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Friday, March 24, 2006
Successfully (I think!) installed the Wide Loader this morning!!! Soon it can have Da Coolah!
Discovered that Greenways & Trails Steering Committee has decided to update their map of the area... and that they have a current "folding map" online at
http://www.ccrpc.org/planning/transportation/greenways/maps.php
Da coolah, da coolah... elegance in design it is, when **I** can figure out how to get the thing on there, and ride it over to Wireless Place. I must say that in that half a mile trip, cars seemed to give me *a lot* more room, and I didn't even have a flashing "wide load" sign. I honestly don't *think* I was riding erratically - it was just that perception of "wide and weird" that let them treat me like a tractor. Don't know what they were thinking, though...
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Yes, I drove yesterday, even though "you can't plow a forecast, honey," and it ended up being less than two inches of the white stuff. I did sort of want to remember how to do it, since I"m headed up Chi-town way on Friday.
Aromatic delight - if you ride in the rain and you have a hotel soap in your Freeloader bags, you emanate floral essences.
The fellow on the homemeade recumbent chatted with me Monday,and I lacked the social skills to inquire about it (and ask if he knew he'd been blogged)... and had difficulty managing a conversation and traffic. (No, I do not talk on the cell phone while riding or driving as a rule...) It's such a nifty creation but he said he hits his cargo weight limit befoer he hits the volume limit.
Aromatic delight - if you ride in the rain and you have a hotel soap in your Freeloader bags, you emanate floral essences.
The fellow on the homemeade recumbent chatted with me Monday,and I lacked the social skills to inquire about it (and ask if he knew he'd been blogged)... and had difficulty managing a conversation and traffic. (No, I do not talk on the cell phone while riding or driving as a rule...) It's such a nifty creation but he said he hits his cargo weight limit befoer he hits the volume limit.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
I carried a crock pot full of stuff (indescribable TVP chili-like casserole) to school on the bike today. This is where I think the Xtracycle front page doesn't quite have it right - they address all the folks who will improvise and make do... not people like me who can improvise with the best of 'em but are certifiable mechanical morons.
The point is that it took less than one minute to unsnap the freeloader thingies, put teh crock pot in the pouch, snap 'em back, check things ('cause I've learned to :-)), and ride into the sunrise. No complicated geometry or riding with three hands behind my back.
Then it was almost as easy to put my big computer into a bag, put it into the slot, make sure it wasn't going to slide around too much and ride off to my friend's house. Before the Free Radical, I would not have been able to do that without my brain fully engaged and time to plan; more than half the time I'd have gone for the car.
Bikes: 950, Car: 260. Next week the car will get a LOT of miles - chicago is calling... but I'll sitll be at a fewer-than-3000 annual miles rate.
The point is that it took less than one minute to unsnap the freeloader thingies, put teh crock pot in the pouch, snap 'em back, check things ('cause I've learned to :-)), and ride into the sunrise. No complicated geometry or riding with three hands behind my back.
Then it was almost as easy to put my big computer into a bag, put it into the slot, make sure it wasn't going to slide around too much and ride off to my friend's house. Before the Free Radical, I would not have been able to do that without my brain fully engaged and time to plan; more than half the time I'd have gone for the car.
Bikes: 950, Car: 260. Next week the car will get a LOT of miles - chicago is calling... but I'll sitll be at a fewer-than-3000 annual miles rate.
I carried a crock pot full of stuff (indescribable TVP chili-like casserole) to school on the bike today. This is where I think the Xtracycle front page doesn't quite have it right - they address all the folks who will improvise and make do... not people like me who can improvise with the best of 'em but are certifiable mechanical morons.
The point is that it took less than one minute to unsnap the freeloader thingies, put teh crock pot in the pouch, snap 'em back, check things ('cause I've learned to :-)), and ride into the sunrise. No complicated geometry or riding with three hands behind my back.
Then it was almost as easy to put my big computer into a bag, put it into the slot, make sure it wasn't going to slide around too much and ride off to my friend's house. Before the Free Radical, I would not have been able to do that without my brain fully engaged and time to plan; more than half the time I'd have gone for the car.
Bikes: 950, Car: 260. Next week the car will get a LOT of miles - chicago is calling... but I'll sitll be at a fewer-than-3000 annual miles rate.
