Memorial Day

This is a day late, because I wasn't near a computer yesterday, but we give our prayers and gratitude for those who have given everything for the freedoms and privileges we enjoy.

Country Life

Today was mostly spent outside. I was lazy in the morning, but managed to do some cleaning while the Mrs. was at the grocery. I got out and trimmed and the began to mow, but was interrupted by a pretty good thunderstorm. Once the worst of the winds and lightening were past I ran to the dump to drop off this weeks trash. I usually wait until Monday, but that is a holiday, and we are having people over for crab and wurst and beer, so I didn't want the bins overflowing. After I got back, while I was waiting for the grass to dry, I got some planting done. I put in a few rows of corn, some beans, peppers, eggplant, spinach, carrots, and melons. This was all old seed, so I don't know how well it will do. I'll be putting in some newer seed after I next get to the nursery. Then I started mowing again. I got the edges and all of the front done before I ran out of day. Tomorrow afer my ride I'll finish the mowing.

Link O' theDay

I spend a bit of time surfing for bicycle sites, and there are a bunch of really good ones from Japan. Today's link is High Ground Net, which has a lot of really good pics, even if you don't read Japanese.

Hooray London

A long time ago when I was in college, a friend and I did a research project on using bikes as transport for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). We submitted it for publication, and as far as I know it was the first peer reviewed article on that subject (and might still be so). I found this link (via Velorution)to London Transport's videos, which includes the EMS responders. Take a look.

Retirement

Not me. I mentioned in my first post just down the page that I was buying a new bike. This was pretty much prompted by the increasing frequency of things breaking on my current mountain bike. Last time I used it off road, the cranks were loosening up, and tightening them up bottomed them out. So instead of fixing/replacing yet another thing before the new bike arrives, last night I started to salvage the parts I'm keeping off the old frame. I've had some good times with this old bike; Riding home from UMBC through Avalon to Oella, commuting in Fredneck, exploring from Avalon through McKeldin along the river with Big T Little odd, learning about rocky pain in the 'Shed, my first organized century, working as a bike medic back when the Pope visited B'more, Pulling my kids in a trailer, rough stuff camping all over Maryland. Some of the parts will go on other projects, some will be traded or sold, but the memories will remain...

Three Weeks in the Fall

I don't have the time off from work. I don't have the money. And September is the busiest time of the year for my wife, a teacher. But if I could swing it I'd take a vacation in Italy for these two events.

First is the Itialian Single Speed Championships on the 17th and 18th of September in Tuscany.

Then the L'Eroica, a vintage bike rally on "strada bianche," gravel roads October 2nd in Chianti. Even if I don't have a vintage bike, I think it would be a blast.

I'd tie the two events together with bike tour of that part of Italy.

Where would you ride?

Pics I like.

Here's one:



It's from a slushy ride up into the Watershed last March. I think I'll be heading up there again this weekend.

Weekend

Busy, busy, busy. But a pretty good weekend none the less. Saturday had us attending the kids piano recital. They both did a great job, as did the other kids playing. It was held at a local nursing home, and I think the residents got a kick out of it as well. The music was patriotic themed, as it was armed forces day. I got a kick out of one old guy in a wheelchair singing along, and another who stood up with his oxygen tank when the Marine Corps Hymn was played.

Sunday the ladies went to a wedding shower, so it was me with my son and nephew. They played while I did yard work. I got the rest of the yard mowed, the garden rototilled (its late, I know), and a few more feet of trail cut in the woods. I wanted to work on the bridge across the stream, but ran out of time.

After everyone was home I got a bit of time to go for a ride. I hit some roads around Mt. Airy as part of my Fixing Frederick project.

A bike ride is a great way to end the weekend.

Feeling Surly

I like Surly Bikes. I think they make pretty good products as reasonable prices. Even though they seem to be a subsidiary of a larger entity (Quality Bicycle Parts), they seem to have kept their own identity. But what is up with their inventory management??? Are they victims of their own success? They are out of stock and waiting for so much stuff, they can't have forseen the demand.

Deep breath. Ok, I'm calm now.

Strange Fact

I heard on the radio coming home that the same amount of time has elapsed between 9/11 and today as did elapse between Pearl Harbor and VJ Day.

Food for thought.

First Post

Well, I signed up on Blogger to be able to post comments to a couple of other blogs, but why not take advantage and start my own. So here it is.... (sound of crickets chirping).
So what do I want to talk about? I guess since I'm into bikes most of all we can start there. I
haven't bought a NEW bike for myself since 1994, when I got my mounain bike, a Giant ATX 760. I've bought a new OLD bike at Goodwill, and a tandem (but that is a family bike). I've been really happy with the Giant, especially since I converted it to singlespeed, but it is getting to the point where every ride on it, something breaks.
Anyway, the stars aligned enough for me to get spousal permission to replace the venerable Giant. I've opted for a Surly Karate Monkey, and yesterday after work I went to my local bike shop (LBS) and placed my order. Hooray! The LBS now says that the frames and some of the other stuff I ordered arebackordered. Boo!

It's been 11 years in coming, I guess I can wait another month.