Tarik Saleh Bike Club 100 Challenge Wrap Up

Tarik Saleh Bike Club 100 Challenge Wrap Up:

Did I ride 100 miles?

-no

Did I ride everyday of the challenge?

-no

Did I ride more than I would have otherwise?

-yes:
 I rode to and from Christmas dinner (9mi), I towed Little wRider around for a couple of hours, and  I snookered my brother into a bike ride just before midnight on New Years Eve, and I did  at least 3 "no ride too short" rides late at night just for the TSBC 100Challenge.

As such, I successfully completed the TSBC 100Challenge (option 3).

That's it, I successfully completed The Challenge!
I won't tell you it was easy, but I will tell you that you too could do it if you put your mind to it.

I'd like to thank Tarik Saleh for organizing and putting on the challenge.  His efforts are greatly appreciated.

I'd like to thank my wife for her love and support in completing The Challenge and bankrolling my bikecycle habit.

I'd need to thank Little wRider for tolerating the hours of Chariot time without screaming once bribed with tortilla chips.

And I'd like to thank my brother for joining me on the New Year's Eve ride regardless of what condition he may or may not have been in.  (Although the punk did break a chain right at midnight, which resulted in me trading bikes with him and running/scootering/coasting the last 4 miles of our ride.)

The Tool Park Doesn't Make and The Tarik Saleh Bike Club 100mile Challenge

Had a more dramatic than usual crash this week.
I came through unscathed.  My left brake lever smashed into a small stump and rotated to where it was pointing straight down.

I use cork bar end plugs on most of my bikes.  Looks like somehow in crashing the left bar plug was pushed a ways inside.

Apparently one of the few bike repair scenarios where Park Tools doesn't have me covered.

Had to make do with what I could find around the house.

Haven't posted much lately but I am pleased to report that over the holidays I along with a few other actively participated in  the Tarik Saleh Bike Club 100 mile challenge.

Amazingly lousy weather (combination of both sub-zero and slicker than slick water on ice conditions over the course of the challenge) and parenting responsibilities made option 3 of the challenge the most realistic for me this year. 

"Remember, club rules are 1. Ride bikes, 2. Try not to be an ass. And in this case, at least ride a bit between Christmas eve and New Years and then tell me about it." - Tarik Saleh

I've always liked that rule #2 simply asks that you try, not that you necessarily succeed.  That's the kind of club I can be on board with.


I still have to email Tarik Saleh my results from the challenge.  I'm hoping I haven't missed the window of opportunity to receive a button.

I'm already looking forward to next years 100mile challenge.

Lance

If Lance Armstrong says he doped, then he most definitely DID NOT.

The man hasn't spoken an honest word about doping the past fifteen years, and I'm not about to start believing him now.

It's been wicked cold around here.  Warmer temps arrived this week along with a healthy dump of snow . . .

 .  .  .  so when Little has wanted to do a little riding, indoors seemed like a good option.

Doesn't seem to slow him down much.

Saturday Night

Amazing how warm 15deg feels after a month of sub-zero temps.

Spent the evening in the front yard with a fire and Little wRider.  Did a little driveway sledding with one of the neighbor kids.

Had a FatBack in the garage, Little was asleep and Biermag was around so I snuck out for an hour of riding in the snow.  First tracks on the 3" that feel this evening.

With the clouds there was enough ambient light that there was no need for the 1,000 lumens strapped to my helmet.

Frostfitti

Some random acts of creativity I found on one of the bridges on my ride home:

Made me smile.
I think that was the point.

Screenshot and Surly Bits

Took the longer (~40min) route through the woods today to stockpile some sanity before an afternoon of staring at a screen that looks like this:

Also gave me the opportunity to mash a little bit on a new to me Tuggnut I scored off of ebay.

I'm not a little guy, so it's nice to have a little extra peace of mind when mashing the dinglespeed up hills.
I had already tested its ability to open beverages, and I'm pleased to report it did a fine job holding my wheel in place.