So long term flowers of the this blog know that November is my birthday month.
Many cyclists ride their years on their birthdays. Thats easy when you are in your 20s and 30s and born in the summer. Even I can crank an after work 40 or so in June, However, when you are born in November, and in your (holy crap I am!) in your late 50s, It’s harder.
Do you ever notice that some arguments and grumbles keep coming back, time and time again?
This is the 5 year anniversary of the ride Rob and I took from Astoria to Crescent City.
As you may remember, a mile from the end I got a flat!
I have been sharing some of the memories as they pop up on Facebook with the group I started for people to share their love of the Oregon Coast. I can think of no better way to see all there is to see on the coast than from the back of a bike.
One does have to be careful of course.
There are dinosaurs
You can get sunburned
There are giant fish
And whatever this sign is waning you of.
And of course there is traffic.
The vast majority of the Oregon Coast route is on Hwy 101.
We cyclists travel along with cars, semis. campers and motorcycles.
This is what brought on the Facebook discussion, a very nice lady informed me in no uncertain terms that it is not safe for a bike to be 101.
The fact that its is a designated bike route in Oregon didn’t seem to matter,
She went on to say it was far too dangerous, and I shouldn’t stop doing it
As I have matured these last few years, (STOP LAUGHING) I have learned that sometimes its best not to get all huffy and go into battle mode. In this case I think she was truly concerned about the safety of the Cyclists.
But in my head I was thinking: Dangerous? As compared to what???
Anything can happen at any time to someone. Driving a car, walking, cleaning the gutters before the big rain hits (did that today). Shoot, a damn meteor could take me out clean while I am typing this. Or, more likely in this house, I could trip over a darn cat!
Anything CAN happen, but the key, to me, is do the best you can to minimize danger while still enjoying life!
When I went sky diving, I had professionals with me!
No not Dave
Those that jumped with me.
When I climbed BIG mountains I had guides with me
Just recently, when we ran the Rogue River, we went with a group and had two people who know the river well.
In short, I do everything I can to minimize the risk.
When it comes to the bike, I have been a serious cyclist for 13 years (though I have been riding since I was a kid)
And I have 40000+ miles of experience under my belt. I have bright lights, rearview mirror and keep an eye on all the cars around me.
Is there some risk? Yes, but hell on my back porch.
Right after we first moved in, I was walking in the dark, dazzled by the night sky and almost stepped off the side. of the deck. I coulda broken something easy. And that’s in my own house.
What cycling does is keep me healthy, makes the heart and lungs strong, and relieves work stress.
More importantly, it makes me happy!
I could hunker and let life pass me by or I can get out and soar, seeing the world and experiencing life!
No, riding a bike on a busy road is NOT for everyone! But it is for me. Without it I would be a very sad camper and truly this woulda been a very boring blog…
“Today I did nothing, tomorrow I will do same. Thanks for visiting….”
Funny thing, I am reading Bicycling with Butterflies by Sarah Dykman (great book will do a review soon) but last night, while reading by fire on the deck, there were these two quotes
The first was her talking about how much their parents worry (and I have been told I am the cause of each of my moms gray hairs….)
This one was in response to those who said she was taking to many risks.
Finally she said, “Accepting the risk of riding a bike, lowers the risk of having a heart attack!” (paraphrased)
Folks, in a nut shell, do what you love. Those who do needle point can draw blood with a needle. Those at the gym can fall off a treadmill. I work in insurance claims so I KNOW how dangerous cars can be. And, hell, beach walks you can get lost.
I met Ross this week. He was walking the beach, forgot where he entered from his VRBO, so he kept walking thinking he would find it soon. When I met him he was 6 miles south of where he shoulda been…
There is risk in everything. But maybe its because I rode in the back of pickups, jumped ramps on my bike as a kid, and climbed trees, I don’t mind a little risk.
I don’t have a death wish, but to quote Jimmy Buffett, I don’t wanna die before I am dead.
So do me a favor, no matter where you are, keep an extra eye out for cyclists. We are really nice people, and we are out enjoying life!
You know, sometimes you just need an extra day off during the week… This week, I was lucky enough to score a Friday!
Before I get into that, the important stuff first. Michelle and I are happy and healthy, and yep still employed! We made sure to get our flu shots last month, and even though we are back in a Covid shutdown for a couple of weeks, we are making the most of it.
We have already decorated for Christmas
And in our backyard, Frosty the snowman is holding auditions for Santa’s Sleigh Team.
