So far this week I rode Monday-Wednesday, but Thursday I had a meeting across town (15 miles by freeway, less by backroads.) so I drove, and Friday, well, it threatened to drizzle. So there.
I didn't ride today, either, but I DID walk up to Performance to claim my free water bottle, and then back to the library to check out Maggody And The Moonbeams and The Narnian. Finished Eragon the other day, BTW. Very nice day out, somewhat overcast and coolish.
Maybe I will ride the Jamis around the route tomorrow and pick up cans. And maybe not!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
It's Bagel Day!
Why, yes, I WILL have a bagel, I did ride the bike today. Thank you!
Studly Steve, the Savage Swede, deposited this Pearl Of Wisdomtm on me today.
"Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while".
Or something like that..
Also, he wants to remind us that it's the last night of Tuesday night racing at the San Diego Velodrome tonight! Free admission! Be there, or be SQUARE!
Studly Steve, the Savage Swede, deposited this Pearl Of Wisdomtm on me today.
"Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while".
Or something like that..
Also, he wants to remind us that it's the last night of Tuesday night racing at the San Diego Velodrome tonight! Free admission! Be there, or be SQUARE!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Rode down to The Dam on this cloudy Sunday morning.
Saw a videocassette (videocassette??) lying (had to look THAT up!) in a driveway. Turned around and rode back UP the hill (Swallow Dr., in El Cajon--STEEP!) to see what it was. It was titled "Beat It". I don't see a movie of that title on the intarwebs (At least, not after 1921!), just that video by that guy, and this looked like a full-size tape in the cassette.
So, was this a message to the householder? Or what? Just another mystery, never to be solved.
Dropped off der Maus on the bike path in Santee. NOTE TO SELF: Put air holes in coffee can next time...
Rode the new Forester (Forrester?) Creek Bike/WALKING Path over to Justa Lane, then rode the sidewalk on the wrong side of Mission Gorge Road until there was a bike lane going west AND it was safe to cross. Both things very tricky on Mission Gorge Road, a very nasty piece of work in portions. I think Santee missed a trick not putting bike lanes all the way down when they had the chance. Perhaps when the 52 is extended to Lakeside it will cut down the traffic on Mission Gorge and the city fathers will see their way clear to deal with the problem. Right.
Nice and cool. Didn't drink any water or eat for the whole cloudy 20 miles.
Didn't ride around the lake. Too many people out taking advantage of the un-rain for me to deal with.
Trip (Week) 41.77 miles
Odometer 3,514 miles
Saw a videocassette (videocassette??) lying (had to look THAT up!) in a driveway. Turned around and rode back UP the hill (Swallow Dr., in El Cajon--STEEP!) to see what it was. It was titled "Beat It". I don't see a movie of that title on the intarwebs (At least, not after 1921!), just that video by that guy, and this looked like a full-size tape in the cassette.
So, was this a message to the householder? Or what? Just another mystery, never to be solved.
Rode the new Forester (Forrester?) Creek Bike/WALKING Path over to Justa Lane, then rode the sidewalk on the wrong side of Mission Gorge Road until there was a bike lane going west AND it was safe to cross. Both things very tricky on Mission Gorge Road, a very nasty piece of work in portions. I think Santee missed a trick not putting bike lanes all the way down when they had the chance. Perhaps when the 52 is extended to Lakeside it will cut down the traffic on Mission Gorge and the city fathers will see their way clear to deal with the problem. Right.
Nice and cool. Didn't drink any water or eat for the whole cloudy 20 miles.
Didn't ride around the lake. Too many people out taking advantage of the un-rain for me to deal with.
------------------------
Trip (Week) 41.77 miles
Odometer 3,514 miles
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Thurdsday
Drove to work today, as it was raining (That's San Diego rain, which is mist anywhere else.) just a little too much this morning.
I mean, I had to turn on the windshield wipers once!
Yesterday I drove also, but no excuse, sir!! I just felt cruddy.
I feel less cruddy today.
A little.
I mean, I had to turn on the windshield wipers once!
Yesterday I drove also, but no excuse, sir!! I just felt cruddy.
I feel less cruddy today.
A little.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
A New Week Begins
The lad and I went to Performance today, for their BIG SALE.
We looked at and handled some carbon fiber handlebars. Light as a feather!
