Purdue University is running Green Week, where they bring attention to environmentally friendly programs. University President France Córdova decided to ride her bicycle to work, so she called the News Service photographer to document it for Green Week. (Read more)
My paparazzi free ride was both uneventful and relaxing. The great weather continues tomorrow, so I’ll be riding again.
Miles Ridden: 8.5
It’s turning out to be a great week for riding. On my way home I stopped by the CVS for a prescription, which helped me get a little extra time in the saddle.
As I was riding home on Lindberg Road, a cyclist in front of me was being daring at the stop signs. The closest we get to traffic jams in West Lafayette is being four cars deep at the stop signs. This guy came up to the stop sign, stopped for just a moment, then continued. Of course, everyone else was doing the ‘take your turn’ method, so he got some looks and a honk. He immediately flipped off the honker. Then, everyone was looking at me to screw up as well, but I was a good boy.
Miles Ridden: 13.2
First, I just learned that my town has a Critical Mass:
The concept of critical mass is credited to a group of San Francisco bicycle commuters who in 1992 decided to ride home together, according to the Chicago Critical Mass Web site. Since then, groups have sprouted up across the globe and in Kokomo, Indianapolis and Bloomington.
While the rides have the reputation of purposely jamming up traffic, Bohs said that is not the goal here.
“The point is not to upset anyone or cause havoc,” he said. “We want to build up safe practices of riding and for cars to think more about us on the roads.”
Interesting. I may have to check it out sometime.
(Read more)
Also, I found this picture on Flickr of an “assless bike”:
Rode home in a light sprinkle. It was refreshing.
Miles Ridden: 7.0
I wasn’t even at the top of the hill on Newman Road when I noticed the spongy ride. Sure enough, the rear tire was quite low. I turned around a went back home.
I’ll ride another day.
Miles Ridden: Not even one!
I rode up to the supermarket today to pick up a few things. I wasn’t feeling my strongest, but I made it over the hills and up to the store.
As I left, I put my groceries in the panniers and headed back down towards home. As I reached the intersection of Stadium and Northwestern, my phone rang. It was a cashier from the store calling to tell me that I had left my camera and notebook in a cart. Great! With the gallon of milk and a gallon of iced tea, plus some produce, meat, and crackers, my bike was easily 20 lbs heavier going back up the hill. I retrieved the forgotten items, and went back down the hill once more – meeting a wrong way cyclist towards the bottom. (I hate it when I have to slow down on a hill and lose all of that momentum.) Like the guy the other day, Mr. Left Side didn’t seem to want to hear my opinion on his choice of position.
I stopped at the Circle K to get a drink, and found that my wallet had been stripped of all cash by my family, causing me to pay the $1.36 total with my debit card.
Sweaty and tired, I arrived home too late and too tired to make the planned dinner for which I had purchased the groceries. Scrambled eggs saved the day.
Miles Ridden: 14.4
I rode up to the football stadium to help out at the tailgate tent for the Purdue game. My job was to ferry the older alumni and donors up the hill in a golf cart. Fun times, and I got a free lunch afterwards.
Since I rode both ways wearing Dockers and a name tag, I’m counting this ride as a commute.
I didn’t take any pictures during the ride, so I’ll show this shot of a bike taxi I found in Indy on Friday. Pretty cool, huh?
Miles Ridden: 8.1
Nothing special. Just a normal commute.
Although, I’m noticing that I’m still a little leary of right turning cars after the incident. I’m always checking behind me before crossing an intersection.
Miles Ridden: 7.1
I started out on the Wabash Avenue Route, but found myself on a new road. It’s tough for me to find a new route so close to home, but I rode up and down a hill that I’ve covered thousands of times by car, but never before by bike – 4th street in Lafayette.
When downtown, I detoured on Romig, 5th, and Main before heading home through campus.
I took three great pictures along the way before I realized that my camera had no memory card.
Miles Ridden: 13.6
Have you seen this post “50 States – 100 Bike Blogs? My riding buddy Apertome is listed under Indiana. I’ve always liked reading his posts, and it looks like others do as well.
Congrats!
