TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3508.5
Today is another stupendous day—almost unheard of weather for the last day of November. The record high for Ann Arbor on this date is 63°. When I began my ride at noon, I enjoyed 53° sunshine, which warmed to 56° by the time I finished. I only rode one round trip to Marsh Park today, though, finishing the 10 miles in 1:12—and at that, exceeded my goal of 3500 miles for the year.
I decided to keep it short because I was drawn back to read a book I just began. All my life I've been fascinated by the theme of time travel, and this hefty Stephen King novel, 11/23/63, deals with a man who finds an unexpected wormhole to allow him to travel back to 1962, and the book is about his plans to travel back and prevent the Kennedy assassination. But I don't have to issue a spoiler alert—I'm not far enough into it yet to have the vaguest idea how it will turn out.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
218th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, 11/29/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3498.5
What a remarkable day for the end of November! When I went out to ride, a bit past 12:30, I enjoyed 56° sunshine, and that temperature climbed a degree during my ride. For the first time in several weeks, I was able to ride with neither coat nor gloves. Given the conditions, I felt as if I should have ridden for hours and hours.
Instead, however, I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 18 miles in 1:58. And one statistical milestone that I failed to note yesterday—that ride pushed me over 400 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
I am rather dismayed to note that, of the 334 days in 2016 so far, I've only been able to ride on 218 of them. I feel as if the total should be well north of that, but those days on which I could not ride have run the gamut, from numerous mechanical issues (primarily early in the year, when I still had the old trike), days when we have been traveling (not a lot, but a few weeks' worth all told), a few days when I could not ride due to illness, and a handful of days when schedule conflicts (family or church commitments and the like) simply made it impossible to ride. Anyway—here's to a more disciplined 2017!
What a remarkable day for the end of November! When I went out to ride, a bit past 12:30, I enjoyed 56° sunshine, and that temperature climbed a degree during my ride. For the first time in several weeks, I was able to ride with neither coat nor gloves. Given the conditions, I felt as if I should have ridden for hours and hours.
Instead, however, I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 18 miles in 1:58. And one statistical milestone that I failed to note yesterday—that ride pushed me over 400 hours of elapsed riding time for the year.
I am rather dismayed to note that, of the 334 days in 2016 so far, I've only been able to ride on 218 of them. I feel as if the total should be well north of that, but those days on which I could not ride have run the gamut, from numerous mechanical issues (primarily early in the year, when I still had the old trike), days when we have been traveling (not a lot, but a few weeks' worth all told), a few days when I could not ride due to illness, and a handful of days when schedule conflicts (family or church commitments and the like) simply made it impossible to ride. Anyway—here's to a more disciplined 2017!
Monday, November 28, 2016
217th ride of 2016 - Monday, 11/28/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3480.5
Today's ride featured conditions which were not horrible, but were decidedly sub-par. I waited until just before noon to ride, and then ventured into a light, intermittent shower (not really bothersome, but enough to render my glasses into a prism within a very few minutes), a breeze (not heavy, but significant and one that affected my riding), and a cool (39°) gray day. I ended up riding (fairly slowly), all on walks, a medley of a couple of routes I have ridden many times, but never in that specific combination or order. I rode down to Saline (the intersection of Woodland Dr. and Ann Arbor Saline Rd.), and then on the way back, turned to take the loop that allows me to swing down around Saline High School. This gave me a total of 13.2 miles, in a leisurely 1:43. And now, I am delighted to be home drying off and warming up.
Today's ride featured conditions which were not horrible, but were decidedly sub-par. I waited until just before noon to ride, and then ventured into a light, intermittent shower (not really bothersome, but enough to render my glasses into a prism within a very few minutes), a breeze (not heavy, but significant and one that affected my riding), and a cool (39°) gray day. I ended up riding (fairly slowly), all on walks, a medley of a couple of routes I have ridden many times, but never in that specific combination or order. I rode down to Saline (the intersection of Woodland Dr. and Ann Arbor Saline Rd.), and then on the way back, turned to take the loop that allows me to swing down around Saline High School. This gave me a total of 13.2 miles, in a leisurely 1:43. And now, I am delighted to be home drying off and warming up.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
216th ride of 2016 - Sunday, 11/27/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3467.3
On this cool (29°), calm, clear morning, I left at 7:00 a.m. (headlight flashing away) and round a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10 miles in 1:14. My standards are clearly evolving, in my description of a 29° morning as "cool" rather than "cold." However, I know much colder weather is coming—and I figure anything I can do to help prepare for it psychologically is all to the good. Last winter the coldest ride I had was 18°, and this year, my goal is to go lower.
