My Ace #1 eye spy found this Free Food Pantry for a chance to do a CRANKSGIVING ride ‘;’-). I had never seen one of these free library-like ideas used for food giving. What a great idea, and a good ride with two friends on this cool but no-rain day. We each brought along a … Continue reading "CRANKSGIVING IN DECEMBER AND A WALL"

Today’s ride was the Cameron Highlands KOM Challenge.  This was a roughly 1,800 metres / 5,900 feet climb over 58km / 23.6mi from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands.  The Cameron Highlands is named after William Cameron, who surveyed the area in 1885.  In 1925 the British colonial administration started developing the area into a hill … Continue reading "RIDE # 165: 09 DECEMBER 2018"

Ok, this is kind of not ‘legal’ as I am not on my bike this weekend. But look who has been here, I could not resist posting this for all to see that even that red-suited man travels by bike once his sleigh lands in town. Must carry that toy bag on his back I … Continue reading "Not my bike. Not my wall."

Oh the frost this morning!! My friend Cindy and I met in the late morning for some frozen fun! It was cold at 38d for most of the day, but the morning temp was at 25d! It climbed to a high of 41 by about noon, then began to fall again. We each said how … Continue reading "December challenge: blue wall with some shadows"

Not much of a photo, but on my cold ride this mid-morning I saw this striking tree. And there was a fence next to it. So… I figured that qualifies under the loose rules of the challenge ;’-)

It has, by our standards here in the Pacific Northwest, gotten rather cold and frosty here. I know that 35-40 degrees is not what some areas consider frigid weather, but it is that here. In these past few days we have had temps in the upper 20s at night, low 30s in the morning, and … Continue reading "December challenge: walls"

After about a month’s hiatus four of us did a pre-dawn ride today.  Pai and I started from his home and we picked up Kelin and Bin Soo where they live. By 8.15am we had covered 70km and were thinking about coffee.  We usually get our cuppas at The Artisan Roast next door to Pai’s … Continue reading "Serendipitous Wall"

Hi fellow Cycle365-ers, Old Grumbleface here.  Today I thought it might be fun to escape sunny California and make a quick day trip up to Minnesota for a bike ride with that clown, Greg Garceau.  I figured I could accomplish that task and be back home before my Ace Support Crew even noticed I was … Continue reading "OLD GRUMBLEFACE AND GREGBLOOD GO FOR A RIDE IN MINNESOTA"

Among my cycling highlights for this year are discovering you good folk at Cycle 365 and participating in the various challenges. A yearend challenge I have pursued since 2014 is the Rapha Festive 500.  The challenge is to ride 500km between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.  To provide some incentive, Rapha sends everyone who completes the … Continue reading "Speaking of challenges . . . ."

As I have mentioned in other posts, those three cycling Grands have moved to Sacramento for what we hope is a temporary move. But, that meant we would not be seeing that family this Thanksgiving. Jenny, Susan’s older daughter invited us to join them this year. Visiting this family is a little more involved as … Continue reading "Grandmas Bike Over The River and Through The Woods"

I did a similar route that Kathleen had done. A little over 3 years ago I took Jaydon on the route with me. I was finally able to dig out the photos. Jaydon is just shy of 6 years old here. I *must* now post recent photos of my bike buddies, ;’-) Jaydon at 9 … Continue reading "MY Trans-Am ride ;’-)"

Susan and I host our women’s riding group every year at this time — the Saturday before Thanksgiving. There are some vegetarians in our group so I have dubbed this get together “Unturkey Thanksgiving”. I cook vegetarian chili and corn bread and everyone else brings sides and desserts of their choice. It is a great … Continue reading "A LITTLE CRANKSGIVING"

This is not “challenge related”, just a bit about my bike ride today. I met up with my bike buddy to scout a route we had found on maps to see if it was worth keeping for future riding. It isn’t. At the park where we met up, there is this monument that I have … Continue reading "A Rather Different Monument"

In the words of Chester A. Riley:  “What a revoltin’ development this is!”

