Hooterville Mayor

Wandering Wednesday - Harmoden Route

2009-07-08T17:08:00.000-05:00

FAB WW Harmondon
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Tonights route, hope the rain stays away!!!

Bikea-a-palooza part one

2009-07-01T16:13:00.003-05:00

I don't know just what the heck has been going on with either my internets, or Blogger, or both. It took me more than a half a dozen tries in nearly as many days to get this file uploaded. I finally just sent it to YouTube. Sheesh!
Anyway, part one is the parade and the kids' slalom course.
Here ya go. . .

Beresford 125K

2009-06-30T21:28:00.003-05:00

Well, I heard there was some issues with gravel, so the route is now going CCW.
North to Worthing, then West to Lennox, etc...
I am still planning on doing the 125K if the weather is good. Actually, they are saying the ride starts a 0800 now instead of 0930. I kind of wanted to get there for breakfast, since Chris' Cakes is on the scene!!!!!

Bersford 125k revised Route
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Garmin Connect - Dashboard for hootrvil_mayor

2009-06-27T06:33:00.001-05:00

Garmin Connect - Dashboard for hootrvil_mayor

Yup, I bought an Edge 305 and so far I am very impressed. Being as how I mounted it on a SWB recumbent I could not use the combination speed/cadence sensor as it was designed, so I have it set up for cadence alone. I thought this might present a problem with the speed and mileage counting so I took a little test ride yesterday. Then, I kept riding. A little over 25 miles later and both my old Sigma computer (which I had left on for this test) and the 305 were within .06 miles of each other. That says a lot for both computers I would think. I would lose the Satellite signal under the overpasses on the bike trail, but they would resume immediately after passing under them. Very quickly! Yup, I am impressed. I am just a little less impressed with the Garmin Connect website for sharing the data. Since Garmin bought out Motionbased, I don't know if I can get on the motionbased website. I will try it later, cuz I have to go and get ready for the Coffee and Donut Ride!!!

TdK 2009 "Miles In The Mist" Episode Three

2009-06-21T17:12:00.003-05:00

Ok, ok, you can stop clambering on about how long it's taken me to post Episode Three. I have been pretty busy at work lately, and on call the entire last week, including this weekend. The store in St. Cloud, MN lost power this morning and the server and pretty much everything else in the computer room went down. How do I know this? Because I got a call from our first level support asking "what to do?!?!???"
My answer, "wait until the store personnel come to work, ask them to cycle power on the UPS, since the batteries must be drained. Everything will come back up then. If it doesn't, then call me back"
I think the guy was in panic mode 'cuz the power failed (which sends out an emergency email to them and the management types) long enough to DRAIN the batteries (takes over 40 minutes) and he did not do an orderly shutdown. Why we don't have a little program that does that automatically after about 15 minutes is completely beyond me. After all, I is jest a hard wear guy!

OK, enough complaining about work, here is Episode Three. Enjoy it, all three of you!

TdK 2009 "Miles In The Mist" Episode Two

2009-06-15T20:57:00.003-05:00

The continuing saga of the Tour de Kota.
Make sure you look for the little cowboys, they were a hoot!!!
Oh ya, the beginning is nearly the same as episode one, so feel free to fast forward through it, but I felt for continuity I had to use it, and will again for the final, episode three. Hope I haven't bored you too much with my thingies that I do, but I enjoy making them.

Crank it up.

TdK 2009 "Miles In The Mist" Episode One

2009-06-14T11:29:00.004-05:00

This years tour started out chilly and wet. Pretty much stayed that way until the last two days, so I think "Miles in the Mist" is an appropriate title. I still had fun. Lots of fun.

I love riding with friends.

Old friends, new friends, and friends I haven't yet met. I guess I am a lot like my Dad in that respect, as there weren't really any strangers to him, just friends he hadn't met.
So, of course, the Tour de Kota is a perfect type of ride for me. No hammering along to get there, because like the saying goes, "miss a mile, miss a lot".

Be forewarned, the pictures on Episode One are somewhat dreary. That's because the weather was somewhat dreary. So, if you feel like wasting about 9 minutes of your time go ahead and click on the movie. Don't do this on a laptop, you need to crank your speakers up to get the full effect of the sound track I chose.

