Guilty Party

 

They gave me the screwdriver that punctured my tire, so thought I'd share a pic.

Weeks 55 & 56 (Dec 7 - 11, Dec 14 - 18) "Sport for our neighbors"

Summary:

Week 55
Monday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Tuesday: No commute (didn't feel great - worked from home)
Wednesday & Thursday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Friday: No commute (vacation)

Week 56
Monday - Thursday: Car
Friday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)

Last Tuesday proved to be a test in patience which I failed miserably. As I pulled up to the client site and stepped into the frigid December air, I could feel the air gushing out of the rear driver side tire. The week already started off poorly on Monday (another story), and now a wrench had just been thrown into my day.

I dialed up the store where I purchased the tires a few months ago and was relieved to learn that it would be fixed without additional cost since it was covered under warranty. But they wouldn't come and get it so I needed a way to transmit the tire to them.

I've changed tires before but wasn't extremely excited about tackling the job in single digit temperatures, so opted to call a service station less than a mile away. In hindsight, the $35 quote was cheap, but the bean counter in me figured I could change the tire in about 15 minutes, effectively paying myself $140/hour. I wish I'd looked up and admitted to the camera with a brazened face, "I've made a huge mistake" and just forked over the $35.

For anyone who has never changed a tire, here's a pretty good "how to" wiki that lays out the process:

How to change a tire

You may find as I did, however, that the list above lacks some integral steps, namely #7b through #7i right between #7 "Remove lug-nuts" and #8 "Remove tire." My edits are included below:

#7b - Pull on tire to remove.
#7c - Pull harder, pansy.
#7d - Pull so hard you don't care what kind of road sludge you are slathering onto your winter coat.
#7e - Kick tire to dislodge from hub.
#7f - Kick tire out of frustration. (repeat if necessary)
#7g - Kick tire out of rage, lose composure, make loud yelling/howling noises to ensure that lost composure is evident to all.
#7h - Realize how ugly this might get without calling service station.
#7i - Admit defeat, call service station, pay $35.

I was almost thankful that the guy from the station experienced a great deal of difficulty getting the tire off of the hub, too. I would have felt even more ridiculous had he been able to pull it off without using any of his fancy tools.

When the tire was fixed and ready for me to pick up, I found out that a wrench hadn't been thrown into my day, it was a screwdriver. Not sure how it happened, but an entire regular screwdriver (excluding the plastic handle) had lodged itself into my tire.

It seems the most obvious lesson from this ordeal is that riding a bike on Tuesday would have saved me $35. Am I wrong?

Week 54 (Nov 30 - Dec 4)

Summary:

Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)

Temperatures outside have been nosediving for the past couple of weeks, and it's made me reflect on the best way to get to work. As I consider commuting during the coldest months of the year, my vote for best way to commute is to car pool with my wonderful wife. The ride on Thursday was nice (though a little chilly), but the carpool option ends up being quicker, incremental costs are negligible, and I get to start the day off with a few more minutes with my best friend. I'm sure that after my body adjusts to 20-30 degrees being the new normal I'll end up riding more, but in the mean time it'll be more time in the passenger seat, and less time in the saddle.

Weeks 50 - 53 (November)

Summary:

Week 50
Monday - Friday: Car (AM & PM commute I think)

Week 51
Monday through Wednesday - Car (single occupant, no carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Car (single occupant, no carpool)

Week 52
Monday through Thursday - Car (single occupant, no carpool)
Friday - Bicycle

Week 53
Monday & Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday through Friday - vacation

It's really no excuse, but the last month has been crazy busy, and I haven't always remembered how I've gotten to work (mostly week 50). I'm usually much more likely to track my commutes when I ride since it gives me an opportunity to log in my bus/LRT fare savings into a Google doc spreadsheet. Yes, I know how nerdy that is, but I do what I can to keep the cycling and public accounting tied together.

I had to drive alone for most of weeks 51 & 52 which has been quite rare for me over the past few months. It did give me the chance to listen to the radio before and after the workday, plus it's always nice to catch a sight of the late afternoon rays hitting the Minneapolis skyline, so overall it could have been worse. Even though I love finishing the day on the bike, it does take a bit extra time to change from my accounting costume to cycling gear to casual wear at home so it was also nice to skip a step in there.

Week 49 (October 26 - 30)

Summary:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - No commute (vacation)
Wednesday - No commute (vacation)
Thursday - No commute (vacation)
Friday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)

It was nice to only work two days last week. The rest of the time I spent working on my to do list at home, but overall it was pretty refreshing and I think I'm ready to go back to work on Tuesday.

Segmenting the market

Late this summer I had the opportunity to take part in three separate events in Minneapolis. Although the common feature of all of these was the bicycle, distinctive themes embodied in the bikes and riders themselves were present at these events.

Critical Mass
I had considered riding critical mass for quite awhile, but it seemed like my schedule never quite meshed up to catch the final Friday of the month ride. In August the stars aligned and my friend Jason and I made it to Loring Park in Minneapolis by 5:30 to meet up with the horde of bikers waiting to ride.

This was a fascinating experience. The event is basically ruled by a punk rock ethos, and a good chunk of the riders fit this demographic. There were mohawks, piercings and tattoos, and freak bikes aplenty. I snapped a picture of this tall bike right as the mass departed from Loring Park.



I didn't see many carbon frames, clip-in pedals or spandex, as the majority of the mass eschewed these amenities, preferring more Bohemian sensibilities.

I was dazzled by the euphoric vibe permeating the mass, seemingly a result of defying all rules of the road which allowed for a leisurely pace through the city with soundtrack accompaniment from a boombox buckled in a Burley (or a DIY equivalent). Later, I replayed the mental image of blazing through red lights, cruising past impotent motorists, and riding on both sides of the streets and had to remind myself that it hadn't been a mere vision. I clearly remembered the police escorting the mass, as well as the "Happy Friday" guy meticulously who announced our presence to every annoyed driver.

