Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓

Best Pie Recipe…

We somehow got on the topic of pies on the long climb and return from Bald Mountain last week. Janet asked me what my favorite pie was. Without question or hesitation I listed, “a three-berry pie, or butterscotch, and that my all-time favorite is Lemon Sponge pie!”

Here is my great grandmother Nellie’s (actual) recipe notebook. My grandmother, (94) learned baking from her and guess that she probably tweaked Nellie’s recipe many years ago. It’s unusually good!

Nellie’s Lemon Sponge Pie…
• 1 tablespoon Butter
• 1 cup Sugar
• ? cup or 2 heaping tablespoon’s Flour
• 1 Lemon; grated rind and juice
• 1 ½ cups of Whole Milk
• 3 eggs separated

• Cream butter and sugar, add flour. Beat egg yolks together with milk, then add Lemon juice and grated rind.

• Beat egg whites stiff and add to the above.

• Put ingredients into an unbaked pie shell. Bake in a glass pie dish @ 400 degrees for 15 mins. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 30 additional minutes.

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A Prairie Home Companion favorite, The Wailin’ Jennys will be performing again at the Mauch Chunk Opera House this Saturday night. It’s been about a year since they played locally;8:30 pm in Jim Thorpe.

http://www.thewailinjennys.com/listen2.html

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08/30/2008; This week’s ‘Saturday Morning Ride’…

Request ride will be this week. Please refer back to last week’s list of rides, and either email me, or review the list with your suggestion for this week’s ride.

Start time is 7:30am.

Last official ride for this season will be next week, Saturday September 6th. Ride will have a special stop. Don’t miss next week’s ride!

Your bike guys,

Lee, Rich & Tom

The Final Banshee ride for this season will be this Sunday, August 24th @ 10:00am.
Riders will have a choice of returns from Carbondale, Forest City, or the up and back to the Stillwater Dam. Ride to Stillwater Dam with return is 53 mi.

In addition to the Banshee ride, a festival celebrating alternative transportation and green thinking will be set up on Penn Avenue that same day. Bikes, Scooters, COLTS, Rail Trail council members, some local artists and music will fill the block of Penn Avenue between Mulberry and Linden from 2:00-6:00pm.

Banshee Ride
Begins in front of Banshee Bar & Restaurant
322 Penn Avenue Scranton
10:00am
30-53 miles

Here’s the festival music lineup…
2:00-3:00 Charles Havira and Friends
3:00-3:30- Records by D.J. Conor McGuigan
3:30-4:30- The Bog Swing Band
4:30-6:00 Records by DJ Conor McGuigan

Read this article about the festival and Banshee ride in the Scranton Times…

http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2008/08/21/lifestyles/sc_times_trib.20080821.c.pg1.tt21bikefest_s1.1891571_fea1.txt

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You have just encountered the wind-down, the rapid deceleration of summer. It’s suddenly a time to adjust to a different routine that awaits as we cross over to fall.
Thoughts for me at this time are usually gearing up for next season;(2009 models already in stock), trying to get in the ride or two that I escaped from me earlier in the season, some mountain biking, catching up on projects, and hopefully taking some time off.

We’re also approaching the end of the ‘Saturday Morning Ride’ season. The last scheduled ride for the season will be Saturday September 6th.
I would certainly encourage you all to continue rides from downtown Wilkes-Barre as a year-round meeting point for a ride. The downtown is a great place to begin and end your ride. Take my word for it that your riding activity has been noticed. Wilkes-Barre thanks you!

That all being said, how about we, SMR rider’s start the buildup for the only 100K (62mi) event in our area!?

The Seasons Change Flaming Foliage Bike Ride will be held Saturday, October 11th in and around Hazleton. Riders will also have a choice of a 20K (12.4mi) and 50K (31mi.) route.

http://www.seasonschange.us/index.php/events/flaming-foliage-ride

Your bike guys will be attending. Try to support this local event!

Stage 20; (08/23/2008) This week’s SMR…

We’ve given you many new routes this year along with the classics from our area. Now it’s up to you to decide which routes you want to choose for the last two rides of this season.

Nanticoke Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 26.37 mi.

Journey To DARK REGIONS Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 40.70 mi.

Boat Launch Rt 92 And Return Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 29.35 mi.

Official Coopers Ride Bike Ride Pittston, PA 44.92 mi.

Rt 29 To Chase/Dallas 8th Street Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 35.13 mi.

Oberdorfer,Nail, Bodle, LEWIS, 8th, Bunker Hill Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 31.01 mi.

Oberdorfer,nail,bodle,schoolhouse, Coon, Green Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 30.79 mi.

Wyoming, Chase Nanticoke Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 34.25 mi.