Crank it up, and enjoy!
Episode two is in the works.....

TdK 2009

2009-06-13T17:26:00.002-05:00

You will just have to wait for details. I am tired, and have so much yard work to do that I just haven't had time to post any pictures. (I have looked at them, some are good, I caught a couple of nice ones of some of the great folks I rode with)

Of course, I am going to make "a thingy like I do" and that should be interesting. Problem is, I hardly took any photos because of the weather. Those that know me, know that I like to wear my little camera on a strap around my neck and pitcherize everything! Can't do that when it's raining, and it was raining a lot...

So, be patient with me, I have to sort through and adjust some good photos out of the measly 265 photos I shot....

For the time being, here are my stats;

total time on the bike = 31 hours
total miles = 451
average speed = 14.67 mph
Oh, I hit a max speed of 43.63 on Thursday. FUN!!!

Stay tuned..........

B2B 2009

2009-05-31T07:48:00.003-05:00

The spring classic ride, Bunyans' to Bobs' is in the record books. This year the wind was a kinder, gentler wind although it was still there. Last year the wind was 35 gusting to over 45, this year it was more like 15-18 MPH.

Some new faces this year too! Word is getting out I guess. The bombers at Bunyans' and the ginormous burgers at Bobs' are just as wonderful as I remembered them! K-Billy put on a good post ride party with Hoplouia beer from Spilkers Brewery that the City Billys brought with them.
All in all, a really good time!
Yes, I made a thingy like I do.

I Rode My Bike Today, To Visit Family and Friends

2009-05-25T17:30:00.004-05:00

Let me preface this little post by saying that riding my bike to visit is a big deal. I really don't do it that much because I really don't like riding my recumbent in town, with city traffic.

But I did it today because I was on a mission.

The annual ceremony at the Grandview Covenant Church cemetery started at 10 AM and I finally got my self on the road at 0905, pedaling into the 15+ wind and wondering if I should just turn around and drive the car. I decided that hell no, I was not going to quit so early, after all, I was wearing my Army jersey and shorts, and had the 4th Infantry Division crest pin on my left collar, and my (now defunct rank) SP5 insignia on my right collar and my American flag flowing behind my seat on a fiberglass staff. The wind and hills to the cemetery were mine to conquer. I took it as a very good omen when I heard what I thought was about a hundred Harley Davidsons' coming towards me at a very sedate pace. The sound of massive radial airplane engines are unmistakable, so I knew it had to be the "Liberty Bell". I grabbed the brakes on my bike since I was going downhill with the wind and pulled over, got my camera out and snapped this photo. Look very closely children, she (the Liberty Bell) is only 1 of 14 B17 bombers still flying out of more than 12,000 built during WWII.

She was an awesome sight. I have actually had the priveldge of crawling around inside a B17, a few years back when I went to Joe Foss Field with my Dad. (when the "Sentimental Journey" visited) So, seeing one fly over me as I pedaled my bike to visit with my Dad, Uncle Cliff, and Gramma and Grandpa and other family members had me thinking.
Thinking of years past, and Memorial Days past, and visiting the exact same cemetery.
Never, EVER thinking that I would go there to pay homage to my Dad, nor even, contemplate my place in that place.

Life goes on.

As evidenced here by the newest member of the family, Paul David (whom his grandpa, my little brother, calls PeeDee)

I hope you all had a good Memorial Day. I hope you all took some time to remember.
This country was buillt on the shoulders of those that we remember today.
For their sacrifices.
For their grit and determination.
For their Living.

You Missed Another Good Ride

2009-05-25T07:14:00.004-05:00

Oh you poor, poor, people. The weather was pretty nice for our 50 mile jaunt yesterday, and the Ball Park all beef hot dogs and ice cold beer at the end of the ride were delicious. So, where were you?

Here's a thingy like I do;

Hooterville Half Fast Velocipede Consortium

2009-05-21T21:44:00.002-05:00

Rides on Sunday May 24 at 10 AM sharp from Hooterville!!!

