Track my 32 Miles... where coverage exists, anyway
Jacque has an appointment to be set apart as Stake Young Women's Secretary tonight so we decided I'd ride the bike all the way to work again and she'd pick me up at 6 PM. So I got a long, exhausting, and fun ride again today.
Just west of Tramway on the bike path there was a huge city truck blocking the bike path, with lots of us cyclists trying to squeeze through in both directions. 10 miles or so later...... At the Osuna intersection where the city forces cyclists on to the sidewalk, up into the intersection, and back on the sidewalk past the impassable "auto-blocking pole", I AGAIN met another oncoming cyclist, but this time I didn't lay it down... I just went a wee bit into the weeds trying to get both of us through this bottleneck. I'll be picking goat-head stickers outa the tires. Hope the thick thorn-resistant tubes continue to withstand such onslaughts. Nice to have so much bicycle traffic to deal with: It would be even nicer if the city planners would try riding their own trails so they could see what real life is like on a bicycle path they design.
Awakening BG: 109 Post-Ride BG: 59
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.3
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 31.78
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.4. Mph 12.6 mph 37.1 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 46 mins 2 hours 31 mins 15 mins 27 secs
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday Nooner Ride
See where Today Took Me...
I drove to my normal parking lot where I lock the car and un-rack the recumbent to ride the last 7 miles to work..... Sarah Jo, my daughter, who often meets me there (since she catches her city bus transfer at the nearby bus stoppe) called me on the cell phone as soon as I parked and rushed over to tell me she had missed her bus due to her first bus down Comanche had been late and thus got her and fellow riders too late to catch the next bus. She hinted at wanting a "Dad Ride" so she could make it to work on time so I gave her and another strap-hanger a ride up to Jefferson and Osuna/San Mateo, making it too close to MY work for a decent bike ride. So I drove on to work and then took a 13-mile (almost 7 miles each way) ride down to the Bosque during my noon hour. I get so many comments from non-bikers (and too many bikers) that "You're crazy for riding in this heat" or substitute "Cold" or "Wind". If I stayed off the bike because of weather forecasts that are more often wrong than right, or because the heat is in the 90's or higher, or the cold is in the teens or lower, or the wind.... I'd miss out on literally WEEKS of wonderful riding weather.
I got such a comment today from a ham radio friend who normally only exercises in a gym and rarely in the out-of-doors. I wish he'd have been out with me so he could see how great it was.... it was warm, but the breeze made it feel just right. YAY
It is always a great ride along the Bosque trail. Most of it is along the irrigation ditches and the Rio Grande, with tall cottonwoods and verdant vegetation all around with a real disconnect from the noise of the roads and highways. I stopped at a shady park bench under several huge cottonwoods and ate my power lunch before riding back: Peanut Butter 'N Honey Sandwich
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.6
Noon Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 13.64
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.3. Mph 12.2 mph 24.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 19 mins 1 Hour 7 mins 12 mins 16 secs
I drove to my normal parking lot where I lock the car and un-rack the recumbent to ride the last 7 miles to work..... Sarah Jo, my daughter, who often meets me there (since she catches her city bus transfer at the nearby bus stoppe) called me on the cell phone as soon as I parked and rushed over to tell me she had missed her bus due to her first bus down Comanche had been late and thus got her and fellow riders too late to catch the next bus. She hinted at wanting a "Dad Ride" so she could make it to work on time so I gave her and another strap-hanger a ride up to Jefferson and Osuna/San Mateo, making it too close to MY work for a decent bike ride. So I drove on to work and then took a 13-mile (almost 7 miles each way) ride down to the Bosque during my noon hour. I get so many comments from non-bikers (and too many bikers) that "You're crazy for riding in this heat" or substitute "Cold" or "Wind". If I stayed off the bike because of weather forecasts that are more often wrong than right, or because the heat is in the 90's or higher, or the cold is in the teens or lower, or the wind.... I'd miss out on literally WEEKS of wonderful riding weather.
I got such a comment today from a ham radio friend who normally only exercises in a gym and rarely in the out-of-doors. I wish he'd have been out with me so he could see how great it was.... it was warm, but the breeze made it feel just right. YAY
It is always a great ride along the Bosque trail. Most of it is along the irrigation ditches and the Rio Grande, with tall cottonwoods and verdant vegetation all around with a real disconnect from the noise of the roads and highways. I stopped at a shady park bench under several huge cottonwoods and ate my power lunch before riding back: Peanut Butter 'N Honey Sandwich
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.6
Noon Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 13.64
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.3. Mph 12.2 mph 24.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 19 mins 1 Hour 7 mins 12 mins 16 secs
Monday, August 29, 2011
Rain, Rain, Glad You Came
Ye Olde GPS/APRS tracker Link
It must have rained all night last night, sometimes so heavy we couldn't sleep through it. It was hot and dry all day Sunday without a breath of rain and then right after dark it clabbered up and began to pour. But the washboard road was still intact and passable this morning. YAY
I took a tumble on the bike this morning. Nothing serious. As I crossed Osuna after waiting for the green light, I had to turn sharply to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming bike approaching the intersection I just exited. The city puts steel posts in the middle of many of the bike path entrances, supposedly to keep motorized vehicles out (except for city-owned motorized vehicles, of course, who have keys to unlock and remove the posts so city burrocrats in their trucks can enter). It is impossible to stay on the right side of the north side of Osuna's post, after a very sharp turn to enter the sidewalk off Osuna going back to the trail, and so everyone goes on the north side of the blocking post no matter which direction they are headed. The oncoming cyclist was too close and when I tried to make the impossible turn to go on the other side of the post, I laid it down. No damage to the recumbent; and no injury to me except my pride, of course.
