Bicycle 200 miles in February

So, I was Just Riding Along, when I found a perfectly good travel mug in the bike lane. It was in such fine condition that I felt it worth stopping and going back to fetch.

I dumped out the still-hot coffee from the mug and jerry-rigged it on my rack, and took off.

The swamp wetlands section of the I-90 trail is a series of concrete blocks sort of set loosely togther, with large expansion joints. If the swamp floods or freezes, the blocks move accordingly. When you ride through this section, your bike rattles tremendously.

So, as I was riding through this section _{thumpity thumpity thumpity} the mug jerked loose and fell partly into the spokes. I came to a halt as fast as I could. I think the spokes are OK, but the travel mug was no longer this pristine vessel of beauty.

done! despite the puncture peanuts rain and strong winds.

If only I could put so much energy and enthusiasm in other areas of my life as I put into cycling, then I would achieve great things.

nope. Maybe next February.

When I woke up this morning that freakish pain I felt yesterday was almost gone. Went to the pool and instead of swimming all the laps I was planning I just swam 1/2 of it very slowly. Perhaps the gentle swim helped since by the evening I was feeling great. So I went out planning to ride 5 or 6 miles very slowly and did 11 instead. Wonderful, tomorrow I just have to find the time to go for a short ride. I’m so happy this February has another day :)

Today I took the morning off and rode 40+ miles through rolling countryside under a fantastic blue sky to a railway station to catch the train back to near where I live. The last miles were a bit painful, I was feeling my leg. As I was approaching the station I could see the train approaching as well, so I had to climb the stairs extra double fast in order not to miss the train, it was just pure luck the conductor saw me and gave me time to carry on running up the stairs and along the platform with my bike. Phew! Didn’t want to spend an hour there waiting for the next train. But perhaps it was a mistake after all to run like that when my leg was already hurting. The ride back home from the station was really painful. Had to use one leg only. The pain now is so intense I’m skipping my daily swim today. Very sad about this since I seldom ever skip my swimming. Hope to feel better by Friday otherwise I won’t be able to complete my 200 miles.

I really enjoyed the train ride home, it went past near where I live as well (but I had to cycle back since I live away from the station). Perhaps I should do this more often: take the train and just admire the views.

Woo-hoo! I made the goal. I’ll continue posting here for the final monthly total, but I’ll also need to reopen Bicycle 300 miles in March. Or should I make it 301, just so I have a new goal?

Since my last entry I went twice to the pool with my parter’s bike. I need to get my own fixed and also take the time to go for longer road rides in order to complete this goal.

On the way back from skiing the Hog Loppet, we hit a deer on Hwy 2 and decided to spend the night in Leavenworth so we could deal with the car in the morning. So we stayed in a crayon themed room at the at the lovely Bavarian Howard Johnson. So instead of doing the Chilly Hilly, we had automated waffles at the hotel in the morning.

I took my Japanese intern for a tandem ride. She’s very much a jock, so she had no problem whipping off 20+ kms or so. We rode around the Microsoft campus, visited the Chinese temple, and then went along the lake, and then back.

Oh my – short sleeve+ weather… in February?!? I had to take the leisurely route home.

187.

+ unless you’re from southern California ;-)