On this cool (29°), calm, clear morning, I left at 7:00 a.m. (headlight flashing away) and round a single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10 miles in 1:14. My standards are clearly evolving, in my description of a 29° morning as "cool" rather than "cold." However, I know much colder weather is coming—and I figure anything I can do to help prepare for it psychologically is all to the good. Last winter the coldest ride I had was 18°, and this year, my goal is to go lower.
Friday, November 25, 2016
215th ride of 2016 - Friday, 11/25/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3457.3
On this cold (39° when I began at 8:30, 41° when I finished), I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18 miles in 2:11. I had wanted to do three round trips, but composition was calling to me, as I want to continue with an Easter anthem for choir, organ, and trumpet that I began this week. So, I told myself, "18 miles is not insignificant."
On this cold (39° when I began at 8:30, 41° when I finished), I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18 miles in 2:11. I had wanted to do three round trips, but composition was calling to me, as I want to continue with an Easter anthem for choir, organ, and trumpet that I began this week. So, I told myself, "18 miles is not insignificant."
Thursday, November 24, 2016
214th ride of 2016 - Thursday, 11/24/2016 (THANKSGIVING DAY)
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3439.3
I had wanted to ride three round trips to Marsh Park this morning in order to help make room for turkey and pie -- but then, during my ride, I remembered a task to which I had committed, that needed to be done before we leave for my brother's house late this morning. So I figured I'd better cut it short and just do two round trips, and I finished these consecutive round trips (18 miles) in 2:13.
Hoping to do the longer ride, I set out at 6:30 in pitch-black conditions (my trusty headlight flashing away), and we were severely fogged in and cold (38°). But at least all precipitation was blessedly absent! My glasses were soon useless (prismatic) due to the high humidity, but this posed no difficulty, riding on that trail that prohibits motorized vehicles. I saw a few other early denizens of the trail ... but not many. By the time I began the second round trip, daylight was beginning to filter in, the sky having changed to a dirty shade of blue gray.
I should explain for those "late to the party" something I have explained previously. Michelle requests that I do all my riding off-road. And it is my great good fortune that a nice asphalt trail exists quite near us. It begins about a mile from our home, and I reach it by sidewalks. Called the Lohr-Textile Greenway, it runs a couple of miles south, along the east side of Lohr Rd., and then turns east and parallels Textile Rd., crossing over to the other side of it at one point, and employing three nicely constructed boardwalks to cross wetlands, running out to a park east of State Rd. If I do a single round trip to the park, finishing off with a lap around our condo complex, it's just 10 miles. Most days I try to do multiple round trips, but additional ones are only 8 miles, because I turn around at Ellsworth Rd. rather than going all the way home (in order to avoid some busy crossings, and to avoid climbing some significant hills).
Following is a collage I put together in June 2015:
I had wanted to ride three round trips to Marsh Park this morning in order to help make room for turkey and pie -- but then, during my ride, I remembered a task to which I had committed, that needed to be done before we leave for my brother's house late this morning. So I figured I'd better cut it short and just do two round trips, and I finished these consecutive round trips (18 miles) in 2:13.
Hoping to do the longer ride, I set out at 6:30 in pitch-black conditions (my trusty headlight flashing away), and we were severely fogged in and cold (38°). But at least all precipitation was blessedly absent! My glasses were soon useless (prismatic) due to the high humidity, but this posed no difficulty, riding on that trail that prohibits motorized vehicles. I saw a few other early denizens of the trail ... but not many. By the time I began the second round trip, daylight was beginning to filter in, the sky having changed to a dirty shade of blue gray.
I should explain for those "late to the party" something I have explained previously. Michelle requests that I do all my riding off-road. And it is my great good fortune that a nice asphalt trail exists quite near us. It begins about a mile from our home, and I reach it by sidewalks. Called the Lohr-Textile Greenway, it runs a couple of miles south, along the east side of Lohr Rd., and then turns east and parallels Textile Rd., crossing over to the other side of it at one point, and employing three nicely constructed boardwalks to cross wetlands, running out to a park east of State Rd. If I do a single round trip to the park, finishing off with a lap around our condo complex, it's just 10 miles. Most days I try to do multiple round trips, but additional ones are only 8 miles, because I turn around at Ellsworth Rd. rather than going all the way home (in order to avoid some busy crossings, and to avoid climbing some significant hills).
