Tag: photocycling

Mid Day Escape

It has been way to nice outside to pass on riding.  Try as hard as I may, by the mid afternoon the clear blue skies pull me away from the computer and telephone.  With temperatures pushing into the low 80’s in the inland valleys I broke away for a ride back up the river valley.

A total of 26 miles crammed into an hour and a half, not bad after a couple of months with little more than short errand rides.  Even at that average pace I was still able to grab some pictures and enjoy the weather.  Near Lake Casitas there was a herd of deer out grazing, in a mile or so I counted close to 20.

All those little dots in the field are deer, really, even a four point buck in the mix.

I since my dad does read this, I will admit I need a hair cut, pretty badly.  I keep telling my self it is winter and it keeps my head warm, but this winter has been hotter and drier than last summer.  I am sure Murphy’s law will kick in as soon as I cut it, but I guess I have hats for that.

All Work and no Play

Makes Rob a fatter tired guy.  Looking at last evening’s pictures I could not help but notice the extra chin starting to make its reappearance.  It took close to 8 months of daily riding after the last desk job/3 hour windshield time commute came to an end to get rid of the last double chin.  Nothing like taking self portraits with a fish eye lens to remind you of which way things are heading.

I decided to head out for a mid day ride, met a buddy for lunch, ran some errands and put in 26 miles or so in perfect weather.One of the better ways to burn off some surplus side meat.

It was a perfect way to break up the day.  Surf is up again too, I think that may be tomorrow’s mid day vacation.

Now it is time to get back to work so that you guys can have a new bike option by spring, maybe even a few surprises to go with it.

Sunday Standard

It has been a pretty bikey day in spite of the chilly weather. We rode as a family to breakfast the ladies all bundled up against the 40 deg temps.  Then later as it warmed up into the 50s I headed out to the farmer’s market.  Pretty close to perfect, but I should have had something to keep my knees warm.

I know better when it is below 60 or so, but with it being sunny I decided to push it.  The price is not too bad, but they are sore now, and kind of make me feel not so young at the moment.

As part of the efforts to get more motivated with my riding, I decided to track my efforts on the phone with a GPS app.  It still surprises me when the data comes in at 14 mph averages, sitting upright in the wind at least half the trip, on a 20 mile around town loop.  Not to bad for a guy feeling out of shape at the moment riding on a fat tire bike loaded with produce.  We will see how the rest of the week goes.

Closing Out Another Week

Another productive week, more time to get things going with childcare going four days a week, Friday is daddy day.  Fun stuff all day culminating in a ride to the hardware store to work on counting and then off to the beach.  She has fun playing with the other kids, but part of me misses that first year already.

The days are getting shorter still, the time seems to be getting away faster and the motivation to ride has been waning a bit with the cold windy weather.   I am working on a plan to get re-motivated, to ride and make pictures like last winter.  For now just enjoying the day with my little girl as it is coming to a close.

Happy Friday, and be sure to play outside this weekend!

Grocery Escape

Broke away from the workshop today to make a quick cross town grocery ride.  The winter, read freezing, santa ana winds we have been having finally stopped for a day.  It was a perfect time to get outside.  Not a cloud in the sky, and clear views out to the islands. 

 

I recently pulled the front bag off of the Roadeo fo ra couple of reasons.  I did not make it, and that complicates the answer when people ask where I got the bags.  And secondly, coming back to this bike after riding the Trek with a low trail front end geometry I wanted to more accurately be able to assess the effects of load placement on handling.  I am still able to haul a decent amount of stuff with the roadeo before things start to get too flexy,

the biggest problem I experience with this load it flex in the saddle behind the clamp due to the attachment of the bagman support.  One should expect a little give over bumps and such with an extra 30 lbs or so cantilevered out there.  Bottom line, it get the job done, but I actually prefer the handling of the Trek with the load in the front.  

And last, a little humor at the intersection.

Town has stayed pretty bikey this winter, every year I see more and more people out, maybe this is a sign that things are making the shift towards “cool”