoGQ8fQPViK8le7fdUeaXr04kMmI-Fzvv_k_03FmtjWdpE9He9tkDNIdoLYGS3HYHw8G5W1YA9B3BgJrw9dwOFA/s400/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413417298244807874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8hyphenhyphen3CuTL38jKFpwjZiTK-xeMmGj14-VJHEop5aXhKR0YirwT1EsRq_gxpYFpFGpN5vsFUMOp0YzFcV4Vxm_mg2G9ElsWMDOGpBC_GgY57fnnC94WReeeOBBiN5CEYNMwMrk8ofgBRE/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM8hyphenhyphen3CuTL38jKFpwjZiTK-xeMmGj14-VJHEop5aXhKR0YirwT1EsRq_gxpYFpFGpN5vsFUMOp0YzFcV4Vxm_mg2G9ElsWMDOGpBC_GgY57fnnC94WReeeOBBiN5CEYNMwMrk8ofgBRE/s400/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413417293682943314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RszhN_DDZ_mJgexPn-Vu0DbPlp_ZGH2nTdGZp5SO0sj0hDG6hiyRE_zfrjAadlWBGMHLx79m-1TdsZJhgdoseGED_vUsAfxu-quQtaySc9iH63CodFmxET22vCsC68IkAfRicSmNFZM/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RszhN_DDZ_mJgexPn-Vu0DbPlp_ZGH2nTdGZp5SO0sj0hDG6hiyRE_zfrjAadlWBGMHLx79m-1TdsZJhgdoseGED_vUsAfxu-quQtaySc9iH63CodFmxET22vCsC68IkAfRicSmNFZM/s400/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413417281534080738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlF243H2IrO81mNj3GXwxLzXg1H9slGZJ-LsVKMrv_-20LiX9YJ5zM6qPxvT90K8tOZOUwZX5odFvZzxKE8tnMi2oX0I-3f26U7ET61G8kU3x4qVBBd7FWsC_3NaJz8iL0ztkg6BS4SI/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlF243H2IrO81mNj3GXwxLzXg1H9slGZJ-LsVKMrv_-20LiX9YJ5zM6qPxvT90K8tOZOUwZX5odFvZzxKE8tnMi2oX0I-3f26U7ET61G8kU3x4qVBBd7FWsC_3NaJz8iL0ztkg6BS4SI/s400/037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413417274813437602" border="0" /></a>Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-9072767249882190512009-12-05T09:32:00.005-06:002009-12-05T10:14:22.607-06:00Holiday Lights on a Bike<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q_U7xH2rHHwBqabfNVsnDeKvVFOgvYPglLnriiPFrqAMkPMbLTMIJ09IKyDayDEG0EX6yC0M1dHnohGqTjoKlLQgfUTmxTH_18XciVGtRz2Ezq1Ts37s6qtDiVtpEcmF_IknZaxyDm0/s1600-h/2009-bike-delights.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q_U7xH2rHHwBqabfNVsnDeKvVFOgvYPglLnriiPFrqAMkPMbLTMIJ09IKyDayDEG0EX6yC0M1dHnohGqTjoKlLQgfUTmxTH_18XciVGtRz2Ezq1Ts37s6qtDiVtpEcmF_IknZaxyDm0/s400/2009-bike-delights.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411784831733730466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Graphic design by <a href="http://reddwith2ds.blogspot.com/">Emily Redd</a></span><br /></div><br />On the occasion of next week's <a href="http://bikeomaha.blogspot.com/2009/11/bike-delights-2009.html">2009 Bike Omaha Bike De'lights holiday lights tour</a>, I decided to get festive and decorate my bike.<br /><br />On the handlebars is a wreath with sleigh bells. A sleigh bell also hangs near each brake lever.<br /><br />I used battery operated lights from Walmart. Each strand cost about $6. I wove one strand around the main triangle, and a second is secured using zip ties and home made fender clips. I fashioned the fender clips from a Dr. Pepper soda can using tin snips.<br /><br />The battery packs are secured under the saddle using a plethora of zip ties, using more than needed, as they have a tendency to break in cold weather.<br /><br />Please come out and join us for the ride, even if you don't have a decorated bike. I will have some extra sleigh bells to hand out if you want to jingle all the way.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tVTA6ePvB_yDE2ZCGB8GHWPBrvBDxwEM7fEfUFe5r3LreW36mSnnvRRc2X1JGxkPxVZnt-oSDGn3hqEqlmgG8VywAlIbhITgWn1t_LWabLn9XS8Op4EsySZgMMCTkNPcbEYAH0dHO7E/s1600-h/holidaybike6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tVTA6ePvB_yDE2ZCGB8GHWPBrvBDxwEM7fEfUFe5r3LreW36mSnnvRRc2X1JGxkPxVZnt-oSDGn3hqEqlmgG8VywAlIbhITgWn1t_LWabLn9XS8Op4EsySZgMMCTkNPcbEYAH0dHO7E/s400/holidaybike6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411778914981035234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIZCTsH5BJoQH7s1C2DA1A0gbaMAjps1Or9643BeVnywofjBNEyLRJY_W1UYLbRNCQUFL0c09mEyy8svUivFOO-WpRhyphenhyphenLbCO5V1n0Xby5oZq3pf6AECafBTch_zDG80w6LQmxDdH1JhI/s1600-h/holidaybike7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIZCTsH5BJoQH7s1C2DA1A0gbaMAjps1Or9643BeVnywofjBNEyLRJY_W1UYLbRNCQUFL0c09mEyy8svUivFOO-WpRhyphenhyphenLbCO5V1n0Xby5oZq3pf6AECafBTch_zDG80w6LQmxDdH1JhI/s400/holidaybike7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411778932843894626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYaNvjEwysXUFLncvH8QLfTHCo9f70Nvh2YpLKvMOooppJsQ-UfvRUE6hsKQUNnJH68DeqygvTotjekf7OXOBdRVJ7m4HUbtQHd_pvx-RRnNTyjcfL_9ZzA4gWyTQ9fENX99wsT32H5Q/s1600-h/holidaybike4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYaNvjEwysXUFLncvH8QLfTHCo9f70Nvh2YpLKvMOooppJsQ-UfvRUE6hsKQUNnJH68DeqygvTotjekf7OXOBdRVJ7m4HUbtQHd_pvx-RRnNTyjcfL_9ZzA4gWyTQ9fENX99wsT32H5Q/s400/holidaybike4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