Washington

Ride Time capsule: Wooleaters Solstice Swiftcampout

The Tuesday Ride Time Capsule captures past rides that haven't been shared yet. Enjoy!

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Abby's ride report said it best. Here are some exerts from the report:

Jessi, Kristin, Betsy, Amanda and I started our voyage at the Fremont PCC at precisely 8:05 am. Kristin, Betsy & Jessi were slightly late due to a minor mechanical with Kristin’s shifters; I was slightly late as per usual. Amanda was on time as per usual. It was cool and overcast.

We meandered across the Fremont bridge, to downtown via the Westlake trail and got to the water taxi station on Alaskan around 8:45 am. With plenty of time to spare until the next ferry, we ventured up the street to Top Pot Donuts where donuts and caffeinated beverages were purchased and consumed. Some sheep were fed...

...We boarded the West Seattle water taxi at 9:30 am and arrived at Alki Beach approximately 15 minutes later. There was virtually no one out on Alki so we enjoyed a pleasant ride to the ferry...We...continued on our way to the Fauntleroy ferry and boarded.

We arrived in Southworth around 11:30 am, and proceeded to ride out to the campground. No one was on the roads, which had stunning views of the sound and nearby Bainbridge Island. We hugged the coastline, watching herons stalking their unsuspecting prey in the tide flats. The sun slowly started to emerge from the clouds.
Photos compliments of the #Wooleaters

Photos compliments of the #Wooleaters

Then we rode on to Manchester State Park, our camping destination. Abby's report continues:

We locked up the bikes and went down to the beach for a picnic lunch. Many delicious snacks were consumed, including ocean-cleaning mussels, Amanda’s no-bake chocolate peanut butter oat cookies, peanut butter pretzel crack and much much more. The sun cast off her cloudy rainment and blessed us with her beaming warmth. Betsy got a little too excited about a wedding party that was taken place at the park shelter and went off to make new friends.

Eric arrived via car around 3 pm and we agreed it would be an excellent day for some kayaking. We rented all of the kayaks available and took a little paddle out around the bay, where we spotted kingfishers, gigantic jellyfish, minnows jumping and a curious seal. Betsy and Kristin ventured into an off-limits government facility that smelled like death. We all turned around and headed back to shore. It was time for more snacks (and booze)!

Eric got to work building a fire that was soon a roaring blaze, and we had to purchase more firewood to keep up with his firebug ways. We had some beer and a stinky fish taste test courtesy of Kristin. For dinner we had orichette (aka cervical cap) pasta with fresh basil, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, spinach and stinky fish. Everyone adjusted per their dietary needs/preferences, and all agreed it was one of the best meals they’d ever had the pleasure to eat in the great outdoors. Whiskey was consumed in great quantities and Eric read us a little of The Thirteen Clocks as we toasted smores...Betsy elected to sleep in the hammock, while the rest of us got cozy in our tents.

The next morning we awoke to find Betsy asleep on top of the picnic table — apparently hammock sleeping is indeed an acquired taste. Kristin made everyone a mini cup of coffee in the charming tiny coffee maker Roger found at Goodwill. We spent a leisurely morning eating hard-boiled eggs and oatmeal, and lounging by the delightful breakfast fire that Kristin made. Around 10:45 am we were fully packed up and ready to roll. The sun was out and it was warm but not too hot. A low fog hung above the surface of the water as we rode back to Southworth, and we could see the mist evaporating as the day grew hotter. We rolled into Southworth just as the 11:10 ferry was arriving (30 minutes late) and were pleasantly surprised to be catching an earlier ferry back to West Seattle than we expected. More snacks were consumed. Jessi abandoned us to drink a beer and eat tater tots in the cantina.

The scene on Alki Beach was completely different than the previous day. Small children, oblivious pedestrians and inexperienced bicycle riders created a challenging obstacle course for the Lady Wools, but we wove our way through the crowds without incident and even passed a sexist dude without a glance behind us. We got to the water taxi station at approximately 1:25. Would Abby have enough time to buy some fish tacos at Marination Station before the 2 pm water taxi arrived? It was a very close call, but she made onto the boat with minutes to spare and enjoyed some tiny but excellent tacos on the boat ride back to downtown.

