Wall Art

At Brave New Wheel in Fort Collins:

It's a bicycle shop

but no bicycles are represented in the wall art.

At last count there were 17 specialty bike shops in town! I've only been to a few: There's Lee's of course, Pelotone, Road 34, The Cycologist and Spring Creek Recumbent. I did some riding this year already and it looks like the temps will be in the mid-50's next week so the snow will be gone!

Eleven French Crepes

At Lee's Cyclery in Fort Collins:

Mr. Bruno Gerard Krioussis

Remember back in June at the Ride to Work Breakfast? Well, for some reason the organizers of that special bicycle day decided to do the same thing in December! When there's snow. And it's cold out. There were not as many stations and not as many riders (why not?) as in the Summer, but it was worth a bike trip to greet a few of the locations and get some free grub.

Staking out New Belgium early on was a mistake. They were quite popular in June so I got there early so I could have a chance to try whatever they were offering... Apparently they were not in to it this winter; No coffee was made at the start even though several employees were milling about. Ten minutes after the start of their supposed breakfast someone decided to heat up some cider on a propane heater. Fifteen minutes, still no coffee; I'm out of there so I rode up to Oak Street Plaza where there was hot coffee and egg & cheese burritos.

Later on in the morning I rode to Lee's Cyclery where Bruno was making breakfast crepes. Bruno was from the "Institute of Ecolonomics" which made me hesitate for a moment because I thought it had to do with "E. coli" but no; it's basically economic ecology but what they actually do -- I'm not sure. Check out the website and see if you can figure it out.

Bruno can make excellent crepes so I have to give Lee's Cyclery the "The BEST Breakfast Award". Sorry all the rest of the places. Next time, make crepes!

Ragbrai Left Handed Banjo 'Tubes

Banjo playin' on the old RAGRRAI:

At the Peanut Butter Jam: Tom and Jim (The Roadside Boys)

Banjo Only

Septacycle conference bike

A weird bike, and it's not even Tour de Fat yet!

The "Conference bike" seats 7 riders

One of Eric Staller's Urban UFO's, the Conference Bike is a 7 seat, 400 pound 'bike' that can get a top speed of 10 mph.

People sit in a circle facing each other

One person steers and brakes, the others can pedal if they want!

Here's a short video of them riding by...

Coors !

In Denver for the day!

Jeanne didn't wear any blue!

Is she a Cubs fan or a Rockies fan? It's hard to say.

We had good seats to see this game!

Some things reminded us of Illinois

We could have been at Wrigley

We didn't have time to check out Fur Con or the UFO convention in town. Oh well, maybe next time! BTW, the Rockies won 11 to 4!

Alternate Ragbrai Entertainment

While sometimes entertained by others while on RAGBRAI

I met up with Tom H. of the Roadside Boys this evening and we played in a courtyard for beer.

Our fans had to wait to get in to hear us...

... and there were bikes strewn about along the roadside.

I had some time to check out some local stuff

This actually looked like an educational stop!

it was fun for all ages!

It's hard to get the facts straight but for what it's worth:

1) We had plenty of beer to drink

2) The bikes and people were not waiting to hear us

3) I can't find the picture of the actual jail cell!

4) I don't have a clue what was going on in the last two pictures!

Bike Expo!

Lots of bike related gear at the RAGBRAI expo:

Dude! Those are thongs! Back away!

Butt'r? What the heck is that?

RAGBRAI bike shops are the best!

A word from our sponsor!

Is this a binding contract?

Bananas!

Here's the set-up:

It's about bananas

So there's this guy. He's eating a banana. He's dressed as a banana. And he's riding a bike that is a banana! And it's a Chiquita banana!

Here's another from past years. It's a Chiquita also!

It's ALL about the RAGBRAI !!!

The next week of posts are going to be only about the RAGBRAI

On the Peanut Butter Jam Website

I ride a bike in the RAGBRAI (the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and I carry a banjo on my back the entire route. I sometimes will stop and play a few notes on occasion. Here is a collection of photos of me that people have taken and posted on the internet. The one above is from the Peanut Butter Jam in 2008.

I think this was in 2007 , maybe Manchester, Iowa?