Awakening BG: 119 Post-Ride BG: 69
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.9 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.3. Mph 11.4 mph 21.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 19 secs 39 mins 4 sec 4 mins 15 secs
The ride home surprised me because though it was storming heavily a few miles in front of me (as I headed south on the bike trail) I didn't get a drop on me. The storm seemed to drift to the west and north and then sorta fade away. The diversion channel, however, was running at least a foot deep and roaring, so it had been raining somewhere recently.
I got a short video of the drainage flooding and another shot of some weird weed-flowers that proliferate along the ditch and bike trail. Now all I have to do is find time to edit them and pop them in here. Manana maybe...
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.36
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.6. Mph 10.7 mph 21.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45 mins 59 secs 41 mins 05 secs 4 mins 54 secs
It must have rained all night last night, sometimes so heavy we couldn't sleep through it. It was hot and dry all day Sunday without a breath of rain and then right after dark it clabbered up and began to pour. But the washboard road was still intact and passable this morning. YAY
I took a tumble on the bike this morning. Nothing serious. As I crossed Osuna after waiting for the green light, I had to turn sharply to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming bike approaching the intersection I just exited. The city puts steel posts in the middle of many of the bike path entrances, supposedly to keep motorized vehicles out (except for city-owned motorized vehicles, of course, who have keys to unlock and remove the posts so city burrocrats in their trucks can enter). It is impossible to stay on the right side of the north side of Osuna's post, after a very sharp turn to enter the sidewalk off Osuna going back to the trail, and so everyone goes on the north side of the blocking post no matter which direction they are headed. The oncoming cyclist was too close and when I tried to make the impossible turn to go on the other side of the post, I laid it down. No damage to the recumbent; and no injury to me except my pride, of course.
Awakening BG: 119 Post-Ride BG: 69
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.9 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.3. Mph 11.4 mph 21.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 19 secs 39 mins 4 sec 4 mins 15 secs
The ride home surprised me because though it was storming heavily a few miles in front of me (as I headed south on the bike trail) I didn't get a drop on me. The storm seemed to drift to the west and north and then sorta fade away. The diversion channel, however, was running at least a foot deep and roaring, so it had been raining somewhere recently.
I got a short video of the drainage flooding and another shot of some weird weed-flowers that proliferate along the ditch and bike trail. Now all I have to do is find time to edit them and pop them in here. Manana maybe...
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.36
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.6. Mph 10.7 mph 21.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45 mins 59 secs 41 mins 05 secs 4 mins 54 secs
Friday, August 26, 2011
Look, Ma, No Car!
impressive tracking this morning.
We're attending the Temple tonight after work so Jacque suggested I ride the bike all the way to work again, she'd pick me up after work, and we'd only have her vehicle to deal with coming home. Since I didn't think of it first, it took me a couple hours to think it was a good idea. My legs aren't in as good a shape as they were before I stopped riding for a week or two, and they've been talking to me just riding the 7-mile last-leg commutes these last several days. So I worried about those killer uphills for the first 3 out of the 32-mile full trip to work. But what the hey. No pain, no gain, right? RIGHT?? Still hoping for the solution that gets gain WITHOUT the pain, thank you.
But, as usual, I'm glad I did it..... once I get to work and cool off. My legs are talking to me, of course, but it really supercharges me to get that lathered up. Plus it makes for great tidbits during idle conversation, just casually mentioning I rode the bike 32 miles to work... ho hum. ETC.
On the way across town I actually PASSED an eye-candy cyclist, and she had great legs. Usually such folk pass ME like I'm backing up. She almost certainly is a newbie to biking or not feeling well - for me to pass her and stay ahead of her. Just goes to show you, old guys CAN pass people sometimes. Most of the time the only thing I pass is gas.....
Awakening BG: 213 Post-Ride BG: 118
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.3
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 31.75
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
12.1. Mph 12.7 mph 34.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 36 mins 2 hours 29 mins 7 mins 29 secs
We're attending the Temple tonight after work so Jacque suggested I ride the bike all the way to work again, she'd pick me up after work, and we'd only have her vehicle to deal with coming home. Since I didn't think of it first, it took me a couple hours to think it was a good idea. My legs aren't in as good a shape as they were before I stopped riding for a week or two, and they've been talking to me just riding the 7-mile last-leg commutes these last several days. So I worried about those killer uphills for the first 3 out of the 32-mile full trip to work. But what the hey. No pain, no gain, right? RIGHT?? Still hoping for the solution that gets gain WITHOUT the pain, thank you.
