Date: May 31
Mileage: 12
Ride type: Errand
Bike: LHT
Temp: 75, humid, stormy
May mileage: 97
Year to date: 600
i started the day with a lifting workout at my neighborhood pool club, Lakeside. they have a pretty nice gym and it's a 10 min walk from the house. a friend of mine, Michaeal (fellow teach), got a membership there, so we've promised each other to meet 2-3 times/week to lift. the last time i was in 'good' shape was when my youngest was born that summer. i spent the whole winter and spring lifting, then jogging, and then putting on mileage on the bike. i wasn't skinny, but i sure was a lot slimmer and fitter than now. henceforth, a summer of lifting is a good thing.
played 2 sessions of tennis today. more than in a while.
and finally, a senior tennis player of mine- one who just won the state doubles championship- invited me to a cookout. i decided that instead of driving i would ride, in a rivbike kinda fashion. i added some extra sandals in the Carradice, and wore my regular shorts and button-up shortsleeve shirt. i certainly didn't look like your runofthemill lycra-fiend. coming home i could see a nasty lightening storm in the distance. i rode pretty hard to minimize my time out and managed to miss it when it went south. i also ran across a guy going into the park getting a little night ride too. he pulled one of my tricks and pulled in behind me- unannounced- for a couple miles before we went our separate ways.
a good and active day. tomorrow i won't be able to walk.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Hot
Date: May 29
Mileage: 23
Ride type: Road
Bike: Blueridge
Temp: 80 and humid
May mileage: 85
Year to date: 588
Boy, i didn't go that fast, or go that long, but my road ride this a.m. really kicked my butt for some reason. i woke up relatively early and finally got out about 8.00 or so for a road ride through the parks and the city. the first half the ride was great. not quite hot yet, there was still a little fog and mist on the ground keeping things cool. i had the good fortune to see a couple of great visuals with the dappled sunlight streaming through the trees and the mist, creating one of those "movie" images you see, like in the "Thin Red Line". in the park i noticed some sineage and realized that today, Memorial Day, is the annual Mayor's Hike and Bike. in Luavull city gov is trying to promote better health, and apparently this event had nice attendance last year. i knew it was leaving from downtown, so that's the way i headed. once there, i was impressed, not so much with the tents of stuff but moreso the number of bikers, both serious and casual, found downtown in and around Slugger Field (home of the Bats AAA baseball). i didn't stay for the start of the ride since i was about 1 hour early, but there alot of riders streaming in as i headed home. lest i be mistaken, i think the number from last year was around 1,000, which is a pretty good-sized ride in Luavull.
i ran across a guy there apparently selling bike bells. he is apparently a devotee of the Rivendell/peterwhite/brooks/etc. school of cycling.
more to come on that, but gotta go to the grocery for the good wife.
Mileage: 23
Ride type: Road
Bike: Blueridge
Temp: 80 and humid
May mileage: 85
Year to date: 588
Boy, i didn't go that fast, or go that long, but my road ride this a.m. really kicked my butt for some reason. i woke up relatively early and finally got out about 8.00 or so for a road ride through the parks and the city. the first half the ride was great. not quite hot yet, there was still a little fog and mist on the ground keeping things cool. i had the good fortune to see a couple of great visuals with the dappled sunlight streaming through the trees and the mist, creating one of those "movie" images you see, like in the "Thin Red Line". in the park i noticed some sineage and realized that today, Memorial Day, is the annual Mayor's Hike and Bike. in Luavull city gov is trying to promote better health, and apparently this event had nice attendance last year. i knew it was leaving from downtown, so that's the way i headed. once there, i was impressed, not so much with the tents of stuff but moreso the number of bikers, both serious and casual, found downtown in and around Slugger Field (home of the Bats AAA baseball). i didn't stay for the start of the ride since i was about 1 hour early, but there alot of riders streaming in as i headed home. lest i be mistaken, i think the number from last year was around 1,000, which is a pretty good-sized ride in Luavull.
