A quick road trip

The offspring at Gravert's orchard 

Along Mill Creek rd between Bellevue and La Motte

The locks along Mississippi river at Bellevue, Iowa

Gravert's 

road travelers! 

Bellevue Iowa before the sub 5pm sunset

Mt Carroll , IL 

 Was able to get up early with the offspring and hit the road just after 8am. The target was Graverts Orchard to catch the last batch of apples of the season. I have grown accustomed to only eat apples from Gravert's. Store bought stuff is just so bland that I kinda veer away from it. We picked up 1/2 a bushel, some bosc pears and a dozen fresh eggs and a caramel apple for the offspring. Gravert's is a family owned orchard in Sabula Iowa and we have been going there for years. We make 4-5 trips there a year from Chicago. 

We later cruised along the river towns taking photos and getting something to eat. On the way there we also stopped in Mt Carroll,IL to check out the downtown and the spooky Raven house inn. A long day of driving but it was worth the sights, the apples and produce and spending time with the offspring listening to her music. Temps were in the mid 50's and the sun was out quite a bit. 

thanks for reading, 

ari 

Cold outside

 We are left with a few days of 40's before the thermometer takes a little dive. I've been busy at the shop with different projects. Yesterday I cut and threaded 56 spokes to lace up these nices hoops and hubs. The rims are the new Velocity Aeros. They are an updated version and homage to their OG rim. This rim is disc only, 25 internal, TR and it is made of a more durable alloy. I'm excited to build these up today. I think they will be amazing. The color listed on the box for the hubs is "matte Jade", in case you were wondering. 

Thanks for reading, 

Ari 

A metric in November

 Pulled the Surly Straggler out of the trunk after dropping the daugther off at University. I drive her there then ride home and she gets to practice driving back when Chicago traffic is just a bit less crazy. 

As soon as the wheels on the Straggler hit the parking lot I saw the rear was completely flat. Stans Grail rim running a Vittoria tire 700x38 tubeless. I pulled out my pocket compressor and aired up taking off with the intention of NOT having to put a tube in there. 

I made it home 18 miles later and took a careful look at the tire. I discovered a small shard of glass imbedded in the tire. Took the core out and noticed the inside was dry. And I'm a pro mechanic! Shot in 2oz of sealant, put the cut towards the bottom and presto! Aired it up and off I went in pursuit of that 100K on that beast of a bike. 

I headed south and took up the Centennial trail then the IM canal trail , which is gravel, and ended up in Lockport, IL. A customer had recommended "Godfathers" for lunch and that's what I aimed for. After a delicious, affordable lunch I headed home into a damp, headwind. All and all it was a great solo ride and good training for The Virtual Turkey Burn and also the Rapha 500 coming up in December. 

thanks for reading 

Ari 

Sneaky November

This front was already brewing on Sunday out in Iowa

Been trying to get as many miles as possible in the bank before it gets to ugly. Weatherwise Chicago has been decent. However, we just got one of those new Artic Blasts and it dumped a little snow to just freak everyone out. But in reality it was the snow mixed with the falling leaves that made a concoction that was slippery as snot. 

Today I did my normal routine of dropping my daughter off at college and then riding the 16 miles home. It was an adventure for sure, having to scoot over some slick spots a few times.

I rode my trusty Gunnar Ruffian SS 29er with a Thunderburt in front and a racing Ralph in back. 

An excellent choice for today. I was fortunate to get to work on a nice tailwind. We'll see what happens trying to get home this evening.  

November!

 With the new job and the daughter attending a local college my time has completely vanished. Sorry for the absence and lack of writing on this blog. The new job at 2bici bike shop has been going really well. A great summer and we are still staying busy with mtb repairs and rentals of mountain bikes for riding in the woods. 

2 weeks ago I was able to sneak across the big river and spend some hours in Iowa. It always feels right there. Seeing those gravel roads and hills makes me wanna go ride there. We spent some time picking some delicious apples at Gravert's Orchard in Sabula then had lunch at Kalme's restaurant in St. Donatus. We then cruised back to Chicagoland to the never ending rat race. 

Planning on going there tomorrow. Stay tuned. 

