Breakout from the job hunt

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Finally today I broke out of my cycle of breakfast-computer-lunch-computer-dinner-computer work to find a quick replacement for working at Kodak. The replacement was only for an hour-long ride along the Creekside Trail, but it served to break the monotony I had set up since leaving Kodak on February 20. It was a monotony tinged with depression, though I haven't felt depressed.

I know that it's for the best to be out of the work environment at Kodak. First, the atmosphere was toxic and every opportunity was taken to tear down my confidence as a writer. Second, the technologies in use to write documents were solidified and not forward-looking. Third, opportunity for advancement was absent. Fourth, the company's continuing failure to succeed meant that wages were stagnant, and I had taken a financial hit of almost 18% over five years.

I needed this kick in the pants. For some four years, I asserted that I should move out of Kodak. But never did I take resolute steps to do so. At first, in 2008, I was busy guiding the implementation of single-source writing. That program proved its viability by using a single set of files to support three parallel but separate products. But after two years, the progress was pulled back to traditional processes, and another team lead was chosen to do this. It took two years to reset the single-source files into three separate and independent books. Now I've been let go, once the status quo has been re-established. And I now have two months of salary without a requirement to work at the office. I use every moment for developing prospects for my next work situation.

Now perhaps I've come to a point where I can pull back a bit on the focused searching. I have resumés placed with many temp agencies and contracted services. I have search profiles set up with an array of job search engines. I have initial contacts with a network of professionals in the area. Perhaps the next major step will be to set up a similar framework for a possible job in the area around Palm Springs ...just in case. But for now, after ten days away from commuting by bike, I have both time and weather in my favor.

And I took the same route that I have as a commuter, down to the Miami River Bikeway, up the Mad River, and south on the Creekside Trail. But a change: I realize that I've reached the extent of a half-ride at Airway Boulevard, and I turn around to head home. With the turnaround, I head back to work ... at home.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 49 to 55°F at 15:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: 5 to 10 mph from the  southeast
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, ankle socks, open-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 850 27x30-48x12 hybrid
Time: 00:57:07  for  13.80 miles
Heart rate: 130 bpm HRave, 150 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 2 cyclists, 1 pedestrian
Playback of the ride

Decisions were made

Monday, 20 February 2012

So the axe has fallen. Eight members of the Engineering Services department were laid off, and two more have yet to know because of a vacation day or short-term disability. I wish the very best to those who make this sudden change from employment with Eastman Kodak: Kathy B, Mike D, Tom N, Ted R, Tony S, Greg S, and Linh V. Our department manager, Bruce B, has yet to know whether he himself remains at Kodak.

I met with Bruce at 10:00, and after a bit of small talk, Bruce read from a script that Kodak had prepared for him. I interrupted a couple times to clarify a point, but his script was short—and well performed, though Bruce avoided much eye contact. I covered each point I needed to with full composure. I was especially careful not to let out a whoop of joy that I would now have full 8-hour days to pursue another position.

I returned to my desk, took my nameplate off my cube wall, wrote an email to my friends outside of work, and sent out a prepared good-by to many colleagues at work. I looked for several close colleagues to say good-by in person, and closed up the last box of personal belongings that I needed to remove from the office. I was out the door by 11:15, and heading to the gym for an upper-body workout.

On my way home, I stopped at Fricker's just in case some people from Kodak were there for lunch. Only four were, and they suggested meeting at The Pub around 4:30. That doesn't seem now to be a great plan—it's time instead to follow up on search results I had found from Indeed.com.

I don't believe that Eastman Kodak is at the point of thriving. Too much dead wood weighs down the very top of the company, and that includes Antonio Perez, Phil Faraci, and others who share leadership positions and board of director positions. The highest levels of Kodak are incestuous and self-perpetuating in their delusions. Kodak hasn't the nimbleness to find a logical and inventive way out of its backwardness, and Kodak may be now overly downsizing that small component that was to be the company's white knight.

I predict that Kodak will stop making film stock for cinema, that the photo kiosks will become part of history, and that the Kodak Gallery will steadily lose what market share it has now. Kodak's frenzied litigation to uphold its intellectual property rights will dwindle after several rulings against its asserted pain, and the portfolio of 1100 patents will largely not be sold, as their aging complexion loses to the beauty of new ideas  As for the Dayton division that designs and builds inkjet, digital-data printing presses, it might have done well on its own, but now the Kodak modus has overtaken what innovation was there.

Day of decision

Monnday, 20 February 2012

Yesterday's exercise was a visit to the gym for a leg workout. Though I had aimed to bike to the workout, our friends Russ and Kim called a bit after noon to invite me to join them for dinner. So I cut back my plans: drive to Cardinal Fitness for a workout and use the showers there to prepare for the evening. The leg workout was a careful one, to pay close attention to my right knee that had got injured sometime between last weekend and Saturday's ride at Lagonda Trail. I went through most sets with a 10% reduction in weight and careful attention to alignment of the knees and ankles to hips. After an hour, I knew that any more exercise would be beyond what the knee should be put through.

