Driving for a Roof Rack

Ever since owning the Mazda3 I have considered a roof rack.  Several times I looked up the list of Yakima and/or Thule components needed to make it happen and have choked on the high cost.

Last year I made my own standoffs and crossbars from wood.  They bolted into the factory roof mount points nice and secure but caused a lot of wind noise.  The intention was to attach a roof cargo tray not bikes on these rails, but I never used them.  It was a good attempt at a thrifty solution for a roof rack but it didn't work out.  Not to mention, I wouldn't have tried to mount a bike carrier on this setup.

Ever since my failed attempt I have checked Craigslist from time to time looking for a deal.  I finally found it.

On the road to pick up a rack, and more.

A guy was selling a Yakima setup that came off his Subaru.  Fortunately for me, the so-called "Yakima Landing Pads" that mate up the Subaru also mate up to my car.  Included in the sale were two "keep the wheels on" bike carries made by Inno as well as a third fork mount carrier also by Inno.  I called the seller and worked out a price for same day pickup.

Roof gear in the hatch.

Two hours of driving and I was loading the goods into my car.  Everything was in excellent shape, just as described.  I was glad to have found a good deal!  On the drive home I tried to think of ways to keep from driving roof mounted bikes in the garage; I have a few ideas.

Four hours driving after work,

arriving home in the dark.

Test Piloting

Considerations for a new cyclocross bike are underway for Ryan.  I tagged along on a trip to Century Cycles to check out a Raleigh cross bike.

Ryan rides Raleigh.

The overcast day turned to a drizzle just as we headed out on a test ride.  The sales guy at shop asked me if I was going to ride too and I seized the opportunity to spin a Surly Cross Check.  It was a smooth ride on the steel frame and the down tube shifters were a fun throw back.

Surly and Raleigh.

We rode around on the back side of a shopping plaza.  The Raleigh was looking sharp and Ryan was liking it.  Ryan did not buy the bike today, maybe he is going to ask Santa Claus for it.  Forget the sleigh and reindeer... Santa can ride to Ryan's house on a cross bike, dismount, and hop down the chimney.

The Surly Moonlander.

I couldn't resist a lap around the show room floor on the Moonlander.  It's a fat tired freak show but seems like it would be really fun bouncing down a trail.  I asked Daniel if he would get more for Christmas and he said, "sure!"

The other green bike test ridden.

Bike Art

Title = "Bike", Artist = Me, Medium = bendy, sticky, kids' twizzle stick thingies

Bike Boy

While I have been out for rides in the past couple weeks the bigger news is Daniel and his pedal bike.  He has made great progress in a short time.  The Strider bike seems to have set the stage well for independently riding his pedal bike, training wheels never  installed.

 Cruising up and down the street.

Earlier this week KT and friends went to Fredericksburg for a walk on the trail.  Well, the babies and ladies walked on the trial while Daniel rode his bike.  I was not too sure if this was a good idea because he has only been pedaling several times over the past couple weeks.   No issues for Daniel, he rode 1.1 miles before they turned around and he rode 1.1 miles back.  2.2 miles for his real bike ride at 3 years of age!  Wow, I'm impressed.

Dropping mommy and Ellen.

Today had a several laps up and down the street.  Daniel was literally riding circles around me in the cul-de-sac as I took some pictures.  All was good until we tried to have him use the brakes.  KT told him to "ride towards the mailbox then put on your brakes."  Well, he rode straight at the mailbox and crashed into without any braking.  Fortunately all was okay after some tears, enough bike riding for today.

Round and round is fun.

Gravel Swamp Ride

The forecast for the week changed and suddenly today, Monday, was the only day calling for sun.  In the middle of the afternoon I thought about getting out for an afternoon ride and realized I had not made the most of the cross tires much this winter.  Gravel... I need to find some gravel...

Heading down Valley Rd.

I mapped out a ride through the Shreve swamps on the gravel roads.  It was not a long route but was entertaining.  It was 38 degrees as I drove home.  I dressed for post-sunset freezing temperatures and headed out in the sunshine.

It looks like it's been there a while, but I do not

remember seeing this oil pump in previous swamp rides.

The air was crisp and the light was soft as I pedaled over gravel and dirt.  It was quiet in the swamps, with the exception of some kids in a jacked up truck.  The sun was setting when I found a "pond" I didn't know existed.  The setting sun and reflections on the stagnant water was a picture waiting to happen.

Darkness coming.

