Highway550 - Bicycling!

Transit Connect Weekend Bicycle hauler and camper

2026-04-14T09:58:00.003-06:00

This 2016 vehicle has been great for weekend bicycling adventures.
Small and easy on fuel. The Bicycle(s) can be transported inside, as well as on the outside rack.

Having the ability to haul/store the bicycle(s) in the vehicle is a great option in bad weather as well as for security.

It is not getting as much use as it did before, and might be time to sell it.
If interested in buying this Weekend Bicycle hauler and camper, please leave a comment.

My Surly Long Haul Trucker

2026-03-11T13:15:00.008-06:00

I bought My Surly Long Haul Trucker, well it seems like yesterday, but it was in 2009.
It was a huge change from my Classic 1974 Motobecane Grand Jubilee (that I bought new, years before).

The Long Haul Trucker was awesome as a touring bike. A few transformations were done over time as the years dictated more upright positions. Then as age came for me, I obtained a Felt E-Bike. It was a good bicycle that I put more that 5,000 miles on,... but the Surly Long Haul Trucker always seem a better ride. So I decide to try a conversion and bring my Long Haul Trucker back as a daily rider.

This conversion was done a few years and many, many miles ago. It was my first E-Bike conversion.

Since this conversion, I have converted Fat Tire Surly bikes and a semi-recumbent RANS Fusion. (see E-Bike Touring for details)

This Surly Long Haul Trucker (LHT) conversion was so successful that I sold my factory Felt E-Bike so I could continue to ride my Surly LHT. The Bafang BBS02 motor is the perfect fit for a touring bicycle. If you have an old LHT, the conversion is straight forward and the results will be a very nice touring or commuting bicycle.

As riders get a little older, they just might find, that the bike they love, when converted to an e-bike, will just keep them riding.. and smiling.

Motobecane Grand Jubilee 1974

2026-03-04T11:30:00.006-07:00

A Motobecane work of art.

This Motobecane Grand Jubilee bicycle has been great. I have had it for over 50 years and ridden it many - many miles. The lugged frame joints are beautiful.

I added the wine cork bar end stops, which I think compliment this French bicycle.

The Huret Jubilee derailleur works perfect.

As I watched the Bike Farmer work on a Vintage Gitane (see video below)

... My mind drifted back to purchasing my Motobecane Grand Jubilee in 1974. It was pricey, I saved up, and missed a few college day meals to purchase it. I visited the bike shop across the street from the College Campus often to see if they had sold it before I was able to save enough money to buy it.
Over the years it provided lots of commuting, touring, and racing miles. I still cannot part with it. It seems like it is a tie to my past...

2026-01-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Amtrak - Katy Trail Ride Remembered.

2025-12-14T14:56:00.003-07:00

Amtrak–Katy Trail Ride

Remembering a Rolling Missouri Adventure

A few years back, I decided that springtime in Missouri was calling my name—and that the best way to answer was with a bicycle, a train ticket, and just enough optimism to believe the weather forecast might be wrong. Thus began my Amtrak–Katy Trail Ride, an adventure that combined passenger trains, crushed limestone trails, historic towns, good food, minor mechanical drama, and a healthy amount of smiling at my own good fortune.

This ride was later written up by Adventure Cycling, which made it feel slightly more official than it probably deserved—but I’ll take it.

The Big Picture

Route: Kansas City to Jefferson City, MO… then back again
Trail: One hundred miles of the Katy Trail along the Missouri River
Riding Days: Two days of roughly fifty miles each
Overnights: A charming bed & breakfast and a historic downtown hotel
Bonus Points: Amtrak’s walk-on bicycle service
Weather: Occasional rain (because of course)

Day One: Trains, Trails, and Tire Trouble

The journey began at the grand and familiar Union Station in Kansas City, a place that somehow makes even a solo cyclist feel like they’re embarking on a Very Important Expedition. Armed with coffee, panniers, and a healthy appreciation for modern conveniences, I rolled my bike toward the Amtrak platform.

