Dave Simmons

Fat Tire Single Track I went for a great ride yesterday. The best one so far this winter. It started out at the Ski and Bike Shop. Big surprise! Sears and Nathan were playing the role of Brian, and helped me tune up the Pugs. Nathan helped me put on clipless pedals, and Sears straightened out the rear brake caliper. Thanks guys, I'll have to get you some handlebars :) I also found a Patagonia Integral jacket on the sale rack that completes my winter armor. Wind proof with two big vents in the front to keep from overheating. I'm "Wussow Excited" about it. Soon, I will have more Patagonia than Austin. Hi Austin. Anyhoo, I left with a smile on my face and headed towards Lincoln Golf Course. I could already feel the extra power from the clipless pedals. I powered over the dike and bombed down the backside, amazing the little kids sledding down it. I rode on to Lincoln Park, and off to the side of the road, I saw some 4 wheeler tracks heading down to the river. I followed them and found some single and double track that rivals some of the trails at Turtle River State Park. Not really, but they were pretty good for winter riding. There was a rock garden, downed trees to ride over, off camber sections, tight technical turns. It had it all. The tracks wound along the river all the way to Riverside Dam. I'd say at least five miles worth. I've found my training grounds for the Arrowhead 135 race. I'll try to get some pictures of it soon. Pat, if you have your big tires on we should go for a ride this week sometime. Sears, narrow tires might work, but I think that you'd be pretty worked afterwards. It's worth a try. Brian did you ask the President about a Trek adventure frame? Anyway it was a great day. I can't wait to go back for more. In other news. I registered for the Arrowhead 135 race on Saturday. Pat, if you haven't registered yet the entry fee goes up after Dec 31st from $100 to $150. Pierre, the race organizer, e-mailed me and said they already have around 30 people registered. Is everyone ready for Trans-Iowa registration on Saturday at 11:00 am Pacific time. Sounds like it will fill up fast. Only 70 racers allowed. Who's all going? On Sunday morning I had to call Grand Forks' version of Brooks Leedahl. I had my window open because I have the opposite problem of Fox. My apartment is too hot. Anyway, I heard what sounded like a goose outside. I went to the window and looked around and saw a woman laying on the sidewalk. The goose was her calling for help. I grabbed my cell phone, threw on my jacket and shoes, and bolted out the door. It turned out to be one of my neighbors from down the hall. She had slipped on some snow covered ice and dislocated her knee. I calmed her down and called 911. A few minutes later. I heard sirens coming down the street. It was a big fire truck. Followed shortly by an ambulance. They got her on a gurney and away they went. Pretty exciting start to the day. Well I hope to do a better job of blogging this week. Later.