FamiLee Life

Shellac How-To

Rivendell Bike Works now has a bunch of short YouTube clips online to demonstrate simple bike skills that are on the BOBish side of things. I posted this video for Sergio (aka Breath of Vucci) because he's all about the shellac these days.

Bringing Back the Coleman Stove

Coleman 2-Burner Compact Gas Stove

It's as All-American as a hot dog - The Coleman Stove. My family had one when I was a kid and I recall using it on my first "on my own/without family" camping trip as a college student to Martha's Vineyard and the rugged coast of Maine. Then, somewhere along the way, it disappeared. I am not sure if another sibling absconded with it or if it just got lost/tossed in subsequent moves to other homes. Regardless, I never fully appreciated it back then.

As I have started to become Minnesota, I moved on to purchasing a smaller, lightweight portable single-burner stove. The kind that can be carried in a backpack. But every now and then, there is a need for a larger, more durable stove that can safely carry the weight of a big pot of water or handle two pots at one time. Our recent camping trip to Afton State Park confirmed the utility of the two-burner Coleman stove on car camping trips.

Fast forward to this weekend on a trip to Williston, North Dakota to visit HW's extended family. This town now has the catchy phrase - Rockin' the Bakken - to entice folks to move there to work in the oil industry. Despite such marketing, it will always be a small town in a remote corner of North Dakota.

And such small towns means (or equals) great deals at yard sales. Driving around the downtown area, we stopped at a yard sale. My eye had caught a Coleman stove for sale. I immediately walked up to it, assessed its condition (like brand-new!), and paid for it with a crisp $10 bill. Ten dollars! What a steal. Perhaps only in Williston.

Can't wait to use it on our next car camping trip....

UPDATE: A helpful YouTube video on how to use the 425E version. By the way, the purchased stove was made 30 years ago in October of 1978. Sweet.

BWCA Recap: The Horseshoe-Hensen Loop

Having now lived in Minnesota since 2000, I have developed a motto to describe how I have embraced the local culture -- "Becoming Minnesota, not Minnesotan." One important aspect of becoming Minnesota is to embrace the beauty of the landscape. Another important aspect of becoming Minnesota is to embrace the weather, namely the long, cold winters but also the joy and pleasures of its other three seasons. Perhaps the ultimate Minnesota experience is to travel to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota.

As I previously wrote, a group of seven of us made our way up north to the BWCA last Tuesday and returned on Sunday evening. I am not going to post many photographs but this one picture may say it all.

The photograph was taken on Winchell Lake which was our second campsite during the trip. Here is a full description of the Horseshoe-Hensen Loop. We followed it pretty closely with the exception of staying two nights on Winchell and then our last night on Meeds Lake.

Prior to the trip, we were aware of the high chance of rain and wind during the entire trip and it was indeed the case. But the wind and rain usually came at night and was not a problem. In some ways, it was great because it kept the bug count fairly low. Fortunately, we brought plenty of tarps and rope to create ample shelter and did not have to retreat to our tents. So we were able to enjoy the campfire during most of the stormy weather. Otherwise, we explored the landscape, fished on shore and in canoes, and ate plenty of gourmet camp food.

We saw a momma and baby moose about 100 yards from our campsite, across the water, as well as plenty of eagles. We fished every day but fishing was not great. We caught a grand total of three fish over 5 days (two bass and one walleye). I was fortunate to have caught the largest bass and then learned how to gut and fillet a fish. At first, I was a bit hesitant but then quickly caught on. I'm looking forward to another attempt.

This trip was my first time to take my canoe on a major expedition. I was a bit nervous because the water can get pretty rough, choppy, and difficult to navigate. Plus, I was expected to read the map to find portages and not get us lost. I wisely bought a second map to put in another canoe so others could help out (which they ably did - often). To my relief and happiness, no canoe was tipped and we never got lost...um...really lost.

Otherwise, it was a great relief from the day to day grind of work and busy city life. I was able to enjoy the moment and get to spend time with good friends. Perhaps I will write more about the experience another time.

Countdown....BWCA

On June 10th, a ragtag group of men will embark on a 5-day trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). These people include a university professor (me), an information technology executive (KO), an executive director/artist of a homeless arts program (Hapa9), a writer and creative writing professor (EBok), a banker/artist (SV), an actor (K-Matt), and a bike mechanic/writer/realtor (CC). Only three of us (including me) have gone to the BWCA before and, I believe, two are new to the whole concept of wilderness. It will be a test of man vs wild to determine who among us is and is not a survivalist.

We will make camp on Tuesday near the BWCA and will enter on Wednesday morning at Lizz Lake (entry point 47) near the Gunflint Trail via Poplar Lake. We hope to return on Sunday evening, fittingly Father's Day.

Vertical Leap!

While watching the NBA Conference finals last week, the guys got into a conversation about the average vertical leap. Don't ask how or why this topic of conversation began - it just did. Anyway, we had no real parameters for average in any given population and we just guessed. I said 6" and others said upwards to 24". Later in the week while playing basketball, I asked another group what they thought the average vertical leap might be. Again, answers varied. Finally, I looked online and found an interesting calculator. According to this site, the average vertical for someone 18-29 years old is 19.5 inches. The data apparently is drawn from an institute at the Univ of Texas at Austin (if you read the bottom of the website). Another website on bodybuilding listed the following numbers:

Average Vertical Leap of NCAA Div. 1 Football player: 29-31 inches.
Average Vertical Leap of NCAA Div. 1 Basketball player: 27-30 inches.

So, I closed my office door, emptied my pockets of wallet and keys, marked the highest spot on the wall that I could touch with my hands in a standing position, and then jumped from a stationary position. I jumped four times for an average vertical leap of 20-21 inches. Just slightly above the average for folks younger than me but much less than elite Division 1 athletes. And about half of Spudd Webb's 42" vertical leap!

Biking to Afton

We finally did it. After months of talk, planning, and waiting, a group of us (Liesl, Erin, Christopher, John, and I) set out on a biking trip to Afton State Park. It was not uber-far, just shy of 35 miles, but it was the longest in a day for some of us and the longest for us as a group. In the end, it was 34 miles in total (including a few wrong turns and random detours), with an average speed of 11.3 mph and a top speed of 32 mph (going downhill at the park entrance). We rode for a total of 3 hours with an additional 1.5 hours for a casual lunch in St. Paul. I will post a few pics shortly once I receive them from others, as I did not bring a camera. Meanwhile, enjoy this important video clip on bicycle safety.

Karaoke Will Make You Happy

The original fitness guru, Jack Lalanne, provides us with the three things to bring happiness in life which includes karaoke. Well, okay, he said "bursting into song" but it's close enough! Plus, check out this great website. It's gotta be the coolest website out there for a 90+ year old man. Sure, it's probably not maintained by him but still...

Inspiring Determination

Photograph of Scott Cutshall from the Star Tribune

There is an amazing story in the Star Tribune. It is about a man named Scott Cutshall who decided to save his life by riding a bicycle and maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. I have never met Scott, but I suspect I have seen him around at local bike jaunts like CRC Coffee. Dang, it makes me want to ride.

UPDATE: Check out his narrated photographic slide show.

UPDATE 2: The Cutshall Meal Plan

BREAKFAST
1 organic banana; 1 bowl of vegan soup (vegetable stock, dried herbs, rice noodles, pepper sauce, lime juice); 1 espresso.
Calories: Approximately 250.

LUNCH
Homemade hummus on pita wrap with pan-seared Portobello mushrooms, alfalfa sprouts and mustard; water to drink.
Calories: Approximately 400.

DINNER
"The Mega Salad" (1 to 2 pounds of organic romaine lettuce, 2 organic tomatoes, 1 medium bunch of organic spring onions, organic garlic powder, pepper, Caesar croutons); Newman's Own "Lighten Up" Caesar dressing cut 50/50 with water; 1 1/2 cups of pasta with red sauce; 1 glass of wine.
Calories: Approximately 600

Lift off!

Photo courtesy of Ted Hall Photography

After a week of conference travel, I hit the court on Monday night to play my weekly game of basketball. It felt good to get exercise, although I am admittedly feeling sore today. We had around 10 players throughout the night with a couple leaving early due to age-related injuries (sore back, knee pains). Some guys have played their whole lives, while others of us (including me) have only played in the last few years. A good example is the photographed match-up of Wing and Warren. Wing is a well-known local photographer whose been playing weekly ball for over 20+ year. Warren who is a lead designer at BluDot has been playing for far fewer years. Still it does not stop us all from hitting the court, driving the lane, defending the jump shot. Ted snapped this photograph after we finished playing for the night and they were still energetic enough to play one-on-one. Great shot. If you look to the far right, you will see another player (Steve) engaging in old-age gymnastics/calisthenics.

Concussed!

Every Monday night for the past few years, I have been playing basketball with a group of men who are mostly in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. There are only two of the dozen plus who are under 30 years-old. We play in an old, rickety church gym in South Mpls. I have blogged before about this group of men, many of whom are artists or educators or both.

Last night was a typical ball game. Most games only go to 7-points with only 1-point per shot (no bonus points for three-point range bombs). The court is small. Very small - ideal for 3 on 3 but manageable for 4 on 4 which is the usual number of folks on the court. It's the perfect size for aging men who don't otherwise get much exercise. Still, we run and play hard and occasionally get banged up.