We even went out for dinner the day before the shut down began. Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay has done an excellent job keeping people separated and safe, and who would miss a sunset like this?
This is always my least favorite week of the year. The end of Daylight savings means the end of afterwork bike rides for the rest of the year…
But first, as always, the important stuff. Michelle and I are still healthy and happy and employed, we are continuing to survive the global pandemic and avoid people as much as we can!
You know, I think I went the entire month August without a post! Oops. And stuff did happen. I may have to go back and do an August post soon.
However, this is not that post.
First off, as always, the important part. Michelle and I are happy healthy and employed.
Fun fact, when I donated blood a couple weeks ago, the Red Cross did a Covid antibody test to see if I had ever had it. I came back negative. I was curious as both Michelle and I were pretty sick in February. But it turns out it was just a bug.
While Sunday’s bike ride and yesterdays beach walk were met with sun, warmth and blue skies (I might have a bit of a sunburn!) Today has been foggy and blustery! The winds are out of the north and gusting to 20+ mph, which is normal for us.
This is fun pedaling southbound, but when I have to turn around north to go home the fun stops and true work begins! I have done these rides before and will do it again, but really just didn’t wanna today.
First let’s cover the important parts, as I have been doing since the word went sideways in March. Michelle and I are still healthy, happy and gainfully employed. We, like everyone else, are hoping someday things will be more normal; but until then we are being careful. We always have a mask ready when outside.
So last weekend would have been the 2020 STP, the Seattle to Portland bike ride. 200 plus miles from the University of Washington to the Rose District of Portland. Close ro 10,000 of my best cycling friends ride it every year.
Covid cancelled the real ride this year, though Michelle and I will be riding the virtual STP starting Saturday!
On Facebook, people are posting memories of their rides. and it started me thinking of my 4 times on this one. I decided it was a good time to share them with you!
Hi all, just a quick story from Friday. Made me smile telling it so I wanted to share!
Michelle had the day off on Friday, so while I was in the office, she was getting some chores and errands done. One of the chores was to wash the car. We have a VW Tiguan a small SUV.
Now unlike big towns, we don’t have an automatic carwash. The kind when you sit, and roll through, starting dirty and coming out clean.
Nope, we have the old school plug in quarters and do it by had thing. Its about 3 miles north of me.
Just before the world closed, Michelle and I had made the decision to downsize to one car. We just have had very few reasons to keep two, and with a regularly scheduled maintenance being quoted at between $1200 -$3000 (Volvos aint cheap) it just wasn’t worth it. So sell it we did. Its been 4 months and there has not been a need for a second car. Well, until Friday….
She took off and I was at my desk when she called and said she needs more money. The car was covered in soap and it took more that she though to finish the wash. Hell I hadn’t been to one of these since high school, I had no idea what they would cost. Woulda thought by now they took debit cards instead of quarters…
OK let’s recap. I am at work, we don’t have a second car. She is three miles, and 2 decent hill climbs from me, and, the biggest issue, there was an UGLY headwind between her and I. It would taken be at least half an hour of hard pedaling to get there….
Then it hit me.
She has a RadPowerBike, an ebike. This one has 4 levels of assist, Each one giving more power assist to the pedaler.
I could hop and Rad and be there like the wind!
I grabbed the money, ratcheted up the assist to maximum, put my foot on the pedal to start and…
Folks that think almost took off without me! At that level I was gonna fly!
I got on and used those mountainstroh legs to pedal hard and Rad reached down and pushed me faster than I could believe. I was heading into the wind doing at least 20 mph! It was a kick in the pants!
I could feel the big goofy grin on my face as I got the car wash, Michelle was laughing when I pulled up and said, “Me and Rad are speedy!!!”
It took me maybe 5 minutes longer than it would have with a car, but HALF the time of a pedal only bike!
I gave her a kiss and headed back to work! I was back before anyone knew I was gone!
I have met many riders of ‘real’ bikes who think people riding ebikes are cheating. (I’ve never really understood what the competition is that they are cheating on though….”
I think all miles are good miles. Anything that gets someone out and pedaling is a good thing!
Plus, that sucker is just plain fun! I have more than enough bikes now, so I won’t be adding an ebike to the stable, but if you ever get a chance to ride one, take it!
So I thought I’d go a little old school here today. A post strictly about a couple a bike rides I had here on the Oregon Coast this week. Both were memorable for good and bad reasons!
First off, as always, the important stuff.
Michelle and I are healthy, happy and still employed. I keep telling her that I am very lucky to be going through a global pandemic with a wife like her!
