Tag: The Daily Post

Day 27 High Hopes

Day 27 Ram closeup
This Ram had high hopes for a treat.  Next time.

It’s still below normal  with temps in the mid 50’s.  The weather will continue to improve for my 30 days of biking, culminating with a 65 degree day for riding NYC on Sunday. I planned on riding a new route beginning at yoga and adding 10 miles to my workout.  Things didn’t pan out so I did one of the standard 26 mile rides.

https://www.strava.com/activities/558645785/embed/7e328acd26a4b8fb4ff53a5e5ccd926e190b4470

It was hit and miss with the wind.  It’s wasn’t bad for the most part, but there are sections of the route that are wide open farm land.  Whenever I rode into one of those areas, it was a struggle to maintain anything over 11 or 12 MPH.  That and a couple of the hills conspired to keep my average for the ride at just under 14 MPH.

I hadn’t planned on doing any stopping, sans Lloyds Market, but the animals were out in numbers today and being the sucker I am for good animal photos, I ended up making four or five quick stops.

Day 27 Lloyds Market

The little guy above saw me stop, took a look and began meandering my way.  As he got closer we spoke to each other baaaa-ing our feelings.  He let me scratch his ears in the hopes I’m sure of a treat.  From now on I’ll be packing something for them and the horses.

Day 27 Ram 1
I see you.
Day 27 Ram 2
Let’s talk about treats.
Day 27 Clydsdales
The Clydesdale were out
Day 27 horses 1
Rescue horses

Beating the Rain

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Day 26 of 30 Days of Biking

The local weather gave a 40 % chance of rain for an hour followed by 10% for another hour. That gave me time to get in 26 miles for day 26 of 30 days of riding. It was one of those days where I got into the zone.  For instance, Vaughn Hill is a nemesis of mine. I begin to dread the climb a half mile away.  Today, I came out of the zone and realized I was a mile beyond Vaughn Hill.  I climbed it and didn’t even notice. I did other hills at double digit miles where before today my speed would drop to 6 -8 MPH.  I was having a blast.

I was really excited to see my stats for this ride because I know it was the fastest by far, of the season.  Naturally, when I got home I shut down my Garmin and didn’t save the ride.  I do have a wired bike computer attached but that only told me the time and distance with none of the fun stuff that Strava tells me when the information migrates from connect.garmin.  Oh well. It would have been nice but within a couple more rides, this one would be out of sight and mind.

The last ride of this event will be in New York on Saturday.  I’ll probably do a short ride in Staten Island before we take the ferry to Manhattan for registration.  Sunday will be a celebration of completing 30 days of biking with 32,000 friends as we ride the 5 Boroughs and 5 Bridges of NYC.

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The all turned and walked away when I approached
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I had the roads all to myself

30 Days of Biking. Day 25

A ride in the morning for coffee then again in the evening for a superb $3 sub at Subway. mmmmm

Fairhaven skyline

The Gypsy Kings and Kudos From A Stranger

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I was late and snuck a photo of some of the yoga class.

Day 24 of 30 days of biking complete.
https://www.strava.com/activities/555821506/embed/a0bdaf4a3faf0bc0b9863301d8c4d4aeaa124f33

Sunday yoga.  A direct ride is around 4 miles.  I decided to take the long way which is a 15 mile ride through four towns.  The wind was my nemesis and I had thoughts of not making it to class.  I had to push myself but in the end I was only a couple of minutes late.

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The route in the city (New Bedford, MA) was a completely new riding experience for me. I had to make a right turn and climb a hill to get to class.  I had choices of which street to climb. Every time I looked up, I rode on. I ran out of options and had to climb this last chance street to get to the top of the city.  It was so tough that I gasped up the hill.  There was a car backing out of a driveway but I didn’t stop for him, I just went around.  He passed me and took a left at the top and stopped.  I came upon him and rode around on the drivers side.  He had stopped to let another car back out of a driveway and do a three point turn.  I heard him slow as he began to pass and was expecting a tongue lashing.  I looked and saw his passenger window roll down.  Here it comes I though.  “Your the man” he said.  “Your the only biker I have seen ride up that hill. Even the kids get off and walk their bikes.”  I wanted to respond but I had no breath in me to say anything.  I just gave him a thumbs up and put my hand on my heart and took a deep breath.  I’m da man. Nice

Tonight is date night and wifey and I have tickets at the Z to the Gypsy Kings concert.  Another nice.

Day 23. I Am The Egg Man

Narrow brodge

If I didn’t commit to 30 days of riding I very well may have ditched today’s ride. For a plethora of reasons, I didn’t leave the house till after 4 PM. The first few miles were a struggle to say the least. I could have turned around anytime and still have fulfilled my 30 days, but…… I have an event next weekend and don’t want to go to NYC wishing I had put more miles in preparation.  Continue reading “Day 23. I Am The Egg Man” →

Destination Soup

Destination Soup 2

Day 22 of 30 days of biking. A short 10 mile ride into the city for lunch. They have a healthy salad that is so wonderful it’s called wunderkind.  It’s big as most healthy salads tend to be. It the kind that takes 45 minutes to eat and you only consume like 6 calories.  I also had to take a photo in preparation for this years coffeeneuring challenge.

