Happy Train Geek Tuesday

Photo Dump Saturday

This from a few weeks ago when I was more mobile. Sorry but no riding for a long time most likely. That would only prolong this.

Please send complaints to Kent@lonebikerindustries.com

He will handle all the complaints with free t shirt give aways or nude selfies. Your choice.

Beer Friday. Grizzly Paw Brewing, Grumpy Bear Honey Wheat

Another seamless flow from Beer Friday to Beer Friday on this here un-bikerless plagued blog. With a hard week of nights behind me with a sore leg I am done and wondering what is next? Do I just ride my bike? I was advised not to last time I was off yet I was told to do many other things to help it get better which I did and nothing changed. I think after eight weeks of this I am just going to accept this and just go with it. I mean.. I can still ride right? I just limp when I walk.

I'm happy with this... I'll just be that middle aged limpy guy (not that kind!) You know... The one who walks around the local bar with a cigarette clutched in his mouth. Limping across the floor making derogatory comments about his ex wife.

I'm on that road kids. It won't be long. It starts with the never endless limping.

We poured this honey wheat ale brewed in Canmore Alberta into our trusted Lonebiker Beer review mug and it showed a murky wanting to be gold but not just right there yet beer. It sat in the glass and looked at me and I looked at it. It knew I just finished a hard week on site with a bum leg and I felt the sympathy pouring out of it's suds. 'Drink me' it cried as I looked on.

The nostrils enjoyed the honey that was quite evident in this one making the taste buds anxious for a sip. The taste gave a good shot of you guessed it... Honey. Nope! Lots of grains and hops in this one with a honey aftertaste. A finely played out tasting in regards in how the honey came in a honey wheat ale, I was expecting an overpowering first shot. Instead it came as an afterthought in a way. Sounds and it is it is actually quite Impressive.


This beer gets 3.5 suds out of 5.

Beer Friday. Molson Canadian Cider

"Beer team Assemble!"

That was the call out on the Lonebiker employee radio to the masses involved with the Beer Friday operation. One by one they showed up at the door at the Beer Friday testing lab in their usual great spirits. These folks get pumped for Beer Friday and with testing being few and far in-between lately this was quite really the best way a Saturday night could have gone down!

"What in the actual Mcfuckballs is going on here!? A cider! I got excited and dropped my Tinder date for this!? A cider!?" Yelled one of the photographers from the back.

I calmed him down and the situation was tense for a few moments. After a few Bruce Lee kicks to the groin by yours truly to the millennial photographer he was willing to cooperate. Actually, you know something? Millennial's are a lot older than people think. They tap out at 37 (2018 year only of course.) Maybe it's the younger versions of millennial that everyone complains about. Most of the older ones are quite top notch. Ironically this photographer... 22.  And oh boy, did I go Ric Flair on him.

Yes a cider isn't a beer but they can be delicious. It was in the mod yard a couple years ago where I met a fine chap who drove me in the direction of these fine fermented apple juice beverages. I had promised to do more reviews of these but you know what? Delicious craft beer got in the way.

We poured and observed this cider from Molson Canadian. Canada's premier beer maker who are swiftly wanting to take over the cider market in Canada. It was golden and looked crisp and clean. Like a mountain stream, albeit a mountain stream stained with something to give it that light golden hue.

The first sip was quite nice. Although this would be something one would want to drink on their patio on a hot summer evening. It works on a cool September night as well. It does seem a bit watered down though. The apple is there and is fine. Oddly the last few sips were had and the watered down opinion has been thrown out the window.  No other notes worth mentioning. It is quite sweet though so you might want to stay away from having a couple in a row.

This beer (cider) gets 3 suds out of 5.

And in Other News

Well after a good week of inactivity we are coming back to announce more inactivity is on it's way. A troubled leg that has been plaguing me is more evil than ever. The muscle strain that started it is not going away making the days off sets a chance to recover and try to be good for work. I'd guess karma is coming for all the fun I've made of office workers on here and Instagram. The amount of therapy I have recieved in the last month is ridiculous. Nothing seems to be working. After another doctor visit today, the second day off where I should be out riding we found out this could be a while till it's resolved.

So enjoy that fall riding kids. not sure when we will be back to normal. Sadly I have to focus on this issue to make work more comftorable meaning no rides till the muscle strain is gone. I'll try and get the beer review team together soon.

Beer Friday. Wells and Youngs, Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale

Beer Friday brought you you on a Sunday night. Not a great beer drinking night for most as you are getting ready for another week of work as that dreaded Monday looms around the bend. I still have a few days so with the NFL in full swing lets review some beer while the Sunday Night game roars in the background.

