Aurora-Batavia Prairie Path Triangle

coyotes at dusk in fermilab

Quick ride at sunset in Fermilab. I was heading home when I heard what sounded like a puppy mill going crazy, pulled over and heard LOTS of coyotes playing around or maybe just eating something, because on the way out of Fermilab a police man pulled me over to ask if I had seen any small dogs running around. Some were missing in the neighborhood and the owners were upset.

"Maybe a dingo ate your poodle"

Hot Weekend tour

Heading back to the Hennepin Canal Trail this weekend for about a 100 mile ride with one night of camping. The Moots is coming along and its uncharted territory for him so is should be very good. Its going to be super hot though, heat index into the 100F+ range and a chance of thunderstorms. Its the same route from our 4 day tour and it was my favorite stretch of trail. Chances of seeing anyone on the trail have to be low in this kind of weather stiuation, a relaxing ride to the Geneseco Campground, which I think is just awesome. The cleanest showers at any campground I have ever been to, it should be a great end to a very hot, long ride. Cant wait!
I will update everyone on this ride and I know, still owe everyone the Tour Across Illinois ride posting. Soon-scouts honor!
Ride On!
UHC

LHT loaded for touring

LHT loaded for touring
Originally uploaded by cklineuhc

Brooks Flyer Special Saddle for the LHT

Finally broke down and purchased a new saddle to replace the stock one. After so many years off a diamond frame I was not sure how my butt would handle a new saddle. And based on some information from friends and the Internet and well basically looking at a million picture on Flickr, I went with a Brook Flyer Special.
When it really comes to saddles its hard not to be sitting on a Brooks. But one of that main challenges is the long and painful break in period.
Brooks are a fabulous company that has nothing but awesome products in their line up. For touring and pulling around JAK in the burley I went with a sprung saddle. Hoping if afforded be some extra chushing. Although I am a bigger dude, i have a tiny boney ass. The Flyer Special is based on Brooks workhorse B-17 but with 2 heavy duty springs and hand hammered copper rivets. The quick specs are a saddle width of 170mm and length of 280mm and topping the scales at 870g (1.9#).

The Purchasing Story (My LBS is 25 miles away)
So after weeks of searching and reviewing saddles online, I get down to business and pull the credit card out and search with intent to purchase. Cheapest one out on the market is in the UK and with shipping its still cheaper then getting it anywhere local or in the US. So, on the way home from business trip I stop in North Central Cyclery in DeKalb. Great shop, bought my Trucker there, love the joint. Talk to Toby at the desk, they didn't have one out in their Brooks section, so he offers to get one in, I then tell him that I was still just researching and "found one real cheap online", he's like "well i don't normally match online pricing, but tell me what it is?" I tell him my crazy story about the UK bike shop etc and he was so shocked and thinks its such a great deal he felt he had to match the Price (LOWER then $125). He pulled the shoppe's website up on the Internet and Bing. New saddle baby!!
$40 less then REI and most other places.

While waiting for the new piece gear to arrive, I spoke to some friends and read a few reviews and stories on the best way to break it in. I currently am going with a heating with a very hot hair dryer, combo'd with Brooks Proofide. I have heard stories that it could take months to break in the saddle and after my first ride I hope my extra love with "heat & massage" shortens that time.
Just like in life...rub something long enough, something hard will become soft!!

More updates on the break in process to come

"Get on your bikes and ride"

New Blog - "The Road to Rando" is up and running!!

My new blog is up and running. Its called The Road to Rando. Based on my new obsession Randonneuring.
Randonneuring: Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.

I don't have any super human goals in mind like becoming a
Super Randonneur (rahn doe ner) - A special medal awarded to those randonneurs who successfully complete a challenging series of brevets (200, 300, 400, and 600-kilometers) in a year. A hard-earned honor unto itself and worthy of being any randonneur's goal for the cycling season, the Super Randonneur series of brevets is usually needed to enter a 1200-kilometer event.
or doing the Paris/Brest/Paris (P/B/P)
First run in 1891, the 1200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris, or "PBP" as it is commonly called, is a grueling test of human endurance and cycling ability. Organized every four years by the host Audax Club Parisien, the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road. Beginning on the southern side of the French capital, it travels west 600 kilometers to the port city of Brest on the Atlantic Ocean and returns along the same route. Today's randonneur cyclists, while no longer riding the primitive machines used a hundred years ago over dirt roads or cobblestones, still have to face up to rough weather, endless hills, and pedaling around the clock. A 90-hour time limit ensures that only the hardiest randonneurs earn the prestigious PBP finisher's medal and have their name entered into the event's "Great Book" along with every other finisher going back to the very first PBP. To become a PBP ancien (or ancienne for the ladies) is to join a very elite group of cyclists who have successfully endured this mighty challenge. No longer a contest for professional racing cyclists (whose entry is now forbidden), PBP evolved into a timed randonnée or brevet for hard-riding amateurs during the middle part of the 20th century. The event is held in August every four years.
but I would like to do some long distance touring in the mid-west. I love the fact I can leave my house and be on the road to almost anywhere!

Stay Tuned for More Madness!!

I & M Canal Trail - Morris to Marseilles

Chances are this was the last good weekend of Fall and it was not wasted. My first trip to the I&M Canal was fantastic! Started my adventure in the small town of Morris at the Gebhard Woods access.


At the park, I did notice more then a few pick-ups with a deer in the back, it was the start to shotgun season and all the bikers were dressed in bright yellow or orange, but not me, good lesson learned. Note to self - no fur riding coats...ever! This or more to the point, the shotguns were the only negative to the whole trip, the sound of wind and leaves crunching was suddenly jarred by the explosion of a few shotgun rounds at a poor, tasty deer.
I started my adventure heading West to Marseilles, about 15 miles, give or take a few. It being fall and me being me, I was starting out a little later in the day then planned and the sun was going down early so 30+ miles was perfect for the given time allotted. Viva Marseilles, it must be just like in France.

I can not say enough about the upkeep of the trail. Its Perfect! I did not see a single pop can or piece of trash ANYWHERE! It was lovely. And since it was sightly on the cooler side, I only came arcoss 3 bikers all day. With 2 of them being at the very beginning of the trail. so the trail was empty, with the leaves all down and shot guns in the background, it can't get much better then that.
The trail from Morris to Marseilles is almost 95% trail, there were small section of roads and a few street crossing, but nothing major. You do have to ride a few back country roads near towns, so some farm traffic is around, so heads up.

Seneca is a cute little town on the trail, claiming one of the best burger around I will have to stop another time to check this out. What I do remember of Seneca is that there are places to eat, bank and a few gas stations.
Marseilles has a nice little downtown strip with plenty of food and drink options, also a BK and a few gas stations.



The LHT on the trial. This was the truckers first major event and it passed with flying colors. The bike handles like a dream. Although, the ass end of it was heavy especially over the crushed limestone trail. The Surly Nice Rack is totally bomb-proof and is killer but also weighs a ton, well actually over 1000grams. That the bag, tools, pump and spare tubes backs the Trucker almost too heavy. Even though I was at a nice pace and wasnt carrying full packs I might be making some adjustment to help the overall feel of the ride.

First impressions of upgrades; new tires - the stock ties on the LHT are 37mm conties, and while they are solid and good tires I am thinking about going to a thinner tire with very little tread. Packs - need to lose the rear rack and get either a pack for up front or a rack and bag combo.

Fermi and the Trucker