The rain, the road and I, have been very tight over the winter. We’ve been there for each other through the thick and thin. With each passing day, a little more daylight creeps into my commute, and a few more fair-weather riders take on the road. This springtime, every springtime, I feel a little like a junior high kid losing a popularity contest. We’ve been so close, and now all these other folks are riding all around my road, like it’s nothing. They don’t know what we’ve been through. Pretty soon I’ll be a minority, passed every few seconds by all these fresh faces, legs quick and nimble from a winter without darkness.
Registered for Bike MS 2018
I am all registered for Bike MS 2018 in Oregon. It sounds daunting, being so far away. As I type this, it's cold, dark, and rainy outside. And I'm fighting a cold. I think back to last year, all the sweat, the long, lonely training rides, and the smoke from forest fires that clouded our views and fought with our lungs. I think of how my mind and energy is constantly bombarded with so many people in need. Children are at risk of being shot in schools left and right. Homelessness engulfs the most fragile at epidemic rates. Health care is feeling more and more like a privilege. Our very environment is constantly under criticism (winter is coming). I wonder about Bike MS. What will this year entail? Bike MS is never easy, but it is always rewarding, and always important. I think of how my body is at it peak right now. I am healthier than I've ever been, and more physically capable than I'll ever be. Is riding enough? It's something, I feel compelled to do something. How much will I be able to raise? My donors have been SO amazing over the years. I feel so indebted to them. What can I do for them (you?) this year? There is a lot to think about, and the time will come before I know it.
I am already older than most people who develop disease. I am several years older than my mom when she was diagnosed. It seems like a lifetime ago. What does it feel like to her? When my mom was the age I am now, she was barely able to work, but she kept trying, she tried and tried. Do I have it in me to try as hard for her as she did for the world?
Happy Holidays!
The commuter is all ready for the annual Wooleater Jingle Bell Ride. Totally getting into the holiday spirit. Even playing Christmas songs. It should be a great ride!
Drivers! Stop texting!
I approached the intersection at Bell and 5th avenue. One car sat behind a red light. A car parked along the street suddenly jutted it's front end out, so that it was partially in the lane. It didn't use a turn signal, but I guessed that it's goal was to get onto the street when the light turned green. I decided to be a nice citizen and let the car go in front of me, even though I was already next to it in the lane. It didn't matter, my next light will be red no matter how long it takes me to get through the intersection. I was in no rush. I positioned myself behind the car, which was a little weird since it was crooked, but I wanted to make clear I was letting it go first. The light turned green and the first car drove off. The crooked car didn't move. I waited. beat. wait. beat. wait. Well, maybe I totally misinterpreted the car and it was actually trying to park again or something. So, I slowly pedaled up to it's passenger window and peered in. The driver had her head buried into her phone. I guess she wasn't going after all. So, I proceeded forward to pass the car. The SECOND I got in front of the car she bolted and the car lurched forward. I swerved. It stopped. I leaned back and gave the driver the arms out, shoulder lifted, "What gives?" gesture, then went on my way. Granted, I was much closer to the car than I normally would have been, given that the car was half way in the lane and that I pulled up to look inside. I am CERTAIN the driver concluded that I was an asshole cyclist; she had a green light and I pulled in front of her! The nerve! I really hope that the light turned yellow before she got to go. That's my only hope for her to realize that she was the one in error.
Zwift Thoughts
Like shower thoughts, but even less interesting....
These are the things that rattle through my head while riding on the trainer:
- I'm doing a really good job keeping my watts on track! Go me!
- Hey...my chain just fell off! Can it do that?
- Wow...They really want me to push it! Do they seriously want me to ride that many watts? Will I fall off the bike? Will I break it?
- This is boring. I'll stop after I hit 5 miles.
- Looks at all that detail on the graphics. They got the crafts in the asphalt perfect. There's even weeds growing through it.
- If they can put weeds in the roads, why can't they add roadkill? I haven't seen a single roadkill!
- My helmet doesn't match my jersey! Ug.
- Well, I can't stop now. I have to finish this stage.
- Why am I even wearing a helmet? I can't get injured in a virtual world.
- I wonder if more routes will unlock for me as I do more. The graphic effect is pretty good, but inconsistent. The roads and mountains are amazing, but that field over there...bleah.
