Being children, they tire and distract easily, so a casual observer is not at all surprised to find their vehicles hastily propped against the trees as they explore the swing set and conquer the slide. Two of them soar to the treetops, only to veer away at the last second and dive toward the ground in a wide arc which travels back and forth between earth and sky as long as they wish it. A whoosh coupled with a delighted scream and ending with a thunk signals the end of one girl's flight as she catapults herself out of the swing. The adventuresome three dare one another to ascend the ladder and descend by way of simply letting gravity pull them down a shiny slick slope. This lack of control over their own movement is thrillingly terrifying; but one by one they make the trek up and the slide down, raising their hands above their heads to prove to the others they aren't afraid.

The expedition continues. Three bicycles zip down the path, stirring up and crunching over dry leaves. They swerve around bumps in the way, or sometimes purposely run over them to hear the rhythmic bouncing in their own voices. Every so often they pause for breath; just long enough to spy upon a spider spinning her threads high out of reach, or to climb onto fence posts in search of a different perspective.

All too soon the appointed hour arrives. Reluctantly, these friends point their bicycles toward the starting place and let themselves be carried thither. But as they approach this point, one notices a change in the group's demeanor; it is as though they are shouldering a weight which they managed to shed for these few hours. Years seem to pass within their bubble of space; four, then seven, then ten, then twelve have come and gone by the time they reach the parking lot to load up the bikes. Adults now, they travel in an automobile back to the campus on the south side of town; back to homework and essays and lab reports and tests.

And yet not all has been lost; for with each moment spent in sweet laughter and sunshine has shaved an ounce off the grown-up burdens they carry. For a little while, at least, they retain a certain childlike glow. It begs the question, If three college students relive their innocent days in the woods and no one is around to see them, was the innocence ever really lost?

10/31 9pm $15

- starts at Colony Square, ends at Lennys

-bring a bag and a lock

-most likely includes blood ritual

Anyway...

The Tumbling Creek Moutain Bike Rumble XII is coming up at Gainesville State College October 25th. Are you registered yet? I'm telling you now, the field fills up fast, so the hot tip is to do your registration online, which you can do by clicking here.

Tumbling Creek was my first ever race. Last year, myself, Mershon and Greg White competed as a three man team and came in second place.

We didn't expect to place at all! We had heard that Tumbling Creek was a great race to do as your first, and the rumor was right on. The course is not terribly tough. By the last week of October it isn't very hot, so you won't keel over from heat exhaustion. There is a general festive mood from everyone involved. After doing last year, I feel I'd be doing less than my part by not trying to get folks to participate.

On the downside, I myself will NOT be racing this year. I'll spare my bike related excuses, but I will lay one bit if whining on you. WHY does this event have to have a Lemans style start? Ugh.

A LeMans style start, for those of you that don't know, means that everyone lays thier bike at a predetermined location, and then runs to thier bikes for the start.

At Tumbling Creek, the run portion is around a small lake. Small to most people, but it may as well be a zillion miles for me. I wouldn't be able to make the run all the way around. Theres no way I will be THAT GUY who ended up walking a good portion of the start. So,...maybe next year.

My lame excuses aside, I encourage anyone even thinking about trying an endurance event to do Tumbling Creek. Most likely I'll be down there during the event trying to get some good pics. Finding a good spot to shoot from will give me a good excuse to FINALLY put a seat on my mountain bike and log some trail time.

And right behind Panera Bread is one of the best recreation opportunities Lake Mary has to offer: the bike trail that will soon connect Lake Mary and Maitland. When completed the trail will offer 24 miles of bicycle fun! Currently 2 sections of almost 10 miles are ready for use.

When sitting on Panera's terrace on a weekend, you will notice plenty of people already taking advantage of this fun, relaxing activity. I think it's an awesome way to just enjoy and unwind! Especially now that it is not so hot and humid anymore it's time to get out those bikes and saddle up! Just imagine, we live in a place that is sunny almost every day of the year, and ideal for bicycle activities October through April, why wouldn't we all be out there using the trail?