Played with the bicycle lights systems. Very bright. Very expensive!
I bought some brake pads for Jamis, some Tri-Flow earl, and a pair of Forte Locking Grips.
I installed the Locking Grips, now the grips won't be slipping over the end of the handlebar. Yes, I could have glued them with yellow snot (3M Weatherstrip glue), but what fun is that? The grips came with bar end plugs, so that replaces the nickel I super glued there, that didn't stay glued... The package says, "Kraton rubber compound stays tacky when wet." What's Kraton, say I? Look to the Wikipedia article, forthwith. The package also says, along with many dire warnings if the product is misused or mis-installed, "Patented design features four clamp bolts per grip allowing simple and tight installation every time." Well, I only see TWO bolts per grip. I feel slighted.
The brake pads NEED to go on NOW, but I will wait until tomorrow. Or later...
Friday I replaced the electrical tape that pads the handlebar light mount with some left over cork from the book end re-corking project. Now the light shouldn't slip.
Week Stats:
We looked at and handled some carbon fiber handlebars. Light as a feather!
Played with the bicycle lights systems. Very bright. Very expensive!
I bought some brake pads for Jamis, some Tri-Flow earl, and a pair of Forte Locking Grips.
I installed the Locking Grips, now the grips won't be slipping over the end of the handlebar. Yes, I could have glued them with yellow snot (3M Weatherstrip glue), but what fun is that? The grips came with bar end plugs, so that replaces the nickel I super glued there, that didn't stay glued... The package says, "Kraton rubber compound stays tacky when wet." What's Kraton, say I? Look to the Wikipedia article, forthwith. The package also says, along with many dire warnings if the product is misused or mis-installed, "Patented design features four clamp bolts per grip allowing simple and tight installation every time." Well, I only see TWO bolts per grip. I feel slighted.
The brake pads NEED to go on NOW, but I will wait until tomorrow. Or later...
Friday I replaced the electrical tape that pads the handlebar light mount with some left over cork from the book end re-corking project. Now the light shouldn't slip.
Week Stats:
Week mileage -- 52.57 miles
Odometer -- 3,472 miles (16Sept07)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thursday
What's on TV tonight?
This morning I was riding up a long slight hill, one that has pestered me for a couple of decades, when I saw red blinking on the wrong side of the road a few hundred yards ahead. I THOUGHT it looked like a bicycle blinker, and it was. I saw a guy pushing his bike on the wrong side, then turning and pushing it some more. I thought I better check him out, so after waiting out the red (and of course I was the only person at the light...), I rode over, checked his tires for flatness, and seeing none asked him if he was ok.
He was an older guy, and by older I mean probably 10 or 15 years older than me, which makes him totally grey, which he was.
He was fully kitted out (I had a white long-sleeved tee shirt on, with Lyra shorts.), with a jersey even. He said he was just a little tired, no problems, so I let him go and proceeded on my way.
He was riding a Centurion, believe, which is a fairly old bike. P'raps I was hallucinating. I should have asked him his name. Next time!
Here's tmy baggy Lycra shorts and the shoes (with the missing SPD cover) I was talking about yesterday, for your amusement.
Well, that's enough of THAT!
This morning I was riding up a long slight hill, one that has pestered me for a couple of decades, when I saw red blinking on the wrong side of the road a few hundred yards ahead. I THOUGHT it looked like a bicycle blinker, and it was. I saw a guy pushing his bike on the wrong side, then turning and pushing it some more. I thought I better check him out, so after waiting out the red (and of course I was the only person at the light...), I rode over, checked his tires for flatness, and seeing none asked him if he was ok.
He was an older guy, and by older I mean probably 10 or 15 years older than me, which makes him totally grey, which he was.
He was fully kitted out (I had a white long-sleeved tee shirt on, with Lyra shorts.), with a jersey even. He said he was just a little tired, no problems, so I let him go and proceeded on my way.
He was riding a Centurion, believe, which is a fairly old bike. P'raps I was hallucinating. I should have asked him his name. Next time!
Here's tmy baggy Lycra shorts and the shoes (with the missing SPD cover) I was talking about yesterday, for your amusement.
Well, that's enough of THAT!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Wednesday Wednesday
Not a whole terrible lot going on here. Plugging away riding forth and back to work. It's a little cooler in the morning, so I've take to wearing THE jacket again. It's pretty warm in the afternoon, so I don't wear it then. Duh.
