Tuesday, 21 June 2011.
Totally refreshed by a double-tall glass of liquids sipped throughout the afternoon and also benefiting from the cooler temperatures, my route home was swift, even along the Mad River with headwinds pushing back at my cadence.
After a short workday, which started at 14:00, I took advantage of the Summer Solstice by leaving work after 19:00, with enough sunlight to provide lots of visibility through my arrival home by 8 p.m..
Ride conditions
Temperature: 71 to 74°F at 16:45
Precipitation: moderate rainfall around 17:00, wet bikeway for about 20%
Winds: 5 to 10 from the southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:41:53 for 12.01 miles
Heart rate: 134 bpm HRave, 162 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 13 cyclists, 11 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
21 June 2011
Bike-commute day 41—to work
Tuesday, 21 June 2011.
Today Chuck had a colonoscopy, so I drove him to the treatment center, had breakfast with him at Hasty-Tasty Pancake House, took him back home, and then biked to work. The ride was good, but taxing at a record temperature for today. I've been a bit lethargic at work. I hope a large drink of water and juice will perk me up, prepare me for the return ride this evening.
Hydration —or rather, the lack of hydration—is a strange phenomenon. Dehydration can sneak up and leave you unaware that it is the cause of a loss of power. But you can force yourself past it, or take a sip that is enough to let you continue the exertion without quite replenishing the body's fluid needs. You can go a long period with just coaxing the body a bit more, and then just a touch more than that, pushing the dehydrated condition further and further beyond the edge. Then finally, suddenly the body responds adamantly that it can perform no more: full exhaustion, clammy flesh, lack of sweat production, and a gradual onset of real sickness that includes restlessness, overheating, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. This is nothing to toy with. It can result in heat stroke and death. And if you start force-drinking fluids early enough, you can prevent death, though you may feel like dying.
A provider of a regular training email, Chris Carmichael, has this information about hydration.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 86 to 91°F at 13:05, 88 to 94°F at 15:05
Precipitation: none
Winds: 5 to 10 mph from the south-southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:41:48 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 141 HRave, 154 HRmax
Bikeway users: 11 cyclists, 7 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
Today Chuck had a colonoscopy, so I drove him to the treatment center, had breakfast with him at Hasty-Tasty Pancake House, took him back home, and then biked to work. The ride was good, but taxing at a record temperature for today. I've been a bit lethargic at work. I hope a large drink of water and juice will perk me up, prepare me for the return ride this evening.
Hydration —or rather, the lack of hydration—is a strange phenomenon. Dehydration can sneak up and leave you unaware that it is the cause of a loss of power. But you can force yourself past it, or take a sip that is enough to let you continue the exertion without quite replenishing the body's fluid needs. You can go a long period with just coaxing the body a bit more, and then just a touch more than that, pushing the dehydrated condition further and further beyond the edge. Then finally, suddenly the body responds adamantly that it can perform no more: full exhaustion, clammy flesh, lack of sweat production, and a gradual onset of real sickness that includes restlessness, overheating, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. This is nothing to toy with. It can result in heat stroke and death. And if you start force-drinking fluids early enough, you can prevent death, though you may feel like dying.
A provider of a regular training email, Chris Carmichael, has this information about hydration.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 86 to 91°F at 13:05, 88 to 94°F at 15:05
Precipitation: none
Winds: 5 to 10 mph from the south-southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:41:48 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 141 HRave, 154 HRmax
Bikeway users: 11 cyclists, 7 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
20 June 2011
Bike-commute day 40—to home
Monday, 20 June 2011.
I joked with Joe, our floors janitor, "I hope you arranged for my dry ride home today." He assured me that it was all paid for.
Such is the power of paying for the weather. It was sprinkling as I stepped outside.
But the light rain let up almost as soon as I reached the crossing of Research Boulevard, and I had only the wet pavement to navigate as carefully as possible. Avoid the lane markings, especially the white paint. It's usually much slicker than even the yellow stripes. And once on the bikeway at Spaulding, even the painted markings diminished to the areas preceding the intersections across the streets.
