Commute No. 10

Date: Jan 23 Fri
Weather: 38F
Mileage: 6 (SSFrankenTrek)
January mileage: 300
Year to date: 300

A day for a (near first). First (near) first was that I had cycling clothes on this morning and got really close to taking them off and driving. I feel strange, "touched", and almost just drove. I rode anyway and had a fine ride. It was 38F in the morning, which felt balmy. Second (near) first was that I rode to work but not home. I think I had a Afib episode mid-afternoon. This is on top of the 2 exercise-induced episodes in preceding week and a weird high heart rate while sitting around last night. Something's not right and I called the cardiologist from work this afternoon. I feel alright now, but it's like a cute little dark cloud following me just off my shoulder. The good wife picked me up after picking the boys up from school. I left the Trek there.

It is what it is. I still plan on riding this weekend most likely. I've found from experience that an episode sort of knocks me off a bit for a while, but then I get over it. I don't know. Life is perplexing.

Commute No. 9 Beaver Run

Date: Jan 22 Thurs
Weather: 48F Sunny!
Mileage: 27(SSFrankenTrek)
January mileage: 294
Year to date: 294

I mentioned the wildlife sighting on the other blog, but otherwise it was a wonderful afternoon with warm, 48F temps and sun. I took the West loop home via Hill and eventually to Algonquin, though Shawnee, Portland and downtown. After crossing to Spring St. and passing along the snowy Beargrass Trail I saw THE BEAVER!!! I'm hyped! Nature right in the middle of the 'Ville. The SSFrankenTrek felt a little taxing today. My crotch wasn't agreeing with the saddle, which is unusual and I was a bit fatigued, but 27m is just that. I'll take it.

Commute No. 8

Date: Jan 20 Tues
Weather: 16F/27F
Mileage: 15 (LHT)
January mileage: 265
Year to date: 265

Basic commute in the cold today. "footing" both a.m. and p.m. was tenuous here-n-there with leftover ice and snow. I was pretty comfortable this morning, but this afternoon a bit cold. Like Jan. 8th I had another heart hiccup which immediately brought down my heart rate. I don't feel in the least bit bad but I guess this time I'll have to do the follow up with the doctor. Bummer.

Commute No. 7

Date: Jan 16 Fri
Weather: -1F/17F
Mileage: 12 (LHT)
January mileage: 216
Year to date: 216

See Texluavuallcycling for a write up of today's fun filled coldfest.

Commute No. 6

Date: Jan 14 Wed
Weather: 18F/38F, wind in the p.m.
Mileage: 16 (LHT)
January mileage: 204
Year to date:204

See tex's Luavull Cycling

Commute No.5

Date: Jan 13 Tues
Weather: 40F/25F, flurries of no consequence
Mileage: 20 (LHT)
January mileage: 188
Year to date: 188

I retraced much of my route from yesterday afternoon, but to no surprise, the glasses case didn't show. It's a nice bright blue, so I thought I might see it along the rode somewhere, standing out against the drab browns and greys of the season. Instead, I observed innumerable bottles, wrappers, leaves and pieces of junk. I guess I'll go without or find some supercheap ones, b/c the year-end and holidays have shot our finances (much less all my late-year bike spending). I think the home heating and health-care increases have hit the family a bit more this winter and start of '09 that in years past. We'll get by fine, but they will be no $300 glasses any time soon.

Otherwise the weather the conditions couldn't have been stranger today. I rode to work this a.m. at a balmy 40F but with rain. The problem was that the forecast called for falling temps, so I wasn't really dressed for wet but rather with layers that would supply me warmth later. And later, this afternoon, the temps did in fact fall to a windy 25F. I dressed pretty well but the toes were getting coldish by the end of my afternoon 14m.

Many Grins and One big frown

Date: Jan 12 Mon
Weather: 31F/39F
Mileage: 24(LHT)
January mileage: 168
Year to date: 168

Damn, damn, damn. I can be such an incompetent human being sometimes.

Grins:

• wonderful weather this morning at a mild 32F. I dressed perfectly for it and was really comfortable the whole way to work.
• nice weather this afternoon at near 40F with clearing skies.
• Seeing sun downtown reflecting off the bridges and buildings. I don't really write poetry, but I had "exoskeleton", "bathed", "ember", "Michelangelo" and some others ready for a poem. Nah.
• Meeting up with T. Armstrong on the way home on Spring.
• Trying to stay up with T.A. up Payne, I on the LHT and he on a '70s Raleigh with 3sp Sturmey-Archer. He's strong. :-)
• Taking a nice turn with T.A. down Frankfort, talking bikes, traffic stories and generally pushing a good gear.
• Looping through Middletown and getting that late afternoon stupid grin on my face.

Frown:

• getting home from the commute to find my pannier pocket open. I feel inside and locate the important wallet, house keys (fam is gone for evening), work key ring but...

no glasses

• this is now the 2nd time I've lost glasses on a ride. The good wife is going to KILL ME! And she should. We have that post-holiday, post-house taxes, post-insurance cash flow issue that'll right itself with federal returns and spring tennis checks. What to do in the time being? I can write descriptively enough to express my own person disappointment in myself. They're replaceable in the grand scheme but come on. I broke some May of '07 (in a ridiculous fit of rage). I lost them on a 45-mile epic commute home and now...

Maybe I'll find them tomorrow at work or on the road when I RETRACE my ride. For $300 you have to. 'Course, now's the chance at disposable contacts and/or bifocals. I've noticed the need.

Commute No. 3

Date: Jan 8 Thurs
Weather: 28F
Mileage: 14 (TrekSS)
January mileage: 126
Year to date: 126

Another mundane-and-yet-momentous commtue today. It was a cold 28F and windy going to school. And this afternoon, a cold and windy 28F. It was supposed to warm up but it evidently did not. I think I might have had a heart skip at about mile 6 or so of the afternoon commute. I was riding up Spring near the parks and working sorta hard to keep warm. Suddenly, something happened. Don't really know what, but it was in m chest and it made me slow down. It seemed as though afterward I was less able to work a harder rate. It just dropped my work rate down, muscles, breathing. I just sort of stopped. I even walked the hill going up to Douglass Blvd and later the Lakeside hill, BUT I don't feel that bad.

Spooky

Commute No. 2

Date: Jan 7 Wed
Weather: 35F, rain and sleet
Mileage: 13 (TrekSS)
January mileage: 99
Year to date: 99

After missing yesterday due to the need to get to work early (try 5.45a.m.), I rode the TrekSS this morning on yet another inclement, pissy, wet, cold, icky day, and frankly it was fun. Really there's nothing else to report other than that I wore the gore-tex socks and nylon sports pants as a means to deal with any extra moisture. Instead, the afternoon provided me with some sleet and darkening skies.

Commute No1

Date: Jan 5 Mon
Weather: 32F
Mileage: 18.5 (LHT)
January mileage: 99
Year to date: 99

First commute of year. Both the morning and afternoon temps were the same. In the afternoon I ventured down do the Beargrass Trail via Mellwood and then did 4 hills in the park on the way home. We'll see what this week brings. Tomorrow's forecast is for mid-30s and rain, with much the same the rest of the week. That's tricky weather to dress for.