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.

Week Ends with Pretty Darn Cold Wind

No bike commuting Thursday as Portland got her "big" little snow storm. Just enough to close all the schools, so I stayed home so Evan could play. Pretty funny as he was up like with no effort, quite different than your standard school day, hahaha.

He actually had to wait a bit before he called his friends as they were still sleeping.

Our big travel was to get the sleds out, finally, and walk up to Mt. Tabor Park (7 blocks worth). Not really enough for great sledding, but they got a few runs in and had some fun with as much of the snow as possible.

After some sledding and a few crashes, they decided to roll some big snow balls. Initially, they wanted to make a 4-section snowman, or is it snowperson?

That soon turned to rolling huge snow balls, or at least until it was getting too hard to roll something that heavy.

Then, they wanted to roll them back home. One of the snow balls crashed before they got past the first park roadway crossing. Evan had the only draggable sled, so that was used to load up the snow ball and drag along, still pretty heavy. They were the hit of quite a few and the subject a few picture opportunities. In the end, the final snow ball only made it about a 1/4 mile as any further would be a challenge because of the steep hill. They launched it, safely, over the edge and watched it break apart.

As they played around and searched for the perfect sledding hill, I wandered along and took pictures. There were some nice areas and scenes. This one above is on the west side by Mt. Tabor's soapbox derby track, looking west toward downtown Portland (off in the background).

Friday, February 25, 2011

Today's ride was cold with some wind. Evan is amazing, he seems to have instant energy when we start off. A few blocks in the cold and I am gasping, watching him just pedal along. Wind seem to stay pretty steady around 10mph from the East/North-East. Brrrr.

Still, nice to be out on the bike. A block from school, one of Evan's friends caught up and he road along the rest of the way to school. We parted there and I continued on to work. Definitely a few less bike commuters out today and only 2 other bikes in the storage room when I got to work.

Even with the cold wind, I was warm going home, must be the hills and the extra work.

Uneventful riding day, that's always good, and with the sunny skies a beautiful day for riding.

No Snow, Barely Any Rain - Thursday Maybe?

Well, here is what our afternoon looked like. There was only a bit of rain today, mostly partly sunny. The wind was a bit cool, but overall a pretty nice day - the calm before the storm?

Weather report says snow today after 10:00pm, so we will see. Evan's fingers are still crossed for a snow day tomorrow (Thursday).

Good session with my doctor today. Some recovery from Saturday's tree planting overwork and the hip is getting better and I am able to sit longer.

I used the backpack today just in case I needed to use public transportation. Putting the bike on and off transit is easier without using the panniers. Sure do love the handling of the bike without panniers, hmmm.

Rode home with Evan and the only negative was the wind, but even that was not too bad. Ah, lovin this bike commuting.

The Big Storm or Not Big Storm

That is the question, what will tomorrow be? Today was a pretty nice day, overall. Knowing the weather is suppose to have high chance of snow, for sure rain, I enjoyed today's ride, both directions.

The image above is, again, below the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge toward downtown Portland.

When I got home and started up my email, I did receive an email from TriMet about my little close call incident. The information is being forwarded to the driver lead of the #73 route. Hopefully, they will remind the drivers to be careful out there.

The riding seemed to help my hip today, at least I felt better after riding. I suspect the cycling motion is good therapy. My home therapy routine basically moves the muscle is a similar fashion, at least it works the same muscle groups.

If all goes according to weather reports, Evan just may get his snow day, woohoo!

Dry and Blue Skies - Ow, Some Hip Relapse

No school for Evan, but we still rode together as he needed to go to home number 2 today. He led the whole way, so I guess he's got to route down pretty well now. His pedalling style is pretty smooth, I would ride with him anytime. Do you suppose I am a little biased, though? haha.

Comfortable ride in, bikes worked flawlessly. I did do a good clean up on them this past weekend. The previous mega rains and hail definitely took their toll. For Evan's, it was clean the dirt off, wash down the rims and brake pads, then I also readjusted his rear hub bearings, adding a bit more grease while we were there. One of the bearing lock nuts had loosened, so we fixed that. Then clean and lube the chain, pretty grimy.

About the same for my SUB, though no bearing tear down. Chain was pretty washed out and some very, tiny surface rust. Lubing took care of that. I also did a little re-wrap on the handlebars, to clean up the wrapping around the shift levers.

The intro picture above was taken a bit after 4:00pm from Waterfront Park looking east. Nice clouds, heh? Temp-wise, I think was in the mid-40's.

This image was taken along the floating Eastbank Esplanade back toward the Steel Bridge. The light was very nice and made for an enjoyable ride home.