I had fully recharged the Garmin device, and it functioned well, even with the heavy cloud cover. I skipped out on a side trip to the gym, in case the coming rain advanced more quickly than I guessed from the weather radar. After I cleared the bikeway under the canopy, the way was dry. So about 50% was wet or damp, and half was easily navigated.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 71 to 74°F at 16:45
Precipitation: moderate rainfall between 10 a.m. and noon, isolated showers in the afternoon, wet bikeway for about 50%
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:44:22 for 12.00 miles
Heart rate: 117 bpm average, 141 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
I joked with Joe, our floors janitor, "I hope you arranged for my dry ride home today." He assured me that it was all paid for.
Such is the power of paying for the weather. It was sprinkling as I stepped outside.
But the light rain let up almost as soon as I reached the crossing of Research Boulevard, and I had only the wet pavement to navigate as carefully as possible. Avoid the lane markings, especially the white paint. It's usually much slicker than even the yellow stripes. And once on the bikeway at Spaulding, even the painted markings diminished to the areas preceding the intersections across the streets.
I had fully recharged the Garmin device, and it functioned well, even with the heavy cloud cover. I skipped out on a side trip to the gym, in case the coming rain advanced more quickly than I guessed from the weather radar. After I cleared the bikeway under the canopy, the way was dry. So about 50% was wet or damp, and half was easily navigated.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 71 to 74°F at 16:45
Precipitation: moderate rainfall between 10 a.m. and noon, isolated showers in the afternoon, wet bikeway for about 50%
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:44:22 for 12.00 miles
Heart rate: 117 bpm average, 141 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 40—to work
Monday, 20 June 2011.
I had left the Garmin device on over the weekend, unused but attached to my bike. ...such was my cycling activity over the weekend. As I started out today at 08:22, the device displayed a warning that the battery was low. Within 90 seconds into the ride, the device went blank. I turned it on again at my first checkpoint, and it came to life only for about 15 seconds. Though I tried again at each checkpoint, the device remained dead through the rest of the ride.
The clock in the locker room read 09:08 when I arrived.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 62 to 70°F at 07:15
Precipitation: none, but threatening
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: about 00:56:00 for 11.97 miles
Heart rate: no data
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
I had left the Garmin device on over the weekend, unused but attached to my bike. ...such was my cycling activity over the weekend. As I started out today at 08:22, the device displayed a warning that the battery was low. Within 90 seconds into the ride, the device went blank. I turned it on again at my first checkpoint, and it came to life only for about 15 seconds. Though I tried again at each checkpoint, the device remained dead through the rest of the ride.
The clock in the locker room read 09:08 when I arrived.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 62 to 70°F at 07:15
Precipitation: none, but threatening
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: about 00:56:00 for 11.97 miles
Heart rate: no data
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
18 June 2011
Bike-commute day 39—to home
Friday, 17 June 2011.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 70 to 81°F at 17:05, 84°F at 18:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 10 mph, from the west
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:47:07 for 13.03 miles
Heart rate: 133 bpm average, 154 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 22 cyclists, 10 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 70 to 81°F at 17:05, 84°F at 18:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 10 mph, from the west
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:47:07 for 13.03 miles
Heart rate: 133 bpm average, 154 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 22 cyclists, 10 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
17 June 2011
Bike-commute day 39—to work
Friday, 17 June 2011.
I left home again later than usual—perhaps if I do so again, my usual will become today's later, then where will I be? But because of my departure time, I was again in need of a faster traverse time, which, I was happy to note at a few points in the middle of the ride, was entirely possible today. I noted several times that, at least from the Findlay Street bridge through my turn onto the Spaulding bikeway, my current HR was holding steadily above 146 and often holding above 150. For stretches much longer than the mere 60 seconds that I had attained on my first attempt at HR training.