Taking the recharger to work for to charge the battery is working out well.
I was going to talk about clothing, retro-style, but a serious lack of pictures makes that kinda boring. Back in the day, I wore a pair of Cannondale Touring Shorts whilst commuting. This was before the term "baggy" had been invented, I think. They looked like regular shorts, with cargo pockets, but they had a liner with padding. The color was tan, so of course they showed any wet drips nicely. They were pretty good, but they wore out eventually, and I just continued on wearing the Lycra shorts that I wore for "serious" rides.
I've lost so much weight in the last few years that my Lycras are kinda baggy now! Some are baggier than others. I'm too cheap to buy new ones until these wear out.
I had a pair of Avocet touring shoes. These were fabulous, but they just plain wore out and Avocet stopped making them, of course. I've tried various styles since then, even tried clipless for a few days, but quickly went back to a clip-and-toestrap combo. Retro! My current shoe is a Shimano M-021G (size 13) that was on sale at Performance. They can take a SPD, but work well enough with the clips. I just noticed that the rubber piece over SPD holes has disappeared! Oh noes!
Taking the recharger to work for to charge the battery is working out well.
I was going to talk about clothing, retro-style, but a serious lack of pictures makes that kinda boring. Back in the day, I wore a pair of Cannondale Touring Shorts whilst commuting. This was before the term "baggy" had been invented, I think. They looked like regular shorts, with cargo pockets, but they had a liner with padding. The color was tan, so of course they showed any wet drips nicely. They were pretty good, but they wore out eventually, and I just continued on wearing the Lycra shorts that I wore for "serious" rides.
I've lost so much weight in the last few years that my Lycras are kinda baggy now! Some are baggier than others. I'm too cheap to buy new ones until these wear out.
I had a pair of Avocet touring shoes. These were fabulous, but they just plain wore out and Avocet stopped making them, of course. I've tried various styles since then, even tried clipless for a few days, but quickly went back to a clip-and-toestrap combo. Retro! My current shoe is a Shimano M-021G (size 13) that was on sale at Performance. They can take a SPD, but work well enough with the clips. I just noticed that the rubber piece over SPD holes has disappeared! Oh noes!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Finally Friday
It's Friday, I've got 65 miles mostly commuting on the ever-optimistic Jamis odometer, and the weather is relatively cool.
All is right with the world.
I'm thing of asking Steve at Biking in Halifax to chart a timeline of his bike/car accidents. It's getting ridiculous. And then there's Toronto. It's getting depressing reading some of these blogs! I guess we got things pretty not-so-bad in San Diego.
I'm THINKING about doing Critical Mass this month, because of all the hoopla about the last one. I mean, Riot Police and 16 people arrested! Oh, wait, that was the Pacific Beach riot, my bad! Ran across the San Diego Critical Mass Myspace page, wh00t! Some comments from people who were at the the Critical Mass fracas. See also San Diego Fixeds observations.
All is right with the world.
I'm thing of asking Steve at Biking in Halifax to chart a timeline of his bike/car accidents. It's getting ridiculous. And then there's Toronto. It's getting depressing reading some of these blogs! I guess we got things pretty not-so-bad in San Diego.
I'm THINKING about doing Critical Mass this month, because of all the hoopla about the last one. I mean, Riot Police and 16 people arrested! Oh, wait, that was the Pacific Beach riot, my bad! Ran across the San Diego Critical Mass Myspace page, wh00t! Some comments from people who were at the the Critical Mass fracas. See also San Diego Fixeds observations.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
The Real Garbageday
Another ten miles on the commute brings us to 45 miles, approx., on the Jamis this week.
Odd clunks, not new, from the freewheel. Broken pawl? I'd LIKE to take it apart and see, but I daren't, until it completely self-destructs.
Truly need to get some brake pads for the rear, trust me...
Took the battery recharger to work, for to keep it there. It's mucho more handy to recharge the lights at work, rather than at home. As long as I don't blow the circuit breaker and kill the two Apple servers sitting there...
