60 Degrees!

Saturday was gorgeous. I went for a nice 27mile ride which made me realize just how hard it's gonna be to get my miles back up. I actually felt fine to continue, but I had other things to get done and my back tire seemed low (pumping it up with a frame pump wasn't a pleasant sounding idea either).

I think I saw five child carriers.

The trails were just packed. So I gave up on them after riding some of the better ones. The newer trail out on the southwest side is pretty nice. It's sectional (complaint coming) but it's new enough that it doesn't affect the ride. And even though it's completely residential it doesn't see as much intense use.

Which brings me to my complaint: Why does Lincoln build trails like sidewalks? Do you build roads sectionally? No. So why would you build trails sectionally?

I actually think the trails are just missing the final step of road construction: The smooth top coat of cement or asphalt which can be stripped and replaced and repaired with tar many many times.
This seems to be how they build trails in Des Moines (they're all rail trails though).


The trail system here really is pretty cool. But it just doesn't cut it for a fast rider. I'm gonna be looking for new, non-trail, routes now. It's more stressful than busy roads (mostly because of the dogs) and you just can't keep any speed with all the thump-thump-thump-thump-THUMP-thump-THUMP-thump.

Dogs and Trails

Trails are more dangerous than roads. It's strange but true. There are so many "look I just bought my first bike" riders, walkers, groups of teenagers, Freds (sorry, I hate the term), psychos (racers who ride on trails), and dog walkers that trails are an infinite source of minor collisions.

Sometimes people and other things die: Old people, kids, dogs, dogs, and dogs.

Now, I'm an animal lover and especially a dog lover which is why it really pains me to see idiots who shouldn't own dogs walking them. You know the kind: They apologize when their dog almost runs under your bike. Did you know that trails are a dangerous place for a dog, especially an uncontrolled one on a long leash (long is greater than 6').

I wonder how many injuries their are from this sort of crap.


So let's rate the danger of various things you find on trails, on a scale from 1 to 10. 10 being something will probably die on a weekly basis and 1 being they might talk to you and say something rude.
Dogs -- 9
Walkers (1 or 2) -- 3
Kids -- 2
Kids Parents -- 6
"I just bought my first bike" -- 8 (if you ignore them); 3 (if you notice them)
Freds -- 2
Serious Cyclists -- 1.5 (they're more likely to be rude)
Trail racers -- 2
Groups of teenagers -- 2 (you're guaranteed to get yelled at)
Squirrels -- 0

Squirrels was the insulting punchline, just in case you missed it ;). I always think I'm going to hit them, and I never do.