Yesterday was Saturday, which of course meant that it was time for the Saturday Morning No Drop Fat Bike Ride. Cooler temps seemed to have brought with them bigger crowds, I think this was one of the bigger rides we've had this year... we shall see how those numbers hold once the chill turns into cold here in about a month or less.
With a 2:30 pm home game, we figured it would be safe to cruise through the downtown area, it wasn't too bad but just because it was still 4 hours to kickoff didn't mean it wasn't already teeming with people. Unfortunately we didn't time it optimally and nobody had their tailgating grills going just yet, those smells are pure heaven to ride through when they are up and running.
Ordered a new seat post clamp in lime/sour apple green to offset the purple of the Fargo and it had just come in that morning so I swapped it out quick like before we took off from the shop. Even though I used a piece of electrical tape to mark the seat height before making the change, I must have been off by a few millimeters and had to Todd it at the bridge by Van Dorn as the seat height was just a tad too low. For those not in the know, to "Todd" something means to constantly fidget with it while on a ride, especially seat height, angle or fore/aft position. Love ya Todd!
A quick turn of the wrench and we were back on track, as the weather starts to cool down I have been noticing that the girthy tires are starting to outnumber those more svelte.
The route for Saturday was pretty simple, head out on W. Claire Ave to 40th St and then ride that out to Sprague Road. As a bonus the winds were gentle and the temps mild for a change so it wasn't a bad day to be out in rural Lancaster County spinning on some gravel with friends.
We weren't the only ones having a good time out there though, not exactly sure what these guys were up to but standing on a metal roof with a decent pitch, possibly still covered in morning dew sounds like a heck of a good time to me, what is the worst thing that could happen.
42nd and Saltillo Road is a great place to regroup, grab a refreshing beverage or if you are so inclined, it's also a great place to lose your Lippy's BBQ I found out in August. I wouldn't recommend that last one but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and that day Pablo had to do it.
Big man with a big can.
Generally we turn east on Martell Road and then come into Sprague via S.W. 29th and Sprague Road but Saturday we had a special place we needed to stop first so a slight reroute from the norm was in order. It's the first time I've been out to SW 58th and Sprague Road since that awful day in September and it was a little odd being there. I'm not sure what I expected to see but it remains an unsuspecting intersection on a rather ordinary county road, evil was there on 9/23 but there was nothing of the sort out there Saturday; just a stop sign and a junction box where we left a little something to remind people about Randy. Not that the cycling community will need reminding but maybe, just maybe someone driving will look at the stop sign and think about cyclists on the roads.
Traditions Pub was the next stop on the route, we lost a few for the lunch stop but that seems to be the norm for those without the extra hour to commit to the ride. Food was good and the beer was cold as usual, even if we did get there before the bartender.
Still need to get my thoughts out there about the Fargo but the personalization process has already begun as bits of green start to pop up here and there. Fun bike to ride and a great midwest gravel eating machine, Pugsley might have to be a little worried.
Post lunch ride back is usually a bit slower as everyone is digesting food but that was not the case on Saturday. It took up about an hour and 50 minutes to get out to Sprague but made it back to Lincoln in an hour and 15 minutes, guess there was some extra energy in those drinks but we aren't quite at the end of the tale just yet.
Bennet Road is one of my favorite parts about heading out to Sprague, it's a little dicey at the east end but it's almost perfect dirt on the west end.
Took the Jamaica Trail and then the N Street Cycle Track back into Lincoln ending the official portion of the SMNDFBR.
A few of us not quite ready to head home just yet ended up at Method, where I spotted what has to be one of the most grotesque contraptions I've seen as of late. A blue box for collecting cigarette butts, a clear box that is with a blue frame, so that you can see the nasty little things hiding out in there... eww.
Much less gross and more interesting was this couple on a side by side tandem complete with the larges bike horn I've ever seen.
We didn't stick around all that long though, definitely wanted to get out of dodge before the flood gates down the road let loose and all those people started filing out. 11:50 left in the game with the Huskers up 21-17 seemed like a great time to call it a day.
Joe and I were the last two remaining souls heading back to Cycle Works. Thankfully football minutes aren't anywhere near normal minutes, I was able to load the bike up and get back to Omaha before the overtime kicked off so even I was not spared from the OT debacle.
No ride next weekend but look for us to return the following week and as always, thanks to all who made it out.
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