excuses to ride

"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So today I rode cross-town to Kerrisdale Lumber on the
off-chance I might get a new one.

I was inexorably compelled, and would have done this rain
or shine, winter or summer, hell or high water. I absolutely
/needed/ that cap. I also wanted the ride, and somewhere to go,
so I didn't phone ahead and ask if they had those caps.

I find books on MP3 is my best excuse. The only time I listen to books is
on the bike or perhaps doing domestic chores. Given my druthers I'll take
cycling over housework any day and twice on Sunday.

Sometimes when I have a really good 'book' I will ride just to listen to
it.

"recycled-one" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So today I rode cross-town to Kerrisdale Lumber on the
off-chance I might get a new one.

I was inexorably compelled, and would have done this rain
or shine, winter or summer, hell or high water. I absolutely
/needed/ that cap. I also wanted the ride, and somewhere to go,
so I didn't phone ahead and ask if they had those caps.

I find books on MP3 is my best excuse. The only time I listen to books is
on the bike or perhaps doing domestic chores. Given my druthers I'll take
cycling over housework any day and twice on Sunday.

Sometimes when I have a really good 'book' I will ride just to listen to
it.

I made a promise to myself at the beginning of the year that I would not
drive on the weekends. I work half days on Fridays, so that's two and half
days that my bike is my only transporation. It's not hard to find a reason
to ride then. :-) Plus, I commute three days a week. That's enough riding.

recycled-one said:

"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So today I rode cross-town to Kerrisdale Lumber on the
off-chance I might get a new one.

I was inexorably compelled, and would have done this rain
or shine, winter or summer, hell or high water. I absolutely
/needed/ that cap. I also wanted the ride, and somewhere to go,
so I didn't phone ahead and ask if they had those caps.

Quoted message said:

I find books on MP3 is my best excuse. The only time I listen to
books is on the bike or perhaps doing domestic chores. Given my
druthers I'll take cycling over housework any day and twice on Sunday.

Sometimes when I have a really good 'book' I will ride just to listen
to it.

Now, see, I would think listening to a book on "tape" (.mp3) might be a bit
dangerous while road cycling. (Or any cycling, really.) You don't find it
distracting?

I listen to AM radio a lot -- sports and political talk mostly -- plus
music, of course -- but it's essentially "background noise" to me as I don't
have to concentrate on it when other things (like survival) demand my
senses' attention.

If I ever join the 21st C and get an MP3 player, I'll have to give the book
thing a try. As it is, I'm barely evolved from 8-track tapes... :-D

Retro Bill

Tom Keats said:

Anyways, there's lots of excuses to /not/ ride, but there's
also lots of excuses to ride. My current favourite excuse is
to simply not be home in case the landlady springs a surprise
visit (I still owe her a bunch of back rent.)

cheers,
Tom

My excuse to ride is coming up soon....wild blackberries on the side of
the road. Ride a little pick and eat, ride 0.5 mile more, repeat until
sundown or tired of berries.
I can't wait.
Bill Baka

"Sorni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recycled-one said:

"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So today I rode cross-town to Kerrisdale Lumber on the
off-chance I might get a new one.

I was inexorably compelled, and would have done this rain
or shine, winter or summer, hell or high water. I absolutely
/needed/ that cap. I also wanted the ride, and somewhere to go,
so I didn't phone ahead and ask if they had those caps.

Quoted message said:

I find books on MP3 is my best excuse. The only time I listen to
books is on the bike or perhaps doing domestic chores. Given my
druthers I'll take cycling over housework any day and twice on Sunday.

Sometimes when I have a really good 'book' I will ride just to listen
to it.

Now, see, I would think listening to a book on "tape" (.mp3) might be a
bit dangerous while road cycling. (Or any cycling, really.) You don't
find it distracting?

No more than sports or talk radio I imagine. Sometimes I stop listening and
realize later I haven't retained anything . This usually occurs on offroad
trails where I block out the noise to concentrated on a difficult trail
section. I do it pretty much automatically.

I suppose like any activity done while riding - or driving even - there is
a degree of distraction. However I'm ok with it.

Quoted message said:

I listen to AM radio a lot -- sports and political talk mostly -- plus
music, of course -- but it's essentially "background noise" to me as I
don't have to concentrate on it when other things (like survival) demand
my senses' attention.