This was just the fuel needed to get back to Fremont. We rode along the Elliott Bay Trail, enjoying the incredible views of Rainier and the waterfront, and not enjoying all the tourists crowding the bike path. We took the ship canal trail back to the Fremont Bridge and Abby encouraged everyone to break the law by racing across the bridge as the bell was ringing for a ship to go through the drawbridge. After this last sprint, it was time to part. We chatted up an older gentleman who was wearing a RSVP jersey and riding a sweet titanium steed that was fitted for travel. Jessi, Betsy & Kristin headed off to Ballard and Amanda and Abby climbed one last hill up to Fremont. The journey had come to an end.

Total mileage: 47 miles give or take depending on starting location
Pace: leisurely
Mechanicals: One
Crashes: One
Flats: Nope
Wool: check!
Sheep: check!
Number of times Kristin attempted to explain the meaning of wool eaters to a complete stranger: At least 3

Ride Time Capsule: Bellingham Bliss

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Bike Everywhere month is underway. I am riding for tacos. It's Friday night and I am a few tacos short of my goal. We vacation to Bellingham spend the first night at the casino run by the Lummi Nation. The next morning, I blast down a lovely route into downtown Bellingham and meet my taco goal. It's mostly on designated bike path. The paths are not new, but they are clean, solid and smooth. I ride among the trees, the marshes, and I hear the bird song the whole way. I cannot be happier. Impeccable, perfect weather blessed us all. I think I enjoyed the perfect sun and mild temperature the most of all, speeding along the quiet country, far away from the sounds of the city. This ride feels as close to euphoria as one can get.

The next day, I ride from the viewpoint at the top of Chuckanut drive, down through Bow and Mt. Vernon, finishing at The Angel of the Winds Casino in Arlington.  It's a little warmer, and the ride is a bit more stressful than the day before. Chuckanut is especially scary after driving the road and seeing how close cars have to get to bikes. It's mother's day and cars congest the roads stopping at every eatery possible for brunch. Google Maps crashes several times and I pedal past my turns, unawares that Google can't tell me where to go. I forget my sunscreen and my skin burns a little in the blaring sun. But, I am blessed with a tail wind the entire time. I ride through country I road through on the dreaded Tulip Pedal ride that had nothing by headwinds. The ride is mostly downhill, and I fly, still enthralled that I am lucky to live in this beautiful country. 

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Swift Campout 2018 is on it's way!

It's happening! The Swift Campout is this weekend! Onward to Manchester State Park via 2 wheels and a ferry ride. I can't wait!

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Ebb and Flow: Riding from the beaches of Diamond Point

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Vastly opposing ride experiences cycled back and forth during today's ride. I'd ride on quaint, smooth and quiet roads with fast and long descents, chirping birds, interesting houses, and the bluest ocean views you've ever seen. Then I'd turn onto steep highways, bumper-to-bumper with rushed cars spitting dirt and oil on my legs and nary a shoulder to ride on. The contrast was  jilting, and gave me chance to ponder the many things in the world that are more beautiful because of the ugliness that surrounds them.

I spent some time the other day reading through past ride blogs. I used to list ride stats at the end of each entry. That sort of went away once MapMyRide and Strava started tracking all the stats for me. Still, they were fun enough to read that I decided to bring them back. I'll just include the bits apps don't catch:

  • Tech: tried turn-by-turn directions with my new Coros Helmet. Best direction experience ever! Tired listening to some music, but this ride was so interesting and stimulating on its own that music sort of got in the way. Everything worked splendidly.
  • Weather: insultingly hot and dry with occasional strong wind gusts.
  • Food: nothing but warm, day old water, suitable for my punishing eastern european heritage.
  • Feel: Inhaling buckets of Chex mix like a starved addict is not the best pre-ride practice. 
  • Pace: Slower than I could have (see reason above).
  • Wildlife: countless birds, 2 dead garden snakes in the bike lane.
  • Danger, Will Robinson: This ride very nearly didn't happen at all. We drove out to Diamond Point with the bike locked to the rack on the back of the van. And the key to the lock was safe at home! With no way to get the bike off the rack, Bryan tried to wedge it free, tried to open it with a shim, and ultimately broke the lock off with a bolt cutter borrowed from a neighbor. 
  • Overall: I am insanely thrilled to have had the opportunity to ride on such great roads with million-dollar ocean views and bright green forests thick with scents of sap and bark. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

BONUS Sunset Photos Over the Bay:

Swift Campout 2018

The Wooleaters are planning a bike camping excursion! I am very excited about this! Adding self-supported camping is a thing I've been wanting to add to my biking repertoire for a while. 

