not worthy

Two quick experiences in the last week helped me I realized what a novice cyclist I am.

Last Tuesday I was headed home from what I thought was a fairly good ride and as I crossed 13th street on the bike path I came up on another geared-out biker. (You can tell the seriousness or bankroll of a biker by the fabrics they wear. This guy was all spandex and polyester, not a thread of cotton to be found).

He fooled me at first because he was a bit, (quite a bit), older and he struggled to get his shoe clipped in as he crossed the street. I thought “novice.” Then I realized he was wearing a “Ride the Rockies” jersey. Poser? Or accomplished cyclist?

As he came up behind me and then pushed me all the way around the path, I realized the answer was “accomplished.” I kept thinking I was riding at a good effort and would look over my shoulder to see him right on my rear wheel. We were on a section where passing is nearly impossible (along Zoo Blvd and starting down Westdale) so I would push and speed up for him only to find him right behind me again.

As I crossed over to the other side of the street he zoomed on by, shouted out “good ride!” and waved. I was amazed as his piston-like legs propelled him forward, all sinewy and muscular. He has spent many hours in the saddle.

Then as I was leaving Fayetteville, AR this weekend I caught the glimpse of another biker headed toward Mt Sequoyah. He rode quickly up and down the hilly-ness that is Fayetteville, in the pouring rain. Yes, pouring rain.

I’m not worthy.

sleepy

I was in a hurry this morning.

Or at least as soon as I woke up I was. This was one of the few "early morning" rides I have managed. It wasn't really early (compared to you 5:30am risers) but I did start pedaling a scant 30 minutes after getting out of bed. My first miles were full of yawns and stretches and some slow pedaling. Waking up, in motion.

I have realized I need to get accustomed to a sleepy start because it is going to get HOT in Kansas in the next several weeks. Duh. This spring I have enjoyed the habit of 3 or 4 or 5pm rides but very soon it will be much smarter to ride in the morning. Oh and I like to be smart.

This morning I was rewarded for my discipline with great conditions, almost perfect actually, for my 31 mile ride. I was quite relaxed and happy until I realized, around Maize and 21st, that I was going to be late.

When Haverty's automated message system called me earlier in the week the computer informed me that my new living room furniture would be delivered today between 11:15am and 2:15pm (cue grumbling from Amy) They can't get closer than a three hour window? I thought only the cable company pulled stunts like that.

I was sure that I would spend the majority of this day off sitting around in my empty living room waiting for them to show up only to have them roll in at 2:14pm. Though I knew they would be later than I wanted, I still wanted to be at home at 11:15. The last 7 miles of my ride were spent pedaling hard while I was arguing with myself about how there was no way the furniture would be at my house at 11:15 and cursing (or at least blaming) Ken Lippoldt for instilling so much damn responsibility in me that I hate to be late for anything.

Sure enough (you saw where this was headed didn't you?) I turned onto 19th street from Westdale and peered down the block to see a big ole furniture truck in my driveway. It was 11:25. Thankfully they waited.

So now my living room is full of beautiful new furniture.
I have showered, eaten and blogged.
What's left?

Only the inaugural nap on my new sofa. Seems getting up early isn't so bad after all.

Ladybug

I took a long ride on Friday. Not quite as long as I had thought because I got to 119th St West and K-96 and discovered a dirt road. It's probably okay that I only went 26 miles considering the funeral I had this weekend (split over 2 days) meant I wore suit and heels for three days in a row. And exercise weary legs don't like even the slight elevation of short heels. At least not three days in a row. That's what I've learned.



On the ride home on Friday I noticed a ladybug had landed on my shoe. (Is that a sign I should get the previously pictured bell?) I am not quite sure at what stop she affixed herself to the top strap of my right biking shoe, but there she was. And there she stayed.



I do like ladybugs, always have. I think as a child this was related to the fact that they were still "girl-appropriate" but not of the dreaded color, pink. If I had a scanner I would post for you a picture of 5 year old Amy in her ladybug costume waiting for the church children's musical. No scanner, so you will just have to imagine my cute self.



On Friday I was amazed that my passenger ladybug could hold on for the wind sheer. She stayed on my shoe for at least 5 miles. Maybe the top of a bike shoe is an aerodynamically protected space, I have no idea. I hope it was a comfortable ride and not complete terror considering I did enough by totally changing her universe.



She was a Maize ladybug, born and grown in that almost-Wichita town to the northwest. I finally dropped her off at 21st St N and Tyler, far far from her home. I don't know how much ladybugs travel in a lifetime but I am thinking I took her to parts of the world she would have never otherwise seen. I was sorry she didn't hang on until we made it one more block to the park. That would have been ladybug paradise.



I suppose that ladybugs do what ladybugs do where ever they happen to land. I hope so. In that way it might be nice to be a little more ladybug like.

hold on!

Weather.com forecast for today in Wichita:

"Windy with a mix of clouds and sun.

High 92F Winds S at 25 to 40mph.

Winds could occasionally gust over 50mph."

I had planned to bike this afternoon.

I have been talking to myself about how getting ready for El Tour will require gutting out miles in some adverse conditions.

Riding in Kansas means dealing with wind. It is a constant of life here.

I noticed last Friday how my balance on the bike has really improved. I think I am finally getting used to having my feet locked to the pedals.

But I am no fool.

I will run today.

On the treadmill.

Inside.

Far away from bending trees and wind-aided projectiles.

Ring my bell

Would it be uncool to put a bicycle bell on a road bike?

Yesterday I went biking in Sedgwick Co. Park, my standard 10 mile route. Or the outside/inside loop as I like to call it. And I found the runners.

Normally when I ride through the park I encounter picnicking families and walkers, a few rollerbladers and one or four runners. But yesterday they were everywhere! It might have been something magical about 5:30pm or the great 80 degree weather but I must have passed 25 different runners on the inside loop. A high percentage of them were very fit men w/o shirts so it wasn't all bad.

I was feeling good on the bike yesterday and wanted to throw a little speed into the ride so first I had an imaginary race with a biker who was trailing behind me (I kicked his shorts, at least in my own head). The second time I decided to speed up it was in the middle of the runners, some coming at me, some I was passing, some on the left side of the path, some on the right. All the weaving, slowing down, speeding up, left me feeling like I had just reached level five in Frogger.

It also had me wondering in a crash between a cyclist (riding b/w 17 and 20mph) and a runner, who do you think would be hurt worse? (Hey, it's free space on the bike, I can think about whatever I want!) I would certainly fly farther, momentum equals mass times velocity, after all. But considering the runner would encounter my bike first, I think she or he would bear the brunt of a crash.

I don't really want to find out. So, a bell? It would be weird to hear a little bicycle "riiiiiing" and turn around to see some crazed road biker bearing down on you. I guess I'll just keep yelling. Or rather "announcing." I am very polite..."On your left!"