Porteur Bike arrives!!!!

I stared at the boxes for a long time before I mustared the strength to give them the blade. The bike was packaged beyond belief and I took my time in unfolding, unwrapping and seeing it come out little by little. Jamie and my daugtheres watched and were amazed by the stark white paint and the vibrant red. A lot of Ira and a bit of Eddy are in the frame. I am so grateful to have such an incredible opportunity. This bike will get ridden a lot. It is not a show bike. It is a bike to commute, transport, ride gravel, go on epic rides and promote my hatred towards the ever powerful automobile. At some point in your life call a framebuilder, tell him what you want,tell him the colour, sell some crap that you don't use, send a deposit and enjoy the wait.

thanks,

Ari

Keirin Racing in Chicago????

Somebody build an indoor Velodrome in Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sorry, just dreaming.

Ari

Sunday Ride and some ideas

Gravel Grinder bike

Made the long trek to Waterfall Glen and met the gang. Weather was crisp and cold at the beginning but warmed up real nice. The limestone started out hard and edgy and turned soupy and soft by the later part of the morning. Was able to put in 40 miles offroad and at that point the legs were really starting to warm up nicely. I was amazed at the difference it made to ride in the forest and be sheltered by the trees all the time. I felt like I was riding in a vacuum. I will try to make it over again to do several loops. Good way to stay fit during the winter and keep them sausages at bay. I was glad to see the wife joining me in this outing. Crazy life has put a big barrier to our riding and we hope this changes someday soon.

My Gunnar Streetdog has been sold and is on its way to Arizona. I am exchanging it for a new Gunnar crooshairs that I will build up a as a Country Bike. Downtube shifters if I don't find used barcons. A compact crank, shit cantis, used seatpost, wide-ass bars, and an Aluminum Kinesis fork that Pizza Dan is getting painted in black. I will of course run wide tires, since I have outgrown the 23mm thing. This bike is starting to look like the bike I will take on the Trans Iowa. Have to figure out a good position and how to carry a load on it. Color will be Bamboo (tan) and the fork will be black. I will call it Black and Tan in honour of the famous beverage that us DUI guys like to enjoy.

Now go ride!!

Ari

Thanksgiving ride and thoughts

Got out today on a solo ride out in the country. I remembered in the old days how we had HUGE rides on days like today. Nowadays we are busier and must travel longer distances to be with family and friends. I took some back roads and enjoyed the silence, the lack of traffic and almost felt older. IT was crisp with a gentle dusting of snow that calmly fell on the recently tilled ground. The Salsa was again on duty and I am also starting to bust out the Lake Winter boots. I spent the later part of the day thinking of future rides, bike builds and also of how much I hate to drive. The TV at the in laws was an incessant bombardment of ads for the Cookoos that will melt their cards tomorrow at the registers. I plan on buying nothing and hopefully will put a atomic particle size dent in the economy that is so based on consuming. Hey, lets get out there and do something about it. Ride your bikes on Black Friday but beware of the evil Shopper.
out,
Ari

Paris Roubaix

Eddy Planckaert was so tough looking. When the sprint against Canadian Steve Bauer went on it looked like his legs were going to explode out of his shorts. Steel frame, Dura ace down tube shifters and the Pony tail. This guy was one of my favorites.

Riding and shop life

Part of my board
Extreme close-up spoke wrench
Espresso blood
Salsa with now mandatory Surly Flask
Newly discovered Gravel
Monday Commute, I be gassed
Upstairs, Summer Station
Var Chain Tool, way Classic

Had to catch my breath for a while there. Sunday was out in the fields for some good Wind riding as I now call it. Did two hours on the Salsa and came home shelled. No natural barriers and nobody to draft off of. Anyway I awoke on Monday morning and still had the itch for more. Saddle up again on the Salsa and rode to work. It was drizzling, a bit cold and windy, of course. I am still trying to understand why it becomes so difficult to ride once the weather changes. Are we burned out? Are we bored of the same routes? Is it the restricting clothing?? Would like to hear some comments.

As some of you might have heard. Pizza Dan, Dr. Giggles and Self have made the roster for the Trans Iowa offroad race in the end of April. 325 miles of gravel on the B roads of our neighbors over yonder in Iowa. Must get a lot of miles before that and keep them Guts down. I think we can do it. More on TIV4 later.

Ira ryan porteur bike is in a box and coming to Illionois. Ira did a phenomenal job in the build and if you have time visit his site to see pixs of the White Faema paint job Porteur. At some point I had to have a custom bike built and I think he turned out to be a real master. Made in America too!!

Keep riding and may the winter winds be at your back,

Ari

The fast closing year

I am still trying to figure out what happened this year. All I know is that it is fast coming to an end. Anyway, maybe I will have time to do a final recap before I start thinking of 08. The only thing that I was thinking of this morning is to make it over to the continent to see some races. I hope it happens. Next big race is Het Volk. Here is the 07 edition that you can watch while you sip your gingerbread two pump no foam decaf 140degree latte.