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PSA: Stay vigilant on the road; unseen hazards are all around!

Last weekend I rode with a large group on the east side of greater Seattle; Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah, and neighboring areas. Washington is often considered the friendliest state for cyclists to ride in. I generally agree. The city of Seattle is a city of passive and inattentive drivers, so while it is not a bad city to bike in, I don’t think it’s the best. Outside of Seattle, the roads and the behaviors immediately improve. I am impressed by how I can visibly see the friendliness increasing the farther I get out of town. You can imagine my surprise when a line of vehicles honked, yelled, and flipped off the string of us riders last weekend. We were riding on a wide, newer road with a wide shoulder and no bike lane. The weather was clear and dry. The cyclist in front of me switched gears as the incline switched grade, and his chain fell off. He recovered pretty quickly, and was able to get it back on track with his foot. I didn’t sway, but I did brake suddenly when he lost momentum. I couldn’t see the riders behind me, but they were all aware as they hollered, “Are you OK? Can you get your chain back on?” I have to wonder if the vehicles all honked at us because we were an unorganized mess at that moment (they drove past me less than a minute after the guy’s chain was back on). His whole ordeal lasted seconds, but it caused 10 people to brake and swerve and we all probably looked erratic from the viewpoint of a driver. Some of the riders behind me may have even swerved on to the road, I am not sure. This is the sort of incident that, had any of us been any less attentive or riding any more quickly or closely, could have been a disaster. Just one tire touching another could have meant the whole lot of us crashing. It’s probably more likely that the drivers just had some hate they had to get out of their system, and cyclists made a good outlet. But I wonder if that erratic ripple is what made them honk. I hope not. Often cars assume cyclists need to ride perfectly on the shoulder of a road, without ever changing their course. The shoulder of a road poses several hazards for cyclists that drivers probably never think of. Potholes, wet leaves, broken glass, roadkill, drainage grates, and parked cars are all roadside dangers to a cyclist. In this case, a mechanical issue is another invisible danger that could put a cyclist’s head under a car tire in seconds. We were all riding the safest we possibly could, but some hazards are out of our control. This is my reminder for all travelers to stay ever vigilant on the road, as something might happen to the person next to you that is undetectable yet completely uncontrollable. 

Cougar Mountain! Zoo Hill!

I completed my first climb of Cougar Mountain/Zoo Hill! Actually, I very well may have done this climb before, before I knew how “legendary” it was. It’s one of the steepest climbs in the area. I hear cyclists can reach grades up to 20% depending on what part of the road they are on during the turns. A couple of years back, I looked for places to get climbing training nearby, and time and time again this climb jumped up as the best. The numbers intimidated me; what?! 17%?! I can’t keep up on 6% climbs! I didn’t plan the climb, and my legs were already spent from riding the day before, and yet, I did it. I’m pleased with my performance. I didn’t try to go fast, I only tried to keep from stopping. And once I got to the top, I felt surprised that was all it was (You can actually see this, by how much I sped up on the last segment). 
Maybe I’ll get to ride it again this year. It will be interesting to see how I perform now that I know what I’m up against. 
 

Look at that Hill!

Thought the heart rate peice was pretty interesting

Thought the heart rate peice was pretty interesting

Washington Rides

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Cascade Bicycle Club sent me a newsletter that listed major rides throughout the state. I was pretty proud to see I've already done a number of them! I circled the rides I did in red; a total of 15 of Washington States' quitensential bike events. I added up 4 more I'd really like to do, and highlighted a couple that look like viable options to do this year. 

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Just a nice time

There is something infinitely splendid, peaceful and relaxing about being outside. While not exactly "out in nature", a bike ride can connect you to nature’s beauty in a uniquely invigorating way. 