This is about no challenge, but about a bike ride and photo to compare Bill’s cyclisk. Last fall I did a tour in South Dakota. We rode the Mickelson Trail but also cycled briefly through a few towns. Here is the “Bike Monument” I saw in one of those towns. Not neatly formed like Bill’s … Continue reading "CYCLISK-ISH AND A CEMETERY RIDE"

A quick post to get a Reflections photograph in before October runs out. I have just spent two days riding in Taiwan.  More detail to come.  Until then, this was outside the Tea Aroma restaurant in Pinglin.  Where we had lunch.  

I took a little ride around the immediate neighborhood on yet another sunny day. And, as it turns out we will be here until Saturday so I will be getting another teaneuring outing before we leave. Though I do want to head home, our weather in Seattle is …. rain. Hoping for a decent week … Continue reading "Found a Rainbow"

Its here! My new, made-to-measure ride from Cycles Cattin  in Grenoble. 650B wheels with 35 mm tires, Velo Orange randonneur bars, Shimano 2×11 drivetrain, SON lights and dynamo hub, Tubus front rack and custom rack for bar bag, steel tubing throughout, filet brazed frame, plate fork crown, steel fenders (mud guards), custom paint, Brooks B17 … Continue reading "A long way to go for coffee on a New Bike!"

Seeing all of the interest in the upcoming Coffeeneuring season, and thinking about how positive and encouraging everyone is to one another, made me think of this oldie-but-goodie of a video on youtube. At the very end, when it talks about how life is about the people you meet and the things you create… I … Continue reading "The people you meet… and the things you create"

If ever there was a Cycle365 Challenge that seemed to be designed especially for ME, the October Reflectie topic would be the one.  Everybody knows how self-centered I am.  Everybody knows that MY favorite subject to talk about or write about is ME.  Everybody knows that I hold MYSELF in such high esteem that I make Narcissus himself look like the very paragon of … Continue reading "I Love How Reflecties Reflect ME!"

A gorgeous day, a little bit hilly and plenty of gravel.

Most of you can skip reading these first two paragraphs of this post, as well as the video that follows.  Their only purpose is to, once again, defend my tough-guy stature.  I know, I know, last time I vowed to ignore anybody else who dared to dare me.  However, this time I am responding to … Continue reading "UPSIDE-DOWN IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA"

Never let it be said that Gregblood of MY Town, Minnesota backed down from a dare without giving it his best effort, no matter how difficult or embarrassing it was.  And, rest assured, given my aversion to disco music and dancing of any kind, this particular dare was definitely embarrassing. It’s my own fault, really.  … Continue reading "Nothing to See Here But Shame"

I identified with everything said in this short commercial. At the surface, I like it very much. At a deeper level, it is concerning that cycling is only associated with recreation and spiritual growth and such – not as a valid form of transport, not as an alternative to cars for commuting, not as a … Continue reading "Why we ride"

It was a hot, sunny and humid day yesterday, so of course I set out for a ride. I remembered to take plenty of water and electrolyte solution this time, though so Sue was OK with me getting out. Actually I think that sometimes she wants me out of her hair during the day, which … Continue reading "Gaullic abandon"

Hi all, So, what’s it gonna be? My vote for old and abandoned things, no selfies allowed. Cheers, Keith

I got out of bed and onto the bike before sunrise Sunday. The forecast said temps in the mid to high 90s(F) by early afternoon, so I wanted to get a ride in early. I rode SD38 east to Humboldt and then back to Salem, a 35-mile round trip. Lots of bird activity on the … Continue reading "A bridge and a bike"

You just never know what might be found at JR’s Salvage south of town.  Friend Dave and I, have pulled some decent bicycles out of there and with a little TLC have become very rideable.  Treks, Raleighs, and a Centurian to name a few.  One came from Cycle Smithy in Chicago — an upscale bicycle … Continue reading "Ride to the Salvage Yard"

