Dan on Bike

On day three of this long weekend, I got up later than usual, so my ride started a little late. That cut down the time I had available to ride, but I still got an hour in.

Bridge Graffiti
It was a pretty easy route: north on 400W, east on 450N, south on 300W, Drury Lane to SR26, Sharon Chapel Road to Newman, south to Division Road and home.

Bush with a Grill
Miles Ridden: 12.3

This morning, I decided to ride over to the south side of Lafayette in the area of my old neighborhood.

I started out on some very familiar roads (I just rode the same two yesterday) – east on River Road and south on US231. But as I continued south on 231 past SR25, I was transported back to 1998 (or so) when I used to tool around the area on my big red Murray mountain bike.

I Wish This Tower Were Closer to my House
(Our Reception is Awful!)
Heading east on 500S. I passed two voluntary toll stops being run by the Wea Township Fire Dept to raise money for the MDA Telethon. Unfortunately, bike shorts means no pockets, which means no money. All I had on the bike was my camera, my phone, and a spare tube, and I wasn’t giving any of them to Jerry’s kids. (Besides, I contributed yesterday at a WL Fire Dept stop.) I came upon two more toll stops before the ride finished.

Wea Creek at 150E
I turned north on 150E, and passed two new schools that have popped up to serve the quickly growing number of families in the recently built subdivisions in the area. After crossing the now commercially crowded 350S, the road became 18th Street in Lafayette. I continued north to Main St, and plunged down the hill into downtown.

The old neighborhood has become much more developed than when I left six years ago, but it’s still not a bad place. The interesting thing is that, except for the shoulders on US231 and a two block stretch on State Street in WL, there were no bike lanes to be found. However, with mostly wide streets or four lanes of traffic, I never felt like I needed to be anywhere else but the right lane. I’m starting to think that it’s better that way.

After crossing the river, it was the normal trip through the village and campus areas and on home.

Miles Ridden: 20.3

Hadley Lake
I had no plans when I left the house, other than to generally head into the ENE wind reported by the Weather Channel. Happy Hollow Road called me to climb the hill, so I did. Next, I headed west on Kalberer Road and enjoyed the flat terrain and slight tailwind. After that, I rode by Hadley Lake on Morehouse Road. South on 400W brought me back to Division Road and home. When I arrived at my subdivision entrance, I had to yield to around 15 cyclists in full Purdue kit that were headed out to the west. I thought about joining them.

It’s great rides like this that keep me hopping back on the saddle.

Miles Ridden: 21.0

Miles this Month: 240.0
This Month Last Year: 211.9

2007 Total So Far: 1,499.8

August has seemed like a light month for riding, with the weather and my travels keeping me off the road. However, 240 miles isn’t bad. September’s schedule looks to be bike ride friendly, and the weather should be better than August.

I’m a bit too far from Toronto to participate in Bike Friday, but I can start my own route.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see another commuter on either trip.

Miles Ridden: 6.9

It was a little gloomy this AM, but the ride home weather was perfect. Sunny, 80 degrees, light east wind – couldn’t be better.

As I was waiting at the light at Grant and State, a tall, thin, 50-ish guy came flying up on the sidewalk on my right and jumped the curb in front of me to get in the bike lane. I saw that as a challenge to stay with him (despite his long-legged thinness). I held his wheel up the hill on Grant and on to Salisbury up to Lindberg where I took a left while he continued north.

Miles Ridden: 11.7

P.S. I was walking back from a meeting after lunch, and I crossed State Street mid block. As I stepped up over the curb, a kid on a road bike came screaming past me on the sidewalk. We nearly got very well acquainted.

The neighbor and I rode the Granville Bridge Route plus a little extra to the top of the hill and back this morning. Even with the barely waning moon, it was still pretty dark for most of the ride. We couldn’t tell how fast we were going, since we couldn’t see our computers or the passing scenery. There was one place where we heard a dog bark kind of close while his tags jingled. He must not have been hungry, because he didn’t appear in our headlights.

Miles Ridden: 11.4

I was riding home from work today on River Road when my wife passed me, pulled over, and asked me to drive her home. Who am I to refuse the request of a beautiful lady?

Miles Ridden: 4.9

No, He Isn’t Chewing my Saddle
This little guy is usually harassed and chased away by the bigger horses, but they weren’t around this morning.

Miles Ridden: 6.8

This morning started in the mid 60s, and the high reached 80 with minimal winds and lots of sun. It would have been nice to have this kind of weather yesterday.

I made a big breakfast for the family and a visiting relative, so I had some pork sausage to work off. The Trek 820 seemed like the right ride for a trip to Wally World and a quick stop at my office. The Celery Bog along the Cattail Trail was looking especially green today.

Miles Ridden: 13.3

As Seen from the Wal-Mart Parking Lot