I recently celebrated the 15th anniversary for my SIDI road bike shoes.

They’ve gotten me through downpours, countless centuries, and an Ironman.

While it’s really great that they’ve last this long, I really wouldn’t mind if they suddenly fell apart. Fifteen years with neon green and neon pink is enough. I want my replacements to be just black.

Sometimes bike accessories can be pricey, but as I recall there were no more than $150 or about $10 a year. I go through 2.5 pair of running shoes per year at $80+ each.

I was just biking down Woodward minding my own business when a stray golf ball from the Palmer Park Golf Course brushed against my upper arm.

The ball clinked hard on the pavement and continued bouncing north across Woodward Avenue.

Not a good shot. Not a playable ball.

At least he did on Saturday.

I was riding downtown with Chuck Hatch and stopped at a light on Woodward Avenue in Highland Park.

Two fast-moving guys on mountain bikes blew past us.

I turned to Chuck and noted that one of them looked like Chelios. So to find out for sure, I sprinted after them.

Fortunately I was on my road bike and closed the gap, making sure I slowed a little bit before catching them so that I’d have some breath left in me.

Yes, it was Chris Chelios. He said he rides down Woodward to get downtown presumably to work. I introduced myself and my job of building trails in Detroit.

I’d asked him if he’d heard about the recent Dequindre Cut opening.

Nope.

That’s not suprising. There were some other big events that Thursday as well.

[I saw Chris riding north on Woodward in Royal Oak today while I was driving, so I took the photo you see above.]

While biking home from a couple errands, I came across a car stopped in the middle of a nearby neighborhood road. The driver and passenger were standing in front of the stopped car casting long shadows from the headlights.

There in the middle of this Royal Oak road was an Eastern Screech Owl.

Unfortunately my phone camera does not take better pictures in low-light situations. A better picture would show him staring at me.

The group of neighbors came out and we finally got a wildlife expert on the phone. They advised we prod the little owl (perhaps a baby) in a box while wearing heavy-duty gardening gloves.

Once in the box, he flew out and landed in the middle of another street.

On the second attempt, he got in the box and moved out of harms way.

I did thank the driver for being alert and stopping without hitting the owl. Many of the drivers in this neighborhood and throughout the region are in their own world when in their car — making no plans for any unexpected encounters like this.

We even saw that first hand while trying to get him in a box as one car accelerated towards us as we stood in the road with the owl.

Once while driving in Royal Oak a large white English sheepdog slowly walked into the street. I stopped and watched as the opposing traffic did not.  I flashed my headlights. Never once did the other car’s nose dip to indicate any braking before they hit and killed the dog.

Thankfully our baby owl should fare better.

On Saturday, May 9th, I’m leading a casual, 8-10 mile bike tour around downtown Detroit. It starts and ends at the Park Bar (2040 Park Ave).

This fundraiser ride is hosted by the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Tour de Cure cycling event. There’s a $10 donation to join in. Proceeds will benefit the ADA.

There will be giveaways too.

Need a bike? The Wheelhouse Detroit is offering a discount on bike rentals.

For additional details, send an email to Anika Halladay or call her at 248-433-3830, ext. 6694.