I climbed up Clarke and got my lungs and legs burning before looping back through Moreland to once again cross the gravel on Valley Road.  It was a bumpier ride through the dirt potholes on Valley coming back than going out.  The dips and bumps were more difficult to see in the dark, even with the headlight powered on.  My tinted sunglass lenses were not helping.

Passing by Moreland Fruit Farm on the way home.

It was another nice ride past sunset.  The temperature sure drops fast when the sun goes down.  I look forward to the next one.

Back on Campus

Ten years later I made it back to campus.  Noah and I went to represent the company at a career fair.  We arrived the night before and had some time to walk around campus in the dark.  After the career fair the next day, where we met some solid students, we had another walk including a visit to the ol' engineering building.

Found some bikes in the dark.

 

 The meeting and proposing place for KT and I.

It was nice to see the campus and meetup with some of the faculty again.  I realized how much I under-appreciated the courtesy, cleanliness, and professionalism of Northern when I was a student.  The efforts of the faculty and staff really showed in the students we met, plus the students are a notch above your typical college student.

I remember an engineering professor who rode to work

everyday.  I'm 99% certain this is his new ride.  Nice!

At some point in our visit we drove down Main Street to find the houses me and the guys lived in our last two years.  Well, we must have been hard on them...

The former location of 911 & 915 S. Main.  Lots of fun

was had where these empty lots now stand.

58 and the wind was my friend

It was 58 degrees when I promptly left work to get home and jump on my cross bike.  Not too bad for the final January day of 2012.  For the first time in several rides I paid attention to the wind direction and ended up doing it right; I ate the gusts on the way out  but enjoyed a tail wind on the way back.

 I tried racing my shadow on the way out.

We won.

 Setting sun, headlight at the ready.

 A favorite gravel road of mine, only

ridden once the cross tires come out.

Sunset over the Funk bottoms.

Santa Claus is coming...

Went out for a short, around the block ride.  39 when I left the house but the sun was going down and so was the temperature as I rode.  First ride of the year on crusty, salt covered roads so the cross bike came out to play.

 Santa is coming on a cross bike?

Or a reindeer powered sleigh?

I've been working on a couple small Christmas projects.  No pictures to be posted until after they are given away.  Not as much time anymore to make gifts, but I found time to make a couple items.

Sun going down.

No Train

The weather forecast for today prompted me to mount the light on my cross bike and commute to and from work.  This would be the first commute of the year and it was a nice way to start off.

It was 37 degrees when I left the house this morning.  I rode through town but took a slightly different route than normal.  As I crossed the tracks that run through town I heard a train rumble and whistle.  I thought it would be a neat picture to with my bike propped up alongside the tracks and a train passing by in the background, at least I figured Daniel would like the train pic.  After waiting for several minutes I realized the train was on a different set of tracks.  Oh well, I'll have to try this picture idea later.

Sitting alongside the rail waiting for a train.

The ride home was even warmer, it was 57 degrees when I left the office.  The wind was supposed to be out of the south at 15 to 20mph but it sure didn't feel like it as I rode mostly due south.  The skies were overcast but it was a nice first commute of the year.  Spring is near!

First project of the year

Happy New Year!  I had hoped for a New Years Day ride but the weather was not cooperative.  Although warm it rained the entire day.  Instead I spent some time in the basement on a long over due project... bike storage.

I screwed bike hooks to a 2x4 and hung it from the

floor joists with some perforated angle iron pieces. 

 The bikes are hung by the furnace with care,

in hopes that a rider would soon be there.

The hooks are 16" on center.  I wouldn't go any closer

else the bikes may interfere with each other.  As it is,

they must be hung in alternating directions.

Bike Work Stand for Ryan

Some time ago I began work on making a bike stand for Ryan.  I had some ideas for improvement over the bike stand I made for myself several years back and was eager to see if they would prove out.  Of course a work stand can be purchased, but what fun would that be?  Plus, there's certainly a cost advantage to making your own stand if you can scrounge up some pipe.  Total out of pocket cost for this project was about $20.

The project was delayed for quite a few weeks as I searched for a steel plate for the base.  After having no luck, and after seeing that Ryan had been working on his bike on his basement floor, I compromised and built a wooden base.

As it turns out the stand and base seem to work pretty well.  I hope it performs as expected and elevates Ryan's bike work to a new level.  Ha!

Ryan's new work stand holding my bike and

my stand on the left.

The stand adjusts up and down for height with

telescoping pipes and a locking bolt with handle.

The bike is clamped into the stand via a

pipe clamp and padded wooden jaws.

The bike can be rotated and locked in place

with another bolt and handle.

