Wooden Ski and Wheel

Winter Riding

2006-01-25T12:13:00.000-05:00

With all the snow melt, the WSW has seen people comming into the store to talk bikes. They have been inspiring to me. The weather has been bad for skiing but good for riding. As usual, I kept comming up with excuses, like: I couldn't get motivated this morning, or I had things to do etc.

Last week I started riding for a half hour here and a half hour there, in the evening. Just around the neighborhood. It was nice! As usual, the hardest part was just getting out the front door.

This morning, I actually rode to work. Yes that is suprise in my voice, I really though that I was going to back out once again. It was spitting snow, wet roads, and 1/2 inch off accumulation on the sidewalk. I was actually too warm half way to the store, 34 degrees outside. Plenty of tracktion, and as usual there were a few agressive drivers. Overall, it was satifying.

I figure, as long as it is not snowing and I can't ski; I might as well ride my bike. If you are still riding or have a story to share. Feel free to post a response or be a guest blogger.

Adam

Post Christmas Update

2006-01-03T19:51:00.000-05:00

Hi there Blog readers, it’s the new year and I haven’t written anything in a while. I think I was last saying, without looking, that I planned on riding my bike right up to the start of ski season. Thus seamlessly linking my conditioning into a wonderful ski season.

For those of you on the edge of your seat, wondering how it all turned out. I did in fact bike commute up to December 12, 2005. Certainly that is the latest into the year that I have ever continuously ridden. I did in fact have one ski day while still commuting. So, technically, I achieved my goal.

Style counts to some degree. I think that any style points I was hoping to earn went completely out the window, seemingly in an instant. I got sick and the store got busy and I had to go away for the weekend of 12-16-05 and the weather changed dramatically: very cold and snowy. Basically, all my dedication and focus went up in smoke.

The day of skiing can only barely register as a ski day. It goes something like this. I was feverish, and it was cold, snowing and very windy. I met a friend to ski at elbow hill on Lyon Mt (see forum for directions). Normally it is a flat tour for 1.5-2 miles on a logging road. It doesn’t take much snow to be skiable, 6-8” minimum. Being at a higher elevation than Plattsburgh by 1100’ or so, it gets more snow, earlier and more often. All of what you need for early season.

We got there, and it turned out that there was not enough snow to ski right from the car. We put the skis on our backpacks and started hiking. Tired of walking ¾ mile in we put our skis on and very gingerly continued. The snow was just too shallow to avoid all rocks, so like skiing through a maze, we threaded our way from one deeper looking spot to the next. The usually quick approach took an unusually long time.

Eventually we reached the mountain expecting the snow to get deeper, ensuring turns on the descent, making the drudgery of the approach worthwhile. Normally, higher elevation equals deeper snow. Not that day. Ascending a mountain to ski down when there is not enough snow to cover the rocks is a bad idea. Think back to falling off your bike onto the pavement. Think back to writing the check for your skis. We did ski roughly 100 yards down the hill, basically far enough to say we skied. Then we took our skis off and hiked out to the car.

Technically I skied, but it sucked. I think I carried my skis farther than skied them. Now I am skiing very little. Allowing myself to get sidetracked with other things. I can feel my conditioning seep out of me and get replaced with cookies and other Christmas indulgences. I plan to get back on track. I will keep you posted.

Crazy people ride their bikes into winter

2005-11-28T20:58:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone.

People keep asking me if I am still riding, expecting me to say no. When I tell them I haven’t given up they look at me funny.

“You’re still riding?!” ‘pause’, to affirm her superiority. “It’s like 20 degrees out”. She delivers more silence to emphasize her point. As if the cold had cooled my brain so much that I needed the extra time to comprehend what I was just told. As if I don’t watch the weather, or that even though I was riding when it was 20 degrees, I somehow didn’t realize that it was colder than summer.

I can appreciate that bike commuting into winter is abnormal. However, I don’t see it being any different than jogging, skiing or walking. Sometimes weather is not ideal, but if you are really into your activity, you will find a way to keep doing it.

Allow me to recap my motivation. Save money, get exercise, challenge myself, Have fun. Let me till you about interesting things that have happened to me. People yelling at me from their cars, funny looks from people, seeing into peoples cars and seeing funny car behavior, rain, snow, wind, talking to people in cars at traffic lights after they have yelled at me.

A friend emailed this link to me today and I thought I would share it with all of you. http://www.slate.com/id/2131049/

Adam

Keep it fresh and interesting, go Long Boarding

2005-11-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

During these transition seasons, it is hard to get into a rhythm. One day its warm and sunny the next day it rains and another it is snowing. It is easy to sit around and atrophy. This year I want to remain active right up to ski season. I figure once there is snow on the ground, I won’t have to try to get exercise, it will just be fun enough to ski.

I have been getting out and long boarding as a way of cross training. Long boarding is the sport of going down hills on very long skateboards (~4’). It is best described as snowboarding on pavement. The stance is the same and you work the edges and carve turns just like snowboarding. The big and frankly most important aspect is that stopping is extremely difficult. You must exercise judgment and foresight before pushing off down a hill.

Long boarding is the most similar activity to skiing that I have found. The speed, the thrill of executing a perfect turn and the feeling of gravity pulling you down a hill are all among my favorite aspects. I also like the puzzle of the route. Picking the best line, using the best pavement and squirting through difficult areas like rocks, dirt and other road debris.
The exploration is also fun. On bicycles, I would go around and find big and difficult hills to climb up. On my board, I drive around and look for hills to come back down. I perceive my surroundings differently when I take up these new activities. My enjoyment for life increases and it might do the same for you. Give it a try.

