Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Banana and Orange Juice
After a ride, there’s nothing better than eating a banana and washing it down with a glass of orange juice.
During a ride, I’ll just drink plain tap water. If I go out for a ride before I’ve had anything to eat, I’ll carry a banana in my back pocket in case I bonk.
I’ve sampled, but was never much of a fan for the energy drinks, since they contain so much sodium. I’ve also tried many different energy bars, those that cost more than a meal, a banana does the same thing for me.
All those commercials, drink this, eat that, you’ll be an athlete in no time. Fruits and water do it for me, natural stuff and cheap to boot.
MTB: distance 19.13 miles, average speed 13.2 mph.
Lunch time ride
Awesome weather, had to take advantage of it.
When I started getting serious about bike riding 21 years ago, I rode just about every day. My bike accumulated more miles per year than my car, but I was younger and my body could handle the hours in the saddle.
Now, if I can get in a couple of rides a week, I’m happy and my body feels good. I’m not out to break speed limits or circumnavigate the world, just spin for my health.
Sitting here working on a project, I kept glancing outside over my monitor. So I decided to suit up and go for a ride, and I feel oh so much better now.
It’s difficult to explain to someone who is inactive that exercise actually gives you more energy, that is if you’re consistent, rather than sweat once in a blue moon.
MTB: distance 19.12 miles, average speed 13.2 mph.
Wendy's Invitational
Cross Country runners and their family members filled the McAlpine Greenway for the 2011 Wendy’s Invitational.
There were 1000’s of participants, I’ve never seen so many people converge on the McAlpine, so you can imagine it was very slow going making my way through the crowds.
Keeping a good average speed was impossible, I decided instead to enjoy the atmosphere and log as many miles as I could. There were plenty of water jugs and porta potties, I felt like I was on a SAG ride.
Many years ago, I was a Cross Country runner in my High School. I ran the 2.5 mile course, I was pretty decent at it, my best times were in the low 12 minutes. Today brought back memories, all very good ones.
MTB: distance 25.16 miles, average speed 11.2 mph.
Broke a rear spoke
That’s what happens when you run over branches.
Glancing back at my rear tire, I noticed it was wobbly. Not enough for it to start rubbing along the sides of the rear triangle, but noticeable to the eye. I decided to stop and check it out, sure enough a rear spoke had broken off and was causing a slight wobble in the tire.
Last time I rode, I remember running over a branch and how it got caught in the rear tire. The sound of the spokes, like when you play them like a harp, was quite loud. Thought nothing of it at the time, other than thinking I should of been more careful.
Broken spoke and all, I kept on riding. Luckily, my bike has disk brakes, so I have no worries with the rear rim rubbing on rubber brake pads. I’ll need to pay the local bike shop a visit for a new spoke before tomorrow’s ride.
MTB: distance 17.41 miles, average speed 12.5 mph.
Cloudy weather lately
No sun to speak of as of late, just gloomy weather.
Headed out this morning, cause if I waited for sunny weather, I’d not get a ride in this week. Half way through the ride, it started to drizzle, thankfully it didn’t develop into a major thunderstorm.
With rain pelting me, and the ground getting moist, the bike started to amass quite a bit of dirt and mud. Before I go out next time, I’ll need to wash the bike down, or else I’m riding a heavier bike around.
My legs are feeling fine, it’s my hands that are getting numb from an hour and a half of steady riding. I’m going to go visit the local bike shop and buy me a pair of gloves with some padding, that should alleviate the situation.
MTB: distance 19.09 miles, average speed 13.2 mph.
Deers are everywhere
Woke up this morning to deers in my front yard. Yesterday morning, they were in the back yard, chewing on plants and drinking from the pond. So I figured I’d get to see some more in the McAlpine, I was not disappointed.
I had 3 different deer sightings on today’s ride. After the first sighting, I kept an eye out for more, I didn’t want to run right into any of them. They usually travel in groups, so if you see one crossing, there’s bound to be more following.
On the main trail, you have a better chance of dodging them, cause of the width of the bike path. On the inner trails, the path is narrower and trees line the sides, so it’s like playing a real life Frogger game.
MTB: distance 19.32 miles, average speed 13.4 mph.
Camp CARE 5k Run/Walk
The McAlpine was packed with people participating in the Camp CARE annual 5k run/walk to raise money to send children with cancer to summer camp.
Walkers and runners wore bright yellow t-shirts as they experienced the trails that surround the lake. As you can imagine, it was slow going riding my bike, but it was worth seeing everybody having a really good time.
On my last lap around, I got to see everyone release helium filled balloons into the air as they sang along to some tune. Very impressionable moment, I had goose bumps all over.
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you might get”
MTB: distance 19.04 miles, average speed 13.0 mph.
Cool morning ride
In the 60’s this morning, perfect for a ride.
Must take advantage of the nice temperatures, you never know when the heat will come back or the cold of winter sneaks up on us. My fingers are crossed, hoping that September brings nice fall weather, allowing us to do the outdoor activities that this summer prevented.
The trails are looking good, whatever wash out that the rains caused has now been filled in, kudos to the city of Charlotte. I also started noticing piles of twigs neatly stacked along the sides of certain trails, like if there’s a group looking to prettify things even further.
Lots of runners out there today, cross country high schoolers getting their training in.
MTB: distance 17.55 miles, average speed 12.6 mph.
Hot and Humid
With chance of afternoon Hurricanes.
Looks like Lee and Katia are planning to meetup near me, what a wonderful week of rain we’re about to experience.
Today it was very hot and humid, I only did 2 laps around the McAlpine, anymore and I’d be hurting this afternoon. The ground wasn’t that moist from this week’s rains, but it was slow going anyway.
I did hookup with a fellow biker on a yellow steel bike, don’t know the make but it said Phat on the back of the seat. We took turns drafting and running over people, just kidding.
Who knows when I’ll get another chance to ride this coming week, so I’m glad I got out today.
MTB: distance 11.82 miles, average speed 13.2 mph.
Time to think
An hour and a half of just the wind blowing past.
When I go for a bike ride, I don’t carry a music device or a Bluetooth enabled phone, so it’s a long ride with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company.
I prefer it this way, since my home office is one of sensory overload, music coming from the computer, a television muted on some news channel, and a number of browser windows open to the Net at large.
On my rides, I want quiet, I want to shift down into slow mode and listen to my heartbeat. As my heart pounds out a rhythm, my mind analyzes the task I’m working on, or I may drift off into what if land.
When I get back to my office, I’m ready to tackle that task, knowing full well, I thought it out, every variable uncovered.
Coding to endorphins ;)
MTB: distance 19.11 miles, average speed 13.4 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