I'm from Europe and literally grew up on a bicycle (of course not, but pretty much anywhere I would go I would ride my bike, meaning with exception of snow storm days, I used my beloved bicycle every single day! I have to admit though, I currently live in a community that doesn't have the ideal access to the bike trail, but this season I am determined to get out my bicycle at least twice a month, just throw it on the car, and drive down to where the trail starts. From there or any other assigned parking spot it really is no big deal anymore because it is a safe route, very bike friendly!

Bicycles don't have to be expensive if you're not a pro. Just check WalMart or Target, I found my bike long time ago for $60.00 and I've seen good quality bicycles for less than $200.00. Believe it or not, when I first moved to the US I didn't perceive the need to purchase a car, so I was using solely my bicycle to get from A to B, just like in Europe. I did that for about 3 months until I realized how crazy hot and dangerous it can get on the road. People are just not used to us bicycle users...

However, I can guarantee you, you will find more of us in Lake Mary because this city in Central Florida (neighboring if not merging into Sanford) is indeed very bike friendly. From communities like Heathrow, Timacuan, Manderley and some more you can start right from your garage door! So wait no more! I want to count even more people on the trail next weekend when I'm enjoying my afternoon dessert at Panera Bread in Lake Mary :) Well, and obviously, Panera makes a great stop to re-energize!

Here's the map, courtesy of semniolecountyfl.gov:

We leave
To the Tale alley
Make as if it was a journey
As when we were child
And time was infinite
For the day

Mae Linat © 2008

The nearly 12 miles of Interurban Road from Ferellview to Camden Point are newly paved. And new bridges. Hardly any cars pass Rich and me as we pedal. We’ve ridden this road many times and never seen it in such good shape, as we remark to one another as we ride. But about two miles past Camden Point the road abruptly turns to fine gravel. My narrow tires don’t take kindly to such a surface. Changing lanes becomes treacherous. Several big trucks appear from nowhere and send clouds of dust that choke and blind. Caution takes over the last few miles to Dearborn

Logan’s Bar and Grill has been flashing off and on in our heads the last few miles. Their biscuits and gravy have lured us here before. This morning’s October chill adds to their allure. Rich is the first to arrive, his wide tires more at home on this unfriendly surface. “They’re closed,” he announces as I ride up.

Little Toot just up the street had been our breakfast place until it burned some five years ago. After a few months Logan’s Bar and Grill appeared. Our Greater Liberty Riders had come here once, more than 20 of us. Rich and I had come several times. Now it’s closed. If there is no new incarnation of country cooking in this tiny town of boarded up facades, the nearest eating places are in Edgerton, some eight miles ahead or in Platte City, some 13 miles away, but back in the general direction we came from.

Halleluiah! Kitty-corner across the street from the still standing and still burned out Little Toot, we spot an inviting place - Cook’s Corner Cafe. We prop our bikes in front and step inside. A Norman Rockwell ambiance permeates the place. Two older men are the only customers. We’ve arrived just past prime breakfast time and before lunchtime. One of the men has lived here all his life. We discover we know some folks in common.

A year now this place has been here, says our waitress, owned and operated by sisters Charlene Cook and Darla Dubois and “Home of Darla’s Blue Ribbon Pies.” Coffee and a half order of biscuits and gravy we both order, then split a short stack. The meringue stands tall and proud atop the coconut pie. Rich and I split a piece. This place deserves an encore we conclude.

As we mount our bikes and prepare to leave, a car pulls up. The window rolls down. “Where’s the museum?” He asks. Scrawled across the side of the building just behind us in giant letters - LICKSKILLIT MALL. Cook’s Cafe is housed the other side of this wall. “Couldn’t beat this place for a living museum,” I say.

We choose another route back. Highway 371 was known before I-29 stole its traffic simply as 71. Now its meandering over hill and dale carries an occasional big truck and local cars. It brings us to Platte City for a sandwich stop at Country Cookin’. Then through the hills on an assortment of alphabet roads to Ferrelview.

This morning, I woke up at 6am, ready to shower and get ready for 7am work (at Cornell). All of a sudden, I wake up again. This time I'm sitting at the kitchen table. It's 6:50. I haven't showered. I have one (1) shoe on. Needless to say, I'm quite confused. I mean, it was quite odd, I literally had no idea how I got where I was, or what was going on in the least bit. Turns out I just fell asleep on a quest to make some super, duper cereal.

