A farmer in the dell....or midtown.

Saw this article this morning at ktvn channel 2.  It's noteworthy to me for two reasons.  One more location where we can get fresh local produce and they say they will do all their deliveries by bicycle!  Who says Reno isn't the next freakin' Portland!! I couldn't get the live video to post so you have to click on the article to link to their page.

Stupid human tricks...

I realize the title for this mornings post is a bit leading.  I'm also sure that everyone out there could write a nice little article under the same title.  The interesting part I suppose is that each one of our little rants would be different.  So without further ado here's mine for today.

Use a leaf blower to try to clear snow!  Now to preface this, I'm not talking about a regular homeowner who's having a lazy morning and just doesn't feel like shoveling.  I'm talking about a professional (using the term loosely) who does this as part of their job.

Yep, you guessed it.  A city worker.  Bless their souls....they try hard but they just don't have the right tools for the job.

Now to this poor guys credit.  He didn't call in sick today knowing that it was about 8 degrees out and he would be working outside.  And who knows, perhaps the leaf blower keeps his back warm!  For the record it was freaking cold this morning.

How cold was it you ask!  Cold enough to freeze the Truckee river over!  I've seen ice flows in the river many times while riding.  I have not seen this progression of ice flow before.

So I guess the obvious stupid human trick here is to try to walk across the river this morning.  I didn't attempt it but keep an eye on the paper or evening news.  I'm sure some brave soul will take the initiative. 

In the mean time the final stupid human trick for this morning would obviously be to try to ride your bike in this weather!  So I've participated in the final category and in an hour my toes should thaw nicely.  So how about it can you add any tricks to the list this morning!?

Back to the bike (and studded tire pros / cons).

After playing hooky from riding yesterday, I was greeted with an encouraging sunrise this morning.  It pretty much said, come outside and enjoy me on the way to work!

The truth is it really does make the ride that much better.  Now about that ride...  I'm sure you saw the post where I belatedly threw on the studded tires.  Well the studded tires are great, especially with the freeze and thaw cycles we've been having that literally turn portions of the river path into a skating rinks.

On a bike with normal tires all I have to say is good luck!  Glare ice at angles with a lot of bumps to make sure you slide out and die.  Now I'm not saying that the pucker factor doesn't increase when I hit these, but to date (knock on wood) the studs make riding on this stuff non-event!

So those are the merits of studded tires.  The other merit (if you call it that) is that I'm gonna have quads the size of Velodrome rider by the end of winter.  Meaning studded tires add some serious rolling resistance!  So if you didn't make good on that new years resolution to start working out, just get a set of studded tires!  They will up the calories burned on your daily commute by about 15% (at least that's how much they slow me down)! 

Nice morning for a ski.

9 inches of fresh snow sure makes for a great start to the day!  Don't be jealous....I did have to give up my morning bike ride.  Trade offs, always with the trade offs.

Random reason not to ride your bike!

To Protect and Serve.....bicyclists!

I know that some of you probably still think the river path is the turf of the less desirable here in Reno (meaning the homeless).  However, I spend enough time on the path to know that while they are around, they are pretty much harmless, especially the "regulars" who hang out each day at the same place.  Heck, their even friendly.....most of them know me just by seeing me ride by and now they even give a wave or nod of the head when I pass by.

However, if you think you're safety is in question, I present evidence to the contrary (via my new correctly focusing camera)!

I've (personally) seen three patrols just since Christmas!  So RPD is putting some resources out there for us, and other than the "regulars" the transient population on the path is way down.  Now before you say it's just due to the cold....before Christmas there were quite a few "less desirable" on the path and it was just as cold.  Once the patrols picked up the numbers definitely dropped. 

So if you are crazy enough (like me) to exercise outside in the winter.  Get out on the river path and get in a jog or ride!  The more people who use it the less desirable it will be to "live" on! 

Keeping those bike lanes clean!

As I was pulling in to work this morning, I saw a welcome sight.  A street sweeper paying attention to the bike lanes!  Actually, Reno is pretty good about this.  The sweepers don't ignore the bike lanes and do hit them throughout the city about once a month.  Now I'm not saying that debris doesn't build up in bike lanes....it's just the nature of vehicle traffic, but at least these guys are as on it as they can be.  I mean street sweepers in winter, not bad!

Now if all the dust and gross air that is created by the sand/salt trucks and vehicles grinding it up and putting it into the air (under our lovely inversion) will just blow out of here this week, we'll be all set for some great winter riding!