SMNDFBR - Twisting The Day Away

Probably the best part about being associated with a bike shop is the people, within the confines of four walls that make up Cycle Works you'll find an eclectic bunch of awesomely creative folks and some of the raddest people you'll likely ever meet. As I was unloading the Pugsley for the Saturday Morning No Drop Fat Bike Ride, I noticed the new sign on the shop door that leads to the mechanics area. Superheros is an apt term for the men and women who work their magic behind this door, if you've ever watched one of them fix an issue on your bike that had you beyond stumped and frustrated in mere seconds you know that they must posses super human abilities. All they need are catchy names and costumes, Wrench Girl, Sprocket Man... well, maybe we can put a pin in that for now and circle back to it some other time.



On the menu for the SMNDFBR was 60 miles of gravel down to Hallam and Cortland in an attempt to better prepare for Gravel Worlds which is now less than two weeks away. As is always the case, had a fantastic group show up for the ride, Brent even came with his, new to him, Salsa Fargo he picked up last week. Pretty rad bike and I've always had a soft spot for that color way.




Being a centrally located shop, it's no small feat or amount of pavement that needs to be ridden to get to the good stuff but with views like these who can complain. Lincoln really is a beautiful city, even if some of the art sculptures lately makes you scratch your head... is it just me or does the sculpture in front of the Pinnacle Bank Arena look like a giant light bulb changing tool that you'd by at the Home Depot? Of course the arena itself looks like a giant bed pan to me when you're coming into town on I-180 so maybe it fits the weird steel objects theme they have going down there.



Had a pretty scalding pace to start out the ride so it wasn't too long before we found gravel and started our undertaking in earnest.


Blistering paces lead to regroups and rest breaks.


Which lead to unzipped jerseys and lots of fluid intake.


Which leads to impromptu corn stalk inspections, you can never be too careful when it comes to corn, the stalks on the outside rows might look sturdy and healthy but you really need to get a few rows in and apply a little moisture to them to know what's really going on with a field of corn. Which also might be the single best reason to always wash your corn at home before eating it off of the cob...


It could have just been the hyper-sonic pace, or early onset of dehydration but the ride seemed somewhat food themed, what goes better with an boiling pot or corn then a nice juicy steak... what do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef, bada ba bum... I'll be here all week.





A few more miles and a few more regroups and we found ourselves on the outskirts of Hallam.



It's crazy to think that it's already been 12 years since the town was almost wiped off the map by a monster tornado but folks around here have done an admirable job of rebuilding. It's got to be the newest town around that was established in 1892, not a whole lot of original is left.





It's been ages since I've been to Hallam so we decided to check to see if there was anywhere in Hallam where we could get food, water, Gatorade, etc.





As it turned out, the Hallam Steakhouse was one of the few structures that survived the tornado, I'd remember seeing it from previous trips through Hallam but I'd never stopped. Turns out the food is really good. As 'Merica gets more corporate and cookie cutter it's getting harder and harder to find these mom and pop types of restaurants with great food, personal service and great value for your money outside of small towns. Fortunately for those willing to get out of town a half hour or so there are still plenty of them left in Nebraska, if you get a chance stop in and try one because chances are they will be better than the franchise you usually stop in at.



Filled to the brim with great food it was time to hit the road before the sleepies set in and all we wanted to do was lay down and take a nap in a booth.


Seems like they must have put a little goofy sauce on the food yesterday, love this group of people but it's hard not to like someone who doesn't take themselves or life too seriously.





Just south of Hallam we found a couple of really great minimum maintenance roads, when they are dry these roads are better than gravel and way quieter when you're pushing fat bike tires.




Quick spin back on the Homestead trail and another SMNDFBR was in the books and we didn't get wet this time, so that in and of itself is a victory. Next week we had planned to do another longer gravel ride but I think everyone was in agreement that we are going to change that up to a much shorter chilled out ride and let the legs rest a bit before GW. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we will be in the Park next Saturday.


Other exciting things at the shop, the 2017 Fat Bikes are starting to roll in already. If the Farley's demand is anything like last year and you're thinking that this year is the year you're going to go fat, now is the time to get down and reserve yours. They aren't yet on the Trek site but the color ways this year are pretty awesome, the orange 9.6 is to die for IMO.


Or, if you're already a devote follower of the fat life and want to really up your game, the Farley EX 8 is a fully capable shred machine. I can't stand around and look at it for too long, weird physiologic changes start to take place as I'm looking at it and before you know it a whole flock of wood peckers start to gather around me. Who knows about those wood peckers though and why they do what they do. Just consider yourself warned though if you happen to find the same thing happening as you're standing there staring at it.

ThNNDRR - Defying Logic

We could sail away

Or catch a freight train

Or a rocket ship into outer space...