But, as usual, I'm glad I did it..... once I get to work and cool off. My legs are talking to me, of course, but it really supercharges me to get that lathered up. Plus it makes for great tidbits during idle conversation, just casually mentioning I rode the bike 32 miles to work... ho hum. ETC.
On the way across town I actually PASSED an eye-candy cyclist, and she had great legs. Usually such folk pass ME like I'm backing up. She almost certainly is a newbie to biking or not feeling well - for me to pass her and stay ahead of her. Just goes to show you, old guys CAN pass people sometimes. Most of the time the only thing I pass is gas.....
Awakening BG: 213 Post-Ride BG: 118
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.3
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 31.75
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
12.1. Mph 12.7 mph 34.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 36 mins 2 hours 29 mins 7 mins 29 secs
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, Running REALLY Late
View my bike-breadcrumb track via APRS and GPS
Yesterday I skipped riding the bike since I drove Jacque's Ford Exploder and took the visiting in-laws, Bert and Carol Johnston, to catch their early morning flight for home in Illinois. I dropped them off at the airport at 6:30-ish and was at work by 7:00 AM. Got in a noon walk but no bike ride, which I sorely missed. Even though the biking makes me hot and sweaty and tired, it leaves me feeling much more energetic and wakeful than on days when I don't do the 2-wheel commute.
This morning as I parked at my normal spot to change from carrito to bicycleta, my cell phone rang. I saw it was Sarah Jo (my first of 3 lovely daughters) which meant she was approaching me from the nearby bus stop. She had a bit of a worried look on her face and a weird faintly splotchy look and told me she'd had her medication changed and "If it makes me break out in a rash I'm supposed to go to the emergency room." This wasn't quite a rash, just some small sprinkling of reddish specks, but since she also felt a bit odd we decided to take a ride to the nearest urgent care center. It was 7:43 when we got there, so of course they weren't open yet. We thought about trying another nearby urgent care center but decided they'd all be opening no earlier than 8: 00 AM so we waited until they opened and let us in. After sitting around for an hour or so they gave her instructions to take some anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen and make an appointment with her neurologist for review of the new meds. Thankfully it did not turn out to be an emergency after all.
I was alreay 'way late for work so I decided to do my normal bike ride, arriving at 11:30 AM instead of 8:30-ish. That's a bit of comp time to make up or use vacation hours.....
Awakening BG: 103 Post-Ride BG: 84
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.2. Mph 11.0 mph 21.1 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 34 secs 40 mins 46 secs 2 mins 48 secs
Ride Home: Great
Feeling of Movement and Speed: Priceless
Didn't Turn the Camera On in Time to Catch a Cute Kid on a Bike: BAH
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.41
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.1. Mph 11.5 mph 23.2 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39 mins 59 secs 38 mins 50 secs 1 mins 09 secs
Yesterday I skipped riding the bike since I drove Jacque's Ford Exploder and took the visiting in-laws, Bert and Carol Johnston, to catch their early morning flight for home in Illinois. I dropped them off at the airport at 6:30-ish and was at work by 7:00 AM. Got in a noon walk but no bike ride, which I sorely missed. Even though the biking makes me hot and sweaty and tired, it leaves me feeling much more energetic and wakeful than on days when I don't do the 2-wheel commute.
This morning as I parked at my normal spot to change from carrito to bicycleta, my cell phone rang. I saw it was Sarah Jo (my first of 3 lovely daughters) which meant she was approaching me from the nearby bus stop. She had a bit of a worried look on her face and a weird faintly splotchy look and told me she'd had her medication changed and "If it makes me break out in a rash I'm supposed to go to the emergency room." This wasn't quite a rash, just some small sprinkling of reddish specks, but since she also felt a bit odd we decided to take a ride to the nearest urgent care center. It was 7:43 when we got there, so of course they weren't open yet. We thought about trying another nearby urgent care center but decided they'd all be opening no earlier than 8: 00 AM so we waited until they opened and let us in. After sitting around for an hour or so they gave her instructions to take some anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen and make an appointment with her neurologist for review of the new meds. Thankfully it did not turn out to be an emergency after all.
I was alreay 'way late for work so I decided to do my normal bike ride, arriving at 11:30 AM instead of 8:30-ish. That's a bit of comp time to make up or use vacation hours.....
Awakening BG: 103 Post-Ride BG: 84
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.2. Mph 11.0 mph 21.1 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 34 secs 40 mins 46 secs 2 mins 48 secs
Ride Home: Great
Feeling of Movement and Speed: Priceless
Didn't Turn the Camera On in Time to Catch a Cute Kid on a Bike: BAH
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.41
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.1. Mph 11.5 mph 23.2 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39 mins 59 secs 38 mins 50 secs 1 mins 09 secs
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Back-To-Work, Oh My
Tracker now working pretty well.....
