As expected, getting the biking in as school resumes has been a challenge. I did have Tuesday and Wednesday that I got up early and went really quickly because they were days without kids. Then on Thursday, I went out in the evening. I decided to head down my country road route, but between the bugs and the howling dogs or cyotes, I was done with that pretty quickly and turned back into the city.
I spent the week holding out for going on Saturday. The plan was that I was going to be brave and meet my wife at the local Farmer's Market by my taking the paths and she taking the car. I'd done a little bit of exploring of the paths on Sunday and wanted to see what else was there and how far it all went. I was really annoyed that a bike ride was already planned and closing down all the paths. It was for a good cause, but it was in my way, and I was irritated and grouchy about it. I probably needed to sleep in on Saturday anyway, but I was committed to going out this morning. Bright and early, I got up and got dressed (the new leg and arm warmers were certainly nice to have as it was cold to start then I took them off as it warmed up). After biking to the store and back so my wife would have her newspaper, I headed to the paths. I had to do a little bit of city riding to get to the greenway, but it wasn't too bad. Getting there, I got right on, and was again amazed at the ride. It took me out into the country and wound along the river. I was amazed when I was on a paved multi-purpose path as it ran parallel to a dirt country road. I went to the path's terminus at a park and visitor center behind our new Super Walmart. Turning back around, I saw a crane just out in the marshes. I also saw a couple of squished toads. And prairie dogs don't bark as much as squawk.
What I've found is that most people out on their bikes are very friendly. Nearly everyone who passed me wished me a good morning. On the way back, there were far more people out as the morning grew later. Making it back to where I started, I'd only gone 17 miles to my previous weekend's 23 miles. I've also found that I begin to feel starved at about then, so I stopped and ate a couple protein bars then continued on. Unfortunatelty, my curiosity of the greenway got the better of me and led me to the other end of the trail. I kept thinking, "I had no idea this was here," as I wound down under roads that I didn't know had underpasses! In the end, I went 30.5 miles this morning, just winding through town. I did have a hill after 20 miles that was just too much that forced me to walk for part of it. I came home and collapsed. My legs are sore, but I'm already looking forward to next weekend....
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
August 11, 2011
August 11, 2011
Somehow, the summer is winding down for me, and I'm getting ready to go back to work and facing how to get the rides in. I did get back on the bike after my crash after taking a couple days to recover. My first trip was actually my longest, taking on over six miles, going not only to Wal-Mart but then going back into the city and around. I don't even think about wearing the shorts any more--they're comfortable, and I can't imagine how much my butt would hurt without them.
I have found that there's an amazing network of multi-purpose paths and bike paths that really let me get around. I mostly stick the roads and have found myself in places without a bike lane, but I try to stay out of the way. Though I have found the wonders of a country road, three miles each way, that doesn't have much of a shoulder nor traffic. I get to hear the roosters crow almost every morning!
To my cycling shorts and jersyes, I've added to my gear bike lights (front and back). I find it funny how much more room drivers give me. Before, if I was pulled over on the shoulder to drink or rest, a car would just speed on past. Now they go all the way over as if I'm still riding. At first, I found the extra room insulting, but now I apprciate it. I still don't have the balance to grab my bottle while riding, so I like that they see my flashing red light...I have increased my balance significantly since the crash! I also now carry an ace bandage, first aid, and various other supplies. Oh, and I now have a small rearview mirror and a bike computer! I know I still need more gear, but that's good for now. As it stands, I know that I've spent more for the gear than my wife did for the bike!
My leg is, amazingly, still healing. The scab is gone, but the discolored "scar" remains. It also itches sometimes, but it's getting there. The one on my hip, which didn't even really have any outward wound, took some time to heal. Of course, the bike took some damage, so I've had to put black duct tape on the gouge out of the seat. Worried that the tape may be causing friction to my not-so-cheap shorts, I've ordered a new seat. Turned on to the wonders of nashbar.com by friends, I've since gotten some bib shorts (it's nice how well they stay up!) and also have coming a pair of leg warmers and arm warmers. I could've used both this morning as 54F degrees kept me from going out this morning. I've also now got four jerseys to four shorts as they just all reek too much after one ride to wear the jerseys more than once. I tried, and it wasn't nice!
