One Way Commute

Set out on an extended morning commute this morning.  After work KT will be in the neighborhood anyhow and pick me up at work, so I added some distance to the ride in.  Once again I was on the road while the sun was rising and enjoyed the brightening sky.

A pastel sky in the morning.

 

The weather forecast called for afternoon rain so the plan to ride in and get a lift home was a good one.  I rode further east before turning north towards work.  The back roads are nice and calm in the morning.  Sure, there's the occasional car that flies by, someone hurrying to work, but these passings are few.  I sure do enjoy the ride in.

Having the road to myself.

Rising Sun on the Commute

Finally made a bike commute happen today.  Though I often think about it, the schedule rarely cooperates.  I set my alarm for 6:15, rolled out of bed at 6:20, and was on the road by 6:30.

Bike was in the garage the night before and pointed out.

On my way out the door I questioned whether or not to bring the digi cam.  I was already carrying two cell phones and some food in my jersey pockets.  Do I really need the camera?  Yes, no, yes, no... yes, may as well in case there is something interesting to shoot.

More than half way to work I realized I never even thought to take a picture.  Why did I bring the camera?  To justify the carrying it along I paused eating a banana, holding it in my mouth, pulled out the camera and snapped four quick pictures towards the rising sun.  Later in the afternoon I had a look at the pictures and was glad I packed the camera!

Eastward on Secrest Road.

Nice morning light.  Cold enough for arm

warmers when I first left home. 

Lovin' the morning commute.

No Train

The weather forecast for today prompted me to mount the light on my cross bike and commute to and from work.  This would be the first commute of the year and it was a nice way to start off.

It was 37 degrees when I left the house this morning.  I rode through town but took a slightly different route than normal.  As I crossed the tracks that run through town I heard a train rumble and whistle.  I thought it would be a neat picture to with my bike propped up alongside the tracks and a train passing by in the background, at least I figured Daniel would like the train pic.  After waiting for several minutes I realized the train was on a different set of tracks.  Oh well, I'll have to try this picture idea later.

Sitting alongside the rail waiting for a train.

The ride home was even warmer, it was 57 degrees when I left the office.  The wind was supposed to be out of the south at 15 to 20mph but it sure didn't feel like it as I rode mostly due south.  The skies were overcast but it was a nice first commute of the year.  Spring is near!

Top Down Approach

Here's a new idea I'm working on, it's my top down approach

to getting dressed for a morning commute.  :-)

If I'm going to ride to work, I like to set out my gear the night before in order to make a quick, mindless departure in the morning.  We're talking alarm clock sounds at 6:30 and I'm pedaling down the driveway by 6:40.  To accomplish this requires a game plan and my new game plan uses the basement steps.

On each step of the basement stairs I set a piece of apparel.  The items are arranged in the order they should be put on, planned out based on the weather forecast for tomorrow.  Simply enough, open the basement door, step down, put on item, step down, put on item, etc, etc, and by the time I reach the last step I should be ready to roll out, after grabbing my bike from around the corner and hiking back up stairs of course.  Minimal thinking is involved, which is good when I'm still half asleep from waking up only 4 minutes ago.

Tomorrow, if all goes as intended, will be my second usage of this method.  ;-)

Expired tubes?

Well, let's replay my statement from two days ago:

Come to think of it, in my seven years of riding I can only recall three flat tires, including the one today.

And replace it with a new statement for today:
In my past three days of riding I've had two flat tires, including one today.

On the way home from work I was taking my usual short cut through the Boy's Village parking lot when I received a jarring shock from my rear wheel.  I looked back to see what I had hit and really didn't see anything. 

Hmmm... I paid attention to the bike for the next 30 seconds or so as I rolled along but all seemed well.  That is until I went to clip in after stopping at Back Orrville Road while on Geyers Chapel.  Apparently my rear tire had gone flat as I waited for traffic.  I slowly pedaled across Back Orrville Road on the rear rim and found a happy place alongside the road to swap tubes.

After thinking about how I had just made a blog post regarding my minimal experience with flat tires, I had to pause the tube replacement for a picture.

T

Temporary workshop on the SW corner of Back Orrville and Geyers Chapel.

So now I'm wondering if my current batch of tubes has passed their expiration date?  No matter, I'm out of tubes now anyhow and will have to restock!