Snowshoeing with Trapper

Trapper and the Pines

Campton Forest Preserve, Wasco, IL.

Spent a wonderful saturday snowshoeing. Met Trapper at Luau Coffee shop in Wasco, IL then hit the forest preserve and it was spectacular. Hills, Prairie and the snow was just perfect. Did quite a bit of hill work and by the end we were really tired. We hit the subway for some well deserved footlongs and then motored home. It was one of my very unique saturdays that I did not have to work. It felt great and weird at the same time. I went home and played outside with Giugi before I had to go serve at the restaurant. By then my legs were like jello. I am definetly addicted to the snowshoes. Now I don't want the snow to go away.
Hope you all warmed up a bit. Today we hit 35 and I was starting to panic and asfixiate.
Best,
ari

A quick note

There are some greats that I think about quite often. Among them is the great Fausto Coppi. I have great respect for this man. He was kind, always looked sharp, even after 7 hours of saddle time and when I ran into a documentary about him on the italian t.v station RAI I sat there and cried. It is these heros that have shaped my love and passion for the bike.
Today I had my last day at Hartley's and in a few days I will start at North Central Cyclery. I will have the opportunity to let out all this pented-up fever that I have in my head. I hope you come out and visit.
I will make an announcement that this summer I will have a century ride going out of my house and all old pals and new pals are invited. The route will include asphalt and gravel so best bring a burly road bike or a cross job.

I just had to get this out,

Tomorrow I am off and will make myself hurt.

Ciao,


Ari

Sunday Riding, Monday Shoeing

Giggles this one is for you!

Trapper breaking trail in Comando Mode

Surly Pugs on GWT. About 2 degrees with west winds.
good times.
Oh! 5 psi.

Pugs with angry snowmobiles

Great Western Trail

So yesterday was a hard day with on some single digits to deal with. I made it to the headtrail and then rode the beast for two hours. It was a lot of work despite the snowmobiles having done a pretty good job at packing down the snow. It was bitterly cold and I brought along one of Billabong's old backpacks with extra clothes , food and water wrapped in the clothing so it wouldn't freeze. The ride heading east was enjoyable and then on the way home the sun went down, the wind started digging into my jacket and face. I made it home pretty frozen but satisfied at having defeated the trainer once again.
This morning we met up with Trapper Tom in Oak Brook and did about 1 hour 20minutes of good snowshoeing. We tackled all the hills and on some occasions did repeats. I would go anaerobic on the uphills and then cool down on the downhills. Towards the end I really felt good and by then I had to make it to work. Trapper was on MSR snowshoes and I was on Atlas 30"ers to sustain my weight. We both used ski-poles for upper body workout. It is always a blast to ride or just hang out with Trapper. Thanks!
Hope y'all coping with winter, because this one is a good one just like last year.

Don't give up, just keep going.

Ari

Hello to a new bike and goodbye to old friends

Hartley's uniform for Mechanics

My Crew

top Me

back row: L to R : B-dog, Trapper, Noelly, CB, Pete the Meat, Fuji Girl

front row: L to R

the inequivocal Billabong, Pizza Dan

Noel's Cannondale

Ricardo explaining Atomic Physics to a bunch of Yahoos


This past Friday marked the last one at Hartley's. It was a busy day with finishing my last custom bike there. It was bittersweet since I would be eliminating my 104 mile commute but at the same time would be leaving some great friends. Everyone showed up on Friday and I really want to thank you for that. It really meant a lot to me. We always walk into a shop job hoping to make things better and many a times it just does not advance. I am sure one day we will nail it on the head. Noel's bike was the last one to leave my hands from Hartleys. It got built up with Sram Red, Chris King wheels with Red hubs, Deda bars, Aliante Saddle, Conti GP4000s and Cannondale's Si Carbon Cranks. Rims are Dt Swiss and the whole bike came in around 17lbs with no gimmicky components.

Tuesday the 27th will mark my official last day and then I will take a few days off to clear my head and start anew on February the 3rd at North Central Cyclery in Dekalb. We will be attending Frostbike Show up in the Quality Bicyle Parts compound. If you want any info on Surly's Salsa's or anything else let me know because I am going armed with backpack and Cameras.

My new job will be located aronund 6 miles from home. I can ride the bikepath their, I can ride the road and I can ride the powerlines if I want to go offroad. The bikepath is impassible now and I think that will get solved with a burly Pugsley.

On Friday night I spent some future gas money that I am not going to spend in the near future on some Atlas snowshoes. If you havent tried snowshoes give them a shot. When the roads are icy, the trail not rideable, hit the fields on some snowshoes and burn your legs. On Monday Trapper and I are meeting for some snowshoeing.

Next winter projects for 2010 include Cross Country Skis and a Pugsley. Also if someone needs some custom bike build or wheel building let me know.

Until next time I bid farewell to Du Page county!

Ari

Some Photos

My Beloved Coffee Plants

Stop 'n' Go Dekalb, IL.

Our ex-house in Westmont, Il.

Crew out for Pizza and Brew for Miroslav's 60th b-day

I took these photos with my new Contax T2. I had them process the film and then trow (not throw) it on a disc. I love Carl Zeiss lenses. I am still learning the camera but I was happy with my first roll.

Ari

Wednesday Night and Thursday day

Keslinger rd. All the snow gave me a massive headache since I did not have sunglasses

Peace rd. Shoulder. Ice, gravel, snow and slush.

Got home and was really ansy, (anxy), you know. I guess I had a pretty stressful day at Hartley's. My last day is Tuesday and there is just too much that I want to finish. I am starting to get people in looking for custom bikes and unfortunately I will not be able to help them out. So all that piled up and when I got home I got dressed, put on my massive light( review later) and went out for a solid 2 hours of "shoulder riding". The county has decided to get out the Graders and push the snow as far away from the road as possible. This has made the surface flat and in some cases the gravel peaks through. I rode the NOkian extremes and I was worked by 12:30 am.

Today I went on the Quickbeam with studded tires and also worked myself. It was weird riding in 27 degrees with the sun showing. All in all I am getting out as much as possible. Feb 3rd will be my start date at NCC and I will be riding there.


out,


Ari

January 20th, 2009

artwork copyright Franny 2009