I expected rain to fall all November long, so I doubled over with joy when the sun came out on this ride. Not only did the sun shine, but it warmed the roads so much that I rode in a short-sleeved jersey for a couple of hours! Something to be thankful for!

Emerald City Bike Ride Recap

The Wooleaters crew. photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

The Wooleaters crew. photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

I pedaled my bike down through the lovely Green Lake and Ravenna neighborhoods on a dark and early morning to meet the Wooleaters at the University of Washington. Every cyclist I met along the way was going the same place as me. That comforting sense of camaraderie among strangers is one of my favorite, most powerful feelings. A sea of people, hundreds of people deep flooded the start line in the chilly morning. We waited a while for the whole group to get together, then stood in line for an hour to get to the start of the start line. From the start we walked our way all the way to the SR520 bridge ramp because the roads were so congested with riders. You would think spending so much time moving so slowly would be frustrating, but it's one of the best ways to be waiting; waiting to do something you love. 

Waddling the Montlake Bridge Emerald City Bike Ride, Seattle, Washington. 

Once we got going on the 520 Bridge, the ride go really fun. The best thing was seeing families out with their children. There were plenty of tweens and school-aged kids, unsteady and insecurely trying to pedal bike that were a little too big for them. The cutest thing, though, was the tiny, tiny children. Children so small the didn't look like they were old enough to walk. Children that barely came up off the ground. Children covered in pink or blue and streamers and helmets, coats, light-up shoes and bikes all color-coordinated and matching. How did they even do any of this? How were they even pedaling? I tried to imagine myself at that age, not only being on a bike, but being able to navigate around some 7,000 other riders. 

Crossing the SR520 Bridge Emerald City Bike Ride, Seattle Washington, April 3, 2016 by SheRidesToday.com

Then it was on to the express lanes. Over a bridge, down the center corridor between both directions of Interstate 5, and into the expressway tunnel. This was the highlight of the ride. 

Jessica, me, and Abby on Interstate 5. Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

Jessica, me, and Abby on Interstate 5. Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

Me with my rear-view sheep. Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

Me with my rear-view sheep. Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

I am not sure which part of being on Interstate 5 I liked better. Was it hearing the cyclists cheer in unison when we got to another cool part of the ride? Was it the amazing views of the city? Was it having the time to absorb Seattle in it's full glory from a vantage point usually seen behind a windshield? Was it the colorful, crisp and sunny day that this first Sunday in April was turning out to be? Maybe it was the strength felt by riding down a center road, straddled by rushing freeway traffic on both sides. The din and fume-riddled stench of all that traffic contrasted against the simplicity of legs silently pumping up and down created a sensation that cannot be described, only experienced. I took out my GoPro and held it in my hand. I wondered if some time in the future, one of the photos from this ride would be taken out of context, perplexing people for hours as to why so many cyclists pedaled on a desolate Interstate. Sure, I've ridden on Interstates before on bike rides like this one, but never before quite this way. Being surrounded by speeding traffic on all sides is pretty incredible. 

Biking the I-5 express lanes downtown Emerald CIty Bike Ride, April 3, 2016. Seattle Washington 

This post is late in coming because I spent some time trying to piece the video clips together. I used iMove which has changed considerably since the 5 minutes I used it 2 years ago. The video editing software was easy enough, but I had a hard time figuring out where to click and getting my mouse to click where I wanted it to. I am actually impressed with how well they turned out considering how barbaric the editing felt. 

Personal stats for this ride vary quite a bit from the sanctioned ride. Less than half of my ride that day was on the actual course, due to getting there and back and following along on a quest for brunch. 

Stats:

  • 29.7 miles

  • 3 hrs elapsed time

  • 9.7 mph

  • 26 mph max

  • 61 rpm average cadence

Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

Photo courtesy Chris/Wooleaters

Chilly Hilly

In celebration of the first year I've had Sundays off work, I am going to ride the Chilly Hilly this year in Seattle. This ride, sponsored by Cascade Bicycle Club (aren't they all?) takes place on the last Sunday in February (the 28th this year) and tours Bainbridge Island. 

