Dave’s Good Stuff

The last ride of the year is done! It was a hard one too… headwind gusts kept my head low and my speed down, even for a 40lbs MTB commuter with knobbies.

• Average HR: 187
• Average RPM: 79
• Average Speed: 12.5
• Max HR: 201
• Max Speed: 25.5
• Mileage: 7.79
• Reported Calories: 500
• Temperature: 34
• Total Time: 37:29
• Wind: 10-20 Northeasterly Gusty
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1204

Ok, this isn’t huge, but I’m proud of it. A few months back in a fit of productivity, I tore down all the ceiling tiles and the framework holding those tiles up in my basement. That, unfortunately, left three gaping holes where duct registers used to be. Until this weekend, I (with help from the GF) kept them closed using a combination of duct tape and paper grocery bags.

This weekend, we went to Home Depot, got some sheet metal and a couple round 6″ registers, and plugged them there holes. Using the sheet metal, I bent custom mounts for the registers, and cut holes in them. Simple computer case screws hold them firmly in place, and now I have complete control over the the basement heating again. Plus they look pretty neat.

That’s all well and good, b/c the furnace crapped the bed on Saturday. Not the entire furnace, mind you, just the piece that lets gas flow. There’s a little electronically controlled nozzle/gate that controls the gas flow so it’s not burning all the time. That gate wasn’t letting any gas through. Dennis from Stratton Mechanical came out early Sunday, and though it wasn’t an easy fix (nor how either of us would have wanted to spend our Sunday), he got it done for me. I highly recommend Stratton. Good guys, they.

Now with the custom registers in place, the ceiling all bare, it’s time to take the next step: prime and paint the ceiling black prior to finishing the walls again. Then I’ll start looking up bar plans and the GF and I will start building the bar! Woot!

My last morning commute of the year!

Eh. It wasn’t anything monumental. Typical ride in. The wind was coming a little harder from the south, which made me work a little bit going over I35 at 75th. It was about 29 (felt like 24) according to the weather channel, but my new wool socks kept my feet considerably warmer. I won’t go so far as to say toasty, but they didn’t feel like they were freezing solid. I was hoping to beat my best time so far this year of 37:52, but didn’t quite make it.

Given my pathetic failure this morning, the ride home tonight, the last ride of the year, will see me pushing it hard to try for my best time home yet. My best so far is 34:38. I can beat that. It’s generally more uphill on the way home, but I’m not worried about getting too tired and swampy for work.

Tonight’s ride will also see me hit the 1,200 mile mark. That’s not much compared to others out there, but having only really started riding hard and steady in the last few months, I’m not unhappy with it. I didn’t get much riding in over the summer for fear of mechanical failures (remember the squeaking and creaking?), but once that was resolved, it was on!

Early on next year, I’m going to set a mileage goal. I have something in mind, but I need to think on it more before I set it in ether.

• Average HR: 170
• Average RPM: 78
• Average Speed: 12
• Max HR: 195
• Max Speed: 24.8
• Mileage: 7.84
• Reported Calories: 463
• Temperature: 29
• Total Time: 39:12
• Wind: 5-10 Southerly
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1196

Most of the ride was pretty typical. The roads were *much* nicer than they were in the morning, having actually cleared themselves of snow and ice during the day. I suppose it’s possible that cars and sunlight helped out too.

Most notable, however, were the very positive bits of feedback I got from policemen on two occasions.

The first was just a wave. An officer, driving Lamar in the opposite direction I was heading simply waved on his way by. I’ve never had a cop wave to me on the way past me. I can only assume it was b/c I was on my bike, lit up like a Christmas tree and wearing bright clothes and a helment (read: being safe).

The second was on some minor residential roads near 79th and Metcalf. I was having a hard time again, as the smaller back roads were still pretty snow bound. I turned a corner and there were three police cars and about 5 officers standing around an SUV talking to a man who I assumed was the owner. Maybe it was a hit and run, or a break in. Maybe they were all just friends talking about plans for a rockin’ paint job. Who knows. What was cool was as I passed by carefully to avoid being dumped by the still deep snow, the cop nearest me said something like “You go, man.”

These are probably the same officers that would ignore me bleeding on the ground while taking a self-serving statement from the SUV driver that just right hooked me. But it was nice all the same to be acknowledged that way.

• Average HR: 180
• Average RPM: 180
• Average Speed: 11.7
• Max HR: 198
• Max Speed: 24.8
• Mileage: 7.85
• Reported Calories: 541
• Temperature: 28
• Total Time: 40:12
• Wind: 10mph Northeasterly
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1188

After my last ride, I was excited about the prospect of riding in the snow again… and I tell ya, Kansas did not disappoint.

I had everything laid out last night, as is my wont, so I could take a quick shower and get right on the road this morning. Well, that all worked out and I got out quickly, but that’s the last thing I did quickly this morning. We had 2-3 inches of snow last night, and it was all my knobbies could do to keep me upright. There were a few close calls, one right next to a passing car, but I was successful in resisting the urge to meet wrist and face with pavement. That would have been wet. It probably would have hurt some too.

The GF got me some upright handlebars for the Kona to help with the wrist aching I’ve been experiencing with my flats. They’re just the little ones you attach to the end. Aside from the bit of crowding that makes braking a little awkward, they’re fantastic! I might have to adjust the positioning on account of that braking thing (it’s a little thing, but I like to be able to easily brake when I have to). I’ll most likely set something down here when I do.

Overall, it was another fantastic ride. Slow and steady with some “uh oh” moments due to the deepish snow, but just fantastic. I *have* to find something to do about my feet, though, two pairs of socks, trash bag corners around my toes, and they still got *very* cold this morning.