Following is a collage I put together in June 2015:
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
213th ride of 2016 - Wednesday, 11/23/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3421.3
"Miserable" is too kind a word for the conditions of today's ride. I rode in a cold (37°), light rain, beginning about 10:30, and while my poncho helped, my cloth gloves (inexplicably and stupidly chosen rather than my heavier ones) did not. I wanted to stay close to home, and so rode 4 loops of a circuit near us. I call it the Arcadia Loop, because it turns north on Arcadia Dr. from Ellsworth Rd. (all on sidewalks), and winds its way up through a subdivision.
I hope to do a good ride tomorrow morning in order to make room for the Thanksgiving feast. We'll see what the conditions permit. The current forecast is for light showers to end about 6 a.m., and then cloudy and cold conditions to persist through the morning. Cold I can deal with, so long as I'm not getting wet, too.
"Miserable" is too kind a word for the conditions of today's ride. I rode in a cold (37°), light rain, beginning about 10:30, and while my poncho helped, my cloth gloves (inexplicably and stupidly chosen rather than my heavier ones) did not. I wanted to stay close to home, and so rode 4 loops of a circuit near us. I call it the Arcadia Loop, because it turns north on Arcadia Dr. from Ellsworth Rd. (all on sidewalks), and winds its way up through a subdivision.
I hope to do a good ride tomorrow morning in order to make room for the Thanksgiving feast. We'll see what the conditions permit. The current forecast is for light showers to end about 6 a.m., and then cloudy and cold conditions to persist through the morning. Cold I can deal with, so long as I'm not getting wet, too.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
212th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, 11/22/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3412.9
Another milestone passed in mileage today— now the next one, 3500, will put me past my goal for the year. That should be quite easy, but I am dubious about making it to 4000 this year. If I don't, that'll give me something to shoot at in 2017!
I rode today at 11:15, by which point it had heated up to 32°. And after doing consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (18 miles) in 2:09, it was a sizzling 38°! The heavy gloves and coat were most welcome today!
One mild bit of adventure—just a couple of minutes into the ride, the chain came off the from gear, so that my pedaling began spinning far too quickly and easily (with no resistance). Initially, I failed to notice the cause, and was stymied for just a moment; however, employing the teaching I've received from Doug, I quickly had it spotted and rectified the situation.
Another milestone passed in mileage today— now the next one, 3500, will put me past my goal for the year. That should be quite easy, but I am dubious about making it to 4000 this year. If I don't, that'll give me something to shoot at in 2017!
I rode today at 11:15, by which point it had heated up to 32°. And after doing consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (18 miles) in 2:09, it was a sizzling 38°! The heavy gloves and coat were most welcome today!
One mild bit of adventure—just a couple of minutes into the ride, the chain came off the from gear, so that my pedaling began spinning far too quickly and easily (with no resistance). Initially, I failed to notice the cause, and was stymied for just a moment; however, employing the teaching I've received from Doug, I quickly had it spotted and rectified the situation.
Monday, November 21, 2016
211th ride of 2016 - Monday, 11/21/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3394.9
Today's ride was surprisingly gloomy and cheerless, given the fact that I rode under a clear sky. But after a very full and busy day, I wasn't able to ride until we got Michelle home from school at 4:30, and at that time the daylight was quickly fleeing, with the temperature at 31°.
A good chunk of the day's busyness was hauling around our 30-year-old TV that we no longer use, but still works fine, trying to find a home for it. But Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the ReUse store all told me no. When a worker at ReUse told me they don't accept TVs, I asked him, "Where?" He suggested, "I'd take it to the recycling drop off station." I hated to do this, as it seems wasteful, since the TV still works. But I went there — only to find they are closed Mondays. So I'll go back tomorrow.
I had wanted to do two round trips to Marsh Park today, but two incidents early in the ride sucked all the gumption out of me.
1) The high winds during my early morning ride yesterday had badly tangled the spinners, or 'tornadoes,' on the back of my trike. I didn't have time to disentangle them yesterday, and forgot to do it today before I set off. A few minutes in, I remembered and stopped to do it, but in the low light and cold I was unable to get it done. (Once I got home I brought them inside, and it was child's play for Michelle to straighten them out.)
2) Then just a few minutes later, I rode one part of the sidewalk where overhanging branches have stolen the spinners in the past (breaking them at one point). Even though I am very conscious of the danger, I could not avoid it today, and when the branches pulled them out and I heard the clatter as the poles struck the sidewalk, I stopped the trike to retrieve them—and the last bit of desire to try for a longer ride vanished.
