Well, tonight's trip was the trip of "oh, hey, I should go this way again and go there."
Weldon Road to Montague Road to Westfield Road to Edwardsville Road to Weldon Road - 7.9 miles
On Weldon Road, I went by a tree-lined private driveway. Anything tree-lined is somewhat appealing to me anyway, but I happen to know that back in that general direction there is a pond that I'd love to have an uninvited swim in.
Also off Weldon Road is a new subdivision I would like to tour. There's something about fresh cut lumber. If I had, say, half a million dollars to blow, I might buy one of those houses.
Next, on Montague Road, I pedaled past Severson Dells Forest Preserve. I've been there, of course, but it'd be a fun afternoon to stop and horse around there for a while. It definitely seems like a place you would want to visit while wearing bug screen.
A quick trip past a pond--yet another place I would enjoy an uninvited swim in.
Westfield Road, unfortunately, doesn't have a lot of potential detours. But, I did see a swimming pool that I would like to take an uninvited swim in. (Surprise!) Also, there could be some improvements in the draining of the ditches.
I can't even remember Edwardsville Road. There was some sort of little store that nobody even knows exists. There's an ice cream sign in the window--which definitely merits a visit--but it was closed when I went by.
For the record, three herds of cows today.
This route is a nice one; there's not much in the way of hills around here, but as hills go, there are some fun one on this route, and some nice views. I don't know; I think everybody should try this route. Do it. Do it now! Okay, not now--it's dark out.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
That Blows
Well, despite the fact that the weather report indicated that it felt like thirty degrees when I checked this morning, I decided to ride my bike to the bank anyway. I dressed for the cold--but the temperature was the least of my worries.
The entire distance is 10.2 miles, which isn't so big of a deal, but the wind was just death. I've never seen anything like it. I took forever--partially because I had to stop to fix my bike (twice), partially because I stopped several times to get a drink Gatorade, partly because I stopped to conduct a transaction at the bank, but mostly because the wind was insane! Don't get me wrong--it was great when I was going east, and it was okay when I was going north, but going south was like going uphill the whole time.
The killer, though, was when I was going west. It was actually easier to go uphill than downhill, because when I was going uphill the hill blocked some of the wind! I've never experienced anything like it. I had to pedal hard to go downhill. It was so ridiculous.
The third coolest thing that happened was when I faced east and spit. I was riding south, and my tire was on the outside white line... and the spit landed on the center line.
The second coolest thing was seeing a couple of baby colts. Woo.
The coolest thing was riding my bike with the wind on Bridgeland Road. Going uphill was was easy like flat road. Going on flat road was like going downhill. Going downhill was like, uh, going downhill. That was pretty anti-climactic, wasn't it? Deal with it.
Become an amazing physical specimen - like me!
The entire distance is 10.2 miles, which isn't so big of a deal, but the wind was just death. I've never seen anything like it. I took forever--partially because I had to stop to fix my bike (twice), partially because I stopped several times to get a drink Gatorade, partly because I stopped to conduct a transaction at the bank, but mostly because the wind was insane! Don't get me wrong--it was great when I was going east, and it was okay when I was going north, but going south was like going uphill the whole time.
The killer, though, was when I was going west. It was actually easier to go uphill than downhill, because when I was going uphill the hill blocked some of the wind! I've never experienced anything like it. I had to pedal hard to go downhill. It was so ridiculous.
The third coolest thing that happened was when I faced east and spit. I was riding south, and my tire was on the outside white line... and the spit landed on the center line.
The second coolest thing was seeing a couple of baby colts. Woo.
The coolest thing was riding my bike with the wind on Bridgeland Road. Going uphill was was easy like flat road. Going on flat road was like going downhill. Going downhill was like, uh, going downhill. That was pretty anti-climactic, wasn't it? Deal with it.
Become an amazing physical specimen - like me!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Bigger, Better, Harder
So, today I took a new route on the bike. The old route features nothing more than a bunch of fields, a herd of cows, and a cemetery. The new route still has the fields, but features two fields of cows. More importantly, it features more hills, bigger hills, some curves, lots more trees, wildlife (including deer and rabbits), and more cars. While some of those hills are a little tougher than the old route, it's a whole lot more fun. It's also only 4 miles. Nothing is perfect.
And, by the way, it took 21 minutes.
Join The Not Celebrity Not Fit Club!
And, by the way, it took 21 minutes.
Join The Not Celebrity Not Fit Club!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Biking to Nowhere V
Okay, so, I realized on tonight's bike trip that it's getting really boring doing the exact same route every single time I go out. I'm going to branch out and try some different routes. So, this series of blogs may, at some point, gain some level of readability.
This trip did have a bit of its own merit, though. On my previous trips, I frequently found myself trying to gain speed on the downhills (while it was easy) and then trying to carry the momentum into the following uphill. The problem with this, of course, is that no matter how hard you petal going downhill, it's never good enough. So today I took it easy on the level and downhill portions of the trip, and tried to put extra effort into short bursts on the uphill portions. It worked out pretty well. It wasn't my fastest time ever, but I never had a chance at that tonight anyway.
