cycling-obsession

Austyns Story

2012-01-26T19:42:00.000-08:00

Stuff Austyn did at school, glad to see that the tandem ride and Ragbrai had so much affect on her :)

Metric #2 Some more TI8 training

2012-01-26T03:57:00.000-08:00

So Got a 75 miler in yesterday, No wind, No snow, and 40 degrees by the end of the day. Great January weather! I'm feeling a lot stronger after a couple weeks of training and I'm finally getting on my trainer :( but I get a really good workout on it so I guess it's worth it.

Earlham, IA

Snow bike FAIL

2012-01-23T13:46:00.001-08:00

New Wheel

2012-01-22T06:28:00.001-08:00

First snow ride :)

2012-01-17T21:20:00.001-08:00

7 miles good times

posted from Bloggeroid

Pictures from this year

2012-01-16T14:32:00.000-08:00

Nick "riding" the mud

Very fitting of cup-o-dirt

Always stop for the sunset

Dog Team

Eleanor

They are serious about no

Snowmobiles

Dirty Kanza 2012 !

2012-01-14T06:23:00.001-08:00

I'm IN.

So breaking things....

2012-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

The bearings don't turn anymore :(

4 Patches is time for a new tube!

So the touring bike and the Pugsley are working now everything else has issues! Hoping to see my mountain bike back next week with a working shock! I really complain about how heavy it is but It's like ice cream comfort choice for everything. I have to purchase intertubes!!! haven't done that in years

At Last : Year In Review 2011

2012-01-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

So I unloaded my cell phone and found sooooo many pictures of this year! I noticed the sunsets, no matter where you are you can always appreciate the sunset! Ride on!

Here Are The rest of the Pictures From other Cameras

Cup o Dirt

2012-01-08T15:48:00.001-08:00

Nick road from Ames to deliver it.

Rest of the pics of our ride of Ert and gravel tomorrow

posted from Bloggeroid

First Orders are in for TI8 and DK200

2012-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

So it feels good to save up for something and then have no guilt for ordering $700 wheels for your cross bike! So I ordered the hubs from online sites and I'll order my rims from Rassy's So in a couple weeks I'll have my cross bike working again. I guess the problems was a bushing in the mavics See Picture

Cheap Plastic Parts!

Love the 60 degree January

2012-01-06T06:05:00.003-08:00

32 Miles on the Booneville Loop last night. The Pugsley really hurt the legs OUCH.

Good dirt

2012-01-05T07:38:00.001-08:00

Put in 42 yesterday, broke the shock and messed up the rear derailer. A stick I think got it.

posted from Bloggeroid

Hangover Metric Video

2012-01-04T07:22:00.001-08:00

Ice Time

2012-01-03T05:02:00.000-08:00

Not really Epic yet but, a good 15 miles after work in the 17 degrees. I haven't got my year in review ready yet I'm still going through thousands of pictures, and thats just from my phone! I hope to have that up this week and get my site updated for the new year. Look for daily posts again even if it's just training logs. 17 weeks to go to Trans-iowa and training is ON. 86 miles so far this week 150 is the goal. I plan to drop my milage to 100 after the snows hit but till then 150 is a good number. Long ride tomorrow.

Hangover Metric

2012-01-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

70 Miles, Lots of Wind, 2400 feet of climbing, 4 Friends, and Good times

Out of the Dark and into TI8

2011-12-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

With the end of Christmas and now for resolution ....blah season I do have to train for Trans Iowa. If I really hope to finish a 330 mile gravel race It starts on the 30th. Ya not the first. It appears that I'll be getting a 3 day weekend so One last ride for December. I haven't been out for a fun/ training ride since the 10th OUCH. I've been working 50-60 hours a week and overnight and so on. But the company is now in cheap mode so back to 40 hour work weeks. This week will be a 100 miles week after this there will be a plan:

