Christmas Tidings

1. Adult Pi Patel: So which story do you prefer?
2. Writer: The one with the tiger. That's the better story.
3. Adult Pi Patel: Thank you. And so it goes with God.
4. Writer: It's an amazing story.
5. - The Life of Pi

Here in the Midwest, enough snow has fallen at this point, the ski trails will likely be skiable through February, barring any immoderate temperature increases, rain fall and unseasonable melt-off.  I have been out nordic skiing only once since the December third snowfall and the cold snap that followed it, (seven or eight days in a ten day stretch with single digit highs) and I have been using my free time lately working on Christmas - now that it's passed, it seems logical to discourse a little about it, but I don't have much to say.

It was fantastic.

I have on some level determined that the Frank Capra movie It's A Wonderful Life is a prescient adaptation of religious doctrine, brought into play as a causative agent to prevent one George Bailey, (Jimmy Stewart) from ever actually attempting to throw himself from that precipitous bridge in the middle of winter.  We the audience watch for seventeen minutes as his guardian angel Clarence Odbody, (Henry Travers), reassures George of his significance and relevance to those people he values, but George's decision likely lasted a fraction of a second longer than his initial impulse.

But then I get all woozy over Donna Reed and I reckon it's just a long winded ad for those trendy eyeglasses all the hipster kids wear these days...In other news, I made a rug out of old climbing rope for one of my Christmas gift recipients, and I borrowed some ideas from this blog here -

http://www.instructables.com/id/Rope-Rug/

Sterling and Bluewater 10.5 mm dynamic.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

My version turned out pretty well, and I was happy to have followed the website's suggestion to use Caulking and a secure base of duct tape before completing the project.  

Merry Christmas.

Half Century

This being the first week since the spring Equinox that hasn't had an unprecedented snowfall, and the Specialized Allez, with a new double crank was staring at me, taunting, almost daring me to get out and ride, I spent yesterday on a three hour tour around Lake Minnetonka, via the Geenway and the Luce Line.  The ride was great - no technicals, no flats, other riders getting out and knocking off the last of winter's grip were in good spirits and a light wind from the SouthEast emboldened me at the start and humbled me at the finish.  Like a good drink.

                    Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRide
               

Since re-configuring the Allez, I've been riding it around town as I still don't own a car, and riding safely is less expensive and less restricting than buying bus passes.  That being said, I spent some time on tuesday at a sewing studio in Minneapolis patching a pair of jeans.  A friend has been bartering her skills and artistry, (trading pottery and bread for her time), in order to keep me from appearing too raggorous.  Raggedy.  Comprised of rags.  I guess the term is "Distressed".
Here are a couple of photos of that project, including the distressed jeans, before and after being patched, again.

Photo by Michael McKinney, at Sewtropolis

Photo by Michael McKinney, at Sewtropolis

Photo by Michael McKinney, Hamline Avenue bridge

Photo by Michael McKinney, Como Lake

Photo by Michael McKinney

Triple to Double, DIY part three

Photo by Michael McKinney

I've been waiting to convert the factory drivetrain on my Specialized Allez Sport for a few months now.  After consulting a few different sources, including an estimate for a comprehensive overhaul from my nearest Specialized dealer, I decided to take it upon myself and consult the Park Tools Blue Book and Minneapolis's own Freewheel Midtown Bike Center for a DIY appointment.

Photo by Michael McKinney

Photo by Michael McKinney

The long story is I had to buy two bus passes, walk a few miles, buy lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day, rode without a helmet, traveled through Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Roseville, and finally parodied my lack of integrity.  Deja Vu.

The short story is, "Hey, I took a picture!"

Photo by Michael McKinney

I also recently enrolled in another pottery session through Saint Paul's Community Education program, and have been learning the differences between an electric wheel and a more primitive kick wheel, and made some loaves of a walnut and cranberry bread I'd like to share with ya'll.

Take care.

Photo by Michael McKinney

Photo by Michael McKinney

DIY, Part Two

After getting some help with the disc brakes, (some help is a laughable excuse for "had a mechanic install and adjust") on my Raleigh XXIX, I asked more than one mechanic about a knocking on the crank arm. After a brief inspection and a little intuition, the consensus was re-greasing the Egg Beater pedals. The nice thing about them is they clip in and out well, are easy cleared of dirt, snow and mud, have a warranty and also come with instructions.
I peppered the mechanic with questions anyway...then waited 36 hours before finding the instructions and getting on with it.  Compared to disc brakes, the re-greasing was not overly complicated. I also managed to actually ride a little today, and took a couple pictures of Minnehaha Falls. I've been in a state of lethargy and "active recovery" since the Birkebeiner, and even a short ride on a nice day was kind of epic.

Crank Brothers Pedals, 3-8-2013.  Photo by Michael McKinney

Crans Brothers pedals, 3-8-2013.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

Crank Brothers Egg Beaters, 3-8-2013.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis, 3-8-2013.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

Drinking Fountain, Minneapolis, 3-8-2013.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

Do It Yourself, part one.

My twelve speed Schwinn has been holding up well for this go round of 30 days of biking, though the past two days have seen some inclement conditions - Saturday night I got caught in a rainstorm and the chain stretched, a bit, or got extra clean from all of the rain water.  The result was today's painful and nearly sadistic bike ride.  After getting under way, about fifteen miles on the roundabout to the library, I shifted my chain between my rear cassette and my spokes.  (ONE).  This occurred, (TWO), numerous, (THREE) times before, (FOUR), making it to the library, (FIVE).  (SIX).  The first three or four times, as the rear wheel came out of alignment and connected with the frame of the bicycle, I was stopped short and removed myself from the bicycle in order to de-spoke the chain and re-align the wheel.  By the sixth occurrence, a little less than a block from my destination, I got all Walter Langowski, Bruce Banner, Dr. Jekyll and went into a 2001 Space Odyssey, "This is my club, hear me roar!" routine. What seemed at the time a display of strength and mechanical mastery was more akin to George Costanza as Koko, the talking chimp.  Highly ineffectual.

Bless those librarians though. 
I walked into my local branch, literally dripping blood from the gouges on my fingers, (did I mention the chain, rear cassette and front cranks actually tore skin off my fingers as I sought to separate the chain from the spokes and cassette), and proceeded to clean my hands, apply band aids from a first aid kit, and soap away what grit had gotten into the cuts.  I even stayed for the free wi-fi before quietly exiting, hoping I hadn't elicited a disaster preparedness drill.  I am eternally grateful.
I snapped a quick photo of downtown St. Paul, (for some reason this corner, with the buildings, reminds me of a Georgia O' Keefe painting, from the New York series), stopped for lunch and hoped the worst of it was behind me.  Wrong. 
(Seven). 
(Eight).
Mercifully, the rear derailleur snapped in half, and the day was over.  Well, half over.  A good Samaritan rolled past and asked if I needed help.  I replied yes, introduced myself and proceeded to relate my tale of woe.  Oscar, as he introduced himself, quickly helped me transform my twelve speed into a single speed, which allowed me to motivate to the nearest DIY.  Not incidentally, the rear wheel decided to re-align itself every time I started from a stand still, thus finding myself on the side of the road, again re-aligning the rear wheel as traffic honked and gawkers gawked - I understand this is why single speeders prefer not having a quick release.  Two hours later at the DIY, some gauze and bandages and I'm all set for tomorrow.  Big thanks to The Hub. 

Downtown Saint Paul, 4-23-2012.  Photo by Michael McKinney.

New Cassette, Chain, Rear Derailleur.  Photo and work by Michael McKinney.

Some really sharp, dirty objects.  Photo by Michael McKinney.