Cycling Lyfestyle

Awesome ride home yesterday!

2012-01-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

Laid another set of first tracks on all the snow covered black label up in Ankeny on the way home yesterday. The piece before Tori Lane is roughly 3/4 of a mile and it was a zone 5 killer deep snow:) North Syc was fuckin perfect..with a couple open dirt spots. Tonight its Center or black label.

Tuesday snow ride home

2012-01-18T05:34:00.000-08:00

3 ta 4 inches and 8 through some of the drifts. That fucking NW wind was working my ass over pushing the 32x17. Great resistance ride for sure. Ran into Tobin, Vandelune, and Sparegrove (I'm sure I just butchered his name).

Sundays Church of Dirt

2012-01-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

January 15th sunny and 50 degrees! Banner laps, pancakes, sausages, Bacon, fire and beer:)

Riding everyday now!

2012-01-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

65 degrees on January 5th....uhm fuck yeah I played hooky!

Peace

7 day's on followed by 7 day's off:)

2011-12-19T07:44:00.001-08:00

I've ridden twice this week, hoping to ride down to Cummings Tap tonight for some taco's. The past week went something like the photo's below:)

My SS'n,, snow biking, little tirerd, machine is ready to tear shit up!,

2011-12-09T18:52:00.001-08:00

My SS'n,, snow biking, little tired, machine is ready to tear shit up!,, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Ready for Teri and I to go tear shit up tomorrow:) 1.5hrs tonight in the cool December awesomeness! Westy and Sue you guys fucking rock, I was shedding white dog hair for blocks:) Pots and Pan bike wheel holder coming soon! #end

Bar Mitts....A must own for winter Iowa riding

2011-12-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

That little wing velcro's over your grip, well if your an Ergon grip geek as I am it just don't work. Velcro isn't long enough for Ergon's girth:)

Look at that girth! I actually tried wrapping around the bar end too, velcro does go around the bar end. But alas it won't stay on, just slides off....fail #1.

Solution #1. Rubber band! Cheap, easily acquirable:)

This works, now just to see how long the rubber band will hold up in Iowa's cold winter and against lots of use. I could have bought some velcro and used that, but again I'm a cheap type of guy:)

Money! On Iowa's wintery cold rides I will swear by these. 35 degree's and below. A pair of lite gloves ( I wear my long fingered summer gloves) will keep your hands sweaty in these babies! If it goes below 10 degrees I'll use a medium weight glove. Weather your riding gravel, (by the way this particular pair of Barr Mitts will work on your drop bars as well) or crushing frozen single track a pair of these will be your best winter riding purchase for the money. Stop down at Rasmussen Bike Shop for your very own pair today!

Peace

Preparing for the HELL rides:)

2011-12-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

Picked Izzy up early yesterday then headed home to do some serious cleaning in the garage, bike room and basement in general. My hunting shit thrown all over the wash room, the garage in complete shambles, and the bike room needing a makeover for the trainer shit season. Took us 3hrs but Izzy and I managed to gett'r done. The garage can now fit a vehical once again, the bike room has been transformed into what can be used as a spin bike session area (above photo). I have 4 tubs of old tours on VHS that I'm sure only a handful of people have seen all.
After all that Blackford and I got our asses out to burn some battery time in the woods. I followed due to Ricks hiway lights, and we didn't fuck around. We hit all the flats forward and backward in 1:17:00 including leaving from the shop and returning to it. Blacky only went down once but he was riding like a little fucking kid fo sho. Hell he was jumping everything insite:) Pretty awesome to see guys really enjoying the off season. 5 days in with no beer or sweets and I've already lost 5lbs. I'll most likely get down to 140ish then I'll have to start on some weights (my favorite thing in the world to do) to get some muscle weight back on and be at my normal 150ish:) Not sure if I'll go hit Banner tonight with the guys or not. We'll just have to wait and see, I do want 2hrs today wether inside or out.

Peace

Dirt bike douche bag:)

2011-12-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

Suited up last night for a ride through the flats. Put the lights on just in case I didn't quite make it out before dark. As soon as I got through the first turn in Denmans I knew I'd fucked up a couple of weeks ago. You see I had a run in with a young dip shit and his dirt bike. Lets just say I was not nice after he told me "I don't see your name on these trails". Well it seems that after a day's rain on Saturday, he and a four wheeler friend made their way through 80% of Denmans and all of Squirrels nest in some nice wet conditions so the corners are pretty much all blown out.

I'm hoping he has had his revenge. I didn't get pissed as I rode through it was more like I simply blamed my big fucking mouth for what had happened. I DO know where the little fucker lives though:)

Trail was in great frozen shape last night. Heading back out tonight with Blackford and again with the Wednesday Taco crowd. I'm getting at least an hour a day of some sort of activity...it is December...my crunch month:)

Peace

Back to LIFE!

2011-12-05T06:25:00.001-08:00

This old Raliegh Capri is going to be my new/old single speed beater bike. Riding the fixie is awesome but some of the steep as hills in Sherman Hills area suck going down breakless:) Haven't had a SS roadie rig in a couple years now. Its time to get back to basics.

Peace

Mellow Sunday

2011-12-04T13:54:00.001-08:00

Spent the morning hanging in the garage pounding coffee and doing some welding. This 2011B is an address for a lady in Austin Texas.

also whipped one up for Johnny Conlan. I think I may have to bring it back and use something else inbetween the 1 & 3...that bigger gap is driving me nuts.

Around 12:30 I decided it was time for a fixie ride. As Teri and Izzy were out doing pictures. 30 degrees sure does feel nice compared to 17! Did some City streets mixed with black label. Really didn't want to go outside but couldn't bring myself too sit on the spin bike down stairs.

Got home lit a fire and turned on some football. You can see by this photo it has the same effect on Bianchi as it does with me:) Spoiled rotten puppy dog!

No presants under that tree just yet, maybe next week. Comfy with the fire. I think its going to be a Jenga kinda night by the fire. See if Teri or I can beat little Izzy.

Chilly Bitch!

2011-12-02T06:47:00.000-08:00

17 degrees on this mornings ride in:)Didn't sleep very fucking well again last night, just can't seem to shut my brain off. And December is always a dry month for me so no drinks to dull the thinking:)

I shoulda waited for the awesome sunrise that was coming up over this frosty field.

A shot of urban development. This used to be a sweet little slice of single track heaven for my morning commute. Now its a black label hiway. Oh well at least they didn't build some fucking commercial trucking parking lot I guess.

I'm still just a "freegan" at heart, I can't leave anything that is remotely usable lay on the side of the road. 8" long 2" reciever hitch, free!

Peace

Sweet ride home!

2011-12-01T17:59:00.001-08:00

A little flurry action happened on the way home. Hit Sycamore, was more then a little greasy:) Good for the skillz of this old man. Ran into Fuller doing some trail work for the Syc. 4/8 race on this Saturday. Gonna be an interesting race for sure with Saturdays weather predictions:) Rain and snow...good luck!

Just a little messy when I got home. Washed, and put fenders on for tomorrow mornings commute. Hope I don't eat shit on some black ice:)

my new MiNewt Mini 300 for the helmet. Gotta be better then my old shit! Lighter for sure.

A little Jenga action with my Ladies before bedtime for Izzy:) Izzy is pretty damn good:)

Peace

Izzy's first driving lesson down at Grandpa Pottorffs farm.

2011-12-01T05:13:00.001-08:00

Izzy's first driving lessons down at Grandpa Pottorffs farm., originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Took Izzy out to my Dads place the day after Turkey Day for some Grandpa time. Too bad he had to work. So we did the next best thing...driving lessons around the fields just like I did back in the day:)

Peace

December 1st and no snow to be found:)

2011-12-01T04:39:00.000-08:00

Some folks are barking at the moon, praying to the snow Gods nightly for the white shit that will be here soon enough. Me... hell I'm just happy to be pedaling home tonight without the snow:) Been sick the last couple of day's and really lazy due to that, not a hundy yet but I'm riding home anyway. Gonna hit Sycamore then head home to weld some gifts up for some folks in Texas. High of 40 today! Snow maybe in the mix for Saturday so I really need to get over what ever this crap is. Also need to get back on that shitty tooth paste Sensidine, it doesn't leave your teeth feeling very clean or fresh. But if they don't fucking ache after a long cold ride I don't care how fresh they are.