Although I had a blast, I kept waiting for someone to rip off my mask and reveal me as the corporate working stiff that I am before kicking me off the ride.

Minneapolis Duathlon Time Trials
Two days later, I woke up to a beautiful Sunday morning and strolled down 36th Street to watch the time trial riders whiz past on West River Parkway. Spandex ruled this event, but there were also some casual riders. The bikes they rode were as diverse as the sounds they made passing by.

An unmistakable "thoo-thoon-thoon" announced the approach of Triathlon bikes, decked out with disc wheels while the road bikes made normal bike noises. There were a few old Huffy's squeaking along with their owners oblivious to the need for lubricating metal on metal contact points which produced facial gestures in me that simulated hearing nails down a chalkboard.

Overall it seemed like everyone participating had a great time, and I felt a twinge of regret for not signing up like a friend and co-worker had both suggested.

Bike Count
As mentioned in a previous post, I helped with the Transit for Livable Communities Fall Bike/Walk Count. Of the three events, this is where I found the people I seemed to most identify with. The vast majority of bicycles had full fenders, bike racks, and were equipped with panniers to carry work materials and their papers (their business papers). Most of them also wore comfortable clothing that seemed equally appropriate on or off the bike, though there was a higher frequency of spandex than at the critical mass ride. And just to be clear regarding the purpose of the count, these are merely my observations and were not part of the formal count.

Obviously, these people were similar to me in that their primary purpose for cycling was transportation/commuting, so it's no wonder that I felt at home with these fellow cyclists.

Week 46, 47, & 48 (October 5-9, 12-16, 19-23)

Summary:

Week 46
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)

Week 47
Monday - Car
Tuesday - Car
Wednesday - Car
Thursday - Car
Friday - Bicycle

Week 48
Monday - Car
Tuesday - Car
Wednesday - Car
Thursday - Car
Friday - No commute (vacation)

I needed to get this post up to avoid hitting the once a month frequency. The bad thing about waiting three weeks to post is that I forgot anything worth sharing in the time that passed, but I since I have been out at client sites and not riding much, there hasn't been much to share. I guess more driving means more mileage checks which means more deposits to the bike fund.

To atone for my blogging sins of omission I plan on updating with a post each day for three days (starting today). This is likely an attainable goal since I'm out on vacation until Friday.

Week 44 & 45 (Sept 21-25, Sept 28-Oct 2)

Summary:

Week 44
Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Friday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)

Week 45
Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool, plus downtown bike transit)
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Friday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)

I was in California during week 44 so I carpooled to and from the client site with the rest of the team members. It was a nice trip, albeit bereft of any cycling activity.

Last week I was in town but didn't get out as much as I'd like to have with the rain and transition to cooler temps. Hopefully I get my commuting groove back soon, though.

Second City...

The latest data says it's Minneapolis. No surpise that Portland took the top spot again.

Week 42 & 43 (September 7-11, 14-18)

Summary:

Week 42
Monday - No commute (Labor Day)
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

Week 43
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

Remember Brent? I convinced him to ride with me again Friday and it ended up being a positive experience. Maybe I can get him to do another guest post extolling the virtues of the Long Haul Trucker.

Cycling Public Account Counts Public Cycles

It's almost a palindrome.

I helped out with the Transit for Livable Communities Bike Walk Fall 2009 count, tracking bicyclists and pedestrians this afternoon on the Hiawatha LRT trail a few blocks from the Metrodome. Thankfully I stayed dry while ominous clouds threatened from the west, and I had a great excuse to look at bicycles for a few hours. I'm pretty sure I saw the trucker twin that I mentioned a few weeks back.

I'll post results as soon as they're released by TLC. Also, I scored a sweet t-shirt that says "I count" on the back which I'll snap a picture of and post soon.

Week 41 (Aug 31 - Sept 4)

Summary:

Week 41
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Car
Friday - Car

My excuse for Thursday and Friday is that I was in Cedar Falls, IA for a recruiting event at my alma mater. Would have been a little tough to bike that one.

I'm too tired to rehash any specifics from the week, and the week to come is going to be crazy so I figured I'd get the summary up and move on. I hope everyone's Labor Day was as good as mine.

Week 40 (August 24-28)

Summary:

Week 40
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

The 40 week mark seems like a perfect opportunity for a biking/pregnancy analogy, but nothing is coming to mind. Anybody have a metaphor I can borrow?

I taught a training in the office all week, so batting five for five wasn't too much of a challenge. The only resistance I faced was Tuesday morning when it was rained pretty hard first thing in the morning. I knew it would be clear in the afternoon and I'd be furious that I had to ride the light rail home but I couldn't figure out how to make a round trip cycling commute happen.

It calmed down long enough for me to jump on the bike and high tail it into the office, arriving just as it picked up again. I wore a blue banana man suit (rain jacket, slick pants, plastic bags on my feet to keep dry) and to say I looked ridiculous would be the understatement of the year. I took no pictures just in case I want to run for public office someday, but Pati can attest.

Random notes from my commutes

Two things:

1. I think I saw a mime riding a bike the other day. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a figure in all black approaching me on the Hiawatha LRT path. When I looked up I'm pretty sure I saw a face with white makeup and a top hat. It's strange to see a mime on a bike, but it would be even stranger if that guy didn't end up being a mime.
(*editors note: when I say the mime was riding a bike, I mean he was actually riding a bike, not miming that he was riding a bike. Sorry for any confusion that may have caused)

2. I saw this by the Cub Foods on East Lake today on my way home. I'm pretty sure this isn't the preferred nomenclature...

More popular than I thought

In the post two days I have seen pics posted on BikeHugger that are almost identical models to the Greenspeed. The first is even the same green color that Ivy loves so much:

Sears Bike 1

Sears Bike 2

It's easy to spot by the decal on the frame below the seat post.

