Better get the lead out

The widening on the Helen Boosalis is progressing, not overly quick but it's moving.

 




So far they have made it from 27th St. to the Pioneers cutoff, with almost one month down and one left to go on the original time table they best get a move on if they want to make it to 48th St by then. What they do have done so far looks really nice, will be a great improvement when it's all done.

Busy weekend

If it wasn't for work I'd almost be looking forward to the week so I could take it easy, had a pretty jam packed weekend.


Rode out to Branched Oak Lake Saturday morning, it was a bit breezy and chilly at the beginning but warmed up pretty quickly once the sun got up higher in the sky. Views like this made it more than worth whatever struggle it took to get there and with the summer season being over I had the lake almost all to myself.


Made a pit stop in Malcolm on the way back, try to hit up this place every time I'm out that way. I'd probably greatly improve my time if I just bypassed it but it always reminds me of when I was younger growing up in Montana and all the little stores like this we would stop at while traveling.


Saturday afternoon we took the spawn out to Platte River State Park for a little hiking.




Always a good time with plenty of things to see.


They seem less than thrilled but that dude in the back looks like he's having a great time. Getting too cool to hang out with the old man.

Wrapped up the weekend with a late Sunday ride through Wilderness Park, this section of the trail was really over grown, used to be a fairly popular and clear route but just hasn't been the last few years.


Might be one of the last rides through Wilderness with the monocog for the year, I absolutely love the versatility of the Small Block 8s but one of the things they don't do well is loose debris and leaves on top of hard pack. Tried running the Nevgals last year on the cog but they just suck so bad on pavement and that's a good portion of what I ride in the winter. Might just have to use the El Mariachi for spins through Wilderness until spring.


After all the riding and hiking this weekend, this is kind of what my legs feel like tonight. Thankfully the National Bike Challenge party is tomorrow and rain is in the forecast so I'm not tempted to ride.

This is a near perfect ending to a near perfect weekend, beer is a really good recovery drink IMO.

Dirty pictures and beer

Been a hectic but fun couple of days, Wednesday was the third race in the Star City CX series at Tanker Hill. In all my years here in the Capitol City I had never made it out there, didn't even know it existed actually.


The views from the top of the hill were pretty good, might have to venture back out that way at night sometime and see what the city looks like at night.


The course was perfect for watching but it looked like a pretty hilly and difficult course if you were riding it, although the lead group made it look way too easy.


One of the things I like about watching Cyclocross races is that costumes are not only approved but often encouraged, like this cow.


Or this guy in his blonde wig, pink pantyhose and Hawaiian shirt.


Do Work! Maintaining the course while the race is going on, because the course was new this was a very slick corner with all the dead grass being kicked up.


Removing one of the barriers mid-race.


The setting sun made for near perfect lighting and the dying tall grass really contrasted with the riders making for some really good photo opportunities, I'm glad I decided to bring more than just the point and shoot along this time. Lots more photos HERE if you want to take a peek.

Thursday was time to drink a little beer and eat a little food at the Octo Beerfest out at the Lancaster Event Center.


Complimentary tasting mug.

More than a decent amount of vendors and drinkers turned out for the event.


There was even a Polka band if that's your thing.


And these dudes, later in the knight (so punny) they put on a choreographed sword fight.


Tried to hit up a few beers I hadn't ever had before, like this one from Shmatlz Brewing. Originally I thought it was going to be a pretty fruity beer as it pours as a bright red but actually has a darker, earthy taste to it.

This one was actually pretty good tasting, tasted a lot like Grapefruit soda and with only 2% alcohol it almost is, it would take a lot of these to get a good buzz on but with the taste you could drink a lot of them.


I'm a big fan of Rogue, they make some really good beer and this one was no exception. It's a seasonal obviously so if you're into pumpkin beer its well worth a try depending on retail price point.


