between2wheels

A Tail Of Two States

Well, we are just over 9 inches away from the all-time recorded high for snowfall in this region - the record of 122 inches falling in Concord NH in 1873, some 135 years ago.  Head south towards Boston however, a mere 70 miles, and you won't find any trace of old man Winter.  In fact last week I took Cygnus down to Harold Parker State Park where we hiked the leaf strewn trails and circled the ice-less ponds, only an hour removed from our arctic landscapes.  In the next week we'll make this trip again, mountain bike in tow, and begin Cygnus' training "beside 2 wheels"!

Locally it has been more of a challenge training and exercising the lil' guy with the snow piled substantially over his head.  But thanks to bare sidewalks in downtown Concord and a well maintained network of snowmobile trails closer to home, I've been able to keep him moving and expose him to a variety of situations.  We've made daily excursions together to the base of Mount Kearsarge which has several trail options to traverse.  The trails are well groomed and hard packed making great terrain for hikers, puppies and snowmobiles.  The wooded auto road ascending from the rangers gate takes you 3 1/2 miles to the picnic area offering a good hike and gorgeous views of the surrounding area along the way.

I can tolerate Winter but this one has proved excessive - I'm willing to settle for the bronze medal on that all-time list.  Who am I to complain though, with more than a century of technological advancement over our ancestors, to say we had it "easy" compared to those 1873 folk would be a major understatement.   

Travel On A Road To Adventure

From fold out maps to Google Maps to on-board GPS navigation systems, getting from here to there has evolved from the ole' stop and ask for directions to a veritable video game of navigational pleasure.  When it comes to biking however, traditional road maps remain a staple in most cyclists panniers.  For long road rides my plotting techniques typically involve an initial consultation of Google, followed by a cross reference of local Department of Transportation maps to determine which roads are bike-friendly.

Thanks to a new online movement that may all change.  This petition has been circulating the web to convince Google to add a "Bike There" option within Google maps.  A benefit, in my opinion, not only for human powered machines, but also for motorcyclists or anyone else who opt for the out-of-the-way back country alternatives.  I encourage anyone who stops by to take a minute to sign the petition and help to make this great idea a reality.

Slopes For Spokes

For years now major ski mountains have realized the economic benefits of retaining customers throughout the off-season.  Many, like Killington in Vermont and Waterville Valley in NH, have opened their ski slopes to the likes of an increasingly popular mountain biking community.  Having seen the last share of skiers shredding down it's slopes in 1996, Highland Mountain in Northfield NH has been reinvented as an exclusive playground for two wheeled enthusiasts.  Since 2003 the owners have dedicated themselves to renovating and expanding the park to include a rustic lodge complete with an internet cafe and bar and a pro shop with bike rentals.  A day pass will cost you $35 while a full season pass is currently $329.  You can check out some cool trail videos here.

Drive Like The Wind

In 1981 everyones favorite rock band "Rush" introduced a song titled Red Barchetta about a future in which conventional motorized vehicles are banned in favor of air powered modern safety vehicles.  Twenty seven years on and the possibility of compressed air to propel personal vehicles has become a reality.  Air Cars use a compressor in conjunction with a gas tank to attain over 100mpg.  At low speeds the car operates solely on compressed air while at higher speeds gasoline is needed to heat a chamber supplying more air pressure to move the pistons.  Initial specifications have the vehicle outputting 75hp with a top speed of 96mph and an 8 gallon fuel tank which should net you 848 miles per fill up.  I smell an air tax on the horizon...         

Street Pusher

Straight from the happiest place on earth come these SUV like tricycles manufactured by Christiana Bikes.  Originally designed as transporter bikes to haul around the kids and Fido, these trikes have been being developed since 1984 and now suit a multitude of purposes including the mail delivery within Copenhagen.

Christiana, or "Freetown", was founded in 1971 when a group of hippies took over an area of abandoned military barracks and developed their own set of rules, completely independent of the Danish government.  It was here in 1979 that the idea for the three wheel cargo bike took hold.  Today there are over 20,000 Christiana bikes sharing the vast network of bicycle lanes throughout the Danish capital (see Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog).  Peace, love and lower emissions man!

