Just Rain, More Healing, Radac Rides Again

Sorry, pretty plain picture. This was the view yesterday morning just before Evan and I headed out on our morning commute. We have pretty much just had rain, with a few clearing moments.

Yesterday, Evan rode from school by himself since we mis-connected. He was planning to do some after school work at his friend's, but their plans changed. By the time I actually got his call (I apparently missed two on my ride from work toward home), I was already at the base of Mt. Tabor Park on the west side.

After giving him the choice of waiting until I got home and got the car and riding by himself, he chose to ride by himself and save waiting around. Fortunately for me, I got home before Thursday's big afternoon rain started. Unfortunately for Evan, he got to ride the last couple miles in it, but he was home faster than if he had waited for me with the car. Way to go, Evan!

We had a moist ride this morning, but not really any rain. The cool thing for me this morning was I was riding the road bike, first time in a while. Took a little re-adjustment to the handling and braking, but that did not take too long. Gee, I felt much faster and the Radac definitely seems to freewheel along much better. I think I do need to do some fit fine-tuning, not a lot, just a tiny bit.

Riding along was nice and I felt much stronger than the last time I rode the Radac. My climbing is getting better, I don't go into the "I can't breath anymore" state I used to and while I could certainly feel some of the burn in my legs I did not feel like I had no more to give. I think my improved riding is a result of 1) my hip and related nerves and muscles are healing very well; and 2) I am riding a home route that has me doing a tiny extra credit climb in part of Mt Tabor Park. It's all good.

Yep, that also means I am back using my backpack rather than panniers, which I have been using for about a week anyway. I just like the better responsiveness of the bike without additional weight. The Lowe Alpine is holding up and the "air zone" seems to be helping keep my back sweat free. The only area that really gets wet is the low back where the backpack pads rest.

I've also been using my standard rain pants and my knees are actually staying dry to mostly dry. Definitely better than my Showers Pass ones, which are suppose to be designed for cycling. Kinda disappointed in them. I may go ahead and put them up for sale. Just not happy with the wet knee syndrome. Guess I need to put some gear review articles together...

One Rude Driver, Rainy Morning, Dry and Pleasant Finish



No torrential downpour, but steady rain for this morning's commute. In preparation I selected my ride gear - lycra leggings, wool socks, shoe booties, Goretex gloves, rain jacket and my standard rain pants. Then I packed up my work pants and sweater along with my purse into my backpack.

Ready, set, go. Not too chilly, just wet. I decided to stay on SE Division St. until my cut-over through Ladd's Addition (SE 21st Ave.). For the most part, the driver's were "friendly" giving me reasonable passing distance. I did notice that many seem to cut in a bit early, not seeming to realize just how close they were coming back over. Darn good thing I ride in out in the lane.

I had one driver as I rode through the left-right jog at about 41st honk at me from behind. I guess they figured I should be way to the right. A post event thought was I should have slowed down. Funny thing is, there were about 6 cars at the red light at SE 39th Ave. (oh, wait, it is now Cesar Chavez Blvd.), so I just rode on up to the intersection, yep, right past the same car that honked at me - hahaha.

The rest of the ride went smoothly and I felt good strength-wise. I continue to test by using my 36x17 gear combo - how are the inclines in that gear, am I starting to overly spin out, that sort of thing. I did make a stop under the Hawthorne Bridge to take a morning rain picture (that's it up at the beginning of this blog entry). Hard to capture rain with this pocket camera.

This evening's ride home was very enjoyable -- it was dry, the sun was out. I tried to be a little artsy and capture a bit more dark, shadowy look of the Steel Bridge and downtown. I took this just after I crossed the Steel Bridge.

Back on the ride the effort felt good. I always enjoy riding down to SE Clay St., because it is often backed up from MLK back to the railroad tracks (2-1/2 blocks) and I get to ride up the hill past the cars to the intersection.

My hill climbing is not super strong, will have to work on the quads, I guess, but they are getting there. Less out of oxygen as I climbed the last, steepest part of Lincoln (Harrison becomes Lincoln at about 26th), just before SE 60th, then I actually climbed Mt. Tabor route (Lincoln ends into the park) in my middle chain ring rather than dropping into my smallest chain ring - yippee!

Feels good, I am still at 100% bike commuting, 535.43 miles, saving me about 60 some dollars in gas. I wonder when you get to call yourself a full-time bike commuter? Do you think there is a qualification based on time? Funny, we've only been in our new building for 2 months and it feels like I have been biking in much longer, feels, normal.

