Bicycling

How Was Your Weekend?

Thanks for asking.

Saturday was a washout, literally. I rained all day. I only stepped outside of the house onto the side porch once to verify that the loud noise I was hearing was in fact a downpour. The Miata had just its fabric cockpit cover on. But that was just fine, as the cars are covered by an awning/portico, and unlike the southern thunderstorms, the rain falls mainly straight down, not sideways.

Neither car moved today either. I did get out for my typical Sunday bike ride to breakfast at Stomping Grounds. And in spite of the promise of no rain, when I started out, it was cold, damp, and lightly misting. Instead of turning downhill to start the usual route, I turned right and went to get the muffin and latte first. I figured if it still felt like that when I was finished eating, I could just go home and get on the indoor bike. But afterwards it had started to warm up a touch, and the mist was gone, so I did my route backwards. The only downside to going in the opposite direction was it finished on an uphill instead of a downhill blast.

I am about 4 episodes from the end of season three of LOST, and it is starting to get weird, which is saying a lot for the show.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 22.0%

 

What A Slug

I did my usual 10-mile bicycle loop where I end up at Stomping Grounds for a muffin and my salted caramel latte. I think they make their muffins there, but whichever one I’ve had has been great. Today was one I hadn’t had yet. It looked different, but I didn’t ask what it was, because of my past taste experiences there. It didn’t have a distinguishing flavor, but I did get mild hints of orange citrus. There were also small black specs that I assumed were a sort of spice, but I couldn’t get any flavor from them. For a bit my mind went to ants; I thought I’d heard that they had a citrusy taste. It couldn’t be, could it? I was dining outside, so I went inside to return the plate & fork and toss the trash. I asked the barista what I just ate, and she said, “That’s Earl Grey tea, plus cream.” “Ahhh, that’s what the specs were: tea leaf bits.”

Since that bike ride, I have not left the house, due to the usual lazy day activities: TV, Red Sox, and some jigsaw puzzling.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 26.8%

 

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Today was jam-packed.

Started with my go-to weekend bicycle ride. I changed it up a little in the beginning to try a different bike path heading east. It really didn’t improve anything, and it actually was a downgrade because it is less traveled and as well-kept as the Ch’ak Ch’ak trail. It was a bit chillier of a ride because of yesterday’s rain, and it was still overcast. So instead of my usual dining outside at Stomping Grounds, I sat inside for my latte and muffin.

Sunday is laundry day, when I wash the sheets and towels as one load and then a second one for the clothes that have accumulated since Wednesday. While doing the washing I was watching the Red Sox lose to the Braves 8-0. This afternoon I washed both cars and changed their driveway order. The Miata is up front now because it is supposed to be a mostly sunny week with highs in the 70s. After the car washings I watched the last two episodes of season two of LOST.

My new toy/impulse buy showed up via FedEx, the widescreen FlightWall. After setting it up on the side table and getting it dialed in, I just let it run. I was going to wait until tomorrow to mount it in its permanent spot when I got the flat extension cord from Amazon but couldn’t help myself.

Along in there, I had time to break down the completed jigsaw puzzle and start a new one. plus watch several episodes of The Charismatic Voice. She really breaks down the singing and, to a certain extent, the sound as to how they are so good. I knew these songs were good, but she helped me understand why they are.

Red Sox chances of making the Wild Card round in the 2026 playoffs: 38.5%

 

Headwind Avoidance

Got on the real bike today, and it was a few days past the first time I rode last year. I can’t remember the last time I rode, but it was probably near the end of October. So before I could go anywhere, I first had to wipe the cobwebs off the Trek and put a bunch of air in the tires. While I was doing that, I was also charging the flashing taillight; for whatever reason, the headlight still had some juice.

After all that, I set out on the path to my favorite coffee shop, Stomping Gounds, for a muffin and the usual latte. As soon as I turned east on Sandy Blvd, I was met by a mean ol’ headwind. I guess it was 10-12 MPH, so I quickly rethought my usual route, which involves a little over 3 miles of a paved trail going due east. Instead of getting on that, I just rode around some neighborhoods and through a wooded section of a local park before riding back uphill (traveling south) to breakfast.

When I got to Stomping Grounds, I checked my weather app, and sure enough, it was showing 10 to 12 miles per hour winds from due east.

Those Were The Days

Lick Fork Lake Trailhead

I started going through our photo albums and scanning the images so I can toss them out. Why do this? They are just sitting there gathering dust, and they can be ignored in an online album just as easily as in a physical album. These are all from the early 90s; gosh, we were so cute. The last three were from the organized tours we took with Elk River Inn & Cabins. The first time was just a weekend, but the second one was a week-long adventure.

Mississippi, Circa. 1981

The bike on the right is mine; the one on the left is not Donna’s. The best I can think is that the bike belongs to a civilian contractor friend from my work center on the Navy base. We would occasionally ride the 16 miles to work together. I think we concocted an idea to ride from Meridian to Jackson, MS, the state capital, 90 miles away along US-80. Donna was to be our support vehicle for the ride over. And also so we could put our bikes on the car rack and drive back that evening or the next day.

Or it could have been taken during a nature break on a random longer Saturday ride with him…

Well, That Was Different

For the first time in a year and a half I risked life and limb this afternoon and I went for a bicycle ride outdoors.

Since moving to Fairview back in October of 2023 the only riding I have done is on an indoor stationary bike. Because I’m a fair weather cyclist right after we moved here the weather was either too wet or too cold. Then last year when the weather cooperated Donna was needing a lot more help around the house, so I just continued riding indoors. Then of course once she passed away in September and it was once again too cold or wet for my delicate constitution.

Once the weather improved this year it still felt marginal for outdoor riding and I had become used to just watch a cycling video and listen to a podcast while literally spinning my wheel(s). Well, last weekend the weather was warm enough for me to think about once again riding a real bike. Saturday I pumped up the tires and lubed the chain and planned on going for an afternoon spin on Sunday. I did the post office safari in the morning, made lunch and turned on the TV. Never made it out. I blame it on a tradition like no other. That’s right, a non-golfer sat glued to the couch watching the Masters Tournament.

Today was the day. What they say is right, you never forget how to ride a bike. I planned a ride to the Post Office to mail a postcard. It is about a mile and a half away, so at least I’d get in 3 miles. But, once on the bike I realized how fun it is and futzed around in the residential areas of town and tacked on a couple more miles with out thinking about it. I don’t have a cycle computer on the bike, so 5 miles is just an estimate. Actually, the worst part of the ride was the 3/4 mile of Sandy Blvd both getting to town and back. The speed limit is 40MPH, but that is more of a guideline than an actual rule and combined with the narrow cycle lane it was almost scary.

There are plenty of paved and unpaved cycling trails nearby, but riding to get to them does seem risky. I might have to see if the Bone car rack I have will fit on the new Miata. I will try one more local ride before I head out on Brian’s Big Adventure at the end of the week.