- I wish my avatar could have massive dreadlocks down to it's knees. Why not? They could blow all over in the wind.
- Almost done, stopping as soon as I hit 20 minutes.
- I let the program pick a course at random for me. And here I am on the same course I was on yesterday! I've only done one ride so far!
- What a wonderful trainer this is. I can't hear a thing.
- I am looking at a window, and it's not miserable outside. I should be outside.
- Where did all these of Zwift users come from? Why aren't they riding outside? Do they ever ride outside? I wonder what the app was like when it was new? Did they have to release it at a big expo so they could at least have 10 users on at once?
- Well, I only have 10 minutes to go, I'll just finish the whole thing.
- Does anybody actually drink as much water as thier avatar? She cannot stop reaching for that bottle!
- Since it's a virtual world, why don't they embellish it a little? Do more things you can't do in real life? I want to bike through the snow! How about biking through a sandy african safari, complete with wild animals lapping at your pedals? I want to bike through water, not just a tunnel, but in it with fish swimming by. I'd like to bike up a single-track rail that takes me all the way to the moon!
Trying Zwift for the first time
I set the bike up on the new trainer this morning. I hadn't had the bike on the trainer since last spring. I tried TrainerRoad out before and found it OK, but the interface appeared outdated and uninspired for something with a monthly fee. So, today I tried Zwift. Such a different experience! Zwift gamified indoor training. I am not much of a gamer, but I must admit that "unlocking achievements" and choosing my own virtual kit entertained the crap out of me!
The screenshot above shows my avatar taking a break on the side of the road in an underwater tunnel. In a virtual world, I get to ride in places I never would in real life. This program also includes other people like me, all over the world, who are doing the same route as me at the same time. Avatars can interact by giving thumbs up or even text-based messages. The expansive community appeared warming, pleasant, and positive. A group riding at my pace were concerned about their buddy, Andy, who wasn't keeping up the pace today. They cheered him on, and extended best wishes when he dropped out. I have no idea who Andy is, or if these other people even knew, but I felt encouraged by all their support.
After I finished the ride, I figured out how to add modifications, like how to add a helmet and change my hair. The more you do, the more options you get. There are fun medals you can earn, like the "stalker"- an award for following another rider's progress for at least 15 minutes.
I started out with the FTP test, to get an idea of my starting place. Sadly, my FTP score flashed across the screen at the end of the ride and I have no idea how to see it again. I remember it being lower than I thought it would be. I averaged 190 watts during the test, but the watt level it gave me was much lower. I thinks that's disappointingly unmeasurably low beginner level. However, the recommended watts that the test told me to ride at seemed incredibly low. I felt like I was barely pedaling for the first 30 minutes. For the test, I had to ride at a pace I felt like I could maintain for 20 minutes steady. I think I did a good job riding at the same pace throughout, and think I matched the recommended watts pretty well for each segment. Since I am not used to indoor training, I have no idea how my performance matched what I can do outside, or how how well I can do period.
The bike felt like it leaned to the right, which distracted me. I worried that the rear triangle would snap off the trainer and I'd crash to the ground with a broken bike. I tried to offset the lean by leaning to the left, but I felt uneven throughout. I called my live-at-home-barista (aka bf) over to look at the bike. He could see how much I leaned to the left, but didn't think the bike leaning to the right was much of a concern. We both contemplated it's placement. Since the drive train of the trainer is off-center compared to the placement of a wheel, it was hard to tell if it was aligned correctly.
Ride details are below. Apparently I rode on an island near Papua New Guinea today. I wish I could see the results of the fit test. If I continue using this app, I'll have to do the test again after I get my bearings a bit.
After riding, I took my sweat-soaked (you really sweat riding indoors!) self to the other room. The afore-mentioned home barista made banana pancakes for breakfast while playing Jack Johnson's Banana Pancakes on the radio. Because it was raining outside. Even though it was raining, I got to get in my ride and some pancakes, too!
