Photo Friday

Nice bike. Nice parts. Nice ride. Nice natural light. Nice rest time.



On your next ride, stop and look around. Who knows what you'll find?

Ride your bike.

Friday Photo

Last Saturday was an incredible fall day - blue sky, late season color, sun, and the smell of dry leaves. My wife reminded me that when we were in Utah we had discussed taking the kids on their first official mountain bike ride. We've done countless rides through the neighborhood, but we've never done a family ride on single track. Great idea!

About an hour later the entire Gnat family was rolling out of the Murphy-Hanrehan parking lot to hit the dirt ribbon. Murphy has a .8 mile beginner loop through the rolling prairie. After a little fear followed by encouragement on lap #1, the kids got the hang of it and really had a blast. In the end, we did 5 laps (4 miles) and both kids were so proud of their accomplishment....OK, mom and dad were too. Incredible day and one I'll always remember.



These are pretty good too.





Kids Rule! Get out and ride!

More Salsa Fargo Pictures!

I've said it before, but someday I'll tire of talking about how much I love this bike. I'm sure some of you are sick of it, but for me I feel like this bike inspires me and feeds my thirst for exploration and photography by bringing me places and connecting trails and roads.

Yesterday on my commute home (my 39th birthday I might add!) I ran across a section of trail with really good natural light. I stopped and experimented with my new camera. Enjoy.





Finished the day with 4:45 minutes of riding - Almost 40 miles of dirt, 25 miles of pavement, and about 50 new pictures. Fun stuff.

Photo Friday

I took this photo in Utah last week. We started hiking on the cool shaded side of the Wasatch mountains. The trail quickly went up. We had been hiking for about 2 to 2.5 miles climbing up through the trees the whole time. Then with little warning, the trail opened up and turned to rock. These little trees stood alone in the sun on a rocky point.



Enjoy your weekend. Snow is rumored to be on the way!

Friday Photo

I took this photo while having dinner in Decorah, Iowa after the first day of the 2007 Big Wheeled Ballyhoo. It ended up on the cover of the 2007 Salsa catalog. What's better than riding followed by good food with good friends?



Enjoy your weekend. I'm in Utah.

Photo Friday

This past week we got some much needed rain and the fall colors popped here in MN. I don't know how folks that don't have 4 full seasons live where they live. Fall is the best time of year for riding. Sure, the days are shorter, but as I've written before, fall is wool clothing riding season. I can put on my wool and ride comfortably for a long period of time. My Wingnut back pack is lighter too as I usually use water bottles in the fall and my pack only needs to carry my camera and a few supplies.

Yesterday, I was trying out a Sigma DP1 camera. The DP1 is the first pocket size camera with a full size DSLR image sensor. It's known for it's color capabilities, has full manual controls and shoots RAW. It's a powerful pocket camera, but it's a bit quirky and slow. Folks are starting to unload these cameras now that Sigma announced the DP2 at their annual trade show in September.

I rode my Dos Niner. My ride sort of stunk as I wasn't feeling very good. I cherish fall riding. It's so good. I didn't get the shot I was looking for either, but I got this. Not bad detail and color for a pocket point & shoot camera.



Enjoy your weekend folks. Ride your bike. Go for a walk in the woods.

Photo Friday

Looking back over the last two weeks, I've got a lot of fun and great memories. Today's photo is taken from a play ground in Estes Park, CO. I was spinning the kids on this fine & potentially dangerous piece of play ground equipment and taking their pictures. I never got the exact shot I was hoping for, but I can't look at this picture without smiling. It's just what I need today.



Enjoy your weekend. Ride your bike. Laugh with your friends, family or kids.

Photo Friday

As yesterday's post indicated, JMKM and I got a great ride in on Tuesday. It was filled with road, bike paths, dirt and two track. Here's a little shot of my Fargo I took while JMKM was changing a flat.






Enjoy your weekend. Ride your bike.

Photo Friday

I'm keeping the Colorado theme going this week. Here is one of my favorite bike photo's taken during our family reunion in Winter Park, Colorado.



Enjoy your weekend folks. Ride your bike.

Photo Friday

Regular readers have seen this photo before. It is one of my favorites. It was taken a the Ju Ming Museum in Taiwan. The difference here is that these were taken in B & W. These sculptures are massive and I love how B&W captures the tones and texture.



Have a great Friday and a great weekend. Ride your bike!

