Leetsdale Snowflake Mystery and Tracer Chain Links

11.23.2014 29m 63F

Today was so mild and warm, 63F; it was a wonderful day for a ride.

Rode from Center to Route 51 South. Saw another bicyclist ahead, and another opposite direction. In Beaver County that's really unusual. I managed to pull up to the same-direction cyclist, Joe from Hopewell, and we had a very nice chat about local roadways and n'at.

Took the Sewickley Bridge across the Ohio River. Stopped in Sewickley Starbucks for respite and a few honey packets. Departed via Beaver St to Ambridge, which is a fave road segment of mine.

Riding through Leetsdale, which really should have at least one Leet roadsign (Welcome to 733lsdale), there are snowflakes painted on the ground. They've existed for quite a while and I've decided: I can't live with the uncertainty.

This is an unpainted Leetsdale road snowflake. Could it be that AlQueda oops ISIS oops Khorasan is using steganography to convey messages?

This is an undated and more recent Leetsdale road snowflake:

In Leetsdale cyclist John caught up to me and asked about my Design Shine tail light (it was dark by that time). We discussed my route home via Route51 and he suggested there's a little-used road from Crescent Township, looks like Cherry Alley in South Heights (just north of 151) then via Woodlawn until at least Franklin Ave. John said there's a way to poke further north to West Aliquippa.

All the drivers were very nice and extremely courteous. I would mention red Cadillac land-yacht with PA tags HTY5630 who gave me a 3-foot pass rather than use the empty lane to their left as somebody who might need an awareness upgrade. It was certainly a safe and non-threatening pass, it just seemed stingy compared to all the other good souls.

Riding home in the way dark, I look down occasionally to see if my chain is really in the rings and cogs I think it's in - generally before a major shift moment. In the dark it's problematic, although the helmet-mounted head lamp is a big help. I think I want "tracer links", like every x-th link needs to be reflective or glow-in-the-dark, so I can look down and see my chainline without having to puzzle out the various dark bits while I'm not looking at the road.

I was way too warm today, I dressed for 40F and encountered 63F and my kit wasn't compatible with delayering. Great problem to have.

Bridges do Freeze Before Roads

11/22/2014 25m

It's true what they say: bridges and overpasses do freeze before roadways. My drive out to Cecil for today's ride coincided with freezing rain and the I376 to I79 roadplex was just a body shop's fantasy come true. Cars sliding everywhere.

I was glad to get off the road and get onto the Montour Trail, sure that the packed limestone surface was the right place to be riding today. Inevitably, R and I learned that all the bridge decks that the trail uses were also quite frozen over and very slippery. This may be why we were the only cyclists we saw this afternoon

This is the National Tunnel at about MP25:

We rode out to see the Valleybrook Road project and the Library Trestle project. The Library Trestle looks like the deck is complete and the side rails are onsite and ready to be installed. The Valleybrook Road project shows initial concrete poured on the overpass supports but nothing is crossing the road yet.

We stopped at Starbucks in McMurray. I miss FarmHouseCoffee. On the way back the temps were warming - not enough to thaw the ice on the bridges, just enough to melt some of the ice and produce a mix of water over ice which was even more interesting. Completely workable, just not rideable.

This is a waterfall by the Montour Railroad Museum near Valleybrook Road.

We started riding at about 32F, and we finished riding at 43F - so our initial clothing was way too warm, and we changed layers and gloves for the second lag. It's amazing how different 10F can make the experience.

Cold, Dark, Windy : No Flat Tires

11.17.2014 20m

Started off today by cleaning up the signs and balloons along the Ghost Bike route. Took this picture of the final positioning of the Ghost Bike:

Each orange ribbon conveys a message from a cyclist, motorcyclist, or family member from the Memorial Ride.

Started riding at the Bastille on Westhall Street and I noticed: hey, that's new or maybe I've just been completely non-observant.

That's a Dero FixIt station and a Dero Air Kit 3. The cement looks new. Very very nice.

Rode to BikePgh to return some vests and flags I'd borrowed for the weekend Ghost Bike Ride. Thanks BikePgh!

Climbed up the cemetery, stopped at Banker Supply to talk about Hannukah. (seriously). Asked Nick and Chas for a recommendation of a place to get something to eat, and they said: Casa Rasta! Boy was that good advice.

Steak taco, chorizo taco, coconut rice. Very good, I'll be back.

Went over to East Liberty Blvd to live-tweet a conversation between the new police chief and the community. That was a very cool event. Most cool was that I got to meet Brandi Fisher IRL.

After the event, encountered a very stiff west wind (headwind). It was dark and cold and windy and I am so grateful for my tires and not having a flat in those conditions.

This was my first hard-dark night time ride with my new Expillion 850 headlamp. Two words: very effective. Also very effective: my light wool buff, it really changes the dynamic of core temperature. Used my Wombat gloves tonight, and they were barely sufficient.

This was my first genuinely cold ride this fall. All the puddles and water runoff were frozen. Perhaps winter is more than a rumor.

Ghost Bike Ride

11.16.2014 1m

I was able to participate in a Ghost Bike Ride today. Kind of unexpectedly, at the last minute 20 motorcycles showed up, friends of the family. They were great.

The Monaca Police came out with two cars, and the Monaca VFD came out with a fire truck, and escorted the ride down to the West Aliquippa Bridge - where the Aliquippa Police picked up the escort. That was so awesome of all those folks.