Accordingly, I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1:15, very glad for that flashing headlight! The daylight, which was "quickly fleeing" when I started, was almost wholly gone by the time I finished. It was not yet quite pitch black ... but such a condition wasn't far off.
Today's ride was surprisingly gloomy and cheerless, given the fact that I rode under a clear sky. But after a very full and busy day, I wasn't able to ride until we got Michelle home from school at 4:30, and at that time the daylight was quickly fleeing, with the temperature at 31°.
A good chunk of the day's busyness was hauling around our 30-year-old TV that we no longer use, but still works fine, trying to find a home for it. But Salvation Army, Goodwill, and the ReUse store all told me no. When a worker at ReUse told me they don't accept TVs, I asked him, "Where?" He suggested, "I'd take it to the recycling drop off station." I hated to do this, as it seems wasteful, since the TV still works. But I went there — only to find they are closed Mondays. So I'll go back tomorrow.
I had wanted to do two round trips to Marsh Park today, but two incidents early in the ride sucked all the gumption out of me.
1) The high winds during my early morning ride yesterday had badly tangled the spinners, or 'tornadoes,' on the back of my trike. I didn't have time to disentangle them yesterday, and forgot to do it today before I set off. A few minutes in, I remembered and stopped to do it, but in the low light and cold I was unable to get it done. (Once I got home I brought them inside, and it was child's play for Michelle to straighten them out.)
2) Then just a few minutes later, I rode one part of the sidewalk where overhanging branches have stolen the spinners in the past (breaking them at one point). Even though I am very conscious of the danger, I could not avoid it today, and when the branches pulled them out and I heard the clatter as the poles struck the sidewalk, I stopped the trike to retrieve them—and the last bit of desire to try for a longer ride vanished.
Accordingly, I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, completing the 10 miles in 1:15, very glad for that flashing headlight! The daylight, which was "quickly fleeing" when I started, was almost wholly gone by the time I finished. It was not yet quite pitch black ... but such a condition wasn't far off.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
210th ride of 2016 - Sunday, 11/20/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3384.9
I would describe this morning's ride as "adventurous" (though never dangerous), and several factors contributed to this.
First of all, it was my coldest ride so far this season, making me extremely glad for my new wool socks that I got from R.E.I. yesterday, my heavy yellow winter coat, and my heavy-duty winter gloves. I woke a bit before 6:00, and actually began my ride about 6:45. After first turning on the car and shining its headlights into the garage so that I could undergo my Sunday morning routine of airing up the tires, I turned on my flashing headlight and pedaled off into the dark, in 30° conditions with a brisk wind from the northwest. I was happy, though, after the "blizzard" conditions described by the commentators at the end of yesterday's Indiana-Michigan game in the Big House, to see no snow on the ground.
I had wanted to do two round trips to Marsh Park. But in the end, I settled for one, due to two factors:
1) The rubber band around my right pants leg broke quite early on, and this caused the pants to snag on the pedaling mechanism and the frame numerous times (though, thankfully, it never caught in the chain). I was still debating the wisdom of pushing on despite this, when I reached Marsh Park, and turned around to head back toward home. The first leg heads westward, and there is quite a lengthy open patch as I ride upwards towards State Rd., and ...
2) When the 20 mph wind hit me, it knifed right through me. That made up my mind for me!
I finished my 10-mile battle with the wind and cold in 1:18.
I would describe this morning's ride as "adventurous" (though never dangerous), and several factors contributed to this.
First of all, it was my coldest ride so far this season, making me extremely glad for my new wool socks that I got from R.E.I. yesterday, my heavy yellow winter coat, and my heavy-duty winter gloves. I woke a bit before 6:00, and actually began my ride about 6:45. After first turning on the car and shining its headlights into the garage so that I could undergo my Sunday morning routine of airing up the tires, I turned on my flashing headlight and pedaled off into the dark, in 30° conditions with a brisk wind from the northwest. I was happy, though, after the "blizzard" conditions described by the commentators at the end of yesterday's Indiana-Michigan game in the Big House, to see no snow on the ground.
I had wanted to do two round trips to Marsh Park. But in the end, I settled for one, due to two factors:
1) The rubber band around my right pants leg broke quite early on, and this caused the pants to snag on the pedaling mechanism and the frame numerous times (though, thankfully, it never caught in the chain). I was still debating the wisdom of pushing on despite this, when I reached Marsh Park, and turned around to head back toward home. The first leg heads westward, and there is quite a lengthy open patch as I ride upwards towards State Rd., and ...
