38 degrees of perspective

Today's high was 38 degrees, which under normal conditions would be really freakin cold but since it's the first day above freezing in about a week or so it felt like mid July... well at least mid April. With all the holidays lately I haven't been on the bike as much as I would like but figured today would be a good day to get out.


Despite all the white stuff hanging around it was actually a really beautiful day out.


Trails were in really good shape for the most part, few wet/slippery sections but far better than the residential streets are fairing right now.



Okay, I said it was warmer but it wasn't quite warm enough to play in the water.


Had no idea the guys from Korn were dabbling in Real Estate..



Not really something you ever want to see, especially if it's there for you. Not sure what the deal was but didn't see any flames or smoke so I'm guessing some kind of medical emergency.

New Year's is already almost upon us so I'd have to say this was the last ride of 2012, not a bad year really but definitely looking forward to many more in 2013.

Hmmm...

These are new... might not know where I'm going but at least I'll know where I'm at and what route I'm taking to get there now.



Went for a little ride Saturday... it was freakin cold.


Found my way to the Apothecary dungeon... and Crescent Moon Coffee.



A spot of coffee hit the spot, lifted spirits and helped to thaw me out. Saw the first flurries of the year while out riding, none were in the forecast but that's Nebraska weather for ya. Snows coming tonight, if the world ends on Friday it kind of sucks that we have to deal with snow on the last week here. On the bright side though the hot temps should melt whatever remains of the snow... always look for the silver lining.

Here comes winter... temporarily.

I suppose it had to happen eventually, the cold is here but seems like only for the next couple of days and then back into the 50s. Decided to venture out into the cold this morning for a little spin, didn't really have a destination in mind but ended up in Wilderness after wandering for a bit.



Arena is coming along.



As is the new Bison Trail bridge.


Use caution when ascending the stairway to heaven...



Wilderness Park was great as usual, there were actually quite a few people out and about in the park today.




Had my own Stand By Me moment and just made it before the train... actually it wasn't eve close, had to wait a good minute for the train to get close enough to snap the pics. Debating a ride tomorrow morning, winds are supposed to be whipping around 20 mph already at 8 making the feels like a balmy 15... the warm comfy bed might win this round.

Thankfully it's only once a year

I, like most of you probably did, ate way too much for Thanksgiving and ended up spending most of two days feeling horrible yet I still kept shoveling the food in. As much as people eat it's amazing how many leftovers there are despite the glutton fest.

(photo stolen from Nate)
I did manage to get out on both Thursday and Saturday for rides through Wilderness Park to try to counteract the effects of eating way too much food. Thursday was a group ride, fast group of guys for this ride who might or might not have been trying to kill me.



Saturdays ride was a solo effort, little colder and little slower pace but still just what the Dr. ordered to burn off some of the enormous amounts of food consumed.





Trails were in great condition, most of the leaves have either blow off or been ridden off of the trails leaving just pristine dirt. Been through this sections a million times and never really noticed you could see those signs, of course there are usually lots of little leaves on those branches. Looks like the next couple of days might be a bit chilly but then it warms up some again... I'm kind of liking these warmer, dryer winters. Hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.

Oh... I think I saw Santa on a Fat Bike today while out in the park... maybe he's trying out a new gift delivery system.

Bridge out.

Gorgeous 60 degree day, decided to get out for a little singletrack spin through Wilderness Park. Took a little detour to the old Bison Trail bridge because I had heard that they are tearing it down to make way for the new one.


That's usually not there so there must be some truth to the story.


Thing could squash the Cog like a bug.


I definitely don't remember this big gap being here before... anyone seen my bridge?


Still gone...



Well, there's some of it...
Not sure what the time table for the installation of the new one is supposed to be since it was originally supposed to have been in place by last spring but it's good to see them getting under way at least. I suppose if they just drop in a prefab bridge like most of the others in the city all they would need to do is clean up, shore up both sides and drop it into place. Will be nice to be able to ride into Pioneers Park again without some hike a bike... or gap jumping now.

Warm, Windy and a bit of Wilderness

Any Saturday where the temps are in the 60s by 8 am is a good day to go riding and that's what I did.


