Here it is one of the coldest days of the winter and I'm starting to get cycling fever. I finally got the T900 mounted on the trainer and my wife and I have agreed to start riding any day now. Really, we're going to start soon.
I also decided to put a safety ring inside my small crank gear to avoid any future inside chain drops on the T1000 we ride now. It happened twice on a ride last year (of course both times while climbing a hill) and I really didn't think I was going to get back on the road without breaking my chain. It's hard to believe how tight a chain can become wedged between the crank and the frame. Rolf Garthus of the Hostel Shoppe sold me a "Granny Guard" so I've just have to make sure I have the clearance between the granny and the frame and I'll get that installed before the first "Spring Ride". I'm not sure where it will be this year, but I'm guessing somewhere south.
While outside shivering, I remembered some emails I shared (along with our Linkedin connection) with Linda Besser from "Capitol Pedaler" in Madison. I was trying to get some information about local "party bikes" and Linda was nice enought to return my request. The Big Red Bike sure looks like fun. It's a bike, a quad cycle, a pedal bus, a pedal cab, a bar-cycle, a bar on wheels or a rolling sidewalk cafe. It's been called all of these and maybe more as it cruises the streets of Madison.
The bike comes from Amsterdam where the manufacturer also runs a "bier bike" business. It was painted red in honor of the U.W. Badgers.
The quad cycles are very popular in Europe but there are only 20 currently in the US. The Capitol Pedaler is owned by two women and may be the only female owned quad cycle business in the country. You must be 13 to ride and parents must sign a waiver for kids under 18. Additionally, parents must ride with children under 15; however you can ride no matter how old you are. A maximum of 14 can be seated around the wood bar but a minimum of at least 8 riders are needed to move and go uphill. A typical speed is 5 mph.
There is a lot more to learn about the "Big Red Bike" so go to www.capitolpedaler.com and check it all out for yourself. Just thinking about taking a ride around Madison on game day has started to warm me up already. I'm really looking forward to our spring ride now.
Now, where should we go?
Happy Cycling and always wear your Helmet!
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