Week 39 (August 17-21) and a grocery run

Summary:

Week 39
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)

I started off the week on the Greenspeed, but the Drifter was called to duty on Tuesday and Thursday. I've spent so much time on the Greenspeed lately that I'd forgotten how much I love this bike. The only real drawback is that I feel somewhat strange dressing like an accountant when I ride, so I usually end up changing at work. But the slight inconvenience was well worth it this week.

It even got some extra miles this weekend on a couple of grocery runs: one to Trader Joe's in St. Louis Park and the other to the Rainbow in our neighborhood. We're only a mile or from Rainbow so I decided to push the envelope and see how much I could get on the Drifter. I'll let the picture and a receipt highlights speak for themselves:



Highlights include:
Lunch meat
A gallon of milk
Fresh fruit & veggies
Five 12 packs of coke products

I honestly wasn't sure it was going to work out, but I figured I'd grab the bungee cords and give it a shot. No cans were injured during the trip from the store, and I think Pati was happy that I took a chance:

Week 37 & 38 (August 3-7, 10-14): Riding the Greenspeed

Summary:

Week 37
Monday - No commute (vacation)
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Thursday - No commute (sick)
Friday - No commute (sick & work from home)

Week 38
Monday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Friday - Bicycle

Riding the Greenspeed
Since I've ridden the Greenspeed for almost a month now, I figured it'd be a good idea to reflect on how well it's been working for me. Here goes:

Pros
Clean - The great thing about having a chainguard is that I don't have to choose between corralling my pant legs with an ankle strap and risking a grease attack. This is especially convenient since I lost my Velcro one awhile back.

Relaxing Pace - Since there's only one speed, I can't hop on the bike and crank at full throttle; I'm forced to take it easy while I ride. This is a great way to hold back my usual instinct to pedal quickly and I've found myself enjoying these laid back commutes. The upright seating position on the bike also makes for a smooth ride.

Theft Deterrent - The Greenspeed is not likely to instigate covetous thoughts in the minds of bike thieves, and I'm comfortable securing it with only one lock (as opposed to three for the Drifter).

Economy - The initial cash outlay for the bike was $15, and I've probably put in another $20 or so in a new chain and tube. So far this cycling fiscal year the Greenspeed has generated positive cash flows (technically a reduction in cash outflows) of $54, plus another $32 from the year before.
**Disclaimer - The wheel build did cost money, but if I were to sell this bike right now I would not include the new wheel so I'm not going to include it in the calculation.

Cons
Range - My normal commute is almost perfectly flat, so for the most part I don't many gears. That being said, bitter gusts were a challenge on the way home last Friday, but could have been remedied by a quick upshift on a multi-speed bike. But on the Greenspeed my only option was to firm up my grip, grit my teeth, and grind away.

Aesthetics - I'm no expert in colors, but it does appear to be an obnoxious shade of green and my wife can't stand it. Maybe I shouldn't consider this too much of a "con" since it does decrease the likelihood of theft.

Performance - I still have the original brakes and cables which could use replacing as they're not as responsive as I'd like. This doesn't cause a problem though since the bulk of my route is on trail with no intersections and I don't ride very fast.

Overall I'm happy with the Greenspeed even though it's not an all-purpose bike. It's nice to have it as an option, though, especially on cool days when I really don't need or want to change clothes.

Week 36 (July 27-31)

Summary:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

This week was my Mark Buehrle moment: five days of work, five days of round-trip bicycle commuting.

I completed the wheel building class I signed up for on Saturday, spent some time working on the Greenspeed over the weekend, and completed all 10 legs of the week's commute on it. I'll save my assessment of the bike's positive and less desirable attributes for another post though.

Here's what I had to do to get the Greenspeed ready to roll by Monday morning:

1. Build a wheel - I guess this wasn't completely necessary since I already had a wheel on it, but I really wanted to switch to an actual single-speed. A few hours at Hiawatha Cyclery and I checked this off the list.

2. Mount tire and tube on rim - This is normally a quick process, but I didn't know what size tires the frame would handle with the new rim so I had to put it together and see how much space I had. I'd prefer a 700Cx32 for the rear wheel, but I happened to have a larger tire (700Cx35) in the garage so I opted for economy and resourcefulness, sparing a trip to the bike shop. Eventually I'll switch to 32s, but it might not be until I replace the front wheel.

3. Widen rear drop-outs - The link to the pics below will illustrate this a little better than I can explain, but the new axle was wider than the previous one. This kept the wheel from sliding into proper position, so I borrowed a neighbor's hand file to create some space.

4. Size the chain - When I originally cut the chain, it was an appropriate size for the 15 teeth cog and cassette. But the new cog had 17 teeth, so there wasn't enough room on the chain for the new wheel. Again, I wanted to save a trip and $10 so I spliced in three new links from the original chain to lengthen it.

5. Other maintenance - I had gone without the rear fender for awhile so I put it back on to give the bike a more complete look. I also popped off the stem to grease it and the stem wedge (sorry, I forgot to take pics on this one). A new stem sometime soon probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

Check out these pics to see the Greenspeed itself, as well as some visuals of what I've just tried to explain (Click on the white dialog box thing in the bottom left hand corner to display captions, or just click on the pics themselves to go larger copies)

Item Most Frequently Left at Home by the Cycling Public Accountant

Survey says....

A belt.

I'm going to feel naked all day.

Week 35 (July 20-24)

Summary:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle & Bus (PM)
Friday - Bicycle

Thursday was interesting. As soon as I grabbed my bike off the rack for the return trip, I noticed a completely flat front tire. Not a good sign, but I thought there was a possibility that it was merely a slow leak that I could still ride home on. I peered through the mass of people waiting for their buses and saw a guy with a tall bike coming in my direction, and figured it was worth a shot

(Note to reader: do an image search on Google for "tall bike" to see what I'm talking about).

I think Matt was a bit surprised that I approached him asking for a favor. Here I was, a regular working stiff wearing a button-up shirt, ironed pants, and a bicycle helmet while he was clad in tattered leather boots up to his calves, tattoos all over his arms, and his long dreaded hair flowing freely.

