So the picture blog for December got lost with various amounts of insane activity and is currently tabled indefinitely. I haven’t had to to reflect, reset, or resume to normalcy anytime soon. But damn I’m happy. That’s what matters, right?
Meet the Parents (17)
Posted in Uncategorized on December 25, 2009 by jeffbedelMy parents and sisters came to Milwaukee to visit.
Reds (16)
Posted in Uncategorized on December 25, 2009 by jeffbedelBaseball with the family, Cincinnati style.
Bonfire on the Lakeshore (14)
Posted in Uncategorized on December 25, 2009 by jeffbedelBiking to a bonfire on Lake Michigan.
Menominee River Bike Ride (13)
Posted in Uncategorized on December 25, 2009 by jeffbedelAlso known as “the crash”.
Major Taylor Cycling Club (12)
Posted in Uncategorized with tags cycling, diverse, major taylor on December 11, 2009 by jeffbedelA diverse group with one purpose.
104.6 (11)
Posted in biking, local business with tags biking, century, crazy, hybrid, miles on December 11, 2009 by jeffbedelAfter a season and a half riding on a cheap mountain bike then several seasons doing thousands of miles on a hybrid; it was time to reward myself with a new faster bike. Of course I looked no further than Cory the Bike Fixer where I chose a Kona Dew Drop to do the long distance duties I was about to embark on this past summer.
The ride I wanted to prepare for one June Saturday (6/20/09) was for a ride up in the Michigan UP a week later which was 75 miles. But that day I rode almost to Sheboygan (52 miles way) for a cookout and after some debate I decided I had enough gas and daylight (didn’t have lights on the bike yet) to go back yet that day and force me into a century. I did it.
This was the Kona’s inaugural trip too. What a way to break in a bike. 
Bike Fed (10)
Posted in biking, community with tags awareness, bike racks, biking, safety, work on December 11, 2009 by jeffbedelI finally had an incentive to go check out the Bike Fed when they had a party at the Lakefront Brewery early this spring. I figured I could spend $25 for a membership that included food, beer, and like minded cyclists. I met some great people that night and realized more about the power that we had to make Milwaukee and Wisconsin a better place to bike.
One of the best events of the year was bike-to-work week. Each day stations throughout the city were supplied with free coffee, pastries, and one day you could even ride in with the Mayor. Also after work parties were held and was finished off with a bike-in-movie and the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts.
The Bike Fed’s lobbying work with legislators has been a great force and gives me one of the things Milwaukee was lacking on the buses, bike racks. For me those are my tow truck. More lanes, trails, and most importantly safety and awareness is a benefit to us all.
1,000 (9)
Posted in Just me, biking with tags biking, goals, miles on December 11, 2009 by jeffbedelBack in 2006 I biked over 2,500 miles and I set out to beat that mark the two following years only to fail miserably. Used to be when I was in Indiana the biking association there held a challenge to do 500 miles in May. The first season trying to that I failed with only like 10 miles to go when I blew a spoke and it went through my tire. D’oh. At less than 3 hours before midnight, I walked my bike home a few blocks to home and retired for the night. Achieving that goal was more about trying to get a head start on the numbers and hit a 1,000 by the end of May. This year, my goal was to have 500 by May 1st, and then finally go for the 500 mile goal in May to ultimately finally hit that 1,000 mile goal by May 31st.
I was diligent that month and achieved it with actually a few days to spare. The most important thing of that mark is that is gave me a boost to strive again for 3,000 miles. Little did I know what getting a fast start would lead too at that moment.
