putting my lights to good use

I commuted on the most direct route today. Although it is not as peaceful, it is 2-3 miles shorter and I think it was faster even with the major traffic intersections I had to go through. It was also hard to tell because I was commuting on the 'cross tires for the first time. 15 miles on knobby tires at 60psi is a lot less efficient.

Bring your lights and be ready to rumble tonight

not afraid of the dark

Monday was a great commute. I took the road racing bike with just enough supplies to keep me well lit for the night time ride home. I forgot how much faster a 17 lb carbon bike is than the 22 lb fender equipped steel commuter that I had been riding lately. The morning air was warm enough and the traffic was rather light as I zipped along my usual route to Waltham. When the work whistle blew at the end of my day I was initially tense about the ride home. It was 6pm and completely dark. With no other choice, I geared up, put on my highly visible white vest and rear blinking lights as well as my handlebar mounted light. My ride combines some unlit and lit side roads, some unlit busy roads, and some well lit city centers so I was switching between high beam and low beam on the NiteRider. The temp seemed a bit cooler than the morning ride but perhaps it was the lack of sun.

As I zipped through the darkest sections I was reassured by the high beam on the NiteRider. For a $150 light, it performs as well as I could expect. It is also exceptionally convenient because I rotate it from bike to bike on an almost daily basis. The 15 mile ride home in the dark was fast and enjoyable. For some reason the roads seemed a little quieter than usual which added to the enjoyment.

too early?

is it bad to leave at 4:30 on a friday if you've only been with the company for three weeks? i don't think so. i just want to be home by 6.

feelin' down

Once or twice a year I get a cold. Sometimes it is just a stuffy nose and sore throat, sometimes it is a full system meltdown. This week I have the stuffy nose and sore throat but hopefully nothing more. I skipped out on 'cross practice in hopes of limiting the amount that I weaken my immune system. I'm sure glad I don't have to get on a plane anytime soon. Traveling with a head cold is the pits.

Seeing a sign like this in New England would sure cheer me up.

just plain stupid

It's getting colder in New England as we seem to be skipping fall and going straight for winter. On Thursday morning my thermometer read 33 degrees when I left the house. I put on my windproof jacket and shoe covers in hopes of staying warm during the 15 mile ride. When I got to the Boston College area I caught up to a guy on a Bike Friday (with 16 inch wheels) who was equally dressed for the cold morning EXCEPT he was wearing flip flops. Seriously! Since when is wearing flip flops will bike commuting a good idea, let alone when it is 33 degrees outside. He rode at least 2-3 miles so it is not like he was just going to the end of the street or out for 5 minutes. I guess I just don't get it.

soothing and relaxing

I was initially unsure of how I would deal with my now 15 mile commute to work. Living south of the city and now working northwest of the city my commute takes me on some fairly busy roads before I escape into the quiet comfort of the Weston side roads.

I've been able to ride more often than drive although it takes me 25-30 extra minutes when riding so I have to get up and out of the house earlier to accomplish this. I've set up the commuter with lights, fenders, pump, etc to be certain I don't find myself soaked by unexpected rain, invisible to passing traffic, or stranded 10 miles from home with mechanical troubles. It is not a PRO looking machine but it is more about functionality for this trip.

Last week confirmed my preference for riding to work instead of driving. Over the course of the week I saw sunny rays reflecting off the dew covered grass, leaves changing colors as fall makes it presence known, wild turkeys

and suburban houses decorated for the upcoming Halloween festivities. I saw people enjoying early morning walks along Comm Ave in Newton and others playing a twilight round of golf at the Weston Country Club. My cross country tour this summer gave me a new appreciation for the variety that one can see from the seat of a bike and I've embraced that variety during my 15 mile ride. Heck, I only got honked at once during 4 trips and that was by an old man who probably shouldn't have a license anyway. There's more honking in a single car trip.

So if you haven't ridden to work lately I encourage you to try it. It doesn't have to be a race. Just enjoy it and see if you don't feel more relaxed and satisfied during your work day.

Lost at the bottom

I just realized this morning that the raisins in my raisin bran cereal sink to the bottom of the bowl (or in this case, cup). I poured too much milk into my mug and then added the cereal (which, I know, is the opposite of the norm but I was in the kitchen and the cereal was back at my work desk). So after eating through the bran portion I decided to explore at the bottom of the remaining milk and low and behold I found a jackpot of raisins! No wonder why the scoops of bran seemed unusually lacking.

Garmin Edge 305

This clever device gets an A+ for its potential and a C- for its execution of that potential. I've been using the Garmin Edge 305 for nearly 3 years now and while I love the data that it gathers and the convenience of swapping it from bike to bike with no wires, magnets, or other accessories, I'm continually disappointed by the software Garmin developed to accompany it and the limitation of 7-9 hours of battery life.



Normally those problems are minor since I can charge it after a long ride and download regularly to my PC (not my mac because I don't have the newest, Garmin compatible OS on the mac). On my cross country journey however I had to scrape around for power outlets every time I stopped to be sure I got a charge. Also, I was not initially aware of this but apparently the device will overwrite historic data as it gets full. And it gets full after 10-12 days of long rides. Without a personal computer on my trip and unable to upload activity at the numerous libraries I stopped into, I learned when I finally got home that the fun stuff like elevation gain, daily route maps, calories, and max speed were overwritten for the first 3/4 of my trip. Total bummer because I was looking forward to sharing those trip totals.

Maybe someone out there has created a better software solution than the junk that comes from Garmin. I've played with sportracks and while it is better, it still has some major limitations. Linking with google earth is fun and allows you to see the topography and satellite pictures fo the terrain that was covered but it doesn't do anything to help store a route without having to first download software onto a computer (which you cannot do at most poublic libraries).

Anyway, I'll continue to use the Garmin Edge 305 and be satisfied with its abilities as long as I am near a personal computer to sync the data regularly. When traveling for extended periods though, an old fashioned wired computer is still going to be necessary.