Buck Up and ride

2005-11-12T22:08:00.000-05:00

So what if it’s raining
The last couple of weeks the North Country has been experiencing a wet pattern. It is cool and seems to never clear out for very long. People have been coming into the store and sharing that it is discouraging. It is, but if you think about it, it doesn’t have to be.
We are North Country folk; we are heartier than that. Summer-like weather really only lasts 12 weeks. You can’t feasibly sit around for the other 40 weeks. Some people will say “I ski” but that is really only a 12 week season too. Now we need to kill 28 weeks of transition season.
Transition seasons are marked by wild swings in weather: hot, cold, rain snow and everything in between. The weather can change dramatically throughout the day. You all know that. It is like that for half the year!
The only time when you really shouldn’t be on a bike is when there is measurable snow on the road surface or it is extremely cold.
Common Excuses:
It’s too dark.
Riding at night: I have been finding that car drivers are far more polite to me when I ride at night than during the day. I have reflectors and red flashers. Passing cars cut me an extra wide berth. You can ride at night for an investment of as little as $15.
It’s wet.
Get fenders. It doesn’t actually rain continually for hours on end very often. Usually it rains and stops and off and on it goes. I can accept that people don’t want to go out in a downpour, but usually the road is wet and it isn’t raining. All you need to keep dry and comfortable are fenders. Fenders will cost $20+. In addition, if you are a commuter, you can keep your cloths cleaner.
It’s windy.
Well, I have nothing for that other than an attitude adjustment. Plan your ride to go across the wind. Keep several routes in mind.
It’s cold.
I ride until it is in the teens, fairly comfortably. Why not. People cross country and downhill ski down around zero. How different is that from bike riding? Not very! Break out the windbreakers and balaclava…or grow a beard.
All of these ‘issues’ are frame of mind problems. The easiest thing in the world to do is nothing, so it will require some effort. Nobody is going to make you go out and do it except yourself. Quit making excuses, and go out and ride.

Reasons are basic

2005-09-27T11:36:00.000-04:00

Just so all of you readers and I are clear on one thing. I am not “Rad” or “Hardcore”, I am merely a guy who likes to ride his bike and save money at the same time.

Bike commuting has been great for me the last few weeks. If you haven’t done it recently, please, please, please get out and do it soon! Gas prices are projected to climb to an even more obnoxious level in response to Rita. You don’t have to be a victim too. Own your time, effort and money.

Lets use my gasoline consumption as a test case.
20
Miles per gallon around town
$3.50
Price per gallon

Typical week on my bike.

Mon
9
Miles

Tue
12
Miles

Wed
12
Miles

Thu
14
Miles

Fri
15
Miles

Sat
8
Miles

Sun
10
Miles

80
Miles

4
Gallons of gas saved

$14.00
Saved by riding my bike.

This would represent an average week where I am not making any heroic efforts. Sometimes I will go and visit friends in Schuyler Falls or Morrisonville and go uptown to the mall or Price Chopper. Those weeks I could put more miles on.

I can truly only account for the commuting costs because that is the only fixed driving distance I have. When I am car centric, I will get around more. I will go for a walk out at Point Au Roche or a mountain bike ride at Cadyville. I might do more frivolous impulse buying, because it is easy to get around.

Before bike commuting, I would go through a tank of gas a week maybe 1.5 tanks. In which case, a 10-gallon tank would use $35-$52 in a week @$3.50/gal. Now, multiply that savings by a few weeks during the most ideal days of summer. I have been at it for 5 weeks. I can guess that I have saved anywhere from $70 (based on $14/week) to $260 (based on a 15 gallon week).

Yes I know that these are only best guesses, but it is a way to help support my efforts. I will be honest, some days I really don’t feel like riding. I will give myself a pep talk and do it anyway. I will also volunteer the fact that I don’t regret any of my efforts. In fact I am pretty pleased with myself.
What would make me happier is to get you to join in. Think about taking part in a personal experiment. Set a goal of 3 days or a week, do it when the weather is nice. You really don’t need any fancy equipment to do it either. Any bike that rolls and stops is good enough. Quit making excuses and just do it!

Day 7 Confessions of a Bike Commuter

2005-08-22T21:55:00.000-04:00

Well everyone, my grand experiment is completed. I lived, I learned and I came away richer.

I am not going to imply that all of you need to sell your cars and ride bikes all year. By no means do that…however, you all should have a trial, like mine, and learn for yourself your physical and mental capacity for non-car oriented transportation.

I learned that riding my bike is physically draining. I learned that bike commuting takes mental commitment. It is hard to not take the easy way out. When it is hot, when I am tired, when it’s windy, rainy or I have to show up clean and presentable, my brain and body conspire to revolt against my will to be lazy to take the easy way out. I had to look within on several occasions to take the first little step. I learned that it is FUN and EASY and anyone can do it, if they try.

Taking the first step is always the hard part. When I was feeling like I could very easily drive, I would gently nudge myself to just take the first few steps. Invariably, I would feel great. The wind on my face, the smells, the sights all buoyed my spirits. I came to appreciate the riding time. In retrospect, those minutes were some of the best of my workweek.

My friend Christophe left the wheel at the same time as me and drove to my apartment to meet me directly from work. I pedaled at a normal, comfortable pace and showed up just 90 seconds after him. He was surprised. The excuse, “It will take too long to ride my bike” was disproved. For short trips across town, bike travel time is comparable to that in cars.

“I will get too sweaty.” No you won’t, have some faith that you can pace yourself. If it’s hot, slow down. If you’re tired, take it easy, it’s not a race. Come up with a motivation, a reason why you are bike commuting. Remind yourself of it when you are down.

All on my commuting was done on one-speed bikes; the first half of the week on a mountain bike and the closing on a one-speed road bike. When I had to carry something, I used a currier bag. At night I wore a reflective vest.

If these articles inspire you on my bike-commuting week, let me know. I would like to get a community of people together and build a support group and get others commuting.

I had such a positive time, I am enlisting for another week.
Adam

Day 4 Confessions of a Bicycle Commuter

2005-08-19T22:30:00.000-04:00

No one has bike racks outside their businesses anymore. Except for schools and libraries. Let me amend that last comment, Stewarts by the WSW does have a bike rack. However, you take your life into your own hands negotiating the parking lot walking from your bike into the store.

Price Chopper, Wal-Mart, Staples, Borders etc. None of them are accommodating to bicycle riders. Wal-Mart works hard to detract bikers, by wrapping all their sign posts in plastic up to 4 feet off the ground and their benches are the rare type that can’t be locked to. Why can’t the business community welcome bikers?

A person would nearly need to be crazy to want to ride their bikes anywhere uptown Plattsburgh. Nothing attracts more confused drivers like the convergence of cheap goods, food shopping and a highway interchange. Drivers act like bugs to a blue zapper light; they buzz around erratically some of them collide and others make it out alive.

There are some more practical obstacles to overcome with shopping on your bike. Where do you put your good that you just bought? I have a messenger bag that I usually use that can carry, not very comfortably, 2 Price Chopper bags of stuff. In the past I have used backpacks and Panniers.

Panniers are my favorite, the bike carries all the weight, your back doesn’t get jabbed or sweaty and you won’t need to see a chiropractor after one shopping trip. The bikes handling does get a little more sluggish however.

