Dan on Bike

It’s been a while since I’ve posted – mainly because I haven’t ridden at all this month. The weather has been too cold for me, so I’m waiting impatiently for a little improvement.

In the meantime, I can report on my recent trip:

I spent the first half of the weekend in Naples, FL on business. I only had a couple of hours outside, so I spent some time looking at the cycling possibilities.

My hotel was located on a busy stretch of US41 a little north of downtown. This street sports two lanes in each direction plus a middle turn lane with a median strip, but no bike lanes. The nice, wide sidewalks have one parking lot entrance after another, but this didn’t stop the few riders I saw from using them. I don’t think I would ride on the street there, instead finding an alternate route. It’s possible that some cyclists were doing just that.

One big group I noticed was the crowd gathered outside the car wash collecting their pay (in cash). Several had beater Wally World bikes that they used to speed down the sidewalks.

A later trip downtown found several night spots – coffee and sandwich shops – but no riders.

As usual, I’m basing my opinions on a short glance along one busy street, so I’m sure that things are better there than I saw. The best part, the temps were perfect!

Miles Ridden: ZERO

I saw this bike on the corner of Northwestern and Lindberg today. It seems to be chained to a tree on the Purdue north course. There are no houses here, and this is not anywhere near where a golfer would start a round. The other corners at this intersection host a dentist office, a liquor store, and a convenience store.

I can’t figure out why it’s here. (I also don’t know what brand it is, but I can say that it’s likely aluminum.)

January isn’t usually a good riding month for me. (Sure, there was 2006 when the weather was warmer and drier than average, but that certainly wasn’t typical.) While I’ve been able to lower the temperature minimum at which I will ride by 10 or 15 degrees, I still need it to be above freezing. Any lower will take different clothes, and better logistics are required for me to commute to work in winter weather. So, I only get a few rides in, and I get depressed about not getting out. At this point, I’m wishing that I had a stationary bike of some kind, or maybe a health club membership. Either would be ignored once the weather improves.

My complicated goal calculation computes monthly targets based on previous years’ performance for the month, but I’m already down by 15 miles. February’s goal is quite low, so maybe I’ll be able to catch up.

January 2008 Total: 34.7
Last Year: 26.6

Nothing! You certainly can’t take pictures with it. So, instead of shots of ice floes in the Wabash, here’s a shot of a package of Jeff Foxworthy beef jerky taken with my cell phone camera.

It was a rare nice day for a ride – something we haven’t seen here in a while. I dressed for high 30s, but the temps were more like mid 40s. I had a bit of a perspiration thing going on that would have likely made me cold if the ride had been much longer than Granville Bridge returning via the fort.

Muppet of the day was the guy in the Chrysler van. As I approached 300W on River Road, my left arm was proudly pointing north, indicating my intention for a left. As the van slowed and stopped, I began my turn. He then began his left turn across my path, but then saw me in front of his grill and stopped while giving me the ‘go ahead’ hand wave. I mumbled impolite things about his parentage and his relationship with his mother.

Miles Ridden: 10.1

It was my plan to present a photo tour of the Wabash Avenue Route, but most of the photos didn’t turn out as I had hoped. I may try again someday when the lighting is better (and my camera lens is cleaner), but today I’ll just show this one shot of the Christian coffee shop housed in the building that was for many years a strip club. Next door, the township trustee’s office is in a former fire station.

Miles Ridden: 12.5

… was a low key affair. After the bitter cold and snow of the first few days, and before the rain predicted for the next few days, we were given a cloudy, gloomy, windy, and uncharacteristically warm day. With an hour between obligations (family visiting for the weekend), the route headed west on Division Road to the golf course and back. A lethargic leisurely pace helped get out of shape leg muscles back into the groove.

With the big thaw these last couple of days, everything was wet, and the ground is saturated. Much standing water could be found in the fields and yards along the route. With a forecasted deluge of rain the next couple of days (maybe the same storm that has been harassing the western part of the US), the creeks, streams, and rivers will be running high.

The bike received a good hosing after the ride to rid it of sand, salt, and dirt, and a chain lube is on tap for tonight.

Miles Ridden: 12.1

Total Miles for December: 75.7 – Last December saw 62.4

Total Miles for the Year: 2,125.2 – Well above my secret goal of 1,600.

Total Number of Utility Rides: 13
Total Number of Morning Rides: 25
Total Number of Commutes: 69
Total Number of Other Rides: 50

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

Here’s to a great 2008!

This morning, I thought I was done riding for the year. I even totaled up my stats. However, at 2:00, it was sunny and warm with little wind, so I called the neighbor to set up a ride. We hit the road by 3:15 or so.

Too bad the sun was obscured by clouds and the wind was picking up. We still had a good ride, but the way back from Granville included a cold headwind.

Still, it was a good, quick ride.

Miles Ridden: 9.2

Nothing special. Just a ride to Granville and back. The roads seemed a little unfamiliar, and it turns out it has been over two months since I last rode that way.

I had to cut the ride short so that I could make it to the ‘orphan Christmas’ my neighbors were hosting for grad students from foreign lands. They served great gumbo!

Miles Ridden: 9.1