i ran across a guy there apparently selling bike bells. he is apparently a devotee of the Rivendell/peterwhite/brooks/etc. school of cycling.
more to come on that, but gotta go to the grocery for the good wife.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Teenage Riot
Date: May 23
Mileage: 19
Ride type: Commute
Bike: LHT
Temp: 78 and sunny
May mileage: 62
Year to date: 565
well, before I get started i want to express that it's weird that my blog wouldn't open, so i had to go through my garden blog, which i haven't kept up at all.
today was another nice day, which slightly warmer temps in the p.m. i again got crackin' pretty quickly, although I didn't add much mileage. i need to get into work and get the year finalized. the p.m. proved a little more interesting b/c i head almost straight downtown, first passing St. James Court, which has it's famousArt Show every spring. It's a short (1/4mile?) court with large, elegant Victorian houses on either side. Furthermore, St. James is part of "Old Louisville", which supposedly is most preserved/largest Victorian neighborhood is the country. it's an interesting mix of UL student ghetto, well-heeled professionals, and- let's face it- "urban" meaning not well-to-do residents. It's really an interesting place.
anyway, i headed straight into downtown and came back along our only "bike path", into Seneca and home, taking in a few hills as well. On the last one, I died. plain and simple. nuff said. picked up a roadie pretty close to the house, giving me a pick up.
the title refers, for those who have impeccable musical tastes, a famous Sonic Youth song. especially in the mornings I listen to my Rio mp3 player, but usually don't in the p.m. so i can better pay attention to traffic. today, i did listen. ultimately it cuts me off of one of those sensorial pleasures of riding. the other sensorial pleasure i meant to mention the other day was the HONEYSUCKLE. it's in bloom and you can ride through wafts of it here-n-there. good stuff and another good reason to ride.
i have to leave tomorrow afternoon, so the mileage will have to come after Saturday. but let's hope i'm back on the horse.
Mileage: 19
Ride type: Commute
Bike: LHT
Temp: 78 and sunny
May mileage: 62
Year to date: 565
well, before I get started i want to express that it's weird that my blog wouldn't open, so i had to go through my garden blog, which i haven't kept up at all.
today was another nice day, which slightly warmer temps in the p.m. i again got crackin' pretty quickly, although I didn't add much mileage. i need to get into work and get the year finalized. the p.m. proved a little more interesting b/c i head almost straight downtown, first passing St. James Court, which has it's famousArt Show every spring. It's a short (1/4mile?) court with large, elegant Victorian houses on either side. Furthermore, St. James is part of "Old Louisville", which supposedly is most preserved/largest Victorian neighborhood is the country. it's an interesting mix of UL student ghetto, well-heeled professionals, and- let's face it- "urban" meaning not well-to-do residents. It's really an interesting place.
anyway, i headed straight into downtown and came back along our only "bike path", into Seneca and home, taking in a few hills as well. On the last one, I died. plain and simple. nuff said. picked up a roadie pretty close to the house, giving me a pick up.
the title refers, for those who have impeccable musical tastes, a famous Sonic Youth song. especially in the mornings I listen to my Rio mp3 player, but usually don't in the p.m. so i can better pay attention to traffic. today, i did listen. ultimately it cuts me off of one of those sensorial pleasures of riding. the other sensorial pleasure i meant to mention the other day was the HONEYSUCKLE. it's in bloom and you can ride through wafts of it here-n-there. good stuff and another good reason to ride.
i have to leave tomorrow afternoon, so the mileage will have to come after Saturday. but let's hope i'm back on the horse.
Monday, May 22, 2006
What Weather!