Ever since Bill S. wrote about it last week, I had been excited to participate in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) version of “The Ride of Silence”–a worldwide event honoring the many bicycle riders who have been killed while participating in this sport we all love so much.  Speaking as a guy who has ridden … Continue reading "My Own Personal Ride of Silence"

I came across Bill’s Journal cycling from Colorado to Virginia and was particularly interested in the section covering Illinois, and especially Vermilion county (Paxton to Lafayette Indiana). The description of Bill’s thoughts about the motel here in town, while very accurate, are still the source of a good chuckle. Many of the descriptions and photos … Continue reading "Cheneyville Bridge 2011/2018"

Mark Twain wrote a book called Life on the Mississippi and this post is called Life on the Mississippi.  Both are outstanding works of American literature.  But that’s where the similarities end. Mark Twain’s book was written in the 1860’s.  My story is written in the 2010’s.  Twain’s book is about three years of his life in which … Continue reading "Life On The Mississippi"

This is truly the day I’ve been waiting for and this time there will be no photo-gags of me wearing short pants and sleeves in a blizzard.  (Yes, last week’s snowstorm was officially designated as a blizzard thanks to 15-inches of new snow and 30 mile-per-hour winds.)  If you can trust the weather forecasters, which … Continue reading "Speeding To Wisconsin"

Perfection can be boring, I know. But with the weather we’ve been having, that is the only way I know to describe the ride I had today. I’m sure that before too much longer I’ll be back to complaining about the rain, or the wind, or the cold, or all three, so let’s enjoy it … Continue reading "CLC18.7 Mustard city and the Dukes"

Holy wow, when it stops raining this is a beautiful place to cycle! Today was perfect, light winds, sun, warm enough that I could ride in shorts, etc. So I set out for a ride up the Burgundy canal. The first hotel boats of the season are arriving. While seeing the world go by at … Continue reading "CLC18.6 Can’t Get Any Better Than This"

While on my bike ride yesterday I was convinced that spring had finally arrived.  The air temperature was in the 50’s (F) but the brilliant sunshine made it feel much warmer than that.  It was beautiful.  I was wearing long cycling pants and two layers on top and I was sweating.  All I could think … Continue reading "A Highly Anticipated Day"

Bonjour les cyclos! Today was another sunny day. Having two in less than a week is something of a shock to the system, but one I can live with . The waters are slowly receeding, so it seemed like a good idea to go for a ride and enjoy the warm-ish weather. The chestnut trees … Continue reading "CLC 18.5 Another fine day"

Well, folks, its been a long time coming, but it seems like we have finally turned the corner on spring. Today the sun was in full evidence and the temperatures were finally getting comfortable enough to ride without adding enough layers to cut off circulation in the extremities. Its not like I haven’t been on … Continue reading "CLC18.4 Spring is here, or so we hope."

Spring is in the air here on this sunny Wednesday morning.  All the signs of a Minnesota springtime are on display:  The temperature is a tropical 18-degrees Fahrenheit.  (Somewhere around -8 C.)  Yesterday’s snowfall only amounted to a paltry 8 inches.  The weathermen have even less of an idea what they’re talking about than they … Continue reading "April In Minnesota"

Thursday, March 22 Mattieu has the best coffee machine in town. Almost everybody agrees on this, so his bar in the center of Gevrey is quite popular. Of course, not everybody likes coffee and the morning usually finds a few of the locals enjoying un petit canon , a little glass of wine. Most of these … Continue reading "CLC 18: The village bar for coffee"

Wednesday France has had a very wet winter. Wetter than usual. Wetter than needed. Water of almost biblical proportions. All the local rivers are in flood stage. Even the little Meuzin that runs through Nuits St. Georges and that is usually dry in the summer is flooding fields and a few basements. So you might … Continue reading "CLC 18: Take two: a real ride."

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Well folks, its been a tough time getting to the start line this year. I got a call from my sister in Ann Arbor that our father had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and that he only had two weeks to live. I got on the first plane I … Continue reading "CLC 18: returning to normal"