I arrived a few minutes into the first game and already there was an injury. An elbow to the nose left the Column (as he is affectionately called) with a bruised and swollen nose. We all thought it was broken but our resident ER physician said it was not broken. We believed him because of the MD behind his name but had our suspicions given that he threw the elbow! Oh well.

In my second game, I went to intercept a pass and got my legs taken out from under me. WHAM! My back hit the floor hard followed by a sudden head bang. It whipped back hard and I was on the floor stunned for a moment. After collecting myself and checking to make sure there was no blood or headache, I got the thumbs up from our doc (aka 90 Percent) to keep playing. Later, I started to feel a bit nauseous and woozy and rested. Dr. 90 said I might have a mild concussion but it was okay to keep playing easy.

Concussions are violent. I have had my share of them growing up playing high school football for 2 years (despite my lack of size and strength) and 3 years of varsity wrestling. I once blacked out getting taken down to the mat and awoke getting pinned. That sucked. For many years afterwards, I could evoke bright lights/stars if my head was jerked or shook suddenly. Mountain biking as a grad student and falling hard at times didn't help. By my mid-20s, I felt I had finally gotten rid of those white lights and had a clean (self-diagnosed) bill of health.

Last night reminded me that I am still concussion vulnerable. With a sore neck and shoulders and a tender bump on the back of my head, I will take it easier next week. Still, I hope to drive to the basket against da Vulture like I did on Monday. Ah, the memories are sweet.

Not the Typical Day of a Cyclist

Here is a bizarre but apparently true story that just broke in St. Cloud, MN. A woman was arrested after being found riding her bicycle with a shotgun strapped to her back! Read more here.

I do not think that this woman was riding her bike as a means to be eco-friendly but she was racking up carbon credits nonetheless! Thankfully, citizens called it in before anything bad happened. Speaking of citizens, in another crime story from a month or so ago, my friend PhT was part of a group of graduate students at the University who helped nab a known thief on campus. His studio-mate actually made a citizen's arrest! As in, "I citizen's arrest you" (I know, poor grammar) or "I hereby make a citizen's arrest" (more formal sounding).

Woman bicycling in St. Cloud with shotgun strapped to her back is arrested
By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune
Last update: February 19, 2008 - 8:56 AM

It was a sight that would catch anyone's attention, a woman riding a bicycle around St. Cloud Monday night in bitter cold. Turns out there was another reason a citizen took notice: The cyclist was carrying a gun.

She was arrested and faces charges of a felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm in a public place, as well as her outstanding warrant, Kraayenbrink said.

Racist Ads During Super Bowl

I am still recovering from the loss of my hometown Patriots in the Super Bowl, but have had enough time away from the game to now address the advertisements that premiered during the commercial breaks. Namely, there were a few racially offensive ads from a company called Sales Genie and another from Bud Light. Read here. I have posted the YouTube videos of the ads below in my extended entry.

The Panda ad seems the most offensive because it plays on so many denigrating stereotypes about Chinese and Asians in general. The chopstick font, "oriental' music, and horrible accents. It's all too much and so racist. How does a copy editor get away with this crap? The Bud Light commercial ranks as second most offensive for playing on obvious stereotypes about racial minority men as nerds, ineffectual, and emasculated. It's only somewhat redeeming quality is the ending, although it still mocks Asian Americans. The Indian salesman ad is the least offensive of the bunch, in my opinion, as it relies on accent more than anything else, but without all the accompanying racist images. In this case, the character has redeeming qualities and is not portrayed as less than human.

What do you all think?

Second Place Finish (with help)

What a gorgeous Winter weekend in Minnesota to enjoy the Art Shanty Projects. On Saturday, I loaded up my single-speed stallion (aka SS Amnesty) and drove out to Medicine Lake for the BIcicle races. The track is about one-half mile in length and we had to race twice around. In the first race, there were about 8 to 9 [correction - 10 or 11 based on videoclip] of us riders ranging in age and type of bicycle. Among the more serious entrants, there were probably about 8 of us. After riding in the middle of the pack, I got a lucky break when Paul who was in the lead wiped out on a turn and took out another rider. So with not much left in the race, I was able to slip into a second place finish. Afterwards, I enjoyed the beauty of the lake, visiting other shanties, talking with friends, and snacking on some food. At 3 pm, I decided to compete in the third race of the day along with good friends Erin and Liesl (and again with Paul). At one point during the first lap, I was actually in the lead, but Andrew M. sped by me on his 21-speed mountain bike and I just stared at his back the rest of the ride. Then, near the end of the race, I hit a patch of ice, got off-course, and ended up 4th. Not bad given that my legs were burning and I was exhausted. Phew! Nothing says Minnesota like riding a bicycle in the middle of Winter on a lake! After warming myself up in Paul's woodworking shanty, we went to eat some bbq and then had a private karaoke session in the Norae Shanty. A perfect day.

Brrrrr! Get out and exercise!

Yesterday was the "warm" day of the week. I believe the daytime (and early evening) temperature hovered around 20 degrees and then dipped to the single digits by nightfall. There also was a fairly strong wind, so I am sure wind chill (that elusive gauge) dropped the temps down further. Still, it was a lovely day/night. It was a night of birthday celebration for PhT, so some of us decided to ride our bikes to/from various locations and go ice skating at Bryant Square Park. It was indeed chilly, but I felt fine with the right clothing and as long as we kept our bodies moving. Of course, no amount of clothing can prevent me from feeling sore after falling down so much while skating. I am not a horrible skater but I am by no means graceful. The falling largely occurred because we were playing a game of tag and I had to make some evasive maneuvers and quick stops. Oh well. It was certainly a workout!

In a recent NYTimes article, researchers discuss myths associated with exercising in the cold and emphasize that it is very do-able. It's a worthy read for those of us stuck in the midst of the Winter cold.

Merry Christmas

I could not help it. Found this image on Velo Orange and lifted it. I suspect he lifted it as well from here given the two words in the image.

Another Bicycle Tragedy

I have been itching to ride again now that the snow has ceased and the roads have cleared. I promised myself and HW that I would ride only when it was safe outside and not unreasonably cold (less than 20 F degrees). So the plan is to go for a bike ride tonight to hang out with the boys. Then, I read this story in the Star Tribune. Ugh. What a horrible tragedy.

Edward Joseph Gorecki, 51, was on his bicycle about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of NE. Quincy and Broadway streets in Minneapolis when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a 41-year-old woman....According to police, she dragged Gorecki's bicycle for 1½ blocks, then hit another car at Broadway and NE. 2nd Street. Finally, officers were able to stop the woman over a mile away at 18th and Fremont Avs. N. Officers cited her for drunken driving. Her blood-alcohol content was .10.

I have ridden in this area many times and often at night. Boy, it makes you think twice. Still, I am undeterred in bicycling. I realize most drivers are not drunk and most are not negligent in their driving habits. It warrants caution when cycling though and I shall proceed with plenty of caution. Be safe, folks.

Say Anything...Bikes and Boom Boxes

Like many from my generation, I love the scene from the movie Say Anything when John Cusack's character stands at the home of his love interest with a boom box held high above his head, music blaring, to profess his love.

Well, it seems this method has evolved to boom boxes on bicycles. I heard about this NY Times article from my Team Potluck mate, Peter.

A Wirth-while One-on-One kind of day with women in Brasa and some Grumpy men

On Saturday morning, I awoke a bit too tired from a full Friday night of celebrating a birthday, attending a play, Kirby, which starred my friend Ansa with whom I play Monday night basketball, an art show opening at the Soap Factory featuring Hapa9, and then a brief pitstop to dance a few songs with the birthday girl at the club of her choice (not my choice, as if I had a dancing hall choice). So, I was indeed tired and could have used an extra hour of sleep. But I needed to be up early to eat a full breakfast (2 eggs and toast) and to set up my B'stone XO-3 (pump air, reconfigure tools) which has been hanging upside down idly in my basement for the past few weeks as I've been riding other bikes.

I set out of the house to meet a group of friends (Hapa9, Sergio, John, Emily, Shannon) at 11 on the Greenway by the Soo Line gardens.

It was another episode in biking to eat and eating to bike. The six of us started the ride by heading out toward Theodore Wirth Park. I had never really seen the sights at Wirth. My only other time there was to play a round of golf, so I was excited to check out this section of the Grand Rounds. Sergio was familiar with this neck of the woods, since he mountain bikes at Wirth. What a beautiful park. Must check out again and soon.

After riding through the park, we decided to consume coffee and gawk at bicycles (old and new) at One-on-One Bike/Coffee shop. Hapa9 also needed some minor repair on his bicycle, so it was a wise stop. We were joined by three more friends (Kurt, Cross, and PhT)

We proceeded to Brasa for a heavenly lunch. HW joined up with us from her office where she was putting in some extra hours (the woman works too much, I tell you). I shall say it quietly here - she drove, we biked. Oh the food! It was good! Organic, local, and just the right amount of Southern flavor. Only two main dishes are served - roasted chicken and pulled pork. Get the pork! And the sides were delicious too. Corn bread, creamed spinach, collard greens with bacon and spice, yuca fries. Yum.... we were all super hungry from the ride, so it was extra tasty.