Commuting in autumn
I absolutely love commuting this time of year. The rain has just started falling. Tourists are away, locals are back at work and school and have their noses to the grindstone. I have the roads (compared to summer) all to myself. The cyclists are few. The pedestrians are practically nonexistent. The sky smells clean and fresh. The temperatures are perfect to feel comfortable in long sleeves, and excess layers are not needed. I am not cold, nor am I sweaty. The low sunset casts a warm, red-brown glow on everything. Riding home, the whole world looked rosy and delightful, almost like the whole of outside was lit by a candle. Now is the the precious and brief moment when the nearly all the leaves have changed to vibrant hues of orange, red, yellow, and brown and are still on the trees. Winds have been low this month, and while the bike lanes are already colorful and light with fallen leaves, most tress still look full. Rain dapples down, and cools my warm, flushed cheeks. It sprinkles against my arms and bounces off the road. Part of the splendor of this time of year is that everything feels new. Nothing has overstayed it's welcome. Four months into the winter the rain gets tiresome. By the end of summer, the traffic gets tiresome. Now, we are in a delightful transition period. On my bike, I get to greet each day as though it were an old firend, "Hey, you. It's been a year. I missed you!"
Blackout Bike Bingo
Bicycle Benefits Bike Bingo Seattle 2017!
The Wooleaters played Bike Bingo this year and I got blackout! This game brought me to new neighborhoods and into new establishments I wouldn't have ventured into otherwise.
Highlights include:
- I stopped at the Green Bean for drinks and Chaco Canyon for snacks when I biked to the Greenwood Car Show. The whole experience enlivened a love for my local neighborhood. It felt like a community, and I now feel the need to spend more time in the neighborhood itself.
- Bryant and I went on an epic ride through south Seattle on a very hot summer day. Most memorable was the stop at Flying Lion Brewery. The cool drinks couldn’t have come at a better time. We were hot, tired, and thirsty! The drinks didn’t disappoint. I had some of the best ciders I’ve ever tasted!
- The clerk at Free Range Bicycles asked me to share a talent with them before stamping my card. I stammered, caught off guard. What talents? I thought for a moment and then share a photo of a picture I drew. He loved it!
- I followed another Bike Bingo contestant to several stores one day after work. We stopped at Theo Chocolates at the same time and bought chocolate. We also arrived at Greenwood Hardware at the same time. The hardware store is along my route home from work, so I didn’t think much of it. This stamp was essentially a freebie for me. The guy, however, had been biking all day long getting stamps. He was hot and tired. I didn’t expect the feeling of comradery and community from Bike Bingo. I ran into so many cyclists with their signature Bingo cards all month long. We all smiled, waved, and shared stories. We talked about the routes we took to various places, what we bought, and the weather. It’s all small talk, but so fun to connect. When we entered Greenwood Hardware, the associate told us we had to find the spider before we could get our stamp. Needless to say, both he and I looked right at it and didn’t see it. We wondered the whole store. I saw so many stuffed animals, mascots and trinkets hidden all around the store. I delighted in this sort of personality you can’t get in a big box chain. Finally, the associate took pity on me and showed me the inflated spider toy hanging from the ceiling. Right there where she pointed when I walked in! D’oh!
- I rode to Sunset Hill and Tangletown for stamps, both places that escaped my exploration before. I feel in love with both neighborhoods instantly. The Sunset Hill Green Market reminded me of a lovely neighborhood grocer I walked to while vacationing at an Air bnb in Vancouver, Canada. I didn’t believe such a cute neighborhood existed in my own hometown!
- I met the bf at Full Tilt in Ballard. This took some effort since I kept riding into Ballard amidst giant summer festivals that closed the roads. The guy loves himself some ice cream, however, so I had to treat him. The server there remarked how happy she was that we bought something. Apparently she had a rash of bingo players who just stamped and ran. Never had I felt so good about spending money! I tried spending money everywhere I went, but it wasn’t always easy. The cashier at Ride Bicycles had a very hard time ringing up the tube I tried to buy. I am not sure why, but it took several tries and 2 other cashiers to do it. I read the website for Mighty O wrong and got there right as they closed. They still stamped my card, but I felt bad that they couldn’t sell me any doughnuts!
- I stopped at Tutta Bella for a late lunch. I filled about half my card at this point, but hadn’t yet started reaping the benefits. Getting to Tutta Bella by bike from work proved to be a hair-bending journey through construction, traffic and road closures. Construction noise filled the air and it took a while for me to find the restaurant. I sat down outside to relax before ordering. At that moment, my notebook flew open in the wind. My table sat several stories up and I watched my papers fly up and over the railing into the street below. My precious Bike Bingo card flew up with them! I grabbed for the card with all the reflexive speed I could muster. I caught it just in time. I have no idea what papers I lost. Surely pages with my deepest secrets and credit card info. But who cares, I saved the Bike Bingo card!