This trip featured Amtrak’s roll-on bicycle service, which deserves a standing ovation. A rail worker flagged me toward my car, I pushed my bike directly onto the train, secured it in its designated space, and—this was the real luxury—sat right next to it.

This was a huge upgrade from the old days.

Previously, traveling with a bike meant stuffing it into a cardboard bike box, watching it disappear into a baggage car, and later reassembling it on a platform while pretending not to panic about missing parts. Compared to that? This felt like first-class travel for both me and my bike.

I was so impressed that I immediately pulled out my iPhone and sent Amtrak a message expressing my appreciation. Not all heroes wear capes—some design bike-friendly train policies.

The ride to Jefferson City was smooth and relaxing. I watched the Missouri countryside roll by while silently negotiating with the weather gods, hoping the forecasted rain would at least wait until I was good and tired.

As we passed through Sedalia, I noticed the depot and made a mental note: In two days, if all goes well, I’ll be back here boarding this same train. Adventure always feels better when you have a plan—and a return ticket.

We arrived in Jefferson City around noon. The depot sits just a few blocks from the State Capitol, which made the disembarkation feel appropriately official. Amtrak prefers a speedy unload, so as the train rolled in, I sprang into action. A helpful rail worker assisted me down the stairs with the bike, and just like that, I was officially rolling.

It was raining lightly—but I was prepared. Or at least dressed like someone who thought they were prepared.

I pedaled past the Capitol, following my route toward the Katy Trail.

Along the way, I stopped at a local bike shop to confirm directions (and, naturally, to browse). I walked out with a new pair of gloves and a few shop stickers—souvenirs that every proper cycling adventure requires.Soon after, I crossed the Missouri River, and not long after that, I found it: the Katy Trail North Jefferson Trailhead. Mission officially underway.

The Katy Trail delivers beauty in abundance. I was heading toward Rocheport, my stop for the night, but progress was… leisurely. Not because of the trail surface—it was excellent—but because every few minutes demanded another photo. Trees, river views, old rail remnants—it all added up to a comfortable 12 mph pace and zero regrets.

Eventually, I rolled into Cooper’s Landing,

which offers fantastic views and exceptional food. It’s the kind of place that convinces you stopping was not optional but morally required.

Back on the trail and feeling good, I continued toward Rocheport—until my rear tire decided to introduce itself to the story.

Yes. The rear tire.

It’s always the rear tire.

With about eight miles left in the day, I noticed it slowly losing air. Rather than stopping immediately, I opted for a strategy best described as “optimistic denial”: stopping every couple of miles to add air and promising myself I’d deal with it properly once I arrived.

Miraculously, this worked.

I found my lodging in Rocheport

without issue and was thrilled to discover a dedicated bike repair shed. The tube was patched, dinner was consumed, and I enjoyed a well-earned night of sleep.

Day Two: Tunnels, Pie, and Persistent Rain

I woke early, energized and ready for another fifty-ish miles. Today’s destination was Sedalia, MO, where I had reservations at the Historic Bothwell Hotel downtown. Once again, rain was in the forecast—but hope springs eternal.

Leaving Rocheport, I rolled past one of the town’s highlights: a fantastic tunnel that practically demands a photograph. After fulfilling my photographic duties, I continued on.

The stretch from Rocheport to Boonville is especially delightful. Birds chirped, small animals scurried, and for a while—victory!—no rain fell. The trail felt alive and peaceful all at once.

In Boonville, I stopped at a downtown café for breakfast before heading back onto the trail toward Pilot Grove—one of my favorite sections. The scenery is lovely, the trail is a bit hillier than usual, and it includes both an overpass and a tunnel, which always feels like a bonus.

Pilot Grove also features something critically important: excellent pie. I stopped at the trailhead, where a thoughtfully placed bicycle workstation allowed me to check tire pressure and make sure everything was still behaving.