This was probably my personal favorite booth of the night, these guys are home brewers and they had a really, really good jalapeno ale that had plenty of jalapeno flavor without hiding the beer flavor or being needlessly hot. They also produced a pumpkin seasonal ale as you can see by the ingenious use of the pumpkin to hold the tap, this was also a really good beer and is available at Misty's from what I was told, the jalapeno unfortunately is only available from his garage. I asked him for his address but it was hinted that my upper chest was not developed enough for that... always something but hey, you've gotta have your priorities. 

Days are always nicer on a weekday

I know that not all the nice days are on weekdays and that weather patterns tend to run in 7 day cycles but sometimes after lousy weekends like we just had followed by a gorgeous Monday like today it's hard to not think that all the nice days are during the week.


Had to hightail it home and quickly change and hit the road in order to make it out for the last fleeting moments of sun but it was well worth it.


Work is still coming along on the Helen Boosalis, I know it had to get done but with just this one intersection they have managed to bugger the trail going east, west, north and south all at the same time... it takes planning, talent and a little bit of luck to do that.


Ride was just a tad over an hour and had to hit the lights on the way home. Temp really dropped once the sun went away, it was a bit nipply on the way back.

Cold, windy and miserable.

Last night I was motivated for a ride this morning, I knew it was going to be cold and windy but decided to get up and go anyway. Unfortunately when the alarm went off and I got up I just seemed to putz around the house and couldn't get going and ended up skipping the morning ride. Luckily for me I found my motivation later in the afternoon and I was able to get out mid-afternoon.


Whoever said a little wind never hurt anyone obviously has never ridden a bicycle into a 25 mph head wind up hills. This one sucked, once I got into the groove there was nothing left to do but put my head down and just keep pedaling and try to ignore the complaints coming from my legs.


Stopped at the Sac-O-Suds in Malcolm to warm up a little bit and to get something to drink before the return trip. It's always funny how a tailwind never seems to help as much as a headwind sucks but it was nice having the wind mostly at my back on the way back. Luckily this cold snap only seems to be hanging around through tomorrow and then Monday is back into the 70s.

More CX

Gave it up for free on Wednesday helping out at the cross races, well helped clean up anyway as they had most everything else covered already. Helping clean up did give me plenty of time to be a spectator and take a few pictures.


Start of the second race, lots of riders caused quite the bottleneck when it dumped into the trees at the end of the road.


One of the things I like about cross races over mountain bike races is that the spectators don't only heckle the racers they are encouraged to and even judged on their skills at heckling. Like this guy for example who grilled up "hot wieners" as he put it.


Weren't many takers though, yelling "Put my hot wiener in your mouth, it will make you go faster" probably didn't make them sound appetizing but they looked like they were having a ball.


This was a fun corner to watch, lot of people losing traction but no crashes.

Here they come, one of the faster sections of the course.


The look of intensity and probably a little pain.

Up and over.


A little singlespeed action, kind of a cool jersey as well.

Gersib flying, makes it look so easy.


Swanson passing on the sausage.

Lemme see your pain face!!

Going to have to bring the big camera to the next race, the point and shoot just isn't designed to keep up with all the speed and change in lighting. Also have my eyes on a cowbell for the next race as well, when in Rome and all that. If you haven't ever seen a CX race you really should get out and watch one, I have more pics here if you want to take a look but as I said the point and shoot isn't really best camera for these type of events. Hopefully better pics next time. 

Solo in the park

80 degrees, sunny and very little breeze, can't hardly ask for better riding weather. Hit up Wilderness Park tonight, lots of folks out riding and running out there right now, probably the most I've seen since last spring. Must be the nice weather we've been having lately, can't say I blame them for getting it while it's good.


In addition to all the people there was plenty of wildlife out and about tonight as well, saw lots of squirrel, a few deer and these guys. Must all be getting ready for the winter months that are quickly approaching.


Ran into this guy out there as well on his new Giant Anthem courtesy of Cycle Works, those guys know how to hook up a sponsored rider.




City started construction on the Helen Boosalis, should be pretty nice when they are all done at the end of November.