Great afternoon. Not too hot, not too cool, and not too humid. Of all the cars and trucks I shared the road with, there were only two notable boneheads - it is good to have a loud bell.
I am finding the more I bike commute, the more I want to bike commute, and the more I need to. When I don't ride, inside myself I get this burning feeling, a strong desire, almost like being caged and knowing that just on the other side is freedom, a potential for euphoria, this is very distracting and is occupying more of my mind than I can afford to allow it to.
Academically, I am an Environmental Scientist and clearly understand the cause and effect humans have on their environment, and I know bicycling with electric power-assist is one of the most efficient machines for personal transportation; this deserves a thesis on to itself. Now with gasoline prices being as high as they are (today I saw $2.89 9/10 at a gas station near the office) the economics are clear. I am avoiding hundreds of dollars of transportation costs by using an e-bike instead of my car, truck, or mini van (yes, I own 3 vehicles - 1 is for sale). These are easy justifications to satisfy my need to know by riding I am doing the right thing.
Hard is explaining the mental aspect associated with physically feeling better, but I do. My mind is clearer, I am more alert at work, my clothes fit better making me feel more comfortable, and I feel encouraged to do more now I have better endurance. My muscles ache, my wind is better (I am starting to you use stairs when previously I only used the elevator), and I feel good.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Friday, August 26, 2005
August 26 - Second day back to work.
We'll I've got it bad, a head cold. So even being the second day back to work, I drove. If I am feeling better, I'll ride tomorrow. We'll see then.
Nine days is San Francisco was a blast. We did all the touristy types of things like Muir Woods, Fisherman's Warf, China Town, Cliff House, Alcatraz, did a cable car ride, visited friends and family, and we did the thrift shops on Mission, Fillmore, and Haight Streets. Even though San Francisco has "mega" hills, it is an awesome bike city. I wish I had access to a ride while I was there, I probably could have covered the entire city in a day or two, and what a different perspective that would have been. Bike rentals were running between $40 and $75 per day, a little more than I would have enjoyed paying. I did seriously consider picking up an older 26 inch department-store type mountain bike while in a thrift store on Mission Street, but I would have had to wrench it a little to mike it rideable, and without my tools or helmet it started to look like a time consuming project and time was not something I had a lot of.
All the longing to ride in San Francisco has made me think seriously of picking up a folding bike like a Dahon or Downtube VII - inexpensive and compact!
I sold my Sun EZ3 SX Delta Trike. It was a great machine, I commuted some on it before buying the aluminum version, EZ3 AX, a totally different machine. I am going to take the proceeds from the sale of the SX and complete the project of electrifying the AX. I can't wait until I have an electric-assist delta trike with a full fairing - I won't ever need a car to commute.
On the topic of cars, I have placed my Ford F150 Pickup Truck for sale on Craigs List (for New York). It has been a great truck, but I just don't drive it enough to justify hanging on to it. [It's white 2002, automatic w/overdrive, v-6 = better than usual gas mileage, less then 20,000 miles, A/C, CD player, extended cab with "4-doors"].
Nine days is San Francisco was a blast. We did all the touristy types of things like Muir Woods, Fisherman's Warf, China Town, Cliff House, Alcatraz, did a cable car ride, visited friends and family, and we did the thrift shops on Mission, Fillmore, and Haight Streets. Even though San Francisco has "mega" hills, it is an awesome bike city. I wish I had access to a ride while I was there, I probably could have covered the entire city in a day or two, and what a different perspective that would have been. Bike rentals were running between $40 and $75 per day, a little more than I would have enjoyed paying. I did seriously consider picking up an older 26 inch department-store type mountain bike while in a thrift store on Mission Street, but I would have had to wrench it a little to mike it rideable, and without my tools or helmet it started to look like a time consuming project and time was not something I had a lot of.
All the longing to ride in San Francisco has made me think seriously of picking up a folding bike like a Dahon or Downtube VII - inexpensive and compact!
I sold my Sun EZ3 SX Delta Trike. It was a great machine, I commuted some on it before buying the aluminum version, EZ3 AX, a totally different machine. I am going to take the proceeds from the sale of the SX and complete the project of electrifying the AX. I can't wait until I have an electric-assist delta trike with a full fairing - I won't ever need a car to commute.
On the topic of cars, I have placed my Ford F150 Pickup Truck for sale on Craigs List (for New York). It has been a great truck, but I just don't drive it enough to justify hanging on to it. [It's white 2002, automatic w/overdrive, v-6 = better than usual gas mileage, less then 20,000 miles, A/C, CD player, extended cab with "4-doors"].
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