Day 12: 30 Days of Biking | Bears!

Earlier in the week I'd considered riding to work today, but I've got too much on my plate right now to spend three hours today riding. I still wanted to get out, so I went out a bit before sunrise this morning as it was getting light outside.

My first stop out was the post office, then out of town via the hill up past the bears.

Watch out, bears!

There was a fantastic view of Mt. Rainier from the hilltop, with the clouds and the sunrise, but too many trees obscuring the mountain to really even try to get a picture of it. Plus the phone doesn't do all that great at a distance like that.

Riding around via 133rd, though, coming back down there's another great view of the mountain so I couldn't resist giving it a shot. The picture doesn't come anywhere close to capturing the feeling of that massive mountain  rising up into the pink clouds.

Mt. Rainier

It looks small in the photo, but in person it is the most eye-catching feature around. I think I'd have to paint it to try and capture the detail necessary. Or get a better camera!

Nice ride, nice loop this morning!

Day 9: 30 Days of Biking | Manke

Manke Rd

I haven't been getting out every day, but I'm trying to get out when I can. This morning I took a quick spin down to Manke road and back, just a couple miles each way, but it's amazing how much better I feel, even just riding that short distance!

Day 6: 30 Days of Biking | Need More Layers!

Partly cloudy sunrise mornings are the best as the sun paints rich colors across the sky. I've missed riding the past few days, so I didn't want to miss today too. I got ready and headed out. Brrr! I needed more layers! I felt pretty good on the ride but my hands and feet were cold, I hadn't bundled up enough against the freezing temperatures.

Post Office Stop

I headed up to the Post Office to mail a bill (to the one place that still doesn't do e-bills) and check the P.O. box. I'd considered a longer loop but the cold drove me back down the trail to home. It looks like it'll be a great day later, but I'll be off at work.

Maybe tomorrow afternoon I can get out for a longer ride!

Day 2: 30 Days of Biking

On Monday I looked out at a partly cloudy sky, some wind, and a forecast that the high would hit 60°F! How could I resist?

I got everything together and headed out. A bit chilly, but I was thinking about that forecast.

Sun Rising

The ride to work went well, I felt pretty good even though I haven't been riding these kind of distances often. I was tired when I arrived, but not too bad.

After a long day of work I headed out into a much warmer day. Instead of layers I just wore my cycling shorts and short-sleeved jersey. I felt pretty good heading out, but I could feel I was tired. Even so, a great day to ride.

Grayish Day

My energy reserves sapped away the last few miles. I was hungry and feeling like I might totally bonk, but what was the point in stopping? It wouldn't get me home any faster so I kept moving at a slower pace. The last steep little hill at our road was tough, but I made it up. Made it home.

Not doing that again tomorrow. I'll try to get out and ride, but a shorter distance.

Day 1: 30 Days of Biking

About to Set Out

I'd made the decision to try the #30DaysofBiking, but when it came down to the actual first day I didn't think it was going to happen. This morning I drove back from Lincoln City, Oregon to home after an exhausting and fantastic writing workshop. It rained the whole way home.

I was thrilled to get home, but there were things to get done. Shopping, for one. Back into the car and off doing that, then back and dinner and time with the family. It just didn't seem like I was going to get on the bike.

But then the clouds pulled back. The sun came out. I saw Kent Peterson's Biking Around the Lake on an Allant and I thought why not? How long would it take to ride a quick loop up into town, check the PO box, and then ride down the trail back home? Not much time at all.

Snatching the chance I changed, grabbed the Marlin, stopping just long enough for my wife to snap a picture and then I was off. A chilly wind blew across my hands, the only part other than my ears that was cold, but I figured I'd warm up and I wasn't going back for my gloves.

It  felt great to get on the bike. Well, except  for the toe I bruised a few weeks back. That bugged me a bit, but not enough to put too much of a damper on the ride. I took the roads around to the post office, nothing but junk in the box, and then I was back on the bike heading down the trail.

The clouds in the sky came alive with the rich colors of the sunset. My cell doesn't take the best pictures but I did stop to take a couple snaps.

The pictures really don't do the clouds justice but it was a nice ride. Now the question is, will I ride tomorrow?

Test Ride

Partly Cloudy Skies

Next month starts #30DaysofBiking and today was pretty much the last chance I'd have before my trip to get out and see how the bike worked. Yesterday I spent time cleaning it, oiled the chain and loosened the stiff pulley that had been a problem. As it turns out, one easily solved, but I didn't know it at the time. I'm gradually learning more about maintaining the bike but there's still tons of stuff that I don't have the first clue about. I sort of muddle through most of the time, looking things up when I need to but I think I'm going to be more proactive and actually start reading more about how to take care of these things.

Earlier in the day there weren't any clouds at all but this afternoon they've started moving in. With the sun out it felt almost warm, but when the clouds got in the way it started feeling chilly. But then I was out in shorts and a short-sleeved jersey too, not exactly cool-weather clothing. I passed a couple other cyclists who were all bundled up. You'd think that we'd just had snow on the ground two days ago!

The bike handled fine. It did make a ticking sound I couldn't identify, but I'll need to figure that out. I'll get back from the trip on the 1st, so my current plan is to grab the bike and go for a short ride the first day to kick things off. I'm going to make an effort to participate this year and rise to the challenge. Last year I didn't really make any progress, having stopped by day three, so I plan to do better this year.

Short ride, I could really tell that I haven't been riding or anything. Cleared out the lungs a bit!

30 Days of Biking

I need to get on the bike more, even if it's only a short ride. I want to try doing the 30 Days of Biking challenge, and that'll feed nicely into the Bicycle Commuter Contest the next month, and then in June I might resurrect my Mock Tour Divide Challenge!

First I have to fix my bike, which hopefully won't be too hard!