Enjoying life one day at a time
May 11
May 10
Since I didn't ride home last night, this morning decided to work.... HARD!! (well ok, as hard as I can)
Big gears, spinning fast, and hard work on the hills... oh and a stiff tailwind... made for some speedy riding. Had a few vehicles be patient and wait behind until it was clear to pass... and other's that just had to pass while blind... truly sad these people can't wait 10 seconds. Must be so difficult living their lives... always being late.
In zone: 36:20
Calories: 500
Scrappy ride tonight...was supposed to ride from work to Dr appt ( stupid warts) then get a ride with Sweetums and #3, but my tire was flat before I left work. Had to call Sweetums for a lift to Dr. While I waited, I changed tube. Called her and told to meet at KFC to save time. I got caught in traffic and high winds, but still made it there, just after she did.
On way there she realized that there was not going to be enough room in car for bike and humans, so I had to bike home after wart treatment...fun wow.
Riding home was difficult...high winds made it slow and tricky as it tried to blow me into traffic. Really rough going into Petersburg as the wind was funneled into a headwind just as I crested the hill into town. On the long descent to Baden, I actually had to stop, first time in a long time. My legs were tired...and I picked up a flyer on the house going up for auction soon. ;-). Made it home safely though, all is well.
- Calories out: 4486 From lifestyle:3013, From activities:1474
- Health data: Hours slept: 6
May 9
This morning's ride I decided it's time to do some real training on these rides. My stamina is coming back, leg strength is starting to get better, so it's time to put myself to work. I decided that today was going to be a single gear workout... which translates to high cadence and power increase on the hills. Was a good solid workout. Kept the cadence around the 90-100rpm on the flats, tried to keep above 80 on the inclines and the big hills, just powered up all of them. Good work... and my legs feel fine, not tired at all. I like that feeling, knowing I've done a good workout, but have something left.
In zone: 24:15
Calories: 412
- Calories out: 3643 From lifestyle:3039, From activities:604
- Health data: Hours slept: 6
May 8
Damp morning commute... still the odd rain drop coming down, but otherwise it was dry. The roads on the other hand were soaked and I had to be extremely careful not to do any sudden or sharp turns and brake WELL ahead of stopping. I took a little shorter route, but this means much more traffic.
Took it very easy, VERY easy! Was a pretty nice ride... my legs feel fine.
In zone: 16:43
Calories: 353
Headwind ride home... didn't push to hard, but maintained a steady pace. This is getting easier, but it still hurts on the hills.
The detour thru the subdivision was "fun" as I passed a stopped city bus, and tried to stay out of his way... even pulled over a little bit, to let him pass... but he would have to stop and I was able to stay ahead of him all the way thru the sub-division...even with it being uphill and into the wind. Was kinda fun. ;)
After that, it was a basic ride until Sandhills which was into the wind and up the big hill into Baden. As I crossed Bleams, I saw a tractor coming ... he turned onto Sandhills and followed me up the road. I figured he was going to pass me as he kept gaining on me... but when we got to the hill, I stayed JUST ahead of him and he couldn't pass. It forced me to keep pedaling hard, right over the top. On the descent I lost him, because I go VERY fast down that hill (over 60 km/h) and he was pulling a scuffler and seeder, so wasn't driving fast. I need to work on these hard efforts more... I wimp out a lot when the HR gets up there. Today was a good day riding.
In zone: 39:50
Calories: 495
Some very sad news in this area... this past weekend, 2 people were killed in accidents. One pedestrian, crossing in the middle of the street was struck and died in hospital (think Sweetums had to issue a LOT of blood for this one). One cyclist, crossing the street against traffic was struck and is in serious condition. Both of those accidents could have been avoided had they obeyed the rules of the roads.
The worst though, was a cyclist, riding on the same roads that I ride on (and I think I saw him Sunday) was struck from behind and killed. He was doing nothing wrong and was just out riding with his wife? (or a cycling partner, I don't know... details are sketchy). The SUV passed the woman and then swerved in to avoid getting hit by an oncoming vehicle and struck the gentleman. Another senseless accident/death... of course the police haven't laid any charges --YET--.
It's a very tenuous position to be in as a cyclist... you don't want to see anyone charged arbitrarly, but when there is an OBVIOUS and blatant abuse of the rules of the road, you lay charges. Why is it that it takes a couple hours for the officers to lay charges in a vehicular accident, when there is a death involved, between two cars? But when it's a bicycle it can take 6 months??? I'm sorry officials... but if you want to treat us as a vehicle in the traffic act, and expect us to act like a vehicle on the roads... then it behooves you to lay charges to offending people that cause accidents involving a bicycle in a timely manner. By NOT doing so, it appears that you're condoning this behaivour. It is time to get your priorities in order.
With this in the back of my mind this morning, I decided that I'm riding 3' from the white line... the LEFT of the white line... at all times this morning. I will not move over, I will not change my pace, I will not allow drivers to bully me out of the position that I am supposed to be in. I did have one large dump truck, pass me VERY close on a hill... but for the most part everyone was respectful and would wait until it was safe to pass. Unfortunately, dump trucks have license plates that are almost impossible to read (too much dirt) that I could not get his number. From this point on, I am reporting every abuse on the road. It begins with one voice... and if I must be that voice, then so be it. :o
- Calories out: 4429 From lifestyle:3004, From activities:1425
- Health data: Hours slept: 6
May 7
Tired today... and too busy to do anything really. I may try for a swim after supper, but I have to wait for #2's call to pick him up after work... schedule is for 8, but if it starts raining too much they may quite early. Depending on time, I may be able to make the pool for lane swimming tonight.
Nope... nothing today.