Peace

2011-10-03T07:36:00.001-07:00

2011-10-03T07:27:00.001-07:00

2011-10-03T07:25:00.001-07:00

2011-10-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

Its almost time to kill shit!

2011-09-28T03:34:00.000-07:00

Damn haven't been riding a whole lot. Welding on a daily basis now, making some money..not extra mind you. It is spent on fucking gas...hence why I should be riding more. Exspecially with this awesome fall weather we're having right now. Izzy Bday party this Saturday along with opeing day of Bow season. I'd better not shoot one unless its the big dog. So much to do at the house before winter but I'm really not all that enthusiastic about getting it done. Although I should be. Oh well. Riding home today and I'm not welding shit this afternoon. A nice long ride to help burn all the fucking beer I've been drinking while welding...this could be a bad thing...serious! But then again....

Peace

2011-09-10T07:08:00.001-07:00

I can haul 6qrts of Black Rasberries today!

2011-06-24T07:52:00.001-07:00

I can haul 6qrts of Black Rasberries today!, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

What an awesome cool commute in this morning. I almost picked some berries before work:) Teri and I are hooking up this afternoon for a tag team on an area thats huge. We should easily get 10qrts. today. Izzy is heading to the Dells this weekend with her kick ass Aunt, Uncle and Cousins. Teri and I will be riding all weekend long inbetween working.

Peace

12 cups on a rainy ride home:)

2011-06-23T07:05:00.001-07:00

12 cups on a rainy ride home:), originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Sweet find on my way home from work yesterday. I've found a new honey hole for black raspberries:) Working the shop tonight, getting the low down on the MS150 route for Teri and I to work. Should be a good time if the rain holds off. Sucks we couldn't go to the Midwest Mountain Bike Festival..but we'll be closer to getting Teri Sue that cross bike she wants so badly.

Peace

Trappers cycling tattoo

2011-06-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

Trappers cycling tattoo, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Great day yesterday! Found 8cups of black raspberries in about 20mins. Going again this afternoon. I'm looking for around 20qrts to freeze for pie's all year long:) This is my little Bro's buddies cycling tattoo that I thought was pretty damn sweet. Think I'll go and take that big tree outta HillSide today also. Maybe see just how wet and tall everything else is with a hike and Bianchi:)

Peace

New shirt design coming soon!

2011-06-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

We'll be putting the "www.recycledartwerks.com" in the middle of the bars. Now to decide wether this will be the front or back:) And of course get the web page up and running. Hoping to have all this done by fall. Hopefully picking black raspberries this afternoon. Need to make sure I can get off from working the shop first. Teri Sue and I will be working the MS150 this Saturday and I'll also be working the Copper Creek Tri on Sunday. Grandma needs a big fat pie!

Peace

Holy SMOKES! What a Fun packed 3 day's!!

2011-06-20T06:34:00.001-07:00

Friday afternoon the plan was to shoot Walnut Creek with Fat Man and Jim Davis. I went home loaded up and headed over to Jims place. Upon packing the coolers with beers we were well on our way to a comedy show. This was Fat Mans first creek float in a kayak:)

After a break of courage we were ready to put in at the back side of Campbell Park. Fat Man was doing good for a first timer...lots of backwards floating but he'd made it over all the rollers safely. Which is exactly where I/we thought he may go in the drink:)

All good things come to and end, Fat Man tasting the drink, for the second time:)

Jim also got a little tasting as well:)

a beer break was in need after some more floating:)

Fat Man looks like a pro!

By the time we made it to 86th st we were dry on beers. Easy enough, sand bar it and hike the 1/2 block to the gas station for nesseities:) After getting beer and eating chips and beef jerky we were on our way again to Pal Joey's for the pull out. Fat Man went in the drink one more time....then saying fuck it and pulling out by TR's Pub. Jim and I floated on down, loaded up and went and picked Fat Man up. All in All a very killer day of floating with good friends:)

Days photos

Saturday started with a trip out to work for a few hours. Then Teri and I saddled up for a ride out to the Marina. Stopped at Beaverdale Cycles for a look at the sale goods before our ride. Lots of good ole bikes there:) While riding towards the Trestle Bridge off of MLK I spotted a pretty large patch of Black Raspberries. Setting the plan for what was going down after our ride. Teri and I stopped for a few beers on the ride. First one at Party Cove bench...not many boats out with the overcast day. Next one was at the Marina while we dreamed of owning a house boat:) Then the last one was clear back on the cut threw to Morning Star Drive. We went in towards the river to find a couple of kids smoking some weed. Major flash back:) Across the water at the powerline cut to Sycamore trail sat a couple dudes with a homemade jonboat/jet ski, propelled by a snowmobile motor. That thing would almost stand straight up when they gunned it. They even taunted a couple jet skiers coming up the river....the skiers wanted no part in racing:) Rolling up Beaver Ave we run into the Fat Tire Fun Rider's at Saints Pub. Saw Lopez and stopped for another beer with him. Upon leaving we ran into Sumptner..just who Teri has been looking for. Teri wanted one of the Bike Iowa cycling caps really bad...been talking about it for weeks. Today was her day. Come to find out Scotts a trading man also:) Thanks Scott! Time to head home and go pick some black raspberries, while Teri went and picked up Izzy from Grandmas:)

I drove to Hy-Vee on MLK and rode in on the Grey Ghost.

The berries where huge! I was as giddy as a school boy thinking about this pie:) But upon being 40ft. from my bike I couldn't see it. So I worked my way back up to the trail and SON OF A BITCH! Some fuckhead stole the Ghost! Now pissed, I see some guys's (Aaron and Ron) coming from MLK and ask if they'd seen the Ghost they stated no. But were heading towards Ankeny and if they came across it they'd get it back for me. Cool! I see a couple on the bridge so I go to ask them. They had seen it, with a little black girl riding with her sister tagging behind. Sum bitch! I head back to the car to drive up Euclid heading towards 6th Ave to see if they came up off the trail. Nope! So I headed to all the low income apartments off Mlk and Douglas, drove around... nothing...! Fuck it I'm heading home. Make it to Drake...

when I get a call from an unknown number...Hhhhmm. I pick it up, it was Aaron...they had took my bike from a little black girl and had it clear out at I35/80 and the pull out to Morning Star Drive....FUCKING AWESOME! 30mins. had went by and it seemed like a day. I was now super happy! I stop and buy a sixer for my new found friends. Upon getting to the lot come to find out niether of them drink...oh well hugs and a free tune up when needed then:) Still smiling:)

So it only made sence that I make a Smiley Face pie that night, cause it turned out to be another Great Day!

Sunday's Father's Day was awesome! Started out with a drive over to Beaverdale Cycles to pick up my old Thunder Jet. I had to sell this a couple of years ago to Ed, I was Great of him to kindly sell it back to me for what he bought it for. As it turns out Ed is a trading man.....sweet:) The day then proceeded to take us to Raccoon River Park for a mid day's swim and food afterwards. Johnny C, Mary, Eric and Matt along with all their kids played for an hour or so in the lake before it was grill time.

Teri, Mary, Eden, Bowen, Izzy, and Landon.

Rib-eye's, filet minon, brats, beef burgers, baked grillen beans and portabellas

Matt eyeing up the grub:) Skid reloading a tall boy.

After grubbing Bob and I took the boats out on Walnut Creek. Many Thanks to Brutha Matt for watching Izzy at the beach while Teri Sue drove us to the drop off:)

Skid showing his surfing skills. Mine sucked, this little wave ate me up and spit me out 40yrds down stream:) I came up with less....hat and shades gone:( Oh well I didnt' drown:)

Days photos

Recycled Artwerks web page coming soon!