I would like to try using a trailer one of these days. One of my complaints of panniers is that the bike becomes a workhorse and becomes les of a toy when you install racks. That is why I am currently using a backpack or messenger bag. Trailers can be installed in less than a minute and they dutifully carry the load. When you’re finished, detach the trailer and you have your toy again.
Bikes are good for your, truly don’t inconvenience you too much, and can be used for many uses other than fun or exercise. Realistically, they cannot replace cars and I don’t want to imply that. You can re-evaluate your approach to transportation and incorporate bicycling, in some way, into your routine…try it.

Day 3 Confessions of a Bike Commuter

2005-08-18T22:28:00.000-04:00

As I left my apartment I looked at all the people in their cars and I feel empowered. They look at me and I sense their pitty, or superiority as if thinking, “if you’re not driving, you’re a bum.”

It seems that people’s condescension is spewing forth from their cars much more than normal this summer. Not a ride passes without some form of yelled remark directed at me (not me personally, but as an affront to bicyclists ingeneral). Usually, I get the classic, very creative…”get off the road”. Sometimes is has a colorful expletive as a suffix.

Sometimes people are just trying to assist me in becoming a more law-abiding citizen. In their abounding altruism, they feel compelled to keep me safe and within the bounds of the law by telling me to “get on the sidewalk.” In New York State, however, it is in fact illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk.

My personal, all time favorite remark happened this spring as I was riding down Rt. 9 through Cliff Haven toward CCC. “You’re stupid” was bellowed from the drivers side window. It was like a scene from Reno 911, Redneck 20 something young man with multicolored mirror wrap around sunglasses. Window down, right hand operating the controls as he leaned out the open window as far as he could as his head darted back and forth to make sure he was staying in his own lane. He really helped turn me around. Before he was kind enough to inform me of the depth of my stupidity, I probably would not be able to complete any of the sentences within this story.
Well you all get the picture; people who drive cars are idiots. No, not true, but some are. Even truer, it is easy to become complacent in our luxuries, air conditioned cars, windshields that keep the bugs and rain off. People loose sight of the simplicity of not having to find a parking place because they walked somewhere or rode a bike. Or maybe on a deep down level they do realize the benefits and they cannot or will not change their lives to accommodate bikes as transportation. Like bullies on the playground they lash out at you and tell you that your stupid, or swear at you because they want to be like you.

Day 2, Confessions of a Bike Commuter

2005-08-17T21:14:00.000-04:00

Day 2
Wednsday, A little sore from day 1, I got on my bike and started my 3 mile pedal to work. Any normal day, I probably would have hopped into the car and driven. But I am a man of my word and I pushed through my moment of self-doubt. By half way, I was loosened and feeling fine.

I didn’t need any coffee and the obligatory donut or danish that goes so perfectly with the morning coffee. I guess I can add that savings of $2.50 and avoidance of caloric intake to my end of week audit.

After 8 hours of standing I rode up the CCC hill to play a game of tennis. Already I was feeling the lactic acid in my legs. Is this a sign of things to come. Am I in worse shape than I thought? I pushed through, if fact, it turned out to be a good warm up. The ride down the CCC hill is always fast and fun and adds value to the grind up. The 4 miles back home was slow and uneventful.

As far as hygiene, I don’t think the people around me are suffering too much. Now that I say that I am not sure if that is a good thing. Maybe they are just not suffering more than normal. Maybe I am equally unpleasant on any given day.

As I sit here and type, my legs have a tinge of lactic acid build up. I plan on stretching to see if I can loosen them some. I am looking forward to a good nights sleep.

Day 1, Confessions of a Bike Commuter

2005-08-17T21:13:00.000-04:00

Day 1
Today, I drove back from Portland Me. I hatched this idea in the car, undercaffeinated and most likely delirious from driving. The first day is probably the easiest. I was happy to spin to work at 2 after sitting in the car for 5.5 hours.

Work consists of a lot of standing and walking around. I felt fine leaving. I had a snap to my pedal stroke which helped me keep up with my Brendon, our mechanic and Geoff, a friend and ex WSWer. They were on their multispeed bikes and I on my one speed…(see March blog).

Because Geoff is visiting from Buffalo, I was talked into going on a mountain bike ride on the blue trail, against my better judgment I might add. We made it back to my apartment in the knick of time before the sky darkened completely. One severely bent wheel, one scabby knee from four wipeouts; I put my bike away for the night sweaty and feeling like I rode hard.

In all, it was a good first day.

Declaration to do one week of Bike commuting

2005-08-17T21:10:00.000-04:00

Alright all you people polite enough to read this article. The gloves are off and I am making a bold statement: I am going to do all of my “getting around” on my bike, on foot, or car pooling/public transport for one week; starting August 16, 2005. It doesn’t sound so tough, some would say. Others would say I can’t do it. Maybe I won’t, but I am going to give it a solid try.

I am planning on updating you daily on this blog to fill you in on all the details, good, bad and indifferent.

It doesn’t sound so hard…well, it looks like it might be. Coming up, I am going to work 5 days, attend one wedding and reception, I have a doctors appointment in Cadyville and I need to do my grocery shopping all of this on top of normal tennis and visiting friends and plain old recreational riding.

I am doing this for several reasons.
I, and many others rely on cars too much. I want to prove that life can still be good with less car travel. We miss a lot of life being confined in cars. I say hi to everyone I see and I explore the city in a new way.
Gas prices are ridiculous. I normally burn ¾ to 1 full tank of gas per week, 10 gallons. At $2.73/gallon, I plan to save $20+ dollars this week.
I get plenty of exercise. I plan to burn 240calories an hour (riding at 10 mph) 5 hours riding to work, 2 hours back and forth to the doctors and 3 of miscellaneous riding. Roughly 10 hours on the bike in one week times 240 calories equals 2400 calories burned above and beyond normal.
It will feel great knowing that I put all that effort into something good.

You must go to the blog for the finer details.

Alright all you people polite enough to read this article. The gloves are off and I am making a bold statement: I am going to do all of my “getting around” on my bike, on foot, or car pooling/public transport for one week; starting August 16, 2005. It doesn’t sound so tough, some would say. Others would say I can’t do it. Maybe I won’t, but I am going to give it a solid try.

I am planning on updating you daily on this blog to fill you in on all the details, good, bad and indifferent.

It doesn’t sound so hard…well, it looks like it might be. Coming up, I am going to work 5 days, attend one wedding and reception, I have a doctors appointment in Cadyville and I need to do my grocery shopping all of this on top of normal tennis and visiting friends and plain old recreational riding.