Picking Sides

We are all bent the way our respective winds blow through our lives helping to shape each personality, opinion and belief.  By virtue of nature and nurture I'm a huge Boston Red Sox fan - I grew up in Boston and most of whom I know are Red Sox supporters.  By contrast, my buddy the Mooseman is a die hard Yankees fan despite being raised in hostile Red Sox territory - the influence of his dad's passion for the team shaped his love for Yankee baseball. 

From sports to politics to religion we are a species of polarization where everything else in our natural world seems relatively content in it's purpose and intent.  The drama that unfolded this past week on Capitol Hill during the Congressional hearings involving Roger Clemens and HGH use were the latest example of our freewill on trial.  Distinct differences on security, health care, and taxes were cast aside to exercise a court of public opinion, except this court had a clear agenda.  Depending on which side of the isle you are sitting your opinions were carefully calculated for you. Those on the right would have you believe a great sports hero and philanthropist was being degraded and smeared.  The left hailed his accuser as noble for his declaration of an evasive truth.  The means to the end left you either rooting for your "home" team or, like me, disturbed by the convoluted process. 

If you look hard and deep enough most of what we encounter is black and white.  If you're less motivated to do so there will always be diametric forces to guide (or pull!) you in their direction - for better or for worse.  I have my own opinions about the Clemens situation and I arrived here on my own accord, not because I adhere to any particular ideology or belong to any club. 

In different circles, we keep holding our ground
In different circles, we keep spinning round and round

Ghost Rider

Later this Spring Puma will be introducing a bright new addition to their Urban Mobility Biomega Bike series (who knew?) which is likely to raise some eyebrows.  The bike itself is a single speed with disc brakes, folding design and the down tube is made of a cable which doubles as a security lock for the bike causing the bike to be useless if the lock is broken.  The real eye catcher will be the new paint treatment these bikes will be getting.  The "Glow Riders" will be available with paint that will soak up sunlight by day and become a glowing sight to behold by night.

A novelty for sure, but with the growing market for night lights, reflective devices and general bicycle safety, I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of glow paint making it's way onto bikes from major manufacturers in the near future.  I see BMX freestyle bikes flipping and twisting in mid air darkness amidst a spectacle of neon lights...Cirque du Lune anyone?

Sans Wheels

The 112th running of the Boston Marathon will include 7 time Tour de France pwner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. 

The 36 year old ran last year's New York marathon finishing it in 2 hours and 46 minutes, good enough for 214th place.  Oh.. and we all know what Lance looks like, so the pic...it's the other ex-wife!

Canis de Pondera

Back in August I wrote about the difficult time of having to say goodbye to our last dog in "The End of a Mountain Road".  She had survived her brother by 2 years and with her passing I felt as though we couldn't do it again.  The joys we had shared with them throughout their lives were ominously overshadowed by their declines and the finality of having to let them go. 

As the weeks turned to months we continued to mourn, but slowly and secretively, I began looking to fill the void.  An internet search led to the discovery of a kennel and breeder located 7 miles away and it wasn't long before I was meeting the breeders and visiting the dogs of Von Hena-C Kennels.  I was fortunate to have been inquiring at the time they were planning an upcoming breeding and quickly decided on a future pup of Treu and Midnight.

This past weekend the new pups reached 6 weeks of age and we made our final decision on which one will spend the rest of his life with us - we named him Cygnus.  It'll be another two weeks before we can take him home but the preparations for his arrival began long before he was even conceived. 

I've learned quite a bit from my past dogs and spent alot of time doing doggy research while I've known we'd be getting another - some of it enlightening and some disturbing.  Aside from the introduction of my new buddy I wanted to share some of the information I have found beneficial and which will forever change how I raise a dog...