2011-06-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

I really need to get my shit together. But as a simple man I'm in no hurry:) Looking into trademarking along with a few other things. Jesus time flies! Only 4 medium tshirts left...so I need to get more ordered along with lady cuts and a couple different designs...so fucking much for being simple ehy:)

Peace

Hit up the Cumming Tap lastnight for Taco's

2011-06-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Left the shop at 7pm with a couple beers in my pockets for the ride out and back from Cummings Tap. But didn't stop on the way out cause it looked like a storm was brewing to the south. Made it there around 7:45pm plenty of folks out on the patio. Saw Riggs'y and the Wests. Went in bs'd with Sam and Bob, with intentions of throwing down a couple taco's and a beer then hitting the lean to for my pocket specials. Lopez shows up so another beer went down and by the time this all happened it was getting really dark outside of the Tap. Sammy and I decided we should pry leave to beat the storm. I flew home stopping for a minute to snap a shot. Lightning and Thunder were awesome!

upon getting home I went up and asked Izzy if she wanted to watch the storm roll in. Of course its 9:15pm now and she's down for it:)

We were up early this morning so we could hit up the Donut King before daycare:) Izzy loves some Donut King! Thinking a paved loop this afternoon then going home to do some welding. RAGBRAI is coming up and I want to have a couple hundred Recycled Artwerks bottle openers done:)Along with some other goods as well.

Peace

Floating Walnut Creek=FUN!

2011-06-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

Aaron Knight and I on Sunday floating down a somewhat flooded Walnut Creek.

ah yeah the sandbar piss break....

Took us 3hrs to get here next to Pal Joey's. Today the creek is at the top of the grass in this photo. Thinking of floating it again when the water drops say 8':) We started in Campbell Park off 128th.

Rode to the High Bridge

2011-06-08T07:45:00.001-07:00

Bob and Teri at the Troop 150 pit stop

ah best of Friends

looking east inside the Flat Tire Pub

looking west in the Flat Tire Pub....this place is fucking pretty sweet.

Bobby at the High Bride over look.

The first day of business. Scott in the middle (one of the 5 partners) is pretty stoked with the business. City of Madrid on the other hand....not so much.

Teri Sue showing her guns.....pretty big for being scared of hieghts:)

Busy busy busy!

2011-05-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of things going on right now. Need to get my shit in order!

2011-04-18T16:30:00.001-07:00

Monday, Monday:)

2011-03-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

Ah Monday morning ride in with the Raleigh loaded for this weekends little camp excursion:) Des Moines River is up pretty high right now, most likely not riding North Side Targhetto cause that little water crossing isn't probably little any more.

saw a couple coyotes this morning too. I just love seeing nature.

This is a look at the newest piece of black label going in up by Ankeny. Basically runs from Kyles Bikes on SW Oralabor rd. to Cottonwood on the Niel Smith. Its actually done from Niel Smith to NW 26 and NW Fisher. Another 2 miles and I'll be able to ride black label all the way to work with only 4 or 5 miles of streets...nice!

I so wanted to cut the fucking fence down! Why in the fuck do they do this shit! Put a sign up saying where it fucking ends right now, instead of saying the whole fucking thing is closed! I may rip that shit out yet!!

Saw this house with a front rock pad like Teri and I would like to build in front of our place. Much fucking cheaper then a cedar deck...$4000 for 8'x 20':( Boo! Stayed home today to do some welding for the Heels & Wheels event coming up in May...gonna put a booth up and try to sell some goods to ladies with like minds:) This snow pry fucked up a taco ride also, unless we go to Banner tomorrow...we'll see.

Peace

Hypothetically Thinking.....

2011-03-25T06:15:00.001-07:00

Just lines on paper but they give you an idea of a possibility:) The X areas aren't any good, the big black circle is all low and I haven't looked into it yet, the green would be a high route exit for wet season. Lollipop just for extra trail:) A couple bridges and creek crossing are most definate. That purple line is black label.
I don't really like today weather, fucked up my ride in....or my pussy just hurts cause I'm so fucking tiered of putting on layers!

Peace and Grease its Friday!

Beaverdale Park Single Track coming soon!

2011-03-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

Spent another hour or so hiking around Beaverdale Park yesterday afternoon. Should be able to get at least 1.5 miles of single track in there. Nothing to be shits and giggles about, but when I'm shooming that shit before work IT WILL BE GREAT! Des Moines Park and Rec. are on board for adding trail to their parks. So little slivers of "Dirty Ribbons" as I like to call it could soon be hit up by simply riding black label from green space to green space of single track:) Thats pretty fucking cool, considering these parks aren't low lying areas like the rest of our City single track.
After hiking around I went over to Bike World to chat up Rumey about some brazing of brake bosses on the back of the Dirty Balloon'r. Bill said bring it in, so I'm shits and giggles kids! Dropping that rig off today:) Sure don't like the cold spell thats brought its self back into Des Moines. Said fuck the ride again today....I'm so fucking tiered of layering up. Come on Spring!

2nd Annual Spring Fling Bike Camp April 1st & 2nd

2011-03-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

In 2 wks a few of us are rolling up to the High Trestle Bridge for a camp out. Rolling from Rassy's around 4:30 or 5pm. Camp out, drink beer Friday night, set up camp, start fire, drink more beer, cook meat, pass out start all over again for the ride home:) Open to anyone who's not doing the Gents Race.

Peace

Missed the Storms on the commute in and home

2011-03-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Had a sweet tailwind going into work Tuesday morning, and a slight one on the way home. Decided to hit North End Targhetto for the ride home. Surprizingly it was pretty good, all the while storms where lurking in the air but not pissing on my dirty parade:) Til I got to the old brick yard area. Rain started to fall so I bailed too the Tai Dam Village shelters for a tall boy. Thinking about the up coming morrel season and single track in Beaverdale Park. The trail will be short, but fast and fun to break up the commute in and home. Left a message with Richard Brown yesterday about it. Hoping to get ahold of him today. DSM Parks and Rec are on board with single track trail so this should be an easy go and cut in. May be around .75 of a mile...dirty ribbons in all parks....Hallauha! After downing the tall boy I ended up at Beaverdale Park walking aroung the area. Then I shot home so I could watch the big storm coming in. Fired the grill up just in time to get the food done and off before the huge down pour came. Blew today's ride in off to windy conditions. Riding somewhere tonight just not sure where.

Peace

An afternoon and night ride through Denmans on DB

2011-03-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Did a little work for Danno at Ichi yesterday. While there I picked up a sweet ape handlebar for the Dirty Balloon'r. Went home swapped out the flat bar and whala! A super fun low key dirty cruiser:) Done a lap of Denmans then went to check on HG. Rode home, grabbed a couple beers then proceeded to go back out to meet Blackford for a lap. Ended up starting a fire at the pit and trading 2 Budwiesers for a Surly Bender...SCORE! Forgot paper for the fire so we had to sacrifice a couple coozies...it was good. Rain today...well this afternoon. The ride in was spiritual as usual. Rode through Beaverdale Park as I'm looking at building some trail in there for the commute in and on the way home after Targhetto:)

Peace

2011-03-21T07:47:00.001-07:00

Saturday brought on 32 miles of Center. JC and Eric were out too. Perfect spring day!

2011-03-21T07:44:00.001-07:00

Had an awesome ride on St. Patricks Day. Windy as hell but good to be on dirt:)

Center NOT ready just yet!

2011-03-17T07:38:00.001-07:00

Entrance to Denmans...I made it 50' before bailing out. See the nice rut I left? This my friends is called RESPONSABLE riding.

Rolled the black label horse shoe over to the exit of Denmans...this is a shot of Dirty Express....Ruts bad kids come on!

Tried the dirt....FAIL!

2011-02-22T06:27:00.001-08:00

Hit Denmans yesterday in hopes of it being froze enough to ride some laps. FAIL!! This shot is at the short cut mud route turn and I sunk deep.

Looks like a few others have been out as well. Ruts aren't cool kids.

This is the sweeping turn at Little Italy...where I bailed out...notice the fucking dirt bike track. If you see this fucking idiot stop him and just rip his plug wire off the bike!

Not to muddy but more then I wanted!