While it wasn't an option for me to do this ride before without using a precious vacation day, I never really wanted to. Major Cascade rides have a tendency to be over-attended and under-fun. However, last year's Flying Wheels Century was so much fun that my views are changing a bit. I expect this one to be a blast.

Of note, the Cascade website states that this ride tends to be 25% female and 75% male. I have seen more female riders in Washington than any other state I've ridden in, so I find this statistic a little startling. As a female, I feel obligated to represent..and try to figure out why it is so unbalanced.

On a side note, the website also claimed Bicycling Magazine named the Chilly Hilly "One of Four Classic Rides in the Nation." This is a pretty impressive label, and, being a fan of Bicycling magazine, I followed the link. Sadly, the link took me to a landing page of click-bait, albeit bicycling-themed, not unlike the worst of the worst website out there. First I saw an article about Justin Beiber "nearly causing a whole cycling team to crash", when I fell for the click bait I read that it was merely a photo op for the team. Really, Bicycling? This is what you have reduced yourself to? To make it worse, on the bottom of the page were tons of links that I have to assume were sponsored ads and not things actually reviewed and approved by the magazine. First was an article about how women over 35 are bound to gain fat around their waists more than any other group of people, and how most exercises (including cardio!) will only make it worse for these doomed old women. Next to that was an article of nothing more than provocative photographs of healthy and fit women advertised for no other reason than being "hot/beautiful/sexy." There is nothing the media won't stop at trying to exploit women for their physical features. Bicycling, I was just starting to respect you as a magazine that strove to serve cyclists. Now, your website takes me back to your image of instead serving "men who like to bike." Do you see the difference there? But I digress.  

Back to the subject at hand, I am excited to ride in the Chilly Hilly! I'm excited to be a part of the 25% gender bracket and pull through those climbs and brave the temperatures. Maybe I'll be sexy while I'm doing, maybe I won't. I'll leave that up for the media to squabble over.

Flying Wheels Summer Century 2015

Flying Wheels 2015- that first hill

Flying Wheels 2015- that first hill

photo credit: http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/pictures/

Saturday, May 30th began at 6AM with a begrudging half-asleep body suddenly transforming to the wide-awake excited body, the body that only wakes up when about to embark on a new and adventurous challenge.

Bryant picked me up right on time and off to Marymoor Park we fled. Disaster loomed when Bryant realized he didn't have his helmet, and already being at the start and the time being 7:30AM, there weren't many options to procure one. Luckily, Jessi, another in our group had a spare. I grabbed a packet of Wilcox organic hard-boiled eggs before peddling off at about 7:50AM.

Just ten miles into the Flying Wheels Summer Century, a long and steep hill out of nowhere kicked my butt. My heart surged and pounded out of my chest too early, and by mile eleven, even though these clear skies and mild temperatures beckoned a beautiful day, I felt like I had already ridden 80 or more miles. My limp little legs struggles to keep up. My new mantra propelled me forward: "tiny circles, tiny circles". By mile 40, I was certain I had been pedaling for at least 10 hours and we had already ridden over 100 miles. Well, I knew better, but my body was trying to tell me otherwise.

I filled up with too many snacks at Camp Korey, a rest stop hosted by Boy Scouts (it was actually boy scout moms, as I overheard one tired mom proclaim that her son was the only actual scout who showed up for the event). Hills seemed to crop up everywhere, and my little spindle legs didn't much try to get up them any faster than they wanted to. There was a nice long flat stretch where I was able to find a nice zen among the pedaling. We pedaled through tree filled forestland, thriving farmland and smooth, blessed smooth country roads.

It wasn't until after mile 60 that I started feeling good. I finished the ride at about 3:50 with about 6 and a half hours of ride time feeling far better than I did at mile 11. Overall, the ride felt more hilly than I expected, and certainly more hilly than the less-than-4000 feet elevation change. However, the pristine scenery, great roads, and challenging course make this a ride I look forward to finishing again and again in years ahead.

Flying Wheels

Flying Wheels

To the Fair!

