Night Rides and Gravel Doctors

Been a decent week for bicycles and bicycle related happenings and a week with bikes is always a good week.






Tuesday was a night ride with the WestEZ crew on local paved trails, Papillion still had their lights up so that was kind of cool. Was supposed to be "ladies night" but as you can see it was a bit testosterone heavy. Good times none the less, I need to incorporate some of these night time shenanigan into the summer months when it's not so cold. Although we have had a fairly mild winter thus far so at least it wasn't freezing, literally.



Then last night was an Intro to Gravel Clinic held at the shop. While I have been riding gravel in earnest for a little over 5 years now, it's always good to see what others are doing, eating, wearing and what gear they carry. The minute you think you know everything that there is to know about anything is the minute you stop learning. Some good info was shared by Corey and Janna.



If the info didn't do it for you then the cute puppy was certainly worth the stop. Maybe that's the key to not getting chased, introduce the dogs to gravel early as well.



Post clinic a few of us swung over to Moran's for some adult beverages and conversation before calling it a night. Plus Scott really likes pictures of people drinking alcohol, not really pictures of people drinking though; people and beer separately will just have to do for now.

The difference is like day and night...

Picked up a L&M Stella 600 a week or so ago for a really decent price thanks to Nathan but hadn't had an opportunity to try them out until last night. I really love what L&M is putting out lately for lights, usually use an Urban 500 but I had a need for a second set of lights.




I was not disappointed by the light that the Stella was throwing out, the sharp focused beam pattern really helps to make them seem brighter than they are.


The only real dig I had on the lights really isn't that huge of a deal but on the Conquest with the dual lights that sit really low on the bars the cables and brake hoods caused shadows. On a mountain bike bar this wouldn't even be an issue, it really isn't on the cross bike either as it still throws more than enough light onto the trail but it was something I noticed.

Went for an early morning ride this morning, crazy Husker fans were tailgating already at 9:30, not sure if I could dedicate that much time to football.

Sun was out, temps were down and just a slight breeze, hoping it stays like this for at least a good month or two. A little less rain would be nice, haven't hit the dirt in a week or so. 

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.

The sun doesn't always shine

Tried to get a ride in this morning, got up looked at the forecast and promptly went back to bed. Temps were good but 23+ mph winds and 50-60% chance of rain wasn't quite what I had in mind. So I ended up with plan B, a ride at night.

Didn't really have anywhere in particular to go so I decided to check out the new Lincoln Amtrak station... not too shabby.

Arena is coming along as well, might be open by 2014. 

Bridge over 27th is finally open though so there's that, only took them the majority of the summer to get er done, thank god nobody uses it in the summer time or it would have been really inconvenient. Temps in the mid 60's and just a gentle breeze made for a heck of a night to ride.