After the mud forced me to bial I decided to roll black label to the Cummings Tap for Sams Bacon Tacos. At the golf course I saw this fine specimen of teenage debauchery. I othl assume this cause after eating acid many years ago I did the same thing:)
The ride was windy as hell both ways...good workout thought. Once home I got a terrible toothache/headache...brought me to my knees. Oh so suchy...now I have to make a dental visit..Al Boone here I come Bro!

2011-02-14T07:00:00.001-08:00

Sunday posed a nice townie ride with Teri and Steve. Rolled to down town showed Teri Ichi Bike bs'd with Danno for a short bit. Headed over to Union Park for a beer break in the sunshine. Then proceeded to roll over to Skidmores place for a couple more beers then home. A perfect day.

2011-02-14T06:42:00.001-08:00

A sweet ride on Saturday with Courtney and Nick.67 miles in a little over 4 hrs. Good Cirrem training. Route was to Earlham and back for me.

New Tatts

2011-02-10T06:14:00.001-08:00

There is nowhere our 2 wheeled steeds can't take us. Whether it be though someone's yard, down some fast single track, many miles of pavement or just down memory lane to our childhood. "Ride Free" mates!

Peace

Sycamore on Thursday afternoon

2010-11-19T04:42:00.001-08:00

Conlan spent 1.5hrs yesterday cleaning up his Salsa, and we were riding Sycamore in the afternoon. NICE! My plan was to get it dirty again....I succeeded! We rolled from work a little after 2:30pm to meet Loushous at the North End trailhead. We were a little late but it didn't matter....we were riding bikes and all was good....hell the sun even came out. The plan was to get him into one of the puddles on the North Side...that didn't happen as I was leading. Made it to the trestle and the Salsa was still clean. Damn it! Looks like we'll take the middle section:) Almost to where you go under I80/35 it got wet and a little poopy....mission accomplished...but not how I'd planned it...damn it:)

Conlan and Lou in the middle section

Well we got even muddier going high around the work being done on the black label heading to the South Side...mission gets better but still not how I wanted it. Upon diving in on the South Side at the first big puddle JC was behind me...ok perfect time...I got up beside the puddle and just locked'm up. JC has masterful balance skillz on the bike but I caught his ass off guard and in the drink went a foot and rear tire...OK NOW I'm happy and JC is bitching at me:) WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT? Basically just for the hell of it, as is the reason I may try and fly by you on the trail splashing threw the puddle your going around and drowning ya...ITS SIMPLY IN BIG BOY FUN. That and JC has crashed/puddle stomped me more then a few times.

Shortly after that we ran into Chad then just rode home. It WAS a GREAT RIDE with Good Buds!

Peace

Good putt-putt ride Wednesday night

2010-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Hooked up with JC at 4pm to roll Center...waited for that pussy Jordan to come and as usaul his ass didn't show up. So we rolled to Rassy's to see who all was riding Taco. The usual suspects where there. We rolled just before everyone was ready..I wanted to get at least through Denmans before turning the lights on. So JC, Taylor, Blackford and I made it through Denmans without lights but had to lite up right after that. We did the back flats then bailed out to WWP for a lap around the pavement. Taylor and Blackford bailed at the very back loop while JC and I rode to the cut through to the ball fields for a break. The plan was to go poach BW, but we didn't make it. Perhaps this weekend we can do that:) We cut across the RR bridge by Squirrels Nest and jumped back onto the trail there. A backwards Denmans and home was the new plan....by the time we got to Denmans I'd already said fuck it to that plan too...I was hungry due to JC blabbing about A-Dong. Home it was, with 15 easy miles on the legs I was happy:)

Peace

Recycled Artwerks.....a piece for a friend...still working on it...

2010-11-16T05:30:00.001-08:00

Built this fairly big Dolphin frame last year just now getting around to filling up its insides:) Should look BA when I get down with it.

Also built a workout bench for Teri and I outta an old wielderman stepper someone left at our day job. Hacked it all apart for some dumbell workouts this winter:) Need to get my damn car up and running so I can go FUCKING KILL A DEER OR TWO! Oh well money first:) Thinking maybe first snow ride will go down tomorrow if the forcast stays as predicted. Oh Boy!

Peace

My Sunday the 14th went something like...

2010-11-15T05:35:00.000-08:00

THIS! Johnny Conlan, Eric Conlan, Chad Vandelune, Ryan VanHowling, Jordan Johnson and I had an awesome Sunday ride with some adventure in there. Saw huge bucks today...made me wish I was hunting. The ERT trail was in great condition considering the 1.5inches of rain we got Friday and Saturday morning. All the graffiti is from under SE 14th st bridge...some of these kids have mad skillz! Not an easy find to get there but it sure was fun!

Peace

5th Day of Sycamore:)

2010-11-12T04:18:00.000-08:00

Teri Sue and I bailed outta work at 2:45 with a Sycamore North to South Side ride in mind:) As we were driving to the parking lot I saw some water fowl hunters heading to the river...more on that later. We flew through the North Side stuff and began the black label trek to the South Side. The City is working on the trail heading towards the South entrance so we bailed down into the Middle Section of Sycamore to ride the old qaud trail through the grassy fields back to the trestle bridge. Surprizingly it was pretty good other then one climb over section and the trail being rough from the deer tracks. Other then that all ridable. As we popped out onto the trestle Sumptner and Bachmann rolled up from their Scyamore and then some tour. We rolled on to Fish Camp for a bevy and some conversation. So good to see multiple groups of folks riding Syc again:) After the beer we pretty much seperated as I sized up the new jump in North Side:)

This is going to be stupid for some but for others just right:) Need a little work on the entrance....THIS IS NOT A ROLL OVER TYPE OF JUMP KIDS! Then a tranny exit, pretty flat right now and close to 4.5ft at the peak...then you HAVE to clear a bike length or you'll be paying the fiddler man:)

a look at the exit..

After dicking around here we boogied back to the jeep. But we ran almost litterly into the water fowl hunters ....on land wielding shootguns and cell phones:) Just past the powerline cut at that sandbar they were set up, I saw them 2 days ago also. Now I'm a hunter and love to kill shit...THAT I CAN EAT. I have very mixed feelings of this situation. If they were to shoot at some low flying birds coming up/down the river corridor they would then almost be shooting directly at or just above the Niel Smith pave trail. NOT COOL! And obviously if the were shooting the other direction they'd be shooting at the Sycamore trail. Even if they were in the middle of the river its a close 40yrds to either side where the public may get shot. Be careful out there kids...bow hunters don't scare me as they are up in a tree and can see us way before we get there:) Rainy day today, no trails tonight or most likely tomorrow. Sunday may be jepordized now...black label anyone:)?

Peace

Saw a naked dude on Sycamore today...COOL:)

2010-11-10T18:03:00.001-08:00

Cheers to the Naked Guy riding Sycamore trail this afternoon. Felt like it was 60+ degrees today no wonder this mate thought it wise to ride in the Bday suit:) Rolled up to 4 kids (13-16yrs old) at Fish Camp...asked did you see the Naked Guy...they all laughed...yeah whats he on?:) Rolled onto the Beaver Ave bridge to pick up the cans from Syc QR. Boogied home after that, well I stopped at the shop for a couple beers and to see off the Taco Riders.

Peace

So very nice to have Sycamore open

2010-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ran into Sheesley and Bachman while hanging at Fish Camp for an after work beer dirt ride yesterday. As a matter of fact I'll be hitting that shit again tonight...3rd time this week:) Everyone loves a little dirt on the way home....although by the time I'm rolling it may become mud...rain in the forcast...scattered:) Super sweet to throw in Sycamore on the way home...I think if its not raining on Friday (most likely it will be) I'll hit Sycamore and Center:)

Peace

Syc QR..a Damn Good Time!

