2013 Red Ride

The Commuters, Photo by Michael McKinney

At this point, I half expect somebody to pull up on a Surly Cross Check and tell me I'm riding on two different sized wheels.  I can almost hear the way he or she would express disdain for my naive attempt at riding in the city, not really getting anywhere that doesn't have coffee for less than three dollars a cup:  "Dude, I know you blog and shit.  But, you're riding a 27 inch front wheel with a 26 inch rear, you just gave me the finger and there's a really bad smell in your draft.  Nice try."

That is of course, without addressing the copious issues I have with Sudoku and the New York Times Crossword.

That being said, it was providential to be included as a guest on the 2013 Saint John's University Almuni Cycling Club's Red Ride in and around Stearns County, Minnesota.  To get there, I could have used the route I rode in 2011, from the Basilica in Minneapolis to the Marcel Breuer bell tower, roughly 100 miles later.  Being fortunate to have the option, I chose rather to invest in new components, the skill of a Freewheel mechanic to fine tune them and public transportation to Saint Johns - though I missed an additional few hundred miles of cycling, I think the investment was wise.

The ride left St. John's on Saturday morning, June 22nd, and was a fast and enjoyable tour - many skilled riders were participating and I felt at ease in the group.  One outstanding difference between riding a bicycle in the city and riding through farming communities is the lack of distractions.  A rider in the city might have to stop and start many times between here and there, for stop signs, red lights, walkers, dog walkers, very young children weaving on small bicycles as their parents watch nervously, runners, possums...you can imagine.

Once a group is settled in and a pace is set, given the capacity for the road one is riding on, the distractions become fewer and the objective becomes less about avoiding collisions and more about spinning the turbines, tuning into the other riders and maintaining a cadence commensurate with the group.  Getting to Saturday morning took a lot more than I can dictate, but a train ride, a bus ride and a big hoagie at Bo Diddley's was a perfect start.

I returned home on Saturday night and got back to riding in and through Minneapolis and St. Paul, stopping at the Minneapolis Farmers Market and collecting water as a volunteer with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the Minnehaha Watershed District, reading and occasionally investigating the many gastronomic treasures of the area.  I am happy to report a new bicycle has been purchased, though it took months of lay away.

I rode my Felt F75X for the first time last night and after bunny hopping a couple of curbs and scorching some dirt trails, I nailed an exposed man hole cover and double pinched.  I walked the remaining mile home, hoping it wasn't inoperable.

Here are some photos of the June 22nd weekend.

Finishing the 2013 Red Ride, Courtesy of the Saint John's University Alumni Association.

Minneapolis Farmer's Market Vegetables, Photo by Michael McKinney

Lake Sagatagan, Photo by Michael McKinney

Felt F75x, Photo by Michael McKinney

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

Afternoon Ride

After some deliberation over where or how far, I got some air into my tires and went out in search of dry pavement.  There was plenty, PLENTY of trail without snow, ice, sand, salt, grit, water and wildlife, but there were also a few patches of ice I walked over.  A number of cyclists were also out on the trails, besides myself, and today Minneapolis and Saint Paul are saturated in sunlight and warmth for the first time in months.  I estimate many bushy tailed squirrels are chasing one another throughout all of the trail systems, urban, rural, suburban...it's just the way spring is.



After completing the ride and saving it with the Strava application, I noticed a few inconsistencies with the data recorded, (a maximum speed of 65 MPH, a KOM score for going 35 MPH), which is ridiculous.  Having the capacity to record the ride in real time leaves me free to admire the things the GPS and mapping software are able to get right - the map, the time and possibly the average speed.  Anyway, first ride of the year on the skinny tires.  Same Specialized 2005 53 CM Allez Sport I've been riding since 2006.

Friday Bicycle ride, with Strava

The ninety degree temperatures finally let up a little, and the front tire on my 2005 Specialized Allez Sport held 105 PSI long enough to get out and ride.  Naturally, the tire let out a very long, tired, sigh this morning, and the work continues...

