You know what they say about best laid plans

05. November 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: cycling, fall, fitness, gear, weather

Yeah, they often go awry.

I’d planned to get up this morning for the group ride with the peloton. I’ve got to say that when I woke at 6:00 and it was pitch fucking black outside and 39 F to boot, I could only roll over, turn off the alarm set for 6:30, and go back to sleep. It was a pretty simple decision I have to say. Sure, I’d have liked to make the group ride but I’ve been riding solo for months, so whats another day?

In truth, I do kind of wish I’d have gotten up for that ride because it would have been good to sync up with some faces that I’ve not seen in a long time. However, I had a great ride on my own this morning.

I left around 8:45 and while it was only 42 F, at least the sun was up. This was the fourth day in a row of riding and I could feel it in my legs as I started out. Today’s ride wasn’t going to break any land speed records, and it didn’t. I averaged 14 and change and my max speed was in the range of 19 mph. Still, it was a great ride.

There is something magical about riding in the fall. The low angle of the light, the leaves rattling under your tires, the colors on the trees and the crisp air make for a very enjoyable ride.  I rode for about 13 miles before heading home.  Thee little man and I were headed to Kinder Farm Park to meet up with my long time friend and her girls.  I felt like I could have easily gone for another 13 miles today despite the fact that my toes were starting to go numb, and if I’d made that group ride, I probably would have.

I’m still trying to work out how to keep my feet toasty warm.  Today, I wore a thin wool base layer sock, some thick wool socks, my shoes and neoprene covers lined with micro fleece.  If anyone has any recommendations on a change in gear, I’d appreciate hearing them.

November Riding

04. November 2011 · 2 comments · Categories: cycling, exercise, fall

A fine November afternoon cycling on the B&A trailAnd, I’m back on my bike again. Third day in a row.  And it feels good.  Even if its getting cold.  In fact, I kind of like riding in the cooler weather better, though I could really go for a great way to keep my feet a bit warmer.  I’ll be putting on shoe covers tomorrow.  Sadly, at 50 F, I find myself wanting shoe covers and long fingered gloves.

Time to revisit rule 5.

Wanderlust

30. October 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: cycling, daily life, fall, family, fatherhood, mr. grey, mrs. tkd

Road leading through a remote desert settingI have a strong sense of wanderlust today.  Over the past few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to not work on Friday (though a couple of those Fridays were in exchange for working on the weekend).  Today, I’m working.  And I’d rather not be.  I’d rather be out on the open road.  Preferably on my bike.

Last weekend, Mrs. TKD and I took a trip to Hershey, PA for our 5th wedding anniversary.  Despite the torrents of rain that we had on the drive up and in the afternoon on Saturday, and a disappointing dinner, we had a great time.  It was the first trip we’d taken on our own since Mr. Grey was born.  What a relief to get some time by ourselves.

Sunday was a beautiful day in stark contrast to the miserable rain of Saturday.  We both got massages and we had brunch at the Hotel Hershey’s Circular Dining Room.  Elegant but expensive.  After brunch we took a walk in the Hershey Gardens.

The gardens were surprisingly beautiful in late October.  I’d expected that most of the rose bushes would be going dormant, but that was not the case.  The leaves had already started turning to their vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red and some of the trees seemed to l glow in the long angled light of autumn.  The leaves had not yet popped at home, though they’ve begun to explode with color in the past week.

Somehow I feel like that trip has awakened a sleeping giant.  I have a strong sense of a need to “get away” and enjoy a trip.  Next week, Mrs. TKD and Mr. Grey are heading to North Carolina for a week at Grammy-Ma’s house.  While I wouldn’t want to go south next week (preferring to head north or west), I’m a tinge jealous of the fast that they are going on a trip and I’ll be plugging away at life here in the burbs.

What life is all about

12. October 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: america, daily life, entertainment, fall, family, fatherhood, food, good things, gratitude, hope, mr. grey, thoughts

I took last Friday off since I had to work on Saturday.  (It was a long day, 10 plus hours of network configurations.  That was the down side of the weekend.)  I spent the morning with Mr. Grey and Mrs. TKD at his music class.  A music class for 2 year olds is a laugh riot.  If you haven’t been to one, you need to go.  After music class, Mr. Grey and I went and had lunch with my mom.  Mr. Grey and I had a great time seeing Grandma.  That night we went over to our friends’ house and had a barbecue on the deck we built together last weekend.  Mr. Grey was having a blast playing with their girl’s soccer balls.

It was pretty funny to watch him, cause he really is only 3 times as big as the ball.  But he loved playing with it.  He hasn’t gotten the concept of kicking rather than throwing the ball, but we’ll work on that.

Fast forward to Sunday. More »

It’s Autumn! For God’s Sake!

11. October 2009 · 2 comments · Categories: america, climate change, cultural failure, daily life, disgust, environment, facebook, fall, frustration, green, incongruities, intelligence, irritants, maryland, media, rants, science, struggles, stupidity, thoughts

Okay, it’s a bit early in the morning for a rant, but here it comes.  It’s really cold this morning compared to Friday – a 40F swing in temperatures.  My good friend made a comment on this swing on Facebook and one of his “friends” comment was this:

it’s the global warming. we’re all going to die! have some hot cocoa for me…

Oh, that gets my dander up!  First and foremost, if you’ve paid any attention to the science, you’d know that regardless of what you call it there have been significant changes to the Earth’s climate in the last 50 years.  Secondly, you’d know that these changes coincide with a rise in the median temperature of the earth worldwide.  I cannot over emphasize that its an average and worldwide. Thirdly, if you’d know that scientists now understand that these changes in climate are having different adverse affects in different parts of the world.

Yes, the facts surrounding the global climate emergency are sometimes incongruous.  But they are facts, and the scientific evidence proves that this is real.  Every living thing on earth has a stake in this.  The only thing about this comment that rings true is that we will all die.  The question is whether or not we have the courage to take a stand and try to ensure that it’s not a mass suicide due to inaction.

But the thing that really got me going this morning is this:  IT’S AUTUMN, IN MARYLAND.

The weather in the Mid-Atlantic US has always suffered from radical changes in short periods of time.  The two temperate seasons (Autumn and Spring) are usually characterized by these swings in temperature.  There’s no need for an asinine comment like the one listed above.

Now, I’m going to go out and ENJOY this lovely 45F morning.

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