Catching Up

Something about being on travel, maybe it is the departure from the norm, I don't know... but I ended up getting lazy about my posts.  I missed the post about my 48 mile grand day on the bike, circling Mission Bay, hitting Pacific Beach, threading the needle back through Mission Bay and then on to Point Loma for sunset.  Also missed were my explorations in Balboa Park and a couple run's into the Broken Yoke restaurant for delicious breakfasts... I have some good pictures so those stories will be told, but they won't be as 'fresh' as they could have been.

Since I've been back I rode in Thurs and Fri, including into a seeming monsoon of rain Fri morning.  I've also done a fantastic photo-ride with my good friend Peter on Saturday morning which as it happens, mirrored my normal commute.

I'm braced for the chance of more rain tomorrow morning but looking forward to my ride, another flat tire again today though... my 650B project can't finish soon enough.

In honor of my Gran, who passed away early this morning here is a shot from sunrise yesterday.  I miss you and love you...

As promised, photos from last night's adventure...

Varmit Ride

Woooo-weee... what a cool ride.  Work has been pretty busy so I didn't get to depart on my ride till about 6:45PM last night.  I was racing the clock, granted with plenty of time but still, my goal was to ride around San Diego Harbor and into Coronado via the 'Bikeway' which takes you across the narrow strip of land connecting Coronado to the mainland and make it to the Ferry terminal in time for the 9:30PM last ferry of the night.... SUCCESS!

The ride ended up being about 25 miles and took me just under 2 hours with a couple photo stops. The carbon bike is definitely fast. I had plenty of time to ponder the bike weight - bike speed correlation on this ride, my conclusions today are that while the 'engine' (myself) certainly is the source of the overwhelming amount of total vehicle weight that taking about 10 lbs off the bike (which is about the difference between my Trek and this carbon bike) is noticeable in climbing and as you initially start out.

My photo uploading has suddenly become difficult so you'll have to wait for photographic proof.

Ohhhh, yes, the title... in honor of the dozens of little rabbits scurrying across the Bikeway Trail in front of my wheel last night... dozens!

25 Miles (467.9 miles annually)
15/18 (Bike Commute/Available Days)
8 Max consecutive work days commduting by bike

A Classy Upgrade

I arrived in San Diego to find that 'Stay Classy Bike Rental' had indeed dropped off my bike at the hotel along with a message that the Raleigh Revenio 3.0 (aluminum) that I had reserved was not available so they had upgraded me at no additional charge to the Revenio 1.0 (carbon fibre), and that they 'hoped I wouldn't mind'...  pretty cool.

Now I have to admit to having some pre-conceived notions about carbon bikes, or aluminum for that matter.  I've wholly adopted the opinion that for most purposes a classic steel bike (preferrably lugged) is the right way to do biking... so this week will be a fun opportunity to see how the other half lives and experience the light weight road-machine world of carbon fibre, STI 'brifters', 10 Speed, and of course drop handlebars.

My first quick ride-around upon arrival was a harbor-side trip and here are my first reactions;

-Light weight... wow!  This seems to me to give you much quicker acceleration than I"m used to and makes it easier to handle the bike when you are stopped.
-STI 'brifters' are really cool
-My arms from the elbow down were sore immediately and getting numb from the drop bars
-San Diego has some great bike trails on its waterfront!

Lots more coming this week, I hope to get out every day even if it is fairly late in the evenings.

6.85 Miles (442.9 miles annually)
15/18 (Bike Commute/Available Days)
8 Max consecutive work days commduting by bike

A couple glamor shots of the Carbon Steed... lots of fighting with the Nikon wireless transmitter to make this happen... hope you like them!

10 Speed Brifters... both a first for me, and both a winner in the first outing.

I couldn't just leave well enough alone, the MKS Grip Kings came with me (along with my Vetta Saddle but that hasn't been installed yet), I wonder if this is the only carbon bike with these big platform pedals installed in San Diego...?

In all her glory.... Raleigh Revenio 1.0

Stay Classy DC!

I'm off to sunny (kind of), but definitely nicer weather in San Diego for the next week and a half.  It will be a pretty hectic work trip, but I'm excited to have found 'Stay Classy Bike Rental' which not only rents out decent bikes and makes an effort to fit them to you, but they deliver the bikes to your hotel, make sure you have the accessories needed to enjoy the bike and after all that are reasonably priced!  I'll let you know how it goes!

Point Loma at Sunset from Coronado (right in front of the hotel I think).  From all the way back in Oct 2008!!!  Not only was this shot with my first digital (Nikon D80 + kit 18-55 lens), but it was just a couple weeks into my re-entry into photography. I can't believe its been almost 5 years!