I just finished a 35 mile ride, it was the most difficult to date. I bought a cyclocomputer and rear bag for my mobile phone this morning as I had big plans for heading east to Manor (hard “a”, I believe it’s related to King of the Hill’s Mc Manorbury sp?). It’s a beautiful day in Austin, 65 degrees and sunny with a 9mph wind. I made it in just under two hours. While I was riding I made a list of things I was thankful for…

Semi drivers that honk and wave
Country roads lined with trees
Large shoulders on the side of the road
Noticing the fire ants before they noticed me when I broke for Gatorade
Gatorade
Nicely paved roads
The other side of the hill
Street signs (they are few and far between here)

Unfortunately, I won’t have much time to train this weekend as I’m attending the ASIST IA summit. Tomorrow we’re throwing a Leap Year party and Sunday I get sized for my bike. I’ll be sure to report bike developments as they occur. For now I’m off to Central Market to pick up grillables for tomorrow’s soire. Back on the bike…

Many thanks to Mo Pair for scoring the Church of the Friendly Ghost ( a BYOB venue) for a May 15 benefit show. All proceeds go toward helping me reach my $3000 mark for donation to the American Cancer Society. Mo is the brains behind the Syd Barrett hoot night, chosen for his song “Bike”, and he’s also got his finger on the pulse of the art community in town…we’re hoping to have an art auction that night as well. I’ll have more information and pics as the date draws closer.

In the meantime, check this out…our first day of riding. What did I get myself into?

I have to give props to Texas winters. Last weekend it snowed and this week it’s been 70 degrees and sunny, it does so much for motivation and mood. The wind looks like it’s here to stay, but beginning loops into the wind and finishing with it makes it bearable. I just finished a 30 mile ride which makes it around 80 for the week…sans commuting. Now if I could only manage 80 miles/day. Although there are some monster hills around Austin(in my humble Midwestern opinion), if I work it right, I can use the momentum from the downhill to spring myself up most of the hill. My legs are tight, but nothing a good stretch won’t fix. My back, on the other hand, is something to get used to. I’ve always carried my weight between my shoulders, but now my lower back is tender too. I’ll have to keep an eye on my form, I guess.

I can’t believe what a difference my road tires make in the ease of my rides. Physics has never been my strong point…but it should have occurred to me that my big ‘ole tires were hugging the road too much to let my efforts truly be seen. My bike shorts with the comfort chamois are also a piece of equipment I’ve learned to love. I couldn’t imagine wearing spandex, but the padding makes the rides so much more enjoyable. The next two anticipated life-changing pieces of equipment I expect are my road bike and shoes w/clips. Spinning is a large part of what makes long distance cycling possible. I’m using toeclips right now which are much less efficient than road shoes. They both should be coming soon…

I’m going to finish the first draft of the new website today. It’s my first crack at css and the code is less than pretty, but it’s an accomplishment none the less. Here’s a sneak peek.

I’ve decided that for the good of both my education and my training, I’m limiting myself to one social gathering a weekend. Tonight I’ll make a 14 mile round-trip trek to Patrick and Kelly’s South Austin abode for a game night. These have become more and more frequent, due in no small part to the group’s love of Time’s Up and Draw Yourself As, Patrick’s orginial creation. The only tools necessary for Draw Yourself As, are a pen and paper…people take turns requesting what object or genre each player should draw themselves as. Then we guess who drew what, I highly recommend it, it’s a blast. I’m looking forward to tonight, I need a break…

…it seems that I gave the Austin’s weather too much credit in my previous post. I hopped on my bike for my Friday morning IT lab meeting, ready for the rain, but not for hail. I laughed as the little pieces of ice hit my cheeks, I think the yellow lenses I chose for my glasses helped to cast humor on the event. Looks like we’re in for another round of icey rain tonight. Weather to be taken seriously in a town unaccustomed to the cold.

It’s been raining for what seems like forever. I’ve put my new slicks on and I’m ready to hit the roads…I’d prefer if it wasn’t in my rain gear! I needed a reality check and so looked at the weather my parents are having up North, in the sweet home Chicago ‘burbs. It’s currently 25 degrees, but feels like it’s 13 degrees. Yikes, that certainly trumps my rain showers.

The rain must be keeping the students inside because the gym has been empty. One of my professors said that it clears out as the semester continues and New Year’s resolutions are forgotten. I don’t have such luxuries, the mountains are everpresent in my mind.

As soon as the rain clears, I’m rounding up a group to ride to Mount Bonnell. It’s not far, but it’s the “highest point” in Austin. I know I’ve never seen roads at such steep inclines in Illinois. Anything that will ease the pain of the Rocky Mountain.

The Texas 4000 website redesign is going well. It should be up in a week or so. Right now it’s back to the books and preparing for the Tocker Women…I’ve miles to go before I sleep.