Category Archives: Cycling

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Duathlon Success!

I spent Sunday morning competing in a ridiculously fun event. I competed in a duathlon, which consisted of a 5K run, 25K bike, and 5K run. So altogether, that’s about 6 miles of running and 16 miles of biking.

I had actually done this race last year. This year, I finished in 2 hours 17 minutes, which was 20 minutes faster than last year. w00t!

There are two other reasons why this race was exceptional this year. First, the weather was amazing. I couldn’t have hoped for better. Second, the organizers changed the bike route. It was so fun! I felt like I was 10 years old, zipping down the biggest hill by my parents’ house (underneath the train tracks). I can’t wait to do it again next year!

I hope you all had a fun weekend too! Today is rainy and I’m headed to jury duty. But the whole time I will probably be thinking about what a wonderful time I had on Sunday. 

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Bikers Are Awesome

The writer from My Roman Apartment recently shared this link to some awesome infographics about how biking is going to save the world.

If you love an infographic, check it out – you will be surprised. I certainly was!

I am inspired to become more involved with my local bike advisory council, which is working to improve our town’s  Bike Friendliness rating (from bronze to silver). And I need to spend some time this winter with my project bike. I want to put some miles on it this spring!

Ultimately, my goal is to be car free. I will get there, but it’s definitely going to take some major adjustments in my lifestyle. But I can see the results of changes I have already implemented (ie commuting via bus to work) are moving me towards achieving my goal.

Any one else striving to be car free or car lite? Share with me what changes you’ve made to achieve that goal. :)

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My New Slow Ride

I have this really nice, fancy road bike that I bought a couple of years ago. I like it. A lot. However, it lends itself to zippy tours through the countryside.

I was looking for another bike that I could use for leisurely rides around town – to the farmer’s market, to the yarn store, to the fabric store, to the grocery store, and maybe to a parade.

I trolled Craigslist for a while and even considered buying a new bike. I knew that I would modify it on my own with a basket, a Brooks saddle, and a panniers rack on the back. I just wanted a bike with a solid frame that was close to my house and cheap.

Then I found my new baby:

I picked this up about 10 minutes from my house, for less than $25. It’s a little rusty. The tires are flat. I think the brakes are shot.

But I think she’s perfect.

The paint is chipped and rusty, so the first step is to strip the whole thing down and re-paint. I am considering Kelly green.

Ultimately, I want to make a single-speed bike. Maybe even fixed speed. But I want to keep the cost low (except for the Brooks saddle). My timeframe is to have this ready for next spring.

I can’t wait to take her out for a slow, leisurely spin.

Have you ever modified a bike? You know, hipster-style? I could pretty much use any advice you would give me. Thanks.

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Links I Love 6/6/2011

1) I pine for daily biking.

2) Katy made me laugh out loud. I don’t even have kids, but her description of her cleaning method almost exactly describes my house. Either I’ve been crafting or cleaning. Hardly ever both and then, poorly.

3) I read this awhile ago, but I just read it again recently. It’s so true. People talking about the Stuff that they bought advertises Stuff, for free, for producers. This reminds me of the movie The Joneses, with Demi Moore and David Duchovney, which I highly recommend. (Oops, there’s some free advertising! But it’s really a good movie.)

 

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Links I Love 4/25/2011

1) Tracking time by knitting – pretty much the metaphor of my life

2) Love this:

“Creating a welcoming environment for all citizens should be the cornerstone of our transportation policy as well as bicycle advocacy. Instead what we have in the U.S. is a giant fuck you to anyone but the super brave, the self-confident, the fitness enthusiasts and the daredevils. It is a shame that this is the reality the U.S. has chosen to embrace.”

3) My next foray into homemade bread: English muffins. They actually seem pretty easy. I can’t wait to try them out! I might have to borrow a round cookie cutter though, because I don’t have one. I don’t want wonky English muffins.

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Links I Love 4/17/2011

1) I made these Guinness cupcakes this weekend. With Bailey’s buttercream frosting. Amazing! I made a dreadful mistake – I only made a half batch (which made 14.5 cupcakes, BTW). Next time, I am definitely making a full batch.

I love that this recipes doesn’t have any weird, fancy ingredients. I was able to pull it together with staples from my pantry, except for the Guinness. But the Man picked some up for me after I twisted his arm. (Not true; he was buying Guinness anyway.)

2) I had so much success with those cupcakes on Saturday that I decided to make some more on Sunday. Enter vanilla cupcakes. Also amazing. I think I beat the cake batter too long, so the cupcakes had a heavier consistency, almost like a pound cake. But still delicious. I was able to choke them down. Especially with vanilla buttercream frosting.

This is why I don’t bake very often. Then I eat what I bake. Dangerous.

3) Someday I dream of bike commuting. I want to look as fabulous as this. (Check out the archives on that blog Bike Fancy. Definitely some good-looking cyclists!)

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Links I Love 3/21/2011

I had a busy weekend and didn’t have my post ready this morning! But trust me – it was a great weekend.

Here are my links. Enjoy!

1) I can’t stop thinking about this post - mostly because I love cupcakes and biking. I want to bike commute someday.

2) I was able to get out this weekend and do some training for the duathlon. I am training roughly 70% of the total training program, but now that the weather is getting nice, I am looking forward to some quality time on my bike.

3) I am knitting this vest, and I love it! I want to have it done so that I can include it in my items for the Spring Palette Challenge 2011.

Happy Vernal Equinox (yesterday)! I hope your Spring is awesome so far.

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Links I Love 3/7/2011

1)  I am excited to get my bike out soon. Soon. Hopefully within this month.

Here is an article that identifies how our culture came to fear bikes on roads. It’s an interesting read.

2)  Every TED talk I watch online impresses me. I love this latest TED Wish: use art to turn the world inside out. This French street artist JR is doing amazing art all over the world and changing the way we perceive one another.

3) This completely captures how I feel about my life right now.

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Excited about my commute

I took the bus to work this morning.  I live in a suburban area, and only started riding the bus in the past six months or so.  I love it.  I can’t wait to get out of work, hop on the bus, and knit like a woman possessed for 35 – 40 minutes.

Reasons why I love riding the bus:

1) No distractions.  I get a lot of knitting or reading or whatever I want done without a telephone, computer, or TV to distract me.

2) I am not the one driving, so I don’t have the anxiety about traffic, poor drivers and, currently, snow.  I arrive at work in a good mood, without stress or anger.

4)  It’s good for the environment.

5) It saves wear & tear on my car.

Someday (perhaps within the next year or so), I would like to get rid of my car altogether.  Since the Man and I live in the suburbs of Connecticut, transit options and weather wouldn’t allow us to be completely car-free, but I would like to get down to one car. 

In the next couple of months, I want to buy a bicycle for commuting.  I could easily get to two different bus stops by bicycle, and the buses are equipped to haul bicycles as well as people.  But with the weather we are having, I am holding off my excitement.  It will happen, but not for another couple of months.

For now, I enjoy my time on the bus.

Anyone else use creative commuting options?  What are you looking forward to on this Friday afternoon?