The Afghan Commute...

While on the ground in a local town, I was able to snap a few photos of the locals and their bikes. How the Afghans keep their bikes in running order on these dirt and rock "roads" is beyond me. It's hard enough to keep them running on paved roads and bike paths. Does anyone know when the dates and routes for the 2011 Tour de Kota will become available?

Hard to believe it has been more than a year....

.....since the last post. However, its nice to be able to keep up with the local SF and SD biking scene while deployed to Afghanistan. -Car, Mayor and the rest of the local blogroll, you guys are great and its been really fun keeping up through your blogs.
There are actually bikes here and I will be posting some pictures as soon as possible.
Counting the days...

Bike Porn?

Last Friday night, members of FAB held the fabulous Starlight Ride. On the way to the meet-up, which was near the Statue of David at Fawick Park, a railroad bridge presented itself for photographic purposes.

According to the FAB website the specifics of the Starlight Ride are:

What: Night ride around the Sioux Falls bike trail of approximately 19 miles.
When: 1st and 3rd Friday of every month starting at 8:00 p.m. Start time may change during winter months.
Where: Starting and ending at Fawick Park.
Requirements: A blinking rear light is required. Headlights are HIGHLY recommended. Helmets are required.
Pace: A casual pace will be followed so the entire group stays together.

First 20 of 2009

Rolled out to the pump house on the northwest corner of bike path. No ice, virtually no moisture on the path, at least on the west side. Yesterday I noticed the southern end had some deep water (a few inches) underneath the canopy of the "Black Forrest" and some deeper snow and ice near the dog park area at Spencer? near Cliff. The buffalo were sunning themselves at the zoo. Would have liked to have snapped a photo of the bike with the buffalo but there isn't a rusty old pole to lean the bike on anywhere close by. Instead, another bridge:

Start of the season?

Put in about 80 miles so far this year. This weekend may just be the beginning of the riding season for us mortals.
If you are a bike path rider, watch out for the nasty ice slick under the north side of the 41st street bridge on the west side of town. I hopped off, walked the bike across the ice while clinging to the fence and still almost fell on my @$$.

First Ride of 2009

Went out for the first ride of the year on Thursday. Short and sweet, 5 miles, felt good!

Sharrows

Teem Drive has been sporting a sharrows lane (south side of the street, in the parking lane, serving east bound bikers) most of the summer. However, earlier this week the city painted another set of sharrows in the middle of the westbound traffic lane, not the parking lane. I am not quite sure what the new sharrows are intended to point out but it looks like Teem Drive is the most bike friendly street in town!