tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84041316056409769162024-02-06T18:37:37.291-08:00Daily Canal BikerGoal was to bike to work and blog daily during the Tour de France from July 4 - July 26, 2009. My round trip was 20km/15miles down a Dutch canal path. I'm a hefty, lazy Texan writer living in Holland, hence the challenge and comedy.Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-72797247729071444542009-07-31T13:55:00.000-07:002009-08-01T02:25:11.035-07:00Complete Canal BikerDAY 21Time: 32.03min going.32.06min (PB) coming home. Record daily total 64.09minWeather: Fantastic.70F/21C degrees, puffs of wind.CO2 Emissions Saved: 118.5kgRoutineHow long do you have to do something before it becomes a routine? Six weeks? Six months? A year? Not 21 days. But it is a start. And a finish. My Tour de France simulation is complete.Tour Facts:Tammie: 355km or 220 milesTour de Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-7859116003229311442009-07-30T16:18:00.000-07:002009-07-31T09:21:03.789-07:00Rocky Canal Biker DAY 20 Time: Record in 32.01minRecord home 33.58minWeather: Morning forgetable, maybe tailwind, blinding sun.Afternoon strong headwind.CO2 Emissions saved: 113kgTailwindTires smoking from speed on the way to work. Caught all the green lights. Raced the bus. Was very surprised at the stopwatch. Thought I must have a tailwind pushing me quickly to work. But look at my hair? Shattered old to and Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-41059995786768776682009-07-29T16:05:00.000-07:002009-07-29T22:49:26.511-07:00Top 10 Canal Biker DAY 19 Time: 39min from auto shop35.30min personal best tieCar in shop again, on mechanic's 3-speedWeather: Morning drizzle annoying but not evil.Afternoon, inconsequential.CO2 Emissions saved: 107.5kg Picture here: Climbing bridge hill, sweat/rain on forehead, Rihanna singing Umbrella Ella Ella. Can't hold umbrella ella ella while snapping pictures, checking stopwatch, changing Ipod, typing SMSTammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-17578134177967857842009-07-28T22:50:00.000-07:002009-07-29T15:12:51.266-07:00Bionic Canal BikerDAY 18Time: 37 going, stopwatch quit, 38.36 coming back at nightWeather: Gorgeous almost cold, going in. Sweating coming home.CO2 Emissions saved: 102kg Green DayDo you have the time, to listen to me whine...lyrics to Green Day song. Listened to 'old school' Green Day to keep me going at night on the way home. Tour de France finished Sunday, but I am a few stages behind. Just 3 stages left on myTammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-39874110920280154632009-07-24T14:36:00.000-07:002009-07-25T03:42:35.396-07:00Happy Canal BikerDAY 17Time: 34.30min(PB)going to work. 35.55min(PB)coming home.Weather: Good enough to wear my suede jacket going in.Dubious enough that suede jacket spent weekend at work.CO2 Emissions saved: 93.5lbs.Feel my FaceCousin June from Colorado commented, "Biking must be serious stuff judging by the look on your face." Honestly, am challenged to smile, breathe, concentrate on forward motion and take Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-16308255373286412062009-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:002009-07-23T18:57:51.872-07:00Sustainable Canal BikerDAY 16 Time: 35:03min (PB) to work, 37.01min homeWeather: Morning overcast, hint of rain, but no rain. Afternoon, sunny, comfortable.Days Gone ByTomorrow is three weeks since I started the canal ride. In three weeks, have improved my time by 20 minutes going to work and 10 minutes coming home. Remember 55 minutes on Day 1, with two water and oxygen breaks? Time Trials at the TourKnew today was Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-565139345193033392009-07-22T17:07:00.000-07:002009-07-22T23:20:16.296-07:00Most Improved Canal BikerDAY 15Time: 38.13min longer route36.05min(PB) back, in 3rd gearWeather: Morning was cool. Cloudy. Sprinkles. Afternoon was dry. Little headwind.Lame RabbitDrove lame Rabbit to mechanic this morning. As a true Dutch gesture, mechanic has a couple of loaner bikes for patrons. Asked, "Can I borrow your strongest bike?" The mechanic gave the bike a couple of whacks on the seat, squeezed the tires andTammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-64561404349326073772009-07-21T15:58:00.001-07:002009-07-21T17:49:27.430-07:00Discouraged Canal BikerDAY 14Time: 43.07min going, 38.33min homeWeather: Morning was clear, bit nippy. Afternoon was dark, looming clouds, lightening, thunder, smattering of rain made me ride fast before the bottom fell out. Pouting on CouchAm back in the saddle. Skipped 3 days of biking. Not struck by thunder, didn't have flatter tires, didn't fall. Didn't fracture my tibia, fibula, or spare ribbia. Didn't break Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-71560133703178737222009-07-17T20:58:00.000-07:002009-07-21T17:36:58.193-07:00Convertible Canal BikerDAY 13Time: No riding time today.Weather: Morning, storming. Afternoon, clear.Thursday night, I bought a 1987 Volkswagen. Purchased with my heart from a young refurbisher, I am now the somewhat proud owner of a 22 year old imported American model VW Cabriolet, read convertible Rabbit. As I was pulling