- I earned a free slice of Pizza at Ian’s Pizza, so I brought the bf there so I could also buy a slice. They had so many fun flavors! I got pizza with French fries and BBQ sauce on it! The location is not convenient for me to get to, but I want to try all their flavors now! The whole scene made both my bf and I nostalgic for college.
- I concluded my game at Peddler Brewing, where my final blackout stamp earned me a free Growler, fill, and pint. I met Bryant and Kristen, and we enjoyed our spoils!
Bike Bingo proved to be challenging, rewarding, engaging, and delightful. It felt like work at times, but overall a time to indulge in the privilege of living in a robust city full of local businesses and bike-able streets. I'll keep my blacked-out bingo card forever. I imagine I'll laugh and chuckle remembering these humble adventures when I'm 83.
Video of my daily commute
#Relive
I absolutely love the beauty and simplicity of this new app! Hurrah to the app developers for making riding more fun! It doesn't have a lot of options for free users unless you time the upload of your ride so you can edit right then and there. However, that's a small price to pay for free. I am tempted to be a paid user. I likely will in time.
Most Pleasant Training Ride
Finally, after several stressful training rides, I finally had a fun one! I call this the "pleasant ride" because I rode through several pleasant-sounding names; Sweet Home, Pleasant Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Hope, Golden Valley, all the places that sound as lovely as the day. I truly started to have fun on this ride, real, live fun! The coolest thing about this ride is that I maintained a 16 mph average all the way until mile 65! I tried really had those last few miles to keep the pace up, but my body couldn't take those final hills at speed. This was a training ride in its purest form; I pushed myself and finished just as it got too tough!
A most pleasant view
Queens to Kings Ride
I took a training ride in Corvallis that surprised me with traffic. I didn't end up going where I initially planned, but I did end up making a royal loop, as it were. I started on Queens avenue and rode through Kings Valley. Very royal, indeed!
Other than having a madly full bladder and nowhere to go but thorny brambles on a busy road, and loads of traffic, this ride proved to be uneventful.
Ride to Peavy Arboretum
On the last day in June, I had the grand opportunity to log some training rides in my old stomping grounds. I don't get to ride in Corvallis often, but when I do, I have a lot of fun reminiscing. I rode to Peavy Arboretum. I used to drive out to this place to run on the trails. Can you believe it? I used to run? What was I thinking. I biked here a few times too, in the summer when most of the students were away.
This short ride qualified as epic. Google sent me on a dead end. This wouldn't have been too bad, expect going there required me to cross a busy highway, and I had to cross it again to back track. Then I plowed down the Crescent Valley hill, happy that I wouldn't have to climb up it, only to find the road closed at the bottom. I had to climb up it anyway. Then, at the very end of the ride, I fell off my bike while stopped in the drive way!
I went up a hill, err, mountain, I didn't know existed in Corvallis. Maybe I rode it once and blocked the memory out, I am not sure. Vinyard Mountain is accessed via Concord Drive. There is a Strava segment called grape crush that I crushed! That felt awesome!
RSVP 2018
Cascade's RSVP ride has been on the bucket list since I found out the "P" stands for PARTY! I mean, a ride has to be a good time when it has party right there in the name, right? Well, I am pretty excited. It sounds like the Wooleaters are gearing up to do this ride in 2018, and I already have one foot clipped in!
The Harvest Century
Pictures from my Harvest Century
A person named Maria recently sent me an email from my website. This like, never happens. Anyway, she asked me if I could promote The Harvest Century. No brainer! Did Maria even look at my website? Did she realize I rode the Harvest Century back in 2008 and it was one of the best rides I ever did? I wanted to reminisce, so pulled up my blog from that ride. Sadly, it somehow missed being a featured ride on my organized ride page. She probably never saw it! So I looked at the post, and I didn't even have anything written! How on earth is everyone supposed to know that I have been wanting to do this ride again for years? I know I saved the stats and summary from the ride somewhere, I just don't know where. I recorded things on mapmyride, on various blogs, and on paper. Who knows where all of that went. Maybe I just need to do the ride again so I can write about it again?