I returned home to feed Howard and brew a large latte for my drive to Cincinnati. On the drive, I visualized my workday tomorrow, as much as possible. For one thing, I have little control over my meeting with Bruce, my direct supervisor. Bruce emailed his staff Friday that he had a conference room reserved from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m., and that he would call us in alphabetic order for a short meeting. Each of us will be told then whether we are to remain for now with Kodak and participate in the company reorganization or to be laid off. His plan leaves 15 to 20 minutes for each person, and I am near the middle of the list, with seven meetings before mine and eleven after.

Bruce had guessed that the workday would continue for 84% of us, and that the others would process out today. Bruce planned to advising that they should leave to compose themselves and return a day or two later to pack up and say goodby to colleagues. The percentage implies that Bruce will tell three of us that the layoff affects us.

If I'm laid off, I want to say, "Of course I feel bad about the news, but I appreciate that the news comes directly from you. I do have a favor to ask you for—that I can receive a good recommendation from you. Especially carefully say I hope that the last year of conflict with Vic can be put aside when you prepare the recommendation. Also be sure to ask Are there any internal jobs that you think are available I can apply for? and ask details on What does Kodak provide for the promised outplacement counseling? and in closing say I hope that you still have your job... and depending on his answer, continue If you are not remaining with the company, what is the best contact information for you? and ask discretely Can you tell me how many in the writing area are being let go? How many are being let go in the engineering services department?"

If I'm not laid off, I want to seem not too disappointed, and say, "So where do we go from here? Do you know which product lines will continue, and whether I'll be shifting from sustaining work on the VL products to development work on the Prosper line?"

I've been taking pragmatic steps for a while—packing up boxes and taking them home, archiving documents I produced over the past 20 years, cleaning out the accumulated source material and historical files—since I really expect to be laid off. The last year, or even two years, have been very stressful, and I'll be glad they are history. On my drive home after Kim's wonderful meal, I thought several times, Please, please let me be laid off. How unfortunate it would be to stay! And any later lay-off might have a poorer severance package, since Kodak's problems would have worsened.

Powder coating and Lagonda Trail

Saturday, 18 February 2012

This morning, I headed off early to Links & Kinks, my most trusted bike shop in the Dayton area, to leave my Lotus Legend for a refinishing. Brian does powder coating, which is a clean process for single-color finishes. A long, long time ago, I sent the same bike to an Indiana company for a beautifully done repaint to a metallic blue as a primary color with a pink forequarter that dripped into the blue. But the pink had faded over the years to whites and several serious chips had allowed a bit of rust to develop at the bottom bracket, chain stays, and downtube. So it's time for a refinish, after about 18 years.

Back in 1984, the refinish had cost over $150, including the breakdown by my local bike shop, shipping, refinishing, and rebuilding. Brian quoted a much lower cost, about half of that cost.




Brian's shop is at the north end of Fairborn, on Broad Street (Highway 444) about a block north of the intersection with Maple Avenue and a quarter mile north of the intersection with Central Avenue (Highway 235). Since I had this errand, I brought my mountain bike with me, and headed on to explore either John Bryan Park outside of Yellow Springs or the LORT (Lagonda Trail off Miracle Mile) in Springfield. John Bryan was closed, and I talked with a park ranger for a short bit, to ask about the trails in Springfield. It turned out he knew only about the paved bikeways, and he told me horror stories about shootings on the path from high vantage points. (Man, I hope that is just his paranoia as a uniformed officer.)

I drove on to Springfield, and found the trail after some unsure driving through town. I took the slowest way possible, off Highway 68 through residential areas to eventually end up on Limestone Street, which I took to connect to Highway 4 just to the east of downtown.

Note: The Lagonda Trail is closed to mountain bikes as of Fall 2012.

The better way from Yellow Springs is to take Highway 68 north until it becomes a freeway, then take the exit for Ohio 41 and go across town. From Dayton, take I-70 east to the Highway 4-Business I-70 into Springfield, then take Highway 68 north, and the exit for Ohio 41. From this exit, go east as the street becomes West First Street; turn right at a T-intersection with St. Paris Street, and follow this around a turn to the east to become McCreight Avenue, continue on this street at its name change to Mitchell Boulevard, and 3 miles from Highway 68, turn left on Miracle Mile. Take the first left onto a gravel road at a sign for WIZE radio 1520, and park at the out building on the left.

I had a hard time finding the parking for the trailhead, as I expected to see well-developed facilities. Hmm, too ready to expect everything is absolutely ready for the crowds of mountain bikers, I guess. The north trailhead needs about $25K from a generous benefactor before it can offer parking, and the south trailhead has room only for a few cars parked closely together.

The trail is suitable for beginner to intermediate riders, though the first 150 yards from the south trailhead offer a sudden jump into the complexities the trail offers a rider. The trail is still in development, though it has come a long way from wilderness, thanks to diligent work from Diana Daniels and others. The trails are discernible with the exception of perhaps 50 feet in the middle of the course. The way is marked very frequently with pink ties around trees on alternating sides of the path. The path is generally free of obstructions, though a few 4- through 8-inch timber cross the path occasionally. All timber is hop-able, and many quick dips and rises make a fun ride without being a huge challenge.

The middle of the course has several flatter sections, particularly as the forest gives way to meadow. Some natural obstacles added in this area could keep the path interesting and form a skills development area. There are two or more natural pools that the trail comes near, and sometimes the trail may be pretty muddy in these sections. So, until the trail becomes more developed, expect not to wear your Sunday Best on the trail ... as if we're afraid of mud!

