Summer Reading

This summer I was given a copy of "Miles from Nowhere: A Round the World Bicycle Adventure." by Barbara Savage. I had never heard of this book before but I am an armchair adventurer and so I read it. It's a wonderful travelog of a pair of crazy kids who "rode" around the world. Now obviously that includes some flying, ferries etc, but they took their bikes in 1979-1980 all across the world. And rode places, I now have no desire ever to visit! OMG bugs, mud, poverty etc. Who really wants to deal with that? With my college roommate in '79 we rode across the USA. Now of course for these two, they didn't stop. We did because a) we ran out of money, and b) civilization was calling. One has a hard time justifying going to college and then becoming a travel bum so we returned home and joined the 9-5 crowd. (ugh)

It's not the only book on riding around the world, I have also read Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey by Goran Kropp and that's another amazing journey.

There is also Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy who in 1963 rode from Ireland to India, I think all the way to the Nepal border.

All good adventure on a bicycle reads!

Specialized All Conditions Tire review

I am currently riding a 700x28 Specialized All Conditions tire on my front wheel and last week I took a close inspection to see how it was holding up. It's currently full of a zillion tiny holes, from I know not what. I do have glass on my route because I ride in traffic but I've never seen tire tread to this. On the other hand I haven't had any flats because of it either. I haven't replaced the tire and probably won't until it gets closer to failure. B

But this tire bears watching.

Cherry Blossom Ride

A beautiful tree in my own neighborhood, just as I'm leaving it.

This spray of daffodills are on Mercer Island just opposite the old Inn.

Capitol Hill looking back at the first block of Cherry trees

The next block, the trees are on both sides of the street.

The front of the girl's school up on Capitol Hill.

These trees are marked "protected" from the construction of that apartment building and it looks like they are going to make it just fine.

This apartment complex is two blocks from my office. The trees are surrounding a parking lot and then continue on the next block. You don't have to go to the other Washington to see the cherry trees but you do if you want warm weather! It was only 40F on the way in today.

New Bike trail on 108th SE in Belleuve

I checked out Bellevue's newest bike trail and it's awful. The reason is that it crosses several side streets and lots of driveways all with terrible sightlines. I recipe for getting hit if you ride on it. But to make it the city took out the shoulders on the road, so if you ride in traffic it's twice as hard for a car to pass you and you have no place to bail if they decide to brush you in passing.

Grade F for bicycling. Looks ok for runners through.

So much for riding in January!

Well maybe I can ride tomorrow after it finishes melting all this stuff off the trail.
(photo from a friend of mine, who walked this portion of the ride using ice creepers on his shoes and studded tires on his bike.)

2012 New Year's Resolutions

Looking back at 2011 I did at least ride more than the year before, which was one of my resolutions. In 2010, I rode 141 times to just crest 4K miles commuting. In 2011, I had an accident in February ripping my glove and my hand. That plus a vacation and I didn't ride at all that month so I figured it was already over. But by just keeping at it, I managed to ride 166 times in 2011, which is 5.2K miles. It's not exact as I'm not using a GPS or cycle computer and there is some variance in my daily commute so I don't get bored but it's close enough.

In 2012, I'm shooting for 6K miles. It may not be achievable. I have a lot on my plate in 2012 but it's good to have goals, and it is possible with even riding every day. And riding every work day is impossible for me.

I also resolve to remember that each day is a gift and not to be tossed away lightly. One never knows what's coming next. To that end I will continue to spread cheer to everyone I meet. Because the more joy you spread around the better you feel.

Anyway see you out there on the road! Ride safe!