Weekly Mileage goal - NO Excuses (not including commuting)
Weekly Long ride - Even if it's in the dark (or walking through snow)
Diet! - Not cutting calories or anything but eating the right ones
Beer - Ya not going to quite drinking (never works) but a 2-3 Drink per night limit (part of diet)
Trainer - 2 times per week (min/MAX)
Lots of repeating - "must finish crazy gravel race"
Lose Weight - not as big a deal as training but should happen anyway

Calendar

17 Weeks to Go

1 - 150 Miles
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Need a return label

2011-12-21T07:50:00.001-08:00

I ordered 6" of snow I would like to return this dusting

posted from Bloggeroid

The Last Cup

2011-12-11T06:16:00.000-08:00

I hit a couple of these hidden puddles on ERT and plunged in. I didn't fall down though

Mud road out of Carlisle trying to ride a thin line of snow to stay out of the mud

This was my last Cup-o-dirt ride, Made it to Indianola, Martensdale (twice) and Finished at the Tap just like the first metric in January. Good times :)

14 degrees

2011-12-07T07:50:00.001-08:00

posted from Bloggeroid

2011-12-04T06:35:00.000-08:00

Obligatory Pork reference. This was the best.

My Postcard was the Pork reference, but I'm in. 330 miles of Iowa Gravel!

Sycamore 8 Trail Run

2011-12-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

It was 39 and raining, and muddy but course support was fun! The only time you can ride fat bikes on the trail in mud and not feel guilty about tearing it up a little. However until the runners went though we didn't leave tracks in the wet mud. After 80+ people ran though it was a greasy mess though.

Pugsley is winterized

2011-12-02T10:47:00.001-08:00

Meaning tubes full of slime and flat pedals installed

And it is heavy!

posted from Bloggeroid

Sliming the Pugsley

2011-12-01T07:20:00.001-08:00

Trans Iowa 8

2011-11-27T10:09:00.001-08:00

I'm sending my card to Craig who is so awesome to hand it in for me.

posted from Bloggeroid

Survivor Cross Pictures

2011-11-20T05:03:00.001-08:00

Not much

2011-11-17T06:47:00.001-08:00

I havent been riding for 2 weeks! (except to work) In retail you get way busy in november and with my home repairs I haven't been out since my metric 2 weeks ago. However no fear! Survivor cross on saturday then a long week (80+ hours) at work and it should calm down. Hopefully it will snow after that and I can get my pugsley on. Anna will be at survivor with the camera so be ready for pics. Next Post on Monday. Oh ya and Urban Epic.....Soon

Happy B-day to me

2011-11-11T06:47:00.001-08:00

Survivor Cross November 19 2011. Im in!

1X9

2011-11-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

I Hilton'd the big ring on my mountain bike so it went 1x9

It took a 1.25 lbs off the bikes total weight too

Gravel Metric November

2011-11-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well I started the day with the plan to ride to Earlham then Winterset then Indianola and back through Carlisle for about 100 miles. Then...

I found this B Road that looked like a great idea. I mean why not right.

Sweet!

Flat Tire #1

I leaned really quickly that the tire come off easy if you totally deflate them and use both knees and hands to press them off

thorn from a locust tree (next to the nob in the middle of the picture)
funny this was 5 miles down the road from the b road

Got to Winterset after 2 hours of tire failures and decided that the 100 wasn't going to happen anyway. I got 2 mikes lemonades and a sandwich at Caseys. Then stopped at the park next to cedar bridge for Dinner.

Still smiling

The Back tire decided if was feeling left out so right at sunset....The hole was so small I had pump the tube up to 6" round before I could find it. 25 miles from the b road. The tires are so thick that even heavy thorns take a long time to press though.

Still a GREAT day

This almost doubles the amount of flats I've had this year, but a all day ride even with a lot of tire changes is better than a good day working! I also found a new road connecting the sw connector and 63rd street. totally flat with 12' bike trail on it! Winter just got easier.