Oberdorfer,Nail, Bodle, Schoolhouse, 8th, Bunker Hill Bike Ride Plains, PA 28.73 mi.

Duryea Coxton Loop Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 37.52 mi.

Maq-a-naw-qua Loop Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 38.18 mi.

Saturday Morning Ride Coxton Loop Bike Ride Plains, PA 34.99 mi.

Coxton With Extra Loop Bike Ride Plains, PA 49.66 mi.

Lance Armstrong Foundation Ride 5-10-08 Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 29.52 mi.

5-3-08 Atown Bike To Boat Launch Rt 92 Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 29.35 mi.

Hartman - White Oak â?? Mizdall Rd Ride

I would like to thank Scott S. for being our Cartographer for the SMR routes on www.mapmyride.com. He’s done a great job of mapping out our rides this year. It’s time consuming but very appreciated. Great job Scott!

Thomas Bettis Casimir LEWISBURG - Thomas Bettis Casimir bravely went forth early Thursday morning, Aug. 7, 2008, at his home in Lewisburg after 47 years on earth.
Tom was an immensely gifted designer whose vision and skill brought grace and functionality to his projects in Japan, Puerto Rico, Texas, and of course Pennsylvania. He was disgusted by those who didn’t pay attention to the potential for beauty in the world.
He was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer 10 days before his death. His liver, however, was in excellent condition.
Tom will be missed by friend and foe.
He is survived by his siblings, Randy, Trey and Edith, many heartbroken friends, and the best dog in the world, Murphy.
Services will be at the convenience of the family.
Donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are by the John H. Shaw III Funeral Home, Market and Eighth streets, Lewisburg.

***

A group of friends from NEPA who met up with Tom in the earlier days of mountain biking attended a memorial for him on Sunday August 10th in Lewisburg. Tom was talented in more ways than you could imagine and was an intellectual stimulant to all those who knew him. He will be missed…

Look for the Saturday Morning Ride to be featured on television ads being supported by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and the City of Wilkes-Barre. The short clip was filmed shortly after our return from a Saturday ride in July. Two of your bike guys then did the voice over “My ride!” to the footage.

***

I signed up for a SmartBike DC share pass yesterday. I’ve been looking to get back to Washington DC and toured the city by bike this spring with a group from the League of American Bicyclists and loved it. The Smartbike ride-sharing concept is exploding in Europe. The idea of a US ride share was officially announced during the Bike Summit this spring in the capital city.

To learn more about SmartBike and ride sharing, visit this site…

http://www.clearchannelsmartbike.com/

***

Stage 19; (08/16/2008) New Course…

We’re going to explore some new territory this Saturday. We’ll ride the area between Hunlock Creek, Moon Lake Park, with return down Rt. 29, Rt.11, & back to the city. A little over 30 miles.

The ride seems like you’ll be able to work on a few levels of tempo during the ride. It’s a new route and can only recall White Oak and Pavlik Rd before paving. Should be fun!

Thanks Tom W. for the suggestion!

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/506423121498

Hello; (Ni Hao)

It is no coincidence that the Chinese selected 08-08-2008 for the opening of the 29th Modern Olympiad. The number 8 is very significant to Chinese culture.

• There are 8 immortals in Chinese mythology.

• 8 is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture because 8 sounds like the word “prosper” or “wealth”.

• The 8 principles of Yong in Chinese calligraphy.

Another reason why the number 8 could be considered lucky is because it is a perfect symmetrical shape. You can cut the number 8 in half vertically or horizontally, and both halves mirror themselves perfectly. Perfect symmetry lends itself to perfect balance. In Chinese Astrology, perfect balance is considered the ideal.

Here’s a schedule of the Cycling events for the Beijing Olympics…

Road races Start time
Saturday, August 9 - Venue: Road race course -
Men’s road race - 245.19 KM 23:00 EDT August 8th
Sunday, August 10 - Venue: Road race course -
Women’s road race - 126.34 KM 02:00 EDT
Wednesday, August 13 - Venue: Time trial course -
Women’s Individual Time Trial - 23.5 KM 23:30 EDT (August 12)
Men’s Individual Time Trial - 47 KM 01:30 EDT

