the bike knows the way thru the rough

minimal asphalt. good dose of gravel. then onto dirt. returning via pavement.





wind was whipping. route kept us hidden most of the way. foreboding skies.





wet leaf cover. muddy trails. controlled drifts. skinny tires.





blue marsh lake. don't mind the wind. it was a fine ride indeed.

PIRATE!!!

PIRATE!!!
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

today's route included dirt

today's route included dirt
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

heading home late - lights ablaze

at least it wasn't raining anymore

for reverend dick

for reverend dick
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

cold damp breeze
grey skies
pissing rain
dead looking trees
october at it's finest
you're missing out on all the fun

dark, moist, cool - pick any three

fall colors aren't so pretty
when it's dark and pouring rain
with temps in the forties
an early departure today
from the warm and dry home
yielded lite traffic at least
still dark now at seven am
still pouring rain too
clothes drying under my desk
bike dripping in the basement
this is the unheralded side
of fall commuting

though it does make for
excellent contemplative time
while perched on the saddle

first light of day

first light of day
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

headlamp batteries died
stopped in complete darkness
rummaged thru bag for spares
till the swap was made
dawn had made an appearance
i never tire
of watching the sunrise

carved and lit

carved and lit
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

thinkering

thinking about riding
thinking about rain
thinking about riding in the rain

thinking about beer
thinking about dirt roads
thinking about drinking beer along dirt roads

thinking about fixed gear cross bikes
thinking about porteur racks
thinking about a kick ass combo

so, to summarize;
thinking about riding my fixed gear cross bike in the rain along dirt roads and stopping for beer that i carried on the porteur rack

that's the plan for saturday

a fall commute

an anniversary to celebrate

it was a year ago this past weekend
that I sold my car
can honestly say i don't miss it
being a singe vehicle household isn't so bad
you just get up and pedal everyday
well almost everyday
drove to work maybe a dozen times
weather, health, and time constraints
dictated those trips
the rest were via pedal power
i like it that way
it makes for enjoyable times

sidetracked on the drive home

sidetracked on the drive home
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

vegan treats bakery in bethlehem
sugary goodness beyond beleif
add a cup of coffee
and I've got a pretty strong buzz

forty eight gear inches

forty eight gear inches
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

no time for a test ride

wisdom from a coffee cup

wisdom from a coffee cup
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

trains always make me think of tom waits

trains always make me think of tom waits
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

fire for warmth

fire for warmth
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

woodstove is blazing
it's cold up here
and not getting any warmer

commuter tip of the day

allow yourself an extra fifteen minutes to dress for a cold and wet ride. you'll forget your socks upstairs. your heavier gloves are stored away in the basement with winter gear. and then you'll stand there for a few minutes second guessing your layering scheme. now you look at the clock and it's time to go and you've still got an expensive pile of wool and plastics at your feet that you need to put on. like clockwork, you're out the door fifteen minutes late.



the beautiful fall colors were just jumping yesterday (sarcasm). to top it off, the northeasterly wind was just delightful to ride headlong into the whole way home. today is pretty much a repeat of yesterday. saturday and sunday also follow the same theme. still headed for jim thorpe though outdoor activities will be limited.

embrace the weather

embrace the weather
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

good thing i brought the rain kit along.

bicycle commuter tip of the day

bicycle commuter tip of the day
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

adding weight to your normal daily gear load only makes you stronger
when said load is ditched for weekend riding.

jim thorpe bound

heading up to jim thorpe for the weekend. mountain bike will be taken along. but family fun comes first. so, looking for a recommendation on a 2-3 hour trip for a sunday morning. preferably leaving from town. any advice and map linkage appreciated. sadly, it's been at least thirteen years (high school days) since i've been there and all trail knowledge is lost...

kids at play

dan (sporting tweed run attire) races evey down the slide.
.

seasons march on

thirty seven degrees
in the empty
grocery store parking lot
leaves dropping
acorns dropping
walnuts dropping
dark road riding debris
better than broken bottles for sure
though they'll take you down quicker
dodoge and weave
in the predawn darkness

a saturday with markers

a saturday with markers
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

take notes and try to imitate

cause this guy has got fun pretty dialed in.

a note on friday's commute

morning rain
woolens for warmth
plastic jacket left at home
rain droplets lit up by lights
spray comes off the fenders
reflections on the roadway puddles
the fix spins on
silent climbing
wind stirs the tree canopy
cascade of water falls
another day out on the bike

one more for the night

one more for the night
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

it's been a long ass week

trailside find

spotted this little ditty while hoofing it up the ski slope loop at blue marsh. what kind of crash results in the gear display breaking off? ugly i imagine. and that's a pricey way to make a 1x9 drivetrain. think i'll be sticking to a single or fix for all my dirt duties.

out in the woods

out in the woods
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

blue marsh on a fine sunday morn.

it gets me where i want to go

this is one fine don't need to stink'n car commuting machine.
fixed, fendered, porteured, and well lit.
a perfect combination.

relearning

forty two degrees
breathe lingers in the air
calm and overcast
pre-dawn permaglow of streetlights
rolling towards work
layering plan has failed
overheating within two miles
cold is relative
come february
this will feel balmy

...

found via embrocation. too good to pass up.

september wrap up

september wrap up
Originally uploaded by fxdwhl

orange = ride to work (20 days, 540 miles)
yellow = drive to work (0 days)
blue = dirt or road ride (5 days)
year commute stats = 162 days, 4,374 miles