Yesterday was the ThNNDRR and Rick was away so he let me borrow his Giant Defy for the ride.  One thing that became clear real quick is that roadies be cheating, I almost didn't even have to pedal to get this thing to take off like a carbon rocket ship all I had to do was hold on and steer.


The last time I rode a true "road bike" I was 10 and it looked a lot like this, which back then was just a bike and hardly compares to the sleek, ultra light speedsters they have today. The Defy was absolutely amazing, the first half of the ride when it was dry was almost effortless and I was clipping along 2-3 mph on average faster than I do on my cross bike. I might have to tell Rick that the Defy fell off the car on the drive home and then do my best to convince him that the one I bring to the ride next week just coincidentally looks like the bike he had.


Speaking of the ride, despite the dark and ominous clouds we ended up having a pretty decent turn out.



We made one last check of the radar and forecast and it looked like everything was going to stay south of our route, only about a 25% chance of rain... I'm starting to think 25% is a much greater possibility than it sounds. Any who, not wanting to waste any more time, off we went in hopes of staying dry.



Our destination for last nights jaunt was Waverly, by the time we got out on Hwy 77 things started looking a bit darker but it did appear like maybe we were chasing it rather than running from it. There was some water on the road ahead but not much so we figured it was moving faster than we were and all was going to be alright... **queue the unnerving meant to build suspense**





Despite the fact we were flying, in comparison to the normal pace, and the dark clouds were all around us, everyone seemed to be sticking together in a tight group and smiles abound. Even Scott almost managed a smile, almost.


The clouds were pretty insane last night, when we had time to look at them.



Our luck was holding when we got to Joni's in Waverly and we were still dodging the rain drops.


If you ever get out to Joni's, they have some fantastic ice cream cones just make to order the small (pictured here) otherwise you'll be there all night trying to finish it. They also have a pretty darn good burger as well, haven't had one in a few years but they were delicious last time I did.


I'm not sure if it was the brain freeze from the ice cream, the lack of oxygen from haulin butt out to Waverly at warp speed or the euphoria from not getting rained on but things got a little weird at Joni's there for a bit. Like pictures through the window of Scott and Courtney eating jalapeno poppers...


...or this, not sure if there is an explanation for what is going on here. Like I said, things get weird when the adults don't come out for the rides. I should not be left to my own devices, more often than not nothing constructive happens.


The storms that were supposed to blow over by the time we were to be heading back to Lincoln didn't get the memo, looking towards town from Waverly we had a sinking feeling we were going to get wet. Must have been magically staying in between storm cells the whole time and not just chasing one but I think our luck had run out.


With the rain forthcoming the camera had to retire to it's waterproof hiding place, until we got to the bridge underneath Cornhusker Highway. The liquid sunshine was pouring down by then.


There was a sliver of good luck wrapped in the rain and our new found bad luck, Scott got a flat but it was within 50 yards of the bridge so we didn't have to change it in the deluge.


And when I say "we" didn't have to change it, we all chipped in... some with the actual changing and the rest of us struck up some rather dapper poses for the men's fall cycling collection while we waited. It's a team effort, no one job is any more important than the others.


I think that ironically Scott's flat was good kismet, by the time the tire was changed the rain had all but stopped and this beautifully astonishing double rainbow peeked out of it's cloudy shroud. It's amazing how dirty one's bike and kit can get when riding in sheets of water but I think I owe Rick's bike a good wipe down before returning it.

Thanks to everyone who came out, sorry about the rain, lets shoot for drying weather next week because these rainy rides are getting a little old.

ThNNDRR - Birthdays, Ninja Turtles and Ice Cream

Last Thursday was Rick's birthday, so he decided that we should ride a kilometer for each trip around the sun that he has witnessed. It's a good thing he didn't decide on miles instead or we might still be riding.




It was an absolutely beautiful night as we headed out toward Branched Oak Lake, temps were mild, winds were minimal and we had a pretty even paced group of riders. Cycling nirvana.



Quick stop at the local convenience store on Raymond road for a refuel of fluids and a little extraction of different fluids and we were off again.


One of my favorite spots out that way is Raymond Road heading west towards the lake, super flat and super fast. Thursday night was no exception.

The turn back to Lincoln on 112th isn't quite as much fun as there are some pretty good climbs leaving the lake but man that last downhill into Malcolm is super fast as Scott is demonstrating here. Scott was fresh off of RAGBRAI with his new kit, I gave him a little guff about it but I still thought it was a pretty cool and unique kit.


Back on Highway 34 someone was not having as great a night as we were.



There were no break downs for the group though and everything was smooth sailing back into town.




Rick decided that Ivana Cone was the perfect place to end the ride so we found ourselves sitting in the Historic Haymarket admiring the architecture and eating some of Lincolns best "homemade" ice cream. Not a bad way to end the day if you ask me.