Bicycle Geography...

New Job, New Blog

2009-07-19T21:22:00.003-06:00

It's time...

Please visit our new website - Live, Learn, Ride. We're just getting started and soon enough it should be chock full of info and blogs.

Don't worry - we'll definitely keep this site up. In the future we hope to take the info this blog and get it organized into a resource for our 'round the world adventure.

Hey! Guess What?

2009-07-16T18:51:00.004-06:00

Happy Thursday,

As some of you may or may not know - we haven't been on the Colorado Trail for the past couple of weeks. Nothing bad happened, we just had a major change of plans. To make a long story short - we got a job, and a pretty cool one at that. We are the new Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew. Think of it as the new iteration of the Bicycle Geography adventure. This time we have a car, prearranged locations, and, we get paid...

Stay tuned for more info about our upcoming adventures and a new blog site. Oh, don't forget to brush off that US atlas. We're definitely getting back the geography stuff.

Hope all is well with you,

LK and CK

New Website for Leslie

2009-06-29T08:46:00.006-06:00

Happy Monday,

I have a new and improved website for my business pursuits. I've combined Bluebird Mapping and GIS with Wide Eyed World Photography.

If you have a moment, take some time and look around. http://www.lesliekehmeier.com/

Thanks!

LK

The Colorado Trail Schedule

2009-06-25T12:58:00.002-06:00

We've decided on 17 days to ride the Colorado Trail. We're definitely making it a challenge, but we're a bit crunched for time. Luckily, all of the sightseeing will occur on the bike. Here is how we hope it lays out.

Start on July 5th and arrive in Durango on July 21
Day 1 - Top of the World Campground
Day 2 - Kenosha Pass
Day 3 - Frisco
Day 4 - Rest Day
Day 5 - Camp Hale
Day 6 - Leadville
Day 7 - Buena Vista
Day 8 - Rest Day
Day 9 - 12 Lake City
Day 13 - Rest Day
Day 14-17 Durango

The wildflowers should be awesome...

LK

The Cruiser Reborn

2009-06-22T07:14:00.002-06:00

Chris finished up my Fourth of July cruiser last week. I took it for a spin immediately. Other than an old tire with a flat spot (thump, thump, thump...) it's fun, fuN, FUN!

Happy Monday,
LK

What Happened to the Kehmeiers?

2009-06-13T07:35:00.004-06:00

We're still kickin' it and keepin' it real. Real, acutally, is a good word. We are transitioning our way back to the 'real' world.

As some of you know, Chris has been working hard to become a teacher. With a lot of hard work and dedication, he was offered (and accepted) a job near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He'll be teaching science to high schoolers.

I've been busy with my freelance work. Lots of maps, words, and pictures. Last weekend I competed in the Teva Games as a photographer for the first time. It was awesome to be behind the lens! Here is my portfolio entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vailvalleyfoundation/sets/72157619515955527/show/

Finally, we are still set to ride the Colorado Trail. I finally got my bike back, with a new frame, and look forward to another bicycle adventure.

Hope you are all well and we hope to be picking up the blogging as we ride from Denver to Durango.

Peace,
LK

What Time Is It?

2009-05-19T11:35:00.003-06:00

It's game time.

Nuggets and Lakers start tonight. I'm so excited that I can hardly stand it!

Lakers are going down...

Chris 'the birdman' Andersen rules.

Nuggets in seven.

SpadOut

2009-05-15T07:04:00.005-06:00

SpadOut - Sports Adventures Outdoors.

What is it? It's a website that tracks prices, reviews, and popularity of outdoor gear. Basically, type in the gear and the website lists the prices for the various on-line retailers.

The SpadOut website also includes an on-line magazine and I'm pleased to say that I am one of the writers. I now have an outlet for my geeked-out analysis of gear!

Here's my article on the ins and outs of solar charging on the road:http://www.spadout.com/a/solar-powered-people/

If you have a little free time, or are in need of some gear, check out the site here.

Happy Friday,

World's Greatest

2009-05-13T06:58:00.002-06:00

In keeping up with events and happenings in Eagle County, I just ran across this post on the Vail Valley Foundation's blog. They are getting ready for the Teva Games and shared some awesome footage of one of my favorite trails - World's Greatest. Enjoy!