(Then I went for the pie.)

The next stretch of trail grew quieter and more remote, perfect for reflection and photography. One of my favorite sights was an old train signal, standing as a reminder of the route’s railroad history.

Not long after passing it, the rain arrived—right on schedule. It followed me faithfully all the way into Sedalia, proving once again that forecasts should never be ignored.

Downtown Sedalia was just a short ride away, and soon I arrived at the Historic Bothwell Hotel. The building sits proudly in the old downtown district, surrounded by history—including another beautiful structure across the street that was undergoing renovation and absolutely required a photo.

The hotel staff welcomed both me and my bicycle. I was allowed to bring it into the historic lobby, and they stored it safely in the basement for the night.

The hotel itself was wonderful—comfortable, full of character, and exactly what tired cyclists dream about. I chose to dine at the hotel restaurant, which turned out to be an excellent decision. Warm food, dry clothes, and a sense of accomplishment are hard to beat.

Day Three: Coffee, Pastries, and the Ride Home

The next morning, I woke early and checked out. The staff retrieved my bike, and I rolled the few blocks to the Sedalia train station I’d spotted days earlier. With time to spare, I stopped for coffee and a pastry—because no good train ride should begin without one.

Back at the station, the train arrived right on time. A rail worker waved me toward the correct car, helped lift my bike onboard, and once again I secured it in its space. I took my seat beside it, leaned back, and enjoyed the ride back to Kansas City.

As the countryside rolled by, I reflected on the trip: trains that welcomed bikes, trails that followed rivers, towns full of character, and just enough rain and mechanical drama to make it a true adventure.

All in all, it was exactly the kind of journey that reminds you why mixing bicycles, trains, and a sense of humor is always a good idea.

Tip so brake levers do not break when bicycle falls.

2025-12-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Loaded touring bikes have a good chance of falling over. This can result in a broken brake lever.

It is advisable to NOT attach the brake lever too tight to the handlebar. Tighten it so the lever can be moved/twister slightly by hand. If and when the bicycle falls and lands on the brake lever, the lever will just twist and will not break and need to be replaced.

You can then just twist it back into the proper position.

note: I also did this adjustment years ago when mountain biking after breaking a brake lever or two.

Another benefit, from this: I often slightly twist/adjust the brake levers to change the resting place of my fingers. The position change help the 'blood flow' to the hands.

Enjoying November nice weather

2025-11-14T21:23:00.001-07:00

Every year, November seems to try to make up its mind. Gray and grumpy one day, bright and generous the next.

Today it had clearly chosen generosity. The air was crisp but not cold, the sun low but warm enough to draw you outside. It was the kind of day that felt like a gift, quietly wrapped and waiting on the doorstep.

The RANS Fusion, has now passed the testing period. It is humming with the confidence with its new Bafang heart. The e-bike conversion has changed the character of the ride—not easier, exactly, but lighter, as if the bike knows when a body needs help, and does indeed help with a wink and a nudge. The pedal assist just does it's thing and the RANS Fusion rolls forward effortlessly, eager for the miles.

Now riding it time to enjoy trees that are still hanging onto their leaves, stubborn splashes of orange and gold fluttering overhead. The off beaten roads carry the scent of the lake, and every now and then a breeze kicks up a little swirl of leaves that chased the Fusion down the trail.

Settling into that mid-pedal fourteen mph pace felt great with that half workout, half meditation feeling. The motor whispered along, quietly never stealing the moment, only smoothing it out the hills.

Out on the open stretch, I stop to take a quick picture. Then once again, back on the bicycle. Retirement doesn't mean slowing down. It means choosing your pace, and days like this made the choice easy. The calendar reminds that winter is coming.

November may not always be kind—but today, being old felt alright with the RANS Fusion e-bike. It felt like a perfect companion.

2025-10-07T13:26:00.002-06:00

The operation of the inflator.

This is a must have to carry with you on your bicycle.