I am doing this for several reasons.
I, and many others rely on cars too much. I want to prove that life can still be good with less car travel. We miss a lot of life being confined in cars. I say hi to everyone I see and I explore the city in a new way.
Gas prices are ridiculous. I normally burn ¾ to 1 full tank of gas per week, 10 gallons. At $2.73/gallon, I plan to save $20+ dollars this week.
I get plenty of exercise. I plan to burn 240calories an hour (riding at 10 mph) 5 hours riding to work, 2 hours back and forth to the doctors and 3 of miscellaneous riding. Roughly 10 hours on the bike in one week times 240 calories equals 2400 calories burned above and beyond normal.
It will feel great knowing that I put all that effort into something good.

You must go to the blog for the finer details.

S-24

2005-08-08T08:08:00.000-04:00

Do you ever get board of the recreational status quo? The word recreation means re-creation, re-create the soul, relax and rejuvenate and rebuild yourself. Do you ever ask yourself where your free goes and how much it costs you, if your recreation is truly re-creating?
The problems are universal: time is short, money is short; other times, patience or energy is short. What I need is a different type of adventure. A custom fit adventure that brings me out into the wilds yet is free, quick, quiet and re-creational.
Several times a year I will drive to a place that has easy access: ponds, rivers, small mountaintops or pretty forests. I am basically car camping in the wilderness. With gas prices the way they are and time being as short as it is, I am left wondering about what else there is to do.
There has to be a better way….
In fact there is, the S-24 to the rescue. S-24’s are Sub-24 hour trips. You squeeze the trip into your daily life. You leave work on your bike ready to camp and return to work ready for a new day.
S-24’s can be done with friends and family or they can be performed solo. You can eat before you head out then again when you return. This way you don’t have to carry food and fuel. If you are like me, you are less afraid of the bears during the night as I am of the bear that I am without my morning coffee. Rroarr, get away from me or you’ll loose a hand! Sound familiar to any one?
You will need:
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Shelter
Snacks
Coffee*
Water
Pot
Stove
Some way to carry this on a bike

The Wooden Ski and Wheel has BOB trailer for rent to allow people to try the S-24. The BOB trailer will work on any quick release rear wheel, mountain, hybrid or road bikes. It has a dry bag to keep your stuff clean and dry.

S-24 adventures in the Champlain Valley can be done all over the place. Macomb State park, Point Au Rouche, Cannons Corners, Ellenburgh Center, Lyon Mountain, Saranac, Peru. Anywhere you can pedal and find a campsite.

I go out looking for state land, I use the DEC website, the state land locator. Unless otherwise marked, you can camp for free on state land as long as you have fewer than 10 people in your party and are 50 feet away from trails and water. It is even better if you have a land of your own or have a friend with land. I think free and primitive is the best though.

Day Touring in Your Own Area

2005-07-19T14:16:00.000-04:00

This summer I have been trying to ride my bike on as many “new roads” as possible. By new, I mean new to me, roads that I have never ridden before.

I have seen many people through the years that stick to pedaling the same route time after time. That is fine, but unless you branch out and ride new roads you never know what you’re missing.

I have ridden the Rt. 9 thing from AuSable Point to Chazy. I have ridden the Rt. 22 and Rt. 22B and Rt. 3 corridors. All of those rides are nice, in brief doses. What about the view that you can get from atop Hallock hill in Peru, or the speed you get coming down the Chazy Lake road into Saranac? What about the isolation you feel between Standish and Clayburg? How about the rolling terrain around Chateaugay Lake and Ellenburg? They are all very nice too.

I was riding in the Patent Road, Mannix Road area on Sunday. My goal was to ride the hill by the Mother Cabrini Shrine; mostly because it is supposed to be THE hill test piece in the area. By the way, it is quite steep. I was taken by surprise by a mechanical problem, broken spoke.

That broken spoke made my day. If it weren’t for the wobble in my wheel, I would have ridden the hill and ended up riding off toward Peasleville to allow my legs to unravel before heading home. Instead, I wanted to keep my speed down as low as possible (If my wheel were to collapse, I would rather be going slowly). On a whim I turned down, a road just north of the Mannix road.

It was absolutely beautiful. I felt like I was transported back in time. There was a pretty tree farm, a couple of old farmsteads, farmscapes and beautiful forests. All of this in a slightly downhill package, so I could just glide along sitting on my bike for a few minutes.

Yes, I was exploring that day but I was not fully prepared to see what I saw. I am glad to have stumbled upon a gem of a road and I am encouraged for my future rides.

I hope you too get out there and find your own special pieces of road.

Lance Armstrong

2005-07-08T22:03:00.000-04:00

Lance Armstrong and Sportsmanship

I am usually the last person to jump on a bandwagon. In the case of Lance armstron, I feel really inspired. Not for his rebound from cancer survivorship, as amazing as that was, instead I am impressed by his sportsmanship.

He is truly a model athlete. Every other professional athlete that American culture holds high on a pedestal could learn a lesson from Lance. He competes cleanly and he commands respect from his peers by acting in a respectful manor. He talks to the press, he appreciates his fans and he is respectful of his competitors.

Recently in the Tour, which I rarely get wrapped up in the soap opera, he acted in a very commendable manor. He declined the award of the yellow jersey because he felt that the race was too close to call when his primary competitor crashed. Not only was the race too close, he admitted he might have been behind. Therefore, he didn’t feel right being awarded the jersey without “earning it” he felt like he won it by a fluke.

I think about NFL players and how they would have been dancing and reveling over the carnage of their competitors getting injured and maximizing the windfall as if they were the greatest.

NBA players are so at odds with their fans that brawls breakout between fans and players. NBA stars are accused of rapes and drunk driving accidents.

I am not saying that cycling, in general is free of bad seeds, but Lance Armstrong is in deed a model athlete and everyone could learn a lesson in humility from him.

Bicycle Safety

2005-07-08T22:02:00.000-04:00

June 28, 2005

Just in the past week I have been honked at, screamed at, and Buzzed uncomfortably close and “shooed” as if a passing motorist were waving off a fly from his desert.

All in a days ride…or is there an epidemic of ignorance. I would tend to believe that some people just don’t know that bicycles and cars have a right to the road. Sharing the road comes with responsibility; riders need to share the road. Stay out of the way of traffic, so not to obstruct cars. We also have to signal our intensions with hand signals and also observe the rules of the road: as if we were also in a car.

