Dan On Bike

The Tires Were Flat

2009-11-08T19:48:00.004-05:00

Since I started keep detailed ride records, back in March 2005, I've ridden at least one ride each month. That is, until last month. Because of all kinds of reasons, but mostly mood issues, I didn't hop on the saddle once in October.

I've been fighting a lack of interest in riding since at least last fall, and it has been really strong this summer. I think my neighbor has given up on me and is once again riding alone. (Although, he did call this morning after I had left). Once last month, I was trying to talk myself into it, but the thought of actually riding a bike was repulsive.

Everything changed today when a rare intersection of good weather and good spirits saw me jump on the Trek 820 for my usual weekend visit to a coffee shop for hot chocolate and web surfing. The hill was a little tough for my out of shape legs, but overall the ride was good. I got warm enough to swap out the hot chocolate for a cold cream soda.

While I was online, my son sent an email wanting me to bring him food to his dorm room. I suggested a ride to the store, and he agreed. However, I could tell he thought I meant a ride in my truck, and not on bikes. He saw my cycling gloves as he came out of the front door and bolted back to his room.

On the way home, I saw a Purdue University Police patrol car, parked in a bike lane - totally blocking it, as the officer watched traffic go by. I should have stopped for a photo, but I chickened out.

So now, my consecutive month total stands at one and counting.

Miles Ridden: 9.3

Weekend Coffee Shop Rides

2009-05-31T21:05:00.000-04:00

I like hitting a coffee shop on weekend mornings. I take my laptop, find a quiet table, and get some work done on personal projects.

This weekend I tried the Greyhouse in the village. Pretty nice place.

Saturday Miles Ridden: 8.2
Sunday Miles Ridden: 7.0

(This post was originally titled Weekend Coffee Runs)

Month of May

2009-05-29T20:01:00.003-04:00

I haven't been writing much lately, because I haven't been riding much lately. However, there have been a few rides this month:

May 4: 9.0
May 4: 7.0
May 5: 6.5
May 11: 7.0
May 12: 7.0
May 29: 8.2

Total Miles Ridden: 44.7

Saturday Morning

2009-04-25T21:26:00.020-04:00

Depending on the route, my ride to the Wabash Landing shopping center is about five miles. Since I've been spending my weekend mornings of late using the free WiFi at Panera to work on a programming project, I thought I could work a bike ride into the routine.

The weather couldn't have been better. Temps in the high 60s and a strong SW wind pushing me into town made for a comfortable ride. There was one less than pleasant occurrence when four unladen, speeding dump trucks passed me on the country road portion of River Road. The driver of the second truck (which I didn't realize was behind me at the time) thought it would be fun to honk and swerve towards me as he passed. I gave him a quick hand signal signifying he was number one and continued on.

Wabash Landing has many convenient bike racks located all over the grounds, it wasn't tough to find a spot to lock up while I was in the coffee shop.

Pedestrian Bridge

After a couple of hours, I packed up for the next leg of the trip. My truck was parked at my wife's clinic over in Lafayette, so I pedaled over the river to pick it up. The bike rode in the truck bed on the way home.

Miles Ridden: 7.7

Morning Commute Turns Into a Morning Ride

2009-04-17T22:37:00.002-04:00

The plan was to ride to work today, maybe cycle somewhere for lunch, and then back home after 5:00.

Instead, I ended up leaving very late after chasing the dog around the neighborhood, and arrived about a half an hour past the start of the work day. Just 15 minutes later, my daughter called from her school to ask me to bring the important homework papers that she had left at home. So, I pedalled back home.

In the interest of time, I used the truck to deliver the homework and get back to work. Didn't sit at my desk until 10:00!

Miles Ridden: 7.0

How Do You Stop 'Em

2009-04-16T19:24:00.000-04:00

Not much time after work today, but I was able to ride north on 400W up to US52 and back.

However, my heavy panting after climbing the small hill on 375W caused me to get hiccups. How do you get your mid-ride hiccups to stop? I tried holding my breath, but it's tough to pedal without oxygen. Next, I tried drinking water - no luck. Finally, I attempted what usually works at home, slow controlled breaths. Didn't work either. So, I gave up and pedaled through it.

Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Miles Ridden: 9.0

Take It Whenever I Can

2009-03-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

With these early Spring days that are either cold and wet, windy and cold, or -um- windy and wet, I feel that I need to take advantage of every warm, dry, slightly breezy day that comes along. Today was such a day, and even though my schedule was rather tight, I was able to grab an hour for a quick ride to the bridge and a little beyond.

Not sure if this barn was renovated in 1984, or if the roofer was an Orwell fan

On this nice, sunny day, I wasn't the only one out for a ride. I saw many cyclists, including kitted up roadies and casually dressed 50 somethings. Others included several motorcycle riders, people in convertables, and a small group of teens on step-through scooters. Also, when I stopped at the top of a hill, these two horsemen came out of the trees and followed the side of the road to the north.

I hope to get a few days like this when my vacations starts later in the week.

Miles Ridden: 11.5

Jeepers, Creepers

2009-03-17T21:25:00.003-04:00

The sound of Spring Peepers was all around as I rode past the Celery Bog and the golf course water hazard. There must be hundreds of those nasty little creatures all around me.

Because my daughter had to get to school early, I tossed the bike in the back of the truck and parked at the school. Apparently, they don't mind if I leave the truck for the day.

Miles Ridden: 11.2

Blue Sky Ride

2009-03-16T21:23:00.001-04:00

It was raining this morning, but I was able to ride back to work after lunch. Another great day.

Miles Ridden: 7.2

The Cows are Watching

2009-03-14T23:04:00.002-04:00

Good day for a ride, as the temps are in the high 40s, and the winds weren't too strong from the east.

High water on the Wabash around the bridge

The neighbor and I followed the Lilly Road Route in a counter clockwise direction. Along the route, we saw two Rocky's and a Lester (road kill Raccoons and Opossum).

Riding into the headwind and climbing the hill by the Lilly complex reminded me that I'm out of shape. Lucky for me spring is starting to show up more often, so I'm hoping to get out more.

Miles Ridden: 18.0

First Bike Commute of the Year!

2009-03-05T23:01:00.002-05:00

Strong headwinds make for great kite weather

Miles Ridden: 9.2

Every Sunday is Ride Day

2009-02-15T22:17:00.032-05:00

I'm in Naples, FL this weekend, and my hotel offers free bike usage, so I took advantage of this chance to ride in great weather.

Right off the bat, I owe Naples an apology. Last year, I ranted about the apparent lack of cycling resources and the general bike unfriendliness based on my view of two blocks of US41, the main drag. While it is true the area around some of the fancy resorts I was visiting is very car centric, I saw a different side of the city this morning. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

In exchange for my room key, I was given the lock combination for bike #5 - one of several identical cruiser bikes found on the bike rack in the parking garage. These yellow beasts had extra wide street tires covered with monster fenders, and are steered using long, curving handlebars. The rider is perched on a wide, springy seat that is adjustable to suit most.

My route took me south on US41 only for a short distance, and a right turn landed me on a quiet residential street with a bike land on each side. In fact, almost all the streets I used have bike lanes, and they were not neglected. First, I saw some seniors on hybrids, followed by a few lone road riders. Then, a bigger group, and another. One easily had 30 riders in a dual pace line.

I asked one group if I had stumbled into an organized ride, and a lady answered "Every Sunday is ride day".

One thing about the great Florida weather. With temps in the low 60s, humidity at 100%, and no wind, I was riding through some thick fog. Even though it wasn't raining, I was soaked.

I only had about an hour for the ride, so I just shot to the "old town" area of Naples. I was expecting a quaint area with antique shops and a mom and pop coffee place. Instead, I saw mostly newer buildings housing upscale shops. After a quick look around, I headed back north.

The desk clerk had told me that the only place for a decent, reasonably priced breakfast was Perkins. So, I headed that way. Along one street, I found a coconut in the road, so I picked it up and threw it in the basket. Perkins served a great meal - just like the Perkins back home.

During the ride back, I started to notice that I was fighting the extremely upright position that this bike required. I was wishing that I could move the handlebars forward about 3 inches.

I had a great time on the ride, and I hope that my next trip includes some great streets like those I found in Naples.

Miles Ridden: TBD

Can You Come Out and Play?

