Get Together: June 14 at Sea Salt

Bikes, Blogs and Beer Still Life
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

The bike bloggers of MPLS will be gathering at Sea Salt on Thursday, June 14 around about happy hour to share stories, get reacquainted and talk about those that don't show up.

If you blog for BikeMN, MPLS Bike Alliance, Cycle TC or some other fringe independent blog (like me at the moment) you are warmly invited to join us. Just look for bikey-looking people and we'll make you feel welcome. The pass word is "beers for bloggers".

Thanks Wheeldancer for the nudge on this.

It Might Be Time

It might be time to get another Beers for Bloggers together, what with Spring in the air and the trails clogged with pale-legged people.

I propose a get-together next week - perhaps Thursday, May 3 after work - at Sea Salt. This might the 5th time or so that we've done this, I guess, and it's always a good time so hopefully a few people can make it. Some usually get food, others just stay for a beverage and a chat and then head on down the road. Whatever; it's casual and no pressure and the company is good.

Hopefully we can get a few cyber friends as well as real-life friends over to come on over, including (but not limited to):

• Cycle Twin Cities
• Sigrid
• Minneapolis Bike Coalition bloggers
• Reuben
• Fat Tire MN
• Wheel Dancer and the Old Bag
• MN Bike Trail Navigator
• Grease Rag
• The gentlemen of Hiawatha Cyclery
• Brother Yam
• MPLS Cycle Chic

We put the welcome mat out for everybody, so if you are in the neighborhood and want to stop in, by all means please do so.

Back in the Game

We returned this afternoon from my Father's funeral. Suffice it to say that he was one hell of a guy and will be missed by many, many people. Rest assured that the world is a better place because he was here. We, the family, owe a debt of gratitude to the staff of Columbia St. Mary's Hospital and Horizon Hospice, as well as countless friends of my parents and their advisors.

I thought I was prepared for this - this has been coming for some time, and thanks to my EMR training, it seems that I knew as much (or more) than the nurses re: what was really going on towards the end. In spite of that, the funeral itself felt... surreal - like I was watching it rather than participating in it. Knowledge is not necessarily power, after all. My brother did an exceptional job on the eulogy; I don't think I could have pulled that off with the skill that he demonstrated, so that's appreciated.

It's truly a blessing to have the time to your parents in their "golden" years. I left work in July not knowing what the future held, but the time was quickly filled with a bunch of hobbies and interests that ended up getting back-burnered because of family issues. That's a high-class problem, though. Most people have to take FMLA or go to the favor-bank to get time off of work. Unlike my siblings, I didn't have that problem, so I am grateful for that as well.

I think things will be settling down for the time-being, so I am looking forward to getting back into more of a routine, though there will surely be trips home to conduct some business and/or check on things.

In the near-term,  art welding is back on the agenda (CAFAC was great about working through my previous cancelation and re-start ).  I am also about 90% of the way to becoming a Skywarn Storm Spotter. The 90% of the effort is obtaining a HAM radio license (not exactly easy). Now I only have to complete a 4-hour Metro Skywarn training to get in on this good clean fun.  I have also thrown my hat in the ring for radio support on the Ironman ride in May and will look for more radio support roles going forward. HAM radio is not exactly easy to get into, but once you are in, you're in - the license is good for 10 years. It also seems to be endlessly fascinating, so I am proud of my license and look forward to using it for public safety and emergency communications in the future.

Hopefully, there will be rides on nice days followed by libations and sustenance at Sea Salt in the near future as well.

Be well, ride safe and count your blessings.

BEER ON!

Velocipete has polled the masses and concluded that Thursday, June 9 (Bike/Walk day) will be next Beer for Bloggers day! Ride your bike to work, then toast your sustainable lifestyle with a cold one at Sea Salt.

Hooray! Thanks, Velocipete.

Sea Salt, 5:00ish. Be there or be square, Daddy-O.

Riv Reader

The Rivendell Reader is out. Check it.

Thanks, Bro Yam for the use of the photo and the fellowship at Sea Salt on Thursday evening.

Reminder - Beers for Bloggers on May 5

Facism
Originally uploaded by Matty Lang

Just a quick reminder that I have a beers for bloggers event on the calendar for tomorrow at Sea Salt. I scheduled this before I realized it conflicted with Greaserag, so we'll be careful to avoid that going forward, but I plan to be there tomorrow nonetheless.

