Tag: Biking

Posted on

Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 11.0 miles
Riding time: 55 minutes
Max speed: 27.2 mph
Average speed: 11.8 mph
Temperature: 72º
Route:

  • 162nd to Halsey
  • Halsey past I-84 overpass
  • 80th to Glisan
  • Glisan to 76th
  • 76th to Everett
  • Everett/Davis to Floral Place
  • Floral Place across Burnside to Ankeny
  • Ankeny to Grand
  • Grand to Burnside
  • Burnside to Broadway
  • Broadway to office

This was the second morning in a row that I took this route (instead of jumping on the Max). I mostly felt good but lagged on some of the hills. All the aches and pains from the weekend are gone and it was much cooler than yesterday (when I looked down to see 93º on the bike computer). Overall, a beautiful ride.

Posted on

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1690
Weight lost: 41 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 10
Hours billed last week: 16.5
Aches & pains: abrasion on right calf, back, shoulders, bruise on right forearm
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
Recent listening: Wolfmother, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Metallica
Recent viewing: Masters of Science Fiction, The Colbert Report, Gilmore Girls, Mindfreak, Tournament of the Americas
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Gimme Friction Baby, Guitar Hero II (XBox 360)
Recently accomplished: More garage re-organization, returned cans and bottles, cleaned cat box, foam recycling, cardboard recycling, mowed front yard, cleaned and lubed bike
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, fix Thomas’ computer, finish garage, freecycling, Goodwill trip

Posted on

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1654
Weight lost: 49 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed last week: 39
Aches & pains: abrasion on right calf
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
Recent listening: Poet In My Window by Nanci Griffith, Coverville, Pure Pod For Now People
Recent viewing: Gilmore Girls, World Poker Tour, The Colbert Report
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Gimme Friction Baby, Guitar Hero II (XBox 360)
Recently accomplished: Finished “Easy” level of Guitar Hero II
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, fix Thomas’ computer, finish garage, recycling, freecycling, mow lawn, Goodwill trip, clean out van

Posted on

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1595
Weight lost: 48 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 9
Hours billed last week: 38.5
Aches & pains: knees (when riding), abrasion on right calf, left achilles, sore legs
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Metal Cowboy by Joe Kurmaskie
Recent listening: Linkin Park, Poet In My Window by Nanci Griffith, Science Friday
Recent viewing: Countdown, Gilmore Girls, World Series of Poker, Masters of Science Fiction, The Colbert Report
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Gimme Friction Baby
Recently accomplished: Picked up bike from Bike Gallery, complete garage re-organization (half completed), unloaded desks from van, buried Nietzsche, Providence Bridge Pedal
Imperative To Do: Finish garage, RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, fix Thomas’ computer

Posted on

Providence Bridge Pedal 2007

Thomas and I rode the 6-bridge version of the Providence Bridge Pedal yesterday. I’ll post photos later but we had a great time. Although we had to walk our bikes for long stretches at the beginning, tearing down the Fremont and Marquam bridges (I-405 and I-5, respectively) at full speed made it all worth it. Thomas had a minor crash towards the end, but he was a trooper throughout even when his legs got tired going up the final bridge. Tina and Graham joined us downtown for a late lunch at Macaroni Grill and we adjourned to CPS for several hours of Guitar Hero II before limping home on tired legs. I was glad it was all downhill going home.

Distance: 20.4 miles
Riding time: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Max speed: 26.8 mph
Average speed: 6.5 mph
Temperature: 75º (approximate)
Route:

  • 162nd to Burnside
  • MAX to NE 7th Ave
  • NE 7th to NE Lloyd Blvd.
  • Lloyd to Waterfront Bike Path
  • Crossed the Steel Bridge
  • Waterfront Park to starting line
  • Hawthorne Bridge
  • Ross Island Bridge
  • Marquam Bridge
  • Burnside Bridge
  • Broadway Bridge
  • Fremont Bridge
  • SW Oak to Broadway
  • Broadway to CPS
  • MAX to NE 148th Ave
  • 148th to NE Halsey
  • Halsey to 162nd
  • 162nd to home
Posted on

