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