Monday, January 31, 2011

Well, that was January

This is actually the first year that I zeroed my odometer at the beginning to record monthly totals in preparing for a summer goal. In January I had some good rides, and a good cold/flu/virus/whatever that put the kybosh on riding for two weeks. This month certainly left room for improvement next month. 140 miles. wow.

Last summer, after preparing for the LIVESTRONG Challenge San Jose century ride, I rode the most meaningful 10 miles of my life with Dale and Terrence at the Challenge. My goal this year, is to help Dale ride the 65 mile loop of the LIVESTRONG Challenge Davis.

Check in periodically to see how it goes. This should be another great year.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The other day, I was riding at night again.

Long ago when I raced, most of my training was in the early morning before the sun came up. My lights were crap. They did not light much when working, and they tended to suddenly stop working while riding at speed in complete darkness. Rolling down through Canyon, CA on Pinehurst Road, it can be kind of dark at noon in the summer because of the trees heavily shadowing the road and the steep sides of the valley. Before the sun rises in the winter, the moon doesn't stand a chance. When my light failed there at about 30 mph, I couldn't see bupkis. Back then, we had these sketchy arm lights helping riders show up but doing nothing helping to see where you were riding. I took that off my arm and held it in my hand as I rode along at walking pace looking for the stripes in the road.

Currently, I have lights that sometimes get drivers flashing their high-beams at me. Lights have come a long way. I was in the hills the other night with one of these lights mounted on my handlebars and one on my helmet. Light the night!





Many sections of the roads in the hills have no lights at all. The only light you get is what you bring. The up-side is viewing stars and the city lights below.



Fog and rain remain difficult. This is on a clear night.



Fog and rain reflect in my lights making it hard to see.



This is looking across a bit of valley to a large house with Christmas lights and a big star at the top. In the rain and fog. hhhmmm



Come on Daylight Savings Time!!