20160327 cycling

ironically, i took this photo while walking, not riding.

I was very lazy this week. I didn't want to ride in the cold and dark. 

Monday
Cold in the morning and dark. I rode with Andy after dinner. 
62° wind 7 NNW
Andy and I went out to SR56. We turned around and went into WRHS. We had to turn around because the back gate wasn't open. We will skip the shortcut this week during spring break. 
Someone has moved the barricades half off the walk to bikes can get by. Andy still rode in the street behind me.
6 miles 7.9 mph

Tuesday
No work. I took the boys to lunch and to get haircuts. Ryan pushed the car window down and it stayed down. Instead of riding, I walked home from the car repair shop. 

Wednesday
Cold again the morning. I rode with Andy after dinner. 
It was late so we only went up to Kinnan. The gate was broken so they removed it. There is no barrier now. 
Weather was nice. 78° wind 4 SE
4 miles 8 mph

Thursday
Lazy in the morning. 
The threat of rain kept us home. 

Friday
66° wind 9 SE
I started out slow but got faster and stronger. The wind hit me when I turned around on WRB. Then the rain hit before I got to the college. It was hard and heavy. I thought about waiting it out at the college but I was already soaked. I would just get cold. So I rode hard all the way home. 
Andy was waiting for me. 
10 miles 13.6 mph

Saturday
Rain, no ride.

Only 2 days and twenty miles. This is the worst mileage since I started riding two years ago.

It was a pathetic week of bike miles. I am not in a good place right now. I have to remember that riding makes me feels much better and more able to handle to the day.

20160320 cycling

Monday
70° wind 7 SSW
The wind felt against me at every turn. I got up to13mph by the time I reached SR56 but never got higher and had to work to maintain it. 
I had to stop for a bus at Beaconsfield & MPB. A state trooper and driver behind him cut me off as I was crossing SR56 with the light. Assholes
10 miles 12.95 mph

Tuesday
82° wind 8 SSW
It was slow and windy. We rode to SR56 and back through WRHS. 
Oh well, at least I got a ride in.
5.5 miles 7.8 mph

Wednesday
69° wind 2 SW but shifted to NWCLR to Aronwood. I had to stop at SPES for crossing guards. Rode in the street along SR56. There are some big bumps and gaps on the MUP at Hueland Pond. 
I saw the couple who pick up the trash. He was riding a bike while she walked. 
I had to slow down for bus at MPIII and for a bus at Hillhurst Dr. The buses are no longer picking kids up on the same side so it takes longer for them to cross the street and board. 
11 miles 13.2 mph

Thursday
71° wind 2 SSW
I went out CLR to BBD. I felt little wind. I felt strong too. I had a good pace on SR56. I had to stop at the light at Mansfield. 
The wind against me on MPB but I kept pace. I slowed down a bit on Beardsley. I pushed it to get above 14 mph pace. The wind felt stronger than 2 mph
11 miles 14 mph

Friday
Andy & I went out after dinner. It was a beautiful evening, Overcast and little breeze. 80°
We went to SR56. Andy road in the street along CLR because of the blocked sidewalks. He did well and stayed close behind me. 
5.5 miles 8.11mph

Saturday
Dark. 67° wind 5 NE
Ryan went out before me. I forgot to tell him to turn on his light. I saw him turning onto Mansfield and sped up to catch him. He moved off the road to let me pass not knowing it was me. I showed him how to turn on his light and turned around. I was warmed up by then and rode hard the rest of the way. Because it was dark, I didn't notice my bike computer hadn't been reset. I let it go and tried to keep it at 14mph
Sunrise was at 7:35. Andy was waiting for me when I got home. I beat Ryan home. 
10 miles 14 mph

I rode 6 days for 54 miles

20160313 cycling

Monday
Errandonne #5 #6

Most of the time I try to ride by the rules of the road. I am waiting in line to turn left.

12 miles 11 mph

Tuesday
Errandonnee #7
Ride to work.
4 miles. 11.74mph
Bike home
4 miles 10.3 mph
I love the idea of commuting by bike. I am close enough but Florida is too warm and my work does not have facilities.

Riding includes negotiating construction projects.