What else contributed to my greater strength? Perhaps that I took a rest day yesterday and that the ride of the day before did not include a weight training period.
The number of fellow cyclists was relatively huge this morning. Among them were the tandem father-daughter team of Gary and Amy. And a shirtless runner with a white dog as a running companion, though I noticed much more the runner's superb back and arms. So much so that I took a long backward glance at his firm chest and gave him a wolf whistle.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 63 to 67°F at 07:15, 75°F at 09:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:41:22 for 11.97 miles
Heart rate: 136 bpm average, 160 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 19 cyclists, 5 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
I left home again later than usual—perhaps if I do so again, my usual will become today's later, then where will I be? But because of my departure time, I was again in need of a faster traverse time, which, I was happy to note at a few points in the middle of the ride, was entirely possible today. I noted several times that, at least from the Findlay Street bridge through my turn onto the Spaulding bikeway, my current HR was holding steadily above 146 and often holding above 150. For stretches much longer than the mere 60 seconds that I had attained on my first attempt at HR training.
What else contributed to my greater strength? Perhaps that I took a rest day yesterday and that the ride of the day before did not include a weight training period.
The number of fellow cyclists was relatively huge this morning. Among them were the tandem father-daughter team of Gary and Amy. And a shirtless runner with a white dog as a running companion, though I noticed much more the runner's superb back and arms. So much so that I took a long backward glance at his firm chest and gave him a wolf whistle.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 63 to 67°F at 07:15, 75°F at 09:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:41:22 for 11.97 miles
Heart rate: 136 bpm average, 160 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 19 cyclists, 5 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 38—to home
Wednesday, 15 June 2011.
Quick ride home to arrive in time for a dinner Chuck plans to have ready at 6:30.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 65 to 68°F at 16:55, 69°F at 18:00
Precipitation: some through 14:00 that left about 10% of the route damp
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:39:42 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 132 bpm average, 148 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 16 cyclists, 10 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
Quick ride home to arrive in time for a dinner Chuck plans to have ready at 6:30.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 65 to 68°F at 16:55, 69°F at 18:00
Precipitation: some through 14:00 that left about 10% of the route damp
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:39:42 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 132 bpm average, 148 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 16 cyclists, 10 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
15 June 2011
Bike-commute day 38—to work
Wednesday, 15 June 2011.
My start today was the latest ever to get to work: 08:13. Usually I've decided to drive when I have too much to do and can't leave by 8 o'clock. But today was different: Chuck's car is in the drive, and that would mean a bit of musical chairs with the garage. So I decided to bike, no matter what, and pulled out whatever reserves I had to keep intensity up throughout the ride.
A FiveRivers Parks truck was exiting the maintenance compound as I passed out of Eastwood Park, and I stopped them to mention the need to sweep loose twigs on the corner a bit east of the yellow gate. While I'm at it, there are other housekeeping tasks for the bikeway segments that are part of my commute.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 59 to 61°F at 07:55, 63 to 66°F at 09:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:42:58 for 11.99 miles
Heart rate: 132 bpm average, 156 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 6 cyclists, 6 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
My start today was the latest ever to get to work: 08:13. Usually I've decided to drive when I have too much to do and can't leave by 8 o'clock. But today was different: Chuck's car is in the drive, and that would mean a bit of musical chairs with the garage. So I decided to bike, no matter what, and pulled out whatever reserves I had to keep intensity up throughout the ride.
A FiveRivers Parks truck was exiting the maintenance compound as I passed out of Eastwood Park, and I stopped them to mention the need to sweep loose twigs on the corner a bit east of the yellow gate. While I'm at it, there are other housekeeping tasks for the bikeway segments that are part of my commute.
- The ramp from the Monument Avenue bridge to the river-level bikeway has many loose stones and twigs, over its entire distance.
- The culvert crossing underneath the Main Street bridge has concrete washed away by the Spring flooding. Though a part of the washout has been filled with compacted dirt, the entire width needs attention with filler concrete or asphalt.
