We enjoyed a nice fairly leisurely Memorial Day weekend. Saturday we worked on caulking more daylight cracks in the framing of the new sewing room in preparation for installing insulation.
Yesterday, Monday, I spent rebuilding (re-spoking) my rear bike wheel that has been awaiting sufficient time for the job for several weeks now. It's not a terribly difficult task replacing spokes in a wheel. A couple years ago when I first began breaking spokes, I would replace only the broken spoke(s)..... but it seemed that once ONE spoke broke, within a few weeks (sometimes days) MORE spokes would pop, so I began ordering entire spoke kits so I could replace ALL spokes when "only" one broke. The last wheel I did this to was on my roadie upright Diamond Frame (DF) bike, and I only rode it a few times with the rebuilt wheel before I bought the recumbent and almost totally ignored the roadie. So I don't have millions of miles built up on my self-built wheels yet. Everyone asks me "Do you have all the tools, a truing stand, etc.?" for which the answer is NO. I did splurge for a long sprocket-spanner wrench to break loose the cassette and a special socket that fits the inside sprocket nut, but no truing stand. I figure the bike frame is a pretty good truing stand, and so far that has worked fine. My wheel building strategy is: Replace ONE spoke at a time, tightening each new spoke to the same "ping" pitch (sounded out by tapping the spoke and surrounding spokes, and tightening the new spoke to the point where it "Pings" at the same (or nearly so) as the adjacent spokes. Thus by the time I'm done, the wheel is alrady tight, straight, and so far, in no further need of tuning or adjusting. I put weight on this one for the first time this morning and it seemed to be a really smooth and satisfying ride. After a few hundred more miles we'll see if my handiwork holds up. I also removed probably a hundred tiny spines from the tire tread, inside and out, picked up from who knows where, since I never ride off pavement, or very rarely do. I had been suffering with a very slow leak for a month or so and took the time to make sure all spines were removed from inside and outside the tire, and filled up the kitchen sink to submerge the tube carefully so I could look for leaks. I found only one..... a microscopic pip that barely leaked small, slow, bubbles from. We'll see if I can go for more than 3 days (the previous limit) now without adding air.
It was COLD last night and this morning. I wore my windbreaker on the ride to work and only got warmed up (and of course overheated) about the last half-mile of the ride. Here it is the last day of May, and so hot you could barely breathe the last several days, and it gets chilly and cold. BAH
Awakening BG: 75 Post-Ride BG: 134
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.0 Mph 11.5 mph 20.7 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
40:00 mins 38:15 mins 01:45 mins
Ride home this evening was windy but not bad. Just good exercise to get "winded", right?
Beginning BG: 157 Post-Ride BG: 61
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8 Mph 09.5 mph 19.3 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
49:59 mins 46:37 mins 03:22 mins
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
In Memoriam
Dan Montoya , an Albuquerque cyclist, was killed a little over a week ago when a motorist crashed into him head-on. The elderly driver who killed Dan claimed he "blacked out" just before hitting the cyclist.
Matt Trujillo was struck and injured on the same day a few miles away by a teenaged female driver who stopped momentarily after striking him and then sped away. Police found her at a home about a mile from the scene of the incident. Matt was hospitalized with extensive brain damage and his family made the difficult decision to have him removed from life support late last night. TWO fatalities on the same day.... one just took longer to die. So far as is known, NEITHER DRIVER has been cited, ticketed, or arrested for killing these cyclists. This, of course, is in keeping with long established tradition in the USA throughout: The larger, more lethal vehicle seldom if ever is held accountable for killing or maiming someone in a "lesser vehicle".