Wednesday
63° wind 8 ESE
It felt good to get back on my road bike and the cooler weather was welcomed. The wind didn't bother me until I turned around on Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. 
10 miles 13.3 mph

Thursday
Ugh, the wind.
65° wind 10 ESE
The wind didn't bother me until I turned around on WRB. I went from 13.5 mph to 12.4 mph and finished with 12.5. I was in my lowest gear just to keep moving. Dark Sky said it was 4 mph which I know is bullshit. 
10 miles 12.5mph

Friday
67° wind 9 SE
I felt a little stronger today or maybe the wind wasn't as strong. I managed to keep some of my speed as I turned around on WRB. 
10 miles 13.2 mph

Saturday
Errandonnee 8-12
27 miles 12 mph

I rode 6 days for 77 miles

* I know a group of cyclists cycling is called a peloton but these cyclists were just standing.

20160306 cycling

Monday
55° wind 2 NNE
Yay on the minimal wind. So nice not to have to fight it. 
One loop. I didn't push until SR56 so my average isn't better. 
10 miles 13.6 mph

Is the sidewalk really open or did someone just move the sign?

Tuesday
Warmer. 54° wind 3 NE
I was almost too warm in my thick sweatshirt. I tried to ride harder but found I did t have the energy. 
Another ride (man or woman, I wasn't sure) complimented my Chivaz Chuckles socks. 
10 miles 13.3 mph

I love the wispy clouds of spring.

Wednesday
Warm and windy. 67-73° wind 3-9 W
I had put on my long socks based on the weather at 8 but went back to bed. It was warmer at 9 but I didn't feel like changing my socks. I wore my tights. 
Windy. I went out CLR to BBD. I was going at a good pace but had to stop for the barrier at the mall entrance. I stopped, took a photo and rode in the street. The path is torn up at one point. I stayed in the road until The Ridge. 
I stopped at my usual spot before MPB. I forgot to hit resume until I hit Beardsley. Wahoo shows that I went along the road but left off the miles. Strava thinks I flew over the houses. 
I was up to 14.2 but the wind was too strong on Beardsley. I finished at 13.7 mph 11 miles

This explains why the sidewalk on north side is open. I just rode in the street.

Thursday
56-63° wind 3 ENE but felt stronger. 
I didn't have the energy to ride hard or longer. I feel congested after the ride. 
10 miles 13.3 mph

my happy pills. or at least the pills make me less moody.

Friday
Errandonee #1
67° wind 3 W
What a beautiful day to ride. Sunny and cool with a light wind. The wind made me not realize I was working up a sweat even though I wasn't riding fast. It makes me want to ride to work tomorrow.
5.92 miles 11.9 mph. It was probably over 12mph but I didn't pause the app when I was stopped by the lights.

I did not carry the cheese puffs on my bike. just posing for the photo.

Saturday
Errandonnee #2
Chilly and some wind. 
I rode to Nutrition Smart to get cheese puffs for National Cheese Doodle Day. There was no bike rack so I locked my bike up to the railing used to corral the shopping carts. I also got some pomegranate juice that was carbonated and icky. I was getting on my bike and lost my balance. I did a slow motion fall. Ugh. 

i use the cross walks and signals to cross busy highways.

I rode over to Fresh Market for local honey. I got some for Danielle at work. 

local raw honey can help alleviate seasonal allergies.

I rode to work. Odessa and Jacklyn were sitting on the bench. Odessa was surprised to see me. I locked my bike up to the stair railing. The bike racks are not near the employee entrances.
It took a few minutes to get the lock position right. I hadn't used the u lock before. 

I walked in with one pant leg rolled up. Kathy looked at me a couple times before she asked, "Did you ride your bike to work?" Yep.
3.75 miles 8.62 mph

I rode my bike home. It was warmer and windier but felt OK. It took me less than 20 minutes. I think it would be nice to ride in a skirt but I would need a step through frame. 
4.09 miles 12.45mph

20160228 cycling

Monday
56° wind 2 ENE
I felt strong and rode hard. I got up to 14mph then turned on WRB. The wind was against me the whole way home. I went down to 13.9 but pushed it back up to 14 to finish. I hit resume too early and Wahoo said my average 13.6. I will believe my bike computer. 
10 miles 14 mph

Tuesday
DarkSky is failing me with the wind reports. It said 2-4 and it felt more like 8-10. WeatherNerd seems more accurate thought they both use Forecast.io for their data. Weird. 
63° wind E to SE
Decided to ride short and hard. I got up to 14.4 mph but lost much of it on Mansfield. I finished with 10 miles 14.1 mph

Wednesday
Rain and wind. No ride. 

Thursday
Cold and windy.
51° wind NW 3-6mph
I tried riding hard and did get up to 14 mph average but lost it on the way back. 
11 miles 13.7 mph
Coughing

Friday
50° wind 5 mph NW
I headed out west on CLR. The wind was against me and I didn't have the energy to push. I got stopped at SPES with the crossing guards. A boy was walking to JLMS. (He was dressed in jeans and t-shirt and carrying an instrument.) I turned into SR56 and found the wind was against me again! WTF. I had no energy to fight it. My average dropped down to 12.4. I decided to turn at Mansfield. The wind was behind me and it felt better. My averaged climbed to 12.9. I turned onto CLR and the wind was against me again. The boy was there. If he was going to JLMS, he was late. I couldn't get my average any higher. I had no energy. 7 miles 12.9 mph

this flag barely moves unless it is very windy

Saturday
56-60° wind 6-8 mph NNW with strong gusts. I started out west on CLR. The wind was against me on SR56 so I turned onto Mansfield. I went down Beardsley to MPB. I did get much above 12.5 mph average.
16 miles 12.4 mph
Coughing when I was done. 

I finished the week with 5 rides, 54 miles. 

still riding the same routes

20160221 cycling

not a lot of miles but I am glad I got in 5 rides this week.

Monday

No school. I had to take Ryan to the dentist in the morning so we didn't get a chance to ride in the morning. Ryan went out on his bike as soon as we got home.
I guess t ready to go out and Andy surprised me by coming along.

It took a while to get ready. I had to pair Andy's iPod with his speaker. A neighbor came to the door to tell me Cheryl told her to tell us that she thought one of the boys was stuck on BBD. I checked and Ryan was moving by again. 
Then we had to pump up tires. I tried to get the iPod case for Andy but Ryan had broken that one too. 
We finally set out. It was windy. 
We passed Ryan in front of the new school. He laughed but didn't stop. 
We rode to Wiregrass. We went under the parking garage so Andy could make some echoes. We went back up SR56 to Mansfield and home. It was 8.88 miles. A record for Andy.

Dad and I moved Ryan's wheel so his chain would have more tension.

Tuesday

I got ready for a bike ride and asked Andy is he wanted to go. He walked away then came back with his shoes on. I asked Ryan if I could ride his bike. He said no. But he didn't have a good excuse so I rode it. 
We didn't have much time. We rode down Mansfield. At one point, Andy caught up to me. After a few questions about the Keene activists, he asked me if we were going to be home before dark. He wanted to turn back at the high school.
We did just under 4.5 miles. It was better than not riding at all.

Wednesday

I got a haircut and ran some errands. I worked late. No time to bike.

Thursday
62° and windy 8 NNE
I was glad I was wearing my tights. It was chillier than it looked. 
Car cut me off as he was turning left from Mansfield to SR56. Ass. 
I went one loop. 
10 miles 12mph

Friday
Bike. 
50° wind 4 NE
It was late so I didn't have time for the full 10 miles. I went out Mansfield and back. I rode hard. 
Six miles isn't long enough for 30 minutes so I rode around Deer Run.
6.89 miles 13.4 mph
I ended the week with 40.3 miles.

I stayed around the neighborhood. Cycling was all about exercise, not exploring.

I wish it could have been more miles. But it has been too cold and it is still dark until 7am. 

20160214 cycling

Monday was too cold to ride before work. 

Tuesday. 
I didn't have to work but it was cold and windy. 
50° wind 13 W feels like 47°!
I did the big loop clockwise. It was cold. I couldn't seem to get my HR up. 
MUP is torn up where Hueland Pond Blvd will connect to SR56. The bike lane is also torn up until they pave the turn lane. A driver in a Mercedes honked at me. Ass. 
My hands and feet were really cold. It was mostly cloudy so the sun didn't warm.
11 miles 13.1 mph

sometimes the younger cows are startled by me. this one was curious.

Wednesday
Off to a late start because it was very cold.
Cold and windy. 
49° wind 4 NW ?
Stronger gusts and it kept changing direction
Rode one big loop clockwise. 
11 miles 13.4 mph
I did get up to 13.7mph but the wind against on Beardsley brought my speed down. 
My toes are still cold. And my lungs hurt. 

Thursday was too cold to ride before work.

Friday
Dark Sky said wind was at 3 SSE. Wrong. It was more like 7-8 WSW. I went out clockwise only to fight the wind on SR56. I did the loop at WRB and went back along SR56, this time with the wind. I had to fight the wind again at MPB and Beardsley. At least it was warner and sunny. 56° when I started and 65° when I ended. 
14 miles 13.2 mph

Saturday
Dark Sky reported wind 5 mph NW but it was much windier and a bit NE. I had wind against riding east on SR56. 
Breathing hard but heart rate not up. 
11 miles 13.2 mph

just getting in the miles close to home.

I only did 47 miles this week. I am OK with that. They weather has just not been good and it is better than riding on rollers.

20160207 cycling

The week was better for cycling. I rode 5 days. Although those rides were all short, they were good and I felt better for having ridden.

The path along SR56 has been blocked off with SIDEWALK CLOSED signs. Because the construction cannot be seen from the signs, I ride in the road and avoid the path. 

On Monday, my HRM wasn't working. I hoped it was just the battery but didn't turn back to figure it out. Without the HRM, Wahoo will not calculate calories spent. Instead, My Fitness Pal calculated my speed and estimated I burned over 700 calories on my 10 mile ride! I usually burn between 250-350 calories in 10 miles.

Tuesday. No HRM because I forgot to get batteries. It was another short ride. It was foggy and the wind was a little stronger. I had to push to keep my pace above 14mph.

Wednesday. Warmer and windy. I got a battery for my HRM and it worked again. I tried to keep my pace up again over 14 mph. But the wind was too strong and I only managed 13.7mph.

Ryan continues to ride even when it is cold.

Thursday. It was windy and I didn't have the energy to fight it. I rode 10 miles.

Friday. It was too cold to ride.

Saturday. It was cold and windy but I really wanted to ride. I managed another 10 mile loop.

I rode 50 miles last week.

20160131 cycling

Last week was a better week for cycling.

I did not ride on Monday. I had to take my car in for an expensive repair. I had thought about taking my bike with me and riding while they worked on it. The weather was cold and I opted to walked to Starbucks instead.

There are too many of these signs around. This is the the downside to growth.

The MUP along SR56 is still closed. Most of the time, the path is clear but I can't see that from the turns. I have started riding in the bicycle lane in SR56. I have to be more alert for debris in the road and trust that drivers will stay in their lane. Rather than turning left from SR56 to Mansfield Blvd, I turn right onto Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. It is a future road but construction has begun to connect it to Bruce B Downs via Chancey. They have cleaned up the overgrown vegetation but now there is debris in the road, mostly gravel from the all the dirt haulers. On Tuesday, there was a fire truck and the firemen were draining a fire hydrant into a nearby swamp. 
I rode 19 miles.

Ceramic tiles fell off of a truck making a turn. Another downside to growth.

I didn't ride on Wednesday. It was raining and I was tired from working late the night before.

Construction made the roads muddy and my bike got filthy.

It was still wet on Thursday but I got in 20 miles. My pace has been slow. I have only been averaging about 13 mph.

Friday was cold. I rode 11 miles. 

Saturday was cold. The wind was light but changed so it was always against me. I rode 11 miles.

I rode 4 times for 61 miles. 

I finished January with only 201 miles. It was a cold and wet month.

20160124 cycling

The worst week. The weather was too cold and I couldn't wait for the sun to warm up. On Saturday, it was too windy combined with the cold that I walked. It wasn't such a good idea since my ankle hurt the rest of the day. And I can't even et my heart rate up for it to count as aerobic exercise.