This was something like the last town on the last day of the ride and I probably spent two hours in this town greeting the other riders as they came into town.

Next to a drier bin in Stout, Iowa, 2007

There was this corn drier at the corner of the route that provided some shade and a good place to play as the mass of bikes passed through.

On stage in Humbolt, Iowa 2006

The bank of Iowa booked us (The Roadside Boys) for early morning entertainment in Humbolt.

On the side of the road in Humbolt, 2006

We found someone's front yard and just started playing stuff. In the black box is a melodion (accordion) that came in handy when a rider asked if we could do a polka.

On stage in Clarion, Iowa, 2006

This was another Roadside Boys gig where we had a great time drinking beer and jamming with the local talent.

Someplace in Iowa, 2005

This was near a rest stop. I found this picture by searching "Ragbrai Banjo" on Google. It's in Iowa, but I don't know where exactly.

Maybe in Malcom, Iowa, 2006

The local fire department placed a water hose out to spray into the street to help cool off the riders on this 98 degree day. A rider took this picture of me playing under the stream of water and posted it with the title "Water Music".

Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005

This photo was taken by a news reporter in a town that bordered Crystal lake. The two women sitting next to me were members of the C.U.B.S (see next picture below).

Someplace in Iowa, 2005

I remember this guy who took this photo. He asked all sorts of questions. The jersey I have on celebrates the 10th year of the club known as C.U.B.S., or the Chicago Urban Bicycling Society. It was a bike club I joined in 2005.

A cornfield in Iowa, 2005

This is me with Lee, the president of the Tall Dogs Club. Lee asked if I could play some banjo tunes while he relieved himself in the cornfield out back. He said it was the highlight of the ride.

An intersection in Iowa, 2005

I felt that the volunteers who were out in the sun all day directing traffic needed some entertainment too, so I took some time to welcome them and their hard work.

Fenton, Iowa, 2005

This is a picture of me with some veteran members of the C.U.B.S. I think I grabbed this from their website.

Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005

This picture was taken by a Register photographer. It clearly shows the "Ragbrai" logo on the head of my banjo.

I should be in Iowa tonight. I have no idea what I'll find on the road for the coming week, but I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Ride to Work and Work to Ride

at the Work Day Breakfast Stations in Fort Collins:
There were about 30 breakfast stations located all around the city. I thought it would be fun to ride to as many as I could between 6:30 and 9:30 am. It was sort of a preview for the RAGBRAI next month.

Of Note:

1)The lines at New Belgium were too long so I didn't go in. The word on the street is to get there early!

2) I got a free T-shirt at Recycled Cycles station.

3) The In-Situ and Tastebuds Epicurean Cafe had the best coffee!

4) The homeless in Old Town chowed down at the Oak Street Plaza Station.

5) I went way out of the way to make it to the Center for Disease Control sponsored station;

Cyclists on FoCo

In Beet Street! this weekend I saw this event:

"Bikers, non-bikers and families are invited to Old Town Square Fort Collins for the FREE Realities Pre-Ride Rally community event."

This ain't it!

It's important to know that "Bikers" refers to motorcycle riders.  If it's a bicycle that you are riding, then you belong in a cycling event.

BTW, the picture is one I recently took on a ride with the FoCo Newcomers Club. If you are new to Fort Collins, check them out.

It's the 2009 Collegiate Road Nationals!

I rode the old RAGBRAI road bike over to the races this morning...

The Division 1 Womens Race

There are so many cycling events in town! I just happened to catch this one today! This was just a small fraction of the much larger "Fort Collins Cycling Fest" (sponsored in part by CLIF bars) whose motto is: "Stay green, stay local, cycle often, and smile daily!"

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Whether you're on a 150-mile bike ride or making your way through a long day, CLIF bar is the energy bar for everyone!

Bike Fort Collins!

FORT COLLINS CYCLING CLUB @ Mulligan's Pub Tonight!

They had grub!

And this guy: David "DK" Kemp, Fort Collins Bicycle Coordinator
Sorry, lighting was poor.

and this guy: Jeff Morrell, President of Bike Fort Collins

Did you know it costs $450,000 per mile of bike path?