What almost always happens: The local cycling community raises an outcry about the lack of enforcement or punishment for vehicular lawbreakers who kill cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. This outcry occasionally results in the associated police department issuing a statement that "We are carefully investigating this case, do not worry, if fault can be determined, we will issue appropriate citations and/or arrests...." After which NOTHING HAPPENS. Especially if the victim is dead, why, it's just too easy for law enforcement to assume it was his fault anyway for riding a bike where he didn't belong.... in spite of laws here and in most states stating that bicyclists have the same rights to a roadway (Unless otherwise clearly posted, such as many freeways) that motorized vehicles have. After a bit of time passes, the cycling community calms down and everything goes back to normal.... We had an egregious case a couple years ago where a driver passed a group of cyclists out at Tijeras on old Route 66 (a popular cycling area) and, seeing an oncoming car, pulled too far to the right and killed one cyclist and critically injured his wife who was riding next to him. There was a large outcry about this one, especially since it appeared the police "took pity" on the female driver -- who turned out to be young and attractive.
Yesterday I didn't post, even though I rode to work, because I left my GPS and radio at home as well as the SPARE radio and GS I normally carry in the trunk in case of problems with either one. I still had a walkie-talkie in my backpack that I clamped to the handlebar rail and was able to talk a little with some of the ham radio buddies, but no APRS position data was able to be transmitted. It was a fairly breezy day, but I didn't find it uncomfortable. I've overheard fellow workers who ride bikes occasionally complaining about horrible windy days that I thought quite pleasant. I suppose that's one advantage of ignoring the weather forecasts and getting caught in really nasty winds...... it makes it easier to deal with the more ordinary winds and breezes.
My DV005 "sport-cam" seems to have lost its battery life. I can only record a few minutes of video now before it dies. More tinkering repair work to fill up the vast emptiness of spare time (sarcasm intended).
Awakening BG: 100 Post-Ride BG: 45
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:41
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.7 Mph 11.4 mph 23.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:59 mins 39:09 mins 06:50 mins
Matt Trujillo was struck and injured on the same day a few miles away by a teenaged female driver who stopped momentarily after striking him and then sped away. Police found her at a home about a mile from the scene of the incident. Matt was hospitalized with extensive brain damage and his family made the difficult decision to have him removed from life support late last night. TWO fatalities on the same day.... one just took longer to die. So far as is known, NEITHER DRIVER has been cited, ticketed, or arrested for killing these cyclists. This, of course, is in keeping with long established tradition in the USA throughout: The larger, more lethal vehicle seldom if ever is held accountable for killing or maiming someone in a "lesser vehicle".
What almost always happens: The local cycling community raises an outcry about the lack of enforcement or punishment for vehicular lawbreakers who kill cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. This outcry occasionally results in the associated police department issuing a statement that "We are carefully investigating this case, do not worry, if fault can be determined, we will issue appropriate citations and/or arrests...." After which NOTHING HAPPENS. Especially if the victim is dead, why, it's just too easy for law enforcement to assume it was his fault anyway for riding a bike where he didn't belong.... in spite of laws here and in most states stating that bicyclists have the same rights to a roadway (Unless otherwise clearly posted, such as many freeways) that motorized vehicles have. After a bit of time passes, the cycling community calms down and everything goes back to normal.... We had an egregious case a couple years ago where a driver passed a group of cyclists out at Tijeras on old Route 66 (a popular cycling area) and, seeing an oncoming car, pulled too far to the right and killed one cyclist and critically injured his wife who was riding next to him. There was a large outcry about this one, especially since it appeared the police "took pity" on the female driver -- who turned out to be young and attractive.
Yesterday I didn't post, even though I rode to work, because I left my GPS and radio at home as well as the SPARE radio and GS I normally carry in the trunk in case of problems with either one. I still had a walkie-talkie in my backpack that I clamped to the handlebar rail and was able to talk a little with some of the ham radio buddies, but no APRS position data was able to be transmitted. It was a fairly breezy day, but I didn't find it uncomfortable. I've overheard fellow workers who ride bikes occasionally complaining about horrible windy days that I thought quite pleasant. I suppose that's one advantage of ignoring the weather forecasts and getting caught in really nasty winds...... it makes it easier to deal with the more ordinary winds and breezes.
