Columbus via Amish

I had to work Saturday afternoon so I was planning on riding
through the great Ohio country side. As it turns out a few
fellow riders joined in. It was windy but beautiful!
Thanks JT, Donnie, and Mark I had a blast.

Lunch Time!

It's Friday, and Lunch Time and the Weather is Beautiful!
Little more of my commute to and from work. Has a little
off road, couple of turns, couple of hills and rises,
and a grated bridge or 2 to keep you on your toes.
It could be worse...

Morning Commute

Just a little picture story of my morning commute
and field testing my new camera mount, works pretty well.
Time will tell if it will hold up. I'll get a picture
of the mount a little later!

Welcome Back Amish

I set out to shake down the KTM. It proved successful although
there is still some room for improvment in the jetting department
but it's most certainly ridable. So as a welcome back to Amish,
the riding season, and my KTM I figured no better place to head
to than Welcome, Ohio!

Back on the Road, with a New Seat

I have been busy working on a lot of things that were needed on the KTM. Through it all I did not take a single photograph, seems totally silly but I just buried myself into getting things done and that's what I did. I still have some little odds and ends to tie up, like a battery and gps but it's up and running in style and comfort thanks to Bill Mayer and his fantastic seat. Well maybe not style, but comfort and that was my main concern.

New Wheel for the MTB

So I had been dreaming of scoring a new wheel for the mountain bike
so I could do a proper single speed conversion and choose a proper
gear anytime I wanted. What I needed was a cheep shimano style
hub. These run the free wheel in the hub not the gears like the
older set this bike came with. A quick look at craigslist provided
a $5 score of a wheel. Well almost, turns out this wheel was bent
but it gave me the opportunity to learn how to true and tension spokes.
A quick stop the the bike shop for some spoke wrenches and after loosening
every spoke cause someone was in there before trying the straighten it out
and f'ed it up I have a $15 wheel that spins as true as I could get it.


Nice Clean Lines Just How I like Them

Single Conversion Kit

khs

yes I now have a brake and a helmet
i'm getting soft in my old age

Safety

So this has been on my mind since I recently picked cycling back up again.
There are tons of moments that happen with every ride where a rider, that's
me, are put in positions that could be compromising. This occurrence usually has
something to do with a motor vehicle that has 4 or more wheels but that's not
always the case. It seems that there is a hate for slow moving bikes and that
getting to work, or the bar, or where ever you are going is much more important
than someones physical safety. These are just my thoughts here. My life has changed
drastically since owning and operating 2 wheeled vehicles in more ways than
I can count.

So I leave you with this comment made by mi cora a new motorcycle
rider in 2008. -Everyone should have to take the motorcycle safety course to
know exactly what it's like to be the vulnerable one on the road-

I think I'll up the ante with -Everyone that wants a drivers license should be made
to commute on a bicycle to and from work or school for 200 miles before a license
will be issued- Lets put everyone in the situation so they experience first hand
what it's like to be "that guy or girl on the bike"

So here is my latest edition, maybe a long time coming but better late than never.

Fixing the Problems

Just some minor chain stretch on the Hard Rock.
Seemed like it was trying to switch gears when
I hit the perfect bump in the road. Now since
this bike is a conversion and the derailleur
would have kept chain tension there was never
a need to make any rear wheel adjustment. In
my situation I need too so some minor cutting
with my all time favorite tool and we have it
fixed.

Now I do find it interesting they did
not cut the drop out all the way in the first
place but I think it was to save money.
Drilling vs milling = cheaper. That is my take.

The Problem


Favorite Tool


Issue Cut


Ahhhh...Much Better
Oh ya, and check that shit out...a bike center stand. Sweet right?

Low Side

Well my morning commute went as usual until a little low side.
This marks the first cycling accident I've had since I was a kid.
Nothing major, just some ice leaned into a corner, going too fast...
or maybe I didn't have enough heat in the tires yet. :-)
I will say it's interesting sliding on your knee across the intersection
feet still locked in the toe straps. Good thing I was wearing good
gear, there was no traffic, and that I wasn't on my motorcycle.
No harm, No foul!

Interesting View

So I was looking in one of my favorite cycling blogs today and
there was this ad pictured below. Made me stop and think.

On The Stand

So now into fixing this coolant leak up on the stand the KTM goes.
Biggest bike to be on the stand, and it's a little scary up there
but I guess if I want JT's help it has to be off the cold floor.
Man what a beautiful day in Cleveland, I would have ridden today
for sure. I mean, well I did, just the Hard Rock, not the KTM.
Soon I hope!

Cleveland's Best Views

The Winter Bike at Cleveland's best view.
Well the one I like best anyway!

Cleveland IMS

Last weekend was the Cleveland International Moto Show.
Had some fun looking at all the bikes, I tried on some helmets
and such but nothing really blew me away. I was given some
promising words at the ktm booth about getting my bike
situation straightened out but that turned up nothing.
Looks like $400 parts are in my near future, then a dyno
run to get the air fuel ratios straight. Then ride!

