One of our Craig's List purchased bikes had come equipped with a mirror and I had gotten quite used to utilizing it when I rode. But alas, the other day, the little rubber plug that held it into the end of the handlebar finally tore completely through and that was the end of my mirror. So, off to Amazon I went to find a replacement. It didn't take me long to make my final decision with this little gem.
Anytime an item has 850 reviews and a 4.75/5 star rating, I figure that's a sure sign that you likely can't go wrong. And the price made my happy -- just $13. So click, click with Prime shipping and two days later I had my mirror.
Now, since I was feeling all chest-puffy with self-sufficient do-it-yourself ability since my successful dual-tire changing lesson, I tackled the installation of this little puppy all my lonesome and am happy and proud to say that it was a success -- and not difficult, either. Although as a large number of those 850 Amazon reviewers noted: Be sure you DO read the instructions before you begin and you shouldn't have any problems.
However, I did not install mine the way it is pictured above on the box. Why? Because the way we stuff our folded bikes into the back of our Honda Fit is by turning them upside down so they are resting on the handlebars. And a mirror installed as pictured above just looks like it is begging to be be broken off about the second time we put the bikes in the car. Instead, as part of those 850 reviews, there were also 20+ pictures supplied by others who had purchased this same mirror and various configurations and placements they had utilized. I copied one of them, as pictured here, and it works just fine, the only exception being if I am riding with my hands placed on the actual handlebars, then my left arm is obstructing my view of the mirror. But I really only have my hands on the handlebars when I know I will needing to utilize the brakes. All other times, I am riding in the more upright position with my hands on the "bullhorn" bar extenders.
A perfect configuration for my Mirrycle mirror!
Unlike my other mirror that I was forever having to adjust because it would sag and vibrate out of place, this one stays exactly where you put it. And you can make it as adjustable or as fixed as you prefer, based on how tightly you tighten the Allen screws at the joints when you assemble it out of the box.
This was a very good purchase and if you are looking for a mirror, and honestly I don't know why you would want to ride without one (honeyyyyyyyy............), I think you can't go wrong with this one.
After our Saturday night in Ames, on Sunday we planned to drive back via Omaha and knock out two more states on our list by riding trails in both Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa, by crossing the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge over the Missouri River.
We awakened and turned on the weather to find High Wind warnings. They were not kidding. The drive over on I-80 required 2 hands on the wheel at all times or we might just have ended up in Winnipeg!
First up as we were driving south from Ames on I-35 we passed through Ankeny, Iowa, which is the southernmost trailhead of the High Trestle Trail. So we pulled off the highway and drove over to check out the trail head. With the high winds we knew this was not the trail for us on this day! Interestingly enough we passed this 'Bike Country' bike shop on our way to the trailhead so we had to take a picture!
Cool Bike Art at the High Trestle Trailhead in Ankeny, Iowa
On this Windy day there was one Brave soul in the parking lot who gave it a try!
I am guessing the Adair Wind Farm that we passed was at peak output on Sunday.
Rest stop along I-80 near the Wind farm.
Have you ever wondered what they would look like after a Tornado? :)
Little did we know they would answer our question of what one of those windmills would look like if hit by a tornado, they disguised it as Road Art as we entered Council Bluffs Iowa!
On this day the Good Life was under attack by WIND!
Some goofball standing in front of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge... Notice the lack of People on it...
That is because on this day you had to JUST KEEP PEDALING or you would be blown over the side of the bridge into the river!
You usually don't expect to see whitecap waves on a River! Especially headed UPRIVER!
State line.
On the Iowa part of the bridge, looking toward Council Bluffs
Standing in Tom McCall Riverfront Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa
with the Omaha, Nebraska skyline behind us.
Sometimes you just gotta take the stairs.
Standing in two states.
On the drive home we stopped for dinner in Nebraska City at this
combination Orscheln Farm and Home/Taco John's/Dairy Queen.
That's multitasking at its finest, folks. :)
All in all we had a fun weekend! Ready to do it again anytime you are Sweetie!
Friday night we drove over and spent the night with my parents who live in Lawrence, as our daughter was going to be running in the 3A State Cross Country Championship out at Rim Rock, the cross country course for the University of Kansas. We got there early enough in the evening to go ride the last 2.5 mile portion of the South Lawrence Trafficway trail that we needed to ride to have covered the entire trail. This portion of the trail runs from the bottom of the hill where Wakarusa Road intersects Highway 10, to the west through the Clinton Lake overflow spillway. Not a very difficult ride. We just quickly got 5 miles in before it got dark.
Saturday morning we got up early and headed out to Rim Rock. For those of you who have never been there for one of these meets, it's quite an experience. I wanted to get out there early so I could walk part of the course that I had not made it to during previous meets. All you have to do is look at these pictures to see the beauty that is Rim Rock.
They run along this pond and up through the trees! Can you say Beautiful! (Yes, but that giant squid in the foreground is somewhat concerning........ ~~H)
First covered bridge on the course they run through
Second covered bridge on course that they run through
Nothing like a steep downhill with an immediate right hand turn!
Final steep hill before they loop back around to the finish line
Finish line where Champions are Crowned!
Part of the fan club!
The gun fired for the start of the girls 3A race at straight up 10 AM. Aundrea darted out to join the lead pack (Girl with Red Headband & Black Leggings) . She does not like to lead races, prefers to be a straggler in the lead group.
As they passed us in between the 1 mile and 2 mile point, she was in third place.
Notice she had already tossed her red headband off. Runner 422 in this picture came up to her after the race and returned her headband to her, saying her coach had picked it up when he saw her toss it off. :)
After this point the runners go over a hill and back into the trees and we really do not see them again until they top the crest of the hill that curves down into the finish. The announcer said that last year's defending champion was in the lead, just ahead of Aundrea. From my vantage point it looked like they were neck and neck. As they came around the curve my view was blocked for a bit and when they came back into view I saw that Aundrea had pulled out into the lead and it was growing!!
I have to be honest folks, I lost it at that point... :) The tears of joy started rolling down my cheeks! What a pleasure it is to see one of your children set such a lofty goal, put in the long hours of training, and accomplish their Goal! A very Proud Moment!
State Cross Country Champion! Time 15:47
Interviewed by WIBW the local TV Station for the 6 O'clock news!
Dad giving the champion a hug!
Top twenty medalists
Saturday, Part II:
My sweetie and I both are huge John Mellencamp fans. When we looked over the schedule of dates and locations for the play he collaborated with Stephen King to write, we discovered that today's performance on the Iowa State Campus in Ames Iowa was going to be closest to us that would fit into our schedule. So immediately after the awards ceremony, we hopped in our car, and headed north up I-35 to Ames. Took us a little over 4 hours, arriving there an hour and a half before the show. So we checked into our hotel, and headed to the Stephens Auditorium on the ISU campus. Upon arrival , based upon our tickets we were given and upgrade, because they did not want to open the balcony that our original seats were on. They moved us all the way up to the 5th row! We were also treated to free dessert and punch!
The show was Awesome! If your a JCM fan or a Stephen King fan, you don't want to miss this show. You can definitely see the influence of both in the play/musical. It was well worth the drive up there to see.
We waited to have dinner until after the play, so we had to settle for Applebee's because they would be open after 10. To tie into our bicycling blog, I did have to take a picture of the Fat Tire beer neon sign hanging in the restaurant!
We headed back to our hotel after eating to rest up for our next day's adventure! It was such a wonderful day, It took me awhile to get to sleep as I kept wanting to reflect on the events of the day!