Picking apples at Gravet's 

Giulietta and Jamie

Bellevue, Iowa

Bellevue Iowa

August, 2025

 July and August are fast slipping away. I started a new job at 2Bici bike shop in Willow Springs, IL. It's been good there. I'm still getting used to being there and learning where everything is. Also getting used to new customers and such. My commuting to work and back has been almost all I need ride wise. I get out with the fast road group just to socialize and not ride alone all the time. Most of my riding has been on paved and crushed limestone allowing me to think and reflect on things. Don't really have to worry about cars that much and that's a good thing. I hope to continue riding into the next season of fall/autumn. It should be good to see the foliage change and the temps cool off. My commute is a minimum of 12.5 miles and is easily dialed to 15miles one way. I have been rifling thru the many bikes I own and getting to ride all of them on different days. Still love my road bikes the best on the paved trails. Soon enough school will start and things will change. My wife will start teaching and my daughter will start college closer to the city. We have been practicing the route she will take to school since public transportation is feasible but will take a long time to get there. The practice drives have been a good idea specially when we stop at Johnnie's for Beef sandwiches and Italian ice. The best ever. I will be taking some days off maybe, maybe in October. It's been a busy season at the shop and it will be a welcome treat to get out and visit some friends and see something different. Working on some bikes and some small projects and Ideas. I finished building up a 1995 Cannondale m500 ATB and I will make a post about it soon. It came out better than expected. Needs a couple of components still but is fully rideable. On a different note my tomatoes did not do well this year. Too Cold, too hot, way too hot. I'm just dissapointed and I guess will have to go to the farmstand and buy some. Next year I will get some advice and put some more effort into them. Also got my clutch fixed on our antique 2006 CRV. The last year the CRV came in a 5 speed manual. We love that car and is perfect for our gravel adventures in Iowa. Thanks for reading and pardon the long paragraph. We did get out to the Ogle county fair despite heavy rain and getting stuck in the mud with a front wheel drive Chevy. 

Ari 

Almost 300

 Been trying to push myself to get ready for a long ride. This past week I was able to clock in about 293 miles for the week. Saturday I did 100 miles and Sunday a metric century. Legs are sore but some stretching and good nutrition should be enough to get rid of that fatigue. I'm aiming to get this much thought about ride sometime late July or early August. Been playing around with tire selection and will most likely stick to riding 32 mm slicks. There might be some gravel sections and such a tire should be plenty. Heck ,I used to ride 23mm Vittoria tires on gravel back in the day. Gonna keep rolling and see if I get a chance to get another ride in that's a bit longer than 100miles, maybe a 125. Hope everyone is doing well out there. Be safe and stay hydrated. It's been a warm June here in Chicagoland. We'll see what July brings. 

thanks for reading, 

Ari 

dealing with the heat

 I basically work south of the canals and the Des Plaines river. I cross over the bridge on a daily basis and sometimes enjoy the trails that run along these waterways. They offer some relief of this heat wave that's been parked over Chicagoland and most of the midwest. Yeah, riding has not been easy and it shows with lower volume of customers coming to the shop. For a lot of people it is just way to hot for them. 

We tell them to get off the roads and hit the trails. First of all one does not have to deal with cars and short tempers. Secondly the trails offer tons of shade and it is alway cooler in there. Stay hydrated using some electrolytes in your water. Buy an Arundel Looney bin and take a thermos with cold liquid. Avoid dark clothing. These are some tips to be able to get some miles out there before the summer slips away. 

Time Management

As the days approach the longest day of the year I have been pondering this idea of a real long ride. Now is the time to do it since the days are offering a lot of light. A 5 or even 6 am start still offers enough daylight to make this trip to the Mississippi River that I have been planning for quite some time. Work and commitments with family and such have axed my previous attempts. The distance should be about 150 miles. 

Not sure if June is still feasible but maybe it will be a July thing. Doesn't really seem to be getting hot anytime soon. I'll keep you posted when I can nail that date. 

A. 

New Job for the Presidente

 Some of you might be aware that I have moved out of King Keyser in Hinsdale and am working somewhere else. I have taken a position at 2BICI Bike Shop in Willow Springs, IL. The ride to the new shop is about 12.5 miles from my house. Now this bike shop only does bikes and I am fine with that. WE are located in a central spot for several different types of Cycling. Behind the shop we have Palos with and array of Gravel and single track. Many people travel to this area since its primo off-road riding. To the south of us we have the Cal-Sag canal trail. It goes from Rte 83 all the way eastward towards Alsip, IL. 

Across the street from us is the I&M CANAL trail with an aproximate 8 mile loops of freshly paved surface. Its flat and perfect for an easy cruise. North of us is the Centennial trail which starts close to the shop and takes one as far west as the Mississippi River. 

I have been enjoying checking out all these places and a change of pace has been most welcome. The shop is owned by Joe with 30 plus years of experience with a background at Cycle Smithy and Turin in the Chicago area. We do lots of repairs and lots of on spot fixes for people riding the trails mentioned. I'm excited to be part of that shop and I think it will be a fun place to work. Stop by and visit sometime. Everyone is always welcome. We are friendly!!! 

thanks for reading, 

Ari 

2BICI bike shop, Willow Springs, IL. 
corner of Willow Springs rd and Archer

May 13, 2025

 Kinda looks like the weather is starting to warm up finally. I've been leaving a bit earlier in the morning and started to extend my mileage before work. Dressed for work and hauling my backpack I've been trying to hit that 20 mile mark before getting locked in doing tune ups all day. Been riding road bikes since they are the most efficient on the road. I started off with the single speeds but a never ending NE wind got me really tired and I switched to gears. 

