Posted On Thursday, November 20th, 2008 By David Veatch
Though I be in Texas, far away from home and the bike that awaits me, new and unridden, with virgin saddle, as it were, my thoughts stray now and again, all the same, to the subject of cycling. I think on how nice it will be to once again sit astride the saddle, my arms outstretched holding brake levers and handlebars. I think on how nice it will be to see my waistline diminish once again, rather than continue it’s current trend of slow expansion. I think on how nice it will be to once again stride out the front doors with pride, knowing that I will be making it home on my own power, while at the same time clowning around like a fool for the cadre of lustful (though unfortunately married) women who have come to be a sort of 4:30pm Fan Club for yours truly (I take the ego boosts where I can get them). But lately, one thought presses forward as I spend minute after empty minute in the cabin of an automobile instead of the saddle of a bicycle… that thought is what I will share with you now. And here it is, then. That more »
Posted On Sunday, June 8th, 2008 By David Veatch
I’m going to try something different this week. I think part of my burnout of late has been on account of missing the road bike. I like the Kona, mind you, and think it’s a fine bike, but I miss my Torelli. Spending 108 miles on it last week, and then another 75 in yesterday’s high winds (yeah, that was a treat ;) got me thinking. So tonight after dinner (spaghetti with meatballs… yummy the frak yum – happy spheres of cow), I’m going to drive (yes… drive) a weeks worth of clothing up to work so that I can take whatever bike I want to work and back this week. If it’s raining, I’ll go ahead and take the Kona. But if it’s not, you can damn well bet the farm I’ll take the Torelli. Instead of packing my panniers every evening before bed, I gather what I’ll need for the week and take it up there all at once. Pants, check. Shirts, check. T-shirts, check. Socks, check. Underwear, check. Belt, check. Shoes, check. In addition, I’m taking a (scentless) garbage bag for dirty laundry, and am keeping my unmentionables (which I’ve already so brazenly mentioned) in a backpack. more »
Posted On Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 By David Veatch
Commuting to Work March was a fantastic month for commuting to work by bicycle. The best so far, in fact. Since there are so many months in the running right now for Best Month, that’s saying a ton. Of the 21 work days, I rode 20, resorting to driving only once. The weather was much nicer. Though there were plenty of days below freezing, none got down to the tear-freezing negatives of January. It got misty a couple of times, and out and out rained on me once, but since I love that weather, it was a Good ThingTM. Training It was a terrible month for training rides. 28.07 on the first day of the month, and 56.2 the last weekend. The weather, oddly enough, was better for riding in January! I logged 147.39 miles on the weekends then. Not a fantastic number, but better than 84.27, certainly. Bah. Errands There were no errands run by bicycle for the month of March. This is probably the toughest part of cycling for me. Making a switch from recreational to utilitarian cyclist is difficult, and frankly, aside from commuting to work and back, I’m not sure I want to. I’m on the more »