Do I have a bike problem? Perhaps
I've accidentally developed a bit of a collection of bikes over the (many) years simply by modernizing over time with new capabilities or different uses and not selling off the old ones. Bikes store better than say cars and usually have a lot lower residual value to try to capture by selling them off (Covid times were an exception) I thought it might be fun to write up their stories to share. These are all rideable and I do actually ride them. They range from a steel-framed 1982 Bianchi I bought new while in high school (in Celeste of course) to a contemporary gravel bike where I've experimented with various components to the point where comparisons to the Ship of Theseus come to mind. Along the way have been an early aluminum MTB, a custom full suspension MTB, a few different road bikes of different vintages, a tandem, commuters and more.
Experimental mechanic projects
Yeah, I actually enjoy working on bikes. The normal maintenance projects etc. can bring a real sense of accomplishment and knowing things are right. But the really fun ones are making changes where it requires research and experimentation. These I feel are worth sharing what I've learned so that the next person starts with a leg up.
Cycling observations and more
Videos (and some picture galleries)
I like to capture the interesting places my bike takes me. Often, the best way is by video. Most of these are short summaries of the events. But a few are kinda ASMR-like 'just watch the whole thing if you want' videos.
Events
- Riding the Alpe-Adria bike route from Salzburg to Grado. This is a phenomenal route along river valleys and rail lines to make crossing the Alps a pleasurable experience not just a climbing fest. The full run is 415km. But due to needing a bus bypass of the normal shuttle through the Tauern pass, and not having time to do Udine to Grado, I did the best parts for a total of ~230km in three days.
- Climbing the Grossglockner high alpine road. Every year, the highest pass in Austria is closed for a morning to have a race, the Glocknerkoenig, up from the village of Bruck to the pass: 5484 feet of climbing over 17 miles and then return. Sadly, I timed out before reaching the top and 'only' did 3150 feet over ~12 miles. Still an amazing ride in a beautiful setting with 2300 lunatics.
- Sea Otter 30 mile Gravel Race 2025 and prerun I've heard about Sea Otter for years and finally went to the Expo in 2024. A great vibe and well worth the day. But in 2025, I won an entry into the gravel race and had to give it a try. Didn't win, but had a great ride on the day and the recon ride.
- Foxy's Fall Century 2024 I've done Foxy's in Davis a half dozen times over 20 years. It is a fantastic 'first century' for anyone since there is little climbing on the metric. It's really beautiful to be flying along long, straight farm roads in the early light of a Fall morning. Often you can group up with fellow riders for an ad hoc paceline.
- Grizzly Gravel 2024 This is a course for gravel riders who like to climb. Basically straight up for thousands of feet, then an hour descent back down on trails that are borderline MTB trails. Definitely for the fatter tires with fantastic views peeking through the woods.
- Lassen Gravel Adventure 2024 A beautiful way to explore the mid elevations of the Sierra in the far north of California. It starts in Susanville heading out on the Bizz Johnson rail trail. This is a very cool unpaved, light grade route along the Susan River, through tunnels, over bridges and more. It covers a variety of terrain through forests, giant, dramatic burn zones and more. Trails range from the packed rail trail to varying condition forest roads and some narrower trails. So nice, that after crashing the first time (random sand pit) I still came back to do the full course in 2024.
- Everybody Loves Raymond (The first time when the shift cable jammed. See video of repair) ELR is another fantastic gravel event. It happens in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite in the Spring when the hills are amazingly green and the rivers are running. Well recommended
- Send It Sacramento 2024 (Gravel on the levees) and pictures from February 2025 version 2. This is an 'ad hoc' event organized by Gravel Bike California and a local shop. This is not one for climbing. It is for a fast, social ride along levies through the Delta. Given how many came both times, I suspect it will happen again.
- Delta Century 2024 (Lodi) It was to be a full century ride, but a rare May downpour had the organizers cut it to a metric only course. It was still a beautiful ride through the Delta.
- Ride the Rim (Crater Lake with the road closed) and instrumented This is an absolutely beautiful recreational ride. It is remote to get there, but highly recommended making the effort.
- Niles Canyon Roll and Stroll Periodic event where Hwy 84 through Niles Canyon is closed for human transport. Cyclists are allowed to start early to get a shot at normal riding before the crowds. Do it that way. Later in the day the wandering pedestrians take a lot of the fun away.
- Modesto Flower Season Social Ride - 100km in 100 sec This was a fluke from a FB meetup ride. It was supposed to be ~40 miles through the orchards in peak blossom season. But a few of us got back to the start and weren't finished. So we added some more lovely miles to make a metric
Various Rides
Full Playlist of rides (YouTube playlist)
- Through Monte Bello Open Space
- Biking at Yosemite
- Milwaukee along the shore
- Milwaukee to Waukesha
- Waukesha to MilwaukeeOak Leaf Trail in Milwaukee
- Down the west side of Alpine on Sequoia Century
- Menlo Park to Alamo
- The new Alpine trail
- Riding the track at Laguna Seca (Sea Otter)
- Joshua Tree Gravel Loop
- Baylands Loop
- Donut Loop (incl Stevens Creek Trail)
- Riding through the City and Golden Gate Park
- Palo Alto - Los Altos - Return
- Marin Gravel
- Down Mt Tam
- Dusk Descent on Spring Hill Trail
- Coming down from Umhunhum on Kennedy Trail at sunset.
- 84 Skyline to Woodside
- Skyline to Portola Redwoods. Sunset into the dark
- Overnighting at Kirby Cove
- Lake Chabot Regional Park
- Montebello Descent after overnighting on the ridge
- Pacifica at sunset
- John Nicholas trail
- Fremont Older OSP
- Down Page Mill on a fine Fall evening
- Tubeless puncture at 32mph
- Martinez Twin Bridge Loop
- The Soakquoia (downpour in summer)
- Lafayette Briones Tilden Canyon Moraga
- Capitola, Scott’s Valley, Santa Cruz Loop
- Descending Mt Hamilton
- Whittemore Gulch Trail
- Capitola, Scott’s Valley, Santa Cruz Loop
- Walnut Creek, Clayton, Blackhawk Loop
- Coyote Creek Trail
- Three Bridge* North Bay Loop
- South Bay Loop
- Tennessee Valley - January 30, 2022
Pictures
But sometimes I manage to get good photographs to share since photography is another hobby. I've learned how to get good photos out of action cams along with dragging along 'real' cameras sometimes. These are organized in galleries
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