My DV005 "sport-cam" seems to have lost its battery life. I can only record a few minutes of video now before it dies. More tinkering repair work to fill up the vast emptiness of spare time (sarcasm intended).
Awakening BG: 100 Post-Ride BG: 45
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:41
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.7 Mph 11.4 mph 23.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:59 mins 39:09 mins 06:50 mins
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
After Joplin, These NM Winds aren't Bad at All
The midwest is still being hammered with violent thunderstorms, hail, and tornados as we speak, so to say.
So me complaining about 40 or 50 MPH winds sounds kinda wimpy by comparison.
It's been breezy and uncharacteristically cool for this late in May, but for both yesterday and today, the wind has not been unpleasant even when facing it head-on on the bike.
Something has gone south again with my cheapie camera. I have been able to capture only the first few minutes of video on it since I got home from Dayton Hamvention. I tried formattiing the SD flash drive in it this mornning - which cured all kinds of trouble last time I tried it. This time nothing changed. The daily vibration rattling along on the handlebars cannot lead to long life for this thing anyway. I'll work on a better helmet mount I guess.
I am occasionally getting tired of riding the bike daily with the associated delays and hassles involved, but it is still fun once on it and under way. That, plus the lassitude that sets in on days when I DON'T ride...... I just feel livelier after riding the bicycle, and at my age (just turned 64) anything that helps the lively is actively sought for.
Awakening BG: 202 Post-Ride BG: 123
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.6 Mph 11.9 mph 21.4 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38:00 mins 37:05 mins 00:55 mins
On my ride home tonight, I encountered a staggering drunk who waddled out in front of me. I passed him carefully and said "Hi". He slurred "Hi" right back and then launched into a screaming diatribe about how much he hated cops. Perhaps he thought I was a cop because of all the radios and electronics on the bike. By this time I was well past him and he was in no shape to chase after me even if I was walking. Several hundred yards on past and I could still hear him yowling..... (sigh). Regretfully I did not get any of this thrilling action on the video handlebar-cam.
Beginning BG: 156 Post-Ride BG: 146
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.36
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.3 Mph 11.8 mph 26.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38:59 mins 37:24 mins 01:35 mins
So me complaining about 40 or 50 MPH winds sounds kinda wimpy by comparison.
It's been breezy and uncharacteristically cool for this late in May, but for both yesterday and today, the wind has not been unpleasant even when facing it head-on on the bike.
Something has gone south again with my cheapie camera. I have been able to capture only the first few minutes of video on it since I got home from Dayton Hamvention. I tried formattiing the SD flash drive in it this mornning - which cured all kinds of trouble last time I tried it. This time nothing changed. The daily vibration rattling along on the handlebars cannot lead to long life for this thing anyway. I'll work on a better helmet mount I guess.
I am occasionally getting tired of riding the bike daily with the associated delays and hassles involved, but it is still fun once on it and under way. That, plus the lassitude that sets in on days when I DON'T ride...... I just feel livelier after riding the bicycle, and at my age (just turned 64) anything that helps the lively is actively sought for.
Awakening BG: 202 Post-Ride BG: 123
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.6 Mph 11.9 mph 21.4 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38:00 mins 37:05 mins 00:55 mins
On my ride home tonight, I encountered a staggering drunk who waddled out in front of me. I passed him carefully and said "Hi". He slurred "Hi" right back and then launched into a screaming diatribe about how much he hated cops. Perhaps he thought I was a cop because of all the radios and electronics on the bike. By this time I was well past him and he was in no shape to chase after me even if I was walking. Several hundred yards on past and I could still hear him yowling..... (sigh). Regretfully I did not get any of this thrilling action on the video handlebar-cam.
Beginning BG: 156 Post-Ride BG: 146
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.36
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
11.3 Mph 11.8 mph 26.5 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
38:59 mins 37:24 mins 01:35 mins
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Back Riding and Wind Still Blowing
I've been mostly non-bike-riding the last week or so since I've been involved in an expensive (Look at the price of GAS) and lengthy motor trip to Dayton Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio, for the world's largest ham radio gathering.