Diana Daniels, indefatigable trail minder

When I parked, a woman was pulling tools from her Rav4. I asked whether the trails were rideable, and she was emphatic about the need to ride them, even through the soupy spots. She mentioned that she had been working on several stumps, and I asked, "So are you Diana?" Yes, it was the indefatigable Ms. Daniels herself, out again to bring more of the trail into shape.

I'm usually a more timid rider, wary of slipping on wet trails and worried that I might leave ruts. Had I been alone at the trailhead, I would have turned around and waited for a dryer course. But Diana insisted I ride, so my tracks could show her where the better lines were, and how corners can be made crisper or slower. So I encourage you, when other trails around Dayton are closed, go to Lagonda to have some muddy fun.
 

Ride conditions
Temperature: 43 to 45°F at 12:00 noon
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, ankle socks, open-finger gloves
Bike: Mongoose MGX-D40 trail
Time: 00:40:39 for 3.02 miles
Heart rate: 142 bpm HRave, 157 bpm HRmax
Trail users: 1 trail worker
Playback of the ride

Missed bike-commute day 2012.02 and maybe the last for a while

Friday, 17 February 2012

Today is the second day this year that has good weather to commute by bike. It might be the last opportunity I have to commute to work at Kodak/Dayton.

Near the beginning of February, Kodak announced a 16% reduction in its Dayton division. This followed the long-expected filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection that occurred in January. Within a week of the layoff announcement, eight colleagues in the technical writing area were released from their contracts. The billings for their contracted services had not been paid for at least 60 days, and our department manager had continued to bill their services to a purchase order that he had written and his management chain had approved sometime before the filing for bankruptcy. Though another purchase order was opened after the filing date, its approval was in question, and the contracted workers had to leave...

precipitously... When management became aware of the issues with the purchase orders, the decision came down to end the contracted work that same day.
...and with a built-in cliff-hanger. Because a new purchase order awaited approval, the contracted workers were told that they could be called back at any time, but they should feel free to take another job, if one comes available.

Now comes the turn for direct employees to ease pressures on the bottom line. Each employee will be told on Monday, 20 February if the layoff includes her or him.

As a matter of pragmatism, I've been preparing myself for no longer working at Kodak. The layoff affects one employee in every six, and at least the first-line managers are also subject to the cut. My boss joked about the possibility of finding out first-thing Monday morning that he is being laid off and then in turn needing to tell 3 to 6 of his reports that they are laid off too. So I plan to drive to work Monday, expecting to carry home the personal articles in my cube and in my locker in the company gym.

That left today as perhaps my last day to commute to work at Kodak.

At home I was suiting up at 7:20 as the fingers of rosy dawn spread across the sky. Then the zipper to my skinsuit stuck. I pulled it down, then up: still stuck. With a couple repeats, the zipper pulled through the hitch. But as the zipper reached the neck, the whole thing split open, with the zipper housing stuck at my adam's apple. I don't know why I didn't just decide to cover the gaping front with another layer, with duct tape even. But instead I fixated on replacing the skinsuit with another and spent several minutes trying to squeeze my head through the neck opening, then slip the top off my shoulders, and then pull the skinsuit down to my hips and off my legs.

Too much time. I realized that leaving even by 7:40 would leave too little time for working through the day. (Why would I care about this, if I really am to be laid off on Monday? Either a sign of optimism or of duty. So what are they gonna do? Fire me?) So I finished getting down to skin, took a long shower that included a leg shave, and headed out the door to perhaps my last full day of work at Kodak.

The mood of ennui, of pointlessness, of fatality pervades the Dayton offices. The ship runs rudderless, the General Manager has stated that all products are under scrutiny, and that some will continue. We work without motive, though the need for continuing work is clear, if the company is to succeed. Until the workforce is culled, product lines cut, and management reorganized, no work seems to have real meaning. But decision has been lacking for a month, and no one looks forward to whatever the result may be. Resignation rules in the wheelhouse, where the Captain and his First Mate should be. Instead, they are holding yet another press conference to utter platitudes: "Business as usual!" and "It is what it is!"

But I do look forward, in a few weeks, to a different destination for my commute. In the meantime, I'll update here for my progress in finding a refreshed bike-commute to a new workplace.

See my resumé.


News Flash! Loop Detectors Sense Your Bike


Ride conditions-for planning
Temperature: 27 to 33°F at 06:45
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, ankle socks, quilted tights, light jacket, quilted full-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 850 27x30-48x12 hybrid 
Time: no time for 11.95 miles
Heart rate: no data HR
Bikeway users: no data

Commute home, first day 2012

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

A heavy overcast rolled in through the afternoon, and light rain was moving into Cincinnati. Forecasting from the radar animations, I thought Rain may miss the Dayton area even perhaps through the evening and night. No matter the weather, though; I need to leave work exactly at the final moment to be home before sunset.

So I headed from my cube at 5:30, changed in the locker room, and was on my bike by 5:40. I had misjudged the radar indications though. I felt isolated drops throughout the ride. Starting with a drop on the face about every tenth mile, and ending with a few every minute. The road stayed dry through the entire route, and I made it home still dry.