If I ever join the 21st C and get an MP3 player, I'll have to give the
book thing a try. As it is, I'm barely evolved from 8-track tapes... :-D

I fought it for a long time too. But after trashing two cd players last
season I finally stepped into the new millennium and went MP3.

The pros: You can hold 15 or 20 cd's in the MP3 [512 meg] and it's TINY.
The cons: My local library only has books on cd so I have to transfer them
from cd to pc to MP3.

"Bill Baka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My excuse to ride is coming up soon....wild blackberries on the side of
the road. Ride a little pick and eat, ride 0.5 mile more, repeat until
sundown or tired of berries.

Max speed I can ride by the blackberries and still pick a few: 12 mph.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill Baka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My excuse to ride is coming up soon....wild blackberries on the side of
the road. Ride a little pick and eat, ride 0.5 mile more, repeat until
sundown or tired of berries.

Max speed I can ride by the blackberries and still pick a few: 12 mph.

Berries on the hoof was a staple in my childhood. Now I worry about
airborne pollution on the berries and if it's growing in contaminated land.

recycled-one said:

I find books on MP3 is my best excuse. The only time I listen to books is
on the bike or perhaps doing domestic chores. Given my druthers I'll take
cycling over housework any day and twice on Sunday.

I find I have too much wind noise for books or even quiet music. What
kind of headphones / earbuds are you using?

Quoted message said:

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"There will be a Moscow Exhibition of Arts by 15,000 Soviet Republic
painters and sculptors. These were executed over the past two years."
-From the Soviet Weekly

"Dane Buson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I find I have too much wind noise for books or even quiet music. What
kind of headphones / earbuds are you using?

I have a collection from the various cd players I've trashed. earmuff types
do well against wind noise. Since getting the mp3 I've come to favour buds.
There isn't really much to do about wind noise though I find it a manageable
nuisance only a problem on longer descents and windier days. When I'm
off-road on trails the trees shelter the wind. Street noise, especially
buses and large trucks is the most annoying.

If I miss something I just 'rewind' it a bit and listen again.

recycled-one said:

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill Baka" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My excuse to ride is coming up soon....wild blackberries on the side of
the road. Ride a little pick and eat, ride 0.5 mile more, repeat until
sundown or tired of berries.

Max speed I can ride by the blackberries and still pick a few: 12 mph.

Berries on the hoof was a staple in my childhood. Now I worry about
airborne pollution on the berries and if it's growing in contaminated land.

I gave up worrying because if there is that much airborne pollution then
I must be breathing it. Better to let my stomach filter the pollutants
out than my lungs.
On the bright side I have convinced a friend who has bikes but rarely
rides them to go with me on some 'Berry hunt' rides.
I take that as a good sign.
Bill Baka

I came up with two more excuses to ride:

The first, given my penchant for doodling maps, I am trying to sketch out
the web of trails up at the lake. Over the years I have built up a mental
map so that I have a sense of which trails lead where but they are by nature
very winding and confusing to the point that in the past I've circled a few
times trying to find my way out. Now I have 'names' for various features:
Rock Route 1, Pine Needle Carpet, Five Corners. That and keeping track of
where the sun is in the sky is how I navigate.

Yesterday I started sketching out the trails from memory. Much is ambiguous
of course so I take a ride to verify that this trail starts _before_ the
bridge over the creek and _that_ trail borders the field sown with barley.

I suppose I could get one of those GPS gizmos and map it in one ride but
where's the fun in that?

The other excuse to ride? Along the MUP to the lake, all those lovely
ladies in their summer frocks......

Yet another excuse to ride. The Air Quality Index was down to the Very Good
range [0-15]

http://www.airqualityontario.com/reports/aqisearch.cfm?stationid=28028&startmonth=24hour

Anytime we're in the blue range I just have to ride.

On the flip side I'm thinking of regrets for not riding. Last week there
were a couple days that I really regretted not getting out.

Favorite excuses to ride:

I have to go to the bank.
I have to go to the post office.
I forgot to stop at the bank on the way back from the post office.
I stopped at the bank but forgot to swing by the post office.
I have other errands to run and it's too nice of a day to sit behind
the wheel of a car.
I have to do a test ride to make sure I did those recent
repairs/adjustments correctly. One should never just assume that
critical stuff like new valve caps don't need test ridden.
I have a new saddle and I need to break it in. (I have my wife
convinced that carbon shell saddles require an extensive break-in
period.)
If I don't burn off some frustration I'll go postal.
I want to compare the feel of my new saddle to that of my old saddle so
I have to ride both in the same day.
The grass is still too wet to cut after last week's rain so I may as
well go for a ride.
I heard Discovery is looking for a new team leader. I figure I have as
good a shot at that as any other 50something guy and with a little more
training I can better my chances.
I'm an adult and I don't need any excuse.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

Bob said:

Favorite excuses to ride:

You've got some good ones, Bob.