I took the bike, riding with Bill K8TE, a long time ham radio buddy, and rode it for the yearly Hamvention Bicycle Mobile Hams of America ride, this time for 20 miles.down toward Xenia OH. Very nice bike paths, with lots of flat roads, high humidity, high oxygen, and of course, eye candy.
You can see the tracking map of this Saturday ride HERE .
The wind was blowing, albeit nicely, just enough to keep me from overheating this morning. So even though the oxygen is in shorter supply at this altitude than Ohio, it's still great to be back and fun to ride in Albuquerque.
Awakening BG: 178 Post-Ride BG: 93
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
9.6 Mph 11.5 mph 22.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:59 mins 38:22 mins 07:37 mins
I took the bike, riding with Bill K8TE, a long time ham radio buddy, and rode it for the yearly Hamvention Bicycle Mobile Hams of America ride, this time for 20 miles.down toward Xenia OH. Very nice bike paths, with lots of flat roads, high humidity, high oxygen, and of course, eye candy.
You can see the tracking map of this Saturday ride HERE .
The wind was blowing, albeit nicely, just enough to keep me from overheating this morning. So even though the oxygen is in shorter supply at this altitude than Ohio, it's still great to be back and fun to ride in Albuquerque.
Awakening BG: 178 Post-Ride BG: 93
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:34
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
9.6 Mph 11.5 mph 22.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:59 mins 38:22 mins 07:37 mins
Saturday, May 14, 2011
A Bad Day for Albuquerque Cyclists
I had a lovely time riding the bike to work on Thursday, but across town, on routes that I have ridden many times, but TWO cyclists were struck by inattentive cars with inattentive people driving them. One cyclist was struck head-on and killed by a 78-year-old driver close to the Sandia Casino on Tramway. The driver of the offending car said he "just blacked out" and didn't see the cyclist. Sounds like a great defense for not paying attention while driving to me. No charges were filed, in keeping with long standing tradition concerning car-bicycle accidents.
The other victim was crossing an intersection on Indian School passing Washington, when a 19-year old female driver ran a red light and crushed him and his bicycle. She hesitated for a moment and then proceeded on her merry way, leaving the cyclist to be rescued by other passers-by who called 911 and got him to the hospital. His skull is damaged and he's had parts of his brain removed and is in serious condition with multiple injuries. Police found the offending driver only about a mile away and ticketed her for RUNNING THE LIGHT. No charges were filed concerning striking the cyclist nor for leaving the scene of an accident. Again, in accordance with long standing tradition of favoring the larger, motorized vehicle over a slower smaller vehicle. Or pedestrian.
The only good thing resulting from these incidents is a sudden rash of publicity about the dangers of distracted driving and the fact that bike riding will only continue to increase with the whopping cost of driving a car, and that drivers need to slow down and PAY ATTENTION. My driving habits have admittedly changed these last several years since I started regular bike riding.... I'm constantly thinking "What if a cyclist pops up here?" When I punch the radio buttons or look at my position on the GPS I worry about looking away from the road too long, because it only takes a few seconds to overtake a cyclist or other slow or non-moving object
The other victim was crossing an intersection on Indian School passing Washington, when a 19-year old female driver ran a red light and crushed him and his bicycle. She hesitated for a moment and then proceeded on her merry way, leaving the cyclist to be rescued by other passers-by who called 911 and got him to the hospital. His skull is damaged and he's had parts of his brain removed and is in serious condition with multiple injuries. Police found the offending driver only about a mile away and ticketed her for RUNNING THE LIGHT. No charges were filed concerning striking the cyclist nor for leaving the scene of an accident. Again, in accordance with long standing tradition of favoring the larger, motorized vehicle over a slower smaller vehicle. Or pedestrian.
