October 27, 2010
The Commuter
My commuter bike is officially functional again! All summer long I've been riding my road bike for commuting. It's a dreamy bike, so I have no complaints. When the weather turns wet and icky, though...I'm ready for fenders.
October 25, 2010
Inspired Riding
I don't fully understand cause-oriented riding/running/whatever-sport-you're-into events. And yet...I participate in them here and there. Mostly, I participate for selfish reasons. ie: I want to accomplish a certain goal, and the event provides the venue and support I need to do it. Those instances provide a bonus feel-good moment when the registration/donation money leaves my coffers.
BUT THEN...there came to be the most ridiculous charity ride ever dreamed up. Not very often do you ask a friend what their training goal is and they say: "I want to ride 100 miles on my bike without moving." - Say again? That's what the Fat Cyclist did a couple of years ago to raise awareness for breast cancer which was slowly and painfully taking his wife away from him. He hedged a bet that he could do it, and everyone that "bet" against him and lost, ended up paying the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Last year he did it again, but he opened it up as a race for anyone to join in their own specific category. I was following his blog by then and thought the proposal was so ridiculous, there was NO way I could NOT sign up. I won the 100 Miles of Nowhere In the Middle of Nowhere category. Despite the cause-oriented nature of the ride, I didn't gain the benefit of the cause until I had ridden over 75 miles. That's when I started wondering to myself, "Why in the world am I doing this?" The answer was awesome.
This year tradition became solid with the third annual 100 Miles of Nowhere. I signed up immediately and began getting ready (by putting the date on the calendar). And...I had a bit of a setback when my bike was crunched by a car. Then my summer became insanely busy and I lost sight of my goal to complete this race. You see, Fatty never stipulated a solid date for the race:
Which is perfect. I'm doing it on Friday, October 29.
Why now? Because a good friend of mine - Adam, was recently re-diagnosed with cancer. He fought the same cancer 6 years ago, and won...but that devilish illness snuck back in. Read about his battle here. After his first round of Chemo last week, he is now suffering. I cannot do much to alleviate his pain and nausea. But I can dedicate 100 miles of effort to his name.
So here it goes! The date is set and I'm training again. It's about time I finally earned that awesome shirt I've been wearing since May!
BUT THEN...there came to be the most ridiculous charity ride ever dreamed up. Not very often do you ask a friend what their training goal is and they say: "I want to ride 100 miles on my bike without moving." - Say again? That's what the Fat Cyclist did a couple of years ago to raise awareness for breast cancer which was slowly and painfully taking his wife away from him. He hedged a bet that he could do it, and everyone that "bet" against him and lost, ended up paying the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Last year he did it again, but he opened it up as a race for anyone to join in their own specific category. I was following his blog by then and thought the proposal was so ridiculous, there was NO way I could NOT sign up. I won the 100 Miles of Nowhere In the Middle of Nowhere category. Despite the cause-oriented nature of the ride, I didn't gain the benefit of the cause until I had ridden over 75 miles. That's when I started wondering to myself, "Why in the world am I doing this?" The answer was awesome.
This year tradition became solid with the third annual 100 Miles of Nowhere. I signed up immediately and began getting ready (by putting the date on the calendar). And...I had a bit of a setback when my bike was crunched by a car. Then my summer became insanely busy and I lost sight of my goal to complete this race. You see, Fatty never stipulated a solid date for the race:
"This year, the “official” date of the race is Saturday, May 8, and the time is whenever is convenient for you.
And, thanks to the flexibility of the event — i.e., it’s just you, really — if May 8 doesn’t work for you, you can do it another day.
Like in October, if you feel like it."
Which is perfect. I'm doing it on Friday, October 29.
Why now? Because a good friend of mine - Adam, was recently re-diagnosed with cancer. He fought the same cancer 6 years ago, and won...but that devilish illness snuck back in. Read about his battle here. After his first round of Chemo last week, he is now suffering. I cannot do much to alleviate his pain and nausea. But I can dedicate 100 miles of effort to his name.
So here it goes! The date is set and I'm training again. It's about time I finally earned that awesome shirt I've been wearing since May!
October 20, 2010
October 19, 2010
Tis the Season
Sitting at work this morning, I'd like hot chocolate, doughnuts, a good book, and perhaps a blanket. The season change prompts my body to forget about going outside. I just want to eat pie and watch football for the next month.
