Timmy Tracks » Greasy, Scarred & Calloused Hands

What’s been happening??

tim — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:54:27 +0000

Yea? What the heck has been happening? It has been for ever that there has been a post here. So I decided to pony up and give a brief update.

After the 24/9 it took me almost a month to recover. I was wiped out.

Since then I have been working on organizing and reorganizing the bike shop. Painting, cleaning and throwing crap away. Of course I recycle the good crap. I have moved some stuff around to make the place more inviting and open.

We are still working on getting some trails built just outside Platteville. I have been crack’n the whip and been trying to get some fun trails in.

Some of the hazards of trail building are the Klingon forces that come out to attack you as you are working.

There are some cool sites along the trail. This little water fall is one of them.

The snow has fallen now and the trails are full of snow and fresh bunny tracks.

Currently we have been riding in the snow and getting ready for the Triple D, which is a winter race that goes from Dubuque to Dyersville to Durango Ia. 50+ miles in the snow on trails. There is about 5 riders from the Platteville area that plan to do the event. I will try it if it is over 5 degrees. Under that and I will probably be drinking in the bar.

Well that is all for now. I always hope to be more up to date with my blog but don’t hold your breath.

Cheers.

10th place!

tim — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:18:27 +0000

Since my last post in making the bold statement that I was going to race the 24 hours of the Nine Mile forest Solo. I have actually raced the 24 hours this last weekend. It was as much of a mental and emotional endeavor as it was a physical one.

It was my first time to do such an event. To race 24 hours off-road non stop. I was not sure what to expect and I didn’t even know if I could ride for 24 hours straight. You can take breaks or even naps if you want, but my goal was to stay moving, even if I had to walk, and not take more than a ten minute break between laps.

My pit stops on average were two minutes, my longest being five minutes when I changed lights and my clothes at 2 am. I changed my clothes every six hours to feel fresh. I had great support with my daughter (Agnes) and two friends (April and Melissa) helping me. Their support was very valuable in my ability to keep going around the clock. They made sure I had food and water every time I came around every lap.

I did it. I raced for 24 hours straight. I rode 17 laps for 241 miles.

I took tenth place at the 24 Hour Solo National Championships. The link below will take you to the lap times and placing.

Click here for results.

24/9 or Bust!

tim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:25:09 +0000

I suppose some of you who may read this know nothing of the 24/9. The 24/9 as it is refered to is a 24 hour off-road bike race held in a state park near Wausau Wisconsin. The stat park is called Nine Mile Forest. This is why it is referred to as 24/9. You can do this event as a four or five person relay team. Or you can do it solo. They have mens, womens and even co-ed classes. I have done it twice in the past and have been on a co-ed team that has taken 1st and 3rd. This time when I race it things will be different. First let me explain that I always have mentioned, “gee, I really would like to do a 24 hour solo”, but I never sign up for one. Well Martin (the shop gnome) got sick of listening to my whining about wanting to and never doing it, so he signed me up for the solo race with out me knowing. So now I am all signed up and if I back out of it all forces of evil will come down upon me in the cycling world. I would be doomed a flat on every ride. The event will Aug 2-3. I will keep you posted.

If you stop by the shop check out how clean the bathroom is, the gnome has been on bathroom duty ever since.

Unique reCycling.

tim — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:41:22 +0000

This past Saturday at the farmers market I saw this great bicycle basket made out of a plastic kitty litter box. Was very cool and was designed a lot like the Trek grocery bag pannier. It holds quite a bit of stuff and has a handle to boot. The young man this belonged to showed up with his handmade basket and a bicycle specific cart to be pulled behind full of rhubarb for sale.

Got gas problems? Ride a bike……

tim — Sat, 31 May 2008 00:40:57 +0000

In the past few months, with gas prices rising, there has been quite a few folks coming in with their old bikes to get them repaired. Bikes are being unearthed from there tomb in the garage and brought in to be resurected and brought back to life. This is a job I love to do. Better yet is to persuade someone they do not need to buy a new bike, but give that bike they own the love it deserves. Give that neglected bike child a tune-up, put some breath back into its tires. Sometimes all a bike needs is a little love and the bike is as eager as their first day on the trail.

There are times that the cost of a parts transplant and a tune-up/by-pass are not worth the owners insurance premium. In those cases we try to salvage what organs we can for other transplants on bikes for other donation bikes.

What has also been exiting is to see all the folks getting turned on to commuting by bike. There has always been a high number of folks in Platteville area that commute, the enlightend ones. Like Paul who commutes from Dodgeville to Platteville several times a week. There have been at least forty people this spring, from the area and not just PLatteville, to come in and aquire items to help their commute to work. It has been really fun to help people out with their new adventure.

