1989Pre 

RCMouer, thanks so much for sharing this event with us. You made it sound easy, but I'm sure it wasn't.
I have a couple of questions; How did you re-hydrate? and How did you keep your lamps charged?

RCMoeur 

Hydration was simple - I carried three bottles, typically 2 with water and one with electrolyte drink (Gatorade in this case, provided by the event). I'd typically do two laps at a time, only stopping at the end of each even-numbered lap to refill bottles and get a snack (PBJ sandwiches, fruit, or cookies provided by the event). I'd typically go through about one full 24 oz bottle of water per lap plus part of the electrolyte drink bottle - this included water I'd spray on my body for cooling (don't get the bottles mixed up!) I just kept constantly drinking, and it was fine. My friend who rode with me had a 100 oz hydration pack which he refilled twice, and drank electrolyte drink during the breaks. We also took potassium and magnesium pills before the ride, at the midpoint, and afterward. We celebrated our success with a big breakfast with lots of beverages on the way home.

My lighting systems are cheap homemade - I take $6 Costco 300 lumen flashlights, put a cork with screws attached to wires in it to replace the 3 x AAA holder, connect the light to a 4-AA NiMH pack, and attach them with brackets (typically made with conduit clamps) to the bike. Not pretty, but entirely functional and theft-resistant, and much more vibration-resistant. The Professional doesn't have good light-mounting locations, so I attached the light and pack to a piece of 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum strap notched to fit around the QR skewer on the left side (visible in the first photo). This stayed in place just great, and if it loosened (which it didn't) it would have swung outside the spokes so as not to fall into the wheel and cause a nasty crash. My experience with these modified lights is I can ride all night (7:30 PM to 5:30 AM) on just one set of good lightweight AA NiMH cells. But the ride organizers did put out charging stations at the start/finish/rest stop for those using USB lights.

DQRider 

I've ridden past this place for years, yet never went inside. The main reason for that being there is no bike parking. But on Saturday I had an idea: maybe if I go early enough, they will let me bring my bike inside. So at 11:00 AM I rode my Pashley path racer down the hill and across the Wabasha bridge into downtown Saint Paul.



Saint Paul hasn't been as proactive putting in bike lanes as its twin city across the river. Over here we tend to hold onto the old ways longer, and only come up-to-date when forced to by overwhelming demand. So I ride on the sidewalks whenever I go downtown, and nobody bats an eye.

And here we are at our destination, the legendary Gopher Bar on West Seventh Street:



Only two of the barstools were occupied when I went inside and asked them whether I could bring my bike in with me. There was plenty of room, and even the surly bartender couldn't think of a reason to refuse me. "Just don't tell anybody, we don't need a buncha damn bikers comin' in and cluttering up the place." But of course, being Minnesota Nice, he said that with a smile. So I brought Pepper in and leaned her against a wall in the back.

All of the walls in the place are festooned with local sports memorabilia, and this section here is dedicated to a local group known as The Vulcans. These folks are a legendary not-so-secret society who have really cleaned up their act since the turn of the century. Whenever they show up at the Winter Carnival or other charity event, however, you can hear whispered stories of hedonism and mayhem from the not-so-distant past.



Well, I went there for a specific reason, so I ordered a coney dog with the works. And here it is:



The first thing I noticed was that this wasn't a regular hotdog bun. They toast and shape a thick slice of Texas toast to hold all the meaty/cheesy goodness inside. Onions and a couple of condiment racing stripes complete the ensemble known as the Gopher Bar Coney Island. I'm not going to rave about the flavors - it tastes exactly how it looks. If you like that sort of thing, you should probably come on up here and try one. For me, it was just OK. I was expecting the coney sauce to be spicier, but then I remembered what state I was in, and it all made perfect sense.
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thinktubes 

Got out early Sunday for a quick 35- miler. Beautiful weather for late July!

Not sure what happened here, but there were squashed donuts all over the road.



Went down to the Highland Park boat launch. Road down is very steep.



Lots of folks prepping to sail. They finally got rid of the rotting barge.



The anchor had me thinking about the chief - miss his posts.