2010-11-09T11:42:00.000-08:00

30 or 40 mates showed up to drink beer and race bikes during a sunny Sunday afternoon on a trail that usually don't get much traffic. That is until a few trail fairy's get it in smoking condition:) Sunday's TT put on by Kyle and Friends was as exspected...a damn good time. The tread of the North Side on Sycamore is perfect...well it could use some jumps and skinnies. Knowing damn well they'll be under water next spring sometimes makes taking the time and effort to do those hard. But I'm a determined little squirrel. I made my lungs hurt for a good 30mins after the 14+ min run. Took 6th or so, not bad considering all the beer riding I've been doing:)Gonna ride her home tonight and have a tall boy at Fish Camp with the Sunset. Then home or too the shop....Greg wants to put a 6.5hrspr motor on a trike for the BWR....what reading I've done...this is not a good idea:) But hey who am I to say whats good and bad.....I'm sure the Cops will have something to say and its most likely bad:) Taco Ride tomorrow barring no fucking rain tonight or tomorrow:) Was planning a Birthday Hundy Ride for Saturday but its not going to happen for Teri and I now. Baby sitter action isn't linning up as planned so a East Side River Trail ride is going to take its place. Stay tuned:)

Photos from Syc QR mine and Jamie Widens

Peace

North Side Targhetto is Single Track and rocking fast!

2010-11-05T07:38:00.001-07:00

Chris Maharry, Rob Verstegh, Ken Sherman, Pete Parvi and I spent 10 man hours opening up almost all of the North Side of Targhetto yesterday. The trail as we new it is changing, what used to be wide open double track is now getting clogged up with downed trees and turning into single track. Instead of taking trees out we simply moved the line so a quad can’t go through. In the spots where larger tree trunks covered the trail we cut a 2’ opening and left the rest blocking the quad track. Once again kids no more big ring wide open, there are logs and tight turns in there now. Another work day is being set for tomorrow at noon, meeting at the Beaver Ave bridge to open up the lower section from the bridge to Fish Camp. Most likely a couple of hours with a group of 4 or more. We walked it yesterday and replaced the tethered bridges, just need to mow, move some debris, and a little racking. Once this is done all of the North Side will be prime for your riding pleasures. Planning another work day for the 20th or 21st as the South Side needs a lot of love also before the Syc 8. I’ll know by this weekend which of those date are gonna fly.

Targhetto Quarter Rage is set for Sunday 1pm, meeting at the North End trail head just off of NW 66th in Johnston. This will be a fucking hoot and will do the trail a ton of good getting more bikes riding in the line! See you there Bitches!

Peace

Targhetto

2010-11-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

A dozen of us rolled from the North End of Targhetto all the way to the South parking lot. Good times, she needs a little loven but not to bad overall...it is Targhetto:) We didn't hit the middle section behind Bob Lenx although I don't see any reason why we can't open it up to. Although its tough to see the line in that piece when no ones has been riding it and all the leaves are down. Rob V and I are leading a cleaning day this afternoon, meeting at the Beaver bridge and riding to Fish Camp working our way North with chainsaws and loppers. North End should be perfect all the way to the Trestle Bridge by tonight. Then we'll need a solid work day on the South End as well:)

Peace

What a Weekend!

2010-11-01T07:21:00.001-07:00

More on that when I can decompress it all:) Until then here's some Friday night photos for ya to chew on.

Peace

QR #3 and Party Tonight!

2010-10-29T05:36:00.001-07:00

the beer drinking crowd after QR#3

Lorren and the QR Champion Jed....now if Basso would bring the damn trophy!

purdy birch trees in fall colors

Trail Fairy's up to no good or all good depends on who you ask:)

new log ride in Denmans

another view

these items make me smile:)

HHHmmmmm....bonefire material:)

See you kids tonight...Spooky Woods Ride!

Peace

Crazy wind ride home!

2010-10-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Left the day job at 2:45 headed for Denmans. Not a mile into my ride I'm crossing Oralabor over the median to head into the Karl Chevy's parking lot so I don't have to fuck with the stop light at Delaware. While wheelie dropping off the median I was litterly taken out by the wind! It spun me almost 90 degree's before taking me out. CRAZY I tell ya! Back on the bike and now at 3 miles in I'm at the Outter Limits area on NW 14th and I get bitch slapped by all the fucking corn husks blowing across the road. This while leaning at an almost 45 degree angle to keep the bike on the gravel shoulder. Smiling ear to ear though:) Once I made it to the black label things got more manageble...at least with the wind. Now it was dodge the widow makers that had fallen onto the trail....some small, and other very large.

stopped at the ghetto shack to look at the graffiti. They've been busy since I was last in here. Great place for a party, if ya need to hide from the elements....HHHMMMM?

Just down the road as I was crawling through the fence to get back on the black label I find this nice shovel laying in the weeds. Well being of the Freegan type I strap that bitch to my camelback and roll...smiling wider now:)

Stopped at Johnny C's place, dropped off the shovel and we (John & Eric) headed for the dirt. Eric is Johnnys nephew and just getting back into this cycling stuff. So he's wearing a cotton T over some cotton long john tops, with shorts over cotton long john bottoms....totally 1996 attire:) Just like we used to roll...it was awesome and funny all at the same time:) We rolled Roller Coaster, Standard J and Denmans before we decided to take a safety break at the Pines. Blackford showed up too, just as the sprinkles where starting to fall I called it a night and went home with 25 miles:) Good Windy Day!

Peace

Windy Bitch!

2010-10-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

45mph gusts for today's ride home:) No taco ride for me tonight, unless I get the Juniper tree cut down and chopped up quickly....could happen. I'll be checking on Denmans conditions....I'm sure most of the trail is good...but its the not good part that everyone will fuck up trying to get to the good...make sence?:)

Peace

Damn House Work

2010-10-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well so much for not drinking:) I did manage to hold out til 6pm:) Got home Monday and went straight to work on cleaning the man cave, garage, humidifier, and pulling all the old coax cable out of the basement ceiling. I had done all of that without a man slushy til it came to running coax back to the dish outside. Once that was done I ended up at the shop looking to get a box so I could test dish alignment...ended up drinking 3 beers there. Then proceeded this by going to Gregs house for some more beers...woke up this morning with a "FUCK YOU STUPID" headache. Should have went and ran a loop through Denmans but failed to do so. More house shit tonight although no beers:) And I did check for the dish alignment...of course its not right so thats what in store for tonight.

Peace

Great Weekend.

2010-10-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

Friday brought riding from work to Denmans with Hollander, Wince and some other fella. I tried to pass Shorty on a log over and ended up going over my bars ringing my bell a whee bit. Did all the flats then went to HillSide to scope out the work for the Dirty Du. Justin had the day off and pretty much raked the whole damn trail so I decided with that done and rain in the forcast that I'd wait til morning to see if we were a go. Went home and had a few beers with Teri Sue and called it a day.

Maharry found our little ham early in the day.

Saturday brought an early morning text from Hanser already in the woods and it wasn't even light out. Minutes later a call, and we're on for the Dirty Du. Up and out the door for some morning trail work/ marking of the race course. Not our best turn out for the Du but still not a fail either. Great day, and by the end of it I was freaking beer buzzed and starving. Should have went with the guy's to El Rey but decided on Home instead. My Ladies made it out for the whole day too which was great for the both of them. Izzy was wasted tired when we got home.

Izzy passed out on her tricker treat bucket:)

Sunday Teri and I went out for a ride. Denmans had some standing water in spots but all around wasn't that bad. RIDE THROUGH THE MUD DAMN IT! We made it to the new log over and decided Teri was going to conquor it....and to no surprise to me she did:) Saw Sedor out early on the cross bike...looked like rain all day too. I did Squirrels Nest with Teri then started to feel shitty. Went for a reverse Denmans then home. Of course Teri rode everything else while I was vegging on my ass watching football. That pretty much sums up my whole Sunday....ON MY ASS DOING NOTHING:) Taking a week or so off of the beer, damn I've been on a role. Spooky Woods will be a whee bit tough to not dip into the fun sauce....we'll see soon enough:)

Peace

QR #2 in the books!

2010-10-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

8 mates showed up for QR#2... a couple of the Big Dogs even came out(Jedi & Cam). I thought for sure even with the new obstacles that one of the Big Dogs would take down Neals 18:48. But it didn't happen... Jed came in 1st with a 19:04, Master Johnny Conlan took 2nd with 19:20, and Cam at 3rd with 19:30. Now we'll see what Neal throws down on this coming Thursday. I think I may go out tonight just to see what my time is as I haven't hit it yet. I'll post full results on the QR blog later today. Teri Sue even beat her last years time 23:22 on an easier course with a 23:03 on a single speed, with obstacles and she was feeling ill:) Thats awesome baby!

