Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Tuesday


This afternoon I took an hour ride around NA after work in the general direction of IUS and Community Park. Doing low level hills in town and of course the park. Concentrated on doing sprints ever chance that I got, to really get the blood pumping.

On another subject, I cleaned up my bike Sunday and gave the chain some attention, which I try and do every other ride or so. The product in the pic is called Pedro's Ice Wax chain lube. It is also a cleaner that came recommended where I bought my bike. Remember; a happy chain is a clean chain.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Saturday

It has been a week that has not left me much time for riding due to work and sickness in my hometown of Bedford. That said, one day this week I did the Louisville loop after work, then yesterday after a trip to Bedford to visit my mom and her baby brother(who is 80 years young today) I came back and had one hell of a ride.

Started from home and rode out Green Valley Road and went up Spickert Knob and came back down to Jones Lane and cut through over to St. Mary’s of the Knobs. Headed back up the backside of Mosier Knob, and then down the hill, in wind gust that was a real treat to say the least, to Mt. Tabor. Made my way over by RichO’s Public House, but fended off temptation for ale and went on past a packed parking lot. Road over past Our Lady of Perpetual Help and down Slate Run Road. Tried the riverfront in NA but was greeted by City Police guarding the FEMA site and the sinking barge on the Ohio. Cruised Main Street and then back up Camp Ave. to home.

All in all, I was a little over dressed for part of the ride, especially the climb up Spickert Knob, but the extra layer felt good in the wind and as the sun was setting.
Total ride was 26 miles b

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Did anyone ride today?

I put in maybe 20 KM maximum to and from work, with an added loop up Captain Frank and down Main Street (the PO-lice had the riverfront way blocked by the sewage treatment plant).

Some of you know may know Vaughn Zeller; he and his friends started at Rich O's, went up Mosier Knob and back, and closed with libations afterward.

Perhaps it's time to work again on the Rich O's bike rack. Oh, Kevin -- Kevin Richards ...

Friday, January 27, 2006

Summer/fall German-Czech-Austrian biking, and registering here at NABC (deux).

If you are interested in going, and if you haven't read the outline of our planned German-Czech itinerary for the very last of August and early September, please do so here.

Graham Phillips (a longtime Rich O's regular) and Craig Somers (a fellow rider during the 2003 bike trip through Germany and Austria) both have expressed interest in making this one.

Note that as of this morning, I have enabled the "anyone" comment feature to allow you to us the comments section and provide your thoughts.

However, both Ed and I would like for all interested parties to become team members, allowing them to create original posts on the marquee and make better use of the forum. To do this, everyone must (a) register with blogger.com, and (b) briefly endure the "become a team member" process.

Blogger's not about spam, so you're encouraged to climb aboard.

Monday, January 23, 2006

The King of Fluke Bicycle Breakage strikes again.

After a brisk ride last Friday morning, I pedaled into work at noon, only to be informed an hour or so later that my bicycle (parked as usual out in front of the pub) had a flat rear tire.

Fearing that for the remainder of the afternoon there’d be a steady stream of customers issuing well-intentioned reminders of the mishap, I attached a note to it, reading “another victim of institutional troglodyte sabotage.”

That did the trick. Instead of informing me that the tire was flat, they all asked what “troglodyte” means.

A caveman.

None of it was much of a hardship; I had to stay until after dark, anyway, and already had planned to throw the bike in the back of my pickup truck and drive home.

On Saturday morning, I removed the rear tire and got to the tube, and discovered that there was a tiny hole at the base of the valve stem.

Into the trash it went.

My reserve tube was inserted, and I began pumping … and there already was a hole in it, which I repaired, and started to pump again … and another pinprick opened up. Unsure whether it was bad luck or dry rot, I observed how threadbare my rear tire had become, and resolved to visit Clarksville Schwinn and buy a new tire and a couple of tubes.

It also provided a chance to get a new seat post, my previous one having sheared off two weeks ago, leaving me traveling down the road without a seat in the short term, and forcing me borrow Diana’s for use since.

At the bike shop, with the tire replacement underway, I showed Bob the two halves of the seat post. He is a profoundly calm and undemonstrative man, but in this instance both eyebrows were simultaneously raised (tantamount to screaming and kicking coming from any other person) as he said, “I’ve never seen that happen – ever.”

That’s me – the King of Fluke Bicycle Breakage.

