when did it get so nice today?

Last night I was on the fence about the bike today. My ass was sore after three weeks recuperating, the tank is tough to get moving in any kind of wind, and the forecast called for rain and black ice all over the place this morning.

So where in the hell did this come from?I'm not complaining. It's 40 degrees, and I'm about to call it a day and go watch ND play in a bowl game with the last of my beery holiday leftovers. Now that's how you wrap up a year.

Current beer-scale: 7.7

Ugh

Back to it on every level.

I could sit on the trainer for a few minutes yesterday without much discomfort, so I took a chance and rode the tank in this morning. If I had to come in, it wasn't going to be on the train. Not too bad, but I'm a little dubious to see how I feel by the end of the day.

The biggest bummer about getting back to work this week, other than having to leave the wife and dog in our warm bed this morning, is losing my mileage file when my pc crashed last week. 18 months of rides, gone. 2600+ miles from just this year, gone. Not that I need to track anything, I just enjoy having the numbers.

I guess I should open my email now and actually get back to work. Eh, it can wait a few more hours.

Current beer-scale: 3.2

It's been a long week(s)

A few days on the train and I'm going fucking insane. But it's finally the holidays and I can drink drink drink. Yahoo!

Current beer-scale: 9.5

Stay safe man, stay safe

Okay, after 7 cocktails at the office holiday party all anyone could tell me as I was leaving was "stay safe."

Like it's so hard to walk three blocks to the train. Everyone knew I wasn't riding. Is it that much of a reputation killer to ride a bike and enjoy pounding the occassional half-dozen cocktails?

Current beer-scale: very low

9 days

One short week. That's all the work I have between me and a few days off. No sweat.

Add on the fact that two of those days have department or office parties ending the day early and that's enough to balance out my ass still killing me and having to take the train for at least another week. I can't complain too much-I hit over 2500 miles for the year and can probably afford to take some time off and pick it back up in 2012 a few pounds heavier.

Current beer-scale: 8.8 and about to get taken care of.

ow

So I don't think I'll be riding in the near future, thanks to a hellacious fall snowboarding on our ski trip. Nothing broken, but the pain when I go from a seated to standing position is enough to make me wish I had spent the weekend in the hot tub instead on on the hill.

It definitely made the six+ hour drive that much more unpleasant, and the idea of taking the train when it's in the 40's is driving me crazy. We'll see how long it takes to feel human again.
At least the dogs had fun. They picked up some great begging skills from each other.

current beer-scale: 8.9

Torn

I'm about to drive 6+ hours in the first real snowfall of the year and all I can think is "I'm glad I didn't have to ride today."

Not crazy about the driving either though.

Current beer-scale: 5.5

taking shape

Got my new toe clips just in time for the rear fender to get knocked loose. Back to the garage in 20-degree temps, put a scarf on under my canadian tuxedo for that extra hipster doofus effect. Who knew zip ties would only be partially effective at holding parts on a moving bicycle?

Anyway, the tank is pretty much what it's going to be for now. Some reflective tape might be in the works but that's probably about it. "The tank" might be a lame name but it's appropriate. The thing is a motherfucker to get moving. But the fat tires make the ride pretty comfortable, even if Lincoln feels a lot scarier than I remember sometimes.

I need to think of a better name.

But today is my Friday, and tomorrow it's time to drive 6+ hours through Wisconsin into Michigan to go skiing. Do I ski? Hell no. Do I drink? Hell yes.

Current beer-scale: 7.8

when you see a swat team, turn around

Well that was a bust. On multiple levels.

I stupidly decided to stay on the path and take Wilson last night, which first resulted in walking through some wave spray and ended with a flat and walking the last 10 blocks.

The flat probably happened when I hit a metal plate covering some road work as I was trying to get around the bad traffic that had sprung up. Traffic was terrible on Wilson b/c everyone was rubbernecking at the tactical units on the street dealing with a standoff:

http://www.suntimes.com/9268140-417/three-surrender-after-6-hour-standoff-on-north-side.html

Didn't know that at the time, but there was a report on WGN this morning. Insane.

Anyway, switched tubes when I got home, took Lincoln this morning. Puttered along, didn't have to worry about anything. I guess that's the way to go from now on.

Current beer-scale: 4.3

Unbelievable

I actually got a compliment on the heavy bike on my way in this morning. Granted I didn't have the back wheel on tight enough when I left, the seat could stand to be a little higher, the riding position overall is completely ridiculously upright, and I was practically crawling the entire time, but I looked good doing it.

It even was a little fun to take some of the dirt short-cuts and bigger bumps with the cross tires on and know I didn't have to care about how gunked up things might get. I laughed at one point. Let's see what the weather has in store tonite.

Current beer-scale: 2.1 and nauseous after that atrocious Bears game

Eh, we'll see how it goes

Today's Bears game is making me want to vomit but at least I got the fenders on for tomorrow.
Yeah, it's zip-tie heavy and not perfectly installed by any stretch but it should do the job.
Turns out I was missing the screws to mount the front fender where there were actual eyelets, and no eyelets for the back so they just got tied on too. As long as the wheels spin I don't care. Good test ride today so we'll see just how f-ed up the riding position actually is tomorrow.
Now if only the Bears' offense could see about getting some of their fucking jobs done.

Current beer-scale: 9.1

Be careful what you wish for I guess

So it's another maintenance weekend, thanks to a quick delivery from amazon.

That's a huge fucking box.And that's a lot of paper.
The dog wasn't even that interested.
And yet, the fenders were still jammed in there enough to be bent out of true.
Whatever, they were cheap and now I have a huge box to wrap a tiny christmas gift in. Good times.

Current beer-scale: 8.9 on a get-me-the-fuck-out-of-here-Friday.

ugh

It struck me on the way in this morning that I absolutely cannot wait for summer. That was after I was done watching out for ice on the LFP that I almost bit it on yesterday.

The trek might be just about done for the year. It's starting to groan pretty seriously and could use a break and tune-up. Fortunately my fenders should get here in time for another maintenance weekend and trial run for heavy bike on Monday. That gives me some time to think up a good name at least.

Time for some coffee and for the day to hurry the fuck up already.

Current beer-scale: 6.8