- A relatively small amount of stones litter the bikeway just west of the Findlay Street bridge.
- The intersection of the bikeway, North Smithville, and Springfield Street and the bikeway crossing of Smithville just a tenth mile south of that intersection still lack road markings for the crossing.
- Quite a few dropped walnuts litter the bikeway in several areas between Airway and Linden. I suspect the number will increase over the next two weeks.
- Almost all crossings would benefit from reapplication of paint and better approach signage at Airway, Burkhardt, Linden, Woodbine, Woodman, Spaulding north of the county waste treatment plant, and Spaulding at the crossing to Founders Drive
Ride conditions
Temperature: 59 to 61°F at 07:55, 63 to 66°F at 09:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:42:58 for 11.99 miles
Heart rate: 132 bpm average, 156 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 6 cyclists, 6 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
14 June 2011
Bike-commute day 37—to gym and home
Tuesday, 14 June 2011.
Push push push, no matter how the body complains. The object: get home with enough time to make a quick dinner and be off to a film with Chuck. Oh, and stop at the gym for a very short abs workout.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 70 to 81°F at 17:05
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph, variable
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:57:03 for 15.86 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 144 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 36 cyclists, 18 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Push push push, no matter how the body complains. The object: get home with enough time to make a quick dinner and be off to a film with Chuck. Oh, and stop at the gym for a very short abs workout.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 70 to 81°F at 17:05
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph, variable
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:57:03 for 15.86 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 144 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 36 cyclists, 18 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 37—to work
Tuesday, 14 June 2011.
The initial leg of my commute from home is often a source of misjudging how the ride will go. Since it is downhill through my crossing of the Monument Avenue bridge, it's easy to feel strong and fast. This morning was no different on the descent to the river, and it was during the route along the Mad River that I thought my legs feel like iron weights, and not at all like powerful steel pistons. After the exhilarating ride with Jeff Collier yesterday, my body today was exercising some grudge against me, avoiding any successful push to reach again the higher performance level.
Every aspect of a bike ride has its yin and yang. Today, as I approached and slowed for the Airway Boulevard crossing, an auto driver from the east slowed, stopped, and waved me forward. There were no other cars from either the east or west, so I resumed my spin and waved and mouthed a Thanks! to her as I crossed. Then as I slowed to approach the Burkhardt Avenue crossing, a black sports car from the east also slowed without clearly intending to stop, and I applied reverse pedal effort to stop my fixed gear before reaching the marked crossing. The car continued its slowed traverse of the crossing, the driver glared. I read his license plate "LTH 1" clearly as he continued to the west.
The last leg of my route, perhaps the most sociable part, is where I often meet the most people that I know by name. Today Millie was walking south to bring Gladys to their morning walk, and Paul (who I had fictionalized his name as Double-Dog-Jason) was heading north with his two dogs. Today's ride included a short errand off the bikeway—a jaunt across three parking lots to a Shell gas station to buy lottery tickets. One of my past lotto numbers was a winner of a whopping $2. So no retirement nest egg from the last purchase.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 54 to 59°F at 07:55, 64°F at 10:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:45:35 for 12.30 miles
Heart rate: 124 bpm average, 143 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 6 pedestrians, 4 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
The initial leg of my commute from home is often a source of misjudging how the ride will go. Since it is downhill through my crossing of the Monument Avenue bridge, it's easy to feel strong and fast. This morning was no different on the descent to the river, and it was during the route along the Mad River that I thought my legs feel like iron weights, and not at all like powerful steel pistons. After the exhilarating ride with Jeff Collier yesterday, my body today was exercising some grudge against me, avoiding any successful push to reach again the higher performance level.