I'm definitely going to put slime in my tubes after yesterday the front tube has 6 patches on it and I think smile would have sealed all those flats for me.

Ready For Winter

2011-11-02T04:43:00.000-07:00

Had to remove the rear skewer with a hammer (rust) but all good now

Thanks Craig for the fenders they fit perfect!

I was able to leave 3/4 of an inch of snow clearance!

So True

2011-11-01T05:18:00.001-07:00

End of Cyclocross :(

2011-10-25T05:10:00.000-07:00

With working this weekend this may be my last cross event this year. I'm still on for survivor cross on my birthday though. I'm taking The Knife (single speed) to work today then riding directly to cross.

Getting to be that time of year...Again!

2011-10-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

I'll be another year old next month so what better way to celebrate than getting me some of the following:

Stans take on cyclocross (more for gravel though)

ZTR Alpha tubeless cross rims

Chris King Rear hub

The new SON28 hub

I like Beer!

and by the way this is so my plan for ti8 and Dirty Kanza next year $900 wheelset for the cross bike. This appears to be the best stuff on the market for wheel/tires in 35c tubeless and if I'm going all out might as well get the chris king and son for a little bling. So now to save up some OT and bonuses for next spring.

Moonshine Metric

2011-10-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well, after a 170 mile ride to Mt Vernon I embarked on the moonshine metric at 7pm saturday night. This wasn't even my first metric that day so no big deal right? Or I kept up barely with the group and got dropped like a rock at the end of the ride. There were 8 of us until the "bar" at 25 miles 3 riders took off. The remaining 5 carried on into the cool night air. The temp dropped off and we pushed it to make Caseys before it closed at 11pm. We got there at 10:40 with time to spare had some grub and hit the road again. It was even colder (40 or so?) I was in shorts and a jacket (under dressed as per usual). The last 20 miles was a little hilly and a lot of fun. The B road in that county were awesome.

Starting picture
stolen from Craig

I would like to thank Craig again for putting on a sweet ride and for a bed to sleep in for the night, and of course food and beer.

My Ride to Mt Vernon

2011-10-18T04:43:00.000-07:00

End of the Gay Lea Wilson trail in Altoona

Had about 15 Miles of Pavement between trails

It Said Trail Closed .....

...here's why.
We dont need bridges except for 100lbs loaded touring bikes

chichaqua valley trail

It was nice of them to put the shelter right were I was going to flat

Some good eats. Got here 15 minutes before it closed at 3pm

Still managed a gravel metric in my 110 miles friday

Some sweet b-roads out east

Last hour in the dark

Friday my camera stopped working and my phone became drunk with too much beer so that is all the pictures. I stopped in Belle Plaine Iowa for a pizza and some beer at The Office. The guys there were nice enough to clue me in on a local camp site in the park. They also were nice enough to buy me many shots and beers, my phone is still hung over.

Saturday was uneventful, however did you know that pay phones are all gone now? Good luck making a call without your cell phone. I got in my first metric in the morning about 30 miles of gravel and 30 miles of road. A lot of b roads that were in nicer shape than the gravel. I got to Craig's house for a little nap and food before the Moonshine metric at 7. But that's another post.

235 miles in 40 hours

2011-10-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Much more to say later, but good times. My legs are not happy with me. Thanks to Craig for the good ride, food and place to sleep.

Time for a long tour

2011-10-14T08:11:00.001-07:00

Well....3 days at least

posted from Bloggeroid

GMC Sucks!

2011-10-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

It's nice that we spend tax money for this shitty company! Don't buy american cars. Oh wait they are made in 3rd world countries anyway.

First Hilton Camping Trip :)

2011-10-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

Wow

and it was fuller of the way home

Kids had a tent party

Had a trail full of kids

She always complains about going riding but smiles the whole time

Aquabi is a super fun tandem course, we cleaned this hill 2
of the 4 times we tried

Mullet Classic 2011 Pictures

2011-10-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

OUCH!