The Reservoir

Horsetooth reservoir!

I took a new route to the reservoir today...

via this Wall-Mart bike!

It took a while to get up there

... but it was worth it!

This is Dixon Reservoir looking East.

The ride down hill was quicker (and more fun too!)

Tour de Fat: Over the top

More than just a weird bike or strange costume...

Patio table. Note the girl in front on the stool.

Battle Ship

Cardboard box robots plus extra friend who came as a wrapped gift box.

Kitchen Table

TV and Beer on a table

Couch

Bike tows car

Another couch

Flying machine

3-piece band

Baby Grand Piano (with working keyboard)

Tour de Fat: Bikz

2008 Tour de Fat on YouTube

We came early to take some pictures of the bikes.

Bug Boy Jimmy and the Wizard of Jeanne

There were some really weird bikes at this party!

The sneaker-wheel bike

the wheel-wheel bike

Acro-bikes

stretch bike

real fat tire bike

a bike on a bike

circus bike

man and woman bike

unicycle carrier bike

goofy bike

Roadside Animals: Tour de Fat

Here's a small collection of some of the real animals at Tour de Fat:

Tour de Fat: Boyz and Giirlz

Tour de Fat is an annual pro-bike tour sponsored by New Belgium. The events, which take place in various large cities around the West, include music, beer, circus-type performances, bicycle dance troupes, and a large group bike ride. The main event is a bike trade, in which a local participant transfers the title to their vehicle to New Belgium, in exchange for a new commuter bike and trailer.
The bike parade is fashioned after a Mardi Gras style funeral procession for the automobile. This years music was provided by The March Fourth Marching Band. Does anyone in this town NOT have a costume?

We were there, along with these fine people:

THE BOYZ:

There was Santa!

And Waldo! (Hiding behind some Giirlz)

Dudes with red hats

Dudes with big hair and breasts!

Even dudes with big heads!

Transportation guards and tranys

Weird dudes and some guy with a mask!

A Space man (He does not have wings. There is a pac-man character behind him!)

Rambo

Safari dude

Easy rider

A pope with shorts

Wet-suit man?

Cro-Magnon Man
China Mam and Imperial Man

...and Elvis with his cell phone.

THE GIIRLZ:

Pink leopard lady

Plastic shorts lady

Rosie the Riveter

Cow girls

Night Lady

Bat Girl (What's she got in her mouth?)

Mother Nature

Wilma

Ocean Girl

Dyna Girl

Cult leader

Sunglass models

Joan of Arc (complete with tin foil hat)

Um, well...

Princess Lady

Chic Ladies

Just what the hell is this??

... details to follow next week!

Le Claire, Iowa

Two Hobos together in one picture! Here I am with Mr. Rick Gage, otherwise known as Iowa Blackie! Mr. Gage remembers the exact day he jumped on his first ore car at the age of 14, and the very moment he gave his life to the rails. He was given the name Iowa Blackie by a group of hobos in 1984, at a hobo "circus" in Minneapolis. We exchanged a number of banjo jokes and went on our way!

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Tipton
Bennett
New Liberty
Maysville
Eldridge
Argo
Le Claire

Tipton, Iowa

WELCOME TO TIPTON!

This is weird! Banjo and accordions in Tipton, Iowa!

We played 'Mama don't Allow No Banjo Playin' 'round Here'

The guy in the red shirt worked for the local newspaper. We might be in it!

It turns out this guy and his wife are staying at a house about 20 feet from my tent. It looks like we might be doing polkas all night!

(The guy's name is Ken Harris from Boise, Idaho. His band is called "The Hoochie Coochie Men". Listen here for samples!)

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
North Liberty
Solon
Lisbon
Mount Vernon
Martelle
Morley
Mechanicsville
Tipton

North Liberty, Iowa

Too much jamming last night! I rode into Tama about 8:30pm and had to pitch the tent in the dark.
Today it is cool with a light rain. I'm keeping the banjo playing to a minimum. At the free trade coffee place, I broke the D string on the banjo, so I had a good excuse not to play!
Gotta hump it over to North Liberty to get to our hotel early (I hope!)

