Chasing Cars

Thank you Snow Patrol for putting a title to my thoughts. Two days ago on my commute home, I realized that I like tormenting cars.

First on that ride I pulled up behind a bus stopped for passengers; I couldn't pass because of the line of traffic already passing closely to the bus. So I waited for the bust to start and stayed right behind it while it accelerated. Eventually it pulled away, but I kept riding. Then the bus stopped again a few meters later. I passed it this time and kept riding. Then this jack-rabbit-style bus driver passed me again. Shortly after, again, the bus stopped for passengers. I passed it again. After the bus passed me once more it pulled away and I couldn't pass it again. Now, this wasn't the really fun part, but it was my first car chase of the day.

As I continued to ride, I noticed an old, gray pickup that I kept catching at lights for several kilometers. Kind of cool to know that I'm keeping up with traffic.

But the fun one was the black car. I think it was a Nissan. The guy just had to fly past me to get to a red light before the biker. And I mean fly. I happened to catch the light just as it turned green and caught him in the intersection. Sweet. Then, at the next light it happened again that I caught the light just turning green and could slip past this guy who just had to get ahead of the biker. Repeat that a few more times until the stop sign at the 3-way intersection where I could just slide through, again ahead of this guy. Shortly after that he turned off the road.

I think it was just the fun of making someone who thinks he's is such a big hurry realize that he's going no faster than the guy on the bike that I enjoy. People who are just driving along I get no real joy from leapfrogging, just a happiness of keeping up with traffic. But the idiots who think they're going to get so far ahead with their gas-guzzling, quick-driving techniques are the ones it's fun to torment. And chase.

Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)

The song was stuck in my head for three-and-a-half hours! From West Jordan to Sandy. Sandy to Riverton. Riverton to Herriman, Herriman to Copperton, Copperton to Taylorsville, Taylorsville to West Jordan. The whole 50 miles it was the same song. Yet, somehow I didn't get sick of it. Then for a few days it was gone completely,  It was gone. When I'm biking I tend to do that a lot; I get an  "earworm" or song that gets stuck in your head, that won't go away. Then after the ride the song goes away. It's like the repetition of pedaling keeps the song there and keeps me fron going insane from it, then my brain rebels when the repetition ends and rejects the song.

Elsewhere on the ride I discovered that the Baccus in Herriman is at the same elevation as Wasatch Boulevard on the east side of the valley. It just doesn't feel like the same climb since it's more gradual climb rather than the 6-8% gradients on the east side.

Copperton park still has good water.

Lousy post, but it's a crazy day at work.

The Wheel in the Sky

After the exultant post last Saturday, I realized that I hadn't ridden at all the week leading up to that, and I've only been able to commute last night and this morning. I guess that there's a big old elastic out there in the universe and when I pull it too tight at one point, it rebounds to release it's own tension. So, after a great few weeks of high commutes, it bounced back with a week off the bike. Then I stretched it again with two rides in one day last Saturday (totaling about 72 km) , only to have it recoil back and keep me off the bike for another day or two.

Now I get to ride home today -- provided it's not raining then -- and ride to work tomorrow and it's off the bike again for a few more days while I'm chaperoning Youth Conference for the teenagers of my ward.

Why is it that July always seems to get so busy, just when I want to kick up my training, and maybe watch some of Le Tour? I don't get it. As the Journey song says, "The wheel in the sky keeps on turning… I don't know where I'll be tomorrow."

Dancing with Myself

First of all: Davey -- meaning Dave Zabriskie, whom I have no right to call by any nickname -- you've got to stop with the crashing! I was so stoked to see you riding with Team Garmin at Le Tour. But is was not to be. Even though the Stage 4 Time Trial would have been ideal. I'm just saying.

Anyway, that stage 4 Time Trial and a ride this morning -- solo -- reminded me that I've not yet heard Phil Ligget or Paul Sherwin refer to anyone "dancing on the pedals." Probably because I've not seen a mountainous stage yet.

Well, this morning I did a 38 km ride that mirrored my typical morning and extended evening commute rides, but all together.

Now, since even David Bowie says that if he had the chance he'd ask somebody to dance, I'll be heading out with Phillip Harrison and David Flores for a training ride for the ULCER. We're planning on taking the rolling roads of the west side of the Salt Lake valley. Should be fun.

But, WOW!, two big rides in one day! How did those stars align?

Morning Has Broken

Wow! Sumer mornings are wonderful. The last two days I've started my commute in the shade of large trees lining the east side of 1300 West. Flying into that shade in the cool of the morning just made me happy. I don't know exactly what memories it's evoked, but I just have really enjoyed it. It may stem simply from an enjoyment of mornings, or there may be something else that I'm half remembering, but which stays just beyond my mental grasp. Either way, I really enjoy these mornings. There's something about the cool breeze blowing across your head.

Well, I've a young daughter here begging for my attention, so I'll have the end this soul search a little prematurely.

Changes

"Turn and face the strange, ch-ch-changes" 

A few days ago I got a call from David Flores, Nicole's uncle. One phone call can alter the course of the rest of the summer. Nothing terrible, mind you, but changed nonetheless. During the course of that call my goals for cycling this season went from saving gas on commutes and getting in a few family rides to preparing for the ULCER on 9 August. This was my first organized century two years ago, and will likely be my only one this year (as it will be David's). Now, when it's still June -- even if by only a day or two -- and the ride isn't until August, it's easy to think that I have all summer to prepare, but then I realized that I have only a month, and a rather full month at that to get from a high of 40 km to almost 180 km. Daily commutes put me around 100 km per week, but I don't have a week to complete the ULCER, only a few hours. So, in between holidays, church commitments, family commitments, and work, I have to get from "just getting on a bike" to "ready for a century" in -- essentially -- six major steps with commutes of increasing length building up an aerobic and strength base to get me through.

I'm sure I'll post more on this little endeavor as I get through the coming month. Stay tuned.