I hope to extend my range mileage wise and get into the 50 mile range, then 100km, then the coveted 100 miler. One of my goals this year is to do another 100 miler on my SS. I couple years back I did one on the fixed gear with the help of my friend Bruce. I also clocked in one ride with the local road group and that felt ok. I was still battling a cold that would let go but managed to finish the ride. 

And time does fly nowadays. I blink my eyes and 3 months go by since I last made and published a post. The spring here in Chicago has been a very strange one. Cold and windy for the most part. Cold in the morning, warm in the middle of the day then cold at night. It has been hard to find a rhythm on the bike to be honest. I am still wearing most of my normal winter kit until it decides to warm up for good. 

I am sitting close to 2,000 miles for the year so far. Last year I was able to click in over 10K and this year I really don't have any goals. I will let fate decide how much I will ride. 

I have been circling thru all my bikes and have been enjoying the rattier ones in the stable. Some old Diamond back Fixed gear, an old Trek steel bike, my reliable Giant Contend. Mountain bikes, and other bikes that had been collecting dust for a while. 

About a month ago I had my right eye repaired since a nasty cataract had taken over my vision. I had no sight in my right eye and all I saw was white light. My eye surgeon was able to blast the cataract with the laser, cut eye open, clean it out and install a new lens in there. Now I can see well out of both eyes but will still need a bit of correction with some glasses. With the loss of vision in right eye I had brought my city cruises to a halt. I had no peripheral vision to see cars. 

I'm looking forward to perhaps seeing some friends and family that I have not seen in a long time. Maybe this year will be the one to catch up with people. It really would be nice. 

thanks for reading and hopefully 3 months don't slip by unnoticed. 

Ari 

February 10,2025

 

February 9th, 2025

 

Sometimes the image quality does not matter at all. I found that I always had some kind of camera on me when I went riding. At first I carried a film point and shoot which had me limited to 24 to 36 exposures. It was tough getting good shots on the move and worse when it got dark since the flashes would not cover much of a distance. 

Then as film faded, for a time, the digital cameras came along and everything changed. They were expensive at first but it was nice not having to buy film and the processing. I captured so many nice images and am so glad I did so. I will be sorting images and finding them for a long time coming. 

Nowadays I snap photos with my no service iPhone I have. I still carry a camera since I'm so used to it. Taking photos is a nice way to remember places and friends. I like to stop and enjoy the scenery. Colors and formations amuse me. Now to get these eyes fixed so I can shoot the old manual focus machines that I have. 

February 2025

 Again thank you for reading. A while back I had mentioned of some vision problems that I was having. Well  the left eye had a cataract and that got fixed. Now its the turn of the other eye, the right one, to be fixed. How smart to have given us 2 eyes. Anyway this has almost hindered me in writing as much as I have wanted. I have adjusted and I think with the next surgery things will improve dramatically. 

Maybe I will be able to ride off-road again. That has been a while for that. I mostly stuck to the road and gravel last year. Once I get this out of the way I can start making some more solid plans for the year. I need to see some people, it's been too freakin' long. Like stupid long. Gotta get out of Chicago for more than 2 days. Like de-toxify myself a bit. 

I'm gonna start working on this old USA Wisconsin made Trek bike I got soon. I have allocated a stem, bars and other parts for it. It's getting stripped all the way, gonna spray it and then rebuild it. I like modern bikes but those old machines ride fantastic and are a lot more reliable. That's my opinion anyway. I will post a photo of it soon so you can see what it looks like now. Thank God they didn't' clamp a kickstand on it. 

It's Reynolds and lugged. That's all for today. Hope all is well with you. 

Ari 

January of 2025, the very last day it is

 Thank you for reading this blog whenever I get a chance to make a post.  The weeks have been just flowing by like days and I struggle to grasp any minutes I can. 2024 was a blur of many things happening. Super busy at work and even more busy with family and home. We've been at our new place for over 3 years and are still working on getting settled and trying to finish up some projects. This past December we were able to get the roof done on the garage. This year I will work on insulating it and perhaps getting the garage door repaired. After that it should be more comfortable to work in during the cold months. 

My riding in 2024 was something that just clicked for a change. I was able to clock over 10k miles, with all 366 days ridden and I completed the Rapha 500 challenge, which was a bear during December. I was happy with that accomplishment and am not interested in surpassing that this year. I have other goals I'm looking into. I want to spend more time with family and friends. Go on some interesting rides. Get more gravel in. Visit friends. Maybe do something longer than 100. I also would like to declutter my garage and streamline all the bike stuff I have. It's just a matter of getting rolling on that Ebay account. My daughter has promised to help with shipping!

I have also been looking into ways to better my photography. Im learning some new techniques and have been understanding my cameras a bit more. I am every grateful to Steve for the computer and Ricardo for that Sony camera. Those two pieces of equipment have helped a ton. 

I always hope to post more often but I have to be smarter about grabbing those elusive minutes. 

Thank you for reading, 

Ari 

Hellmutt Kost on his SS Crosscheck.