This trip did have a bit of its own merit, though. On my previous trips, I frequently found myself trying to gain speed on the downhills (while it was easy) and then trying to carry the momentum into the following uphill. The problem with this, of course, is that no matter how hard you petal going downhill, it's never good enough. So today I took it easy on the level and downhill portions of the trip, and tried to put extra effort into short bursts on the uphill portions. It worked out pretty well. It wasn't my fastest time ever, but I never had a chance at that tonight anyway.
| 04.21.08 | 29 minutes |
| 04.16.08 | 32 minutes |
| 04.11.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.07.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.02.08 | 25 minutes |
| 03.30.08 | 32 minutes |
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Biking to Nowhere IV
I recognize that the 9 1/2- or 10-hour day, followed by a full meal, immediately followed by a bike trip isn't the best schedule. But, seriously, given the limited number of daylight hours, and the number of hours that I don't have a lot of flexibility with, I'd like to know if anybody has a clue how to do better.
Of course, with the exception of a few workout nuts, I don't know too many people who exercise with any regularity or purpose outside of whatever their regular lifestyle includes. I know people who get their exercise as bi-product of their job, and I know people who get exercise as a bi-product of chasing their kids, and I know precious few people who choose to make working out the number one priority in their lives--but the rest of you only seem to exercise if the planets happen to align that way. (This, my friends, is why America is fat.)
Anyway.
Chart that. It's totally ridiculous.
Of course, with the exception of a few workout nuts, I don't know too many people who exercise with any regularity or purpose outside of whatever their regular lifestyle includes. I know people who get their exercise as bi-product of their job, and I know people who get exercise as a bi-product of chasing their kids, and I know precious few people who choose to make working out the number one priority in their lives--but the rest of you only seem to exercise if the planets happen to align that way. (This, my friends, is why America is fat.)
Anyway.
| 04.16.08 | 32 minutes |
| 04.11.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.07.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.02.08 | 25 minutes |
| 03.30.08 | 32 minutes |
Chart that. It's totally ridiculous.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Biking to Nowhere III
This blows.
If you want to be an amazing physical specimen, read this.
And if you've got a lot of time...
Biking to Nowhere
Biking to Nowhere II
| 04.11.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.07.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.02.08 | 25 minutes |
| 03.30.08 | 32 minutes |
If you want to be an amazing physical specimen, read this.
And if you've got a lot of time...
Biking to Nowhere
Biking to Nowhere II
Monday, April 7, 2008
Biking to Nowhere II
Well, I could blame the 10-hour work day. Or the fact that I ate pretty much until it hurt immediately before I left. But, the simple fact is that I'm a wuss. I went out for the standard bike trip, and it took dang near forever.
Vomit.
This crap has got to stop. Actually, my brother says it's good. He points out that you're supposed to work out for 30 minutes a day, and that's really the point anyway. Besides (he says)--it's not like I'm racing anybody or anything. So, as usual, be just like me.
If you want to be an amazing physical specimen, read this.
And if you've got a lot of time...
Biking to Nowhere
| 04.07.08 | 35 minutes |
| 04.02.08 | 25 minutes |
| 03.30.08 | 32 minutes |
Vomit.
This crap has got to stop. Actually, my brother says it's good. He points out that you're supposed to work out for 30 minutes a day, and that's really the point anyway. Besides (he says)--it's not like I'm racing anybody or anything. So, as usual, be just like me.
If you want to be an amazing physical specimen, read this.
And if you've got a lot of time...
Biking to Nowhere
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Biking to Nowhere
Okay, so Saturday I took my bike for a trip around the countryside here. It was really sad. It was abundantly clear that I hadn't exercised all winter. The standard trip (about 6 miles) took me 30-35 minutes. (For charting purposes, I'll say 32 minutes.) Sad. Today I went again, and this time it took me 25 minutes. I felt a lot better about that.
Two different individuals mentioned to me that they needed to start a more disciplined exercise routine. I guess I'm going to have to do this Not Celebrity Not Fit Club thing for real. I'll figure something out. :)
It's pretty well accepted that if you want to get in shape, one of the best things you can do is chart your progress. So, uh, enjoy:
If you want to be a stunning specimen like me, I have some more reading for you. Start here.
Two different individuals mentioned to me that they needed to start a more disciplined exercise routine. I guess I'm going to have to do this Not Celebrity Not Fit Club thing for real. I'll figure something out. :)
It's pretty well accepted that if you want to get in shape, one of the best things you can do is chart your progress. So, uh, enjoy:
| 04.02.08 | 25 minutes |
| 03.30.08 | 32 minutes |
If you want to be a stunning specimen like me, I have some more reading for you. Start here.
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