Tag: biking to work

Damn you rain…

meisajDaily Life

11302010AJC

Looking at the weather last night I knew there was no way I could bike to work today.  It was raining pretty good when I got up.  Thirty minutes later its passed and fine now, but I would have had to bike through that rain and that’s not an option when biking to work.  There aren’t showers at work, and odds are the work clothes I’d bring in my bag would be pretty soaked.

So I’ve put off biking to work until Wednesday.  Wednesday looks like the better day right now. Tuesday looks great too…. but there are OAA’s on Tuesday and its better to not add any stress to that day.  There will also be a meeting after school that may be later than expected.  So Wednesday.  All the same… it should be a great week for biking.  It’s supposed to dry out over the afternoon, high of 63.  Tomorrow no rain and high of 73.  Wednesday no rain and high of 74.  Beyond that, its spring in Ohio and predicting weather out past tomorrow is sketchy, much less 3 days out.

I did get a 30 mile ride in Saturday.  It felt great.  Could have been longer.  I honestly felt great.  However this has been a windy year.  I have no clue why, but there is constant wind.  I don’t remember it from my rides last year.  And I biked away from the lake on my 30 mile ride, but as soon as I turned around there was a constant headwind of 10 – 15 mph.  It was bizarre and frustrating, especially considering how the ride back is subtle uphill and a few big hills.  Headwind makes those bigger hills just unbearable.

But whatever, it still feels good biking.  And no one passed me.  Cause I don’t ever want anyone to pass me when I bike.  I’m a little bit ego centric like that.

Biking to work

meisajDaily Life

08172010AJC

Last year I biked to work several times.

Of course by this time last year the weather had changed to consistently warm and sunny, where as this year it’s been warm and sunny one day, and snowing the next.  I’m not kidding.  This has been a year of bizarre weather in Cleveland.  Last Thursday we set a record for the high temperature.  83 degrees Fahrenheit.  Saturday morning it was snowing when I drove into work.  That’s messed up.  Weekends in particular have been either wet, or really cold limiting the distance riding I could do.

So its been hard to get bike rides in consistently.  I had done at least one 50 mile bike ride at this point last year.  My longest ride has been 18 miles this year.  And I’ve only been biking for three or so weeks.  Which is probably about the same time frame as last year.  But I’m not sure I’m in the same biking shape I was last year.  Although I weigh less than last year and I have a new bike which is driving my enthusiasm.  I just need the weather to catch up with my enthusiasm.

Monday I think is the day.  Sunday night/Monday morning its not supposed to dip below 54 degrees Fahrenheit.  Sunrise is 6:26am – so it’ll be light quickly after I leave.  Only a 10% chance of rain and very slight wind.  In the afternoon it’ll be low 60’s.  Perfect biking day.  So this morning when the 5:30am alarm went off and I couldn’t fall back asleep (I’m certain its vengeance from my brain for trying to sleep more yesterday… see my last post), I was thinking about what it would have to be for me to start biking to work temperature and weather wise, and when I would have to leave.  It is a 24 mile ride to work.  Not that far.  It should really take me 90 minutes or so bike it, and that’s being pretty fair.  That’s 16 miles an hour riding.  Not a crazy pace by any means.  but I would give myself a little less than two hours.  Get up at 5:30am (packed the night before) and hit the road at 5:45am and I should be good.  That gives me 1 hour and 45 minutes to leisurely bike to work.  No problem.

Last year I jump started my biking with a 50 mile ride.  To kind of prove to myself I could.  I don’t need that this year.  But I need to do something that guarantees a longer ride for me.  I think biking to work is it.  And I’m excited about it.  I like that.  Makes me smile.