I took vacation days last Friday and yesterday, Monday. Jacque's folks came to visit so we spent Friday, Saturday, and Monday cruising around Northern NM for quick tours of:
Acoma Pueblo, very tiring for Dad Johnston but great fun anyway.
Then, Friday night, a visit to the Wildlife West show out in Edgewood NM. Enjoyed an old fashioned chuckwagon-style dinner and then tapped our feet, sang along, and danced to the music of the "Holy Water and Whiskey" band.
Saturday, we did the Jemez drive up through the Jemez Mountains and a couple of stops for Fry Bread, Famous Jemez Burger in Jemez, a jaw-dropping tour of the jemez forest around valles Caldera and cringing at all the burn damage to a once-beautiful forest. Got lost in the rain trying to get around construction detours in Los Alamos. Took the loop around Santa Fe and down the Turquoise Trail (NM-14) through Old Madrid to get home. Stopped off in Madrid for some disgustingly yummy scooped ice cream from the Madrid Company Store Soda Fountain. My insulin pump had lots of trouble keeping up with my carbohydrate consumption and almost blew a fuse. Everybody's got to die sometime, y'know??
Awakening BG: 84 Post-Ride BG: 145
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.7. Mph 10.8 mph 24.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45 mins 59 secs 41 mins 20 secs 4 mins 39 secs
I took vacation days last Friday and yesterday, Monday. Jacque's folks came to visit so we spent Friday, Saturday, and Monday cruising around Northern NM for quick tours of:
Acoma Pueblo, very tiring for Dad Johnston but great fun anyway.
Then, Friday night, a visit to the Wildlife West show out in Edgewood NM. Enjoyed an old fashioned chuckwagon-style dinner and then tapped our feet, sang along, and danced to the music of the "Holy Water and Whiskey" band.
Saturday, we did the Jemez drive up through the Jemez Mountains and a couple of stops for Fry Bread, Famous Jemez Burger in Jemez, a jaw-dropping tour of the jemez forest around valles Caldera and cringing at all the burn damage to a once-beautiful forest. Got lost in the rain trying to get around construction detours in Los Alamos. Took the loop around Santa Fe and down the Turquoise Trail (NM-14) through Old Madrid to get home. Stopped off in Madrid for some disgustingly yummy scooped ice cream from the Madrid Company Store Soda Fountain. My insulin pump had lots of trouble keeping up with my carbohydrate consumption and almost blew a fuse. Everybody's got to die sometime, y'know??
Awakening BG: 84 Post-Ride BG: 145
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.7. Mph 10.8 mph 24.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45 mins 59 secs 41 mins 20 secs 4 mins 39 secs
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday.
Again, tracker is spotty and needing adjustment
Sunny and cooler this morning after last evening's downpour. Very humid, but great riding weather.
We'll see what the afternoon ride back brings.
Forgot to mention I saw my first bear out in the open 2 days ago just a couple miles from home. He was not a big guy, and no fat at all, and he was right next to the North-14 hiway on the north end of Cedar Crest. I've seen bears roaming a nearby trailer park several years ago, where the dimwit residents love to feed the roaming ursus horriblus "Because They're So Cute". It's long been a wonder to us that we have yet to have bears visiting our house, what with the dog food, stinky compost pile and such-like in our yard that attracts bears to the surrounding neighbors. This bear was only 20-30 feet off the roadway as I passed and I could have easily gotten out of the car and hit him with a rock, except for my lack of enthusiasm for becoming bear poop.
Awakening BG: 175 Post-Ride BG: 85
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.2 Ending Voltage: 12.4 (This battery needs a charge!)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.1. Mph 10.8 mph 20.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
48 mins 59 secs 41 mins 18 secs 7 mins 41 secs
The afternoon ride was pretty fine, nothing interesting to report.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.40
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.1. Mph 11.0 mph 22.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 59 secs 40 mins 14 secs 3 mins 45 secs
Sunny and cooler this morning after last evening's downpour. Very humid, but great riding weather.
We'll see what the afternoon ride back brings.
Forgot to mention I saw my first bear out in the open 2 days ago just a couple miles from home. He was not a big guy, and no fat at all, and he was right next to the North-14 hiway on the north end of Cedar Crest. I've seen bears roaming a nearby trailer park several years ago, where the dimwit residents love to feed the roaming ursus horriblus "Because They're So Cute". It's long been a wonder to us that we have yet to have bears visiting our house, what with the dog food, stinky compost pile and such-like in our yard that attracts bears to the surrounding neighbors. This bear was only 20-30 feet off the roadway as I passed and I could have easily gotten out of the car and hit him with a rock, except for my lack of enthusiasm for becoming bear poop.