The point is that it took less than one minute to unsnap the freeloader thingies, put teh crock pot in the pouch, snap 'em back, check things ('cause I've learned to :-)), and ride into the sunrise. No complicated geometry or riding with three hands behind my back.
Then it was almost as easy to put my big computer into a bag, put it into the slot, make sure it wasn't going to slide around too much and ride off to my friend's house. Before the Free Radical, I would not have been able to do that without my brain fully engaged and time to plan; more than half the time I'd have gone for the car.
Bikes: 950, Car: 260. Next week the car will get a LOT of miles - chicago is calling... but I'll sitll be at a fewer-than-3000 annual miles rate.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Here's a little joke from a bicycle commuting yahoo group, a testimonial to the longevity of cyclists:An 80-year old man goes to the doctor for a checkup.
The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks,"How
do you stay in such great physical condition?"
I'm a cyclist," says the old guy, "and that's why I'm in such good
shape. I'm up well before daylight and out and ride my bicycle."
" Well," says the doctor, "I'm sure that helps, but there's got to be
more to it. How old was your dad when he died?"
"Who said my dad's dead?"
The doctor is amazed. "You mean you're 80 years old and your dad's
still alive. How old is he?"
"He's 100 years old," says the old cyclist. "In fact he rode with me
this morning, and that's why he's still alive . . . he's a cyclist
too."
"Well," the doctor says, "that's great, but I'm sure there's more to
it than that. How about your dad's dad? How old was he when he died?"
"Who said my grandpa's dead?"
Stunned, the doctor asks, "You mean you're 80 years old and your
grandfather' S still living! Incredible,how old is he?"
"He's 118 years old," says the old cyclist.
The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, "So, I guess he went
bike riding with you this morning too?"
"No. Grandpa couldn't go this morning because he's getting married
today."
At this point the doctor is close to losing it.
"Getting married!! Why would a 118 year-old guy want to get married?"
"Who said he wanted to?"
The doctor is amazed at what good shape the guy is in and asks,"How
do you stay in such great physical condition?"
I'm a cyclist," says the old guy, "and that's why I'm in such good
shape. I'm up well before daylight and out and ride my bicycle."
" Well," says the doctor, "I'm sure that helps, but there's got to be
more to it. How old was your dad when he died?"
"Who said my dad's dead?"
The doctor is amazed. "You mean you're 80 years old and your dad's
still alive. How old is he?"
"He's 100 years old," says the old cyclist. "In fact he rode with me
this morning, and that's why he's still alive . . . he's a cyclist
too."
"Well," the doctor says, "that's great, but I'm sure there's more to
it than that. How about your dad's dad? How old was he when he died?"
"Who said my grandpa's dead?"
Stunned, the doctor asks, "You mean you're 80 years old and your
grandfather' S still living! Incredible,how old is he?"
"He's 118 years old," says the old cyclist.
The doctor is getting frustrated at this point, "So, I guess he went
bike riding with you this morning too?"
"No. Grandpa couldn't go this morning because he's getting married
today."
At this point the doctor is close to losing it.
"Getting married!! Why would a 118 year-old guy want to get married?"
"Who said he wanted to?"
Every time I surf I find another little cell of somebody doing something with bicycles to make a statement. Most of them seem to be in California, though, or Australia.
Of course, this coudl be true for **any** given exercise in public expression - I could perhaps search for ... roller blading for peace? Wear a purple hat for love? Adopt a cat for ...?
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/index.php
http://www.aeolian-ride.info/ - riding with big white inflatable suits. Hmmm.... this is something that even the Midwest might get into, especially if it piqued the interest of engineering student types...
Of course, this coudl be true for **any** given exercise in public expression - I could perhaps search for ... roller blading for peace? Wear a purple hat for love? Adopt a cat for ...?
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/index.php
http://www.aeolian-ride.info/ - riding with big white inflatable suits. Hmmm.... this is something that even the Midwest might get into, especially if it piqued the interest of engineering student types...
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Gee, it's 11:54 and I've just found the link to the world naked bike ride which is supposed to go down on Saturday June 10, and ... tomorrow. Hmmm.... I don't think even Father Tom is ready for me to show up naked, even if I did walk in & put on that choir robe...