Date: May 22
Mileage: 17
Ride type: Commute
Bike: LHT
Temp: 74 and sunny
May mileage: 43
Year to date: 546
Wow, still looking out the window i'm marvelling at the outstanding weather today. i got up plenty early and took out the LHT for a rare spring commute. it's so rare in the spring to get a commute in b/c of tennis. now that tennis is slowing down i have a chance to grab a few commutes before school completely lets out. it's doubly strange to ride out in the a.m. with light. i'm used to those dark winter mornings, so this a.m.'s 'twilight' was very refreshing.
the afternoon proved more perfect. mid-70s, low humidity, a nice breeze to keep off the sweat but no so windy as to be problematic. Perfect. maybe not swimming perfect, but otherwise. a good time was had returning home through Seneca pk up golf course hill. one of the racing teams- PapaJohn's- was out for their Monday cool down day and we climbed up the hill more or less together. them all tanned and very trim on very light Roark titanium cycles and me on the LHT feeling like a blimp. both enjoying ourselves though.
i have means to commute Tuesday and Wednesday before I have more tennis business, so we'll try to make it three in a row. and let's hope for three in a row of perfect Spring days.
Mileage: 17
Ride type: Commute
Bike: LHT
Temp: 74 and sunny
May mileage: 43
Year to date: 546
Wow, still looking out the window i'm marvelling at the outstanding weather today. i got up plenty early and took out the LHT for a rare spring commute. it's so rare in the spring to get a commute in b/c of tennis. now that tennis is slowing down i have a chance to grab a few commutes before school completely lets out. it's doubly strange to ride out in the a.m. with light. i'm used to those dark winter mornings, so this a.m.'s 'twilight' was very refreshing.
the afternoon proved more perfect. mid-70s, low humidity, a nice breeze to keep off the sweat but no so windy as to be problematic. Perfect. maybe not swimming perfect, but otherwise. a good time was had returning home through Seneca pk up golf course hill. one of the racing teams- PapaJohn's- was out for their Monday cool down day and we climbed up the hill more or less together. them all tanned and very trim on very light Roark titanium cycles and me on the LHT feeling like a blimp. both enjoying ourselves though.
i have means to commute Tuesday and Wednesday before I have more tennis business, so we'll try to make it three in a row. and let's hope for three in a row of perfect Spring days.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
quickie
Date: May 20
Mileage: 3
Ride type: Errand
Bike: 9.2.5
Temp: 75 and sunny
May mileage: 3
Year to date: 505ish
nothing more or less than a bike ride to the hardware store. i've gotten such little mileage in this spring that i have to count every one i can. there's more on the way though.
Mileage: 3
Ride type: Errand
Bike: 9.2.5
Temp: 75 and sunny
May mileage: 3
Year to date: 505ish
nothing more or less than a bike ride to the hardware store. i've gotten such little mileage in this spring that i have to count every one i can. there's more on the way though.
Finally
Date: May 21
Mileage: 24
Ride type: Road
Bike: BlueRidge
Temp: 80 and sunny
May mileage: 27
Year to date: 529
as you may see from an earlier entry, it's been more than 3 weeks since i've been on an appreciable ride. i am going to add a mini-entry for yesterday's errand ride, but today under particularly nice weather i got on the BlueRidge and actually took a real ride. at one time i had plans to venture a little north, but ended up staying in the Cherokee/Seneca Pk environs, getting in a total of a little more than 24. the parks were absolutely FULL of people, of all types. There are have a couple articles in the CJ to the effect that Louisville wants even more to portray itself as a "City of Parks" by building a 100mile loop around the circumference of the city/country metro area. there are already starting to buy property on the periphery as a means to augment the alreadyexcellent Olmstead foundation. every time i ride in one of them i come home really positive about this great resource we have here.
