I ventured out to my bike after work earlier this week. It was cold and had been misting / sprinkling / sleeting all day. I was taken aback to observe that a fine layer of ice coated the top of my seat and icicles hung from it's perimeter majestically. I did not have my camera so was unable to record this image for your pleasure. As I stared at this icy spectacle one thing but kept running through my mind...
"it's gonna be a cold a$$ ride home!"
Upon closer inspection of my frigid steed, I noticed that this fine sheen of ice and accompanying icicles also covered my top tube, handlebars, pedals and brakes. Using my fist, I broke away what ice I could. It was no easy task and no matter how much I wailed upon my bike, it was not entirely effective. I finally managed to chip away enough ice to mount my lights, get the brakes in some semblance of working order and transform the surface of my pedals to something less than an ice skating rink.
On the ride home, my warm a$$ was effective at melting the ice that remained on my seat so that I was treated with a nice big wet spot on my posterior. Conscious of this as I stopped at the grocery store, I took of my jacket and tied it around my waist. I didn't want the other patrons to take notice and their imaginations run wild. Thus erroneously concluding, with disgust, that I was not in full control of my faculties.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Out With the Old - In With the New
Today was my first commute to work in the new year. As I pulled out of the driveway, I could hear the shipyard's whistle signaling the start of first shift. My place of employment is no less than 5 miles from my house, but it's whistle resonated eerily clear in the crisp morning air. It was as though it was opening its arms in the distance and beckoning me to come.
I rode slowly. Not because I was tired. Not because there was a headwind. Not because I was experiencing a mechanical failure. Not because it was uphill. I rode slowly in a feeble effort to postpone that inevitable embrace.
I finally arrived at work and my first order of business was to take down the old calendar where I kept track of my bike commuting days (Green = Bike, Yellow = Bus, Red = Truck)...
...and put up the new.
Looking at that blank calendar, I realized, with mounting excitement, that I have a lot of days to ride this year. It's good to be back.
I rode slowly. Not because I was tired. Not because there was a headwind. Not because I was experiencing a mechanical failure. Not because it was uphill. I rode slowly in a feeble effort to postpone that inevitable embrace.
I finally arrived at work and my first order of business was to take down the old calendar where I kept track of my bike commuting days (Green = Bike, Yellow = Bus, Red = Truck)...
...and put up the new.
Looking at that blank calendar, I realized, with mounting excitement, that I have a lot of days to ride this year. It's good to be back.
Perfect Day for an Overhaul
When I awoke the morning after Christmas, the weather outside was indeed frightfully beautiful...
There would be no going out that day and for several days after. It was a perfect time to do a little PM on my Commuting Bike.
Over the last 6 months, I've ridden that bike to work everyday through all manner of inclement conditions.
It's been rained on, snowed on and covered with road grit.
It's been ridden on roads, dirt, gravel and sidewalks.
It's been ridden through pot holes, mud, 12" of standing water and 2" of icy slush.
Through it all, it has uttered not a word of complaint, but I can tell she's in need of a little TLC.
So it was up in the repair stand...
Cleaning the chain...
Repacking the hubs...
Gentle application of a little elbow grease...
She now shines bright, beautiful, greased, lubes and ready for work to start in the new year...
There would be no going out that day and for several days after. It was a perfect time to do a little PM on my Commuting Bike.
Over the last 6 months, I've ridden that bike to work everyday through all manner of inclement conditions.
It's been rained on, snowed on and covered with road grit.
It's been ridden on roads, dirt, gravel and sidewalks.
It's been ridden through pot holes, mud, 12" of standing water and 2" of icy slush.
Through it all, it has uttered not a word of complaint, but I can tell she's in need of a little TLC.
So it was up in the repair stand...
Cleaning the chain...
Repacking the hubs...
Gentle application of a little elbow grease...
She now shines bright, beautiful, greased, lubes and ready for work to start in the new year...
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Wus I Am Not
We had major snow storm that started the evening of Christmas day and over the course of the next 24 hours deposited more than 12" of snow. As a result, we've been snow bound over the last few days and I was a bit stir crazy. To get some exercise, I ventured into my garage and was resigned to the fate of yet another ride on this...