411778931315618626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecS3KZBzyboQFUqjIcbnw1F6ql64DMJa4VXgVEgVOjruxTKQYTH34Q88nAIDsL1QP9reoU-Wub5r6PpWn1EPAXtDGAVzrjwktjBd6NLqvfVKhWrHtUPKgh_2uadlJFS0CXXZAimjQPg0/s1600-h/holidaybike2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecS3KZBzyboQFUqjIcbnw1F6ql64DMJa4VXgVEgVOjruxTKQYTH34Q88nAIDsL1QP9reoU-Wub5r6PpWn1EPAXtDGAVzrjwktjBd6NLqvfVKhWrHtUPKgh_2uadlJFS0CXXZAimjQPg0/s400/holidaybike2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411778923729545170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj53-l9A5dPnWCP_MHEtUSLCOdZfpBg1-6EoIMW3lx0wTK_FjOYKEd9qVWU-V43WuZ08AYZvrkZkle6RGtkQu3NVuD7inXgOIk598_cty5kqKaHgydeXTA4zlv9jwqahcn91pVR86u8g/s1600-h/holidaybike1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj53-l9A5dPnWCP_MHEtUSLCOdZfpBg1-6EoIMW3lx0wTK_FjOYKEd9qVWU-V43WuZ08AYZvrkZkle6RGtkQu3NVuD7inXgOIk598_cty5kqKaHgydeXTA4zlv9jwqahcn91pVR86u8g/s400/holidaybike1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411778921509350290" border="0" /></a><br />The ride has garnered some interest from the community:<br /><ul><li>Midtown Crossing Blog - <a href="http://blog.midtowncrossing.com/?p=101">Bike De'Lights 2009</a><br /></li><li>Omaha World-Herald, Fri. 12/4 - <a href="http://omaha.com/article/20091204/NEWS02/712049888">Cyclists can delight in the lights</a></li></ul>Be sure to follow <a href="http://twitter.com/bikeomaha">@BikeOmaha</a> on Twitter for last minute updates and news about the ride.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-48580274077057272802009-11-01T14:36:00.009-06:002009-11-01T15:34:03.638-06:00Spooks On Spokes 2009 - My RecapZounds! It's been almost a month since my last post. Unfortunately, this post is going to pretty meager. I just want to post the few pics that I took during the <a href="http://spooksonspokes.blogspot.com/">2009 Spooks On Spokes</a> scavenger hunt.<br /><br />Chris G. and I teamed up to ride in the 2009 Spooks On Spokes scavenger hunt/alleycat organized by The D and his wife, The K. We started out pretty strong, but a couple of wrong turns (from my map misinterpretation -- being a Unix professional, you'd think I would understand that a "u" is not the same as a "U"), a flat tire, and ignoring the fact that the finish line wasn't the same as the starting line, put us at four hours; a full hour behind the winning teams.<br /><br />From the start, my objective was simply to finish the race and have a good time, and unquestionably, this was accomplished. Chris and I had a great time riding, and running into other cyclists, both known and unknown, was fun. I also enjoyed seeing the variety of bikes that showed up, from fixies to cruisers, from 15 pound road bikes to tank like mountain bikes.<br /><br />Here's my list of observations:<br /><ul><li>It's mean to make the second checkpoint 15 feet out in Zorinski Lake. My feet stayed wet all day, and I'm not sure how to get the smell of lake water out of my shoes. Thank goodness for warm wool socks</li><li>Picking up soda cans by hooking them on the end of a wire is harder than it looks. Expect to fall at least once if you've never done this. Maybe bike polo would be fun?</li><li>West Omaha trails, sidewalks, and shoulders are messed up. You're riding along when suddenly it just stops! You might also find a trail bridge that dumps out into a undeveloped field.</li><li>90% of the joggers at Zorinski Lake are female</li><li>If you try to use your Geocaching "Force" to locate hidden objects (like the 20 minute time bonus hidden in a wooded area), you're likely to find a Geocache. I did, but it was destroyed by water. Otherwise, I would have TNLNSTL.</li><li>It's distracting to change a flat tire when there's a line of people waiting behind for their turn at the challenge.</li><li>Most people staffing business at checkpoints seemed amused to participate by handing out their business cards.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Photos</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3HlEjrnhLs2WaHp0HXzts3d4edKtnur0TL2PelmMIPZSpNeJ9GWhNKC8KNb8YsupVoZbaNPr2onh5fxwtwxDk986m94X5UOSlF0zJ8iHZd1BG6ycXzXbC_0ekzFWmU079ZL6oZ1vrtw/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3HlEjrnhLs2WaHp0HXzts3d4edKtnur0TL2PelmMIPZSpNeJ9GWhNKC8KNb8YsupVoZbaNPr2onh5fxwtwxDk986m94X5UOSlF0zJ8iHZd1BG6ycXzXbC_0ekzFWmU079ZL6oZ1vrtw/s400/spooksonspokes2009-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247320639724274" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCWcQjTIQxoTIAPAokHj1l-yFr5eubfewlT6_xdJAPLVGt5xjlaYPHjEdyob1ep6JXUGxtdIim1bgrqGbZ8UQjz_gnO-0sm8WjGiatnutTx-c148ZpHoThMPhdJMA99fy6iuy0dIyYSo/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCWcQjTIQxoTIAPAokHj1l-yFr5eubfewlT6_xdJAPLVGt5xjlaYPHjEdyob1ep6JXUGxtdIim1bgrqGbZ8UQjz_gnO-0sm8WjGiatnutTx-c148ZpHoThMPhdJMA99fy6iuy0dIyYSo/s400/spooksonspokes2009-9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247324342489954" border="0" /></a>Participants