Every fall I get to commute by bike for a few weeks, like in the old days.  Back then my commute was ten miles each way.   My office was 40 miles from home and I had a few spots to leave my car that gave me a bike ride ranging from five to fifteen miles  The most used spot was ten miles from the office and that allowed me a great commute through the city of Taunton, MA.  There were also times that I put my bike on the commuter bus.  Here is an old blog post about that.

Now however, my commute is a bit over five miles each way to the Salvation Army in New Bedford, MA.  My job is to drive the bell ringers to their designated stores.  As in the past, the bike commute is the best part of the job.

Annually this time of year, I volunteer to drive the Salvation Army Bell Ringers to their destinations. I like to ride my bike the six miles to the office. It’s usually my introduction to winter riding.

When I left home at 8 AM this morning, the temperature was around 33F accompanied by a stiff wind making the wind chill a brisk 28F. Buuuuut the sun was shining which made the ride quite comfortable.  I was also dressing in layers, and because of that, I arrived at the office perspiring.  Quite a bit. The ride home at 11AM was much better with that stiff wind at my back. Tomorrow will be a bit cooler but without the wind.

Winter riding.  I do like it a lot.  I’m not a fan of indoor trainers so when the conditions are not conducive to bike riding, I do a lot of walking.

It’s no secret that I’m a soccer fan. A big fan. Actually it’s the only sport I follow. I do occasionally watch other sports like basketball and….er…. well basketball. I’m always watching soccer.
My local MLS team, New England Revolution, is not very good, the fans base is mostly youth players and families. New England hasn’t figured out yet that to be successful in any sport they need to build a team, not a business model. Every other team in the league has built a soccer model and the business part rides the coat tails.

I did do the usual bracket for the MLS playoffs and successfully predicted the four semi final teams. Over the weekend I flew to Atlanta for the east quarter final game. It did not disappoint. Me and 70k friends rocked the Mercedes Benz stadium and cheered on my adopted team, Atlanta United to a convincing win. Next is a home and away against the New York Red Bulls. I just may make the drive to Harrison, NJ in a couple of weeks to see the second leg of the semi finals. We’ll see.

I had intended, as I usually do, to ride my bike the 6 miles to the Performing Arts Center in New Bedford, MA.  Torrential rain was predicted to arrive during the show and lasting through the night.  The rains came as predicted and I got drenched during the four block walk to my car.  Riding in that would have been epic, but most assuredly one of my life’s not so good decisions.

The show was crazy good, as opposed to the video.  I had to shoot this night hiding my camera under my jacket.  I couldn’t see what I was recording and failed to do more close ups.  The ironic part that no one else had any concern that their camera lights would bother the people behind them.  Times have changed.

Boz Scaggs from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

It was 28F, sunny and calm when I left the house at 7:30 AM, for the eleven mile bike to the cardiologist.  I had to “beat feet” to make it to the bridge and avoid the delay of the opening.

The expected morning commute traffic never happened giving me a clear shot through the city.  There was some traffic on the back road behind the New Bedford, MA regional airport, but I was too distracted by nature to pay that any mind.

Four of us began the ride in Warren RI.  Actually I began in Providence an hour earlier and rode with the wind at my back to Warren.  A little after the sun had set we went wheels up, around 6:15.  The wind was in our face for most of the 10 mile ride to Providence.

After spending a short time on the India Point Bridge, we began the ride in the 45 degree, brisk, cool night under a spectacular clear sky and a full moon.

I broke off the pack in East Providence where I had begun, while the others continued the ten mile ride back to Warren.  I’m pretty sure that I was home enjoying a hot soup about the time the others finished riding.

Riding the ten miles to the start of the ride an hour early has been my preference the last few full moons.  It’s my meditation time, and I enjoy riding in the pack after that hour of meditation much  more.

2018 Tower of Power from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

2018 Buzzards Bay Watershead Bike Ride from John Sullivan on Vimeo.