Friday, March 10, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Drove today. Had to get to concert at 6:30 (which went really well ... John Rutter's Requiem is very pretty) and there were severe storms predicted. Wished I'd ridden, even when it was drizzling. It's like watching the world instead of being in it any more; it's the wrong rhythm. I caught myself trying to settle in at 15 mph on those residential streets. It's just a better speed for life. The car is like some weird costume that makes me do contortions (or being at stifling meetings... and perhaps spending an hour at the "meet the guy who wants to be college president" had already infected me wiht wanting to be FREE)... I don't know if I'd feel the same on the INterstate or not since I don't go on the bike there, but I would have thought I'd have been glad to be Getting There Faster instead of wanting to SHED the thing and feel the drizzle and stroke the pedals. Tomrrow, tomorrow...
... I think tomorrow I'm going to surf for other webstuff - I've seen 'em already - that talk about the genuine change that happens when the cycling takes over; like other disciplines of love that create an inner joy that outsiders roll their eyes at....when you can't even believe yourself that you really *want* to do it that way because it really *does* feel good.
... I think tomorrow I'm going to surf for other webstuff - I've seen 'em already - that talk about the genuine change that happens when the cycling takes over; like other disciplines of love that create an inner joy that outsiders roll their eyes at....when you can't even believe yourself that you really *want* to do it that way because it really *does* feel good.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Senseless acts of kindness... that band for the heart rate monitor that I stuck in my stuff but couldn't find at the bike-a-thon was draped on the porch railing. Must have fallen out onto the sidewalk ... some nice walker-of-kids to Leal must have seen it.
It's not raining *yet* and tomorrow is supposed to be worse, so the bike begged, even tho' it's supposed to be raining hard tonight and I've got class. We'll see how wet things get. I get to bring the bike in at 5 and perhaps clean it a little before class at 6 down the hall.
I took the Xtracycle to the Bike-a-thon at the Refinery (so I could toss the trainer in the back when I was done and ride home, and just to be different from the standard racing bikes ;)) and it got adulations.
It's not raining *yet* and tomorrow is supposed to be worse, so the bike begged, even tho' it's supposed to be raining hard tonight and I've got class. We'll see how wet things get. I get to bring the bike in at 5 and perhaps clean it a little before class at 6 down the hall.
I took the Xtracycle to the Bike-a-thon at the Refinery (so I could toss the trainer in the back when I was done and ride home, and just to be different from the standard racing bikes ;)) and it got adulations.
Monday, March 06, 2006
A little stiff from doing 4 hours on the trainer yesterday with the Triathletes' bike-a-thon (and riding there and back, of course). DId it on the Xtracycle for assorted reasons... at one point I was shifting to the big ring and it was being noisy, and the guy next to me turned to look, and he kept looking, and finally just said, "I love that bike."
The hokey spokes are being odd... one of them won't turn off. It's prob'ly the one going low on batteries; it's not on at full brightness and it won't do any of the design changes. However, what it will do is turn the other one on. I don't mind the low battery glowing its last gasp at life, but I don't want to waste the good ones. It might explain why my buddy returned them because of spontaneous turning-on, but the company couldn't replicate the problem.
I think I know why drivers are nice to me ... at least at night time (THo' they're nice just about all the time.) So many riders are cruising in the dark, NO LIGHTS. Welp, I guess people are nice all the time and that's why these guys aren't all getting clocked. Yo! Nashbar has them on sale for less than six bucks! www.nashbar.com ... I've seen blinkies at Casey's for $3.99. OF course, they're made in China, but if you're going to live to continue to support the sweatshops, you better buy some of these things, eh?
The hokey spokes are being odd... one of them won't turn off. It's prob'ly the one going low on batteries; it's not on at full brightness and it won't do any of the design changes. However, what it will do is turn the other one on. I don't mind the low battery glowing its last gasp at life, but I don't want to waste the good ones. It might explain why my buddy returned them because of spontaneous turning-on, but the company couldn't replicate the problem.
I think I know why drivers are nice to me ... at least at night time (THo' they're nice just about all the time.) So many riders are cruising in the dark, NO LIGHTS. Welp, I guess people are nice all the time and that's why these guys aren't all getting clocked. Yo! Nashbar has them on sale for less than six bucks! www.nashbar.com ... I've seen blinkies at Casey's for $3.99. OF course, they're made in China, but if you're going to live to continue to support the sweatshops, you better buy some of these things, eh?