When all was said and done (and $59 poorer), I returned home, got the tire back on, and rode back and forth to work Saturday and Sunday.

This morning, running a bit late and hearing the train whistles from the north, I hurried down 13th to Ekin, turned right, and crossed Vincennes. Picking up speed on the east side of the four-way at Ekin and Silver, suddenly I heard a loud “pop” and an evil “hiss,” and knew immediately that I had another rear tire flat.


Glancing down, I could see metal in the tread. It was warm and sunny today, so all that was needed was a place to sit and work; I walked the bike up to the church at the corner of Indiana and Shelby, started to remove the tire, and noticed a sickening sight: A three-inch nail that penetrated the tread and emerged from the sidewall, effectively ruining the brand new tire … and rendering repair impossible.

With work beckoning, I cursed, but in truth quick decisions are easy when there’s no choice, so I chained the bike to the railing by the church entrance, removed my valuables and set out for home on foot to get the truck, reasoning that all would be set right on Tuesday morning.

A block west, then a block south, then again, and pretty soon I was on Elm Street heading toward Vincennes, which I crossed, and then the train – the whistles had never stopped the entire time I’d been away from the house – finally moved slowly across Elm, heading south toward the river.

At 15th, I swung left and walked with the slowly ambling train until I got to Spring, then stopped at the northeast corner. I looked at my phone to check the time, then started counting the identical double-decker auto transport rail cars going past at a rate of speed of 5 to 10 mph.

When the end of the train came into sight and was added to the tally, I was up to 75.

Twenty minutes in, with traffic backed up probably to Silver Street and only six rail cars to go, the train halted completely, blocking both Spring and Elm, so I retraced my steps north, turned the corner onto Elm as the train again began moving, and completed the homeward journey.

Fortunately, the bike was where I left it. Tomorrow morning, I’ll proceed back to Clarksville Schwinn and, yes, buy another brand new tire.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Louisville Loop

Did my Louisville loop late this cloudy and cool Sunday morning; FYI, the SC Bridge still is bicycle friendly. The closer barriers are far enough apart that you can make it through on a bike. While in L'ville riding the urban scape, I made it up to the new Ali Museum and then down the River Walk to the Portland Locks before returning back downtown to the Clark Memorial Bridge.
Total ride was 22 miles.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Monster Ride

Today was a ride I shall not forget for a good while. Two hours ride time, 26.4 miles and copious hills, rough road surfaces and breathtaking views of Louisville.

Started from or Silver Hills home, up the killer 2 mile hill of Old Vincennes Road to Quarry Road, over to Old Hill Road and then through the subdivision Woods of Lafayette to Scottsville Road. Proceeded on Skyline Drive to Mosier Knob and then back onto Skyline Drive. I rode the always scenic Skyline to Fairview Knob Road down the hill to Grant Line Road/Highway 111 to IUS. Through IUS to Hausfeldt Lane then to Green Valley Road. Took said road all the way to Cherry Street and then back up Old Vincennes Road to home.

Skyline Drive was incredible and WILL be on my regular routes when the weather breaks. Next time I will try that ride in reverse and try the ascent of Fairview Knob Road aka Barrel Shoot. Should be a real challenge I’m sure.

Bicycle Lanes


After reading Jon's posting for his ride yesterday, my mind as usual started wandering. This area has no designated bike lanes on the city streets.

Last Saturday as previously posted, I made a trip to Bloomington, IN. That city has made it bicycle friendly for everyone, including the students at IU who live way off campus, but still wish to commute to school activities via a bicycle. The attached link is a detailed map of designated bicycle lanes in the Bloomington area that details not only what is already available but what is scheduled in the future as well.

So how do we start this process of trying to win over the city officials to install for all of us designated bike lanes? Yes we will have the infamous Greenway project, but that is just a small portion of the area. With more and more housing being added around the IUS campus on Grant Line, does it not make since to give students the choice of riding bikes rather than paying for parking and the high cost of gasoline for their automobiles?
*picture taken by me in Avila Spain*

Friday, January 20, 2006

Whales in the Thames

I am not a cyclist. I ride a bicycle. I enjoy this, yet I don't consider myself a cyclist. perhaps it is a dearth of enthusisam. Not for the activity, no, for the culture and its trappings of identity. perhaps it is its athletic leanings. Perhaps I am distrustful of competition. Perhaps.