signing in<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U21rVuwP2xwST-TSjZfe9pD6WO6vP4TxyKopKj9clWVCNviFne2MpXMWO_KT0bOgnXYD7CiXyNhkUmTGyDeelFm-EL7LQ_sg0mqoXV6GjzEWm991JTqed-L7EUy3I2ml88SBQfmG5CU/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U21rVuwP2xwST-TSjZfe9pD6WO6vP4TxyKopKj9clWVCNviFne2MpXMWO_KT0bOgnXYD7CiXyNhkUmTGyDeelFm-EL7LQ_sg0mqoXV6GjzEWm991JTqed-L7EUy3I2ml88SBQfmG5CU/s400/spooksonspokes2009-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247315039178930" border="0" /></a>Powerbar giveaway<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S8ZP35TxWgX9Do9LYF3gNMJOsz4rNEEYCo-MSp6X4-R12ODFS0Pmd5UVARmTSfzrfVcxgvTKYOIlw4m9bfIaDRev8vj_P82HCyaLCdUp4fERvkTc3nOUzmP2VOnAK7EhtjTvRKV-PNY/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2S8ZP35TxWgX9Do9LYF3gNMJOsz4rNEEYCo-MSp6X4-R12ODFS0Pmd5UVARmTSfzrfVcxgvTKYOIlw4m9bfIaDRev8vj_P82HCyaLCdUp4fERvkTc3nOUzmP2VOnAK7EhtjTvRKV-PNY/s400/spooksonspokes2009-7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247312817059970" border="0" /></a>A couple arrives in hula costumes. The temperature was in the mid 30s.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikec9LyWVvHWWRDDi2pj0siWP8pKEmEBDsVrP5PsW_MR5v4litUcCVt0rXUusltDgPdZcA2bRTmRzOmbDdF84S4pSxf0YrUK1zBb_afc-JgUDoiOIVv8WQ6X_KQzaW30lTsndgIaOUTZE/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikec9LyWVvHWWRDDi2pj0siWP8pKEmEBDsVrP5PsW_MR5v4litUcCVt0rXUusltDgPdZcA2bRTmRzOmbDdF84S4pSxf0YrUK1zBb_afc-JgUDoiOIVv8WQ6X_KQzaW30lTsndgIaOUTZE/s400/spooksonspokes2009-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247419936146690" border="0" /></a>Yee haw! A cowgirl costume. I wonder if the boots have pedal cleats.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxVxze9ylimmrrTHXVfMGWk-fGZFuko8YmVSRfG0gUaTppD9oev-QpyaCTmQhp8fN_wyXSDX2aIsmTx_tYgTtMxqT2cBJ_Vhzf1vQ63SihQ_1tw6JlYAZcEGwDTRiknmblXnHIt7k0vQ/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxVxze9ylimmrrTHXVfMGWk-fGZFuko8YmVSRfG0gUaTppD9oev-QpyaCTmQhp8fN_wyXSDX2aIsmTx_tYgTtMxqT2cBJ_Vhzf1vQ63SihQ_1tw6JlYAZcEGwDTRiknmblXnHIt7k0vQ/s400/spooksonspokes2009-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247004632694306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaieyvbbPw0HCVUK6ZLYgxq-5BiD2lMdGZ5Jg12PpuSBoW2G5juQzTATGxFNpYsEzSQUGe_tSm-H91NWYrkmg3kP8FddTEeYzQEbawgbO9PSyu6qKfEgz5ai9cwNdEuf4f1MT1l0cW67Q/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaieyvbbPw0HCVUK6ZLYgxq-5BiD2lMdGZ5Jg12PpuSBoW2G5juQzTATGxFNpYsEzSQUGe_tSm-H91NWYrkmg3kP8FddTEeYzQEbawgbO9PSyu6qKfEgz5ai9cwNdEuf4f1MT1l0cW67Q/s400/spooksonspokes2009-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399246997598896946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg78j2R3J9wuke036Le-wCX700mZnwOb4qvADaloIXYvk0qiGjcfyofOMGcAXZr_TyNrYvRLfnbOKesGW1UleZK3tWRPcX-7hLf-vpYSLUdvhzAMkvbV9uYHgnOg8s3LQaRf_RpeO0m_0/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg78j2R3J9wuke036Le-wCX700mZnwOb4qvADaloIXYvk0qiGjcfyofOMGcAXZr_TyNrYvRLfnbOKesGW1UleZK3tWRPcX-7hLf-vpYSLUdvhzAMkvbV9uYHgnOg8s3LQaRf_RpeO0m_0/s400/spooksonspokes2009-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247325126276978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsg0oNhrU5AvMCirPcmolFjJser5rO8xFZvtTyvcgBR9ZOKA9a6VQyh-yokfZdWBQY1SBtBP8uVeL4GboNpSW4OpR4rrXB8c2CFDYVfaWbHHFzBSOLLwEWPQzYorVzkFb5Z_B_nS-YH0/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsg0oNhrU5AvMCirPcmolFjJser5rO8xFZvtTyvcgBR9ZOKA9a6VQyh-yokfZdWBQY1SBtBP8uVeL4GboNpSW4OpR4rrXB8c2CFDYVfaWbHHFzBSOLLwEWPQzYorVzkFb5Z_B_nS-YH0/s400/spooksonspokes2009-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247010007815570" border="0" /></a>All bikes are laid down. Participants must run to the first clue, then run back to their bikes.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwCQO8RpgLPV50LQwvS5AlrDgpuAis1w_DzAOEf5nZbu5qcLeX23AwGYbO-0KY113bt7F12F6wkD3ok7b_mlGlG5be4cuiKqpfthWuQxwH2F_X4_0GecUlfo5bmbW3iP_I2RNjdhLsGY/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwCQO8RpgLPV50LQwvS5AlrDgpuAis1w_DzAOEf5nZbu5qcLeX23AwGYbO-0KY113bt7F12F6wkD3ok7b_mlGlG5be4cuiKqpfthWuQxwH2F_X4_0GecUlfo5bmbW3iP_I2RNjdhLsGY/s400/spooksonspokes2009-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399246996233033730" border="0" /></a>The D briefs all participants on the race rules.