Tagged “outdoors”

  1. Snow in Erie

    The Erie Times-News is reporting that so far this year, we are number 2 in snowfall for the US, after Marquette, Michigan. It's been so snowy here the past few days, I really can't wait for spring. There always seems to be a foot of snow at the end of my street, even if the plow has just gone by.

  2. 15000 km

    Yesterday, my bike odometer turned over 15000 km. I was excited! Amazing how much it all adds up over the years. Currently up to 86 bikes to work.

  3. 3000 km, 2000 miles

    On the bike so far:

    3216 km, 2010 miles.

  4. Gifts from the road gods

    As you bike along, occasionally you find things that have been dropped, left, or lost. So far this year, I have found:

    • A Transformer toy (pretty well used)

    • Loose change

    • Wallet (returned to owner)

    • Keys (sent back in the mail, do not know if it made it back yet)

    Last year, I found 3 phones. No phones that were workable have been found yet.

  5. 2000km

    So far on the bike this year:

    Road km: 2032 km, 1270 miles

  6. Triathlon Videos

    Here are a nice set of triathlon videos by Helen and Marc Jenkins:

    • Bike tips:

    • Bike to Run:

    • Change A Tyre:

    • Deep water:

    • Goggles on back:

    • How to sight:

    • Open Water:

    • Pre Race Bike check:

    • Put wetsuit on:

    • Race Prep:

    • Run Tips:

    • Swim to Bike:

    • Tri basics:

  7. Biking to work so far

    So far, I appear to have biked around 712 miles to work this year (28 times). We'll see if I can beat last year's record.

  8. Erie critical mass

    Friday, March 27th, we will be meeting for the monthly critical mass bike ride. We will be meeting at 6:00 PM at Perry Square, which is located on 6th and State in downtown Erie, PA. We will ride through the streets of Erie for approximately one hour, and all ages are welcome. This is not a vigorous ride, so cyclists of all types should feel welcome to join.

    We held the first critical mass here in Erie in September, and had approximately 32 participants. We held the second critical mass in October, and had approximately 45 participants. Unfortunately due to weather, we have not been able to have a critical mass community ride all winter, so this will provide everyone with the opportunity to take out their neglected bicycles and ride them through the streets.

    Come one come all!

  9. Erie bike races and kids bicycle safety rodeo

    Bike racing in Erie, PA!

    Announcing the 2009 Erie Downtown Criterium and Kids Bicycle Safety Rodeo!

    Sunday May 24, 2009 will see the return of bicycle racing to beautiful Downtown Erie, PA!!!!!

    The day will also see a full agenda of events oriented to get kids out and riding safely too, including kids races, a bike safety rodeo and helmet check and we are working on a free or inexpensive helmet program for kids in need!

    More details will be coming soon but please put the date on your calendars and plan to come out and race, spectate and/or help out with our events for the kids of the greater Erie area!

    If you have helped out with kids races, bike safety rodeos and helmet checks/giveaways in the past PLEASE, PLEASE give serious thought to helping us out with this one.

    Chief organizers of the event are Mario Mazza and Ken Bestine who have worked very hard to get the event moving forward. I will be heading up the efforts aimed at the kids events so please contact me directly if you can help out. Keep in mind we all have at least the assets of time and energy to give. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Erie Achievment Center.

    Cheers!

    Greg Troyer

    Please contact me if you would like further information.

  10. Pennsylvania bike support

    I received a mail today regarding making bicycling in Pennsylvania safer by requiring clearance from automobiles.

    Pennsylvania is a great state to bicycle in but there are some areas that need cleaning up to make it safer for all of us. Pennsylvania was ranked 38th as the most bicycle friendly state by the League of American Bicyclists. In an attempt to make it better, are two important pieces of legislation: 1) a “4 foot passing law,” requiring motor vehicles to pass cyclists with a minimum of 4 feet, and 2) a law protecting cyclists from the dreaded “right hook,” where a motorist passes a cyclist on the left and turns right into the bike’s path.

    There is also a proposed amendment to add protection to all “vulnerable users,” such as buggies and pedestrians walking in areas without a sidewalk, and not just limit it to cyclists, but this has yet to be been added. This legislation is being introduced by Rep Ron Miller that has had only 6 sponsors as of February 6th.

    Please contact your state representative on this important legislation.

    SAMPLE LETTER or EMAIL

    (Thanks Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia for writing it)

    Dear _____________:

    I support legislation that is being introduced by Rep. Ron Miller that will require motorists, when changing lanes is not possible, to give at least four feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. It also requires a motorist who is making a right turn not to interfere with a bicyclist who is traveling straight. This is the same legislation as HB2689 from last session.

    Your co-sponsorship of Rep. Miller’s legislation will be greatly appreciated.

    For additional info:

    http://bike-pgh.org/2009/02/10/important-safe-passing-legislation-contact-your-pa-state-representative/

    http://www.bikeleague.org/news/090508bfs.php

  11. Oil Creek extreme running

    My friend Tom, who runs ultramarathons (100 miles, for example), is setting up one at Oil Creek on the weekend of October 9, 2009.