As I stood there brooding over the fate that awaited me for the next hour, I heard a a quiet, almost indistinct voice behind me utter these words...
"don't be a wuss!"
I spun around to ascertain the source of such an accusation. This was what I beheld...
We eyed one another conspicuously for a moment and then I moseyed over to my gear and donned my helmet and gloves.
For the most part, the roads were clear...
...but there were a not too small number of patches of slush/ice which either necessitated slowing down and proceeding with caution or where it was I'll advised to ride at all...
I pushed on and ended up getting in a couple hours of good riding. I didn't break any speed records, but the scenery was breathtaking...
I even had a fan along the way, cheering me on...
As I stood there brooding over the fate that awaited me for the next hour, I heard a a quiet, almost indistinct voice behind me utter these words...
"don't be a wuss!"
I spun around to ascertain the source of such an accusation. This was what I beheld...
We eyed one another conspicuously for a moment and then I moseyed over to my gear and donned my helmet and gloves.
For the most part, the roads were clear...
...but there were a not too small number of patches of slush/ice which either necessitated slowing down and proceeding with caution or where it was I'll advised to ride at all...
I pushed on and ended up getting in a couple hours of good riding. I didn't break any speed records, but the scenery was breathtaking...
I even had a fan along the way, cheering me on...
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year Resolutions 2011
Happy New Year everyone. It's a time of new beginnings. No more resting on our past laurels or lamenting our shortcomings. The slate is clean. We start anew. When you have as many shortcomings as I do, well, the New Year is a welcomed thing.
This year my bike specific resolutions are as follows:
1. Increase my practical bike use - This is becoming an ongoing resolution of mine. I already ride my bike to work regularly. I occasionally use it for other errands, but not near as much as I could. I want to change that.
2. Lose weight - this resolution as well appears to becoming an annual one, a fact that I am none too pleased with. Hopefully this year will be the final time this one appears on my list.
3. Ride more centuries - last year I may have ridden one century (not even sure about that). This year, I want to change that. I like long distance cycling and I want to make that a staple of my riding once again.
4. Start riding across the country - I've been wanting to ride across the country for some time now. Due to work responsibilities and financial constraints, I've come to the unfortunate conclusion that taking two months off to ride across the country simply isn't feasible. While this is a tough pill for me to swallow, all is not lost. While, at this point in my life, I can't ride across the country all at once, I can at least start.
5. Increase my frequency of blogging - over the last two years, I've been posting on average of between once and twice a week. I'm gonna try to beat that this year. However, I'm not going to sacrifice the quality of what I say, just to beat some quota. If faced with a choice between the two, I will blog less.
You may have noticed that my resolutions do not have measurable targets. This is by design. I don't want to be a slave to my resolutions. I want them to serve as a guiding light to keep me focused on improving. Trust me, regardless of whether I have concrete goals or not, in the end, I will grade myself harshly.
This year my bike specific resolutions are as follows:
1. Increase my practical bike use - This is becoming an ongoing resolution of mine. I already ride my bike to work regularly. I occasionally use it for other errands, but not near as much as I could. I want to change that.
2. Lose weight - this resolution as well appears to becoming an annual one, a fact that I am none too pleased with. Hopefully this year will be the final time this one appears on my list.
3. Ride more centuries - last year I may have ridden one century (not even sure about that). This year, I want to change that. I like long distance cycling and I want to make that a staple of my riding once again.
4. Start riding across the country - I've been wanting to ride across the country for some time now. Due to work responsibilities and financial constraints, I've come to the unfortunate conclusion that taking two months off to ride across the country simply isn't feasible. While this is a tough pill for me to swallow, all is not lost. While, at this point in my life, I can't ride across the country all at once, I can at least start.
5. Increase my frequency of blogging - over the last two years, I've been posting on average of between once and twice a week. I'm gonna try to beat that this year. However, I'm not going to sacrifice the quality of what I say, just to beat some quota. If faced with a choice between the two, I will blog less.
You may have noticed that my resolutions do not have measurable targets. This is by design. I don't want to be a slave to my resolutions. I want them to serve as a guiding light to keep me focused on improving. Trust me, regardless of whether I have concrete goals or not, in the end, I will grade myself harshly.
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