Nevertheless, he pulled a pump out of his messenger bag, and when the slow leak theory was disproved, he produced a patch kit and wrench as well. He even did the work of patching the leak while I watched and made small talk.

With the wheel back on, I began the job of re-inflating the tire and got a little overzealous for a firmness and ended up popping the tube. Regardless, I thanked Matt profusely for his help and threw the bike on the bus to get home.

It might seem like it was all for naught, but I was actually glad to have run into Matt. I hope I see him again downtown and am somehow able to return the favor.

Overhead at the watercooler

A random, somewhat accounting related comment I overheard a co-worker say awhile back:

"I have so much caffeine by 10 a.m. I could take a hostage."

Thinking about that still makes me laugh.

Week 34 (July 13-17), a Trucker Twin, and dubbing the Greenspeed

Summary:

Monday - no commute (vacation)
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

Cool weather prevailed last week, though a chance of showers on Tuesday scared me enough not to ride. It didn't rain, I felt like a fool, and now consider that it is perhaps time to buy a rain cape. This will enable me to make commuting decisions irrespective of the precipitation forecast, though I'll be surely be inviting the obligatory mockery and copious Russ Campbell comparisons from my wife.

Trucker Twin
On Wednesday I parked a block from my normal spot which brought me into contact with a nearly identical Long Haul Trucker. It wasn't there when I locked up in the morning, but in the afternoon I paused for a double take, delighted by the mirror image on an adjacent rack. It had the same Axiom rack that I used to have, and the owner even used a multiple lock method to thwart would-be bike thieves. It had better upgrades on the saddle (Brooks) and pedals, but otherwise it was the same. I only saw it once more that week on Thursday morning, so maybe he was blessed with an abbreviated work week.

Greenspeed
My parents visited this weekend, and with my dad's help I securely bolted my rear wheel onto the Sears 5 speed frame. I removed the derailleur months ago and make use of only one gear on the five speed cassette. I'm taking a wheel building class at Hiawatha Cyclery this Saturday, so Lord willing, I'll have a legitimate single speed cog installed soon. With those plans in place, the bike shall henceforth be known as "the Greenspeed." I think a formal christening ceremony is required, and perhaps our house guest this weekend would enjoy taking part smashing my CPA champagne over the stem of the bike.

The Greenspeed did survive an estimated 10 mile ride with my parents and Pati to the Guthrie, over the Stone Arch Bridge, through the edge of the U campus and back home via the Seward neighborhood. The Greenspeed performed well enough to earn commuting duties this week, so hopefully all goes well.

Week 33 (July 6 - 10)

Summary:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - no commute (vacation)

Wednesday also included a round trip ride to Hopkins (~22 miles) for kickball and a ride to Lake Harriet (~14 miles) on Saturday.

Week 32 (June 29 - July 3) and an Assertion

Summary:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

I bought the Drifter (Surly Long Haul Trucker) a year ago this July, and have been tracking my commutes in a Google Doc since then. I'm in the assurance business and not usually the one making the assertions, but here goes:

For the one year period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009, I saved a total of $364.75 riding a bicycle to work.

Here is the basic methodology that I used:

For every one-way trip taken via bicycle, I assumed savings of the equivalent of an applicable bus/light rail fare (rush hour, non-rush hour, downtown zone fare, etc). This is the alternative for me since I rarely drive by myself if I'm going to the office. Someone with a regular commute involving parking expenses would save significantly more.

Resources:

A visual representation of my commutes:


Underlying data:
Google Doc Tracking Spreadsheet

I'd be interested to know if this seems like more or less savings than you'd expect from a year's worth of bicycle commuting?

Week 30 & 31 (June 15-19, 22-26)

Summary:

Week 30
Monday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicyle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - LRT & Car (PM Carpool)

Week 31
Monday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car
Friday - Bicycle

Thursday was a bittersweet mix. I had to make a dental appointment and meet a client deadline, and couldn't work out the logistics to ride and still maximize my use of time. I made up for it that night as some fellow accountants and I cycled to St. Paul to take the Gateway Trail to Stillwater. The round-trip was just shy of 55 miles, and I was back at my front door by 10 p.m., took a shower, and slept like a baby.

I awoke bright and early Saturday morning for another lengthy ride to the Coon Rapids dam and back. We didn't have a cyclocomputer, and I'm not even sure I could trace the run on Googlemaps. The direct route comes in at 36 miles, but my estimate is a 40-45 miles, accounting for a detour through Victory Memorial Parkway and Theodore Wirth.

I need to keep up these longer rides to get ready for a bike trip to Duluth sometime later this summer.

Week 28 & 29 (June 1-5, 8-12)

Summary:

Week 28
Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicyle
Wednesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

Week 29
No commutes - vacation in Costa Rica

I can't say it enough: this late spring/early summer has been perfect weather for a morning and afternoon commute. The only reason I didn't ride on Wednesday was to make a kickball game in Hopkins that night. I probably could have ridden directly there, but the extra hour or two was better spent cranking away at work to get projects in good shape and bug out early on Friday for our trip.

The closest I got to a bicycle in Costa Rica last week was visiting a Gary Fisher/Trek cycle shop in San Jose, though I must have grazed five to ten fearless moron bikers navigating the circuitous mountain roads at night, lacking helmets, lights, and the sense that God gave them. I was more concerned about keeping the 4,700 pound Mitsubishi Montero on the road and from spilling its six passengers and cargo into coffee plant laden valleys, leaving little time to check for bicyclists or pedestrians.

(Side note: the $16 we spent to rent a GPS unit was the best $16 that has ever been spent. Not only did it give us our route, it also alerted us to dangerous bridges and deteriorating roads.)

Week 27 (May 25 - 29)

Summary:

Monday: No commute (Memorial Day)
Tuesday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Friday: Car (AM & PM Carpool)

Being out of town makes it rough to ride.

Bike to Work Day – A Beginner’s Journey

The following is a guest post from Brent who rode with me on Bike to Work Day this year.