As is the style, I got stopped by the Linden train coming home.

curbtender

Roof top delivery?

non-fixie 

There was a fair bit of wind, so our ride was limited to a quick spin around the proverbial block today with mrs non-fixie, to see if the drop bars I've mounted on her De Vos would be to her liking. They would.

RCMoeur 

I may still be recovering from Friday night, but I needed to lead my weekly group, so up early, chug medications, roll out the commutocruiser, and start pedaling.

Hiney hits the saddle, and files a complaint. "Hey!" We still have several tender spots!"
"Shut up - it's one of our cushiest saddles. Stop complaining and start supporting."

A few miles in, and the legs are lethargic but functional, churning out the miles. Speaking of that butthead butt, it now stated it was reasonably comfortable, thank you for the saddle, and how come we didn't use this one on Friday? I said I'd take it under advisement, but a double-sprung seat on a full-on racing bike would be incongruous.

Riding along a residential street, I see a big dog in the middle of the street staring me down like a scene from a pasta-product western, only without a Morricone score or a good film editor. I ride toward him, and he stands his ground - and then decides to do the "c'mon! catch me! let's play!" run-stop-bow-run routine. Much better than a full-on attack, but my thighs coudn't really sprint the way the pup wanted. He looked a bit disappointed as I rode by.

Get to the park and it's sprinkling. For us in the desert, that is a sign of celebration, and a good omen. Get the group wrangled, set off on the canal path, and...

Aha. Maybe it's not just my legs. Flat rear tire. Dang rim strip. Swap tube as the other group members either helped or heckled (or both). Quietly appreciative of the Road Morph's performance in reinflating.

Due to the delay, the heat, and the post-rain oppressive mugginess, the group declares a mutiny, and states that we are to proceed to the restaurant by a very direct route. And make it downhill with a tailwind while we're at it. I remind them that you can't have a mutiny if the leader actually agrees with the plan, although I couldn't deliver a downhill or tailwind route.

Proceed direct to breakfast. Slow service, but no one cared - we were bathed in indoor AC and enjoying each other's company. Good food.

Pay & leave - all bikes still there. That's a good sign. I state I'm just too tired to go all the way back to the park, and my right-hand deputy leader says he'll take the gang, while one other said he'd ride with me. Two smaller split groups, but everyone's happy.

Ride home. Uphill. Headwind. Hot. Muggy. But fed. Other guy peels off and I pedal solo over that wonderful 17% grade near the house, grateful I didn't cramp.

Less than 20 miles, but it felt like 40+. I think I'll patch the tube and replace the rim strip later, take a few days off the bike, and maybe have a fun ride Wednesday. Maybe in a place where it's not so hot or muggy. And on a very cushy saddle.

cooperryder

I'm so slow I think tortoise won by a nose.

​​​​​​Nice ride this morning on my 1982 Trek 614
before heat got brutal.

cooperryder

Generous of you to get the bike going and donate it.
Way to go!

botty kayer

Chapeau to all you lot riding in crazy hot temps, it boggles my mind that it can be 93f at 6am as shown in RCMoeur 's pic. I'm wilting and reaching for a cold beer just reading the reports.

We've just had a few hours in rain here in London that stopped the cricket, but luckily I managed to get a dry ride in earlier. I started out along the Gabriel's Wharf on the South Bank, this is as close to 'playing on the beach' as we get here in central London.

I then head along Piccadilly....

And a bit further along towards St James' Park I encounter a Hari Krishna parade which brings a bit more color than usual to the streets. Google tells me later it was the London Rathayatra, which means 'chariot festival' and has been performed in India for centuries. 3 huge chariots carrying the deity forms Jaganmatha, Baladeva and Subhadra are pulled through the streets by hand amid loud musical performances.

I then spot a drop dead gorgeous C&V car, a 4 seater 1974 Maserati Indy, this version with the 4.9 litre is one of only 300 made according to wiki, so its super rare too, and looks in fantastic condition considering its nearly 50 years old. I love a bit of old Italian style and this has it in spades.


Then out east, a smiling new artwork is spotted....

And not far away in Shoreditch I find another....

A bit of urban decay in glorious technicolor.

