The Historian
02-14-08, 09:50 AM
From November 25. Again, I don't think I've posted this here before, but it might be of interest to some:
I love being a transportational cyclist. Even an ordinary day becomes a bike ride.
Take today, for instance. I had three destinations for the day:
- attend church;
- go to the gym;
- hang out downtown in Phoenixville.
And here's how I rolled to them:
The first step was preparation. It was cold this morning, so I needed to dress warmly. I was attending church and visiting the gym, so I needed clothing that would not be out of place in either location. And I was riding Roark, a bike without a rack. So any clothing would need to be worn or carried in a backpack.
Under the circumstances bike gear was out. So I dressed in my mountain bike shorts, leg warmers, a compression shirt and t shirt, a dress shirt and casual pants, tie, two layers of socks - base layer cotton, top layer wool - and black athletic shoes. This in addition to my helmet, winter riding gloves, fleece jacket, and yellow commuter jacket. I carried another pair of bike shorts, a small towel, and a clean t shirt in my backpack, along with bike tools, spare tube, etc. With my right pant leg rolled up and tucked into my sock, I looked like the oldest, fattest bike messenger in the world. And the best dressed - I can't imagine a bike messenger wearing a tie.
First church. I rolled out at 9:38 AM, a little late, and reached the church parking lot at 9:59. Not bad for the cold weather and having to walk part of the one big hill on the four mile route. My fellow church members were stunned I rode in this weather. It was cold, but it was dry and sunny - ideal riding weather. I was a little damp from the ride; I was perhaps overinsulated. It didn't help the church was overheated.
Bikes came up in the pastor's sermon. The topic was based on the parable of the sower, and the pastor connected the "thorny ground" with things that deter us from completing tasks in secular life. "Anyone ever start an exercise program?" he asked. Hands went up all over the church. "Anyone ever abandon an exercise program?" More hands raised. "My wife and I just purchased bicycles, and it's easy to put something off, isn't it?" Someone behind me clapped me on the shoulder at this point. After the service, I offered to ride with the pastor and his wife. We'll try to set up a time during the warmer weather.
By now it was 11:30, and I was getting hungry. I pulled out of the church parking lot. A few hundred feet later a big red truck sped by me. He gave me more than enough room, but I was perplexed to discover a church member was a leadfoot.
I pedaled the mile and a half to a WaWa and ate in their parking lot. Then down into Phoenixville and onto my gym. I was on PA Rt. 724, so I rolled down, thinking it was all downhill. It tuns out there was a tough climb in the middle, which I barely made up in my lowest gear. The bad road shoulder didn't help. But once over that, I was cruising at 27 MPH into the intersection with Rt. 23. Then onto Rt. 113, Bridge Street in Phoenixville, and over the river to Mont Clare and Oaks.
On arriving at my gym, I removed my outer clothing, shirt, tie, pants, and wool socks, and was prepared to lift. My mountain bike shorts look like gym shorts, except tighter. After lifting and stretching for about a half-hour I showered. I then changed into the other pair of bike shorts, the other, clean t shirt, and wore the wool socks, leaving the cotton ones in the backpack. I dressed as I had when I arrived, but I left the leg warmers in my pocket.
Riding in street clothes is a new experience for me. It's different, but I don't know if it's an improvement or not over bike gear. Yes, it's nice to have pants pockets, but my pants are loose in the seat, a concession to having a 46 inch waist. It's odd to feel all that fabric under me. And I miss the stiff soles of my cycling shoes.
Stiff sole or not, it was now after 2:00 PM, and if I wanted to hang out downtown, I needed to pedal. So off I rode, backtracking to Bridge Street in Phoenixville. I stopped at the Steel City Coffeehouse, ordered hot chocolate, a muffin, and a turkey wrap, and sat outside at a table reading the latest Dirt Rag, bike chained to a bench. Food consumed, I went across the street to a bookstore and fed my addiction. My backpack became very heavy. I'll leave it at that.
Heavy backpack or not, it was off to home. I knew the hills to expect, and they were as expected. Still, I climbed every one. I arrived just before sunset, at 4:50. Cars had their headlights on. I parked the bike, removed my outer layers, drank some iced tea, and fell asleep for a couple of hours. My bike computer shows 29.5 miles for the day - average speed 11 MPH and change.