For a few months, James and I had been talking about biking in together. We live a few blocks away from each other and both work in downtown Minneapolis (usually). Bike to Work Day on May 14th provided an excellent trial run for me as I’ve never done this before. It’s about a four mile trip in. I learned a lot. For instance:

• When your friend invites you to use his road bike instead of your junkie “mountain bike” take him up on it. I can’t imagine what type of biking my bike is built for, but it isn’t road biking. James pedaled approximately once for every 20 of mine often coasting for long stretches as if he were cruising downhill. I was working hard. I think I got passed by an elderly couple out for their morning walk.
• Dress as if it were winter, even if it is spring. I was concerned about getting too hot and sweaty and smelling bad at work all day. Au contraire. I dressed light. It was windy and cold. When I arrived at James’ house he gave me a pair of gloves. I treasure those gloves. My hands would have frozen to the handlebars without them.
• Even if you normally eat your first meal around 10am, get some food and water in your system before heading out. At the very least, I should have had some water with me for the ride. Fortunately, about half way there, a restaurant had opened it’s doors for some free breakfast for bicyclists. I ate some apples, drank some water, laid down in a booth for about 5 minutes (I was dizzy) and felt as good as new.
• Don’t get discouraged and swear off biking before the ride home. I was a little nervous that I would end up having to call my wife to pick me up in the van on the way home. Humiliating! I was still tired from the ride in at the end of the day and James wouldn’t be there to encourage me and keep me on the right path. I joked that he would probably pass me around the third mile even though he was leaving an hour later. However, the ride home was much better. It was warmer and took about half the time. No laying down or stopping was necessary. Success!

It turned out to be a great day to work out the kinks if I ever want to try this again (which I do).

Also, I shouldn’t forget to mention that we were greeted with more free food, music and lots of information booths when we got downtown. Thank you city of Minneapolis!

Check out another guest post written by Brent on Jenna's (his wife) blog

Week 26 (May 18 - 22)

Summary:

Monday - Car & Bike
Tuesday - Car
Wednesday - Car
Thursday - Car
Friday - Car

No full bicycle commutes this week, which was kind of a bummer. When I rode on Monday it was just a two mile round trip to the office and back from Pati's work where I was helping with some finance and budgeting courses this week. The rest of the week was in St. Louis Park and I had some meetings in the office that made it difficult even to attempt the ride over.

It just hit me that I've continued counting weeks, even though my original intention was just to do so for the winter cycling season. I guess I'll keep it going and figure out whether or not to go with "Week 1" or "Week 53" when November 2009 is here.

Also, it looks quite promising that there will be a guest post some time soon for the Bike to Work Day, so keep your eyes peeled.

Too close for comfort

This headline popped up on the Star Tribune this morning:

Minneapolis cyclist in bike lane killed by semi truck

I was sobered as I realized I rode through that intersection at about that time on Monday morning. My normal commute doesn't take me through that area, but it does when I ride in with Pati.

Week 25 (May 11-15)

Summary:

Monday - vacation (canoeing in north Iowa)
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

Thursday was Bike to Work Day, and I rode in with a friend. I would be very interested to hear his perspective on the ride in and back, so maybe I can convince him to do a guest post with his insights.

Passing thought

This week it struck me that a biker's relationship to the wind is much like that of a sports fan to a referee:

against you - ceaseless cursing
with you - no acknowledgment

Week 24 (May 4 - May 8)

Summary:

Monday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle

It was a good week for riding, and I feel like I'm hitting my bicycle commuting stride. I was also able to get some rides in to tally 113 miles for the week, and am looking forward to doing a 50 miler or so sometime soon.

Next week is Twin Cities Bike/Walk Week, so I'm shooting for another good week of riding.

Week 23 (April 27 - May 1)

Summary:

Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Friday - Telecommute

It's great that spring is here, and along with it, ideal bicycle commuting weather. At the same time, I'm somewhat lamenting winter's demise, and the end of some of the associated riding challenges. There is little chance of snowstorms blanketing the metro with snow to sabotage my evening commute, nor are the roads glazed thick with ice, humbling me even as I ride with studded tires.

I don't truly miss these tests of endurance, but with their absence I also lack the euphoria gained from successfully riding in the most extreme conditions. In a certain sense, one day of winter riding is as satisfying as a full week in the spring or summer. Even so, I'm really thankful to be able to ride as often as I do.

Week 22 (April 20-24)

Summary

Monday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Friday - Bicycle

I've mentioned before how I resemble an urban ninja in my winter commuting garb, but I rode several days this week in my normal work attire, looking significantly more like a cycling public accountant than in January:



I'm always eager to get out the door at quitting time, but it's been nice to not have to worry about spending another 10 minutes changing. Hopefully the spring weather stays cool and dry enough to keep it up.

Week 21 (April 13 - 17)

Summary
Monday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Wednesday - vacation (more cycling than accounting)
Thursday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Friday - Carpool

This week I discovered a great way to get more bike commutes in, even if I'm not feeling up to it in the morning. Pati's work is on the fringe of downtown, so I've been throwing the bike rack on the car in the morning, and then riding the mile or so to the office on the bike. It's been nice to spend the commute in with Pati, and then still have the opportunity to ride the bike home.

I took Wednesday off to file the one tax return I do all year. Plus I spent some time at Turtle Bread Company and ran a bunch of errands on the Raleigh. It was probably the best week day I've had so far in 2009.

Week 20 (April 6 - 10)

Summary -

Monday - car (AM & PM carpool)
Tuesday - car (AM & PM carpool)
Wednesday - car (AM carpool & LRT)
Thursday - car (AM & PM carpool)
Friday - bicycle

I keep getting excited about the possibility of more cycling, but I can't seem to deliver. This week was crazy busy, though, and the Drifter's (Long Haul Trucker) need for a new change plus the Raleigh Mountain Bike still being disassembled in the basement meant I didn't have anything ready to go until Friday. I could have ridden the Drifter, but didn't want to risk damaging the chainring or cassette.

