Recently in Bicycling Category

Having had plenty of experience inserting my mouth into my foot, when Atrios made his first comment about Philly bicyclist behaving poorly, I just ignored it, despite being aware of it's generalization. Generalizing being one of the hallmarks of bigotry, sexism, and racism, he should have known better. Since then, he has had to follow up with two more posts, attempting to 'clarify' his first comment. Note I said clarify (hence the terror hashes. Doh!) not apologize.

Atrios is who he is, and all the emails, comments, and any other attempts at castigating him, will not result in any type of apology. It is not in his nature. Though, to his credit, he has walked back from the generalized statement. But, with no obvious apology in place, I figure he will continue to receive static for a bit more. Eventually, this will fade into the past.

No doubt, at a later date, he will make another sweeping generalization about one group or another, and once again set off a whirlwind of controversy.

Welcome to another day in Blogstonia.

Okay, I went for a bike ride with The Fuskers™. So, here are the stats: 5.86 miles in 44 minutes and 5 seconds. We maintained a 7.9 mph average with a maximum speed achieved of 24 mph. It was to be a preliminary run for me, with an expected hard workout to follow. Unfortunately, I discovered a busted spoke in my back wheel. So, instead of a leg of the Tour De Rook, I made a pit stop at Erik The Bike Man. 24 hours and $38.40 later I was back up and running with 8 new spokes and an adjusted derailleur.

Okay, this is a two-for.

First, on Friday I did leg 12 of the Tour De Rook. So without further to do here are the stats: a distance of 13.90 miles at an average speed of 13.2 mph. I achieved a top speed of 27.5 mph with an actual riding time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 49 seconds.

There was a nasty wind blowing, which really hurt me on Highway 46/47; a slight incline for about a mile when heading east. Thanks to the various clumps of wooded acres I was hit with alternating cross winds as well as head winds. Yet, in the end, I still managed an increased average. So, I was happy.

Oh, and I stopped twice for stretching.

Second, my 6th move in the Blogger's Chess match against Jim Yeager, formally Mimus Pauly, formally of Mockingbird's Medley: Pawn to e5. I am going to force a capture as if my life depended on it. It doesn't, but I'll pretend.

So, I am at the motel, looking through my emails, all that stuff. I see a long-time Republican congressman has called it quits. Too be honest, I would rather see him stay on a few more terms. He's helped my field more than most liberal Democrats. I also see Bush had a love-in at the White House with some "cough" war bloggers "cough.'"

I'd really like to say more about that last sentence, but Froomkin did such a good job, why make the effort at duplication.

Now, I am going to go for a bike ride. You all try not to wreck the place while I am out. You know, do the opposite of Bush.

startribune.com

What's believed to be the oldest ice cream parlor in Minnesota will be sold in the aftermath of a public dispute over its renovation and the subsequent death of owner Joe Farrington.

Selma's Ice Cream Parlour in the southern Washington County city of Afton closed abruptly in early August when Farrington committed suicide after protracted negotiations with the City Council and the state Department of Natural Resources over his development plans for the building, which dates to the Civil War.

"I'm looking for a buyer or buyers with the same love for this wonderful community and passion for this business that Joe embraced," his widow, Dawn Farrington, said today.

I have fond memories of Selma's Ice Cream Parlour. As a kid growing up in Southern Washington County, my 4-H Club often played softball in the park across from Selma's. At least twice a year, when going to my God Parent's Island cabin on Balsam Lake, our family stopped for ice cream. As recently as this summer, while biking, I stopped for a scoop of Raspberry ice cream in a waffle cone.

To me, Selma's is a Minnesota Institution.

Selma's is right on the St. Croix river, and has survived many floods, and other natural disasters. It would be a shame to have it shut down because of government bureaucracy.