Dusting Off

Has it really been two months!?  Man - what a slacker.  I've been getting an earful from some frequent visitors about my lack of posts and quite honestly I have no good excuses.  The hand took a little longer than expected to "heal" causing my rehab to take longer than I anticipated, but I've been back at it pretty much full throttle for the past three weeks.  And just in time too.  The foliage has been in peak form and the riding weather has been nothing short of spectacular.

A healthy rotation of FOMBA, Bear Brook, Concord quarries, and the Mink Hills(here in Warner) have kept me busy just about everyday for the last several weeks and the temperatures we've been experiencing are from some kind of summer/spring hybrid season in place of what usually is the cool chill of Fall.  Either way, the trees have remembered what to do and, like clockwork, their beautiful explosions of color have painted over the landscapes and the riding has been awesome.

Yesterday(sunny and in the 80's!) I headed south to feed on the vibe of a city and to visit the hallowed baseball shrine which will host this years World Series.  I rolled down Landsdowne Street and watched as they placed the American League Champions banner on the backside of the jumbotron, then circled Fenway five or six times soaking in the atmosphere before meeting a buddy on his bike(1600cc) at the Cask & Flagon.  From the Cask to the Salty Dog in Fanueill Hall we drank, amazed at the weather and reveled in the fortunes of this regions sports franchises.  It's an amazing time to be a local sports fan, enjoy it and remember it wasn't always this way.  Go Celts, Go BC, Go Pats, and Go Sox!!!

Ride Your Bike On The Sidewalk...

...is the title of this letter sent into our local Concord Monitor here in NH.  At first I thought it may be a joke, but I believe I detect some genuine animosity towards those who ride their bikes on the roads.  Readers Keith and Joe certainly disagree as would anyone with what the author refers to as "common sense".  The statements made reflect the ignorance and prejudice that all road cyclists need to be aware of.  I've personally never had a problem, but as I posted earlier this year in "Bicycles Are (almost) Everywhere" there are many people who don't understand the laws.  There is some good info in that post but if you do nothing else, cyclist or motorist, please read Street Smarts for a better understanding of what to do in each others presence.  Just share man.

There Is Unrest In The Forest

How cool is this bike!  This tandem, named "Renovatia", is made from beech plywood and took the artist almost 400 hours to complete.  It'll definitely take two to get her going as she tips the scales at over 114lbs, but otherwise it's completely road worthy...just watch for splinters.

Breaking The Fall

Last year I screwed my back up quite impressively and was robbed of some memorable fall riding conditions - for a short moment today it looked like this fall season might escape my rolling presence as well. 

I was in North Conway over the weekend, as were two of my nephews, and on Sunday we did some mountain biking at Echo State Park.  Someone was kind enough to build some ramps and bridges for everyone to play on, so I did and fractured my hand while breaking a fall from the highest of them.  I was sure it was only some kind of ligament damage - it had swelled up pretty good the past two days but I had good range of motion with little discomfort in my hand and digits.  So when the x-ray technician asked me if I was in a lot of pain and then proceeded to tell me I had a "real good fracture on my 3rd metacarpal", I was fairly stunned.   I've never broken anything and anything else I may have fractured was never diagnosed by a doctor so I had no idea what kind of treatment this might require.  The tech mentioned a "cast" and I had visions of another fall season withering away.  Thankfully though, the doctor (also a biker!) shed a much more optimistic view: 10 to 14 days before resuming regular activities and then he sent me on my way in a temporary cast.  Oh, and most importantly, the bike is fine.         

The End Of A Mountain Road

The most difficult periods of my life are un-questionably the days we had to put our two dogs to sleep.  Our two "babies", German Shepherds a year apart in age - Zeppo: the older bravado charged male and Dhomi: our precious, but hardly fragile female.  Zeppo succumbed to a horrible disease which we treated him for for over two years until his discomfort became too much.  We put him to rest 3 years ago at ten years of age and his little sister was left to help fill his void.  After living most of her life in the shadow of her dominant older brother, Dhomi became the focus of all our attention and love and became our little (115lb) princess.  A week ago yesterday I was faced with the numbing fate of having to put her to rest as well.  After a month long battle with vestibular disease an MRI revealed a brain tumor, causing the worst kind of that disease, and a quick decline in her health followed.

