I’m updating later than usual. My normal procedure is to get back from a ride and document it pretty much right away, but this morning I started surfing the web, and making pancakes, and then napping through the Panthers game, and I just didn’t get an update written.

So, to answer…yes, I did ride. It was a chilly but pleasant morning. I think the temperature was right around 50 when I left the house, and it was foggy again. Very beautiful, actually, when the sun started piercing through the clouds and lighting up the foggy fields. I rode about 32 miles with an average speed of 16.8. Not bad…not where I was right before the Tour to Tanglewood…I’ve lost a step between then and now, but not too much.

I was just checking the weather reports for tomorrow morning to see what the commute might look like, and I think it should be a nice morning to ride in. I just hope I can get hot water at the office shower. On Friday when I rode I couldn’t, and it was a bracing experience. The water wasn’t icy, but it certainly wasn’t warm either. I was very awake and alert for the morning.

I’ve been watching videos on youtube related to riding a fixie. Things like people doing skid stops, and track stands, and urban alleycat races. Some of it is pretty fascinating. I linked to a video on my pownce page showing a competition of people doing track stands. Crazy when they go no-handed. I can’t even do one at all yet, though I was getting pretty close yesterday until I gashed my ankle open on a pedal. It’s not a big deal, I slipped, it happens. It’s just my first injury on the new bike. Frankly I’m surprised I haven’t fallen off the thing yet, but boy, it is fun to ride.

I also took a couple of the decals off the fixie. I left the model name “Lager” on the top tube, but I removed the big brand name “SE” from the downtube. I also removed the brand badge from the steering tube. So it’s looking a little more streamlined. I may eventually remove more of the decals, there are two more on the seat tube with frame size indicators and such. I should try and post some pictures soon as I make changes to the bike. I’ve bought some fenders, but haven’t installed them yet. I figure I’ll wait and see how the fall shapes up, and what the weather is like. The one key investment I’ll likely have to make soon is in a good headlight. The days are getting shorter.

Okay, that’s enough rambling for now about the bikes. Maybe some day I’ll start posting things about something other than bikes again. Believe it or not I sometimes do.

Technorati Tags: bicycle, commute, Cycling, route, weather

I found a new way to ride to and from work today. I was aware that the Guilford County greenway passed near the office, but what I didn’t know is that there is an access path to the greenway at the end of Tarrant road near the office.

I rode down there after work and managed to get onto the greenway without any difficulty. From there it was a nice ride past natural scenery all the way to East Fork road which I can take to connect through to Guilford road and then home.

The mileage is a little longer, but it’s a really nice option to have when I want a change of scenery. The only drawback is right at the end the light from East Fork onto Guilford is at the top of a hill and there’s a fair amount of traffic there. Getting started again from a full stop on a hillside with cars behind is a little tough.

Still, I’m glad I now know of it for an alternate route. It was 7.6 miles to home instead of the usual 5.3 or thereabouts.

Technorati Tags: commute, Cycling, ride, route

Looks like I may not get much bike commuting in this week. Weather report is showing rainy for most of the week. Maybe I need to get a poncho! I rode home in the rain yesterday afternoon. First half of the ride wasn’t bad. Second half of the ride I had squishy shoes. I guess I need to figure out how to cope with the rain.

Technorati Tags: commute, Cycling, weather

In the shift to pedal power, bikers and drivers fight over their patch of asphalt.

Moving Targets - NYTimes.com

Technorati Tags: bicycle, bike, commute, commuting, Cycling, traffic

This is my new single-speed bike…

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I got it to start commuting into work.

I made a test ride this morning and it will take around 20 minutes. 25 if I don’t push it much. I averaged around 15 mph. It’s only about 5 miles but it is kind of hilly. As I noted above this bike only has one gear, right now it is a freewheel cog which means I can coast. I’ve got a fixed gear cog on order which will allow me to flip the rear wheel around and make it a fixed gear bike; which means no coasting. I’m going to ride it for a few weeks using the freewheel gear to build up some new strength (with only a single speed you’ve got no choice but to climb whatever hill you hit with the gear you are in), and then to switch over to the fixed wheel and take my conditioning to a whole new level.

There are still a few things to sort out. I think I will have to carry a change of clothes and to keep a few toiletries at the office for using on the sweatier more humid mornings. I going to run around this weekend and gather up those things to get ready. My plan is to ride in on Monday morning.

Oh, and the bike is an SE - Lager. It’s a steel frame with a 46 tooth chainring and 16 tooth rear cog.

Marcella calls it my beer bike!

Technorati Tags: bike, commute, Cycling, office, ride, work