Creature of Habit

When I left work late today, I elected to take the surface street to avoid the traffic on the freeway.  Without giving it much thought, I instinctly followed my usual route when I commute via bicycle.  Having been riding to work nearly every day this month, the traffic lights and the bend of Main Street felt strangely familiar and natural even while driving a car.  As I cross the bridge that rested over San Diego Creek, I nearly turned my car onto the bike path.

"Dude," I told myself, "you are not riding a bike!"

Clank!

Lesson Learned: Keep the inside pedal up high while turning (and don’t get to aggressive on turns, especially while riding my comfort bike).

I got a little too aggressive while negotiating a left turn and fell off my bike on the bike path while commuting to work this morning.  My inside pedal caught the pavement on the down stroke, and my bike slipped off underneath me.

Damage assessment (on a scale of 1-5, 1 being the least):

• Ego: 1.  (I don’t think anyone sees me.)
• Bike: 0.
• Physical: 2. (Road rash on my left hip and lost a tiny bit of skin on my left elbow.  Luckily I was wearing my knee warmer and a pretty thick long sleeve jersey.)

I wonder how long I can hide the bruises from my wife.

Yellow Light, Red Light.

I don’t recall encounter too many stops this morning commuting to work, which surprises me when I learn the average traveling speed was over 19 MPH.  The last time I was lucky enough or even attempted to exceed that speed as nearly over a year ago.  It sure feels good, though.  Ariba, ariba, undale, undale!

				% Total Minutes in Zone
Date	Miles	Minutes	MPH	1	2	3	4	5
03/06/08	11.21	42	19.3	2%	14%	31%	48%	5%
05/01/07	9.83	36	19.1	3%	8%	42%	44%	3%
04/17/07	9.86	38	19.0	0%	8%	30%	57%	5%
11/28/06*	9.67	36	18.9	3%	8%	11%	47%	31%
09/12/06*	9.66	37	19.2	5%	5%	11%	62%	16%

*Marin Stinson comfort bike; probably pushing a big gear too.