Had a fun and wet ride in to work on Sat. I came across the HC ride, and tagged along for a bit. It has to be the best group ride in the cities. Fun people and a great vibe. Broke off by the Greenway, and then into work.

You should support the mid town greenway. Do that here

My legs have felt tired of late. I think it's just valley, cause for most this spring (now summer) I've felt pretty strong.

I put black spacers on my fork. I think the bike is faster now. Not really, but sort of.

Took a quick trip to Racine this past weekend to do some chores. Yes, I have enough chores to keep me busy right up here, and no, I don't really want to do your chores.

I noticed that there are two type of drivers. Windows up, and windows down. I'm in the down camp. Stereo turned up loud enough so you can hear it, windows down and arm out side the window sometimes.

Simple pleasures for simple minds I guess.

If Blind Alfred Reed knew how long it took for me to get the previous blog published, he would really think I'm working way to hard to include him in a post.

When I read things like $2.00 a gallon gas, or 'expanded oil drilling rights', I am reminded of a song with the lines:

Well, the doctor comes around with a face all bright,
And he says in a little while you'll be all right.
All he gives is a humbug pill,
A dose of dope and a great big bill --
Tell me how can a poor man stand such times and live?



Oil is pretty much a finite resource. I am sure we can thin it out with things like hemp or corn or sugar beets, but there is a limited amount of it.
At some point, it will become economically inviable to squeeze drops of it out of rock shale, and then we need an alternative.
Like bikes, or walking, or some other wonder mode of transportation, which will either be like magic and have no costs associated with it, or more realistically, greatly reduced costs.

I'll stick with the bike. I will run my bike on self righteousness and moral superiority for a long long time.

Trip highlights:

Cornstalk restaurant, Shelby, Ia. Not more than a a typical independent interstate cafe, but better than anyone I have ever eaten at.

Rest stop, Eastbound 680, in Ia. Outside of Omaha, it is situated at the top of a good size hill. The view to the south is rolling farmlands. The wind is out of the south most times, and the combination of green, wind, and isolation (not heavily used) makes it a true rest stop. I can't say I ever loved going to Grand Island, Ne., but I feel a bit sad I most likely will never see this spot again.

Just back from some time in Grand Island, NE. Was able to get a couple of rides in. There are no hills in Grand Island. I think the total elevation change for a 18 mile ride was less than 10 feet.

They also have a street on which you can get a ticket if you are caught riding a bike.

Make you appreciate things a bit more back here.

Success.

I was able to stop the bike from clicking. Turns out one of the bottom bracket cups was loose. A couple quick turns of the bottom bracket tool, and everything was hunky dory.

I just watched the Park tool video on how to use the bbt-2(2) and it turns out i did it wrong. I didn't use a Park adjustable wrench, or a Park FRW-1 free wheel remover, or a Park torque wrench to tighten my cup. Just an old socket wrench I had laying around. Hope it stays together.

I am beginning to amass a number of bike tools. Things like crank pullers and such. I may need a tool box to keep everything together. Part of me wants to buy a bunch of tools all at once (like this), just to be done with it. But I'm sure that bike tools are somthing you are never really done with.

Had a good ride Sunday am. Did the Hopkins loop, and rode fast enough to get to church on time. Service was held at the Lake Harriett band shell. It's a nice way to do church, with dogs wandering and birds swooping, and sail boats in the background.

Right after church, I hopped on the bike trail that goes round the lake, just wanting a nice relaxed couple of miles back home. Until I was passed by 2-3 groups of people shouting on the left. Then I ducked in behind the last group, and dropped them all, going 20mph around half of the lake.

I am such a guy sometimes.