Frustration and stress.

I want to go to a concert. I mean a concert.

AC/DC, Metallica, Iron Maiden. I want it to be loud and flashy. I want to wear my black t-shirt and leather jacket and scream my farking head off. I want to sing along with the power ballad. I want to pump my fist in the air. I want my ears to ring for days afterwards. I want to leave the show soaked in sweat, buzzed, exhausted and with a smile three morticians couldn't get rid of.

I want one night of not being me. Just being another metalhead in the mob.

Riding-walking-riding Journal 3/16

Beware the day after the Ides of March..

Went out for a morning ride. I planned to go down to Santa Teresa, and see if I felt up to going all the way around the long route I talked about yesterday. But when I got to Winfield (about halfway between Almaden and Santa Teresa on Blossom Hill) I discovered two things.

1. Somebody had a fender-bender there, and

2. They swept all the broken glass into the bike lane.

I literally had nowhere to go. Heavy traffic on my left, and more glass on the right. I made it through the intersection, but on the other side I discovered my rear tire was completely flat. Luckily, Pacific Bicycle was only a block away. Holding the rear end up (to prevent damage to the rim and tire), I walked the bike there. Fixing it would cost about $15, and of course, I left my wallet at home. *sigh* Mile round-trip walk to retrieve wallet.

Jeff, the guy at Pacific Cycle, showed me the half-inch tear in my tube, and the piece of glass that made it. He topped off both tires to the proper inflation, and was quite helpful. He showed me how a luggage rack would sit on my bike, and yes, they will install it. So when I can afford that, I'm going to them. They overcharge for bikes, but everything else is quite reasonable.

Onto the details of an abbreviated ride.

Distance: 1.615 miles
Maximum Speed: 16.0 mph
Average Speed: 11.4 mph
Time: 8m, 33s

This was done, of course, in two halves.

One last thing. I would like some feedback on these posts, especially when I reach milestones in distance or speed. This is actually hard for me to do, stick with an exercise regime, and the support of my friends is helpful. I'm not talking about everyday "Woo-Hoos!" but a little commentary would be nice.

Doug on his bike icon coming soon.