MS 150 2008 City to Shore

Rode the MS 150 City to Shore on Saturday. 75 miles from Cherry Hill, NJ to Ocean City.


Rode the Sun EZ-1, which weighs 41 lbs unloaded. Added 75 ounces of water (which weighs slightly more than 16 pounds). Plus, spare tubes for the front and rear tires - because they're different sizes. So, that's more than 57 pounds to pedal for 75 miles, without clipless pedals - just regular platform pedals.




Total time - 7 hours; 15 minutes. Which is 9 minutes slower than 2007, when I rode the Haluzak. I think I could have done the century in 7 hours, if I had ridden the Haluzak.

Fixing the Economy - 'Trickle UP"

Everyone seems to have an opinion, so here's mine (and it costs a lot less than $700b U.S.)

Step 1: Take about $260B and invest in US bonds - something safe. We'll spend it gradually - later.

Step 2: Focus on the sub-prime loans. Let's skip the discussion about the greed, etc., that causes the loans to be made. The point is that there are people who have loans that they can't afford. The normal rule of thumb is 28% to 30% of your income should be spent on housing (including mortgage, taxes, etc.). For people with sub-prime loans, figure out what 30% of their income is. That's the amount of the loan that they're required to pay for their mortgage - set up at today's rate as a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. The difference between the % that they can pay, and the amount currently owed on the sub-prime will be paid MONTHLY for the next 30 years, out of the $260B invested in bonds.

Step 3: The holders of the currently-worthless paper can't sell it. They'll get paid, but only over 30 years. Too bad.

Step 4. This will probably solve the problem for 80% of the sub-prime loans; the rest will default anyway. That's life, but it's better than buying off greedy people who knew they wouldn't be helpd accountable.

Winter Project 2008/2009 - Carbon Fiber bike

Also known as "Crazy Idea #1". If I work through all of my current in-progress projects (making a 'watercolor' picture of the house, converting all of my vinyl and casettes to digital) and digitizing all of my 35mm slides, learning a few words of Welsh, and possibly other things, I know what I want to work on during the winter of 2008/9 when it's too cold and dark to ride.

I want to build a carbon fiber recumbent bike. I know some places where I can buy parts, and I can buy some plans to help me design (or at least avoid known pitfalls), and lots of people have already done this. So, it has to be possible, if you design well, and work really well and carefully, no ? It would be so cool to ride a bike that you designed and built by yourself. The lightness of carbon fiber-coated foam core would just be an added bonus. I've stripped bikes down to the frame and re-assembled them, but this is a whole new level of bike insanity.

Off to do some research, so I can think about this while finishing my current projects.

Woodpecker in Window

I was working at home today, and I looked out the window and saw a woodpecker in one of the crab apple trees.
We have heard them before, but I never saw one this close for this long. I had to shoot through the windows, without a filter, so there is a reflective glare in the picture.

He was very industriously working at a knothole. I can't tell if he was lucky and got an insect or not. He's about 4 inches long.

ICE Bikes - New Model B1

ICE Bikes - Inspired Cycle Engineering - which makes recumbent trikes now makes a short wheelbase recumbent bicycle - apparently only over seat steering. Mesh or carbon seat. Best - it easily comes completely apart for transport !

The web site has a shot of the disassembled bike (shown with the mesh seat).
They also offer two handlebar styles. Not sure how the rack show in this photo attaches - unless it's an under-seat rack.

And, ICE offers short cranks as an option !

Web site is: http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/bikes/b1.htm

Return of Pedro's Ice Wax

I've tried 'dry lubes', and they just make my 8 feet of chain caked with dirt. Even the "apply sparingly and don't re-apply until your chain squeaks" kind. So, even if it might contribute to chain wear (which defeats the purpose of a chain lube), I'm going back to Pedro's Ice Wax. At least I don't have chain marks on my leg, which seems to be an inherent part of recumbent riding.

Bike Philly 2008

I rode Bike Philly 2008 yesterday - the 30 mile route. The good parts: excellent route signs and volunteers.



I usually manage to get lost at least once on any ride, but even I didn't get lost. I give this ride A+ for the route itself - who knew there was a Greenland Drive in Fairmount Park ? not me !

It's probably a perfect ride for families and kids - how many kids get to ride their bikes on Delaware Avenue ? The 10 or 20 mile option would be perfect for any kid, especially since they have rest stops every 4 miles.

The bad part ? Just because there aren't cars doesn't mean you don't have to be AWARE OF OTHER RIDERS... and LOOK before you just move across the road....This ride is a lot like the Bike New York ride in May -- you spend so much time being careful and watching out for other riders that you don't get a chance to look at the scenery. But, with only 2,000 riders, it eventually thins out and you can look at the park and scenery, etc.

They could give it a better name, too. Who calls it "Philly" ? (and actually lives here ?). "Bike Fillelf-ya" or even "Yo ! Bike Fillelf-ya" would be a much better name. Next year: Sept 13, 2009. I think I'll sign up. Just hope it isn't another 90-degree, 90 % humidity day.


Next year, I will NOT have a squeaky chain (first time I've ever had one), so I won't be too embarassed to ride the 50 mile loop.

No web site for the 2009 ride yet - here's the 2008. http://ridebikephilly.org/

Kickbike season started today

I've been trying to ride every day since April, and I needed a change. So, today, I hooked up the bike computer and the light to my Kickbike (picture below) and took it around the neighborhood. 2.4 miles in 8 minutes, with several stops to make adjustments, etc. I can't keep that pace up, especially on hills. But it was a fun change. Tomorrow, I'm going to take it out on a flatter bike path.
The Kickbike:

6,000+ miles

I've hit 1,500 miles on my bikes since April, which was my goal for this bike season (which isn't over yet). One of my bikes now has 6,177 miles on it.
Here's a map showing this distance mapped as a circle around a single point.

The URL for GPSVisualizer is: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators