Epic Bike Ride Home

Yesterday's ride home was epic.  Looking outside to check the weather in the morning I saw that it was wet, but nothing too severe.  I packed some rain gear and my folding bike into the back of my wife's Jeep and we headed into work.  I will frequently catch a ride into work with her and then ride the bike home.  Keeps me fresh going into work and we can both leave on our own schedule.  I knew that I was going to be leaving work late last night but it ended up being much later than expected.  About 9pm I decide that it was time to head out as I had had enough fun in the office.  I suited up for the ride home and headed out.

Finally Arrived Home

Exiting the building I am greeted by a thunder clap and cold rain dumping from overhead.  For a moment I had this vision of a white bolt of lightning streaking out of the sky and blowing the wheels off my bike mid-commute.  This was a considerable step up from the morning and I considered wussing out and calling Beth to get me.  I could not really justify having her come to my rescue as the kids were in bed by now and I was setup for ridding in the rain.  My bike has fenders and was wearing water proof pants, jacket, and backpack.  I should be fine.  Besides ridding in these conditions helps to justify why I have all of this stuff.  A short while later I had my bike unfolded with two headlights, a wheel light, and a tail light screaming "HEY, DON'T RUN ME OVER!" and I began the ride home.

A few minutes into the ride and I was wondering if I should trade in my clear cycling glasses for a diving mask.  The water drops were so large and coming so fast that trying to wipe the water from the lenses made no difference.  At one point the water on my glasses caught the light of on coming cars and glared so much that I lost sight of the road.  In my head I heard, "Luke, you've turned off your targeting computer!  What's wrong?"  I was using the force to stay in the bike lane.  This is a route that I have biked hundreds of times and yet it was taking my full concentration to stay in the lane and try to identify any surprise crud that I might need to avoid.  My primary headlight usually lights up the road, but last night it was almost like I didn't have anything at all.  After 6 miles of cycling by feel, I turn down my street, only to find that it wasn't my street.  I had turned a block early but could not tell until I saw that the first house on the right did not belong to me. 

As I came up to the front door, Beth saw the lights of my bike shine through the window.  She opened the door before I was on the front step.  She was glad to see me home safe, but suggested that on future nights like this it might be better for me to wuss out.

Bike: Novara FlyBy
Headlight: Light & Motion Stella 120
Wheel Light: Monkeylectric
Shell: Mountain Hardwear Epic Jacket and Pants
Backpack: Mountain Hardwear

Spring 2011 has arrived

So the time change just occurred, spring officially does not arrive until next week, but I know that spring showed up last weekend here in Oregon.  Two weeks ago we had a layer of snow coating the valley.  Crocus flowers were punching through the snow layer indicating that spring was around the corner.

Fast forward one week and the snow is gone and I find a honey bee checking out an open crocus.  This is the first honey bee I have seen this year.  The next day I find that the one bee has told all his friends about the flowers and over a dozen bees are buzzing around.

Seeing the bees buzzing around let me know that spring had arrived.  Looks like it is time to switch from thinking about skiing/snowboarding to cycling and kayaking.

Ski/Snowboard for free at Mt. Hood Skibowl March 4th

Mt. Hood Skibowl is again doing a food drive for the Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Division.  I have participated in this food drive for the last several years, and the Sunshine Division has delivered perfect ski days every time.  It might be chance, but I'd rather believe that there is some sort of karma balance in the universe thing going on.  If you are willing to drive up to Mt. Hood to donate food, the least that could happen is that you get a crisp blue sky day with a great snow base.

More information available from KATU.