Notes to myself

[graceomalley]

This sounds like a very frustrating situation but at least you have a great sense of humor after it's all said and done. Thanks for the pointers

[owlice]

Even better, stop by one of the visitor's centers along the C&O and pick up a map &/or one of the little green guide books that includes the mileage of every campsite, culvert, aqueduct, bridge, boat ramp, etc, etc, etc. Then you can look at the scenery and still be able to figure out your mileage.

An excellent suggestion, and I will do that before I do the whole towpath next month.

In the meantime, I think I will get myself a bike computer; that would solve the problem regardless of where I ride -- 25 miles up, turn around, 25 miles back! (Assuming I lose my mind and decide to do 50 miles again; maybe I should simply hope I won't do it in 90-degree heat again!)

But, you did it. What doesn't kill you...

I was anticipating feeling really proud of myself for doing my first half-century; what I felt instead was stupid!! Maybe once the stupid feeling wears off -- assuming it does -- I'll feel proud of myself, but so far, it's not happening!!

Thanks for the pointers

You're welcome! This old Owl is learning new tricks; a pity some of them are learned the hard way, but I guess that means the lessons will stick, right?

A little of the massive amounts of crud I got off my bike:



The vultures anticipating my demise:

[Kano]

So, DH teases me about it, but I've got this free app on my phone that keeps track of where I left my car. I've used it for where I left my bike too, when we've gone to festivals where the entrance is gated, and you park outside, and walk in, eat and drink stuff while listening to music, and then you have to remember where you left the bike so you can ride it home again. (example: Fat Tire Festival, next weekend!)

Karen in Boise

[owlice]

Either take advantage of the step-through frame by stepping through it, or remember to swing your right leg up and over the left pannier in addition to over the bike itself when mounting and, especially, dismounting, lest you again sport bruises the shape and nearly the size of New Zealand on your inner right thigh.

(Oh, so many many things to learn, most of which seem to necessitate pain and/or the expenditure of money to learn!)

[Jen72]

Such a good laugh! Thank you! As a new biker I can learn from your mistakes.

[owlice]

Learn to ride with your mouth closed. This is especially important when riding at dusk past the swamp. Let's not have a repeat of that recent "snack," okay?

Get sunglasses. You have better things to do than pick bugs out of your eyes for the 24 hours after a ride. Really.

It's not the best idea to sing, "The runners and walkers look so glum when they're striding/but I've got bugs in my teeth 'cause I smile when I'm riding!" when you're passing a runner. Especially a fast, angry runner. Especially at the incredibly slow speeds at which you ride. Similarly, it's not a good idea to sing this in the elevator on your way back to your office after a ride unless you've stopped in the bathroom downstairs to smile at a mirror and... ummm... take care of things. (You know what I mean by this, I'm sure.)

Check the seams of your riding shorts before you head out. 'nough said there, I trust.

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry, but I laughed as I read this. I shouldn't laugh because I know it was a *rough* ride for you, but I'm glad you can laugh about it and learn a little something along the way. The way you wrote it was very entertaining.
Sorry you had a tough day, but it seems we learn more from the things we do WRONG than from most anything we do RIGHT (it's what I tell my students, anyway- and it appears to be the motto of my life).