Sated, we broke off into smaller riding groups. John had departed early to tend to the children (without eating!). Shannon and Emily rode home. HW went off to taiko practice. PhT rode off to his studio and then to an Art Shanty meeting. The rest of us rode to Uppercut Gym to deliver some lunch to Sarah. [I forgot to add this section of the ride to the map. Drat!] From there, we rode to Grumpy's for a late afternoon beverage and to wait for Hapa9 and PhT who were there for the aforementioned meeting. Waiting, waiting. We boys got tired. Maggie texted us to come over to eat chili and enjoy a nice firepit, but we got tired. Plus, it started to get colder out and we were not all dressed for the chill. So, we slowly gathered ourselves and made our way home.

It was a good ride. It was a Wirth-while One-on-One kind of day with women in Brasa and some Grumpy men.

p.s., Not counting the ride from Brasa to Uppercut, Sanoodi clocked the total ride at 17.1 miles. Add 1.5 miles to Uppercut and whatever extra miles for folks to ride home from the start/end point. For me, it was approximately 24 miles from door-to-door.

S.S. Amnesty

Heads up to Paul L for tipping me off to an online photograph of S.S. Amnesty (as in Single Speed - creative, right?!) at the Homie Fest. The photograph (which I cannot seem to download) was taken by a mysterious man named Mark who posts online photographs of bicycles that he has seen around town. I suspect that I actually know who is Mark but just have never formally been introduced. He also makes a cool t-shirt that someone should buy for me. Find out more at I Bike Mpls.

BBQ and Cupcakes :: A Saturday Bike Ride

A couple of weeks ago, I read a City Pages food review by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl about two Saturday only food events - cupcakes by Sheela Namakkal sold at LetterBox in Uptown and barbeque by Big Daddy's sold out of a parking lot in St. Paul at University and Dale. My mouth watered with hunger when reading this review and it inspired me to devise a Saturday Bike Ride with friends to visit these two locales. I sent out an email to see if there was interest. Christopher replied back that the cupcakes would not be available this weekend for some unexplained reason. After a momentary panic, I regrouped and rerouted the trip to make a stop at Cupcake on University Ave (near campus). With the two destinations confirmed, I set about planning the best bicycling route (click here to see the original route).

Saturday turned out to be the most gorgeous Saturday in a long while. It was cool but not cold, no wind, and sunny skies. I decided to ride Yuko (B'stone Eurasia) for this outing. The trip began at noon with two Greenway pick-up stops on Park Ave South (Mike/Kurt) and 18th Ave South (Christopher, Liesl, Erin, Ephraim, and Shannon). Shortly after starting our ride, it was decided that we needed to make a detour to pick up some beverages to help wash down the BBQ. All agreed. We made our way to Cupcake and met up with HW who could not do the full ride because of taiko rehearsal. After sating our appetites, we altered the course to swing by a liquor store and then to Big Daddy's for barbeque.

Liesl, Christopher, and me with our bicycles

Big Daddy's Flintstone Beef Ribs, Pork Ribs, and Pork Rib Tips

Our eyes were much larger than our stomachs. For some reason, we all thought we could each eat half a rack of ribs. Mistake #1. We also thought we could sample all three types of meat in the same quantity. Mistake #2. With about 10 lbs of meat among us, we loaded up our bicycles and made our way to Como Park. Kurt took the lead on this ride, as it was his excellent suggestion to eat our food at the park. And thus, we ate. Sarah joined us after work at the park and partook in the feast. Afterwards, we rested like bloated kings and queens.

Some leftovers

Photo taken by a stranger who walked by and kindly offered to snap it. She is not really shaped like a pyramid

Our return trip was with big smiles on our faces and full stomachs. We decided to ride along Como to the Intercampus Connector path which brought us through the West Bank of campus and back to the bike paths. Christopher led the way home.

In the end, everyone rode about 25 miles with a few of us riding a bit more to make it home. My final mile count was more like 34 miles. Here is a quick mapping of our final route.

Shockingly Unshocking! Academics and Athletics

Although the two disciplines/domains start with the same letter (Academics and Athletics) and reside on the same campus, there is apparently a disconnect! Shocking! From the Chronicle of Higher Education comes a new report, titled Faculty Feel 'Disconnected' from College Sports, Think Some Coaches' Salaries are Excessive.

A "striking number" of professors involved in governance at universities with high-profile athletics programs say they are disconnected from and do not know much about the issues facing college sports...

I love the use of "striking" in quotations!

Personally, I am quite attuned to college athletics, just not much about the athletics of the University of Minnesota. Instead, I follow my alma mater - Boston College - whose football team is now ranked #4 in the nation! But I am the kind of fan who has difficulty watching a BC game because the heartbreak of a loss is too much at times. I would rather just read about it in the paper or online than have to endure watching a loss.

Okay, back to crunching numbers and writing papers.

Report: Faculty Feel 'Disconnected' from College Sports, Think Some Coaches' Salaries are Excessive

By LIBBY SANDER

A "striking number" of professors involved in governance at universities with high-profile athletics programs say they are disconnected from and do not know much about the issues facing college sports, according to survey findings released on Tuesday by the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

In the nationwide survey of faculty attitudes, 62 percent of the respondents said their universities' athletics programs were structurally separate from academic programs, and 50 percent said decisions about sports on their campus were driven by the needs of the entertainment industry with "minimal regard" for the institutions' academic mission, according to an executive summary describing the poll's findings.

The full report will be released next Monday at the commission's Faculty Summit on Intercollegiate Athletics, in Washington.

Although the survey was designed to focus on the perceptions of professors who are involved in faculty governance or intercollegiate-athletics governance and who have contact with undergraduates, more than a third of the respondents said they were unfamiliar with policies and practices applying to campus athletics and with the financial aspect of athletics.

"The large segment of uninformed faculty is particularly noteworthy," the summary states, because of the sample's design. Professors involved in governance or undergraduate teaching, it says, "would seem more likely than a randomly drawn sample of university faculty to be informed about these issues."

The summary also states that 72 percent of the respondents thought the salaries paid to head football and basketball coaches were excessive, though half also said that their institutions' success in athletics spurred alumni giving to campus programs outside of athletics.

Other key findings in the summary include the following:

* Forty-six percent of faculty members were satisfied with their university president's oversight of athletics, compared with 28 percent who were not.
* Fifty-three percent said they were satisfied with awarding scholarships based on athletic ability, while 31 percent were not.
* Sixty-one percent said athletes were motivated to earn their degrees and keep pace with their peers in the classroom.
* Fifty percent said academic standards did not need to be lowered to achieve success in athletics, although 32 percent said they believed some compromises in academic standards were necessary to succeed in football and basketball.

The survey, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, analyzes responses from more than 2,000 tenured or tenure-track faculty members at 23 institutions in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I-A.

Reborn! Welcome to the B'stone Stable

As I wrote less than a month ago, I discovered that my beloved mountain bike, the Bridgestone MB-3, was actually a Bridgestone MB-4 (read earlier post here). So, I decided to convert this bike into a single-speed and have since done so. Without further adieu, here is Amnesty, as I like to call her.

Originally equipped with a Ritchey flatbar, a generic ridiculously long stem, the original knobby tires, and a 21-speed (3/7) Shimano STX/Deore drivetrain, I decided to go with a cruiser-style single-speed bike. Out went those parts and in with the Nitto Albatross bars, Nitto Dirt Drop stem, Soma Inverse brake levers, Panaracer TServ tires, Surly Singleator chain tensioner, Surly 36-teeth front chainring and 16-teeth rear cog. I also added the new Planet Bike Cascade plastic fenders, a Planet Bike front/rear light set, and a pair of cork grips with twine and lots of shallac.

CrossMax works part-time at the ALT and graciously donated his time and energy (well, in exchange for a case of PBR) to rebuild the bike. He did a splendid job!

To close out this post, here are a few photographs of the twine job on the handlebar grips, including a bit of cloth tape for an extra hand position, an aerial view of the Albatross bars (they are wide and tall!), and a close-up of the Singleator. Notice how high the bars are positioned, compared to the saddle height. What a comfortable position to ride. Much better than the overstretched position as a mountain bike.

Welcome to the stable, Amnesty; you are reborn and a pleasure to ride.

XO (hugs and kisses = cyclocross)

This is a recent post on Craigslist for a lovely 1993 Bridgestone XO-2. The guy is asking for $499 which is not an unreasonable price but unlikely to get it. Maybe if he sold it on ebay but not on CL. Anyway, I think $300 is a more reasonable price. But I digress.

I own a XO-3 in the same year and this bike is definitely an upgrade. It's my understanding that the XO series was one of the first mass-produced, full-time cyclocross, all rounder bicycles that became the prototype for Rivendell's signature Atlantis frame. It's just lovely.

So, if someone wants to buy it for me (but not at the asking price!), I won't decline.

Weekend Update

What a weekend. I was sick for most of the week and it culminated with a low-key Friday. After pushing myself through the week of work, I was exhausted on Friday. I have had a lingering, hacking cough that takes everything out of me. I missed a birthday party for Regent V at the Chambers even. I mean, how often do *I* miss a party! Sorry V!!!