Track
Day 1 - Friday, August 15 - Venue: Laoshan Velodrome 16:30 - 19:00 local
Men’s Team Sprint Qualifying
Men’s Individual Pursuit Qualifying
Women’s Individual Pursuit Qualifying Round
Men’s Team Sprint Final
Day 2 - Saturday, August 16 - Venue: Laoshan Velodrome 16:30-19:35 local
Men’s Individual Pursuit First Round
Men’s Kerin First Round
Women’s Individual Pursuit Qualifying Round
Men’s Kerin Repechage
Men’s Points Race Final
Men’s Kerin Second Round
Men’s 4000m Individual Pursuit Final
Men’s Keirin Final
Day 3 - Sunday, August 17 - Venue: Laoshan Velodrome 10:00-11:45 local
Men’s Team Pursuit Qualifying Round
Women’s Sprint Qualifying Round (200m)
Men’s Sprint Qualifying Round (200m)
Men’s Sprint 1/16 Final
Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit Final 16:30-18:45 local
Women’s Sprint 1/8 Final
Men’s Sprint 1/8 Final
Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit First Round
Day 4 - Monday, August 18 - Venue: Laoshan Velodrome 16:30-19:00 local
Women’s Points Race Final
Women’s Sprint Quarterfinals
Men’s Sprint Quarterfinals
Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit Final
Day 5 - Tuesday, August 19 - Venue: Laoshan Velodrome 16:30-19:50 local
Women’s Sprint Semifinal
Men’s Sprint Semifinal
Men’s Madison Final
Women’s Sprint Finals
Men’s Sprint Finals

BMX
Wednesday, August 20 - Venue: Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue
Men’s and Women’s BMX Qualifying 09:00 local
Thursday, August 21 - Venue: Laoshan Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) Venue
Men’s BMX Semi-Finals and Finals 09:00 local
Women’s BMX Semi-Finals and Finals 09:00 local

Mountain biking
Friday, August 22 - Venue: Laoshan Mountain Bike Course
Women’s Cross Country MTB 03:00 EDT

***

“Bike wheels spinning on the pawn shop wall,” Iron & Wine-The Shepard’s Dog 2007

***

SMR Stage 18: Dark Regions Ride…

(Due to last week’s rainout-washout, we’ll try this again)…
This week we’re going to do a flat ride with a couple of twists We’re going the increasingly popular area between Coxton, Newton, and Ransom to ride through a beautiful, densely wooded road with about 1 ¼ miles of unpaved surface, and then return on some familiar ground.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/465938173800

Former WB resident Alejandro sent me this…

http://pdn.philly.com/photo/audio_slides/bikeshop/index.html

A Fan You May not Always Recognize…

It’s Tour de France time. Naturally you would expect nearly every riding enthusiast who stops by a bike shop during the race to share who their favorite rider is, or to ask a question about tactics or equipment.

Increasingly though, we meet up people who are not the classic riding enthusiast but have become a fan of the Tour de France. They may casually ride a bike. They may not ride a bike at all, but they love the 3 week long French production which is the Tour de France. It has become a ritual for them and they love it as much as a cyclist who rides 150 miles or more each week. And their conversations are interesting. They’ll share a story like having been stationed in France with the US Army, or marveling over the lush French countryside, or mimicking Brit Phil Liggett’s unique stylings of the days’ events. For many it is their ‘Arm Chair’ vacation!

***

So, So Talented; Fionn Regan…

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13833092

***

Mocanaqua
In 1778, a young Frances Slocum was kidnapped by Delaware Indians from her home near Forty Fort. Raised with the customs and language of the Delaware, Slocum was renamed “Mocanaqua,” meaning “little bear,” and later married a chief of the Miami tribe. For 59 years her brothers searched for her, only to find her in 1837. By that time she was so accustomed to the Indian way of life she found her brothers’ way of life odd.

***

Nothing New Just Tried and True…

Here are the Directions for This Week’s SMR…

The Saturday Morning Ride is headed south this week. Join us as both courses wind their way down the W. Kirmar Parkway to Vandermark St.
The shorter ride will continue through Newport, and into Nanticoke. We’ll cross the river, head north on Rt.11, and return to the city.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/430129424

Shorter Ride; 26.37 miles

The longer option will continue down lower Middle Rd. through Glen Lyon, Glen Lea, Mocanaqua, cross river @ Shickshinny, and return to city on Rt. 11

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/954538117819

Long Ride; 38.18 miles

Sorry about not posting today. I know some of you look forward to the rant.

Nice ride up along Coxton today. A small group split and continued their ride on some beutiful roads to add extra mileage.

Speaking of Coxton, did you know?…

• Charles Lindbergh made an emergency landing at the Coxton Rail Yards in 1928.

• Legend also has it that a man named Campbell escaped capture and torture from Native Indians by leaping off the ledge to his death. We ride past past Campbell’s Ledge on our Coxton loop. Campbell’s Ledge is near the confluence of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers.

Hypocrite; that’s me!..
SMR Tip #4; Come to ride.
“Prepare the night before and get your pre-ride ritual established so that when you arrive you are set to have an enjoyable ride”-this author.

