riding through the days of August

[khg]

Yesterday was really fun--just errands, checking in at work briefly, feeding my mom's cat, and so on. I tootled along on my single speed bike, which is simultaneously really relaxing to ride (spins out pretty quickly on the flats, so might as well just go a relaxed pace) and a great challenge and core workout whenever there's a significant uphill. I ended up taking some back roads in the city that I hadn't been on in years--one through a beautiful, peaceful greenbelt, another through the increasingly-vibrant neighborhood I grew up in. I was having such a fun time that I completely lost track of time, and didn't get to lunch until 3:00--when I looked at the time, it suddenly made much more sense why I was feeling a little loopy! It was a lovely day, and 21 miles that I did not put on my car...

But tomorrow, more mountains.

[Crankin]

I commuted yesterday. A real lack of traffic, as school is starting earlier here this year, and a lot of people are away. It's noticeable. It was not too hot, but so humid, that when I arrived, my hair was still soaked with sweat in some parts, that I couldn't really get the flat iron to do its magic. This has never happened. I mean, it's only 5.4 miles! I had to make a second attempt after my first client, but I generally ended up having a very bad hair day.
On my way home, I slowed down for a light that was red, but turned green, when I was the third vehicle back. There is a right turn only lane and the lane on the left goes straight (you could turn left here, but not many do). I was directly in the middle of the lane, going straight when I got the feeling that someone was doing something funky. A woman in a Mini decided I didn't have the right to be in the lane, so she decided to pass me, going into the oncoming lane, over a yellow line. The oncoming car laid on the horn, as I yelled some nice swears. I mean, I was sprinting through the intersection, to move over to the right, but you need to stay a little out in the lane here, as there are parked cars, as well as traffic entering the center of town.
One of the more egregious commuting incidents I've had.

[khg]

Yay! I'm at the airport, and my next August bike riding will be in the Dolomite mountains in Italy! Wishing everyone happy riding!

[Crankin]

Have fun, KHG. Dolomites just sounds really, really hard!
Did a 29 mile ride with a small group today. It's a ride I designed for my club's rally and now the other club uses it, too. There were 2 really nice women there, my friends Jack and Eli, and one man, who was really elderly. We all went slowly for him, which was fine, until he had a chain problem and we stopped for a really long time, after we had done the biggest climb, where he walked. I had to be back to meet our real estate agent at our house at 3, shower, etc. So I went ahead at 12:15, and made it back to my car at Verril Farm by 1:05. I was so hungry, I ate half a sandwich in the car, and had plenty of time to shower, change, etc. I felt pretty good, even when I was going fast (er) after I left the group, so it seems like my medical things/allergies are all settling down.

[rebeccaC]

have a great ride and wonderful time khg!!!!!!!

[khg]

Thanks! The riding in the Dolomites is definitely really hard--but it's also really rewarding! Stunningly gorgeous scenery, nice roads, courteous--even encouraging--drivers, and so on.

Another awesome thing is that Italy is about the best country to be hungry in...

[khg]

Three days in to my Dolomites trip, and I think I have a ton of new smile lines carved into my face--the riding is so hard, but so unbelievably beautiful!!! Pictures will be eventually coming