May Biking

I'd didn't ride my bike at all except when I was commuting.

I rode at least one direction (to work or to home) on 20 days!
Longest ride-32 miles on 5/27
482.4 miles
Miles for 2007 805+482.4=1287.4
Miles (since June 2006)=2937.4

I replaced the straight bars on the Trek with some trekking bars but then rounded the hex head bolt that tightens the brake/shifter to the bar. With no way to get it out, I tried to drill the bolt out. I ended up destroying it. I've been watching eBay for another set of 3x7 shifters. Always something new to learn!

Memorial Day 2007

Last night I stumbled upon a Leonard Cohan song on YouTube that's been out there for years, I just had never heard it. It's amazing to me how much there is that I don't know. It's ironic that this song shows up in the new Shrek movie that just came out.When I was a kid another Cohen song, Suzanne, was a popular folk song and I knew the haunting words by heart. Leonard Cohan's monotonic voice seemed to hide the beauty of his songs.

I used to hang out at a coffeehouse in Porter, Indiana, called Saturday's Child. That must be where I first heard "Suzanne" sung. Saturday's Child was run by David Sanders and his wife. I remember him playing Woody Guthrie songs on the auto harp. His wife wife had an awful voice, but that never stopped her from singing. They frequently performed between sets of their featured musicians-oftentimes students at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I particularly remember the two of them singing "We're in the Money" together! They were definitely NOT in the money! Dave had his art studio upstairs. Sometime later, Dave and his new, much younger wife, were in our La Maze class. The coffeehouse is long gone now.

I chose this version of the song simply because I could make out the words easily. It's sung by Rufus Wainwright. His voice captures the sadness of this song perfectly for me. I'll be pulling weeds on Memorial Day, remembering the coffeehouse days, with the words of Hallelujah going through my head.

Thank you to our men and women in the military. I hope you'll all be home safely by next Memorial Day.

Bike to Work

It's National Bike Month so I figure I ought to mention something about it before May runs out. I see in the paper today that Valparaiso is planning a modest Bike to Work observance tomorrow. I may actually be cruising past the start of the bike to work ride when they shove off-I go by Foundation Meadows on my usual route to work. While my weekly bike totals are modest compared to hard-core bike commuters, in this part of the world bike commuting is a solitary activity (sometimes I think that there is at least one pick up truck for every person living in Porter County!). I think I've got a shot at winning the free bike they're offering for the most National Bike Week mileage!

Signs of Spring-Michigan Trail Marathon

Checking in at Zou Zou's in Chelsea, Michigan.

April Biking

14 days commuting
Longest ride-55 miles on 4/22
Estimated April miles-380.0
Miles for 2007=425+380=805
Total miles (since June 2006)=2455

My commute days increased as I thought they might. My bike needs a good cleaning. I hear a bothersome crackling noise as I ride that I believe is my bottom bracket telling me it's time for some attention. I'm back to dreaming of converting the Trek 950 mountain bike to a touring bike. I've been considering the virtues of drop bars verses trekking bars to the replace the straight bars on the bike now. Steve and I talked a bit about a trip around Lake Michigan like these guys took. This is a discussion that's been ongoing for several years.