I was a victim of my own list of rules to ride by last weekend. A Raleigh 3-speed refurb. that I had been slacking off on was now scheduled to be put on a moving truck that Monday. Time was running out. I had done the companion bike to this one and the owner requested a similar type of restoration.

At 7:25am I put down the tools being used on the English Racer (a misused term that actually refers to a Raleigh type 3-speed, not a 10-speed) and turned my attention to dressing and the daily maintenance that I normally do to my own bike before each ride.

Notice the time is now 7:25am. How’s this dude going to get his HUD together to leave with the SMR ride group in five minutes? I scrambled to find but one arm warmer, (kind of like the missing sock in the washing machine) that my bottles were dry as a bone, and would later find out that I was running on 50 psi this day.

You may not know this but the bike perfectionist rages inside of me when tire labels are mounted carelessly, or when bike computer wire runs are not coiled just so, or when air pressure is not topped off before a ride. (I feel better after having shared that with you-). Those established rituals began long ago when I was just a kid riding, racing, and just learning about this hobby that we all share.

So this week I promise to arrive early and come “Ready to Ride!”-tj

Banshee Ride this Weekend…

The traditional Banshee Ride is back! Join the group this Sunday, June 29th as this ride heads up the Mid-Valley, regrouping at Forest City, and then continues onto Stillwater Dam with a turnaround, then down the World famous “Simpson Stretch” and back to the city of Scranton.
Hope you can make it-

Banshee Ride
Sunday, June 29th, @ 10:00am
Banshee Irish Pub & Restaurant
322 Penn Avenue Scranton

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…

7:30am start time!

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/989468648319

Note: This is the ride that had an incorrect road listed last time we tried this route. It has been corrected. We’ll try this again. Some of the familiar hills; Oberdorfer, ‘Nail’, Green Rd., etc. (There will be some options, shorter, more flat). 31.01 miles.

Let’s see, in the past month man opens bike shop, man falls head over heels in love (again) with an Almost Famous blonde, (again) and according to a reliable source plans to spend this summer in a swank California coastal community.

The new bike shop owner is Lance Armstrong, who opened Mellow Johnny (Lance’s twang term for the Maillot Juane, the Tour Day France’s yellow leader’s jersey) last month in Austin, TX.

Goldie Hawn’s daughter Kate Hudson is the new blonde in Lance’s life. The pair have been spotted lately in public. Will a Trek Madone be in Kate’s future?

The swank California community where Lance is rumored to be spending this summer is Santa Barbara California. -source; James Bond of Cycling

Add to that…

Do you feel that some of the press Lance recieves in his personal life trivializes his accomplishments in cycling and the war on cancer with the Livestrong Foundation? Read more in this recent NY Times article…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/fashion/22lance.html?ex=1214884800&en=f83785219a75f506&ei=5070&emc=eta1

***

Saw Them, Thought You Might Like Them!…

That was the Sim Redmond Duo, composed of Sim Redmond and Jen Middaugh, who opened for friend and spring’s ‘Bike Social’ musician Charles Havira, last week at River Street Jazz Cafe. Great harmonies!…

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=75737795

***

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…(special request from the peanut gallery)…

The Saturday Morning Ride is headed south this week. Join us as both courses wind their way down the W. Kirmar Parkway to Vandermark St.
The shorter ride will continue through Newport, and into Nanticoke. We’ll cross the river, head north on Rt.11, and return to the city.

Shorter Ride; 26.37 miles

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/430129424

The longer option will continue down lower Middle Rd. through Glen Lyon, Glen Lea, Mocanaqua, cross river @ Shickshinny, and return to city on Rt. 11
Long Ride; 38.18 miles

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/954538117819

***

Team High Road to be ‘One Tough Mother’s’ in This Year’s Tour…

Team High Road announced this week that it has signed a 3 year sponsorship deal with Columbia Sportwear of Portland, Oregon. Team Columbia as they will be known, will make their inaugural appearance July 3rd at the Tour De France. The deal includes sponsorship of both men’s and woman’s teams.

Imagine the fun that a marketer could have, (as they have using Columbia’s Chairman ‘One Tough Mother’ Gert Boyle in past ad campaigns) with the cycling team? Tough as nails sprinter Mark Cavendish would get my vote as a poster boy for a joint ad campaign!-tj

Add to that…

Team Slipstream just signed on GARMIN and Saab as corporate sponsors. Riis Racing will also be hoisting new corporate sponsorship with the introduction of Saxo Bank.

Are the dark days of Pro Cycling starting to pass? Interestingly, Team High Road, Slipstream, and Riis Racing have been at the forefront of the new athlete doping controls and testing. Seems like a change may be coming-tj