Week 19 (March 30 - April 4)

Monday - car (AM & PM Carpool)
Tuesday - car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thursday - car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Friday - bicycle
Saturday - bicycle

Random bicycle related insights from the week:

1. The Long Haul Trucker is just quick enough that I can hit the lights in sequence much better than I did on the Raleigh mountain bike.
2. We checked out the Artcrank Poster Party on Saturday, and I've gotta say the warehouse district is pretty cool (other than smut sections which are just sad). I'm guessing the Warehouse District will be packed for Twins games next year.
3. I'm glad I had the wind at my back coming home with two gallons of milk on my grocery run Sunday.

Temps are expected to hover in the mid 50s this week, so I'm hoping to get some work rides in.

Week 18 (March 23 - 27)

Monday - car (single occupant)
Tuesday - car (single occupant)
Wednesday - car (single occupant)
Thursday - car (single occupant)
Friday - car (single occupant)

The last week of busy season, and I wasn't able to (cue Kenny Loggins track) keep the fire burning (fade out). I was a little disappointed, but as I look back on the past several months I must say that I ended up logging (no pun intended) more winter miles than I would have imagined just a year ago.

On a positive note, I did ride to get my license renewed in St Paul on Saturday, and then to the Hopkins/Minnetonka area to pick up a few things for our Feijoada party that night. The license renewal station was a stone's throw from the Capitol, and I rode back across St. Paul, over the river to the eastern edge of Minneapolis and across its mid-section on the Midtown Greenway, past the lakes and into the first ring of the western suburbs. I ended just shy of 40 miles round trip and felt good about my overall bicycle usage for the week. It was the first relatively long ride of the year, so my knee required some icing. (Or perhaps that was just the old age and decrepitude settling into these 30 year-old bones)

In other news, the mountain bike is still on blocks in the front yard (figuratively speaking) as I didn't pull the trigger on street tires for it yet. We'll see what this week brings and whether or not it emerges from the basement with new life, and if the weather cooperates for some bike commutes to the office.

Week 17 (March 16 - 21)

Monday - Car (single occupant)
Tuesday - Car (single occupant)
Wednesday - Car & Bicycle (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car (single occupant)
Friday - Car (single occupant)
Saturday - Bicycle

I discovered this week that the aforementioned 5 speed is actually a 6 speed, and despite my attempts at preparing it for transit service, it remains in the basement on a bike stand. The replacement derailleur turned out to be bent, and when I purchased another one I realized I didn't have the right tools for the job. I'm still trying to get it up and running, but I have no idea how long it might take before it's operational.

Monday was easily the best weather day we've experienced in 2009, and it was a shame it occurred on the first day of fieldwork at a new client site. I had to bring some external binders and workpapers which wouldn't have been fun to drag along on a bike.

Tuesday would have been a decent day to ride but I didn't have a bike ready to go. Obviously the 6 speed was hamstrung, and the Raleigh mountain bike I've been riding all winter has a rusted chain that could snap at any minute. I figured it would succumb to Murphy's Law on my inbound commute Tuesday morning, so I held off. My other bike (Long-Haul Trucker) had a flat that I didn't get around to fixing until Saturday, so that was a no-go too.

I realized mid-week that I was in danger of recording zero bicycle commutes, but Pati graciously drove me to the client site on her way to work so I could ride home on the Raleigh. I cringed at every squeak and squawk of the chain, but thankfully, it stayed intact, and even endured a round trip commute to the office on Saturday.

Two final notes:
1. After the abuse that the Raleigh has endured this winter it's time to throw it onto the stand and give it a good scrubbing. I've also decided that due to its meritorious service these past months, it would be appropriate to reward it with a fitting moniker, and perhaps even a christening service of some kind. I'm hoping for some reader suggestions and input, so stay tuned for future posts.

2. Bike Walk Week is fast approaching and I'm mulling over the idea of getting a team together at work. Perhaps we could have a whole slew of Cycling Public Accountants rolling into the office on Thursday, May 14 for Twin Cities Bike/Walk to Work Day.

Week 16 (March 9 - 13)

Monday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Thursday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Friday - Bicycle

I have to admit that if I had gotten a better start to the week, the past five days could have been more productive for bicycle commuting. But there were two significant obstructions to my plans this week: daylight saving time and crazy Minnesota winters.

I found it especially difficult to get up and going each day, and actually had a cup of coffee each day this week. Then, by the time I was settling into a mid-week groove for my morning routine, the temps plummeted to a low of -3 on Thursday morning. Thankfully it warmed up on Friday to avoid a goose egg for the commuting week.

Since I didn't feel like I got on the bike enough this week, I've decided to make this a car-free weekend. It makes it easier since Pati is in Des Moines (Ivy, enjoy my wife!) and I don't have to try to convince her to ride along. I rode to St. Louis Park for a haircut, then came back through to the office downtown, simulating my old commute on the Cedar Lake trail before closing the loop going home, netting just under 20 miles.

I really miss that commute. Scenic, natural vistas of Cedar Lake and paths through the prairie sure beats the urban industrial wasteland along the Hiawatha LRT line.

I've got three weeks left until the official end of busy season, and the next two weeks at a client site is another significant challenge. The route there looks to be similar to my current commute, and if I am able to get the 5 speed up and going, I might shoot for riding in my accountant attire on Tuesday, which looks to top out at 55 degrees.

If that doesn't work, I could probably go multi-modal and ride the bus in with a commute home to keep the streak alive.

Finally, here's a shout-out to Erin in KC. I've gotta say I'm jealous of your forecast as it looks like you'll be hitting mid-70s this week, so enjoy it while you've got it.

Week 15 (March 2 - March 7)

The streak continues:

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car (AM & PM Carpool)
Thurdsday - Car & LRT (AM Carpool)
Friday - Bicycle
Saturday - Bicycle

This week was a great rebound from the prior, and it got me excited about the transition to spring. Hopefully this will lead to a much higher percentage of bicycle commutes than the past few months have allowed for.