For likely the first time since my teens I went bicycle riding in January. I cannot tolerate riding when it is cold. As one sensed today: it wasn't cold. It was quite enjoyable, even if enormously taxing. I rode down to Loop island and down along waterfront park before heading back to Vincennes Street and the Barbarians at the gate.
IT wasn't bad and I'd like to go again tomorrow, weather permitting, with my wife. Perhaps.

Thursday

My work day started early and ended early as well, allowing moi to take advantage of the warm and windy weather. Took an abridged ride around NA, trying to avoid direct contact with the killer wind gust. As I descended the ped path on the back of Community Park, a blast of wind was so strong it almost blew me and the bike of the cement path. Total ride was 15 miles, but was worth ever minute.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Light recreation on Wednesday.

It may have started rough, but by this afternoon it was a good day for riding, so I went out and did a quick 12 km loop around the New Albany waterfront. Planning on something more substantial on Thursday, weather willing.

Monday, January 16, 2006

Monday

Amazing weather isn’t it? When I first came to this area for my work at Duke Energy/Cinergy/PSI/PSI Energy/Public Service Indiana or whatever the paycheck reflects this year, it was twenty nine years ago tomorrow and the temperature was below zero, with a wind chill of near -40 degrees. Big difference in comparison to what the weather was here today. If you didn’t make it outside this afternoon, you missed one heck of a day for any kind of activity. For me I went for a bike ride.

A nice, some what relaxing ride out around IUS, then winding my way back to downtown New Albany, finally on home up Cherry Street Hill. All said it was eighteen miles of mostly sunny riding, until the heavy cloud cover moved in. Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Sunday In The Knobs

Today’s ride was a nice crisp 20 mile cruise through the Knobs. Leaving home I headed up Old Vincennes Road to Quarry Road, back up the other side of Old Vincennes and then over Old Hill Road, left, then up to Paoli Pike and right on Scottsville Road. Meandering over scenic St. Mary's Road, past the St. Mary's of the Knobs Parish and on to Campion Road before climbing the backside of Mosier Knob. Breezing down the other side of Mosier Knob I cut through NA Industrial Park and chatted with our pal Kevin at work, before heading for home down Green Valley Road to Cherry Street and then up Cherry Street Hill to home.

This was real test for me, to see where I was in riding hills. The toughest part of that whole ride was the section of Old Vincennes between Captain Frank and the top where Old Vincennes used to go, before they put I-64 in. Reason being, I didn't stretch out real good before leaving home. Left in a rush and thought my body was ready when it would have been easier had I took just 5 minutes more to get those muscles ready to ride.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Columbus Cycling And Fitness

Today I made a trip to Columbus Indiana to have my Giant brand bicycle tuned up by Joe, the owner of Columbus Cycling And Fitness where I bought my bike last year. It was still under warranty, so what better way to spend a cold and windy Saturday morning.

Joe is one of those people that is becoming rare in our big box store society. He owns a small bicycle shop that is Giant dealership, but still gives 100% attention to the customer. This guy will call you back to the shop area and teach you how to work on your bicycle while he is making adjustments and repairs. That is real important to me to have someone that I can call on the phone and have him just walk me through something, rather than say bring it in and we will look at it and it will be a couple of days.

His store is real easy to find, conviently located near beautiful downtown Columbus.

COLUMBUS CYCLING AND FITNESS
833 16 STREET
COLUMBUS IN 47201
Phone 812-372-7486

Thursday, January 12, 2006

UPDATED: Spring St./Old 131 bridge to close by next Monday.

In yesterday's New Albany Tribune, it was noted that Sunday, January 15, would be the last day for the Spring Street bridge to be open prior to an extended closing for widening and repairs.

As I've know since this project was announced some time back, the bridge's closing stands to play hell with my bike route to Louisville.

It would be possible to take a long loop down Blackiston Mill Road and return to old Hwy 131 via Gutford Road -- but who wants to ride on Blackiston Mill Road? It's narrow, and traffic is very heavy.

The only other alternative is to hit Spring Street as far east as possible (from the south side, Beharrel Ave.), then travel the divided highway as far as SS Marine, then exit right onto Emry Lane and eventually connect with the new bridge over Mill Creek, into Clarksville.

That's fine eastbound -- what do you do westbound on the return trip?