Awakening BG: 175 Post-Ride BG: 85
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.2 Ending Voltage: 12.4 (This battery needs a charge!)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.1. Mph 10.8 mph 20.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
48 mins 59 secs 41 mins 18 secs 7 mins 41 secs
The afternoon ride was pretty fine, nothing interesting to report.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6 Ending Voltage: 12.5
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.40
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.1. Mph 11.0 mph 22.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
43 mins 59 secs 40 mins 14 secs 3 mins 45 secs
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tired Legs Wednesday
Fixed the intermittent tracker, much better now
Per the new dog and bike photo: In the spirit of full disclosure I should point out that Tinkerbell (That's the DOG, not ME) is riding in a laptop computer bag.... the only thing I could find to carry her with. She's so willing to "GO" she'd probably ride up on the handlebars if I asked her to. Cool biking buddy.
I discovered the serious technical problem with my favorite GPS/APRS tracking device.... my homemade battery eliminator clip on the bottom of the ancient Icom 2AT radio had popped slightly off center, thus not providing battery power to the radio...... duhhh. So now I'm happily back to logging real time battery voltage as I roll along.
Nice and cloudy and cool this morning, but I contended with a mild headwind going TO work this time - I can hardly wait to see what winds transpire this afternoon. The ride did not prompt me to slather on my usual 1/4 inch-thick layer of 50 SPF sunscreen. Thus I did not ride in public today looking like I took a dip in cake batter. SHUCKINS
Awakening BG: 219 Post-Ride BG: 98
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8
I watched the weather outside this afternoon and it was getting cloudy and dark enough that I tried to leave early to beat a possible rain shower. BAH - I didn't escape until 6 PM. For the first couple miles I thought I was going to make it back to the car dry, but then it began to sprinkle....... and then it really started to pour.
By the time I got to the I-25 underpass, the first real shelter I could have gotten to, the rain had slowed to nearly nothing so I rode on without stopping, either there OR the Montgomery bike underpass. Of course, as soon as I got past these possible places of refuge, it started pouring again. I was soaked to the skin long before I got back to the car. But I'm BRAGGING, not complaining. Albuquerque has not had a good soaking in months, and it was wonderful to see the streets wet and the drainage ditches running. Even should I catch cold, which I doubt, it will have been worth getting the rain.
I didn't run the GPS on the ride back due to low batteries. I had a box of fresh chocolate donuts in the pannier this morning that had greater priority than extended electronics operation, so I used the small lighter battery pack which was going soft on the return trip.
Per the new dog and bike photo: In the spirit of full disclosure I should point out that Tinkerbell (That's the DOG, not ME) is riding in a laptop computer bag.... the only thing I could find to carry her with. She's so willing to "GO" she'd probably ride up on the handlebars if I asked her to. Cool biking buddy.
I discovered the serious technical problem with my favorite GPS/APRS tracking device.... my homemade battery eliminator clip on the bottom of the ancient Icom 2AT radio had popped slightly off center, thus not providing battery power to the radio...... duhhh. So now I'm happily back to logging real time battery voltage as I roll along.
Nice and cloudy and cool this morning, but I contended with a mild headwind going TO work this time - I can hardly wait to see what winds transpire this afternoon. The ride did not prompt me to slather on my usual 1/4 inch-thick layer of 50 SPF sunscreen. Thus I did not ride in public today looking like I took a dip in cake batter. SHUCKINS
Awakening BG: 219 Post-Ride BG: 98
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8
I watched the weather outside this afternoon and it was getting cloudy and dark enough that I tried to leave early to beat a possible rain shower. BAH - I didn't escape until 6 PM. For the first couple miles I thought I was going to make it back to the car dry, but then it began to sprinkle....... and then it really started to pour.
By the time I got to the I-25 underpass, the first real shelter I could have gotten to, the rain had slowed to nearly nothing so I rode on without stopping, either there OR the Montgomery bike underpass. Of course, as soon as I got past these possible places of refuge, it started pouring again. I was soaked to the skin long before I got back to the car. But I'm BRAGGING, not complaining. Albuquerque has not had a good soaking in months, and it was wonderful to see the streets wet and the drainage ditches running. Even should I catch cold, which I doubt, it will have been worth getting the rain.
I didn't run the GPS on the ride back due to low batteries. I had a box of fresh chocolate donuts in the pannier this morning that had greater priority than extended electronics operation, so I used the small lighter battery pack which was going soft on the return trip.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday.
Tracker is working better now. Fixing intermittent unit-
You may notice a newer photograph for the blog. Thanks to Tom and Judy Nurenberg for this photo taken at our recent hamfest up in Taos, NM. The front shotgun-rider, Tinkerbell, is a wonderful traveling buddy. She will put up with most any indignity to "go" for a ride, a walk, whatever. Our big Greyhound, Radar, is not a happy traveler and not fun at all to travel with since he (sooner or later) gets carsick, barfing, and eventually losing, er, bowel control.... ick. Tinkerbell is a joy to haul around with us and the only difficulty is that occasionally she must wait in the car without us while we dine at a restaurant, etc.
This morning I noticed as I approached the last couple of miles on my daily commute, the drag strip called Paseo del Norte was down to a crawl. Another wreck or traffic disturbance, I suppose. I thought how much quicker many of them would have gotten to work had they rode their bikes instead of driving. Wouldn't it be a nice change to have to deal with bicycle traffic jams instead of vehicular jams? We're already having to be more careful making turns, paying attention, staying in our own lane, etc, even on the bike trails, and occasionally it gets confusing when multiple cyclists face each other crossing intersections in opposing directions. But that's a fun problem to deal with.....