On Saturday, I was feeling better but decided to take it easy with a low-key morning. In the late morning, I hopped in the car to go buy a used only once Granite Gear portage pack from a guy off Craigslist. The guy is a professional gear tester! Imagine that. Anyway, he wanted $125 but I talked him down to $90 after I searched the internet and found some new ones for sale at $135 (plus another $15 for shipping). This type of bargaining is called the Mr. Lee technique, in honor of my father. Then I went to a very interesting store called Brand Name Deals in Fridley. They basically sell overstock and refurbished stuff. It was like a huge tag sale. Crazy.

On my way home, I called Christopher to see if he wanted to go for a long bike ride. We met up on the Greenway and decided to ride to Fort Snelling. So we went around the Chain of Lakes and then along the Minnehaha Creek Parkway to Fort Snelling. I had never been on the Snelling trails and they were gorgeous. Can't wait to go back when the leaves turn. All in all, the cyclometer said that I rode 28 miles total. A nice workout. Oddly, I never cough when cycling. Just when I am doing nothing or sitting or lying in bed. Argh.

On Saturday night, HW and I had a lovely dinner with KPN/PPN who made a gourmet meal of pork loin with fig sauce, beet salad, and the best part was the banana wontons with chocolate sauce! Amazing!!!

On Sunday, I had another lazy day (ahem, I mean a day of recuperation from the cold). This meant....FOOTBALL! As some of you know, I love (give me an L, O, V, E) NFL football. So I watched two games in a row, including the Vikings losing, and then made a shrimp, brocolli, and purple cabbage stir fry with sake and soy sauce for an Asian American Studies program potluck dinner. Put the pyrex dish in my new front basket on the bike and a bottle of wine in my water bottle holder on the downtube and I rode off to my colleague's home for dinner.

A lovely ending to the weekend.

Lost in Translation :: The Bridgestone Eurasia

Every now and then, I google "Bridgestone Eurasia" to find out more information about one of my bicycles, as it was never sold in the United States and so I know little about its origin. Today, I came across a Japanese website that contains some pics and info on the bike. However, I don't read Japanese, so I had google do the translation for me. Here is what I got in return....

　[wantatsuchipikunika] similar, the cycle [pi] [tsu] and the store of [inoue] first you slept. [suporuteihu] about of 20 years ago. Bosom tilting, it does.
The leader of the store begins and “rides by his to clean”, that you said, but the store could not make busy, very by his to clean.
So like this while having done, it was moved to the bicycle yard which from ahead the store becomes motor vehicle cassation of the reverse side of the store.
　In university age does touring with the run donor because it is something which, while many times see, longing.
It means that the kind of air where gradually this bicycle call by your does.
　Finally, whether or not there is an air which never, sells mind in the leader, you had heard somewhat price.

　As for problem, yard with pad. Already in the garage folding and one MTB 4. Entirely my ones. As for bicycle of child entrance.
Because the wife inserts the car into this garage, when the bicycle takes the space excessively, “because it becomes difficult to insert the car, it is to be called useless”.
If you mention the proper, the proper.
　Somehow devising the method of inserting the bicycle, already about one becomes unit somehow, the kind of air which. Generally after guaranteeing the space, start of negotiation with the wife. About 3 days spending, thoroughly persuasion. With the favor which spent time, increased with “OK”.
　Going with to the cycle [pi] [tsu], “Eurasia, you buy”, that when you say, the leader so worry “permission and the time of the lady, it is?”
It was to be worried about that it becomes quarrel between husband and wife.

So, my interpretation is that this guy wanted to buy this bike and fix it up, but his wife complained about not enough space in the garage. After haranguing her, she finally agrees to let him buy the bike.

AND...there is more....

　August 12 day and night one, going with to the cycle [pi] [tsu], servicing Eurasia. You dropped the rust of the chain, polished the frame, you did again to attach the mudguard which has come off, the soiling which has been attached to the rubber of the cover of adjustment of the shift wire, service and the brake lever of the brake you removed, locking the bar tape which has started to peel off start running, safety you could.
　Recently, [kachikachi] and being one-touch, those where you can shift gear had become natural, but as for any such a things it has not been attached to this Eurasia. Equal to necessary amount moves the W lever which is attached to the down tube of the frame and adjusts the delay Ra movement.
　Feeling of the time where it was riding in the past run donor returns. Riding comfort there is no with something, whether bosom forcing.
　When the dynamo is pushed to the rim of the rear wheel, light/write illumination. Either the extent pedal which you think does not become heavy, satisfaction. So just a little dark kana?
　Because the talk lip which has been attached to the pedal, we do not like the toast lap you removed.

It seems the above describes his efforts to clean and repair the bicycle and a summary of how it is now working. Or at least, it is what I have gotten from google translation.

It's nice to know at least that someone else is riding a Bridgestone Eurasia!

And, it turns out that B'stone made a whole touring line of bicycles called Eurasia back in the 1970s and 1980s! I found the following sites at TheCityBicycle blog. See here and here and here. These are Bridgestone catalogs from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Nothing on the EAD-500 which is my specific Eurasia model but so many luxurious goodies on this page. I love all the accessories for the touring bicycles. It's purrdy.

p.s., Here is a site with all sorts of pdf scans of old Japanese bicycle catalogs. Click here.

Bad Memory :: New/Old Bike

I did a lot of random house cleaning/organizing this weekend, including finally (after many years) installing hooks to hang my bikes up and reduce their presence on the main floor. They are now comfortably hanging like bats in the basement. Sometimes owning power tools make you feel competent. On a roll, I also installed a lock box to avoid getting locked out of the home. Then, after admiring my handiwork on the bike hooks, I decided to peel off a sticker on the seat tube of my Bridgestone mountain bike. My very first B'stone.

As you all recall, I own four B'stones - each with a different form/function. The RB-1 is designed for light, fast riding. The XO-3 is the all-around utility bike with neat mustache handlebars. The Eurasia is designed for touring and leisurely rides. The MB-3 is the mountain bike of the bunch.

The B'stone mountain bike was an impulse buy of sorts. I previously owned an entry level Trek 800 Antelope which was basically a city bike disguised as a mountain bike. One day, I went off a dirt jump and destroyed the rigid fork. I went to a random local bike shop in Richmond, VA and ended up with the B'stone. I admired a MB-2 in the store but it was $100-150 more and on hold for another customer. Being a poor graduate student, I was satisfied with the cheaper model. It was very cheap indeed (tho' I can't recall the exact price); all the B'stones were discounted. Bridgestone had just pulled out of the US market due to the rising value of the yen (vs. the dollar). Later, I regretted this decision as the MB-2 was lugged (not Tig-welded) and just a whole lot sweeter. Then, sometime in the first year of ownership, I had gotten some Amnesty International stickers (with the barbed wire logo) and decided it looked cool enough to put on the bike. So, I covered the lettering on the seat tube and it has been this way since 1995 or so.

Well, here is where my bad memory comes into play. For all these years (or somewhere along the way), I thought I had owned a Bridgestone MB-3 - a sibling to my XO-3 (i.e., sharing the same numerical designator). After peeling off the old Amnesty sticker, lo and behold, I discovered (and since vaguely remembered) that I bought a MB-4 - one step down from the MB-3. Too funny! It was almost like getting a new bicycle. It is actually a sibling to HW's XO-4 which I picked up for her on Craigslist for a steal about 6 months ago. BTW, I have since retro-grouched her bike and it is just gorgeous with Brooks saddle and wire mesh front basket. So, I just stood there for a moment trying to remember how my memory decided I had a MB-3, not a MB-4.

After feeling amused with this new/old bike, I surfed some bicycle websites and made the decision to resurrect my MB-4 (now properly named Amnesty), which I have not ridden in many years. I retired from mountain biking back in graduate school and have since been kind to my aging back with more upright bikes. Amnesty has sat quietly all these years without a single complaint. But she is still in sweet shape. Still has the original tires on her and they are not cracked at all. My new goal is to convert Amnesty into a winter, commuter bicycle. I plan to swap out the handlebars, stem, shifters, and brakes with some new parts and gently reintroduce her to the road.

Cycling Chaos

What is going on these past couple of weeks? Too many bicycling accidents and shootings in the Twin Cities. In the news today, a 14-year old boy was struck by a car (click) and a missing bicyclist may be the identity of a man found dead on the front lawn of a south Mpls home (click). Plus, a bicyclist shot a man sitting in his own dang house (click). And then last week, there was the bicyclist killed by a school bus near Uptown (click).

Fellow cyclists, be careful. The weather is turning frosty and things are getting chaotic for us. And please, please, please do NOT listen to your iPod or other music with headphones while riding your bike.

Click here for a story on bicycling safety.

Blue Mounds State Park

Over the weekend, a group of friends and I went camping at Blue Mounds State Park in the southwestern corner of Minnesota, just 15 miles or so from the South Dakota border. I have never been to SD, so I was hoping to make the short trip over, but never made it. It's about a 3.5 hour drive depending on traffic, speed, and number of gas/bathroom breaks. We made it in short time. There were five of us on the trip (Mike/Sarah/Peter/Kurt/Me). None of us had been to BMSP, so all we knew was that there were bison and a cliff there.

