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Working the Hills

While running the mid-week errands I decided to spice things up a bit by hitting the hills in Grant Park from the steep side. Just to keep it sporting I had about 30 lbs of groceries in the bags.

There are a couple of lead in hills, then the first real run up of 10% grade, with a left on to summit, a 150 yard stretch of 14% grade,

At the time it seemed like such a good idea to get the legs pumping

Starting to have my doubts, but forging ahead anyway

Not as bad as it looks once you are, but you still have to work for it.

After the really steep part there is a little break, and then an easy climb to get things back in check. After all of that, the reward….

A fantastic winter day, temps in the low 60’s, light breeze and no rain yet, pretty close to perfect!

Veggie Ride

An absolutely perfect day to ride and pick up some vegetables!!

I am not sure it could be any better, maybe some friends to share the ride with and time to keep on going up into the mountains? Still, it does not get much better than this, getting in some miles and coming home with a week’s worth of fresh food, riding your dream bike of your own design and having it do exactly what you hoped, hence the smile.

Mid Day Escape and Masu Logo

I am not sure winter ever really happened this year. I am sure we will pay the price in the coming dry months, but for now it is 68 degrees and gorgeous outside. A perfect day to hit the farmer’s market and take the long way home through the hills.

I really should be taking rides through the hills more often, once a month is marginally (nice way to say not really) enough to stay in the level of fitness I would like. Today the weather and new pedals did the trick, I got out there, and it was worth is.

I have some art ideas in my head for the logo on the upcoming bike. I still like the name Masu, and am trying to make sure the steelhead trout connection can be made. Here is a sketch of what I am thinking,

This would be on the top tube, drive side a little bit back from the head tube. It wraps about a third of the way around the top tube. The color would match the Ocean Air Cycles logo on the down tube with the body of the fish transparent so the bike color shines through. Subtle but there.

Let me know if you like it, could care less as long as the bike works, or think it is a horrible idea. As always I value your input.

Sunday Standard

Back to the regularly scheduled Sunday ride to the Farmer’s Market.

Yes, it really was as nice as it looks. The weather was perfect, the ride was longer than I planned, nad that made it better. I look back and find it hard to remember a time when it was more fun to get the food for the week. The food tastes better when you sweat a little to get it too.

Grocery Time Trials

I do not race anybody but myself, ever. I love to ride, but time gets tight every now and then. As much fan as a casual ramble can be, sometimes the challenge of 10 miles, two grocery stops and less than an hour and a half to get it done, with stop lights, signs and morning traffic as the sauce on top is just what you need to break the funk. Things were still a bit bleery heading up the hill into the fog as I am fighting off the tail end of a cold.

Crossing town to the Trader Joe’s load up on some staples, and through the parking lot to the farmer’s market. Packing the saddle bag with Juice, frozen beef and veggies untill the bag was super stuffed. The load maxed the limits of the bagman support for sure, and I need to make some time to push ahead on a better solution. Checking the time I realised that I had blown over 20 minutes shopping. Time to jam towards home, through the fields.

Almost home I was still just under an hour, and slowed down for a surf check. South swell filling in, but no time to watch the sets. I am not sure where to fit it in, but I need to get back in the water soon.

I made it home in just a few minutes over an hour, and even cruised through a few rows of the swap meet on the last mile home for good measure. Fantastic ride all things considered. I took the load upstairs and took a minute to blend up some fruit and veggies in the vitamix.

Frosting on the whole thing was answering the phone 10 minutes after I walked in the door, still a little wound up from the ride, to a phone interview that I was not expecting for anther 4 hours or so. I feel that it went well, probably better with the endorphin push and no time to over think my answers. Hopefully I did not come off as a coffee spaz. This could be the dream job, and an interesting path opening up for sure, I am looking forward to chasing this trail out to the end.