I was in a bind. I had to take the quickest route possible. Lucky for me, our house has a great, campus-convenient location. I hopped on my bicycle and made my way to work. In the End (capitalized for Linkin Park), I made it to work at 6:58, unshowered and unlate.

I've included a map of the quickest route to Cornell, for your future reference:

I hope this finds you at a good time.

-K

after-the-fact-edit: As a side note, the online site where I clock in to work every day was down today, meaning I could have been as late as I wanted to be, with no repercussion. Fuck.

edit #2: Holy shit, it's still a website:

My plans are to commute using it to University (Bike safety permitting) and to the office ( safety in place).

It's a pretty impressive bike with features such as:

• Triple butted 7005 aluminium frame
• Carbon Fiber forks
• Mavic wheels
• 2 Tyres
• Shimano Ultegra 18speed gearset

It came with a pair of riding boots (almost exactly my size) and pedals to fit them. Two spokes on the back wheel have been replaced now, so I guess with its age the spokes are wearing a little. The bike weights about 8-9kgs although with a few accessories attached it will be up to a weight cycling enthusiasts would call a brick with wheels.

Όλοι τώρα μπορούν να απολαμβάνουν τα ποδηλατικά τους κατορθώματα τοποθετώντας τη φωτογραφική τους μηχανή στο ποδήλατο.

Πολλοί ήταν εκείνοι που με ρώτησαν πως έβαλα την φωτογραφική στο ποδήλατο, οπότε σας παραπέμπω απευθείας στο link απ’ όπου είδα πως γίνεται με απλά βήματα και το έκανα και εγώ.

Οι φωτογραφίες και τα βίντεο που τραβάει είναι αρκετά καλά.

Βίντεο θα ανεβάσω σύντομα ενώ μια γεύση πως τραβάει φωτογραφίες έχετε ήδη πάρει από την Ποδηλατοπορεία.

Μειονέκτημα: Μην το δοκιμάσετε με πολύ μεγάλη ταχύτητα πέφτοντας σε λακκούβα ή περνώντας από γραμμές Τραμ. Θα απογοητευτείτε. Πέρασα από γραμμές Τραμ και στράβωσε εσωτερικά η θήκη της βίδας στην μηχανή με αποτέλεσμα να στέκεται στραβά, σκεφτόμενος τα χειρότερα μικρό το κακό, μάλιστα σχεδόν το ίσιωσα.

Οπότε τσεκάρεται εδώ και καλή επιτυχία.

The exercise has been great for him, and it has also prompted me to dust off my bicycle and start riding again.  Of course, Jasmine is not going to be able to keep up with a 10-15 MPH ride, so I ordered a doggie basket for my bike.  It is supposed to arrive via UPS tomorrow.

We've been taking weekend rides as well as our Sunday walks down to Starbucks.  The Starbucks trips give all of us about 45 minutes of walking time, while the rides have been shorter--around 30 minutes.  However, Jasmine has not been able to share in our rides, so I'm looking forward to having her with us when we explore the neighborhood.

I'm not sure how well she's going to take to the basket.  I know that she loves to go for car rides, but those rides are more enclosed and she also has room to run around in the back seat.  She also has a tendency to play as we ride in the car--she loves playing "turtle" with her pillow and she has also discovered that burrowing under the fleecy cushion of the back seat sling is great fun.  The basket--the Solvit Tagalong Deluxe--is nice and soft on the inside, but it's not made for jumping, running or burrowing.  It has a safety leash to keep her from jumping out and a sun shield for warm days.

We'll just have to see if she takes to the new mode of transportation--and whether my currently-weak thighs can take another 11 pounds of pedal weight.  :-)  I'll let you know!

UPDATE: Um, make sure to measure your dog BEFORE you get one of these carriers. Jasmine, a moderate sized mini at about 10.5 pounds, just fits carrier.  She has to curl around a bit to fit, but she seems okay.  I was worried at first because I couldn't get her to sit down it it and it seemed WAY too small.  Of course, with anything new she's somewhat uncomfortable, so I'm going to take small steps to get her accustomed to the carrier before we venture out on the bike.  I put one of her blankets in there to make it a bit more familiar and comfy.  I have a feeling that a little pink cushion will be inhabiting the bottom of the carrier soon!