The only good thing resulting from these incidents is a sudden rash of publicity about the dangers of distracted driving and the fact that bike riding will only continue to increase with the whopping cost of driving a car, and that drivers need to slow down and PAY ATTENTION. My driving habits have admittedly changed these last several years since I started regular bike riding.... I'm constantly thinking "What if a cyclist pops up here?" When I punch the radio buttons or look at my position on the GPS I worry about looking away from the road too long, because it only takes a few seconds to overtake a cyclist or other slow or non-moving object
Thursday, May 12, 2011
May 12 and Still COLD
I shouldn't complain. I rode with only a windbreaker and summer gloves but I was quite chilled. Very irritating for the second week in May when it's supposed to be time to put the tomato seedlings outside.
Another day off riding yesterday, I was WHUPPED from the previous afternoon headwind struggle.
Awakening BG: 152 Post-Ride BG: 85
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:47
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.9 Mph 11.3 mph 20.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
41:00 mins 39:33 mins 01:27 mins
Another day off riding yesterday, I was WHUPPED from the previous afternoon headwind struggle.
Awakening BG: 152 Post-Ride BG: 85
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:47
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.9 Mph 11.3 mph 20.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
41:00 mins 39:33 mins 01:27 mins
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Snuck Another Bike Ride
I wussed out of riding Monday, yesterday, because I needed to get home early enough for our Empty Nesters Family Home Evening which was supposed to begin at 6:30 PM. That, plus, the weather forecast was truly awful, and unfortunately turned out to be quite accurate. The wind howled all day yesterday, the sky turned dark and brown, and when I took my noon 2-mile walk I almost lost my hat several times. Ate a lot of blowing dirt while I was at it too.
This morning the forecast was not as horrific and I hate to miss out on the exercise and blood-warming that results, So I did my usual thing and parked the bike to ride the last 7 miles. As I was sitting in the car trying to say goodbye to a ham radio buddy I'd been talking to for several minutes, I saw some woman walk slowly toward the car in my rear view mirror. Wondering who the Cat-Hair it might be, I was surprised to see it was my darling daughter Sarah Jo, who spotted me in the parking lot while she was waiting for her next bus dor her final hop to work. So we enjoyed the huggie thing and back-scritch thing for several minutes. What a treat. Then she wandered off to catch her bus and I finished saddling up the bike. We see each other like this maybe once a week. I've threatened to bring a kiddie trailer behind me so I can haul her to work with me on my bike. Se works at a place maybe a quarter mile off the bike path I ride every day to work.
It was 37 degrees this morning for a cool May start, but it was warm enough by the time I got on the bike that I only wore the thin reflective wind-breaker and lightweight summer gloves.
Whaddya know, bike traffic jam this morning:
FOUR (Count 'em) cyclists crossing San Mateo at the same time. Fortunately none of this group exhibited the "Get-Out-Of-My-Way-You-SCUM!" attitude sometimes found. Nice group.
Nice ride. We'll see if the ugly part of the wind forecast comes true this afternoon.
Awakening BG: 216 Post-Ride BG: 80
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:48
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.9 Mph 11.9 mph 22.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
41:18 mins 37:52 mins 03:26 mins
The ride back to the car tonight was not..... too much fun. The wind was howling and the sky was brown by 4:00 PM so I checked Jacque's tracker ( http://aprs.fi/kd5spn-9 ) to see if she was in town: No such luck.
She would have driven to town to rescue me, had I called her, but that's too much lost time, money, and gas.
So I rode in spite of the 20+ MPH gusting headwind. This was the stiffest headwind I've dealt with so far, and I found that it's really not as bad as gusting cross-winds: I just geared down to almost-Granny-gear and took it as slow and easy as I could. It was still a hard pull, but liveable. Sure made for a late home arrival though: After 8 PM.