I won't be able to ride the Memorial Day ride, so I am planning a ride starting in Hooterville (Rowena) this coming Sunday.
Come join the Hooterville Half Fast Velocipede Consortium in an epic journey of 3 states, a state park, and perhaps, a state of confusion! Anyone caught riding over 20 MPH whilst not going downhill buys lunch for the rest of the rollers! Bring some foldin' money as we plan on stopping for snacks or lunch, which we will discuss on the ride itself. We will leave from Hooterville Mayors' house promptly at 10 AM on Sunday. Check the weather forecast for proper attire, as it might be a bit chilly at 10, but should be warming up to near 80 in the afternoon. Route is very close to 50 miles.

This is NOT an official FAB ride, but helmets will be required!

Tri-state marker to Palisades loop
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Ride of Silence 2009

2009-05-20T23:33:00.005-05:00

About 35 or 40 rollers showed up for this years ride. It went well, traffic behaved very politely to us. I don't know if anyone in the autos knew what the ride was about, but I doubt it. That will make you feel better, at least for that ride. . .

Here is a thingy. (silent thingy)

Bike 2 work Day

2009-05-16T08:21:00.004-05:00

And yes, I volunteered again. No, I didn't bike there. Kinda hard doing that hauling a 3 foot by 5 foot table and a box of jerseys. Yes, I am aware that it is possible, but really, would YOU do it? Chris' Cakes once again proved that pancakes can heal the soul, or at least, soothe the savage breast. Pretty good turnout again this year, and thanks all around for the volunteers that make this happen every year, you folks rock! Thanks to the folks at the Museum For Visual Materials for hosting the event again this year. Have ya been there lately? You HAVE to go because one of FABs' own people has an exhibit there. Marilyn Z. has been pitcherizen stuff for years and is really good at it. Go see her pitcherz, they, like her, are awesome!

Oh ya, I made another thingy.

FAB Spring Kickoff 2009

2009-05-10T00:03:00.006-05:00

Another success story thanks largely to David Steensland and his organization skills! We met at the Tea, SD Pizza Ranch and rode either a 16 or 24 mile route before the meeting, and eating. The wind wasn't too bad at all, and that is a very good thing since it was not all that warm for the ride. We signed up a couple of new members, and the president talked about past accomplishments and future happenings. All in all it was a good time!

Yup, I made a thingy like I do. . . . .

Harlans' Customer Appreciation Ride

2009-05-03T21:49:00.002-05:00

Was well attended again this year. Beautiful sunshine and mild to just slightly chilly (in the shade) temps and the usual prairie winds. After the ride we were treated to burgers and lemonade (both delicious) and some camaraderie. I came back home and got some chores done, so I am exhausted, being up since just after 0600 so that's all the report you are going to get!

FAB Volunteers Wrench at the Center For Hope

2009-04-26T20:01:00.003-05:00

Tammy, Gregg, Garey, Mark, Darren, Eric, Bill, Russell, and I spent some quality time with once, and soon to be again, loved bikes. (Even The Owner showed up!) Everyone pitched in and started fixing, and somehow I ended up truing wheels. I got the wheels trued on a nice little mountain bike and had it on the repair stand to check out the brakes and shifting and spent at least 10 minutes on the front derailleur. I just could not get that thing adjusted right. That's when Gregg notice the frame was bent. Duh! So Gregg stripped off the usable components and went on to the next one.

I don't know for sure how many bikes we got ready to roll out the door with their new owners, but Jenna was happy so that's all that matters. It was quite a good experience and I am seriously thinking of volunteering more of my time for this worthy cause. They sell the best bikes for $10, and the not quite best bikes are free, to homeless, jobless, and whomever just needs a way around town for lack of a motor vehicle. I guess about 430 bikes got a second chance of serving last year thanks to Jenna and the Center of Hope. So, if you have a bike, or bikes that you don't need anymore give the Center a call. Or heck, call me, I will come and pick it up, and thank you!

I wasn't The Only One

2009-04-22T21:28:00.005-05:00

Looking at Face Book it seems nearly everyone whom could, (sorry CDV, family first, eh?!) got a ride in today. What a wonderful, sunshiny day it was too! It was all I could do to stay at work for the entire 6 hours. Only 6 for me since I had already put in extra hours on Monday and Tuesday so I could skip out early today for a bike ride.
The prognosticators got just enough of the forecast right for me to plan ahead.
Marilyn, Tammy, and Gregg joined me on the Wandering Wednesday route, with a stop in Brandon for just a taste of ice cream at the Dairy Queen across from the high school. (from whence I matriculated)

It was actually warm enough that I could wear my new jersey, and SHORTS! HooAh! It felt really good to peel the layers off and ride in summer stuff, and actually feel pretty darn warm.