We all arrived at night and set up camp in short order. After a yummy meal (ribeye steak!), we chilled out, slept, and awoke to a gorgeous morning. Throughout the night, we heard moo-ing sounds from afar. We had no idea if it was the sounds from cows or bison. I think it was silently agreed upon that these were cow sounds, but it was fun to imagine bison moo-ing in the distance. Still, these were loud cows! They moo-ed all night long and then there were flocks of birds who decided to descend upon us and fly/chirp/rustle about as we tried to sleep till sunrise. It was an eventful night's sleep.

These two photographs were taken at sunrise.

After a hearty breakfast (eggs) and a lazy rest of morning, we set out on foot for a hike along the park trails. We were intent on seeing the cliffs and the bison. Plus, Peter wanted to go to the interpretive center. He loves that sort of touristy stuff.

Mike snapped this photo of us sitting on Eagle Rock about midway along the trip. It's a very arty shot because he went to art school and got a BFA. They learn that sort of thing in school.

Eventually, we found the cliffs. Quite an interesting site. The mound is situated atop Sioux quartzite stone which was quarried for a time in the early 1900s to make gravel and buildings. We eventually found our way down the side of the cliff to admire it from below.

The cliffs on the left and the quarry on the right. Notice the peace sign made with rocks. So hippy. Peter wished he had thought of it first

Up to this point, we had only seen bison from afar. Pretty lame. We also figured out that these are not wild bison or even semi-wild. Instead, we discovered that they have a pen where they must get additional food, aside from grazing because they all herd in that direction. Oh well. Still, we wanted to get a close look of them. Thwarted, we made our way back to camp to eat a quick lunch, snack on Korean marinaded short ribs (kalbi), and then wait for the feast of Korean marinaded ribeye beef (bulgogi). We ate a lot of beef on this trip. Plus, lots of potatoes. It was a very western prairie meal -- or at least what I imagine to be a western prairie meal.

We had to wait until Sunday morning to see the bison (or buffalo) up close. They finally made their way toward the fences closest to our campsite. They are a majestic animal and quite swift. Lots faster than cows.

With that ending, we closed camp and drove home...with an obligatory stop at Dairy Queen.

My Sept Goal -- The S24O

I learned about the S24O (aka, Sub-24 Overnighter) a while back and have yet to do one. Well, strike that. I have done overnight camping but by car. The S24O refers specifically to bike camping in which you depart on bike and return on bike, carrying all the essentials on the bicycle. Fortunately, I have local friends also keen on the idea. So, my goal for Sept is to finally do a S24O. I think I may try to sandwich it in between two regular weekend camping/canoeing trips.

If you want to learn more about the S24O, read this interview with Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycles.

Baseball Fever

My nephew Austin loves baseball. This photograph was taken from his most recent game in which he pitched his Little League team into the championship game for his region. They eventually lost the game and thus ended their bid to the state tournament. My brother told me that Austin, however, had won both games in which he pitched. As you can tell, he is a big kid - growing tall and strong. Clearly, those genes come from his mom's side of the family, but I would like to think that the athleticism comes from our side of the family.

My contribution to his wonderful athletic career thus far is the baseball glove. A custom Mizuno that I got him for his birthday. Good to see an actual photograph of it.

Riding,,,,Finding the Right Home

My good friend Christopher has many jobs (husband, father, writer, racer, and realtor). The latter job as a realtor pays the bills but I suspect it can be less than thrilling at times. It asks CC to compromise bits of who he is and slowly ends up changing the man (or at least that would be the fear). CC began to recognize his need to consolidate interests and came up with a novel one. He is now the only realtor in the Twin Cities and perhaps Midwest or US or (heck) world who offers cycling home tours. You can check out his new blog on this enterprising enterprise at CyclingHomeTour.Com.

If you are interested in riding the right home (or finding one), contact CC!

p.s., If you love the design of CC"s bus stop advertising sign, that was done by the lovely HW! If you want some cool graphics and designs, contact her by contacting me!

UWell? How Does Bicycling Stack Up?

The University has made a big push in recent years to encourage staff and faculty to live well through proper exercise, eating, and wise life choices (e.g., wearing a seat belt/helmet, avoiding high alcohol consumption, stress management). To encourage people, they send out an annual online survey to complete and for which you can receive $65 for participation. They also mail you a cheap pedometer that I seem to immediately lose within a day or week of using. They really push for people to walk 10,000 steps a day. For walking 10K a day, you can earn another $65. The whole goal of the University Wellness Program is to increase our health and wellness.

Interestingly, it has never been suggested to reduce our dependence on the automobile and to try bicyling as an alternative to car and even walking. Not everyone has the luxury of time to walk to work when home-to-work is more than a few miles. However, it is quite easy to bicycle to work when the distance to work is a bit longer. I wish I could earn $65 for riding my bicycle to work.

Anyway, it all got me thinking of how many calories am I burning by bicycling each day. Also, what is the equivalent when running? I found two online calculators to estimate such things. The calorie burned estimator lets you compare and contrast all sorts of activities from bicycling to ironing a shirt. The DrMirken site provides an equation to convert bicycle miles to running miles for those who wonder which is better/easier/healthier.

By biking every day, I am burning 500 plus calories for one hour of riding. When I used to run, I ran about 30 minutes a day which is equal to around 300 calories a day. Walking for 60 minutes burns about 260 calories. The bonus of riding is that I get to work in the process, whereas it would not be reasonable to make such a commute by walking or running.

I Ride to Work - Big Deal, He's Riding Across the Country!

I have been bitten by the bicycle bug. No surprise to those who know me. I have bought (ahem) a few bikes recently and gotten them fixed up purrty. But I don't participate in road races, cyclocross races, or tackle tough mountain bike trails. Nope. I just ride to work, to the grocery store, to drop off a rental video, to visit with friends. The mundane things in life. It's enjoyable.

Today, I was reading the Minnesota Daily and came across an article about my colleague in Chicano Studies (Louis Mendoza) who is riding across America and (get this!) it's for research!. You can read about his journey at his blog. Wow, that is impressive. He intends to average 75 miles a day which at a leisurely pace would take anywhere from 5-8 hours, depending on road and weather conditions. His bike will be heavy with all the camping gear, etc, so I suspect he will go at a slower pace. All the better to take in all of America, I suppose.

Here is the proposed map of his trip.

Impressive. How can I find a novel way to take my psychological research on Asian American mental health on the road? Suggestions?

The Fall and Rise of Yuko Takeuchi (and me)

My apologies for taking so long to post some pics of the new, improved Yuko Takeuchi (aka Bridgestone Eurasia/EAD 500). We had some technical difficulties finding the right stem length (originally had a 9 cm length but it was too long, so I switched to a 7 cm length) and then, tragically, we had a fall. It occurred last night.

The day started great (and fortunately also ended great). After spending a relaxing morning and early afternoon avoiding the heat, I embarked on a sunset canoeing expedition on Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, and Lake Calhoun with H-Dub, Hapa9, and K-Matt out on the Sun-ee (aka the Turtle Ship) and Hapa9's Millennium Falcon. We swam a bit, enjoyed some cold beverages while lolling about on the lake, and ate tasty fish at the Tin Fish. As the canoeing came to a close, Hapa9 suggested an evening of karaoke workshop which means we sing new songs to figure out how they go, what is in our range, etc. A perfect idea. So, H-Dub and I went back to my place to drop off the canoe, clean up, and then head over to Hapa9's.

I left my place on Yuko around 10:15 pm. I was going my usual route around Lake Harriet. As I turned onto the street that takes me to the lake, I hit a patch of sand in the road as I leaned into the turn and wiped out. Bad but not terribly bad. As with most accidents, it happened quickly but simultaneously in slow motion. It was dark outside, so I didn't see the sand. I knew there was a lot of it on the road, as they have been doing construction in the roads for the past month, but I could not see it in the dark (even with my headlight). I hit hard on my left side and sustained plenty of road scrapes on my left foot and ankle and the palm of my left hand. I also got a few minor scrapes on my chin and chest. Fortunately, I didn't break anything and had no nasty gashes. Still, there was about a half-dollar size scrape with no skin on my palm and about a quarter-size scrape on my ankle. I doused the cuts/scrapes with water from my waterbottle and made my way to Hapa9's. Sarah was kind enough to help me clean and dress the wounds. The rest of the evening went fine. I sang some new tunes (none too memorable) and rode back home at night's end.

Of course, I was mostly worried about Yuko. The handlebars got turned askew but there was no major damage to the bike. My new Cane Creek brake lever (right side) sustained the brunt of the force and a piece of the thick rubber hood was torn off. Otherwise, she was fine. We both were.

So, with this story told, I re-introduce Yuko.

Since my initial showing of her a few months ago, I had a few things added. Namely, I put on a Nitto Technomic Deluxe stem (7 cm), Nitto Noodle bars (44 cm), Cane Creek brake levers, and an early 90's Avocet Racing saddle. And, as you can see in the below photo, Jim from Hiawatha Cyclery did a wonderful job of creating a weaved cloth handlebar wrap. Thanks, Jim!