2009-02-08T20:30:00.017-05:00

The message on my phone yesterday read "[the neighbor] called, he wants you to come out and play."

Is wasn't until this afternoon that we made it out, but we did. I'm glad he called and set the ride up; otherwise I would have never left my recliner.

We're in a small warm up this week, with temps in the mid-40s instead of below 0. Today was also sunny with calm winds, so the roads were calling.

The ride followed the Llama Route, although the namesake animals were nowhere to be seen. (I didn't see the goats either.)

There was a little trouble with our clothing today. While the neighbor had shorts and three shirts, I had long pants and two jerseys. I was warm, while he was freezing. He said the cold air was like an ice pack on his sore knee.

I'll try to get out after work once this week while the warm weather is around. Cold and rain are coming back soon.

Miles Ridden: 12.7

Ice on the Wabash

2009-01-22T23:14:00.008-05:00

This was probably the only ride I'll get in this month. With the temps in the low 40s, light winds, and sunny skies, I left work a few minutes early to mark one down for this month. Weather for the rest of the month looks cold and wet.

Miles Ridden: 9.0

2008 Wrap Up

2008-12-31T22:27:00.000-05:00

Kind of a weird year, as my urge to ride greatly subsided later in the year. Still, I had many good rides, even though I missed my goal.

Total Miles Ridden: 1,427.9
Secret Goal: 1,800

Total Rides: 121
Commutes: 64
Utility: 9
Morning: 13
Other: 35

I'm surprised at how few utility rides I have. While I really enjoy riding to stores, I'm not sure why I don't do it more.

It's interesting that for a 2nd year in a row my miles on each bike is almost identical. 701 on the 820, and 706 on the Pilot (and a few more on a rental).

Here's to a 2009 filled with fun rides!

Last Chance

2008-12-30T16:29:00.000-05:00

I've ridden at least once every month for the past few years, and I was getting a little worried about getting out in December. Luckily, everything fell in place today: good weather, vacation day, free time, equipment working. Just a ride to the bridge and back - the usual - but it felt good to get out.

Even before I went to the garage, I felt out of practice as I had a tough time choosing my clothing. I ended up just a little overdressed; not bad. After I grabbed some water, pumped up the tires and checked the chain, I headed out.

The bike felt a little weird. Was the seat lower than usual? The handlebars in a different position? No, it's just me not being used to riding. I remembered how to shift, but it took a couple of minutes to remember when to do it. (I'm even a little rusty with the blog posting routine!)

Also, I was very aware of all of the sand on the roads - especially in the bike lane.

I could have gone longer on flat ground, but the slight hills and the increasing wind let me know that I am seriously out of shape. I need to do this more often.

No matter. December is covered.

Miles Ridden: 9.0

Extreme Beginnings

2008-12-07T19:23:00.001-05:00

Found on behance.net

Hare the Road

2008-11-28T08:44:00.001-05:00

Madison County, Indana (Anderson area) has developed an impressive collection of cycling routes called the Heartland Bikeways of Madison County. Since my wife has family in the area, we will have to arrange a few day trips where I can explore the routes while she visits.

Already planning for spring!

Notes

2008-11-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

I haven't been riding lately, as the weather has been two out of three from the set cold, windy, and rainy for quite a while. However, I did have some thoughts to share.

First, I almost hit a cyclist last week. When I was pulling into the cleaners to drop off some laundry, I noticed a guy (probably a college student) weaving his way from sidewalk to sidewalk as he headed towards campus. As I came up State Street in the left lane of the one way street, I saw that he had decided to ride in the lane. I slowed as I caught up with him. On the sidewalk another kid on his bike was watching the guy in the lane in front of me and decided to follow. It only took him half a revolution of his crank to jump out in front of me. I screeched to a halt about a foot from his left shoe, and I truly think that if it had not been for the lane rider that caused me to slow, I would have hit him. The young rider looked up at me, and I couldn't help starting to laugh. He pulled his bike back onto the sidewalk and I moved on.

Today, I was one car away from a near accident. A young man on a small bike came flying out into traffic from a one way cross street - and he wasn't going the one way that was allowed. The car in front of me had to swerve quickly to miss him. The kid then jumped onto the sidewalk and continued on.