Here is what Maria asked me to post. Take it from me, though, this ride was pretty awesome. The smell of fall. The colorful leaves. Hot cider on cold fingers. Riding through the classic Oregon wine country. What could be better? Because it's cold and colorful, this ride has a very different feel from the other organized rides I've done. I feel the snuggly comfort of autumn just thinking about it.
“My name is Maria Duong with Community Vision, a non-profit that supports individuals with disabilities and their families. We are hosting our 15th annual Harvest Century Bike Ride on Sunday, September 24, 2017, in order to raise funds to support the individuals that we work with. We would appreciate if you are able to list this event on your website:
15th Annual Harvest Century Bike Ride
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Hillsboro Civic Center
The Harvest Century is more than a bike ride – it’s a ride with a mission! Every dollar raised goes directly to Community Vision for the support they provide for individuals with disabilities and their families.
Harvest Century has 5 route options:
- 3 mile family ride
- 25 mile ride
- 45 mile ride
- 75 mile ride
- 100 mile ride
On each of the routes, you will pass through Willamette Valley wineries, glimpse breathtaking views of Mt. Hood & The Coast Range, and find yourself in unexpected places right outside city centers. The 45, 75, and 100-mile routes enjoy a rest stop at Montinore Vineyards.
For information check out the harvest century website:
www.harvestcentury.org
Thank you so much for all of your help!
Sincerely,
Maria Duong”
The main image on my organized ride page is a Dan Henry from the Harvest Century. They had the best, they were all pumpkins!
Bike MS 2017 Willamette Valley Monmouth, Oregon
Another amazing ride for MS. I arrived to Rider Village late Friday, tired and haggard from the long drive. I met up with various SlugFish at the team tent, ate some pizza and shared freeway horror stories. I crawled into bed early. I slept much better than I ever had before a MS ride. I slept in my very own camper van for the first time ever. I enjoyed the quiet along with the easy access to a toilet (gotta hydrate!).
The next morning I awoke feeling ready to go, inhaled a piece of toast and started riding. I began before the official start time, which the organizer encouraged due to the predicted heat. She even mentioned that the routes would close earlier than planned, but didn't say exactly when. I ride slow, so I had to get moving! The first stretch of road felt familiar, comfortable, calm and quiet. The bucolic livestock scenes made me argue with myself; stop for photos or pedal on?
The clear skies told me the Willamette Valley wasn't affected by the massive fires in British Columbia, but by the time I rolled into Marion a gray haze blocked out the blue. I didn't know the route changed from last year, and thus didn't know I'd be riding through my old hometown of Marion. I hoped I would pass a road I recognized. I didn't. I did get to scream down some speeding descents- 40 mph! Riding along a flat road that paralleled railroad tracks, a deer crossed my path. Rather than run away, the deer bounded along the road in front of me. The deer and I maintained a similar pace for a while. I watched it go from a walk, to a run, to a bounding gallop. I realized I never get to follow animals in the wild for more than a few seconds, so this deer gave me a real treat. She kept me company longer than I imagined, and then finally veered off into the brush.
Temperatures climbed and still I rode alone. A goal materialized in my head. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to get to the Century stop, the spot where Century riders get a special patch, before any other women. A few men passed me already, so I knew I had a fighting chance at being the first woman. I also had a fighting chance at being the first "top fundraiser". Top fundraisers have differently colored bib numbers, and none of the guys who passed me had them. It was just after this new goal gave my feet more fire that pealing suddenly seemed impossible. Breath left me. I kept moving, but so slowly. What was wrong with me? I didn't feel particularly good all morning. My knees stung with pain, and my thighs felt like they were encased in lead sheaths. But this new level of slowness was of great concern. Was I having a medical problem? Could I be going up a hill? Was I riding into a head wind? I saw no hill and felt no wind. I sweated. Nothing could pick my speed into the double digits. I knew a woman would pass me any moment and all my effort would have been wasted! I pushed. I panted out loud. I grunted out loud. I started yell-grunting. I grunted as loud as I could. I passed a sign that a rest stop was near. Thank god, I thought to myself. But it seemed to never appear. I started counting at the top of my lungs, trying to distract myself. Finally, after what felt like 100 years and 100 deaths, I made it. It was the Century Stop! I was the first woman! I was the first top fundraiser! I learned that whole stretch was a hill, one that I couldn't see based on the landscape. Since I hadn't studied the route, not knowing it would be different, I didn't know where the hills would be. Sometimes just knowing is half the battle!
