Tubeless in Milwaukee

Yes, I went to take a long mountain bike ride today and needed to change the tube on my front tire. I found the spare in my kit to be boxed but an old tube. A tube that also leaked. And I had no others. So it was a ride on the old road bike and I came across a bunch of rock n' roll types down by the river.

The WEMS race, according to the Internet, went off with only a slight delay due to yesterdays rain. The skies last night were ablaze with lightning, fingers spreading out and covering the entire sky. It was supposed to rain today but it looks like God blessed the Cyclopaths.

I tried to e-mail them to ask if they needed any help, Team Cyclopath, but their e-mail address was not available. The guy in charge always works hard and gets a good event done. I found him very friendly and good hearted though the team seemed to pay me less than no never mind. Perhaps the influence of the Spitters Guild. There power resting somewhere between that of the Mason's and the Lollipop Guild. And don't underestimate the reach of the Lollipop Guild. Just look at Britain. Once ruling the world and now... just look at their teeth.

And Brits certainly are not doing as well as they would like at the World Cup. The refereeing having set soccer back 20 years here in the United States. A game where the brain is a strike tool and ties are... WOW! We didn't lose.

Actually I enjoy watching the world cup (oooh, sorry was that supposed to be capitalized) once in awhile and those horns keep me from falling asleep.

So I was exhausted and didn't go spectate the WEMS race. Sorry no new pictures. Plenty of pictures from Sunburst on the Flick'r page. Even the cost in gas hits us hard as trying to save our dog this spring set us way way back. But we did have a rummage sale. A neighborhood rummage sale. So we made a bit of cash and then dumped off much of what we couldn't sell at the thrift store. Then I took all those old cans and some scrap metal in the old garage and turned it in for even more cash then we made at the rummage sale and then I put a bike part on e-bay and it is already more than even that. That is a bike part I offered to a gentleman in exchange for straighten the rims of an old beach bike I have. Only to read on his blog that people want him to do work for free shortly afterwards. An XTR crank set.

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Sent my dad a card but haven't heard of any gathering, which is typical. Will be available after church if anything pops up.

Put out some ceramic pots we couldn't sell at the rummage. Currently nothing to put into them. Arranged the border of cement blocks so I could place planters of various sizes in among the plants. maybe I should have just used them to make a grid, putting something different in each square. I once saw presented a garden, mostly rock, that was covered by identical frog statues marking out a grid that covered the entire garden. I found it very attractive.

Subaru Cup? Yes we made a bit of money but we're just too far behind. The Odd Tuesday Ride was rained out as was the last two Wednesday Night time trials. Have been meaning to go but have been busy. And now it is rain rain rain. It takes time for the Crystal Ridge Trails to dry so I don't know what the chances are of racing this month. More storms in the forecast.

Which brings us to the real question...

Sunburst

There wasn't a whole lot of sunshine at the Sunburst showdown. The 'Top Fuel' is the feature bike this year, but all high end bikes are in short supply these days, keeping the prices up.

The #1 reason I didn't race was money. The #2 reason is my weight is too high, or maybe it was because I wasn't over my cold. So I went to take picture and hike the ski hill. And the weather was overcast and very humid. I was happy I decided not to race until I saw and remembered how many other, even sport racers are in worse shape than myself. Many people decided not to finish the race.

They look like mice in a maze or perhaps ants scurrying around a nest. So goes the Sunburst course, weaving and bobbing to make most of the land available.

I took some pictures of the citizen (above) and sport races and recorded video of the elite/comp starts. I will get them up on flick'r today and you/tube a bit later. Sorry to those I didn't catch on camera. I could see the anticipation in the eyes of some. Obviously aware of my mad photography skills. And then there were those few spewing snot in an obviously aggressive and violent manner.

Looked for a new angle on the banked turn.

Obviously some took the turn faster than others.

Talked to Dave. His team has a new sponsor. Found a new product on my offers page, Ice Wraps. I think it is a bit late to get into the WORS photo contest. My video file appear to be too large for conveniently showing on the Internet. If anyone has some suggestions on how to fix that let me know.

Sick Day

Caught a cold this week but made it to the Tuesday Mountain Bike Club meeting. It seems Ning is no longer free. And NO I don't have lots of money. I don't know why people keep telling me that. They want to put baseball diamonds at Crystal Ridge and WORS is having a boom year with attendance shy rocketing. Though there is an unofficial boycott of the Sunburst Showdown because many thing the course is not up to standards. There is a race near Peoria, close to Milwaukee, that many will be attending. A race that always looks to be on the same day as the Showdown. And 'Ray's' will open in November. The deal is done.

Being sick I don't know if I will race the Showdown. Maybe I will go to take pictures. I need to get into the WORS and WEMS schedules and plan out the rest of the year.

The last significant ride I took I checked out the flood control project. Above used to be where the public gardens were. Below is something being built but I know not for what exactly.