But the worst story was in the Toronto Globe and Mail. Apparently, an altercation between a cyclist and a cabbie ended with the cabbie running over the cyclist and then fleeing the scene. The cyclist has lost a leg and is in critical condition. No word yet on what caused the argument.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081115.CYCLIST15/EmailTPStory/National

On a lighter note, I had a meeting last week in the office of an Executive Director, and was surprized to see a Gary Fisher bicycle in the corner. He said that during the warmer weather he rides the multi-use trails found near his location. If a 60+ year old who wears a suit every day to work can find time to ride, I should be able to do more when conditions are a little more favorable.

Hopefully, I'll be able to get a few more rides in this month.

Week in Review II

2008-11-05T20:04:00.000-05:00

Had the chance for three commutes this week. This unnaturally warm weather has been great for riding, although the switch to standard time makes the evenings dark pretty early.

While pulling my lock off the bike, it caught the wire running from the cyclo-computer to the sensor, rendering it useless. Another toy to replace!

Miles Ridden:

Monday: 9.6
Tuesday: 7.2
Wednesday: 7.2

Fall Color Tour

2008-11-02T20:01:00.001-05:00

I had time for a quick ride in the afternoon between chores (cleaning up from last nights party in preparation for a visit from my mother) to hit the Bridge. Lots of leaf color on the route.

Miles Ridden: 9.0

It's Just Like Riding a Bike

2008-11-01T18:43:00.000-04:00

Since I had a shift at the pre-game festivities today, I thought I would see if I still knew how this bike thing worked, as it has been too long since the last ride. Turns out, I'm pretty good at it.

Dressed for tooling around in a golf cart on a fall day, I got warm pretty quickly and was wishing that I had hooked up a pannier to hold my jacket.

I got home before the end of the 1st quarter and watched the rest of the game at home.

Miles Ridden: 7.0

Week in Review

2008-10-24T21:55:00.000-04:00

It's kind of tough to get psyched about writing a blog post about a ride when every ride seems the same.

This past week I commuted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each day, the morning temps were in the high 30s. This means I have to start wearing a jacket over my work clothes, full finger gloves, and even my headband/ear warmer on one day. Still, my thumbs were tingling when I arrived at the bike rack. Any colder, and I'll have to wear my cold weather biking gear and change at the office. (I'm really lucky to have an office with a door and a place to keep my clothes on hangers. If I had to bring everything in pannier and change in the handicap stall every day, I probably wouldn't do it.)

A plus on the way home was tailwinds each day - some strong. This makes the ride quick and fun. With temps in the high 50s, I'm wearing long sleeves and long pants for the ride home.

The biggest change is that I seem to be riding by myself. Apart from the occasional student on the sidewalk, I don't see any other riders. Colder temps and lower gas prices have them back in the SUV for the winter.

These are my only rides this week, as I have been unable to get out on the road bike for a fun ride. My schedule has been less than cooperative, but my biggest problem is my mood. I have not been able to convince myself to get out, and I don't know why. When I do, I enjoy it, but I have to get started first. We'll see what happens this weekend.

Miles Ridden:

Monday: 7.2
Tuesday: 7.6
Wednesday: 7.2

Change .... NOW!

2008-10-14T20:50:00.003-04:00

I've been taking Harrison Street instead of State Street during my rides home to avoid the intersection of State and University where the right lane turns right and I'm required to merge into the left lane to continue west. That lane switch can be difficult during the busy traffic times of the day. This one change in route has eliminated some of the strees of the ride, helping me relax after work.

Miles Ridden: 7.8

Commute, and Notes

2008-10-13T07:23:00.000-04:00

Another great commute day.

Miles Ridden: 8.4

A couple of notes on previous posts:

On Thursday, I forgot to mention that I saw a young couple riding through downtown that seemed to be touring by bike. I didn't get a chance to talk with them as my bus arrived just as they pedaled by, but the tents, sleeping bags, and bulging panniers were good hints. I wish I could have talked with them about their trip.

Last month, I talked about the not so impromptu bike commute by the president of the university. There was some concern that she should not be pictured riding without a helmet, and today I noticed that the picture had changed. The new picture shows her wearing a gold one. At least they didn't Photoshop one on, as the picture was from a different day, and the entire news release was replaced to match the new ride.