Late Ride

It was a normal commute today, but since I had to work late, the ride home was a grumpy one.

Miles Ridden: 9.4

NITE Ride 2008

Watching the Race in the Velodrome
I've been looking forward to the 2008 NITE Ride (Navigate Indy This Evening) for a while. I was able to talk the neighbor and his wife to come along, so it looked to be a good time. We left town before 8:00 and we arrived a little before 9:30.

Ready to Go
The worst part of the night happened right as we were unloading. The neighbor's wife lost her balance with her foot in the toe clip and went down on the pavement. She did a faceplant on the street, scratching her glasses and splitting her lip. Her description included her teeth dragging across the asphalt. Luckily, the bleeding stopped soon, and there was little swelling.

There Was a Big Crowd
We checked in, checked out the end of the last race in the Velodrome, and browsed the merch in the Bicycle Garage tent. After the bike decorating contest, it was time to go.

Happy Passenger
The route travels south to the IUPUI campus, around the zoo, across the canal, and through the Statehouse complex before circling the Monument Circle. We then stopped at the snack stop for cookies and Gatorade.

At the Rest Stop
Resuming north on Meridian and Pennsylvania, the route meandered through the Butler University campus, much to the delight of the small groups of drunk college students that cheered us on. We ended up on the grounds of the Art Museum before returning to the Velodrome. Rain showers found us on the last couple of miles, so we skipped the post ride Fazoli's and just packed up and left.

Cyclists on the Circle
A great time, and I hope to do it again soon.

Another Dog Along for the Ride
(who seems to be checking out the babes on the sidewalk)


Miles Ridden: 20.4

Sunrise on the Wabash

There was rain and t-storms forecast for today, so I'm glad I rode before work instead of to work. We ended up having several doozies come through, including one at quittin' time.

Miles Ridden: 9.0

P.S. I saw my first Xtracycle in Indiana today. I was across the street looking out a 2nd story window, so I couldn't tell much about it, but it seemed to possibly be a cruiser bike.

Leisurely Ride Around Campus

Wheat Field in the Morning

My normal to and from work, plus I rode to band practice across campus. It's relaxing to take a slow ride between the red brick and limestone buildings - no traffic, few pedestrians.

Miles Ridden: 10.3

Monday Commute

There and back.

Miles Ridden: 7.1

Chased by the Rain

I need to watch the Weather Channel a little better so that I can get out on my rides before the storms come. It wasn't until I was about as far away from my house that I could be on my route before I heard the thunder. Here's what I saw behind me.

Lots of Rain
I was on the Lilly Road Route and was planning to continue onto the Wabash Avenue Route. However, the threat of rain convinced me to head north on the US231 bridge a back home.

As I left the bridge, the rain started. But in my favor, it only lasted a few minutes as the heavy stuff must have turned to the north. Still, I was hammering pretty hard to get home and got a great workout.

Another Shot of Wea Creek - After the High Water has Receded.
I passed a gentleman on a road bike somewhere on River Road going the opposite way, and then again on Lilly Road near the factory. He and I must have been taking the same route in different directions.

Miles Ridden: 17.8

More Rain

My ride was cut short by rain this morning (when the TV Weather Guy says that the rain will come between 1pm and 7pm, wouldn't you expect to ride dry at 11am?), but I still got a little time in.

Perpetual Project House on Morehouse Road

Miles Ridden: 9.4

Watchin' Out for Lester

Can you believe I didn't ride yesterday? This week has presented one perfect riding day after another, and I somehow got too busy on my day off work to get out. Not today. I hit the road around 9:30.

Beautiful weather, 69 and no wind, met me outside. I headed up on 400W, across on 500N, and back down on Soldiers' Home Road and Happy Hollow Road. River Road brought me back home.






I Can't Resist the Horses

The neighbor and I refer to any roadkill opossum as "Lester", as in Lester Flatt, because they end up flattened by the many cars that pass over them. I had to dodge three today.

Miles Ridden: 20.9

A Different Kind of Bad Driver

It looked like today would be a commute so similar to the others this week, but there was a difference. The muppet of the day was another cyclist!

I was riding east on State St approaching a green light at Marsteller Ave. This is a one way to the north, so I was lucky that I saw the young lady on the upright Trek coming from my left when she left the curb. She was traveling south from the sidewalk into the crosswalk with a clear Don't Walk sign. There were no autos coming from either direction, so I guess she thought it was safe to cross. I was able to slow enough to not hit her. She yelled 'Sorry!' while steering her ride up the ramp back to the sidewalk on the other side - tightly gripping her coffee travel mug in her left hand.