The old railroad trestle in the Loop Island Wetlands is another possibility, but you'd need mountain bike tires to navigate the unpaved paths on both sides, and I'm not sure where the route leads south of the junkyard on the Clarksville side.

I'm going out today to research.

---

After riding today, I must say that the available options are unattractive.

From the south side of Beharrell, it's only a quarter of a mile or so to S & S Marine, and although there is a shoulder, it is seldom smooth, with frequent gravel and even mud patches, and of course strewn with glass and debris. At least looking down to avoid the impediments takes your mind off the thunderous and fast traffic.

From S & S, it's all pavement, but everyone should be aware that it's a heavy industrial area, dirty and gritty, with more junkyards than you imagined existed, a quarry or three, and just by the river, a wooded area that looks as though Katrina hit it (I was able to bike a short distance toward the Loop Island Wetlands before running into impassable mud).

Coming back from Jeffersonville, I retraced my route. The traffic on the westbound lanes of the main road at S & S was very heavy, so I returned to Beharrell via the eastbound shoulder riding into traffic -- not for everyday use, but I felt better knowing what was coming at me, and the volume of traffic was lighter.

To reiterate, using Blackiston Mill Road as a path to Gutford Road and a reconnect to Old 131 is a possibility, but not very much fun, though perhaps better than the extended four-lanes of Spring eastbound.

As I said, no good options exist. It looks like I might be taking the truck with bike to a parking place on the other side (perhaps S & S) of the creek, then offloading and continuing toward Louisville.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Getting Back In Shape

Finally my body is feeling like it has almost reached the point of fitness that it was a month ago, before too many hours of overtime at work and cold temperatures ran me into the ground and I got sick.

Today I took a 15 mile ride up Corydon Pike/Edwardsville Hill, did Quarry Road to Old Vincennes, down to Captain Frank and over to Cherry , to downtown NA and then back up Old Vincennes to home. I felt so good, I believe had there been enough daylight; I could have ridden another hour of hills.
b

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Rain today -- a day off from riding.

I don't mind getting wet when it's a bit warmer ...

Monday, January 09, 2006

Monday After Work

For most of today at work, I was hoping that the nice weather would hold out long enough for me to get a ride in before dark. It did just that. Knowing that I would not have time for a real long ride, as well as getting caught in rush hour traffic, I snuck home a little early, changed clothes and headed out towards IUS. Got a nice hour ride in, approximately 20 miles before the sun was lost for the day and traffic started on the increase. Looks like the weather will remain somewhat warm for the week, but rain may not let me ride for a day or two. We shall see.
b

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Sunday ride canceled

My ride today was canceled due to unbelievably powerful wind gust in the area. Will give it a try tomorrow. b

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Roger's Saturday ride fine, but marred by equipment failure.

As with Ed’s ride today, I “did” my Louisville loop, but only half of it. We were running late, so I threw the bike on Diana’s car and we drove to Nancy’s Bagels on Frankfort Avenue for a refreshing breakfast, then I rode back to New Albany.

All was well, albeit windy, and the sun warmed the chill, but while crossing the old lumpy bridge over Silver Creek, my saddle gave way … sand crash, and I came to a stop and observed that near the top of the seatpost, just beneath where the saddle is attached, the ¾ inch steel rod had sheared in two as cleanly as if a surgeon were wielding a scalpel.

I made it down Spring Street and back home, half riding while standing, and half pushing when my wrists rebelled against the acrobatic stance. Because I was running out of time to get to work, I merely cannibalized Diana’s bike for her seatpost and saddle, and rode to work and back.

I’ll probably order new parts through Performance.

Altogether, a pleasant 30 km, and I’m very happy that the metal fatigue occurred here and not in the middle of a Czech agricultural district later this summer.