I had to laugh at one point. There’s fresh snow all over the road, including the tracks left by cars who had gone before me. The snow towards the curb gets deeper and deeper until there’s no real divide between the road and the yards. That’s dangerous territory for those, like myself, on two wheels. So I’m moving along at a slow and steady place, concentrating as much on staying up and in the shallowest snow as I am on moving forward when a car honks it’s horn behind me. Granted, it was a polite honking, short and crisp, rather than the long, repeated rudeness one might have expected given that I was just about dead center lane. I waved them around since there was no oncoming traffic. No *way* am I going towards the deep death-trap snow nearer the curb. I’d like to *stay* on two wheels, thank you very much Clearly this individual doesn’t ride, much less ride in bad weather. He (or she) passed, and all was well.

To the fellow shoveling his driveway at 06:30 this morning… Thank you for the compliment, but I’m just trying to get to work. Shoveling the driveway by hand at 06:30? YOU, my good man, are hardcore, not I.

• Average HR: 176
• Average RPM: 68
• Average Speed: 10.3
• Max HR: 193
• Max Speed: 19;6
• Mileage: 7.84
• Reported Calories: 397
• Temperature: 21
• Total Time: 42:43
• Wind: 5mph Southerly
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1180

This is the training schedule put forth by Team Evergreen… adapted from the 2007 schedule to match 2008 weekends (weekend #9 is left up to the rider):

This is the training schedule I intend to keep…

This doesn’t take into account the weekday rides, Sunday recreational rides, strength training workouts, or cross training endeavors. This is just the Saturday Hill Busters.

Snow! Snow snow snow snow snow! Snow!

I now consider myself officially a bike commuter. If I can ride today, I can ride pert near anytime (hurricane force wind notwithstanding). Inclement weather, that is to say, blinding snow, stinging sleet, puddles galore, slush, snow both packed and fluffy and cars that throw all of the above on me as they pass makes for a - call me insane - fantastic ride!! The ONLY thing I would change about the ride home today is having thrown my chain off the granny cog. That sucked, but only for a little bit. After that was fixed, all was gorgeous again!

Of course, because of the weather, and the fact that the sleet was hitting my face so hard I could barely see, I had to take it pretty easy. There was no tearing down the hills today, no flailing on the hammer ring. It was a slow and easy, upright around the turns, just make it home safe kinda day. Still, even so, it stands as one of my most enjoyable commutes thus far.

• Average HR: 179
• Average RPM: 73
• Average Speed: 11.2
• Max HR: 199
• Max Speed: 23.2
• Mileage: 7.83
• Reported Calories: 403
• Temperature: 26
• Total Time: 34:38
• Wind: 5mph Northerly
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1172

I’ll buy this…

Ability Scores:
Str - 14
Dex - 15
Con - 14
Int - 13
Wis - 15
Cha - 13

Alignment:
Neutral Good- A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.
Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.
Class:
Druids- Druids gain power not by ruling nature but by being at one with it. They hate the unnatural, including aberrations or undead, and destroy them where possible. Druids receive divine spells from nature, not the gods, and can gain an array of powers as they gain experience, including the ability to take the shapes of animals. The weapons and armor of a druid are restricted by their traditional oaths, not simply training. A druid’s Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast.

Alignment:
Lawful Good —– XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (29)
Neutral Good —- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (29)
Chaotic Good —- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (22)
Lawful Neutral — XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
True Neutral —- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (23)
Chaotic Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (16)
Lawful Evil —– XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral Evil —- XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaotic Evil —- XXXX (4)

Law & Chaos:
Law —– XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXX (11)
Chaos — XXXX (4)

Good & Evil:
Good —- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (18)
Neutral - XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Evil —- (0)

Race:
Human —- XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (14)
Dwarf —- XXXXXXXX (8)
Elf —— XXXXXXXX (8)
Gnome —- XXXXXXXX (8)
Halfling - XXXXXXXXXXXX (12)
Half-Elf - XXXXXXXXXX (10)
Half-Orc - XX (2)

Class:
Barbarian - XX (2)
Bard —— (-6)
Cleric —- (-6)
Druid —– XXXX (4)
Fighter — XX (2)
Monk —— (-17)
Paladin — (-17)
Ranger —- XX (2)
Rogue —– (-6)
Sorcerer — (0)
Wizard —- (0)

Layers. That’s the word of the day. It’s 29°F out, and I was toasty with only three layers on my upper body, two on my lower, a head covering that went down over my ears, some ski gloves, and some trash bag corners wrapped around my toes.

I wish I could find it, but I found a tip online for keeping the toes warm. Trash bag corners, cut away, and wrapped around the toes before you shoe in. While my toes did get cold this morning, they were nowhere NEAR as cold as they have been. Once I find the link again, I’ll update this post.

Depending on how I feel, I will stick to the major thoroughfares, or beg off them and hit the back roads. This morning, I hit the back roads wanting to see how they fared after the snow late last week. The temperatures have been low enough that there’s been little in the way of melting, but traffic has removed most of the snow. There were some patches on the lesser traveled roads which my knobbies handled with ease. That’s why I’m riding my 40lbs Kona (weighed after fully geared out) - all weather tires. :)

Aside from the car that passed me on the left while I was turning left (yes, I signaled - left arm out straight to the side), it was a very pleasant commute this morning.

Oh, and yum.

• Average HR: 171
• Average RPM: 75
• Average Speed: 12.1
• Max HR: 195
• Max Speed: 28.1
• Mileage: 7.84
• Reported Calories: 472
• Temperature: 29
• Total Time: 38:48
• Wind: 5mph Southerly
• Yearly Total Mileage: 1165

Merry Christmas everyone!