If anyone can make it, that would be swell. I'll keep an eye out for bikey looking people nad hopefully see some over there.

It's Time... Beers for Bloggers

Joe and Kay
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

Despite the near-hurricane we are experiencing today and the forecast for yet more slush tonight, I feel spring in the air.

I propose an informal get-together at Sea Salt next week Thursday, May 5, to celebrate Spring and reconnect after the long winter. I'll have the welcome mat for my cyber (and sometimes real life) friends and hope to see you there if you can make it.

This means you, Brother Yam, Rueben, VelociPete, Wheel Dancer, Jim (both Jims, actually), Lowrah, CycleTC, Rigtenzen, Sigrid, et al.

Hopefully at least a few of you can make this...

Could Spring Really be Here?

Sunset
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

I hauled the Old Clanky out of the garage last night after dinner for a short spin around Lake Nokomis with the Spouse. We both needed to check the box on our 30 days of biking commitment, and it was a nice evening, so we went for a ramble around the Lake.

Based on the number of people we saw riding, walking or jogging, Spring might finally be here.

During our ride, I ran across somebody I recognized by their bike, although I had never met them personally. I had traded email with this person regarding a certain frame that I am contemplating. They are not common, and this person has one and offered me the chance to see it in person before I make a purchase. I happened to glance at the downtube as we passed each other and hollered out his name, and low and behold, it was, in fact, my email contact.

The bike is lovely, and I might just "need" one. It was fun making a random connection on a little evening ride like this, too. I also saw two other people I know, and they tipped me that Sea Salt is open for business once more, so we'll have to add that to the list of possible destinations.

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I got an email yesterday from an e-friend that I have not seen since the times of summer breezes and beers at Sea Salt. His message was a small unexpected ray of sunshine on what was otherwise a low gray day. It contained news of winter health challenges as well as the promise of leisurely county rides in better days ahead.

A fitting, timely and welcome message. It's hard to believe it's been slightly over a year since my realization that I need to do some serious work on becoming more perfect from now on or it's going to be a prolonged and unhappy state of affairs. Things are going better on that front but it's still a struggle at times.

I feel, however, as though the current of time is accelerating and carrying me more quickly toward that metaphorical waterfall which will fling me into a new life and new opportunities. A chance to take in some longer rides, explore some new territory and generally get reacquainted with what's good in this world and what's worthwhile. In a lot of ways, it feels similar to the last few weeks of school, looking ahead to a glorious summer break.

A few new and interesting projects are looming, the snow banks are now receding, and that light at the end of tunnel doesn't look quite so much like the train.

Huck Finning the Blog

Anyone who has ever completed a beginning Lit. class will most likely recall being shepherded through Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. One of the most memorable points of the story, as best I can recall, is where Tom convinces his friends (including Huck) just how fun it is to whitewash fences, and he graciously gives them each a chance to experience it for themselves, saving himself from the work of actually whitewashing a fence on his own.

I use the term "Huck Finned" at work now and then to describe situations where somebody convinces others to do their work. I retrospect, I guess I should call it "Tom Sawyering", but I don't, it's "Huck Finning an assignment" in my shop. Now, thanks to my own procrastination and the fickleness of the muses, I am a little ashamed to admit that I have apparently Huck Finned my own blog.

Last week Velocipete, Brother Yam, Jim and Kay of Jim's Phredly blog and yours truly all met for a nice MPLS Bike Blogger summit at Sea Salt. Cold ones were hoisted, stories were told and laughs were enjoyed by all present. Now I see that both Yam and Velocipete have beaten me to the post here and here, respectively. They both did such nice write ups I am not sure what else to say except "yeah - me too".

This meet up was inspired by a cycling goal of slowing down and having more fun on my commutes, which think is as worthy as any speed or distance goal.

This was a lot of fun despite the slow drizzle of tent worms that came down. Hopefully we'll something like this again at some point. I can see, though, that I'll have to bring it up a notch to be as timely as my esteemed colleagues on the download.

Not that I am overly competitive or anything...

I Know Where the Cool Kids Will Be

Today is my birthday, although not much celebrating happened other than eating part of a much-appreciated cake purchased by wife.

I propose a rendezvous at Sea Salt this Friday for beers and fellowship. I'll be there around 4:30 and hope to see some others as well. If it's nice, I'll be outside. If the weather is poor, I'll be inside. If nobody shows up, I'll be the guy drinking alone.

Yam, Velocipete, Sigrid, nameless lurkers - stop by if you are so inclined - we will welcome spring and toast our victories.