This is the initial departure from Monaca. Monaca usually doesn't see this many cyclists in a month.

We had planned to use road marshalls at three key intersections, but with a police escort in front and a police car and a fire truck in the rear, we didn't have any problems at all.

We deviated from the established Ghost Bike practice a bit with the ribbons. Before the ride, the bicyclists and motorcyclists each wrote a wish or a sentiment or a prayer on a bit of orange ribbon then they tied the ribbon around their arm, and wore it as an armband.

When the ride got to the dedication ceremony, the riders took off their armbands and tied their messages to the Ghost Bike, to let the winds spread the good will, compassion and sentiment into the Four Corners. (Kind of like Tibetan prayer-flags.)

Marlin Erin spoke and he just absolutely rocked. Stu Strickland spoke about laws and road equity very effectively.

One of the motorcyclists, Pastor Bill, spoke with grounded humor and tremendous focus and he was very impressive.

It's just so very damned sad and wasteful, and all the worse because the hit-and-run is an unresolved crime.

Like the very best funerals, this was emotional, poignant, sad and yet in some way, a good time; an expression of community, cohesiveness, and bonds. Because that's the way we roll, as the motorcyclists commented.

After everybody departed, RC and Yale and I stopped at The Fountainhead Cafe for a cup of coffee and so R could complete his 2014 coffeeneuring, and so I logged a mile of riding. It was good to get on the bike.

Privileged Dread of Discomfort

11.12.2014 Wed 11m

Riding temperatures Tuesday were 65 and today was 32 and it was just hard (internally) to not use the van and to use the bike instead. Ugh, the first-world dread of minor discomfort.

I didn't quite have all my gear in the right place, so it was putzing for this, looking for that. I never did find the little velcro strap for my trouser-leg. And each time I went looking for something, the warm car beckoned.

I pushed off on the bike and I am so glad I did. About 13 seconds into the ride I knew it was the right choice to use the bike to get to work. It always feels great once I get going.

I've been tweaking the route. Today I found the shortest (distance) path, 5.5 miles.

Departed at 6.30. I love riding at night. It's a lot like night flying, in that you have to be proficient with the bike and know where everything is, and nighttime is more intolerant of small errors. Lot of fun.

11 miles.

Second Spring

11.11.2014 25m

Conditions today were like 68F and sunny and calm wind. Fantastic for Nov.11th. Driving through Moon Township on my way in to the city, I rolled out behind this cyclist demonstrating excellent lane control. Very nice!

Started at the Bastille in the mid-afternoon with R, who needed to accomplish a coffeeneuring stop. There were so many people outside enjoying the weather.

Met S outside the casino. Then we took the 6th Street Bridge to the Penn Ave Bike lanes, enroute to Tazza D'Oro. We took Liberty out to Bloomfield (to avoid the Penn closure) then cut across to Penn Ave and rode out to Negly and Highland.

Tazzo D'Oro is just wonderful. R had a drink (maybe it was a stigmata? but I don't think so) with a cookie and I had a cappuccino and scone. Totally tremendous.

We were sitting outside, watching the world walk by, when I evaluated the group of eight Old Guys sitting at the other tables. Then I realized, the only difference between us and them was a small matter of degree. Then they started talking with us and I became afraid we might blend in and never escape and become AARP regulars.

Departed and somehow found our way to Junction Hollow and the Hot Metal Bridge. Notably the transition from REI and street-level SouthSideWorks (SSWx?) and the trail is now CLOSED, CLOSED and YOU CAN'T USE IT. And the detour is pretty much, GO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF AMERICAN EAGLE, which can't be very optimal.

Went to Thick Bikes so R could try some panniers on his new front racks and saw this Dad and Daughters checking out a bakfiets-type bike. It looked like a lot of fun.

Met RR at Thick. We rode across the Hot Metal Bridge right about sunset. I've never noticed the dynamic light show from atop the Gulf Building before.

Rode the Jail Trail inbound. I always enjoy riding contraflow around sunset this time of year, riding inbound while the Actual Commuters ride outbound from work, because you get to see such amazing lighting on their bikes. The technology has so improved over the last few years.

25 miles.

Ghost Bike Prep

Nov 10, 2014 15m

Today was an awfully pretty day. Spent some time in the morning prepping a Ghost Bike (see related PG article for an upcoming memorial ride. It was very nice of Ben Yogman to donate the bike.

Full disclosure: the dog already has a white nose. I did not paint the dog.

This is a press release for the Ghost Bike Ride.

From Toronto blog, Biking In A Big City, a photo of a banner they deploy with their Ghost Bikes.

Rode to a meeting at a client's office. As I was going out, the next appointment was walking in and I asked, "Did you drive here? and he said Yes, rather stumped. Small amusements go a long way.

Rode to work, took a shortcut via an Interstate Bridge. There was a state trooper parked on the shoulder on the other side of the road. I thought they might come around after me but they didn't. I chalked that up to luck. Although, a ticket would be a cool thing to have, but I could spend the money on bicycle stuff instead.

After work, departed at 6:30 pm. It is dark outside now at 6:30 pm. I lost my best headlight during yesterday's ride, so I made due with my backup headlight and the head-lamp I have on my helmet. No problem.

I took the long and calm way home. It's awesome to bike to work.