THOR Tranquility Park Monday Night Ride - cancelled 02.27

Paul checked out the Frozen Toes race at TP yesterday and the tread was too soft.

Freeze/thaw with moister in the ground requires us to ride when below freezing to avoid the slime and tear up the tread or trail corridor.

Trek Up The Tower 2012

Trek Up the Tower 2012

The 2012 Trek is in the books and Team Bike Masters had a great showing again this year. This year the team consisted of Daren K, Brad H, Dale R, Dan H, and Dave N, 3 first timers and 2 veterans. We finished 4th out of 47 teams in the community team division, only 3 seconds behind the 3rd place team. Ivan Marsh was the winner again this year, his 5th straight victory.

Full results can be found here: Race Results

The 1593 participants who made it up the 40 floors (870 steps) received a medal (pictured above), a towel and a much needed bottle of water. We were allowed to look out the windows at the top of the First National Building for a few minutes before the elevator ride back down. Whole Foods supplied yogurt, bananas and drinks for the climbers after their race.

This is an unusual event because there isn’t a way to train that replicates race conditions. It is harder on the lungs and throat than it is on the legs, the legs recover in a few minutes but the persistent “climbers cough” sticks with you for a day or so.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped put on the event , without them there would be no Trek.

Registration for the 2013 Trek Up The Tower Opens November 1, 2012. The field was full in less than 2 weeks this year so if you are interested in doing this event sign up early.

Tranquility Park Monday Night Ride - 2.20 cancelled

I think this is only the second weather cancellation for this Winter, and because of rain/mud; compared to the last few years when we were off for months at a time because of big snows.

Enjoy the time off the trails; they are easily damaged/scarred.

2.13 tpmnr

Rode in from west entrance along north side of creek. The 2" of new snow of super quiet - whiiissssshhhhh. Until I would get close to the edge and catch some of the older crusted snow. Pushed out to parking lot and rode to north side trailhead where Chris was unloading his bike while Dave and Paul were outfitted with snowshoes. Mike then joined us with a bad cold and his fat bike.

Trail to north and along creek were very rideable. Prairie north of bridge was a slog. I just pushed for a while. The 4x4 tracks around the wetlands were more difficult this week because snow drifted across and couldn't see edges. Paul and Dave skied back west treeline about half way. Not too bad but I had to push the false flats and rode the rest.

This ride had the most work of the snow rides this year. Have a better appreciation of Chris, Mike, Paul, and others cutting the snow trail.

The flatter the trail, and the more trees, the easier the snow trail. Wondering if we could access the Fort St Loop from the park entrance and get that rideable? With the warm weather compacting the snow, will have to wait till it mostly melts and we get some new fluffy stuff to work with.

thoughts and pics from 2.6 mnr

From summer temps last mnr to winter temps and a challenging snow course, what seven days can bring. Left the shop with no one. Been a while since that happened. Saw Michael's truck at the west entrance. Followed the trail packed down by the guys on Saturday - thanks to Paul, Mike, Jenna, Chris, and Michael.

Just above freezing, I was sinking in a little so the ride was a workout. Had to get off a couple times per lap on the North Creek Loop. More on second because getting tired. Third lap reversed and it was easier and fewer dismounts.

Ran into Michael on the first lap, and Mike on the second. Saw some fog rolling in across the parking lot from the Big Papio, very cool. We decide to ride to the North Fort St loop, good thing because Chris was riding, Steve skiing, and Cody running. That loop seemed easier because it was flatter.

Rode in 4x4 tracks around the wetlands loop. That's the best time I've had riding any vehicle tracks! Very challenging because of narrow, high sidewalls. But the tread was packed down so compactly, it was easier to hold a straight line.

Chris was the only one to clear the double g-out. Michael endo'd. Mike and I were somewhere in between.

Had to watch for black ice on pavement. Very enjoyable ride!

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 02.06

Last Monday we hit 70F during the day and 60's for the night ride. Afterwards we celebrated the weather and ride with a cookout:

Warming the knees around the fire:

A week later, we get to ride through the North Creek Loop and part of the North Fort St loop packed in by fatbikes and snowshoes over the weekend. About 10" of snow Saturday has brought us to our second round of snow rides this Winter.

We will leave the shop at 6 and roll from the kiosk about 6:05.


The North Creek Loop (kiosk loop north side of creek) and part of the North Fort St loop is packed down.

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 01.30

Last Monday had an inch of snow on the ground. Nice change of color and a little slippage here and there.

 Starting from the shop:

Back to the extreme warm weather for this TPMNR. We have been blessed with 90%+ rideability on Monday nights for last Fall and this Winter. This counters the last few Winters that dumped snow in December and kept us off singletrack for months.