DD's Triway Ride

This morning Daniel, or "DD" as he refers to himself, and I went over to Triway HS so he could ride his new bike.  Daniel had fun riding the sidewalks around the junior high.  Stopping near the bus garage to see all the school buses was a point of enjoyment too.

Unloading Daniels new bike from

the back of the truck.

Remount after stopping to watch a

skid steer drive by.

Towards the end of the ride Daniel was starting

to stride along with the bike, especially

on a slight downhill grade.

Post ride refuel in the back of the truck.

Daniel likes fruit snacks!

Two years old & a new bike!

First Lunch Ride

Bill, a buddy in the office, bought his first road bike, and we did our first lunchtime ride today.  The weather was nice, a little overcast to keep the sun from beating down on us, as we rode an 11 mile loop "around the block".  It should be fun to get away from the office and enjoy some fresh, mid day air on future lunchtime rides.

I said to Bill, "Sweet!  It's like we work at a company in the bike industry and people go out and ride at lunch!"  Maybe we can stir up another person or two to join us.

First thing in the morning, showing off the new bike.

We found a good loop: Geyers Chapel, Canal, 

Honeytown, Secrest, Sylvan, Hillcrest and back.

T

The new Trek, introduced to the road.

Thank the Paint

Today I left work promptly, stopped at home for a few minutes and then continued south to Loudonville.  I planned to help out with some trail work but ended up missing the guys leading the work.  Thankfully I considered this scenario before leaving home and had packed my bike and a bag of gear.  After a call to KT to let her know I was riding instead of working, I hit the trail at mile 0.

Starting up the climbing switchbacks of the opening miles I thought about how this was my first solo mountain bike ride.  This made me wonder how well I paid attention to the trail’s direction when riding with Ryan.  Oh well, I figured that trail was marked well and I’d be fine finding my way.

The trail work that had been done along the way was mostly obvious.  There were some reroutes to avoid wet areas and the shoulders of the trail had been smoothed out all along the way.  I reached the short loop turnout and stopped to decide which way to go.  KT had asked me to be home before Daniel went to bed, which seemed to dictate I do the short loop.  Hmmm… what if I continue to the covered bridge and then ride the road back to the parking lot?  It seemed too far for the available time, unless I ride faster.  I clipped in, up shifted and stayed on the full course.

Nice night for a ride.

I really started to get into a rhythm and felt like I was moving along pretty good.  After mile 8 I turned right onto the access road and pushed my pace.  Looking up ahead I saw the dirt double track abruptly disappear to the right and I thought “I’m not slowing down, going to hold my speed!”  I moved left to enter the turn and dove in to the right hander hard.  Looking ahead, I saw the exit of the corner come into view and prominently in the middle of the trail… a skunk! 

The skunk saw me, turned its back end towards my front end, and lifted its tail.  “Oh crap!”  At this point my new disc brakes were put to the test and they almost worked too well.  Hard, hard, hard on the brakes!  My rear wheel lifted off the ground, then came back down as I shifted weight back.  I came to a stop partly sideways 5 to 7 yards short of the skunk.

Mr. Skunk looked back over its shoulder at me.  I looked at him thinking, “should I abandon the bike and make a run for it?”  A second or two later Mr. Skunk lowered his tail and slowly finished crossing the trail.  I reached for my camera but thought he would disappear too soon.  As slow as he moved, I probably could have taken a picture if I had acted on my thought to do so.

Wow.  With my max heart rate for the ride established in the previous 10 seconds I clipped in to continue my ride.  I wondered why he didn’t spray me and quickly reached the obvious conclusion: he liked the paint scheme of my Gary Fisher!

The sun was getting low, but I made it

home before Daniel went to bed.

Disjointed Mohican Ride

The weather for the past couple weeks has been predictable: "scattered thunderstorms" pretty much sums it up.  Every time it seems like we'll have some dry weather another wave of wet comes through.  Knowing we may encounter a course too wet to ride, and with another forecast for "scattered thunderstorms", Ryan and I headed down to Mohican first thing in the morning.

As we pulled into the MTB parking lot we found Ryan O'Dell at his truck.  He talked about the course condition and 4" of rain that fell in a single day.  On this morning he was heading out with volunteers to do trail maintenance a couple miles into the course.  Sometime in the future I'd like to help with trail maintenance and now I know who leads such work.

Post ride down tube adornment.

Knowing people were working a couple miles into the course Ryan and I decided to drive to the snow mobile parking area (MTB parking #2) and start our ride from there.  I liked this plan as it would let me ride the only portion of the course I had not yet ridden, miles 15 to 23. 

