Single-speeding back to normality

For a long time I have been a fan of the Singlespeed bicycle. I love the simplicity and somehow I think the rear end of the bike is lighter and it accelerates quicker. That's just me probably. I have messed around a lot of the years with gear ratios. They are different depending on what you want to do, what type of bike it is, what time of year it is and the level of fitness you have. Are you interested in climbing hills, covering terrain quickly?? So it is nice to have a tote, box where you can have all your cogs, freewheels, chainrings, lockrings and chainring bolts. That makes changing stuff a lot easier. 
Lately I have been spending time on the Salsa Ti Selma. That bike is running 34x18 and I used it to do general riding, and perhaps getting into Palos with the singletrack. My Ruffian has a 34x16 with discontinued Ragley Luxy Bars. That bike is for covering distance. Both bikes are running 29x2.1-2.2 tires. On the road I run 40psi. 
After dealing with an injured hip the MTBs have helped stay more upright and take the strain on those hip flexors away. Fitness is coming back syrupy slow. I mean slow, slow. 
This morning I also updated my All City Nature Boy disc with 39x18 with Michelin Jet tires. I will be trying out the Ritchey VentureMax handlebars also. 
Thanks for reading, 
Ari 

This guy caught a couple of fishes while I was observing him. 

Abandoned house in Du Page County. I would live there. 

Water Fall Glen is always good. 9.5 miles for a loop of Gravel. 

Probably coming out to lay eggs. I was impressed by those claws. 

Waterfall Glenn

My most excellent Gunnar Ruffian. 

Friday morning rain. Perfect for ruining a pre-work Ride.  

No more Bombfire Pizza

A while ago when I lived in Sycamore,Il. my wife and I used to go on scouting trips west of there. We started to discover the gravel roads on the west side of IL, then the driftless area spawned a million ideas in my head. 
At some point I decided to cross the Scary Bridge in Savanna,IL over to Sabula Iowa. Wow! That blew my mind to say the least. I remember a very first, crude ride that we did there with the wife, Bonk King, Cookie and meself. I wanted to take a map but Bonk King insisted that his new I-phone was all we needed. Of course there was no service out there. Our 40 miler turned into a death march with limited water and food left. 
We were dead tired and of course came back for more many a times. 
Jay and I started having these "Mission rides" that were intended to whip us into shape for the Spring Dance known as Trans Iowa. We rode single speed and typically did about 80-90 miles with as shit ton of climbing. 
We would then head over to the Bombfire Pizza. There we would devour pizza. Jay would drink a couple beers while I guzzled endless cans of Pepsi. 
When we organize the Death Ride with Guitar Ted we had a lot of riders eat at the Bombfire. The Bombfire Pizza was a unique place in that it had all kinds of Art work ,delicious pizza and one of the Kindest shop owners I have ever met. He talked to us all the time. Asking where we were from and really listening. 
In March of this year his friend found him dead. I just found this out last night as I was looking for info on the Sabula bridge. The Bombfire Pizza is gone. Those times we went there have just turned to memories now. My daughter loved going there. 
So, Thank you Tom for all those great memories. May you rest in peace and know that you will not be forgotten. I hope that the bridge opens soon to pump some blood back into Sabula. 
I miss those times. 
Thank you for reading. 
Ari 

Tom Holman, owner of Bombfire Pizza, Sabula Iowa. May you rest in peace. 


Ari  

Memorial Day Weekend riding

Got out on Sat with the SS 29er and did about 35 miles. It was good to cleanse out after having a super good meal on Friday night. Rode mostly on the road and touched into Waterfall Glen. 
Saturday was a ride with my Brother in law and good friend Randolino. We did our first ride to Batavia in the heat. Nobody is used to this heat yet and we labored to get back home. Yesterday Monday I was unable to latch onto a ride so I went solo. MY goal was to hit the 50 mile mark and visit friend Frank. I had a gentle ride on the cheater bike all the way to St. Charles. ON the way back I was attacked by some crazy wind storm out of nowhere. 
I rode 30 miles into a nasty headwind with all kinds of dust and pollen choking me down. I stopped at a gas station for some overpriced water and then rode home to be a zombie the whole rest of the day. I kept falling asleep and all the projects I had ended up in the trash bin. 
A good weekend of riding. Still a lot of work to do for sure. But I am not going to give up. 
best, 

Ari

Now that's a job for the faint of heart

I dropped out on the ride on Friday since my hip was killing me. 

I found this view in the most unlikely place. 

Plant shopping with the Big Dummy

Always good to see open spaces and trees. 

Ran into Buddy Bruce and he rode with us for while. 

Cheater Bikes resting at 7/11

Memorial day and this is how the flag was on my way out. 

Cheater bike cockpit. Yes, those are sti shifters. 

