Holy crap that was cold. 47 F when I left this morning and a lot lower biker density on the road on the way in. After being able to ride in shorts with it in the seventies that felt colder than it should have.
Not an unpleasant ride though. I was surprised to be one of the few people on my route, versus having to navigate around packs of fellow commuters like earlier in the week. I also feel bad about how much more I enjoyed this ride and how much of that is tied to being the only bike on the road for most of the time. Maybe a lot of people just had today off, or maybe anything under 50 F is too cold to only wear a spandex body suit so the bike stayed in the garage. These days, I'd rather layer and not drive in just about any weather.
Also on the plus side, my farmers tan was already off to a great start earlier in the week. Between the bike, the dog, and softball in another month I'll look like I spent May out planting corn. Outstanding.
5/9/08
5/7/08
swing away
The rain held off enough last night to get the first softball game of the season in. I choose to call it a game, a casual observer might use other words. Does the score really matter, as long as we had fun?
Of course it does. But if I can make it through the season without scaring my coworkers with the extent of my competitive streak, then I'll consider the season a success. We got beat, but we didn't get creamed like some other teams I've been on. Plus, we got 1/2 price pitchers at the bar when we were done.
What I'm most excited about is the fact that even after showing up an hour early to hit and throw for the first time in about 2 years, I don't feel any real ill effects other than the occasional ache when I move my throwing shoulder the wrong way. I was going to bike in no matter how I felt, but it was a pleasant surprise to wake up and not feel too hobbled. It's not like 16-inch softball is the most exherting sport out there but it can be rough the first time back. I definitely feel old, but not hobbled. That was good enough for me this morning.
Of course it does. But if I can make it through the season without scaring my coworkers with the extent of my competitive streak, then I'll consider the season a success. We got beat, but we didn't get creamed like some other teams I've been on. Plus, we got 1/2 price pitchers at the bar when we were done.
What I'm most excited about is the fact that even after showing up an hour early to hit and throw for the first time in about 2 years, I don't feel any real ill effects other than the occasional ache when I move my throwing shoulder the wrong way. I was going to bike in no matter how I felt, but it was a pleasant surprise to wake up and not feel too hobbled. It's not like 16-inch softball is the most exherting sport out there but it can be rough the first time back. I definitely feel old, but not hobbled. That was good enough for me this morning.
5/4/08
speed freaks
Man oh man, I might be in a spot of trouble during Bike the Drive in a few weeks. Yesterday out in the burbs with the in-laws (who have finally talked me & the wife into the entire thing) we were talking about how they wanted the day to shape up and basically, we'll be meeting up with them at the rest points as they try to see just how fast they can do the entire ride. I know, if you feel slow blame the rider not the ride, but somehow I think their much pricier high end road rides give them a slight advantage over my frankenbike and the wife's hybrid. I'm not in it for speed either, but don't really want to spend the rest of the day hearing about how the kids got smoked by the parents.
Whatever. I get passed enough just while I'm commuting to not feel bad about it, and don't think Bike the Drive will be any different. Hopefully the weather will be nice and I can get some good pictures of LSD packed with bikes instead of cars.
We did hit some bike shops out in the burbs, which always makes me feel ridiculous as we drive all over to visit these shops. The shops out there are pretty good though. Overall my experiences with shops in the city that are in the neighborhood have been positive but occasionally I'll come across someone with an attitude that rubs me the wrong way. I commute on the cheapest bike I can manage b/c I crashed twice on my first bike, and didn't see the point to spending a grand on something that I was going to beat the hell out of on a daily basis. I've had frankenbike for over two years now, and have made a lot of "special" modifications myself over time. Currently it's a 7-speed, since when the front derailluer broke I didn't bother replacing it and left the 52 cog gear on the inside. I actually really like it as it is right now and am thinking about leaving it for the summer. Going in to a shop for a part or some advice is always a mixed bag. Sometimes it's a breeze, sometimes someone is asking me why I'm bothering and if they can show me this year's models. No thank you. Maybe I'm just going to the wrong shops, but when you're looking in the neighborhood sometimes your options are limited.
But this hasn't happened yet in my few trips with the in-laws. I ask for a part, if it's there I pay for it, and that's it. Plus, sometimes the in-laws even pay for them so it's a win-win. Now I get to spend my next day off tinkering, which is always fun. If I knew what I was doing, that would be even better.
Whatever. I get passed enough just while I'm commuting to not feel bad about it, and don't think Bike the Drive will be any different. Hopefully the weather will be nice and I can get some good pictures of LSD packed with bikes instead of cars.
We did hit some bike shops out in the burbs, which always makes me feel ridiculous as we drive all over to visit these shops. The shops out there are pretty good though. Overall my experiences with shops in the city that are in the neighborhood have been positive but occasionally I'll come across someone with an attitude that rubs me the wrong way. I commute on the cheapest bike I can manage b/c I crashed twice on my first bike, and didn't see the point to spending a grand on something that I was going to beat the hell out of on a daily basis. I've had frankenbike for over two years now, and have made a lot of "special" modifications myself over time. Currently it's a 7-speed, since when the front derailluer broke I didn't bother replacing it and left the 52 cog gear on the inside. I actually really like it as it is right now and am thinking about leaving it for the summer. Going in to a shop for a part or some advice is always a mixed bag. Sometimes it's a breeze, sometimes someone is asking me why I'm bothering and if they can show me this year's models. No thank you. Maybe I'm just going to the wrong shops, but when you're looking in the neighborhood sometimes your options are limited.
But this hasn't happened yet in my few trips with the in-laws. I ask for a part, if it's there I pay for it, and that's it. Plus, sometimes the in-laws even pay for them so it's a win-win. Now I get to spend my next day off tinkering, which is always fun. If I knew what I was doing, that would be even better.
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