When I brought my bike up the porch steps, twilight had overtaken daylight. I welcome the rain that may come tonight and tomorrow, and the day or two without a bike-commute. The day's length will grow a few precious minutes before I commute by bike again..

 

Ride conditions
Temperature: 47°F at 17:05
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, ankle socks, tights, light jacket, full-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 850 27x30-48x12 hybrid 
Time: 00:45:07 for 11.89 miles
Heart rate: 137 bpm HRave, 151 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 3 pedestrians
Playback of the ride

First commute day for 2012

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

The weekend's snows have passed, leaving only a thin layer that dissipated by evening yesterday. The weather is supposed to clear today and then bring in rain tonight. I decided to make use of the full day of daylight, which is one that stretches to nearly eleven hours and leaves me plenty of time for a commute before and after a work day of 8.5 hours.

Early in the season, as I return to commuting by bike, I expect each way to take up to an hour. So I prepared my departure in anticipation of sunrise at 7:30, and I left as soon as it was well lit, by 7:20.

The bikeway was clean for the most part. Some light mud remained on the path underneath I-75; muddy tractor tracks documented some recent work removing trees near the firemen's training station; very light frost clung to the bridges west and south of Eastwood Park. Otherwise, the way was free of fallen branches and broken glass. This year's light touch of Winter has been easy on the bikeway, which allowed me to begin bike-commuting almost a month earlier than any year that I've kept records.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 34 to 35°F at 07:15
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the southwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, quilted tights, Gore-tex jacket, ankle socks, quilted  gloves
Bike: Trek 850
Time: 00:49:39 for 11.86 miles
Heart rate: 142 bpm HRave, 159 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 1 cyclist, 1 pedestrian
Playback of the ride

Green lane envy, misplaced

A recent L.A. Times article on the green tone required for painted bike lanes was off in a world of photographic speculation, I guess. At issue, according to the journalist, is the color of green mandated by federal transportation and that it cannot easily be digitally erased from images. The writer focuses on "the color" itself, without realizing the issue is whether the color is evenly toned. Wheel marks, subtleties of light and shadow, and other factors make digital scrubbing difficult. Not the particular shade of green.

Short MoMBA ride

Sunday, 12 February 2012

This is the week to start commuting by bike for another year. The daylight is strong enough for leaving home by 7:20, even on cloudy days, and for returning home by 6:30 in the evening. So there's plenty of time to put in eight hours of work. ...Now if Kodak doesn't lay me off as part of its stated aim of reducing the workforce by 16%, I can be cycling as much as 125 miles per week just in a daily commute.

Today, Sunday, was extremely cold, in comparison to the Winter we've had in Dayton so far. The bikeways were covered with a light snow that had fallen yesterday. But an alternative, the MetroParks Mountain Biking Area was open, according the the daily update on their phone line (937-277-4374).

I took Howard, my 11-year-old yellow Labrador with me, and he alternately followed and led me on the Twisted trail and the Mr. Zig-Zag trail. For the early half of the ride, trails were frozen pretty solidly, but by 11:45, the trail segments that received direct sunlight had thawed and the mud built up. So I decided to follow only two of the trails. The decision was good for another reason too, because Howard's stamina started to fail with only a half trail left to cover. He'll sleep well tonight.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 21 to 25°F at 12:00 noon
Precipitation: none currently, but about an inch of snow still covering the ground
Winds: 11 to 15 mph from the north and west
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, quilted tights, Goretex light jacket, ankle socks, quilted gloves
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:32:45 for 2.69 miles
Heart rate: 142 bpm HRave, 164 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 3 cyclists, 1 dog
Playback of the ride

Bikeway projects listed by MVRPC

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) held a series of public meetings in October 2011 to encourage participation in the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Update. The update includes a draft list of transportation projects for all forms of transportation, including bicycling.

The list includes these projects that may be completed in 2012:

• In Montgomery County
• Centerville-Dayton connector trail from downtown Dayton 6.4 miles to Kettering
• Kettering Trail south from the Kettering Business Park 1.5 miles to the corner of Stroop and Wilmington
• Connector trail along Austin Road, north of the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, 1.0 mile toward and through Waldruhe Park, then north on the eastern side of SR 741 to connect with an existing trail
• In Greene County
• Bellbrook-Fairborn connector trail from the existing bikeway at New Germany-Trebein
  Road (the Fairfield Commons-WSU Connector), traveling north across I-675 for 0.5 mile to
  Colonel Glenn Highway 
• Mad River Trail east from Eastwood Park, 3.4 miles to Huffman Metro Park
• Xenia-Jamestown connector trail from Xenia Station, 3.7 miles to Jasper Road
• In Miami County
• Great Miami River Trail pedestrian bridge across the Great Miami River, 1600 feet south of Peterson Road

Map of 2012-2014 cycling projects. Click to enlarge.