2) When the 20 mph wind hit me, it knifed right through me. That made up my mind for me!
I finished my 10-mile battle with the wind and cold in 1:18.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
209th ride of 2016 - Saturday, 11/19/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3374.9
What a delightful day for a ride! When I went out, at 10:15, it was cold (39°, dropping to 37° by my finish), gray and windy, and with a light rain spitting at me. (The rain, however, changed to a stinging snow in the last half of my ride). Accordingly, I limited myself to a single round trip to Marsh Park today, covering the 10 miles in a slow ride of 1:15. NOTE TO SELF: wear heavy winter gloves tomorrow, as well as the new wool socks I went to R.E.I. and picked up after I finished (with the car heater turned on high).
What a delightful day for a ride! When I went out, at 10:15, it was cold (39°, dropping to 37° by my finish), gray and windy, and with a light rain spitting at me. (The rain, however, changed to a stinging snow in the last half of my ride). Accordingly, I limited myself to a single round trip to Marsh Park today, covering the 10 miles in a slow ride of 1:15. NOTE TO SELF: wear heavy winter gloves tomorrow, as well as the new wool socks I went to R.E.I. and picked up after I finished (with the car heater turned on high).
Thursday, November 17, 2016
208th ride of 2016 - Thursday, 11/17/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3364.9
Our gorgeous weather persists (however briefly), and today when I went to ride at 12:00 noon, the early morning heavy fog had entirely burned away, and under bright sunshine the temperature was 50°, which climbed to 63° when I finished. Once more eager to return to my compositional work, I limited myself to consecutive round trips to Marsh Park today, covering the 18 miles in 2:08.
Our gorgeous weather persists (however briefly), and today when I went to ride at 12:00 noon, the early morning heavy fog had entirely burned away, and under bright sunshine the temperature was 50°, which climbed to 63° when I finished. Once more eager to return to my compositional work, I limited myself to consecutive round trips to Marsh Park today, covering the 18 miles in 2:08.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
207th ride of 2016 - Wednesday, 11/16/16
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3346.9
Today, as our glorious weather persists, I set out at 11:15 in 52° sunshine and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18 miles in 1:55. I had strongly considered riding three, but was eager to get to a choral anthem I am just beginning. I wrestled over this option for a while in my mind, but then recalled the words of my friend and former teacher, J. Larry Roberts, who died this past July 14. When I would report on pondering this sort of decision, Larry would tell me (and I could see the twinkle in his eye as he wrote it), "Music is your gift. You are not likely to achieve renown as a cyclist." (I didn't tell him, but I thought to myself, "I'm not likely to achieve renown in any field of endeavor!)
Today, as our glorious weather persists, I set out at 11:15 in 52° sunshine and rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, covering the 18 miles in 1:55. I had strongly considered riding three, but was eager to get to a choral anthem I am just beginning. I wrestled over this option for a while in my mind, but then recalled the words of my friend and former teacher, J. Larry Roberts, who died this past July 14. When I would report on pondering this sort of decision, Larry would tell me (and I could see the twinkle in his eye as he wrote it), "Music is your gift. You are not likely to achieve renown as a cyclist." (I didn't tell him, but I thought to myself, "I'm not likely to achieve renown in any field of endeavor!)
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
206th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, 11/15/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3328.9
Our terrific weather persists, but it is supposed to change radically by this weekend. The high on Saturday is predicted to be 42° and on Sunday 39°, with a chance of rain moving in. However, this morning, when I went riding at 9:45, it was 43°, and when I finished, just before noon, it was 56°, with enjoyable sunshine throughout the morning. I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park today, finishing the 18 miles in a few seconds under 2 hours flat. I had considered a longer ride, but was eager to leave myself plenty of time to practice piano this afternoon.
Our terrific weather persists, but it is supposed to change radically by this weekend. The high on Saturday is predicted to be 42° and on Sunday 39°, with a chance of rain moving in. However, this morning, when I went riding at 9:45, it was 43°, and when I finished, just before noon, it was 56°, with enjoyable sunshine throughout the morning. I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park today, finishing the 18 miles in a few seconds under 2 hours flat. I had considered a longer ride, but was eager to leave myself plenty of time to practice piano this afternoon.