Saturday, Finally A Day Of Sunshine

b
So finally I get a ride on Saturday and under beautiful conditions to boot. Had just a fun filled, twenty mile ride today around noon in the sunshine and cool conditions. Dressed in multi layers of micro fiber clothing, also including a facemask, it was a very enjoyable ride to Louisville and back via the Clark Memorial Bridge. The wind was a little tedious at times and shifting was more than normal for this particular jaunt, but hey it is still early January.
Listed below is what I have found works best for me while riding in the cold wind;
Top layers:
Marmot micro fiber t-shirt
Patagonia Apilene long-sleeved zip top turtleneck
Thin polar fleece vest
Pullover polar fleece zip top
Micro fiber full-face mask
North Face polar fleece cap & gloves

Bottom layers:
Trek liners with Chamois
Under Armour long tights
Smartwool socks
New Balance cross training shoes


Bundle up, go out for a ride and enjoy yourself. Remember that you still need to take in fluids while riding even though it is cold.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Very Windy Ride

It is a local saying that, if you don't like the weather just wait a little while and it will change. Well change it did around 4:00PM this afternoon. After spending most of this sun filled and warm day at CINergy saying to myself, I should be home riding my bike, I decided that maybe I would squeeze out a little early and try and get a ride in before daylight moved on for another day. At 3:30 the sun was still in its glory and it felt real nice near 60 degrees. But by the time I got home it had changed, the cloud cover had moved in and a wind had started blowing in the cold front that was approaching. Hell with it, I'm riding anyway.

Sporting tights and three light layers plus my trusty North Face cap and gloves I left our Silver Hills home and headed up Old Vincennes Road towards Quarry Road. That is when the front started pushing through. Most riders will tell you that the one thing that they hate to ride in is wind and I am no exception. The wind was blowing according to weatherchannel.com at near 15 mph with wind gust up to 20 mph, making the temperature feel like 33 degrees.

Making the loop around Old Vincennes Road, Quarry Road, Corydon Pike and Main Street and then back up Old Vincennes to home was all I could stand for the day. That is 18k and I was real glad to get home and hit the warm shower, but still glad just the same that I got in one of my favorite short rides.

Monday, January 02, 2006

Outline of our 2006 bicycle trip to Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.

I’ve been asked to provide basic details of our forthcoming bicycling trip to Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. The four main components of the trip are Bamberg, the annual hops festival held in Zatec (north of Prague), the Prague-Vienna Greenway ride, and Vienna.

Remember that the dates thus far established were selected for the benefit of the core cycling group, made up of myself, Bob Reed, Kevin Richards and Tim Eads. As has been the case during past trips, we sketch the outline, then fill in the details as we get closer to departure.

Consequently, I'm flying from Louisville on Sunday, August 27, into Frankfurt the following day, and back out from Frankfurt on Sept. 19 (a Tuesday). I intend to ship my bike as before, either in my hard shell case or in a bike box, reassemble upon arrival, and proceed immediately to Bamberg from Frankfurt by train (via Nurnberg, the fastest route, with trains leaving the station beneath the airport).

The others are planning to join me at some point on or after the 28th of August for all or part of the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st in Bamberg. On Friday morning, Sept. 1, we’ll load up for a pre-arranged train trip to Prague, probably via Regensburg, which should put us in the Czech capital on Friday afternoon.

The current plan is to secure accommodations in the southern half of the city, near to where the Greenway begins, so as to make departure easier. On Saturday, Sept. 2, we’ll take the train to the city of Zatec, located northwest of Prague, and experience the annual hop fest (Zatec is a sister city of Poperinge, Belgium).

Biking can begin either on Sunday, Sept. 3, or the following day.

The Prague-Vienna Greenways is a 250 mile long network of hiking and biking trails between Prague and Vienna. Travelers can walk or bike between historic towns and villages, visit romantic castles, medieval churches and monasteries, discover old Jewish sites and savor some of the most picturesque countryside in Europe. The routes stretch along the Vltava River Valley in Southern Bohemia and the Dyje River Valley in Southern Moravia, the settings of numerous folk and music festivals.

We’ve yet to discuss objectives while traveling the Greenway itself, as visiting Ceske Buejovice or Cesky Krumlov would require a detour from the main path.

I’ll be meeting Diana in Vienna on the 9th or 10th.

The thing to remember is that our group itineraries generally are constructed in such a way that people can come and go depending on their own schedules. We’ll usually be a short distance from rail lines, allowing riders to depart (and join, if we know where we’ll be on a given night and can plan accordingly).

We might decide to devote one less day to Bamberg and arrive in Prague a day earlier. Or not. The plan will develop as the year rolls past.

We’ll be carrying our clothes and belongings in panniers. If you’ve not done this before, it’s not as hard as it sounds to pack lightly.

As for difficulty, Tim and I are guessing that the countryside should be more difficult than Flanders and the 2003 riverside trip from Frankfurt to Vienna, but less intense than the Ardennes in 2004. There will be gravel and some rough patches, more so than in the past, so consider tires accordingly.