Then back along with river for a final pic at the London eye,a small wheel and a big wheel.

This made me wonder what type of bearings they use in the big wheel, and thanks to the interwebs you can easily find out...

The wheel has a circumference of 424 metres and carries 32 capsules carrying up to 25 people each. The wheel revolves at a speed of 0.26 metres per second so a full revolution, or 'ride' takes about 30 mins.

"Firmly located on the shaft, the locating bearing has an outside diameter of 2.66m and weighs 6.3 tonnes. The non-locating bearing, which has an outside diameter of 2.62m and weighs 5.2 tonnes. These two spherical roller bearings have a rated life of more than 50 years", from https://www.engineerlive.com/content...rning-10-years

Impressive, I'm just trying to imagine how crazy expensive those bearings would be if Campagnolo made them

botty kayer

Incidentally those are C&V Campagnolo wheels on that 1974 Maserati

jamesdak 

Had a lot of work to do this morning in the yard before the temps got unbearable. So I just took out the one Lemond for a early cruise around Eden,


Always a joy to be out on this and the Delta brakes haven't killed me yet, LOL!

Another canal up here

I don't usually ride this route out of Eden.

I don't usually ride this route out of Eden.

I don't usually ride this route out of Eden.

I don't usually ride this route out of Eden.

RCMoeur 

It's because we ride and drive on the other side of the street. Affects air temps and all that.

It's currently the deepest depths of our 'off season'. It's also why I can post of 70 degree (Fahrenhooten) rides in December-February, as I have in the past.

I've been married to a fugitive Yooper (a product of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) for over almost 25 years. She notes that although the weather is equally murderous up there for the unprepared (and for more months of the year), death by extreme heat is much cleaner in that you don't slip on it, shovel it, or scrape it.

Great ride reports. Thanks.

Spaghetti Legs 

I’ll bet that Maserati, assuming front engine and any rear seats fold down, you could even squeeze a bike (something Italian like that Tommasini) in the back.

fabiofarelli

Yesterday, ride with my son on the Sirocco.

zookster 

Took my recently acquired 1963 Raleigh Roadster for a shakedown ride this morning at Chief Wm "Billy" Hewitt Park in Tarrant, AL. Thought about going downtown and riding the Rotary/Jones Valley Trail system, but did not want to mix it up with road traffic since it was my first time out on a bicycle with rod actuated brakes. More important was "did I get them setup correctly?" when I re-assembled the bike.

Very smooth ride from the 28in tires and sprung saddle. Brakes worked well enough thankfully. It's a keeper!

jimmuller 

After a hot and humid July with bad air quality we finally managed to take the tandem out for a nice 25 mile ride on Sunday. Low temperatures, low humidity, good air! About a million bikes out. No, make that a billion bikes.

Just one pic, this selfie of us having lunch, which doesn't include the bike, let alone a drive-side.
Cheers!

djkashuba 

Some really good miles up and over Kashia land. Perfect weather with good friends.


King Ridge RD. by djk762, on Flickr


Stewart's Point by djk762, on Flickr


Hwy 1 by djk762, on Flickr


West by djk762, on Flickr


Motobecane by djk762, on Flickr

bironi

I'd follow your wheel into that bar, but it's much more likely that you might have followed me in a few years ago.
By

bironi

Today I rode to my closest auto parts store to buy fluids for a 2003 Park Avenue that will be used next week for a trip to the Olympic Peninsula.
It took two trips totaling 20 ish mile.
I bought a couple quarts of oil, and three quarts of transmission fluid.
Nice ride both times, but I'd rather be working on my bikes or better yet riding them
Today was special in that at day's end I have 4 out of 4 clean bikes to choose from tomorrow.
By

1989Pre 

Which bike did you use?

bironi

My blue De Rosa.

1989Pre 

Very nice. I have those compact gum Cane Creek levers on my Technium. Hang on to them. They only made them for a year or two. They are now unobtanium.

zukahn1 

Looked like it might rain today but it didn't so only a short ride on the local bike trail with Specialized dumpster save cheap bike but it's light and fast and rides really smooth.

curbtender

Who is the memorial for?