Photo Friday

I've been waiting for this Photo Friday for a long time. Over the course of the summer, I've taken a couple hundred pictures of my favorite bike. A bike I could not reveal. Well, it's finally public knowledge. I'm working on a story about the bike along with a slide show but those are not ready yet. Today, you get two of my favorite images.





Have a great Friday folks. Ride your bike.

Photo Friday

I did the cobweb ride again on Tuesday. I have been denying the fact that the days are getting shorter. I protested by not bringing my headlamp. As a result, I spent the first 30 minutes in almost complete darkness. I had two good pedal strikes while my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. One jarred my back pretty good. What was my reward for this Jedi like ride through the dark? The sunrise. I stopped and spent about 10 minutes just watching and breathing in the damp, cool morning air. I also saw 3 deer and almost ran over a raccoon.




Last week I posted about rebuilding my beloved Dos Niner. It's been my bike of choice of late. I love this bike.



Enjoy your long weekend. I know a bunch of the bloggers reading this blog are racing this weekend. Good luck.

Photo Friday

Feats of Strength!

Todays feat: Toast and drink with each table, and in some cases each member at each table. Once the first task is completed start lifting other men in the room. This feat attracts women.



In this photo taken while at the Alex dinner, Jim from Surly gets lofted by a large man. With all those woman watching, this is clearly a great way to get their attention. Jim was unharmed in this activity and since he was the one being lifted, not one of the woman talked to him after this feat.

Drinking followed by some feat of strength is a typical dinner scene while attending the Taipei Bicycle Trade Show. Thankfully, I had my friend and translator let folks know that for medical reasons I could not drink. Apparently, no drinking for medical reasons means "He is a weak drinker, please serve him Taiwan beer". To read the most thorough and accurate Taiwan drinking rules I've ever seen click here.

Have a great weekend. I'm heading north again with 60 or so folks from our church.

Photo Friday

Last weekend was a joy. For the 4th year in a row, we went up north to a cabin with 2 other families from our church. Sunday morning was incredible. I will always remember this view.



Enjoy your Friday and your weekend.

China Slide Show and a little anniversary

I feel lucky that I had an opportunity to visit China earlier this year. It was too short and too rushed. Yet, I still feel fortunate that I got to see China with my own eyes. I was on a research trip looking at carbon fiber manufacturing. Here are a few of my favorite images.



Also, August 8th is my two year anniversary of breaking my a bone at my elbow. We moved into our new house just days prior and it was my 3rd day in a row riding the sweet single track by our house. Gluttony I guess? It was the first bone I had ever broken.



My boy wanted me to have a black cast. Man, my kids look little while I look not so little. FYI: I've lost 25-30 lbs since that picture!

Have a great weekend. I'm heading out of town again. Back on Monday.

Photo Friday

Just a couple of last shots from North Dakota. Took these from playground just across the street from my wifes parents house.

Looking South

Looking North

Enjoy your weekend. Ride your bike.

Photo Friday

Lately, it's been pretty hot and super humid here in the Midwest. My body isn't the best in the heat. I'm not craving winter, but I am craving cooler riding temps. This picture should cool you off and hopefully make you smile.

Photo Friday

Taken just a few weeks ago on the 4th of July in our neighbors back yard. All our kids were lined up watching the Apple Valley fireworks.



I also like this photo because they are all looking to the south towards Iowa. Why do I like that they are looking towards Iowa? Well, this weekend I'm heading to Iowa for the Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational. 100+ miles of Iowa gravel. Can't wait. Should have some good stories, hopefully some good pics, and I'll also be testing some racks.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Photo Friday

Photo's can make you laugh. Some make you cry. Some bring you peace and happiness. Some document tell stories. Some document history. Some, well.....I'm not sure. With that, I bring you this shot I got while attending and working Sea Otter 2008.



Enjoy your Friday and weekend. Ride your bike. Enjoy your family and friends.

Photo Friday

When I think of the 4th of July, I think of lakes. Here's a fun shot taken by a lake in northern Wisconsin. I took this shot at about 5:30 AM. I was experimenting with taking photo's shooting directly into the sun. This one turned out pretty good.

In other news, my wonderful wife is back from vacation. I did my best to make sure she won't leave again. I'm pretty sure showing my 5 1/2 year old kids to ride a Teeter-Totter will keep her home with the family from now on! True story. I can't believe how easy they make riding a 2x6 look. I'll post pics when I get them on the skinnies.

Also, check out my new slide show on the right. I put together a collection of photo's of my favorite bikes. Most are still in my garage, basement or hexical(work).

Have a great 4th of July. Ride your bike. Have fun with your friends and family. Be safe.