Beginning BG: 79 Post-Ride BG: unk
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.40
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
07.0 Mph 07.9 mph 20.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hr. 2 mins 56:01 mins 06:58 mins
This morning the forecast was not as horrific and I hate to miss out on the exercise and blood-warming that results, So I did my usual thing and parked the bike to ride the last 7 miles. As I was sitting in the car trying to say goodbye to a ham radio buddy I'd been talking to for several minutes, I saw some woman walk slowly toward the car in my rear view mirror. Wondering who the Cat-Hair it might be, I was surprised to see it was my darling daughter Sarah Jo, who spotted me in the parking lot while she was waiting for her next bus dor her final hop to work. So we enjoyed the huggie thing and back-scritch thing for several minutes. What a treat. Then she wandered off to catch her bus and I finished saddling up the bike. We see each other like this maybe once a week. I've threatened to bring a kiddie trailer behind me so I can haul her to work with me on my bike. Se works at a place maybe a quarter mile off the bike path I ride every day to work.
It was 37 degrees this morning for a cool May start, but it was warm enough by the time I got on the bike that I only wore the thin reflective wind-breaker and lightweight summer gloves.
Whaddya know, bike traffic jam this morning:
Nice ride. We'll see if the ugly part of the wind forecast comes true this afternoon.
Awakening BG: 216 Post-Ride BG: 80
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:48
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
10.9 Mph 11.9 mph 22.8 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
41:18 mins 37:52 mins 03:26 mins
The ride back to the car tonight was not..... too much fun. The wind was howling and the sky was brown by 4:00 PM so I checked Jacque's tracker ( http://aprs.fi/kd5spn-9 ) to see if she was in town: No such luck.
She would have driven to town to rescue me, had I called her, but that's too much lost time, money, and gas.
So I rode in spite of the 20+ MPH gusting headwind. This was the stiffest headwind I've dealt with so far, and I found that it's really not as bad as gusting cross-winds: I just geared down to almost-Granny-gear and took it as slow and easy as I could. It was still a hard pull, but liveable. Sure made for a late home arrival though: After 8 PM.
Beginning BG: 79 Post-Ride BG: unk
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.40
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
07.0 Mph 07.9 mph 20.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hr. 2 mins 56:01 mins 06:58 mins
Friday, May 6, 2011
Back in the Saddle Again
I skipped riding the bike to work on Wednesday and Thursday because I needed more time in the evenings to resume work on Jacque's Sewing Room Addition to our house. I stopped working on this early this last winter because I was wanting more time to ride the bike and what with the added hour or so lost every day doing that, I just couldn't find the energy or motivation to work on it after dark when I was hungry and tired.
I almost finished one critical part of the process: The existing used-to-be-exterior window (which now faces the inside of the new partially finished sewing room, which was forged out of the end corner of the NE end of our roofed deck) is to be removed and the resulting hole enlarged to make a wide doorway. Sounded simple, but when (last Winter) I removed the exterior siding underneath that window, I found the house AC wiring routed through that section of wall. I couldn't very well just cut the wire and forget it: It powers several heavily used outlets in that small bedroom that now serves as a combo office / Sewing Room. I was able to re route the wire OVER the impending doorway, so I can now finish removing the window and rhe framework underneath it and make it into the nice wide doorway we desire.
Last night I didn't get anything done on the house since we had to go to Rocky Mountain RV down on Central and pick up a new RV awning we'd ordered to replace the ragged failing one on our 1993 very-faded RV.
Tonight is date night, being Friday, so nothing will happen on the room tonight either. So I decided to ride the bike again. A great morning it was, too, with a bit of a cool headwind that barely kept me cool enough to keep me from overheating. Our rapid temperature changes from day to day are amazing..... we had 23 dgrees on Monday and Tuesday, 28 degrees on Wednesday, 36 degrees yesterday (Thursday), and 42 degrees this morning. So a very heavy-frost Monday to a practically shirt-sleeve Friday.... (I wore only the windbreaker for a jacket this morning, no other cool weather gear).
With the springtime extra daylight available I hope to stay motivated enough to finish Jacque's sewing room in a few more weeks, whether I ride the bike or not.