An ordinary day, as I said. But I'll not trade it for anything.
I love being a transportational cyclist. Even an ordinary day becomes a bike ride.
Take today, for instance. I had three destinations for the day:
- attend church;
- go to the gym;
- hang out downtown in Phoenixville.
And here's how I rolled to them:
The first step was preparation. It was cold this morning, so I needed to dress warmly. I was attending church and visiting the gym, so I needed clothing that would not be out of place in either location. And I was riding Roark, a bike without a rack. So any clothing would need to be worn or carried in a backpack.
Under the circumstances bike gear was out. So I dressed in my mountain bike shorts, leg warmers, a compression shirt and t shirt, a dress shirt and casual pants, tie, two layers of socks - base layer cotton, top layer wool - and black athletic shoes. This in addition to my helmet, winter riding gloves, fleece jacket, and yellow commuter jacket. I carried another pair of bike shorts, a small towel, and a clean t shirt in my backpack, along with bike tools, spare tube, etc. With my right pant leg rolled up and tucked into my sock, I looked like the oldest, fattest bike messenger in the world. And the best dressed - I can't imagine a bike messenger wearing a tie.
First church. I rolled out at 9:38 AM, a little late, and reached the church parking lot at 9:59. Not bad for the cold weather and having to walk part of the one big hill on the four mile route. My fellow church members were stunned I rode in this weather. It was cold, but it was dry and sunny - ideal riding weather. I was a little damp from the ride; I was perhaps overinsulated. It didn't help the church was overheated.
Bikes came up in the pastor's sermon. The topic was based on the parable of the sower, and the pastor connected the "thorny ground" with things that deter us from completing tasks in secular life. "Anyone ever start an exercise program?" he asked. Hands went up all over the church. "Anyone ever abandon an exercise program?" More hands raised. "My wife and I just purchased bicycles, and it's easy to put something off, isn't it?" Someone behind me clapped me on the shoulder at this point. After the service, I offered to ride with the pastor and his wife. We'll try to set up a time during the warmer weather.
By now it was 11:30, and I was getting hungry. I pulled out of the church parking lot. A few hundred feet later a big red truck sped by me. He gave me more than enough room, but I was perplexed to discover a church member was a leadfoot.
I pedaled the mile and a half to a WaWa and ate in their parking lot. Then down into Phoenixville and onto my gym. I was on PA Rt. 724, so I rolled down, thinking it was all downhill. It tuns out there was a tough climb in the middle, which I barely made up in my lowest gear. The bad road shoulder didn't help. But once over that, I was cruising at 27 MPH into the intersection with Rt. 23. Then onto Rt. 113, Bridge Street in Phoenixville, and over the river to Mont Clare and Oaks.
On arriving at my gym, I removed my outer clothing, shirt, tie, pants, and wool socks, and was prepared to lift. My mountain bike shorts look like gym shorts, except tighter. After lifting and stretching for about a half-hour I showered. I then changed into the other pair of bike shorts, the other, clean t shirt, and wore the wool socks, leaving the cotton ones in the backpack. I dressed as I had when I arrived, but I left the leg warmers in my pocket.
Riding in street clothes is a new experience for me. It's different, but I don't know if it's an improvement or not over bike gear. Yes, it's nice to have pants pockets, but my pants are loose in the seat, a concession to having a 46 inch waist. It's odd to feel all that fabric under me. And I miss the stiff soles of my cycling shoes.
Stiff sole or not, it was now after 2:00 PM, and if I wanted to hang out downtown, I needed to pedal. So off I rode, backtracking to Bridge Street in Phoenixville. I stopped at the Steel City Coffeehouse, ordered hot chocolate, a muffin, and a turkey wrap, and sat outside at a table reading the latest Dirt Rag, bike chained to a bench. Food consumed, I went across the street to a bookstore and fed my addiction. My backpack became very heavy. I'll leave it at that.
Heavy backpack or not, it was off to home. I knew the hills to expect, and they were as expected. Still, I climbed every one. I arrived just before sunset, at 4:50. Cars had their headlights on. I parked the bike, removed my outer layers, drank some iced tea, and fell asleep for a couple of hours. My bike computer shows 29.5 miles for the day - average speed 11 MPH and change.
An ordinary day, as I said. But I'll not trade it for anything.