Monday, November 14, 2016
205th ride of 2016 - Monday, 11/14/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3310.9
This morning I aired up my tires before riding, in a beginning-of-the-week ritual that's steadily becoming an indispensable part of my routine (and one which I had inexcusably neglected for far too long until recently.) Then I went out and rode three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 26 miles in 2:42, and pushing myself over the 3300-mile threshold for the year. It was yet another spectacular fall day—brightly sunny, and 45° when I started at 10:30, up to 59° when I finished.
Just a note, regarding my progress ... if I can average about 14.66 miles/day for the remaining 47 days of the year, I'll reach 4000. I'm not necessarily aiming for it yet, but it's certainly in my thoughts.
This morning I aired up my tires before riding, in a beginning-of-the-week ritual that's steadily becoming an indispensable part of my routine (and one which I had inexcusably neglected for far too long until recently.) Then I went out and rode three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, completing the 26 miles in 2:42, and pushing myself over the 3300-mile threshold for the year. It was yet another spectacular fall day—brightly sunny, and 45° when I started at 10:30, up to 59° when I finished.
Just a note, regarding my progress ... if I can average about 14.66 miles/day for the remaining 47 days of the year, I'll reach 4000. I'm not necessarily aiming for it yet, but it's certainly in my thoughts.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
204th ride of 2016 - Saturday, 11/12/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3284.9
On a beautiful Michigan late fall morning, I had a good ride today. However, due to a tactical error on my part, it was shorter than I had intended. Last night night was our coldest night of the season so far, dipping down into the upper twenties, and when I began my ride at 8:30, it was brightly sunny, calm, and 31°. I was tempted to try getting away with my cloth maize and blue gloves—but within a very short time, my fingers were tingling vigorously, so I decided to shorten my plans. By the end, it had warmed up to 43° and I considered driving myself onward—but by that time I had already made up my mind to do a shorter ride, and was unable to reinvigorate myself. So I did my 12.5-mile loop where I go to Marsh Park, and then, on the way home, head south on Wilson Rd. and then swing down around Saline High School.
I was also pleased to cross paths with my friend Carl Combs. When I first passed him and his wife, walking, just east of the intersection of Textile and Lohr, I came up behind them and wasn't positive it was him, even though he greeted me by name and the voice certainly sounded like his. But then, later, on my way back west from Marsh Park, I met them again, head on, and this time could see it was him.
On a beautiful Michigan late fall morning, I had a good ride today. However, due to a tactical error on my part, it was shorter than I had intended. Last night night was our coldest night of the season so far, dipping down into the upper twenties, and when I began my ride at 8:30, it was brightly sunny, calm, and 31°. I was tempted to try getting away with my cloth maize and blue gloves—but within a very short time, my fingers were tingling vigorously, so I decided to shorten my plans. By the end, it had warmed up to 43° and I considered driving myself onward—but by that time I had already made up my mind to do a shorter ride, and was unable to reinvigorate myself. So I did my 12.5-mile loop where I go to Marsh Park, and then, on the way home, head south on Wilson Rd. and then swing down around Saline High School.
I was also pleased to cross paths with my friend Carl Combs. When I first passed him and his wife, walking, just east of the intersection of Textile and Lohr, I came up behind them and wasn't positive it was him, even though he greeted me by name and the voice certainly sounded like his. But then, later, on my way back west from Marsh Park, I met them again, head on, and this time could see it was him.
Friday, November 11, 2016
203rd ride of 2016 - Friday, 11/11/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3272.4
Today's ride was a frustrating one. Although it was not exceptionally windy, there was a pretty healthy breeze out of the north, that kept strengthening as my ride continued. By the end it was 17 mph, and as I was riding the last couple of miles directly into the teeth of it, I had all the challenge I wanted! I started at 9:15 in balmy 46° conditions, and by the end, it had skyrocketed to 47°!
The wind kept tangling the tornadoes (AKA spinners, or windmills) on the back of my trike. They'd get caught around each other so that, of course, they wouldn't spin. I had to stop five times to get up and disentangle them within a stretch of just a few hundred yards after I turned back from Marsh Park. Finally, after the last time, I gave up and decided to just leave them that way for the rest of the ride.
Accordingly, I decided to settle for a single round trip to the park today, covering the 10 miles in 1:13. And I think I'm going to address this problem (with which I've dealt in the past) by removing one of them, and only riding with two in the future on perfectly calm days.