In the past month I've had little ambition to ride, much less do anything else, but yesterday I was determined to hop on my bike and get some miles and emotions under my wheels.  The saddle of a bicycle is a great place to work out emotions - intervals of thought amongst physical exertion and sensory indulgence create a favorable environment to resolve inner turbulence - at least for me.  On the weeks anniversary of her passing I rolled out to conquer Kearsarge Mountain Road and Mt. Kearsarge and would do it in honor of our precious Dhomi.

Steer By The Stars

When a buddy first brought night riding to my attention my initial response was "what, are you nuts?".  Trail riding in the darkness didn't immediately tickle my fancy, but after an enthusiastic explanation it suddenly became something I wanted to try. 

Guided by headlights (duh) trails by night breath new life into the experience.  No, not those wimpy triple-A battery units with the Christmas light bulb inside -  these.  Available in LED, halogen, and blind-your-friends HID, these bad boys use rechargeable batteries and can get you upwards to an 11 hour run time.  I use a helmet mount for flexibility of directional light but you can also use a handle bar mount or, as many people do, use both.  Familiar trails feel fresh because you don't have the benefit of seeing the trail coming and anticipating it's obstacles.  You're only focused on the next 10 feet of illumination so your decision making and reaction time need to be that much quicker.

Night riding also offers the conveniences of cooler temperatures and scheduling.  The last couple of weeks we've been able to get together a good group of riders to participate in what we hope to make a regular thing - a weekly night ride.  We've been riding Wednesdays and at Bear Brook but it looks like Thursdays will be more convenient for everyone going forward - and next week we'll be checking out FOMBA.  If you're local and interested in coming along, drop me an e-mail and I'll give you the details.  The more lights the better!      

Malignant Narcissism

Dreams Flow Across The Heartland

Thanks once again to my buddy Derek who's unyielding devotion to the digital domain has uncovered yet another gem of cycling story telling (see "Hero").  Project Pedal is an unfolding  look into the making of an independent film which will document a cross county cycling journey and the people and places encountered along the way.

Another cross country trip which can be traced via web log is Tom's Ride.  Tom's Ride, which was recently completed, recounts the 70 days and over 3600 miles traversed by David and Traci in honor of their friend Tom Maddox who suffered a devastating cycling accident. 

Time Stand Still

Rutland Vt this weekend hosts the opportunity to experience the earliest years of two wheeled transportation. The Wheelman (as seen here) are holding their yearly meeting this week which will culminate with a parade through downtown Rutland taking place 9:30 am on Saturday.  After the parade riders will perform stunts and hold demonstrations outside of the Bardwell House until 12:30.  The event also coincides with a weekend long Ethnic Festival being held throughout the downtown area featuring cuisine, crafters and entertainers from around the globe.

Bad Yogi

OK so it was in Canada and a grizzly bear, but still...  This is an unfortunate story of a young women splitting from her mountain biking pack and falling prey to a male grizzly.  See "The Enemy Within" below - a bear is a bear, maybe some of that paranoia is founded.  I gotta get a bigger knife...

*Correction:  The bear in question was in fact a Black bear...and I've seen these guys in my yard!!

See: Be Bear Aware

The Prouty And A Pow Wow

This past weekend was pretty eventful - we had the long anticipated Prouty ride on Saturday and we made our first visit to the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum here in Warner for the annual Pow Wow on Sunday.  The Prouty was graced with beautiful weather, an amazing turn out (3500 people) and ultimately raised 1.6 million dollars for cancer research.  Our betwee2wheels team raised a thousand dollars (Thank you to all our sponsors!) and collectively we conquered 100 miles.  I had expected to do the 100 mile loop but on the day of the race - due to time constraints - I decided on riding the 50 mile course.  My teammates each rode the 25 mile course and the plan was to be finishing the ride around the same time (I anticipated riding a pretty fast clip on the shorter course and pannier-less Rocinante).