Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Yet another good reason to ride a bike (instead of driving). This article from the LA Times highlights the emotional (and physical) stress caused by congestion.
On my way in this morning, I got stuck behind a slow car. So I slowed down too, and took the opportunity to hum a song to myself and listen to the birds sing. I can hear a car behind me, also stuck behind the slow driver, revving her engine and getting frustrated. Slow car finally turns, and we're both free to go. Frustrated driver guns her engine and charges off. I keep humming.
On my way in this morning, I got stuck behind a slow car. So I slowed down too, and took the opportunity to hum a song to myself and listen to the birds sing. I can hear a car behind me, also stuck behind the slow driver, revving her engine and getting frustrated. Slow car finally turns, and we're both free to go. Frustrated driver guns her engine and charges off. I keep humming.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Save Gas - Ride a Bike!
Yet another benefit to riding a bike - saving gasoline. There's the obvious reduction in consumption by replacing car miles with bike miles. But don't forget the increase in fuel efficiency when you do drive. How's that? Certain behaviors become inbred when you're personally responsible for outputting the watts needed to move through space.
If the stoplight ahead turns red, stop pedaling. Try to time your arrival so that you can coast through on the green and save momentum. Don't race away from stoplights/signs. It takes a lot of energy to accelerate quickly. Build up speed gradually. Slow down on hills. You're working against gravity, so it costs 4 times as much energy to go up a hill at 20 MPH as it does at 10 MPH.
All this becomes second nature on a bicycle. Strangely enough, it also works just as well in a car.
If the stoplight ahead turns red, stop pedaling. Try to time your arrival so that you can coast through on the green and save momentum. Don't race away from stoplights/signs. It takes a lot of energy to accelerate quickly. Build up speed gradually. Slow down on hills. You're working against gravity, so it costs 4 times as much energy to go up a hill at 20 MPH as it does at 10 MPH.
All this becomes second nature on a bicycle. Strangely enough, it also works just as well in a car.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Mine is a Crazed Life
Today I had to admit to myself there are many facets of my life that are just not sane. Among my other pursuits, I race bicycles. Yesterday, I spent approximately 3.25 hours riding as fast as I could in the rain. Up and down hills, through pastureland. Getting drenched and covered with mud, sand, and cow sh*t (I did mention "pastureland"). Did I also mention I paid $20 for the experience?
So today, I open the garage door to head out on the morning commute. It's raining. Hard. 15 minutes later, I'm drenched. Water is dripping off my helmet, my nose. My socks are waterlogged and making that unpleasant squelching sound. And my first thought is: "Hey, at least it's not cow sh*t".
So today, I open the garage door to head out on the morning commute. It's raining. Hard. 15 minutes later, I'm drenched. Water is dripping off my helmet, my nose. My socks are waterlogged and making that unpleasant squelching sound. And my first thought is: "Hey, at least it's not cow sh*t".
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Maintaining the Ratio
I made a pledge to ride twice as many miles as I drive this year. Just passed 2,000 miles on the bike and still under 1,000 on the car, so I'm good. Approaching 120,000 vertical feet as well. My quads aren't quite the size of tree trunks yet, but they're noticeably larger than this time last year.
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