pay back...

The set-up was perfect. Light winds forecast out of the South building to mid teens by noon. I took a chance & dressed pretty light to start the day. Perfect...mid 50's as our ride evolved, the light winds increased as we reached the southern edge of our ride & we got a great push home. New MMR everywhere down in Gage County. Aspen Road South of Cortland, suh-weet! 38th heading North from Pickrell Road, 3 straight miles of dirt. Just 3 of us today on this amazing day, Rokke was with us earlier but bolted early to do his own thing. Below: MW tells C-bread how its gonna be.
Cornbread contemplates the esssence of gravel...

MW mumbling something about gravel & the sound of one hand clapping...
5 & change, 78+, yesterday's suffering long forgotten. 200+ gravel miles this week, damn!

Later,

TK

lucky, I guess...

Fargo praying the levee holds, KS getting a ton of snow, & the SE getting inches of rain with tornadoes (sp?). Us...air temps in the 20's with 20-30 mph winds straight out of the North. Our plan, ride right into the teeth of it to BO & check out the expanded Area 7 Trails. My cheeks & jaw were hurting, my eyeballs were stinging, & my forehead was aching...we hadn't even left town yet! I flatted in Roper park on the way out of town & then MA flatted twice & we were only to Kawasaki at this point. Below: myself & pool n' spa hiding from the wind at Hwy 34 & NW 27th while MA changes his second flat. From this point on we would be out on open gravel, completely exposed to the wind & cold. Lucky were riding, right?
Unsure what this misfire was...

We did make it out to BO. Our group got separated along the way. It ended up being myself, MT, MA, & Wes (don't know him real well, makes D st. every once in awhile). Met up with Craigio & Mr. Hansen who had driven out to do some more trail work. C-bread, pool n' spa, & FOB were somewhere between Raymond, Area 1, & us at Area 7. We did one lap of the circuit, discussed our plan & voted to start the cold journey home. Sure we were going to have a tail wind heading South, but cross-head all the way back to Lincoln. Yep, it was tough...made tougher because MT was setting a blistering tempo. Below: pit stop in Malcolm on the way home, home of the Clippers.
I'm guessing the other crew never made Area 7? I traded phone calls with C-bread & last I heard they lost FOB in Area 1. As our group approached Lincoln we thought we might have seen him over by Hawks Field? Not sure.

4 hours, just under 60. I'm a wreck. Lucky?....hell yeah, it was sweet!

More of the same tomorrow.

Later,

TK

the northern passage...

Its become apparent, I'm on my own program. Gravel, gravel, gravel. Yesterday's journey...recon the first leg of the Northern passage (gravel ride to Norfolk) & search for the fabled Northern chapter of the PCL. Below: 252nd & W. Bluff, just outside of Seward.
Never been here before...Garland, NE. Left town headed East on Old Mill Road, never been on that road before either. Still searching for any sign of the Northern PCL.

Son of a....maybe the rumors were true! I'll be back.
4 & change, 68+, all good.

Later,

TK

ok, I'll get started...

Last evening after the tornado sirens stopped I ventured out to the garage to start my '09 road bike build. The bike-build fairy had not come so I guess I'll get it going. Put on the der hanger, cable guides, & cut the fork. These Gary Fisher Arc Pro's are our Team Issue this year & I really like the looks of them. Not as light as my Carbon Zurich from last year but not bad. Aluminum with carbon rear, still pretty light.

Reusing some bits from last year...
Project ends, missing parts...

Later,

TK

a day of discovery...

First enlightenment...Jamaica/Homestead ends at Cortland. I kind of new that but never really confirmed it. I know it picks up again at Pickrell but this section is a little wooly (primitive). I eyeballed it but opted to head East. Next stop Panama using Gage & Pella & 148th then into Bennet.
Discovery number two...hey C-bread & PC, check this out. 20 cents cheaper than RC. Label says since 1935? From the maker's of Dad's rootbeer out of Jasper, Indiana. I'll categorize it in the Dr.Pepper/Mr. Pibb family, more Pibb than Pepper. Not great but the right price.

Discovery # 3...coming into Cheney a tic after 5:00 I ran into Cornbread. Hooked up & rolled in together.

4 hours on the dot, 66 miles Oh yeah.

Working Sat/Sun, maybe see ya out there. Have a good one.

TK

runway wednesday...

I have to work both days this weekend, pretty rare. Respecting the state of the economy & its impact on where I work as well...I've opted to get out early a couple days to offset my weekend hours. Don't get me wrong, I would love to rack up a bunch of o.t., but that doesn't make a lot of sense right now.

New kit & new helmet, all good.

Ran into Craigio east of Eagle, so I took a picture of my finger.
Second attempt. Yep its Craigio, he's rockin' the new threads & helmet as well & yes another bad picture.
50 something miles. Good afternoon. As I rolled back into Lincoln a little after 5:00 I remembered WNW was probably just getting going. Road bikes...hmmm? I think I remember riding one of those last September. Unsure, its been awhile. Skinnier tires right?

Later,

TK

monday, day of rest...

To top yesterday's nasty gravel 70 mile TT, we rode down to Panama for a "MTB" Enduro. I put mtb in quotes because it was really a gravel road race with a couple gooey, short single track sections. Good fun, good vibe, hard effort. Below: random walnut grove pic.
New team mate Trevor, Craigio, & myself picked up JP at the event & formed a four-man team. Our foursome ended up victorious. Below: Craigio post ride...
Bad picture of Trevor, but good picture of PC. Trevor...he's crazy strong, good riding with you man.

PC, Coach, & Mr. Blake all participated in the solo category. They worked each other over the whole event with PC nipping Coach at the line & Mr. Blake right there with them. Our foursome had the catbird's seat (have to look up that expression) rolling in right behind the action. Great effort to all three of you!! Below: Mr. Blake's new kit, KAOS in blue hmmmm? Have to get used to that one.
team mate for a day...

Coach pours a round...My winnings. I don't drink but my wife does...


Add on another 70+ yesterday when it was all over. Huge weekend. I'm done.

Have a great week everyone,

TK