Every aspect of a bike ride has its yin and yang. Today, as I approached and slowed for the Airway Boulevard crossing, an auto driver from the east slowed, stopped, and waved me forward. There were no other cars from either the east or west, so I resumed my spin and waved and mouthed a Thanks! to her as I crossed. Then as I slowed to approach the Burkhardt Avenue crossing, a black sports car from the east also slowed without clearly intending to stop, and I applied reverse pedal effort to stop my fixed gear before reaching the marked crossing. The car continued its slowed traverse of the crossing, the driver glared. I read his license plate "LTH 1" clearly as he continued to the west.
The last leg of my route, perhaps the most sociable part, is where I often meet the most people that I know by name. Today Millie was walking south to bring Gladys to their morning walk, and Paul (who I had fictionalized his name as Double-Dog-Jason) was heading north with his two dogs. Today's ride included a short errand off the bikeway—a jaunt across three parking lots to a Shell gas station to buy lottery tickets. One of my past lotto numbers was a winner of a whopping $2. So no retirement nest egg from the last purchase.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 54 to 59°F at 07:55, 64°F at 10:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:45:35 for 12.30 miles
Heart rate: 124 bpm average, 143 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 6 pedestrians, 4 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
13 June 2011
Bike-commute day 36—to gym and home
Monday, 13 June 2011
My ride didn't seem so special in the first leg to the gym: at one point when my heart seemed to strain, I noticed the HR was only at 120 bpm, and I worried momentarily that I was way too tired to push hard for the ride home. But that feeling lasted only a quarter mile, and I felt power and wholeness return.
I kept my weight training short, with just a focus on the shoulder exercises, and I was at full power when I was back on the bike. The hill beside the frisbee golf course added to my sense of being at high power, and I continued through to Smithville at an average of over 20 mph. Through Eastwood, the intensity matched the need for care at the crossings and on the turns, and then I applied full power as I passed the 3rd lap point. Around Findlay Street, I saw a rider in the distance and my goal was to catch him before the Green Bridge. He had a good speed and remained a challenge until the catch below the Webster Street bridge. From that point, the large numbers of pedestrians required careful, slower maneuvering until the Main Street bridge, and then I could apply full power again. As I approached the turn to the Monument Bridge ramp, another rider approached from the south. When he stopped short of the ramp, I called out "Oh com'on. Go for it." He laughed with some embarrassment, but still walked his hybrid up the gentler, double-backed ramps.
As I crossed the bridge, I noted that my time was a bit earlier than usual, maybe the day will be a year's record time.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 72 to 77°F at 16:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:57:33 for 15.84 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 155 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 19 cyclists, 13 pedestrians, 3 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
My ride didn't seem so special in the first leg to the gym: at one point when my heart seemed to strain, I noticed the HR was only at 120 bpm, and I worried momentarily that I was way too tired to push hard for the ride home. But that feeling lasted only a quarter mile, and I felt power and wholeness return.
I kept my weight training short, with just a focus on the shoulder exercises, and I was at full power when I was back on the bike. The hill beside the frisbee golf course added to my sense of being at high power, and I continued through to Smithville at an average of over 20 mph. Through Eastwood, the intensity matched the need for care at the crossings and on the turns, and then I applied full power as I passed the 3rd lap point. Around Findlay Street, I saw a rider in the distance and my goal was to catch him before the Green Bridge. He had a good speed and remained a challenge until the catch below the Webster Street bridge. From that point, the large numbers of pedestrians required careful, slower maneuvering until the Main Street bridge, and then I could apply full power again. As I approached the turn to the Monument Bridge ramp, another rider approached from the south. When he stopped short of the ramp, I called out "Oh com'on. Go for it." He laughed with some embarrassment, but still walked his hybrid up the gentler, double-backed ramps.
As I crossed the bridge, I noted that my time was a bit earlier than usual, maybe the day will be a year's record time.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 72 to 77°F at 16:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:57:33 for 15.84 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 155 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 19 cyclists, 13 pedestrians, 3 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 36—to work
Monday, 13 June 2011.