I haven't had a chance to really hibernate yet, but I already feel like I'm packing on the pounds and getting sluggish. The scale says I'm up 2 pounds which is right in the normal fluctuation range, but I suspect if I give up any activity that number would skyrocket.
I'm mentally ready to start training for next year's marathon, although physically I'm working through some things. BUT I've got something up my sleeve that may just pull me out of this cacoon. More on that in the coming days...
I haven't had a chance to really hibernate yet, but I already feel like I'm packing on the pounds and getting sluggish. The scale says I'm up 2 pounds which is right in the normal fluctuation range, but I suspect if I give up any activity that number would skyrocket.
I'm mentally ready to start training for next year's marathon, although physically I'm working through some things. BUT I've got something up my sleeve that may just pull me out of this cacoon. More on that in the coming days...
October 18, 2010
Traffic Calming
Recently Councilman Richard Rush put everything on the line for 2nd Avenue Bike lanes. He makes some good arguments, and I agree with him on several accounts. I also disagree with some of his arguments, but that's not the tone I'd like to portray today. One phrase from his post is not well defined (in my opinion): Traffic Calming.
My wife was reading over my shoulder as I read his blog, and when she read this sentence:
...she asked in an incredulous tone, "Narrow lanes, bike lanes, and trees are calming?" Having read it as a regular person who drives on Spokane streets, she had internalized the sentence as it applies to her. Narrow lanes do not calm a driver's nerves.
I suppose trees may have a calming effect and bicycle lanes may or may not calm drivers' nerves, but narrow lanes definitely do not sooth the driver's soul. I explained to my wife that Councilman Rush was not talking about creating a serene environment in which drivers drift from one place to another. Rather, he was talking about slowing traffic down and perhaps reducing the number of cars on the road.
In order to achieve "traffic calming", outside influences are employed to positively affect the way traffic acts. Of course, we are giving human traits to an in-human item here. Traffic itself, cannot be calmed without affecting drivers - the soul of traffic.
In its worst light, traffic calming is physically changing things in order to force drivers to take more care, which then causes them to slow their cars down, and in the process weeds out those who can no longer stand the route.
From a planning and safety perspective, traffic calming is more than just a great thing. It is an essential tool.
From a political standpoint, it can go either way: Trees are great, and calm traffic is great. Raging traffic is bad. Moving people efficiently is good. Moving people by different modes of transportation is good. Meshing those modes of transportation is tricky. Safety is good.
Narrow lanes are difficult to swallow.
I applaud Councilman Rush for taking a solid stance. As seen on T.V. recently, that's kinda rare with the political types. I wonder what could calm that traffic?
My wife was reading over my shoulder as I read his blog, and when she read this sentence:
"Narrow travel lanes, bike lanes and street trees are traffic calming devices."
...she asked in an incredulous tone, "Narrow lanes, bike lanes, and trees are calming?" Having read it as a regular person who drives on Spokane streets, she had internalized the sentence as it applies to her. Narrow lanes do not calm a driver's nerves.
I suppose trees may have a calming effect and bicycle lanes may or may not calm drivers' nerves, but narrow lanes definitely do not sooth the driver's soul. I explained to my wife that Councilman Rush was not talking about creating a serene environment in which drivers drift from one place to another. Rather, he was talking about slowing traffic down and perhaps reducing the number of cars on the road.
In order to achieve "traffic calming", outside influences are employed to positively affect the way traffic acts. Of course, we are giving human traits to an in-human item here. Traffic itself, cannot be calmed without affecting drivers - the soul of traffic.
In its worst light, traffic calming is physically changing things in order to force drivers to take more care, which then causes them to slow their cars down, and in the process weeds out those who can no longer stand the route.
From a planning and safety perspective, traffic calming is more than just a great thing. It is an essential tool.
From a political standpoint, it can go either way: Trees are great, and calm traffic is great. Raging traffic is bad. Moving people efficiently is good. Moving people by different modes of transportation is good. Meshing those modes of transportation is tricky. Safety is good.
Narrow lanes are difficult to swallow.
I applaud Councilman Rush for taking a solid stance. As seen on T.V. recently, that's kinda rare with the political types. I wonder what could calm that traffic?
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