I want to do a Tweed Ride

Yes I do.
But I own neither Tweed or 3-speed bicycle.
And I don't know where to find one (ride that is).
I am also shy.
These things make me various shades of sad.

OMG This kid weighs a Friggen TON!

OK, more like 25 pounds + bike seat but... wow! Dragging his little but up and down hills for 6 and a half miles is a LOT harder than whizzing him up and down the bike path for 6 miles! We did it though AND  we got to watch cows make whoopie.

My First Interview!

We have several Motorcycle Commuters here at work and even a guy who rides a 50cc scooter, but yesterday I came across our first bicycle commuter! This is his bike:

 

And the interview:

BITS: Hi Dave, that's a really nice bike! Did you ride to work today?
Dave: Yes! That is why I was so sweaty.
BITS: Do you Commute by bicycle often?
Dave: No, I was running late and couldn't find my keys. I don't live very far away, and it's mostly down hill from my house so it's not even really exercise.
BITS: Yes, but won't you get at least some exercise going home? You will have to go up the hill you coasted down to get here.
Dave: Oh, I have that covered. I had some one drop off my car. It's in the parking lot.Besides, these tires aren't for the street. They have big cleats on them for hitting the trails in Maine.
BITS: Oh. I see.


TA-DA!
\Well, there you have it. I have officially launched my Journalism career by interviewing the suckiest bicycle commuter in the whole universe. What do you think?

What a Nice Bike Trail!

I have taken to taking my family on rides on the Eastern Marsh Trail, and other trails in Salisbury MA lately. Honestly, the other trails are just filler. The real action is on the EMT, at least for my wife and little guy. Every time we go out there we see dozens of birds and other critters. Yesterday we saw otters, gophers, and bunnies who just sat there at the side of the trail and let the boy look at them and squeal in delight before hopping calmly away. We saw a hawk swoop down and make this kill. It was pretty cool. As he sat there waiting for the little critter to stop struggling, two blue jays who must have had a nest close by, sat in a tree over him, loosing their minds and dive-bombing him. Neither my wife nor I had ever seen any thing like this live and in person before. It was quite a sight.

Of course, there are the people that you see too. As we began out ride we cam across three girls, about 14 years old or so. On was sitting on the path and the other two were standing over her. It looked like she took a tumble or something. We slowed to make sure that she was all right and she said that she was fine. It was then that we noticed that they had a box of sidewalk chalk. When we got back to the area where they were sitting we noticed that they had just peddled off. What they left behind was this beautiful mural. I was very excited that I was there to get pictures of it before the forces of rubber and rain washed it all away.





 
And just because it's a bike blog...

Thinking about taking this in a new direction.

This started out as me talking about me for me but that's not really advancing the cause of the Tween Spaces. There are things going on and people riding around that are interesting. I want to talk to them, get their stories. I want to let people know about what's going on in these parts. There is a guy who rides a department store cruiser every day all year. It looks like he hasn't lost a pound. I want to talk to him. There is a high-end bike products company in town. I want to talk to them. There is amazingly talented and interesting mechanic in town, I want to talk to him (officially). There was a 50-something year old guy on the bike path with his commando-commuter MTB on the bike path and that made no sense to me. I want to know why. More importantly, I want others to know about these things, these places and these people. Now, how do I do this? I'm shy. I'm untrained. Any thoughts? Any advice?

Velo Frustrato Revisito!

Wow. And I thought that I was frustrated then! Lets sum up my Biking so far this year.

First, I put the DB up on the stand to swap out the toasted back-d and put on some spikey tires. Done and done and stopped. I never got tot he phase where I installed the new chain. It just sat there until two days ago when I need the stand for something else. So I took it off an propped it up in the corner of the basement, spikey tires, no chain and all.  And that is where I stand on that, no pun intended.

Heck, I have done so amazingly little riding this year that I haven't even bothered with this blog! I have lumped in my riding posts in my general Outdoorsy blog that you can see here. It's a funny thing though, after just one really nice ride with the kids, I kind of "have the bug" again. I really like riding. My list of resolutions has dwindled to just one: ride more.

Velo Frustrato!

Oh look! I just made up a Harry Potter spell! Magical. What is NOT magical is the frustration that I feel when it comes to my cycling endeavors. No, 2011 is not off to a roaring start.

First, there is the whole winter weather and holiday season thing. Last year I had no trouble suiting up and heading out to battle the elements on the old Diamondback. This year? Not so much. I feel slightly silly and pretentious. Like I think that I am more hardy than my fellow New Englanders. I know that's not true because every time I go into The City it seems as if every one in Boston who OWNS a bike is still riding it. It could also have something to do with the fact that that trusty old Diamondback has never worked right after riding it in the crud last winter. Which brings me to point number tow.

I am a sucky wrench. I just don't seem to have the skills or the patients to develop them. Or the tools. Tools are an important part of the equation. I have an old English Three Speed and while every one on the Internet will tell you that they are "the answer", this bike is an answer to a question that I never asked. I have been tinkering with this thing for what: two years now? It STILL isn't right. Not only does it not function correctly, it will not work well for me, in my environment. Sitting bolt upright on a three speed bike isn't cutting it for me. There are simply too many hills that are too big for me to conquer on this bike (or any other for that matter) in my fitness shape, right now. So why do I bother? I do not honestly know. Every one makes such a big deal out of these things that I feel a need to follow along with the crowd and, if not actually ride one, to at least have one. I don't know what to DO with it though. Do I tear it apart and keep tinkering with it in the vain hope that I will "figure it out" and get it working right? OR, do I ship it off to be fixed up by a pro. It's more money and less knowledge. It would also be quicker and safer and I could use that bike as a winter beater if I DID want to venture out to run an errand or something. "I plan on doing a tweed ride next year". And a century. Not on the three speed of course!

And, sadly, the century IS more likely than the Tweed ride. Although I am not in any kind of shape at all for such a ride, my riding preference clearly leans toward the "fitness" end of the spectrum. I just can't seem to get motivated to cruise around town and see the sights or run to the store. Tell me I have to meet a new mile or time goal and I'm all over it. By the end of the summer not only do I hope to be able to do regular 40-50 mile weekend rides but I want to be able to do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. Less if I can train hard.

So, what are my resolutions?

1. Train. Burn calories and fat. Ride The Basement.
2. MTB. I like it. Its fun. There are way to many variables involved in doing it. It's too hard for me to measure "progress" on a daily basis but over time? Perhaps a race?
3. Road bike. Make the time and get out there. I bought myself a nice used Trek 1500 and it works like new. No tinkering, no excuses. Road riding IS something I can quantify quite easily. I want to do this at least three times a week once spring comes again.
4. Commute? Twenty miles each way. I might be awake and active for the whole 24 hours previous. This might be stretching the goals a little bit but it's out there.
5. Cross! This is "The Goal". The reason d'etre for all this other stuff is that I WANT TO CROSS next fall! I need to cross!