Ridin' in the Rain




 I'm riding in the rain
Just riding in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm ridin' what I love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Everyone from the place
The road's practially all mine
I've a smile on my face
I ride down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just ridin',

Ridin' in the rain

==========================

Well, they did say it would rain, starting Sunday and we would pretty much have a wet week. This morning was quite wet with wind, ouchy, the rain stung a few times as it was blown into my face. Fortunately the temperature was not too bad and I stayed fairly comfortable in my rain gear. Well, except, once again, my knees. I think I've figured out that the vents pull too tight and allow water to capillary in. Argh, how frustrating. I'm going to try my other hiking rain pants and see if there is much difference. If my knees stay dry, I may send the rain pants back to Showers Pass.

Continue to feel stronger on my rides, especially with my hip getting back into correct alignment. Of course, I may have relapsed some as I had a bit of a fall this weekend while installing a new garage door opener. I took my tumble being about 2-1/2 to 3 feet off the ground and landed on my right side. A few bruises and sore spots, so I moved my chiropractor/acupuncture appointment up from Friday to Wednesday.

Ride summary, morning, as I said, rain with wind. Felt like I was rolling along with a good pace, not over doing my exertion as I don't shower at work, just remove the rain gear and go to work. Lot's of water on the roads and there was some deep puddling in spots. Only saw a few other bike commuters out this morning.

This afternoon was relative mild, even with the rain as the wind had calmed down a lot. I made a bit longer ride as I detoured to my pharmacy on the way home. Once again, wet knees, which sucks, but everything was comfortable and dry. I started using my backpack, again, and with the rain cover everything stayed nice a dry. Just in case, I did have my clothes inside plastic garbage bags, back up never hurts. I like having the weight off the bike as the responsiveness is much, much better, which is more important to me. I also realize I keep my upper body fairly still even when maneuvering about so the extra weight does not seem to affect me as much as I notice the extra weight on the bike.

Be Predictable, Fellow Riders

Okay, not a picture of today's ride (this was the view back on the 8th). The ride was too rainy for me to want to stop and take any pictures in either direction, so I'm using one that makes me long for a few clear days.

Weather folks are saying more rain the rest of the week with a slight chance we could actually see some snow in the mornings, especially in the slighty higher elevations. I imagine Evan is strongly wishing for snow in the Portland area.

The ride in this morning went along pretty well, fairly normal and uneventful. But, I suppose it was bound to happen, especially since I left 1/2 hour later than normal. I had just crossed over the Steel Bridge and was about to make my normal right hand turn to go under the bridge to cross Naito. The path also went straight to follow the wall along Waterfront Park. Just as I started toward the right all of a sudden I heard a desparate, "On your right!" All I could say was, "Whoa!" and make a sudden correction to the left. The rider was not even turning right, he continued on straight!

Hey, like be predictable and pass on the left like everyone else!

He's lucky I have fairly quick responses and have a few years of road riding experience. Otherwise, he would have been the one going down, because his front wheel would  have hit my rear. I guess rush hour can be crazy even when you are not on the roads.

The hip be getting better, I could actually sit more today. Still cannot stand on that left heel. The discomfort is definitely a lower grade pain, but when I feel it, it takes a bit to move around and get it to subside. I could sit in the car this evening to and back from the grocery store. That is pretty significant, since over the weekend I could not really do that at all.

Good ride home, felt like I had a bit more power than recently, hills weren't too bad. The updated shifters position is working out and am loving having the drop bars back for the variety of hand positions and just the improved hand/wrist comfort. Go SUB!

Wind and Rain, Finally Can Sit for Brief Moments

What I saw when I was leaving work this late afternoon, just before 5:00pm. Blowing rain, woo hoo!

Today's visit with my chiropractor/acupuncturist was great - more adjustments, will need at least a couple more. Getting there, when I got home, I could actually sit at my computer. At work, I could sit at an angle for a bit longer - several minutes rather than several seconds.

Tallied up 16 miles today, as I biked to my doctor's, which is about 3 miles in the opposite direction of work. From there, decided it would be nicer to bike to work than just ride over to the MAX station and ride MAX into work. Lightly drizzling on the way in, so not too bad.

The adjusted brakes were much better and I am so much more comfortable using the drop bars than the flat bars. Glad I made the change back to the drop bars. With all the rain and water, had to keep tapping the brakes to keep the water film down and have responsive brakes.

The ride home was WET! I need to write to Showers Pass, again, and see if maybe the soaked knees is because there isn't enough space at the knees. Maybe I need to size up?