Donnie spent lots of time eying and chatting with the builder
of this beautiful RD since his brother Steve will be racing one
this season, and Donnie is restoring another one for the street.



I had my eye on this little beauty. It's a sweet bike for tearing
it up around Cleveland. I think Dudes TT350 is in my near future.
I would really like to have a bike to learn some dirt skills on
that's not 500+ pounds and 100hp.

I hate coolant!!!

I really hate it now. JT and I spent some time checking out the KTM
for a coolant leak I had and decided it was best to fire it up and
see if it was indeed coming from the thermostat where we though it
was coming from or somewhere else. Well it could be coming from the
thermostat but it's hard to tell with all the hoses bleeding coolant
like they are. Crap, Double Crap, Triple Crap!



I will be bringing my photos to the KTM booth at the motorcycle show
tomorrow! Lets see what they say!

I got a new ride!

So I have been spending some time riding this winter and as much as I love the KHS and everything it is, I also have grown concerned about its future. All the salt on the roads is my main worry, now I have been cleaning it and putting Triflo in the frame and on the bolts but it does pain me to see it that way. I have found that the KHS I own is very rare they only made that frame for 3 years in the late 90's so when it comes time for a new bike the likelihood I will find another one is slim so I want to make this one last as long as possible. Jiggity John Turner aka JT aka Doc aka Old Man :-) (just kidding about that part jt) He was nice enough after cleaning out his garage to offer up this nice bike to me and I gladly excepted. After a little cleaning, new chain, new grips, and a huge bag of parts I stripped off I now have a perfect winter commuter. I will eventually re-space and re-dish the back wheel to accommodate just a single gear BMX style but for now the chain line in good where it is.



I chopped the bars down 3" for better clearance in traffic I would have done a little more but the taper on them limited where the brake levers could live so this will do.



I moved the largest chainring to the second position on the crank to get it in line with the 3rd cog on the freewheel. I'm running a 48 / 17 set up on this bike. My KHS is 48 / 16 but is also at least 5 pounds lighter with taller tires so this one is much easier to get going.



I know what you are thinking...MAN what is up with that massive grand dad seat?
I know, I know...it's on my list of things to change...You can't complain with free! So if you have a more suitable seat for me, and the price is...well free...I'll take it.

Track Bike

So not what you were probably thinking from the title but with all this ice and snow the KHS has been pulling me through. I really enjoy the commute on the bike, the sights, sounds, connection with the elements and the road...it's a lot like being on the motorcycle. Getting back into the swing of cycling I found I really missed it. For unknown reasons I have not spent a lot of time in the saddle cycling and have really fell right back into the grove. (I'm sure if I thought long and hard about it I could come up with the answers to that comment but they would prove to be weak at best.) Now I won't say my body agrees with me about every aspect of the grove I speak about, I most certainly feel the pain in my body as it adjusts, but it is well worth it in every aspect of my life. The obvious one being the physical exercise but for me that is not what the ride is all about. The mental or spiritual aspect of that ride seems to follow me on two wheels and I plan on taking that road as often as possible into the future.




I have found my threshold for the cold though anything below 20º maybe down to 15º and I need to find a ride. Funny right, I own a car but the poor old thing wont start in cold weather like that. Who can blame it...not me I don't want to be out in that weather either!

Sorry merc but I have a ride to take...


Still on that ride!

Funny Thing

So I ordered a custom seat to make Rose and myself feel more comfortable when one or both of us are out on some long days. These resulting photos made a nice animation!

January 10th Ride Report

Well I know it has been a while, and I tend to say that a lot when I'm working on my blog but whatever! I was bummed no one else was out riding today, I didn't pass a single bike anywhere...
I started out my day but looking at the weather...ahhh beautiful 30º out 100% chance of precipitation.

To be honest with you, I realized I was not going to make it far on these road tires but it was worth a shot ya know. I couldn't get the rear to hook up on anything...soft snow, packed snow...didn't matter...I was spinning more than moving...I think I put a mile on the odometer but probably only went 200 feet...how funny is that...

So I turned it around headed for home...now turning around was the really fun part...had to really persuade it to come around and I'm sure my neighbors were just like wft? but whatever...

So anyone got a set of knobbies I can borrow?

ahhh....If only I had a TT350 or a DT250...now that would have been real fun...

Get Out and Ride!

Canada oh Canada

Carazon and I had been packing on the miles 300+a day! The Land-oh-Lakes is truly beautiful, the roads and scenery from Ottawa south are amazing. They seem to switch from twisty to gravel on a whim and the maps sure are deceiving. ahhh...this road looks straight and boring....wrong, twist after twist we had a wonderful time! Some things we need for future adventures, a GPS, and a new seat. I really have no need for a gps to make a route I like the map technique but when you are hungry and tired knowing what direction food and camping are would be a big burden lifted at the end of the day.

Here is an image of our approximate route taken.


Here is a link to the slide show from the trip.
Canada 2008

Nice roadside view in upstate NY.