Much cooler today, fairly pleasant, in fact. Although quite the smell of garbage in the morning, from the garbage plant. There used to be a plant here that manufactured arsine and phosphine, which is apparently not healthy for children and other living things. But very useful in manufacturing electronics, which we all love. I wish I could remember the name of the company. The building was painted green, I think. Anyway... Hey, I love the internet, just found the name of that company, Phoenix Research Corporation. That doesn't sound scary, does it? Now looking it up in ProQuest, ooooohh, deadly in 500 parts per million. Nifty! The plant moved to Arizona in the 80s, at the city's request. I guess I can live with the smell of garbage occasionally.
Odd clunks, not new, from the freewheel. Broken pawl? I'd LIKE to take it apart and see, but I daren't, until it completely self-destructs.
Truly need to get some brake pads for the rear, trust me...
Took the battery recharger to work, for to keep it there. It's mucho more handy to recharge the lights at work, rather than at home. As long as I don't blow the circuit breaker and kill the two Apple servers sitting there...
Much cooler today, fairly pleasant, in fact. Although quite the smell of garbage in the morning, from the garbage plant. There used to be a plant here that manufactured arsine and phosphine, which is apparently not healthy for children and other living things. But very useful in manufacturing electronics, which we all love. I wish I could remember the name of the company. The building was painted green, I think. Anyway... Hey, I love the internet, just found the name of that company, Phoenix Research Corporation. That doesn't sound scary, does it? Now looking it up in ProQuest, ooooohh, deadly in 500 parts per million. Nifty! The plant moved to Arizona in the 80s, at the city's request. I guess I can live with the smell of garbage occasionally.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Not Gabage Day
There seems to have been a holiday yesterday, so garbage day will be tomorrow.
My bicycle blessings:
My bicycle blessings:
I'm fairly close to work.I guess I've nothing to complain about!
I've a secure place to stash the bike and change.
Decent roads and bike lanes pretty much the whole way.
Not so much traffic.
No gigantic hills.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Labor Day
After being quite the wastrel all weekend, I got up early and hit the road for another Dam Ride. It being dark at six in the morning, I had the BIG LIGHT and STROBE on, and even the LED Blinky. Well, it wasn't all THAT dark, but it was certainly darkish. I mean, streetlights were still on. Mostly.
Biking in the warm, dark, air reminded not a little of marching around in basic training in Texas. Same time of year, but not QUITE so muggy here. But we gots the warm!
I made it down the hill into El Cajohn before Mr. Sun poked his head over the mountains to the east. Said eastern view was quite pretty, "purple mountains majesty". Ol' Sol appeared when I was cruising past Gillespie Field, and things started warming up. According to Weather Underground, it was around 75 degrees and 75% humidity. Yikes!
The gates were not open at the Dam yet, but the parking lot was fairly crowded. There were not too many people on the trail, so that went well. I refilled the water bottle at the usual spot, and ate an Albertson's granola bar as I rode towards the Jackson Hill.
Did the Jackson Hill in granny gear (30/32). It was slow going, I could feel each photon as it pressed against me, like a solar headwind. But I persevered, and triumphed!
There were brazillions of folks walking at the lake, and also dog walkers, runners, and cyclists. But mostly, walkers. Old people, too. Around my age. Saw the blonde chick, who is NOT my age.
Made it home, sweating like a pig. It's not the heat, it IS the humidity, truly!
Biking in the warm, dark, air reminded not a little of marching around in basic training in Texas. Same time of year, but not QUITE so muggy here. But we gots the warm!
I made it down the hill into El Cajohn before Mr. Sun poked his head over the mountains to the east. Said eastern view was quite pretty, "purple mountains majesty". Ol' Sol appeared when I was cruising past Gillespie Field, and things started warming up. According to Weather Underground, it was around 75 degrees and 75% humidity. Yikes!
The gates were not open at the Dam yet, but the parking lot was fairly crowded. There were not too many people on the trail, so that went well. I refilled the water bottle at the usual spot, and ate an Albertson's granola bar as I rode towards the Jackson Hill.
Did the Jackson Hill in granny gear (30/32). It was slow going, I could feel each photon as it pressed against me, like a solar headwind. But I persevered, and triumphed!
There were brazillions of folks walking at the lake, and also dog walkers, runners, and cyclists. But mostly, walkers. Old people, too. Around my age. Saw the blonde chick, who is NOT my age.
Made it home, sweating like a pig. It's not the heat, it IS the humidity, truly!
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