Fermi lab building. 

much needed open space. 

exit area Fermi west. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Happy Memorial Day weekend to everyone out there. During these days I take time to remember family members and friends that are not around anymore. I get out for a ride and think about them. I remember what they said, the funny jokes, the characteristics that made them who they are. 
It will be good to be off on Monday. We have been going full steam ahead here at the shop. We have been selling, fixing, inflating. People are mostly trying to catch up with lost weeks in March and April. 
Everyone's mileage is off. But I am glad we are still riding. That's the important thing. Be safe out there. 

 T.I. 

 Slender Fungus Mascot

Slender Fungus Flora

Fuel 

 RIP Marco. 

this is Chunky Gravel 

TI V10 Special K and I 

Good friend Chris from Bellevue

 TI V10 

 Hellmut my training partner eating cold, fried Chicken

thousands of miles on my first fixed gear bicycle 

The old man, still kicking despite a lot of illnesses

Giggles and I when he picked up his restored Merckx. check out my footwear! 

1998 Subaru Forester. Wifey and I would scout gravel in this car. That was amazing. 

Ari 

Trans Iowa V14

Thank you for Posting this video of Trans Iowa V14 to Nicholas. This gives everybody a real good perspective on the race.

Thank you again,

Ari

Turbo Tuesdays? A return??

Long time ago we, the Slender Fungus, would congregate at 830pm for Turbo Tuesdays. Those were some of the best rides ever. We rode the Trail from Sycamore to St Charles and back. We had a blast talking, stopping for food and the occasional drinky. We all moved and dispersed and that all came to an end. 
Now a new group of guys has showed interest riding on Tuesdays. We are trying to make it a regular thing without all the calling and texting and so forth. 
The ride is brisk and lasts about an hour. We all have to get back and open shop. I am happy this is happening. So much better to ride with some other people Some days you don't feel like riding but when a group of guys start circling in front of your house you know you better get ready. 
Ari 

5/21

Got out on the SS 29er yesterday and it truly felt so liberating and peaceful. Just one gear to deal with, a quiet hum of the chain coated in dumonde tech original formula. It was windy, cold, rainy, then somehow sunny, and windy again. May weather in Chicago I  guess.  Part of my riding was on the road until I got into the woods. It was so green and lush in there. I rode on a bright grren carpet of grass for a while. Then onto gravel where the white gravel stones pinged on the ti downtube. I let a breathe out glad to not be at my station tuning bikes. Because of the weather the hordes of people were absent. The parking lots almost empty. Fairweather forest goers letting this day slip by.
I returned home super-hungry and wet.
I was glad to be out there.
Ari

 On the road with the 29er

 Back to early spring gear

 I found this dead bird on the side of the road. I am pretty sure it is a Night Hawk. Someone please identify

 My Salsa Ti Selma SS. I love riding this bike. 

 The creek at the outlook area in Waterfall Glen. 

 The lake at Waterfall Glen. 

This Redwing bird was mad and was wanting some sunshine. He was also pissed that I was in the vicinity. 

an old found picture. Cookie on one of our Iowa Mission rides.  Ahhh, those were the days. 

It must be Almanzo weekend

Today we were supposed to do a dad’s ride at 8 am. The wind is blowing strong out of the NE and there is a bone chilling mist in the air. Our ride was cancelled since most of the guys do not have any foul weather gear. This is another Almanzo weekend were the weather turns to that nasty stuff were only the brave brave. Better have you woolies on, your rain jacket and some fenders. Oh, you better be ready to completely overhaul your

bike when done.
I will get dressed, wait for the temps to climb amnother 2 measly degrees, and hide in the woods with my SS 29er.  I don’t know but 2018 is kicking my butt so far. Way,way behind on the whole mileage thing for sure. I guess one can only play with cards that one is dealt with. Nobody really wants to get out in this crap. I guess the mp3 player will be my friend today.
To all those riders that got out to race this weekend I applaud you. To the Alexander riders I hope you stay warm and dry.
Now it’s time to dig out that cold weather stuff one more time.
Ari

Cheater bikes are not bad if that's all you got

I love riding gravel but when all you got is road that's what you got. 

Had a good showing this morning with the Ricanator, Hank, Joey and Trapper. Got in some good little hills by Fullersberg area with some hill repeats. After a few miles the legs started to warm up and that felt really good. 

More coming soon as the rides get longer 

Ari 

Bellevue, Iowa. A land of magic.

 Relaxing at Kalmes in St. Donatus, Iowa

  Kalmes Restaurant. St Donatus, Iowa

 View of Bellevue, Iowa. 

 Bellevue, Iowa

 The mighty Miss. river

 B&B in Bellevue, Iowa

 Great barbecue here in Bellevue

 Now that's a view

That moon was in full force.  

 Parlour in B&B

 Dining room 

 Living room 

 View from our room at night. 

 My good friend and local Vet Chris. Check out his new Fargo. 

 My favorite road. 110th st. in Clinton county. 

 Wifey and I. Can you tell I am a bike nerd?

MY favorite hill. I made it up once, single speed. 

Thank you for checking out my blog. I hope to post a lot more. 

Check out Iowa sometime. You will be amazed you have not gone there before. 

Ari