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOJp6AqV3eELEDowLJ5fxNl8r-Da0DrJcuxdh9t0sHmApdkZyvu77FYv__EGL9puGHmt-rmNx1XfCt61f1Dk77nLWF9y0Fbq27cjZ5z7wiwJCemCAbHWphdLXZM6etcZtF-QtdGI6eGM/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOJp6AqV3eELEDowLJ5fxNl8r-Da0DrJcuxdh9t0sHmApdkZyvu77FYv__EGL9puGHmt-rmNx1XfCt61f1Dk77nLWF9y0Fbq27cjZ5z7wiwJCemCAbHWphdLXZM6etcZtF-QtdGI6eGM/s400/spooksonspokes2009-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399246992090386674" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_UmhAUDa2cn7vy9_LRaJ-Sey-py1BJn6BSykeo1oA_l4cOSOtqRi0HWRYGT1SAF0K-6GBto3d5dTiTPlyumf6-FnlpT7N3XADxIsz0IIW9GfU4yyM_WOh1UuTIdUXVWCVGj1B8UR6pU/s1600-h/spooksonspokes2009-12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_UmhAUDa2cn7vy9_LRaJ-Sey-py1BJn6BSykeo1oA_l4cOSOtqRi0HWRYGT1SAF0K-6GBto3d5dTiTPlyumf6-FnlpT7N3XADxIsz0IIW9GfU4yyM_WOh1UuTIdUXVWCVGj1B8UR6pU/s400/spooksonspokes2009-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399251394678450050" border="0" /></a>Chris flats near Village Point on a West Dodge service road.<br /><br /><br /></div>Unfortunately, I was too wrapped up in participating in the race that I didn't take many more photos. Watch the comments for links to other sites with photos from the event.<br /><br />Start making your plans now for bicycle-friendly costumes for next year's Spooks on Spokes.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-1237191255175635682009-10-04T21:05:00.004-05:002009-10-04T21:24:41.819-05:00Guerrilla Bike Path Engineering Task Force"If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The Guerrilla Bike Path Engineering Task Force."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYuTokcHgccDWtDJw1uBos8ORtGdeUi5z-azzHSYi_wtrsu3ERQU8VFK2a60eJHR-th3aSZpHbgdsQv03WGxI0YX14cVlun0aOZKQ-BykMdOW35Yrg1862VQuxfxQREOyGtJ-yDnM394/s1600-h/bike-engineering-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYuTokcHgccDWtDJw1uBos8ORtGdeUi5z-azzHSYi_wtrsu3ERQU8VFK2a60eJHR-th3aSZpHbgdsQv03WGxI0YX14cVlun0aOZKQ-BykMdOW35Yrg1862VQuxfxQREOyGtJ-yDnM394/s400/bike-engineering-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388934388373731906" border="0" /></a><br />I've noticed some improvised infrastructure engineering on some rough bike path/sidewalk bridge joints. These are places were the top surface of a sidewalk doesn't quite meet the surface of the bridge. Often it appears that someone has taken a hammer to the raised surface to notch out a tiny ramp. It's not much, but maybe enough to help avoid a pinch flat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAg3WY6gkLQ67JrntFUu6IdGiDSKCqNvL3-yt2wZFZSuQ6lFU9gtjfztwGjmH11P_UolhxyeZhHp_eUCGrL0rvyUU3Yzv-Cs695mNOkg-YFItGc9P73aRX3OaEZalbhjDdrSmtEYmPis/s1600-h/bike-engineering-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAg3WY6gkLQ67JrntFUu6IdGiDSKCqNvL3-yt2wZFZSuQ6lFU9gtjfztwGjmH11P_UolhxyeZhHp_eUCGrL0rvyUU3Yzv-Cs695mNOkg-YFItGc9P73aRX3OaEZalbhjDdrSmtEYmPis/s400/bike-engineering-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388931739860678610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also notice someone had taken a chisel or similar tool and notched out a groove on a wooden bridge in the One Pacific Place Park. Today I saw that there were two tiny little cement ramps added to the rough transition between bike path and wooden bridge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ4GLtpBj7BGhMgTF6vPCSdFO5xSQazYu5UQJ1HVf9yrTlXSxSELOXtVzrasDL08chHg8wF9nllNJpfD4t9UaJFA-0nbQMnwHGE_kqbu7reTWJugtEeu5MuasUH_0xoeEsXAhg9-nqUE/s1600-h/bike-engineering-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZ4GLtpBj7BGhMgTF6vPCSdFO5xSQazYu5UQJ1HVf9yrTlXSxSELOXtVzrasDL08chHg8wF9nllNJpfD4t9UaJFA-0nbQMnwHGE_kqbu7reTWJugtEeu5MuasUH_0xoeEsXAhg9-nqUE/s400/bike-engineering-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388931748974326946" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sure we've all thought of doing something like this, but lack the time? I can't say I endorse such activity from a legal point of view... but thanks!Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-74012586496390014382009-09-27T21:38:00.004-05:002009-09-27T22:21:56.657-05:00Photos From "Oh! What An Alleycat!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEgNc4H7RseSK8mfu1wnFB6zDK32LAZ8h88b4aSF-WW1x6xYAMqOAxvWLCElJIiIHMrJ7CnOd4IR0TBr0wBdTcAHukAj6ZilTItFHyZ0BFe8mDYtMwadTck9_cYrAg6kw9IK6i-ZsSuA/s1600-h/Alleycat+091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEgNc4H7RseSK8mfu1wnFB6zDK32LAZ8h88b4aSF-WW1x6xYAMqOAxvWLCElJIiIHMrJ7CnOd4IR0TBr0wBdTcAHukAj6ZilTItFHyZ0BFe8mDYtMwadTck9_cYrAg6kw9IK6i-ZsSuA/s400/Alleycat+091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386352422327558018" border="0" /></a><br />Omaha's first annual <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Oh! What An Alleycat!</span> event was a huge success! Read the <a href="http://ohwhatanalleycat.blogspot.com/">official blog here</a>.<br /><br />When <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/05090020452740679758">Sean</a> announced that he was going to organize an alleycat race, I knew I wanted to help make it happen. Rather than participate, I offered to help run a checkpoint. I'm not terribly fast, and sometimes not the best navigator, so helping out seemed to be the thing to do.