I thought I was going to die, but I turned out being the 2nd fastest woman of all time!
The next couple of hours still felt painful, but the wheel kept turning. Women passed me. My route intersected with others taking shorter routes. Finally, I saw other people proving this was an organized ride! My legs hurt more, my head and neck began to quake. The heat started to clog my lungs, making my breath hot and slow. I began to feel like this was one of those days that are only worth while for the memory.
At mile 70, the lead peeled off my legs. The sweat rolled off my arms. The daggers lifted from my neck. Music filled my ears. I was back! I rode those last 30 miles like they were the first 30. I flew through the air. I approached the finish line before I was ready. I pumped my fist in the air as hands clapped and onlookers cheered. I crossed the orange arcs. Usually I want to cry at this moment. But, I had taken care of all the emotion hours ago. I didn't even want a rest. I actually hoped back on the bike to ride to the showers.
The next day, I hoped on the bike eager to ride more. I hadn't really even planned on riding a second day. Usually the first time my butt hits saddle on day two results in anguish that only goes away after 10 miles. This time I felt nothing but comfort. I rode another 30 miles quickly, easily. My body needs to ride. It needs the challenge! This is my comfort zone.
Each rest area had a decoration and a theme this year. I loved that! I also enjoyed the new route. Day 1 riders got to enjoy the Buena Vista ferry. It's a short but picturesque ferry ride. I think those on shorter routes got to ride it before, but I had only used it on non-MS rides.
Team Slugfish got to eat Yeasty Beasty pizza for being a top fundraiser, but I arrived too late for the good flavors. I didn't have much for breakfast the next day. However, iced mocha drink at the Wildlife Refuge tickled my fancy, and I drank 2 full cups. This new route had me reaching the lunch stop at noon (gasp!) instead of the usual 10am. I inhaled salads and chicken and tasty sauces. I drank iced tea. I snaked on fruit, nut mixes, and sno cones. I don't remember much about dinner, other than the server secretly snuck some tempeh on my plate (only vegetarians are supposed to eat it). It was worth the risk of getting scolded. Yum! I am not a fan of coleslaw, but we were served a cilantro slaw that had me going back for seconds.
Overall, another great ride that was worth training for. I raised a lot of money for the MS Society, and I am still raising more. One of the hardest things for me doing these rides is thinking about the people who sponsor me. I know so many amazing people. So many of the people I know donate to this cause for me every year. Yet, I don't get to see them very often. I'd say I see most of my sponsors about once a year, if that. There's only a few that I see more than that, and still it's only every once and while. I ride the long hours thinking, how can I make connecting with all my amazing friends and family more of a priority? I don't really know. Fellow sponsor, if you are reading this know that you are treasured. And, non-sponsor, if you are reading this, know that you are amazing too!
Bike Commuting in Pollution
Screenshot of time-lapsed air quality close to the time I woke up from AIRnow.gov
Thick, hazy, smoky; that’s the air in Seattle these days. My eyes watered yesterday from the thick. Fires from BC, Canada are blowing down to Seattle and sitting in the valley. We are in the midst of hot, stagnant weather so nothing is really blowing the air out once it sits here.
I wondered about biking to and from work. Am I safe? Am I going to hurt my lungs? I didn’t really think so. I have no existing lung issues, and I don’t really exert myself commuting. Plus, I don’t have a better option to get to work. I could take the bus, but that opens up a whole other realm of unpleasant inhalants.
The internets say I am going to be just fine. Most research focuses on the pollution caused by the carbon monoxide in car exhaust. This is a special pollutant for cyclists because we are literally a few feet from exhaust pipes the entire time we ride in traffic. Plus, we can't really escape breathing fumes in a downtown setting. The best thing to do is ride fast and pick the best route. Pollution is the most deadly public health hazard second only to smoking. Still, riding a bike in pollution is better than no exercise at all. With smoke pollutants, fast is my only option. Getting out of the air quickly is more beneficial than exerting/breathing less intensely.
