SpadOut

SpadOut - Sports Adventures Outdoors.

What is it? It's a website that tracks prices, reviews, and popularity of outdoor gear. Basically, type in the gear and the website lists the prices for the various on-line retailers.

The SpadOut website also includes an on-line magazine and I'm pleased to say that I am one of the writers. I now have an outlet for my geeked-out analysis of gear!

Here's my article on the ins and outs of solar charging on the road:http://www.spadout.com/a/solar-powered-people/

If you have a little free time, or are in need of some gear, check out the site here.

Happy Friday,

LK

World's Greatest

In keeping up with events and happenings in Eagle County, I just ran across this post on the Vail Valley Foundation's blog. They are getting ready for the Teva Games and shared some awesome footage of one of my favorite trails - World's Greatest. Enjoy!



Here's to sweet singletrack!
LK

One

1+1=50

Huh?

In preparation for the Colorado Trail, Chris and I participated in an endurance race over the weekend. Just to make it challenging, we rode our singlespeeds instead of geared bikes. More of just an event for us, the 'race' was staged at Bear Creek Lake Park, our current home track.

When we arrived at registration on Saturday morning, I was surprised to receive a number plate marked '1'. I believe this honor is normally reserved for the winner of last year's race and I felt like I should have been wearing yellow instead of bright blue. Anyhow, I displayed the number proudly. It certainly represented my entire experience; one speed, alone in my class, and eventually, the winner (just of my class, not the race). In the end I was toast, but thankful that I had finished. I can now mark number 14 of my life list: ride endurance race on singlespeed.

Happy Monday,

LK

Colorado Hut Trip

We had our first Colorado hut trip over the weekend. Lindley Hut was the destination - just a four mile snowshoe in from Ashcroft. Lindley is part of the Alfred Braun Memorial hut system - the first Colorado system oriented toward skiing. The structure was first built in the early 1950s and then later rebuilt after a fire.

A hut trip is an excellent way to get into the Colorado backcountry when there is still snow on the ground. You don't need much more than a sleeping bag and a good book. We definitely had more food than gear and spent Saturday afternoon playing lively games of Yahtzee! and eating tasty hors devours.

Here's to the beauty and grandeur of the Colorado mountains,

LK

The Office

Got a new chair for my waiting room...


Gives a whole new meaning to the term "doing business"...

Happy Monday,
LK

We heART Bikes

I can't remember exactly how I found the We heART Bikes Fundraising Art Show, but the 'open to everyone' caught my eye. Anyway, I got a few images prepared and submitted them. I hope they help raise some money for the cause.

The Reno Bike Project, which puts on the event, is a non-profit that promotes the bicycle in many ways. They, like other bicycle co-ops, understand that bicycles are not a standard luxury for everyone. Check out their website here: http://blog.renobikeproject.com/

Colorado has a host of bicycle collectives. Organizations like this are great places for donating old bikes and parts that are still useable. We plan to pedal to the Fort Collins Bicycle Co-Op this weekend and see what they've got going.

Happy Friday,

LK

Welcome to phone updates. Should be useful for the Colorado Trail this summer. LK

Ginger Ninjas and The Pleasant Revolution

As your resident earth loving, bicycle riding, thirty-something, I decided it would be appropriate to find something blog worthy for today (Earth Day). I pulled up my favorite search engine, Blackle, and typed in the words "reduce carbon footprint bicycles". About a quarter of the way down I noticed a link that caught my eye:

"Green Ninjas took their rock tour around Mexico by bicycle, greatly reducing the carbon footprint normally associated with rock concerts."

Obviously, I had to check the link out. I discovered that the Green Ninjas are actually the Ginger Ninjas and they toured from Northern California to Southern Mexico on bicycles. They even powered all of their equipment with our favorite human powered machine. Their tour is called The Pleasant Revolution.

You gotta check out the video above!

Here's to a low carbon footprint,

LK

Remembrance

The irony is so thick...

Today is my birthday. It is also the birthday of Adolf Hitler. And this year, today is also Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. This Jewish holiday commemorates the 6 million Jews that died during the Holocaust and is different every year. It usually occurs somewhere between March and April.

As you may remember, Chris and I had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz when we first got to Europe. It was an experience that neither of us will ever forget.

My birthday wish is this: when you get a chance today, take a moment to feel peace and love toward your fellow humans.

Be well,

LK

Back from Montana

I had the chance to do a little road trip with Chris' family to Montana. On the drive up we stopped in Jackson and made a quick trip into Grand Teton National Park.

Life is Bicycle

"Shouldn't it be - life is like a bicycle?" my 13 year-old nephew asked. And when I replied, "No, it's supposed to be artsy...", he just looked at me and said "oh...okay".

I discovered the world of self publishing and decided to do a small project before diving totally into the Bicycle Geography book. Today I finished and published a photo book called, Life is Bicycle.

The book is available through the Blurb website here:

Life is Bicycle

By Leslie Kehmeier

Book Preview

Enjoy!
LK

The New Project: Bike The Colorado Trail

The wanderlust continues. We've could have gone either way after our global adventure; feel satisfied and go back to way the life was, or keep coming up with new ideas. And yep, you guessed it, we're working on the latter.

Our new project is an ultra-light tour of the Colorado Trail. Chris recently informed me that the gear list is very short and does not include a tent or sleeping bags. Hmmm.

The trail covers 530 miles with 60,000 feet of climbing. I guess it's time to start training camp. We're looking at a July start, so we should have time to get our legs and lungs in shape.