It was a great ride, and felt so wonderful to get back out on that route again. Traffic was light as usual, until we got closer to Brandon of course. But even then, the motor vehicles were very respectful of our space, as we were of theirs, riding on the shoulder when there wasn't any harmful debris or major road faults. Even so, after our ice cream break when we were heading back to Hooterville, Tammy noticed that GG's rear tire was flat.
How many cyclists does it take to change a tube? Four. Cuz that's how many cyclists were there. Tube changed and aired up thanks to my Topeak Road Morph pump, (of course we could have used Marilyns' Road Morph as well) and back to Hooterville we pedaled to recap the ride and wait for the turkeys to show up. Only 1 deigned to reveal herself until Tammy and Gregg had left, then of course, the whole harem showed themselves, and helped themselves, to the largess that is my bird feeder castoffs via squirrel.

Wish you could have been there to ride with us. Maybe next time?

Where Have I Been???

2009-04-17T06:05:00.006-05:00

Nowhere special.

Just doing what needs to be done and nothing more or less than that. I did have a pretty high mileage day on Tuesday. OK, high mileage for a week day. I worked my 8 hours and loaded my work out sneakers in my panniers and rode from the shop to the bike trail. Rode around the bike trail, then back towards the shop with a stop at the fitness center for a little over an hour. Then, 1Speed wanted to meet at Falls Park and ride to the FAB board meeting, so I loaded up Shrek in the MonsterVan and drove over there as there was no time to go home and get the car.
The meeting was very productive and four of us rode our bikes to it, including Mr. MixedPickles and Briman! At the end of that very long day I had pedaled about 45 miles. Not a lot, but for a week day, it was for me.

I have been noticing that whenever I was really pedaling hard, or uphill my chain would slip. I suspected a worn cassette and a quick call and trip to visit Erik at Prairie Cycles confirmed my suspicions. Believe it or not, he had the 9 speed cassette in stock, and he installed it for me in about 2 minutes! I also picked up a set of Kool Stop brake pads so now Shrek is ready for the season!

STARLIGHT RIDE TONIGHT AT 2000 HOURS, OR 8 PM for you confused people. Fawick Park by the NakedOne, bring your helmet and blinky.

TdK signup party at Spoke-N-Sport Saturday from 1000-1200. Come and meet Maggie the Magnificent! Of course, I will be there as well, what a contrasting pair!

2 Rides In One Day = Happy Mayor!

2009-04-11T19:48:00.005-05:00

I met Marilyn at Rotary Park this morning at 0700 to ride over to O'Gorman HS for the Coffee and Donut ride. It was chilly. Actually, it was cold, 24 degrees maybe even 26 by then, and by the time we gathered Road Legs and got to the HS my fingers were numb and my toes were cold! Anyway, Adam was in from Denver to visit his parents and saw our website and came out to join us, and later in the afternoon joined us for the Larchwood ride. You'll have to ask Minus Car what the route was, I was lost half the time, but ended up with 27 miles and had a great time!

Then at Harmoden Park we took off to Larchwood, since the wind was very stiff from the south. It is very hilly getting to Larchwood from Harmoden Park when you take the Lake Alvin road.
Very hilly. Damned hilly. Hillier than hell. You know, lots of hills. Hills and wind, and snow (OK, it was in the ditch, but snow nonetheless) still a good time. The highlight of my day was when we left Larchwood and I was leading for a few miles. thE kErnEl told me to slow down because we were dropping people off the back. I've never been asked to slow down on a road ride because others couldn't keep up, it made my day!! (we were cruising at 22 mph, feeling good!)

Oh ya, I made a thingy like I do. . .

CRIT RACE!!!

2009-04-10T05:58:00.005-05:00

Last night I officiated (on a voluntary basis for the practice, not for the fee) the first Central Plains / Spoke-N-Sport crit race of the season. It was a little breezy, and chilly but they still held both races shortening the last race to 30 minutes from 45. I helped the kErnEl in the pit, and also as a corner judge on the last corner before the finish line.