Visit these sites to get a better feel for your knowledge and brush up on some things. Be a better representative for bicycling. Too many car drivers hate bikes and riders and they can very easily hurt or kill one of us in our mutual ignorance.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bikeped/bike-nys.html
http://www.dot.state.ny.us/pubtrans/share.html
http://www.nybc.net/bicycling/laws.shtml

Knee Pain in Cycling

2005-06-20T15:34:00.000-04:00

65% of all riders reported knee pain; training errors are leading causes of overuse knee injuries. Heavy training loads and high mileage contribute substantially to knee injuries. Likewise, a rapid increase in training distance or intensity, seen in the early cycling season, also leads to overuse injuries.

The number of cycling-related injuries has also risen, with the majority caused by overuse. Injuries may also be related to improper bicycle fit or equipment, poor technique, or inappropriate training patterns. Cycling is very repetitive; during 1 hour of cycling, a rider may average up to 5,000 pedal revolutions. The smallest amount of malalignment, whether anatomic or equipment related, can lead to dysfunction, impaired performance, and pain.

Biomechanic abnormalities may be from anatomic and functional factors as well as muscular inflexibility. Most cyclists' quadriceps and hamstrings will tighten with prolonged riding. Inflexibility of the quadriceps, hamstrings, or iliotibial band (ITB) may restrict range of motion around the knee and are likely to increase the forces on the knee. Weakness in the leg muscles may lead to fatigue-induced alterations in pedaling technique, which will also alter the forces on the knee. Inappropriate saddle height or improperly aligned shoe cleats transmit increased repetitive forces through the knee, with a greater likelihood of injury

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is related to a combination of factors involving malalignment of the knee extensor mechanism. Patients generally report that anterior knee pain is worse when the knee is loaded (eg, when climbing or descending stairs, during prolonged sitting or squatting).

Chondromalacia, characterized by pain or crepitation in the retropatellar area, is described as a grating sensation with anterior patellofemoral discomfort that worsens with climbing, squatting, or prolonged sitting. The condition may be caused by articular cartilage breakdown or chronic synovial inflammation. During cycling, the pain is precipitated by riding up hills or when the rider pushes higher gears with a slow pedal cadence.

Quadriceps tendinosis is characterized by pain at the quadriceps tendon's insertion into the patella. The pain may be located medially or laterally to the suprapatellar area but is more commonly seen on the lateral side in cyclists. Tendinosis may follow an acute traumatic event but is usually caused by repetitive stress, with poor bike fit as a common contributing factor.
Patellar tendinosis can result from irritation of the patellar tendon and is most likely caused by excess angular traction on the tendon when the rider pedals with improperly positioned cleats. Cyclists usually report significant patellar tendon pain related to pedaling and other knee-extension activities. Focal swelling around the patellar tendon with palpable crepitus may be seen.
Prepatellar bursitis, less common in cycling, should be suspected when swelling and tenderness anterior to the patella exist and can arise from acute trauma. Chronic prepatellar bursitis is more common than the acute form and usually results from repeated microtrauma, such as bicycle pedaling.

Careful Inspection
When evaluating a cyclist with anterior knee pain, inspect the bicycle fit. The saddle may be too low, too far forward, or both, causing excessive patellofemoral loading throughout the pedal cycle. When the saddle is low, the knee functions in hyperflexion, increasing compression of the patella on the femur.
Improper shoe cleat position or float may force the rider to pedal with poor biomechanics, increasing patellar forces
Medial Knee Pain
The normal pedaling motion causes the tibia to internally rotate when the knee is extended. Medial knee pain results when increased stress from improper saddle height, saddle fore-and-aft position, or cleat position (toes pointed too far outward) increases internal tibial rotation. Poor leg flexibility and training errors, such as riding in gears that are too high or excessive hill climbing, increase stress and exacerbate medial knee conditions.
Posterior Knee Pain
Posterior knee complaints in cycling are rare. Most often they are attributed to biceps tendinosis or, less frequently, medial hamstring tendinosis. Cyclists who have biceps tendinosis report insidious onset of point tenderness at the tendinous attachment of the biceps femoris where it inserts on the fibular head
Addressing Pain
Initial management following an overuse injury should follow the PRICEMM acronym (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation, modalities, and medications)
Bicycle adjustment.
A simple saddle height adjustment may ease the forces placed on the knee. If the saddle is too low, too much stress is placed on the knee from the patellar and quadriceps tendons. If the saddle is too high, pain may develop behind the knee. Proper saddle height can be determined in several different ways. The easiest way is to allow one pedal to drop to the 6-o'clock position and observe the angle of flexion in the knee joint. There should be a 25° to 30° flexion in the knee when the pedal is at the bottom-most point. Another method is to measure the inseam (in cm) and multiply by 0.883 to get the correct distance from the top of the saddle to the center of the bottom bracket. If the hips rock back and forth when pedaling, the saddle is too high; lower the saddle until a smooth pedal stroke is achieved.
Saddle fore-and-aft positions and shoe cleat position may also contribute to knee pain. Saddles that are too far back cause the cyclist to reach for the pedal and stretch the ITB, resulting in knee pain. Saddles that are too far forward will force pedaling in a hyperflexed position, increasing the force on the anterior knee. Saddle position can be evaluated with the plumb bob technique. Seated with the pedal in the 3-o'clock position, a plumb hung from the most anterior portion of the knee should intersect the ball of the foot and the axle of the pedal.
Cleats that are internally rotated too far may increase stress on the ITB as it crosses the outside of the knee. Excessive external rotation will cause medial knee stress. Cleats should be positioned fore or aft so that the ball of the foot is directly over the axle of the pedal.
You have just read an article that was paraphrased from: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2004/0404/asplund.htm

Mechanical Problems

2005-05-23T17:14:00.000-04:00

Bicycling is fun and games but a person can get really stranded and inconvenienced by a mechanical problem. Mechanical problems happen when something breaks or falls out of adjustment during a ride. Mountain bikers see most of the mechanicals but roadies are certainly not immune.

Flat tires top the list of most common mechanical problems, loose crank arms, skipping gears, dragging brakes and general creaks and squeaks are on the list too.

Proper maintenance can limit problems on the ride. Check your bike regularly. Get in the habit of wiping it down, before or after a ride. By wiping off dust and grime, you create a relationship with your bike. When you are familiar with your bike, you know when something is not working right. Your bike is your friend, don’t be afraid of it.