Shortly before I reached Eastwood Park, Jeff Collier alerted me to his overtaking me. We rode together through to his turn east to parallel highway 35. He spoke of his 180-mile ride this past weekend, with a group that rode from southern Dayton to Kentucky. It was mostly flat, he said, and they ended the ride with a few selected hill climbs to make the ride worthwhile.
Hmm. His pace had me puffing a lot, not very able to keep up half of the conversation. My afternoon review of the commute showed me why: my HR was over 143 and ranging up to 155 throughout our ride together, with a short exception for a full stop at Springfield Street for heavier traffic than usual. But that I kept up and maintained a high HR for the duration shows that I've been easy on myself as a lone rider. Time to step up to what I really can do.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 56 to 60°F at 07:55, 63°F at 10:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph, variable
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:42:25 for 12.03 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 183* bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 1 cyclists, 3 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
* not reliable, a more likely HRmax was 154.
Shortly before I reached Eastwood Park, Jeff Collier alerted me to his overtaking me. We rode together through to his turn east to parallel highway 35. He spoke of his 180-mile ride this past weekend, with a group that rode from southern Dayton to Kentucky. It was mostly flat, he said, and they ended the ride with a few selected hill climbs to make the ride worthwhile.
Hmm. His pace had me puffing a lot, not very able to keep up half of the conversation. My afternoon review of the commute showed me why: my HR was over 143 and ranging up to 155 throughout our ride together, with a short exception for a full stop at Springfield Street for heavier traffic than usual. But that I kept up and maintained a high HR for the duration shows that I've been easy on myself as a lone rider. Time to step up to what I really can do.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 56 to 60°F at 07:55, 63°F at 10:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph, variable
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:42:25 for 12.03 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 183* bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 1 cyclists, 3 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
* not reliable, a more likely HRmax was 154.
Bike-commute day 35—to gym and home
Thursday, 9 June 2011.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 85 to 91°F at 17:10
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Trek 850
Time: 01:00:16 for 15.67 miles
Heart rate: 126 bpm average, 139 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 25 cyclists, 13 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 85 to 91°F at 17:10
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Trek 850
Time: 01:00:16 for 15.67 miles
Heart rate: 126 bpm average, 139 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 25 cyclists, 13 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
09 June 2011
Bike-commute day 35—to work
I hoped to have started out as early as 07:00 this morning, but didn't get out the door until 07:48. So I whipped myself as I rode my commute for the first time in six days. I had taken some errand rides over the weekend, but no commutes to allow for bringing Chuck home from the airport and making his first couple days comfortable. And so today, Thursday, was my first bike-commute since Friday.
From today on, I'm changing my morning routine to eat a breakfast bagel at work, after the commute. I plan to continue brewing a latté or French roast drip coffee before the ride, consumed while I feed Howard, read the Wall Street Journal, and do other tasks before I leave for the morning. For example, today I watered the plants in the front yard and a few that needed water in the back yard while I waited for the WSJ delivery.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 75 to 79°F at 06:55, 81 to 85°F at 10:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 10 mph from the north-northwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:44:47 for 11.86 miles
Heart rate: 126 bpm average, 146 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 3 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Another bike errand
One-way bike rip to pick up Chuck's car at Precision Tune Auto Care.
Ride details
Temperature: 86°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:19:22 for 4.25 miles
Heart rate: 124 bpm average, 145 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: not tallied
Here is a playback of the ride .
Ride details
Temperature: 86°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:19:22 for 4.25 miles
Heart rate: 124 bpm average, 145 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: not tallied
Here is a playback of the ride .
05 June 2011
Bike-errand day
Farmer's Market
Looking for Life Enrichment Center
Gym
Gay Pride Fesitval
Home for work in the garden
Ride details
Temperature: 72 to 88°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 01:56:35 for 27.30 miles
Heart rate: 121 bpm average, 142 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: not tallied
Here is a playback of the ride .
Looking for Life Enrichment Center
Gym
Gay Pride Fesitval
Home for work in the garden
Ride details
Temperature: 72 to 88°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 01:56:35 for 27.30 miles
Heart rate: 121 bpm average, 142 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: not tallied
Here is a playback of the ride .