Awakening BG: 120 Post-Ride BG: 98
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.8 Mph 10.8 mph 20.9 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:41 mins 41:35 mins 04:05 mins
Going back to the car from work was mostly pleasant, with only a minor near-encounter with a cyclist who wasn't looking around when he made the turn at high speed:
Now, of course, I've never been guilty of assuming I have a clear shot ahead of me....
Beginning BG: 204 Post-Ride BG: 159
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.9 Mph 11.0 mph 20.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
44:59 mins 40:29 mins 04:30 mins
I almost finished one critical part of the process: The existing used-to-be-exterior window (which now faces the inside of the new partially finished sewing room, which was forged out of the end corner of the NE end of our roofed deck) is to be removed and the resulting hole enlarged to make a wide doorway. Sounded simple, but when (last Winter) I removed the exterior siding underneath that window, I found the house AC wiring routed through that section of wall. I couldn't very well just cut the wire and forget it: It powers several heavily used outlets in that small bedroom that now serves as a combo office / Sewing Room. I was able to re route the wire OVER the impending doorway, so I can now finish removing the window and rhe framework underneath it and make it into the nice wide doorway we desire.
Last night I didn't get anything done on the house since we had to go to Rocky Mountain RV down on Central and pick up a new RV awning we'd ordered to replace the ragged failing one on our 1993 very-faded RV.
Tonight is date night, being Friday, so nothing will happen on the room tonight either. So I decided to ride the bike again. A great morning it was, too, with a bit of a cool headwind that barely kept me cool enough to keep me from overheating. Our rapid temperature changes from day to day are amazing..... we had 23 dgrees on Monday and Tuesday, 28 degrees on Wednesday, 36 degrees yesterday (Thursday), and 42 degrees this morning. So a very heavy-frost Monday to a practically shirt-sleeve Friday.... (I wore only the windbreaker for a jacket this morning, no other cool weather gear).
With the springtime extra daylight available I hope to stay motivated enough to finish Jacque's sewing room in a few more weeks, whether I ride the bike or not.
Awakening BG: 120 Post-Ride BG: 98
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:45
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.8 Mph 10.8 mph 20.9 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
45:41 mins 41:35 mins 04:05 mins
Going back to the car from work was mostly pleasant, with only a minor near-encounter with a cyclist who wasn't looking around when he made the turn at high speed:
Beginning BG: 204 Post-Ride BG: 159
Evening Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7.44
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
09.9 Mph 11.0 mph 20.6 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
44:59 mins 40:29 mins 04:30 mins
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
It'll be a Cold Day in May.....
Actually these first THREE days in May have been VERY cold. Sunday it snowed out at our house in the East Mountains, and was cold all day.
Monday, yesterday, it was 23 (!) degrees outside when I got up, with VERY heavy frost on everything. For the 7-mile ride to work I layered up with my winter cycling duds and did not get a BIT overheated. The last mile of Monday's ride was through wet, sloppy SNOW. I watched the fat flakes coming down ever more intensely and thought "This will make great video..... Snow in May. Of course, when I got to work I found the diddly video cam had recorded ZIP, NOTHING, NADA. BAH
Today was 5 degrees warmer than yesterday, so I wore my summer sneakers instead of the leather brogans I wore yesterday. It was still cold, especially considering the sun was out and bright.
My rear tire on the recumbent bike has a very slow leak... every few days I must air it up again or it will ruin the tire. I received a nice package of new spokes but have not yet found the time to rebuild the original wheel. So thus far I'm airing up my tire in hopes of doing all that tire/tube repair and rebuilt wheel installation all at once, since it's no picnic removing and replacing the rear tire, what with brakes, fenders, chain, derailleur, etc. Trouble is, my cheapie air compressor I bought several years ago from Target locked up on me so I no longer am able to have my own motorized air supply within a few minutes of running the motor.