The cycling projects in the list (for activity from 2012 through 2040) are coded on the map with these letter-number designations:

Montgomery County, clockwise from top left

• G3—Wolf Creek Trail linking the segments from J.H.McGee Boulevard, 2.2 miles to Vickwood Lane unfunded
• M2—Wolf Creek connector trail along US 40 from Union Boulevard 0.6 mile to the Englewood
  Reserve unfunded
• M1—Wolf Creek connector trail along Union Road from the Wolf Creek Bikeway 4.1 miles to the
  existing path at I-70 unfunded
• L3—Stillwater River Trail from the existing Englewood Reserve Bikeway, 10.4 miles north along the Stillwater River corridor, to SR 55 unfunded
• L1—Stillwater River Trail from existing bikeway at Sinclair Park, north 4.7 miles to Grossnickle
  Park unfunded
• U3—Carriage Hills connector trail from Huffman MetroPark to Carriage Hill MetroPark via Union
  School House, Baker, Kitridge, and Bellefontaine Roads 8.3 miles unfunded
• X1—Great Miami River-Creekside connector trail paralleling US 35 to 4th St. along rail right of way then west to Keowee St and North to Monument Avenue 3.1 miles unfunded
• J1—Centerville-Dayton connector trail from downtown Dayton 6.4 miles to Kettering that uses a combination of on-street and off-street facilities funded 2012
• D1—Kettering Trail south from the Kettering Business Park 1.5 miles to proposed bikeway (see J2b) terminus at Stroop and Wilmington funded 2012
• C7—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail from existing SR 725 bikeway,
  0.7 mile east from Marwyck Drive to Wilmington Pike unfunded
• J4—Centerville-Dayton connector trail from Boyce Road, 2.4 miles to Social Row Road using Clareridge Lane, Spring Valley and Atchison Roads unfunded
• J3 (not on map)—Centerville-Dayton connector trail with bicycle/pedestrian crossing at I-675, 0.33 mi east of Loop Road and 0.5 mile to Alex Bell Road unfunded
• C5—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail east along residential streets from McEwen Road 5.0 mile to Alexandersville-Bellbrook Pike unfunded
• C4—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail (bike lane retrofit) 0.4 mile of Spring Valley Pike to between Yankee St. and McEwan Road unfunded
• N1—River Corridors connector trail 10.7 miles along Miamisburg-Springboro Road, Austin Pike, Social Row Road between Medlar Road and Wilmington-Dayton Road; widen shoulders on Ferry Road, Lytle Road between Wilmington-Dayton Road and North St. in Corwin; develop signed on-street bikeway along North St. and Corwin Road to Little Miami Scenic River Trail  unfunded
• N1a—Connector trail along Austin Road, north of the Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport, 1.0 mile toward and through Waldruhe Park, then north on the eastern side of SR 741 to connect with an existing trail funded 2012
• T1—East-West Corridors connector trail facilities along SR 741 between Austin Pike and Cox
  Arboretum (including path between Austin Pike and Miami Village Drive; bike lanes from Miami Village Dr, 3.9 miles to Lyons Road; sidewalks and wide outside lanes between Lyons Road and Cox Arboretum) unfunded
• V1—Great Miami River-Centerville connector trail following 8.2 miles of local streets and shared use paths that connect Moraine, West Carrollton, Washington Township, Centerville, and Bellbrook via Cox Arboretum, Yankee Park, Grant Park and Pleasant Hill Park unfunded
• N2—River Corridors connector trail from Miami Twp. at the Great Miami River Trail 2.1 miles to Miamisburg-Springboro Road unfunded
• C2—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail using widened shoulders on Lower
  Miamisburg Road, Riverview Ave., and Maue Road, 6.8 miles between SR 4 and
  Alexandersville Road unfunded
• C1—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail along Twin Creek from Main St, 1.0 mile to intersection of SR 4 and SR 725 unfunded
• M3—Wolf Creek connector trail using widened shoulders on Union Road from existing Wolf Creek Trail in Trotwood 11.6 miles to SR 725 unfunded
• K11—Great Miami River Trail on Gettysburg Avenue, 1.6 miles to West River Road via Guthrie Road and McArthur Park unfunded
• K10—Great Miami River Trail on the west river bank from Stewart
  street, 3.0 miles to Gettysburg Avenue and spur to Sunwatch Indian Village unfunded
• G2—Wolf Creek Trail from J.H. McGee Boulevard, 2.0 miles to Vickwood Lane unfunded