2nd place!

Mullet here we come

2011-10-08T10:43:00.001-07:00

Holy fit it fits

posted from Bloggeroid

vacation start

2011-10-07T16:20:00.001-07:00

posted from Bloggeroid

Altoona cross

2011-10-03T04:40:00.000-07:00

13 out of 28

Even the dogs drink at the races

Ready For the Mullet

2011-09-29T17:53:00.000-07:00

Registered Me and Austyn for Tandem Marathon Class 3hrs+

Emmie's first trailer ride

2011-09-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

Capitol City Cross Pictures

2011-09-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for Mullet

2011-09-25T19:14:00.001-07:00

Cool shadow

Took a tandem lap of denmans, down to 4 dismount places. I think little italy is do able on the tandem but its going to take more practice.

The tandem mount works! I can now get the tandem to further away places

posted from Bloggeroid

The end is near

2011-09-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

After several weeks of preparing for an appraisal on the house I'm not even close to ready. However I'm a perfectionist so I'm never ready for anything. I'm now getting ready to go to work even though I'm sick, I am looking really hard at my pugsley (still in living room) and thinking Pugsley therapy? maybe after work. Probably not. Maybe tomorrow.

So back to the end. If this loan comes through I will be credit card free and will have a lot more money every month. ~~New Bike~~ No, no. More races next year? Yes! After cross season my bike time starts. Winter training, breaking in the Pugsley. Triple D, Cirrem, and many more. Good days ahead.

Cory's Irish Cross (results)

2011-09-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

10th place !

Men''s Cat 4

Name Place Bib No.
Ryan Pesch 1 18
Eric Waldin 2 21
Ryan VanHoweiling 3 46
Andy Bach 4 54
Craig Johnson 5 36
Michael Dixon 6 49
John Wemmie 7 45
Shawn Baker 8 40
Paul Jensen 9 29
Courtney Hilton 10 34
Kevin Martens 11 22
Berry Schmitt 12 24
Dusty Bertalot -1 13 15
Tim Heink -1 14 48
Daniel Davis -1 15 28
John Weiler -1 16 95
Kurt Benson -1 17 38
Justin Guiter -1 18 44
Trevor Heitheff -1 19 32
Carl Goldsberry -1 20 26
Frank DiTomaso -1 21 55
Dan Bach -1 22 43
Maury Malone -2 23 33
Eric Johnson -2 24 37
Mark West -2 25 16
Jeff Ellis -2 26 42

The other Catagories

Hot Dogs anyone?

2011-09-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Perfect Morning

So after killing myself with 50 minutes of Pugsley Cyclocross.

Capital Pub and Hot Dog co.

This hot dog bar is really cool I had a Heart attack hot dog (bacon and cream cheese) and it was really good.

I got to talk to the guy making the bike rack and he's going to make
spots for fat bike in it

Bridge Beer :)

The Elusive Pugsley Century

2011-09-20T04:18:00.000-07:00

It's getting put off till after the mullet classic. I think the friday before the night cap cross race will be perfect ending my vacation with a bang. Anyone game for a hundred miles of fall gravel at snails pace? Or I'm thinking that morning and end at night cap. Not sure but there will be a fb event later in theory.

Rain Ride, Rassy Picnic, and a big flat tire

2011-09-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

Started in the rain.

Beautiful view from the Dam at Saylorville

Rassy Mtb Picnic

Construction short cut Fail

it really takes alot to get these off and on the rim!

Cory's Irish Cross Pictures

2011-09-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

Started the race feeling good and I really killed it though out the whole race. I followed the lead pack for half the first lap then I spent the rest of the race picking off people one at a time. I chased a DMOS rider for 4 laps until I got the the pavement starting the last lap and realized I could catch him. entered the gravel a 30mph and overtook him at the grass section I let him pull me though the windy section and rested up came around at the last turn in the grass and left him behind. It was great to be able to use stratagy to pick up a better placing. I still went zone 5 for the last lap though. I was told I got 10th

It begins :)

2011-09-17T19:57:00.001-07:00

Cross 2011....

posted from Bloggeroid

coming home after cross FAIL.