I also did over ten miles on my road bike Monday running errands. That is how I caught my cold as it was warm during the day and chilly at night; using my new lights.

I stopped by the garden areas and talked to a gardener. They have an apiary there. We talked about the beekeepers association. I haven't been to any of their meeting in years. I guess it is legal to have an apiary in the city now. A fee and inspection by DNS required. Was also told of some places I may be able to keep bees within the county. Still haven't heard from the county about what is available I guess they don't work too late into the afternoon. Have a friend who has plenty of vegetables to plant but if I can't keep the bees there the cost and time to travel though small would be too much.

Misao bought some cucumber plants that I planted today. Dressed in heavy clothing I worked up a sweat outside and then rested. Then worked some more. Planted the cucumbers and did some weeding. A bit too close together but hopefully I can get them growing upwards. We really like our cucumbers. People give us plants and I stick them into the ground. Those small roses were given to us last year and have come back.

Looking into publishing it seems there are many more bad literary agents than good. It seems best to have all four of my stories finished before approaching a publisher. Not easy to sleep with my sleep apnea and the congestion. I guess if I had all this money people say I have I wouldn't be using the same mask I'm supposed to change every six months for more than two years.

The Holiday Weekend

I was worried about my lack of energy and went for a very long ride a week ago, very long. My energy levels shot up afterwards and then I crashed for the holiday weekend though I didn't take more long rides. Must have been the family stresses around the holiday, though I did see my older brother who came into town for the activities I wasn't invited too. You'd think after some 40 years I'd be used to it.

Yes, Hoyt Trails are wrapping up the flood control work. This bulldozer was doing its dozing over a week ago. I was there Friday and the plantings were all going in. The trees were done and they were putting in some shrubbery. Don't know when the fence will come down, if it hasn't already. Fortunately for the new plantings, we are getting some rain this week which most likely means no Wednesday Night Race tonight. June is the month for flooding around here. Maybe I will play a free poker tournament tonight instead, but who knows.

Not sure if I will be ready for the Sunburst Showdown. My weight shot up over the weekend. We went to see "Robin Hood" at the theater Monday, Memorial Day, and nothing says bloated like a gut full of popcorn and cherry coke. I'm surprised Obama hasn't declared the movie an act of sedition yet.

Misao said if I wore my nice shoes with my nice sweat pants (with a button down collar shirt) she would not walk with me through the mall to the movie. She would claim she didn't know me. I had to wear my tennis shoes or put on a pair of dress pants. I wore my tennis shoes.

Yes, we went to the cemetery(s) as well as the theater. It looked like people have decorated the graves and crypts of their loved ones far more than I believe I have ever seen before in the public mausoleum. And then we grilled up a bunch of meat. When we fire up the grill we have to cook up all the meat we have in the house. I said it would last a week. Misao said three days.

With the dogs gone the gardening gets more of our attentions. Even Misao was spending more time getting her hands dirty. It has been a bit stressful with the dogs gone. The mourning doves seem to enjoy our front upper deck.

On Sunday we went to a church outing and I shared some of my stories. People were impressed and suggested I publish in a magazine. I really don't know anything about the publishing scene. I do much of my writing (as well as my plotting to RULE THE WORLD) in the basement. I may get to washing and tuning the bikes today but will be working on lots of my blogs to clear my mind for the next story, already started, I will be working on. Five years of consistently looking for a job and only one interview. Been putting out at least two inquiries a week recently. Poker, writing, investing (actually made a little with a little), e-bay, Internet advertising and surveys, maybe I should buy a metal detector. Still trying to pay medical bills almost two years old among other things. The retail business just doesn't make enough.

I actually find the most job leads on craigslist.

Getting Heated

 With everyone driving on the wrong side of the road is it any wonder they are having accidents in Britain? I am leery of bicyclists who video record their rides. If you look for trouble it will often find you. We have a guy like that around here that actually works for a news station as a camera man. Haven't been to his blog for a while.

Bicyclists have the right to the traffic lane but sometimes courtesy is the proper course of action. Crusaders are more harmful to the cause than helpful. It looks like he cut off the car. I can only imagine he saw a line of cars and didn't want to get stuck behind a parked car waiting for the whole line to pass. So he claimed his place on the road.

Personally I think bicycling should be taught along with drivers-ed. And some comment how people don't know how a car works any more. Perhaps some education on the mechanics too along with the dangers of texting and other bad habits. When I was 16 (actually 15) you had to watch all these movies (yes movies played on a reel film projector) of horrid accidents with heads falling off on the scene, before you got a license. Making drivers-ed longer, more demanding and maybe more expensive? Hey! Everyone forgets its a privilege.

That being said I think they should allow sensible people, riding sensibly on sensible bikes to ride on the sidewalks. Not all sidewalks. Some have visibility issues. And investing in bike lanes... If a substantial population actually begins riding they wont be the athletes we see dominating bike commuting now. They will take short trips (under 2 miles) and avoid hills. So you invest based on terrain and destinations everyone must reach, such as the grocery store.

