filler...

Ya know...not that much has been going on, makes posting a challenge. Working a ton, riding some, & a minor cold found me Friday night. Here goes nothing, or something. Can't remember if it was Thursday or Friday morning but was greeted with a 6:00 am rainbow for the ride in...

It made me smile...

a growler of jet fuel ready for the trip south this weekend...

We've been in a rainy pattern of late around here, I've been riding my road bike for over a week. Not that gravel has been completely unrideable but just something different. Rolled with MT & wood-nuts both Saturday & Sunday on the skinnies...
Sunday was a wet one...
Sunday night was perfection for outdoor activities, thanks to Jim & Jan for the hospitality. Temp was ideal & the bugs hadn't begun there summer annoyance...
oh yeah, kickin-it...
Had lots to do in the lab yesterday, finished the session with a new signature crimp...
DK this weekend...

Later,

TK

maybe it will be a good day...

...it's still early.

boat races...

no really...

good job folks!!! we met the minimums!!! looks like you can still order today & that'll be that...

This Friday is the deadline, May 20th. <link>..

royal fail...

I'll spare you the long version & get right to the point. I bailed at mile 100.77. I was with the lead group of 5 up until about mile 85, popped, & by mile 90 entered a dark place. It's bonkin' time. I stopped to try to get some food in me, my hands were so cold I couldn't open a Clif Bar, dropped it twice. I spent a couple minutes struggling to open a zip-lock with my cues in it & before I knew it I was starting to shake, core temp dropping. Uh oh! I failed to mention it was raining a lot of the ride, temps in the 40's, & windy. Got back on the bike, but now I was cold & still in the low blood sugar trouble zone. Fatal error...I had no candy with me. I need sugar, now!!! For 10 miles I wobbled down the roads in a haze until I stumbled upon Josh Stamper's oasis, dismounted & quit. Bummer. Not happy about it, but that's the way it goes.

Tremendous respect for those that completed the journey in the g-narliest of conditions. The Nebraska crew kicked ass. NE finishers were C-bread, Rafal (first SS), Aaron G., & Malcolm (also SS). Schmidty's bike failed him early in the 100 mile event & had to call it a day at mile 40, shit.

Skogen & crew...killer event, thank you! I'll always be back.

raining on the way there...

downtown Ames coffee stop...

good times...

c-bread's provisions...

friday evening shakedown...

pizza, down town Spring Valley...

Malcolm & crew, 60 to go...

needs a bit of love...

my provisions, returned with a case of local...

Later,

TK

last chance for gas...

...errrr 2011 PCL Kits

You now have until May 20th (week from this Friday) to order your PCL kit from the Voler website <link>. We only need 15 more jerseys and shorts to be ordered otherwise the price will be increased for everyone.

I ordered mine:) TK

new shoes...

I've no affiliation to Kenda but they have become my gravel tire(s) of choice. This isn't a review, I'm just saying they work for me. Kommando's are bullet-proof & small block's just roll real nice. Put a new set of SB's on yesterday, heading for the Royal this weekend, 162 miles of double-g in beautiful, hilly SE MN...

I heart my white rxl's, start of their 3rd year. Hang in there guys, I'm not through with you yet...
Later,

TK

level 2 diagnostic hundee...

Accomplished a lot today. First, wanted to test out the knee. I took it pretty easy this week & I didn't really experience any soreness today, good. Second, I knew it was going to be warm/hot today so a little acclimation to the heat was in order. Third, wanted to get some sun so future exposure won't be so dramatic. Check, check, check. I realized about 20 miles in that I'd forgotten to start Strava, so no map. Plan was to head for Northbend. Wind was billed as straight North in the teens so I was going to go right up the gut. Turns out the windiest part of the day was right when I was heading North bound (mid morning), mix that with deep gravel at times & I had to work my ass off to get as far North as I got.

Last year I rode by this corner (Rd 26 & H Rd.) & said I'll have to check that out sometime. How about today? "No outlet" can't apply to me, right? Lets find out...

Since I had the camera out, new WarAxe hi-boys. Thanks Skip! These socks have a Trans Iowa under their belt...
Ok..."no outlet" did apply to me:( I made it about a 1/2 mile & got stopped by this ghost-farm. I hiked & explored for about 10 minutes but couldn't find an exit because the area was beyond overgrown. This barn picture is pretty sweet but would have been even better if I could have captured the enormous turkey vulture that had been perched on the peak when I rolled up on it.
Anyway...I had to backtrack, I hate backtracking. Hate it. I was rapidly losing interest in traveling all the way to Northbend. I altered my plan to at least make it to the 4-way dirt intersection I rolled through last year. Rd 26 & P Rd, about 5 -6 miles North of Hwy 92. Picture doesn't really capture the 4-way-ness of the intersection, whatever. Does capture how awesome the day was though.
Hi!
The Bavarian Alps don't disappoint, there's some hills up here. Water became an issue & my focus turned to getting to Brainard. I had a general idea how to get there from where I was but was a bit fuzzy on how far. Ended up being further than I thought & I rolled into town on empty, fluid-wise that is...
Lots of long B Rd. sections, all in excellent shape. I don't think I saw a rut all day...
Ahhhh, the refuel...
Bank thermometer said 77 degrees, what a day!
Took the Oak Creek trail to Valpo, hard packed & fast. Ran in to Falloon (my vet) as I was leaving Valpo. He's was on the front end of a hundee, I was on the back end.

It was a good day...

Later,

TK

at last...

...feels a bit like summer? Careful what I'm saying, don't want to jinx it. Tuesday was just about perfect, lower 60's & a break from the wind. It was blowing, just softer than usual. Yesterday, the wind returned but upper 70's. Last night was a "hide out in the park" kind of wind, no need to beat my head against it out in the country. This guy was guarding the trail under the Old Cheney Bridge, "may I pass?"..."yesssssssss"

three rides in a row...no arm warmers, knee warmers, or vests. Shhhhh, feels like summer.

I always wear a helmet:)