Fifty Plus (50+) - Saturday afternoon on the MUT

Since we had pretty nice weather yesterday, temperature in the 50's or so, my wife and I decided to take the tandem somewhere for lunch. Our daughter had previously recommended a "Boat House" restaurant in Creve Coeur Park.

We decided to ride a loop of the park's multi use trail first. The athletic fields had both a soccer tournament and a rugby tournament going so there were lots of people. Unfortunately, a portion of the trail is slipping toward the lake resulting in some bike tire eating longitudinal cracks in the trail. Since the maintenance people had closed that portion of the trail I decided, against my better judgement, to take the loop by the beach.

My better judgement was correct. Besides the soccer and rugby tournaments, there was also a rowing regatta going on. Lots of people standing around and even sitting on the trail. This was in addition to the normal crush of kids on training wheel bikes, dog walkers, and roller bladers, none of whom seemed particularly interested in making room for a tandem bicycle. We saw a roller blader and a fellow who would qualify for 50+ rushing the season with no shirts. It made me cold just to watch them. All-in-all it was an excellent opportunity to sharpen up my low speed bike handling skills so naturally I was grateful for that.

Then we decided to ride to the boat house for a sandwich. The menu had a printed list of FAQs. One of them was "How come the food takes so long?" They weren't kidding. It took us an hour and twenty minutes to get a cold roast beef sandwich and a not very chickeny chicken taco salad. Also, no pie. We won't be going back there.

Most of the way back home was downwind so we cranked it up to 17 or 18 MPH which is pretty good for us anytime but especially this early in the season. The nice thing about riding a tandem is you always have somebody to share the experience whether good or bad. Over all we had pretty a good time but I was glad that we didn't have anywhere else that we needed to be yesterday afternoon.

Proof that there are no "bad" bicycle rides. Some may be better than others but all of them are worth the trip.

Did the sitter's move at all or just sort of look at you with that Owl eye look the get when startled...:)

Did the sitter's move at all or just sort of look at you with that Owl eye look the get when startled...:)

They neither moved nor looked startled. I guess I don't look threatening enough. Maybe I should get some nice tasteful tattoos on my neck.

Your ride sounds 50% annoying and 50% fun. I'm surprised you and your wife were willing to wait that long for a crumby sandwich - you must have been too hungry to leave. That "boathouse" should be boycotted into bankruptcy. Our MUP is heating up (7 miles out-and-back up a canyon). I was eyeing bells at REI, thinking about the jog-zombies and three-abreast power yackers that have started to clog it. But I get so pi$$ed when someone rings a bell at me, I decided against it and will work in my Unconditional Acceptance skills in the next few weeks instead. Happy spring!

A restaurant called The Boat House really should have pie.

It was two years ago this week that I had my worst crash ever when a mother pushing her too small child in a Big Wheel on a MUP pushed it right in front of me. Trails are too dangerous for bikes.

What? No pie? When Stapfam hears this he ain't gonna like it one little bit. :crash:


I seldom ride on weekends but when I do, I avoid MUT's for those same reasons. Actually, I try to avoid MUT's during the week as well.

The only saving grace of this posting is that the MUT was used against better judgement.


NO PIE!!!!

Tandems have right of way over(As in ride Over) everything that gets in their way.

1 hour 20 minutes waiting for food

That is one ride I would not go on again. And definitely a cafe to steer clear of.

I have learnt with the Tandem that they are not the easiest of things to manoevure. We give people one warning-and then try to miss them. It does not always work- The missing I mean- but most do get out of our way. (Stoker has to get a louder voice and learn a few choicer words) Another good thing to do is carry Extra water in a Camelback. Pressure it and just hold the Mouthpiece in the direction of the offenders. Even better if it is a sweet sticky Energy drink as it will stick and in Summer attract the bees. Vengeance is sweet.

Still it was a ride which is more than I got in this weekend- but time to call on a few Mates to call on that cafe and complain about the lack of Pie.

I steer clear of recreational bike paths on weekends, but they are deserted in the early morning and late evening.

That tandem slalom sounds scarey.

Your ride sounds 50% annoying and 50% fun. I'm surprised you and your wife were willing to wait that long for a crumby sandwich - you must have been too hungry to leave. That "boathouse" should be boycotted into bankruptcy. Our MUP is heating up (7 miles out-and-back up a canyon). I was eyeing bells at REI, thinking about the jog-zombies and three-abreast power yackers that have started to clog it. But I get so pi$$ed when someone rings a bell at me, I decided against it and will work in my Unconditional Acceptance skills in the next few weeks instead. Happy spring!

Its reasonable to yell "Good Morning" or "Happy Spring." The former works well in Ann Arbor!

I've been taking Cheri on the O&E towpath lately for her first rides since her foot surgery last October. Flat miles at an easy pace is what she needs right now to get her started back into shape and while we experiment with different shoe/pedal combinations for her.