I rode the last couple of blocks to the bike rack, and saw her coming up on a sidewalk once again to park at the same rack. She was my bike rack buddy! After she apologized once again (saying she never saw me), we exchanged pleasantries about the weather and walked into the building.

I guess I should have said something about all the things she was doing wrong, but I didn't think she would really care (plus, I would sound like a pretentious know-it-all). It's likely she'll no longer ride a bike as soon as she is able to keep a car on campus.

There was a quick trip to a meeting in the afternoon, then home on the direct route (again).

Miles Ridden: 8.3

Another Great Commuting Day

This week's weather has been perfect for riding - mid 50s in the morning and mid 70s after work. The NW wind has been a little strong in the evening, but that's a good thing for training, right?

Today was another simple ride to work and a quick jaunt over to the Hall of Music for band practice. My son met me there with my trombone. It's nice being in a band with him for the first time.

Also, last week I finally installed the new cyclo-computer that I purchased back in April. Here's a shot.

After practice, I rode home after changing clothes in the McDonald's bathroom.

Miles Ridden: 8.5 (include 0.3 walking with my son back to his car)

There and Back

I've missed a few days of riding due to work and family obligations, including a weekend of great weather, but I was able to get back in the saddle today. Nothing special, just to work and back.



Miles Ridden: 7.1

Another Short One

I've noticed lately as I ride to work that my usual 'right tire track' position on the road is splattered with liquid dripping out of one of the many trash trucks that come by my neighborhood. When I see (or smell) that nasty trail, I adjust towards the center of the lane.

No ride home again today.

Miles Ridden: 3.4

Flying North

After work, I took a quick run on the North Route (I need to document this route someday). With a SW wind, the trip north and east went quickly. The return? Not so much.



Miles Ridden: 12.0

Between the Storms

I had a little time after work for a ride to Granville Bridge.



Miles Ridden: 9.0

Sticky

Even at 7:00 this morning, it was already hot and humid. The neighbor and I took off on the Lilly Road Route hoping to face the WSW wind before it picked up for the day and then have it push us back home. That worked pretty well, making the easterly portion of the route quick and easy.


Passing over the Wea Creek, we noticed it was a lot higher than normal. (Here it is last week) Apparently, the excessive rains south of us have to run off somewhere. Even more unusual was the strong smell of pesticides coming from the water. Some hapless farmer must have just applied the annual batch of noxious chemicals on his fields, only to have it washed away by the rains. Should we expect a fish kill downstream?

Wea Creek - a Little on the High Side
The neighbor mentioned taking the Avenue, but in the interest of time, we came back across the Wabash on the Brannigan Bridge. With the tailwinds and downhill run, we were like rock stars (well, maybe cycling stars) screaming down and over the bridge. I don't use my highest gear often, but today was a day to try it out.

When we reached River Road, we opted to run through campus, on the way home. In the summer, when the student count is low and weather is pleasant, there is much road construction, so we had to snake through a couple of closures to get back to the airport and on home.

Miles Ridden: 19.5

Early

Just a quick ride before work (and before the afternoon/evening storms). When I stopped at Granville Bridge, there was a great sunrise view. Unfortunately, the camera I had brought didn't have a memory card installed. Oh well.

Miles Ridden: 9.1

Which Lane Do I Use Again?

Muppet of the day award goes to the lady in the large SUV who came up to the stop sign on Sharon Chapel Road as I was riding towards campus on Newman Road. She never really stopped, but instead inched ahead as I approached the intersection. When I was basically in front of her, she turned into the left lane parallel to me. We traveled along for a few seconds - me in the correct lane, and her in the way of potential oncoming traffic. To get her attention, I yelled "HEY" in my best dad voice, and she gave me that "What?!!?" look before speeding off. What an idiot.


As I left work on the North Work Route, threatening clouds filled the sky (more threatening than this picture indicates). Luckily, the storm moved east and not south. It was dry and sunny all the way home.

Miles Ridden: 11.9

June Starts at Wally World

Celery Bog sans Trees
I had no urge to go on a real ride today, so instead I made a shopping trip to Wal-Mart. I try to get an eclectic mix of things whenever I shop the superstore, and this trip's items scored high on the "none of these things go together" scale.

• Grass seed
• Early June Peas
• Argyle socks
• Low Fat Chocolate Milk (consumed at the bike rack)
• Large Curd Cottage Cheese

Miles Ridden: 10.8