Wonderkind Salad
Wunderkind salad and tomato basil soup.  mmmmm
Coffee in NB
coffee at Destination Soup in New Bedford, MA

It’s a full moon and I’ll probably go out tonight and ride the FBC Fairhaven club ride alone again.  The full moon rides died out a few years ago when no one would take over the logistics of the monthly ride. But FBC Sandpoint is still going strong. It’s also earth day so I’ll stop along the way and find a sexy tree to hug.  No, really. I do that every once in a while. I’m a tree huggah. (said in my best Boston accent).

30 Days of Biking

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Cranberry bogs in Rochester Ma. Day 21 of 30 Days of Biking

Day 21 of 30 days of biking took me on a longer loop of 25 miles.  Ten days from now is the NYC five boroughs bike tour and I’m doing my best to get some serious miles in. I did stop a couple of times and took photos but today was a training ride.

One of my stops was to answer my cell phone when wifey called from the Dominican Republic. When we travel we use WhatsApp.  We were turned on to this app by an Israeli soldier when we were in Panama last year.  WhatsApp uses the internet to make calls, texts etc anywhere in the world.  No more paying for international calling on my cell phone.

I used the Novara Randonee touring bike for this ride to make sure everything was working OK, not only for the NYC ride but also for my short summer bike tour.  The tour is narrowed to two possibilities.  Leaving from home and riding Cape Cod and the Islands or traveling to West Virginia to ride the North Bend Trail.  The Cape is solo and West Virginia is a fully supported tour.  Decisions, decisions.

Mattapoiset Rd. fish bridge

Are You Riding Boston Tonight?

Tax time
Tax time. Also Day 17 of 30 Days of Biking

 

A Message from Greg Hum, BostonSoS, and friends:

Hi Everyone,

A few things about tonight:

  • Please arrive at 98 Necco St, Boston, for loading between 8:30pm-9:30pm
  • After you load, walk over to South Station, two blocks away, and buy your commuter rail ticket to Southborough Station (zone 6). You may also purchase a ticket with the MBTA mobile app.
  • Please make sure you have enough food and water for the ride. you’ll have some time after you drop off your bike and before the train leaves to get what you need.
  • The commuter rail train departs at 10:40pm. 
  • Please dress warm and pack an extra layer tonight. Temps will dip to about 45 degrees tonight on the route, so plan accordingly.
  • Charge your cellphone and have a backup plan in case you get stuck. 

If you need to get in touch with us tonight during the ride:

  • Put our Midnight Marathon Ride Hotline Phone number in our cellphone: (617) 294-9472. If you have questions during the ride or get stuck and need helping finding a ride home, please give us a ring.
  • You may also e-mail us at MidnightMarathonRide@gmail.com
  • We’ll have volunteers taking calls and responding to e-mails.

See you on the ride tonight!

Cheers,

Greg Hum

midnight-bike-81

Ride Originator.

 

The Driveway Series Thursday Night Bike Races

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Getting Pumped for the race

CLICK HERE for all the Driveway photos.

Today is the last day in Austin and I will do my Day 15 of 30 days of riding. with a short ride to Mellow Johnny’s bike shop, to return the rental.

Last night was supposed to be a seven mile ride to the race venue. I go lost. Who would ever thing that could happen? I stumbled upon Jack who was also riding to the venue and as we rode we chatted about all the people in Austin who get hit by cars. I always thought this was a very bike friendly city but like any big city, drivers get stressed and are often in a hurry. Those two things can be dangerous when driving.

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There was a beer tent on the grounds, I ordered a beer and asked how much. “Five dollars” and she stamped my hand. The five dollars was a single charge with unlimited refills. I got a ride home.

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Brandon’s CAT 3 racing team had a breakaway going for a while but maintaining a an average speed of 28 MPH for 35 minutes kinde of limits how long a rider can stay in front. They ended up in the in the middle of the pack but the beer tent served up plenty of condolences and made them feel better. Made me feel good too.

Riding Town Lake Trail In Austin

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Brandon won’t be able to ride his bike for quite a while but otherwise he can get around. I took a second ride today, a 13 mile loop around Town Lake. It’s a very groovy ride and naturally I got lost at the far end. Fortunately I happened across good Samaritans who got me back on track.  I started riding after “playtime began”.  (Playtime for working people is 5-10 PM), so there were lots of people on the trail.

Part of the trail is built on the water with flagstone surface that is easy riding.  Most of the trail is packed something or other and the heavy rains last night made sections of it very slow going. It was a really fun ride and I’ll let the photos do the rest of the talking because I’m being hounded to go out do dinner.  On the cheap.  Olive Garden.