Out of the box, it is set-up for Presta valves. But can be adapted for Schrader valves. The days of carrying hand pumps is over. This little small hand held device easily fits into a bike bag of jersey pocket. It charges with a USB cord.

I hated getting flats on the road having to use those little hand pumps that took forever to inflate the tire. Always wearing your hands out and bumping your knuckles into the spokes.

I pack the RockBros Tire Inflator & cord in my front handlebar tool bag. I also carry a small battery charging unit that is used to charge up devices. (Garmin, Varia, phone, and now pump)

Durango, Purgatory land mountain biking world championships in 2030

2025-10-04T10:03:00.001-06:00

Durango, Purgatory land mountain biking world championships in 2030 | The Colorado Sun

Source: NewsNation

2025-10-03T09:42:00.000-06:00

Source: NewsNation Black Bear Pass closed indefinitely after South Carolina driver ignores warnings https://share.google/ug42Ni4R5QqZAlmwt

2025-10-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

Summer Time Riding

2025-08-20T21:29:00.001-06:00

2 dead, girl rescued after car rolls off Red Mountain.

2025-08-06T08:39:00.000-06:00

Montrose Daily Press Extensive closure on U.S. 550

Two people died Tuesday morning when their Honda Civic rolled off Red Mountain Pass, U.S. 550, and traveled down 320 feet into the river below. The car landed upside down in the water, trapping a girl inside, the Colorado State Patrol said.

Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry said the child had been extricated and Ouray Mountain Rescue was in the process of taking her out of the chasm at about 1 p.m. A helicopter staged at Ouray’s Fellin Park will be flying the girl to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Perry said.

Two others in the car were dead at the scene. They will be recovered from the wreckage after the rescue of the survivor is complete, Perry said.

The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office received a call at about 7:25 a.m. Tuesday, reporting that a vehicle had gone off Red Mountain Pass at about mile marker 88.5, south of Ouray.

As of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, U.S. 550 was closed in the crash area. The closure was expected to be extensive, so that troopers could fully investigate the crash. Alternate routes are recommended.

New Brake time!

2025-08-03T16:52:00.000-06:00

I got about 3,500 miles out of my Kool Stop brake pads.

They started to 'squeak' with every braking. After about two weeks of rim cleaning and trying to adjust angle of toe in to try and get rid of the noise, I just replaced them.

Problem solved.

The wear lines where mostly gone on both front and rear.

It is nice not hearing the high pitched sound !

Farewell White Industry M15 Rear Hub. July 2025

2025-07-11T19:53:00.004-06:00

back on 10/03/2014

I had custom wheels built for my 2009 Surly Long Haul Trucker.

Really nice with black double butted spokes and pewter color skewer...LBS built up two wheels around the White Industry M15 hubs, DT Swiss double butted spokes, and Velocity Atlas rims. 36 hole.
Specs RIM SIZE:700c WIDTH:25.4mm HEIGHT:18mm OPTIMAL TIRE WIDTH:28mm - 45mm TIRE INTERFACE:Clincher / Tubes Only VALVE:Presta 32 - 40mm BEAD SEAT DIAMETER (BSD):622 EFFECTIVE RIM DIAMETER (ERD):605 WEIGHT:620g

With these new wheels, I thought my 'worn hub' issue might be a thing of the past. With 5 years and thousands of miles of fully loaded touring, I had rebuilt bot front and rear hubs twice.

These White Industry Hubs are said to be "bullet proof" !

But yesterday, I discovered, on a routine Brake Pad Adjustment, that the White Industry M15 Rear Hub (currently priced $414.00 – $424.00) had two spoke holes broken on drive side. Two spokes detached from the hub and up against the back of the drive cassette.

I took the rear wheel to the LBS where the wheels were built over 10 years and 11,000 miles ago. They said that it happens, but they had never seen it happen to a White Industry hub. I said, "10 years was a good haul! they actually served me well" ...