While the temperature might have been ideal the wind was far from it, that's a huge flag standing straight out... 20+ mph winds.


The Arena is coming along nicely, won't be long before the face of the Haymarket is changed forever and finding a parking spot is slightly more impossible than it is now.



Slipped into the park for a little dirt while it's still dirt and not mud or frozen mud. Stopped by the ole closed bridge, still looks in good shape to me but it's be slated to be removed and replaced sometime in 2014. Sure to miss riding  through that section on a regular basis.


I've been known to listen to a country song before but never did care for Ms. Reba. This little honey might not have a grammy, might not be a member of the Grand Ole Opry or the Country Music Hall of Fame but she sure does sing real pretty in her own right.



This really has nothing to do with Wilderness Park and only loosely with biking but it's pretty darn good and it's only around for a short time. I recommend picking some up if you like dark beer, before it goes away or the label becomes reality.

Two flats and a whole lotta snot

Still getting over the tail end of a cold but with the temps being so nice I got a bit of cabin fever and had to get out for a spin. Decided to hit up Wilderness Park, I know I've been spending a lot of time in the park this year but once you learn to ride it with some speed it really is a pretty fun trail. 

Saw this on the way out to Wilderness... don't see many this color anymore. 

With the winds, hikers and bikers clearing off the fallen leaves and the morning frost/dew providing just enough moisture the trails are really prime right now in most spots. Managed to get two flats... or at least one flat and perhaps just not a fully sealed patch job maybe... between Pioneers and Old Cheney. That along with a sinus tract full of the remnants of my previous cold making it difficult to breath I opted to duck out at Old Cheney and taking the less aerobic cement paths back, the headwind all the way back home didn't help in that respect though. 

Rolled past the Sunken Gardens on the way back, always sad to see it after the flowers have been removed for the year... doesn't even look like the same place. Clocks rollback tonight so any chance of not riding in the dark from here on out after work is almost none so nice weekends where you can get out in the sunlight will be extra nice. 

Crazy weekend and a funday Monday

Friday went to a fashion show at the Q with the proceeds going to help a fellow cyclist recover from a recent accident, the fashion show was something else but it was a good time none the less.



Broke out the SpongeBob costume for the Halloween party on Saturday, epic party and I am super glad it wasn't my house... they might still be cleaning up yet today.




Sunday was the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Omaha... free, well free for me. It was an awesome concert, opening act sucked but the Peppers put on a awesome show.

Took Monday off to recuperate from the weekend and man was it a good Monday to take off, 60s and sunny... hit up Wilderness Park for a little quiet time.

Leaves have all fallen now... I swear there IS a trail in there somewhere. Luckily most of the trails are not only visible but also clear of leaves, couple more weeks of steady riding and they should be awesome. 

74 and tacky

Temps are in the 70's today and tomorrow and then drop into the 40's for the next few days after that with a good chance for liquid sunshine so riding is now or never... or at least not for awhile. Hit up Wilderness Park and then took the long way home, got in a good 20 miles which isn't bad for October in the evening.


Trails were fast where the leaves hadn't fallen, that brown thing in the middle of the trail is a squirrel getting in a little singletrack. Luckily he ducked off to the left before he became Squirrel McNuggets.


With the impending inclement weather that is sure to come it was time to put a little meatier tires on the cog, worlds of difference from the small block eights that are usually on her.




Fall colors and mirror like reflections.


All down hill from here...


Tracks usually have a train parked smack dab in the middle of them lately, pretty rare to see it clear.


Lost bikes or a mid park rendezvous?


Capped the night off with an awesome sunset, not many of these days left. Hope you all got out and enjoyed the night.

Park was busy tonight

Took a spin through Wilderness tonight, other than the early sunsets riding in these temps is awesome. It was also the most people I have seen in the park at one time all year, I attribute it to the oppressive heat finally breaking.

Pretty quiet out there tonight except the occasional passerby.


Love all the colors.


Even had to break out the light on the way back... speaking of which, almost forgot that the Wednesday night Flatwater Cycling CX races had started in Van Dorn Park. Stopped and watched for a bit before heading home for the night.








Little black blurs... point and shoot camera's are definitely not intended for night action shots.