Every time I ride I bring a “kit” with me. When I mountain bike, I carry these items in my hydration pack, on my road bike I have an under-seat bag. I carry:
• Spare tube
• A tube patch
• Quarter (cell phones don’t work in many places where I ride)
• Allen wrenches/screw driver multi tool
• Chain tool
• Pump
• Emergency Contact information

Most importantly you need to know how to use all of the items that I just listed for you. Ask your friends. Experiment, or come to the WSW and ask us to show you how to do the repairs.

I am not advocating carrying a complete workshop with you or to stay within 2 miles of home. Simply be aware and be prepared for some common problems. Don’t allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security.

Biking Motivation

2005-05-17T11:09:00.000-04:00

May 17, 2005
Adam Preston

A friend of mine, who has found cycling within the last 3 years, shared some evolutions that she has experienced. It used to be that if she couldn’t ride her 18-30 miles per outing, it wasn’t much of a ride and it really wasn’t worth going.

She has found that there are some inherent problems with thinking that way.
She had to find a block of time in her day to ride for 1-2+ hours at a pop; not to mention cleaning up and eating before she could do anything else with her day.
That requires a significant amount of effort. Riding that distance more than a couple of times a week is hard work for a recreationalist.
That type of riding, squeezing it in a specific time frame, requires riding the same route time after time. That gets boring.

This spring she has made some efforts to switch her riding habits around a little and to her amusement, she feels enlightened. Her plan now is to make several, shorter trips per week: in the 10 mile range.

She found, to her surprise, that she has ridden a greater total mileage this spring than in previous years. She has done that with less effort and commitment and soreness and more pleasure.

Everyday is a new day and a chance to ride somewhere different. Now she sees every road as a potential new riding spot. She says “I found this great new road today out near…” and she plans on “ticking” them off a mental checklist.

She also notices things more, now that she is exploring. It is almost like we soak in the scenery more effectively when we visit new places. We are consciously looking for a first impression. She has these great stories of what she saw on her latest ride. Lately she has been counting how many different wild animals she sees. Groundhogs, Beavers, Osprey, Great Blue Herons and Owls all pop out of the forest at her eye.

I say “good for her” and also wonder where her motivation will come from next year.

Join a Cycling Club

2005-05-11T11:28:00.000-04:00

Good morning all! Today’s topic is cycling community.

The North Country seems to be filled with a bunch of self actuating people. They do their own thing and don’t really mesh into groups too well. That is a drawback for the cycling community.

Northern New York is a spectacular location for riding. We have mountains, winding riverside back roads, we have vast farmland and scenic lake vistas. Everyone should be out soaking in the beautiful surrounding scenery. Everyone! They should do it on a bike. Bikers can cover more ground with less effort than runners and walkers, you can see and smell and hear more than you can in a car.

Bicycling is physical activity and it is difficult to motivate some days. We all come up with excuses for why not to go for a ride. “I was really busy today and I am tired”, “It’s too windy”, “I don’t feel like it”, “I’ve always wanted to, but not alone”. Well let other people motivate you. Join a club and schedule events. Make it a weekly thing, like going to the grocery store. Make the time, every Wednesday evening is your ride time, like other nights you watch Seinfeld.

In Plattsburgh we are lucky to have the Adirondack Cycling Team, new this summer. They have 2 rides weekly, Wednesday and Sunday. You are invited to create the time and become affiliated with them. Participate in the rides and enjoy the comradery. Reap the benefits of having a riding support group. People who get stuck in the rain with you, bonk on the same hills and help when you flat out. Visit never before ridden roads and see new sights, share it with friends.

If this sounds interesting to you contact Tom Gerner, or Tracy Gryger at Plattsburgh Dental Group or email them.

I wish all of you great riding experiences this summer.

Ride a BIke, feel like a kid again

2005-05-07T10:27:00.000-04:00

May 7, 2005
Adam Preston

We are always hearing about how Americans are overweight and getting more exercise could only benefit our collective health. They say go walking or to the gym or go for a bike ride. That is excellent advice for all of us to take.

There is a possible misunderstanding that people might get about that message. They may think that biking is only exercise and only to be done to improve or maintain ones health. That’s too bad, in my mind. Biking can be fun and done purely for the fun of it, with the side benefit of improved health.

Remember how freeing it was as a kid to be out in the morning on our bikes? We would zip up and down the street: to see how fast we could go, to see how far we could ride with no hands, to practice doing wheelies or just to feel the wind on our faces as we swerved from curb to curb. It was total enjoyment just to spin around our block.

Why can’t adults do that now? Did something happen to us along the way that we have to now deny the simple pleasure of movement? Is there something wrong with an adult who has juvenile moments? When did a bike become a torture device? People often feel guilty when they aren’t a “racer” or “triathletes”: pooH!

Bikers don’t have to log 200 miles a week and 5000 a year to have fun on their bikes. Try it. You’ll see for your self. Go out and remember how much fun a bike can be. Be a kid again.

Importance of Wheel Truing

2005-05-03T12:53:00.000-04:00

May 4, 2005
Adam Preston

Welcome to another installment to our web-based articles. Today’s topic is wheel truing.

True wheels are round (not oblong; won’t hop) and do not wobble side to side (rub on brakes. This facilitates effective rolling. Keep in mind that bicycling is all about rolling efficiency. A bike rider that can maintain his or her momentum with the least amount of effort is the most efficient. They get the greatest return on effort; either effort for speed or effort for distance, it all depends on the rider’s philosophy.

True wheels are not only more efficient, but safer too. Wheels are made up of metal hoops (rims), metal wires (spokes) and hubs (including an axle, and bearings). The spokes, when under proper tension hold the hub together with the rim. Spoke tension is the KEY to wheel trueness. When a region of the wheel is not supported by proper spoke tension, that region runs the risk of collapse. This collapse is sometimes called “potato chipped”, or “Tacoed” because of the visual similarity.

Wheels that are out of true usually simply need to have the spoke tension adjusted. There are some specialized tools required: spoke wrenches of various sizes, and truing stand, sometimes a spoke tensiometer. When the wheels are far from true, they need to be replaced. Unless you have a very nice, very expensive wheel, you shouldn’t consider “getting a new rim”. Go the less expensive route and buy a whole new wheel.

Indicators of untrue wheels include but are not limited to: brake rubbing on certain spots of the rim, wobbles and hops to the wheel when rotated, deformity of shape.

Get your bicycle professionally evaluated every year, or more if you feel you are riding regularly or under bumpy conditions.

