Bike Basking

A break in the cold brought out the crowd for this weeks SMNDFBR, we left the shop with 17 and picked up another two on route bringing our total to 19 riders for the day.




This was a difficult ride to dress for, temps at the beginning were near freezing but by the end of the day it was going to be almost 60 degrees. With very little wind, most folks were shedding layers before we ever got out of town as the warm up was quick once the sun managed to get a little elevation in the sky.


David has been down for a few of the other Saturday rides and Joe has made at least one or two himself  but it was good see a trio of Omaha riders making it down on Saturday to join us.




The plan was to scoot out to Bennet and try out the Big Ten Tavern, I hadn't realized that there was anywhere in Bennet to get something to drink or eat until it was brought to my attention a few weeks back. The warmer weather seemed to be a golden opportunity to get out that way and see what it was all about. Taking the MoPac out one thing was evident, we would need a different route on the way back into Lincoln, there was no way the Homestead Trail wasn't going to be a sloppy mess once the temps started to climb.



Thankfully the gravel was in near perfect shape, a little soft in certain shady spots but rolling pretty fast over all and the pointy end of the group was proving that fact on Saturday. Speeds were pretty spicy heading out.


I had a feeling things might be a little swift so I opted to bring the Journeyman out, this bike has yet to disappoint me any time I have had it out. I recently wrapped the bars in what Lizard Skins calls "Sky Blue" but if you ask me they missed the mark as it could have been called Water Tower Blue as is evident by the near perfect color match in this picture.



I know we've been out on Van Dorn numerous times before but this is the first time I noticed this field full of hound dogs, had to be at least a dozen of them all running, barking and wanting to play.  I guess free range pups is a thing now.




Like I said, the pace was a bit fiery coming out of Lincoln and the group kind of split into two groups but the smart money was to stick with the slower group. With rising temps, hydration was important and we did our part to make sure nobody cramped up.



The speedsters must have heard the crack of the seal on the ditch beer because it wasn't long before we caught up to them and this great offering from Dave, a Rasta-esque Spotted Cow from Wisconsin.






After the regroup we started to string out again but that often will happen with a group of this size.






Sometimes not being at the front of a group has it's advantages, like not being the first to charge down a questionable looking road only to find out it's a bit more moist than is favorable for cycling. A lot of mud scraping was going on by the time the second half of the group caught up to the lead group, not sorry I missed out on that little bit of fun.





After a small section of Hwy 2, we were back on firmer gravel and once again rushing toward Bennet.





The Big Ten bar was a welcoming oasis on a warm January day, if it looks familiar, or at least it did to me, it's because it's right next to the former Mamasitas restaurant that closed down a few years back. To be honest, that might have been the last time I was in Bennet proper and not just at the Casey's near the highway.





Our next stop was Roca, where we spotted this odd Cannondale. Not sure what it is but I have never seen another one quite like it. We also huddled up to figure out which way to head back into Lincoln that would avoid the Homestead. As we talked about it we realized that there aren't a lot of options that don't require you to travel down the death road, also known as Saltillo Road; dangerous enough in a car based on the number of accidents but it almost seems like a death sentence on a bicycle. Hopefully when (or if) the belt way comes to be finally, traffic will diminish on Saltillo or they will make needed improvements to the road to make it safer for all those who might need to travel it.




We eventually decide to go a bit out of the way and head over to 2nd Street with the ability to avoid all but a block long section of Saltillo Road to 1st Street and take that back into Lincoln.


Not often you happen upon a broken down automobile while out on gravel, more than a few bicycle repairs but this was my first time for a car.






The bridge behind Good Life Fitness was the last official regroup and the end of the ride for another week.



A slow roll back toward downtown saw folks shedding off of the group as the road leading home came and went, the remainder of us ended up in the familiar location of Method for a cold libation and conversation before finally heading home ourselves.


Speaking of libations, regardless of what your drink of choice might be, if you're like me you often find yourself at a gathering without a beverage receptacle. Hauling around a glass, metal or plastic cup can be cumbersome and in the case of glass, dangerous if it breaks on you while riding. What to do? Well Surly might just have the answer, a Silipint cup that is dishwasher save and made of flexible, food grade silicone. I picked one up recently and it seems like the perfect vessel to stow in a back pack or in an out of the way spot in your car without worrying about it breaking, cracking or getting crushed. Check them out for yourself, MSRP is $16.