Assisted

This morning I caught a rabbit in my sights, but quickly determined by the weaving nature that it must be more of a turtle.  Sure enough, it was a fat-tired bicycle, but there was something else about it that seemed strange as I got closer.  The bike had a pannier rack with small hard cases attached.  I passed this man up my last hill, and discovered that he was on an electric-assist bike.  The hard cases must have been battery packs.  I hollered "Good morning!" over the whir of his electric motor as I left him in the dust.

At the next light I had to wait for just a moment...long enough to watch a mountain bike equipped with a 2-stroke motor buzz by with the cross-traffic.  I turned onto the cross street, and for a block had the pleasure of inhaling the exhaust of that noisy little motor.

I suppose if I HAD to, I'd go with the electric.  Just because I wouldn't stink when I arrived at work.

Encroaching Darkness

I've recently been waking up in the dark.  This morning even felt a little cool.  Summer is beginning to wane, and the days are unfortunately getting shorter again.  While I LOVE the long summer days in Spokane, I sometimes struggle to enjoy the long nights of winter.  During the ride into work this morning I began thinking through what I will need to do to get ready for riding in the dark. 

There are basically two options:
1.  Swap my headlight and blinky over to my road bike.
2.  Repair my commuter bike which currently has lights and fenders mounted.

Really I like both options.  I do love riding the road bike, although not so much when I expect wet roads.  The commuter has been down for a while, and I'm really looking forward to riding it again.  Unfortunately I've been accumulating a repair list for that bike that could easily exceed $200.  Although...I could get by on about $100.

The most likely scenario will include some of both options.  While saving money for the commuter I'll switch the lighting over, and then as soon as the weather turns south I'll scramble to get the commuter repaired.

I Blame the Traffic!

9:56.7  -- Only two seconds shy of a new PR on the way in this morning!  Flying down the last stretch I was on pace for a new PR when I nearly caught up to an old man driving a little Nissan pickup.  Then, in the last corner before the bridge that man slowed all the way down to the speed limit!  What was he doing!?  After making the corner, he sped away again.  I still pushed it in, but with that blow to my momentum, I came up short.

But that brings up a topic I am torn on...obeying traffic laws.  I'm not torn when it comes to using a lane or obeying traffic signals.  Where I'm torn is obedience to the speed limit.  Particularly, I don't feel that bicycles need such vigilence in gravity-friendly situations (aka:  descending hills)!  Honestly, though, not even cars are strict to obey speed limits.

Format

All of my thoughts on the bike this morning were of the nature:  This is hard, yet I'm not going to set any records.  Practice spinning circles and applying power throughout the motion.  Feels great to get down in the drops and just go.  My bike feels sweet!  Some of the cracks in the road could actually use some manicuring by a lawnmower.

Not to bore you further...I thought I'd share what my intentions are with this blog.  So far, I've been writing each day I commute to work by bike.  I intend to keep that up. 

Cycling provides me a time to meditate and to excercise my ability to focus intensely on one thing at a time.  Generally I'll be writing about what things come to mind or my experiences on the commute.  Ocassionally, I might discuss local issues with bike-related infrastructure.  Let it be known that I love to ride, and that I am learning more about the sport and culture almost every day.  I'm also learning about myself and my physical abilities. 

Anyway, I hope to entertain, but if not...at least to personally enjoy this 10-minute (or so) break from the mundain to re-live the exciting.

Trekking vs. Cycling

I spent three days of the weekend pushing and pulling a handcart across the hilly terrain east of Lake Roosevelt.  I figured my physical condition was pretty good.  However, yesterday I felt sore all over. 

When I hopped back on the bike this morning, my legs felt like lead for about the first half-mile.  Eventually I felt pretty good again, but it was more a slog than a race today!