Scenes from Chicago

Last minute strategery
With Wrigley Field in the background, could there be a better place to start the UAR than Murphy's Bleachers?
We call this one 'bowl head'. Maybe the chin straps have shrunk over the season.
I'm calling shenanigans on these teams
Pretty in pink
The mini bike 'circle of death'. These are our two top finishers.
The mustache contest was rightfully won and respect was lavished where it was due.
The smartest and fastest men in all of Chicago
It's always hard to give away two beautiful New Belgium cruisers, but Team Clif Hanger deserved them. Their time was 1:10 - the fastest UAR finish so far!
It's amazing what people will do for free stuff. These folks are big fans of Dirt Rag Magazine

THANK YOU CHICAGO! We had a blast and can't wait to be back next year. Full photos will be up in a couple days.

Chicago Mystery Clue

Here you go folks...this is all you get:
Good luck!!!

If I wasn't already in love with bikes and beer...

...I'd probably have to give this a shot.

Man of the turtles....part two

For some reason they always cross my path during my rides. I can't count on my fingers and toes the amount of turtles I've saved from certain death by Michelin. Here's one. Here's another.
Today, I met my first of the year. He obviously didn't realize that I was trying to help him, as he was lunging and snapping at me. He even turned around and squared up with me when I got behind him. My solution (albeit perhaps not P.C. in the turtle world) was to flip him upside down (or downside up if you're a pessimist) and carry him to safer places. I took him to a near by pond where I hope he found what he was looking for.

So if you see a friendly turtle crossing the road, be like the "I like tuttles kid" and pick it up, and put it in the closest pond or lake. Their shells may be pretty hard, but cars are pretty heavy.

And if you don't know how to pick up a turtle, this young lady is happy to show you:

All set!

All the checkpoints are lined up for the last two events and we're looking forward to Chicago and Minneapolis. These were our two biggest 1st year events in 2008, so we're expecting to see everybody plus their brothers and sisters out for the rest of our midwest tour.

Last weekend was New Belgium's Tour de Fat in hometown, Ft Collins.
15,000 people, 148 kegs, $65,000 raised for the non-profit. Damn amazing. Alter egos and creativity at it's finest. Nice job NBB, indeed.
This is what Linden St looks like when it's covered with just as many people as bikes and costumes.

That's all for now - time to ride!!!!!

Check the wheelie at 1:12

nevermind the commentary. The 1st part is from Bruce Brown's On Any Sunday - a classic - almost as good as Endless Summer.

This is handy....

Here's a new application that maps out safe bike routes (like google does for cars), but it also includes bike paths and bike lanes. So far it's available for Austin, Chicago, NYC, and Louisville.

Pretty cool since google's output is primarily focused on cars or walking. Now cyclists have an good option.
Here's their recommendation of how to go from Bicycle Sport Shop to Crown and Anchor (one of my favorite ATX watering holes). It did a pretty good job too. Half of it is on bike paths. So - give it a shot the next time you're looking for a quick and safe route!