Today's ride was a frustrating one. Although it was not exceptionally windy, there was a pretty healthy breeze out of the north, that kept strengthening as my ride continued. By the end it was 17 mph, and as I was riding the last couple of miles directly into the teeth of it, I had all the challenge I wanted! I started at 9:15 in balmy 46° conditions, and by the end, it had skyrocketed to 47°!
The wind kept tangling the tornadoes (AKA spinners, or windmills) on the back of my trike. They'd get caught around each other so that, of course, they wouldn't spin. I had to stop five times to get up and disentangle them within a stretch of just a few hundred yards after I turned back from Marsh Park. Finally, after the last time, I gave up and decided to just leave them that way for the rest of the ride.
Accordingly, I decided to settle for a single round trip to the park today, covering the 10 miles in 1:13. And I think I'm going to address this problem (with which I've dealt in the past) by removing one of them, and only riding with two in the future on perfectly calm days.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
202nd ride of 2015 - Thursday, 11/10/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3262.4
This morning I went out at 9:15 in sunny, breezy, 47° weather and rode three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park in just a few seconds under 3 hours flat for the 26 miles. Glad I could keep plugging away at it, and not give in to sloth. When I finished, it had climbed to a delightful 61°.
This morning I went out at 9:15 in sunny, breezy, 47° weather and rode three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park in just a few seconds under 3 hours flat for the 26 miles. Glad I could keep plugging away at it, and not give in to sloth. When I finished, it had climbed to a delightful 61°.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
201st ride of 2016 - Wednesday, 11/9/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3236.4
Today I waited until 11:15 to ride, and then settled for a slow single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10 miles in 1:15. It was 47° and sunny when I started, and heated up to 50° by the time I finished.
Today I waited until 11:15 to ride, and then settled for a slow single round trip to Marsh Park, riding the 10 miles in 1:15. It was 47° and sunny when I started, and heated up to 50° by the time I finished.
Monday, November 7, 2016
200th ride of 2016 - Monday, 11/7/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3226.4
This morning, I aired up my tires, and set off at 9:30 in calm 46° bright sunshine. One hour and 56 minutes later, I had completed consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (my record for that ride is 1:42:08, last May 18).
I am by no means making this a firm goal, but I realize that I have an outside shot at making 4000 miles for the year, smashing my goal of 3500. So I'm going to keep track of how I'm doing relative to that endpoint. After yesterday's ride, I had to average 14.4 miles/day for the remainder of the year to make it. And after today's, that figure dropped slightly to 14.33 (with 54 more days left in the year).
This morning, I aired up my tires, and set off at 9:30 in calm 46° bright sunshine. One hour and 56 minutes later, I had completed consecutive round trips to Marsh Park (my record for that ride is 1:42:08, last May 18).
I am by no means making this a firm goal, but I realize that I have an outside shot at making 4000 miles for the year, smashing my goal of 3500. So I'm going to keep track of how I'm doing relative to that endpoint. After yesterday's ride, I had to average 14.4 miles/day for the remainder of the year to make it. And after today's, that figure dropped slightly to 14.33 (with 54 more days left in the year).
Sunday, November 6, 2016
199th ride of 2016 - Sunday, 11/6/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3208.4
On another fantastically gorgeous fall day (brightly sunny, and 52° when I began at 10:15 a.m., 64° when I finished), I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, starting later than I like, because our handbell choir played at the 8:00 and 9:00 services at church. I covered the 18 miles in a decent, but by no means "great," time of 2:06.
On another fantastically gorgeous fall day (brightly sunny, and 52° when I began at 10:15 a.m., 64° when I finished), I rode consecutive round trips to Marsh Park, starting later than I like, because our handbell choir played at the 8:00 and 9:00 services at church. I covered the 18 miles in a decent, but by no means "great," time of 2:06.
Friday, November 4, 2016
198th ride of 2016 - Friday, 11/4/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3190.4
Today's ride was a very good one. I did three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since October 19, covering the 26 miles in 2:56. (Though my record for that ride is 2:27:05, last May 30, I have usually been over 3 hours for it.) And when I started, about 9:15, it was a brisk 41° (so that my gloves were perfect), with mostly sunny skies. During the middle of the ride, clouds moved in, but by the time I finished they had cleared, leaving it mostly sunny again.