And, yes, she rides wonderfully.

The Rising of Yuko Takeuchi

This is a brief entry because all horror films begin with a dramatic but short beginning.... Okay, actually, I only have a few minutes but wanted to start the story of my newest bicycle purchase. I already blogged about her a few months ago (click here), but have just now gotten to rebuilding her into Yuko Takeuchi. So named after her two previous owners, someone named Yuko X who purchased the bicycle in Japan (never sold in the US) and X Takeuchi who sold the bicycle to me (via ebay). I swapped out some parts and hope to add some additional touring-friendly accoutrements. She's still in the developing/testing phase but I am pleased with the results thus far. I hope to snap some photos in the next couple of days and will post more updates on her rising. Stay tuned.

The Tipping Point of a Canoe...

on a lake on Memorial Day. It was quite the adventure and quite the christening of Sun-e, my new canoe. She is named after the famed Korean admiral, Yi Sun-Shin who is an ancestor of my family - part of the Deoksu clan. Of course, Admiral Yi was a man (and tradition dictates the ship's name must be feminine), so I just took the first part of his name and feminized it (pronounced, Soon-ee).

For her maiden voyage, I organized a group of friends to go canoeing on the Chain of Lakes and it was a wonderful outing. Peter met at my house to pick up my neighbor's canoe and we made our way down to Lake of the Isles where his canoe and Mike/Sarah's canoe were located. The convening of friends occurred at 12:30 pm and we made it onto the lakes by 1 pm. Four canoes in all with 10 people. Sun-e carried H-Dub, Kurt, and me. She handled the water admirably.

After 3 plus hours on the water working our way through Isles, Cedar and Brownie lakes, we decided to head back to shore. H-Dub took over the stern, steering, and I sat up in the bow, paddling. Kurt enjoyed the scenery in the center spot. Then, just a couple hundred yards from shore, we capsized! Yes, we tipped the canoe on her first outing. Fortunately, we were all safe, no possessions were lost, and Sun-e was in good shape. A fellow boater came over to help us gather our stuff and right the canoe, followed by our fleet of three canoes who offered help in between chuckles of laughter.

We eventually made it back to shore, a bit embarrassed, a bit disheveled and wet, and full of good memories.

Later in the evening, after showering up, we rode our bikes over to Peter's home for a bbq. A perfect ending to a wonderful, memorable, Memorial Day.

Now for some pics of the canoe outing. Enjoy.

The group, canoes rafted together

Hapa9 and PhT enjoying the good life

Kurt flexing (showing his strength before the capsizing)

HDub enjoying the sun and cameraderie

Stolen Bike (RECOVERED)

My friend Paul had his Surly bicycle stolen a week or so ago from his garage. It was a total bummer. The bike was a fixed gear one which means you cannot coast on the bike. You have to be constantly pedaling. It requires skill and strength - which is why I do not own one. Paul immediately posted on Craigslist and sent out emails to all his friends. There were lost/stolen posters at bike shops and coffee shops and he diligently but nicely hounded the folks at the Minneapolis Property and Evidence Warehouse.

Well, hard work and a bit of luck has led to the recovery of Paul's bike! Yippee! And, to quote Paul in his email, "Fixed gears bikes may be for posers and wannabe's, but I guess that they are somewhat more bike-thief resistant... or at least they don't get too far."

Ride on!

Bicycling Week Recap

Last week was national Bike to Work week and I made a strong effort to do so. Besides driving to work on Monday (as I had to carry a bunch of large things to work and I don't have a mega-trailer for the bike), I rode every day (Tues to Fri). On Friday morning, I have to confess that I heard the rain coming down hard on the roof as I was awakening and I was finding many excuses to not ride. Of course, Friday was the city of Minneapolis' official bike to work day, so I was feeling guilty for such thoughts. Plus, HDub was wanting to ride to work, but I think she also was hesitant to ride in the rain. Then, as we were getting ready to leave, it stopped raining and the sky cleared up. Yay. We rode to work and it turned out to be the most gorgeous day of all. After work, Sergio organized a Happy Hour at Nomad and a group of guys showed up mostly on bikes. Then, I met up with HDub at her office to ride home together. Unfortunately, HDub had a massive migraine that day at work, but she showed her toughness by insisting on riding home with head pounding. Impressive. On Saturday, it was a day of errands but I was determined to ride to our evening events. We had four different engagements, but I had to back out of one of them because its time conflicted with all the other events. So, I rode to the Center for Independent Arts at 7:30 for a teen talent show, then rode to a friend's graduation party near Loring Park at 9 pm, and made the short ride over to King and I restaurant for a birthday party around 10:15. By then, the warm, sunny 80 degree day had turned into a very cold, windy 40 or so degree night. Brrrr. I brought along a merino wool sweater but it was not thick enough. By the end of the night, I caved in and crammed the bike into HDub's car for a warm ride home. Now, it's Sunday and I was hoping to go for a short canoe trip this afternoon but it is freezing outside! Ok, it's 45 degrees outside. Close enough.

Becoming Minnesota...

but not Minnesotan. Odd, but I have a hard time thinking of myself as a Minnesotan. Perhaps it's like folks born and raised in Maine. They are Mainers (pronounced with a heavy NE accent) and others who move to Maine can never be Mainers, even if they've lived 60 years in Maine. In my mind and in my heart, I am a New Englander. I wear that badge proudly, despite it's ugly scars and weathered appearance. Still, Minnesota is my home and I have now lived here for just shy of 7 years. It's the longest place I have lived as an adult. My home which I have now owned for 4 years is the longest single residence for me. So, I guess I am becoming Minnesota.

Case in point - I bought a canoe the other day. Gasp, shock, a shaking of the head. Yep, after our trip to the Boundary Waters last summer, camping and canoeing have seeped into my psyche. First, I started with purchasing camping gear. Just the essentials (tent, stove, pots, etc). Then, I thought briefly about a canoe and realized it was way too ambitious of a purchase. Plus, darn expensive. No, I calmed myself down and focused instead on another manual form of transportation - bicycles. Then, winter came, I bought another type of manual transportation - ice skates - and I forgot about the canoe idea. Until, this week when Hapa9 sent me a Craigslist ad for an old fiberglass canoe. It was beat up and a decent price. Hm...he peaked my interest, as we had been talking about planning another Boundary Waters trip for late summer. So, I thought to myself, is this something to pursue. Hm...I started to do the financial math. I emailed the man selling the canoe but held off on taking action. Good thing too! On Wednesday morning, I decided to check out Craigslist again. Lo and behold, a better canoe was for sale. Specifically, a 1983 We-no-nah 17 Jensen fiberglass canoe in great shape with lots of special detailing. It was more pricey, but the extras on the canoe (plus the better make/model) made the price just right. So, I jumped on it and emailed the seller. Then, I researched the canoe online, contacted Hapa9 who sent me more info on the canoe, and I found myself giddy with excitement. Fortunately, I had to ride my bike over to the Cliquot Cafe to meet Nic for lunch. When I returned to my office, I got an email reply back. I was the first to respond to the ad, so I had "first right of refusal." I immediately called Hapa9 to see if he come come with me to check out the canoe. He could, so I then called the seller to say I could come down that evening. Hapa9 and I drove down 30 miles south of the city shortly after rush hour. Turns out the seller just retired from the canoe business and he is selling off his personal inventory of SEVENTEEN canoes and boats! Yikes. The Jensen was in great shape. I was impressed and bought the canoe.

Now, it is resting handsomely in my garage, awaiting some paddles, life jackets, and a few straps and pads so I can transport it to the lake. Plus, I better learn how to steer a canoe!

Hapa9 and PHT and I spent a bit of the day emailing back and forth because I told them last night that I ideally would like to pull the canoe on one of my bikes. I had seen it somewhere in town and it just seems the right way to go. So, we were checking out various websites that sell hitch systems (like this one and this one and this one) and other websites that provide instructions on how to build one's own canoe carrier (such as this one and this one). Very exciting stuff -- and, yes, very Minnesota of me.

So, I am not sure if I will ever call myself a Minnesotan, but I sure am embracing the idea of becoming Minnesota.

I Ride as Fast as a Marathoner

I set off this morning to ride to work and about one mile into my ride around Lake Harriet I realized that I forgot my helmet. I rode another 100 yards debating whether to continue or to turn around. I decided t o turn around, retrieved my helmet, swapped out the batteries on my front light, and set back on the road. Today's ride was enjoyable, though there was a slight headwind which seemed to slow my riding down about 1 mph. No biggie. Got to work on time still.

As I was riding, I noticed I was traveling around 13 mph which is a pretty leisurely pace. I pass some people (mostly old people and people on old beat-up rusty bikes) and other people pass me (mostly racers and the occasional person who's pedaling much too hard). I stay in my middle chain ring and just try to keep a steady as she goes pace. No need to destroy my knees.

When I discussed this riding philosophy to my older brother King, he commented (in typical older brother sarcasm) that I was riding as fast as a marathoner runs. It's true! I spent most of my ride amusing myself with this image of my riding side-by-side the Boston Marathon winner from Monday. It's amazing how fast they really do run!