Oh yeah! They are going to commute to work. I thought of playing poker tonight but the only way I had to get there was by bicycle. And it was really hot today. One week you are turning off the heater and the next week you need the air conditioning. That's Wisconsin. People are not going to ride and come to work all sweaty. Maybe a short, level ride where they need not peddle much to get there, but these crusaders want to redesign roads so people can commute 20 miles to work because they do... along with three other people in the entire city.

Why in a ranting mood today? One was reading Yahoo's idiotic review on the finale of "Lost." I expressed my views here. "How did Hugo Die?" The writer asked. Just a plain idiot. I think it had something to do with being on a plane that broke in two in mid air.

We all saw dead people.

My book of short stories.... Couldn't transition into the next story. Went back to editing the one I just finished and a solution to a problem on my first story came to me.

IT'S FREE!

Yes, Wednesday Night Races are back... and it's free... sort of.

WORBA members only. A membership costing $20 for the year and anyone 12 and over can join the time trials. No more Schwag so everyone can just leave when they are done. I imagine most of the changes are due to insurance issues.

I didn't go. I was working on my book and Misao reminded me we needed an oil change and off I went. Not having my bike in top shape I didn't feel like rushing to make the race. I will be taking a couple hours some afternoon in the near future to wash, lube and tune 'all' the bikes. I doubt many were there as Wednesday was the annual Bone Ride.

Yard and garden work have also been taking me away from riding. Planted everything using all available space and Misao decides to come home with some more things to plant. Eggplant and hot peppers. So I prepared more pots today.

But I did get out Tuesday. On the Hoyt trail I suddenly found myself behind some Odd Tuesday riders and more came in behind me. I decided to excuse myself and continued with my own ride, later spying those Odd Tuesday riders breaking the law. I was that close to a life of crime.

Yes, the work at the Hoyt Trails looks to be wrapping up.

On my way home I found myself surrounded by another group of riders, far less fit and not nearly as well dressed as the Odd Tuesday bunch. It was scary.

And today, after I finished the first draft of my second story ("The Forest", the last of four for the book), I went to check on the progress of the Hank Arron Trail heading west. I guess that is the extent of it. Some fresh gravel... way down at the end there.

Having decided to work off an old laptop, I set it up to print, and printed the draft. Well over 5,000 words. I did some editing this evening. I'll work on the third story from tomorrow, it will be substantially longer, before returning to the first two. I figure I need to break 50,000 words for a book which shouldn't be a problem. The fourth story (which will be the first, "The Last Day"), already well constructed in my mighty brain, would most likely be considered more than a short story, if not the third (which will be the second in my book).

I will be lucky to get a good start into the fourth story by the end of the month. I hope by the end of June to know what kind of chances I have to be published. If it looks grim, they can always go up on one of my blogs. I have shied away from writing on my private blog as odd circumstances would suggest security to be an issue. Even for e-mail.

Still, I have a few things for some of my other blogs that I haven't gotten to. It's good to be busy, especially when it doesn't require any money... so far.

The next house project is to tuck-point the chimney and see how water is running down the vent pipe when it rains. That shouldn't cost too much money.

Last Frost

No, we didn't have a frost but May 15th was the official last day for frost.

I was working on my book the better part of last week and then took a break. Spent some time working on the yard and getting to things around the house. (I really should have been riding more) Tomorrow I will pick up some pepper and tomato plants from a friend if things work out. I could have planted the radish and leafy vegetables earlier but will get the seeds in the ground tomorrow. And I will be getting back to my book, hoping to have finished drafts for three stories and a complete rough draft for the fourth (which will be the first) by the end of the month.

The Crystal Lake Classic was yesterday. I didn't go and, as you can see (Lily of the Valley), am lacking in biking pictures. Hope to get in a nice ride in on the mountain bike tomorrow as the days are getting really long. Maybe the ODD Tuesday Night Ride,... or not. Have to get my weight moving down again and hopefully be ready for the Sunburst Showdown mid-June. Nine Mile would be good to start with, a bit more level than Sunburst, but it's a little too far away. Went to the neighborhood meeting rather than the bicycle club meeting. The minutes aren't up yet and I haven't heard when the Wednesday Night Races start.

I saw some British cook on TV with some kind of food revolution for the United States. I guess some still haven't gotten over the Revolution of 1776. I knew the guy was completely whacked when he started ripping chocolate milk. Complaining about all the sugar in kid's diets. ...Hello!... It's the corn syrup. Myself and many others grew up fine when they really did use sugar. And don't get me started on ethanol. Corn is for roasting, drowning in melted butter and then rolling in a plate of salt.

The BBC has a business reporter that is just too chipper, outright cheery, and the one I like to listen to the most on the radio. He did a three part report on bicycles that I found very interesting. They are making bikes outs of bamboo in Africa.

Misao is still crying over our dog having been poisoned.