Awakening BG: 170 Post-Ride BG: 86
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (using Kenwood tracker this morning, no voltage monitor)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8. Mph 10.8 mph 20.7 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
50 mins 59 secs 41 mins 28 secs 9 mins 31 secs
I kinda wore myself out for the evening ride back to the car and home. My blood sugar seemed to be dropping too rapidly so I drank my bottle of orange-flavored sugar-water (Gatorade mix from a powder) and was still a bit woozy when I got to the car. Must have been the heat combined with the ever present afternoon headwind. Bought a huge Nutrageous bar at Wally World and snarfed it and still did not feel too human until after I got home and ate some real food. The ride hadn't seemed that strenuous; I may well have miscalculated my afternoon insulin pump dose.
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (using Kenwood tracker again, no voltage monitor)
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8. Mph 09.8 mph 23.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
50 mins 58 secs 45 mins 25 secs 5 mins 33 secs
You may notice a newer photograph for the blog. Thanks to Tom and Judy Nurenberg for this photo taken at our recent hamfest up in Taos, NM. The front shotgun-rider, Tinkerbell, is a wonderful traveling buddy. She will put up with most any indignity to "go" for a ride, a walk, whatever. Our big Greyhound, Radar, is not a happy traveler and not fun at all to travel with since he (sooner or later) gets carsick, barfing, and eventually losing, er, bowel control.... ick. Tinkerbell is a joy to haul around with us and the only difficulty is that occasionally she must wait in the car without us while we dine at a restaurant, etc.
This morning I noticed as I approached the last couple of miles on my daily commute, the drag strip called Paseo del Norte was down to a crawl. Another wreck or traffic disturbance, I suppose. I thought how much quicker many of them would have gotten to work had they rode their bikes instead of driving. Wouldn't it be a nice change to have to deal with bicycle traffic jams instead of vehicular jams? We're already having to be more careful making turns, paying attention, staying in our own lane, etc, even on the bike trails, and occasionally it gets confusing when multiple cyclists face each other crossing intersections in opposing directions. But that's a fun problem to deal with.....
Awakening BG: 170 Post-Ride BG: 86
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (using Kenwood tracker this morning, no voltage monitor)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8. Mph 10.8 mph 20.7 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
50 mins 59 secs 41 mins 28 secs 9 mins 31 secs
I kinda wore myself out for the evening ride back to the car and home. My blood sugar seemed to be dropping too rapidly so I drank my bottle of orange-flavored sugar-water (Gatorade mix from a powder) and was still a bit woozy when I got to the car. Must have been the heat combined with the ever present afternoon headwind. Bought a huge Nutrageous bar at Wally World and snarfed it and still did not feel too human until after I got home and ate some real food. The ride hadn't seemed that strenuous; I may well have miscalculated my afternoon insulin pump dose.
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (using Kenwood tracker again, no voltage monitor)
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8. Mph 09.8 mph 23.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
50 mins 58 secs 45 mins 25 secs 5 mins 33 secs
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, Weather Still Warm
Tracker very spotty lately, Obviously Needs Work .... But perfect for commuting to/from work via bicycle.
A nice surprise happened to me rolling toward work this morning: I passed a couple who were walking their dog and said the usual "On your left, Hi Etc." A few minutes later I heard someone new calling on my ham radio for "the Guy on the Bicycle". I responded and discovered it was the couple I'd just passed: They were ham radio operators too, and when I passed with the antenna and electronics hanging out in front of God and everybody, he pulled out his own walkie-talkie and gave me a call. Very fun --
Awakening BG: 107 Post-Ride BG: 121
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (tracker didn't work this morning)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43 Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.2. Mph 12.4 mph 24.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39 mins 59 secs 36 mins 02 secs 3 mins 57 secs
Another bout of fairly stiff head-wind for the trip back to the car this afternoon. I did appreciate it's cooling effect even though it slowed me down considerably.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.5. Mph 09.8 mph 19.4 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
46 mins 59 secs 45 mins 26 secs 1 mins 33 secs
A nice surprise happened to me rolling toward work this morning: I passed a couple who were walking their dog and said the usual "On your left, Hi Etc." A few minutes later I heard someone new calling on my ham radio for "the Guy on the Bicycle". I responded and discovered it was the couple I'd just passed: They were ham radio operators too, and when I passed with the antenna and electronics hanging out in front of God and everybody, he pulled out his own walkie-talkie and gave me a call. Very fun --
Awakening BG: 107 Post-Ride BG: 121
Beginning Battery Voltage: unk Ending Voltage: unk (tracker didn't work this morning)
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43 Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.2. Mph 12.4 mph 24.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39 mins 59 secs 36 mins 02 secs 3 mins 57 secs
Another bout of fairly stiff head-wind for the trip back to the car this afternoon. I did appreciate it's cooling effect even though it slowed me down considerably.