Let's enjoy the ride! Leave the shop at 6pm, roll from the kiosk at 124th/Fort St about 6:05.

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 01.23

About an inch of snow fell last night to add some crunch and change of color to the ride tonight. We will roll from the shop at 6 and the kiosk about 6:05. Let's enjoy the easy pedaling snow ride tonight!

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 01.16

What an incredible Winter we have been having weatherwise. Probably 15+ cars at the Tranquility kiosk yesterday afternoon with sunshine, temps in the low 50's, and the tread in great shape.

Though colder today, we still have a great opportunity to ride dirt in the dark in January. We will leave the shop at 6 and roll from the kiosk about 6:05.

Let's enjoy the ride!

MNR Report - Jan. 09, 2012

In future winter seasons we'll be talking about Monday Night Rides taking place in January 2012 where the conditions were so great. Last night the trail was nice and firm. The temprature was comforatble and the moon was so bright Steve D. turned his light off. There was a decent turnout for last nights ride. Patrick was the newcomer last night but his riding was fast and sure didn't reflect any newness.

Greg was demoing a Giant Anthem and enjoying the full squishyness of it.
We avoided the old trail close to the north creek because it's not drying out like the rest of the trail. We used the trail that goes by the kiosk to get to and from the new trails on the far north side. It was great to ride with the Daves (P. and N.) Eric, Greg, Mike, Pat, Steve and Cody. Many of the worlds problems were solved in my garage after the ride. We didn't write anything down so we'll have to solve those problems again next week. :-) -Paul

we got the weatherman's mistake monday

Was a little concerned when pulled into the shop and water wasn't frozen on parking lot. Tried a little of the singletrack at shop and it left a waffle pattern but didn't stick to tire. TP was different. Once the mud started to stick, it filled out to the end of the knobbies. Maybe that's why it didn't look like we were leaving much tracks on the tread because it was mud on mud.

Here are a couple of pics I'm sad to show.

Got the hose out at the shop and washed my bottom bracket, chainstays, seatstays. I guess I have to push the conditions once to be reminded why we say no to mud.

tranquility park monday night ride - 12.19

Deleted pic from dmars on downed tree along the Papio Creek. Will leave for ramp work in the Spring while Greg and Paul cut out an easy bypass on the side Monday morning. Look forward to riding through it tonight.

Will roll from kiosk, 124th and Fort St, around 6:05. We roll from the shop at 6.

Enjoy the ride!

monday night bike de'lights - 12.12

Tranquility trail is too wet so we will do an impromptu local bike de'lights. See the map

Will leave Target Starbucks at 132nd/Maple at 6 pm and head west to 144th. Return via 132nd. About seven miles in length. For a shorter kids route, park at the 66 gas station on SW corner of 144th/Blondo.

Some spectacular lights off Hamilton and east of 144th.

All are welcome, no drop ride.

first snow ride of 2011/12 season

12/05 Monday Night Ride at Tranquility

Ryan showed for his first snow ride - awesome! Add to the difficulty of riding in the snow - night time light/vision and temp of about 18 with no solar heating by the sun. He did really well - though I detected more fishtailing as the distance increased. Even riding snow tread that has been packed down, it's like riding a foot wide board all the time. Eventually the continued concentration on trying to ride so narrow adds up - that and our trail widening instances carved up the tread requiring more concentration next time around to ride through.

Was reminded of the difference between snow packed into ice and ice that's glazed. Less noise on latter and I got dropped really quick twice. Neighborhood streets had better traction than park entrances. Even though fell on solid ice over pavement, no long term pain. Studs or chains do help on the glaze, but overall, I like the mt kings at 22 psi rear and 20 front. Felt bounce and concerned about pinch flat but made it home. With so much ice/snow on streets, I don't ride fast enough to require braking hard and spinning a tire on the rim. Glad I went to 36/22 gearing, could feel quads had a workout when I got home.

Overall, I was out almost two hours at 18F with 10mph NNE wind. New PI gloves with vulcan sign fingering and additional glove inside (can't remember correct term for the inside glove) worked. A couple finger tips got cold at first, then warmed up, then several fingers got cold. Did Dave N's warm up technique of throwing to ground motion and the fingers hurt more! Then they warmed up. 8-) Stopping to talk to Steve a couple times and the fingers got cold. Must be lower heart rate/blood pressure doesn't push enough warm blood to fingers/toes. Toes were mostly fine, though when I got home and stripped down, the toes felt pretty cold with a little tinglyness.

