Dad's funeral

Sorry that I haven't blogged for a few days. My father died last Thursday, so we left for Iowa on Sunday and got back home again on Wednesday. Dad had been ill for several years, and was in a nursing home in Wisconsin, near my sister's home. It is actually a relief not to see him in pain anymore. Mom will need to find things to do, though, as she had been going over to the nursing home and staying with dad most of the day.

I did miss a few good 60 degree days this past week, but there will be more. In fact, the current forecast is for 60 degrees on both Wednesday and Thursday, so it looks like bike-to-work weather.

MoPac Trail extension route selected!

The Lower Platte South NRD has selected the 10 mile extension for the MoPac Trail. It will start at Wabash and continue north on the west side of 334th St. before it connects with Nebr. Hwy 66 and finally the Lied Platte River bridge. This will be a hotly contested issue, as severaal farmers have vowed to take the NRD to court over this decision.

The Papio-Missouri River NRD has already completed 8 miles of a 17.5 mile trail segment on the north side of the Platte River, and 6 more miles will be built this year. The last 3.5 miles is scheduled to be done in 2010.

For more information see:
http://www.omahatrails.com
http://www.papionrd.org

More from the 2009 Amgen Tour of California

This is video from a spectators perspective, on Howell Mountain during Stage 1 on Sunday, Feb. 15.  Lance is leading the peloton.

Movie Monday - Armstrong defends his return

Lance Armstrong & Irish journalist Paul Kimmage have a verbal exchange at the pre-race press conference for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Paul basically had called Armstrong the "cancer of doping". Lance refuses to grant any interview to Paul and also defends Floyd landis. Turn up the audio on this to hear Lance's reply.

Tour of California

Don't forget to watch the Tour of California beginning today, Feb. 14. You can see results on their website here: http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/ or check the progress on TV on VS (Time-Warner channel 229). Here is the schedule thru Sunday:

Saturday, Feb. 14 - 4pm CST (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Sunday, Feb. 15 - 5pm CST (live)
Monday, Feb. 16 - 11:30am CST (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Tuesday, Feb. 17 - 4pm CST (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Wednesday, Feb. 18 - 3pm CST (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Thursday, Feb. 19 - 3pm (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Friday, Feb. 20 - 3pm (live) and 10pm CST (recap)
Saturday, Feb. 21 - 4pm (live)
Sunday, Feb. 22 - 4pm (live)

Just in case you get tired of listening to the commentators on VS, here is a live Twitter feed from the Tour:
http://twitter.com/johanbruyneel

And, if you want to see Bob Roll have a shaven head by the end of the Tour, click here https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=294758&supid=77502499
to visit his Livestrong page and donate.

Tuesday's commute and fall

Tuesday, Feb. 10
Temperature: 30 morning, 62 afternoon
Mileage: 8

Tuesday started out Great! Temps were warmer than normal in the morning, and the high was expected to top 60 degrees again - in February! The morning commute was uneventful. There was a little broken glass on the new sidewalk along the north side of Adams St. between 80th and 84th, but nothing that I couldn't dodge. The evening commute started out great - temps were in the low 60's again so it was shorts, T-shirt and a light jacket. Everything else was packed in the backpack. I was rounding the corner at 79th and Garland, taking it a bit wide due to my speed and the unusual corner. Then I saw the minivan coming north on 79th about 1/2 block from my corner. I decided to cut in a little to keep my track in the southbound lane. At that moment, the bike slid out from under me and I was on the pavement. My right elbow, shin and thigh ended up scraping the pavement and the air was knocked out of me temporarily. The driver of the minivan got out to check on me. After I was able to breath again, I told her that I took the corner too wide and decided to cut it in slightly when I saw her. I was OK - no broken bones, and the bike seemed OK. She determined that I was OK when I stood up, and she went on her way. I slowly pedaled home the remaining few blocks. It looks I will be nursing my right side for a couple weeks, then it is back on the bike again!

Movie Monday - Tour de Nebraska 2008

We didn't want to leave out one of the multi-day cycling tours of Nebraska, so here is a very nice video of the Tour de Nebraska from last year.

Great Saturday Ride!

Temperature: Mid 50's
Mileage: 29
Ave. Speed: 15

We had a great ride this morning. The sun was out, the wind was light and the temps were in the mid 50's for most of the ride. You couldn't ask for much better weather for Feb. 7. Jim, Brad, Spencer and I rode east from 84th and Cornhusker on Hwy 6. Conditions were similar to what we will have on the first day of NUMB - 2 lanes with good shoulders, rumble bars next to the lane, and railroad tracks just a stones throw away. Jim and I did 29 miles - out to the Ashland Country Club and back, while Brad and Spence did slightly fewer miles.

64 Degree high on February 6

Temperature: 26 at 8am, 64 at 4pm
Mileage: 8

Today was a good day to ride! This morning was a little chilly, but this afternoon made up for it grandly. We set a new record in Lincoln for Feb. 6.

Tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 7, our cycling group at work has a ride scheduled at 10am. If anyone wants to join us, we are meeting in the Bosch (Telex) parking lot at 8601 Cornhusker Hwy. There is also parking at the gas station on the corner of 84th St. if the other lot fills up. ;-) The route is flat, on the shoulder of Hwy 6 through Waverly and Greenwood, out to Ashland and back again. Temperatures will be in the 40's, so dress appropriately. Enjoy the weather while it lasts!

RAGBRAI route announced!

Ride with Mike the Veloist as he rides with RAGBRAI 2008 across Iowa.

RAGBRAI just announced the route a few days ago. The 2009 Route begins in Council Bluffs near the new Missouri River pedestrian (and cycling) bridge. The first day takes you to Red Oak.