03 June 2011
Bike-commute day 34—to Courteous Mass and home
I rode hard and fast to make it to Courteous Mass a few minutes before the scheduled start time, and I arrived by 17:20.
About 20 cyclists took part in a ride from Fifth/Third Field to the Second Street Market, then past the Cannery and south on Wayne Avenue (waved hello to Janelle at Press) to Fifth Street and through the Oregon District. We followed Fifth Street past the Neon Movies to Wilkinson Street, went north to Monument, and crossed the Monument Avenue Bridge. Then a block north to Belmonte Park North between the Dayton Art Institute and the Masonic Temple. From there, we took Belmonte Park East to Grand Avenue, turned left to Belmonte Park North and north to Five Oaks Avenue. Then we went east to Forest, north past Corpus Christi Church to Helena, and east to cross the Great Miami River and turn south on River Bend Road. Then we joined the bikeway, crossed the Green Bridge, took the underpass below Patterson Boulevard, and ended at the Bicycle Hub. (about 8.5 miles in 45 minutes)
Ride conditions
Temperature: 81 to 88°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 01:18:10 for 17.59 miles
Heart rate: 116 bpm average, 145 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 22 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
About 20 cyclists took part in a ride from Fifth/Third Field to the Second Street Market, then past the Cannery and south on Wayne Avenue (waved hello to Janelle at Press) to Fifth Street and through the Oregon District. We followed Fifth Street past the Neon Movies to Wilkinson Street, went north to Monument, and crossed the Monument Avenue Bridge. Then a block north to Belmonte Park North between the Dayton Art Institute and the Masonic Temple. From there, we took Belmonte Park East to Grand Avenue, turned left to Belmonte Park North and north to Five Oaks Avenue. Then we went east to Forest, north past Corpus Christi Church to Helena, and east to cross the Great Miami River and turn south on River Bend Road. Then we joined the bikeway, crossed the Green Bridge, took the underpass below Patterson Boulevard, and ended at the Bicycle Hub. (about 8.5 miles in 45 minutes)
Ride conditions
Temperature: 81 to 88°F at 16:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph variable
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 01:18:10 for 17.59 miles
Heart rate: 116 bpm average, 145 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 22 cyclists, 7 pedestrians, 1 dog
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 34—to work
As I finished my commute this morning, I thought I had arrived with a personal best time. That achievement countered my experience during the ride, since it was a set of frustrated attempts at raising my heart rate above 150. (Notes to self: Use the hybrid bike or the geared road bike when you want to do heart training and sprints. Also make sure you're well rested the night before the sprints.)
Special Note: World Naked Bike Ride
There must be some of you out there, either intrigued by or participating in the World Naked Bike Ride. The closest local event is in Columbus, Ohio. Here are the specifics.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 59 to 63°F at 06:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the east
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:43:08 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 130 bpm average, 146 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 10 cyclists, 12 pedestrians, 3 dogs, 2 deer
Here is a playback of the ride.
- My first unsuccessful sprint was about two minutes out from Eastwood Park. I reached 140 bpm quickly with a cadence of 95 rpm, but the slight changes in elevation and turns kept me from reaching more than 146 bpm. 2:10 minutes were over 140.
- My second sprint was around the former Multi-Service plant, where I had only 1:47 over 140.
- I started the third sprint almost immediately, after I had crossed Airway, but it was only 2:23 for an HRmax of 145.
- The fourth sprint, between Burkhardt and Linden, was again 2:23 with an HRmax of 145.
- The fifth was a half-hearted 1:08 that only reached 141 HRmax before I slowed for Woodbine Avenue.
- The sixth was a short 0:58 at 141 HRmax before I turned to parallel Spaulding Road.
- The last sprint attempt was an exact 2:00 with a 144 HRmax that stopped at the Patterson Boulevard traffic signal.