Friday's temperatures warmed up enough that I was able to shed a layer of clothing, and still ride home comfortably, which got me thinking about cycling duds. I really don't enjoy sporting the urban ninja look (balaclava, bright yellow cycling jacket, wind pants, etc), but at this point I'm not sure how else to stay warm, dry, and safe on my winter commute.

My plan for spring/summer/fall is to tune-up my 5-speed and use it as my primary commuter bike, with the hope of riding in my normal accountant costume instead of being forced to bring a change of clothes. I think the 5-speed has enough range for me to ride comfortably and step from the bicycle to the office without giving rise to an unkempt look. They do it all the time in Copenhagen and Amsterdam, right?

In other news, I was excited to see the first comment come through on this blog (thanks Jenna!), and it got me wondering how I might be able to stimulate some discussion. None of my bikes have proper names, so perhaps I could post pics and have a call for suggestions...

Week 14 (February 23-27)

The summary:

Monday - Car (single occupant)
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Wednesday - Bicycle
Thursday - Car (AM & PM carpool)
Friday - Car (single occupant)

The excuses:

Monday - had to drive to client site in St. Louis Park again, didn't feel like toting the laptop there and back.
Tuesday - Too tired to get my gear ready and get up early.
Wednesday - Success!
Thursday - A ton of snow was forecasted and actually arrived on Thursday. Getting through 4-6 inches without the studded tires wasn't the challenge I was looking for this week.
Friday - see Monday

The week wasn't a total failure. I logged a bicycle commute for the seventh straight week, and my fears of a disastrous rush-hour drive home on Friday didn't materialize. Having to even think about traffic is one of the aspects of being an Iowa boy living in Minneapolis that I'm still not used to. But other than a slight bottleneck at 394 and 100, everything flowed smoothly, and I got home without an angry heart.

Week 13 (February 16-20)

Monday - Car (single occupant)
Tuesday - Bicycle
Wednesday - Car (single occupant)
Thursday - Car (single occupant)
Friday - Bicycle

In my jubilation to announce the discovery of the conference room shower last week, I failed to describe the ride home. It was great to breathe in fresh early evening air, but since I had work to do over the weekend I used a backpack to bring home my laptop.

I wasn't excited about the prospect of starting off the week with 7 lbs strapped to my back, so I opted for the two ton death trap instead, deferring my commuting joy for a day. I awoke with a smile on Tuesday, packed up my gear, and pedaled off, excited to cover new ground by cycling to a client site for once. It didn't matter how hard I pushed or how much I sweat since a shower awaited me at the workplace.

The shower stall had been used as a repository for the Company's beverage supplies, but with permission from the client, I moved about five cases of cans to the kitchenette. After lifting the last 12 pack of Diet Pepsi, I gazed dumbstruck at the permanently sealed plug in the shower drain. My facial expression likely remained unchanged for a good five minutes, though in times of intense trauma it becomes difficult to measure the elapsed periods of time.

Finally, the shock wore off and I realized that I had previously cleansed myself with far fewer resources (i.e., Mexico). In 15 minutes I emerged from the conference room, not quite a new man, but adequately refreshed for the day's work.

Since my return trip home was after daylight hours and I didn't feel like getting robbed on the Greenway, I decided to ride on-street for most of the way home. There was slight rain and fog, but my fenders kept me dry. It was actually nice to breeze past a drizzly Lake Calhoun, and the traffic on Lake Street was light enough for a relatively peaceful ride.

All things considered, Tuesday's experience wasn't terribly deflating and it didn't keep me from a round-trip bicycle commute on Friday. I had established an informal goal of riding two days during the week, and I was happy to have reached it. The prospect of riding any days to this client site had appeared extremely remote just two weeks before, so I considered the experience a glaring success.

The next three weeks of my schedule have me booked downtown, so my plan is to ride at least 2-3 times a week.

Week 12 (February 9-14)

Monday - Car (single occupant)
Tuesday - Car (single occupant)
Wednesday - Car (single occupant)
Thursday - Car (single occupant)
Friday - Car & Bicycle

After four depressing days of being a regular working stiff driving himself to work, a glimmer of hope shone through today. Four late nights of work coupled with what would be a longer commute (4 miles into downtown vs. a 10 mile ride across town) kept me from entertaining any thoughts of commuting to work. Plus my connection for a morning shower fell through. By Thursday, my head was throbbing from a constant surge of adrenaline, and I decided that nothing would remedy the situation like biking home from work. I proposed a plan to my wife, she consented, and Friday was glorious. Here's what happened:

Alarm goes off, 6:30 sharp.

I'm exhausted, but I remember:

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Guess I won't hit the snooze button today.

Pati and I threw my laptop in the car, mounted the rack and the bike, and off we drove to our old stomping grounds for a Friday morning coffee date, close to the client site. (They're usually on Saturday, but since friends are in town this weekend we thought we'd mix it up). The coffee and muffin were decent, but the company was fantastic.

My morning coffee buzz kept me going strong through early afternoon, and the rest of the day was a blur, but a good kind of blur. A few hours before quitting time, I asked our client contact if they had a larger bathroom that I could change in for the ride home. His reply almost made me weep for joy: their conference room has a kitchenette and shower attached to it.

I don't need to know, don't care why in the world this company has a shower in their conference room. All that matters is that it is at my disposal for the next week.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. (And sometimes in the afternoon)

Winter Gear

Before it gets too warm to stop wearing all of this stuff, I figured I'd post a link to the gear I use for winter commuting. Enjoy:

Winter Gear

Week 11 (February 2-7)

This week was bookended with bicycle commutes, and I was at least able to take advantage of some round trip carpooling with the wife on two of the days which was nice.

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car (AM & PM carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Thursday - Car (AM & PM carpool)
Friday - Bicycle

The week started off well, and Monday's ride in (~6 degrees) was almost ideal. My hands and feet weren't too cold, and the rest of my body was comfortable and not too warm.