Saint Patrick's day 2012

3-4-2012, Greenway moon at Sunset, Photo by Michael McKinney

2-24-2012, Greenway pianist, Photo by Michael McKinney

3-5-212, Minneapolis skyline, photo by Michael McKinney

3-12-2012, frosty leaf on the sidewalk, photo by Michael McKinney

3-17-2012, Gateway Trail, photo by Michael McKinney

I included some photos from the past couple of weeks - today I used the Strava app with my iphone to record a ride into Stillwater via the Gateway Trail.  Also, I've been having this teeth rattling vibration shock through my bicycle when riding it over certain speeds, it was jokingly referred to as the governor today, and maybe that's not far off.  I think it has to be the hubs in my Mavic Wheelset, but to this point they've been solid wheels.  Anyway, I queried online about it last year, and here's what the Craigslist community had to offer, as far as advice.

vibration < mlmck > 06/12 13:25:08

Hi- I usually get my work done at a shop, so this one has me stumped- I've consulted a couple people and am thinking I'll just take it to a shop eventually. Here it is- my bike is vibrating. And squeaking as it vibrates. It's usually when I am not pedaling, and holding the pedals in place as I go around a curve or (rest). I think it is a pressure related vibration, but where? Pressure on the bottom bracket? Pressure on the Rear hub? And is the vibration being caused by a bearing, a broken axle? It isn't consistent, but it happens more and more frequently. Any suggestions?

Parkinson's < the_grinchy_grinch > 06/12 14:32:15

Sorry...
But if it vibrates when you are coasting you can eliminate the bottom bracket at least.

My bet is that it is the freewheel OR freehub.
If it is not in perfect alignment, it can cause pretty violent vibrations.

Stand next to the bike, and turn the cranks backwards. Note if you see the rear cogs wobble up and down/ side to side.

my 2 possible sources < Jamis-KsyriumSL > 06/12 19:38:32

Its happened to me too.. but vibration was felt at 40 MPH or higher

1) loose headset (easy to fix)

2) sand in the rear hub - disassemble, clean, and lub

blew out your rear races < big_53 > 06/12 20:05:17

hold your bike wiggle the rear wheel. does it move back a forth a little bit?

Favorite bike ride, 2011

I didn't post anything about this on or near the day that it happened, so I think, in retrospect, it would be good of me to post a short blog entry about the 2011 Red Ride. Tom Lais, a cyclist I met while riding on Lexington Avenue, who is somehow related to my friend's sister's cousin's uncle, suggested I join his century ride to Saint John's University in 2011. The previous year, the ride left at 8:00 AM from the Minneapolis Basilica, and eventually made it to Saint John's, after riding through tornadic wind conditions, hail, lightning and some pretty substantial rainfall. I, true to form, slept in that morning and missed the ride, though the storm hit the area I was residing in at the time - the downed trees, knocked out power lines and damaged houses told me I had made the right decision.
After some preliminary planning with Tom and a few of the other riders of the 2010 Red Ride in January of 2011, and occasionally seeing Tom on his bicycle throughout a very snowy and prolonged winter, I awoke on the morning of June 25th, got my lycra and cleats together and rode over to Minneapolis, catching the group as riders were leaving the Minneapolis Bascilica for the 100 mile ride to Saint John's University.
The group started as nearly twenty riders, and throughout the course of the day, varied from a dozen to again, nearly twenty riders. A section of road was under construction, a crash occurred, there was a flat tire immediately, a strong tailwind at one point had the peloton, (group) traveling at a very casual twenty seven miles an hour, somebody went the whole way without a helmet and somebody from a state school showed up and tried to make all of the small private liberal arts school alumni feel like overly educated pansies, (he had lots of tattoos and smoked and drank a Leblatt's on the saddle of his custom titanium frame cross bike), I'm pretty sure there was a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Sedan he and his friends were in the process of chasing down.
Having ridden group rides before, but not from the perspective of being an accomplished and confident rider myself, or specifically on a road bike, I felt strong all day and finished the century well. I made some new friends during the course of the day, and found out later Tom would ride a double century on his 70th birthday...maybe it was his 72nd. He also rode the Arrowhead 135, on a Salsa custom Mukluk. I think my favorite memory of the day, in all, was seeing the Saint John's campus again, and laughing at the memory of hauling my Raleigh Technium Obsession onto campus, in 1993, hanging it upside down in my dorm room and riding it less than a hundred yards a day to the science building, for a couple of weeks...with my Biology and Chemistry books in paniers.
Also notable and ultimately more significant than my personal memories of that day, are the Benedectine Values that surrounded the ride and the day itself. They are,

Awareness of God
Moderation
Hospitality
Dignity of Work
Community Living
Listening
Taking Counsel
Common Good
Truthful Living
Stewardship
Respect for Persons
Justice

Thank you again to Tom and the Saint John's Alumni Association.