Addressing Bike Seat Discomfort

2005-04-30T10:13:00.000-04:00

Written by Adam

Saddle discomfort is a constant struggle for cyclists. We all have experienced it and I assume that none of us really completely embrace it. Most people can put in a good 45 minutes maybe an hour before discomfort settles in.

Several people a week come to the store and seek solutions for the problem. Usually these people want a big saddle, “the widest and cushioniest you have”. In theory that should solve the problem, but it doesn’t always. When you have saddle problems you should know how to identify the discomfort, you don’t need to come to us and point to your body and be overly descriptive; after all we aren’t doctors. You should be able to point to the region of the saddle and say this is where it hurts. The discomfort might be toward the nose of the saddle or farther back. Usually the pain is from the middle forward, where the saddle narrows. Also remember that after not riding for 7 months, or more, our bodies aren’t used to these stresses. Be realistic about our capabilities, start out slow and gradually build up to longer rides.

Saddle theory: the riders’ tail bones should be supported by the wide portion of the saddle. The nose of the saddle should be in light contact with the…more forward parts of our crotch.

Saddle Adjustment can be achieved in one of two ways. Look under the saddle where the seat post connects. There should be two bolts or one or two allen bolts. Loosening these attachment bolts will allow you to raise and lower the nose of the saddle, and slide the seat forward and backward. This is very simple, if you have too much pressure forward on the saddle, tip the nose of the saddle down and this shall remove the pressure from that area. Your body weight will thus be supported on the wider part of the saddle on your tail bones. Take care not to tip the nose too far, gravity will make you slide forward.

Chaffing is another discomfort, people who where biking shorts have fewer problems with both pressure and chaffing. Bike shorts are snug fitting and padded. We all automatically think of racers in lycra, but it doesn’t have to be like that. There are many, more conservative styles of shorts on the market today. Shorts that anyone who wasn’t in the know, wouldn’t ever guess they were bike specific shorts. You can be on a ride and go into a Stewarts shop and retain your modesty, and your saddle comfort.

Seat to pedal height also has a role. If you ride with your seat too low, you are putting a great amount of your body weight on your seat. Raising your saddle will allow you to share your body weight between your crotch and your legs. This has an added benefit, you get better muscle efficiency.

Making these adjustments will allow you to ride longer with less pain and with greater enjoyment. Happy trails!

Bear Canister

2005-04-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

April 28, 2005
By Adam Preston

I would like to applaud the efforts of the Wilderness Conservation Society for their Black Bear Education, Awareness, and Research (B-BEAR) program. Bear-Human relationships have become more strained in the past few years in some of the most popular camping areas of the Adirondacks. The Wilderness Conservation Society has been hard at work trying to mitigate the issues to both preserve the great experience that we can get by entering the wilderness and to lessen the impact that we invoke onto the Black Bear population.

As the hiking and camping season approaches it is good for all of us to examine: Our past camping experiences and be critical of how we impact our surroundings. Did we have food stolen or shredded by critters? Did we take every precaution that we could have? Is it right to demean the Black Bear for being smart enough to be one step ahead of us and steal our food when we sleep? I am half pleased to hear when people are raided because I am very impressed by the intelligence of the Black Bear, and half afraid that people are going to get mauled by a Bear that doesn’t get its way. Let’s all be careful and respectful of our Bear friends and try to eliminate future problems. It may not be a choice in the near future for you to not take extra precautions against bear theft. The Department of Environmental Conservation is considering requiring the Bear Canister in the High Peaks region. It is unfortunate the DEC is the party that has the handle the nuisance Bear removal when the Bears become a consistent threat to campers. So please save future problems and be proactive.

The idea is so simple, it can work, keep the food out of the mouths of Bears and they won’t keep coming back for more and more. Put your food into a Bear Canister, a plastic cylindrical canister, and leave it on the ground a safe distance form your campsite. The Bear cannot get the food inside the canister. They learn that as hard as they try, they won’t get in. So they will stop trying. The Bears will go back to their natural diets and coexist with humans ever after.

The Wooden Ski and Wheel is assisting the Wilderness Conservation Society in their efforts to educate the public and to supply you with bear proof canisters. We rent canisters, which are supplied to us by the WCS, to people for $5 per outing. Then we give $3 per rental back to the WCS for future administrative costs. We also sell canisters to people who might want to use them more frequently that once or twice a season.

Go out their, be safe and respectful of wildlife.

Web Page Development

2005-04-26T13:53:00.000-04:00

April 26, 2005
Written by Adam

Hello everyone. I just checked some of the WSW website statistics. I am learning that some pages are more popular than others and that some are totally useless. Well, live and learn. Stick with us and I will keep things progressing.

Keep your eyes peeled for some development on the bicycle related pages (shopping for and what we have in stock) in the coming days I will put some effort there.

I welcome any input you might have on things you would like to see on the site, so please don’t hesitate to share some thoughts with me. Thank you for looking.

Adam

Customize Your Bike

2005-04-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

April 19, 2005
Written by Adam

In deed another beautiful morning in the Champlain Valley. Ed and Maureen did their partial commute from Harkness to the Wooden Ski and Wheel. They did a car swap routine at Carpenters Flats (Green bridge over the Ausable). Ed drove the car their, parked and rode the rest of the way in. Maureen rode from home to the car and drove the last few miles; a thoughtful way to integrate exercise into the normal day.

I drove out to Cadyville to ride the mountain bike trails at the town park. They are as good as they have ever been. Thank you Dave! The trails are freshly raked, fast and flowing. Check out the new section along the sandy ridge along the NYSEG boundary, I admit I didn’t ride it clean on my first run through.

Today’s article: Customizing Your Ride

Are you a “stock” sort of person? I didn’t think so, then why do you ride a stock bike? Maybe you didn’t think about it that way. Some people treat their bikes like a fashion accessory getting all the right labels and colors matching to make that visual impact. Others try to make their bikes more comfortable and fun and still others try top achieve that nexus of functionality.

I, for one, have done all of the above at different times and really enjoy playing with my bikes set-up. It keeps my perspective on cycling fresh, it keeps me motivated and engaged in the bicycling experience. Sometimes I get in a little slump and all I need to get out of it is to change something on my bike. New grips, a bell, pedals, handlebars; new brake and shifting systems, there are no rules. It’s personal.

Last year I was all about my rode bike, The year before that I set up my mountain bike with disc brakes. This year I am taking my old mountain bike and taking the disc brakes off, the suspension fork off and the shifters off. What is he thinking, you ask? Well, simplicity. Simple bikes are simply fun!