The boy had tickets for the spring fair in Puallayup with the goal of eating lots and lots of elephant ears. I decided to offset the bodily effects of fair food gorging by riding my bike there to meet him. The perfect weather perfectly complimented a fantastic ride! I let MapMyRide set the route for me. Then, rather than writing turn by turn directions on a tiny piece of paper taped to my handlebars, I copied the route into Google Maps, put one ear bud in, and let the GPS voice guide me. This worked out well, because I didn't have to worry about the paper blowing away or getting rained on. I also didn't have to worry if my next turn would be a long way away, or if I'd already passed it.

Riding down 1st ave south of downtown felt odd. It didn't feel like a road intended for any bicycle to go on. It was a divided highway with four lanes, littered with light industrial buildings on both sides. It just seemed so...busy. I took comfort in the shadows passing me on the pavement. The city intended this for bikes, even if there isn't another crazy cyclist in sight. In fact, I saw none on the entire stretch of road. Riding on the road felt like an adventure in tourism, however. It was a lot of fun! I passed a mannequin store. You don't see those every day. I also passed the Living Computer Museum, and the Museum of Flight. I rode by Starbuck's corporate hub, as well as Boeing. I enjoyed riding on the Green River Trail. This was a forested trail nestled in the twists and turns of cooperate centers and workplaces. It was also long, straight stretches of power line shadows. I enjoyed the brief moments I could really get into a rhythm without stoplights to break it. I really got to pedal quickly as I got onto the Interurban trail, a separated bike path that spans miles and miles and miles south of Seattle. There are so many biking opportunities south of Seattle, I wish I wasn't so reluctant to pass through downtown to get to all these gems. I started to tires after miles thirty. But, at mile 35 I got a second wind knowing that fair food would soon be in my hungry belly. The closest thing to wildlife I saw were some forlorn looking peeps smushed on the sidewalk that looked like they'd survived there since Easter. I rolled into the fair parking lot with barely enough time to stretch before B arrived to meet me. We wondered the fair, ate way too much fair food, ate some more, looked at exhibits and livestock, listened to The Coats in concert (acapella band), and smiled and laughed before watching the sunset on the way home.

Ride to Bellevue Pond

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Screen Shot 2015-03-10 at 12.32.45 PM

The day was too sunny and pleasant to not ride. So, I headed out to Bellevue Pond via the Burke Gilman Trail over the north side of Lake Washington. The cool, crisp air numbed my right foot while invigorating my soul at the same time. Great ride!

Kubota Gardens

kubota route

kubota route

Friday a group of riders from work got together and rode to the lovely Kubota Gardens, a free city garden in south Seattle. It was the first time I visited the area, and it was a fantastic trip. Everything you look at and take in is better when viewed from the vantage point of a bike.

We made a lovely loop that took us up some hills headed south from downtown, and also took us through Seward park on the way north. This route lends to great riding with is mostly smooth roads, accommodating vehicles, and views of Lake Washington in the sunshine. We captured amazing glances of Mt. Rainier while pedaling up and down the charming Chief Sealth Trail. I felt like I was riding the through Powerline Park in Beaverton, Oregon. Both parks boast a well maintained, multi-sue path down a long and narrow greenway that follows power lines. You could steal amazing views from either park if it weren't for the obtrusive powerless in the way. Just check out the photos I linked above- they could be the same park!

The group took some fun photos once in the Kubota gardens. Check them out!

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Seated for a proper classroom

Seated for a proper classroom

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I was so worried!

As I rode into work on the sunniest of mornings, I got to thinking about riding for fun. This lead me to thinking about my bike, and how it needs some maintenance. This got me thinking about my favorite bike repair shop. It's on the way to work, but horrible inconvenient otherwise. This means I procrastinate on getting the work done that I need. At this time, I approached the building, and to my shock- it was closed down! The windows were boarded up! I rode on in sadness and disappointment. I felt for the little guy, the small business just trying to do good, honest work and how that is in our economy. I felt guilty; if only I'd gotten my work done sooner, maybe they would have stayed in business. I irrationally felt like my one chain replacement would make or break the business. As I shook my head in remorse, I rode up to another building a half mile down the road. And there was the Wrench- bigger, shinier, closer to town! Wow! They must be doing fantastic as a business! The new lot had to have a much pricier lease. I pedaled the rest of the way into work with a smile on my face, happy for the world, and comforted knowing some things do go well sometimes.