Quoted message said:

I have to go to the bank.
I have to go to the post office.
I forgot to stop at the bank on the way back from the post office.
I stopped at the bank but forgot to swing by the post office.

You forgot "I have to go pay the utility bill."

Quoted message said:

I have to do a test ride to make sure I did those recent
repairs/adjustments correctly. One should never just assume that
critical stuff like new valve caps don't need test ridden.

Funny how those adjustments take half the day to check out, isn't it?

Quoted message said:

If I don't burn off some frustration I'll go postal.

Won't work, too true. Though when I let a little frustration show, my
wife will send me out for a ride to work it out.

Quoted message said:

I want to compare the feel of my new saddle to that of my old saddle so
I have to ride both in the same day.
The grass is still too wet to cut after last week's rain so I may as
well go for a ride.

And if you stay out long enough, there'll be a pop-up thundershower
later today!

Quoted message said:

I'm an adult and I don't need any excuse.

Huh. Takes all the fun out of it.

BTW, trout fishing is a great grown-up reason to go wade in the creek...

Pat

In article <[email hidden]>,

Bob said:

Favorite excuses to ride:

....

Quoted message said:

I'm an adult and I don't need any excuse.

I've noticed the fair-weather riders have been coming out
in droves lately.

I guess for the rest of the year when they aren't riding,
they come up with all kinds of excuses to /not/ ride.

People have asked what makes a "serious" cyclist. I don't
really like the word "serious" in this context, I prefer
"committed". Perhaps which way a person's excuses go
indicates how committed they are to cycling.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Yester I [re]discovered and excuse to not stop riding:

MOSQUITOES

They don't bother me at all when I'm moving, but when I stop... Those
suckers are the size of light aircraft.

It's not like I'm worried about West Nile. The hysteria over that is so
silly. Unless you have a compromised immune system it's probably best to get
exposed to West Nile so your body can defend against it. But still It's not
fun when those blood-suckers descend on you in a cloud.

"recycled-one" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yester I [re]discovered and excuse to not stop riding:

MOSQUITOES

They don't bother me at all when I'm moving, but when I stop...

You don't have to stop for them to bite. My experience last year riding in
the Rockies that once you get below 10 km/hour, they can land on you. It's
incentive not to dawdle ascending a mountain pass.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

In article <[email hidden]>,

Bill Baka said:

Tom Keats said:

Anyways, there's lots of excuses to /not/ ride, but there's
also lots of excuses to ride. My current favourite excuse is
to simply not be home in case the landlady springs a surprise
visit (I still owe her a bunch of back rent.)

cheers,
Tom

My excuse to ride is coming up soon....wild blackberries on the side of
the road. Ride a little pick and eat, ride 0.5 mile more, repeat until
sundown or tired of berries.
I can't wait.

I notice the blackberry bushes are blossoming right now.
It never before occurred to me just how humbly, almost
demurely pretty blackberry blossoms are.

Blackberries make a wonderful pancake syrup, if you can
be bothered to strain the seeds out. I like to just make
freezer compote out of 'em. Or have them straight up with
ice cream in a homemade sundae. But those durn seeds can
be worse than popcorn for getting stuck in teeth. Oh well.
Roses have thorns; blackberries have seeds.

They make a good wine, too. A bit on the sweet side, but
I just luvs that deep, rich, garnet colour. Maybe it would
make a good bike frame colour.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

I lead group rides for the "seniors" at our church.

So:

1. I have to "check out" the ride in advance to be sure it is ok.

2. I have to ride a lot to keep in shape so I can out-ride everyone
:o) There is a new guy, 70, who is pushing my style a bit. Man is he
in good shape. It keeps us 66yo's on our toes. :/)

Also, my wife and I are into riding places when we can rather than
driving. Our church (where we spend a bit of time) is exactly 5 miles
away, right on out cycling trail, so it makes a really neat "quick"
ride. Today, there is a breakfast at a local diner, and we will ride
about 4 miles there and back.