Two tours

It's been awhile now, but last Friday I did a Tour de Ames and on Saturday a Tour de Story County. I sure should have waited for this great weather. Both days were surprisingly chilly. I've been off the bike a bit cause my knee was bothering me. I backed off the play all the way on my pedals, but still had some problems. I also shifted my cleats arounds. I think my main problem is still the float which I think is just a lack of lubrication.

Friday I took the Surly all over town, out to Reiman gardens, Ada Hayden, Old downtown. You can really link trails around this town. Got in about 20 miles, and the Surly was perfect. The Finish Line Country Lube was as silent as lube can be. Definetly too long to get the front SS ring.

Saturday I headed out to R18, I think? Then R26, 27? Whatever the one is that you can take south into Boone. Then I took "the boone road" back to Ames. Ended up about a 50 miler. I also took it at a touring pace though. It of course got me into the silly thinking of how I needed a steel touring setup with flexier wheels (maybe even some camping) in addition to a tighter "club ride" frame and wheels. This sport is great, endless possibilities!

I've enjoyed the grocery getting rides more and more around town. I'm thinking of how I can try out some racks on bikes on my "to buy" list. I have a good sized Patagonia bag, but once I get my lock on my shoulders too, it's a lot of weight. Also, the cyclocross/road setups I have with my Surly and IRO are not the best for hauling. I think a 29er with racks and more upright handlebars would help. No suspension and the big hoops would make it still a smooth, easy rolling commuter though. Plus I'll have a longer (still not long) trip up to Somerset next year with a new apartment. So I have more of an excuse for a hauling/commuter setup. Any suggestions on racks/hauling would be appreciated??? I hate stuff flopping around, so I'd want a really solid rack, yet light, with highly collapsible panniers. I'd assume a Surly/Jandd setup would be fairly sufficient. Any others? I am obviously not ready for an Xtracycle, but how cool would that be! If I got one of those I wouldn't even have to take my car for dates:)