This is what makes riding to work more enjoyable than driving to work in my car. The opportunity to pause and reflect and concurrently take in the morning air and sun.

--------------------------

On other news, I called my father yesterday to talk a bit about the Virginia Tech shootings. He asked me more about the shooter (Seung-Hui Cho) and if he was a Korean immigrant or a Korean international student. Astutely, my dad had observed that the news kept referring to this young man as a South Korean national or a resident alien. I sensed that it ticked my father off a bit. When I told him that Mr Cho had immigrated at age 8, my father responded, "Oh, he's American." You see people, even my father understands that this young man (despite a lack of legal citizenship) was in all respects an American in upbringing, education, and likely most of his values and beliefs. My father then asked me, "Why does the news keep saying he is South Korean?!" Exactly.

Samchuly :: Korean Bicycles

Today, I went on a 24+ mile bicycle ride with Paul. It was a beautiful day for riding and we took full advantage of it. The Bstone Eurasia handled itself well, although I definitely want to replace the handlebars and probably the stem too. I think I will want a wider bar and higher stem. Just to make the ride more comfortable. Otherwise, it was a great ride.

When I got home, I started to think about why I've never heard of Korean bicycles. This led to a bit of googling and eventually to Samchuly bicycles. I have no idea if they are decent quality or not but I liked the funky look of this model. It's called the Lespo. I love the odd seat which seems to be have a tensioning system that looks like a coat hanger. Unfortunately, I could find no specs for the bicycle. There is a mini-description of the company in English here and on Wikipedia.

I will keep exploring the Korean bicycle industry. Maybe when I visit Korea this summer, I will take a day to check out a bicycle shop. Or maybe I should be adventurous and do this bicycle tour of South Korea. Who knows...maybe I will need to pay a bit more for luggage when I return home!

Slippery When Wet

The Tuesday night basketball crew played ball on Monday night and it must have been a bad sign of things to come. Plus, as the chiropractor said to me from the last time I was injured (sadly, pulling a rib muscle from coughing), I may look young but my body is getting old. And Monday night proved it is so.

I arrived early, swept the gym floor, and then Big Steve (we have two Steves) mopped the floor. Meanwhile, I decided to practice my left-handed layups. Seeing Steve is no longer mopping, I proceed to drive to the basket on what I thought was the dry side of the floor. Wrong. Literally like the stick figure person in the Slippery When Wet sign, both my legs went up in the air and I landed hard on my lower back. Wind knocked out, I winced, gasped, and got to my feet a bit dazed. Seconds later, pain shot up my back as I planted my right foot. Uh oh, not good.

I walked gingerly for 15 minutes, trying to identify the sore spots, stretching as best as possible to keep from seizing up. Eventually, I played bball with modest pain and lots of caution. By the 5th game or so (we play short games up to 7 pts), I was feeling more loose and not in as much pain.

At night, I iced it, put on some natural ointment of some sort that is supposed to help healing and had a sound sleep. Yesterday, I felt sore but okay. Not so bad, except when I twisted my body or did some other jerking motion. Today, I am feeling sore still and stiffer. Not good. I will give it a couple more days to heal and then re-assess.

Lesson of the week -- I am getting old.

Wrestling is Wrestling

I was a high school wrestler back in the day in Connecticut. I started wrestling largely because it was one of the sports that my older brothers had competed in. And, being the youngest of three boys, I usually just followed in their foot steps. Prior to high school, I only knew wrestling as the kind you saw on tv when the likes of Andre the Giant and Jimmy Superfly Snooka ruled the ring. Hulk Hogan came a bit later. I recall not realizing how physically grueling it was as a sport. You wrestle only for 6 minutes max/match, unless you win/lose by a pin, but it is the most taxing 6 minutes ever. Lucky for me, I was pretty good at it and it really helped me focus my energies, give me confidence, and teach me a lot about discipline, motivation, leadership, goal setting, and the like. I am quite thankful for the sport.

At the time when I was in school, back in the mid-1980s, I remember hearing stories of one or two girls who were wrestling co-ed but I never competed against them. I actually don't recall ever even seeing a match between a boy and girl. The idea of young men and women wrestling was just started to enter the radar.

The NYTimes has a regional article on high school girls wrestling and they feature a young woman from Connecticut who wrestles for Montville High School. I remember competing against this team in tournaments. They have always been a good team and it still seems to be the case today. Jessica wrestles at 102 lbs. but often gets bumped up to 112 lbs to find competition and she is good (with a 23-12 record). Those were the weights that I had wrestled in high school (yes, I was a small, skinny kid!). It really says something about the sport, particularly the ways in which it has come to by and large accept this changing demographic. It also really says something about young women like Jessica too. The story has a great video clip that accompanies it. Check it out here.

Minus 1 Riding

Paul convinced a group of us last night to head over to the Blue Nile for a beer tasting from the new local brewery Surly. Then, through the power of persuasion, he convinced me to ride my bike to the event. After a potluck dinner, CC joined in the bike ride and he and I made our way there in falling temps (around +15 degrees). Paul and others were there awaiting for us. I dressed warmly but not too warmly and the ride from home to there (and back) was not bad at all. In fact, it was refreshingly invigorating. I only wish I had a merino wool balaclava to keep my cheeks a bit warmer. It was my first winter ride and I enjoyed it. Pulled out the Bstone X03 for this ride. I was a bit worried because I only had slick tires on the rims but it worked out fine. It was cold enough outside, however, that the plastic slider on my front light snapped off, so I rode without a white light (not good!). I did have two rear blinking lights to compensate.

Inspired by last night's ride, I rode again for a little bit around the lake prior to coming to work. Well, it was a bit chillier this morning. It was around -1 degrees but windchill made it feel around -10 or -15. Still, I was surprised at how my body was not cold. Again, it was only my cheeks which took the brunt of the cold. Hm...I need to rethink the idea of winter riding.

The Long Way to FamiLee

Sometimes people find my blog the loooooong way. Take for instance, the person who decided to search on ask.com one of the longest search phrases that I have ever seen.

When playing basketball on an unusually warm spring day, you notice that the ball is very firm and bounces well. on a very cold day a week later, the ball is not as firm, making it difficult to drebble [sic].

Well, FamiLee came up #6 on this search though I have never written about this subject. A quick google of the keywords "basketball cold air" however brought me to this site which led me to this home site on sports science. A very cool site!

Generally, cold balls are less bouncy than warm ones. That's because cold rubber is generally not as flexible as warm rubber. When a cold ball hits the floor, the deformation that follows the collision is concentrated at the bottom of the ball. This concentrated deformation causes the rubber molecules to collide with each other, producing warmth rather than rebound.

Okay, this sports science site may be something for me to explore. They have a series on the science of cycling. So, to the person who searched me the long way, thank you for the unexpected find!

Ice Bike Racing!

Last week, I was tossing around the idea with some friends of having a bicycle race track around the art shanties and then came across this event in Mendota Heights. It's the Human Powered Ice Vehicle World Championships! The race will take place this Saturday at Rogers Lake. Too cool. Hm...I wonder if we can convince them to run a pre-race (or post-race) event at the Art Shanty Projects?

UPDATE: CrossMax (aka CC) let me know of another ice bike race that will take place on Sunday. It's called the Chilly Chili Race and it is happening in Bloomington. For a flyer, click Click here

Bicycling in Minnesota :: Cool Facts

In my search for an upcoming talk on Art and War, I came across this find on the Humphrey Institute website. It is a report on the state of bicycling in Minnesota with all sorts of lovely descriptive statistics. Check it out by clicking here. It is part of a larger project on Bicycling Costs and Benefits.

Some interesting conclusions...

About 1.1% of trips to work were made by bike.
About 61% of the bike riders are male, 39% female.
About 10% of households that don’t own a motorized vehicle make bike trips in a given day, compared to 4% of vehicle-owning households.
Among adults, college-educated people are about twice as likely to ride a bike on a given day as those with high-school educations

Bridgestone Porn

Just over a month ago, I bought myself a new/old 1991 Bridgestone RB-1 (see past post). The photo from that posting was not mine, rather it was from the ebay seller at the time of the auction. The bike came in great shape, although a few of the components needed to be replaced.

In two Hiawatha Cyclery installments, I first had the 7-speed Shimano hyperglide cassette replaced (due to a missing/broken part) and also got Hutchinson tires, a Brooks B-17 saddle (including a saddle cover) and MKS touring pedals. Next, I replaced the stem and handlebars (which were installed for the previous owner's wife) with a 44 cm Nitto Noodle bar and 9 cm Nitto Technomic Deluxe stem. I also got a bike pump and cool red cork taping to match the red trim. On a separate trip to REI, I purchased the Novara water bottle cage, along with a Bell Furio helmet that was on sale. At the university's pharmacy, I purchased Planet Bike LED front and rear lights for only $13! Last, on Velo Orange, I purchased the Japanese brass bell and MKS half toe clips.

Here is the finished product! I am not a great photographer, but I think these photos do justice to the bike.