<br /><br />About 15 people showed up to race, and several more to help out. Our gathering at the arch in the Gene Leahy Mall was certainly noticeable. There were bikes everywhere of all kinds. Fixies, single speeds, racing bikes, mountain bikes, and hybrids. It was a beautiful thing.<br /><br />We helpers showed up early and Sean briefed us on the protocol. We each were given a grease pen for marking player's playing cards, and an index card telling us where our checkpoint was, and the location of the next checkpoint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo5qvezn8QSQ3nJSZT1W0v-XqG_hZAyobtr8R5IN-0iv2OSAkN6bhokEeTC17dpu1r8B1-iQ35mi5eiwlXgMO6uIGECFt9gWO3TDgCaaw8s-wTdhNZXiwP0kKFwakw_DBaAc24AWlRDY/s1600-h/Alleycat+085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEo5qvezn8QSQ3nJSZT1W0v-XqG_hZAyobtr8R5IN-0iv2OSAkN6bhokEeTC17dpu1r8B1-iQ35mi5eiwlXgMO6uIGECFt9gWO3TDgCaaw8s-wTdhNZXiwP0kKFwakw_DBaAc24AWlRDY/s320/Alleycat+085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386352651522578594" border="0" /></a>I rode off to my post in the Heartland of America Park. Sean had directed me to an area on the lake that was near the boat ride piers, describing a boardwalk. I think most people interpreted their clue, given by them by the officials at the first checkpoint, as the wooden footbridge over 8th and Farnam. In the confusion, some people rode all the way to the wooden bridge leading to the riverfront before seeing me waving from my checkpoint. Please explore the map below.<br /><br />I got a kick out of seeing the leaders trying to get to me at great speed. Some bombed down the steep grassy hill (on fixies, no less), while some hefted their bikes on the shoulders and ran down the steps from 8th Street. I think everyone ended up finding me. However, I had forgotten to ask Sean how many riders there were, so I wasn't sure when I was done.<br /><br />Just to be safe, I moved out more in the open to the boardwalk at the boat piers, waited, and fed some cookies to the ducks.<br /><br />Finally I got a message from Sean telling me to rejoin the group at the arch. By the time I got back, all prizes has been awarded. A few of us went on to Upstream for some post ride refreshments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc6xDbmNaRWLkmQsqCbAm6Jv4KbYTfTewB0YvAUNynTzFv_aY_Mc1X8KruLjqgKzHVUv40gii8PtvlAO9iIihfBUsnaqJRTQhXXpf3ZQCfN1Aw9SoMkRcbA-CqC2dretIl9EH_XwPWLU/s1600-h/Alleycat+090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXc6xDbmNaRWLkmQsqCbAm6Jv4KbYTfTewB0YvAUNynTzFv_aY_Mc1X8KruLjqgKzHVUv40gii8PtvlAO9iIihfBUsnaqJRTQhXXpf3ZQCfN1Aw9SoMkRcbA-CqC2dretIl9EH_XwPWLU/s320/Alleycat+090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386352858444581634" border="0" /></a>After some snacks, some of Upstream's finest beverages and some fun conversation, I rode off toward home. Ben was looking to get some more saddle time, so he joined me for the ride to my house. I think afterward he might have continued on to the Keystone Trail for some more miles.<br /><br />Everybody I talked to seemed to enjoy the alleycat, and is looking forward to the next. Thanks to Sean for putting this together, at his own personal expense, and thanks to everyone who came out to race or to help. Also, thanks for The Douglas for making the special event spoke cards. That's something you don't see every day in Omaha.<br /><br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=105548476118855936983.0004749a629501e54afd9&ll=41.258291,-95.927188&spn=0.005646,0.00912&z=16&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=105548476118855936983.0004749a629501e54afd9&ll=41.258291,-95.927188&spn=0.005646,0.00912&z=16&source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">Oh! What An Alleycat! Checkpoint #2</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br /><br />Here are some photos I took.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Freddshiftblog%2Falbumid%2F5386341526167634897%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJffh-bspNaQdA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="267" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/reddshiftblog/20090927Alleycat?authkey=Gv1sRgCJffh-bspNaQdA&feat=directlink">Click here</a> if you can't see the slideshow above.