A one speed bike is what I am making. I just want to pedal to go forward and use my brakes to keep from crashing. That’s all. If there is an up hill, I will stand on my pedals and push harder, if there is a down hill I will sit patiently and glide. I am hoping I will feel more connected to my surroundings with a one speed. The terrain will have a greater impact on me, physically.

I took the small and large chain rings off my triple crank, turned a rear 9-speed cassette into a 1-speed cassette and used a special part called a chain tensioner. Then I started stripping: off with the deraileurs, and shifters. It is liberating! Now I am waiting for a rigid fork to get rid of the 100mm travel suspension fork on it now. Voila, complete.

I will have gotten rid of 8 parts from my bike and added 2. Believe it or not, I will sell my old shifters and deraileurs and that should pay for any changes that I made. It maybe took 3 hours for me to do the work and it was fun.

I will let you know how I like it in a few weeks.

Sunny Saturday

2005-04-16T19:40:00.000-04:00

Aprinl 16, 2005

It’s a beautiful day, people getting bikes and kayaks to get right out and enjoy themselves. There is a fantastic energy to the day. Like all the adults are like kids getting a new toy.

Plattsburgh is a great place for recreation. Last night Rich, Dan and Adam spent the evening “urban” mountain biking around the city. We rode stairs and retaining walls and did jumps like we were all 12 years old. It’s funny how the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle can rejuvenate the spirit.

Also as a reminder, we have the Super Commuter story give away. Read the April 13, 2005 Blog for details. Commuter Stories… Just today we had a young man and his son in tow visit the store…literally. He rode down here with his son in a children’s trailer. It is great to see families out recreating together. Also a guy rode here and bought a kayak cart, he put it into a huge navy duffle and rode back home with it. He plans on towing his 80lbs kayak from his house to the lake this summer. Who needs a car?

The lake is free of ice, but it far from warm. The sun might be out and the air is warm, but please be extremely careful if you go out kayaking without proper clothing!

Morning Mountian Bike ride and Super Commuters

2005-04-13T13:22:00.000-04:00

Written by Adam

This morning was a little chilly for a ride. But, that’s not really a good enough excuse to stay in. I drove my car in to the WSW and got on my mountain bike and headed to the new trail on the new base (between Connecticut Ave and the barracks golf course. There is a 1 mile loop through the woods. Twists and turns some dirt berms some mud, nothing extreme; a great place to find your legs.

Yes it is a short trail now, but keep checking because it is growing. If anyone wants to assist, simply call the store and we can get a small crew together.

It seems there is a renewed interest in bicycle commuting in Plattsburgh. We are proud to say we here at the Wheel are dedicated bike commuters, when it is not -30 degrees. To encourage other riders to keep up the good work we are soliciting Super Commuters.

Super Commuters are people who try hard to keep up the effort even when it doesn’t seem like they should. Be it weather, friends telling them they are silly or equipment. We want to hear your stories. We will post them on our web site for others to be inspired. We will also try to write interesting article to help you be a better bike commuter. We will talk about things like equipment and technique.

Submit the stories and get entered into a random weekly drawing for a free tune up from our service department. Limit one per customer per month, until the end of May (then we will re-evaluate the policy).

Back From England

2005-04-12T15:50:00.000-04:00

April 12, 2005 let’s bicycle, bicycle, and bicycle! Spring has put a North Country smile onto the early birds, and with fresh long johns, out come the kids to play.

Adam has been clearing mt. bike trails as hard as any woodpecker can work: check out his trail locations and what they present in the way of challenges.

Rich, our part time (Mon and Friday) bike mechanic has been itching to get some group rides going, especially of a co-ed grouping with some latte bar after ride---he is here to answer that challenge on Monday and Friday.

Dan came aboard from Northern Arizona along with his single speed Voodoo, and is hoping to ride and chat it up about politics, earth matters, or gourmet eating (move over South Beach)

Ed and Maureen are back from London after a wonderful nine day visit and tour with son Matthew Gardner, a music student there this year. Walking was the enjoyable mode of movement, along with tube (subway) travel to everywhere. We enjoyed museums after museums, spending upwards to six hours in Victoria and Albert, as well as British museum. The building designs, public parks and open space were great. Our bed and breakfast was a delight, with great hosts and people from Australia, Hungary, Argentina and England. It was great to learn about there living style and values.

The weather was warm for mid March, 60 degrees and lots of sun (unusual) with only 3 hours of rain. Enjoyed the daily commonplace , like cars that we don’t see anymore in USA, bike names from England that don’t get to USA any more due to currency difference; Dawes, Holdsworth, Claude Butler. London is a great city, and we will certainly return as well as bicycle in the middle and upper sections in the near future…

Open water for kayak at Ausable march, with lots of bird life. Water is not deep so paddle is reasonable safe, even with cold water.

A few riders have been by and rode to Conroys on rt 9, north of Plattsburgh, and had fresh coffee and great sandwichs. After which they rode some more to wear it off. Makes for a nice ride and stop along for Northern riders.

A couple of old spokers were spotted having lattes at the market in Peru at dead mans corner; Fortunately the coffee was fresher than their legs, but they still got in 2 hard hours, plus or minus 20 miles!...steel road bikes will allow that.

Ed’s getting a new Jamis Nova, steel touring bicycle to ride this spring and summer. Mo is up for a new hybdid, Adam is on a new Jamis hard tail, and Rich has a new steel road frame that he is building up. Dan blew the dust off an old Independent frame has put some parts on it-only to tell me its for sale for $750. Steel is real at the WSW. …

Nice to see people coming in to use their bikes for commuting to work or to the markets. Much more interest in this concept this year, thank you Mr. gas man…Parents and children riding is up; movement is in vogue once again. O be Joyful-Spring is in des bones. Get pumped, but just not at the gas station. Use fuel, that which is stored on our bodies. Ride till it feels good!

latter, eddy

Early Season Ride

2005-03-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

A breezy cool morning for a quick bike ride before work. I rode from the store north being pushed by a tail wind up Rt. 9. It felt great to be spinning again, it's been months. At the Agway oil tanks, across from Stewarts I cut down to the lake. There were guys getting ready for a day of ice fishing. I saw a 4-wheeler on the ice, before I gave it much though I pedaled out onto the lake. It was great. The wind was a bit cold, but the sun was blazing and the snow was firm. I rode around with no destination in mind for 20 minutes or so and headed off the the new base. I spun around and looked at the chunks of forest thinking about how nice it would be to have mountain bike trails right there. Soon enough I ran out of time and had to go open the store.