I decide they the LBS should recycle the wheel, so we removed the cassette that still had some miles left it.

I will not be rebuilding a new wheel with a pricey hub, but decided to put the original rear wheel back on the Long Haul Trucker. the old Trucker is getting used less these days. AND this might be time to start thinking about a new Surly ... with Disc Brakes. Bridge Club or Disc Trucker ?

Restoring fun

2025-06-28T16:47:00.001-06:00

found an well used Strider

A little bit of work and it is almost like new

Strider bikes are awesome.
And finding a 'well enjoyed one',... makes for a fun restoration project.

Remove all of the parts,
Remove any surface rust,
Clean inside head & seat tubes and apply thin grease layer,
Clean frame with alcohol and brush,
Remove non strider stickers,
Wire brush to clean the handlebar & Seat clips, and wire brush the washers, axle and nuts,
Lubricant quick release connectors,
Buff frame to return the color.

It is ready for some lucky kid to "make it their own" !!! Surly's expression but I like it. 👍🏻

Building Surly Bicycle conversions!

2025-06-11T11:19:00.000-06:00

These builds were fun.

and the first test run proved to be very successful!

These were the perfect bicycles to use for the conversion for the needed purpose. The Bafang BBHD motor provide the needed power for the rough and steep terrain while pulling a trailer. The trips to the trash transfer station and the mailbox now can be done via bicycle!

This can replace those car trips. The family outings by bicycle are now a reality.

Brooks Saddle almost broken in!

2025-03-28T10:35:00.002-06:00

The Brooks Saddle now has about 250 miles on it.

It has been a bit of a challenge breaking it in, but it seems like it is almost there!

just short 10 mile rides at a time seems to do the trick.

It might work better if bicycle padded shorts are used, but on this saddle, I opted to not use the padded bicycle shorts.

Time for a new Brooks Saddle

Coopers Landing

2025-03-15T14:58:00.004-06:00

On the Katy Trail, stop in at Coopers Landing for lunch and enjoy the view!

Happy Trails

2025-03-10T11:42:00.009-06:00

Looking forward to heading down this trail once again ...

KATY Trail near Booneville

2025-03-08T11:02:00.001-07:00

Perfect for the Surly Long Haul Trucker

2025-03-07T09:51:00.001-07:00

tip to prevent breaking a brake lever

Loaded touring bikes have a good chance of falling over. This can result in a broken brake lever.
It is advisable to NOT attach the brake lever too tight to the handlebar.

Tighten it so the lever can be moved/twister slightly by hand. If and when the bicycle falls and lands
on the brake lever, the lever will just twist and it will not break and need to be replaced.

You can then just twist it back into the proper position.

note: I also did this adjustment years ago when mountain biking after breaking a brake lever or two. Another benefit, from this: I often slightly twist/adjust the brake levers to change the resting place of my fingers. The position change help the 'blood flow' to the hands

Still going strong... Surly Long Haul Trucker

2025-03-03T10:06:00.001-07:00

Two years since the conversion and the bicycle is doing great.
With 3,000 miles or so on it, it has been great riding. Not much touring these days, mostly errands and daily rides. Since the Long Haul Trucker conversion, a Surly Wednesday and a Surly Pugsley have been converted to pedal assist so the time in the saddle has been split up with those bicycles.

I went through another Brooks Saddle on the Long Haul Trucker and now in the process of 'breaking in' a new one. But the old Surly Long Haul trucker with the Jones H-Bar is so comfortable.

The conversion has definitely kept me riding in my older years and I highly recommend it.

Walkaround of a Surly Pugsley E-bike conversion

2025-02-27T14:31:00.002-07:00

Information on the build

New Project for mountain biking

2025-02-05T09:47:00.001-07:00

The build of a 2012 Surly Pugsley has been slow but fun.

A Shimano 9 speed with a 42 tooth Chainring and a Bafang BBSDH motor.

It should be a brute!