The Colorado Trail starts in Denver and ends in Durango. Elevation ranges from 5,500 feet to a high point of 13,334 feet. A good portion of the trail hovers above 10,000 feet. The trail was completed in 1987 and is a joint project between the Colorado Trail Foundation and USFS.

Stay Tuned...

LK

So You're Telling Me There's A Chance...

photo - Chris commuting to the store in a previous snow storm

It's official - we do still live in Colorado. Yesterday the entire state finally got a good dose of that spring snow. I almost forgot what it's like.
Colorado is no stranger to white stuff in spring. Yesterday's storm was considered a blizzard. This winter storm condition can actually be defined and is not just something that the media invented to spice-up newscasts. The last March blizzard that struck was in 2003 and dumped over 30 inches.
A blizzard is defined as: a sever winter storm with low temperatures, strong winds, and heavy lowing snow. It is formed when a high pressure system clashes with low pressure. This causes advection: The transfer of a property of the atmosphere, such as heat, cold, or humidity, by the horizontal movement of an air mass (taken from the freedictionary.com). Blizzards occur in many different regions across the US and Canada. This type of weather also affects Russia and areas of northern Europe.
OK, so what does this have to do with bicycling and the picture above? Simple, we can put our studded tires back on - yeah!

Here's to moon-boots and snowcaves,
LK

Sharing is Caring

Just a short one:

Chris passed his teacher certification exam. We can't call him Mr. K until he actually gets a job.

Leslie got her first article published in print. Check out There and Back magazine at your local REI.

Peace!
LK

Otago Anniversary

I looked on the calendar this morning and noticed that today is Otago Anniversary. Otago is a region on the South Island of New Zealand where we spent a lot of time during our bicycle tour. One of our favorite adventures was the Otago Rail Trail. We figured that it was an area that not many travelers found their way through. For us, it was a very 'authentic' experience.

The map below is our route on the Otago Rail Trail. Each point on the map links to a blog for that day.

By the way - Otago Anniversary celebrates the day that Scottish explorers landed at Port Chalmers, the major port for the city of Dunedin.


View Larger Map

Have fun,
LK

Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow

I haven't actually read the book (authored by Marsha Sinetar)- the title just rings in my head from time to time. Since we've returned home from our adventure, it rings a little louder.

Our new path is starting to come together. I've got a few projects going (maps and writing) and Chris is awaiting is test results for teacher certification. We're still learning how to be patient, but know that life takes time and we just need to see how it undfolds.

Last week Chris joined me on my singletrack business trip. I had to pinch myself a few times when I realized that I was actually working. The riding in Arizona was spectacular and I had my fair share of "geeked-out" moments. I'm really excited about this particular project because I get to combine two of my favorite things; bicycles and maps.

Here's to coloring our parachutes,

LK

Monday, Monday

We're back from the desert after making a one day push from Flagstaff, AZ. Stay tuned for the details about the singletrack business trip.

Laundry Day

No road trip is complete without one.

Saguaro Wonderland

March 11, 2009
22.3 miles
3:57:00
6.0 mph

Saguaro Wonderland – that’s what the bumper sticker for our local KOA campground reads. I think I would have to agree. For the last two days we have been riding amongst these large tree-like cacti. Luckily, both of us have managed to keep the rubber side down. There is not much room for mistake is this prickly landscape.
The saguaro (pronounced, “saw-wah-roh”) is native to the Sonoran Desert. This ecosystem is found in Arizona, small parts of California, and two states in Mexico. The tall, green, and spiny cactus have a lifespan of up to 150 years and can take half that time to develop their side arms. Saguaros bloom in April and May and, with the pollination from bats, bear fruit in June. Different varieties of birds make their homes in saguaros. Some do the actual excavating, others just move in later. Harming this cactus species is against the law, so think twice before you build a house in a saguaro forest.
We’ll be moving on tomorrow to the southern sections of the Black Canyon Trail. I can’t begin to describe how much I’ve enjoyed the trail thus far. You can’t imagine the commitment and dedication that it takes to design, build, and sustain a trail like this. My hat is off to everyone involved. If your interest is piqued, visit the Black Canyon Trail Coalition’s website. And if you’re ever down this way, stop and check it out.

Steering clear of the cactus so far,
LK

Black Canyon Trail

03/10/09
26.4 miles
4:30 minutes

We arrived in AZ yesterday under cloudy skies, and winds trying to blow us off the road. The tent site we scored at the KOA in Rock Springs was out of the wind and close to the bathrooms. SCORE! Our camping location was perfect since it is located only 5 minutes from the trailhead for the Black Canyon Trail. The trail is relatively new and currently has only 20 miles of the projected 60 miles built. I think that they could stop at 20, give themselves a pat on the back and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The trail is a tight, twisty singletrack that only interrupts itself for the occasional crossing of the Agua Fria River. The river wasn’t too cold, but it did provide us with some wrinkled feet once our shoes finally came off. We rode a southern section of the trail as an out and back. And enjoyed every minute of it. We managed to burn through a gallon of water each with each of us taking our last sips as we arrived back at home base. I even had a rear flat that was a slow enough leaker I was able to make it back to the KOA and change it in the shade. The only mishap we had today was our lack of sunscreen and the resulting farmer burns on our arms. Tomorrow we go and ride a ten mile section of the northern route and will probably reach the end of the road for current trail construction. They tacked on a 1000 feet last Saturday, so we may have first tread on the new part. Doubtful, but we shall see.
Evidently there is a Café in town here famous for its pies. I will do my duty and give a full report on those at a later date.
CK