Here's to sweet singletrack!
LK

One

2009-05-11T06:39:00.003-06:00

1+1=50

Huh?

In preparation for the Colorado Trail, Chris and I participated in an endurance race over the weekend. Just to make it challenging, we rode our singlespeeds instead of geared bikes. More of just an event for us, the 'race' was staged at Bear Creek Lake Park, our current home track.

When we arrived at registration on Saturday morning, I was surprised to receive a number plate marked '1'. I believe this honor is normally reserved for the winner of last year's race and I felt like I should have been wearing yellow instead of bright blue. Anyhow, I displayed the number proudly. It certainly represented my entire experience; one speed, alone in my class, and eventually, the winner (just of my class, not the race). In the end I was toast, but thankful that I had finished. I can now mark number 14 of my life list: ride endurance race on singlespeed.

Happy Monday,

Colorado Hut Trip

2009-05-06T07:12:00.006-06:00

We had our first Colorado hut trip over the weekend. Lindley Hut was the destination - just a four mile snowshoe in from Ashcroft. Lindley is part of the Alfred Braun Memorial hut system - the first Colorado system oriented toward skiing. The structure was first built in the early 1950s and then later rebuilt after a fire.

A hut trip is an excellent way to get into the Colorado backcountry when there is still snow on the ground. You don't need much more than a sleeping bag and a good book. We definitely had more food than gear and spent Saturday afternoon playing lively games of Yahtzee! and eating tasty hors devours.

Here's to the beauty and grandeur of the Colorado mountains,

The Office

2009-05-04T15:53:00.002-06:00

Got a new chair for my waiting room...

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "doing business"...

Happy Monday,
LK

We heART Bikes

2009-04-24T07:00:00.004-06:00

I can't remember exactly how I found the We heART Bikes Fundraising Art Show, but the 'open to everyone' caught my eye. Anyway, I got a few images prepared and submitted them. I hope they help raise some money for the cause.

The Reno Bike Project, which puts on the event, is a non-profit that promotes the bicycle in many ways. They, like other bicycle co-ops, understand that bicycles are not a standard luxury for everyone. Check out their website here: http://blog.renobikeproject.com/

Colorado has a host of bicycle collectives. Organizations like this are great places for donating old bikes and parts that are still useable. We plan to pedal to the Fort Collins Bicycle Co-Op this weekend and see what they've got going.

Happy Friday,

2009-04-23T12:04:00.001-06:00

Welcome to phone updates. Should be useful for the Colorado Trail this summer. LK

Ginger Ninjas and The Pleasant Revolution

2009-04-22T17:59:00.003-06:00

As your resident earth loving, bicycle riding, thirty-something, I decided it would be appropriate to find something blog worthy for today (Earth Day). I pulled up my favorite search engine, Blackle, and typed in the words "reduce carbon footprint bicycles". About a quarter of the way down I noticed a link that caught my eye:

"Green Ninjas took their rock tour around Mexico by bicycle, greatly reducing the carbon footprint normally associated with rock concerts."

Obviously, I had to check the link out. I discovered that the Green Ninjas are actually the Ginger Ninjas and they toured from Northern California to Southern Mexico on bicycles. They even powered all of their equipment with our favorite human powered machine. Their tour is called The Pleasant Revolution.

You gotta check out the video above!

Here's to a low carbon footprint,

Remembrance

2009-04-20T07:30:00.003-06:00

The irony is so thick...

Today is my birthday. It is also the birthday of Adolf Hitler. And this year, today is also Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. This Jewish holiday commemorates the 6 million Jews that died during the Holocaust and is different every year. It usually occurs somewhere between March and April.

As you may remember, Chris and I had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz when we first got to Europe. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget.

My birthday wish is this: when you get a chance today, take a moment to feel peace and love toward your fellow humans.

Be well,

Back from Montana

2009-04-17T07:44:00.003-06:00

I had the chance to do a little road trip with Chris' family to Montana. On the drive up we stopped in Jackson and made a quick trip into Grand Teton National Park.