Everything was fine until 15 yards from the bike rack. As I crossed 6th Street at 3rd Avenue, I encountered some pedestrians so I shifted around them to the left and turned a sharp right onto the sidewalk. The granite slab on the sidewalks proved less than ideal for studded tires, and the bike slid out from under me. This time I was hurled onto my right shoulder, which no longer felt neglected after last week's incident. A citizen in the 40-50, white female, motherly-like demographic ran over asking if I was okay and I shot her a sheepish thumbs up before scooting over to the bike rack. I have never been happier to sport a balaclava covering 75% of my face. Plus I escaped any bodily harm.

There had been a considerable warm-up over the weekend, and the studded tires seemed out of place, given the scarcity of ice and snow-pack. I did not want to wear down the studs, so when I finally had a chance on Thursday night, I switched them out for the original tires. The ride in on Friday felt like a breeze after ditching the studs.

A very serious challenge is confronting me for the remainder of my busy season, despite the anticipated warming trend. I am assigned on a client in St Louis Park for the next two weeks which does not have bicycling amenities. I might be able to work something out at a friend's house who lives a mile or so from the client, but that's uncertain at this time.

Otherwise, I'll have two or three weeks after that in the office to get some rides in, and then the last two weeks at a client site in Minneapolis (not downtown). If I can ride one day each of those weeks, I'll consider it a tremendous success. Wish me luck.

Week 10 (January 26-31)

The combination of cold temps early in the week, exhaustion, and mechanical issues kept me from logging more than one commute. I suppose I'm at least happy I was able to get out there once though.

Monday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - LRT

Monday and Tuesday mornings both had negative temperatures, so I didn't feel up to braving it. Plus, both of them were late work nights, so by Wednesday morning my need for extra sleep trumped my desire to ride in. I was well rested for Thursday morning though, and happy to ride in without incident.

I probably would have tried to bike on Friday as well, but on my way home my front fender came off. The nut from the bolt that attaches the fender to the fork came off right at the Metrodome, so I pulled off the street by Hubert's and pushed the fender under the fork to rig a temporary mount from the front (maybe that's the way it's supposed to go anyway?) so at least it would be held on by the bolt.

This lead to a non-stop rattle for the remainder of the ride, and I constantly had my eye on it to make sure the bolt didn't fly out and send the fender crashing down again. Being inattentive to the road ahead of me likely contributed to my demise on 34th Avenue. I think I hit a rough spot in the road covered by road sludge which got me sliding a bit to my left, and when my internal camera started recording in slow-motion, I knew I'd end up on the ground.

I landed with my left arm and shoulder sprawled out, and slid down the icy street a yard or so, definitely a more forgiving surface than the pavement would have been. I had some brief pain which I worried could be shoulder damage, but after walking the bike for about a half block, I got back on and limped home. So far, there have been no delayed after effects, so hopefully I'm in the clear.

Since it was late when I got home and I was a bit disheartened by these events, I decided not to fix the fender and didn't ride on Friday. I have one week left on my downtown client, and the weather looks like it might be cooperative, so hopefully week 11 is more productive than week 10 was.

Week 9 (January 19-23)

This was a pretty good week as I was able to ride three of the six days.

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Thursday - Bicycle
Friday - Bicycle
Saturday - LRT & Car

Nothing much else to add, except that I'll be shooting for another three days next week. I don't think I'll even try to ride on Monday since temps are supposed to be around -8 in the morning.

Week 8 (January 12-16)

Back in the game.

I was very happy to record the first bicycle commute in 2009 on Monday of this week, but for the rest of the week, the high only ended up being 7 degrees. This is deceiving though, as it was registered on Friday afternoon, while negative temps reigned supreme the rest of the week (ranging from an overall high of -1 to a low of -24 on Friday morning). That's a bit too cold to get out there on the bike so I spent the rest of the week carpooling with the wife and riding the LRT home with the exception of Saturday's ride in.

Monday - Bicycle
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Thursday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Friday - LRT both ways
Saturday - Bicycle

Monday's commute in was nothing special. Morning temperatures were around 5 degrees which was not uncomfortable, though a lighter fleece may have been better. I could stand to tweak my glove and sock situation though, as my hands and feet were a little cold (hands more so than feet)

The commute home provided much more excitement. The air wasn't extremely cold (~12 degrees?), but the road conditions were quite worthy of any superlative characteristic applied to them. I had difficulty riding east on 6th Street since it had barely been plowed and tire ruts in the snow made me fishtail considerably. I opted for the sidewalk and limped down to 10th Avenue before I got on the Hiawatha LRT trail. Overall that was nice and easy, some spots with drifting made me fishtail a bit but not I could breathe easy as I was out of the way of traffic.

I took this trail to the Greenway which was also relatively clear (small amounts of snow but manageable - they must have cleared at least once during the day). Getting onto 34th Avenue was difficult if not impossible. I had to deal with more tire ruts and extreme fishtailing so again I went to the sidewalk. Some sections had been cleared, making my life much easier, but there challenging intervals for those that hadn't been scooped. As long as I maintained a good speed I plowed through without difficulty.

When I got home I realized that my feet were frozen. I hadn't worn the plastic bags over my socks to keep the wind off and most of my attention had been spent trying to stay upright on two wheels, not on avoiding frostbite. I've gotta remember that.

When I rode on Saturday conditions had improved markedly. Plows had been through several times, and although there was much snow pack on the streets, the studded tires had no problems forging me ahead. The north wind did make me work a little harder.

I'm excited for the week ahead. The forecast has highs in the double digits, so hopefully I'm able to bike in three or four times.

Week 7 (January 5-9)

I'm in a bit of a slump, going 0 for 5 on bike commutes this week. But after this weekend, I should be positioned for success. At least I was able to carpool in with the wife since she now works on the fringe of downtown.

Monday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Tuesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Wednesday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Thursday - Car & LRT (AM carpool)
Friday - LRT both ways