Today's ride was a very good one. I did three consecutive round trips to Marsh Park for the first time since October 19, covering the 26 miles in 2:56. (Though my record for that ride is 2:27:05, last May 30, I have usually been over 3 hours for it.) And when I started, about 9:15, it was a brisk 41° (so that my gloves were perfect), with mostly sunny skies. During the middle of the ride, clouds moved in, but by the time I finished they had cleared, leaving it mostly sunny again.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
197th ride of 2016 - Thursday, 11/3/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3164.4
Today I had every intention of doing a longer ride (3 round trips) and was prepared physically and mentally to carry through on this. But I've been somewhat "in the zone" lately compositionally, feeling especially good about a handbell piece I finished earlier this week. So during the early part of today's ride, when ideas started flooding my head for a new handbell piece, I was too eager to get home and begin working them out to do any more than a single round trip, and so covered the 10 miles in 1:07, after starting at 11:00 a.m. in partly sunny 53° conditions, and finishing when it was 56°. I was happy, too, to pass my friend Doris Granum while riding down near the park, and she had evidently seen a photo I posted on Facebook yesterday, as she cheerfully called out an encouraging remark about my new "tornadoes."
Today I had every intention of doing a longer ride (3 round trips) and was prepared physically and mentally to carry through on this. But I've been somewhat "in the zone" lately compositionally, feeling especially good about a handbell piece I finished earlier this week. So during the early part of today's ride, when ideas started flooding my head for a new handbell piece, I was too eager to get home and begin working them out to do any more than a single round trip, and so covered the 10 miles in 1:07, after starting at 11:00 a.m. in partly sunny 53° conditions, and finishing when it was 56°. I was happy, too, to pass my friend Doris Granum while riding down near the park, and she had evidently seen a photo I posted on Facebook yesterday, as she cheerfully called out an encouraging remark about my new "tornadoes."
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
196th ride of 2016 - Wednesday, 11/2/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3154.4
Today I got out at 9:00, and rode a fairly brisk round trip to Marsh Park, covering the 10 miles in 1:04. It's nowhere near my record of 53:46 (May 19), but it's better than I've done in quite some time. And today I didn't make the mistake of overdressing, as I did yesterday! It was 57° when I began, and 63° when I finished—I wore a hoodie, but no jacket over it. I brought my poncho along, as they were calling for scattered showers through the day, but I saw not one hint of rain.
Today I got out at 9:00, and rode a fairly brisk round trip to Marsh Park, covering the 10 miles in 1:04. It's nowhere near my record of 53:46 (May 19), but it's better than I've done in quite some time. And today I didn't make the mistake of overdressing, as I did yesterday! It was 57° when I began, and 63° when I finished—I wore a hoodie, but no jacket over it. I brought my poncho along, as they were calling for scattered showers through the day, but I saw not one hint of rain.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
195th ride of 2016 - Tuesday, 11/1/2016
TOTAL MILEAGE FOR 2016 - 3144.4
This morning I was not able to ride until 11:00 a.m., and then, although I took my gloves with me, it was much too warm to wear them, at 56° when I began and 68° when I finished. In fact, I shouldn't have worn a jacket either, but I did, and so worked up a good sweat. I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, covering the 10 miles in 1:16.
For visibility, I have the flags shows in this video on the back of my trike. People have variously called them spinners, windmills, and other names—my favorite is that of my grandson Danny, who says they look like "tornadoes." A couple of weeks ago, though, one caught on an overhanging branch and tore out and broke, so I had to get replacements. They arrived yesterday (I got red, white, and blue ones rather than the colors I had before), but today, in the breeze, they kept getting caught on each other, so I had to keep stopping and untangling them. This is a real pain in the neck, as it means unclipping my cleated shoes from the pedals each time I get up, and then refastening them when I'm ready to go again. Oh well!
This morning I was not able to ride until 11:00 a.m., and then, although I took my gloves with me, it was much too warm to wear them, at 56° when I began and 68° when I finished. In fact, I shouldn't have worn a jacket either, but I did, and so worked up a good sweat. I rode a single round trip to Marsh Park, covering the 10 miles in 1:16.
For visibility, I have the flags shows in this video on the back of my trike. People have variously called them spinners, windmills, and other names—my favorite is that of my grandson Danny, who says they look like "tornadoes." A couple of weeks ago, though, one caught on an overhanging branch and tore out and broke, so I had to get replacements. They arrived yesterday (I got red, white, and blue ones rather than the colors I had before), but today, in the breeze, they kept getting caught on each other, so I had to keep stopping and untangling them. This is a real pain in the neck, as it means unclipping my cleated shoes from the pedals each time I get up, and then refastening them when I'm ready to go again. Oh well!
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