Full Moon upon us

Justin hanging out with the bikes

Dirty Du tomorrow, so trail work tonight and hoping for no fucking rain.

Peace

Taco Ride was a hoot!

2010-10-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Got out early with Jeff Keil for a lap of Denmans before we hooked up with Jordan, JC, Eric, and Patrick. While waiting for the Taco riders Rich Wince and Kale pulled up heading to the last cross practice. Rich said he had something for me.....is it drinkable I ask...he say's yes...SWEET. Rich pulled out a huge can of AXE XXX Malt Liquir...11% alcohol. They boogied, we slipped the beer into a pocket and headed ourselves. After blazing through Denmans we stopped at the end to pop a top and taste this big O can O beer. Lets just say that was/is the shitiest fucking thing I've ever tasted. Now the plan of pay back is set in motion for our buddy Rich:)After enjoying a High Life to wash out said shitty beer taste we rolled to Squirrels Nest to hit the little jumps we built. 1st one is a high speed floater baby butt smooth too. The 2nd one needs a better line burnt in and a little more dirt in my opinion, but it launches you into a downhill tranny for another uphill jump if thats your thing. After 30mins trying to hit the back side of the hill with the teeter totter line we finially gave up to defeat. We'll be back! Rolled the rest of the Nest and over to the newly opened Rhythm. She's a whee bit slow and sandy but hey its open:) I rolled home after that skipping taco's and beers. A good day fo sho!!

Peace

DAMN I miss my blog:)

2010-10-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well obviously its been awhile.....Facebook whore you could say:) Well I miss looking back on what I've done! Jordan and I've been playing in the woods with tools and the like the last couple day's.

a new kicker in Squirrel's Nest

a sweet log over in Denmans, amongst many other fixes/logs added:)

J-Man has been a huge help in getting things done at the Center Trails this year so if you see him a beer and high five are recommended:) Jordan will be out this morning mowing up Rhythm for tonights Taco Ride. We also whipped up some stakes for cabling down the logs on the small log jam in Denmans. Can't wait to get out and throw down tonight....7hrs of trail work the last 2 nights and its time to ride that shit!

Peace

Hey we rode some DIRT!

2010-07-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

I bet your wishing you could ride some:) Omaha was great! Next up KC area on Aug.6-8. Looking to hit Smithville, Landahl, Kill Creek, SMP, and Swope!

Easter Sunday trail work

2010-04-05T10:57:00.001-07:00

Easter Sunday trail work 011, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

4hrs of clearing debrai off of Denmans and Squirrels Nest. Many Thanks go out to Tom Anderson and Bill Fanter for helping with a couple trees. Barring huge amouts of rain we'll be rocking 3/4 of Denmans and all of Squirrels Nest by the weekend:)

Days photos

Peace

Arpil 2nd 2010 Panora bike camp

2010-04-05T08:06:00.001-07:00

Arpil 2nd 2010 Panora bike camp, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Jason Boten, Sammy Lopez, Steve Fuller, Bob Skidmore and I hit the black label around 5:30pm Friday evening heading towards Panora. We had a hefty head wind going out. Some beer stops in between and we were ready to camp just north of Redfield. What an awesome night / day. Can't wait for the next one:)

Day's photos

Peace

Nice putt-putt

2010-04-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Sammy and I went for a nice putt putt after closing the shop. Planted 5 signs to help keep folks outta the mud and on dry ridable trail. Rolling to Panora tonight with Jason Boaten, Sammy, Fuller, and Skidmore for a bike camp, beer drinking, training ride:)

Peace

Dirt is GOOD!

2010-04-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Dirt is GOOD....indeed it is, but all of it isn't dry yet. Was going to go hit Banner yesterday but opted out for a recon of Denmans.

Riding the normal forward route you can make it maybe 1.25 miles in before hitting the very wet area. So I turned around and started to clean the tread on my way back. Went back to a spot I knew was going to be good for a short cut and cut over to the last 3/4 mile exit line. So all in all you can ride maybe 2 miles of Denmans right now with the short cut line that Tom A. or I will go out and sign. This is good cause everyone is jonesing and will be riding out there any ways. Perhaps this way we will keep everyone outta the mud. I will be out checking almost daily, so I'll move the signs as things open up more.

This shows the open line through Denmans Woods as of 3/31

Follow and be Happy:)

As you can see in this photo there is plenty of water still in Denmans. Right now you can't see the SJ skinny in this shot....under water.

Dirty Express is all clear of debree...your welcome:) Squirrels nest entrance is still wet as you can see in the photo. Rhythm is out for awhile too.

the end of DE to bail to the trestle bridge is still poopy...so you'll need to cross the tracks just before the entrance to Rhythm.

Riding tonight after I get off from the shop so 6pm roll out. Rain is a coming Friday and Saturday....better get out and get that dry shit while you can:)

Peace

1st Official 2010 Taco Ride

2010-03-30T09:58:00.001-07:00

Taco Ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Is going down tomorrow! Hell Yeah:)

Teri Sue March 28 2010

2010-03-28T16:13:00.001-07:00

Teri Sue March 28 2010, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Lots of laps on Hillside this weekend:) 70's this coming week....nice! Looks like I may be working 4 day's at the shop...getting busy and I want to get Teri Sue a new 29'r...thinking Salsa:) That means no more TNWC rides...sucks but worth it:)

Camp in Lenon Mills Park, Panora

2010-03-23T11:20:00.001-07:00

camp in Lenon Mills park, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Heading out for the first bike camp of the year on Friday April 2nd, leaving Rassy's at 5pm or shortly after. Roughly 40 miles out and back give or take 5:) Coming home Saturday midmorning to be back for Easter Sunday. Most likly packing food:)

Peace

March 21 ride

2010-03-21T16:29:00.001-07:00

March 21 ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Johnny Conlan and I got out for almost 30 easy miles today. What an awesome morning. Blackford went out a little earlier then I'd wanted to be out. Looks from facebook lots of folks out today, I'm getting excited for morel season and riding more of the TNWC. Most likely won't be hitting to much dirt with in the next couple weeks, so PRC's Wed. Papa John ride will be the ticket for now.

March Snow Ride!

2010-03-20T05:17:00.001-07:00

First mother fucking tracks on Ingersol...sloppy drunk ride home from the Brother Trucker show at Flanagans. It was a whee bit cold.

70 and Sunny

2010-03-19T04:54:00.001-07:00

Got a nice 30 mile ride in yesterday before heading to the shop for work. Stopped at the dam to look at the awesome power of water. Then headed to Beaver Creek to see if the tethered bridge was stil there. Its in the middle of the photo floating right where it should be:) Working the shop tonight to....may be buying a couple new bikes this year:))

Bianchi gets a shorty stem.

2010-03-18T05:34:00.001-07:00

Bianchi, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Been having incredible aches in my left shoulder while riding this bullet. So I swapped the 120mm stem out for a 80mm, testing today:)

Survived!

2010-03-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

Well I made it all the way with "last nights A group" on the TNWC ride. I only pulled 5 times most likely from start to finish. Most def. fun, now I just need to keep it up so I can pull my wieght and not hang onto the back for lack of fitness:) Lisa V is a fucking animal this is fact! I have no roadie fitness this too is fact! Today is St. Paddy's Day so I'll be at the shop tonight watching the lushes stumble around out front, and I'm sure we'll see the cops, we always do. Riding home this afternoon, a nice putt-putt to spinn the legs out. Good Day!

TNWC starts Tonight!