Hip-wise, I think I had a bit of a relapse over the weekend, maybe from over use from our SOLV tree planting on Saturday. Seem to have picked up a bit of a dull, constant discomfort and I have lost some sitting duration time. In general, though, I  think it is still on the positive side of healing and getting better.

Riding strength seems good, as a fun test, I used just the 36 x 17 gearing combo from Evan's to work and then from work to SE 21st and Harrison, which was the start of the climb toward home. Even climbing Harrison I was able to spin up without dropping to my lowest gearing so that is a good sign.

Kind of disappointed, have not heard anything back from TriMet from my note to them about my close call with the bus the other day. Will see if anything comes up this week.

Well thoroughly enjoyed the lovely weather riding today, will see what the rest of the week brings and the weather folks are saying rain starting tonight or tomorrow with possible snow Wednesday and/or Thursday. Evan is totally hoping for snow and no school - surprise, surprise.

Buses and School Zones

Just a few minutes before I snapped this picture (so about 2:50pm, 2/18/2011) I had quite a fun time with bus 2138, rolling along Route 73.

I had left work, crossed the Steel Bridge, ridden through the Rose Quarter area and was heading east along Multnomah St, in the bike lane I might add.

I heard the bus behind me and rather than slowing and waiting a few seconds, the driver rushed ahead and then crossed into the bike lane and abruptly stopped to pick up a passenger. I hit my brakes and moved to the left, and into the left lane to go around the bus. Fortunately, no car was in that lane, otherwise I would have been one of those statistics and the talk of local forums on the merits and evils between motorized vehicles and the human powered two wheel vehicles.

I snapped this about 2 stops after the "event" stop. At a previous light, the bus was maybe 2 cars back and I turned and just looked. I may send the same pic in to TriMet with a letter expressing my disappointment in this particular driver and not willing to give me, the bicyclist, the right of way in "my" space. Schedule or no schedule, that dang bus is way bigger than little ol' me. I understand the bus' need to pull to the curb for passengers, I wish more understood they are crossing into a non-vehicle space to do so and to give the proper occupants of that space right of way.

I suppose I am seeing more and more of the things I use to read about because I am, after all, on the road everyday now and having to navigate the trials and tribulations of competing for space.

Well as long as I am soap-boxing today, I've decided that my least favorite time and place to try and ride is around schools when they are about to let out in the afternoon. OMG! OMG! All those parents trying to compete for those few available spaces or getting to and into the parking lot to pick up their kids. They are not watching around them so much and the streets go from quite spacious to narrow gauntlets of cars pulling in and out, stopping in the road, doors flying open, blindered kids and parents crossing the streets barely even looking for cross traffic.

Well, thank you very much, I would rather be riding on the expressway, okay, maybe not, but afternoons around schools are sure intense.

Other than that, a good ride today, dry and cool in the morning and quite pleasant to be riding. Some drizzle/sprinkles this afternoon. Yay for the weekend, and some rest for my hip, which is totally getting better and better.

Snow, Rain, Wind, Hail, Mild, Sunny -- Must be Portland!

Wow, talk about your weather extremes. Yesterday, Wednesday, had bits of snow in the rain during the morning commute, which turned to plain rain. Then, it seemed sort of dry when I left to meet up with Evan, but a few minutes after we left for home, hail.

Of course, neither of us had our rain pants on. Here we are on NE Broadway, just beyond 50th, I think, and I decided I should take a picture. Hey, we were already getting wet.

The worse part was my legs (thighs) were getting not just wet, but just a little cold. Evan was wishing it was snowing rather than hailing.

We still had fun and enjoyed the ride. See, even got Evan to let me take his picture, and, yes, he is smiling.

Thursday - Wow, a Dry Day
We had a much drier ride in today, no rain and not too cold, either. Today was going to be a travel day, because I have another doctor appointment at noon.

Pleasant ride in, uneventful, a good thing. Then, I had some delays getting out for my appointment, so I missed the MAX at 11:32am. Well, decided to go ahead and bike out.

It was actually nice, somewhat warm and some clearing. More progress on the hip, things are getting there. Need to keep exercising the left heel, but everything is progressing nicely. From there, I went home to do some work before heading back to Evan's school and ride back home with him. The picture above was taken as I headed to Evan's school. Nice to have some sunny weather to ride in to break up the grey, cloudy and rainy days.

As we got closer to home, I got the camera out of my pocket and snapped a picture of Evan as we rode along.

So today's total miles ended up at 26. So glad the weather was nice, those extra miles are far more pleasant that way.