Disclaimer:  All discussion about products on this blog are made independently and are solely stories and/or opinions based upon personal experiences with the products.  I am not affiliated with any company producing or selling these products.

Well, now it's time to use it. The delay? I needed to get hold of new lights, a helmet and chain to make it road worthy, but I've now tested it out, and from tomorrow, I will be a commuting cyclist!

It's going to cut my carbon emissions down significantly as my car does many miles a week.

But, unlike what I wrote last month, it doesn't look like it'll save me much money. I'm keeping the car for the occassional long journey to see family and friends. That means it needs to be taxed (£66 for 6 months) and insured (£42 a month).

Can't win 'em all eh, but at least it keeps me green!

Listening: Amy Macdonald - This is the life

Among other things, according to an article in American Bicyclist, the law requires a “safe operating distance between the motor vehicle and a bicycle.” Drivers who “harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object” at a cyclist can wind up in jail for 30 days.

Passing inside that safe operating distance is often called "buzzing." It's common, scary and dangerous.

I'd like to see a similar law in Iowa. I'd like to know what you think. Just add a comment. Thanks.

STOP DOING CARDIO!!!

Ray Salomone

www.GrecoRomanWellness.com

Here’s the deal. Next time you go into a commercial gym, please do an observation.

 Take a look at the body types on the treadmills, Stairmasters and elliptical machines.

Now look over at those at the squats racks, bench presses and shoulder press stands.

Notice the difference?

Toned, sleek and super strong bodies in the free weight area. (Men and Women!!)

Overweight or super skinny types on the cardio machines.

The choice is yours.

Ray Salomone

The Push Up Warrior

www.GrecoRomanWellness.com

Cemetery crabapples on a rainy day.  The same day I saw this, I also saw a man riding a bicycle and playing a guitar at the same time.  A few days later, I saw two men riding unicycles down the street.  Next time I hear music and turn around, it will be a man with a guitar on a unicycle.  Then I'll realize that I've been in a circus the whole time and not a cemetery at all.

Just another Saturday today. Went into town as usual. But this time .. I decided to bike! XD

Haven't done that in a while. But me and my friend rode into town he got a game for his Xbox and I got a game for my PS3. £40 for a game. Yeah I thought it was too much too but I wanted it :(

After all my shopping was done (buying one item) we went to see a few friends. Now they lived somewhere called Chelmer Village, no this was a totally unknown place to us. But we were determined to find the house. For everyone who isn't from there, Chelmer Village is a relatively new development full of modern houses, happy families and general modern society. As this place is home to hundreds and hundreds of late 20th century buildings, they tend to all look the same.

Now there were alleyways and walkthroughs everywhere, leading from a road marked as "Odds 1-13" to "Evens 24-30". After an hour of searching we rang up and got the gusy to come meet us. Turns out we'd gone past it more than once.

But it was fun watching Saw V (the worst film ever made) and some strange film about a girl starting her period and getting beaten by her mother because of that. But I had sat around for 4 or 5 hours watching films when everyone started to leave. I had brought my bike so I couldn't catch a lift with anyone. So I texted my sister asking for a lift. She told me to ride back home at 7PM in under 10C temperatures, rain and pitch black. After replying with a few swear words in a text she decided to come and pick me up, put the bike in the boot and take me home before she went out.

We had an argument about the fact "i should have rode home" ... So I went on Google Maps, turns out our house was 4 miles away ... that 11 minutes by car ... imagine if I rode. Especially in the rain and cold, and also a Saturday night in Essex. Not the safest of ideas with the amount of people hanging out on the streets doing god knows what.

It's meant to rain tomorrow ... all day :(

Cyclist-enthusiast Stefan Gulas invented the man-power hybrid motorcycle eROCKIT, which combines the sport of motorcycle and ecological benefits of a bicycle. The bicycle-motorcycle is able to travel at a speed of 80 km/h. The cost of a hybrid motorcycle is approximately 25 thousand euros.

Apparently to keep the power on the person riding the has to keep turning the pedals. The bike multiplies the the human power by about to a factor of 50. (A top cyclist produces 1/4 horse power and the eROCKIT can produce up to 12 hp)

[HowStuffWorks, Funfuse, eROCKIT]