Clothing: wool socks, sugoi 3/4 leggings, sugoi thermal pants, chrome messenger pants, armour base, sugoi wool jersey, chrome wool jacket, two PI thin belaclavas, PI thin glove, PI P.R.O. softshell lobster glove, Shimano winter boot, PI high ankle shoe covering. L&M ARC (HID, old but still works) only lasted about 1.5 hours, good I ride with handlebar backup. This was the second time it ran dry on way home from a mnr. I don't use both lights at same time so I have a backup. Forgot to blow camelbak tube with air so it was frozen solid first time went for a drink. Not going extreme on power output kept hydration necessity low.

Overall, a fun first snow ride of the season, even being dark with a little wind. Nice having someone to ride with and seeing Steve and Cody on the trail. They were out there in daylight through our ride and put in 10 miles on xc skis.

Surprisingly, the snow has not compacted or iced yet. Agree with Steve that snow loops need to be short so many laps are put on tread to pack down and widen out. Or need a lot of bikes for longer loops. I think flatter grade trails are best choice since elevation change requires more precise balance to keep traction to both tires and increases power needs beyond my sustainable max.

Lot of quad tracks on wetland loop. Didn't go far on it before turning around. Maybe mental but prefer to break/pack tread in daylight. Minimal visibility seems limits the amount of hard work I want to do. Night time snow riding is like riding an unfamiliar, loose traction, tread requiring more balance and tracking skills, more power output at less speed. It is a much different experience from cold, dry riding, which is different from warm, dry riding. Cool the different kinds of experiences available on a bike!

If night time singletrack in the snow is beyond your comfort range, check out daytime snow riding on the cement trails. After being plowed, these are usually less icy than neighborhood streets, though need to watch for thawed/frozen ice (black ice).

Enjoy the ride!

monday mtb ride at tranquility 12.05

Leave from kiosk about 6:05, 124th and Fort St.

Mike, Paul, and Chris packed down the loop north of Fort St. Will see how the trail is around the Feeder Creek. If rideable, get a couple loops on that and then head to the north side. Linking up the flattest trails at Tranquility should get us around a 4 mile loop.

Let's enjoy the ride!

nice warmup after mnr

Paul and Chris had some cold toes tonight. Paul gets his roasted over a kerosine fire.

Dave N brought his mini salimander powered by LP. Took the chill off the garage quickly.

Though neighborhood weather stations and smart phones said it was mid to upper 30's. Saw some frost reflecting off grass near end of ride. Used wind shell for extra layer on ride home.

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 11.21

Rode to church yesterday morning in 20 degree temps to stay current with weather and test how many layers were needed. Half hour ride with tailwind and sun, 3 layers - had to slow down and unzip wind shell because was overheating core, though my 2 layer gloves still had my fingers getting cold.

Tonight's ride should be in 30's but without sun, so probably about the same - warm base layer and external garment. Ride to stay warm but slow down if sweating.

Roll from kiosk at 124th and Fort about 6:05. Ride a lap or so. If we're cold, can always cut ride short.

We need to keep riding to have the body and mind adapt to weather, otherwise it's 4-5 months of indoor stuff.

Let's enjoy the ride!

friday night ride turns all steel

dmars put out a ride invitation on thor page for friday night and four steel bikes rode about 12 miles at tranquility. interesting mix of bikes: ss hardtail, ss rigid, fixed rigid, geared rigid. Temp around 50, no wind, clear sky - beautiful ride. This is the second fnr in a row at tp and both rides were highly enjoyable.

Surprisingly no skunks but did see a couple deer. Paul was about 10' from them before they grudgingly moved, and then only about 20'.  Probably the same deer that stood up to Paul a month ago. Don't need to fear a no-show mountain lion when the onsite deer feel they can kick your butt.

great ride, great scar to remember it by

Great temps, no wind, nice evening views, fresh trail backwards, friends to enjoy the ride with. Same TTFs with different feel. The northern log crossing, middle path, had Paul's number last night. Timing didn't put wheel on top but before log causing a chain reaction sudden stop, nose wheelie, rider face plant into log. Helmet and eye protection kept this from being much worse. Blood, 10mm slit opened in the eye lid, bandaid covered for ride back home. Ice to keep swelling down, and nut brown ale to ease the pain.

As Paul says, "Nature's tattoo to remember a fun ride."

monday mtb ride at tranquility - 11.14

Sunny, dry, average temps for mid November. Good stuff. Got a lap in at Platte River before the Bike Bash last night. Last weekend was first ride at Swanson this year, same for Platte. Nice to change things up.

Will ride southhill regular way but middle and north thirds of trail backwards.

Roll out of kiosk at 124th and Fort St around 6:05.

Enjoy the ride!