I saw grass!!

It wasn't green by any stretch of the word, but it was there, and it was visible. Definitely something that gives hope to the approaching spring (and improved cycling conditions horray!). I have recently taken a bike that has been in the family for generations (my dad used it, so that makes it plural) and had seen better days, and I gave it new life. I used it after I sold my bike back in London (that I had grown out of), and after moving here, I repainted it in British Racing Green with gold trim (it was neon snot green with silver patches where it was starting to rust). It served me well for a while, and shortly after beginning my employment at a bike shop, the parts on it started to disintegrate. So I stripped everything off the frame threw out most of it, and put the frame on the wall in the garage for another day. A few times I was tempted to throw it in with the load as we were heading to the dump, but I decided to hang onto it.


This spring I got the urge to build a single speed bike. So I perused the catalogs at work (having forgotten about the frame in my garage) looking for an economical steel frame that would work well for my intended purposes. Well there weren't any that were quite economical enough for me. Then one day while I was tidying up in the garage, I saw the old frame hanging on the wall. **light goes on**. I quickly cleaned it up and took it into work, Finding some nice cheap parts in the parts bins and putting on a different fork so I could use better brakes I began turning it into a sort of Frankenbike. Slowly it took shape and with some borrowed wheels from one of my other bikes, I was able to take it out for a spin and rode it to school the next day.




There is something different about riding a bike that is truly yours, that you built, you fell like you know the bike inside and out. You notice the smallest noise, or the slightest amount of play in the headset (which had to be adjusted). Riding with only one gear was also an interesting experience, as I'm used to having at least 14 to chose from, and as many as 27. The original gear that I chose was a little too big and found it a bit too hard when the wind started up in my face. Changing gears is a bit more labor intensive now, but I think I've found one that will work nicely.
It is a bike that I built to be a commuter, that looks cheap and is cheap to minimize the chances of someone stealing it. But there is something special about it, it's not just "a cheap bike" it's the cheap bike I built. It took my father around town, to school and work, and now it does the same for me. It has served my family well, and looks like it will continue to do so for at least a few more years. Whatever form it may take on.

Pictures will follow soon.

First go at Skiing with a trailer.

Yesterday after classes, Jess, Abby and I were able to get out and go skiing for a bit, I've been itching to try out our new trailer (mentioned in the previous entry). So we got all loaded up and drove out to LaBarrier park (my favorite local XC Ski spot) and hit the trails.

It obviously took a bit longer to get it all assembled and ready to go, but it wasn't that bad. Outside, it felt alot smaller than looking at it in the basement. So we strapped abby in, I put on the harness and off we went. It was much better than I was expecting, not as heavy as I had imagined and handled well, the only tough part was finding a nice rhythm since it wants to keep going between strides. We flew down some little hills and had a great time.

Also, There's room for two in there, so if someone out there wants to come along sometime, we can give it a try.

Nordic Cab Ultra deluxe multi season sport combo package.

Well our fancy new trailer system arrived and I've been able to put it all together. It looks really nice and should work well, It does however feel a bit heavy for skiing, but we'll see how it goes. It's just one more reason to get excited for spring! I'm sure I'll be posting some pictures as soon as we give it a try and a review of how well it works. It did go together smoothly and has some nice features to it that I like already. I'm particularly impressed with the quality of the hubs on the bike /jogger system wheels. They are surprisingly smooth compared to the other child carriers I've seen.
We might try to get out for a bit tomorrow (Louis Riel Day here in Manitoba) for a bit, but the forecast doesn't look too promising. Which has been the story for a while here, and the one nice warmer day we had this week (saturday) it rained! making the roads a lot of fun. So much for washing the car a couple days earlier.

Communication woes

Back in November I placed an order with one of our suppliers for a bike trailer system that can be used for xc-skiing also hoping to get it before our trip to Alberta in December, the rep for that company assured me that they had plenty in stock and ready to ship..... well the day after ordering it, I received a phone call from the distributor saying that they don't have any in stock and they are expecting their first shipment mid-december, and they put it on a watch list for us. Oh well, no luck for our vacation.

