"Well, we're fully into the new year." "Like I needed YOU to tell me that." "Sorry ..." "What?!" "Oh ... I thought you were sleeping." "Shut up, freak!" "Uh, was I talking again?" Now, new year's reflection may seem a bit long in the tooth at this point in January, but it is warranted. The dawn of the year means something special in the Great White North surrounding Surlyville. Sure, the days begin to stay lighter longer and, believe it or not, it actually feels like winter is going to end in the not-so-distant future. The days just drip with…

So last Saturday was the Triple D adventure race - snowy business on a bike from Dubuque to Dyersville to Durango. Lots of folks have written in detail about how tough it was - imagine glare ice covered with the finest powdery snow and you've got a recipe for pushing and not riding. Nobody finished. I blame global warming. Still, it was a good time. Markles-he-Sparkles and Yum Yums joined me from Milwaukee and we had laughs the night before the race. We drank Hub City Oatmeal Stout in the basement, worked on the bikes, and penciled out our last…

Skip was right in that last post: you people are wrong for being right about being wronged. You love us. We thank you. You come back for more. We back off and laugh uncomfortably. You get in close trying to prove you're not weird. And that makes daddy drink. Still, the confusion lies in our unsettling silence. It's not you, it's us. You should know we think of you often even though we can't be where you are. And yet still you are there, waiting patiently. But we are not free yet. So now you will have to close your…

Every once in a while - like when there are holidays, when some of us are in other countries, or when individuals among us (and their special someones) successfully procreate - there is a lull in the high-brow intellecutalizing that goes on here on the Surly Blogswamp. Sometimes this inspires people to write to us and complain that we have not been entertaining enough for them, and that they are chagrined at our lack of concern for them. They are right to be angry. I understand that we occupy the convergence of smartitude and bikefotainment. We should really be more…

Howdy, folks. Fleck here. Did I promise a trip report from my excursion across the pond? Oh, I believe I did. Sorry to be delinquent but we've been a little busy with some stuff that vaguely resembled work. There are only a handful of things I want to mention about England. I'm throwing in a few photos to keep you awake and numbering my points so you don't lose your place. 1) In the middle of the winter, when you depart a place that is frozen and white (MN) and you land someplace that is wet and green (UK) your…