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-24241984531007794172009-09-21T17:14:00.003-05:002009-09-21T17:20:12.841-05:00Photos From The Last 2009 Bacon Ride<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpKGFlVj6JvGkAr_oSjl1Jpj4a4iOH1KUVlWNbvBLkmxSKBjmTtGavNUom5Ta8CuF2tCRt3NtZn_duLvaQlWb8WF4lCL7UlVIZHu74gdQsXp3ojG6aewCeHfOClM-UYJzeI8dQ7JD6M8/s1600-h/Bacon+Ride+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpKGFlVj6JvGkAr_oSjl1Jpj4a4iOH1KUVlWNbvBLkmxSKBjmTtGavNUom5Ta8CuF2tCRt3NtZn_duLvaQlWb8WF4lCL7UlVIZHu74gdQsXp3ojG6aewCeHfOClM-UYJzeI8dQ7JD6M8/s400/Bacon+Ride+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384049004053227362" border="0" /></a><br />You can read all about the Bacon Ride adventure <a href="http://pedal-omaha.blogspot.com/2009/09/last-bacon-ride-of-year.html">here at Pedal-Omaha</a> and <a href="http://mitmon.blogspot.com/2009/09/there-was-abundance-of-sweet-bacon.html">here at MITMON</a>.<br /><br />Here are my photos.<br /><br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Freddshiftblog%2Falbumid%2F5384046778673806945%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPTdz_GZwbamFw%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="267" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/reddshiftblog/20090920BaconRide?authkey=Gv1sRgCPTdz_GZwbamFw&feat=directlink">Click here</a> if you can't see the slideshow.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-43338964364315817162009-09-18T23:45:00.004-05:002009-09-19T00:20:49.255-05:00A Shiny Bike Is A Happy BikeI'm not a particularly neat person. I'm not dirty and I've got good hygiene, but one could never call me a neat freak.<br /><br />However, lately I've been trying to keep my bikes clean. You won't see me with a toothbrush working out bits of gravel dust and grease from every nook and cranny, but it's pretty easy to wipe things down with a rag and a pre-moistened dusting wipe. <br /><br />I've found that cleaning my bikes is relaxing, and also helps me inspect parts for wear and damage, potentially identifying a problem before it gets too bad.<br /><br />My friend Jeff had been telling me about some of the various citrus based, biodegradable degreasers on the market, such as Simple Green and Purple Power, and how easy it is to clean a chain and cogs using them. I found the jugs of degreaser in the automotive section of a big box retailer.<br /><br />I'd already learned how to remove the master link from my chains, but didn't have any way to get freehub cogs off.<br /><br />Last week I got a cogset lockring removal tool and a chain whip. Using these I was able to take off my nine speed cogset off the Specialized Tricross and soak it in some Purple Power degreaser. <br /><br />I put the chain into a big Gatorade bottle and sealed it. I let everything soak while I cleaned the rest of the bike. I'd give the bottle a good shake every now and again to try to dislodge some of the grease on the chain.<br /><br />After I was done cleaning the bike, I removed the cogs and chain from their degreaser bath, rinsed them off, and then wiped them down with an old tee-shirt. The result was amazing. All of the parts shined like so many crazy diamonds. I was able to pour off most of the used degreaser into another container, leaving the dirty stuff at the bottom, where I could dispose of it later. I'll keep the used degreaser for the next time. Perhaps I can get two or three uses out of a batch of this stuff.<br /><br />I put a little grease on the freehub splines and reassembled the cog set, spacers, and loose cogs back on to the hub before using the lockring tool again to tighten the assembly. I wasn't sure how hard to tighten down the lockring, but after it started to catch into a series of grooves, I gave it one more good twist. I didn't want it to be too hard to take off again the next time, or risk damaging it or the threads. If anyone has some advice on how tight this should feel, please let me know.<br /><br />I threaded the chain back through the derailleur jockey wheels and rejoined the two ends using the master link. Then I applied some of my drip lube on the chain, shifted all the gears while turning the pedals, and then wiped down the chain.<br /><br />I'm still amazed as how shiny this all is. I always forget that these parts come silver colored, and not really blackened, as they tend to get over time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxA-TP-Ip6DgjSFE3io9DZghnOrROrHW6j34Ph3O2fmuJw9SWh-LjfGP0s0fWRoETGpoz9gYJ1brvblkg7v9cKI43x7XPIhsjrUNeUlu0vp5p62nBIew5X0ZuAhirbd4d-yoGkERUid8o/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxA-TP-Ip6DgjSFE3io9DZghnOrROrHW6j34Ph3O2fmuJw9SWh-LjfGP0s0fWRoETGpoz9gYJ1brvblkg7v9cKI43x7XPIhsjrUNeUlu0vp5p62nBIew5X0ZuAhirbd4d-yoGkERUid8o/s400/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383035559118220546" border="0" /></a>The next order of business is to get it all dirty again with lots of gravel dust on <a href="http://pedal-omaha.blogspot.com/2009/09/last-bacon-ride-of-year.html">Sunday's Last Bacon Ride of the Year</a>.