Won't be Commuting for a While...

I was going strong for the last few weeks. 3 or 4 days on my bike riding to work plus our family Tuesday night ritual of riding to Chik Fil A for dinner and the library for Story Time (me hauling the boys in either the trailer or the Madsen).

However, I was notified Wednesday morning that my position was eliminated. So, now I've got to find another job. Hopefully, I'll be lucky enough to get one close to make bike commuting likely (that or get enough grit in me to ride further for work... my commute is honestly short compared to some).

On the brighter side, I'll have time to just ride while I figure out the rest of my life...

Madsen: Quick Update / Impressions

So, tuesday night, we (I) rode our boys from our house to Chik-fil-A (Family Night) and then by the Library (story time). Here's some various impressions:

1. Ride's great. Very smooth. Weight distribution takes some getting used to, but that's not a big deal.
2. Boy's LOVED not being sheltered away in the trailer. They especially loved being able to talk with my wife (mommy) when she rode behind us.
3. My youngest would occasionally lean back against me as I rode, which was pretty cool.

It's not without some things I need to tweak, though.

• I'm going to be putting Schwalbe big apples on it. More volume + kevlar belted should be nice (more cush + flat resistant).
• I, personally, need a different handlebar. Just felt kind of... cramped... with the default one. Not such a big deal at speed because the normal stabilizing effect of bike wheels at speed, but when going slower I had to consciously tell my self to relax. Kind of hard to explain.
• Need to figure out how to deal with my youngest nodding off. He's 1.5 yrs old, so on the way home he likes to doze... doesn't work so well with him on the bench, he couldn't get comfortable with where to lean against. I'm thinking about relocating the seatbelts lower down and padding the bottom of the bucket and sitting him down in it.

Oh, and the boys got a little chilly after dark. However, that was kind of expected. Apparently, Madsen is working on some sort of weather cover, and I can state without reservation that I'll be ordering one as soon as it's available.

Also, got to ask Madsen about the screws on the top tube and downtube. They aren't spaced for water bottle cages.

Madsen Came In!

Okay, so much influenced by Totcycle's review, I've been wanting to get a Madsen for a while. It showed up. I bought one on the scratch clearance for $200 off. Hard to tell where the scratch was...

Anyhow, we had a couple test rides as soon as we opened it. Handling's a bit "twitchy", some of that is likely because I was riding at fairly low speeds and getting used to it. We'll take a longer ride tomorrow....

Here's a slideshow, the Picasaweb Album has a couple videos...

New Arkel Stuff?

Okay, so I do love my Arkel Commuter, but noticed some new Arkel goodies previewed in Eurobike coverage of Velo-Vision magazine (a publication I enjoy reading and subscribing to via Exact Editions... I hate paper copies of nearly anything). Neither are on Arkel's website yet, and I've yet to see any mention on any other websites either...

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Velo Vision

Issue 35 - September 2009

Page 39

Handlebar Reelight?

Yeah, I'm so grabbing this when it's launched for sale. standard reelights are already great. This would be like adding a dyno to any front wheel.

Link: http://www.cyclelicio.us/2009/09/reelight-handlebar-light.html

Me / Family: 1, Virus: 3

Well, the Dark Side Ride was a no-go for me. My boys got viruses this week (their eyes erupted into pink-eye... both eyes... on both of them), which I wound up contracting (strep-like symptoms for me) Thurs Night / Friday Morning (probably because I stayed home with the boys on Thurs). I was in no shape to ride 30-50 miles late Friday night (though I took a small ride around my neighborhood and found a really cool park we didn't know was there Friday afternoon... my back was tired of laying down... but 1-2 miles tuckered me out).

The only upside is that the wife didn't get sick.

KS > MO Dark Side Ride? I'm so there...

Guess what popped up on my reader list today, or maybe yesterday (courtesy of KC Bike Commuting)? A group ride I can actually make it to! 9p-12midnight. I may even "man up" and ride to the 8 miles to the meet point. (which would put total miles awfully close to 50). Depends on when the wife and I get done with the cookout we're going to before hand.

Get your lights charged... it's time for another Dark Side Ride! < KC Bike Commuting