This morning, we drove #2 into the dr for a physical, followed by shopping for a back brace (he has a bout of sciatica :( ). Followed by some grocery shopping then home. I was in the middle of a book that I couldn't put down, so finished it.
After that, had to take #2 to his job... come home, have supper and movie with other boys and Sweetums. Sweetums then went to p/u #2 at work and I cleaned up the kitchen. After which it was too late to head out for swim and too wet/cold for a run. So just vegged on the couch. I think I'll turn in early tonight. Hope it clears up in the morning, I don't want to bike to work in the rain as both vehicles are claimed for tomorrow. :(
May 6
Xena and I went for a long ride together... and it was good. :)
Started out pretty easy... except for the hills... and rode into the city to take back a video that was a one night rental. Made it to the other side of the city with only a few minor issues of drivers NOT doing what they should. (always at stop lights and pulling up beside me-don't you see me stopped behind the next vehicle??)
At one stop light in the downtown core, there was a police officer directing traffic... it was for a fun run (the Mud-puppy Chase). I was expecting to have to wait for all the runners to go by, but the officer let ME go thru at a break in the runners. I bet the cars were pissed... but he told me to go, so who am I to argue?? ;)
After dropping off movie, I kept on going into the wind for a while. After 1.5 hours, I decided it was time to ingest some food.... checked all my pockets and realized that my bagel had fallen out of my coat pocket and I was going to have a hungry ride. Fortunately, I had brought 2 bottles of NUUN and one of water. This got me thru until I was finished... was famished, but I can stand to lose a few pounds of fat. This was a fat burning ride anyway... so it was ok. I could have stopped in Elmira at the Mickey D's or Timmies and gotten something, but just wasn't that hungry... and I'm not willing to pay for overpriced food. All the good places to stop and eat out that way are closed on Sunday mornings, so just kept on going. The last 1.25 hours of the ride, I picked the hilliest route home.... as I was going downwind mostly, I wanted my legs to hurt... otherwise, I could have ridden the remainder on easy roads and made it home a LOT faster.
Good steady ride... couple sections on smoother roads, downwind, I was able to get down and maintain a steady 38 km/h. Even on the last descent, the 2km grade coming into Baden, I was able to keep the speed up over 30 km/h almost to the top... the legs are coming back... slowly.
In zone: 2:06:56
Calories: 1896
- Calories out: 6008 From lifestyle:2921, From activities:3087
- Health data: Hours slept: 6
May 5
Thas is a day I would like to have over... can we orgainze a do-over??
Started at 2:30 a.m. - #1 son wakes up with severe stomach pains (which he's had before). We give him option to go into hospital now, or wait to see our Dr (who is on call this weekend - thank goodness). He opts for waiting. We give him strong pain killers.
He sleeps the rest of the morning ... gets up at 9-ish and decides not to work (he was scheduled to work) and I will take him into the Dr.
Before he wakes though, I have already been up and taken #2 son to his job... which he wasn't sure he'd stick out, due to back issues... and made it home. I decide to forego any training, so I could be ready at any moment to take #1 to hospital in case of another attack.
While waiting for noon (when Dr's office opens), I read a little, then mow the lawn, clean up kitchen a bit, run dishwasher, & read some more.
At 11:30, take #1 to see Dr... she confirms what we suspected (he had ultra-sound on Friday, and they couldn't get in contact with him to give results)... that he had gall-stones. Scrip' for meds, referral to surgeon (Possible 4 month wait), and we're outta there.
Forgot to bring movie along into town, so have to drive back home, p/u movie and head back into the city. Drop off scrips', take back movie (and get some more for the week), do the groceries, p/u up scrips (and find my health plan won't cover him, as they "THINK" he's still on another plan -WTF???), head home, unload groceries, p/u #2 at work, because Sweetums hasn't left work yet. Oh yeah... didn't I say this... Sweetums is working days this weekend, so I'm on my own (she had a helluva day too).
Before I left to p/u #2, I asked #3 if he was ready for work... he said he wasn't working today and that he had switched today's shift to work yesterday. So I didn't worry about him... thought I was mistaken. BUT, turns out that Sweetums had given him the wrong info and he WAS working. Fortunately, she made it home in time to take him.
After picking up #2, we went to his friends house to pick her up... as they were going to a friends birthday bon-fire. We don't mind that she's coming over, but would have been nice to have more then a few hours notice that she was staying for dinner. Wasn't and issue as I was picking up the food today, but still would have been nice.
After getting home... I have to go into food prep mode... with Sweetums help, and we put together a fine meal. After eating, I take #2 and friend to the party. Then it's home and cutting up my melons (canteloupe and honeydew silly's... I use for smoothies in the morning), clean-up kitchen again, put away dishes from dishwasher, put more dishes in, empty out garbage/recycling/and composting. After all this... I'm done.
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- Centurion Ontario (Cycle)6/16/2013 Oro-Medonto, Ontario
- Tour de Waterloo (Cycle)6/23/2013 Waterloo, Ontario
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Another lovely morning on the seat of my bike... twas a gorgeous sunrise. To bad it was only 4*C... brrrr. I took a little hilly route to work, but this is the least travelled roads... I just didn't want to deal with a lot of traffic this morning.
Took it pretty easy too... just easy gears and light pedaling. My heart is not in to hard training today. The death of that cyclist last weekend has really been bothering me. :(
Average speed is due to downhill and downwind... nothing to do with hard work.
In zone: 7:41
Calories: 326
Oh yeah... that's right... a very slow and methodical ride home. I just had nothing left to push hard thru the wind tonight, so I just went with it. Maintained a steady pace, but nothing hard. Took the hilly route home though, so it wasn't a total waste of time... strength training. ;)
Easy peasy ride home.
In zone: 22:08
Calories: 433