The reason why I'm not riding as much

My goal for 3000 miles this year might not be met. No big deal. I'd rather have two kids and a happy wife right now. The second kid is a little late, and I'm going to be really cutting back on commuting for at least the next month. I might get one or two trips into work. I'll try riding to the stores while people sleep.

Breaking the Strap...

By far the majority of the miles I ride are replacing miles that I would be driving. Either I'm commuting to work or getting to the store to pick up a those items that I can pack into my backpack. Today I decided to take a trip to Fort Smallwood park and back while my daughter and very pregnant wife were both taking naps. Total recreation. Not what I'm used to.

So I manage to break the left pedal strap. Before I even get two miles into it. Had to limp home. On the way home I hit a red light, no shoulder, so I take the lane. But apparently not enough of it since a MG decides to pass me at the red light. Threads the needle between me a left turning pickup truck.

So much for recreational riding. Time to replace the straps...

Totals through July

So how have I been doing this year....

Yearly totals through July...
Car Miles Saved: 1,670.60
Gallons of Gas Saved: 49.76
Gas Money Saved: $176.71
Bike Commute Round Trips: 50

Breakin' the Law...

I've been using a bicycle for at least part of my commute for over a year now. During that time I've seen all sorts of things from my fellow commuters. Here are some of my favorites.

"I don't stop at red lights." A quote from fellow bike commuter after I showed him a short cut through Annapolis traffic and stopped at a red light at the end of the short cut. Of course he kept going. There are bicyclists that stop at red lights and those that don't.

The pedestrian who was attempting to cross mainstreet behind the stopped cars I was coming up to, who decided to stop and retreat back to sidewalk when he saw me coming. I was actually stopping at my place in line. Confused him so much he didn't know what to do. "I thought you were going to blow by on the right."

The car that decided to take a right at a stop light this morning. By going around the car that was already stopped in the lane he was in. So the car crossed the double yellow lines after I started to turn left into the lane, following a green left turn arrow. Being in a car with headlights on did not make me more visible.

The bicylist that I passed on the trail that I saw later going the wrong way on the road and also going through a red light.

The cars that refuse to stop for me on the crosswalks when the trail intersects a road.

Googling and heartrate monitor

I figured out how to maintain my current stats on the blog using a widget on my google spreadsheets. So less work to maintain my summary.

I also have been compiling my heart rate data. I think maybe I need to back off a bit some days. My average heart rate on the trips in and home is between 85% and 90% of max on the last two segments of each trip.

Win a free Trek...

Just in case you happen to be looking for a new commuter bike, check out the Go By Bike Challenge. I've embedded their widget in the side bar.

Squeaky Chains...

I finally took the time to clean and lube the squeaky chain. It needed it.

There are more cyclists on the B & A Trail now. Some are friendly, some not so much. I really appreciate the pairs that decide to ride on both sides of the trail so you can't pass them easily and when you annouce passing left, they get all confused. Oh well. At least they are out there pedaling.

When I was stopped at a light tonight, there was a motorcyclist on a Yamaha model that I didn't recognize. Had a good chat, we both have to watch out for cagers. At some point I want to buy a motorcycle, already have the license and the MSF safety class.

I just missed every light on the way home after the trail. Added 4 minutes to that part of the trip.