Tweets

I participated in a project put forward by two Minneapolis based cyclists in 2009, called 30daysofbiking. I copied and pasted some of the tweets from my second 30daysofbiking experience, this April, 2011. I also added pictures of the bikes I have ridden for the 30daysofbiking projects I have participated in to this point, a Centurion Le Mans, a Specialized Allez Sport and a Schwinn Super Tour. I am currently tweeting another round of 30daysofbiking, as well as taking an occasional photograph, plotting the maps and distances on Mapmyride and trying to ignore how nice it would be to load a mountain bike on a car and drive to a Regional park...as I have no car and no mountain bike. So, sometime early next month I'll post the thirty tweets on another blog post....

These are from March, 2011.

milomck: getting an early start #30daysofbiking

milomck: #30daysofbiking Nice thing about riding through puddles is clean shoes.

milomck: I rode my bike in the wind and the rain and all, but Fred Armisen was all I could think about. #30daysofbiking #bikerights #portlandia

milomck: #30daysofbiking Ice, slush, heavy wet powder, car, ice chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk, slush, car, irate motorist, ice ice, slush.

milomck: #30daysofbiking Sunny day to ride.

milomck: #30daysofbiking Snow kiters on lake calhoun, visible from the greenway. photo currently unavailable, use your imagination.


The rest of these are from April, starting with April 30th and working backwards.

Dodged the rain and got a short five miles in the sun...with a stop for a late lunch. #30daysofbiking #herecomesthesun

Day 29, guesstimate 20 miles, windy. #30daysofbiking

sorta got lost on the way to the library, now waiting for summer with a muffin and some coffee. #believer #30daysofbiking

17.5 miles. Meh. #30daysofbiking

A short five miles in the rain, and the wind, and the cold. #trifecta #30daysofbiking #hatsofftoroyharper

60 miles on Sunday, 40 miles today, nearing 400 miles...Sort of wish I had a cyclometer though. #30daysofbiking

Minnesota nice, in an unironic kind of way. #30daysofbiking

...something kind of cool about living in a metropolis near a river, 4 river crossings in less than a ten mile loop. #30daysofbiking

"Hon, you're really hard to see at night! Be careful, you guys have had a tough week!" Concerned motorist on Snelling. #30daysofbiking

#30daysofbiking and the sun has returned.

Day 20. Short ride after two yesterday in the not insignificant wind. #30daysofbiking

I can't believe it's snowing in april. I can't believe I'm biking in it, again. Mostly, I can't believe it's not #butter #30daysofbiking

#30daysofbiking Short ride over the river to the Hennepin Central Library.

The reeds give way to the wind and give the wind away. -Ammons #30daysofbiking... http://soc.li/edn4Qzh

stayed in all day and read about meteorites and glaciers and NASA in a vain attempt to figure out snow in April. #fiction #30daysofbiking

Windy, cold fifty miles on the gateway trail. #30daysofbiking

a few more miles, a couple avoided potholes, a cup of coffee and a sandwich. Not so bad, after all. #30daysofbiking #centurion

Riding the Steel Frame Centurion today, with knobby tires and retro-fitted parts. Always a good day to ride. #30daysofbiking

Windy enough for tacking upwind. #30daysofbiking #REI #Caribou #vivacapitalista

Squirrel! #30daysofbiking. A ride mapped on 04/11/2011 in St Paul, MN | Bike Map | MapMyRIDE: http://soc.li/cgTIcRN

Missed a couple days at the start, opened a new twitter and rode again today. #30daysofbiking

"that sat down like a butterfly with sore feet". #themasters rode today too #30daysofbiking

Sunny with the moon visible. Gotta be spring. #letsgoflyakite #30daysofbiking #intothewind

Another beautiful day in Saint Paul. #30daysofbiking

#30daysofbiking All of a sudden, Spring Fever has a lot more to do with gear ratios, clipless pedals, tubeless tires and monocoque frames.

...to lunch. #30daysofbiking

...to the library. #30daysofbiking