Raven, Meet Velodrome

Imagine you're the kind of guy who loves whistling along to Otis Redding's Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay (who isn't?), and all of a sudden you come to find that the very dock that Redding wrote the song about is only 10 miles (give or take) from your house. Now you're thinking: "huh, maybe I should go over there and give wasting time a try... maybe do some whistling" and why wouldn't you - sounds like fun, right?

Maybe you're also into riding bikes. Maybe you've been riding a track/single speed conversion around for a while and have been thinking, if only there was a track around here - maybe I'd give it a try. Would you believe there is a velodrome less than 10 miles from my house? Why don't people tell me these things???

This morning Micah came over and we took a good ride on the fixies. The total trip was just under 23 miles, destination: the Velodrome at Bloomer Park... and maybe some lunch and a beer or two at Rochester Mills brewery along the way.

We were really hoping something was going to be going on at the velodrome; a race, some people practicing, but when we rolled up no one was around.

Cautiously (shit is steep) we made our way into the infield. The very center portion of the infield was paved. The only provision for bike storage were two long red bar sets to hang bikes by their seat, canopies were set up with chairs under them for the racers, and a low metal fence circled the inside of track.

At first the banked turns were extremely intimidating, standing at the base of the 44 degree sloped turns (it's like looking at a wall) your asking yourself, should I really do this?

Why not - starting out at the bottom of the track, building up speed and carefully venturing higher and higher around the turns, I was starting to get the hang of it. After a few times around I found my self leaning deeper into the turns and wishing for a taller gear to go faster. It was fun, really fun. I couldn't help but smile as I gasped for air and prayed for traction along the steepest part of the bank.


According to the track's website there's an intro to riding class. I'd really like to do this (not to mention it's free). Also, I really want to watch a race - and maybe someday participate in a race.

edit for video of intro to riding class: youtube

Clinton River Trail Ride

Matt met me at my house and we rode south a few miles to meet up with the Clinton River Trail. We followed the trail all the way up into Rochester and stopped for a beer and a sandwich. Had two more beers and then rode home in the dark, this time, taking the more direct way. Here's the GPS.

Total Distance: 19.23 mi
Elevation Gain: 796 ft
Ave Speed: 12.6 mph
Max Speed: 25.0 mph

The Giant Slip and Slide

Going down all at once was a bad idea. Everyone got up holding a leg, or a an elbow, or a forehead, ouch.

We made the slide out of 10'x25' 6mil vinyl sheeting, cutting it down the middle so that the slip and slide was 50' long, and staked it pointing down the slight grade in the back yard. It was a good time - and probably the only way I was able to survive the 92F/90% humidity.

More fixie pics

Photo credit goes to Matt Denner.

This Morning Joe

"Do you want me to make coffee?"
"I will not leave here with out coffee."
"Well, then I'm not making any." Lisa said, as she started to grind the beans.

Lisa has a way of being both endearing and difficult at the same time.

Down hill in traffic is scary

I did just over 13 miles on the fixie today. My plan was to go all the way to Rochester Mills Brewery and take these awesome paved bike trails that parallel the roads in this area, but when the route I had planed out turned out to be a dirt road I detoured a little and then turned around.

The dirt road is marked in red above, and is part of a state wide bike trail system called "Rails to Trails." The 'X' marks the location of the brewery.

There was a lot of elevation to deal with. On one hand uphill is hard (single speed), on the other hand down hill is scary (no brakes), and down hill into traffic is even scarier (no brakes!).

When I got home Lisa thought the brewery was a great idea, so we ended up going after all. This time by car though. So here's some pic's from the brewery.

Hard time deciding?

They were out of IPA, so I got the Wit, so did Lisa.

Every time we go here it makes me want to build something with bricks.

My Fixie

I've determined my bike is a 1977 UO8 Peogeot. I'm all done upgrading it now, lets go ride bikes!