In terms of a budget, Germany and Austria will be more expensive, but the Czech Republic less so. My guesstimate would be $125 per day in Bamberg and Austria, and perhaps 30% less in the Czech lands. This does not include airfare, train fare and souvenir glassware, if any (there’s nowhere to put it in packed panniers).

Questions and comments are appreciated.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Another bicycling year begins, and not a moment too soon.

(Cross-posted at NA Confidential)

Here's a view of yours truly, Bob, Tim and a local horse, from somewhere in the Ardennes hills of southeastern Belgium, 2004.


Contrary to the largely uncreative imagination of a tiny but thoroughly sedentary segment of New Albany’s population, including at least one councilman, who was last seen exercising something other than his jaw during the latter stages of the Ford administration, there are many good reasons to ride a bicycle around town.

It’s something that need not be undertaken out of necessity owing to the lack of an automobile or, as some have rather maliciously implied, when one’s driver’s license is surrendered to the state after a DUI.

In fact, I have both a truck and permission to operate it, and yet it remains my preference to ride my bike to work and back, and to run errands around town, at least whenever the weather and my schedule cooperate.

Unfortunately, commuting between home and work as often as humanly possible turned out to be one of only two of my 2005 biking goals to be met.

The other was to take both our bikes along with us on our September visit to Belgium, which wasn’t designed to be a biking extravaganza in and of itself, but at least allowed some measure of two-wheeled recreation while there, and affording Mrs. Confidential her first opportunity to see a small part of Europe by bike.

Mileage and saddle time both declined precipitously in 2005, and it’s a situation I fully intend to reverse in the coming year.

My informal biking group is planning another European excursion in late August and early September, and this will provide an incentive to train more rigorously in preparation for loading the panniers and traversing the Prague-Vienna Greenway.

Previously we rented bicycles in Belgium in 2000, and again in 2001 (with an added leg in Germany), and took our own bikes with us in 2003 (Germany to Vienna along the Danube) and 2004 (Trappist brewery circuit in Belgium and the Netherlands).

This year we’ll again be transporting our own equipment, which can be done more easily than you might think with minor disassembly and a hard shell case, and probably beginning the journey in Bamberg, Germany’s greatest beer city, before hopping a train to Prague and setting out for Vienna.

Living in proximity to the Knobs is ideal in terms of training for hills, although we learned in 2004 that the Ardennes are considerably steeper than our local peaks.

At any rate, apart from the daily commute, most of my additional mileage will be devoted to preparing for the two weeks scheduled to be spent riding in Europe. To have the necessary saddle time, I’m going to have to work more efficiently at work and home, not waste any good riding days, and not lose another month to pneumonia, as was the case in 2005.

Yesterday provided the 2006 inaugural, with slightly less than 30 km traveled and a nice climb up into Silver Hills via Old Vincennes Road.

In the future, as New Albany becomes more bicycle and pedestrian friendly, it is my hope that more of the city’s residents come to enjoy the outdoors on a bike or on their own two feet. As many have correctly noted, ambitious future plans to redo the city’s traffic grid should include bike lanes and place for people to walk, with the ultimate goal being the improvement of our quality of life.

Until then, and as the sergeant on Hill Street Blues used to say, “be careful out there.”

Bicycling New Albany’s streets and the roads in greater Floyd County isn’t as dangerous as many seem to believe, but caution certainly is merited. Wear a helmet, stay alert, and follow the traffic rules at all times. If you’re an adult, you should not be constantly riding on the sidewalk, although as many people seem to be as aware of this rule as understand the use of a turn signal while driving their cars.

And if you’re interested in our European bicycle trip later in 2006, let me know.

This Weekend

Lucky are we to have been able to get out and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather conditions that graced us here in Metro Louisville this weekend. On Saturday I was able to get in a nice fifteen miler through New Albany in the afternoon, with a lot of sunshine and temperatures in the upper forties. On Sunday the weather was much warmer, near sixty but the sun was hiding from time to time behind clouds. That said, I rode near twenty miles today around the perimeter of New Albany trying to do as many hills as possible and lovin' that so familiar leg burning sensation that comes with limited riding in the winter months. It looks like rain ahead for most of the upcoming, but I'll still try to ride after work.
b