away, the expensive electronic gate slid shut behind my cheap, old tailgate. Gave it too little Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-17043109015513986532009-07-16T14:58:00.000-07:002009-07-16T22:55:11.593-07:00Ordinary Canal BikerDAY 12 Time: 37.45min going40.59min coming backWeather: Spectacular, not normalExtraordinary GigTo the American audience, this bike riding gig is extraordinary, ha, perhaps. Riding a bike or walking is just not done in Texas. Too hot. And just not enough bike riding going on. No place to ride safely.Sea of bikes at Utrecht Central Station, if your bike is inside this square, it cannot be removed Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-64039500432966093432009-07-15T16:08:00.001-07:002009-07-16T18:00:50.715-07:00Giant Canal BikerDAY 11Time: 36.54min (PB) going42.42min coming homeWeather: Perfect.Keep getting questions about my personal hygiene linked to my bike rides. "Don't you sweat?" and "Is there a shower at work?" and "Do you smell?"All from females. Guys ask "What kind of bike do you have?" and...well actually that is all guys ask me. Purple Union Bike Ladies second. I have a basic, no frills, Dutch brand Union Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-50546111346969773812009-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:002009-07-21T16:52:14.688-07:00Rockstar Canal BikerDAY 10Time: 38min to work (PB), 39min home (PB)Weather: Gorgeous, helped with 2 new personal bestsLet my numbers speak. I broke 40 minutes to and fro today. Yes I can!Pedal to the Metal(previously Peddle to the Medal, where's my editors?)Am no Albert Einstein, no really, but he came up with some theories that support biking up hills. Before I started up the bridge hill today, I put some gas into Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-26376002286485359782009-07-13T08:11:00.000-07:002009-07-13T17:23:45.418-07:00Friendly Canal BikerDAY 9Time: 15min to city hall, 45min with new biker buddyWeather: Not too hot, not too cold, not too anything.Had to renew Dutch passport today. Biker hair was flying away. Tamed it sooo much for the picture that I looked like the killer card in Old Maid. Photographer said I could not have crazy wild bangs in my face, and must put behind my ear. International, legal passport photo regulations. OHTammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-6561201234846988112009-07-12T17:25:00.000-07:002009-07-13T08:07:44.625-07:00Confrontational Canal BikerDAY 7 Saturday, July 11Time: 44min total to shop & backWeather: Sunny, insignificant wind.Took 5 year old to get ice cream, homemade Italian ice cream. And, to buy self a new scale. Tried not to stare at him eating ice cream or feel punished. New scale calculates your body fat and water weight, too. What a bonus, confronting feature.Big BonedI always heard "you are just big boned." But, if weTammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-10355409172173144182009-07-10T12:12:00.000-07:002009-07-10T14:41:10.412-07:00Off Road Canal BikerDAY 6Time: 15min total for school dutyWeather: Off/On blusteryToday I was just the writer. Not the rider. Had day off Friday. Took 3-hour morning nap. Bet the Tour de France guys could have used one of those. I watched some Tour from the couch while I worked an article for work and pictures seen here. Tough climbing for the guys on Stage 7, as far as I could assess sitting on my slightly saddle Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-10999034371570214032009-07-09T12:45:00.000-07:002009-07-09T16:33:39.780-07:00Heavy Canal BikerDAY 5 Time: 43min going. 45min back.Weather: Blue, gray. Windless to work. Headwind home.HeavyToday, I made 100 kilometers. But no joke, I feel heavy. Heavy on the bike. Heavy on my couch. Exercise-wise, I have gone from ZERO to 100 in just 5 days. Monumental. My thigh and shoulder muscles are giving me the 5Ws (who, what, where, when, why). I don't hurt. I just have no physical power. Noodley. Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-80695151906353937252009-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:002009-07-10T23:45:35.980-07:00Moist Canal BikerDAY 4 Wednesday Time: 44min going. 46min back.Weather: Raining the whole way there. Wind in face on the way back, but dry.Showed committment today. Brought extra dry clothes to work in a plastic shopping bag. Arrived after a 44minute shower, resembling an unfriendly, unwanting wet dog forced to stand still in tub for a defleaing.Wardrobe MalfunctionPut on fairy light shirt over big red, heavy Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8404131605640976916.post-25151168902090492372009-07-07T13:26:00.000-07:002009-07-10T15:35:12.561-07:00Rain or Shine Canal BikerDAY 1 Friday, July 3Time: 55min going. 47min back.Weather: Smoldering warm 25C/77FSummary: Stopped twice for water and oxygen break. Didn't know how long it would take, or if I could make it. Plus, I also didn't really know the way. Rode so very inchworm slow that I could have crawled past myself on all fours. On the way back, only stopped at the lights.DAY 2 Monday, July 6Time: 40min going. Tammie Noltehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840776039511366299noreply@blogger.com2