Dan on Bike

All of the commutes, morning rides, and weekend jaunts have really added up, and I’ve hit a new personal best – 317.9 miles in May 2007! That is more than my total for the first 4 months combined. I think I’m getting a little obsessed.

(Still behind Noah’s progress)

Last May saw a total of 203.6 miles.

Familiar Shot?

Took a quick morning ride on the Llama Route with the neighbor. Along the route we saw a total of four deer crossing the road in different spots, and one bluebird. My wife hasn’t seen a bluebird in years, yet I see them pretty much weekly during Spring and Summer.

Miles Ridden: 12.8

Granville Bridge before work.

Miles Ridden: 10.0

I spent the weekend in Jasper, IN, and I was able to get a couple of rides in.

Right at the beginning of Saturday’s ride, I found a Jasper High School diploma laying the street about six blocks from the site of the previous night’s graduation ceremony. Apparently, Meredeth Marie Allen was pretty happy to be out of school, and gave the sheepskin a celebratory toss out of the window of her boyfriend’s F150 pickup. I’m guessing she partied pretty hard that night. I left the diploma next to a mailbox on St. Charles Street.

Jasper Riverwalk
Jett would like this wooden bridge over a splashing creek on the Jasper Riverwalk.

Jasper Riverwalk
Other than the riverwalk, I only saw one other path intended for cyclists, and I found no painted bike lanes. Regardless, Jasper seems to be a very bike-friendly city. Drivers were courteous and patient and the streets and roads were in better than average shape. If it weren’t for all of the hills, I could enjoy riding there every day.

Rolling Hills of Wheat
I won’t attempt to describe my routes in detail, but I will try to list some of the streets and roads I used.

Saturday

St Charles, 100S, Newton, Brucke Strasse, Riverwalk, 15th, downtown
Miles Ridden: 10.7

Sunday

St Charles, Portersville, 675N, 500W, 600N, 425W, 400N
Miles Ridden: 17.2

Quite an Intersection
From this intersection, I could see the water tower in Ireland and hear the church bells.

For the second day in a row, I’ve had a buddy on the ride in. He must live in one of the neighborhoods along Newman Road, and he has caught me while I was waiting at a stop sign or light. We exchanged pleasantries about the traffic.

I had a 3:00 meeting at SSOF today, so I just rode home from there.

The most secluded bike rack on campus
No need for a lock here.

Miles Ridden: 7.0

First, the neighbor and I took a morning ride past Granville Bridge to the golf course and back.

Miles Ridden: 11.9

Then, I rode to work and came home on the North Work Route.

Miles Ridden: 11.6

Bitchin’ Monte Carlo
I’ve been riding past this car on 400W that is parked by the road. It has a blue on black flame paint job, and I think it might be for sale!

South Work Route

Miles Ridden: 8.3

Modified North Work Route

Miles Ridden: 10.6

I took an early morning ride on Lilly Road today.

The greyhounds were out again today at the house south of Granville on 700W. Unlike last time when there was a gathering, there were just two greys, plus a small furry dog of some type. All three trotted over as soon as I stopped, and they were jostling to try to get my attention. I took a few pictures that didn’t turn out, but I loved seeing them close up.

Cows on Lilly Road
I planned the ride so that I would have a nice tailwind on the long straight stretch of Lilly Road, and I had a great time imagining that I was a fast rider.

Eli Lilly – Tippecanoe Labs
This is part of the factory after which the road is named. It is a pretty big complex with many buildings – presumably all filled with noxious chemicals and dangerous biological specimens. But, it’s one of the area’s biggest and most stable employers, so we don’t question too much.

Miles Ridden: 17.9

I was feeling pretty good after yesterday’s ride home. A couple of days out of the saddle left me recovered and refreshed, and the pedals seemed to be pushing themselves.

Forest Canopy on the Wabash River Heritage Trail
However, today I was yanked back to reality by a hill. I’ve ridden Happy Hollow Road before, and it is never easy. Today, I passed a young guy wearing jeans who had quit pedaling and decided to walk. I slowly passed him in my granny gear, and we exchanged a couple of breathy sentences about how tough the hill was. I had to stop for a drink and a breather about a half of a block later. He had remounted, and he pedaled slowly past me. After a minute or so, I hopped back on and finished the hill. I passed Mr. Jeans just past the crest.

Artsy Tree Shot
The rest of the ride was windy but fun.

Miles Ridden: 18.5