Good on you mate

There are a lot of things I don't like about people, but that doesn't mean there aren't things to admire at the same time.

I was following a roadie this morning who just fascinated me. He was moving at a decent clip, completely kitted out in a curve-revealing jersey, shorts with salt from old sweat stains all over the butt-pad, tiny SPD shoes w/o socks, the whole nine yards. Not a tiny guy either. But there he was, in all his spandex-y glory pedaling away.

Actually, not completely pedaling. He was coasting every few seconds, which was what got my attention originally. He'd make it up a slight hill, coast immediately. Head down the hill and pick up some speed, coast some more. I didn't understand how he was moving so fast since he wasn't pedaling. Eventually he pulled over and started kicking at his derailleur, so that might be why he was coasting. More likely it was so much time in the wrong gear and all the coasting that caused a problem, but whatever.

Still, here was a big guy in a skin-tight outfit riding away to his heart's content. I didn't like how he was riding, but I'm more than a little jealous of the self-assuredness he carried himself with. I'm in decent shape but can't bring myself to just wear a jersey. Maybe it's time to cut back on the beer.

No, no I don't think so.

Current beer-scale: 8.8

Yikes

Riding by this this morning kind of makes any jokes I was going to make about the freds having to slow down feel kind of silly. Never a good sign when there are cops and ambulances on the bike path, for whatever reason.

Current beer-scale: 8.2

Yeah, that's a picture of me sweating through my pants waiting for the pink line this morning. Yeesh.

Every time I start to get sick of riding a bike, I have to take the train and remember just why I bike. Today on to of the heat, it was cramming on to the red line with at least one person who thought it would be cool to skip their shower and smell like a pirate. Awesome.

Seriously, I don't know how people do that every day. Between the smell, the heat, and how crowded it was I nearly went nuts going two stops. Give me a bike any day.

Sitting in the sun ended up being the most pleasant part of the morning, since getting to my stop has meant sitting in a boring ass education fair. Joy.
Jeez that looks far away.

Current beer-scale: 8.7

Yeah, that was so hot it felt like my brakes were melting. Even going super slow it took tremendous effort to stop by the time I was done. Yuck. Time for a beer.

Current beer-scale: 3.5

Oh boy. This is not going to be a fun commute.
Current beer-scale: 8.9

looking back

It's difficult to think coherently when it's 100+ degrees on a bike ride. But once I get inside and have cleaned up a little, I manage to string some brain cells together.

Today is my one year anniversary at the new job, which makes it technically just "the job" I guess. It wasn't even on my radar but as I was getting dressed there was something really familiar about having to stand out of the sun shining through the window*, and when I looked at the calendar everything clicked.

*For the next two months or so, the sun will be so bright as it moves through my office that by the time it hits my desk I have to move or I'll combust. Still better than winter.

So a routine day suddenly has a little more significance as I try to get some stuff done. It took a lot of work to get here but in the end it seems worth it. It's a good job, I like (most of) my coworkers, and that's worth a whiskey tonite.

Current beer-scale: 5.5

weird=good

Or at least not too bad.

"I should get out and walk downtown more often." I think this every time I go outside on a gorgeous summer day at the office, only to immediately think differently the first time I have to navigate a sea of tourists & shoppers walking 5-abreast.

Today is was the desire to check out the Marilyn Monroe statue going up in Pioneer Plaza. I read about it going up yesterday, with no explanation of why, how long it would be there, or what it was supposed to represent. Just strange enough for me to have to see it in person.

It did not disappoint. I was expecting just the bottom half, but it seems the top half is already on if not ready to display. There were a ton of people out to check it out too, not just tourists but people like me wandering out of their office to have a look. Wild.

I ducked into the Levis store too, to check out their commuter line. I was surprised to see it being advertised in the window as I walked by, and apparently you can already buy the pants. $75? No thanks. I would look at the jacket if it wasn't late, but I didn't care enough to leave me name to hear back.

Great story. Compelling, and rich.

Current beer-scale: 8.8

WTF is this shit?

Apparently no one was paying attention to the weather forecast this morning, as the garage was packed despite the imminent downpour that I just managed to avoid. Both my usual spot and the back-up were taken but I stayed dry so I really shouldn't complain.

Current beer-scale: 5.4

I'm out!

Not really. But yesterday was about as close to rage-quitting in the middle of a commute than I've ever been. I got stuck behind two turds on Wilson who thought it'd be funny to run every stop sign they could and get as close to getting hit as possible. And who has to deal with the drivers they've pissed off? Me, the guy behind them. When I started rooting for them to get hit I knew I had to bail and take a different route. Christ what a couple of assholes.

Big difference so far today, with my fastest ride since I started tracking them this week w/an app and a trip to starbucks so I wouldn't have to make coffee at the office.

The highlight of my day so far.

I'm usually not into metrics and stats for a commute, but since this app lets you win prizes every day you ride during the tour I figured I might as well give it a shot. It's actually kind of addicting to see the exact mileage of a route (when GPS is fully functioning) and know the split for each mile. This morning I dug in early and held it up for the entire route, and miles 4 through 7 were all under 3:00, leading to the quickest commute this week.

And since it's going to be a nice Friday afternoon by the time I'm back on the bike and the path will suck balls, this morning's ride will likely stay the fastest. Now I just have to find a few minutes to ride both days this weekend. That's the problem with addictions--once you're hooked, you're hooked.

Current beer-scale: 8.1 (speaking of addictions)

they are everywhere...

I never noticed it until recently, but sometimes I think the world is trying to tell me something.

Is that the lakefront path calling me a noob? Should I take that personally? There do seem to be a lot out and about around this time of year.

Whatever. I'd rather laugh about this than rage at some asshole complaining in the sun-times about how tiny the road seems with a protected bike lane next to it.

Current beer-scale: 8.4

Here they come

Ah, July and Tour time on the lakefront path. Maybe it's just the great weather, but there was a lot more spandex out there this week than last. Still not a bad ride for the first after a long weekend.

Current beer-scale: 8.9

Kick it off right

It didn't look good as I was leaving today.

So the heat hasn't come yet, but that's no reason to leave the cap on the growler. Especially after racing the clouds and cab douches to come home early and cut the grass.

It looked pretty bad by the time I was almost home. There were actually people stopping on Lincoln at Wilson to take pictures of the sky. I was more concerned with whether or not any of these were starting to look particularly funnel-shaped.

Nothing really happened though, and I got the grass cut after taking the dog out. Nicked up a finger too, although I didn't realize it was full-on bleeding until I was nearly done.

Now to drink my growler and go see "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop." All in all a great way to start a long holiday weekend. Happy Independence Day!


Current beer-scale: 8.9

Damn

Damn Nature, you scary.

So it hailed last night, and I didn't think anything outside was exposed enough to get damaged, but apparently I forgot about the grill. Both how exposed AND how cheap it is.

The red had started to bleach out lately so I put the cover on, and last night the hail machine-gunned it. Oh well. Not that I needed an excuse to upgrade the grill eventually, but jeez that didn't take long. Never skimp when it comes to your grill.

Current beer-scale: 6.7 & climbing! We'll see if it actually hits 100 today.