I hope all those commuting are having a safe springand are enjoying your savings. Any of you who would like to kick the gas prices in the pants and would like help on equipment or route planning please stop by for free advice. I would love to help you on your way to freedom from your gas problems.

Build it and they will come.

tim — Mon, 05 May 2008 03:30:11 +0000

I hope so, and they better bring a rake or shovel.
Recently I have made a connection with a local land owner who is open to the idea of building trails on his property. That is great. Better yet is that his property is only two miles from town. What a wonderful asset for the community. The area is accessible by bike. It is very scenic with a beautiful stream running through it. The area has high potential for being a great destination for trail riding.
I already have my first massive blister from raking in new trails. So far we have only created one mile of trail but there is so much more potential. I am hoping for ten to twelve miles of trails. I will keep you posted with updates on the trail progress.
Right now I am looking for those fabric band aids for my blisters. The plastic ones are worthless.

tim — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:07:21 +0000

Don’t have much time but to give an update. The shop is crazy with work. I am looking forward to a special new helper, she is a bit taller than the gnome. I don’t have to worry about her getting lost in the fridge. I raced the Uwp TT last weekend and placed third. Felt good to race. Right now I am sporting a blister form building new trail in a new secret spot. I will update later with pictures of the trails. I won’t show you where unless you bring a rake and are willing to help build. This weekend I am off to Decorah Iowa for another TT. Decorah is like the Midwest version of Moab Utah. The folks there have done a great job with trail building.
Anyone know anything about land trust’s?? Just planning ahead for more trails. wanna help?

A little German help.

tim — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:16:48 +0000

This spring has been rough. The weather has not truly broken through in our favor, & I have been a bit understaffed. Struggling in the shop, working from 7am till 7pm or sometimes even 11pm. We have had some of the oddest mechanical problems this spring. The types of problems that have you pulling your hair out, If you have any hair.
Fortunately we have had some unexpected help. All the way from Germany young Martin (he is only 150 years old, kinda like a teenager) has showed up to help. He usually awakes from the fridge after midnight and works till morning. He accomplishes quite a bit for such a little guy. It seems as long as I keep the fridge stocked with beer he works. If I run out of beer for some reason he doesn’t even come out of the fridge. So I try to keep the fridge stocked at all times. He says he may have some of his relatives coming to join in on all the work.
If that is the case I may need to get a bigger fridge for the shop.
Hope your spring is going well.

Used bikes are beatiful too.

tim — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:03:24 +0000

I have noticed over the last few years of an interest for used bikes because of the higher gas prices. Lately the interest has grown. I have a feeling that when gas prices get to $4 a gallon the interest will rise franticly. It will take the pinch in the pocket book for people to realize the benefits and efficiency of the bicycle. Sadly, so many will not realize the health and emotional benefits that are gained from biking. That of which I have felt for over twenty years the true benefits of bicycles. I look at bicycles not as items of consumerism but as an extension of our selves. The bicycle can become a great part of our lives. Through work, play, or spiritual retreat.
I remember when I realized this riding my first real road bike in the Illinois country side. I was free, alive, flying along at twenty miles an hour, but I was not alone. I was one with my bike. Forever I will have a soft spot in my heart for mans true best friend, the bicycle.
For this reason I have a hard time throwing away bicycles. A bike has to be in really bad shape for me to drag its limp body to the curb to be recycled. Most times I am able to revive a bike. Sometimes I am even able to resurrect it from the depths of death.
Fortunately what I have is a lot of orphaned bicycles. Beautiful bicycles waiting to be loved. I have a collection of bicycles just waiting for love that you could give to them. From mountain to road to hybrid to old school Schwinn cruisers. This summer as gas prices sore into the four dollar range, take advantage of the freedom a bike can give you, spit in the eye of the camel and ride a bike. If you don’t have a bike to do the spitting with, then come to me my friend and I will introduce you to the love of your new life. I have an attic full of orphans. Ride a Bike, it’s easy.

Frozen Bicycle Bunns Batman!

tim — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:54:00 +0000

Once you ride in good weather you should not have to go back to riding in crappy snowy weather. Especially if you have a new bike. Look at the poor bike above. Isn’t that the saddest site you have seen. Think about how cold your butt would be on that seat. Eeek!!
I hope we can all get out there and enjoy some sun soon. I personally am going to drag my bike and trainer over to the tanning salon and try to get in one of those little tanning booths, and dream of being in southern France. Hmmmmm….I love the thought. France here I come.