Soon after returning from Alberta, I checked the availability, and they puched back their date to mid-january, then mid-january came along and it was expeceted at the beginning of february. I'm starting to think that I won't see it until summer. I had been quite excited to get out skiing with it this year as Abby is too big for our old system (me wearing her like a back pack).

Well I finally received a phone call that they had arrived, so I told them to go ahead with the order I had placed in November. The reply? What order? uggg.... So I had to get another form from the rep to fill out again (took about a week and a half for him to fax it). I filled it out and sent it out yesterday. Today, I get a fax back today saying that 4 of the items I had ordered were not available for a staff discount order (a few tools) and another part they were out of stock on (the rep had assured me that anything in the catalogue was available on the program). So it's down to two items, Im just glad the trailer is one of them. So out of 7 items, I get 2. Hopefully.

St. Vital Park XC skiing

Just a little not about the quality of trails over at St. Vital park. I went there yesterday to get a bit of exerceise and some fresh air. Many of the parks around the city have groomed XC ski trails to use so I decided to check it out seems how it's only a couple minutes from my house.

Well, much to my disapointment, the trails were in horrible condition, many of the sections were just smooth from people walking on them, others were right along side the road so all the nice sand and rocks were kicked up onto the trail (great for ski bases). Until we get another big dump of snow, the trails at St. Vital park aren't likely to get much better.

As I was leaving the park, I saw another guy walking in, skis and poles over the shoulder, probably excited to go for a couple loops. Sorry bud, prepare to be disappointed.

On a brighter note, it was nice to get out for a bit, though it is more fun when Jess and Abby come with me. We'll have to wait a little while before we can take Abby again though as she is too big for the baby bjorn that I used before. Hopefully the trailer I ordered will arrive soon with the ski attatchment so we can take her along again.

Great little website!

Just a little link for those of you who have a few blogs to watch. A website called www.bloglines.com allows you subscribe to blogs and other RSS feed type sites, it then informs you if it's been updated or not. Thanks Theresa for the link! I tried a stand-alone RSS program before, but since I use a few different computers, I find this way the best to go. You can log in from wherever. Anyways, give it a try, you'll like it.

Too Cold for biking?....yes.

Well, this morning I really didn't feel like waiting at a bus stop so instead, I hopped on my bike (it had been a while because of all this extreme windchill stuff we've been getting. With that said, I have logged about 200km so far this year in the snow.

Anyways, back to this morning. This morning was a nice balmy -14 and a slight breeze so I went ahead and rode to school. No mishaps or anything, and I arrived safely, fingers a little cold but in good shape. Then I spent the next 4 hours working on a lab assignment. Now it's time for work, so I go back to my locker, get my cycling gear back on, head out the door, and wham! where did this wind come from? A cold north wind was coming right my way. Oh well, gotta get to work right? Well, I'll tell you, that was one strong wind, if I didn't have my OR Ninjaclava, ski goggles, water/wind proof jacket and pants (also great for keeping sweat nice and close to your body), boots and 2 pairs of gloves on, I would have gotten a bit of the frost bite for sure.

The only real downside to wearing the face cover is that it restricts air flow, so I have to open my mouth really wide to get enough air, not the most comfortable thing to be doing. Well, 20 min(or so) later, I arrive at work. my boss shaking his head with a slight grin on his face for riding today.
Well, further into the day, the wind kept picking up and the temperature kept dropping, so I had to call the support car (Jess and Abby) to come get me. It was too darn cold for me. Many will call me crazy, while others will call me a wuss. Either way, it feels great to get some exercise outdoors. School has had me swamped lately, so we havn't been able to get out skiing since our trip to Alberta.

So, hopefully we'll be seeing some warmer weather soon so I don't have to get Jess to pack up Abby and come get me....... thanks dear.