Bikers on the internet! In Belle Plaine, Iowa!
Waiting to use the facilities in Belle Plaine

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Tama/Toledo
Vining
Chelsea
Belle Plaine
Luzerne
Blairstown
West Amana
South Amana
Homestead
North Liberty

Tama/Toledo Iowa

Playing banjo someplace in Iowa

Jammin' with Mike McAbee

...on a farm maybe 24 mile from Ames

WTF??!! I'm on a bike and gas is only 17 cents!!!

In Colo, Iowa

Playin' at the fillin' station

Fixin' an arm





Someplace 2 miles outside of Ames

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Ames
Nevada
Colo
State Center
Albion
Green Mountain
Le Grand
Montour
Tama/Toledo

Ames, Iowa

Today we ride into Ames, Iowa!

Jammin' in Boon, Iowa

There were two crossing guards at the railroad crossing. I stopped there and played banjo for their entertainment (and the Ragbrai riders too!)
In Ogden, Iowa I found the public library and there was a computer that was free to use, so I was able to load some pictures.

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Jefferson
Grand Junction
Dana
Ogden
Boone
Ames

Jefferson, Iowa

Cute cartoons on a pink bus
Paul Bernard's Mr. Pork Chop Bus!

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Harlan
Kimballton
Elk Horn
Exira
Larland
Coon Rapids
Scranton
Jefferson
Near Coon Rapids, Tom H. (of the Roadside Boys) and I played music for the riders at Mr. Pork Chop (Paul Bernard)

Harlan Iowa

Here we are in Harlan. We are camping out. Some crazy people let us camp in their back yard. There are 74 of us! How much toilet paper do you need? David, our flying dentist decided to take off in the back yard!

David doing his thing.

All these women are named Jeanne!

They ride in The Jeanne Pool!

Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Missouri Valley
Beebeetown
Underwood
Neola
Minden
Shelby
Tennant
Harlan

In Harlan, a big wind came and blew my tent into several pieces! The storm didn't last long, but I will have to buy a new tent tomorrow!

Misery Valley

Car and Banjo

The car is staying in Chicago, but the banjo is going to IowaThis morning is the bus ride to Missouri Valley via the famous RAGBRAI C.U.B.S. (Chicago Urban Bicycle Society). We will camp out there tonight and then tomorrow morning it's off to Harlan, Iowa!

Unloading the bikes in Missouri Valley. Tomorrow we ride to Harlan!

Estes Park!

I attempted to ride out to Estes Park this morning. I started out around 8:00 am and by around noon I was half way there!

Here's the Big Thompson River Dam

And here is an example of what I saw on the way to Estes.

Looks like a face in the mountain! Who does it look like?

Here I am!

Here's Jeanne! See! She's alive and well!
Jeanne met me for lunch. Estes Park seemed a bit too commercial, so we traveled to the real attraction. We bought a year's pass to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Here is Jeanne in RMNP's Hidden Valley!
We decided to miss the rodeo in Estes Park!

More bike path sculpture

I went South on some of the bike paths in town. Here are some examples of the bike path sculpture art along the path.

I never saw this kind of stuff in Illinois, so it was unusual to me.

It's kind of neat actually!

We have some furniture in our new house! We purchased a bed for our master bedroom. The old bed will go into the guest room (when it gets here!) The movers say we might get delivery by Thursday, maybe. Don't bet on it!

The Black Phantom

Schwinn Black Phantom Bicycle

Well, I sold my Schwinn Black Phantom at the garage sale. I imagined riding it to the New Belgium brewery; it would have fit right in, but it ain't gonna happen.
Other things that went: An old Harmony Classical guitar, an old audio tower and speakers, an extension ladder, an old lead melting pot. Not much else.

Bike the Drive !

Here we are biking on the world-famous Lake Shore Drive as part of the seventh or eighth annual Bike the Drive event in Chicago!

The usual suspects: Me, Dan, Aaron, Robin, and Nina

We started on the North side near Irving Park road

To Bike along the lake on L.S.D.

At about 6:00 in the morning.

To see places like Navy Pier

And the Museum of Science and Industry

While traveling with fellow bikers for 30+ miles

And yet there was time for a puppet show

From the back of a bike

We are going to miss Chicago