Five down, seven to go, with a friend

By John Straffin | Published: 16 May 2009

May’s Year-Rounder ride was the “Biking with the Band” charity ride put on by the Middle Creek High School Marching Band in Apex, NC. I was joined by my good friend Dave Lennon for his first “real” bike ride and we rode the 32-mile loop. What’s that you say? How can a 32-mile loop possibly count towards the YR? Well… Middle Creek High School is 35 miles from my house. :)
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Bike-to-Work Week, Day Five – I’m All Wet

By John Straffin | Published: 15 May 2009

On the final day of the bike-to-work experiment, I expected no big changes: wore jeans, socks, t-shirt, bike shoes; carried work shirt & sneakers on my back; rode the road bike again on the same route as the day before (so no maps necessary again). It was a little misty as I left the house though.

Turns out that it was no mist, however… Read More »

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Bike-to-Work Week, Days Four – A Little Faster

By John Straffin | Published: 14 May 2009

Took the same routes as yesterday (so won’t bother with maps), but on my road bike this time. I gained a little speed, and could carry a little less weight as I had the extra shirt waiting for me at the office. No other real differences to mention… still sucks to be on Roxboro Road for any distance at that time of morning.

Also, for the second time this week, as soon as I got home, I hopped into the car and drove almost all the way back to the office to pick up my eldest daughter from her dance lessons. Again, I would have picked her up on my way home had I driven to work so, for the day, net emissions difference is near zero. Oh well…

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Bike-to-Work Week, Day Three – Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

By John Straffin | Published: 13 May 2009

Anticipating the exact same ride down the exact same streets, I wanted to mix things up a bit… to truly make this week a study in the feasibility of riding my bike to work on a more regular basis (though, I’d likely max out at just once a week anyway, seeing as I have to pick up one or the other of my daughters from dance or swimming after work four days a week).

 

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Bike-to-Work Week, Day Two – I Have Words

By John Straffin | Published: 12 May 2009

On the way to and from work today, I had a few words come to mind. On the way to work:


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  • Elsewhere in the `tubes…

    • John [246.5] GOOD day SUN shine! GOOD day SUN shine!
      — 23h ago via Facebook
    • John [246.5] Not nearly so cranky anymore, but my calves still hurt. :-/ (Racked up over 8000 steps on my pedometer today anyway.) :-P.
      — 1d ago via Facebook
    • John [246.5] In a toxically bad mood today. Pray for me (and everyone around me).
      — 2d ago via Facebook
    • John [246.5] If I though my calves hurt yesterday, I have no words to describe how they felt today ... only moans and groans.
      — 8 March via Facebook
    • John [246.5] Running this morning was fun, but now my calves are quite sore and I'm sporting a small blister at the base of my left big toe. This will lessen with repetition, I assume.
      — 6 March via Facebook
    • John [246.5] Going running for the first time since junior high. :-O We'll see what happens...
      — 6 March via Facebook
    • John [246.5] A nice 27-miler, got chilly tho. Sunny and 50° turned into overcast, breezy, and 48°-feels-like-44° after about an hour.
      — 5 March via Facebook
    • John [229.0] Stopped at Eno River State Park for a water, granola bar, and Gowalla check-in break.
      — 5 March via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Took the afternoon off, heading out for a ride in this beautiful weather.
      — 5 March via Facebook
    • John If one can learn from their dreams, last night's has taught me that (1) I shouldn't ride my bike so far that I'm too tired to ride home, and, if I have, (2) I shouldn't "borrow" a US Postal Service van to make my way back.
      — 2 March via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Beautiful weekend, begged to be ridden. I am, however, *still* sore from helping a friend move all day Saturday, so my wheels remain unturned.
      — 1 March via Facebook
    • John [219.2] US MENS BOBSLEDDING GOLD!! WOOT!!!!
      — 28 February via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Dear NBC/CNBC/MSNBC, How many times do my kids have to hear Craig T Nelson yell "What the hell?!" in your "Parenthood" commercials during these Winter Olympic Games? I'd like the answer to be "zero", but based on the count so far, we're way beyond that...
      — 27 February via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Read a surprisingly glowing review, so I had to try it for myself. I am unfortunately happy to say that Bigelow Raspberry Royale Tea, served hot, is absolutely revolting.
      — 25 February via Facebook
    • John [219.2] "Apparently, curling is all about standing around and fussing at each other" - Shannon, watching SWE v GBR.
      — 25 February via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Had an apple and gouda for breakfast just over an hour ago. Tasty, but I'm already crazy hungry. :/.
      — 23 February via Facebook
    • John So... it's the last day of my Chicken Coop expansion and I just got to half-way, but only by begging. Now, I'm begging on a larger scale... please help? http://www.facebook.com/straffin?story_fbid=331359662520.
      — 22 February via Facebook
    • John [219.2] Got in a 51.4mi ride this afternoon. Weird weather tho... windbreaker was too much in the sunny spots and not enough in the shady spots. :/.
      — 22 February via Facebook
    • John [167.8] Goodness gracious! Is this Olympic Ladies Downhill or demolition derby?
      — 18 February via Facebook
    • John [167.8] Broke the bad news to my wife this morning ... informed her that she's married to an old man. She handled the news rather well. :).
      — 17 February via Facebook