Since all the pieces have been put in place, I have been riding to work once or twice a week (20 mile roundtrip commute), meeting the guys on Wednesday nights, and just cruising around the lake and town. What I have loved the most is the fresh air and the new perspective on the Twin Cities. Riding along the greenway and the miles and miles of bike paths, I am more attuned to what is around me. I must say it's been a blast and definitely a bonus workout. Since I have stopped running/jogging, I am glad to have a new way to exercise. Plus, so much less stress on my knees and feet! So inspired that I bought a Cycle-Ops bike trainer at REI to make sure that I keep riding my bike all winter long, even if indoors.

Basking in Reflected Glory

My neice (Morgan) is a 14 year old freshman at the same Catholic parochial high school from which I was asked politely to not return. Despite my bad luck at the school, my oldest brother seems to have more favorable memories and experiences. So, he decided to send the first of his three kids there. Fortunately, Morgan is a much better adjusted kid than me. It also does not hurt that she is a swimming phenom. Of course, my brother likes to remind me of her athletic ability - which is cool b/c it gives me a chance to remind him of the lack of such abilities in him (hehe). Okay, I am very proud of her too. Check out this article from the Hartford Courant about how she won her breaststroke race helping give her school their first victory over an archrival in 5 years. Go Morgan!

The Completist In Me (aka a recovering B.O.B.)

Well, after months of searching, I finally purchased my (hopefully) last bicycle - a 1991 Bridgestone RB-1 - that I found on ebay. This bike completes my set of Bridgestones, including a 1992 Bridgestone MB-3 and a 1993 Bridgestone XO-3. So, as my friend CC pointed out, I guess that this makes me a completist.

But it also reveals my past as a former (and I suppose current) B.O.B. (Bridgestone Owner's Bunch). I discovered Bridgestones by chance really back when I was starting graduate school at VCU. In college in the late 1980s, I rode around on a Trek 800 Antelope. It was a hybrid bicycle that served its purpose back then. By grad school, I had started to ride my bike on trails in the city parks. One time, I decided to jump off a dirt hill and wound up on the ground, having bent my cheap forks in a 45 degree angle. Ouch. It was time to go bicycle shopping. I went to a few bicycle shops and came across the MB-3 on sale. Liking the ride, feel, and look, I bought the bike and thus began a few intense years of mountain biking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And with this purchase, I learned about the history of Bridgestones via Grant Peterson's B.O.B. newsletters. A year or two later, I was able to buy the XO-3 by maxing out my credit card. It was a frivolous buy but well worth it. In subsequent years, I rode the XO-3 more than the MB-3, in part because I had stopped mountain biking.

Okay, enough of my past...the RB-1. I am following in the lead of Peter who also is a RB-1 owner. I've openly coveted his bike in recent months as we would ride around town on Wednesday nights. It awakened the dormant B.O.B. in me and I am glad it did. I feel excited again about bicycling. Thankfully too because I need the exercise and meditative benefits of bicycling.

Well, I am getting the RB-1 fixed up right now at Hiawatha Cyclery near the V.A. hospital in South Mpls. I heard about HC from a friend of a friend who owns a beautiful Rivendell Saluki (the fancier successor to Bridgestones, owned and operated by Grant P). HC is the only place in town to buy Rivendells (check the place out and support local businesses!). I walked into the store and explained to Jim (the owner) what I needed done on the bike. Being 15 years old, the RB-1 needed a new freewheel, chain, pedals, tires/tubes. He asked for my name to write down the order and said, "Oh, you're Rich L." Somehow he knew me. When I asked how he knew of me, he said, "I've read your blog." Too funny. Small world. I suspect it's because I've sometimes written about bicycles. So in return, check out Jim's HC blog where he sometimes lists sales. As for me, once the RB-1 is ready, look for me riding around town.

Sunday Fish Story

Photography by Hapa9
Bad jpg copying and pasting by me

What to do on a drizzling and cold Sunday morning. Well, you could go to church, have brunch, read the NYTimes, play with the children (or pet), watch NFL pregame shows. In short, there is a lot of things that one can do. Me? I decided to go fishing...or attempt to fish. Hapa9 and I made a good effort. After a late night of carousing on Saturday, we managed to wake up early enough on Sunday to drink a cuppa coffee, load up the canoe, assemble the fishing tackle, buy worms, get lost, and finally find Spurzem Lake.

After 2 plus hours of paddling, drifting, fishing, we ended up with one fish (pictured above) caught by Hapa9 using a trailing line, baited with a worm, as we drifted and fished with other rods. We named him Harry and, in the end, released him back to the lake. It was a pathetic catch, though it felt good to at least catch something. Not surprisingly, given my terrible luck with fishing, I caught nothing. In fact, we had no bites at all aside from the one catch. Alas.

There was another fisherman out on the small lake who seemed to be catching fish. Wisely, he had an anchor on his boat which allowed him to stay in what seemed to be a good spot. Being in a canoe, we didn't think to use an anchor. Instead, we were at the mercy of the wind which kept drifting our canoe into the weeds. Lesson learned.

Still, there is something calming and relaxing about fishing. Mind you, I was never a huge fishing fan as a kid. I used to fish with my neighbor for catfish in local ponds near our homes but I never owned my own rod and reel (until last week!). I still don't know what lures and bait to use for which kinds of fish with whatever kinds of weather. Plus, being such hyperactive kid, fishing was too slow and not stimulating enough for me. I needed to move around more.

It might be age or living in Minnesota, but it appeals much more to me these days. Maybe it is adulthood and the craziness of everyday life. Sometimes it is good to engage in activities that slow down life. Shared activity with friends is also something I appreciate more as an adult. It gives us time to talk, share, and just enjoy each other's company.

So, I may not have caught any fish on Sunday. I may have been wet and cold, plus tired and in need of a nap, but it was a worthwhile trip that nurtured my soul and deepened my friendship.

Sir Barkley -- Governor Barkley

There is something tantalizing, promising, and funny about Charles Barkley running for the gubernatorial office in Alabama. Read this brief ESPN story about Barkley's take on Democrats, Republicans, Religion, and Gay Marriage.

BC-ing You...

My beloved BC Eagles men's basketball team ended their season a few weeks ago as a Sweet 16 team and #11 national ranking. It was a tough way to end the season, though they played great. Fortunately, I get to continue to bask in reflected glory (BIRG) as BC's men's hockey team plays tonight in the NCAA frozen finals against neighboring Wisconsin.

Childhood heroes are not role models

Two sports related things happened this week which got me thinking about this issue of childhood heroes and role models. On Sunday, Ken and I were attending the Timberwolves game (vs. Warriors) and afterwards had a chance to walk nearby Sugar Ray Leonard who was a special guest at the game. Ken, being Ken, kept nudging me to get a photo taken with Mr. Leonard. I was acting sheepish and reluctant but finally gave in and approached Mr. Leonard who was very gracious in letting Ken take a camera phone photo. It was a fun micro-moment. Then, we all heard last night the sad news of former Twins great and hall of famer Kirby Puckett's death from a stroke at the age of 45 years old.

The two closely timed events got me thinking of my childhood and what I loved about these sports legends. For example, I remember following the Twins during their first World Series heyday and admiring Kirby's play at the plate and in the field. He was one of those players whom I would have "drafted" when playing our version of Strat-O-Matic baseball. I also remember growing up watching Leonard fight Hagler, Hearns, and Duran on television with my father and brothers. It was exciting as a kid to see these phenomenal athletes achieve greatness in their own unique ways.

These athletes were my childhood heroes, along with Captain America, John Lennon, and a host of other famous (and imagined) people whose public lives intersected with my mundane childhood. That all said, I never really ever thought of these individuals as my role models. In this respect, I have to agree with the famous quote by former NBA star, Charles Barkley, who said "I am not a role model. . . parents should be role models."

For me, childhood heroes were people whom I didn't know who were known for having done amazing things in amazing times. They rose to a challenge, pushed themselves beyond oftentimes their natural abilities, and achieved some measure of greatness that benefitted others (as well as themselves). They were inspiring. They overcame the odds and came out on top. They proved that hard work and effort, an unwavering belief in oneself, and oftentimes teamwork could prove victorious. They were examples of raw, naked narcissism in its most healthy form. A type of vicarious validation. A living example that we can be special, even if just for a shining moment in time.

But role model? No, I have to agree with Sir Barkley that these superstars are not (and were not) my role models. They are too distal from my personal life. A role model needs to be proximal to my everyday life as a regular guy. A role model is someone who has not necessarily achieved greatness but who has demonstrated time and again that they have the kind of character that matters most in life. They are honest, hard working, kind, giving, truthful, courageous, creative, and purposeful. They persist when most would give up. They encourage when others ignore. They stand up for what is right. A role model is my parents, my older brothers, my high school guidance counselor, my childhood pastor, and the like.

I think kids (and adults) need both heroes and role models. One is not necessarily better than the other, though an argument easily could be made for the latter. They serve different functions in life. The hero gives us hope and something to aspire toward. We all have a little bit of greatness inside that needs to be coaxed out of us. The role model gives us character and honor and integrity that are the essential building blocks of living a productive life.

So, meeting Mr. Leonard and reflecting on the life of Kirby Puckett are reminders to me of what minor greatness I may achieve in my life. At the same time, I think of my dad for what it takes for me to achieve all that I set my sights on.

Sports and Life :: What it's all about...

Many of you may have watched or heard of this