I have a huge Craftsman air compressor Jacque's Dad gave me a few years ago, but the only shelter I have for it is a shed about 150 feet from the house, which has only 117 Volts AC power wired to it, and the compressor requires 220 Volts AC. Someday soon I'll either move this big guy up to the house, below the front deck, or run more wiring out to its shed so it can get the 220 Volts it needs, and I'll have real air again.
For now I'm stuck pumping up the tire at the local service station where a free air outlet is available.
Nothing much to report bike-trail wise, except for the May onslaught of wintry weather.
Oh, Yeah, my GPS tracker stopped working Friday. A wire came loose from the power harness and confused the tracker software so much it stopped working. After repairing the broken wire it still refused to port data to the radio so my positions could be reported on the internet sites. I thought for sure something must have smoked, but this morning after disconnecting everything and finding no visible problems, it came back to life and worked great for this morning's commute. My disconnecting all connections for looking it over must have allowed it to reset itself properly.... or something.
AND THEN.... As I turned into my parking lot off Jefferson Street this morning, my rear derailleur shifter control cable broke. I don't think it's been quite a year since I broke the last one. A friend and co-worker (Mark, K5LXP) gave me a noon ride to the bicycle shop on Paseo to purchase a couple of new cables, one for this time and one for the next time.
Awakening BG: 259 (!) Post-Ride BG: 60
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:49
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8 Mph 09.7 mph 19.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
51:00 mins 46:28 mins 04:32 mins
Monday, yesterday, it was 23 (!) degrees outside when I got up, with VERY heavy frost on everything. For the 7-mile ride to work I layered up with my winter cycling duds and did not get a BIT overheated. The last mile of Monday's ride was through wet, sloppy SNOW. I watched the fat flakes coming down ever more intensely and thought "This will make great video..... Snow in May. Of course, when I got to work I found the diddly video cam had recorded ZIP, NOTHING, NADA. BAH
Today was 5 degrees warmer than yesterday, so I wore my summer sneakers instead of the leather brogans I wore yesterday. It was still cold, especially considering the sun was out and bright.
My rear tire on the recumbent bike has a very slow leak... every few days I must air it up again or it will ruin the tire. I received a nice package of new spokes but have not yet found the time to rebuild the original wheel. So thus far I'm airing up my tire in hopes of doing all that tire/tube repair and rebuilt wheel installation all at once, since it's no picnic removing and replacing the rear tire, what with brakes, fenders, chain, derailleur, etc. Trouble is, my cheapie air compressor I bought several years ago from Target locked up on me so I no longer am able to have my own motorized air supply within a few minutes of running the motor.
I have a huge Craftsman air compressor Jacque's Dad gave me a few years ago, but the only shelter I have for it is a shed about 150 feet from the house, which has only 117 Volts AC power wired to it, and the compressor requires 220 Volts AC. Someday soon I'll either move this big guy up to the house, below the front deck, or run more wiring out to its shed so it can get the 220 Volts it needs, and I'll have real air again.
For now I'm stuck pumping up the tire at the local service station where a free air outlet is available.
Nothing much to report bike-trail wise, except for the May onslaught of wintry weather.
Oh, Yeah, my GPS tracker stopped working Friday. A wire came loose from the power harness and confused the tracker software so much it stopped working. After repairing the broken wire it still refused to port data to the radio so my positions could be reported on the internet sites. I thought for sure something must have smoked, but this morning after disconnecting everything and finding no visible problems, it came back to life and worked great for this morning's commute. My disconnecting all connections for looking it over must have allowed it to reset itself properly.... or something.
AND THEN.... As I turned into my parking lot off Jefferson Street this morning, my rear derailleur shifter control cable broke. I don't think it's been quite a year since I broke the last one. A friend and co-worker (Mark, K5LXP) gave me a noon ride to the bicycle shop on Paseo to purchase a couple of new cables, one for this time and one for the next time.
Awakening BG: 259 (!) Post-Ride BG: 60
Morning Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 7:49
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
08.8 Mph 09.7 mph 19.0 mph
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
51:00 mins 46:28 mins 04:32 mins
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)