Greene County, clockwise from top left

• I4—Bellbrook-Fairborn connector trail 1.0 mile north through Wright State University from Colonel Glenn Hwy. to Kauffman Ave. unfunded
• I3—Bellbrook-Fairborn connector trail from the existing bikeway at New Germany-Trebein
  Road (the Fairfield Commons-WSU Connector), traveling north across I-675 for 0.5 mile to
  Colonel Glenn Highway funded 2012 
• B1—Fairborn-Yellow Springs-Cedarville connector trail from South Street, 1.6 miles to Xenia Drive (Add bike lanes on Xenia Drive between Yellow Springs-Fairfield Road.) unfunded
• E1 (not on map)—Mad River Trail east from Eastwood Park, 3.4 miles to Huffman Metro Park funded 2012
• E4—Mad River Trail northeast from existing Mad River Corridor Bikeway along former
  railroad, 2.8 miles to Enon unfunded
• B3—Fairborn-Yellow Springs-Cedarville connector trail, 6.1 miles (Widen shoulders on Yellow Springs-Fairfield Road between Xenia Drive and Little Miami Scenic Trail.) unfunded
• B4—Fairborn-Yellow Springs-Cedarville connector trail using widened shoulders on SR 343 and SR
  72 between Yellow Springs and Cedarville unfunded
• O2—Bowersville-Jamestown-Clifton connector trail using widened shoulders on Charleston Road
  and Selma-Jamestown Road from Jamestown 10.4 miles to Greene/Clark county line unfunded
• O1—Bowersville-Jamestown-Clifton connector trail using widened shoulders on SR 72 from Bowersville 5.4 miles to Jamestown unfunded
• C11—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail using widened shoulders 16.3 miles between Spring Valley and Bowersville via Spring Valley-Pointersville Road and Hussey Road unfunded
• C10 —Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail from Sackett-Wright Park in Bellbrook, 4.6 miles to the Little Miami Scenic Trail unfunded
• I1 (not on map)—Bellbrook-Fairborn connector trail from SR 725 along W. Walnut St., 0.3 mile to existing bikeway at Bellbrook Park unfunded
• I2—Bellbrook-Fairborn connector trail 5.5 miles north along Upper Bellbrook, Feedwire, S. Alpha-
  Bellbrook, Stutsman, and N. Fairfield Road, to Seajay Drive unfunded
• H1 (not on map)—Xenia-Jamestown connector trail from Xenia Station, 3.7 miles to Jasper Road funded 2012
• C8 (not on map)—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail east along SR 725, from Wilmington Pike to 0.02 miles east unfunded
• C9 (not on map)—Germantown-Spring Valley-Bowersville connector trail east along SR 725, from Bellevue Drive, 0.5 mile to Rosecrest Drive unfunded
• N1—See Montgomery County

Miami County, clockwise from top left

• Q1—Cardinal Trail using widened shoulders along the Cardinal Trail route (Covington-
  Gettysburg Road) from Covington 4.7 miles to the Miami/Darke County line unfunded
• A1—Covington-Piqua "Fletcher Connector Trail" from Cardinal Trail, 3.5 miles north on High Street to abandoned Conrail right-of-way, then east along right-of-way unfunded
• K7—Great Miami River Trail north from Johnston Farm, 2.1 miles to the County Line 
• Y2 (not on map)—Piqua Bikeway Hub redeveloped historical building at the intersection of the Great Miami River trail and the Piqua-Covington Fletcher Trail unfunded
• K6b (not on map)—Great Miami River Trail from Riverside Drive, 1.5 miles to Eldean Road  unfunded
  
• K6e—Great Miami River Trail pedestrian bridge across the Great Miami River, 1600 feet south of Peterson Road funded 2012
• Q2—Cardinal Trail using widened shoulders along the Cardinal Trail route from Covington 20.1 miles to the Miami/Champaign County line (Spring St., CR 30, Farrington Road, Peterson Road, Alcony-Canover Road, and Loy Road) unfunded
• A2—Fletcher connector trail from Piqua, 9.0 miles to and Miami/Champaign county line via Garbry’s Big Woods Reserve and Sanctuary unfunded
• P1—Troy-Fletcher connector trail using widened shoulders along SR 55 and SR 589, providing an on-street 10.6-mile bikeway linking Troy, Casstown, and Fletcher unfunded
• U2—Carriage Hills connector trail from Carriage Hills MetroPark 8.0 miles to New Carlisle via widened shoulders on SR 202, Singer Road, Palmer Road, SR 571, Dayton-Brandt Road, and former railroad corridor between Dayton-Brandt Road and New Carlisle unfunded
• U1—Carriage Hills connector trail from Great Miami River Trail 4.2 miles to Carriage Hills MetroPark through Carriage Trails development unfunded
• Y1 (not on map)—Troy Bikeway Hub constructed structure unfunded
• R2—Laura-Troy connector trail paralleling SR 55 and along former Penn Central Railroad from Ludlow Falls 7.6 miles to Troy unfunded
• L3—See Montgomery County
• R1—Laura-Troy connector trail along former railroad corridor from Laura 6.1 miles to Ludlow Falls unfunded
• L5—Stillwater River Trail roughly paralleling SR 48 from Covington, 10.0 miles to Ludlow Falls unfunded

Warren County

• F1—Great Miami-Little Miami connector trail along SR
  123 from downtown Franklin through Clear Creek 3.6 miles to Lower Springboro Road unfunded
• F2—Great Miami-Little Miami connector trail on Lower Springboro Road from proposed
  Clear Creek Trail 8.2 miles to US 42 unfunded
• K9—Great Miami River Trail from Baxter Drive, 2.0 miles to Miami River Preserve Park unfunded
• T2—East-West Corridors connector trail (bike lanes) on SR 741 from Springboro High School
  4.1 miles to Austin Pike unfunded

The funded projects for 2012 total $12.6M and 16 miles. The planned projects through 2040 total $92M (2011 dollars) and 262 miles.

Daylight comes

The daylight wins ever so gradually more of the time cycle from night. As I eat breakfast and care for my dog Howard, I watch for the first glimpse of sunrise. It's 6:58 and still dark, though a lightening haze floats over the houses to the east.

Last night, driving through Kettering on an errand to buy another bag of special dog food for  Howard, I found myself thinking It's already too dark to be biking home, and here it is 6:17. As I left work a half hour ago, I thought that it was light enough to still be well-enough lit after a forty-minute commute. But that first hopeful thought was proven wrong.

