Jan 05 2009
While jump starting my day with a cup of coffee and catching the morning’s news, I saw this commercial for CSX railroad. My question is, don’t bicyclist already know how to move a “ton of goods” without using any fuel?
Jan 02 2009
Today I awakened to snow again! Not a lot of snow, but enough to cover the ground and make riding my bike to Powell’s Books in Portland a pain in the posterior.
Having read about How to Live Well Without Owning a Car, I checked online at Powell’s Books and they had in stock, so I was going to use that as an excuse to travel to downtown. With the slushy snow and ice on the roads I decided to ride to the transit center, take a bus to the MAX train and then ride MAX to downtown. From there I rode my bike the rest of the way to Powell’s stopping for a two slices of Pizza Schmizza pepperoni pizza for lunch.
Of course once I arrived at Powell’s in wasn’t a simple in and out process to get the book. If you have been to Powell’s you would know what I mean because the place is enormous and if you like to read it is hard to get out of there. And let’s not forget they have Powell’s Technical Books around corner for the geek in you. Anyway, I eventually made my purchase and started for home.
I decided not to use MAX or the bus on the way back home, but instead rode the entire way. I rode home by way of Interstate Ave., across the I5 Bridge, into downtown Vancouver, through historic Fort Vancouver, and then up the hill through the Heights to home.
It felt good to get out and ride some miles (28). Combined with going to the bookstore and having pizza for lunch, it made for a fun day.
Jan 01 2009
With all of the time I spend on my bicycles, I never keep track of how far or how much time I spend riding. Maybe I don’t really want to know, but today I decided I was going to give the mileage and time logging a try.
I don’t want a handwritten log, so to accomplish this I decided I needed to create a spreadsheet. But, there is a slight problem. As computer literate as I may be, I did not have the slightest clue on how to create a working spreadsheet. I know most people know how and I should, but I have never needed to use one, thus I never took the time to learn. Until today.
Having never been a fan of Excel, today I chose to use Google Docs to create my first bicycling mileage, time, and speed log. To learn how, I rode my bike to the bookstore, found a book on Google Docs and did a quick read on spreadsheets and formulas. Then I road back home to put my new knowledge to work and started the process. It was easy.
I created a spreadsheet for January with sections for distance, riding time, average speed, and maximum speed. The spreadsheet will calculate totals for distance and riding time as the data is inputted, as well as daily averages for all data. I am sure there will be changes as I use it, but for now I have a start. I think I want to do a separate sheet for each month in the same document and have a yearly total running with the monthly totals. Tomorrow may include another ride to the bookstore for more information on how to do this.
I know I ride a lot and can give a close estimate off the top of my head as to how far I ride each week and month, but I think I want something more tangible. Why? I don’t know why! Maybe next year I’ll know why I chose to log my riding and I will have precise totals for all the mileage and time in the saddle.
Dec 31 2008
As another year passes, I look back and contemplate what I might have done better or different. In the end I come away with a feeling of satisfaction knowing I did nearly everything I could do right and know I always have room for improvement. I look forward to another year of fun and adventures on my bike.
This year passed by quickly, maybe too quickly and this reminds me of how short life is and to not sweat the small stuff. In the end most of it is small stuff, but more importantly I keep in mind there is very I little have control over with the exception of making time to ride.
Life’s too short, so ride it like you stole it! 
Dec 28 2008
The snow is finally melting and the weather is turning into typical Pacific Northwest rain. During the cold and snowy weather I was able to put to the test my winter riding gear. I discovered I need to make very few adjustments in my gear and riding in the snow is fun. At least it is fun if you do not need to do it all of the time.
If this region received more snow I would purchase studded tires for my bike, this would have eliminated some of the falls I took during my rides. Not that I fell that many times but it would have reduced about 75% of them. Most of the time when I went down it was when I putting power to the pedals while climbing a hill and lost traction on an ice patch. Studded tires would have provided significant help in the area. The other times I went down because I was pushing the envelope too far by going too fast or just having too much fun.
My clothing choices worked well for me and left little room for improvement. I used Under Armour top and bottom base layers for my initial warmth layer followed by a layer or two of street clothing. Most of the time I wore jeans, a long sleeve henely, a flannel shirt or sweatshirt, and then followed with a waterproof exterior layer. To keep my feet and hands warm and dry I wore my Lake MXZ 302 winter cycling shoes and Specialized Radiant gloves. On my head and face I wore an Under Armour beanie under my helmet and a neoprene face mask. These combinations in clothing kept me warm, dry, and comfortable during my rides in 20 degree temps to the store and visits to friends and family.
I would have to say dealing with just rain is much easier, but I had fun during the snowy weather and I am glad it is melting. Now all I need to watch for is patches of gravel and tiny gravel projectiles being hurled at me from passing cars.
Dec 26 2008
Woo Hoo!! There are 365 shopping days left until next Christmas. I always enjoy the time spent with my family over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Shopping was a bit of a challenge this year and all but one gift was purchased using a bicycle, public transportation, and going online . This past week’s weather made for a white Christmas and with a rise in the temperatures it made for treacherous travel when the hard pack snow started to melt and breakup, forming deep ruts of snow, slush, and ice on Christmas day.
I rode my mountain bike to my parents house yesterday. Along the way I rode, walked, and pushed my bike some, slid a lot and fell a few times, but overall had a very good time getting there. Arriving on a bicycle covered in snow, ice, and slush was worth it. My parents laughed and talked about when I was a kid and received a gold Columbia “10 speed” for Christmas one year. It brought back memories of how the bike was too big for me, but once I got it going and was in the drops I remembered feeling like Superman all stretched out and flying along. When my friends were getting bikes with banana seats and sissy bars, I got a bike with 10 speeds and drop down bars that was not as cool as theirs, but it was much faster. That gift started my obsession with road bikes and riding fast that to this day still lives on.
Thanks to parents who always provided me with bicycles to ride in my youth, bicycling is more than transportation to me. Bicycling is a lifestyle and passion which has kept me fit and full of mental sunshine.
This year I added to my Christmas and bicycle memories by riding in deep ruts of snow and slush. Bikes are fun.
Dec 22 2008
Inaccurate weather forecasts are nothing new. However, after a week and a half of pain in the posterior weather I was hoping the local weather guy would be correct in his forecast. Last
Thursday the forecast was looking better after we made it through this weekend, but instead of it warming up the ice, snow, and cold continues into this week. What I found humorous was in the 7 Day Forecast, next weekend is described as “WARM” with high temps predicted to be in the 40’s.
I am looking forward to next weekend. Maybe I will go for an extended cruise, enjoy the warm riding weather and be happy I am not a meteorologist.