Special Note: World Naked Bike Ride
There must be some of you out there, either intrigued by or participating in the World Naked Bike Ride. The closest local event is in Columbus, Ohio. Here are the specifics.
- Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 11:30pm (yes, just before midnight)
- Third Hand Bicycle Cooperative
- 174 East 5th Ave
- Columbus Ohio
- Secure storage for items not worn during the ride
- Free body paint and costuming
- Each cyclist makes an individual choice about the amount of nudity they are comfortable with and no one is required to be naked
- Bring a bicycle, unicycle, long board, scooter, set of rollerblades or anything human powered
- Dance after-party just down the street.
"We ride in solidarity with people around the globe to point out the vulnerability of cyclists to automobiles, advocate for less oil-dependent transportation in our cities, and celebrate the human form."
Ride conditions
Temperature: 59 to 63°F at 06:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the east
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:43:08 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 130 bpm average, 146 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 10 cyclists, 12 pedestrians, 3 dogs, 2 deer
Here is a playback of the ride.
02 June 2011
Bike-commute day 33—to gym and home
I got a reminder this afternoon on the unreliability of drivers. As I approached the bikeway crossing of Linden Avenue, a driver from the west graciously stopped for me. I slowed for the crossing, saluted a thanks to the driver, and then looked to the right. A driver was approaching from the east, obviously slowing. But not stopping, just slowing.
As she crossed in front of me, I saw inside the auto. The driver was busily fitting a supersize cup into the cup holder, oblivious of the marked crosswalk and the stopped vehicle in the approaching lane. Unaware that her slowing might have been understood as an invitation to cross in front of her.
The distracted driver is the greatest hazard presented to a cyclist who uses the roadways. And the cyclist who aims to use only the bikeways, since the bikeways intersect with roads, often at distances of less than a mile from one intersection to the next. The cellphone and texting are only the two more recent sources of distraction, joining many other sources that have been present almost as long as the automobile itself: lighting a cigarette, tuning the radio, opening and closing windows, conversing with a rider, eating and drinking at the wheel, responding to a nuisance insect, squinting from sun glare, daydreaming.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 77 to 81°F at 17:10
Precipitation: none, then a lot
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the northeast
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:58:03 for 15.82 miles
Heart rate: 123 bpm average, 142 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 31 cyclists, 14 pedestrians, 3 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
As she crossed in front of me, I saw inside the auto. The driver was busily fitting a supersize cup into the cup holder, oblivious of the marked crosswalk and the stopped vehicle in the approaching lane. Unaware that her slowing might have been understood as an invitation to cross in front of her.
The distracted driver is the greatest hazard presented to a cyclist who uses the roadways. And the cyclist who aims to use only the bikeways, since the bikeways intersect with roads, often at distances of less than a mile from one intersection to the next. The cellphone and texting are only the two more recent sources of distraction, joining many other sources that have been present almost as long as the automobile itself: lighting a cigarette, tuning the radio, opening and closing windows, conversing with a rider, eating and drinking at the wheel, responding to a nuisance insect, squinting from sun glare, daydreaming.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 77 to 81°F at 17:10
Precipitation: none, then a lot
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the northeast
Clothing: Skinsuit; ankle socks. Open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed-gear
Time: 00:58:03 for 15.82 miles
Heart rate: 123 bpm average, 142 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 31 cyclists, 14 pedestrians, 3 dogs
Here is a playback of the ride.
Bike-commute day 33—to work
Ah! All the bikeway is completely dry. The branches and logs have been carried away, and only a thick covering of what was mud before remains on the lowest parts of the bikeway. I bet Rob, a colleague who bike-commutes, that the dried mud would also be removed by the end of the work day.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 68°F at 07:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:43:12 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 152 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 6 cyclists, 11 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
Ride conditions
Temperature: 68°F at 07:55
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves.
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:43:12 for 11.98 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm average, 152 bpm maximum
Bikeway users: 6 cyclists, 11 pedestrians
Here is a playback of the ride.
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