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.43
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.5. Mph 09.8 mph 19.4 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
46 mins 59 secs 45 mins 26 secs 1 mins 33 secs
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Half Day Friday, but I got my Bike Ride
Tracking is a little spotty lately...
We decided to do Temple today so I signed up for taking off work at noon. Of course, a problem cropped up and it was difficult to drop it and leave, but I finally got on the bike to ride back to the carrito at 12:30 or so, a half hour later than I'd planned for. I was bucking a bit of head-wind: Both welcome for the cooling from the heat and bothersome from slowing me down somewhat. But I was able to get to my 2:00 session, though soaked in sweat. Thank goodness for modern air conditioning....
The old spindly legs are already feeling stronger again, shedding the soft wimpy sensation more quickly than I'd hoped after a couple weeks not riding regularly. After the temple sessions one of the patrons outside was skeptically eyeballing the recumbent bike so ungainly strapped on the rear bumper homemade bike rack. He was full of questions - but Jacque was already out of the parking lot waiting for me - so I had to cut the "How-Wnderful-To-Ride-A-Bike" sermonette short and leave.
Pre-Ride BG: unk Post-Ride BG: still unk
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.6?
10.8. Mph 11.1 mph 20.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39:00 mins 38:13 mins 00:47 mins
We decided to do Temple today so I signed up for taking off work at noon. Of course, a problem cropped up and it was difficult to drop it and leave, but I finally got on the bike to ride back to the carrito at 12:30 or so, a half hour later than I'd planned for. I was bucking a bit of head-wind: Both welcome for the cooling from the heat and bothersome from slowing me down somewhat. But I was able to get to my 2:00 session, though soaked in sweat. Thank goodness for modern air conditioning....
The old spindly legs are already feeling stronger again, shedding the soft wimpy sensation more quickly than I'd hoped after a couple weeks not riding regularly. After the temple sessions one of the patrons outside was skeptically eyeballing the recumbent bike so ungainly strapped on the rear bumper homemade bike rack. He was full of questions - but Jacque was already out of the parking lot waiting for me - so I had to cut the "How-Wnderful-To-Ride-A-Bike" sermonette short and leave.
Pre-Ride BG: unk Post-Ride BG: still unk
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5 Ending Voltage: 12.6?
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 07.05
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed10.8. Mph 11.1 mph 20.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
39:00 mins 38:13 mins 00:47 mins
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thursday already and first Day on the Bike this Week
Today's bread-crumb track brought to you by Google
On Monday during my short noon ride I noticed my legs seemed to already be losing their "zip" from lack of regular riding. I need the additional time to work on the house in the evenings, but I need to keep in better shape as well. So I'm back to commute-riding as much as I possibly can.
This morning was cloudy and cooler when I unsaddled the recumbent from the car rack, so I did not slather on the usual white coating of sun-block. As I was just about to pedal away from the car towards work, it began to sprinkle just a little, and continued to sprinkle very lightly for a mile or two. Then it dried up and I haven't seen any rain since.
I'm again flabbergasted that more people don't park their gas guzzling cars and ride their bikes, especially for around-town trips. It's just SO bloomin' ENJOYABLE to be cruising on a bike under your own power.
Bicycles are one of the most efficient machines ever invented, and they've been available at reasonable prices since, what, the late 1800's ??
I have a picture of my grandpa Devenport's brothers at the ranch in Texas, cowboys and horsemen all, dated about 1890 or 1900, and there's a couple of BICYCLES leaning against the fence next to them! And this was certainly before paved roads had come to that country.
Awakening BG: 121 Post-Ride BG: 64
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.42
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.5. Mph 10.7 mph 21.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
46 mins 59 secs 41 mins 36 secs 5 mins 23 secs
The afternoon ride back to the car was, you guesses it, hot, but totally enjoyable.
The legs talked to me a bit all day but it felt great to have the blood circulating again.
Pre-Ride BG: 229 Post-Ride BG: 98:
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
09.9. Mph 10.5 mph 23.1 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
44:59 mins 42:21 mins 02:38 mins
On Monday during my short noon ride I noticed my legs seemed to already be losing their "zip" from lack of regular riding. I need the additional time to work on the house in the evenings, but I need to keep in better shape as well. So I'm back to commute-riding as much as I possibly can.
This morning was cloudy and cooler when I unsaddled the recumbent from the car rack, so I did not slather on the usual white coating of sun-block. As I was just about to pedal away from the car towards work, it began to sprinkle just a little, and continued to sprinkle very lightly for a mile or two. Then it dried up and I haven't seen any rain since.
I'm again flabbergasted that more people don't park their gas guzzling cars and ride their bikes, especially for around-town trips. It's just SO bloomin' ENJOYABLE to be cruising on a bike under your own power.
Bicycles are one of the most efficient machines ever invented, and they've been available at reasonable prices since, what, the late 1800's ??