You don't realize how hard it is to record numbers on paper until you try it. I mean, when a group of 10 racers go by, and it only takes about 2 seconds, that's a lot of numbers to write down!

I used my digital recorder! :)

I can't rely on that alone, so the next race I will try and use a headset and set it to VOX, leaving at least my left hand free to hold the clipboard to write race numbers down, right hand being occupied by the stopwatch.

Only one crash, (you still OK Steve?) and thankfully no injuries so that made it a great night. Everyone was thoroughly chilled at the end, and things broke up pretty quickly but still all in all, I think everyone had a good time. The next race will be warmer. It just has to be!

Thanks Sam!

2009-04-09T06:12:00.005-05:00

Sam works for the City. Sam is in the most unusual catagory of City employee in that he actually CARES! He led a group of us last night on the proposed detour route for when the bike trail is torn up to raise the levee on the west side of town.

Any way you look at it, probably 80% of the folks on the bike trail will just turn around and not utilize the detour, and we're talking for a YEAR here. For sure the Moms and Dads with strollers and little tykes on bikes should NOT use the detour, as it follows city streets for four miles, replacing a two mile stretch of the bike trail being destructed. The challenge for the city was to pick the most direct route using the safest streets possible. Not an easy challenge but I think Sam has it pretty much figured out. Work will need to be done with signage and markings and getting stop lights to actually trip for a bike, but Sam is on it.

Maybe if it's well enough marked more than 20% of bike trail users will actually ride the route? Only time will tell I guess.

Well done Sam, keep up the good work!!!

Yes, We Did Ride In The Heart Attack Snow

2009-04-05T13:27:00.004-05:00

Although we did more riding on the plowed streets than we did the bike trail. Because, ummm, WE MAY BE CRAZY BUT WE ARE NOT STUPID!!!
Honestly, the snow on the bike trail required a tremendous effort to ride through, over 12 inches tall in some places, and other places (albeit very few), were bare pavement. It was a great ride, and I am hoping the last Ice Bike ride of this ongoing winter season.
Time for road bikes and short sleeved jerseys.
Thanks GG and DeeDubya for the great ride and companionship, and Deedubya for brunch at the Diner!

They're Back!!!

2009-04-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

Birds with a Tude.

Jakes this time, and only three but what a welcome sight. This has to mean spring is here in Hooterville!

Of course, Tasha is just sitting around and getting fatter and sassier.

I was too, until I started going to the fitness center. I just need to get to the fitness center more often, and, like Tasha, stop bitching about things I can't change.
When she does, I will.
(in other words, don't hold yer breath!)

Hey Genius, Nobody Is Buying Flowers Yet!!!!!

2009-04-01T19:42:00.004-05:00

That's what I would really like to say to whomever puts this damn schedule together. Do you remember my post from week before last? Stuck in a blizzard in Rapid City... Remember?

Here is a short clip from my hotel room.

So you would think that it has warmed up some from then, right??? Nope. I was scheduled to leave for Aberdeen on Monday, but I postponed it until today BECAUSE OF THE BLIZZARD!!! Even then, I could only go as far as Watertown where the DOT had closed the interstate to the ND border. So, I installed the Lawn and Garden stuff at the Watertown store. In the snow. Again.

How were the roads you ask? From Sioux Falls to Brookings, great. From Brookings to Watertown, shit...

This is the second year in a row that I have driven in blizzard conditions, or hazardous road conditions to install L&G stuff. Enough is enough. I am getting tired of being snowed in at a hotel. (better than a truck stop I guess, but still...) People, this is March in South Dakota. The damn frost has not left the earth yet, no one is planting flowers outside yet!!!!! HELLO?????!!!!!!!! Every year some stores have to re-order stock because of freeze damage, yet every year we do the same thing just to "keep up with the competition". OK people, put out some feelers, do your networking magic, and find me that SOB from the competition that started this BS and I will take care of the rest, PDQ. You will still get your flowers in plenty of time to actually go outside and plant them, and I will be able to drive on ice free roads to set it up for you!!!

Except for said SOB, it's a win win!!!

(/end sarcasm)