Feb 27

It was a gorgeous day!  After doing all my chores, I headed out for a wonderful ride.  I felt pretty good with the exception of right knee was a little sore. I was cruising a long averging 17 mph until I made my turn to head back to the house.  How much I love the wind!  Made it home with putting 38.7 miles under my feet.  Got home and took my shower and then took the kids on a 3 mile ride.  All around it was great day to be out. 

SPRINT

Met up with the group this evening.  It took me a little while to find the place but once I got there, I was ready to go... Well almost ready.  While pumping my rear tire, I broke the valve.  Nuts!  I fumbled to get my tools out. Finally, 8.32 minutes later I was ready to go.  Good thing I am not a tire changer for Jimmy Johnson or he would have lost his last NASCAR race.  It was nice though the guys waited on me.  Tim, Jeff and Bryan are some of the guys from McKinney Velo.  I am telling you these guys are great.

Okay now to the sprint.  You ride as hard as you can and then rest.  Well as usual I hung in the back and did the best I could do.  Boy it seems like I am out of shape.  I rode hard but I couldn't keep up.  It's okay. I didn't get discouraged and did the best I could do.  It was a good workout. 

So be safe and keep peddling.

Pay attention. Don't be rude and do the right thing.

Since I have been riding, I have noticed two things about automobile drivers, there are good ones, there are bad ones and then there are distracted ones.  Well those are three things about drivers.

First I will talk about the good ones because I will only have to spend a short time writing about them.  These drivers always pass with plenty of room between the car and the cyclist. I usually give a kind wave after they pass.   When a driver is reluctant to pass, I look what is front of me, I slow down and then wave the driver on by.  9 out of 10 times this worksout nicely and I always give a friendly wave afterward.  So thank you for the good drivers out there.

Second, the bad drivers. These are the ones who think they own the road and would like nothing better than not to have you, the cyclist, on it.  That's right.  They will get right up next to you and rev their engine as they pass. Cough! Cough!  They get so close, you could reach in and grab their cell phone and finish up their call.  They will blast their horn as they are passing to scare the bejesus out of you.  They scream expletives at you and may even throw stuff at you. Oh and let's not forget the hand gestures they give. What you need to remember as a cyclist is to remain calm, keep peddling in a straight line and whatever you do, DO NOT INSTIGATE the driver into more asinine behavior.  The last thing you want to have is a confrontation with a 3 ton vehicle and a trip to the emergency room or even worse a trip to the morgue.  So be smart and don't antagonize drivers. Obey the state and local laws in place.  Always give proper hand signals and I mean proper ones!  You have to be on your toes and pay attention!!!  Always be prepared to report any incident to the local authorities.  We have a right to be on the road.

Now lastly distracted drivers.  There is not much you can do about this unless you get active with legislation to stop the "cellphone/texting while driving revolution"!  Apparently, we are so busy with our lives we need to call and text while driving.  This is not good for the cyclist and you shouldn't do it while you are riding.  It is tough enough trying to eat and drink while on the peddles.  What is sad, it will probably take countless tragidies for someone to do something about it but it is the world we live in.

I want to share this article.  Although no one was killed, it just goes to show you how vindictive an automobile driver can be.  So be safe and keep peddling.

Doctor's prison sentence isn't a sea change for cyclists

Feb 21

It poured rain early this morning and I didn't think I was going to be able to get out and ride.  It was actually relaxing to hear the rain hit the ground from outside the bedroom window. The rain stopped around 9:00  am and knew I could ride with the group at 1.  Waited on the group and met them on the route.   One gent got a flat and we waited on him.  Steve Weber one of the nicest guys of the bunch gave me an awesome greeting. I ran with them for about 8 miles and was dropped like a hot potato.  I know I still have a long way to go. 

I was bit discouraged and decided to cut my ride short.  I was 16 miles in and as I was making my turn home and saw another cyclist turning towards me  from the opposite direciton.  He caught up to me and he told me was from Connecticut and he was not familiar with the roads out here.  I said, well I was about on my way home but I would ride with him. 

It was nice to have someone to ride with me.  It might be time for me to find a group that I can keep up with.  So I ended up riding 32.66 at an average speed of 15.7 mph.  I actually finished up my ride with my new friend  from the east coast. So cheers, Al Hubert and keep on peddling.

February 20th

Oh gee.  Didn't get a chance to ride my bike last weekend.  Crazy weahter in Texas.  We received 8 inches of snow and it that is very unusual for this part of Texas.  Actually I think it is very unusual for any part of Texas. 

Anyway I managed to get out yesterday but for only a quick 20.57 mile ride.  It's pouring rain outside now but hopefully it will clear out by this afternoon.  I felt really good yesterday.  My legs were burning which was okay because it made me push harder.

I am going to make an effort to ride Wednesday night with the group.  Anyway that is all for now going to make an egg white omelette with some green peppers, tomatoes, and little bit of cheese.  So enjoy the winter pictures and keep peddling.

Feb 6,7,8

Cold and dreary.  I rode 40.29 miles with a north west wind at roughly 10 miles per hour.  I could not feel my feet.  I need some warmer gear.  On Sunday, I rode my old route a little over 20 miles with a south east wind of 12 mph.  Again, my feet were freezing even after doubling up on my socks.  Oh well.  Yesterday I ran my usual 5k and that felt pretty good.  I got on the scale this morning down to 201 from 204.  Wednesday nights are sprint nights with Mckinney Velo.  If the weather cooperates, I will try to make it out at 6 pm.

Pictures below are from Sunday's ride.