I had looked up the sunrise and sunset times a week ago and decided that Valentine's Day might be the first day with a workable amount of sunlight to allow a bike commute.Sunrise at 7:31 and sunset at 6:11 will leave10 hours and 40 minutes for eight and a half hours of work and an hour and a half for the commute.

As long as the weather holds.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 45 to 48°F at 07:11
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 10 mph from the south
Sunrise today: 07:46
Sunset today: 17:55

Preparation for 2012 commuting

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Winds were not too bad on my way to the gym, but the return trip was a slog through the westerly winds. The gym workout was a scaled-down upper body session.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 32 to 39°F between 13:30 and 16:15
Precipitation: none
Winds: 18 to 23 mph from the west
Clothing: Longsleeve skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, light tights, ankle socks, light Neoprene jacket, full-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 850
Time: 01:30:51 for 17.44 miles
Heart rate: 140 bpm HRave, 166 bpm HRmax
Playback of the ride

Second ride with the World Gym group

Sunday, 11 December 2011

I met up with the group from World Gym/Palm Desert on Mesquite as they crossed Crossley. Several riders greeted me by name, among them Cheryl from Tri-a-Bike, Anthony from World Gym, and Craig. Then a woman who had not been with the group last week rode up and introduced herself as Tracy. Off and on during the ride, Tracy spoke of some of the best trails for off-road riding (Art Smith, Goat Trails with an access from Cathedral Cove, and up around Pinyon Flats).

We rode as a group through Palm Springs to The Coffee Bean on North Palm Canyon, rested there a bit—this was a half-way point for them, and headed through the airport roads back to Dinah Shore Drive for the return to the Palm Desert area. Some discussion aimed at a breakfast at Aqua Pazza fizzled at the end of discussion, since several riders had plans with their families or preparing for the holidays.A couple of the riders (Roger and —) were heading back to the World Gym meeting location, and I tagged along to find the best way there from The River. Then I headed back to Palm Springs as a solo rider, following streets with marked bike lanes or separated bikeways.

Ride conditions
Route: major roads of Dinah Shore, DaVall, Frank Sinatra, Country Club, Bob Hope
Temperature: 62 to 66°F at 11:30
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Bibshorts+jersey, undershirt, ankle socks, open-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 3700 trail bike
Time: 02:10:31 for 30.68 miles
Heart rate: 134 bpm HRave, 160 bpm HRmax
Playback of the ride

Rimcrest and Goat Trails, first return

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Panorama from the Goat Trails, above the Bob Hope mansion

 So today I finally got the self-confidence to return to the Goat Trails above Rimcrest Plaza. Lots of walking the bike and maneuvering with one foot to terra firma, even though I was riding double-track trails for the most part. But as the ride progressed, the tentativity relented except for the most crumbly descents.

The walk-a-bike sections were in what are usual places for my Winter visits to the trails: the steepest part of the second climb (below a north-facing cliff), in the approach of the first hilltop, on the south uphill of the circle around the first hilltop, on the steep escape from the same circle, and a couple of isolated sections after the stone man intersection. With another ride or two through this course, some of these walks will transition to riding, I'm sure. Part of that expected progress is in regaining a sense of body position over the wheels combined with slightly better timing of my shifting.

On the way nearing the stone man intersection, I heard somewhere behind me a police siren, and I stopped to view the course behind me. Stopped at the promontory of the plateau corner was a Palm Springs black-and-white with its lights flashing. I wondered if they were trolling for riders because of some closure that wasn't announced at the gates. The black-and-white continued toward me as I headed on to reach the overlook to Bob Hope's home.

The patrol truck reached another promontory above me as I negotiated a sliding downhill between them and the Bob Hope overlook. I stopped again when their siren sounded, and I whistled a shrill blast after a silence from them. One of the patrolmen had stepped out of the truck, and waved me on. He turned and raised binoculars to sight across the deep divide between Araby Cove and the hills that formed the east side of Palm Canyon, and I looked in that direction. There on the northeast-facing hills was a glider wedged between two outcroppings.

From the overlook above the Bob Hope
mansion, looking north to Palm Springs

I headed on to my goal, and the patrol truck headed down the same trail, showing more traction than I thought possible with the sliding rock and dust trail. They took a turn-off that I knew headed toward a wash through even rougher terrain while I headed the short distance to the overlook.

Heading back from the overlook, I took the same turn-off, even though it meant some tough walk-a-bike stretches. I just had to see if their truck could actually navigate the trail and cross the wash. By the time I had made it through 150 meters of downhill, I saw one of the patrolmen far ahead near the wash, walking the trail toward me. His attention was to his rear, walking up the trail, looking backward below him, and signalling as he went. In a few seconds, the black-and-white passed from behind a ridge. It was returning up the trail in reverse, guided by the gesticulating officer. I too turned around, and reached the main tail only shortly before the patrol truck. To make way for them on the trail back, I took a rockier single-track around the most rocky and steepest double-track while the truck navigated the double-track with much more surety than I could.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 68 to 72°F at 11:00
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, SPD-cleated sandals, open-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 3700 trail bike
Time: 01:37:51 for 12.36 miles
Heart rate: not available

Playback of the ride

Gym commute day 01—there and back

Monday, 28 November 2011

Today was a trial run for getting to World Gym at Sunrise and Vista Chino. I thought my way could be pretty direct and without much traffic, and I found that to be true on my return home. Each direction took the same time, about 16 minutes

On my way to the gym, I first headed north on El Cielo, which is the usual direction by car. I turned west on Baristo and then took Cerritos and intervening curved streets always in a north-bound path. Finally at Tacheva I had no choice but to cut over to Sunrise, where I found a bikeway that runs parallel to the sidewalk—though it was a swerving expanse that goes all the way to Vista Chino.