Life is Bicycle

2009-04-05T19:17:00.003-06:00

"Shouldn't it be - life is like a bicycle?" my 13 year-old nephew asked. And when I replied, "No, it's supposed to be artsy...", he just looked at me and said "oh...okay".

I discovered the world of self publishing and decided to do a small project before diving totally into the Bicycle Geography book. Today I finished and published a photo book called, Life is Bicycle.

The book is available through the Blurb website here:

Life is Bicycle

By Leslie Kehmeier

Book Preview

Enjoy!
LK

The New Project: Bike The Colorado Trail

2009-04-03T07:18:00.004-06:00

The wanderlust continues. We've could have gone either way after our global adventure; feel satisfied and go back to way the life was, or keep coming up with new ideas. And yep, you guessed it, we're working on the latter.

Our new project is an ultra-light tour of the Colorado Trail. Chris recently informed me that the gear list is very short and does not include a tent or sleeping bags. Hmmm.

The trail covers 530 miles with 60,000 feet of climbing. I guess it's time to start training camp. We're looking at a July start, so we should have time to get our legs and lungs in shape.

The Colorado Trail starts in Denver and ends in Durango. Elevation ranges from 5,500 feet to a high point of 13,334 feet. A good portion of the trail hovers above 10,000 feet. The trail was completed in 1987 and is a joint project between the Colorado Trail Foundation and USFS.

Stay Tuned...

LK

So You're Telling Me There's A Chance...

2009-03-27T07:21:00.003-06:00

photo - Chris commuting to the store in a previous snow storm

It's official - we do still live in Colorado. Yesterday the entire state finally got a good dose of that spring snow. I almost forgot what it's like.
Colorado is no stranger to white stuff in spring. Yesterday's storm was considered a blizzard. This winter storm condition can actually be defined and is not just something that the media invented to spice-up newscasts. The last March blizzard that struck was in 2003 and dumped over 30 inches.
A blizzard is defined as: a sever winter storm with low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy lowing snow. It is formed when a high pressure system clashes with low pressure. This causes advection: The transfer of a property of the atmosphere, such as heat, cold, or humidity, by the horizontal movement of an air mass (taken from the freedictionary.com). Blizzards occur in many different regions across the US and Canada. This type of weather also affects Russia and areas of northern Europe.
OK, so what does this have to do with bicycling and the picture above? Simple, we can put our studded tires back on - yeah!

Here's to moon-boots and snowcaves,
LK

Sharing is Caring

2009-03-25T07:45:00.004-06:00

Just a short one:

Chris passed his teacher certification exam. We can't call him Mr. K until he actually gets a job.

Leslie got her first article published in print. Check out There and Back magazine at your local REI.

Peace!
LK

Otago Anniversary

2009-03-23T08:09:00.003-06:00

I looked on the calendar this morning and noticed that today is Otago Anniversary. Otago is a region on the South Island of New Zealand where we spent a lot of time during our bicycle tour. One of our favorite adventures was the Otago Rail Trail. We figured that it was an area that not many travelers found their way through. For us, it was a very 'authentic' experience.

The map below is our route on the Otago Rail Trail. Each point on the map links to a blog for that day.

By the way - Otago Anniversary celebrates the day that Scottish explorers landed at Port Chalmers, the major port for the city of Dunedin.

View Larger Map

Have fun,
LK

Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow

2009-03-20T07:54:00.004-06:00

I haven't actually read the book (authored by Marsha Sinetar)- the title just rings in my head from time to time. Since we've returned home from our adventure, it rings a little louder.

Our new path is starting to come together. I've got a few projects going (maps and writing) and Chris is awaiting is test results for teacher certification. We're still learning how to be patient, but know that life takes time and we just need to see how it undfolds.

Last week Chris joined me on my singletrack business trip. I had to pinch myself a few times when I realized that I was actually working. The riding in Arizona was spectacular and I had my fair share of "geeked-out" moments. I'm really excited about this particular project because I get to combine two of my favorite things; bicycles and maps.

Here's to coloring our parachutes,

Monday, Monday

2009-03-16T08:33:00.002-06:00

We're back from the desert after making a one day push from Flagstaff, AZ. Stay tuned for the details about the singletrack business trip.

Laundry Day

2009-03-13T08:56:00.003-06:00

No road trip is complete without one.