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7015779968336479872.post-75269487046860179802009-09-12T19:28:00.011-05:002009-09-12T21:13:28.235-05:00The Art of Being SeenMotorists often don't see bikes at night, so we have to go out of our way to be seen when riding the streets of our cities. My morning commutes are often in the dark, and the occasional <a href="http://tacoride.com/">Taco Ride</a> has me biking home 30 miles in the dark.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u8Wrk4JTGMXWzV5ojJrIZumEApkC0oYr3xnclwFOI3BI91VItsyWMhh5g0aJJbrbgGXfiJfJRQUrtJhuukTr3QjO1r8VdURaiGWp5-nUkv192rorzUoRkDg4OrWJgEVuLcDDQ2PAVc/s1600-h/reflecto-bike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6u8Wrk4JTGMXWzV5ojJrIZumEApkC0oYr3xnclwFOI3BI91VItsyWMhh5g0aJJbrbgGXfiJfJRQUrtJhuukTr3QjO1r8VdURaiGWp5-nUkv192rorzUoRkDg4OrWJgEVuLcDDQ2PAVc/s200/reflecto-bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380746229959975218" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Being Seen</span><br /><br />I could add lots of reflectors, like this guy. (Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aj_jones_iv/3112060961/">AJ Jones IV</a>)<br /><br />I could also add a dozen blinkies, like these guys:<br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tKk6uU-PZVQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tKk6uU-PZVQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/A2LLhdFKcSk&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/A2LLhdFKcSk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Nah. (Is that even legal?)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Art</span><br /><br />My Schwinn project is just as much about art as it is a functioning bicycle. Even if I've made it up myself, I've got this standard in my head for what this old bike should look like. I'm trying to preserve its 30 year old style while making it fun and safe to ride using modern components.<br /><br />So mounting dozens of reflectors and LED blinkies, while it would help me be seen, there's no art in it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Art of Being Seen</span><br /><br />I ruled out a seat post light when I came across bar end blinkies. These tiny lights slip into the rear facing ends of road handlebars. While they aren't as bright as a good seat post flasher, they are passive to install. When they are off, you can't even tell they are there. One con is that I can't direct their beams. They point down toward my legs and the street below the bike.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9zAmEYLquEknItkaahs7Cqx_B2E3I2UHAUtw6jfdYNECuR13JQU_DER4dxbUaWfXl117gugnYD9LRFGdZBVPOOdvfYXVWMx439bnXXmDitFM-1s0B5Eq81o44mJuviypwU9h2f-pt3A/s1600-h/bullet+light+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9zAmEYLquEknItkaahs7Cqx_B2E3I2UHAUtw6jfdYNECuR13JQU_DER4dxbUaWfXl117gugnYD9LRFGdZBVPOOdvfYXVWMx439bnXXmDitFM-1s0B5Eq81o44mJuviypwU9h2f-pt3A/s320/bullet+light+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380751146171169666" border="0" /></a>Bar end light on<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6PiBR0HhkjpZae5emjYmMAtO6YfG2DltYB0kNyU8ORq2R5AnpyXVGsCSZVrPmQsxse1m6pA5O9t_iAH0w2FhMEodwDB-7hlf7hoVeqOjZapZC7JWC1bwPIiX2mWCkFxM_nbFt2y8_rg/s1600-h/bullet+light+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6PiBR0HhkjpZae5emjYmMAtO6YfG2DltYB0kNyU8ORq2R5AnpyXVGsCSZVrPmQsxse1m6pA5O9t_iAH0w2FhMEodwDB-7hlf7hoVeqOjZapZC7JWC1bwPIiX2mWCkFxM_nbFt2y8_rg/s320/bullet+light+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380751148510269090" border="0" /></a>Bar end light off<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Today I added a new rear facing light. This one is a nifty looking bullet light made from polished aluminum with a bar end light inserted. The Soma Fabrications Silver Bullet can be mounted in many places, but I choose to mount it on the dropout eyelet so that I could avoid using the ugly plastic seat stay mount.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPJU2qY651WrrNfYcww3eCHpjFfQiYwAXO0WAkjgLBZEz0Cw1DpCJaCD2O_-X_Z8ty10HaQfa5Oa0MthlyCBon7cbUU_YdJKXYWgt_DZ-rui0lxG9EO1LzyPJCD8618KfDpWkOQJP5Vk/s1600-h/bullet+light+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPJU2qY651WrrNfYcww3eCHpjFfQiYwAXO0WAkjgLBZEz0Cw1DpCJaCD2O_-X_Z8ty10HaQfa5Oa0MthlyCBon7cbUU_YdJKXYWgt_DZ-rui0lxG9EO1LzyPJCD8618KfDpWkOQJP5Vk/s320/bullet+light+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380752969815090530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK4eM0iT_iMHV4-BdxxXtPLMQM6EOkxCrzfB-jTPgyMLqi1KI48L12Cb2tJuNYkzRv2JVruV__MZ8irljoSflxfkdjDULXhtMWhgOuxfDYz_pyScjy01pgDyTKVMfeHIyao60zipvlfE/s1600-h/bullet+light+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinK4eM0iT_iMHV4-BdxxXtPLMQM6EOkxCrzfB-jTPgyMLqi1KI48L12Cb2tJuNYkzRv2JVruV__MZ8irljoSflxfkdjDULXhtMWhgOuxfDYz_pyScjy01pgDyTKVMfeHIyao60zipvlfE/s320/bullet+light+