2011-09-13T21:01:00.001-07:00

opps.

Best Morning ever

2011-09-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

The only good part of the night shift is watching the sunrise and drinking a beer at 6 am! I wish I could have used the Awesome Button on my camera phone this morning because it doesn't do this justice, but here are a couple pictures. I rode down dirty connector in the twilight and set on the train bridge and watched the sunrise. Best day ever....

Breakfast of Champions!

Much need bike work day

2011-09-08T16:18:00.000-07:00

First maintenance for the BatMobile (not bad at over 700 miles)
washed and lubed

Need More Space!
and the shed is full too.

serviced almost all my geared bike today should be good for the year now.

Strider bikes are sweet!

2011-09-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

My youngest wore out one of these.

The first cross event for 2011

2011-09-06T19:22:00.001-07:00

Good turnout tonight. I got 15 laps in 1 hour and am really feeling it now.

posted from Bloggeroid

Metric #12

2011-09-05T04:58:00.000-07:00

So on the first day of a juice fast it's always a good thing to go do an endurance ride right?

I guess they got tiered of the real signs being used for firewood

It's not closed...

First flat that didn't happen at home this year.

Wait this isn't Caseys pizza and a Tall Boy?

I took 2 24oz containers of apple juice with me and had a green 16oz juice from caseys. Didn't bonk until the end but I felt tired the whole day.

Juice Diet

2011-09-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Day 1

Breakfast for 2

Rain Ride!

2011-09-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

not the all day gravel/dirt ride I was looking for but a lot of fun anyway. Loop around easter lake then mud play on ERT. I got it almost up to the HUBS in a mud puddle and I would have made it though and out if I could have got any traction on the muddy hill after the rut.

Roof Rack

2011-09-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

All Set for 4 bikes (2 kid one Adult and a Tandem) on the top of the Fit.

Monkey Mechanic

Steak night ride

2011-09-01T09:45:00.001-07:00

Made it to Steak night finally

Ride with the Kids

2011-08-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

A Good One :)

2011-08-29T20:47:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while you get the feeling that everything will be better from here. This is one of those moments :)

27" and Perfect commuters

2011-08-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Mechanics at Bike World Urbandale for a proper working Commuter again. For several month my 27" retro bike has made clunking noises and the freewheel (ya I know old right) slipped a little. The last couple weeks it has slipped alot and shifted bad. So a new freewheel was in order and come to find out the bearings were shot on the back wheel.

Shimano 12-28 (old fashion)

So after several years of commuting this bike is the best one I've had. The 27" x 1 1/4" tires (Gum-wall) work great in everything (except ice) and I've gotten away with as little as 25psi (lazyness anyone). The total cost for fixing the bike this time was $30 I have about 6k on this bike since I got it from Nick for $20. So if you looking for good commuters dont spend big money... go get a junker and put some new parts on it.

And Stickers....and Spoke cards

Cool Stuff From Surly (Again)

2011-08-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

Surly Blog

BIG FAT LARRY

26x4.7 on a 100mm rim. 120 tpi. Really really big.

Yes, it will fit into a Pugsley frameset on a Large Marge rim. HOWEVER, You will no longer be able to use your small ring or largest three or four cogs in the rear due to tire/chain disagreements.

Color: Tire colored

MSRP: $140

Due Date: Aug 2011 - like very soon

A couple things I noticed, Tire Colored... only surly. And most important Will fit on pugsley! I will be getting one for the front wheel of my Pugsley eventually (next year) and I should be able to set it up to work with the single speed option. I think the extra large front tire will make very little difference but only time will tell.