2010-03-16T05:19:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I'll be able to make it. Brad Kramer has offered to swap nights with so I can hit a couple per month. I talked to him last night and of couse he didn't have a yes or no for tonight on weather he would be riding it....oh well its a start:) If I can't make it I plan on hitting the pave trail out west for an hour or two after the shop closes at 7pm tonight. Thats right I'm not staying for after work beers....whoa:)

Sunday roadie gig

2010-03-15T07:12:00.001-07:00

Sunday roadie gig, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

53 or so miles in the wind was a plenty to hurt my legs on Sunday. The "new" TNWC route most likely won't go over very well, just not really better at all in my non TNWC opionin. The one thing I do know is thanks to BK I'll be hitting 2 a month...or as long as I can't stand to listen to the roadie banter:)

Squirrels Nest

2010-03-13T06:06:00.001-08:00

running WWP checking the trails....Squirrels Nest is under water:(

Hunting Morels in the night by LED....interesting:)

2010-03-11T05:26:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge morel hunting fan and spend time surfing the surrounding message boards. Today I came across a very unusual technique...below is the author's story of this incredible if true find.

So it was last spring, thoroughly exhausted after a long and nearly fruitless day of mushrooming, that I traipsed back to my vehicle. By my estimation I'd walked at least ten miles through rough terrain, up and down steep hills, skirting bluffs, twisting through briars, and crossing the nettle-lined streams that laced the cottonwood studded bottoms of the English River basin. Parts of this timber were prime ground, pristine and untouched by the foot of man.

The outcome of my hunt was a qualified failure. My hands--bearing the telltale bloody "criss-cross" of one who had survived the crossing of the Jungle of Thorns--held a sack containing a pitiful bounty of less than a dozen specimens. Even those few were now largely crumbled as a result of the beating they had taken as I surged through tract after tract of dense timber.

Dusk had nearly given way to dark by the time I reached my Jeep--and water. I picked thorns from my arms then lifted the canteen as the sun disappeared; I stopped in mid-swallow.

What was that noise?

I looked in the direction of the timber beyond the field from which I'd just come. A bird of prey, perhaps? Again, the noise: a fiendish snarl followed by a high-pitched shriek...and another. Perhaps a bobcat?

Although I'd never seen one, hunters and trappers had proven they were in the area. I grabbed my digital camera the high-lumen LED flashlight from beneath my seat and set off back across the field toward the noise I'd heard.

Halfway to the woods, I heard it again. I shut off my light and made my way in stealth by the dim light of the thin crescent moon to the dense cover at the edge of the field.

Trepidation mounted as a torrent of horrific images cascaded in my mind. Frozen, paralyzed in the steely grip of the inner contest of my will, I imagined a wildcat pouncing upon and locking its jaws around my neck...eviscerating me in one or two skillful swipes of its razor-like claws...savagely feasting on my entrails as I lay there helpless to halt such an awful fate. I managed a deep, therapeutic breath which summoned forth courage and reason from the reservoir within. Gradually, fortitude replaced fear. I dispelled that grotesque image with the certainty that I was larger, stronger, and (perhaps) smarter than the creature which would otherwise devour me. A twig snapped as I stepped into the woods...

Cautiously I entered the woods, every step seeming to engulf me in a deeper, pitch-blackness than before. I unable to see. The noise arose once again, this time much closer, and a chill seized my body as the piteous death throes of some unknown animal reverberated through air of a night that was otherwise eerily silent.

I turned the light on to illuminate my path and crept forward, casting the beam of my light in all directions, and chanced upon a large yellow which I bent over and plucked from the rich, sandy loam and bed of fine elm twiggings from which it grew. I pulled a bag from my hind pocket and smiled as dropped it in. I proceeded, alternating my light from side to side, then ahead. I stopped, suddenly overcome by disbelief

Everywhere, in all directions, mushrooms previously hidden by the foliage and invisible to the casual eye were suddenly illuminated! They literally GLOWED!

Heart racing, I stood in the midst of a fungal treasure the likes of which I'd seen only a few times in countless outings across over 40 seasons. Literally tens of dozens of nice, yellow morels revealed themselves to my light. A well-seasoned and optimistic 'shroomer always has a few extra bags tucked into his pocket or sock, and from the looks of it I'd need them!

I fell to my knees and began picking. Mushrooms were glowing in every direction! I couldn't pick them as fast as I was seeing them! This was a mother lode, and within about 15 minutes I'd filled an entire bag.

As I started filling a second bag I wondered, how has I walked directly through this patch no more than an hour earlier and failed to see a single one? Assuredly, this had been a function perennial problem of visual acuity.

My reverie was rudely interrupted by the snarling scream of a predator and the dying whimper of prey, albeit closer this time. I extinguished my light off and huddled in silence behind the closest tree. As I looked to the sky, the dimmest of light revealed a near-macabre shillouette of twisting and tangled strips of bark curling downward. A dead elm. I waited...all sound had stopped...and then I heard my heart. Minutes passed in this manner before, once again, I turned on the light.

Directly ahead on the ground, perhaps some 30-40 feet away, were several more brightly glowing objects. Mushrooms everywhere! I filled my second bag and part of a third until startled by a another scream, perhaps only 100 feet away. I cut the light and fled from the woods with my bounty. Propelled by fear and excitement, my adrenal glands literally wept as I tore through the woods, across the field, and back to the safety of my Jeep.

Through this incident--completely seredipitous in nature--I chanced upon the solution to the mushroomer's perennial problem of the lack of visual acuity. Mushrooms contain high levels of phosphorous, so it only stands to reason that they glow when exposed to bright light.

Further experimentation on subsequent outings reveals, not surprisingly, that the method works best with lighter-colored species such as morchella crassipes, morchella esculenta or morchella deliciosa ("yellows"), but less so with morchella conica ("grays"). Incidental to this discovery is the now obvious fact that mushroom hunting can occur successfully BOTH day and night. While this is remarkable in its own right, nighttime hunting also adds an entirely new and novel dimension to the sport!

The application and use of highly luminescent LED light to hunt phosphorous-rich morel mushrooms at night is a breakthrough no less revolutionary than the discoveries of vulcanization by Goodyear or pasteurization by Pasteur! Having now "enlightened" this select group with my profound discovery, I hope to see you in the woods this spring—-and perhaps even at night!

2010 Floods a Coming...Boo!

2010-03-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

Spent yesterday tethering our floatable's down. Targhetto bridges, and the goods in Squirrel's Nest. After last nights rain I think I got out there in the nick of time:) Need to get out this weekend for a good 6hr ride or more....we'll see if the mother nature lets that happen.

March 5 ride

2010-03-06T04:11:00.001-08:00

March 5 ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Sure is nice to ridding home from work again:) Rode home on Thurday and Friday afternoons, perfect Sunny day's! The wind yesterday was work with thee ole' 40+ lbs of Commuter, but hey thats good for the legs right:)

met Blackford out there for a putt-putt:)

Now its Saturday and the fucking rain is coming from Omaha, get out early cause we're going to get wet today. 32 degrees out right now, and I can't get out this morning. Jordan is coming over so we can finish the spare bedroom work, then if its not raining Teri Sue, Jordan and I will ride around the city.

Peace

March 2 ride

2010-03-03T05:04:00.001-08:00

March 2 ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

25 miles in yesterday...almost 40 degrees. Lots of Turkeys out hell I think I saw close to 50 birds on the Wittern farm. First ride since Cirrem my knee was still a little goofy....I can't figure out what the hell I did to it. I took one beer with me and it this photo I'm at the parking lot of BW. Thought I'd take a shot of bike and brew, but the brew fell, hence the suds on the ground by my pedal. Sumbitch! Loaded back up and went on home:) day's photos here

CIRREM Gravel Race Painfest:)

2010-02-28T10:02:00.001-08:00

Saturdays race was as good as I could expect with no long rides under me. I choose the brakeless fixie as my weapon of choice, 1. for the shear pain factor, 2. I thought it might get shitty out there and it did:) 42x18 was my gear choice with some 700x32 Small Block 8's to roll on. What a day! Kent and Jed have a great start and finish at the Cummings Tap, with some of the best damn up and down gravel in Iowa on the many surrounding miles:) Many, many, many thanks to Bob and his Mom, Kent and Jed, all the volunteers, Ryan V for the beer at the halfway point, all my Rassy teammates and of course Rasmussen Bike Shop. The Fugi looked sexy and clean at the start.