Is there anything better than September and October when the weather is cooler and football (either NFL or CFL) is on in the house? A cool crisp feeling in the air, the riding is the best it could be and you are relaxing with a nice craft beer and watching football. Or hell, even playoff baseball is pretty great. There really is something about this time of year that the rest of the months cannot even come close to comparing to.

Well's and Young's brewery was formed in two thousand and six when Charles Wells brewing and Youngs merged. Located in Bedford England, the home of the Bedford Town Football Club who are proud winners of the North Bedfordshire Charity Cup. Circa 1911.

Way to go boys! We at Lonebiker headquarters are damn proud of you!

We poured this dandy looking brew into our favourite tester mug and it gave us a dark lusty beer with a one and a half fingered head that looked into our eyes and said "bring it on bitches." The smell at first was a bit off putting if your not ready for it. Toffee and pudding for the obvious nose notes with some chocolate on the side. It tasted of... you guessed it! Toffee and pudding! It is though quite bitter which was a disappointment. It was hard to get away from the bitterness which was there every sip and took away from the toffee and pudding.

This beer gets 2 suds out of 5.

Cold Hands, Frozen Feet, Unprepared Yet Again

I really should look in to things before a ride starts. Some critical but basic questions should be asked..

*Do I have a bike?
*Is said bike good to ride?
*How is the weather?
*Do I have the proper clothing for this ride?
*Did I eat properly?
*Will my wife be mad if I leave?
*Do I have a proper route planned out? (guess that doesn't really matter.)
*Do I look good for the ride?
    --How's the hair?
    --Anything in my teeth?
    --The tattoos.. Will they be visible and if not, what the hell brother!?

I didn'r pre ride check and left with summer gloves and summer shoes. I lierally looked at the winter clothing and left without. I did grab the winter jacket so I get some points there.

The ride which was supposed to last a good portion of the day lasted maybe an hour and a half. The river valley bathrooms were a haven for warmth.

I may look a bit off but it is September the 15th.. Not really in Winter mode right now.

Happy Tuesday

Bike Night. Deer Night. Dark Night

The first ride into the dark of the season spent with the likeness of mr Steeves.. Armed with the Altitude and a singlespeed we set out and descended Fireman's hill where slick looking trails had me a bit ass puckered.

The ride properly left Terwillegar once we were in it and we took the back route of the Oleskiw trails. A trail I never bothered to ride but found it to be quite good. Not a lot of features, just singletrack along the trees and fields. My new found passion for the trail was quashed when Kent remarked on how boring the trail was once we were off it.

I of course did the cool thing and agreed whole heartily one hundred percent. I even spit a couple times at the ground to prove my dissatisfaction with it.

All in all... First ride on a trail that I thought was a dead end. I was surprised that it actually had a purpose.

We went on through Patricia and Laurier. The climb out was done and Mackinnon's fine trails were taken on again. The roots had me at hello and the full suspension Rocky ate them up like a pothead eating a Little Ceasers pizza.

We returned home on Six Shooter and Machete and I cannot sadly remember the last time I went west on those. The awesome was all there and a deer met me at the top of  Six Shooter with absolute no cares in the world to our presence. We rode on and found a refurbished trail that was absolutely incredible. More will come on this but immediately top 5 on the trails list.

The dark caught up and Flat Pete was ridden in the blackness. Kent's 2500 lumen lamp led the way and I kept thinking a UFO or freight train had entered the trails ahead of me. I remembered it was Kent and was relieved immensely.

The ride ended, beers were drank, hence a very late post.

*Kent Steeves. 5th photo down.

Wet Trail Session

Not a lot to discuss here. Trails were presumably too wet to ride so I stuck it on the paved. Ride map below.

A Short Singletrack Heroin Session

Between waking up late and having plans in the late afternoon, a short trip in the Whitemud, Saskatchewan Drive area was done and it was incredible.

Blame the cool early September air.

Blame the lack of riding making trail time all the more powerful.

Blame singletrack. That shit is pure heroin kids.

Blame bikes...

One of the best of the year? No. but for the short 10 kilometres it was worth every moment.

This ride gets 5 pedal strokes out of 5.

Ha!

Sore Leg Rolling

Finally a return to the bike after a rather piss poor set of days off last set in terms of riding. A hard week of nights at work on site at a mine this week took a toll on the sore leg made me want to ride more than ever to try and beat the pain out of the system.

From old school Mill Creek I set off mainly on paved trails wanting to take things easy. It's a good sign that you haven't ridden in a while when you feel awkward setting out on a ride. For the first six or so kilometers nothing felt right. People stared at me and I didn't like it one bit.