For the first mile or two I'm trying to remember if I ever pedaled.  It was fast, flowing trail that was mostly downhill through pine forest with ferns all about.  Pretty fun and a good way to warm up.  At this point it takes me a little bit of offroad riding to get the feel, but I imagine that will improve with experience.  There were a couple short rock gardens and down hill corners to test me as the miles went on and I felt pretty good, but several uphills got the best of me.  I wasn't doing so well at keeping weight forward and kept loosing my front wheel.  In retrospect I think I was being too much of a road cyclist and pulled on the bars as I climbed to generete power.  This had the negative effect of unweighting the front wheel.  I'll have to work on that.

At the suggestion of Ryan O'Dell we didn't ride the final couple miles of trail along the campground, he said this section we still pretty wet.  Instead, we rode through the campground to get to SR3 and then road SR97 back to where we started.  We road down the road to covered bridge before plowing back into the woods for the climb up Mt. Doom.  At the bottom of the climb I had more problems weighting the front of the bike but I started to figure it out midway.  After the climb was once again fun blasting through the woods.  I remembered really liking this section the last time.

Post ride shoes.

Returning to the parking lot where we started, we caught up to four guys from Michigan.  They were from the Detroit area and had come down to stay in a cabin and ride mountain bikes for a couple days.  Hearing that these guys drove 4-5 hours to ride here made me feel fortunate to have Mohican just 20 minutes down the road from my house.  I'll have to make it a point to help out with trail work one of these days.

Homemade Bike Work Stand

Perhaps our first mountain bike ride at Findlay State Park was unusually sloppy.  Still, the follow-up experience of cleaning the bikes in the front yard made me realize bike washing is no longer a basement event.  In the past, with road bikes, I always carried the bikes to the basement for cleaning and storage.  A road bike washing consisted of clamping the bike into my homemade, of course, work stand and using a spray bottle of water and old cloth diaper to wipe down the bike.  This method is obviously not going to work with muddy, knobby tired bikes.

My second homemade work stand.

After a couple times washing the mountain bike in the front yard I decided an outdoor work stand would be helpful.  It's not practical to carry the one up from the basement, as it's base consists of a 40 pound piece of steel tread plate.  What would I use for the base on an outdoor stand?  And, what style stand should I build?  I think I came up with a practical solution.

The finished work stand in action.

For the base of the stand I decided to use something solid: the Earth, what a novel idea.  I figured I'll always wash the bikes in the same spot in the front yard, near the driveway and garden hose.  Instead of moving around a heavy base or trying to make some sort of tripod base, I buried a 30" pipe into the ground.  The work stand will drop into this pipe.

The base pipe is sunk into the ground.

The workstand I built about five years ago, for use in the basement, has a clamp that holds a bike by its seat post or seat tube.  It's solid and works well, but I decided to try a different style workstand for use in the front yard, one that holds the bike with a fork lock and bottom bracket cradle.  Yes, this requires the front wheel to be removed, but I figure it will be easier to clean the front wheel and the forks of a mucked up mountain bike with the front wheel removed.

Some dumpster diving provided pipe and a tee connector, quite a bit of elbow grease was needed to clean up these pieces.  (Otherwise, a couple pieces of black iron pipe and a threaded tee from Lowes would've worked just as well.)  Next I needed attachment blocks that would clamp on the pipe and also mate to the bike.  Ideally these would be made out of aluminum, and I still may do that someday, but for now I made blocks out of some hard maple and coated them in polyurethane.  I'm sure they will hold up well enough.

Rear block that cradles the bottom bracket shell.

After a quick test to determine the final length for the horizontal pipe, I cut this pipe to length and installed the blocks.  A skewer is needed for the front block and a small piece of mouse pad material is added to the back block for gripping and padding the bike's bottom bracket.  Both blocks have a 1/4" bolt for clamping and thumb knobs for pinching the blocks securely onto the pipe.  To prevent the whole stand from rotating in the buried pipe, a small bolt is threaded into the upright pipe and a corresponding notch made in the buried pipe to capture the bolt head.

Front block with fork lock.

The stand works well.  It's nice to clean a bike standing up instead of bent over, and it's certainly easier to lubricate the chain or fiddle with derailleurs with the bike up on the stand.  After use, the stand is pulled from the pipe in the ground and hung on the garage wall for storage.  I found a plastic cap to put over the buried pipe, to keep it from filling with water or junk.  I'll call it a successful project!

Daniel tested and approved.