The Race: I simply wanted to finish and keep my HR in the 150's for an average. I'm not doing to many races this year. Riding/racing my way into shape is how I'm rolling this year. This training ride/race would turn out to be painful in some ways:) Felt good almost all of the first half, pace, pace, pace was the plan and I was sticking to it pretty well. Letting Shockey and Blake go on the climb where they broke up the pack we'd just caught was tough. Had I TRIED to hang with the youngn's I would have been burning more matches then I wanted and most likely would have bailed at Cummings Road. Like some did. The 3 miles before the halfway check point I started getting some tight/wanting to lock up crap going on in the inside of the knee on my right leg. By the time I got to the halfway point where I knew Ryan was packing beer I'd pretty much made my mind up to pull the plug. My throat glands where starting to swell and the knee thing sucked. After a beer, some chatting, then stretching and thinking of Trans Wisconsin...... I decided suffer on. Well the last half of the course was starting to THAW out, so I had no problem walking 4 or 5 of those hills. The wind was sucking but I was smiling just happy to be basking in the sunshine:) I had a rabbit that I was chasing....that damn Maria. See she left the halfway while I was still swilling on me beer. I really thought I would catch her, but alas I did not. It wasn't for the lack of trying:) Awesome job Maria! Funny the whole route was marked perfect with these orange arrows on all the turns, I never once had to look at my route slip. But within the last 4 miles of the race one arrow was red and pointed straight, some cooter trying to confuse us....it worked on some. I followed the tracks which turned right up 30th:) In the last mile or so Skogen catches me with a cramp so bad I had to get off and walk it a bit. Jumping back on for the big guys draft up the finial north run to the pub. We were done and I was freaking starving/toasted. Ended up with a 5:03 time and 28th overall. Kept the HR Avg. at 155 with a MaxHR of 189. Mission accomplished!

checking in at the finish.

a not so clean Fuji.

Next up is the Bonebender...I'd better get to riding if I want to even compete:)

Peace

Borken Snowshoe/CIRREM race Rig

2010-02-25T05:13:00.001-08:00

Figures a day after bragging how my fix is holding up (and still is) a snowshoe would break again. This time a simple fix will work again. Upon coming out of the woods last night my left shoe was flopping around making an annoying noise. Looking at it I knew right away what had given into the usage....rubber strap broke. I'll just replace it with some 1 in. wide nylon webbing strap and call it good:) Stopped at the shop for a couple beers afterwards, got to see the new road and mtn kits...I really like the red accent on the road kits.

After a couple beers Kent stopped by the house to pick up a couple Cycle Dudes for prizes at CIRREM. I swapped skins on the fixie for the race....new 700x32 Small Block 8's....yummy:) Rolling a 42x18 for gearing....I'm in it for the fun:) Jordan stopped over too, last coat of mud on the seams....we're now ready to spray the ceiling...another couple weeks and we should be back to normal at the Pottorff household:)

A year ago today this is how it looked outside....not so much this year ehy:)

Peace

Almost 40 miles and still working

2010-02-23T12:28:00.001-08:00

Attempt #1 at the simple fix, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Hiked another 3.2 miles today in the snowshoes, that puts me close to 40 for the season and I'm sure I'll end closer to 50. My simple fix for the cracked shoe seems to be holding up without much wear at all. Sinew is some tuff shit! Gonna be stupid cold out tomorrow so I'm not riding and to tell ya the truth I've had about as much of this fucking winter as I can stand. I'm ready for melting flood season now:) Need to get back in the garage to finish up some art stuff, as thats what will be funding my Trans Wisconsin race....ur I mean adventure:)

Peace

Capital City Sprints

2010-02-22T05:22:00.001-08:00

Capital City Sprints 011, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Well it seems that I was nieve about this Goldsprint shit. 20+ seconds of all out for 500 meters will put you in the pain cave and make your abs feel as if you just busted out a 100 or so crunches:) Kent Carlson stomped the competition in the first ever Goldsprints in Des Moines thanks to Ed Husar. Make no mistake that this will KICK YOUR ASS! photo's from the night Well CIRREM is this weekend and I'm heading out to ride it/maybe put some type of hard effort out:) Looking forward to seeing Chris Skogen:)I believe spring is coming sometime so I'd better start bring this dialy diary of mine back to life.

Peace

Yesterday's Fruits

2009-12-17T06:45:00.001-08:00

today's fruits, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Minus the deer I finially got around to making for the Hunter. Been in the garage 2 day's straight....I sure hope Sterling get my wheel laced up I need to get out and ride today:)

Peace

A piece for Hurl

2009-12-15T04:14:00.001-08:00

A piece for Hurl, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Yup its winter time! And I have no intentions of slowing down!
Peace

A few hours of boredom:)

2009-12-14T03:45:00.001-08:00

A few hours of boredem:), originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Knocked a few things in the garage yesterday. Have a lot of ideas, need to get me a parts washer:) Hit the damn spin bike this weekend, my ass is WAY OUTTA shape. 30 mins sat, and 45 sun...working my way back into the boredom realm.

Peace

BW & Moffit hike

2009-12-13T05:00:00.001-08:00

BW & Moffit hike , originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Snow is deep and perfect for a good workout hiking through the woods. Teri and I hit Browns Woods then Moffitt Lake...all we thought about was why didn't we bring our camping goods. Need to get out for a night or two before it all melts away.

photos

Peace

Attempt #1 at the simple fix

2009-12-08T06:41:00.001-08:00

Attempt #1 at the simple fix, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

With all the snow coming I sure as hell don't want to mis out on any of the fun with a broken snow shoe. Sewed it up this morning in the first attempt and hopefully last at fixing this problem. Snow camp is sounding really fun for Friday night kids:) Who wants some?

Peace

ERT Ride

2009-12-06T13:05:00.001-08:00

ERT Ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

BooHoo you weren't with the Kool Kids today were ya:) 40 miles of dirt, sand and smiles:)

photos

Peace

Bad Santa Alley Cat

2009-12-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

Clicky for biggy:)

Peace

Ghetto Customs

2009-12-02T05:44:00.001-08:00

Ghetto Customs 002, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

What an awesome day that was. Sweet fixie ride home. The graffity has grown since I was last in this old building. I just love a good custom ghetto paint job. If I possed that skill I'd be slinging ink for a living:) After getting home Teri and I took Izzy out for one last trailer park ride seeings it was 60 degrees. Also had a conversation with Jordan about the Alley Cat he's going to be throwing on the 18th of December. More info on that real soon, this I do know Brother Trucker will be playing the house party, there will be a keg of beer, and it will start at 6pm all downtown action:) Sycamore 8 this saturday, need to get out and cut a new section of trail...thinking Friday afternoon for that. Shouldn't take no more then a few hours, if you want in on it give me a call. Parking on Beaver Ave just past Beaver Creek bridge.

day's photos

Peace

Moon Riding

2009-11-30T20:28:00.001-08:00

Moon Riding, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

CITA meeting in the books! Fixie ride in the books! Beer buzzed in the books! Awesome night out there kids, no wind, almost full moon, and NO FUCKING BRAKES! Can I get a bike star!

Peace

Shit Trail

2009-11-30T04:07:00.001-08:00

shit trail, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Don't you fucking idiots care about your trial system..you know the one that you ride all the time. Fuck no you don't all you fucking care about is getting out for your little ride. Sure the CENTER TRAIL is in GOOD condition...does this fucking look good? What a bunch of fucking using and abusing no trail work day showing up fucking bastards. Stay the fuck off the trail when its in this GOOD of shape. Hey why don't you ride some fucking urban, or go ride the other fucking SHIT TRAIL called Targhetto! FUCK YOU USERS OF THIS SHIT TRAIL! GOOD MY ASS!

Eastside River Trail ride

2009-11-29T16:06:00.001-08:00

Eastside River Trail ride, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Had been a long time since I'd ridden over there. Last time was with Chad Vandelune most likely a couple of years ago. Lots of homeless folks seen on todays ride.

Peace

Get out Winter is coming!

2009-11-28T14:10:00.001-08:00

Get out Winter is coming!, originally uploaded by Squirrels Cycling Lyfestyle.

Hope your ass was on your saddle today kids! Tomorrow brings more of the same:)

photos

Peace