I have a picture of my grandpa Devenport's brothers at the ranch in Texas, cowboys and horsemen all, dated about 1890 or 1900, and there's a couple of BICYCLES leaning against the fence next to them! And this was certainly before paved roads had come to that country.
Awakening BG: 121 Post-Ride BG: 64
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.42
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.5. Mph 10.7 mph 21.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
46 mins 59 secs 41 mins 36 secs 5 mins 23 secs
The afternoon ride back to the car was, you guesses it, hot, but totally enjoyable.
The legs talked to me a bit all day but it felt great to have the blood circulating again.
Pre-Ride BG: 229 Post-Ride BG: 98:
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 07.40
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed09.9. Mph 10.5 mph 23.1 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
44:59 mins 42:21 mins 02:38 mins
Monday, August 8, 2011
Taos.... and Then Monday
Track my short Noon Ride
Jacque and I drove the RV up north to Taos for the 2011 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention and Hamfest. We took Friday off and left for Taos about 10:30 AM that day, driving straight north from home on the olde "Turquoise Trail (NM-14) and went through the town of Madrid (where most of the movie Wild Hogs was filmed) and took the 599 bypass around the congested Santa Fe metro area, then through Espanola, Velarde, and up the great Rio Grande Canyon to Taos. We did a little biking and shopping while there and I got to meet many fellow hams and cyclists at the hamfest. We were impressed with the cycling lanes available in Taos and the tolerance for cyclists on the roads,. The traffic on the main highway going through Taos is horrible (NM-68) but the side street traffic isn't bad at all. We spent the night in an RV park across the highway from the Sagebrush Inn hamfest convention site and came home Saturday evening, leaving about 7 PM and getting home around 9:30-ish. Very pooped from the trip but really enjoyed"blowing the cobwebs out of the RV" and actually getting to use it to go somewhere and spend the night. With the recent months of horrible gas prices we have not been able to take it on ANY trips other than a few local runs to Albuquerque in order to try to keep the tires from settling un-round and rotting off without rolling usage.
Monday I again drove all the way to work but got in a short bike ride during the noon hour. I noticed my legs seem to be already losing their steam from lack of riding almost e very day of the week - Oh Well. BAH
Hopefully we can get the sewing room construction project done in a couple more weeks so I can get back to daily riding.
Beginning BG: 77 Post-Ride BG: 93
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
11.6. Mph 13.4 mph 23.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 4 mins 1 hours 2 mins 1.44 mins
Jacque and I drove the RV up north to Taos for the 2011 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention and Hamfest. We took Friday off and left for Taos about 10:30 AM that day, driving straight north from home on the olde "Turquoise Trail (NM-14) and went through the town of Madrid (where most of the movie Wild Hogs was filmed) and took the 599 bypass around the congested Santa Fe metro area, then through Espanola, Velarde, and up the great Rio Grande Canyon to Taos. We did a little biking and shopping while there and I got to meet many fellow hams and cyclists at the hamfest. We were impressed with the cycling lanes available in Taos and the tolerance for cyclists on the roads,. The traffic on the main highway going through Taos is horrible (NM-68) but the side street traffic isn't bad at all. We spent the night in an RV park across the highway from the Sagebrush Inn hamfest convention site and came home Saturday evening, leaving about 7 PM and getting home around 9:30-ish. Very pooped from the trip but really enjoyed"blowing the cobwebs out of the RV" and actually getting to use it to go somewhere and spend the night. With the recent months of horrible gas prices we have not been able to take it on ANY trips other than a few local runs to Albuquerque in order to try to keep the tires from settling un-round and rotting off without rolling usage.
Monday I again drove all the way to work but got in a short bike ride during the noon hour. I noticed my legs seem to be already losing their steam from lack of riding almost e very day of the week - Oh Well. BAH
Hopefully we can get the sewing room construction project done in a couple more weeks so I can get back to daily riding.
Beginning BG: 77 Post-Ride BG: 93
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7 Ending Voltage: 12.7
Noon Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 15.61
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed11.6. Mph 13.4 mph 23.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 4 mins 1 hours 2 mins 1.44 mins
Monday, August 1, 2011
Just a Short Noon Ride on the Bike
I drove the gas guzzler commuter-car all the way to work today. I'd hoped Jacque might have to come to town for one of her afternoon customer sessions but not to be. Thus I had no ready way to get home if I had ridden the bike all the way from home to work.
For some reason I didn't have much go to my go-go during my noon ride. I had reprogrammed the APRS-tracker and forgotten to turn the radio back on, so no tracking occurred during the ride. BAH
Plus I was worried about being late back to work so I kept the ride short: Only 8.32 miles.
It was also extra hot and breezy during the noon hour, but it was great to get in a few miles on 2 wheels anyway.
For some reason I didn't have much go to my go-go during my noon ride. I had reprogrammed the APRS-tracker and forgotten to turn the radio back on, so no tracking occurred during the ride. BAH
Plus I was worried about being late back to work so I kept the ride short: Only 8.32 miles.
It was also extra hot and breezy during the noon hour, but it was great to get in a few miles on 2 wheels anyway.
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