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380752978264751970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzMpVglOrAJTbuOXmAl-rusErC1Mhyphenhyphen-Ma8USRd2SGu9s8Jh9YATfjZCgad8fj07VRIkcQtAb7cOynNX4Hp2i2q-JmnL8IwVJsObj9kwt1OKZNq9tBmfTe9uruYKbb61Ip1AHlOa-R3L0/s1600-h/bullet+light+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzMpVglOrAJTbuOXmAl-rusErC1Mhyphenhyphen-Ma8USRd2SGu9s8Jh9YATfjZCgad8fj07VRIkcQtAb7cOynNX4Hp2i2q-JmnL8IwVJsObj9kwt1OKZNq9tBmfTe9uruYKbb61Ip1AHlOa-R3L0/s320/bullet+light+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380753010640324802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgTwLS2N1gYvRNfdBl0yLQy6roQYpBg0Rc8UYEv3evCoGYMM_nw45TktSmPxnAvz30kPCdlYLchz3ZOFO_1JisBHaIBX_63fz9TonLT02PZEHsl0g3l8_Sv79HAnEt_skWR8AOUnFvoI/s1600-h/bullet+light+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgTwLS2N1gYvRNfdBl0yLQy6roQYpBg0Rc8UYEv3evCoGYMM_nw45TktSmPxnAvz30kPCdlYLchz3ZOFO_1JisBHaIBX_63fz9TonLT02PZEHsl0g3l8_Sv79HAnEt_skWR8AOUnFvoI/s320/bullet+light+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380753002625603506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZiWmoQa-fq48U131XbrRBjyzfDrkr4t8TRGqr2uEjz3L3PWGxCroe3f21QcLM0Zru6qzYazwXzoRBSRHoLGuyVxoAfK-wAFEYREKwi6q4Tnsg9yy6GI0ru6T68AZDv3hx2i4PH2VXzM/s1600-h/bullet+light+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZiWmoQa-fq48U131XbrRBjyzfDrkr4t8TRGqr2uEjz3L3PWGxCroe3f21QcLM0Zru6qzYazwXzoRBSRHoLGuyVxoAfK-wAFEYREKwi6q4Tnsg9yy6GI0ru6T68AZDv3hx2i4PH2VXzM/s320/bullet+light+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380752992238701634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8W_JV0x2_D0krhib5Ysdp-Kwx3oM9lXs5Sn3u9l3qAhMzFHkxMymG_4hm4bFS94Io8lqpNDF4C-h_cn_0THYmW2J80g2ulMxr50et9VDWjaJBQ9xtDNJ4oB0au4vLYTVUXYKNsDMz-k/s1600-h/bullet+light+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8W_JV0x2_D0krhib5Ysdp-Kwx3oM9lXs5Sn3u9l3qAhMzFHkxMymG_4hm4bFS94Io8lqpNDF4C-h_cn_0THYmW2J80g2ulMxr50et9VDWjaJBQ9xtDNJ4oB0au4vLYTVUXYKNsDMz-k/s320/bullet+light+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380754018065101282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMoTVMumUquQb7Pj4sWDVVoXhBPN0zU1g4S2-8H6zZu302Bfp62U9ZW2GMqP5M4BM8cNSIE4caRgByA5fu-3MkWWJyvdZ36P68YIo2lJBxSxT7fjGyP3pKmEWcGT1Dq1gBix3j0U_sJ4/s1600-h/bullet+light+2+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMoTVMumUquQb7Pj4sWDVVoXhBPN0zU1g4S2-8H6zZu302Bfp62U9ZW2GMqP5M4BM8cNSIE4caRgByA5fu-3MkWWJyvdZ36P68YIo2lJBxSxT7fjGyP3pKmEWcGT1Dq1gBix3j0U_sJ4/s320/bullet+light+2+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380760090296515762" border="0" /></a><br />Finally, here's a video of a 360 degree walkaround showing the lights in use. They aren't as eye catching as a Planet Bike superflash, but in the interest of preserving a little artistic style, the bar end lights and the Silver Bullet will do.<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jR2RNjc-e00&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jR2RNjc-e00&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Law</span><br /><br />Nebraska law demands that bicycles operating at night have tire reflectors, either in the form of a reflective sidewall, or spoke mounted reflectors. See the <a href="http://law.justia.com/nebraska/codes/s60index/s6006319000.html">side reflector code here</a>.<br /><br />I don't meet the requirements of this law, yet.<br /><br />Also, bikes must have a forward facing light, and a rear red reflector. A rear light is permitted, but does not take the place of a reflector. See the <a href="http://law.justia.com/nebraska/codes/s60index/s6006318000.html">rear reflector code here</a>. I think in the city of Lincoln a rear light is required.<br /><br />I still haven't found a suitable retro looking forward light for permanent installation, so I've been using a Planet Bike Blaze light.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_IooA9Cz-0O_dBqpXwkZ4Oxvko_PVNGLD5B2YF8UCUweEtiv-sETdYU9I-WfvjUr2DMcWFTPmMN_22TLDL-ZnJ0W10zqI_Wtd6SZ039GIYQ3cAFK3qUGNK6Ny9Lpk0L_Dw9hmNNu2Ok/s1600-h/bullet+light+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_IooA9Cz-0O_dBqpXwkZ4Oxvko_PVNGLD5B2YF8UCUweEtiv-sETdYU9I-WfvjUr2DMcWFTPmMN_22TLDL-ZnJ0W10zqI_Wtd6SZ039GIYQ3cAFK3qUGNK6Ny9Lpk0L_Dw9hmNNu2Ok/s200/bullet+light+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380767978231646418" border="0" /></a>I put a rear reflector on this afternoon. Some, like <a href="http://www.sheldonbrown.com/reflectors.html">Sheldon Brown, argue that reflectors don't work</a>, and that lights should be required, but I figure that a rear reflector <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">and </span>a light can't hurt, and helps satisfy legal requirements.Scott Reddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769134824821490457noreply@blogger.com4