LifeCycles

2011-08-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

Got to watch this movie last night on Vudu. Way cool video, not what I expected though. I really thought it would be a documentary on mountain biking, however it was more of a inspirational film with mountain biking as the theme. A lot of very cool shots and tricks some cool trails also. Rent it don't buy it you'll only need to watch it once I would think.

Gravel Metric #11 (not the century I tried for)

2011-08-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

I took off early this morning on my day off (I got Inventory day off!) with the goal of my 8th gravel Century for the year. I could feel early on that wasn't going to happen. I wanted to go to Pella today but I ended up at Lake Aquabi instead. Good day on the bike even though it was a 9 hour metric (lots of stops). Did I mention I saw the Google Street view car! It followed me for a mile or so (hoping to be in some pictures) and then took off.

Breakfast of

Champions

B- Road out of Martensdale.

Sweet!

One Lap of Aquabi was enough after the 40 mile ride there

Not sure what this is but I rode around it

Mmmm Green stuff

Google CAR...with top mounted camera

ERT

Got Nothing..

2011-08-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

2 days till the long work days end. Long ride friday. More then

State Fair 2011

2011-08-22T04:29:00.000-07:00

9:30 am Breakfast of Champions..

Abbie got 4th Place for "C" level

Kid Storage?

This is what a $7 beer looks like...OUCH

The Craft Beer Tent was the best part of the fair...and the 10" Gyros.

Quarter Rage Results

2011-08-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

Sweet 14 of 26 not bad for the Pugs..... HERE

8/17/2011 QR Results
1. Squirrel- 19:29
2. Kyle Sedor- 19:47
3. Matt McCutchen- 19:56
4. Tom Anderson- 20:17
5. TJ Fort- 20:32
6. Jubil Young- 20:41
7. Taylor Webb- 20:53
8. Nathen- 20:59
9. Kurt Benson- 21:02
10. Andy Bach- 21:04
11. Eric Conlan- 21:30
12. Nick Larson- 21:51
13. Tobin- 21:53
14. Courtney Hilton- MUKLUK - 22:30
15. Eric Holm- 22:49
16. Troy Pierce- 22:58
17. Al Boone- 23:18
18. Kim Hopkins- 23:27
19. Justin Bruce- 23:33
20. Phil- 23:37
21. Pat Conlan- 24:07
22. Chris- 24:08
23. Sammy Lopez- 24:40
24. Brian Sheesely- 24:46
25. Sam- 25:03
26. Neal G.- 26:41, flatted

Maybe next time I'll try the tandem :)

Wal-fixie

2011-08-19T10:24:00.001-07:00

Seriously. $99.97

Quarter Rage

2011-08-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

Had a good crowd for Quarter Rage. I think like 25 people did the race. I finished at 22:30 on the pugsley I think I beat a couple people. I started out #10 one minute behind Tobin (who I was suppose to catch) and a minute ahead of someone who caught me close to the end. I did still have a little energy left on the pavement and turned it up to 22 mph for a strong finish. I didn't throw up (someone else did for me) but I was really close. Good times, next quarter rage I'm leaving the Batmobile at home and taking a mountain bike.

Holy Fat tires, Batman!

2011-08-17T04:51:00.000-07:00

So the Bike becomes so much cooler when it gets a name. I kind of got the idea from a co-worker yesterday who said "courtney has this bike it's like the bat-mobile of bicycles" So tonight I will be loosing Quarter Rage on the Bat-Mobile.

No This One:

Now known as the Bat-Mobile

It Really needs the Guns on the front though.

Mountain Bike Chronicles

2011-08-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

Watch it HERE on Youtube

A cool look at freestyle mountain biking. A little hardcore but a lot of fun to watch and its free and High-def. So Win Win.

