First Snow Day And The Great Trail Cycle

Here are a few pics of the snow on Sligo Creek Parkway. I didn't see any bikers, but I was not the first to lay tracks this morning.

Of course I had a blow out last week and had to put my slicks on just in time for the snow.

Last week I lost a tail light when I dropped off a curb crossing Connecticut Ave. This annoyed me to no end. I can't stand buying tail lights because the obvious mark up. I know most bike gear is grossly marked up nowhere is it more evident then with tail lights. Plastic and a few LEDs shouldn't cost $25 or even $10 for that matter.

So as I was getting closer to work, stewing about the prospect of buying another crappy little tail light, I came across something in the middle of the trail. You guessed it someone else's crappy little tail light. Somewhere ahead of me on the trail was somebody toiling with the same misfortune I was facing. I scooped up the light and headed on my way. I didn't see anyone ahead of me for the rest of the ride. Feeling a tinge of guilt that I may be benefiting from another cyclist's misfortune I take comfort in that this same rider could stumble across the light that I had dropped somewhere on their return trip. The trail giveth and the trail taketh away and the great trail cycle keeps rolling along. Gear lost, gear found... gear lost again. I hope that in the future, when I drop this newly found tail light, the person who finds it will see the cosmic forces that brought the two together... and not just try and sell it on Ebay.

My Bike Lane, Not Yours

This is just a concept but it's something I would love to have. It's not often a product comes along that could make me feel any more entitled douche bag than I already do. Enter the Light Lane concept from Alex Tee and Evan Grant.

The idea of having one's own bike lane lines projected around their bicycle is a dangerous one. We cyclist already feel like the entire world is our bike lane already so adding demarcation to this would only make us more obnoxious than we already are. Right? Anyone? I know... just kidding.

Seriously though, not only does this idea kick ass, it would be a pretty cool safety feature and I would rock it reckless aplomb.  Nice concept guys!

Holiday Haze, NJ Biking, and Wet Hops

My holidays came and went like a steamroller over a harpsichord. They were busy enough that I have just now recovered. Here are some of the highlights.

Having a 5.5 month old complicates the usually over complicated space of time leading up to and between Christmas and New Years. My wife and I spent Christmas at my folks house (1 hour away) and a few days after at her folks house (4 hours away). Strangely the level of effort it took to pack up the family and kid paraphernalia and arrive at the destinations was almost the same.

Aware of this fact my wonderful wife suggested I bring a mountain bike to her folks place and take a morning off to ride. Before she could finish her sentence I had found a what looked to be a suitable trail within a few miles of her parent's house. It was a large park with many trails of which no bikes were allowed, save one. They had recently opened up a 3.5 mile loop to bikes which is cool. 3.5 miles is not enough but I figured I would do a few laps, besides, I shouldn't complain when thrown a bone.

This 3.5 mile loop was not however built with bikers in mind, poor drainage and bad lines made this one of the less enjoyable trails I have ridden. Then I figured out why the park authorities had decided to generously dedicate this sloppy mess of a loop to mountain bikers.

Because no self respecting walker/jogger would dare tread there! That's right this stretch of heaven in the back corner of Cheesequake Park in NJ given so generously to the brethren of the bike is on a stretch of the park that runs up against the Garden State Parkway. Pretty much wherever you are on the loop you can see, hear, or smell exit 120 on the GSP. As I said before, I shouldn't complain. I was happy for the nod from the wife and the chance to hit the trails over the hectic holiday mess.

Something else unique to the State of Gardens is tackiness. I know many other states enjoy their fair share, but there is something amazing about New Jersey tackiness. I should say now before any NJ'ers get too miffed I spent five glorious years in NJ so don't get your lawn ornaments in a tangle. The tackiness I am referring to reaches it's flash point around Christmas. Everyone has that house in their hood that has so many lights it can be seen from space, but unless you are in NJ that house still holds onto a sliver of dignity. Below are a few examples:

One of the highlights to the holiday season was the Harvest Ale from Sierra Nevada. This is a "wet hop" ale which uses hops fresh instead of dried in the brewing process. I don't know much about brewing intricacies but I do know this, me likey the wet hops. Give it a try if you can find it.

Send In The Clowns!

For those of you who think that it's ok to drive or park in bike lanes watch your back. Roving bands of renegade clown bikers hell bent on, that's right...  SAFETY! This group of screwballs, God bless em' are rolling around NYC pestering those who show any oposition (passive or agressive) to newly installed bike lanes.

(Judy Ross)

They should go back to the circus and grab an elephant to assist in bike lane vehicle removal. Having an elephant push your car out of the bike lane would be a lesson you would only have to learn once.

Thursday Puzzler

It's like a puzzle wrapped in a conundrum pressed into an enigma then batter fried into a sudoku after a game of hangman and given to Matthew Lesko to pass along.

What did this sticker say that was so horrible?

Please post your answer.

As for the movie review underneath it, I would go see it in a second if that top line read "Killed Me With Unadulterated Joy!" but I doubt any movie reviewer could be that creative.

Happy Thursday

December Crap Fest

After bike commuting for the last few years I have come to the conclusion that DC winters are not nearly cold enough. This realization usually rears its head during a phenomenon I dub “The December Crap Fest”. No it’s not an anti-consumerism holiday thing (although that would work too), it’s about the weather, the crappy crappy slushy slop weather.

In December things start to get cold and a young man's fancy turns to snow. Unfortunately for you young men and women who bike commute, its an annoying limbo where no matter what you wear you are going to be burning hot or freezing at some point riding to or from work. If it would just get 10 degrees colder I could wear some cold weather stuff and be comfy. It seems I will have to wait for January and hope.

I know I am complaining like a big sissy boy wuss bag but just look at this week’s outlook…

image stolen and photoshoped from nbc4

Really I am grateful for the opportunity to ride my bike every day of the week no matter what crap is flung at me. I will be looking forward to some fender deep snow to play in.

PS.

It looks like the crap fest is not a local phenomenon. Just ask Jill up in Alaska.

Slacking And Riding

So I have been slacking this week (and last) in the blog department. A heavy workload and all the new responsibilities of new fatherdom have taken a toll on the "do whatever I want" portion of the day. Which is usually filled with thinking and bloging about the how kick ass bikes are. 

That said much about my last post is the same as todays. I am going to crush Rosaryville this weekend again. This trail (cut by WABA I believe) is a very fast non technical single track loop that spans about 10 miles. Lots of slaloms, burms, pumps and good drainage make is a pretty sweet ride no matter the temperature.  I guess the only difference between last weeks ride and this one is this week I will have this in my head...

 

That being in my head for an entire ride will make beer drinking a moral imperative. I already have my heart set on Bells Two Hearted Ale. If you haven't tried Bells go buy some and drink it.

This concludes the "do whatever I want" portion of the week.

Have a ridiculously good weekend...

UPDATE:

Friday at lunch I got a flu chot which made fel like crap all weekend, thus ending my ride before it began. I should change the title of this post to just "Slacking".