Spring is finally here – I need a bike!

I can’t believe it – I think that spring has finally arrived. There’s no snow in the yard and I’ve already started cleaning up the gardens and raked the lawn for the first time. The ground is still frozen in many areas, though.

Some crocuses and tulips are starting to poke through the soil and the sun has been out alot over the past few days. Is this a dream, or is winter finally over? Let’s hope so.

Someone is itching to get the garage cleaned and organized for this year’s bike projects, and someone else is anxious to start learning how to weld. Oh, the things I plan to make!

It better happen soon ’cause I don’t have a bike to ride this year yet! My WildKat recumbent, which was built last spring, has been recycled to make room for more bikes, so I am currently bike-less.

Dude, I need some wheels!

Gallery updates, new recumbent, welcome to spring!

Here we are less than two weeks from the beginning of April and guess what just happened – yep, more snow! I know, I asked for it weeks ago, but come on! Yesterday was pretty weird. -22 C in the morning, then warmed up a bit, some snow, then windy, then warmer, then freezing rain, followed by thunder and lightening and more freezing rain. Now, it’s raining. I can’t remember the last time we’ve had such weird weather. So much for being +8 C today, I think it got as high at +4 C. Oh well, can’t complain considering the severe weather conditions east and south of us.

I guess the world didn’t come to an end with the early Daylight Savings time change recently. I prefer this earlier time change anyway. It helps get you motivated with it’s light earlier in the morning until early evening. Don’t tell George W. Bush this, but I actually agree with him on setting the clocks forward one hour three weeks earlier this year.

Yes, in addition to a new chopper, Brad’s worked out a plan for a new overseat steering recumbent that we will build together (yet to be named). Since I have yet to start on my welding lessons, it will be a good project for me to get started on. We have almost all of the parts together, just waiting for the weather to co-operate for the annual garage spring cleaning to make room for this year’s builds.

The Builder’s Gallery was updated today, so be sure to check them out. There is so much creativity out there, keep sending in those pictures!

Cheers to our buddy and Atomic Zombie forum member, Tiny Neutrino, who is planning an extensive sailing excursion across the Pacific Ocean on a homebuilt raft. Keep us posted “Tiny”!

Thanks also for all of the wonderful emails, gifts, invitations, letters and blog entries we’ve received from many Atomic Zombie krew members. Sometimes our lives are so hectic, it’s impossible to thank each of you personally, so here’s a big Thank You to everyone.

Be careful what you wish for, new chopper soon

I have a confession to make. I secretly wished for snow recently and guess what we got a week ago? Yes, we got just over 2 feet of the white stuff. Why did I wish for snow? Well, water tables, lake and river levels are very low, and there have already been some forest fires in the region due to dry conditions. If we don’t get enough snow and rain over the next few months, summer will be dry and terrible for forest fires. When summer is short where you live you can appreciate the importance of camping – campfire and all. When forest conditions are dry, fire bans are implemented and that means no campfires. Now, the freezing rain has begun again. Ugh. Makes walking and driving very treacherous. But, I’ve heard that spring might be just around the corner. The water table around here is very low and it will be another summer of severe water restrictions unless things change drastically. Plus, I’d rather have snow than -30 C to -45 C temps, even though it has been pretty cold this week in the -20s. We were luckier than alot of regions in the US and eastern Canada that got pummeled by snow, high winds and tornadoes. So, enough of the weather already! There will be a new awesome chopper, The Black Pearl, making its debut this spring, in May or June. I have seen some of the preliminary sketches, and believe me, this chopper is even more over the top than OverKill. More info. on The Black Pearl will be coming over the next couple of months.

Making more headway on the 51 High-Tech Practical Jokes book, busy with our regular jobs, and itching to get into the garage. The backyard is full of water and ice right now. Even the dog isn’t thrilled about going outside. Hope it all melts away soon so we can get on with some bike projects. Stay tuned!