Vital Statistics

Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed last week: 0
Cobs of corn eaten: 12 (approximate)
Aches & pains: none
Current reading:: Metal Cowboy by Joe Kurmaskie
Recent weather: hot, cold, wet, dry (no lightning or thunder)
Recently accomplished: picked and shucked corn, skeet shooting, swimming at Lake Hendricks, water park supervision, visited with various relatives, camping, shopping at Cabella’s
Upcoming To Do: return rental car, shopping at Mall of America, airplane to Portland, drive home from Seattle

Posted on

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1544
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 6
Hours billed last week: 45.5
Aches & pains: sciatic, ankle (slightly yesterday)
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Playlists for Iowa
Recent viewing: Countdown, Gilmore Girls, The Newshour, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade
Recently accomplished: Fixed boomtube, new litter for cat boxes, trimmed and mowed front lawn, cleared Tivo schedule for vacation, pulled blackberries, packing, confirmed and finalized travel plans, tried to fix Thomas’ computer, burned numerous gift CDs, paid bills, recorded movie for Mindy
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, call Colleen/Kurt, bank deposit, fix Thomas’ computer, drop bike off at Bike Gallery

Posted on

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1496
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 45.5
Aches & pains: sciatic
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Handsome Boy Modeling School, The Zombies, Sun Ra, NPR Story of the Day
Recent viewing: The Simpsons, Mindfreak, Man vs. Wild, Biography: Johnny Depp, Biography: Howie Mandel, Gilmore Girls
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade
Recently accomplished: fixed temporary mailbox so it would open, uploaded photographs, cleaned inside of tent, installed memory and DVD drive for Thomas, sent off Lala envelopes, packed up tent, backed up Tina, Graham & me, bike maintenance, cat box, installed desk lamp for Graham, groceries, CD for Ziad, sifted through inbox items
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, renew van registration, pack for Iowa, finalize Iowa travel plans, clear Tivo schedule for vacation, new litter for cat box, fix boomtube, call Kent, call Colleen/Kurt, record movie for Mindy

Posted on

Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 17.6 miles
Riding time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Actual time: 3 hours (estimate)
Max speed: 21.5 mph
Average speed: 10.2 mph
Temperature: 63º (with a little rain)
Route:

  • 162nd to Powell Butte
  • Rode in circles for 30 minutes
  • Old Holgate Trail down to Holgate (wow!)
  • Holgate to Buddy’s house
  • Buddy’s house to Foster Road
  • Foster Road to Woodward/Clinton
  • Clinton to Springwater Corridor
  • Springwater Corridor to Hawthorne Bridge
  • Waited 10 minutes for bridge to close
  • Waterfront to Oak
  • Oak to Broadway
  • Broadway to work

I originally intended to ride down to the Springwater Corridor and take that into downtown but taking 162nd south ran me right into Powell Butte. Powell Butte is a park with many trails suitable for biking. It hooks up with Springwater Corridor on the south side, so I decided I would ride over it. It opens with a really steep, but paved hill that will literally take your breath away (from pedaling). After I took a five minute break, I zig-zagged the rest of the way up the hill. Once I got to the top, though, it was easier going. I grabbed the paved trail and went on my way. After riding for about 20 minutes, I was very close to where I had started. Powell Butte has many trails to choose from and I had no idea which to choose. Except it occurred to me that the “Old Holgate Trail” might take me down to Holgate Street which is south of Powell. It did and I came out very close to Buddy’s house. I was going to stop and leave a copy of the Constitution in his door (my new calling card) but his truck was in the driveway and his front door was open. He doesn’t work on Friday so we chatted for a few minutes while I plotted my new course with my bike map. I didn’t think I had much left in the tank so I threw out the Springwater Corridor course, which jogs south a few miles, and adopted a new course crossing southeast Portland into downtown. As it turned out, I was not very fatigued as I pedaled up the ramp to the Hawthorne Bridge. Sadly, they had the drawbridge open and were doing some sort of maintenance which took a very long time. I stood patiently and listened to Handsome Boy Modeling School.