“...riding a bike is still healthier than not riding. Bike commuting is a healthier alternative to driving to work—which also happens to expose you to air pollution. In 2015, a study from the University of Copenhagen elaborated on this, suggesting that the positive impacts of exercise are more important for our health than the negative effects of air pollution. And in March of this year, the University of Cambridge published findings that the health benefits of walking and cycling outweigh the negative effects of air pollution on health, even in cities with high levels of air pollution. ”
So, yeah, I got a headache after commuting today. But it's not likely to cause any long-term issue. I am lucky that I live in a region that scores higher for air quality than most of the rest of the world. All sources agree that riding is still better than not riding. Even the EPA suggests riding a bike to combat poor air quality. Sure, riding a bike isn't going to put out any fires. Still, I am doing my tiny little part to combat climate change and air pollution every day ride. That's a good enough reason for me to push through the haze.
Bike MS Oregon 2017: Just a few Weeks Away!
I've been working hard to train up for a century ride this August. It will be here before you know it! Support my ride by sponsoring me today! I've been planning on making it easy this year and just riding the 100 miles in one day and being done with it. It's been a long year. But...if I raise $1500 I WILL ride the full 150 miles in 2 days. I'll do it for people with MS! And I'll do it because of you!
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A thief in the night...left me in the dark
To the thief who stole the lighting off my bike this morning, I would have happily given you a light. I have several extra. Just ask. The world doesn’t need to be that harsh. But don’t leave me without a light when I have 8 miles to ride to work in the dark rain. I depend on my bike to get to work, and I depend on my lights to get there safely.
I know, I should remove these things when I locked the bike. It takes time to remove all that stuff. Stupidly, I didn’t want to take the time. I mistakenly thought this quiet, bright parking lot was safe. I park in a locked cage at work, I parked my bike inside at my old health club. I've going to this new health club for 2 weeks, and have been parking my bike outside. Today I just didn't feel like taking the time to remove all the lights like I have been. I mean, who am I to be so mistrusting of people?
Bike Everywhere Day!
Today is #bikeeverywhere day! The warm, spring air and sunshine blessed all cyclists this morning in Seattle. I got up early with grand plans to ride by 10 stations on the way to work. This is one of the greatest advantages of working downtown and commuting along a major (if not the most popular) bike corridor in a large and largely bike-friendly city.
The first 2 stations I planned to visit couldn’t be found. Either I read the map incorrectly, or they simply weren’t there. I began to wonder if getting up early was such a good idea. Then I stopped at the F5/Cascade Station. I danced around to some fun tunes from the DJ and filled my face with energy food. I passed the PEMCO station across the street, but made it to the Facebook Station. Facebook nonchalantly handed over a high quality bag full of high-quality goodies. I made a point to engage with other riders. This is community building, right? I’m usually rushing into work. The sooner I get to work, the better the day! The harder I ride, the better the work out! No time for chatting! Today, I had to concentrate on kicking bakc in pointless banter. Then I got some fun snacks at the next station. Kilroy made my day, though. They had a large banter that said something about “Bike to Work Day”! Sometime back, the name of this celebration changed to “Bike Everywhere Day”. But I’m biking to work! I’d I were simply biking everywhere, I wouldn’t need doughnuts to entice me, the ride in itself is reward enough. Biking to work everyday is a different kind of hard. I stopped at Oculus Eye Care and entered a raffle to win a pair of sunglasses. I could really use a pair of prescription glasses for biking, so I am secretly crossing my fingers for the win on that one. I veered one block off my route for the SubPop stop. They tried to give me a CD and I instantly didn’t feel cool enough to get a free CD from SubPop. But they gave me one anyway. All in all, it was a wonderful morning. I could have veered even more off course and gotten cans of cold brew coffee and other wonderful things, but I am happy that so many people and businesses are out there supporting cycling and cyclists. Thanks for the loot, Bike Everywhere Day!
Post Ride Yoga
In the search to find a quick, mindless (as in, I don't have to think about it) post-ride cool-down, I found this short yoga video. I like it. A lot of yoga videos didn't touch on the muscles that need stretching. We are all different, and find tension in different places, but I wanted to share this because it hits all my good spots.