i did some reading of the recent Rivendell catalog and have come to two conclusions- one agreeing with Grant et.al. and another in amused dissent. the first is the notion as promoted by the Rivendell ethos that comfort and enjoyment of the bike come before Speed, Skill, Fitness, etc. and to that I am in agreement. the Lycra crowd and its ridiculous look can't but help turn off the average Joe. and by the looks of several articles, exposes, listserve posts and such, this group of cyclists really don't give a shit. hence "Us" vs. "Them. Cycling for cycling sake, be it in a T-shirt, a long-sleeve seersucker, or in lycra, is the most constructive, and carbon bikes that break the back will NEVER get more Americans riding, nor will it create a cycling culture like that found in parts of Europe (but not all. Spain, which i've visited 5-6 times, has a very poor local cycling culture)
on a different note, the Riv folks "poo poo" clipless pedals as another symbol of Lycra culture. and yes, it's nice to have pedals that don't require exactly ONE pair of shoes, but, hey, i LIKE clipless pedals. they're comfortable, secure, and help me ride (except on the fixie; i like my Chucks more for that). it's just trading one tribe- the Lycras- for another- the Grants. my riding just happens to mirror the Grants these days.
i'm attending my brotherinlaw's wedding in about 4 weeks, and will have to spend several days in Maysville. it's VERY HILLY up there, with lots of half-mile, steep climbs in and out of creek and riverbeds. now that tennis is quickly winding down, and school will be as well, i'm going to get the miles i can in so i can get some even better mileage up there. Summer is finally (close) to here!
Mileage: 24
Ride type: Road
Bike: BlueRidge
Temp: 80 and sunny
May mileage: 27
Year to date: 529
as you may see from an earlier entry, it's been more than 3 weeks since i've been on an appreciable ride. i am going to add a mini-entry for yesterday's errand ride, but today under particularly nice weather i got on the BlueRidge and actually took a real ride. at one time i had plans to venture a little north, but ended up staying in the Cherokee/Seneca Pk environs, getting in a total of a little more than 24. the parks were absolutely FULL of people, of all types. There are have a couple articles in the CJ to the effect that Louisville wants even more to portray itself as a "City of Parks" by building a 100mile loop around the circumference of the city/country metro area. there are already starting to buy property on the periphery as a means to augment the alreadyexcellent Olmstead foundation. every time i ride in one of them i come home really positive about this great resource we have here.
i did some reading of the recent Rivendell catalog and have come to two conclusions- one agreeing with Grant et.al. and another in amused dissent. the first is the notion as promoted by the Rivendell ethos that comfort and enjoyment of the bike come before Speed, Skill, Fitness, etc. and to that I am in agreement. the Lycra crowd and its ridiculous look can't but help turn off the average Joe. and by the looks of several articles, exposes, listserve posts and such, this group of cyclists really don't give a shit. hence "Us" vs. "Them. Cycling for cycling sake, be it in a T-shirt, a long-sleeve seersucker, or in lycra, is the most constructive, and carbon bikes that break the back will NEVER get more Americans riding, nor will it create a cycling culture like that found in parts of Europe (but not all. Spain, which i've visited 5-6 times, has a very poor local cycling culture)
on a different note, the Riv folks "poo poo" clipless pedals as another symbol of Lycra culture. and yes, it's nice to have pedals that don't require exactly ONE pair of shoes, but, hey, i LIKE clipless pedals. they're comfortable, secure, and help me ride (except on the fixie; i like my Chucks more for that). it's just trading one tribe- the Lycras- for another- the Grants. my riding just happens to mirror the Grants these days.
i'm attending my brotherinlaw's wedding in about 4 weeks, and will have to spend several days in Maysville. it's VERY HILLY up there, with lots of half-mile, steep climbs in and out of creek and riverbeds. now that tennis is quickly winding down, and school will be as well, i'm going to get the miles i can in so i can get some even better mileage up there. Summer is finally (close) to here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Alabama Sky Day 3 Vistas
We began Day 3 with a basic breakfast at the restaurant, again better than camp cooking a salt bomb,and bundled up for a long descent in th...
-
It's 1.15p.m. The fam is at various church-related activities and I now have time to ride. Por otro lado , afuera provides me 39F and ...
-
Dave threw out the idea of a multi-day tour a while ago. Originally I thought that I would be able to do one of the three nights, but as tim...