It was a very Edmonton start to the ride as a couple larger young women with a baby in a stroller were in an all out swearing yelling match with a guy down the trail. Something had happened beetween them and the yelling was non-stop. The expletives that were shouted were incredible and all I could think of was that poor kids future.

The world is a bit fucked isn't it kids?

Luckily I ride bikes so I enjoy my time on earth and did so today with a low level bridge crossing after leaving Mill Creek. I ended up crossing back on the Walterdale and rode the new trails from the bridge up to Old Timers. A great breakthrough as the trails are open below the Walterdale and there is no need to cross the QE  Park road or Walterdale anymore. Although you will miss out on some trails so maybe those road crossings will still be a thing.

Old Timers and Skyline was ridden which made me excited to take Mill Creek's high side trails home. Quite a bit of traffic on the Trap made me leary of the blind corners.

The ride ended incident free and the leg didn't feel better one bit.

Beer Friday. Mt Begbie Brewing, Brave Liver Scotch Ale

Back to the pre-written reviews after a wasted day. Yes, a trip to Old Timers for a ride today where I pulled out the bike and discovered my rear skewer was missing. Well damn... A quick search throughout the Lonebiker travel vehicle warranted nothing.

Tail tucked I went home and searched Lonebiker headquarters. With nothing coming up I frustratedly threw my helmet and sat steaming mad thinking of how sloppy I have become with anything regarding bikes. So after some angry thoughts towards myself I did the right thing...

I got straight in my vehicle and went straight to the liquor store.

Bring on Mt Begbie. One of the first breweries reviewed here and it was a winner. I've had many Mt Begbie Cream Ales since reviewing it and they always bring a nostalgic tear to my eye. located in Revelstoke British Columbia, easily one of the coolest t mountain towns I have ever been to The brewery started in nineteen ninety six. The year Mrs Lonebiker and me started dating. Damn... What a lucky girl!

The pour revealed a dark yet golden splash of wonder. This Scottish ale had a nice aroma of caramel and roasted almonds. Small traces of lacing slid down the glass as this one was consumed reminding me creepily of my wedding night when I did my pec dance as ripped off my tuxedo undershirt to the tunes of N Sync. Yes... Good times.

The tastes of caramel and roasted hops a with small tinge of burnt pine needle round this out. this one is best drank on a cold Wineter night and not in mid August as what I am doing now. It is a delicious beer yet I was hoping for more of a Scotch kick to it which sadly brought nothing.

This beer gets 3.5 suds out of 5.

Rides lacking? Here's a Video!

Sorry for being shitty. Lots going on this set off. Beer review in the holster for Friday or Saturday.

Till then... This song. Amaze!

Clumsiness and Clueless People

The ride. A trip from Mill Creek to Capilano Bridge and back started out fine on the paved from my old classic parking spot . I dropped In to the trail on my favourite small section of singletrack once you cross 76 avenue and was met with a shitty dog with two shitty people walking it who looked angry at me for coming down the trail. The couple who looked like they type that get offended by everything on the Internet would definitely be Tweeting about this or posting it on Facebook. I thought about it after and realized I probably scared the dog, it did attack me but didn't land any bites. Could you imagine the outcry I could have raised if it did? Oh man... That would have been awesome.

Sadly though I don't have that douche gene and would have done nothing. In the end I understand dogs and he was just doing his thing, although I know ours and we keep them on a leash in the valley cause we don't want shit to go down. Maybe these women could have done the same?

Several missteps on a clumsy ride took me to the Edmonton Queen trail where a mid trail collision almost occurred right on the top of the berm. I did the Canadian thing and apologized and told him I'm alone and the trail is open as far as I know. He said nothing.

Fair enough. People are shy. I guess I get it. Proper trail etiquette is to let people know about the size of your group. No? The MEC bike he was riding is a sign that he is new to the trails so I smiled and was on my way.

Birdhouse trail and lower Ewok along the river were ridden and it was a poor decision. Heavy mud puddles were relentless and I finally had to stop and contemplate a life of riding after one almost took me out.

I was grumpy. I needed CaddyShack. I needed Andre's.

Both trails were ridden. The new entrance to Caddy shack gets two thumbs up. At the end of Andre's I was reborn.

Funny how amazing singletrack can do that despite a series of riding errors throughout the trails.

A crossing of the river went down and I took the Dawson Park trails unencumbered from fuck ups (yes, I know. Easy trails.)

Mill Creeks high side singletrack took me back to end an odd day of ups and downs.