blog
I use this section as an archive documenting things I’ve done in recent and not-so-recent years. In 2022 I made this my cycling journal, but if you page through, you’ll see posts that go all the way back to 2005.
from somewhere out there
just to land in the Andes
was it round and did it have a motor
or was it something different?
cryptic
Canyons and Valleys
Sunday morning solo ride on what turned out to be a glorious day. Started off foggy and cool, sun was breaking through by the time I got through CV.
Tool Bag in Order
Buy the right tool and keep it in your bag. Lesson learned.
Who U Gonna Call
Against my better instincts, I trusted that a) my questionable tube would hold air, and b) the valve on my spare wouldn't be faulty. ML to the rescue at 6:30 am.
She’s-a gettin warm
Spoken like a true weather-spoiled bay arean, I'm close to my overheat temp.
Major Taylor Juneteenth
Joined a big group of cyclists to celebrate what I believe is the newest federal holiday on a ride that toured Berkeley, Emeryville and Oakland, and to honor cycling pioneer Major Taylor. Happy Father's Day!
All Wheels Need Love
Took 4 wheels in for service, got 2 wheels back and forth in the mean time. Finally swapped out my front tire.
and Getting Home
New tube holds air, pleasant ride home on a Thursday afternoon.
Getting There
Made it to work, unknowingly took a shard of glass in my front tire, didn't know it was flat until it was time to ride home. Discovered I had a faulty replacement tube - the core of the presta valve didn't stay seated. Alas, all the bike shops were closed.
Around Here…
When a Joe Jackson song is stuck in your head...
Sneak out, beat the heat
In the middle of a warm spell, the time to get out is around 6am.
Slight Deviation
Lost a mile by not turning on the Garmin at the start, so I added a couple miles at the end to round things out.
Donut, Savant?
Connected with the Hansen kids, coffee and donut propelled me up Redwood! Plus, good to have brakes again!
Make the Most of Fresh Air
We should ride while the air is still decent, cause you know it won't stay this way
Mornings Are Best
It can't be just me - I left the house at quarter to six and enjoyed a cool, uncrowded commute today, then a moderately warm but pleasant ride home.
Salad to Surf
While visiting relatives in Salinas, I managed to get a ride starting from the Salad Bowl of America, across to Fort Ord, up to Marina Beach and back.
74/2119
Nice Saturday morning spin from the hills to the bay, and back home through the canyon. Stretches of bliss.
Continuum
What should have been a single day's ride was slightly interrupted.
Couple Miles Shy
Should've been a little over 22 miles, but I neglected to start my Garmin when I took off after work. So there's a straight line segment marking the distance "as the crow flies."
71/2,031
Hard to beat a spring morning on the Tunnel Road loop 🙂
70/2,015
Today was officially Bike to Work Day, my ride made it 4 days in a row.
69/1987
That's the number of rides and total mileage year to date.
Why So Early, Montel?
I rode to work super early in order to make it to San Jose by 6:30am. What was I thinking? Answer to trivia: The Kiel Canal, which connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea, runs for roughly 60 miles in GERMANY.
Trivia Tuesday
The answer to today's question will be in the next ride's post. The Kiel Canal, which connects the North Sea with the Baltic Sea, runs for roughly 60 miles in what country?
Fits and Starts
A single commute stretched over two days.
Saturday Morning Segments
Connected with Tom for the Oakland portion, Anders on the Castro Valley side.
Get Up Offa That Thing
Weekday commute. Left a bit later than usual to a) let it warm up a tad, and b) let the school crowds subside for a less busy route down Williams Ave.
Up and Over
Revisiting part of last Saturday's route, then back from Moraga via Pinehurst.
Get Up and Go!
First ride of the week after Saturday's century. Still a bit tender around the saddle (ya know, without being crude...)
Ride 4AReason 2022
Well, the big day was this past Saturday. I was one of 300+ riders to participate in Ride 4 a Reason, a cycling event to benefit Oakland and Alameda public schools. I rode the event once before in 2018. In 2019 I had surgery in January that kept me off a...
Casual Lunch Ride
Last ride before the main event this weekend. An easy loop on familiar trails near work.
Evening Tunnel Loop
Just a little ride with ML and Drew to get the blood flowing in the lowest mileage week of the year.
R4R 2022 04 09
80 miles from Orinda to Livermore and back. Headwinds be damned.
Cmon, Technology!
I really wanted to document this ride, although I'd done it a couple times before. It's more or less a route that traces the outer edge of the city, into North Oakland, down to the estuary on my way in to work, then San Leandro to Castro Valley and home via Redwood....
Quiet in the Canyon
Peaceful for the first 13 miles, less so as I rode into town. All good.
R4R 2022 04 02
Ramping up to the ride on April 23, today's 75 mile route was a solid challenge.
Redwood Solitude
Saw one other bike, maybe 3 cars between Skyline in Oakland and the golf course in Castro Valley. Remarkable commute today.