Route # 018

I think I'm up to route #018. I'm calling it that either way. I went up around and did 13-14 miles today of city streets. I saw a lot of tiny little stores that I had no idea that existed. For instance, up on Britton there is a little Thai place I want to stop at. Also, before or after the railroad tracks on Britton there is a model train store that my son would absolutely love to go into. (I can tell him 100 times that we aren't going to buy anything but he will of course win that argument.)

From Kelly and Britton you can barely see the New York Life Building on NW Expressway. I always forget to take a camera with me. I always have some sort of picture opportunity. (Well. A picture I'd appreciate.) I still want a picture of my office from way up on the Lake Hefner dam.

I went North and then East on the route. That was very fast! Stop lights were in my favor that whole way. Also, your subconscience takes over your body when you are doing a lot of city pedalling. You think you can keep up with these cars that are doing 30+ MPH. You learn after the half way point that you were a dammed idiot to try.

Once I dropped South to 63rd St it seemed that I had to wait an eternity for each stop light. Also, there were some awesome hills on 63rd st. I've gotta try the route again in the reverse direction.

Cheers,

Why haven't I installed my odometer on my road bike?

I still haven't figured out myself why I haven't installed the odometer on my road bike. I took it off of my mountain bike maybe 6 months ago. I wonder if it is because I don't really want to know how slow, err.., blazing fast I'm going. I can guestimate mileage. That is good enough for me I suppose.

I wonder if I just don't want to know. I enjoy cycling. If I start logging data too much I won't enjoy it any more. I guess that also explains my workout routine. THERE ISN'T ONE! I try and hit the gym a couple times a week, pedal a couple times a week or take the mountain bike to the trail. Each day I have no idea whether I'm going to lift weights or try a different route. I guess that is the strange reason I've kept this routine the last year. I'm in a heck of a lot better shape than I was a year ago. Odd as it seems. I think I'll keep the odometer off the bike. I'm not a professional and do not plan on being one. (My kids won't let me!) Even if I do a century or another even I'll leave it off. I'll just pedal until I cross a finish line or fall down crying in agony and pretend I have a flat tire.

Cheers,

RIP MP3 player... almost

It is a day of almosts! I almost hit a pigeon and my MP3 player almost died. It had a seizure on the way back to the office today. Buttons where having spasms, I couldn't get it to play music, it went into hyper drive when trying to toggle between menus. Overall, I was quite scared that it was going to turn into a demon and try to eat my hand.



Thankfully, I got back to the office, let it dry out and it started working again.

I need to get one of those sleeves I can put it in to keep some of the sweat, blood and tears off of it.

Cheers,

Pigeon this time...

No I didn't hit one! But I got really, really close on several occasions today. It was freakin' gorgeous out today and I saw nearly no one on the Lake Hefner trail today. Low wind, low water, low numbers...



Cheers,

Squirrel Hunting

I've thought about it many times while riding on the Bluff Creek mountain bike trail. Will I ever hit a squirrel or a cute little bunny rabbit. Well, I nailed a squirrel last Tuesday.

For the record, I felt bad.

I was coming around a slow arch of a corner but it is a quick one being mostly downhill. The poor guy must have been startled by the rapidly approaching noise. Well he ran beside me on the trail until my unbiased tire ran over him.

I did not try to hit the squirrel! I do not want to kill squirrels. I do not think they would be "good eatin'".

The little guy knocked me down. It was the first day that I was also trying the clip in pedals on my mountain bike so I went down and landed on my side. I got up, brushed myself off and went back to check on the little dude. He was no where to be seen. I'm pretty sure at this point he was having a BAD day.

Later, I was attacked by his cousin. His cousin tried a similar tactic and tried to run me off the trail into a tree. Thankfully he scurried away when I yelled like a sissy girl at him.

I thought this was a crazy enough day at this point. I finished the trail and headed to the truck. But the trail leading back to the parking lot had a gang of squirrels waiting, ready to ambush me. (By gang, I mean two) I breathed in deep and gave out a war cry that thwarted the squirrel's plan of putting some cement around my ankles. They scattered and I safely made it to my truck.

Cheers,

Planumrotundumphobia

Figure out what the title means? I can't lay fame to figuring it out either. I read it in Rider Magazine, a motorcycle magazine. Not to be confused with Easy Rider which has pictures of ladies with low self esteem or large ... postures.

Planumrotundumphobia is a fear of a flat tire. I think I have it. I hate having to jog my bike back to the office from 3 miles away. (Done it) Having to jog the bike back to the truck from the middle of the mountain bike course. (Done it) I hate having buddies leave me behind when no one has a spare and jogging a couple miles before they make it back to the truck and come back to pick me up. (Yeah. That one too)

I carry two tubes and a pump with me every time I ride. My wife picked up my backpack and blurted out, "Geez! You ride with this thing?" I think she was talking about the weight and not its fashionability.

What do I carry?

- 2 tubes
- small pump
- flat tire repair tool
- multi tool
- 9/16" wrench - for my pedals in case they get loose
- screwdriver w/ multiple ends - multi tool just isn't enough for me
- extra chain link - I broke a chain on a bike less than a year old

All of that doesn't even include: Wallet, cell phone, keys, and camelback. But dangit! I can make it back under my own power! If not, that is what the cell phone is there for.

Cheers,