UPDATE:

This was a success! Thanks Brother Yam, Velocipete and Jim & Kay for taking the time to come and sample the good life on a fine evening. Hope to see you all at the wiener dog convention tomorrow...

Glorious Sunday

Crab Apples
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

For those of you that don't think blogs should be about what you did yesterday, skip this post...

The photo doesn't these trees justice - the crab apples were absolutely rioting in Longfellow this weekend. We spent a good part of Sunday just riding around, doing some errands and sampling spring...

A slow meander from the Parkway through So. MPLS to Mr. Michael to drop off some carnauba wax, followed by a slow meander to Half Price Books to liquidate some assets, followed by a slow meander to Sea Salt to sample some ice cream offerings, followed by a slow meander back to the house so I could doze off in front of the Fleche-Wallonne race coverage on Versus.

Molly was an absolute mountain goat getting herself up the Marshal Ave, Hill on her Breezer, and we were rewarded with a hearty "Bike Love" at the top. Nice day all around.

A Few Goals

Locking Up
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

Every now and then I put a few personal goals out here as a way to dare myself into doing something. I did well on most of my cycling goals in 2009, so I'll look to extend that behavior in 2010. Rather than set a mileage goal, I have opted instead for some more performance based metrics, I guess. My base commute is only 10.4 miles or so round trip, so unless I take the long way home and do some serious distance on weekends, I won't be a high-mileage guy, most likely.

I think rather than setting a mileage goal I am going to focus on having more fun this year. I have caught myself racing to and/or from work when I don't really need to, or fussing over the fact that I am feeling slow or that my legs feel heavier on a given day than they did previously. This season, one of my big goals is to simply RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE. It wouldn't kill me, for instance, to stop at Calhoun on the way home and watch the water for a little bit, or stop for a beer at Sea Salt if I ride the River Road home. Or to just slow down and look around rather than bombing along in defensive rider mode. That's not my default personality type, so it's not going to be an easy goal for me, but it's one I am going to work on, both in the cycling and personal world this year.

Okay - I guess I do have a mileage goal, but it's not a number. It's "as many miles as I can reasonably get in". To me that's going to mean taking my bike to work every day I can and doing as much errand running and recreational rides as I can fit in. We'll see what the mileage adds up to, but since I haven't really tracked this before I doubt I'll be disappointed by the result.

Another goal would be to do a few more group rides. I have done a variety of group rides, ranging from organized tours to Saturday shop rides, to TCBC club rides and even Critical Mass style beer-drinking meanders. I am not a naturally out-going person but I learn something every time I have done one of these things, so I am going to challenge myself to do a few more this year.

Final goal: Commute season from March 1 through Nov. 30

That's enough goal setting for now. Don't want to jinx anything.

Sunday

Molly and I went for a slow, meandering ride today. The weather was finally a little warm and it was wonderfully sunny as well. We headed west after breakfast and birded Lakewood Cemetery (American Redstart and Caspian terns were the best birds at Lakewood for us), then stopped for a light lunch at The Tin Fish on Lake Calhoun. That was nice - I had never been there; kind of like Sea Salt in Minnehaha Park (casual, open air seating, etc.) but right on the lake. Pretty reasonably priced, too.

From there we ventured north past Cedar Lake, through Theodore Wirth park and circumnavigated Wirth lake before heading back to the Greenway and over to Freewheel for a coffee before returning home. All told it was a leisurely 25 miles or so.

This was the maiden voyage for my brand-new Keen bike sandals. I had resisted these because they seem over-priced, but I got a 15% off coupon from REI on Thursday at the Bike/Walk event so I splurged a little on Friday and picked these up (mission accomplished, REI).

I am very pleased with these things. For as much walking and time off the bike as we had today, they were great to walk in. They do fit quite a bit narrower than my old Keen's, but I actually like that more than the regular Keen sandals, which my feet seem to roll around on quite a bit because they are so wide. They are easy to engage and disengage in the pedals, too. I expect these will quickly become my favorite cycling shoes, and once it's warm, I bet I'll use these a lot more than my Sidi MTB shoes.

Tomorrow starts another work week, but I've got some travel coming up so that will shorten the week some, and then it's into Memorial day weekend. Speaking of which, we saw that Lakewood Cemetery is having historic tours on Memorial Day. We may actually stop by if we are around because it's beautiful in Lakewood and whenever else would you get to tour a cemetery?