The best of the Best is the Midwest.

Wifey and Cookie sharing a gravel road





So, this is just something that has been brewing in my head for a while. This whole gravel thing has become more common and coming out in "special articles" in several magazines as pal Guitar Ted has shown in his blog. I wanted to express that those gravel roads have been there for a very long time and sometimes I just wonder what took us so long to find them??? They have been in our backyards and disregarded forever.  The Slender Fungus really enjoys riding on those roads and we find peace and enjoyment in doing so. Our minds open, our shoulders drop, our stress levels drop inmediately.  With more and more people coming out onto those roads I have a fear of things starting to get sour. A while ago I worked at a shop and we had organized a ride out on gravel roads. I took the back seat to see that everyone was doing well. I saw a rider stop in front of a house, and take a pee right there. I wondered how he would feel if I went to his cul du sac, whipped it out and urinated while his family looked out their bay window!! What and inconsiderate jerk I thought. Then I proceeded to stop every so often to pick up empty gel packets and other rubbish. I am sure that similar situations happens in other gravel events.  So my beef is that if race organizers are increasing fields and everyone is joining in on the Gravel Bandwagon you should be out there and behave properly. I have no tolerance for riders that are inconsiderate.

1: People live out there and need to be respected.

2: Do not leave your garbage out there. pack it in your jersey pocket or on bike and dispose of properly

3: If nature calls, find a spot where you are not visible.

4: Ride on the right side of the road so you don't get killed by a truck coming over a hill.

5: Be an ambassador and don't make the rest of us look like idiots. Wave and say hi. Maybe one day a rider will be stranded and a farmer will offer a ride.

6: If you have an encounter with a dog, for you rown safety don't harm the dog as you will be harmed by a farmer that has the dog to protect his property. Most dogs will let up once you pass the property line. If they don't, get off the bike and use the bike as a shield until you can get away. Refrain from spraying the poor animal with any chemicals. We had an accident where a repair bike had an unlocked canister of pepper spray and when one of our mechanics went to put the bike on the stand that thing went out and sprayed us. It was terrible and it took me all day to feel better.



7: If you gravel grind at night please use a blinker in back and a bright white light in front. A cyclist just got killed in my old neighborhood while a pickup truck was passing a slow moving vehicle. It had a head on collision with a cyclist that was riding in the dark with no lights. The unfortunate cyclist was a family man on his way to work. It bums me out tremendously.

So, thanks for reading and I hope nobody got offended. Sometimes this stuff brews and I just have to let it out. Let's enjoy the beauty of the countryside, the clear air, the solitude and the comradery of our friends. Thanks for reading.



fat is that,

Ari


 

Low budget riding, the Slender Fungus Way

So yesterday was supposed to be a long day out on the bike. Both Cookie and I had drained our funding for traveling so we decided to go on a budget ride. I left my house in Westmont and he left from the north and we met at half point at around 40 miles. We then headed west on the Great Western Trail and sneaked into our old stomping grounds in De Kalbe County. We stopped at the trail head and ate some ham and cheese sandwiches I had in the frame bag.  The morning was really cold and I was frozen all day. I wore a castelli tank top, Rapha long sleeve winter jersey and a silly windbreaker of a vest. Cookie ended the day with a respectable 112 miles, and I finished with a  loser 105er. We were on Steel stupid crossbikes and we were carbon-free. Lots of secretive planning went on  this ride. We are very serious about the "big one" coming up in the fast approaching spring. 
Come out and ride with us.

Fat is that, 

Ari 
Slender Fungus Cycling Association

yeah, yeah the fall has nice color out. That's me in the shadow with the really long legs.

Cookie and I in Sycamore, IL streching our Glutes.  Note ancient iron bikes with spoked wheels. 

 

Trans Iowa Registration is announced.

Registration for Trans Iowa V9 has been announced on the Guitar Ted Website. If you have any desire to turn your insides outside check in and see what you have to do.  The course is going to be around the 320+ miles and as far as Cookie and I have seen by our trips to Iowa the roads are getting chunkier all the time.  Plan this one out. Be Honest, make sure all your bolts are fastened and bring lots and lots of Brave Soldier with you. 
Nothing else is going to save you. 

Let the fireworks begin!!!!!!!

Ari 
Slender Fungus Cycling Association.

Slender Fungus' Newest Member

It is not without a lot of hesitation that we allow anybody to join our secretive society.  This guy moved into  our front yard oak and only comes out in the dark of night. We stare at each other and kind of communicate about Slender Fungus life. 

Ari 

Just a little reminder............................

IF you want to complete Trans Iowa you better get out there and make yourself bleed. There is no magic, no fancy carbon, no nutrition that is going to get you through. The only path is to suffer like a dog.
Plan your weekend accordingly.

Fat is that,

Ari

Music at the shop.

Any shop rat knows how important music is at the shop. Today it rained a bit and I had some solo time while I built up some new 24" girls bikes. I put on Kraftwerk, The mix and really listened to this suberb disc. Thanks to them we have electronic music.  Ziggy brought in a CD player so yesterday we listened to some good music with no title and also To Cream. This is how time goes by. We have two Zunes, an I-river (that survived a horrific crash) a Sony Mp3 player and a stack of C.D.s
Sometimes I wish we had a full on stereo. Mikey and I have been making Cappucinos int the morning and eating Celery root and Carrot  Sandwiches. We talk about all kinds of topics and I really enjoy his company.
I am surprised he tolerates my incesant talk about gravel riding, wide tires, clearance and so forth. Mikey is a classic man. He loves Colnago, Campy, White everything and at 63 years old he drops a lot of flabby young guys.
I am excited about fall. My daughter loves Halloween. I love the cooler temps, darkness and rain. I can't wait to get on some long night rides. In the meantime enjoy some good music, some good coffee and a chat with a co-worker. After all it has been a long summer. Time to put he cheater bikes away for the winter.

Fat is that,

Ari

Slender Fungus Announcement

We are heading to Iowa in the month of October. There will be hills, more hills, and possibly a shitload of Wind. Please let us know if you are interested in going. We have to coordinate schedules since Wifey and I have a wedding to attend, Mrs. Bonk King is out of town and so forth. It is time to get the wool out and the Chamois butter on. Keep in touch.

                                                     best,


Ari
President, Slender Fungus Cycling Association,