Riding With the Kids

2011-08-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

Denmans Ride 8/14

Kids Race at the East Village Crit

The Ride Home (or to Mullets)

East Village Crit Pictures

2011-08-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Cool new bike shop

2011-08-13T17:13:00.001-07:00

Stopped to check out the newest des moines bike shop on my way to the East Village crit today. Nice shop go check it out.

posted from Bloggeroid

Gravel Metric #10 and the Pugsley Factor

2011-08-12T06:25:00.000-07:00

ERT In the Morning

This Backwoods county road is next to Easter Lake.
Seriously there were like 5 No trespassing signs next
to the run down house with the broken cars in the driveway

This isn't as far from Ert as you would think (4 miles)

The first road I tried going East out of Carlisle was fenced (bike closed)
this was the only other road

The Ruts in the Road (were the map showed water) were over a foot deep.
The Pugsley made it through. You can see my rut in the middle of the picture
This road would be under water most the time from the look of the ground and
the permanent closed signs at both ends

Worst B road ever

Second Lunch (Lunch of champions)

Gardens in Indianola

Beautiful Day

The Pugsley is a lot of extra weight (rolling and dead) to carry around on distances. I believe that 70 miles is about the limit at the moment. I feel like I did a 130 on a cross bike. I didn't bonk but my legs began to hurt around 50 and I got much lazier. I also noticed that every climb dipped into the single digit speeds (all day). I was averaging 10.1 mph for speed overall. The Bike wants to go slow, it begs you to slow down and look at the scenery then it makes you. It also begs to go over the rough stuff, I found myself riding the rocks next to the tracks in Carlisle just because. The roads with fresh gravel you actually ride in it all lines are good lines. This is what I'm calling the Pugsley Factor

Pugsley Put Put ride

2011-08-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

well 50 mile put put...

baby goats, mini horses and lamas on this farm

bushwacking fail. only a couple hundred yards out of van meter next to the river.

first all grain beer .... like Stella seriously!

monkeys new bike

Cell phone...

2011-08-11T07:33:00.001-07:00

Can't figure out why my last 2 days posts didn't hit? From the cell phone... Look for a couple days worth of stuff tomorrow morning instead. Thanks for reading and
<------Subscribing (Follow)

Pugsley Single Speed/Bailout conversion

2011-08-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to setting up the quick single speed conversion for the pugsley. This involves an extra quick link in the correct place so if you break you dereailer you can switch wheels and take out a piece of chain without tools and be on your way. My gear ratio that lines up is 32 on the crankset and my freewheel is a 19 tooth. I will at some point get an other deore hub so that I can line up the cog with the 22 ring and have alot more options for single speed. That and I also hate freewheels (they are junk) unless you spend $100 or more on them and at that you might as well get a nice rear freehub and single speed cogs.

Jerky to be

2011-08-07T22:14:00.001-07:00

Mmmmm unprocessed beef jerky, this is my first non-kit jerky

Another Pugsley Ride

2011-08-07T05:11:00.000-07:00

Love the ATV trails

Sand is no problem

If I could remember water proof stuff I would have tried to ride
that

From the train bridge over the Des Moines River

Des Moines Bike Collective

2011-08-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

Little Bastards

2011-08-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

Some little bastard made off with my sons bike yesterday right out of the front yard! Really! This really sucks for a little guy to loose his new bike. You really try to keep your kids with the idea that life is good until they get older but in the 'red light district' or the poor area of town they learn at a much younger age So now I'm in the market for a cheap used 20" kids bike.

Time is coming for dirt and gravel and big tires :)

2011-08-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

With the end of Vacation and the 'pay back' this is the 9 straight days you have to work after a vacation. I will be off 2 days in a row next week and should be able to take one of them for an all day ride. I think I will actually try a century on the Pugs. Really not sure as far as route but was thinking about taking ERT to the east then finding some gravel out that way. I really like the comfort on the Pugsley, the tires and weight drag on you after a while but the geometry is more like a touring bike than a mountain bike so it is really comfortable.