I also struggled with the question of shaving my legs, and ulitmately, I decided I'm too new and too uninterested and casual to worry about it. Someday in the future, I may be faced with it again, but as far as my near future, I'll just keep it trimmed. Having had the road rash, yes, it brought tears to my eyes to remove the tape when it stuck, which wasn't all the time, but the healing itself didn't matter either way. And I don't want to answer the question of if I am and why.
To date, then, the farthest I've gone was last weekend when I made it to 15.5 miles and averaging about 10 miles. I've also lost about 12 pounds, so I'm feeling pretty good about that and just in general! I've got more energy and just feeling better.
Next: keeping to going during the school year! I know, I can bike to work, but I don't want to have to shower once I get there, so it'll have to be either really early or in the evening with longer rides on the weekend. I guess we'll see...
Somehow, the summer is winding down for me, and I'm getting ready to go back to work and facing how to get the rides in. I did get back on the bike after my crash after taking a couple days to recover. My first trip was actually my longest, taking on over six miles, going not only to Wal-Mart but then going back into the city and around. I don't even think about wearing the shorts any more--they're comfortable, and I can't imagine how much my butt would hurt without them.
I have found that there's an amazing network of multi-purpose paths and bike paths that really let me get around. I mostly stick the roads and have found myself in places without a bike lane, but I try to stay out of the way. Though I have found the wonders of a country road, three miles each way, that doesn't have much of a shoulder nor traffic. I get to hear the roosters crow almost every morning!
To my cycling shorts and jersyes, I've added to my gear bike lights (front and back). I find it funny how much more room drivers give me. Before, if I was pulled over on the shoulder to drink or rest, a car would just speed on past. Now they go all the way over as if I'm still riding. At first, I found the extra room insulting, but now I apprciate it. I still don't have the balance to grab my bottle while riding, so I like that they see my flashing red light...I have increased my balance significantly since the crash! I also now carry an ace bandage, first aid, and various other supplies. Oh, and I now have a small rearview mirror and a bike computer! I know I still need more gear, but that's good for now. As it stands, I know that I've spent more for the gear than my wife did for the bike!
My leg is, amazingly, still healing. The scab is gone, but the discolored "scar" remains. It also itches sometimes, but it's getting there. The one on my hip, which didn't even really have any outward wound, took some time to heal. Of course, the bike took some damage, so I've had to put black duct tape on the gouge out of the seat. Worried that the tape may be causing friction to my not-so-cheap shorts, I've ordered a new seat. Turned on to the wonders of nashbar.com by friends, I've since gotten some bib shorts (it's nice how well they stay up!) and also have coming a pair of leg warmers and arm warmers. I could've used both this morning as 54F degrees kept me from going out this morning. I've also now got four jerseys to four shorts as they just all reek too much after one ride to wear the jerseys more than once. I tried, and it wasn't nice!
I also struggled with the question of shaving my legs, and ulitmately, I decided I'm too new and too uninterested and casual to worry about it. Someday in the future, I may be faced with it again, but as far as my near future, I'll just keep it trimmed. Having had the road rash, yes, it brought tears to my eyes to remove the tape when it stuck, which wasn't all the time, but the healing itself didn't matter either way. And I don't want to answer the question of if I am and why.
To date, then, the farthest I've gone was last weekend when I made it to 15.5 miles and averaging about 10 miles. I've also lost about 12 pounds, so I'm feeling pretty good about that and just in general! I've got more energy and just feeling better.
Next: keeping to going during the school year! I know, I can bike to work, but I don't want to have to shower once I get there, so it'll have to be either really early or in the evening with longer rides on the weekend. I guess we'll see...
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