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Biking as a Lenten Practice
...link to this in your church bulletin, eh? ( While it asks for registration, if you click on the link for "if you have trouble registering click here," it will take you there without registering.)
Give up your car for Lent. If only there were anything like a safe way to get to Office Depot.
It is, somehow, connected to my self-something post, as well as the "Friends don't let Friends Drive" post. Holiness is, I suspect, usually a messy continuum too.
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_article&mode=C&NewsID=5266
...link to this in your church bulletin, eh? ( While it asks for registration, if you click on the link for "if you have trouble registering click here," it will take you there without registering.)
Give up your car for Lent. If only there were anything like a safe way to get to Office Depot.
It is, somehow, connected to my self-something post, as well as the "Friends don't let Friends Drive" post. Holiness is, I suspect, usually a messy continuum too.
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_article&mode=C&NewsID=5266
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
A completely self-something post...
Sunday I arrived at a gathering and was asked the usual "you rode here?" questions. This soon digressed into others' regaling at their lack of fitness: "Now, I walk two blocks and I'm huffing and puffing." I suspect they exaggerated (they don't look like couch potatoes) but it was one of those conversations I just couldn't contribute anything to. They were regretfully bemused at their state of things; I just couldn't relate.
Riding home, though, I at least figured out how to relate (tho' of course sometimes not contributing to a conversation just means not being garrulous or bloviate, and that's a good thing :-)). I remembered the days after I'd started riding a lot when I would wake up and wonder just whose body I had crawled into... which I liked a lot better because it *wanted* to get out of bed. I was so accustomed to having to browbeat the body into rising; it was like having a recalcitrant child suddenly mature. I had once owned a body like the ones they were talking about. I'd just forgotten that person since I'd been taken over by the fitter soul... it may be a continuum but at a certain point significant everyday responses to stimuli have fundamentally changed.
Now, the thing I want back is for that fitness to be in a body about 15 pounds lighter... not for vanity but because some of those positive-instead-of-negative everyday experiences have reversed. I want things that don't chafe (they are now). Pedal strokes that really throw me forward (because they aren't trying to throw 15 more pounds forward). It's not lack of muscle, it's, oh, beer and pasta and chocolate. And, it's also that everyday habit of putting the good stuff in the body that really, honestly, does feel better even if at the expense of the short-term pleasure of the chocolate. I remember not being drawn to sweets because they were foreign to my body - time to activate the isolationist policies again!
Hey, it's Ash Wednesday, a good day to start the journey :-)
And now we return to our regularly scheduled... 730 miles on the bike for 2006, still 210-ish on the car :-)
Sunday I arrived at a gathering and was asked the usual "you rode here?" questions. This soon digressed into others' regaling at their lack of fitness: "Now, I walk two blocks and I'm huffing and puffing." I suspect they exaggerated (they don't look like couch potatoes) but it was one of those conversations I just couldn't contribute anything to. They were regretfully bemused at their state of things; I just couldn't relate.
Riding home, though, I at least figured out how to relate (tho' of course sometimes not contributing to a conversation just means not being garrulous or bloviate, and that's a good thing :-)). I remembered the days after I'd started riding a lot when I would wake up and wonder just whose body I had crawled into... which I liked a lot better because it *wanted* to get out of bed. I was so accustomed to having to browbeat the body into rising; it was like having a recalcitrant child suddenly mature. I had once owned a body like the ones they were talking about. I'd just forgotten that person since I'd been taken over by the fitter soul... it may be a continuum but at a certain point significant everyday responses to stimuli have fundamentally changed.
Now, the thing I want back is for that fitness to be in a body about 15 pounds lighter... not for vanity but because some of those positive-instead-of-negative everyday experiences have reversed. I want things that don't chafe (they are now). Pedal strokes that really throw me forward (because they aren't trying to throw 15 more pounds forward). It's not lack of muscle, it's, oh, beer and pasta and chocolate. And, it's also that everyday habit of putting the good stuff in the body that really, honestly, does feel better even if at the expense of the short-term pleasure of the chocolate. I remember not being drawn to sweets because they were foreign to my body - time to activate the isolationist policies again!
Hey, it's Ash Wednesday, a good day to start the journey :-)
And now we return to our regularly scheduled... 730 miles on the bike for 2006, still 210-ish on the car :-)