The return trip was straightforward: Sunrise south to the Desert Chapel at Warm Sands, and then east along the golf courses to home.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 59 to 73°F at 08:45 and 10:45
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Skinsuit, open-finger gloves
Bike: Trek 3700 off-road bike
Time: 00:32:05 for 7.19 miles
Heart rate: 125 bpm HRave, 144 bpm HRmax
Playback of the ride

Bob Hope climb and tour of Araby Cove

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Man, am I out of shape! Before I left home, our discussion of when I should be back included my statement, "I'll probably make a few repeats of the climb" up the hill toward Bob Hope's mansion on Rimcrest. As it was, I made only two attempts, and both included a recuperation stop at some point below the top of the climb. So much for the long time of inactivity for the bike commute.

I'll give myself one or two days of rest and then make the attempt again.. Clearly I'm not fit enough for any successful outing on the Goat Trails, so a week of training on the Bob Hope ascent and a few commutes to the gym may help in regaining any lost ground.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 58 to 68°F at 08:45 and 10:35
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm 
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves
Bike: Trek off-road bike
Time: 01:00:50 for 10.13 miles
Heart rate: 129 bpm HRave, 156 bpm HRmax
Playback of the ride

Hanging it up for this year

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Today I faced up to the knowledge that I would not commute again by bike this year. I have only three more work days before my holiday and year-end vacation time starts, and each day is filled with responsible things to do that require a car.

With that realization came another little thing to do—cart away the toiletries that I've kept in a locker at work for the shower and shave after my commute in each morning. Pack up all the clothes that have awaited their turn for my work wardrobe. And carry all the washables home.

Now everything is in order, ready for the winter wait for good commuting weather. With a bit of luck, there may be some isolated days in February. But if 2012 is like most previous years, the first real days of commuting will come in March. And 2012 brings the challenge of biking to work something more than 100 days. That's my goal and my early New Year's resolution.

Ride conditions
No ride

Been quiet on the cycling front

Wednesday, 11 November 2011

Just to keep you up with what's happening:
The daylight period is shorter.
I've been busy at home packing up boxes of books to give to Planned Parenthood, sell on Amazon.com, and throw away.
I've been busy at work finishing a book to be published before I leave for the holidays.
On weekends, I've been busy in the yard, closing up the garden for the winter.
I've been going to the gym for a quick workout, so I'm not a full-fledged slouch.
I'm experiencing what the road racers call the "veteran's restriction."

With a little luck, I may have fewer demands on my time for the next couple weeks. That might mean I can at least do a one-way bike commute each day, for which I leave the car at work overnight twice a week. Here's hoping that I'll really get to bike-commute 100 days this year!

Ride conditions
No ride.

Bike-commute day 95—to work

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Going to work today is the second half of my commuting day, since I drove to work yesterday with my bike in the van and then rode home. This part of the year always has an alternation of drive-bike-bike-drive since the daylight is so short. And tonight, during the drive, I'll stop at Cardinal Fitness to get in a bit of weight training. The leg routine is due tonight.

Today was the first time I broke out the quilted tights. Since my breath was visible when I took Howard out, I thought that a heavier layer would be good, even with the temperatures above freezing. At some midpoint of the ride, I decided that I was overdressed. I had begun to heat up, even though my effort was not too great. I've got to learn once again when the added layers are necessary, when they're too much.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 34 to 41°F at 07:40
Precipitation: none
Winds: calm to 5 mph from the south 
Clothing: Skinsuit, longsleeve undershirt, quilted tights, Gore-tex jacket, ankle socks, full-finger gloves
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: 00:44:15 for 11.94 miles
Heart rate: 138 bpm HRave, 153 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 1 cyclist, 6 pedestrians, 2 dogs
Playback of the ride

Bike-commute day 95—to home

Monday, 24 October 2011

I had driven to work in the morning, and so I pulled my bike from the car for the evening ride. My start at 18:07 was later than it should have been. I knew that it would be well into dusk when I would arrive home.

My Garmin device began losing its signal below Riverscape and continued to do so through the rest of the ride. I wondered if something had happened to one of the satellites, but realized only at the end of the ride that the wheel magnet had swiveled to perpendicular with the wheel. Its position was too distant to be adequately registering my speed, and without speed in my Lotus setup, the device assumes I've stopped. So it stops.

Ride conditions
Temperature: 60 to 65°F at 17:45
Precipitation: none
Winds: 5 to 10 from the northwest
Clothing: Skinsuit, ankle socks, open-finger gloves
Bike: Lotus Legend fixed gear
Time: (elapsed) 00:43:20 for 11.95 miles
Heart rate: 135 bpm HRave, 148 bpm HRmax
Bikeway users: 4 cyclists, 11 pedestrians, 4 dogs
Playback of the ride