  12. Michael Myers from Halloween

    This was the second time that I spotted a guy dressed as Michael Myers from the movie Halloween standing at the corner of 38th and Sterrettania, at the corner occupied by CVS Pharmacy. He wasn't doing anything, just standing there, legs slightly apart, arms out from his sides. Extremely spooky and threatening! I hope to spot him again next year.

  13. Snow

    Looking out the window, today is the first definitive day that I have seen snow falling this year. I suspect it's going to be a cold winter.

  14. Axe Murder Hollow

    As Halloween is getting closer, my old blog is getting more and more hits about Axe Murder Hollow (or Axe Murder Hallow), a sort of spooky spot on Thomas Road in Erie, PA, where (evidentally) teenagers used to take their dates to scare them and such, as teenagers are wont to do.

    Here are a few sources of interesting tales about Axe Murder Hollow:

  15. Critical Mass - October 31, 2008 - Erie PA

    Critical Mass in Erie, PA, will be taking place again on Friday, October 31st, at 5:30 pm at 6th and State Street at Perry Square. Join us for a nice bike ride! You can view a related MySpace Page here for further details. However, that's really it. Critical Mass, the last Friday of each month. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel.

  16. Rock balancing

    Last weekend, I tried balancing rocks while I was at the beach. This was largely due to seeing various pictures of carefully balanced rocks on the internet. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. Then, I found an interesting video of a man actually doing it.

    He sure makes it look easy, doesn't he? Well, maybe not.

  17. Triathlon

    I did the Presque Isle Triathlon! Here is a copy of a mail I sent to Chemda of the Keith and the Girl Podcast regarding my entire experience.

    Dear Chemda (and Ironman Bobby)-

    I just wanted to tell you how much the episode with you and Ironman Bobby discussing your triathlon inspired me. I had been biking to work quite regularly over the summer, 12 miles each way, and was in decent shape from that exercise. When I heard the episode, I did a search on triathlons in my area. I found out that there was going to be one in two weeks, and I felt that if I had prepared for it a few months ago, I would be ready. I had not swum for a long time, and I had never run at all, much less run a road race.

    Over the next two weeks, the idea kept eating at my head, until the day before the race, I went down to the preregistration area. I talked with the people down there, and they encouraged me to join, just for the fun of it all.

    I biked home unconvinced, and was up late, watching movies and eating popcorn, falling asleep on the couch. When I woke up, I went to bed, and set my alarm in time to register for the day of the race, in case I decided to do so at the last minute.

    When the alarm clock went off, I figured to myself, "if I don't do this, it's just going to be one more thing that I haven't done, and I'll regret it." So, I dug around in the house, dug out a ratty pair of shorts, an old swimsuit, a short wetsuit that I had, a pair of swim goggles, and put my mountain bike, a fairly slow bike, in the back of the car. I drove down to the starting area where there must have been 300 or so competitors. I went up, registered, and was in the waiting list for no shows. 15 minutes before the race, I got lucky, and got a number. I went to pick up my chip, which I had no idea how it works or what to do with it, and put it on.

    The swim portion was pretty short, in Lake Erie, but in 4 foot waves, so just going into the water was pretty scary. About 10 people turned around after 5 minutes due to the height of the waves, and the helpers in kayaks had to rescue several swimmers. I plugged along doing backstroke most of the way so I could keep my head above water and breathe in the huge waves. It was unnerving following so many people in the water, with occasional cries of "Help!" around me. When I hit the beach, I was pretty spent, but I kept going. I stripped out of the wetsuit which didn't want to come off, put another pair of shorts over my swim trunks, and hopped on the bike.

    The bike leg went pretty quick. All the bike commuting paid off, and I actually passed a few people on it. As I reentered the transition area, the fellow in front of me, when dismounting his bike, lost his balance and crashed in front of the timing pads, throwing his bike into the trees.

    The last leg, a 5k run, was painful, but I pushed through it regardless. I had never run anything before, but I figure if I made it so far, I can at least run 5k. I just kept telling myself to go on, and so I did. When I reached the end of the race, I felt fantastic. Just having done the race was a tremendous rush.

    When I was done, a fellow came up to me and asked my time, which I had no idea of as I wasn't paying attention and didn't even realize there was a giant clock at the end of the race. He wondered how I had done it with no equipment, and that I hadn't even taken my bike lock off the bike. I laughed to myself...in my haste, I didn't even bother to remove it. Oh well.

    Chemda, I just wanted to thank you and Ironman Bobby for the inspiration you provided to me - not only in convincing myself to take up the challenge, but also along the route.

    James in Erie PA.

    Here is the page with the results.

  18. 2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

    The 2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is tomorrow - September 23rd, 2007 - at Rainbow Gardens (Waldameer Park) in Erie PA. Send the media!

    I'll be performing with Third Rail.

  19. Brig Niagara

    Here are a few pictures taken from the Brig Niagara on a recent trip I made aboard. There are a few surprising things about it: It rolls quite a bit, even though it is such a massive vessel. It is quite easy to get seasick -- I felt a bit nauseous myself until I ducked below for a few moments to compose myself. And, last but not least, the cannons are extremely loud. During the battle, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the crew ended up deaf or with permanent hearing damage and ringing.

    Sorry, pics are missing...(img 7178, 7163, if I find them)

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